cameling's reading slumber room - loveseat #5

January Reads
Told in the Coffee House - Cyrus Adler
Journal of an Ordinary Grief - Mahmoud Darwish
When the Devil Holds the Candle - Karin Fossum
Sanchez Across the Street - Barbara Mujica
The Three Evangelists - Fred Vargas
The Nonesuch - Georgette Heyer
There Came Both Mist and Snow - Michael Innes
Along Came Trouble - Sherryl Woods
French Milk - Lucy Knisley
The Draining Lake - Arnaldur Indridason
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson
The Grand Inquisitor's Manual - Jonathan Kirsch
The Grand Sophy - Georgette Heyer
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Dogs - Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
Dust - Martha Grimes
Death in the Stocks - Georgette Heyer
Solo - Rana Dasgupta

February Reads
Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand - Fred Vargas
Avempartha - Michael J. Sullivan
A Paramedic's Story : Life, Death and Everything In Between- Steven "Kelly" Grayson

They Found Him Dead - Georgette Heyer
Dangerous Waters : Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas - John S. Burnett
Indulgence in Death - J.D. Robb
Dark Road to Darjeeling - Deanna Raybourn
Chips, Clones and Living Beyond 100 - Paul Schoemaker
Stealing Lumby - Gail Fraser
Waiting - Ha Jin

March Reads
Twelve Bar Blues - Patrick Neate
Arctic Chill - Arnaldur Indridason
The Savage Garden - Mark Mills
Apple Turnover Murder - Joanne Fluke
Don't Look Back - Karin Fossum
The Passion of Artemisia - Susan Vreeland
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe
Look Again - Lisa Scottoline
The Red Door - Charles Todd
Treachery in Death - J.D. Robb
The Cellist of Sarajevo - Steven Galloway
Black Seconds - Karin Fossum

April Reads
Nemesis - Jo Nesbo
Alice at Heart - Deborah Smith
The Green Mouse - Robert Chambers
I Shall Not Hate - Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish
Dolci di Love - Sarah-Kate Lynch
Sunflowers - Sheramy Bundrick
The Madonnas of Leningrad - Debra Dean
Beneath the Lion's Gaze - Maaza Mengiste
Plain Jane - Fern Michaels
Griffin and Sabine - Nick Bantock

May Reads
The Indian Bride - Karin Fossum
Death of an Englishman - Magdalen Nabb
The Egyptian Jukebox - Nick Bantock
The Snack Thief - Andrea Camilleri
The Chukchi Bible - Yuri Rytkheu
Stagestruck - Peter Lovesey
State of the Onion - Julie Hyzy
Search the Dark - Charles Todd
Eye of the God - Ariel Allison
You Can't Stop Me - Max Collins

June Reads
A Life Force - Will Eisner
Away Off Shore - Nathaniel Philbrick
Behold Here's Poison - Georgette Heyer
Salmonella Men on Planet Porno - Yasutaka Tsutsui
The Torso - Helene Tursten
The Terracotta Dog - Andrea Camilleri
Rosalind Franklin and DNA - Anne Sayre
The Captain : The Journey of Derek Jeter - Ian O'Connor
Upon a Dark Night - Peter Lovesey

July Reads
All Different Kinds of Free - Jessica McCann
Kabuki : Circle of Blood - David Mack
Napier's Bones - Derryl Murphy
Lumby's Bounty - Gail Fraser
The Water's Edge - Karin Fossum
The Foreigners - Maxine Swann
Betrayal in Death - JD Robb
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles - Haruki Murakami
City of Thieves - David Benioff
August Heat - Andrea Camilleri

August Reads
The Post Office Girl - Stefan Zweig
From the Observatory - Julio Cortazar
Blue Lightning - Ann Cleeves
Clandestine in Chile - Gabriel García Màrquez
The Devil's Star - Jo Nesbo
The Constantine Codex - Paul Maier
The Wandering Falcon - Jamil Ahmad
Anya's Ghost - Vera Brosgol
Bonk - Mary Roach
Memories of My Melancholy Whores - Gabriel Garcìa Màrquez

My 1st thread is here
My 2nd thread is here
My 3rd thread is here
My 4th thread is here

What a way to start the first week of July, the celebration of our independence and land of freedom, then by reading a book about personal freedom, and remembering a time when there were those who were denied this very basic freedom.

All Different Kinds of Free by Jessica McCann is an ER book I received a month ago.

Historical fiction based on the true case of Margaret Morgan, a free black woman in Pennsylvania, who, together with her children, were abducted by a bounty hunter and sold into slavery in Maryland.

Pennsylvania in the 1830s had a Personal Liberty Law which demanded that bounty hunters show proof of ownership before they were allowed to take Negros from the state back to the states and owners where they were accused of running away from.

Prigg vs Pennsylvania turned into a landmark case which went all the way to the US Supreme Court and started the fiery debates across state lines about state rights. This eventually led to the Civil War.

While the court case ran in the background, the main story is about Margaret and her children. 2 of her sons were sold at the auction to 2 different owners while she and her daughter were sold together. The story tells of her resilience and that of her young daughter as they tried to cope with abuse, hunger and the relinquishing of any personal rights they had to their new Master.

I thought it was haunting and powerful, but sometimes the writing seemed rather choppy. Still a good read.
3.8 stars

Kabuki: Circle of Blood by David Mack is an interesting graphic novel. I wasn't quite sure where he was going with it when I started, but eventually the twists and turns in this story of vengeance captivated me and I couldn't put it down until I'd gotten to the end.

A dark and gripping story. Small print and everything in black and white, so don't try reading this at night unless you're under strong lighting.
3.8 stars

Hi Caro! :)

Morning Caro- Kabuki: Circle of Blood sounds interesting. On the List it goes. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Good Morning, Caro !

Hi Caroline! I enjoyed your review of All Different Kinds of Free, and I'll add it to my wish list.

I'm a bit disappointed that there isn't a new camel at the beginning of your thread, though.

ETA: The Kindle version of All Different Kinds of Free is currently available for free; I'm downloading it now.

Ooo, thanks for the heads up, Dr. D! I went ahead and downloaded it as well.

Anyone on Facebook should know about Pixel of Ink, the free-books-on-Kindle megaphone.

Good and tempting review of All Different Kinds of Free!

Thanks, Richard! I didn't know about Pixel of Ink.

#4 : Stefano. Thanks for dropping in.

#5 : I think you'll like Kabuki : Circle of Blood, Marky-Mark. Check your PM

#6 : Hi there Laura. How nice of you to find my new thread.

#7 : You were saying about the camel, Darryl? I'm not sure if I should have categorized All Different Kinds of Free as YA book. On one hand, I felt the writing befitted YA, but then on the other, I'm not sure some subject matters brought up were suitable for YA, but then that may have just been me, cringing at some of the situations Margaret found herself in.

#8 : Thanks for the tip, rdear .. I didn't know about Pixel of Ink. Since you're tempted, does that mean you've added the book to your reading list? ;-)

I'm starting to get woefully behind. I managed to snag a few books from netgalley and now feel guilty about not having read them so I can review them. The problem is that their catalogs are so tempting though, and I just request books and them am surprised when the authors actually approve my requests. Only twice I've had to decline after receiving the approval, and both were because they didn't offer a Kindle download.

*Snuggling into a chair in the corner*

Hi Caro!

#11 - I feel the same way about NetGalley, Caro. I have several on my Kindle, and I've promised myself not to request anymore until I read and review them. Not sure how long that resolution will last, though....

Stopping by to say I hope you had a lovely Sunday.

Happy 4th, my peeps. It's a hot and muggy day, but quite perfect for today. What's everyone doing today?

warm and muggy here too.. ugh.
Hill too steep..

Staying home here... with the furkids and a book? Or maybe a movie if the book fails.

Morning Caro! Happy 4th. We are heading to friends, for a cook-out. They also have a pool, so maybe a dip, we will see.
Enjoy your fireworks tonight.

Hi Caro!

Finally! I'm getting my hot dog/burger cookout today! It'll only take this one and I'll be set for the rest of the summer.

Tempted to throw on some salmon - but no. Will save that for another night w/blueberry, raspberry sauce (spiked with a little hot sauce).

Gotta have my burger fix - then I'll be ready for the first frost! :)

See you later for some SbSc and fireworks on the river...

Hot and muggy. Reading A Great Deliverance. NOT going outside.

I have you starred again!

All Different Kinds of Free sounds good -- great review, Caro!


glitter-graphics.com

No gas for the grill, so steak salad here...
My sister has a pool but, I will be opting for
my own cozy little house/porch, and furkids.
Looking forward to some quiet...and maybe ice cream for supper :)

Staying indoors to watch the Tour de France. These cyclists are amazing. I can't say I understand some of the tactics in the peloton, but it sure makes for exciting watching. I'm a terrible cyclist, so I do so admire these guys for what they do. I don't quite understand why there aren't any women in the TdF? Anyone know?

#17 : What movie, Kath?

#18 : Enjoy your cookout, Marky-Mark ... try not to fall into the pool if you're carrying a plate of food.

#19 : Your only hot dog/burger cookout for the summer, Cee?! Really? I am a hotdog fiend. Have you had Pearl Kountry Klub hotdogs? They're really great, with natural casing, so they have that really nice crunch when you bite into one.

I have a hotdog fest at our house every summer, where I'll grill hotdogs, and put out different toppings, such as mac & cheese, cheese sauce, chilli, bacon, crabdip, yoghurt & cucumber, tomato relish, habanero artichoke dip, pesto, sauteed onions, and mango chutney and everyone just makes their own odd hotdogs. We'll also grill kielbasa, cheddarwurst and blood sausages, just to break things up a bit.

#20 : But what are you going to eat then, rdear?

#21 : Thanks, Terri. Happy 4th to you too! I love the cute puppy gif.

#22 : Mmm...steak salad sounds good. We're not having many people over (thank goodness) today since we were at a bigger party yesterday. So just 4 friends for an early dinner. Making a seafood paella, grilled rosemary chicken, roasted fig and goat cheese salad, grilled corn and I made a cherry pie an hour ago. Oh and of course, we'll also have strawberry shortcake for dessert, with biscuits (Cee's fault for tempting me) instead of angel cake.

One good turn for visiting my thread!!

Had vegetable soup for lunch...that i made yesterday when i was feeling wretched.....it tastes better today, like most tomato-based foods

Hot dogs!!! Might do some for dinner with oven fries......ooh, now my tummy will start to growl......let's see, i have chili sauce (Heinz & Asian).....scallions.....different relishes....mustards...oy!

Oh....All Different Kinds of Free is available as a Freebie on Kindle....FYI....and i'm gonna get it.....along with another one, which title escapes me...have to get back to you on that..

Have a good one, kiddo...you deserve it!

;-}

Hmmm.....Caro since you live in Boston, next time you want to add some zing to your hot dog menu, get some portuguese linguicia franks....(they're made in New Bedford so I'm sure you can get them at your local markets). Very different flavor that is great - especially with mustard on a New England style bun. Enjoy your day.

Waving hello! Back from vacation and catching up on threads!
Summoned out to watch the neighbors do $50 of two-fer fire works. Should be good.

Our Fourth dinner: Eye of round roast, slathered in butter and Old Bay seasoning, roasted on a bed of sliced potatoes and onions that were liberally sprinkled with salt and glurmphed with olive oil; and I made seasoned collard greens with a huge hambone I've been saving, plus a lot of paprika, plus a quartered lemon and a lot of black peppercorns. Put 2c of rice in the pot likker about 30min before I was ready to serve it. Dressed the greens-n-rice with lots of apple cider vinegar, lots of Tabasco, and a wee bit of salt.

The Divine Miss pronounced it the best meal I've made this year, and since she's routinely complimentary, that's saying a lot.

Yum! Richard. *Drooling on keyboard at 8 am*

#24 : Hope you're feeling better, Jude? I love vegetable soup, especially one with tons of thick cut vegetables and those flat white beans (i always forget what they're called, but I know it starts with 'C')

#25 : Ooh I love portuguese linguicia, Tina ... i can get them from the 2 supermarkets near my house. They're great sliced lengthways, placed in a bun and topped with a fried egg.

#26 : Hey ho, Jenn... welcome home! How were the fireworks?

#27 : *kkkkrrrowwww .... goes my stomach* sounds like a fabulous meal, Richard. I love collard greens but I've never made it before. Do you boil your hambone first before you add the collard greens?

#28 : *hands Jenn a large napkin to wipe drool*

Too hot and muggy tonight! Can't even read comfortably .. arrggghh. Tomorrow is forecasted to be even hotter than today .... *whimper*

Hi. Thanks for the napkin. I might need another one because I just read it again...

Fireworks were kind of intense. The neighbors had 4 boxes of fireworks and it took about 3 hours to set off most of those. Then the single guy across the street came home with his buddies and some Chinese fireworks. Probably not legal, but very cool and very loud. I was in by then. My 4 year old held out until 10 and then turned into a pumpkin. We had at least two neighbors who got really pissy because they wanted to drive down the street in the middle of our fireworks party and we asked them to go around. I ask you. Who resents a fireworks party on the 4th? And, who in their right mind wants to drive through 1000 (possibly) spent fireworks, 10-12 kids with lighters and assorted adults who've had assorted amounts/types of drink? Read water for me, and at least 4 beers and 2 glasses of wine for my neighbor across the street who likes to pick fights with people when she's a little drunk...so if you were picturing words of 4 letters being exchanged breifly between her and a neighbor in a car, you'd be exactly right. Fireworks of all kinds LOL.

To make the best collards ever, you'll need a hambone with some gristly bits and some meat still on it. Put this bone, 8 cubes chicken bouillon, 2 *table*spoons red pepper flakes, a handful of black peppercorns, and a generous palmful of salt in ~2qts cold water and bring all to a boil.

3lb collards ought to be enough. Cut the bunches into four equal strips horizontally. Yes, cook the stems too, they're delicious. The root-ends should be diced a bit, so they don't stay in a big ol' lump. Rinsey-rinsey at least twice, changing the water in your rinsing vessel.

Pot boilin'? Chuck the greens in. Push 'em around with a long-handled spoon for a while. Reduce heat from high to medium-high, put a cover on, and boil for about an hour and a half. After an hour, heave in 2c of rice and about a cup of olive oil. Stir everybody around. Cover and check back in 15min, stir, and leave for at least another 15min. Maybe 30, if you got some tough greens, but no less than 1-1/2 hrs. Please trust me on this.

When everybody's dark olive-y green and puffy (in the case of the rice), move off the heat and ladle out into a big bowl to dress the greens and rice. Use lots and lots of apple cider vinegar (red wine vinegar tastes funny here, and let's not even THINK of the horrors balsamic would inflict on the taste buds; use white vinegar ONLY if you're also using garlic powder, onion powder, or the like). I pretty much empty the Tabasco bottle on mine, but I think bland food is an example of poor mental hygiene.

Your dog will *adore* you if you hand over the bone after scraping off the meat left in strange little crannies.

So how long before we have to start worrying about you again?Are you home for a while?

Sorry, RD. No drooling here... gross! Glad you're eating this stuff so I don't have to...

Sorry it's so dang hot for you, Caro. It's warm here (low 80s) - and the seabreezes are highly welcome. Remember those cool pictures you took of the snow not too long ago? Ahhhh!

#31 : Sounds like your fireworks party was a real blast, Jenn ... in every sense of the word. Sorry for the nasty party-pooping neighbors. I don't think I know a single person who doesn't like fireworks.

#32 : Thanks for the recipe, rdear... I'm definitely going to try this out, maybe this weekend, but without the rice. I'll try doing this at night and leaving it in a slow cooker overnight. Then I'll make the rice separately in my nifty rice cooker (I am a lousy rice cooker otherwise, the rice either burns or is undercooked).

#33 : Hmm... you don't worry about me when I'm home, Kath? You should ... I tripped coming out of the cafeteria this afternoon, fell against one of my colleagues and sat on his hand as we both tumbled to the ground. *sigh* He sprained his wrist.
But I'm home for the next week and then I'm off to Hong Kong for a week.

#34 : You don't like collard greens, Cee? They're so yummy!!

It's much cooler today though, *aaaahhhhhhhh* and I'm sitting back with a nice glass of Prosecco and the last strawberry shortcake. boooooo

But I've got the day off tomorrow! Yaaaaay!

Finished one of the books I got from Netgalley. Napier's Bones by Derryl Murthy.

Numerology takes on a quest. In a world where numbers contain magical properties, certain people possess varying talents in seeing and manipulating numbers in the air or within objects for protection, to cause violence, or to dupe.

A numerate's quest is to find mojos, objects packed with special numerical properties, and to use these for his own advantage. Dom, a numerate, having survived a fight against 2 other numerates in a desert, finds himself in a small town with Billy, a sort of spirit who had taken up residence in his body. With more questions than available answers, Dom meets a young numerate, Jenna, who tries to learn how to manipulate the numbers.

But there appears to be an unknown and powerful numerate determined to seek out and destroy Dom, and he is kept running to stay one or two steps ahead of this dark shadow. Things start getting a little wild at about the half way point in the book and the thrilling pace picks up, when the trio are met by an ex-communicated numerate priest who try to explain the quest they are on, a group of numbers that are able to group together to form a semi-solid shape that has the ability to speak, think and plan, Scottish giants, and familials that lead them to a series of mojos needed to thwart the enemy.

It's a pretty interesting story, but the pace is rather uneven, and after three quarters of the way through, there is too much the author appears to want to cram into the ending, making for a rather sloppy and confusing race to the finish line.
2.5 stars

Seriously folks .. don't bother. it's a mess.

Caro- Glad things have cooled off for you! Enjoy both your Prosecco and your LONG weekend. Your book will go out tomorrow.

Thanks, Marky-Mark. I hope it's cooler for you tomorrow.

Feeling like an ice cream sundae but too lazy to go get one. Where's the good old ice cream truck when you need one?

Putting Napier's Bones on the 'Do Not Read' list. Thanks for the heads up, Caro!

Too bad about the book.. it has an interesting premise :)

Off today? yay on you :) !!!!!

oh, and btw...
I do worry about you when you are home, too..
but just a little less...LOL

Have a great day off!

Caro, to be honest, I read the title, the author and the rating on everyone's reviews first. If nothing grabs me and the rating is 3 or less, I don't read the rest. I have waaaay too many potentially great books TBR. I'll never live long enough for the mediocre ones. So, I'm off the hook for Napier's Bones... thanks! :}

Good morning Caro!
Whatcha doing this weekend?

#39 : You're welcome, Stas. What I can't understand are some of the raving reviews I've read about this book. Made me wonder if I had read the same book.

#40/41 : Hmph... didn't quite get the day off yesterday. I worked a half day in the morning because something came up, but at least I did have the afternoon to go canoeing so the day was not a total loss.

#42 : Cee, I saw the book on Netgalley and requested a copy before I thought to see if anyone had reviewed it yet. *sigh* What can I say? It sounded interesting. Oh well, it could have been worse I guess. At least I didn't pay for it. ;-)

#43 : Hey ho, Kath ... helped a friend move today from an apartment into a house. Now I'm limply resting, a pitcher of fresh lemonade by my side and my feet propped up on cushions.

Made a peach and grappa infused cranberry pie a short while ago ... starting to get the smell of pie wafting through the house.

Lumby's Bounty by Gail Fraser is another in the Lumby series. Yet more oddball things happen in this small cozy town. Hank the plastic flamingo who astonishingly appears in appropriate outfits and always right where the action is soon to be, takes flight in this book. The town is thrown into chaos when they find they're hosting a hot air balloon festival. What a fun read. Perfect for a lazy day.
3.5 stars

sigh... I am going to have to read the rest of those..

so... what were you doing in S'scot?
It seems so odd to go there just for a meal.. but as I said, it has been a long time
since I was there....

#45: I need to get back to Lumby. . . one of these days.

Well, weren't you the busy bee yesterday! You covered more of Mass than anyone
could ever have imagined!

Hi Caro!
~~~~~~~~~~~BIG WAVE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How are all those pies? They sound scrumptious!
Too warm for me to do much cooking so I'll just drool for now :)

Catching up and moving on...

#47 : Yes, do get to the Lumby series, Kath. You've read the first one, right? Some of the towns folks will make you snort milk out your nose.

Haha.. I will go almost anywhere just to eat. So some friends, the hubster and I decided to head out to Swampscott for brunch at the Red Rock Bistro. I'd heard about it from someone else and wanted to go check it out. Wandered around Humphrey St for a bit and walked into a really cute French store and bought a cookbook, a tablecloth, some wonderful smelling soap, and played with their adorable shi-poo.
We were originally thinking of just going there for brunch and then going home, but decided on the spur of the moment after brunch to head out to Marblehead because one of my friends had never been. Once there, we found a cute bar by the marina and plonked down to hydrate after a little walk through town.

Going to Salem after that was sort of accidental ... we were going to drive back to S'scott where our friends had parked their car, saw the sign for Salem and I wondered out loud if a particular hot dog cafe was still there, and before you know it, we swung off and went to Salem. haha.. never did find the hot dog place, but we did have fun at Rockerfellas. :-)

Then dropped our friends off at their car in S'scott, was hailed by another friend looking to see what we were doing for dinner, and decided on Cambridge for some delicious out-out-of-this-world pan roasted lobster and a couple of dozen oysters. then the troops all came back to our house for peach & cranberry pie and ice cream.

#48: Which Lumby did you stop at, Stas?

#49 : Really, Kath? I've done Vermont, New Hampshire, MA all in one day before too... all in search of specific foods. ;-)

#50 : The pies were good, Cee. I have about a quarter left. Wondering what pie to make next ... if it cools down a little. Might make a pear tart instead next.

Weighing the possibility of heading up to Acadia for the weekend, so I'll at least be in your state, Cee, if we go.

Reading funk! Grrr..... is it the heat?

Good grief, Caro. I have never known anyone with as much wanderlust in their blood as you! You go woman! But don't forget to take a break now and again...
If you go to Acadia - I know you'll have fun... That's a lotta driving for you.... :{

Acadia park is lovely! Be sure to take photos.

The hubster likes to drive ... and has an amazing sense of direction. If I were to drive, we might end up in New Jersey.

It's the hubster's birthday on Friday, so I'm leaving weekend plans to him so he gets to do what he wants. ..... which may actually end up being staying home. But I've got his birthday present hopefully arriving before Friday!

you astound me.. you do!

because I get lost driving? Or because I'm in a book funk?

#52: Caro, I have only read the first Lumby book but I own the first 4.

Everything..
beautiful, funny, smarter than the average bear..
so nice, brave and you heal really fast!

#59 : Time to get to the 2nd in the series, Stas. I keep wondering if at some point, we'll find out who gets Hank all his outfits and makes sure he pops up at all the right places.

#60 : definitely not as cute as this bear though, Kath. ...and your check's in the mail for that promo plug for a much better picture of me. ;-)

all true...lol

disgusting as it is

#61: I don't know - I rather like the mystery about Hank and his clothes. I wonder where I put those Lumby books. . .

Finally, a reprieve! Had colleagues from my UK and Denver office visiting over the last 2 days and had long meetings that dragged into the night on Tuesday. Yesterday a few of us took them out for drinks and dinner. Had a blast but I stayed out longer than I wanted to. but they had a good time, and that's what counts, especially since the guy from Denver is new to the company. But today's their last day -- yippee .... well, they're nice and all, and I like them, but I miss having some ME time ... which is probably also adding to my reading funk.

Tomorrow's the hubster's birthday. I'm taking the day off to spend with him. He doesn't want a party and only wants to invite a few close friends for dinner at the house. One of my presents to him is he gets to choose what we do this weekend, with no suggestions or complaints from me. ;-) *keeping my fingers crossed that he's not going to want to go paintballing because the last time we did that, I almost broke my leg when I fell off a wall*

I have to start planning what books to take with me again. I'm off to Hong Kong next week for a week.

I'm reading The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney ... I haven't gotten too far into it but it's not really grabbing me. I wonder if it's just this reading funk that's spreading a dark sludge over everything I'm trying to read right now, or if this is a really slow book. Has anyone read this yet?

Too many posts to catch up....and, i'm guilty of avoiding all-things-cyber for a day or two...so

You're with Net Galley? I forgot that i was/had been....and found a book a-languishing there since Last Year.....now that i have Adobe digital thingie...i scored two titles this week...eek! Another example of "too many books"....and with Nook and Kindle both...i am in serious trouble

Have fun with hub's birthday...and for god's sake don't injure yourself....i've missed you

;-}

Nice of Edd to have his birthday on a friday... well done!
Stay out of trouble. . .

Hi Caroline. I read The Tenderness of Wolves earlier this year and liked it but didn't love it. In my review I noted that it took until about page 130 for me to really get into it and then it was still a little bumpy after that. I don't think it's a book to try and force yourself to read during a book funk.

Hope you have a great time celebrating your husband's birthday. Stay safe!

Caro- I liked The Tenderness of Wolves. I thought it was a good solid read, but it was not a fast read, maybe your "funk" has something to do with it.

I was supposed to read The Tenderness of Wolves earlier this year, but never got to it. Maybe one day I finally will.

I hope you and Edd have a wonderful day tomorrow celebrating his birthday!

I have it on the side too, stas...

Happy Birthday to Edd and hope your weekend is a good one :)

#71: Maybe we can do a 'read along,' Kath. That way we would both get it done :)

Happy Edd-day!

#66 : How do you manage both a Nook and a Kindle, Jude? Do you prefer reading certain books on one more than the other?

As to the not injuring myself today ... .hmmm.....how do I tell you this ....ummm..... I haven't been so banged up in a long time. *sigh* Yes, Calamity Caro strikes again. Went for a run on the Battle Trail, tripped over a small rock, flew in the air (at least it felt like it), landed and skidded on gravel and sand. Both my palms are sore (I had to pick gravel out with tweezers when I got home), my right elbow is banged up, missing skin, my left knee looks like someone took a brilo pad to it and attempted to scrub down to the bone and my left hip feels a little dented.

#67 : I should have read your post before going out this morning, Kath.

#68 : Pat: I think I'm going to have to put Tenderness of Wolves aside for a spell and maybe try and get to it again another day.

#69 : Marky-Mark .. you may be right. I'm not sure if I'm still in a funk because I've just been so busy today -- patching myself up and then getting things ready for Edd's party this evening. Cooking with bandaged hands turned out to be more challenging than I expected.

#70/71/73 : Thanks my peeps. I think Edd had a fun day. I made him a stack of blueberry pancakes, a pile of crispy bacon and hot chocolate for breakfast, then attempted to kill myself on our run (bore up bravely and told him i was fine and for him to finish his run, i even hopped up and down pretending nothing hurt, and then when he was finally persuaded to continue with his run, gritted my teeth and walked without limping while he was still in sight in case he turned around to look at me .. and when he finally went into the woods, hobbled like a crippled old lady back to the car), had a large ice cream sundae for lunch (his birthday wish) and then had a bunch of his oldest and closest friends over for dinner at the house.

Now I'm just sitting with my feet up ....and feeling sore all over.... but with a light heart and a very happy and slightly inebriatedly dozing husband.

More friends and their kids coming over for a cook out tomorrow.... edd's planning some sort of obstacle course for a sort of kiddie gladiator games for the kids (oh dear ... I better buy some additional bandages and a new bottle of bactarin).

I read about your Running Debacle on FaceBook......tumbles like that are pretty traumatic when we are kids but, jeekers Caro.....those wounds must smart...I know my trip-and-falls hurt worse now that I'm older...and supposedly "know better" than to indulge in......here's too rapid healing!!

Kindle and Nook...yes. Since i don't have a WiFi connection available...and the 3G is temperamental..i use my Nook for "freebie" PDFs and Net Galleys (anything on Adobe Digital)...I can buy Kindle books from Amazon (that 3G wireless works just fine) but, lately, have been getting Freebies from Amazon, as well.....eReaders are much easier to manage in hot weather...no lugging heavy tomes...I never take them (eReaders) outside the house, though.....that would be inviting trouble, i'd think....I already lost my first Kindle to a curious cat.....

What more can i say??? Please please please....avoid further injuries today...i'll cross crossables in hope

;-}

Calamity Caro strikes again! Ouch, ouch, ouch. Where was your body suit? You are supposed to be wearing it to avoid injury!

I hope you are less ouchy today than I fear you are....

Caro- Sorry to hear about your latest fall! Hope you are taking it easy and recovering. I started Wind-Up Bird. It grabbed me right away.

Poor thing! I hope you feel better today, and that this bear hug helps a little:

Caro. Dear one. What's the deal? Why so much falling, etc.?
Have you been to the dr for a check up lately?
I worry about you. :(

The world is full of obstacles! Please stay safe...


glitter-graphics.com

Please try not to die.

Also read about your tumble via your Facebook post, and had to come over to offer solicitous tut-tutting and iced tea.

Ooh, Caroline, that does sound painful. Hope you feel better soon.

#75 : You lost your first Kindle to a curious cat, Jude? This sounds like a good story. Do tell ...

#76 : Said body suit was at the cleaners, Stas.

#77 : Ouchiness is a lot better today, Kath .... except when I forget about them and attempt to rest my elbows on the table, cart handle, arm rest, or when I bend my knee and crack the healing scab yet again. But the good news is ... I haven't gotten any new injuries since Friday. :-)

#78 : Oh woe is me, Marky-Mark. I forgot about the Wind-Up GR. I'll have to bring that with me to HK tomorrow and maybe catch up.

#79 : Awww.... love the bear hug, Darryl. Thank you .... you know, when you're not exploding my obese wish list and wallet with your irresistible reviews, you can be really nice. ;-)

#80 : LOL .. love the gif, Cee. And I'm not sure i understand the question. Did you think there are reasons why I fall? No need for the doctor, the most logical reason for my recent fall is because I haven't had a bad fall in about a year or so, so I was due. I do try to keep away from activities now that I'm older and less agile that are, when I think about it, rather more hazardous to my barely coordinated self. e.g. skateboarding and cycling down steep hills.

#81 : ROFL ... good one, richard. *wipes tears from eyes*

#82 : Thanks for the tuts and iced tea ... especially the iced tea. It's been blisteringly hot out here. We had friends over this weekend and we'd filled a cooler with lots of ice to bury beers, sodas and wine bottles under .. and I was so tempted to throw out the bottles and sit in it.

#83 : Much better today, Pat. Thank you.

Reading funk appears to be wearing off ... thanks to my old re-reads of Lieutenant Eve Dallas. J.D. Robb's 'In Death' series never fails to get me back on my riding saddle again.

Downloading some more books onto my Kindle and putting aside some dead tree books to pack for my trip to HK tomorrow. There's an evening hike that some of my friends are going on on Saturday and I'm very tempted to join them. I've done two with them before, and suffered nothing more than a minor heart attack when a frog leapt across my foot. I HATE frogs!!!!

I have some JD Robbs on the shelf.

yeesh! I say that a lot..
I have so many on the shelf!

!!! how can you hate froggies ?

Caro- Hope you can catch up with the Murakami. I've been really enjoying it. He is an odd bird. Have a good & safe trip to HK!! Hugs!

Evening hike sounds kinda cool. Make sure the batteries in your flashlight are up to snuff!

Happy traveling and reading!

The 'In Death' series worked wonders for my reading funk earlier this year. I hope the books do the same for you, Caro!

Safe travels. Be sure you have the body suit out of the dry cleaners before leaving for Hong Kong.

More friends and their kids coming over for a cook out tomorrow.... edd's planning some sort of obstacle course for a sort of kiddie gladiator games for the kids (oh dear ... I better buy some additional bandages and a new bottle of bactarin).

Oh yes, that sounds sensible, I do hope you did that. There is no way you could have made it through that day without further injuring yourself. Wait, did you mean you wanted the bandages for the kids? Oh no no no, nah, that probably won't be necessary. :P

#85 : I absolutely detest froggies, Kath. They are disgusting, and eat their own skin when they shed. I am almost paralyzed whenever I see one along the path whenever I go hiking. It drives me crazy that some of my colleagues have little tanks of pollywogs in the office that they're feeding so they grow into froggies. I've threatened them with instant bashing if ever one of the soon to be froggies escape and hop into my office. I have a hockey stick in my office that I can use for that purpose.

#86 : I'm going to download the Murakami book while I'm here in HK, Marky-Mark. I'll try to catch up with the GR if I can.

#87 : Hey there Cee. I arrived in HK in one piece and with my trusty flashlight in my suitcase.

#88 : I just love the In Death series .. I was re-reading them in order, and realized that I somehow missed out on one. So just before I left, I went and got Betrayal In Death and that's one that I'm starting to read now.

#89 : I'll have you know, Stefano, the Winnie-the-Pooh bandaids that I bought came in very handy for 2 kids who managed to cut themselves while playing whiffle ball. And at least 3 kids needed bactarin when they had little scrapes from the obstacle course. I managed to get through the day unscathed! Ta da!

Had a delightfully quiet and uneventful flight out to HK. I had the best seat mate ... she didn't smell bad, she chewed with her mouth closed, and she didn't insist on telling me her life story. So I managed to watch a couple of movies, sleep and read The Water's Edge by Karin Fossum.

If one didn't know better, one would assume from reading Fossum's crime mysteries, that murderers and paedophiles run amok in Norway.

A couple, taking their weekly Sunday walk through Linde Forest, are brushed past by a man stumbling through the woods and later discover the body of a 7 year old boy under a tree, clad only in his t-shirt. The couple alert the police and provide a description of the man they saw as well as the car they saw him get into. As Inspector Sejer and Jacob Skarre begin their inquiries, they discover that a white car has been noticed by the children at a school to be slowly driving past every time the children are let out at the end of the school day. Notices are sent to parents to pick their children up rather than letting them make their own way home until the killer is found.

In the course of their investigation, another child goes missing, and the pressure to find the killer mounts for Inspector Sejer.

Without many clues to go on, except the DNA from semen from the dead boy, Inspector Sejer's investigation proceeds frustratingly slowly. They research paedophilia and consider previously convicted child sex offenders in the area.
In the meantime, the relationship between the couple who found the dead boy starts to undergo a change.

Fossum has great talent in subtly weaving in shorter intrigues about other characters without losing focus on the main plot and story. In this book, there is an unexpected twist at the end, making it a very satisfying read.
3.8 stars

>84 cameling: The Kindle vs Cat Caper....i usually put my Kindle on the bookshelf, upright, with the books...but that one Sunday i had to go out unexpectedly and put it on top of the books...long story short, my cat must have been in a climbing mood, because when i got home my Kindle was on the floor...the screen was all black and weird-looking...and that little top panel on the back was popped off. Kindle was still under warranty so I got a new one...now i keep Kindle (and Nook) in separate boxes on their own shelf...and besides, that cat is dead!

I have some of the IN DEATH books but haven't sampled them yet

Frogs? Toads? I got them here...but they don't come close to the house...

Good luck in HK and for god's sakes be careful!!

;-}

Glad the trip to Hong Kong was a safe one for you, Caro! Let's keep it that way, OK?

I had to reread your last post Caro.. thinking at first that you saw the couple being brushed past and were
there when the murder victim was discovered. Ye gods. It is too hot.

Hi there Caroline over there in HK, hope you're having time for some high jinks. Oh maybe I shouldn't say that to you with, er, your uncanny ability to harm yourself ;-)

Caro- Thanks for checking in. Glad to see you are still enjoying the Fossum books. I plan on getting to the 3rd one, in the next couple of months.

Hi! Just popping in to say that I finished Major Pettigrew today and LOVED it!

Wondering what you are up to... and a little afraid to find out :P

Just wandering through and catching up...

Hope your HK trip is going well. :)

Happy and safe travels to you!

#92 : Good cat vs Kindle story, Jude. And you HAVE to get into the In Death series. I'm sure you will enjoy them. Be sure to read them in order though. I usually don't read most series in order but this is one that you'll actually enjoy better if you read them in order.

#93 : So far so good, Stas. Thanks for your good safe vibes

#94 : ROLF ... loved that, Kath! It got me giggling for a few minutes.

#95 : Hi Bonnie - it's been a really crazy few days. Long work days and then long social nights and the weekend was just crazy. Had a wonderful time with my friends, and today's my last day for work, then had dinner with some other friends. I miss living here in HK. The 2 years I lived here for work were 2 of the best years of my life.

#96 : I definitely am enjoying Fossum, Marky-Mark. She certainly writes on very dark topics and The Water's Edge definitely touches on a distasteful subject.

#97 : Hey there, Jenn. Wasn't that such a fun book? I loved it too. It's on my re-read shelf.

#98 : I just got off a long conference call, Kath. Will be packing my bags soon and then I leave in the morning for the airport and head back to Boston. I had a lovely time in HK and I even got to meet a friend I haven't seen since elementary school ... coz I only found out a few weeks ago that she's living here in HK now. It was awesome getting to catch up with her over drinks and dinner. *sigh* I really miss living in HK and my friends here. AND no mishaps thus far!

#99 : Thanks for thinking of me, Cat ... the trip's been very productive, both business-wise and socially. I'm very happy with the trip. Almost wish it were a little longer, but I do miss being home and with the hubster.

#100 : Thanks Linda. One more night.. and I'm out of here.

I finished reading The Wind Up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami and am halfway through Constantine Codex by Paul Maier. Will post reviews when I get back to Boston.

be good peeps!

Safe travels, Caro!
Waiting to hear you arrived home in one piece... glad you had a good time!

Hope you haven't assaulted anyone else along the way... one is enough! lol

#102 : Hi Cee ... I'm home, safe and sound, in one piece, and yesterday my company had our annual summer fun day on a cruise boat sailing around Boston Harbor. Great day in the sun, which later turned into a long afternoon hanging with a few colleagues at a bar and then dinner with some friends in the city.

#103 : Nope .. just the one unsuspecting guy at HK airport, Kath. *sigh*

Work is crazy and I've got a ton of reports to write and submit by Friday ... oh wait, tomorrow is Friday! Ack!!

The hubster has a couple of friends from NY visiting and staying with us, which ordinarily would be lots of fun for me too, but it also means I'm having to entertain them at night as well, leaving me with no time to read or even post reviews on LT or catch up on the threads. I've already lost a few threads that I used to keep up with last year, and now I'm even getting behind on the ones I usually try to catch up on. Woe is me .... maybe the weekend will be less hectic? *wonders when these friends are leaving .... *

I'm out of breath just following your exploits, Caroline!

Well thank goodness you are safe home and not injured or incarcerated for assault.
One less thing to worry about :)

Glad you're home safe and sound Caroline and hope you get some downtime soon. I also get tired just reading about all your activities!

Glad you are home safely, Caro, and am sure you will soon be caught up and able to relax.

I hope that the weekend proves to be less hectic for you, Caro, so that you can catch your breath!

Hi Caro! Welcome home!
I don't see why you can't have 2 days off when you return from a long distance working trip - one to sleep and one to write reports! Does you employer have a suggestion box? ;-)

#105 : I'm hoping the number of .... 'unexpected incidents' will decline with age, Darryl. I've been home for 3 days now and so far so good. *looks around just in case the accident fairy is listening*

#106 : Kath .. thank you for your optimism. :-)

#107 : Hi Pat. I'm enjoying a down day today ... came home early from work, having an artichoke and anchovy pizza and a pepperoni cheese pizza delivered for dinner, and I have no work to do over the weekend! - I'll maybe even start feeling sane again by tomorrow morning.

#108 : Thanks, Roni. I'm already in relaxation mode. Got a nice glass of sangria in hand .. with the pitcher in the fridge for refills when needed.

#109 : It will be all good, I hope this weekend, Stas. We're going to a friend's place tomorrow afternoon for a lazy cookout and the hubster has proclaimed Sunday my day, and has planned some surprise activities (I just hope they don't involve yardwork!)

#110 : Haha ...we actually do have a suggestion box, Cee. And to be fair to my company, for the type of travel I do, I could actually take a day off the day after I return. It's my own fault that I don't. But the problem is that I don't suffer from jetlag so I just go into the office the next day. On occasion though, I will work from home the day after I come back from a long distance trip, especially if it's a Friday.

We need to talk about this Caro.. this refusal to take days off..
call me..

So The Foreigners by Maxine Swann was an ER book I received last month and I'm a little on the fence about it. I liked some parts of it, and was disturbed by others. Here.. you guys judge.

Contemporary Buenos Aires exudes a sultry welcome to all. Her exotic charms entice all who visit and destroys the souls of those who aren't careful.

Daisy, a divorced American, flees to Buenos Aires, grant in hand,ostensibly to research and write about their waterworks, an area in which she is unqualified. Throwing off her conservative cloak, she is fascinated by Leonarda, a young Argentinian sprite with a yearning to tear the establishment. Isolde, a beautiful Austrian, leaps into the glittering Argentinian jet-set, seeking to belong.

As Daisy decides to embrace everything she would not have opened herself to in the past, Leonarda experiments with the emotional boundaries of others, and Isolde unwittingly breaks certain social taboos. Where one eventually finds understanding and contentment in herself, another finds herself spiraling out of control, while the other discovers a hidden depth of depravity within herself.

The writing was beautiful in certain passages, but I was left with a bad taste in my mouth at the humiliating cruelty inflicted on some of characters. Peeling back the surface layers of each character and exposing their rotting cores may actually be the strength of this novel. This is anything but a bland read. Be prepared to have some strong reactions when reading this novel.

3 stars .... I can see why some people would rate it higher though, but I didn't like a couple of the characters, so that colored my rating.

Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb. Another in the 'In Death' series, I hadn't realized until I was re-reading the series in order, that I didn't actually have this particular book in my collection. Another exciting futuristic police procedural with sexy, strong and sarcastically funny Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her team. I love this series!
3.8 stars

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami was a book I'd been looking forward to reading for a really long time, having been a fan of Murakami's other books, such as Kafka on the Shore, Norwegian Wood, After the Quake and Dance, Dance, Dance.

There's been so many wonderful reviews of this book, that I'm going to plead insecurity because I couldn't possibly post a review that does this book justice. I will say that I found some of the stories a little confusing, and this is not my favorite of his books. Still, there is no denying the author's genius and I don't regret reading this.
4 stars

#112 : LOL ... I was just thinking today that I need a vacation, Kath. But I'm off to Singapore on August 9. *sigh*

Hi Caro- Welcome home, my friend! Glad you enjoyed Wind-Up Bird, probably more than I did. Try to post your thoughts over on the Group Read thread, if you don't mind. Kafka is still my favorite.
Hope you have a nice & relaxing weekend.

I just realized that I've just hit my 75th book milestone. :-)

#116 : ROFL ... good gif, Kath.

#117 : Hey Marky-Mark. There were some parts of the book that I didn't like or was rather bored with, but I couldn't not read them, so I guess that's the pull of his genius?

Congrats on hitting 75, Caro!

yay for 75!

Congrats on 75!! Yah!

yeah...congratulations on reaching the goal!

Congratulations on hitting the 75 books mark, Caroline!

Way to go!

Yay for 75! Thumbs up for reviews!

woo hoo, 75 books already!!

Congrats, Caro! :)

So, whatcha doing the weekend?

Thank you, thank you ... it was a surprise to me. I didn't think I'd get there so quickly this year because I didn't feel as if I'd been reading quite as many books as I usually do.

Off to a cookout this afternoon at a friend's but need to clean the house before we leave. While I was away, the hubster had a couple of friends over for a visit. The friends and Edd actually did quite a few chores like cleaning out the garage (we can actually put a car in it now if we so chose!), clean the gutters, sweep the pine needles off the roof, some yardwork and various little repairs. I'm very grateful and appreciative .....but did they have to make such a mess of the house?!!!! I almost feel as if I should wear a hazmat suit when I'm inside.

I did, however, finish a wonderful book this morning. City of Thieves by David Benioff is going to be in my top 10 for the year.

During the German siege of Leningrad, an accidental deserter of the Russian Red Army and a seventeen year old Jewish boy accused of looting from a dead German paratrooper are brought before a Russian colonel after spending a night in prison. The choice offered by the colonel : death or a quest for a dozen eggs within a week. Should they be successful in their quest and return with a dozen unbroken eggs for his daughter's wedding cake, they will be freed.

Their journey brings them into contact with partisans fighting in the rural countrysides, other Russian army units, regular civilians trying to survive the German bombings, and even cannibals. Despite the horrors they encounter during their journey, the innocence of children robbed by grief and fear, and the evidence of Nazi cruelty, they each have their own form of resilience that helps them to not only survive but to protect each other.

The tale of the author's grandfather, his best friend and the woman who would become his wife is enthralling as it is sad, and has great moments where levity is the only weapon the men have against all encompassing grief. This book is sheer brilliance.

I have to go 5 stars with this one.

Congrats on 75 books!
I'll be adding City of Thieves to the pile. Great review!

>130 cameling: This book is sheer brilliance.

That's good enough for me. I'm adding City of Thieves to my wish list.

Thanks for the cheer, Jenn. And as for The City of Thieves, it really is a wonderful book.

Darryl.... ooh the pressure .... now I'm going to lose sleep until I hear what you think of the book.

I am apparently odd because I like the odd leech or 2. If I see one skinny one crawling up my leg during a hike, I'll sit and watch it pick a spot on my leg, latch on and feed. It's kinda fascinating watching their bodies grow until they're full, and then they fall off.

I loved City of Thieves when I read it too Caro. Have you read Helen Dunmore's The Siege? Another excellent book about the Siege of Leningrad that I loved a little bit more.

Congrats on 75! Adding City of Thieves to my WL too. Have a good Sunday!

*tra lee laaa*

Caro put a minus sign in front of the five, so her review is *sarcastic* and I don't need to read this depressing sounding book!

*confetti toss*

I am glad to see that you enjoyed City of Thieves so much, Caro. I confess that I did not. I will second Bonnie's recommendation of The Siege though. I loved that one!

I wonder if I have The Seige...? I have a couple of Dunmore's on my nook..

Oh and one more thing...

Caro- Great thoughts on City of Thieves. I agree, it's an excellent read. I'm also a big fan of the Siege. I think another nice companion piece, is Child 44. Enjoy your cookout!

#135 : Thanks, Laura. I hope you'll enjoy reading it.

#136 : Nice try, Rdear, but that's not a minus sign and you know it. So please retrieve all the confetti you've tossed around here. Succumb .... succumb ... it's actually not a depressing book. I really liked it.

#137 : What didn't you like about it, Stas? I've obese wish listed The Siege.

#139 : Back at 'cha, Kath. *mwaaah*

#140 : Thanks, Marky-Mark. Sounds like I may have to make a more concerted effort to find a copy of The Siege after all these glowing recommendations. :-)

The cookout yesterday was great! I went to the New England Patriot's training camp this morning to watch them practice. Apart from the beach, this was actually a pretty fun way to spend the day in the sun.

August Heat by Andrea Camilleri is another in the Inspector Salvo Montalbano series. This time, our dear Inspector is trying to survive the blistering heat of summer when he discovers a body of a young woman in a trunk in a buried house. Enter some sleazy and corrupt developers, a dead Arab, and a beautiful seductive twin. There is no shortage of snappy dialogue and antics from his team.
3.5 stars

Congrats!

Congrats on hitting (and passing) the 75 mark, Caroline!

You've been doing some good reading and reviewing. I'll have to look into a few of these books. . . .

hmmmmm pretty quiet this morning......makes me wonder what you are up to ?

#143 : Thanks, Jim.

#144 : Thanks, Terri. Which books caught your fancy?

#145 : Sadly, I was drowning in work this morning, Kath. I need some enthusiastic and capable pixies who'll work for cherries to delegate work to, I think. Know any at the bottom of your garden?

Tried out a new workout at the gym this evening and now my calves and arms are killing me.

Read The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig and it made me ponder if we're unwittingly cruel when we act out of good intentions.

Would it really be a kindness to take a person living their entire life thus far in dull poverty and transport them for 8 days into the very lap of capitalistic luxury, in full knowledge that at the end of the vacation, they would be returned to their previous life?

Christine was one such person, living in post-war Austria with her ailing mother, knowing nothing but poverty and a dreary job in her little town's post office. Her wealthy American aunt, having a sudden attack of conscience, decides to invite her to spend 2 weeks with her in Switzerland. Our mousey unassuming Christine is almost paralyzed with fear when she arrives, believing herself to be unworthy of such luxury, and embarrassed by her old and unfashionable clothes and suitcase. But after an afternoon of shopping with her aunt for new clothes and shoes, and a stylish haircut, Christine emerges like a new butterfly. Unused to being surrounded by beauty, luxury, and elegant society, she flits about and her innocent delight with everyone and everything she sees sets a glow about her, enchanting and alluring. Our shy post office girl relishes her new found confidence and spirited joy.

But without warning, her aunt brusquely sends her back home, back to her old job, back to her joyless life. Her mother passes away while she's on her way back. To Christine, life could not be more bleak in comparison to the careless frivolity she enjoyed just a short while ago. She's no longer kind nor generous with her time to her neighbors and those who come to the post office. She wears her bitterness like a thick coat around herself, impenetrable and puzzling to all who had known her.

She visits her sister's family in Vienna, and meets Ferdinand, a veteran of the war, and an equally bitter soul. Bitter because he's been discarded by society and the government like an old odd sock since his return from Siberia. The 2 of them form an awkward relationship. It's not one that either finds particularly joyful but it's one they cling to because they understand each other's bitterness. Their increasing anger and disappointments takes them to a turning point in their lives.

This is an absorbing work and one that is masterfully crafted. It's also one that lingers in the reader's mind after the last page has been turned.
5 stars

Caro- Excellent review of The Post Office Girl. I also loved it and have been meaning to get back to more of his work.

Thanks, Marky-Mark. He is an amazing writer, isn't he? This is only the 2nd book of his that I've read. I wonder why his books are not more readily available. I couldn't find a single copy of his works in my library.

Caro- It was my 2nd Zweig too! Yes, his books are hard to find.

Hey, stop by the 2nd Week Group Read Thread for Wind-Up Bird. Lisa posted some great questions and I couldn't answer any of them. Maybe, you would have some luck.

That is a great review.. it made me want to read the book..
Not that this is the first time that has happened!

Just dropping in to say hi, Caro! Woo Hoo for reaching 75! I think Post Office Girl is on my wishlist but off to double check. Have a happy day.

ETA: Ack, it wasn't - but tis now - thanks for mentioning it.

Hi there Caroline, excellent review of The Post Office Girl which has been languishing on my teetering tower far too long. I read Chess Story last year and loved it so why haven't I gotten to more of his work?? Good question.

#149 : I'm not sure I can answer her questions either, Marky-Mark... haha ... this was one of the more difficult Murakami books I've read, and while I appreciate some of the stories on their own, I couldn't see the relevance or connection. And I like connections in my stories. haha...

#150 : And my job is done, Kath! haha....

#151 : Thanks, Lynda. The day was pretty good .... because I had the day off and went to the beach. :-) I love mental health days, especially when I get to spend them on the beach and get a few swims in the ocean when it got too hot.

#152 : Thank you, Bonnie. I know what you mean .... I'm on the hunt now for more of Zweig's works. Don't let this book languish for too long in your teetering tower. It deserves to be taken down and absorbed.

Great review, Caro! Anything that rates 5 stars HAS to be seriously considered! :)

>133 cameling: I am apparently odd because I like the odd leech or 2. If I see one skinny one crawling up my leg during a hike, I'll sit and watch it pick a spot on my leg, latch on and feed. It's kinda fascinating watching their bodies grow until they're full, and then they fall off.

I am speechless.

>155 kidzdoc: Yeah, Darryl. I didn't know what to say either... ???

The Post Office Girl is already on my wishlist, and now City of Thieves is too. You're on a roll!

And UGH to the leeches. I have never seen one, but I'd be screaming.

I already have The Post Office Girl in the BlackHole, Caro. What an excellent review you wrote, Caro!

Well, I can't say that I am a huge fan of leeches..
but when I was a kid and waded in a particular creek..
there were always leeches. They never particularly freaked me out.
I have to say that I haven't run into any for a long time :)

After seeing The African Queen and especially now after reading Matterhorn, I don't find it easy to think positively about leeches. However, I've met a scientist who studies them, and apparently modern medicine is still interested in them, not for the old way of "bleeding" sick people, but for studying the proteins in their saliva that keeps blood from clotting and other purposes.

#154 : Thanks, Cee. This is a book I'm keeping on my re-read shelf coz I can see myself reaching for it again in some time in the not too distant future.

#155 : Really, Darryl? But the medical field uses maggots to eat away dead flesh from wounds. And THEY're disgusting to look at. A leech is actually pretty cute. I just find it rather fascinating watching their little bodies start to bloat (sort of like a very tiny balloon) when they feed. Plus they don't hurt.... major plus.

#156 : Give it a try, Cee. But don't step on them when they fall off ... they make a gruesome mess.

#157 : I was going to find post a little leech picture, but I desisted, Cushla. They're not really the prettiest looking creature and I didn't want to you run screaming from my thread. Especially not since I've managed to entice you to add City of Thieves to your wish list.

#158 : Thank you, Stas. Have you read any Stefan Zweig yet?

#159 : Come to one of my watering holes in the woods, Kath ... I'd almost guarantee you'll find some finding their way over to you in a matter of minutes. I do, however, have a pair of leech socks that I will wear when I'm hiking in tropical forests because there're only so many leeches I can find entertaining and then they just become a pain. So the leech socks keep them away.

#160 : Yes, Rebecca, you're right, they're of an interest to scientists. That's why if the leech falls off, you'll continue bleeding for a spell until the anti-coagulant wears off and your blood starts to clot again. It doesn't help them if we start clotting before they've even got more than a mouthful of blood in their little tummies.

I just find it mean when someone lights the leech on his butt with a match or cigarette lighter to 'burn' them off. Can you imagine sitting down and starting to eat a nice juicy burger only to find your butt on fire?

From the Observatory by Julio Cortazar is the first book I received from Archipelago Books that I'm completely puzzled by. I'm not sure what the point to the book is. There are pages of black and white photographs of observatories interspersed between the text, while the author writes about the life cycle of eels, the imaginary observatory of a local sultan.

What I do like, however, is the way it's written. The flow is very poetic even though they're not written in standard poetry formats, and the words just flit and float as if they were on a rippling brook.

I don't even know how to rate this. I can't say I liked it, and I can't say I disliked it. i just found it odd.

Just stopping by for my daily dose of Caro sparkles :)I am sorely in need today..

I am eager to read From the Observatory, and your review makes me more so.

Interesting comments about From the Observatory, Caroline. I'll probably read it this weekend.

Stopping by to say hi. I have a few of Cortazar's books lined up to read at some stage, looks like I can expect 'odd'.

*waving* at Caro

The only Zweig books I have read thus far have been nonfiction.

Phew - no leech pics! City of Thieves made it from wish list to Kindle yesterday morning (complete lack of discipline here, but it is week 6 of the school holidays so I have a good excuse.

So, what is the plan for the weekend?
You are home for a while I hope?

Nothing too exciting to report here :)

This sparkly zebra is for you, Kath.

And this too, after what happened to you today.

#164 : Hope you enjoy it, Rebecca. I'll be curious to see what you think of it.

#165 : I'd be curious to see what you think of it too, Darryl. I read it again this morning, and I just love the ebb and flow of his sentences. And I still didn't know what he was really getting at. haha

#166 : Kerry, I haven't read any of his works before, so I don't know if this is just the only odd one. Which ones of his works do you have?

#167 : *doing a little happy dance*...hello Stas. Which of Zweig's non-fictions would you recommend?

#168 : Cushla, I hope you enjoy City of Thieves. Doesn't it feel good to cut loose from discipline every once in a while? ;-)

#169 : I've got the day off tomorrow, Kath ... apart from a conference call at 6.30am for about an hour and a half. So planning on heading out to the beach with a picnic basket - fresh baguette from the bakery, cheese, pate, roasted peppers, grilled eggplant. Planning to swim and read and soak up the rays on the beach and then meet a friend for a late lunch of lobster, raw bar and beers....to compliment our picnic. :-) Hope the weather will cooperate tomorrow.

Just got home from my cooking club. One of the members made the yummiest blue cheese biscuits. Just the right amount of blue cheese.
Loving the sparkly zebra.

#170: Caro, try Zweig's autobiography The World of Yesterday. It is excellent.

I am a fan of the sparkly zebra too :)

Did someone say, blue cheese biscuits? Share the recipe, Jenn? Pretty pleeeease? I love blue cheese.

Thanks, Stas ... adding World of Yesterday to my obese wish list. I'm off to the library this morning before i head to the beach, so maybe, just maybe, they'll have this available.

already put some time into work this morning with 2 conference calls and a bit of email. Now taking the rest of the day off to head to the beach with a picnic basket and spend the day just reading, snoozing, swimming and then heading to our favourite lobster shack to meet some crustaceans. ;-)

I love your plans for the day, Caro! They sound so much better than mine - sleep, eat, go to work. . .

Oh Caro! LOL
You just made my day :)

I hope that you are having a wonderful time!
and mmmmmmm lobster! have a helping for me, ok?

Your plans for today sound wonderful (as long they are free of leeches).

Day started off cloudy so we stopped off at a farm on the way to the beach to pick some blueberries, buy some jam and fresh bread. Picnic basket already had cheese, pate, roasted peppers and grilled eggplant slices that I'd made yesterday, and half a cherry pie.

For a Friday, the beach was kinda crowded ... WTF .... who are all these people? Don't they have to work? *ahem... I deserved a day off!*
But the sun did come out, and the tide did start coming in after a couple of hours, and I did start to even out my patchwork tan while I read Blue Lightning. A friend drove up to meet us and we packed up and went to the lobster shack .... I can't resist fresh lobster. But we were starving, so we also ordered steamed clams, fried clams, oysters, onion rings ... and ice cold beers! sat out under a tent on picnic tables by the water and opened up our picnic basket to add more food onto the table. :-) Yes, we pigged out. What is it about dining al fresco? The food always seems to taste that much better.

Home now and happily tired. I'm glad I took this day off. I feel so mentally recharged now. I'll work tomorrow ... house needs a major cleaning.

Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves. The latest in the Shetland Island series, this one sees Jimmy Perez coming back to Fair Isles for a visit, and taking his fiancee, Fran, with him. His parents throw him an engagement party at the end of which, a woman, a famous twitcher at the research center, is found stabbed to death in the bird house. The only suspects are the visitors staying at the research centre, which includes her teenage stepdaughter. Jimmy has to try and solve this murder on his own because the bad weather is preventing the boat and plane from their shuttle runs.

But when another woman is found viciously stabbed to death as well, he has no choice but to call in his team for assistance.

It's a story about secrets. Everyone has secrets, it seems, even his own father. And while Jimmy is on the verge of uncovering the identity of the murderer, a tragedy occurs.

I've been a fan of the Shetland series since I started with Raven Black and this is as good as the first.
3.5 stars

Red Bones went missing from the library (at the college one where I work) before I had a chance to check it out. I need to see if our public library has it so I can get back on track. I hate it when books grow legs and walk. I've tried to find all the places student workers who shelve might have misshelved it, but I just can't find it.

#177: Home now and happily tired. I'm glad I took this day off. I feel so mentally recharged now.

Mission accomplished I would say, Caro!

Thankfully I never got sucked into the Ann Cleeves series .. glad you are liking it though..

eta

glad you had a great time yesterday :)

#179 : It is most annoying when books grow legs and go for a walkabout. I've had that happen to me (when I used to work in my high school library) and then have to deal with snarky students who seemed to think it was my fault that the books they wanted weren't where they were supposed to be.

#180 : Resoundingly so, Stas. Today sees me staying indoors ... really muggy outside. Maybe I'll find something to read. ;-)

#181 : There's still time, Kath ... there's still time. :-)

Had a little run this morning sweating buckets because of the humidty - even at 7.30am!
Cleaned the house,
made blueberry pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice for brekkies,
ran out to do banking, post office, dry cleaner errands.

No clue what's for lunch but I know I'm not cooking! Might just do crusty bread, cheese and pate.

I'm contemplating pulling the 50 page rule on The Shadow Woman by Ake Edwardson.

Hi Caro! Big, muggy wave to take attention away from my quickly curling hair! :P

So glad you finally had a day off. Hooray! Sorry about the crowd of other sunbathers... summer is the time for long weekends, I guess. We get the tourists all week. First frost will take care of most of them and the pesky insects. lol

Fresh blueberry pancakes and a bowl of fruit salad sound good for supper tonight. Hate to eat too heavy in warm, muggy weather.

ETA Update: For supper had crab salad, beet and orange salad, and blueberry muffins instead. Tried the recipe from the Blueberry book I just read. Yummy! Everyone loved them!

Do it! Too many books to go on reading one that isn't doing anything for you ..

What Kath said!

#183 : Cee, I love going to the beach after Labor Day. All the summer beachgoers stop going and it's just the real beach lovers who'll still go. It's less crowded and I don't have to listen to other people's conversations or worse ... their boom boxes, but can enjoy the sound and smell of the surf.

#184/185 : Done, Kath and Stas! I went to 80 pages and tossed it aside. I'm so glad I did because I loved my next pick up.

Clandestine in Chile by Gabriel García Màrquez is an incredible read.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, famous for his books, 'A Hundred Years of Solitude' and 'Love in the time of Cholera' puts on his journalistic hat again, and produced this summary of 18 hours of interview with Miguel Littín, a famous Chilean film director who had returned to Chile during Pinochet's regime of terror to film the condition of the country and the effects on the people. Miguel Littín had fled Chile after Pinochet toppled Allende in the coup and remained in exile, being on Pinochet's list of 5000 people forbidden to enter the country.

Littín spent 6 weeks in Chile disguised as a Uruguayan businessman. Precise and detailed planning with 3 European film crews who were unaware of each other for security, filming different sections of Chile, was necessary and made possible only with the assistance of the underground resistance. In order to escape detection, Littín had to stay in character the entire time he was in Chile, keep an eye out for the carabineros paying attention to him, avoid calling on friends and family, make sure his teams were kept safe, the film footage smuggled out of Chile into Italy, and that they all get out before the game was up.

His adventures were very cloak and dagger, meetings were a series of complicated passwords and his guardian angel was clearly working overtime because he had some incredible luck in getting out of more than a few potential dangerous situations where his disguise could have been uncovered.
5 stars

Morning Caro- Excellent review of Clandestine in Chile. It sounds great and I've never heard of it. And sadly, I have still not read Marquez. Bad reader!
Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Marky-Mark .. thank you. Get thee to a Marquez ... he writes so beautifully, I know you'll just love his books. They made a movie of Love in the Time of Cholera but I thought the book was better. I've got Memories of My Melancholy Whores by him in my TBR Tower still to read.

Hi Caro! Off to go find recipe for blue cheese biscuits for you - I don't think it got posted to our recipe blog yet - but here's the link:

http://www.hrrecipeladies.blogspot.com/

My friend who made the biscuits just had a baby, so we have to cut her a little slack for not posting the latest meeting recipes yet. Only a little slack though.

blue cheese biscuits? yum.. any biscuits are fine with me.. but biscuits with cheese?
Definite winners :) or butter and preserves or honey on a warm biscuit?
mmmmmmmmmm

Hi Jenn... what a gem you are. Thanks for the link. What's up with your friend, she only had a baby ... it's not as if she had to build a house, right? ;-) Slacker is right. *ducks dirty diaper that must be surely flung my way*

I can't wait to try that recipe when I get back from my trip. I love blue cheese and I just love cheese biscuits, so the thought of the combination is just wild.

Ditto what Kath sez.

I'm off to Singapore tomorrow morning for a week. So ta ra folks ... i'll check in again when I'm down by the Equator. ;-) Try and be good while I'm in flight and a prize will be sent to anyone who manages to guess what I'll be reading on route to Singapore.

Safe Travels, Caro!

The Singapore Grip? ;-)

Caro- Have a very safe trip! See you when you get back!

Well it seems that I check in whenever you're taking off Caro haha. Have a great trip. I've never been able to get into Marquez but maybe I'll give this one a try.

#186: I read that one last year, so I get to dodge that BB :)

Safe travels, Caro!

"guess what I'll be reading on route to Singapore"

If it's not The Memory of Love, it should be.

I hate to rave too much about a currently popular book, but this is a good read and should get you to Singapore nicely.

:) You tell us to stay out of trouble... ??

good advice, do try to follow it yourownself~

Have a good trip, Caroline!

Happy travels Caro. I'll tell my friend what you said - I'm sure that will get the recipe posted promptly.

Singapore Girl??

just looking for news...

drive-by hug for dearest Caro

Safe traveling, Caro!

Are we there yet? Now? How about now?

Are you home yet? I miss you madly!

Nobody guessed right..... so I get to keep the prize for myself. ;-) I read Jo Nesbo's The Devil's Star and just loved it.

Still battling grief over the death of his partner, Harry Hole finds himself in the strong relentless grip of alcoholism, costing him a relationship and his job. It takes, a gruesome and puzzling serial killing to bring him back from the edge of the abyss he was about to fall into, even if it means he has to work with his nemesis, a man, he suspects of being an arms dealer and one who murdered his partner.

Nesbo is a genius at keeping us guessing, even as he slowly exposes different facets of human behavior.
4 stars

It's been a great week here in Singapore. The business stuff was better than I was expecting, which made the long days bearable, and the social stuff was great because I managed to see some friends I hadn't seen in a long time, as well as the regular friends I see whenever I am here. I even managed to spend time with some family too.

End result? Sleep deprivation, excessive eating and drinking, and tons of follow up work to do when I get back to Boston. The only negative is that I promised a friend I would read a particular romance series if she reads the Arnuldur Indridason series.... so I'm kinda hoping she backs out of this deal because I am not much of a romance reader.

And in all that rushing around ... i somehow managed to buy 4 pairs of shoes ! :-)

I'm soooo looking forward to catching my flight back to Boston tomorrow if only so I can catch up on sleep on the planes.

So see you again on Wednesday ... if my planes all take off on time (with me on board!).

Happy travels! What're you taking to read?

I've got The Tiger's Wife, Bonk and The Hunger Games for my journey. And I'm halfway through The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahmad, an ER book I received.

Bonk! OMG a dangerous read on planes...the laughing and guffawing and knee-slapping could draw unwelcome attention from one's skywaiter. But no one can ever accuse you of not being prepared, eh what?

I liked The Tiger's Wife, read Stiff and am looking forward to Bonk, and am reading The Hunger Games OL with my son. Great picks! Glad your trip was great. : )

Constantine Codex by Paul Maier was really interesting. While the main plot of the book is a thrilling search after an archeological find to uncover an ancient manuscript that could lead to another bible, and the forces who don't want this codex to be made public, I found the secondary plot more interesting, as it contained a debate between a Harvard professor and a expert theologian in Islam comparing Christianity with Islam. The content of the debate provides good arguments equally for each religion, while not shying away from pointing out inconsistencies in both.

Maier provides us with a look at biblical history while holding us enthralled by the twists in the complex thriller.
4 stars

I've read mixed reviews of The Tiger's Wife so I'm approaching that with caution. But I've only heard great things about Bonk so I suspect that's going to be my next book after I finish my ER.

Oh wow The Constantine Codex sounds wonderful!!! Cannot wait, you siren of the bookstacks you!

Four pair of shoes sounds good.

safe journey

I'll take the shoes and the Codex.

Yeah.. Codex looks too good to miss..

Hoping your trip home has been dull, quiet and safe!

Hi Caro! Sounds like a great trip this time! With great books to boot! (To boot? Where did that come from?)

Hope all your flights are swift and sure... get your rest. Looking forward to your return! ;-)

Too bad my local library does not have The Constantine Codex. The book sounds like one I would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation!

Sleep study? So are you going to do it?

Ohh - love your review for The Wandering Falcon. Thumb up from me. That's one I'm adding to my wish list! Thanks Caro!

BTW - much backslapping and congragulations on reaching your 75th book!! Fabulous! :)

#214 : *gleeful chortle* And my job is done ... I've managed to tempt you once again, Richard. :-)

#215 : Shoe shopping is therapy for me, Jenn. The hubster just looked at them when I unpacked, laughed and made room on the shelves where the rest of my shoes are housed.

#216 : Thanks Kath. I'm safe home now and looking forward to not having to travel again for about a month. The trip back was smooth with only just 1 delayed flight from San Francisco to Boston. Oh and on that flight, the pilot announced a half hour into the flight that the water system wasn't working, and so we wouldn't be able to wash our hands after using the bathroom, but that they'd put out hand sanitizers in the bathroom for passengers. Ewww... guess who decided not to go to the bathroom at all until I arrived in Boston.

#217 : Hmm...what size shoes do you take, Berly?

#219 : Ha! I use 'to boot' myself, Cee. Can't think where I picked that bit of slang up from, actually.

#220 : I have a copy on my Kindle, Stas, do you want to borrow it? How do I lend it to you if you do want to borrow it?

#221 : Haha.. probably not, Kath. It was kinda funny that I ended up sitting next to man who worked in a lab studying sleep disorders. I wonder if I would have stayed awake if I had known before the flight took off? Then again, probably not. He said he'd never seen anyone fall asleep that quickly on a plane before, nor stay so soundly asleep for nearly 9 hours, never waking even when he climbed over my legs to go to the bathroom a few times.

I read The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahmad, a wonderful ER book I received earlier this month. The desert hills through which the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran cross are home to many nomadic tribes, each just wanting to roam the hills with their camels and sheep, maintaining the lifestyle of their ancestors.

A boy is orphaned when his parents are murdered in front of him by the woman's tribe. Left to die, the boy is found by another nomadic tribe and adopted by them, but later finds himself abandoned yet again when the men he travels with are tricked into going to a government fort and arrested. We follow the journey of the boy through his interaction with the different tribes and how they are gradually forced to change their cultural practices and means of supporting themselves over time as borders are more strictly patrolled and traveling documents required.

The stories are as fascinating as they are harshly beautiful.
4.5 stars

#222: I appreciate the offer of the loan for The Constantine Codex, Caro, but I have a Nook not a Kindle.

Welcome home, Caro! It will be nice to have you here for a long spell. Good review of The Wandering Falcon. It sounds terrific.

Welcome back, Caroline! I glad that you also enjoyed The Wandering Falcon. What's your secret for sleeping on long flights?

I may fall victim to Codex for nook.. I do have some gift cards waiting for me to use them ...

So nice to see your thread lighting up again after your most recent trip..

>213 cameling:: I've also heard the mixed reviews of The Tiger's Wife. However, since a friend sent me a copy, I guess I'll have to dive in soon. As for Bonk, I'd definitely recommend that.

#225 : You're just going to have to get a Kindle so I can loan it to you then, Stas. ;-)

#226 : Thanks, Marky-Mark ... I am looking forward to the month at home, even if it includes a visit from my in-laws for a few days. Oh and I have to thank you for recommending Anya's Ghost. I read it last night and really enjoyed it. It was the perfect read for a lazy ho hum evening while keeping the hubster company while he watched (IMO) a really badly acted b/w movie about a guy searching out Nazi war criminals.

#227 : Thanks, Darryl. My secret to sleeping on long flights? hmm..... a clear conscience? I have no idea except that I always fall asleep in moving vehicles. On drives from MA down to NY, I'll sleep while the hubster drives and listens to his audio books or talks to his friends/family/telemarketers on the phone. I'll sleep on trains and buses too .. I'm not fussy .. if it's a vehicle and moves, I'll sleep. The only things I haven't yet fallen asleep on are bicycles and motorbikes.

#228 : Succumb, Kath ... succumb to the pull of the Codex. The gift cards are just yearning to be pulled out and used.


#229 : ok, Tad ... why don't you read The Tiger's Wife and I'll see which side your reviews fall on, before deciding to read that myself.

I'm loving Bonk ... it's keeping me in stitches, but at the same time, there's some really interesting information in there too. Mary Roach is not just a good researcher, but I just love the way she presents the materials and adds her own touch of humor as well.

I read Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol, thanks to Mark's recommendations and it's a cute graphic novel about a Russian immigrant teenager who tries to deny her heritage believing it's the only way to blend in at school. She falls into a well and discovers a female ghost who, after she's rescued, tries to help her get what she wants or thinks she wants, out of her life.
3.5 stars

Caro- I'm glad you enjoyed Anya's Ghost. I liked it a lot and enjoyed the dark twists. Looking forward to more from this young author.
Speaking of graphics, I finished Kabuki: Circle of Blood. I liked it but a bit convoluted at times and way to many characters thrown in there but I enjoyed the premise and some cool illustrations. Thanks for turning me on to it.
I just finished Locke & Key, which shows much promise.

Ah, Caro! Fun to have you back home! There's a whole dimension of LT missing when you're not here.

Hey there! Drive-by hug

Welcome home, Caro!

Don't do it Tad! Save yourself!
Caro, did you read Tigers Wife?

oh and Caro.. which of Jeffrey Archers books do you recommend?

>235 mckait:: That bad, huh?

#217, #224 Any size between 7 1/2 and 8 1/2...I'll make it work!! LOL. I have Bonk on my radar, and actually it is in my shelves, so I hope to read it soon! Enjoy being home.

Welcome home!


I left these on your porch - I hope you got them.

#227-#230-ish
I fall asleep in moving vehicles too. I always thought it was because when I was a baby, my parents drove me around in the car until I fell asleep. I must associate moving vehicles with bedtime. My poor husband loves to go for drives. I try to stay awake, but I just can't. On top of that, I'm usually knitting, so he's panicking because he's worried I'll poke my eye out falling asleep over knitting needles.

*waving* at Caro

The weekend is here ! Down time?

I think I must've read wrong...Caro *seemed* to say in Darryl's thread that she was home for a month. She must've had a surprise trip to Uzbekistan or something. Too quiet around here.

Those are spectacular zukes....I can think of about 1 bazillion things to do with those. Too bad you don't live closer. I can't convince the folks here in Maine, that they're so much more delicious when they aren't left to grow to baseball bat size.

Stopping in for a quick Hello!

Sadly, no one has left me a sack of zucchini this year....i'm hurt.

#231 : Oh let me know what you think of Locke & Key Marky-Mark. I was peeking at it at the bookstore and am considering getting a copy. Have you read the Courtney Crumrin series? If you haven't I think you should check them out. I think you'll like them.

#232 : Awww.. thanks, Cee. That's so sweet. And that be the dimension of lunacy? ;-)

#233 : Scooter-by hug back!

#234 : Thanks, Roni. It's good to be home and better yet to be back regularly on LT. I miss my peeps!

#235 : I haven't yet read Tiger's Wife, Kath. I have it in my TBR Tower, was considering reading it on the flight back, but (apparently) wisely chose to read my ER book, The Wandering Falcon instead.

#237 : Sorry, Berly, I'm a 6 1/2 - 7. :-) Do get started on Bonk. I'm loving it and will probably finish it before the weekend is up.

#238 : The neighbors stole the zucs that you left on my porch! :-( Those look great. Are they from your garden? I love roasted zucs or breaded and fried with ranch sauce. I don't, however, like zuc bread. Go figure.
Please, Jenn .. make sure you put the knitting needles down before you fall asleep in the car? I wouldn't want you to stab yourself in the eye or ear when your husband goes over a bump or pothole in the road.

#239 : *waves back* at Stas.

#240 : Yes, finally some down time for sure! It's a slow day today (sssh... not saying this loudly in case it changes) and I'm leaving early to head to the beach because the hubster has a triathlon there this evening.

#241 : I didn't want to overwhelm all of you, Richard. There is sometimes too much of a good thing, after all. :-)

I finally made it over to the side of my office where my 3 oddball coworkers have a tank of musky soil, plastic plants, worms, and various insects ... oh and 1 mama snake (which was erroneously named Harold when first brought in) and her 5 baby snakes. They've been bugging me about coming over to see the reptiles since before I left and daily since I've been back. They're kinda cute and I held 2 of the baby snakes. I suspect they're not getting much to eat seeing as they're still so tiny. But far be it from me to suggest food since i don't know what brown snakes eat. The babies are cute.. they have a little white line at the back of their heads where their necks (if they had one) would be.

#242 : Tina - And some of those bazillion things would be? I do love them roasted with olive oil and sea salt. But am willing to try other ways to cook zuc ... except in bread form. I have never seen, nor eaten a zuc the size of a baseball bat. Do they really taste different? Better how?

#243 : Hey there, Jude ... maybe your neighbors stole your sack of zucs too. Darn these zuc thieves!

No Caro, those are in a photo by some obliging person. I am, however, getting 5-8 zucchini a day from my garden that look just like that, as well as lovely yellow pattypans.

Here's our current favorite zucchini recipe: http://mylavenderave.blogspot.com/2011/07/zucchini-pasta.html

And here's one I'm trying tonight: http://www.marthastewart.com/349243/zucchini-nut-bread-cookie-sandwiches

I'm not sure about the nuts.

Jude - go home - there's zucchini on your thread porch. :)

Caro- I've had a bit of a graphic obsession these past few months. I usually have 2 or 3 at hand and just picked up another from the library. If you haven't tried the Sweet Tooth series. Give it a try. Thanks for the Courtney Crumrin rec. I wrote it down.

Breaded Zucchini is better than candy! My niece can bread like no one else in the world. every crumb stays
on.. yummy

No Caro....the baseball sized zukes are NOT better....they're dried out, stringy, and often spongy rather than crisp.

I love them shaved thin with a mandoline and stir fried in olive oil with diced pancetta - a healthier substitute for carbonnara. Love them stuffed with corn/fireroasted tomatoes/black beans and cilantro, or stuffed with a moussaka type ground meat and goat cheese mixture.

I do actually love it in bread too, but understand those who think the bread is just for those who are at their wits end with too much.

#246 : Ooh...thanks for the zuc pasta recipe, Jenn. I'll try that out on Monday for dinner. I'm going to wait to hear your thoughts of the zuc nut cookies.

#247 : I haven't yet read the Sweet Tooth series, so thanks back at you, Marky-Mark, for the rec. I think I need to make a bit more of a dent in my TBR Tower before I rush out to and get more books for the time being. The guilty conscience is weighing heavily today ....because one of my shelves broke under the weight of the books I'd piled and shoved on it.

#248 : Me too .. I'm a breaded zuc fiend too, Kath. There's a little neighborhood gem of a tavern in the next town from us where they make amazing breaded zucs and (IMO) the best in the world roasted rack of lamb.

#249 : ok, Tina ... I'm hungry!

Finished Bonk and I had such a great time reading this. I'm not going to write up a proper review because so many people have already done so, and done so very well too. But I will say that having already read Stiff and enjoyed that, I had no doubt that a writer who could interest me in cadavers and infuse humor in her research into the subject as well, would have a field day on the subject of sex. Far be it from a titillating read, this book had really interesting information on research done on animals - I just howled in the introduction when she described the porcupines. I'd never given any thought at all to what Masters and Johnson, or Kinsey must have gone through to find subjects for their experiments. Her travels to Taiwan, Egypt and the UK to hunt down specialists in certain surgical procedures or scientists certainly presented her with some very interesting and hilarious situations.

I would love to have her over as a dinner guest!
4.8 stars

Hi Caro! Bonk is so great - I need to get back to reading more of Ms. Roach! Hope you're having a great Saturday!

Ah, I love Mary Roach! :) Errr, I mean, I love her books...it's not like I have an unhealthy/creepy crush on her or anything. *Nervous laugh*

Oh my, it has been way too long since I've visited here.

Jen thanks for the zucchini recipes. Does anyone have instructions for making zucchini bread? My neighbor gave me a huge bag of zucchini.

Ahh it is good to have a friend with too many zucchinis !

#251 : Hi Laura, I'm just in awe of Ms Roach's ability to deliver scientific research in what I'll call a 'talk around the kitchen table' style. I've got her Spook in my TBR Tower to read at some point. I can't wait to see what she does with the subject of the afterlife.

#252 : How about a little healthy crush, then Stefano? She can't fail but be flattered by that? I'd really love to have her over as a dinner guest .... who knows, she may, after an experience with me, decide to investigate the subconscious lure of accidental falls.

#253 : Hey ho, Linda. Welcome back.... but zuc bread? Nooooooooooooo...

#254 : As long as they don't have squirrel bite marks on them, Kath ... like mine did last year. Grrrr....

Started a new thread here

Thumb up to your latest review - the name of the book which escapes me. The idea that a 90 old man would look for a young girl to have sex with turns me off as it did for you. Thanks for helping me eliminate books I need not read!