Mark's Reading Place: To Infinity and Beyond...Take 14

Yes, the Biblio-Deviant has returned! Ooh..ahh! This might be the last one for the year. We'll see. Man, it's been a great reading year!

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
104) True Grit by Charles Portis ****1/2
105) Life by Keith Richards ****1/2 (audio)
106) The Last Child by John Hart ****
107) The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger **** (graphic)
108) Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish **** (audio)
109) The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman ****

Hi Mark, I need to follow your lead in setting up a new thread. Yes, it has been a great reading year following along in your footsteps. I noticed that Walking to Gatlinburg is still frozen on my library hold list. It seems like somebody I know and like recommended that one to me ages ago.

*waves*

;-}

I had this awful hallucination that someone said Keith Richards's memoir had NUDITY in it...*shudders*...one can but pray that it's not *him* that's naked. *urp*

Mark???? Is that you????
Oh dear.... there must be a better way to get snow!
I didn't know nudity was required. How do I get myself into these things?

Sometimes you just get lucky...is all Claudia.
That is an old pic of Mark, he looks good in green, no?

>7 mckait:

Hi, Mark!

Donna- It's one of my great pleasures to have such a wonderful bunch of people tagging along in my reading world!

Kath- Not a bad picture, although my hair is much more gray and I have baby-blues! Okay, more nudity!

Jude- Waves back!

Richard- No nudity so far, in the Keith Richards memoir. I don't want to see that skeletal pirate, either. Johnny Depp's narration is amazing.

Claudia- Didn't you bring up bare-assed snow dancing?

Pat- Big wave!

Found you! Little did I know if would be in the buff. Nice color coordination between eye color and fig leaf!

>10 msf59: Can't take credit for the nudity topic. It was
glitter-graphics.com

I was just trying to get a little snowfall. Now it's even warmer! :P

Starred! (You folks are cracking me up.)

I wouldn't mind if we didn't get snow til a week or two before Christmas and that's it. Alas, Chicago's normal is 40 inches and, lately, it seems like we get a whole lot more than that.

Anyone else doing both the Book Exchange (is that the official name?) and also Santa Thing? I will be a book choosing fool. (But then later, a book receiving fool.) I get giddy with delight reading what people want. What can I say--I love this time of year.

Now wait a second...Johnny Depp is doing nudity for Keith Richards's book? Oh hell, who care WHY he's doing it, just get the link up pronto! I need some naked Captain Jack Sparrow! Hup hup!

Hello Mark...

What an interesting thread...nudity..Keith Richards....snow...the holidays....coordinated green of eyes and fig leaf....

and...all I have to add is hello.

Glad to see everyone is sparked by a little nudity! Never hurts, right?

Lisa & Terri- Big waves!

Linda- Snow for Christmas and then departs the area! Sounds good to me. I don't think I'll be participating in the Secret Santa, I'll just do the Book Swap here. If you would like to send me books, go for it! :-}

RD- As far as I know, Johnny Depp is keeping his clothes on, although maybe he's reading it, in the buff, maybe you can now go to sleep with that imagery.

Linda- Yes, we try to keep it entertaining! Good to see you!

Claudia---we should meet halfway between us (maybe a shopping trip to LL BEAN or Red's Eats--are they open this time of year? or Wasses Dogs?) and do the snow dance together. We too moved to Maine for snow, and last year was such a bust. I do however draw the line at nudity---don't want to be arrested for disturbing everyone's peace....

Marky mark.....thanks for hosting such an interesting thread! Glad I found the new one.

I found you again, too. I am staying off the nudity topic - do not want to scare everyone to death!

#18 I was born in Maine, and remember years when we had snow from Oct-April, climbing onto the roof from the snow and sledding down, shoveling Mt Everest out of our driveway at least twice a week. Here in Seattle, I've only had to shovel once in 10 years, yet can drive to snow year round. But you know, I miss it! Being so cold your nose hairs freeze, carrying buckets of sugar sap through drifts higher than your head, taking the liners out of your mukluks to dry. Just tonight, my husband and I talked about moving back. Well, at least as far as Vermont. Too close and my hair stands on end (a proximity sensor when I get too close to my family of origin). Ah, but climate change may make my childhood memories bittersweet. P.S. I did break ice once to skinnydip when I was in college. :-)

Here's my daughter's first snowshoe trip. Got to break 'em in early! We had to strip her down to change her diaper. She was not pleased!

Found you again, Mark. Love all the images here! We don't get big dumps of snow in Portland, OR that is. And if we do, it doesn't last. I remember getting snow in MN during the last 5 days of school when I was young! Made me so mad. LOL. Look at all that pretty snow in the trees above.

#10 I did mention that it was an old pic.. back when you wore green contacts.

:)

18 nudity is essential for snow dances I am afraid.. check wkipedia.. :D

#14 I'm doing both, too.

Two inches of snow lasting for two days counts as a lot of snow here. Even when I lived in the Pennines, we only had two to six inches, maybe three or four times a winter and lasting a few days.

I don't know how you all do it.

*Shiver*

Morning everyone! Thanks for the shout-outs, but please no snow dances, anywhere in the Midwest. Keep them confined to the Northeast. I probably wouldn't mind snow, if I didn't have to trudge through it all day. It's certainly beautiful to look at.

Lisa- Thanks for the lovely pix! Your family is darling.

Kath- "back when you wore green contacts." That's a period of my like, I'd rather not return to.

I will be finishing True Grit today and it's been a lot of fun. Will also be starting another crime novel, called The Last Child. Loving the Keith Richards memoir.

I am looking forward to your review of True Grit, Mark!

Hi Mark!
Frost on the cove this AM! That's a step in the right direction!
Have a great Friday!

Hi Mark! Seems I'm late...although I guess we should all be happy I missed out on all the nudity talk. :)

LOL!!

Gads, I blink for a week or so and have to find you through three threads.

Anyway, hello Mark!

YOW!

Keith Richards' bio...and nudity? pardon me, but that would Not be scary...given the fact that i always preferred the Stones to the Beatles..and Paul Mc Cartney's "boyish good looks" creeped me out next to John Lennon's "nerdiness"....and Keith Richards is still alive.....besides that I want the book itself..the bio.

Hey La!! Patti Smith won the National Book Award for Just Kids!!! Some Body should have a parade...a partay...a rave...a moment of silence for a woman who has done it all..lived to tell in prose exquisite!!
Rockers Unite! We Read, Too!

sorry i vented, but you do agree Mr Mark?

;-}

Hi, Mark! I've been by a few times, but was waiting 'till things calmed down a bit and everybody was dressed. ;-). Can't imagine having to walk around for hours/days on slippery sidewalks, so will wish only good weather for you--though the definition of "good" seems to vary quite a bit around here.

and everybody was dressed

*hands mark a pillow*

*solemnly agrees with jude*

> really,Kath

that kinda scares me....

;-}

Hi Mark, Stopping by to say hello, fully clothed. I read The Last Child over the summer and really liked it. Hope you do, too.

pshaw!

and baloney... I agree with you often, my friend..

Stasia- I finished True Grit and it was terrific! A true western classic!

Claudia- "Frost on the cove". Sounds like some kind of nifty code!

Stephen- You are never late for this party, sir and for the most part, much of the nudity was quite chaste! You should check with your library and see if they have the graphic, The Last Man. The 1st, in the series, was a lot of fun!

Karen- Big wave!

Bonnie- It's always good to see you! And don't be afraid of a little soft-porn nudity. It was pretty harmless.

Jude- I love it, when you stop by and have something to say. Always makes my day. As far as the Beatles & the Stones! I don't want to choose. The world is such a richer place with both of these phenomenal bands around.
You would love Keith's memoir. He's such a straight-shooter. I'm nearly at the half-way point. Summer of '69. Recording "Wild Horses" & " Brown Sugar" at Muscle Shoals, with Altamont looming. Great stuff!
Yes, I heard that about Patti Smith. Good for her. I was hoping they had this available on audio, might have to pick it up in print.

Kath- Thanks for the pillow! Was getting a bit chilly down there!

Joanne- You beat me to the punch! I was going to PM you about The Last Child, remembering how much you enjoyed it. I'm not very far into it, but his writing grabbed me right away. I think this will be another keeper!

Mark: My library doesn't have them, unfortunately, but I have another graphic novel by him on my wishlist already, Pride of Baghdad...I just haven't gotten around to it yet...

I received a message from Books on the Nightstand, about the "Weekend Book Retreat". This is being held in Manchester Vermont, early next April. It looks like it's sold-out, so they are not taking anymore reservations. I wish more LTers could have signed up. It looks like a blast. They managed to snag 9 authors, for their book discussions, which should be fantastic.
If you haven't listened to the "Books on the Nightstand" podcast. Please do! It's my favorite one out there and of course it reminds me of our friendly discourse on LT: check it out here

LOL .... love visiting your thread, Marky-Mark... took me a while to find you again, but it sure has been fun catching up.

I can't believe some of you are already getting snow. Not a flake over here ... yet, but I hear tell that we are due some in the next week or so.

Hi Marky-Mark!!!

*relurks*

Popping in before bedtime to wish you Good Night!

Glad to know True Grit was a good read. I will have to see if my local library has a copy.

Stephen- That's to bad! I think it would be one, you would like. BTW-I'll always take more graphic suggestions. As long as it's high quality, I'm in!

Caro- As usual, good to see you back home! No snow here and no hurry, either!

Big waves to Tam & Kim!!

Stasia- I hope they have a copy! Actually my library had an original printing, from the late 60s. Have a great day!

I started The Last Child and this one has a nice tone to it. I know a couple fellow LTers loved this one, as well.

Such a busy listener you are, Mark.. or are you reading this one?
I can't keep track with you.. :)

Mark: Another favorite graphic novel of mine is Flight, Volume 3. It's a collection of short stories by various writers/artists, and it's beautiful! Obviously the stories vary in quality, as with any collection, but the artwork is fantastic, it's all brightly colored and vibrant, very eye-catching. I also thought it was really cool to see all this art by different people collected so you can easily compare the different styles. Definitely highly recommended from me. I wish my library had the other Flight collections!

Hey Mark!
You are such an adventurous reader.
I have never read a graphic novel - to date.
If I were to get 1 (only one), which would you say it should it be?
I like pictures - but super heroes and cartoons bore me... unless of course I am watching a movie with grandkids who get a big kick out of them all.
And I rarely read the comics in the newspaper. (Only if they are shoved in my face.)
Like...um...no critical judgements here... but are there any intelligent or thoughtful graphic novels?
I admit. I have never even looked between the covers of these books. Just wondering. Finally.

eta Maybe I should also ask Stephen? What say you, Stephen?

Even though I'm neither Mark nor Stephen, I recommend (with great gusto) Blankets by Craig Thompson. Don't be deterred by its size, it's a beauty of a book and would be an excellent introduction to GN's. Take my opinion for what it's worth, but before this year I don't think I had ever read GN's, and now I've read easily over 2 dozen.

Can't wait to see what you read!

ed to fix spelling - my fingers must be over-caffeinated like the rest of me!

Holy cow! More than 49 posts behind!! You guys make me laugh!!! I say no to snow!!! It can start just before Christmas. And I never want to see Keith Richards naked. I think that would scar me for life!! Is his memoir interesting? I thought he only played the guitar and never had anything to say.

Oh and I got The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo from the library today. will have to hurry and read it. It's a short loan and there 77 holds after me.

I've got The Last Child in my TBR Tower so I'll be keen to read your review of it when you're done, Marky-Mark. I may get to it this year, but if not, then I think definitely in the first quarter of next year.

Claudia: YES! There are intelligent graphic novels out there. It is not just superheroes parading around in spandex saving the day with big SWOOSHING sound effect bubbles and whatnot.

It's very difficult to choose 'just one,' but keep in mind graphic novels usually read very quickly. For non-graphic readers, I highly recommend "Graphic Memoirs," that being memoirs written in the graphic novel format. They are a great place to start if you have never tried a graphic novel before. Here are the ones I have liked:

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Blue Pills by Frederik Peters

I know, that is more than just one...but each of thse could be read in a day. There isn't a huge commitment when you try these books...so I hope you give the format a chance. Graphic novels are snubbed by a lot of readers, and it's a shame! :(

I'm sure Mark has some reommendations of his own. We'll have you addicted in no time! :)

I will certainly second or third Persepolis as a place to start with the graphics format, although it is more graphic memoir than graphic novel.

Yeah, all those I listed are graphic memoirs. I figured it was the graphic format she was looking to try, and those are great places to start. :)

>52 Ape: - And to Stephen's list I would add and highly recommend Stitches and Maus. Both, or rather all three since there is a Maus I and II, are memoirs that worked very well in the graphic format.

Joanne beat me to it! There were actions, thoughts, and feelings so well expressed visually in both the Maus books and in Stitches that I was reminded how--compared to pictures--words are one more step removed from reality.

Ok... this is cool. I'm practicing the new feature I learned in LT (highlighting favorite messages).
I'm saving these suggestions and will write them down before I go to the bookstore.

Thanks so much everyone. Who knew there would be so many to choose from?

Hey everyone! I just got home from work and now I'm off to see Harry Potter. I love the graphic novel talk! I'll be back with my comments!

Hi Mark, I believe I read the graphic memoir Stitches last year and thoroughly enjoyed it but I have never seeked out another title. The old "too many books, little time" excuse.

I won't be joining you at the BOTNS retreat. I still don't have the money together and they closed the registration. I was going to use frequent flier miles for the trip but looks like this will have to be something I do next year.

We enjoyed the Harry Potter! Since they're splitting this into two films, the movie takes it's time and there are some slower parts, but overall I liked it. Sucks to wait until summer, for part 2.

Kath- I only listen to one book at a time and this time, it's the Keith Richards memoir and it's been wonderful. Outstanding work by Johnny Depp! I am reading The Last Child in print and it has also been terrific!

Stephen- Thanks for the rec on Flight. It sounds good, as do the first 2 volumes. I will check with my library tomorrow.

Claudia- Yes, LT has created a "Book Monster"! It's ALIVE! It's always pointing me in different directions and I gladly follow it, a yellow brick road paved with books. Stephen suggested a few graphic titles and I'll send you a few more. It never hurts to try.

Laura- I've had Blankets on my list for awhile now! I need to pick it up. Like you, I've only been reading graphics for about a year, but I am sold on them. Actually, I'm at the point where I like to have one going at all times. I have A Contract With God nearby, but have not cracked it yet.

Tammy- Yes, Keith Richards has much to say and most of it, is well worth hearing! The guy is fascinating! He's the soul of that band! Hope you are enjoying Dragon Tattoo and make sure you track the film down afterward. It's great!

Stephen- Thanks for the excellent recommendations!

Happy Sunday, Mark! I hope you have a wonderful day.

Ditto on the retreat .. I had to wait to gather the money and just when it looked possible.. oh well. I guess it wasn't on my list of meant to be this year.

I checked out a couple of the books Stephen suggested... but my brain is still resistant to the format.. weird eh?

Good Morning Mark. I checked out the tags on Last Child. It really doesn't seem to be my kind of book.

I am reading Time and Again by jack Finney.

Have a good Sunday !

Time and Again ... LOVE that book !

Kath: Give Persepolis or Fun Home a shot. Try to find one of them at a public library so it's free... and you can always put it down if you don't like it. The worst that can happen is you'll spend half an hour reading one and decide it's not for you...and at best you may discover an entire section of the library/bookstore you didn't like before now very appealing! :)

What did I tell you about being so smart? I will have a look at our libraries... but I hold out little hope. They are pretty dismal.

>:P Have I ever directly recommended a book specifically for you, Kath? This is the time! And if you try one of them and realize that graphic novels can be a viable form of literature, think of how heroic and cool I will feel! *Raises arms in air triumphantly and mimics crowd cheering noises with his breath*

Morning everyone! Glad to see we are still hashing it out with the graphics! Yah! I'm with, Joanne & Bonnie, on both Stitches, (which was my first) and Maus. Good places to start.
I was also crazy for The Arrival & Hugo Cabret. A couple stunning works!

Kath & Benita- Sorry to hear you can't make the "Retreat". I was hoping we would have a bigger LT presence. I think only, Caroline and I are booked. Remember, we were going to sweep in, in our dusters and superior attitude?

Cindy- What turned you off by the tags on Last Child? It's a literary mystery, dark and very well-written. I read the Jack Finney book many years ago and remembered it to be very good. Enjoy!

Actually Luis Urrea has a graphic and I have looked at it many times.
I have a fondness for LU .. both his writing Hummingbird's Daughter for instance.. and have been tempted. I will consider making this drastic move with
Persepolis or Fun Home, or Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush. maybe.

104) True Grit by Charles Portis ****1/2

“With its excitement, its aliveness, its comic sympathy and originality, True Grit swoops the reader up and gallops him off into a classic American landscape, freshly and brilliantly perceived.” That is straight from the inside of the original dust-jacket and I had to include it! Funny, I grew up on a steady diet of westerns, but somehow overlooked this gem. I’m also a fan of the ‘69 film version, starring John Wayne, which actually remains quite faithful to the book. It’s a simple tale, narrated by Mattie Ross, a fourteen year old girl, who hires Rooster Cogburn, a drunken, crotchety US Marshall, to find the man who killed her father. She’s a wonderful character. Smart, bold and determined. These two tough personalities, clash at the start, but soon a strong relationship begins to develop, as they pursue some very bad men. A spanking good read!
Note: the Coen brothers have remade the film, being released at Christmas, with Jeff Bridges, (one of my favorite actors) playing Rooster! Sounds great!

#72: Yep, I definitely need to read that one. I enjoyed the old film version especially since I grew up a Katherine Hepburn fan.

Thanks again to all for the "graphic" suggestions.
I ask for ONE and get way more. I kinda knew this would happen.

It's encouraging that although I originally pestered you, Mark (plus Stephen), many others have chimed in. That tells me I am missing something big.
Got my list now for a trip to Borders!

Didn't know HP film was split into 2. That stinks. I'll wait till they are both in video. I'm very patient. Glad you liked it though.

Kath- I'm a Urrea fan too! I have his Devil's Highway sitting on a shelf. I need to get to it. Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out.

Stasia- Katherine Hepburn was in "Rooster Cogburn", the follow-up to True Grit, although it was a complete Hollywood concoction, sort of a loose remake of "The African Queen".

Claudia- Do you have a reliable library? Maybe, you should check a couple of the graphics out there, first. Just saying.
Yes, they split the last Potter film in two, I'm sure mainly for money, but it is a big book, so they can take their time. BTW- Please pester away! That's what I'm here for!

Good idea (I noted that when Stephen mentioned it) ... but our library is not so great... I don't mind buying ONE book to get an idea.
If I don't like it (which it seems I just might from all this flurry) I can just give it away. :)

I'm glad you liked True Grit!!! I read the book dog years ago and still remember Mattie's "voice"...plus, it's the only John Wayne film I can stand to see more than once...and wasn't that Pam Dawber who played Mattie? (I could be wrong and will do some fact checking, but I seem to recall........) Sorry, the memory failed me!! I was Kim Darby (kinda close, but no cigar)

Nothing to add to the Graphic Novel chat.....Persepolis is a treasure! Fun Home is on The List....and I have too many others that I love to push on people...i mean, suggest....oh well!

Happy sunday, all!
;-}

edited for Memory Lapse.....

Interesting... I didn't know that True Grit was anything other than a movie which I really enjoyed watching with my dad way back when.

Claudia- I like your fearless attitude! It fits right in with the spirit of the 75er! Whatever you pick, I hope you enjoy it.

Jude- Actually, Kim Darby also starred in Norwood, along with Glen Campbell, which was based on a book by the same author. Interesting! I'm not sure if I ever saw that one. Believe it or not, I have still not read Persepolis, although it's been on the list. I did see the animated film version though and it was excellent.

Caro- It's a good book! BTW- Did you get your message from BOTNS? They are booked. It looks like just you and me, pal! I was hoping for a bigger posse.

Bonnie (Brenzi) and I, are planning on reading Jane Eyre together, sometime in the beginning of December, since neither one of us has read it. Shameful, I agree. Anyone else, like to join us, come on down. I'm not sure if we'll set up a separate thread or not!

#79 I've never read Jane Eyre either. If I'm done with my 1010 challenge by then (two books to go!!), maybe I will join you.

Hey Mark! Happy Sunday. Enjoying the talk here.

Linda- Would love to have you with, on our informal Jane Eyre read-along.

Berly- Great to see you! Hope you are having a good Sunday too! Remember, chuck them blues!

I made a quick stop by the liberry. I picked up a couple more graphics, including Flight 3, a rec by Stephen and the 2nd volume in The Last Man series. I also planned to snag Blankets but it was checked out. The stinking nerve of some people. I placed a hold on it.
I also grabbed a withdrawn copy of Ordinary Thunderstorms for 50 cents. I know some of my pals here loved it. Lastly, I picked up an audio of The Princess Bride, which I thought would be a lot of fun. I check out the cover and it's abridged. Noooooooooooooooooooo! It's going back! The stinking nerve...

#79 : Yes, Marky-Mark .. I did receive my notice from BOTNS. I'm glad you're still doing it. I would be really mad with you if you had decided to pull out of the retreat, leaving me to hug the walls on my own. I'm going to try and drag the hubster along as well (I registered him anyway .. unbeknownst to him..ssshh) even though he's not a member of LT, but he loves books and talking to authors, so we will be the 3 musketeers.

Mark, the tags mentioned abuse and abduction. You know maybe I can check it out at the library. If I don't like it. Don't even have to bring it home.

I do have Hugo Cabret picked up when it first came out because I liked the cover. Brought home Stitches today. Arrival also looks interesting. Some books are nicer to keep then just checking them out at the Library.

Cool, I look forward to hearing what you think about Flight 3, Mark. :)

Caro- I would not bail on you! Come on! Hey, we'll be the Three Amigos! We have plenty of time to talk details!

Cindy- I'm nearing the half-way point of The Last Child and yes it does deal with child abduction, but nothing explicit. It is amazing so far, but very dark.
Did you read Hugo Cabret? If not, please do! It's one of my favorites! Hope you enjoy Stitches. It's also a dark, somewhat disturbing story.

Stephen- Thanks for the rec! They also have volumes 1 & 2. I'll start it, as soon as I'm done with my current Eisner!

#72 Mark, we just got back from seeing "Secretariat" and they had a preview for "True Grit". I love Jeff Bridges too and Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are also starring in it. I didn't recognize the young girl. I might just have to see it because of Jeff Bridges.

ETA: Nice review of True Grit!

Wow, True Grit sure brings back lots of memories. My mom was a huge John Wayne fan and never missed one of his movies and I just went along for the ride. Great job on the review Mark:)

Pat- How was "Secretariat"? I haven't seen a trailer for "True grit" yet! That is a heck of a cast and with the Coens directing. Better be good!

Bonnie- Thanks! I grew up loving John Wayne movies too! I actually prefer his earlier films, from the 50s and early 60s.

I really liked "Secretariat". It's a Disney film and has the feel of an old-fashioned feel-good movie. If you haven't seen it, I'd definitely recommend catching it on the big screen. The horse racing scenes are pretty exciting. The only "bad" thing was it takes place in the early 70s and looked so dated to me--I was in my late teens then and couldn't believe how ancient everything looked! It stars Dianne Lane and John Malkovich and the people in the theater today clapped when it was over. Hope you get a chance to see it.

Think I will have to pass on the reading of Jane Eyre even though I love the book, but I appreciate the open invite, Mark.

You are right - I had True Grit and Rooster Cogburn confused. Thanks for straightening me out! (a full-time job, I must say)

Coming over to say that I hope you have a wonderful Monday too!

Stasia- We straighten each other out here! That's what we do! Very mild here today. Mid-60s. For late November that's amazing.

I knocked out a solid chunk of A Contract With God yesterday and it's very good. Also continuing and loving The Last Child & the Keith Richards book. I like it when everything clicks!

Strange weather indeed! Yesterday it started warming up late in the afternoon. Not good for the hunters, but I'll take 48 degrees, warm breeze and drizzle over 30 degrees and snow any day.

Don't remember if I saw True Grit, probably did, but I do remember Rooster Cogburn. I love visiting my uncles, because they have all the old black and white westerns on dvd. We watch them while we visit and eat lunch. They even have some of the shorter serial type movies that are from the 40's. They're not really westerns, mostly schtick, but they're fun to watch. Even my teenager watches them.

Mark, I picked up a copy of Jane Eyre for my Kindle. 89 cents!!

Who knew it was so long? This is a book I've long wanted to read--seems like everyone in the world has read it but me.

Who would've ever imagined walking around Chicago during Thanksgiving week in shirtsleeves? Unbelievable weather!! This morning, we had some thunder.

I don't know how you all slipped 95 messages past me before I found you! It must be all this interesting conversation...and maybe that 'leaf-man' gif Kath posted...

#95 Unbelievable. Chicago in shirtsleeves, and Seattle... Well, we are having major snowfall. Two inches so far, 5 predicted. My daughter's school closed early. It's 28 degrees and falling. I'm sure we're breaking all sorts of records. Flakes the size of half dollars falling. Pretty, but... It's Seattle!

Add Tuscaloosa Al to the warm weather phenomena. It is almost 80 here today. Very humid and too warm. Not good.

I am still slogging through Mists of Avalon and am thinking that this book is very dated. (just like the people in Secretariat?) But I just talked with another of my book club members and she is loving this book. She is intrigued by the fresh look at religion and the place of women in a patriarchy while I don't find anything new in it. I still have almost 350 pages to read so am not making any judgments. The biography of Ataturk: A Biography of Mustafa Kemal is going well. I watched an episode of Rick Steeves and it was about Turkey. Ataturk was in that segment. Glad I am reading this book to learn a little more about him.

96.. you mean young Mark?

It is about 65 F here right now.. seriously. Doors and windows open.

98.. Dated???

I do love that book... it does take place in around.. maybe... the fifth century.. so I guess I am misunderstanding what you are saying. Sorry that you are finding it a slog.. to me it is a gift :)

I spoke too soon about the nice Chicagoland weather. Now there are tornadoes in the area though possibly dissapating and "just" thunderstorms, to be followed by 24 degree weather, before too long.

I hope I can get into my car without frozen doors.

labfs39, my current book is about the great Washington state avalanche of Feb. 1910. The White Cascade talks about the avalanche and the train that was hit by it. I never knew that Washington state got that much snow.

#98 : Ooh, let me know how Ataturk turns out on the whole for you ... I've been interested in Ataturk for a while, but haven't found a good biography of the man yet.

Tammy- Maybe strange weather, but I'll take it! Shirtsleeves all day. My timing was great today: it rained hard before I left to do my route and then it rained again on my way home. Perfect. Thanks for sharing your memories about watching old westerns. I love watching them too!

Linda- I'm glad you snagged a copy of Jane Eyre. I hope you can join our mini-Group Read of it. I have no excuse. I've had a nice softcover of it, sitting on my shelf, for at least 5 years, probably more. That's about to change real soon!
Yes, it got very dark and rainy on my way home, but at that point, it can do what ever it wants!

Angela- Great to see you! Glad you liked "leaf-man" or Young Mark, as some call him!

Lisa- Wow! That is freaky! Hope you guys will survive this crazy snowstorm.

Depending on when you read it, I'll read Jane Eyre with you all, Mark. I haven't read it since high school.

Hi Mark, Picked up Persepolis today. Had a heck of a time finding it. Wasn't under graphic novels - but under biographies. Whatever.
Will let you know what I think, of course! Just try and stop me! lol
Hope you had a good day.
"Shirtsleeves" is an upgrade from "fig leaf"!

I've been meaning to reread Jane Eyre as well. Count me in. :o)

Definitely sweater day for me today....nothing warm about it at all. Huh...but we're promised warmer weather over the holidays, so that's something to look forward to. Enjoy your shirtsleeves weather a while longer Marky-Mark.

Hi Mark, When are you starting the Jane Eyre read? Would love to reread it.
Picked up another graphic novel from the library.
The Exile by Diana Gabaldon

Oh, I'd like to re-read Jane Eyre too! But I probably shouldn't commit, there are far too many books out there I'm "meant" to be reading as well... Plus, I don't actually own a copy, although they're dead easy to source. (And cheap! Love the price of classics!)

Spring is springing in Sydney. Mr Bear's eighth birthday party was on the weekend - every other birthday party day he's had it's been raining. Apart from last year, when we gave up on it all and booked an indoor play centre and then it was a stinking hot day! (Yay for being inside with the aircon!) This year we thought our poor weather luck couldn't continue and planned a party at the local park, and we were lucky - warm, sunny, breezy, perfect for a picnic in the park! The boys (and one girl) had a lot of fun running around, and we did the pinata once they started to flag. Best. Birthday. Ever. (Helped by a ridiculous pile of Lego, and a PS3 being unveiled, although that's a present for the WHOLE HOUSE, not just him!)

#101 The White Cascade sounds interesting. You are right in wondering about snow in WA. Basically, the state is divided by the Cascade Mountains from north to south about 1/3 of the way from the coast. So the western 1/3 of the state is fairly mild because of the ocean (last year Seattle didn't get any snow). The Cascades and the eastern 2/3 of the state get slammed with snow (and Eastern WA gets really hot in the summer). Mt. Baker in the North Cascades of WA holds the record for deepest snow in 1998-1999 with 1140 inches. Yup, 95 feet. (We are headed to a cabin at the foot of Mt. Baker for Thanksgiving.) Anyway, snow is not unusally for WA in general, Spokane in Eastern WA is currently having a blizzard, but for Seattle, this snowstorm is record-breaking.

Benita- You are confirming a bad feeling I had about Mists of Avalon and that's the reason I placed it on a backburner. I know a lot of people loved it, including Kath, but it seems an equal number disliked it. A very good friend of mine, who I exchange books with regularly, couldn't even finish it.

Linda- It still feels mild out there but it's going to change. Mid-20s over night and barely 40 tomorrow. Hey, it's November.

Bonnie, Jenny, Linda, Cindy & maybe Wookie- Glad so many are thinking of joining us on the Jane Eyre Read. I plan on keeping this a bit more informal but I probably should start a separate thread. Right? Maybe just after the 1st of the month.

Benita- You are confirming a bad feeling I had about Mists of Avalon and that's the reason I placed it on a backburner. I know a lot of people loved it, including Kath, but it seems an equal number disliked it. A very good friend of mine, who I exchange books with regularly, couldn't even finish it.

Linda- It still feels mild out there but it's going to change. Mid-20s over night and barely 40 tomorrow. Hey, it's November.

Bonnie, Jenny, Linda, Cindy & maybe Wookie- Glad so many are thinking of joining us on the Jane Eyre Read. I plan on keeping this a bit more informal but I probably should start a separate thread. Right? Maybe just after the 1st of the month.

Caro- Keep warm, my friend. BTW- I finished A Contract With God and it was very good. These are interesting and insightful stories.

Cindy- Let me know about The Exile. I've heard good things, although I have not read any of her Outlander books.

Wookie- Mr. Bear sounded like he had a wonderful birthday!

Whoohoo....another to the Eisner fan club! Welcome, Marky-Mark.

Count me in as a non-fan of The Mists of Avalon. I'm glad it's got its fans, but I'm just not one of them. (And I was so happy when I started it! I've always loved the Arthurian legends, and the idea of reading them from the women's perspective sounded fascinating! But the actuality left me very cold.)

Mark, when you post a link to the discussion thread for Jane Eyre when it's started, I'll definitely star it!

And now that Mr Bear's birthday is over, I can start thinking about that seasonal event some people don't like being mentioned. :) (We've had fake snow all over the shopping centres for some weeks now. And I spotted mince pies yesterday. And all the summer reading catalogues are piling up at home...)

I read Jane Eyre in high school. I remember liking it, but the best thing about it was that I won a $5 bet with my dad because of it. $5 was a big deal to me in 1970. I said her name was pronounced "air" and he said it was pronounced "ire". The introduction in the book I got from the library said it was pronounced "air" so he paid off.

It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving. The end of November should be cold, not in the low to mid 70s. We've been going back and forth between cold and warm - what a friend calls pneumonia weather.

At least it will be warmer Friday night for the 3rd round of high school football playoffs - daughter is in marching band and they're required to attend home games. The team did so well during regular season that this will be the 3rd playoff home game. Some of the band kids are wishing the team would lose...

Mists of Avalon didn't work for me at all. I found it pretty offensive. I like her works in general (I own most of the Darkover books and have a few other sfs too).

Jane Eyre... it's been a long long time since I read that book.

*Drive by wave* for Mark!

Caro- Looking forward to more of Eisner's work! Thanks for the rec! My next graphic will be Flight:3, a rec by Stephen.

Wookie- I'll start a thread to the Jane Eyre G.R. and link it from here. I'll probably do it very soon.

Karen- Thanks for sharing the "Air" story. Did you buy a book with that 5 bucks!

Susan- Nice to see you! Since you are a big fan of fantasy, I was toying with having a "Fantasy February", here on the 75. Might give some folks a chance to give it a try, or like me, a reason to get caught up on a couple of titles.

Morning Stasia- Touch of winter today! High 37. That's a 30 degree difference from yesterday. Bye shirtsleeves! It was nice knowin' ya!

Agree with you Karen, about the weather. But it is supposed to cool down today.
I hate it when it is warm on Thanksgiving and the oven is on all day :P

#118: The weather will be doing the same thing here Thanksgiving day, so I am commiserating ahead of time with you, Mark!

Jane Eyre was a favorite when I was younger. I did a paper on it in college -- a feminist analysis. Professor (stereotypical middle aged white male) did not get my point at all. (No insult intended to middle-aged white men who are attuned to such things.)

It got up to 68 yesterday in our town in the western PA mountains. Unreal! After work, I did yard work until it got too dark to see.

By dated, I meant that Mists of Avalon was a sensation when it was published in the 1982 but for me they are no longer a sensation and somewhat old hat. Sort of like the clothes in Secretariat movie. :-) However, my opinion is obviously not shared by everyone because of the reaction of my fellow book club reader. She is really liking the book. It is a retelling of the King Arthur stories from the female perspective. That adds a twist to the stories that while fresh in 1982 aren't so fresh today. In my mind I am comparing this book to Red Tent and finding lots of parallels. The essence of Mists is the struggle between the old feminist based religion of the Earth Mother Goddess with the new male based Christian religion and the cultural and social conflicts that are unleashed due to this clash. On that basis Mists is a good book, and worthy of discussion. In fact, the woman who wanted our book group to read and discuss the book was particularly taken with that aspect of the book, and can't wait to discuss theology on that basis with our group. (Our group is all female.) I think my age is showing as I can't get quite as excited as she about the content of this book. I also wasn't that bowled over by Red Tent when it came out either. Perhaps because thinking about things from a feminist perspective isn't unusual for me. Lots of my friends are people in the academic world who talk and think like this all the time. Aside from my age perhaps I am just a little jaded regarding women and religion?

I don't think that Mists is a bad book, just a little boring for me. Obviously other readers have had a different experience with it. I still have 300 pages to read in this massive tome.

As for theology in fictionalized form, I think that The Sparrow was much more interesting to me.

#102 Cameling

The Ataturk: A Biography of Mustafa Kemal was published in 1969 and so is almost 50 years old. It is quite laudatory in tone about Ataturk. However, there is so little written about this fascinating man that it remains one of the definitive works on modern Turkey. There was a more recent biography done on Ataturk - I think just after 2001 that is also well regarded. I read Lords of the Horizon several years ago and since Turkey plays such an important role in Germany and is trying to enter the EU I wanted to learn more about this country. So far I am learning lots about this man who labored long to make Turkey a modern state. I am also learning about the history of Turkey as well. I am just about to the part where the war between Greece and Turkey breaks out in 1920 and can't wait to read about the siege of Smyrna which figure large in the novel Middlesex. In that book I learned about this battle from the Greek point of view and now will see a little of it from the Turkish point of view.

I will note that there is a bit of nationalism at play in this book. It was written by an English historian and diplomat. Ataturk was the Turkish general who defeated the British at the battle of Gallipoli in WWI. That battle, so very important, to the rise of Ataturk, was given, in my opinion, short shrift in the book since it was hardly an example of the British army at its best. But over all I am learning a great deal and surprised by the relevance of the information to what is happening in today's world.

I loathed Red Tent. To me Mists .. not so much theology as spirituality and a cosmic truth :) Sparrow .. yes, theology.

Hey everyone! Definitely, a touch of winter in the air today! Could have wore the long-johns. Sun was shining but with a chilly wind.

Terri- Think about joining us for Jane Eyre?

Benita- I have not read Red Tent. It does sound interesting, although obviously not a book for everyone. The Ataturk bio, also sounds good. Thanks for the info. BTW- huge fan of Middlesex.

Kath- Big waves!!

I received a couple Book mooches yesterday. Anyone read the YA, The Chocolate War? I heard about this one on a podcast, awhile back and it sounded good.
Also, landed Waiting For Snow in Havana, a memoir suggested by Brenzi. It looks very promising.

Congrats on the Bookmooch books today, Mark. Sorry to say I have not read either one, but I look forward to seeing what you think of them!

I need to check out this bookmooch. I have never done this, nor do I know anything about it.

Thx for the double post Mark --

Hey Marky-Mark ... have you heard of Chris Oliveros? He presents short graphic stories from young cartoonists in the Drawn and Quarterly Showcase books. The first 2 books are just ok, but the 3rd and 4th books are I think, very good. You don't need to read them in order since each presents different cartoonists.

Stasia- Big wave! I thought you might have heard of the YA!

Linda- Give Bookmooch a try! I've mooched over a 140 books in just over 2 years.

Caro- Thanks! No I have not heard of Oliveros but I have taken note. I'm crazy for my graphics.

Mark, I'd be interested in hearing if you organize Fantasy February as well.

Fantasy February! OOO! I want Colin Farrell and Gerard Butler to fight over my hand in marriage!

What's that? Oh, THAT kind of fantasy. Boooooorrrrrrinnnnng.

#132> Brilliant! :)

Roni- That's great! I'll post more info later. I plan on keeping it wide open, so you can make your own selections. I think HBO's Game of Thrones opens in February. Perfect.

Richard- LOL! I'll text Colin & Gerald and see if they have plans for Feb. BTW- Good to see you sir!

Another chilly day! Off tomorrow, though. Yah! Nearly finished with the Richards bio and The Last Child. Next up on audio, is Little Heathens. This one's been on the List for awhile. Looking forward to it.

>118 msf59:: For me, a Fantasy February would be a February where I could just read instead of work, kids' activities, etc.

I don't know what to think about the HBO series. It's so hit or miss when they make a major sf or fantasy book into a movie. All I can think of are the the two gag-inducing versions of Dune, the ludicrous Starship Troopers, or the sleep-inducing "Legend of Earthsea" based on LeGuin's books.

On the other hand, Sean Bean is so perfect for my mental image of Ned Stark that perhaps these producers have the "right" mindset. ;-)

Btw, just finished Expiration Date on your recommendation. I enjoyed it.

Drive-by Wave!

It's rather chilly here today, too...tried to clean out my rain gutters..and all the smudge therein was frozen! Lawdy, will have some overflow with tomorrow's (expected) rain...

Mists of Avalon I own...but every time I start to read it..the damned thing goes AWOL....under the couch...under the bed.....under the weather. The movie was not so good....but I like the Idea behind this story...and Arthurian Romance has so many possibilities.

Keep reading those Graphic Novels!!! Yessir!

;-}

Broke a record in Seattle this morning: 14 degrees. Our three poor chickens are fluffed up for all they are worth, and their water keeps freezing. Everytime we let them out of their coop, they try to come in the house--even attempting the doggie door!

*Shiver* Poor chickens! I don't blame them for trying the dog door. I think I would be, too.

14 degrees here in Idaho as well this morning. Not a record but certainly a big change from the 40s. I feel sorry for the chickens!

Have a great Thanksgiving, Mark! I'll be enjoying this cold rainy weather along with you. For us, the good news is we get our favorite (and only) son back from college for a few days, and our daughter, an LTer who lives in town, is going to stay with us, too.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the other USA folks on Mark's thread!

#132 richardderus

I laughed out loud when I read that post. Really good! Sort of the same kind of fantasy I fancy myself.

What's this? Sean Bean in a TV series? Where? When? How do I get it? Forget Gerard and Colin Farrell. I want Richard Sharpe! Augh - Sean Bean. That guy is such a hunk.

OK, I'll calm down and behave myself. Chocolate War? I can't believe you haven't read it. It is one of my all time favorite books. I refer people to it over and over. And I refer to it myself. Just remember "Don't disturb the universe."

The Chocolate War is a classic. It is a YA novel that was written back in the 1970's and is a very powerful work that has not lost any of its punch in forty years. The author Robert Cormier died recently but he won many awards for his body of work. The Chocolate War is also a very controversial novel. (As are several other by the same author. I am the Cheese and After the First Death.) It was back when it was published and still is. It isn't a pretty story and has a very pointed message, but it is so powerful. I love this book and have to be careful who to give it to as it rubs some people, parents especially, the wrong way. I know you will enjoy it.

Once you read Chocolate War you will have to read Beyond the Chocolate War. Oh my, the list grows longer.

Just stopping by to say Happy Thanksgiving, Mark!

Tad- It looks like everyone is trying to interject their own fantasies into "Fantasy February". That's okay with me. As long as we have a good time!
I'm pumped about HBO's A Game of Thrones. I have faith in HBO. They have an incredible track record and advance word, is they are getting it right!
I take you are a big fan of the series? Glad you liked Expiration Date. Have you tried his other books?

Jude- It got kind of nasty here, today! I'm glad I had my son do my gutters a few days ago. Yah! And yes, I'll be reading graphics, until they pry them out of my cold, dead... You get the idea!

Lisa- Chickens in the doggie door! Sounds like a song! Maybe some blues!

Pat- Ooh, I'm not looking forward to those teen temps! Stay away!

Joe- Happy Thanksgiving to you too! Enjoy your kids! My daughter won't be coming in from Oregon, (sad face) but we are bringing her in for Christmas. Yah! Have you been enjoying The Walking Dead? We have. It's been a lot of fun.

Benita- I didn't realize The Chocolate War was from the 70s, but I had heard how controversial it was. Glad you liked it so much! Since it's so short, I'll try squeezing it in somewhere.

Terri- Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

I finished Life: Keith Richards. Another great memoir and this one by one of my musical heroes. The audio was outstanding, mostly by Johnny Depp, one of my cinematic heroes.

Yes, The Walking Dead has been great. They've successfully carried over the gripping storytelling and moral dilemmas from Robert Kirkman's books.

Johnny Depp reading Keith Richard's bio - perfect.

Mark
Thumbs up from me on your excellent comments re. True Grit.

Joe- A couple friends recommended another zombie TV show. It's British and it's called "Dead Set". It's based around a "Big Brother" reality show. People are stuck on the set, while a major zombie outbreak is happening outside. And no these are not the lumbering dead but the lightening fast ones, ala "Twenty-Eight Days Later". It's a cool program and it's currently running on IFC. Check it out!

Linda- Good to see you! True Grit was a lot of fun. I'm getting the original from Netflix, for a re-watch.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU! I appreciate the wonderful person you are and the kindness you show to all who visit here.

Hey, Mark! Because of the snow here, I'll be traveling tomorrow morning, so I'll wish you a Happy Turkey Day in advance. What is Keith Richards like. I always thought he was a bit of a joke--no?

Popping in to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, Marky-Mark. Hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving from me too. Stay warm!

Happy (brrr) Thanksgiving, Mark!

Happy Thanksgiving, Mark!!

>146 msf59:: Yes, I'm a fan. Ironically, however, I've stopped reading them for the moment. Actually, I stopped when we sat from 2000 to 2005 with no advances in the series. I was just forgetting too much during that huge break and figured I'd catch up once he got A Feast for Crows out.

Then I read an interview with him castigating readers for expecting him to concentrate on the series and produce regular books. That seemed to be a pretty clear message about the rate of future books, so I went into indefinite "hold" mode. I'm glad I did since it's now been another four years with A Dance with Dragons nowhere in sight...and there are two following that one to complete the story. That could be another decade and he's 62 years old...

My plan is to wait until the entire series is done and then start over and read the whole thing in one shot.

I'm doing the same thing with Patrick Rothfuss' books since he admits to having major problems with the second book after putting out The Name of the Wind in 2007. Amazon still shows The Wise Man's Fear as March, 2011 but, since it's projected to be a trilogy, I'll again wait until all the books are published before going back and re-starting the series.

Ditto Jordan's "Wheel of Time" stuff...though, in that case, it was simply that Jordan couldn't tell us how long the story would be and, with the story only half done by Book #8, and at one every year and a half, it was looking like looonnnggg.

And, of course, Jordan died while writing it. Sanderson seems quicker at finishing it and has a definite plan for how many books remain. If he gets the last book, A Memory of Light, out next year (I believe that's the plan), I'll re-start it and probably finish the series almost exactly 20 years after starting the first book the first time...on the plane ride of my honeymoon.

Edit: typos

Cannot catch up.. just trying to send out a few Happy Thanksgiving wishes....

Happy Thanksgiving Mark!!

Thanks everyone for the Thanksgiving wishes! You guys are the best. Being part of this group is something I am very thankful for! You not only make my day, you make my year!

Tad- It looks like you have a plan, sir! Actually I don't read a lot of fantasy. I pick and choose and some of it has been great. I have read all 4 of the Martin books and I was thinking of listening to them on audio, at some point.
Funny, I've heard so many good things about The Name of the Wind, earlier today on a podcast, as a matter of fact. I need to track a copy down.

Delivering a "Happy Thanksgiving" to a special LTer friend!

Hope you have a great day! :)


glitter-graphics.com

146 and 157 - I read the first 2 I think then caught on that it was a very long series and not ended yet and I stopped. I did really enjoy what I read so I look forward to getting back to it. With fantasy and sci fi series, I've learned to wait until they are all done so I can enjoy without waiting for years (and it looked like Jordan was taking years). I like Sanderson's work and it sounds like he's doing a good job with finishing the series.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of us that celebrate that holiday tomorrow.

Hi Mark, Happy Thanksgiving pal.

I am echoing everyone else's wishes for you to have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Mark!

Claudia- I love the turkey! Thanks!

Laura- It's great to hear you are a Song of Fire and Ice fan! It's an amazing series and I hope HBO does it justice. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Bonnie & Stasia- Waves and happy wishes!

We have it easy today. We are going to a family member's home, which is conveniently nearby. Eat, drink and come home when we are ready.
The wife wants to drag the Christmas stuff out, though! Ugh. Might have to get some reading in early.

Sounds as if you better get the reading in while you can today, Mark!

105) Life: Keith Richards by Keith Richards ****1/2

“Since my baby left me…” A young Keith Richards heard these opening words from “Heartbreak Hotel” and he was transformed. His musical universe was turned upside down and along with Mick Jagger, a school mate, this pair suddenly found themselves on a trajectory to rock in roll history. Richards, now closing in on 70 is still rocking. That’s amusing, since he held the top slot on the Celebrity Death List, since the early seventies. A true survivor. He tells his story here, in his usual gruff, no nonsense style, carrying the reader through many decades of triumphs and calamities. It might be difficult to recommend this to a non-Rolling Stones fans but if you are or if you love rock n’ roll, this is required reading. I feel, along with Bob Dylan’s Chronicles, this is destined to be another modern classic.
Note: I listened to this one on audio and it was read by Johnny Depp, which was an unbelievable pleasure. It felt like Richards strolling beside me, telling his tale. A wonderful experience.

#167: Glad you found an audiobook you really liked, Mark! I would imagine Johnny Depp as a narrator is terrific.

Happy Thanksgiving Mark!

Hope you had a Great Thanksgiving.

Great review of the Keith Richards book.

Tam- Hope you had a nice holiday too! I'll post the Jane Eyre threads, in the next couple of days. Glad you are interested.

Cindy- Hope your Thanksgiving went well too!

Linda- Thanks! It was a terrific read!

We had a good time! Ate, drank, ate and played games. I'm bushed.

Okay, Mr. Marky-Mark -

Your threads are just so great and I missed being able to stop by, read and post. I will go back to thread #13 and read that one, too.

Sending warmth and caring thoughts your way. Glad that you had a nice Thanksgiving.

I am looking forward to several of the books that you have mentioned in your recent posts. Several. When, oh when, can I give myself the gift of reading time? Gotta keep working on that one!

Happy Days.

Ruthie- It's great to see you too! Hope you had a nice birthday and an equally nice Thanksgiving. Congrats on the iPAd. Very cool!

I'm starting The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. I know a couple fellow LTers loved this one. My library is doing a Book Discussion on this book, at the end of next week. I'll also be starting the audio of Little Heathens, which also looks to be promising.
I need to bundle up today. It's about 20 out there right now. Might hit Borders on the way home and see if they have any Black Friday book specials.

Stay warm. my friend! brrrrr

darn. any mention of iPad makes me drool on my keyboard.

#174: I hope you enjoy The Imperfectionists, Mark. I really liked it.

Stay warm today!

Hey Mark,
Hope you find a good deal in Borders today!
Thanks for being out there delivering all that fun mail! (Fun for the receiver, that is.) Even those stupid catalogs give hours of joy to some. :)

Check yesterday's newspaper for the Borders circular--good coupons! You may be able to find them online if you don't get the paper.

A Great Big Thumb for your review of the 'Keef"...damn skippy, i skimming through the book, I couldn't keep a big sloppy grin off of my face....and the photo on the back jacket ain't bad either...

It's cold here...rained last night....I don't envy you walking your mail route today...but will send warm thoughts. I'd send brandy, but...you know...drinking on the job....

.........oh, i just remembered..if you would like to read another biography about someone who knew the Stones rather intimately...read Faithfull...by Marianne. Very well written..not a cheesy scandal fest....I'll shelve her and Keith together and let the best man win!

;-}

Stasia- I didn't read much of The Imperfectionists today, due to a lack of time but what I did read was very good. I did knock out a healthy chunk of Little Heathens and it's quite a joy. Interesting enough, she describes a complete preparation of a Thanksgiving dinner, in rural Iowa, in the early 1930s. Fun, mouth-watering descriptions.

Claudia- Did you say fun mail? To be honest , I haven't seen any of that lately. LOL.

Roni- I did that this morning. Grabbing a 40% off coupon, which of course I used. Like duh!

Jude- Loved the "Keef"! Are there photos in the book as well? If so, I may have to find a copy to page through. I've taken note with the Faithful bio. I've always found her interesting. Did someone coin her "an angel with big..."?
Yes, very chilly today, with a wicked wind.

Hope you stayed warm out there today, Mark. It's cold out. Just walking from the movie theater out to the car was cold (we saw Burlesque, which was pretty entertaining).

I saw the 50% off Borders coupon in the Sun-Times I think it was, today. I need to run out there on Sunday.

Mark, The Imperfectionists will make my Top 10 this year; absolutely loved that book.

Mark,
Are you saying you're the guy that delivers all those nasty bills? No letters? No cards? No magazines? No catalogs? No netflix? Bah humbug!

Linda- My wife is planning on seeing "Burlesque", maybe tomorrow. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the 50% is a nice one!

Bonnie- Actually I glanced at your review of The Imperfectionists. I'll go back and read it all the way through, once I'm finished. Glad you loved it. Do you have your copy of Jane Eyre ready to go?

Claudia- Yes, you are right, there are good things in the mail, especially books, but it is better to receive, than have to deliver.

it is better to receive, than have to deliver

LOL!

From Borders:
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts- A friend of mine, an avid reader, loves this book. I can't recall this book being mentioned on LT.
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. What can I say? I was a huge fan of World War Z.
From the library:
The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger- This is a graphic that's been getting some nice buzz. Jude first mentioned it to me.
American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson- Of course, several of you really enjoyed this one. I'll try it on audio.
Cod by Mark Kurlansky- This one is also on audio and I've been hearing nothing but praise over this guy's work.

Mark, I have looked all over for The Night Bookmobile. Library doesn't have it, Border's and B&N it has to be ordered. I was surprised that the bookstores didn't have it. Will have to keep checking the library.
The Exile is pretty good. I would recommend reading Outlander first. Exile is written in the perspective of Jamie the male main character. Outlander in Claire's. Outlander you will get more background information.

Hi, Mark. I bought Shantaram after a RL friend recommended it this summer. First time I had ever heard of it. Let me know when you plan to read it. Maybe we can do a mini-Group Read.

Also, I thought I'd pass along this link to a NY Times article on the best graphic novels of 2010. They mentioned The Night Bookmobile in it. I'll have to look for that one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/26/books/26graphicbooks.html?_r=1&ref=books

I wasn't as taken by The Imperfectionists as some have been. Just okay for me. But I'm a big fan of Jane Eyre. As wild as some of the plot is, the book is so well-written.

I had not heard of The Night Bookmobile before. I will have to find a copy. Thanks for the mention, Mark.

Nice haul you got today!

I hadn't heard of The Night Bookmobile before, but it looks good. Adding that to the wishlist. Thanks, Mark.

Cindy- It took me a few weeks to get The Night Bookmobile through my library system. Thanks for The Exile info. I have a copy of Outlander. I'll have to try to get to it one of these days.

Pat- I would love to read Shantaram with you. Now, finding the time to do it. It's another major chunkster too! Over 700 pages. Maybe sometime in the early Spring?
Thanks so much for the link to the "Best graphics". I'm always up for finding new titles.

Joe- I'm only 40 pages in, but I'm liking The Imperfectionists. Stop by our Group Read of Jane Eyre, starting later next week and leave a comment.
See if you can find a library copy of The Night Bookmobile. It's actually set on the Northside of Chicago. Lastly, have you read the graphic Local? I saw a beautiful copy of it at Borders, so I put a request in at my library.

Stasia & Caty- I've already buzzed through half of The Night Bookmobile. It's only 30 something pages. Brief but magical.

#193: Brief but magical.

I like that description!

I like it too :) Working today mark?

I'll look for The Night Bookmobile, Mark. I LOVED Local! It's a Top Ten for me. Can't wait to hear what you think. Your book group should enjoy discussing Jane Eyre, and I'll drop in.

>185 msf59: ROFL - "better to receive than deliver" Too funny!
I'm sure I would agree with you after hitting the pavement for a few days. But, don't you ever think about the blissful happiness you deliver?
and the ever watchful, hopeful people who anticipate your arrival?
Oh, nevermind. I'm just a mail nut!

Looks like you got some great stuff at Borders and library!

I finished my first graphic... Persepolis. Unfortunately, I only got book 1 and now need to go after book 2. It was very good - though I need more practice in appreciating the art work (new experience). I did enjoy it a lot.

Claudia: I know what you mean about needing practice appreciating artwork...my first couple graphic novels I blazed right through them and I think I barely paid attention to the art.

After I read a few I found myself stopping a lot more to examine what the artist drew a lot more though.

It probably depends on the type of graphic novel you read too. Persepolis had a very simplistic style...when I read things by more talented artist I definitely find myself appreciating the artwork a lot more! :)

YO! don't slag Persepolis..

...and don't ask me about Graphic Novels..my taste is seriously ALTERNATIVE..

......oops. where's Mark??? AWOL?

Hope it's only temporary.....

;-}

#193 Mark, the Spring sounds good for Shantaram. I'm always intimidated by long books; somehow I can never imagine finishing them. But reading them with someone else makes all the difference.

My library actually has The Night Bookmobile and there's only one person ahead of me in the hold line!

Mark, Terri (teelgee) recently read Shantaram; can't remember if she liked it. And yep, I've got my copy of Jane Eyre and will start in on it when I finish The Betrayal. Now don't forget, I'm not very good at Group Reads. I generally just can't stop reading and find it hard to stick to a pre-determined schedule. But I'll certainly add some comments.

ETA Did I miss the link to the GR thread or didn't you set that up yet?

Bonnie, I just saw the link to the Jane Eyre GR read over on the 75 Book Challenge page (while I was looking for the December TIOLI page; which I found).

Kath- Yes, I worked, just got home. Chilly but bright sunshine and diminishing winds, so not to bad.

Joe- I'm looking forward to Local, especially with that strong endorsement. Are you familiar with a 100 Bullets? Another graphic series. I picked up the 1st volume yesterday. I'm graphic happy, what can I say!

Claudia- Glad I made you laugh! And yes, I'm glad when my customers are happy & content. I'll have to get to Persepolis soon. Do you do Netflix? If so, check out the movie version.

Jude- Not AWOL, just working! I think you were the first one who mentioned The Night Bookmobile, correct? Do you own it, and if so have you read it?
And I agree, your taste is "seriously ALTERNATIVE..".

Pat- I get that way too, about big-ass books, but the funny thing is, once I jump in, I just wade through to the end, with minimal effort. That's great about The Night Bookmobile! I have a feeling everyone's going to love that one.
BTW- You mentioned finding the Jane Eyre Group Read Thread. Well, that's not mine. I have not set ours up yet. I thought I would keep it separate.

Bonnie- I plan on keeping this G.R., very simple. I still plan on setting up 2 different threads, for spoilers, but I plan on reading it straight through. Let me know what you think about The Betrayal. I finally landed a copy of The Siege.

I admire all of you group read and read a thon folks..
So much to keep up with!

Hi Mark, I'm hopelessly behind and cannot catch-up...Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

But I skimmed and saw references to The Imperfectionists, American On Purpose, The Walking Dead, and Jane Eyre. Nothing if not an eclectic mix and I love/d them all. I'll lurk a bit on the JE thread but it's not one I'm ready to reread yet. (Rebecca and Wuthering Heights will come first.) Have fun!

eta - fix spelling error - of Thanksgiving again...

Hi Mark! Like Joanne, I am hopelessly behind. Where's the Jane Eyre thread?

Glad to see you are enjoying Little Heathens!

Take care.

Looks like Mark is among the other lucky sleepers in...
sigh..

Joanne- It's great to see you! I hope you had a good trip East and a wonderful Thanksgiving. Yes, I do love mixing it up on the books, even though most of it is accidental. I also think you would enjoy The Night Bookmobile. You can read it, in less than an hour.

Anne- Of course, it's great seeing you too, stranger! So I take it, you liked Little Heathens? It's been very enjoyable and mouth-watering at times, with all the food references. I will post the Jane Eyre today.

Morning Kath- I'm an early-riser even on my day off. I was up just after 6. I love the quiet.

106) The Last Child by John Hart ****

Remember Reagan’s famous quip, “There he goes again”? Well, this also applies to me, as I make my habitual return to the dark side. Yes, back to more damaged souls. Johnny Merrimon is thirteen. A year earlier, his twin sister disappeared, plunging Johnny and his family into deep despair. The father, crushed by guilt and grief, departs and is not seen again. The mother falls into depression and drug use. Johnny refuses to give in and presses forward. He is determined to find his sister. He is both methodical and driven, assisted by a haunted police officer, who also will not give up the search. This is a densely but cleverly plotted novel, that pulls you along and keeps the reader off balance throughout. Hart is also a heck of a writer:
“For a long second, the crow considered him, then flapped to the top of another tree. It’s trunk was charred from a lightening strike, and the fork on the river side had gone dead to white. The bird landed among a dozen of its kin, called once, and fell quiet. Not a single feather moved. They looked at Levi, and cold touched his heart. It was a murder of crows on a crown of dead wood. He heard it like a whisper.”

Ye gods, Mark, you're turning into Darryl with the four-hankies-and-a-pistol reading. Time for some fluff! Hey, how about a nice Kafka story?

*winces off to kill self*

Richard- Please no offing yourself, sir! You are an LT treasure. My current book, The Imperfectionists is more on the lighter side, although very well written.

I made the Jane Eyre Group Read Thread: right here

I think I will be joining you for the Jane Eyre group read. I have not read that book and probably need to do so.

I love mail people. I love getting mail. I know it is a rough job, but aren't you glad for thinsulate, neoprene, and those wonderful wool knits. Not to mention the light weight silk underwear? These products make life so much more bearable for those who have to spend life outdoors. I spent a great deal of time out-of-doors before my life now, and often wonder what people did before these great new products that make clothes so much warmer and drier than before?

I also worry about our mail system. Every time I see that darn stupid "save a stamp, pay on-line" quote on the return envelope of a bill it makes me want to scream. So much of our vast country depends on the U. S. mail and companies like UPS and Fed Ex don't do daily deliveries to all parts of the country and will cut back even more when the next gasoline price rise comes, just as they did with the last one. I suspect that our user friendly government is not going to rescue the Postal Service when the time comes simply because there aren't enough voters left out there in the big spaces of this country. E-mail isn't the answer. Have you ever tried to get a decent provider for a decent price out in the hinterlands?

OK OK so now I have to go to the library and get Last Child Good review.

Benita- "I love mail people" When are you coming through Chicago? Sorry, to disappoint, but I don't wear light weight silk underwear, although you do make a strong case for wearing them. Hmmmmm...
I'm glad you'll be joining us on Jane Eyre. I always enjoy your input.

Cindy- Thanks and it's a very good book! Let me know!

I know I already have The Last Child in the BlackHole. I will get to it. . .eventually.

Have a great Monday, Mark!

Yep... Last Child will have to be read :)

Tell Santa about the underwear :)

Morning Stasia & Kath- Yes, John Hart is a strong writer and I will have to go back and check out his earlier work.
Kath- Good suggestion about the Santa request.

I'll be finishing up Little Heathens today. It's been highly enjoyable. Also nearing the end of The Imperfectionists, which has also been very good. Gearing up for Jane Eyre, as part of the Procrastinator's Group Read.

"Procrastinator's Group" ?

#218: I read Hart's Down River and enjoyed it, Mark, so you might give it a try.

Thumbed the review of The Last Child...i had that in PDF format but, after I got my 2nd Kindle...it went bye-bye (the PDF) didn't transfer properly...I do have King of Lies on the Kindle..and it's pretty good....Down River has been on The List (i thought i had that one........)

The Night Bookmobile is the one GN of her's I don't have, yet...i do own The Adventuress and The Three Incestuous sisters....lovely hardcovers, both..they remind me of old-fashioned Fairy Tale books from back in the day...when I was a child (yes, i really was a kid, at one time!).
;-}

wow! Go away for a weekend without internet access, and I feel like I've been gone a month from your thread...

Anyway, waaayyy back in #187, you mention Shantaram. I read it earlier this year and gave it 2.5 stars. The author initially tried to pass the book off as a true account of his time in India, but has since admitted that most of it is fiction. I found him to be an insufferable character who thinks he is both the baddest gansta in India and a humanitarian. Some people think it's great though, and you did like the Stieg Larsson books... *wink* I guess I would rather read either Indians' writing about India or true accounts of ex-pats. I'll look forward to seeing what you think!

Wintersilks. That's the company that sells good silk long underwear. Land's End also has some.

Just as an aside - Victoria's Secret best selling item for many years was its see through black unitard. Looked alot like light weight silk long underwear to me. Except the silk underwear is warmer.

Kath- I was using the "Procrastinator's Group" term, in describing us Jane Eyre delinquents. That will soon be remedied, though.

Stasia- I have put Down River on the list!

Jude- Good to see you! Yes, I'll be sending you The Last Child as promised. You'll like it. I really enjoyed The Night Bookmobile and will be working on a mini-review. I'd like to check out her other 2 graphics. I have never read her other fictional books either.

Lisa- Yes, you can miss a lot by being away! It sounded like you had a nice getaway. I remember, opinion being divided on Shantaram. It might be a couple of months, but I'm going to give it a try. Have you read Sacred Games?

Benita- Wintersilks! What a wonderful name! I might have to discreetly check them out. I appreciate the info!

221: Jude, can I ask you how you're "shelving" Ms. Niffenegger's GN's? I have The Three Incestuous Sisters and it's so big that if I put it on one of my main shelves it sticks out far enough that I run into it all the time. (Or maybe I'm just a klutz? Very possible.) Do you keep them lying down? Shelved like a normal book? This nosy lady would like to know. Thanks!

Mark, are you going to ask Santa for some Victoria's Secret unitards? ;-) Cuddl Duds are a great long undie option, but I think they're just for women. Maybe REI would have a manlier version of them. Hey, they might even have camouflage ones so you wouldn't be able to tell you were wearing them!

I'm never going to be able to look at my mail person again without wondering if they're wearing silk underwear now.

LOL ...I had a great laugh coming back to your thread after being on hiatus for the Thanksgiving holiday, Marky-Mark. It's too bad you can't wear jeans to work because Eddie Bauer has flannel-lined jeans. But then again, perhaps wintersilks are just the answer for you ....got a favorite color? ;-)

I've read Sacred Games and mostly liked it, but I did have to skim a few spots which just rambled ...I still prefer Shantaram. :-)

No, I haven't read Sacred Games, although I just went and read Richard's review (which for some reason is duplicated within the review). It sounds like the weight and pages of A Suitable Boy, which I liked but couldn't finish before it was due back at the library. I need to get back in line to check it out again. Just from Richard's review, my guess is that Shantaram is more accessible to non-Indians because it is written by an Australian and therefore from the outsider's point of view. I just think the author is a skunk. Did you read The White Tiger? It won the Booker Prize a couple of years ago. It was one of those books that I was glad I read, but will never read again.

Until today, I'd never heard of Cuddle Dudds. Then, within about 10 minutes of each other, on two different radio stations, I heard commercials for them.

I'm not usually cold so I don't think I'll get any.

Cuddle Dduds are great because they are very light weight and keep the wind from blowing through your jeans or slacks.

Laura- I know my library copy of The Night Bookmobile is odd-shaped. It's like rectangular.
I want some Cuddle Dudds! I love the names, sure beats old boring scratchy thermal underwear! I finally started wearing Under Amour, which I really like!

Wookie- Don't let your imagination run away from you!

Caro- The flannel-lined jeans sound good too! Glad you liked Shantaram. I'm looking forward to it.

Lisa- I've heard great things about A Suitable Boy. Maybe one of these days. I have a copy of The White Tiger. Been meaning to get to that forever!

Linda- I want Cuddle Dudds, I want Cuddle...

#231 Now Mark, did you grow up around here? We're roughly the same time frame so, if you did, do you, like me, hear "Cuddle Dudds" and immediately think of Ray Rayner and Cuddley Duddley?

I loved Ray Rayner's show.

Linda- Of course, I loved Ray Rayner! My sister had a Cuddly Duddly dog. I think she got it for Christmas one year. What was the name of the crabby goose on the show? Chauncey?

#225 Laura, I shelve the two Niffenegger Over-Sized graphics.....flat...with the one spine outwards and the other one not....one opens like a normal book but The Three Incestuous Sisters is wider than it is tall...so it lies doggo.....I could shelve them upright in my big oak cupboard, but they would be hidden (perish that thought) ...as it is they are on a prominent shelf...easily seen...hope this helps....and i surely don't want them falling on the floor..too lovely for that.

Cuddle Dudds? Silky Underwear? did I wander into a unisex fitting room, or what?? I love flannel-lined jeans...used to get mine from LL Bean....now i wear regular jeans and silk/wool blend dance tights....not glamourous but warm.

I do own Shantaram and might tackle it when winter settles in for good.....when a ripping good yarn is in order.
;-}

My fav is Hot Chillys. Washable, durable, yet wearable in public. AND Apa Sherpa (holder of the world's record for summits of Mt. Everest) wears them for his under-layer. Available at hotchillys.com or amazon.

234: Thanks, Jude! Right now TTIS is laying flat on top of a double-row of books (for shame, I know) because it's so awkwardly large, and I won't run into it. Maybe I can do what you do and have it laying down at some point once I find enough space on a shelf. Not holding my breath, but I'll figure something out. Thanks again!

All of this talk about warm undies has me itching to try a pair of each and see what I like best. However, seeing that as soon as I start working I'm incredibly hot, I don't know if that would be practical necessarily. Maybe I'd better stick to buying books instead.

#233 That would be Chelveston the Duck. I know this for certain because Chelveston lived at Animal Kingdom, on Milwaukee Ave., which was only about a block from my school. Many's the time we'd make a slight detour so I could go visit Chelveston the Duck after school.

Lisa- Hot Chillys sounds good too! I will keep all these in mind!

Linda- You are right! Chelveston! I remember the goose chasing Ray and nipping his shins.

Cold and rainy today, with dropping temps. Maybe some flurries later. Wish I had my Cuddle Duds!

From when I left the house at 8:45 to when I got here at 9:30, the temps dropped by about 20 degrees, I'd say. Went from spring-like "warmth" to the coldest air of the season in minutes.

Even I could use some Cuddle Duds and I'm inside all day.

Just passing through saying Hi Mark!

Just to educate everybody on the long underwear thing. The silk long underwear comes in different weights and thread twists. The heavier the weight the warmer it is. The catalogs usually do a good job of telling you how warm the stuff will be. The advantage of silk is because it is a natural fiber it is more moisture absorbent, so when you sweat while you are working, you won't get frost bite as you dry off. (Wool is also very moisture absorbent and actually wicks moisture away from the skin better than does silk.) Frost bite is caused by the water in the surface of your skin freezing. The other advantage of silk is that is is very light weight and flexible. This makes it ideal to put under clothes. It is also slick so your outer layer of clothes won't stick to the underwear causing that binding sensation that makes you feel like you can't move. Wool is fuzzy and sticks to the other layer of clothing.

Under Armour is much the same as silk except it is made from a synthetic fiber. It is a very smooth knit that should allow outer clothing to slide, making it comfortable to wear. Cuddle Duds are also made from a blend of cotton and synthetic fiber. They are also usually a thermal knit. Thermal knit means that instead of having a smooth surface the fabric is knit so that it has small pockets that trap the warm air created from your body heat and puts that layer of warm air between you and the cold. Because it has a rough surface it tends to stick to clothing worn on top of it.

Flannel keeps you warm because the fuzzy fibers of the cotton trap warm air created by your own body heat and make an insulating layer between you and the cold. The fuzzier the flannel the warmer it is. Flannel also comes in different weights. The heavier the weight (10 oz., 7.5 oz., 5 oz.,) the warmer the fabric because it is fuzzier. Wool also works this same way as flannel. Wool and flannel will also act as a cooling fabric as well for the same reasons it keeps you warm. Only in reverse. hence terms like tropical weight wool.

The outdoor clothing companies like, Edie Bauer, L. L. Bean, Landsend, Cabela's, usually have the best selection of long underwear and cold weather fabrics. But they are expensive. Sears and Penny's has the best prices on this kind of clothing. Wintersilks is much more dressy and made to wear under office type clothing, even though the catalogs picture the great outdoors.

I spent the first 30 years of my life living on the Great Plains where the wind blows constantly in the winter (and the summer) and had to work outside, so staying warm was a priority for me. I also sew and work with fabrics so know about the fabrics and how they work. I don't know how anybody in the more temperate areas of the world survives the winter without some form of long underwear. Unless they tend to be more "warm blooded" than me. I generally wear some form of long underwear most of the winter. And I now work inside an office building, that is air conditioned in the winter. Go figure. Joke all you want to about silk long underwear, but the stuff saves lives!

241.. wonderful info.. thank you!

Linda- It was cold today! That wind was wicked and I wasn't dressed as warm as I could have been. I'll be better prepared tomorrow.

Karen- Big wave!

Benita- You are becoming quite the adviser! I appreciate all the info! I've been doing this for just over 24 years but as I'm getting older, I'm starting to fine tune the warmer things. I've been enjoying the Under Amour tops but I need to get a couple pairs of UA bottoms.
What were you doing outside, during the winter, on the Great Plains?

I liked Sacred Games (even though it could have been trimmed a bit) more than A Suitable Boy. Although I read A Suitable Boy a long time ago, and my memory of it may be flawed, Sacred Games covers a lot broader scope.

#241 Good info to have. When I went to the outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field a few years ago, I bought thermal underwear.

I'm rarely cold (middle-aged woman thing). In fact, around the office, they always ask me because if I'm cold, everyone's cold (I've often got my sleeves rolled up when everyone else is wearing extra layers).

The wind this morning was a shock. I actually buttoned my coat (first time this season).

Grew up on a farm. Milked cows.

Froze my feet once. Not fun. Didn't lose any toes but did have lots of pain. For days after wards.

Your thread is a veritable feast of information, Mark. With winter coming on strong, we should all be wearing Cuddle Dudds. I wish I'd had mine on when we walked to the restaurant in Joplin today. Brrr! I notice several people at our table ordered soup. It was a perfect day for it. Pictures are posted on the Joplin meetup thread. Thanks for the hug sent via Stasia. I hope to collect one in person someday. Shhhh...don't tell Susan.

Just got my Santee for Santa Thing this afternoon so between that, and picking for my person for Mark's whatsit Christmas book exchange, call me a book yente.

I've got loads of ideas for both. The hard part is narrowing it down to the dollar limit.

Aruba- I agree Sacred Games needed some serious editing but I still liked it. A Suitable Boy has been on the list.

Benita- A farm girl, huh? I'm impressed. I think you would enjoy Little Heathens. Beautiful descriptions of life on a Iowa farm in the 30s.

Donna- Glad you got the hug! I hope it was a special one. I'm sure you guys had a great visit. I'll have to look for the "Joplin meetup thread".

Linda (a book yente)- That's great. I plan on sending out my book(s) later this week. *Remember to put "Christmas Book Swap" on the front of the package.

Benita - Thanks, I've always wondered why certain fabrics (like silk) help to keep you warm! I love my Cuddle Duds.

Hi Mark!

Cuddle Dudds are very tempting indeed. But since I didn't have any, I used the weather as the excuse to order a nice snifter of Calvados as my after-dinner drink tonight. ;-)

My problem with Vikram Seth is that I find him a little pedantic. A Suitable Boy though, was very enjoyable ... if only because I skimmed over the bits I found a little preachy.

^
^
^
*ahemhemhem*

Well, I was expecting a lazy, relaxing, book-filled day off today but they asked me in. I can't pass up the money, so I'll tough it out. Wish I had some Cuddle Duds! Windy, and 30!

Joanne & Caro- Big waves!

RD- Will start the New Thread tonight, sir!

I'm beginning Jane Eyre for the Group Read and will also be starting the audio of American on Purpose, which several of you really enjoyed.

ugh! stay warm

I read Vikram Seth's biography of his Aunt and Uncle Two Lives a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. My book discussion group read it and one person liked it so much that she read A Suitable Boy as well. Two Lives is a biography and it is very well written. What a life those two people lived. I liked the style the author used and what he had to say. There was some analysis/interpretation and explanation in it as well as the story of their lives. If Suitable Boy weren't so long I would consider reading it myself.

Didn't expect to find an underwear discussion here, but very informative. Where we live, warmth is an issue!

I already have The last child on my list, or your review would have made me add it. I shall thumb. I shall also check out the Jane Eyre group read.

#255 Eek, will Richard scold us too for digging you deeper in sin by continuing to post messages? I'll have to risk it... Thanks for the rec of Two Lives, Benita. I immediately logged onto the library to look for it.

Hey Mark! I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tatto and liked it. On to the next one I go.

Here in the Miami of the North, I swear by Cuddleduds and am seldom w/o them once winter starts and, oh yeah, it's started. The dreaded words are in the forecast....Lake Effect Snow. Hubby, on the otherhand loves Damart underwear and they have served him well for so long he hasn't had to buy new ones in quite a while. Damart is a UK company.

Wow! I'm appreciating the NW once again. No need for need for long underwear here unless I'm going skiing. Of course, the fact that i work in my home and i have my own ample insulation may have something to do with that (she says with a look of chagrin).

Oops! I meant to say I do love the flannel, though!

>245 lindapanzo: I've often got my sleeves rolled up when everyone else is wearing extra layers
Me too! I have always loved the cold. One reason I moved to Maine ... short summers!
I never realized so many people wore long underwear! Or that there were so many kinds.

Hope you stayed warm today, Mark. I have a question for you.
Richard is trying to get me to read Matterhorn cuz he loved it so much and wants to share a great experience. From what I can tell this is definitely not for me. I do hate to miss a good book and I'm not overly squeamish. But... dunno. What do you think?

Kath- I survived, as usual, but it never even got to 30. On my way home, it was 25. The wind sucked, I mean blew!

Terri- Thanks The Last Child was terrific! Please stop by the Jane Eyre Group Read. The more the merrier.

Tammy- Glad you liked Dragon Tattoo! Try the film next! It's excellent.

Bonnie1- I never heard of Damart. Is it an English K-Mart? What kind of underwear are they? Cold weather?

Bonnie2- Great to see you! Nothing like ample insulation, to help keep you warm! Hee hee!

Claudia- That's a difficult question to answer. Of course, you know I think it's a great book, but it can be a tough, unflinching read. Maybe, get it from the library, try 50 pages or so and see what you think. Didn't Richard write a fantastic review?

I'll have to make the New Thread, sometime after dinner, so cut those damn sirens off!

I know that you didn't ask me.. but as for
Matterhorn.. it sounds like a wonderful book.

Run Away!!!!

Sorry about the wind Mark :P

I want to run... really, I do.
Yes, Mark. R's review was quite good. As usual!

New Thread

Kath & Claudia- Please no running! Walking is better and healthier. See you on the other side!