Mark's Reading Place #5 (MSF59)

St Malo Jetty, France- David Burdeny



Vanish, Port Townsend, WA- David Burdeny

Currently Reading:



Audiobook:



Graphic:


Books Read So Far...

January:

1) Habibi by Craig Thompson 3.8 stars (GN)
2) The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux 4 stars (audio)
3) House of Prayer No. 2: A Writer's Journey Home by Mark Richard 4.7 stars
4) The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey 3.5 stars (audio)
5) Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff 4 stars (audio)
6) The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer 4.2 stars (OTS)
7) The Shotgun Rule by Charlie Huston 3.8 stars (OTS)
8) The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson 4.7 stars (audio)
9) Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill 4.2 stars (audio)
10) The Secret River by Kate Grenville 4.5 stars (OTS)
11) Life Itself: A Memoir by Roger Ebert 3.8 stars (audio)

February:

12) Grave Peril by Jim Butcher 3.5 stars (audio)
13) The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen 3.7 stars (OTS)
14) Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick 4.8 stars (audio)
15) The Empty Family by Colm Tóibín 3.7 stars (audio)
16) The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck 4.7 stars (GR)
17) Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis 3.5 stars (OTS)
18) Blood Red Road by Moira Young 4 stars (OTS)
19) Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman 4.5 stars (OTS)
20) Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie 3.8 stars (audio)
21) Stay Awake: Stories by Dan Chaon 4.6 stars (OTS)
22) Feynman by Jim Ottaviani 4.2 stars (GN)

Cream of the Crop '12:

1) Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick 4.8 stars (audio)
2) The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson 4.7 stars (audio)

Group Reads 2012: (I am shamelessly stealing this from Ilana. She loves me, so it doesn't matter)

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)

BEAUTIFUL photos, Mark!

Congrats on new thread mate. Second RD's thumbs up on the atmospheric photos.

Enchanting photographs! Are they yours?

I LOVE your photos up top! Almost other worldly! :)

Just tracked back to finish your last thread.
omg, I am so sorry. I didn't know!
Your dog has gas? Which one?
You have two dogs, right? What are their names?
sorry - I guess I forgot

Hugs to you and doggies! {{{Mark/healthy dogs}}}
*shakes head in dismay. what a shame.*

I could have edited the messge above, but felt this needed a totally separate and heartfelt comment.

Hi Mark. Love the photos. Very atmospheric. I started The Wayward Bus last night and am loving it. I can't believe I've never been interested in Steinbeck before. Better late than never.

LOVE the photos, Mark. Wow.

I may steal the "Group Reads" list at the top of the thread from you and Ilana. Since you both love me, it won't matter. :-)

Enjoy SD.

Hi Mark, loverly pictures. I particularly like the top one. Just about to start thinking if perhaps I might need to read The Wayward Bus based on reviews of late!

>7 -Cee-: Your dog has gas?
I was just teasing Mark as he suggested that sick animals were a sure way to get the hoards visiting and up the thread counts!

David Burdeny is a Canadian photographer, with a very fine eye! Please scope out his other work.

Okay, let's talk another TV show, The Walking Dead, or should it be call it TWD? I have problems with this show. It's not very well-written or well-paced but it does have it's moments and the latest episode had a couple, including an extended scene in a bar. My patience level for this show is very low, but I will give it a couple more chances.

RD & Paul- Thanks guys! If I can get any good photos from San Diego, I'll post them instead.

Luxx- Glad you liked the photos. Unfortunately, not me.

Claudia- Are you trying to crack me up again? If so, it's working. Bailey is a Chocolate lab, she's 12 and gassy. Our little sh*t is a King Cavalier/ Cocker mix, named Riley. Very moody and mean with strangers and less gassy and known to eat dog poop. If anyone wants him, I would be glad to send him anywhere free of charge.

Pat- What's great about the internet, is one interesting photographer leads to another. I'm glad you are aboard "The Bus". Enjoy and hopefully, I'll see you on other Steinbeck reads.

Ellen- Steal away! She doesn't visit much anyway. LOL. I did ask permission and she was cool with it. And yes, rampant love around here!

Megan- Please read the Wayward Bus. I should have completed my review today but sadly didn't. It would be very positive though.
I did not think my gassy dogs would increase my posts but you never know!

Hi Mark - Great pictures up top. You've resorted to doggy discussions... :)

Walking Dead is infuriating because the characters do such stupid things sometimes (driving off by themselves for no good reason, for instance. Who didn't see that result coming?). The bar scene was excellent. I have to watch it anyway...

Have a great time in SD!

woops. my mistake, I thought that was what the joke was about on pauls thread....sick animals etc.
I saw your 4.7 rating for the Bus Book....sounded good enough for me :)

Pictures, Mark! We want to see Bailey and Riley!
You always get more responses to pictures :)
King Cavalier/ Cocker mix sounds very cute...

Sprinkle Adolf's meat tenderizer on Riley's food to discourage him eating poop. Didn't work for us - but it might for you!

I wanted to repost this, from earlier:

DA Chatter (light spoilers!):

Now this is the DA, I know and love, in all it's soapish grandeur!

A wedding. A funeral. (Don't fret you will not guess either)

Is Lavinia the sweetest person on this show? She has my vote.

Mrs. O' Brien and wormy Thomas take unexpected turns

Anna stepping up, while Bates spins wheels (big surprise!)

Matthew still needs a good slap

Another big dramatic ending, which I could do without

I tried keeping up with Lady Mary's outfits, but quickly gave up.

2 hours left!

Bailey is a cutie pie, gas or not.

Great pics, as always, Mark.

Happy Valentine's Day! We are leaving shortly. Our flight is at 10. We will have our laptop along, so I should be able to check in regularly. I just won't be able to visit or post as much.

Joanna- I was really running out of patience with the 1st half of the 2nd season of the Walking Dead. Talk about wheel spinning? Let's hope it finds it's groove.

Megan- Of course, I was kidding about the whole sick animal thing and maybe exaggerating the gassy situation. Just goofin'!

Claudia- I think I posted pictures of the pooches before. I'll check. We tried the tenderizer before. I don't think it worked. We call him poo-poo eater.

Linda- Thanks! Yes, Bailey's our girl!

Safe travels and enjoy yourself Mark

Have a Happy Valentines Day


LOVELY pictures up top.... :)

Great photos, Mark. I'm particularly taken with "Vanish". Have fun in SD!

Love the photos! I almost missed the transition ... again! phew!

Thanks for the Spoiler Alert on DA! I am nearly caught up. I love it/hate it when I get so wrapped up in a show. That's why I don't watch a lot of TV (plus no time). Those PBS shows suck me in but good, though...

Have a wonderful time Mark.

As I posted on my thread, DA is TOTALLY a soap opera in period costume, isn't it? If anyone had defined it as such before I started watching, I would NOT have gone for it, but now there's just no going back. I can't wait for the last episode. I saw a preview of that Christmas special on YouTube, on a British talk show they did with the three sisters as guests. If you want to watch it, it's here.

eta: I just went back and read the few messages I missed on your former thread and have to say on the subject of Lavinia that I rather tend to agree with her Benita. Yes she's sweet, but too much of a good thing.

eta2: noticed I'd forgotten to mention Benita in the above!

apology alert!

I didn't realize when I wrote all that about DA that I was posting on your previous thread. I just got moved over here, so if you want to know what all the discussion is about Downtown Abbey you will have to check out Mark's previous thread. Sorry about the inconvenience to everybody.

I love the pictures at the top of your thread, Marky-Mark. How absolutely mesmerizing!

Happy Valentine's Day

Safe travels, Mark! Love those photos at the top of your thread.

I added Nothing to Envy to my Ever-Expanding List, from your last thread. Great review!

Hey guys! Only have a minute! Made it to SD with no problem. Great to see Bree. We went for lunch at a restaurant right off the beach, with a crashing surf as a backdrop. Cool but sunny. My cousin has a stunning home. We may never leave. Hugs to all!

Cool beans. Every time I go to CA I don't want to leave either. Enjoy it for all of us (but especially for me) and for you too of course! :-)

Hi Mark, you are already reminding me of my trip to SD a few years ago, just so very beautiful and sooooo much to do. Have a great time!

Hi, Mark! I finally show up on your thread (4th already?!) for the first time in 2012 and I find you're gone. ;-( Happy travels! Going to go visiting, myself--threads, that is.

We were there last summer, it's a lovely place. What area are you staying in Mark?

Glad to hear that you got to San Diego ok, Mark. Have a great time!!

I went to bed early and I'm up early but I slept great. We had a few drinks and a few laughs and watched the Dog Show. My cousin has 2 dogs too, a yellow lab and a Boston, both chunky and very friendly.

We will decide on what to do today, once we see the weather situation. I can't wait to visit the zoo, that's on the menu for Thursday.
BTW- We are staying in Encinetas, which is 30 miles up the coast from SD. Gorgeous area.

I'm reading Blood Road Red, which will be a perfect vacation book, light, fast & fun.

Big hearty waves to Claudia, Kara, Joe, Kath & Caro!

Terri- Glad you are enjoying DA. One more week left and then you can have your freedom back.

Ilana- Aren't most costume dramas big fancy soaps? As long as they are done well, I'm content. I'll continue to defend Lavinia. Hey, I'm a nice sweet person and you still like me. Or at least you did.

Benita- You should have posted your comments here again. I would not have minded.

Terri- Nothing to Envy is a Must Read!

The San Diego Zoo is great, Mark, but my favorite spot to visit is Balboa Park with its variety of museums. I also loved Old Town because my son lived there and I took many walks through that area in the early morning when it was quiet. And then there are the beaches...

Well, you HAVE FUN. I'm eager to hear about your favorite attraction. After Bree, of course. ;-)

HAH rain and sleet and gale-force winds! Good one, Weather Goddesses!!

It sounds like you are having a lovely vacation...dogs, beach, friends, family...It doesn't get much better than that.

By the way, thanks for recommending House of Prayer No. 2. It really was a great book and I loved your review.

Mark, I fully agree that this week's episode (and isn't that exactly the right word for it!?) was back in its usual style. It's off-the-charts grandiose and melodramatic, and part of me sits off to the side laughing at myself in my absolute engrossment. And I love it.

I hope you're having a wonderful time in the warmth and the sun.

Big waves to Bonnie, Laura & Linda P!

Bonniebooks- What a wonderful surprise! It's great to see you. I hope you can come back.

Donna- We might try walking around Balboa Park, after the zoo, we'll see where our energy levels at.

RD- I do wish it was a bit warmer. My cousin has a beautiful outdoor pool & hot tub. No hurricanes yet, fortunately.

Linda- So nice to see you, my friend. Glad you liked House of Prayer No 2. It's a terrific memoir.

Ellen- I'm so glad you enjoyed DA. Let's hope the finale is just as strong. Fingers crossed.

Hey, I'm a nice sweet person and you still like me. Or at least you did.

Yes, you're right. I've always known you were a pushover, so your undying devotion to the very dead Lavinia doesn't change a thing. But just taking off my sarcastic mask for a moment I do want to say that I found Lavinia to be absolutely charming. That she was. Makes the rest of us mere mortals, look bad, which is why I also dislike her. :-P

You are one lucky dude, Mark!
I hope you have the time of your life - fun and sun!

Hi Mark - sounds like you're having a great time in California! Enjoy that sunshine and have a drink for us 75'ers stuck at home.

I spent all of last night catching up on DA - what a great evening! I have to admit that I teared up quite a few times. (And Ilana, I noticed Mary's dress thing too - kind of drove me nuts, glad to have more company in that dept! Did you notice it in the latest episode too? ARG!) Mark, your most recent comments are bang-on, I heartily agree with you on all counts. Now that there's just the Christmas episode left, I'm starting to feel a little DA withdrawal! Guess I'll just have to buy myself the DVDs.

Don't know if you'd be interested in this or not, but I'm sure that others here will. I just ordered a book from Daedalus called Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by The Countess of Carnarvon. It sounds like DA was based on a lot of real-life events of the Carnarvons and the Castle (whether Julian Fellowes did it intentionally or not, who's to say?!?), and has some pictures of the staff, the castle, and the family. I'm itching to get at it!

And does anyone else remember the series ( I loathe to call it reality *shudder*) that PBS aired a few years ago, with people going "back in time" and living like eople used to? There was 1940's House, Frontier House, among several others, and the two that I enjoyed the most, Regency House and Manor House. I've got the books that accompanied these two shows, and watching DA makes me want to re-watch these particular series. Anyone else remember these?

Enjoy your sunny SD vacation, Marky-Mark. I can't wait to see some of your pictures. :-)

#41 : Laura, I received Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey as one of my birthday presents and I'm looking forward to reading it too. In fact, I think I'm going to shove a couple of the other ones I had lined up in my TBR Tower for my next reads and replace them with this one first. :-)

We spent a nice chunk of the day in La Jolla, walking along the coast, enjoying the incredible scenery, including dozens of seals and water birds. It was comfortable too but then the weather shifted and it's been raining for awhile now. This is southern Cal, right?

Ilana- Thanks for clarifying your thoughts on Lavinia. See there is a warm loving person, under that tough exterior of yours.

Claudia- Thanks! We are having a good time and my cousin and her husband have been great hosts.

Laura- Good to see you. Actually, I'm having a beer, (a Newcastle) right this moment, dedicated to the mighty 75ers. I think they mentioned this "Real Downton Abbey" book on the NYT Book podcast. It sounds good. I'll watch for your comments.
I don't recall that PBS show, you were referring to. It does sound fun.

Caro- We are taking some pictures, so I will be posting them later on. Thanks!

Sounds like just the kind of vacation I would want! Glad you are hving a nice time :)

Sunny greetings to you Mark! Glad the vacation is going well, rain or no rain, at least you're not walking the beat.

I just picked up The World of Downton Abbey from the library and I'm really enjoying it. Offers info about the show, comments from the actors, life as it was back in the day and great photos. Ah, there may be one or two of Mary.

We are off to spend a day at the zoo. We're hoping for a nice day, with no rain and some sunshine. I WANT to wear shorts. I don't care if people point at my white legs.

Kath- We are having a great time. My cousin and her husband are wonderful hosts and a lot of fun. And of course having both kids close is a major bonus.

Lynda- Yes, we are having a terrific time. Everything DA, right? I may not be able to watch Sunday's episode until Monday but that's okay.

Throw those shorts on, Mark! It's the only way to get some color in those legs! At least people in SD don't know you.

Have fun at the zoo! I hope someday I get there. Waiting for your report....

Mark, we visited SD in July and I was surprised by how moderate the climate was. Mornings and evenings were actually rather cool. Then one day we went over to the wildlife park (not the zoo, the other one) and it was VERY hot. So it's about how close you are to the coast, I think.

Enjoy your day at the Zoo, Mark.

Can't wait to see some pictures, Mark! :)

"Something tells me its all happening at the zoo, I do believe it, I do believe its true"
Incidentally I noticed on my trip to Bangkok that the Parliament building is across the road from the Bangkok zoo - it seems that there is better behaviour and more sense spoken in one than another!

Hi Mark enjoy your SD vacation. Some very nice reviews.
So much talk about DA helps me to get through the posts quicker.

Yay, more DA goodness. I'll miss our conversations about it when it's over. I checked to see if my library had The World of Downton Abbey too, but no such luck. I'd seen it recommended somewhere, can't remember where now... maybe Shelf Awareness? There's a bunch articles about books related to Downton Abbey recently, I thought I'd bookmarked one in particular so I could link to it here, but grrr... seems I did not. One book mentioned in the NYT article, Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona Carnarvon was also reviewed in The Guardian . However, I should say that the article ends with:

"The author can readily be excused for wishing to exploit the link to Downton Abbey. It's less easy to exonerate her decision to ignore William Cross's startling account (in The Life and Secrets of Almina Carnarvon) of a promiscuous and ambitious – yet admirable – woman whose calamitous fall makes for more compelling reading than the present Lady Carnarvon's cheerily-glossed and pleasantly illustrated tale."

Which makes me want to read TLaSoAC more than Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey of course!

Another books they recommended is on my BookDepository wishlist already: Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor by Rosina Harrison, originally published in 1975. "Like Gosford Park and Downton Abbey, ROSE is a captivating insight into the great wealth 'upstairs' and the endless work 'downstairs', but it is also the story of an unlikely decades-long friendship that grew between Her Ladyship and her spirited Yorkshire maid."

And Laura, yes, I almost ate my fist when I saw Lady Mary wearing the same dresses all over again. SO wrong!

Oh... almost forgot... HI MARK!!!

Sounds like you're having a fab time. And no worries, your legs can't possibly be whiter than mine. I was going to say "nor hairier" as well, but thought that might be tmi! :-)

We had a great time at the zoo. It's easily the best zoo I have visited (which isn't saying much). We didn't get home until 6. It was sunny but cool at times but I did get some sunburn on my face. Yah! And wore the shorts too.
Finally saw some pandas, live and in the flesh. We have some terrific photos.

Heading to the local beach later, for some hiking & relaxing. Change of plans we are going to spend a day in SD.

Claudia- I don't think anyone noticed or cared about my old white legs. Maybe I'm a little sad about it...

Laura- We just happened to visit the SD are during an unusual cool spell but as long as the sun is shining, which it is right now, I'm happy!

Big loving waves to Judy & Pat!

Paul- So are you saying the Bangkok Parliament and the Bangkok Zoo are interchangeable?

Gautam- Always good to see you sir! Be careful though, DA Talk is rapidly winding down.

For y'all Downton Abbey Addicts, a weblog of all the cool and unusual words used on the show:

http://blog.wordnik.com/word-soup-downton-abbey

glad your having a great time Mark white legs and all!

It's Saturday already?? Boo! We had a great day yesterday, rubber-necking around SD. We took the ferry and then later drove over to Coronado Island. It's beautiful and the beach is incredible. We stopped at the Hotel Del Coronado, it's a huge old hotel, beautifully preserved. It's where they filmed "Some Like it Hot".
Tons of sunshine but a tad cool. My forehead got burned again. Oh, well.
Today, last full day, we are biking on a trail near the coast. Should be a lot of fun.

It looks like LT is busy as ever, so that's good. Hope everyone is doing well. Of course, my book reading has suffered but that's a casualty I can live with, until things settle.

Ilana- DA books are pouring in and will probably increase as we wait for the next season to commence. And stop eating your fist, that hurts!

RD- Thanks for the DA link! I'll check it out later. BTW- No tsunamis in sight...so far!

Kara- I'm considering wearing shorts today for the bike ride. I'll have to check the temps 1st. Good to see you.

Hi, Mark! Sounds like you're having a great time. I've been to the SD zoo, and loved it. I remember the Hotel Del Coronado is spectacular, too. Very old-time movie like, which sounds like the Hotel Del Mar. A bike ride sure sounds good. Keep us posted!

I am glad to know that you are having fun.. Are the animals in the Zoo happy?
I confess to loving zoos, but I worry about that. Although, three squares and friends
of my own kind, no bills.. no hunting.. I might be happy ..

safe home.

Joe- Yes, everything here is going well. We will come back again, in a warmer month.

Kath- I am with you on the zoo issue. I think about that all the time. SDZ main concern is conservation and creating perfect settings for these animals. I didn't realize how important trees and plants are to this zoo too. They literally grow jungles.

Mark the zoo and the parliament in Bangkok are literally across the road from each other - whether they are interchangeable would depend upon which of the monkeys are in charge!

Enjoy your bike ride and last full day in SD, Marky-Mark. Lucky you ... I think the SD zoo is the best in the country.

Safe travels home tomorrow.

Ohh glad that you are having such a wonderful vacation!! Safe travels home! Personally I've been having myself a Murder and Mayhem February!

Your time in SD sounds like a real vacation... it's nice to hear your fun!
Someday, that will be me... I'm really into Fantasy February :)

Morning everyone! Sadly, we leave in a couple hours. We need to get to the airport a little earlier, since Bree catches an earlier flight out.

We had a great time yesterday, riding bikes. There is a nice walking/ biking path that follows the beach, just north of SD. Lots of interesting people watching too. We also had a fantastic lunch at another beachfront restaurant. The food was excellent and so was the beer. I could easily get used to this lifestyle.

Big wave to Paul!

Caro- Is there a zoo you've been outside the country that is equal or better than SD?

Deb- Hey, stranger. I'll have to stop by and see what you've been up to.

Claudia- I think you found your new favorite genre. Yah! Wouldn't that be great if we could get a bunch of LTers, rent a beachfront house and go wild? I vote yes!

Ah, you're gathering for the journey back. Always tough after a good vacation. That day of walking and biking sounds great, right up my alley. Your LTer idea (rent a beachfront house and go wild) is excellent. Safe travels back to the heartland.

Cool trip, sounds so fun.
Hope the culture shock of being home is offset by more time to read?

Hi Mark, I hope you had an uneventful flight home.

I love the SD Zoo. The panda and koalas are great and last time we were there the elephants put on quite a wonderful show in their pool.

Also glad you made it to Coronado. It's my favorite beach within 1 day's driving distance (albiet a really, really long drive). And isn't the Del lovely? I love old railroad hotels. We've been tempted to stay there and I'm always a little sorry that we haven't but the room rates are a bit over the top. We love an Inn that's right across the street and have lunch at the Del instead.

Hope you've had safe travels, Mark!

I love the SD zoo, too! It's such a great place! I even watch the polar bears online on the webcam :) I need to go more often.

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/polarcam/

@#60 mckait

Those animals at the SD zoo sure seem happy. They have wonderful enclosures that mimic their natural environment...not like cages at all. They are also very focused on enrichment and making sure the animals are comfortable, challenged and happy.

I grew up going to the Philadelphia zoo.....the oldest zoo in the country and it always made me pretty sad to visit. But, the SD zoo is a completely different story. It's really something else

SD zoo is wonderful, although it was strange seeing kangaroos and koalas outside of Australia. :)

Sydney's Taronga Zoo is a great old zoo (lots of renovating over the last couple of decades to make it more natural environment and less concrete pit) with harbour views. And there's the Western Plains Zoo out at Dubbo which is natural environment (although I'm not sure giraffes are native to Australia ;).

Sounds like a great trip, Mark! Hope the last leg home is uneventful.

Mark, I have to tell you that I saw a soft cover copy of The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore at my local bookstore. I have the hardcover copy, but I should think that you should be able to find a copy of The Betrayal now. I remember that you had wanted it.

As for Karin Fossum, I just love her books. I must say that her last two, Bad Intentions and The Caller were superlative!!! Things kept building up in both books, but perhaps more so in The Caller and I was left with a certain horror. She is very good at taking very believable people and situations and really ratcheting up the tension!!! Recommended! :)

Welcome Baaaack!

home?

Honey...I'm home! It's good to be back and it's nice to be off one more day, before returning to the grind. My wife shuffled off to work, this morning, dragging a bit.
We made it home fine, no problems and Bree returned to Oregon, without a hitch. We will miss her. I'm not sure when we'll see her next. Tear escapes down cheek...

Joe- I'm sure there are many great bike riding trails there, that I would love to explore. This was a very casual ride, since there was a large group of us. Regardless, it was a lot of fun.

Megan- You are right, I'm really looking forward to jumping back into my books. I feel like I've accomplished nothing in quite awhile.

Joanne- Unfortunately, the koalas were off exhibit (Boo!). They are constructing a large new Australian enclosure.
Yes, the Hotel Coronado was beautiful. It felt like you were going back in time.

Kitten- Nice to see you! And thanks for the zoo comments. I know there are strong arguments on both sides of the zoo issue. At least SD really seems to understand this and so does Brookfield Zoo, which is our big one in the Chicago area.
ETA- Thanks for the polar cam! The polar bears were not very active when we were there.

Tania- We'll have to return to the SD Zoo at some point. I would like to see the new Australian Exhibit. Did not see koalas but there were kangaroos & wallabies.
Sydney's Taronga Zoo sounds great! Maybe, one of these days?

Deb- I will find a copy of The Betrayal. That's a promise, plus it will give me an incentive to finally crack it open. You are kicking butt with the Fossum books. I can't wait to jump back in.

Lynda & Kath- Big loving waves! Not bad here either. Sunny, mid-40s. I can live with that for now.

Hungry panda!



The happy crew!

My cousin's home. What a dump, huh?



On the Coronado Island ferry!

Mark, the pictures are fantastic! Thanks for posting them. I forgot today would be a holiday for you--that was good planning--getting a day to adjust and get caught up on LT! Glad you're home. :)

Great photos, Mark. Looks like a fun time!

Look at those white legs smiling faces! My goodness, your son is tall. They grow up so fast. It looks like you had a great time. Love the photos. Too bad you had to stay in such a dump. Lol.

Mark, I know it's difficult to return to reality but we're glad you're home. And... you have four hours of Downton Abbey to watch!!! I'm a few episodes behind so I need to plan a DA marathon day later this week.

Hi Mark! Just trying to get caught up here. Looks like you had a great trip! Great pictures, and that panda is adorable!!

Glad you liked the last DA episode better than the previous one! You will LOVE the next one :)

Pat- Thanks! Yes, I like having that cushion day. The wife put in for the day too but they were to busy to let her off.

Joe- Big wave!

Donna- I was the only one to brave shorts. In the sun it wasn't bad but in the shade it could get cool. The white legs will have to wait til late April or early May to start getting some sun.
Actually, I'm caught up on DA. I saw the penultimate episode before I left and watched the finale last night. Both were terrific.

Chelle- Glad you liked the pix. We were so lucky to see the panda up so close and for so long. The other panda was sleeping in a ball.
The last 2 DAs were excellent! Great way to close it out.

Welcome home Mark! Looks like you had a great time -- thx for sharing the pix!
LOVED the last DA episode! Sigh. January 2013 is a long way away.

DA Chatter:
(light spoilers)

The final episode of Season 2, was just about perfect, with the melodrama, at a nice simmer. It might have actually been a bit to "nice", it could have used a splash or 2 of dirt or spice.

Lady Dowager receiving a nut-cracker for Christmas! Priceless

Ouija Board downstairs/ Charades upstairs- nice touch but they over-played the Ouija board, IMHO

Lovely scene between Lord Robert and Mary, (one of my favorites of the series)

Isis missing was a hoot, although Thomas is about as dumb as a rock.

About time Matthew got off his ass, right? I got a little teary-eyed.

Wonderful photos!

Welcome back, Mark. Your trip to San Diego brought back memories from when we were last there, a couple of years ago. We lunched at the Hotel del Coronado, and just fell in love with the whole of San Diego. It's a great place for a getaway.

I thought the episode of DA was a great way to end the series. Now I find that they are going to do another season. Why? This ending was perfect. The only thing I can think of is that the "political" question of Ireland will come into play as that is the one BIG thing that England dealt with in the early 1920's. The creator of the series said that the years from 1980 to 1940 were the years that saw the biggest changes in Great Britain and among the people who lived in the great houses and worked there. Of course. Didn't he read a history book before this?

Loved the scene with Thomas and the dog, but of course he got his way and will be the valet. Yes, he is dumb as a rock.

I loved the Ouija board scene. All of them.

I liked this season, and can't see how they will top it. I think they should have quit while they were ahead. End it now before they ruin it.

Hi Kath- Thanks! Big wave!

Judy- We didn't eat at the hotel but we did walk through the lobby and adjoining hallways. It's a very cool place. We will go back to SD, but in a much warmer month.

Benita- I loved your DA comments and you are so right about this being a perfect spot to end the series. I didn't think of that, because I know they are continuing the series, but this will be tough to top. I just hope the writing can sustain more episodes. It's a mighty thin line.

Yah! Wouldn't that be great if we could get a bunch of LTers, rent a beachfront house and go wild? I vote yes!

Ok Mark, apparently you have some kind of a skewed picture of the LT members. Go wild??? We're a bunch of readers and wouldn't know "wild" if it bit us in the butt. Hahahaha. Go ahead and dream if you want but while the real wild people are partying like it's 1969 (which I actually remember very well so at least I was sober) we are doing things like reading 150 books every year;-)

Reading books =wild?? In what universe? LOL.

Or by "wild" did you actually mean "read books together"? Oh OK, that's different my friend.

Welcome home, Mark!!

Welcome back Mark. What a lovely family you have. Love the pictures.

Welcome home Mark!

Nice legs! *giggle*
Srsly - great pictures of a good-looking family and Panda! Did you get to take that furry bear home?
SD sounds fun - and if you want to rent the beachhouse, I'm in!

Bonnie- LOL. Maybe "wild" was the wrong word, although in the context of our deep book infatuation and our excessively chatty nature, it might still apply. Could you picture a dozen or more of us in the same room? Church-like doesn't come to mind.

Linda- Thanks! Good to be back.

Cindy- Thank you! It's always nice to see you.

Claudia- Glad you like my big white legs. The bear stayed there. Pandas crap up to 30 times a day, so that's a good thing.

Welcome home Mark, and thanks for posting the photos. I had to skip over the DA chat for now, because I haven't watched the final episode yet. Will probably do so tomorrow.

I was going to say "enjoy your weekend" which goes to show how out-of-it-tired I am! lol

Have a great week then!

Nice to see you back mate and echo all the comments on the splendid photos you put up "milk bottle" legs notwithstanding! The group shot of you all reveals an attractive bunch of 5 indeed although the big fella in the middle looks a tad grumpy! Same difficulties as I have too - beautiful daughter and overly tall son - the first has the boys beating an unwonted path to your door the second cannot be chastised any longer as he can already give it back!

Hi Mark! I'm glad you had a nice vacation in SD. I can too-well relate to the sadness at the end. Today was day three of our seven full days here, and I'm trying not to think about the fact that at some point tomorrow we'll pass the halfway point. Saying to myself: self, stop counting down and just enjoy! Not to worry, I'm doing a good job of enjoying.

Thanks for posting the pictures. As soon as I can re-learn how to do that, I will post a few from our vacation, as well.

I hope your first day back at the actual job is/was relatively easy.

Okay, where are the books? Good question. You would think I took up a different hobby. I'm nearly done with Blood Red road and then I'll be starting Iron & Silk. On audio, I'll be starting Before They are Hanged. It's the 2nd book in a fantasy trilogy, my last FF book.
On the GN front, I finished Hark a Vagrant and began The Wall, both are terrific.

See! There are books.

Ilana- Thanks! Looking forward to your DA comments. Have a nice weekend too! LOL.

Paul- Thanks! Yes, we are both blessed with a good looking family. Have a good week.

Ellen- Sounds like you are having a wonderful vacation. Keep enjoying yourself and savor every moment.

Great pics of you and your family enjoying your wonderful vacation destination.
I'm sure the stork dropped me in Cleveland by accident because I'm much more inclined to sunny skies, mild temps and palm trees.

Well, now that you've brought it up...........The nut-cracker scene was a hoot as was Thomas's attempt to hide Isis. He may be stupid but he's got luck on his side and always comes out smelling like a rose.
I'm happy for Daisy and her new relationship with her FIL, making up for the family she never had.
Mary and Matthew simply sublime!

Did you see that Shirley McLaine is coming aboard in the third season as Cora's mother. Interesting.

Hope your day back at work is smooth as a baby's behind.

As I said in Caro's thread Shirley MacLaine is a favorite of mine.
She may be what propels me into watching, supposing I can find
it!

At least there hasn't been piles of snow this year. Although that rather
creeps me out. Have a good day back to reality.

Oh great pictures Mark! Thanks for sharing them with us. What a wonderful looking family you have!

Hark! A Vagrant was a hoot, wasn't it? Good to have you back.

Great pictures Mark!

Pandas crap up to 30 times a day how do you know that? dare I ask :)

you would need a super duper pooper scooper if you brought that Panda home :)

Hi Mark! I am so glad you had a great time on your trip. The pictures are wonderful--you all look very happy. : ) I think I will pass on the Panda as a pet concept. I don't want a super duper pooper scooper!

Welcome home, Marky-Mark! Loved the photos ... and what a gorgeous four-footed addition to your lovely family too. Haha..does he growl if you don't bring him honey pots or whatever bears eat?

I haven't deleted the recording of the last episode of DA off my DVR yet ... I think I'll want to watch it again.

**spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn't watched it yet
- I loved Matthew socking Richard in the face! I've been wanting to do that for ages!

- I thought Maggie Smith's facial expression and response "Do you promise?" when Richard said his farewell and that this was probably going to be the last time she saw him, was just priceless!

- Loved the Lord Richard and Lady Mary scene too.

- Of course the final scene was just perfect! Finally !

*happy sigh*

I really enjoyed Blood Red Road. If you are looking for a YA dystopian fix, give this a shot. I started Iron & Silk and I love it so far. Big thanks to Caro, for the nudge.

Lynda- Thanks for the DA comments. I'm glad you mentioned Daisy and her FIL. I liked it too. So Shirley McLaine is coming aboard, huh? Well, i just hope they utilize her well.
"Hope your day back at work is smooth as a baby's behind." Well, it wasn't quite as smooth as that, but not bad at all.

Kath- I know you and Shirley go way back. I'm a fan too. My favorite 2 films of hers are, "The Apartment" & "Terms of Endearment".
I DO NOT miss the snow or the ice.

Deb- Thanks! The rest of the family make me look good, that's for sure.

Joe- I agree about Hark, a Vagrant. What a crazy creative mind Beaton has. We should invite her to the Cafe for a few beers.

Kara- We actually took the zoo tour bus twice and learned a lot of tidbits, including the panda poop nugget. They eat a huge amount of bamboo daily, so it's not a surprise.

Kim- Thanks and good to see you! Pandas are cute as hell but do not make very good pets. Moody & mean.

Caro- For some reason they had this bear statue, right near the entrance, so we thought we would get a shot.
I loved your DA comments. "You promise?" was a great line. Like Benita mentioned in an earlier post, this would have been the perfect spot to end the series.
BTW- Thanks to you, I started Iron & Silk and it's wonderful so far.

I forget, do you have a Kindle?

All caught up! Watched DA tonight and loved it. Almost too good to be true? Yes, that's for sure. More comments later. Maybe. xx

Couldn't help but peeking: Matthew socking Richard in the face. Oh boy! I can't wait to watch!

Well, I can wait, because I'm in no hurry for my vacay to end, but ----- that is something to look forward to!

I finished the excellent graphic memoir The Wall. This is turning me onto a GN author, I was not familiar with.

RD- No Kindle or any reading device. I'm remaining old-fashioned...for now anyway.

Ilana- Glad you liked the finale. I hope you come back with more to add. Any thoughts on Lady Mary's limited wardrobe?

Ellen- There are a few characters on the show, that needed a sock in the face, including Matthew, but Richard was near the top.
Keep loving that vacation!

More DA? LOL

Shirley.. I love My Geisha..Two Mules for Sister Sara..Terms of Endearment, Steel Magnolias of course..
These Old Broads, Mrs. Winterbourne Guarding Tess.. love that one !

Oh dear.. so many good ones, I may need to sign back up for netflix :)

Mark, great pics! I've got a picture of my sons on that same bear--I think. Or was that the Wildlife Park? We went to both. San Diego has such great weather and scenery overall that I'd go for living there too--IF I could drag my friends and family along with me.

Hah! Love the idea of inviting Kate Beaton to have a few beers in the cafe! Thanks to you in particular, we can guarantee her good beer.

LOL - Bamboo is full of fiber, huh?

Looking forward to your comments on Iron and Silk as I have that on the TBR pile.
Do you still have the vacation afterglow?

Just a friendly Wed afternoon Hi!

Yes, more DA chatter, (sorry Kath, we are relentless). On today's BOTNS, they talked about books, related or would compliment DA fans:

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon
The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes
The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton
What the Butler Winked At by Eric Horne
The Decline and the Fall of the British Aristocracy by David Cannadine
Parade’s End by Ford Maddox Ford
A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks

All of these sound good and I have not read any of them. Ann mentioned that they were planning to adapt several of Ford Maddox Ford books. I've only read The Good Soldier.
Hey, this should keep us busy for the rest of the year.

Kath- Yes, we cannot shut up about DA. I'm sure it will quiet down with time. Be patient. Yes, it does sound like you are quite the MaClaine fan, plus you've read a few of her books, right?

Bonnie- 2 visits in 1 week? I am quietly and wonderfully stunned. We considered going to the SD Safari, but ran completely out of time. There is always next time. We want to return when it's a tad warmer.

Joe- Beaton at the Cafe, with a few brewskis. Nice. I hope to start Sweet Tooth: Vol 4 tonight.

Claudia- I'll tell you right now and I'm only halfway, Iron & Silk will be a Must Read. It's fast, funny and beautifully written. Go Caro!

Kim- Big wave! Has your weather improved any?

following up on Paul's message (number 51)...THANKS! You brought a smile!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0uO5RKI-S8

Mark - The brewskis sound good - if I had the chance I would join both of you for a proper session!
Parade's End is as much a story of a disasterous marriage as it is about a world at war and the "hero" is one of the less impressive but more human literary figures of the period. Would be a good movie or tv series methinks.
Linda - nice that my S&G lyric lifting was spotted. Nice to hear again of course and I will have a session now of playing their back catalogue to remind me of their greatness! Of course their Zoo was New York and not San Diego.

A few weeks ago I watched an old Saturday Night Live dvd of one of their first episodes. Simon and Garfunkel were the guest hosts. It was incredible because they sang many songs.

I also remember Paul Simon hosting the programme a few years later at the beginning of the 1970s and doing a duet with George Harrison. Fantastic stuff.

>120 Whisper1:, 123, 51 Simon and Garfunkel- I got on the Crosstown Bus in NYC specifically because I recognised it from the zoo song.
See it, get on it, smile the whole time.
Loved it.

Paul- The S & G lyric blew right past me! To be honest, I'm not sure if I ever heard that song before. I have now, though! It's a fun, snappy little number.
Thanks for the comments on Parade's End. I'll have to get to that one.

Linda- Thanks for the clip and thanks for pointing out that lyric again. I got it this time!

Thanks for the book suggestion Mark! I have Blood Red Road on hold at the library now! :)

I just got my old vinyl out of storage and found three Simon & Garfunkle LPs!!! (Might be two S&G and one Simon ~ I can't recall offhand.) Now I just need to figure out how to hook up the turntable to the amp and that to the speakers. Lord I am spoiled with my iPod and its dock. Nothing to do but just plug it in.

Hi, Mark ~ Glad you had a good time on vac! Fun pictures. And speaking of photos: The first one at the top of your thread is breathtakingly stunning!

Quick question: Are you thinking of doing a Murderous March challenge this year? I don't recall if you had done one last year or not and I'm at work and really can't take the time now to check, but I was thinking about it (obsessing) and just had to come by and ask.

124 :)

Marky-Mark ... to your list of the books that could compliment Downton Abbey, they should add Below Stairs by Margaret Powell. It's a downstairs maid's memoirs that apparently inspired the DA series and 'Upstairs, Downstairs'.

I'm glad you had such a fun vacation, Mark. Your pictures are great!

eta - S&G tunes are go-to music for us on our road trips. We sing loudly and off key mostly, but know all the words. We went to a concert during their reunion tour several years ago. It was wonderful and terribly poignant, considering their history and age, to hear them sing Old Friends/Bookends..

Chelle- You'll enjoy Blood Red Road and the next book comes out soon.

Mary- Great to see you! Glad you like the photo at the top. He does amazing work. I won't be hosting Mystery March but I'm pretty sure someone will. It's going to have to be a "catch-up" month for me. I do plan to do May mystery month though.

RD- LOL. Thanks for posting. You stopped watching the show, didn't you?

Caro- They did overlook Below Stairs. I heard about it on the NYT Book podcast a couple weeks ago and have requested it from the library.
I am LOVING Iron & Silk!!

Joanne- Thanks! What did you think of the latest "Walking Dead"? It wasn't bad. Still to much Shane and to much farm. We seriously need to move on.

This half season of Walking Dead seems to be moving along at a faster clip which was sorely needed. The scenes in town were great and I wish they would just leave the farm already - maybe sneak away when Shane's not looking. I like Darrell, but he doesn't get much screen time.

#127 Storeetllr

I seem to recall that it was Murder and Mayhem in May. Might have been a March one too, but if so I missed it. I didn't miss it in May because I read three Jo Nesbo books and two Benjamin Black during that month. Most of them without electricity, because it was in the aftermath of the tornado here in Tuscaloosa.

Hi Mark, I've really liked your comments on Downton Abbey. I've been pretty quiet on LT because I've been getting my DA fix. I'm also falling behind on my reading!

Funny, I read The Wall by Peter Sís today too. I've been raving about him on my threads for the past couple of months, but maybe not loudly enough. Or maybe I should stick to posting about books and drop all the melodrama which is best left to DA.

Hi Mark, I see people are asking about Mystery March. I am going to start a thread for it later this week, so people can plan what mysteries and thrillers they are going to read in March.

I know March is a catch-up month for you, Mark, but I hope you have some mysteries planned.

Snow is on the way! 3-6 inches, they are saying. Boooooooo! I thought we were done with all that crap. Fingers crossed, that it's on the lighter end.

Joanne- I agree, this season has been running at a better clip. I like Darrell too but he needs to stop whining also and jump whats her names bones. Come on.

Benita- I plan on hosting May's M & M. No time for March though.

Donna- Where are you at on DA? Did you finish?

Ilana- I thought you had mentioned a few Sis titles. I know there were at least a couple other LTers that were fans. I loved "The Wall". Where should I go next with him? The Darwin bio sounds very interesting.

Judy- I wasn't sure who was setting up the March thread but I knew someone was. I always have a couple crime books chomping at the bit, so maybe I can squeeze 1 or 2 in.

Hi Mark!
Not having seen any DA, I find it is a good to be able to skip over all the comments related to it. Helps me thread speed!
Still waiting for the library to come thru on that.

Glad you are loving Iron and Silk - should I be worried? ;-)

I quit watching Downton Abbey because I'm quite sure I'll have a hate-aneurysm if Lady Bitchqueen says one more hateful, snarky, horrible word. And Thomas never gets naked, so what's to watch?

I do love Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern's relationship. It rings very true to me.

I agree with Cee: keep up the DA banter--it makes thread reading a breeze and lowers the number of dangerous blue words. : )

Mark, don't fail to check your Facebook notifications today...good news for you reposted there.

Mark and Benita ~ Yay! I have enough mysteries to do both March and May. Actually March THROUGH May. :)

133 I didn't miss it in May because I read three Jo Nesbo books and two Benjamin Black during that month. Most of them without electricity, because it was in the aftermath of the tornado here in Tuscaloosa.

Benita ~ Isn't it funny how we often place what we've read by what was going on in our lives at the time, and vice versa!

#138 : Cee .. you're going to love Iron and Silk .. really you will. So just go get it and start reading it already.

Marky-Mark ... doing a happy dance that you're loving it. What did I tell you, right? huh? huh?

Oh and I've got a copy of Below Stairs in my TBR Tower. The hubster gave it to me for my birthday, sweetie that he is. :-)

Well, no snow yet, just rain. It's still in the forecast though. 3-6 through the night. Hoping for no more than a couple if not less.

Claudia- The DA talk is winding down quickly, so I will expect your visits to increase. Yes, Iron & Silk is an absolute winner. I'll be finishing it tomorrow. Plus I love these 200 page books. Nice & concise.

RD- They never knew what to do with Thomas on that show. He could have been an interesting character and they could have developed the homosexual angle, but instead, they made him a bitchy oaf.
Actually, they developed Lady Dowager in much more positive ways. Sure, she gets the killer zingers in, but she's also a bit of a "social policeman" on the program.
I suck at Facebook, just not my place, but I'll stop over.

Kim- There will be much less DA chatter and much more book talk. I have several things coming down the pipe.

Mary- I have dozens of crime books to get to also but it's just a busy book time. The Steinbeckathon continues and the David Copperfield G.R. is set for April. I'll just get the crime fix in when I can.

Caro- I'm nearly done with Iron & Silk. It's been great. I'm impressed with his devotion to the martial arts. Wow.

I think Thomas is one of the missed opportunities, indeed. Either have him and O'Brien end up in bed or make him a real man-trap bagging the noble guests left right and center! Or centre, I suppose, this bein British and therefore misspelled.

Hark, a Vagrant! by Kate Beaton 4 stars

Beaton is another treasure from Canada and this is a collection of her comics. She is very smart and funny and wildly ambitious. She wittily tackles history, the classics, Sherlock Holmes, Shakespeare, the Brontes, politics and she keeps it coming like a lunatic machine-gun.
She pokes fun at the US, we are an easy target, but also throws a few darts at her home country, like this gem:



Highly recommended!

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis 4.5 stars

I’ve heard talk about this gifted artist, for sometime now, but I finally had a chance to experience his amazing talent, with this short but riveting illustrated memoir. Sis was born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, in the late 40s. So he grew up under a communist regime and was a teenager in the tumultuous 60s, sneaking Beatles records, trying to form a band, growing out his hair, wearing jeans, all under the steady gaze of a menacing government, who would toss you in prison for any of these minor infractions.
This is an excellent book and if you’re still hesitant to try a graphic novel, give this one a try.



This was a great moment where the young people kept colorfully painting a wall, the police would whitewash it and the kids would strike again...over and over.

HI Mark

I'm adding your most recent read to my tbr pile.

I hope the snow stays away, but if it arrives, may it be the pretty snow globe type wherein the world looks lovely.

Oh, Oh........"All in all it's just another brick on the TBR tower" Thanks to Pink Floyd for the lyric and you, Mark, for another GN Rec. Looks like a good one.
Hope the snow misses you but it looks like it's coming your way then onto me.

Hoping for snow (I never give up)
Expecting rain... cuz that's just the way this winter is behaving here...
February is lasting too long so, I'm ordering Iron and Silk as well as a few other books. Haven't gotten any packages for a long time.

*DA is over? Frantically looking for my blue-filtering glasses....
I know they are here somewhere...*

I LOVE Maggie Smith's character. Can't get enough of her. Thomas is a worm. Who cares about him? I just keep wondering what's up between him and O'Brien.

Mary FINALLY got a few new dresses to wear. It was about time. I loved the scene between her and her father. For once I thought Matthews mother gave good advice and didn't get on my nerves. And I shed a tear at the last scene, old maid that I am.

(keeping up the DA talk for Claudia's sake)

Thanks for your note on my thread Mark. I replied to you over there of course. Great review of the Peter Sís. That was my favourite part too, with them painting the wall again and again. What am I going to do for my review now? grrrrr...

The book about Darwin, The Tree of Life is on my radar, and so is the one about Tibet; The Book of Imaginary Beings and Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei too. You should definitely check out The Three Golden Keys, about a character returning to Prague. And I know you don't 'do' children's books, but Madlenka is really worth it, if only for the artwork. He's such an amazing artist. I'm glad you enjoyed The Wall. I'm sure there must be others. They have loads at my library, though most are children's books.

Love the cartoon, Mark! And the library has several Peter Sis books, hurrah!

Looking forward to Murder and Mayhem in May, but could also probably squeeze in a title or two in March...

The Peter Sis looks lovely!

It's looks like a nasty mix of snow, slush and ice out there. It looks like we have less than 2 inches but it's heavy and still coming down. It looks like a fun day ahead...

Linda- It's so good to see you bouncing around and visiting everyone again. I guess it does look pretty & white out there but the thought of shuffling through it, quickly ruins it for me, but I'll persevere...I always do.

Lynda- Sorry about another brick, but I've been reading some very fine GNs and I'll be adding Sweet Tooth: Vol 4 to the list too. What a great series.

Claudia- I thought you had a copy of Iron & Silk already, but please request it, you will not be disappointed. I'll finish it today. I hope you misplaced your glasses, you don't need those old things.

Ilana- Thanks for keeping the DA chat going. Lady Mary found a new dress! Hooray! And it looks like I have several Sis books to look into. The small things in life, right?

Tania- Good to see you. Hope you are feeling better. You will enjoy the Sis book.

RD- I know GNs are not your cuppa, but this is beautifully rendered. Sis is a terrific artist.

Just popping in to keep you on my radar..
I like the Canada cartoon :)

No idea what you are up to, but hope all is well..

My favorite Sis is Tibet: Through the Red Box. I actually met Sis once. He was at an ALA conference. As soon as he saw my name he asked me a question in Czech. Of course, I couldn't answer, but I told him that I grew up with people who last name was Sis. He started out painting eggs and he had some really funny stories about when he first came to the U. S.

I don't think that his work is much appreciated by children. I think it is us adults who like his work.

Now just to keep the DA conversation from going stale. I agree that the Thomas story is under written. In the first season there was some teasing that perhaps Thomas was going to be a sort of information pimp as well as providing other services to guests at DA. That story line dried up and I wondered why. Perhaps in the next season, that shouldn't, this line might come back. Of course, poor deluded Daisy is in love with him, that might be a story line as well.

Sounds like some good reading, Mark! I'll have to look for Peter Sis.

Stopping to say Hi and my sympathies to you for getting the crappy weather. It missed us this time YAY!!! It was all to the south. I think I heard Sheboygan got 8 inches.

I finished The Wayward bus today, so now I'm going to start Then Again, the Diane Keaton memoir.

P.S. Loved the pictures!!!! But I had to shield my eyes from the glare of the white legs. ;-}

18) Blood Red Road by Moira Young 4 stars

Saba lives in Silverlake, a desert wasteland, along with her father, twin brother and little sister. They live a lonely, hardscrabble existence, many years after the “Wreckers” have destroyed their world.
One day, during a terrible sandstorm, Saba’s life is completely upended. Four cloaked horsemen appear and take away her precious twin, Lugh.
Saba begins a perilous quest, to find her brother, leading her to distant cities and other dark and violent locales. She becomes a star gladiator and teams up with various allies and makes some ruthless and relentless enemies.
This is the 1st of a dystopian series and it is a terrific start. Smart, well-paced, loaded with action (always the right amount) and a nice touch of romance. I look forward to Book 2.

Love the Canada cartoon! We Canadians are quite nice ;)

Great review on Blood Red Road! I picked that up from the library today so I hope to read it this weekend at work

Kath- Just working and reading, that's my current status. The snowstorm was a minor one. Sidewalks and stairs should be cleared tomorrow.

Benita- Thanks for the Sis info and you got to meet him. Cool! I'll be hitting the library on Sunday, so I'm going to see if they carry any more of his work.

Joe- My books are all clicking. What a perfect book storm!

Tammy- Great to see you and I'm glad the worst of the snowstorm missed you. I hoped you liked The Wayward Bus. I have the audio of the Keaton memoir and hope to squeeze it in at some point.

Chelle- The cartoon represented the tone of the book very well. It's quite funny. You should enjoy Blood Red Road. A fast & fun read.

>159 msf59: Thumbs-upped that one, and liked on GR!

Hi Mark, I have set up the thread for:

Mystery March

Looking forward to you joining us for a mystery read or two.

(I hope you don't mind my using your thread to help announce this.)

I think one type of book, that constantly gets short-changed on LT (or at least in our crowd), is the short story. I'm guilty of this too, although I have really grown to love the form. I just started Stay Awake by Dan Chaon and the 1st story grabbed me right away. I liked his twisty previous novel, Await your Reply and have heard his short stories are where he really excels. I also received this as an ER selection. A sweet bonus.
I want to continue this short story chat and start getting some input, on how everyone else feels about this format and a way for us to start integrating more story collections into our reading life. I would love to be able to read one a month. Tough? You bet your bippy.

RD- Always appreciate the thumbs! It was a quick, basic review, hopefully enough there to snag a bystander or 2.

Judy- Thanks for posting the link and no problem at all. I will really try to squeeze in a crime title or 2.

Since you mention short stories Mark, I think I'm going to be reading Julie Orringer's debut collection next, How to Breathe Under Water. You're another one who is tempting me with the Sis books. I don't really do much with GNs.

I love short stories, but don't often read them. Not sure why.....?

I have a short story challenge for myself over in the 12 in 12 Challenge group. I'm failing miserably. The only collection I've read this year is the well-written but grisly The Outlaw Album by Daniel Woodrell. My desire is to read short stories in bed at night. Sounds perfect. Read a story. Have completion. Fall asleep. However, I'm usually so caught up in a novel that I want to continue that instead. Tonight I'll fall asleep with Our Mutual Friend. Okay guys, get your minds out of that gutter!!!

To answer your question, Mark, I did finish watching Downton Abbey. Now I'm sad like all the other Downton Addicts because I have to wait so long for the story to continue.

I am another one who has neglected short stories. Although recently my attention was caught by Joe when he reviewed The Chronicles of Harris Burdick and I hope to get to that one soon.

I've had The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes sitting on my bedside table with the intention of reading a story every so often, unfortunately, like Donna, I am usually engrossed in my current novel. After over a year of sitting there, I have only read about 5 of the stories!

Interesting questions about short stories. I do love a good short story, I'm always impressed that an author can tell a story in such a short format. It's great the way the good writers can convey so much with so little.

But I too haven't read many of late, I seem to prefer spending more time with the characters in my books. But what I have read, I have liked. Shirley Jackson's The Lottery and Other Stories, Daniyal Mueenuddin's In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, Nam Le's The Boat, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes have all been very good, even exceptional, reads.

And I'm feeling much better, thanks for asking. That final day in bed, reading, knocked that stupid cold on the head, finally.

>167 Donna828:: Tonight I'll fall asleep with Our Mutual Friend. Okay guys, get your minds out of that gutter!!! Tee hee, Donna, I can't help it. I hope it was cozy :)

Thanks for your short story comments. I would definitely like to keep the conversation going and would love to have everyone list 2 or 3 favorites. I know this form is not appealing to everyone but if you can lock in, there is a world of pleasure to be mined.
Sure, I have several collections, in the stacks but I am woefully under-read in this format, both classic and more contemporary.
What, another Reading Challenge?
Are we completely, bonkers? Like, duh!

Bonnie- If you can find the Sis book, you should give it a try, just for the history alone. I NEED to find a copy of Orringer's story collection. I am sure you will be guiding me in this direction.

Katie- Great to see you! I need to stop by your thread and see whats happening. I ask myself that question about short stories all the time. Now I need to find an answer.

Donna- I've tried to do that to: reading a short story at night or in between other books, but it's hard to be disciplined, at least for me. I am going to try reading 1 or 2 stories in Stay Awake, read a certain amount of pages of something else and then return. We'll see how that works. I want to try to let the short story sink in, before rushing into another one.
I remember your glowing thoughts about The Outlaw Album, that sure sounds like my cuppa.

Judy- I think we all have neglect stories! LOL. The more I think about this format, the more shameful I become.

Shit, I gotta go! See you all later....

Off to work? I hope you have a good day and don't get blown away!!

I don't read short stories very often either. Like you said, I feel like I don't get enough time to digest a story before starting the next one. I can't seem to read 1 at a time either, because I don't like to leave a book unfinished.

I know I'm one big contradiction, because I do like collections of essays and The Best American Travel Writers is one of my favorite series. Also I've found that I can make books from the group reads last until the end.

I do wonder what I am missing though, by passing on short stories. You guys are good at convincing me to try new things and its fun to do it with the group.

I will keep the Mystery thread in mind if I happen upon a mystery for the month.
I haven't been able to read in days, but I am hoping for a quiet day today.

I am not a fan of most short stories either tj.

Mark, I would also enjoy more discussion of short stories. Although I am not always good about making time for them, I am trying to change that in 2012. I am in the process of gradually reading The Stories of John Cheever (that will take me awhile) and have The Bridegroom: Stories by Ha Jin from the library, waiting to start any day now.

I have read and highly recommend Island: The Complete Stories by Alister MacLeod. I also last year enjoyed most of The Angel on the Roof: The Stories of Russell Banks.

By the way, for those who own Kindles, Amazon's daily deal today includes the Best American 2011 Short Stories.

Haruki Murakami writes excellent short stories, too. One of my favorite collections of his is After the Quake.

Nice review of Blood Red Road! Exactly the reasons why I liked it, too.

Stay warm today!

Need to get The Wall now ... looks good, Marky-Mark. And I love the review of Blood Red Road so I need to add that to my obese wish list.

I agree that Haruki Murakami writes great short stories. I loved The Elephant Vanishes.

#174 - Linda, thanks for the heads-up. I just purchases the short story and the mystery story collections :)

I love Eudora Welty's short fiction. The Bride of the Innisfallen is a wonderful collection.

Erskine Caldwell wrote terrific short stories, too, and there's less time to get miserably depressed by them than his novels. Kneel to the Rising Sun (why the link goes to a Dutch edition, with no other possibilities, is a befuddlement to me) is a collection and a story to reckon with.

A mention for Somerset Maugham when it comes to short stories along with Nadine Gordimer and Alice Munro. Keep warm and enjoy your weekend mate.

I've got at least five collections of short stories hanging over me, so would love a support group. I count on books to create the Calgon moments hours in my life, so as much as I can enjoy a short story, I keep picking up the novels. I do have some short story collections that are in my "favorites" though.

Happy Saturday, everyone! It was cold today. High 20s, but plenty of sunshine and blue sky helped. I am 3 stories into Stay Awake. These are terrific: dark, haunting and somewhat twisted. Hey, I love that stuff.
Thanks for your short story input! Let's hope this encourages all of us, to jump into this form, with more regularity. I'll return with more comments.

Tania- "I seem to prefer spending more time with the characters in my books." I think that's an interesting point and maybe why I enjoy linked stories so much. I would love to get back to reading more Shirley Jackson and sadly I've had In Other Rooms, Other Wonders high on my WL, since I joined LT. I NEED to grab a copy soon.

Tammy- The wind was chilly but it wasn't blowing to bad. I liked your comments about, why you don't read short stories, but I completely encourage you to give them a try. Pick up Interpreter of Maladies and see if that doesn't turn your head around. She really kick-started the form for me.

Kath- Sorry to hear about the book drought, hopefully you had some quiet time today, to crack one.

Linda- Thank you so much for your comments. I've also had The Stories of John Cheever high on my WL, after hearing rave after rave. It's another one, I NEED to own, pronto.
I read Ha Jin's last story collection, (title escapes me) and really liked it. I did not know Russell Banks had a story collection too and he is one of my favorite authors. Thank you!!

Joe- You are right about Murakami! I also read & loved After the Quake and After Dark was also terrific. The next blood Red Road won't be out until late Fall.

Caro- You will love The Wall. I didn't realize I am working on my glowing review of Iron & Silk. I did not realize, (or forgot) that The Elephant Vanishes is a story collection. I don't own that one either. Sh*t!

Katie- Please stop back, if you start delving into any of those collections. Inquiring minds.

RD- Thanks! I have never read Eudora Welty. This looks like a perfect place to start. The Caldwell stuff sounds great too! Actually, I remember you being a big fan of In Other Rooms, Other Wonders way back when.

Paul- Thank you sir! I did not know Maugham had wrote short stories. I've never read Gordimer but I read Munro, but ONLY one, Too Much Happiness, which I loved. She's on the List.

Bonnie- I have at least that many hanging over me too! Just what we need, more books to chase, but I love every minute of it, my friend.
Okay, what are a couple of your favorites? Hmmmmmm?

Oh no, not more Downton Abbey!!!!

Short Stories??? I like Angela Carter, Alice Munro...and i do have that copy of Charity that I will send, since i found it, again

I can't keep up here, but lurk, diligently

Downloaded two "albums" by the Hearless Bastards from iTunes, today...now, i gotta burn 'em

take care

Okay, this is a question for avid short story readers: How do you prefer reading them? 1 or 2 at a time or straight through? Most of the story collections, I've read, have been straight through and I never seem to have a problem with it.

We're heading out to visit with some friends, I'll be back in the morning...

Jude- I'll be back, my friend!

Hi Mark. Just trying to get caught up and back in the groove with TL threads. Love the "At the Zoo" links, as well as the list of DA-related books to read. I might try to get to one or two of them, as it seems like a good idea to add some reading to the ingestion of "information" about the era and the class relationships. Tonight we'll watch the last installment and I'll get to see the famous punch in the face. :-)

I don't read a lot of short stories, although last year I was going to read all of the short fiction in The New Yorker. Then I discovered 75-ers and TIOLI and it was a lost cause. In any case, I do tend to read right through a collection rather than space them out. That may be partly due to the fact that said collections usually come from the library. Right now I'm supposedly reading The New Yorker Stories by Ann Beattie but the truth is that it's just sitting on my bedside table. I like Alice Munro and I want to investigate the short fiction of Eudora Welty since the only novel I've read by her seemed, well, too long.

I did some checking and Haruki Murakami has several books of short stories. Since my library doesn't have any of them it looks like it might be ILL time again. I also have In Other Rooms on my shelves. I may have to go dig it out and read it. I know that it had excellent reviews when it came out and I believe it was nominated for some kind of award.

I am currently reading Frozen Thames and to my amazement it is actually a series of short vignettes. Or maybe they are short short stories. Most of them are only a few pages long. And it is a short book, at 192 pages. The only thing they have in common so far is that they all take place when the Thames River is frozen. Very interesting.

>184 msf59: Reading short stories??

Some collections are meant to be "connected"...and that fact is pretty obvious from the get go...other than that..i pick & choose...i don't know about you guys, here...

oh...Joyce Carol Oates is the Mistress of Short Stories: Faithless, Sourland, The Collector of Hearts

I really enjoyed In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, Andrea Barrett's Ship Fever and Bonnie Jo Campbell's American Salvage which may be the best collection I've ever read. But that's me. Oh and Mark, I always read them straight through.

>184 msf59: I usually read a collection of short stories straight through and in the order they are presented. But because of its length, The Stories of John Cheever has been an exception for me. I am reading the stories in the order presented (chronological, according to the introduction), hoping to gain a sense of how he develops as a writer over time. However, I am only reading a few at a time, interspersed with other reading. I have also seen others comment that there is a "sameness" to them that I am hoping will be lessened by approaching it that way.

Mark, this is a great discussion about short story collections. Some of the ones I've liked have been American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell, Unaccustomed Earth: Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, Drown by Junot Diaz, and The Royal Game and Other Stories by Stefan Zweig. I also loved Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout which I think of as linked short stories. (Did you mention awhile ago that they were going to make this into an HBO series with Frances McDormand or am I imaging things?)

Can't think of anything to add right now, but it's an interesting conversation, even though my first reaction is always: "short stories? YUCK!"

I thought Amos Oz's Scenes from Village Life was really interesting, with a bunch of interconnected stories. I also really liked The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, haven't read any of Murakami's collections, but I intend to. I have a book here called Bang Crunch by a Canadian author called Neil Smith that I really wonder if I'll EVER get to.

Like Judy, I have the same situation with The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Here too, it's been sitting on my coffee table for the better part of a year, but I haven't read ANY of it yet.

I'm enjoying reading Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman, which is a collection of essays, not stories, but it's a similar feeling for me.

How I read them really depends. Sometimes I decided to make them a priority and read them all in one go. Other times I have lots of other stuff going, so I just read one once in a while. When I do that, it can take a VERY long time to get through a collection.

There. I guess I finally found something to say! :-)

eta: I've got to look up Somerset Maughm and Pat, just as a general comment, thanks for reminding me that I need to start reading some Stefan Zweig. I also have Olive Kitteridge that I'll get to sooner or later...

Mark - Somerset Maugham's short stories are collected in four volumes all of which are easily available. He wrote extensively about life in Malaya a lifetime before I got here and that of course interests me. He also has a volume dedicated to his (based on real life) spy, Ashenden. Graham Greene's short stories are also worth a go.

Lke to dip into them to be honest, but since I usually read four or five books consecutively that would always be the case.

I read short story collections from start to finish, in order. (Although I see nothing wrong with dipping in and out, especially if they've been assembled in some sort of different order, say chronological, rather than in an order as selected by the author.)

I forgot Murakami wrote short stories, I should give one of his collections a go...

I also loved Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies. And an Australian one by Steven Amsterdam, Things We Didn't See Coming which is a series of intercollected post-apocalyptic stories, very well done, and quite possibly right up your alley, Mark.

I don't often read short stories (apart from a lot of Arthur C. Clarke's when I was a teenager, plus other classic sci-fi; and Katherine Mansfield). But I do seem to like them when I do read them!

Oh, and let's not forget Edgar Allen Poe as well...

I also loved Jhumpa Lahiri's collections, both Interpreter of Maladies (which won the Pulitzer) and her second volume, Unaccustomed Earth. I also really like Alice Munro. Normally I read short stories straight through. However, I have a few collections on my TBR and I was thinking recently that I should make them bedtime reading, and work through each book that way. I haven't done it yet though, because I have a few other books I'd like to finish first.

Morning everyone! Thanks again for all the short story input. Once again I am adding heavily to the over-burdened WL, but since I trust each of your instincts, how can I not?
I'm seriously tempted to start a Short Story Challenge. Crazy, I know, but it would help me keep focused.

Jude- I am not familiar with Angela Carter. Can you suggest a title or 2? I plan on getting to more Munro too! Sadly I have not read Oates either!
When I asked how people read short stories, I'm curious their preferences, if there might be a better way to absorb them. I think there are times when reading them straight through, may not be as satisfying.
I think the Heartless Bastards keep getting better and better. Keep lurking diligently.

Ellen- Welcome home! I hope you are getting back in the groove. Thanks for your short story comments. It looks like you have work to do. LOL. I have not read Ann Beattie.
Come back and let me know what you think of the DA finale.

Benita- It looks like both of us NEED to read In Other Rooms. I'm going to try tracking a copy down today online. Enough is enough.
Frozen Thames sounds good.

Bonnie- I'm glad you reminded me about Ship Fever & american Salvage. I agree both were excellent! Do you have any others you are planning to read?

Linda- Thanks again for your excellent input. I see The Stories of John Cheever is available in softcover, I have to pick that up.

Nothing to add here.. not a fan of most short stories..just saying hello.

Pat- I'm glad to see another Lahiri fan! Those books are fantastic. I also liked Drown quite a bit. I don't know what ever happened to the HBO/ Olive Kitteridge deal. Maybe, it's still in development. It looked promising.
Zweig books are so hard to find but I think he would be perfect for short stories.

Ilana- For not having anything to say, I think you did just fine. LOL. The Complete Sherlock Holmes is a very good suggestion. I enjoyed Ex Libris also.
I know opinion on LT is divided on Olive but I think it was outstanding. Move it up!

Paul- I appreciate the Maugham recommendations. On the fat, ungainly List it goes.

Tania- I knew you would have some interesting comments. It looks like dipping in and out of a set of short stories, takes a certain discipline, that many of us don't have. For some reason, I don't like reading the same book for weeks or months at a time, even if it is short stories. We all have our little quirks.
Things We Didn't See Coming sounds fantastic! The Poe suggestion is perfect too! What a great collection that is!

Laura- What is your favorite Munro? I have only read Too Much Happiness. I also have her novel Runaway in the stacks but no sadly no story collection.
I sure hope Lahiri is nearly done with another book. She is over-due.

Hi Mark. I don't like seeing a book on my "currently reading" list for weeks at a time either, but sometimes it just can't be helped.

Right, I'm headed back to bed. Wayyyyy too early and I can't see straight. xx

Hey Mark!! Thanks for your enthusiastic welcome back on my thread! :) I agree with you on Interpreter of Maladies , I very much enjoyed it!

And yes, how do we keep up! :)

Yes, The Frozen Thames is on my wishlist and I hope to find that mystery with the Coffin in the title. Can't remember the title, but I know that you had recommended it!

Ha! BTW , Mark, I have lost my husband - he has become a reader!!!! I speak to him and he does not answer! Every time I look at him , he has his nose in a book. He's is really into the C. J. Box series for now.

These are a few of the story collections I’ve loved over the past few years:

Interpreter of Maladies & Unaccustomed Earth Lahiri rules!
Olive Kitteridge A great example of linked stories
After the Quake& After Dark Murakami does it all!
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
Ship Fever
Let the Great World Spin I loved loved this one!
Too Much Happiness My only Munro. Sad face
Drown
Knockemstiff
American Salvage

If you haven't tried any of these! Do so now!

19) Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman 4.5 stars

Salzman became infatuated with Chinese culture, after watching the television series “Kung Fu”, at age thirteen. He received college degrees from Yale, in both Chinese language and Chinese literature.
In the early 80s, he lands a job, in Changsha, China, teaching English to students and teachers at Hunan Medical College. This wonderful memoir, covers his time there. He studies martial arts & calligraphy, with various instructors, which is all fascinating but in these beautiful episodic tales, his deep love for the people and their culture, is what really shines through. It’s funny, warm and touching. I cannot recommend it higher.

**Big thank you to Caro, for the nudge!

Nice list of short story / interconnected story collections.

I went to a local Mexican restaurant and picked us up some chorizo breakfast platters. Mmmmmm...always hits the spot.

Kath- Boy, I have to come up with something to capture your interest. I am always striking out. LOL. I will not give up.

Ilana- Nice to see you so early! Hopefully, you are getting some deep sleep now.

Deb- Welcome back to my Book Lair! I'm not sure what title you mean, with coffin in the title. More info needed. Are you talking about The Coroner's Lunch?
So you lost your husband and all because of me? Wow, that's quite a load you just laid on me. LOL. I'm so glad he likes the Joe Pickett books.

Lynda- LOL. I know how that feels, my friend.

Paul- Have you read any of them or any of the authors?

OK, you just sold me on Iron and Silk and it's on my WL now. I was interested when Caroline was talking about it but your review put me over the edge.

I didn't realize there were mixed opinions on Olive Kitteridge on LT. I absolutely loved that book and wanted to start reading it all over again as soon as I finished it. It's one of my all time favorites.

Ilana, I hope you get to Olive and Zweig soon!

Another fan of Interpreter of Maladies here, Mark. Nice review of Iron and Silk (thumbed it). Thanks to you and Caro, I ordered it. Not sure whether I'll read it or The Siege next, but it's a nice choice to have. Plus I've got the fun second Austenland from the library.

>197 msf59:: well Mark, I don't know if I can claim a "favorite" Munro b/c according to LT I've only read one book (Runaway, which I rated 4 stars). I know I had a copy of Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage at one point, and read at least some of it. Hmm, that's weird. Anyway, I have two more on my TBR: The View from Castle Rock and The Progress of Love. Really need to read one soon!

I also read and loved Interpreter of Maladies a while back. I was less enthralled with Olive Kitteridge than some, but it was okay. I adored Let the Great World Spin.

Re: Downton Abbey, I know it can't hold up to critical scrutiny but I loved, loved, loved it. Matthew's punch was great and I was glad to see the back side of Richard. And it was a great canvas for Maggie Smith to show off her talent. Well done.

Did anyone else snag Stay Awake as an ER? If so, count yourself extremely lucky. This is top-notch stuff and a perfect endorsement for the short story experience. Here's a taste:

"He could sense the house, the way you sense someone leaning over you and watching you while you're sleeping. He could hear the rattle of the apple tree in the wind, the shifting sound of the floorboards upstairs, the red flutter of an emergency vehicle on a distant street. Outside the window, some streetlights winked off and on, hesitantly.
Then, with a sigh, the power shut down again. All across the city the light folded into itself, and the darkness spread out its arms."

Okay, I ordered good used copies of both In Other Rooms & the Stories of John Cheever. See, how easy I can buckle?

Pat- Caroline got the ball rolling on Iron & Silk. Actually she was praising it some time back. Now it's my turn to turn a few others onto it. Hey, that's what we do on LT! And we are very good at it.
Have you read anything else by Strout?

Joe- It looks like you have a couple real gems lined up to read. Enjoy. I have a couple more Austen books I would like to read soon.
You NEED to put Feynman on your GN list. This is really terrific.

Laura- I have Runaway in the stacks and I need to add her other story collections to the list. "Really need to read one soon!" Amen, sister.

Ellen- I don't think I've ever heard anyone not like Lahiri. She rocks. And when is her next book coming out? Huh?
Glad you enjoyed DA. It was a perfect finale. I'm just a touch apprehensive about where they go from here.

Mark, I own Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout but haven't read it yet. I also loved Await Your Reply by Chaon so I'm not surprised you're loving his short stories. Thanks for the quote.

I love movies so I have followed the Oscars for many years, however problematic they can be, but since they made those awful changes last year, nominating 10 films, it has really ruined it for me. You are going to nominate 10 movies, with only 2 maybe 3 even having a chance. They are seriously watering it down. It's like a .500 sports team making the playoffs. Come on!
I liked "The Artist" but I think "The Descendants" was the best film I saw this year.

Yes, I'll have it playing in the background, at least until I go to bed, but my main interest will be the book in my lap.

Some of my favorites are on your short story collections list, Mark. Thanks to you, I pulled The Best Short stories of O. Henry off the shelf. I'll read one or two a day over the next month or so. It also fits a TIOLI Challenge. Win-win!

Hi Mark -
Nice discussion on short stories - and I now realize I've read several of the recs and loved them.
Soooo... I'll have to make note of some of the ones I have not read.
So much blue - so many possibilities!
Hope you have a great week ;-)

211> I'm just a touch apprehensive about where they go from here.
Are they going anywhere? I thought it was all over...... I would love it if they would do another season....

>213 msf59:: I agree with you about The Artist vs. The Descendants. I was pulling for both Clooney and the film. Sigh.

Happy Monday, gang! Everyone enjoy the Oscars? I went to bed and missed the big guns. I should be wrapping up my fantasy audio, Before They Are Hanged. It's been a fun ride but a long trek.

Pat- Funny, I have Amy and Isabelle too! Hope to get to it this year. I want to get Chaon's 1st story collection, which I heard is amazing.

Donna- I have not even heard of O. Henry. Sounds like a candy bar. Have you read him before? If not, you'll have to let me know.

Claudia- I did stir something up with the short story collections. I've already bought a couple books, I've added several more to the WL and I found a few more in my current stacks. Talk about poking something with a stick...
You have a good week too!

Ellen- I agree, this would have been a perfect end point for DA but Season 3 is coming. Didn't you hear that Shirley MaClaine is being cast as Cora's mother? Interesting.

Laura- I know it was a very weak year for films and I'm glad for "the Artist" but it wasn't Oscar worthy. I would have rather seen "Hugo" win and no question Clooney was better. Oh, well.

I loved Amy and Isabelle!

If I watch any Downton Abby it will be starting now...
I have no issues with starting in the middle..
And I do love Shirley :)

218: Mark, O.Henry wrote "The Gift of the Magi." that was the first story in this collection of 38 stories. He wrote over 600 stories, and my Modern Library edition touts him as "America's Favorite Storyteller."

Have a great week!

The Gift of the Magi is a great heartstring-puller. A funny one is The Ransom of Red Chief, where kidnappers come to regret it.

205 Mark - I have books by Lahiri, Munro, McCann, Murakami and Strout but not the others but I will certainly look em up now mate.

I have several other books to finish in the coming weeks, but will pull In Other Rooms off my shelf and get to it in March. I finished listening to Oh the Glory of It All by San Francisco poor little rich boy Sean Wilsey over the weekend. I read it because my book discussion group topic this next month is memoirs. So I have been reading different kinds of memoirs. This one was a celebrity tell-all. I went into this not liking that kind of book and this book did nothing to upgrade the genre. I simply don't understand why people spend so much time reading this kind of thing. A memoir I can understand, but one that deliberately tells things that are of little interest and only a variation of a he said/she said argument is boring. I also don't know how somebody can fill up 250 pages with events that happened before they were 15. I was listening to this at the same time that I watched The Social Network, and both of them reinforced my idea that teenage boys should be institutionalized until they are about 25. They have nothing on their minds but sex unless it is themselves. I did soldier on through the book and the last quarter of it was interesting. The authors editor should have told him that nobody cares about your life before you did anything interesting to the tune of 300 pages. 50 pages maybe should be the max.

I also finished reading Frozen Thames and really liked it. Lovely little book. This is one book that has to be read to appreciate. Loved all the prints in it as well.

The Frozen Thames sounds good, Benita. I'm going to look for it.

I forgot about O. Henry !! I read him in school and enjoyed the twists in his stories.

Speaking of short stories, I just saw that Junot Diaz will be releasing a new story collection in September. He seems to be an author, who takes his time. We haven't heard from him, since The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, back in 2007. I really liked that book, although I know opinion was mixed, at least on LT.

Kath- I'm glad you liked Amy and Isabelle. I really need to move it up in the stacks. So, did you find DA somewhere? Or are you just planning to watch it?

Donna & Joe- Thanks! The Gift of the Magi sounds good. I must have been sick, when they were discussing him in school.

Paul- It looks like you have some choice reading ahead of you! Nice.

Benita- I don't know if you saw my comment up above but I just ordered a copy In Other Rooms and will move it to the head of the line. Maybe by the end of March??
Thanks, I will take a pass on Oh the Glory of It All.

I'm another one who forgot about O. Henry, although I did read a fair amount of his stories as a teenager. Good stuff, although no details of the actual stories remain. (Stupid memory!)

I was reading The Beggar Maid by Munro some years ago. I wonder where I put my copy, I didn't finish it, maybe I should pick it up now...

We recorded the Oscars (they screen them live in the middle of Monday afternoon), went into lockdown mode and ignored all news channels and internet natter (easy this year, no Australians were nominated!), and then ordered in a pizza and cracked open a bottle of champagne once the kids were in bed, and watched it, skipping the ads. Still didn't get to bed until nearly midnight! (And then slept in this morning, whoopsie.)

Haven't seen either "The Artist" or "The Descendants", but I would like to.

While there were no Australians up for an Oscar, we did cheer the Kiwi contingent. Love "Flight of the Conchords" and it was great seeing Brett grab an Oscar for best song. (And it's also great hearing a Kiwi accent in the middle of all those American accents. :)

Another one into the hat Mark for short stories would be Jack London. Have a couple of his collections to go at too.

Mark, you're a great guy, but I couldn't disagree with you more about The Artist. I thought it was an amazing film, deep and very fun, extremely good acting, gorgeous art direction, great script... I absolutely adored it and will go see it again on the big screen for sure. I was a bit put off when you said "it's not Oscar worthy". It made my night and part of my day today that it won. Seriously. Anyway, I'll still come visit, and I'll still respect you in the morning.

Tania, I love Flight of the Conchrods, it's absolutely hilarious. Happy for Brett—yay!

Tania- Glad you enjoyed the Oscars in style! I didn't watch it very close and went to bed before the meaty awards were trotted out.
I did happen to catch Brett. That was choice. I was a fan of the "Concords" too! To bad that show didn't continue.

...sorry, Walking Dead break!

Paul- I like Jack London too!

Ilana- Hey, to each his/her own, right? I enjoyed "The Artist". A nice homage, very well crafted. It was just on the lighter side for me, not much depth, which is fine but I like a bit more meat.
I'm glad you are happy with the wins! We have to take our little pleasures wherever we can.

Ellen- I think they will milk DA for all it's worth. I hope the creator can pull the plug when he needs to. Have you read Diaz's Drown? It was very good.

I had heard the thing about Shirley MacLain but I guess i thought it was gossip. It should be interesting! I'm just thrilled to know there is more to come.

Glad to hear there's another coming out by Junot Diaz. I, too, really liked The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

Another short story specialist: Bret Harte.

Abide with Me is another Elizabeth Strout novel you might like Mark.

I loved The Gift of the Magi when I read it in high school.

I'm off today! Yah! Always a nice thing.

RD- Bret Harte, huh? Another one I'm not familiar with but on the List it goes. Thx.

Bonnie- I'll have to add Abide With Me to the WL. I remember others praising it too. You were a fan of olive, right?

Congrats on the day off! Hope it is a good one :)

During our little short story discussion, surprisingly Raymond Carver didn't come up. Many in the literary world consider him the greatest American short story writer. My only brush with him, is when I read Short Cuts, in preparation to seeing the great Altman film of the same name. The collection was fantastic but for some reason I did not return to him. He is very high, on my TBR SS List. Here are a few more, chomping at the book bit:

Where I'm Calling From: Selected Stories Carver
Dancing After Hours: Stories This one has been on here since I read his son's memoir last year.
My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me: Forty New Fairy Tales A Christmas Swap
A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O' Connor
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore I was not a big fan of Gate at the Stairs but I heard she excels in this form.
Pretty Monsters: Stories by Kelly Link
You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett

Enjoy your day off!
I remember that film - it was terrific.
Great list of short story collections to explore.

Have a fun one today, Mark. The only one of the nominated films I've seen is Midnight in Paris, which we loved. With all the back in time visits to authors and artists, it seems like a natural for LT folks. I'm looking forward to seeing The Artist - "light" ain't all bad, and it sure looked charming in those excerpts on the award show. The lead must do a pretty good job to have copped the best actor award without saying a word.

I finished the excellent Stay Awake. An ideal addition to the short story canon! It's dark & unsettling, so it may not be for everyone but it fits me like a velvet glove.
I also finished Feynman. It's a terrific GN bio.

Hi Ellen- Yes, I am enjoying a very good day off. Have you read any of those story collections?

Joe- I really enjoyed "Midnight in Paris". One of the best things Woody Allen has done in 20 plus years. "Light" is not at all bad and you will most likely love "the Artist". The lead to do a very good job, capturing the silent nuances. I just preferred Clooney.

The end of March should be about right for me to do In Other Rooms. I want to try to get two mysteries read and finish Left Hand of Darkness first.

Hope you enjoyed your day off, Mark! I see it gave you addtional time to type more blue words. Uh uh, I'm not going there, no way. I've got to read what I've got. PERIOD! Oh BTW: I picked up the Wall at the library yesterday and that's it. No more library books tilll I get through some from the Tipping Tower of Tomes!

Raymond Carver! I haven't read his stuff, but I do have Cathedral on the shelves. Somewhere. Er.

Hope you had a great day off! Team meeting this morning, and we all agreed that 29th February should be a public holiday. It only comes around once every four years! And I've got ~12 hours left of the 29th and Fantasy February. I wonder if I can finish my final FF book today... ;)

Hi Mark!
A day off??!!?? You just had a vacation!
(I always knew I wanted to be a mail-woman!)

I'm pretty psyched about FF! My goal was to read the trilogy His Dark Materials... and I have one chapter to go in the last book! I think I'm gonna make it :)

I started one of my Christmas Swap books tonight, (thanks Linda P), it's the Art of fielding. It begins very well. Crisp, smooth prose. I think this will be a winner. I know it's been receiving high praise. On audio, I'll be starting Raylan by Elmore Leonard. For any of you "Justified" fans out there, Leonard re-visits the character he created. Sounds fun.

Benita- I have a very book busy month ahead of me too! And my kick-off book, the above mentioned The Art of fielding is over 500 pages. I hope to try to squeeze in a crime book or 2, but it will be tight.

Lynda- Sorry, can't help the blue words, they just keep multiplying like book bunnies. Most of those, are just books from my stacks, that I would like to get to myself. "The Wall" is terrific and a very quick read.

Tania- I really hope to start some Raymond Carver in the next couple months. Fingers crossed. I finished my final FF book yesterday. I think I only read 3 or 4.

Claudia, Claudia, Claudia- You know we work 6 days, so we get a day off during the week. I've held your little hand and explained this before. It just doesn't want to sink in, does it?
Wow, you really plowed through His Dark Materials. Impressive. Good stuff, huh?

Hope you like it, Mark.

Tom Skilling says 66 degrees early next week. I hope so. I want spring to arrive asap.

I finished my final FF book yesterday. I think I only read 3 or 4.

LOL! There was I, thinking "I read SO many FF books, I think maybe 3 or 4!!!". ;)

Happy Leap Year, everyone! Last time this happened, LT was the great unknown and all these wonderful people here were strangers leading distant lives.
Now, well...
What happens if you are born on a Leap Year, when do you celebrate your birthday, every 4 years or is a day selected? Just curious.

Linda- I really loved the opening 25 pages. Nice vivid prose. 55 today. 60 next week. Okay, I'll take it.

Tania- That is funny. Half full, half empty. I was expecting to read just a bit more. My 4th book was a GN too: Sweet Tooth.

Leap Year ! One more day to February :PPP Why not add it to April?
There is a reason that February is so short. LOL

Mark traditionally this is supposed to be the day when the girls propose to the guys but despite being legally entitled to four wives the day has passed off quietly and without incident. Why would anyone in their right mind want two wives (literally double trouble?!)

Mark, I think I read A Good Man is Hard to Find many, many years ago and I think I liked it, but I have no recall other than a few vague memories of setting. I'd like to give it another read and your discussion is prompting me to think about some other short story collections I might explore this year. It's been a good discussion!

I used to know someone that was born on February 29th. On the non-leap years she celebrated on February 28th and March 1st.

Hey Mark, reviewing Comet in Moominland for FF...isn't it Mystery March next?

Nice day today, low 50s, but very windy, which ended up sucking the fun out of it. Not really complaining though.

Kath- That's a great idea! April could use an extra day.

Paul- "Why would anyone in their right mind want two wives". I'm with you my friend. It might not be bad for a day or 2 (or nights, for that matter) but it could get overwhelming very quickly.

Ellen- Thanks! I hope others got something out of the SS discussion too. I know I want to read more too and will try to start adding them to the rotation.

Pat- I figured someone must have known someone who was born on Leap Year. Interesting.

RD- Yes, there is a Mystery March thread started. Have you found it? Due to book back-log, I won't be participating in it much, maybe 1 or 2 titles, if I am lucky. I'll be hosting the May one, though. That one I won't miss.

I'm actually going to a birthday party this weekend for a friend who was born on a 29th February. He's chosen a nice boutique pub which brews its own beers to celebrate his 40th, the Lord Nelson: http://www.lordnelsonbrewery.com/

We have babysitters lined up, and are raring to try some good beers. :)

I know (sort of) some folks who got married on the 29th of February. I'm not sure if they've been married for four years or just the one.

Hi Mark, great reviews. So many of the short story recs. jumped on to my TBR list.

Just dropping by to say how did I get so far behind?
Will wait patiently for your next thread, and do a better job then :)

Hi Mark: The woman who sits next to me at work is a leap day baby. She turned 60 this year (15th birthday). At one point, of the 20 or so of us, we had two leap day babies. Despite the fact that my aunt always said I was almost born on leap day, I was actually one year and three hours off of it (not just three hours off).

I'm always reminded of The Pirates of Penzance, how he was apprenticed til his 21st birthday.

March 1st! March 1st! Hooray! Of course, we are not out of the woods yet, in regards to more winter, but we are getting close.
The Art of fielding has been wonderful. He reminds me of a young John Irving.

Tania- Lord Nelson's sounds great! Can I go? And you have babysitters lined up? Sounds serious. I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time. come back and give us a full report.

Ellen- At least that's a wedding date the husband won't forget...let's hope anyway.

Gautam- Nice to see you! Any story collections you can recommend?

Megan- As long as you are getting behind with everyone else, I'll accept it. LOL. Next thread is coming up tonight.

Linda- That's very interesting. Now, what day do they celebrate their birthdays, on the off years?

#243/244
LOL - sorry Mark. Couldn't resist the opportunity to "bust your chops!" (What the hell does that expression mean, anyway?)

Thanks for holding my little hand though ;-) You're very sweet :P

Claudia- I thought you might be "busting my chops" but you never know. See you over on my new thread!