kidzdoc: 75 and Beyond, Take 18

Take 1
Take 2
Take 3
Take 4
Take 5
Take 6
Take 7
Take 8
Take 9
Take 10
Take 11
Take 12
Take 13
Take 14
Take 15
Take 16
Take 17

Books Read in 2010:



Books Purchased in 2010:



Currently reading:
Ignatz by Monica Youn
I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita
White Coat, Black Hat: Adventures on the Dark Side of Medicine by Carl Elliot

Completed books:

October:
136. The Words by Jean-Paul Sartre
135. A River Dies of Thirst: Journals by Mahmoud Darwish
134. How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired by Dany Laferrière
133. The Violent Bear it Away by Flannery O'Connor
132. How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu
131. All That Follows by Jim Crace
130. The Habit of Art by Alan Bennett
129. Making Waves by Mario Vargas Llosa
128. Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey
127. A Week at the Airport by Alain de Botton
126. An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris by Georges Perec
125. The Private Life of Trees by Alejandro Zambra
124. The Sorrow Gondola: Poems by Tomas Tranströmer
123. No Surrender: Poems by Ai
122. The White Family by Maggie Gee
121. Antipoems: How to Look Better & Feel Great by Nicanor Parra
120. Pulp by Charles Bukowski
119. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

September:
118. A Country Doctor's Notebook by Mikhail Bulgakov
117. The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings by James Baldwin
116. The Sickness by Alberto Barrera Tyszka
115. Danton's Death by Georg Büchner
114. C by Tom McCarthy
113. The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
112. My Ear at His Heart: Reading My Father by Hanif Kureishi
111. The Silent Traveller in San Francisco by Chiang Yee
110. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
109. Yesterday by Maria Dermoût
108. Closing the Chart: A Dying Physician Examines Family, Faith and Medicine by Steven D. Hsi, MD
107. Room by Emma Donoghue
106. The Elephant's Journey by José Saramago

August:
105. The Flood by Chiwan Choi
104. Trespass by Rose Tremain
103. Wonder by Hugo Claus
102. Quacks: Fakers & Charlatans in Medicine by Roy Porter
101. The Company of Heaven: Stories from Haiti by Marilene Phipps-Kettlewell
100. Wild Grass by Lu Xun
99. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
98. The Seine Was Red: Paris, October 1961 by Leïla Sebbar
97. The Ballad of the Sad Café by Carson McCullers
96. Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson McCullers
95. The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
94. Chronicles of My Life: An American in the Heart of Japan by Donald Keene
93. A Sense of Where You Are: Bill Bradley at Princeton by John McPhee
92. Why Translation Matters by Edith Grossman
91. Touch by Adania Shibli
90. Chef by Jaspreet Singh
89. Change by Mo Yan
88. In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut
87. Street Smarts: Poems by Devorah Major
86. Bellocq's Ophelia: Poems by Natasha Trethewey
85. Bilingual: Life and Reality by François Grosjean
84. The Literary Conference by César Aira
83. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

July:
82. My Two Oxfords by Willie Morris
81. The Little Peul by Mariama Barry
80. The Water Cure by Percival Everett
79. Island by Penelope Todd
78. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
77. The Vagrants by Yiyun Li
76. The Boy Next Door by Irene Sabatini
75. Landscape with Dog and Other Stories by Ersi Sotiropoulos
74. Even the Dogs by Jon McGregor
73. The Murderess by Alexandros Papadiamantis

June:
72. To Mervas by Elisabeth Rynell
71. Some Prefer Nettles by Junichiro Tanizaki
70. Troubles by J.G. Farrell
69. Waiting for the Wild Beasts to Vote by Ahmadou Kourouma
68. Philosophy in the Present by Alain Badiou and Slavoj Žižek
67. The World Is What It Is: The Authorized Biography of V.S. Naipaul by Patrick French
66. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
65. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
64. Selected Cronicas by Clarice Lispector
63. Medicine in Translation: Journeys with My Patients by Danielle Ofri

May:
62. The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector
61. News from Home by Sefi Atta
60. My House by Nikki Giovanni
59. The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell
58. The Informers by Juan Gabriel Vásquez
57. Fear by Stefan Zweig
56. A Fortunate Man: The Story of a Country Doctor by John Berger
55. Five Modern Japanese Novelists by Donald Keene
54. Tranquility by Attila Bartis
53. The Death of Artemio Cruz by Carlos Fuentes
52. The Pen and the Sword: Conversations with Edward Said by David Barsamian
51. Season of Ash by Jorge Volpi
50. Letters from London by C.L.R. James
49. Naomi by Junichiro Tanizaki
48. Everything In This Country Must by Colum McCann
47. Piano by Jean Echenoz
46. White Masks by Elias Khoury

April:
45. Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
44. Spain in Our Hearts by Pablo Neruda
43. A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor
42. Dread: Poems by Ai
41. Twilight & Moonbeam Alley by Stefan Zweig
40. Bicycles: Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni
39. Three Novellas by Joseph Roth
38. The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique Roffey
37. The Plague by Albert Camus
36. Dreams in a Time of War: A Childhood Memoir by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
35. Morning Haiku by Sonia Sanchez
34. The Women and the Men by Nikki Giovanni
33. An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah
32. Re: Creation by Nikki Giovanni

March:
31. Street of Lost Footsteps by Lyonel Trouillot
30. Albert Camus: A Life by Olivier Todd
29. School Days by Patrick Chamoiseau
28. Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa
27. Close to Jedenew by Kevin Vennemann
26. Earth and Ashes by Atiq Rahimi
25. The Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee
24. Selected Stories by Stefan Zweig
23. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
22. The Long Song by Andrea Levy
21. Nadirs by Herta Muller

February:
20. Listen! Early Poems by Vladimir Mayakovsky
19. A Life Apart by Neel Mukherjee
18. Black Judgement by Nikki Giovanni
17. Things Seen by Annie Ernaux
16. Georg Letham: Physician and Murderer by Ernst Weiss
15. Ashes of the Amazon by Milton Hatoum
14. Black Feeling Black Talk by Nikki Giovanni
13. The Emperor by Ryszard Kapuscinski
12. The Good Doctors: The Medical Committee for Human Rights and the Struggle for Social Justice in Health Care by John Dittmer
11. Wondrak and Other Stories by Stefan Zweig (Austria)

January:
10. Moscardino by Enrico Pea (Italy)
9. Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste (Ethiopia)
8. Small Island by Andrea Levy (UK)
7. Amok and Other Stories by Stefan Zweig (Austria)
6. The Making of a Tropical Disease: A Short History of Malaria by Randall M. Packard
5. The Word Book by Kanai Mieko (Japan)
4. Tormented Hope: Nine Hypochondriac Lives by Brian Dillon
3. Matigari by Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Kenya)
2. Monsieur Pain by Roberto Bolaño (Chile)
1. Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original by Robin D.G. Kelley

Categories and completed books in my 1010 challenge:

A. 2009-10 Archipelago Books
1. Moscardino by Enrico Pea (Italy)
2. Georg Letham: Physician and Murderer by Ernst Weiss
3. White Masks by Elias Khoury
4. Tranquility by Attila Bartis
5. To Mervas by Elisabeth Rynell
6. Wonder by Hugo Claus
7. A River Dies of Thirst: Journals by Mahmoud Darwish

B. 2010 Booker Prize longlist and previous winners
1. The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell (1973)
2. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle (1993)
3. Troubles by J.G. Farrell (Lost Man Booker Prize)
4. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell (2010 longlist)
5. In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut (2010 shortlist)
6. The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson (2010 winner)
7. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas (2010 longlist)
8. Trespass by Rose Tremain (2010 longlist)
9. Room by Emma Donoghue (2010 shortlist)
10. C by Tom McCarthy (2010 shortlist)
11. Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey (2010 shortlist)

C. 2010 Orange Prize longlist and previous longlisted books
1. Small Island by Andrea Levy
2. The Long Song by Andrea Levy
3. The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique Roffey
4. Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
5. The Boy Next Door by Irene Sabatini
6. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
7. The White Family by Maggie Gee

D. Medicine, public health and science
1. Tormented Hope: Nine Hypochondriac Lives by Brian Dillon
2. The Making of a Tropical Disease: A Short History of Malaria by Randall M. Packard
3. The Good Doctors: The Medical Committee for Human Rights and the Struggle for Social Justice in Health Care by John Dittmer
4. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
5. A Fortunate Man: The Story of a Country Doctor by John Berger
6. Medicine in Translation: Journeys with My Patients by Danielle Ofri
7. Quacks: Fakers & Charlatans in Medicine by Roy Porter
8. Closing the Chart: A Dying Physician Examines Family, Faith and Medicine by Steven D. Hsi, MD

E. African-American/African poetry & literature
1. Matigari by Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Kenya)
2. Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste (Ethiopia)
3. Black Feeling Black Talk by Nikki Giovanni (US)
4. Black Judgement by Nikki Giovanni
5. Re: Creation by Nikki Giovanni
6. An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe)
7. The Women and the Men by Nikki Giovanni
8. Morning Haiku by Sonia Sanchez
9. Bicycles: Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni
10. Dread: Poems by Ai
11. My House by Nikki Giovanni
12. News from Home by Sefi Atta
13. Waiting for the Wild Beasts to Vote by Ahmadou Kourouma
14. The Water Cure by Percival Everett
15. The Little Peul by Mariama Barry
16. Bellocq's Ophelia: Poems by Natasha Trethewey
17. Street Smarts: Poems by Devorah Major

F. 2010 Author Theme Reads
1. Amok and Other Stories by Stefan Zweig
2. Wondrak and Other Stories by Stefan Zweig
3. Selected Stories by Stefan Zweig
4. Three Novellas by Joseph Roth
5. Twilight & Moonbeam Alley by Stefan Zweig
6. Naomi by Junichiro Tanizaki
7. Fear by Stefan Zweig
8. Some Prefer Nettles by Junichiro Tanizaki

G. Southern US literature (William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Carson McCullers, etc.)
1. A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor
2. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
3. Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson McCullers
4. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers
5. The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
6. The Violent Bear it Away by Flannery O'Connor

H. Asian/Asian-American literature
1. The Word Book by Kanai Mieko (Japan)
2. A Life Apart by Neel Mukherjee
3. The Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee (South Korea)
4. Earth and Ashes by Atiq Rahimi (Afghanistan)
5. The Vagrants by Yiyun Li (China)
6. Chef by Jaspreet Singh (India)
7. Touch by Adania Shibli (Palestine)
8. Wild Grass by Lu Xun (Japan)
9. The Flood by Chiwan Choi (Korean-American)

I. Biographies and Memoirs
1. Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original by Robin D.G. Kelley
2. The Emperor by Ryszard Kapuscinski
3. Albert Camus: A Life by Olivier Todd
4. Dreams in a Time of War: A Childhood Memoir by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
5. The World Is What It Is: The Authorized Biography of V.S. Naipaul by Patrick French
6. Change by Mo Yan
7. A Sense of Where You Are: Bill Bradley at Princeton by John McPhee
8. Chronicles of My Life: An American in the Heart of Japan by Donald Keene
9. My Ear at His Heart: Reading My Father by Hanif Kureishi
10. The Words by Jean-Paul Sartre

J. Latin-American & Caribbean literature
1. Monsieur Pain by Roberto Bolano (Chile)
2. Ashes of the Amazon by Milton Hatoum (Brazil)
3. Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru)
4. School Days by Patrick Chamoiseau (Martinique)
5. Street of Lost Footsteps by Lyonel Trouillot (Haiti)
6. Season of Ash by Jorge Volpi (Mexico)
7. The Death of Artemio Cruz by Carlos Fuentes (Mexico)
8. The Informers by Juan Gabriel Vasquez (Colombia)
9. The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector (Brasil)
10. The Literary Conference by Cesar Aira (Mexico)
11. The Company of Heaven: Stories from Haiti by Marilene Phipps-Kettlewell (Haiti)
12. The Sickness by Alberto Barrera Tyszka (Venezuela)
13. The Private Life of Trees by Alejandro Zambra (Chile)

Speaking of Rohinton Mistry, yesterday's Guardian mentioned that his novel Such a Long Journey was banned from a reading list by Mumbai University after protests were made by an extremist group, Shiv Sena, which claimed that the book insulted the group's founder:

Mumbai University drops Rohinton Mistry novel after extremists complain

Wow, first on a Darryl thread? No way!

Hi Luxx!

I assume that Stasia is getting some well deserved sleep.

Rohinton Mistry wrote a good article commenting on the Mumbai University action in The Globe and Mail this morning.

Oh Darryl, what nasty comments on your Amazon-review. I guess many sick people hover the internet to add their potion of venom and hatred to the world, as if there isn't enough already. Other than that, based on your review, I'll add the Finkler Question to my TR-list.

Hi, Darryl. Just passing through the threads this morning but I'll be back to check out the article on Mistry.

How often do things like that happen on Amazon?

Well, at least it's never dull in Darryl-land. Interesting in the wrong way, sometimes. But dull? No indeed.

#2 - now I definitely want to read it.

Passing through! Garlic Fries for sure.

Just waving as I go through the threads, Darryl!

Did someone mention Garlic Fries? I just had some again yesterday evening .... how could I resist, the bar at my hotel was offering half priced appetizers and martinis during happy hour, and I had a whole hour to kill before meeting someone for dinner.

Hey Darryl, I met someone at the conference I was at who was from Mumbai and he said that as a result of the Mumbai Uni announcement, Misty's book sales have actually skyrocketed as Mumbaians flock to acquire this banned book. He thought the ban was ridiculous but was not surprised by it. Indians, he said, thrive on controversial material .. if they were kept to the black market and not made readily accessible to the masses, if the material could be insulting to some.

One of my students just told me that Mein Kampf has gained a bit of a following among Indian youth in recent years. From what she said, it seems like the younger generations admire him as a leader, although they don't necessarily condone the Holocaust.....

I haven't looked into it myself, but this particular student is researching the censorship of Mein Kampf for a paper, so I'll be interested to see what she finds.

Passing thru to say hello!

Fried potatoes must be slathered in something. I personally prefer 2T mayo, 4T ketchup, and a thorough shaking of Tabasco all blended nice'n'smooth. Drool worthy!

#5: I assume that this is the article that Cyrel is referring to:

Oh, what a sorry book-burning spectacle

#6: Thanks, Monica. I'm not taking this personally of course, since the commenter has an issue with Jacobson, not with my review of the book.

#7: I don't think I've seen comments like this one before Pat, except for books written by politicians such as Jimmy Carter or Sarah Palin.

#8: I think I'd prefer dull in these circumstances.

#9: Same here; I'll order it or look for it in my local Borders or elsewhere soon.

#10: Definite thumbs up for garlic fries.

#11: Hi Stasia! That might be the latest post I've seen from you on a new thread of mine.

#12: That's also what Mistry said in the article that Cyrel mentioned; sales of the book have taken off after Mumbai University's regrettable decision.

#13: That's interesting about the popularity of Mein Kampf among Indian students. I wonder if that is true for students in other countries?

#14: Hi leperdbunny!

#15: No! Fresh fries need no more than a pinch of salt, maybe a touch of vinegar. Garlic and herbs are nice, but, as Rebecca(?) said, sauces make them soggy and take away from their naturally good taste.

#16: What a shame that book burning still exists. When I think of all that is lost due to the narrowmindedness of people, I just shake my head.

The irony of bookburning in a university!

The book-burning saddens but does not surprise me, though I confess to being surprised as well as saddened by the actions of the university.

I do get the impression that it is now perfectly acceptable and unremarkable to read Mein Kampf as part of a study of/interest in 20th century politics/history/culture, whereas twenty years ago only those with either a serious academic interest or political leanings in that direction read it. I don't know how accurate this impression is.

Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution by Nick Lane is the winner of this year's Royal Society Prize for Science Books. Lane is a biochemist at University College London, and in this book he "argues that there are 10 such inventions and explores the evolution of each. Not surprisingly, each of the 10—the origin of life, the creation of DNA, photosynthesis, the evolution of complex cells, sex, movement, sight, warm bloodedness, consciousness and death—is intricate, its origins swirling in significant controversy."

Nick Lane wins Royal Society science book prize for Life Ascending

I've ordered this book, along with his earlier book Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life, as I'd like to get back to reading more books about science.

I think it's worthwhile to read Mein Kampf if you're studying or have an interest in this area. (I'm against banning or burning books.) I am a bit taken aback by the idea of Hitler as a great leader with bizarre ideas. The only thing that made him a "great leader" was his ability to hypnotize his listeners and whip them up into a frenzy. That's not leading; that's mania.

#20 Life Ascending sounds as though it will be very controversial in some circles. If you post a review to Amazon, I wonder if commenters with be more or less polite than the Jacobson commenters.

As soon as I read the title Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life, I had a flashback to junior high days. I had read L'Engle's book about Charles being ill and his siblings traveling into his body to convince the crucial mitochondria not to succumb. I was so intrigued by mitochondria, that I began to read everything I could about them. Living in rural Maine, this meant getting special permission to use a medical library in Portland. I still have fond feelings for mitochondria!

Life Ascending sounds really interesting, Darryl ... I have to add this to my obese wish list. I know my brother will enjoy reading it as well.

Book #131: All That Follows by Jim Crace



My rating:

Lennie Less is an accomplished British jazz saxophonist who is about to turn 50 in October 2024, and is reasonably happy, as he is in a comfortable marriage and his music has provided him with personal satisfaction and material comfort.

One day he watches a hostage drama taking place in a nearby town, and recognizes the intruder as Maxie Lermon, an American activist that he met years ago, as he was the lover of a Nadia Emmerson, a woman he also loved. He wants to be of some assistance, knowing that the man has a violent streak and might kill his hostages. He meets up with the teenage daughter of Maxie and Nadia; she concocts a risky plan to bring the hostage drama to an end. Lennie, who is cautious to a fault, has reservations about the plan, yet cannot completely distance himself from the woman he once loved, and the young girl he has become enamored with.

Despite an interesting story line I found this book to be quite disappointing, as I could not empathize with any of the characters, and I found Lennie, the main character, to be selfish, wishy washy and thoroughly annoying. Fortunately this was a short novel, but it's one I would not recommend.

Oo err.... I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this, Darryl. Thanks for the heads up. Have you read his other book, Being Dead? I've heard that's a good one and now that I have my own copy, I'm looking forward to reading it.

Glad to know I should give this one a wide berth.

I just started A Week at the Airport which you brought to my attention after one of your recent book buying adventures. It's a good antidote to the heaviness of How to Read the Air which I like but in small doses.

I have Being Dead but haven't read it yet. I've read good reviews of that book and Quarantine; I think that he's a talented writer, but All That Follows is probably not up to par with his previous novels.

How to Read the Air is next on my list; I'll start it shortly, and try to finish it tomorrow or Saturday.

#24: I already had that one on the 'Do Not Read' list due to someone else's review. Yours did not change my opinion.

Glad you are reading How to Read the Air next. I have hope that it will be better than a 2.5 star book for you.

#21 As you say, Suzanne, it may be worthwhile to read Mein Kampf if you are studying the times, etc, although I have not been inspired to read it from the excepts in The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich or Hitler and Stalin; among his infinitely more serious failings, Hitler was not a great writer. However, if more people had read it at the time, they wouldn't have been surprised at what Hitler ended up doing and might have stopped him sooner and with less loss of life on all sides.

On the issue of whether he was a "great leader," my reading tells me he was brilliant at rousing the crowds through his speeches and at analyzing how the western leaders would respond to some of his actions. But he destroyed all the other leadership in Germany from the military on down, responded emotionally and hysterically when things went wrong, didn't listen to the opinions of others, and led his country into a disastrous war -- everything else aside, these are not the attributes of a "great leader."

I think Mein Kampf is important to read as a student of history as it is a primary source. For non-historians, I agree with Rebecca that Rise and Fall or Hitler and Stalin are infinitely more readable and still give you the flavor of Hitler's writing. (I especially like Bullock's book.) I think there is nothing wrong with students reading books like Mein Kampf; we must listen to all voices in order to truly understand our world. It's how such books are interpreted that is of concern. To become enamoured of madmen is indeed a dangerous thing.

In today's Guardian Sarah Crown, the editor of the paper's online book section, announces the creation of a new project, Fiction Uncovered, whose goal is to highlight books by the best UK writers whose work has not received much attention or recognition. The project will select and announce eight books next spring, which will all receive promotion by major booksellers and other outlets.

Help Find Fiction's Unheralded Stars

The Fiction Uncovered web site already has several books that have been listed for contention, including Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson, which I ordered from The Book Depository recently, as it was nominated for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize.

#32: Not that I am not glad about another award for writers, but I do wish that the award was not so narrow in scope. Why limit it to just UK writers? I am sure that there are a lot of fiction writers world wide whose work could use some recognition.

#33 -- Probably just so that the judges retain their sanity... The world of relatively little recognized novelists is immense in any country... I'd love to see something similar elsewhere -- even regionally in the US.

#34: Yes, you have a point, Suz.

Fiction Uncovered is funded by Arts Council England and the National Lottery in the UK, so it has no interest in seeking out or promoting non-British writers.

I'm 2/3 of the way through How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu, which I love so far. I should finish it this evening, after work.

Maybe the New York Lottery could see the utility of this. OOODLES of underrecognized talent here in NY, and the mission of the Lottery is to make billions for education! (It says here.)

It would be nice to see some of the other writers who haven't been nominated for other awards recognized.

Well, I won't finish How to Read the Air tonight; one of the fill in doctors that was supposed to have worked today didn't show up, and the rest of us had to cover her patients. I ran my @$$ off to see most of her kids in addition to mine, skipped lunch and dinner, and didn't finish until after 9 pm. Hopefully I'll finish it on Monday, as tomorrow will be another long day.

Sorry about the busy weekend, Darryl, but now we'll probably finish How to Read the Air at about the same time. Unfortunately, this book reminds me of my own parents' horrible marriage (which luckily didn't involve physical abuse) so it's been really hard to read at times but I am "enjoying" it if that makes any sense.

#39: Sorry to hear you are having such a busy weekend, Darryl! I hope Sunday is not as long as you imagine it will be.

Today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, even though I was on call for new admissions (only six admissions in 10 hours; by comparison my partner that worked Friday night had 20 admissions in 12 hours). I actually left a bit earlier tonight than I did last night. I'll see a few patients tomorrow as the back up doctor, and then I'm off until next Monday, so the worst of the week is over.

How do you go through a day without eating lunch or dinner, Darryl? Not even time for a tube of Gogurt or a milkshake? I get awfully grumpy and feel nauseous if I'm too hungry. I may get away with skipping one meal but definitely not 2.

I'm glad the worst of your week is over, but please try not to skip meals, Darryl... it wouldn't do your wee patients much good if you fainted on top of them. ;-)

#42: I am glad to hear your Sunday went better than expected.

I've just started How to Read the Air...can't wait to hear what you thought of it.

Salut, mon ami!

*returns Darryl's drive-by wave*

*Waves*

Hi, Darryl. Just wanted to let you know I started The White Family by Maggie Gee tonight and am loving it. Why is this book not better known? There are no reviews on Amazon and only a few on LT.

I have that one my TBR, although I've never read anything by her before.

#48 - I'm really jealous. I sent my daughter to the library for The White Family, but it wasn't in (it should have been). We'll try again next week.

#43: Thanks for your concern, Caroline. You're absolutely right, I shouldn't skip meals, and I definitely feel worse and don't function as well when I do miss lunch, which I frequently do on my busiest days. I feel guilty about taking a break for lunch until I've seen all of my patients at least once, and sometimes the cafeteria or doctor's dining room is closed by the time I'm done with my "morning" rounds. As a result, I'll often eat a late lunch, or no lunch at all, and eat a heavy dinner, and/or a very late one, which isn't good. Each floor of the hospital has vending machines, but they frequently have less than healthy fare, so I'll opt for Sun Chips or pretzels to tide me over. As you said, I'll tend to be grumpy, nauseous and mentally fatigued if I do that, though. I'll have to change, and take a 15-20 minute break for lunch in the future, especially as we're moving into the busy fall and winter months.

#44: Yes, Sunday was far better than I thought it would be, and I was thankful for it, as I did not have a lot of energy after that hellish Saturday. I did work yesterday as the backup doc, and it took me forever to finish up (I didn't leave until 3:30 pm when I should have been done after lunch). Fortunately I'm off until next Monday, although I'll go to the hospital a couple of days for committee meetings. I won't leave town as I had originally planned, so I should get some good reading done over the next six days.

#45: I'll finish How to Read the Air shortly; I have 78 pages left to read.

#46: Bonjour, madame! (I need to work on my French for next year...drat, the monthly French for Travellers course at Alliance Française d'Atlanta has already been held this month.)

#47: Hi leperdbunny!

#48: I'm very curious to get your opinion of The White Family, Pat. I'll definitely have to look for her other books in the near future; apparently Grace, one of her earlier novels, will be re-released by Saqi Books in the US later this week (30 Oct).

I forgot until yesterday that Margaret Atwood is in town this week to give the Richard Ellmann lectures at Emory University this week; her series is entitled In Other Words: SF and the Human Imagination. I doubt that I'll go to this afternoon's lecture, but I may go to tonight's reading and book signing (I seem to have picked up a stomach bug yesterday, so I may just skip it and download the audio and video podcasts on iTunes when they are released).

#49: Has anyone read any of Maggie Gee's books? (Luci? Fliss? Laura or Jill? I'll have to check with Charlotte (charbutton) on Club Read as well.)

#50: I hope that you find it, Janet. I bought my copy at the London Review Bookshop last month.

Hi Darryl, didn't you say that The White Family was an Orange Prize nominee? Well since I have it on my shelf, I'll be reading it in Orange January and I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks for unearthing an obscure gem for us to enjoy.

Yes, it was shortlisted for the 2002 Orange Prize, which was won by Bel Canto (another book I need to add to my wish list). If I remember correctly I was unaware of this book or its author, and found it on one of the display tables at the London Review Bookshop.

There is always next month, chez l'Alliance Francaise!

You can always rent some great French films from Netflix, non? Not to mention the existence of parallel texts of livres en francais... ;-)

Right; hopefully there will be a class soon on a Saturday that I'm not working and not out of town (which seems moderately likely for November). Fortunately the office of Alliance Française d'Atlanta is only 1-1/2 blocks from where I live.

Ooh, good idea! I want to see some of the famous French New Wave films (Breathless, The 400 Blows, etc.) Which are your favorites? I have a half dozen or more books on Paris that are high on my TBR list, and I'd like to get to The Mandarins by Simone de Beauvoir sometime next year, especially after reading a glowing review of it by Mario Vargas Llosa in Making Waves (which I will review this week).

The new wave ones are classics.
I love Chabrol's films, pretty nearly any of them!
Isabelle Huppert has starred in several amazing films, including La Dentelliere (the first French film I saw full length in a cinema with no subtitles!!), as well as one of Chabrol's great films, La ceremonie. (Based on a Ruth Rendell mystery, I believe.) Both are chilling in different ways.
You should definitely see the two films based on Pagnol's books, Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. The scenery alone is worth the price of admission. And then are is Depardieu (in the first film) and Daniel Auteuil (in both).
Un coeur en hiver (a heart in winter) also brings together Auteuil and Emmanuelle Beart, who are also real life partners. (Also great music by Ravel, chamber music.)
Look for some of André Téchiné's films.
There is Depardieu in le Colonel Chabert (d'apres Balzac...) He also played Danton in a much earlier film, I think one by Truffaut?
Truffaut is a great director -- check out Vivement dimanche, with Fanny Ardant (also amazing).
Trop Belle pour Toi is a great comedy, featuring Depardieu. There are a number of super French comedies. After all, they came up with the original Cage aux Folles, which is SOOO much better in the original...
Of recent films, I enjoyed Arsene Lupin, perhaps because I used to read the books when I was 12/13. (He is a jewel thief; goes up against a rather doltish investigator named "Herlock Sholmes"!)
That's to be going on with... :-)

>56 kidzdoc:: Suzanne is a real expert on this, but I feel compelled to respond too.
- Breathless was recently re-released, and we saw it in an artsy cinema. Interesting, new wave-ish, and very French.
- Have you seen A Man and a Woman? Another classic.
- Also really liked My Best Friend
- And La gloire de mon père, based on Pagnol's childhood.
- Etre et Avoir is a documentary, not a feature film, but it's wonderful.

All links go to IMDB for more info.

#57-58: Thanks for those movie recommendations!

I've finally finished How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu. I didn't like it nearly as much as his debut novel Children of the Revolution (a.k.a. The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears), although it was a beautifully written novel. I had a hard time understanding the motivations of the main character and his parents and sympathizing with them, whereas I felt great sympathy toward and affection for the main character in Mengestu's first novel, along with the woman he fell in love with and her daughter. I'll review How to Read the Air later today or tomorrow after I gather my thoughts about it, but for now I'll give it 3-1/2 stars.

My next novel will be The Violent Bear it Away by Flannery O'Connor. For the remainder of the year I'll mainly focus on completing my 1010 challenge and catching up on the LT Early Reviewer books I've received but haven't read yet.

#59 - Darryl - I know what you mean about How to Read the Air. I found it hard to sympathize with, or even understand, the characters. But I did think it was well written. The idea that life stories are often a reconstruction of reality is beautifully illustrated. But I also liked The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears better.

I found two recent interviews of Mengestu, which has helped me to grasp this novel a bit better, particularly the first one, in The Rumpus:

The Rumpus Interview With Dinaw Mengestu

A Novelist’s Voice, Both Exotic and Midwestern

Thanks for those links, Darryl. I thought The Rumpus interview was great.

Darryl : If you can, try to get to The Mandarins sooner rather than later. It's a wonderful book. It describes the political climate in Paris during WWII really well as a backdrop to the personal drama of a woman amidst French philosophers.

Btw, re you having to miss lunch sometimes, why not buy a box of Kashi granola bars and keeping them in your office. Easy and quick for those days when you are swamped.

The Mandarins is a great book. I may have to revisit it. I also recall liking She Came to Stay. Discovered de Beauvoir via Camus, and then her memoirs/autobiographies, which I found in the American Club library in Tokyo, of all places.

I second Caroline's cereal bars suggestions: I used to keep a box of those, and one of soup-in-a-cup sachets, in the department office back when I was a student teacher and never seemed to have time for lunch.

I am still going to read How to Read the Air but, after your review, perhaps I'll read some other books first. It is short, though, which makes it good to read alongside the tome I am desperately trying to finsh!

Thank goodness for teleconferencing; I was able to "attend" a committee meeting this afternoon without driving the 11 miles to and from the hospital in a driving rainstorm. Best of all, I get to catch up on my daytime soaps and telenovelas.

#62: You're welcome, Pat. I loved that interview, and I agree with his one word assessment of the review of How to Read the Air in the Sunday NYT Book Review section.

#63: I suggested Simone de Beauvoir as one of the major authors for the Author Theme Reads group next year. If she isn't chosen I'll still read The Mandarins next year. I absolutely loved America Day By Day, the account of her trip to America in the late 1940s; I'm sure that I'll re-read it sometime in the future.

Kashi granola bars sounds like a good idea. I liked this company's products, and I had one of their entrees for lunch yesterday (pesto pasta primavera).

#64: She Came to Stay sounds interesting; I'll definitely read it next year if de Beauvoir is chosen as a major or minor author by the Author Theme Reads group.

#65: I need something that I can stick the pocket of my white coat on rounds, as my office is a fair distance away from the PCAs (patient care areas), so soup-in-a-cup wouldn't work well for me.

#66: I'll review How to Read the Air shortly, after I finish The Violent Bear it Away.

Nothing intelligent to add, but enjoying the conversation as per usual. : )

Book #132: How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu



My rating:

Jonas Woldemariam, the American born son of Ethiopian immigrants, has recently lost his teaching job in Manhattan and separated from his wife. He seeks to recreate his late parents' journey from Peoria, Illinois to Nashville, Tennessee, in an effort to learn about their lives and to understand his own confused and troubled past.

Jonas was born in the Midwest, not quite American nor fully African, and he is ostracized and treated as an exotic by his classmates and neighbors. His home is not a sanctuary, due to his father's violent outbursts towards him and his mother, and he copes by internalizing his thoughts and feelings, and making himself as invisible as possible to his father. He obtains a bachelor's degree in literature, moves to New York, and takes on a series of odd jobs. While working at a center that provides legal aid to recent immigrants he meets Angela, an African-American law student, and the two eventually marry.

Angela loves Jonas, and through her connections at work she is able to get him a job teaching English literature at a private Upper East Side school. On the surface it would seem as though Jonas would be content; however, his self isolation and inability to express or articulate his feelings and his frequent tendency to lie or spout half-truths frustrate Angela, who throws herself into her work and spends less time with her husband as a result.

After the couple separate, Jonas finds himself completely alone, as he has no friends or family. He has no clear sense of who he is or what he should do now that he is completely free. He realizes that he must go back to the past, to recreate his parents' journeys and lives as best he can, in order to determine what he should do with his life.

How to Read the Air has some roots in the author's past, as he did grow up in Peoria, but it is far from an autobiographical novel. On my initial reading I was somewhat lukewarm toward this book, despite its beautiful writing and richly portrayed characters, mainly because I could not identify or understand Jonas. However, after reading several recent interviews of Mengestu and thinking about the book over the past few days, I have come to appreciate it much more, as I find that this book, and its protagonist, have a lot to say about the life of an immigrant to America, along with anyone who finds himself caught between cultures or engaged in a struggle of self discovery. The book is filled with melancholy, yet it ends on a hopeful note, as Jonas is a sympathetic character despite his many flaws and shortcomings.

#69 I have had that one wishlisted since it was listed for Early Reviewers. I think it's published over here in December, so I shall have to keep an eye out for it: it definitely sounds like its worth reading.

Book #133: The Violent Bear it Away by Flannery O'Connor



My rating: (3.7/5.0)

The Violent Bear it Away, O'Connor's second novel, begins with the death of Mason Tarwater, a devoutly and fiercely religious old man who lives deep in the woods outside of a moderate sized town in Tennessee in the mid 20th century. His only surviving "heir" is his great-nephew Francis, a 14 year old boy who prefers to be called Tarwater. Mason kidnapped Tarwater as an infant from his nephew Rayber, the boy's uncle and a schoolteacher who lives in town, in order to baptize and educate the boy in order to make him a prophet of God. Mason tells Tarwater that, upon the old man's death, his duty will be to baptize Rayber's mentally retarded son Bishop, so that he may be saved from his morally corrupt parents and "burn clean" Rayber's eyes into realizing the errors of his secular ways.

After the old man's death Tarwater is pleased to be released from Mason and his fanatically religious beliefs, and is eager to return to the home of his uncle Rayber, although he is angry that his uncle failed to rescue him from the old man. However, once Tarwater sees Bishop, he is both tormented and repulsed by the boy, and finds himself deeply and internally conflicted by the old man's dying wish and his own desire to escape his destiny. Compounding his torment is his uncle's fervent wish to provide Tarwater with a secular education, which causes Tarwater to angrily reject his uncle, who he sees as someone who prefers to talk than to act. The tension and strong emotions build over several days, until Tarwater finally acts on his passions.

The Violent Bear it Away is a classic Southern gothic novel, with its dark and at times disturbing narration, with its overlying theme being the conflict between religion and secularism, and the violent reaction that often results. This was a powerful book, but I found it to be more predictable and overwrought than her first novel Wise Blood, which also explored similar themes.

Planned reads for November:

Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner (Le Salon du Soüthern Gothique/Nobel laureate)
Light in August by William Faulkner (Le Salon du Soüthern Gothique/Nobel laureate)
The Post-Office Girl by Stefan Zweig (Author Theme Reads/NYRB Reading Week)
A Mind at Peace by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar (Reading Globally/Archipelago Books challenge)
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Le Salon Litteraire du Peuple pour le Peuple)
White Coat Black Hat: Adventures on the Dark Side of Medicine by Carl Elliott (Club Read/Medicine challenge)
I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita (Asian American Literature challenge)
The Siege by Helen Dunmore (Orange Prize challenge)
We Are a Muslim, Please by Zaiba Malik (Belletrista)
Death in the Andes by Mario Vargas Llosa (Nobel laureate)
The Words by Jean-Paul Sartre (Nobel laureate)
Blonde Roots by Bernardine Evaristo (Orange Prize challenge)
The Salt Smugglers by Gérard de Nerval (Archipelago Books challenge)

Here's another interview of Dinaw Mengestu, which was posted today on the website of The Paris Review:

At Work: Dinaw Mengestu

Excellent review of How to Read the Air Darryl. That'll go on the WL. You have an amazing lineup for November. I need to revisit Faulkner; it's been a long time.

That was a fantastic review of How to Read the Air, Darryl! And thanks for posting that link to the interview with Mengestu. I love how thrilled he is to have been included in the New Yorker list of 20 under 40.

Between you, Bonnie and Suzanne, I feel this pressure building to read The Seige.

I've never read any Flannery O'Connor. Might have to check out some of her books at the library. Not totally sure I will like them for some reason.

Two thumbs up from me for two great reviews!

Pat -- just emphasizing the nagging to read The Siege. Don't think you'll regret it. I think I'll start The Betrayal tonight.

>75 phebj:: adding pressure to read The Siege ...

Book #134: How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired by Dany Laferrière



My rating:

The narrator of this novella is a young Haitian man who is living in a dodgy apartment on the rue Saint-Denis in Montreal along with his African roommate Bouba, the "Black Buddha" of the city. He spends his days in his filthy and pest-ridden flat working on his first novel, Black Cruiser's Paradise, and his nights are generally spent in the company of his girlfriend Miz Literature, a privileged and attractive white literature student at McGill University, or in a variety of bars and cafés with other black émigrés, who discuss the plight of black men in the city and their never ending pursuit of white women, and vice versa.

Despite its short length I found this book to be tiresome and less than believable, filled with trivial discussions about literature, jazz and black-white relations in Montreal and in the United States.

Definitely adding the Mengestu book to the BlackHole, although I still have not yet read his first book. Thumbs up for your review, Darryl.

#78 -- too bad; would have been interesting to read a book about race relations in Canada, which has a v. different history in that connection. (Especially in Quebec, where a Haitian could be among the francophones and thus acceptable, and yet perhaps not acceptable because of skin color to the 'pure laine' Quebeckers?)

This makes me think of Rawi Hage -- have you seen/read Cockroach? Admit that the title is a bit off-putting...

#78, Does this fall into the category of books whose titles are the best thing about them? I've read at least two in that category in the past two years: Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean and Growing Up in Macbeth's Castle.

#79: Thanks, Stasia. I liked this book, but I absolutely loved The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears.

#80: I bought Cockroach last year, but I haven't read it, or De Niro's Game, yet.

#81: Definitely so, Rebecca. I remember reading a review of this book in The Village Voice years ago, probably in 1987 when it was first published in the US. I didn't buy it at that time, but the book's title (at least the 'How to Make Love to a Negro' part) stayed with me. I was thrilled to see it at a SF bookstore, and was very eager to read it; unfortunately it didn't come close to meeting my expectations.

#82: I am glad to know you loved The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears because I broke down and checked it out of the library the other day - I still cannot locate my copy. I am looking forward to finally reading it!

HI Darryl

Both The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears and How To Read The Air are now on the tbr list.

#84, 85: I hope that you both read and enjoy his books. He is currently working on his third novel, which is set in post-colonial Africa.

#86: I have added incentive to read it since Suz added it to one of the TIOLI challenges for November.

I had one of my typical nightmares early this morning. I was at my parents' house, and was brushing my hair after getting out of the shower, when a huge clump of hair fell out of my forehead. The skin underneath was completely white, and was surrounded by an erythematous (red) border. I did a search on an online physician resource, MDConsult, and learned that this a telltale sign of inoperable colon cancer. My mother, who has been urging me to get a colonoscopy (which I'll probably do next month), called upstairs to ask if I was okay at the time I woke up. I couldn't have gone back to sleep even if I had wanted to.

As I said earlier, I'd rather have one of Caroline's dreams (marching mice, etc.) instead of these disturbing stories.

#88: I think I would take Caroline's marching mice too, Darryl!

Well, Dr. Freud here, I think your unconscious was telling you to get with it and get the colonoscopy! I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but they do save people from getting colon cancer and are especially important if there is any family history of polyps or colon cancer. End of commercial.

I had originally planned to have the colonoscopy this week, by my parents' and brother's gastroenterologist in the Philadelphia area, but my father had his first cataract surgery on Wednesday (which was rescheduled due to my aunt's illness last month). I'd rather do it there since I'll need someone to drive me home from the procedure, and I'd prefer to be someplace (i.e., Home) in case there are any post-procedure complications or side effects.

My father does have a history of benign polyps, but no one has had colon cancer (knock on wood). However, colon cancer is more prevalent in African-Americans, and one of my professors from residency, an African-American pediatric ICU doctor at Emory, passed away several years ago from inoperable colon cancer. He was the same age that I was at the time of his death (43 or 44 years old, I think), and he only lived a few months after his diagnosis became public knowledge.

Rest in peace, Dr. Chambliss.

That's very sad, Darryl. Go get that colonoscopy soon ... we'll all pester you until you do.

ETA: suddenly finding it odd how LT has us all poking into one another's health issues! But it's just because we care ...

We have polyps in my family too, Darryl, and that is why I harp on this issue every chance I get. But going to Philly for it makes sense.

Speaking of health issues, please check out Jenny's (lunacat's) latest posting, about her most recent accident, which thankfully wasn't as serious as it could have been (the linked photo is not for the faint of heart, though!).

http://www.librarything.com/topic/87104#2274588

Today's New York Times has an article about tomorrow's reopening of the McKim Building on 36th St & Madison Ave in NYC, which includes the Morgan Library & Museum. The article includes a slideshow of photos of the restored library, including this one:



Article: Let There Be Light, and Elegance

Hmm, that didn't work; how about this?

Get thee to thy colonoscopy, Darryl!
I had one when they thought I had IBD. Instead, they found polyps that were cancerous, but where the cancer hadn't spread down the polyp. I was VERY lucky, much as I groused about the process. I was only 28 at the time.
That sounds like a classic anxiety dream!
The dreams I hate are the ones that are just close enough to reality and very bleak -- not so much the ones about having to take exams for a class I haven't been to, teath falling out, etc., as the mundane things that I push to the back of my mind on a normal day that then explode, exponentially, in my dreams. And because they are so real and vivid, they produce a "hangover" effect on my mood for a day or two; the flip side is that a good dream (one of a dream coming true) can boost my mood when I wake up. Odd...

You were lucky, Suzanne. I assume that you'll have to get frequent colonoscopies from now on.

Actually I'm not that anxious about the colonoscopy; I want to get it over with, but I'm not dreading it either. My parents are much more anxious about it than I am; they were very freaked out when I told them about Dr. Chambliss' illness and passing, as they had met and spoke with him when they came to Atlanta during my last year of residency.

My classic anxiety dream is a typical one that medical students and residents have. In these dreams the dean of the school of medicine or the residency program director calls you into her office, and informs you that a mistake has been made; the school or residency program had intended to admit someone with a name similar to yours, but accidentally sent you the acceptance letter. You are then given a warm but firm handshake, and asked to withdraw from the school or residency program. I woke up in a sweat the first time this happened, but my fears were assuaged after learning that practically all of my friends in my class had had the same dream at least once!

Many of my typical bad dreams end with something horrible happening to someone that I'm very close to, especially my parents, and many of them are anxiety dreams, such as the recent one where my mother fell and smacked her head on a concrete sidewalk. That one scared the hell out of me, and I still shudder to think about it. Most of the dreams involving me are bizarre; in a recent one I was about to be drowned by a mega tsunami wave, and in another one a massive dog jumped out of a pickup truck into my convertible and was about to make me his dinner.

Hmm...this couldn't be due to all these grim books I read, could it? Nah.

Ha! Well, you asked the question...

I should start resuming colonoscopies now that I'm in my late 40s, but I'm uninsured... I was given a clean bill of health after a bunch of preventative ones over 8/10 years. I was very lucky they found it; not even a hint of a polyp in all the annual ones since. But then they don't advertise their presence until late in the game...

The things I hate most about the colonoscopy are drinking that really nasty solution -- in great quantities and without barfing -- and the IV needle for the sedative. People have TREMENDOUS difficulty finding veins and I don't think I've ever had an IV in which the pain from it didn't distract me from the reason for the IV in the first place (including food poisoning and VERY bad migraines).

I admit I try to wipe the bad dreams from my head as soon as possible, so I won't repeat any of them here. Just to add that I had one last Monday night (of last week!) and the shadow is still there. Gah.

Ha ha ha, yest the preparation is awful and the stuff I had to drink the last time was worse than the first time. As for the IV, we had to laugh because they gave me propofol, the thing that killed Michael Jackson. I have to say I was having an extremely pleasant dream/hallucination when I woke up from the sedative, so I guess I can see its attraction for those who are so inclined.

I have terrible problems with bad dreams; they are usually very imaginative and often scary.

Just reading about your dreams is scaring me, Darryl!

Suzanne, your comment that--because they are so real and vivid, they produce a "hangover" effect on my mood for a day or two--gave me pause. I think my bad dreams probably do that to me too but I'm not sure I ever made that connection.

Darryl, thanks for that link to the Morgan Library article. I worked there the first year out of college (1976/77) as the secretary to the director. I remember taking dictation in the North Room. The other thing that was neat with all the bookshelves was some of them opened up onto secret passages. There was a spiral staircase that went up to a room where the director's assistants worked and there was a door in the wall on the second level where you could walk out onto a small walkway around the shelves. It was a neat place to work but, as a non-profit, it drove me crazy how little got done and I left. Ah, the road not taken (what was I thinking???).

Oh, I LOVE the Morgan Library! The ambiance has changed in the newer part of the building since the renovation -- much more fancy schmancy -- but their exhibits are always my kind of thing -- prints, drawings, etc. (as well as the books, of course...)

Personally, I'd like to have a standby supply of nitrous oxide. Better than any anti-depressant, and my dentist assures me it's pretty much impossible to get addicted to or OD on. No toxic side effects. Just happy laughing gas! Wonder if I could pay a dentist for a fix right about now?

#99: Right; the bowel prep is the part of the process that I am not looking forward to, and it's another reason why I'd rather do this at my parents' house. I'm a pretty easy stick, so IVs aren't a problem for me.

I'd love to be able to get these nightmares out of my head, or get rid of them altogether. The only reason I reestablished contact with my creepy ex-GF, when I was a med student in the late 1990s, was because I had several nightmares in which she was murdered. I feared the worst, and wasn't able to find anything out online, so I wrote to her at her parents' home in New Orleans (although I didn't tell her the reason why I wrote to her). We wrote a couple of letters back and forth, and it was a dozen or so years afterward that she sent me the first of the weird letters. Next time I'll let sleeping dogs lie.

#100: Propofol is routinely used in my hospital, mainly by the anesthesiologists, ICU docs, and ER docs during procedures, even on young children. I've had dozens of patients that have received it, and none to my knowledge has had a serious adverse reaction from it. I probably never will prescribe it, though, as it isn't used on patients in the regular patient care areas.

Ah! You have dreams like mine? So it must be the books then. :-0

#101: I've passed by the Morgan Library countless times, as I worked at the NYU Medical Center on 1st Ave between 30th and 34th Sts after I received my bachelor's degree and before I went to medical school, and took NJ Transit to Penn Station for the last two years that I worked there. However, I've never been to this library. I'll have to go now, probably with a good friend of mine who is an NYU professor that still works at the medical center.

#102: I don't think you'd have a hard time finding someone who would give you nitrous oxide, for the right price.

Edited to conform with rules of proper English, now that I'm fully awake.

Oddly, last week's dream did feature in its large and diverse caste, an ex bf. I have zero interest in getting in touch with him again!
You may be right about the books... the other element is what is really worrying you in real life. That tends to get twisted and exaggerated in dreams, I find. The day before I had to take Jasper to the vet, I had an awful dream involving him -- the details are blurry, but basically I couldn't rescue him from some horrible fate. I was obviously worried about him, and that's the shape that the anxiety took...
Re the nitrous oxide; yes, it's the right price that gives me pause. Maybe I just need to start dating a dentist? Nah, that would be waaaay too scary. Real life nightmare for those of us with substandard teeth.

Oddly, last week's dream did feature in its large and diverse caste, an ex bf.

Strangely enough, whenever I see 'GF' I assume that it stands for girlfriend, but when I see 'BF' (or 'bf') I think of black female. So, when I first read your post I paused for a second, especially since I was still sleepy from my nap (hmm, what is this person if she's no longer a black female?).

Suzanne, about 20 years ago someone tried to fix me up with a dentist, but when I found out his profession I nixed it. The idea of dating someone who had his fingers in people's mouths was just too creepy.

About the dreams, I don't know if it's the books; I tend to think it's my neuroses that both create the dreams and lead me to grim books. My dreams are rarely straightforward or realistic in any meaningful way, but to oversimplify greatly, in a lot of them I'm either prevented from going somewhere I want to go or prevented from accomplishing something I want to accomplish -- sometimes, as in last night's nightmare, by bad people. Go figure.

Darryl, LOL... not to mention the possessive that was attached. Hmm, perhaps the skin bleaching solution from the 1920s when people cared about such things didn't work so well after decades on the shelf. But just saying "ex" makes people think he was a husband -- thank god, not the case! Those who say there is no good phrase for grownups in non-marital relationships do know whereof they speak!

Rebecca, I've found the reality of some setups to vastly exceed the creepy factor my imagination provides. It's less the fingers in peoples' mouths as the hyper-critical gazing at my own that would make me crazy. Much like dating a vegetarian who sighs in despair whenever you eat a bite of meat. (That I have done... and he was usually v. nice about it, but...) I just need to find a nice, non-dentally obsessed, meat-eating bibliomaniac. Can't be too hard, can it? LOL!

Darryl, go back & finish your nap. I'm about to have one here, due to insomnia last nght. Shall employ cats as hot water bottles.

Re colonoscopies--My dad had colon cancer in the early nineties, and he insisted that all of us kids get colonoscopies, even though most of us were not yet at the recommended age. I had polyps that were pre-cancerous, and would have been cancer had I waited til the recommended date to get the procedure.

On a lighter (?) note, I broke my foot running to the bathroom during the preparation for my second colonoscopy. So the preparation can be unpleasant in more than one way.

The last time I had a colonoscopy (two and a half years ago) they gave me pills to take the night before instead of the dreaded liquid. That was much easier to tolerate for me.

>109 brenzi:: I think I'll head to Buffalo for my next colonoscopy!

Darryl, of course you want to have yours done with family around. The pampering is worth the extra effort of traveling somewhere.

I had the pills the first time, and the same doctor specified the liquid the second time; when I complained about it, he said it did a better job. The thing I liked least about the liquid was that I had to get up in the middle of the night to take the second round of it, as opposed to the single round for the pills.

There are pills you can take?!! As part of my recent horrible bouts of pain, they did a colonoscopy. I ended up with the gastroenternologist calling 911 and sending me to the ER before they could even do it. As regards the "conscious sedation" they gave me, it didn't put me out so I got to see the whole thing on the screen. As a former EMT I found that pretty interesting.

P.S. Any thoughts on how many CT scans are safe? I've had three in the last 6 months.

P.S.S. I must be getting over my aversion to discussing personal issues on LT--this is as personal as it gets!

My husband grew up in an apartment next door to the Morgan Library. We used to visit his mom a lot before she passed, and she was a member at the library so we would go often. We also got lots of presents from their gift shop. :-) She had a hard time during the construction though. It was quite a project.

My other connection to the library was through Jean Strouse. She did much of her research for her book Morgan: American Financier at the Morgan in their extensive archives. I would love to get a behind the scenes tour there someday!

#96: I am drooling all over my keyboard at the sight of that picture! I cannot imagine what it looks like in real life.

#113 -- wow, a former editor of mine & her husband live in an apt overlooking/next door to the Morgan. On 37th St?

*trying to figure out how to finagle a behind-the-scenes tour*

ETA -- Stasia, time to come back to NY!

#115: I would love to!

I don't think I'll be on LT very much this weekend, as the weather in Atlanta will be absolutely perfect today and tomorrow (low 70s, sunny, almost zero chance of rain, low humidity). I completed several errands this morning (breakfast, hair cut, yuppie car wash, post office, supermarket, trip to Quizno's for a sandwich). I'll eat lunch, take a quick nap, and go back outside in a couple of hours.

I received three books from The Book Depository yesterday:
Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life by Nick Lane: An earlier book from the author of Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution, which won this year's Royal Society Prize for Science Books, which is about mitochondria, the energy factories of human and animal cells.

Angel of Death: The Story of Smallpox by Gareth Williams: This was selected for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize shortlist; this UK prize is awarded to the "finest fiction or non-fiction book centered around medicine."

A Different Sky by Meira Chand: This novel received a favorable review by Maya Jaggi of The Guardian, my favorite book reviewer, several weeks ago. It's set in Singapore starting in 1927, and it concerns three young people (Chinese, Eurasian, and Indian) over a thirty year period.

I'm nearly 2/3 of the way through The Words, Jean-Paul Sartre's autobiography of his childhood and his beginnings as a writer, and I'm almost 50 pages into I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita, a historical novel about the civil rights movement in San Francisco, especially the Yellow Power Movement for Asian civil rights, which began when Bay Area residents of Filipino and Chinese descent joined together to oppose the city's plan to raise the International Hotel in Manilatown.

Sounds like a perfect day so far--especially the book delivery. A Different Sky sounds interesting. I just read a book review by Maya Jaggi the other day (it was an old one) but her name is memorable. (Love your yuppie car wash.)

#107: I'm of two minds about cats in bed. They do keep you warm on a cold night, but they won't let you sleep in if they are hungry.

#108: Ow! I doubt that a broken foot was one of the complications listed on the procedure consent form.

#109: I'm curious to learn about the pills you can take instead of Golytely, the usual liquid preparation that is used for bowel preps. This must be the worst named medication of all time; you do not "go lightly" when you take it!

There was an article in Thursday's New York Times, which I read this morning, which describes two new noninvasive tests that are designed to detect colon cancer, and avoid the routine use of colonoscopies for people who test negative:

New DNA Tests Aimed at Reducing Colon Cancer

#110: My parents excel at pampering their eldest son, and my father has taken the lead role from my mother on this. He is a very good and eager cook, although he'll admit that my mother is better than he is, and both of them would give me a limb if I asked them to. Of course, the feeling is mutual; there is nothing (short of marrying my creepy ex-GF) that I wouldn't do for them.

#112: Any thoughts on how many CT scans are safe? I've had three in the last 6 months.

I remember reading a recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine about this, probably last year, and there was at least one major article in The New York Times about excessively high doses of radiation used for computed tomography in some hospitals, particularly in California and Alabama (Huntsville, I think). Some of the biggest factors in the safety of CT scans are the number of CT scans in a short period of time; the areas of the body that were irradiated (e.g., the brain); the age and health of the person undergoing the procedure; and the amount of radiation used during the scan. I found this article in the NEJM, and I'll look for others in the next few days.

Is Computed Tomography Safe?

#118: Here's a link to the Maya Jaggi review of A Different Sky:

A Different Sky by Meira Chand: Maya Jaggi is swept up by a panoramic page-turner set in an emergent city-state

Two of the books she recommended are amongst my favorites of the past decade: Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie, and Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiong'o. I bought both books after reading her reviews of them, and I have another half dozen or so books that she recommended.

If anyone is interested, here's a link to all of her Guardian articles:

Profile: Maya Jaggi

#120 Thanks for the links, Darryl. I just added Burnt Shadows to my wishlist too.

there is nothing (short of marrying my creepy ex-GF) that I wouldn't do for them.

ROFL! She's really becoming a running joke isn't she?

The winners of the 2010 American Book Awards, which "recognize outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America's diverse literary community", have been announced:

Amiri Baraka, Digging: The Afro-American Soul of American Classical Music (University of California Press)

Sherwin Bitsui, Flood Song (Copper Canyon Press)

Nancy Carnevale, A New Language, A New World: Italian Immigrants in the United States, 1890-1945 (University of Illinois Press)

Dave Eggers, Zeitoun (McSweeney’s/Vintage)

Sesshu Foster, World Ball Notebook (City Lights)

Stephen D. Gutierrez, Live from Fresno y Los: Stories (Bear Star Press)

Victor Lavalle, Big Machine (Spiegel & Grau)

François Mandeville, This Is What They Say, translated from the Chipewyan by Ron Scollon (University of Washington Press)

Bich Minh Nguyen, Short Girls (Viking)

Franklin Rosemont and Robin D.G. Kelley, editors, Black, Brown, & Beige: Surrealist Writings from Africa and the Diaspora (University of Texas)

Jerome Rothenberg and Jeffrey C. Robinson, editors, Poems for the Millennium: Volume Three: The University of California Book of Romantic & Postromantic Poetry (University of California Press)

Kathryn Waddell Takara, Pacific Raven:Hawai`i Poems (Pacific Raven Press)

Pamela Uschuk, Crazy Love: New Poems (Wings Press)

Lifetime Achievement: Quincy Troupe and Katha Politt

More info: http://bookweb.org/btw/awards/The-American-Book-Awards---Before-Columbus-Foundat..."

I read some of Meira Chand's books back in the 80s -- Last Quadrant is a title that sticks in my minds -- but can't recall much about them, except that they were by an Asian and they were either set in Asia or had Asian main characters... time to go back and re-read??

#123: I am finally going to read Zeitoun for the TIOLI challenge. I have had it out of the library twice now and not gotten to it yet, but I am determined to get it read in November.

Sad to say, but I have not even heard of the majority of the booksin that post. I will have to see if my local library carries any of them.

#124: I had never heard of Meira Chand before Maya Jaggi's review of her latest novel a few weeks ago.

#125: I haven't heard of most of these books either, and LT didn't have any information about two or three of them, so you're not alone. I've read Zeitoun, of course, and World Ball Notebook, and I own Digging: The Afro-American Soul of American Classical Music, but I haven't read it yet. I'm glad that Victor LaValle, a young African-American author who I've heard about but haven't read yet, was honored with an American Book Award. Big Machine is available at my local Borders, and I'll buy a copy of it later today.

I finished A River Dies of Thirst: Journals by Mahmoud Darwish, which was very good. I'm nearly finished with The Words, the Jean-Paul Sartre autobiography, which started off good but now has become a bit of a slog.

In honor of Halloween, here's the title track from Philly Joe Jones' 1958 album "Blues for Dracula":



YouTube link: Blues for Dracula

#127: 'The bebop vampire'?! LOL! Thanks for sharing that, Darryl.

Book #135: A River Dies of Thirst: Journals by Mahmoud Darwish



My rating:

Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008) was a prominent Palestinian poet, activist, and editor who won several literary awards and international peace prizes. This collection of standard and prose poems, fragments and journal entries was written just prior to his death, and was published in English by Archipelago Books last year. The pieces in this collection are deeply personal, reflecting on his youth and the wisdom that comes with age, and include grim and sorrowful poems about the Palestinian struggle along with playful and witty takes on everyday life.

Here is a representative poem from this collection:

If we want to

We will become a people, if we want to, when we learn that we are not angels, and that evil is not the prerogative of others

We will become a people when we stop reciting a prayer of thanksgiving to the sacred nation every time a poor man finds something to eat for his dinner

We will become a people when we can sniff out the sultan's gatekeeper and the sultan without a trial

We will become a people when a poet writes an erotic description of a dancer's belly

We will become a people when we forget what the tribe tells us, when the individual recognises the importance of small details

We will become a people when a writer can look up at the stars without saying: 'Our country is loftier and more beautiful!'

We will become a people when the morality police protect a prostitute from being beaten up in the streets

We will become a people when the Palestinian only remembers his flag on the football pitch, at camel races, and on the day of the Nakba

We will become a people, if we want to, when the singer is allowed to chant a verse of Surat al-Rahman at a mixed wedding reception

We will become a people when we respect the right, and the wrong

Fortunately Archipelago will publish at least two more of his earlier collections in the near future, including Journal of an Ordinary Grief later this year and In the Presence of Absence next spring.

thank you Darryl, a good poem to start the day on.

I liked the poem and have WL'ed the book.

A very thought provoking poem. I like my poetry in small doses; it would probably take me a very long time to complete a collection of poetry. I might give that a whirl next year.

>125 alcottacre:, 126: I'm so glad that I'm not alone in my ignorance of many of these books and authors. Thanks, Darryl, for keeping us informed of all these interesting awards.

Stasia, I envy you getting to read Zeitoun for the first time. It is such a memorable book about a difficult to comprehend (in terms of despair) subject.

Great poem; too bad it has the kind of message that the zealots and lazy-minded folks in the world rarely listen to or shrug off. Reminds me of what Jon Stewart said (much less elevated prose, natch...) at the rally this weekend about the need to compromise in pursuit of common goals. Another one of those pieces of common sense...

Suz, have you received Journal of an Ordinary Grief from Archipelago yet? It was supposed to have been published this month.

Darryl, I can't wait for you to read The Salt Smugglers to see what you think of the book. It's written in an interesting format.

That's a powerful poem that you've shared, Darryl. I have this book in my TBR Tower but haven't managed to get to it yet. I'm like Donna ... I like poetry, but I like them in small doses ... this sounds like a collection I should keep on my nightstand so that I can read it from time to time, all the better to savor each one if they are as powerful as the one you've shared.

Hope your weekend was awesome!!

Book #136: The Words by Jean-Paul Sartre



My rating:

Jean-Paul Sartre's autobiography was published in English in 1964, the year that he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, and it focuses on his early childhood and the influences that led to his decision to become a writer.

Sartre's father died when he was an infant; as a result he and his mother Anne-Marie moved back into her parents' house on the edge of Paris. As an only child, the young Jean-Paul was nurtured and sheltered by his mother and his grandparents, and his greatest influence as a child was his grandfather Charles Schweitzer, a professor of German literature and nephew of the Nobel laureate Albert Schweitzer. Sartre's initial years were spent in near complete isolation from other children, and he began to read voraciously at an early age, with his greatest influences being the adventure stories that his mother and grandmother gave to him, to the chagrin of his grandfather. He began to play act stories that he created based on his reading, and soon he began to write stories about these adventures. In his later childhood his grandfather's teaching and reading became more influential, and he supported his wife and daughter in encouraging Sartre to pursue a career as a writer.

The autobiography is divided into two long chapters, Reading and Writing. The first chapter is by far the most interesting, as Sartre introduces us to his family and the joys of his young childhood. However, the last half of the book was far too long, with an overemphasis and overanalysis of his early writing and its influences, with only minimal attention given to his outside life, his family and the few friends that he made.

Despite a promising beginning I found The Words to be a disappointing and somewhat unenjoyable read, due to its lack of balance and Sartre's choppy and disjointed narrative.

#135: A River Dies of Thirst is best taken in small fragments, although much of it is prose poetry, which makes it easier to read more quickly. I'll probably read The Salt Smugglers early next week, or during my pre-Thanksgiving break.

#136: Thanks, Berly! I'll go back out shortly, as I have $15 in Borders Bucks that will expire tonight.

Too bad about the Sartre... Most of his works that I've read have been plays. Reminds me, I want to try and find a copy of Kean; saw an Old Vic production of that with Derek Jacobi that blew me away about 20 years ago. Gah, getting old.

No, I've had nothing from archipelago in a couple of months now... What about Rebecca?

Just working my way through the posts and was going to answer about Archipelago anyway -- then saw your post, Suz. No, I haven't had anything from them in months either. You usually get yours first, being in Brooklyn, so let us know when you do!

Caroline, I have been meaning to read The Salt Smugglers ever since it arrived, but still haven't gotten to it.

Interesting review of The Words, Darryl ... I'm surprised that you found his narrative choppy and disjointed considering he's such a noted writer.

*wondering what Darryl will buy at Borders*

Rats! I was getting all excited for The Words, but after your review, not so much. :( I second Cameling in #141. Oh, and harking back to an earlier conversation here, I have to brag: the very best thing about an ileostomy is that I never, EVER have to have another colonoscopy. Yeah!! (Sometimes you really have to search for the silver lining in life...LOL)

#139, 140: Suz, I also thought that you would receive any books from Archipelago first, given your proximity to its location.

I'd love to see No Exit performed in the theatre, as I loved the script of Sartre's play. If you or Rebecca hear about any performances of Sartre's plays in NYC please let me know.

#141: The narrative had very little flow to it, and it jumped around in time at various places, which is why I found it to be choppy and disjointed. I haven't read much by Sartre, probably only No Exit, The Flies and maybe one or two of his other plays for a course in existential philosophy at Rutgers. I've had Nausea on my shelves since my undergraduate days, but haven't read it yet.

I bought Big Machine by Victor LaValle and Granta 112, the latest edition, which focuses on Pakistani literature. The total for both came to just over $11, thanks to my 40% Borders coupon, my $15 in unused Borders Bucks (which expired today) and my Borders Plus membership, which earns me an extra 10% off all purchases. I did show some restraint, as I passed on Nicole Krauss' latest book and Home by Marilynne Robinson, which was on sale for $4.99 (hardcover). I'll probably stop by the Borders in Buckhead on my way home from work tomorrow or Tuesday to pick up So Much for That by Lionel Shriver, as I have another Borders coupon that expires on Tuesday.

I didn't realize that it closed so early (7 pm on Sundays), so I went to a nearby Starbucks for a couple of hours, and read some more of I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita, one of the five finalists for this year's National Book Award for fiction. It's over 600 pages, and it will probably take me until next week to finish it, but I'm enjoying it so far.

#142: Why does having an ileostomy (removal of the ileum, the last portion of the small intestine) mean that you no longer need colonoscopies (colon = large intestine)?

My stoma is made from the end of the ileum. I no longer have a large intestine or rectum for that matter. "Ectomy" is removal, so I had a colectomy, which is the removal of the colon. And I do not need colonoscopies!! : )

BTW Nice purchases! Hope you have as much luck with the Tuesday Borders coupon.

I am adding The Words to the BlackHole despite your reservations, Darryl, although I may just stick to the first part of the book.

#144: D'oh! Stupid me. I didn't think that you may have had a colectomy along with your ileostomy. We don't see this often in kids, so I'll plead ignorance (but I'll use that excuse whenever possible).

#145: I'll be curious to see what you think of The Words, Stasia.

My copy of Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson came in the mail today, from The Book Depository. It's another of the finalists for this year's Wellcome Trust Book Prize (for fiction and nonfiction books about medicine), and the main character is a teenage(?) girl afflicted with physical and mental handicaps at a mental institution who befriends and falls in love with a boy afflicted with epilepsy who also resides at the same institution. Granted, not your typical love story, but the book apparently has a lot to say about kids who suffer from chronic illness. I'm very eager to start this, but I'll hold off until later this month or next month.

Warning: La Nausee is well named.

Thanks for the warning, Richard! I think I tried to read it years ago, but couldn't seem to get very far. I'll probably read it next year, as I chose to read 11 books by 11 different Nobel laureates whose books I already own for my "11 in 11" challenge.

>112 labfs39: labfs39

Re: Safe doses of radiation.

http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/safetyandsecurity/factsheet...

Check out this fact sheet on radiation. According to the Health Physics Society, a CT scan is about 1,000 millerem of radiation. (It can vary depending on the exact procedure.) In a normal year, the average American receives about 300 millirem of radiation from nature. A nuclear plant worker receives about 500 millirem. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission sets a occupational limit of 5,000 millirem of radiation. Most people never get near it. So, I am guessing you would not want more than 5 CT Scans in a year. Though you would need to weigh the cost/benefits. Note: I am not an expert, just familiar with looking for the information on radiation.

Above is a fact sheet from the Nuclear Energy Institute (I work there) on radiation. Other places to look at are www.nrc.gov, www.hps.org (Health Physics Society), www.radiationanswers.org (several orgs. got together to explain radiation to the public. Probably the easiest to read.), National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements www.ncrponline.org. Any of these should help.

You may also want to look at the American Nuclear Society's website they have a radiation dose chart at http://www.new.ans.org/pi/resources/dosechart/. You can answer the questions and they can tell you your radiation dose. I have never done it before, but I have thought about it.

I hope this helps.

*green with envy over Darryl's multiple Borders coupons* ...... goes in search of some potato chips to indulge in some envy-snacking.

#149: Thanks for that info, Jen; I'll check this out shortly.

#150: I didn't go to Borders today, and I'm going to try to join Suzanne and not buy any books this month (stop laughing you guys). I won't count books I've already ordered or those I'll receive as LT Early Reviewer copies or from my Archipelago subscription. Anyone else care to join me/us?

>151 kidzdoc: *gasp* NO!

Laughing at the thought of you not buying any books this month, Darryl. Have you gone a whole month without buying any books yet this year?

#152, 153: Hmph. Fine. Your snippy and unwanted responses are exactly the impetus I need to avoid buying books for this month. I'll remember the snickering pets whenever I pass the Borders in Buckhead (which, unfortunately, I do every work day, coming and going).

ROFL Oh sure! LOLOL

*envisions Darryl's well-trained car swerving into Borders's parking lot, Darryl howling protests, and the store manager having a bevy of adorable coed/booksellers pyramiding "Death, Misery, and Gloom" by Nobel Laureate 1, plus "Abuse, Misery, and Sharp Objects" by Orange Prize Winner 6, before his glazed-over eyes, followed by the cheerful chirruping of the cash registers as Darryl hauls them back to the car*

I am on Richard's side with this one, Darryl!

This thread made me smile and giggle- and #153 Middle Left looks like my Java (german shepard lab mix) pup. And sorry Darryl, I was already mid laugh when I read your request for no laughing. :)

Darryl--Don't make me laugh...it hurts too much!! #151

It'll never work. Every time I swear I'm not going to buy books, I buy more than I otherwise would have.

If I were a gambling woman, I would suggest a sweepstake (I think the US term is pool?) on which day of the month you crack and go on a mad book-buying spree, but since I'm not I shall just sit here and wait for the grovelling admission of failure.

I was lurking but I just read your post about no new books this month (or is that no secondhand ones too?). I nearly splurted coffee all over the laptop!! My bet is that you last 2 weeks.

Yah, after about a week I get this kind of 'what's wrong,' empty, hollow and unsatisfied feeling..... and then next time I'm driving anywhere near a bookstore or a library I am inexorably drawn to stop..... do I ever leave a bookstore or library empty handed???? Our town 'transfer' station has a swap shop -- one whole wall is books. I take books there, of course, but then..... I have to 'just take a look'...... Truthfully it is very rare I find a treasure there.

Hi Darryl. I stop by every day.... I enjoy yr thread hugely!

We're all so optimistic, helpful and encouraging, aren't we? *grin*

Darryl, do not forget that the WWBF is on the way and we are counting on you to help fend it off!

Oh ye of little faith. Now I'm that much more determined to stick with my "no book buying" pledge, and I will aim to complete the year without buying any new books for myself. Admittedly I wouldn't be able to keep this promise if I was definitely going to visit SF, London or NYC before year's end.

#155: I've gotten too old for the attractive co-eds, I think. Even though the Buckhead Borders is very close I don't often go there, maybe once every other month, although I will hang out there if the traffic through Buckhead is bad.

#156: Hmph.

#157, 158: Stop laughing, you two!

#159: I like this idea, of a "non book buying challenge". Suz, are you game for this? Is anyone else in? What does the winner (the person who buys the last book or doesn't buy a book for the rest of the month or year) get?

#160: I disagree, I can easily hold out for at least two weeks, and any books I may want (e.g., So Much for That by Lionel Shriver) probably won't be read before January anyway.

#161: Borders doesn't provide the same book buying urge as the independent bookstores do. I usually don't browse the shelves there, unless I'm looking for a book in a particularly category, such as a travel book for a particular city or country.

#162: As I've said previously, LT and this group in particular is the opposite of Alcoholics Anonymous; we are all book addicts who encourage each other's addictions.

#163: My personal library has >2000 books (there are quite a few books in boxes that I haven't categorized yet), so I think I've done my part in combating the WWBF.

#153: Have you gone a whole month without buying any books yet this year?

A better question would be "Have you gone a whole month without buying any books this century?" I've probably purchased at least one book a month since I finished my pediatric residency in June of 2000, and I probably bought books in the first six months of that year.

Wait, just do I'm clear ... the no book buying challenge for yourself is not just that you're not going to buy any books from Borders but it includes all bookstores, both online and motar, right, Darryl?

I forgot to mention yesterday that issue 8 of Belletrista is now online:

http://www.belletrista.com/2010/issue8/index.php

I didn't review any books for this issue, but I will review We Are a Muslim, Please by Zaiba Malik for issue 9.

#166: Right, Caroline. I will not spend a penny on any new books for myself, from Borders, Amazon, The Book Depository, or anywhere else. I'm not counting books I will receive from Archipelago, since they are already paid for, LT Early Reviewer books I win before the end of the year (I won books for September and October), and books I receive from friends and family for Christmas.

Uh oh; I see one problem already. I do want to continue my Archipelago Books subscription in 2011, and even though the first book isn't scheduled to be released until February, I might want to renew my subscription before the end of the year. I'll postpone this until after the new year if I can. Other than that, read my lips: no new books!

2 months is a long time not to buy any new books, Darryl .... good luck .... *snicker*

read my lips: no new books!

Hope you don't live to regret this!

*still giggling*

#169, 171: *Hurls Krispy Kreme doughnuts and chili dogs from The Varsity at Caroline*

#170: If George H.W. Bush got away with his similar line, so can I!

(He didn't get away with it?)

Mmmm.... since they're unglazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts and warm Varsity chili dogs, I thank you for that delicious snack, Darryl. If I continue giggling, do I get more?

Yes, you can have as many "Hot Now" KK doughnuts and Varsity chili dogs, onion rings, and glasses of sweet tea as you would like. Tums and Pepto-Bismol are not included.

I received a message from bohemiangirl35 (Sacil) about her nonprofit organization, The Southeast Community Weed & Seed Inc., which
"serves a community high in poverty and unemployment. Through partnerships with residents, law enforcement agencies, businesses, volunteers, and local government, Weed & Seed is reducing crime by restoring pride and community responsibility." It is trying to win a grant from Pepsi, through the Pepsi Research Project, which will award $1.3 million dollars to "people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact" in their communities. Individuals can vote for up to 10 projects on a daily basis during the month of November, including Sacil's nonprofit. The direct link to her organization's page for this project is:

http://www.refresheverything.com/newportnewsweedandseedproject

Ha,ha,hee,hee...can I have some too? Darryl, have you read The Disappearing Spoon? It is a collection of amusing and interesting tales about the Periodic Table of Elements. I didn't read it all at once, but just a chapter or two here and there and really enjoyed it.

#176: Hey! Are you trying to knock me off of the recovery wagon before the week is out? That's like offering a martini to an AA member. I'll add this to my wish list, where it will stay until at least January 1st.

Just for that, no doughnuts or chili dogs for you.

Darn! Foiled again. And now no doughnuts either. *sniffs woefully*

I'll share mine with you Berly ..... Darryl threw a whole box at me.

I'm on, Darryl! I've got one or two pre-orders in the mail, but let's see how long we can go without buying a book. Amazon Vine, Early Reviewer books, library books and Paperbackswap/Bookmooch do NOT count. As I have catalogued 4,500 plus books at last count, and still haven't even looked into the boxes in the basement or finished with what's on my shelves, I'm in NO danger of succumbing to the WWBF, even if it wreaks psychological damage on me!

So let's try to get through this month, and then see how things stand... I admit I don't want my TBR stack to vanish to nothing -- it's a bit like a security blanket!! But it would be very good discipline.

They get so *touchy* during the first part of a failed recovery, Berly...take no offense...he'll be better when he falls ignominiously off the wagon in, oh let's see, eleven days.

#180: All right! Does anyone else want to join us? Archipelago books shouldn't count either, since we're both subscribers for this year. Should we continue into 2011?

#181: Nope. Not falling off of the wagon this month. However, I may have to substitute KK doughnuts and Varsity hot dogs for books; both are within a 10 minute drive from my place.

#157, 158: Stop laughing, you two!

This feels like teacher catching us passing notes and giggling in the back of the classroom. ;D

Hmm, I might be able to manage every other month. Or a finite monthly book budget, or summat like that. I will note that you have it easier than I do, Darryl -- there's no KK in NY any more, but there are a heck of a lot of bookstores that I will have to walk past (or go out of my way to avoid!) But I'm willing to push it to Dec. 15, if only to spite these twits. But I have to have some reading material over the holidays...

I am in for the book buying ban until the end of the year as long as the books I already have ordered, plus anything from PBS does not count :)

ETA: I guess I should also include ER books as well, although I already know I am not getting anything from October's batch. I also have to say that gifts for other people cannot count either as I already have books ordered for several other people for Christmas.

So let's define the book fast as a ban on placing any new orders for books for ourselves that would require the outlay of cold, hard cash? We can get pre-orders, paperbackswap/mooch requests, Vine/ER and library books, and buy books for holiday gifts for others, but we cannot spend money on books for ourselves until Dec. 15. (I don't think I'll get through the holidays...)

#186: OK, I am in, Suz!

OK, I'm in. No book buying for me until January 1. Gulp. (Bookmooch and libraries are ok... )

Y'all're funny. I appreciate the Schadenfreude-laden moment more and more.

Hmmmm. Is it my imagination, or is the list of permitted sources of new books during the book ban growing?

I am sure it is your imagination, Caty :)

I have no intention of not buying any more books this year, and even though it might be a good idea, I know myself well enough to know I couldn't possibly stop. What a bunch of self-deluding people in this thread!

So, to summarize: the book ban is a prohibition on new books unless:

a) you've already bought them

b) you don't have to pay for it

c) you think you can defer the payment

d) you'll be shocked that you had to pay for it because you were certain it wouldn't ship until the new year

e) it's from your favorite publisher

f) it's from you next-favorite publisher

g) it doesn't exceed a budget

h) you're going to give it to someone after you read it

i) you're going to read it after you give it to someone

j) you can't live without it

Oh yes, the publishing industry is quaking at that one!

*grin*

#193 ROFL!!!

>193 TadAD:: that's great, Tad !!

I'm all ears (or in this case EYES) to see how this works out! :)

ETA - I just spotted a loophole in your plan! If you get REALLY desperate to buy a book (or seven), just have another member of the no-book-buying-for-yourself-challenge buy it for you - and you can buy one for them! Hehe...

>196 BookAngel_a: Genius. And with this, the Maginot Non-Purchase Line collapses into flimsy flinders.

Does it count if I just download to my Kindle? Its not actually a "book".

The American people have spoken. Fiscal responsibility is demanded in Washington, local and state government, and on LibraryThing.

I received two books from The Book Depository, from an order that I placed last month: Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry, which is the book that was banned by the University of Mumbai earlier this year; and Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution by Nick Lane, which won this year's Royal Society Prize for Science Books.

The only books that will come into my house before December 31st are (1) LT Early Reviewer books; I'm waiting to receive False Friends: Faux Amis: Book 1 by Ellie Malet, and Where We Know: New Orleans as Home by David Rutledge (October); (2) books from my 2010 Archipelago Books subscription, which is already paid for (three books are scheduled to be published by year's end); and (3) gifts from friends and family.

#184: That sounds good, Suzanne. We'll go at least until December 15th, although I think I can go until at least December 31st. My friends and family generally get me books that are on my Amazon wish list, so I can still receive books I want to read soon. I agree, it's much easier for me to shun books in Atlanta than it would be in NYC.

BTW, even though I love Krispy Kreme doughnuts, I only get them once or twice a year (only once so far this year), and I rarely go to The Varsity for chili dogs (I don't think I've been there in at least two or three years). My main weaknesses are bread and cheese.

#185: Why do any books ordered from PBS not count? (PBS = Public Broadcasting Service?) I'm glad that you've chose to join The Believers, and separated yourself from the unwashed heathen that doubt us.

#186: So let's define the book fast as a ban on placing any new orders for books for ourselves that would require the outlay of cold, hard cash? We can get pre-orders, paperbackswap/mooch requests, Vine/ER and library books, and buy books for holiday gifts for others, but we cannot spend money on books for ourselves until Dec. 15.

Perfect.

#188: Welcome to the group, Cushla! Should we come up with a catchy name for it?

#189, 190: Hmph. Not speaking to Richard or Caty.

#192: Rebecca! I'm shocked, as I was sure that you would be supportive of our brave and noble effort.

#193: ROTFL! That's too restrictive of a list, I don't think I can abide by those rules.

#196: Ooh, tempting! But I'll be a good fiscal conservative, and not participate in such liberal shenanigans.

#198: Does it count if I just download to my Kindle? Its not actually a "book".

I'd say no, if you spent money to buy it. What do the others think?

We could name the group the LibraryThing Tea Party, since our focus is fiscal responsibility, including reducing wasteful spending, decreasing the size of our personal debt, and decreasing our TBR lists. There is one person who could become our president, as she is currently out of a job:



This, of course, assumes that she can actually read.

Big, giant assumption, there Darryl.

Anyway -- Kindle free books don't count. What counts is SPENDING MONEY on books for yourself.

PBS= Paperbackswap.

I do have one or two preorders coming, from Amazon and Amazon.co.uk. I had ordered The Post-Office Girl and a couple of discount Andrea Camilleri books late last month, have a preorder placed for the Joe Nocera/Bethany McLean book about Wall Street but only one Kindle pre-order placed, for a book not out until Dec. 21. And I got my new Brooklyn library card in the mail...

#196 -- Angela, I'm amused at the convoluted rationalizations here! I don't have a birthday until February, and I can count on the fingers of one hand the people that have bought stuff for me from my wish lists, ever. I suppose if I wanted to find a way around it, I could do it, but the point is to see whether I can rein myself in a bit. The only wild card I can see being an actual problem is if the book circle picks a book I don't have for the December read.

I am waiting to see who falls off the wagon first.

In fact, if anyone would like to place bets on this, I would be happy to keep track of them (for a small fee, of course, payable in books people are "buying for someone else").

>202 rebeccanyc: Fellow realist! *salutes*

Darryl, I was going to tell you what PBS is, but Suz beat me to it. If you want to have a separate thread for the LT Tea Partiers, let me know and I will start it.

ETA: As far as e-books that cost something, I think they must count as a book purchase. Free e-books do not cost anything so they cannot be purchased, right?

Darryl and Suzanne, pardon my silly rationalizations - they're just that...silly. :)
I applaud any efforts to cut back spending on books. I've been trying that myself for quite a while. I'm wishing you much success!
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I agree that free ebooks are different than ebooks you have to *purchase*, but that's probably more rationalization, since I love putting them on my Kindle! ;)

#202 : Hah .. I know my limits and given that I'm going to Singapore next week where there are many books from authors not commonly found in the US in the bookstores, I'm not participating in this crazy challenge. In addition, there's 2 months left to the year ... even given Bookmooch, PBS and Early Reviewers books, there are just too many days and too many bookstores I pass both online and motar where I know I'll just fall prey to books crying out to be brought into my home for a small adoption fee.

Adoption fees??? Wow... that's an utterly novel way of looking at that. Do the good folks at B&N and Amazon know they are simply charging adoption fees? :-D

This, of course, assumes that she can actually read.

And that, sir, is where you run into your problem.

Adoption fees .... appropriate.

#199 - I have just started reading Such a Long Journey - I think it's going to be good. No idea yet why it would be banned by anyone, but I've only read the first chapter so far.

I'm way behind, but I loved that 'unless' list, Tad....

You've given me a great excuse not to put a book buying ban on myself. I'm put off by the Tea Party label.

206: Love the phrase adoption fees!

#199 From 'too nice' to not speaking to me in 48 hours. And they say women are fickle. ;)

#206 I also love the 'adoption fees'

*wonders if Darryl's suffering from withdrawal symptoms yet*

>213 cameling: Don't be silly, Caro darling, he's already fallen OTW.

Back home now after a busy but not horrible day in the hospital. We've had several kids who have tested positive for influenza B, which is not H1N1, as that was a strain of influenza A. One of the kids I admitted to the hospital tonight did not receive a flu shot, got influenza B (based on a positive rapid flu test), and then developed postviral myositis, an painful inflammation of the muscles that can be seen with influenza and other viruses. She'll probably go home in a day or two, but this could have been prevented if she was vaccinated. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vaccination for all children six months of age and older, and those of us who work in patient care in my hospital are being strongly encouraged to get a flu shot (I received mine on Tuesday).

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) has started to rear its ugly head, as it does at this time every year. It causes bad colds in older kids and adults, but in infants it can cause bronchiolitis, a lower respiratory infection deeper than bronchitis, but not as deep as pneumonia, which is one of our more common admissions of the winter. It's very contagious, and humans don't have good immunity against it, so many kids get it every year (and so do we; I think I have it now).

Since it's almost midnight, I'll catch up on posts sometime tomorrow.

Get some rest, Darryl. Sounds like you had your hands full today!

Does the flu shot cause a reaction? A friend got one earlier this season, and felt as if she had a mild dose of flu for 2/3 years. I'm debating getting one, but since I don't have insurance and I work from home (thus get fewer colds and am exposed to fewer germs) I am wondering if it's really needed. Definitely children need to be vaccinated, and those that might spread the virus to vulnerable people like the elderly, but if I do get the flu, I can just stay at home (where I am anyway!)

Does getting the flu shot make one's immune system less robust and more dependent on drugs to remain 'healthy'? I haven't ever had a flu shot because so far, I'm somewhat healthy and I don't appear to be very susceptible to colds or the flu. I had a slight flu this year but it went away after 3 days and it was the only illness I had all year. Then again, I don't have kids nor do I work with kids, so that's probably why I'm coming down with illnesses as often.
A friend of mine recently has his flu shot and he came down with the flu 2 days after and it lasted 2 weeks.

I'm interested in your take on the flu shot too, Darryl, as I have resisted it so far on the grounds that I have a pretty healthy immune system (riding the NYC subway for decades has exposed me to germs from all over the world, I'm sure) even though I'm over 50, when I believe you're supposed to start getting them. Having said that, I've had the flu three times in the past 20 years (and never before that), and it's never been too bad. My general philosophy is to take as little medication of any kind as possible, but to definitely take anything I need. Sorry to put you on the medical spot, Doc.

I've been getting an annual flu shot for years and have never had any side effects. I know everyone is different though.

For a literary tie-in, have you read The Great Influenza by John M. Barry? It describes the flu epidemic that hit the world during WWI. Scary. Mass graves in Philadelphia, nurses getting kidnapped off the streets, people contracting it in the morning and dying by noon. Made me a little nervous last year when H1N1 hit. In some ways they were similar: effecting the young, not the old; initial wave, and then a second, potentially more potent.

Sorry you get all our medical questions, Darryl. If you ever have need of professional information management information, particularly online systems or archival, please don't hesitate to innundate me with questions!

Just catching up on your thread Darryl; always entertaining. For the first time in many, many years I forgot to get my flu shot this year. I've never had any kind of a reaction to it AND I never get the flu. Must make a point of getting a shot soon though.

I think Darryl is hiding from our medical questions!

I'll check out the cost of flu shots for the great uninsured, and the book. It's in the library -- so no violation of the great book fast!

Another long day at work, but the week's over! I'm off for the next four days at least, so I'll catch up on posts and reading. I'm pretty whipped and I'm trying to fight off a bad cold and an asthma attack, so please excuse any typos, grammatical errors, or inane comments.

Day 5 of the Book Fast (a better name than the LT Tea Party, since I'm pathologically opposed to anything associated with the current American version of the Tea Party).

#201: Anyway -- Kindle free books don't count. What counts is SPENDING MONEY on books for yourself.

Exactly.

#202: I am waiting to see who falls off the wagon first.

Hmph. New Yorkers are so cynical.

#203: Ditto.

#204: I like that idea. Could we name it the LT Book Fast? Suzanne started this, so she should get full credit and naming rights.

#205: I applaud any efforts to cut back spending on books. I've been trying that myself for quite a while. I'm wishing you much success!

Thank you, Angela! It's nice to know that someone supports our noble cause. Do you want to join us?

#206: I know my limits and given that I'm going to Singapore next week where there are many books from authors not commonly found in the US in the bookstores, I'm not participating in this crazy challenge.

Okay, I can accept your excuse, Caroline; I wouldn't be able to participate if I was traveling to Singapore or another non-US location. However, I'm throwing a Flying Biscuit at you for labeling our challenge as "crazy".

#207: Adoption fees: yes!

#208: I wonder what Christine O'Donnell will do next. Hopefully she will just go back to the hole that she crawled out of. When I was in London in September the Guardian ran a photo of her in practically every issue, especially the one in message #200, and the writers seemed bemused and horrified that someone like her would be a serious candidate for a spot in the U.S. Senate.

#209: I haven't heard much about the response in India and at the University of Mumbai since Such a Long Journey was banned by the university and copies of it were burned by university students last month.

#211: You've given me a great excuse not to put a book buying ban on myself. I'm put off by the Tea Party label.

I see that my attempt at ironic humor failed badly; hence the proposed name change to the LT Book Fast.

#212: From 'too nice' to not speaking to me in 48 hours. And they say women are fickle.

Men are equally as 'fickle' as women, if not more so. Except for me, of course.

#213: *wonders if Darryl's suffering from withdrawal symptoms yet*

Nope. Not even close. It does help that I have received seven books since Saturday, and that I was too busy at work to think about reading or buying books. There are books that I'm interested in getting, but none are "must buy now" ones.

#214: Nope, still firmly on the wagon.

#216: Yesterday was less busy than I had expected, especially since RSV season is starting and, according to the parents that were in our ER last night, there were lots of kids in the waiting room who were having bad AGE (acute gastroenteritis) symptoms (multiple episodes of vomiting and diarrhea), but it was busy enough. I anticipate that our inpatient census will explode in the next week or two.

Hi There Darryl!

I'm simply stopping by to peruse your thread. I hope you did not succumb to the cold and asthma attack. Both Will and my seven year old grandson suffer from asthma. Jack was hospitalized three times thus far this fall.

Take good care!

Darryl, I know for sure I will be falling off the book buying ban on November 30th. I had forgotten all about the Joplin meet up when I signed on for the LT Book Fast. No way am I not buying books on that trip! I promise to be good until then though :)

#217: Does the flu shot cause a reaction? A friend got one earlier this season, and felt as if she had a mild dose of flu for 2/3 years.

Any vaccine can potentially cause a reaction, of course. It's not uncommon to have mild symptoms after a flu shot, especially tenderness or muscle ache at the injection site; malaise; low grade fever; generalized muscle ache (myalgia); runny nose; sore throat; or cough. These symptoms usually only last a day or two, and are generally mild. The people most at risk for a more serious reaction to the vaccine are those who are allergic to eggs, since the vaccine is prepared in chicken eggs, or those who are allergic to a component of the vaccine.

Some people contract the flu soon after receiving the vaccine, and claim that the vaccine caused them to get the infection. Not true! The vaccine contains killed virus, which cannot multiply and cause infection. It takes a couple of weeks after you receive a flu shot for it to provide optimal protection, so if you're exposed to the live virus within that two week period you can still become infected.

The flu vaccine sometimes doesn't protect against the most prevalent strains of influenza that are present in your country, as it has to be prepared based on an educated guess of what viral subtypes are likely to be the most predominant in that season. Several years ago international public health officials guessed incorrectly, and the vaccine for that season did not provide protection against the subtype of influenza A that was most predominant in the US and Europe. I and several of the community and hospital-based pediatricians I know contracted flu that year (with positive rapid flu tests) despite getting vaccinated, and we learned soon afterward that the vaccine was not effective against the predominant viral serotype that season.

Vaccines are effective, but not perfect, and some people will still contract the infection that the vaccine is designed to protect the recipient from.

Suzanne, your friend's reaction is unusual, to say the least.

I'm debating getting one, but since I don't have insurance and I work from home (thus get fewer colds and am exposed to fewer germs) I am wondering if it's really needed. Definitely children need to be vaccinated, and those that might spread the virus to vulnerable people like the elderly, but if I do get the flu, I can just stay at home (where I am anyway!)

I think you're right; you would be at or near the bottom of my list of people that I would recommend a flu vaccine for, assuming that you don't have asthma or a chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease. People at the extremes of life (the very young and the very old), and those with chronic illness are the most likely to become seriously ill and/or die due to the infection, so those groups, and those who are in close contact with them (like me) should receive the vaccine.

I fell asleep midway through typing the previous message, so I'll respond to the subsequent messages in the morning.

#223 New Yorkers are so cynical

Some would call it realistic!

Hope you're feeling better after some sleep, Darryl!

#229: I'm determined to make it until Dec 31st. With all of my recent purchases and acquisitions, and knowing that more books will be coming in the mail by the end of the year (Archipelago, LT Early Reviewers, gifts from friends and family, so all free or prepaid), I'm convinced I can hold out. I do promise that I will be honest and admit to any book purchases.

I had a dream (last night? the night before?) where I went to a bookstore and bought books, while forgetting that I had agreed to this challenge. However, in the dream I had placed some sort of bet or made a promise to do something odious if I bought any books (I can't remember what it was exactly), so I was trying to decide whether I should return the books or lie about buying them.

#230: I'm having less nasal congestion, but my throat is still quite sore, which means I'll probably get laryngitis and sound like a frog later today. The phlegm in my chest is about the same as last night, and I'm breathing a little better, so that's good. This is probably RSV, which I get every year at this time, along with my work mates, since the immune system doesn't fight this virus very well. I'm not glad that I have it (but it comes with the job, so no complaints), but I'm very glad that I contracted it on one of my stretches of "off" days that I'm not traveling, so that I can rest and recuperate at home.

#218: Does getting the flu shot make one's immune system less robust and more dependent on drugs to remain 'healthy'?

I would say no to both questions; getting a vaccine like the flu shot is similar to getting the infection, as the immune system mobilizes to fight off the invading pathogen and remains in active sentry mode in case the virus decides to reinfect the host. The difference is that the virus is killed or inactivated, so it should not cause an infection, if the vaccine is designed properly. If you were infected with live virus you would have a similar immune response. If you received the vaccine but weren't infected by the live virus it shouldn't make your immune system less robust in fighting off other strains of influenza or other viruses; if anything it should make your immune system more robust, as it would be better equipped to fight off future serotypes with similar antigens, or proteins on the surface of the virus.

Influenza is serotyped as A or B (I can't remember what the difference is between the two types) and on the basis of two of its surface proteins, H and N, hence the name 'H1N1' for last year's predominant strain of influenza (which was influenza A (H1N1)). This year's vaccine contains three serotypes: A(H1N1), last year's predominant strain; A(H3N2); and B. Influenza B doesn't mutate as rapidly as influenza A does, so it usually isn't serotyped. Our microbiology lab has reported cases of influenza B, but there were no cases of influenza A in the most recent weekly report.

I think the best argument for someone like Caroline or Suzanne (healthy adults without children and who are not in contact with children or the elderly on a regular basis) to get the vaccine would be to decrease the likelihood of spread to others in public places that would be at risk of serious complications or could pass it on to someone else who is at risk. The CDC's (Center for Disease Control and Prevention's) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices decided this year to recommend that all people 6 months of age or older should receive the vaccine, since it is safe and well tolerated in the vast majority of children and adults. Personally I would recommend the vaccine for healthy adults, but not as strongly as I would for children, the elderly, or people who work in schools, health care settings, or who have health conditions that would put them at risk for influenza-related complications, such as asthma or chronic lung disease.

BTW, here's a list of people at high risk of these complications, from the CDC:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm

Oh, one other comment about staying home when you have symptoms of the flu. A big problem with that approach (not that it's a bad one) is that you are contagious a day or two before you start having symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, as it takes time for the immune system to recognize and react to the virus. Assuming that I currently have RSV, my symptoms started on Friday, but I was probably contagious on Thursday and possibly Wednesday as well. I took care of a couple of babies who tested positive for RSV on Monday, and I probably contracted the virus from one of them, or from a parents or sibling. Unfortunately I may have also passed it on to one or more of my patients between Wednesday and Friday, since I was probably shedding the virus on those days.

> 215

those of us who work in patient care in my hospital are being strongly encouraged to get a flu shot

I work for a home health agency in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. My employer requires *all* employees to receive the flu vaccine even if we provide no direct patient care. Last year they fired employees for refusing to take the vaccine. I, personally, think that was going too far although I've already received my vaccine for this season. Plus - I want to keep my job!

I've never had any kind of reaction to the flu vaccine and usually take one every year.

Re the Book Fast...

By the way, good luck on your group's Book Fast. It doesn't work. Trust me! I've tried it before.

The worst problem is that it takes the fun out of learning about exciting new reads. You just have to sit back and say, "What a great book that looks like! Too bad I can't get it". That, in itself, turns out to be very frustrating and truly no fun. :(

How about Book Swaps? Do they count - as you have to pay postage (or at least points which equate with postage costs)?

Another thought:

If people go on "Book Fasts", who's going to support the indies?

#219: I've had the flu three times in the past 20 years (and never before that), and it's never been too bad.

I've had influenza twice since 1997, when I finished medical school, once in the year that I didn't get the flu vaccine, and again when the vaccine didn't protect against the prevalent serotype, and it kicked my tail on both occasions, as I had bad asthma attacks both times and felt as if I had been run over by an 18 wheeler. I'll get vaccinated for the rest of my life, as I have asthma, even after I retire from clinical practice.

#220: I've been getting an annual flu shot for years and have never had any side effects.

Same here; and, it seems as though the expected local muscle ache I experience is less with each passing year. If I fully lift my left arm I can feel only the slightest bit of pain in my deltoid muscle (about 0.1 on a pain scale of 1 to 10).

I did read The Great Influenza several years ago (pre-LT), and would definitely recommend it. You're right, it is a scary read, as it describes (as your know) the 1918-1919 Spanish influenza epidemic that killed tens of millions of people. That's what we're scared of, either a return of that strain of flu (which no one has any protection against) or something similar, or even worse. I see no reason why a similar outbreak couldn't occur in the future, and kill tens and hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

#221: According to the most recent issue of FluView from the CDC, nationwide flu activity is low, although it does seem to have picked up this week in Georgia and a couple of other states. I would guess that flu activity will remain low for the next couple of weeks, at least.

#222: Nope, I wasn't hiding from your questions, which I'm happy to answer, I was just busy at work and wasn't reading my posts until late evening. I think that the price for a flu shot for those without insurance is generally $25-30.

#232: My employer requires *all* employees to receive the flu vaccine even if we provide no direct patient care. Last year they fired employees for refusing to take the vaccine.

It seems that every year for the past few years the system I work for is becoming more strict about tracking who has received a flu shot. Last year we were given blue stars to put on our badges after we were vaccinated, and those involved in direct patient care or who worked in patient care areas (e.g. unit secretaries, housekeepers, etc.) who did not want to be vaccinated or didn't receive the vaccine when it was available were tracked (I can't remember what additional steps were taken, if they were reassigned to other duties or what). This year the occupational health nurse who gave me the flu shot this past week scanned my badge into a handheld reader, and the display showed my name, my vaccination status, what day I received the vaccine, and its lot number. She told me that the head of each department in the system will be getting regular reports on their employees' vaccination status, and that these heads will be responsible for ensuring that everyone receives the vaccine.

I don't think the vaccine is mandatory just yet, but we're not far from that requirement. I'm strongly pro-vaccination, so I don't have a problem with this, provided that those who have had a demonstrated severe reaction to a particular vaccine or whose health would be placed at risk by receiving a particular vaccine (e.g., those with egg allergies) can opt out.

Regarding the Book Fast: For me, I'll still add books of interest to my Amazon wish list over the remainder of the year, and I'll likely buy the most interesting ones next year. My family and my closest friends usually buy my Christmas gifts from my Amazon wish list, so I can still receive the books I want the most from them.

I'm a big fan of independent bookstores, and definitely want to support them as much as possible. I have no plans to visit one of these stores in the next two months, which is another reason why I think I can stick to this book fast for the next two months. I do want to explore some of the indies just outside of Atlanta, especially two new ones in the nearby suburb of Decatur, but I'll wait until next year to do so.

What recourse is available to those not able to have flu shots, Darryl? I cannot have them due to my allergy to eggs.

BTW - I would like to note that on the day I will be breaking my Book Fast, November 30th, we are meeting at an indie bookstore in Joplin.

I had flu for years, like clockwork, until I started getting vaccinated, and since then not once. A couple bad colds. No nasty side effects, or benign ones either. I get my vaccine at Walgreen's for $25. I also am in the group that cares for an at-risk person, so I have a strong motivation to continue getting one.

But six months...? That seems extremely young to me. Isn't it better than mums and duds and the sibs get *theirs* and let the little one marinate a bit longer before pickling?

>229 rebeccanyc: Well said, ma'am.

#235: What recourse is available to those not able to have flu shots, Darryl? I cannot have them due to my allergy to eggs.

Both types of flu vaccine (intramuscular and intranasal) are prepared in chicken eggs, so someone like yourself is at risk of developing an allergic reaction afterward. If you have a severe egg allergy you shouldn't get receive the vaccine; if the allergy is less severe you could potentially receive the vaccine in a controlled setting, e.g. in the office of an allergist or other specialist, who could provide emergency treatment (see this link from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. However, as you probably know, allergic reactions can be immediate or delayed (up to 72 hours after the administration of an allergen), so I would be reluctant to recommend the vaccine to you. Probably the best option would be to start taking Tamiflu within 24 hours after a known exposure to the virus, which would likely prevent the infection from becoming significantly symptomatic.

I'm glad that you'll be participating in the Book Fast with us until the 30th.

My mother, an RN, has always recommended that I not get the flu shots, which is why I asked about alternatives. Thanks for the help. I will check into Tamiflu.

I will start the Book Fast again December 1st, so it is only a one-day off-the-wagon thing.

#236: But six months...? That seems extremely young to me. Isn't it better than mums and duds and the sibs get *theirs* and let the little one marinate a bit longer before pickling?

If everyone was vaccinated according to recommendations it would be feasible to hold the vaccine until the babies reached 12 months of age, which was the previous recommendation up until a few years ago. This is called "herd immunity", in which unvaccinated people are protected from the illness since others around them are vaccinated. However, a large percentage of adults and a sizable percentage of children aren't vaccinated against influenza and other infections, so herd immunity can't be guaranteed as it was when we were kids, particularly after the polio vaccine was introduced in the 1950s (thanks to Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh; Hail to Pitt!). The youngest kids are the most likely ones to have severe illness, especially lower respiratory tract infection such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia or viral sepsis, and require hospitalization.

So, you might ask, if that's the case, why not vaccinate infants at younger ages? There are two reasons why this isn't necessary. First, young babies are often protected from certain illnesses due to the presence of maternal antibodies, which they acquire from their mothers in utero. These generally wear off after six months of age, depending on the type of antibody, but some wear off sooner than that. The other reason is that the baby's immune system is quite immature, and doesn't form as robust a response to an infection or vaccination as an older infant would. That's why babies need multiple doses of vaccine in the first year of life, and why they need two flu vaccines, given one month apart.

Hmmm

All hail herd immunity, then. Something about that extreme youth just makes my "uh-oh" follicle erect its hair. Well, not an issue for me, all my grandkids are waaay older than 6mos.

> 234

but I'll wait until next year to do so.

Mmm-hmmm! I can just see the barrage of book-buying that will take place in January, 2011... :)

I think that 2011 will be a very different year for me, in terms of the books that I buy, especially because of the way that I've structured my 11 in 11 Challenge. I'm planning to read mainly books that I already own, and I'd like to read 11 books in each category. 11 x 11 = 121 of course, and since I generally read 125-150 books every year that doesn't leave much room for new purchases, except for those that will already fit under one of my challenges, e.g. 2011 Archipelago books, and books on the longlists of the Orange, Booker, Wellcome Trust, and Royal Society for Science Books prizes.

My next book purchase will probably be a renewal of my Archipelago Books subscription, which I'll try to put off until next year.

I have been lurking in mute support of the book buying ban (BBB), but buying only 4-29 books in a year! Well, this I've got to see! :-)

> 242

Good plan, Darryl. Best of luck with it!

Madeline, I can still hunt down exciting new books that I hear about on LT -- via the library. BookSwap doesn't count, since I've earned credits (currently more than 20 of them) by mailing stuff out previously. And I can always stick a book on my wish list and hope someone buys it for me for Christmas or my birthday! And then there is Amazon Vine and ER. One of the upcoming ER books for November is one that I've been looking forward to since I spotted it in a catalog in May, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for that one. And I'll get 4 books (maybe even six!) from Amazon Vine this month, and another four next month.

I don't thing I could be as draconian as Darryl, because I read more (and in a much less focused manner). I'm always tripping over things in bookstores that I find appealing. But I realize that a year ago I set aside several bags of books that I wanted to re-read, and haven't opened one of them this year. And while I've read a lot, I've also bought a lot. I figure I've done about a dozen people's worth of supporting of independent bookstores (not to mention Amazon, etc.) with my bookshopping in the last year or two. I'd like to rein myself in a bit, deal with the TBR tower, and not buy as much on impulse as I do now.

I'd like to rein myself in a bit, deal with the TBR tower, and not buy as much on impulse as I do now.

That's my plan for next year too, Suzanne. I'm trying to unofficially participate in the BBB. If I really make it official that's pretty much going to guarantee that I fall off the wagon.

Good luck to all BBB participants! You are made of stronger stuff than I am.

#243: I have been lurking in mute support of the book buying ban (BBB), but buying only 4-29 books in a year! Well, this I've got to see! :-)

There's no way that I'll buy only 4-29 books next year. I would like to limit my purchases to less than 100 new books, though. I will plan to get all 13 of next year's Booker Dozen, at least 10 of the 2011 Orange Prize longlisted books, most if not all of the books longlisted for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize and the Royal Society Prize for Science Books, and the winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for Fiction. At any rate, I do want, at a minimum, to buy less books than I read next year.

My 2011 75 Books thread will be titled something like "75 Books from the Shelves", as I want to read at least 75 books that I already own.

#244: Thanks, Madeline!

#245: Your reading output is impressive, Suzanne! You'll exceed 500 books this year, I think, which is three times as many books as I'll finish. I think the key for me next year, as you said, will be to decrease my impulse purchases, particularly when I go to City Lights, Strand Bookstore, and the London bookstores. I do want to continue to buy books from bricks-and-mortar bookshops, including my local Borders, since this chain is also experiencing financial problems, and decrease the number of books I buy from Amazon.

#246: I wish you good luck as well, Laura! I doubt that I'm made of stronger stuff than you are; I'm inspired to do this because of unread books I've purchased over the past 5-10 years that I'm chomping at the bit to read. I could easily pick out at least 100 books that I'd love to start at the moment, and the only way I'll get to them is by decreasing my impulse purchases and attacking my shelves.

I try to keep away from bookstores if I want to avoid falling prey to the piteous cries of all the books seeking a kindly home and someone to keep them warm and silver fish free.

Thanks for the info on flu vaccines, Darryl ... I'm so much better informed about them now. Never thought about the fact that being vaccinated would also protect those around me, in addition to myself. I wish they had a different way of administering it besides through a needle though ..... I'm a wuss with needles and pain.

What? Caroline the Invincible a "wuss"? I can't believe it.

The needles used to administer vaccines are, I think, considerably smaller than they were when we were kids. I barely felt the flu shot I received on Tuesday, and I didn't experience any muscle soreness in the days that followed.

The main reason we health care workers get vaccinated is to protect those that we take care of. I see plenty of kids in the hospital who are pretty fragile due to chronic illness, and many of these kids ultimately succumb to a lower respiratory infection such as bacterial or viral pneumonia, including influenza pneumonia. It's not uncommon for hospitalized kids to pick up a nosocomial infection, an infection that is acquired in a health care setting (doctor's office, ER, hospital, etc.), and I've taken care of several kids who were admitted with one thing (e.g., a urinary tract infection), went home, and came back a day or two later with another infection that they certainly picked up in the hospital (e.g., RSV bronchiolitis).

I know that several of these kids died in our PICU last year due to complications of H1N1 infection, and my best friend's wife lost her mother last year after she contracted H1N1. For most people influenza is an inconvenience, but it does kill over 35,000 children and adults in the US every year.

New thread here!