Joe's Book Cafe 13

Painting by Luda Angel

Welcome back to the cafe!

January

1. Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee
2. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
5. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
6. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
7. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
8. Fall Higher by Dean Young
9. Habibi by Craig Thompson
10. The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt
11. Malice Aforethought by Frances Iles
12. Logicomix by Apostolos Doxiadis
13. Tales from Ovid by Ted Hughes

February

1. Mister Blue by Jacques Poulin
2. The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg
3. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
4.. A Distant Neighborhood by Jiro Taniguchi
5. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
6. All I Did Was Shoot My Man by Walter Mosley
7. The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy by Bill Simmons
8. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
9. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
10. Strangers in Paradise Pocket 6 by Terry Moore
11. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
12. Thirty-three Teeth by Colin Cotterill
13. Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman

March

1. Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
2. Echo The Complete Edition by Terry Moore
3. Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum
4. The Siege by Helen Dunmore
5. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
6. Fault in Our Stars by John Green
7. A Zoo in Winter by Jiro Taniguchi
8. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
9. Disco for the Departed by Colin Cotterill
10. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

April

1. Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
2. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
3. Force of Nature by C.J. Box
4. Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
5. Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill
6. Finder Library Volume 1 by Carla Speed McNeil
7. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

May

1. The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith
2. Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
3. The Luck of the Bodkins by P.G. Wodehouse
4. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
5. Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick
6. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
7. The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst
8. The Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall Smith
9. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
10. A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes
11. Among Others by Jo Walton
12. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck

*runs in*

I'm first, I'm first!

Where's my cookie??!

Hah! Here you go, Morphy! We figured everyone likes chocolate chip, but let us know if you'd prefer a different one.

oh, Morphy, share! I love those cookies. So appetizing! So good with a good book and with a cuppa good coffee.

*wanders off to the corner table, The Neverending Story under her arm......

Oooooh yeaaaaah. They have nuts even.

Heaven.

Oh geez, Morphy and Karen ate all the cookies. I may have to go raid my own freezer! I have about as much luck keeping book recommendations off the wishlist as I do keeping cookies in the freezer. Lol.

Oh, Hi Joe, nice new thread here. Love the picture.

>4 maggie1944: We'll bring some over to your corner, Karen. I remember enjoying The Neverending Story many years ago. And being disappointed with the movie that came out based on it.

>5 Morphidae: Excellent - glad we got the right ones for you, Morphy.

>6 Donna828: We can find some more of those cookies for you, Donna, if you want. We can't keep cookies in the house for long either, mainly because of me. I'm an oatmeal raisin cookie guy for some reason, and good ones are hard to find.

Glad you like the thread and picture!

For those who know seasonsoflove, her birthday is on Sunday (5/27). We're going to help her celebrate part of it with a brunch.

For Becca's party. Absolute heaven.

Even though her father's a tasteless clot who'd rather read crummy windy poopyface Chuckles the Dick than that monadnock of literary achievement, Faulkner. His character flaws are not her fault, after all. Inborn in him, or possibly the product of early childhood abuse. I suppose we shall never know for sure.

Nice selection of ice cream from such a deluded fellow who can't appreciate great stories and characters from a master. I do agree that WF is a mad duck when it comes to literary achievement.

Becca's a gem, as is her ma, so the genetic benefits probably come from that direction. I gave her fairly crummy knees, but I don't think she's thanking me for that.

Choc chip bikkies, spiced pumpkin pecan ice-cream? It just keeps getting better around here.

And whats this new thread Joe, didn't you just have one about 4 seconds ago? Or is my timekeeping out of whack. Time flies around here.

I see that you read The Swerve back in January....I'm onto it now (in fact, dont tell the library but, I took it with me into the sauna at the pools last night!). What were your thoughts on it? My main thought so far it that I am definitely going to convert to humanism.

>11 LovingLit: I know, Megan, I could make do with just the choc chip bikkies (hah! love it - not a U.S. term) and that spiced pumpkin pecan ice cream.

Yes, I loved The Swerve. I reviewed it in post #68 in my second thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/131535. (I still haven't learned how to link directly to a post). Lucretius was a radical thinker way ahead of his time, and Greenblatt's an ace at sculpting a complicated set of facts into an enjoyable read.

Great, thanks Joe, I hoped you might point me in the right direction for your review (hoping it isnt posted on the book page otherwise I come across as looking like a right idiot!).

Tea and bikkies is one of my favourite pastimes :)
(I cant say cookies, it just feels too strange)

eta: doh! Your review is on the book page.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/131535#3198133

That's post #68. To get that string in your address bar, all you need to do is click on the number next to the post you want to link to. The numbers after the hash mark represent that message's unique identifier.

Ta da!

>13 LovingLit: Hah! I wasn't going to say anything about the book page.

>14 richardderus: Oo, cool info, Richard, thanks! I will experiment right now.

Here's my Insurgent review: http://www.librarything.com/topic/136931#3407808.

Hah! Yeah, baby! (I think Mike Meyers just stopped by).

Can't catch up. Too headachy and grumpy.
Nice looking beverage in 239 of last thread...

Did you not put your review on the book page? Or have I lost what little was
left of my mind?

What have you got for hot, grumpy and headachy?
I think I need an ice cold diet coke! And excedrine.. :P

Sweet Tea? with lemon!

nice new thread, mr. crumby (sic) knees. ;)

we'll have to give SOL a rousing chorus of hippo birdy on the day.

>14 richardderus: nifty, RD.

whoops. 'puter backing up. must away.

>16 mckait: Sorry you've got the hot grumpaches, Kath. Yes, we'll get you some ice cold Diet Coke and excedrin pronto. Get a comfy seat and take it easy for a while. Nice and cool in here.

Yes, I did post on the book page. Richard is very strict about that. (I'm not complaining).

>17 maggie1944: Sweet tea with lemon sounds good, Karen. We'll bring some over to your corner spot.

>18 mirrordrum: Thanks, Ellie. Some know me as Robert Crumby Knees (ok, I can hear some groans out there). Love the idea of a chorus of hippo birdy for Miss B. She'll like that.

Hope you have a great holiday weekend.

I've started Among Others by Jo Walton, which just won the Nebula Award. It's an interesting slow build so far. Her main character loves to read and references a lot of sci-fi and the like, including Vonnegut, LeGuin and Zelazny, so I'm enjoying that.

Hi Joe- Modelo please, with a lime of course and a icy glass if you have one! What a gorgeous day, huh?
Love the new thread and the picture at the top is beautiful. You really know how to pick 'em. We need to go to an art gallery at some point and you can show me around.

Hi Joe. I hope you are on the verge of a wonderful holiday weekend, full of great reading (and good food at the cafe, I suppose)!

Nice review linkage Joe :)
Thanks for not mentioning the book page, diplomacy is obviously one of your many strong points.....seeing the glaringly obvious is obviously not one of mine.

>20 msf59: Good call, Mark!



Glad you like the thread and pic. You know, we should try an Art Institute outing some time. For ex, they have a fun Roy Lichenstein exhibit going on now.

>21 EBT1002: It's verging all right, Ellen, and I hope yours is, too. We closed the office early, so that was a fine way to kick off the weekend. I'm enjoying the Jo Walton, and I suspect there's a stop at the Book Cellar (good neighborhood bookstore) in the cards this weekend.

Yup, the cafe will be open all weekend, and vets get whatever they want on us. I believe Mr. Mark's a vet, yes? So we can keep the Modelos coming and whatever else.

>24 jnwelch: Hah! Believe me, Megan, my family could give you an earful about my missing the glaringly obvious! "Mr. Oblivious" is one of my nicknames in Hacienda Welch (true story). Apparently I get caught up in my thoughts and miss the glares. And the obvious. Of course, there are some who think I work this quirk when it suits me.

Glad you liked that RD-inspired linkage!

Joe - signing in to ensure my reservation of a seat with a good view of the street in the cafe. Have a great weekend mate.

Your seat is ready for you, Paul. You have a great weekend, too, buddy.

Don't those Modelos look tasty? I've been drinking the lighter one but the darker one is also very good.
I saw some info on the Roy Lichenstein exhibit and they do look fun. Maybe, one Sunday, we can meet you down there.
Keep in mind, I plan on making Printer's Row that Sunday. So, we'll have to make plans to hook up.

*slipping in to occupy the corner table in the back* And I'm sure to enjoy the cafe au lait this fine morning. Still reading The Neverending Story.

Can I have ham and biscuits with red-eye gravy, two eggs over easy, and a bottomless mug of El Diablo Blend from Chicago's own Intelligentsia Coffee?

BTW, there's a very good chance that I'll be in Chicago for a few days in early November, to visit friends from medical school and residency.

>27 msf59: Yeah, Mark, it may not work out for the Lichtenstein because of timing, but we'll figure something out. We're looking forward to Printers Row! I'll pm you and we'll plan how to meet.

>28 maggie1944: You've got it, Karen. How're you enjoying The Neverending Story?



>29 kidzdoc: Woo, I'm impressed you know about Intellegentsia, Darryl! We'll get you your ham and biscuits with red-eye gravy, and the two eggs over easy, and while you're waiting, here's your El Diablo (as many refills as you want):

Such a nice cafe!

Ah, the Negra Modelo is one of my favorite beers! Good taste!

Greenblatt was on the Newshour on PBS last night talking about The Swerve, Joe. I posted the link on Richard's thread.

>31 jnwelch: My friend from residency has lived in Chicagoland for the past 12 years, and the last time I visited her we went to Myopic Books, the Around the Coyote Arts Festival, and a nearby Intelligentsia Coffee shop. I loved the El Diablo Blend, and bought a pound of it as we were leaving. I haven't ordered it in awhile, so I'll have to do that soon. I just ordered the Rare Sumatra Duo from Peet's this week, so I'll wait for awhile before I get it.

I just saw that Intelligentsia opened a branch in Midtown Atlanta, where I live. Unfortunately it's only a training lab at the present time, and not a cafe. Rats.

>32 maggie1944: Thanks, Karen!

>33 ronincats: Thanks, Roni! I like that Negra Modelo, too. I understand it's Vienna-style, created in Mexico by Austrian immigrants. Fits my multicultural psyche, not to mention tasting good.

Hmm, I'll run over to Richard's thread pronto. I'd love to hear what Greenblatt says about The Swerve.

>34 kidzdoc: We're on the same coffee /books/art wavelength, Darryl. We love Myopic Books and Around the Coyote. You probably heard the latter was discontinued. I hope some day they go back to its roots with small artist galleries in the area (we used to live in Bucktown). IMHO the organizers got too ambitious with it and killed the goose that laid great art eggs. Intelligentsia coffee is excellent - I'll have to try El Diablo. I just ordered Aged Sumatra Peaberry from Peet's. Ellie (mirrordrum) got me started on Peet's, and I haven't stopped since.

It would be great to see you in September if you have time. I work in the Loop and we live about a mile and a half west of Wrigley Field, so I'm flexible.

It's hot and sticky. Up to 82F this afternoon. I HATE LOATHE DESPISE DETEST ABOMINATE REVILE AND ABHOR summer.

Cantaloupe and limeade smoothie, please. Cheese straws too.

>33 ronincats: Ah, that was a treat hearing Greenblatt read from The Swerve, Roni! He picked a perfect excerpt.

>36 richardderus: I sense you're feeling overheated and you aren't fond of summer, RD. We should find you a cool glen somewhere. In the meantime, we've got your cantaloupe and limeade smoothie (that was a new one for the chef), and some cheese straws.

Goldy turned south on Seventh Avenue, past the Theresa Hotel entrance, past Sugar Ray's Tavern, past the barber shop where the sharp cats got their nappy kinks straightened out with a mixture of Vaseline and potash lye. He turned east on 121st Street into the Valley, climbed over piles of frozen garbage, kicked a mangy cur in the ribs, and entered a grimy tobacco-store which fronted for a numbers drop and reefer shop.

A Rage in Harlem is a savagely funny story set in Chester Himes' 1950s Harlem. Goldy is the savvy twin brother of the endlessly credulous Jackson. Goldy is a minor con artist who sells tickets to heaven while dressed up as Sister Gabriel. Jackson has to rank up there with the most foolish people ever to walk this planet, a dream victim. When he falls for a con involving changing 10 dollar bills into 100s, Goldy tries to help him recover while servicing his usual ulterior motive of helping Goldy.

Himes's regular characters, the cops Coffin Ed and Grave Digger, become involved after dead bodies start cropping up. Their solution to most problems is shooting with deadly accuracy, which of course isn't destined to lower the body count. The book is filled with sardonic humor, e.g., when Goldy goes to the Harlem post office he sees "There were pictures of three colored men wanted in Mississippi for murder. That meant they had killed a white man, because killing a colored man wasn't considered murder in Mississippi."

Jackson chases after the money he lost, and everyone chases after a trunk filled with 18 carat gold ore being used in yet another con. It's all a darkly funny roller derby through the author's tart and bitter-tasting Harlem.

Thumbs upped that one, Joe!

*sluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp*

Another cantaloupe and limeade smoothie, please sir.

Thanks, Mr. D. Man, you're fast! With both reading reviews, and downing those smoothies. Another cantaloupe and limeade smoothie coming up. Appreciate the thumbs up!

Great review Joe! You get a thumb from me! I'm glad you enjoyed it and I know I already look forward to revisiting it. In the meantime I'll keep making my way through the series. Are you tempted to do so as well?

It's been a while since I've dropped by at the café. I think I'll have a nice latté please. Already had toast with an organic hazelnut spread much like Nutella, topped with banana slices. Feels more like dessert than breakfast, but YUM! So no snack for me right now, but the books and company are worth the visit. That being said, I'll go catch up with those reviews I missed on your last thread. I see your review of The Grapes of Wrath has been a Hot one, and I'll no doubt want to add my thumb to that one too!

>41 Smiler69: Thanks, Ilana! And thanks for recommending that I read this one. Yes, I'm tempted to read more in the series. Are there two more in this cycle? Do you know their titles?

Mmmm. I want some of that toast. I'm not as big a Nutella fan as my bride and daughter, but that combo sounds mighty good.

Appreciate your thoughts on the reviews. You know, I actually didn't plan on writing one for The Grapes of Wrath, because so many have been written, but once I put down the quotation I liked, that just got me going.

Good to have you here! A nice latte is coming your way.

Joe, I just added all the books of The Harlem Cycle to my wishlist last night actually as I have every intention of reading them all eventually. There are 8 in total, plus a 9th unfinished book as well. I'd be surprised if they were all equally as strong, but I'm sure there are plenty of interesting characters and plot twists in each of them to be worth spending time with.

The Nutella/banana combo is indeed delicious and equally good on crepes. Something I indulged in often during my 5-month stay on Crete many years ago, where they have crepe outlets for quick and easy snacks and meals.

I know what you mean about the reviews for GoT. I always hesitate before writing reviews for such popular and oft reviewed books too, but I figure everyone has their own take on it, and I really like being able to go back on my own notes on a book later, when it's become fuzzy in my mind. I just read one of the reviews by someone who wasn't quite as taken by it, for instance and remembered that I wasn't a fan of the ending either, even though it's quite vague in my mind now. I don't know if "not a fan" is the right word though, because I remember thinking that I understood where Steinbeck was going with it, although it didn't sit that well with me. I'l be reading that one again in future, so we'll see how it goes the 3rd time around.

Most of my longer reviews end up that way because I initially have no idea what to write, and once I get started I just can't stop! Which reminds me, I'd better get cracking on reviews on my thread too soon. that coffee will give me the stamina I need, thanks!

hah! i listened to that Greenblatt interview last night and was gonna post it but got scooped. steamy stuff that De Rerum. could one of you Swerve peeps please tell me how to spell the name of the guy who got all over the papacy and then got toasted for an heretic? sounds like Hoos but even trying different spellings i can't find anybody by that name on Google.

will read your review when the mind is more focused, JW.

cheers.

Hmm. Poggio witnessed the burning of the heretic Jerome of Prague. Not sure about Hoos. Will give it more thought.

ETA: Cossa? the one who claimed he was the real pope?

ETA: Got it! heretic Jan Hus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hus

ETA: Sure were a lot of people being toasted as heretics back then.

Hiya Joe! Looks like the Cafe is hopping. Everywhere else looks quiet. Friends of ours are having a 25th Anniversary party this evening, so I'm chilling awhile before we head out.
Good review of the Himes book. Between you and Ilana's collective enthusiasm, I NEED to give these a try.
I am LOVING 11/22/63. All-ready over 200 pages in.

Hey, Mark! Should be fun for you tonight - kudos to the 25ers. We know how unbelievably tough, I mean, wonderful, it is to hang together that long. We're heading for 29 this year, if Walklover lets me live through early August.

Himes - yes, try one. You like dark humor, so I wouldn't be surprised if you started eating them up like potato chips.

Glad you're loving 11/22/63. I'm told it can also be used as a step stool to get to those high shelves.

Coffin Ed and Gravedigger Jones are two of my favorite jungle guides into the underworld of Harlam.

Still remember the movie of Cotton Comes to Harlem too many many years ago

Limeade and a couple of apple cider doughnuts if you got 'em

Thumbed you ! That sounds very good!

I HATE LOATHE DESPISE DETEST ABOMINATE REVILE AND ABHOR summer.
me too. 88 here. So they say, probably more like 90. Blah

mmmm Limeade!

You guys need to come visit me. I don't think we broke 75 today; but on the other hand, tomorrow is supposed to be cloudy and rainy. My tomato plants are stunted.

Unnecessary cruelty from the northwest :(
This is just the beginning!

>48 magicians_nephew: Yeah, James, the movie of Cotton Comes to Harlem was my first exposure to Chester Himes, too. Very funny. I'll probably read the book now, lo these many years later.

Limeade and a couple of apple cider doughnuts - can do, headed your way.



>49 mckait: Thanks for the thumb, Kath! Sorry it's gotten so hot. Rushing limeade to your table after a quick stop at James' table.



>>50 maggie1944:, 51 You know, for some reason it's cool where we are, too, Karen and Kath. I know Mark in the 'burbs got some heat, but here we've had a nice cool breeze. Sorry about your tomato plants - I love fresh-picked tomatoes.

Here's a photograph I took today at the Rhododendron Species Garden, maybe we can hang it on the wall, back in the back where that sweet little table is...

So beautiful!

Lovely. Does it do anything?

Oh, so very very busy. Have a few minutes to myself now (between baking cupcakes and heading out present shopping for my five year old nephew on the way to the family celebration) so would love a pot of tea. I'll be over at the quiet table with a good view of the rhododendron photo, just starting The Calcutta Chromosome.

Can I place an order for fish & chips for the next 3 days ....... well until I move house :)

in meantime a pot of tea to help the packing go faster would be great

Fish and chips here too, please! Lots of crispy bits and a bottle of malt vinegar and some tartar sauce, and lemme see here, a Newcastle brown ale.

Yes, it's 7a here, but I am hungry and it's hot so breakfast food sounds revolting. Guests later, so alcohol will help me be genial instead of irascible. I hope.

oh that does sound yummy rd!

Morning Joe- We had a nice time last night. It was fun watching their wedding video. I had not met Sue yet but she had stood up at their wedding. Everyone looks like little kids, playing adult roles.
Have a great time with "birthday girl" Becca today!

>53 maggie1944: That's a lovely one, Karen. We'll put it up in your favorite corner. What exactly is the Rhododendron Species Garden?

>54 mckait: Agreed, Kath.

>55 richardderus: One thing I'm pretty sure it does, Richard, is attract people with cameras who take pictures of it.

>56 wookiebender: There you are, Tania! I was just thinking how we haven't seen you for a while.

Cupcakes and a present. Your nephew is one lucky guy. Have fun at the celebration.

I know people like the author of The Calcutta Chromosome. Is this your first?

Bringing a pot of tea over to your corner:



>57 roundballnz: We're setting up a running three day order of fish and chips, Alex. But look out - you mention fish and chips in here and the denizens start lining up. Good luck with the move! Another pot of tea coming your way.

>58 richardderus: Good morning, Richard. You bet - fish and chips coming up with the crispy bits and a bottle of malt vinegar and some tartar sauce, and a Newcastle brown ale. Sounds like a good breakfast combo to me.

You're often genial and irascible, an interesting combo of its own.

>59 mckait: Yup, I'm tempted myself, Kath. And I don't usually have Newcastle in the morning.

>60 msf59: Glad it was a good time. Yeah, I know when I look at our old wedding photos, I think about what absolute kids we were. Jeesh.

We're taking birthday girl Becca out to brunch this morning and then watching Woman in Black with her (you know her, she likes the scary creepy stuff). After that she's got events with pals lined up. And a day off for the holiday tomorrow! She's a happy girl.

Joe, the Weyerhaeuser family was very big in logging the pacific northwest region and I guess all that time in the woods led them to love rhododendrons which are plentiful in this temperate climate. There are nearly 1,000 species of rhododendrons and this 22 acre garden has over 500 of them, including many in a conservatory which provides a tropical climate for those which grow in southeast Asia and northern Australia.

It is a great place to see groupings of plants which are suitable for our climate and it is a help in designing a new garden around a new house, as I am trying to do. A species is a plant which can be considered a "native" to an area; hybrids are those plants which humans have "created" by breeding species together to create something new, and presumably "better".

I'm going to head back to the corner table and read in the book my friend loaned me: Japanese Maples Momiji and Kaede. The gardens has many Japanese Maples to be companions to all those rhodies, and azaleas. I'll appreciate a cafe au lait, and perhaps an order of FISH AND CHIPS!

Speaking of irascibility, I Pearl Ruled a book that lots of folks around here loved, but I LOATHED: Black Swan Green. The review's in my thread...post #243.

We should also rent the Woman in Black, since I just read it. Sue would enjoy it.

That Weyerhauser garden sounds great, Karen. 22 acres - I'd like to be exploring that today. Maybe with Son #1's change in circs we'll get there. And how exciting for you to be designing a new garden around a new house! It took us years where we are to get the front and back and sides the way we like them. I probably mentioned, I always wanted a Japanese maple - I just love that color. We finally got one out front, and after a stuttering start, it's now thriving.

A cafe au lait coming up, along with - here we go - fish and chips. I may have to order fish and chips to go with my brunch. This is getting too tempting.

>63 richardderus: I'll look forward to reading your irascible review, Richard. I don't know that one, but I know a lot of people like David Mitchell.

I think I am going to rent it too... I have been thinking about it... maybe tomorrow?
Joe starts another trend!

The Woman in Black had us creeped out and yelling. A success. :-) Sometimes we were yelling for Harry Potter - fun but unfair to Daniel Radcliffe who does a great job with the part. Becca read the book and saw the play in London (which was faithful to the book), and says the movie changes a few things, but she liked it a lot.

That Harry Potter, um, I mean Daniel Radcliffe, is carving out quite the career. I think he plays Allen Ginsberg in an upcoming movie.

Yep, here it is:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20579705,00.html

So it looks like A Rage in Harlem is the first in the series and I'm putting it on hold at the library. I've been off taking care of my FIL for the first part of the weekend, which means I might need a Manhattan if the Cafe has those available, Joe.

I've lost a lot of weight over the last couple of weeks which is a good thing but meanwhile I'm hungry so if you please, I'd like you to rustle me up some major virtual grub - scrambled eggs (firm, not runny), bacon, grits with butter and salt, cantaloupe and rye toast with butter.

I'll just sit over here in the comfy chair and continue reading The Night Circus which while a little slow, is in general, a delight.

Good morning, everyone. Today I'm going to have to pass on reading, and sitting, for a little while. I need to dig a hole, add some good clay busting mulch, mix it all up and plant a new Rhododendron! And then, if I have the energy I need to put a couple more tomato plants in some better places. And then.... if I am lucky and energetic, I'll get all the weeds pulled in the front yard before the rains arrive. Weather prognosticators are suggesting we have about one full week of rain, and chilly May weather, ahead! That will be plenty of reading time.

Oh, would you send me some of that chilly May weather? 88 and muggy in nyc today. Yuck.

>68 NarratorLady: Thanks, Anne. That should be very interesting. I do think he's a good actor. How in the world did someone have the prescience to cast those three? Emily Watson is smart and capable, and even Rupert whomever grew perfectly as Ron.

I haven't seen Daniel R. try to pull off an American accent, but the Brits all seem to be able to do it.

>69 EBT1002: Jeez, Ellen, my mom used to drink Manhattans. I haven't thought of those for a while. Yes, we can pull that together for you. If I had my dad here I'd have him do it.

I suspect you can knock out A Rage in Harlem pretty quickly. And I suspect it's one of those where you'll know pretty quickly whether it suits you. Or maybe my short review said enough so you already have a feel for it.



>70 Morphidae: You bet, Morphy. A tip of the hat from the chef. Coming your way: firm scrambled eggs, a rash of bacon, grits with butter and salt, some cantaloupe and buttered rye toast.

I'm not a circus person, so I haven't been attracted to The Night Circus. It'll be interesting to hear what you think when you're done.

>71 maggie1944: Great way to start the day, Karen, planting your new Rhododendron. Let us know if you want a cafe au lait to go. There are some predictions of hail here today, and we just pulled in our new awning.

Our plan is to buy a new mattress today and see MIB 3 with seasonsoflove. She had a terrific birthday yesterday, BTW. We lent her our kitchen and deck for her gathering, and then they went to a drag club in town. Not sure about the appeal of that, but Walklover finds them fun, too. I'm sure we'll hear tales today.

Hey, for you U.S.ers, Happy Memorial Day! And thank you to all our vets, and those vet-supporting families!

Yes, a cafe au lait, to go, is one good idea. I am remembering not only our veterans, and their families, today; I am remembering how much our entire country has sacrificed to support so many wars. We need to rededicate ourselves to finding ways to wage Peace.

>72 ffortsa: Hi, Judy! Yes, it's gotten really hot here, too. Our house is cool, thank goodness. Yet we're off to take a walk to the grocery store, crazies that we are.

I wouldn't mind hanging out and reading Among Others, which now has really grabbed me.

>74 maggie1944: I like that idea, Karen. Waging peace - why don't we try something different from the entire history of our cursed and blessed human race. It's about time.

Cafe au lait to go, here you go:

>73 jnwelch: It's not a circus as in a big tent circus but rather a more intimate set of shows with many little tents with one performer or a small group of performers doing one type of show per tent. It's interesting.

Thanks! Nice cup.

I'm joining Richard for breakfast this morning, so double orders of the fish and chips (with all the specs) AND the Newcastle, please.

Hi Joe- It looks like another hot one here, although it's starting to cloud up. Actually we could use a little rain. It's been dry.
We are going out for an early dinner later, otherwise ,just hanging out in the a/c. Enjoy your day!

>79 ronincats: Good morning, Roni! I know, how did Richard manage to make that sound like a good breakfast? I'll join you, and make it a triple order of fish and chips (with all the RD specs) and a Newcastle.



>80 msf59: Thanks, Mark. It is hot! We succeeded in finding a good mattress on this sale day. Next event is early afternoon movie - the new MIB. Looking forward to seeing Frank the Pug! We may go into the theater on a hot day and come out in a storm, we'll see.

Hope you have a great one, too!

srsly.... you have GOT to read Night Circus. It is a pretty short read and totally indescribable ...really.

I know a lot of LTers have loved it, Kath, including Walklover and seasonsoflove. I'll think about giving it a Pearl Rule run at some point. Right now I'm having a good time with Among Others.

hey ho, Joe ... finally back with enough time on my hands to do more than quickly skim through the threads. Catching up on threads is also giving me a wonderful excuse to put my poor sore feet up for a few hours.

Well, I will leave it to those who know you best to coax.. I will just wait patiently for you to report
that it was fabulous. Pearl rule will not do it. If you try that, and still are not sure.. open to page 88 and read 2 pages.

>84 cameling: Hah! Good to see you, Caro! Welcome back. Put your poor sore feet up here as long as you like. I'll be stopping by your thread again soon. Sure liked the pics you put up there.

>85 mckait: I like your enthusiasm, Kath! I'll follow your recipe.

Feet were up until a few minutes ago when the angle of the sunlight coming into the room highlighted all the pollen dust covering the tv stand and furniture in the room. So up I hopped to wipe them all down.

Need a cold Bulmers. ;-)

What is that? You can read through it !

Kath, perhaps it's some sort of fancy ginger ale. Note the ice cubes. It *cannot* be some species of beer.

Yummy ... it's my favorite Irish cider. And you provided ice cubes too .. well done, Joe!

Ah, good. Glad that hit the spot, Caro.

Pear cider? Hm...I could go there.
yes, I am there. Ill take two thanks Joe!

That does look good, doesn't it? Two Bulmers coming up, Megan.

Pear cider. Huh. What *will* they think of next?

Chimay, please, and a double fish and chips as before.

Ooooooh, Chimay! Always gives me gooseflesh. Did I mention I recently bought a "bomber" of the Red? Saving it for the right moment.

Hey, how was the movie? I heard Josh Brolin was terrific! And we can't forget Frank the Pug, the shameless scene-stealer.

I have to chime in Joe, on The Night circus. Put any thoughts of a conventional circus completely out of your mind. I know there were a few detractors but this is a very good debut novel.

Irish Cider huh... I'll pass.... :PP (PEAR!!! BLEURG)

You were rd rdear!

Mark is right, too..

>95 richardderus: Coming your way, RD. Chimay and fish & chips x 2. Try the pear cider another day.

>96 msf59: We really enjoyed the movie, Mark. Josh Brolin did an excellent job of being the young K (Tommy Lee Jones). It's not The Godfather, but it's a lot of fun. Frank, alas, only appeared via a portrait in Will Smith's room, but keep an eye out for a billboard when they go back to the 60s.

Got to admit I'm not excited about The Night Circus, but I'll give it a chance at some point given your, Morphy and Kath's enthusiasm.

Guinness... must have Guinness! icy cold please and on tap?

Thank you .......

Here you go, Kath:

Ahhh many blessings on you.

OooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooOOOOOoooooooo that looks good...maybe one of those for me, too...yes, on balance, I think so (and there goes the balance).

>>101 mckait: You're welcome, Kath. We'll set you up with a Guinness and cushions around your chair, RD.

Oh, somewhere up above you asked if The Calcutta Chromosome was my first by Ghosh. It's not, I've read (and liked) a number of his, especially Sea of Poppies. I'm hoping to join in on the group read of River of Smoke next month.

That Guinness looks mighty fine, but I do have work to do (botheration!). I'll stick with my tea, thanks. Love that elephant teapot, I may have to steal it on my way out. ;)

Joe, I'm another one recommending that you give The Night Circus a try. I don't always like magical realism and I really liked this novel a lot!

And I'm thinking, now that I've finished that Manhattan (yum), that I'll try a Corpse Reviver #2...... Got any absinthe on hand? :-)

Actually, I'm propped up in bed with a glass of white wine and The Grapes of Wrath after a somewhat stressful family-in-law oriented 3-day weekend. I'm almost glad I'm going back to work tomorrow! I'm on chapter 16 of TGoW and it is such a masterpiece.

Hmmm seems I started something with the Fish & Chips .... but really is there such too thing as too much ??? bizarre thought

all the trimmings with a side of mushy peas (my old man used to love them) if you please .....

Oh dear... there you go with fish and chips again. I agree, I could eat that meal 2x a week!

>104 wookiebender: I've heard good things about this author on LT, Tania. And please feel free to assimilate the elephant teapot. You get our favored customer five finger discount.

>105 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. The list of endorsers for TNC is a long one!

We can get you that Corpse Reviver #2 if you want it, and yes, we can add that dash of absinthe for a proper one. Glad you're liking TGoW - I agree, a masterpiece.

>106 roundballnz: You started a good thing with the fish and chips, Alex. Not too much - just widely popular. We'll get you all the trimmings with a side of mushy peas. As an American, it's hard to get my mind around mushy peas, but I know it's traditional.



>107 mckait: The chef's at the ready with the fish and chips, Kath. I could eat them 2x a week, too.

so.... what exactly is that greenish sauce-y thing-ie? Mushy peas? And these are good, because why?

I do love the fish 'n chips, though. Ivars in Seattle makes the best, and has for over 50 years. Seattle is kinda fishy town.

Among Others by Jo Walton, the new Nebula Award winner, is a beautiful book but awfully hard to describe. Is it a book about magic and fairies, the latter not things of beauty but "gnarly", as one character says? Or is it a book about a girl growing up in the late 70s and surpassing her parents? 16 year old Morwenna (Mori) has lost her twin sister in some terrible but (to the reader) unknown way as they battled her bad witch mother to protect themselves and apparently all of us. Mori's been shipped off from Wales to live with the divorced father she barely knows, who lives with his three odd but rich sisters. The sisters in turn ship her off to an expensive English boarding school where she does well academically but is initially disliked for her strangeness, including her limp left over from the battle.

One important aspect of the book is Mori sticking to her guns (or cane) and finding her own place in the world. She's not the least bit mopey or twee; she's matter of fact, observant and direct, and not above scaring the others at school if that'll keep them respectful of her. I'm not sure even now if this isn't really a young adult novel, albeit an exceptionally well-written one. She is growing up and becoming aware of her place in the world and what must be done to maintain it. The magic in Mori's world is more the, you almost saw it out of the corner of your eye variety, almost indistinguishable from coincidence, but you (the reader) know it isn't coincidence. Unlike most of the rest of the world, Mori sees fairies, but so could we if we knew how and where to look.

The author may not have set out to win the hearts of LTers, but much of what she's done will have that effect. The book is dedicated to libraries and librarians. Mori's passion in life is reading, especially science fiction and fantasy, with nods to many authors like LeGuin, Tiptree, Zelazny and Heinlein, and she also is led by her curiosity to Plato and Winston Churchill and others. The books aren't an escape, but a vivid experience (some are "brill"), a means to actively engage with like-minded others, and a way to understand her changing life.

This book wasn't what I expected. It was quieter and deeper in some ways, reminding me of a more sophisticated Susan Cooper book or some of Ray Bradbury's insightful stories about young people in books like Dandelion Wine and Something Wicked This Way Comes. The school is barbaric, as all schools for that age seem to be, but it is surrounded by something more mysterious, woods filled with strange creatures, and ruins where they like to play. Besides her comfort in such locales, Mori finds a way to connect with young people in a nearby town via a book club in which she and her new friends passionately debate novels they love, and she experiences what may be love of a different sort. It's a good read, and it sticks with you in the way that so many books she loves stick with Mori.

>109 maggie1944: Them's the mushy peas, Karen. I know, I'm nonplussed by them, too.

I've had a lot of good fish in Seattle, and seen them thrown around the market, too. :-)

Among Others sounds very good! I'm going to fall down from being hit by a book bullet. Buying it on the Nook as I type.

I meant: How does one create mushy peas? I mean peas, in theirownselves (to coin an expression), are so good. It looks like they get over cooked and then mashed like mashed potatoes. What a sad thing to do to peas!

>112 maggie1944: Oh goddesses Karen44, ewewewew stop it! *bleurgh*

Upgethumbed your most generous and appreciative review, Joe!

>112 maggie1944: Good for you, Karen. Let us know what you think.

Here's a link to a mushy peas recipe that seems to fit the traditional approach: http://www.the-foodist.com/recipes/mushy-peas-recipe/

I'm sure we'll hear from our mushy peas advocates at some point. I'm remember the culture disjuncture we had over root beer and, I think, some others.

>113 richardderus: The mushy pea fanciers are lining up, RD.

Thanks for upgethumb!

mushy. peas. advocates.

sounds like an oxymoron to me.

Hi Joe- The fish & chips looks fantastic! Okay, I'll have one of those and a Duvel please! Good review of Among Others. Might have to throw that on the list.

>115 EBT1002: Hah! We'll see whether we get anything different from other time zones, Ellen. Maybe not!

>116 msf59: I know, what is it about fish and chips, Mark? I want some now, too.

Thanks re the review. I'm going to read more Jo Walton after this one. Here's your Duvel to go with it:

Link took me a blank white screen! Is that the way you treat your food critics? Harumph!

But, I won't publish. No, I won't. Your coffee is too good, and I don't want to be banished. Just keep the mushy peas a long ways away from the corner table in the back, in the dark, (oh, sorry, I need a reading lamp).

That Duvel looks good, doesn't it? I wish that doggone Belgium beer wasn't so stinking expensive. It would probably be all I would drink.

I love a fish & chips where there's a good crunchy crust on the fish and firm flaky white fish inside. Fresh cut thick fries salted with malt vinegar liberally sprinkled over. Yummy. But you can keep the mushy peas .. can't stand the stuff.

Marky-Mark - I'm with you on Belgian beer. I love them above all others ...well, apart from Guinness on tap.

Joe : Great review of Among Others. I am definitely enticed and have added it to my obese wish list.

Joe some great beers appearing here. Pear cider would suffice but I think I'll join Kath in a drop of the black stuff to celebrate her 25th birthday!
waging peace love that phrase.

OMG, that book looks fabulous!

Mushy peas.. I had them in Wales. not too bad at all..
had them with fish and chips :)

108: I was entranced and entranced again by Susan Coopers The Dark is Rising "sequence" any book that calls her to mind jumps directly onto my must read list.

Getting in line for the fish & chips. Yum. With cole slaw, please. And a Guinness, while we're at it.

Hmmm -

Recipe for the chef: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mushy-peas-ii/

and for the naysayers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushy_peas

okay back to the packing ......

Ahhh Ellen.. a genius! perfect sides :)

Mushy peas just sounds like another variation of split pea soup.

Mushy peas are great and if the cafe is truning into a chippy for a while then an order of Pudding, Chips, Peas (mushy of course) & gravy wouldn't go amiss.

>118 maggie1944: Oops, sorry, Karen. I don't know what happened re the link. Your strong dislike for mushy peas may have wiped it out.

Thanks for not telling on us. We'll keep any mushy peas away from your corner.

>119 msf59: The high cost of Belgian beer probably saves us, Mark. We'd be very happy if it was inexpensive, but the loud singing might get us in trouble. (I wonder how they handle that in Belgium?)

>120 cameling: I'm enjoying our seeing you on a regular basis again, Caro. Your description of fish and chips makes me want to have them again. We'll hold the mushy peas. I'll join you and Mark on the Belgian beers, and the Guinness, too.

Thanks re the Among Others review. It's not set up for a sequel, as far as I can tell, but I sure wouldn't mind hearing more from Mori.

>121 PaulCranswick: Good idea, Paul. Guinness all round to celebrate Kath's 25th, on the house.

I like the "wage peace" phrase, too.

>122 mckait: All right, Kath - we got our first "not bad" post for mushy peas! I somehow see us all sitting at a pub, ordering fish and chips, and everyone sliding their mushy peas over to you. :-)

Yes, I think you'd like Among Others.

*bops in to wave hi and order a big chai and an order of mozzarella sticks*

>123 magicians_nephew: The Dark is Rising sequence is what it called to mind, James, although I've enjoyed other Susan Cooper books, particularly King of Shadows. Let us know what you think of Among Others when you get to it.

>124 EBT1002: Fish and chips, cole slaw, and a Guinness coming your way, Ellen. I always give Walklover my cole slaw, but otherwise I'm quite tempted to join you.

>125 roundballnz: Thanks, Alex. What gave me pause on the All Recipes recipe for mushy peas and some others was the use of frozen peas. Fine for when you're in a hurry, but didn't seem to fit the traditional approach. Of course, it's better than a blank link.

Good luck with the packing! One of life's least appealing chores, but I'm sure the result will be worth it on the other end.

>126 mckait: I'm not a slawster, Kath, but I still agree with you.

>127 Morphidae: Only less soupy, Morphy? I know, and the soupiness of split pea soup is part of its appeal. But we've got one "not bad" for mushy peas, and a "great" from Dave coming up.

>128 AHS-Wolfy: OK, Dave, you've come through with a "great" for mushy peas, and even ordered some. Good to have a supporter in the cafe. I was trying to figure out "truning into a chippy", but I realized you meant "turning into a chip joint", right?

You're going to have to help me on the Pudding part of your order. As you know, Americans somehow went off on a completely different track when it comes to Pudding, including the perplexity that is Jello. In the meantime we'll get you the chips, mushy peas and gravy.

>130 seasonsoflove: There's our bopper! How was that birthday celebration, Becca?

A big chai and an order of mozzarella sticks coming up!

YUM I want mozzarella sticks too, please, with a vat of tartar sauce for them and the fish and chips WITHOUT MUSHY ANYTHINGS because the word mush never, ever means anything good, ever. *shudder*

I'm with Richard.

Pass the ketchup, please.

Here ya go Joe, hope this little video homage will give you an idea.

>>133 richardderus:, 134 Hah! Have to agree with you that the word "mushy" seems to augur nothing good.

Richard and Ellen, up cometh mozzarella sticks with tartar sauce (do you want a vat, too, Ellen?) and crispy fish and chips. The ketchup's hiding behind the flower vase over there, Ellen.

>135 AHS-Wolfy: Oh my goodness, Dave, is this a sign of the apocalypse? And how did you happen to know about this scary ditty? "steak pudding chips peas and gravy" - okay, at least we know it's not Jello you're after.

Birthday celebration was really fun, thanks!

I don't know what's wrong with you all. At least I didn't ask for a pie floater:

Blech.

Holy moley! What is that? I'll bet the 6 year old boy I hang out with, all the time, will love it. Oh, wait, no, he won't ... it's green!

BTW, I started reading Among Others and it has grabbed me by the collar; am switching back and forth between it and The Neverending Story. I'll be in the back, at my little table nursing some almond milk, and chocolate ice cream.

Oh, good news: lung doc sez I can get off the Prednisone, and back to my favorite medication in the whole wide world: Enbrel.

>138 AHS-Wolfy: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

whatisitwhatisit omigod can it walk what does it eat

eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Hi Joe, I was going to order fish and chips, but I'm afraid both Dave's video and picture has put me off eating anything right now! Shudder.

Maybe just a nice cup of Ginger Tea to settle the stomach.

BTW I've also been hit by a book bullet - Among Others sounds wonderful and such a beautiful cover, too!

Sorry all! Didn't realise there were so many delicate digestive systems around here. I shall refrain from posting the like again.

Oh! You should blame the Aussies for the gastronomic atrocity in the picture as they are responsible for that and I've never actually tried it personally, not that I would be averse to giving it a go though.

GAH! I have actually EATEN mushy peas...
and that...bowl...seems to contain an abomination of some sort .. BLECH
eta
I was just cooking for Duncan, and as I topped his food ( a sort of casserole )
with the peas.. I wished I could ask him if he had an opinion on mushy peas. LOL

I wouldn't ask about the floaty thing, though. He has a delicate tummy..

It just looks like a Townhouse cracker with some ketchup on it.

>137 seasonsoflove: Yay, Becca! We enjoyed our part of it. :-)

>138 AHS-Wolfy: Good lord, Dave, you're losing your mind! And I think I'm losing my stomach. *quietly takes pie floater out back to the dumpster*

>139 EBT1002: Nicely put, Ellen.

>140 maggie1944: You know it's too gross when even a 6 year old boy won't go near it!

Glad you're liking Among Others, Karen. And I'm happy to hear you're off Prednisone. I don't know Enbrel, but I know Prednisone is strong stuff. It can work miracles, and fast, but you don't want to be on it too long, right?

>141 richardderus: Hah! It could star in its own late night movie, Richard.

>142 DeltaQueen50: Yeah, I think I'll join you for some ginger tea, Judy. (Oops, RD just got even worse thinking of tea, I suspect). We've gently removed the offending substance from the premises; just don't go back and look at the vestigial image.

>143 AHS-Wolfy: Note to self: never order that thing while in Australia! Thanks for the heads-up, Dave. And for clearing out the cafe so fast. We're still trying to convince people it's really gone and they can come back.

>144 mckait: I think we all have delicate tummies when it comes to the floaty thing, Kath. I'd definitely spare Duncan unless you're mad at him.

>145 Morphidae: And it probably can be yours, Morphy, for only a small fortune. Did a chef really labor to make that?

The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck was conceived as a propaganda piece during WWII to encourage resistance in occupied countries, but it surprisingly reads like two-sided fable that reminded me a bit of All Quiet on the Western Front. Although not called such, Nazis conquer and occupy an unprepared small Northern European coastal town and the colonel leading them tries to convince the populace, through their unwilling mayor, to accept their fate peaceably.

Not gonna happen. A flare-up over forced work in a coal mine results in a Nazi death and reciprocal execution of a townsman, and the hostilities commence. The occupiers gradually realize they are trapped with a populace determined to undermine and oust them, and the phrase "the flies have conquered the flypaper" begins to circulate. Steinbeck gives us a feel for the young Nazi soldiers' perspective, as they yearn for the locals not to hate them, and to return home where life would be so much better. Some soldiers behave by the book, others try to befriend locals with disastrous results. As the Nazis become increasingly desperate to control the situation, it becomes clear they cannot. The mayor and his doctor friend exemplify that, but the town's will is widespread and adamant.

It was fun to see how Steinbeck brought his poetic talent to this patriotic project. The book has generated worldwide popularity, and its themes still have the power to move us today.

Thumbs up!

>148 richardderus: Thanks, RD!

I only wish I had more thumbs to give. This book *should* stir the supine US public to rebel against their GOP overlords.

Anyway.

I've written another fill-in review for old book circle books, this time the 5-star beauty Nights at the Circus, in my thread...post #259.

Thanks, Richard. I'll check it out.

BTW, I just started Desolation Road. A green person has appeared in the desert . . .

Oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!

thumbed!

I keep getting attracted to Ian McDonald books and Desolation Road is no exception. I'm adding it to my wishlist where it will sit with River of Gods, I have Dervish House on my Kindle waiting for me to get to it. Richard wrote such a great review of Desolation Road!

>154 DeltaQueen50: I'm going to have to read Richard's Desolation Road review when I'm done. I'm sure it's excellent. It's fun to be trying another new author. I sure liked the Jo Walton.

>154 DeltaQueen50: *blush* Thank you, Judy!

Excellent review of The Moon is Down, Joe. Thumb from me.

Hi Joe- Good review of the Moon is Down! This one caught me by surprise. It had a different feel and I loved it. Aren't these Steinbeck books incredible? And we are only half way through the Steinbeckathon.

Been away for far far too long - don't worry, I took a couple of BB hits (The Moon Is Down and Among Others) to make up for it.

I'm just finishing up a re-watch of the series "Spain... On the Road Again" and it's making me crazy hungry. How about some jamon iberico, pan con tomate, patatas bravas, and whatever else you'd like to throw out there for tapas.

Arrrgh, too many messages to catch up on right now (gotta bath dress and placate kiddos, then place firmly in BED).....but I am keen to read about Steinbeck so will return....
Also returning to try the heart attack inducing sounding mozzarella sticks (only in America!!?).

Oh goodness...am I the first Continental to come in this morning? I'd bang on the counter to wake the chef up, but I fear what would happen to the mamacado eggs I'm craving if I did. Oh, and with those mamacado eggs, can I please have a plate of crispy hash browns?

I've just realized that The Uninvited Guests is overdue, so a review and a trip to the liberry is in order.

>161 richardderus: Can tell you're in desperate straits, Richard, so we're going to bring you those mamacado eggs and hash browns right now! Look forward to reading about the returnee book. And thanks for representing our country with such verve and dash.

>157 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen!

>158 msf59: Thanks, Mark. The Moon is Down surprised me, too. Yes, finding out how much I enjoy Steinbecks I haven't read has been one of the best benefits of LT for me.

>159 LauraBrook: Good to see you, Laura! Glad those two books were bb-worthy.

I like your international swing - jamon iberico, pan con tomate, patatas bravas, and chef's choice tapas coming your way. You know I've never been to Spain? It's on my to-travel list for sure.

>160 LovingLit: Good to have even a brief sighting, Megan! We'll get you some mozzarella sticks - they're pretty darn addictive, so watch out. Lots of good Steinbeck to be had out there. I miss the days of bathing, placating and sleepifying the kiddos, and I'm at the same time really glad we don't have to go through all that any more! They're fun grown up, too, I must say.

I'm trying to be good about my eating in the physical world, so in this fabulous online cafe I'm living vicariously, and would love a strawberry milkshake, a huge chai, mozzarella sticks, and cheese fries with home made cheddar sauce and ranch dressing please!

There's one of those fun, grown-up kids we love so much! I think a lot of people enjoy the vicarious benefits of the cafe fare, Becca. We've got your strawberry milkshake, huge chai, mozzarella sticks, and cheese fries with home made (well, chef-made, so it's even better!) cheddar sauce and ranch dressing coming your way. While you're waiting for the rest:

I get to have pizza with Lucia tonight, so this should tide me over until then ;)

Ah, you're a lucky lady. Pizza and little Lucia - that'll bring a smile to any day.

sloping in to my fave place under the fern w/ me ipod. i'm nearly finished with the swerve. makes me want to reread Tuchman's A distant mirror: the calamitous 14th century.

anybody else here a fan of the SF Shibas web cam? i've been following them since Kika had her first litter in, mmmm, 08? now here's Ayumi, one of her kids from the first litter with her own first litter born May 21. i'm in it for the bliss. :)

>167 mirrordrum: Good to see you, Ellie! I just got in an order of Peet's coffee. I'm trying the Aged Sumatra Peaberry - good, and different for me.

Glad you've been enjoying The Swerve. I've had the same thought about A Distant Mirror, but I've hesitated because I got bogged down in her The Guns of August.

The Puppy Cam is ridiculously cute and impossible for a curmudgeon to comment on. At least this one. So I forwarded the link to the rest of my Chicago family who undoubtedly will be transfixed for hours.

Brrrr, cold and wet in Sydney today. I'm thinking a nice rich beef bourginon with mashed potatoes.

Went out on Wednesday night for a beer and cheese tasting event. They were ridiculously generous with both beer and cheese, which was less than ideal for a school night. But wow. I want to do it again! It was hosted in a pub at The Rocks, Harts Pub, which brews its own. And many of the beers were other local brews and the cheeses were mostly Australian too. Some great flavours, and some great pairings.

And then woke up at four am, and had a breakthrough with a coding issue I was having at work. Happy for the breakthrough, but annoyed with my brain for whirring away at such a ridiculous hour. Not the first time it's happened, either.

>168 jnwelch: well, she's thorough! i found Distant Mirror easier than Guns of August even though it was in audio, but a reread would definitely help and it dovetails nicely with The swerve. it fits perhaps even better with Tuchman's the march of folly since one of her 4 follies, along w/ Troy, Britain's loss of the American colonies and the Vietnam War, involves the Renaissance Popes and the loss of the holy see. o tempora, o mores, oh the Borgias!

a favorite bit in Distant Mirror involves the ever-present plague and the fact that when it struck, monks generally booked while the nuns remained to succor the dying and, of course, died in droves themselves. thus are good works rewarded.

the puppies will be irresistible in about 2 more weeks. :)

curmudgeonly in your dreams . . . maybe. chuckle

>169 wookiebender: Cold and wet today - I know it's getting on towards winter for you, right, Tania? We're headed your way in about 3 weeks.

The beer and cheese tasting event sounds excellent. You can get a lot of character in what's local.

Sorry about the early a.m. wake-up, although I'm glad it gave you a breakthrough. I get that work-whirring-through-the-head stuff, too, and it annoys the heck out of me.

The chef's whipping up a nice rich beef bourginon with mashed potatoes for you. I may have to sample some of those potatoes.



>170 mirrordrum: You intrigue me with A Distant Mirror. I've thought about reading that one many times. Sad that the nuns who stayed to help ended up getting the plague. Doesn't seem fair, does it? Did you ever read Geraldine Brooks' A Year of Wonders? That one really brought it home to me.

I passed the irresistible puppies info on to Walklover and seasonsoflove. My storyteller wife was just reenacting the puppy cam events for me in our kitchen. Apparently for some reason the mother hauled one puppy over all of the others, and the rest remained asleep. You would've enjoyed Debbi's version.

good morning, all! I hope everyone has a great weekend of reading!

excuse please ee cummings typing, left elbow/shoulder pain bad. a distant mirror jolted me out of complacent centrism in the 70s.

Mmm... it's a rainy day here in MA, Joe. Mashed potatoes sounds about right.... accompanied with a basket of crispy fried chicken, gravy and grilled asparagus drizzled with balsamic vinegar. For dessert, how about lemon madelines with a side of strawberries tossed orange juice?

cameling - brilliant! It is cool, and damp, here, too. That sounds just right.

For appetizers I'm eating French bread dripping in garlic butter. Mmmmm

>172 maggie1944: So far so good, Karen, for our Chicago gang anyway. We're having a yard sale - getting rid of a lot of #1 son's childhood stuff, for one thing - and I'm reading Desolation Road, per RD's recommend. #1 Son is reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn alternating with some Kindle thriller and Lies Your Teacher Told Me. Walkover's reading Wonder, and seasonsoflove is reading Insurgent.

What are you reading now?

>173 richardderus: No prob, Richard, although I'm sorry the elbow/shoulder is giving you trouble. Hard to imagine you ever being in complacent centrism, but I'm glad A Distant Mirror jolted you out of it. Inquiring minds wonder how (or why) exactly it did that.

>174 cameling: Caro! I'm still getting used to your being back. Good to see you!

OK, the chef is like a whirling dervish back there. We've got mashed potatoes for you, along with a basket of crispy fried chicken, some gravy, and grilled asparagus with balsamic vinegar drizzle. When you're ready, we've got your lemon madeleines and a side of strawberries tossed with orange juice.

>175 maggie1944: We can bring another Caro order to your corner if you want, Karen. :-)

strawberry ice cream with orange-framboise syrup = yuuummm

you'll have to read "adm" to get the full effect. governments with no agenda to assist the suffering made me madder'n a wet hen. i looked around at the carter gov't and its do-nothingism re: reining in the hideous greed of the oil companies and thought, of the people by the people for the people my lily-white one. greedy fucks rule the world, and always will unless we shout 'em down.

then came ray-gun, and katie bar the door. i've been ever more alienated from the mainstream since.

yeah.. I'll have what Caro is having ..

>178 richardderus: OK, I should read adm anyway. Amazing the value and impact of dead plankton. Bad S. Ct. decision on corporate funding of campaigns didn't help.

Silver lining: complacent just doesn't fit the RD I've come to know.

>179 mckait: Coming up, Kath. Hope you're enjoying the day. We've got a beaut here in Chicago. Lower 70s and blue skies.

....I better just have some steamed broccoli , all that chocolate I ate this morning is going to come back to haunt me.

Here you go, Megan:

mmm..love the food pics, Joe. Here are pics of some martinis I had in Sydney

Cookies n cream martini.


Honey Toblerone martini

Hi Joe! Sorry I have been away so, so long! It has been fun to catch up, and I loved your reviews of The Moon is Down -- I enjoyed that one, too, and Among Others.

Even though it's only 3:00 pm here, I'm going to be decadent and order a glass of champagne, or prosecco, or cava -- whatever you have on hand. Maybe a bottle if anyone wants to join me. Thanks!

Thanks for the treat! I'm having a day of alternating napping with reading Among Others. Haunting. I'm loving it.

I had one of these bombers last night! This is really tasty stuff!

Hope you had a good day. It was gorgeous. I like everything the family is reading. Very cool. I just picked up the audio of Wonder, so hope to get to it next week.

>183 cameling: Beautiful, Caro - and hard to resist, I imagine! That bartender has some skills. Where in Sydney did you have those?

>184 AMQS: Good to see you, Anne! Thanks re the reviews - did you read Among Others?

Looking forward to hearing about what you read in that young adult and children's lit class. We've recently been reading Bitterblue and Insurgent in our house.

How about some Cartizze prosecco?





>185 maggie1944: So glad you're loving Among Others, Karen! Alternating napping with reading sounds great.

>186 msf59: Finally they named a beer after us, eh, Mark? Looks like a good 'un.

Yes, what a gorgeous day! We were all out on our front porch, and just took a walk for some iced coffee. Looking forward to hearing what you think of Wonder. Hope you have a great rest of the weekend!

And I picked up a six-pack of this for the weekend. Sweeeeet!

LOL! Had the hardest time finding an image!

#187 : I was staying at the Sydney Harbour Marriott and had them at the hotel bar as nightcaps. :-) How could I resist, right?

>189 msf59: Hemingway would salute you, Mark! How is it? That's a new one to me.

>190 cameling: Impressive - I remember from your pictures this is the hotel with the great view of the harbor. That hotel's got a lot going for it!

You had this in Michigan or Boston! Two-Hearted Ale by Bells! Incredible beer. My favorite form that brewery.

I probably screwed up - I've had Bells Brown Ale and Winter White, but not this one. I'll sure look for it now. In Boston I had that Shipyard Ale from Maine with the cinnamon flavor that Walklover loved (me, too).

Maybe, I got them mixed up! This is the ONE, though. I didn't care for the Winter White but the Amber Ale and the Oberon are very good too.

Yeah, I liked the Brown Ale a lot, not so much the other. Good to know this is the one.

this thread makes me hungry and thirsty!
HI Joe! :)

Yeah, me too.. I am back to fish and chips and fixin's with Guinness!

I like the short sharp review of The Moon is Down Joe. I also like Kath's fish n chips idea but I'll take mine with the "arrogant bastard" ale that Mark is promoting. Hope you are enjoying a great weekend.

>196 ChelleBearss: I know, Chelle. Me, too! My beer and coffee bandwidth in particular have increased greatly since the cafe started, and I find myself craving fish and chips an awful lot.

>197 mckait: I'm joining you, Kath. I'm going for fish and chips and Guinness, too.



>198 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! It's a short sharp book, too. I can imagine the bartender answer if you say, "I'd like an Arrogant Bastard": "Just look around you".

Just finished The Divine Miss's fabOO cucumber/avocado salad so no food for me, but a nightcap to top off my Vicodin would be nice.

Double Bombay martini up with 3 olives.

And a pillow.

Hope you're feeling better, RD. Here you go:





Another olive coming . . .

Joe... where did you find that pillow!!!! WANT!!!

I agree that it is a spectacularly wonderfully happy pillow = Nook seat! Or Kindle pad!

>>202 mckait:, I know, Kath and Karen - I want another one, too. Well, it'll always be here at the cafe for your enjoyment.

Have a great Sunday!

Morning Joe- Coffee please! Love the pillow. How cool is that? Have a great Sunday. It looks like a beautiful day.

Thanks, Mark. You, too! I was just over at your place. We're heading out to enjoy this beautiful day.

srsly... did you find it online? what did you search? Do you own it? Who made it ?

>205 msf59: Thanks, Mark. You, too! I was just over at your place. We're heading out to enjoy this beautiful day.

>207 mckait: I believe I just searched for a book pillow image, Kath, and that one looked good. If you don't find it that way, let me know and I'll see if I can retrace my steps.

That did it alright..
110$ I was thinking 40 -50 .. le sigh.
:( oh well...

Too bad, Kath. You can use the one here for free, if that helps any.

Happy Sunday Morning to you!

I love your review of Among Others. I've added it to the TBR list.

Thanks Joe :)

Have you ever seen a four-star review of a book someone's just Pearl Ruled?

You will here!

>212 Whisper1: Good to see you, Linda! Glad you liked the Among Others review. I think you'll enjoy that one once you get to it.

>213 mckait: You're welcome, Kath. Maybe they'll mark it down some day.

>214 richardderus: Thanks, RD. I'll come over soon and check it out. My curiosity is piqued, but we're really busy being lazy today. *picks up cards from the chef on the cafe back porch*

Hi Joe, I trolled through a good portion of your thread and now I'm hungry and need to get something to eat. The Moon is Down sounds very good and I'd like to make it one of the Steinbeck's I read this year.

Good to see you, Bonnie! Yes, The Moon is Down is another good one of his. I'm planning on reading Travels with Charley and Sweet Thursday and one other whose title I'm forgetting in the Steinbeckathon. This has been a great year for Steinbeck reading.

Right now I'm nearing the end of Desolation Road, a Brit sci-fi-er. What's grabbing you these days?

If you're hungry, an odd lot of dishes have been popular lately - fish and chips, mozzarella sticks, apple cider donuts, and assorted others. Just give a holler out to the back porch - such a nice day! - and we'll pull it together for you.

Hi Joe, just dropping by here and there today before conking out on the couch. Maybe a cup of tea? I enjoyed your review of The Moon is Down. This month we're onto Of Mice and Men. Of course you're more than welcome to join in! http://www.librarything.com/topic/137915

Oh my taste buds! Its only 10am here and Im already considering a martini....(I blame Caro for that)
In RL though, I am about to shove the couch over to the fire, make a cup of earl grey and read while the little one sleeps and the big ones are out of the house. Bliss! (all while listening to Roy Montgomerys atmospheric lyric-less drones....)

Thank you for the Prosecco, Joe! I have not read Among Others but your review makes me want to.

> 218 Hi, Ilana! We'll bring you some Chicago Tea Garden oolong tea before you go couch-conking.

Thanks for the Of Mice and Men invite - that's one I read recently enough that I'll just come and enjoy the comments. I sure enjoyed that Persuasion thread.

>219 LovingLit: Hi, Megan! I know, those cookies and cream martinis look pretty irresistible. What are you reading in your peaceful time?

>220 AMQS: You're welcome, Anne! That Prosecco looks mighty good. I may have to pick some up for the house. You'd enjoy Among Others; she creates an atmosphere that really draws you in.

Joe: Hope #1 Son is enjoying The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I read it last summer and couldn't believe I waited that long. Instead, back in my misspent youth, I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and assumed all these years that Huck's story was more of the same. Wrong!! There are so many layers to this book and to the character of Huck, I beg those of you who thought the same as I did to march right down to the bookstore or library and pick yourself up a copy.

re: Of Mice and Men. Did anyone see Stephen Colbert's take-off of that story with a huge super sized soda standing in for Lenny? It was in response to Mayor Bloomberg's desire to ban giant soft drinks and was totally hilarious. If I find a link, I'll add it.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/stephen-colbert-is-forced-to-execute-his-giant-pet-so...

He is enjoying TAOHF, Anne. I agree with you - it's a remarkable book.

I hadn't seen it - thanks for the Colbert link! Hilarious. "He was so young - and refreshing." :-)

I made peanut butter brownies with cocoa buttercream icing for tonight's dessert. *ugh* So what I need is a palate cleanser. Limoncello and soda on the rocks, please!

You will no longer welcome me here when you read my forthcoming review, so I'm taking my advantage while I can.

Phew, just popping in here while I'm between yoga and a meeting (and gobbling some rather yummy spicy sweet potato & chickpea soup).

I also read Huckleberry Finn at a later age, and had mostly assumed it was mostly like Tom Sawyer. (Not entirely like though, as I did try to read it as a kid and didn't get far.) Wonderful book.

When I have a spare few minutes to sit and chat, I'll make myself a gin fizz and would you mind dealing me in on your card game? I can't play poker, but I wasted a fair amount of time on bridge as a young adult. I need to get back into bridge, it was good fun.

Double Bombay Martini with olives. Richard is definitely my type of guy. :-)

I made margaritas this afternoon, my first of the season. A friend once tagged them "Margaritas with a mission." Yep.

Lovely weekend, including a great read; There but for the, which I breezed through (for me).

I tried Huckleberry Finn last year and gave up. I know I read it many years ago and enjoyed it, but didn't have the interest at present.

We're having YMCA for dinner tonight so I can relax for a while with a book and glass of Merlot.

I read Huck Finn ages ago, too. Several times in fact :) It doesn't call out to me just now....

Good morning, everyone!

*shuffles her way to the table, in the back, in the quiet, to read*

I'd love a latte and a croissant, thank you.

>225 wookiebender: Hi, Tania. Good for you for doing the yoga. I lack the patience, but I've got a sister who teaches it in Montana.

We'll deal you in, of course. The chef seems to make up the rules as we go along, but it still makes for a good time on a beautiful day.

>226 EBT1002: "Margaritas with a mission" - love it, Ellen. I wouldn't mind trying one of those some time.

I saw your excellent review of There but for the. I know we have other Ali Smith fans here.

I'm sorry the re-read of Huck Finn didn't work for you. Maybe another time.

>227 avatiakh: OK, I'm stumped, Kerry. How do you have YMCA for dinner? Is this a Kiwi expression?

Anyway, settle in with your book and we'll get you some Duckhorn Merlot. What are you reading?



>228 mckait: I read it more recently, Kath, and really enjoyed it. My Dad was a big Mark Twain fan, and we had a load of his other books. As a kid my favorites were A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and Puddnhead Wilson.

>229 maggie1944: Good morning, Karen. We've got your corner table ready. Latte and croissant coming up.

The croissant looks delicious. May I have one of those with almonds, please?

You bet, Ellen:

I noticed folks on other threads doing their top ten favorites published in the past ten years. I liked that idea. I'm going to do fiction, nonfiction, young adult and graphic novels.

Here are my top 10 fiction. If I screwed up on a publication date, please let me know.

1. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
2. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
3. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
4. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
5. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
6. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
7. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
8. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
9. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
10. Old Filth by Jane Gardam

P.S. Runners-up: The Sense of an Ending, Garden Spells, The Blind Contessa's New Machine, After the Quake.

Laughing (and being careful not to get almonds on my shirt front) --- I've not yet read a single book on your top ten of the past ten years list (although I have read one of your runners up). Most of them are on my TBR pile, though......

Garden Spells was such a delight. It made it onto my list.

>234 EBT1002: We do our best, Ellen! :-)

I hope you get to some of them. They're all near and dear to my heart now.

>235 Morphidae: I know, Morphy, I was really torn on Garden Spells. Loved that book. It is so rare to come across a well-written "happy"one.

I actually read ONE of the books on your list, Joe. Somehow, except for mysteries and one non-fiction book, Being Wrong, I can't think of any particular book published in the last 10 years that I read. maybe I should look at my library and sort by publication date. It might surprise me.

OK - it did surprise me a little. I'm not sure all these books received their FIRST publication in the last 10 years, but my copies have reasonable publication dates, and at least they don't include Gulliver's Travels in a new edition!

The Big Short
Let the Great World Spin
What Was Lost
Olive Kitteridge
Montana 1948
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Book Thief
Out
The History of Love
Disgrace
Drop City
Cloud Atlas
The News From Paraguay
Being Wrong

If any of them were first published before 2003, mea culpa for not investigating beyond the publication date of my copy. the list does not represent only my best reads of the decade, but Ii enjoyed them all.

eta on 6/05 to fix the Montana title.

That's what I did, Judy. I looked in my library by publication date, and even then I had to check a couple because I wasn't sure what I had really was the first publication date. Which one did you read? Did you like it?

It actually was fun to do, because it reminded me of all that good reading. I was just saying that there were still others I considered, like Kite Runner and Life of Pi, that didn't make this list. I imagine you'd have similar fun with it.

I'm going to do it by category because I also had a lot of favorite nonfiction, and young adult, and graphic novels. I thought about having more categories like science fiction, mystery, just plain fun (like Ready Player One), and miscellaneous (like I Am Plastic), but at some point I have to pay attention to holding down a job.

I excluded all the mysteries, as they were sure to overwhelm the list, just because I find them fun. Hm. because of that, I must have skipped The Tenderness of Wolves, which I dearly loved.

At least, looking back over the last decade of publication, I don't feel quite so out of step as I usually do when seeing all the newer books that others are reading. Next month I am going to read Wolf Hall for one of my f2f groups, so I'll catch up with contemporary lit a little bit more.

As to holding down a job, yeah, it really does get in the way sometimes, doesn't it?

I loved The Tenderness of Wolves, too, but what you say applies to me, too. It would be an overwhelming project to whittle down from all of the mysteries I read. I liked Wolf Hall, by the way, although maybe not at the level of some of its praise singers. I was one of those who found the style she chose a bit awkward.

I know, you'd think there be a cultural bias toward not letting work interfere with reading, but we're just not there yet.

P.S. I just read your list in 237. I did read and respect, but didn't love, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and I loved The Book Thief, which you'll see on my young adult faves list. At some point I'll be reading Montana 1941, which I can't seem to get the touchstone for.

Am I the only person on earth who was underwhelmed by Olive Kitteridge?

>241 EBT1002: No. I Pearl Ruled it in 20pp.

Joe, did you mean Montana 1948?

>241 EBT1002: Never been drawn to Olive Kitteridge, Ellen. Your and Richard's reactions support that.

>242 richardderus: Yes! Although the Montana Mistress touchstone for Montana 1941 had some amusement value. Thanks! Montana 1948 it is.

Love that you have Kafka on the shore in #1 spot.

#230: YMCA - yesterday's muck cooked again. I don't think it's a kiwi saying. I baked yesterday's leftovers, casserole with mashed potato topping and it was delicious.

I don't know why I helped you. Heretical apostate man-witch who must be burned at the stake for disliking Desolation Road and liking Chuckles the Dick.

Desolation Road by Ian McDonald was very good, and well worth reading. I didn't love it as much as some people have (ahem), which I understand puts me in the category of "heretical apostate." Can't tell you how many times I was put into time out for that one when I was young.

Dr. Alimantando unexpectedly has a greenperson emerge from the Martian desert and help him construct, from recently deceased technology, what will become the town of Desolation Road. A little different from your average fare, right? The book then goes through 23 amazingly event-packed years set in Desolation Road or tying back to it (although if my math is right, that'd be something like 46 here). Lust, romance, avarice, power hunger, religious longing, and a whole host of other strongly felt human yearnings, bring both growth and calamity to Desolation Road, and also help it dodge dissolution and annihilation. There's some fancy footwork with a localized, time-altering chronometer threaded throughout the story which also helps keep Desolation Road whole.

This book has some beautiful moments. The descriptions of the music played by the extraordinarily gifted The Hand, of the kind I have found pathetically lame in other books, were instead transporting. The scene in which his music tries to draw rain to parched Desolation Road is extraordinary. The rebellious All Swing Music is similarly well-described. A scene in which an elderly town couple explores their strangely enlarging garden, using twine to help them find their way back to the gate, is, well, idyllic and sublime. I hope my wife and I get a chance like that someday.

There were some things that didn't work so well for me. The author has a penchant in the book for long lists of object types or places or people which had me wiping the glaze from my eyes. "There were young men, old men, middle-aged men, tall men, short men, fat men, thin men, sick men, healthy men, bald men, hairy men . . ." This sentence goes on for 16 more lines!

That's a minor quibble in this expansive, creative work. It's filled with memorable characters, including the Greatest Snooker Player in the World and a reluctant goddess of machinery. The author undoubtedly had a good time writing it, and there are a lot of good times for the reader in it as well.

>244 avatiakh: Good to see another Kafka on the Shore fan, Kerry. OK, YMCA, got it. Although your cooked again muck sounds pretty darn good.

>245 richardderus: Oh, so now I'm a manwich, too, eh?



For your info, Mr. Snide Guy, I didn't hate it. See above.

Hmmmf. Maybe just heretical. MAYbe.

If it helps me avoid the stake, I'm good with that.

Oops. My mistake on the title year. 1948 it is.

OK, grab what you need and come on over to the new cafe. We'll bring over your food and drink.