Smiler Jumps Into the New Year - Part 1

Two of my Instagram photos I thought made for a festive start to 2013. If you're curious to see my daily photo feed, click on either image to view it on Flickr.



Currently reading, listening to,
and occasionally browsing through:
Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 by Carol Squiers (yep, it's still sitting on the coffee table!)
♫ The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty (this one will probably take me all year to get through)
Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason
♫ The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

      






Favourites of 2012 (4.5 stars and up)
On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry (review)
Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd (review)
L'Assommoir by Émile Zola (review)
Études de Femmes by Honoré de Balzac (review)
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh (review)
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (review)
A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes (review)
Troubles by J. G. Farrell (review)
Letter from an Unknown Woman by Stefan Zweig (review)
Fear by Stefan Zweig (review)
Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman Stefan Zweig (review)
My Letter to the World and Other Poems by Emily Dickinson, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (review)
Stettin Station by David Downing (review)
A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch (review)
River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh (review)
Any Human Heart by William Boyd (review)
Being There by Jerzy Kosinski (review)
Angel by Elizabeth Taylor (review)
Eugénie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac (review)
Man with a Blue Scarf: On Sitting for a Portrait by Lucian Freud by Martin Gayford (review)
Part of the Furniture by Mary Wesley (review)
All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West (review)
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner (reread - review)
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (review)
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (review)
The Headmaster's Wager by Vincent Lam(review)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles (review)
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell (review)
The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford (review)
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (reread)
The Pearl by John Steinbeck (reread)
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Atonement by Ian McEwan




13/13 Challenge Categories
(still working on this one... coming soon!)

Books completed in January

1. ♫ The House at Riverton ★★★★
2. ♫ A Red Death by Walter Mosley ★★★
3. ♫ The BFG by Roald Dahl ★★★½
4. ♫ The Last Child by John Hart ★★★½
5. ♫ The Wind Singer by William Nicholson ★★★★⅓
6. Gillespie and I by Jane Harris ★★★★½
7. ♫ I, Claudius by Robert Graves ★★★★⅓
8. ♫ Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein ★★★★⅓
9. ♫ The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud ★★★★⅓
10. ♫ The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy ★★★★
11. ♫ Three Singles to Adventure by Gerald Durrell



Books completed in February

12. ♫ The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg



My rating system:
★ - hated it (may or may not have finished it but listing it for the trouble)
★★ - it was just ok
★★★ - enjoyed it (good)
★★★★ - loved it! (very good)
★★★★★ - all-time favourite (blew me away—will read again)

⅛ ¼ ⅓ ½ ¾ ⅞

♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf
☀ = TIOLI

Suggested reads for February

☛ Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (TIOLI #1: last numbered page includes a "7")



Unplanned, but felt like it




♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf
❉ = library
℮ = eBook
☛ = TIOLI

2013 Planning

Group reads, tutored reads, etc. (more coming up)

January: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (GR)
March: The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner (GR)
July: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (GR)
September? October?: 2666 by Roberto Bolaño

I've got LOTS of great picks for my 2013 reading challenge! Thanks to all who played along!



Picked for 13/13
1. The Last Child by John Hart - avatiakh - Read in January
2. Le fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux - avidmom
3. A Very Long Engagement by Sébastien Japrisot - calm
4. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - casvelyn (also: EBT1002)
5. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay - SouthernKiwi
6. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford - NielsenGW
7. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - mamzel (GR)
8. The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Visions of Glory by William Manchester - banjo123
9. I, Claudius by Robert Graves - PaulCranswick (also: lyzard) - Read in January
10. Dragonwick by Anya Seton - lyzard
11. The BFG by Roald Dahl - Whisper1 - Read in January
12. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - jolerie
13. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - EBT1002
14. The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch - kidzdoc
15. A Good Man in Africa by William Boyd - souloftherose
16. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - msf59
17. Les liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos - bohemima
18. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - lunacat (also: msf59)
19. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - luvamystery65
20. The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg - -Eva-
21. A Dance to the Music of Time Anthony Powell - sibyx
22. Music & Silence by Rose Tremain - LizzieD
23. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty - DeltaQueen50
24. The Elephant's Journey by José Saramago - bahzah
25. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - phebj
26. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry - Donna828
27. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque - kiwiflowa
28. Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson - gennyt
29. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson - lilianboerboom
30. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - LittleTaiko

(Some of the) Books I'd like to read in 2013

1. ♫ The Last Child by John Hart - Picked by avatiakh - Read in January
2. ♫ Le fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux - Picked by avidmom
3. ♫ A Very Long Engagement by Sébastien Japrisot - Picked by calm
4. ✔&♫ Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - Picked by casvelyn (also: EBT1002)
5. ✔ The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay - Picked by SouthernKiwi
6. ♫ Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford - Picked by NielsenGW
7. ♫ The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - Picked by mamzel (GR)
8. ♫ The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Visions of Glory by William Manchester - Picked by banjo123
9. ♫ I, Claudius by Robert Graves - PaulCranswick (also: lyzard) - Read in January
10. ✔ Dragonwick by Anya Seton - Picked by lyzard
11. ♫ The BFG by Roald Dahl - Picked by Whisper1 - Read in January
12. ✔ The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - Picked by jolerie
13. ✔ Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - Picked by EBT1002
14. ✔ The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch - Picked by kidzdoc
15. ✔ A Good Man in Africa by William Boyd - Picked by souloftherose
16. ♫ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Picked by msf59
17. ♫ Les liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos - Picked by bohemima
18. ✔&♫ The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - Picked by lunacat (also: msf59)
19. ✔ A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - Picked by luvamystery65
20. ♫ The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg - Picked by -Eva-
21. ♫ A Dance to the Music of Time Anthony Powell - Picked by sibyx
22. ✔ Music & Silence by Rose Tremain - Picked by LizzieD
23. ✔ Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty - Picked by DeltaQueen50
24. ✔ The Elephant's Journey by José Saramago - Picked by bahzah
25. ✔ The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - Picked by phebj
26. ✔ The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry - Picked by Donna828
27. ♫ All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque - Picked by kiwiflowa
28. ♫ Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson - Picked by gennyt
29. ✔ Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson - Picked by lilianboerboom
30. ♫ To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - Picked by LittleTaiko
31. ✔ Native Son by Richard Wright - Picked by EBT1002 (In 2012)
32. ✔ Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood - Picked by MickyFine (In 2012)
33. ✔ Arabian Nights: Four Tales from a Thousand and One Nights by Marc Chagall - Picked by Donna828 (In 2012)
34. ✔ The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende - Picked by LauraBrook (In 2012)
35. ✔ Caravan of Dreams of Idries Shah - Picked by PiyushChourasia (In 2012)
36. ❉ Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck (left over from Steinbeckathon)
37. ✔ Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
38. ✔ Nana by Émile Zola
39. ✔ Pot-Bouille by Émile Zola
40. ❉ Au Bonheur des Dames by Émile Zola
41. ❉ La joie de vivre by Émile Zola
42. ❉ Old Filth by Jane Gardam
43. ✔ Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
44. ✔ Living Well is the Best Revenge by Calvin Tomkins
45. ✔ A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes
46. ✔ Moon Palace by Paul Auster
47. ✔ Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
48. ✔ Jamrach's Menagerie Carol Birch
49. ✔ Angels & Insects by A. S. Byatt
50. ✔ Possession by A. S. Byatt
51. ✔ The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
52. ✔ The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble
53. ✔ Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
54. ✔ Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
55. ♫ Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
56. ✔&♫ 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
57. ✔ The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith
58. ♫ The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner (GR)
59. ✔ A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (GR)
60. ✔&♫ 2666 by Roberto Bolaño (GR)

(more to be added soon)

✔ = in my TBR
♫ = audiobook (in my TBR)
❉ = library book

Ongoing Series
An idea Heather (souloftherose) borrowed from Liz (lyzard), which caught on like wildfire. Ongoing series that I am actively reading; this doesn't include series I have in my TBR but haven't started reading yet (that is covered in the next list!)

African Trilogy - Next up: No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe (2/3)
❉ Alan Grant Mysteries - Next up: The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey (1/6 - read out of order)
♫ American Gods - Next up: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (2/2)
✔ Anton Rider - Next up: A Café on the Nile by Bartle Bull (2/3)
♫ Bartimaeus - Next up: The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud (2/3)
❉ Binky Adventure - Next up: Binky Under Pressure by Ashley Spires (3/3)
✔ Border Trilogy - Next up: The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy (2/3)
❉ Cannery Row - Next up: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck (2/2)
♫ The Cemetery of Forgotten Books - Next up: The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (2/3)
❉ Chief Inspector Armand Gamache - Next up: A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (2/8)
♫ La Comédie Humaine - Next up: Le curé de Tours by Honoré de Balzac (31/88 - read out of order)
✔ Commissario Brunetti - Next up: Acqua Alta by Donna Leon (5/21 - read out of order)
✔ Commissario Montalbano - Next up: Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri (5/18)
♫ Corfu Trilogy: Birds, Beasts, and Relatives by Gerald Durrell (2/3)
❉ De Luca Trilogy - Next up: The Damned Season by Carlo Lucarelli (2/3)
✔ The Deptford Trilogy - Next up: World of Wonders by Robertson Davies (3/3)
❉ Dr. Siri Paiboun - Next up: Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill (5/8)
♫ Easy Rawlins Mystery - Next up: White Butterfly by Walter Mosley (3/10)
✔ Empire Trilogy - Next up: The Siege of Krishnapur by J. G. Farrell (2/3)
Ender’s Game - Next up: Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (2/4)
♫ Flavia de Luce Mysteries: The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (2/6)
❉ Green Town - Next up: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (2/2)
❉ The Harlem Cycle - Next up: All Shot Up by Chester Himes (4/8)
❉ Hercule Poirot - Next up: Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie (8/39 - read out of order)
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Dramatization - Next up: Tertiary Phase (BBC Radio Collection) by Douglas Adams (3/5)
♫ The House of Earth Trilogy - Next up: Sons by Pearl S. Buck (2/3)
The Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh - Next up: Awaiting publication (3/3)
♫ Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries: Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith (2/9)
Jack Reacher - Next up: Without Fail by Lee Child (6/17)
✔ Jackson Brodie - Next up: When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson (3/4)
♫ John Russell - Next up: Lehrter Station by David Downing (5/5)
Joseph O'Loughlin - Next up: Shatter by Michael Robotham (3/5)
♫ Kenzie and Gennaro - Next up: Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane (2/5 - read out of order)
♫ Kurt Wallander: The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell (2/10)
♫ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (2/4)
✔ Lord Peter Wimsey - Next up: Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers (2/15)
Maisie Dobbs - Next up: Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear (3/10)
♫ Miss Marple - Next up: A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (4/15 - read out of order)
✔ The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Next up: The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith (4/13)
♫ The Obelisk Trilogy - Next up: Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller (2/3)
♫ Oxford Time Travel series - Next up: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (2/4)
❉ Parker - Next up: The Mourner by Richard Stark (4/24)
✔ Philip Marlowe - Next up: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (1/9 - read out of order)
Phryne Fisher Mysteries - Next up: Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood (3/19)
♫ Roderick Alleyn - Next up: Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh (8/32 - read out of order)
✔ Les Rougon-Macquart - Next up: Nana (reread) by Émile Zola (9/20)
✔ Sally Lockhart Mysteries - Next up: The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman (2/4)
✔ A Song of Ice and Fire - Next up: A Storm of Swords Part 1: Steel and Snow by George R. R. Martin (3.1/7)
❉ The Spiderwick Chronicles - Next up: Lucinda's Secret by Holly Black (3/8)
♫ Tales of the Otori - Next up: Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hearn (3/4+prequel)
❉ Three Men in a Boat - Next up: Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome (2/2)
Timothy Wilde (Book 1: The Gods of Gotham) by Lyndsay Faye - Next up: Awaiting publication (2/2)
✔ Tom Ripley: Ripley Underground by Patricia Highsmith (2/5)
Wind on Fire Trilogy: Slaves of the Mastery by William Nicholson (2/3)
Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel - Next up: The Mirror and the Light (awaiting publication) (3/3)
✔ Wolves Chronicles: Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken (2/11)



First in Series on my TBR (I've added several new series since 2012)

✔ Alexandria Quartet: Justine by Lawrence Durrell (1/4)
✔ The American Trilogy: American Pastoral by Philip Roth (1/3)
✔ Aristide Ravel Mysteries : The Cavalier of the Apocalypse by Susanne Alleyn (1/4)
✔ The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson (1/2)
♫ Aubrey-Maturin: Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian (1/21!)
♫ The Australian Trilogy: The Potato Factory by Bryce Courtenay (1/3)
♫ Avalon: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (1/7)
✔ The Book of Lies - Twins Trilogy: The Notebook by Ágota Kristóf (1/3)
✔ The Borrible Trilogy: The Borribles by Michael De Larrabeiti (1/3)
♫ Bruce Mason: The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner (1/2)
✔ Carl Webster: The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard (1/3)
♫ Chief Inspector Adamsberg: The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas (1/9)
♫ Claudius: I, Claudius by Robert Graves (1/2)
✔ The Complete Novels and Stories: Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume I by Arthur Conan Doyle (1/2)
♫ Corduroy Mansions: Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith (1/3)
♫ A Dance to the Music of Time: A Dance to the Music of Time: First Movement, Spring by Anthony Powell (1/4)
✔ Danzig Trilogy: The Tin Drum by Günter Grass (1/3)
♫ Daughter of Smoke and Bone: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (1/2)
♫ Delirium: Delirium by Lauren Oliver (1/3)
♫ Divergent: Divergent by Veronica Roth (1/3)
♫ The Dresden Files: Storm Front by Jim Butcher (1/14)
♫ Dublin Murder Squad: In the Woods by Tana French (1/4)
✔ Empress Orchid: Empress Orchid by Anchee Min (1/2)
♫ Erica Falck and Patrik Hedström: The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg (1/8)
✔ The Gentleman Bastard Sequence: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (1/4)
❉ The Giver Quartet: The Giver by Lois Lowry (1/4)
✔ Hank Thompson: Caught Stealing by Charlie Huston (1/3)
✔ Haroun: Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie (1/2)
✔ Henrietta's War: Henrietta's War: News from the Home Front 1939-1942 by Joyce Dennys (1/2)
✔ The Hummingbird's Daughter: The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea (1/2)
♫ In Search of Lost Time: Swann's Way by Marcel Proust (1/8)
✔ The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood (1/4)
♫ Joona Linna: The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler (1/3)
♫ The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Visions of Glory by William Manchester (1/2)
✔ Latin American Trilogy: The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts by Louis de Bernières (1/3)
♫ Legend the Series: Legend by Marie Lu (1/2)
♫ Leonid McGill: The Long Fall by Walter Mosley (1/4)
✔ Leviathan: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (1/3)
✔ Lonesome Dove: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (1/4)
♫ Mapp and Lucia: Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson (1/8)
✔ Matthew Shardlake: Dissolution by C. J. Sansom (1/5)
✔ Micah Dalton: The Echelon Vendetta by David Stone (1/4)
♫ Michael Forsythe: Dead I Well May Be by Adrian McKinty (1/3)
✔ Mistress of the Art of Death: Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin (1/4)
♫ Outlander: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (1/8)
✔ Calder Art Mysteries: Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (1/3)
✔ The Power Of One: The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (1/2)
✔ Quirke: Christine Falls by Benjamin Black (1/5)
♫ Revelation Space: Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds (1/7)
♫ The Riyria Revelations: Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan (omnibus 1-2/6)
♫ Shanghai Girls: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (1/2)
♫ Sprawl: Neuromancer by William Gibson (1/3)
♫ Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry (1/5)
♫ World War II Saga: The Winds of War by Herman Wouk (1/2)
♫ Wyoming Stories: Close Range by Annie Proulx (1/3)



✔ = in my TBR
♫ = audiobook (in my TBR)
❉ = library book

Booker Prize Books Read in 2012

Any Human Heart by William Boyd (Longlist 2002)
Atonement by Ian McEwan (Shortlist 2001)
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (Booker Prize 2012)
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer (Shortlist 2009)
Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner (Booker Prize 1984)
On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry (Longlist 2011)
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh (Shortlist 2008)
The Secret River by Kate Grenville (Shortlist 2006)
Troubles by J.G. Farrell (Lost Booker 1970)
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (Longlist 2012)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (Booker Prize 2009)

Booker Prize Books Read in 2013

(coming soon)

Booker Prize Books on my TBR

The Accidental by Ali Smith (Shortlist 2005)
Amsterdam by Ian Mcewan (Booker Prize 1998)
Atonement by Ian McEwan (Shortlist 2001)
The Bone People by Keri Hulme (Booker Prize 1985)
Brick Lane by Monica Ali (Shortlist 2003)
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood (Shortlist 1989)
Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri (Longlist 2001)
The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens (Booker Prize 1970)
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje (Booker Prize 1992)
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (Shortlist 1996)
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz (Shortlist 2008)
Good Behaviour by Molly Keane (Shortlist 1981)
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (Shortlist 1986)
Heliopolis by James Scudamore (Longlist 2009)
The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (Booker Prize 2006)
Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch (Shortlist 2011)
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (Shortlist 2009)
The Master by Colm Toibin (Shortlist 2004)
Master Georgie by Beryl Bainbridge (Shortlist 1998)
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones (Shortlist 2007)
Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey (Booker Prize 1988)
Possession by A.S. Byatt (Booker Prize 1990)
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (Booker Prize 1989)
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (Shortlist 1988)
The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch (Booker Prize 1978)
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry (Shortlist 2008)
The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell (Booker Prize 1973)
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray (Longlist 2010)
Under the Frog by Tibor Fischer (Shortlist 1993)
What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller (Shortlist 2003)
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (Booker Prize 2008) - reread

(more on the wishlist of course!)

something else here

and the next one's yours!

Am I first? Did I make it? Happy new year and happy new thread, Ilana!

I'm second!!! *jumps up and down*

#11 You sure are Caro! Congrats! And thank you—wishing you a very happy new year as well. I wish mine didn't start with a days-long migraine, but who's complaining?

#12 Welcome Faith, I'll be working on those first 10 posts in the coming days... am working on a few at the moment in fact, so make sure you have a look at the top posts when you visit again to see the content I've added!

'Bout time you showed up. :)

Hi, Ilana - starred!

#13 Hi Jim! :-)

#14 Hi Liz!

Hi Ilana! I was just admiring some of your artwork over on FB. :)

I've got you starred, Ilana! Looking forward to another year of fun, good books and beautiful artwork!

#18 Hi Pat, I always see your "likes" and comments and it always makes me feel warm inside. :-)

#19 Thanks Mamie. I hope I'll find a way to be everywhere at once. Couldn't figure out how to do it last year, but maybe I'll get better at it with some practice?

Weird, I thought I'd posted in here. Anyway hi Ilana and great to see you arrive in the group.

Happy (late) New Year, Ilana - I am going to try to keep up on your threads this year!

There it is... have been looking for your thread and am so glad to see you again here in 2013.
Happy New Year, Ilana!

Darned meetings and I missed your arrival! Huge sigh of relief to see you back in harness so to speak and I look forward to your sharing and caring again in 2013. x

Hello Illana, just stopping by to wish you a very Happy 2013. I am very much looking forward to see more of your art and of your reading this year. :)

Love your photos at the top!

You're here at last! So glad to see you again. You are properly starred and I promise I will try to keep up. *waves to Coco, Ezra and Mimi*

Hello Ilana (and Coco!)

Those are some daunting lists of books - I look forward to seeing them crossed off during the year:)

Ilana, I'm so glad you made it. I was getting worried. I've read and liked 13 of your favorites from last year but that still leaves plenty to add to the WL. I look forward to seeing what's coming up for you this year.

Happy New Year, Ilana! Good luck with all your various challenges. It's like book-juggling. Miss you!

Happy New Year, Ilana

Happy New Year Ilana! I haven't seen you on my thread for a while, hope you are doing well!

Hi Ilana! It's so great to see you here. :) I LOVE your photos up top, especially the one of the chandelier. (No offense to sweet CoCo, of course.) Hope you're doing well! (((HUGS)))

Popping by and leaving my pawprint.

Well, hello, darlin', as an old country-western song starts out--

Glad you made it; hoping the headache is much better.

When may I borrow Coco, just to pat for 5 minutes?

Ha. Found you. Thank goodness for the thread wiki (or whatever it's called).

I hope your new year is off to a good start, Ilana!
Hugs for Coco (and the felines, of course).

Hi Ilana!
So sorry about the nasty headache. Hope it is gone now - far, far away!
Happy New Year to you and furkids! Keep up the wonderfully creative work :)

Woohoo!! Found you and starred you and following you (not in a creepy way, mind - just a flickr kind of way...Hope your New year brings you joy, health and glory! (and more than a few great reads!)

Hi Ilana,

Stopping by to give you a star and wish you all the best for 2013.

Wow, so many visitors today! Thank you all so much for dropping by, Kerry, Cushla, Nathalie, Paul, Bianca, Charlotte, calm, Donna, Mark, Diana, Chelle, Laura, Jenny, Gail, Ellen, Claudia, Prue and Madeline! (hope I didn't miss anyone)

Sorry for the group response for now. I'm in a lot of pain today, on migraine day 4. Please don't any of you worry too much about keeping up with me. I can't manage to keep up with myself either. Happy New Year everyone, wishing you good health and good times and of course, great reading! I'll be back for individual responses soon.

I've been reading Gillespie and I and really loving it, and today also picked up The Last Child on audio, which was Kerry (avatiakh)'s pick for me.

Dear Ilana - hope your migraine flies off to Europe with the swallows. x

Ilana is up and running! Woo! I do hope you feel better.

..."migraine day 4." Ack! Not a good way to start 2013.
I hope it eases fully and fast!
xo

#40 Paul, I'd like that, I'd really really like that. :-|

#41 I'm up, but I don't know about running Roberta. If I am, then I must look like a pretty lame duck. Quack.

#42 Make that "migraine day 5" Ellen. And so far, giving no signs of wanting to go anywhere. Not a great start to the year, no. But I have wonderful friends who obviously care about me and that IS rather wonderful. Thanks my dear. xx

Hi Ilana, I just came by to drop my star. So sorry to hear about the migraine, I'll just tiptoe on out - feel better soon.

ouch, ouch, ouch five days of a migraine and five too many. I know about the pain of migraines and I'm sorry you are having a prolonged battle.

Fiorcet helps me greatly.

This sounds serious, Ilana. Please get well and go to a doctor if it lasts much longer...
very quiet and gentle hugs floating into your room for you...

Very low light; soft cloth on forehead; light, light hug.

Get better soon, 5 days, I can't imagine it.

Hi friends, today I'm slightly better compared to the last two days which were especially difficult. But still in pain. I'm about to get ready for bed and can't wait to jump back into Gilespie and I. I really see why everyone got so excited about it, and I haven't started to get into any big revelations yet! The Last Child is also very good, but I really don't like the narrator on the audio, so it's putting a slight damper on the experience, but not so badly that I can't enjoy the story. If enjoy is the right word.

A friend came to visit me yesterday and brought me a few essential groceries, which I thought was really sweet. She also gave me a couple of art supplies as a late Christmas gift, which was a nice surprise.

Other than Instagram, I forgot to mention that there's been another online activity which I started around the same time, which also takes up a lot of mind mind space (quite literally). I don't know if any of you have heard about it—it's called Lumosity? My occupational therapist actually suggested it to me because I was complaining of having all kinds of trouble with memory and word recall and so on. It's basically a bunch of games that are designed to improve various brain functions. They suggest "training" every day and playing their games to practice, and I've been spending quite a lot of time on that for the past month. My "BPI" (for Brain Performance Index—a measure of cognitive performance) has increased quite a lot and it's quite exciting. I do suggest it to anyone who feels they want to challenge their minds in different ways. I don't know how smart it is for me to be training while I've got a migraine raging, but I've found that sometimes because of the migraines, certain functions actually improve, surprisingly enough. Besides, I spend so much time in a migraine condition that I can't very well stop doing everything I like doing... unless they're so debilitating that I really can't do anything, which thankfully doesn't happen too often.

My dad has mentioned medicinal marijuana to me a few times now. Once because he'd heard a radio interview with a specialist who was saying it helps with depression, and he just sent me a link to "medical facts about canabis" as I assume there is something in there about it helping with various aches and pains, including migraines. I find it very funny that he thinks this would be a good avenue for me considering he knows full well I was a serious pothead for well over two decades! Lol. I wonder if my insurance would cover that kind of treatment? (more of a rhetorical question, as I highly doubt they would). Comments on this topic are welcome and appreciated!

*heads to kitchen to whip up some kind of spell to send Ilana's migraine packing*

ETA: If you come to Washington, you don't have to get a prescription. We made it legal, along with same-sex marriage. Wedding receptions just got a lot more mellow......

#21 Kerry, your most recent message to me before this one was on my 2012 thread. Maybe you got the two confused. Welcome to my new thread in any case!

#22 Cushla, please don't worry about keeping up with me. It's not possible for me to keep up with everyone given the amount of sleep I need and how many online activities I have, so it's all good! :-)

#23 Happy New Year Nathalie! I look forward to sharing more about life and books with you in 2013.

#24 Same here Paul, my dear buddy! However, I hardly see how I'll be able to stay on top of things here any better than I did in 2012... which is a bit discouraging, but I try not to worry too much about it.

#25 Thanks Bianca! Speaking of art, I've been pouring my creativity into my photos lately and not producing much of anything else... will have to fix that soon, though mind you, I'll be starting a painting class at the beginning of next month.

#26 My dear Charlotte, nice to see you here. But as I've been saying to others, please don't worry about keeping up with me. I can't expect anyone to do so when I'm so bad at it myself!

#27 Hi calm! :-) The lists are more general suggestions than absolute rules. However, I do want to get through the list of books suggested to me by LTers, given people really put a lot of time and effort into coming up with those choices and that I look forward to every one of them. I figure if I make sure to read 3 books from that list every month, it shouldn't be a problem.

#28 Always exciting to start anew isn't it Donna? I'll be sure to keep abreast of your reviews at the very least, since I always find them so well thought out and interesting to read.

#29 Happy New Year Mark! Every year we all juggle lots of things, don't we? You're not exactly just sitting back and letting life pass you by either eh? ;-) I miss my daily interactions with my gang here too, but too many interests makes it hard to stay in one spot for very long on any given day.

#30 Happy New Year to you too Diana!

#31 Happy New Year Chelle! Please don't take it personally—I haven't visited threads in a while now... I've been all wrapped up with my photography, but hope to find a way to divide my time more evenly soon... though keeping a balance has always been my biggest challenge!

#32 Hi Laura! No offense at all! Coco is secure in the knowledge he's an extra special little guy, and there are other things in life worthy of note too after all! :-)

#33 Jenny, feel free to come and curl up on a sofa anytime you like!

Hey, Ilana! I love the picture of Coco up top.

#34 Gail, if I could lend Coco to you, I'd be happy to let you have him for a whole day if you'd like, as I'm sure he'd cheer you up tremendously. He's just a bundle of love and I'm sure he sends you a few warm licks as he loves to let everyone know how much he loves them! :-)

#35 & 49 Hi Ellen my dear! Happy New Year to you! I look forward to catching up with you. I'll pass on the love to Coco and the felines.

Am I getting this right? Are you saying pot is legal in the state of Washington???

#36 & 46 Claudia my sweet, I'm being followed by a neurologist, but there's not much they can do about chronic migraines. Not enough is known about them and there are so many things that can cause them... I see the best neuro in the city and he just talks to me about managing and reducing the pain, which is the best I can hope for apparently, as he isn't confident we can eliminate it altogether. I'm just mostly grateful I'm functional enough to get out of bed and do stuff! Will come to visit you soon!

#37 Dear Prue, lovely to see you! You don't have to explain about "following" me. That's the term they use on Instagram, the way they use "friends" on Facebook. I'm all too happy to know I have friends enjoying some of my creative endeavours. Wishing you a great reading year and a wonderful year in every other regard too!

#38 Hi Madeline! Thanks for dropping by! I'm quite excited about more TIOLI challenges this year. Have yet to visit the January thread and much looking forward to it!

#44 Thanks for dropping by Judy!

#45 Dear Linda, you more than most of us know all too well what living with pain is like. I missed my appointment with my neurologist in December because I was sick that day and need to reschedule. I'll mention Fioricet to him because I assume you need a prescription for it, right?

#47 Thank you my sweet Gail. I've had a couple (or more) episodes of migraines lasting for weeks at a time, up to 6 weeks (!). That was no fun at all. But it certainly helps knowing I have caring friends. xx

#51 Hi Stasia! It was a bit of a production to get that shot. Coco isn't too too fond of the camera, but that's just one more interesting challenge for me! Glad you like the pic. Happy New Year to you!

#53: Thanks. A Happy New Year to you (and Coco, of course!) too.

Fingers crossed that the migraine begins to make its departure soon. I had a very bizarre one the other day where I could neither read, write or talk for a good hour, as well as not being able to see. I lay on my bed listening to the radio, but couldn't really understand the sentences.

It eased off once I was able to doze for a bit, but very strange. I told my doctor and she said it was just another manifestation of them, but I'd rather go back to my usual ones.

Hi Ilana. Hope you continue onward toward feeling better. I forgot to ask before - where/what is that absolutely gorgeous chandelier up top? It's fabulous!
Re: marijuana - I am just so ambivalent about it - so ambivalent that I could not vote up or down on the medical marijuana question on the Massachusetts November ballot. It was voted in, which I suppose might, in the end be the right and good thing, but I have to wonder about the clash between Federal law and State law and the fact that I don't think they thought enough about setting up the actual system for doing it. I just would hate for it to be abused by the sorts of people who are inclined thusly.

Unfortunately it seems to be human nature that there will always be someone who wants to use nearly any medicinal agent for recreational purposes. Look at the number of people addicted to morphine, sleeping pills and other commonly prescribed painkillers. Even cough syrup.

I guess it comes down to whether the benefits of a substance used medically outweigh the damage and risk for those not using it as it should be. I'd like to see much more widespread and dedicated trials on the use of marijuana in treatment as it seems to be quite a fuzzy area - that it might or might not help some people with some conditions, with nothing known about the long term side effects when prescribed etc.

Hi Ilana. Sorry you're still dealing with a migraine. Headaches are one thing I've never had trouble with but I've known people who have struggled with migraines and have been humbled by their descriptions of them.

I know Ellen was having some computer problems so I just wanted to confirm that yes, marijauna is legal in Washington State. I believe the law became effective last month.

I'm often on a breast cancer online discussion board where people have been talking about using marijuana for pain control but there are also people who have been excited about it being able to cure cancer. I have no idea if there's any merit to those claims but there certainly is alot of talk about it lately.

Hope today is a good day for you and thanks for that link to the brain training site. It looks like a good thing to check out.

Ilana as a non-smoker I'm not well equipped to advise on smoking weed to help your headache but I do imagine it would help you forget it for an hour or two. I don't know how to inhale as I have only smoked the occasional cigar and pals wouldn't waste their pot on me. SWMBO has tried it several times in her girly days and used to get extremely giggly. x

Yep, possession of a small amount of marijuana is now legal in Washington state. One may not grow it or distribute it, and there are limits on the amount one may have in one's bloodstream when driving, but having it using it is legal. The feds have said that they will not bother with the state even though there is some conflict between federal and state laws.

I'm also ambivalent. It's not that I don't have a history of familiarity with the weed. Quite the contrary. And I think it has some medicinal benefit. I also think it has some adverse impact for, say, your average college student who uses it to excess.

eta: Medicinally, I think the plant has much to offer for pain. And I believe it tends to exacerbate anxiety. Since anxiety is my primary emotional foe, my personal feelings about mj are influenced accordingly.

Hello lovely - I have only ever had 2 migraines in my life, but they were enough. My mother used to suffer frequently, though, so I do feel your pain. Thanks for the brain training link - certainly mine needs to be able to jump through a few hoops! As for the mj discussion, it is illegal here, though small amounts in possession are just minor fineable offence.

With insomnia my particular cross to bear at the moment, I am definitely thinking of obtaining some as a sleep aid (it tends to make me quite drowsy and relaxed - I was never a 'giggly' smoker. One can always eat cookies, right?

Oh, meant to say what an impressive list of TBRs and planned reading for this year! Among your TBR Booker's, I strongly recomment Possession and The Remains of the Day - the latter, especially, is simply outstanding.

The Good news is my latest migraine is slowly fading away, maybe, or at least, it's not been as painful the past couple of days as it was the last two days before that. The not so great news is I woke up with a very sore throat today, and my right ear, which has been blocked for two weeks now is starting to hurt. Oy. Yes, I'm feeling sorry for myself right now.

On the reading front, I finished listening to The Last Child last night, and today picked up The Wind Singer by William Nicholson, an audiobook I'd been looking forward to not least of which because it's narrated by my everlasting love, Samuel West. I'm about a third of the way through and enjoying it quite a lot. Can't wait to go to bed now so I can resume reading Gillespie and I, which I ignored yesterday because I was too wrapped up in the final chapters of The Last Child to pick up anything else, no matter how good.

#55 Jenny, that does sound like a strange migraine, though I'm not so surprised, because I know they manifest in all kinds of strange ways. The first one I remember clearly was when I was 12 years old and spending time at a ski resort, by lunchtime I had a full-fledged migraine and I got very upset in the cafeteria when I couldn't remember how to say "hot chocolate", which is the only thing I felt like having. It seems I had lost access to some basic words like that. I'm glad yours eased off after a bit of sleep.

#56 Charlotte, that chandelier is in what is now an upscale mall which is situated in an old posh building downtown. There's a hall area where they have a small runway for the occasional fashion show situation just under that beautiful high decorated ceiling. It's a giant thing too. Very impressive.

I was inclined to abuse marijuana for many many years and definitely wouldn't say that it's not addictive or that it doesn't have negative side effects, since I was quite hooked on it and am almost certain I suffer from long-term use side effect, such as poor short-term memory. I don't know how they'll figure out the whole clash between state and federal law... seems pretty tricky.

#57 Jenny, your comment makes me smile right now because just today my mom sent out one of those "back in the day" emails. This one made a list of a bunch of medications which were commonly available in the 19th century, up to the first decade of the 20th century, many of which were openly stated to contain cocaine or heroine (the latter even came in a syrup form which was designed by small babies).

#58 Pat, I've been hearing about marijuana use for treatment of pain for many years now. I know when I was smoking it heavily it often set off headaches, so I don't know how useful it would be in my case in helping with migraines.

Let me know if you do start a brain training regimen with Lumosity. It was exciting to watch my score rise and rise the first month on it, but now I think I'm reaching a plateau, which is somewhat frustrating. I'm still enjoying the games though, and the whole point is supposed to be that brain elasticity improves the more you exercise it... so who knows, I might end up being some kind of genius if I keep at it! :-)

#59 My dear Paul... never inhaled eh? Remember the furor when Bill Clinton admitted he had? Or was that Obama? It's true pot often makes one feel very giggly. I can vouch for that from experience. I started falling out of love with it when I found that after the initial excitement and cool brainwaves, that it actually made me incredibly drowsy. Kept smoking many many years after that all the same, just for those first few minutes of trippiness. Can't say I miss it all that much really.

#60 Ellen, I've often wondered what turn my life would have taken had I not inhaled my first joint at the very mature age of 13 and spent the next 20++ years getting high as often as I possibly could. It influenced my choices in terms of who I wanted or didn't want to be friends with (not always the best choices, as you might imagine) and then when I was high, there was very little motivation or energy left to do much of anything, including reading. I don't want to say I wholly regret having partaken in the weed, but I do wish I'd have been a bit more balanced about it all. But that right there is my biggest challenge in life. Agreed it's not the greatest thing if you suffer from anxiety. It certainly made me quite paranoid. Really strange they'd make pot legal within a state while it's still prohibited on the federal level. But I guess there are stranger things than that in this world...

#61 & 62 Hi Prue, if you're anything like me, then a little helping of mj would definitely go a long way as a sleeping aid!

Both those Booker novels you've mentioned are definitely on my want to read this year. Possession was one I had planned to read last year already... and Remains of the Day has been so highly touted that I don't think I should let it perish on the shelves for one more year...

Yes, you will need a prescription for fiorcet. It works like a magic bullet for me. Please keep me posted.

I'm so sorry you are suffering.

Hi Ilana, you don't seem to have a challenge thread going, so I'd thought I'd track you down over here. That is one impressive list of books you've got lined up, and I hope your feeling back to normal really soon.

Ilana, I've been taking Fioricet with codeine for years. That said, the last time I looked, Fioricet wasn't available in Canada. Fiorinal is, however -- you'd probably be looking at Fiorinal C 1/2, which has about the same amount of codeine. Slightly tougher on the stomach (aspirin vs tylenol kind of difference.) You def. will need a prescription, and it is addictive, so they tend to be careful about it. That said, it's the most effective treatment I have found.

I'll be seeing my neurologist sometime in the next few weeks and will ask him about medical marijuana.

Touch wood, but I haven't had a serious migraine since my massive one on 12/20 and 12/21 that sent me to the ER. Whatever they gave me really worked -- two IV cocktails, one with Reglan, Toradol and Benadryl; the other with Compazine and morphine as well as a tablet of Prednisone. I don't know what it was that clicked but other than a few evenings last week when I foolishly combined PMS with Chinese food, I have been doing well. The ER people gave me a RX for Compazine, which they said could also be taken to ward off attacks. I haven't really put it to the test. Taken two tablets; one helped but the other may not have. Not sufficient evidence yet. I'm kinda wondering if it was the Prednisone...

Hi Ilana. Finally managed to get round to your thread to drop off my star. I really hope the migraine is gone now and that you haven't replaced it with a cold :-(

I hope that your migraine has completely eased off and that the cold chooses not to manifest! What awful bad luck that would be if it had.

I'm loving your pictures on fb by the way. They really brighten my day whenever I look. Thank you for that.

Dropping in to say hi, not good about the migraine, take care of yourself , nothing like a bit of comfort food when you are feeling like this ....

Short-term memory problems on account of weed?? Well, I guess pot will never be a part of my life then, as short-term memory has always been a problem for me.

Hope your cold goes away fast. At least it isn't the flu, (I hope) which is pretty much running rampant down in these parts.

I should have known you'd be on top of this migraine issue with your doctor as you are a reasonable and intelligent woman. You can't really live with migraines without medical attention. I know. I'm glad you are not the stubborn type to just "gut it out".

I have been taking Fiorinal for years and will not leave home without it. Depending on the severity of my migraines, I sometimes have to double up the dose. (I can't take codeine - makes me sick.) Fiorinal doesn't help quite as much now as it did in the past, but age has lessened the frequency and intensity so I manage. Have tried so many other meds with no success.

Some blood pressure meds are given to prevent migraines. Not sure which ones. Maybe you have already explored that.

Marijuana? To each their own. I don't think enough is known yet.

When I had my ears tested for attacks of dizziness, the ENT dr told me it was probably the result of migraine which can manifest itself in that way. Luckily my vertigo episodes are few and far between. When they strike, I am bedridden for up to a week. I can't even turn from side to side without complete disorientation. It's nothing short of hell. Don't know what on earth I would do if I lived alone.

Hopeful hugs that you will find something that works like a charm.

Lumosity sounds like something I should explore ;-)

Dropping in to say "Hi, Ilana!"

Quite sick today. My father called me in the morning as usual, and I knew I wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. Ears buzzing and sore throat, felt like I'd hit a brick wall. Had to cancel my appointment with my OT, whom I haven't seen in over a month now. Shame. Need to take myself to a doctor and see and ear throat and nose specialist. I think I have a proper ear infection at this point. Ugh. Didn't get up till well after sundown, and need to get myself back to bed soon as v v low energy.

Almost finished The Wind Singer. Should be done with it tonight or tomorrow. Will definitely continue with the next two books in the trilogy. I'm surprised this book isn't more popular than it is here on LT, because it just seems like a must-read. Don't have my head about me to write what it's about, but if you're curious the blurb on the main page gives a good feel for what the story is about.

Aside from physical health problems, I think I'm doing rather well, though feeling very unsettled. Sometimes that's a good thing, but only time will tell.

Ilana - Get better soon my dear. x Miss you around the threads.

Ugh, just when you start feeling better on one front, a cold/flu hits you. Unfair, I say!

I have Possession and The Remains of the Day on my TBR for this year, too (for my Booker challenge).

#64 Linda... as the Buddhists say, Life is Suffering. I just take it all one moment at a time. My three furkids make everything much more tolerable.

#65 Hi Alana, thanks for hunting me down! I do intend to put up a challenge thread, just need to get my act together and come up with categories, which seems like more mental effort than I'm able to put out these days. In the end I think I'll probably come up with something very simple.

#66 Hi Suz! Thanks for all the information on medication. Are you considering looking into medical marijuana for yourself? I'm curious to know what prompted you to go to the ER with that terrible migraine? I missed it when it happened, so don't know the details. Sounds like it was very terrible. I'm grateful that on the whole, my migraines don't usually go much beyond and 8 out of 10 with 10 in my mind being equivalent to death by migraine, if that's possible. I usually have a 3-5 going on a daily basis, and am so used to it that I don't even notice it most of the time. When it gets up to 7 or 8 is when it's problematic, because I can still function, but get quite emotional with the pain. Rarely am I completely incapacitated, thank heavens, but when it happens I just try to sleep it off. Not that it works, but at least I'm not fully conscious through the worst of it. I didn't even know they could treat migraine at the hospital. But I guess it would have to be very very bad. What were your symptoms? In any case, very glad to know you've been better. I missed my appointment with my neurologist in December and really need to book another so we can talk about medication, i.e. further options. Will bring up Fiorinal for sure.

#67 My dear Heather, I think at this point it's a mix of everything. I just posted a photo of a brick wall on IG I think is rather beautiful, and was going to write as a caption that I feel like I've hit one of those, but didn't want to alarm anyone, like my mother for instance, who always feels very badly about being so far away and not being able to do anything when I'm not well. Hope you're doing ok dear lady. xx

#68 Jenny, I'm so happy you're enjoying my photo feed on FB! It makes me really glad. I don't know what it is I'm communicating with my images, but I always hope that they have some kind of positive impact, even though my subject matters aren't usually exactly pretty or glamorous in any way.

I've had a blocked ear for over two weeks now. Got water in it in the shower and it's given me trouble ever since. Didn't hurt, and still doesn't, and I was hoping it would just sort itself out, but I do recognize the signs of an infection now with some itchiness and a feeling that it's swollen in there, so definitely need to see a doctor at this point. Thanks for the moral support.

#69 Speaking of comfort food Alex, I made myself an apple crisp yesterday. Hadn't made one in many months, and it was a huge one... have eaten a good half of it by now, which was my one source of nourishment today as generally don't have much of an appetite. It is the ultimate comfort food for me though, so definitely hits the spot!

#70 Charlotte, no flu no, and I really hope I don't catch one this season. Those things are just awful, so I feel like things could be much worse... which is a good thing, right? Trying to see the glass half full at this point. Pot is quite notorious for affecting short term memory for chronic users, though it isn't usually a problem for occasional indulgences. I'd say it's definitely a mind opener though, and think everyone should try it at least once! :-) Obviously it's not for everyone though.

#71 Claudia, intelligent... maybe in some ways, reasonable... is debatable. I probably don't see doctors as often as I should, just because most of the time it involves hours and hours of sitting in a waiting room and either walking away with a bit of paper that leads you to more waiting in another waiting room, or being told nothing can be done. Or being given a prescription for medication that doesn't do much to help. That's been my experience generally anyway. But yes, I'll look into further medication for my migraine condition, because it's kind of ridiculous to be in pain all the time. I don't know about blood pressure meds. Probably wouldn't be prescribed any either as my blood pressure is quite low.

I'm not entirely surprised to hear that your dizziness was probably caused by migraines. They do manifest in all kinds of strange ways. Sometimes I don't feel pain as such, but am in a really strange mental zone which feels more physical than emotional and is almost impossible to describe. I tried doing so to my neurologist and he confirmed it was a manifestation of migraines. Interesting beasts, if anything.

I hope you do check out Lumosity. If you do, DO tell me what you think of it!

#72 Hi Lori! Thanks for dropping by! :-)




Right. Off to walk Coco, then bed with Gillespie and I, then sleep to be well rested for another day.

You're reading Gillespie and I. Cool!

#74 Paul, every day I have the intention of doing some rounds of threads, but then it seems like such a huge undertaking that I stall, I'm sorry to say. I should just do as I did a few months ago, which was to just visit a handful every day instead of trying to keep up with everybody all the time, which is completely impossible for me (and most people I would guess). Nice to know my absence is noticed at least!

#75 Ellen, thanks for your sympathy. One thing my mom taught me when I was very young was that life IS unfair. It's unfair in ways that are also advantageous to me. For instance, the fact that I can get financial support because of my mental health issues and am able to do things I enjoy doing most every day is something I never take for granted. Once in a while... or maybe often, there are other health issues to deal with. That's life I guess. I try not to feel sorry for myself, but the emotional support from friends like you definitely means a lot.

I'm not great at group reads these days, though I do like to know I'm reading something at the same time as friends, so I'll gladly read Possession and The Remains of the Day along with you when you get to them. I haven't given up on Native Son either... it's been sitting on my bedside table for at least a month now!

Claudia, am not surprised by your dizzy episodes being linked to migraines. My mother's neurologist believes her Bell's palsy is tied to it. There is a form of migraine that is related to stroke-like symptoms, and that seems to be what runs in my family. I know I've developed a relatively minor speech impairment in the last decade (when I'm tired, concentrating or nervous -- also, annoyingly, when I speak French, presumably because it requires just that extra bit of attention), and that may also be linked. It was a problem when I was doing promotional stuff for the book 2.5 years ago; I had to slow down my speaking dramatically, prepare what it was that I wanted to say, and be very deliberate.

Ilana, I've had three trips to the ER since Labor Day. Last year was a very, very bad one for migraines -- like you, I often felt I was running at a steady 3 to 5, with spurts toward 7 as many as three days a week. The problem is that I have to work -- to stare at a computer screen, to think clearly, to reason, to have energy, etc. The pre-Xmas one hit on the Thursday before Xmas and last year I had one on Xmas day, as Richard could tell you all too vividly -- I gather I looked like a refugee from somewhere dreadful. I knew it was going to turn into one of those very bad ones that goes on for days, since it had started in the morning on Thursday and was still there Friday morning. So at noon on Friday I just decided that I didn't want to gamble any more. By the time I got to the ER, I was at 9, and in so much pain that I was twitching involuntarily and when I got a bed (this particular hospital is EXCELLENT at finding quiet dark corners for migraineurs) I was curled up like a hedgehog and apparently trying to strangle a bedsheet in pain (so the nurse later told me.) Nausea, inability to think, to breathe calmly, etc. I just couldn't function enough to work. It's not, as you know, like having a cold where you just feel miserable. It's literally wishing that I was no longer alive; that I didn't really care much one way or the other any more. In that state, it can take days for me to get past this on my own. The Fioricet is simply a drug at that point that makes me feel a bit groggy and even adds to the nausea if I take it too frequently; it doesn't even dent the pain. A bit like aspirin when you break a leg.

The milder migraines, I just roll with. Those tend to build up during the course of a day, and by 7 or 8 p.m. I'm hurting. But that's a 6 or 7, and if I grab the drugs, the ice packs and head for bed, I'm usually better by morning. It's the ones I wake up with that terrify me. I hadn't been to an ER with a migraine in many years, but I have decided that I'm not going to try and be heroic. It's costing me money -- gulp -- but if it means I win back some days of my life, so be it, as long as I have enough to cover these bills. It's also more important now that I have more recurrent work -- that's good for my income, but means I have less flexibility when a migraine strikes. In December, I was able to pass on a quick editing gig to my upstairs neighbor -- it was a single story, very straightforward -- but I need to be available, reliable and delivering quality work to hang on to these contracts and it has been a real struggle. As it is, I still don't have my work schedule sorted out and chronically feel tired and dragging.

ETA: Re medical marijuana, it's simply worth asking about, I suppose. It's not legal in NY, so I doubt it's an option, and I don't care enough one way or the other to go illegal. I certainly wouldn't bother just for recreational purposes. Chalk it up to curiosity and research, since I have to go see my doc anyway.

I hope that you are able to get to the doctor soon and able to get a diagnosis and something to help. Thankfully I've never been prone to ear infections so I can't say I know how you feel, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed it clears up quickly.

Feel better soon, Ilana. Those ear infections are no fun! At least you are reading a good book to help keep your mind engaged. I really enjoyed Gillespie and I and need to look into some other books by Jane Harris.

{{{Ilana}}} hope you can easily get some meds to clear up the ears
Feel better soon:

I couldn't pull myself out of bed to go to the doctor's today, but when I finally managed to, it transpired that my family doctor is away until the 21st of the month. I took myself to a clinic where they weren't seeing any patients in the afternoon (apparently they only take 12 patients without appointments daily and people start queuing up outside at 7:30 a.m. Not happening for me. I went to a couple of other clinics and the last one I dropped by was filled and seemed so dismally depressing under the glaring neon lights and a waiting patients in full view from the street thanks to floor to ceiling glass panes, that I decided I mustn't have an ear infection after all. Ear infections hurt A LOT. I know because I used to have them all the time as a child. In this case, it feels a little bit itchy and maybe swollen, but no real pain. So I went to the pharmacy and got ear drops and will hope for the best.

Finished The Wind Singer today, which I've followed up with I, Claudius. I'm just at the very beginning, so can't say what I think of it yet.

#79 Suz, I don't think I will ever complain about my migraines again after reading about your nightmare experiences. I've had really painful migraines on occasion, but even the worst kind were not in the same league with what you describe. From now on I'll be grateful for what I have, which are tenacious little buggers, but rarely five-alarm deals like what you suffer from, you poor, poor woman. I can't imagine dealing with all that when you're freelancing on top of everything else. I freelanced for many years before taking on the art director position at Châtelaine, and one of my primary motivations for taking that job is I'd had a few health scares with serious bouts of depression and migraines and whatnot, and figured I'd probably do well to take a job with benefits. Little did I know of course that the job in question would be the end of me, career-wise anyway. But I count my blessings every day that I'm not forced to collect welfare at this stage in my life.

#80 Jenny, it seems I won't be getting a diagnosis anytime soon either. I've decided I probably have a wax buildup. Bought some eardrops to help dissolve the buildup, though even the pharmacist told me I could also just use olive oil (which I already knew about). I bought the medication only because it came with a dropper, which makes it much easier to apply. I used it twice today (4 times daily is what she recommended), and that stuff smelled so so bad that I threw it out, cleaned the little bottle and pipette and filled it up with extra virgin olive oil instead.

#81 Hi Donna, I got two books by Jane Harris more or less at the same time, and decided to start with The Observations, which came first. I thought it was an excellent read and definitely engaging. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it. I'm fairly sure those are the only two novels she's written so far, so looking forward to whatever she comes up with next!

#82 Thanks sweetie. Apparently the whole city is stricken down with a terrible flu, so I count myself lucky with my minor aches and pains. It's all wearing me down, but at least I'm not as miserable as I could be! :-) Was going to visit some threads today including yours, but will have to defer again as I need to get myself to bed soon. My shoulders are killing me from sitting at the computer right now, besides which my short day was truly exhausting! Oy.

Bad ears must be catching. I'm completely deaf in one ear today. Sadly have no olive oil to be able to drop in, though I do have a dropper!

#84 I think any kind of oil should do the trick Jenny. The original medication I purchased had a peanut oil base... Sorry to hear you caught my buggy ear syndrome!

hi Ilana - hope you are feeling more on form. I read The Windsinger trilogy as it came out years ago. Did you know the author is also a screenwriter and adapted Les Miserables from musical to film. I just saw it today and noticed his name in the credits. He has also written quite a number of adult books and I have one on my tbr pile to try.

Looking forward to your thoughts on I, Claudius. I loved it immensely and hope you do too but the narrator is an inverterate gossip as am I.

Your absence on the threads is more, much more, than merely noticed - "sorely missed" springs to mind. That you can clock up almost a 100 posts already whilst largely staying "at home" is as sure a sign as any of your popularity in the group.

I also adopt your pattern of going to a set number of posts during the week but get to many more over the weekend when I can draw breath a little.

I hope you're feeling better now. Happy weekend, Ilana!

Oh Ilana dear - big consoling huig from me. You are loved, know that!

Just popping by with some moral support. Us 'currently deaf in one ear' people have to stick together after all :)

Hope your ear & you are feeling better!

Apparently there is some mega flu thing circling around, too, so best to stay indoors and curl up with Coco & some books... I know that will prove to be a real hardship... *grin*

Just peeking in to wish you a good weekend with NO pain!

Nothing special today. Got up super late, as is my usual... of late. Not happy about that and will definitely have to do something about it SOON. Went to farmer's market with Coco as wanted to hit the specialty store to score a pannetone on sale, and did, then went to visit my cousin who lives just across from the market who had extensive knee surgery on Wednesday. I'm pretty sure I showed her new dog Bella back in December or even November. She's a tiny little mop of a teacup shih-tzuh and full of energy. Puppies really are special aren't they? Came home and been obsessively been playing "word bubble" on Lumosity, trying to improve my score. There's nothing doing; I'll have to start studying the dictionary to get any better at it (they give you three letters from which you have to form words in a limited amount of time... there are only so many words you can come up with of varying lengths... pretty tricky if you haven't spent your life playing Scrabble).

Will probably finish Gillespie and I tonight, or tomorrow at the latest, after which I'll probably follow up with Anna Karenina. It's been more than a couple of decades since I reread it and I look forward to it, especially with the Pevear / Volokhonski translation.

Anyway, have to call it a day very shortly, because my headache is rearing it's... well, it's ugly head again. Sheesh.

#87 Kerry, I didn't know anything about William Nicholson until you just told me about him. I'm sure he must have written some pretty interesting things for adults too, look forward to your feedback on that.

#88 Paul, my dearest Paul. Firstly, you're are a sweetheart, though I'm sure you know that by now since I alone have told you many times. I haven't gone anywhere, still here and definitely not leaving this group what with all the quality individuals who people it and whom I consider to be good friends. I'm just limiting my activity here for now in an impossible attempt to try to fit in more things into daily life.

I did reason with myself over the holidays that I will not look at your posting leagues this year, because of course can't expect to keep up with that. Must say I'm surprised people have been visiting my humble little thread at all given how little I've reciprocated so far, so I'm hugely appreciative of course.

As for I, Claudius, I really really want to like it. I'd been looking forward to it well before you picked it for me, and now that you did, really want to appreciate it fully. But. Either it's the narrator on this audio version who doesn't do much for me (he doesn't), or... there's something wrong with me (we've established long ago that there is.) in any case, I enjoy bits and pieces here and there, but overall can't say I'm in love. Sorry. :-| Will you still speak to me? :-o

#89 Hi Diana, I wish I could say I am better, but not so much right now. Sniff. :-( Thanks for caring though. :-)

#90 My dear Prue, how can I not know it with wonderful friends like you telling me every chance you get?? You're a sweetie, and I definitely appreciate the hug.

#91 Jenny, have you been trying any kind of treatment for it? It's going on three weeks for me now, and I sometimes wonder if I'll ever get my hearing back again. Sheesh. Diligently putting in 4 drops of olive oil ever few hours. So far, no results. Keeping fingers and toes crossed for us both dear.

#92 Heh, Suz, you must know me well! Staying curled up and cozy at home is certainly no hardship! :-) Blasted migraine is spiking up again, but then I sat at the computer longer than is my usual lately, and my back and shoulders are killing me, so that must not help. But... I did say I wasn't going to complain about my migraines after hearing about your suffering, didn't I?

There's a really bad flu going around here too. I didn't get a flu shot this year, did you? I'm really thankful I've just got a harmless little cold right now and not one of those killer flus. Yikes.

#93 Aw, Ellen, I wouldn't mind that either, quite honestly. Thanks for the good wishes.

That kitten is too cute for words. Speaking of which, has anything happened on the kitty front in your household?

Oh, complain away, as far as I'm concerned! I do quite enough whinging on my own account! And really, in recent weeks I've been remarkably lucky, with Wednesday this week being a notable exception.

Hello Ilana lovely! Goodness but the New Year is bringing its travails for you...and I found it hard to get into I Claudius too and abandoned it a few pages in. I think it helps if you have fond memories of the tv series. Have you tried having your ears syringed? Might help...though, on the downside, once done once it seems one has to do every year or so. Still, seems a small price, non?

I've been doing the olive oil thing as well but no progress. I went to see a nurse yesterday who said it needed a bit more softening so will continue over the weekend, and have an appointment on Tuesday for it to be syringed. If that doesn't work I have to get an ENT appt and have a doctor pull the wax out! That doesn't sound like fun but I'd really like to be able to hear again.

Also similar to you in that I have got back into bad sleeping habits. 12pm is my usual wake up time at the moment. Thankfully it doesn't matter, but it feels wrong.

Hi Ilana- Just a quick check-in with my favorite M.I.A.! I miss you, although I have been enjoying your wonderful photography on FB. I'll be watching for your thoughts on Gillespie and I. I have it waiting in the stacks.

Dear Ilana have dropped by not to speak to you; hahaha! I, Claudius how could you?! Still I'll blame the narrator too. I was going to say LOL to Prue but I think she's serious.

Don't worry about me and my book favourites you have a friend for life already. x

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Finished Gillespie and I last night. I enjoyed it all the way through, but all along, I was so conscious about the unreliable narrator thing that I kept waiting for something major to happen, like some huge twist, when all along I had spotted details that told me all I needed to know. Unless I missed something?!? If you've read it and you can help me see the light, please PM me!!!

Not sure what to start on next. Probably Anna Karenina, though it'll seemingly take me YEARS to get through it! Just took it down from the shelf, though I wouldn't mind fitting in a slimmer volume between those two voluminous tomes... I've had Leonardo and the Last Supper out from the library for months now, following Suz's recommendation, so maybe that?

Feeling better today, what a relief. Though I daren't pipe up too much about it. Still, I booked an outing to see The Hobbit on Imax 3D tomorrow. I've been looking forward to it forever!

#95 Suz, I often wish I was the stoic type, who could bear pain in silence and not bother the whole world about it. But then I'd be a completely other person, wouldn't I. ;-)

#96 I don't remember an I, Claudius tv series, so really came to it completely fresh. One thing is clear: I don't enjoy accounts of war and battle... at. all. Every time I come across one in any given book, I just get bored senseless. I do try to make an effort, but it's just not my thing. And inevitably, any novel set during Roman times will have plenty of those. My interest rises considerably when he talks about just about anything else mind you.

I'm really fed up with this ear blockage thing, so will have to do something about it this week if it doesn't resolve itself. I had no idea you had to keep going to have your ear syringed every year once you've done it a first time. Eek. I read somewhere they can also flush it out with warm water. Using some kind of powerful jet I suppose. Getting into a clinic here is quite a story... so I'll see what I can do.

#97 Jenny—indeed, being able to hear half decently again would be a huge boon. I can't begin to think about seeing an ENT until my family doctor gets back, so will hope a nurse can do something for me. I must have about half a litter of olive oil sloshing around my ear canal by now! Sheesh!

"Thankfully it doesn't matter, but it feels wrong.". Yes, exactly. Also, I don't get daylight, or hardly any at all. Just got myself some vitamin D supplements to help out with that. Also, if I want to keep taking photos, I need daylight, and doing anything normal usually requires one to be awake and functional during standard work hours. Sigh.

#98 Hi Mark... MIA, is that what I am? I tell you, it feels like I never stop for a minute from the minute I wake up to the moment I turn my lamp out to go to sleep. When I figure out how to be everywhere and do everything all at once, I'll be sure to sell my secret for a small fortune, though I'll gladly share some tips with my LT friends. Have you started on Anna Karenina? I really look forward to it. Wonder if I'll like it as much on third reading?

#99 Good job on snubbing me dear Paul! :-) Too many battles. Too many politics. That being said, there are bits here and there I really do enjoy. He has a wonderful way of describing people. I considered giving up at one point, but decided I can't, just because you picked it. It won't be said I don't make sacrifices for my friends!

"Friend for life". I like the sound of that. :-) :-xxx

Ilana, I'm glad you enjoyed Gillespie and I despite the unreliable narrator. I know just what you mean.

You did, indeed, post pictures of the too-adorable Bella back when she was newly acquired. She was, as I recall, almost as cute as Coco. Almost.

I'm just getting into Anna Karenina and I hope you join us. Like I think you said somewhere recently, I don't feel like I really "participate" in group reads much, but I do enjoy the company. I figure AK is going to take forever, and I'm going to try to get involved at least a little bit in the actual discussion.

On the kitty front, we seem to be ambivalent because every time I think we're about to get a new kitty, we just don't. Now I think we've decided to wait until April, when we get back from our Kauai trip, and when it's kitten season. I want a striped boy kitten, brown/gray or orange, and I want to name him Carson. (Downton Abbey strikes again.)

ETA: "you have a friend for life" ~~~~ Make that two.

#102 I'll reply in full tomorrow Ellen, but for now I just want to send you a huge hug. Tears came to my eyes just now, in the best way possible. xxx

Ilana - It is funny I remember the gossip and the intrigues and the sex and the humour and little of the politics and war. Thank you for life's little sacrifices and an improving health! On the same topic I am a little out of it myself today, having had a couple of dizzy spells. I think my blood pressure is down a tad and I have imbibed my remedy of sugary tea.

Btw I think I am safe to say that Ellen is certainly a welcome addition to FFL. A triangle stretching from Montreal across to the Pacific North West and a hypoteneuse all the way to the rainforests of South-East Asia. x

>100 Smiler69: eek, Gillespie and I. My inaugural audio book. It didnt go so well. I cannot help you on plot or anything really as I abandoned it, quite a few hours and very little understanding, in.
I hope you got it figured out.

... catching up...
Re. Gillespie: I guess we both had the same issue with the book. I loved it while reading/ listening to it, I was really hooked and couldn't put it down. And yet I am not sure what was the final outcome.

I hope the ear situation will improve soon!

I think what I loved about "Gillespie" is that there is still so much uncertainty about everything at the end -- you think you know what she is telling you, but can you be sure your perception is correct? that's what I enjoyed about it... That, and the fact that it unfolds very gradually, as the author slips in a little detail or revelation bit by bit, making me stop and go "wait just a minute!"

When you can hear again, seek out the DVDs or something of I Claudius. Derek Jacobi does a fabulous job, and because it's a relatively early BBC series, with the budget going to great actors, there are no big battle scenes. It's all clearly stage sets, so even when the imperial family heads off to the chariot races or whatever, we hear cheering but don't see a large number of extras.

That reminds me that after reading Stella Duffy's books about Empress Theodora I want to look for my copy of Count Belisarius by Robert Graves. Oh, and I used to love his poems. I should put a complete edition on my wishlist at Amazon since my b-day is rapidly approaching.

Oh sweetie - make it 3 friends for life. It is one of my goals in life to come meet you in person. Somehow! Anna Karenina was a book I had to study for my BA. Had to read it more than once - three times I think. It's a wonderful book, but studying it to pieces kind of ruined it for me....

Went to see The Hobbit today with my father and my friend Krystina. Obviously was feeling better, especially since we saw it on an Imax 3D screen. What a wild ride! They made quite a departure from the book, but it's definitely and exciting adventure that's got me completely hooked so that I can't wait to see part 2 of the trilogy. That pretty much took up most of my day. After the movie, I felt like I was on some kind of drug high for a few hours. Now I feel like after you've been high and are coming down again. Hopefully I won't have a hangover tomorrow!

Started on Leonardo and the Last Supper last night. Didn't make it very far in, but it's a very engaging account about the artist and his times so far.

Meeting my banker for our annual meeting tomorrow. My banker happens to be a friend of mine too, so it's usually a rather pleasant affair. Every year, we end up refinancing my loans and extending them over longer periods, which in a way is good because it cuts me some slack and gives me access to more credit, but in another is bad because I just keep dragging the same debt along from year to year. The good news is at least it's not increasing, unless you account for the fact that my fixed income means my dollar goes a shorter distance from one year to the next. Still, I can't complain, things are going well as long as I can continue buying books to my heart's content!

#104 Paul, I would say that other than wanting to give a running chance to a book chosen by you, one of the main things that keeps me reading (or listening, in this case) to I, Claudius, is precisely that list of things you've enumerated, namely the gossip and the intrigues and the sex and the humour. I really think a large part of my issue with the book has to do with the reader. He just seems all wrong to me as Claudius somehow. There's a good chance I'll want to revisit this one either in print form or with a different narrator. (see my comments to Suz below).

FFL's transcend time and space, but it's nice to know there's they exist at various compass points. xx

#105 Oh, ouch! So sorry to hear your inaugural audiobook didn't go well Megan! What was the trouble then? You may still want to keep that book on your radar though, because it really is very good!

#106 Nathalie, I was thinking about Gillespie and I some more yesterday, and I came to the conclusion that it's one of those books that is very good while you read it, but then just keeps growing on you once you've finished it... until you can't resist the call and must pick it up again. Something like that. I think you'll agree with me that it's rather nice to have an ending that leaves questions unanswered, once you've gotten used to the idea. Especially when it's as brilliantly conceived and written as this one! I think my initial rating will probably increase over the next few days and weeks.

Ear situation: there's no fixing it with home remedies it seems, so I'll have to either make and appointment with an ENT or see a nurse for some kind of minor procedure. It's more of a lesser annoyance than a real problem at this point, though it'll be nice to have my hearing back to normal again. I'll take care of that asap.

#107 Suz, very good comments about Gillespie and I. I was quite annoyed that I spend so much mind space on trying to catch out where and how she'd reveal herself as unreliable, all along expecting a huge A HA!!! moment, but at the same time, it means I don't think all that much got past me and I was continually aware of the little slippages here and there. Though I'm sure on second reading I'll find there was much more I missed the first time round. That, plus the fact that you never really do know what the "true" story is in the end definitely can keep you guessing indefinitely... as my mother the as-yet-unpublished-full-time-writer told me once, every narrator is an unreliable narrator when it comes down to it.

Thanks for the recommendation on the BBC production of I, Claudius. I just checked the library catalogue and see there are quite a few copies of the 2008 remastered version knocking about, so I'll definitely take the time to watch that in near future. I just love Derek Jacobi, though don't think I've yet seen him in anything, as I've mostly experienced him as an audiobook narrator so far, oddly enough. He's one of my favourites though, so I'm sure it'll be quite a treat to watch. Regardless of my moans and groans about the book, I must rather like it after all, because just yesterday I was looking up the different versions they have on offer at Audible and have put the unabridged Frederick Davidson, the abridged Derek Jacobi, the dramatized version (with Jacobi) AND Claudius the God (narrated by Davidson) on my wishlist...

I remember looking up Robert Graves' bibliography last year and being surprised to realize that he was the same Robert Graves as the one who wrote Goodbye to All That, which has been on my wishlist since I read Pat Barker's Regeneration, which ignited a passion for all things WWI. I know next to nothing about him (well, nothing, actually), but from the bits and pieces I've gleaned, he must have been a fascinating character in his own right.

#108 Aw, Prue my dearest! What a sweetheart you are! I can't tell you how much I would love to make my way down to see you in your parts... Australia has taken up a very special place in my heart since I spent some time there in 2007 and I will have to find a way to go back, or my life will not have been worth living. Or well... I'll have missed out on a lot, in any case. I did tell myself then that I MUST move there asap, but then... life happened. You never know though... Big hug and kisses on both cheeks to you my dear! xx

Your place or my place - one way or another we shall make a RL meet-up! Canada's loss would be Australia's gain!

Ilana - Robert Graves does seem to have been an interesting character and his work with the exception of Claudius and Goodbye to All That is notoriously difficult to find these days. He was one of the leading Great War poets and is one of 16 commemorated as such at Poet's Corner. He also intervened to help prevent Sassoon being court-martialled and instead diagnosed with shell-shock (the background for some of Pat Barker's work). His historical fiction was fairly prolific with Ancient Rome, the American Revolution and the Byzantine empire all written upon (I have his Count Belisarius on the shelves unread). Among a set in the inter-war renowned for it man-on-man preferences he was also quite the ladies man. There is a Robert Graves society and I hope his works survive. I've seen the I, Claudius series with Derek Jacobi and it is great entertainment.

http://net.lib.byu.edu/english/wwi/poets/poets.html

btw I can vouch for Prue; I recall she mentioned to me too that one of her "to do" missions in life was to visit Ilana in Montreal. She ain't alone.

Hello Illana, just stopping by to see how you are. I hope that you carry on feeling a little better day by day. I feel with you with your migraine as I suffer from them as well, but I am glad that I don't get them more often than 3 or 4 times a year.

Everyone seems to enjoy The Hobbit, but I haven't seen it yet. My son has seen it in December with my parents and loved the movie, but then The Hobbit is one of his fave stories, which he listens to on a regular basis.

Last week was quite exhausting for myself as my little one is still sick. He started off with a bad chest infection and ended up with Pneumonia. However, they changed his meds over the weekend and last night was the first night, which wasn't quite as bad.

Glad to hear that you enjoyed The Windsinger, I read the trilogy several years ago and remember that I quite enjoyed them. I wish you a good week and hope you are feeling better soon. :)

things are going well as long as I can continue buying books to my heart's content!
Amen to that!

Ilana I am stopping by and *waving* at you. I haven't been on LT much lately but enjoy your photos on IG daily. How you make bricks, rust and peeling paint look so amazing is beyond me. Keep it up!

Hi Friends, the last couple of days have been a bit unusual. I had to go back to do another sleep test early this morning. Last time I went I wasn't able to fall into deep REM sleep which is what they base their tests on, so they asked me to stay up all night and come in the morning (which is when I usually get my best sleep). I was quite thrilled initially to have a doctor-endorsed bill to burn the midnight oil, but for some reason was more fatigued than usual, so didn't get much done. Then today after the tests I was pretty much out of it. Still am... had a nap early in the evening since they only let me sleep about 4 hours, and I'll be heading to bed shortly. I thought I'd watch at least the first episode of season 3 of Downton Abbey, as I purchased the series on iTunes, thought I'd get ahead on my reading too, but no, none of that. Posted a photo on Instagram and that's about it.

I did manage to finish I, Claudius. I'm glad I read it once, though I didn't listen as attentively as I probably would have had I liked the narration better. I consider this was fine as an introduction and I'll definitely read it again in future, because I do see it's a great novel that I'll almost certainly appreciate a great deal more next time either in print or with another narrator. So Paul, I'm grateful you picked this one for me as I'm sure it's a book I'll grow to appreciate a great deal over time.

This evening I started on Code Name Verity, which was highly recommended by Kerry (avatiakh) and I can see why. I'm completely hooked in from the first. Also love the first narrator (there's a second I haven't heard yet), which helps tremendously. It's a WWII espionage caper—'Verity' a young Scottish woman (whom I assume is a spy) has been captured by the Nazis and coerced into revealing sensitive information. Really enjoying the Leonardo book as well. Fascinating stuff.

Tomorrow evening I'm going to the cinema again to see Vertigo, Alfred Hitchkock's masterpiece. I saw it on video back in the mid-80s, so it'll be nice to see it again on a restored and on a large screen this time.

#111 I look forward to it Prue. :-)

#112 Paul, thank you so much for sharing that information about Robert Graves. I wonder if he figured in Regeneration then. Would he be the friend who first visits him at the beginning of the novel? I've forgotten details now—will have to go read the first few pages to be more specific and to refresh my memory about the name of the character I have in mind. As for the BBC series, that'll be on my to dos in the next couple of months. I'll be watching Dowton Abbey in the coming weeks, then there's Game of Thrones in March, so perhaps I'll fit in in between the two. I watch very little television these days... no time! So doubt I can fit in two serials side by side, but I really look forward to seeing Jacobi and what I know is a great cast.

Paul, I'll be happy to see you wherever we happen to be in the world. I have to say though that I used to be quite an avid and frequent traveller, and haven't boarded a plane now for nearly 6 years. I'll have to do something about that in the next couple of years. I saw my banker yesterday, and we're working on redressing my finances, and if I stay on track this year, there's a distinct possibility I might manage to get financing for some serious travel. There's my mother to see of course, but I'm itching to make my way towards the Pacific... very much so. What will you charge me for room and board? ;-)

#113 Hi Bianca, I'm so sorry to hear your little one has been sick to the point of needing medication. I hope he's well on the mend by now and you can rest easy. Migraines certainly aren't any fun, and there was a time when I only got them occasionally, but in the last five years I'd say they've been with me more or less on a permanent basis. Mind you, I do go months sometimes without any pain, but then the weeks and months that I AM in pain, like now, it just seems like it'll last forever. I try not to let that affect my morale anymore. I've become an old warrior by now!

They really took quite a departure from the book, or at least embroidered heavily on some sequences of The Hobbit, in a way I found very exciting as it combined the best of revisiting a beloved story, but then seeing take on a life of it's own. Exciting stuff for sure, you should make a point of seeing it on the large screen for the full effect. Just when you do go, best to be in the kind of mindset you'd have when about to embark on a fun roller coaster ride!

#114 Yes well... I'll have to amend that a little bit, after having seen my banker yesterday Ellen. Things are fine, I was able to get a refinancing without a hitch, but I do want to get out of debt more than ever now so I can plan and save for some bigger projects and get that load off my mind too. So... I think books is one area where I'll have to spend a bit more judiciously, though of course I've allowed an entirely decent budget for regular purchase. Wish me luck with that.

#115 Hi Roberta! Thanks so much for your comment on my photos. I must say that I am very inspired by some of the people I follow on IG who make those small details we don't usually notice really shine. I'm quite envious of some of the galleries I see, which have a cohesive look to them with a definite style or topic or approach. Mine is all over the place... which I guess is an accurate reflection of the person behind the camera... or iphone, in this case! :-)




Right. Coco's is making heartrending sounds so I'll take him round the block... and I'm about to fall off my chair. Have a lovely day everyone... I'll probably be sleeping while most of you are bustling along!

You sound so busy even if it's sleep-related. Enjoy your movie and I'm happy that you're enjoying Code Name Verity.

Hahaha Ilana - We have a fair few visitors my dear and it could be because the rates are so darned attractive! I also cannot remember if it was Robert Graves or not. Graves got Sassoon off a charge of mutiny on account of shell-shock and helped get him hospitalised to Craiglockheart where under Rivers he also met a recuperating Wilfred Owen. (I haven't checked the hospital name so excuse me if it is goofed).

Vertigo is a wonderful film. Enjoy.

#118 Good point Kerry. I am indeed enjoying Code Name Verity a whole lot. I had guessed the identity of Queenie rather quickly and was very proud of myself! :-) I think I remember you saying you'd also listened to the audiobook, am I correct? I'm about halfway through and I believe there are two narrators as two are listed, and I must say I find the one reading Verity very very good. I can see them turning this novel into a movie. Very nice having these female heroines in what is normally thought to be a man's world!

#119 I think you got the name of the institution right Paul. I remember that Sassoon has a friend in the novel who plays just that role you have described, which is why I thought maybe he was based on Graves. Very likely, is it not?

#120 I didn't go finally Ellen. Though I own the movie as purchased it from iTunes a few years back, so I can watch it anytime really. I'll explain why we didn't go in the next message.

Hmmmm, hoping your day was not off the rails.

So finally I stayed home and did not go to the cinema to see Vertigo as planned. As it happens, the aftereffect of my sleep tests and the sleep deprivation they entailed have wreaked havoc on my system, as I pretty well expected they would, so that I was completely exhausted today and could not get out of bed... and only did so very late this afternoon, just before sundown in fact. Been dragging myself around since. My girlfriend couldn't really go either as she'd been waiting for a phone tech all day and he only showed up late in the afternoon for some work which was likely to take several hours. As I said to Ellen above, I own Vertigo anyway as I purchased it from iTunes some years back, so I'll watch it soon.

I haven't done any groceries in several weeks now and need to quite badly. I had that planned for today to, but no doing. Not like I'll be starving any time soon with the freezer and pantry filled to the brim, and the clementines I got from the market in industrial quantities because I'm crazy about them when they're in season as they are now.

I'm wanting to fit in at least the first episode of Downton Abbey tonight, if I can stay awake for it, because as it is I'm ready to return to bed already!

Sorry to hear the sleep tests have left you feeling so exhausted and also sorry to hear about your blocked ear. I can sympathise as mine has been blocked for about two months now but it's perhaps a bit difference as it's the tubes in my ear rather than ear wax and it sounds like mine is less hard to deal with. I've almost adapted to not being able to hear with it now but I'm going to see if my GP will refer me to an ENT specialist because I've tried all the rinsing and inhaling she's suggested for 6 weeks and no improvement.

What I don't understand is that SWMBO always complains to me that she has backache first thing in the morning. I never have such problems being so low to the ground anyways. SWMBO is in Singapore and I spent the night in our Super-King alone and - it figures I woke up with back ache! Must be missing my sparring partner I guess.
Erni's coffee and the back ache disappeared immediately.

Have a lovely weekend Ilana - sleeping loads or little.

I finally got my ear unblocked on Thursday! Quite exciting getting my hearing back. Still quite tired, but I did sleep in till quite late today and hoping I can resume a semblance of a normal schedule soon. Finished Code Name Verity yesterday, a very good novel about two female friends, one a pilot and the other a spy, during WWII, and much recommended. I find it amazing that it's considered to be a young adult book and was published as such considering how mature the subject matter is, but then lots of YA stuff is very mature I guess. I felt like delving in a truly kid-like adventure, so have picked up The Golem's Eye, book 2 in the Bartimaeus trilogy now.

I'm all caught up on Downton Abbey. I agree with those who say it's a glorified soap opera, but what a GREAT soap opera it is! Highly addictive stuff. I loved finding all the old crew again, and all the drama is certainly entertaining. Can't wait till the next episode which I'll probably watch on Monday since I get them via iTunes and they are released after the show has been aired on tv.

Off to visit a few threads soon and then to do some reading. I need to return some books to the library that are over a week late and costing me a fortune in late fees. Art books, so I'll take the time to at least have a look at the artwork before returning them tomorrow.

#124 Heather, I don't know... sounds like you've gotten stuck with a bummer with your ear troubles. Mine wasn't a big deal at all, and I guess I could have gotten it taken care of much sooner if I'd spoken to the right people right away—in this case a nurse on our provincial health line who would have told me exactly what to do. The olive oil I was administering myself turned out to be the exact right thing to do as they ask you to do just that before seeing a nurse who then squirts warm water into your ear canal. One squirt and it was all clear again! Hope your troubles clear up very soon too.

#125 Paul, nice to know that a cup of coffee clear away the backache... just like magic. Erni must brew up quite the awseome cup of joe! Hope you've having a great weekend dear friend.

Dear Ilana - audio books must be so much easier after Thursday; now at least you can follow the plot.

*waving* at Ilana

I love the soap opera(ishness) of Downton Abbey. I said on my facebook the other day that it is such a great telenovela.

Ilana, after flying down to L.A. on the tail end of the cold/flu, my ears stopped up and they just opened up this afternoon. I've been in a bit of a fog (but not letting that interfere with my enjoyment of my cousin, aunt, and the 79F temps), and tomorrow I'm getting back on a plane. It's a weird sensation, isn't it?

Hi Ilana!
Happy to hear things are slowly returning to normal for you - ears and sleep. Hope the migraine has let up completely by now.

I've been doing some extra sleeping myself when I get a chance. Best time of year for that. Remind me never to have any sleep tests. Can't believe they don't keep you there til you get proper sleep. They, of all people, should know the importance of being properly rested. I guess being home is the best place to get it though.

I might have to drive up to watch DA with you tomorrow. Ron is watching the football game tonight. I have a feeling I'm gonna miss it. You make some tea and I'll bring lemon bars ;-)
Okay?

#128 Indeed! I could still hear faintly from my right ear, but it did feel like I was listening to everything in mono, which was very annoying. Always amazes me how much we take everything for granted, like hearing, until it's taken away from us. So today, I'm grateful for having decent hearing! If not perfect, because I ruined my eardrums on spending untold hours dancing away on those giant basses they have in clubs. Another lifetime ago of course! :-)

#129 Hi Stasia!

#130 I agree Roberta, the formula works for me exactly as it is, whatever label we affix to it! I guess the show will be on soon tonight, and I'll very likely be watching tomorrow once I've downloaded it from iTunes. Can't wait!

#131 Ellen, I'm glad you've been able to enjoy yourself and haven't suffered too much from the remnants of your cold. When the nurse unstopped my ear this week, I had to sit down for a while because I became extremely dizzy and it felt very strange having my hearing back for a few hours... everything seemed to loud and too crisp and too noisy. I guess we adapt to anything. Have a good trip back!

#132 Oh Claudia! Of COURSE you're welcome to come over and watch DA with me, I'd like nothing better! I can hold off till any day of the week which is most convenient for you. Plenty of tea here and lemon bars sound delish! When I hear about households being taken over by televised sports, it makes me extra happy to be single!

I woke up very late today and at one point realized I was singing. Me, SINGING! Doesn't happen very often and you certainly don't want to be there when it happens. But then I thought to myself... 'hey, wait a minute, what's going on here?' and I realized I barely had any headache at all, which doesn't happen very often. So all in all it was a good day!

The only bad thing that happened to day was I found out I have to bring in my computer to the Apple store for a repair. I've had lots of problems with this laptop, more or less since I originally got it and while I spent countless hours getting help over the phone, the tech I spoke to today said at this point I probably have a problem with my hard drive and need to get it checked out. This means I'll be computer-less for several days next week, which is a disaster! I'm bringing it in on Tuesday afternoon, and will get it back anywhere between one and five days later... pretty scary! I guess that'll free up plenty of time for reading and various creative activities. Of course, I'll still have my iPhone, thank heavens. Off to visit a few threads next.

Ear unblocked and migraine quite gone, that's great news!

I hope you'll get the laptop back very soon.

Now that I finally have a real salary again I must soon decide if I'll save my money for a new laptop or go and try an iPad. I got 2 notebooks (an old private MacBook and a slightly younger company HP), and both are having serious problems now. Movie watching has been impossible for a while, but now they also can't process some websites anymore.
Still not sure if I'll ever get along with those touchscreens...

#135 Sorry to hear about your laptop troubles - I feel bereft whenever we have to manage without internet access for a while. Hooray for an unblocked ear - I have a doctor's appt next week and am going to try and push for a referral I think.

Sorry to hear about computer woes, Ilana. They can be so frustrating!!!!

I can relate to the dizzy feeling associated with the ear thing. Now and then I have had a slight dizzy feeling when I blow my nose. Still not 100% over this darn thing, but well enough to go to work. More's the pity. :-)

Dear Ilana you ears gets fixed and now your laptop goes and gets blocked up. Take care and hope to hear that you have had that pesky computer syringed.

Hello Illana lovely - being a bit hectic in RL work of late so trying to catch up...Just finished Alys, Always which was just wonderful! Glad your ears are cleared and sorry about the bad Apple!

It seems there are no problems with the hardware, so the Apple Genius I saw did a clean install and sent me and my computer home. When I got home, after several hours of retrieving my backup, something went terribly wrong and I had to go through the whole process again. It wasn't as bad as it sounds. I'd had many months to mentally prepare myself for this eventuality, so I was very zen about it. I've been slowly downloading the apps I want to use again and sorting things out here and there, and I'm hopeful the computer woes will be behind me after this.

Slow progress on the reading front. Photography is taking up lots of room. I came up with a fun series yesterday, which I called "Waiting room stories" and added captions to a series of photos of chairs I'd shot last week.

Ready for bed now, extremely tired, possibly because of the Siberian weather we've been having, which makes walking Coco or having to go to the corner store a punishing experience. Still, must be done.

#136 Hi Nathalie, I'm surprised you're worried about how you'll do with a touch screen. I always assumed everyone would be excited about them because they're so fun and intuitive to work with. If I was still travelling a lot, I'd have gotten an iPad long ago, but I can't justify that kind of expense at the moment as I'm well served between the laptop and iPhone. Mind you, an iPad would be nice to read eBooks on, so it's a matter of time before I splurge I guess. Looking forward to seeing what you'll go with in the end.

#137 Heather, it wasn't too bad in the end. I'd minded myself that I might have to go several days without the computer and must admit that the first night I couldn't do anything on it, I felt a kind of release actually... difficult to explain. It just seemed like suddenly I had the luxury of TIME which seems to get sucked into a vortex somehow on the internet. Does that make any sense? I was surprised about this because I'm such a computer addict. It was quite an eye opener actually. Not sure if I'll do anything about it yet.

#138 Ellen, so sorry to hear you're still ailing but are well enough to go to work... that really sucks. I hope you beat this thing real soon!

#139 All seems to be in good order so far Paul. I'm sure your encouragement helped! :-)

#140 Prue, I hadn't heard about Alys, Always until just now, but I looked up a couple of reviews on the main page and it sounds fascinating! Have added it to the ginormous wishlist putting you down as the recommender. Hope RL is treating you well. xx

Well, off to take a walk in the arctic now. It's not so bad at the moment, if I am to believe the weather forecast. It's presently around -18 C (0 F) though this last week it's been more like -30s with the wind factor. Anyhow, it sure makes snuggling in bed with my little furry family that much more rewarding an experience!

Hi Ilana. Hope your dog walk went well. We've had below freezing temps for weeks and it's been close to zero degrees fahrenheit in the mornings so our dog has gotten almost no walks. Luckily we can let him out in the backyard.

I . . . must admit that the first night I couldn't do anything on it, I felt a kind of release actually... difficult to explain. It just seemed like suddenly I had the luxury of TIME which seems to get sucked into a vortex somehow on the internet. Does that make any sense?

I know you asked this question to Heather but I just wanted to say it makes perfect sense to me. I really think the computer has taken away my ability to concentrate on other things, like reading unfortunately. Still, I love it and think it can be a wonderful thing, with LT being Exhibit No. 1.

I continue to be amazed at your wonderful photographs on facebook. You really need to sell some of these things!

Why are there not more hours in the day, and why can I not get by on less sleep? Rhetorical questions of course.

My landlady who is a life coach has paired up with a professional organizer and put together a "21-Day Declutter Your Life Challenge". It costs $21 to join and there are daily emails giving little exercises to do to help make the project a doable and successful one. I'm behind because of my computer issues this week. They're on day 5 now, but I just did the exerices for Days 1 & 2 in less than 20 minutes. I would have tackled Day 3 & 4 maybe, only the email for Day 3 ended up getting deleted with the trash. This is because I carelessly must have given out my email to the wrong sort of people at some point in the recent past. I used to get very little junk mail, and from one day to the next I suddenly started getting absolutely swamped with spam. I changed my filtering preferences, and now, practically everything ends up in the trash. Grumble grumble.

Finished The Golem's Eye last night. Very fun second entry in this trilogy. The audiobook was lots of fun too with a great narrator. I've ordered book 3 Ptolemy's Gate and the prequel The Ring of Solomon from the library, as they have them both on audio also, read by the same narrator. I just now discovered that the narrator in question, Simon Jones, also participated in the full series of the BBC production of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He's great.

Started the audio of The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Tolstoy, since I can't quite yet jump into Anna Karenina until I finish the current book I've got going (paper book, I should specify. I want to start reading the first couple of chapters at least to get a sense of that particular translation, and then I'll be altering between that and the audiobook version I got from the library which I'm copying as I type this. Only trouble is I got my very first ARC from NetGalley, Three Graves Full a couple of weeks ago and if I want to read it (I do, it's sounds like quite a hoot), I have to get started ASAP since it will disappear Feb. 12th. Given it takes me weeks to get through the tiniest book, I'll have to get cracking on it. Anna Karenina will still be around after that, I'm quite sure.

#144 Pat, going outside is a major undertaking this week. I have to bundle up both my own self and Coco too. Had to get it a set of booties a couple of days ago because he was obviously having trouble, especially since they put salt everywhere here, which must do quite a number on their poor little footpads. I wish he'd just use the training pads I put out for Ezra, but he doesn't at all understand the concept. I guess it's just as well because otherwise I wouldn't get any fresh air at all. I look like an Eskimo when I get out there!

I happened to mention the computer thing in a comment to Heather, but of course anything I say here can be taken up by anyone who wishes. LT is indeed one of the major perks of the web.

I'm so glad you're enjoying my photography! I'm having so much fun with it and always dearly appreciate your 'likes' and comments. I need to get on the ball as far as making my artwork available for purchase. It's really not very difficult at all. I just have some weird mental block about it. Not sure why. Some sort of insecurity I think, which makes me procrastinate no end. But I'll try to get it done before the end of the month, thanks for the nudge!

Meanwhile, not getting any other kind of artwork done. Started a new watercolours class last Monday, and MUST make time this weekend to do some homework. As I was saying above, I need to learn to get by on less sleep or something...

Nice to see you back dear lady with kit repaired and Coco repasted. Have a lovely weekend.

xo

eta: I think of you every time I get seduced by a(an?) Europa Edition.....

Oh dear, I typed in a bunch of things and then did something foolish and lost it all. I'm in a bit of a funk today—nothing serious, just the recurrent monthly kind—so this seems like a bigger deal than it probably is. Other than the fact that as it is I'll have had much too little time today to have done anything since I slept through the better part of it. I have a watercolour class tomorrow for which I aught to have done some homework, but of course have done nothing and am not motivated to besides, though I know I'll blame myself for my laziness tomorrow during class.

I finished The Death of Ivan Ilyich yesterday. Wrote a bunch of notes about it in my deleted comment, but I'll keep it briefer this time; I had read somewhere that it was a humorous story, and this did not seem to be the case at all. However, it is an excellent one that I'm likely to revisit now that my expectations have been readjusted.

Today I was very much in the mood for some comfort reading, so chose something by Gerald Durrell, Three Singles to Adventure, about a collecting trip he did in South America in 1950. Wonderfully entertaining.

Will go visit a few threads and then get off the computer, as it hurts my back to sit here right now.

#147 Hi Paul, I hope you had a good weekend. I got plenty of rest and also visited with my old 93-year-old friend Liselotte yesterday, which was nice. Her children gave her an iPad last year and she really has no clue how to use it, other than playing Scrabble and bridge on it, so every time I go see her I try to give her some tips and tricks, based on my understanding of Apple products since having never had an iPad myself, I hardly know how it works either, but by comparison to her, I'm a real pro at it.

#148 Hi Ellen. I'm not sure why Europa Editions make you think of me, but I'll take that as a compliment!

I am glad to hear that you got plenty of rest! I know that is a rarity with you :)

I'm not sure why, either, Ilana, except that I think of you as a compatriot in loving beautiful books (as well as interesting ones).
Don't go to my thread (not that you were necessarily planning to do so) until after you watch tonight's (1/27) episode of Downton Abbey. Spoilers lurk there.

Hi Ilana - I'm currently on holiday and only have the iPad at present for keeping up to date on the web. We've found it quite versatile so far. I was able to download the Shanghai chapter from amazon.com for cheap rather than an entire book on China and found it. Useful to refer to during our short stay in the city. Now my son and I are in the south of Spain with a bad Internet connection but at least we have one!
We've both adapted rather well to iPad, my son is a diehard gamer so this has been an abrupt education for him with the touchscreen etc. Sounds so. Cold where you are, I hope you manage ok with your outings for Coco and your photography.
Excuse all. The weird sentences, iPad seems to put full stops in whether I want them or not.

Ilana- It was so nice to have you drop by my thread. I know you're busy, so that's what makes it a pleasure. I have a copy of Gillespie and I waiting on a shelf. I know opinion is mixed but I really want to get to it and find out for myself. I've had Code Name Verity on my WL since the book came out. I NEED to check my library out again. Enjoy your week.

Just dropping by to say hi, Ilana. Hope it's a good day at your watercolor class.

Hi Ilana, just taking a quick stroll through your thread. I wanted to let you know that I read My Family and Other Animals earlier this month, I had added to my wishlist after reading your review and was lucky enough to receive it as part of my Christmas package from Cee (Basrah). I loved it and have ordered the next one in the trilogy already.

Stopping by your very busy thread to say I hope you are feeling much, much better.

Oh dear. Just finished watching the last episode of Downton Abbey and am quite upset. Can't say any more than that on the topic at the moment.

Didn't go to art class today as migraine has struck again and I wasn't up to getting out of bed till I absolutely had to. I should have made an effort all the same and gone, but it is what it is I guess.

Finished Three Singles to Adventure today and quite loved it. I listened to it on audio and thought the narrator, Nigel Davenport was perfect for it. I did see that a new audiobook has come out just a few days ago called "Stories from a Corfu Childhood: A Selection of His Own Stories Written and Read by Gerald Durrell", which of course I'll have to get my hands on.

Not sure what to follow up with, though goodness knows it's not for lack of choice—quite the opposite obviously.

Between the migraine and the upsetting DA episode, I feel quite faint. Though I'm of course very pleased to find so many lovely messages here today. Will answer in the next message.

#151 Stasia, funny lady! All too true that I do get large supplies of sleep. Some would say too much and they might be on to something.

#152 Ellen, I'm definitely ok with you classifying me as a fellow lover of beautiful (as well as interesting) books. Only today I almost put an order through for a few more Penguin Classics Deluxe books, among which a few new Penguin Threads that were released in the fall, including The Wind in the Willows, of which I already own a beautifully illustrated copy, but those covers really are magnificent.

I have the first three books they released last year in the Penguin Threads edition, Black Beauty, Emma and The Secret Garden (which I'm almost certain I'd shown on one of my threads back then) and now seriously considering getting the aforementioned TWitW, The Wizard of Oz and Little Women. They're really stunning little jewels, as I'm sure you'll agree:

    

I'll have to head over to your thread to take in the DA talk very soon.

eta: after posting those three covers Ellen, I managed to convince myself that I cannot wait a moment longer and MUST own those three titles ASAP! Especially after having a look at the 3 titles I already own and seeing what great quality they are, deckle edges and all!

#153 Kerry, your message made me smile: a) because I'm flattered you'd be writing me at all while you're on vacation and b) those full stops were quite hilarious to read through! :-) I trust you must be having a marvelous time.

I was at the Apple store last week to take care of my laptop troubles and of course stopped to have a look at the iPads. I did consider getting a mini when they were released (sight unseen), but considering there's "only" a $150 difference or so and how puny they are compared to the original format, I'd still rather hold out and get the real mccoy. I know all too well just how versatile they can be, having had one model or another iPhone for the past 4-5 years now. In the Steve Jobs book, I learned that they had come up with the concept for the iPad first, but decided to use the technology for the phones first, so it's a very similar experience, except the format of course makes a huge difference. Perhaps I should start a collection from my friends and start an iPad fund? ;-)

#154 Mark, your threads are always a blast and one of the reasons I can barely keep up with anyone is I don't like to just jump in and say hi; I like to be able to have a good look around and see what's been going on, and of course that requires a more substantial time investment. I've always been a quality over quantity-type gal, I guess! ;-)

My guess is you'll love Gillespie and I. After my initial misgivings when I finished it, I really found it was a perfect novel. It's now sitting on the "reread" shelves, if that's any indication of what I thought of it. I suppose I'll probably write a sentence of two about it at some point if I ever get around to writing reviews.

Wish I could share my Audible library with others, because I have so many great books in there and it seems like such a waste not being able to pass them on... I'm saying that because thinking of Code Name Verity, which was a really excellent audio experience. I just now you'll love that book too when you get to it.

#155 Hi Pat, if you've read my first message from today then you know I didn't go. I'm not sure if I feel worse about the migraine or about having missed class at this point. I'd say it's a tie, probably.

#156 Judy, I've been meaning to drop by your thread to let you know that I read your excellent review of My Family and Other Animals a while back as soon as I spotted it on Hot Reviews (I get the long list displayed on my home page) and added my thumb to the others. I was thrilled that you loved it too, and did wonder if perhaps I had inspired you to pick it up in the first place. I'll have to thank Claudia for getting it for you and helping to spread the love. I think everyone should read some Gerald Durrell. It would certainly help make the world a happier place, wouldn't you agree? I've got the second book in the series waiting for me on audio, narrated by the same Nigel Davenport who did Three Singles to Adventure, so it should be quite an amazing treat when I get to it!

#157 Hi dear Linda. Thanks so much for dropping by. I did have an excellent week of feeling better than I had in a long time. But all good things must come to an end, and it was just a matter of time before another migraine cropped up. Not complaining though: life is very good to me and I consider myself very lucky in many very important ways.

Hi Ilana! Just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying the Dustin Hoffman narrated version of Being There. It's nothing I thought that I would ever read, but with Hoffman reading it I am pretty sure that it will be one of my favorites for the year.

Oooh. I hadn't heard of the Penquin Threads. I just googled it and found this description:

Sketched out in a traditional illustrative manner, then hand stitched using needle and thread, the final covers are sculpt embossed for a tactile, textured, and beautiful book design that will make truly special gifts

I may have to get one. They sound neat.

Don't worry about missing the class. It sounds like you needed the R&R and you have definitely been exercising your creative muscles these days--they probably needed a rest as well. ;)

Ilana, I've discovered that I've completely missed your thread for all of January - I just got so overwhelmed at the amount of posting going on that I could barely keep up with those threads I had found. I hope you enjoy the rest of the books in The Wind Singer trilogy. We listened to them on a long car journey a couple of years ago: J read the next one in the series after that but didn't enjoy it at all, but I think that that was more to do with there being too many 'relationships' in it for an eleven year old boy to cope with!

Hello Ilana I finally signed up for Audible a few weeks ago. I just read with envy all last year of all the books you get to listen to. Well maybe envy is strong word. How about wishfulness! Yes, that is a better word. Then this year I decided to indulge myself and when I go to the hospital to visit my mum I have been playing her one of the Agatha Christie books I got. Thanks to you we are really enjoying Audible.

Ilana, I had lost your thread, but thanks to the thread book I have found you again, and now I am all caught up here. I love those Penguin Deluxe Classics covers that you have posted above - I collect those lovely books. Really between the lovely covers and the deckled edge pages, how could I possibly resist?! I have several of the books that you have finished this month in my stacks including I, Claudius, Gillespie and I and Code Name Verity - sounds like I need to bump them up! Hoping that today is kind to you. I will keep a sharp eye out to make sure that your thread does not go missing again.

Hello lovely! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Funnily, I am currently working with a PA who is working from Toronto at the moment (she will return to Sydney next month). She is finding it FREEZING there - so I keep teasing her about the gorgeous weather we are having. I think you would REALLY enjoy Alys, Always and I love the covers you have posted. ...sigh....

#162 Charlotte, I'm thrilled to hear you've been enjoying Dustin Hoffman's interpretation of Being There so much. It was definitely among my favourites last year and I have no doubt it's a recordings I'll revisit more than once in future too! I'm looking forward to listening to Anne Hathaway reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz soon, it seems she gives an outstanding performance.

#163 You comment about creatives muscles needing a rest made me smile, Pat. I received my new Penguin threads today. One thing I'd forgotten was that in the inside front and back covers, there's the added touch of seeing what the reverse side of the embroidery looks like—very very cool! I'd venture to guess that you won't be able to stop at just one!

#164 Rhian, please don't worry about having missed my thread till now. I know all too well it's a full-time job trying to keep up with this lot! It's rare I can pronounce myself on a book before having read, or in this case, listened to it, but I know in advance I'll LOVE the next two Wind Singer books, if only because they're narrated by Samuel West, who positively makes me swoon!

#165 Roberta, I'm really glad you've been enjoying your new Audible membership. Sometimes I think I ought to work out some kind of deal with them, because I'm sure I've brought them lots of business in the last couple of years since I signed up with them! Really glad your mum gets to benefit from it too!

#166 Hi Mamie, I must say I think of you every time I look up a Penguin Deluxe title, since I know you love them and how crazy you are about deckled edges. You're the one who actually taught me that's what they were called—deckled edges. I didn't know what the term was before I first saw you mention it, and I'm definitely a fan too! I've started out the year with quite a few great books and I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy those three titles too!

#167 Hi Prue! Usually it's quite a bit colder in Montreal than it is in Toronto, so tell your PA she's getting off lightly as far as winter weather is concerned! Hope you're doing well, though I already know you're enjoying great summer weather, so things can't be all that bad!

Was surprised to discover earlier this week that iTunes had somehow made the balance of the Downton Abbey season available for download, which is a bit unusual since the episodes are usually only released after PBS has aired them. I thought I'd try to hold out and stretch them out, taking them in one week at a time, but of course that proved impossible. I just took in the second to last episode a short while ago, so now it's official: I won't be able to participate in ANY discussions about DA until the rest of North America has finished the season, because I just run too high a risk of letting a major spoiler or two (or three) slip. All I can say for now is I'm awfully glad there's still the 90-some minute season finale to look forward to, and I'm already impatient for season 4 to get underway!

I put an order through just a couple of days ago for a bunch of books, which all arrived in the mail today. Half the order was covered by a gift certificate my father gave me for Christmas (actually, he'd given me a great art book but... long story). All of the following books were purchased because of their beautiful covers (and all but the last two titles are Penguin Classic Deluxe editions with yummy deckled edges):

The Call Of Cthulhu And Other Weird Stories by H. P. Lovecraft
The Wizard Of Oz: And Other Wonderful Books Of Oz: The Emerald City Of Oz And Glinda Of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer (boxed set)
Goodbye To All That by Robert Graves (Penguin Essentials)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (Movie Tie-In edition - don't go for those usually, but this one's a stunner!)

I'm also expecting the Penguin Essentials edition of Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons to arrive in a week or two.

On the reading front, I finished Leonardo and the Last Supper a couple of days ago, which was fascinating, though probably told me more about The Last Supper's religious aspects than I've ever wanted to know, but then again, my understanding of Christianity is seriously wanting (not to say nil), so now I know a little bit more about Jesus and his disciples. Started on the ARC of Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason (an eBook which I'm taking in on the iPhone), which I'll by necessity review when I finish. On audio, I followed up Three Singles to Adventure with The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg, which I'm quite engrossed in. This one was picked for me by -Eva- from the Categories group, so I guess I really have to get my act together and come up with a list of categories so I can get a thread up there, if only so Eva and the others from that group who've picked titles for me can see I'm following up on their recommendations!

I know I keep saying I'll try to get to bed early, but tonight I really do mean it. For some reason, I woke up bright and early this morning and couldn't fall asleep again, even though I'd only had about four hours of sleep by that point. Thought I'd have a nap during the day, then didn't, so I'm ready to call it a night just about now...

Hello. I'm sorry to hear that the nasty headache still haunts you.

Sending good thoughts and healing energy.

Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite!

#169 Linda, please don't feel bad for me. I stayed a short while and got fed up with me after a couple of days. Seems I was pretty cranky company. I'm sure your healing energy worked!

#170 Thanks Prue darling! :-xx

Ilana, those Penguin Deluxe Editions are beautiful! I'm not sure I've seen one of the ones you talked about with the embroidery - and you could see what the back of the art work looked like? It sounds interesting and possibly serendipitously lovely.

I hope you've gotten to bed a bit earlier these last couple of nights.

*looks at clock, gasps, and heads for bed!*

>160 Smiler69: Those book covers are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!!!!

Hi Ilana!
I am trying to ignore the talk about Penguin Deluxe Editions as I know I will be tempted. Well, maybe I will just take a bit of a peek on Amazon ;-)

I wish I did Facebook just to see your recent creative results, but I just hate that site. Too many people, I think. I feel like I am in a crowd... one I don't particularly care for. Also, just when I got used to their format, they changed it drastically ( awhile ago) so I gave up. Anyway, I'm glad you have found something that sparked your drive.

Sorry about the rough start to your year. Hopefully things will lighten up for you now. Cranky or not, I am sending you hugs and more hugs {{{{Ilana}}}}

*I think it is time for another Coco picture - pretty please???*

Coco! Coco! Coco! *jumps up and down, clapping hands together, while Willie looks pissed*

Finished listening to The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg and must say I quite enjoyed it. It seemed to me to be pretty much a chick-lit/murder mystery combo, but well done and a fun listen in the French translation. I'll definitely look out for the next in series. Next, started on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, on audio actually, as I'd gotten the version narrated by actress Anne Hathaway, which is supposed to be amazing. A nice way to kick off Fantasy February. I may join in on the GR of Tigana once Mark confirms to me whether he thinks I'm likely to enjoy it, in which case I'd spend an Audible credit to get it on audio.

Made a butternut squash curry soup today which is just out of this world. Currently have beef stock simmering for another couple of hours (out of 5 or 6) to make another batch of Borscht. I practically live on the stuff in the winter.

On the photo front, I started a really fun series called "Waiting Room Stories". They're photos of chairs accompanied by what I think are rather witty and funny captions. For those of you not following me on Facebook, I'll probably put up a few in my next thread topper... if ever I get to start another thread...

I've heard the cries for a new pic of Coco, and that too is forthcoming, I promise.

It's late. I didn't manage to do one tenth of the things I was hoping to get done today, including making art with my hands (i.e. not photography). Oh well. Such is life.

Answering comments individually next, to stretch out the posts and get to 200 asap so I can more or less start a new thread with the still new month.

#173 Ellen, try to at least get a hold of one of the books to look at in the bookstore to see what I mean. The inside cover with the embroidery underside really is a fun and unexpected touch. They're truly books to cherish as beautiful objects. I did get to bed earlyish the past couple of nights, but it's no use since I read and look up pics on my phone till the wee hours. Sigh. I'm incorrigible.

#174 Agreed! And really, the 2D image only gives a very small inkling of how truly wonderful the actual objects are. True works of art. And neat that the stories happen to be great too! ;-)

#175 Ah, Claudia! I feel so wretched now, as been thinking about you and promising myself I'd give you a visit to catch up. Will put a post-it on my laptop to make sure to make it my first stop tomorrow. I'm really wondering how you've been and missing our frequent interactions. You are never very far from my mind, know that dear lady.

I got over the crankiness after a couple of days. It was a blend of hormones and... other unpleasantness that I'm slowly learning to (quite literally) ignore and block out of my life. I think you should revise your opinion of Facebook. There are many people on there, true, but you can and should choose to only "friend" those people you care to hear about, and then it becomes very much an exclusive private club, where you can interact with only your favourite people. But if you'd like to see my pics and NOT be on FB anyway, you can do so on Flickr (see the first post and message under the photos) or alternately go here: http://instagram.com/smiler_69 or here http://smilersmiscellany.tumblr.com. I need to find a way to have my feed load onto one of my blogs too... but all this to say that there are more ways than one to view the pics if you want to... No pressure of course! I understand that people have other things to do with their time too. xx

I'll post a new Coco pic very soon, I promise. Flattered on his behalf that you should ask. :-)

#176 Poor Willie! My cats aren't on speaking terms with him either, by the way. Mimi tolerates having him lie close to her, but just pretends he isn't there. I would love nothing better than to see them become friends and I haven't entirely given up hope, but I'm not holding my breath either...

Hi Ilana, finally catching up on a bunch of threads. Those Penguins look amazing ... and now I know what deckle edges are, I've never seen that before. My something new learned for the day :-)

Hi Ilana- I have had The Ice Princess in the stacks forever. I'm glad you liked it. And yes, I think you would enjoy Tigana. I think the audio would work too. It's soooooo nice reading a fantasy stand-alone! They are rare......like a unicorn.

I'll help you get to your 200th post. I started reading your thread last night and just finished now. I have a few comments. I don't know if you remember me, I did pop over to your thread a few times in 2012, but with the volume of your threads it is understandable that you might not recall! I read Alys, Always and I did like it, but I found myself wanting something more at the end, I'm not sue what but something unfinished about it. I would love to see some of your photographs on your LT thread as I feel the same way about FB as bahzah. I tried to get on there a little while back with the help of a friend and when I posted something it ended up posting on her thread, when I thought I was on my thread. I gave up after that. I purchased one of those yellow and black Facebook for Dummies books, but I am not sure anybody can help me. So, if you can post some of your photos over here it would be much appreciated. I am going to try today to load some of my photos from my phone and camera onto my desktop computer. Most of them are my gorgeous dogs. Everybody has their dogs on here and I would like to show off mine, as each one of them is beautiful with the most wonderful personalities.

I hope you are feeling well today and accomplish all you set out to do. I am feeling a bit under the weather so may just curl up on the couch with my big old heating pads. (my doggies) They provide the most wonderful comfort. Please drop by my thread if you find the time. I hope to review each book I read this year and I plan on starting a blog but don't feel like I will have the time yet, so I am somewhat fashioning my thread after a blog to see how consistent and interesting (I guess) I can be. It would be primarily about the antics of my doggies and my reading, as these are such big parts of my life right now. At any rate, I will be stopping by now and then to see what is happening with you. Mary Beth

Oh, and a PS. I was very interested in finding out more about Lumosity. That sounds like something that is right up my alley. Is there a particular website? I'll look back at the beginning of this thread and see if you left one. If not I can just Google Lumosity, I imagine. I'll let you know about the results!

Another quick PS. I found the Lumosity site. Are we any closer to your 200th thread? ;)

Are we trying to help Ilana get to 200 posts? I'm in.

*looks for new photos of the inimitable Coco*

This is more fun than reading Anna Karenina.

Thanks for the links to your pictures, Ilana. I will check them out. But first...

oops!
I need to help you get to 200.
I'm wondering why 200 is the magic number?
The continuation arrow should be available at any point.
Whadaya think?

Hi Ilana, just catching up and adding another post towards 200. Looking forward to seeing Coco's sweet face!

Oh - I almost forgot the most important thing -

Please don't ever feel wretched because of me coming over here to your thread or I'll have to stop. I'm happy to come on over here to see what you are up to.

MY big news is - drum roll, pls - my shoulder is all better!!! Ortho Dr does not have to see me any more. PT has restored at least 94% of my flexibility and still need a little strength training which I am working on.

So. Now you don't need to come to my thread :-) Do some more artist stuff. OK?

hugs xoxo

#160: I love the look of those book covers!

Oh yes - One more thing...
As it turns out I have a few Penguin Deluxe Editions on my shelves. Who knew????
I may need a few more ;-)

In post 177 Ilana mentioned getting to post 200 asap so she could start a new thread so I just ran with it. Sorry to start an avalanche. It just shows how concerned and considerate people on this site can be when they like the person whose thread they are on. It's very sweet.

Ilana, I just placed my order for my first Penguins Threads--The Wind in the Willows. My third thingaversary is Friday so I'm jumping the gun a little bit (but not much). I looked at some of the pictures of it on Amazon and I can't wait to see it in RL.

Aw, what a swell bunch you all are! I know I'm not around much, and haven't been for several months now, especially compared to how active I was at one point, but I want you all to know that you are never far from my mind as I've made such strong and genuine friendships here that I'll always keep my foot in the door, like it or not! It always warms my heart tremendously to see people have posted on my thread, whether I'm in "popular" mode or not. I've heard the call to post some of my photos here on LT, and will do so gladly, so I'll either pepper my threads here and there, or to keep the threads more nimble, might just use the top post as a changing gallery of sorts. I just hope those who DO follow my stream on FB won't get sick and tired of my images...

I have lots more to say, but I think what I'll do is reply to the wonderful comments I got today, which will take me to magic #200 so I can quickly start up a new thread and continue gabbing there, where it won't be ignored with what will soon become the discarded old thread....

Just wanted to say real quickly that I went to see your pictures on Instagram and they are marvelous. I love close-ups of houses, I think it shows their character and loved many individual shots for various and sundry reasons. You are creative and diligent as I'm sure it took some time to amass all those different shots. They each have a sort of individual feeling to them.

#182 Alana, I'm willing to bet you've seen deckled edges before, but didn't notice they were a "thing". That how it was for me... I'd come across them once in a while and thought they were neat, but certainly didn't know they were a mark of quality, and even less what they were called. Just so you know, they're highly addictive!

#183 Mark, I predict you will really like The Ice Princess and will be convincing everybody to jump onto this series when you're done with it!

You made me literally laugh out loud with you unicorn comment, so I immediately went over to Audible and spent a credit on what was one of the first books to land on my wishlist there. I remember Judy (DeltaQueen50) had recommended this author and this particular book to me, so I have several of his on the list, and this is the one I'll be starting with... narrated by Simon Vance by the way, which always promises a flawless delivery.

#184 Thank you so much Mary Beth for your significant contributions to the growth of this thread! I am now officially able to start a new one! Something which I'll do shortly. I think in fact, I'll go start it right now and continue answering comments over there, including yours, that way if people feel like continuing conversations they'll feel free to do so, as opposed to cutting everything off with the end of this thread... we'll see how it works out!