Smiler: Seasonal Inspiration (#13)

It took me over an hour just to choose these gourds & squashes at the farmer's market. Then came a photo session which can be viewed here. There's an illustration. What comes next?




Currently Reading:
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
The Adventures of Pinocchio illustrated by Roberto Innocenti
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
♫ Le Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac



My Threads
Part Un (Books 1-5)
Part Deux (Books 6-29)
Part Trois (Books 30-54)
Part Quatre (Books 55-72)
Part Cinq (Books 73-99)
Part Six (Books 100-110)
Part Sept (Books 111-128)
Part Huit (Books 129-145)
Part Neuf (Books 146-181)
Part Dix (Books 182-200)
Part Onze (Books 201-220)
#12 (Books 221-231)

11 in 11 Challenge:
Category #1: English Language Classics 11/11 - COMPLETED
Category #2: Classic French Authors 6/11
Category #3: Mysteries & Crime Fiction 10/11
Category #4: Visual Arts 8/11
Category #5: Books Published Since 2009 10/11
Category #6: New To Me Authors 11/11 - COMPLETED
Category #7: Big and Scary: books over 400 pages 10/11
Category #8: The Two World Wars and the Time In-Between 11/11 - COMPLETED
Category #9: En Français 11/11 - COMPLETED
Category #10: Sooner Than Later: Recent Acquisitions 10/11
Category #11: The Film Might Be Good But the Book is Better 11/11 - COMPLETED

Books completed in November

236. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson ★★★ (review) ☀
237. ♫ We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson ★★★½ (review) ☀
238. ♫ The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri ★★★¾ (review) ☀
239. Au pays du roi Arthur by Nicolas Cauchy, Illustations by Aurélia Fronty ★★★¾ (review)
240. ♫ Emma by Jane Austen ★★★★½ (review) ☀
241. ♫ Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley ★★★★ (review) ☀
242. ♫ Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey ★★★¾ (review) ☀
243. ♫ Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh ★★★ (review) ☀
244. ♫ Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers ★★★★ (review) ☀
245. La femme au miroir by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt ★★★½ (review) ☀
246. Me and You by Anthony Browne ★★★½ (review) ☀
247. ♫ The Outfit by Richard Stark ★★★½ (review) ☀
248. ♫ Brighton Rock by Graham Greene ★★★★¾ (review) ☀
249. ♫ A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark ★★★¾ (review) ☀
250. Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz ★★★★ (review) ☀
251. Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears by Emily Gravett (rating & review coming soon) ☀ (tagmash children's literature, mice)
252. Wolves by Emily Gravett (rating & review coming soon) ☀ (tagmash children's literature, wolves)
253. Dogs by Emily Gravett (rating & review coming soon)
254. ♫ American Gods by Neil Gaiman (rating & review coming soon) ☀



My rating system:
★ - hated it (may or may not have finished it but listing it for the trouble)
★★ - it was just ok
★★★ - enjoyed it (good)
★★★★ - loved it! (very good)
★★★★★ - all-time favourite (blew me away—will read again)

⅛ ¼ ⅓ ½ ¾ ⅞

♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf
☀ = TIOLI

Suggested reads for November

* ☛❉ Son Excellence Eugène Rougon by Émile Zola (TIOLI Challenge #1: at least one animal mentioned on page 50) - unfinished
☛*The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (group read, TIOLI Challenge #1, 11/11 Category #10: Recent Acquisitions) - Reading
☛✔ One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson (TIOLI Challenge #1)
☛♫ Emma by Jane Austen (TIOLI Challenge #1, Category #11: The Film Might Be Good But the Book is Better)
☛✔ Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa (TIOLI Challenge #3: found by mashing 2 tags; one seldom-used, one much-used)
☛♫ 1984 by George Orwell (TIOLI Challenge #3, Category #11: The Film Might Be Good But the Book is Better)
☛* ❉ La femme au miroir by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt (TIOLI Challenge #8: an author I've only read ONE book from, 11/11 Category #9: En Français)
☛❉ Me and You by Anthony Browne (TIOLI Challenge #9: a book Reviewed and Recommended by a Fellow 75r during the month of October 2011: avatiakh)
☛♫ We Have Always Lived in the Castle Shirley Jackson (TIOLI Challenge #9)
☛❉ Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz (TIOLI Challenge #10: originally written in a language that is NOT a lingua franca: Hebrew)

Other options:

☛♫ American Gods by Neil Gaiman (TIOLI Challenge #3: matched read)
☛♫ Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (TIOLI Challenge #1: matched read)
☛♫ Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières (TIOLI Challenge #8: an author I've only read ONE book from) - Unfinished (technical difficulties)
☛♫ Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (TIOLI Challenge #3: mystery, twins)
☛♫ Brighton Rock by Graham Greene (TIOLI Challenge #3: England, Brighton)
☛♫ Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley (TIOLI Challenge #9: Donna828)
☛♫ A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark (TIOLI Challenge #3: England, 1980s)
☛♫ The Outfit by Richard Stark (TIOLI #12: Read a mystery published before you were born; 1963)

*****


Suggested reads for December

✔ The Elephant's Journey by José Saramago
✔ L'Assomoir by Émile Zola




* = must read
♫ = audiobook
✔ = off the shelf
❉ = library
☛ = TIOLI

Books I've read so far in 2011:

January:
1. Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler (TIOLI) ★★★★ (review)
2. La Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty) by Tahar Ben Jelloun (TIOLI) ★★★★ (review)
3. Regeneration - 1st of the Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker (TIOLI) ★★★★★ (review)
4. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane ★★★ (review)
5. Sanderson: The Essence of English Decoration by Mary Schoeser ★★★★½ (review)
6. Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart (TIOLI) ★★★ (review)
7. Doors Open by Ian Rankin (TIOLI) ★★★ (review)
8. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson ★★★★ (review)
9. A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon ★★★★ (review)
10. The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt (TIOLI) ★★★★ (review)
11. Egon Schiele: The Leopold Collection by Rudolf Leopold (TIOLI) ★★★½ (review)
12. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (TIOLI, Group Read) ★★★ (review)
13. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket ★★★ (review)
14. The Arrival by Shaun Tan ★★★★★ (review)
15. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak ★★★★ (review)
16. The Bells by Richard Harvell ★★★★ (review)
17. Black and Blue by Ian Rankin ★★½ (TIOLI) (review)
18. ♫ Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens ★★★ (TIOLI) (review)
19. ♫ Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney ★★★★ (review)
20. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom ★★★★ (review)

February:
21. Through a Glass Darkly by Donna Leon ★★★ (review)
22. ♫ Skellig by David Almond ★★★ (review)
23. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman ★★★★★ (review)
24. Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe ★★★½ (review)
25. ♫ The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman ★★★★★ (review)
26. ♫ The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West ★★★★½ (review)
27. ♫ The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ★★★★⅓ (review)
28. ♫ Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll ★★★★½ (notes on the audiobook)
29. Three Seconds by Roslund & Hellström ★★★ (review)
30. The Turn of the Screw and The Aspern Papers by Henry James ★★★★ (review)
31. ♫ The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie ★★★½ (review)
32. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski ★★★★ (review)
33. ♫ Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman ★★★★¼ (review)
34. La Fortune des Rougons by Émile Zola ★★★★ (review)
35. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins ★★★★ (review)
36. ♫ The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton ★★★★ (review)
37. The Eye in the Door by Pat Barker ★★★⅘ (review)

March:
38. ♫ Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood ★★★⅘ (review)
39. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot ★★★★¼ (review)
40. ♫ The Help by Kathryn Stockett ★★★★⅓ (review)
41. Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman ★★★¾ (review)
42. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko ★★★¾ (review)
43. ♫ The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie ★★★ (review)
44. Coraline by Neil Gaiman ★★★★ (review)
45. Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan ★★★★ (review)
46. Dead Souls by Ian Rankin ★★½ (review)
47. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney ★★½ (review)
48. ♫ Already Dead by Charlie Huston ★★★¾ (review)
49. ♫ The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman ★★★★⅓ (review)
50. ♫ Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene ★★★½ (review)
51. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman ★★★¾ (review)
52. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ★★⅚ (review)
53. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy ★★⅚ (review)
54. ♫ Tripwire by Lee Child ★★★★ (review)
55. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri ★★★½ (review)
56. ♫ Matilda by Roald Dahl ★★★★ (review)
57. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James ★★★★½ (review)

April:
58. ♫ Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog) by Jerome K. Jerome ★★★★ (review)
59. Sandman: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman ★★½ (review)
60. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón ★★★★⅝ (review)
61. ♫ Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain ★★★★ (review)
62. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick ★★★★ (review)
63. Invisible River by Helena McEwen ★ (Read for Early Reviewers) (review)
64. ♫ Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn ★★★★⅓ (review)
65. ♫ Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson ★★★★⅞ (review)
66. ♫ Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh ★★★★⅓ (review)
67. La Curée (The Kill) by Émile Zola ★★★★⅓ (review)
68. ♫ The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse ★★⅘ (review)
69. The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton ★★½ (review)
70. Mockingjay (Hunger Games 3) by Suzanne Collins ★★★★ (review)
71. ♫ Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë ★★★★⅞ (review)
72. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman ★★★★½ (review)
73. Apollo's Angels : A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans ★★★★½ (review)
74. ♫ Grass for His Pillow (Tales of the Otori: Book 2) by Lian Hearn ★★★½ (review)
75. ♫ The Fall of the House of Usher: The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe ★★★⅝ (review)
76. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway ★★★★ (review)
77. ♫ The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino ★★★⅓ (review)
78. Le Ventre de Paris (The Belly of Paris) by Émile Zola ★★★★⅓ (review)

May:
79. ♫ Animal Farm by George Orwell ★★★★★ (review)
80. Playback: A Graphic Novel by Raymond Chandler ★★¼ (review)
81. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys ★★★★¼ (review)
82. ♫ Dubliners by James Joyce ★★★★ (review)
83. ♫ The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht ★★★★★ (review)
84. ♫ Gros-Câlin by Romain Gary ★★★★⅓ (review)
85. L'argent facile (Easy Money) - Stockholm Noir 1, by Jens Lapidus ★½ (review)
86. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo ★★★★ (review)
87. ♫ And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie ★★★★ (review)
88. Emma, Volume 1 by Kaoru Mori ★★½ (review)
89. ♫ La petite fille de monsieur Linh (Monsieur Linh and His Child) by Philippe Claudel ★★★★½ (review)
90. Lost & Found by Shaun Tan ★★★★★ (review)
91. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain ★★★★ (review)
92. Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Petersen ★★★ (review)
93. ♫ Mansfield Park by Jane Austen ★★★¾ (review)
94. The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva ★★★¾ (review)
95. The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger ★★½ (review)
96. Daytripper by Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba ★★★½ (review)
97. ♫ Killing Floor by Lee Child ★★★½ (review)
98. ♫ Flying Too High : a Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood ★★★½ (review)
99. Silas Marner by George Eliot ★★★★ (review)
100. ♫ An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin ★★★★⅓ (review)

June
101. Le Chat du Rabbin: La Bar-Mitsva (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 1) ★★★★⅓ (review)
102. ♫ Les âmes grises (By a Slow River) by Philippe Claudel ★★★★½ (review)
103. Monstres Malades by Emmanuelle Houdart ★★★★ (review)
104. Le Chat du Rabbin: Le Malka des Lions (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 2) ★★★★ (review)
105. The Haunted Playground by Shaun Tan ★★★½ (review)
106. In Search of Klingsor by Jorge Volpi ★★½ (review)
107. ♫ The Prestige by Christopher Priest ★★★⅞ (review)
108. Le Chat du Rabbin: L'Exode (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 3) ★★★★ (review)
109. ♫ Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant ★★★★½ (review)
110. ♫ The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey ★★★★ (review)
111. The Tiger : A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant ★★★★ (review)
112. ♫ The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell ★★★¾ (review)
113. The Deadly Doll by Janine Burke ★★★★ (review)
114. ♫ Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, read by Samuel L. Jackson ★★★★½ (review)
115. La Conquête de Plassans / The Conquest of Plassans by Émile Zola ★★★★⅓ (review)
116. The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise by Georges Perec ★★★ (review)
117. ♫ Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller ★★★½ (review)
118. Trapped by James Moloney ★★½ (review)
119. L'apprentissage amoureux by Laetitia Bourget ★★★★⅓ (review)
120. ♫ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (BBC Radio Collection) by Douglas Adams ★★★★★ (review)
121. Le Chat du Rabbin: Le Paradis terrestre (The Rabbi's Cat, Book 4) ★★★½ (review)

July
122. Blanche Neige by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★¾ (review) ☀
123. The Old Child by Jenny Erpenbeck ★★★½ (review)
124. ♫ Black Beauty by Anna Sewell ★★★½ (review) ☀
125. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo ★★★½ (review) ☀
126. The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin ★★★★ (review) ☀
127. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes ★★★★ (review) ☀
128. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo ★★★★★ (review)
129. ♫ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain ★★★★ (review) ☀
130. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame ★★★★ (review) ☀
131. L'enfant silence by by Cécile Roumiguière & Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★⅓ (review)
132. Le petit chaperon rouge (Little Red Riding Hood) by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★ (review) ☀
133. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan ★★★★ (review) ☀
134. Le Carnet Rouge by Benjamin Lacombe illustrated by Agata Kawa ★★★★¾ (review)
135. ♫ Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris ★★★★ (review) ☀
136. ♫ The Cat in the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites by Dr. Seuss ★★★★ (review) ☀
137. ♫ The Roald Dahl Audio CD Collection by Roald Dahl ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
138. Le chat du rabbin 5: Jérusalem d'Afrique by Joann Sfar ★★★★⅓ (review)
139. Flotsam by David Wiesner ★★★★½ (review) ☀
140. The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo ★★★★⅓ (review)
141. Le bois de Klara / Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck ★★★½ (review) ☀
142. ♫ Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson ★★★ (review) ☀
143. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
144. Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones ★★★½ (review) ☀
145. La funeste nuit d'Ernest by Sébastien Perez, Illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★ (review) ☀
146. Longs Cheveux by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★ (review)
147. Blues Bayou by Benjamin Lacombe illustrated by Daniela Cytryn ★★★★(review)
148. Cerise Griotte / Cherry and Olve by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★ (review)
149. Pourquoi la carapace de la tortue... ? by Mimi Barthélémy illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★ (review)
150. Les Amants Papillons by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★ (review)
151. La grande journée du petit Lin Yi / Lin Yi's Lantern by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★ (review)
152. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀

August
153. Hurricane by David Wiesner ★★★ (review)
154. Kite flier by Dennis Haseley ★★½ (review)
155. Tuesday by David Wiesner ★★★★ (review)
156. Sector 7 by David Wiesner ★★★★ (review)
157. June 29, 1999 by David Wiesner ★★★★½ (review)
158. La Petite Sorcière by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★½ (review) ☀
159. Grimoire de Sorcières by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★½ (review) ☀
160. ♫ Watership Down by Richard Adams ★★★½ (review) ☀
161. ♫ Charlotte's Web by E. B. White ★★½ (review) ☀
162. La mélodie des tuyaux by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★ (review) ☀
163. L'Esprit du temps, tome 1 by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★½ (review) ☀
164. L'Esprit du temps, tome 2 by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★ (review) ☀
165. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ★★★★★ (review) ☀
166. L'amoureux by Rébecca Dautremer ★★★ (review) ☀
167. Cyrano by Taï-Marc Le Thanh, illustrated by Rébecca Dautremer ★★★★ (review) ☀
168. Nasreddine by Odile Weulersse, illustrated by Rébecca Dautremer ★★★★½ (review) ☀
169. L'ange de grand père / Grandpa's Angel by Jutta Bauer ★★★★½ (review)
170. Selma by Jutta Bauer ★★★★⅞ (review) ☀
171. Sweet Tooth Vol. 1: Out of the Woods by Jeff Lemire ★★★★ (review) ☀
172. ♫ A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith ★★★★½ (review) ☀
173. ♫ Once Upon A Time In The North by Philip Pullman ★★★★ (review) ☀
174. ♫ Brokeback Mountain by E. Annie Proulx ★★★★½ (review) ☀
175. Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo ★★★★★ (review) ☀
176. La faute de l'abbé Mouret / The Sin of Father Mouret by Émile Zola ★★⅞ (review) ☀
177. Un Lion à Paris by Beatrice Alemagna ★★★★★ (review) ☀
178. Le trésor de Clara by Beatrice Alemagna ★★★½ (review) ☀
179. Le secret d'Ugolin by Beatrice Alemagna ★★★★ (review) ☀
180. Un jour, grand-père m'a donné un ruisseau by Gaëlle Perret, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty ★★★★ (review) ☀
181. Tristan et Iseult by Béatrice Fontanel, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty ★★★★ (review) ☀
182. ♫ Rules of Civility by Amor Towles ★★★ (review) ☀
183. Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer ★★★★ (review) ☀
184. ♫ The Scarecrow And His Servant by Philip Pullman ★★★ (review)
185. Renard & Renard (Kleines Glück & Wilde Welt) by Max Bolliger, illustrated by Klaus Ensikat ★★★★ (review)
186. Princesses oubliées ou inconnues... / The Secret Lives of Princesses by Philippe Lechermeier, illustrated by Rébecca Dautremer ★★★ (review) ☀
187. Tigre le Dévoué by Qifeng Shen, illustrated by Agata Kawa ★★★★ (review) ☀
188. Rossignol by Benjamin Perez, illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★★ (review) ☀
189. Rose Blanche by Christophe Gallaz, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti ★★★★ (review) ☀
190. The Miracle of the Bears by Wolf Erlbruch ★★★ (review) ☀
191. The Fearsome Five by Wolf Erlbruch ★★★½ (review)
192. Histoire courte d'une goutte by Beatrice Alemagna ★★★¾ (review) ☀
193. L'enfant qui mangeait les nuages by Agnès Lestrade, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty ★★★★ (review) ☀
194. The Crows of Pearblossom by Aldous Huxley, illustrated by Sophie Blackall ★★★½ (review)
195. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin ★★★★½ (review) ☀
196. Destins de Chiens by Benjamin Lacombe ★★★½ (review) ☀
197. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo ★★★★★ (review) ☀

September
198. ♫ Great Expectations by Charles Dickens ★★★½ (review) ☀
199. One City, Two Brothers by Chris Smith, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty ★★★¼ (review) ☀
200. Nasreddine & son âne by Odile Weulersse, illustrated by Rebecca Dautremer ★★★★ (review) ☀
201. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck ★★★★★ (review) ☀
202. ♫ Still Life by Louise Penny ★★★ (review) ☀
203. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt ★★★★½ (review) ☀
204. ♫ The Hunter: A Parker Novel by Richard Stark ★★★★ (review) ☀
205. ♫ The Man with the Getaway Face Richard Stark ★★★★ (review) ☀
205. ♫ Die Trying by Lee Child ★★★½ (review) ☀
206. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton ★★★★ (review) ☀
207. I Am the Great Horse by Katherine Roberts ★★½ (review) ☀
208. The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt, illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi ★★★ (review) ☀
209. Bugs in a Blanket by Beatrice Alemagna ★★★ (review) ☀
210. J'ai le droit d'être un enfant by Alain Serres, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty ★★★ (review) ☀
211. The Mozart Question by Michael Morpurgo ★★★ (review) ☀
212. Fil de Fée by Philippe Lechermeier, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty ★★★ (review) ☀
213. ♫ Farm Boy by Michael Morpurgo ★★★ (review) ☀
214. ♫ The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull ★★★⅞ (review) ☀
215. Pearl of China by Anchee Min ★★★½ (review) ☀
216. From the Land of the Moon by Milena Agus ★★★★★ (review) ☀
217. ♫ The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey ★★★½ (review) ☀
218. ♫ Memento Mori by Muriel Spark ★★★★ (review) ☀
219. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes ★★ (review) ☀
220. Carte Blanche by Carlo Lucarelli ★★★½ (review) ☀

October
221. ♫ Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear ★★★¼ (review) ☀
222. The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling ★★★¼ (review) ☀
223. Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart ★★★½ (review) ☀
224. Dust by Arthur Slade ★★★★ (review) ☀
225. ♫ Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese ★★★★½ (review) ☀
226. ♫ The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison ★★★★½ (review) ☀
227. ♫ Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie ★★★¾ (review) ☀
228. Alexey Brodovitch by Kerry William Purcell ★★★★ (review) ☀
229. ♫ Summer by Edith Wharton ★★★ (review) ☀
230. Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires ★★★★½ (review) ☀
231. ♫ Kim by Rudyard Kipling ★★★½ (review) ☀
232. Chien de faïence (The Terracotta Dog) by Andrea Camilleri ★★★⅓ (review) ☀
233. ♫ Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
234. ♫ Imperial Woman by Pearl S. Buck ★★★★½ (review) ☀
235. Binky to the Rescue by Ashley Spires ★★★ (review) ☀

Note: touchstone books are rated 4.5 and up.

Books I had originally thought of reading this year (many of which will end up on the 2012 list!)

✔★ Prodigal Summer and/or The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
✔ Polio: An American Story by David M. Oshinsky
✔ Of Mice and Men and Cannery Row by John Steinbeck --->keep for 2012
✔★ The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
✔♫★ Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
✔♫★ Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
✔ A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
✔ The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
✔★ La Fortune des Rougons by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 1)
♫★ Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
♫★ Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
✔ The Moment of Seeing by Stephanie Comer
✔★ The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
✔ The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
✔ The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
✔ The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
✔ Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
✔ A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
✔ The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
✔★ The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky --->keep for 2012
✔★ Samarcande by Amin Maalouf
✔ La vie devant soi (The Life Before Us) by Romain Gary
✔ Stupeurs et tremblements Fear and Trembling by Amélie Nothomb
✔★ L'enfant de sable (The Sand Child) by Tahar Ben Jelloun
✔★ The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
✔ Crete by Barry Unsworth --->keep for 2012
✔★ Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey
✔★ Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
♫★ The Difference Engine by William Gibson
✔★ The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi --->keep for 2012
✔★ One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
✔★ The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
✔★ The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
✔★ The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
✔ La Curée by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 2)
❉ Le Ventre de Paris by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 3)
❉ La Conquête de Plassans by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 4)
❉ La Faute de l'Abbé Mouret by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 5)
❉ Son Excellence Eugène Rougon by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 6) - Unfinished
✔ L'Assomoir by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 7)
Une Page d'Amour by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 8)
✔ Nana by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 9)
✔ Pot-Bouille by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 10)
Au Bonheur des Dames by Émile Zola (Rougon-Macquart 11)
✔ Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
❉ To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
❉ Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans
Cleopatra : A Life by Stacy Schiff
✔★ The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
✔★ The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
♫ The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman
✔★ L'élégance du hérisson by Muriel Barbery --->keep for 2012
✔ La forme de l'eau by Andrea Camilleri
✔ l'Excursion à Tindari by Andrea Camilleri
✔ L'enfant de Noé by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
La reine Margot by Alexandre Dumas --->keep for 2012
✔★ Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
✔★ The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
♫♞ A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
♫❉ An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
♫★ Animal Farm by George Orwell
♫❉ Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
♫♞ As You Like It by Shakespeare
♫❉ Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières
♫❉ Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo --->keep for 2012
✔ American Gods by Neil Gaiman
♫♞ Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
♫❉ Dubliners by James Joyce
♫❉ Gros-câlin by Romain Gary
♫★ Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon --->keep for 2012
♫❉ No Dominion by Charlie Huston (unfinished)
♫ Passing by Nella Larsen
♫❉ Tales Of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe
♫❉ Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
♫❉ The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde (unfinished)
♫❉ The Blue Notebook by James Levine
♫♞ The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
♫❉ The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark
♫❉ Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
♫❉ Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
♫❉ When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
✔★ The Tenant and the Motive by Javier Cercas
✔★ Possession by A.S. Byatt
✔★ The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa
✔★ Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa
✔★ Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker
✔★ There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
✔★ Queenpin by Megan Abbott
✔★ The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Traitor to the Nation by M. T. Anderson
✔★ Howard's End is on the Landing by Susan Hill
✔★ The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace
✔★ The World of Gloria Vanderbilt by Wendy Goodman
✔★ Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 by Carol Squiers

✔ = off the shelf
♫ = audiobook (all acquired in 2011)
❉ = library
★ = acquired in 2011
♞ = performance

(ongoing editing)

Hadn't done my homework all week, then took 45 minutes before class to do this, and promised myself this was only the first in a series... so many hobbies, so little time!

Ilana - first one in! Your work certainly looks better (and distinctly less phallic) that the original subjects - quickly get them eaten by the way as some of them are looking a tad over ripe.

Hi Paul, you funny guy. My mind is so far removed from sex that I hadn't even noticed the phallic connection, but maybe my subconscious hasn't quite forgotten... No way am I eating them now! I wouldn't anyway, as these are not considered edible; they're grown purely for decorative purposes.

eta: curse you Paul! Now all I see is a big phallic yellow gourd! I really need to get to bed and not obsess about the need to change the picture to a more 'decent' one. Funny how one can have blind spots sometimes, but once these are removed, it's impossible NOT to see something. ggggrrrrrr....

Oy! I was almost forgetting that I'm volunteering at the hospital tomorrow. It's flu shot season and they need people to help make the whole thing as smooth a process as possible. I now pray that I won't have my migraine as severely tomorrow, because I don't know what kind of help I could be in that state. Probably: none. So yes, off we go for a good night's sleep.

Hi, came by to drop a star on your new thread. I love the decorative gourds, in fact I have a basket of my own on my kitchen side table. I hope that migraine is just a bad memory by tomorrow, Ilana, so you can enjoy your volunteer work. Have a nice day.

Ohh fabulous veggies! And a gorgeous painting by you! What talent! Hope you have a great day!

New thread - and this time I'm not the last visitor!Love both pictures (+ the other pictures on your blog) and wouldn't worry about anything phallic.

As for the BBs: Right now I can't buy any books, so I have to concentrate on the free classics, the few remaining tbrs on my shelves and whatever I can find in my library. But 1Q84 is definitely a tbr for 2012, though I am a little scared that I might like it less than the other Murakamis. I'll have to buy that one, I have to read it in English. Then I should see if I can find Cutting for Stone in my library, and The Bluest Eye sounds like a must-read as well.

The Murder on the Orient Express was my very first Agatha Christie, and maybe the only one where I never forgot the ending. I have a short memory as well when it comes to the plots of crime books, so I can have a happy re-read of my Agatha Christie books every 5 years.

Btw. the forecast for the next weekend is awful, might be just the right weather to make that beef soup and to spend two days inside on my sofa, reading, reading, reading. That's what I like about November!

Hi Ilana- I like the New Digs, gourds included. On the subject of "Case Histories". We watched the 1st 2. I loved their version of One Good Turn. I know you were not a fan of the book but it was one of my favorites by her. I agree with you about not watching these episodes until reading the books. I have read the 3rd but if they ever do the 4th one, I would have to wait. That one is on the List!
I added the latest Murakami to my WL. Maybe someone will select that one for the Christmas Swap!
Hope you're feeling better today! Hugs!

There are red gourds!?! I love, love, love the colors - so vibrant and rich. The red, white, and green ones look like Christmas.

(One question, though: Is the picture supposed to "overflow" into the Touchstones? Or is it just my computer? ETA: Oh wait, that's two questions.)

Oh, Ilana, what a feast for the eyes! I too have never seen the red, white and green gourds and also thought of Christmas when I saw them.

Hope you had a great night's sleep and today is a good day for you.

I did indeed have a good night's sleep, and the migraine is at a tolerable level today, so I should be ok for my volunteering session. They're having their flu shot campaign for the next three weeks and apparently are heavily reliant on volunteers to make the process most efficient.

#10 Hi Judy, thanks for the good wishes, they seem to have pretty well worked! My gourds are sitting on my dining room table and are a constant reminder that I promised myself to do more paintings of them.

#11 Thanks Deborah, wishing you the very same.

#12 Nathalie, I'll send you a PM later today with an offer regarding Cutting for Stone and The Bluest Eye. I can't remember right now how you feel about audio, but if you're willing to try, maybe I can do something for you.

#13 Hi Mark, I am indeed feeling better, many thanks. As you know, I didn't watch the third episode of Jackson Brodie, and since I couldn't record it, I don't know if I'll be able to watch it ever. Shame, but so it goes. And I agree with you that he would make a great James Bond (think I saw you say that on your thread).

#14 I had never seen that red white and green squash before, and found out it's called Turban Squash and is actually edible. If it keeps for the next couple of months, I guess I'll be able to keep it as Christmas decoration!

I'm not sure how to answer your next two questions, but I'd say no, it's not supposed to overflow.

Does anyone else have this problem?

#15 Hi Pat, nice to see you getting around! I slept like a baby last night and am ready to face the day... which I should get to right now if I don't want to be late!

Yes, it does bleed into the touchstones on the right!

Stopping in to drop my star


Glad to see your migraine is better! Take care :)

Hi Ilana - wonderful autumnal gourds and you own artwork is beautiful.

*Starred*

Love your fall harvest pictures, Ilana. I focused on the colors rather than the shapes!

I've fallen off the LT wagon the past few days. I did shudder when I read about the extent of your migraine. Hope there are no lasting ill effects. I'm glad it has eased enough so you can help out at the hospital. Be sure and get your flu shot while you're there! Too bad there isn't a shot to prevent migraines.

Love the gourds, such interesting shapes & colours. The migraine sounds horrendous, I hope your day goes well.

Starred my friend!
I hope you are feeling better and the pain from the migraine is hopefully dissipating! I know that when those days hit me, all I feel like is lying in bed with the curtains firmly shut.

Just going back to your great question in the last thread. Whether I like a character or not isn't dependant on whether they are "good" or "bad". There are some great evil characters that I enjoy "hating" and some really "sad" characters that grab my heart. What I don't like are characters that I don't care for at all. Whether they lived, died, or whether aliens abducted them and I'm completely indifferent to it all, then I'd say that wasn't such a great read for me...haha!

#17 Hi Mark! I guess my image is too large then? I just checked with another web browser, and realized that it depends on the width of the browser window because it seems the picture stays at a fixed width, unlike the rest of the elements on the page. I have a 15" screen and use up the whole 14" width available so the image fits perfectly and even has space to breathe. But all the same, I've made the image a bit smaller, so hopefully it will be less of a problem.

#18 Hi Chelle, thanks for making mine a starred thread!

#19 Hi calm, I quite liked the gourds myself and actually picked them as artistic inspiration. So far so good I guess! :-)

#20 Donna, I think it's healthy to take a bit of time away, and often think I should follow my own advice, but I'm really hooked on LT. When I don't visit threads for just one day I fall behind and can't catch up, so I shudder to think what it must be like after a few days!

Migraines are considered as a disorder medically speaking, and I'd say they tends to want to linger for quite a while. I learned from the little bit I read of Oliver Sacks's Migraine and from my very well respected neurologist, that migraines aren't only manifested by headaches; those who are prone to migraine attacks also tend to have strange phenomena to deal with. He told me there are theories that some of the saints who had visions and heard voices might have suffered from migraine condition, and he gave Joan of Arc as an example. I asked him if a feeling of being 'in a bubble' could be part of it; it's impossible to describe that feeling; it's kind of being in a space separate from everything and looking at things through a lens. I get that a whole lot and always have done. There are also sensation of being high on drugs sometimes, and it's hard to tell what is caused by my migraine condition, what is a symptom of bipolar disorder, and what are possible side-effects from the drugs. In any case, today I'm in some pain, but it's tolerable and allows me to function, so I can't complain.

By the way, i did get a flu shot today. It was quite a slow day, as we only had 30 patients come in during the time I was there (from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.), so there was plenty of time for me to get my shot. I wouldn't have bothered, except I want to do more volunteering work and interact with patients as much as possible—while the shot isn't mandatory for that, they do strongly recommend it for both the patient's and my own safety.

#21 Hi Kerry! Yes, I must say yesterday was quite wretched, but it makes me appreciate the times when I'm feeling better a whole lot! Sometimes I think that dealing with physical pain is a lot easier than dealing with psychological distress, but at the end of the day, pain is pain. That being said, by the end of the day yesterday, I was already doing much better, as evidenced by the fact that I was able to put up posts on BOTH my blogs, AND start this new thread. I guess I was extra motivated when I came out of the fog I'd been in before.

#22 Valerie, I don't know if I'm out of the woods with this one, because the really bad migraines tend to like to stick around for a while. It had been quite a while since I'd had that level of pain, so I did figure I'd probably get hit with a wave sometime in the fall, since changes of season seem to be triggers. I should probably be lying down right now, but I'm fighting it. Doesn't make a difference what I do it seems, so may as well be at least a little bit active!

Thanks for your input regarding 'likeable' characters. It's something I'd been wondering about for quite some time, but I admit your comments in your review of The Great Gatsby prompted me to follow up by putting my question out there. By the way, I saw there was quite an interesting conversation about that novel on your thread! It's so true there are characters we love to hate sometimes. I'm thinking especially of Prince Joffrey in Game of Thrones right now. He's such an evil little turd, but that character definitely adds a lot of spice to the whole story. Speaking of which, I seem to have put A Clash of Kings aside for some time now. Can't seem to make time for everything I want to read these days!

Beautiful and bizarre squashes! And I love your first-of-series interpretation of them too. You are sounding a lot more cheerful - hope the migraine clears properly soon.

Re characters, I think it is much more important to believe in the characters (good, bad, mixed up, whatever) than to like them, though I do find it a little hard going if I find no characters who are even the slightest bit sympathetic (can't think of a good example of that but they must be out there somewhere).

Ilana, having migraines myself, I feel your pain. I had one myself on Monday, and there certainly is that feeling of "bubble"ness that's odd and difficult to explain. I haven't tried any migraine meds in a several years, so the only thing that I can do to get rid of them is lay down somewhere cool and dark and sleep it off. Not very productive, and it obliviates my entire day, but it's cheap and fairly effective.

BTW, that's a GORGEOUS photo upthread and a lovely drawing of same. You are one talented lady!

#24 Hi Genny, thanks for the good wishes and for sharing your thoughts on characters. I'm currently reading a book in which none of the characters do anything for me one way or the other, and it is very rough going.

#25 Hi Laura, my sister in pain! I take Gabapentin as a preventative measure, and it seems to have reduced the intensity of headaches since I started taking it about a year ago, but it's far from foolproof.

Thank you so much for the comments on the photo and drawing, very kind of you to say.

*****

I won't be able to make my rounds tonight as I wanted to. Coco hasn't been well today and is needing some TLC. When I got home after my stint at the hospital he seemed out of sorts, hadn't touched his food and generally looked really pitiful. I couldn't take him for much of a walk because it's been raining today, and when we got back he was shaking, though it was hard to say if it was from being cold, or in pain, or just from nerves. I'm going to sit in my reading chair and cuddle up with him in a moment, as he seems to need and respond well to gentle attentions and stroking.

I finished The Snack Thief this evening, and quite enjoyed that. I have the next in series, also as an audio which I borrowed from the library, but I'll hold off for a while before getting to that one, as there are quite a few other recordings I want to get to first.

I started on Emma narrated by Juliette Stevenson as I was preparing dinner. I wasn't keen at all about this one, because my experiences with Jane Austen have been iffy at best so far, but wanted to join Madeline in support of her effort with a novel that is far outside of her comfort zone, and also follow along with Liz's comments as she's been tutoring Madeline along the way. The big surprise was that I actually really enjoyed the first four chapters and that I found Austen's world and writing most comforting. As always with books, our appreciation of them has so much to do with our own state of mind and I guess JA's safe, familiar world is what the doctor ordered for now.

The book I was mentioning above to Genny as being rough going for me is His Excellency by Émile Zola. I'm just over halfway through and am seriously thinking of dropping it, even though I intend on reading the whole series. In this case, the characters are only part of the problem, the other being that the book is about politicians—I have no interest in politics, and though I enjoy Zola's writing as always, I'm not sure I want to spend more time with a book that's doing nothing for me while there are others on my pile I can't wait to get to. I'll read a few more pages now and if things don't get more interesting, I'll move on.

Wishing everyone well and thank you for visiting and leaving comments, it's always much appreciated!

I love your gourds - both the picture and the painting. On my living room table, I have a big bowl of winter squash, but the edible kind. I'm too tired to photograph them and too undertalented to paint them. Just take my word for it that they are tasty. Yesterday I had a baked acorn squash stuffed with diced apples and raisins, and topped with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. It was yummy. Let me know if you want the exact recipe.

I am so glad you're joining my Emma read, Ilana. The more, the merrier on this one. If you notice, my comments on my own thread about this book are pretty cranky, but Liz is just a wonderful tutor. She allows me to be as cranky as I want and educates me at the same time. She's delightful! I hope you enjoy her comments as much as I have.

Squash, squash, gourds, gourds. All lovely. Very nice new thread. Starred, of course.

The Snack Thief sounds fun. I've read and enjoyed the first two in the Camilleri series; must get back to the series at some point.

Weekend approaches, heralding increased time to read. *Ellen smiles.*

Keep taking care, Ilana. You know you're my center.

Ilana - I think one of the most difficult thing about concentrating on your reading and not spoiling your enjoyment of the book being read is the knowledge of the plethora of appealing other titles waiting in a pile, or under a desk, or on the shelves, or in a crate, or in a cupboard. I have tried a few things to avoid this.

Firstly I have stopped trying to plan months ahead my reading so that I cannot visualise so much what is coming up next.

Secondly I have realised that I cannot keep up with speed readers like Suzanne (almost 400 books already this year) and Morphy (200++) and to go at my own pace without rushing. What is a good speed for one person is too fast or slow for someone else.

Thirdly by trying to keep a few balls in the air at the same time to ease distraction - at least three books at a time.

Fourthly by trying to enjoy the book for itself.

Fifthly by ditching quickly books that you give a couple of chapters and you decide are definitely stinkers.

Your gourds are a hit! Your gourds are a hit! Have a good pain-free day, my friend!

I hope poor Coco is better soon - I'm sure a cuddle in your reading chair will have been good for both of you!

#27 Madeline, your squash dish sounds delicious. I would indeed like to have your recipe, especially as I never know what to do with squash other than put a pat of butter on it and bake it.

I don't know if you know this, but my comments about Jane Austen's work so far have also been quite cranky. I did follow your thread here and there and so was quite amused with your exchange with Liz, and as I'm going back to your thread now, kept wanting to add to the conversation too. Liz's input really is quite amazing, which is why I'm jumping on Emma now, as I want to benefit from it too.

#28 Ellen, I hope you have a very restful weekend filled with great reading. I plan on doing much of the same, probably with a couple of watercolour sessions thrown in for good measure.

You know you're my centre.

I do? I am? I'm not sure what that means! But I am doing better today, though glad there's nothing on the schedule as rest seems necessary.

#29 Paul, your approach to ensure maximum reading enjoyment seems very sound. While I'm glad to have read as many books as I have this year and made lots of fun discoveries, I think next year I'll just concentrate on maximum enjoyment and not try to beat any sort of record. That being said, I don't think I've EVER read as many books as I have this year, and I couldn't resist the temptation of seeing how many I could cram in there. But this is not really sustainable, as I do want to fit more things into my schedule.

I decided to stick to Son Excellence Eugène Rougon after all, since of course after a few pages more, things took a new turn and became more interesting. But I do agree that if a book doesn't do anything for me, I'm all for ditching it too for something more appealing. My rule is to read at least 100 pages before ditching, because sometimes it takes me that long before settling into a story or writing style. But I have been known to give up sooner when the experience just proved too punishing.

#30 You funny guy, Mark! :-) So far, I'm not completely pain-free and feel quite tender, but it's still a 100% improvement over the other day.

#31 Genny, Coco has a recurring back problem, and I finally figured out that was the problem yesterday, and when I did, I gave him some of his anti-inflammatory medication and by bedtime, he was already doing better, especially after I gave him a little massage too. The reading chair session was quite wonderful too, all the more so because Mimi and Coco were practically cuddling up together on the chair with me, and I keep hoping those two will become good friends eventually.

*****

I can't help but think of NaNoWriMo this month, especially as I had seriously considered joining again this year. Now I feel a little bit guilty for now joining in after all, but I decided that I wanted to concentrate on reading, not writing for the moment. I also felt that I wasn't doing things I want to do more of, like drawing and painting and cleaning house and cuddling my pets and writing reviews and hanging out with my LT and RL friends and whatnot, so felt that taking on the challenge of writing a 50,000 word rough novel idea in 30 days was probably not going to allow for any of that. Then there was—probably most important of all—the fact that I had absolutely no story ideas. Or at least nothing I could pin down. Have I let slip the occasion of a lifetime to get my first novel out there? Maybe, but I'm thinking probably not, and that when the urge to write my own fiction takes me, then I'll find a way to make time for it at my own pace. Or so I tell myself. Though NaNoWriMo really is a lot of fun. I've participated a few times these last years and while I don't have the heart to look back on all the nonsense I wrote, it was quite a liberating exercise.

The exercise I've set up for myself right now is to write 6 reviews in an hour or less. No more than 3-4 lines each. Can I do it? We shall see...

I keep seeing this NaNoWriMo month around but I have no idea what it is??

>33 jolerie: National Novel Writing Month. Check out the website.

ACORN SQUASH with Apples
Serves 2

1 acorn squash
¼ cup butter, divided
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 cup apples, cored and cut into ¼-inch dice (skin on okay, if organic)
2 tsp orange zest
2 Tbsp raisins
Pinch of nutmeg
1/8 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking with foil. Cut acorn squash in half lengthwise and remove fiber and seeds from core. Place face down in pan and bake for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, melt 2 Tbsp butter and mix with brown sugar. In a separate bowl, mix together apples, orange zest, raisins, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Remove squash from oven and carefully turn so that open sides face up. Prick squash flesh with a fork and spoon butter/sugar mixture over open flesh. Fill squash with the apple mixture. Bake for an additional 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Adapted from a recipe found in Penzey’s Spices Magazine – Fall, 2011

This is sooooooooo yummy!

> 32

Ilana, feel free to make comments on the bottom of the older thread (page 5, I think) regarding anything about Emma. In addition, don't hesitate to make comments about the other chapters on the current page (page 6, I think).

Liz is still around - although I don't know where she is today. Take advantage of her tutoring while you cstill an! It's amazing.

232. The Terracotta Dog (Read in French as Chien de faïence) by Andrea Camilleri ★★★⅓
(Read for October TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book by an author whose first and/or last name begins and ends with a vowel, & 11/11 Category #9: En Français)

In book 2 of the Montalbano series, we find our gourmet inspector involved with a curious incident which uncovers arms trafficking. But in the cave where the arms cache is found, the inspector also discovers the long dead, desiccated bodies of two lovers laying on a carpet and locked in an embrace. Arranged close by are a dish of old coins and a terracotta sculpture of a dog who is seemingly watching over the couple. Did the pair let themselves die of hunger? Were they murdered? And why is Montalbano so intent on solving a 50 year-old case that nobody other than him, including his superiors, sees the need to resolve?

The French version is awkward, as the translator has made an effort to give a feeling of some of the Sicilian vernacular which Camilleri's Italian readers have come to love and expect, but which makes for strange sentence structure and convoluted reading. I will try the English version for the next novel in series to see if it makes for more comfortable reading.






233. ♫ Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark ★★★★⅓
(Read for October TIOLI Challenge #21: Read a book set between 1910 and 1950)

Fleur Talbot is an aspiring young writer who is passionately wrapped up in putting the finishing touches on her first novel, Warrender Chase. Since she cannot yet rely on her novel-writing to earn a living, she is forced to take a job with Sir Quentin Oliver, at his dubious organization called The Autobiographical Association. Sir Quentin, who likes to surround himself with titled individuals, has convinced a number of them to write their autobiographies, which are to be kept under wraps for seventy years and revealed only after their deaths, but the lacklustre accounts of their lives are needing a little bit of peppering up, which is where Fleur comes in. Very quickly, Fleur comes to suspect that Sir Quentin's motives are not entirely selfless, and her suspicions are confirmed when she discovers that her Warrender Chase manuscript has been stolen, and than details from her as-yet unpublished novel have somehow been worked into the autobiographies. When life starts to imitate her the plot of her fictional story, Fleur is truly horrified. A wonderful cast of characters, which prominently features Sir Quentin's kooky elderly mother Dame Edwina, who would make a wonderful protagonist on her very own. Much recommended.






234. ♫ Imperial Woman by Pearl S. Buck ★★★★½
(Read for October TIOLI Challenge #18: Read a book that has been mentioned in 150 conversations or less on the book's work page, 11/11 Category #10: Recent Acquisitions)

Pearl S. Buck's fictionalized account of the last Empress of China (1861-1908), who, first known as Orchid, went from being chosen at the age of seventeen to be one of hundreds of Imperial concubines living in the Forbidden City, to becoming the all-powerful Empress Cixi (or Tzu Hsi) is nothing less than gripping. While the this Nobel Prize-winning author first portrays Tzu Hsi as a beautiful young woman with huge ambition and an iron will who is convinced of having a great destiny, she also paints the picture of a woman at grips with doubt and real feelings. At the time of publication in 1956, this would have been at odds with the image historians portrayed of Empress Tzu Hsi as a tyrant responsible for the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Instead, Pearl S. Buck shows a woman intent on preserving the Chinese culture of her forefathers, and at grips with the bullying demands of foreign powers who will stop at nothing to invade China and impose Western ideas. As say in wikipedia, "in recent years other historians have suggested that she was a scapegoat for problems beyond her control, a leader no more ruthless than others, and even an effective if reluctant reformer in the last years of her life." That Peal S. Bucks portrayal of Empress Tzu Hsi from a Chinese perspective might have something to do with this reversal of public opinion is very probable. There is no doubt that Buck took great liberties here, even ascribing to the Empress a life-long love affair with one of her cousins who was head of the Imperial Guard, and whom the empress contrives to keep close to her into old age, this only adds spice and an all too human perspective on the life of an exceptional woman, who no doubt led a life filled with intrigue.






235. Binky to the Rescue by Ashley Spires ★★★
(Read for October TIOLI Challenge #11: an author whose first and last names have the same number of letters)

The second instalment in the adventures of Binky the space/house cat. Here, Binky accidentally exits into "Outer Space" (falls out the bathroom window) where he becomes a victim of a vicious attack by aliens (a swarm of bees) and must rescue his side-kick (a tiny teddy-bear) from the aliens when his little friend is accidentally left outside. Cute, but only recommended if you couldn't get enough with Binky the Space Cat. I might borrow the third book, just because.

236. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson ★★★
(November TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book with at least one animal mentioned on page 50)

Jackson Brodie is on a visit to Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival, where he is accompanying his actress girlfriend Julia, who is taking part in an obscure existential play. While there, he witnesses a brutal attack by Honda Man, apparently a deranged psychopath who takes his baseball bat to another driver's head when the two have a small accident. The unlikely hero of the moment is author Martin Canning, who throws his laptop at the aggressor and saves the victim. Otherwise known as Alex Blake to the readers of his insipid historical detective series featuring the fearless—and asexual—Nina Blunt, Martin leads a solitary life and fantasizes about the ideal wife and children he is certain he'll never have, especially following a mysterious 'incident' in St-Petesbourgh with a beautiful young Russian woman. When Martin's obnoxious houseguest, has-been comedian Richard Moat is found with his brains splattered all over Martin's living room, it becomes clear that the author's life is in danger, and of course, our man Jackson will come to his rescue. But Jackson has issues of his own; he's discovered, then lost the body of a drowned girl that nobody has noticed is missing, and the local authorities are convinced he's out to make trouble. But Detective Louise Monroe, single mother to a troublesome 14-year-old, finds Brodie to her liking, and the feeling might be mutual.

I found the story needlessly convoluted and some of the dialogue and details had little or no appeal. I had come to expect much more from Atkinson, as I had become a fan after reading her Behind the Scenes at Museum and Case Histories. With this one, it seemed to me like she didn't quite know where she was going but was needled by her publisher to put out another book to follow up on the series. Still, I'll give the next book, When Will There Be Good News? a chance and hope it proves to be more appealing.






237. ♫ We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson ★★★½
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #9: a book Reviewed and Recommended by a Fellow 75r during the month of October 2011)

Eigtheen year-old Merricat—otherwise known as Mary Katherine Blackwood—and her older beloved sister Constance live alone and like recluses with their senile old uncle Julian in the Blackwood mansion, cut off from their neighbours and the nearby villagers, who despise and mock the girls and encourage their children to do the same. Six years previously, Constance was acquitted from charges of having poisoned her entire family, and the young women are intent on carving out a solitary existence and finding their own happiness, while uncle Julian is fixated on replaying the events of the day of the tragedy—when all their other family members died of arsenic poisoning—to put it all down in a book. It's clear from the outset that Mary Katherine is eccentric at best, though more likely quite mentally deranged, seeking solace by sheltering herself in various outdoor hideouts and 'protecting' their household with magical words and by burying small treasures or nailing them to surrounding trees. Then comes cousin Charles, who is determined to get his hands on the family fortune, though the only one not to see this is Constance, which inevitably leads to more tragedy. It's a good story to be sure, but the whole time, I kept expecting some great surprise to come at the end, and was disappointed that I had failed to simply enjoy the ride instead. Wonderful narration by Bernadette Dunne in the audio version, who adds plenty of ambiance to this spooky little novel.






238. ♫ The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri ★★★¾
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #3: A book found by mashing 2 tags (one seldom-used tag; one much-used tag); tags are Sicily & Crime)

Two seemingly unrelated cases are being investigated; in the first, a Tunisian man has been gunned down on a fishing boat while out at sea; in the second, a elderly man was found stabbed in the back in the elevator of a residential building. It comes to light that the stabbing victim was regularly employing a maid in his office who also gave him sexual favours; the young woman is a Tunisian beauty, and has several clients paying her for cleaning-plus-extras. Has the wife of the murdered man taken matters into her own hands out of jealousy... or financial considerations? And who is the little boy beating up schoolchildren to steal their luncheon snacks? So far, the most enjoyable of all three Camilleris I've read, though this no doubt has much to do with the fact that I opted for the English (as opposed to French) version on audio, narrated by the excellent Grover Gardner. The translation doesn't attempt to reproduce the Sicilian dialect, but is colourful enough to give a good idea of the general tone, and Gardner does a great job of bringing the characters to life.

Ok, so I averaged at 6-7 lines instead and it took me more like 90 minutes, but considering my usual is the same quantity and time for ONE review, I'm pretty happy with the results. Now must take care of groceries, but will be back to answer comments soon!

#35 that sounds delicious!! Hope it turned out well for you!

Good reviews! I think I need to investigate these Inspector Montelbano books, I keep seeing them around LT! Also The Snack Thief looks interesting!

Hope Coco is feeling better!

Nice job on those speed reviews, Ilana!

No more than 3-4 lines each. Can I do it? We shall see... Pretty impressive speed reviewing there! Even if they ended up a bit longer than 3-4 lines. That happens to me to, practically the only way I can finally get round to reviewing is to promise myself they will be very short reviews, but once I get started I start getting wordy. But you've managed a whole load of reviews in quick succession - I'm envious! I read The Terracotta Dog last month, I enjoy the English translation in the editions I'm reading (translated by Stephen Sartarelli) with a few interesting footnotes to explain some of the references and linguistic features that get lost in translation.

Very impressive reviewing Ilana! Do you keep notes with each book you read or else how do you remember all the details of each book when you do the reviews in batches?

#33 Valerie, I see Micky gave you the link to the website, but in a nutshell, NaNoWriMo is a personal challenge to write a 50,000 word novella, or more like a first draft for a novel. You're completely free to write whatever you want, as the only thing you need to win is to enter a document that has 50,000 words or more to a word counter, and that's it! It's a great challenge to encourage people who've always wanted to write, but can never make time for it, so it attracts many novices but there are published authors who are known to participate too.

#34 Thanks for providing the link Micky. I had meant to when I wrote my musings on the challenge, but it slipped my mind. Are you a participant perchance?

#35 That sounds wonderful. Thanks so much for the recipe—I'll add it to my recipe binder ASAP and have actually ordered the ingredients from the little organic market store I like to buy from, no later than 30 minutes ago. I'll try the recipe sometime this weekend and let you know how it comes out.

Btw, I haven't forgotten that I 'owe' you a recipe too. I just keep fiddling with my quantities and change up the ingredients, and do some of the measuring by eye, so it's a bit hard to pin down, which is why I haven't executed myself yet, but I'll try to get it to you before we get our first snow! :-)

#36 Thanks Madeline, I will indeed make some comments on the thread. I had considered doing so, but then didn't know if the thread police would give me a hard time for it. I really do have a love/hate relationship with JA. This time, I do pick up on the humour a lot more, but there are time when she does go on and on about the littlest thing, which drives me absolutely bonkers. But I'll post this comment—along with additional details—over on your previous thread.

Off to walk Coco, will be back with more comments soon!

I also didn't have that much love for One good turn which I listened to before Case histories. I'll keep on with the series because I enjoyed CH so much.
I find it interesting that the Inspector Montalbano books are coming across better in English than French. I've really enjoyed the toned down style of the narrative. I only have 2 left to read to be up to date with the series.

On your last thread, you asked if liking characters or not is important in enjoying a book. I find myself enjoying books that have interesting, complex characters, I don't necessarily have to like the characters. I've just finished reading a delicious black comedy by Bernice Rubens, A Five Year Sentence, and did not sympathise with a single character in it but thought it a wonderful read for all that. I loved how awful they all were!

I'm glad to hear that Coco is feeling better.

#40 I kept seeing the Montalbano books all over LT too, and then when my mum told me she was a fan too, I couldn't resist. She sent me book #5 in the French translation, saying she found it was closest to the original (as Italian usually is), and I just had to start reading the series from the beginning and work my way up to the book she sent me.

#41 Thanks Janet. Goes to prove one can get almost anything done when one sets one mind to it. To think I put review-writing off because I find it takes me too long!

#42 practically the only way I can finally get round to reviewing is to promise myself they will be very short reviews, but once I get started I start getting wordy.

That's what inevitably happens to me too Genny. But this time, I guess I stuck to my guns. Though I did little or no editing, and when I came back and read them again, I was mortified with all the mistakes I had let slip so I just had to fix a bunch of details, with so many typos and bad phrasing! I'm glad they're out of the way so I can make room for the next batch now. I guess I'm missing out on the footnotes regarding translation details with the audiobook. There were several in the French translation as well.

#43 Do you keep notes with each book you read or else how do you remember all the details of each book when you do the reviews in batches?

I'd have to say neither Valerie. I certainly am not organized or patient enough to keep notes, and seeing as I'm awfully forgetful, I quickly forget details, practically as soon as I've read them! Usually though, when I set out to write a review, I'll just write what comes off the top of my head and then do some minor research to fill in the blanks. I often re-read the book description or jacket to see how much is revealed or not and also to jog my memory, which is when some details come back to me, and wikipedia comes in handy too.

#45 I'm glad to see I'm not alone with those impressions on One Good Turn Kerry. I'm of two minds about how quickly I want to pick up the next book, hoping that I'll fall in love with her writing all over again, and fearing that it won't appeal to me either. Guess there's only one way to find out...

Speaking of Bernice Rubens, I added a bunch of her books to my WL based on your comments, so I guess I'll go ahead and add A Five Year Sentence too. Awful characters make for interesting reading, don't they? So how come we don't appreciate them in real life I wonder?

Coco is like a whole new dog today. We went for a walk and stopped by Little Bear, the pet supply store I get their (Coco, Mimi & Ezra's) holistic food and general supplies from. As it was the first really cold day today, I jumped on the sweaters as they sell out really fast in the smaller sizes, and I need to have several on hand as they get wet when he goes in the snow. I went a bit nutters and got him a couple of hand-knit, organic wool and dyes-type affairs (the cable knit and the novelty one), but he looked so handsome in them, I really couldn't resist. He seemed to be showing off a little when we were trying them on in the store, and then walking home wearing the skull & bones, I could have sworn he was actually prancing. That one is just too perfect. I'm thinking of renaming him 'Killer' ;-)

  

He is so cute!!!! What a bundle of joy.

See, this is why I need a dog. Sweaters. Really adorable sweaters. Oh, and cute faces. I mean, that face!!! Is Coco cute? He's not cute. He's adorable.

I used to buy my Edgar waaaaay too many toys. I could never resist them. He played with some, but he really didn't need 47 different toys scattered about the house. Still, it gave me much pleasure to spoil him.

>32 Smiler69: I'm not sure what it means, either, Ilana, but yours is usually the first thread I check in on when I log onto LT. Keep taking good care, my friend.

#47 yes Judy, you're right "bundle of joy" just about covers it. Is it me or does he seem to be smiling on those pictures? Right now he's a bundle of joy begging for his pre-bedtime walk, so I guess I'd better be a good mom and wrap things up! :-)

#48 You know Ellen, the ONLY reason I got a dog was because of the sweaters, and that's a fact. ;-)

Seriously though, you wouldn't believe how many comments and compliments I get whenever I take him out and about. Like today for instance. People just go gaga over him, and every time they say nice things about him, I have to agree with them and say that I've truly "won the dog lottery".

I used to buy my kiddies lots and lots of toys? But then, they don't ever play with them, so I've stopped doing that, even though I was doing it mostly because I thought I was being a good mommy and found them too cute besides. But it just made for lots of clutter and I felt bad every time I saw them lying about, unloved. Most of them are away in a drawer now and I take one out on occasion, and they'll pay attention to it for all of 30 seconds maybe, presumably to please me, but that's it. *sigh*

I'm so honoured that you make my thread your first stop. That's very flattering and also, somehow, just makes me feel really good in a way that's hard to describe, so I'll go with what you said and add to that you have a very calming effect on me and that things are not the same when you're not around.

The suede mice are really the only toys both Edgar and Abby would consistently play with.

Coco looks fine and dandy Ilana - far too butch for one of Deb's book covers!

>51 PaulCranswick: LOL ---- and I think our handsome Coco would look just right on the cover of a book!

What a darling!

Love that Coco!!

Killer Coco! what a cool cutie!

It would take an awful lot of wool to knit a sweater for my greyhound, but he has a smart maroon fur-lined waterproof coat for the cooler months. He's got a lot of toys too - mainly soft toys which he loves to cuddle up with, and squeaky things with a rope attached which he likes to both chew and play tug-of-war with (I can lean my considerable weight against him when we are playing tug-of-war). But mostly the toys just litter up the floor all over the house...

I love that Coco is going to be warm and so stylish this winter. He has quite a fan base here on LT.

Good job on the speed-reviewing, Ilana. I find that I can't get into a book until I've made at least a comment or two on the one I just finished. I have a reading journal that goes back to 1997 and yearly lists that go back further than I can recall what some of the books were about!

Love your photo of the gourds....My grocery has a lovely display, as well. Too bad I don't take my camera when i go shopping...or I would take a snap!

Any way...here are a couple of things dealing with Gourd Art:



and a website from a lady who makes/sells her own creations:

http://funpetpals.com/gourdart2.htm

I've always been intrigued by people who can turn something so humble into such beautiful pieces if art...

;-}

Beautiful pictures of the gourds Ilana, both photos and paintings.

#24 Believing in the characters rather than liking them - Genny how do you manage to put into words the things I think but can never quite articulate? I think you've got it.

#26 Sorry to hear Coco's not well (and #32 glad to hear he's feeling a little better)

#37-38 Enjoyed the reviews. I haven't tried the Camilleri series yet but perhaps I will, one day.

#46 What a cutie! Although it was quite a shock coming across the skull and cross bones one when I scrolled down :-)

Out kitty has only ever been interested in a couple of shop bought toys, she prefers muffin cases, foil sweet wrappers and string.

#51 Paul, they had one of skull & bones sweaters in a flashy pink and black which had a sort of punk look to it, and I briefly considered getting it, but you'd be surprised at just how butch Coco really is, and I think he wouldn't forgive me for that kind of affront to his masculinity.

#52-54 Ellen, Kerry, Mark, Coco sends his thanks and is blowing kisses your way as we speak.

#55 Genny, I love greyhounds and they're quite popular here as rescue dogs. Couldn't take that much wool to cover one considering how skinny they are!

#56 Donna, ideally I'd get the review out before moving on the next book, but I find I don't always have anything to say about a book immediately after I've finished it. I also have to be in the right frame of mind to write reviews. When I am, it just flows. When I'm not, it seems like a punishment. But I'm not surprised to hear how disciplined you are and how organized with those lists! I've only started keeping track of things since I joined LT and consequently, there are many books that I've read that I have completely forgotten about.

#57 Jude, that's some pretty impressive gourd art! I love that this one you've posted here has a distinctly Art Nouveau look to it. I never carry my camera around either, but I put the one on my iPhone to use quite frequently—it's just so handy to have. The picture quality should drastically improve when I upgrade to the iPhone 4S, as I've been on the iPhone 3 all this time which is practically a dinosaur by now!

#58 Heather, I guess I was typing up the above when you posted.

Coco is 100% percent better and back to his old self. I really couldn't resist the skull & bones, even though it's not really my 'style'. But Coco looks so adorable in what makes for a funny contrast, and everyone at the shop (including little old ladies) were so delighted to see him in it that it became a must-buy.

My cats always seem to prefer cardboard boxes over any store-bought toys I get for them. I did get a laser pointer thingie for them, and Mimi especially went nuts for it, but I don't like playing with it very much as it just seems cruel somehow to have her scrambling after a point of light. Is it just me or should I indulge her with it?

#60 I read in a cat book that the laser toys can cause frustration in cats because they can never catch it but I don't know how seriously to take the cat books I read. Whenever I've read one I seem to get hyper-worried that our kitty is not happy and my husband has to calm me down. She is in the nervous spectrum but she's a rescue cat and I need to remind myself that she's probably happier with a nice quiet couple like us than feral or in a home with two other cats and three children under 10 which was where she nearly went!

#61 Heather, I think there's no doubt about it that Erica is happier with you than "in a home with two other cats and three children under 10 which was where she nearly went" - she's got you all to herself, in a household where people like to sit quietly and read books and make a fuss of her - what more could she want?

#59 Skinny he certainly is, Ilana - but very large nevertheless. I allow him to sleep on my bed, which is a mistake because he manages to spread out and take up the whole bottom width of a double bed - classic pet takeover I know!

One of my cat's favorite toy is the plastic rings from milk jugs. He loves to flip them in the air and then shove them under the furniture. He also stores them in his food and water bowls. The other cat doesn't really care much for toys, but will occasionally chase a piece of string. Once when he was younger, he killed a mouse outside during the winter, and it froze solid. He played with that frozen mouse all winter until the first thaw.

Aaaww... Coco seems to get even cuter with each picture you're posting. Didn't think that was possible, but with those sweaters he looks so happy and proud! "Bundle of joy" is a great expression. And it's so good to read he is better again!

And now I am going to read all those new reviews. I just noticed I haven't read any Muriel Spark yet. Looks like I missed something.

Hi Ilana, this is my first time here. I have been following the conversations since your last thread and it took me some time to reach the end. love Coco. I also like your reviews and your criticisms of the books read. Only few people here really criticize books here. All others give mushy reviews. A couple of books go to the TBR pile. I will visit regularly.

#61 Heather, I'm not sure what that says about me as a parent, but I refuse to read cat and dog books because I know I will immediately also become incredibly anxious about what a 'bad' parent I've been all along. I consider I take good care of my pets and they have plenty of loving, healthy food, clean water, comfortable shelter, outdoor exercise, clear guidelines and consistency, and that is much better than a whole lot of abandoned animals can ever hope to get. I must admit I am remiss as far as diversions go; I can only play with them so long before I get bored, and as I'm constantly busy at my own things, I tend to do it only rarely; however there is no lack of cuddles and petting. Funny, but I just realized I'm probably 'parenting' my animals in the same way as I was looked after growing up too! Lol :-)

And by the way, I'm with Genny at far as Erica goes. I'm absolutely certain you must be a fantastic mum to her.

#62 classic pet takeover I know!

I let my three kids sleep with me too. Strangely enough though, Coco doesn't seem to like sleeping in bed with me. About a month after I got him, I started letting him hop into bed and when I woke up in the middle of the night, he had always migrated to his own bed. Mimi sleeps right on top of me most every night and is always around for cuddles and loud purring in the morning. Ezra is the temperamental one, so his habits are always changing. But I guess the biggest difference between my situation and yours is that my own three pets all put together probably take up less space than your guy. I was just about to ask his name and went back to your profile page to look at the pictures and now remember that I had commented on one of the pictures of Ty back in April. Seems like ages ago!

#63 Ewwwww. Poor mousie! You've just reminded me that for the longest time, Mimi would get hold of the little piece of plastic that seals the milk cartons and I found them in the most unlikely of places, dozens and dozens of them! (I drink lots of milk). I used to be able to call on the cats when some disgusting bug made an appearance (I occasionally get centipedes? millipedes? one of those, not sure what they are and not keen to look it up online...). Ezra ate a few but Mimi just plays with them for a while and then gets bored. I can't kill anything even though I'm not a Buddhist (fruit flies and mosquitos are the exception).

#64 Ooooh, Nathalie, you must must MUST get your hands on some of Muriel Spark's novels. I'd suggest you start with either Memento Mori or Loitering with Intent. I've only read those two plus The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie so far (I didn't really 'get' that one, but will revisit it now that I'm familiar with her sense of humour), and have quite a few others at my disposal that I look forward to. Have A Far Cry from Kensington loaded on my iPhone for a listen very soon. Deborah (Cariola) has been reading them and recommending them, and I'm glad I followed up on her suggestions. You can thank me later for insisting. ;-)

#65 Hi Gautam. Coco says thanks, and I thank you for the kind words on my reviews, but I'm not sure I agree with the following: "Only few people here really criticize books here. All others give mushy reviews." We must NOT be following the same threads because I find there are quite a good number LTers who give very well balanced reviews. Some tend to be more appreciative than others, true, though I wouldn't call them 'mushy'. Please do come by anytime, and don't be shy to comment whenever you're inspired to do so!

Ilana our three regularly pile in with Hani and I in our giant bed. I think the youngest, Belle (btw sleeping next to the gently snoring SHE-WHO-MUST-BE-OBEYED as I type) is on a mission to ensure she remains the youngest!

Gautam is right by the way - you tell it like it is (or at least as you see it) and the honesty, humour and intellect keeps dragging me back to your thread on a daily basis.

Well I wouldn't have believed it if any of you had told me last week that I would actually derive any kind of real enjoyment from the reading of Jane Austen's Emma (or any of her work for that matter), but I just finished it less than an hour ago and must say I was quite delighted by it! Anyone who's been following my threads for a while will recognize the full impact of that statement, because until now, I would most definitely NOT have counted myself among the legions of JA disciples, to say the least.

So how did this reversal of opinion come to pass? you might ask. There were at least three major factors which greatly contributed to making the experience so very different from my first three attempts this year (with S&S, P&P and MP):

a) Madeline (SqueakyChu) decided to read Emma and actually created a TIOLI challenge around it in October. Madeline is NOT a fan of classics and she proclaims loud and clear that she has a dislike for 19th century British fiction.

b) She (M), has been posting her reservations about the book from the very first moment she picked it up, and said she would only read one or two chapters a day and allow herself to post plenty of cranky comments about it along the way.

c) Sure enough, some lovely LTers rallied to give her encouragement, with one member in particular, Liz (lyzard), who offered to help her make the process as enjoyable as possible. As a Jane Austen expert (my word, not hers) she was able to answer all the questions Madeline came up with as she (M) finished each chapter.

d) (we're up to four factors now) Madeline encouraged me to read along with her several times even though I was barely willing to consider it, having not the least inclination for reading any JA for the rest of my life the year at least, but she (M) said she'd be reading it well into November and I could join then.

e) I found Madeline's questions and Liz's (and other's) answers and the discussions this created so interesting, that it made me seriously consider joining along after all.

f) I had the audiobook version narrated by Juliet Stevenson, one of my favourite narrators who also happens to be perfect for JA's work. This version I had started listening to a couple of months ago, when the Austenathon had lined up this title for a group read, but given up in disgust after just one chapter. But this time, armed with the conversations on Madeline's thread, I decided to listen very closely and pay attention to details, guided by the experts' many notes on what made this work worthy of so much of acclaim.

g) I suddenly felt very much inclined to do a whole lot of housecleaning which required the extensive use of a toothbrush so that I could listen for long unimpeded hours.

h) I should mention that my spirits had been quite low, as I was very stressed and tormenting myself with too many existential questions (e.g. what will I do with the rest of my life? am I to be an invalid indefinitely, really? what could I possibly to with myself to earn a living that wouldn't compromise my health and condemn me to a life of poverty, forcing me to give up my apartment and move into a s***hole with college students for roommates? has my life been only a series of dreadful mistakes and will I ever be able to put them behind me? is it worth living, other than to ensure my animals be well taken care of? do I have any hope of actually becoming a working artist or writer someday—see 'what could I possibly do with myself to earn a living...'—? do I really want to be alone for the rest of my life? If yes, won't it be dreadful to get to old age and be completely alone? who will help me if/when I fall and break a hip? and who will I be able to give all my wonderful books and various collectibles to, who will actually value them when I pass away? That type of thing. Basically the same questions I ask myself every day) when I picked up this particular book and it suddenly became clear to me that Jane Austen's world did indeed provide the ideal vehicle for escapism of the highest order.

And voilà. The result is an at least four-star experience. SPOILER: Even with the happy/mushy ending which I actually had happy/mushy feelings about. END OF SPOILER

(bows to applause from the legions of JA fans who are always all too happy to have new members come into the fold)

#67 Thanks much Paul. I was so busy typing up my latest 'tell it like it is' screed that I didn't see your comment till now. ;-)

Ilana glad you are enjoying the Jane Austen and Madeline's thread is certainly interesting reading as Liz takes everyone step by step through Emma Woodhouse's "adventure".

As to the h) above - life is often full of difficult choices and decisions - and as you are clearly quite a deep thinker - these questions and decisions bother you more than most. Escapism beats out realism when our mood cries out for it and it is good to treat yourself to it once in a while. Whatever your life choices are Ilana stay positive - you are a talented, intelligent and warm hearted individual whose warmth and wit resonates with every thread. Take care and best wishes always.

Really a sweet new outfit for Coco, Ilana!! I love it! We've considered getting our little Daisy a sweater for the winter, but it does not get that cold her and really the problem is the rain! If we ever get her a little jacket, it will have to be gortex! :) She is so low to the ground that she would be dragging her tummy in the puddles. We did purchase her a bright yellow waterproof cape like thing last winter, but half the time it would blow in the wind and bother her, so we gave up on that one.

Glad you are enjoying your Jane Austen!

Okay, I am not that surprised that you liked Emma (although I didn't know anything about Madeline's challenge). I've always wondered why so many readers like it least of the JA books, and interestingly, the few ones who liked it usually didn't like P&P or S&S much.
I liked Emma because she is one of the livelier heroines (that's why I hated Fanny Price so much) and because she makes mistakes.

Apart from that... when I read h) it felt like you have been writing down most of the thoughts I had last weekend (including being forced to take a room mate and the fear of breaking a hip! ). Is it the weather? The age? That time of the year (the holidays looming, another not so great year almost gone by)? All three and more? And reading Schindler's Ark, great as it is, didn't help much, I just felt more guilty for being miserable.

Anyway, next time I should just go and pick up Emma for a re-read, thanks for the advice. :-)

Glad to hear that Coco is feeling all better and those sweaters only make the cuter factor sky rocket higher, if that is even possible!!

Sorry to hear your struggles with all those hard questions we face in life from time to time, Ilana. I know they aren't questions that can be "answered" in one day, but know that we are here as you work through them one by one. *Hugs*

#68 Hooray for Liz, Madeline, Emma, Jane A and Ilana :-)

Really sorry that the existential worries are crowding in. Like Valerie said, there probably isn't an 'answer' we could give that would make them all go away right now. Hugs.

#70 Paul, reading your words again warms my heart (no tears this time!), but I don't think there's anything else I can add other than what I said in my PM and another huge THANK YOU! xx

#71 I never thought I'd be one of those pet owners who dresses her dog, but it's too tempting. Plus, it gets cold enough here to justify a sweater, at least. My guy is pretty low to the ground and picks up a lot of mud, but I'm glad he's got long legs for his little body so his belly stays relatively clean, unless there's been a big rainfall.

#72 Nathalie, you're right, I did notice that there seems to be a consensus that those who like the first two (S&S and P&P) don't like Emma so much and vice-versa. Though I'm not sure what to make of the fact that I like both Fanny Price and Emma, given that they're practically opposites. Or maybe they're two sides of the same coin? hmmm...

Since you're telling me you had similar thoughts down to the fear of breaking a hip, existential questions must be like spirits, each though latching on to people at different times, then moving onto the next. Sometimes they all decide to crowd in on the same person, which, on the upside, hopefully means other people are free from them during those times! lol. I haven't read Schindler's Ark, nor seen the movie, but I have a good idea what it's about. I know we're supposed to feel better about our lives when we compare ourselves to those who are so much worse off, but if it results in guilty feelings, then that's hardly helpful at all. I've learned that there's no point in comparing ourselves to anyone else, because each person's situation is truly unique. That being said, yes, Emma can be great escapism when you're not in the mood for the killing and maiming-type literature for those purposes. :-)

#73 Coco wasn't wearing his sweater today because we had some really clement weather, but you should have seen him play with three little boys who were screaming with joy and at the same time being super gentle with him. Believe me, there are ZERO hard questions on my mind at the sight of something like that!

#74 Thanks Heather. Honestly though, the fact that I enjoyed a Jane Austen novel so much is still hard for me to believe. I've already asked Liz whether she'd be willing to tutor me for the last two major Austen novels I haven't read yet, i.e. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion and it seems she can't wait to repeat the experience again!

*****

Quiet day getting lots of sleep today. I played hooky and didn't go to my art class, and don't feel the least bit guilty about it. I hadn't let myself have a super long sleep like that in a while, and I definitely feel rested now.

I followed up Emma with the audio version of Parnassus on Wheels, which was recommended by Donna828 last month. A very fun little adventure story for those who love books about books.

I brought back several titles from the library yesterday, including:

Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz - I'm intimidated by this one after what I've read so far on Darryl's thread. I'm not sure I'm up for ' elliptical but beautiful writing' as Suzanne said.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - all set for the group read!
♫ The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde - I keep promising myself to read more by this author I enjoy very much
♫ Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
♫ Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier - anyone a Frazier fan here? Is this a good place to start or no?

Ilana - good to see you rested and ready to take on the world - is it sleep our Jane Austen that has applied the remedy? Quite surprised at the success of Emma here on the threads recently but were Ms. Austen still alive she would clearly owe a debt of thanks to Liz (and probably a share of royalties too!). I wasn't out of my teens when I read my Austen so I think I should play a return fixture to see if my opinion was due to immaturity.
Don't think there is anything wrong with wrapping up your canine - I do some work for CAE inc who are based in Montreal and my client's staff often complain to me of the freezing winters. If it was as cold as all that then surely Coco would be happy for all the help you are giving thermally.

Hey Ilana,

Glad to hear that Emma was such an enjoyable read for you! I can also get lost in existential, meaning-of-life kinds of questions and, in my "better" moments," I remember that one legitimate purpose in life is enjoyment. It matters. As for meaning and purpose to life, it/they can be hard to discern, but I (usually) find mine in connection with others, trying to leave the world slightly better than I found it, and allowing myself small pleasures (of which reading is a major one). Oh, and the kitties (and Coco, if I had a Coco of my own).

Hugs, my dear. I look forward to hearing about whatever you read next.

Hi Ellen, I'm trying to keep the existential questions at bay today. Audiobooks really help me from having my own (dark) thoughts, which is why I try to fill up all my time with them, when I'm not actually sitting down or laying with a book, that is. I just finished Parnassus on Wheels (a very fun little book) and will be starting on something else tonight. I'll probably join in with a group reading of American Gods by Neil Gaiman this month, but might listen to a couple of murder mysteries first. I've got an embarrassment of riches loaded up on my iPhone and ready to go with Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh, Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey, The Outfit by Richard Stark, Whose Body by Dorothy L. Sayers, Why Didn't They Ask Evans by Agatha Christie, and Zoo Station by David Downing to choose from. Oh, and also Brighton Rock by Graham Greene thrown in for good measure. I'll probably pick the next listen according to which one fits into a TIOLI challenge.

eta: going with Brat Farrar

Ilana, what a great list of audiobooks you have on tap! -- embarrassment of riches, indeed! I've not read any Josephine Tey yet. She's an author who gets put on my TBR list, then falls down the list, then moves back up again,...... I hope you enjoy Brat Farrar.
I listened to Whose Body? in September and quite enjoyed it.

Ellen, I think if you give Josephine Tey a chance you'll be pleasantly surprised. I've got another book of hers to read in the next few weeks, Miss Pym Disposes, which is one of three stories in a positively ancient copy of Three by Tey I borrowed from the library. Once I'm done with that one, I'll be better able to recommend which of her novels you ought to start with.

Phew! It took me two days and three sessions to catch up with you Ilana. Coco is just the sweetest thing - I think I've written that in various other places about fifteen times before this, but I can't help it. His sweater pics are the cutest ones on LT and there are a LOT of cute furry little guys out there. I had to call one of my friends over to my rotten little cubicle this afternoon so that she could see them.

Re: h) - I take the coward's view and generally don't think about such matters. I, too, am alone - no siblings - no one in my life - one ancient aunt and her two kids neither of whom I feel really close to - and when I get to the decrepit stage, well my plan is to wing it. I know that's wrong, but I can't bear to dwell on such things else I might be tempted to run out into traffic.

Glad that your experience with Emma turned out so well; I have a number of JA's books, but somehow I don't seem to read many of them - Emma included.

Love your gourd picture - so colorful and autumnal. I'd much rather look at that than all the Christmas imagery that is beginning to fill up television and the stores. There are actually houses that are decorated. I carpool with a friend and tonight we kept seeing houses and business lit up like - well like Christmas trees. It made us scream and say some un-Christmas-y things.

There oughta be a law.

Put the Muriel Spark book on the GFW and am toying with the Shirley Jackson one as well. If only I could win the Lottery I could make the fine folks at Amazon SO happy!

There oughta be a law.

I SO agree with you there Charlotte. Some people are real Christmas fanatics and wait all year to put those decorations up. I dated a guy at one point who... oh never mind, I don't even want to think about it; there's liking Christmas and then there's being nearly psychotic about it. One ought NOT to sing Christmas songs in the shower in mid-July is all I'll say.

I wish I could do like you and just not think about things that inconvenience me, but my brain refuses to work that way. Sometimes I manage to push all those thoughts down and ignore them for a while, and boy is that ever a relief!

Am so chuffed that you actually shared the Coco pics with your friend at work! He must have realized I was talking about him just now, because he came up to me and asked to be picked up, so he's on my lap right now. We went to a dog park where only small dogs go for their social hour in the early evening, and it's such a hoot to watch them all play...

I didn't realize my thread was so hard to keep up with. I'm really sorry about that. I know what it's like trying to stay up to date here... nearly impossible, but I just really restrict the number of threads I visit, even though I wish I could be even more sociable, but at is it I'm here many many hours each day! Always lovely to hear from you Charlotte.

I gave up on the latest Zola book I had going. I put in a valiant effort and got more than halfway through His Excellency (touchstone only works on the French title Son Excellence Eugène Rougon). Politics bore me to death, and as the main character is a politician, there's lots of talk of mid-19th century French 'current' affairs under Napoleon III. *Yawn* I just can't be bothered anymore, especially as there are so many other books I can't wait to read, and the others I've already got going are quite great too. Still, there's that little pang of guilt, but he's written so many other great books that I'm willing to forgive him.

I've never read any Zola, Ilana and feel that I ought to rectify that. What would you recommend - keeping in mind that it will have to be in English.

I wish I could read French. Heck, I wish I could speak it. I think that language should be something that is in the blood - if you are French you should automatically be able to speak it. I feel when I am watching French films (with subtitles, of course) that after a little while I am understanding what it is being said and that I don't even need the subtitles anymore. It's weird - it happens every time. Do you suppose that it is the French language genes inside me that are trying to get out?

OK - that's silly. Must be time for me to go to bed. 5:00 comes - well, not early - it comes at 5:00 and Willie does not care about daylight sayings time being over. He runs on sun time. It's brutal. Am hoping for clouds tomorrow - thick enough to obscure the sunrise - so that maybe he will let me sleep til 6.

'Night for now.

Just checking in, I'm reading all the posts but feeling time poor these past couple of days. I picked up Momento Mori from the library today, now just have to find some time to make a start on it.

I think I must have special powers. I wished for clouds and - voila - I got thick, thick fog! Willie was fooled into keeping quiet until 6 AM.

Hi Ilana - I hope you enjoy Brat Farrar. I read that one a while back, having only read one Tey years ago before. I really enjoyed it, and want to read more of hers.

Ty is stretched out on the sofa beside me as I type this, taking up most of the room. If I get up to make myself a drink, he will have spread out even more by the time I return...

#84 & 86 Charlotte, undoubtedly your French genes are pushing you to honour them as much as possible. As for Zola, I read several from the series back in high school, but can't say I remember them at all. I'm working my way through the series slowly now and will be better able to give you recommendations there as I progress. I did read Nana about three times as it became an instant favourite. It's about the rise and fall of a Parisian prostitute and as such is quite gripping. Next up for me is L'Assomoir which is one of his more famous ones. I look forward to that novel and am sure it'll more than make up for the latest Zola fiasco.

Willie sure sounds like he doesn't give you much of a break. There's the vomiting and now... he won't let you sleep past sunrise?! What a cruel cat! Does he have any endearing qualities at all? Btw, I'm glad for the cloud cover you had today... I guess, if it bought you an extra hour of sleep... :-s

#85 Kerry, I know all too well what it feels like to time-poor. Been there often, and even now that I have my days more or less to myself, can never seem to find enough time to do all I want. I just know you'll LOVE Memento Mori when you get to it. Look forward to reading your feedback on it!

#87 Hi Genny, I am enjoying Brat Farrar quite a bit, but am now at the part of the horse show and races and finding it a bit much as a person who loves horses but doesn't know much about them. All the same, the story is very good and I always love the way she writers dialogue. I think I might have it figured out, but we shall see... Hope Ty is willing to spare you an inch or two on that sofa!

*****

Today was... well, it was. I didn't get up till the afternoon, as I was trying to sleep off a migraine which reared it's ugly head as soon as I woke up in the small hours of the morning. It slowly subsided in the afternoon and was more or less gone by evening, thank goodness. While the pain was holding me captive, instead of spending time on LT as I would normally have, I made progress on my Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt novel, La femme au miroir which is quite a page-turner.

I then spent the rest of the evening at the Apple store along with Coco. He's just incredible. We had to wait in line over 90 minutes for an employee to finally serve us, as I was there to pick up the iPhone 4S I'd reserved online last night. I had an appointment at 6 p.m., but what was NOT mentioned was that for those coming in for upgrades with their carrier, there was an additional wait. Coco, other than wanting to be held in my arms most of the time, was a model of patience, far more than I was in fact. I really do think he must be an angel. At the 90 minute mark, I couldn't help but notice that little groups of employees were forming all over the store and asked point blank why it was that we were waiting to be served all this time if there were consultants around with time to chitchat with their co-workers. Not long after that, a guy came to help me and I most say he was most solicitous, even telling me that he had technically finished his shift, but didn't want to leave me to wait any longer. Could that really be so? We finally left the store well past nine o'clock, with my new toy/life organizer in hand. I feel like I've lost many hours of my life... but then again, I did have the audio of Brat Farrar to keep me occupied, and now only have one more hour left before finishing it, which might be tonight, or definitely by tomorrow. I've got another session of volunteering lined up at the hospital for the ongoing flu shot campaign tomorrow, and once again, am dearly hoping that the migraine stays away so I can be fully functional. Oh... I'm boring myself to death with this latest update, sorry if I'm being tedious—I guess it's just a reflection of the day I had.

Not at all boring, Ilana. I admire your patience, though. I don't know if I would have waited for 90 minutes in that store. I hope you are feeling better today and the volunteering goes well.

I took a Zola break after the first three books, as I need all my concentration for my eternal struggle with the Italian language and right now can't manage any French in parallel. But I have #4 waiting patiently on my Kindle, and if I remember well, you quite liked it.

As for the Muriel Spark books: are they also somehow exceptional language-wise, or is it mainly the plot? If the latter, I'll see if I find translations in my library. There's not much available for the Kindle, only Memento Mori and Aiding and Abetting, but they are still too expensive for me (I set myself a limit of not spending more than 8-10 USD on a Kindle book in the remaining weeks of 2011).

I am an Apple fan but I am also boggled whenever we go past the store and see SO many people in there, all the time, everytime. And it is not just 1 or 2 people milling about the store, but at least 10-20 everytime I walk past. I have actually never gone in for some reason, probably because it always looks so crowded, so I commend you and Coco for you patience to wait in line for so long!

Hope the migraine stays away Ilana. Not boring at all btw. I've never owned an apple device. Now I've managed for so long without one I almost feel like I should try and carry on but they do look nice.

If I were to try Zola (in English) where would be a good place to start?

See, you exhaust yourself over here and by the time you drop by my thread, all you can say is hi. Wow, some people!
I cannot believe you had to wait 90 minutes! That's ridiculous. As I have gotten older, my patience level has shrank to nominal levels. I know, I need to work on that. I'm hoping the migraine stays at bay for you!

#89 Hi Nathalie, I felt fine today, so the volunteering was an easy ride. Was quite boring actually, but I did bring a book to fill those many quiet moments. As for Zola, I did indeed quite like La conquête de Plassans. There's plenty there to keep one entertained, unlike book #6 which I've just recently abandoned. For Muriel Spark, I'd say what sets her apart are probably her ideas and her off-beat sense of humour. The first translates well, but I'm not so sure about the latter.

#90 Valerie, I never go to the Apple store unless I've got a good reason to go there, and usually buy what I need from them online whenever I can do so. I couldn't do that this time because I was eligible for an upgrade with my carrier, which meant I had no choice. I guess I could have gotten the previous version of the iPhone from Rogers and skipped the wait, but that didn't make that much more sense to me either. I was really happy to have my little buddy and good entertainment with me, I assure you!

#91 Heather, I've been on Apple computers from the very first, and I like their product design and performance, so I'm pretty well a fan I guess. Migraine today was at a very manageable level, so I guess I should thank you for your good wishes!

#92 For the record Mark, I visited your thread before dropping in on my own. There are days were I'd honestly be happy just to lurk as I don't have much to say and would prefer keeping at least a bit of free time for reading or... gasp! even other things too maybe, but then I do want people to know I've dropped by lest they think I've not been visiting, which is how you might end up with just a 'hi' once in a while. I shouldn't think you'd mind considering all the action that goes on in your neck of the woods all the time!

You know, I was just kidding with you, right? As you know I do that sometimes. Hey, I've been known to lurk a time or 2 myself. Hugs!

Yes, I do know Mark. Sorry if my previous reply sounded a big dry. I'm tired today and not feeling terribly sociable. I'll be back in good form soon enough. Hugs 2 u 2 :-)

My library only has 4 novels by Muriel Spark, all in Italian. I didn't recognize any of the titles, so I got Atteggiamento sospetto, and now I see it's Loitering with Intent, so I was lucky. I really hope the humour translates well, but I have my doubts. Unfortunately there's no Momento Mori and also non of her 1001 books.

My goodness. A girl tries to sleep for a few days...comes back and must scramble to catch up!

Coco is so adorable. He must bring a lot of pleasure and stress reduction to your life.

Hope you enjoyed Brat Farrar. Loved it myself.

Liking characters? I want them to be interesting, flawed, real...but I don't like to read about unrelenting evil. I've also discovered that most plot-driven books are not for me either. I like humor, life observations, bizarre plots, people, and places, "those sorts of things" (a nod to the JA fans here).

The existential questions: quite a relief to know I'm not the only oddball thinking these things. Not constantly, of course, one would need to open the veins in that case, but certainly from time to time.

Hope your headache will leave you completely soon. I don't know how you stand it over such a long stretch of time.

love and hugs to you, my Dear Ilana.

Shit (pardon my "French")

I can't keep up, here...No Way

I will say..that the pictures of Coco are lovely...and I am not a DogFan...but Coco has Wise Eyes...he's got you wrapped around his paws, no?

;-}

Ilana a day out of circulation after spending a day in a mall country town called Batu Pahat in southern Malaysia discussing with the Vice Chancellor of the university there about building student accommodation for 5000 students on the campus. Just saying hi and well spotted to Jude on the wise eyes!

Hi Ilana, I'd gladly wait 3 hours for the iPhone 4S. I ordered mine two weeks ago... and I'm still waiting. Lol. I hope you are enjoying your new toy/life organizer. I like that description!

#96 I was thinking about the matter further today Nathalie, and really wouldn't advise reading Muriel Spark in Italian. The lady is so brilliant and her stories so very British in their essence, that I think you'd be missing out too much that would be hopelessly lost in translation. I really caution you against going that route and am tempted to send you books of hers in the mail to stop you from doing such a folly!

#97 Oh Gail, I'm so happy to hear from you. You've been gone for some time and I kept checking your thread and worrying about you.

Coco does indeed bring lots of pleasure, smiles and much stress reduction to my life, especially as he's so laid back 90% of the time that he teaches me by example. And having that adorable love-bug's complete loyalty and affection makes me feel like a very lucky gal indeed.

My reading is so eclectic that unlike you, I'd be hard-pressed to define what it is I look for in a book, but I guess my main concern is that whatever the genre, style or subject at hand might be, I try to choose the best in any given category. As I think I might have said before, I'm not really sure what makes me tick as far as characters go, which is part of the reason I thought it well to ask the question of others!

Many hugs to you too my dear. xox

#98 I thought you were speaking Arabic or something actually, and yes, you are excused, especially as I perfectly understand where the sentiment comes from. I regularly feel the same way whenever I attempt to keep up with this lovely bunch of people here on LT. And for the record, I can't keep up with you either, so that makes us even-Stephen! ;-)

When it comes to Coco, there's no question that I'm his biggest fan, but sometimes I really ask myself whether he's the cleverest dog in the world, or just a dumb blonde. He can quickly switch between the two in my experience!

#99 Hi Paul, I'm not sure whether your day was an interesting one or not, so I'll just nod my head in a pondering way and say hello and nice to see you stop by.

#100 Well, Donna, I would never have taken you for a techno-junkie, but I see I have a partner in my Apple obsession. First the iPad and now the avowal about the iPhone, makes me feel better about spending so much of my waking life tuned in to their products!

*****

Not much to report today. Exhasted all week and sleeping unseemly hours. My dad phones for my wake-up call in the morning, I thank him and say I'll be right up, then go back to sleep till the middle of the afternoon, which means I've hardly seen any daylight. I'm sure it's just a passing thing and soon enough I'll have overdosed on sleep and be up before the sun. Or so I (sort of) hope.

I plowed through my first Ngaio Marsh mystery, Artists in Crime, which was admittedly very short, only to discover, to my dismay that I had gotten an abridgement by mistake. Darn! And how I do scrupulously try to avoid those silly things. Truth be told, I found the story so convoluted and hard to follow that I'm not sure I'd have wanted to stick to it for that much longer. For all I know, maybe it was confusing precisely because it was abridged; I guess I'll never know. Not letting that influence my opinion on this new-to-me author; I've got Overture to Death in my library to look forward to.

Another audiobook I plowed through today was Whose Body? by another Mistress of Crime, Dorothy L. Sayers, who is also a new discovery for me. I was plugged into it most of the afternoon and evening and kept listening as I started a drawing and nearly finished it in watercolours. It's a piece I'm doing for the Visual Arts Centre, where I take my art classes. They're having a gala event where they'll be selling art donated by the more advanced students and professional artist, the profits of which will go to the school, which is a not for profit organization. I put off the project practically till the last minute, as we have to hand-in our finished pieces on Monday, but I'll make two more pieces over the weekend and choose the best of the three. I've done an image which fits into a series I started—in case the piece doesn't sell and I get to keep it—based on Albertus Seba's Cabinet of Natural Curiosities (1734-1765), a book which I acquired recently for the purposes of this project and which is an absolute treasure-trove of visual inspiration. I've taken some photos of the previous pieces I've been working on and will photograph this new batch to include in a post I'll put together some time this week to put on my art blog.

It's late, and though I've only been up these last 8 or 9 hours, I should be thinking of sleep again, if there's any hope of me getting back to a more normal schedule. I'd really like to visit some of you lovely people, but will have to put it off till tomorrow.

Tschuss!

Aaaww... where did you get the "Tschuss" from? Haven't seen that in ages.
I think you're right re. Muriel Spark, but I'll give it a try, and if I don't like it, I will add one of her books to my next UK order. Paperbacks in the UK are quite cheap, often cheaper than the Kindle books (but they need shelf space), and it looks like I might have a regular salary again in 2012.

I love the Apple products as well, just can't afford any of them right now. I am writing this posting on my old MacBook, and in my car I listen to music from my very old iPod (must be 1st generation). I dream of an iPhone or an iPad. Well, maybe next year. But though their products are extremely popular here, I have never seen such queues in their shops. There was an Apple store in my old town, and even on Saturdays I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to be served. But maybe that has changed over the last two years, with the introduction of the iPad. I am a bit cut off from the modern world here in my new place. :-)

Looking forward to seeing the watercolour paintings on your blog.

I love the pictures from the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities on your blog - looking forward to seeing your watercolours. Sorry to hear you've been feeling so exhausted - I hope you can get your sleeping back on track soon.

I am a recent convert to Apple - got my first MacBook a year ago at the Providence Place Mall. We had to wait an hour and a half for a 'specialist'. I thought that was kind of dumb as I knew exactly what I wanted and did not need anyone to sell it to me - my mind had been made up for two weeks previous to the trip to the store. However - wait or no wait, it was the best purchase I've ever made computer-wise. I've had a Gateway and a Dell and a whole fleet of various kinds of computers at work and they all are just so much junk by comparison. I have an iPod Touch (my second one) and I am feverishly awaiting the day (which is coming up soon) when I can buy my iPad2 - which I will do online. If you've got the money it's the way to go. My feeling is if you don't have the money right now to go the Apple route, save your pennies until you do.

With regard to Willie and his endearing features, Ilana, I think that it's because he's such a bad boy that I like him so well. (If he would tolerate clothes I think that a black leather jacket with lots of zippers would suit him very well.) While I'm typing this he is screaming his head off while he messes around with the little gourds I've got on the big table where the TV is. Oh - and there go two issues of Martha Stewart Living onto the floor! And another gourd! It's as if he knows I'm trying to say good things about him.

But really he does have his sweet moments. He is a lap-cat in the cool weather and he's a good sleeper in the bed - he doesn't try to park his butt on my head or anything. He loves my spaghetti sauce and he doesn't sit on what I am trying to read very often. What can I say - he's my boy!

#102 I think I got the "Tschuss" from my mom, who sometimes signs off her emails to me like that. I just really like the sound of it, and so sometimes sign off on my own communications that way too.

I definitely support your idea to order (at least one) Muriel Spark book Nathalie. Yes, physical books take up space, but then, you may as well get two or three of her books, since they tend to be so small anyway. Can you tell I've become a real fan of hers? Am really happy to hear that your finances are looking more stable for 2012. Am curious to know what's in the works?

The queues at the Apple store only occur when they launch new products, and then for a period of six months or so thereafter. Since they launch a new product at about that frequency, I guess that means there are more often queues than not, come to think of it! Otherwise the store seems to always be busy; there are many consumers who are even crazier about Apple products than I am, and there are many who yearn for them and want to bask in their presence until they can afford them (I'm guessing this second category makes up about 90% of the usual crowd).

#103 Heather, the exhaustion probably is due to hormones (you know the kind I mean), which are exacerbated by the loss of daylight in the fall, and especially in the week or two after we change the clocks.

I'm tickled that you've visited my blog! I had to hold back from posting even MORE images from Cabinet of Natural Curiosities on that post. I discovered this book when I visited Paragraphe, one of our independent bookstores and have to admit to my great shame that I then went ahead and ordered it online for almost half the price, so this huge book ended up costing me all of 26 dollars! It's a Taschen, which partly explains why I got it so cheap, but it's a beautifully printed, cloth-bound book... I really don't know how they can sell for such great prices.

#104 That was a great "Apologia for Willie" Charlotte! :-)

Seriously though, he does sound like quite the badass, and as one who was inexorably attracted to badasses for longer than I care to say, I certainly understand the appeal. I love the image of Willie in a black leather jacket. Lots of studs too maybe? My Ezra is quite a number too. He used to pee all over the place, as long as it wasn't in his litter box, until I figured out that puppy training pads in front of the box might restrain him to that 24-inch square diaper. He also has quite the temper, which has led a lot of people close to me to encourage me to get rid of him, but I can't and won't do that. I got him when he fit in the palm of my hand and knew right then that he was a little monster, as he'd had diarrhoea and stank like the devil, and when he dug his little needle claws in me and climbed to the top of my head and pulled on my hair, I knew I just had to take him home. When he feels affectionate though, he's the most loveable cat in the world. I guess we're both perfect candidates for the crazy cat-women club. Or maybe we should apply to a shelter for women abused by their cats?

I won't consider getting the iPad unless and until I start travelling again. Or getting out of the house more, for that matter. But you're right that Apple products are worth saving up for. The only reason I might go the cheaper route and get the Canadian version of the Kindle, called a Kobo, would be because I have the feeling I would mostly use that gadget as an e-reader. I mean, I already have a laptop and an iPhone... so the iPad really seems like an unnecessary indulgence given my present lifestyle. When I was working and flying back and forth to Toronto on a weekly basis and travelling the world, I wouldn't have hesitated to get it, but now... well, you know.

*****

Finished La femme au miroir by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt. I was going to write my impressions of it just now, but I'll save it for an upcoming speed-review when I'm ready to do a writeup on the latest batch of books I've read. We're starting a group read of Night Circus on the 15th, and while I'm tempted to pick it up right away, I might take up Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz—which is a short book—in the meantime. I've been scrupulously avoiding reading any reviews so that I can make up my own mind about it, but after seeing a few comments, I'm not sure it'll be my cup of tea, but we'll see.

Hi Ilana, I hope you are soon feeling less exhausted and able to get up in time to see a bit more daylight. I know what that can be like - especially on these short days: on the rare occasions when I am not forced to be up by a certain time, I will easily go back to sleep after my alarms have woken me, and before I know it, most of the day has passed... You are lucky to have a real voice to call and wake you in the form of your Dad!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on your first Sayers - though it is not her strongest, so if you liked it enough to read more, there is better to come!

#106 Genny, I did do much better today as far as getting up and facing the day. As far as daylight goes, we're not exactly getting spoiled today as it's very grey and overcast out there and barely any light gets into my apartment. Coco and I will be off for a walk soon to take in whatever feeble rays or sun find their way through this cloud cover. I know I'm really lucky to have my dad calling me for wake-up calls. We only came up with this system a couple of weeks ago, and I'm hoping it'll help me break my long standing habit of sleeping in till all hours. It was working well last week, so I'm not too discouraged at this point.

I did like my first Sayers enough to try some more. Which do you most suggest?

Glad you've had a somewhat better day - enjoy your walk with Coco.

Re Sayers, it is worth following the series in order. I first read them in any old order, but like several people at present am re-reading from the beginning in order now, and it is good to see the character of Wimsey fleshed out more as it progresses. The second book, Clouds of Witness involves several members of Wimsey's family so that is a good next step.

>107 Smiler69: Personally, I recommend the entire Wimsey series, read in order. Wimsey's character develops throughout the series, and some overarching plot developments take place in the second half of the series that make far more sense if read in the correct order. Have His Carcase (#7) and Gaudy Night (#10) are my personal favorites. The Wimsey short stories, published here and there in various Sayers short story collections and collected in total in Lord Peter are also excellent.

#108 Genny, I'm actually doing quite well today, thank you. Thanks also for the tip re: Peter Wimsey series. I was tempted to start with Murder Must Advertise, but glad I started with the first in series after all. I've now added Clouds of Witness to the wishlist.

#109 I quite enjoyed how Wimsey is introduced in the first book and can see that Sayers intended to build him up from the beginning, giving us so many little details to go on as far as his tastes, eccentricities and habits and war trauma. Not sure when I'll get to the next book, but I look forward to continuing with this series. I really enjoyed the humour in this one.

So I've finally worked out my categories for the 12/12. The only thing I haven't decided yet is how many books I'll be aiming for. 144 seems like a high number, but may be feasible? And yet, I don't want to put pressure on myself, so we shall see.

My categories (some adjustments still possible):

1. Tea with Georgie, Vicky & Eddie - 18th & 19th Century Classics

2. Guardian Knows Best - Guardian 1000 and reviews

3. The Dark Side - Crime & Mystery

4. Picked for me - chosen from my shelves at random by LTers

5. Beyond Fiction - non-fiction, probably the biggest challenge for me

6. Visual Treats - books on art, photography, design, or just beautiful books

7. Hot Off the Press

8. The First Half 1901-1951

9. Litérature contemporaine - French lit

10. Young at Heart - Children/YA/Fantasy

11. From My Treasure-Trove - off the shelf

12. Going Places - International authors & places

Still have 'a few' books to go to complete my 11/11, but I just might make it...

eta: getting off the computer and doing some artwork now. Be back later!

I love "Tea with Georgie, Vicky, & Eddie." So very familiar of you. :-)

I've collected a few older Dorothy Sayers paperbacks from various bookfairs, I'll also read them in order once I start, I'm sure the library will have the missing ones in the stacks somewhere.

Good to hear that you are getting up a bit earlier in the day - I seem to burn the candle at both ends and don't always get enough sleep. My dog sits beside the bed and whines so I end up getting up earlier than I want to most mornings (she sleeps on the bed).

I've also got my 12+1 categories sorted but I'm going for a minimum of 6 read per category. This time I'm going for quality reading instead of quantity.

#112 So very familiar of you

I know, I know. I even wondered if I wasn't being outright rude, but I'm sure they've been called much worse things over the decades...

#113 Coco is quite the whiner too, but happily enough, he likes to sleep in as much as I do. He also refuses to sleep in bed with me, which is just as well because I love having my Mimi sleep on top of me, which she doesn't do if Coco is in the bed.

I just now checked the offerings as far as Dorothy L. Sayers goes at the library—rather limited. I see book 2 is only available in a strange omnibus, Four Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Novels which contains Whose Body?, Clouds of Witness, Murder Must Advertise and Gaudy Night, or in other words, books 1, 2, 10 & 12. That's fine if one isn't concerned with reading them in order, but quite ridiculous otherwise. They DO have Clouds of Witness on audio... cassettes! I'll try to see if I can get my hands on gently used copies via AbeBooks. I have a great reason for purchasing more books this month anyway, as my Thingaversary is coming up (any excuse is a good excuse, right?) :-)

>114 Smiler69: 1, 2, 10, and 12?? Because that makes so much sense. However, I did used to have a Lord Peter omnibus that was 1, 2, 3 and 5 - that actually made sense because of plot developments in book 4. I replaced it with individual copies because I got tired of reading from an 800 page hardcover.

I don't think "Tea with Georgie, Vicky, and Eddie" is rude at all. I'm on a first-name basis with several historical personages by virtue of having written very long papers on them. Although somehow Thomas More ended up as "Sir Thomas," which manages to be polite and overly familiar at the same time.

#115 I know, that omnibus is totally ridiculous. I wonder who made THAT decision. The copy they have at the library is ancient and I'm not keen on going that route. Between the brown pages and the sheer weight of the thing, it's a major turnoff. I did get Three by Tey so I could read Miss Pym Disposes, but it's the same situation and none too appealing. Remains to be seen whether I'll actually pick it up or not.

Glad that you don't find my familiar appellations too rude. I was going for slightly cheeky, though in their days, I supposed I would've been hanged for that cheek!

Nice 12 in 12 list Ilana. Especially like your category for LTers to choose for you at random. Don't think you would have been hung for the impertinence of using shortened first names - the stocks with people throwing the cheap penny versions of the offending authors works at you would have probably sufficed!
Didn't you know that publishing houses employ sadists especially to screw those of us over who apply logic and want to read a series in the order intended.

I shouldn't worry about being rude, Ilana. I think the three of them would be honored to serve as headings for one of your twelve challenges. Or at least, they should be so.

#117 Paul, I'm glad the stocks are out of favour in the colonies in this 21st century! :-)

I decided to stick it to those sadistic publishers, and purchased both Clouds of Witness and Miss Pym Disposes via AbeBooks. I've returned the disgusting old Three by Tey tome, and am glad that I can now avoid similar for Lady Dorothy Sayers.

#118 Awww Ellen, you deserve some kind of medal for being such a sweet, loving person. And I promise you I'm not being in the least bit sarcastic with this comment.

*****

First, I need to air my excuse: this month, I'm celebrating my fourth year with LT, and it's a very happy anniversary, and probably a bigger deal to me than my own birthday. So. Even though I've gone completely nuts no later than a couple of weeks ago, and even though I said I'd be curbing my book-buying, and even though I should be supporting Darryl (kidzdoc) in his valiant attempt at banning book purchases till 2012, I had decided all along that November would bring in at least 5 new books, as per our tradition. But of course, I can never do things in have measures, so here is the list of my latest purchases:

From Audible's current Half-Price Sale—PLUS $10 refund for purchase of 4 books or more in November! (in the order they were downloaded):

♫ Running Blind by Lee Child - the 4th Jack Reacher next in line for me
♫ Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd - been wanting to discover Boyd for quite some time now, especially following Donna828's comments
♫ To Fear a Painted Devil by Ruth Rendell - I saw that Judy (DeltaQueen50) had given a four-star rating for this one
♫ The Crocodile Bird by Ruth Rendell - has been in my WL for quite some time, and also a four-star by Judy
♫ American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition by Neil Gaiman - A Full Cast Production which I may or may not listen to for Neil in November
♫ Solaris by Stanislaw Lem - been curious about this one ever since I saw the very confusing film in 2002 (for those who haven't read the book first). Also hadn't realized it was on the 1001 and Guardian 1000 lists before.

From BookDepository:

The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens - have been wanting to discover her following Kerry's (avatiakh) glowing comments. This title was also recommended by Madeline (SqueakyChu)
Aiding and Abetting by Muriel Spark - because it's been highly recommended by Lori (ikernagh) and because I want to read everything I can by Dame Spark.

Ordered via AbeBooks:

Madame Sousatzka by Bernice Rubens - see first part of comments for The Elected Member.
Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey - so I won't have to read it from the only available copy at the library which is in a gross old omnibus editions.
Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers - see above.

And now, I MUST tear myself away from the 'puter so I can complete some artwork in time for the art sale deadline.

Thanks for welcoming me back, Dearie, and a Happy Thingaversary to you. Marvelous haul on the books. Managed to stagger off to the library twice and got some that have been on the endless WL, plus a few YA fantasy that I want to read (or re-read, depending...)

Oh Ilana, what a wonderful book haul! You know, after poking fun at Darryl mercilessly the other day, I did find myself thinking on my run yesterday that I might benefit from a book-buying ban for the rest of 2011. No commitments made, but it was at least food for thought.

LT going down for 30 minutes. G'night!

Lovely bookhaul, I hope you like Bernice Rubens. I've really enjoyed Ruth Rendell's books, I haven't read all of them and don't think I've read the ones you got....adding to my tbr list.

A great bunch of books you got for yourself, Ilana. I hope you love the Ruth Rendell's. Are these your first books by her?

Happy Thingaversary this month, Ilana - great excuse for a great haul of books. I'm glad you've got the next Sayers ordered ready to go.

Nice mix of stuff Ilana! Lee Child should be good on audio and your right Kerry does set the scene nicely for Bernice Rubens. I find Ruth Rendell more readable than PD James and will start the Josephine Tey as one of my 12 in 12 next year (Series starts)

#120 Gail, the library is a good place to help fulfill some of our endless book yearnings. I'm just quickly checking in after a long day, but I'll make sure to visit your thread very soon so I can see what you've been up to in your reading life and otherwise. xx

#121 Ellen, I intended this latest book-buying frenzy to be the last hurrah for 2011. I have in mind to hold off till 2012 for any further book purchases, but even as I type this, I can think of at least three or four books that I can't live without a minute longer... at least I've got some credits to spend on Audible, and one art book to return, which means technically, I can exchange it for the one I really want... which wouldn't actually constitute a purchase since the money's already been spent, right? Yikes. I'm totally using addict-speak aren't I?

#122 Kerry, I get the feeling I'll enjoy Bernice Rubens. The two books I chose to purchase are among those that appealed to me most and weren't available at the library. I also really want to read Nine Lives, based on your synopsis and review, but I can borrow that one anytime I like. Ruth Rendell is also completely new to me (more on that in my response below).

#123 Judy, I'd never heard of Ruth Rendell until a few months ago, which surprisingly didn't happen here on LT but on the Audible.com site. I was looking up all the books read by Juliet Stevenson, who is one of my favourite narrators, and The Crocodile Bird by Rendell was among the offerings, and had been in my WL ever since. I refer to the author pages all the time and only discovered fairly recently that you can click on the link attached to LT contacts (friends, interesting libraries, etc) to see what books by said author are in their collections. Not everybody rates them or has written reviews, but your offering of... is it 42 books? with so many of them read and rated was really helpful! I'm guessing you're quite the fan!

#124 Thanks Genny, I did think it was a great excuse for buying a whole whackload more books so shortly after getting a whole bunch last month. But then, I don't ever really need an excuse... :-)

#125 Paul, I did aim to have a nice variety and a mix of 'high' and 'low' brow... though of course we don't use those terms around here ;-)
I have my sights set on P.D. James as well, as have never read anything by her either, which means I won't be able to make any comparisons yet, though I do intend on reading some of her books in 2012. I'm not making lists of titles for my 12/12, because I want to give myself lots of leeway; the only titles that are pre-determined are the ones that were picked for me (obviously) and a couple that are planned group reads. I'll have to visit your 12/12 thread soon to see how your planning is moving along. I think Josephine Tey is pretty great. She was a new discovery for me this year and I hope you enjoy her too.

*****

Loooong day today. I'm always burnt out after art classes. Today was lots of fun, I've taken more pics and will definitely prepare a blog post to show some of my artwork some time this week.

I've read a couple of short stories from Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz and thought they were quite wonderful. Even though I haven't been back to Israel in over 25 years, it really brings me back to that place and I feel like I completely understand the undercurrents and motivations of his character, even though not everything is spelled out and made clear (at least not yet, not at this early stage in the book). I was worried that I'd find it all too abstract for me after seeing some of Suzanne's (Chatterbox) comments about this book on Darryl's thread, but in fact, I find it all quite grounded and concrete. Maybe I've become more comfortable with abstraction?; in visual art, to be sure, but I guess my comfort level might translate to prose as well? The real test would be for me to read contemporary poetry, but I don't think I'm quite there yet.

I've been ADORING listening to Brighton Rock by Graham Greene. I'm more than 3/4 of the way through and this book and story will definitely end up as one of my memorable reads for 2011. To cap it all off, I've fallen in love with the interpreter, actor Samuel West, who has one of the sexiest ever voices and British accents I've come across thus far. I think I might have fallen in love with him a little bit. Well, with his voice, that's all. Too bad he hasn't narrated a wider selection of books yet*, but I'll be looking out for his productions from now on.

* I do have the play Lady Windemere's Fan by Oscar Wilde, which pairs West and Juliet Stevenson, which as far as I'm concerned is a real dream team!
eta: oh yes, and of course have Nineteen Eighty Four read by him as well. I may yet try Allan Hollinghurst again with The Swimming Pool Library, but only for the joy of listening to West. Am looking at all other titles read by him on Audible right now (31 in total. More purchases ahead? will I be able to hold off till 2012?)...

> 126 even as I type this, I can think of at least three or four books that I can't live without a minute longer... Haha!! I can SOOOOO relate to this. I'm thinking I need to slow down my book-buying (after teasing Darryl, I really do find myself thinking he has the right idea!), but every time I check in to LT, I come up with books I must have. Soon. My day is not as tightly-scheduled as some are, which means I could walk up the Ave to the bookstore...... dangerous, dangerous......

I've never read anything by Graham Greene and would really like to do so. Sounds like Brighton Rock is one to consider.

I'm a fan of Ruth Rendell ----- good stuff. I hope you like her.

edited for a typo

#127 OF COURSE DARRYL HAS THE RIGHT IDEA!!!

As a matter of fact, we should all of us, go for a major book-buying binge in January and then hold off the rest of the year, or do like Stasia and just buy a dozen (or two or three) over 12 months—and I'm sure most of us tell ourselves we need to curb things EVERY SINGLE MONTH, but we are weak in the face or our addiction passion.

To wit: I mentioned that I was checking out other books narrated by my new love Samuel West, right? Well what to you think happened? That's right: three more audiobooks. Though, to be fair, I was very near buying thrice as many and so actually exercised a whole lot of restraint, all things being relative. And one of them was purchased on a credit. Another is just a 90-minute BBC Book at Bedtime, because I want to go to sleep with West whispering in my ear whenever possible (it's a book I already have and read too), so really, it's as if I'd only bought just ONE book, right?

They are:

♫ The Aspern Papers (BBC Radio 4: Book at Bedtime) by Henry James - read by Samuel West (a story I read this year and loved)
♫ Part of the Furniture by Mary Wesley - read by West and ON SALE!!!
♫ Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks - West won a prize for his reading, which is unfortunately an abridgement, so I got the unabridged version read by Peter Firth (with an existing credit)

So really, none of these really count as purchases if you think about it the right way. ;-)

Finished listening to Brighton Rock this morning. Brilliant.

I am so late, here...forgive me?

I love Graham Greene....Brighton Rock, i read along with my Dad...years ago..one thing on which we agreed...Excellence! My own favorites: The Comedians and The Power and the Glory..

As for book buying...I feel absolutely no guilt. Given, where I live, i tell the Nosey Parkers to be thankful I'm not buying/smoking crack! 'Nuff said

;-P

#119 Happy thingaversary! I'm always so excited to see other people's book purchases. I saw the 2002 Solaris film (George Clooney right?) but I don't think I realised it was based on a book. Especially not a book on the 1001 and Guardian 1000 list.

#128 I could not restrict myself to buying just 12 books over the year. I just couldn't. I don't think there's any point even trying so I'm not going to :-)

And of course those books don't count as real purchases.

I keep seeing people recommend Graham Greene and Brighton Rock in particular at the moment. It does sound good....

#130 "Given, where I live, i tell the Nosey Parkers to be thankful I'm not buying/smoking crack!" - even where I live I have been known to use a similar argument to justify the book habit :-)

#130 Jude, there's nothing to forgive you for because you haven't done anything wrong. I can't seem to keep up with anyone either, so it's all good my friend.

It's good to know that Graham Greene's Brighton Rock helped you two cross that great divide. I already have The Power and the Glory on my shelves and keep adding more and more of his books to my wishlist as well. Every time I read a novel by Greene, I wonder how come I don't just take them all in in one big stretch. So sad that he never won the Nobel Prize. He had such a great understanding of the human workings, though I don't know if the term 'humanist' could apply since I know he was Roman Catholic, though am not familiar with his life enough to know how much of a believer he was. I wouldn't be surprised to find out he didn't simply have blind faith, based on the three books I've read by him so far. I don't usually regret going with audiobook versions because I've been quite lucky so far and listened to great productions, but the one for Our Man in Havana was so terrible that those responsible for defacing his work like that ought to be shot, so that's another book of his I'll have to get in print so I can appreciate it at it's fullest.

Let's see now... books vs crack cocaine... Crack cocaine vs books... nope, I just don't see the difference. Not as far as poor impulse control goes anyway. ;-)

#131 Thank you Heather. I love seeing what other people bring in with their various means of acquiring books too. Always an occasion to be blissfully hit by book bullets.

I saw the 2002 film version of Solaris at the cinema not very long after it came out (with George Clooney, you're right). I doubt I would have chosen that movie on my own as it's not a topic I'm naturally attracted to, but I happened to be dating a Russian at the time who I believe had read Lem's book and had made comparisons with it, if memory serves correctly. I assumed then that Lem was Russian, but of course he could only be Polish with a name like Stanisław.

I don't even try to restrict myself to 12 books in a year. Knowing myself, it would spell absolute disaster with uncontrolled buying binges (yes, even worse than the ones I have now!)

Graham Greene is an author I strongly recommend. I haven't read enough from his bibliography yet to be able to recommend one of his books in particular as a good starting point, but I started with a copy of The Tenth Man at the used book shop. It was a small book, even by Greene's standards (most of his works... all? are quite short), and I fell head over heels with him as a writer with that gorgeous story.

Yay - Brighton Rock is among the few books my library offers in English!
Found the audiobook on itunes, and enjoyed the 30-seconds sample of Samuel West's reading. Better than nothing.. :-)

Books vs Crack?

Most people that i know, here, have no books in their homes...they come to my house and ask "Why do you have so many da****ed books?".....i reply "Why do you breathe?".....That sends them scampering out the door...checkmate..

;-)

#134 Very good news about Brighton Rock! Hope you enjoy it Nathalie.

#135 Right. I forget that so many people don't see the point when it comes to books. I grew up in a house where there was little of anything else, which is why it slips my mind sometimes.

Good to see you enjoying another Greene, I reread Brighton Rock in April and loved it all over again. I've got a few of his books lined up to read or reread next year, including The Ministry of Fear. I want to watch the original movies of these too.

Hi Ilana- Book-busy over here! Just the way I like it. I read and enjoyed Ruth Rendell, years ago. She's a fine writer and one I need to re-visit.
Jude on crack? Now that's quite a concept.

Ilana I had a sneaking suspicion that you were a lady of impeccable taste and your comments on Graham Greene prove it. I have 37 of his books (just checked) and have read them all at least once. My all time favourite is probably The Quiet American but would highly recommend almost all his stuff, even the lighter Our Man in Havana which is still powerful in its irony. His thirties stuff is now Brighton Rock apart not regarded as highly as some of the more diverse works based on his travels but the noir tales set in pre-war England such as It's a Battlefield, The Ministry of Fear and England Made Me are worth a go - his entertainments Stamboul Train and Gun for Hire are just that.
We have The Power and the Glory set in Mexico
The Comedians set in Haiti
The Heart of the Matter Africa
A Burnt Out Case Congo
The Honorary Consul Argentina
The Third Man Vienna

He returns to home with a couple of other real winners - the guilt ridden The End of the Affair and the best, for me of his later novels The Human Factor.

All in all I name checked 16 novels and Greene was simply the best novelist of the 20 th century bar none. The fact that he was snubbed by the Nobel academy is a disgrace that still rankles with many. No disrespect to Coetzee, Lessing, Wolf, Gordimer, Bellow, Morrison, Golding, Naipaul, Jeleniek, Pasternak and many other admittedly fine writers none of them could put down a dozen or so books to pass muster with Greene - rant and ramble over.

Just twelve books a year. I can't even fathom such. Even using the library with gusto, I simply love buying books. I wonder how many a year I do buy? 50? 100?

eta: 150??

Kerry, once I've read a few more of his novels, I'll definitely seek out the movie versions as well. I just checked the offerings at the library, they have The End of the Affair (1999), The Quiet American (2002), The Fallen Idol (1948), The Comedians (1967), This Gun for Hire (1942). I haven't read any of these yet, but will look forward to watching the films when I've done so. Unfortunately, no Brighton Rock though... will have to find it somewhere else.

My early new years resolution three books read to one book bought. This years res two books read one book bought - made it into the second week of Feb! Result one book read six books bought! OMG

oops, I posted my last reply without refreshing and saw I had other messages in the meantime. How exciting. Had to take Coco out and now MUST do something with organic beef which has been sitting in my fridge for longer than I was aware of. Then probably will make apple crisp since I'll be in the kitchen anyway. All this to say that I'll be back later to reply in a more thoughtful manner.

Also want to apologize to everyone for not having visited the threads in several days. I can barely keep up with my own thread... how can that be?

eta: didn't give an update today... it's was a weird day, emotionally speaking. Had a minor major freakout and cried like a baby over what was basically nothing. Hormones, anyone? I feel battered and bruised and will try to get to bed early, so 'later' may be 'tomorrow'.

Take care of yourself, Ilana. I hope a good night's sleep helps. Oh, and apple crisp sounds pretty yummy!
Vanilla ice cream, anyone? :-)

I haven't read any Greene for years - but really loved The power and the glory in particular when I read that about 20 years ago.

My total of books bought/added permanently to the collection so far this year (ie not counting library books and other loans) has just topped 250. There is nothing wrong with this - as others have said, far better to be spending my money on all these books than on cigarettes or drugs! - but as I look set to read about 120 in total this year (and read a similar number last year) there is something unsustainable about continuing to acquire at such a rate. I agree, there is no way I could cut down to only 12 new books a year - but I wonder if I could restrict myself to 60 (5 a month)? The key to successful and sustainable diets is moderation not drastic cut backs, otherwise it cannot be sustained, and I guess the same is true of managing a book-acquisition regime.

I hope you managed an early night, Ilana, and are feeling better this morning.

Genny fabulous logical treatise on the sustainability of book purchasing! I now feel environmentally reinvigourated into pursuing my policy of 3 books read to one purchased. I aim to read 144 books next year and can therefore only buy 48 books next year (4 per month). Sounds do-able so long as I try to avoid my fave bookstores as much as possible. As I have at least 1200 books unread in my collection this would mean that in 12.5 years I would be caught up! Oh dear I forgot that the moratorium is 1 January 2012 and there are six weeks shopping time left.

#138 Hi Mark, I look forward to discovering Rendell. In the meantime, haven't started on Night Circus yet, though it'll be any day now. I'm having trouble reading more than one novel at a time lately, so as soon as I've finished Scenes from Village Life I'll be jumping in with the group read.

#139 Paul, I already had quite a few of Graham Greene's novels on my wishlist and a few others on my shelves, but I've just added another half dozen or so to the miraculously self-expanding wishlist; It's a Battlefield, The Ministry of Fear, England Made Me, Stamboul Train and A Gun for Sale (nothing wrong with pure entertainment!), A Burnt Out Case and The Third Man. The others you listed are either on my shelves (physical and electronic) or already on my wishlist. I've mentioned previously that I had listened to Our Man in Havana on audio, which was a disastrous experience. The producers had thought it well to put some Cuban rollicking dance music between each chapter which completely ruined the experience for me, so that's at least one other of his books I'll have to get in print. Brighton Rock is another, but only because I want to read and re-read the beautiful prose at my own rhythm, though I must say in this case I highly recommend the audio version narrated by Samuel West.

I'm by no means as well read as you Paul, so wouldn't presume to say whether or not I think Greene has more merit than other 20th century authors or not, but I'm very fond of what I've read of his so far so am well prepared to take your word for it until proven otherwise! :-)

#140 I just love the act of buying books too Ellen, which is why I'm not prepared to put myself on any sort of diet as far as that goes. However, I may try to put some kind of cap on the amount I spend or number of books per month after I've tabulated how many I've purchased in the last year. I ran out of shelf space long ago, so in some ways that encouraged me to buy more audiobooks, but those aren't exactly cheap either...

#142 Result one book read six books bought!

Paul, that sounds like what I probably averaged to this year as well.

#144 Ellen, I must say I make a rather good apple crisp. I have one serving in the morning for breakfast with a side of plain yoghourt, and then one smaller serving in the evening with... you guessed it: vanilla ice cream. No wonder I get through them so fast. They take me over two hours to prepare (not including baking time) and just about two days to eat!

#145 Hi Genny, I'm not sure why that is, but as tired as I am in the evening, I don't seem to be able to get to sleep early. Have to keep trying and eventually will get there I should hope.

I appreciate your full disclosure as far as book purchases go this year, and also support your idea of adopting a more sustainable and moderate approach, something which I will aim for in 2012 when I hope to put more emphasis one books off the shelf (purchased before December 31st 2011) so I can get to all those fine novels I've been accumulating here at home. But I'm completely in agreement with you that drastic cut-backs are not the way to go for most of us. I for one, don't have the discipline to stick to that kind of approach and would end up compensating one way or another. The first step though is to evaluate just how many I did get over the last year so I can establish an attainable goal.

#146 Paul, I completely support your goal for 2012. I think that's a fine challenge to set for yourself, and you're right, a 3-to-1 ratio seems reasonable enough, as long as it's not inverted (three books bought for every one read), which I believe is the case for me at the moment. I just can help but wonder though... since you say you were averaging 1-to-6 this year, mightn't a 1-for-1 be a more realistic target for you? ;-)

*****

I feel somewhat better today, but cancelled on my volunteering commitment because am in an anti-social mode and don't feel well enough to work with the public. The lady in charge of volunteering services had told me that I shouldn't worry too much if ever I couldn't make it as she could easily find replacement, so I don't feel too guilty about it. Half the day yesterday was pretty much lost to sleep, but then I did a few things around the house while listening to audiobooks. One thing I did, which I thought might take an hour at most, was to clean up and refill my watercolours palette, but as I'm a perfectionist, and didn't want to just throw out all the old paint besides, it took me SIX hours! This gave me plenty of time to finish A Far Cry from Kensington which was good, but not my favourite Spark so far. I then got started on Neil Gaiman's American Gods. I'm almost one third of the way through (about to start chapter 7) and find it interesting so far, but can't say I'm enthralled either.

Just now got Miss Pym Disposes in the mail from BookDepository. Am tempted to plunge into it, but as I said to Mark above, I don't seem to have the concentration to read more than one novel at a time lately (excluding audiobooks). I'm 3/4 of the way done with Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz, which is excellent, though also rather melancholy (or is it just me?). I'm hoping to finish it today and then move on to The Night Circus so I can join the group read and return it to the library on time. As it's a new publication, I won't be able to renew my loan, so I've got to get cracking on it.

I'm a bit torn now; on the one hand I'd like to get caught up with threads, and on the other I'm woefully behind on my reviews again. And my shoulders and neck are killing me. So I'll try to do a bit of both with some speed-reviewing and plenty of lurking thrown into the mix.

#147 Glad you're feeling a little better. If shoulders and neck are aching then I say abandon threads and reviews and rest.

American Gods for me really picked up after the halfway mark so hopefully it will also improve for you? Did you get the full cast version in the end?

#148 Heather, you're right that I probably shouldn't be spending too much time on the computer. Right now, I've taken the laptop over to the couch instead of sitting at my desk, which should buy me a little time, though I won't be here for much more than an hour or two. That's not an entirely bad thing as I wouldn't mind spending time reading this evening.

I'm glad to know that American Gods picked up for you halfway through. I don't dislike it so far, as it's certainly an interesting story, but it just doesn't do much for me. I did indeed end up getting the full cast version. I started following the discussion thread but saw that people had progressed with it quite fast and as I really want to avoid spoilers, I think I'll go back and see what people had to say once I'm finished with it.

And now... it's time for some flash reviews. Starting to write them now and aiming for 6 within the next hour (formatting and editing not included).

239. Au pays du roi Arthur by Nicolas Cauchy, Illustations by Aurélia Fronty ★★★¾

This book reunites three different volumes about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table which were originally published separately; the first is an interpretation of the legend of King Arthur, how he caught of the Saxons and took hold of Excalibur; the second, about Sir Lancelot du Lac, King Arthur's most trusted knight, and his doomed love for Lady Guinevere; and the third, about Perceval the Gaul and how he grows from an ignorant brute to become a Knight in King Arthur's court and discovers the Holy Grail. What originally attracted me to this book were the beautiful illustrations by Aurélia Fronty who's work I've showcased several times before. The legends here are much simplified for a young audience, which was a perfect introduction for me, having never read these stories before. The book made me want to explore these tales further, and the illustrations were gorgeous, though the print versions of very moderate quality were not equal in brightness and sharpness to those found online. (click on images to view larger)


        

240. ♫ Emma by Jane Austen ★★★★½
(Read for TIOLI shared read for Challenge #6: 6. Read a book that someone has written in)

This great classic of early 19th century English literature tells the story of Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy young woman of twenty-one years of age who has all the desirable attributes of beauty, intelligence and good breeding on her side, but has no intentions of marrying. She likes to think of herself as a talented matchmaker and decides to take young Harriet, a trusting and unsophisticated, though very pretty girl, under her wing. She proposes to educate Harriet and teach her the refinements of the upper classes to prepare her for a brilliant match to a real gentleman. Emma is a heroine that many readers find unpleasant, and her archness and snobbery combined with willfulness and naiveté certainly set her up for humbling experiences. Though I can't say I thought her especially likeable, I did think her rather amusing and I found the process by which Emma grows into womanhood to be delightful. Even the predictable ending was gratifying, which I should mention to those who haven't been following my threads, signals a great change in my attitude towards Jane Austen's work.

I should say that I would probably never have appreciated, nor rated this novel so highly if it weren't for the excellent tutoring of an LT member (lyzard) who explained patiently and at length some of the historical elements and customs which most modern readers such as myself weren't aware of. This in turn gave me a much greater appreciation for all the subtleties and humour in the play on social conventions which Austen is most known for.

#147 - I don't think I'll manage even a 1to1 ratio Ilana but I always start every new year with the best of intentions.

:-)

eta: don't we all...

241. ♫ Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley ★★★★
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #9: a book Reviewed and Recommended by a Fellow 75r during the month of October 2011)

This story, originally published in 1917 is a book-lover's delight. Narrated as a first person account, it tells of the wonderful adventure of Helen McGill, an unmarried woman in her late 30s who decides to take a break from the household duties that bind her to the farm she shares with her brother Andrew, a widely published author and a difficult man to live with. When a funny little salesman named Roger Mifflin shows up at their house one day with a horse and caravan filled with books, Helen sees a great opportunity. Roger has come to the McGill farm with the intention of selling his traveling bookstore—called Parnassus on Wheels—to Andrew, as he's read and admired his books and is certain that as a fellow book lover and adventurer, Andrew will jump on the occasion. But Helen surprises Roger when she declares she is willing to use up her savings and buy up the caravan for herself, and a deal is made which includes Mr. Mifflin showing her the ropes for a day before setting off to Brooklyn, where he plans to settle down and write a book of his own. A short and very satisfying read which was originally recommended by Donna.

Oh well, so much for six reviews in an hour... no troubles, I'm *only* 8 reviews behind at this point.

154> Ilana, you might also enjoy The Haunted Bookshop, another vintage Morley that's been a favorite of bibliophiles for generations.

The latest review Parnassus on Wheels looks interesting Ilana - how on earth do you unearth these gems?

#156 Thank you Stephen. Donna, who had suggested the first book, also reviewed the second, i.e. The Haunted Bookshop, though in less glowing terms, saying she might have enjoyed it more had she taken a longer break between the first and second book, so I thought I'd follow her counsel. But I'm glad for the second recommendation and will add it to the WL pronto.

#157 how on earth do you unearth these gems?

My dear Paul, I think you already know the answer to that; it's all thanks to the wonderful recommendations of our fellow LTers of course. Couldn't do it without them! :-)

Hi Ilana- Hey, you loved a Jane Austen book! Hooray! I have not read Emma. I hope to get to a couple of her other books next year. You know I'm a fan.
I hope you are feeling well today!

Parnassus on Wheels & The Haunted Bookshop were two of my Dad's favorites...mine, as well...since I was the one who told him about..

By the way...how much do you charge for "Ghostwriting" reviews? I am so "stalled"...on so many

;-}

157 & 158> Oh yes, for me, as well: recommendations from LTers have expanded my reading horizons and increased my already-healthy(?) book-buying habits. I bought another three yesterday based on LT recommendations and conversations -- two by Graham Greene and Old Filth by Jane Gardem (a lovely Europa Edition). It made me happy to cart them home in my little red shopping bag. :-)

Excellent reviews, Ilana. I don't know if it's me or if everyone is reading great books right now, but I am adding to my wishlist at the speed of light today. Of course, I saw Donna's review of Parnassus on Wheels and The Haunted Bookshop some time ago, but your review has confirmed that these titles must be added to my wishlist immediately!

At this rate, instead of reading two books at time which I normally do, I'm going to have to start reading four or five at a time!

#159 Mark, I'd forgotten you were a Jane Austen fan. I wouldn't have pegged you as one, but then again, she's beloved by people with very varied reading tastes.

#160 The first is a really fun little book, and I must say the ending did make me want to continue with these fun and colourful characters.

As for ghostwriting my dear... I know you're just kidding, but even for the sake of the joke, if I could I would do it for you free of charge as I happen to really enjoy writing up reviews, only in case you haven't noticed, I'm always woefully behind on my own, so... sorry but no go. (just how much are you willing to pay?) ;-)

#161 Ellen, it truly is satisfying to get new books isn't it? Carting away these tiny blocks of paper that whole entire worlds. Which Graham Greene novels did you get? I'm dying to know.

#162 Judy, I find that sometimes the wishlisting happens in waves for me too. I became more stringent about what makes it on the wishlist or not after the first six month when I was adding books without a though. Now if I don't get that feeling that I must read the book IMMEDIATELY, then I don't add it. But just like you, it's often the case that when I see another glowing review for the same book that I'll break down and add it on to the boundless wishlist.

Sometimes I manage to read several novels at the same time, but lately I just want to concentrate on one book at a time. Either way, I figure I end up reading the same number of books.

I finished Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz this afternoon and, while I had meant to give my first impressions I spontaneously ended up writing a review when. Usually when that happens, I cut and save the results as a first draft to the actual review, which I then re-work and post once I've gotten to that book in the order in which I completed it. I do this to ensure that I'm not tempted to leave any book without at least a short writeup, but I think this time I'll post this one out of turn.






250. Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz ★★★★
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #10: Read a book originally written in a language that is NOT a lingua franca: Hebrew, and also for 11/11 Category #6: New To Me Authors)

I took my time reading one short story from this book each day, and was able to savour the writing, well drawn characters and various other rich details, and ponder over each of these as I went along. Each story takes place in the same fictional village of Tel-Ilan in Israel, a place of great natural beauty, and a Jewish settlement of more than a hundred years old which, as such, pre-dates the foundation of the state of Israel. The title describes the approach of the author very well, with each tale narrating a different scene; each is set in a contemporary setting which features various inhabitants of the village and describes an incident, weaved in with their relations to one another, their history and their personal challenges and struggles. There is a woman in her forties living with her elderly father who needs constant looking after and who is convinced that he hears digging under the house in the middle of the night. There is the female village doctor who awaits her beloved nephew at the bus terminal and is distraught when he doesn't show up. There is a couple which tries to hold on to a full life after the suicide of their sixteen-year old son, and a houseguest who decides to investigate what lays behind closed doors. Some of the characters reappear in other stories, which creates a connection between the various parts of the book, as the stories are quite diverse and do not form a cohesive narrative taken as a whole. One thing they all seem to have in common is that they end on a note of suspense; pregnant moments filled with possibilities. Of course, this leaves much to the imagination, a devise which works well in the hands of this masterful and mature author, but at the same time made me wish Amos Oz had developed the stories beyond these small glimpses into these people's lives. As such, I was left feeling very much like a voyeur, looking through small windows at fleeting moments of his characters' lives—which he manages to make us believe in within the first few sentences of each story—at what feels beyond a doubt like a much bigger life experience. Much closer to the way we experience real life, in fact: through these various disconnected moments, as opposed to the long flowing narratives often found in novels which don't much resemble any living individual's personal experience.

There is a prevailing note of melancholy throughout, and the last story of the book, which takes us to an altogether different place at a different time, is truly dark in tone and imbued with a sense of hopelessness, which is an odd place to finish, but then again, as there is no beginning and no end to any of the stories, perhaps we're only meant to take this new element of the puzzle as a shift in paradigm. Overall I was quite impressed with this new-to-me author and will be interested to read some of his novels. I truly wish my Hebrew was good enough for me to read them in the original version, because with the little Hebrew that remains to me, I can't help but try to translate as I'm reading to get a better feeling for the tone and intention and the Israeli spirit and mentality which I grew up with as a child. It's all here in this strange little book, to be sure. Recommended, though do expect to be left in a ponderous state to figure out the full implications on your own.

Lovely review, I also enjoyed reading it. You might find his fable Suddenly in the depths of the forest appealing, it's different from his other work.

Thanks for the link Kerry, off to bed now but I'll look it up soon.

I'm (im)patiently waiting for my copy of Scenes from Village Life to be available from the library. I'm #4 in the queue for 6 copies. I hope I get it in time to read in November.....

I just got my copy today. Oh, my! I'm trying to read too many books at the same time. What shall I do?!

ETA: I guess I start by reading the first story! :D

Illuminating review Ilana - on my hitlist a while from reading my Literary Review mag. Not available here yet...but waiting.

I've moved Scenes From Village Life right up my list thanks to your review. (That means, of course, I might get to it sometime next year!)

#167 Ellen, it'll be nice if you can join us for the shared read this month, . Since it's a short work there's a good chance you'll get it sooner rather than later, but either way, I think you'll enjoy it whenever you do get to it. In any case, I'll look forward to your take on it.

#168 I guess I start by reading the first story!

Hakol yhieh tov :-)

#169 Paul, I'd been avoiding reading reviews until I'd finished it myself, so I'll now look forward to seeing what Darryl and the New York Times had to say about it recently.

#170 Janet, I find there's no accounting for what makes me reach out for some books immediately while I let others languish. This one might have sat on my wishlist for an indefinite period, but it didn't even have time to land there—I just ordered it from the library right away. t guess it's time had come...

> 171

I haven't read your review of Scenes of Village Life Yet but I did already read the first two stories in the book. The one ("Relations") about the aunt waiting for her soldier nephew to arrive broke my heart. It was so tender and sad even though what happened was only in the mind of the aunt. That was an amazing story. I can't wait to read the other stories. I like the idea of reading one each day.

Hakol m'od tov! :)

#172 Madeline, not giving anything away when I say I think you'll find each of the stories quite sad in their own way. It didn't make for joyful reading, but he writes so beautifully that the melancholy is that much more affecting.

242. ♫ Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey ★★★¾
(TIOLI Challenge #3: A book found by mashing 2 tags; one seldom-used, one much-used: twins, mystery
and 11/11 Category #11: The Film Might Be Good But the Book is Better)

The Ashby family, now composed of aunt Bee and the four remaining children of her deceased brother Bill, has known it's share of drama. First, with both the children's parents dying in a plane crash eight years ago, then with the presumed suicide of firstborn son Patrick, who has disappeared one year later leaving behind a cryptic suicide note. The Ashbys are the owners of Latchetts, a centuries-old family estate in the fictional village of Clare, near the south coast of England, and have been breeding and selling horses for generations. Things have been difficult financially for aunt Bee and the children since the parents have been gone, but Patrick's twin brother Simon, who's twenty-first birthday is imminent, is soon to inherit Latchetts and a large trust fund left by his mother. Meanwhile, young Brat Farrar is approached on a London street by Alec Loding, an unsuccessful actor and a rogue who happens to be very intimate with the Ashby family. Brat is a dead ringer for the presumably deceased Patrick Ashby, and Loding sees an opportunity to make a fortune by recruiting Brat to pass off as Patrick, by claiming that he had run away for all those years and has now decided to return to the fold. He trains the young man thoroughly, teaching him about every detail that he should know about to pass himself off successfully and come into the inheritance. Brat is then sent off to integrate the Ashby family, with the instruction that he should simply act as himself. A compelling and riveting story which holds the reader captive and wondering all along at what moment Brat might slip up and reveal himself and as impostor. But the real treat is that Brat is in for a surprise which no training could have prepared him for. I found one section about horse racing too lengthy and detailed for my liking, but otherwise much recommended for Tey's wonderful writing and dialogue, and a really good yarn.

Just stopping by in return. I left you a message on my thread that things are getting better these days - work may not kill me off after all! :)

Nice reviews lately!

Caught up!

Great reviews--love both G. Greene and Brat Farrar. I think The Power and the Glory, a most complex work--not the plot, the character development and philosophical/social issues--is my favorite. I found the plot of Miss Pym Disposes to be blazingly obvious, but Rendell is such a good writer that it didn't matter; I loved the book anyway and stored it away for a future re-read.

I have given up trying to keep on top of your threads over here and will focus on your 11 in 11 and 12 in 12 threads, but wanted to stop and say hi!

#175 Hi Jim, thanks for stopping by!

#176 Gail, I have The Power and the Glory on my shelves somewhere, but I'll make a note of the fact that you've recommend it in my tags. I think Miss Pym Disposes was the first Tey book I heard about. I think I remember seeing it on Judy's thread (DeltaQueen50) and liking the sound of it. Then there were many mentions of her when we had Mystery Mach. Ruth Rendell is another one I look forward to discovering. You obviously had her on your mind when you inadvertently mentioned her... I see you have several of her books in her collection, but your ratings aren't very high...

#177 Hi Lori, thanks for dropping by. I find it hard to keep up with everybody here too. I'll be happy to see you on 'the other side' with 11/11 and 12/12, one of the major difference being that I review a lot more books here. If you're curious about those, you can just follow the links from the top of the page, or you can spot them easily with the book covers too.

*****

Sad day today. For no reason really, have just been feeling blue and despairing. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place and sometimes I can't help but wonder how I'll ever climb out of the hole I dug for myself. Mixed metaphors. Sorry about that.

One good thing: I went to the library to pick up some children's books by Emily Gravett, who was recommended by Kerry (avatiakh), and found out when I was there that they had reversed the decision to close down the adult section, at least for another year.

This evening instead of watching the Woody Allen documentary on PBS or Boardwalk Empire on HBO, I decided to have a mini Emily Gravett festival and look at the three books by her I brought home today. I had Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears, Wolves and Dogs. The first two were brilliant, both in concept and execution, with fun illustrations and lots of clever little details in the book design itself. The third was very cute and I couldn't help taking a photo of Coco, who was napping next to me as I read. I took so many photos that I have to edit before I can upload them, so I'll post some another time. The book that Kerry had recommended was The Rabbit Problem, and I reserved it at the same time as the other three, but someone else has it at the moment, so I'll be getting it a little bit later. It was just the kind of comfort reading I needed—quick and sweet and very clever.

Ilana - chin up girl - I'd be on top of the world if I looked like Rachel Weisz's older sister!

#179 Well, see Paul, given she's the gazillions of times hotter, successful movie actress, blissfully married, rich and much younger sister, that just makes me the neurotic old maid who lives with her cats and dog and spends her life on the internet older sister, see? What's to be so glad about? I'm saying this with a big smile on my face, so tongue is in cheek, even though there's a giant kernel of truth to it...

Anyway, for those interested in such things, I've gone and started putting together my 12/12 thread. There's lots of pretty pictures to look at. You'll find it Right here.

As if I (and you lovely lurkers and non-lurkers alike) didn't have enough threads to keep track of already, right? Heh.

Whizzed over already to the 12in12 and was first one in! Rachel Weisz can stay with Daniel Craig I'm happy enough with Ilana as my LT buddy any day of the week. What are a few neuroses between pals?!

Hi Ilana, I'm also hoping you're feeling a little less blue now, I just wish I had a magic wand.
I think Gravett's work is all rather wonderful, clever and utterly delightful.

The Amos Oz book sounds very inviting, there's something in your review (can't say what) that draws me towards it. But even before I got to the last paragraph I thought it might be a little too dark for a soon-tbr. Maybe it reminds me a bit of Visitation. Anyway, I'll put it on my watchlist.

I am sorry you had such a sad day and I hope today will already be much better.
Looking forward to new Coco pictures!

Stopping by to wave. Not a lot of reading happening here - my Mother in Law is here for a month, which is mostly good and the kids LOVE having Granma around, but changes the evening dynamic to lots of sitting 'round talking or watching TV on demand/dvd together and much less time for self-occupation like reading.

Glad you liked Emily Gravett. We think she is brilliant and I just bought Orange Pear Apple Bear for the toddler. Wolves and The Rabbit Problem are two of our favorites. Spells is also great fun.

I loved your review of Scenes from Village Life, and your comment about it in message #173 ("I think you'll find each of the stories quite sad in their own way. It didn't make for joyful reading, but he writes so beautifully that the melancholy is that much more affecting.") is perfect.

#181 It was nice seeing you over on the other side before I'd even had time to advertise the new thread, Paul! I don't know what draws me to yet another challenge, because goodness knows THIS group keeps me busy enough as it is, but the lure of another challenge is just irresistible. I've also met a few other people through 11/11 that I like to follow, and others who ended up being members of the 75ers, only I mightn't have met them otherwise because there are just so many of us! lol

#182 Kerry, I took care of the blues by sleeping most of the day. It might not be a recommended cure, and missing my art class wasn't cool, but I feel better for it, so it's all good.

I'm really glad you turned me on to Gravett's work, she is quite the find. I'll have to look again to see what other books they have by her at the library. Have you read Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears yet? The production quality really is amazing, and it actually won a well-deserved award for it: the British Book Design and Production Award (Children’s Trade; Book Of The Year, 2008)

#183 Nathalie, I'm not usually a fan of short stories, partly because it takes me a while to immerse myself in any one book and I'm not crazy about jumping from one thing to another, but in this case, it almost read like a novel, probably because all the stories are set in the same place at around the same time period. If there's something about my description that reminds you of Visitation, it might have something to do with the fact that both books are studies on a specific place and the people that inhabit it, with the house, or in this case the village, playing a principal role, as opposed to being part of the background scenery. Also, both books are imbued with profound sadness, and for this reason, I think you are wise to hold off reading this one for the moment, but I think when you're in the right frame of mind you'll find it quite excellent.

#184 Nice to see you in these parts again Marie! Having guests over always changes things a lot, and I'm sure reading typically ends up being pushed aside, as, apart from LT, it tends to be a rather solitary occupation. I hadn't kept up with your thread as wasn't seeing any new activity there, but I see you've started a new one so I'll come by to say hello over there shortly.

#186 Darryl, I'm honoured that you found I did a creditable job with my review. It's the kind of book that usually requires much working up of courage before I feel I can give it it's due, but as the review practically wrote itself, I just thought I'd get out of the way and let the job get done. I finally read your own excellent review of it yesterday, as I'd avoided reading anything about the book before as didn't want to get influenced, but when I did read it, I was a little mortified because I felt it looked like I had copied your ideas. Great minds think alike in this case it seems! Only, unlike you, I'm not rating it as one of my best reads of the year, but that may be because I have a negative prejudice about depressing content these days.

Hi Ilana. I recently purchased The Power and the Glory -- perhaps it can be a shared read sometime in a future TIOLI challenge. I bought it because I've always wanted to read something by Graham Greene and the discussion on your thread led me to that one.

I'm still waiting for Scenes from Village Life to get to me from the library (it's been on hold for what seems like forever!). After Darryl's comments about it and now your review, I can hardly wait! The website says I'm #4 in the queue (they have 6 copies). I know how it will go: it will be available at the exact same time as 4 others I have on hold and I'll have to call in sick for two days to read them all (just kidding).

Hi Ellen, of course I'll be happy to share reads with you, and I'm all for The Power and the Glory, maybe even in December, as I haven't got much planned yet (though planning to keep it that way), and Greene's novels are always on the short side... another reason for being a fan of his. :-)

I don't know what it is about library books, but here too they always seem to become available in batches so that I'm scrambling to get them read on time. New publications in particular are annoying because one can rarely renew them beyond the initial three-week loan since they're so much in demand. But then, I guess I shouldn't complain about a service that is after all, free. Not so very long ago, I was buying every single book I wanted to read, which now I think of it, is kind of nuts given I don't have that kind of money to spend and that I didn't have the intention of hanging to to any but a very few of them.

243. ♫ Artists in Crime by Ngaio Marsh ★★★
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a mystery published before you were born; 1938. Also read for 11/11 Category #3: Mysteries & Crime Fiction)

My first Ngaio Marsh experience overall went well. It's they 6th of the Roderick Alleyn series and I liked the Scotland Yard inspector quite well. He meets artist Agatha Troy (called Troy), makes what seems like a knowledgeable comment on the painting she got underway, and becomes quite taken by her. Unfortunately for the would-be couple, not very long after, he's called in for a murder that's taken place at her home, which she runs as an artist colony. The studio model has died following a stabbing that occurred when she was taking the awkward pose that was required of her. It seems the knife was inserted through the base of the podium at precisely the right spot to enter her heart. All the artists present are suspects, especially since, artists being artist, there is plenty of drama and strife in the air, and more than a little sexual tension too. I did find certain parts dragged on a little, which was too bad, especially since I had mistakenly gotten the abridged version of this novel on audio. Still, I enjoyed Marsh's approach, which seemed to me a little bit darker and more gritty than Agatha Christie's. I'll be revisiting her and Alleyn in future.






244. ♫ Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers ★★★★
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #12: Read a mystery published before you were born; 1923. Also read for 11/11 Category #8: The Two World Wars and the Time In-Between)

It's a month of firsts for me, and here I started with the first in new-to-me Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey series. Gentlemen of his class aren't expected to take up employment, and some view his involvement with crime of bad taste, but he can't help getting wrapped up in a good case of murder. This one is a doozy: a man is found laying in the bath at an architect's home completely naked, save for the presence of a pince-nez perched on his nose. The architect can't have committed the murder and the body strangely resembles Sir Reuben Levy, a powerful banker who has disappeared overnight. I liked the ongoing construction of the Lord Wimsey character and the many incongruous elements of the story that Sayers weaved in for us were very entertaining.

245. La femme au miroir by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt ★★★½
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #8: an author I've only read ONE book from, 11/11 Category #9: En Français)

Three different women, three different time periods and destinies, but what if they are one and the same woman? This is what we are meant to reflect upon as we read the alternating narratives, which start with beautiful Anne, in Bruges, sometime in the 16th century. She is getting ready for her wedding day, and everyone envies Anne her gorgeous fiancé, especially her cousin Ida, who envies her beyond all common sense. But Anne is more interested in staring at butterflies and the way a ray of sun spreads across the room, and soon she is running away to freedom and nature to hide in the woods and commune with an ancient tree. Some think she has the makings of a saint. Others think she is in league with the devil.

Hanna is living in Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century. She has just married into one of the wealthiest and most prestigious families of the upper classes. Her husband adores her and desires her constantly; every night she goes to concerts and performances of the highest caliber, when she's not invited to elegant dinner parties; she wears to most up-to-date fashions, and her private fortune can afford her every luxury, yet she is unhappy and deeply neurotic. A relative introduces her to a strange new fad called psychoanalysis. She can't be seen by Freud himself because he is a Jew and good families don't mix with those people, but things are arranged for her to meet with one of his disciples.

Then there is Anny. She's the hottest commodity in Hollywood and her favourite pastime is drinking, taking drugs, and sleeping with every man she can get her hands on. Things quickly get out of control and an accident lands her in hospital where she meets Ethan, a male nurse who wants to help her get healthy, but will her publicist let her make the right choices?

I have mixed feelings about this book. One the one hand, I was captivated with the stories of both Anne of Bruges and Hanna in 20th century Vienna. All three women have independent spirits and are at odds with what society expects of them. Or at least, Anna and Hanna are, but Anny seemed like too much of a cliché of the kind we see in tabloids every day, and I couldn't stop the image of Lindsay Lohan forming in my mind every time her turn came around. But Schmitt writes beautifully and since his Mr. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran—the only other book I've read by him so far—he can do no wrong in my eyes. This is his latest venture and a hot commodity on the French market. It should make it's way to the English world before too long. I'd be surprised if it didn’t: it's got too much bestseller potential not to.

Very interesting review of the Scmitt book Ilana - shame I'm not quite proficient enough with my schoolboy french to take it on in the vernacular. Are any of his books translated that you know of?

Yes, he has a few translated into English, and I would especially recommend Mr. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran. It was made into a movie with Omar Sharif starring in the principal role. A tiny book and a great story. You can see his other offerings on his author page. I'm off to bed now. Have a great... afternoon is it?

Sweet dreams Ilana - yes it's almost 2 in the afternoon here. Thanks for the rec I'll try to track him down.

Hi Ilana- I read and loved The Power and the Glory many years ago. I NEED to read more of this author's work. I find myself saying that a lot lately.

> 186

I've only read three storeis so far in Scenes From Village Life, but this book has the quality to make me stop and reflect before moving on to the next story. Each story has deeply psychological undertones. I find many layers to these stories. In addition, it speaks to me by virtue of the fact that it draws me back to personal experiences I had while living in Israel.

This is the kind of book that is quite rich despite its diminutive size. It's also the kind of book that I don't want to read too quickly. I like savoring each story. I need to read the rest of this book at leisure while I'm home, as oposed to reading it on the Metro on the way to and from work.

I'm glad this was a TIOLI book shared by a number of people. That fact actually pushed me to get a copy of this book right away. I'm glad I did.

Hi Ilana, getting caught up with you is one of my morning joys. I'm glad you liked Emma, one of my favorite Austen books. In fact it may be my very favorite, although it has been many years since I revisited Pride and Prejudice. Thanks for the props on Parnassus. It's such a charmer that any bibliophile will probably like it if not love it.

Sorry about your blues returning. I like how you always turn to books and art when that happens. And then there's your precious little buddy Coco to bring you around again. Dogs have to be walked, and that is always a mood brightener for me - even on a rainy day like today. Short walk for Mr. Lucky!

Keep on keeping on over here, my friend. I must get over to the 12 in 12 to see what you're up to but it will have to wait until I have more time. My thread over there is languishing and needs some dusting off. Have a great day!

> 189
Yep, I agree on all counts about the library experience. Love it, love it, love it ---- and sometimes (very often, in fact) I just have to own a book so I can read it exactly when I want to do so.
:-)

It's pouring cats & dogs here; if I had a Coco, he'd be getting a very short walk today.

#194 I hope you find it Paul, and I don't want to seem like I'm proselytizing, but Mr. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran is one of those books that should be read by everyone. In fact, I think I'll have to read it again myself soon, because I can only remember a few details clearly at this point, which, given how poor my memory is, is saying quite a lot for it!

#195 It's funny how some authors come to the fore sometimes and we end up having them on our minds for a while. Greene is one of those authors that definitely deserve to be widely read, and it's nice to see he's got some fans in these parts, with Paul probably being one of his strongest supporters!

#196 Each story has deeply psychological undertones.

I couldn't agree more with you Madeline. I suppose that plays a large role in giving them such a haunting quality. You'll probably find they continue living in your mind long after you've finished reading the book too.

It's definitely a book that would best benefit from being read in a quiet environment, away from the hustle and bustle of a daily commute. I usually do most of my paper book reading in bed just before going to sleep, when all is quiet and still, which is perfect for any kind of reading, I find, but was especially appropriate for Scenes from Village Life.

#197 Oh Donna, there you go being a sweetheart again! :-)

I really give props to lyzard for having made Emma such a fun experience. When reading the first three novels by JA, I felt very much lost in a world that I couldn't connect to at all, and it proved a very frustrating experience in that sense. Liz has expressed her enthusiasm for tutoring other Jane Austen novels, and I'll be taking her up on it for the two remaining major novels by her that I've yet to read, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

As for the blues, I'm afraid they came hardwired into my genetic makeup. The facile explanation for this would be to say that my father was born in Russia from Polish parents, and as everyone knows, the slavic soul is forever tormented. I read very recently somewhere a comment about Polish people, and how they are also continually suffering from a tortured soul—it was in A Far Cry from Kensington, it just came back to me now, and I had to agree.

But you're right, books, art and Coco (and Ezra and Mimi, my cats too, of course) seem to be the best kind of therapy for me and take me out of my own head. This is probably a reason why I've taken to audiobooks with a passion the way I have; while I'm listening, there's no room for my own old faulty tapes to do their damage.

Please don't worry about trying to keep up with both my threads. I know keeping up with just ONE thread per person is plenty of work already, but you might just want to take a look at the images I've put up when you have a chance. I think you'll really like at least one or two of them.

#198 One of my favourite parts of the library experience is that it's just the perfect distance to take Coco for a walk whenever I want to pick up or drop off books. Of course, having my dog with me means I can't stay and take advantage of the facilities to read, but there happens to be my favourite café practically next door where they DO accept Coco, so really, it's the best of both worlds.

Being able to read a book in one's own time for me completely justifies the cost of purchasing a book, but having access to such a great variety of books that I wouldn't want to purchase, like all the children's books I've enjoyed this year for example, is quite priceless too.

*****

I FINALLY finished American Gods last night, and I hate to say it, but it was none too soon. As much as I've enjoyed reading Gaiman so far, this one did absolutely nothing for me and in fact, seemed to drag on forever. What probably didn't help was that I had the 10th anniversary edition, to which he added 12,000 words from his original manuscript. It's not very kind to say that the thing I liked best about a book was actually finishing it, but that's my feeling about it in a nutshell.

On the other hand, I'm finding The Night Circus to be a real treat. But I'll either have to start getting to bed earlier or take up reading during the daytime more often if I want to finish it on time AND also fit in Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter as I had planned this month. But then again, those kinds of plans are made to be broken.

It's a gorgeous day outside; beautiful blue skies and sunshine. Which means, at this time of year that it's COOOOLD! But I'll be taking Coco for a nice walk outside soon and starting up a new audiobook too. There certainly is no lack of options there! :-)

#154 I have Parnassus on Wheels on the wishlist thanks to Donna's recommendation too. Glad to see you also enjoyed it. I suppose there might still be time for me to read it as a shared read if it's short...

#164 Great review of Scenes from Village Life. I'm not always a big fan of short stories but that collection sounds well worth a try.

#178 "Sad day today." So sorry, hugs. The rock, hard place and hole don't sound fun.

#190 Glad you enjoyed your first Ngaio Marsh and Dorothy Sayers.

This tidbit on wikipedia tickled me about Whose Body? (apologies if you've already seen it). For those who haven't read it the following doesn't contain any spoilers as this happens right at the beginning of the book.

"The original finding of the naked body and the deductions to be made from it were fairly 'daring' for the time. In the original text, Parker decides that the body in the bath could not be Sir Reuben Levy because "...Sir Reuben is a pious Jew of pious parents, and the chap in the bath obviously isn't..." This backhanded reference to circumcision was felt by Sayers' publisher to be too frank, and in the published version the deduction was made merely on the basis that the dead man appeared to have been doing manual labour rather than living the comfortable life of a wealthy financier."

I adore the fact that that one little sentence was considered too risque for the 1920s.

#191 La femme au miroir sounds really interesting (and I love the cover - do you know who the artist is?). Shame it hasn't been translated into English yet but as we're generally spoilt with English language books I can't really complain.

I should also say that I like seeing someone else who tags so much :-)

The library has Mr Ibrahim and Oscar and the lady in pink though so I will give those a try.

#199 Ok, that comment tipped me over the edge into requesting Mr Ibrahim from the library.

Sorry you didn't enjoy American Gods. At least it's off the list now?

Going way back to msg 101 - are you still going to post some pictures of your Cabinet of Curiosities watercolours? Not meant in a nagging, adding to feelings of stress way...

Glad you are enjoying The Night Circus! I just finished it and totally loved it!

Right. So while I meant to NOT spend half my day here on LT so I could actually get some reading done, I couldn't resist getting updated on several posts and reading about new features (forced touchstones are back, and a new feature to continue threads onto new pages has been developed, though I'm not sure how to actually activate it, or if it's fully functional yet). Meanwhile, I see it's almost time for Coco's evening walk, which means there aren't that many hours left for me to do that in. So one last visit, on my own thread this time, and then... eeeek! I get off the computer.

Currently listening to: ♫ Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières



*****

#200 Hi Heather! I decided to revisit my thread because of your wonderful post, which I found both stimulating to read and generally fun, so will reply now as I have lots to respond to:

I've looked up Parnassus on Wheels on the Amazon UK site which lists it at 128 pages. You can of course get it FREE — here's the link to it on Project Gutenberg. May as well share the link wealth, since I've already visited those pages myself. As for The Haunted Bookshop, the follow up book, I can't seem to find any consensus on it's length as I've seen editions with 114 pages, and others with over 300 pages. But again, it's also available on Project Gutenberg. This is when I wish I had an e-reader. May try it on my iPhone, though I'm not sure which version to download for that...

Re: Scenes from Village Life, I'm not usually a fan of short story collections either, but this one definitely worked for me, so might do for you too.

Re: sad days, I'm assuming you saw my comment to Donna in #199. They're a fact of life for everyone, but I was born with a predisposition to them. Makes the happy days all that more special! :-)

Ngaio Marsh: I'll be revisiting her soon enough, as I have Overture to Death in my audio library. Unabridged this time, as it should be—I couldn't believe I'd gotten the abridged version of Artists in Crime as I'm usually very careful about getting the full versions. Thinking about it, I wondered if perhaps that didn't affect my appreciation of the story; perhaps the fact that many details were omitted took away much of the flavour of the whole?

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing those amusing tidbits about Whose Body! I often look up novels I've read on Wikipedia, but not always, so had missed that fascinating tidbit (pun... can't decide if it was intended or not... lol). In a way, I'm not so surprised that Sayers had put that in the original version of the story, as she certainly seemed to have a very modern mentality. Not sure where I picked that up, but I remember that when I saw the book was published in 1923 I was shocked, because thought it was at least from the 1950s. I guess one of the big differences between censorship in our time and that of those days was that while nowadays it's perfectly fine to allude to something, as long as the language used is discreet enough, back then the allusion itself wasn't tolerated. God forbid a writer should put such impure thoughts into the minds of their readers! But perhaps I'm wrong about that, as I know plenty of writers from earlier times made plenty of veiled allusions, if one knew where to look for them.

The artist for the cover of La femme au miroir is Tamara de Lempicka, who was a famous art deco painter and quite a socialite throughout the 1920s and 30s, when she frequented and worked with many prominent artists and writers (Picasso, O'Keefe, de Kooning, Jean Cocteau, Colette, Vita Sackville-West, to name a few). She's an especially fitting choice for this novel, as she was quite an independent spirit in her time, and was notorious for her all-consuming libido and bisexuality. I'm sure you must have come across quite a few of her paintings here and there. I was quite taken by her legend and her work as an art student.

As you say, I'm glad that American Gods is off the list. That's the best thing I can say about it for now, and I think I won't actually write a formal review of it, or at least I'll let it sit for a while as I don't have many good things to say about it at this point. I'll visit the group read thread too, as may across some comments that will make me see it in a different light.

Thank you for the reminder (not nagging) about the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities watercolours. My mum and another friend have been asking about them too, and I've got pictures of all the pieces I've done so far, just have to edit and actually post them! But see... I spend all my time here on LT, so who has time for blogging on top of it all?? I will get to them soon. Promised them to mum last week, bad daughter that I am... I'm embarrassed at this point that I thought to call that blog Creative365 of all things. I really did start out with the best of intentions, I promise!

Phew, and how I HAVE gone on with this post. :-S

I guess I can be wordy sometimes. At least Suzanne had the right idea when she called herself Chatterbox. I wonder if a change of handle might be more fitting in my case too?

#201 Hi Chelle! I'll be spending the rest of the evening away from LT and deep into The Night Circus. Or at least, that's been my plan all day...

Ilana - you are right about the influence of Madeline/Liz re Ms. Austen. Even my lukewarm JA sensibilities were caressed by this and I've set out restocking my Austen collection which had been left behind in England 18 years ago and thrown away by a spurned former lover (sounds more dramatic than the events in Emma doesn't it). Note your comment about four hours on the threads yesterday and have traced your steps severally but alas not to my own! (just kidding).

Loved Birds Without Wings a few years ago and it doesn't suffer from the useless ending foisted by De Bernieres upon Captain Corelli's Mandolin (the film version quite rightly corrected this). Your reading/listening continues to surprise and enthrall and is every bit as scatterbrained as my own.

Hi Ilana, I know what you mean about American Gods, I was glad to finish it as well. I listened to the same production so we both got perhaps a little more Gaiman than we wanted. American Gods certainly shows he's a brilliant author but, aren't you glad that you were already introducted to him through The Graveyard Book and know that he is capable of writing a warm and engaging book!

Thanks for posting the link - Parnassus on Wheels is on my Kindle PC app now!

TaDa! Here I am!
Good morning, Ilana!
I really think we should get your threads on touchstones and take book credit for reading them LOL
I give them 5 stars!
All I want for Christmas is 6 more hours in the day! :)

I am almost finished with Night Circus and love, love, love the fun! What an imagination...

Hi Ilana, so glad you enjoyed Whose Body and Brat Farrar among others. And I too enjoyed Birds without Wings a few years back - I read it shortly after I'd been staying in Turkey, not far from where the events were set, and could picture the village setting.

#204 Paul: spurned lover experiences are the stuff that drama is made of! Throwing away Jane Austen books puts her in the category of bunny-boiling psychos, I'd say, so good thing you got away with all pieces intact (or so I assume).

I lost track of your thread because you went and started up a new one behind my back, the second I let my attention slip for some much-needed sleep. Sneaky Paul!

You're right about my reading choices being all over the place. There's no method whatsoever to my madness; I just know I like to travel between completely different worlds, and it would never occur to me to follow up one genre or style with similar. Or rather, of course it occurs to me—just doesn't appeal is all. I don't remember the ending of Captain Corelli's Mandolin and not sure I was able to watch the movie till the end. I was completely incensed with their choice of Nicolas Cage in the lead. I'm not fond of him as an actor, and even less so in the role of a romantic hero. Ugh!

Enjoying Birds Without Wings, great storytelling, but perhaps audio wasn't the best way to go with this one, what with continuous changes of narrators and timeline, which this reader doesn't help to differentiate between so that it takes me a while to figure out where, when and who he's talking about at every turn. Still, I won't fault the novel for that, but wish I'd picked it up when I saw a nice used copy sometime this year.

#205 Judy, you're right, I'm really glad I discovered Gaiman via The Graveyard Book because had I started with American Gods, it's a sure bet he wouldn't have been included among my favourite authors, and I'm not sure I would have wanted to read anything else by him. I don't know if I found fault with the same things others did—I saw lots of mention about profanity, which some found offensive, but that wasn't it for me. I just felt like the book was very much a 'guy thing' and didn't feel any connection to any part of it. Well, that may not be fair, because there were moments that kept me going, just not enough of them. I really need to swing by the GR thread now that I'm done with it and no longer concerned about spoilers.

#206 Nathalie, I think you'll enjoy Parnassus on Wheels, it's a fun ride! I keep forgetting about Project Gutenberg because I don't have an e-reader, but as I said, I'll try downloading a version of The Haunted Bookshop on my iPhone.

#207 Well HELLO Claudia! :-)

I think you're saying my threads are very wordy, aren't you? AREN'T YOU?!? lol ;-)
You're very sweet. I never have enough hours in the day to keep up with everyone as I'd like to here. So many fascinating and fun people to exchange with here on LT.

I'm halfway throught The Night Circus and it's a real treat. I get the feeling Morgenstern had lots of fun writing it, and as you say, what an imagination! So far I think she deserves all the credit for the brouhaha surrounding this first book by her.

*****




I woke up in the early hours this morning to a gorgeous thick blanket of snow outside. Then I got back into bed and slept like a baby—so good to sleep when it's snowing outside (better than inside, that's for sure). First snow of the season, and I can hear the snow removal trucks going up and down the streets already. It's a very fine powder that keeps floating down ever so gently but persistently. If I was still a skier I'd be heading for the hills right now.

I'll be heading off to the the McClure Gallery this afternoon. It's the art gallery that is part of the Visual Arts Centre where I take my art classes. They're having a fundraising affair that I think I mentioned before. They're calling it Square Affair, as they've distributed square blocks of wood to all the advanced students, teachers and any professional artists that wanted to participate, asking us to contribute a work of art, which will be on sale today starting this evening at 6 p.m. I haven't invited anyone for today because it's going to be packed solid, but the show is on till the 26th, and I'd like to go back with my camera to take some pictures, so will invite my dad to come with me. They apparently got over 300 pieces! 75% of the proceeds go to the school, which is a non-profit organization, and the other quarter goes to the artist. Our waterclours teacher, who is a sweetie with a mean sense of humour warned us not to be too disappointed—"if your work doesn't sell, you'll know what it feels like to be a real professional artist!" lol. I don't mind either way. If it doesn't sell, I get to keep it as part of a series I intend to continue working on. If it does sell though, it'll be good for me as far as income taxes go, because my accountant has been deducting all my art expenses after I promised him I would eventually start selling my artwork...

I'll try to do a quick round of the threads (ha! as if that was ever possible), and then get onto editing and posting pics of my work on my art blog, which I've been promising to do for a while now.

#208 Genny, just saw your message, as I take forever to type up my posts and forget to check back in before actually publishing them. You're stayed in Turkey, have you? How interesting! I'm dying to know the details.

I have a story about NOT going to Istandbul as I was supposed to over ten years ago. Ever since, I've had dreams of being on my way there, and all the most amazing things happening to prevent me from getting to destination. lol

Good day, Ilana. Your lie-in while it snows outside sounds lovely. Here in Seattle, it's just rain rain rain. I miss that blanket of beautiful, quiet stuff. To be able to hunker down and read with a cup of tea and a cat on the lap while it snowed outside..... very nice.

I'm at work but later today I get to walk up to the bookstore. I'm planning to see if I can get a copy of The Twin after so much talk about it on a couple of other threads, and I'm going to investigate The Night Circus, as well. It sounds fun.

I only have 3 more books to complete to make the 75 mark in 2011. I've never counted before, but I'm positive this will be the first year in my adult life that I've read that many books in a year. Thanks go to *you* for many of the recommendations!

Have fun at the McClure. The Square Affair sounds like a very cool event! I'm a particular fan of (some) woodblock prints (I have a couple of such prints of geese and ducks over my mantle at home). I realize artists could do any number of things with the blocks of wood they distributed, but that's where my mind goes.

#210 Yes, I was in Turkey about 8 years ago. I tend to have a 'hot' holiday only about once every 4 or years. Recently Portugal, previously Turkey, before that Tunisia... In Turkey I stayed high up in the mountains about an hour's drive (mostly straight up) from the town Fethiye . On the hillside nearby to Fethiye is the now-deserted village of Kayakoy, the real-life village on which the one in the book is based. I won't say more about the reasons for it becoming deserted as I'm not sure how far through the book you are.

The place I stayed up in the mountains was away from the humidity of the sea-level resorts, lovely and sunny but cool in the shade - surrounded by pine forests. It was a very small, deliberately low-impact complex on the edge of a small village, with simple self-catering cottages built in the style of the local village houses, run on green principles by a half English half Turkish couple who'd got fed up with over-developed tourist resorts. They tried to give employment and support to the village residents, partly by encouraging visitors to buy some of the local handcrafts, and encouraged people to minimise their water usage and be aware of the economic and environmental impact of their visit. I learned a great deal about the current situation in Turkey, and the religious and economic pressures and challenges being faced by ordinary people and government. The english woman was an archaeology graduate who'd come out in the 60s to explore Turkey's rich archaological heritage, and never gone back! She organised a few mini-bus trips to some local sites of interest, but I didn't get anywhere near the really famous sites in places like Ephesus, nor to Istanbul itself, so I'd love to go back some day and explore more...

Good lord! My life is so freaking dull!

Yes. For sure, Ilana - your threads are an avalanche of words - and I love them all! ;-)

I've spent the past three hours working on my blog post to show my Cabinet of Natural Curiosities watercolours. I spent it all mostly on calibrating the images. Perfectionist, me? Naaaaaahhh...

The one I'm posting here, a scarab, is the one I'm putting on sale, but if you click the link (either the image or in the text), it'll bring you to the post with all the pieces in the collection I've done so far.



I've got to run now as already running terribly late, but I'll be back to read your wonderful comments above later this evening (as far as I'm concerned, ANY comment is a wonderful comment!)

ttyl all! :-)

ILana,
Your work is beautiful! I checked out the images on your blog and they are truly stunning. I wouldn't have expected to be so drawn to a beetle, but the colors are so rich. Thanks for sharing with us!

eta: and I clicked on the link to the picture with the hidden cat (having seen it before) and it took me a while this time, but I found him! He looks a bit like my Edgar (sniff).

Yafeh m'od!

Ilana, those pictures are nice! I like the scarab the best and the blue butterfly the second best. I hope the scarab picture sells. Let us know what happens and keep doing this. I love insects!! They are soooooo interesting.

What did you do to get this scarab painting done? Did you have a scarab there in your studio? Did you have a picture of one? Did you look at one under a type of microscope and project it to be larger?

I tried watercolor lessons many, many years ago. I found that a really hard medium in which to work. You do very nicely with it.

Yup! Love that blue butterfly!

Is it hard to sell your paintings? I mean, do you get attached to them? They are great. :)

#209 Spurned lover stories are the food of fiction no doubt Ilana but a real bummer at the time - good job it was Jane Austen and not Graham Greene or I would have been serving a prison sentence still! Agree that Nicholas Cage not right for the role....give me De Niro to carry off the role anyday.
Like Ellen I do miss the look of snow carpeting the ground outside my bedroom window but the chill in the air freezing my tubes doesn't really appeal.
Enjoyed Genny's well travelled tales Tunisia, Turkey and Portugal are all places that I have still to visit and yearn to do...if only my spending priorities were different....
Claudia is also right any verbosity in your thread is welcome, diverting and always engaging - don't change.
Your pictures are interesting too - I especially like the butterflies.

Hullo! This is the first chance I've gotten this evening to sit down in front of the computer. I feel like I didn't get my proper dose of LT today and am a bit disconcerted for it. The show was packed. They apparently had 100 more works than they had anticipated receiving (so, something like 400 of them, I believe) and roughly the same amount of visitors this evening. I hung out with Emily, one of my class buddies, and I'm glad we got there an hour before the show started so I could have a look at everything, because there was so much work to look at, and once the crowds came in it was hard to move around, let alone see them the work. Emily's piece sold right away (a woman from our class snapped it up) and she was really upset to see it taken off the wall right away. We had assumed they'd just be putting little red dot stickers to indicate those that had been purchased, as they usually do in galleries and then let the buyers take them away at the end of the show on Saturday. But with each square gone, there was a little square SOLD! sign left behind—apparently they were doing this to build up the excitement and create a sense of immediacy. I'm a bit disappointed by this too, as I had intended to go back with my camera as I said I would. I wasn't exactly shocked that nobody jumped on my piece—it seems not very many people would be fond of having a bug adorning their wall... go figure. I ended up buying a piece from one of our classmates too. It's an abstract, very simple, some circles arranged in a pyramid; what really drew me to it was the colour combination, which I had seen when Josiane, the woman who made the piece, had brought it to class. I hadn't intended to purchase anything because simply can't afford to, but when I saw some of the work going, I suddenly thought I'd be really sad to see it go, so I pounced. I think she'll be quite pleased, because she's very insecure about her work and she'd told us that her daughter, who is a designer, had more or less told her she was wasting her time when she was making it. Nice.

So that's that. Then I had to run home and run to the book store as I'd forgotten to return an art book I'd ordered online and which I didn't want to keep—it was the Diebenkorn book, and when I saw it, I decided I'd rather get a book on his Ocean Park Series. The book I returned had a lot of his figurative work, which I'm not so crazy about. I'd forgotten to return it on the cutoff day, which was Tuesday, so off Coco and I went by metro, though really, the only thing on my mind was to relax at home after all the hubbub this evening. The hors d'oeuvres were really tasty, and I made sure to eat enough of them so I wouldn't have to cook when I got home. They had these giant shrimp in some kind of herb marinade that were just heavenly, so I stuffed my face when most of the guests were gone and the waitresses kept coming out with trays of food. Yum.

Now I'm exhausted beyond measure. Not sure how much reading I'll get done, but I must get a move on with The Night Circus because it's due back at the library on the 27th, which is quickly upon us.

Those people are nuts. I would buy your bug in a second, if were (geographically) in a position to do so. It's stunning.

#211 I want to give you an advance CONGRATULATIONS on having just three more books to go to hit 75 Ellen! 75 books in a year is a whole lot more reading than most people ever do, and it's definitely something to be proud of. Believe me when I say I have never in my life read this many books before either. In fact, a few years ago I joined the 50 Books group and was amazed to meet my target. I joined the following year and don't think I made it past 35 books. Ultimately though, I really do believe that it's not about how many books we read, but whether we enjoy ourselves while we're doing it. In fact, for 2012, I'm going to aim for a lower number so I can fit in larger books in my collection. But then, children's books really boost the numbers too.

I love woodblock prints too. I'd be curious to see the ones you have at home.

#212 Genny, that sounds like it must have been a very special, and very lovely vacation. There's a lot to be said for eco tourism, and it sounds like these people were quite dedicated to providing a special experience while making a positive impact on the area and the local community.

I went and looked up the wikipedia page for Birds Without Wings yesterday for a little bit of help, because I couldn't keep the characters straight in my head, nor figure out the timelines, with the action moving back and forth in time... it just got too confusing. I wasn't going to read the plot, but the writeup was actually quite short and I did read about Kayakoy, so no risk of spoiler since wikipedia took care of that for me! Mind you, I was aware of these events, if not of this village specifically. I stayed in Crete for some months, where there was at one point a rather large Ottoman community, especially in the town I was staying in, Hania, and there too, many people were displaced at that time. I wonder, is there any indication of the change of time and place in the book? The audio does not, and it's proving frustrating, though the story and characters are so good, I'm still enjoying it.

#213 Claudia, fear not, my life is actually quite dull, and to be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way. I only very rarely get out of the house anymore, or see people, or do anything particularly special. There was a time when I used to watch Sex and the City and think they've got nothing on me but alas, those days are long gone now, and good riddance too. I''ll take quiet days at home anytime over all that running around and the sheer madness of trying to sustain a lifestyle I was clearly not cut out for. Or maybe I was, but no longer.

What a disappointment about the paintings being take off the wall during the show!! I'd never heard of such a thing. This was supposed to be an art show, not a street fair. I would complain about that to the committee that set up the show. That just deosn't seem right to me either.

I loved your picture, Ilana. Because it's a large insect, it wouldn't fit just any place. Those kinds of paintings are harder to sell. This is what to do. Continue to do those kind of paintings for yourself (and for me!) and do other kinds of paintings only if you're looking for sales. Again, those pictures of yours that I liked the best were both pictures of insects.

By the way, I finished Scenes From Village Life. What was that last story all about, and why was it in that book?! It was too weird.

Did your book also have something that looked like a gray dripping at the end? What was that, and why was that there? Weird, again!

#215 Edgar... sniff indeed. I'm surprised it took you a while to spot the cat the second time around, because I thought it was one of those things that once you've seen it, you can't not see it afterward. But I have a visual memory, and forget this is not the case for most people, who, for instance, don't forget words all the time and even the names of their best friends (long story, sort of).

#216 Toda rabba Madeline! :-)

I'm actually working from a book of old 18th century etchings called The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. I posted some images from it in this blog post. In a way, what I'm doing is more or less copying, since I'm working from drawings already. This is why I was saying that I'm just getting started because eventually I'd like to come up with my very own interpretations of those drawings. Mind you, I was quite happy with the one I did of the birds, which I felt was doing something 'new' with those images. I've just always been really fond of those old etchings and engravings, so having a bit of a hard time NOT making copies, sort of, though the drawing is done freehand and quite loosely and the colours are my own, obviously.

Watercolour is a tricky medium to work with. It's a good idea to take plenty of lessons in basic technique to start with if one wants to make any real progress with it. I took two beginners classes in a row when I started, to get a good feel for it, and have been taking classes for the last three years with an excellent teacher, so it's fair to say I'm starting to get comfortable with them, but one wonderful part of working with them is that you're never completely in control, which makes for all kinds of experimentation and surprises along the way.

#217 Is it hard to sell your paintings? I mean, do you get attached to them?

You know Claudia, I couldn't tell you, because I've never sold any of my art pieces yet. I've never tried to, or did any shows where potential buyers would see them, and I've been shying away from any commercial-type endeavour so far. I know there's one large acrylic painting that I'm very attached to (the one you see on my profile page, in my living room picture), and I don't think I could part with that one for any reasonable amount. There are others that I wouldn't mind at all passing on to other people. There is very little of my work I feel any particular attachment to, because for the most part, it rarely comes out looking like what I'd imagined, and even rarer that it takes me somewhere that surprises me, in a good way—which is the ultimate, probably.

#218 good job it was Jane Austen and not Graham Greene

HA! :-) Don't let the legions of JA fans hear you saying that, Paul, or they'll be having your hide! lol. Oh, I think I just saw Liz pass by... RUN Paul, run like the wind!

#220 Gosh Liz, thanks, that's really nice of you to say. Seriously though, I did think the butterflies would probably be an easier sell but I don't know... they seemed like an obvious choice somehow, and I didn't want to stoop to base commercialism—I had to do that for most of my career as a designer, so now that the pressure's off, I don't feel like pandering to the common denominator and making pieces in terms of what might look good in people's living rooms, if you know what I mean...

#222 Madeline, we did ask why they were doing that, and the explanation we got was that the point of the exhibition wasn't to have an art show, but to sell as much of the art as possible to finance the school. Which is fair enough. After all, that's what they advertised it as—as an art sale. I should point out that this is a very unusual event for this gallery. They have professional artists showing there all the time, and they'd never do such a thing during a normal show.

I'm not quite sure what that last story was about. It was very very strange. I just saw it as a device that kind of shifted the reader's perception on everything they'd read up till that point. Or maybe it was meant to contrast with the others to remind us that it's all made up. Sort of the way some artists will do a realistic and lifelike painting, and then leave a part of the canvas unpainted, or put an element that is completely incongruous there. But your guess is as good as mine. Did you ask Darryl about it? I've been meaning to, just haven't gotten around to it yet. (If you're reading this Darryl, care to share?)

I read the French edition, which was no doubt very different from the U.S. one, so I'm not sure at all what you mean regarding gray drippings, or maybe... (see above)

Right. I meant to visit threads, really I did, and it saddens me not to... but I'm about to fall off my chair with fatigue. So... tomorrow is another day on LT! Thank you all so much for dropping by and for all the lovely comments, you don't know how much I appreciate those, though lurkers are always welcome too of course!

Night night!

Ilana your artwork is lovely! I especially love the blue butterfly, which actually reminds me of my tattoo! Great job!

Beautiful artwork, thanks for sharing it with us!
What a pity that the scarab wasn't bought. What was the price policy for the event? Was it fixed prices or bids? (I don't need the exact amount, just something very vague, as I really have no idea. Never bought any art in my life, all money went into books).

My favorites (along with the scarab) are the blue butterfly and the 2nd painting, I love the combination of the blue-green background and the clear lines of that red flower.

Looking forward to the first snow here as well, I just hope it won't be next Tuesday when a 750km drive waits for me. It always gets so quiet outside when snow is falling.

Sounds like you had quite the busy day, yesterday! Hope you can re-group today and relax a bit. Sending a gentle hug!

I would so hang a painting of a giant bug in my living room. Actually, the scarab would go in my kitchen, as it's exactly the shade of blue I want when I (finally) move out of my parents' house and get a place of my own. Then again, I like natural history artwork, along with vintage botanical prints and artsy photographs of plants.

Actually, I admire anyone who can work with watercolors and make anything other than a damp, smeary mess. Watercolors just make me irrationally angry, so I stick to oils. I typically get as much paint on myself as I do on the canvas, but I enjoy myself.

#226 Thanks Chelle!

#227 Nathalie, the prices were fixed. Our teachers had suggested we price our work anywhere between 50$ and 200$, though we were free to choose any amount. They did encourage us to price it above 100$ to generate as much funds for the school as possible. Professional artists priced their works anywhere between $200 and $4000, depending on size and personal choices. Some were pricing to sell, some less so, though many of the more expensive works were snapped up quite fasts too. That made for a wide bracket of works priced for every budget. There was also an unimaginable range in styles and approach. Many (most) were either watercolours or acrylic or oil paintings, while others did mix medium and some were almost sculptural. Obviously, some were more successful than others, as all works entered for the show were accepted, with no selection jury or criteria, so that the only unifying element was the square format, which worked very well.

#228 Hi Mark, today is most definitely a day to put up my feet and relax. All the more so since I woke up with a pounding headache and can barely move around. Gentle hug much appreciated.

#229 I wish I could just pick a favourite medium and stick to it so I could really become proficient in it, but it seems I'm incapable of doing so. I only started painting with acrylics again a few years ago because my mum had given me a whole huge lot of them and it was convenient, but I keep wanting to switch to oil, or at least work with both together (oil over acrylic, of course). Getting paint on oneself while working is half the fun! I can't tell you how many clothes I've ruined while painting, but I still wear them proudly. As long as you've having fun, then it's all good.

*****

I want to wish all my American friends and visitors a Happy Thanksgiving. May the company you're with be jolly, the food not only plentiful but delicious and the driving and commuting be safe and incident-free. I'm thankful to have found a community of such wonderful individuals to share with on a daily basis, in sickness and in health. :-)

>230 Smiler69: I've worked with acrylics a bit, but I prefer the way oils go on the canvas. I also like the smell of oil paint. I've been told it's bad for me, but it smells so good! I haven't painted much lately, since I don't have room to set up or a place to put stuff while it's drying, but I hope to start painting again in the next year or so. It all depends on how soon I get a job after grad school and when I can afford to move out and how big of an apartment I can afford. I do still draw from time to time, mostly architectural sketches interspersed with the occasional bit of furniture.

Thanks for the holiday wish, Ilana! It's the best, most original (and longest) one I've gotten yet! LOL

Back at ya! Hope you have a lovely day with Coco and kitties :)

No way I will be able to read over 100+ missed messages so I will have to plead grace and just try to keep up with you here on out. :)

#231 I love the smell of oil paints too. You don't need to have that much space to paint at home. Just room enough to put in an easel, and hopefully a window that'll let in natural light nearby. What more can you ask for? Many generations of artists lived in tiny hovels and suffered for their art, so why shouldn't we? lol!

#232 I got scared and wondered what I could possibly have said that was so original and so long Claudia, so I went back to look on your thread, but you've got me stumped this time. My head hurts. Can't think! :-(

#233 Fair enough Val, I know all too well how that feels. As it happens, I'll probably be starting a new thread any day now so you can start fresh!

*****

So, disappointing reading moment of the month: I was listening to Hugh Bonneville's excellent narration of Birds Without Wings while walking Coco earlier today and was enjoying it very much, even though I continued to be mystified by the apparent random order in which the story is told, when, at track 45 out of 53, there was an epilogue by Karatavuk (sp?), one of the principal characters, which ended with a bit of music and was followed by the message: "We hope you have enjoyed this production of Birds Without Wings, etc." which informed me of two important facts: that the tracks had been playing in a more or less in random order, and furthermore, and possibly worse still, that this was an abridged version.

I guess that at only 6 hours, I should have suspected that something was amiss, but checking up on the library listing again, sure enough, it stated "Unabridged". It was one of the first audiobooks I had borrowed, and I guess I got the copying part all wrong, which explains why I was so confused about the narration which seemed to be skipping from person and place and time at random, which in fact, it was.

But I consider the listening I've done until now had just whetted my appetite, so I went ahead and ordered a copy of the paper version from AbeBooks just now, as I have every intention of reading it from cover to cover.

I'm in much pain today. Feel as though I'm suffering from severe hangover, even though I haven't had a drop of alcohol in the last few days. So I might lurk on a few more threads today, but will try to get off the computer soon so I can relax and read or even nap if need be.

Ilana - see end of #230 or below:

"I want to wish all my American friends and visitors a Happy Thanksgiving. May the company you're with be jolly, the food not only plentiful but delicious and the driving and commuting be safe and incident-free. I'm thankful to have found a community of such wonderful individuals to share with on a daily basis, in sickness and in health. :-)"

sorry - rest the poor overworked brain, you'll need it again tomorrow. Hope you feel better.

>234 Smiler69:: Ilana, I feel your pain about your book disappointment -- which probably induced the book hangover feeling. This is one of those stories that will be hilarious to you someday. You were making me afraid to read this book until I read about the mixup of the CDs. I swear, some books I've read have seemed this discombobulated without a technosnafu!

I hope you enjoy Birds Without Wings when you read or listen to it again in the proper order.

You take care of yourself. Tomorrow is a new day!

Ilana at the risk of repeating myself I prefer Birds Without Wings over Captain Corelli's Mandolin - need to read some of his earlier stuff as well as his two later and slimmer books I read too.

#235 Oooooohhhhh, THAT holiday wish! lol. Yep, brain is dimmed for certain today. I didn't think of looking up the one I'd written on my own thread!

#236 Actually Donna, in many ways I was more relieved than disappointed, because at least it confirmed to me that the book was indeed much better than this particular audio experience was making it out to be. Too bad too, because Hugh Bonneville is a fantastic narrator, and I did look for the full version of the audio, but finding it was read by someone else convinced me to go with an actual book. Even though I've had a bit of a confusing experience of so far and effectively read the last chapter before finishing it, I still highly recommend it... yes, already!

I'm logging off after this. The bright screen isn't helping my head any.

#237 Paul, I read CCM too long ago now to remember the details, though I remember falling in love with both the story and the storyteller. In fact, I'm surprised it's taken me this long to get back to de Bernières because I've been meaning to read a lot by him ever since. I have The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts and nearly purchased Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman more than once, so those are in future for sure. His titles alone as so evocative, aren't they?

*****

Off to rest my head with The Night Circus now.

Ilana, I hope your head feels better tomorrow. I agree with Donna that the story of listening to the tracks in random order and finding yourself thinking "Huh?" as you tried to follow the story.....it will hopefully be just a great funny story with some distance. And I can just imagine the relief ("okay, so I haven't completely lost my mind!") when you realized what was going on.

I have The Night Circus on hold at the library. I think it will be next month or January before my turn comes up in the queue.

Take care and rest up. xxoo for you and Coco and the felines.

Sorry to hear your head is giving you trouble again! We have chinooks blowing through this entire week so we go from -20 to +6 in one day....yikes! But, fortunately I've only got a minor nagging ache in my head right behind my eyes, so I can live with that. Hope you feel better soon!

Ilana I have The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman and Notwithstanding unread somewhere. Good Good writer De Bernieres with a pretentiously memorable name.

Hi Ilana - hope you are feeling much better today.

I guess I'll have to give De Bernieres another shot. I read Red Dog and wasn't overly impressed. But it could very well be my emotional response to a dog wandering around with as much freedom as this one had. Too worrisome for me. Maybe I will try Birds Without Wings though that title sounds depressing...

I'm a bit behind, but I should say I like Amos Oz more than a bit. I've read several and they are all so well-considered, difficult subjects handled with great care so that you can bear it and keep reading.

Now I have to go look at your blog!

Hi Ilana. I've not abandoned you - I've just let LT get out of control somehow or other. Will be back today or tomorrow to read everything I've missed in the last 10 (erk!) days.

#239 And I can just imagine the relief ("okay, so I haven't completely lost my mind!") when you realized what was going on.

My relief was mostly to realize that I wasn't wrong, and that all the elements I'd listened to so far did indeed have more than just the makings of a great story. I've had trouble copying audio CDs before, but usually got hold of the mistake before starting to listen to the audiobooks in question. It'll be interesting to see what parts read as familiar when I read the book.

#240 I'm glad you're not in too much pain Valerie. Today was again pretty much lost to migraine. I was in too much pain to get out of bed most of the day. Now it's dulled down to something more bearable, but I feel the slightest thing might set it off to full strength again, so I'm being quite cautious and moving around as little as possible. Urgh. I spoke to a neighbour who said she's been suffering from lots of migraines too lately because of all the great changes in weather we're experiencing these days.

#241 He's such a good storyteller thought that I'm completely fine with the pretentious name. It'd be another matter if I didn't like his writing.

#242 Oh Claudia, I wish I could say I do feel much better today, but no.

As for Birds Without Wings, I wouldn't say it's a jolly happy-go-lucky-type of story, because after all, at it's core is the story of two doomed lovers, and it refers to the Armenian genocides, the displacement of the Greeks from an Ottoman town and has some very gruesome scenes set in the trenches during WWI, but it's such a beautifully told story that for all those grim elements, it's well worth the detour, I think.

#243 Lucy, it's a sure bet that I'll be reading more from Amos Oz in future. I've got Rhyming Life & Death on the wishlist so far, but I see they have quite a good selection at the library. What else have you read by him I should put on the wishlist?

#244 Hi Charlotte. I shudder to think what kind of catching up ten whole days away from LT would involve. At that point, I'd probably start over with everyone. Thanks for letting me know you haven't given up on me! :-)

*****

What with the short days I've had because of all this sleep to avoid the worst of the migraine, I just don't have nearly enough time to do all I want. I did manage to catch up with some people yesterday. A mere handful, but still. I want to catch up with my reviews as well before starting a new thread, so I think I'll do one of those speed-reviewing things to get them out of the way.

The good news for those of you who have a hard time keeping on top of threads as new ones are created, is that you won't be losing track of me so easily this time, as I'll be using the "continue this topic" feature, which was created in large part to accommodate large-volume threads such as those found in this group. As more of us adopt this feature, I think we'll all start seeing the benefits.

I've only got just over 100 pages left with The Night Circus, but I've decided that instead of trying to cram them in as quickly as possible so I can return the book to the library on time this Sunday, I'll just slow it down and take all the time I want to enjoy the last bit. After all, the late fee is just 25 cents per day, and I should think it would be acceptable to return a book a couple of days late once in a blue moon, right?

Meanwhile, I've started listening to my first novel by Honoré de Balzac, Le père Goriot aka Old Goriot. It's only just a *slight* change of scenery from Birds Without Wings. I'll be scrambling to fit in more French classics between now and December 31st so I can complete that category for my 11/11. On the Zola front, I'll be attacking L'Assomoir soon. I believe I may have read it in high school, but it's too long ago now, so I don't remember for sure, but it's one of Zola's best-liked novels, so I look forward to it.

Hi Ilana - well, now that you've discovered the mix-up with your audio version of Birds without wings I must say that makes sense. When you were mentioning earlier about the story jumping about in time I was surprised, because I didn't remember that aspect of the book. I do remember the multiple narrators, which is typical Louis de B. style, but as far as I could remember they told the story more or less chronologically. So I'm glad to know my memory is not at fault, and I hope you appreciate the full unabridged story told in the correct order when you get round to reading your paper copy.

I've read all the earlier L de B's - once I'd read Capt Correlli I sought out his previous 3 and followed up with Birds WW and Red Dog - but now LT tells me there are more that I've not read, including The Partisan's Daughter and Notwithstanding... Oh good, more books to look out for!

Hi Ilana - one of my first audiobooks on the iPod was Jerusalem: one city three faiths and I listened to it on random play wondering at the time why it jumped around in the timeline so much.

I loved Captain Corelli's Mandolin when I read it many years ago. I bought a joblot of his books on a local trading site a year or so back but still haven't made time to read them. Maybe there's room somewhere in my 12in12 challenge.

I have a pile of Amos Oz books on my tbr, I've read quite a few, but it was his autobiography of his childhood, A Tale of Love and Darkness that fully switched me on. Last year I read a novel set on a kibbutz that was excellent, Elsewhere, perhaps.

Hi Ilana

I'm late to your thread...Look at all I missed!!!

Oh, My! How I wish I could draw like you. Your fall arrangement is lovely!

I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. I hope today is a better day than yesterday.

>245 Smiler69: ...and I should think it would be acceptable to return a book a couple of days late once in a blue moon, right?

Absolutely! My own way of thinking about it is that I'm happy to give 50 cents or a dollar to my public library, it still saved me money over buying the book, and I never keep them more than a few days beyond the due date.

Hi Ilana- Sorry to hear about your migraine! I hope it has eased up somewhat this evening. Good idea, with taking your time with The Night Circus. It's a book to be savored. And for 25 cents a day. What the hell, go for it!

Right, here goes: 4 wildly different books reviewed within 60 minutes. Or at least that's what I'm aiming for, and Coco will be helping out as he's going to be wanting his walk anytime soon now.






246. Me and You by Anthony Browne ★★★½
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #9: a book Reviewed and Recommended by a Fellow 75r during the month of October 2011; avatiakh)

This modern take on Goldilocks is a pleasure to look at for Antony Brown's image treatment. One one side, the juvenile colour illustrations of the bear family, on the other, sepia-toned strips showing how our hoodie-wearing Goldilocks gets lost while chasing after a balloon and ends up eating their porridge, sitting in their chairs and sleeping in their beds. Sweet, and I'll be looking out for more books by Browne. Thanks to Kerry for pointing me to him.

***






247. ♫ The Outfit by Richard Stark ★★★½
(Read for TIOLI #12: Read a book in a series that's next in number to the book above; Parker 3)

Contains spoilers if you haven't read the previous book in the series

After the fiasco following our antihero Parker's attempt to evade the Outfit by getting a new face, he decides to get them off his back once and for all by hitting them where it really hurts: all over the place. Parker had threatened one of the Outfit bosses that he would call on all his thieving buddies to rob the organized crime organization at their various facilities if they didn't play fair, and here he makes good on his promise. He writes to dozens of his pals and soon sets in motion a string of robberies at various bars and gambling outfits that adds up to the millions of dollars in losses for his enemies. The question is, if he manages to get his way, can he put a stop to what he started?

***






248. ♫ Brighton Rock by Graham Greene ★★★★¾
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #3: found by mashing 2 tags—one seldom-used, one much-used; Brighton, England
and for 11/11 Category #11: The Film Might Be Good But the Book is Better)

"Fred" Hale is about to lose his life, and he knows it. He tries to put off the inevitable murder he knows he's brought on himself by befriending Ida, a curvy broad he's just met at a bar, and asking her to tag along for the day. But the second she's got her back turned, "Fred" disappears for good. Pinkie, a young sociopath barely out of his teens is the new gang boss, and one little murder is no skin off his nose, but he wants to make sure he's got his tracks covered, so he romances Rose, waitress and just a kid, as she'd seen Fred that fateful day, and the last thing Pinkie needs is a witness. Rose falls head over heels for Pinkie's rough ways, so now Pinkie must decide between committing another murder or marrying the girl. But marriage is forever, isn't it? And with Ida sniffing around and asking lots of questions, things get harder and harder to keep under wraps.

An excellent novel by a writer who quickly became one of my all-time favourites, this story boasts a cast of wonderfully flawed characters, and the gripping tension doesn't let you go from beginning to end as the protagonists try to make the choices between what they think to be right or wrong according to their own priorities, even as they fear the wrath of a God they're not sure how to serve. The audiobook version narrated by actor Samuel West is a treat not to be missed.

***






249. ♫ A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark ★★★¾
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #3: found by mashing 2 tags—one seldom-used, one much-used; 1980s, England)

Agnes Hawkins lives in a lodging house in South Kensington and is an editor by day in a publishing house that has seen better days. People are always trying to befriend our rotund narrator, who they see as a mother figure and dispenser of solid advice, as well as a useful contact in an industry that is notoriously difficult to enter for anyone seeking a job, and especially for writers of little talent. One writer, Hector Bartlett, particularly gets under her skin, but chooses to ignore her constant brush-offs and contrives to arrange "chance" encounters on a regular basis. One day this proves too much for Agnes and she accuses him of being a pisseur de copie to his face, an insulting French term to designate one who literally "pisses (bad) copy". This will of course get Agnes in trouble, but the derogatory appellation sticks to Bartlett all the same. Meanwhile, Wanda, one of the lodgers she lives with and has befriended, has received a threatening letter. A Polish immigrant who tries to make ends meet as a seamstress, Wanda is besides herself with fear and apprehension, convinced she'll be deported because of the accusations contained in the letter. The lodgers all begin suspecting one another, and as the threats multiply, Wanda slowly loses her sanity, and Agnes is far from suspecting what her friend has gotten involved in to pacify her accuser. Another amusing romp in Muriel Spark's fictionalized world of publishing, which is filled as always with larger than life characters and scenarios that may or may not purely stem from her imagination.

I did it I did it I did it!!!

Managed to punch out all four reviews in 60 minutes tops! There are probably countless typos and no doubt much need of editing, but Coco is now looking truly pitiful, so I must attend to his needs. Will be back to have a look at comments above soon!

Congratulations on reaching 249 books! What an accomplishment

Excellent speed-reviewing, Ilana. I'm going to be reading my first Graham Greene soon!

I'm looking at books with my 8.5-year-old grandniece, looking for Christmas gift ideas. Her favorite authors are Mary Downing Hahn, Beverly Cleary, and Daisy Meadows. She likes mysteries. Suggestions?

Please rest, Ilana. I absolve you from visiting my thread... you need to get rid of the migraines.
I totally understand as I too have been fighting more of them than usual lately. I was actually wondering if it WAS the unusual weather we are having this year... or what? I don't know.

Go easy - hope you feel better soon.

btw - you have read more books this year than I have in 3 years! :}

#246 Genny, I tried to have a look at the Louis de Bernières books you had in your collection, but I see you haven't gotten around to cataloguing those. I did wonder why no one was responding to my comments about chapters seemingly organized at random, but when I understood what was happening, that too became clear to me!

#247 Kerry, I'm not even safe from book bullets on my own thread—especially when you come by for a visit! lol

I've added both Amos Oz books you recommend. My mum told me she read some of his novels back when we were living in Israel, and I'm quite sure she said Elsewhere, Perhaps was among them.

#248 & 253 Thanks Linda, I've actually reached 254 now, but am (as always) behind on my reviews. I was quite stoked to break the 250 barrier!

#249 Ellen, I was thinking exactly along the same lines... i.e. even if I end up spending a dollar in fees, that's a small fraction of the price of the book! Not so cool for whoever else is in line waiting for it, but that's life I guess.

#250 I wasn't sure if the 25 cents was applicable for new books as well, as I was fairly sure they'd charge quite a bit more for those, so I called them to make sure and, yup! I feel lucky that I can consider "small change" as such.

#254 You know, I might read a lot of kid's lit and YA, but most of my suggestions come from either Kerry (avatiakh), Linda (Whisper1), or Roni (ronincats). I'd suggest you ask them directly or better yet, post your question on the "what we are reading" thread for those genres as I wouldn't know how to help you myself, sorry.

#255 Claudia, you are such a sweet lady, you know that, right?

I do know you've been suffering too—my sister in pain! I take Gabapentin as a preventative measure, but it's not 100% foolproof. It has reduced the frequency and intensity of the episodes though, which is something.

For the record, I don't think I've ever read that many books in my entire life before. I just tend to be a *tad* extreme when I hone in on any one thing, and this group has really transformed my reading life into a great adventure!

I don't know how many threads I can visit tonight since it's getting late already and I have to think of starting up a new thread or I may have the thread police coming in to arrest me any minute now...

Thanks for the "introductions," Ilana. I'll check in with Kerry, Linda, or Roni to see if they have ideas. Or I'll just buy the grandniece a gift card to a bookstore...... ;-)

Gift cards are popular for a very good reason. Keeps things simple and everybody's happy!