Smiler's Miscellany: Part Two

Currently Reading & Browsing:
L'Assommoir by Émile Zola
♫ The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West

  



12/12 Challenge
1. The First Half 1901-1951 1/12
2. Tea with Georgie, Vickie & Eddie - 18th & 19th Century Classics 0/12
3. Picked for me - chosen from my shelves at random by LTers 1/12
4. Guardian Knows Best - Guardian 1000 0/12
5. The Dark Side - Crime & Mystery 1/12
6. Going Places - International authors & places 3/12
7. Young at Heart - Children/YA/Fantasy 2/12
8. Hot Off the Press - Published since 2011 1/12
9. Visual Treats - books on art, photography, design, or just beautiful books 1/12
10. Beyond Fiction - non-fiction 3/12
11. Litérature Française - contemporary & classic French lit (read in French) 0/12
12. From My Treasure-Trove - off the shelf (acquired before 31/12/11) 1/12

Books completed in January
1. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
2. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett ★★★★ (review) ☀
3. ♫ Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson ★★★ (review) ☀
4. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi ★★★¾ (review) ☀
5. ♫ Fight Club by Chuck Palaniukh ★★★½ (review) ☀
6. The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary by Reading Is Fundamental ★★★★ (review)
7. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
8. ♫ To Fear a Painted Devil by Ruth Rendell ★★★⅓ (review) ☀
9. No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey ★★★¾ (review) ☀
10. ♫ Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick ★★★★ (review) ☀
11. From the Mouth of the Whale by Sjón ★★★ (review) ☀
12. ♫ On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry ★★★★½ (review) ☀
13. ♫ The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo ★★★ (review) ☀
14. ♫ Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson ★★★★⅓ (review) ☀
15. ♫ Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd ★★★★½ (review) ☀
16. Paris: Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bijkerk ★★★★ (review) ☀
17. Madlenka's Dog by Peter Sís ★★★½ (review coming soon) ☀
18. Madlenka Soccer Star by Peter Sís ★★★ (review coming soon) ☀
19. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney ★★★½ (review coming soon)
20. Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say ★★★½ (review coming soon) ☀

Unfinished: ♫ Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
Unfinished: ♫ Soulless by Gail Carriger



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 January (a very ambitious list...)

☛ ✔ The Secret River by Kate Grenville (group read, TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book with the name of a body of water in the title, 12/12 Category #12: From My Treasure-Trove)
☛✔ Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh (TIOLI Challenge #9, 12/12 Category #12)
☛Cannery Row by John Steinbeck (TIOLI Challenge #1, Steinbeckathon, 12/12 Category #1: The First Half 1901-1951)
☛ ♫ Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a work of narrative non-fiction, TIOLI 12/12 Category #8: Hot Off the Press )
☛✔ The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (TIOLI Challenge #11, 12/12 Category #10: Beyond Fiction)
☛ ♫ Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (TIOLI Challenge #11, 12/12 Category #10)
☛ Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story by Michael Allin (TIOLI Challenge #11, 12/12 Category #6: Going Places)
☛ ♫ Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where a word in the title can be used as a verb, 12/12 Category #4: Guardian Knows Best)
☛ ✔ L'Assomoir by Émile Zola (TIOLI Challenge #19: beverage mentioned on page 10, 12/12 Category #11: Litérature Française)
☛ From the Mouth of the Whale by Sjón (ER book, TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book written by someone who was already famous for something OTHER than writing, 12/12 Category #6)

More Options:

☛ ✔ Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (Orange January, TIOLI Challenge #6: long or shortlisted for or won the Orange prize)
☛ ♫ On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry (TIOLI Challenge #17: word with three identical vowels)




Suggested reads for February (a very ambitious list...)

☛ The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon, TIOLI Challenge #6: Read a book whose author's surname has a "Scrabble value" of 12 or more, 12/12 The First Half)
❉ 3 short novels by Jacques Poulin (12/12 Litérature Française)
☛ ♫ Études de Femmes by Honoré de Balzac - Picked by bucket yell (TIOLI Challenge #6, 12/12 Picked by)
☛ ♫ The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark (TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book with a word of at least 5 letters in the title that is an anagram of another 5 letter word, 12/12 Guardian)
☛ ♫ Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (TIOLI Challenge #15: Read a book that has the Letters in TIOLI as doubles in the title or Author's Name, 12/12 Guardian)
♫ Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (12/12 Guardian)
♫ ✔ Walkabout by James Vance Marshall (TIOLI Challenge #6, 12/12 new edition) - short novel
✔ Berlin Stories by Robert Walser (12/12 new edition) - short novel
☛ ✔ Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh (Challenge #6: Read a book whose author's surname has a "Scrabble value" of 12 or more, 12/12 Category #12)
✔ Atonement by Ian McEwan (12/12 Guardian)
✔ The Secret River by Kate Grenville (12/12 Category #12: From My Treasure-Trove)
☛ ✔ Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story by Michael Allin (TIOLI Challenge #5: Read a book with an Ungulate in the title or on the cover, 12/12 Category #6: Going Places)
✔ Le Grand livre de la tendresse by Jacques Salomé - Picked by LauraBrook (12/12 Picked by) - get started on it
✔ The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson by David P. Silcox (12/12 Visual Treats) - get started on it

Additional Fantasy February Suggestions

☛ ℮ The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (TIOLI Challenge #3: Read a book with a word of at least 5 letters in the title that is an anagram of another 5 letter word, 12/12 Young at Heart)
☛ ❉ The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles #2) by Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi (TIOLI Challenge #3, 12/12 Young at Heart)
♫ The Difference Engine by William Gibson (Fantasy February, 12/12 Young at Heart))
☛ ♫ The City & The City by China Mieville (TIOLI Challenge #6, 12/12 Young at Heart)
♫ To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (12/12 Young at Heart)
♫ Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (12/12 Young at Heart)
☛ ♫ Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (TIOLI Challenge #6, 12/12 Young at Heart)
♫ The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (12/12 Young at Heart)
☛ ✔ Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (TIOLI Challenge #15, 12/12 Young at Heart)
✔ Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman (12/12 Young at Heart)
☛ ✔ Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (TIOLI Challenge #6, 12/12 Young at Heart)
✔ In the Country of Last Things by Paul Auster (12/12 Guardian)
✔ Orlando by Virginia Woolf (12/12 Guardian)
✔ Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (12/12 Guardian)




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

Favourite reads of 2011

Some Stats
Total books read: 287
Literary Fiction: 73
Historical Fiction: 49
Classics: 45
Mystery/Crime Fiction: 51
Spy: 3
Fantasy: 16
Science Fiction: 7
Non-Fiction: 7
Graphic Novels: 22
Young Adult: 54
Children's Literature: 99
Picture Books: 57
Audiobooks: 100

Literature
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
""Jean Louise," she said, "you are a fortunate girl. You live in a Christian home
with Christian folks in a Christian town. Out there in J. Grimes Everett's land there's
nothing but sin and squalor." "Yes ma'am."" The first reading of many to come.
The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht
Multilayered, with a slow build-up of different narratives forming a rich tapestry.
Regeneration by Pat Barker
Brilliantly written and thoroughly engaging, anti-war and pro-sanity.
From the Land of the Moon by Milena Agus
A beautiful and heartfelt short story about desire and self-delusion.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
An unlikely heroine sees her life transformed like a 1930s middle-aged Cinderella.
Monsieur Linh and His Child by Philippe Claudel
A touching story about loss, displacement and friendship with an unforgettable ending.
By a Slow River by Philippe Claudel
A love letter to a long-dead beloved wife. Almost unbearably beautiful.
Animal Farm by George Orwell (re-read)
One of the best novels of all time. And best of all: it's about animals. Sort of.
Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
A despicable young thug, a gullible maiden, and gripping tension from beginning to end.
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
If you thought you didn't like Westerns, this will change your mind.
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
An affecting reflexion on the insanity society imposed on WWI combatants.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
a richly told, multilayered gothic story which satisfies at every page.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
A thoroughly charming, deftly handled story about an unlikely love affair.
Memento Mori by Muriel Spark
The biggest surprise is to find a book about old age and dying which is quite this funny.
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
A family saga set in pre-revolutionary China. Explores universal themes with utter simplicity.
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
A short story filled to the brim with emotion, gorgeous prose, and vivid imagery.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
A surgeon looks back on growing up as a twin amidst great personal and political turmoil.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Gorgeous prose on being black and the tyranny of the cult of beauty.
Imperial Woman by Pearl S. Buck
A gripping tale about an imperial concubine becoming the all-powerful Empress Tzu Hsi.
1984 by George Orwell (re-read)
A powerful reminder that the "free world" should never be taken for granted.
Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley
A celebration of the love of books and adventure. Delightful.

Honourable Mentions: Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler, The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh, Dubliners by James Joyce, Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski, Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, Gros-Câlin by Romain Gary

Non-Fiction (will read more in 2012)
Sanderson: The Essence of English Decoration by Mary Schoeser
Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans
The Tiger : A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant

Classics
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (re-read)
Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant
Emma by Jane Austen
King Lear by William Shakespeare
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Honourable Mentions: The Turn of the Screw and The Aspern Papers by Henry James, La Fortune des Rougons by Émile Zola, La Curée (The Kill) by Émile Zola, Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog) by Jerome K. Jerome, Le Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac

Mystery/Spy/Thriller
Zoo Station by David Downing
The Crocodile Bird by Ruth Rendell
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

Honourable Mentions: Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris

Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Just for fun
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (BBC Radio Collection) by Douglas Adams
Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach (for the audio version)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

YA Fiction
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Honourable Mentions: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

Graphic Novel & Illustration
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Lost & Found by Shaun Tan
Le carnet rouge by Benjamin Lacombe
The Three Golden Keys by Peter Sís
Selma by Jutta Bauer
Un Lion a Paris by Beatrice Alemagna
Madlenka by Peter Sís
Flotsam by David Wiesner
June 29, 1999 by David Wiesner
Blanche Neige by Benjamin Lacombe
Grimoire de Sorcières by Benjamin Lacombe
Nasreddine by Odile Weulersse
Grandpa's Angel by Jutta Bauer
Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires
Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears by Emily Gravett
Wolves by Emily Gravett

Honourable Mentions: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Best Audiobooks
♫ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (BBC Radio Collection) by Douglas Adams. Ensemble cast.
The original radio series is how THGttG was meant to be experienced for maximum hilarity.
♫ The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Narrated by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell
Four great actresses make the women of this hit novel truly unforgettable
♫ Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Narrated by Samuel West
I'd listen to West narrate the phone book. In Chinese.
♫ Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson, Narrated by Bill Wallis
Wallis hits the perfect note to make the grumpy Major that much more loveable.
♫ A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Narrated by Tim Curry
Curry's excellent performance makes the beloved classic laugh out loud funny.
♫ Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, read by Samuel L. Jackson
Jackson makes you forget this adult bedtime story originally comes as a picture book.
♫ Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog) by Jerome K. Jerome, Narrated by Steven Crossley
This humorous adventure has been interpreted by a bevy or great narrators, but Crossley is a personal favourite.
♫ Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, Narrated by Christopher Plummer
Everyone's favourite story which Plummer manages to make even better. Avoid TtLG though, which would
land on my list of worst audiobooks if I had one—it must have been recorded after quite a few too many.

I'd listen to just about anything narrated by: Samuel West, Simon Prebble, Juliet Stevenson, Josephine Bailey, Derek Jacobi, Steven Crossley, Nadia May (aka Donada Peters aka Wanda McCaddon), Davina Porter, Campbell Scott, Neil Gaiman (author)




... And the Least Favourite:

Black and Blue by Ian Rankin
Numerous awards and honours didn't help me like it better.
Dead Souls by Ian Rankin
felt like it dragged on and on and on... and on
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney
The first book made me laugh out loud. The second one was wimpy in comparison.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Made me so upset I threw it across the room.
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
He has legions of fans, but just too wordy for me.
Sandman: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman
Truly disturbing.
Invisible River by Helena McEwen
Father's an alcoholic and makes daughter's life hell. Then things get worse.
The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton
I got brain sprain from too many mental gymnastics.
Playback: A Graphic Novel by Raymond Chandler
Some truly bad drawings ruined a Noir classic.
L'argent facile (Easy Money) - Stockholm Noir 1, by Jens Lapidus
Four despicable young guys mixed up in get rich quick drug scheme. 'Nuf said.
Emma, Volume 1 by Kaoru Mori
Guess I'm not a fan of manga after all...
The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger
A depressing story not helped by bad artwork.
In Search of Klingsor by Jorge Volpi
Only physics freaks need apply.
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Story about self-important jerk wins Booker Prize. End of story.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
This 10th anniversary edition audiobook with 12,000 extra words made my ears bleed

Steinbeckathon:
January: Cannery Row (208*) - Ilana/Smiler69**
February: The Wayward Bus (288) - Mark/msf59
March: The Winter of Our Discontent (304) - Lynda/Carmenere
April: The Moon is Down (112) - Linda/lindapanzo
May: The Grapes of Wrath (496) - Ellen/EBT1002
June: Of Mice and Men (112) - Brit/weejane
July: East of Eden (640) - Ellen
August: The Red Pony (112) - Ilana
September: In Dubious Battle (384) - Mark
October: Tortilla Flat (224) - Tania/wookiebender
November: Travels With Charley and The Pearl (256 + 96) - Ilana
December: Sweet Thursday (288) - Mark

* approximate # of pages
** names indicate who will be heading up the threads.

Anyone is welcome to join in at any point, for as many or as few books as is desired.

Group Reads
January: Orange January, The Secret River by Kate Grenville (75ers), Cannery Row by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
February: Fantasy February, The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
March: Christine Falls by Benjamin Black, The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (12/12), The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
April: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (12/12), David Copperfield (75ers), The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
May: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (12/12), A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor (Virago Modern Classics)
June: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (12/12, tutored read), Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
July: East of Eden by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon), Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks (12/12), Angel by Elizabeth Taylor (Virago Modern Classics)
August: The Red Pony by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon), Middlemarch by George Eliot (12/12)
September: In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon), Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams (12/12)
October: Blindness by José Saramago (12/12), Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
November: Travels With Charley and The Pearl by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)
December: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck (Steinbeckathon)

Books my fellow LT pals picked from my shelves for 12/12:
Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood - Picked by MickyFine
Études de Femmes by Honoré de Balzac - Picked by bucketyell
The Global Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger - Picked by msf59
Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Branddon - Picked by avatiakh
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carré - Picked by casvelyn
Arabian Nights: Four Tales from a Thousand and One Nights by Marc Chagall - Picked by Donna828
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Picked by DragonFreak
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver - Picked by calm
No Great Mischief by Alasdair MacLeod - Picked by KiwiNyx
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer - Picked by DeltaQueen50
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk - Picked by Deern
Le Grand livre de la tendresse by Jacques Salomé - Picked by LauraBrook
Blindness by José Saramago - Picked by Whisper1
Caravan of Dreams of Idries Shah - Picked by PiyushChourasia
The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) by Jonathan Stroud - Picked by -Eva-
Candide by Voltaire - Picked by Fourpawz2
Native Son by Richard Wright - Picked by EBT1002
Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman - Picked by bohemima

Other books I'd like to read in 2012
(coming soon)

Books Acquired in 2012




January
1. ♫ Persuasion by Jane Austen (Au)
2. ♫ Just Kids by Patti Smith (Au)
3. A Murder of Quality and Call for the Dead by John le Carré (CI)
4. ♫ Soulless by Gail Carriger (Au)
5. The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck (BD)
6. An Ermine of Czernopol by Gregor von Rezzori (BD)
7. A Russian Journal by John Steinbeck and Cornell Cappa (BD)
8. The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey (BD)

Au = Audible
BD = BookDepository
CI = ChaptersIndigo




Books Read from My Shelves in 2012




1. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (entry date: 2011-09-09)
2. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (entry date: 2008-12-16)
3. ♫ Fight Club by Chuck Palaniukh (entry date: 2011-03-09)
4. ♫ Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (entry date: 2011-09-18)
5. Paris: Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bijkerk (entry date: 2009-05-20)

Ilana, looks like I get number 7. Well done on no glitches!

Hi Ilana, your opening picture reminds me of my childhood years in Ottawa. My sister and I would be bundled up and sent outside to play, I doubt if we lasted 10 minutes before we were ready to come back in!

Love all your lists! I particularly like the description you gave for Sense of an Ending :) I'd still like to read it though, and will probably be waiting about 4 years til the fuss dies down and a copy becomes available at the library.

Does the top photo feature you by any chance?

Hi Ilana! I love the pictures of children in winter that you find! The one on your last thread was wonderful and this one makes me enjoy winter a little more!
Look at the rosey cheeks on the child on the left! So cute

Ilana, I have to confess that I really loved several of the books on your least favourite list!

Hi Ilana - nice new thread:)

Hi Ilana- Some mighty lists there! Good luck with your various Challenges. It nearly looks like your year is filled in! Hugs!

Hi Ilana. I'm going to echo Chelle in saying I'm loving these pictures of children bundled up in the winter landscapes. I also got a kick out of your ticker with the dog prancing through the cityscape.

HI, Ilana. Love the new thread! That kind of weather is supposed to drop on us in Chicago tomorrow.

**waving as I zoom by**

#7 Hi Paul, I knew I could count on you arriving first when I created the thread at that time of night! :-)

#8 Judy, I think most anyone who grew up arctic winter temperatures remembers a time like that of being bundled so much, the penguin stance was inevitable.

#9 Megan, neither of those children are me. I "stole" that picture which I found while googling. A young woman put it up on her blog, saying it was taken in Ukraine, which is where she spent her childhood years.

#10 Chelle, I don't know that I'll be putting up seasonal pics all year, but I did find several winters scenes with children that I thought were shareworthy, including this one of course!

#11 Kerry, I was thinking of you when I compiled that list, knowing full well you were fond of some of these titles. I took my chances of becoming unpopular, especially with Sense of an Ending, which so many people here absolutely loved, but in the end, I just had to retain my individual voice and trust that we all can agree to disagree on any given book.

#12 Hi calm! :-)

#13 Mark, those lists are mostly aspirational, which is not to say that I'll actually manage to fit in everything I've planned for. At the end of the day, whatever I most feel like reading is what will direct my reading choices, but it's always good to have some kind of guideline.

#14 Hi Pat, I remember being maybe two years old and being so bundled I literally couldn't move! The ticker made me think of Coco and I taking our walks around the block, but unfortunately they didn't have toy poodles among the available options!

#15 Joe, I've been dying for great big heaps of snow to fall on us, but it's been a very tame winter here as fall as snowfalls go so far. Enjoy whatever comes your way tomorrow!

#16 *waves back at Ellen*

Hello Ilana - I hope you're starting to feel better. Your review of Bel Canto was wonderful.

he he, I mistook you for a Ukranian child! woops

{{{hugs}}} for you, Sweet Girl.

Love the pic at the top...brings back fond memories, until I recall the frostbite on the feet. Urg. Pain and agony getting them defrosted ever so carefully by Mum, then the very picture of patient loving motherhood.

Sigh.

On a brighter note, I've actually finished *two* books now, and am muddling through several more.

I love visiting here, even if I can't think of anything to say; I'm here at at Kath's and Cee's every day of the week. And as soon as I find Stasia, I'll be at her place daily as well.

Turns out this is actually quite cozy, isn't it?

#18 Hi Brit, yes indeed, today is much better. I've quite literally turned a new page. :-)

#19 Well you're not that far off the mark since my dad was born in Russia...

#20 Thanks for the hugs Gail sweetie. Congrats on finishing two books! I have to stop putting so many books on my monthly suggested reads because I can never read them all, especially when I add in all these other bits and pieces from the library.

I'm glad you like coming here. I do try to make it as cozy as possible, since it's an extension of my living room, which is quite cozy indeed. In fact... you've just reminded me:



This is us when I read or take the laptop to the couch. We were thus arranged maybe an hour ago, when I finished my two latest reads, The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary by Reading Is Fundamental, which has now added maybe 20 new-to-me illustrators to look up at the library, and then dug into the last few chapters of Cannery Row, when I was inspired to read a gorgeous bit of poetry out loud to my precious ones. All in all, quite a good day...

Hi Ilana, yep that pic at the top reminds me of me and my sister when my Mom would bundle us up and set us outside to try and, well, move in the snow. Fond memories...

We are finally going to get some snow on Friday and when I say finally please know that I live in ski country south of Buffalo.

Love that photo Ilana. Cat and dog cuddled up so close together, I'm hoping my new ones will eventually tolerate the dog to this extent.

Aww your fur babies look so comfy!! My cat will lay with me, but my dog is too big to be a lap dog so he gets his own spot at the other end of the couch

Hope you are having a good night! :)

A perfect picture of a cozy reading seat...all warm and snuggly. Mmmmm...

What a lovely pair you have...is the other cat camera shy? My cat spends a good part of each day sleeping on the couch..stretched out next to me

;-}

#22 Bonnie, this can't be a great year for skiers, and I wouldn't want to be the owner of a ski resort! Are you a skier yourself? I used to, but in the end I had to give it up. Such an expensive hobby! And with no car, fuggedaboudit. I wish you all the snow you may desire, and while I'm at it hope a whole bunch of it will fall in our parts too.

#23 Kerry, Mimi is quite amazing as she's pretty well tolerated Coco from the beginning. Not to say that they're exactly friends... I wish they were, but no. Not yet, at least. Ezra is a whole different story. He still acts as if his life is in danger whenever Coco is in the vicinity. It's kind of absurd and funny at once, though I wish Coco had friends at home other than me.

#24 Hi Chelle, I'm sitting in the very same spot as that in the photo now, along with Coco by my side, but no Mimi this time. I've had a very good day, all things considered, and am very happy to be turning a new leaf. :-)

#25 Mmmmmmmm... yes indeed. Only now I must think of taking Coco outside, and it's cruelly cold outside. Ugh!

#26 Hey Jude! Ezra likes to lie on the desk, right on top of my Time Capsule, which is nice and toasty. He basically lies on it all day long, and once in a while graces me with his presence in bed at night. But he won't come anywhere near Coco, so not likely to jump up on the couch with us.

Nice to see cat and dog getting along swimmingly. If only man and woman could sit together in front of the TV so harmoniously!

Well, I've spent a couple of hours now working on my Steve Jobs review. Initially, I thought I'd just write a line or two. Or three, max. But then it turned into this big thing. And then it turned into a gigantic thing! It's sort of out of control. But I don't want to spend another hour editing it now. What to do?

Hi Ilana!
I love pictures of your furkids and your living room. Gives me the warm fuzzies!

How do you get such great lighting? My pictures come out too dark many times. :P

#28 As long as they can agree on who wields the remote control, man and woman could do just fine. ;-)

#30 Claudia, I'm pretty sure that photo was taken in the daylight hours (the few that we have), on a day that was sunny and luminous. Also, my iPhone is a great camera that really yields surprising results even in the most dire lighting situations.

This review is justs obscenely long, for which I apologize profusely. I just don't have the heart to start from scratch to come up with something short and sweet...



3. ♫ Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson ★★★
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a work of narrative non-fiction and 12/12 Category #10: Beyond Fiction)

My love affair with Apple: I remember it as if it was yesterday: it was the early 80s, I was barely into my teens, we were staying with friends for the summer in gorgeous Arundel up in the Laurentian mountains. My cousin Frankie and I were hanging out on the wraparound porch when we saw there was some activity in the den. One of the many Flanagan brothers was sitting in front of a small monitor, busily clicking at the keyboard. We asked what he was doing and he said he was playing a computer game. Neither of us had seen a computer before, and in no time at all, were were engrossed in some kind of alien invasion game and bickering to take turns in front of the funny little beige box where glowing green "invaders" threatened to take all our lives on the black screen. Thus was born a passion for all things Apple.

Fast forward a few years, when I became a designer, first as a student, then working in advertising, design and publishing, the Mac was the only computer used by professionals. Anyone using a PC was highly suspect and considered a hacker, not a designer. I've owned and worked on more versions of Mac computers than I can count. When the iPod came out, I just had to have it, along with other models as they became available, and got an iPhone as soon as I could get my hands on one. Never once did I consider getting a PC computer, or an Apple product equivalent. I was sold on so many levels, but the fundamental thing that's always attracted me to Apple is their excellence in design and intuitive modes of operation, and their ability to invent products that were simply must-haves.

The actual book review: The book follow's Steve Job's personal life, which is to say it talks about his beloved company, Apple throughout, since Jobs' modus operandi at Apple has been part of Steve's DNA from the moment his adoptive father showed him that design excellence means getting even the details that nobody sees well crafted. The first half of the book talks about his biological parents and how he came to be adopted. Then about his adoptive parents and his early childhood and propensity for getting into trouble at school, mostly because he was so clever that he was easily bored. Then comes the friendship with Steve Wozniak with who Jobs created the first Apple computer. Wozniak was another genius, and passionate about engineering. Things get very technical to explain their early experimentation with electronics, as we're taken through the process of how the first Apple computer came to be, then the Apple II, then the Lisa, and finally the Macintosh, all created when Jobs was still in his early 20s. To show just how integral Apple was to his life and what a complex personality Jobs was, he named the Lisa after a daughter he had more or less abandoned in his early 20s. His personal life was messy. He studied Zen Buddhism from his late teens, adopted all kinds of extreme vegan diets, experimented a lot with LSD, did the whole India thing, and all these experiences somehow became connected to the products he created. How and why he was ousted from Apple in the 80s is discussed at length and in great detail, with countless quotes and bits of dialogue from many of the players involved, which to me ended up sounding more than anything like office politics being discussed around the water cooler. I've never been a water cooler kind of person, so found that part very irritating. Eventually in the second half, we get to Steve returning to Apple after several failures and the timeline continues to cover both his personal life and the inventions and products he created with the iPod, iTunes, the iTunes store, the Apple stores (which were thought by some analysts to fail miserably after one year), then the creation of the iPhone and finally, the iPad and the iCloud. Of course the last chapters examine his cancer and treatments, and how he eventually came to succumb to the illness.

If you, like me, are interested to learn about the thinking behind these revolutionary products, this book is just the ticket for you. If you want a book with plenty of quotes and comments from people who knew and worked with Steve Jobs, along with plenty of comments from the horse's mouth, again, this is the book to go to. I found the evolution of the thinking behind each product and how it came to be designed and produced to be fascinating. But.

For the first half of the book, I kept wondering why I was even bothering with it. Jobs comes off as one of the most unlikeable people imaginable. It may be that he was as unpleasant as portrayed, but I found it strange that he didn't seem to have a single redeeming quality, save for his focus on perfection. His personal charm was mentioned casually as just another tool in his arsenal, another means to an end, when the bullying had run it's course.

I wish I'd kept track of amount of times the term Reality Distortion Field was mentioned. As says on wikipedia: "RDF was said to distort an audience's sense of proportion and scales of difficulties and made them believe that the task at hand was possible. While RDF has been criticized as anti-reality, those close to Jobs have also illustrated numerous instances in which creating the sense that the seemingly impossible was possible led to the impossible being accomplished." I got the point the first and tenth and fiftieth time, but maybe I'm being unfair. I've worked in advertising, where this sort of mentality is rampant, whereas most readers probably haven't come across this mentality.

I suppose that Isaacson wanted to be true to Steve Jobs' manner of expression, so the entire book was filled wall to wall with expletives. Although I'm a big fan of Apple products, I don't have a particular bias towards Job; but what grated on me was that his brand of genius as a visionary with faultless design sense and a brilliant marketer didn't seem to carry much weight. Imagine someone writing about Picasso and focusing most of all on what a horrid man he was to others with offhanded mentions of what a brilliant artist he was. Comparing Jobs to Picasso might not be entirely appropriate, but it's undeniable that both men left a legacy that did, and will outlive them both. Yet, Jobs, ever the control freak, repeatedly told Isaacson he would not ask to see the manuscript and would not read the book when it was published, saying he knew there was a lot of it he wouldn't like, but trusting the author would write an accurate portrayal of him. To me, that speaks of a man who accepts himself with all his foibles, and that alone is a quality worthy of admiration.

Wow Ilana - what a review! Good job of not selling the book - Job would be proud of your marketing skills - won't be adding this one to the Hitlist!

btw Control of the two remotes (TV and Satelitte) in our household is a delicate matter. SWMBO loves her Malay dramas - I, of course, pretend to abhor them. SWMBO wins and I can excuse myself and read. The children especially Belle try to conquer the remote and I have trouble rescuing it to be honest - once Madam arrives though they flee immediately. We have a huge round "chair" in front of the TV area which can accommodate three (two big 'uns and a smallie) and SWMBO normally reclines there like Cleopatra (I was going to say Buddha but thought better of it) in command literally of all she surveys!

I've rarely felt bad about posting a review before Paul, but it's so ridiculously long that I'm ashamed of myself. I'll try not to get out of control like that again this year. It's just that as you saw, I have a long history with Apple, and so the book was quite an experience, if not all that successful, in my view.

What's wrong with Buddha? ;-)

A bit concerned about the wrong connotations that it would give about poor SWMBO's size. She's just big-boned! Actually and as she keeps telling me she is a much better catch than I.
Your review made great reading by the way and did such a good job of deterring me from the book that I would have to say thank you!

That's a great review Ilana, I'm not so hung up on Apple that I felt the need to read the the book but I think your longer review works really well.

Wow that is some review! Good, and big. I love your "love affair with apple" introduction too :)

Early 80's- I dont think I saw my first computer til the late 8o's, but they all look so chunky now. The black screens with the green typing! Funny how fast things have moved forward.

Jobs sure sounds in interesting fellow, and eccentric as many highly intelligent seem to be.

#35 Seems strange that she's say she's the better catch. After all, she chose you, didn't she? And it's a well known fact that the woman chooses the man in the end, and not the other way round.

As for the Jobs book, it's so ridiculously popular right now that I'm sure one wee non-eulogistic review won't make much of a difference, not that I think that no-one should read it or anything, I didn't dislike it that much!

#36 Kerry, as you've probably surmised, I'm not a big non-fiction or biography reader, but this one was a must. I just wish it had been written better. Parts of it just seemed overly simplistic, and I get very annoyed when I'm being talked down to.

#37 I wonder when we look back on our "state of the art" technology 10, 20 years from now... but of course, the answer is we'll find it hopelessly dated! Jobs certainly had his quirks. I wish I'd gotten to meet him in person, if only to tell him how much his products influenced my life.

Hi Ilana. I love love love the picture of your fur-monsters on your lap. It does, indeed, look cozy and wonderful. And your review of Steve Jobs has confirmed my early lack of interest in reading the book. It's not that I'm not interested in the man himself (I am), nor that I don't think he was a revolutionary thinker and creator (I do, she typed on her MacBook), but this book just didn't seem like the one I wanted to read.

I remember in about 1985(86?), a good friend in graduate school got a Macintosh (as it was called), one of the first of its kind. She was all gooey-eyed about the mouse and the windows format and I was more interested in her two Siamese kittens. I had a PC (a 286) at the time and I probably just didn't want to think that the money I'd spent had been wasted. And I suppose it wasn't -- I wrote my dissertation on that 286 -- but I do love my MacBook Pro now. :-)

I've started Cannery Row and so far I think it's excellent. Thank you so much for the idea of the Steinbeck-a-thon!!!

Aaaaawww.... that picture! They look like they are used being read to and are actually waiting for you to continue. I so want my own Coco! (I like cats too, but have no experience with them, my family always had dogs)

Love your review, although Steve Jobs it's not a book I am likely to read. And I fully understand your need to make it long. Sometimes it's just impossible to keep those reviews short and make them feel complete.

And it's a well known fact that the woman chooses the man in the end, and not the other way round.

hahaha - both of the sexes believe that they got to choose! Using my legal qualifications for a mo - law of contract; offer and acceptance. The man offers the lady accepts, but usually on her own terms!

Very nice review, Ilana.

You are really the first Mac-lover who put into words what you love about it. I've asked myself many times, "Why are Mac-lovers so loyal and what is so much better about them?" Interesting. I may go Mac next time.

Also, apart from the author's approach, it does seem you are glad to have read this book. I tend NOT to read bios that come out so soon after a person's death. I am always afraid it is a rush-job to be first in the market and generally not well written.

Thanks for the review - it's not too long. ;-)

A very well-done review, Ilana, really, and not a bit too long. As a teacher, I used Apple products exclusively at work, while using a pc at home. I'm not artistic, so it didn't make much difference to me which one I was using, although my daughter assures me that an Apple product is almost critical to graphics design success.

Ellen, I thought no one but myself remembered the 286, with the old buzzing and clanging dot-matrix printers. Ew. They seemed miraculous then, but man, I wouldn't want to try one now.

Ilana - What a fabulous book review!! Thank you!

Hi Ilana, I wrote a comment to the same effect on Nathalie's thread, but thought I'd delurk to say that you'll have absolutely no problem with the French in Les liaisons dangereuses, since I, with my imperfect French, raced through the book. I loved it, in fact, and, based on what I've seen of your reading, I think you'll really enjoy it.

I enjoy reading your thread(s), though not being a 75-er, I don't always have the stamina to keep up!

Ilana, I thought your review of the Steve Jobs book was fantastic and not too long at all. I'll probably wait for the book to become available at the library.

In the early to mid-1990s, we used Jobs' NeXT computers for a few years at work, finally abandoning them because there wasn't enough software available but I remember loving working on them. When we first got them and went for training, Steve Jobs actually showed up to see what we thought of them (this was when he was first introducing a workplace computer) and I got to shake his hand. I didn't think too much of it at the time because I didn't otherwise use his products but I remembered it once I got an iPod. Amazing designer.

I thought I was advanced because, with my 286, I had a 20-dots-per-inch dot matrix printer! How far we've come in 25 years......

I bought Nothing to Envy the other day (why wait until my Thingaversary?) and it looks really interesting. I think it will be (at least) February before I get to it.

ZX81 was our first computer in the early 80's. I remember our cousins had a Commodore and we were so jealous...

Ilana, I love your photo above and the gorgeous fluffy captive audience you have. Great shot. And my husband started to read the Steve Jobs book and gave up. He is a computer guy and is just getting more into Mac stuff now but the book was a disappointment for him.

Hi Ilana- I really liked your Steve Jobs review. I think I will still give it a try. I have it saved on audio.
BTW- I just requested the audio of Nothing to Envy. I'm sure I'll be thanking you again, down the road. Is anyone hugging you over here? I'm available, or maybe just to watch.

Simply stopping by to congratulate you on your wonderful review of Steve Jobs.

Hello Dear One!

#39 Sometimes I think of writing reviews as a kind of public service, and when I'm not sold on one, I'm happy to encourage others to pass it by. So many books, so little time.

You know, I have no idea what a 286 is. In fact, I've never paid attention to PCs so am completely ignorant on that score, and not afraid to admit it. :-P

#40 Nathalie, I feel blessed to be able to have both cats and a dog. It would be hard for me, if not impossible to choose one over the other in order of preference, but I'll chose either of them over a boyfriend! lol

#41 Whatever you say dear. ;-)

#42 I think you're right not to read bios right after the person's death. Usually, if the person is known to have an illness, the bio has been started long before their death, but in this case I did wonder if it hadn't all been wrapped up rather quickly. Things we'll never know. Though I do remember reading somewhere that obituaries of famous people are written long in advance so they can be plopped in when the time comes.

#43 Gail, I'd have to side with your daughter. Macs have always been and remain the golden standard in professional design circles. Though I understand PCs now are nearly fully compatible. Don't even want to think about it. I'm truly biased against them! :-)

#44 No, I thank you Brit, for the encouragement.

#45 Rebecca, I saw your comment on Nathalie's thread first and so answered you there earlier on. Thank you for delurking to let me know about this, you've now removed any hesitation I had about reading this novel.

I understand what you mean about needing stamina to keep up with this group. I don't think any of us 75ers have figured out how to keep up either!

#46 Pat, you do understand you shook the hand of one of the 21st century geniuses, right? I barely remember when the NeXT came on the market, but in the book it's described as being one of his failures. If you're interested at all in the thinking behind the products, this book is great in that sense. Though I'll be curious to see your reaction to it overall.

#47 Ellen, I think I got Nothing to Envy during one of Audible's amazing $4.95 sales, because truly, it's quite rare that I purchase non-fiction. But I'm glad I decided to go with this one. It's very engaging and most definitely fits the bill as narrative non-fiction.

#48 I'm glad you enjoyed looking at my cuties. I never tire of staring at them myself.

I understand why your husband gave up on Steve Jobs. I very nearly did several times, but was determined to stick to it because it's both a TIOLI and a 12/12 book for me.

#49 Is anyone hugging you over here? I'm available, or maybe just to watch.

You funny guy! :-) You got your fill of voyeurism over on Jude's thread, and I believe one can never get too many hugs (especially since I never get any RL ones), so yes, I'll take you up on one!

It's so rare that I inspire you to pick up books on my thread, so I'll be really glad to read your enthusiastic review about Nothing to Envy!

#50 Thanks so much Linda. Funny, we are often our own worst critics.

Just responding to a few references above to "keeping up":

HA!!!!

But we love trying. :-)

Right. I spent the first half of the day sleeping. That is, I got up in the morning, could barely stay awake, and went back to bed a couple of hours later. Then slept well into the afternoon when I woke up around 4 p.m. Coco didn't make a peep and patiently slept by my side until I woke up to take him outside. He's amazing.

It snowed all day and we now have masses and masses of snow, which made walking outside with my little bunny lots of fun. I keep thinking I should capture him on video when he's running in the snow because it's really adorable. Will try to next time. However, if the weather predictions come true, it seems that we'll be getting ice pellets all night and into the morning, followed by rain. Is there anything more depressing than rain in January?

Reading Life I've been reading a fun little book by an author who was highlighted on TIOLI last month, No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey. I'm about halfway through and it's proving to be lots of fun. Of course, I would, since a cat plays an important role in the story...

I've been mentioning Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea here and there, and have to say it's quite absorbing. I should also say that it feels like that much more of a treat (if I can say that about a book narrating the hardships of a whole nation), after having recently revisited 1984, since there are so many parallels it's truly astounding. I came across a few mentions and reviews of The Orphan Master's Son on Shelf Awareness Pro this week, which is apparently an excellent work of fiction also set in North Korea, and there's very good chances that I'll be picking it up in the next few weeks, probably on audio again as it seems like a great follow-up to NtE.

Have started on From the Mouth of the Whale by Sjón, an ER book set in 17th century Iceland. I can't pronounce myself one way or another on it yet, because I only read some 24 pages last night before more or less passing out, but I can say it looks very interesting, though a bit on the dense side (as in filled to the brim, and quite the opposite of stupid) at this point and my brain is not really attune to having to work overtime, if at all, so we'll see.

I wanted to catch up on my reviews... perhaps some speed reviewing is in order? Let's see what I can do in the next 45 minutes or so...

4. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi ★★★¾
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where a word in the title can be used as a verb)

The Grace children; Mallory, 13; twins Jared and Simon, 9, and their mother, recently divorced, move into a dilapidated old victorian house. On the first night, Jared hears some strange rustling sounds in the walls. When he goes investigating, he discovers a book of faeries hidden in the attic, though no one believes him when strange and unpleasant things start happening that it's one of the creatures described in the book, and not he, that is responsible for the evil tricks. A very fun beginning to a series of short and sweet books illustrated in pen and ink I discovered, when looking up illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi at the library. Have already reserved the follow up The Seeing Stone for another fun little treat.

5. ♫ Fight Club by Chuck Palaniukh ★★★½ (Picked by Deern)
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where a word in the title can be used as a verb and 12/12 Category #3: Picked for me)

"You buy furniture, you tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. buy the sofa, then for a couple of years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled, then the right set of dishes, then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things that you used to own, now they own you."

"You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everyone else, and we are all a part of the same compost pile."

"The first rule about fight club is you don't talk about fight club. The second rule about fight club is you don't talk about fight club."

Our narrator hasn't slept in weeks. He hates his job, and feels trapped by his possessions after years of religiously studying the IKEA catalogue. Then he meets Tyler Durden and his life is transformed. Tyler doesn't believe in society. In fact, he has plans to destroy society. First by getting men to conquer their fears, then by raising an army of followers who are trained never to ask questions. A fascinating look at what can lurk between the cracks of a man's well-ordered life. Whether it's a paean to, or a criticism of nihilism is left to the reader to decide. Not for the faint of heart; it's a very bleak story but the catharsis sought by the Fight Club members can also infect the reader, as it did yours truly.

6. The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary by Reading Is Fundamental ★★★★

Forty reputable children's book illustrators were asked to recreate a scene from their favourite childhood book and to explain why that book was meaningful to them. All are unquestionably talented, with many award winners in the lot, and there is a wide range of styles and approaches. I thought this was a great introduction to new-to-me talent, with close to 20 illustrators I'll be looking up at the library. Two current favourites, Peter Sís and Tony DiTerlizzi are featured, but I'll also want to get my hands on more work by Raúl Colón, David McPhail, Jerry Pinkney, William Joyce, Stephen Huneck, David Kirk, and Susan Jeffers, among others.

It seems I've just passed the 375 mark, with 377 reviews written so far. Heh.

Re. dogs and cats: I love both equally, but have no real experience with cats. I think I'd have an issue with having to let them out on their own, I'd be in a constant worry they might get hit by a car/poisoned/ shot/ fall from the balcony, etc. A dog stays in or goes outside with me.
Hm, maybe this explains why I have no children.

I'll send a request to my library for Fight Club today, it's hidden in their magazine like almost all books from the 1001 list.

Ilana- "It's so rare that I inspire you to pick up books on my thread". You would be surprised at the inspiration you I receive over here. I love the film version of Fight Club but have never read the book. Will have to remedy that oversight. You listened to this on audio? If so, was it a good narrator?

Fight Club was a tough, bleak book, but like you, I found it grabbed me. I was glad I read it.

Thanks for the reviews - I think :}
I am contemplating Fight Club though the title is a bit of a turn-off for me. Gotta get past that. Or do you advise I stay away from it?
Love the cover on The Art of Reading!

We have an artist here in Georgetown who has also written and illustrated children's books. Her name is Dahlov Ipcar and she is in her 90s - still going strong - though as one would expect, slowing down.
Have you ever heard of her, Ilana? Probably not.
But I have been to her house a few times and have seen her stuff. Very exciting to see... I can't afford her creations but they are everywhere around here. She did a huge wall mural for the children's room in the Bath library (nearby) and had an art show at the Portland Museum of Art recently.

#58 Hm, maybe this explains why I have no children.

Lol! I know what you mean Nathalie. Letting my cats go outside was not an easy decision for me either. I was initially not going to let them out of the house, but Ezra basically forced me to let him out when he took to peeing in front of the entrance and both balcony doors. Then when Mimi came, she seemed to be happy either way, but seeing Ezra go in and out, of course she got curious. In both cases though, I didn't let them out until they were a couple of years old to make sure they got used to being indoors and would be less tempted to wander far and wide. I'm lucky enough that my back balcony is where the fire escape is, and this leads to a vast back alley with little to no traffic and lots of trees and hideaways, so that I'm almost sure they never wander off very far, or into the street. I'm already not so very well mentally balanced, but having kids would surely be the end of me from all the worry! ;-)

#59 Mark, I'm glad I read the book, though have to say that I found the film version more satisfying. It must be said that Edward Norton and Brad Pitt did a highly commendable job, and I like how they adapted the story so that Tyler Durden's true identity remains a surprise till the very end. Not so in the book, or maybe I found the clues too obvious because I'd seen the movie, that I'll never know for sure.

#60 I'm glad I read it too Joe, but as I said to Mark, I think I prefer the movie. For instance, I doubt I'll want to read a book again, whereas I might be tempted to watch the film version again soon since I actually own it. Not sure why that is because goodness knows the movie isn't a walk in the park either...

#61 Claudia, I'd say if the title alone is a turn-off, then listen to your gut instinct and stay away, because the story itself and it's details and tone are far from pretty. I guess I connected to it to a certain degree because I could well identify with the yuppie narrator who's career ambitions and attachment to his cozy IKEA nest kept him prisoner of a life that didn't make him happy, and I was able to see humour in the situation because of that—of taking that discontentment to the extreme in a way. I guess it's comparable to why I also found the movie version of American Psycho very funny. It's totally sick and disgusting, but I can understand where the writers were coming from. That said, I don't think I want to read American Psycho after Nathalie warned me off about it. Certain kinds of violence are barely tolerable on film, but really too punishing when you're reading and stuck in the head of the psychopath.

On to more pleasant things, I had not seen Dahlov Ipcar's work before, but just googled her now and found it very beautiful. Thanks for pointing me in her direction. xx

I've been working hard at my Best/Worst of 2011 list to get it as complete as possible so I can post it on my blog. I still want to add a few statistics (total # of books read, how many novels/children's books/crime fiction, etc). I've just added my list of favourite audiobooks, which I'm copying below. My only major question now is whether the whole thing might not make for too long a blog post and I'm wondering if I should break it up into sections... opinions?

Best Audiobooks
♫ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (BBC Radio Collection) by Douglas Adams. Ensemble cast.
The original radio series is how THGttG was meant to be experienced for maximum hilarity.
♫ The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Narrated by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell
Four great actresses make the women of this hit novel truly unforgettable
♫ Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Narrated by Samuel West
I'd listen to West narrate the phone book. In Chinese.
♫ Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson, Narrated by Bill Wallis
Wallis hits the perfect note to make the grumpy Major that much more loveable.
♫ A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Narrated by Tim Curry
Curry's excellent performance makes the beloved classic laugh out loud funny.
♫ Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, read by Samuel L. Jackson
Jackson makes you forget this adult bedtime story originally comes as a picture book.
♫ Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog) by Jerome K. Jerome, Narrated by Steven Crossley
This humorous adventure has been interpreted by a bevy or great narrators, but Crossley is a personal favourite.
♫ Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, Narrated by Christopher Plummer
Everyone's favourite story which Plummer manages to make even better. Avoid TtLG though, which would
land on my list of worst audiobooks if I had one—it must have been recorded after quite a few too many.

I'd listen to just about anything narrated by: Samuel West, Simon Prebble, Juliet Stevenson, Josephine Bailey, Derek Jacobi, Steven Crossley, Nadia May (aka Donada Peters aka Wanda McCaddon), Davina Porter, Campbell Scott, Neil Gaiman (author)

Phew.....I'm slowly catching up with threads, so I'll confess that I just splipped right on by your first one, to get on track here. I'm trying to balance reading (READING !!!), thread watching, blogging, and being the adult book selector for all of Maine's e and audio books. Thank goodness Mr. Tutu is great at laundry, vacuuming, and doing dishes.

You've some great lists going here (I grabbed several to go look at for the ebook pile) and as always good conversations. I'll be lurking in at least twice a week now. Can't wait to see what you all come up with.

BTW I'm particularly pleased to see discussions of audio books....one of my favorite formats, although I'm only being able to get to them these days when I'm in the pool. My Nook is replacing a lot of audio books - proving to me that it's the size and weight of the print books that has been making me move away from them. I second all of your recommendations for narrators and would also add Julie Gibson and James Lee.

Love your review of Fight Club...not an easy book to read (oof!) and more difficult to review,,,but Mr Palahniuk is one of my all time favorite writers, not for the faint of heart

;-}

Excellent review of Fight Club and The Art of Reading looks great as well. I'm still not sure about audio books but you always make me rethink them. Maybe it is because there is no activity in my daily schedule that would fit time for them unless I substituted my reading time but I am too addicted to paper I think to make the change.

I keep thinking I should capture him on video when he's running in the snow because it's really adorable. I hope you do -- I would love to see it!

I also love your review of The Fight Club - and it made me want to read it. It sounds very interesting and just so different. I don't know the author at all, but when I go to his author page, it's a long list of works!

I'm going to look for The Art of Reading at the library. It sounds like a great way to discover new illustrators.

I don't think your list of best audio books is too long at all. I like all the information you provide.

Have fun with Coco in the snow. And I'd love to see a video of him romping in it if you get a chance to take one.

Ilana - intrigued by your recommendations on audio books. As a confirmed Luddite I have never "read" anything in such a manner, think Kindle is something to do with timber required to light a fire and that I-Phones/I-Pods are merely for ringing SWMBO to find out what's for dinner!
This may change however as your enthusiam for audio books is starting to get to me a little! Might start with Three Men in a Boat as that is one that I have never got round to reading yet. Shakespeare or Jonson or Chekov or Ibsen with the text to read along to may be fun also.

#64 Tina, it sounds like you're one busy lady, and must say it was very clever of you to recruit your DH to help around the house!

You're more than welcome here any time you like. As a lurker or a commenter. As for audiobooks, since I live alone with my furkidz, I have plenty of opportunities to listen to them as I go about my business when I've got things to do or I'm on the go. When I take time to sit down, I usually spend it on LT, or reading (in that order!).

I looked up Julie Gibson and James Lee on Audible and couldn't find either of them. Might you mean John Lee? If you do, I agree he's very good too.

#65 You would be a fan of Palaniukh Jude, with your love of all things dark and edgy. I've always been a little bit scared to approach his work, and I'm not sure I'm ready to discover more of it at this point. I can appreciate dark and edgy, but in small doses and at the right time.

#66 Leonie, to be sure if you don't have opportunities to listen to audiobooks, then they're probably not a great option for you. I never listen to them when I can be sitting down with a book. I spend that time on LT instead! :-) But seriously, I took to them because they're super convenient for me with the lifestyle I'm currently leading.

#67 Ellen, I tried to get some footage on our walk this afternoon. Now I'll have to go through it all and do some editing, which means a video might be ready by this spring! I'm only sort of joking. ;-)

#68 Palaniukh certainly seems to have quite an output. But to be perfectly honest, the titles of his books alone kind of scare me away. I'm not sure I want to read a book titled Choke or Snuff and not even tempted to find out what they're about. So many authors so little time... so it's all good.

#69 Pat, I think you'd definitely enjoy The Art of Reading, if only to discover some new-to-you talent. I've started checking with the library if they had works by all the ones I've picked out and am only about one quarter through my list, but so far they're all there with plenty of selections too. I already reserved a few while I was at it, so you'll be seeing some of their work right here on my threads in near future.

About the list, I agree that the best audiobooks list is fine, but I was referring to my complete list, which you can see in post #3, which is a whole different kind of animal...

As for Coco bunny hopping in the snow, I'll start working on the video soon. As I'm just a tiny bit of a perfectionist, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it if I were you though... ;-)

#70 Paul, I only discovered audio books exactly a year ago, when I saw that Mark was a fan, as he listens to them while he's working. I figured they'd be perfect for taking walks with Coco, and pretty soon I started to find plenty of opportunities to listen. Helps that I live alone and my pets don't mind me being plugged into my iPod all the time!

#72 LOL! :-D

Right. As much as I'd love to do the rounds and visit a bunch of threads, I'm just pooped tonight. Didn't get enough sleep last night and was going to take a nap this afternoon, and then didn't. I went to the bookstore my father had gotten my Christmas gift from, to exchange the art book he'd given me and which I wasn't crazy about for something else, and ended up spending quite a bit of time there. It's a store with mostly French language books, and I realized somewhat with horror that I really know very little about contemporary French literature. Besides, I get most of my French books from the library usually, and have purchased what amounts to a drop in a bucket compared to all the English books I've purchased these last few years. I guess part of the reason is that I get suggestions mostly from LT, where there are rarely recommendations for French titles, for obvious reasons.

Anyway, I ended up picking up a book about a local artist I've always admired, and after looking around for quite a while, asked them to give me a credit note for the remaining balance. I'll either come up with a better wishlist for French titles to bring with me next time, or spend some time getting suggestions from someone from their staff, which is a luxury I'm no longer accustomed to since I do most of my book shopping online!

À demain!



eta: I really need help figuring out how I'm going to present my "best of 2011" list on my blog. I've been promising to post it there for weeks, but as the list keeps growing, I'm less and less comfortable with posting the whole thing in one piece... it's so long! Any suggestions on how I could present this best are appreciated. You can see the whole list on post #3.

Sorry, Ilana. I know nothing about blogs or design. Your lists are, however, wonderful! Good luck!

You know, I want to go to a bookstore today and the nearest one is in Portland. So... I'm thinking why not just go to Montreal? Your bookstores sound so interesting. Can't be that much further away... Are you free for dinner? LOL

Have a great day!

>75 Smiler69: Maybe you could post one or two lists (depending on length) per day/every other day? And maybe divide the Literature list in half? I don't know; I can't post regularly on my blog to save my life, and when I do post something, it's about mopping my kitchen floor. How boring is that?

Wonderful picture of your crew. And a very helpful review of the Jobs, which I do want to tackle at some point, probably not this year though.

#21 Love the photos of two of your furry friends on the sofa with you (Coco and Mimi?)

Re your blog, I like casvelyn's suggestion think splitting the lists up and posting one of them every day for a while. Hmm, tricky.

Ilana, I'm just so impressed that you maintain a blog!! I am not the person to advise you, but I have already enjoyed perusing your various lists. And I won't hold my breath about the video as I can just use my imagination to picture little Coco bounding through and parading around in the snow. I hope you're feeling more rested today.

#76 Hey Claudia, so, around what time are you showing up?

#77 I've sadly neglected my blog ever since I joined this group. I try to post regularly, especially as I used to spend entire days preparing blog posts, but by the time I'm done here on LT, there isn't much time left for anything else.

#78 I'm glad you thought the review was helpful Lucy. I'll look forward to you take o Steve Jobs when you do get to it.

#79 Yes, those are Coco and Mimi. Ezra is my grey tabby who rarely shows up on photos (though you can see him among my profile pictures). As for the blog, I think I will break up the list in a few portions and post those on consecutive days. That'll more activity on the blog than there's been in quite some time! :-)

#80 To say I *maintain* a blog, is to imply that I feed it regularly more or less, which sadly hasn't been the case. I do have people who like reading my reviews there however, so I've promised myself this year that I'll start posting regularly from my backlog of over 200 reviews I've written here, which should keep it going for a while. ;-)

>63 Smiler69: Samuel L Jackson narrating Go the F**k to Sleep? That would be a powerful voice for a mock kids book wouldn't it? I take it it worked for you since it made the list?

I'm imagining Alice's Adventure in Wonderland to be a great night time audio book.....I can see my feet up on the couch now, a mug of tea.....Im so relaxed.....

>75 Smiler69: Maybe you could do a fiction and nonfiction list rather than breaking it down into genres. That was people can scan the list that interests them most and it wont matter if each list is a long one?

Life: I slept in till well past noon today, but would just as happily go for a nap right now. Coco and I went outside for a walk just over an hour ago, which may be the reason why I'm so fatigued this time; it's 0 degrees (F), which isn't too bad, but actually -15 with the wind factor. The sun was shining gorgeously in the blue skies, which is always a sign that it's really REALLY cold on winter days. I got dressed in many layers (including long johns) and the second we stepped outside the bitter cold took hold of every inch of exposed skin it could find. I thought of just going around the block as I often do when the weather is inclement, but there's still heaps of snow out, and the second I saw that Coco was in a mood to bound around, I just forced myself to bring him out a little further to watch him do his thing. Great video ops today with the beautiful light and all, but much too cold for me to take my mitts off. That would have been asking for instant frostbite.

Books: Yesterday, I had meant to complain about From the Mouth of the Whale and say that it was proving much too clever for my sluggish brain to figure out and I was tempted to give it up after getting through one third of it, but then of course, as these things will, when I picked it up again last night it suddenly became much cleared and much more interesting somehow. I'm hallways through now and determined to spend a few hours this afternoon on reading some more. Meanwhile, I finished No One Noticed the Cat last night, which was a highly readable and fun adventure story about a young prince and his very clever cat.

I also rounded up a few statistics earlier today about my 2011 reading. I wish I could add even more statistics of the kind one finds on CK, but I don't know how to find that info for just that year and not inclined to start creating spreadsheets to keep track of those things, but anyway, here are a few stats:

Some Stats from 2011

Total books read from: 293
Literary Fiction: 73
Historical Fiction: 49
Classics: 45
Mystery/Crime Fiction: 51
Spy: 3
Fantasy: 16
Science Fiction: 7
Non-Fiction: 7
Graphic Novels: 22
Young Adult: 54
Children's Literature: 99
Picture Books: 57
Audiobooks: 100
Unfinished: 6

#82 Megan, Samuel L. Jackson's reading of Go the F**k to Sleep is truly hilarious. It's only a 6 minute recording and costs just $1.95 one Audible for non-members, so if you're tempted to check it out just click here.

As for dividing my lists into fiction/non-fiction, that would work, but for the fact that I only read 7 non-fiction books in the whole year!

Thanks Ilana for the link.
I did notice the non fiction list being tiny in comparison to the fiction you read last year....might not make for very balanced blog post- visually I mean. Is it possible for you to pare down all the lists to a single top 20 list?

That's a very eclectic genre(?) list, Ilana!

#85 Megan, I tried paring down, but it just didn't work for me. I decided to divide the whole thing in 4 parts and finally posted the first part earlier this evening. thanks for the suggestion!

#86 Well, you know me by now; I read a little bit of everything. Gotta keep mixing it up so I don't fall in a rut!

Hi Ilana!
Decided today might not have been the best day to drive to Montreal as I still need to renew my passport to get back home.
But someday I hope to get up there...and Quebec... and Nova Scotia... and Vancouver... and Three Pines... etc...

Your stats are v interesting. A rainbow of genres!
Don't know how you decide what book belongs in what category???

hugs and more hugs to keep you warm!

#83 -15 degrees? Brrr - well done on taking Coco out for a longer walk despite the cold. It's -3 here and that feels cold enough, especially as I didn't put the heating on for long enough overnight.

Hi Ilana- I hope you are feeling more rested today and keep warm up there. We are getting back to the 30s today. Hey, a heat wave.

Nap til noon, I'm so envious! Ohhhhh, my puritan New England genes simply won't allow me to do that unless I have a temp over 100 and then it isn't any fun. I love your 2011 stats - any surprises for you?

Woke up today to one of my nasty migraines, so I did a bit of (mostly) lurking here on LT and then went back to bed for a few hours. Things seem a bit better now, but I can feel the pain threatening to flare up full tilt with the slightest wrong move. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to have affected my mood quite as negatively as it frequently does, so that's good.

I just hope I'm in shape tomorrow afternoon for my first art class of the winter session. Chose to take watercolours again. I like the medium, but I especially love the teacher who's passion and creativity is incredibly infectious. Hers is also an approach to creativity that can be adopted with any medium.

I only wish I'd done more artwork during the past few weeks, but somehow, LT and reading seem to be more attractive to me these days. Maybe because it's not quite as challenging, i.e. scary? I always admire artists who are seemingly fearless and who can just keep producing daily.

Another scarily cold day today. Around the same temperatures as yesterday, -18 degrees Celsius, but more like -28 with the wind factor. I didn't feel quite as brave as yesterday, maybe because I felt wimpier due to the headache, so I just took Coco around the block so far. I always feel so guilty when I don't give him a proper long walk and wish I was a better mom and more worthy of such a perfect dog!

Books: Finished Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea just a short while ago. I know I'm really into an audiobook when I actually want to be doing things like cooking and cleaning around the house—which I try to avoid at all cost usually—just so I can spend more time listening.

I was just now on the verge of going back out to return a book to Indigo, but here again, am wimping out because of the cold. I mentioned this one back in December. It's called The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures, and I really wasn't sure about it when I got it. I read maybe a third of it and the "novel" aspect of it is quite weak, but the imagery really is a lot of fun. I really should return it as could get a couple of other books instead of this hardcover, but it's just too harsh out there.

#88 Claudia, these days, I'd avoid Montreal too, if only because it's so cold!

Until I joined this group and actually started discussing books, I didn't even think about what category a book fit into. I knew there was literature and crime fiction and graphic novels, etc, but to me a book was just a book—I guess you could say I had a very democratic approach to them! However, I'm very tag-happy, so basically I just did a search within my tags for each of those categories and put down the numbers I came up with. By no means a scientific method when you think the same book could potentially be listed in any of five categories! :-)

#89 Heather, as I mentioned in my comments above the temperatures I quoted yesterday were in Fahrenheit, so it was actually much more brutally cold than that! Hope you're managing to stay warm. My apartment is nice and toasty, and no wonder I don't want to step outside!

#90 Mark, seems I traded the fatigue for a migraine. Heh. Them's the breaks.

#91 Lucy, as you can probably tell, I don't have an ounce of puritan genes. Which doesn't mean I don't feel guilty for all that sleep, but I've always needed a lot of it to function. I've always wished I could be one of those people who do well on just 5-6 hours. How productive one could be!

I can't say there were a lot of surprises with my stats, because I was aware for instance that I wasn't getting in enough Non-Fiction, and I did think I'd be reading more proper art books since I have so many of them I want to get too. I also knew I was listening to an awful lot of audiobooks, but when you considere I only started listening to them in 2011, that's quite a high number for a newcomer! The biggest surprise is how few books I left unfinished. Percentage wise, 6 books comes out to a rate of only 2% of non-completion, which is very low considering I've given myself permission to abandon a book in favour of one that might appeal to me more, but I have a hard time doing so all the same.

Ilana- Glad you're feeling a little better! I requested Nothing to Envy from the library and hope to get to it, in the next few weeks. I'm starting to get a real back-log on my audios, which is better than the alternative, right?

Ok. I tried visiting a few threads by my headache is just getting worse. Note to self: Staring at a computer screen is not helpful.

Meanwhile, The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt is staring me in the face and I just don't feel right about having spent $20 on a hardcover book I don't really want when I should be saving money right now. So off to brave the cold since it needs to be returned by no later than the 15th. Might do my head some good.

#94 I'll look forward to your comments on Nothing to Envy Mark. The book apparently has pictures in it too, so I might look for it at the library so I can have a look at those.

So very sorry about the migraine, Ilana. :{

Most times I have migraines I am super tired too. I don't know if the tiredness causes the headache or vice versa. I seem to need a lot of sleep. And it does seem if I am not getting enough sleep, it can be a trigger. I know you think you get a lot - but you must need it. Everyone is different.

I hope the cold doesn't wipe you out. Bundle up!
It is 5 F degrees here and going down - don't know about the wind chill factor - but things are blowing around some.
I LOVE it! No complaints here. Course, I am toasty warm at the moment ;-) Our bedroom is about 47 right now - NICE!

Early to bed tonight so you will be refreshed for tomorrow's class. :)
Soft Hugs!

Claudia, I'm really being a big baby about the cold because really, I don't have to spend more than ten minutes at a time being outside. Coco's happy enough with short walks since he feels the cold too (even with his wooly sweaters on) and the metro station is not 5 minutes from my front door. But I went to return the book and I'm happy for it. I was falling asleep on the metro carriage; maybe the warmth and the motion? I almost wish I'd have stayed on through the night!

Early to bed, yes. I always tell myself that. Maybe I'll try in earnest tonight. Thanks for the sleepy kitty. So sweet! :-)

I started the audiobook for On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry this evening. Such beautiful prose which really benefits from being read out loud and with a slight Irish accent. Really sings.

Ilana - catching up after a day away. Sorry to see that you have another migraine. Hope you are ok for your watercolour class. xxx

Are you being a big baby again? Come on down here and walk the route with me a little, you can wear headphones!
I hope the migraine has eased off a little, my friend! And once again congrats on the Steinbeckathon. It really seems to have caused quite a stir.

Time for some reviews:



7. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck ★★★★⅓
(TIOLI Challenge #1, Steinbeckathon, 12/12 Category #1: The First Half 1901-1951)

For roughly the first half of the novel, I was just trying to get my bearings and get a feel for the lay of the land. I knew ahead of time I shouldn't look for a story; it’s more akin to a love poem to Monterey and the down-in-the-dumps Cannery Row, where whores, bums, shopkeepers and one marine biologist eke out a living. The living conditions Steinbeck describes here are difficult at best, but the emphasis is on observing details, as one would simply record facts, or like a camera taking snapshots without any bias. Perhaps the lack or a real plot contributes to making this world and it's inhabitants seem so real—real life doesn't follow storylines either, after all. A few characters stand out, especially Doc, the aforementioned marine biologist, who is universally loved by all the local residents, and I couldn't help but wonder how much Steinbeck put of himself in this character who has wonderful discerning tastes in music and books, if not the people he counts among his friends. It’s a short novel that is almost impossible to describe, but must be experienced at least once. I'll definitely read it again, if only to fully take in Steinbeck's gorgeous prose.






8. ♫ To Fear a Painted Devil by Ruth Rendell ★★★⅓
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where a word in the title can be used as a verb and 12/12 Category #5: The Dark Side)

Tamsin and Patrick Selby have an unhappy marriage. Tamsin is a beautiful young woman just on the verge of turning 27. Her husband, who also happens to be her first cousin, is very controlling, down to dictating what kind of clothes his wife should wear (plain in subdued colours), whether she should wear makeup (she shouldn't) and how she is to keep the house (immaculate). They live in a beautiful house in fictional housing development of Linchester, Nottinghamshire, and Tamsin has invited their neighbours to a get-together she's organized for her birthday. Patrick is rude to her and the guests throughout, and when he gets repeatedly stung by several wasps, no one is much chagrinned by his plight, nor when he is found dead the next day. The local doctor doesn't believe in foul play until some persistent gossiping leads him to investigate a little further to find out if there's any truth to claims that beautiful Tamsin had something to do with Patrick's death. A good enough story, but none of the characters made much of an impression on me and left me rather indifferent. There is an interesting sub-plot having to do with a painting of John the Baptist head on a bloody platter.






9. No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey ★★★¾
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where a word in the title can be used as a verb and 12/12 Category #7: Young at Heart)

"When Mangan Tighe, regent to Prince Jamas the Fifth, died, no one noticed the cat in their grief for the passing of this good and learned man."
When prince Jamas meets with the self-proclaimed king of lands near his realm of Espania, he falls helplessly in love with one of the young women in the king's retinue. But it seems the king and his evil queen have dark designs and are plotting to kill young Jamas so they can lay claim to his land. But who could have known that Niffy the cat would be such a guardian angel? A fun and eminently readable short novel. Recommended.






10. ♫ Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick ★★★★
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a work of narrative non-fiction, and 12/12 Category #10: Beyond Fiction)

This seemed like a timely choice of reading shortly after Kim Jong-il's death in December 2011. Barbara Demick, a Los Angeles Times journalist, has painted a harrowing picture of what life has been like in North Korea since the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic in 1948. Her narrative is based on interviews with several defectors from Chongjin, North Korea who told her their life stories and related the huge change in quality of life they experienced following Kim Il-sung's death in 1994. Up until then, everyone had a roof over their heads and sufficient food, but the famines of the 90s made what had been difficult living until then seem like ideal times. This novel was published in 2009, prior to Kim Jong-il's death of course, but of particular interest was the description of how the North Korean people reacted to the passing of Kim Il-sung, who had been considered as a god, due in no small part to the propaganda which is all-pervasive. It was easy to draw parallels between the images we saw in the news last month of grieving people in the capital. It was reported here that the images of grieving North Koreans had been staged, and descriptions of how people reacted to Kim Il-sung's death would seem to support this theory, but also explain the extent of the oppression of the North Korean regime on it's people. Fascinating, and of course, very troubling.

#99 Thanks Paul. Whatever happens tomorrow, I'll drag myself to that class by hook or by crook.

#100 Can I opt out of walking your route? I admire and appreciate that there are people like you who do so every day, come rain or shine, but it's enough for me that I have to walk Coco three times a day come hail or hurricane. (ok, maybe not during a hurricane)

Speaking of which, we're off four our last quick visit to the arctic and then to bed, sort of early.

HI Ilana! Sorry to hear about your migraine, I get them from my TMJ and they suck! Hope you feel better quick!
Sounds like it's quite a bit colder in Montreal than in Southwestern Ontario. I think it's about -6c here tonight.

Good review of Cannery Row! I started it tonight and I'm at about chapter 10 or so, it's great so far!

Sorry to hear you're not feeling 100 per cent, Ilana. Have you ever discovered if there is a certain trigger for your migraines? I have a girlfriend that was devistated when she found out that red wine a trigger for her. I have also heard that chocolate can also be the cause.

I see you have read another Ruth Rendell. I would recommend Judgement In Stone as one of her top ones.

Take care of yourself and I hope you are able to shake this migraine off soon.

Good review of Nothing to Envy Ilana. That's definitely going on my obese wish list.

Sorry to hear you're suffering from a migraine .... hope you feel better soon.

Some great reviews again, Ilana. I was already wondering if you'd end up not posting a review for CR. I've been there with some books I read as group reads, when I felt everything had already been said on the GR thread and then I just posted the link.

I had heard of Nothing to Envy before and forgot about it again, thanks for reminding me. It might be a read for later in 2012.

I so admire your discipline for doing all those stats. I always start the year planning to do them and in the end I am glad when I am able to identify '5 best reads'.

I wish I could send some of our Coco-friendly weather to you: clear blue sky, sunny (and not too cold) during the day. The only thing missing is some more snow on the mountains.

Up to ten books already and with all your migraines and ups and downs that is fantastic. The book on Korea looks enticing if that is the right word. All Steinbeck's work is worth reading and Cannery Row is probably on the second row of the grid (that's pretty good).
btw I like the sound of the weather described by Nathalie a sort of happy medium between your extreme cold and my tropical sweatbuster.

Hi Ilana- Good review of Nothing to Envy. I have this requested and hopefully I'll have it in a couple weeks.

Nice job on the reviews and heading to bed early (?) last night.

Have fun in your watercolor class today! (LOVE my bkmarker, btw!)
:-)

Great review of Nothing to Envy - that one's been on my radar for awhile now. I was really happy to see it's available in audio....how must just track it down.

And YES...someday I'm going to get to Steinbeck. Can't believe I actually lived in Monterey for 18mos and still haven't read Cannery Row = visited, but not read.

Chose to take watercolours again. Oh goody. I look forward to hearing about it.

You ended up being able to write an excellent review of Cannery Row -- you captured it very well, I think. I also enjoyed your review of Nothing to Envy which is on my overloaded tbr shelf.....

I'm sorry the cold is so aversive for you, Ilana. Given where you live, winters must seem very long. When I lived in the upper midwest, I liked the cold because it was usually accompanied by snow and then sun. But I didn't have a little dog who needed to go out on a regular basis! I'm glad Coco is satisfied with a few short walks each day. I imagine the snow and ice could hurt his little canine toes. :-|

Wow! There's been so much activity on LT today. I wish I had the stamina to keep up with everyone this evening, but it's not going to happen.

Our first watercolour class of the winter term was great. We worked on some flowers, which was a nice touch this time of year. I didn't finish my piece, though want to make some time this week to work on it some more.

I was thankfully migraine-free, but I slept so badly last night that I'm just beyond exhausted. I've always needed quite a lot of sleep, but all the meds I'm taking probably exacerbate the issue what with side effects. The fatigue really shows on me too, with great big black circles round my eyes that I'm sure weren't quite that bad just a few weeks ago. I guess as we age, some of us just end up looking more and more tired. I don't have any real wrinkles yet, so I shouldn't complain I guess.

I've been listening to On Canaan's Side and find it quite gripping. I wasn't sure at first that I'd be up to listening to an elderly woman's memoirs after the loss of her beloved grandson, but it's so beautifully written that it's been quite a pleasure so far. Great. I think I just wrote half of my review already. Don't be surprised if you see the exact same words when the time comes!

#103 Chelle, I started the Cannery Row review by saying I didn't feel like I could write a review, and that I'd just write down some notes about my impressions of it so I can refer back to them later. Then when I got to the end, I though heh, looks passable, and just removed the part about not being able to write a review! :-)

The weather really mellowed out today, but tonight it's back to -14, or -21 with the wind factor. C'est la vie.

#104 Judy, I wish I knew what triggers the migraines. I think they're mostly caused by stress. I'm a very anxious person by nature, so it's possible. I cut out red wine a few years ago since I was waking up in the middle of the night with horrible stomach aches whenever I had some, and chocolate is just an occasional treat, which I stay away from when I'm in pain, but otherwise does't seem to be a trigger either. So we're back to the stress and anxiety. ;-)

Thanks for the recommendation for Judgement In Stone. I actually added it to my wishlist that time I went through your Ruth Rendell collection and saw your ratings. Says "Rec'd by DeltaQueen50" right there in my tags too!

#105 Hi Caro. Barbara Demick really wrote and engaging story with Nothing to Envy and gives us an insight into North Korean living conditions that I certainly wasn't fully aware of before. It's quite fascinating, but definitely not cheerful!

#106 Hi Nathalie, the reason I seem so organized with my stats and "best of 2011" is that I promised some non-LT people that I would give them recommendations from my reading last year. I'm publishing the whole list up there in message #3 in four parts on my blog. Part one was published... I believe on Saturday. Just three more parts to go!

Thanks for sending me that lovely weather. Sounds wonderful :-)

#107 Up to ten books already and with all your migraines and ups and downs that is fantastic.

Paul, I couldn't do it without the audiobooks and those children's & YA books too. Definitely helps with the numbers. But as I like to say, a book's a book!

Second row of the grid?? You must explain.

#108 Mark, I'll be really shocked if you don't end up loving this book (though I'm not sure "love" is quite the right word...)

#109 Claudia, I think tonight will be an early one again. Though I just downloaded the latest episode of Downton Abbey and very tempted to watch that before heading to bed and reading before sleep...

Consider the bookmark the first of... ?

#110 What's keeping you from joining right in with the Steinbeckathon Tina? There's no better occasion to finally read Cannery Row and share your impressions with fellow Steinbeckathoners! :-) It's a short novel and an easy read too. Feel free to join in for any of the books we'll be covering. You'll find the threads listed on the group's wiki page. I guess I should include those links on my own thread too—will take care of that soon.

#111 Thanks for the compliment Ellen. I really didn't think I could write anything that came from me, because I was so influenced by all the other comments I'd read so far.

You know, I used to hate winter, but these past few years have to say that I've begun to really enjoy it. I like putting on all those layers and having a perfect excuse to huddle up at home too. Watching Coco run around in the snow wearing his cute sweaters is a real treat also. One day I'll get all the optimal gear for our arctic temperatures sorted out, and then I'll have nothing to complain about. Apparently, Canada Goose are the coats to look out for.

Back atcha: ♥

-18 dec C ? Wow, that is very very cold! I just had to go back and check that that was what you wrote, and it was. No wonder you dont want to go out walking every day! You need yourself an Antarctica suit....or, ad you say, a Canada Goose outfit :)

Ilana - "second row of the grid" is a motor racing term. In formula 1 grand prix racing there are approximately 20 cars which qualify for starting positions on the "grid" The first two in qualifying are in the front row whilst three and four form the second row of the grid. In context therefore Cannery Row would not be my absolute favourite Of Mice and Men and In Dubious Battle I think are better, but it would be my third or fourth favourite. That said there are only two that I have still to read and these are two of his most celebrated The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden.

Wow, took me really long to locate this thread!

HI Ilana! Sorry to hear it's so cold there. The weather in Ontario is being super weird, it's warm and raining here. Supposed to go down to -5c with snow tonight though

Do you think your migraines could be pet fur related? Sometimes when it's really dry in my house I'll get bad headaches and my allergist said it was because I allow my dog to sleep in my room (and sometimes on the bed).

#115 Hi Ellen I've been having a hard time keeping up so been lurking a lot more than is my habit, but sometimes I just *have* to leave some kind of mark. :-)

#116 Megan, I'm sure you're never exposed to these kinds of cold temperatures in New Zealand! Do get snow ever? What's the coldest it's ever been during your winters that you can remember?

#117 Paul, thanks for providing that explanation. We have Grand Prix madness here every summer when the races come to town (as you must know if you follow that stuff), but I can't say I've ever been stung by that particular bug, so this grid business is all new to me. But it's an apt metaphor. I wouldn't be able to use it because as we've seen with my lists of favourites, I have trouble narrowing my options down... but maybe I could manage it with Steinbeck by the end of this year when I'll have read more of his novels. I've only read Of Mice and Men, The Pearl, The Grapes of Wrath and now Cannery Row so far. Oh yes, and East of Eden too, but so long ago I don't remember anything of it now.

#118 Hi Piyush! Nice to have you over! Anytime is fine by me!

#119 Today was quite nice actually. The temps were more bearable and we had another HUGE snowfall, which I absolutely adore. It's supposed to go all weird though with snow-rain showers overnight. YUCK! But right now it's just -6 C, which is really kind of warm, relatively speaking.

It's possible that the migraines could have something to do with my furry kids. I'm slightly allergic to the cats I think, but very slightly so, which probably isn't helped by the fact that I'm not much of one for housecleaning, so dust and such tend to accumulate, which can't help I'm sure. However, I've had migraines since I was a little girl in all kinds of changing living conditions, so it's really hard to say.

I'm not sure where the day went, but I see it's already night-time outside. How time flies.

I did get lots of sleep, which I was badly needing, so feel more rested today but of course got a late start. Then when I got up, I found one of my lovely LT friends had sent me a couple of books in the mail as a sort of *pick me up* since I'd been so miserable last week. It came with a lovely card, and with the gently falling snow outside (not so gently actually, it was falling quite fast!), it felt like a beautiful Christmas day.

THEN, as if that wasn't enough of a treat, I also received a 20 lbs box of books I purchased during a Boxing Day sale at BookCloseouts. 25 books, all between $1.49 and $2.99—brand new! The postman apparently came by last week while I was walking Coco, but I really didn't want to have to go pick it up because for one thing, I knew it would be a heavy package and the postal outlet is also really far from where I live—have to take the metro or bus to get there. So I called Canada Post and asked them if they could attempt another delivery and was amazed when they said yes. I had no idea we could get that kind of service! I'd have had quite a rough time of it, carrying it up to my 3rd floor walkup, so I'm really glad.

Those of you who were reading my thread in December might have seen the list of books I got, since I posted it just after I'd made my purchases. Since they were paid for in 2011, they don't count as 2012 purchases of course, so my book-count as far as new acquisitions this year is still very reasonable (3 so far).

Here is what I received today:

Literature
The Path to the Spiders' Nests by Italo Calvino
The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck
The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer (WL)
The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson (WL)
Heliopolis by James Scudamore
The Conversations at Curlow Creek by David Malouf
Rubáiyát Of Omar Khayyam by Omar Khayyam
A Short History of a Small Place by T. R. Pearson
Petropolis by Anya Ulinich (WL)
Kiss & Tell by Alain de Botton
The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas Llosa (WL)
2666 by Roberto Bolaño - expensive at $3.49!
The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani (WL)
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea - hardcover (WL)
The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru (WL)
Rhyming Life and Death by Amos Oz (WL)

Non-Fiction
Zelda: A Biography by Nancy Milford (WL)
On Cats by Doris Lessing - hardcover
Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson
Letters to a Young Novelist by Mario Vargas Llosa
Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books by Aaron Lansky (WL)

YA Novels
The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo (WL)
Kaspar Prince Of Cats by Michael Morpurgo
Me And Orson Welles by Robert Kaplow
The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (WL)

WL = books from my wishlist

Wow Ilana - 25 books, that brings back memories for me of my spending last year! Heliopolis I read last year and enjoyed - it is set in Sao Paulo apparently but I don't think it actually says so. 20ilb of books and almost half of it taken up by 2666.

Ilana- Congrats on the major book haul! I'm not familiar with a lot of these titles but I've had a brand new softcover edition of 2666 sitting on my shelf for over 3 years now. Maybe it's just the size?

Great day in Montreal! Showers of books mixed with snow!
Good luck finding space and time to read!
No slacking on the watercolors though - I want to see some new work ;-)

I've also got 2666 taking up space and no plans to read it in the near future. I did like his The Savage Detectives. Some good books on the list, only a few that I've read but several on my Mt tbr.

#123 Mark, I may or may not join a group reading of 2666 it in March over on the 12/12 group, but we'll see about that.

#124 Claudia, I'll make sure to post some work with you in mind. xx

#125 Will you consider joining the group reading of 2666 Kerry? I'm not at all sure I while, but it's an option.

THIS IS VERY SCARY and NO JOKE!

PROTECT-IP is a bill that has been introduced in the Senate and the House and is moving quickly through Congress. It gives the government and corporations the ability to censor the net, in the name of protecting "creativity". The law would let the government or corporations censor entire sites-- they just have to convince a judge that the site is "dedicated to copyright infringement."

For more information, please watch the following video: http://vimeo.com/31100268 and don't hesitate to repost this message on your own thread to help increase awareness.

This is something I found..just trolling the Net..i don't endorse or slag...just post:

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/01/17/erin-wales-wikipedia-sopa.c...

?????

Thanks for sharing that interview Jude. I know Wikipedia will be blacked-out tomorrow in protest of that bill. My humble little blog is joining in the protest too. Not that anyone will notice. ;-)

Duh....I will notice...and support

Give me a little credit here....

121: I also received a 20 lbs box of books --- what a treat!!!!! Ilana, what a great haul. I haven't even heard of most of them, but I perused them a bit and they look interesting. I did read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in 2011 and liked it a lot. I'm glad you got that package in addition to a lovely snowfall.

That bill is scary. Period.

I'll second the love for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Illana. I have also read and loved The Blood of Flowers. The rest of your new books are either on my wishlist or totally new to me. So lots to interest me when you get around to them.

I loved The Blood of Flowers, Ilana. It was such a wonderful read for me that I quite envy you getting to read this for the first time. ;-)

I would squeee with delight if I got a 20 pound box of books. How fun!

What a great box of books, Ilana! I look forward to hearing what you think of them as you make your way through. I'll third the love for Sherman Alexie's book, and I also liked Bill Bryson's Shakespeare book.

♥

I found the special characters! Now I can post in Latin. ☺

#130 I give you lots of credit Jude. You're a sweetie. I just figure I can't have that many visitors on my blog considering how seldom I've been posting this last year—more or less since I joined this group... huh, I wonder why that is? ;-)

#131 I haven't even heard of most of them, but I perused them a bit and they look interesting.

Ellen, that was the case for me too. BookCloseouts is the kind of site where one tends to come across unfamiliar titles. But when something sounds vaguely familiar, or I know the author (or heard good things about them), I look up the books here on LT, check out who of my friends has them, read some reviews and then take my chances! At those prices, I didn't have much to lose, which I guess is how they make their money!

#132 Judy, the Sherman Alexie book was on my wishlist partly because of your recommendation, according to my tags. As for The Blood of Flowers, I saw it at BookCloseouts many months ago and fell in love with the cover, and then saw that quite a few people on LT, including yourself, had it in their collections. Something tells me I'll love it too.

#133 I loved The Blood of Flowers, Ilana. It was such a wonderful read for me that I quite envy you getting to read this for the first time.

Wow, can't get a much better endorsement than that Caroline! I'll include you among recommenders for it so I can thank you later once I've read it!

#134 Oh yes, I was quite excited yesterday I assure you Morphi! In fact, I still am, surrounded as I am by piles of new books!

#135 Joe, you want to know the worst part? I still had an itch this morning to look at new books on various sites. How sick is that exactly??

As for the Bill Bryson book, I actually found an audiobook version of it at the library while I was waiting for the delivery. I was kicking myself a bit, but considering it cost me all of $2.49, I didn't feel too too bad...

#136 Yay Ellen! Aren't those fun? Some of them, like this puppy: 🐶 are amazing, just too bad they come out so small...

*staggers in, exhausted from reading LT*

Why, hello Ilana! And how are you? You'll be glad to know that I've picked up Cannery Row at the library and will read it this month; it has a really positive vibe going on. I thought your review of it was fine.

Marvelous book haul. I follow your path to book selection, more or less; I've found, like others, that my re-reading of favorites has decreased considerably since finding all these fine folks and their maddening wonderful recommendations.

Love to you.

#138 I know just what you mean Gail, about feeling exhausted. Keeping up with this gang is a lot of work. I don't always have the energy for it myself. I'm a loner by nature, so all that socializing is sometimes beyond my capacity. But it's well worth the effort with such a nice bunch of people.

I'm really glad you picked up Cannery Row. I hope you love it as much as many readers did this month, including me of course.

I'm going to try not to be swayed too much by recommendations on LT this year. I've already become much more resistant to book bullets than I was in the beginning of last year, so that's a start. I just have so much good stuff at home that it makes no sense to run out to the library every week, or buy another tonne of books this year. That being said, I'm allowing myself to purchase 2 books per week on average, which doesn't include audiobooks (still have to work out how my Audible membership fits into my restrictions), nor books I pre-ordered and/or paid for in 2011. And I will also borrow as many children's books as desired from the library. So much for holding firm to my resolve! LOL.

Sorry to hear about the migraine Ilana :-(

#101 Although I'm not joining in with full Steinbeckathon this year, seeing all the reviews is definitely making me want to read his books in future. And Nothing to Envy is a book I've seen good reviews for before, but put off reading because I thought it would probably be troubling... and then felt guilty for not wanting to read something troubling! I would like to read it but I think I would need to be in the right mood.

#112 Glad your first watercolour class went well :-)

#121 Hooray for books! Am I right in thinking you managed to count those as 2011 acquisitions too?

Book News: I finally FINALLY finished reading From the Mouth of the Whale by Sjón, an ER book I got from the November batch. Can't say I loved it. It's not even 300 pages, and has very wide margins, but still, it took me a solid week to finish, which seems to be my average lately for print books. Once again reminding me that I need to spend less time on the computer and get to bed earlier since that's where I most like to read...

I've just got one last chapter to go on the audio of On Canaan's Side and this is one which will probably be among my favourites this year.

Not sure what I'll follow up with. As far as print book options, this month's suggested reading list (up in message #1) has amazing selections, but I think I'll go with Zola's L'Assommoir next, since I'd been meaning to get to it in December, when I created a TIOLI challenge for it and then wasn't able to fit it in, and also because it's in French and I promised myself to read more in my other mother tongue this year.

Coco News: I went through dozens of clips I took while out on a walks with Coco, finally uploaded something on YouTube which was just barely passable... only to realize that I shot it in vertical format. DUH. Didn't think of that while I was filming on my iPhone. I'll keep it in mind next time. Maybe today as it's nice and sunny, if Coco cooperates with the filming schedule. I don't know that I'll leave the video I uploaded today up for long, because it's an embarrassment, but it's up there now if you want to have an idea of what Coco's like when he's frolicking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giNM9tqwmUM

eta: here's another video taken minutes ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Koyy0xofwWE&feature. Lower the volume before you watch!

Heather, the migraine has come and gone. I'm just happy when they don't stick around longer than a day or two.

Nothing to Envy certainly doesn't qualify as light reading. I'm not sure why I felt compelled to pick it up since it's the kind of thing I usually steer clear of, but it felt right somehow, and I'm glad I did.

Those books from BookCloseouts are definitely 2011 acquisitions since I ordered and paid for them on December 26, 2011. :-)

Ilana, I just looked at the YouTube video of Coco running around in the snow. He is just too cute! What a face. That looks like a nice place to walk. Is it a park? It looks very rural for Montreal.

Aaaw - love the little snowdog with his sweater!

Ohhh Coco is so cute!! Love the little sweater! Coco's face looks like a little teddybear, adorable!

#141 That's a strong recommendation for On Canaan's Side - I've never read anything by Sebastian Barry before.

And your video of Coco was so cute and really made me smile :-)

I hope you leave the video up, Ilana. It's adorable! ♡ Coco ♡

What a great video!!! Love it!!!! Leave it up.

And what a haul of books, wow!

Thanks for viewing my first video attempt Pat, Nathalie, Chelle, Heather and Ellen! I'll leave the video up, not like it'll do any harm.

I did capture a few more of Coco's moves during our walk on this video taken minutes ago. Lower the volume when you watch it though because the sound of the wind made is unpleasant. I'll get fancy sometime and add soundtracks, but not quite yet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Koyy0xofwWE&feature

#143 Pat, that's a walking path I take Coco along on most days. It's lined with trees and quite wide, which gives the impression of a rural setting, but trust me, if you saw the surrounding area you'd see right away that I live in the city!

#146 Heather, I just finished On Canaan's Side, which was truly beautiful. But it's also heart wrenching. I'll post my review for it very soon so you can decide whether you're up for it.

He's just so darn cute. That snow looked like it had a good crust of ice on it!

OOOOOOOO! COCO!
What a little love! What a great dog for being so cheery and spunky!
You have a winner there, Ilana - and he's more than just a pretty face :-)
Hugs for snowy, happy Coco!

Claudia, it's so easy to please a dog, isn't it? All they need are a few walks a day and a little bit (or a lot) of attention and they're as happy as can be. I fear Coco finds all this time his mistress spends on the computer and reading to be very boring, so sometimes I feel like a neglectful mom, but then again, that's one of the reasons I never had children!

Loved your videos, Ilana. The second one really looked cold with all that ice over top of the snow. Brrr.

Out here on the west coast we are actually having a mini-winter. Snow today and quite cold, but the weatherman assures us that it will all turn to rain by the weekend - which is fine with me!

Thanks for the videos Ilana - I'm still shivering minutes later - it looks freezing cold. The first one without the sound is very atmospheric as you close in Hitchcock like on the unassuming victim.

#150 Ellen, sorry I skipped over your message earlier. Mea culpa. If you see ice on the video, that would be because it rained all frickin' night yesterday, so that there is a thick, slick coating of ice EVERYWHERE, including on my outdoor stairs, even with the winter carpet thingy there. Just awful. We've been having quite a bit of this crazy weather. One day beautiful snowfalls, then followed by rain. WTF?!

#153 Judy, glad you enjoyed the videos. It was incredibly cold today. In fact, I had to take my mitts off to film Coco with the iPhone, and though they were off only a total of 2-3 minutes (as I took a bunch of videos to get a decent one), I feared that I'd gotten frostbite because the pain in my hands was excruciating when I finally put my mitts back on.

I shouldn't complain. I should stop complaining period. In fact, I think I'll try it for a few days. ;-)

A mini-winter sounds lovely!

#154 Paul, your comment made me laugh as always! It's true I was a big Hitchcock fan in my teens. Must have influenced my *filming* style. ;-)

Ilana, now that's what we've been getting all day. About 3/4" ice on top of the snow because we had freezing rain all day long. It's now turned back to snow and is supposed to transition to rain overnight. It's been all I could do today to be sure the birds had water and seeds they could actually access! Sorry it's so cold in your 'hood!!!

My my, it's been quiet over here I see.

I spent a good part of the day with my friend Liselotte whom I officially adopted as my grandmother, since she literally could be at 93 years of age. We were supposed to go to the museum to see the latest exhibit and attend some conferences about Lyonel Feininger, who was apparently a very famous artist in Germany at the turn of the 20th century.

But then she called me just before we were due to meet up and suggested we cancel our outing and meet at her place instead; the ice situation is very bad here and she was worried about slipping and falling, which I perfectly understand. So I went to her place and we chatted about life books, since I had brought her Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books by Aaron Lansky, which I thought she would probably appreciate. I came away with two suggestions from her: Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan and The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance by Edmund de Waal, both of which sound fascinating.

Her *kids* (all quite grown up at around age 60 now) gave her an iPad as a Christmas gift, and as she's not too computer savvy, she didn't know how to do basic things, like get the Kindle app or shop for Kindle books on Amazon (since she wanted to download Paris 1919, which wasn't available at the iBook store), so I showed her how to do that, and walked her through many of the functions available when reading an eBook. I don't really know how come I knew how to do those things since I've only read one or two eBooks in my life so far; mostly because I just play around till I find what I need really. But maybe because I've been working on computers and and using Apple products and the internet for so long, it's all become second nature. It's quite amazing how we take all that tech knowledge for granted. Liselotte was very impressed that I knew my way around like that and insisted I should volunteer at the Westmount library to teach an iPad course! LOL. I don't know about that. Perhaps I should get an iPad myself and figure out all the ins and outs of it before considering that?

#156 Ellen, it's kind of weird that we're on opposite ends of the continent and getting similar weather. Go figure... Please don't feel sorry for me as far as the cold though, that too is all over the map. Today for instance was relatively mild, and I could expose a little bit of skin without risk of frostbite. It felt like such a luxury! :-)

This painting by Lyonel Feininger is called Yellow Street II (1918) and was used as the cover image for the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' magazine, which is sent out to friends of the museum (me being one of them). I haven't yet seen the exhibit myself of course, since today was the first day it was open for a preview for VIP's (i.e. friends of the museum and bigwigs, I guess).

I thought it would brighten up my page a little!

Hi Ilana!
Interesting painting - don't know why, but I kinda like it :)
I'm big on curves - not so much on straight lines. Maybe that has something to do with it.
Funny - it seems all the women are walking one way and the one man is going the other way... is that so?

I have an older lady friend who got a Kindle and had no clue how to set it up or use it. So, I spent the afternoon with her one day, and got her going. She caught on pretty quickly and kept telling me how knowledgeable I was! LOL Made me feel good anyway - and I came away with a plate of cookies! :) Old ladies are great!

Brighten up, indeed! It's beautiful! As an only somewhat-related point, I'm a member of the Seattle Art Museum (aka SAM) and was very excited to get tickets to a Members' Monday for the Gauguin exhibit in March. The vivid colors in Yellow Street II reminded me of this much-anticipated event. :-)

Okay, another strange-chemistry thing: I was just looking at Paris 1919 on my shelf the other evening. I bought it a year (or more?) ago and would like to get to it. But I say that about all the books, don't I?

160--> Old ladies are great! Good, because I, at least, am well on my way to becoming one! :-D

Catching up! Phew....

Here in my part of NZ it gets down to -5 or 6 deg C overnight sometimes. That would be a pretty cold frost. But winter days are usually a from 0 or 1 deg C on a cold day to about 8-10 deg C on a good day.

WOW on the book haul, amazing to amount for the books in weight rather than numbers! How exciting to get that in the post.

And, last but not least, cute Coco in the YouTube video, I love the last 5 seconds where she skips off into the distance :)

Cool painting, Ilana! I like it a lot.

Hope your brighter day keeps on getting better.

Hi Ilana, I like the painting, but I'd like it better without the flag, although I am sure it's an important element. I've always found the color combination of the Belgian and German flags a little 'unfortunate' (okay - almost any other combination of three typical flag colors would be better).

We are still snow-free here. There have been some flakes early this morning but they were quickly substituted by rain.

Adore the second video of Coco - can we have more please?

Also like the Yellow Street painting - I'm always meaning to go and see more exhibitions and I never quite feel like I have the required energy when I'm not at work.

xo

Checking in on the new thread. I am not even attempting to catch up, but I will send ((hugs)) your way, Ilana.

Hi Ilana- I also love the Yellow Street painting! I like how the flag looks like the head of a disgruntled bird. I will have to check out more of his work.
Hope you are well and enjoying your day!

#160 Claudia, you clearly spent more time analysing this painting than I did. I don't think I can say I love it exactly, but it certainly has the merit of being very interesting. I couldn't say about the men and women, because I'm not exactly clear on who is woman and who is man with a couple of the figures (doesn't the one wearing the blue caftan have a beard?)

Old ladies are great. The nice ones, that is. I lost both my grandmothers when I was quite young, so it's great having that kind of presence in my life again, albeit we're not actually related!

#161 Gauguin! I'm jealous! That should be a great show. Be sure to enjoy it for me too!

#162 Megan, I think that was my biggest book haul to date. I can't afford to have more of those in terms of space! Also, even though I paid for them in 2011, I'm now wondering if I should consider them as acquired this year, which would vastly reduce the amounts of books I still have on budget. See here and you'll know what I mean.

#163 Hi Joe. Weird, weird day today. I can't describe it, because I'll be going into complaint mode if I do, and I promised myself to try not complaining for a few days. So I'll just say: I'm blessed that I can get all the rest my body and mind obviously need.

#164 Nathalie, I've been puzzling over the flag's presence from the first. It's see it's importance in terms of composition and colour, but have no idea what kind of message he was trying to convey with it.

#165 Heather, as I always have my iPhone with me when we're out on walks (since I listen to audiobooks along the way), I should be able to capture some more video of Coco. Right now the state of the roads and footpaths are not conducive to much play for Coco, too icy!

Although I'm a friend of the museum, I can't tell you how many exhibits I've missed over the years because of lack of energy. It's shameful really, but I absolutely know what you mean.

#166 Hi Ellen :-)

#167 Thanks for the hugs Stasia, sending some your way too.

#168 Good observation about the flag looking like an angry bird Mark. I've only seen a handful of Feinenger's work online and in the museum magazine, and very small, but so far, I find it more strange than beautiful I must say.

Today was a total loss. Utterly broken with fatigue after a bad night, so I managed to do very little. My very skin was hurting and though I didn't have a migraine per se, light was bothering me and the sunshine outside felt like a veritable assault on my senses. Oops, this is sounding a lot like a complaint... the upside is I laid back with Mimi and Coco, listened to at least half of Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson to spare my eyes—a fascinating read by the way, then managed a couple of chapters from L'Assommoir, which I wasn't sure whether I'd read before, but no—it's definitely new to me and quite excellent. I feel so privileged to be able to read Zola's beautiful prose in the original French, it's quite a treat.

Dear Ilana....wishing for a positive, hassle free and happy weekend for you. Love Zola and wish my schoolboy french was less rusty so that I too could appreciate it in original form. L'Assomoir one of his best...your fave? Mine would be La Bete Humaine largely I think because it was my first.
Interesting talk about art (a subject about which I am an interested but I have a profoundly untrained eye - I know what I like but not always why). Gauguin has always been a favourite because of the vividity of colour, the aggresive subject matter and probably because of the exotic nature of many of his subjects. Moon and Sixpence based loosely on his life story is one of my top ten novels. xxx

#170 Hope you feel better today Ilana. Glad to hear that you're enjoying your Zola reading so much. He's on my long list of authors to try but it probably won't be this year.

Wow, I love the painting, Ilana. It's definitely added a pop to your thread.

Hope you feel better today. I can't imagine how horrible it must feel to suffer from light sensitivity on top of the migraine. I'm fortunate in that I don't seem to have inherited my mom's susceptibility to migraines. She would have to lie down in a darkened room for hours ..... although sometimes I did wonder if she claimed to have a migraine just to get away from her noisy children!

Happy Today to you, Ilana!
At least I'm hoping so... for you
I hate when I completely lose a day... feels like such a waste. Thankful for the days I am in tune with all around me.

It's snowing here, but I know it won't amount to much as the storm is going south of us. Pretty though.

I don't know much about art - but I do wish at times I had better access to museums and a friend to walk me through them. I should make more of an effort to go to the cities.

Yikes! Sorry about your nasty day, Ilana! Your favorite whatever is on us over at the cafe.

I liked Bryson's Shakespeare, too. If you haven't read it, Stephen Greenblatt's Will in the World is a great read and as close to a believable biography of Mr. S as I've read.

Adding another post to your statistics and wishing you a happy and healthy and painfree weekend!

I'd also love to read another Zola. Well, maybe in 6 months when I'll hopefully have finished La Vie Mode d'Emploi.

#171 Much better today, thanks Paul! I wish I could tell you which my favourite Zola is, but I couldn't do so in good conscience since I haven't read enough of his books to make an informed choice. I know for a fact we read two of them for French in high school, and that there was one set in Paris which I loved and one NOT set in Paris which I found boring, though can't for the life of me remember which they were. Very likely that La Bête Humaine was one of them (or was it Germinal maybe?), and very doubtful that I'll find it anything like boring the second time around. I read Nana twice and it's among my all-time top 10, but then I also loved La Curée and the first of the series, La fortune des Rougons. I'm reading them in publication order, so will probably read Nana for the third time this year, as it's been a while since I read it last. So far L'Assommoir is rating among my faves too!

Funny you mention The Moon and Sixpence because it's among my top 10 as well (as you can see on my profile page if you scroll down). It's the only Somerset Maugham novel I've read so far and I look forward to reading Of Human Bondage next, unless I go back to TMaS for an encore. I don't know much about Gauguin, but from what I did know about him, I thought it was a quite convincing portrayal.

#172 Heather, I do feel much better, thank you for your good wishes. Zola was taught to us at school, so he's long been part of my repertoire, and I've been wanting to read the whole series in publication order for ages and finally decided to take on the challenge last year. At first I thought I'd fit all twenty books into one year, then two, and now I figure it'll take the time it takes, as long as I enjoy the process, that's all. No sense racing through them. But I'll be happy to give you suggestions when you feel ready!

#173 Hi Caroline! You're lucky that you didn't get the migraine thing from your mum. I'm often sensitive to light, even when I'm not necessarily suffering from a headache, but as I'm learning from my neurologist from one visit to another, the migraine condition encompasses a lot more than just pain in the head region and can include all kinds of strange phenomena like visions and even hearing things and various altered states. I probably would be a very different person without this condition, hard to imagine. My mum had migraines when I was groaning up and I often wondered the same as you if she wasn't just trying to get away from me!

#174 Claudia, I've lost track of how many days I've "lost" to this and that. No sense counting them as it juts makes me feel guilty, and what's the point of that?! Like you, I'm just happy when I can be fully present, which as you must know, between one thing and another, is hard enough to achieve!

Should you ever wish to visit Montreal to visit our museums or just to chat over coffee or tea, I'll be glad to meet up with you!

#175 Hey Joe, I'll come and drop by the café for a refreshment before going on with my reviews, thanks for the offer! Thanks for the bio recommendations. Added it onto the WL vault. They happen to have it at the library.

#176 Nathalie, I started reading La Vie Mode d'Emploi this summer when Darryl suggested a group read and managed to make my way through maybe a dozen chapters, then decided I wasn't ready to commit to it at that point and dropped it. What I read was very interesting, and I'll eventually go back to it. Will look forward to reading your comments on it when you get there.

I wrote a whole post which I almost finished when computer troubles rudely resulted in the whole thing being erased. So, to resume:

I slept and slept... and slept today and feel much better for it.

Coco and I braved the ice and went to the library to pick up a bunch of children's books I'd reserved by illustrators Jerry Pinkney, Peter Sís and Allen Say. I'll try to post visuals when I get around to reviewing them.

Speaking of reviews, I was hoping to catch up and post some tonight, but first must try to break up the ice on my staircase outside...

Hi Ilana. Ugh, the painful day sounds bad. I'm glad you are able to enjoy listening to a book, which allows for low light and cuddling with Mimi and Coco (is Ezra less of a snuggler?). I see that you're starting to feel better so I like to hear that.

I was riding our basement stationary bike yesterday and noticed a book I thought I'd mention to you (do you know that something reminds me of you at least once a day? -- it might be a woman walking a cute be-sweatered dog or it might be a book-related thing, but in any case, I digress). Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare by (duh) Isaac Asimov is a really outstanding book that I purchased when we lived in Oregon and made an annual trek to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. Ashland, OR, is known for its summer Shakespeare Festival. It runs February - October and they do a wide variety of plays, including at least two or three of the Bard's works each year. Very high-quality productions. Info here if anyone is interested. Anyway, Asimov's book helped me get more out of the stage productions so I thought I'd mention it to you.

Hoping Sunday is a good day for you and the fur-monsters.

>177 Smiler69: prying on your conversation with Caroline....very interesting about your sensitivity to light. I dont have nearly as much sensitivity as you, but in saying that, I cannot leave the house without sunglasses. I just cant stand it. I have to turn around and go home to get them even on overcast days (my partner laughs at me and thinks Im kidding when I ask him to turn the car around).
Every now and then I get headaches from the brightness of the day, it is so rare its not even once every 2 months, but its rough! I feel sorry for you having migraines. They must be absolutely no fun at all (Like the exact opposite of fun.)

Ilana - the glare of the snow may not help your headaches although Coco seems fine with it! William Somerset Maugham - now I know what to send you in Feb/March when the CAE guys are over here again.

Hi Ilana!
So glad you got lots of sleep and are feeling better.
I wonder if the reason I love stormy days, foggy days, mists and clouds is due to the calming effect they have by toning down the sunlight? Well, that and so many other interesting reasons, I guess.

A sunny day just seems to have so much happiness potential, I hate when it strikes me down. Luckily it doesn't happen too often. Maybe I am on the wrong planet and need to back up to Mars ;-)

Zola - entirely new to me! :)

hugs for you and more hugs for Coco, Star of the Internet!

Hi, Ilana. Just a line to let you know that Madeline and I are in the middle of setting up a tutored read for The Castle Of Otranto, and you would be very welcome to join in if you wanted to, and had the time. (It's not a long book - unlike Udolpho!)

Glad to hear that you are feeling better today, Ilana!

#179 Hi Ellen, I've been living with Ezra for I think nine years now, and still haven't figured him out. He's gone through several phases over the years and now seems mostly content to lie down on my time capsule as it is always warm, and he rarely budges from there. Once in a while he requests attention—demands is more like it—but otherwise he's off on his own. He's a beautiful boy, but I fear, deeply troubled.

Thanks for the recommendation for Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare. I looked it up online and it seems like a very hard book to find. Used copies are available, but definitely not on the cheap side. You should definitely hold on to your copy because you won't be able to replace it easily at all if you ever part with it. I'm sure it's amazing since you say so. Thanks for sharing the site for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

#180 Megan, let's just say I'm very grateful for days when I'm relatively pain free and can just function like a normal person. Today was such a day and I am indeed grateful for it.

#181 Paul, I don't know what to say, but really, you shouldn't go through all that trouble!

#182 Let me know when you go packing to Mars Claudia, if you want company I'll be happy to come along!

I'm no great specialist on French authors, as much as I hate to say it (quite shameful really), but Zola is definitely one of my favourite authors in any language. I'm sure Paul and I can suggest great books of his to start with. L'Assommoir would definitely be one of them.

#183 Thanks for notifying me me Liz, I'll go over and see what that's all about soon!

#184 Hi Stasia, and thank you. I felt quite happy today, which was a kind of blessing in and of itself.

Ilana, if at any time you want me to scan and send you a chapter of Asimov's book, let me know. Is that copyright violation?

It's been a productive 24 hours. Last night I made an apple crisp and prepared the meat portion of a shepherd's pie (I put in lots of veggies too). Have to get potatoes so I can put the whole thing together as I hadn't realized I'd run out when I set about making it. Then read from L'Assommoir till quite late into the night (even by my standards), but it was very much worth it. I needed and wanted to do a lot of things today and wasn't able to fit everything in of course, but I did do a lot of things around the house while listening to Brazzaville Beach, which I started on last night while I was cooking. It's my first novel by William Boyd and I must say I'm finding it very gripping. So much so that I only have about 3 hours of listening left out of 12!

I wanted to sit down and read from some of the marvellous children's books I brought home today, but had no time for that. I guess after all that sleep I've gotten this weekend, I was roaring to move about and get things done.

Tomorrow is my watercolours class, and I've still got quite a few things to do before bed, so will lurk on a few threads to try to keep up a little and then off to bed and back to L'Assommoir for a bit!

#186 Is that copyright violation?

I would think yes, most definitely! :-)
I didn't mention they have a copy at one of the libraries on the island, but it's a "consult on the premises only" book. I wonder why they'd do that?

That seems weird. Why not let you take it home for two weeks?

Oh, and Shepherd's Pie? What time shall I arrive with the bottle of wine? :-)

#189 I know, how strange, right? I've come across a few titles like that, one of which was a Benjamin Lacombe pop-up book, so understandable, several others which were poetry anthologies and now the Asimov book. Maybe because at this point it's become a rare book and they want to be sure nobody makes off with it...

Come on right over to share some of my pie! I make a really great Shepherd's pie too, even if I say so myself! :-)

I am so late to the COCO videos..

he is such a love...and I had no idea he was 8 years old

He is your baby (as Kitteh is mine)...we are both blessed with Pet/Animal love

;-}

Jude, kitteh love is about as good as it gets! Except for Coco. He is king of furry love.

Shepherd's Pie? I take it your migraine's gone, Ilana? I can't imagine anyone mashing potatoes with a raging headache or skin sensitivity .. unless you were doing it in the dark.

If you are doing a tutored read of The Castle of Otranto I'd like to follow it (reading only). I read that book in 2010 and didn't really know what to make of it. Found it quite absurd and in the end treated it as a comedy, which was certainly not intended by the author.

I read Fight Club this weekend and enjoyed it more than I had expected. I only found the continuous repetitions of the recipes for explosives quite annoying, but mainly because (reading the book in Italian) I didn't understand them and was to lazy to look up all those words I'll hopefully never need in my life.

Need to make Shepherd's Pie next weekend! Haven't had it for ages. Apple crisp sounds delicious as well.

Wish you a happy and painfree week!

Mmm, shepherd's pie and apple crisp sounds good. Hope you enjoy your watercolour class.

Mmm- shepherds pie and wine and snow, sounds cosy!
(what is apple crisp? anything like apple crumble?)

>56 Smiler69:: Hi Ilana, I still have some of my children's books with the RIF sticker inside. What a great program to encourage young readers. Ooops... now you know how far behind I am was on your thread.

101: Out of all the books you've reviewed recently, I would pick out a sad story. Nothing to Envy should be a good companion piece to The Orphan Master's Son when I get my copy from the library. My dad was stationed (U.S. Army) in South Korea in the 1950s. I think he got hazardous duty pay; certainly couldn't take dependents with him.

141: Coco gets 5 stars from me! I usually have the "mute" on but I turned up the volume so I could catch your distressed murmur about the cold! It looked cold. Reminded me of the coldest two years of my life when I lived in Marquette, Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior. This was before we had the term "lake effect" snow. I thought we had moved to the North Pole. ;-)

Okay, Dearheart, I'm caught up now. Could you please have a quiet reading week so I can stay with you? JK... I love this lively thread. You have a great week!

Oooh! How I love getting visitors. All your lovely messages put me in a great mood just now! :-)

Thanks so much for dropping by and commenting Jude, Ellen, Caroline, Nathalie, Heather, Megan and Donna! However, I shouldn't be here at all right now, am already behind this morning and need to hop to it if I want to be on time for my class, so I'll get back to you all later today.

Group hug!

Hi Ilana!
Sounds like you've been full of energy the last few days :)
Didn't know you were such a cook - good choices!
I'm hungry and it all sounds good right now ... mmm apple crisp :) One of my favs.

Hope your class is productive today - and lots of relaxing fun.
Warm hugs!

I love the Feininger painting!

Is there any shepherd's pie left?

Stopping by and saying hello. I made apple crumble this weekend. Mmmmm comfort food. I made a HUGE one and it still only lasted about a day..... little trolls spooning up mouthfuls day and night.

Stopping by with *hugs* and the *two-cheek kiss*. Hoping that this week will be good one for you.

Love the Yellow Street picture. Perhaps because I love yellow, and the shapes work really well for me too.

Had no idea that The Moon and Sixpence is about Gaugin. another book to look around for.

Love to you.

Ilana Ilana Ilana!!! hello hello! Got you starred...I am caught up with Paul and you are absolutely next on my list..I figure I will catch up on one person per day of the Big Posters/Big Visitor threads. But couldn't lurk any longer without giving you a kiss on each of your beautifully sculpted cheeks! So good to visit with you!

Caught up finally! Coco is my favorite video star now. I think you could film him standing still, doing nothing more than blinking and he would still get rave reviews. I thought his skull and crossbones sweater was cuter than cute when I saw him wearing it in a picture, but somehow him running around frolicking in the cold and ice in that get-up is just beyond maximum cuteness. I love Willie, but he just can't compete with that!

Hope you are having a good day, Ilana. I think I'll be making On Canaan's Side by next Audible purchase.

Hi Ilana. I just got home from the library with a copy of The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. :)

Ilana - hope the classes are going well and that all is well with you. Will follow Prue with a carefully placed and chaste kiss on your cheek.

Had a great day today. I had an appointment close to Victoria street, which is where my art school is and is filled with little shops I like to go to. I dropped off Coco at the dog groomer, and he now looks incredibly cute with his new haircut. I captured him on video going in, then coming out; will have to edit that and put it up on YouTube so I can share it. Then I treated myself a little, went to get some art supplies, and even went as far as going to Westmount Florist, where they have a gorgeous selection and loads of gorgeous displays. I got myself a little bouquet with anemones as the highlight (also tulips, a fragrant rose, and an unusual gerbera), which I intend to take photos of and paint as a bouquet or in separate parts sometime this week.

Have quite a bit going on this week and never enough time to do all I want. I was hoping to catch up with as many of you wonderful people as I can today, but then am also seriously falling behind on reviews and finishing books faster than I can write about them, so will try to knock out a few tonight before hitting my bed earlier than my usual, as I'm trying to get on a more reasonable schedule (a long-term project!)

#192 Jude, I'm so glad Kitteh has come into your life and made you a proud mama like me. Can we expect some videos from you too? Will have to visit your thread to check it out!

#193 Except for Coco. He is king of furry love.

:-)xx

#194 I can't imagine anyone mashing potatoes with a raging headache or skin sensitivity .. unless you were doing it in the dark.

Seriously! I've not tried mashing potatoes in the dark yet, but I take it they'd probably turn out rather lumpy! ;-)

#195 Nathalie, I hope you know you are more than welcome to follow along on the Castle of Otranto tutorial. It won't be "my" tutorial anyway, as I'll be following along with Madeline, but I'm sure questions are welcome, as long as they don't pertain to parts of the book that haven't been covered yet.

#196 Heather, the class was wonderful and I was very happy with the piece I started working on; teacher had us painting vegetables—greens, of all things, in interesting compositions, and the results were really surprising and quite beautiful. I started working on a fennel bulb, but have a lot of homework if I want to get my composition finished.

Finished putting together the Shepherd's pie late last night and had my first portion tonight for dinner, which as usual, didn't disappoint! :-)

#197 Megan, no wine, and no snow either but rain instead... still, it was all just fine today. Though I really should consider getting some wine for my next portion of pie tomorrow! And yes, apple crisp and apple crumble are the same thing, and mine is out of this world, but I won't share my recipe in case I decide to build an empire on it someday. :-)

#198 Donna, please don't worry about falling behind on my thread. I know if I don't follow you on a daily basis, within 2-3 days I'm facing over 60 posts to catch up on your thread, as well as quite a few other super popular ones in this group. I didn't know about RIF before getting The Art of Reading. I guess we wouldn't have books labeled as such here since it's an American organization and doubtful they are also active here in Quebec.

Donna, Nothing to Envy won't disappoint I'm sure, especially if you are prepared for the harsh realities it exposes. Some truly shocking stuff in there which really makes one question the freedom we so take for granted, and how it's possible in this day and age to have a regime like that endure for so long. I too am looking forward to The Orphan Master's Son—it's just a question of time before I spend one of my Audible credits on the audio version.

I'll try to tone it down this week so my thread doesn't get too much activity... but can't promise anything. ;-)

#200 Claudia, I don't cook very often, and my repertoire is therefore rather limited, but I can usually make something decent (though not always!)
Shepherd's pie would probably rank as one of my most successful dishes which I never manage to screw up, and it's a winter favourite for sure. I usually end up making two or three of them in a season. Huge things that serve eight and which I then freeze in individual portions.

#201 Darryl, hi! I did think of you when I put up that painting and wondered what you'd think of it. Glad it appeals to you. I've yet to go see the exhibit, which should be this week with my friend Liselotte, if she's up to it, otherwise it'll be sometime in the next month or two.

There are still 7 portions of pie left. Should I send you one in the mail? Or maybe you've got a trip to Montreal planned sometime this week? ;-)

#202 I made a HUGE one and it still only lasted about a day..... little trolls spooning up mouthfuls day and night

Lucy, there's just me in the house eating apple crumble, but somehow it rarely lasts more than 2-3 days, and they are HUGE affairs too. They take me a really long time to put together—a solid two hours—so I always try to pace myself but then wake up in the middle of the night with a huge craving and just go to town on those things. One of my all-time favourites for sure. We should do a taste-test and compare your recipes and mine. Mmmmmm. :-)

#203 Gail! Hi! I love the two-cheek kiss, very French, as we like to do here. The Moon and Sixpence is on my top 10 all-time favourites, so obviously I heartily recommend it. It's just a little book too. I hope to read your thoughts about it soon *not so subtle hint* xoxo

#204 Prue Prue Prue!!! It's been so long and I'm so glad to hear from you! I'll have to visit your thread soon to catch up with you too. You are a dear and I hope all is well as can be (and perhaps even a little better) in your world. Hugs.

#205 I think you could film him standing still, doing nothing more than blinking and he would still get rave reviews.

Charlotte, is that a request? Because I could quite easily provide what you're looking for. lol. Seriously though, DO expect a new video of Coco going in and out of the dog groomer's. It's like having two completely different dogs. He looks so cute and funny now it just breaks my heart and makes me laugh at the same time!

I hope you absolutely love On Canaan's Side when you get to it. I thought it was quite amazing. Don't know if I'll have time to review it tonight, but I'll try!

eta: sorry, I somehow missed the last two messages:

#206 Pat, I'm glad you decided to get The Art of Reading so soon and look forward to reading your comments on it. I won't at all be surprised if it leads you, like me, to seek out some of the illustrators who participated. Will be curious to know who intrigues you most!

#207 Paul, I have no doubt it's absolutely chaste. Otherwise you'd no doubt have you head ripped off by you-know-who! LOL. I've been having a lovely week so far, thank you. :-)

11. From the Mouth of the Whale by Sjón ★★★
(Early Reviewers book, also read for TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book written by someone who was already famous for something OTHER than writing, 12/12 Category #6, and 12/12 Category #6: Going Places)

"A medium-sized fellow ... Beady brown eyes set close to his beak within pale surrounds ... The beak itself quite long, thick and powerful, with a slight downward curve at the end, dark in colour but lighter at the top ... No neck to speak of; a spry stocky figure with short, tapering legs, a barrel chest and a big belly ... Head a dark grizzled brown, with a ruff extending from nape to mid-crown ... Clad in a grey-brown coat of narrow cut, with a faint purple sheen in the twilight; bright stockings, a speckled undershirt ... Importunate with his own kind, garrulous with others ... So might one describe the purple sandpiper and so men describe me ... I can think of many things worse than being likened to you, my feathered Jeremiah, for we have both crawled from the hand of the same craftsman, been carved with the same knife: you quickened to life on the fourth day, I on the sixth..."

Thus does Jónas Palmason's introduce himself when the story begins, in the autumn on 1635. Divided into four parts, ending with the Spring Equinox of 1639, the novel moves between Jónas' stream of consciousness, wherein bits and pieces of his past and present mingle in a confused and confusing soliloquy about what led him to be abandoned on an island off the coast of Iceland, and a central section where the crux of the story is told in a more straightforward narrative. Known as Jónas the Learned by some, he is a self-taught healer and a poet who has been exiled on charges of heretical conduct. A successful exorcism has earned him a good reputation in a time when superstition abounds and many still believe in unicorns and other mythical creatures, but his fate is sealed when he shows opposition to the local magistrate who is intent on carrying out his plan to massacre innocent Basque whalers.

The novel is beautifully written and full of evocative and poetic imagery. The massacre is harrowing, but again interspersed with imaginative sequences. My main problem with this novel is that I felt utterly lost in the first section, as I imagine is the intention of the author, perhaps to render Jónas' own state of mind? but too much of what is said here was completely lost on me, and I quickly started feeling like I was just reading this book because I needed to write a review about it. Then the two middle sections were exactly what I imagined this novel could be like based on the short blurb I'd read about it and which had made me think I might enjoy this book. Here Jónas clearly describes the harrowing night of the massacre of the whalers which led to his banishment, as well as a trip to Denmark where he meets the fascinating Dr. Worm, who hires him as one of his research assistants to catalogue his unlikely collection of curios, and tries and fails to get our man acquitted. But then again, the final section with more vague recollections, from which other parts of narrative painfully emerge, felt frustrating more than anything. Here, the following words made me think perhaps I wasn't being quite patient enough:

"I lean back in bed, stretching my arms and cracking my joints ... The mouse is still huddled cosily by the fire; it is quite extraordinary how she puts up with my ramblings ... The vetch porridge has hardened in the bowl; I scrape out the leftovers and scatter them on the floor ... In a place of entertainment like this it is the storyteller who must pay his audience rather than the other way round ..."

Now that I’ve gotten the lay of the land, I see this is the kind of book that I might enjoy more on second reading, though I’m not sure it would be quite worth the effort given there are so many other books on my shelves calling out to me...

A great review as always Ilana, but I think I'll give this one a pass.
Looking forward to the new Coco video - is it okay if I pass the link to my mother who is also a dog lover? She decided not to have another one after Emma, our Jack Russel, died aged 20 a year ago, but I can see her slowly changing her mind.
My own dog plans will not be realized for a long time, now that my office is moving in with another company. No way they'll accept dogs in their building (it's food industry) and even if I could go home during lunch break for the necessary walks I couldn't leave a dog alone all day. *sigh* So instead I'll eagerly await all your Coco posts.

Ilana, this is a book I started and stopped twice, and still haven't managed to get past chapter 1. Your review was really interesting because it's made me realize that this is a book I'm likely never to finish and perhaps I should just call it quits on this and donate it to someone else or the library.

Am patiently awaiting Coco's next video release.

Kind of on the fence about From the Mouth of the Whale. I think I will leave that for a library book take out or maybe, if I run across it, a book sale purchase.

Hi Ilana- Wow, I'm falling behind over here. The threads have been tough to keep up with lately. Glad you had a good day yesterday, i hope you have another one today. In msg 209, I first thought it said you had gone to Victoria's Secret! LOL. She must be feeling better.

Hi Ilana, I am in the same boat as Mark, falling behind and scrambling to catch up! Glad everything is going well, and boy, it seems you are eating well with the delicious sounding Apple Crisp and Shepherd's Pie. In fact, you have inspired me to make Shepherd's Pie this week as well.

I hope we get a peek of your flower artwork when done.

Oh dear, I am so far behind. I'm starting to think saying that is about like saying "I breathed today." It seems to me that around the New Year, there was this flurry of LT 75er activity and we're all trying to keep it up at that pace!!! I know I can't do it, but I'll say again that if I need a touchstone (not the kind on the side of the screen, the other kind), I come here.

Staying at work a bit late tonight, which gives me a chance to do a bit of catch-up here in between actual work projects. But, home soon to pasta, pesto, and Champagne.
xox

Hi Ilana!
Love to check in here no matter what!
Don't stay up all night - we'll be here tomorrow ;-)
Bonsoir! Sleep well.... hugs!

Shepherd's Pie is also Ysabelle's (Belle's) favourite and we have to have it at least twice a month in consequence. SWMBO is a dab hand at all things culinary and Belle has impeccable taste. We had for dinner last night Grilled Salmon with pepper crust on a bed of fettucine lightly creamed, honey cherry tomatoes and oven baked scallops on the side. At such times affection for the wife knows no bounds!
There is an english addage that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach - my cynical friends sometimes tell me that is wrong and high by six inches - but I think the addage for myself holds true.

Think I am caught up - sort of! Glad you are enjoying Brazzaville - don't think it is his best, so you have many joys to follow if you read more of his works...we have had a week almost of century-plus temperatures here - the idea of Shepherds Pie makes me run screaming - full-blown salad mode down this end of the hemisphere.

Thank you Ilana for your many kind and touching posts during my mother's final illness. It was a lovely funeral in the end and, with a hectic Christmas chomping at its heels, has been a bit of a whirlwind. And of course, January is a surprisingly busy work month for me, so I have had to be stern about straying from my emails - once i get here on the threads, one thing leads to another, and before i know it - an hour has passed. Things sound as if they are good with you - great even? I am so glad. Great reviews and eclectic book choices as always - lovely to visit!

Shepherd's Pie. Yum.

#218: It's lunchtime here, I am hungry and I have no food here (my office is moving tomorrow, so fridge, plates, everything is already packed up). I thought I'd get through the day without lunch, but now I all I can think of is "Grilled Salmon with pepper crust on a bed of fettucine lightly creamed, honey cherry tomatoes and oven baked scallops on the side". *sigh*
That adage seems to exist in all languages, it must be true :-)

I haven't delurked often enough lately, but I have been following the menu here..... I got a bag of Granny Smith's today. I might just bake them w/a little rum and maple syrup.....

Hi, Ilana! Just stopping by to say hello!

#211 Nathalie, I'm always ambivalent about giving a book a less than glowing review, because someone else might find a book I only moderately liked to be a great one, but in the end, I can only give my own opinion, right?

Of course, you are more than welcome to share all Coco memorabilia with your mum or anyone else you choose! Anything I post online, I figure is no longer private property, and when it comes to Coco, I'm more than happy to share the love universally. If it'll help your mum decide to get another dog, then all the better!

#212 Caro, if you've already let it drop twice, I'd say you may as well give it a rest for good. Mind you, once I got to the middle section, I was really happy to have worked my way there, but in the end, if it doesn't grab you, just go for something else that does. Glad to help you decide one way or another!

#213 Charlotte, I need to get to work on editing this latest Coco video soon, but can't promise I'll do so this week... I still feel like it's Monday, but tomorrow is Friday already. WHAT?!? Where'd the week go? Oh right... I slept most of it away. :-|

As for From the Mouth of the Whale, I won't be keeping it, so if you'd like to get my copy, just let me know. I've been spoiled with members sending me books lately, so I figure I should pay it forward. Though you might want to take me up for that with a book you're more keen on. It's all up to you now! :-)

#214 Hey Mark, I've tried my best to lessen my activity on the site these past few days to give everyone a chance to catch up, but I guess my volume of posting isn't great enough to make a difference on the whole group's activity! lol.

#215 Hi Judy! It seems Shepherd's Pie is a great favourite around here. I just put 4 portions in the freezer last night for instant meals when I don't feel like cooking in the coming weeks or month or two from now, which is usually the norm around here. Always makes me feel so good when my freezer is well-stocked with homemade goodies. The apple crisp is all gone already however. It never lasts very long... so I guess I'll have to put another one together in the coming days. I wish I'd have started to keep count of how many of those I've baked in the last five years... several dozens for sure!

#216 Oh dear, I am so far behind. I'm starting to think saying that is about like saying "I breathed today."

Exactly. Last year, I didn't count my hours here and ended up spending many many many entire days keeping up with everyone, but decided that in 2012 I just HAD to cut back to take care of other things. So the truth is I've sort of come to accept I can't possibly keep up with everyone all the time. I do a lot more lurking, and generally try not to freak out when I see so many threads with upward of 50 unread messages on them. With the popular ones, that happens within within a day or two anyway, and I figure nobody is likely to miss me with that much activity going on! That being said, it always feels good to find messages here and I always have this group in mind, and you are in the front line of course!

#217 Claudia, would you believe it if I told you I was already in bed when you left me that message last night? I was. Could barely keep my eyes open by 9 p.m., so decided to just hit the sack. I don't know if I'll be making a habit of it, but it wouldn't be an altogether bad thing!

#218 Paul, that sounds like a fabulous dinner, and vastly superior to mine (i.e side of salad and glass of water), though I happen to be a great fan of my own Shepherd's pie, so am not envious (am not always a fan of my own cooking, believe me!)

Not for me to decide whether your interests lie six inches higher or lower... though higher would mean the heart region, which I'm sure must also be fully engaged in your appreciation for your beloved. :-)

#219 Prue, you certainly have been missed in these parts. And I'm glad you're able to make time for LT and little ol' me even though busy times. I though Brazzaville Beach was quite amazing, so if it gets better than that, I'll have to add William Boyd to my list of favourite authors! Which are your personal favourites by him?

#220 :-) There's still plenty left if you want to drop by the East Coast before your other trip! ;-)

#221 Nathalie, usually, everyone here ends up making me feel hungry with the descriptions of their latest culinary experiences. But this week I was well taken care of in that regard. If only I could be satisfied with eating the same thing over and over again, I need never be tempted by anybody else's cooking!

I hope your move goes well tomorrow. Will make time to swing by your parts soon.

#222 Rum and maple syrup? How's that? Care to share your recipe? I fell horribly behind on your thread when I came by one day and marked as "read till here" when I wanted to come back with a rested brain, and then new messages kept being added on exponentially. I have a window to your thread open since yesterday and read a few messages at a time. I should be caught up with you before 2013! ;-)

#223 Hi Joe, thanks for dropping by, you are always more than welcome of course. I need to find time to catch up with you and so many others asap! I miss seeing what you're up to!

Right. So just keeping up with my own thread is proving quite a bit of work, so maybe I'll need to hire an assistant to answer messages in my stead, and another one to write my reviews? And another one to visit threads. And another one to do my artwork. And another one to read my books. And another one to walk Coco. And one to cook and eat my meals (since it takes up so much time). That'll leave me free to get all the sleep I seem to need lately. Though of course, the only thing missing from all the above will be... my presence and personal touch! LOL.

I don't want to sound ungrateful though. I'm always so happy to find some of you have left your mark here—always warms my heart.

I was asleep by 11 p.m. last night, which is something I haven't done since... ever, maybe? Eleven o'clock is usually the time I just start thinking of winding down, after which I usually fit in plenty more LT time, take out Coco for a last walk, get ready for bed, then read for a couple of hours before lights out... but none of that last night.

Today is beautifully sunny out, which must mean it's really cold. I'm off to walk Coco shortly, and then want to do some painting, while my flowers are still fresh, and alive. And while there's a bit of light from outside filtering into the apartment. I'm hoping to have another couple of hours to spend catching cup with this wonderful group later today, and to write a few more reviews, since I'm falling back into bad habits there and they're piling up like mad again.

Started Unbroken two days ago, got to chapter 8 yesterday and just was NOT in the mood for hearing more about planes and training and war manoeuvres. I've never enjoyed reading about machines or the business to do with the front lines during war; it's all just too much of a man's world for me to be able to relate to it. I thought of hanging in there until the business with the capture by the Japanese kicked in, but it wasn't coming soon enough for me. When I realized I'd be tidying up around the house a couple of hours yesterday and actually AVOIDING the audiobook, when that's usually time when I MOST want to listen to them, I knew it was a no-go. So, no offence to those who loved it (Mark, Joe, Judy, Donna, among others) but that's the end of that for this particular book.

Also, I was needing something extra fluffy yesterday, so used up one of my Audible credits to download Soulless, but again, don't know if that was quite the right choice for me. I thought I might find this paranormal tale amusing, and while I can see the appeal, I'm not much of one for paranormal to begin with, so we'll see. Won't give up on it just yet as want to give it a fighting chance.

On the other hand, I had an hour session with some of the chldren's picture books I brought home from the library before heading to bed, and that seemed to hit the spot perfectly. And L'Assommoir continue to impress as well, so all is fine in my reading life after all.

32: This review is just obscenely long, for which I apologize profusely. I just don't have the heart to start from scratch to come up with something short and sweet.
It's an excellent review!

224: Last year, I didn't count my hours here and ended up spending many many many entire days keeping up with everyone, but decided that in 2012 I just HAD to cut back to take care of other things. So the truth is I've sort of come to accept I can't possibly keep up with everyone all the time.
I've been watching this thread growing, growing... figured I'd better drop in before the thread police insist on a new thread... So, I skimmed, just so I can claim to be caught up...

You have Unbroken as an audio book? I've never listened to an audio book, but I'd suppose the down side is you can't skip the uninteresting parts...

Don't worry about my thread -- it's mostly puppy silliness! Scroll til you see a picture, don't want to miss any of those! I'm going to start a new one when it hits 300. Which is likely to be soon.

Are you going to get the ice storm we're awaiting?????

>208 Smiler69: but I won't share my recipe in case I decide to build an empire on it someday. :-)
Great idea haha, love it. My dad refuses to share any recipes he has (tongue in cheek) as everything he makes is apparently a "secret Latvian recipe".

Just saying hello, Sweet Child. Hope that your days are as smooth as possible...give the fur children extra love from me...

I am so happy to find someone else who didn't enjoy Unbroken. I really wanted to like that book, but abandoned it after about one third of the way through. I think I just didn't care for the writing style; the book seemed to drag for me.

Ok. I am deeply ashamed to say I did not even bother to take out my watercolours and paper from my portfolio. Instead, been lurking unsuccessfully here on LT the WHOLE time. I say unsuccessfully because I've been commenting like mad, which considerably slowed down my ability to "speed lurk". But hey, it's the intention that counts! :-)

Meanwhile, I listened to some more of Soulless when I took out Coco earlier, and then listened into chapter 3 when got home and... urgh! I'm about to take Coco out for another walk and can't face having to continue with it. When the prospect of listening to an audiobook depresses me, I know I just have to switch to something else. *Big sigh*. Very rarely does paranormal manage to strike a chord with me—I just don't seem to be able to just suspend disbelief enough to enjoy it and end up being really, really annoyed with it all instead. What a waste of a credit... can't even give it away, like I would be able to do with a physical book. So much for that then.

Next up: I don't know yet. I have a few audiobooks loaded on my iPhone, but don't know if any of them appeals to me, so have to work on that now since Coco's starting to look at me with brimming eyes, so have to get myself organized to face the outdoors. Brrrr.

Will come back to answer your lovely comments of course!

And also... an update on the Coco video situation coming up...

The Coco Video Situation: I forgot all about holding my phone in the horizontal position again, so that I ended up with a bunch of footage in the wrong format. In my frustration, I just deleted all of it. I'm sure there'll be other opportunities. I'll be taking photos asap too.

#227 Thanks Katherine. I'm not sure why I always end up feeling guilty when I write a long review. I guess I know that I do tend to go on quite a bit and that we 75ers have a hard enough time keeping up with each other as it is... but I won't apologize next time! ;-)

Yes, I was listening to Unbroken as an audiobook. Do you know, it never occurred to me to skip over any part of a book before? Actually, that's a lie: I remember when I was reading A Suitable Boy that I started skipping over the long bits about cricket, because truly couldn't muster any interest, and it was such a loooong book! I guess I could have tried skipping over chapters in the audio, not as easy, but it can be done.

#228 Lucy, I'm glad I took the time to catch up with you. Of course, it also meant that I didn't have time to catch up with many others, but them's the breaks! So excited about puppy coming your way soon! And less excited about the weather coming our way. Yikes. As if we needed MORE ice in these parts. Stepping outside my place and walking Coco is a serious risk... and three times a day too! Maybe I should try and see if he'll take to training pads...

#229 One just never knows, right? Stranger things have happened. Already, the owner of the small organic foods grocery store I shop from has asked me to sample my apple crumb, next thing I know, I'll be baking them every day to supply demand! Not sure I'd like that—would mean less time for LT!

#230 Hi Gail! The kids are ok, though Coco's being kind of funny today. I wish he could tell me what's bothering him. I've given him a bunch of loving strokes on your behalf.

#231 I agree; I think the writing style was a big part of what I wasn't connecting with. I understand that narrative non-fiction is about providing lots of details for realism, but I just felt like I just wanted her to just get on with the story already, among other things. I feel guilty about not appreciating it and dropping it, because I thought everyone loved it here too. Good to know I'm not alone!

I think I was feeling really frustrated about my two recent "misses" as far as reading goes, and so resorted to my favourite cure when anything ails me: shopping for books. I did exercise restraint, as at one point my shopping basket at BoodDepository got really scary. Ended up ordering *just* four books.

The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck - a must for February
An Ermine of Czernopol by Gregor von Rezzori - a new title a New York Review Books which appealed to me
A Russian Journal by John Steinbeck and Cornell Cappa - been on my wishlist for a LONG time and the price was right today.
The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey - no need to justify this one.

I also got another NYRB in the mail today from BD (pre-ordered and paid for in 2011): Berlin Stories by Robert Walser.

Ilana - for once I am a bit behind with the threads at the moment as life is hectic and troubling for those around me.
Your idea of hiring a PA to maintain your thread is an excellent one but in practice I'm not sure I would encourage my PA to know quite so much about my innermost....besides which he/she would surely quit when I start gossiping about them!
You really seem to be savouring L'Assommoir and Zola does have that impact on me not quite wanting to dash it off and close out the entertainment. Look forward to your review.

#234 - Hi Ilana, if you're anything like me, buying a book is no guarantee of reading it any time soon, but I'll be interested to hear your opinion of An Ermine in Czernopol when you get to it. It's not that easily available in the UK (yet), but it sounds like something I might like (I'm a sucker for a Central European setting).

Hi Ilana,
Boy, I have fallen so far behind. I agree with others in loving your idea of one assistant to ready threads, one to keep up with your own thread, one to write the reviews! Still, as I read that and feel it so often myself, I have to remind myself that the point isn't to "keep up" and that LT is supposed to bring joy and friendship and reading more into my life -- not more stress! So, I do the best I can and hope that folks here won't forget me when I have occasional absences.

I got Unbroken from the library a couple of months ago and never got around to opening it. The reviews here had been so positive but, even with it sitting on my buffet with a due-date attached, I couldn't muster up enough interest to read it instead of something else. I guess I figure there is absolutely no way in heck I'm ever going to read everything I "want" to read. So, even if a book sounds really wonderful, if I don't get to it, for whatever reason, I'm allowed to chuck it. Nancy Pearl was right. :-)

Also, like you, book-buying would be a perfect antidote to those "nothing has grabbed me" blues. Hopefully you can start reading one (or two) of the new acquisitions, enjoy them, and know that you'll get back to others on your shelves (real or virtual) when you get back to them.

I hope you are well. My sister will be in town this weekend, so I may not be around much. But, as always, I'll at least lurk a bit when I can.

xo

Ilana- I listened to and liked Soulless too. It might be a touch to light for me though, so I'm not sure I'll continue. The wife, thanks to me of course, loves the series and has read all of them. The latest comes out soon.
I hope you weren't planning to skip any of Unbroken. Remember, there are eyes everywhere.

Hi Ilana -I have been mainly lurking and speed-reading for the past while. De-lurking to say Hi and hope you have a great weekend!

#235 Paul, you are right about me savouring L'Assommoir, it profits from being read at a leisurely pace, but the whole truth is that all paper books are read at that plodding pace these days since I rarely make time for reading during the day other than when I'm in bed, just before sleep, which is a rather narrow window of time, especially considering that I'm a slow reader. Not so of course with audiobooks, which I dash off in no time at all, since I have plenty of listening opportunities on any given day.

#236 Rebecca, I don't believe I've read many (if any) books set in Central Europe before, so that aspect of the book will be a new discovery. What attracted me to it is that the storyline is set just after WWI and as it happens, I've developed quite a fascination for the whole period between the Edwardian era and just before WWII. This might have been set off when I read The Children's Book by A. S. Byatt at this time last year, and soon followed it up with Regeneration. I'll try to make room for the NYRB more or less as they arrive, although you are quite right in assuming that recently purchased books rarely get read before the others.

#237 So, I do the best I can and hope that folks here won't forget me when I have occasional absences.

Ellen, I highly doubt this is the case with anyone here, and can guarantee you that I never forget you when you are away. Your presence in this group is part of what makes this place such a welcoming one, to the point where I do hope we get to meet *in the flesh* so to speak in the not too distant future.

I don't really feel at liberty to discuss Unbroken, since I was not at all taken by the first 8 chapters and in fact grew quite annoyed with it and dropped it, perhaps prematurely, but then, what's the point of sticking to a book one isn't enjoying?

I am quite well these days, thank you. No aches and pains worth noting, though I've been very fatigued, but again can't complain about that since I've been getting all the sleep on could wish for, which allows be to have several hours in the day when I feel well-rested.

Enjoy your time with your sister, I know what a special relationship you have from what you've told us. We'll still be here when you come back!

#238 Mark, I don't know what it was about Soulless, I really tried to let go and enjoy myself, wanted to get wrapped up in the fantasy of it, but in the end just found it too silly. Not that there's anything wrong with that, and I may in fact be in the mood for it someday, or then again, maybe I just need to stay away from paranormal once and for all.

As for Unbroken, the only way I'm picking it up again is if you tell me what chapter I can skip to, because no way am I continuing on with chapter 8 and all the bomber jet action. Bores me almost literally to tears.

#239 Hi Lori! Speed reading is the only way to keep up with this group for sure! Wish you a great weekend too!

I've been listening to The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West and enjoying it quite a lot I must say. The story brings to mind Dowton Abbey in some ways, and I enjoy VSW's style. The extra cherry on the sunday is having Carol Boyd as a narrator. She's one of my favourites and I only wish there were more recordings by her available.

Slept like a sleep glutton for a good part of the day. Apparently I really need it and today finally felt rested—something I can't remember experiencing in a very long time. I was invited to the museum by Liselotte, and then to the movies by my father, but lied to them both and said I wanted to stay home and paint—while lounging in bed with the full intention of going right back to sleep. For some reason, that brings to mind addict behaviour. Of the drug or alcohol kind. I called my father this evening to come clean. I'm not used to lying—even white lies, and feel horribly guilty when I do.

I did want to paint today, but equally strongly wanted to spend time here on LT. Guess which one won in the end?

Now, for some reviews. Or at least I'll start with one.

ilana, I have sort of decided that Soulless is one of the books I would read next month for Fantasy February. Maybe, I should leave it on the back burner at little longer and tackle something else. Or maybe by next month I will be in the mood for something silly, we'll see.

I have been lurking around LT just about all day thinking that perhaps Madeline would post next months TIOLI challenges, but I think she knows some of us are circling around and has decided it serves us right to have to wait. I just know that the minute I turn my back, she'll be posting!

12. ♫ On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry ★★★★½
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #17: word with three identical vowels and 12/12 Category #8: Hot Off the Press - Published since 2011)

"Part 1: First Day Without Bill

Bill is gone. What is the sound of an 89 year-old heart breaking? It might not be much more than silence, and certainly a small, slight sound."*

Lily Bere has just lost her grandson Bill. She is 89 years old and, having lived a long life filled with heartbreak and loss, she has decided that she no longer wants to go on. She is determined to take her life, but first, she decides to write her memoirs, with each chapter's heading counting off the days since the loss of her grandson. During seventeen days and seventeen chapters, she recalls the events of her life which have led her to the present circumstances; from her girlhood with her family in Ireland, to a pressing escape to America with her beloved, and all the many people and and adventures and experiences she has accumulated. Though her story is filled with sorrow, the telling of it is by turns quite amusing. Though she writes in what could be considered a conversational tone, there is also much poetry in the choosing of her words. To say I loved this book does it little justice. I was completely immersed in it, and felt like I was living life right alongside Lily. I'm sure one of the things that made it such an unforgettable experience, was the fact that the audiobook I listened to is narrated by the excellent Wanda McCaddon, aka Nadia May, whose sensitive reading along with the slight Irish accent she uses made Lily seem that much more real. Wholeheartedly recommended, and I predict: one of my favourites of the year.

"To remember sometimes, is a great sorrow. But when the remembering has been done, there comes afterwards a very curious peacefulness—because you have planted your flag on the summit of the sorrow, you have climbed it. And I notice again in the writing of this confession that there is nothing called "long ago" after all. When things are summoned up, it is all present time, pure and simple. So that much to my surprise, people I have loved are allowed to live again." —Fifteenth Day Without Bill

*quotes are transcripts from the audio version, and as such aren't fully consistent with the original, though I've tried to render them as meticulously as possible.

13. ♫ The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo ★★★
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where a word in the title can be used as a verb, 12/12 Category #7: Young at Heart)

Based on my reading in 2011 or War Horse and Private Peaceful, it's fair to say that Michael Morpurgo is one of my favourite Young Adult authors, but unfortunately, I can't say this is one of my favourite books by him. Set against the backdrop of WWII, the story is set in 1943. Twelve-year-old Lily lives on a farm close to the seaside in and English village. Her father is away with the army, and she and her classmates have to put up with the "townie" evacuees at school, but otherwise the war seems far away. Until one day, Lily and her family and all the other villagers are notified that they have fifteen days to evacuate their homes and relocate. The Allied forces intend to use the village and it's ideal seaside location to practice for their landing in Normandy, better known as D-Day. Lily meets with a young American soldier and instantly takes a liking to him. He's the first black man she's ever seen, and she soon grows very fond of Adie. One of Lily's greatest concern is that her beloved cat, Tips, has gone missing and she is worried Tips might be harmed in one of the army's practice exercises, when guns and real bombs are used. But Adie has promised Lily that Tips will come home unharmed and she is inclined to trust the young soldier. The story is told by a young boy who's grandmother has given him her girlhood diary to read, so that most of the story is narrated from the point of view of a twelve-year old girl. It's a sweet story, and the ending definitely struck a sentimental chord with me, but I guess my biggest problem with this novel is that I kept waiting for something Amazing to happen to Tips, and felt let down in that sense. I was bothered by the voice of a twelve year-old girl and her seemingly silly concerns, and felt at times that this book was truly best left to young girls to read.

On the audiobook version, Morpurgo read the afterword, informing the reader of some of the facts the story was based on. One incident which is related in the narrative alludes to Operation Tiger, an incident which was kept under wraps for many years. This information augmented my appreciation of the novel. I should also say that, I've just now found out that the book is based on Morpurgo's and his grandmother's real-life experiences, which again, has raised my appreciation of the novel quite a lot. I just wish the title hadn't misled me, as I might have appreciated the story quite a bit more.

#243: Hi Ilana, On Canaan's Side sounds like an audio must have. But yours wasn't the audible version, was it? It's read by Grainne Gillis and for my foreign ear the sample sounds 'unusual', and I doubt it is the Irish (if there is any, because I wouldn't know) that irritates me.

It's Shepherd's Pie day today - thanks for the cooking inspiration! I didn't find my English cook book, must still be in storage, but I think (hope!) that I remember most of the ingredients. It's a dish that allows for variations, so I should be able to produce something that's edible.

It was roast beef, gravy, mashed cheesey potatoes with chives, popovers, sizzling garlic prawns and a big pear and blue cheese arugula salad today for lunch. Pavlova for dessert ---which I kept away from because I don't like meringues .... my mom forgot ... so I just ate the leftover fruit.

Stopping by for a quick hello

My Shepherd's Pie tastes much better today than it did yesterday......maybe it's the extra splash of red wine vinegar!

Don't know about videos of Kitteh...I can do videos with my camera..that's not the issue...it's the cat...he moves too fast and would probably knock me on my tush whilst "filming"

I should be reading but am piddling round in cyberspace

;-}

#242 Judy, sorry, hadn't seen you post before. Please don't let me influence your decision as far as reading Soulless. I know it appealed to many people in our group, and you may very well end up loving it like so many others did too. I just didn't much have patience for it at this time.

#245 Nathalie, it sounds like the version available to you is by a completely different narrator. The rights to books and various editions vary from country to country. That's really too bad in this case. But maybe we can figure out something?

Seems like I've inspired quite a few people with my mention of Shepherd's Pie. Which rather surprises me I must say, since I thought it was such a typical dish and barely worth mentioning, but I guess that's not the case! As you say, I don't think you can really go wrong with that dish, probably no two people make it exactly the same way.

#246 That sounds like a delicious lunch Caro. Any leftovers you could send my way?

#247 Jude, I find a lot of food ends up tasting better the day after it's been prepared, once all the flavours have blended well. Or maybe as you say it's that extra red wine vinegar... sounds fancier than the HP I put in, though it fills the spot as far as vinegar is concerned, I guess.

I should be anywhere but here. Been wanting to paint all week and spending all my free time on LT instead. Feeling quite frustrated now that I haven't produced anything all week, so I think I'll get off the threads now and try to paint... but then I'm so so tired too... *sigh*

hi Ilana, maybe it is time we join LT addicts anonymus???

Hi Ilana, I won't try to even catch up here except to say that I read and loved (not sure that's the right word) Nothing to Envy last year and just finished The Orphan Master's Son. All I can say is that living in North Korea is the bleakest existence possible. Glad to see you enjoyed your first taste of William Boyd who I really do adore for the most part although I've yet to read Brazzaville Beach. Oh and I loved the video of Coco. Just adorable.

Ilana, Ilana, Ilana! I am very proud of you for all the great things you've done this past week - cooked, slept, read, reviewed, got Coco groomed, bought art supplies, flowers, and new books, etc...
Still I'm worried... no painting.
I'm worried your beauteous flowers are past their prime... so, now what?
A still life of antique blossoms?
(That's what I tell everyone I have in my vase when the flowers are browning and getting quite dry... they have that "antiqued look"! Hate to throw even dead flowers away :P)

Well, I guess one woman cannot do it ALL in one week. *heavy sigh* Good shot though ;-) Please keep up the great care of my friend, Ilana :) Hugs and more hugs!

Ilana! It has been so long since I stopped to say hi! How are you doing? It sounds like you're well. . . .

Ilana, On Canaan's Side sounds really excellent. My sister and I will be going to my favorite local bookstore tomorrow (as well as the fabulous ice cream shop next door to it!) and I may look for this one.

Ilana - not much to add other than to wish you a lovely, restful and creative weekend.

#249 maybe it is time we join LT addicts anonymous???

Anita, you mean this isn't what this group is for??? Oh no, that right, this group is the Not So Anonymous LT Addict Enablers! :-)

#250 Bonnie, I look forward to discovering more books by William Boyd. Which books of his are your favourites? I know what you mean about Nothing to Envy... 'enjoy' doesn't seem like the right word at all... maybe 'appreciated' would work better? There's a good chance I'll get the audio for The Orphan Master's Son either this coming month or next.

#251 Claudia, I love how you make me sound like such a decent, respectably active member of society. As it happens, I tend to like to paint and draw flowers that are just a little bit past their prime. I just find them more interesting that way. Maybe it's an indication about how I feel about myself? Past my prime, but more interesting for it? ;-)

Still no painting... though I've been telling myself all day since yesterday that I'll start working any minute now... and I still have hope!

#252 Hi Brit, thanks for dropping by. I'm doing fine—in fact, it's usually a good sign when I've got nothing to report—means I'm just living life without asking myself too many questions, a rarity!

#253 What a nice surprise Ellen to see you in these parts! Especially knowing that you've got your sister with you. I really did love On Canaan's Side, though I can see several things about it could be unappealing to some. It has a plodding pace—after all, the story is being told by an 89 year-old. Some might be bothered by the fact she intends to commit suicide. I wish I could share the audiobook with you though, it was really quite a treat.

#254 Thank you Paul. I wish you much of the same. Plus all the best of luck and good health for the furry members of your family.

14. ♫ Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson ★★★★⅓
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #11: Read a work of narrative non-fiction, and 12/12 Category #10: Beyond Fiction)

From the outset, Bryson explains that his intention for this book was to relate the few known facts about Shakespeare, and not to indulge in theories and suppositions, as it would seem most biographers of the Bard have done, which in turn explains why it is such a short book. I'm very new to Shakespeare, having only read one of his plays thus far—King Lear—and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm also not in the habit of reading very much non-fiction, but I found this short biography to be filled with interesting facts and amusing anecdotes. Many firsts with this book, as it was also my first book by Bryson, but I'll be looking out for more. The audiobook version narrated by the author was also quite delightful.

I agree -- Bryson reads his own work very engagingly. I went on a Bryson binge last year because someone else in our village clearly loves him and buys the CD's and then gives them to our library when he/she is done with them!

#257 Oh how fun! The only other book I have by him at the moment is The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, which I'm told isn't one of his best... it isn't on audio either, so it might be a while before I get to it, but I'll look out for his other books for sure.

15. ♫ Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd ★★★★½
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where a word in the title can be used as a verb and 12/12 Category #6: Going Places)

Hope Clearwater is a young woman who has already accumulated quite a few harrowing life experiences, and she tells the story of what has led up to her living on Brazzaville Beach in some unnamed part of Africa. First comes a marriage to a mathematician shortly after having finished her own studies as a researcher. Completely obsessed by his research into the mathematics of unpredictability, her husband displays more and more distressing signs of mental instability until Hope must face that she cannot continue living with him. Then comes her work in Africa as part of a research organization that focuses on studying primates in the wild. Here again, she soon sees some disturbing behaviour on the part of the chimps under her observation, which runs contrary to the long-held belief that they are peaceful and gentle animals, and rather more like humans than anyone, including her boss, is willing to accept. Brilliantly written and filled with unexpected twists and turns, I was continually impressed with the way Boyd incorporated what must have been an incredible amount of research (into primate behaviour and advanced mathematics, among other things) into a very engaging novel. My first William Boyd and certainly not my last. Great narrations by Harriet Walter, who does a very convincing job as Hope Clearwater.

16. Paris: Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bijkerk ★★★★
(Read for TIOLI Challenge #8: Read a book where a word in the title can be used as a verb , and 12/12 Category #9: Visual Treats)

The subtitle 50 Shops Where Decorators and Stylists Source the Chic & Unique gives a decent indication of what this small 6 by 6 inch book has to offer. Bijkerk, who is herself a professional stylist and photographer, shares some of her favourite spots where she likes to source unusual hand-made objects for her shoots. With a wide range of shops and ateliers including jewelry shops, needlework supplies, sculpture and painting, children's clothes, repurposed industrial materials, ceramists, and stationary merchants, among many others, there's something for every taste and every budget here, though the emphasis isn't necessarily on shopping. The book is set up as a sort of walking tour of Paris; divided into sections according to different neighbourhoods, or Parisian arrondissements she encourages the reader discover tiny workshops and holes in the wall that might otherwise pass notice, with frequent encouragements to talk to the various friendly artisans along the way. Short texts accompany atmospheric photos which really made me yearn to stroll around Paris. Published by The Little Bookroom, Bijkerk also published Amsterdam: Made by Hand more recently.

I read a few of Brysons travel books and A Short History of Nearly Everything which was lightweight but of interest. He pretty much specialises in light hearted coverage of topics, I've found.
Enjoy your painting, if you get to it :)

Hello, fellow LT Addict and Enabler. You have made me want to pick up Bryson's Shakespeare book again. I think my problem is that I was trying to read The Bard along with it and got overwhelmed with my lack of background. Perhaps I should look into a Shakespeare class for the fall semester.

Ilana, I'm delighted that you are back to your art classes. I hope you share more of your work with us. Have a great Sunday!

Ilana - looks like you have read some good stuff here! I've been hit by a couple BBs. ouch

I loved Bryson's A Walk in the Woods - very funny and my fav of his. I just might pick up his Shakespeare - it's been awhile since I have read anything by "The Bard".

And the book about Paris is calling me too... perhaps it will bring back memories of my one trip there :)
and with a more intimate look at some "unnoticed" places will probably make me yearn for more. *gentle sigh*
Who doesn't LOVE Paris?
Is this book making you more "in the mood" to go this year?

I wish you could view yourself in a sparkling clear mirror -
You are now in your prime and a beautiful young woman (inside and outside), at that! Don't sell yourself short. You are amazing and creative in so many ways. Not to embarass you, I won't go too crazy here - but we all see in you what you find hard to see in yourself... a sensitive and loving person that we love back!
Have a relaxing day - paint some flowers ;-)

>263 -Cee-:: I can only echo what Cee says.

Love to you; ---oh, and loved the stash from B.D. Some good books there!

Good reviews and an interesting smorgasbord of books, Ilana! I liked Bill Bryson's book on Shakespeare, and I'm another fan of A Walk in the Woods.

Mmm, shepherd's pie. Perhaps I will make some this week.

#216 "Oh dear, I am so far behind. I'm starting to think saying that is about like saying "I breathed today." - I know, was it this bad last year? I keep feeling too tired to read threads and post so I can only catch up in short bursts at the moment, but everytime I come back I find people have posted again! How dare they (grumble, grumble, grumble)

#232 Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy Soulless. Normally I don't like paranormal romances but for some reason I find Gail Carriger's silly but very enjoyable. I can understand someone else not liking it though because if you don't find the silliness enjoyable, there really isn't much more to it (in my opinion anyway).

#243 On Canaan's Side duly wishlisted :-)

#256 I enjoy Bryson's books and he's often my choice for audiobooks for long car trips because he narrates them and they're always amusing and interesting.

I'm woefully behind on all the threads once again. So much interesting talk on your thread here but I just don't have time at present to do more than a few brief comments.

Bill Bryson - only read A Walk in the Woods which was a good introduction to his style. I gave my daughter a copy of his Shakespeare book a year or so ago, so I'll have to have a look at it.
Soulless - I still haven't tried this
On Canaan's Side - I read The Secret Scripture and have a couple of his other books on my tbr, I'll add this one as well.

The Paris made by hand looks like a great book to browse through. Yesterday I brought home Paris Patisseries which explores the sweeter side of Paris.

I love the videos of Coco and hope you've managed to get creative with your paints this weekend.

Hi Ilana, just catching up. I'm glad you liked your first William Boyd book. Years ago, I read and liked his books The Blue Afternoon and Armadillo. I really need to try another one and will look for Brazzaville Beach at the library.

Oh my goodness! I've read Brazzaville Beach that might have been the first Boyd I took on. It was good, wasn't it. I have to trot off to see if I put it in my library year -- I know I don't own the book.

Hi Megan, Donna, Claudia, Gail, Joe, Heather, Kerry and Pat! as always I'm so grateful to have such lovely visitors.

Today was another lazy day for me and though I was supposed to go to the cinema night, I decided to put it off and go during the week so I could spend a little bit of time doing some artwork. Especially after lurking on my own thread and seeing your comments about such *hem hem*. I did spend a good two-three hours at it, but then felt frustrated that I hadn't spend more time on in this week because I work very slowly and there's no way I'll have a finished image by tomorrow's class. But so be it. No sense crying over spilt milk—it's my own fault for being so lacking in discipline, so I really have nothing to complain about. But also have nothing to show for my meagre efforts yet I'm afraid.

#261 He pretty much specialises in light hearted coverage of topics

Megan, that's pretty much the impression I had of his style. Someone posted negative criticism of Neither Here nor There on my thread over on the 12/12 group, so I think I'll stay away from that one, but I will add A Short History to my wishlist. The only reason I hadn't done so yet is that I keep thinking I already have that book, but no, I just keep confusing the title with Julian Barnes' A History of the World in 10½ Chapters which I do have.

#262 Donna, if you do take a Shakespeare class I'll be sure to follow with great interest. Or maybe I should consider taking one myself even...

#263 Claudia... I'm speechless really. Don't know what to say to that. So I'll just bow to you in deep gratitude for your great kindness to me. xx

Well ok. I will say something: As for the trip to France... I'm still in avoidance mode. I do wish I could make Paris part of the trip, which I hate to say it, but would probably increase my anticipation, but just can't afford it this time. I've been lucky enough to go a few times, and I trust it'll still be there when I am able to go again. As they say, "We'll always have Paris". Do you know where that quote comes from?

#264 Gail, you're a sweetie. xox

#265 Joe, A Walk in the Woods has been recommend so many times that I finally broke down and added it to the wishlist. I'm not safe from book bullets even on my own thread. LOL.

#266 I keep feeling too tired to read threads and post so I can only catch up in short bursts at the moment, but everytime I come back I find people have posted again! How dare they (grumble, grumble, grumble)

This made me smile Heather, because I know just what you mean. Maybe we should all go on some sort of collective posting diet and restrict ourselves to so many threads posted on on any given day for a little while? I know, that's just a ludicrous idea, but with everyone complaining about how hard it is to keep up this year, I figure there might be a solution? Then again, it's still the beginning of the year when we all try really hard to follow as many threads as possible.

I especially had you in mind too Heather when I took up Soulless and then felt really bad for not enjoying it, because I could see, objectively, why so many people liked it, but just couldn't make myself enjoy it, which was doubly frustrating. But since I have the audio already, I may return to it someday.

#267 Kerry, I've had The Secret Scripture on my shelves for a number of years now and felt ambivalent towards it, only because I got it from the deep sales bins (silly of me, I know), but having read and so much enjoyed On Canaan's Side, I look on it more favourably now and look forward to picking it up.

#268 Thanks for the William Boyd recommendations Pat, I'll add them to my wishlist right away.

#269 Lucy, I'm sure it helped that I had no expectations with Brazzaville Beach—other than having heard from various sources that he's a great author)—and didn't know anything about the story, other than what I'd read in the blurb. For that reason I kept my review equally vague and didn't reveal too much. I think my next Boyd might be Restless. It's been on my Audible wishlist since I first took up my membership, and is narrated by Rosamund Pike, an actress I happen to really like. I saw her in Barney's Version around this time last year and she was so very lovely.



RIGHT. I need to start a new thread. But then, forgot to eat tonight so must warm up some soup or something first. Then find an image. Best get to it then.

Ilana- I've enjoyed 2 of Bryson's books: A Walk in the Woods & At Home: A Short History. I'm looking forward to reading more. He's quite prolific.
I don't even want to talk about William Boyd. This dude has been on my to-read list forever and I already have a couple of his books in the stacks. Shameful.

Mark, I really think we need to talk about William Boyd. Just kidding. But in all seriousness, something tells me you'll love him when you get there. Am curious to know what books of his you have already?

"We'll always have Paris" is from the movie, Casablanca.

That's right! Haven't seen that movie in ages. Thanks Morphi!