Mark's Reading Place: To Infinity and Beyond...Take 13

Lucky 13! Yah! Major Book Geek is out of control and loving every minute of it! Thanks faithful visitors. You guys are the absolute best!

Books read so far...

1) The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull ****1/2
2) A Good Fall: Stories by Ha Jin ****
3) Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith ****1/2
4) A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore ***
5) Tear Down This Myth by Will Bunch ****1/2
6) Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Hurston ****1/2 (audio)
7) Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter ***1/2
8) World Without End by Ken Follett ****
9) The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell ****
10) Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson ****1/2 (audio)
11) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro ****1/2
12) Open Season by C.J. Box ****
13) The Audacity to Win by David Plouffe ****1/2 (audio)
14) Spooner by Pete Dexter ****
15) Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro ****1/2
16) Small Island by Andrea Levy *****
17) The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley **** (audio)
18) Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum ****
19) Night Train by Martin Amis ****
20) Sleepless by Charlie Huston ****1/2 (audio)
21) Stitches by David Small **** (graphic)
22) Shanghai Girls by Lisa See **** (audio)
23) Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie ***
24) When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson ****1/2
25) Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving ****
26) The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein ***1/2 (audio)
27) The Magdalen Martyrs by Ken Bruen ****1/2
28) The Help by Kathryn Stockett ****1/2 (audio)
29) Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton ****1/2
30) Fade Away by Harlan Coben **** (audio)
31) The Plague by Albert Camus ****1/2
32) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins ****
33) Horns by Joe Hill ***1/2 (audio)
34) Walking to Gatlinburg by Howard Frank Mosher *****
35) The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick ***** (graphic)
36) Eye of the Red Tsar by Sam Eastland ***1/2
37) Tinkers by Paul Harding ****
38) Maus I: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman ****1/2 (graphic)
39) Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman ****
40) Chess: A Novella by Stefan Zweig ****1/2
41) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova ***1/2 (audio)
42) The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes ****
43) The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery **** (audio)
44) Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami **** (Group Read)
45) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot ***** (audio)
46) Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow ****1/2
47) The Privileges by Jonathan Dee ***1/2
48) The Big Short by Michael Lewis ****1/2 (audio)
49) Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder *****
50) Columbine by Dave Cullen ***** (audio)
51) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon ****1/2
52) The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson ***1/2
52) Drown by Junot Diaz ****1/2
53) Bonk by Mary Roach ***1/2 (audio)
54) WAR by Sebastian Junger ***** (audio)
55) The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King ****
56) American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell ****1/2
57) The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness **** (YA)
58) So Cold the River by Michael Koryta **** (audio)
59) Expiration Date by Duane Swierczynski ***1/2
60) Crashing Through by Robert Kurson **** (audio)
61) The Chicago Way by Michael Harvey ***1/2
62) Joker One by Donovan Campbell **** (audio)
63) The Mistress's Daughter: A Memoir by A.M. Homes ***1/2 (audio)
64) The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell *****
65) The Once and Future King by T.H. White ***** (Group Read)
66) The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore ****1/2 (audio)
67) A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan ****1/2
68) The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst ****
69) Bloodroot by Amy Greene *** (audio)
70) Ava's Man by Rick Bragg ****1/2 (audio)
71) The Uncommon Reader: A Novella by Alan Bennett ****
72) Star Island by Carl Hiaasen ***1/2 (audio)
73) The Passage by Justin Cronin ****1/2
74) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield ***1/2 (audio)
75) The Liars Club by Mary Karr ****
76) Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas *** (audio)
77) Homer & Langley: A Novel by E.L. Doctorow **** (audio)
78) English Creek by Ivan Doig ****
79) 1776 by David McCullough **** (audio)
80) The City & the City by China Mieville ****1/2
81) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ****1/2 (audio)
82) The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino ****
83) Little Bee by Chris Cleave **1/2 (audio)
84) The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst ****
85) Blindness by Jose Saramago ***** (Group Read)
86) Taroko Gorge by Jacob Ritari **1/2 (ER)
87) Essex County by Jeff Lemire ****1/2 (graphic novel)
88) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling **** (audio)
89) Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins ***1/2
90) Packing For Mars by Mary Roach ****1/2 (audio)
91) Fun Home by Amy Bechdel **** (graphic)
92) Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes *****
93) Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn ****
94) American Gods by Neil Gaiman **** (audio)
95) The Wave by Susan Casey ****
96) The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett **** (audio)
97) The Dramatist by Ken Bruen ****
98) Room by Emma Donoghue ****1/2
99) The Post-Office Girl by Stefan Zweig ****
100) Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli ****1/2 (graphic)
101) Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly *****
102) True Compass: A Memoir by Edward M. Kennedy ****1/2 (audio)
103) Out by Natsuo Kirino ****1/2

FIRST FIRST FIRST

I second Richard's first.

I third the other two.

Hi Mark. So what will Book #100 be??

Here I yam!
glitter-graphics.com

I see you 5 starred Matterhorn. Stepping out of my comfort zone, going to start it this evening. Civil War stories are one thing. Lost Friends in VietNam. So it will be a little closer to home.

You ARE a major book geek!

I also am anxiously waiting to see what #100 will be....

Ooh... I love the gif, Claudia.

hello there Marky-Mark ..... count me in among your fans who wait anxiously to see what your century read is going to be. :-)

Hey everyone!

Well, for the 100 Book Slot, it will either be, True Compass or a very promising new YA book I just started called Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. Both are big books. The race is on!

Cindy- Please keep me updated on your thoughts about Matterhorn. It's a powerful novel!

Suz- Yes, I'm a Major Book Geek and damn proud of it!

For any new visitors, we are having a Christmas Book Exchange. If you are interested, PM me. We have 16 participating so far. I was considering closing it down in about a week, so I can draw the names and get the addresses out to everyone. How does that sound?

Sounds really good, Marky-Mark. Thank you for spearheading this book exchange.

I've found and starred you, o major book geek! (love that nickname...)

#11: Works for me, Mark! I cannot wait. I am like a kid at Christmas :)

found you !

Caro & Stasia- That's probably what I'll do then, in regards to the Book Exchange. It'll give everyone plenty of time to find the "right" book.

Angela & Kath- Big waves from MGB!

I overlooked a book (Bad Mark) that could easily make my 100 and that's my current graphic, Asterios Polyp. It's a wonderful read too!

I am glad to hear you are enjoying Asterios Polyp, Mark!

found and starred :)

Hey Mark!

Hi Mark: At least we now know who our next governor will be.

My next member of Congress is still iffy though.

Hello there Marky-Mark ... how's Asterios Polyp coming along?

Stasia- Yes, you have to love these graphics! I can't get enough of them!

Kara & RD- Big friendly waves!

Linda- I hope Quinn turns out better than Blago!

We are adding Nancy to the "Book Swap", which makes 17. We need at least one more. Anyone else? Hello, out there! Kath, are you ready yet?? My good buddy!

Also, we might be doing a Group Read of Cloud Atlas, (thanks to Bonniebooks), maybe mid-January. Any takers?

Kath isn't in this yet? WTH .. Kath... o Kath....where are you and why aren't you already leaping into this exchange?

what? the Asterios Polyp thing?

No, the book exchange thing.

I'm so glad you didn't say the "C" word, Caro! We have to treat that dreaded word like Voldemort, otherwise Kath will high-tail it outta here!

Kath- That's one of my favorite gifs!

Caro- Yes, Asterios Polyp is terrific! You should look for a copy! BTW- I'm picking up the Will Eisner graphic tomorrow!

Which Eisner book are you picking up, Mark? I'm just reading his New York: life in the Big City tonight.

Mark, count me in for the group read of Cloud Atlas. Mid-January sounds good.

Hi Mark, Glad to see you're enjoying True Compass. My favorite audio book, maybe, ever.

Cloud Atlas is on my agenda, too. I have a nice shiny copy that I bought when everyone was raving about it and never got around to reading it. I did read The Cloud Atlas a few years ago. It was a completely different book, but one that I enjoyed. I couldn't figure out why my book was about WWII in Alaska until I realized I had the wrong one!

#22 I think Quinn is dull, not very flashy, but honest.

My favorite IL governor story involves Gov Otto Kerner. Late 1960s, I think. Something to do with building Arlington Park or the roads near there. He took a bribe. No one would've ever known except that the woman who gave him the bribe noted it on her tax return as a business expense: bribe to government official, thinking that bribes are an ordinary and necessary business expense in IL.

Caro- I'll be picking up A Contract With God. It looks good!

Pat- Glad you are interested in Cloud Atlas. I'll iron the details out with Bonniebooks.

Joanne- Yes, I remembered how much you liked True Compass. But best audio ever?? Strong endorsement. Once again, I just love the history of it!

Donna- I have a shiny new copy of Cloud Atlas too! Picked up after some glowing LT reviews. Always enjoy having you along, my friend!

Linda- That's a great political story! Only in Illinois! Have you read the president bios in some kind of order or just here and there?

#32 I read a bunch of presidential bios before I joined LT. Then I read some more in random order. I decided it'd be better to read them in order.

I'm up to James K. Polk, who I'm reading about now, and plan to read Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore this year. After Pierce and Buchanan, I hope to spend next year reading a lot about Lincoln and the Civil War, which is an 11 in 11 category for me in 2011.

Linda- Interesting, I have also read up to Polk, (I had to quickly look it up). I have also read from FDR to Nixon and several other scattered ones. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt might be my favorite.
Let me know when you are ready to read Zachary Taylor. I might join you!

#34 For Zachary Taylor, I'm just going to read that short American Presidents series book by John S.D. Eisenhower. Probably late next week, if I can finish Polk.

I'm reading a terrific mystery, the latest Louise Penny, and want to finish that one first.

For most of the presidents, I've been reading 2 or 3 books on multiple aspects. For John Quincy Adams, for instance, I read about his post-presidency. Now I'm eager to get to the Civil War and not doing that for awhile.

In a few years, I'd like to spend a year reading a lot, off and on, about FDR.

30+ posts to your thread already!

Mark and Linda - You know, speaking of presidential bios, there is a new one coming out next week...;o)

Mark, I'm going to be reading my 100th book this weekend too. How's that for a coincidence?

Hey, Mark! Just checking in. Have a wonderful Friday!

There are some presidential bios that I am not interested in reading...
some I might be. I am not a planner with my reading.. more a random, mood oriented reader.

Linda- For your Abe selection, I suggest Lincoln by David Herbert Donald. It was excellent. Have you read Manhunt? Also, highly recommended.

Tamara- Great picture! I get that look sometimes too!

Joanne- That's a good one, my friend! And no I will not be reading that one. I'll wait for a more balanced bio, sometime down the road, if reluctantly. I haven't read Clinton's memoir either, after hearing it was bloated and not very good.

Bonnie- That's cool! And what will that lucky title be?

Stasia- Have a great day too! A late fall day today! Chilly, low to mid-40s. It's my day off, so it can do whatever it wants. Nah, nah...

Kath- I love these presidential bios mainly for the American history but a good portion of these men are pretty damn fascinating, even the stinkers.
BTW- I'm a planner, as far as books go. I like it that way but books still find my way into my hands, like some kind of literary magic!

99) The Post-Office Girl by Stefan Zweig ****

It’s post World War I Austria. Christine works in a provincial post office. She is only in her mid-20s but is all-ready feeling the weight and dreariness of the middle-aged. She’s unmarried and shares a gloomy hovel with her disabled mother. She has no friends and no social life. One day, she receives a telegram from her wealthy Aunt. An invitation to join them in a mountain resort in Switzerland. Christine accepts and finds herself transformed, thrown into a world of luxury, romance and opulence. Unfortunately, this only lasts a short time and she suddenly finds herself disgraced and sent back home, where her life will never be the same again.
This is the second book I’ve read by Zweig, who died tragically, nearly seventy years ago and what an amazing find he is. His prose is vibrant and impassioned, leaving the reader yearning for more. Highly recommended.

#42: I have seen several good reviews in the group for that one. Thanks for the reminder, Mark. I still need to track down a copy.

42: Nice description of The Post-Office Girl, Mark!

Hi, MBG -

Just stopping by to see what you are reading/listening to these days. You always seem to have at least one good one underway.

Hope the weather in and near Chi-town is good today. I always think about you getting around to make your daily route and deliver the mail.

I'm looking forward to the MBG Book Exchange.

Hi Mark. Great review of The Post Office Girl. That's one of Zweig's I've never read. I first heard of him here on LT and love his writing and stories.

#41 Thanks for your recommendation about the David Herbert Donald bio of Lincoln. I'm torn between that one and the newer Ronald C. White bio A. Lincoln. I think they're too similar to read both. I'm also planning to read the Shelby Foote Civil War trilogy, Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals and others. Pretty ambitious, I know.

Someone mentioned a new presidential bio coming out. Let's just say it's a good thing I'm reading the bios in order. I think I'm too emotionally involved in the more recent ones to read them now. Maybe in 5 or 10 years I'll feel better.

As for Chicagoland weather, I was cold, for the first time this season, walking between the parking lot and the office. Close to 70 by Monday though.

Stasia- The Post-Office Girl was tough to track down! I requested it from the library a couple months ago and boom it finally showed up!

Bonnie- Thanks! I read his novella Chess Story back in May and loved it. I will eventually read all his books.

Ruthie- The MBG is always happy to see you! It's sunny today but there is a touch of winter in the air.

Pat- Thanks! Hopefully I was vague enough. Like I mentioned to Bonnie, I plan on reading all of this very talented writer's work.

Linda- Thanks for the link, actually I'm all-ready a member of the US President Group. I love reading about the Civil War also and have the first book in the Shelby Foote trilogy. Boy, we need more hours in the day!

Adding The Post-Office Girl to the wishlist: I've heard excellent things about it before, but held back on adding it because it seemed to be so hard to get hold of. I think I shall have to try, though.

Caty- Good to see you and yes give the Zweig book a try!

Of course, I went back to the library (it's like a huge magnet) to return a few items and of course you can't leave empty handed, that would be sinful. I picked up a graphic, that Caro highly recommended, called A Contract With God.
Also:

Little Heathens. This one's on audio and has been on my mental WL for a long while! It looks great!
The Worst Hard Time. Another audio and another strong rec from fellow LTers.

I also put in a request for the a.b. of the new Keith Richard's memoir, read by Johnny Depp. That should be fantastic. Unfortunately, they haven't even ordered it yet.

I love your review of Post Office Girl Marky-Mark. Can't wait to get my hands on a copy ... you'd think I have nothing else to read, but there are some books that just jump the queue, and this sounds like one such book.

Happy Friday!

Good review of The Post Office Girl!!!...another one you might like is The Artificial Silk Girl by Irmgard Keun....deemed too "racy" in its day...banned by the Nastys....i mean the Nazis!

;-}

I read Cloud Atlas when it came out and really liked it. It was on my favorites of the year list for that year. I probably will lurk in the group read of this book. Maybe I will pick up Number 9 Dream and read that one instead. I have wanted to read it ever since Cloud Atlas because Atlas was that good.

#30 Donna828 Don't feel bad about confusing the Cloud Atlas books. Several people I know did the same thing. In fact one person to whom I touted the book got the wrong one and couldn't figure out and couldn't figure out what I was talking about when she and I tried to discuss it. We had some laughs about that confusion.

I have to get some of those Zweig books. Unfortunately, our library has really cut back on what it is ordering. They also have stopped ordering recorded books on CD and have moved towards the downloaded books. I don't like that as it cuts out a huge chunk of the population who do not have MP3 players. I had the same problem with the conversion from cassette to CD. I owned a car that did not have a CD player and only had cassette. It was hard to get the books I wanted to listen to for three or four years. Technology is wonderful but it is expensive and public libraries are having a hard time keeping up with those changes. Their budgets just don't stretch far enough.

Mark, I hope Little Heathens is as good on audio as it was on paper. Mine was a library copy, but I've since bought several copies to give as gifts. I loved The Worst Hard Time, too. Happy listening!

ACK! This is what happens when you get behind on threads. Book exchange? Where? When? Can I play?

Nice review of Post Office Girl. I've had this on my wishlist for a bit now, and was just wondering if I should keep it there - that's a resounding "Yes"! I doubt my library will have it, but I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for a copy somewhere. Otherwise, I could break down and order it - but not until next year! (Just bought a couple of books on Amazon despite my trying-not-to-buy-books personal challenge. Fail.)

#50: I enjoyed A Contract with God trilogy when I read it recently too, Mark. I hope you like it!

The Post-Office Girl sounds good Mark.

Alas, no Zweig books at my library, except, interestingly, in Russian. I can do ILL but I'll wait until I know I have time to read it since it'll be coming from Wyoming (!).

Caro- Thanks and yes, I think the Zweig books are a good match for you!

Jude- Great to see you! Speaking of nasty Nazis, Zweig fled his native Austria, from the Nazi invasion. Thanks for the rec on The Artificial Silk Girl. It sounds interesting.

Benita- I hope you can track a Zweig book down. It took me a couple months and I have a big library system. Please stop by on the Cloud Atlas G.R. Do you think this will make a good selection for a Group Read?

Anne- I remember a few LTers liked these books! I enjoy scanning the audiobook shelves, I always stumble on a couple I intended to get to.
What bugs me to no end, is the abridged editions! Are you kidding me? I saw the Benjamin Franklin bio, by Issacson, (I own the book too) and saw it was abridged. I wanted to run over to a librarian and just ask "Why"?? Are there just big chunks of Franklin's life that are not worth reading? Completely baffling!

I think Post Office Girl will go on the wish list.. thanks Mark

#60: Do not even get me started on abridgements. I loathe, detest, and abominate them.

Terri- I PMed you! See, what you miss when you don't follow along? :-}

Laura- It sounds like all that Zweig books are worth reading. I loved Chess Story too!

Stasia- I'm glad you liked A Contract with God too! I need to wrap up Asterios Polyp, so I can get to it.

Joanne- Good luck with the Zweig hunt! It's to bad these books are so difficult to locate. James Patterson books should be the ones hard to find. Hee hee!

Morning Kath & Stasia!!

"I loathe, detest, and abominate them." I agree but I'm also perplexed. Do you know if most of these are released in both versions? Could you imagine if paper books came this way? I was kidding one of the librarian assistants: Imagine ripping out chunks, "Oh these pages are boring anyway!"
The Biblio-Deviants are shaking their collective heads, with much disdain.

#64: I would not think that the majority are released in both abridged and unabridged versions just because of the costs involved. I really do not know for fact though since I do not look at the abridged versions at all.

Abridged books, tree ones anyway, fell out of fashion after Reader's Digest Condensed Books stopped being cool. *delicate shudder* My mother always curled her lip at those, she called them "books with training wheels" and made merciless fun of the "grown-up Weekly Reader" readers. Which included her own parents, so the snark is comprehensible.

Quote for the day (stealing shamelessly from Stasia):
"Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life"
Mark Twain

#67: Steal away! Good quotes are made for quoting, right?

Am I the only one who noticed on the old thread (which I have finally caught up on, thank you very much) Lindas comment:
"Please count me in for the Christmas Book Swamp."
I was rolling on the floor!
*trots off to go make fun of Linda on her own thread*

>69 tloeffler:: When you think about it, being swamped with books is a wonderful thought!

>66 richardderus:: I remember reading those Reader's Digest Condensed Books when I did babysitting in high school and wondering what is missing here? I was glad when our library sale quit accepting them a few years ago...and they pretty much take anything...else.

>59 Copperskye:: Zweig books in Russian? That made me laugh! I don't think of Littleton, CO as having a huge Russian population, but I may be wrong.

Mark, your thread is very entertaining reading these days but it isn't helping me get to my 100th book. I'm falling behind you once again.

Stasia- You are so understanding, that's what makes you such a good diplomat and ambassador.

Terri- That is funny and I missed it somehow! Just remember, it's not only a Book Swamp at Christmas but it's a Book Swamp all year!

Donna- Sorry for the distractions, I guess that's just part of our LT universe. I did finish my #100 and the lucky book, is a graphic Asterios Polyp and it was wonderful.
This was an interesting historical fact from the book:
"The first emperor of China, Qin Shihuang, prepared for eternity by ordering that a replica of his vast army be buried with him when he died. Seven thousand terra-cotta soldiers stood watch in his tomb, undisturbed, for two millennia."
I love this footnote too: "This was certainly an improvement on the local ruler's tradition of interring an entire retinue alive."

Hi Mark,

Trying to keep up with you is pointless; everything just moves so fast. Abridged books? What was the point anyway? Why read an abridged version? I just don't get it.

I was given an abridged version of Little Women when I was a kid, and never realized it was abridged! I'm not sure why the publishers bothered - it was still a good-sized book, they just deleted maybe 8-10 chapters in their entirety and left the rest intact.
At some point in college I felt like reading it and bought a new copy because mine was at home. Surprise! It was so exciting to have new chapters of the story to read! To this day those chapters still feel special, because I've only read them 4 or 5 times instead of dozens of times.

Bonnie- I know it can be a bit crazy keeping up with the threads, I totally understand. It's just good to see you out and about. Yes, "Abridged books?" Go figure!

Shauna- Thanks for sharing the Little Women story. Why would they shorten a classic like that?

In regards to the Christmas Book Exchange, I went ahead and drew names, with the help of my lovely wife, so we are all set there. I'll start getting the names and addresses out tomorrow. Of course you do not have to select a book off that person's wishlist but make sure your wishlist is updated anyway!

Congratulations on completing your 100th read for the year, Marky-Mark! Way to go~ and I love that quote of the footnote too. Must add this book to my obese wish list.

I'm glad to hear that you liked The Post-Office Girl, Mark. I'll read it later this week, for NYRB Reading Week, which runs from Nov 7-13.

Congratulations on becoming a centenarian!

Congratulations for reading 100 books, Mark! :)

Whoo-Hoo!! 100 books!! Congratulations to my good buddy!

>70 Donna828: You're right about Littleton not having a big Russian population, Donna. I mostly use the county library system and I think one of their branches, near Denver, has a fairly diverse population.

Congratulations on 100 books! Looking forward to the Christmas Swap!

Congratulations on reaching 100, Mark! Way to go!

Great Job ! Of course reading isn't really work.

100 books! Fantastic, MBG! Way to go!

I found your new thread a few days ago and neglected to star it - the right way! :p
I knew something was missing in my life!
All's well now.... have a great Sunday.

Wow congrats on 100 books! Sigh, now if I could only catch up with that!

Congratulations on reaching 100, Mark! Will have to check out Asterios Polyp. Hope you have a good Sunday (especially with the extra hour).

One hundred books! I am glad you made 100 on a good one too. Congratulations!

Didn't you just love how the way the artist drew the characters in Asterios Polyp? I thought that, in this case, the drawings really helped define the characters.

Luck. That's all it is, just pure luck. Your 100th read could as easily have been lousy, but nooo...it was *good*.

*fumes off to be jealous*

just checking in to see what sort of hilarity is afoot here today.. :)

Happy Sunday, Mark!

Wow, thanks everyone! You guys are great! MGB is blushing. To be honest, I wasn't even thinking much about a 100, until someone here pointed it out. My thoughts are always on my current books and my next books and then the next ones...
Asterios Polyp made a terrific 100 but True Compass and Revolution would have also been worthy.
Have a great Sunday too and remember to set those clocks back!

100) Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli ****1/2

When we first meet Asterios Polyp, he is nearing the bottom of a downward slide. At one point, he was a successful architect, professor and author, married to a loyal and loving wife. Due to his arrogance and self-absorption, all of this slips away, leaving a bitter husk. A freak lightening bolt strikes his apartment building one stormy night, burning up his possessions and sending him on a new journey, one of renewed self-discovery. This is another strong example of the power of the graphic form, told with intelligence and introspection. Highly recommended.

Good review, Mark. I have to pick that one up.

And congrats on hitting 100!

#90: Nice review of that one, Mark!

Congrats on reaching 100 books!!

Nice review, Mark. I'm off to give it a thumb.

Joe- Thanks! I saw that you finished the last book in the Patrick Ness trilogy. I have the next 2 on audio. I'm going to try squeezing one in, hopefully soon.

Stasia- Thanks!

I've started sending people addresses for the Book Exchange. There were, of course, a couple questions. I don't think we have to keep the sender a secret, most of us know one another pretty well. How about not opening until Christmas?
I also think mailing out by the first week of December, would work. Any thoughts?

That sounds good Mark. I certainly would like to know who the sender is and getting the book out by the first week in December is doable. My only problem will be not opening until Christmas! :)

Ditto msg 96. I know some of us Swappers are doing the BBB - should we send our receiver a note when we have shipped their present? That way they know what the package is and not to open it until Christmas.

Pat- How about Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Does that help?

Laura- We can just write it on the front of the package: Christmas Swap or something like that!

98: Durrrr ... that was entirely too obvious for me to figure out. Thanks for the help!

Christmas Eve definitely helps! I'll sleep better not being so eager to find out what I got. :)

Two hot reviews--congratulations, Mark!

Well... we probably shouldn't do it anyway, but what if someone bought a book on their wishlist (or got it in the library) and it was the same one waiting for them in the unopened package?
I don't know if I can wait till after Christmas to buy another book...
sorry for the questions - haven't done this before. :}


glitter-graphics.com

If you buy the book at Barnes & Noble or Amazon, you could always include a gift certificate.

>103 labfs39: You mean a gift receipt?

It surely wouldn't hurt for me to put a holiday ban on buying books for myself... it's not like I'm short on books. Geeze! What am I thinking?

I think a gift receipt would be best, then if the person already has the book, they can exchange it for something else.

Thanks for setting this up, Mark! Getting it out first week of December might even help me get my Christmas cards out on time for a change this year. ;-)

#104 Whoops! I did mean gift receipt. Sorry.

OK... I'm totally cool with the set up. Thanks, Mark!

Pat- Thanks!

Claudia- I'm glad you got it all figured out on your own! I had faith in you! :-}

Caro- You are welcome! It'll be fun! BTW- I did not get the Will Eisner I requested, but they gave me A Life Force instead. I started it and it begins well. I'll have to put in another request for A Contract With God.

So for the Book Exchange; try to get the package out sometime in the first week of December. Mark the front of the package "Christmas Swap" and don't open yours until Christmas. All clear?

Hi Mark: Home from the Blackhawks game. They don't look nearly as good this season and lost again tonight to the Edmonton Oilers. Last year, they were 4 and 0 against them but this year, 0 and 2, I think.

Anyway, are we supposed to tell the person we've got?

I added a bunch of books to my wishlist to offer some choices, at least.

Well, whoever was unlucky enough for the to get me for the Book Swap is going to have a difficult time as I do not even keep the BlackHole on LT!

Hey, Mark! Glad to see everything is under control here and that you are one top of things. Have a great Monday!

Just passing through... hope you had a nice weekend :)

Linda- I hope you had a nice time at the game, anyway! At least with the Blackhawks, the season is still young. The Bears won, but they don't really look good!
To answer your question about the Swap. I would keep mum, that way it'll add a bit to the surprise, when you tear open the package.

Stasia- Do you want to add a few titles to the WL? Or just be surprised?

Kath- Morning, my friend! Yes, I had a nice weekend! Hope you did too!

#112: I would just as soon be surprised.

I'm catching up on messages after a fun long weekend away. I've trimmed my wishlist and now I'm looking forward to coming up with a good gift for the swap!

G'morning, Santa, err, I mean Mark. This is so much fun reading about the book exchange and knowing I don't have to worry about it...being a grinch, you know. Considering that I have to buy and wrap 50-75 gifts for Christmas, I am beginning to feel a little overwhelmed!

Adding my congrats for reaching the century mark. I read along with Tam (leperdbunny) for almost 9 hours yesterday and still haven't finished my 99th book. It's a chunkster!

Have a good week!

Congratulations on #100 Mark!!!

Ok no more talk about Christmas and no more snowing graphics!! It's going to be 65 and sunny here today and no one better jinx it!!

Thanks for the info, Mark, about the Book Exchange.

I tend to buy books I want on my Kindle, quickly, but, at this time of the year, with the Book Exchange, Santa Thing, and my sister, the lurking LTer, all checking out book ideas for me, I need to beef up my wishlist and not buy anything from it til 2011.

Cloud Atlas will be a good book for a group discussion. I can't wait to hear what others have to say about this book. When do you start?

I am still working on Mists of Avalon and didn't make much progress on it this weekend. I am furiously knitting away trying to get that sweater done for Christmas so am spending more time in front of the TV with the knitting than I am with the radio and reading. I did find time to make a killer apple bread this week. It was beautiful. I was practicing for a Christmas dinner I attend and this year the theme is going to be apples. Each dish has to have something apple in it and I chose to bring bread. This bread may be a little sweet but it is good. Perfect for the holiday season.

To go back to the abridged versions of books discussion. I too abhor abridgments. I figure that if a book makes sense as an abridgment that the original was poorly edited in the first place. I simply can't imagine abridging a biography. I have to wonder what author would agree to such a thing?

At one of the library conferences I attend I talked to the sales reps from Books on Tape and Listening Library and asked about the abridgments. I was told that abridgments are mostly created for the commercial market (sales at the major book stores and on-line) and that when BOT and Listening Library does a library edition it is not abridged. However, libraries sometimes purchase abridgments because they are cheaper. These same sales reps said that producing a recorded book is very expensive. Good readers are not cheap and then there is all the sound editing that has to be done as well. The shorter the book the less expense in the production cost. However, they also pointed out that there are editing costs associated with abridgments due to the fact that an editor has to be paid. BOT and Listening Library try not to do abridgments but sometimes succumb to the pressures to do so.

It is rare but sometimes the abridged version is actually better than the original. For instance, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova might be one case. The recorded version that was sold commercially was abridged. Even then it was (I think) 16 CDs in length. Booklist said that this abridgment was perhaps better than the original print version of the book! This implied to me that the reviewer who wrote that thought that the book should have had better editing. At the time Mark was listening to this book I asked him if it was the abridged version or the original length. His was the original. A friend of mine purchased the abridged version and loved the book. She was extremely disappointed when she found out it was abridged. She said that the packaging did not say abridged except in very small lettering in an obscure spot.

#118 I studied 19th century European literature (and history) in college, and almost every single novel was a tome. Usually I loved them, but one that was definitely not edited enough and could have used abridgement was Hugo's Les Miserables. Sorry, but 300 pages on the sewers of Paris was a bit much, even for a lover of the genre. Other than that, I can't think of any other novels (that I've read) that I would cheerfully abridge.

#73 I too had an abridged Little Women as a child. What a travesty!

I recently found that my much cherished childhood copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was abridged. I kept it for sentimental reasons, but will be sourcing (and reading!) a new copy asap.

Instructions for the Book Exchange received, loud and clear, captain Mark.

I haven't read A Life Force yet ... how's that coming along?

#120: Wookie, the Naval Institute Press has a very nice edition of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The paperback version is here: http://www.usni.org/store/books/fiction/twenty-thousand-leagues-under-sea

#122> Oh, that is gorgeous! I was just going to go with a Penguin edition, but I'm changing my mind, especially if it's the "mangled" translation...

ETA: The Australian Penguin site is giving me the cutest 404 for the book - http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780451528193/twenty-thousand-leagues-under-s... - not entirely useful, but cute. :)

#123: I read the hardback version of the Naval Institute Press, and was completely impressed with it, but I could not find that one available on their website. The paperback version is still very nice though.

for a second there I thought it was Mark knitting and I was very impressed, despite the fact that he threw away his copy of Merle's Door

Laura- Hmmmm...Trimming that Wishlist! Not always easy and good luck with the book shopping!

Donna (the Grinch)- People seem to be getting excited about it! It's all about books, my friend! Keep grinding away at that #99. How is Hornet's Nest coming? I hope to start it around mid-December.

Tammy- Thanks! Yes, no more winter talk. It was beautiful today. Sunny and mid-60s.

Linda- "not buy anything from it til 2011" Hope that works out for you!

Benita- That's good to hear about Cloud Atlas. I'll probably start the G.R. around Jan 15th. Please follow along, I always enjoy your comments.
Thanks for your excellent thoughts on abridged versions. Funny, you brought that up about me listening to The Historian, which was the original. That book needed some editing, although I did still enjoy it.
BTW- That "killer apple bread" sounds great. Would you like my address? :-}

Lisa- I have still not tackled Les Miserables, although when I do, I'm sticking with the unabridged. 300 pages of sewers might be interesting enough!

Caro- Yes, I'm enjoying A Life Force. It seems to be covering the years of the Great Depression.

Big waves to Wookie & Stasia!

#126 Mark, I get some wiggle room from my "not buy anything from my wishlist" comment. The fact is, probably only 10-20 percent of the books I want are on this particular list.

Going 6 weeks without buying a book is preposterous.

Kath- What's up with dissing the Geek! I do not knit, I crochet,
(I'm kidding).

Linda- "Going 6 weeks without buying a book is preposterous! Amen, sister!

I have contacted everyone on the Book Swap and everyone should have a name and address. Anyone argue this?
Stasia also suggested, we start a separate thread for our Swap, so we can discuss what we get or how upset we are, that we didn't get the book we hoped for. Sound good?

Big wave back, Mark!

Big waves come in groups... so here's one from me!

Hi there Mark,

So if the person we're buying for has no WL we should just take the little we know about them and.........punt?? Gotcha:)

*trying to get over trauma of shelter pets so early in the morning*

Bonnie- Yes, if someone has no WL, you may have to be a bit more creative. Hopefully, most of the group have one, I know I do!

Kath- I thought it would cheer you up! Drat, foiled again! Like you said, at least it was an exceptionally clean shelter!

I have just a few pages left in Revolution, so be prepared for another barrage of praise. I wish I was rich, so I could buy all my friends here a copy. It's that good!
I will also be starting Out. I need a crime novel fix, badly. Got them shakes!

I enjoyed the Twain quote. And as, somehow?! (LOL), I missed it on Stasia's thread, I'm glad you posted it here too.

Susan- Good to see you! I'm not sure if Stasia actually used that quote, but she does do "book quotes".

As promised I finished Revolution. This is a new YA book, that tells parallel stories between a modern day troubled teenager and an equally troubled girl, trying to survive the French Revolution. Superb stuff! Proper review forthcoming!

Quiet over here tonight! Everyone at a party, or what?

Hey Mark! No party here... hanging low waiting for the modern conveniences of elec and phone. grump. Don't ask me how I happen to have internet???
Revolution looks good... waiting for your review.
Hope you had a good day. :)

#136: No, I have not used any Twain quotes on my thread yet, Mark.

Have a great Wednesday!

Claudia- Are you still out of electricity? Poor thing! That stinks!

Stasia- You have a great day too! We are on a beautiful stretch of weather here! Another sunny, high 60s day! Nice!

We are having nice weather too - at least until Friday, when it is supposed to turn cold and rainy - so I guess I had better enjoy it while it lasts. I am glad Chicago is having good weather as well!

OOO! OOO! I think I just heard a big truck going down my street! Maybe we will get elec today!!!!

#140 Yesterday, it was warmer here in Chicagoland than it was in Phoenix. Amazing!! I think we have 2-3 more days and then colder by Saturday.

Big trucks are sometimes good... !

Hey Mark! Have you been keeping up with The Walking Dead? I've been enjoying it! :)

Stasia- 3 days of sun, shirtsleeves and fall colors, no complaints here! Yahoo!

Claudia- Big truck did good, huh? I bet it's great having the juice back on!

Linda- I talked to my sis in Oregon last night and it was rainy and high 40s there! Yuck! We will enjoy ours, as long as we can!

Stephen- Yes, I have been watching and enjoying The Walking Dead. That pilot was terrific! I hope they can keep it going! Fingers crossed!

Hi Mark, Finished Matterhorn this morning. It will be a long remembered book for me.

I thought of you today Mark- 4ish I rushed outside to the mailbox to see if I had more books from Abebooks coming (teehee) and the mailman was just coming down the street- he waved and said "I see you"! and was trying to get my mail put together for me and I sheepishly told him I had many books I was looking forward to getting and he said yes that he had seen I had gotten a few book packages and was wondering what books I had gotten. He seemed very nice- this is the first time I've gotten to interact with my mailman- I hope he's my regular mailman!

Is Mark away again??? yoo hoo? okay Mark.. we all know that you have today off.. whatcha doin?

Cindy- I'm so glad Matterhorn worked for you! It's easily one of my top reads of the year!

Tam- Great postal story! I've talked and shared books with a few of my customers over the years. Another job plus!

Kath- Yes, I'm off today and just a bit tardy on getting to LT. Hope you have a good day!

101) Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly *****

Here’s a revelation: I like reading about damaged people. A shocker, right? Lets face it, sunny, happy people can be a bit dull, at least in print. My current troubled soul, is Andi, a seventeen year old girl, living in modern day Brooklyn. She is very bright and a gifted musician. She is also severely depressed, due to the death of her younger brother. This is a glimpse at her state of mind: “ I don’t like hope very much. In fact I hate it. It’s the crystal meth of emotions. It hooks you fast and kills you hard. It’s bad news. The worst. It’s sharp sticks and cherry bombs. When hope shows up, it’s only a matter of time until someone gets hurt.”
Her father, in a desperate move to rescue his daughter from this darkness, drags her to Paris for a couple of weeks, while he works on a project. They stay with family friends, one who happens to be a devotee of the French Revolution. Andi, while combing through some artifacts, stumbles upon a diary from the 18th century. It was written by Alex, another smart, talented teenager, struggling to survive the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. Andi is soon immersed in this special girl’s story and slowly begins to see some light in her own life and a road back from her grief and guilt. This very talented author has crafted a beautiful, interweaving tale, filled with history, a devotion to music,which spans the spectrum from Bach to Radiohead and all told with intelligence and wonder. Find a copy and get lost for a little while.

Oh, what a great concept for a book. It sounds wonderfully rich.

This is a great review. Thumb for you and Wishlist for me.
Ah, the exquisite pain of trying to find time for a 5 star book!

Sounds like a great book, can't wait to find a copy. Thanks for the illuminating review!

Claudia & Lisa- Thank you very much! It ran a little longer than usual, but I still left out some tasty bits!
"Ah, the exquisite pain of trying to find time for a 5 star book!" Amen, sister!
Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I wish I had the cash to buy all my friends here a copy. It's that good!

This is a great review. Thumb for you and Wishlist for me.
Ah, the exquisite pain of trying to find time for a 5 star book!


I couldn't have said it better, Claudia. Really fantastic review, Mark, and it sounds like something I'd like (I also like reading about damaged people).

"Hope is the crystal meth of emotions." I'll read it just to see what other amazements she's got on tap!

Mark
Harmonic convergence is in the air. A dear friend who is the local librarian gave me a stack of books to read while I'm recovering from surgery. These were hand picked from her personal library.

The Jennifer Donnelly book is one she gave to me. After reading your comments, I vow to read this one in the next few weeks.

Thumbs up on your excellent review!

One medium-sized thumb deserves another...inside joke for those of you who don't read my thread. Great review, Mark. I'm adding yet another of your not-to-be-missed recommendations to my wish book! Thanks...I think.

Pat- Thank you! I think most of us like to read about"damaged people", even if some of us won't admit it.

Richard- Her prose is wonderful and yes, check it out!

Linda- Thanks! "Harmonic convergence" is an LT trademark. I'm glad you have a copy at hand. The one I read was from the library but I have now ordered 2 copies.

Donna- I love trading off like this! I add one, then you add one! And thanks for the medium-sized thumb!

In regards to Revolution: I requested this from the library a few weeks ago, after hearing a couple glowing reviews, but I thought it was a graphic novel, something I could read in between my other books. So, when I pick it up, I quickly realize it's a YA book, at nearly 500 pages. I groaned but decided to shove aside some other books and read it anyway. Sometimes, things work out, don't they?

Hi Mark! Great review of Revolution. I'll be looking for that one.

Yo!

*Thumb*

;-}

Great review, Mark! I read another book by Jennifer Donnely that was good, but very YA. Is this a YA book as well?

I have one of Donnelly's books home from the library now. I hope that one I enjoy it as much you did Northern Light.

Anne- Thanks and good to see you! If you love music, French history and great prose, Revolution is the ticket!

Jude- Good to see you too, fleeting stranger! Appreciate the thumb!

Bonnie- Yes, it's classified as a YA but I don't think it is, that's why I didn't mention it in my review. Maybe for mid to late teens, but it travels into some deep, dark places.

Stasia- Northern Light? I know that's another one of Donnelly's books but I have not read it, although I have added it to my BM WL.

limping through to wave hello..
I am reading Hollis Woods ... if I pick it up that is..

Trying to raise my left thumb (it's coming, no fear) in salute to your review Mark. I have a Jennifer Donnelly book on my shelf, maybe Northern Light but 5 stars certainly will garner a purchase by me. As Donna said, thanks, I think.

Morning, Mark. I hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Kath- Waves back! I'm not familiar with Hollis Woods. Good?

Bonnie- Thanks for the left thumb! I WILL be reading my Donnelly!

I will finally be wrapping up True Compass today. It was very good but a chunkster. I then plan on starting on the audio of Wordy Shipmates.
BTW-I did find the audio of the new Keith Richards memoir, another chunkster, so I'll start that after the Vowell.
Have a great Friday everyone!

I finished listening to Notes on a Scandal last night when I was driving home from work and doing other errands. It was alright (gave it 3 stars) but won't go on my best of the year list. It was one of those books that makes you think as you are listening and truly wondered "What was she thinking" about both of the main characters. This one can't go on my Off-the-Shelf challenge either since I purchased it on impulse earlier this fall.

Jennifer Donnelly has written three previous books. Two of them have the word rose in the title and I don't think they are necessarily YA books. The other Northern Light was a Prinz honor book. the Prinz award is given annually for the best YA book of the year. Everybody that I know thinks that Donnelly is an outstanding writer. I'll have to get started reading her books since I have one on my shelf. It would qualify for my Off-the-shelve challenge, but I promised myself I would read Walking to Gatlinburg as soon as I get done with the two behemoths I am currently reading.

Awesome Job.... we all have goal at our house to
Question ... Do you know when the SantaThing will be starting this year i do not want to miss it

167 yes.. sad, tortured and good.

Benita- Always a pleasure to see you! I saw the film version of Notes on a Scandal and liked it. I have not read Heller but I do have The Believers in the stacks.
Thanks for the info on Donnelly, I will be reading all of her work. Try to hunt down a copy of Revolution. It's terrific.

dbhutch- Thanks for stopping by, although I'm not quite sure what you were saying. I'll PM you about the "SantaThing".

I think LT runs Santa Thing, doesn't it? Mark's Holiday Book Exchange (not sure of exact name) isn't the LT Santa Thing, though somewhat similar and on a much smaller scale.

I asked about this year's LT Santa Thing and someone said it'll be announced on Monday.

Linda- Thanks for the info!

I started Wordy Shipmates and I'm enjoying it and it included a clip from a speech that Mario Cuomo gave in the '84 election, that I thought was amazing:
right here
Whatever happened to this guy??

Hey everyone! Hope the gang is having a good weekend! I'm liking The Wordy Shipmates but not loving it. I am loving Out, though! What a terrific psychological thriller!

In regards to the "Book Swap", a couple people mentioned buying 2 books, within the price range and I have to agree that that's not a bad idea. I was perusing Amazon and there are a large number of discounted books, including new releases. Just keep that point in mind, but please remember, buy what you can afford.

#174: In regards to the "Book Swap", a couple people mentioned buying 2 books, within the price range and I have to agree that that's not a bad idea.

That is what I did, Mark. I did not think there was any stipulation other than a dollar amount, so I used it all and managed to get two.

Mark

I'm reading Revolution and it is everything you said it is!

The Wordy Shipmates was probably my least favorite of Vowell's books. She's got a new one, Unfamiliar Fishes, due out next year. The Amazon blurb says she works at making a case for 1898 being the defining year for what made America, instead of 1776.

It should be fun. I've already been convinced that 1861 was more defining that 1776, so it's not impossible she'll succeed in her goal.

Just passing through to see what you have been up to.

Stasia- Yes, it's like "Doublemint"! Double the pleasure!

Linda- I'm so glad you are enjoying Revolution. It's an amazing read. Please keep the MBG posted!

Tad- It's great to see you, sir! I have to agree, that Wordy Shipmates isn't grabbing me, as I expected it to. My mind begins to wander at times and that is a bad sign, especially listening to her quirky, sometimes snarky voice.

Kath- Thanks for the visit, my friend! Hope you have a nice Sunday!

Have a great day, Mark!

102) True Compass: A Memoir by Edward M. Kennedy ****1/2

Senator Ted Kennedy never reached the heights of the presidency, but reading through this wonderful memoir, is like doing a Forrest Gump through modern American history. It touches on McCarthy’s witch-hunts, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Watergate, Reaganomics, the Iraq war, to the 2008 Democratic convention and those are just some of the attractions along his long, eventful life. Shortly after his death, in August of 2009, some of my friends, who are firmly on the right, called this man a scumbag, who had done nothing in his nearly 47 year senate run, of course I beg to differ. He was not perfect and had flaws like everyone else, but I think he served his country well and tagging along with him on memory row, was an absolute pleasure.

I agree that this is a wonderful book. Five stars for me. Funny what we pick out
as most important .. The history, to me, was a back story to the man and his gentle wisdom. That wisdom is what prompted me to give this book as gifts to five people. :) I would like to give one to everyone I know.

Thanks for reminding me that I want to read that book, Mark.

>181 msf59: - A true statesman. I also enjoyed all the backstory. Glad you enjoyed it!

Morning Mark, thanks for reminding me that I have to get going on the Christmas exchange. God I'm starting to hate that "C" word as much as Kath LOL.

Great review, Mark. It's funny because I've always held Chappaquiddick against Kennedy until I read Ethan Canin's America, America which is a novel with a storyline similar to what happened to Kennedy. It made me see you have to look at the whole person and the whole life and made me more forgiving. What does he say about Chappaquiddick in the book?

Mark, I agree with you about Ted Kennedy. I think the Kennedy family has felt a great responsiblity towards our country. I think of Ted Kennedy as a wise, but fallible uncle, who always used his power and experience to try to make the country better and to care for his family.

Kath- Beautifully said! I should have included how warm and thoughtful, True Compass, was, despite the immense tragedy this family dealt with.

Bonnie- Yes, please hunt a copy down. You'll love it!

Joanne- That should have been the heading of my review! LOL! Perfect!

Bonnie (Brenzi)- Please don't start hating on the "C" word yet! I just don't want to hear any "C" word music at this point and I think it's way early for "C" word decorations. IMHO, of course!

Pat- Thanks! It was a pretty simple review, considering how big and sprawling the book was. As far as, Chappaquiddick goes, Ted gives his version of the tragic event. He was remorseful and disappointed in the way he handled the accident but firmly stated that he was not having a relationship with Mary Jo Kopechne and barely knew her. Her death has always haunted him.

Tammy- Very well said!

Hi Mark!!!! So many have liked True Compass for various reasons, I may have to check this out more closely. My thoughts and feelings re the Kennedy family have been conflicted over the years. But then, all I know really is what the media has wanted me to know... and coverage of that family has been all over the place!

I really liked Wordy Shipmates! (Like you I listened to it. I love her quirky voice.) I think more people should read it and have passed around my copy to several people. Especially my churched friends as I think that most people are very ignorant of church history and doctrine. Over all, it is a good basic history lesson. It would remind folks of why a radical cult like the Pilgrims would be so adamant about things like the separation of church and state. They knew first hand what it was like to be persecuted.

Perhaps the reason why you are having a little trouble with this book is that it is heavy on theology and the intricacies of of 18th century religion along with a heavy dose of English Civil War/Cromwellian politics. This is all tied up with the strings that bind the different threads together. I found it fascinating because I think that if more people read this book they wouldn't be so inclined to demand a "return to American values." It is plain from reading this book that the good old American values about religion are very very radical. In short is a good reminder of who we are and were we came from.

The parts of the book where 18th century values coincide with 20th century values are the story of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson.

I loved Vowell's snarky voice and tone. It is just right for the subject matter. Like True Compass it is good to remember that the founding fathers were people and that they had lives that were influenced by political events "across the pond" just as we are. They also had their personal peccadilloes just as people in our time. They weren't perfect but they had vision. It is good to be reminded of that. This book may not be as much "fun" as some of her other work, but in my opinion, it is more important and relevant to our time.

I really want to read True Compass, Mark -- thanks for the great review!

Benita- Wow! You made a nice case for The Wordy Shipmates, in your usual succinct, no-nonsense manner. Yes, the stretches I'm most bored by, are the ones dealing with the theology argument. I guess I'm more interested in the nuts and bolts of the voyage and arrival. I hope you are enjoying your Starbucks afternoon!

Anne- Thanks! It's a terrific memoir!

#190 I've been reading various negative comments and wondering whether to take The Wordy Shipmates off my wishlist, but I think after reading your comments I shall leave it on there. Thanks for that perspective. :)

>190 benitastrnad: - The Wordy Shipmates was my least favorite Vowell book. It was certainly the subject matter for me but I know a lot of people loved it. I'm currently listening to Mayflower and your thoughts have me rethinking ditching it. Thanks!

Mark, chiming in on the Ted Kennedy discussion. I think that Kennedy was honest in stating he did not have a relationship with Mary Jo Kopechne. Unlike Clinton who looked into the camera, lied and said "I did NOT have sex with "THAT" woman. Referencing Monica Lewinsky as "that" woman sent me into a raving fit! "THAT" woman had a nam,e and in flicking her aside like that told me a lot about the character and lack of integrity of Clinton.

Ok, slinking out now before the Clinton lovers throw tomatoes at me.

Oh, my I am so far behind! Belated congratulations on surpassing 100 books, Mark! Sounds like you've done some fine reading. True Compass is on my list to read.

hello there, Marky-Mark. I've been away for too long because my laptop fell into a coma on me last week. I'm slowly catching up

Adding True Compass to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Mark!

Have a great Monday.

Hi Mark! True Compass sounds great. Congrats on reaching 100! Hugs.

Linda- Yes, I'm one of those darn Clinton lovers, but I do not condone the affair or the lying, or the unnecessary persecution, for that matter. Now back to books! :-)

Caro- Great to have you back! I saw you on FB yesterday, so I knew you were on your way! Yah!

Stasia- Have a great Monday too!

Berly- Thanks! I appreciate it! You and Caro need to check out my thoughts about Revolution, (in msg #150). You would both love it!

Linda- Yes, I'm one of those darn Clinton lovers, but I do not condone the affair or the lying, or the unnecessary persecution, for that matter. Now back to books! :-)

agreed

Thanks to Caro, I finished a graphic by Will Eisner, called A Life Force. It's my first by this author and it's the 2nd in a trilogy called A Contract With God. Somehow, the library sent me this one, instead of the first, but it's a terrific introduction. It follows a group of immigrants, trying to survive in depression-era New York. A very informative history piece.
Eisner has an incredible history himself: creating such famous comics as Sheena, Queen of the Jungle and "The Spirit".. Another cool fact is that The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, a Pulitzer-winner, is based largely on Eisner.

#202: Glad you enjoyed the Eisner book. I hope you get the other books in the trilogy as well, Mark. I read all 3 together which, I am sure, enhanced my enjoyment of them.

Have you read Chabon's book? If not, you need to give it a shot!

Wow, What an impressive list.

Thanks for including my book, Columbine. And thanks for the five stars.

It's nice to see so many people discovering it on audio. That's a great way to squeeze more books into your life.

Oooooh! An author visit. Don't forget us little people Mark. ; P I loved Kavalier and Clay but I did not know it was based on Eisner. Cool little fact. Thanks.

Hey Berly, that made me smile.

I still need to read Kavalier and Clay, but I left it in storage in Denver when I moved to NYC this summer. I kept it though, so I'll have it again once I find a permanent home here.

Stasia- I have a copy of A Contract With God, at hand, so I plan to get to it soon. I'm starting another graphic series, called The Last Man, which looks very good.
Yes, I have read Kavalier and Clay. It was my first Chabon and I loved it.

Dave- It's an honor! Columbine is still one of my top reads of the year and yes, I was busy spreading the word. The audio was excellent!

Berly- Don't worry, I'm still a "little guy". I prefer it that way! And yes, I love Chabon's work too!

Dave Cullen did a really nice author chat here on LT a bit ago. I'm sure it's still here somewhere - I'll see if I can track it down.

Glad you liked the Will Eisner book, Mark! :)

sending a brief hello your way while shielding my eyes from those blue thingamajigs

YO! Shout-out from "one who has been absent"

You have been a busy boy! All for the good...glad you think Out is "in"...i knew you'd like it....

;-}

Yes... his author chat was probably the most popular ever, and certainly my personal favorite. He was tight in there with us and asked and answered and chatted like a 75er..

:)

Thanks for letting us know about Columbine on audio....just found it today, so it's on the upcoming list for starting the New Year.

Jim- I read through Cullen's Author Chat, once I finished the book. Must have been a great opportunity to converse with an author, in that format.

Stephen- How much of Eisner have you read? I just started The Last Man series. Are you familiar with these?

Kara- Please don't shield your eyes from my "blue thingamajigs". You could be missing something very important.

Kath- I wish I could have followed along with you guys, on that one! I just didn't want to, until I read the book.

Jude, aka "one who has been absent"- It's always good to see you! Yes, I have been a busy boy and I just finished Out, which was so "In"! What a terrific crime novel! Kept me guessing and intrigued, right up to the last page!

Tina- Yes, the audio for Columbine was fantastic! I'm very glad I went that route. I'm also glad you have it lined up.

Wow, I'm loving this--and glad the author chat is still there for people to read.

For any students, profs or teachers out there, we just finished the Columbine Instructors Guide and Columbine Student Guide (Whew! Glad those are done. Way more work than I envisioned. But worth it if they help.) The Columbine intro video is also a good place to start.

What's a 75er?

#217 A person who is participating in the 75 book challenge.

Hi Dave. Any other books in the works?

*I told you so*

no smirk intended

:-}

Mark, 214: My library only carries 2 Will Eisner books, The Contract With God Trilogy and New York: Life in the Big City, and I've read them both. Wish they carried more of this books!

good question Linda... any more books Dave??

#206 Glad to make you smile Dave. ; )
Columbine has crept onto my TBR list, but it will have to wait until I am up to reading it. And you really should consider being a 75er next year. We are a fun bunch!

I did go back and read your review of Revolution, Marky-Mark and no surprise there ... it was compelling enough to have me add it to my obese wish list.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Eisner graphic novel .... make sure you get a copy of his New York : Life in the Big City. I think it's one of his best GNs.

Yes, and thanks Mark. Ditto cameling, I have added Revolution to my tottering tower.

I have finally broken down and signed up to The Book Depository. Why? Revolution is not available locally in Australia. And while I was there, I created a wishlist and chucked a whole lot more unavailable-in-the-Antipodes books onto it. (So many books!)

I would say It's All Your Fault, Mark, but I'm old enough to be responsible for my own actions. :) Thanks for the fab review, it sounds great!

Mark, you are an innovator here on LT. Not only are you the No. 1 Group Read's leader, now you have your own personal author chat going. Way to go! And I must read Columbine soon with so many people raving about it. I just had to let some time go by after reading Wally Lamb's fiction version of Columbine.

Dave- It was great to have you stop by! It sounds like you've been very busy, with these various guides, which I'm sure are all very important. Yes, it would be nice to have you part of the hallowed 75ers!

Jude- Yes, you did tell me and yes I still detected a bit of a smirk.

Stephen- I plan on reading all of those Eisner books! Thankfully, they are all reasonably short. Once again, try to hunt down The Last Man: Vol 1! It's been really good!

Caro- I try not to over-praise a book, that can lead to some pitfalls, but I think Revolution is an exception. Once again, thanks for the Eisner recs! I'm looking forward to reading the rest!

Berly- I appreciate you making Dave smile! This way, he might just come back. Sorry about adding to the "tottering tower". It's just an LT reality!

Wookie- I am also known as Bad Mark and I stand guilty. I do not think you will be disappointed in the Donnelly book.

Donna- Thank you! I am just having fun and having good friends tag along, is such an added benefit. I also loved the Lamb book.

What is the Lamb book???

Morning Kath- The Lamb book is The Hour I First Believed. It's a well-researched but fictional account of Columbine. It's very good.

I'm finally starting True Grit, which I've rudely bumped a couple times. It looks like a nice change of pace and it's a shorty. Yah! Also will be wrapping up Wordy Shipmates. Have a good day, gang!

Hope you have a great day too, Mark!

Hi Mark, I know you listen to alot of audio books and thought you might be interested in this NPR story I heard this morning about George Guidall: http://www.npr.org/2010/11/11/131248703/art-of-storytelling-alive-and-well-in-au...

He talks about his friendship with Wally Lamb which started after he narrated his first book.

I just purchased an audio copy of Hour I First Believed. I found it in a bargain bin at a used bookstore this weekend. This morning while driving to coffee in the rain I heard the interview with the reader and the author about audio books. It was very good. I thought it was an important point when Guidall said that he now reads between 50 and 70 pages per day. This is his personal reading and doesn't count what he reads in the studio. I haven't read either of the Wally Lamb books that most people talk about so this will be a new venture with a new author for me.

Audio books is a way to increase the number of books that I "read." it also allows me to use all of that unproductive time spent in cars. I have long had an MP3 player on my list of techno machines I want to buy because it will allow me to "read" even more books while I am running on that darn treadmill. I run on the treadmill so that I can make up for all that time sedentary time I spend sitting on my backside reading!

I listened to Wordy Shipmates soon after listening to Book of Air and Shadows and found the confluence of the English Civil War history and the religious strife in that country discussed in both books to be very enlightening about our own religious history. What fascinates me about Wordy Shipmates is how so many of my fellow countrymen have the history of the Pilgrims all wrong and consequently have our own history all wrong as well. While this book has its entertaining parts, you have to admit that Vowell is funny, it was primarily, for me, a lighter look at the early history of the New England colonies. The book made a real hero out of Roger Williams and his far sighted view of how to treat the native Americans. And Vowell made me very glad to be alive now when a woman who can read, think, and write about what she thinks, isn't persecuted.

Wordy Shipmates isn't intended to be the last word on "the city on a hill" theme, but it does make the ideas presented in that sermon much more approachable, and if nothing else, it lets the average American know where that darned expression came from.

#216 David Cullen

As far as I can tell LibraryThing (LT) archives most everything. some threads and group discussions go into an inactive list, but I don't think anything really disappears. But the LT Gods know for sure.

And don't be too impressed with Mark giving your book five stars. He gives them to most everything he reads. :-) Truth-be-told, he likes almost everything he reads, and leaves the more truthful statements about books to some of his other reading pals.

Also, don't be too impressed with the numbers of books he "reads." If all of us had all that spare "listening" time we could read that many as well. ;-)
(Gotch ya' Mark.) Of course, most of us wouldn't want to be walking around in all the different kinds of weather Mark is privileged to enjoy either. Mark is a postal delivery worker in that most weather benevolent of cities - Chicago. Perhaps the reason he likes most of the books he reads is because he simply isn't accustomed to extremes? Either in his baseball, his reading, or his job.

ohh!! I have had that one for ages... unread still.. sigh

Pat- Thanks for the NPR link! I'll read it later!

Benita- Boy, really dissing the MBG today, huh? I thought we were buds? I don't think I give out a lot of 5 star reviews but, you are correct, most of my books are in the 4 to 4 1/2 range, but I owe that to my impeccable taste.
Once again, I appreciate your insights into The Wordy Shipmates but it didn't quite work for me. Not bad, it just didn't grab me the way I thought it would.
Hope you enjoy The Hour I First Believed!

Kath- If you're a Wally Lamb fan! Give it a shot!

time.. it is all about time.. and energy..

Hi Mark, one of the "culled herd" checking in. I have the Lamb book on my shelf and would like to read it and Columbine......no, can't do it; can't say soon....it's meaningless.

Another cast off sheep checking in. Hi!

Seriously. I am in love with George Guidall.

Just waving 'Hi' as I pass through the threads, Mark. I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

Bonnie & Kim- You survived the culling! Yah! Big gentle hugs!

Terri- I loved Guidall's work on American Gods. I'm not sure if I heard him do anything else. I think him and Lamb make an excellent team.

Morning Stasia- Hope you have a nice day too! More seasonal weather today. Cool, mid-40s.

How is everyone doing on the "Book Swap"? Narrowing down those choices?

Hey Mark, I hardly ever visit but since I'm doing the rounds today I thought I'd pop in to see how things are going here. Obviously, quite well!

Hi Mark! Hope your week is going well. :)

Hi Mark: Well, at least now I know who my member of Congress will be. Even if it wasn't the result I wanted.

I am surprised that my comment on the Bears the other day did not elicit a response. Hmmmm.

I am eager for the Northwestern/Illinois game this Sat at Wrigley. We are sitting just beyond where first base would be. This will be amazing. Similar atmosphere to the hockey game awhile back, only, hopefully, not as cold.

Hi, Mark! Wow, look at all I've missed the past few days! A real multiple-post author visit to your humble thread. Way cool!

Columbine is on my list of top reads for the year, too. I read it the old-fashioned way, though I am starting to do some audio books to increase available reading time. Like you, I read through the author chat after I read the book.

I do hope to read the Lamb book, too. Have pondered over it in bookstores several times . . .

Mark, my wife and both kids liked the Y: The Last Man series, so I think you'll get a kick out of it. Look forward to hearing more of your reaction.

Bears, Bulls and (slow-starting) champion Blackhawks - it's a good time of year. Hope the Northwestern and Illinois players are careful in that one very short end zone. The Bears used to play at Wrigley years and years ago.

* whistles * * wanders off *

I'm having a hard time trying to decide what to get for the Book Swap ... and there are books on my Swapee's wishlist I have now added to my obese wish list! Arrgghhhh !

Lynda- Good to see you! Hope you can stop by again and chime in!

Angela- Big wave! Yes, the week is going fine and all my current books are very enjoyable!

Linda- Yes, I grumbled a bit to myself, when you revealed you were a Packers fan, but I didn't want it to turn into something ugly. Hey, enjoy your self at the college game at Wrigley. Should be a blast!

Terri- Maybe I can get Wally Lamb to drop by my thread! (in your dreams book geek) Glad you also enjoyed Columbine. It's a powerful work.

Joe- I couldn't remember if you had read The Last Man series or not, but I am really enjoying the first book. It's fresh and funny. Have you read the Eisner graphics? I loved the last Bears game! They looked good, let's see if they can repeat it tomorrow night.

*I thought I heard some whistling*

Caro- That is to funny! No, you are not supposed to be adding to your own obese WL, while shopping for others. Good luck!

#250 It's just sports. Once the Bears make the playoffs and aren't playing the Packers, I root for them.

Columbine was a top 10 book for me last year. Glad you enjoyed it, too.

I find it interesting that even if you like an author sometimes their work just doesn't work, and for some reason I sort of think it should. Work every time I mean. Even if you didn't really like this book of Vowell's maybe the next one will be better.

Even though you give high marks to every book I don't think that is a bad thing. I think that the more a person reads the more discriminating they become. If that is true then it should stand to reason that you will pick up fewer and fewer books that you don't like. I think that the more a person reads the more likely they are to be patient with a book and let it build a little. Sometimes that results in some very good reading experiences. I think that patient expectation of better things is the reason why I tend to read a book all the way to the finish even if I don't like it.

The more books I read the more critical I have become and that makes it easier to think about ditching a book I don't like. There simply are too many good books out there to waste my time on reading something that is pointless or has rubbed me the wrong way. I think of the precious minutes I have, of which there are never enough, and then to waste them on something I don't like is not good. Fortunately, in my reading life those wasted minutes are becoming fewer. Probably in direct proportion to my growing critical abilities. I also think that as I have become more practiced at deciphering reviews and promotional blurbs I am better able to detect when I am being led down a primrose path by publishers or reviewers, so I make fewer mistakes in picking books in the first place. All of this should result in higher satisfaction in the books I read.

I think that is where you are Mark. You simply make good selections to start with, so you should have a high satisfaction level with what you read.

#253> Not to mention all the great recommendations here in LT! So many good books! (I have had a poor recommendation here and there, but that's just a matter of tailoring the recommendations coming in against my own tastes and judgement, instead of accepting everything willy-nilly. And crossing a few recommenders off my list. ;)

Morning, Mark! Have a great one!

Books.. I rarely give five stars.. but in my rating world 3 stars go to a good solid read, but not one that will stay on my shelf. It is a glad I read it book...but not one to throw confetti on. :)

Four stars .. really a very good book.. five go to life changing or super satisfying emotionally books for me. After all.. stars are all about us in the end, aren't they? We all do it and approach it differently.

imo

I think I hear sirens in the distance! Don't panic! Don't break to the bomb-shelters! I'll post my New Thread tonight.

Hi Linda- It's going to be a bit wintery today! Hats & gloves! Glad I have the Keith Richards memoir to keep me warm! It's sooooo good!

Benita- Beautifully said, my friend! I think I might try the number rating system next year, even though that seems to be a bit more work.

Wookie- I hope you haven't crossed off any of my recs! :-(

Morning Stasia & Kath- Have a great day too!

I can't find you...where have you gone? Here new thread, new thread, new thread

#257 I've heard good things about the Keith Richards memoir.

I'm still wearing my middle weight jacket but figure to pull out my winter parka for the football game on Sat. I found my warm hat and gloves,too, so I'm good.

I heard it might snow on Thanksgiving Eve!!

Hi Mark!
I'm still wearing short sleeves and a lightweight fleece sometimes (at night). :P
Good weather for walking if I can dodge the bullets (hunters).
When we first moved to Maine, there was snow everywhere. Last year and this year - too warm. I need to do a snow dance! I would consider moving to the N Pole - but I fear it might melt when I get there. :(

See you in your new thread!

Snow Dancing requires nudity. I am in if you are.

As promised: New Thread

Hi Lisa!!

Linda- The Keith Richards memoir has been terrific!

Claudia- I didn't know you were such a snow fan! That's nice but please don't do it a snow dance anywhere near here. I'm not anxious to see it!

Someone say nudity??

*raises hand and waves it wildly*

Can we continue this on the New Thread? Hurries away...

ok