Mark's Reading Place: Biblio-Deviant #15

Dodge City Peace Commission: Members of the Dodge City, Kansas, Peace Commission, from left to right: Chas. Bassett, W. H. Harris, Wyatt Earp, Luke Short, L. McLean, Bat Masterson, Neal Brown. The photograph was taken by Camillus S. Fly in 1890.

Books I've read so far... OTS: Off the Shelf

May:

47) Bossypants by Tina Fey 4 stars (audio)
48) The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo 4.5 stars (OTS)
49) Townie by Andre Dubus III 4.5 stars (audio)
50) Something Missing by Matthew Dicks 3.8 stars
51) The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley 3.5 (audio)
52) Snow Angels by James Thompson 4 stars (OTS)
53) Britten and Brulightly by Hannah Berry 4.5 stars
54) Shadow Pass by Sam Eastland 3.7 stars (OTS)
55) Every Dead Thing by John Connolly 3.5 stars (audio) (OTS)
56) He Who Fears the Wolf by Karin Fossum 4 stars (OTS)
57) At Home by Bill Bryson 4 stars (audio)
58) The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck 4.2 stars
59) Cat's cradle by Kurt Vonnegut 3.8 stars (audio)
60) Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley 3.8 stars (OTS)

June:

61) Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck 3.7 stars (audio)
62) Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon 3.5 stars
63) The English Major by Jim Harrison 3.6 stars
64) Autumn by David Moody 3 stars
65) Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness 3 stars (audio)
66) My Lucky Life: A Memoir by Dick Van Dyke 4.5 stars (audio)
67) Old School by Tobias Wolff 3.7 stars (audio)
68) The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell 4 stars (OTS)
69) Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 3.7 stars (audio)
70) The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt 4.5 stars (OTS)
71) The Upright Piano Player by David Abbott 3.8 stars

July:

72) Born to Run by Christopher McDougall 5 stars (audio)
73) Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali 3.8 stars (OTS)
74) Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill 3.7 stars (audio) (OTS)
75) Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell 5 stars (OTS)
76) Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan 4 stars (audio)
77) The River of Doubt by Candice Millard 4.7 stars (audio)
78) Being Dead: A Novel by Jim Crace 4.3 stars (OTS)
79) Soulless by Gail Carriger 3.3 stars (audio) (OTS)
80) The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami 3.7 stars (OTS)

**Cream of the Crop:
1) The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan 5 stars
2) Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell 4.8 stars
3) The Siege by Helen Dunmore 4.8 stars
4) A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 5 stars
5) Radioactive: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss 4.8 stars
6) Born to Run by Christopher McDougall 5 stars
7) Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell 5 stars
8) The River of Doubt by Candice Millard 4.7 stars

STARRED you as usual

Looks like DEADWOOD....and like some of Dave Alvin's best songs

Oh, i guess i was First here....yey haa.....i guess

you're still my best bud on LT...

Mark, checked on Doc at the library. With 5 copies, still looks like it will be awhile before I can check it out.

Wow! I'm 4th??? That has GOT to be a record of some sort. :)

*Waving* at Mark

I'm glad you enjoyed Doc--isn't it great! I don't know if you have read MDR's Thread of Grace about partisans in WWII Italy, but she just sent out a link in her blog/newsletter to an article and interview with a US OSS officer that you might find interesting. It resonated with me in part because I just finished Matterhorn.

Hi Jude- Yes, you are Numero Uno, my friend! Have you bought Doc yet? It's an amazing book. Thanks for the graphic recs too. I wrote 3 down. I'm a fan of Linda Holmes too. I listen to her podcast, Culturetopia regularly.
I'm listening to the latest Dave Alvin, as I type this. Sounds good.

Cindy- I wish you lived closer, I'd lend you my copy. You will love it.

Valerie- I think you were 3rd, which is even better. Yah!

Morning Stasia- Hope you are keeping cool down there in Texas. Our heat wave returns this weekend and will stay for most of next week. Boo..yuck!

Lisa- I'll check out the link! Thanks. No, I have not read Thread of Grace, but I will. I have a copy of Children of God coming, eventually.

here you are !

both of those MDR books will delight you, I think?

I always count Children of God in with The Sparrow as a single read though.. and read both together..
if I am rereading COD, too. I honestly feel like it is the end of the first book.. I have to ask her about that..

No, I am not keeping cool down here in Texas. It has been over 100 every day this week unfortunately. 'Boo. . .yuck' does not even begin to cover it :)

I'll be starting the Group Read of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle today. Looking forward to this one. It's a chunkster though. I'm also halfway through Being Dead. What a strange, compelling read.
On audio I am loving The River of doubt. I remember, way back, when I was raving about Lost City of Z, a couple LTers, recommended this one, as a perfect companion piece. I could not agree more.
Wow, you cannot beat current nonfiction!

Morning Kath- You found me! Yes, Russell is on my favorite author list. I will read everything she writes. Hope you have a good day!

I hope you enjoy The Wind Up Bird Chronicle as much as BJ and I did when we read it last year, Mark!

You remind me that I have a copy of Being Dead that I need to get to. . .eventually.

Stasia- Yes, I guess "Boo..yuck" are pretty weak. Sorry you are suffering. Being Dead is a very unusual book. Grisly at times but exceptionally well-written.

#12: Linda sent Being Dead to me a few weeks ago. Her review mentioned something about the grisly nature of the book, so that is not completely unexpected.

Hey Mark, just checking out your new digs. I was enjoying Doc on audio but my CD player made me upset and I through it away, the cd player not Doc. So I guess I'll have to try it again either read it or hopefully by playaway.

76) Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan 4 stars

Emily Maxwell is in her early 80s, living in a suburb of Pittsburg, and she’s, well…alone. Actually, she has the faithful company of her aging dog, a good friend Arlene and her grown children, who both live out of state.
This is a quiet look, at a person’s life, with all the mundane details, that fill out one’s day. Emily examines her past, her flaws, her triumphs and efficiently prepares for a dwindling future.
O’ Nan perfectly captures, the steady rhythms and everyday dialogue of people in their twilight years. It is deliberate in it’s pacing, not many fireworks, but it envelops the reader in it’s tranquil beauty.

#15: Nice review, Mark. I will have to look for that one!

Nice new thread, Mark!

Thumb up from me on Emily , Alone. Sad to say - I don't actually have it in my library yet - on my wishlist. It sounds fascinating and as though it would offer some wonderful insight into the everyday lives of of those in their twilight years, as you say. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Lullabies for Criminals is less bleak than you might guess, though I'm only part way in. It has a strong, survior protaganist , which makes all the difference. While quite different from Glass Castle which I also found tragic yet encouraging at the same time - I think it holds real promise. I'll let you know.

Lynda- Nice to see you! I hope you can get back to Doc. Do you only listen to books, or do you read them too? The parts of Doc you heard, how was the narration?

Stasia- Thanks! Actually, Emily, alone is a sequel. I'll have to track down the earlier book. I've read just a few of O'Nan's books and all are very good, with The Circus Fire being outstanding.

Nice review, Mark. Thumb from me.

I finished and reviewed Heart-Shaped Box, years after everyone else; a fun afternoon's read, see my review in my thread...post #70.

#7-8 Children of God is very much a close sequel to The Sparrow, but turns upside everything you thought you knew by the end of Sparrow. If it has been a while since you've read it, you might do so before tackling CoD, just to get back into the mood, etc.

uh oh... aging dog? *weeps*

Big waves & thanks to Stasia & Claudia!!

Deb- Have you read Stewart 'O Nan? Good writer. I'll have to add Lullabies for Criminals to the List!

Joe- Thanks! Hope you have a nice weekend! Keep cool.

RD- I already read your terrific review and gave you a Big Thumb! I think Hill has a nice atmospheric style. Try to find a copy of Doc. It's a must read.

Lisa- COG will be my next Russell. I'll try to re-read the ending of The Sparrow, before I start. I am loving The River of Doubt.

Kath- Aging isn't bad. I didn't say dying. No dogs die. You are safe.

found you and starred :)

thumbs up for Emily, alone.......

I added A Prayer for the Dying and The Circus Fire to my stack!

I enjoy O'Nan's writing very much, Mark. I've read Night at the Lobster and Songs for the Missing which took place east of Cleveland. Both books had that quiet touch that he so easily exudes. I think I'll skip Emily, Alone it sounds rather sad and I can't handle sad in the summer.

BTW: the narrator in the audio version of Doc was outstanding, although I do not know who it was. That is the reason I hope to continue with the audio version. Normally, I do not do audio but it's what arrived at the library when I accidentally put the audio version on hold. Good mistake!

I have Thread of Grace on my close up TBR pile, but I just keep pushing it back for some reason. I have heard from others that it is a great book so want to get to it soon. I started reading Wind-up Bird which has been on my TBR list forever. Now is the time to get to it. I doubt I will get it done at the same time with all of the others in the group read, but that doesn't worry me too much. The beauty of these is that if you don't read at the same speed you can still post your thoughts and others will chime in when they feel the urge. I just posted to the Thousand Autumns thread a few days ago and there were some other comments there when I looked today. Even though it is a chunkster I am looking forward to the Murakami read. I know that i won't get much reading done simply because I will be busy for the next two weeks and that my reading pace will have nothing to do with the quality of the book and everything to do with the amount of time spent reading.

I am thrilled to note that PBS is going to have the first of the Aurillo Zen mysteries on Masterpiece Mysteries this Sunday. This new series is based on the books by Michael Dibdin. I have read a few of them as they were my traveling/airport mysteries for several years. I have high hopes for this series as Masterpiece does such a good job of adapting books for TV.

Speaking of TV I will finally get to watch the Game of Thrones series sometime. Unfortunately to do so will cut into my reading time and I really want to get to that Murakami book.

Hi Mark. Thumbs up from me on your review of Emily, Alone. Another book I want to read!

Hi Mark, you're impossible to keep up with. I haven't read anything by Stewart O'Nan but you got me interested with this line: It is deliberate in it’s pacing, not many fireworks, but it envelops the reader in it’s tranquil beauty. That sounds right up my alley.

Kara- I did read A Prayer for the Dying but do not remember much about it but The Circus Fire still haunts me.
Thanks for the thumb!

Lynda- Yes, I need to get to both Night at the Lobster and Songs for the Missing. I don't know how I let both of them get by me.
I'm glad the audio for Doc is so outstanding. I might have to try that format somewhere down the road.

Benita- I also started Wind-Up Bird today, about 50 pages in. It's amazing how fast he lures you in. It all seems so deceptively simple, doesn't it? I think I'm going to love this book.
I'm not familiar with the "Aurillo Zen mysteries" or Michael Dibdin. Good stuff, huh?
I'm glad you'll be able to watch Game of Thrones. Excellent series. I just received my copy of A Dance With Dragons. Yah!

Pat- Thanks! How is your reading coming? Hopefully you are on the right track. Sending positive vibes!!

Thanks for asking about my reading, Mark. I'm afraid it's still lackluster but I'm sure the positive vibes will help. I'll be lurking on The Windup Bird Chronicle GR thread. I've already read it but the comments should be interesting.

Hi Mark, got you starred of course.

I'm always a bit frustrated that I can't join you with The Windup Bird Chronicle this time around. Like I said, I read it many years ago around the time it was first released here I guess and absolutely loved it. I got a copy of the book again sometime last year because I want to read it again, but just have too much on my plate this month. Oh well, can't be everywhere at once, right? I'm sure you'll love it.

Review of Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite that's very much worth reading.

"There was a small strand of trees nearby, and from it you could hear the mechanical cry of a bird that sounded as if it were winding a spring. We called it the wind-up bird...
Every day it would come to the stand of trees in our neighborhood and wind the spring of our quiet little world."

Needless to say, Murakami grabbed me right away. Yes, it's a big book but the narrative is quick and nimble. Unfortunately will not get much reading in today.
We are heading up to Lake Geneva, with another couple, for the weekend. It supposed to start steaming up here, so time will be spent by the pool.

Pat- Stop in over at the G.R. and leave a comment or 2. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Ilana- No problem. Re-reads are not easy for me either. BTW- I'm copying Watership down into my iPod, so I plan on joining that one.

RD- I saw this review yesterday. Good stuff. Thanks! Another one for the list.

Have a terrific weekend, Mark! Safe travels.

Thanks Mark! That is what I was hoping. I will be reading that one ..

Have a great time Mark.

58 of your previous thread, and 229 of your previouser thread, which I'm just catching up with (37 posts here already?! sorry, I'm skimming...): Chris McDougall of Born to Run spoke at the local running club's annual dinner, in similar style to his book and his Daily Show appearance. He described Jon Stewart as a talk show guest "whisperer", calming and soothing of nerves before the taping. He lives nearby and runs with some of these folks, so it wasn't an advertised public appearance, and before he spoke formally he was just hanging around talking to people, including my 80 year old father, who took up barefoot running after an injury.

Michael Dibdin wrote a who series of mysteries with Aurillo Zen as the police detective as the hero. However, they aren't thrillers in the sense of Redbreast. I class them as more like cozies, except that they aren't exactly that either. The first one of these books I purchased was at Kramer's Books and Afterwards Cafe in Washington, D.C. Thereafter, whenever I was in that city I would stop at Kramer's and buy an Aurillo Zen book to read in airports. They were my travel books because they weren't complicated and they allowed me some freedom to put them down and pick them up when I needed to do so. Didbin died a couple of years ago but I think there are at least ten of those Aurillo Zen books. They are set in various places in Italy - Rome, Naples, Bologna, and Venice. They always made me want to travel to Italy. I think they would translate to the small screen wonderfully, and since the BBC is the one that has done the adapting the series should make for great Sunday night viewing.

I finished reading A Small Death in the Great Glen and enjoyed this one. It isn't a cozy but not a thriller either. It was a good picture window into how World War II changed so much of Europe for long after 1945. There were lots of things I had to research with this book. One was the statement that there were more Scottish Highlanders living in Canada than living in Scotland due to The Clearances - another topic on which I had to do research. I also had to do some research on the Great Glen and the geology of that is fascinating. It is a fault line rift just as is the Great Rift Valley in Africa, and from the descriptions in the book the former is just as dramatic as the latter. Just a nice book.

That's a great picture, Mark.

I hope that cute little dog of yours is tolerating the heat ok. Looks like next week is going to be a scorcher, if Tom S is to be believed.

>40 benitastrnad: Our library doesn't have that one, but I'm adding it to my wish list. Maybe I'll run across a copy or get one via ILL.

#40: That one sounds interesting! I will have to look for it. Thanks for the recommendation, Benita.

Morning everyone! Had a nice day yesterday. Hung out at the pool. Went on a boat tour of the lake. Many of the Chicago elite built estates along the shoreline up here. Some are jaw-dropping. We had a very nice dinner and then came back to our room and played canasta, which I've never played.
Sadly, no reading. I can't wait to get back to the Murakami world.

Big waves to Kath & Stasia & Pat!!

Qebo- Thanks for sharing the McDougall story. Are you planning on reading the book? Does your father still run and barefoot?

Benita- thanks I'll have to look into the Aurillo Zen series and I really liked your descriptions of A Small Death in the Great Glen. Sounds interesting.

Linda- Bailey stays inside mostly, so she's fine. She finds the coolest spot and snuggles in. No, I am not looking forward to next week. Ugh!

Sounds so nice Mark!

Hi Mark!
Sounds like you are having some summer fun! :)
Relax today, for tomorrow you will need your energy.

Morning Kath & Claudia- It's nice and quiet here. Everyone else still sleeping. I'm just visiting my pals and sipping crappy coffee. We'll head back later this afternoon.

Sounds like an enjoyable weekend, Mark, despite the lack of Murakami. I hope your trip back this afternoon is a safe one!

44 (msf59): Um, I read the book.
22 (labfs39): Oh? Your description makes it more intriguing. I read The Sparrow recently, figured I'd read the sequel but wasn't feeling in any hurry.

Sounds like a good weekend! Glad you're out of the worst of the heat, being near a lake and all.

(grumble grumble) would you believe that with all the great reading I'm doing these days, I'm envious about you discovering The Wind-Up Bird for the first time? Ok, I'm harping I know, I'll stop commenting on it because I hate sounding like a tiresome old nag. Guess I'll have to stay away from your thread until you're done with it... ;-)

eta: it's just over 100 degrees here today with the humidity factor. I have no qualms whatsoever about staying in with the AC, but a swim in a lake sounds just about right at this moment.

Just waving!

Have yet to start any Murakami. Must read Thomas Mann for RL book circle Weds night...

ETA: So, I went on to Amazon to see about poss. ordering a copy of The Wind Up Bird Chronicle. Seems that the first review on there points out that the English translation that has been published has been significantly edited/altered, to such an extent as to change the context/flow. Comments on that review seem to support it.

Any thoughts from people? I had contemplated ordering a French version instead, but that involves Amazon france shipping charges...

You're a difficult one to keep up with, Mark! I have the "new" thread starred now -- over 50 posts in . . .

Congrats on passing the 75 book milestone!

I've read a few books by Stewart O'Nan -- I'm actually reading one now that he co-wrote now with Stephen King: Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans . . . but it's atypical of his work. I first read his The Circus Fire and, yes, it is indeed one that can haunt a reader long after the cover is closed and the book is passed on to another reader. I liked Last Night at the Lobster, too.

Stasia & RD- Thanks! We got home fine today. Boy, was it hot though. Mid-90s. More of the same tomorrow and Tuesday and...

Ilana- I love your grumbling and please stop by the Group Read anytime and leave a comment or 2, if you would like.
Not as much reading this weekend, as I would have liked, so I'm only a 100 pages in. Wow, you guys are really getting hit with some hot stuff!

Suz- I'd love to see you join us. I think you might want to try to find an earlier edition of Wind-Up. Mine is translated by Jay Rubin and has been excellent. I think others have agreed with this assessment. My softcover edition is from '98.

Terri- Good to see you! Thanks for the O'Nan comments and try to find a copy of Emily, Alone. And I'll try to get to Last Night at the Lobster.

Do I have to go to work? Ugh! The guy on the news radio this morning, said it will be hot all week but the worst will be Wed-Fri and today will be 94! Sounds like a blast.

I have not forgot my Doc review. I have started it and hopefully will have it posted soon.

Keep cool, everyone!

yeah... blast furnace ( steel town girl )
Stay cool my friend..
I have read an O'Nan or two.. have The Circus Fire on my shelf, and I look forward to Emily :)

Currently 84F at 9:45a. I. HATE. Summer.

Heading up to 92 today, allegedly. Man, I hope they are wrong.

Hope it's not too bad today Mark.

Today it's only going up to 81, but will "feel like" 95. I feel badly for you having to work in this heat Mark. Personally, I don't step foot outside more than strictly necessary. If it weren't for Coco, I wouldn't go out at all (which is a big part of the reason I got him to begin with)!

59 degrees here in Seattle. Supposed to warm up a bit today after a cold and rainy weekend. I wish we could share the wealth: a little of your heat for our unseasonable cool days. And I would be perfectly willing to share our rain with the poor folks in Oklahoma.

Do you have to walk on your rounds, Marky-Mark? Or do you get to drive one of the postal mobiles and is it air conditioned? It was brutal up here in MA yesterday ... definitely snarly weather.

One down, 5 to go! It wasn't to bad today. Some overcast skies & a decent breeze kept things tolerable.
I appreciate the concern, everyone! You guys are great. I'm not sure, listening to The River of Doubt is a good idea, with it's graphic descriptions of life in the sweltering Amazon jungle. This might have been more appropriate in January. Great book though!

Kath- It sounds like Wed-Fri will qualify as "blast furnace days!" Oh boy.
You might have to be in the right frame of mind for The Circus Fire. It's a tough haunting read.

RD- It was 80, when I was heading into work at 7am. Keep thinking cool thoughts.

Cool waves to Suz & Pat!

Ilana- Funny, I don't think I saw one of my residential customers outdoors today. Their pets were safely inside too! Like, duh!

Lisa- Wow, I can't believe you guys are barely at 60. You must be alone with those temps. Looks like most every other place is cooking.

Caro- Now who ever told you those cute little postal vehicles have air-conditioning? Sorry to burst your bubble. Yes, I drive one of those boxy, right-hand drive vehicles and they are very hot inside. I use the transportation to get to each loop and then I walk.

A veddy sweaty, and unladylike, hello

Glad you had a nice respite over the weekend.....only to return to Hell on Earth..

Haven't got Doc yet.....spent too much $$$ on a new TV/DVD Player/Router/Roku.....jeesh!

{{{{hugs}}}}

75) Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell 5 stars

“He began to die when he was twenty-one, but tuberculosis is slow and sly and subtle.”

John Henry Holliday was born in Georgia. An educated and cultured Southern gentleman. A dentist by trade, possessing a sharp mathematical mind, ideal for card-playing.
Due to his tuberculosis, it was recommended that John relocate out West, to a drier, warmer climate. After a short detour in Texas, he moves onto Dodge City and this is where he meets Wyatt Earp and company. He sets up a small dental practice and is soon known as “Doc”. The legend begins.

Russell has given McMurtry a run for his money on this one, crafting a beautiful tale of gamblers, cowboys, whores, crafty businessmen and under-paid lawmen, struggling to keep order in this dusty chaos. Her characters, either based on real-life figures or imagined, are all perfectly realized. You will laugh, cheer and possibly cry.
I have not read an official Doc Holliday bio, but I would find it hard to believe, that one could locate a more meticulously-researched and adoring look at a fascinating man, in a nearly mythical place.

Find a copy or get outta Dodge!





Doc & Big-Nose Kate

Of course, one Big Thumb from moi.....

........but, you knew that, already....

I was trolling around Good Reads...and saw that a friend of my was raving about this movie...titled "Doc":

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0CEED81238EF34BC4152DFBE66838A669ED...

here's a review...to keep this baby rolling...

;-}

Hi Jude- Hey, you got the Roku player! That's great. It's an excellent investment. As you can tell, I highly recommend Doc and Russell has landed soundly on my favorite author list. She's a goddess.
Thanks for the Thumb! You da best!

Good review, Mark! Already on my WL. :)

Thanks for the inside info on postal facts! Chicago - and the scorching weather - was on our news tonight. They say it's coming this way in a few days. Hope that means a break for you - maybe over the weekend???

Here's the Good Read's post...regarding DOC (the movie):

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/1385848-review-the-anti-western-doc

haven't got the ROKU yet...my "Mark" and I have to configure my living room for TV set-up...ROKU is on order from Amazon...first i gotta set up a Router.....any bright ideas, or do i gotta wing it?

You always get my thumb, you know that....

Great review Mark. I just recently bought this book so hope to get to it soon. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Jude- I love Westerns, so I would think I would have seen "Doc", with Stacy Keach, but I don't remember it. I'll have to add it to my Netflix. Thanks!
As far as the Roku player goes, I'm not sure what your set-up will be. Mine was very easy to hook-up. My modem is also my router, for the wireless connections.

Claudia- Thanks! It looks like the heat will stay right through the weekend. We're having a get-together on Sunday, so it would be nice to sit outside.

Hey, any "Breaking Bad" fans out there? I just watched the premiere episode of Season 4. What a terrific show! I had run out of things to watch, so its perfect timing.

Ok Mark, you've sold me, onto the wishlist it goes!.

I'm so sorry to hear your work vehicle is uncomfortable to drive around in. I know it can't be an easy job, but I'm sure grateful there are people doing it!

Mark, I've never watched "Breaking Bad" but I did tape last night's episode to check it out. Hopefully, it'll be easy to understand what's going on since I'm starting out with Season 4.

Those trucks are cute, Mark. Just not very cool, apparently. I was thinking about you today. I'm still not right after being outside at the ballgame for 4 hours yesterday. I had about 2 minutes total, outside, today, and I'm drinking lots of water.

Wed and Thurs are supposed to be the worst of them all.

Double post!

Boy, that makes me made. My whole post was wiped out..jeesh!

Pat- Thanks! "Breaking Bad" season 4 picks up right where 3 left off. You will miss out on all the back-story, and there is a lot of it. Maybe you'll like it enough to go back and watch the entire show from the beginning. It's a knock-out.

Ilana- Yes, Doc is a western but I will recommend it to everyone, for just the sheer joy of her story-telling.
My postal vehicle does have a fan mounted near the dash and if I open both windows, I can catch a cross breeze. You make the best of what you have.

Linda- You keep cool too! It's going to be a sizzling week. I stepped out to get the paper and it was already muggy & thick.

I am so sad about Borders. What a freakin' bummer. Now, the nearest bookstore is miles away!

I read a different book about the same event.. Circus Fire. How do the animals fair?
that will tell the tale for me. To read or not to read..

I'm late, and you're starred, Mark. Great reviews, as usual. I also have River of Doubt waiting for me. Stay cool!

Just cruising through, Mark. Stay cool.

Sorry about the accidental double post.

>57 richardderus: - Sir Richard... I TOTALLY agree with you!!

We can expect 96F (heat index of 105F) on Friday , opening day of Saratoga Springs Racing Season. In my opinion, the "Sport of Kings" is totally cruel and inhumane in any weather.

Just stopping by to remind everyone that someone's birthday is approaching...over the half-century mark...how time flies!!

>81 saratoga99: Amen, amen, I say unto you AMEN!

Thumbs-upped your Doc review...I was #5.

Are you going to join Darryl's group read of Life A User's Manual early next month? I suspect you'd really like the book.

Trying to get caught up and stopping to say Hi so you end up on the right page.

Hi Mark, excellent review of Doc and of course I totally agree with you on all aspects of the book. I can't wait for the follow-up where she follows them to the OK corral. Should be another winner.

We're late comers to Breaking Bad but have been recording it for awhile so I think we're almost caught up and ready to start the new season pretty soon. It's an excellent show.

Stay cool, my friend.

Bonnie, I'm glad to hear Russel's sequel will include the iconic shootout. I really missed that in Doc. -so glad you loved the book, Mark! sending you a friendly, cool breeze :o)

I don't want this to be a whining weather thread, so all I will say, today sucked and tomorrow is supposed to push a 100.

Kath- Like most of the people in The Circus Fire, the animals do not fare well either. I don't think any dogs die but it's been a few years since I read it.

Anne- Nice to see you! Welcome back. I just finished The River of Doubt and it was excellent. The audio was perfect too!

Karen- Thanks for drive-by!

Irene- Wow, what a nice surprise! Thanks for the "over the half-century mark" comment! LOL! Our heat index tomorrow is supposed to be between 105-115. Ugh!

RD- Thanks for the Thumb, kind sir! Try to find a copy of that one. I'll check out Life A User's Manual but the G.R. will probably not work out for me, due to a multitude of other reading commitments.
You're a fan of "Breaking Bad", correct?

Dropping by to say hi! :) Yes indeed, Lullabies for Criminals was well worth the read! My stars, Mark, you are the most popular guy in town! Never heard of Breaking Bad.........runs and hides. For shame - I do not like Westerns. Is it because I am of the female persuasion, or something more sinister.......... runs and hides! ;)

Ohhh the weather here is just beautiful!!! Just 70 !! A cool summer for us, but I love it!

Tammy- Thanks for putting me on the right page! Hope you are doing well!

Bonnie- I did not know Russell was doing a follow-up to Doc, but I was wondering. How cool is that? Yah. Another "Breaking Bad" fan! Double Yah!
Keep an eye out for The River of doubt. It's another winner!

Jenny- Thanks for the cool breeze, I can use as many as possible. I thought Russell ended Doc that way, because the Tombstone stuff had been done to death. I am elated she is doing her version.

Deb- I am still recommending Doc, regardless of your dislike for westerns. Her lovely prose and top-notch story-telling can not be ignored. Come on, take a chance!
I don't think I'm the most popular guy in town, (just ask my wife), but my loyal pals over here, keep this Thread going strong.
"Ohhh the weather here is just beautiful!!! Just 70 !!" Boy, I'm so jealous!

We had a bit of a lake breeze today, Mark, so it wasn't as bad as it has been. I guess right along the lake, it was in the 70s. Weird to see an excessive heat warning and a dense fog advisory at the same time.

At least I'm off on Wed.

Hi Mark, it's difficult to catch up on your thread. Nice review of Doc . I got it and will read it soon. I've been following Breaking Bad from season 1. We dont get it in India. But I'll download it from the torrents.

Nice review of Doc, Mark. I wish my local library would get a copy!

Linda- Enjoy the day off! I wish I could join you. Not looking forward to walking out that door.

Gautam- Good to see you! Hope you enjoy Doc. Have you read Russell before? Glad to see another fan of "Breaking Bad"!

Stasia- Thanks! My copy of Doc has already started to circulate at work. I am so glad she is writing a sequel. Yah!

I wanted to share this: it's the trailer to The Invention of Hugo Cabret, directed by Martin Scorcese-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry7VuPHM6a0&feature=player_embedded

This is one of my favorite graphic novels!

Mark, Can't wait till Nov. Hugo is also one of my favorite graphic novels.

Wow, that's an awesome preview for a MUST SEE movie. Thanks so much for posting it Mark, I'll be seeing that at the cinema for sure. I just wished they'd named the movie the same as the book. I think The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a very catchy title, but apparently the marketers thought otherwise.

Sorry you're suffering from the heat Mark, hope it's not too too bad for you today. But sometimes being HOT is a good thing... congrats on your hot hot hot review! :-)

I didn't even know they had made it into a movie so thanks for that trailer, Marky-Mark. It looks good - can't wait for it to screen later this year.

Thanks for the link to the trailer for "Hugo" Mark. I agree with Ilana though that I like the title of the book better.

Trying to get caught up here. It's a Herculian task!

I see you played your first canasta game. A great game for fun with friends. It's much easier than bridge for sure.

Find a copy or get outta Dodge!
That's a great line, Mark. I may have to borrow it if I ever get my copy of Doc from the library.

Keep cool, Friend.

ETA: I'm reading and loving The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. I'll be posting a comment on the GR thread soon.

Ditto for me and Hugo. Thanks for the link, Mark!

It was 101 on the way home today. Brutal. 3 down 3 to go. I will not say more.

Cindy, Ilana, Caro, Pat & Stasia- I'm glad to hear the responses to the Hugo Cabret film. It's interesting, that they decided to do a live-action version, instead of a animated one. I also think it's an interesting choice of directors. I've been a fan of Scorcese for over 35 years and I don't think he's ever tried to do a children's film. I hope he captures the magic.
I see they have Borat (the actor, not the character) in the film too! Hopefully they don't focus on him very much.

Donna- Great to see you! I've missed you. I really enjoyed my 1st foray into canasta. It's nice that I can practice this with my wife too. Sharpen those skills.
I liked the "get outta Dodge" line too, thanks!
Glad you are enjoying Wind-Up Bird. It's a trippy story.

Review of Handbook for Lightning Survivors is, finally, up:

http://www.librarything.com/work/9207996/reviews/74776377

just reading Notes...too hot here to even fake being smart..

glad you survived today, my friend...i'd hate to lose you

;-}

Jude- I already read the review and gave you a big Thumb for it! Good job. I hope I can get to it at some point. Yes, I survived today, just a bit tired. More of the same tomorrow...
Hey, I saw that Dave McKean has a new graphic coming out called Celluloid. Lots of sex.

Listening to BOTNS this morning, they were talking & chuckling about a book site, that features alternate book titles:
http://betterbooktitles.com/

I like this one of The Road:

Thanks much for the Thumb

Got the BOTNS thing, this morning..haven't listened yet..

Don't talk about Dave McKean....don't i say.....uh, lotsa sex...maybe i do a "take back".....uh...uh...uhhhhh...

;-)

Borat! I thought that policeman looked familiar!

"Are We There Yet?"

*snort* :-)

A couple of years ago I read Robert B. Parker's version of the OK Corral because I liked his westerns Appaloosa and Brimstone so much. (I recommend them if you like westerns) However, the one on the Earp's was not as good. I think that his style of writing just didn't work as well with the material. Having lived close to the real Dodge City I can say that I have had enough of the Earp's to last for a long time. Same goes for Marshal Matt. Russell is a great writer and I would expect this book to be very well written and executed with her usual finesse.

Jude- Also, on BOTNS, Ann raved about the new novel The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock. I have his story collection Knockemstiff in the stacks. I need to get to this guy.
I think he would make a nice fit for you to.

Ilana- I'm glad you got a chuckle over "Are We There Yet?". I loved it.

Benita- I read quite a few of Parker's Spenser novels but none of his westerns. Yes, I still highly recommend Doc and now, that she's writing a sequel, it's a no-brainer.

yeah, Mark, Ann sold me on the Pollock recommendation and I've got it on reserve

I'm also chuckling over "Are We There Yet?", that's brilliant.

I believe "Doc" is at the library, but hasn't made it to the shelves yet. (Still waiting for The Sisters Brothers too.) Trying to be patient.

Currently, it's raining so much in Sydney that the kids' school took the unprecedented step of postponing school camp this week! We're not put out at all though, because Mr Bear would have missed camp because of his chickenpox. He cheered up immensely when he found out that he would be able to go after all. Yay! (But I think other parents are peeved, it was a very last minute decision and I still haven't gotten an email about it yet...)

I keep on downloading podcasts of BOTNS. I must now find time to listen to them.

Oh, I feel so silly...i have an ARC of The Devil All The Time.....knew the title was familiar....it fell behind a bookcase...Duh...

Now, if things would cool off a bit, I might be able to concentrate on.....something

;-}

#102: Like the alternate book title idea :)

Hi Mark! I thoroughly enjoyed the home page of betterbooktitles and plan on going back later on to check it out in detail. Thanks for the link.

Have a great day, stay cool!

99 today! Wish me luck and send cool thoughts! I'll take whatever I can get. Also, I forgot to mention that I'm still reading Being Dead. I finished half of it and then started the Murakami. I'm going to try to get back to it and finish it. It's a creepy but very well-written book.

Jenny- Do you listen to the "Bookrageous" podcast, as well? It's my 2nd favorite. I always get some good ideas from that show.

Wookie- Good to see you! I hope you can find copies of both those westerns. They are both stellar. I have my copy of Dance with Dragons and I also landed a copy of the Last Werewolf. Are you familiar with that one? It looks great.
I wish we could get some of your rain. We are cooking.

Jude- I may have to bum your copy of The Devil All The Time at some point. I'd like to get to the short-story collection 1st, though. He's based in Ohio, right?

Stasia & Karen- There were some funny titles in there and I love how professional the book covers look.

Try and keep cool today, Mark!

Hi Mark! Love - "Are We There Yet?" LOL :)

Good Luck with the heat today - hope at least a few clouds pass pver the sun once in awhile...

I've listened to the "Bookrageous" podcast a few times. They're like the "high" version of BOTNS-- a bit too all over the place! They do play the best music.

Mark - you lucky dog - The Last Werewolf! I have this one on my radar screen and want to get it. I just purchased Clash of Kings on my Nook and I got lucky at the Friends of the Library Bookstore and found Storm of Swords as a used book. For $2.00! What a find! Lucky me! I think these might be my vacation reading in the upcoming weeks.

I got to tell a colleague about Librarything the other day. I hope she signs up and joins in. It is always fun when I can share the fun I have in here.

By-the-way, a great miracle happened here. It rained! We had a nice rain yesterday afternoon. Finally. It has been so hot and dry in this region since the end of April and this is our second good rain in a week. It is in the 90's here but that is the normal temperature for this time of the year. I have always said that if it weren't for Air Conditioning and Bug Spray there wouldn't be a soul living in the American South. In fact it seems that some historian wrote a book about the advent of cheap AC and what that meant for the South. But I can't remember the title.

I stayed up late last night to finish Wind-Up Bird. It really gets cranking in the third book. Now that I've finished, I can say... I still have no idea what was going on! This book will have lots of fodder for discussion, that's for sure. I will try and start posting my thoughts later today. I have to be home today to sign for my desktop. It's supposed to be delivered today before 3pm. So I have to wait all day til it comes. I hate that.

Sending you cool thoughts and wishes for less humidty!! We are finally getting a break up here. The temp is still a bit high, low 90's, but the humidty is down around 60% which is good.

Checking in to say hi and make sure that You haven't melted.

Do try and stay cool Mark. I fear you may end up as a puddle on the streets of Chicago.

*fans hot air Mark's way*

Well, you already have so much, what's a little more? And it needs to be cool here. Because I'm here. Therefore it must be cool. It's the law.

ROFL @ RD
You are so bad, tsk tsk

Another nasty one! Topped out again, at about a 100. Man, it's been a long week and I have 2 more days to go. No rain yet, either.
Hey, I finally landed my copy of Children of God. Yah! Now, when to fit it in?

Claudia- About 1 o' clock, the clouds moved in and it felt wonderful. By the time I was done with my lunch, the clouds were gone and it was cooking.

Jenny- I really like Bookrageous, "high" or not! They always mention so many good books. And yes, they do play some great music too!

Benita- I lent my spanking new copy of The Last Werewolf to a co-worker, since I won't have time to squeeze it in. I'm really looking forward to it and it's only 300 pages. Hooray!
Congrats on the Martin books. I now own all of them. Hope your friend joins LT. Tell her it's a life-changer.

Lisa- If you couldn't figure out Wind-Up Bird, what am I supposed to do? LOL! It looks like it'll be about the journey. I'm so glad you were happy with Book 3. I just started it.

Mark, how's this for making you feel cooler... it's 115 here today. A 'cool' 91 overnight. yeowza!

Mark, I think there was a wind shift or some such up this way. Still hot but not nearly as humid, or so I'm told.

We cancelled our outdoor pizza get-together for tonight and are moving indoors for pizza eating tonight.

Heh-heh, in Northbrook, it's 99 but it feels like only 98 (not 110 like yesterday) so I guess it's still hot but not so humid.

Tammy- Good to see you! I'm glad the humidity has taken a dip. We could use that here.

Kath- Thanks for checking in on me. I didn't melt but I did feel like a hunk of meat on a skewer out there, this afternoon. I thought I heard my skin sizzling.

Bonnie- Thanks! I did not end up a puddle, more a baked cinder.

RD- LOL. You guys out East, have been dealing with this shit awhile and I heard all this crap is coming your way on top of it. My deepest condolences.
Did you happen to see that several more people died at Yosemite the other day? God, what idiots!

Ilana- Wow, I'm not used to my Northern friends, suffering that bad. It looks like we are all getting hammered, all except the Northwest. They have 60s & rain. Go figure!

Linda- I hope you are right. It was insufferable out there an hour ago. Enjoy your pizza!

ah Mark!!Still melting in what they have dubbed the " Heat Dome". I'm so thankful that we in the Pacific Northwest ( south to us! ;) and also the Atlantic Coast of Canada are staying cooler than normal. I really feel for you! Ahhh - another day where is it is about err - I have to think in F - about 67 F. I don't think we have hit 73 F this summer - well - maybe once or twice. Some complain that it is too cool this summer -but much better than the heat so many are experiencing!

Really enjoyed your better book titles. Great for a chuckle!

Mark, your weather sounds absolutely miserable. For some reason we've been having a pretty good summer so far. Today was 85 with 21% humidity. I don't miss those northeast summers one bit.

I saw that story on the news tonight about the 3 people swept over the falls in Yosemite and immediately thought of the book Richard recently reviewed. I remember all the warnings we got when we visited Yellowstone although those were mostly about not getting too close to the animals. It's amazing the risks people will take to get a good picture.

Another swelterer, here! Tried to stay as still as possible, today...failed, somewhat.....but i feel for you, having to be out in this horror..I feel for everyone who has to work outdoors, in this horror!

Started Fun and Games this afternoon...whooee!!......Jim Thompson in color, rather than b&w!!

Of course you can borrow The Devil All The Time...just let me know....all i know is that Pollock worked at Mead (Paper) in Chillicothe....from 1973-2005 (says so on the book jacket)....I had forgotten about this book.....it slipped behind a book case and I only saw one end poking out from the back (waving feebly)...and I recognized the title and author from your previous post...talk about too many books!!!

I don't feel like a broiled steak....am still in the marinating stage!

Oh, I may complain about the rain in Sydney, but I'd rather it than some of the temperatures you guys mention. At the least, it's delightful weather for catching up with friends in cozy bars, eating cheese toasties and drinking gin fizzes (which was the way I spent my evening last night). Today I had to cross a road that was more like a river, and now I'm wet from the knees down.

All my workmates are planning on staying at home and reading over the weekend. Sounds good to me, I hope the kids give me some reading time! :)

I have been eyeing off The Last Werewolf in the shops, I've heard excellent things. But I'm trying not to buy books at full price at the moment, and I'm yet to stumble across this one discounted anywhere yet.

>130 wookiebender: Wookie, it is *right*now* 34C. At 1:30a Eastern time. UGHHHH send some winter rains, please!!

Sorry to hear you are just as miserable up Chicago way as we are down here, Mark.

#131> Richard, I don't think "UGHHHH" quite does justice to that temperature at 1:30am. Once I work out how to send the rain elsewhere, I shall, don't you worry.

(OMG. Currently it's NOT raining! All that "rain rain, go away" chanting from the kids must have worked! Wonder where it's gone...)

#133: Wonder where it's gone

Well, it is not here in Texas that is for sure!

Deb- My daughter lives in Portland and she says the temps have been stuck in the 60s. I would gladly take a few days of that right now.

Pat- Those people, at Yosemite, were part of a church group too! What possesses you to climb over barriers, and with children too? It's very hard to sympathize.

Jude- I won an ER copy of Fun and Games too, but I never received it. How long before you mark it lost? That sucks. I enjoy Swierczynski too.
As far as Pollock goes, I need to get to Knockemstiff first. I've had it forever. Do you have that one?

Wookie- Cozy bars with friends. Always a nice thing. Sorry to hear about all your rain. Yikes. We could use some. Our lawns are brown. I'm enjoying the G.R. of Wind-up Bird, but what a strange trippy book!

RD- There were storms last night, in the far northwest suburbs but nothing here. I would gladly sacrifice the mail, for a downpour. Keep cool.

Stasia- Thanks for your kind thoughts! You keep cool too, I'm sure you are suffering also.

I had to share another Better Book Title. Sorry for the profanity but this one for House of Sand and Fog cracks me up and I haven't even read the book:

#135: At least I do not have to work in the heat unlike you and my hubby. By the time Kerry gets home from work in the evening, he is like a limp rag.

Mark...if you haven't received Fun and Games yet...jeesh, that was a March ER book...i think you can go to your Books Won (or some such) page...and by now, mark it "not received"...I finally got my May ER book , Other People's Money...it was addressed to me alright, but in CANADA rather than USA.....that bad boy's been traveling!!

Don't have Knockemstiff, but love the title!!

It's set to be another scorcher today...wonder which circle of Hell we're at now??? Take care and stay hydrated!!

;-}

I can't even think about doing what you do.. or what Dan does.. not in this heat.
Terrible.

From the AP:

As US sizzles in summer heat, Seattle shivers
By MANUEL VALDES, Associated Press – 1 day ago

SEATTLE (AP) — As the rest of the country bakes in summer heat, Seattle residents have been bundled up, dealing with temperatures that can't seem to break out of the 60s.

Even in a place used to rain, the gloominess is getting on people's nerves.

There are different ways to measure the frustration. A weather man counted the minutes — yes, minutes — that the temperature has hit 80 degrees or higher. (He says 78 minutes, by the way.)

And annoyance has been spilling out roughly 140 characters at a time. "Seriously Seattle! Can we have any kind of a summer? Ahh C'mon," one Twitter user said.

Another tweet: "MISSING: Hot, sunny summer. IF FOUND please return to Seattle as soon as possible. REWARD offered."

*sigh*

Up here in the northern suburbs, it's been pouring, off and on, since about 4 am. All that beautiful rain has made the grass turn green and has kept the temps down in the low 70s.

I did get caught without an umbrella so I'm drying off and trying to warm up. Most importantly, I managed to keep my Kindle dry.

I am sorry to report that the weather in Tuscaloosa, AL is normal for this summer. Temperatures in the 90's every day. What is not normal is the fact that after the tornado on April 27 we received NO rain until in June, so we are in a drought. The humidity is also normal - about 70% at 7 a.m. and by 3 p.m. it is around 80%. Other than that the summer is normal.

#141 and 142 - my county is in moderate drought and most of the eastern portion of my state is moderate to extreme drought. We had a tease of rain yesterday but not enough to acually do anything.

Well, it's a 'cool' 100 degrees here today. All things being relative of course. I'll take that over yesterday's 115 anytime. Usually when it gets this hot, I pray for rain and thunderstorms to cool things off and we had one such yesterday which had no such effect, it just made everything muggier. The air felt so thick it was hard to breathe. Just gross.

We get heat waves here every summer, but this just seems different somehow. I shouldn't complain. I like staying indoors anyway, but usually in the summer I enjoy taking walks once in a while and in this heat, it's no fun even at snail's pace. I saw a guy (very young, stupid obviously) JOGGING yesterday and I just felt like stopping him, telling him he needs to take himself home and cool off or he might die from a heart attack. Sheesh.

#144 smiler69
Why deprive the young man a chance to show off his sweaty young body? And they know women are looking. That's why they do it.

Ah, the folly of youth!

LOL, I don't think I've said that before. Come to think of it, I guess he WAS kind of attractive.

Just before 10 this morning, the northwest sky, got very creepy, a dark blue & gray blend, with weird swirls and then the wind blew in and then the rain. It lasted about an hour and then it was pleasant enough for awhile and then the sun and humidity came back and sucked the life out of everything again. The cycle begins.

Stasia- "...like a limp rag"- Hey, I know that feeling!

Jude & Kath- Big but languid waves! I survived...barely.

Lisa- Thanks for sharing. How do you feel about your cool weather? I would think it would be nice to have some summer days thrown in there.

Linda- We didn't get as much rain, so it sucked it up fast. An hour later the grass was dry again! Glad you kept that Kindle dry!

Benita- Well, at least you sound like you are having a normal summer then, which isn't to bad. It's just the humidity that is so tough to deal with.

Karen- Sorry to hear about the drought. Any relief in sight?

Ilana- It sounds like you guys are stuck in a bad heat zone! Hope it changes for you. And leave those young joggers alone. You are a mature woman!

So, nobody has read House of Sand and Fog? I'm curious how fitting that alternate title is.

oh, i've read it, mark, and yes, all the tragedy of the novel occurs because the poor girl is unable to keep her home. such an emotional read, as i remember it.

I read House of Sand and Fog quite a few years ago but that alternate title definitely fits. From what I remember many bad things follow from one of the main characters ignoring her mail.

I read House of Sand and Fog...before i joined LT (yes there is life...pre-LT!)...so,have no review...excellent book......so-so movie.....the "alternate" title is one take....Dubus' prose is a whole 'nother smoke, though......read the d***ned book!

;-}

#148 House of Sand and Fog was a bookclub read several years ago. I read about 30 pages and (not exactly remembering my reaction) probably went "Blech." Guess I'm in the minority here. Oh well.....

And regards the drought, mid-90s to 100s through the end of next week. Possibly some thundershowers but probably not enough to lessen the drought condition. The grass is getting a tad crunchy, although I am faithfully watering the Rose of Sharon and my vegetable garden.

Jenny, Pat & Jude- Thanks for your thoughts on House of Sand and Fog. I have a copy, so I definitely plan on reading it. I saw the film a few years ago but don't remember a whole lot about it.

Karen- It supposed to stay hot here too for awhile! Boo! Yes, our grass been crunchy also.

I'm tired tonight. I think I'll be turning in early.

Sweet dreams, my friend...Soldier on tomorrow???

;-}

LOL!! The thread police aka you have visited my thread! I just heard faint sirens! You so funny Mark - I thought Richardeus was the head of the thread police -but know I know better!;) I'll have to figure how to start a new thread later on tonight!!! How the GR Wind Up Bird Chronicles? I hope very much it is going well! I'm really enjoying Where White Horses Gallop and I have another book from a the library that I have to read before it's due - mystery ;) Never Knowing by Chevy Chase. I read her first book, Still Missing and really enjoyed it........ Then oh happy day - the Book Depository has mail for me - Started Early, Took My Dog. I getting very booked up!

Tommorow my husband and I celebrate 28 years of married bliss. Hard to believe, especially with me a mere 29 years old..... ;)

Are you off today, Mark? I hope so and that you can stay inside for a bit!

>136 msf59: - LOL! Perfect, really perfect.

Stay (or try to) cool, my friend!

Day 6! Hopefully I can handle one more and then I'm off the next 2. Yah! Some serious thunderstorms rolled in about 230, waking us up. I guess there is some flooding in the area.

Jude- thanks!

Deb- I take over as deputy of the thread police, only on occasion. Richard is only one person, after all. Starting a new thread is very easy: Copy & paste! The Group Read is going very well. We have a nice bunch, as usual!
Happy Anniversary! Hope you do something special this weekend!

Stasia- Yes, I'm working, but reluctantly. Hope your day goes well.

Joanne- Nice to see you stranger! Are you back from vaca? And thanks, the goal is to stay cool.

Sorry to hear you do not have the day off. Stay as cool as possible!

The rain helped here.. I hope it did for you, too

Enjoy the weekend, Mark.

Mark, did the Thundershirt ever work for the thunderstorms?

Enjoy your days off.

glitter-graphics.com

LIKE

Hey, I made it! Now I can enjoy 2 days off and recharge my batteries. I finished Being Dead, which was excellent and on the lighter side, I finished Soulless, the 1st of a fun fantasy series, featuring werewolves, vampires & parasols.
Of course, I'm also deep into The Wind-Up Bird, for the Group Read, which I'm enjoying. I'm just wondering if taking hallucinogenics, might help the experience. I'm still chuckling over Richard's Better Book Title for this book.

Stasia- Thanks!

Kath- We had over 5 inches of rain in some areas over night. It did help a little but still muggy.

Joe- Nice to see you! Are you back in town?

Pat- Actually, we haven't had a chance to try the Thundershirt lately, because it's been storming when we aren't expecting it or we are not home.

Kara- Ooooh, nice!!

Hey Mark. I got Soulless a while back when I realized they don't have the series at the library. I'll get to it eventually. Maybe another fantasy monthly theme eventually?

Enjoy your time off, you certainly deserve it!

Happy Sunday, Mark! Have a great day off!

just making sure you made it through the day yesterday

Another stormy night and it's still raining out there now! We have a house-full of company coming later, a mix of friends & family. Hopefully, it'll be decent enough outside, so a few of us can be outdoors.

Ilana- I think you would like the Soulless series, especially on audio. Emily Gray does a fantastic job. They might be a bit romance-heavy for me. It looks like we are doing a September: Series & Sequels month, so that should be a nice fit for all kinds of different types.

Big Morning waves to Stasia & Kath! Yes, I'm looking forward to 2 glorious days off.

Send the rain my way, Mark!

77) The River of Doubt by Candice Millard 4.7 stars

"The worst of all fears is the fear of living."
-T.R.

After a humiliating election defeat in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt was asked to head an expedition to the Amazon. After much deliberation, he decided he needed an adventure and boy did he get one, nearly killing himself and his son Kermit, in the process.
The mission was to trace Rio da Dúvida (“River of Doubt”), a Brazilian tributary of the great Amazon River. Completely ill-prepared, this exploration seemed doomed from the start.
Millard, in her debut, presents an exciting, well-researched story, filled with courage, foolhardiness, unexpected horror, resilience and breath-taking descriptions of a majestic, yet cruel and unyielding, jungle.
This would make an excellent companion piece to The Lost City of Z, one of my favorite non-fiction titles from a couple years ago. Highly recommended.

I need to give River of Doubt a re-read some time. I liked the book so much that I bought a copy for my personal library.

How big a book is it, Mark? I'm not sure I like the jungle... giant bugs creep me out. But you could possibly convince me. Your review is very well written. -- sweet adjectives :o)

Hi Mark. Just trying to catch up with some threads...

Have a good couple of days off. I hope you get some normal, sensible, calm weather soon.

Good review, Mark. Thumb from me.

Yes, we're back from a great trip up North in Michigan. Among other things, I got to listen to the wonderful BBC radio production of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy on the long car drive.

Stasia- Theodore Roosevelt continues to be one of my favorite historical figures. What a fascinating character. I've read many presidential bios, but my favorite still remains The rise of Theodore Roosevelt.

Jenny- It's just over 400 pages. I listened to it on audio, which was perfect, especially with the sweat running down my face. Many creepy crawlers in this book... so beware.

Caty- Great to see you! It's been a long time. Yes, it would be nice to get back to "normal" temps.

Joe- Thanks for the Thumb! Hope you have a great day. Keep dry!

171: Interestingly, I read in 1491, Theodore Roosevelt's great-granddaughter Anna Roosevelt is an archaeologist whose focus is societies of the Amazon basin.

http://www.amazon.com/Amazonian-Indians-Prehistory-Present-Anthropological/dp/08...

Hi There Mark. Thumbs up on your excellent review of The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt! Happy Sunday to you buddy!

Mark, thumb from me too on your review of River of Doubt. I will definitely be trying this one at some point. Your description reminded me of reading Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City. Thrashing around in the Amazon jungle seems to be best done from the comfort of a reading chair.

Of course, I'm also deep into The Wind-Up Bird, for the Group Read, which I'm enjoying. I'm just wondering if taking hallucinogenics, might help the experience.

Just possibly! Let me know if you try it and get any insights. ;-)

I've got this one coming so I'm glad to read your excellent review Mark.

Mark, I think I got Soulless just before I fell headlong into audiobooks, but if I like it and want to continue with the series, then I'll look up the audio format. I'm not immensely fond of romance myself though, so we'll see about that. Do you think you'll continue with the series regardless?

September Series & Sequels will definitely have me as a participant. I have so many waiting to be started or continued, like everyone else here, I'm sure.

Great review on The River of Doubt. As a Canadian, I can't say I've looked into much American history so far, and even less so into political figures (politics just bore me to tears, though I do want to give a listen to a series I saw on Winston Churchill), but I wonder if this book might get me interested to find out more... anyway, thumbs up from me too.

I just went to check out your review of The Lost City of Z and will have to add that one to my wishlist alongside your latest recommendation!

Qebo- Thanks for sharing the Anna Roosevelt connection. Sounds very interesting.

Linda- Nice to see you! Hopefully you gave me a Thumb to River of Doubt and not to The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, which I loved but never reviewed.

Pat- Thanks! Fordlandia sounds interesting. I might have to check that one out.

Lisa- I don't take hallucinogenics anymore but if I did...I have less than 100 pages left. Should be done with it tomorrow.

Bonnie- Thanks! You will love it! Guaranteed!

Ilana- I'm not sure, if I'll continue the Soulless series. Jury is out on that one.
I know you don't do much non-fiction, but try these titles on audio, both are excellent. Have I steered you wrong, my friend?

#171 Wow! Did I luck out! I purchased River of Doubt, for my husband, from my library booksale back in Mayish. He's yet to comment but if Mark likes it, I know, it's got to be good. A thumb from me too.

Have I steered you wrong, my friend?

Of course not! Btw, I'm no averse to non-fiction, it's just that there are so many fiction books that I want to read that it gets pushed aside. But I definitely have plenty of non-fiction on my wishlist. Next year I'm planning to have a non-fiction category for 12/12, which should encourage me to dabble more often.

#186> 12/12? That'd be 144 books, right? Wow, I was wondering if people were going to continue with these category challenges when it got up to that many books. :) I once got my categories sorted for 10/10, but never actually got around to joining anyhow. Still, it was fun thinking up the categories!

I found that Soulless was just too heavy on the romance (or rather, sex) for me. I was hoping for something that was more about the slayage, and less about the heaving bosoms/throbbing anatomical regions. I definitely decided to not continue with the series.

78) Being Dead: A Novel by Jim Crace 4.3 stars

No, this not another zombie novel. Not even close. Actually, a better title might be “Scientists in Love”, although that fails to capture the dark, haunting tone, that shadows these pages.
Joseph and Celice, are middle-aged zoologists. In the opening chapter, they are found murdered in a remote area of the dunes. As their bodies begin to decompose, the narrative takes us on a serpentine journey through this couple’s lives and we witness their chance meeting in college, a long, sometimes bumpy thirty-year marriage, the usual joys and pitfalls, a restless, unhappy daughter and then finally their last fateful day.
There is some gruesome detail to this story but it’s described in a simple scientific manner. It is also filled with some lovely prose:
“Yet there was still love, the placid love that only time can cultivate, a love preserved by habit and memory. Their tree had little rising sap, perhaps, but it was held firm by deep and ancient roots.”
Highly recommended!

Big thumb from me, Mark. I'm going to look for this one later today when I'm at the library. It sounds good.

oh, mark, i'm so glad you loved being dead... i found it just stunning!

Happy birthday, Mark-a-doodle-doo!

Mark, I also liked Being Dead! Now that's a strange sentence.

Happy Birthday! Your special day gave me an excuse to get on FB. Have a good one.

Another good one, Mark. Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday, Mark!

Ilana- Since I've been crazy for non-fiction lately, I'm trying to spread the joy!

Wookie- "heaving bosoms/throbbing anatomical regions" LOL! Yes, there is a fair share of that in Soulless, although most of it is pretty mild. Still not sure if I'll continue. My wife, who is a fan of this series, probably thinks I'm a stuffed-shirt.

Pat- Thanks for the Thumb! It's a grim subject but the writing is beautiful.

Jenny- Have you read any other of Crace's work? I'd like to try more.

RD- Thank you, kind sir!

Donna- I'm pretty sure you were one of the main reasons I picked up Being Dead and for that I thank you and also for the birthday wishes!

Joe- Thanks! It looks like we are going to have a nice day in Chicago.

Thanks Joanne! Much appreciated.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Happy birthday Mark! You are my window to so much unchartered territory!

#187 I guess if you feel you MUST read 12 books in all 12 categories, then yes, that would be 144 books. I'm reading lots of Children's & YA literature this summer, so have already got up to 145 this year, but I did start off thinking I'd maybe read just 5 or 6 in each category in 11/11. I know that's what some people are doing now.

Heaving bosoms eh? Not too keen on that myself, though I'll still give Soulless a chance since so many people here seem to like this series.

I've read one other Crace-- The Pesthouse. Didn't care for it at all, so like you, I'm looking for another good one from him.

happy birthday, sweetie! here-- turn up the speakers for this one---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztoSUhbNntQ

and another silliness for your listening pleasure---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-28jAoTPFw&feature=related

Wow, didn't realize today was your birthday Mark. Have a great day. Are you doing anything special to celebrate?

Happy Birthday, Mark!

I hope your day is as special as you are.

Happy, Happy B-day, Mark. Hope you got the day off :)

First of all, I wanted apologize for a couple sloppy errors in my Being Dead review. Careless proof-reading I guess. I'm sure my reviews are loaded with grammatical errors but I do take pride in trying to get it right, for whatever that's worth.

Linda- Thanks! I also enjoyed your review of Being Dead.

Ilana- "You are my window to so much unchartered territory!" That is very nice, thank you and I like to think we are all windows over here. Very well said.
BTW- I am a big fan of "heaving bosoms", just not so much on the page.

Jenny- Thank you! I've been seeing some positive quotes on Crace's book, Quarantine. Might have to look into that one. Hey, loved the videos! I'm a big Beatles fan from way back.

Pat- Thanks! We had a party yesterday, with friends & family. It was a nice time. We are going over to an Aunt's house for dinner tonight. Yes, I always enjoy my day off.

Karen- Thank you! That was very nice.

Lynda- Thanks! Today, just happened to be my day off and since we are so short-handed this week, I wasn't sure I would be able to take off. I got lucky.

Your comment made me laugh, which is no small feat today. Thanks for that. :-)

Happy Birthday, Mark. I hope this is a special day for you.

Happy Birthday, Mark! And thanks for your review of Being Dead; I need to move that higher up my TBR list.

Happy Birthday, Mark! I'm glad you have today off for some rest and relaxation.

I have a copy of Being Dead but have not gotten around to it yet. Sounds like I should move it up the old TBR ladder...

Seriously??? I had to read 91 messages to catch up? I have been so out of it - RL kidnapped me and won't let go!
So, Hi Mark~
Just want to say (and this will not surprise you) I hated House of Sand and Fog. One of the few books in my life I did not finish. Got half way thru it - then checked to see which names survived at the end. Was too discouraged to go on - closed that book forever! Blech!

On a much lighter note -

Ilana- Still suffering with the headaches? Sorry to hear it. See if you can find the audio of Go the F**k to Sleep, read by Samuel Jackson. It's only 6 minutes and it's a scream. That should also cheer you up.

Linda- Thanks, my Chicago friend. Beautiful day, isn't it?

Darryl- Thanks! Good to see you!

Katie- Thanks! Being Dead is a short read, less than 200 pages. Lovely prose.

Claudia- Sorry you got behind and I'm not surprised you had problems with House of Sand and Fog. I think opinion is divided.
Ooooh, that pitcher of beer looks goooooood! Thanks!

I have that audio and love it. You're right, it would cheer me up. Thanks for the tip Mark.

Was there cake?

Cake? Did someone say cake?

Happy Birthday Mark!

Happy Birthday Mark! I hope there was cake, and books too. :)

I think the Dodge Police commission ate all the cake! I can't even find an itsy bogey crumb.

I can't believe the Dodge Police Commission beat me to the cake! Happy Birthday, anyway, Mark! I hope it was a good one.

Hi Kath- The cake was consumed yesterday, along with beer and other goodies! How did your 1st day go?

Bonnie- Thanks! Since you like grim, Being Dead could be just your cuppa. Think about it!

Wookie- No books, although I did get cash. Hmmmmmmm....

Stasia- Thanks for the balloons. Very cheery.

Inspector Lynda- You might be on to something there. Thanks for the wishes.

Amy- It's nice to see you and thank you.

Funny, I was off today and got in minimal reading time. Whatsup with that? I finished a graphic bio, while waiting for an oil change and that's it! I guess I was fielding to many FB messages.
Although, I do have an hour or so before bed...

Dear, dear Mark, Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Markie! I take a day off and you've got 50 new posts -so many of them hilarious!! I'm not a fan of heaving bosoms , either. Like Ilana - I'm more interested in Canadian History than American. No offence - I think it just depends on where you live. Just finished a fantastic book about WW11 from a Canadian perspective . Where White Horses Gallop by Beatrice MacNeil. I wrote a bit of review about it - just in case you interested in the book -which I thought was beautifully written and took a unique perspective on war.

Hope you got everything that you wanted for your birthday!

Back to work! Oh well. It looks like another hot week, with temps hovering around 90. I should be wrapping up the Murakami today and I'll be starting on audio, Savage Run, it's the 2nd in a crime series, based in Wyoming.
Once again, thanks everyone for your many birthday wishes!

Anne- Thanks! Are you settled in, back home now?

Deb- Thanks! I'm glad you are entertained, when you drop by. We aim to please. I totally understand your interest in Canadian history, over American history.
As far as getting everything I wanted for my birthday, I did not get a new car or an obscenely large pile of cash, but I was more than pleased.

Hey, I landed an ARC of Lost Memory of Skin, the latest by Russell Banks. He's a favorite of mine and one I have not read in quite some time.

I don't have to contend with the weather outside when I am at my job, - just the weather inside. We had a major electrical fire early Monday morning that resulted in no AC. They tell us that it might be Wednesday before we get AC. The outside temps are normal for this time of year in the South and to add to fortune's benevolence the sky has been overcast most of yesterday and so far today. That should keep the temperature down to bearable levels. Unfortunately, that does nothing for the humidity. I sweat buckets yesterday and probably will today as well. They are being mean and telling us we have to work or use sick leave so I will be here until my vacation starts. It was so easy to get sleepy yesterday afternoon with the heat and the constant buzz from the fans so I am not sure how productive I was but at least I was here.

Waves... glad your birthday was good!

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of the Murakami and Savage Run. As you know, I'm a big fan of the first, and I enjoyed the second and the series it's in.

Cake with beer Mark? Ohhhh, that's making my stomach churn, especially first thing in the morning!

Hope you manage to stay cool and the heat doesn't come down on you too hard this week Mark.

I guess even though it is your birthday I am luckier than you. They are sending me home early today because we still have no AC. Not expected to get it fully operational until Thursday so I get two days of administrative leave. I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I was scheduled to go on vacation starting Thursday. It would be nice to have those days in about a month during the Dog Days of August, but whose complaining. It's to hot to work in here and when I get this sweaty I get sleepy so will be glad to go home. And beat the regular rush hour traffic.

It was your birthday yesterday? Happy birthday!

Happy Belated Birthday Mark!

Sorry I missed your birthday, Mark. Belated good wishes!!

Benita- Glad to hear you have a couple extra days off and then straight into vacation. Nice. Are you going to Kansas?
I finished Wind-Up Bird. I have mixed feelings about it.

Kath- Thanks! It was nice.

Joe- I have to digest the Murakami some more. I really wanted to love it. I'm crazy for his writing but the book left me, somewhat dissatisfied. I like the Joe Pickett book. He seems to have a nice feel for Wyoming and the wildlife.

Ilana- Come on, beer & cake? It's a staple...just kidding ya! BTW- I'm getting ready to start The Bells, thanks to a very sweet LT pal of mine.

Caty, Kara & Terri- Thank you so much! It means a lot!

Mark, did you see our Patrick deWitt of The Sisters Brothers was longlisted for the latest Booker Prize? Quite an honor for the first time novelist!

Just waving, as I can't hope to keep up with all of this! Turn your back on this place for a few days... *grumble grumble grumble*

*waving* Try and stay cool, Mark!

I finished the Group Read and I'll be starting The Bells, which I've heard very good things about. Thanks to Ilana for hooking me up with a copy. Also, enjoying Savage Run on audio.

Jenny- That's good news. DeWitt is more than worthy, IMHO.

Suz- Good to see your grumbling self! Big wave back.

Morning Stasia- After a lovely night, (we shut off the a/c), it's supposed to get hot and more humid later on. Boo. Have a great day!

Heard on the news that some of the Post Offices around here might be closing..
Changing times make differences that one might not expect.. I know that it is never fun
to be hearing dire things about where you work.. fingers crossed that these things are not
going to come to pass.

the opening of The Bells is sooooooooo good -- enjoy!

I thought of you, too, when I heard the postal news last night, Mark.

Belated Happy birthday Mark!!!

I read The House of Sand and Fog a few years back. I thought it was so-so. Maybe not one to read if you better ones waiting.

Oh! The Bells, I just added that one :) can't wait to hear what you think!

What Kara said!

Kath & Joanne- The post office has been losing a lot of money. Cut-backs are expected. I work in a decent-sized office, so we should be safe but there are few different offices in the Chicago area, that are being targeted. But keep in mind, this does not affect mail delivery. Customers might have to travel a bit further for their postal needs.
Thanks for your concern.

Jenny, Kara & Stasia- I'm about 60 pages into The Bells. What a refreshing change of pace! Clear, lovely prose and an engaging story-line. I think this will be a keeper! I remember Michael on BOTNS raving about this one.

Tammy- Thanks! Nice to see you. I'm sure I'll get to House of Sand and Fog at some point. To me, Dubus is an interesting author.

#239 I wonder if there are any proposed closings up here in Lake County. I need to look into this.

We had quite a downpour this morning--another 3 or 4 inches of rain in a short time. Second such downpour during the past few days. As usual, I managed to keep the Kindle dry.

I am confused. I read a letter in the USA Today paper from the head of the postal workers union. He said that the Post Office is not losing money. They can't, by law, run deficits. What they are doing is, by law, they have to PRE-PAY into the postal workers retirement fund so that the postal workers retirement fund will be self-supporting. It is this 5 BILLION dollar a year payment that they fear they will not be able to make. (The problem is the same one that most retirement funds face - people are living too long and collecting too much money from the system.) But as of today the USPS is NOT losing money. They have managed to make all of their scheduled payments, so far. However, they will not be able to do so for much longer given the fact that volume of mail sent has dropped so radically. Is that true?

I don't doubt the president of the unions honesty, but do wonder what you have to say.

Still out of town on holidays, but trying to stay somewhat current with the threads. Happy belated birthday, Mark. Hope you had a great day. I liked your review of Being Dead, I hope to get to both it and The Sisters Brothers next month.

Linda- The P.O. closings they listed today, in the paper, were mostly in the city. The rain missed us. I saw it rolling in, late morning, but we got nada.

Benita- Your friend is correct. Yes, us having to pre-pay our retirement, (a law passed under Bush Jr.), is really been a strain. But I keep hearing we are still losing money on top of that. I'll have to check in to it. All I know is, we are cutting routes, adding to our own routes and not hiring any full-timers.
There is no question, there are forces out there, who would love to see the P.O. dismantled and privatized. I think it'll happen.

According to the story I heard on NPR this morning, the USPS hasn't been profitable since 2006. Don't know the reason and I haven't fact-checked the story, but NPR's usually pretty reliable.

Hi Mark, one problem the post office has is too many post offices. In our little town of less than 10,000 people we actually have two post offices within 5 miles of each other. What the heck is that all about? It seems like they could close many of their offices and probably not be any the worse off yet saving money.

I read House of Sand and Fog many years ago and thought it was compelling and very edge of your seat suspenseful.

Morning everyone! A rainy start, here, with heat and humidity moving in later. Have a great day, compadres!

Jim- "the USPS hasn't been profitable since 2006". I think that's about the time they passed the law, forcing the P.O. to pre-pay it's retirement. Interesting.
BTW- Nice to see you.

Bonnie- I'm sure there are to many P.O.'s in certain areas and probably a shortage in others. Hopefully, these things will be corrected. I'll definitely get to House of Sand and Fog at some point.

Just stopping by to be sociable.. nothing in my head to share.

I had best stay out of the Post Office conversation. My anti-right-wing screeching tends to get to jet-engine levels when I talk about the absurd evisceration of this vital public service.

Mark...are you still among the living...or did you melt, today?

****psst...time for a new thread before "You-know-who" comes a-calling....

;-}

New Thread

Big waves to Kath & RD!!

Jude- Yes, I survived. Not bad, up into early afternoon and then it got hot & muggy. How are you holding up?