lindapanzo's 2011: Bottom of the 4th inning

Hope you'll join me in discussion of books or whatever.

My first inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/104700
My second inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/108039
My top of the third inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/110272
My bottom of the third inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/113368
My top of the fourth inning was at: http://www.librarything.com/topic/116818




BOOKS READ IN JULY
73. Anthem for Doomed Youth by Carola Dunn
74. The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction
by Alan Jacobs
75. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
76. Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan by Del Quentin Wilber
77. Winter in June by Kathryn Miller Haines
78. The President Is a Sick Man by Matthew Algeo
79. A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams
80. When Winter Returns by Kathrn Miller Haines
81. English Tea Murder by Leslie Meier
82. The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year by Curt Sampson
83. Town in a Blueberry Jam by B.B. Haywood
84. One Summer by David Baldacci
85. An Irish Country Girl by Patrick Taylor

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST
86. Dead by Midnight by Carolyn Hart
87. The Siege of Washington by John Lockwood and Charles Lockwood
88. Land of Lincoln: Adventures in Abe's America by Andrew Ferguson
89. Farewell, Miss Zukas by Jo Dereske
90. Big Spring Autumn by Bonnie Stepenoff
91. Scones and Bones by Laura Childs
92. A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch
93. The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood by Jane Leavy
94. Evil Eclairs by Jessica Beck
95. We Are Lincoln Men: Abraham Lincoln and His Friends by David Herbert Donald
96. At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie

I'm FIRST! Happy New Thread, Linda!
AND HAPPY FIRST 75!!!! I'd send up another firework, but it's just too late and I'm off to bed!

Linda - many congrats on reaching your first 75. I hope the 2nd batch is as pleasant as the first. You certainly always seem to find interesting ones I might not come upon on my own, so I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Hooray, your first 75! Congratulations.

Now I've got this thread starred, too, Linda!

Good luck getting another 75 done. I believe you can do it!

Thanks.

Just looked through the latest ER list. There's one I'm considering. I'd been thinking/hoping that the new Louise Penny would be offered this month. I believe it's due out at the end of August. Disappointing that it's not.

Late last night, I started on my overdue ER book, about the Reagan assassination attempt, and got totally hooked. Rawhide Down. I hadn't realized how close he came to dying that day.

Congrats!

I think I requested 10 off the latest ER list. :)

I could have easily requested 15 from the list, but I limited myself to my top 5 picks. I, too, was disappointed the new Louise Penny was missing from this month's list. Of course, I will be first on the list for the copy I order for our library now!

Congrats of the first 75!

ER bummed me out when I didn't win the Pirate King new Mary Russell mystery. I only requested one - new cozy set in Maryland. Trying to request only ones I really would like to read. I have three ERs to finish. I sure hope that late one from March wasn't the reason I didn't get Pirate King. ***sigh**

Congratulations on your first 75!

Congratulations on 75, Linda!

Woo hoo! You're smokin' on reading books this year. Congrats on the 75 books read.

I'm becoming a fan of new threads as I've fallen woefully behind. I fervently hope to keep up with you from now on!

Congratulations on 75 books!! Hooray!!

Thanks. I'm trying to hold off on ERs until I get caught up, unless there's something I can't live without. I didn't ask for anything last month and might ask for the one this month, the latest in a series where I've read most, but not all, of them. Not sure yet.

Went out to the movies this afternoon and was insulted when they gave me the senior rate. I am 50 but don't look it, I wouldn't say.

I see that the movie, The Help, is due out next month. That was my favorite book a year or two ago and so it's a must see for me.

Congrats on reaching 75, Linda! Hooray! I'm following pretty close behind, so watch out!

Book #76
Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan by Del Quentin Wilber
(an ER book)

This is an absorbing, minute by minute account of that day 30 years ago, in March of 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was nearly assassinated. I was in college at the time and, prior to reading this book, had only a vague notion of what happened that day. This book superbly filled in the blanks for me. I, and many others apparently, never realized how close Reagan came to dying that day. In fact, if the lead Secret Service agent, who pushed the President into his limo, had not made a quick decision to go to the hospital, Reagan might well have died.

Once started, this book is tough to put down, as the author goes into remarkable detail about what Reagan, the Secret Service agents, the medical staff, would-be-assassin John Hinkley, and others, including the First Lady and Vice President Bush, said, did, and thought that day.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about American history.

Pretty amazing. I have a lot of books but I doubt I have ten tons worth.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/house-of-shelves.html

That is quite an amazing set of shelves. I like the more traditional kind though...I would love to own a home with floor to ceiling book cases and one of the those neat ladders that glide along.

Hi, Linda! Rawhide Down sounds good! Great review.

Hard to believe it's been 30 years since that happened. I feel old . . .

I'm finally caught up on ER reviews, so I'm requesting again. I saw a lot of books this month that look interesting.

Congratulations on reaching 75 already! Good luck on finishing a second 75 before year-end.

I was home sick the day Reagan was shot. Back in the days before a hundred channels, even on cable. There wasn't anything else on so I spent the day on the couch watching news coverage. Sounds like an interesting book.

Happy 75! Hoping I can keep better tabs on you during the second 75!!

Book #77
Winter in June by Kathryn Miller Haines

This third book in the cozy mystery series featuring World War 2-era New York actress Rosie Winter is the best yet. I absolutely loved the story, in which Rosie and her friend, Jayne, head off on a USO tour of the South Pacific. How this worked and what they did was absolutely fascinating to me.

However, the mystery part of the book was only okay for me. I think the author could've gotten things going quicker, though I didn't mind all that much since the nonmystery elements were so interesting.

I'd highly recommend this one to cozy fans, though I think the reader needs to read these in order. I'm more eager than before to read what now appears to be the final book in the series.

SPOILER: I absolutely hated the ending.

#23: I wish my local library had the books in that series. I hope the final book in the series proves to be a memorable one for you, Linda.

>23 lindapanzo: I'll have to look for that series. I don't think I've ever heard of it or read it.

ETA: Good - our public library has it.

Relay day today...for American Cancer Society. It's from 6 pm til 6 am, though I'm unlikely to stay the entire time (hoping to be home by midnight).

I'll be bringing along a pb, just in case. A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams.

Oooh, I have that one too! Let me know what you think of it.

I didn't get much reading done at Relay. We're a chatty bunch. It's a great event, solemn, yet fun. Our team raised about $2,100.

No reading again today as we have Dad's 75th birthday celebration.

Kudos to your team for the fundraising in the relay!

Happy birthday to your dad!

Thanks, Terri. A fun weekend all around (and no ballgames), except watching the Sun night ESPN game.

Nearly no reading this weekend. Maybe after 10 pm tonight.

I saw the nerd/geek/dork quiz on a few threads and took it.

I'm a modern cool nerd.

Your result for The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test ...

Modern, Cool Nerd
83 % Nerd, 57% Geek, 39% Dork

I like this part: The Modern, Cool Nerd is intelligent, knowledgable and always the person to call in a crisis (needing computer advice/an arcane bit of trivia knowledge). They are the one you want as your lifeline in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (or the one up there, winning the million bucks)!

THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=9935030990046738815

Linda- Glad you had a nice weekend and a good time at the Relay! Since you are such an ardent baseball fan, I thought I would let you know I just picked up 21:The Story of Roberto Clemente. It's a graphic bio, that received a good review in the Tribune. I'll let you know.

We had an extremely strong storm blow through town this morning. Power lines/trees blocking the roads. Finally got to work to discover that there's no AC, food, elevator service etc. I think the phones work and our pc's but that's about it.

Apparently, we'll have a power outage at home for several days.

Same here, Linda. What a pain. A relatively short storm (20 minutes or so) did a ton of damage by us. At least there were no injuries, as far as I know.

What an ordeal. It was like pioneer days. No power from 8 am Mon til 2 am today (we weren't expecting it back til noon on Fri). I was at work when it went out there at 4:15 on Mon. It's still out--they're thinking it might be back there tomorrow.

No internet anywhere, phone service was sporadic. We finally managed to get gas for the generator (almost all gas stations are closed) so we had the fridge, a fan, and a lamp plus I could recharge my Kindle. I read a bit but not much.

I hadn't thought of being able to read the Kindle when the power is out -- as long as it's charged, anyway. Another benefit of Kindle ownership.

One thing I didn't realize is that I don't think cell phone towers were working ok. I could download the paper on kindle but it took most of my battery power to do it. Once I recharged, I didn't download again.

Wow, Linda. Sounds like you have had a rough go of it. I hope that the power is restored quickly and that things return to 'normal' soon.

Book #78
The President Is a Sick Man by Matthew Algeo
(net galley for me)--finished by flashlight during the power outage

Matthew Algeo does a masterful job, once again, of taking an obscure event in presidential history and, using a light, breezy style, bringing it to life for the modern reader. As he did earlier with Harry Truman's post-presidential road trip (in Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure), Algeo has done it again, this time, with President Grover Cleveland's secret surgery to remove a cancerous tumor while on board his friend's boat in July of 1893.

It's an absolutely fascinating book, putting the event into the context of the times and drawing parallels to President Grant's cancer a bit earlier. Also of particular interest: how the surgery's secrecy was maintained despite the involvement of six doctors/dentists and several friends onboard. When a reporter exposed the secret surgery, he was vilified, but later exonerated by the truth.

Algeo really makes the 1890s come alive in a book that I'd strongly recommend to any fan of American history books.

#39: I will have to watch for that one when it comes out as I enjoyed Algeo's Truman book. Thanks for the recommendation, Linda!

#40 I thought the Truman book was a tad better. That's a historical period I'm much more interested in. The Cleveland book was very good but he seemed to be trying to stretch it to fit an entire book.

#41: OK, I will keep that in mind. Thanks, Linda.

Book #79
A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams

I loved this first book in the Books by the Bay series featuring Oyster Bay, NC resident Olivia Limoges who, with her poodle and her book writer group friends help solve this series of murders, each of which was accompanied by a seasonal haiku.

I loved the characters and think this series shows a lot of potential. The book also seem to go more in-depth as to characterization than the typical cozy. The second book in the series, A Deadly Cliche is on my soon to be read list.

#43: I enjoyed that one too! I am glad to see you liked it, Linda.

I'm going to have to try to find a copy of that one when I get to used bookstore. I'll put it on my "read this soon" list so that I will be on the lookout for it.

Off to the Cubs game today. It's going to be steamy in the Chicagoland area but nature's air conditioning, aka Lake Michigan, hopefully will keep it cooler at the ballpark today.

I'm taking along one of those Irish Country books, An Irish Country Girl by Patrick Taylor for the long bus ride.

I got about 50 pages (yes, it's an actual book, not a Kindle book) on An Irish Country Girl and, so far, not liking it that much. It's much, much different than the other Irish Country books.

I've also got the final (most likely) Rosie Winter mystery going on my Kindle. Rosie and her pal, Jayne, are back in NYC after their USO tour to the South Pacific. Not liking this much as much as I liked the others but it's early days yet.

Linda, I too had that same feeling about this particular segment of the Irish Country series....it was ok, but not at all like the others, and not what I was expecting.

I read one of the Taylor books and never got back to the series. I suppose I should at some point!

Just catching up, Linda. Sorry to hear of your storm troubles. Glad that things are getting back to normal.

The President is a Sick Man sounds interesting.

What a hot one at the old ballpark today. I drank 4 bottles of water and probably should've had 4 more. I feel wilted now though the AC on the bus, in my car, and now at home is reviving me.

No energy to read or do anything except sit on the couch and watch the ballgame.

I know that feeling!

Book #80
When Winter Returns by Kathryn Miller Haines

This is the fourth (and quite possibly, final) Rosie Winter mystery. Actresses Rosie and her pal, Jayne, are back from their USO tour in the South Pacific. This time, the focus of this cozy is on spies and wartime saboteurs.

I loved the characters, as usual, but this book seemed a bit preachy for me. I wish this series would continue but, for me, this was my least favorite of the whole series.

Too bad if that is the final book in the series since it sounds like it rather ended on a sour note for you.

Glad I've used up all my Borders gift cards. They said on the news that all of the remaining stores will be closing. Starting Friday and all will be closed by September.

I'm sad about Borders as well. I've always preferred the Borders in Knoxville to the Barnes & Noble. (BooksAMillion in Knoxville is a really small store, but their Sevierville store is quite good.) I guess I'll be using B&N and the Sevierville BooksAMillion when I need a bookstore dealing in new books.

Our Borders is about 5 minutes away so it was quite convenient. The next closest bookstore is probably a half hour away.

That's terrible news about Borders - the store close to us (only about 2 miles) is always busy, and there is always a line at the checkout (at Christmas time, the wait in the checkout line can be nearly an hour). I was very hopeful that it would stay open. Darn. I think it is the only new bookstore we have in our town, and may be the only bookstore period.

#58: Sounds like you are going to have to stock more than you otherwise might have when we have the Joplin meet up this year, Sandy!

Linda- Yes, I'm very bummed about Borders. The one in Oakbrook is a great store. Enjoy your day off.

Book #81
English Tea Murder by Leslie Meier

I love this long-running cozy series featuring Lucy Stone, a small town reporter in Maine. This one had an interesting premise Lucy and her three friends join a college tour to England. One member of the tour group dies on the plane on the way over. There's a lot of travel narrative.

I loved the travel narrative but, as a mystery, this one wasn't as good as the others in the series. In fact, if you've read some classic mysteries, I bet you figure this one out almost immediately. It's got an interesting twist on one of the most famous mysteries ever but that one is a plot most mystery fans are aware of.

Also, the mystery took a backseat to the travel portions. Fun, but just not that meaty.

SPOILER: One of my mystery pet peeves is present in this book. The ending was not very satisfying when the amateur sleuth solves the case and then won't do anything about the solution. I hate that.

Hi, Linda! I saw The President is a Sick Man in a bookstore a little while back and added it to my list. I'll have to get to it. And a belated congratulations on hitting 75!

#59 Oh, darn. I hate when that happens. ;-)

#63: Yeah, I just bet! lol

Big sale on Kindle books, again. This time, it's The Big Deal. I need to check it out...see if there's anything worthwhile.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000705681&pf_rd_m=A...

They have a Louise Penny for $2.99.

I'm reading a book about PGA golf in 1960. While it's got its interesting moments, I'll be glad when I'm finished.

Linda - Thanks (I think) for reminding me about the Kindle book sale. I just spent some time browsing. I bought Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away and have several more on a list to consider. I love a bargain!

Book #82
The Eternal Summer: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Hogan in 1960, Golf's Golden Year by Curt Sampson

This is an interesting (at times) look at golf's past (Ben Hogan), present (Arnold Palmer), and future (Jack Nicklaus) in 1960. The author puts the PGA tour into context and provides a good mix of tournament play by play with how the golfers got to that point. It was a much different time and Arnie, in particular, really opened the golf world to endorsements.

Others, such as Gary Player and Ken Venturi are also covered but the focus is on Hogan and Palmer.

I'm not a golfer but I enjoyed this one.

I browsed through the cheapo Kindle offerings and picked up only one book, Longitude. There are probably about 10 books I already owned and a few oddball ones that even I didn't want, such as a biography of H.J. Heinz.

Hey Linda --

You make The Eternal Summer sound pretty interesting, even though I can't say I've ever read a nonfiction book about golf. Maybe it's time to start!

I was in the nearest Borders on Friday (at 35 minutes away it's also the nearest new book bookstore) and it was packed. Mystery and Science Fiction were only 10% off, but many nonfiction categories were up to 30% off. Magazines were discounted 40%. It's sad to see it go.

#69 - Linda - I picked up Longitude too. It looks like an interesting one!

Hi Linda- I was listening to an NPR podcast today and they were talking to the author of The President Is a Sick Man. Along with your glowing endorsement, I need to add this one to my List! And I have still not read his Truman book either!
Hope you are having a nice weekend.

#70 I don't golf but, for some reason, I like to read about it. I tagged my golf books and I've read 17 or so.

#71 I picked it up but probably won't get to it soon.

#72 Algeo has got a pretty lively writing style. I picked up his book about how the Steelers and the Eagles formed one team and played during WW2. This sounds like an earlier book, one not part of his current formula.

#69: I loved Longitude when I read it several years ago, Linda, so I hope you like it - whenever you get to it.

Another vote for Longitude!

Book #83
Town in a Blueberry Jam by B.B. Haywood

I've been trying to read more "first in series" mysteries lately, mainly to replenish me with my fill of mysteries as other series die off/end. This cozy series set in small town Maine has been on my list for awhile.

It did not disappoint. While I had a few quibbles--the sleuth Candy Holliday really stuck her foot into things far more than necessary--it had characters I liked and it seems to have good potential.

I'll be continuing with this series, that's for sure.

Another thumbs up for Longitude. Her Galileo's Daughter is good, too.

Thanks to everyone for their recommendations about Longitude. Maybe I should get to it sooner, rather than later.

I am swamped at work, mainly filling in for someone else on something I've never done before. This is the week I've been dreading for months.

Anyway, I am barely reading and reading almost no LT at all.

I did start (and read a few pages of) an ER book about the 1961 Cincinnati Reds. I never realized that the American League expanded in 1961 and the National League expanded in 1962 and, since they had a different number of teams so, for that one season, they played a different number of games and the NL teams would occasionally have two days off, this so that they could end at the same time.

Ack! Linda, I've somehow managed to miss both this thread and the previous one - I'm all caught up now, though, and am glad to see that you're back in the 21st century with electricity. Sad that there's no reading going on, but I know you'll catch up soon.

I've totally ignored your starting all of those mystery series upthread though - it's like they're not even there! Hope you have a good Wednesday!

I hope work lets up for you soon, Linda!

Book #84
One Summer by David Baldacci

I enjoyed this gripping, tearjerker, uplifting book about a 30-something Cleveland man dying of an incurable disease who hopes to hang on to Christmas.

How he, his wife, and his three children deal with his illness and their plans for the future (including his wife's promise to take the kids to her childhood beachfront property in the Carolinas) was both emotional and thought-provoking.

Not my usual but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's good to have a good cry while reading, once in awhile.

We have that one here at the library. If it's still here when we leave tomorrow afternoon, I may have to check it out. I checked out two today. That plus the ones from my stash that are out to read and the ones I have checked out from the public library will be enough to keep me more than occupied during the next two weeks, but it does sound like a good read. Need a good tearjerker every once in awhile.

I just got One summer in audio for review. Your comments convinced me to move it up in the queue.

#83 Hope you like it. It's beach reading, not great literature. I was up til 1 am, finishing it.

#81 I saw this book on the library's new release list the other day - I like David Baldacci, but this seems so different from his other books that I hesitated. Glad to hear that is is a good one. Needing to stay up late to finish is always a good sign!

Adding One Summer to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Linda! I will try and keep the Kleenex box nearby when I read it.

Linda- Wow, we are sure getting lots of rain, huh? Hope you have survived the week!

Glad someone is getting rain. It's so hot and dry here that the grass crunches when you walk on it. We're only watering the flower beds, and only enough to keep the perennials from dying. We were teased last night with thunder and a few drops, but the forecasted showers never happened at our house. Today we were supposed to have another chance of rain, but it is sunny with only a few whispy clouds. I'm not very hopeful. How long until fall?

We hadn't had rain for about a month, up until about a week ago. Then, we got 3 inches in an hour or two. It happened again early in the week, again on Wed morning (which was when we nearly flooded). Almost every night between 10 and 11 pm, it rains hard, at least an inch or so.

A couple hours west, they got 15 inches of rain in 10 hours early yesterday I think it was.

Torrential, almost monsoon-like downpours. On Wed morning, the weatherman said it was raining at the rate of 6 inches per hour but, fortunately, the rain lasted only 20 to 30 mins.

I've never seen rains like this before.

Hi Linda
I'm very behind on the threads...I'm starting anew with this post.

Sounds like the rain storm was quite dramatic!

#90 Hi Linda: I've been swamped at work and so I haven't gone around chatting much lately. However, I just signed off on the final part of this week's dreaded assignment. Whew, what a relief that is.

It's been soooo hot and so rainy lately. I'm actually looking forward to a bit of fall, already.

I'm right there with you wishing for fall - I only wish the season lasted longer! Sorry to hear about the torrential rain you've been getting - we just had one day with steady showers up here, and could use another one or two if I'm honest. Glad to hear that work has loosened its grip on you - at least you read a couple of books while swamped!

Glad to hear you made it through your tough week at work, Linda.

I heard about the rains out there, Linda. This has been a year for weird weather.

Rain? What is that?

Yes, things are looking up. Got through a tough week at work and tonight went to dinner and then the groovy musical show, Shout, at our local professional theater. Some songs were great--Son of a Preacher Man, Shout, Goldfinger--and others just ok. Very entertaining though, especially with the go-go boots and other 60s fashions.

I have a whole ton of great TIOLI books planned for August, including, are you sitting down, some Westerns. I never, ever read Westerns but I've always wanted to give Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour, and some others a try.

Hi Linda- I grew up reading westerns and loved both Zane Grey & L'Amour. If you can squeeze in any McMurtry, try to do so.

>39 lindapanzo:: It looks like Matthew Algeo has found himself a literary niche in writing quirky books about the presidents. I'd say he has chosen a subject with tons of potential.

>78 lindapanzo:: Dang, that's just terrible that work is interfering with your reading and LT time.

Rain... I'm so jealous. Daily watering is my life now. Well, not really, as I try to be finished with my walk and watering by 8:00 a.m. I would love a little help from Mother Nature!

Linda, I'll be reading Big Spring Autumn with you on TIOLI Challenge 8. I've had fun this morning locating the books I want to read this month.

Linda, I saw all the great westerns you are planning for August - you have some great reads to look forward to! The Big Sky and Lonesome Dove are classics, and you've got some other great ones listed as well. Looking forward to reading your comments on them all.

#98 I am signed up for so many great TIOLI challenges in August that I'll need to do nothing but read to get them all done. I would like to read at least one or two Westerns.

When I was a kid, before I knew how to read, my uncle would read Westerns and tell me about that. For some reason, I never picked them up myself, even though I enjoyed hearing about them. I saw him today and got to thinking about that.

#97 Donna, I added us in for the Stepenoff book for challenge #8. Sandy or Terri or anyone else?

>99 lindapanzo:: Thanks, Linda, I'm looking forward to reading Big Spring Autumn. I love that area of Missouri - and I'm definitely ready for autumn. ;-)

Book #85
An Irish Country Girl by Patrick Taylor

I love this series about a pair of doctors in a small northern Ireland village in the early 1960s (and their housekeeper) but this book, which was quite different than the others, is definitely my least favorite in the series so far. This is the fourth book.

All of the other books focus on the two doctors and their patients and life in Ballybucklebo. This one, however, is focused almost entirely on Maureen (Kinky) Kincaid, the housekeeper, during her years as a young farmgirl. There's an overly long and detailed story comprising the first third of the book, about how her older sister lost the love of her life (with plenty of Irish mythology thrown in) and then how Kinky herself fell in love.

I was somewhat bored with this book, but, nonetheless, glad I read it to see how Kinky came to be the housekeeper for the doctors. Looking forward to getting back into the rhythm of the series with the next one.

#101: I still need to get to that series. . .one of these days.

Linda- Have a great time at the concert tonight! Come back with a full report!

#99 I don't normally do TIOLI, but since I'm reading the book anyway, I'll add my name to the list.

ETA - Brenda has also signed up for the TIOLI read of BSA - I assume she's also participating in the MO Readers group discussion?

Singing Hey Jude and Let It Be with Paul McCartney at Wrigley Field last night was the thrill of a lifetime. THE best concert ever. Nearly 3 hours, nonstop, without an intermission.

I'm pooped today (got back about 2 am) and I can't imagine him doing it all over again tonight.

Review and setlist:

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/6815091-417/paul-mccartney-lives-it-up-wit...

Sounds like a wonderful evening - did you take a vacation day today to rest up?

I love Sir Paul! Wish I could have been there.

Just as I visited your thread, I had "Hey Jude" running though my head. Earlier I finished Elizabeth Peter's The Dead Sea Cipher which has a very minor Beatles theme running through it and a specific mention of "Hey Jude." Too funny.

It's sounds as though it was a great concert -- it's wonderful you got to go.

Linda- Sounds like a great time! What a set-list! I heard he doesn't play "Junior's Farm" very often. It's also interesting that he played Beatles songs, that he didn't sing lead on the originals, like "Something" & "Paperback Writer".

Aw, man!!!! Very jealous that you got to see Paul, and am so glad you had a good time. Seeing him is on my Bucket List. Hope you can recover a little more tonight and that you maybe get your hearing back soon!

Wow! Way cool, Linda!

Best of all, it was just face price!!

I took a half day, sleeping in this morning. The two co-workers who went both took the day off and the consultant friend worked a full day. I don't think she ever gets whole days off.

Mark, when Junior's Farm started, my co-worker who is an absolute Paul fanatic and has seen him several times before, absolutely leapt to her feet. She said he almost never sings it. She also told me not to get my hopes up for Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, which I love. I was pleased that he did Live and Let Die.

Being in a huge group while he did Give Peace a Chance was powerful.

Also closing the show with "“Golden Slumbers”/”Carry That Weight”/”The End” had to be chill-inducing!

The concert sounds really wonderful, Linda! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!

Woot, woot. I won an ER book this month. Didn't think I would.

It's a first in a new mystery series by G.M. Malliet called Wicked Autumn. I could read it for my 11 in 11 "first in a mystery series" catalog or else put it in my "seasonal" category.

I snagged Murder Most Persuasive by Tracy Kiely. I've had her Murder at Longbourn on my wish list for awhile. The one I won appears to be the third in the series.

I'm getting Wicked Autumn too and I'm really excited about it. I hope it's as good as its description sounds!

Wicked Autumn for me, too. If they arrive in time, there are at least two Challenges it fits in. I agree, it sounded great!

For now, I put it into the one with the two initials in the author's name challenge. If it gets here on time and if I get to it, that is.

And I got Murder Most Persuasive, too.

Ivy - if yours arrives in time, we can probably enter Cheli's friends reading together challenge with ours.

Book #86
Dead by Midnight by Carolyn Hart

I love the Annie Laurance Darling Death on Demand cozy mystery series and this latest one (the 21st, can it be?) is no exception. As usual, Hart cleverly plotted this interesting mystery. As usual, I love how mystery bookstore owner, Annie, drops in references to other mysteries--when I read one of these, I almost always add others to my TBR pile.

Well done!! I can't wait for the next one, in the spring.

I need to get back to that series. I read a lot of the early ones back when I lived in Cincinnati, but I've not read the later ones.

I am not sure I have read any of the Death on Demand series. I will have to check.

I loved Death on Demand when they first came out, but now I suspect they're too cozy for me. I wish I still enjoyed them and am glad that you do! I loved the questions about other mysteries in the earlier books. Does she still do that?

#124 Stasia, Hart is probably the mother of the modern cozy. Until I discovered her, I thought I was out of luck when Agatha Christie died.

Peggy, she still has the monthly artwork contest based on famous and not so famous mysteries (along with two customers who always seem to get them right).

Book #87
The Siege of Washington by John Lockwood and Charles Lockwood

I thoroughly enjoyed this look at the worrisome first days of the Civil War in Washington, DC. For 12 days after the fall of Fort Sumter in April of 1865, Washington was virtually undefended. Lincoln put out an urgent call for 75,000 volunteers, soldiers who were needed, in part, to defend the capital.

Treason was in the air as many government employees and others who were southern sympathizers either spied or actively destroyed defenses. The situation looked bleak as Baltimore mobs blocked northern volunteers from travelling through that city by train (they had to travel 1.5 miles between train stations) and, in fact, killed several yankee soldiers and deliberately destroyed tracks to disrupt travel and blockade the city of Washington. Lots of intrigue and worry in what was an essentially undefended city as panic and fear left citizens wondering when the secessionists would attack the city, perhaps ending the Civil War before it started.

This is a terrific book that was very informative to me. I'd never thought about the logistics of those early days and I found this fascinating.

#127: I will have to look for that one!

I've added Siege of Washington to my list.

Wicked Autumn arrrived today via UPS -- that was quick! I'm really looking forward to reading it.

#130 Maybe my copy will be waiting for me when I get home tonight, too.

I'm "between mysteries" right now.

Glad I already planned to read most of these or the BB god would have gotten me good!
Congrats on the ER win, I snagged Murder Most Persuasive.

I hate it when they don't mention in the description of the ER book that it's part of an existing series.

I started reading Land of Lincoln. I thought it was about how Lincoln still resonates today.

Who knew that there are Lincoln haters? Who knew that said Lincoln haters have organized conventions? Apparently, they're still fighting the Civil War.

Not what I was expecting, though I'll continue with it, no doubt.

Cheli, I don't think it will matter much on the Kiely book because each book is based on a different Jane Austen book. I haven't read the others either, although the first one has been on my wishlist.

I wonder if those "Lincoln haters" are Tea Party members? Just curious!

Linda, your mention of "Lincoln haters" is nearly enough by itself to make me want that book. Looking forward to your comments after you are finished with it.

What Sandy said!

Not sure if they're representative of Tea Partiers but some of their views did sound familiar. The Lincoln haters are in the first chapter--they rose up in opposition when Richmond wanted to install a Lincoln statue (they also opposed a statue of tennis great, Arthur Ashe, a Richmond native). Quite obsessive about their hatred of Lincoln, too.

Chapter 2 is more of a mini-Lincoln bio. Not nearly as interesting.

Met some friends for dinner and got home an hour ago. I can barely keep my eyes open so no more reading for me today.

I had heard this somewhere before but the author also said that there have been more books written about Lincoln than about anyone else.

there have been more books written about Lincoln than about anyone else -- I would believe that - he just seems to have been an almost mythical being - I guess that's what happens when just the right person is there to do an incredibly difficult job. Being assassinated immediately afterwards only adds to his mystique, I think. Still, he was an amazing leader.

This Land of Lincoln book is much better than I expected. Very thought-provoking, almost meant to be savored.

This morning, I was reading about how Lincoln is viewed (and how the concept of history has changed) at our hometown history museum, the Chicago History Museum (formerly known as the Chicago Historical Society). How the focus used to be on the famous man but now the focus has shifted to everyday people.

Lincoln was honorary member #1 at the Chicago Historical Society and later donated his copy of the Emancipation Proclamation to the museum, which housed it in a fireproof people. Of course, it (and the EP) burned down in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

ETA: I have fond memories of the Chicago Historical Society from visits as a kid and I'm now a member so maybe this chapter hit home with me. I need to track down the book he references, The Changing Face of Public History, which talks about how the concept of history has changed at the museum.

#140: I really need to get my hands on that book. It sounds fascinating.

Off to the Happy Together tour concert tonight. A great bunch of oldies bands. The Grass Roots. The Buckinghams. The Turtles. The Association. Mark Lindsay. I love oldies.

Cubs game on Sunday afternoon, too.

Probably won't be posting (or even reading) much this weekend.

Hope you enjoy the concert, and the game. Have a good weekend!

Sounds like a wonderful weekend to me, Linda - even without the books. Have a great time!

Book #88
Land of Lincoln: Adventures in Abe's America by Andrew Ferguson
4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this look at the impact/meaning of Lincoln in today's world. How history is viewed (whether a focus on the great man or on the everyday person) and how Lincoln has been treated over the years are just two aspects of this book. Lincoln's treatment in Springfield now and during the author's childhood, as well as his treatment by the Chicago Historical Society now and then is certainly covered.

Some of the most interesting parts are the unexpected ones. Who knew that Lincoln is a business management guru now? You can take a seminar on Lincoln and Leadership, for instance. The author sits in on one of these.

Besides the previously mentioned group of Lincoln haters (with annual conference), there's also a group of Lincoln impersonators, also with annual conference.

I loved this highly entertaining book. Very definitely recommended.

Book #89
Farewell, Miss Zukas by Jo Dereske

This is the last book in the long-running cozy mystery series featuring librarian/sleuth, Helma Zukas. For 17 years, I've enjoyed these books and, though sorry to see the series end, I was glad to have one last chance to visit with these characters I've grown to love.

While I loved the series, this last book was a bit of a disappointment. The pace seemed slower than usual and lots of things felt unsettled/up in the air.

Looks like we had the same issues, Linda.

#145: I really wish my local library had that one!

#148 I'd send you mine but it's on my Kindle. Sorry.

While I enjoyed it, turns out it wasn't the book I'd intended. I'd planned to read Looking for Lincoln: The Making of an American Icon by Philip Kunhardt, which is similar.

I am glad I read it though.

This morning, I finally started the newest Laura Childs teashop mystery, Scones and Bones. I'm reading that, as well as this month's Missouri Readers book, Big Spring Autumn and also a Mickey Mantle bio. Not all at once, of course.

I also read a couple of pages in the Doris Kearns Goodwin book, Team of Rivals. That one's probably going to take a month, at least.

Hi, Linda! I really need to get back the the Teashop series. I read the first couple of them last year -- on your recommendation, I think -- and enjoyed them a lot.

Hey Linda --

I saw over on Suze's thread that you're considerind reading Rennie Airth -- I can without question recommend the Detecive Inspector John Madden trilogy. They run a little dark, but are very well done, particularly the first, River of Darkness.

I should have Farewell, Miss Zukas by the end of the week.

#151 Good to hear, dejah. I think I've got the first one on my Kindle. Ann Cleeves is another one I want to try. Raven Black was a Santa Thing gift.

Today's the coolest day here in more than a month so I'm hoping to get outside and read for a bit today. It might not even hit 80 today.

I really liked Raven Black when I read it from the library -- enough that I bought the next one, White Nights, from Amazon, I think.

Oh no!! This is quite a loss. I loved dealing with/obtaining my old classic mysteries from Rue Morgue Press and, particularly, dealing with Enid. According to Janet Rudolph's mystery blog, Enid Schantz has passed away.

Janet says: "The Mystery Community lost one of its special people this morning. Enid Schantz, bookseller, book publisher (Rue Morgue), convention organizer, reviewer and wonderful person, succumbed to cancer early this morning."

I will miss emailing Enid. She was a great lady.

Very sad news, Linda.

Book #90
Big Spring Autumn by Bonnie Stepenoff
4 stars--read for the Missouri Readers group

It’s rare that my views on a book I’m reading change as drastically as they did with this one. In the beginning, I didn’t like it at all. I thought the author jumped around too much, from her current assignment of spending a season writing a historical look at Big Spring, in southeast Missouri, in the Ozarks, back to her childhood in the hills of Pennsylvania.

The farther I got into this book, however, the more I enjoyed it. I expected it to be a nature book but it wasn’t just that. Yes, it looks at the environment and how we view it. I won’t soon forget the tourists tubing down the river and shocking the conservative locals. However, it’s also a look at the history of the area, going back to the construction of the state park by the Civilian Conservation Corp during the 1930s. There’s also plenty of social commentary, such as on “who owns nature.” Though the author is an academic, her writing is not at all dry.

I expected a nature book but this book wasn’t what I expected. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I expected.

It’s a short book but, in the end, I think I read it the wrong way and didn’t do it justice. There are a lot of Deep Thoughts here but I didn’t give them a chance to percolate. I suspect I may be thinking back to some of the issues raised here, possibly when I least expect it.

Nice review -- you got a thumbs up from me. Sadly, my library system doesn't have it.

#157 Dejah, I checked it out on worldcat and there are only 68 library copies. Presumably, in North America, as I see a few Canadian libraries listed.

I've added her The Dead End Kids of St Louis to my Kindle wishlist. I may go the WorldCat/ILL route for that one later. I'm not sure how many times I can ask my library to borrow from the Library of Congress or whoever.

Congratulations on the hot review of Big Spring Autumn - thumbs up from me, too!

Thanks, Sandy. I'll be curious to hear what people think. I hated it. I loved it. I think she should've avoided all of those flashbacks to her ow life. I would've preferred more about Big Springs, its history and the environment, and also more Deep Thoughts.

That's funny - it's the "Deep Thoughts" that are annoying me the most! I like the bits about the springs and its history the best. Her own memories would be OK if I thought she was going someplace with them.

#156: Thumbs up!

#161 Sandy, that's what bothered me about her moving back to her childhood etc. If it added something, I wouldn't mind so much but these are often irrelevant.

Last night, a friend and I saw The Help. Excellent movie. Two years ago, I think it was, The Help was my favorite book of the year. Now the movie is one of the best I've seen in quite some time. Very powerful.

Went with my sister, mother, and nephew to pick my 10-year old niece up after a week at a horseback riding ranch/camp in Oregon, IL. She had a great time. After seeing the camp and eating lunch, we explored the state park and did a bunch of other touristy things in town when it rained.

I'm pooped!!

Linda- We might try to see The Help tomorrow. I hope we can. We had a family reunion at the White Pines State Park, a few years ago. It's a very nice place.

I hope you get some rest tomorrow! Glad to see you had such a great day today.

>156 lindapanzo:: Re: Big Spring Autumn.... I'm going to start (and finish) the book of Deep Thoughts today. A thumb from me for your review. I also like what Terri said in her comments. Something along the lines of "it wasn't too bad." Now that's an endorsement! ;-)

I'm looking forward to seeing The Help later this week. I've heard good things about it; the Wall Street Journal even had a kindish review which is totally out of character for them.

Keeping my fingers crossed. My BIL is in Indianapolis this weekend. We don't think that he was going to the state fair. My sister hadn't heard from him this morning but she also hadn't heard about the disaster there so I'm hoping he's ok.

My prayers to the families of the victims. What a tragedy.

#165 Mark, the kids' horse ranch is White Pines but I think the state park we went to is Lowden State Park. NIU looks like it has a study site there, too.

#166 Thanks, Stasia. I have to pick up an ILL at the library and run out to buy gas but, otherwise, just stay home and relax today.

#167 I've downgraded my rating a bit. I liked it ok but it's not sticking with me at all.

Book #91
Scones and Bones by Laura Childs
3.5 stars

Laura Childs' teashop series is among my favorite cozy series but this 12th installment in the series is not my favorite in the series. This one's got a pirate theme as a murder is committed during a historical society event featuring a pirate skull cup.

She uses her usual formula and, while it was enjoyable enough, it was also pretty predictable. I still like the series, however.

>168 lindapanzo: Have you heard from your brother-in-law yet? What an awful thing to have happened!

>164 lindapanzo: My daughter also went to horse camp in Oregon at about that age! Oregon, the state, of course... Out of curiosity, how is Oregon, IL, pronounced?

#170 I think it's pronounced just like the state. Ore-gun. I've never been to that part of Illinois (south of Rockford, east of Dixon) but it's quite pretty. Usually, we just fly by that area.

I haven't heard from her. However, she talked to him last night so I'm thinking that things are probably fine.

I think some of your Pacific NW weather is here today. Brrr. It's almost chilly. Feels good.

>171 lindapanzo: It's one of those things that if he weren't ok, you probably would have heard by now -- the old "no news is good news."

It's mid-60s today, in the middle of an August afternoon! We're supposed to go to a barbecue in a couple of hours. Guess I'll wear a sweater! According to the tv, the last year that we hadn't reached 90 by this time was 1957.

Still going strong on my two books. I'm about 3/4 of the way through the excellent historical mystery by Charles Finch.

Also about one-third of the way through Jane Leavy's bio of Mickey Mantle. She chose highlights from his life and tends to jump around a lot. Unlike most baseball bios, this is not an easy book to read.

Book #92
A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch
4.5 Stars

Probably one of my favorite mysteries of the year, in a series that just keeps getting better and better. I hate to give too much away but, in this one, Lenox has a lot of new responsibilities to juggle (ahem). I love how the author continually mixes things up. This is one series that won't get stagnant.

I continue to like the main sleuth as well as the secondary characters, too. I'm very eager to read the next one when it comes out this fall.

I don't think that I Have heard of that series. Looks good!

Book #93
The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood by Jane Leavy
3 stars

A couple of years ago, I read Jane Leavy's bio of Sandy Koufax. At that time, I thought it was one of the best baseball bios I'd read for quite awhile. I was expecting similar great things from her bio of Mickey Mantle but I was greatly disappointed.

One key problem: She chose a number of significant events from Mantle's life and highlighted those. This meant that she jumped around often and sometimes repeated herself. Very confusing.

Another, lesser, problem, for me at least. She focused way too much on his personal life (all the womanizing, drinking, and even the abuse he faced) and far too little on his baseball career.

The authors writes well and her stuff is interesting. I also appreciated how she tried to prove (or disprove) certain stories/events from his life. This seemed to crop up as to illnesses but sometimes other things, too.

If she writes another baseball bio, no doubt I'll read it. However, I sure do hope it's better than this one.

#176: I think I will give The Last Boy a pass.

I hope your next read is better for you, Linda!

#177 Thanks, Stasia. I'm reading a light fluffy cozy, one of those donut shop mysteries. Evil Eclairs by Jessica Beck.

I was mopey today. My car wouldn't start and, because it's quite old, I assumed it'd be $$$ to fix. Fortunately, it needed a new battery so I'm good now. Might start looking for another car though. I hate car shopping and also hate car repairy situations.

I am glad the car problem was an easy fix! Good luck with the car shopping. I hate it too, so I can commiserate, although I do love the car we ended up buying a couple of years ago.

I hate car shopping too! One reason why I decided not to replace my last car when it finally gave up the ghost. Hiring one just when I need it is proving a great success so far, and saves me from those repair worries too. But I guess that wouldn't work for most people - I only need a car a couple of times a week roughly and have a handy car club for those occasions. Anyway I'm glad yours is working again and hope you don't have to spend too long on repairs or on replacement searching.

The electrical system test/battery replacement was a fairly quick fix. I think the car search will be more of a longer-term goal.

Glad I didn't go to the dealership yesterday, after all. A gunman went wild there this afternoon and it sounds like "multiple people" have been shot and the gunman fled on foot. Yikes!!

This hits way too close to home. I hope the people we work with in the service dept are ok.

ETA: One person confirmed dead. A nonemployee, the news source says.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/gallery?section=news&id=8314089&photo=6

OMG Linda - thank heavens you didn't go! What a crazy world.

Yikes!

Oh my goodness. Glad you didn't get caught up in that, Linda. How terrible.

Book #94
Evil Eclairs by Jessica Beck

I really enjoy this donut shop cozy mystery series. I like the characters and the plots are somewhat interesting (not great, but very good).

In this one, the small town radio DJ rants about Suzanne Hart's donuts as being "poison." She confronts him and, the next morning, he is found dead, with one of her eclairs stuffed into his mouth.

It shouldn't come as a surprise but I always have a craving for donuts when I read these.

Jim Hendry is out as the Cubs' general manager. This should not come as a surprise, after he invested all that long-term money in players who never lived up to expectations.

There's going to be lots of baseball talk burning up the sportsradio, emails, blogs, etc.

I am not surprised at all. It is unfortunate, but the nature of the game these days.

Yikes! awful deal at the car dealership. Glad you weren't there.

It's a Cubs weekend for me. I saw the Cubs beat the Cardinals on Sat afternoon and am heading to Wrigley for a rare Cubs/Cardinals night game. Picture perfect weather today, unlike yesterday.

I'm reading a book about Lincoln's friendships. Pretty interesting. We Are Lincoln Men by David Herbert Donald.

Book #95
We Are Lincoln Men: Abraham Lincoln and His Friends by David Herbert Donald
4 stars

This is an excellent book looking at the relatively few real friends that Lincoln had during his lifetime. Herdon, his law partner, his two secretaries in the White House, and a few others.

It's odd to think that a man of such stature had so few real friends but it was interesting to learn about how these few friendships developed, what kinds of things they talked about, and where the friend was and/or how he heard about Lincoln's death.

I'd highly recommend this one.

Book #96
At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
4 stars

I rarely ever re-read books, particularly mysteries, but thought I'd make an exception for one of my favorite Agatha Christie's, featuring Miss Marple in a somewhat peripheral role.

I read this book in 1981 when I was in college and had a different view of the atmosphere. It held up well upon re-reading. The genteel, old-world London hotel plays a key role in the book.

Loved it.

Hi Linda- We Are Lincoln Men sounds very good. His book Lincoln is one of my favorite presidential bios and one of the first I ever read.

Mark, I'd like to read a full-length bio of Lincoln, either the David Herbert Donald one or A Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald C. White.

First, though, I'd like to get to the Doris Kearns Goodwin book. At long last.

At Bertram's Hotel is one of my favorites of hers, too, Linda. I re-read it a year or so ago, and enjoyed it all over again.

Not getting a whole lot of reading done tonight as I've been glued to The Weather Channel and their Irene coverage.

All I can say is Wow. This could be a historic hurricane, one for the ages. It's almost incomprehensible to hear that there could be damage from North Carolina all the way up to Maine.

For all the LTers on the East Coast, please stay safe.

I've been glued for several days. I've been snatching a bit of reading time during the commercials!

Watching the Weather Channel a lot while at home. Away from home, I've started reading the lengthy Team of Rivals in earnest.

If it goes as I expect/hope, this one will end up being my 100th book for the year.

Even so, I take an occasional break with something lighter. Right now, I'm halfway through the beagle mystery (reading with Cheli for this month's TIOLI).

I'm charging up my Nook, cell phone, MP3 and laptop tonight to make sure that I can get through A Great Deliverance if the power goes out because of Irene. Are you going to read this one too? I'm heading out to get my haircut tomorrow morning and then I'm hunkering down to ride it out. Hopefully, I can get through 4 more books (Great Deliverance, Borgia Betrayal, Red Pyramid, and Murder Most Persuasive: A Mystery) before the end of the month.

Cheli, good luck with the hurricane. How far inland are you?

I'm planning to finish Beaglemania, the 1961 Cincinnati Reds book, and hopefully my latest ER book this month Wicked Autumn. Then turn to the doorstopper Doris Kearns Goodwin book til I finish it.

Eeek, on my Kindle I "turn the page" 50 times before it goes up one percent. This has got to be the longest book I've ever read on Kindle.

I'm enjoying the Goodwin book, it's just long.

I may actually not do much with TIOLI in September.

I'm enjoying the Goodwin book, it's just long. - That's exactly the reaction I had to it, too. My audio book came in 2 containers, and I took a break in the middle and squeezed in a couple of short novels before hunkering down for the 2nd half. It's worth it, though. Looking forward to your comments.

I got my every other month or so Rue Morgue Press catalog in the mail today. Usually, this is cause for celebration. I always end up marking it up and creating quite a huge wishlist.

This time, I just cried. Enid Schantz's daughter wrote a lovely tribute to her mother. I haven't examined the whole thing but there are said to be many Enid stories.

Time for a new thread. Please join me at:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/122689