Starting a new thread to commemorate having read 50 books; plus, the old one was getting lengthy.

Book No. 51: Small Island by Andrea Levy. 4 stars.

This Whitbread and Orange Prize winner was totally absorbing. Four narrators told the stories of their struggling marriages and how difficult it is to be accepted in a foreign environment. I do enjoy books set during wartime for some reason. This was WWII and the period of rapid change right after the war. It told of the way Londoners judged new immigrants from Jamaica.

I might have rated it higher if I hadn't been entertaining grandchildren during the time I was reading it.

I love Andrea Levy! If you haven't read Fruit of the Lemon, it's wonderful, too. I have been trying to find a second hand copy to keep (I am not a book keeper, unless I love the book or want it for reference). I just wish she'd write more...

>2: I'll be looking for this one at the next library sale. Small Island was my introduction to Andrea Levy, and I want to know her better! Thanks for the hint.

Found you again and starring you!

3 - hope you find one! I've been looking for one for about 5 years.
I read a library copy.

>4: Thanks for adding some pizazz to my new thread, Stasia.

>5: I carry around this lengthening list of books that I would like to buy for my permanent collection. Sometimes I just give up on finding a used copy and order one from Amazon.

got you starred!

Gotcha starred again!

>6 & 7: Thanks, Linda and Lorie. It's good to know that someone is reading my muses.

Book No. 52: The Help by Kathryn Stockett. 4.5 stars.

Just posted my review here.

Eugenia (Skeeter) Phelan realizes that there is life beyond Junior League. This 23-year-old Ole Miss grad combines forces with Aibileen, Minny, and some other overworked black maids in Jackson, MS, to write their tales of shame. The shame is not theirs but belongs to their uppity white employers. Grab a cold Coke and clear your calendar for some riveting reading.

I've added this to my tbr pile. I like your comments!
I've been wanting to read this for a while.

Donna- Very good review on The Help! I've been hearing some nice buzz on that one. BTW, send some of your readers over to my challenge but be careful of the cobwebs.. haha!!

Donna-- Congratulations on your "hot" review, listed on today's home page!

Thanks, Linda and Mark. I usually stay away from books on the Best Seller lists, but glad I made an exception for this one. Guess I sound like a book snob, don't I?

Adding The Help to my TBR list. Liked your review. Thanks.

Hi Donna, Great review - I thumbed it. I read The Help earlier in the year and loved it!

Thanks, Joanne and arubabw. You guys are great.

Book No. 53: The Yellowlighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee.
Rated 4 stars and highly recommended to those of us who like books about books. My review is here.

"Books connect us with others, but that connection is created in solitude, one reader in one chair hearing one writer what John Irving refers to as one genius speaking to another." (Pg. 6)

I love that quote (especially the genius part), but I would like to add that with the addition of LibraryThing to our lives, those connections don't have to be made in solitary anymore. I'm so glad to be part of this network of readers.

Message edited by its author, Jul 29, 2009, 1:34pm.

Donna- Enjoyed your review on The Yellowlighted Bookshop. It looks to be a pleasant little read!

>17: Very pleasant -- and no blood-sucking insects or vampire bats! I'm reading (and liking) The Lost City of Z. Thanks again for the recommendation, Mark.

Your thread has been particularly hazardous to my TBR list tonight. Luckily, I am also currently reading The Lost City of Z, so at least I don't have to add it.

I'm anxious to read The Help. I spent a semester of college in Columbus MS in the mid-70s, and worked in the private dining hall of one of the ritzier dorms. I was one of only 3 white employees there, and my li'l midwestern sensibilities were shocked at how those black women were treated by those students. That may have been part of the reason I didn't stay there.

>19: Your experiences will make The Help even more meaningful to you. On a positive note, I was glad that Stockett included a few (very few) uplifting stories about how the whites treated their domestic help.

Hi Donna new to your thread, I told you I would star it and pop in :)

your thread is so far not hazardous to my TBR pile YET!! many of the books you have mentioned I have already on my TBR pile... your just making me bump them up higher on the list :)

keep up the good reviews

>21. Welcome aboard, curlysue, always good to have a fresh set of eyes reading my thread.

Book No. 54: The Lost City of Z by David Grann.

Okay, I'm ready for those poison arrows...I was just plain disappointed in this book. It was not the thrilling adventure ride I was expecting. I felt like I was lost in the "counterfeit forest" of facts and research rather than an armchair participant in a struggle for survival. I couldn't help thinking what this book could have been like in the hands of Jon Krakauer or someone more in tune with telling a story rather than relating facts. In all fairness, it was a biography so couldn't "legally" (for lack of a better term) enter the realm of speculation, but it just lacked that punch of "what were they thinking, etc."

I didn't hate the book. I gave it 3.5 stars which is above average in my world. My review -- in which I bent over backward to be fair -- is here.

Hi Donna, Here I was thinking that my husband was the only one not to find it enthralling!!

Well, I'm in the enthralling camp, but I thought it was a pretty fair review!

Donna- Here's your 1st poison arrow and it's gonna be a dandy...just kidding. Actually I liked your review, of course you hope another reader feels it on the same level as you do, but that's what makes our literary world interesting, right?
BTW, also a big Krakauer fan! What's up next for him?

Donna I thought you did a good review on Z.. stay true to your feelings no matter what the backlash could be :)
we have lots of books in common according to LT so your view might be the same as mine... we'll see I'am still going to give Z a try soon
Movie? I didn't know that... Brad Pitt? Hmmmm...

Only one poison dart...now that wasn't so bad. I've been afraid to log on to see what was awaiting me.

>23: Joanne, give my regards to "Mr.Coppers," a very discriminating reader.

>24: Dr.N, I always strive to be fair in my reviews because so much of our reaction to a book depends on personal preferences. That's why I could never do this for a living.

>25: Mark, I know exactly what you mean. I remember recommendingThe Story of Edgar Sawtelle to my friends and being disappointed when some people didn't care for it. Sound familiar?

>26: And finally, Kara. Thanks for your encouragement. I just call 'em like I see (or read) 'em. I do think you should read The Lost City of Z. You may be in the enthrallment camp. And, for the record, I did think it was a good book, just not the adventure I was expecting. Yup, Brad Pitt is a local boy, so we here in Springfield, MO keep pretty up-to-date on everything Brad. :-)

Donna- Funny, I was disappointed in The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. It started out so strong too! Needed some serious editing. I think he's a talented writer ,just needs to tighten things up a bit.

Mark, I agree with you on that. Plus, it was just plain weird in places. I am such a dog-lover, however, that it struck an emotional chord in me and I was able to overlook its flaws. As I told drneutron above, I could never review books for a living.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle struck a chord with me as well. I really liked it and will even read it again someday.

I'm glad to get your point of view on The Lost City of Z. I've had it on my list due to the praises here on LT. I still plan to read it (someday!), but your review gives me a better idea of what to expect. Thanks.

Back from days of travel, time to catch up on everyone's comments. Have added The Help to the wishlist. We drove the length of Mississippi twice on our way to the Alabama coast and back. We only stopped for food and gas, but I was pleasantly surprised by everything I saw there. I'd never set foot in that state before and had envisioned the worst, I think. Great review.

>30: I think that Edgar Sawtelle must be one of those love or hate books. I'm glad you liked it.

>31: The Lost City of Z is certainly a worthy book. I'll be watching to see how you liked it.

>32: I've missed you, Sandy. I have a friend from high school in Jackson, MS. I e-mailed her about The Help and am waiting to hear her reaction. Btw, you got back to MO just in time to catch the more typical hot weather. :-)

#33 The nice weather was just too good to last, wasn't it? Still, it feels wonderful compared to the 95/95 weather we had in Alabama - 95 degrees/95% humidity. Ugh. (Maybe not quite that bad, but it felt like it, and the locals were sure complaining).

We drove from St Louis through the bootheel region on down to Mobile Bay. I kept thinking of scenes from Enemy Women the entire time. Not at all what I'd envisioned. Now I want to get the book again and re-read the scenery descriptions.

Hello Donna - I was in the 'really liked' it camp wrt the Gramm book.

However, I thought the book was let down by his own attempt to 'replicate' the adventure. That part could definitely be left out, and it struck me that he was trying to create an exciting finale to find the Lost City himself and increase the tension. It didn't, at all, for me. Other than that, I really liked the historical portions, but then I am an obsessive. I had no idea how hostile the Amazon could be.

Your review was very good.

>34: I am not very familiar with the SE part of Missouri. I remember being surprised by the fields of cotton last time we drove through there. I also like to compare the locales of my travels to books I have read about the region. I read quite a few Alaskan books before our trip there last summer. They have their own tag in my library.

>35: I found your comments about The Lost City of Z very perceptive. I think I am more of a fan of Historical Fiction than History. I did like learning about Fawcett, especially the fact that he attended an actual school to learn how to be an adventurer.

Book No. 55: The Blue Star by Tony Earley. 4 stars.

I just wrote my review of this wonderful book in which I clamored for a sequel. This one is the sequel to Jim the Boy. If you liked it, then you'll love the maturing Jim. He's a senior in high school, in love, and about to embark on a life-changing course.

If you haven't read these books about a bygone era in rural North Carolina, I urge you to give them a chance. They are quick to read with some wonderful characters.

Earley is deceptively simple in his prose, then all of a sudden lets loose with a jaw dropping description. I liked this one about the tongue-tied Jim trying to converse with the new love of his life, Carrie:

"He could feel thousands of words, everything that he wanted to say to her, piled up behind his teeth, waiting for him to open his mouth, so they could storm into the light." (Pg. 256)

ETA: Oops...Jim's girl is named Chrissie. I have a feeling we might see her in the next book so I'd better get it right.

Message edited by its author, Aug 4, 2009, 1:09pm.

Donna- Nice comments on The Blue Star. I also loved Jim the Boy and look forward to the sequel...if I can locate a shoehorn I might be able to squeeze it somewhere!

#37: OK, Jim the Boy and The Blue Star are now on Planet TBR. I just have to find the time to read them! Thanks for the recommendations.

#37 Stasia, I'm beginning to worry about you and Planet TBR. I don't want either to implode.

#40: Well, if I live to be 70 I may actually start to make a dent in the Planet (if I do not add any other books, lol) because I figure 23 years x 500 books a year = 11,500 books, which is (right now at least) larger than the Planet.

>39: Not to worry, these are both very quickly read books.

#41 if I do not add any other books, lol) LOL!

#37 Donna - the Earley books look very good. I'm adding Jim the Boy to the wish list, and will pick up the next one after that.

I'm still chuckling at Stasia acting like she might actually get all her tbr books read someday!

Donna- added Jim the Boy to my planet TBR...

Stasia you are not ALONE!!!! :)

sjmccreary you might as well add me to your chuckling time :P

Jim the Boy was an "iffy" book for me. The prose was simple, but beautiful and even poetic. (I don't think "poetic" is strictly speaking the right word, but I don't know how else to describe Earley's writing.) The plot was more similar to those in children's books, yet I don't think the writing style would appeal to younger readers. It will be interesting to read about Jim more grown up. I wonder if there will be less dissonance between plot and prose for me?

Bonnie--I'm with you--I wasn't particularly taken with Jim the Boy when I read it, particularly in light of the almost universal high praises it received. I wasn't intending to read The Blue Star, but maybe now I'll give it a try. Thanks for the review Donna.

If it helps you ladies decide, I rated Jim the Boy 3.5 stars and gave 4 stars to The Blue Star. It had a little more depth to it, but was still written in a simple style. Much like reading The Waltons would be....but then I always liked John Boy et al. I think Earley's talents will shine (to use a star metaphor) if and when he does Jim the Man. There, I even gave him the title. :-)

#48 Thanks for the clarification, Donna. I thought The Blue Star looked more appealing than Jim the Boy, but since it is a sequel I feel compelled to read the first book first Being forewarned that the better book is still to come will encourage me to stick with the author even if I don't love the first book.

Book No. 56: The Empress of One by Faith Sullivan. 3.5 stars.

Well, it's official. I am stuck in the 1940's in small town America. This book is set in Minnesota and is a female coming-of-age story similar in tone to The Blue Star. It is also a sequel of sorts, or maybe more of a parallel story to The Cape Ann. I missed the warmth of Lark's narrative voice in this one, but Sally Wheeler also has a dark story to tell.

She suffers the stigma of having a mentally ill mother in a time when those sorts of things were kept quiet. I am enjoying my little break from some heavier reading and will continue in this vein with Lark's sequel Gardenias, in which she and her mother leave her alcoholic father and start life over in California.

I read The Cape Ann many years ago, but really liked it, so I'm going to add The Empress of One even though it doesn't sound as good. Thanks for the review.

#43/44: I am so glad I could bring a little laughter into your life, Sandy :)

Now if I can only restrain myself from adding any more books to Planet TBR - ah, who am I kidding?

#52 lol!

Donna- I was browsing Amazon and saw some info on the latest Jon Krakauer book. It's called Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman. It's release date is Sept 15th. It looks to be another winner. This will be a must have! Have a great weekend!

>54: Mark, I am so excited. I think this will be a book that my husband will enjoy as well. What timely subject matter with Afghanistan being the new hot spot for our troops. Thanks for the heads up.

#54: I will be looking for that one as well!

OK, who is Pat Tillman? Uh...oh yeah, I could just Google it.

OK, now I know. Not all that relevant to the Great White North experience - but I do like Krakauer. Mmmm, might pass this one by.

>58: Krakauer can make any topic interesting. True, he does write well about Alaska and climbing mountains, etc., but his latest book called Under the Banner of Heaven was about the Mormon religion and the fundamentalist fanatics that have plagued it since its beginnings. Just wait for the scintillating reviews that Mark and I are going to write about the Pat Tillman book. You may change your mind about reading it. :-)

I read and enjoyed Under the Banner of Heaven and listened to the audio version about the young man who died in Alaska - however, the football and army connection has no appeal to me, or many non-Americans, I would think. Just too culturally based.
I might be interested if he had done a book on the Canadians (5 I think) who were killed in Afghanistan by American "friendly fire" a few years ago - but that didn't get much press stateside.
Not to say I'll never read it - I have been known to change my mind, as a good Libra!

Message edited by its author, Aug 9, 2009, 12:41pm.

Yeah, I get that. I've enjoyed the Canadian Lit that I have read. Mary Lawson, Carol Shields, and the great Margaret Atwood come to mind. I also seem to remember that Lawrence Hill is Canadian. I loved his Someone Knows My Name last year. Any other recommendations?

> dihiba- There seems to be quite a complex story behind Pat Tillman. He was propped up as a hero, after he was killed and then it was revealed he died from friendly fire and then the cover-ups ensued. I think it got pretty ugly. I feel this has the potential to be one heck of a good tale.

If Krakauer wrote it, I will buy it. I think he is a wonderful author and makes any story very readable.

HI Donna
You thread is very interesting and generates many comments. I visit here often.

Thanks for stopping by, Carmenere. I predict a big success for Krakauer's new book. It can't miss with the combination of timeliness and his great writing.

Linda, I thank you for your generous comments. You are a real asset to this group.

Book No. 57: Gardenias by Faith Sullivan. Rated 3.5 stars.

I really struggle with rating books these days. I try to set aside my personal views to some extent, but they do factor in to my enjoyment of a book. I've found all three of Faith Sullivan's books compelling and comforting to read. She satisfies my yearning for a slower pace of life and plain ol' good storytelling. They are not great literature, but one can sink into these very realistic stories of a bygone era. My short review of my last journey back to the 1940's is here.

#65: Donna, I think the ratings system is something we all struggle with, especially since it is so personal for everyone. I just try and be as honest as I can on my thread as to whether or not I would recommend a book. I figure that is the best anyone can do.

I've never heard of Faith Sullivan but I will certainly look for her now that you've written a great review about Gardenias. Sometimes I need to get away to another era.

I loved Cape Ann. "Compelling and comforting" is a perfect description of how I felt about it too. It's one of those books that I read years ago yet still remember more than the basic plot--which if you know me, you know is not typical for me. But I also know that there is a particular type of book that most satisfies me as a reader that is often relatively underwhelming to others. (Ellen Foster is another book in that category.)

Donna, I'm not sure I'm understanding your comments about your rating of Gardenias so not sure how much I want to read it yet. Are you saying that you lowered the number of stars you gave it because you took out your personal feelings, or are you saying because of your personal feelings you may have rated it higher than most people, or...?

Message edited by its author, Aug 13, 2009, 10:56am.

Bonnie, I'm not sure I understand myself sometimes, but I'll try to unmuddy the waters. First, in my "book," 3.5 is an above average read in the good-but-not-great category. However, I just devoured this book so on a purely personal level, it may have deserved better. I wasn't exactly blown away by the writing, but the heart of the story got to me. Sorry to be so wishy-washy.

Bottom Line: If you liked The Cape Ann, then I do highly recommend this book.

Hi Donna, I was looking at The Cape Ann somewhere recently and I thought it looked like something I might like. I should probably start with it before Gardenias, no?

Donna, your description of Faith Sullivan's books reminds me of why I like The Mitford Series by Jan Karon

>70: Joanne, I think you would like these books based on past books that we both have liked. Definitely begin with The Cape Ann. I'll be watching to see what you think.

>71: Those "comfort reads" are like spending time with old friends, aren't they? I read the first Karon book years ago and I agree with you. They are both simple, but meaningful, stories of bygone eras. I'll have to revisit Mitford soon. Thanks for the reminder.

Oh my, I hope I'm not in a reading slump. My August reading has just been so-so thus far. Here are my last two less than stellar reads:

Book No. 58: When We Were Romans by Matthew Kneale. 3 stars.

Another book with a child narrator. 9-year-old Lawrence has to assume a more grown up role when he and his younger sister end up in Rome with a mother who is clearly not playing with a full deck. I liked the Rome setting, but soon tired of the invented spelling and the extremely annoying bad behavior and whining of both children. Not nearly as likable as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to which it has been compared.

Book No. 59: Dangerous Liaisons clearly crossed the line of my puritanical moral code. This is a book of seduction for the sake of disrupting lives and then bragging about it. On the plus side, it was well written and even a bit humorous in places. I'm glad I had the encouragement of a group read to finish it and now I can honestly say that I'm glad I read it. And just as honestly say that I'll never read it again. A lackluster 3 stars.

Back to the book on Tillman (have been away!). Now it sounds more interesting - I should have known Krakauer would go for a complex story that wasn't all it seemed. I think I could get it through my library system here - I'll add it to the 2012 list!

Donna- Dangerous Liaisons looks like a classic I think I'll skip. I have so many of them to read anyway! I thought the film version was excellent,though.Incredible cast!

Book No. 60: Roxanna Slade by Reynolds Price. 4 stars.

I loved Roxanna's words of wisdom as she looks back on her long life in North Carolina. I'm surprised that this wonderful well-written book has not been more widely read. It is one of those books that quietly grasps the thoughtful reader with the emotions of a complex woman getting meaning out of the experiences of her life. Quiet but powerful stuff.

#76: That one looks good. Thanks for the recommendation!

Book No. 61: The Vagrants by Yiyun Li. 4 stars.

This book was just plain depressing. It left me with the same feeling I had after reading McCarthy's The Road -- kinda sucker punched. The writing is more lyrical than McCarthy's but the story is BLEAK! Set in post Cultural Revolution China, it portrays the desolate regime of Communism. My husband travels to inland China for business and wants me to go with him. I think I'll stay in Shanghai or Hong Kong (if I ever get up the nerve to take that punishing flight) after reading this horrific story of cruelty and suffering that just took place 30-some years ago.

#78: I think I will skip that one. I can do without depressing!

Oh, oh! I brought The Road with me. Maybe I'll leave it at my mom's. Looking forward to stopping at Powell's tomorrow morning on my way down to my sister's tomorrow. I've brought my wish list with me and you're responsible for quite a few of them, Donna! Thanks!

Big wave to Donna! Missed seeing you around, friend!

>81: Thanks, Mark. This has been a busy summer with company and travel. In fact, I was just checking e-mail and taking one last peek at LT before shutting down the ol' laptop before we leave for South Carolina this morning. We are trading the unseasonably cool Missouri weather in the 70's for the heat and humidity of Charleston and Fripp Island. We have friends with a beach house. Lucky us.

I hope to get back on track with chatting, etc. when I get in my fall routine. All my summer spare time has been spent with my nose in a book. Not a bad thing.

Forgot to say that I am taking Pat Conroy's The Great Santini with me. He lives on Fripp. Maybe I'll carry it around with me in case I run into him!

Hey, Donna- Have a great time in South Carolina! Yes, it's been cool in the midwest, but the sun is shining this morning!

Have a nice vacation, Donna! Good luck with running into Conroy.

Donna

I haven't read The Great Santini, but years ago I saw the movie. The father was an extreme bully...It upset my friend so such, she left the theatre mid movie.

Donna - interesting reviews on the Kneale book and the Li book. I also read both books but thought they were both four star reads - but then I am drawn to bleak and dark reads.

>87: I gave The Vagrants 4 stars and thought it was an important and well-written book despite its darkness. I might have liked Kneale's book better if I hadn't read it after several other child-narrated books. I probably should have read some "grown up" books in between. I, too, am drawn toward bleakness. Book No. 62 is a prime example:

The Great Santini by Pat Conroy. 4.5 stars.

I felt a real connection to the children in this abusive military family. I grew up as one of the troops in a career Army family and was never encouraged to have an original thought. My dad was The General in our unit, though in reality he was a Lt. Col. as was Bull Meecham in Conroy's book. Like Ben, I had a love/hate relationship with my father, although I did not suffer any physical abuse. The military is a different culture to grow up in, but it helped me develop a sense of patriotism and discipline that goes to the core of my being.

I have intentionally avoided this book for years, afraid of unleashing painful memories. Now I'm thinking I got off easy. My father didn't drink or swear. He was able to rule with quiet strength and example. Ben's (and probably Pat's) father bordered on being a real monster. It takes real guts on his part to become a teacher and writer after his horrific childhood.

Bottom line: I loved this book. I think my background added to the appeal; however, anyone who wants a good story with wonderful writing and exciting descriptions of military life would enjoy this.

>84 & 85, Mark and Stasia: Thank you for the vacation good wishes. Had a great time, read a great book set in the region (see above), and I'm glad to be home again. I didn't run into Pat Conroy, but we drove by his house. I would have stopped in if I hadn't read where he was off promoting South of Broad. :-)

>86: Linda, I can understand your friend's aversion to the "Mad Dad". He was a real psycho in the book. But now I do want to see the movie because I love that low country area. I heard the house in The Great Santini was the same one in Beaufort, SC where The Big Chill was filmed. It is privately owned now.

Donna- Welcome back! Hope you had a great time. I saw the film version of The Great Santini. Robert Duvall was perfect in the lead. The only Conroy I have read was The Prince of Tides, many years ago.

Donna

It is a neat experience to visit a house where a movie was filmed. Years ago I visited a friend who lives in Iowa. We went to the house where The Bridges of Madison County was filmed.

I believe the house burnt down a few years ago..How sad.

Welcome back, Donna. Nice review of The Great Santini too.

Lagging behind on posting my books as I settle in after my brief vacation into a busy fall routine. I am already missing those lazy summer days.

Book No. 63: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. 3.5 stars.
Yup, this was a dark book, so it was aptly named. I don't typically read thrillers, but this one is set in Kansas City, and I read it for the Missouri Group. Pretty gruesome story about a survivor of a family massacre who tracks down the mystery of who killed her family. Flynn is a terrific writer if you can stomach her stories.

Book No. 64: My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier. 3.5 stars.

Slow and predictable, I didn't think this one measured up to Rebecca which I read years ago. It is set in Cornwall and reads like a gentle con game with Rachel leading on the besotted Philip after the death of Ambrose who was Philip's older cousin -- and who should have known better than to get mixed up with this strange woman.

Edited to try and fix touchstone on author's name.

Message edited by its author, Sep 10, 2009, 9:35pm.

You've reminded me of why I'm so ambivalent about re-reading some of those old classics that I loved as a teenager. I think I know so much more now, and am much more familiar with these kinds of plots, so worry the stories just won't grab me as much. I still think I want to read both of these books by Du Maurier again though.

>93: I'm 100 pages from the end of My Cousin Rachel and agree with you! At this point I am bored with the plot but fascinated by the similarities to Rebecca and I keep having these "oh my god there's another one" moments, which is keeping me going.

Almost nothing measures up to Rebecca!

Donna828,

As promised, Tales of Mystery and Horror Halloween Thread. So, come give me a little input about the order of reading, if you want. The list is posted on the first message.

Everyone is welcome. If you know someone else who is interested, pass along the link.

Looking forward to this.

BDB

Hey Donna- I don't know if you subscribe to Entertainment Weekly but in the latest issue, dated Sep 18, there is a short interview with John Krakauer about the new book, which came out today. I have to get my hands on that one! Later friend!

Krakauer is so good; I'm going to go check that out.

>98 and 99: The New York Times review didn't rave about this one saying it was too long and contained too much info about the football years. As always, I prefer to read the book and form my own opinion. I have absolutely loved all the Krakauer books I've read, and I think this one is particularly timely. I'm reading Three Cups of Tea which has awakened me to the background of what is happening in Afghanistan, and I'm ready to learn more.

Book No. 65: Not Becoming My Mother by Ruth Reichl. 3.5 stars.

This was a little book which takes about an hour to read. The author is well-known for her affiliation with Gourmet Magazine. She discovers an old box in the basement containing letters and a hodgepodge of random thouhts on scraps of paper that her mother had accumulated over the years. Very touching glimpse into the life of someone who thought her life was wasted, but who left a legacy of love and encouragement to her daughter.

Donna

I like your comments regarding book #65. It sounds like a good one!

#100: I read Reichl's Garlic and Sapphires last year and really enjoyed it, so I will be on the lookout for that one as well. Thanks for the recommendation!

Hi Donna- On the latest NPR Books podcast, there is an interview with Krakauer, discussing his latest. Also Dan Brown is featured. I see you are reading the new one by Dave Eggers. It sounds so good, I need to find me a copy! Later friend!

I have spent the past week with two amazing men. Through the magic of words I have been inspired by the lives of Greg Mortenson and Abdhulraham Zeitoun. It was pure coincidence that I read these riveting stories back to back -- one for a church book group and the other because my name finally came up on the library's reserve list.

There were many similarities between the two books: both were about men who did their best to fulfill a real need, both had lost siblings and wanted to honor them in a significant way, and both men were wrongly detained for a "crime" which they didn't commit.

Here is my review for Three Cups of Tea, and my thoughts on Zeitoun can be found on this link.

It is difficult to write thoughtful reviews of books that touch the heart deeply as many of you know. I recommend both books highly, although I thought Zeitoun was written in a clearer manner. Read them for the subject matter and for the reminder that one man (or woman) can make a profound difference in the world.

Donna
Your review of Zeitoun is excellent...thumbs up given by me to you.

Three Cups of Tea has long been on my tbr pile...After reading your comments, I'll move it up closer to the top.

I keep almost buying Zeitoun. With reviews such as yours, I may not be able to hold out. Thanks!

Donna,

Zeitoun is on it's way from Amazon. I couldn't wait for it any longer so that and The Cellist of Sarajevo are winging their way towards me. Great review of Zeitoun, btw.

Zeitoun - have picked up that book so many times, read the price (over $30) and put it down again. Will now have to take it to checkout unless it appears in the library soon. Thanks Donna, for the inspiring review.

I'm hoping one of you early-birders will sell your copy back to my favorite book store so I can buy it for half that. ;-)

I have put a reserve on Zeitoun, at the liberry! Long wait unfortunately! Nice review Donna!!

Thanks, all for the feedback on Zeitoun. I talked about it but forgot the official listing.

Book No. 66: Three Cups of Tea by David Reslin and Greg Mortenson. Rated 4 stars.

Book No. 67: Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. Rated 4.5.

Book No. 68: That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo. Rated 3.5.
I can always depend on Russo for a few quiet chuckles. This was a good book to decompress with after reading two heavy books in a row. I'll do my full review later today. I'll just say this wasn't my favorite Russo book, but still a worthy read. It reminded me of Straight Man with all the academia talk. I just realized that I somehow missed reading his Bridge of Sighs. Another book to put on my Must Read Soon List. *sigh*

Edited for touchy touchstones.

Message edited by its author, Sep 24, 2009, 12:47pm.

Donna

Hang in there, you are close to completing the 75 challenge goal!

Upon further reflection, I downgraded my rating of That Old Cape Magic. It was just mediocre in my opinion, especially since I know he is a better writer than this. We shouldn't let authors slide by on their past reputations. Again, my opinion. My review is here. I didn't denigrate it nearly as badly as some of the LT reviewers, so maybe I am letting Mr. Russo rest on his past laurels to a certain extent. My new rating is 3 stars.

Edited to correct book title.

Message edited by its author, Sep 25, 2009, 6:52pm.

Donna,

I went back and forth between 3 1/2 and 4 stars but Richard Russo, even at his worst, is a lot better than most and I stuck with the 4 stars but I know what you are saying. It clearly wasn't his best effort.

>114: Hey, Bonnie. You are absolutely right when you say that "even at his worst, he is a lot better than most." I may have ruminated too much, but I guess the more I thought about the book, the more disappointed I became. Oh well, I still have Russo's Bridge of Sighs to read. I still don't know how I overlooked that one.

I'm also looking forward to reading Pat Conroy's South of Broad with a bit of trepidation. Mixed reviews on that one as well.

Hi Donna- In message #113, I think you meant That Old Cape Magic and not Bridge of Sighs, which of course you haven't read. I also have Bridge of Sighs sitting in my tbr. I also need to get to it. BTW, I knocked out 75 pages of The Shack and it's ok. I think I was playing it up a bit, since Richard was giving me a hard time! Yes, it does help knowing it's fiction.

>116: *Blushing* she says a big "thank you" to Mark for reading this thread so closely. I could lie and say it was a test to see who caught my mistake, but I think I am just eager to read Bridge of Sighs. It's a good thing that The Shack is a quick read. It would be hard to sustain that emotion very long. Thanks again, friend.

> 117 - Donna -

Isn't it GREAT how our friends keep us righteous? I was laughing cause I did something similar here on LT recently.

Heck I make mistakes all the time ... I told another LT friend it keeps me humble and then I wake up the next day and come up with another doozy and am humbled all over again. Not knocked down flat ... just taken down a notch or two.

You are a doll. Reading the big boys huh? Russo. Conroy.

Like having a date with the prom king or the captain of the football team and the flash and talk didn't match up with the time spent together. Oh, well.

As my high school libraian used to say, " Ruth, there's plenty of other books for you to read. Get going, girl." And I did, and never stopped. ( You know, of course, that I am making all of this up as I go along, right? Just to tease you a little about your disappointment with your author/ knights in shining armor.)

Not teasing about the "you are a doll" part though, Donna.

With love,

Ruth/WH

Now I don't feel so bad about abandoning That Old Cape Magic after only about 20 pages. Not to say that I won't try again, but I just couldn't connect with it this time.

Ruth, I loved your Prom King analogy. I am looking forward to my next date with Russo in hopes that it won't be such a dud.

Thanks, Joanne, for the backup. Again, I won't say it was an awful book, just not up to my Russo standards.

Donna- I'm glad to hear you started Hummingbird and I hope you enjoy it! I still have not picked up the latest Krakauer but plan on it soon, waiting on a good Border's coupon. There is an excellent interview with him on C-Span: http://www.c-span.org/Podcasts.aspx
I'll check back with you on The Shack. I have some questions.

Donna- I'm over 2/3rds of the way through The Shack and it's been a real slog. I am a believer in God but I am not very active religiously. You put it well by saying fuzzy theology and that's exactly how I'm interpreting it. Does this stuff hold up to deep thought because most of it I just don't get. I compare it to the book Gilead, which I found profoundly spiritual without the mumbo-jumbo. Your thoughts?

This may not be the place to get into a religious discussion, but I can give you some of my "thoughts" on The Shack, Mark. Many people's lives have been changed for the better by reading it -- and that's a good thing. Personally, I don't believe that we as humans were ever intended to understand God. It is the unknowingness that makes Him God. I believe in a personal relationship with God, but I don't see myself making pancakes with Him/her anytime soon. The book does a good job of raising some important questions but, again, those questions are probably unanswerable. Each person has to sort out their beliefs in their own way. While I believe that many people are searching to find meaning in their lives, this is probably not the authoritative book to do it. Yet, it may open the door for some to explore other ways.

Sorry you asked? I hope I didn't ruffle too many feathers with my comments. Like you, I much preferred the lower key approach in Gilead.

I think Donna828 describes well why some people really love The Shack and others, not so much. As an atheist, I'm a much harsher critic of books like this. I still search for meaning in life, I still look for what I can learn from others--whatever their beliefs--but I'm not so willing to look beyond mediocre writing. The Gilead left a lasting impression because it has both wonderful writing and addresses those important questions that I think everyone must at some time in their life struggle with, no matter their beliefs.

Donna & Bonnie- Thank you so much for your input! Are these just the author's ideas about what God is or is this based on some different tenets that I am not aware of? And yes Donna, if this book helps people "find" themselves ,that's wonderful, but it's not doing it for me. So do you think they'll make a movie out of this? Maybe directed by Mel Gibson?

Donna/Mark/Bonnie- thank you for helping me decide that I won't be reading this one.

>125: Re: William P. Young, the author of The Shack. All I know is that the two days in the shack represent eleven years of spiritual healing in his life. I'm pretty sure we would know if his spiritual crisis came about as a result of a daughter's death. Movie? I'll pass. :-)

Btw, I am loving The Hummingbird's Daughter. We're going out to eat tonight -- Mexican, of course!

Hey, Donna! Could you tell that I thought I was on Mark's thread--it seems like discussions about his Shack reading are going on everywhere. :-) Anyway, that's why I referred to you in the third-person, instead of addressing you directly.

Message edited by its author, Sep 27, 2009, 9:13pm.

Book No. 69: The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea.
Rated 4.5 stars.

This book really touched my heart. Lots of Mexican history in the late 1800's and some very interesting characters. The whole saint thing was a little much. Teresa probably was a very effective medicine woman whose reputation was larger than life. I've heard good things about Urrea's new book as well.

#129 Great review, Donna. I can't decide if this is a book I'd love or not, but I went ahead and added it to the wishlist. I'll wait until I get my hands on it before deciding whether to read it or not.

Donna- So glad you enjoyed Hummingbird. The sequel comes out sometime next year and I'm keeping an eye out for his latest as well! I picked up the Krakauer book!!

>130: The reviews on Hummingbird have been mixed, Sandy. I hope you give it a try and enjoy it. I think it appealed to me because I am slowly becoming enamored with good historical fiction. By that I mean well-researched while being well-written. I'll be eager to hear your thoughts on it.

>131: Just a teeny bit of green with jealousy here, Mark. I am on the library hold list for Where Men Win Glory. If it takes too long, I might break down and buy it.

Sequel to Hummingbird? That's exciting news. I really enjoyed Urrea's writing and the story of Teresa. Thanks for another good recommendation.

>129 - Donna -

Thanks for your take on Hummingbird. I don't know; it keeps getting covered over with other books that seem more potent and timely to me. We will see.

Hello, from your buddy in Tallahassee, FL where we finally have a little Fall weather.

Love,

Ruth

Great comments on Hummingbird. It is on my tbr list.

I loved The Hummingbird's Daughter, so I am glad to see that you liked it as well!

I just got a notice from the library that The Hummingbird's Daughter is waiting for me! Yaay! But what should I do with the 8 other library books I haven't read yet?

>134, 135: Thank you, Linda and Stasia.

>136: I feel your pain. I've had to let some books go back unread when I've bitten off more than I can read! Why does it seem like they all become available at once? Right now, I just have Into The Beautiful North (another Urrea book) waiting for me. I'm going to let it sit for a few days while I make my journey north to get a grandkid fix. I'll take something with me that doesn't require much concentration.

Oops...forgot to add my latest addition, which I had ambivalent feeling about. I spent way too long on my wishy-washy review.

Book No. 70: South Of Broad by Pat Conroy. 4 stars.

Pat got a little carried away with his larger-than-life story and writing, but I was still drawn into this book. I was really hoping to give this 5 stars, but with lines like "crescent moon sparkling the trellises of a nervous tide" (Pg. 214) and "the renegades ride again" (224), I had to downgrade it to 4 stars. Plus, I thought the twist towards the end was a bit too twisted and cheapened the book. If you can get past these flaws, go for it!

I equate this book with the porpoise story that is told as part of the Hurricane Hugo aftermath. Leo and Molly (the too-perfect characters) rescue a porpoise which Conroy relates in exquisite, moving detail. Later, he retells the story to the group of children of his friends, and it becomes magnified into overblown mythical proportions...which somewhat describes how the book itself grows out of control.

>136, 137 Bonnie and Donna.
I know exactly what you mean. It seems to never fail that two or three 7-day books arrive at once.

Donna - Hope that you had good trip to see the grand family.

I will chime in to admit that the best books do always seem to show up when the other best books are already here at home. How do they do that?

With love,

Ruth

Think I'll pass on Pat Conroy though, I love dolphin stories.

Still here in Kansas City, Ruth. It's not exactly a pleasure trip, although it is always a pleasure to visit family. My 21-month-old grandson had hernia surgery today, and my 5-year-old granddaughter broke her arm last week. So far, the 7-year-old granddaughter is holding her own!

The dolphin was just a teeny part of the new Conroy. Definitely not the book I'd recommend to everyone, but if you like Pat Conroy in general, this would be a pretty good read. Thanks for stopping by. I'm not getting much reading in up here, but will get back on track when I return to Springfield in a few days.

Donna - glad to have you here in KC *smiles and waves* - hope the grandkids are getting along OK.

Donna
Visits with grandchildren are very special. I drive 12 hours each way to see my twin grandsons and little granddaughter.

I hope the little guy is ok after surgery and that your five year old granddaughter is helaling.

Take care,

Linda

Thanks, Linda and Sandy...all is well in K.C. and I am back home. My reading was almost nonexistent while I was with the kids, but I'm grateful that my trip is under three hours each way. However, if I were driving 12 hours, Linda, I could have finished listening to Lush Life, my book on CD.

How I envy you. If I was a mere three hours each way, I would see my grandchildren more often. As it is, I re-introduce myself to them 3-4 times a year. So much transpires between visits.

Book No. 71: Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this charming trip back to 1950's England seen through the eyes of Miss Mildred Lathbury, a 31-year-old spinster, whose life revolved around church activities and helping her small circle of friends. There is much subtle irony and humor served along with many cups of tea as Mildred describes her quiet life and the interesting people that she meets. Just goes to show one that drama and adventure are not requirements for leading a "full" life.

Hi Donna- Hope you are enjoying Lush Life. I thought it was excellent. Richard Price is one of my favorites. I plan on starting the Krakauer book on Sunday. Have a great weekend friend!

I had Where Men Win Glory in hand today at Borders, but my conscience kicked in. I have soooo many unread books stacked up on the floor in my study with no empty shelves to put them on. Not a bad problem I guess. Anyway, our library has six copies so my wait shouldn't be too long.

Lush Life is a departure from my usual type of book, yet I am really into it. I may trade the audio version for a written copy as I am not planning any long trips in the near future.

Lush Life is a departure from my usual type of book, yet I am really into it.

That was true for me too. That's why I like LT so much--because you can find more good books from genres you might not consider on your own. Mark even convinced me to watch The Wire.

Bonnie- I did? I hope you liked it. I think it's one of best shows ever! How far did you get?
Donna- I just got a notice from the library. I have to pick up Zeitoun, so I'll have to put the Krakauer off another week. I've heard such great things about the Eggers book.

Mark,

You and I will be reading Zeitoun at the same time. That should be fun to see how alike(?) or different our reviews are. I loved The Wire and agree with you-maybe THE best show ever. I am waiting for Lush Life from PBS.

Brenzi- We are definitely cruising the same literary highway,my friend! I just started the 1st 30 pages and it grabs you right a way. BTW, I have never read Eggers before.

Bonnie and Mark, you are both in for a treat with Zeitoun. It will make my Top Ten for the year. I also liked Egger's What is the What? about the "Americanization" of one of the lost boys of Sudan.

I do strive to make my reviews short and concise, but I had so much to say about my latest book that it does tend to ramble on. The bottom line is that I liked it and recommend it. If you want to know more about it, click here.

Book No. 72: Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving. Rated 4.5 stars.

I must add a postscript to my review: I alluded to Irving's liberal political commentary. Whatever your political persuasion, I felt that the Bush-bashing towards the end of the book seemed out-of-place. Irving was clearly using Danny and Ketchum to voice his personal political views. I found this rant inappropriate in a fiction book about cooks, writers, loggers, and relationships between family members and friends. Having this thrown in was a distraction -- IMHO!

#154: Adding that one to Planet TBR. Thumbs up for your review, too! Thanks.

Hmm...perhaps I should read the other reviews before I post my own. It is interesting to me that karieh and I both used one of the ending quotes from the book -- in completely different ways! Wondering if I should revise my review by removing that part. I don't want the LT police to think I am plagiarizing reviews. I think I'll leave it for now, but hang on to my pages of notes and revisions of my review in case it goes to court. :-)

Another thumbs up for your review Donna. I try to never read other reviews before I write my own. I'm afraid to be influenecd by what others have to say. Also, I'm afraid my thought will get buried and i'll end up repeating something i read.

> 156 -

Good idea, Donna. I bet that this happens more often than we know. We read similar/the same book(s) and think about it/them in different ways sometimes even using the same "evidence" to back up our point of view! Interesting, uh?

I like reading books by John Irving, so I will probably read this one, too. He is getting OLD like the rest of us!!! Sounds as though his forceful opinions might have outweighed his and his editors restraint in the personal comments made ostensibly by the main characters, though.

Love,

Ruth

PS I don't read reviews in advance either, Donna ... for some of the reasons that Bonnie states and because I'm sorta like a sponge sometimes and I need/want to literally stand on my own two feet and share what I think about a book myself. Just saying.

Ruthie

Lol! I'll serve as a character witness, Donna! I love John Irving's books, so I appreciate the longer review. And I'm with you when it comes to rants and overlong speeches coming from a character's mouth--it takes you out of the story. Even when I agree with the rants, I feel annoyed by that.

> 160- Hear! Hear! Bonnie I agree completely.

R

Donna- Great review on the latest John Irving. You got and deserved a big thumbs-up. I sense a Hot Review in your immediate future!

> Mark -

You are right ... the review posted by our mutual friend, Donna, has hit the Home page and is on the Hot List.

Congratulations, Donna, for a concise and interesting review. I have placed the book on the reserve list at the Main Library. Hope that it is not too long of a wait. Now, for me, it's back to
The Likeness,then, a few minutes of the news, supper, then, more reading.

Tomorrow, I am off to a Wolf Preserve in Northwest Florida with a small group from Florida State University. I will let you all know how that goes, but, if I forget just ask me, if you are interested.

Well done, Ms. Donna.

With love,

Ruth

Message edited by its author, Oct 15, 2009, 6:09pm.

Lovely review, Donna. I'm so glad you liked it and now I really can't wait to read it!

womansheart - A wolf preserve in FL, what a great experience!

#154 Great review, Donna, and not really so long.

Thank you very much for the kind words above from Stasia, Bonnie in NY, Ruth, Bonnie in Oregon, Mark, Joanne, and Sandy. My friends from sea to shining sea. I appreciate each one of you.

Awww! Thanks, Donna! I felt the wave of appreciation slosh over me and am sending it back your way. I have a huge pile of great books from the library to choose from this weekend, and all of them are recommendations from LT friends.

A huge pile of books...sounds like a great way to spend the week end. Enjoy them, Bonnie from Washington. I think I put you in the wrong state in Msg. 166, but at least I was close. Sorry 'bout that!

Message 167 -- bonniebooks -- I have 25 books from the library. I got carried away in the last few weeks because there were so many great posts here on our thread and I just had to get my hands on those books. Now, I have to read at least some of them before they are returned.

Donna. I also enjoyed your review of the John Irving book and gave you a thumbs up vote. Years ago I saw John Irving and was bowled over by him (and that doesn't happen often.) A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of my three top books that I ever read.

Irving does have a way of weaving political opinion in his books. A Prayer for Owen Meany contained a message about anti Viet Nam. But, it was not as ranting as you indicate in his most recent book.

Like you, I am distracted and annoyed when an author interjects his/her own political views in the story line. And, even if I agree, with the thoughts expressed, I think it inappropriate. I feel the same way about actors who grandstand their political views. Who the heck cares about what they think!

I stopped reading Anne Lamont because, in my opinion, she got way too over the edge in Bush bashing. She started to rant and her anger blasted through the pages.

>169: And I stopped reading Anne Lamott because -- am I the only reader who noticed and was appalled by this? -- she so willingly assisted in the suicide of a "friend" who was tired of his struggles in life!!! I wish I had documented this somewhere before I hurriedly rushed the offending book back to the library.

I envy you, Linda, in having seen John Irving in person. I totally agree with you on A Prayer for Owen Meany. I also enjoyed the film version, Simon Birch, but have read that Irving considered it a travesty.

Thanks for the visit.

Book No. 73: Daisy Miller by Henry James. 3.5 stars.
I would call this James-Lite. I haven't read anything else by him (as yet), but I understand from others that he can be wordy and dense. I picked up Portrait Of A Lady at the local library book sale last night and will give it a try for comparison's sake.

Book No. 74: Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea. 3.5*
I loved The Hummingbird's Daughter by him. If I had read this one first, I probably would have rated it higher, but now that I know what he is capable of, this just didn't compare.

As always, you can read my reviews by clicking on the book title or going to my Profile Page -- where you will see a picture of my dirty secret!

Edited to turn off bold print.

Message edited by its author, Oct 20, 2009, 10:35am.

Hello Donna - I realize I lost you when you moved over to a second thread, so I have had fun updating myself. Anne Lamott is moved off my TBR list - strident anger is not my thing. Great reviews.

Donna, I love your "stash!" I have to laugh when someone says "post a picture of your library"--my "library" is 2-3 sets of bookshelves in every room of the house, not to mention the pile on the coffee table, or the pile that materialized on top of the new desk I acquired before it was moved into its proper place. I've been tempted to move them all into one room, but I like seeing books no matter what room I'm in!

Donna- I enjoyed your review of Into the Beautiful North and gave you a thumbs up. I would still like to read it and am looking for a used copy. BTW, I'm on the home stretch of the Krakauer book and it's been excellent, happy to report!

I have to believe that any book he writes will be good. Anybody who can get me to read about extreme mountain climbing--well, that's good writing.

Hi Donna,

Just wanted to congratulate you on another hot review. Good job!

I have spent a busy few days with our semi-annual library book sale. What a feast of books! I limited my buying to 14 lovingly chosen new acquisitions for which I spent a measly $31.00. I will return to the scene of the "crime" on Saturday to pick through the leftovers on half-price day.

I am about to enter into the group of those who have achieved their reading goals for the year. I have kept an annual reading list for over 20 years and a book journal since October 21, 1997. The first books I wrote about were Crossing to Safety and Straight Man, which I read during a Colorado blizzard. We were homebound for several days with no electricity. Ah, the good ol' days.

I filled my notebook up with book thoughts after about five years of reading, then went to the computer to keep track of my reading. I remember when I discovered the LibraryThing community and began my journaling online. Feedback from some wonderful people (see above) has greatly enriched my reading experience.

Thank you to all who read my ramblings and take the time to respond. My husband is grateful as well because he doesn't have to listen to as many "book reports" (as he calls them) as he did in pre-LT days.

Now, back to the very special book I am reading to commemorate my 75 books for the year. I'll be posting my review later today or tomorrow.

Donna,

I loved Crossing to Safety and almost anything else that Wallace Stegner wrote (especially Angle of Repose). Have you read any of his other books? Straight Man is my favorite Richard Russo book. It may be time for a re-read. I didn't start tracking my reads until 2001 so you have a big head start on me. I love LT where you can find people who love the same books as you do. That was missing from my life. Can't wait to see what your special book is.

Congratulations on achieving your goals, Donna! How fun to look back at your journals. I never kept one until I did so online, and LT has just been wonderful for meeting like-minded readaholics. Can't wait to hear about your special book, too!

Congratulations, Donna! What a time warp to hear those two titles together; it brings back good book group memories for me. Since your library is the one closest to mine, it only makes sense that we would have been reading the same books ten years ago as well. I'm envious of your reading list and journal, Donna--that must be so satisfying to go back and look at both.

Congratulations on acheiving your goal. I think some partners are glad of LT while others resent the diversion of attention.

Congrats!

Congratulations from me too :)

Hey Donna- I too love "a feast of books"! Congrats on reaching the milestone, although the suspense is killing me. I read Angle of Repose a few years ago and was blown away! It lingered with me for a long time. I have Crossing to Safety sitting, horribly neglected, in my tbr. Bad bad man!
Finished Where Men Win Glory and I am organizing my thoughts!

Wow, if someone brings champagne, we can have a party. Thanks for all the congratulations. I think what I was trying to say in my rambling post in Msg. 177, is that it is not so much about achieving the goal as it is being a part of this great community.

I have been reading my 75th book for several months now. I am not a huge fan of short stories, but I am slowly being won over to the genre because of the quality of the collections I have read recently. And this one is no exception. I have been a fan of this author for many years and had the pleasure of visiting the bookstore that she owns in Minneapolis this summer where I bought my signed copy of.....

Ta-Da......

Book No. 75: The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich. 4 stars. From my review:

These are not pretty stories, but they elicit deep emotions that are sometimes projected quietly and sometimes with exuberance. They are filled with the tragedies and lost dreams common to living a harsh life, But they are also filled with hope and beauty as Ms. Erdrich envelops a grim reality with her magical mystical writing.

What I didn't do in my review is talk about the stories individually. With 36 of them, I thought it would be way too wordy to even select a sampling. But I do want to include this quote from one of my favorites, "Shamengwa" (which means butterfly):

"Inside became outside when Shamengwa played music. Yet inside to outside does not half sum it up. the music was more than music -- at least, more than what we are used to hearing. The sound connected instantly with something deep and joyous. Those powerful moments of true knowledge which we paper over with daily life. The music tapped our terrors, too. Things we'd lived through and wanted never to repeat. Shredded imaginings, unadmitted longings, fear, and also surprising pleasures. We can't live at that pitch. But every so often something shatters like ice, and we fall into the iver of our own existence. We are aware. This realization was in the music, somehow, or in the way Shamengwa played it." (Page 375)

Message edited by its author, Oct 22, 2009, 8:10pm.

#185 Sorry, no champagne, but there's some bottled water in the fridge. Congratulations on the the milestone. And what a wonderful book to have in the place of honor. I read your earlier comments this afternoon and was unable to respond - I could never have expressed the sentiment half so eloquently. I think we all understand what the community here has meant to you, since we all have a similar appreciation for it. I always look forward to seeing your comments about whatever you've been reading. Bask in the glow of accomplishment tonight, but I'll be watching for #76 to show up soon!

Congratulations on reaching #75 . . . and may there be many more wonderful books ahead!

Congratulations, Donna! I have champagne, but can't make it down to Springfield this week--guess I'll have to drink it all myself and toast you with each glass!
And remember--YOU are one of the people who make this a great community. Like Bonnie, you have the most similar library to mine, so I pay great attention to your recommendations. Unfortunately. When are we doing another MO book?

Congratulations on 75 Donna and on your hot review. Louise Erdrich is one of my favorite writers but this is one book I haven't yet read. Like you, I veer away from short stories but I'm afraid this one will be climbing aboard Mount TBR:-)

Donna
I couldn't agree with you more! The people here on LT are wonderful, and there are so many marvelous people on our 75 challenge group, certainly you are one of them!!!!

Congratulations to you on both the fact that you reached the goal and the fact that you have yet another hot review!

Welcome again to Brenzi -- you make a lovely addition to our friendly bunch.

Terri, regarding stacks of books, like all members here on LT, we collect them and wish upon a star that we had the time to read them.

Happy Saturday morning to all.

>185 - Donna -

It is such a pleasure to share your joy in finishing the goal of seventy-five for 2009. It is amazing to enjoy reading in the way that you do and then ... to be able to share that enjoyment with all of us multiplies it by many, many times over.

The Red Convertible title conjured up a mental picture of you driving (the convertible, of course) through beautiful Fall weather with the top down and your hair streaming away from your face with an expression of happy satisfaction playing across your lips and around your eyes. I'm so glad that you enjoyed your special book and achieved your goal. We will wait to have the champagne until we are all safely home. Here's to you, Donna!

With love,

Ruth

Message edited by its author, Oct 24, 2009, 8:20am.

Nice review Donna! And congrats!

Oops...I think I lost all the grateful words I had written for the above posts. I'll just say that I really appreciate the support from all. What a great idea, Ruth. I'll stop by and pick all of you up in my imaginary red convertible, and then we'll have champagne. You have a real talent for painting vivid pictures with words. I always end up smiling when I read your messages.

Terri, I am patiently waiting until we read another Missouri book together. And, Joanne, couldn't help but notice that you also have a hot review about the Truman book. Now I am picturing Harry and Bess in a red convertible driving around the country!

From what I learned about Harry and Bess, they may have enjoyed a red convertible, although Harry really did enjoy his New Yorker. Definitely creates an interesting picture.

BTW, I ordered the new Irving book from Amazon, pushed over the edge by your review. I just couldn't resist!

Happy reading!

>195: I hope you like it, Joanne. I'm eager to read the critics' reviews on Twisted River. The few that are posted on LT have been mixed.

Book No. 76: Lush Life by Richard Price. 3.5 stars.
It is good to step out of the Classics and Literary Fiction genres and read a good ol' crime story occasionally. I enjoyed Samaritan by Price a few years ago, and this one was also a page-turner. Actually, I listened to the first half on CD on a short trip I took, and then traded it for the print version. The audio book was well-presented -- just not my favorite way to consume a book.

Donna- Good review of Lush Life! I love Richard Price and if you ever decide on reading anything else by him, go with Clockers. It's his masterpiece!

I should recommend that one to my son, Mark. He really loved Lush Life. Donna, I'm just starting Small Island which made me think of you because every time I click on your thread, it always flashes that title at me before jumping down to "new/unread messages."

Bonnie I am going to predict you will love Small Island.

Book No. 77: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. 3.5 stars.

I read this one for Halloween. I knew it was about Satan in Moscow in the 1930's. What I didn't know was how much fun historical fiction could be! I ended up in a raucous fantasy world complete with witches on broomsticks and a humongous black cat with magical powers. I have to ponder this one a bit before I write my review.

#200: I have that one on hold at the local library due to several good reviews in the group. I hope I enjoy it as much as everyone else seems to have done.

>201: I'll be eager to hear your thoughts on M&M, Stasia. I can easily say it is one of the most creative (and puzzling) books I have read in awhile. As I said in my review, a bit of background would probably be helpful before one reads it.

Book No. 78: Labor Day by Joyce Maynard. 3.5 stars.

This is a quick but satisfying read about a man who looks back on this 3-day week end that changed his life when he was 13-years-old. Memorable characters and story. A great "in between" book -- and by that I mean in between the weighty reads that make your head hurt (even in a good way). See Book No. 77!

Book No. 79: The Crazed by Ha Jin. 3.5 stars.

It amazes me that the works of Ha Jin are not more popular. I have enjoyed each of his books for different reasons. He has a subtle but deep approach to communicating the experience of being Chinese. In The Crazed, he tells of the futility of the Cultural Revolution through the flashbacks of a literature Professor who has suffered a stroke. This is pretty somber stuff and slow-going until the professor's caretaker and future son-in-law gets in on the action at Tiananmen Square...another lesson in futility.

Here is a sampling of Ha Jin's eloquent writing style:

I saw China in the form of an old hag so decrepit and brainsick that she would devour her children to sustain herself. Insatiable, she had eaten many tender lives before, was gobbling new flesh and blood now, and would surely swallow more. (Page 315).

And my husband wants me to travel there on business with him???

Hey Donna- Nice comments on The Crazed! Yes, he is an author I need to get back too! The list grows and grows and...

Ditto what Mark said.

I have Ha Jin's War Trash patiently waiting for me to read. I better bump it up!

Stasia- That's the one I have too!

#207: Unfortunately, it looks like it is going to be delayed until next year. Perhaps you will get to it before I do?

Book No. 80: Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan. 4 stars.

I absolutely loved this book about a lost dog and the woman he rescued from grief. I am a dog lover and believe that they can be our teachers and psychologists, as well as our best friends. I didn't want to put this book down. I woud have rated it higher if it weren't for the fact that it is bordering on sentimental chick lit. But, hey, sometimes we need to read just for the emotional rush. Here's the line that nailed it for me:

"When Labs give people the look, it is a powerful, mind-altering drug that makes you think you have been personally locked into a soul contract."

I got that look from Lucky, our Blonde Lab, about 5 years ago after we rescued him from the streets after he had been dumped in our neighborhood. Another reason why I so related to this story.

ETA correct touchstone, but no luck even though it is in the LT system.

Message edited by its author, Nov 10, 2009, 4:58pm.

What a great review. I have to look for this book. Like you, I am a dog lover. People have left me down, but dogs have always been loyal and true.

In fact, my LT name Whisper1 is an indicator that my favorite dog, a Bichon who was 17 when she died, had the name of Whisper. She will always be number 1.

>209 and 210: Aaaah! I'm thinking about getting another bulldog, but now you've made me want to go check the shelters.

Linda and Bonnie, aren't dogs wonderful and so intuitive. My Lucky knows more about my needs and moods than my DH of 41 years!

I came back here to edit the above post to get the correct touchstone AND to note that I have just written my 150th review.

#212 Wow, that's amazing! Congratulations!

Hi Donna, I read Lost and Found a few years ago and really enjoyed it, too. I had picked it as one of my vacation reads (high honors in my house). The Lab on the cover was just irresistible! Sounds like your Lucky has the perfect name.

Congrats on your review milestone - wow is right!

#210 Whisper1 - I liked learning about your LT moniker. We have a friend wiith 3 Bichons and they are so adorable. My golden retriever is Copper, I'm Copper's mom, thus "coppers".

BTW, another good dog book I like to recommend if anybody's interested is Sight Hound by Pam Houston.

Joanne

I checked your home page and saw your beautiful dog! What a delightful creature!

I'm adding Sight Hound to the list!

From dogs to deep matters of the soul. I almost had decided not to include these two entries on my reading log, but they both made such an impact that they deserve to be there despite their short lengths. One is actually a longish short story and the other is considered a novella. I was lucky enough to read both of these as part of a library group led by an English professor. His insights and the face-to-face discussion were so meaningful.

Book No. 81: The Dead by James Joyce. 3.5 stars.
This deceptively simple story about an Epiphany Party and the epiphany experienced at the end by Gabriel Conroy about his marriage is an excellent introduction to James Joyce. I have long been tempted to try reading Ulysses by him. The accessibility of his writing in this story may bolster my courage. But I think I'm waiting for a Group Read on that one!

Book No. 82: The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy. 4 stars.
Death is the ultimate humbling of a proud man. Tolstoy is brilliant in relaying the truth of how a terminal illness affects both the patient and those around him or her. Lots of irony and hypocrisy in this little book about the spiritual anguish of a wasted life

As always, longer reviews can be found on the book pages. Now back to my much longer book, Cutting for Stone, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

Oh, Donna, one of my muses for sure.

I will add the two short books (#81 and # 82) to my TBR cyber stack (maybe I should call it my reminder list, instead, since it takes me so long to get to them).

Muses can inspire in many ways, Donna. And you inoculate* me with the desire to read many books that you list and review.

Still not up to par in the health department. Not able to stay up for long, but, have my laptop in my bed and, of course, my currently reading. Hoping for diagnosis pretty soon. Hard to wait and wait. Life is good and I'm loving the Fall weather here in Tallahassee.

Sending lots of love and warm thoughts to you in the great state of MO!

Ruth

*definition #2 from Merriam-Webster online dictionary:

2 : to introduce something into the mind of

>216 Donna, if you liked The Dead, may I suggest reading the rest of Dubliners (of which it is the last story), and even perhaps Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man before getting stuck into Ulysses? Dubliners is very accessible, and a great collection - in the sense of stories that have touchpoints and themes in common, in a way that seems often to be lacking in short story collections nowadays. Portrait is a bit more difficult but then makes the jump to Ulysses a bit easier...

The Brit litblogger dovegreyreader has been doing a 'Team Ulysses' read this year, and it's worth checking out her posts.

ETA: there's also a rather lovely film of The Dead made by (I think) John Huston, with Gabriel Byrne as Gabriel and Angelica Huston as his wife, which is worth looking up.

Message edited by its author, Nov 13, 2009, 11:51am.

Flossie, thank you so much for your excellent advice. Next year, I will attempt reading more of James Joyce using the "baby steps" approach. The good news is that I have Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man on my bookshelves, and I've been wanting to read the rest of the stories in Dubliners. I will also be checking out the "Team Ulysses" site. It is good to have a game plan!

Now, on to try and describe the most incredible book I've read this year. I just wish I had the words to do it justice. I gave it my best shot here.

Book No. 83: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. 5 stars.

Yes, you saw that correctly...5 stars!!!!! I reserve those ratings for the special books that mess with my life and stir my soul. This is a big book, but I urge you to read it in the biggest chunks possible. Of course, since it is impossible to put down, this makes it easier to do. This is not one to read while stirring the Thanksgiving gravy!

Marion and Shiva (I know, strange names...you'll just have to read the book to find out why they are so named) are identical twins born to an Indian nun and American surgeon. It is a "surprise" birth that goes bad quickly and ends up with the boys being raised by surrogate parents in the mission hospital (called Missing by the locals) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

You will get lessons in geography, African history, all things broken and becoming fixed, and how to love and be loved.

The world turns on our every action, and our every omission, whether we know it or not. (Page 533)

Great review Donna. I loved this book also. Glad to see you did too.

Hi, Donna -

I am so glad that I took a minute to stop by your thread. Your review of Cutting for Stone reminded me that it is time for me to check it out of the library again and finish reading it. Both you and Bonnie wrote good reviews and both of you read and enjoy books that also appeal to me very much.

I got the Harry Truman book that you spoke of recently and am looking forward to reading that one soon. My DH, RedHillsReader, loved it.

I'm not reading or posting much as I'm still feeling very crummy. Hope to begin recovering soon. It has been a long time, now. Ready to feel better.

Lots of love,

Ruth

#219 Donna this is a great review, and I've added Cutting for Stone to the wishlist.

Thanks for reminding me that I'm going to have to go by my favorite new/used bookstore to see if anybody has brought in a copy of Cutting for Stone to sell.

Donna- Great review! I hope to get to it, in the next few weeks! Boy, everyone is reading such terrific stuff, my head is spinning, but in a very good way! I sent you a message, did you get it? Later, my friend!

Makes for a good Christmas list, doesn't it, Mark? :-)

Adding Cutting for Stone to my list. Our library has it!

Donna- Another Hot Review! I'm not surprised!
Bonnie- A Christmas list...hmmmm! Sounds interesting!

Wow, my head is spinning with all these messages. I've been gone most of the day. What a surprise to come home to a full "mailbox" and a Hot Review! Thanks to all.

>221: Ruth, I think it was Coppers who recommended the Truman book. It is easy to get us confused as we both have great dogs and we both love Colorado. Joanne is just lucky enough to live there, and I have to depend on occasional quick fixes when I visit my sons.

Ruth, Sandy, Bonnie in Seattle, Mark, and tymfos: I'm eager to hear your comments after you've read Cutting for Stone. Bonnie in NY: I'm glad we agreed on this one. :-)

Wow, my head is spinning with all these messages. I've been gone most of the day. What a surprise to come home to a full "mailbox" and a Hot Review! Thanks to all.

>221: Ruth, I think it was Coppers who recommended the Truman book. It is easy to get us confused as we both have great dogs and we both love Colorado. Joanne is just lucky enough to live there, and I have to depend on occasional quick fixes when I visit my sons.

Ruth, Sandy, Bonnie in Seattle, Mark, and tymfos: I'm eager to hear your comments after you've read Cutting for Stone. Bonnie in NY: I'm glad we agreed on this one. :-)

Great job Donna! Congrats on your hot review!

>230: Thanks, Joanne. I sneaked over to Borders this week end with my 30% off coupon and bought A Christmas Blizzard. I'll have to delay gratification for a few weeks, but it makes me happy to look at it. I wouldn't have known about it if it hadn't been for your review.

Congratulations on your hot review! Kudos for a job well done!

I just posted my review of

Book No. 84: November 22, 1963 by Adam Braver. 4 stars.

I highly recommend this moving tribute to the many people whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy of JFK's death in Dallas almost 46 years ago. Most Americans who are of the age to remember the shock of that day can tell you in detail where they were and what they were doing.

I learned that our President had been shot while I was in the girls' locker room in preparation for a P.E. class. School was dismissed early that day and the next few days were spent in front of the TV (Yes, we had television back then -- even in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!) watching the horror unfold. For younger LT members, this was very much an event like 9/11 in its impact.

Where were you that day?

I was in study hall when the principal came over the loudspeaker with the announcement and you could tell from his voice that he was grief stricken. He proceeded to dismiss us for the day and school was closed for the next few days and I believe this was the first time for constant news coverage of an event on television. Maybe someone else remembers something prior to this event but I don't.

I thumbed your review Donna and thank you for bringing this book to my attention.

>233 and 234: Completely agree with both of you! I remember where I was sitting in my English class, I remember the sun coming in the window, the look on my teacher's face and I, too, sat in front of the TV watching the coverage hour after hour. I didn't think about that, Bonnie, that we didn't have that kind of 24-hour news coverage prior to CNN.

#233, ff. I was a little younger when JFK died, didn't really understand the implications. But I knew it was really serious because my Saturday morning cartoons were pre-empted for coverage -- the funeral, I think.

Bobby Kennedy's death is actually the one I remember more vividly -- and MLK, Jr. I was 9 when they died in 1968 and much more aware of the world around me, with images of Vietnam and various political demonstrations coming into the living room on a regular basis via the TV.

The book sounds great, and I think I'll add it to my wishlist. I also thumbed your review!

I was in second grade and someone knocked on the door. The teacher left for a minute, then came back crying. Like Terri, one of my strongest memories was the pre-emption of the cartoons on Saturday. But I knew it was big stuff.

Yo, Donna, you've got a hot review! Congrats!

These stories are great. Thanks for sharing.

My two Bonnie visitors (234 & 235)...I'm not sure that our 24-hour "news" channels make a big difference in my life. My husband is a news junkie and I find myself tuning out much of the time. We have "Breaking News" of little consequence and the talking heads that don't always know what they're talking about.

And now for the two Terri's...ah, such youth. I've often wondered how these cataclysmic events affect children. I hope neither one of you was too scarred by missing cartoons. Do you have any memory of Caroline and John-John at the graveside? Powerful stuff.

I wasn't quite school age yet. My grandmother called and when I answered the phone she asked to speak to my mom. I remember having to call her up from the basement where she was doing laundry. I thought something was wrong and knew it when my mother started to cry. Caroline and John I do remember at the funeral.

Nice hot review Donna - congrats!

Message edited by its author, Nov 20, 2009, 7:34pm.

#239 I honestly don't know for sure if I remember Caroline and John-John from the actual time of the funeral, or from all the times the pictures from that day have been shown in the years since.

Memory is a fuzzy thing when reaching back to the time of being 4 years old. I recall, from about the same age, the time my Grandmom fell in her house and my Mom found her on the floor. (Mom went over to check on her when she didn't answer her phone.) I have this one, vivid memory of a toy I was playing with when Mom finally came back from the hospital and was so upset. Weird.

Donna828, November 22, 1963 was one of the first books I read this year. Your mention of it brought the book back in vivid detail in my mind. That's the sign of a great book, it sticks. For a slim little volume it packed a punch.

I don't remember the JFK assination - I was just a little too young, and my parents never seemed to pay much attention to current events or political issues. I've always been struck at the grief that people experienced - almost as though it were a friend or relative who died. I can't imagine any political figure now whose death would cause a similar reaction - none of them are so universally loved as Kennedy seems to have been.

Another excellent review, Donna.

>239 Donna, I (obviously older than Terri or Sandy!) do remember Caroline & John-John at the procession and at the graveside. Caroline was my brother's age (a year younger than I) and I remember thinking what a horrible experience for her. I met her at a book-signing several years ago, and that's still all I could think of.

I'm enjoying the posts generated from your book regarding JFK's assignation.

I note that you have another well-deserved hot review!

Linda, I also enjoyed the posts in response to my "Where were you" question. And, thank you, VisibleGhost for visiting my thread. I think it is the personal stories and little known facts in November 22, 1963 that make it so memorable.

Btw, The Writer's Almanac had a poem about Kennedy's assassination today all about the subject of where people were when they heard the news. And those of you too young to remember, this would be a good book to understand what all the hoopla was about.

I am going to try and finish Mayflower today. It will be sandwiched in between housecleaning and my quest for the Karaoke machine my granddaughters are drooling over. Tis the season!

>245 Linda, I'm wondering if it's a Freudian slip that you referred to JFK's "assignation!"

Seriously, I have 2 copies of The Torch is Passed, one my parents bought as soon as it came out, and another that I picked up at a book sale because the original one was falling apart. Not a lot of details, but the story told in pictures. It made a huge impression on me at the time, and it still does when I pick it up.

Hi Donna- Nice job on the JFK book! Sounds good! I finished another terrific book. The Cellist of Sarajevo!
Great stuff and will be on my end of the year list. BTW, I found a copy of Small Island. It's making it's way to the Midwest via Germany. I'd like to get to it by the end of the year!

I was in an after-school bowling league run by our p.e. teacher. He heard on the radio, and sent us home. There was no tv in Aruba then, and newspapers were flown in from Miami only a couple of times a week, so we got very little information about what was going on as it happened--other than what we could hear when we could tune in to the VOA. I remember we later bought a commemorative book about the events written by William Manchester.

>248: Hi Mark, and thanks. I read Cellist last year and I still get chills thinking about it. I predict you will like Small Island as well. We seem to keep reading each other's books...except you don't like my schmaltzy dog tales and I'm not too crazy about your crime novels. :-)

>249: Wow, does that bring back the memories. I think Death of A President was one of the first books I bought as a young adult. And I still have it! Thanks for sharing.

Book No. 85: Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. 3 stars.
Review here.

I learned a lot in this book and, although it was well written, it didn't have the human interest that appeals to me when reading history. I also expected more discussion about the religious beliefs of the Pilgrims. Their brutality surprised me. Not only were they quick to kill, they also had no qualms about desecrating the native's burial sites and stealing their reserves of seed corn. I totally get that the Indians were also at fault, but they didn't claim to have a "direct and personal connection to God." I wanted to know how the years of betrayal, scheming, and greed affected their spirituality. I might go so far as to call this a historical account of how religious convictions can run amok when they are sorely tested. Guess it just goes to show that the Pilgrims were human like the rest of us.

Well, now that I got that off my chest, I can concentrate on getting ready for the food frenzy on Thursday. I tried to explain to Chinese visitors a few years ago about the facts of our American Thanksgiving. I don't think that they got my humor when I told them the women spend days planning, cleaning, and cooking...only to have the meal eaten in 30 minutes... and then the men go off to watch football (or sleep in front of the TV) so the women can spend the rest of the day cleaning up. Now that's tradition. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Edited to turn off Bold print.

Message edited by its author, Nov 24, 2009, 5:08pm.

Hi Donna, I've wanted o read that one for a long time but after reading your review I think I can finally skip one of you books and give the pile a break. I thumbed you review for your honest appraisal.

Edited to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving too:-)

Message edited by its author, Nov 24, 2009, 6:56pm.

Hi Donna- I loved your reference to "dog tales" & "crime novels! Yes, we will politely look away!
I just started Crossing to Safety and I think I will be immersed in this one for awhile! Beautiful!
Have a great Thanksgiving, my friend!

Hi, Donna -

It is so much fun to stop by and get caught up with what you are reading (interesting, sometimes very worthy) and reviewing in the way of books. I will read your new reviews in a few minutes.

I hope that it's not to late to add my little vignette about the day that President Kennedy was shot and killed. (And, a little back-story, too).

My mother worked as a secretary to the principal of an elementary school that was close to the house that I was living in with my two infant girls. She telephoned me and was very distraught, crying and stumbling over her words and kept saying "Turn on the TV, the President has been shot in Dallas". Then, she said, "OMG, what are we going to do?" I was nursing my baby girl and my toddler daughter (who was born on Jack Kennedy's birthday, May twenty-fourth, in 1962), was in and out of the room checking on me and her little sister to see what was wrong after I had turned on the TV and started watching Walter Cronkite and was visibly upset. An absolutely unbelievable series of scenes kept being shown on the screen, sent from the Dallas CBS affiliate. It was beyond anything I could have imagined.

I was just two days away from my twenty-first birthday, and was following the re-election campaign closely as I was going to be able to vote for the first time in my life. (My B'Day was yesterday, the twenty-fourth, as many of you already know). I remember that a baby sitter came to take care of my girls, and my ex-husband took me out for what should have been a festive and happy twenty-first birthday celebration. Well, needless to say, it was a glum occasion. I kept thinking about how much I liked the President and his glamorous family and how now, I would not be able to vote for him.

I remember that his and Jackie's little baby son had died fairly recently, too, (earlier in 1963) while I had been living in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia . I was twenty. The friends and neighbors there, in that little fishing village, would come up to me on the street or in the market and tell me how sorry they were about the Kennedy's baby boy. They (the Canadians) were so touched and so kind to me as an American living in their country. My memories of the people of Lunenburg are precious to this very day.

It was the most amazing period of time to be living in and through. The whole world, and especially the people of the United States, seemed to be brought together in our grief over the President's death, mesmerized by the television coverage broadcasting each horrific event repeatedly ... the convertible moving down the street in the motorcade, the shot, the bodies in the car shifting in recoil or response to what had just happened, the fear, the blood, the scrabble to protect the President and to get him to the hospital, the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald, the basement scene where Jack Ruby shot the alleged assassin, Oswald; LBJ being sworn in on the plane back to Washington, the funeral, Jackie, beautiful and stoic in widow's weeds, Jack's brothers, the children, Caroline, solemn and little John saluting as the caisson bearing his Daddy's casket rolled by. Yep, there are pretty vivid memories for those of us who were young adults at the time of the death of the President.

Well, what a way to start the day, strolling down memory lane and back through a time in my life when most everything seemed surreal and unimportant by comparison to what was happening in the entire country.

I know that I have spent a good bit of time over the past few days thinking of the things that I am truly grateful for: the individuals and groups of people that I love, living fully each day in the best way that I can, and making it a priority not to hurt anyone thoughtlessly, my home and my pets and it goes almost without saying, the LibraryThing founder, staff, community and friends I've aquired.

What a wonderful world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk9ItaDWx...

Happy Thanksgiving, to you, Donna, and all of the beloved ones stopping by here to read and post.

Ruth

Oh Belva, you always touch my heart with your comments. What a wonderful world, indeed.

I think Kennedy's death resonated so much with me as an impressionable teenager because it so took me out of my selfish world and made me realize what it was to be part of such a great country that pulls together during tough times.

Enjoy that whipped cream on your pumpkin pie. I think you should get some kind of award for the most imaginative title for your thread.

FYI - Donna - post # 253 is from me, your buddy in Tallahassee, womansheart aka Ruth. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one to do stuff like this ... I tell my kids, it keeps me humble.

**Blushing** Forgive me, Ruth, I have been up to my eyeballs in Thanksgiving prep today. We are serving 13 here tomorrow. It's a good thing I'm not superstitious.

If it is any consolation, I get Belva mixed up with BonnieBooks and Brenzi as well. And I thought BJ lived in Texas when she lives in Tulsa. Oh yeah, almost forgot, Mark called me on the wrong book title once. I am feeling really humble now, but I'm so tired that I won't lose sleep over it. At least I remembered the cool name of your thread. I'll think of you, Ruth, as I eat my pumpkin pie with whipped cream tomorrow. Cheers!

Hi Donna- I didn't catch it either, while scanning your posts! I wouldn't sweat it, friend! It's becoming quite a gang to keep track of! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We ARE quite a gang and a wonderful one. Besides, who wouldn't be somewhat flattered to be confused with our beloved Belva?

I hope that you enjoy every minute of your Thanksgiving and all that it entails, Donna. I'm sure it will be wonderful! I would sure enjoy sitting down to a cup of coffee and a good piece of pumpkin pie with you myself, and definitely with the whipped cream. We could talk about ... let's see ... hmmmmmn ... good books, dear friends, how we are filled with thankfulness for all our many, many blessings.

You are very special to me, Donna. I just wanted you to know it was me, your friend, and fellow book lover, Ruth. I absolutely wouldn't want to cause you a single moments discomfort from embarrassment and Mark is right ... don't sweat it.

With love, as always ...

WH

Have a wonderful day Donna! Enjoy your dinner and your family - Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi, Donna! Just popping in to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Donna, hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving.