Mamie's 2013 Madness (Page 2)

Currently Reading


January
1. Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie (4.25 stars)
2. Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson (4 stars)
3. Alice in the Country of Hearts by QuinRose
4. A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori
5. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt (4 stars)

5 Star Reads from 2012:

11/22/63 by Stephen King - my first novel by King, but it won't be my last

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien - what a fabulous journey these books that make up The Lord of the Rings turned out to be

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine - the main character reminded so very much of my own daughter, Rae, that it made me cry to see her spirit captured so beautifully

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff - hard to beat a book about books, delightful

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury - took me back to my childhood summers and introduced me to that magic that is Bradbury's writing

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad - not one misplaced word

Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck - absolutely the right book at the right moment, it made me laugh the whole way through

Didn't get 5 stars, but these books were magic:

The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - because it introduced me to the wonderful world of Dr. Siri

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith - because I loved the voice of this book's narrator

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh - a lovely, sweeping saga

Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman - a fabulous collection of short stories by an author who should be more well known

Persuasion by Jane Austen - this perhaps deserves five stars, loved the letter that still makes my heart skip a beat when I think about it

Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin - I loved this journey that retraced Orwell's footsteps through his days in Burma and linked his writings to Burma's history

Chocolat by Joanne Harris - pure magic

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell - this slow and leisurely look at everyday life is full of wit and charm and humor

Some Interesting Stuff:

This past year was my first year on LT, and because of that I felt like a kid in a candy store! So many recommendations and so many new authors just waiting to be sampled. So thank you to everyone who helped to shape my reading this past year - I thought it might be fun to show you what you have accomplished.

Books read because of LT recommendations:
1.Ender's Game - recommended by Lucy
2. Cannery Row - Steinbeckathon
3. The Woman in Black - recommended by Jim
4. The Wayword Bus - Steinbeckathon
5. The Coroner's Lunch - recommended by Richard (led to reading the next six books in the series)
6. 84 Charing Cross Road - recommended by the LT masses
7. Blood Red Road - recommended by Mark and Chelle
8. The Eyre Affair - recommended by Rachel
9. Still Life - recommended by the LT masses
10. By the Iowa Sea - mentioned on Jim's thread
11. A Share in Death - Mystery March thread (also read the next three in the series)
12. A Severed Head - discussion on Lucy's thread
13. The Winter of Our Discontent - Steinbeckathon
14. Don't Look Back - Mystery March thread
15. The Moon is Down - Steinbeckathon
16. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - was it Rachel?
17. Things Fall Apart - Group Read
18. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - recommended by Dee and Heather
19. Blacklands -recommended by Katie
20. Chess Story - recommended by Kim
21. Sea of Poppies - recommended by Judy
22. The Fault in Our Stars - recommended by Mark
23. Rules - read fro Terri's Autism Awareness thread
24. The Shape of Water - recommended by Lucy and Paul
25. Binocular Vision - recommended by Bonnie (her hot review is how I found this book and her thread!)
26. If Death Ever Slept - recommended by Julia on Mark's Murder and Mayhem thread
27. Persuasion - followed Liz's tutored thread for Ilana
28. Of Mice and Men - reread for Steinbeckathon
29. Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury GR (led me to read Farewell Summer)
30. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress - saw this repeatedly mentioned on Paul's thread when the mad listings by decades were going on
31. Wolf Hall - tutored read by Suzanne for Ilana
32. The Uncommon Reader - recommended by Rhian
33. Interpreter of Maladies - Mark's Short Story thread
34. Train Dreams - recommended by Katie
35. The Worst Hard Time - copied Ilana's idea to read this in place of The Grapes of Wrath for the Steinbeckathon (because I had just read TGoW the previous year
36. The Cold Dish - recommended by Mark (led me to read the sequel)
37. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury GR
38. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - recommended by Linda
39. Bring Up the Bodies - recommended by Bonnie and Heather
40. River of Smoke - GR formed by Mark
41. Parnassus on Wheels - discovered this gem because of the centuries lists that were appearing on Paul's thread
42. Boneshaker - recommended by Jim
43. The Guards - recommended by Mark (led to reading the next two in the series)
44. The Last Werewolf - recommended by Judy
45. The Devil's Hearth - recommended by Terri
46. IQ84 - GR organized by Mark
47. Finding George Orwell in Burma - recommended by Benita on Paul's thread (led to reading Burmese Days by George Orwell)
48. The Pearl - Steinbeckathon
49. Chocolat - recommended by Ellen
50. Heart of Darkness - recommended by Katie
51. More Baths Less Talking - recommended by Richard, Bonnie and Mark
52. Sweet Thursday - Steinbeckathon
53. The Grand Sophy - recommended by Judy
54. Devil's Peak - recommended by Paul, Richard, and Benita

So there you have it - more than half of my reading last year came directly from you. Thanks, guys! And if I left anybody out, please speak up so I can give you credit.

An idea stolen from Heather (souloftherose), who borrowed it from Liz (lyzard): ongoing series that I am actively reading. This doesn't include series where I have the first book in my TBR pile (i.e. series I haven't started reading yet aren't included). An asterisk (*) indicates a series where I already have a copy of the next book. A pointing finger (☛) indicates a series where I am waiting for the next book to be released.

1. African Trilogy by Chinua Achebe: Next Up: Arrow of God (3/3)

2. *Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones: Next Up: Third Grave Dead Ahead (3/4)

3. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache by Louise Penny: Next Up: A Fatal Grace (2/8)

4. *Commissario Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri: Next Up: The Snack Thief (3/15)

5. * Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Next Up: Days of Blood and Starlight (2/3)

6. *Divergent by Veronica Roth: Next Up: Insurgent (2/3)

7. *Dr. Siri Paiboun by Colin Cotterill: Next up: Slash and Burn (8/9)

8. Duncan Kincaid/ Gemma James by Deborah Crombie:Next Up: Kissed a Sad Goodbye (6/15)

9. * Dust Lands by Moira Young: Next Up: Rebel Heart (2/3)

10. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan: Next Up: The Dead tossed Waves (2/3)

11. *Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly: Next Up: The Narrows (10/18)

12. *Harry Hole by Jo Nesbo: Next Up: The Snowman (7/9)

13. ☛ The Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh: Next Up: ? (3/3)

14. *In Death by J. D. Robb: Next Up: Glory in Death (2/44)

15. *Inspector Sejer by Karin Fossum: Next Up: He Who Fears the Wolf (2/9)

16. Jack Taylor by Ken Bruen: Next Up: The Dramatist (4/9)

17. *James Bond by Ian Fleming: Next Up: Live and Let Die (2/14)

18. *Kenzie and Gennaro by Dennis Lehane: Next Up: Sacred (3/6)

19. *Lady Julia Gray by Deanna Raybourn: Next Up: The Dark Enquiry (5/5)

20. *Matched by Ally Condie: Next Up: Crossed (2/3)

21. *Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larrson: Next Up: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest (3/3)

22. *Philip Marlowe by Raymond Chandler: Next Up: The Little Sister (5/8)

23. *Raylan Givens by Elmore Leonard: Next Up: Raylan (3/3)

24. *Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris: Next Up: Dead in the Family (9/12)

25. Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs: Next Up: Grave Secrets (5/15)

26. Vish Puri by Tarquin Hall: Next Up: The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing (2/3)

27. *Walt Longmire by Craig Johnson: Up Next: Kindness Goes Unpunished (3/8)

28. *Wine Country Mysteries by Ellen Crosby: Next Up: The Chardonnay Charade (2/6)

29. ☛Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel: Next up: ? (3/3)

Okay, so I have been working on my list of January possibilities, and here's what I came up with. I am going to really try this year to reduce the number of unread books on my shelves, so I did join the ROOTs challenge (Read Our Own Tomes), and my thread for that challenge can be found here: Mamie ROOTs for the Home Team. It's a bit spartan at the moment.

January Possibilities

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy GR thread here: Anna Thread (TILOI #3) - ROOT (audiobook)

Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson (TIOLI #7) - library book - COMPLETED
Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie (TIOLI # 2) - ROOT - COMPLETED
Round Mountain by Castle Freeman, Jr. (TIOLI #9) - ROOT
Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones (TIOLI #14) - ROOT
Black Hearts of Battersea by Joan Aiken (TIOLI #6) - ROOT
The Pale Criminal by Philip Kerr (TIOLI #8) - ROOT
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (TIOLI #11) - ROOT
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (TIOLI #9) - Christmas Gift: Thank you, Stasia
Sacred by Denis Lehane (TIOLI #1) - ROOT
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (TIOLI #2) - ROOT
In the Woods by Tana French (TIOLI #11) - library book
Maus by Art Spiegelman (TIOLI #1) - ROOT
Alice in the Country of Hearts by QuinRose (TIOLI #22) - ROOT - COMPLETED
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt (TIOLI #13) - ROOT - COMPLETED
A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori (TIOLI #22) - Abby's book - COMPLETED

Because I am completely insane, I am also trying to complete a pyramid challenge for the Lucky 13 Challenge, so I will picking my possible reads each month so that I can also fit them into the pyramid that Abby (my 16 year old daughter) and I created. We used a game show theme, and here are the categories we came up with:

The Categories:

1. Truth or Consequences - nonfiction
2. What's My Line? - biographies and memoirs
3. Beat the Clock - time travel
4. Let's Make a Deal - I agree to read four Manga books and Abby agrees to read four mysteries - we are each trying a genre new to us that is a favorite of the other.
5. Name That Tune - books set in or about Georgia, our new home state
6. Treasure Hunt - graphic novels
7. Hollywood Squares - books made into movies
8. Queen For a Day - historical fiction
9. Joker's Wild - right now it is anything goes, but Abby and I will each choose our own category for this
10. The Price is Right - books found on sale, at a used book store, or borrowed from the library
11. Match Game - books in a series
12. Press Your Luck - authors new to each of us
13. Pyramid - books published in 2013

Hi Mamie!
Might I actually be first???

Yes, Cee! You're first!! WahHOO for you!!

Hi Mamie! Looks like I am second to join in, in another round of wonderful conversations. Have a wonderful weekend! :)

*Funny Story*

Okay, so I promised you a funny Christmas story, but in order for it to be amusing, I have to recap a story from a few threads ago. So here is the recap about our favorite Christmas ornament:

"I have a collection of mercury glass bulb ornaments that I love to get out each year. And of course, the ornaments that the kids have made through the years - everyone's favorite is this really ugly ornament that Abby has from preschool. It is just one of those cheap plastic frames that is shaped like a snowman with a hole cut in the middle for a picture to show through. The picture is the worst picture of Abby that we have ever seen - so funny because Abby always takes the best pictures. Anyway, every year we get that out, and I hang it on the front of the tree in a very prominent place - then I sit back and wait for it to disappear to the back of the tree. Abby moves it every time when she thinks that no one is looking. Then one of us puts it back in front. That ornament spends the entire Christmas season moving positions on the tree!!"

Now, fast forward to this year at Christmas. We did something different this year - we let the kids fill Craig and my stockings. They split into teams, and Abby and Birdy took my stocking while Dan and Rae took Craig's. They were given a budget and set lose. This turned out to be so much fun for everyone that we have decided to do it again next year. In the bottom of my stocking was a Christmas ornament - the kind that you can put a photo into. It was cheap and gaudy and shaped like a Christmas tree. Guess what photo had been carefully placed inside...wait for it...a horrible photo of Dan!! I am guessing that in the next two years I will be receiving two more ornaments with ugly photos inside!

Welcome Bianca! Second place is all yours! Hoping you have a wonderful weekend, too!

Love the ornament story -- like I said, your household sounds so much fun!!

Reba - Consider yourself adopted! Feel free to visit anytime!

Very cute story.

I've been doing my mum's stocking since I was old enough - about twelve I would imagine, and have gradually got better over the years. Don't think I'd put that type of ornament in though as it would have to be of me and I hate pictures of me! Perhaps I'll try and get a bad one of Connie and put that in for next year.

This year all the family (including cousins and aunts) had animal masks in theirs, which the entirely mad members of my family who went swimming in the sea on Christmas Day wore as they did so. Very odd sight.

Very funny ornament story Crazy! My tradition is to get one ornament a year for each kid so that when they leave the nest they have some keepsakes with memories of their life and us. This year I found a cool mistletoe ornament which I gave to my Hubby so I can kiss him more often!! The kids all groaned and said Gross and Get a Room!! LOL

Thanks, Jenny! Abby and Birdy were so pleased to have thought of it - and Abby is thankful that now she has ugly company on the tree! I LOVE the story about the animal masks! Too funny! My sister, Vicki, lives in Missouri, and she never married or had any kids, so when she used to come home to Indiana for a visit she would always want a picture of all of the nieces and nephews together - but she wanted it to be funny, so she always bought those big red wax lips and they would all put them on for the photo. I'll have to see if I can dig one of those up because they were a hoot.

Kim - Thanks! We used to do that, too, but we have gotten lazy these past two years. Birdy is collecting these small little bird ornaments that Hallmark has each year, so she got that ornament. Rae is collecting the Hallmark Madame Alexander ones which started the year that Abby was born - yep, they are still going! I should have gotten a Georgia bulldog ornament to commemorate our first year in Georgia, but of course that is just now occurring to me.

Craig and I love to make the kids squirm by starting conversations with, "DO you remember that time we had sex in the elevator, and..." or "You know how that scratch that goes all the way down Grammie's table got there don't you? When your father and I were first married..." Teenagers are just so easy! I never even have to finish my sentences! I am always begged to STOP immediately!

I love the ornament and making the kids squirm stories!

Thanks, Morphy! Lovely to see you here!

I do the ornament-a-year tradition with my kids, too -- and so does my mom, so they get at least two new ornaments every year. I have a large box of my ornaments, and they each have their own box. This year we had fun teasing my husband about when he was going to put his ornaments on the tree... "Oh, yeah, you don't have any!" Maybe next year we should get him some. Maybe a bunch of ugly photo ornaments of himself! (wicked laugh)

Carol - I think you should do it!!

That's a great Christmas story, Mamie. What a great family tradition to start. I can see this carrying on when you have grandchildren as well .. and think of the collection of photo ornaments that will be passed down through the generations. :-)

>100 Crazymamie: Gosh --gee -- thanks! :-)

We did the ornament-a-year with my son and it was really cool seeing their tree this year with all of the ornaments I remember on it.

back for more madness in your second thread of the first week of the new year. shwew!

Hi mamie, just to confirm what everyone else said already. What a beautiful ornament story, and now you will have one "ugly" ornament every year :)

Caro - Thanks! Now I am picturing an entire tree decorated with cheap gaudy ornaments filled with ugly photos - too funny! That just makes me laugh right out loud!

Reba - Welcome! I bet that was cool to see all of his childhood ornaments hanging on his tree. SO many memories!

Lynda - The madness continues! I think things will slow down soon - at least that's what Paul says.

Bianca - Thanks! I do think a new tradition has been started!

I am doomed I tell you! so it will be a new thread 2x a week?! yikes and woe is me

Kath - I very much doubt it - aren't things just crazy because it's the beginning of the year? Things WILL slow down, right? On the bright side, more threads means more photos, so that would be a plus, right?!

I love your photos! Miss you, though.. I am missing too much. Gah!

Did you see that I put asterisks by the funny story? Trying to tag things so you can find the good stuff. There, there dear, it will be all right. How can I help?

Book #1: Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie - (4.25 stars)

This is the fifth book in Crombie's Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series, and it is the best one so far. Finally Ms. Crombie gets the right combination of lovely writing, interesting characters, and intriguing mystery. In this one Kincaid is asked by his ex-wife Victoria to look into the closed suicide case of a poet that she is researching for a biography. Lydia Brooke has been dead for years, but Victoria thinks there is something suspicious about her apparent suicide, and grudgingly Kincaid agrees to look into it. What is so well done here is the bridging of a past mystery with a present one. I loved the merging story lines and the glimpses that we got into Lydia's thoughts through her old letters. I also greatly enjoyed the bits and pieces of Rupert Brooke poems that we were treated to at the beginning of each chapter - relevant not just because Lydia was slightly obsessed with him, but also because they are well chosen and speak to what the chapter is about. The mystery itself is interesting and believable, but what has kept me reading these books has been the characters. Do not start with this one if you have not read the others - the character development in these stories is important, and if you start in the middle, you will miss out, and quite possibly feel detached from the main players in the story. This is one set of mysteries where you want to begin at the beginning - the first few books are not nearly as good as this one, but to enjoy this one I am convinced that you need to read the others. Luckily, each book is better than the one before it, and this one is superb.

Nice review, Mamie. I will definitely be trying to get more caught up in this series this year. I believe there is a new one coming out soon.

Thanks, Katie! According to FictFact, which I am now completely in love with, the latest in the series comes out next month - it's the 15th in the series, so I am a bit behind!

Hey Mamie -

Excellent Christmas story!

s you may remember from last year, I'm a big fan of the Duncan/Gemma series. I think I may have mentioned that Dreaming of the Bones marks a real shift in the quality of the series - it's a great book. I agree with you, though, that it should be read from the beginning - it's the character development that makes this series special.

As for the 15th book, The Sound of Broken Glass, you're right - it's out February 19th. Can you tell I'm eagerly awaiting it?

Dejah - Thanks! So good to hear that you thought Dreaming of the Bones "marks a shift in the quality of the series" because that means it is not just a fluke! Good to know - I just LOVE these characters, and now I feel vested in them. I am guessing you will see quite a few of them in my reading this year! And hooray for them still coming out!

Dreaming of the Bones always stands out for me as a special book, but she keeps the quality up going forward.

Having said that, there is one book in the series coming up that I'm not all that crazy about - a major exception. I'll withhold the name and wait to see what you think about it....

Any plans for the weekend? I'll be working in the garden.

Another thread already??? Wow.

Love the ornament story. That last book sounds good.

Mamie - well done my dear the third to two threads - congratulations and what a huge snowman to welcome us too.
Loved the idea of having the kids fill the parents stockings and not vice versa. I think my lot would fill my stocking with requests for their own gifts!
Have a lovely weekend down at the Pecan Paradisio.

De-lurking to say that I agree with Dejah about the turning point in the Crombie series. Dreaming of the Bones is still my favorite in the series. You've also got what's in my opinion the worst one ahead of you. I wonder if Dejah and I dislike the same one? I won't bother to name it, either. You'll need to read anyway it because of the character development.

I am so late getting to the party that I missed your first thread!! I did skim over it quickly and Abby's pictures really stood out - gorgeous!

Things are really popping here, on your second thread already! I've been home for about a day and a half and I still haven't caught up yet. But I am excited about a fresh new year and I am looking forward to all the crazyness here.

You've reminded me that I need to get back to the Crombie series soon.

Hi mamie, thanks for reminding me of fictfact. I haven't been on there for ages and still have to complete to add all my series. I am so happy that we have got this series page on LT which makes it so much easier to add things there.

Wish you and your family a great weekend.

popping in to wish you a happy weekend!

Suz (Chatterbox) just reviewed the latest Crombie on her thread - she was very positive about it.

It's a lovely Saturday morning here in Georgia, and it's supposed to go to 58 today, so I might get some reading in on the screened in porch. Also, there will be football - hooray for that, although neither of my teams are playing today. For those of you new to my thread, I am a big Colts and Broncos fan.

Last night I finished another book - Between, Georgia, which was actually very good. I hope to post a review or a least a few comments about it later today. I am still working away at both Game of Thrones and Anna Karenina. About one third of the way through GOT and still loving it, and I am somewhere in Book Two of AK - it's an audiobook, so hard to tell exactly where I am in the big picture, but I would guess that I have merely dipped my toes into the waters. I'll check my progress with the physical book later to be able to give a better idea.

Dejah - I am not surprised to hear that Dreaming of the Bones is a standout - I thought she did the double mystery thing so well and transitioned so smoothly between past and present. It's just beautifully written. And a bummer book coming up somewhere, eh? If you are waiting for book fifteen, and there is just one dud that stands out between there and where I am at, then that's pretty good I'd say. No big plans for the weekend except for the watching of football - Craig is on call this weekend, so we will be hanging out close to home. I need to go to the grocery store, which I should have done yesterday because the weekends are so much busier - oh, well.

Terri - I know. I could have let the first thread run a bit longer, but I had time yesterday to set one up, so... Last year I did not make it to 200 posts until April according to Paul's stats - just checked, and he's right, started my second thread on April 9th last year! See how wonderfully all of you have adopted me into your folds?!

Glad you liked the ornament story! And that last book was very good - you would like this series if you have not yet read any of them, but start at the beginning because it matters.

Paul - Thanks! That snowman was huge - we got a lot of snow that year. That is Rae standing beside her monster creation that she built with Craig. Those are grapefruits that Mr. Snowman is using for buttons! Ha ha about the stockings! Really, they did a wonderful job, and it was so much fun! And they loved doing it, so it was a win-win situation. YOur weekend is already half over, but I hope it is going splendidly - thanks for your good wishes!

Carrie - Welcome to my thread! Now I am ever so curious about which book coming up is the dud book!! And another who loved Dreaming of the Bones - how lovely that I had the standout book to start my reading off this year! How fun that neither you nor Dejah named the book! Thanks for stopping in and leaving your thoughts behind for me - please don't be a stranger!

Judy - Thank you! And I'm so glad that you got to see Abby's photos - she was reading through my thread yesterday and was so very pleased at all the lovely compliments! This joint is jumping right now, but I truly believe it will slow down. Everyone is just excited to be starting a whole new year of reading - I know I am! And I am also looking forward to another year of craziness - don't you just love how unpredictable life is? Glad to hear that you made it home safe and sound - you were missed! Where are you at in the Crombie series?

Bianca - I just discovered FictFact last year thanks to Judy, and it is so wonderful to have all my series at my fingertips and even get reminders when there is a new book coming out in a series that I am reading! It also makes a trip to the bookstore much easier as I can use their App to check which book I am ready for next - why oh why do they not label the books so that it is easy to see which order the series go in?

Thanks so much for your good wishes - wishing you a lovely weekend as well!

Kath - Morning, sis! Thank you for your wonderful wishes! I hope that your weekend is happy, too. Are you working - I am thinking that you are. I will pop over and check!

Katie - Wow! She is fast - the one that is not even out yet?

*If I missed anyone, please holler, as I really do like to respond to everyone - just drop down to the bottom and post AHEM! and I'll know what you mean!

I liked Dreaming of the Bones, too, Mamie. I tried another in the series and just didn't get grabbed enough to keep going. Not sure why, as I liked Duncan and Gemma.

She got an ARC from the publisher, I believe.

Hi Joe! The first couple are not nearly as good - I only kept going because I liked the characters and people assured me they got better. I did like books three and four and thought they were pretty solid reads, but this last one just had everything, I thought. Not every series is for everyone - too many good ones out there to waste time on the ones that don't speak to you. And I forgot to tell you that Birdy LOVED the GN of A Wrinkle in Time, so thanks for that- I would not have found it if you hadn't reviewed it on your thread!

Katie - So cool! I won an ER copy of The Beggar's Opera back in November, but It still hasn't arrived. I'm so bummed because that was the first book I had won, but so far no sign of it.

I still haven't received my October (or maybe September?) ER book. Usually they come much faster than that. Could yours have gotten messed up in the change of address?

Nope because I did not sign up for the Early Reviewers until after we had moved to avoid just that type of problem - the book I won was from the November batch. But if you haven't received one from the October batch, then I should quit whining because you have been waiting longer than I have! It's just that it was my first one...

Morning, Mamie -

Wow - great day here in GA. I'm hoping to get outside later and get some sun, but I imagine I'll have football on, too.

As for the Crombie dud, I suspect you'll know it when you read it. I'm willing to bet that Carrie and I are thinking of the same book, but we'll see!

I had an ER book go missing when I moved - maybe it will find you, someday.

Whoops - just saw your next comment. Sometimes the books seem to come very s l o w l y . . . don't give up on it yet.

Great review of Dreaming of the Bones Mamie ..I guess I'll have to add this to my list of series and start at the beginning.... not that I don't have enough active series right now. :-)

Dejah - It is GORGEOUS, isn't it?! I would bet that you and Carrie are thinking of the same book also! I will keep waiting for the ER book and hoping...

Caro - Thanks! I hear you, but luckily there is always room for just one more series! LOL!

Morning Mamie! You must be on-line because everytime I close your thread and go to another one there are new posts on yours the minute I finish. Hope you're having a great day

I am a big Colts and Broncos fan.

A kindred spirit! If the Colts and Broncos keep winning they'll have to play each other at some point. I'll cheer for Peyton if that happens.

Morning Reba - I AM online! Trying to get caught up with the threads before the game starts - LOL! CAN you ever get caught up with the threads - I think not! The day has been just lovely so far - bright and sunny and delightful, although poor Craig is at the office. There is a lot of flu going around. YIKES! Hope that your day is full of fabulous!

Me, too, Carrie!! I just adore Peyton, and I think it was so wrong of the Colts to let him go.

We've having the same weather as you, sounds like -- but I am definitely not considering reading outside! We're going out to dinner with friends this evening -- favorite restaurant group is having a 20th anniversary special of a 3-course meal for $20.13 -- can't pass that up Otherwise a lovely quiet day ahead -- lots of reading if I ever stop reading threads :-)

The screened in porch is sheltered and gets full sun at certain points of the day, plus I am from Indiana - this is Spring weather there! Your dinner plans sound fun and your day plans sound delightful - looks like a relaxing day is in store for you!

Hope to get some reading (other than threads) in too! Enjoy yours.

Book #2: Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson (4 stars)

This is my first book by Joshilyn Jackson, but it won't be my last. The title comes from the book's setting, which is also why I happened to pick it up. Between, Georgia is an actual place and is named for its location between Athens and Atlanta, both of which are much larger cities. In this fictional version of the small town there is nothing small about the feud that has been brewing for years between the Frett family and the Crabtrees - and Nonny Frett stands directly in the middle of it because she is both. Born to Ona Crabtree's 15 year old daughter, and then adopted by Stacia Frett, Nonny tries to keep things from spinning completely out of control, but this proves to be an impossible task.

This book is predictable, and I wanted Nonny's inner voice to be stronger, but that being said, I really liked this story. The characters are quirky, the writing is lovely, and the humor is plentiful. An excellent choice if you are looking for a beach read...or just a brief escape from everyday worries.

"I pieced it all together later, questioning everyone who had been there, getting the details separately like puzzle pieces I had to put together in both time and space to get a clear understanding of what had happened and when. It was astrange, the odd bits that stuck with different people....Henry told me that while he was fighting with the dog, that trucker walker walked out of his bookstore with about five Dennis Lehanes on tape. 'It's terrible to get robbed, of course,' Henry said to me later. 'But looking at the bigger picture, perhaps I've created a reader.'"

"Except that was a lie. I knew what I wanted to say. I said it anyway, even though he wasn't there. 'I'm so angry,' I said. 'I'm so angry, so angry,' and saying it at last made me able to feel it. Down in the pit of my stomach, I could sense how it had grown beneath my initial panic, creeping along my bones like a vine, filling me and twining down through all my limbs, spreading up through me and binding me. The anger was a living thing, separate from me but so deep, so basic that it had been working its way through me as unnoticed as my blood, circulating to its own fierce rhythm."

How nice to read a local book, and that you loved it, even better.

I wanted Nonny's inner voice to be stronger
I get irked by that on books too. My friend from my RL book club recently wrote her first book (!!@@!) and the only criticism I had of it was that the female lead was too doubtful of herself. Maybe strong women like to read strong women?

ETA: just caught up on your last bits of the last thread (I always go back to front!)
Love your creamy mashed potatoes quoting session. I love family story's like that!
Btw, you seriously need to see the Big Lebowski soon. It is super fun, but dont worry about trying to follow the story, there are plenty of re-watches ahead to try and make sense of it all. First time just enjoy the ride!

Hi Mamie. I see you are off to a fine start this year, working on thread number 2 already!
Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

I'm catching up and dropping my star. Just dropping in to say Dreaming of the Bones was one of my favorites in the series. I've been cheering for Mannings since Archie played at Ole Miss way back when. I follow both of his boys in the NFL. Peyton, though, is my favorite because he was a Tennessee Vol! You are off to a good start. I'm not sure I can possibly keep up with all the activity on your thread, but I'll try!

Yep.. my working saturday.... it was okay, but felt really long.. blasted headache.
Not caught up... just visiting and back off to do some dishes and laundry....

Glad to see that your southern style reading is suiting you so far :)

Since Houston won this afternoon, if Indianapolis wins tomorrow it looks like they'll be playing Denver next week.

Gasp! Pecan Paridiso gets snow! Wow! Even we in in Vancouver rarely get snow! Too bad you have not gotten Beggar's Opera - I really enjoyed that one here in Canada a year or more ago. It was really an interesting mystery and took place in Cuba, which was interesting in itself. I'm looking forward to more books in the series - if Peggy Blair does write a series and I'm hoping that she will!

Megan - You make a good point: "Maybe strong women like to read strong women?" That's probably true. And maybe because I am the mother of daughters, too. I want them to think for themselves, to define themselves, not let someone else do it for them. Glad you liked the creamy mashed potatoes story - it was so much fun, and the kids still try to remember their lines from time to time. I have officially added The Big Lebowski to my list - I WILL watch it!

Chelle - The threads are crazy right now! SO far the weekend is going really well - the last of the Christmas stuff has been banished to the attic, the furniture is back in place, and I have read my first manga book...um...that was an experience! Hope your weekend is going well, too!

Lori - Another who has a soft spot for Dreaming of the Bones! It was so very good! And YES! Love for the Mannings - Peyton is my favorite, too! really don't think my thread will stay as active as it has been - is this not just beginning of the year madness? And thanks for the star - I am following your thread, too.

Kath - Oh, so sorry to hear about the headache - I hate those, and also days that feel like they will never end. I am not caught up either - I am making sure to stay caught up with my own thread, but really struggling to keep up with everyone else's.

I LOVE books set in the South - I always have. Hugs to you, sis!

Carrie - I really want the Colts to win tomorrow, but then I would like for the Broncos to beat them. *grin*

Deb - LOL! Nope, no snow in Pecan Paradisio - that photo is like 16 years old. Rae is now twenty. That photo was taken outside of our first house in Yorktown, Indiana. YOu read Beggar's Opera a year or more ago? *groan* I WANT to read it! It sounded right up my alley!

Hi Mamie!
Stopping by to see what's up.
Deb had me going for a minute there - snow in GA!
Have a great Sunday - buffet tomorrow???? What time???

Book #3: Alice in the Country of Hearts by QuinRose

Okay - so I have finished my first manga book. Um...it's a very different experience because you read it from back to front right to left, top to bottom. It takes a bit of getting used to at first, but then it becomes a natural rhythm. I found myself shouting the dialogue in my head in a stilted manner because that is my experience with the video that I have seen that has this type of animation. So I had to take a deep breath and make myself start over. Since this is my very first foray into this type of book, I hesitate to assign a rating to it. Did I like the story? Um...no, not really, but it had potential. It was a take on Alice in Wonderland, a sort of fractured fairy tale, which I normally love. But this was just such a different format. It was also just the first volume, so the story is not finished. I did like the artwork, and I liked how the traditional characters had been reinterpreted. I will be waiting to see what my daughters think of it. They read manga all the time and love it, so I guess what I am wondering is how does this particular story stack up against others? I think after I have read a few more, I would be a better judge, so for now I will leave it unrated and revisit my thoughts on it after I have read some more examples of this genre.

Hi Cee! Just watching the Packers/Viking game and putting some thoughts together on my very first manga read. Deb is a card, isn't she - I LOVE her sense of humor! And yes, buffet tomorrow - good memory, darling! Anytime after nine is good - I always start with the meat first (bacon and sausage links this time) and work my way to the pancakes and eggs. So if you get here early, you can pour yourself a cup of coffee and chat with me while I'm cooking!

Thanks, Mamie. You are so sweet to invite me - LOL
I'll be there in spirit!

Hi Mamie! I just skimmed through about 120 posts on this thread and your last one. I love Abby's pictures especially the one of the bird on the tree branch. She obviously has a good eye.

I also enjoyed reading about the fun your family has together.

Enjoy your reading on your screened porch in January!

61: Joshilyn Jackson is one of my favorite authors. I'm glad you've discovered her!

Mamie, I am a relative newcome to Deborah Crombie's series. I have read the first two so far. Mystery series like this one is part of the reason I gave myself 5 mystery categories in the 2013 Category Challenge. Hopefully I will get somewhat caught up in some of my mystery series this year.

I had to giggle at your description of reading your first Manga. I felt the same with with my first last year, it really does take some getting used to!

Mamie,
I love your January reading list. Good stuff in there. I'm still (sort of) listening to The Likeness by Tana French and I liked In the Woods a lot.
We'll be reading one shared read in January, at least: I'm picking up Maus at the library tomorrow.
And my sister was reading Deborah Crombie when I was visiting her at Christmas. She likes her.

I hope you are having a great weekend!

Well, I managed to miss most of thread one. Maybe I can do better on thread 2?

I like reading about strong women too.. I think we all want our daughters to think for themselves and not be influenced overmuch by others...

Whatcha doing today? Is there still football? I hear the hockey players will be back at it soon.. ( boo)

I will be partying, myownself :)

Morning Mamie- I see Mamieland is hopping! I love it. I am also in book 2 of A.K., chapter 24. This one I'm reading but I could see it working well on audio, as long as you can keep the characters straight.
Please add the Dog Stars to the pile. It's a gem!

Hi Mamie - your reading is off to a great start! I like the sound of Between, Georgia.

*waves* Hi, Mamie, and company.

Your threads are sooooooooooo lllllloooooooonnnnggggggg......

good stories, good book reviews, and great photographs. Your daughter does have a good eye. Tell her I said she needs to look for some good "how to photograph" books which include some discussion on composition. The technical stuff about cameras is important, but really the tips on composition can make a huge difference. She may be able to take some big strides forward. Learning how to make great pictures is not all instinct and lucky circumstances, there are some guidelines which can made a huge difference.

I think you are right to encourage her, though, as she does show some real talent.

I am trying this year to post in threads less often and read more. So, off I go.....

I think perhaps if you try watching anime in Japanese and read the English subtitles, it helps to give you the rhythm when you read the manga because there are certain pauses that are needed for certain exclamations or muttered comments that come across, IMO, better in Japanese than when they are dubbed in English.

That's been my experience anyway in reading manga, especially those from which an anime series has been produced. Try watching (in Japanese) Fruits Basket and then reading the manga by Natsuki Takaya .. that's one of my favorite anime and manga series. There are, I think 26 volumes in the series but they're tiny. :-)

Cee - You are always welcome! I could use the company today because, while the house is full, I am the only one up. Well, Craig is at work, but all the kids are still asleep. And the dogs.

Pat - Thanks for skimming your way through. I think Abby has a good eye, too, but I'll tell her you said so because she will get a kick out of it! Glad you are enjoying the family stories - we are a whacky bunch, but we love each other. And alas, I did not make it out onto the screened in porch to read yesterday - by the time I was ready the sun had dipped behind some clouds, and then it was too cold. My fault - I should have seized the moment when it was offered to me.

Carol - What else have you read by her? I would love to read something else.

Judy - Oh, you are in a good spot with the Crombie's then because it just gets better from there! I am going to try to get caught up in some of my mystery series this year, too. I am trying to be more thoughtful in choosing my books so that I can read some of the ones that have been waiting ever so patiently for their turn - I have a really nice selection actually, it's just that I am like a magpie when I see the new shiny books that are out. I don't plan on bringing less books in this year, but I would like to also really make a dent in what is already here.

The manga was an experience, but it was fun because Birdy got to teach me how to read it, and then she and Abby were just so thrilled that I was reading the type of book that they love. Abby is reading it now, so I am waiting to hear what she thinks of it - how it ranks against the others she has read. I have three more to read in order to fill my pyramid challenge, and then we'll see if I am hooked on them or not!

Ellen - I added Maus to my list after I saw that you had listed it in the TIOLI challenges because I have it sitting here and have been meaning to get to it. All of my kids have read both of them and loved them. So, if we both get to it this month, then we also get a shared read out of it - pretty cool, actually. I will be trying to do more of that this year - I added Game of Thrones to the list because Chéli was reading it, and Sacred because it was listed in the challenges. It motivates me to read what I already have sitting right here at my fingertips and makes it a bit of fun at the same time. ANd I am really liking the Crombie books - they just keep getting better.

I hope you are having a great weekend also!

Stasia - Lovely to see you! Do you have a thread up yet? I need to check again. I am hoping to get to Case Histories this month - thanks again for the time and the care that you put into selecting the books for me. It was such a lovely present!

Kath - There is still football - but only two games today as we are into the playoffs.The Colts play the Ravens at 1pm, and the Seahawks play the Redskins at 4:40 pm. Partying? A birthday party? I remember you saying that the nephlets had birthdays close to Christmas because you had already gotten their presents - so smart! I'll have to pop over to your thread to find out whose birthday it is. How fun!

Morning Mark! It is indeed hopping over here - much madness! The audio works very well, but I also have a physical copy of the book to refer to, so that helps. I am trying to become better to listening to audiobooks - I am finding that it is a learned skill. I used to zone out after about the first fifteen minutes and then find that I had missed a bunch of stuff, so I have been working at developing my listening skills! It is a work in progress, but I am not having any trouble with AK because the narrator is very good and the story is very interesting.

I will add Dog Stars to the list just because you asked me to - I trust your judgement! The Colts play today. Go Colts!!

Caro - You snuck in there while I was posting! I think that is such a good point you make about the Japanese anime - when they are dubbed into English it becomes stilted and wooden and loses its nuances. My daughters love that show that you mention Fruit Baskets - Abby asked for the manga book of the first volume for Christmas, but it was not available. I will have to try to find a used copy somewhere. I will try your suggestion - thanks for that!

HI Mamie, I had to LOL at your review of the Manga. I love graphic novels, but just can't get my head around mangas. Obviously, having a 13 year old son, I am exposed to them on a regular basis, However, they are just not for me.

Have a great Sunday with your family :)!

Hi Bianca! I will be reading at least three more of them this year because that is part of Abby and my pyramid deal. She agrees to read four mysteries (my favorite genre), and I agree to read four mangos (her favorite genre)! So we shall see if she can win me over by choosing wisely - this first one was new to both of us because I received as a Christmas present. I will also be reading graphic novels this year - six of them to complete the pyramid. The whole point of our shared pyramid was to get each of us to branch out into the other's reading territory - should be fun, and at the very least I am sure it will produce a lot of laughs.

Wishing you a lovely Sunday as well!

That does sounds like fun. I knew you do your Pyramid Challenge together with Abby, but I have missed somewhere along the way the idea behind it. A shame that Alex is too young yet, to do something like that.

My daughter Birdy is 14, and she is also doing it with us - she will not be completing the entire pyramid - just as much of it as she can, so you could do something similar with Alex or build a small pyramid together. Am I remembering correctly that he is 13?

You're going to read four mangos, hey? What are they like, interesting or too juicy and sickly sweet for every day reading?

Hi Jenny! I have only read the one manga so far, so I am not a good judge, but I would say they are interesting. The artwork is really cool and I am intrigued by the story premise for the one that I read. It's a learning experience, that's for sure because you read them differently than you would a book or a graphic novel, and Abby was just in here explaining to mean that the shape of the talk bubble also matters. The next one that Abby has given me to read is Bride's Story, which is one of her favorites. She said to me, "Mom, if you don't like it you can say so, but please don't tell me if you hate it because I love it - just say you don't like it and leave it at that, okay?" How sweet is that?

Oops, was just commentating on the mistype in your original post actually........unless the multiple of manga is mango?

LOL! And I totally missed that - you got me, Jenny!!

Hi Mamie, my kids are also Manga fans and I've read a few but am not yet totally in the rhythmn of it. Having boys, I've missed out on the cuter/kawaii stuff. My favourites are the xXxholic (not x-rated despite how the name looks) books. Abby's comment on Bride's Story is lovely - and I know exactly what she means!

Happy 2013!

Still trying to find my footing in balancing all the groups so a quick drive by wave for now, Mamie. Love the opening pic - reminds me of the snow winters of my childhood in Alberta.

Sorry about the Colts' loss today, Mamie. But they have a lot to look forward to in the future with the talent there.

Abby is quite something..... a very special young lady!

I just picked up Maus at the library today. I'll definitely read it this month. I hope you can join me!
Incidentally, I haven't formalized it (like, by adding it to my "four thirteens" challenge) but I want to try to read at least one book for each of Madeline's TIOLI challenges this year. Hopefully she won't throw me too much of a curve ball!

Hi Mamie- Sorry about your Colts! Hey, at least they made the playoffs. I'm sure no one expected that. There is always next year.

Dee - So very lovely to see you here! I will have to check out that Manga that you listed. You will be happy to know that I read all of A Bride's Story today and found it to be a really sweet story with amazing illustrations. This was volume one one and I have requested the next volume from her, so Abby is thrilled. A very Happy 2013 to you, too - wishing for you only good things!

Lori - Thanks for stopping in! Glad you love the opening photo - for sure we will not be seeing any of that white stuff anytime soon! I really thought that I would miss that more, but so far, so good. Perhaps I will be feeling homesick for it next year.

Katie - Thanks so much - and you're right, they are such a young team now. I must admit that the Ravens played so very well today, and I was happy to see Ray Lewis get to add at least one more game to his incredible career.

Kath - Thanks, Kath! I think so, too!

Ellen - I can definitely read it this month as well, no problem. That is a fun challenge you have set for yourself because it will be new each month and you won't have any idea what is coming up! I'll try to join you with that! By the way, congrats to your Seahawks - they really pulled it out in the fourth quarter today!!

Hi Mark - Thanks so much! And you're right - I was thrilled to see them make the playoffs - the Ravens truly deserved to win today, they played an excellent game!!

Thanks, Mamie. The first half was frustrating and then I thought they would just lose 14-13, but then the team with which we Seattleites have fallen in love showed up! Sorry about the Colts. I thought they would do better than that, but Baltimore had everything going today.

You're welcome, Ellen. The Colts had a good run, and the Ravens were terrific today, so I'm happy with that. Besides, the Broncos are still in it, and they are my favorite - I love that Peyton Manning!!

Carol - What else have you read by her? I would love to read something else.

I think I've read all of Joshilyn Jackson's books. I do that when I find an author... go on an author binge. My favorite is her latest, A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. Highly recommended!

Happy Monday dear, any spare pancakes for a hungry waif? I reviewed a book in the Big Thread. It got four stars.

I dislike manga. Fruits Basket the anime gave me diabetes. The main girl's voice had me in convulsed revulsion from first to last.

I suspect the Ugly Ornament Tradition will last into grandparenthood.

xo

>88 Crazymamie: Yes, you remember correctly. However, he loves reading but only Manga, Graphic Novels and Non-fiction books. Whatever else he is interested in I have to organize as audiobooks or read to him LOL. And he doesn't like to commit himself to a reading plan. Although, we do read "The Walking Dead" graphic novels together at present.

Hi Mamie, Im just doing a fly by visit this evening....but I have read some, and had a wee chuckle at mangos (her favorite genre). hehe, the plural of manga?

Carol - Thanks so much for getting back to me! I will scour the library system to see what they have first, and then go from there. SO nice to know that you liked her other books - and that she has other books, don't you just hate when you find an author that you love only to discover that he or she has only written the one book?!

Richard, dear, there are always more pancakes to be found at my house - I have a teenage son, remember?! I will check out your review - thanks for the heads up. I loved your review of The Casual Vacancy! I have heard the Fruits Basket anime that is dubbed in English and it makes me cringe - they always seem too loud and much stilted shouting, but I have not actually watched it - Birdy and Abby LOVE it. It would be interesting to compare it to the version in Japanese to hear how the audio differs. I think you are right about the ugly ornament tradition. LOL!

Bianca - When my son was that age, he loved survival stories, graphic novels, and anything with a spy in it. Now (at 18) he loves fantasy, graphic novels, and audiobooks. His all time favorite is the Tolkien stuff - he and Lucy could have a lively conversation! He also really likes Jim Butcher. I think it is so cool that you are reading "The Walking Dead" graphic novels together - he will always remember that!

Megan - I knew you would get a laugh over the mango! I'm so glad that Jenny came back to set me straight because I would have missed it all together!! My spell checker changes mangas to mangos every time - don't you just hate technology that thinks it's smarter than you?!

I have a lot to catch up with. Re 'Dreaming of the Bones', I do NOT need another series to read, but that one sounds really good!

Your snowman is super cute at the top of your thread.

Hi Julia! I know what you mean about the series, but I do really love the characters in the Crombie books - I know, that doesn't help, does it?! And the snowman - Craig and Rae had so much fun building that!

*syrupy smooch*

gd pncks thnks

Anytime, dear! *smooch back*

I am sitting here with that Oh no! That one ended so quickly! feeling.. So I guess I need to find another book? Or just wait until tomorrow when I will pick one up at work. My reading is so random so far this year.. but I am looking forward to more Christopher Moore :)

Hope you're having a happy day sis!

Just because...

I do hope you enjoy Case Histories when you get to it, Mamie! I had a great time picking out the books for you. It is always interesting for me to look at people's wish lists.

Hi Mamie! How brave you are for trying that Manga book. I'm sorry it wasn't more satisfying. It is wonderful that you have knowledgeable kids that could help you through it.

I didn't realize you are a Colts fan. Sorry for the loss. I think I threw in for the Ravens on my thread, but really have no problem with either team. In fact, I have virtually no AFC football dislike in the playoffs this year, which is very unusual. Ha!

Case Histories has been on my shelf for ages! I think it was Porchsitter / Julie ( who no longer visits) who inspired me to pick it up. In fact, I have a couple of her books ... unread so far.

Now I want pancakes.. sigh.

Kath - Glad that you found a book that felt just right - but I know exactly what you mean by "it ended so quickly". Now you are wanting that feeling again. I have not read anything by that author - Christopher Moore. At least you work at a library - that would be handy. I was at our new library that is just down the street from us, and it is coming along nicely. They still don't have very many books, but there are a few more each time that we visit, and I am loving that you can request books from pretty much anywhere in the state. I have put in my first two requests - both recommendations by Richard on the short story thread, so now I am waiting patiently for them to arrive at the branch just down the street. The only downside is that you can only have five books out at once, and apparently holds and requests count. Luckily I have four children who can also have cards. *grin* And I did have a happy day yesterday - did you?

I will make sure to get to Case Histories this month - it's the only thing I have by her, so I am anxious to read an author that so many people around here seem to like. And pancakes - yep, they always sound good.

Cee - How sweet you are to think of me! They are lovely, thanks so much for decorating my thread!!

Stasia - I will get to it this month! I am trying to use my new books as rewards for reading books off of my shelves! Ha! We'll see how long that lasts! I had Chelle in Mark's Santa Swap, and I had great fun looking through her WL, so I know just what you mean - the only hazard is that it puts your own WL in danger of expanding!! You chose just right for me - three completely different books, and they all sound wonderful! Thanks again!

Kerri - The manga book was not unsatisfying - I just wanted more. I love lush prose, sentences that you could swim in, and descriptive detail. These are not things that you are going to find in a manga. It's a completely different format that cuts to the chase. What it offers in return is beautiful artwork and clues you must look for and know how to interpret. Even if this experience does not make a manga reader out if me, I feel that I will have gained a greater appreciation for the genre.

I was delighted to see the Colts make it to the playoffs with such a young team - but thank you for your condolences. The Ravens deserved to win that that game - they played like they were hungry for that win. And I was thrilled to see Ray Lewis get to walk off the home field as a victor on his last game there. Plus, now we get to see him play at least once more - what a career he has had!

I am doing a swift run through this morning. I do not have enough time to read everyone's postings. Sigh. Hope your week is going well, and I'll be back in form soon, I hope.

Hi Karen - Thanks for stopping in! ANd the week is off to a good start - it's Tuesday, and I just love Tuesdays! New music releases, new book releases...what's not to love?!

Mamie, another fabulous Kate Atkinson book is Behind the Scenes at the Museum, which I read years ago and loved. Hope you're having a fun Tuesday!

Oh, thanks, Susan! Tuesday is going really well so far - how about for you?

Hi Mamie! *smooch*

Not too bad, although I have a supermarket visit to make on the way home...But reading-wise everything is going well, save for my last one :-)

*smooch back* Hi Richard - did you see my note on your thread that I requested two of the books that you recommended on the short story thread? Now I'm waiting patiently, like a good girl - I should be able to keep this up for at least the next five minutes!

Susan - Oh, the market...*groan*...hope you find just what you're looking for and can be in and out in a jiffy - unless you like to linger. I saw that last one! Better luck with your next read!

Sadly, no-one can ever get in and out of the Waitrose at Canary Wharf in a jiffy, or anything close to one. It's been worse since they rearranged it and hid all the stuff in new places, but I suppose it keeps us all on our toes.

They keep rearranging the items so that you are forced to spend more time in there and perhaps come across items that you were not looking for that you will be weak and purchase. If you can easily locate what you want, then you will probably also spend less money - therefore, they have to move all the inventory around every few months. I just hate that. It makes shopping like a scavenger hunt.

Popping in to say good morning before I head out the door. Happy Tuesday!

Hey Mamie!

>117 Crazymamie: Your library will only let you have 5 books at a time? Yikes! The limit on my card is fifty! I know that libraries across that state had different rules, but that’s crazy. Is it because it’s a new branch and/or has few books?

Good Morning, Kim! Have a lovely day at work! I assume you're going to work?

Hi Dejah! Fifty?! Really, fifty? I thought five seemed really low, too. Perhaps because the branch is new and it does not have a very big inventory right now? I'm thinking that must be it - I'll ask the next time I'm in there. I was shocked that the requests and holds counted against what you can have out - after all, you haven't actually GOT them yet. Strange. But, I am happy to be able to borrow books for free, and I have a much greater range to choose from than I did back in Yorktown, Indiana, and the digital stuff counts separately, so that is good. I am loving getting the audiobooks and kindle books without ever stepping outside my door. LOVELY!

Are there other branches in the county / nearby? Maybe you could check out books directly from them and get around the limit? I'm really shocked at the five book thing.

Fifty is great, right? I think I can put fifty holds on a time, too, although I've never done it. I have hit fifty books checked out, though, mostly when I've gone on an orgy of gardening or craft book requesting. My librarian loves it - I'm doing wonders for her circulation numbers!

Morning Mamie!
Hope you are having a good day!
I started Zoo Station last night! I can already feel that this will be one that I enjoy! Thanks again!

I have to get my rear in gear and get ready to go to work...
but yes!there was nothing wrong with my yesterday :) Glad to hear that yours was good, too!
I should have 3 more Moore's waiting for me when I get to work... good thing I carry a big tote to and from work! Yes.. there are many "pro"s to working in a library. I have to say that I agree with having check out limits. We don't. I have seen some almighty fines accrued by some folks who are not responsible. Also, you can only read so many books at a time, and if you have 30-40 books ( or more) , it is hard for others who are waiting.. but, that's just me. As you know,I have a lot of unpopular views :P

So hard to get out the door at this time of day to go to work....gak!
Anyway, I will come home with books..

wishing you a good one !

#126 Indeed. So frustrating but sadly it has been proven to work.

It's also why I only ever go shopping in one supermarket as if I visited different ones I end up going 'oooh, they don't have THAT in my normal one'. And very dangerous to go food shopping when I'm starving as I buy so much nonsense. When I go just after eating I hardly buy anything although that's bad as well. I get home and discover that I have nothing really to eat.

Oh good! Read Volt: Stories! Loved it.

I can't make myself wake up, I drop off mid-post and wake up 10min later.

FIVE!! I'd be back and forth every day! Right now, I have 71 out and 9 more requested. I try to return more than I'm picking up, and most of the time I manage to do that.

Dejah - Yes, there are several other branches. We are in Lee County, so we have other options - I will check them out. Fifty is great - I would be thrilled with ten! Five is limiting because you have to keep returning them in order to get new ones - I would rather just start with more and have less trips, but at least the library is very close. Less than five minutes away, so I can't complain there.

Chelle - So glad that you are liking Zoo Station so far - I have that one in the stacks as well and plan on getting to it next month. I have heard so many good things about that series. And you're welcome - it was my pleasure!

Kath - Hooray for both of us having good days!!! And books waiting for you - lovely! I do agree with check out limits - I would just like it to be a bit higher, say ten books. ANd I am certainly not complaining - just still figuring out how the system works down here. I am so thankful to have a library system that offers so much more than the one that I came from - and the digital stuff is separate, so I can have five digital items out, and five physical items out at the same time.

Thanks for your good wishes! Wishing you an awesome day - and knowing that you will be bringing home more books is a good start! Hugs, sis!

Jenny - Right. It works, which is why they keep doing it! I try to eat first and take a list because otherwise I do just exactly what you have described! I do better if I plan ahead and take the time to make up a meal plan - which I don't like doing, but I do like the results of doing it, so I am trying to be better about it.

Richard - I will read it as soon as I get my greedy little hands on it. And sorry about you lack of wakefulness - I have had days like that. UGH! I know right? Five is not enough, but ten would do nicely since the library is so close, and the kids have cards, so if I take one of them I can cheat - OR I could use one of their cards to request books, thus leaving my five available for, well, available books that are actually at the library! I am just now thinking of that - am I brilliant or what?!

A five book limit? That is insane! I couldn't possibly survive on just 5 books! (Of course, if I was limited to 5, perhaps it wouldn't be so easy to have overdues?)

Hi Ardene! Welcome to my thread! Agreed that five books is just not enough. This is a brand new branch that just opened a month or so ago, so I am hoping that maybe once they get their inventory up, the limit can be increased. In the meantime, I am thankful that I have children so I can snag their cards!!

Until they choose to be utterly audacious and want to check out their own books ;)

I'll let them each chose one.

So amazingly generous of you

I have a big heart.

Obviously! :D

Or a big requests list

True. So true.

Five is a way-too-low limit, especially since it includes holds. :-(

Am so impressed by all you liberry book jugglers. I only ever take one out at a time and then scuttle directly home to start reading immediately usually to the detriment of whatever I've already got going. I guess I am just cowed by the scarey librarians of the New Bedford Free Public Library or something. (Yes, I know it is spelled 'scary', but it doesn't look right.)

Carol - So now I have pulled out my library literature that they gave me when I got my library card, and it says that I can have 50 items out - this is the basic handout for the Lee County Public Library, so I am thinking that the five book limit must just be for the branch that I am using. Probably because it is new and has a limited book supply - I will ask the next time that I go in, but hopefully the low limit is just temporary. I can work with five, it's just not ideal.

Fourpawz2 - I like to pick up multiple items at one time just so I don't have to go back as often - it's pure convenience on my part. And I like how you spelled scarey, so I am using it, too!!

Between, Georgia is now on the tbr pile.

Happy New Year!

Hi Linda! I hope you like it when you get to it! Sadly, our library system has none of her other books, so I think I will have to break down and buy one. Happy New Year to you, too, sweetie! Please give Lily my love.

I think the trick to good library book karma is to immediately read the high demand, just published books and return them to circulation. I don't feel too badly about holding on to older books; after all I can't renew them if someone else (Mamie, for example) has them on hold.

I'm delighted that your limit is actually 50 books - that makes much more sense. Just think how many books you can pile up using all the kids' cards!

BTW, my librarian is very open to having books donated to be put into circulation. The Middle Georgia System delayed in releasing budget this year, so my librarian was basically unable to buy books from July to September - very bizarre. I ended up buying, reading and donating a bunch of new releases during that stretch. Actually, I did it before the crunch, too, and I still do it when she can't justify a purchase (her book budget was cut 50% this year). At any rate, the point of this is that your library might accept any of Jackson's books that you pick up, if you're willing to part with them!

Five book limit? That's tragic. I very, very rarely have fewer than 7-8 books borrowed.

I don't think we have a limit, tbh. I know for a fact there was one guy who had over 120 books at home and drove the librarians crazy (he didn't care about late returns, only returned them when he got an invoice).

Mamie, it's a good thing you live close to the library! Just think how many more BOTS you can read with your 5-book library limit. It must be fun reading books set in your new state. That's a great way to get acquainted.

We're having some of your warm weather here in Missouri. it is supposed to reach 62 degrees on Friday with snow in the forecast a few days later!

How exciting that you still have Kate Atkinson ahead of you. I've not read all her books, partly because I want to save them.....

Five book limit? Unheard of. Unspeakable.
I don't actually know what my limit is for books checked out, but I can have up to 50 on hold at one time. Love my holds.
Oh wait, now I'm reading and it sounds like your limit is 50 books at a time. Well then.
Nevermind.

Wow.. busy thread..
oh in ref to the supermarket scavenger hunt up there somewhere.. I agree. I am not one to play, I just leave without what I was looking for most of the time. I dont shop with much of a list.. ( I keep a reminder list on my hone.. but.. ) I usually see what is on special and work around it. But I do hate when they mive and hide things. I have no patience for it.

AS for the library limit.. I don't think holds should count... if you don't actually have the book..
why would it count against you? Anyway.. I never thought about library limits.. until LT. I would see people posting about having over 100 books and it just seemed selfish to me. I hadn't used a library for many years.. our local is full of meanies and has few decent books. When the kids were young.. we had a 4 book limit.. and each of the kids had their own card...we just went once a week. But of course I didn't have a job at the time, and I wanted to be at the library often. We started with Story Hour when the kids were little.. and just kept it up. That worked for us. Now that I work at a library ... I can see the benefit of limits even more... but then, our system is very cash poor, and I think that makes a difference too. And of course I don't think that ebooks should be counted with your total.. but again... if you have ever been person number 37 in line for a book.. think how much faster that book would come your way if it didn't languish on a dozen devices for 21 days ( or whatever )? Differences of opinions are very common here! lol And since you can have 50 books county wide.. can you not request them from other libraries ? And if they do, does that go against your 5?

Not too much going on yet.. I need some breakfast and then off to work!

Mamie, I have to admit I just scrolled down a 1/2 a zillion threads. Your popularity is overwhelming and you didn't even need kind remarks from Brent Musberger. Have a good day!

Dejah - I completely agree with you about immediately reading and returning the popular books - actually I tend to either but those for myself if I really want to read it right now, or just wait until they are less popular. At my previous library, you could only have the newer most popular books out for seven days, and you could not renew them - I thought that was fair. I cannot ever envision checking out fifty books at the same time, especially since the library is so close to me and I don't have to worry about driving through snow and ice. I don't know if this new branch will accept book donations or not, but I will be asking - we did that often with our Indiana library.

Paws - If holds didn't count against me, it would not matter as much. At our old library, you could have as many holds as you wanted, but once they came in you had two days to pick them up or they went back. I am still learning the system here, so obviously now that I am familiar with how some of the online stuff works, and I am actively using the library, I will have to ask more questions. I will say that everybody that I have come into contact with at the library so far has been very helpful and very nice. And I am staggered about the 120 books out man - WOW! However did he get them all home?!

Donna - Don't laugh, but one of the reasons I loved this house was the proximity to the new library that was being built!! It is a lovely library, and eventually will house a coffee shop within it that can keep completely separate hours if it wishes - and has a drive thru with the pick up window on one side and a drop off box on the other - how clever is that?! And you are right -I can concentrate on reading more books off of my shelves, which I am really trying to focus on this year. I have a grand total of three read off of the shelves so far!

Today is it supposed to go to 67, but it will be overcast, so we'll see if I get to read on the screened in porch or not - I did on Monday, and it was lovely!

158. Well, he didn't check them all out at once, I suppose. Five-ten at a time and then didn't return them.

Hi Mamie - Nothing much to say, just getting caught up!

Ellen - I am truly looking forward to trying Kate Atkinson. That you are saving some back to read later speaks volumes - that's what I try to do with the Dr. Siri books! ANd the library thing - the literature that I have says that I can have 50 items out from the Lee County libraries, but the local branch will only let me have five. So I think if I want to check out more books, then I would have to go to a different branch. I will explore the other branches available to me, but I do love to support the one that just opened that is so close to my home.

Kath - I think most of the threads seem crazy busy right now - I'm having trouble keeping up, and we are only nine days into the New Year. What makes me crazy about the store thing is that they always seem to have just rearranged the merchandise when I have just stopped in to pick up a few items and have a limited amount of time to do so - frustrating! I just want to grab my stuff and go, not tour the entire store.

I don't think holds should count either - they could set a separate limit for those if they have people abusing the system. Oh well, I am thankful that I can borrow books and that I can get interlibrary loans and borrow books for my kindle and download audiobooks from my home. It really is amazing if you think about it.

I have had/am having coffee, but I need to get something for breakfast as well. Hope you have a good day at work, sis!

Lynda - Okay, you got me - who is Brent Musberger?

Katie! Thanks for stopping in and catching up. I have been thinking about Swamplandia since you mentioned it on your thread, and I think what didn't work for me is that I just couldn't get into the story. I love magical realism and I also loved the way that the author wrote - I just didn't like that particular story, if that makes any sense.

Hello, I always envy you guys who seem to have such great libraries. When I am here in Germany, we only have got one very small library with a small selection. It is very difficult to request inter library loans and usually takes for ages and we are not allowed to take more than 8 books (currently) out at any time. However, the same applies usually to the library where I live in London. The library is small and doesn't have much of a selection. But I am glad that my sister lives in London as well and she is a librarian at a Reference library in Central London, so whenever I am looking for something specific she sorts that out for me.
Most of my books I buy in charity shops or on car boot sales. Every 6 month, I sort through my books and everything which was just an ok read and I can't imagine I would read again, I give away.

Morning Bianca! That sounds a lot like the library that we had in Yorktown, Indiana. The people that worked there were just so great though, and they were working hard to add more books to the shelves. What about digital stuff - can you borrow books and audiobooks that you can just download to your devices? That is my new favorite thing because it is just so convenient. I do try to weed through my stacks occasionally and donate the stuff that will not get read again, but I am a big re-reader and I love being surrounded by books, so I mostly keep them unless I just didn't care for them.

Nope, no digital stuff in sight yet. At least not in our small German libraries, but there is quite a lot of stuff round in the bigger London libraries now.
I am also a big re-reader, that's why I keep so many of my books and on top of that I have got this obsession with covers. So, I have got quite a few editions in double, tripple or even more publications.

A kindred soul! I do, too, Bianca!!

LOL, nice to know!

I understand limits on the number of books you can have at any one time because that impacts others' access to the material, but I don't understand the limit on holds. I'm sure there is a reason. I wonder if it's just another step in the overall process of trying to keep books "moving" through the system, available to as wide an audience as possible.

Hi Ellen! I don't get the limit on holds either because they are not leaving the system until someone actually picks them up. But I don't know how it all works behind the scenes either, since I have only ever worked in an elementary school library.

Yep, as one who works in a (large) system, I do have some faith that sometimes there are good reasons for policies that look wonky from the outside.

Book #4: A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori

This was my second attempt at reading manga, and I liked it much better. First of all, I didn't have to think so much about how to read it - much more automatic this time around. Secondly, it was more like a story and less like a comic book, so for me it was easier to follow. I still wanted more - more detail, more dialogue, more story, but that is just not going to happen in this format. That being said, the story that was there was charming. Set in Asia sometime in the 19th century, we meet Amir, a young woman from a nomadic tribe who has had an arranged marriage - she is twenty and her young groom is twelve. Don't worry - there is no sex here. The story is mostly a simple one of Amir adjusting to life in a different village far from where she grew up. Conflict arises when Amir's family decides that they want her back so that they can make a more profitable arrangement. What really makes this book is the beautiful and incredibly detailed artwork.

Ellen - I think so, too!

Morning, Mamie - it's interesting to me to follow your manga reading, but I don't think it would ever be for me as it sounds too simple. However, I do think the art work from your last one is very beautiful.

Book #5: The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt (4 stars)

The strength and charm of this book, just like that of True Grit and I Capture the Castle is found in its narrative voice - that of Eli Sisters, the younger half of the Sisters brothers duo. This is a tale that holds everything that one would expect of the old West: brutality, ugliness, cynicism, and greed. The Sisters brothers are no innocents, they are hired killers, but when we view their actions through Eli's eyes we are treated to some of the things that we forget to think about when we think about gunslingers. For example, what happens when a hardened criminal is treated to the minty delights that can be found when he is shown how to use a toothbrush and given one of his very own? What do you do when your horse is not cut out for a life of crime but you love him anyway? Eli's conscience reveals his heart and his ruminations as he struggles to find his own voice while remaining in Charlie's shadow. I loved the interaction between the two brothers - Charlie who is a bully and a thug belittles his younger brother, but does not begrudge him. Eli loves his older brother but does not wish to emulate him. He recognizes what Charlie is but also understands why he is that way - like most relationships in life, it is complicated.

"I had in the last year or so given up whores entirely, thinking it best to go without than pantomime human closeness; and though it is unrealistic for a man in my position to be thinking such thoughts, I could not help myself: I saw my bulky person in the windows of the passing storefronts and wondered, When will that man there find himself to be loved?"

"...let's say that she wasn't all bad, but the good was there in such measly quantities you had to keep a sharp watch lest you miss it entirely."

Hi Fourpawz2! I don't think it is for me, either! I agreed to read four of them for the 2013 challenge pyramid that Abby and I created. I read four manga, and she reads four mysteries. Though I do not think that this will become a favorite genre for me, it is a great experience for me to try these books that my children so love. I do have a greater appreciation for the genre after sampling it. Like you, though, I prefer greater complexity in my reading - I want a more involved story line, and I want to know more about the characters.

Mamie, that's a superb review of The Sisters Brothers. I have seen it mentioned before but was never interested in reading it. Now I'm going to look for it at the library (just as soon as I finish a couple of other things...)

Hi Mamie, visiting while I'm conscious. Nice review of the comic book!

I have an oodle of books out at any one time, from all locations in the county system, and including some hotnewfresh books, though I make a strenuous effort to source those from my village's liberry.

My theory is this: The county has a sizable budget for the liberry, and the villages in the county have individual contributions to the liberrys in their village. The reason is the county's wealthy and some of the villages are not. So...my relatively poor village spends its money on stuff the community really needs like lots of public access computers and veterans' programs and citizenship classes, all of which they subsidize. Part of the way their county budget is calculated is circ figures. I am *excellent* for their circ figures and, for the volume I read, incur few fines. (It helps we can renew books online, though twice only.)

And of course, a book on hold is not renewable, nor are the hotfreshnew ones.

Win-win!

Thanks Susan! I really liked it, and it's a fast read because Eli's voice is just so great. I kept wanting to see what would happen next and what he would think about it.

Richard - Only two more comic books to go, and then I have filled my quota, Of course, I still have six graphic novels to read...

And that's what I thought about the branch that is close to us - better to use it as much as possible to increase its circulation numbers, so that it is viewed as a necessary part of the system.

Thanks for visiting me while you are awake - sorry about the constant sleepiness. If you are like me, caffeine will not make even a small dent in trying to stay awake - I think I could drink a double espresso and go straight to bed. *smooch for you, dear one*

The Sisters Brothers was one of my favourite books of last year. I don't usually read Westerns but I really liked the narrative voice of Eli Sisters as well.

Hi Rhian! I almost gave it 4.25 stars because I really liked it. I was surprised by how quickly I read it but Eli was just so great.

I liked your review of 'The Sisters Brothers', Mamie. One of the most unique Westerns I've ever read.

Hey Mamie -

I'm actually supposed to be writing reviews right now, but I wanted to say how much I enjoyed your review of The Sisters Brothers. I actually picked it up at the main library branch Monday, and you've reinforced my determination to read it this month.

Per my favorite librarian, the circulation numbers do matter - even the hold books from other branches count. I can't imagine why they're counting your holds against your total books out, though - especially since it can take up to two weeks to get books ILL through the otherwise admirable PINES system.

Now back to writing reviews of books I've already read....

Thanks, Julia! I would have to agree with you -it is unique, and charming which is such a strange thing to say about a Western.

Dejah - Oh yes, read it this month! It's really good and goes so quickly. It is listed in TIOLI challenge #13 - that's why I picked it up! Someone had already listed it there, and I thought I should read it as it has been sitting on my Kindle for awhile. So glad I did!

I did the hold thing online, so it might be a glitch in the system? And good to know that holds from other branches count for the circulation.

Thanks for the review of The Sisters Brothers Mamie. A book bullet has hit me again!

Hi Diana! Hope you like it when you get to it!

Excellent review of The Sisters Brothers, Mamie. I liked that one a lot, too, and I don't read many westerns.

Kaoru Mori did a series called Emma that I recommend if you liked A Bride's Story. It's a historical romance set in Victorian England (!), and I thought it was quite charming.

Thank you, Joe! I remember Judy reviewing Emma on her thread last year, but I did not realize that was the same author/illustrator. I will have to see if I can get a hold of that. Thanks!

I was JUST here and I'm 40 posts behind! I admit, I skipped all but your review of The Sisters Brothers. It's been on my WL and your review reminds me why! Headed to give it a thumbs up now.

Oh, thanks, Tina!! You just skipped over chit chat, so no biggie. So great to see you!

Just a pop in to see what all is happening here before you start another thread ! LOL

Mamie-Great review of The Sisters Brothers. Hopefully, you can snag a few more readers who didn't read it the first time around. I LOVED that book and I also read Doc in that same time period and it was even better.

Whoa, this thread really got away from me Mamie. Sorry to be so long getting here. I happen to think we have the best library on earth. We can have out 99 items (although that's just crazy) and when we put a book on hold we have eight days to pick it up and then, because my small library that's five minutes from my house knows me so well, if I haven't come in to pick it up they call me to remind me that it's there. That's customer service with a smile. Love my library system.

Great review of The Sisters Brothers. I really loved Eli, would have liked to have taken him home.

And about Deborah Crombie---I picked up one of her books from a Kindle Daily Deal No Mark Upon Her and wonder if I have to read all the books that came before it or can I just start with this one and move forward?

Mamie - Going back to the manga .. I suspect Abby would also enjoy Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori. Definitely watch the anime first though .. it's so funny and fun. She watch all the episodes on youtube. :-) Just tell her not to select the ones that say '-English' after the episode title because those are the dubbed one.

Kath - Thanks for popping in - not too much happening here right now, huh?! Another thread?! I can't keep up with this one!

Mark - Thank you! I am waiting for Doc - I bought it for Craig for Christmas, and he is reading it right now, so I am thinking I can get it by February. I actually already listed it in my library - pretty sneaky, huh?!

Bonnie - Wow! That is a great library! And thanks for your compliment on my review - I loved Eli, too! How he thought about things is what made the book. About the Deborah Crombie - I picked up that same book in the Kindle deal, but I am telling you that you really want to read this particular series in order - it is a character driven series. You really want to start at the beginning and read in order because the character development is crucial to following the story lines. Each book builds on the previous one.

Caro - You are a font of manga information! I will tell her, and she will be thrilled because I know next to nothing about manga. So thanks for that!

Mamie, I'm glad you mostly liked The Sisters Brothers. I can't recall -- have you read Doc by Mary Doria Russell yet? It's an even better recent "Western" novel.

Morning Ellen! I LOVED The Sisters Brothers. I have not yet read Doc, but it is on the list - I bought it for Craig for Christmas, and now I am waiting for him to finish it so I can snag it!

Hi Mamie, you're in fine fettle today! Glad to see so much luuuuv for your review of The Sisters Brothers!

xo

I second Ellen's recommendation of Doc. It is wonderful.

Ooh, my library has Doc as an ebook! I'm getting some great Western suggestions from this thread :-) I have Lonesome Dove to read first, though. And then I'll look for The Sisters Brothers. Hope your day is going well, Mamie. The temperature has dropped here and the forecast for the weekend suggests *snow*. Well, snow showers. Perfect reading weather!

Hi Richard! How are you feeling today? And thank you for the kind words. I read your review last night on The Maltese Falcon, and I gave it a thumb. That is one of my all-time favorite books - and like you, I love the movie even more. Pure magic it is - although I'm not sure that Mary Astor was the right lady for the role. I do know she got it because she wanted it so badly. I reread that book every few years along with The Big Sleep. I just love me some noir!

xo back to you!

Julia - Another rec for Doc - I am really wanting to read that, but I am being good and waiting for Craig to finish because it is his book. Of course, he is at work all day...

Susan - I have Lonesome Dove in the stacks and plan on reading it this year, too! Are you reading that now? Soon? Snow showers - I am just a tiny bit jealous, truth be told. This weekend is supposed to be 78 and sunny both days! Today is Park Day - a bunch of us and our kids (all ages from 1-21) try to get together every week or so either at someone's house or at the park to just kick back and visit. Whoever can make it comes, but we usually end up with 20-30 people. Really fun! Today it is at the park - overcast but 67 right now and going to 76, so should be a good day for it.

Mamie, Lonesome Dove is up next, so probably over the weekend (starting it, anyway). I found a brand new, clean copy at the library, so I thought that was a sign I should borrow it. I read about it on Nancy's (lit_chick)'s thread and it sounded really good.

We have an ice sculpting festival starting tomorrow where I work, (in the area, not the building!) so the cooler temperatures will be good for that. It was fun last year, with teams from all over the world, sculpting with chainsaws. Your Park Day sounds warmer than that!

Hi Mamie, I definitely recommend Kaoru Mori's series called Emma, expecially now that you are becoming a Manga expert! As Joe noted - very charming.

#195 : Mamie - I would recommend she watch the anime (in Japanese with English subtitles) for the Ouran High School Host Club first though ... because it will make reading the manga so much more enjoyable as this is one of those Japanese manga series where there are quite a few side 'noises' and muttered phrases that come across much better on the anime, and if she watches it first, when she reads these exclamatory signs or tiny footnoted mutters in the manga, she'll chortle because she'll remember how they sound from the anime.

I stole your quote from Sisters Brothers... and sent it to my supervisor..LOL
Perfect fit for our earlier discussion :) so thank you !

I predict that Doc will be a good read for you ..

Anime... I have watched some with Cory in the past....
no real opinion on the books as I haven't read any... hope you are all enjoying it :)

Caro brought dip to my thread, come on over!

I'm not a big westerns fan (plus I have a bit of a phobia about really big books) but I read Lonesome Dove last year and just loved it. Hope you all will too.

Mamie- Lonesome Dove! Lonesome Dove! You'll have to let me know what Craig thinks of Doc. She is currently working on the sequel. Very cool.

Passing through before I sign off.
Good reading for you :-)
I still need to get to Sisters Brothers, Lonesome Dove, and Doc. Hopefully this year. All on my TBR.

I loved LD and Doc. And the old TV miniseries of Lonesome Dove with Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones is, IMO, the very best ms ever. I still watch it every year or two.

Lonesome Dove is in my mountain TBR too. Happy weekend, Mamie!

I have heard good things about Lonesome Dove.... but doubt I will ever read it..
Even though I loved Doc.

Good morning to you!

Good Morning Everyone! It's Friday! I love those!! We had a lot of fun at the park yesterday, although due to sickness going around we only had 25 that could make it. The weather was really nice for it - not too hot and not too cold. Craig brewed a big pot of Peet's Columbian coffee this morning, so I am all set before I have even lifted a finger. Nothing big on tap today - some laundry, some paperwork, and a lot of reading (I hope). Yesterday when we got home from the park I was able to sit on the screened in porch with a latte and some ginger lemon cookies and read for an entire hour - ah, sweet bliss. Wishing for all of you a Friday full of fabulous!

Susan - A brand new clean copy is definitely a sign! I bought it last year or maybe the year before in a Kindle sale. I need to finish one of the big books that I'm reading right now before I add another doorstopper, so I might be able to get to it next month if I finish up Anna Karenina or Game of Thrones.

That sculpting festival sounds fun - I would love to see that! It makes me think about that movie "Groundhog Day" where Bill Murray uses a chainsaw to make that ice sculpture of the woman he is wooing. That movie cracks me up! And yes, Park Day was definitely warmer than that!

Judy - I will have to check to see if the library has that because it is out of print. It sounds like something Abby and I would both like, so I will hunt it down. I am laughing about the Manga expert part!!

Caro - SO, I have passed on your message to Abby, and she says that she has already watched the entire series - it's apparently one of her favorites! But she has seen the English dubbed version, so I told her that she needs to check it out in the original Japanese - I told her "Caro said so!" Just for you, she has compiled a list of her ratings for what she has watched.

Fruits Basket - 5 stars
Ouran High School Host Club - 5 stars
Chrome Shelled Regios - 4.5 stars
Spice and Wolf - 4 stars
Angels Beats - 4 stars
Aquarian - 4 stars
Tears to Tiara - 3 stars
Princess Tutu - 3.5 stars
Kitty Grade - 2 stars
Heroic Age - 2 stars
Mushi -Shi - Just "No" she says

Morning Mamie- I finally posted my Dog Stars review. Better late than never, right? Fantasy February is coming up and I believe dystopian will fit the bill. Great audio too!

Kath - So glad you liked the quote! You're welcome - I'm thrilled that you stole it!! Craig finished up Doc last night, so now I can put it in MY TBR pile. I promise to get to it soon. I have not liked the anime that I have seen, but Caro makes me really think about that now because what I don't like about it is the shouting and lack of emotion, but that could all just be the dubbing, so I will check some out in the original Japanese and see what I think. And dip - is there any left over. Bummer - I probably missed it.

Reba - High praise indeed! I have not read a lot of Westerns, but Craig just loves them - he has a huge collection of Louis L'Amour which he has read over and over again, some Zane Grey, some Ralph Compton, etc. He also is a big fan of fantasy.

Mark - I WILL get to Lonesome Dove this year! Craig just finished up Doc last night, and he said that it was not one that he would have picked out for himself, but that it was worth reading. He said he liked it, but he did not gush. He did make an interesting comment while he was reading it though. He said that it's interesting how often female authors focus on or explain the angst behind doing the right thing - the struggle to do the right thing, while often male authors tend to focus more on letting the reader know that the character is doing something for the right reason. I don't know if he meant particularly in Westerns or just in general - I would guess the former.

I did not know that there was going to be a sequel! That IS cool.

Cee - I am excited that we have some of the same books in our TBRs! How fun to compare notes throughout the year!! Good reading to you, too, Cee!

Fourpawz2 - I am looking forward to both and anticipating very good reads based on the LT love for both of those books. I think Tommy Lee Jones is good in anything!!

Diana - Hooray for another with LD in the stacks! It's so funny because I was thinking that probably everyone had read that one, I would be the last to the party, but there are a lot of us wanting to get to it. So lovely to have company!

Kath - Don't think you'll ever read it - just not your cuppa? I am really wanting to get to Doc, but I am trying to read what I already have on the agenda first. This year is off to an excellent reading start for me! Hope your morning is going well! Off today? I'll come and check!

Mark - I was just thinking about Fantasy February. Last year I think I only read one book for that. Maybe I can do better this year! I will come and read your review of Dog Stars although I have already added it to my list just because you told me to!! That's good to know the audio is worthy of a listen - I will be fitting more audio in this year as I am working on becoming a more active listener!

"...it's interesting how often female authors focus on or explain the angst behind doing the right thing - the struggle to do the right thing, while often male authors tend to focus more on letting the reader know that the character is doing something for the right reason."

I agree with Craig. And I would extend that difference in male/female thinking to RL as well. I know there are always exceptions... but generally true, I think.
Women tend to have less confidence and are held to a higher moral standard than men. Hopefully, this stereotypical, old-fashioned thinking is changing in the younger generations.

Hi, Mamie! Hope you're having a good Friday. I've got a whopper of a fantasy book waiting for me - The Memory of Light, the last one in Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson's Wheel of Time series. Maybe I should wait and join in on Fantasy February.

I'd actually forgotten about Fantasy February - I may have to rethink some of what I was going to read this month.

I hope you have wonderful plans for the nice weekend we have coming, Mamie! I'd be willing to trade a few degrees of warmth for some rain - we could certainly use it!

Enlighten this newbie on Fantasy February please??

Hi Mamie! Happy weekend! Sending smooches and hugs.

Hello.

Like you, I could not get into Swamplandia. I read 3/4 of it and gave up.

Cee - I think women often feel the need to explain or to justify their actions or choices. I think we long to be understood. And actively listened to. I was reading in Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen last night, and I highlighted this passage:

"We were all a little happy and a little crazy and a little sad and a little confused. And we thought it was just us. That's what makes life so hard for women, that instead of thinking that this is the way things are, we always think it's the way we are."

Joe - So far, so good with Friday - I love Fridays, so it's takes quite a bit to make one go badly for me! That is so funny that you mention that Robert Jordan series because Craig and I were just talking about it - he just picked that book up in the bookstore and was asking about Robert Jordan, and I was explaining that yes, he was dead, but that Brandon Sanderson was finishing the series for him. Craig and I actually read the first several books in that series before we got sidetracked while waiting for the next one to come out. I was thinking about revisiting the first one in the series this year - I think we actually own most of them, but as I just started tracking my reading two years ago, I have no idea how many I read before quitting.

Dejah - I was looking ahead to my reading for next month already, too! I was thinking about Days of Blood and Starlight, Clockwork Princess, The Castings Trilogy, and The Warrior's Apprentice (can I lump this in with fantasy or is it strictly sci-fi?). I have all of those sitting on my shelves. And if I don't finish Game of Thrones this month, of course that would fit.

No plans for the weekend other than watching football. And you're right - we surely could use a good rain. Hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

Tina - Some of the months have themes, and they set up a separate thread where people can report in on what they are reading that fits that theme. February is Fantasy February - it's a great way to find new authors in a genre or to find great suggestions for reads in a particular genre. Last year i tried a bunch of new authors based on what people were reading for Mystery March. And Mark does Mark's Murder and Mayhem May, Judy does Series September...I am trying to think of the others. Anyway, it's great fun!

Richard - Happy Weekend! Thanks for the smooches and hugs! Sending back to you good sleeping mojo (for sleeping at appropriate times) and pain-killing whammies! xo

Linda - Glad to hear that I am not alone. And what lovely company I have!! Wishing you a fabulous weekend, sweetie!

I also have Lonesome Dove waiting patiently to be read. And I also totally forgot about Fantasy February. That would be a good excuse to pick up the third book in the Game of Throne series.... hmmmmm.

Glad you are having a great Friday!

Thanks, Katie! Oh good, another who needs to get to Lonesome Dove, and I was thinking that if I finish Game of Thrones this month I might throw caution to the wind and pick up the second in the series for next month. We'll see, I guess.

I'm running from meeting to meeting today (wait a minute, didn't I retire a few years ago?!?) so not much time. Just to encourage the "I'm not sures" about Lonesome Dove, I read it only because it won a Pulitzer and didn't expect to like it. I didn't like it, I loved it.

Mamie- Go Lonesome Dove! Go Lonesome Dove! You know, if I can find it on audio, I might join you on that one. No promises. It is a Big Boy! But it's one of those rare examples, after the last page, you wish it would go on for another 200 pages.

Reba- You worried me there for a second with "I'm not sures, about Lonesome Dove". Then I read the rest. Whew! That was close.

Reba - Are you sure that you're doing the retirement thing right? Running from meeting to meeting just sounds wrong. So glad to hear that you loved Lonesome Dove, especially when you had such low expectations.

Mark - Ok, so a maybe. I can live with that.

Some days I wonder whether I'm too involved but it really isn't that bad and it's all things I choose to do and that makes all the difference. I've had a couple of really quiet weeks which made today (and yesterday actually) seem so hectic. Dinner and symphony tonight -- I'll be fine:-)

Oh, dinner and symphony - lovely! Well, alright then, carry on!

Lonesome Dove, The Sisters Brothers, and Doc are all westerns, it's true, but they are so different from one another! It's been a few years since I read LD but I think of it as having a more traditional narrative thread than either of the others. I enjoyed each of them, with Doc definitely being my favorite.

Hi Ellen! If we're talking favorite westerns, then I would have to throw True Grit in there - I just love that one. It will be interesting to see how I rank them once I have read them all.

This discussion inspired me to look at the reviews for Lonesome Dove, both here and on Audible. The audio gets great reviews, so I've put it on my wishlist. 36 hours, though! At least I'll get my credit's worth.

Somehow I managed to get 120 posts behind on your thread, Mamie. Not sure how that happened!

I need to get to The Sisters Brothers yet. I really need to correct that oversight.

233> Oh yeah! True Grit definitely belongs in a discussion of outstanding Westerns. Good reminder, Mamie.

Carol - Who reads that? And I am delighted that you added it to your WL, and I haven't even read it yet!!

Stasia - The threads are a bit crazy right now, I think. And yes, please do get to The Sisters Brothers - I think you will like it.

Ellen - Thanks - I just love that book!