sjmccreary reads in 2011, pt 2

Continued from thread #1: http://www.librarything.com/topic/105142&newpost=1#lastmsg

Book #9



No One Said Not to Go by Ken Cuthbertson

Read for the MO Readers Group - a biography of author Emily Hahn. I've never heard of her before, never read any of her books. She led an eventful and interesting life - more interesting than this book was, I'm afraid. 3 stars

Book #10



The Fugitive Wife by Peter c Brown

Many thanks to Mark (msf59) for this recommendation. A story about a Minnesota farm wife who leaves her husband and travels to Nome, Alaska during the 1900 gold rush. Excellent - I loved it. 4-1/2 stars.

Book #11



Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris

Another great recommendation, this one from Judy (DeltaQueen50) who has never steered me wrong yet. A 16-year old girl from a wealthy Saudi family is discovered dead in the desert. A family friend investigates and discovers that she had many secrets. I loved the descriptions of Saudi life, but the clues all came together just a little too neatly. Still, very good. 4 stars.

I already have all those books in the BlackHole. Glad to see you enjoyed them for the most part, Sandy!

ETA: Hope you are doing OK.

Hi Sandy: I picked that Cuthbert book up from the library and never got around to it. Then, after hearing more about it, I just don't think I'd be interested in it, after all. The Fugitive Wife sounds good.

Stasia, you're too quick for me!

I hope you'll like these books when you finally have a chance to get to them.

I've been busy - just got back from a 2-day business trip that was made on 4 hours notice. Two long days working for a new client in my old hometown. It was fun - everyone was very nice and I hope I was able to help them out. Plus, I was able to meet an old HS friend for dinner last night, which was great. Still, glad to be home and looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Hi, Linda!

I don't think you're missing too much by skipping Cuthertson's book - although you might like it better than I did, since you enjoy biographies more than me. I loved The Fugitive Wife - one of those books that I kept picking up every chance I had - staying up too late at night and getting back late from lunch. I didn't read the posted reviews, but my comments do not do justice to the book.

#4: Glad you made it home safely! I hope you get a good night's sleep.

>4 sjmccreary:: I've been wondering what you've been up to. Apparently you can go home again. It's always good to see old friends, isn't it? I wonder why the other person always changes so much yet we remain the same? ;-)

Books 10 and 11 have been duly added to the dream book. Hope you have a restful week-end, Sandy.

Hi Sandy, thanks for the kind words. I see Zoe Ferraris has a second book out with the same characters, I will probably read it sometime, but I wonder if it will be too much like the first one?

The Fugitive Wife does sound good and I am adding it to my wishlist.

Found your new thread! Hope you are having a good Monday...

#6 Stasia, I rest better in my own bed. Hotel beds are so hard - almost like sleeping on the floor!

#7 Donna, I know what you mean! I'll never forget the time I went back for a HS reunion, walked into the bar where the Friday night cocktail party was being held, and nearly turned around to walk back out because I thought I was in the wrong place - that place was full of old men! However, this particular friend is someone I've kept in touch with throughout the years, and we usually get together once or twice a year. She really doesn't look good right now because she has been undergoing surgeries and treatment for breast and thyroid cancers the last several months. But it was good to talk with her - she is so positive and upbeat, despite obviously not being well. She is very inspiring. Her prognosis is excellent, btw, and she removed the turban she wears now and let me rub the new peach fuzz growing on her head!

#8 Judy, I'd already seen the new Ferraris book at the library and added it to my wishlist. The reviews on it so far sound like it may not be quite as good as the first. Still, though, I'll give it a try. I'm really a little surprised that you haven't already read The Fugitive Wife - it's rare that I find something before you! I hope you like it.

#9 It's hard to keep up with everyone's new threads, isn't it? I'm having a wonderful Monday so far. Not very productive, I'm afraid, but the sun is shining and the unseasonably warm weather that melted all our snow last week is gone and there is a delicious chill in the air today! (I am a cool-weather girl and get a little cranky when it feels like April in February.)

Hi! Just stopping by to say I've found your new thread.

Have a good weekend, Sandy!

#11 Thanks, Terri. You do the same!

Book #12



Playing God by Kate Flora

When a prominent oncologist is found murdered in his car on a winter night in Portland, Maine, Detective Joe Burgess has no trouble finding people who hated him enough to want him dead. In fact, Burgess himself hated the doctor for the way that his mother was treated by the doctor before she died. This book has just about everything - murder, scandal, love, sex, drugs, and money. The one thing that I found slightly ridiculous was the ability of the detective to go three days with little more than a 2-hour nap and maybe 2 meals, during which time he was shot, beat up, drove around the state in the dark and snow, and still managed to think clearly enough to solve the case. But, it was good for what it was and I gave it 3-1/2 stars.

Book #13



Time Detectives by Brian Fagan

Very interesting non-fiction about the different ways that modern archaeologists are able to determine the ways that people from the past lived. Each chapter looks at a different archaeological site and highlights a different technique of making the past more accessible.

My favorite was the chapter on the Lake Titicaca basin on the border between Peru and Bolivia. This is an area where the ancient people managed to have a thriving agricultural system, but where moderns are struggling in the harsh environment. The archaeologists discovered that the ancient terraced fields were bordered by canals. These canals turned out to be the key. The water stabilizes the temperature on the fields, raising it just a degree or two which is enough to prevent crops from freezing on frosty nights. Using the ancient methods, the modern residents are finally able to produce dependable crops - often exceeding that which is possible with the "best" American techniques that have also been introduced to the area.

I've already returned the book, but I think there were about a dozen different chapters about sites all around the world. Very readable, and has a nice bibliography. 3-1/2 stars.

Time Detectives sounds interesting, and my library has it, so I've added it to my library TBR list. Thanks for the review!

Nice review! I added it to my wishlist, too!
--BJ

Adding Time Detectives to the wishlist. Sounds very interesting.

Me four!

Kate Flora is on my list of must get to authors. I keep seeing her books, and several people I trust have read them and recommended them. So.........

I'll be anxious to hear everyone's opinions of Time Detectives after reading the book. It is really very interesting.

Tina, I thought of you several times during this book - wondering if she got Maine right. Let me know.

Cool anecdote from Time Detectives! Sounds like a great book.
Edited to fix title.

Sandy...I'm ashamed to say I haven't yet read Kate Flora, but she is quite popular here and our mystery book club loves her books. I am really going to make a great effort to read at least one of hers to 'see if she got Maine right.'

Doing a bit of catch-up... Time Detectives looks like it may be interesting!

Book #14



In the Woods by Tana French

A great police procedural set in Dublin, Ireland. Detective Rob Ryan survived the disappearance and probable deaths of his 2 best friends while they were all playing in the woods when they were 12 years old. Rob was discovered nearly catatonic and covered in blood, but alive. He had no memories of what happened. His family moved away and he changed his name before moving back to Dublin and joining the murder squad of the police force. Now the body of a 12-year old girl has been discovered in the same woods and Det. Ryan is on the case. No one on the force knows of his past except his partner, Cassie. Together, the examine the evidence and work on finding the girl's killer all the while keeping in mind that it might be related to the earlier crime.

The anguish and emotions of Rob as he tries to remember anything from his past experience which might help solve the current crime, and of Cassie who is a hard-working professional on a job and also a friend worried about her partner's welfare, are multi-faceted and believable. I like that not all loose ends are neatly tied up at the conclusion of the book. I also like that, in hindsight, I was able to look back and see subtle clues which pointed to the culprit throughout. 4 stars.

Hi Sandy, I'm a fan of Tana French's novels. I'm glad you liked this one, too. She cleverly features one of the lesser characters from a previous book in the next one. They aren't necessarily sequels, but you will run into some of the same characters. Nothing stale about her work!

Donna, I'm glad to hear you also like Tana French's books. This was my first one, but I'm already looking forward to the sequel, which I've heard is just as good.

Book #15



Paranoia by Joseph Finder

Last summer, I discovered author Joseph Finder when we took an audio version of The Company Man on vacation. I loved the mix of thriller and corporate intrigue. In Paranoia, the focus is more on corporate espionage, but I liked it just as much.

In this one, a man is accused of misappropriation of corporate funds when he authorizes a huge retirement bash for a long-time dock worker in a large company. In exchange for not being reported to the authorities, the company's CEO offers him a deal: Go to work for the company's main competitor and steal their secrets. He accepts the deal and is helped into a position on the other company's executive staff.

The underhanded double-dealings described were all too believable, as he wrestles with his conscience after coming to genuinely like the new job. My biggest complaint, though, was that the guy is an idiot who would have been spotted for the imposter he was right away. Still, a good story with a great little twist. 3-1/2 stars.

Your last two books look like books I would like to read. :)
--BJ

Book #16



1632 by Eric Flint

Well, this was a pretty silly book. Definitely written just for the fun of it, and impossible to confuse with serious literature. Briefly, a mishap with a piece of modern art in the far distant future causes a West Virginia coal mining town in 2000 to be carved out and exchanged with a similar sized piece of land in 17th century Germany. The people of Grantville, WV, who all happened to be congregated at the local high school for a big wedding reception, refer to the event as "The Ring of Fire", and they are able to adjust amazingly well to finding themselves in the middle of the Thirty Years War.

On their very first foray beyond the boundaries of their own territory, a group of men discover some soldiers torturing a farmer and raping his wife. Dan, the Grantville chief of police, was injured and returned to town, deputizing a group of miners still in their good clothes from the wedding and leaving them to deal with the situation: "Slowly, as softly as possible, Frank levered a round into the chamber of his rifle. Despite its incongruity with the suit he was wearing, the action was quietly murderous. 'So, what's the plan?' he demanded. Mike spoke through tight jaws, 'I'm not actualy a cop, when you get right around to it. And we haven't got time anyway to rummage around in Dan's Cherokee looking for handcuffs.' He glared at the scene of rape and torture. 'So to hell with reading these guys their rights. We're just going to kill them.' 'Sounds good to me,' snarled Darryl. 'I got no problems with capital punishment. Never did.'" (pg 26) (emphasis provided by the author)

Even more unrealistically, all the people they meet in 1632 are able to accept 21st century Americans in their midst just as easily. They overlook the American's modern technology, their strange dress, and their penchant for giving authority to women. They dismiss the rumors of witchcraft and scorcery almost as soon as they are mentioned. Instead, the Americans are readily accepted as equals in the neighborhood by all the warring factions.

I realized early on that I would have to simply accept the ridiculous premise of the book if I was going to be able to finish and enjoy it. I found my satisfaction in the book in the author's expertise in history and settled in to learn what I could about a war I'd barely even heard of before this. Obviously, I am not a regular fantasy reader. I don't mind having improbable, or even impossible, scenarios in my books as long as they are presented in a realistic fashion and with a straight face. This book read more like a farce. But, once I'd made up my mind to go along with it, I found it to be quite entertaining. 3 stars.

#28 Ahh, BJ, but can you say the same about the next one? :-)

Finally, all caught up!

My sister is a big Tana French fan and is always trying to get me to read these books. Maybe I will give one a try.

I have 1632 in my tbr pile, waiting...

It does sound intriguing.
--BJ

I've noticed lots of strong opinions about In the Woods. People seem to either really like it or really dislike it. Not many in the middle. I'm among those who really liked it, too. I also liked the ending, with its loose ends that left me with lingering doubts. I've got her second book and I really need to work it in to my reading sooner rather than later.

Sandy,

In the Woods has been on my wishlist for a while, maybe I need to actively pursue it......

ETA - found it at the library and placed it on hold

Hi Sandy, just a little drive-by not to say I've been missing you here around the old 75 group.

Hi Sandy: They were talking on the radio this am about how Northwestern got robbed in the NIT and they mentioned how Wichita State is in the final four of the NIT. Good luck to them.

Are you going to the finals?

Was actually spending some time reading threads this evening - imagine my surprise at finding my own rather high up on the list due to Linda's post this morning. Then I come here and find a half dozen posts!

In the Woods has gotten a lot of positive comments and I'll definitely be reading the sequel sometime. OTOH, 1632 is just not my thing and I will be skipping the rest of that series. One comment I saw about it, though, is that the first several were pretty good and then it begins to decline after that. I think there are about a dozen books in the whole series - maybe more.

Hi, Becky! I've been lurking on your thread - just not posting much anyplace lately.

Linda, we are all so proud of our Shockers! (And more than a little surprised, truth be told.) Obviously, this is not the team that they took to St Louis for the conference championship. The final rounds are in New York, so we won't be going, but we'll definitely be following them long distance.

I've been reading more lately, and have finished a few books since I posted last. Some day soon I'll get around to actually listing them. Still far behind the pace needed to meet the year end goal. Good thing there is nothing of any consequence riding on that!

I think I'll add In the Woods to ye olde wishlist - thanks for the rec!

I've also gone back and forth over Tana French. Maybe I'll put her back on the list. We seem to like a lot of the same things.

Hope all is going well for you!

Tana French is one that is quite popular in our little town. I guess I'm going to have to break down and read at least one of them to see what the buzz is about.....but if I like it, then it's another series to keep track of.....at least I'm going to wait until it's available in the liberry....it doesn't seem to have come out in audio.

oops....spoke too soon....I can get In the woods via ILL in audio...so I've put it on the "later this year" list.

Did you see those Shockers? Our guys won the NIT championship last night - a very exciting day for Wichita fans! Our first national championship, and our best-ever season with 29 wins. We're all smiling today!

#43: Congrats to the Shockers!

I am trying to catch up with everyone, Sandy, so I will just wave and try to keep up from here on out. . .

Waiting for the drier to finish up the last load tonight, and thought I'd get started catching up posting the last several books I've finished.

Book #17



Running From the Devil by Jame Freveletti

Emma Caldridge is a passenger on a flight bound for Bogota, Columbia, when it is hijacked and then crash landed in the Columbian jungle. Luckily she was thrown clear of the wreckage and so she survived the resulting fire and escaped being taken hostage with the other surviving passengers by para-military guerrillas. Emma, a chemist specializing in exotic plants (conveniently), is left alone to get help for herself and the other passengers, but doesn't know where she is or who is responsible for the crash. Meanwhile, authorities in Miami are also trying to figure out what has happened to the plane and why and are having trouble getting help from the Columbian government.

Lots of predictable elements - like Emma's being an expert in the medicinal qualities of jungle plants, for example, and the presence of a mysterious handsome stranger among the passengers who happens to be armed and connected to both Columbian and American authorities, and the surprise bad guy who looks like a good guy, and about a dozen other small details. Still, an entertaining story that is full of action and adventure. A few gruesome scenes describing the actions of the different para-military and drug cartel groups, but that just makes it all the more satisfying when they get their just rewards. I enjoyed it - 4 stars.

#45: I will have to look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Sandy!

#44 Stasia! It's good to see you here again - it's been a long time! I hope all is well for you.

Congrats to the Shockers! I also added the book to my wishlist. I am afraid that soon my wishlist will be bigger than my library.
--BJ

Congrats to your Wichita State team, Sandy. That shows great character on their part to handle the disappointment of not winning their conference tourney and so not going to the NCAA tourney but then moving on and winning the NIT tourney.

My undergrad college just won their second division III national hockey championship in three years. Very excited about that.

Great news about your team, Sandy! Fun.

#48 I am afraid that soon my wishlist will be bigger than my library lol! I'm afraid mine already is, BJ!

#49 Thanks, Linda. That character you mention isn't always there - I used to say that the Shockers were better than anyone at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, just because they so often quit playing too soon. But this team has been one of the special ones and we're going to miss the seniors who are graduating. But your team winning 2 championships in 3 years! That IS very exciting!

#50 Still smiling! :-)

I've got more books to list, but it will have to wait until later - more laundry and other housework to do today and I need to spend time on the tax return (due in 2 weeks - ack!).

Well, it's neat that SOMEONE from Kansas won a tournament!! ;-)

I actually saw the Shockers in December when they were out here playing the San Diego State Aztecs.

Not long now until I am there, just a couple of weeks. Did you ever get back with the bookstore? I am SO looking forward to this...

Congratulations to the Shockers!

ETA: How is Wichita State's baseball team this year?

#52 And it wasn't KU! ;-) I haven't contacted the bookstore again, I was just thinking about that about an hour ago. I need to let them know which day we're coming so they can get the shelves stocked before we get there!

#53 Thanks. We always expect the baseball team to do well, but this year I think really is supposed to be promising. It'd be nice to have a chance to check out the new CWS stadium in Omaha first hand!



Go Shocks!

Book #18



The Third Man by Graham Greene

Holly Martins travels to post-war Vienna to see his old friend, Harry Lime, only to discover that Lime had been killed the day before. He finds himself looking into the matter and becomes obsessed with a mysterious third man who was reported to have witnessed the incident - in addition to 2 of Lime's friends.

I've got several Graham Greene books on my wishlist and when I decided that it was time to read one of them, I randomly picked this one, not realizing that it wasn't written as a novel. Maybe I'm the last one to know this, but it was originally written as a screenplay and then adapted into a novella. That explains why, when I checked the library's catalog, I couldn't find it in print. I got an audio version of a dramatic production. (Which is why there is a picture of Kelsey Grammar on the cover - he plays the lead character.) It is a very short story, only 2 CD's long, and I was able to listen to them both in a single sitting.

I can't say that I loved it - I don't normally read short stories of any kind. What I don't like about them is that there just isn't enough time for much plot or character development. I realize that, in shorter stories, that isn't the thing that's important, and I guess I just haven't ever pushed myself to become acquainted with that writing style. (Is that the right word? Genre?) Anyway, I'm reserving judgement until I watch the movie - since that is the original format. In the meantime, I've given it 3 stars - neutral.

I am afraid that soon my wishlist will be bigger than my library lol!
I'm afraid mine already is, BJ!

I'm afraid that soon my wishlist will be bigger than our local PUBLIC library! ;)

I was interested to see that The Third Man was a screenplay rather than novel. I started reading some Graham Greene last year or the year before and really liked his books. Thanks for letting us know that this one is different.
--BJ

#56 Now that is big! lol!
--BJ

#55: If you have not seen the film version of The Third Man with Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten, I would highly recommend that to you, Sandy!

#56 lol!

#57 I've never read Graham Greene before this. I feel like I still don't know what to expect from him. Which of his novels have you liked best?

#59 That is the version I've got on hold at the library - I hope it gets here soon.

>54 sjmccreary:: That's a great idea about having Prospero's plump up their bookshelves for us...or maybe I should say for Terri! I think she'll be the big book shopper now that Stasia is on a book buying diet. Roni is flying so she won't be able to buy and I don't know if Brenda is a big book buyer or not. It will be fun to meet some new people and see some old friends.

I love that little Shocker mascot with his corny head! Still partying?

Sandy
Somehow I lost your thread. I'm glad I found it today. You read some incredible books. For now, I'm adding The Fugitive Wife. I'll be back later to add more.

#61 Will Nancy be coming up with you? It would be good to see her again, too.

I love our old-fashioned mascot, even though my kids have long insisted that a giant pile of wheat is not really very fearsome. I dread the day someone decides that it needs to be updated.

#62 Glad you found me, Linda. The Fugitive Wife is definitely one of the very best books I've read so far this year. I hope you will like it as much as I did.

I have only read two books by Graham Greene, but I liked them both. The first one was Our Man in Havana, which is a kind of humorous look at a spy story. The second was The Quiet American, another story involving a British spy and an American CIA agent, with a love triangle. Both books were made into movies. He has written some other books that are even more popular, I think, but I haven't read them yet. A couple of his more famous titles are The End of the Affair and The Power and the Glory. But I haven't gotten to them yet. I do want to read more by him.
--BJ

#60: Good! I hope you enjoy it.

#59 & 60: I second Stasia's recommendation - such a cool film!

>54 sjmccreary: and 61

I was thinking more about the discount the bookstore owner mentioned when Sandy first spoke to him.

Incorrect assumption, Donna. I will be just off the plane and on the way home in a car. I will be at my sister's. Yes, that sister to whom I regularly send boxes of all the new books I have read (she reads them and sends them back to me). So not only do I have two weeks in Kansas to be reading, but I also have a way to ship them back to San Diego!

Eavesdropping on your conversation about book buying . . . I'm not good at resisting the urge to purchase books. If there is book shopping going on, I'm in! :^$

Eavesdrop away, Brenda! I used to be very good at not buying books unnecessarily. That was before I found LT! Now, not as much. I will buy a few things, out of consideration for the shop who will be allowing us to congregate there. But I'll try not to go overboard. The books I bought in Joplin last November are still in the bag! I found them the other day. I never unpacked them except to enter them on my LT catalog.

I actually logged on today intending to catch up posting my recently-read books, but I spent too much time checking out other threads and looking up books. Now, I'm late leaving for work. So, my books will have to wait a little longer. Right now, I've read 7 unposted books, and hope to finish an 8th today. The list on my profile page is up-to-date, but I've gotten embarrassingly behind in almost every other part of my life!

I'm in the same spot, Sandy! Since getting sick last month, I have a number of unposted or unreviewed books, including 2 ER books, that are on my list at the beginning of my thread but not in my messages. One of these days...hopefully before I leave for KC in only a week and a half!

" . . .embarrassingly behind in almost every other part of my life!" I suspect that should be the common logo for LT members :^). I don't work and still find I'm behind. It's especially glaring now that spring is here and the yard has been added to my list of "things needing to be done"! Fortunately, As I've gotten older, I let things go a little easier than in my youth.
I just seem to care less about the meticulousness of house and yard!? I'm happier, but you'd have to ask my family about whether it is truly a good thing!
Looking so forward to meeting you soon.

Eight books behind? Wow - I had better brace myself for the onslaught :)

#72 Ha! That's just a fraction of how everyone else feels when anticipating your Sunday morning posts each week!

The books:

Book #19



The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles by Padraic Colom

A Newbery honor book from 1922 or 1923, I was inspired by Linda (Whisper1, otherwise known as THE Linda) to pick this up by her example of reading all the Newbery books. I never studied Greek mythology in school and was only vaguely familar with these stories. An excellent introduction to these ancient stories. It is definitely not childish, despite being written for children. Recommended. 3-1/2 stars.

Book #20



Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

The 3rd in the Clare Ferguson - Russ VanAlstyn series set in upstate New York. I've read the series a couple of times and this book is my favorite, I think. The social issue featured here (there is always an issue to hook Clare into getting involved) is the controversy about whether childhood vaccinations cause autism. A young mother with an autistic son is picketing the town's free clinic because the doctor there "pushes" vaccinations on the town's children. This story contains a series of flash-backs which tell the history of the free clinic and the reason why vaccinations are such an important issue to the doctor. When the doctor goes missing, Chief VanAlstyn gets involved, bringing him and Clare together again in a way that makes both of them uneasy. And the reader, too. There is an amazing amount of tension for such a chaste romance. As I said, this is one of my two favorite books in the series, but read them in order - it's better that way. The series begins with In the Bleak Midwinter. I loved it as much this time as I did before. 4-1/2 stars.

**spoiler** For those who have read the series already, I think of this book as "the one where Clare and Russ are stuck in the cellar together".****

Book #21



Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway

Another of my favored gardening books - because reading about gardening is so much easier than actually doing it! This book is fabulous. It explains the concept (new to me) of permaculture - a self-sustaining garden. A mature landscape like those which occur in nature is easier to maintain than the artifically immature landscapes that we prize - with their manicured lawns and low foundation shrubbery and sharp beds of annual flowers. This book actually provides the nuts and bolts of establishing such a garden. And yet, he allows that we want lawns and flower beds and vegetable gardens and provides a plan to incorporate both. The high-intensity planting areas are close to the house, where we can step out into them each day and easily prune and weed and harvest for a few minutes at a time. But, farther out into the yard we can allow more natural plantings of trees and shrubs and periennal flowers and herbs which require little care once they are established. One thing I liked was that he explained the role of insects and weeds in the maturing landscape - they are something to be observed and noted, not something to be eradicated at any cost. Also contains an extensive bibliography and list of other resources. Excellent. I loved it. 5 stars.

edit - not sure what is going on with touchstones here...

Book #22



Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip by Matthew Algeo

A wonderful little book - I read it through in a single evening - about the vacation that Harry and Bess Truman took in the summer of 1953, just after he left office and returned to civilian life. Or tried to. While ex-presidents at that time did not receive secret service protection, or even a pension, Truman did have obligations and expenses related to his role as a former president. That was a repeated concern throughout the book - the extraordinary financial cost of being president. (And count on me, as an accountant, to pick that out from all the other fascinating tidbits!)

I read this book as part of the Missouri Readers group read this month. We had such a good time discussing it and Truman himself. Not sure if you can tell from the small cover image posted here, but Harry travelled on his summer vacation - driving his own car across the country (Independence, MO to New York, by way of Philadelphia and Washington DC) - without air conditioning - in a suit and tie. My dad didn't do that, and my husband sure doesn't! Bess was described as wearing a silk dress one day, and we speculated whether she was also wearing stockings and a girdle while travelling (I vote yes).

This is a wonderful look at a personable man who just happened to have been president, and also a glimpse of a way of life that has faded into the past. Recommended. 4 stars.

Well, that's half of them - I'll post the others later. I have been feeling like my reading has been picking up in recent weeks, but I'm still so far behind my normal pace that I was losing hope of ever getting back to a "normal" reading level. However, when I looked more closely, I discovered that I am, in fact, about 30 days behind where I "ought" to be to complete the number of books I had hoped for this year. But I was also 30 days behind a month ago. Which tells me that for the last month, I HAVE been reading at a normal pace. I fell 30 days behind in only 2-1/2 months, but have held steady since then. I don't know whether I'll be able to make up any of the lost ground, but even if I finish out the year with the same 30 day lag, I'll be happy knowing at least one part of my life has gotten back to normal.

I saw a quote yesterday that I liked very much: Life is not about waiting for the storm to end. Life is about learning to dance in the rain. Fittingly, it is raining here today! I hope we all have a good day today - with much "dancing"!

You've been busy, Sandy. I enjoyed all your reviews. I was telling my brother about Julia Spencer-Fleming and he ordered the first one for his iPad and is halfway through it. I ought to take my own advice!

I like gardening books, too. I also like gardening...until mid-June when the hot, humid weather is here to stay! I've been putting in lots of perennials the past few years which makes my life so much easier.

We had storms during the night followed by a gentler rain this morning. I like your inspiring thought about dancing in the rain.

Hi Donna! Only 10 days until we see each other again!

You're right - gardening in the summertime here is brutal. It's definitely the humidity that is the killer. We've also put in a lot of perennials that are finally beginning to fill in. Very much easier than digging in our clay soil every spring to plant new flowers!

Storms last night here weren't severe - just rain and a little thunder/lightning. Lots colder today and a gentle rain.

The quote I found was in an article about an interview with a man who had been through prostate cancer. I didn't read the article, but saw it tacked up on the bulletin board in a client's office where I was working yesterday. That article wasn't even what she was saving - it was on the back of a write-up about her father, and somehow it had gotten tacked up wrong side out, so it was only the purest chance that I saw it!

That gardening book looks really good and your Truman review was a really fun read. I know that if my skinny self at sixteen wore a girdle and stockings in the sixties, for sure Bessie Truman did in the fifties! And I'm more than two months behind my normal reading rate, but "But so what? Who cares?" (You have to read that in the voice of the guy on SNL who imitates Joy 'What's-her-Name' on The View.) ;-)

Hi Sandy, I am glad you only posted half the books you've been reading as you managed to add to my wishlist with the ones you did post! So far I have only read the first of Julia Spencer-Fleming's series - must get going on that. I have added Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure as I love books set in the fifties, and I have many memories of car trips with my own family back then. I find Harry Truman an interesting man, you gotta love somebody who said "Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it"!

My quote isn't as inspiring as yours - I may have to steal yours - sounds like good words to think about when clouds gather.

76 (sjmccreary): I rather doubt that I'd put permaculture into practice, but I'm interested in the concept, and it can be useful to hold onto ideas/ideals as I'm making decisions. Thanks for the review.

#83 I can't see myself tearing up my husband's carefully manicured lawn - his pride and joy - either. But we're hoping to move in a few years to someplace with more land and something like this may be just the thing for the larger spaces that we don't currently have to deal with. It's a fascinating book, though, just for its discussions on soil preparation and water retention. I encourage you to take a look at it.

Loved your quote about dancing in the rain. Have a great time in KC.
--BJ

I must be the most easily distracted person in history - I can't seem to remember to do anything! Three weeks ago I said I'd be right back to finish posting the books I'd been reading, and here I am - finally.

Book #23



The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

I don't need to say much about this book - everyone who is interested in reading it has already decided to do so. I join the multitudes in mourning the untimely death of Stieg Larsson - how I wish I had another half dozen or more books of his to look forward to. But it is not to be. Now I'm working my way through the Swedish film versions on netflix and guardedly looking forward to the Hollywood versions that will surely follow. So here is my question about the book: **possible spoiler** Were all the explanations about Swedish constitutional law and how it compares to USA law present in the original, or is that something inserted into the American editions only? Either way, I found it very interesting - assuming that it is accurate, of course. ****

A very different book from the second, much more procedural and less action/adventure. Still, I loved it. 4-1/2 stars

Book #24



Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie

I've absolutely adored all the Crusie books I've read up to now, but this one was something of a letdown. I don't know who Bob Mayer is, or just how much he was involved in writing this book, but I'm willing to blame him for that. This story was just too convoluted and often bordered on the ridiculous, rather than being just quirky and fun, as it was intended to be.

The other factor that affected my enjoyment of Crusie's writing was the audio version that I was listening to here. Despite the fact that a skillful reader can clearly indicate an unspoken thought in the text by tone of voice and phrasing, this production had all "thought bubbles" done in an echo chamber effect. At a noticably lower volume than "spoken" words and narraration. So, I could set the volume control at a comfortable listen level for the story and miss the unspoken comments, or turn it up to hear the thoughts and be blasted out by everything else. Grrr. I won't make any more comments about the echo chamber thing and its affect on the sound quality. I lied. I will comment. It was a stupid thing to do and I hope the person responsible got called on the carpet by the boss. It very nearly ruined the entire book for me and I almost gave up on it more than once.

While not a really GREAT book, it wasn't terrible and it's unfortunate that the audio production was so intrusive. I'll keep reading Crusie, but will try to avoid the other titles she co-wrote with that Bob guy. If you find youself needing a light-hearted silly read, then by all means give this one a try. It's not too long. But get it in print, please. I gave it 3 stars.

Book #25



Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm

I received this book from the SantaThing exchange a year ago. It was a pleasant surprise because I loved fairy tales as a girl and had a volume of several famous stories that I read over and over. (I wonder whatever happened to that book.) This book wasn't quite the same - written for adults as it is, and not really being illustrated (a few line drawings at the beginning of some of the tales is all). It contains about 45 stories, many of which were familiar to me but a surprising number were not. The stories were all short - none more than 8 or 10 pages and most much shorter - but they took a surprisingly long time to read. I should know better than to try to rush through books like this, but I was ready to be done long before I actually was. 3 stars.

Hi Sandy, you've been missed around these parts, especially for the KC meet-up. Are you and Roni planning to meet when she comes back? Maybe Brenda can meet with you, too. We had such a nice visit together. Thanks for picking such a cool location!

Book #26



A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George

My first experience with with this author and her characters, the titled Inspector Lynley and his partner, the sullen Sergeant Havers. They are thrown together for this investigation into the decapitation of a man discovered with his troubled, but unlikely, daughter standing over him. The reviews are mixed, but I liked it well enough to seek out the DVD recording of a film version of the book - produced as part of a BBC TV series, I think. 4 stars.

#89 Donna! It's good to hear from you. I was so upset about missing the KC meet-up, I nearly cried. I'm glad everyone had a good time and that the book store was a good one. I've still never been there. Roni will be back in town next Monday and I hope we'll be able to get together for an hour or two. She's got a busy schedule! If Brenda can make it, that will be even better. I don't suppose you and Terri will come back to town, too, will you?

That's tempting, Sandy, but I have a tutoring session on Monday...and my final class on Tuesday. Maybe you can get Terri to come. I hear she doesn't need much sleep these days! We sure missed your presence on April 26th but totally understand that work comes first. I'm already beginning to look forward to Joplin in November!

Btw, I read the first few Elizabeth George books and liked them quite well. As her books progressed, they got longer and longer so I latched onto the TV versions. I hope they film some more of them because I got way behind on the books.

Book #27



Original Sins by Peg Kingman

I got this as an ER book and have posted a real review. Weeks ago, probably. This is also the sequel to Not Yet Drown'd that I read back in January and loved. It is absolutely not necessary to read them in order.

This story takes place in 1840 in Philadelphia and Virginia and takes a look at the attitudes towards slavery at the time. The two main characters were just young girls in the first book, when Annie - a 15-year old slave girl - escaped from her mistress while in Scotland. They were there to bring Grace back to Virginia - she was newly orphaned following the death of her father and her mother's relatives were trying to take her away from her Scottish step-mother. Grace, her step-mother, and Annie all quickly left Scotland and sailed to India where the two girls grew up and married - Annie to an Indian prince. At the time this book opens, Grace is also married and living in her husband's home in Philadelphia when he returns from a trading voyage to China with a surprise - Annie and her two sons. Annie claims to be en route to London, but is insisting upon going to Virginia first to retrieve something she left there. Fearing her friend's re-enslavement, Grace offers to go in her place. While in Virginia, Grace is brought face-to-face with both the attitudes and arguments for slavery and the gospel teaching that purports to support claims that slavery is divinely sanctioned.

Not quite as well-written as the first book, and definitely needing more editing near the end, it is still an interesting and thought-provoking look at the inner workings of an ante-bellum southern plantation. I liked it well enough to give it 4 stars.

I read about Terri's sleepless adventures! I'm also looking forward to Joplin, but November is such a long time away. Are you coming up for the JOCO FOTL sale in June?

That doesn't quite catch me up on completed books, but I've run out of time right now. Hopefully, it won't take 3 more weeks for me to get back and finish posting all my comments.

Hamburgers cooked on the grill for supper tonight. One of my favorite quick meals. Veggies left over from Sunday dinner on the side will round out tonight's menu. Maybe even served al fresco. I'm looking forward to a pleasant, relaxing evening at home, and I hope everyone else has the same.

Sandy,

I have A Great Deliverance on tap for reading in July. Glad that the book is worth pursuit.

Sandy....I am an absolute fan of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series.....and I've watched all the PBS series too. The films really don't do justice to the outstanding writing in the books. The TV characters are nearly as developed, there are several major characters who add so much to the stories who are completely left out of the TV shows, and while they are ok TV, they are NOT the books.

I hope you'll have a chance to read several more of them---they're especially good if read in order, and also most are available in audio. They are among my favorite British mysteries, and you've now got me searching on line to reserve them at my local library. It's been several years, and it's about time to start a series long re-read. They're that good IMHO.

Tina - glad to hear that you think the Inspector Lynley series is a good one - Donna liked it, too, so it sounds like a real winner in my book. I've got the DVD from the library but haven't watched it yet - should I wait until I've read a couple more books before starting the TV series? Don't worry, I never read series books out of order if I can help it.

Hi, Cheli! If you say you're planning to read the book in July, I know you'll read it in July. If I say I'm planning to read a book in July, it might not be read until Christmas! I'll be looking forward to your reactions to A Great Deliverance. We watched the end of the ball game on TV last night - your Orioles are in town and held on to beat our Royals. The fans in the stadium didn't like it, but our local announcers were complimentary of your team's heads up playing.

I think that you are probably a discriminating enough reader/viewer to be able to separate the books and the series....they really are that different IMHO. So if the DVD is due back soon to the library, go ahead and watch it, then put a few weeks in between before reading the next book. By the time you've read 3 or 4 more books, you'll be absolutely able to point out all the discrepancies between the two, and therefore watch the TV as if you were watching an episode of Bonanza!

#27 I read Paranoia a few years back and remember enjoying it.

#29 1632 is surely entertaining, I dont know if you are aware that there is a 1633 as well.

I'm simply stopping by to wave hi. The semester is over and so is my energy level. I haven't been able to devote time to LT for awhile.

thinking of you and hoping you are well.

Hi, Sandy! Just a quick hello!

One of these days, I'm going to try reading Elizabeth George. The library where I work has A Great Deliverance.

ETA for clarity. My brain and writing are fuzzy today.

#87: I thought that book was a let down too. Glad to know it was not just me.

OK, I am once again caught up on your thread. I am hoping to stay that way!

Hi Sandy, I see you are planning on an Elizabeth George read. I discovered her and Minette Walters around the same time and just devoured everything by the two of them. I do remember A Great Deliverence as being very good and a great introduction to the series.

Hi Sandy. It was great to meet you today. . . Nice to know fellow LTers who live so close. I enjoyed our conversation and look forward to getting to know you better via the threads. Definitely looking forward to Joplin in the fall!

Sandy

I'm sorry to be far behind in messages and I especially apologize for the fact that May 6th was your birthday and I didn't post a Happy Birthday message to you!

I hope you had a day as special as you are!


glitter-graphics.com

Sandy, great to finally meet you!
Enjoyed our time together.
I'm sitting in the airport this morning--got here plenty early and have time to kill so catching up a bit online.

Belated Happy Birthday from me too!

Sandy, I hope your birthday was a special day for you. I know yesterday was!

I'm not planning on coming up for the Johnson County booksale in June. I'll miss it, but the kids will be gone that week and I couldn't bear being so close and not seeing them. That will leave more books for you!

Thanks for the birthday wishes. It has been a lovely month so far - with the birthday and mother's day and getting to meet Roni and Brenda yesterday afternoon. Today is my husband's birthday, so the celebrations are continuing at our house.

The question on my mind today is this: has anyone else read Still Alice by Lisa Genova? That is the one about the Harvard psychology professor who develops early-onset alzheimers disease. I'm about half way through it, and it is heart-breaking. The way that Alice's fears for her future, and her family, and her frustration that her brain just isn't working are so realistically portrayed. I rarely talk about my books until after I'm finished with them, but this one is having such an impact on me that I can't help myself. There was one scene that I read earlier today that caused me to chuckle. Shortly after receiving her diagnosis, Alice is in her office at Harvard trying to remember everything that needs to be done. She has reached a point where she is beginning to struggle with language - reading and writing are no longer automatic. Her to-do list is long and her frustrated thought is "I don't have time for Alzheimer's today!" Even if the book completely falls apart in the second half it will have been worth reading. I'm sure I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Sandy

I really enjoyed Still Alice. My book club read and discussed this book and in addition, the person who leads the group (my friend and local librarian) invited a nurse who manages an alzheimers unit. The conversation was great and the insight provided was incredible.

Your comments remind me how much I enjoyed the book.

Having a chance to talk to an Alzheimer's care-giver would be very interesting - especially if they have also read the book. I'm curious to know how accurate it is - it seems realistic to me, but that's not quite the same, since I've never had any real exposure to Alzheimer's.

From what I remember, the speaker thought the book was very accurate.

One of the reasons I liked the book was because so often we read from the perspective of the caregiver. Still Alice, as you know, allowed the reader to learn from the point of view of the one with this terrible illness.

Sandy, I read Still Alice last year and liked it very much. Given the author's background, I made the assumption the symptoms were accurate. I haven't had a lot of personal experience with Alzheimer's and was surprised by some of the challenges Alice faced. I looked forward to Lisa Genova's second bookLeft Neglected, bought and read it soon after it's release, but was not impressed as withStill Alice. Definitely a good read. . . Enjoy!

I'm especially enjoying the way Genova is able to portray Alice's fear and frustration, and also show the readers the truth of the situation even when Alice does not realize what is happening. One of my favorite sad/funny scenes so far was when she went to a lecture hall because the class was on her schedule, patiently waited for the prescribed 20 minutes allowed for the lecturer to show up, and then left, telling the other students that she had better things to do. Of course, she was the instructor that everyone was waiting uncomfortably for - not one of the students - but she never realized that.

The disease is, indeed, terrible. Yet I am very impressed with the way that Alice has reached a point of acceptance of her fate. I hope the second half of the book will reveal more about the family and their reactions to Alice's decline - I am presuming that she will continue to decline. And I am bracing myself for a sad ending - how can it be otherwise?

Brenda, I wasn't aware that Genova had another book. I just read a few of the reviews posted and they are a little mixed. Some loved it, others were a little cooler - like you. I'll make that decision later. For now I AM enjoying Still Alice.

I loved Still Alice, too. But it scared me, as some of her earliest symptoms seemed a bit familiar . . . and early dementia runs in my family.

I think my edition had some indication that it was recommended by an Alzheimers organization. I'll check tomorrow if it's not out on loan. (I donated it to the library where I work.) That, in addition to the author's "day job," would indicate that it's fairly accurate.

More completed books:

Book #28



Gallows View by Peter Robinson

A series of peeping toms, then burglaries, and finally a murder in a small English town keeps Inspector Alan Banks busy. According to the reviews posted, this series gets off to a slow start before hitting its stride. That is good to know - this isn't a bad book, but not very memorable. I gave it 3 stars after finishing it three weeks ago, and would be hard pressed to recall many details now. I do remember that it was a fast, easy read so I can be patient and give the author a couple more installments before I begin demanding that he produce something more compelling. I suppose one could begin in the middle of the series and skip this slow beginning, but that is just not going to happen with me.

I too really liked Still Alice - our book group read and discussed this one last fall..its strength comes from the point of view - that of the victim instead of the caregiver. It is a heavy book...one that stays and haunts the reader for a long time, but it is also a great discussion starter for anyone who is or who may be facing this awful disease in their family or life.

Book #29



Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage

Another series beginner - I actually got this book because the book I intended to read by this new-to-me author was #2 in the series. Of course I had to get #1 first. This one is a little meatier than the last one I read. This book is set in Brazil and features Chief Inspector Mario Silva of the federal police. It opens with the assasination of a Catholic Bishop just as he stepped off the helicopter in the remote city of Cascates for the dedication of a new church. When Silva arrives on the scene, he lands in the middle of a political battle between wealthy landowners and the league of landless workers. Silva seems to be about the only honest policeman around - corrupt officals of all types, including priests, are thick on the ground here and give the story a whole set of complicating factors. A good beginning to a promising series. 3-1/2 stars.

#117 The descriptions of Alice's early symptoms and her worry as she decides to finally see a doctor scared me, too. And I don't have any of them, nor a family history of any type of dementia. However, if I had, I think I would be making an appointment as quickly as possible for whatever screening is available for a disease with no definitive diagnostic testing. My MIL and her sister both had Alzheimers, although not the early-onset form, and I know my husband is worried - as am I - that he will also get it someday.

#119 As "heavy" as the book might be, if it can raise awareness of this disease, and others like it, then that is surely a good thing. The more research that can be funded, the sooner a successful treatment - maybe even a cure - can be developed. I'm hoping for an author's note or something at the end with more information.

Book #30



The Good Son by Michael Gruber

Ooh, this one was good. A special forces soldier in the US Army - a Pakistani-American - must come up with a way to get himself sent to Pakistan when his mother is kidnapped by terrorists and held hostage. That is really a too-simple description for a wonderfully complex story about this particular mother and son who both get caught up in events much larger than any family. Detailed descriptions of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the series of events in that region since the invasion of the Soviets in the 1980's. Lots of moving back and forth in time, and several surprising twists. 4 stars.

>122 sjmccreary:: I'm going to be on the lookout for The Good Son. I don't think I've read anything by Michael Gruber but I seem to recall a book by him that I gave to my son...there's something about a Shakespeare related book in my shaky memory.

Memory is what brought me back here. I read your comments about Still Alice yesterday but didn't have time to respond. I read it after my mother had died from a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's. And, yes, it was a battle.

I was living in Colorado when she was diagnosed at age 74. I remember her talking about it when I came home on visits. She clearly knew that she was declining. So sad. The latter stages of A.D. are almost a relief after the confusion of the early stage.

I read lots of books and went to workshops, etc. and all I can say about the disease is that it exhibits itself differently in people. My mother was never combative or mean, but her sadness and crying were worse imo. When we moved back here to Missouri to help my dad, it was like coming back to a completely different woman.

So that's my experience with the disease. I'm starting to get nervous about the lack of helpful drugs to stop it in its tracks. I figure I've got a decade left for reading all the books I've wanted to read! Btw, my mother was a prolific reader so that's not going to save me. I asked her if she missed reading...and she said "no." That's when I knew that her whole idea of who she was had completely changed.

I think reading a book from the perspective of the A.D. sufferer was enlightening. I may read it again, as my perspective has changed over the past few years.

ETA: Ah, yes, it was The Book of Air and Shadows that I gave to Ben a few years ago. Nothing wrong with my memory - yet!

Sandy, I'm a frequent lurker on your thread but just wanted to jump in on the Still Alice discussion.

My mother is currently 87 and I think I first realized she might have Alzheimer's when she was 79 or 80. I so wish that I had been able to read something like Still Alice then because I think it would have helped me understand what she was going through.

In particular, there were scenes in the book when her family talks about her as though she isn't present assuming that she doesn't understand what they're talking about but in fact she does. She just can't keep up verbally. I also saw my father and brother in some of her male relatives who thought all they had to do was to correct her about something and she'd remember what they'd said and there wouldn't be any further problems.

Because my mother and her mother both have/had the disease, I'm terrified that I'll get it. One thing the book helped me realize is that simply forgetting where you put something is not a big deal. I thought one of the scariest scenes is in the beginning when she's out running and then just doesn't have a clue where she is--nothing looks familiar.

I agree with Donna that the later stages of the disease almost seem to be better because there's less realization on the part of the person with the disease that they're literally losing their mind.

I've heard that said about the later stages of the disease - the patient is unaware of how bad they've gotten. But the family and especially the primary caregiver are the ones who really suffer.

eta - the stories are so sad, but I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - and reactions to this book. Please don't stop now.

Sandy, I wanted to jump in and comment about Leighton Gage - author of Blood of the Wicked. He and I have actually had a petite email correspondence back and forth after I got an ARC of his first two books and did reviews of them. I commented to him that while I really liked the stories and understood that they were very realistic portrayals of the crime scene in Brazil, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to continue reading the series because the graphic violence was more than I wanted to handle. He replied, (and has also blogged on Murder is Everywhere) that he got many comments about the violence and in his third book he has tried to tone it down. I haven't read either books 3 or 4 so I can't say if they really are less violent. I do like the character of Mario Silva, but I have to take these very gingerly.

Chiming in on Still Alice - I loved the book when I read it.

#126 I'm able to stomach pretty graphic violence in a novel when it is appropriate. One thing that I found to be confusing in this book was that everyone seemed to be so bad, it was hard to keep the players straight in my mind. Knowing that he is turning things down a bit might be an improvement. I think you are the one who recommended book #2 to me, and I've got it queued up to be read very soon. I'm looking forward to several more books featuring this character.

#127 Hi, Stasia! I'm about 3/4 through it now, and still enjoying it.

#128: I am glad you are continuing to enjoy Still Alice, Sandy.

Hi Sandy, just dropping in to say it's interesting to read your thoughts on Gallows View. I picked up my first Peter Robinson book as a cheap supermarket offer some years ago - it was about the 10th in the series and I've read most of them since then. I recently went back to start the series from the beginning, and Gallows View was certainly less compelling than some of the later ones I've read, so if you do persevere you should find them getting better.

Popping in to say hi!

*waving* as I attempt to catch up on threads :)

RL has has been interferring lately, so it's been a week or more since I last had a chance to post. Last Saturday, I went to a large computer store on the other side of town and bought myself a new laptop and accessories. (To give you an idea of just how busy things have been, I haven't even taken the new computer out of the box yet!) At the other end of the shopping center from the computer store is a big Borders - going out of business. Since the Borders close to my house is not closing, I've missed out on all the great deals I've heard about from everyone else. I decided to stop in and see what I could find. (I almost said "see if I could find anything", but I guess you'd all know better!) An hour or so later, I came out with 6 new books - and didn't even have to sign the charge slip because it was less than $25. Wow!

Here is what I got, all for $24.49, including tax:

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce - I've never read him before and this one looks much more accessible than Ulysses
The Leopard by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa - Donna, was it you who read this book recently? Someone did and loved it.
Independent People by Halldor Laxness - this has been on my wishlist ever since I discovered Scandinavian fiction a couple of years ago.
The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin - Another one already on my wishlist, I may read it sooner rather than later - it looks even better in real life than it did when I read the recommendations
The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte - I love his Captain Alatriste series and am excited about this one
Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane - I've been wanting to try him again ever since I loved Shutter Island - this one is a hard cover book.

Getting 6 new books for the price of one is a great deal that I wish I could find all the time but, all things considered, I'm glad my Borders is staying open. Losing an entire bookstore is a high price to pay for a few cheap books.

>133 sjmccreary:: wow, that's a nice set of books for that price!

Nice haul, Sandy! I have the first three books on your list, but haven't read any of them yet.

Great haul, Sandy! Congratulations.

I hope RL slows down for you very soon :)

Congratulations on the haul, Sandy.

>133 sjmccreary:: Regarding The Leopard, Sandy, it wasn't me that read it recently. I read it a few years ago and promptly put it on my reread pile in hopes that I would "get" it the next time around. I think I should have done my due diligence on the place and time period before I read it. Nice haul.

Are you planning to go to the Johnson County booksale? I'll be with you in spirit...I'm sad to have to pass up on that one this year.

I just bought Shutter Island based on the comments about the author on LT. I'm really looking forward to the book.

#138 Donna, I think I'm doomed. If you didn't "get" it, I've got no hope at all! But, I'll take your comment about doing the homework first to heart. I just hope there's enough of a story on the surface that I'll still be able to enjoy The Leopard.

Not sure about the JoCo booksale - have they announced the dates yet? I've been travelling quite a bit lately and will be out of town for much of early June, too, but I'll go if I can.

Becky - I hope you enjoy Shutter Island. Read the book before you watch the movie.

>140 sjmccreary:: Sandy, I enjoyed The Leopard on a surface level; next time I'll be reading for the deeper meaning.

I think the JoCOo library booksale starts Wed., June 8 and runs through that weekend. I may try to make it to the fall sale instead if I'm not busy then.

Donna, Even though your family will be out of town during the JOCO library sale, you could come to KC and hang out with Sandy and I for a day or two!?

Maybe next year I can time my visit to correspond with the JOCO library sale?

#143: You are coming back to KC next year, Roni?! Oh boy! Maybe I will get a chance to meet you yet.

Oh, wouldn't that be fun to have a meet-up at the big book sale! I think it must usually be the 2nd weekend of June - Donna, does it open on Wednesday or Thursday? And runs through Saturday? or Sunday? We ought to be able to plan ahead for next year. There is another one in the fall - but ask Donna when that one is because I don't remember. I don't think it's as big, though.

I can think of no better place for a meet up than a book sale! :)

#146 Too bad, you won't be "allowed" to buy anything.

#147: Piyush, your meanness is crossing threads now!

#148 Yup, I am on a roll!

I'll be on vacation all of next week, and probably won't be online except to check for emails from home. And maybe not even for that. I'll be spending the week on the beach doing little. After my husband made the reservations, he told me to pack plenty of books because he just wants to relax - no running around sight-seeing. Suits me fine! Hopefully, I'll be able to make my way through some of the books that have begun to pile up in recent weeks. I hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day weekend and a great first week of summer.

Enjoy your time off, Sandy. Sounds wonderful.

Reading on the beach. What joy! Take plenty of sunscreen along...and your camera. You know you want to make us all jealous with your beach pictures!

The JoCo spring booksale has been starting on the second Wednesday in June and running through Sunday for the past few years. I've never gone to the fall sale. A meetup centered around acquiring cheap books would be wonderful. ;-)

>142 brenpike:: That's tempting, Brenda, but I'll be busy getting ready for the Dallas contingent to visit. Next year for sure ...and possibly this fall. If you go to the sale, be sure and ask them when their fall sale is. Thanks.

Have tons of fun, Sandy!

Happy sunning and happy reading Sandy!

Have a great time, Sandy!

Back from vacation and finally caught up enough to spend a few minutes on line for fun instead of work or correspondence. Of course it's bedtime so I can't stay long but I still wanted to say HI and let you know we made it home safely. It was a great trip and we loved every minute of it. All the walking aggravated a previously ignored minor injury to my heel (Achilles tendon, actually) and I went in to see the doc about it yesterday. The nurse - who had heard about our upcoming trip from my husband during his semi-annual check-up a couple of weeks ago - asked how the vacation had gone just as she was having me step up on the scale. My response was that obviously I'd eaten too much! Yikes! But the food was great and I don't regret a single bite of it! However, I will admit to having a couple too many mojito's.

I only finished 2 books on the trip - Private Life by Jane Smiley for the MO Readers group read discussion this week. A good book, but not for the beach. It took me all week and I was ready to be done at least 2 full days before I finally finished. By contrast, I breezed through a paperback thriller in a single day of waiting in airports and flying on the way home.

So, off to bed - I struggled going back to work today and and am really missing Felipe - the guy who brought us drinks on the beach. *sigh* back to real life

Welcome home . . . Glad you had a good time.

I wish I had a Felipe in my life. Where did you go? I'll look him up if I ever get there. ;-)

I plan to finish Private Life today and join in on the discussion. I'm not sure how much I liked the book but I think there's plenty to talk about.

Are you going to the Johnson County book sale? I think it starts today. Have fun... and post a list if you go. I'll be with you in spirit.

Welcome back, Sandy. Glad to hear that you had fun on your trip.

I need someone like that to bring me my margaritas.

I keep planning to get to the Jane Smiley book but, right now, I'm wrapped up in a Civil War book. I never knew there were so many Civil War battles in Missouri.

Welcome back, Sandy. Sounds like you had a good time.

Thanks for the warm welcomes - it was a good trip, but we did absolutely nothing of any substance. The most strenuous thing was the daily bocce ball game at noon. I was tied for the lead going into the final round on the last day - with my husband! We both lost, though. Just as well. The prize was a bottle of tequilla which we wouldn't have drank and couldn't have brought home. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort on the Riveria Maya - between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. It was the first time we'd done that, but we'll do it again for sure. We met people from all over the place, but it seemed to be especially well populated by mid-westerners and there were several from Missouri - including one couple from Donna's hometown of Springfield.

I won't be making it to the library sale this week as I'm in Wichita from now until the end of next week. Not even going home for the weekend and my family will be coming here to me instead. Brenda - are you going to go?

I started 2 new books this week - an audio version of Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin in the car for the drive down to Wichita - that is the one about Abraham Lincoln and his political career. I can't remember whether it was Cheli or Tina who recommend it - but so far they were spot on. Excellent so far. The other is Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King. It think Stasia recommended that one. I don't know what to say about it - I was skeptical in the beginning as it seemed to be a series of very short and disjointed episodes that seemed to have no purpose or point. But it has a way of sucking you in and it's very hard to put down. Some of the pieces are beginning to come together. I had also started A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore but abandoned that one when just more and more of nothing kept happening. I'm getting so that I no longer need breakneck action nonstop to hold my interest, but I do insist that the long periods of introspection be at least interesting. Maybe I'll go back to it after I finish one of these others. I doubt it, but we'll see.

Sandy, My daughter is here from Ohio this weekend, so we'll have to work out a time to get to the book sale. Hopefully though . . .

I took my daughter with me to the sale last year. She's not a big reader, but she made a handy book-hauler!

There's an idea . . .

Sandy,

Glad you're back and that you apparently had a relaxing time.
Also glad to hear that you are enjoying Team of Rivals - I worry when I recommend a book, but that was so great, I knew others would like it.

I'm planning to start Team of Rivals soon. Glad to hear from yet another person that it's excellent.

I'm glad to hear you had such a great vacation! Did you go to Tulum to see the Mayan ruins? A few years ago I spent Christmas in Mexico with my sister-in-law's family. (She's from Mexico). We flew into Cancun and spent 3 nights there, then drove to Merida for the Christmas get-together. While we were in Cancun we took a day trip to Tulum and enjoyed looking at all of the resorts along the way.

Welcome back, Sandy!

Yes, I recommended Green Grass, Running Water a couple of years back. I loved Team of Rivals too.

Glad to hear again how much everyone enjoyed Team of Rivals - and the audio version is very good. Read by Suzanne Toren who is one of my favorites - she is the one who reads the Julia Spencer-Fleming series about Clare Ferguson. Linda, I think you will love it, too.

Stasia, how would you describe Green Grass, Running Water? I'm still moving right along in it, still finding it very hard to put down. It's one of those books that I find myself carrying with me as I move from room to room and each time I go to the car. Sor far I haven't carried it inside to work, but I always check to make sure it is safely in place on the front seat whenever I get back out to the car! However, I still am struggling to know how to describe it and really don't know how I'll even explain my reaction it to.

We went to Cancun several years ago and did most of the excursions in the area then, including the ruins at Chitzen Itza but not Tulum. We decided that if we felt like getting out and about this time we'd do Tulum since it is so close to where we stayed. However, once we got checked in we felt no compulsion to leave again until it was time to go home - so we didn't go anywhere at all! (Much to the dismay of the tour people and the conceirge who kept trying to tempt us with all the fun things to do.)

One of our favorite places in that part of the world is San Francisco Beach on Cozumel. We have fond memories of warm sun, sandy beach, cold drinks and freshly caught grilled fish in an open-air cafe.

Sounds wonderful. We didn't make it there, either. I guess we'll just have to go back!

#168: how would you describe Green Grass, Running Water?

The quintessential Trickster tale - about the time you think it is one thing, it is something else :)

#171 Very good. I certainly haven't quite figured out what it is yet, but it is definitely intriguing. And I think I am liking it a lot.

#172: Good! I anxiously await your thoughts when you have finished with the book :)

#173 Me, too. I just hope I can find the words to describe them.

#174: You can always make up words. . .

Sandy and Stasia, you are both tricksters tormenting us with your talk about Green Grass, Running Water. The title sounds intriguing and Sandy's covetous behavior and Stasia's enticing description makes it even more tantalizing.

I don't blame you for your complete and total relaxation on your vacation, Sandy. I've heard that's what their purpose is, although we usually go at breakneck speed and come home exhausted. Hey, and what about those Bocce Ball games. You and your husband must have had one too many margaritas or whatever Felipe was serving you that day.

Were you so busy relaxing that you couldn't take any pictures???

#176: Now you have to read Green Grass, Running Water, Donna! I think I read it either in 2008 or 2009 due to someone's recommendation here in the group. It really is a good book, so give it a go!

Hi, Sandy! Glad you had a good and restful vacation! :)

#177 That is exactly what I was going to say! Please, Donna, read the book and then let me know what it is about! I'm still working on it every chance I get and hope to finish it this evening or tomorrow, latest.

#176 No pictures, I didn't even take the camera! The first time I've ever done that on purpose. There were times I wished I had it, but this trip was more about the relaxing than the beauty of the place, so photos weren't needed. However, it was a lovely resort, and I would like to have had pictures of some of the smiling faces we met there - include Felipe. As far as the bocce games and margaritas, we learned after the first day to wait until AFTER bocce to drink anything stronger than water! The games were at noon, so that was really no big problem - we're not hard drinkers after all. The day we both lost was due solely to the intense competition in the game and the skill - and luck - of the guy who made a good shot when both of ours went bad. It was such a thrill for me to be in the running at the end of the game, that I didn't mind losing a single bit!

#178 Thanks, Terri, we had a wonderful trip, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

Back to the books:

Book #31



The Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage

The first book in a new series for me - about Brazilian Federal Police Inspector Mario Silvia. A Catholic Bishop is assassinated upon his arrival in a remote city for the blessing of a new cathederal. Suspicions are immediately cast on the rival factions of land owners and landless workers and the crooked politicians - and church leaders - who are not above using their offical positions to gain power and wealth in the struggle. Mario seems like the last honest man left in the mess. A little confusing to keep all the characters straight, but a great beginning with a solid hero. I gave it 3-1/2 stars.

Ack! I just realized I'd already posted that book, and now I can't figure out how to edit the message to change it or simply delete it and post a completely new one! So, ignore post #180 and I'll just go on to the next one.

Book #31



The Hostage by WEB Griffin

OK, so this one is pretty fluffy, in a testosterone-infused sort of way. This is the 2nd book in a series about Army Major/Secret Service Agent/Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Homeland Security/Personal Agent of the President CJ Castillo. He is handsome, wealthy, popular, smart, multi-lingual, and beloved by everyone he meets. He flies planes, shoots bad guys, and all the women adore him. Gag. But, it's pretty good escapist reading, and pretty entertaining to find out what he will try to get away with next. He can't keep a secret any better than a middle school girl, and I can't imagine why in the world he ever managed to get TOP SECRET security clearance. This book was set in Argentina, which was a nice change of pace. I gave it 3-1/2 stars, just because it is so darn unbelievable.

OK, so I still don't know why I can't edit my message after I post it, and I really don't know what the problem with touchstones is this evening, but I'm moving on.

Book #32



Still Alice by Lisa Genova

This is the same book that I loved so much that I insisted on talking about it even while I was still reading it back in May, starting about msg #110 above. I still think it was a wonderful book and highly recommend it to anyone. A rare 5 stars from me.

#182: I gave it 3-1/2 stars, just because it is so darn unbelievable.

I have done the same thing, Sandy. Those are the kinds of books that I read just for the sheer entertainment value.

Book #33



Shakedown by Joel Goldman

Still another new series - this one set in my hometown of Kansas City, which was kind of fun. FBI agent Jack Davis had a suspected drug dealer under video surveillance when an unknown gunman breaks into the house and kills everyone inside. Right on tape. Except that he cut the lights just before entering the room as though he knew about the video, making Davis suspect that there might be a leak on his team. A pretty nice little thriller. However, I found myself getting distracted by all the Kansas City references. I have to say, he gets everything exactly right - absolutely right - except one thing. The large teaching hospital attached to the KU Medical School in Kansas City, KS is - and has always been - known as the KU Medical Center, or simply KU Med. It has never been widely referred to as the KU Hospital which he does repeatedly and annoyingly throughout the book. But he made up for it a little bit by taking the name of a recent notorious mayor for his character's alias while on an unauthorized undercover foray. I gave it 3 stars.

#184 That's exactly it - and I'll probably read the next one in the series for the same reason!

Book #34



Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

A very nice, gentle change of pace from most of the last several books - and my first Bronte since school. A pleasant story about a young woman who hires herself out as a governess to help her family make ends meet when her parson father becomes ill. Very nice. 3-1/2 stars.

Book #35



One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming

The latest installment in the Rev Clare Ferguson - Russ VanAlysyne series about the retired army helicopter pilot turned Episcopal priest and the small town chief of police. This has long been one of my favorite series and I eagerly look forward to each new book. The last one was disappointing, but this one more than makes up. Absolutely one of the best of all. Centers around a group of combat veterans who have all returned home and are trying to make sense of their lives after war. Excellent. 4-1/2 stars.

Book #36



Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

The Olympian Gods are alive and well - sort of - and living in a townhouse in London. And losing their powers. When Apollo loses consciousness and the sun goes out, Hermes takes a mortal to the underworld to seek help. Clever, pretty funny, but a little on the bawdy side for me. 3-1/2 stars.

Book #37



Private Life by Jane Smiley

Read for the MO Readers Group this month, it begins and ends with a Japanese family being placed in an internment camp in California during WWII. The flash-back in the middle begins at the turn of the century at the time of the St Louis world fair and tells the story of the lives of Margaret, a spinster from a farm near St Louis and Andrew, the local boy who went away and became a brilliant scientist. They married and spent their lives in California near San Francisco where we have a chance to witness the 1905 earthquake up close. Full of interesting, if not always likable, characters. Margaret is a sad character who comes to realize that she has no life of her own, except her "private life" - that part of herself that she shares with no one. One big disappointment was that there isn't more about her friends, the Kimura family, who were the ones taken into custody at the opening of the book. 3-1/2 stars.

Book #38



The Associate by Phillip Margolin

A legal thriller about a young attorney working for a large firm that is defending a pharmaceutical company in a product liability suit - a drug that allegedly causes severe birth defects when taken by pregnant women. He begins to suspect something is horribly wrong when evidence goes missing and witnesses are killed. Pretty good. 4 stars.

Poignantly, I began reading this book shortly after the time of the Joplin tornado - it was one of the books I bought at the LT meet-up in Joplin last fall and when I saw the book stamp inside the cover I couldn't help wondering whether we'll ever have an opportunity to go back.

I posted on Donna's thread, Sandy, when the question came up about 'our' bookstore. Their website has a calendar of events showing for June, so I am hopeful that all is well there. I will check again in July to see if there is a further update.

Book #39



Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King

This is the book I started last week and was having trouble knowing what it was about even while I continued to enjoy the reading. I finished it the other day - still liking it. It's like nothing I've read before - Stasia called it a trickster tale, and that seems fitting, as it keeps changing and moving. A group of Indians from Alberta, Canada go missing from the mental institution where they live. Not really a problem, since they've done it before and always come back. But whenever they go, there is always trouble somewhere. Like Mt St Helens. And Krakatoa. These old Indians were present at creation and struggle to tell the story so that the "Christians" can understand. Now they just want to try to fix the world, because it is broken. The humans in the story are equally struggling to understand their lives and heritage and their place in the world. A thought-provoking look at the way native Americans have been treated and viewed, even by themselves, in a European-styled society since the beginning of our national history. Also a few interesting little Canada vs USA jabs, but those are incidental. Lots of comic relief by Coyote. Recommended. 4 stars.

#192 That is great news!

#193: I am glad you ended up 'still liking it', Sandy!

Green Grass, Running Water looks like one I would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation Sandy.

>193 sjmccreary:: Green Grass, Running Water does sound deep...and alluring. I just caught up with my library book request list and now I'm compelled to add this one thanks to you and Stasia.

Sandy, I loved the way you so succinctly reviewed Private Life. I'm afraid my negative comments turned people away from the book - but it did have its good points. I wonder what we'll read in August. I'm going ahead with Truman - with or without the group!

I am picturing Felipe as one of those ravishing Latinos that lure hapless readers into buying Harlequin Romances. I'm kind of glad you don't have a picture to interfere with my daydreams!

#196, 197 I hope you'll both be able to read Green Grass, Running Water soon - I think you'll enjoy it.

Private Life was one of those books that was harder for me to decide about the longer it had been since reading it - plus comments from everyone else pointing out details and asking questions that I'd simply not considered. It maybe wasn't the best book any of us had read, but it was certainly worth the effort. I just wish the story had been a little better - you know, something really nice happening to someone for a change!

Felipe was not the ravishing Latino you're thinking of! He was actually quite short - a Maya from near Chitzen Itza, he said - but he had the brightest smile and loved to talk. He and Chris exchanged boasts about their small villages - my husband's hometown has only about 100 people, but Felipe's has a chenote for swimming. I thought it sounded like a draw. While not the stereotypical Latin lover, he nevertheless looked very good in shorts - especially walking away. No doubt thanks to his job of wading through deep sand all day carrying heavy drink trays to thirsty tourists! Enjoy your daydreams. ;-)

Two more books - one I forgot last night and another I finished this evening.

Book #40



Buried Strangers by Leighton Gage

The sequel to #30 above, this book has Inspector Mario Silvo looking the discovery of an usual ritual cemetery, full of family graves. Also, whole families are disappearing from the poverty-stricken slum areas of the city. Surely they're connected, right? This is shaping up to be a pretty dandy series, and I'm looking forward to reading more of it soon. I thought this book was actually noticably better than the first and gave it 4 stars.

Book #41



Thirteenth Night by Alan Gordon

In the time of the Crusades, a guild of fools exists, much to the dismay of the Roman church. When a nobleman dies suddenly, Feste, one of the fools who was acquainted with the man in his early years (although this part was vague, I thought) is surruptitiously called to investigate. He immediately suspects Malvolio - a villian from the old days, also part of the vagueness. No real matter - it is a neat little mystery with all the clues laid out for anyone to make sense of them. 4 stars.

OK, I'm beginning to get a little annoyed at the fact that I can't seem to get touchstones to work and that I can't edit the message just after I post it. I finally got my new laptop up and running - is it possible that I've got a wonky keyboard setting that I'm unaware of that is part of the problem? HELP!

I enjoyed Thirteenth Night too, Sandy. I need to get back to that series!

Sandy, for your touchstone problem: are you using Internet Explorer 9? A bug has been reported here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/117341#
and here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/116970

The second one has many more messages posted, I haven't read them all -- you may want to read this to see if your problem is similar.

For your editing problem: Do you see "Edit" below the message? What happens when you click on it?

Hi, Sandy,

Just spent a bit of time catching up on your thread. Haven't been doing much with LT outside of my own thread--too busy.

Several comments: The Leopard is one of my all-time favorite books. I also can not recommend highly enough the film with Burt Lancaster in his best role. Be sure to see the Italian version (it has subtitles).

I was interested in the comments about Leighton Gage's books. I've wanted to read this series for a while, but I think it has only recently come on to Kindle. Just bought the first.

As for the graphic violence--believe me, it exists there. Or used to. Things have been better now for some years, but the violence in Rio and São Paulo grows, and I doubt it ever left the northeast. Knowing people who were involved in the MST--the landless movement--I can tell you that it has erupted in violence more than once. So I'm looking forward to this book.

Too many books too far back in your thread to comment--life moves on--but I wanted to say something about The Leopard in particular.

Just saying hi...wow, you've been writing a lot of reviews lately - good job! :)

#201 Stasia, I think the Thirteenth Night recommendation was from you - thanks.

#202 Laura, I AM using IE9 on the new computer (although obviously not today since the touchstone popped right up). Thanks for the bug report - I'll check it out. What a relief to know it's not something I was doing wrong.

#203 Hi Joyce! I confess I haven't checked your thread in quite a while either. I started to the other day, but so many unread posts put me off again. I'll make a point to get there soon - I've missed your comments. I didn't realize that The Leopard book was the same story as the Burt Lancaster movie (which I have not seen). I'll be sure not to get the movie until after I've had a chance to read the book. I'll be looking forward to your reactions to the Leighton Gage books. I like them - despite the violence, which seems realistic to me in any case - but you'll have a much different perspective.

#204 Thanks, finally catching up is all. Very quick comments made days - sometimes weeks - after the book are quite different from the more thoughtful and complete comments that come immediately after reading, aren't they?

Back on the new computer - I checked out the bug reports that Laura pointed out. I'm not the only having problems, it seems. Testing to see if I use a different browser - Google Chrome - will things work?

Thirteenth Night
The Leopard

Oooh - it seems to work!

My son was telling me that he likes this browser, and if it lets me use LT, then so do I.

I'm hoping to catch up on some threads today and I'm stopping by to see what you are reading and how you are. Thirteenth Night by Alan Gordon sounds delightful. It is now on the tbr pile.

Hugs to you!

>206 sjmccreary:: yay! Glad you found a way to make things work.

Good morning, Sandy! You're doing some good reading. I may have to try that series by Gage. (Just what I need, another series to try to follow . . .)

I'm having the same problems with posts that you've reported, Sandy, as my computer has Windows 7 and IE 9. I can't edit immediately after posting (though I can if I leave the thread and return) and touchstones are nonexistant. I've found that if I type things out as though the touchstones work, when I go on LT with another computer that has an older IE or Firefox and click to edit a post, the touchstones kick right in and I can change any where the wrong work was the default.

I haven't read all the posts on the bug thread, but I am hoping that they'll be able to fix it eventually so it works with IE9. I really hate to switch to another browser. This computer is so touchy, almost any change I make in terms of software has unintended consequences. I hate tech issues.

#209 That sounds exactly like what is happening here. I wondered about going back and editing those touchstones from another computer, but it seemed like a lot of trouble. I think I'll just try to remember to use Chrome for now until they fix the problem. A less-than-perfect solution right now because I'm so used to using IE that it takes a real effort for me to try to navigate something new. IE9 seems to work perfectly for everything else I've done, except LT.

I hate tech issues. - You and me, both!

Enjoy the Gage books!

Sandy, which Cubs/KC game are you going to? When I'm in StL, if I can, I will try to watch it. (Of course, we are going to three games of our own.)

Hi Sandy, I've been lurking here and following your reading. I am definitely interesting in the Leighton Gage books and, of course, I need to get back to the Julia Spencer-Fleming series. As usual so many books I want to read!

So glad you've found a way to make LT work on the new computer!! Thinking of you...and wishing I could make the Joplin meeting, which I can't, so no use thinking of it.

Aw, rats! I'm sorry to read you won't be able to make the Joplin meet-up this fall Roni. Sandy and I will take lots of pics. . . right, Sandy?!

#211 We're going Saturday evening. It looks like the StL game is the same time as KC, so I don't know how you'd be able to watch both. You'll just have to keep track when they post the scores the stadium. I hope you're disappointed. ;-)

#212 Yes, so many books, so little time...

#213 I wish you could make Joplin, too. Maybe next year...

#214 Well, we'll TRY to take pictures. Assuming we remember to get the camera out of the car! Did you have a chance to get to the JoCo Library sale?

Hi Sandy. We did not make it to the sale, too many other things going on that weekend. I'm hoping to make the fall sale, maybe we'll be able to arrange to attend together . . .
I've enjoyed reading your vacation reminiscences . . .

#215 Go Cubs!!

We will have to watch the out of town scoreboard. I expected weather in the low to mid 90s but was astounded to see, as of today, anyway, a predicted high of 75 on Fri and low 80s on Sat/Sun for St L. We could be lucky.

That would be fun - November, I think, isn't it? Maybe Donna will come, too.

#217 That would be very lucky - St Louis is summertime isn't always a pleasant experience, as you well know. I don't know what the forecast is here, but our seats are usually in the shade so it isn't too bad, even when it's pretty warm. I'm looking forward to the game, it will be only the 2nd I've gone to this year.

#219 In anticipation of hot weather in StL, I got tickets for the Redbird Club for our only day game. If it gets too hot and we feel woozy with heat and humidity, we can always go inside for AC. Or if it rains.

Zambrano is pitching for the Cubs tonight vs the White Sox so he'll likely pitch on Sat. That could be fun as he tends to lose his temper and you never know what'll happen.

My favorite Cubs player of the past few years, Ted Lilly, is gone now and my current favorites, Darwin Barney (2B) and Marlon Byrd (CF), are both hurt.

Green Grass, Running Water sounds very intriguing. I've added it to my wishlist. Enjoying reading your reviews!

Sandy, I just finished the first Gage novel, Blood of the Wicked. I thought it superb. AND an accurate reflection of contemporary Brasil, although I'm used to thinking of most of that occurring in the northeast and north rather than in São Paulo state, which is in the much more affluent south.

#221 Fair's fair - I just picked up a book from the library that came from a recommendation of yours - Hippolyte's Island. It looks wonderful. I hope you enjoy Green Grass, Running Water

#222 I'm glad to hear that Gage's book is accurate. It really seemed believable. However, the geography is beyond me, I need to find the atlas and study it the next time I read a book set in an unfamiliar location. I used to do that all the time, but have gotten out of the habit recently. Are you going on to the next in the series?

I've already downloaded it and the third, but will wait until I finish Saramago's A History of the Siege of Lisbon before I start it or I will NEVER finish the Saramago book!

Just stopping by to say hi, Sandy!

I finally caved in and downloaded Chrome -- just to use for LT when I'm doing posts that need touchstones. Still using IE for everything else. Our tech guy at the library says that eventually the bugs will get worked out of the new IE, and I hope he's right. I'm finding Chrome a bit inconvenient.

Consider Firefox as an alternative to Chrome. I always used it at school on my PCs. Fast and lots of features and very convenient.

I use Firefox as well. I have 5 browsers on my computer though. I can switch between them if something is buggy. (Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Opera, and IE)

Another definite vote for Firefox. My daughter, who is an information security geek/atty insists it is the only browser this family is allowed to use. And I've never had a problem. Tried chrome - too buggy, IE -way too buggy.

Book #42



Black Ships by Jo Graham

This is a re-telling of the Aeneid - which I'm glad I didn't know in advance as I might have avoided it. I wasn't familiar with that work before this, but I'll be seeking it out now. This is a great story. Following the fall of Troy, a group of refugees rescue some of their countrymen from slavery in Greece and sail away across the sea looking for a permanent home, having adventures along the way. I loved it. 4 stars.

note - this book is so appealing that my teenage son stopped me from returning the book to the library after I finished reading it. There was 2 weeks left in the check-out period so he asked if he couldn't read it, too, before it had to go back. "Sure", I told him, "let me know what you think of it".

Firefox - I guess I forgot about that option. I was never able to download it onto the old computer, but I'll be I wouldn't have that problem with the new one. I used it years ago and had some trouble with some sites, but I don't think that's so much a problem anymore. Thanks for the reminder.

time for a new thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/119720