Joe's Book Cafe 2

From the Thames Heritage Tapestry
http://www.goldentapestry.com/thamesheritagetapestry/index.html

Welcome back to the cafe!

Favorite Books in 2012:

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand
Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman
The Siege by Helen Dunmore
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
Wild: From Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
In A Sun-burned Country by Bill Bryson
Turkana Boy by Jean-Francois Beauchemin and Jessica Moore
Shadow Divers by Ron Kurson
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
The Western Lit Survival Kit by Sandra Newman
Pyongyang by Guy Delisle
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

My fave 2012 young adult books were:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
So B. It by Sarah Weeks
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Favorite Nonfiction from the Last 10 Years

1. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
2. War by Sebastian Junger
3. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
4. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
5. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
6. The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat by Eric Lax
7. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
8. Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand
9. The Judgement of Paris by Ross King
10. Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff

Runners-up: The Swerve and Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt, Michaelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King, Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder, The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr.

Favorite Fiction from the Last 10 Years

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

Runners-up: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace, After the Quake by Haruki Murakami, The Kite Runner and Life of Pi.

January 2013 Books

1. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
2. The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
3. Anomaly by Skip Brittenham
4. The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman
5. Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
6. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
7. The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon

Saved for stuff.

Joe, what a wonderful picture of the tapestry!

Getting here early so I can snag that corner booth! Nice new thread, Joe - love the thread topper. So cheerful with all those bright colors.

>4 wilkiec: Thanks, Diana! What a beaut, eh?

>5 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! The corner booth is yours. Glad you like that tapestry. What a job they did on it.

I'm off to meetings, so enjoy the new cafe, and I'll be back.

LOVE the tapestry you have up in the cafe this week, Joe! The colors are stunning.

I'm doing a presentation to the Board of Regents this morning, so something easy on the tummy would be much appreciated.
And coffee. Of course. :-)

Love the tapestry Joe.

Finished Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore which left me underwhelmed. Good beginning but it fell apart for me in the middle.

Joe - congratulations on second sitting at the cafe. Some camembert, rustic baguette and a huge Otard cognac to celebrate having watched Les Mis tonight s'il vous plait M. Proprieteur.

Word of the Day: theic: One who is addicted to the immoderate use of tea; a tea-drunkard. http://bit.ly/QzWSSR

Those wacky tea-sips!

I've still got a few Portuguese Egg Tarts, but I seem to be out of sherry. How did that disaster occur?

^^^^ That's a word I've never heard before ...

Hi Joe!

>7 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen! Aren't those colors terrific? Glad you like it.

Yikes, a presentation to the Board of Regents sounds like a stiff, solemn affair. I'll hope one or two have a sense of humor.

Hmm, something easy on the stomach. A pastry, perhaps?



>8 NarratorLady: Ah, glad you love the tapestry, Anne.

Sorry to hear Mr. Penumbra's underwhelmed you. Why can't we all be exactly the same? Oh yeah, that would be boring as all get out. I think of the book as an entertaining diversion, so I guess there are worse things than being under-entertained and under-diverted.

I hope your next book is a better experience for you.

>9 PaulCranswick: Mais oui, monsieur Paul! How'd you like Les Miz? How was the singing?

Let's get you that camembert, baguette and Otard cognac (woo, huge is right for the last one).



>10 richardderus: I didn't know there could be immoderate use of tea, much less that there's a word for it. What happens, people get too mellow and start annoyingly leaning on the other moderate tea drinkers? They don't wait their turn, and dive in front of others? Did Monty Python ever do a skit on this? Theic. I'll keep that one at the ready.

Sherry? No problem.



>10 richardderus: Hi, Chelle! Me either. We actually didn't have any tea drinkers around when I was growing up, moderate or immoderate. (Hard to believe, I'm sure, for our denizens from tea-drinking countries). We had some over-imbibers of alcohol, but there are plenty of well-known words for that.

Wow! It is only the 10th of January! And you're on your second thread.

*slips quietly back to her usual reading corner*

Oh, a cuppa tea would be fine, then I can be in the running for the label Richard brought us, for our improvement, no doubt.

theic, eh?

>13 maggie1944: Hi, Karen! I know, that went fast, didn't it?

We'll bring you that cuppa to your usual corner and give you a chance to become a theic (did I say that right, RD?) should you wish to.

Here you go:

Jumping into the cafe while the line is short, Joe! Hope you are having a good day, with lots of good food and good books and good friends. I'll have that tea, please--Russian Imperial, I believe, and some nibbles to go with it!

>15 ronincats: Smart, Roni. We'll whip that up for you pronto. I'm liking your ideas for a good day, and I plan to start that soon. RL is challenging today, I must say (addressing 2012 and 2013), oof. But I'm ready for a good day with good food and good books and good friends to start asap.

First, let's get you that Russian Imperial tea, with nibbles!

Carrot cake petit fours! Oh are they the BOMB! Howzabout a dozen or so of them, eh Joe? RL is no fun for a lot of folks, it would seem, here in this so-far-so-weird January. I wonder what's retrograde?

Yes, yes, and yes. I'll take some of those delicious looking strawberry pastries, some brie and grapes and oh, a couple of those cute colored balls in a pastry cup.... what are they anyway? they look like scoops of ice cream in a wafer cup.

*talks with mouth full* .... I LOVE that tapestry up top, Joe. Absolutely beautiful. I'd love it better if it were made into a quilt for my bed.

I've dropped in for lunch, Joe. Do you think the chef could whip me up a bowl of seafood chowder? After that, a nice strawberry pastry would be perfect.

I read the first Sandman last year, and this year I am looking forward to exploring the rest of the series through the Group Read. I'm waiting now for Vol 2: The Doll's House to arrive at the library.

17. As I always say - carrot cake ANYTHING is "the BOMB". (I don't say the bomb but you get the point.)

Joe, anyway I could get a Moroccan min tea? In one of those amazing tea glasses?

>17 richardderus: I think the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter's aligned with Mars, Richard. So I'm breaking out the hippie gear any minute now.

Carrot cake petit fours? That does sound good:



I think a lot of folks are going to be looking over your shoulder with great interest.

>18 cameling: I know, Caro, what a great bed quilt that tapestry would make. I'm glad you like it.

Hmm, kind of a little bit of this and that order. Let's see what we can do.



>19 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! As you probably know, I love that Sandman series. If you liked the first one, you have some great reading ahead of you.

Seafood chowder and a strawberry pastry coming up:



>20 PawsforThought: I loves me some carrot cake anything, too, Paws. Good to see you! Morrocan mint tea on its way:

21. Thank you, looks delicious. And fresh figs too? Yum.
I think I'm going to nibble a bit from the others' plates too; that cowder looks awfully tasty.

And now you've got me humming along to Aquarius.

Ha! I know, Paws, it's in my mind now, too. Can't decide between Hair and Steve Carrell in 40 Year Old Virgin.

Glad the goodies hit the spot.

Huh, looks like a summer garden party around here lately. Do you do catering? I am having friends over tomorrow afternoon, she used to be a chef, I dont want to serve gingernuts from the packet ;)

Mmm, carrot cake... I think I've just decided on today's baking. :)

Sigh, now getting booted off by Mr Bear who cannot possibly go for more than 12 hours without a screen in front of him. Yeesh, serves me right for teaching them how to use the computer...

>24 LovingLit: If you can convince them to come here, Megan, we can take care of it. Otherwise it's hard to do an event in NZ, although we're working on it. :-)

>25 wookiebender: Hi, Tania! Between Miss Boo and Mr. Bear, I'm surprised you get any computer time at all. Might as well read a good book, eh?

All right, off to catch the train. Pies are on the counter.

Maybe theic was in use when sugar in a workingman's tea was a big part of the daily caloric intake?

Hiya Joe- A New Glarus Moon Man, please! Make it a 24 oz, I don't work tomorrow. Congrats on the new thread. Love the tapestry. Gorgeous!

24. Oh, you're making me long for summer! (I usually start right after New Year's but this year I inexplicably felt alright about winter.) Now I want sunshine and heat and lazy days on a patio or in a hammock with iced tea and a great book. And no work! Sigh.

Since Joe is probably still on his train, I brought enough mint tea for everyone. Drink it hot if you're feeling a bit chilly. If you're like me and dream of summer (or you're in Aus./NZ and it IS summer) - there's ice in the freezer.

#16 I love that tea set! I hardly ever use my tea pot but if I had a pretty set like that I would use it all the time!

I take it the white cubes are sugar? That's a LOT of sugar! Reminds me, I had a cup of chai steeping somewhere in the house... Still cool enough for a hot drink this morning, so enjoying my tea while I can (call me a theic any time).

Don't get much computer time with the kids, huzzah for the iPad! :) Sitting on the sofa, with a good book nearby. And a cup of tea, somewhere...

Yes, there's tons of sugar in mint tea. It's ridiculously unhealthy but since it's the only time I ever take sugar (or indeed anything) in my tea (or coffee) I figure it's okay.

Thanks for reminding me I need to get hold of some chai. I kept forgetting to buy.

Ooh, didn't know a new cafe was open! But I brought my own cucumber sandwiches this time, so I'm set!

That IS a classic Russian tea set pattern, Joe--I've bought pieces of it for my mother! And I'm glad you brought in the carrot cake reinforcements along with the others--I was afraid Caro would have all my nibbles eaten up before I had a chance to have any!

Great lists of books read in 2012!

Hi Joe, I LOVE the tapestry! Also the delectable offerings of the cafe. Hope you're having a good week. We're expecting bitter cold weather the next few days -- is it headed your way?

The mercury is up there today, so I'll take a looooong cold ice chocolate, skim milk, no cream (but pile on the chocolate sauce), please. But I'm up for scones with clotted cream and jam.

(In RL, it's tea time, so I'm off for a cooling Earl Grey. Count me in with Tania. Theics unite!)

And it's going to be a scorcher again tomorrow. Not sure how to escape the heat, will probably hit an air conditioned shopping centre, at least. :)

Chilled white wine sounds good to me.

I am glad to see all the tea being poured here. It has been a rainy miserable week in Texas and we are expecting more rain tomorrow after a break of one day. I will take all the cuppas I can hold!

This theic wishes you a lovely weekend, Joe!

I have at least one cuppa tea every day, and most days more, but never mint for me, please - the smell gives me an instant headache. Earl Grey, hot, with honey and milk, please.
Oh, and Happy Friday to you, sir!

Tea is always great. I have at least 3 cups a day. More if I have the day off (I live off tea when I'm not working). Mint tea is a rare indulgence - it's way too sweet for me to be able to drink it regularly and still enjoy it, and has way too many empty calories to be acceptable for regular drinking.
No Earl Grey for me though, unless it's Persian or Russian. I prefer flavoured tea - berries abound. And no honey, milk, sugar or lemon. Or anything else you could think of.

*proprietor runs in and throws his hat on the rack*

>27 ffortsa: Sugar intoxication makes more sense to me than tea intoxication, Judy. (I bet my preschool teaching daughter would have some comments on that one). I wonder whether tea bars used to have bouncers? I wonder whether there were tea bars?

>28 msf59: Hi, Mark! Isn't that a great tapestry? Congrats on having the day off. That sounds most excellent indeed. The time jiggerer is warmed up, so let's get you that beverage of choice:



Your constantly evolving beer repertoire never ceases to amaze.

>29 PawsforThought: That is much appreciated, Paws. We love it when our denizens pitch in here. Looks great, too. I know, dreams of summer are in my head, too. At least it's a balmy one in Chi-town today, and you won't hear that phrase too often in January here. We're getting upwards toward 60, and I reshelved the sweater for a day.

How are things in Sweden right now? Chilly, I'll bet.

>30 ChelleBearss: That's a nice-looking tea set, isn't it, Chelle? I know, I'd want to bring it out a lot, too. We'll see, we may be using some other nice tea sets if the interest in tea keeps up (and we don't start being pestered by theics).

>31 wookiebender: My much better half and my daughter both love chai. Me, uh-uh. We still laugh about the time my non-coffee-drinking wife and I were at a poetry slam and we got my latte and her chai (both takeout) mixed up. We both turned to each other with "ewww" faces at the same time.

We say huzzah for the iPad! in our house, too. My daughter recently helped me get a very cool Shakespeare app on it with everything and then some. (I know, even an idiot can find and buy an app. Not sure where that puts me).

>32 PawsforThought: I do like mint tea, even without a lot of sugar (honey works fine for me), but you can have the chai all to yourself, Paws.

>33 tloeffler: Glad you found us, Terri! Cucumber sandwiches sound good. Settle in and read awhile.

>34 ronincats: She's a quick one, our Caro, and has quite an eye for food, as you know, Roni. Just in case, here are a few more carrot cake petits fours (well, they look more like petits eights) ( p.s. watch out for RD, too):

43. Any day, I'm more than happy to pitch in if needed.

There still ARE tea bar, even if there aren't very many of them. Doubt they have bouncers, though.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/aug/26/tea-bars

It's actually not that cold here, not considering it's January. It's about -14 C in my neck of the woods today but it's been 0-5 for two weeks which is almost unheard of.

>35 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! I'll tell you, LT has really upped my game. I read well when I worked in bookstores, but after that it was more hit and miss. Here we get too find out about so many great books 24/7. It would be hard not to have a great reading year. I do read reviews and so on elsewhere, and browse and get tips from non-LT pals, but so many of my best reads are inspired by LT.

>36 AMQS: Hi, Anne! Glad you love that tapestry. It really grabbed me. As I think Roni said, it'd be a great bed quilt.

This has been a tough week in RL, but the hardest is now history and it's Friday, so you'll hear no complaints from me. It's balmy here (near 60!), but it's going to plummet some time later tomorrow, eventually into the 20s I'm told, so that's probably coming from your part of the country, or maybe a bit further north. That's okay - it is January, for goodness' sake.

We'll hang out in the cafe and stay warm. That's always a good time.

>37 humouress: Hi, Nina! You give us good perspective, as we're talking chill and you're battling the heat.

Not sure I've got your order right, but we've got the chocolate skim milk ice and chocolate sauce for you to pour on it:



Back soon.

Morning Joe- Peets please! I'm getting ready to run a bunch of errands, but I thought I would drop by first. New Glarus is only sold in WI. Bummer. If you ever get up there, pick up a six. It's a good pale ale. Enjoy your day.

>38 wookiebender: Right, I know what you mean about finding ways to survive the heat, Tania. On my computer it looks like it's pretty nice for you right now (79 F) but going up to 100F. Let's get you that chilled white wine!



>39 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia! Miserable, rainy weather - cuppas galore makes sense. Here you go:



Too many? How about this instead (we'll leave the pot):



>40 wilkiec: Thanks, Diana! Good to know a theic, and I hope you have a good weekend, too. I'm not a theic, but thick-headed might apply.

>41 scaifea: Happy Friday, Amber! What a varied world we live in, eh? For me, mint tea is soothing. But Earl Grey hot is good, too. Here you go:



>42 PawsforThought: You're sounding mighty close to a theic, Paws. In fact, we're close to having a theicracy here today. Tea-heads unite! Hmm, what would our platform be? Leaf the thinking to us?

Lemon-berry tea coming up:



>44 PawsforThought: Where they exist, tea bars are stylish, independent and popular. So why are there not more of them, and how come there's no national chain? Thanks, Paws. Interesting question being asked there. Good thing we've got cafes that serve tea, eh?

47. Well, I love coffee too (though my stomach doesn't so I can't drink as much as I'd like to) so I'm unsure where that puts me...
Leaf the thinking to us is a great slogan!

Cafés are great but oh, what I would do for there to be a national chain of tea bars.

We had a tea bar across the street for a while, but it clearly didn't get enough business, and is now gone. NYC is a coffee-drinking town, I think, although I know several people who don't drink coffee, including Jim.

I learned that bit about sugar in tea and its relative calories from James Burke, in his series 'Connections'. It makes the song 'Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill' make a lot more sense, when it says 'well, you work all day for the sugar in your tea' (tea pronounced tay as the Irish do, I think).

Ew, tea, yuck. I'll have my usual giant vat of coffee, please sir, and about three pounds of chili cheese fries to go with.

I am slowly savoring my time with Angela Thirkell, and not really wanting to rush to finish. So I've been watching BBC documentaries illegally uploaded to YouTube to fill in, since the hurties aren't good for starting new stuff.

>48 PawsforThought: Let's at least give you a tea bar to gaze longingly at, Paws. This one is in Boston.



>49 ffortsa: Yeah, I think we're largely a coffee-drinking country, Judy. What does Jim like? I dated a girl whose father had the worn away edges of his front teeth from gripping the sugar cube there while drinking his tea (Armenian).

More on the American folk song Drill Ye Tarriers Drill from Wikipedia: "the song makes references to the construction of the American railroads in the mid-19th century. The tarriers of the title refers to Irish workers, drilling holes in rock to blast out railroad tunnels. It may mean either to tarry as in delay, or to terrier dogs which dig their quarry out of the ground."

Argos Tea does well here in Chicago, and you can drink tea there as well as buy it.



>50 richardderus: I seem to remember your comparisons of tea to lawnmower clippings, Richard. We won't bring any to your booth, promise.

I've thought about reading Angela Thirkell, so I look forward to your slowly savored reaction. Your usual giant vat (in process today) and pounds and pounds coming up.

51. Ah, thanks.

You may be coffee drinkers but you've got NOTHING on us.
I think my family alone might stand for about 40% of the national intake, though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_coffee_consumption_per_capita

>51 jnwelch: Thanks, Monsignor. Read Thirkell! Wild Strawberries is a great place to start, or The Brandons. Doesn't matter much, she doesn't change the tone or style at all, ever. As my mother said of Patricia Wentworth's Miss Silver mysteries, "I know she only wrote one book. I just happen to like that book a lot."

>52 PawsforThought: TWENTY POUNDS A PERSON?! Mercy mery me! That is quite a lot of coffee, Paws, for the Swedes to get outside of.

Ah, well, then I know what I'll be drinking when I visit Scandinavia (I can't drink beer).

Maybe it's to keep you all awake during those long winter nights?

#43..Oh WOW..look at those marvelous carrot cakes!

53. I thought it was more, actually. I was a bit surprise we were the last of the Nordics - I thought we were in the top three.

54. It's the fika. If you ever come to Sweden, you'll discover what it's all about.

It's fairly easy to get to 8,2 kilos a year.
Morning: 1-2 cups with breakfast.
Mid morning break: 1 cup
Lunch: 1 cup after eating lunch
Afternoon break: 1 cup
Dinner: 1-2 cups after eating dinner
Evening: 1-2 cups in front of the telly (unless you have difficulty sleeping.

This is by no means unusual or exaggerated.

>52 PawsforThought: I'm with Richard on this one, Paws. That's impressive coffee intake! You're right, we're pikers compared to you all.

>53 richardderus: I like that line from your mom a lot, Richard. Now I'm going to be thinking about what other authors it might apply to. The Brandons is the one of Thirkells I've had on my tbr.

>54 ffortsa: I had the same thought, Judy. Long winter nights = more coffee? I do like a place that values coffee, so this is upping my desire to visit there, too.

>55 Whisper1: Hah! I wondered whether those would get a reaction, Linda. They look great to me, too. And I like the smallness - you can have one or two (or more!) and it's not like having a huge slice. Not that I have anything against huge slices.

>>56 PawsforThought:-57 I did notice that there may need to be a national push to get Sweden higher up in those rankings, Paws.

Wikipedia definitions of fika: "Fika is both a Swedish verb and noun that roughly means 'to drink coffee,' usually accompanied by something sweet..." "Fika is a social institution in Sweden; it means having a break, most often a coffee break, with one's colleagues, friends, ..." Seems like a more useful word than even theic.

Your way to get to 8.2 kilos/year is, for me, staggering. I'd be a wimp in your part of the world, and wide awake for a week or so after a day of those rations. Can we sneak some decaf in there?

58. Fika is a great word. It is usually translated as "having coffee" but nothing in the word denotes what type of drink or snack you have (it does mean having a drink and a snack, generally biscuits or something else sweet). You can drink tea, lemonade, milk...

Yes, you would be a wimp. I have relatives that drink/drank 20 cups a day.
No, decaf is not allowed. I have never even met anyone who (unless pregnant) drinks decaf. What's the point? And you shouldn't really put anything in your coffee either. A lump of sugar is allowed, and/or a drop of milk/cream.
And if you're up north you might have a "kaffekask" , coffee heavily diluted with vodka (or moonshine, if you're that kind of person).

>59 PawsforThought: 20 cups a day?! I'd be jangling like a loose bracelet. I'd be wired like Bell Telephone. I'd be dancing the Rhumba at the 24 hour marathon. I'd be . . . well, you get the picture. Holy drip grind that's a lot of coffee. I'd be fine with all the fika snacks, though.

Kafflekask - sounds like Irish coffee Scandanavianized, or vice versa. If I drank 20 of those kafflekasks I'd probably start looking like a theic.

Drumming fingers on the counter, waiting for my Peets! LOL. I just started Drama. A YA GN. I think it's one you would really like.

>45 jnwelch: : Yum, thanks *swoon*. More than tea, I'm a chocoholic. Though that tea you're pouring for Stasia looks glorious.

*recovers* As for tea-bars, there is a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf chain around; don't know if that counts?

I suppose the Swedes drink all that coffee just to keep warm / defrost? -14ºC is warm? I've never even experienced temperatures that low!

Oh, Richard - you philistine! Lawnmower clippings! So you're not a theic, then?

>58 jnwelch: : As for huge slices, you have to ration yourself to one before the guilt hits; whereas with small petits fours, you can rationalise more than one ... or two ...

ETA : You see why this thread is bad for me? Just keep a stack of dark chocolate (because dark is good for you - oxidising agent or whatever) McVitie's digestives (because it's good for your health - digestives - so you have to eat them, right?) around for me.

All this coffee talk has me craving a cup! I'll join Mark with a Peets. Then I will find a quiet corner and sip my coffee while I read.

Hie Joe, just popping in to get my dinner. I have taken some of the seafood chowder, chocolate pudding and a latte. Hmm, really nice. Thank you...... off to visit the other threads.

Wish you a lovely weekend!

>61 msf59: Whoops! Thanks for your patience, Mark. Some days I think we should fire the proprietor, but then I start thinking about his positives - wish I could remember what they are.

I've seen Drama in my literary strolls. Glad you're liking it - let me know when you're done, and if that continues, I'll track it down.



>62 humouress: You don't want to get Richard started about tea, Nina - or maybe you do. He's got plenty more comments besides "lawnmower clippings".

Yes, I see the same advantages with petits fours. There's nothing wrong with having a few, they're so small, right?

We'll keep that dark chocolate and McVitie's around for you. My wife wishes milk chocolate had those health benefits, because she much prefers it to dark.



>63 DeltaQueen50: We put out an extra for you with Mark's up above at >61 msf59:, Judy. We've got plenty of quiet corners to choose from - not sure how we manage that, but it seems to work. What are you reading these days? I can't remember whether you're part of the dogsledding Anna Karenina group. (They must dogsled in Russia, right?)

>64 drachenbraut23: Good to see you, Bianca! Glad the comestibles suited. Have a lovely weekend, too!

Well, you wouldn't drink 20 cups of kaffekask a day. Just one. Maybe two. And it's not really done nowadays. I associate it with old men who live in rural areas (fairly small group of people nowadays).

I believe the recipe goes as follows: put a lump of sugar in a coffee cup. Add coffee until you can no longer see the lump. Add vodka until you can see it again.

62. -14 is "not that cold". Certainly isn't warm or even mild but it is January and I live up north. It's supposed to be cold. We drink tons of coffee all year round, no matter how hot it gets. We have 20-25 on normal summer days and still drink plenty of cups.

I should add that 20 cups a day isn't normal. My family isn't normal and my uncle has an iron stomach.

Hi Joe! Dropping in to wish you a lovely weekend, and staggering from the 20 cups of coffee a day conversation. I think I could easily do 10. Speaking of coffee, I'll join Mark and Judy with the Peets, please.

65. You can tell your wife that scientists have discovered that milk chocolate has the same health benefits as dark chocolate (anti-oxidants and whatnot). I believe the only difference is sugar content.

Tea quote: "Who would want to drink Hindu Hedge Trimmings? Why would you buy, to the snickers of the world, Chinese Camellia Clippings? It tastes the way the lawnmower smells!"

jeebus, Joe. a girl misses a few days and gets totally left behind. can't possibly catch up so shan't try.

i'd love a glass of high Sierra H2O to sip under my fern whilst listening to Pearlman's Binocular vision (thanks, RD).

slopes off singing "ta na na, ta na na na na, i got diamonds on the soles of my shoes."

p.s. the tapestry is wondrous :)

p.p.s. >53 richardderus: Patricia Wentworth! oh wow. my mom used to read Wentworth and they've got her at audible with a narrator, new to me, but a voice to die for, imo. well, carp! looks like i'll owe you again, RD.

>66 PawsforThought: Hah! I like that kaffekask recipe, Paws. Simple and easy to follow. Good to know one or two kaffeekasks would do it in Sweden, as otherwise you'd be high up on some entirely other kind of list. Didn't Tolstoy say "All normal families are alike; every abnormal family is abnormal in its own way"? Or something like that.

I envy your iron stomach uncle. I'd love to drink 20 cups of good coffee a day.

71. Me too. Alas, I have to limit myself to a maximum of two. :(

>70 mirrordrum:, 71 no whingeing about the coffee limitations for you, peeps. i can't drink coffee or tea any more. caffeine frets the coatings of the stomach. my dad called tea "hay infusion" and snubbed it fiercely. he was a great Peet's coffee fan. loved it very hot and very strong and unsullied by additives.

>67 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! Hey, I'm already doing better today with you, although I managed to forget Mark's coffee. I know, the thought of 20 cups a day is enough to make anyone (not in the Paws family or their ilk) stagger. I'm impressed with your easy 10. In virtual I could keep up with you, but not RL.

Peets? Here you go:



>68 PawsforThought: Ooo, if you can point me to some link or article or something, Paws, I could earn some much-needed bonus points with my wife on the milk vs. dark chocolate question.

>69 richardderus: Hah! A favorite from the LT archives. Thanks, Richard. Even better than I remembered. Let us know if you want a kaffeekask on the house.

>70 mirrordrum: Yay! Hi, Ellie. We've been missing your voice of reason around here. Good to see you!

I'm flabberjabbled, or freezebucketed, or something, trying to get to Pearlman's Binocular Vision. Are you liking it? I know it's not a lengthy Russian novel about the costs of passionate love and ignoring social mores, but it's still supposed to be good. Lots of LT recommends, and I can't seem to get to it.

You know, people say she's crazy, that girl with the diamonds on the soles of her shoes, but it's sure one way to lose those walking blues.

High Sierra H2O coming your way;



Glad you like the tapestry!

Joe - Thanks for the coffee - that looks perfect! Just got my Amazon shipment and now I have my very own copy of Sandman (the first column). Only one problem - my son already snagged it - think I'll get it back this month?

>>70 mirrordrum:, 71 Good to hear you ride the coffee train with mere mortals like us, Paws.

Shoot, Ellie, whingeing is one of my specialties. It mixes well with sloth-like tendencies, seems to me. I'm sure it would've been a hoot to quaff some Peet's with your dad. Sounds like he and RD would get along famously, at least when it comes to tea.

>75 Crazymamie: I'm determined to find you despite any cross-posting, Mamie. :-) Glad the coffee hit the spot. Is the Sandman you got Preludes and Nocturnes? Or did your son appropriate it afore you could look? I do like its inter-generational appeal. My son's a big fan, too.

How I love coffee; how my heart does not like coffee. I'm prone to tachycardia and if I have too much coffee -- more than two cups a day-- my body lets me know that it isn't good for me.

Happy weekend to you Joe.

i myself am very skeptical about the equivalent benefits of equivalent amounts of milk chocolate and dark chocolate. the health benefits come from the flavonols (sp?) in cocoa and the antioxidants they contain. in order to make milk chocolate, you have to dilute the amount of cocoa in a serving to add sugar and milk products. hence, equivalent quantities of milk and dark chocolate won't have equivalent amounts of cocoa or, by extension, flavonols, ergo, they'll have different effects on the CVS. QED. howzzat?

and what a weekend: the Pack, the niners, broncos, and those crazy Seahawks. hoooooweeeee. and the Lady Vols on Sunday as well. sports hog heaven.

have a good one, everybody.

oh, Binocular Vision. in audio, i have to reread some of them but the stories are, imo, worth rereading. i'm taking my time. i can think of no one to whom to compare Pearlman. i'm not a fan of short stories, except for Flannery O'Connor, but i like BV very much. somehow, i don't see it as a Joe Welch kind of book, but i could be very wrong.

78. I shouldn't have written "the same". The trial was done in regards to the risk of stroke and milk chocolate was the one most used by the trial patients (I think they were alllowed to choose). The scientists saw a reduced risk no matter which type of chocolate used.

This is in Swedish but you might be able to get the gist of it using Google Translate.
http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=130&a=148151&l=sv

Yep, Joe - Preludes and Nocturnes. I know because he did leave me with the receipt!

>78 mirrordrum: ah! that makes perfect sense, Paws. thanks for the clarification. and don't mind me. teaching research methodology for 20 years makes for skepticism and i can so easily lapse into pedantry. it's a curse and a blessing. the skepticism, that is.

also, flavonols now seem to be showing positive effects on cognition and possible improvement in mild dementia. course, you can get them from many sources including wine and grapes and tea and such like.

>80 Crazymamie: *giggle*

Hey Joe- The Peets was fine but I think I'm ready for a Three Floyd's Robert the Bruce! Come on, I'm enjoying my afternoon off.

Ellie- I LOVED Binocular Vision! and I agree, I'm not sure who to compare her with.

81. Oh, I don't mind. I was just typing something I half remembered from a news headline and only after went and looked for the article.
Scepticism is great, and should be encouraged!

I LOVE Angela Thirkell, and I only discovered her because of Richard :) He's right, you can pretty much just pick up any of her books anywhere in the series (they're not really in a series, but set in the same community). I think of them as an early 20th century Jane Austen, and I'm on a mission to find more, especially on audio. I hope Richard's slow savoring (and highly anticipated thoughts) will inspire more readers! Joe, my first Thirkell was The Brandons. Loved it!

Hey Joe, do you do take-out orders? I'm supposed to be making dinner tonight but I hate cooking. Could you whomp up some chicken stir fry? I'll supply the to-go containers...

>77 Whisper1: I don't know which part of my body is telling me, Linda, but it gives me the same message. Two is about my limit, although if we're going out that night I might have a late afternoon latte or whatever.

Hope you have a great weekend, too!

>78 mirrordrum: Very persuasive on the dark vs. milk choco analysis, Ellie. As we used to say, if scientists can put us on the moon, why can't they make milk choco equally healthy? (Both (moon, choco) seem equally important, too, don't you think?)

You're right about it being a great sports weekend. And the Bulls playing at home - icing on the cake.

Interesting you don't think Binocular Vision is a Joe W-type book. I'm not a short story reader either, with exceptions (Murakami and Lahiri come to mind), but this one sounded like one I should try. What gives you pause (not Paws)?

>79 PawsforThought: OK, I'm going to have to come back with Google translate, as my Swedish is way rusty, Paws. Thank you for finding the article. (I'm envious, by the way - your English is terrific).

>80 Crazymamie: Hah! Ain't that the way the world works, Mamie? Great way to find out!

I will say the appreciation for the financial outlay seems to grow when they get older. Our kids are offering to pay for things that never would've crossed their minds before.

>81 mirrordrum: Yes, I'm told drinking more wine is always a good health idea, Ellie. Actually, true story, our doctor wants my much better half to drink a glass of red wine every night for the health benefits you mention. And we're terrible at meeting that "prescription". Despite loving good wine (and beer for me) we just don't normally have much unless we're out and about. So we're still working on that one.

>82 msf59: I thought you were one of the fans of Binocular Vision, Mark. We'll see what Ellie says about my potential incompatibility.

Three Floyd's Robert the Bruce? Are you as fluent in Swedish as you are in beer? It might be useful today.



>83 PawsforThought: We've got no shortage of skeptics at the cafe, Paws. as you may have already figured out. Wait until Richard gets going.

I'll be back.

Joe- Ooh, that looks mighty tasty. I have Swedish in my bloodlines but cannot speak a word. You might be able to find Robert the Bruce on the shelf but you may have to look hard. All Three Floyds brews are excellent.

Morning: 1-2 cups with breakfast.
Mid morning break: 1 cup
Lunch: 1 cup after eating lunch
Afternoon break: 1 cup
Dinner: 1-2 cups after eating dinner
Evening: 1-2 cups in front of the telly (unless you have difficulty sleeping.

Wow. I would be crazed with insomnia. And I live in Seattle where we do coffee.

Joe, I'm propped up in bed feeling snuffly and sneezy (and perhaps a bit whiney). But I did want to poke my head in and see what's happening at the cafe. I see we are doing variations on carrot cake this week!

>86 jnwelch: about you and Pearlman. i don't say that you wouldn't like her but rather that i wonder if you would. i haven't the ability that you and others have to speak or analyze in a literary way so i flounder a bit. mind you, i've only made it through 3 stories thus far and would love to actually read them visually. i find her writing precise, deft, understated (so far), startling, compelling and evocative.

oh, better than my attempts, here's Honeydew, a short story of hers published online by Orion Magazine. see what you think.

Are you really that easily affected by caffeine? When I was at uni my friend and I used to drink triple cappuchinos in front of the TV and then go to bed and fall asleep at once. And I have insomnia. Coffee has never once bothered me when it comes to sleeping, though. (Light and sounds on the other hand...)

I know people who don't drink coffee after 18.00 (6.oo pm) because of issues with falling asleep but really? Not drinking at all in the afternoon? That's so weird! (To me)

>84 AMQS: Oh, you're speaking my language, Anne. "early 20th century Jane Austen" - yes! I'll get to The Brandons sooner rather than later. That RD is good tip-giver. (Even the chef and barista agree).

>85 katiekrug: We do takeout for sure, Katie. We often get people running in at the start of the day for coffee and at the end of the day for dinner. Chicken stir fry? No problem (thanks for bringing a container):



>87 msf59: Good to know, Mark. I keep meaning to get a tbd list going. I'd better do that. Glad you're off to a good start to the weekend. I'm going home right after these posts.

>88 EBT1002: Me, too, Ellen. Like, insomnia for a week after that much coffee. Your coffee culture in Seattle is one of the many things I like about it. Our favorite (and only) son is really settling in.

Sorry you're feeling stuffup-ped and sneezy. There are a lot of germs bouncing around right now. Thanks for stopping by. It's been a big day for carrot cake, coffee and tea, with the latter two being talked about a lot and the first being eaten a lot.

I have to admit I always thought I was part of a relatively small group in liking carrot cake so much. The cafe experience has opened my eyes to its much wider popularity.

>89 mirrordrum: Fair enough, Ellie, and thanks for the link to one of her stories. I'll check it out, probably tomorrow. I'm glad it's not in Swedish, as I'm going to be working that Google translator pretty hard as it is.

I scoff at your claim of an inability to speak or analyze in a literary way, I scoff I tell you. Next we'll be hearing that you don't understand what poetry's all about either. I just thought there might be something in her collection that you thought I might not like, like clever furry miniature poodles being killed off at the end of each story.

>90 PawsforThought: Well, I once burnt my nose from drinking flaming tequilas, Paws. Does that count for anything?

I can drink coffee in the late afternoon, and sometimes do when we're going out. But generally I do avoid it after 6 pm. It does have that effect on me. We have friends who drink in bed before going to sleep. That's just amazing from my POV.

OK, gotta run to catch the train. Pies on the counter.

92. Drinking flaming tequila only qualifies as stupidity, sorry.

I actually find it odd that my insomnia doesn't seem to be affected by caffeine, but is definitely affected by milk. In a good way. The old trick of drinking warm milk before bedtime always helps me - it's doesn't always make me fall asleep but certainly makes me a bit drowsy.

I had my first 3 Floyds Robert the Bruce this evening. With a grilled burger,spicey FF and cole slaw. Really enjoyed the beer.

I once burnt my nose from drinking flaming tequilas LOL!!!
We do share our secrets with one another around here, don't we?

Just wondering, Joe; how did you get started in this café business?

Just don't ask him if he has a liquor license.

>93 PawsforThought: Fun memory, though, Paws.

Glad the warm milk helps you. Insomnia sucks.

>94 cindysprocket: Hi, Cindy! Good to hear from another Three Floyds R the B fan. You and Mark are inspiring me. Sounds like a good meal, too.

>95 EBT1002: I even got the nickname "Tequila Nose" for a while there, Ellen. College exuberance. I've since gotten crazier in many ways, and less so in that particular one. :-)

>96 humouress: Hiya, Nina. As some denizens probably remember, this is all an unexpected pleasure. Long story short, Mark (msf59) talked me into trying a 75er thread last year. A pal and I used to get a kick out of a place called Joe's Cafe. I thought Joe's Book Cafe would be a good name for my thread.

Well, next thing we know, people started ordering food and drink. So we started bringing out what was ordered. And there you go.

>97 EBT1002: I promise no flaming tequilas, Ellen - at least not quaffed by moi.

It is also a place of spiritual comfort for us all.

Joe, back to Edith Pearlman...think Alice Munro but properly dosed with antidepressants. Same realistic, unheightened narrative voice, less grim, grim, grim than quietly, understatedly nostalgic or weltschmerzy. Her stories are like sitting on the deck looking at the sun set with an old friend who doesn't need to chatter, where Munro's are like sitting on a park bench brushing pigeon poop off one's shoulder with one hand while trying to rearrange the newspapers in one's disintegrating sneakers, hold onto the bottle of Olde Englishe Malt Liquor, and beat back the rats with the other.

Anne, Mrs. Thirkell's final book, never read by me before, is my current read. Oh me oh my...so bittersweet.

Hah! Oh man, I love the Edith Pearlman/Alice Munro comparison. Beautifully put. I'm liking the sounds of Ms. Pearlman's work. Although I've been on that park bench.

I guess i'm one of the lucky ones in that I can drink coffee anytime of the day with no side affects. No Joe, I didn't join in on the AK group read, I probably should have since I read it when I was in my twenties, and really don't remember much about it now. I am currently reading Agent 6 the final volume in Tom Rob Smith's trilogy. This one isn't as good as the first but is better than the second. I am also reading I was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn which is a beautiful, almost poetic read.

Whoo, almost missed y'all -- here I was looking around the old place... I could go for a drink... running down threads is thirsty work. :)

Very, very busy week Joe and only just catching up. The food and drink as usual looks fabulous and a belated thank you Sir for the delightful cheese and otard!
The singing in Les Mis was shall we say mixed but the overall experience was a good one.

The cafe is up to its usual form I am so thrilled to say mate. Have a lovely weekend.

Hi Joe! I am determined to get here more often. This is one of my favorite threads. Determined!
I am going to take a booth on the side, and hope a friend or two might breeze in....I am on a bit of a
run with Christopher Moore.. with mixed reaction so far.. another one up for today.

>101 DeltaQueen50: You are lucky on the coffee front, Judy. Reminds me of the folks who don't have to watch what they eat at all - our son's girlfriend and her parents are like that. Pack it away and stay skinny. I sure wouldn't mind combining that with drinking coffee all the time.

That's the Child 44 author, right? Sounds like a good diverter. I'm curious about I Was Amelia Earhart and look forward to your reaction when you're done.

>102 beserene: Glad you found us, Sarah! Running down threads is thirsty work, no bout adoubt it. Here's a thirst quencher - if it's not what you had in mind, just let us know.



>103 PaulCranswick: Hiya, Paul! Good to see you. Happy to hear Les Miz overall was good - I'm sure we'll see it, either on the big or little screen. And glad the cheese and otard hit the spot. You have a lovely weekend, too, mate.

>104 mckait: Hi, Kath! We'd love to see you more - you class up the joint, you know. I'm glad it's one of your faves, and we support you wholeheartedly in your determination. Find a booth you like - I'm sure a friend or two will stop by. Christopher Moore is on my tbr. I can't remember what you like in the a.m., but here's some fresh-squeezed OJ:

Morning Joe- Coffee please! Surprise me. Not a whole lot planned today. I will wrap up Drama and back to A.K. I have still not cracked open the follow-up to Child 44, after several years, mainly because of it's lukewarm reception here. That's to bad. The debut was dynamite.
My review of Perks is up but of course it pales to a certain Cafe owner and Chicago resident's perfect one.

Morning, Mark! A day with not a whole lot planned is one of my favorite kinds. I've got to work a bit this a.m. (from home though), but it should be a pretty relaxed one for us, too. Bulls game for us tonight against the Suns - they beat the Knicks in the Garden last night, so they continue to do well without Derrick. He may be back next month or early March is what they're saying.

Liking that review of Perks, and I'm glad it was a good read for you.

Let's get you that coffee - some Intelligentsia for you this time:

I LOVED I was Amelia Earhart! and thank you for the OJ!

Hi Joe, lazy weekend for me, too. I'll be watching all four of the NFL playoff games, rooting for the Packers, of course, and getting some reading in.

Paul, I thought the same about Les Miz. I'm so used to seeing it onstage, where the singing is fabulous, so that the singing in the movie was disappointing. However, seeing it on the big screen was terrific, as was some of the acting. Glad to see the Oscar nominations for Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman.

>108 mckait: Ha! Great, Kath! I'll read your comments on it. You're welcome!

>109 lindapanzo: Good for you, Linda. Great weekend for football. I'll be pulling for Seattle and Denver based on our LT enthusiasts.

Never saw Les Miz on stage, unfortunately, but maybe that'll help in seeing the movie. I read that Anne Hathaway has a good chance of getting the Oscar.

I come from a long line of Norwegians and we always had the coffee pot on all day long. I'm not much of a coffee drinker myself as I get the racing heart syndrome if I have more than my one extra large mug in the morning. I'm blaming my dad's side of the family from Great Britain!

And Richard is correct as usual. Your thread is a place of spiritual comfort, Joe, not to mention delectable food!

>111 Donna828: It must be the Welsh and Brit in me, too, Donna. Scandanavians obviously can handle their coffee in way larger quantities, as that list Paws gave us shows.

I got so caught up in RD's Pearlman/Munro comparison, I forgot to thank him for his spiritual comfort insight. A place of spiritual comfort - love it. It's a collective effort, I know that much.

Hope you're having a good weekend!

Hi Joe,
Your catering was sorely missed yesterday :( But I understand your reluctance to fed ex a dozen cream cakes all that way. The chances of them arriving in tip top shape is pretty low.
We made do with pumpkin and kumara hummus, diced veges, crackers and fancy cheese. It wasnt to bad ;)

Another hot one here today, I could do with a cool breeze actually, just for a few hours. Or maybe a dip in that lake of yours.

>112 jnwelch: dahling, don't just get caught up in comparisons. you must at least sample her work. i finished reading Honeydew last night. it's extraordinary. and wonderfully sexy in spots. now Pearlman's someone who knows how to write about sex so it's relevant to the story and not just lubricious chaff. so rare, so rare. as to Pearlman vs. Munro, i've no clue. only read one Alice Munro, The Moons of Jupiter, about 300 years ago. i vaguely recall liking it but that's it. RD certainly doesn't make me want to dump more of her books in my bucket.

have fun at the Bulls game. i shall be hunkered down in front of the telly watching really large, and some very fleet, men smash each other to splintereens over an inflated piece of dead cowhide. and i'll be cheering as if it mattered. true weirdness. talk about fiddling while Rome burns, eh?

i wonder if one could order a future-time-jiggered veggie pizza with extra cheese that i could zoop by and pick up around, ohhhhhh, i dunno, 8:30 or so? and some Voss aerated, too, please?

>98 jnwelch: : Ah, I see. Good story.

Any ideas for Sunday brunch?

Hi, Ellie. Hmm. Sunday brunch? Here are some possibilities:

Ooh, delish; and healthy, too. *dashes off to the kitchen*

Happy weekend, Joe!

I have to work tonight, so I will take a Diet Pepsi to go, please.

Brunch! Oh, that looks heavenly.

but . . . but . . . but . . . my time-jiggered pizza . . . well, perhaps it can be jiggered to tomorrow evening. honestly, man, i don't see how you can put something as trivial as a weekend with your MBH and a Bulls game ahead of your ravening clientele. *huffle*

#114 Ellie: I'm watching the Denver game in overtime. I came upon your hilarious description of football and had a good laugh. Too true!

Thought this was a great place to share Sherlock's love of books ;D

Sunday morning, and Sydney seems to have escaped (I don't know how!) the scorcher that was predicted, and that other areas around us got. Pancakes and tea (and coffee for Don) at Chez Wookiebender's brunch.

I can drink coffee (although not in the evening, I once ear bashed a boyfriend until 4am after an evening coffee; never again!), but if I drink "real" coffee for too long, my temper gets nasty. So it's decaf (and tea) for me. Decaf because when I head out with workmates for coffee in the morning, take away tea is dreadful (what? $3 for a teabag in lukewarm water???) and I do like the taste of coffee. Decaf is getting better, most places do a decent one now.

Planning a library visit this afternoon, plus drinks at a local pub for a Uni friend's birthday. Nothing special on tap there, but a great beer garden that the local kids get to run amok in, and a decent Malaysian bistro.

#122> aw! I've been documenting my cats and books this month. Here is Sweet Pea: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147134#3825302 and here is her sister Pippi: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147134#3826426

Hmmm I started the year posting cats, too. It will be year of the furkid on my thread this year...
following last years trees... Joe that is a smashing looking brunch just above!

>121 NarratorLady: aaaaaaaccccccckkkkkkk. my Broncs got busted. i never saw so much flying yellow laundry in my LIFE! i think 4 neck surgeries, 2 sacks and -2 windchill kinda nuked our Peyton, bless 'im. what the 'ell happened to the Broncs defensive line with their jump start madness i do NOT know. heavenly betsies.

Joe, The orange juice up there looked good since I'm under the weather with a dratted cold.
But perhaps I could have just a splash of vodka in there, too?
You know, just to honor the Polish and Russian lit I'm reading these days......

I've just read and reviewed Angela Thirkell's last book Three Score and Ten. I gave it at least one and a half stars more than its literary merits would earn, because it is what it is: the last of its kind, the end of a series, the only autobiography we'll ever have of its creator. It's in my thread...post #27.

Hey, Joe. I would like some French toast, please. With real maple syrup - I hate that pancake syrup stuff that is maple flavored.

(I'll take the fake syrup that Stasia doesn't want. I love that stuff.)

*proprietor runs in and throws his hat on the rack*

Woo, nice breakfast with some friends at Taste of Heaven in Andersonville (a section of Chicago), then read some poetry (don't tell RD), and here we go.
>113 LovingLit: You're right, Megan. You would have had a box of cream cake crumbs, which doesn't seem very festive. Your Plan B sounds mighty good to me.

>114 mirrordrum: Thanks for your patience, Ellie. We'll get you that pizza and Voss. You can tell the proprietor's being goofing off again. Jeesh.

RD's just so eloquacious it's mesmerizing. Like you, I don't feel inspired to throw any Munro in my bucket, but I do feel like opening some oysters for a Pearl(man) or two. You further inspire me on the pearl diving.

I saw some of the fleet men colliding with one another; I must see highlights from that SF-GB game so I can see unspellable Kaepernick's scrambling around and driving GB crazy.

OK, enough from this rambling man. Some time jiggery and comest- and quaff-ibles:



>117 humouress: Ah, good, Nina. We's got more where those came from.

>118 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia! I was going to say, sorry to hear you have to work tonight, but maybe that's okay with your schedule? Anyway, let's get some time-jiggered Diet Pepsi:



>119 ffortsa: It does, doesn't it, Judy? We just brunched in heavenly fashion. And brought back scones (blackberry for me, apricot for Debbi). Mmm.

>120 mirrordrum: I don't blame you for huffling, Ellie, even though I'm sure how one huffles. We've got the time-jiggered pizza up above, and I feel suitably chastised.

Plus the poor Bulls were still hungover from beating the Knicks and played like bumpkins tossing pumpkins. But I caught a t-shirt for my beloved lady and really impressed her. I think she'll go out with me again.

>121 NarratorLady: I hope we have some denizen pulling for Baltimore, Anne, because Peyton and the Broncos losing was a sad development for those looking for a good fairy tale. I loved Ellie's description, too. She has a way with words, that one. Gets impatient about her pizza, though.

>122 seasonsoflove: I love that photo, Becca! I wonder whether he realizes his beloved owner likes to read, and maybe wants her to pay attention to him instead? Just a thought.

Looking forward to seeing you both soon.

>123 wookiebender: I love the phrase "ear bashed", Tania! I've done some of that meself. My much better half says I get very philosophical when I've quaffed a significant quantity of alcohol. I thought she meant I say a lot of really fascinating stuff, but now I'm not so sure about that.

Glad you avoided the scorcher! And love those pics of Sweet Pea and Pippi! No surprise I guess, but I'm impressed we have book-reading dogs and cats befriending our LTers.

>124 mckait: More furkids pics would be welcome, Kath! Glad you like the looks of that brunch. It's a challenge to meet the more open-ended denizen requests.

I suspect your other LT pals will join me in hoping you take it easy today on your day off and not try to build a new house and fix all your appliances and cook several gourmet meals.

>125 mirrordrum: I know, Ellie. Sorry about that. You've got to give them Ravens credit, of course, but how in the world did the Bronk secondary let that receiver get behind them with 35 secs left? Heavenly betsies indeed.

>126 EBT1002: Good idea, Ellen. A Vitamin C-filled screwdriver coming up! Hopefully it'll have some cold be gone effect, or at least make it more tolerable.



OK, we're not quite caught up, but I've got to go pick up a library book that came in (Low Town) and pick up Becca and her book-reading furry pal, so please give the chef a holler if you need anything, and the proprietor will return in a while.

Hi Joe- How are you? We are getting ready to head out for another family birthday get-together, (These are never-ending). Drink a couple beers, watch some football.
Did you say you read the Nao of Brown? I cracked it this morning. It's an absolutely gorgeous book, with lovely illustrations but this veers into some very dark corners.

>127 richardderus: Intriguing comments, Richard. We gotta whole lotta Angela Thirkell going on these days. If I ever finish Anna Karenina, I plan to read other books, and The Brandons is on that list. Actually, I'm now finally getting close with AK. I'm supposedly a fairly fast reader, but this one feels like it's taken forever.

>128 alcottacre: Hey, Stasia. When I hear "Hey, Joe" I often think of Jimi Hendrix, and wonder where I'm going with that book (who needs a gun?) in my hand.

French toast with real maple syrup coming up (we can bring some more syrup). Sounds like we've got a taker for the surreal maple syrup.



>129 scaifea: Perfect, Amber. We had to have anything go to waste. Fake syrup it is:



>132 msf59: Hiya, Mark! Drink a couple beers, watch some football sounds good to me, even if they interrupt with that annoying family birthday crap. (Oops, don't let your family know I said that).

I've read most of the Nao of Brown, but it ends with a whole text section, and I didn't expect that, so I've wandered away for the moment. I really liked the graphic part - as you say, absolutely gorgeous, with some excellent dark corner veering. I know dark is kind of your favorite book spice.

I'm revisiting Scott Pilgrim, this time in color (I get a big kick out of these Canadian tales), and am a ways into the much-lauded Saga, a sci-fi-er that, so far, I'm much less taken with than others have been.

Any chance I could get something that'll knock out this flu?

Until we get some medical breakthrough, Paws, other than symptom-easing pharmaceuticals, the best we can suggest is drink water.



Sorry the flu nabbed you. It's all over this country right now. Just plain a bad year for it.

Joe, you're a riot today. good for the soul indeed. love this place. truly glad you were a hero last night. i'll bet you out-leapt hundreds to snare your lady love a t-shirt. awwwwww. you delight me.

>131 jnwelch: huffling is sort of like the "whuffle of a snail in danger" but with hands on hips, foot tapping and a slight testiness in the tone. all is forgiven though. i'll have the pizza time-jiggered to the Pat's game this evening. it looks just the ticket. ta!

>133 jnwelch: ohmigod, Joe. Stasia's FT looks luscious. are you old enough to have heard Elaine May say "luscious" in Mike Nichols/Elaine May's 'the telephone operator'? that kind of luscious. only about 30 seconds in. wish i weren't full of healthy foods. i couldn't even think about that right now.

way back there, aren't you, man, w/ the Jimi Hendrix. your mind works like mine. always leaping to lyrics and quotations.

and in re: the Broncs, their Champ Bailey vs.Torrey Smith plan fell flat on its face but the Ravens did have at least 4 big players back from injuries. Smith is a monster and, if i may say so, quite awe-inspiring: tall, fleet, gorgeous and, one suspects, partly CGI or maybe bionic. still, that piss-poor coverage at the end was just jaw-droppingly bad.

Kaep was a kick though. nice to see the niners doing well and Kaep showing that he can handle the big ones.

i've added Low town to my audible list, blast you.

have a good one, dear Joe.

I learned way back in graduate school that I couldn't drink more than two cups of full-bore coffee without having major physical jitters for the rest of the day. So it's decaf after the first cup for me, OR switch to tea. I am currently drinking Murchie's Russian Caravan, brewed in my brand new teapot, pictured here

Stopping by to wish you a Happy Sunday

>136 mirrordrum: Thanks, Ellie. I may not be able to jump very high any more, but I remember how to block out and get good position. These younger t-shirt grabbers try to get by on pure athletic ability, and don't appreciate how important the fundamentals are - good footwork and balance, making sure you're in the best position to get that t-shirt carom. Well, some of the younger generation appreciate it more now, having been outfoxed and outmuscled by the old guy who just plain nabbed that t-shirt for his lady. They got schooled!

I had to take a short nap afterwards and then remember where I was, but it was worth it.

Ah, good, thanks for the explanation re huffling. I'm impressed you can pull it off; I'm not sure I even I know how a snail whuffles when in danger, much less how to imitate it.

I didn't know Nichols and May beyond the names and his directing movies, but my much better half reminds me that she played charades with Elaine May when Debbi was working at Tanglewood and EM performed there. She did that with other actors there, too, I'm pretty sure Frank Langella among them.

I also liked "P as in Pneumonia"? in the linked video. Miss Jones sounded so wonderful, too. Poor guy.

Piss-poor and jaw droppingly bad coverage at the end is right - the whole point is not to let him get behind you. What part of that is hard to understand?

Low Town is an LT pickup for me. More than one good LT reader has come back extolling it, so they started the ball rolling and blame them not me, okay?

You have a good one, too, sweet Ellie. Most excellent to have you back in the cafe.

>137 ronincats: Holy Duchess Grey, did you make that, Roni? I think we need to show it here, too.



You're remarkable. I once made a wooden bottle in woodshop class. A long time ago. It looked kind of silly, and what use is a wooden bottle, anyway?

>138 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda. Happy Sunday! Hope you've been having a good, relaxing one.

Those waffles up there look mighty good...I'll take either maple or fake syrup, but not the diet or "lite" stuff. It's syrup, for pete's sake!

>140 tloeffler: Good to see you, Terri! All right, we'll either give you the real maple syrup, or the real fake stuff. Here you go:

Yum. I want a waffle cone with a mountain of gelato - probably coffee flavoured as I love my coffee and some pistachio.
Still plugging away at my historical fiction chunkster - When Christ and his saints slept but finished Building Stories this morning and glad to have that box of tricks out of the way. A reread of Preludes and Nocturnes up next.

Wood bottles are good for displaying arrangements of dried flowers, Joe. Did you make it with a lathe? Thank you for your kind comments on my teapot--I think I had beginner's luck making it!

I meant to comment when I posted earlier that my mother called me midweek when she saw on the news that our temperature was the same as yours that day!

>142 avatiakh: Hi, Kerry! How did you like that box of tricks? The darn thing sold out before my lovely wife could get it for me for the holidays. I've got to read me some Sharon Kay Penman some time. I've re-read the Sandman series more than once now, but it may be time for another.

Waffle cone, got it, here you go:



>143 ronincats: You have identified the only use in the world for wooden bottles, Roni. There should be some kind of award for that. (We've got the Golden Globes on; Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are brilliant). That is indeed what we used it for. Yes, I made it with a lathe, which had the virtue of giving it a regular shape that made it look like I knew what I was doing. I've seen enough of your beautiful handiwork to know that your teapot was not the result of beginner's luck. (My wooden bottle was the result of, crap, who let him take this class?)

You know, I knew we had it warmer here than our son had in Seattle, which was weird enough in January, but to have the same temp as San Diego is bizarre indeed. You'll be relieved to hear it plummeted yesterday and all is back to normal here, in the 20s. I bet you can't say that in San Diego, and you must be quite envious.

I've reviewed the quirky, wonderful stories in 420 Characters: Stories over in my thread...post #15.

First appearing on Facebook, they're all marvels of concise, lovely language telling fractions and fractals of stories we might never know, or never forget.

Oo, I read that one and liked it, too, Richard! I'll look forward to reading your take on it. Little, tiny, excellent stories.

Oooh I am so behind Joe but I am popping in to say hello. It's late but I'll pre order a nice breakfast. Surprise me.

They're not screening the Golden Globes on Australian tv (or at least not on free-to-air tv). Colour me unhappy, I'm a bit of a sucker for awards shows. Got some on YouTube, will get the highlights off there later. How dare we miss out on Tina Fey and Amy Poehler!

Just had a big plate of chicken pasta. A glass of white wine, chilled thoroughly, please.

mmmm Waffles sound perfect!

I am still avoiding serious reading like the plague.
I am keeping to light and airy and amusing ... it's working for me right now.

>147 luvamystery65: No worries, Roberta. It's easy to get behind on LT, isn't it, especially in the 75ers group. Thanks for stopping by. Here's a nice breakfast for you:



>148 wookiebender: Hi, Tania. I hope they have highlights of Tina and Amy on Youtube. They were terrific. We had to mute Jodie Foster, my goodness she was all over the place. Kristen Wiig and Will Farrell were very funny, too. White wine, thoroughly chilled, neither shaken nor stirred, here you go:



>149 mckait: I know what you mean, Kath. After AK is done (I'm at 88% on the Kindle, getting closer), I'm going to Low Town, I think, which may not be light and airy, but should be a diverting escape read. Or maybe the next Eve Dallas. What light and airy and amusing one are you reading?

Waffles? OK:

Morning, waffles look good but I myownself am jonesin' for chicken fried steak with cream gravy and collards. How very Southern of me.

Howards End is on the Landing is doin' me fine this morning.

>151 richardderus: Oh, I keep thinking about reading Howards End is on the Landing - can't wait to see your reaction to it, Richard. Here's somethin' for that Southern jonesin':

OMG OMG ZOMG I think I need IV fluids I'm drooling so hard! *slurp* Thanks!

Ha! Glad to hear it! A tip of the hat from the chef.

>138 Whisper1: i once made an apron in homemaking. they made me. i resented every second wasted on that nonsense. feh! the guys got to take 'shop' and the girls had to take homemaking. HOMEMAKING!

uses for a wooden bottle:

crack nuts
hide small gems or beads
burn for heat and/or light
hold tiny little taper candles
take to show and tell
smash bubble wrap
grind paint pigments
smooth small patches of wet cement
massage Sherlock
give to Sherlock to chew whilst he's reading or when he's being "mouthy"
draw or cut out shapes (possibly circular) using a pencil or knife, depending
make a home for a wood sprite
if large enough, make a nesting place for wrens
put in the back yard and watch what happens to the wood over the course of a year

etc.

apologies. my sweetie pie goes into surgery in about an hour and I WANT TO BE THERE AND CAN'T so i'm alternating amongst mindful pacing, mindful breathing, looking at my watch, playing games, doing small tasks and being here. can't attend to a book to save me.

off to take mindful steps. thanks for being here, Joe. feels comforting.

p.s. the blind contessa's new machine, which i started reading b/c i loved the title, is turning out to be pritty durn cool.

Oh so glad you're enjoying my sweetiebook The Blind Contessa's New Machine!

Why is she in surgery?

Love the idea of smashing bubble wrap with the wooden bottle.

>155 mirrordrum: Ah, how difficult to have your sweetie pie in surgery and you can't go, Ellie. Is someone able to report to you? We're at the ready to provide distractions and silliness as needed.

Nice list of wooden bottle uses. Perhaps I misspoke when I said there's only one. I meant only one hundred million. Sherlock would be much in favor of both massage and his taking charge. I think candlestick was another woodshop option, so candle holder's another good one. They'd have to be very tiny wrens, though. Smashing bubble wrap - my family knows they can send me running away with either that sound or a rendition of "It's A Small World After All". And they love to do it.

If it makes you feel any better, in my liberal Ann Arbor university high school (before I switched to public) the boys had to take home ec, too, and the girls got to take shop. I didn't make an apron, but I was pretty clueless in both home ec and shop. Seems to me I was mostly interested in the mystery of girls and how to impress them back then. Never did figure out either - although catching a t-shirt at the game comes close on the latter.

I loved The Blind Contessa's New Machine, thanks to Richard's recommendation. Fascinating that the basics reflect a true story.

>156 richardderus: I love the idea of smashing bubble wrap with the wooden bottle if I am far, far away when it happens.

oh, hon, i'd never seen your review and had to thumb it. silly thing (book not your review) tried to keep me awake when i needed to sleep last night and it nearly undid me to have to turn it off. i'm only about a third through but quite swept up.

surgery? um, extending margins around previous CA tongue/throat surgery done in early Nov, biopsies of the surround and a few minor repairs here and there. good stuff, excellent surgeon. just talked to her as she was headed to surgery. lovely nurse person loaned her a cell. her anesthesiologist is our buddy from way, way back. he's the head of anesthesiology for amb surg and a bluegrass picker. last time i was in, he went and got his banjo and played Foggy Mtn Breakdown while they were rigging me up to the juice and ticker lines.

i need to go away now. i'm writing toooooooo much.

>157 jnwelch: in re: the t-shirt, well, it impressed the hell out of me. mostly i'm impressed that you were able to block out the twerps. young people do not grasp the basics: block out, follow your shot, and use that little box up there on the backboard. as Pat Head Summitt would say, "that's what it's there for." a dunk, a finger roll and a layup off the board are all worth 2 points. they don't award nuthin' for style.

okay, off to feed the birds who're all wet and hungry.

Hope all is going well with your partner's surgery, Ellie. The waiting is always so hard.

Joe, yes, I can drink coffee at any time, but I sure don't have that metabolism that would allow me to eat whatever and whenever. That's why I appreciate your virtual cafe, I can indulge without paying the price!

>159 mirrordrum: Glad you've got an engaging book to fill your mind while waiting, Ellie, and good people taking care of your HSO. Love the head of anesthesiology being a bluegrass picker, and his playing FMB for you while you were in the hospital.

Debbi liked the t-shirt fundamentals, too, I must admit. So I'm in good shape for a little while with her even if, as is inevitable, I do something stupid soon.

We're up at the third level at the United Center, so they actually have a security person stand in the aisle near the railing to keep passionate t-shirt chasers from pitching over the side and down into the second level. These are just t-shirts, people! Not worth risking your lives over. That's actually my second t-shirt for the season. Our son managed to nab 12 one year. Never was a pa so proud. He combined the fundamentals (a lad who listens!) with ridiculous quickness and sleight of hand, with other patrons wondering half the time how he managed to do it. He gave a number of them away to wee ones sitting nearby, giving us even more reason to think he's the cat's pajamas.

He was quite pleased to hear I'm keeping up the family tradition in his absence.

>160 DeltaQueen50: You and me both, Judy! I much appreciate the virtues of virtual food. I can also have more coffee, beer and wine here than I would in RL. Comfortable seats, too.

Off to catch the train. Pies are on the counter.

I get obsessed over popping bubble wrap. Best to keep it well away from me.

We didn't get to do "shop" (the boys school had woodwork, but we weren't allowed to go over there for classes, yeesh), and I had to do both cooking (Home Economics) and sewing (Textiles and Design) in Year 7 (where you have to do a bit of everything before choosing subjects for the rest of high school). Rather dull - I already knew how to cook/sew/knit - so I didn't continue with either of them.

Neither hungry nor thirsty. Just some iced water, thanks. I'll be over in the corner, trying to look as if I'm working, but really goofing off on LibraryThing. (Second day back at work isn't much easier than the first day back...)

Hi Joe!
Stopping in quick to make sure you are not lonely - LOL
I made a super fantastic apron in home ec (junior high) and then someone stole it! Go figure.

Maybe a little night cap is in order - chef's choice :-) Thanks!

Hi Joe- Just a quick check-in! Cold out there today but DRY! No fussing from me. Glad you are getting close on finishing A.K. I should finish Book 6 tomorrow. Yes, it's LONG, but there are so many good moments. Do you own the Nao of Brown? I hope I can read a few more pages later tonight.

Well, Joe, the Vitamin-C-screwdriver was yummy but the nasty cold won.
Oh well, it's a good excuse to sit and read Anna Karenina.

*off to investigate The Blind Contessa's New Machine because I haven't bought enough books yet in 2013* -- ha!

>162 wookiebender: Goofing off on Librarything is just the thing to help ease a back to work day, Tania. My daughter didn't end up getting any of those classes in school, but she was at an accelerated high school here that piled a lot of academic classes on everyone. If she sees this, maybe she can comment.

I really learned to cook as a bachelor, and am a lousy sew-er. My beat up hands are better with large objects. My much better half is much better at both.

Let's get you that iced water. I see your part of the world is headed to the high 90s Farenheit.



>163 -Cee-: Hi, Cee! That's probably a high compliment, someone stealing that apron. But I'll bet it was a drag at the time, after all your hard work.

Hmm, night cap, eh?



>164 msf59: Hi, Mark! Hope you have a good one today. Yes, can't believe we haven't had more snow by now. That's a-okay as far as I'm concerned.

I actually finished that whopper AK yesterday, so I'll try to write something this afternoon. I finished the Nao of Brown, too, which I ended up thinking was very good. What artwork, eh?

>165 EBT1002: Hope the far side of that cold shows up soon for you, Ellen. I see it's been fairly chilly out in Seattle.

I'm glad I read Anna Karenina, and it certainly is full of great stretches. Wouldn't have minded a bit less histrionics from Anna, and a bit less philosphical questioning from Levin, but it's probably too late to say anything to Tolstoy about it.

I'm going to be tied up in a meeting most of the morning, so everyone should give the chef a holler if they need anything. There are some good pies on the counter.

Hi all,

Works kept me very busy this last week but I'm checking in from Joe's Book Cafe on the rails - Amtrak rails to be exact. Despite all the work finished C is for Corpse and The Lost Bank - very worth reading - and The Burning of Bridget Cleary - not exactly essential.

Headed into the tunnels (of Penn Station) so I'd better post this now!

Checkin' in, and passin' through. I'm in a bit of a thread funk these days - don't want to sit still and read 10s, or is it 100s, of greetings and comments; not doing all that well at reading either. Been working at getting my rental house rented, and connecting with some friends I've not seen for ever too long. RL seems to be "on top" for me these days, but I wanted to swing by the cafe, pick up a coffee and carry on.

p.s. big accomplishment yesterday: I paid for a Starbucks coffee with my smart phone. Ha! So 21st Century, am I.

I did not have any sort of home ec or woodworking or shop-I actually only had one year of art even.

>168 maggie1944: Heh, that's about the definition of 21st century Seattle...hi Karen44!

I'll just sit quietly over in this corner with a cup of hot Breathe Easy tea (with just a bit of honey) and Anna Karenina. I'll try not to sneeze on anyone.

>167 mjs1228: Hi, Maryann! Good to see you. Ah, I love riding on the train - did you travel a ways? Things to do in NYC? A regular commute? A proprietor who doesn't pester you with questions?

That's some wide-ranging reading! My much better half has enjoyed Sue Grafton's series, and I'll be our lovely and talented daughter would be interested in the Bridget Cleary book.

>168 maggie1944: It's good to see you, Karen! Thanks for stopping by. No worries. It's all for fun. There'll come a time when your RL friends won't give you a cool photo of the food or drink you want, and you'll be longing for that quiet reading corner among all the plants with the good lamp, and we'll be ready for you.

Way to go on your smartphone - my wife is adding that app, too. Wielding a gold card at Starbucks is about as fancy as I get.

Here's some cafe coffee for pickup:



>169 seasonsoflove: Hello, lovely and talented daughter. I didn't think you had home ec or shop in high school. You guys were a bunch of egg heads. However, we were just talking about how your Food class got to go to Charlie Trotter's for free, a fancy restaurant here in town. Your parents were envious.

Did you see the link for the Bridget Cleary book up in 167? Looks like your cuppa.

>170 richardderus: Love drinking coffee in Seattle, gotta say. They've got cafes all over the place, bless 'em. The original Starbucks down by Pike's Place still packs them in, too. We stood outside for a photo op, but didn't even try to go in; no room.

>171 EBT1002: Poor Ellen! Enjoy your Breathe Easy with a bit o' honey and Anna Karenina, and hopefully that cold will start letting up on you. I finished AK yesterday, and will try to write something soon.

I have an observation to make about LibraryThing.
One can catch up. One really can.
But all it takes is a 30-minute nap and one is behind all over again.

Deep truths are my forte.

ETA: Thanks for the tea, Joe!

That free trip to Charlie Trotters was amazing!!

SPOILERS APLENTY Don't read this if you're worried about spoilers. It's not really a review, but some thoughts that came up from reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

Maybe because I'm cold and heartless, I found Anna's high-pitched emotionality grating. Once she got on the Vronsky train, she gradually (or not so gradually) transformed from an elegant, composed, thoughtful woman into a caterwaul. Obviously, a major reason for this was the tension caused by her complete obsession with Vronsky - he was her only hope, as she says more than once - and the disapproval of society wherever they went. (An idyll in Italy is the exception, but they find it unsatisfying). By the end, Anna's obsessive jealousy and desperate need for more of his love has her destroying their relationship. Vronsky isn't exactly admirable, so dumping him would have been fine, but of course the only solution she finds is to commit suicide by throwing herself under a train.

Levin (someone said he's an autobiographical character for Tolstoy) and Kitty, with their measured, thoughtful and largely graceful love, were a huge relief throughout for me from the Anna-Vronsky high-pitched passion. Tolstoy of course works that contrast in dramatic ways through much of the book. Levin and Kitty for some reason made me think of Louisa May Alcott's books. The plane they operated on was beautiful to read about. Also, Jane Austen came to mind, as Kitty first foolishly turns down Levin's proposal due to an infatuation with Vronsky, and learns to regret it before she and Levin finally are reunited.

What kept running through my mind was, what would Anna be like today in this situation? Would pharmaceuticals help alleviate her anxiety, and enable her to deal more rationally with her life? Soften that irrepressible hatred for Karenin, allow her to visit more reasonably with her son, help her avoid her irrational desperation toward Vronsky and find a way to happiness? What about easy, no-fault divorce? Instead of the sturm and drang with Karenin, just go your separate ways, marry that putz Vronsky, and carry on. How about a more progressive society, with much less of the shunning?

I know, she's the title character, very important, look at all we'd lose. But would we? If a more sensible Anna made more sensible choices in a more sensible world, would we still care about her? I'd be willing to find out, if only to get some relief from her clanging emotions, particularly toward the end. (I'm fine with emotional characters generally, but the increasingly falling apart Anna I'd had enough of). And maybe a more sensible Anna would mean we could get more of Levin and Kitty's story, which would be fine with me. (I could do with a whole lot less of Levin's religious and philosophical questioning, by the way, but we'll leave that for another day). We might end up with Alcott-like or Austen-like characters sorting it out. If we wanted to keep a similar dynamic, Anna could be a Lydia-equivalent I suppose, with Vronsky as Wickham.

All right, enough carping. The Maude translation was smooth and engaging. There were beautiful stretches in the book, like Levin mowing with the peasants, and the birth of Levin and Kitty's son, with Levin desperately frightened that Kitty might not survive. The latter was well-contrasted with Anna wishing she had died in childbirth, as that would have "solved everything." I was also struck at the end by Vronsky's trying to remember Anna as she was at the beginning of their relationship, rather than the "cruelly vindictive" (from his POV) Anna at the end.

I'm glad I read Anna Karenina, but you can tell it will never be up there as a favorite for me.

>173 EBT1002: Deep truths are my forte. So true, so true. Thanks for sharing, Ellen. :-)

Glad the tea suited! Breathe Easy is popular in our house at such times, too.

>174 seasonsoflove: Ha! I remember, Becca. You were a very lucky girl.

He just closed up shop, as you probably know. You're one of the fortunate ones that got to eat there over the years. As Becca knows, her ma and I finally went to Charlie Trotter's before it closed, and it was wonderful. But it sure wasn't free, or private, like she had.

I am a total supporter of Vronsky. I thought he did the world a service.

But I'm a mean old man.

Ha! Me, too, Richard. Maybe a double suicide would've been even better. Eesh.

Why does no one ever mention Karenin? He's really the root of the problem, being such a dreary dull dawg.

No one remembers him.

Actually, the *muffled number* word in my comments is "Karenin", as in receiving irrepressible hatred from Anna. Dreary dull dawg is right. Luckily he doesn't show up as much in the book as some of the others. If he, Anna and Vronsky were surgically removed from the book, it'd be fine with me. What would the title be then? "Levin and Kitty" doesn't have the same resonance, does it?

"Here Kitty Kitty" by Leo Tolstoy.

Nnnnoooo....

172. Sorry, (and that extends to all Seattleans too) but Starbucks make shit coffee. Or "coffee". It's undrinkable. But so are most chain coffees. Bitter and weak and bad.

>181 richardderus: Ha! I know you'd never open one with that title, Richard.

>182 PawsforThought: I know folks with your strong reaction, Paws. Starbucks is fine by me, but I know some find its dark-roasting results in a charred or burnt taste. Weak I haven't heard before. I'm actually surprised you've even tried it. Some day I will travel to the northern lands of caffeine and find out what you all drink.

182. Only the darkest of dark roasts is drinkable. But just because it's dark doesn't mean it's bitter - which is where so many people go wrong. Coffee needs to be smooth AND strong.
Of course I've tried Starbucks. I used to be an errand girl and run out to get coffee for the bosses every morning (when I lived in a place that had Starbucks and similar chains). Hideousness!

I believe the expression often used is "black as the devil" (though the Swedish expression is better). That's how I want my coffee. Or maybe a little darker. Put a spoon in the cup and it should melt.

Ha! *note to self: must visit Paws and try the coffee*

Joe, re your comments on Anna K., how does she measure up, in your opinion, against Emma Bovary? There's another ninny destroyed by vanity, foolishness and romanticism. The writing, of course, is wonderful.

I love your review of Anna Karenina, Joe. I thought I would read a lot of it while home sick today but my eyes were weepy and I switched to a graphic memoir. I believe it's one you recommended, How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less. I gave it three stars. I liked it but it probably suffered for having been read so soon after I read Maus.

Not even wading into the coffee discussion. I certainly like my coffee very dark and very strong, no sugar and no cream. Starbucks isn't my favorite, but (at least here in Seattle) it's rarely weak. I've had it in other locales where they clearly held back on the scoops. Oops, guess I waded right in there, didn't I?

Anyway, back to AK now.

Hi Joe- Congrats on finishing A.K.! You did it! Good review of the book too. I don't think I was annoyed by Anna as much as you but she wasn't a joy to be around. Did you ever completely understand why she didn't want the divorce, early on? I couldn't figure it out. Levin & Kitty did save the day though.

ETA-There have been several film versions made. Do they all take on the Anna story only? If so, that's a bummer. LOL.

Well Joe, I never had any desire to read Anna Karenina but your review, and the references to the Alcott and Austen characters, is proof yet again that now is the best time in the history of Western societies (where all these stories take place) to be a woman. There were so few options for these fictional characters and for their real-life counterparts, I assume.

Of course education and money increase any person's choices, but today there are far fewer situations that would lead a woman to head for the train station!! As a civilization, on this subject at least, we are heading in the right direction.

it is damp. damp, damp, drenchingly damp, and dreary. raining fit to float an ark had i the energy to gather animals, let alone assemble an ark to put 'em in. i wallow in desuetude.

i should like a traditional Chinese hot pot, please, (the Chinese gentleman who ran the tiny restaurant in Berkeley back in the day called it 'hoku pot') with, hmmmm, well whatever you've got on hand but if it had some shrimps and chicken that would be nice. and pot stickers. and egg rolls. and mustard sauce fit to blow the top off my head. and jasmine tea with the blossoms and all.

hot pots are for to share and i'd love to share with anyone interested. any time tonight or tomorrow would be lovely. time-jiggered to the p.m. would be nice if on the morrow. mmmmmmm. can't wait! :)

Joe - Good morning (well for me it is). I am always nervous coming here just before breakfast as I may be disappointed with what I am having myself looking at all the wonderful fayre on offer here.

I agree with you on Anna Karenina so glad I read it and it is out of the way and I don't have to do it again! Worthy, worthy, worthy but oh painfully worthy.

Ellie, I'll share a hot pot with you whenever you like (providing the proprietor can dish one up - but I have no doubt he can).

>173 EBT1002: true ...so true

I've reviewed a very successful read of Howards End is on the Landing, a reader's memoir through books by writer Susan Hill. Quite a lovely trip through her home library. Review is on my thread...post #263.

Your review brings to mind my 40-some-year old experience of AK, Joe, and why I was not at all tempted to join in the group read. I DO want to read War and Peace one of these days, though.

Ooh, I'll join in on that hot pot, if I may. Pot stickers sound good! But definitely time-shift it, I just had a truly ginormous lunch (slow cooked lamb with feta & cucumber salad; followed by pannacotta with berries), so won't be able to eat for some hours yet. (*burp*)

>196 wookiebender: oh my word, Tania. i'd never even heard of panna cotta and now i've made the mistake of looking it up and viewing images. gloryoski. ellie want panna cotta now!



would love to share hoku pot with you once you get your lunch digested. surely Joe can time-jigger for two. he has many skills.

It was my first pannacotta, and it was *good*. Far richer than I was expecting (after the stonkering lamb, I was hoping for something light), but om nom nom. Especially with berries.

Found some recipes that look good, will have to try cooking it one day...

>186 ffortsa: Hi, Judy! You are welcome to throw a donut at me, but I've never read Madame Bovary. Your description of her is what keeps pushing me away. You can tell this is not my favorite type of character. I'm probably going to need a group read to get myself to read it.

Can you compare the two? It does sound like it would make an interesting comparison.

>187 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen! I haven't read about Anna Karenina, except I think Bonnie's review, so I wasn't sure whether I was off in left field somewhere compared to other readers. I'm glad you liked the review - can't wait to hear what you think when you're done.

>188 msf59: Good morning, Mark. Yeah, you can tell she bugged me big time. But thank goodness for Levin and Kitty. Mainly I thought she didn't agree to the divorce early on because she'd lose contact with her son, but she lost that anyway.

No way I'd watch a movie of this unless it was titled "Levin and Kitty: Their Story Without Anna and Vronsky, We Promise".

>189 NarratorLady: Ain't that the truth, Anne! Period pieces can be fascinating, but for me that aspect was just agonizing.

It is so much better, but now I'm reading an article entitled "India's Second Class Citizens" about women in that country, and of course we could think of other examples around the world. Our son just told us a new woman friend in Seattle decided she had to start a women's comedy open mike there because the comedy scene was so sexist. (Made me think of the sexism Tina Fey experienced early in her career as described in her book). Seattle! But your point is still right. It's all relative. At least we're well beyond the kookiness of Anna's world.

>190 mirrordrum: Damp, dreary, desuetude - I can see why you'd like a hot pot, Ellie! Yeesh. The time jiggerer is all warmed up, so we'll get it to you at the right time. Here you go, along with some pot stickers, and egg rolls (some crab ragoons thrown in), and some jasmine tea:



Bon appetit!

>191 PaulCranswick: Ha! Well put, Paul. Worthy, worthy, worthy, but painfully worthy. Hope you have a good one today, buddy.

>192 ffortsa: Plenty of hot pot up above, Judy, and Ellie's much more generous than *ahem* some of our denizens.

>193 mckait: Ellen's a deep one, no doubt about it, Kath. We all just enjoy LT so much. But it's like a good party - you step out for a while, you miss some of the sparkling conversation, but just return when you want and slide back into the sparkle.

>194 richardderus: Oh, that is so good to hear, Richard. I'm such a pushover for that kind of book. I'll look forward to reading the review.

>195 ronincats: Ha! I can imagine, Roni. AK is one I don't expect to ever re-read. Like you, though, I'd like to read War and Peace. I got into it a ways as a young man and just lost interest. But I think the experience would be different now.

>196 wookiebender: Ellie's looking for time-jiggery and hot pot colleagues, so I think you're all set, Tania. Your lunch sounds like a good one, as confirmed by that Romanesque burp. :-)

>197 mirrordrum: Ha! I think we're doing okay on the time-jiggery, Ellie, and you've got some good hot pot pals now. (BTW, if I try to find hoku pot, I instead get lovely flowers).

I'm a sensing a longing for panacotta (one almost gets psychic in this job - it's almost like a yarn muppet monster were letting me know). How about this:



>198 wookiebender: I did see there are an awful lot of good ways to make pana cotta, Tania. Must track this one down in RL.

I have trouble wanting to open my eyes when it's 35F and raining, but I know for sure I need me about ten crab rangoons. Hi Ellie, don't mind me I'm just eating through.

Stella has yet to ask to go out. She doesn't like rain, and last night's last walk was in the cold rain. She's sort of lounging on her bed, not feeling too shiny-brite eager. Like daddy, like doggy.

>201 richardderus: Sounds like a good day to stay in for you both, Richard. A cold rain isn't a whole lot of fun. Although I'm always grateful that it means I won't be shoveling. Crystal clear in our parts today.

Just in case more rangoons are needed:

You know, there was a time in my life when I would have confidently stated that I would never read War and Peace. Now I'm not so sure......

>204 jnwelch: Yeah, I know what you mean, Ellen. LT has been a good influence on me in that regard. I thought I'd never read Moby-Dick after trying and getting frustrated by it. Finally, after trying various ones (based on LT recommendations) that I never would have otherwise, I thought, why not give Moby-Dick another run? Being older has helped on several that stumped me when I was younger.

Oh, lordy! Crab Rangoon and potstickers are my favorite! Don't mind if I do...

Madame Bovary, despite the annoying quality of the lead, is worth the read; Flaubert is amazing.
I need to get round to reading Anna Karenninninnana at some point...

>205 scaifea: You're helping convince me on Madame Bovary, Amber. I'm going to wait a while, as I'm sure not ready for that kind of character again right now, but maybe later in the year.

Sounds like it might help to bring out a bit more of the the CR and PS:

Oy vey, have just finally gotten caught up with you, and I fear that by the time I get home from work tonight I'll have another dozen or so posts to get caught up on.

Permaybehaps some sustenance in the form of nachos with jalapenos would set me up nicely?

The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon features beautiful artwork, and would be worth taking a look at for that reason alone. But it has an unusual, engaging story that had me going back through the book when I was done.

Nao Brown is half-Japanese, very cute, and an artist. She works in a shop selling Japanese toys and such. She's obsessed with Japanese Ichi comic book characters, and falls for a bearded, heavyset washing-machine repairman who looks like one of them. Her problem: she is plagued by an obsessive compulsive disorder that unexpectedly will overwhelm her with thoughts of injuring and killing other people. The images and thoughts can be simply awful, like stabbing a pregnant woman in the belly. Her struggles to cope with this disorder and conceal it are riveting. Also fascinating is her use of Buddhist meditation and Buddhist artwork to help her learn to not be overwhelmed.

There is a good bit of humor and gentle wisdom in the book as well. The teachers and students at the Buddhist center, for example, can be overly sincere and unaware of their absurdity, for all their compassionate intentions.

Interspersed is the story of a half-man, half-tree Ichi character who joins the Japanese army. The graphic images are weird, ornate and contrasting in style to the realism of the rest of the book. But they also have a quiet serenity to them which understandably appeals to Nao, and the reader.

In Nao's story we learn about her toy store boss, her roommate, her family, and of course her repairman boyfriend. He turns out to have a wisdom, and a secret, of his own. There is a short text piece toward the end from his diary that provides a different angle to the story. If you are looking for something different in your reading, this certainly provides it. It also provides a rare and thoughtful Buddhist perspective on its events.

Here are some more images from it:

>207 LauraBrook: Hi, Laura! Your permaybehaps sounds mighty good to me. Nachos and jalapenos coming your way;

scarf, yum, scarf, scarf, yum, dab, scarf, eruct, scarf. aaaaaaahhhhhhh.

in re: ho-ku pot. i couldn't find it either, and discovered you have to look under traditional Chinese hot pot which looks like this (the pot in the middle):



there are embers in the base that keep the broth boiling, which serves to cook the various delicacies so that the broth becomes unbearably good with all the mixed flavors. i had one for many years. comes with golden, long-handled wire mesh dippers. you can see the dipper part on far screen right.

>210 mirrordrum: Looks good, Ellie! I can see how it would be a fun way to share a meal, too.

LOVE Crab rangoons! mmmm mmm

Ellen..don't do it! It's like reading a phone book. IMO, anyway.

Oh dear, now nachos! yum yum yum

No worries, Kath. My TBR pile is waaaay too tall for me to tackle War and Peace anytime soon.

*reaches over and snags a nacho*

>212 mckait: Ha! Glad you were able to give Ellen some useful advice in between bites, Kath. :-)

>213 EBT1002: Where else can you have folks discussing War and Peace and nachos than on LT?

I won't be reading W & P anytime soon either. I'm on a non-whopper diet for at least a little while after AK.

Off to catch the train. Nachos and crab rangoons on the counter.

Crab rangooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnns

*slobberslobbergobble*

Very nice review, Joe! Thanks for warning me off sharing your thoughts!

>208 jnwelch: Joe my library actually has one whole copy on order of The Nao of Brown. I'm the first requestor!

Joe- I only skimmed the Nao of Brown review, because I hope to finish it in a couple days. Those images are gorgeous. I might be adding this one to the "coveted" GN Keeper shelf.
I am LOVING mountains Beyond Mountains. What a guy, Paul Farmer is! My new hero!

my liberry hasn't got any copies of Nao of brown yet and quite reasonably won't order an ILL copy till book has been out at least 6 months owing to libraries that own it generally having it loaned out.

in re: AK, first year Eng used to be a wash-out course. the only thing i really remember from the first semester was listening to the TA read Spens like this:

the KING sits IN dumFERlin (sp) TOWN
drinKING the BLUID (sp?) reed WINE
oh QUARE (sp?) will I get GUID saiLOR
to SAIL this SHIP of MINE.

is it any wonder it took me years to learn to care about poetry? i love Cal as an old Blue should, but that first year was a nightmare and a waste of time.

the second semester, we read AK, Bros K, W & P and several other books in one huge gulp. i remember nothing and learned nothing.

no, not true, i read and loved Ozymandias. still like it very much. 'look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.' apposite unto the present day, imo.

>217 msf59: oh lord, Mark. i didn't know anything about who started PIH. am downloading from NLS as we speak. will fill my non-fic nitch nicely and i'm a great fan of PIH's work. the one thing Meryl Streep and i have in common.

Oh! The Nao of Brown sounds amazing! Thanks for the review!

>215 richardderus: Ha! You're welcome, Richard. I've got to learn how to do those crossouts. They do come in handy.

>216 luvamystery65: Great, Roberta! I think Mark was able to get it from his local library, too. Look forward to hearing your reaction.

>217 msf59: Good morning, Mark! Good evening, too! (Makes me think of Jim Carrey in the Truman Show). I'm glad you're liking The Nao of Brown. Isn't the artwork great?

Dr. Paul Farmer is definitely a hero of mine. If there were some kind of secular sainthood, he'd be my first choice. What a guy! I knew you'd love Mountains Beyond Mountains. Just a terrific book. I have that feeling of envy for people who are reading it for the first time that you get with the really good ones, you know what I mean?

>218 mirrordrum: Darn, I'm sorry your library doesn't have The Nao of Brown, Ellie. I would think it'd be a natural for you. Let's keep thinking about some way to get you a copy.

That first year class sounds deadly indeed, and what a shame to read those big 'uns in one huge unmemorable gulp. I've actually read The Brothers Karamasov a couple of times. Some don't like it much, but I thought it was really good.

I'm an Ozymandias fan, too. Puts a little perspective on how important we and our big creations and accomplishments are. Just read an article on how one in six stars has an earth-sized planet nearby. Maybe we'll get some perspective from that direction, too?

>219 mirrordrum: Oo, if you're a big fan of PIH's work, Ellie, you're going to lurv Mountains Beyond Mountains! Tell Meryl about it, too.

>220 scaifea: You're welcome, Amber! The Nao of Brown is a special one all right. It's a labor of love, too - apparently it took him two years to create it. And his wife grew up with OCD (I think the more common repetition kind).

Unfortunately, our son just let us know that the poet Jack McCarthy, who we've talked about in the cafe, died today. Here's some info on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_McCarthy_%28writer%29. He'll be sorely missed by a lot of folks.

Hi Joe, glad to see that there is some lovely food and sorely needed drinks around. Had a very busy day today, as all the "dirty" work for the redecorating of our house started today. Nice to have a little break here :)

Loved your thoughts on AK and they showed methat I definately have to re-read the book at one point this year. It's donkey years ago that I read her and I have got very different memories of the story. *grin*

Thanks for the food and drink :) it was delicious and I feel very much refreshed now.

>222 jnwelch: i hope Jack went as gently as one can into that good night. thanks for letting us know. i've been thinking of him and wishing him peace.

it's snowing here. we don't see that much any more so i'm once again wide-eyed with wonder. thought i ought to post before the electricity fizzles.

thanks for all that lovely food yesterday, Joe. i've brought some hot chocolate marshmallow cupcakes to share. i'd love a cuppa Peet's Maj. Dickason's to go with 'em.

really nice video of Jack McCarthy doing 'careful what you ask for.' he was truly kickass.

Ah authentic Chinese food on your thread. My younger son ( embarrassingly he is 22 going to 23) would just love that! He just got back from 2 weeks in Hong Kong with his girlfriend and her family. He regaled me with stories of eating squab, pig intestine in soup and other wonderful goodies! ;)

>223 drachenbraut23: Hi, Bianca! Nice to see you. Glad we're a good spot for you to take your break. I'll have to get over to your place and see what the redecorating is.

I'm glad you liked the AK review, too. I wasn't sure how it would strike folks, as I had a pretty negative reaction to Anna, Karenin and Vronsky. As Paul said, it's a worthy book but painful to read at times.

Refreshed? Good. Just let us know if you'd like anything else.

>224 mirrordrum: Thanks re Mr. McCarthy, Ellie. We sure liked him. I wish him peace, too, and somehow I think he'll get just that. What a gentle soul.

Glad the food was good - and thanks for the hot chocolate marshmallow cupcakes. Yum!

Here's some Major Dickason's (that's what I'm having today, thanks to JB's recommendation):



>225 mirrordrum: That one always gets me, Ellie. He was kickass, wasn't he? Thanks for the link.

>226 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! Your younger son is the same age as mine. I've heard tales like his. Supposedly the Chinese food we eat here has little in common with what is eaten there or in Hong Kong. Some of the wonderful goodies would probably be beyond my eating scope. If I don't recognize it and it looks scary, it's going to take some palaver to convince me.

Hot. Chocolate. Marshmallow. Cupcakes.

There IS a God!

>228 tloeffler: Ha! Wonderful combo, isn't it, Terri? Her works are marvelous to see. :-)

>229 jnwelch: amen, brethren and sistern.

Joe- I'm nearly finished with Mountains Beyond Mountains. I love & respect Kidder's straight-forward and frank portrayal of Farmer, warts and all.

Yep. What TLo said.

Re: That AK review Joe, why don't you tell us how you really feel? Let it all out, you know what I mean? I didn't care for her much myself but ended up loving the book. I like the way an unlivable character can drive the narrative and/or create tension that can drive the narrative. Her storyline did that, I believe. I am waiting for the newest AK movie to come out on DVD and I can watch it her in the comfort of my own home;-)

Love your AK review Joe, most especially the idea of pharmaceuticals and a non - fault easy divorce for Anna. I read Anna Karenina back in my early twenties or so - can't quite remember, but I enjoyed at the time.
BTW - all the food on your thread cost me dearly in terms of calories today. Went to a good bakery and got myself some very good Nanaimo Bar and some cheese scones. The younger son , that also eats squab and what not , helped me out with the eating, to save me some calories.

Found you AK review on the Main page! Thumbs up from me! Great job!

Record hot day in Sydney today, 45.8C, which is apparently 114.44F. Let's just keep the chilled water coming. OMG! I've been obsessing over the temperature, waiting for the cool change to hit, and it just dropped 10C in about 10 minutes!

I'll still have that chilled water, but tell me more about these crab rangoons....

All of the hot weather terrifies me.
We broke the planet.
It makes me sad.

>230 mirrordrum: And lo, they wandered in downheartedness, until a vision appeared in the cafe before them: hot chocolate marshmallow cupcakes. And their hearts were uplifted, and the day became good.



>231 msf59: Ah, can't wait to hear your reaction when you're done with Mountains Beyond Mountains, Mark. Yes, Dr. Farmer is a real person, warts and all, and such an inspiring one. What a world of good he's done.

I'm near the end of Low Town, and it's been a good murder mystery/fantasy. Very impressive for a first outing.

>>232 mckait:, 237 We've got more of what TLo (I like that nickname!) was so moved by up above, Kath.

You're right about the terrify-osity of the planet's heat up, Kath. We were at Glacier National Park a number of years ago and enjoyed the glaciers there. Now they're retreating and disappearing. Just one more sign of what's happening. I hope we're all clever enough to deal with this somehow.

At least very few in the USA remain in denial about it. Can't deal if you can't admit.

>233 brenzi: Ha! I was concerned I'd overdone it, Bonnie, but everyone seems fine about it. I know AK is revered as a novel, but give me a break, Anna. Anyway, we've had some fun with it.

She did drive the narrative in many ways, creating dramatic tension. And of course the contrast with Levin and Kitty was very intentional and maybe we wouldn't experience the two of them so deeply (and with such great relief from Anna and Vronsky's high-pitched emotionalism) without that. But I'd sure be willing to try. :-)

I just couldn't watch a movie of it unless she, Karenin and Vronsky were shunted to the hinterlands to live in silence and not be seen.

>>234 vancouverdeb:-235 Hi, Deb! I know, it's so interesting to think what it would be like for Anna as a modern woman with a different social system and medicine. She had greatness in her, seemed like, and one would hope it would have a better chance to predominate.

Sorry about creating those temptations. It's all about balance in the universe, right? Now you just need to exercise to balance the goodies. Very thoughtful of your son to help out with the eating to ease its effect on you. Sounds like better fare than pig intestine soup, too.

Thanks for the thumb! It felt a bit more like a rant in the writing, but I'm glad folks are enjoying it as a review.

>236 wookiebender: Oh my goodness, 114 F! That's outrageous, Tania. I'm sure everyone is just focusing on getting to air conditioning and fans. I'm glad at least it dropped a bit for you.

Chilled water (both kinds) and, just in case you're ready, some crab rangoons:

114F *ugh* poor Tania.

I hate global warming in summers, but this winter (so far) isn't making me too unhappy. I would be pluperfectly scrod if it snowed like usual!

239. If global warming keeps up we'll have more or less permanent winter in Europe. Polar ice melting -> cold water changing the direction of the Gulf Stream -> no more warm summers and mild winters in Europe.

>239 richardderus: Still trying to figure out how snow like usual turns you into a tasty fish, Richard, but I know what you mean. :-) We may be getting some winter benefit, here, too. No snow in sight, and we're in the second half of January, for goodness sake.

>240 PawsforThought: Yikes! That doesn't sound good, Paws. Seems like there's good reason to think the global warming will keep up at this point, too.

Hi Joe, so glad that you enjoy Low Town, I thought as well that it was quite a good novel for a debut. Although, as calm mentioned on her thread the characterisation of the side characters could have been better. I think he put all his efforts into Warden, I have got the second book on deck already and I am curious how he is going to develop.

Wish you a great weekend!

>242 drachenbraut23: I didn't know there was a second one, Bianca! Glad to hear it. You're right, he's done a great job with Warden, and I've grown attached to the fellow. Right now Wren is in trouble, so I've got to find out what happens there.

Poor Tania, indeed. I'd be so melted I'd be flat.

and yeah, the heat conducting cycle that includes the Gulf Stream is in danger of disruption. It's amazing - I heard about that at least 12 years ago on a PBS special. We should listen to our own predictions once in a while - like the one 5 years ago that delineated exactly where the flooding would be in the NY metro area if the seas rose. Of course, that's exactly where Sandy swallowed us up last year.

Ah, ok I know where you are. I wonder whether you will be as surprised at the ending as I was. The second one is called Tomorrow the Killing . Yep, I got really attached to him as well - I do like these type of characters. I always feel it makes the stories much more interesting.

do not get me started on climate change. i have to keep my lips zipped or i rant, which doth nobody any good. and yes, Joe, it's now irreversible for the foreseeable future. the only thing at question is how long it will take us to realize that the window keeps narrowing that allows us to have an effect on how warm and how fast.

but back to de Nile, i can get 1Q84 for $7 on an audible sale today. it's a 47 hr. long read. i was going to try to reread AK, W&P (60 hrs) or Bros K (36 hrs) as part of my bucket list. full disclosure, now, do i go with the old classic or the new one? 40+ hrs is a lot of listening time.

241. I can apparently be at least somewhat reversed, though. I watched a great TED talk about global warming just the other day where a scientist talked about global warming and how it needs to be dealt with.

> 246 mirrordrum I partially listened to 1Q84 as the audiobook version and I thought it was wonderful, despite the length.

>244 ffortsa: I know, Judy. I had this vision of Al Gore being viewed in 100 years as an ignored hero of our time. He and others tried to warn us this was coming. I hadn't heard the one about NY and the seas rising. I assume, as usual, much more will be spent now to repair the damage than some prevention would have cost.

>245 drachenbraut23: I just finished Low Town on lunch break, Bianca. Yes, I was surprised at that ending. It all fit together, but I didn't see it coming. Warden's a great character. He must be better-looking than he says, don't you think?

>246 mirrordrum: Woo, can't wait for others to weigh in on this one, Ellie. 1Q84, Anna Karenina, War and Peace, or Brothers Karamasov, for your chunkster on audio?

For me, you can tell it wouldn't be AK, but that's a personal reaction. Great writing, no room for debate about that. Have only read part of W & P, so can't comment on that one. Have you read and enjoyed Murakami? Have you read and enjoyed Doestoevsky? If the answer's yes to either, I'd go with the author you've read and enjoyed. Now I remember you did like Wild Sheep Chase, so that's a good sign on Murakami. If the answer's yes to both, that's tougher. Both are really good, and completely different. Then maybe it's a mood decider - which suits your mood better right now.

If I hadn't read any of them, I'd pick 1Q84, but as you know I find any Murakami I haven't read irresistible.

>247 PawsforThought: Interesting, Paws. We need to start listening to people like that and figuring out what we can and should do.

>248 drachenbraut23: I think Mark read 1Q84 via audio, too, Bianca, and thought it was good. I'm not much of an audio book guy at this point, but I would think it would be quite entertaining storytelling on audio.

249. He showed a map of the East coast of teh US and what it'd look like when the ice melts. All of southern Florida gone.

>250 PawsforThought: There might be a debate here, Paws, on whether losing southern Florida would be a good or a bad thing. It certainly would simplify our presidential elections.

Flippancy aside, that's pretty serious stuff. The Dutch engineers may become much in demand.

Off to dinner and the thee-ay-ter with my much better half, seasonsoflove and a pal of hers. Nachos and crab rangoons on the counter. Pies, too.

251. That was my precise thought when I saw the map!

>248 drachenbraut23: thanks for the feedback, Bianca. i do like Murakami. i expect i'll just try to do both Murakami and W&P. the narrator on the latter is just superb.

Hi Joe- Revolution Anti-Hero, please! Frosty mug. I LOVED Mountains. Farmer is an incredible force but Kidder is an excellent writer too.
I did not listen to 1Q84. It was all print. I have still not listened to Murakami. I'll sample him this year.

>251 jnwelch: "Off to dinner and the thee-ay-ter with my much better half, seasonsoflove and a pal of hers."

dilettante ;)

Crab rangoon!!!!!

*scarfs all the crab rangoons*

Hi Joe, I've just finished The Sandman Vol 2: The Doll's House and now I need something to snap me back to reality. I am loving this series! How about a glass of chilled Pinot Gris with some crackers and cheese.

With all of the South of Florida gone you would need the Dutch engineers? - they would probably be too busy mate as their pad is constantly under water.
Have a great weekend.

I'm too late for crab rangoons! :-(

*waving* at Joe - I have been missing my cafe visits lately. Probably good for my waistline though :)

I want some shrimp toast. The only place I was able to get it closed years ago. *whines*

Hi Joe, did you have a nice evening with dinner and thee-ay-ter? Have a great weekend!

People who can tell me something about the language of Jane Austen, could you please help me a bit over on my thread?

*proprietor runs in and throws his hat on the rack*

>252 PawsforThought: They are so susceptible to hurricanes and bad storms down there, too, Paws. I hope they're doing some planning.

>253 mirrordrum: Oh good, Ellie. I didn't want us to open a new cafe until you got some resolution on that. I'm glad Murakami is part of the mix. I got totally taken away by that one.

>254 msf59: Oops, I'm so used to thinking of you listening to audio books, Mark, I must have smushed together memories re 1Q84. Now I remember - you had the three paperbacks I'm pretty sure.

So glad you loved Mountains! Kidder is a topnotch writer, I agree. One of my faves. The Soul of a New Machine is the first one of his I read way back when, about bringing a new computer to market back in the 80s. It might be dated today, I don't know, but it was really good. I've since read just about all of his, which reminds me, I have to figure out which ones I haven't.

Revolution Anti-hero? Where do you find these beers? It took some phone calls, but here you go:



>255 mirrordrum: Dilettante is about right, Ellie, although I'd be happy to become a professional theater-goer if the position ever opens up.

It sure was fun.



I've yet to see anything directed by Barbara Gaines that I didn't like. She's the driving force behind (and I think the original founder of) Chicago Shakespeare Theater out on Navy Pier. This was David Ives’ “adaptation” of “The Misanthrope,” Moliere's 17th century comedy about sex, romance, and the foibles of the wealthy class, filled with insulting badinage. All in English, in rhyming couplets for goodness sake. The speed and verbal dexterity of the acting was mind-boggling. The first act was an hour and 20 minutes long, and seemed to have lasted about a half hour at most.

It revolves around Celimene, a beautiful widow who lost her husband at sea two years earlier, and thinks no man can measure up to him. Deborah Hay is remarkable, with a scathing wit and the ability to deprecatingly imitate anyone, including the stolid, relentlessly sincere and candid Frank, played by Ben Carlson. It's the two of them in the picture up above. We've seen Carlson in the lead in Hamlet and MacBeth, and he was terrific in both. He obviously enjoyed playing this more slapstick part. He gets fooled into thinking Celimene is in love with him, and she gets fooled into thinking that he's the influential bastard brother of King Louis, and we're off and running.

The two of them alternate insulting and being ingratiating toward each other. Meanwhile they're surrounded by three other absurd suitors of Celimene (everyone is dressed in what has been described as Alexander McQueen meets 17th century French couture - some will understand that better than I do, but it was wonderfully over the top costuming) and her cousin and her pathetically in love suitor. There's also a hilarious servant who is constantly victimized by flying canapes, and bears a remarkable resemblance to Frank's valet, for good reason, it turns out.

Hay's impressions included a rapper and a Valley girl. Yes, this was full of modern language and current references. In fact, the foul-mouthed exchanges rivaled The Book of Mormon for blue-ity. Luckily I'm sure our daughter and her friend didn't understand a whole lot of those words. Right, Dad.

Anyway, it was a smart night with a lot of welcome humor. Some of the rhyming inevitably fell a bit flat, but that happened far less than I would've guessed. And when it hit right on the money, it was hilarious. Part of me thought the actors must be exhausted after the speed of the play, but they all seemed exhilarated instead. The audience sure was.

A penny cost more than a cent to make; a nickel costs more than 10 cents to make. Shall we get rid of all the pennies, nickels?

How about only having dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollar coins?

Where will be put the National Hero pictures? How will school children learn about Washington, Lincoln, J.F. Kennedy?

Yup, listening too NPR this morning....yes, I am. Time to go get dressed. Hope all are enjoying their weekend.

>256 ronincats: Hi, Roni! I believe we have some crab rangoons left:



>257 richardderus: Adept scarfling, no bout adoubt it, Richard, but we had even more in the back!



>258 DeltaQueen50: I have to admit I'm reluctant to snap you back to reality from the Sandman #2, Judy. What a good 'un, eh? Can we leave you in Sandman contemplation while bringing you your order?



>259 PaulCranswick: I do suspect those Dutch engineers are a busy bunch, Paul! You have a great weekend, too, my KL pal.

>260 kidzdoc: There are plenty of crab rangoons, Darryl, despite RD wiping us out for a while there. Not sure whether we'll run out of plates or rangoons first, the way this is going today!



>261 alcottacre: Good to see you, Stasia! I forget - Diet Pepsi?



>262 Morphidae: Shrimp toast? We can do that, Morphy. We may have to give the chef a raise at some point, although how many Flavian Pobble Beads does a person really need in life? (Fauzia, etc. is just a nom de chef):



>263 wilkiec: Hi, Diana! Yes, it was a grand night out. Theater review up above. Burrito for dinner in the food court, with a great catching up chat with my fellow attendees.

I'm a Jane Austen nut, so I'll be over to your thread to read with great interest even if I can't help.

>265 maggie1944: Ha! I wondered where those random but insightful thoughts came from, Karen. Bless NPR. Hope you're having a good start to the weekend. I'm at work, and you can tell I'm doing a great job of getting not much done so far.

Joe, we saw that adaptation of the Misanthrope last year in NYC. It is indeed a hoot. I'm generally a purist when it comes to translations of Moliere - Richard Wilbur is the gold standard - but Ives' adaptation is a delight. Glad you got to see it, flying canapes and all

>268 ffortsa: Ha! How great that you and Jim got to see it, Judy. What a clever guy Ives is. We had a blast.

OK, looks like this is a good time to move all of us to the new cafe. See you there!