Donna828's April Showers of Books (5)

"Books contain the power to lift us from the milieu in which we live and work. It is as though they have the capacity of transporting us to another realm of being." ~ Lucy Swindoll

The First Quarter is over?!!

Here is a list of books read by me in the order of preference for the first three months of 2012:

5-star books: Superb; timeless treasures.
Still waiting...

4.5 Stars: Excellent - these books are keepers.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth

4 Stars: Great books; recommended.
The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck
No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
A Gathering of Old Men - Eugene J. Gaines
Surprised by Joy - C. S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis
Revelation - C. J. Sansom
February - Lisa Moore
One by One in the Darkness - Deirdre Madden
Rules of Civility - Amor Towles
The Narnia Code - Michael Ward
The Marriage Plot - Jeffrey Eugenides

3.5 Stars: Good but not great.
The Faster I Walk, The Smaller I Am - Kjersti A.Skomsvold
The Ghost in the Little House - William Holtz
The Children's Blizzard - David Laskin
The Best Short Stories of O. Henry
In the Bleak Midwinter - Julia Spencer-Fleming
When the Devil Holds the Candle - Karin Fossum
The Outlaw Album - Daniel Woodrell
The Postman Always Rings Twice - James Cain

3 Stars. Liked it pretty well but had reservations.
A Most Wanted Man - John Le Carre
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age - Kenzaburo Oe

2.5 Stars. Fair but not for me.
I'm getting better at picking books that I like!

I'll update this list at the halfway point in the year. I hope I have a few 5-star books by then.

Books Read in March:

The Radetzky March - Joseph Roth. 4.4 stars.
The relentless march of nationalism leads to the downfall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire seen through the family history of an Austrian family.

When the Devil Holds the Candle - Karin Fossum. 3.5 stars.
Teenage hoodlums get more than they bargain for when they encounter Irma, the aging Norwegian woman who is tired of being ignored.

Revelation - C. J. Sansom. 4 stars.
The horror in this fourth book about life in Tudor London comes directly from the pages of Revelation in The Bible as a serial killer runs amok.

Mere Christianity - C. S. Lewis. 4.2 stars.
The beloved author of The Chronicles of Narnia makes a well-reasoned case for Christianity.

The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck. 4.4 stars.
Ethan Hawley has an inner struggle between morals and materialism. Guess which one wins!

A Most Wanted Man - John Le Carre. 3.2 stars.
Everyone wants a piece of the runaway Russian Muslim who wants to escape his past.

No Great Mischief - Alistair MacLeod. 4.2 stars.
The term "family ties" takes on new meaning in the MacDonald family legend.

The Postman Always Rings Twice - James Cain. 3.4 stars.
Frank and Cora entangle themselves in the dark side of "love".

The Best Short Stories of O. Henry. 3.6 stars.
A variety of delightful stories with O. Henry's trademark twist at the end.

I am going to make this book a priority for April...

Finished April 26...after only four months of reading!




Books Read in April:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. 4 stars.
An orphaned 12-year-old boy living by his wits in a Paris train station comes to life in words and pictures.

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. 4.5 stars.
A satirical correspondence between demons gives the reader a look at temptation from the "other" side. Know your enemy!

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. 3.5 stars.
Sam Spade plays hardball with cops and criminals using both his fists and pitiless words as they all lust for the same treasure in 1920s San Francisco.

Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman. 3.8 stars.
Sketches of everyday Chinese life through the eyes of a young American teacher as he absorbs a new culture while honing his martial arts skills.

Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell. 4.4 stars.
A young man coming of age in a vicious civil war learns about love and trust the hard way.

The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis. 4.8 stars.
Lewis gives us his version of heaven and hell. An excellent antidote to The Screwtape Letters.

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Armin. 3.5 stars.
Lotty lives out her dream vacation in Italy with 3 strangers and unanticipated results.

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. 4.3 stars.
Drugs, tennis, political conspiracy, more drugs, film making, dysfunctional families, drug rehab...infinite misery presented with infinite intelligence and wit.

Gillespie and I by Jane Harris. 4.2 stars.
Will the real Harriet Baxter please stand up and tell us the truth about what happened in Glasgow in 1888?

Hi Donna: I love the flying books. And I'm the first!

Welcome, Beth. You are indeed No. 1. I loved this image of flying books because they do take us to many places.

Hi Donna- What a bright & sunny new thread! Hooray! But no 5 star books! Must be investigated...

Happy April, Donna! I also like the flying books with the very appropriate quote. Wishing a five star book flies into your hands!!

Great quarterly summation! Too much basketball today--I'll do my monthly and quarterly summary tomorrow. Besides, I've got a couple of mysteries I'm hoping to finish in between basketball.

Great quarterly summation, Donna. Great new pictures - love the flying books!

Hi Donna, I've missed a lot on your previous threads, but I thought I'd jump into this fresh new one to say hi and wish you a great reading month in April. And yes... first quarter's already over. Scary how time flies by isn't it?

Congratulations on the new thread, Donna. I did a quarterly summary for my 12 in 12 Challenge, but I think I am too lazy to do another summary here at the 75 Challenge. Suffice to say that I am having a great reading year so far.

I do love how you caught the flavor of the books you read in March in just a sentence or two!

Just saying "Hi!" on your new thread! I love the flying books! I didn't realize that you hadn't had a 5-star book in the first quarter -- I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you have one fly your way soon! ;-)

Hi Donna. I love your determination with regard to Too Long, although I'm not finding it on LT! As I've mentioned, I recently purchased Infinite Jest and part of me thinks I'm just plain nuts. I don't know when I'll get to it....

Hi Donna!
Interesting that you liked The Winter of Our Discontent better than the other 2 Steinbecks. I was getting mixed reviews on that one and wondered if I should bother reading it. Think I will.
Can't wait to see what a 5 star book is for you! I'll be all over it :)

Good grief Donna, where do you get the energy to put together a great new thread AND read so many books? How can mere mortals hope to keep up? Love the flying books and the quarterly wrap up. No 5 star books yet? How in the world does that happen in a place like this? This is book heaven. I think I must be easier to please;-)

ETA Maybe I'll get the energy to put together a new thread tomorrow. That is if I can tear myself away from Matthew Shardlake long enough to do that;-)

Hi Donna! I love the alternative cover for Infinite Jest!

Hi Donna. Belated Happy Thingaversary!

I love the quote in msg #1 - I don't think I've heard of Lucy Swindoll before - is she an author?

#3 Also found your faux book cover of IJ amusing :-)

I've noticed that I haven't had any 5 star reads yet this year either. There have been 5 or so that were almost there but I couldn't decide whether they quite made it or not.

Hello Donna. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your interesting reading and fascinating courses in your new thread!

Just stopping to say hi, so you know I'm here.

I love the photos of Hayley on your previous thread. In particular, the one of her walking the dog is so precious!

Sorry you didn't have the meet up with Stasia. I plan to be in Joplin this year and look forward to meeting you.

Whew! sort of caught up.... ! No hope of staying that way :-/

Hi Donna! That's a great quote you've used and the flying books are cool!

I love new threads because they draw so many visitors. Welcome, one and all.

>6 msf59:: Mark, it looks like I had 4 books that made the coveted 5-star rating last year and they were all in the second half of the year!

Hi Lynda. Happy April to you, too! I love this blooming time of year.

Roni, have you come back down to earth after another nail-biter last night? I hope KU starts off (and maintains) the momentum they started very late in their last game when they play Monday night. Sadly, I don't have any KU regalia but I'll look for a royal blue shirt to wear.

Hi Deb, I enjoyed listing my books read in preferential order. That's when the decimals that I use in my ratings come in very handy.

Ilana! I've been lurking and not posting on your threads because I sense that you want to back away from chat for awhile. That's fine with me as I haven't been too talkative lately either. I'd rather be reading!

Thanks for that comment on my monthly "blurbs," Judy. It's getting easier for me to do, and I enjoy refreshing my memory at the end of the month.

Hi Nancy, one of these days a book will WOW me. That's pretty much what it takes for a 5-star rating from me. I've had some almost-wows and plenty of 4-star books that made me happy, so I'm not complaining.

Ellen, I find when I read Infinite Jest in longer periods of time that I am reluctant to put it back down. I will pass the halfway mark today. My friend Nancy (in the post above) spotted the copy I bought at last fall's library book sale. I paid $4.00 for a copy that looked like it hadn't been opened!

Cee, I seem to be marching to a different drummer on the Steinbeck books. I really liked Cannery Row and The Wayward Bus, but I felt the pain of Ethan's moral dilemma. Btw, The Grapes of Wrath was a 5-star book for me both times I read it, and East of Eden is a close second in my list of all-time favorites.

Hi! Marking the new thread!

Oh my no 5 star books so far? Hope you find one soon! :-)

>15 brenzi:: Bonnie, I've been skipping the writing of formal reviews so I can spend time looking for cool graphics and quotes for new threads. My goal is to have one thread a month, although somehow I ended up with two in January so my numbers are already messed up. I'll admit to being tough when it comes to rating 5 stars. Those are my desert island books. I want to take books that I'll get something different from each time they are read. However, I might be inclined to slip a few of those 4.5 star books in my survival bag as well.

Thanks, Laura. I'm enjoying Infinite Jest but it does wear me out. It's not one that can be read in a hurry.

Good question, Heather. I googled her and learned that Luci Swindoll is a Christian author and speaker. I haven't read anything by her, but I have heard of the Women of Faith organization of which she is a member. I've seen her name spelled both Lucy and Luci. I hope we both have at least one 5-star book in the next quarter!

Dee, thanks for the reminder that I need to post about last Thursday's class. Maybe I'll wait until we finish The Screwtape Letters on Tuesday. We have a short Easter break, a visit from the author Michael Ward, and then on to The Great Divorce.

Tammy, thanks for stopping by. Stay longer next time. ;-)

Hi Linda, that is great news about Joplin. I'm looking forward to seeing you - and Stasia - whenever and wherever I can!

Kath, baby threads are nice, aren't they? But then they grow up to be teenagers, then on to middle age, ending up as cranky ol' things!

Hi Chelle, glad you liked my flying books. I looked for a picture of books and rain, but then thought that I wouldn't like to see the books getting wet with the April Showers.

Thanks, Porua. I'll be sending up fireworks when I read my first 5-star book for 2012!

I hope that is a response to everyone who was nice enough to visit my baby thread. I was interrupted by a long phone conversation with No. 2. son (in Dallas). Couldn't cut it short as they are few and far between during tax season. He is an overworked CPA.

Hi, Donna. Love the pic and quote to start the thread. The picture with flying books reminds me of the short film that won the Oscar this year, that William Joyce drew. I love it when I get transported by a book.

I'm a big fan of the picture too. :)

Donna, you've had a great first quarter. I'm also still awaiting my first 5* "timeless treasure" of 2012, Donna. Love the flying books, too!

Donna, I love your brief comments about the Steinbecks we've read so far. Different drummers are good, say I. I'm very much looking forward to The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and your comments only add to my anticipation. :-)

I'm not coming back down until tomorrow night--these occasions are not that frequent that one should not savor it to the full. And I'll finish The Screwtape Letters shortly--but it hasn't generated much discussion!

Hi Donna, just wanted to let you know I'm enjoying keeping up with your thread even though I'm not posting very often. And I agree with Joe, the picture of the flying books reminded me of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. It's a short 15 minute film you can see on the internet and is worth watching if you haven't seen it yet.

From Letter #16: "In the first place the parochial organisation should always be attacked, because, being a unity of place and not of likings, it brings people of different classes and psychology together in the kind of unity the Enemy desires. The congregational principle, on the other hand, makes each church into a kind of club, and finally, if all goes well, into a coterie or faction. In the second place, the search for a "suitable" church makes the man a critic where the Enemy wants him to be a pupil."

I'm enjoying reading this 40 years later because MY perspective is so different now. I was struck by the above--how commonplace it is now, at least in urban areas.

>26 jnwelch:: Hi Joe, I spent time with a book this afternoon that transported me back to the imagination of my childhood. I need to get back there more often and have some fun!

Thanks, Rachel.

Nancy, there is a small group of us eagerly awaiting that first 5-star book! We'll have to throw ourselves a cyber party when it happens.

Ellen, I'm kind of sad to be taking a break from the Steinbeck group. I read The Moon is Down two years ago and loved it. I was so surprised by the content! I'll join in on the next one that I haven't read before.

Roni, I don't blame you a bit for being Kansas Proud these days!

Hi Pat. Yes, I did view the Fantastic Flying Books video and thought it was awesome. I'm sure it would have been even better on the big screen. I'm happy to have you here whether you lurk or post. I've done my share of lurking lately. Sometimes I just don't have much to add to a conversation...or I'm late to the party and the talk has moved on to a different topic.

>32 ronincats:: Okay Roni, I'll play. And, thank you for initiating a topic. I've been really lax on talking about the Lewis books. Maybe because I'm still digesting them?

I was really struck by the phrase of church as "a kind of club." I thought immediately of the Methodist Church where I am a member trying so hard to overcome its reputation as a "country club church." We are doing better at community outreach but have a long way to go. We have our fair share of transient members that are "looking for the church that suits them until they become tasters or connoisseur of churches." (I changed the singular masculine pronouns to make more sense in my point). Dr. Baynes pointed out that this negative view of church dissatisfaction is ironical because the Protestant churches were first begun by those searching for something different from the Roman Catholic Church.

I'll throw a thought back to you... From Letter #8:

"Humans are amphibians--half spirit and half animal... As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time. This means that while their spirit can be directed to an eternal object, their bodies, passions, and imaginations are in continual change, for to be in time means to change. Their nearest approach to constancy, therefore, is undulation--the repeated return to a level from which they repeatedly fall back, a series of troughs and peaks... As long as he lives on earth periods of emotional and bodily richness will alternate with periods of numbness and poverty... It may surprise you to learn that in His effort to get permanent possession of a soul, He relies on the troughs even more than on the peaks; some of His special favourites have gone through longer and deeper troughs than anyone else." (37, 38 in my edition).

I was immediately reminded of the impression that Come Be My Light made on me when I read it in 2008. I learned that Mother Teresa spent the latter years of her life in one of these "troughs" where her spiritual feelings were dried up yet she continued with her prayers and her life of service. That may be common knowledge, but it floored me when I read about her spiritual struggles. I wonder why new Christians aren't warned (or at least told) about the peaks and valleys they will face. Or, maybe I was asleep during that part of my spirtual training?

From the introduction: “…before you turn the page, I want you to picture yourself waiting in the darkness, like the beginning of a movie. On Screen, the sun will soon rise, and you will find yourself zooming toward a train station in the middle of the city. You will rush through the doors into a crowded lobby. You will eventually spot a boy amid the crowd, and he will start to move through the train station. Follow him, because this is Hugo Cabret. His head is full of secrets, and he’s waiting for his story to begin.”

Book No. 29: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. 4 stars.

This is a delightful winner of the Caldecott Award. The story had enough magic for the child in me and enough realism for the conservative reader that I am. It was good to learn that Georges Melies was a real pioneer in the filmmaking industry.

“The filmmaker Georges Melies began his career as a magician and he owned a theater of magic in Paris. This connection with magic helped him immediately understand what the new medium of film was capable of. He was among the first to demonstrate that film didn’t have to reflect real life. He quickly realized that film had the power to capture dreams.” (354-355)

Now I'm ready for the experience of watching the movie "Hugo" that everyone was raving about. Too bad I missed it on the big screen. I'm only counting this book as 250 pages though the actual count is 533. I figured at least half of the pages were the wonderful illustrations. This book won many awards in addition to the Caldecott, including the Quill Award (Children's Chapter Book/Middle Grade), making it eligible for TIOLI Challenge #19.

Hi Donna,
I loved Hugo too. Although I've read several GNs, I've only bought a few - this was one. Will see the movie someday... I'm pretty sure. Probably with the grands :)

#33 "I wonder why new Christians aren't warned (or at least told) about the peaks and valleys they will face."
That seems to have roughly the same potential success as telling new parents what their lives are going to be like.

Life - a process.

>33 Donna828: (your response to Roni) certainly raising some spiritual questions there by the sounds of it Donna. I have only read the first little bit so cant comment on the book. I had heard of Mother Theresa's troubles though, she isnt seen as the saint that she was thought of as by some, although I dont know fully why.

Happy New Thread, Donna! Love the sum-ups of your March reads and the IJ/ TL cover is great. I remember that after IJ my next read was To Kill a Mockingbird which I hadn't known till then. It was just the book I needed to revive my spirits after IJ.
Great book yes, but very demanding. I am impressed that you are able to read so many books along with it.

I loved The Invention of Hugo Cabret!

Catching up...

35: Cee, you are showing the wisdom of experience once again. And, you gave me my first chuckle of the day! Hmm... seems to me that we wouldn't be having this worldwide population explosion if potential parents were given more of a "heads up." but then, look at all the fun we would miss!

Every page in Screwtape has something to ponder, Megan. I wish we were spending more time in class on it. Another example of "so many books..."

Nathalie, I am taking extensive notes on Jest that I glance over after a break in reading. I also find myself thinking about it in odd moments. I left Don Gately in a world of hurt after the big street fight scene so I'm eager to get back to it, but I'm waiting for a few days when I have plenty of reading time. That's not going to happen until after Easter I'm afraid.

Rachel, I liked Hugo quite a bit more than I expected to. Sometimes books with that kind of buzz leave me underwhelmed. Can't wait to catch the movie. I think Cee has a great idea to watch it with the grandkids.

Hi Kath, hope you're having a good day. I'll stop by later...

Loving your comments - and others' comments on your comments - on Screwtape. It's been far too long since I've read that one ...

Glad you enjoyed Hugo, Donna! Me, too. He's really created his own genre with so many illustrations as a key part of the novel-length story. His next one, Wonderstruck, is good, too.

Lewis is speaking from the perspective of the Church of England, which definitely is the predominant church there, but with high church and low church factions. It just reminded me of the discussions nowadays about how everyone just listens to the radio stations and tv channels that confirm what they already think, making others "outsiders". Whereas the parochial model, especially outside the large urban/suburban centers, has everyone who lives in an area going to the same church, even though they are different classes, occupations, political affiliations, etc. Like the old radio stations that played a bit of everything. And that being "Christian" toward that range of people would put us a bit closer to what the "Enemy" intends for his Church.

That's a good connection to Mother Teresa. Yes, she had a monster trough--luckily He looks at our actions, not our emotions--belief used to have the connotation of acting in accord, not in emotionally and mentally assenting to a credo, and we have definitely let Screwtape and his ilk warp that meaning in this day and age. I think the comprehension of the peaks and troughs only really comes with experience, and its lack is one of the reasons for teen suicides.

Hi Donna!
just trying to catch up :)
Sometimes books with that kind of buzz leave me underwhelmed.
that's why I haven't started Hugo- but glad it wasn't the case for you this time :)
maybe I can bump it up a notch or two!

Just stopping by to say hello, Donna. We have that doorstop that is Infinite Jest around somewhere. I'll be curious to read your final thoughts on it.

eta - Love those flying books!

Hi Donna- I'm so glad you loved Hugo. It is a very special book and they did a very good job with the film too!

Interesting thread and discussions, Donna! I too remember how surprised I was when I read of Mother Teresa's struggles with her faith. Her actions never reflected her struggles, as you say.

Great effort, KU, but *that's it*... Haley is going to college in Missouri!!!

I'm sorry I had to use the sad Haley picture... I don't think she'll care too much about the outcome of the NCAA Championship, but I know her mother is distraught!

>41 gennyt:: Hi Genny, we'll wrap up Screwtape in class tomorrow. We move quickly!

I'll be looking for Wonderstruck one of these days, Joe. This seems to be the year for children's books for me!

Good insights, Roni, especially about teen suicide. I hadn't thought of it but you are so right. The Tender Land, which I read last year for the Missouri Readers group, was a true story about how a suicide for no good reason devastated the family. It was one of my few 5-star books!
Sorry about KU tonight. They had a good run...

Kara, it might have been my mood, but I really got into Hugo. I think the background about filmmaking gave it more depth than just being a story about a boy living in a train station.

Hi Joanne, it looks like you might need your snowboots tomorrow. You've been quiet lately. Hope all is well with you and the family which, of course, includes Copper.

Mark, my name is on the hold list at the library for Hugo, but there are quite a few people ahead of me. It's good that movies have a shorter check-out period.

Hi Deb, I had even more admiration for Mother Teresa after reading about her long dry spell. What a woman of faith!

Now that is one cute little girl :)

That picture of Haley is so adorable -- I may have to print that and put it on *my* refrigerator! ;-) But that might offend my grandson who's going to Mizzou next year!

50: Thanks, Kath!

Nancy, maybe Zach wouldn't be too offended because Haley looks so unhappy in her KU dress. It's the "hat" that she had a problem with!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I should be reviewing Screwtape for class, but instead I picked up my copy of A Passion for Books on the advice of Mary (Bell7). Thanks, Mary. I was captivated by Ray Bradbury's Foreward in which he writes about his "lifetime of first smelling the books, they all smell wonderful, reading the books, loving the books, and remembering the books.

I think I'm in love. I'm going to savor this collection of 50 plus essays over the next month or so. I can't believe this book has been sitting on a shelf unread for years.

Adorable picture of Haley. I will have to get to Hugo Cabret one of these days--I'm sure we have a copy sitting around the house.

Haley's expression perfectly reflects the mood in Lawrence today . . . Cute picture though!

Happy Belated Thingaversary . . .

What a sweetie. Sorry to hear about KU -- I know my brother-in-law is crushed.

Glad you enjoyed Hugo! I rarely find movie adaptations of books measure up, but this one certainly did. Hope you enjoy it as well.

Oh that Haley is just adorable even when she's not that happy. I'm afraid I'm not much of a BB fan so don't know anything about it or even who or what KU is. Wow I feel really out of it so I'll just go away now Donna.

A Passion for Books sounds wonderful, Donna. The kind of book I'd rather own than borrow from the library, but unfortunately one that seems overpriced in the Kindle edition (so I am forced to overcome my urge to purchase it immediately!).

Adorable picture of Haley. The ones with the "story" you can share someday are the true "keepers".

Great picture of Haley, Donna. And I'm also glad you enjoyed Hugo. We saw the movie last year and I thought they did a great job with it.

>53 AnneDC:: Anne, Hugo is not the type of book I normally seek out. I must admit to reading it only because I wanted to have the background for viewing the movie. I'm so glad I made the effort.

Thanks, Brenda. It's always more fun to celebrate than to have your hopes dashed. Life is tough sometimes, especially for those athletes who worked so hard.

I'm sure looking forward to seeing the movie, Anne. Good to hear that it is well done.

Haha, Bonnie. KU stands for The University of Kansas in Lawrence, not too far from Kansas City. They are supposedly the second best college team in the U.S. according to the results of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball tournament. Now you know everything I know! Oh yeah, The University of Kentucky won the deciding game.

Linda, I'm not even sure where I got my copy of A Passion for Books, but I know I've had it for years now. Unfortunately, there are a few hundred other books around here that fit into that same category.

Thanks, Pat, I can thank my LT friends for overcoming my reluctance to read Hugo. Sometimes I get a pleasant surprise when I try something out of my reading comfort zone.

"The safest way to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." (Letter #12, pg. 61)

Book No. 30: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. 4.5 stars.

Lewis writes with wry humor about an inside look at the demonic world. Screwtape is the author of 31 letters to his nephew and apprentice demon, Wormwood. They are collaborating to blindside the efforts of a new Christian. Seduction by clever manipulation into making wrong choices is their subtle plan of attack, hoping their victim will backslide into old habits.

Lewis uses reverse theology to make his point about how vigilant one must be to live a Christian life. Each letter is a lesson on morality written in a light tone that is a joy to read and gives a thoughtful reader of any spiritual belief much to ponder. This is a book to be savored and revisited to get the full benefit of a unique way to approach the topic of good vs. evil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Class Notes on The Screwtape Letters...

I tried to take better notes today as I couldn't make sense of last Thursday's notes. We had a free-flowing discussion last week that moved quickly and jumped around quite a bit. Today's class was the usual lecture with time allowed for questions and comments.

The focus was on Letter 23 and the "historical" Jesus. That is, the facts as we know them of the life of Jesus without the miracles and myths that are not part of recorded history. History is a reconstruction that can not penetrate the distance of time. Some theories about who Jesus was include:
* Deliberate fraud (Remairus)
*Unconscious mythologization (David Strauss)
*Jesus as reflection of writer (Albert Schweitzer)
*Disbelief in light of science and modern inventions (Rudolf Bultmann)
...Dr. Baynes didn't go into a lot of detail because of time constraints; she presented these examples as a few of many ways that Jesus as been thought of over the years.

Lewis was not a historian or Biblical scholar. He writes on theology as a layman and looks at the Bible as literature. He was a big believer in myth as a pathway to truth, e.g., Genesis was written according to mythology of the time; the book of Jonah is fiction, but it's a great story with positive edification. Lewis believed the Bible was inspired by God while being reflective of the human authors who were influenced by the times and culture they lived in.

Our professor is reluctant to get too specific about Christianity in a classroom setting. I think the discussions of the C. S. Lewis books would have an entirely different flavor if this was a church-sponsored class. I'm enjoying it very much despite the restrictions.

No class on Thursday because of Easter Break. Next Tuesday will be the visit from Michael Ward who wrote Planet Narnia and The Narnia Code. He may not be a "rock star" author, but I'm eagerly anticipating his time spent with us in an informal question and answer format. The more formal lecture will be for the university and community on Tuesday night. No class on Thursday for me. I'm playing canasta. Shhh...don't tell my teacher! The next book is The Great Divorce, one of my favorite C. S. Lewis books.

Donna

What a wonderful class. Your review of The Screwtape letters is great!

I love the photo of Hayley. It is hard to believe she is growing so rapidly.

Have you read Surprised by Joy. It is wonderful!

Glad you liked The Screwtape Letters!

Did you see that the Monthly Author Reads group has CS Lewis as their author this month?

edwinbcn has posted one of Lewis's early poems (pre-Christian era when Lewis was 20) from the book Spirits in bondage. A cycle of lyrics. I've never read any of Lewis poetry. In the Teaching Company course, Louis Markos says that poetry was Lewis's earliest professional ambition 'although he wasn't very good.'

I had no idea that this book was in the Public Domain and available from Project Gutenberg.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/135299

That girl is precious! The picture is sweet.
You got lucky with that grandbaby! ;-)

Nice to have the reminders of Lewis' writing... I loved it all.

Hello Donna! I am dropping off a star, and I also just wanted to say that you did a fantastic review of The Screwtape Letters. That book was the first one that made me realized that the Devil is personally going after each of us, and that his attacks are tailored for every individual. A chilling thought, but it's made me more aware of my actions.

I can't wait to see what you exploration in The Great Divorce brings.

Sorry I didn't get to read The Screwtape Letters along with you Donna but I have a copy and your review makes me want to get to it soon. Your class really sounds wonderful. I'm hoping that I'll be able to find a good literature class to take in the fall. The Osher Institute at BSU didn't have any good ones this spring. :(

just catching up and saying hello :)

Still lurking...

Hi Donna, Even with her "sad face", Haley is adorable. Blue is her color.

Ohh! Hayley is just adorable! Great review of The Screwtape Letters. I so enjoyed that when I read it back when I was younger. It's a very wise book. I just read The Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay. It was wonderful! I found it to be a very profound look at faith in general. Much to ponder!

Hellooo, Visitors! I've been busy reading for last night's book group and doing some spring cleaning in anticipation of a family Easter dinner to be held here. I've skirted my sister and aunt duties for too long. There will only be eight of us, but it requires the same amount of preparation as if we were having a houseful.

>61 Whisper1:: Hi Linda, I have read Surprised by Joy. It was the first book we read for the class and a great introduction to the man behind the Narnia books.

Thanks, Rachel, I remember you saying it wasn't one of your favorite Lewis books. I ended up liking it a lot once I got used to thinking in reverse -- bad is good and good is bad - from the perspective of Screwtape and his cronies.

Janet, Lewis's poem "The Planets" was the starting point of Michael Ward's epiphany of the correlation between the 'early' solar system and the seven books of Narnia. Other than that, I'm not familiar with his poetry. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out sometime during Poetry Month.

Ah Cee, I got lucky with all four of my grandchildren. I'll be visiting the Kansas City grands in a few weeks so I'll have to post a few pics of them. Grandmas have to keep things even as you know.

Welcome, Eris! I read all 200+ posts of your thread this morning. You are a busy young lady. We think alike about C. S. Lewis. Yes indeed, evil is crouching at our doors (paraphrasing Gen. 4:6), and that sneaky Satan knows how to ring our bells!

Pat, I've missed your classes, too, and hope you find a good one to take. I'd like to find something that is less than a semester long. Even with the best teacher and material I tend to get antsy after about two months in the same classroom.

Hi Kath!

Hello Sandy! We should both be reading Woe to Live On instead of lurking on each other's threads. Lol.

Thanks, Joanne. Blue is a good color for Haley, but burgundy and white are Missouri State's colors so she might have to switch!

No fair, Deb. You're not supposed to bombard me with book bullets on my thread. ;-)
I've been following your thoughts on Translation of the Bones and already have it on the "maybe" list.

"Everybody's looking for something. Some of them want to use you. Some of them want to get used by you." ~ Lyrics from "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by The Eurythmics (1983) ~

Book No. 31: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. 3.5 stars.

As I mentioned above, I read this for my library book group. It is the Big Read for Springfield, MO this year. It's a fine example of noir fiction - if you like that sort of thing. I think this book and The Postman Always Rings Twice will go in my category of "Books I'm Glad I Read - But I Don't Need to Read Anymore in This Genre." Well, perhaps I'll eat my words and read some of the more modern noir books which include books by Elmore Leonard and Walter Mosley. I also noticed that when I did a tag search that Steig Larsson's and Henning Mankell's books are considered noir by some readers. And then there's the "country noir" of Daniel Woodrell. Hmmm... I'll amend my assertion to not reading the 'classic' noir books that seem quite dated and soulless to me.

I guess I'd better say a few words about the book... Sam Spade is a private detective in San Francisco. He and his partner have been hired by a beautiful young woman (of course...can't have a noir book without pretty women...and it helps if they don't have strong morals...) under false pretenses. The partner gets killed in the first pages of the book and we quickly learn that Brigid O'Shaunessey isn't who she is pretending to be. In fact, she has more stories (i.e., lies) than I could keep track of. The Maltese Falcon is an extremely valuable artifact from the 1500s and there is a motley cast of characters hot on its trail. Sam Spade wants a piece of the action. Instead of getting played, he manipulates the players in a series of twists and turns that are both violent and comical.

It was a fast-reading book that held my interest, but had a little bit too much greed, booze, cigarette smoking, and smart-mouth dialogue for my "genteel" tastes.

Thoroughly enjoyed your remarks on The Maltese Falcon, Donna. What famous opening lines, "Everybody's looking for something. Some of them want to use you. Some of them want to get used by you." I didn't know these were from literature. I know there's a song - can't even remember the name of it/name of artist at the moment.

I know there's a song - can't even remember the name of it/name of artist at the moment. I don't know the names, either, but I can hear the music in my head! Donna, how does the book compare to the movie? I've always liked it, but have trouble keeping up with the twists and turns. Usually I end up falling asleep from the exhaustion of trying so I can't remember how it ends!

I believe you're referring to "Sweet Dreams" - Stevie Nicks?? I think. No wait Eurythmics.

>72 Donna828:: I liked the movie, with Humphrey Bogart. Don't feel like I need to read the book though.

Hi Donna! I'm sorry I made it seem like I didn't want people commenting on my thread. Whatever I said to give that impression, I'm eating my words because now I'm finding it sad that it's gone so quiet over there! I'm just trying to find more balance, though still visiting everyday. LT is a big part of my life and I have no intention of going anywhere, but instead of trying to visit 20+ threads on which to comment every day, I limit myself to a handful and try to live with the consequence of being very much behind on everyone...

Which is why I just now read your review of Hugo Cabret. Glad you enjoyed that one. My father and I were still talking about seeing it at the cinema (and kept putting it off for various reasons). I was sure it would stay on the screens for a while given it received some Oscars, but just checked now and was sad to see this wasn't the case. I guess I'll just have to rent the HD version and invite my dad to see it on my (smallish) large-screen tv. I just checked on iTunes and saw that most of the movies that received Oscar buzz and which I hadn't seen are all available now, so I guess I've got some movie-watching to do.

Just read your two latest reviews and had to smile at the contrast between C. S. Lewis' world and that of Dashiell Hammett. I haven't read either book, though The Maltese Falcon has been on my tbr for quite some time and I really look forward to reading it and later, seeing the movie starring Bogie and directed by none other than John Huston. I guess I don't qualify as a genteel lady, because I somehow feel much more comfortable in a Noir setting than you do. In fact, I've always felt a little bit uncomfortable about C. S. Lewis because having received little to no religious instruction at all, it all seems very foreign to me. On the other hand, the Noir world provides an opportunity for being voyeuristic and looking at people behave in ways that are oh-so-wrong yet oh-so-intriguing!

#75 - It is "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," by Eurythimics, although a lot of other artists have covered the song.

Have a great Easter Donna!
and a yummy dinner to boot :)

>73 lit_chick:: Hi Nancy, you have an eagle eye and a good memory. Errr.... the "quote" was my rendition of the song that stayed in my head last night as I was trying to have "Sweet Dreams." I lost my little piece of paper that had the book quote I wanted to use... something like Everybody has something they're trying to conceal.... I was lost at my book group last night because my note had all the stilted language I wanted to talk about. Some of the dialogue didn't make sense to me. It also had the new words I wanted to discuss. Oh well, did I mention I'm doing a housecleaning blitz? Pieces of paper don't stand a chance when I'm in the mood to clean house. Anyway, as I had to turn my book in last night at the library, I didn't have a quote to use so I used the recurring lyrics that I went to sleep with. I meant to google it and give credit where due, but now I don't have to because Bonnie and Eris came to the rescue! Sorry for the confusion. That's what happens when I do things in a hurry.

Sandy, I have no memory of seeing the movie, but I plan to catch the showing at the library in ten days or so. The book was full of surprise twists which is where come of the comedy came in. I'm not sure it was supposed to be funny, but it struck me that way in a few places.

Thanks, Bonnie.

Can't go wrong with a Bogie movie, can we, Laura? Someday when I get tired of reading (tongue is firmly in cheek), I'm going to catch up with all the old movies I've missed.

Ilana, I didn't mean to sound accusing. I totally get that LT is overwhelming and understood your desire to slow down a bit is all I meant. Actually, I've done the same. I really should get out more and visit on the threads, but then, my reading suffers. It's a vicious circle! Good call on the difference between Lewis and Hammett. Maybe that's why I felt so out of place in the world of noir, although "Jack" certainly smoked his share of cigarettes and seemed to enjoy the pub scene.

Thanks, Eris, I might have to download the stupid song to get it out of my head! I don't listen to much of the new music but those oldies are ready to be revived at a moment's notice.

ETA: Hi Kara, almost missed you there. I hope you have a Happy Easter, too. I just came back from the store with a ham, fixings for a potato casserole, frozen dough for rolls, and ingredients for Key Lime Pie. I took way too long this morning to make and decorate cupcakes. They look so pretty... I hope no one wants to eat them. Kidding!

Hi Donna, Now I have the Eurythmics running through my head. I like that song so it works! I'm also doing marathon cleaning. Chris is bringing a friend home for the weekend. He doesn't care about clean, but I do! Have a great Easter! Sounds like you'll be eating well.

Happy Easter, Donna .... whew! I've finally caught up on your thread. RL has taken a toll on my LT time over the last month.

So.... pictures of the pretty cupcakes?

I'm basically only read threads of people who have commented on my thread. Otherwise it's all too overwhelming. And then I mostly lurk. I'm trying to get better about commenting.

How'd I do? :D

Hi Donna. The Maltese Falcon is one of Twenty-Five Books, according to Thomas Foster. He claims that Hammett elevated mysteries from pulp fiction to art and also that in Sam Spade, Hammett gave us an American detective. It certainly gave us a great movie!

I'm always happy to add to people TBR piles, Donna! :) Given that you've enjoyed C.S .Lewis so much I think you would appreciate The Translation of the Bones. They are quite different sorts of books, but there is much to ponder in The Translation of the Bones.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I'm very far behind, Donna, but I did not want to miss the chance of wishing you a Happy Easter. Hope EB drops some books in your Easter Basket.

glitter-graphics.com

The Translation of the Bones looks pretty good, actually.

Just popping in to say hello :)
I look forward to pics of the other grands in the weeks to come :)

Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Spring! Happy Reading!

That should cover everything this joyous Sunday morning. The Easter Bunny came to our house in the wee hours. I think I heard him leaving when I got up to begin the cooking. The sun is up and the rolls are rising. Yesterday's Key Lime Pie and deviled eggs are nicely chilling. Now for the ham and potatoes...

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. I'll be back later with more personal greetings. I do so appreciate my visitors.

Happy Easter Donna! Have a wonderful day with your family!

#90 Oh yum! Very late catching up but I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed all the C. S. Lewis discussion.

Happy cooking and Happy Easter, Donna! Looks fab! Glad you didn't disturb the Easter Bunny on his way out : ).

Happy Easter, Donna, and may peace be with you! Those cupcakes look so wonderful and the little eggs on top make them perfect.

Happy Easter, Donna! Like others, I have gotten behind and am just catching up on your thread.

I enjoyed your thoughts on The Screwtape Letters. I find it the sort of book that one can revisit and have new things stand out on each reread, and one that it's useful to think about, chew on, and talk about. The Great Divorce was, for me, a more difficult read but I'm glad I've read it. I'll look forward to seeing what you have to say about it.

Glad I could return the favor and influence your reading. :) I hope you continue to enjoy A Passion for Books.

The Maltese Falcon is not one of my favorites. I suppose I'm glad I read it, but for me it is one of the handful of stories in which I preferred the movie version. Not one of those characters were admirable or even likable and it drove me crazy.

Love the photo, Donna! Happy Easter to you and your family!

Happy Easter Donna! Looks like the easter bunny was kind to you!

HAPPY EASTER, DONNA!

I keep thinking I would like to read The Maltese Falcon, given its historical importance. Haven't gotten around to it yet (perhaps if I lived in Missouri...).

I think attending college in Missouri is a fine plan for adorable little Haley. Better to be a Tiger than a Jayhawk....... (this from the woman who, when she knows or cares little about two competing sports teams, pro or college, chooses the feline if that's an option).

>81 Copperskye:: Hi Joanne, I hope your house is still clean after a weekend with teenage boys. I clean my house for my own peace of mind. It feels so good to have everything ship-shape... I should do it more often.

Caroline, the picture of cupcakes is for you. I left the kitchen with minimal lighting for proof that I got up before sunrise!

You did great, Morphy. I go in spurts with my sociability on LT. I try to keep up with my regulars, but then I sometimes like to visit new people, too. Kind of like my 'real' life!

Beth, I think The Maltese Falcon was a pioneer in the hardboiled detective genre and probably deserves its place in Foster's "25." That's why I gave a book that I didn't particularly like a 3.5-star rating. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie next week.

Deb, I did have a wonderful week end and hope you did too. I'm No. 4 in line for The Translation of the Bones. The library just has one copy so it will probably be next month before I get it. The books I have lined up will be happy not to get bumped out of their places.

No books for Easter, Lynda, but did you see my giant peanut butter egg in the picture? The EB also knows I have a serious addiction to York Peppermint Patties and left a family size bag for me. DH doesn't like them so they're mine, all mine. ;-)

Aww, pretty bunny... thanks, Kara.

Rachel, I'll be sure to let you know about Translation of the Bones when I get my copy.

Hi Kath, you have to wait two more weeks for the pictures of the other three grandkids. The middle one is having her First Communion so they'll be dressed up for a change.

Love what the Easter Bunny brought and glad you've had a good day.

>91 msf59:: Thanks, Mark. We had a good time today. My brother and husband had their usual political discussion but carried it off in a very civil manner this time. I think they're both getting worn down by the overkill of the media.

Thanks, Heather, we still have four C. S. Lewis books to go!

Nancy, I am a pretty basic cook and believe in taking shortcuts when possible. I had no complaints!

Eris, I hope you had a wonderful Easter. There are some cupcakes left. Be sure and take one because I'll be nibbling on my Reese's egg!

Hi Mary, I plan to reread several of the Lewis books each year. At last count, I own 16 books written by him and 4 books about him so that should give me plenty to choose from! A Passion for Books is giving me lots of new book quotes for future threads. I'm not too far into it, but so far my favorite essay is "The Ritual" by Rob Kaplan. I smiled at his OCD tendencies which just might make him a good addition to the LT family.

Hi Anne, I hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter.

Did the Easter Bunny find you in your Nova Scotia setting, Chelle?

That is the cutest chick ever, Cee. Thank you for the happy memories of Gina, the baby chick my mother bought me back in the 1950s. She grew up into a big squawking chicken that lived a long and happy life with our egg man. At least that's the story I got.

Ellen, The Maltese Falcon moves quickly so it doesn't take a big time commitment like a book that you recently purchased and that I am currently reading. Lol. As Mary (Bell7) said, there isn't a likable character in the book, so you have to be in a certain frame of mind to read it. A Tiger would be acceptable for Haley, but I was thinking more along the lines of a Missouri State Bear!

ETA: Hi Roni, you slipped in and out as quietly as the Easter Bunny! I hope you had a good day, too.

Love the cupcakes. Making my mouth water, thinking about them.

I agree.. I feel better when my house is tidy, too.
It needs some attention today. I have been a little lax due to my ankle..
Time to stop letting that hold me back, as it feels a little better now.
Pretty kitchen!

Mmmm, those cupcakes look good!

A belated Happy Easter! The cupcakes are making me hungry. How I love cakes and cupcakes!

Hi, Donna. Sounds like a good Easter. I know the political discussion problem, although we usually do pretty well in keeping people out of that at holiday get-togethers.

I'm glad you liked The Maltese Falcon. I actually found Sam Spade an appealing character, but I suppose you need a certain point of view for that. I'm a Hammett and noir fan. He's also known for The Thin Man, the book that led to the charming Myrna Loy-William Powell film series, and his others are good, too - particularly, for me, Red Harvest, featuring the Continental Op.

Great review of the Screwtape Letters Donna, it has given me some context to read it in as I am not religious so dont have that base knowledge of the bible.

Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Spring! Happy Reading!
Looks like you've got it covered there! Excellent :)

Beautiful Hayley up there! What a gorgeous smile, and dont get me started on those cheeks!

Donna: I'm sorry you didn't really care for The Maltese Falcon. This is one of the few movies that I like as well as the book. You're in for a treat. I like the moral ambiguity of Hammett's work. And I do like his writing.

Lovely food pictures. It sounds like you have an enjoyable Easter. I got to hold my new (2-week-old) great nephew.

>103 Morphidae:: There are only two of the decorated cupcakes left, Morphy, but I have a dozen plain ones in the freezer. I'll make coffee if you stop by!

Kath, I think taking care of your bum ankle takes precedence over housework. I'm glad it is getting better, but you don't want to chance a relapse.

Hi there, Carly. I'll save a cupcake for you too.

Wow, my cupcakes are going fast. Come on over, Porua. Looks like we're having a cupcake party!

Thanks for your view of Sam Spade and The Maltese Falcon, Joe. Don't get me wrong, it's a book I'm very glad that I read. I even laughed out loud at Sam's droll sense of humor.

Thanks, Megan. Just think of Screwtape as an evil force in the world and you can read it without a Biblical connotation. When one thinks about it, good vs. evil is pretty much how we live our lives and make the decisions we do. I'll give Haley's chubby cheeks a little pinch for you next time I see her!

ETA: I took too long with my book comments and missed you, Beth. One thing I forgot to say to Joe is that I also liked Spade's sense of morality in caring about what happened to his partner. Still, just not my kind of book I guess. Different strokes...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“…most shocking was how filthy everything looked. I had heard that China was spotlessly clean. Instead, dishwater and refuse were thrown casually out of windows, rats the size of squirrels could be seen flattened out all over the roads, spittle and mucus lay everywhere, and the dust and ash from coal-burning stoves, heaters, and factories mixed with dirt and rain to stain the entire city an unpleasant greyish-brown… No one that I could see was smiling or had red cheeks, as all the Chinese do in China Reconstructs magazine.” (10)

Book No. 32: Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman. 3.8 stars.

Mark Salzman spent two years after college teaching English in China. He writes with candor about some of his experiences there from 1982-1984. This was a time when westerners were uncommon in the interior, and the initial reaction he received from the residents of Changsha was usually shock quickly followed by either shyness or extreme friendliness. He quickly adjusted to the unfamiliar surroundings and got to know his students and community members. It was helpful that he could speak the language and quickly overcome the barriers that would make most visitors feel alienated.

I enjoyed the everyday stories of the people he met and the bureaucracy of a country in political transition. Most of the time he reacted to both elements with good humor and the attitude of making the best of his situation. Teacher Mark had some eye-opening classroom experiences where he learned of the misconceptions his students had about their past history and life in America. There was an underlying sense of sadness about memories of the Cultural Revolution, but most of the people he wrote about had an inner strength and sense of optimism.

Hospitality was freely extended to Mark. Mentors generously gave of their time to help him improve his martial arts skills. I learned more about Chinese sword fighting and wushu than I’ll ever need to know. I enjoyed knowing about the mutual respect and dedication between teacher and student. The student’s responsibility is to practice and learn. If he fails, the teacher will lose face. After finishing this book, I was left with the impression that the Chinese people are very good at “saving face” and overcoming their past to succeed at whatever they put their minds to.

An enticing review of Iron and Silk, Donna. On the wishlist it goes!

Donna- Good review of Iron and Silk. I was a big fan too! Like Joe, I'm also a big fan of The Maltese Falcon. The film was great too. I haven't read Hammett in a long time though.
Does your husband and brother have different political opinions or do they share the same views?

Hi Donna! Thanks for your kind words re my review of The Translation of the Bones. I struggle a lot to create my reviews, whereas you are so gifted with your reviews - well, thank you for you kind words. I think you will very much enjoy The Translation of the Bones. I think whether you have a knowledge of Christianity or not, it would be an enjoyable book for anyone. That said, I think if you have that knowledge, you will find so much to the book. It takes place over the Lent to Easter season, so I could see many more possibilities of metaphors and that sort of thing. It would be a great book for discussion with a group.

Hi there Donna, well you've done it now. Pushed Iron and Silk way up to the top of the pile. I picked it up right after Caroline reviewed it, the Mark and Joe both reviewed it favorable and now you. So up it goes. Pushers. All of you.

Hmmm... Iron and Silk is getting buried - must go rescue it and put it back on top!

*makes note: send all peanut butter eggs to Donna*

Must agree that's a very enticing review of Iron and Silk. Thanks, Donna.

Donna - my apologies for a very belated happy Easter to you and your loved ones - am just about caught up after my long sojourn in NZ.

Donna: Nice review of Iron and Silk. I am a sucker for this type of story, so on the list it goes.

Hi, Donna! Iron and Silk sounds interesting.

And those Easter cupcakes look lovely.

Donna, I loved your review of Iron and Silk. My brother spent two years teaching in China -- this book will hopefully (if I remember) find itself under his tree this year :) Hope you're having a good week!

I'll take the cupcakes but ewwwww, no coffee! Nasty stuff. How about a cold glass of milk?

Great review of Iron & Silk, Donna. I would give it a thumbs up, If I could.

>111 Linda92007:: Thank you, Linda.

Mark - you are one of the reasons I read Iron and Silk in the first place, although I've been wanting to read more books by Mark Salzman since reading Lying Awake years ago.

Deb - I struggle with writing reviews too. I tend to get too wordy yet sometimes feel as if I don't say enough! We do the best we can. I'm looking for a book to recommend to my circle at church. We only read one book together each year. This may be the one!

Bonnie - thanks for reminding me to thank Caroline, Mark, Joe, Ellen, and whoever else read and recommended Iron and Silk recently. I am so bad about giving credit to my fellow pushers readers.

Cee - mmmmm...peanut butter eggs. I'll take any you've got lying around!

Nancy - I hope you get a chance to read it. It's a very interesting memoir of a specific time in a gifted writer's life.

Paul - no worries as I'm still munching on jelly beans...and my oversized peanut butter egg.

Beth - Enjoy!

Terri - Thank you. The cupcakes were yummy as well as being colorful.

Anne - you will be a hit at Christmas. This looks like the perfect gift for your brother.

Morphy - Milk it is...but I only have skim milk. Is that another ewwww?

Lynda - I might put this review on the book's page, just because I think more people should read it.

I'm running behind here as usual. We're off to go house hunting today. Not for us, though! My husband wants to buy more rental properties... and I have a special interest in one of them for some prospective tenants.

Class Notes:

Yesterday was the long anticipated visit by author Michael Ward to my class. He is an acclaimed C. S. Lewis scholar from Oxford, England. I mentioned that he isn’t a rock star author -- but he is a movie star author! He played as an extra in Shadowlands, the movie made about Lewis’s life with his wife Joy…and this put him on the list for movies being filmed in the area. He was called as an extra for the film “The World is Not Enough” and was selected for a non-speaking role where he handed a pair of x-ray glasses to Pierce Brosnan. Michael Ward is the bald man wearing glasses in the picture…and he is certain that is the ‘look’ they were going for that day. He is charming and humorous and answered our questions with thought and wit.

For those wondering who the heck Michael Ward is…He is an Anglican minister who studied at both Oxford and Cambridge and has a PhD from St. Andrews in Scotland. He was halfway through his doctoral research on C. S. Lewis’s theological imagination when he had the epiphany while reading Lewis’s long poem “The Planets” that the seven “planets” in the pre-Copernium cosmos had a correspondence to the seven Chronicles of Narnia. He abandoned his PhD studies and spent a year rereading the vast number of books written by and about Lewis. He said he felt like “the first man on the Klondike who discovered gold!” He wrote a journal article to “claim” the idea then went on to do five joyful years of work coming up with the well-received theories in Planet Narnia.

Some of the highlights from his comments…Most of what follows are direct quotes…

Dr. Ward had the Narnia books read to him by his parents before he could read. When he was a teen he read the theological books with the exception of Miracles which “stumped” him! Ward’s favorite of the Narnian Chronicles is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader because of the “streams” of lost Lords and Reepicheep’s search for the eastern edge of the world. It builds from adventure to fairy tale to the mystical. The shift in tone is beautifully managed. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe comes in as a close second favorite.

He believes it is much, much, MUCH better to read them in the order published. The other order with The Magician’s Nephew first came about because of an offhand comment in a letter to a child. MW said reading them out of the intended order ruins the reading experience, especially on the first go-round.

As far as Lewis’s other works go, Dr. Ward commented that Till We Have Faces had a huge influence on him especially in his ministerial work. The themes of love, loss, shame, guilt, etc. have given him a “larger heart”. It’s a book he rereads often but finds difficult to talk about. Its mythic qualities lend themselves to enjoyment more than contemplation and study. He also mentioned that he gets a stab of inconsolable longing (much like Lewis) whenever he reads The Weight of Glory.

He gave a little “pep talk” to the students by saying he had a hedonistic view on scholarship and urged them to follow what they enjoy doing. Enjoyment is a valid form of knowing.

Thanks for sharing your class notes... sounds Very interesting.

Good to hear about your class with Mark Ward, Donna. Sounds like a good guy as well as a Narnia enthusiast and the author of such an interesting theory about the books.

I liked your review of Iron and Silk. I enjoyed that book, too, and I was impressed with all the friendly reactions he attracted along the way.

Donna, was the CS Lewis class you took at Missouri State? Because when I open your thread today, I get a dialog box that wants me to enter a username and password for blackboard.missouristate.edu -- and it only happens on your thread. Very strange.

Sounds like a fascinating class last night, Donna! And I would say you fit right in to the hedonistic view on scholarship.

>127 rosalita:: happened to me, too!

>127 rosalita: and

>129 lauralkeet:: Well, my message didn't come up, so this is a repeat! It happened to me, too. But I can confirm that the Lewis class is at Missouri State. I got a little red "x" in the box at the beginning of her post -- and no picture. So I bet you need to be registered at MSU to see the picture. I'm sure Donna will clear it all up when she gets back from house hunting!

As long as the picture of Haley doesn't disappear! That one is too cute to lose.

Donna: It sounds like a wonderful class -- the kind that makes us wish we could be students forever. Thanks for sharing.

Lol about the Michael Ward/Pierce Brosnan picture in msg. #123. It's part of my secret code! I reentered the link from a different site so hopefully others will be able to see it now.

Hello to Kath, Joe, Julia, Roni, Laura, Nancy, and Beth. Thanks for checking out my class notes. Beth, I may be one of those "forever" students!

I'm pooped after looking at nine houses. We're either going to buy one, two, or four of them, depending on if we can get a package deal for the three of them in the same neighborhood. Dang, there goes my condo in Colorado. ;-( It's tough being married to an investor.

Nah, skim milk is just fine. It's the only milk I drink at home.

Hi Donna. Loved the class notes and the Michael Ward as an extra picture. It has made me want to read Til We Have Faces and The Weight of Glory (as well as reread the Narnia books) as those are two Lewis books I haven't read. I suppose I should finish the Lewis' books I own but haven't read yet. Can I confess that I found Miracles fine to read but keep getting stumped by Mere Christianity?No idea why.

Do you think you'll read his science fiction trilogy (the first book is Out of the Silent Planet) or do you feel like you've had enough Lewis for a while?

Pretty soon we'll need to know the secret handshake to get onto Donna's thread;-)

Thanks for sharing your class notes Donna. Michael Ward sounds like a very interesting speaker, humorous too.

135: Morphy, when my kids and grandkids come to visit, we try to have at least 3 different types of milk: skim, either 1% or 2%, and whole milk for the toddler!

Heather, I didn't connect with Mere Christianity the first time I read it years ago. It was much more meaningful this time around. We don't have time to read the entire cosmic trilogy (Lewis didn't like the word "space" to describe the heavens), but we will be reading the last book, That Hideous Strength. I really wanted to find time to read all three; unfortunately, that's not going to happen in the next two weeks. I'll try to get to the first two sometime this summer. Finally, a science fiction series I can get into!

Secret handshake, Bonnie? I'm on it. Next time I see my 19-year-old great-nephew I'll enlist his help to come up with something. I suppose I'll have to put it up on YouTube so my LT friends can still read my thread. I "heart" Michael Ward. ;-)

Just chiming in to add that I am reading The Screwtape Letters and am "getting" it, thanks for the pointer on thinking of him as purely "evil" rather than in a biblical context. Might be easier for my small brain to process! (well, my brain isnt so much small, as filled with useless to-do lists)

Hi Donna. I am way behind on your thread. I have really been quiet on LT lately. Too much going on. Just wanted to say that I am following your C.S. Lewis class still, with interest. I am reading The Weight of Glory right now, along with a collection of essays on C.S. Lewis called C.S. Lewis: The Man and His Message from a 1998 conference at BYU, celebrating the 100th anniversary of C.S. Lewis' birth. It's interesting. Hope you're all well and enjoying lovely spring weather.

I loved the comment Enjoyment is a valid form of knowing. When I stopped studying what I thought I should study at college and started studying what I enjoyed, I was so much happier and so much more successful.

Hi Donna! What a fabulous experience this class has been for you. Wasn't this the class you weren't sure you even wanted to take? (Or am i thinking of someone else?)

Thanks for sharing the info on M Ward. Lucky you! :)

"...'Enjoyment is a valid form of knowing.'... When I stopped studying what I thought I should study at college and started studying what I enjoyed, I was so much happier and so much more successful."

Exactly, Jenn. Me too! I switched from my career choice of accounting to a major in psychology/minor in philosophy... one of the best decisions I ever made. School, life and learning became a whole new adventure :) How I would love to go back to school! But, I fear my brain is giving out on me :(

>139 LovingLit:: Megan, when I was raising children, my brain was mush and any reading that I got done was of books that I would turn my nose up at today! I'm glad Screwtape is working for you. I think its one of those books that will mean even more if you ever decide to pick it up again.

Jenn, I have missed you. I do understand how children and their activities take precedence over LT. There are sooo many books about C. S. Lewis. The one you are reading is unfamiliar to me. I'm saving The Weight of Glory for the time when I can focus on it and hopefully get that "stab" of joy that Michael Ward got from it.

Cee, you picked up on my favorite part of Jenn's comments. Sometimes we think we have to read certain books because they will be good for us, but if we read what we enjoy, we can take away whatever lesson the author is trying to share and make it our own. Lol at the brain "tiredness"... tell me about it! That's exactly why I am auditing the classes I take. I would be brain dead if I had to write a research paper! It's easy and enjoyable to sit in class and be a sponge.

ETA: Cee, there is nothing wrong with your brain. You remembered that I almost didn't take the class because of the time interfering with my monthly canasta game! So far the score is: Canasta - 2; Class - 1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"The universe sometimes makes war seem a mere chigger in comparison, but that is in no way soothing to one who has the itch." (33)

Book No. 33: Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell. 4.4 stars.

Jake Roedel and his revenge-driven posse of vigilantes are riding through Missouri doing what they can to further the Rebel cause in the Civil War. As Jake tells the reader in this first person account, they "were afield, feeling wolfish, searching for victims. They were in good supply." (21) The First Kansas Irregulars were outnumbered so they spent more time hiding than fighting the Yanks. "There were so many of them that we could be but a wrong nail in their boots, painful to walk on but not crippling." (70)

It's difficult to read about the casual violence that took place in the cracks between the major battles of the Civil War. As the war progressed, the killing and sorrow built up turning a 16-year-old boy toward "a new territory of the soul." (147) Jake was buoyed up by friendship with his "near brother" Jack Bull Chiles and his growing fondness of Holt, a black man fighting for the cause.

This is an early book by Daniel Woodrell, the Missouri "country noir" writer, and it shows his skillful way with words and his understanding of human nature. He doesn't leave us hanging in a hopelessly violent world. As Jake says, "Hope, I was learning, is a hardy comrade but not too trustworthy." (131) It may not have been trustworthy but hope was always there and led Jake into taking a moral stand against an immoral time in our history.

Donna, thumb for an enticing review of Woe to Live On. I'm just finishing up A Good Man by Guy Vanderhaeghe, which is set in circa the same time frame, but written about the western frontier, Canadian and American, rather than the Civil War. Also an excellent read!

Wow! 4.5 stars for Woe to Live On! You've asked me once or twice if I wanted to read it -- you've sold me. Great review! :-)

Two messages from two Nancys! I hope no one gets confused.

143: Nancy in Canada...I love frontier stories. I'll be checking out your comments on A Good Man.

144: Nancy in St. Louis... Maybe Woe to Live On will get us back on the Civil War track. My copy is due April 24 which doesn't give you much time to read it after you get home. Send me a PM if you want to try it. I hope you got away okay in this morning's heavy rain.

Not a good day for a funeral. I'm kind of glad I was stuck in the kitchen doing the condolence dinner rather than being at the graveside service.

Hi Donna... just trying to catch up.. best I can :)

Hi Donna. I have missed hanging around here too. Lately, I think the kids have taken over EVERYTHING. It's my job, and like any job, I love it most days. Right now I feel like I could use that quiet cottage in the country.

Sorry you had to have a funeral day. I also prefer to be working at something that might bring comfort, rather than the alternatives...

Donna: I have been catching up with your thread. Your class sounds wonderful. I think I might be ready to take classes again... C. S. Lewis was such an interesting thinker; I would love to reread some of his work, but until I get to it, I can enjoy it vicariously on your thread.

146: Kath, you're doing a much better job of keeping up than I am!

Jenn, I really miss those wild and crazy days with kids in the house! It's hard to believe that it's been relatively quiet for close to 18 years now.

Beth, I do my share of vicarious living on LT, too. Trips, weddings, babies, and many more books than I could ever read on my own.

I hope everyone had a great week end. I helped with a funeral dinner yesterday. Not my favorite thing to do, but I do so little in the church these days that I'm glad to help out where I can.

We had quite a bit of rain over the week end. Had to be creative to get "our" yard work in. "We" were busy checking tax returns as well. Signing them is my only contribution! My main accomplishment was reading almost 200 more pages in Infinite Jest. I got discouraged looking at my ticker until I realized that almost 100 pages out of the 1,079 page total are endnotes which I'm reading as I go along. I have less than 200 pages of the actual book left to read. It looks like I can reach my April goal without losing sleep!

Congrats on your Infinite Jest progress! Quite a feat . . .

You know, with some of the "chunksters" I feel like I'm tackling this year --- David Copperfield, East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath, maybe Infinite Jest.... maybe I should start keeping track of pages read in addition to books completed! Or just be sure I keep sprinkling in some easy and short reads along the way. :-)
Your progress with Infinite Jest is laudable, Donna.

Congrats on getting the taxes done, even if all you actually did was the signing!

I signed our taxes today, too. My only contribution as well.

>149 Donna828: I'm so glad all you had was rain, Donna. I was worried yesterday as I heard forecasts for possible tornadoes near Springfield, an area where I have many relatives. We could really use rain here. The ground is like dust.

# 149 I am reading Bleak House. My Penguin Classics edition is 1037 pages long but the actual narrative ends on page 989, the rest are notes. I am also reading the notes along with the main book. So, I have about 650 pages to go. Still a long way off the end but I am enjoying the journey so no complains! :-)

Hi Donna, great reviews many go to the TBR list. Been enjoying parenting so far. Time flies. My son already is a month old today.

*waving* at Donna

I'm deep in our The Detour read and discussion , but thought I'd pop by and say hi! :)

Whew! This is turning out to be a busy week. I've hardly had time to check in here.

150: Thanks, Brenda. I knew Infinite Jest would take me While, but this is ridiculous.

Ellen, most of my secondary books have been on the short side for the most part. I have some more Big Boys lined up. Hopefully they will take weeks rather than months to complete.

Way to go, Anne!

Linda, Sunday was not a good day to be running around town. We had to visit my husband's cousin in the hospital and one thing led to another. No tornado warnings this time, though.

Porua, I read Bleak House a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Dickens was a wordy gent for sure.

Gautam, I am so happy for you. I'm sure your reading (and sleeping) times are shortened, but you have that sweet bundle of boy you've been waiting for. Congratulations!

Stasia! Sorry I wasn't home when you stopped by. I've been helping make casseroles for shut-ins at our church this evening. I have one in my freezer--I hope we don't have a food emergency before I get a chance to deliver it!

Deb, when The Detour gets released in the U.S., I'll check out the group read thread. Are you liking it as well as The Twin?

Oooo, Bleak House! That's one of the books that I want to finish this year. The 800+ pages are a tad intimidating, but Dickens is such an amazing writer. I can't wait to finally start reading the book again.

I'm trying to catch up on all my starred threads after not looking at them for a few days. It's incredible what I can miss in such a short time. That must have been an intriguing talk by Michael Ward, and it's so wonderful that his job position is as a C.S. Lewis scholar. That sounds like a dream job! ^_^

I miss the noise and fun of having the kids young and at home, too Donna..
every day.

Nothing much to add.. I am not tackling anything today, book or non as far as I can see :P
Maybe tomorrow?

159: Eris, pick an author you love, write a book, and - Voila! - there's a career for you. You are off to a great start writing about books on LT. Btw, Michael Ward's other full-time job is Anglican priest at Oxford. ;-)

Kath, I'll get a taste of noise and kid activity this week end. We're going up to Kansas City for Audrey's First Communion AND her 8th birthday. Saturday night is the school Daddy/Daughter dance which adds to the fun. If we wanted to leave before 7:00, we could also squeeze in a soccer game.

I bought another Kindle book. Oh no, I'm getting sucked into the e-reader vortex! Painter of Silence is not due for release in "real book" mode until September, and I want it NOW so I can read it before the Orange Prize announcement. So much for delayed gratification.

Here's a little something from Ann Patchett's comments in The NY Times about the Pulitzer Prize for fiction...or perhaps I should say lack of a prize. Thanks, Nancy, for sending me the article:

"Reading fiction is important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic beings. Following complex story lines stretches our brains beyond the 140 characters of sound-bite thinking, and staying within the world of a novel gives us the ability to be quiet and alone, two skills that are disappearing faster than the polar icecaps.

Unfortunately, the world of literature lacks the scandal, hype and pretty dresses that draw people to the Academy Awards, which, by the way, is not an institution devoted to choosing the best movie every year as much as it is an institution designed to get people excited about going to the movies. The Pulitzer Prize is our best chance as writers and readers and booksellers to celebrate fiction. This was the year we all lost."

I slowly made my way through your thread today, but only now find the time to comment.

A very belated "yum" for the easter cupcakes!

Thanks for posting the detailed class notes on Michael Ward's visit. It was most interesting. It must be wonderful to be able to study an author's work in such depth and even have the possibility to discuss him with real experts.

I'm getting sucked into the e-reader vortex!
This is so true... When I read my first Kindle book I thought it might also be the last one, the handling was so different. And now I am constantly tempted to buy new books. I am almost(!) glad that many of the "great deals" are not available in my country, this restricts my purchases a bit.

It sounds like there's a fun weekend ahead, enjoy!

Hi Donna! I'm all caught up again, and am really enjoying your Lewis class notes. I've finally finished The Chronicles of Narnia, and while I thought they were okay on average, I'm sure I'd like them much more if I'd have a class like yours! Plus, any time someone is enthusiastic about a book/author it always makes hearing them talk about it that much better! Good luck with the house hunting - any chance you'd like to trade kitchens before you move? My 1930's kitchen leaves much to be desired. ;) I hope you're having a nice April so far, and I'll try not to be such a stranger. :)

If I had read hundreds of books to narrow down the list for the Pulitzer, I would be miffed at the judges right now. What were they thinking? Ann Patchett's State of Wonder would have been a fine choice. I haven't read the others on the shortlist, but I'm sure any of them would have been fine.

Safe travels to KC, Donna!

162: Hi Nathalie, the most dangerous thing about buying Kindle books is that it is so easy! One click, and there's a new book to read! At first I thought it was a freebie -- until I remembered that Amazon has my credit card number on file. ;-)

Laura! It's great to "see" you again. I wish the house hunting was for us, but we are looking at investment properties. I'm stuck with my 1970s kitchen for awhile longer. It's a good thing I spend as little time cooking as I possibly can!

I think you're right about having a guide through The Narnia Chronicles. Taking the class and reading the Michael Ward book at the same time greatly enriched the experience for me.

Beth, I'm still a little put out with the Pulitzer people. This was in today's Shelf Awareness:

"Pulitzer Suggestion: 'Take a Leaf Out of the Orange Prize's Book'

"Respectfully, I suggest that Pulitzer swallows a hefty slice of crow pie and takes home for careful study the Orange prize playbook. This U.K.-based, but globally significant award is not yet as ancient or distinguished as the Pulitzer, but the people who run Orange take a great deal of care--this year's shortlist is a model--to ensure that their nominations include six new fictions of distinction, by writers who are likely to show form over many years. Look at the list of Orange winners and you will see that, not only are there no duds, there are, among the runners-up, several writers who have already achieved greatness. Pulitzer, please take note."

--Robert McCrum in the Guardian"

Thanks, Stasia. I'm looking forward to a "grand" time. It's so nice to see you posting on LT again. I hope you are enjoying your respite from school.

Kudos to Robert McCrum!

"We've all been wrong! That's the great joke. There's no need to go on pretending one was right! After that we begin living."
Book No. 34: The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis. 4.8 stars.

This book is a fantasy. Like the Narnia books, Lewis calls it a "twiddly bit" or a "supposal" as opposed to a scholarly work of theology. It begins with our narrator, who we later find out is Lewis himself, getting on a bus with some very unpleasant people. We quickly learn that the grey town where the bus originates is Hell and the destination is a day trip to Heaven. Lewis's idea of Hell was a boring place full of complaining, selfish people whose needs are met in the most rudimentary fashion. On the other hand, Heaven is a place of greenness and light with the promise of complete and utter joyous living. The inhabitants choose to leave their heavenly existence to offer the visitors a chance for redemption with some imaginative and entertaining results.

This short book of less than 150 pages packs a big wallop. It's full of interesting characters that might remind you of yourself or someone you know. There is a very serious message here that is presented in as a series of memorable stories filled with the trademark creative imagery of C. S. Lewis. We all have free will. It was most interesting to me to see the choice made by many of these visitors to Heaven. I can't give it the full five stars because of the cop-out ending. Other than that, I loved this book and it remains my favorite book by one of my favorite authors. For some reason, I overlooked cataloging it when I joined LT. I'm glad to rectify my oversight and give it top billing as my first 5-star book of 2012!

A-N-D-D-D straight to the wishlist it goes Donna. Fantasy is really not my thing but this sounds very good.

I really need to re-read Lewis' books (all of them) again. It has been far too long.

>167 alcottacre:, 170: Stasia, I thought McCrum's comments were "right on"! I am sad that my class is going to end soon. Only two books left to read and discuss: That Hideous Strength and Till We Have Faces. I remember that the latter is a favorite of yours.

>169 brenzi::Hi Bonnie. Well, there are a few ghost-like spirits and a few magical elements, but I actually consider it more imaginative than fantastical. Lewis calls it a fantasy in the preface, and I wanted to make certain that possible future readers wouldn't expect a Biblical interpretation of Heaven and Hell. There are no lakes of fire or angels playing harps in The Great Divorce!

Hi, Donna! Woe to Live On really does sound like one I should read. (Oh, no! the list grows . . .)

#171: Till We Have Faces is terrific. I hope you enjoy it!

Hooray!! You finally have a 5-star book for 2012 -- well, 4.8 but we're calling it 5!! ;-) And believe it or not, your review has actually convinced me to read that book! I know how hard it is for a book to receive a 5-star rating from you, so I guess that won me over!

Hi Donna! Visiting a few threads tonight before tucking in with a book before sleep. Thanks for sharing the quotes about the Pulitzer (lack of) prize this year. If anything, this certainly engendered lots of interesting discussion. I need to seek out both of those complete articles, though something tells me you've given us the best bits already! :-)

I'm not sure how I got so far behind on your thread Donna, but I think I'm all caught up now.

:( to no Colorado condo...

Congratulations on your first 5-star!

I used to own The Great Divorce, but I never read it. Congrats on your 5 star read and I think I will be reading The Great Divorce sooner than later!

Thanks , Donna!

Donna, thanks for sharing those highlights from the media discussion about this year's Pulitzer Prize fiction award.

"Following complex story lines stretches our brains beyond the 140 characters of sound-bite thinking, and staying within the world of a novel gives us the ability to be quiet and alone, two skills that are disappearing faster than the polar icecaps."

I totally agree with Patchett. Well said!

#179 I LOVE that quote. Too true! One of my secondary students last year remarked that she was losing the ability to carry on a proper conversation on account of the 140 character world Patchett refers to! Lightbulb went on!

>172 tymfos:: Terri, I think everyone who is interested in reading about the Civil War should read Woe to Live On. It's a bit difficult to find but worth the effort.

Stasia, I read Till We Have Faces for the group read in 2009. I don't think I totally "got" it at that time so I'm eager to reread it with an expert.

Nancy, you are welcome to borrow my copy of The Great Divorce if you don't mind my underlinings and a few notes in the margin.

Hi Ilana, so nice to see you here. I plan to tuck myself in early tonight and finish the book I've been reading for the "April" theme for the 12 in 12 group. The Enchanted April has been putting me to sleep for two weeks now...and I'm ready to be done with it!

Hi Joanne, it's hard to keep up with everyone isn't it? No worries, I'll still be making plenty of trips to Denver to keep up with Mike and Rebecca and the granddogs. I'm thinking about late August in conjunction with Terri Loeffler's trip to see "Book of Mormon" if she has time for a meetup.

Laura, it's about time that I gave a book 5 stars. I was getting concerned that I was being too picky.

Deb, I've gotten so many good recommendations from you, it's about time I returned the favor.

Louanne! I've missed you! I'm going to search for you on the 50 Book Group so I can catch up with what you've been up to. School and more school I'm guessing.

Nancy, it will be interesting to see how communication evolves in the future. I can visualize thought waves being converted to print somehow. Oh oh, I'll be in big trouble if some of my thoughts are put out there for the world to see!

Uh oh, I hope I like The Enchanted April more than you seem to. I got the audiobook, so maybe it'll be easier to get through?

I looked up Woe to Live On at the library and found it! But would you believe all 7 available copies are in the French translation?? How retarded is that exactly? lol

Till We Have Faces was a very disturbing book to read for me, even though I flew through it quickly and enjoyed it immensely. It was disturbing because I symphathized with the character throughout the book, and was surprised to be confronted with her flaws at the end of the book. Most authors don't do that, but then again, C.S. Lewis isn't 'most authors'!

Excellent review on The Great Divorce and I'm glad that you enjoyed it and gave it five stars - it is worth every one of them! It's amazing what ideas he brought forth about Heaven and Hell, and how we're able to see certain people (even ourselves) in the characters from the book.

Donna, sorry you're not enjoying The Enchanted April - it's one of my favourites. We did it for my Book Group a couple of years ago and it was a unanimous success. Even my husband really liked it, despite the picker apologising to him in advance for picking such a girly book. I've read and enjoyed Elizabeth and her German Garden as well. I keep meaning to get around to the rest of her books.

I really liked Elizabeth and her German Garden. I saw the film of The Enchanted April years ago, when it was first released, and loved it. But I have yet to read the book.

Donna - love the discussion here and the quotes on the Pulitzer fiasco - very enlightening. Also enjoyed the discussion re chunksters and having finished The Woman in White and am now immersed in Dombey and Son.
Have a lovely weekend.

Hi Donna... Good post about the Pulitzer / Orange prizes.

That is a CS Lewis that I haven't read.

Hope all is well....

I have just enough time for a few quick responses while I sip my morning coffee. We're off to Kansas City in a short while to attend our middle granddaughter's First Communion. Her 8th birthday is on Monday, so we're going to squeeze in a birthday party later in the day. It saves us a 6-hour roundtrip so I'm very happy to do double celebrations.

>182 Smiler69: - Ilana, I can't believe that you have seven copies of Woe to Live On no matter what the translation is. I had to request my copy from a St. Louis library - and Daniel Woodrell is a hometown boy who still lives in the area!

Eris - I loved your comment: C.S. Lewis isn't 'most authors! You got that right. I can't remember 'Faces' all that well, but I think it was the mythology that made it a more difficult read for me.

Rhian - I am always thrilled to get a new visitor. In my response to Ilana about The Enchanted April, I was referring more to my tiredness at night than the book, although it is a bit on the slow side. But then, that's why I chose it for my nighttime reading. I'll finish it when we get home from our trip tomorrow. There'll be too much going on to do the end justice so it will stay on my bedside table. Yes, I fell asleep reading again last night. ;-)

Laura - I've always loved that title. I love the descriptions of the Italian gardens in Enchanted April which makes me think I ought to track down a copy of Elizabeth and Her German Garden.

Paul - I really enjoyed The Woman in White. It was a big book but the reading flowed so well it didn't seem like it took me that long to read it. The sign of a good book! I hope you have a lovely weekend as well.

Kath - all is well except for the fact that I'll be even further behind on threads after our whirlwind trip. It's a good thing my LT friends are patient people.

I hope everyone who stops by is having a fun weekend. I'll report back with a few pictures either tomorrow evening or Monday morning. It depends on how worn out Grandma D. is after being around three kids hyped up on birthday cake and lots of activities. ;-)

Hi Donna, just stopping by to wish you a great weekend, and enjoy your trip to Kansas City.

You've given me another book to hunt down, Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell sounds like something I would enjoy. I am a Woodrell fan.

...meanwhile I sorry to say I am still plodding along with the Screwtape Letters....It just doesn't grab me like all the other 6 Im reading. Ill get there though :)

Hope you have wonderful springlike weather in KC for the communion and birthdayparty, Donna. Gee, it sounds like many of you are having a tough time with Enchanted April. I was enchanted by it a couple of years ago but I guess your mind has to be in the right place at the right time for it.
Drive home safely.............Do you have an audio book for the trip back?

I'm sending all good wishes for a lovely weekend with your grand daughter and family!

Hope you're having a great time, Donna!

Sorry folks! I know I'm the minority here but I didn't like The Enchanted April. But if we all liked the same things the world would be a boring place indeed. So, that's okay too.
:-)

Here is Audrey as she morphs between First Communion and 8th Birthday Party.
Second picture is of her with her two favorite presents.

A trio of pictures from yesterday:
1. Sadie (10), Dave, Audrey(8), Griffin(4), Donna
2. Audrey, Daddy Greg, Sadie
3. Audrey and Mama Lori

Aww! Those kids are too cute for words!

Too sweet! Thanks for posting, Donna!

Aww, what a lovely family!

Great pics, Donna!! And it looks like the panda bear was a big hit! Can't wait to hear all about the visit! :-)

Lovely pictures! looks like you had a good weekend with your family :)

This thread just makes me smile Donna. Must be those little sweeties.

Hello to all the visitors. I got busy after we got home...and then crashed. I'll see you tomorrow after a good night's sleep.

Aw, thanks for sharing your pictures! Such a lovely family you have, Donna!

Great panda cake, too.

Great pictures Donna. . . Lori looks so much like her mama!

Donna, I'm so far behind.... Spending my Sunday evening perusing some threads. I love the pictures of Audrey. And I've not read anything (yep, you heard me right) by C.S. Lewis and your review of The Great Divorce is nudging me toward rectifying this neglect.....

I hope you're doing well.

Wonderful pictures, Bonnie! Thanks for sharing them!

Ahhhh, what a difference a day makes. Woke up refreshed and looking forward to tonight's Book Sale.

>189 DeltaQueen50:: Hi Judy, it's good to have another Woodrell fan around here. His books are intense but so well written. He deserves a bigger fan base.

Megan, I hope it makes you feel better to know that I abandoned Screwtape the first time I tried to read it several years ago. Maybe the time isn't right for you.

Lynda, Saturday was a beautiful day in Kansas City. Thanks for your well wishes. There isn't enough time to complete an audiobook on the 6-hour round trip. We listened to Car Talk, Prairie Home Companion, and The Rolling Stones instead.

Thanks, Linda, it was a marvelous week end.

Lol, Porua. I knew I could count on you to back me up on The Enchanted April. It turned out to be a "Good but not Great" book for me.

>196 kidzdoc:: Thanks for stopping by, Darryl. Those grandkids are keepers for sure!

Nancy - Thank you! I have to give equal time to the older grandkids because of all the Haley gushing on my last thread!

Thank you, Laura, I think they're a lovely group myself.

>199 Nancy618:: Nancy, I'll work on my book list and call you about tonight's sale. I'm glad you saw the pictures so we can get right to the books. ;-)

Hi Chelle, I don't have gorgeous scenery shots to post so have to make do with big smiles from my grandchildren.

Bonnie, thanks for the "sweeties" comment. You'll be having your own little sweeties before too long I hope.

Joanne, the panda cake was delicious. My daughter is much more creative than I am.

Brenda, Lori looks somewhat like me, but Audrey is the spitting image of her mother at that age. We'll have to take another picture of the females in the family when we all get together again.

Ellen, I'm pretty far behind on threads myself. I've accepted that there is no way to properly keep up with everyone so I just do my best. I hope you like The Great Divorce if and when you get to it.

Deb, there is no way I wasn't going to post more pictures. Maybe if I saw my KC grands more often I wouldn't have to. The next visit will be in June.

Okay, family time is over and I now take this thread Back to Books!

Lotty's first impression of her Italian retreat: "All the radiance of April in Italy lay gathered together at her feet. The sun poured in on her. The sea lay asleep in it, hardly stirring. Across the bay the lovely mountains, exquisitely different in colour, were asleep too in the light; and underneath her window, at the bottom of the flower-starred grass slope from which the wall of the castle rose up, was a great cypress, cutting through the delicate blues and violets and rose-colours of the mountains and the sea like a great black sword." (67, 68)

Book No. 35: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. 3.5 stars.

I saw this movie in the 1990s and was enchanted by it; however, sometime between then and now my romantic nature must have been replaced by my realistic self. I really liked the idea of four women of different backgrounds sharing a vacation house, but I was impatient with the childish pettiness in the first part of the book and the contrived romantic ending.

It began well when Lotty Wilkins first saw the ad in the paper: “To Those who Appreciate Wistaria and Sunshine. A small mediaeval Italian Castle on the shores of the Mediterranean to be Let Furnished for the month of April.” Lotty overcame her shy nature and gave into the rare impulse to invite Ruth to join her on holiday. Ruth was driven by the four facts of her life -- God, Husband, Home, and Duty. She too was disillusioned with her home life and gave into the secret longing for time away to sort her thoughts about a one-sided marriage. They put their own ad in the paper for two other women to share expenses. Lady Caroline and old Mrs. Fisher complete the quartet, and the “adventures” begin.

This was the slow part of the book for me. Even the servants were yawning because nothing happened -- unless you count the ways they all established their turf in the large manor with the lovely gardens. It was when the magic of San Salvatore begin to draw them together that the book became more interesting to me. I slowly succumbed to the rejuvenating charm of “the radiance of April in Italy” that awakened the spirits of the women and the visitors who join them late in the book.

Lovely family pics, Donna! Thanks for sharing!

# 208 "...the contrived romantic ending."

That is exactly what I thought of the ending too and hence my dislike for The Enchanted April.

#208 I think it was the relationship between the women in the period where nothing happens that I liked and probably why you disliked the book and I loved it.

Oh, just wonderful pictures - thanks so much for sharing!

I loved the film (have seen it 2 or 3 times) but sounds like I can skip the book.

Hmm, I'm going to skip the book, too. I'm another whose romantic self has given way to a more realistic self. Thanks, Donna.

Donna- You have such a great looking family! Thanks for sharing. Audrey is a doll and a happy one at that.

What lovely, lovely photos! It looks like you had a wonderful time with your family.

Nice photos of your family Donna - the girls are very sweet.

What LOVELY books I got at last night's Library Book Sale. The Dance To The Music of Time series has been on my radar ever since Laura started reading them. When I saw how visually appealing they were together, I had to have them. My friend Nancy found the first one for me, and I found the other three on the last table I looked at in the fiction area. $2.00 each!

Other books purchased:
Tomato Red by Daniel Woodrell. I'm on a mission to collect his books as he is a local author.
The Reef by Edith Wharton. I'm on another mission to collect her books after my Wharton Survey class.
Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes, and
The Art of Fiction by David Lodge. This mint condition hardcover was in the dollar books!

Total spent: $15.00.
I'll be going back on Saturday for half-price books. There were many biographies still in boxes on the floor that I didn't look through because of the crowds...and my aging body.

Oh, more visitors. Hooray!

>209 Porua:: Porua, you are too young to be jaded in the romance department. Or, maybe you're like me and prefer the real deal. I don't need flowers for Valentine's Day, but if hubby washes my car, he gets royal treatment. ;-)

Rhian, different strokes... Maybe we'll agree more on other books.

Hi Amber. I'm behind on your thread and need to see recent pictures of Charley. I'll be over later.

Reba, others on LT liked the book much more than I did. Please don't write it off on the say-so of a cranky old reader like me. ;-)

Nancy, ditto what I said to Reba. You might like the book as it had gorgeous descriptions of the views and castle gardens.

Thanks, Mark. Audrey is so much fun. She is always smiling and laughing. Her older sister is much more serious like Grandma.

We had a wonderful time, Linda. As you know, those hours spent with grandchildren are golden.

They are sweet as can be, Paul, until their little brother tries to mess up their Lego village. That was the only fuss we had over the week end, and that was shortlived.

You a cranky reader! I think not, Bonnie! I'm a practical soul myself, when it comes to romance! :) I love your statuette doing the reading! Great haul of new books!

What a LOVELY picture, Donna! Even if you never get around to reading the whole series, you'll enjoy looking at them -- especially as part of that beautiful arrangement! And hopefully I can come visit them from time to time! ;-)

>217 Donna828:: you got a GREAT deal on A Dance to the Music of Time Donna! I too love how the spines line up just like the painting the books are named after. We have ours displayed on shelves in the same way. Did you notice the later volumes are in better condition than the first? We did ... and formed a theory that people buy the set (or receive as a gift) and somehow never make their way thru the whole thing.

I can say this because I'm reading the 4th movement now. I hope I don't break my arm patting myself on the back :)

>217 Donna828: You certainly did get a great deal Donna. That must be SOME library sale; can't say I've ever found anything that great at our library sales but I did pick up the first three of Dance from an online book store and I'll probably get the fourth one the same way.

>221 lauralkeet: I think your theory's probably right Laura.

219: Thanks, Deb. My "bookman" is a hand carved wood figure from Oberammergau, Germany. It's the first thing my DH and I bought together as a married couple almost 44 years ago.

Ha ha, Nancy. You want to visit my "Dance" books; don't you want to borrow and read them?

Laura, that's a great theory, but none of mine seem to have been read! The poor things needed a new home, though I will probably admire them for quite awhile before I dive into the pages. As I get closer to the ending of that never ending joke book, short books are becoming more appealing to me!

Bonnie, have you started the Dance yet?

Yes, it is quite a sale. I wish I had the stats for how many books they had this year -- and how many people were at last night's Friend's Preview. It was very crowded. I forgot to look for the autographed Virginia Woolf book to see how much it was. Maybe I can buy it half price on Saturday...or maybe not.

Oh, what a lovely set of books!!

I like your sampler, too!

Aren't they pretty, Joanne? All my best stuff is in my tiny library. I did all of that cross-stitching in Colorado. I had plenty of time on my hands with a newly emptied nest and a workaholic husband. I got so bored that I took a part-time job at the defunct MacKinzey-White Booksellers. That's when I started my book collection. As they say, the rest is history. ;-)

What a great sale! And a great photo as well.

Sweet story about your bookman Donna. Congrats on the great finds at your book sale!

# 217 Oh the Dance To The Music of Time series has been on my wishlist forever! Now I'm green with envy! ;-)

# 218 Alas both are true!

I do prefer the real deal. The idealized version of romance doesn't really appeal to me because for the most part it isn't true.

But I do feel jaded too. Sometimes hope comes to nothing, sometimes things don't turn out as planned. Oh well that's life! :-)

Agree.. that was some library sale!!

Beautiful books... nice haul altogether.. well done:)

And

Beautiful family pics... what a pleasant thread to visit this morning :)

Hi Donna! Lovely pictures! How fortunate that you were able to find the complete series! You have them displayed very nicely. Hope you have lots of luck at half-price Saturday.
The big booksale by me is the first week in May. I've put myself on a book buying hiatus but will bring a cheat sheet with me to look for a few I really want.

Wonderful, 44 years of marriage together! My husband and I are coming up to 29 years in the summer. It's hard to believe, isn't it!

I love your display and am green with envy that you have a "library". We have bookshelves everywhere we can figure out to put them in our condo but no library and still not enough shelves. I have to buy most of my books for Kindle which is nice for travel but I do love "real" books.

I've been following but not commenting lately - sorry! It looks like you had a great family weekend - and what a pretty dress Audrey has been wearing! She looks all happy with her Panda cake.

Wow - book sale! I wish they existed here. The Dance to the Music of Time books look so good together on the shelf. For 2$ you are lucky to get a newspaper here, 15$ will get you one nice paperback. I have to look how much that series is in the UK and then save up for it. Some books just have to be presented on a shelf, although e-books are easier to manage.

I just got my hands on the first Dance to the Music of Time volume on Ellie's (mirrordrum's) recommendation. If I end up liking it, I'm going to join the group envying you, Donna. The set looks so good there, I may already be in that group.

Hi Donna, just getting caught up after several days mostly away from LT. I always love seeing pictures of your grandkids but in these shots everyone looks particularly radiant.

And I'm so jealous hearing of your library book sale. Ours was pretty disappointing this year. The picture of your Powell books with your statue is fantastic.

>217 Donna828: they look a beautiful collection Donna! Good find indeed.

Donna, I love the cover of The Enchanted April and I suspect that I'd feel about it pretty much the way you did. Oh well, I get hit by blue font bullets often enough; it's okay to escape now and then. :-)

It sounds like you had a great time at the book sale! Mint condition hardcover of The Art of Fiction for a buck --- well done!

And I love the picture in 217.

Thanks for refreshing my thread, Ellen. I've been reading and ignoring LT as I finally close in on the final pages of Infinite Jest. My ticker in message #3 is misleading because I haven't included the 70+ pages of endnotes - which I'm reading as I go along - in the total. I'll add them in when I finish the book which may happen this afternoon!. I just want to warn everybody that there may be a sonic boom centered around Springfield, MO, when I turn to that final page!

Greetings to Roni, Brenda, Porua, Kath, Lynda, Deb, Reba, Nathalie, Joe, Pat, Megan, and Ellen. My apologies for lack of personal replies. I'm shifting into class mode and then back to DFW mode before Nancy and I go see the Ridley Pearson lecture this evening. DH is going to be gone over the week end so I'll try to get caught up with everyone then. In the meantime, Happy Reading to all!

Hi Donna! You have been busy...
Love the pictures of your sweet grands & family. Audrey is soooo lucky! I wish I had a hot pink scooter!
Lovely faces with authentic smiles :)

Your success at the book sale is one to envy! Dance to the Music of Time is calling me.... Love your cross stitching. I used to do a lot of that for others, but never for myself. Drat!

The Enchanted April is on my TBR... looking forward to it among many others!!!

Ah - whot's up? My message didn't post and is lost!
I must need nourishment... past lunch time.

I do want to say I loved the pics of your grands and family.
Audrey looks so happy with panda and hot pink scooter!

Ya did good, lady! (at the book sale)
Dance to the Music of Time is calling me...

The Enchanted April is on my TBR pile. Sounds like you were not "enchanted"? I'll read it anyway :)

Love your cross stitching! I used to do a lot of that back when I had great eyesight. Gave it all away. Wish I had kept one.

It's great to get two posts from you, Cee. Looks like LT decided to cough up the first one after all. I've noticed an occasional lag in posting times of late. Good for you on reading The Enchanted April despite my less than enchanting comments. I really don't like to turn people away from any book, especially since I'm prone to being a moody reader lately. Maybe because I've had the ghost of David Foster Wallace hanging around urging me to finish his Jest book that didn't turn out to be so funny after all.

I really enjoyed last night's author presentation by Ridley Pearson. He was an engaging speaker with lots of life experiences and funny stories pertaining to the reading/writing life. He's most well known for his children's/young adult series books...I think. Confession: I haven't read any of his books. Any fans out there? He would qualify as my "rock star" author as he is in the Rock Bottom Remainders with Stephen King, Dave Barry, and Amy Tan.

Pearson writes the Peter and the Starcatcher (love that title) books and The Kingdom Keepers series. I'm tempted to try his Steel Trapp books about a boy with a photographic memory. And then there's the new adult thriller coming out this summer: The Risk Agent that sounded good. He's such a personable man. If his writing is as good as his speaking skills, I'll be happy.

ETA: Bad Donna! I broke my rule about ER books. I still need to read and review Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen...and I succumbed and requested the new Ridley Pearson book as an ER. Chances are slim to none that I'll get it anyway because I don't have many thrillers listed in my catalog of books on LT.

"I am not just a boy who plays tennis. I have an intricate history. Experiences and feelings. I'm complex...I study and read. I bet I've read everything you've read. Don't think I haven't. I consume libraries." (Pages 11-12)

Book No. 36: Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. 4.3 stars.

Wow! What a book. After 1,079 pages of brilliant and darkly witty writing, I am left almost speechless. What to say about a book that challenges, entertains, and consumes hours of reading time -- in my case, over a 4-month period? David Foster Wallace’s working subtitle for Infinite Jest was “A Failed Entertainment.” He’s referring to the insatiable need to be entertained 24/7 that is one of the themes of the book. This book didn’t fail to entertain me, but it didn’t achieve “treasured book” status either.

I rather enjoyed looking for plot connections throughout the book, but there were too many dry spots and story lines that didn't play out in this nonlinear novel. I also disliked the burden of reading 388 endnotes (some going on for several pages and some with their own footnotes -- all with tiny print) and the necessity of a two bookmark system of reading. DFW may be a literary savant; however, I’m an average reader who ran out of patience with the several hundred page interludes between key events. This book wasn’t difficult to read but it demands very close reading because clues to pivotal points can be found just about anywhere, including those ubiquitous footnotes.

On a more optimistic note, I thought Wallace did a fantastic job detailing the horrors of drug addiction and its close friends -- crime, depression, and suicide. Some of my favorite passages had to do with the benefits of AA meetings and the poignant stories shared among the members. DFW also raised the problem of the cost of achievement, especially in the young tennis prodigies living in communal loneliness at the Academy that was up the hill from the drug rehab center in a Boston suburb. These were two of the main settings of the book along with the odd addition of Tuscon, Arizona. You can visit wikipedia or one of the many websites devoted to Infinite Jest to get a summary of the disparate plots, settings, and a list of the many quirky characters. I became intimately connected with several of these characters… and I will miss them. Ultimately, it’s a book about relationships and families, both the family we’re born into and the families we create.

Bottom line: Infinite Jest is a marathon rather than a sprint. There were times when I almost gave up, but I’m glad I hung in there until the end. I thought the final imagery of the tide was fitting. There is no closure to the book much like the ongoing rise and fall of ocean waves. I’m still on a “reader’s high” trying to make sense of this curiously entrancing mega-book that was always entertaining yet sometimes maddening and frequently puzzling. After much thought, I gave it a 4.3 star rating mostly due to Mr. Wallace’s iconical standing and ironical writing. This is the first book I’ve read by him, but now I’m tempted to read his posthumously published The Pale King which was recently nominated and rejected for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Bravo, Donna! Great review -- you almost make me want to read this book... We'll see.

Donna, you must post your review of Infinite Jest so we can thumb it. You did a great job explaining the pros and cons of reading it. And you have convinced me to give it a try.

>242 Donna828:: Excellent review, Donna. The only passages I've read are ones about drug addiction, because the hubster kept foisting the book on me to read certain bits. It's been perhaps a year since he read it, and he still talks about this book. Must be something in that, but I'm still not tempted to take it on! Good for you, getting through it.

>244 phebj:: ditto Pat's comment!!!

#239/240 Eh, phooey!
Well, I did pretty good repeating myself, right?

Great review of IJ - I'm tempted.... as always :P

Great review of Infinite Jest, Donna, although I'm not sure this is one I will tackle anytime soon. Your review helped me sort that out.

Love the review, Donna. Please do post it so we can all give you thumbs!
I bought a copy of Infinite Jest a few weeks ago and your review gives me an idea of how to approach it. Otherwise, I have to admit that I was feeling intimidated. ("then why did you buy it?" you might ask --- yeah, well.....)

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Review is tweaked a bit and posted.

Ok Donna, now you've done it. Just when I thought I'd never read this book, you've made me curious about it although some parts of your excellent review are pretty darn discouraging. Thumb!

Wow, thumb from me, too, for your review, Donna. Not sure I'm as patient as you: the notion of ubiquitous footnotes makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. BUT, as Bonnie said, you do make me curious : ).

I've never read anything by David Foster Wallace. Great review, but the number of pages scares me! :)

Great review, and very impressive reading, Donna! The sheer length of his novels have scared me off (and I have to read Gone With the Wind this year - eek!), but maybe I should pick one up if I see a title at a library sale. Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Congratulations on finishing Infinite Jest, and thank you for writing such an excellent review of it. Yours is the only review I've read of it that encourages me to give it a try.

I agree with Laura, very impressive reading, Donna, and a great review to boot!

Hello to Beth, Pat, Laura, Cee, Linda, Ellen, Bonnie, Nancy, Deb, LauraB., Darryl, and Judy! My husband is off on a trip which will give me more time for thread hopping tomorrow. I got a few visits in this evening. I really appreciate the kind words about Infinite Jest. The thumbs were a bonus! I hope everyone is having a good week end.

I am racing through Gillespie and I so I can beat the end-of-month deadline for TIOLI. It is so good that I am having trouble putting it down. My day started way too early today. I worked at a 5K run and had to report for duty at 7:00 a.m. After that, I went back to the library book sale and managed to pick up a few more books at half price:

Palace Walk
Palace of Desire
Sugar Street - I guess Mahfouz ran out of palace titles!
Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh - another one that has been on my WL for several years.
The Crimson Petal and the White
The Sense Of An Ending - for the reread shelf.

Brava, Donna! Library book sales are the bestest thing ever. :)

An excellent review, by the way! I don't think I'll read Infine Jest, thanks to my weighty to-read list at the moment, but I'll go give it a thumbs-up right now.

Congrats on finishing IJ and on the book hauls, Donna!

Checking in, Donna. I see you have been a busy lady as usual. Love the pictures!

Some good buys there Donna - read a little bit of Mahfouz and the first episode of his trilogy is great reading. Must read the second one really.

Another great book haul, Donna! I bought the Palace Walk Trilogy as well this year, because Janet had recommended it so much. Haven't started it yet, mine is an omnibus edition though, very heavy with small print.

I started listening to Gillespie and I yesterday and it might have been a mistake getting it as an audio. Don't know if I'll have the patience for 19hrs when 'real reading' could be done so much faster.

Just see I haven't commented yet on your IJ review - love it, it's spot-on. I also had my issues with the foot notes which I found original but often annoying, especially the long ones with extra foot notes.

Morning Donna- Fantastic review of IJ! I really admire the fact that you hung in there and finished a pretty daunting book. Did you have any problems, dipping in and out with it? I try not to do that with many books but I might be tempted to do that with this monster, whenever I get to it.

Nice list of books, Donna! I have only one of those .. :)

The Crimson Petal and the White is a very good book. I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

So behind! Loved your review of The Great Divorce. Even more loved the photos of Audrey. What a sweetheart. She has your smile!

>257 ErisofDiscord:: Thanks for that thumb, Eris!

Roni, I love getting "new" books. Now I need to find the time to read them.

Thanks, Stasia. I enjoy your visits even though they are brief. I know you have lots of people to check on and appreciate you stopping by.

Paul, I'm determined to read The Raj Quartet before I get started on The Cairo Trilogy. Maybe I'll spend the summer in India and the autumn in Egypt.

Nathalie, my books are nice-sized trade paperbacks with eye-friendly print. Now the Raj Quartet books I own have the tiny print. I think that's part of the reason I keep putting off the last three. Thanks for the kudos on IJ. It means a lot coming from a veteran like you.

Mark, I really was able to keep up with IJ pretty well. I took notes -- ending up with 4 pages (front and back) of college-ruled notebook paper scribbled with nonsensical reminders! I probably didn't need to do that, though, because IJ is more episodic than plot driven.

Thanks, Kath. Hope you had a good week end. It's been quiet over there.

Crimson and White is another one of those big books, Morphy. I think I'll wait awhile before I tackle it.

Hi Jenn, what a sweet thing to say. I've got a big smile right now!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had a lovely day of reading and paying Sunday visits to people around the threads. I'm still working on getting caught up. I like to see what everyone else is up to both in their reading and real life.

I finished Gillespie and I. Bonnie, Darryl, and all its other fans were right. It was a very good read! I'll write a few words about it tomorrow and maybe start another thread for May. This one is getting very tired and long.

"Do you know: there are times when the past is so vivid in my mind that it seems more tangible to me even than my real life? Perhaps the act of committing this narrative to paper will free me of certain recurring dreams and (God willing!) diminish my eternal aching sadness about Ned Gillespie." (from the Preface)

Book No. 37: Gillespie and I by Jane Harris. 4.2 stars.

Thomas C. Foster has a chapter titled "Never Trust a Narrator with a Speaking Part" in How to Read Books like A Professor. That's why I'm skeptical about novels written in the first person -- they are so one-sided. But that's the point in this one! The reader is at the mercy of Harriet Baxter's 80-year-old mind as she writes her memoirs of a time in her late 30's when she befriended (fictional) painter Ned Gillespie and his family in 1880's Glasgow, Scotland. This is a very cleverly written psychological drama about what might - or might not - have happened that changed lives forever. Jane Harris has a new fan!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's a rainy morning here. I have one unhappy dog on my hands because I don't walk in the rain! Maybe he'll perk up when our visitor arrives. A friend is coming today from out-of-town for a quick visit. Maybe the sun will be out by the time she gets here. ;-)

Another endorsement of Gillespie and I! Thanks, Donna. Love the quote you've included here.

I'm just starting Gillespie and I, Donna, and I have high hopes for the experience. The first chapter (in which she makes the acquaintance of Annie and her mother-in-law) was hilarious!

Hi Donna! I've yet to write any comments on The Outlander, and I will likely give it a 3. 5 - which is below my average score - most of my books get a 4 on average. It's a great story, just be warned that the story does not get going til oh - page 183. Its' interesting and different but when I say it's slow = I LOVED Emily Alone and many other books that people consider to be very slow. I think part of the issue for me is that I felt at arms length from the happenings. The " widow " is referred to the widow nearly the whole way through - even at the end. It's like you are watching from a distant mountain, or something. Overall, I'm very glad I read it, but it was S L O W! But it certainly is unique - give it a try!

Nice review, Donna! Just enough to continue enticing me without spoiling it.

Congratulations on finishing IJ, Donna. Your review is fabulous!

Gillespie and I is on my short list so I'm skipping your review but it seems like you liked it - yay!

Nice review of Gillespie, Donna!

>268 lit_chick:: Thanks, Nancy. It's easy to endorse a good book like Gillespie and I.

>269 EBT1002:: Elspeth continues to be a source of amusement...and sometimes embarrassment.

>270 vancouverdeb::Thanks for the warning, Deb. I'll try to get to The Outlander in June or July.

>271 lauralkeet:: That's what I was aiming for, Laura. I hope you get enticed into reading it soon.

>272 Copperskye:: Hi Joanne, thank you so much. I have a hunch you'll enjoy Gillespie.

>273 alcottacre:: Thanks, Stasia!

I had a lovely, although brief, lunch with one of our 75ers today. Sandy (sjmccreary) was in town for a quick visit. It was just a preview for our meetup in KC in June. This one wasn't "official" so no pictures.

Now...if you will kindly follow me... It's almost May so I'm going to start my new thread. Catch ya on the flip side!