Mark's Reading Place: Abibliophobia Part 6

My retirement home!



I mentioned earlier that my daughter Bree came by and spent the afternoon with me. She snapped this photo. That is her shepard, Reese. You can faintly see the reading lamp, next to the chair. I had to shut it off because it cast a distracting glow in the picture.

Currently Reading:



Audiobook:


Graphic:


Books Read So Far...

January:

1) Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die by Willie Nelson 4.2 stars
2) The Dog Stars by Peter Heller 4.5 (audio)
3) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 4 stars (audio)
4) Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter 4.5 stars (audio)
5) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 4 stars Group Read (OTS)
6) Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder 4.5 stars (OTS)
7) The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon 4.2 stars GN
8) Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks 4 stars (audio)
9) The Miniature Wife: Stories by Manuel Gonzales 4.5 stars E.R
10) No Easy Day by Mark Owen 4 stars (audio)
11) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan 4.2 stars
12) The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver 4.3 stars (OTS)
13) Howl: A Graphic Novel by Allen Ginsberg 4.2 stars GN

February:

14) Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed 4.4 stars (audio)
15) A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick 3.3 stars (audio) (OTS)
16) Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay 4.2 stars Group Read (OTS)
17) Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood 4.6 stars (audio) (OTS)
18) In the Sea There Are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda 3.5 stars (audio)
19) Unsaid by Neil Abramson 3.8 stars
20) The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi 4 stars (audio)
21) The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout 4 stars (ER)
22) The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis 3 stars (audio)
23) Rebel Heart by Moira Young 4 stars (audio)
24) Drinking at the Movies by Julia Wertz 4.5 stars (GN)
25) The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch 3.8 stars (audio)

March:

26) Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan 4.2 stars (audio)
27) Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel G. Marquez 4.5 stars

First-Time Author Challenge 2013

Gabriel Garcia Marquez- Love in The Time of Cholera- Feb (Chelle)
John Fowles- The Collector-March (Pat)
E.M. Forster- April (Katie)
Mario Vargas Llosa- May (Caro)
Dinaw Mengestu- June (RD)
Rohinton Mistry- A Fine Balance- July (Donna)
Pearl S. Buck-The Good Earth- Aug (AnneDC)
Ann Patchett- Bel Canto- September (Lisa)
Nicole Krauss- October (Nancy)
J.G. Farrell- Troubles- November (Ellen)
Tim Winton- December (Paul)
Zoe Heller
Tom McCarthy

Once again, thanks for the participation. You guys are great! Of course, anyone is welcome to join me on any of these reads and if we have more than a couple participants, I'll set up a Group Read.

Group Reads 2013:

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay- Feb http://www.librarything.com/topic/148764
The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner- March
A Fine Balance- July
2666 by Roberto Bolaño- October

**And do not forget Atwood April or May: Murder & Mayhem, or...

Good night Mark!

I still don't trust Bates, but not as much now that he's not walking in circles ans being made to look sinister...

eta - Oh my, still first, even after my extra slow typing with a cat resting on my arm...!

:( I missed the Tigana read!!! Oh well.

Hi Mark!
The library pub is really taking off, but I still cant see the picture your daughter took. (not on last thread either)

Happy new thread, and I look forward to your thoughts on The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, I got the feeling it was heading for sappiness. Just from what RL friends have said about it.

I can't see your daughter's pic, either. :-(

Other than that, you've got some interesting reading lined up. I can't decide if I want to read 'Twelve Tribes' or not. I'll wait for your review, at least.

See, Mark! Joanne does not trust Bates either. Good instincts, Joanne! I know you wonder if Bates dark side will emerge again next season , Mark. ..... I guess we'll have to wait. He was not that content with their new digs until Jane jollied him up. Bates is malcontent ne'er do well. You go to a chiropractor? I never pictured that. I figured that you were so active in your job that your joints never get achy , nor your back - even at our advanced age.

Just marking my spot before I head off to bed...

Hi Mark,
Just trying to catch up and check in with everyone after my long weekend away. I noted via iPhone on your prior thread that I had caught the season finale of DA --- very sad but I had heard that the actor wanted to move on to other things (what will he be doing next??). Because I knew that, I felt like I watched the whole episode waiting to see what they did with Matthew.

It will be interesting to see what they do with season 4. We now have Branson with Sybbie and no mom, and Mary with (what will they name the heir? -- Robert or Matthew?) and no dad. Tough times.

I hope your week goes well.

Good morning, Mark. I did my usual dysfunctional falling to sleep way too early Monday evening so here I am at 3:10 am Tuesday thinking about DA.

My opinion about spoilers on yours and others threads is that if I am so far behind the times that I am watching Season 1 well then it is my own darn fault that I can't participate in the conversation. I really don't mind. I think folks should be allowed to talk about whatever is current for them, and I can choose to not focus on all of it. Which is basically what I'm doing. I may have read something about it but truth be told I don't remember who died or who went somewhere else or who received the "just desserts". I am enjoying the show all the same.

Not having the cable TV is so freeing. I listen to a few minutes of the disk I want to watch when I want to watch it, and then go on with my life. No major interruptions!

Sadly, I did not finish AK yesterday; I was side tracked into making greeting cards so that I could sell a few. I'm pleased to not that I have paid for about 1/2 of a major purchase of supplies and I feel that I might actually be able to put together a portfolio of samples so that I might go hawk them to some gift shops.

Today, I will have the 5 year old with me pretty much all day so I think we'll see about visiting the ducks at the lake, and maybe hang out in the library a bit after a visit to the P.O. Sounds good, eh? AK will fit in there somewhere I'm sure. I just have to get started on my next book or I'll be doing this "I've got to read dance for the rest of my life".

Hope your Tuesday is not too jarring!

Hey Mark, Here's what I think........DA should have ended with the birth of Matthew Jr. Line continues, Downton is secure, end of story. I wasn't so affected by this episode because I read the stupid spoiler in the NYT months ago. I enjoyed the getaway to Scotland. Good fun.

Back to the grind. Ugh! 46 yesterday. Teens today, with a stiff wind. Double Ugh. And a heavy volume of holiday mail...oh never mind! Wah, wah!

Sorry about the photo up there. For some reason it appeared on my screen but for no one else. Hopefully, I fixed it. Have a great day, everyone!

Joanne- You are number one, my friend, but you knew that already, right? Still don't trust Bates, eh?

Katie- Maybe you can read Tigana at some point. It's a worthy fantasy read.

Megan- Hopefully the photo works now! I should wrap up Twelve Tribes soon. It's not bad but just doesn't soar.

Julia- Did you watch the finale?

Deb- I have had upper back issues, nothing serious but an adjustment every 4-6 weeks seems to keep me on track. Hey, whatever works, right?

Laura- You always have a spot here. Hope your week goes well.

Ellen- I'll re-post the interview with Fellowes, which explains the finale. It helps put things in perspective. It looks like the 4th season picks up 6 months later.

Karen- Thanks for your thoughts on DA and spoilers. I guess I try to keep everyone happy. Not always easy. Enjoy your day!

Lynda- It was hard to avoid spoilers in this season, especially since major events unfolded. I wish they could broadcast them at the same time.

I gotta go...

I see it! What a great picture, Mark. It must be very difficult to leave that cozy room in the morning to walk the route. Have a great day.

You look totally comfy and cozy in your picture. What a nice chair for the after work unwinding.

Hope you stay warm today as you do your appointed rounds. *sending pac nw warmth in Mark's direction*

I fear that my post yesterday was not written very clearly and has been misconstrued. I don't think anyone has an obligation to hold off discussing anything simply because I or anyone else is late watching it. Half the fun of watching DA is talking about it afterwards! My sadness was for myself because I didn't follow my own advice to avoid Twitter and places like Mark's convivial thread here where I know people congregate to discuss DA, that's all.

Having said that, although I knew Matthew had died I didn't know how it was going to happen. I was a nervous wreck the whole time they were gallivanting around the Highlands waving shotguns around and wading into the middle of fast-moving rivers. I was sure that was going to be the end of him. So I guess you could say I was still surprised by the way it happened, which was so heartbreaking after the tender scene with Mary and the baby.

Two more comments: I love Mrs. Hughes. And Mrs. Patmore is a wonderful character.

I think the character I'd most want to be friends with is Mrs. Patmore.

Happy new thread Mark!
I've gone into hibernation again but I would happily leave it to hang out at the library pub!

#16
The way of filming that last episode was just brilliant. I have to admit that I kept wondering what was going to happen. I thought maybe a suicide with all those guns and unhappiness. Then I thought it was going to be Thomas under the bridge. Then I thought it would be Sybil redux. The way it was filmed built the suspense and for sure kept the audience guessing. I also think that the combined media leaks and the filming techniques resulted in the raising of suspense levels as the the finale as well.

I also don't think that there were any spoilers in Marks thread. Just illusions to what might have happened. I think that people here were very circumscript in their comments.

Hope you're faring okay in this tough chill, Mark! I had to walk to a dr's appointment (routine) from the train stop and everyone was hustling along, just trying to get somewhere warm.

Liking Bree's photo up top of you and Reese.

Tiny Beautiful Things was most excellent. She's got a good head on her shoulders, and sure knows how to write.

Hey, I can see Bree's picture of you now. Looking good, Mark. The dog's pretty great, too. :-)

Skimmed the whole thread because I'm behind on DA, but here's a shout-out to you!

Hi Mark. I also love the photo of you in your reading chair surrounded by books. I was one of the ones who mistakenly read about the ending of Sunday's DA finale several months ago when searching the internet for information about whether there was going to be a Season 4. I really wish they would have shown the episodes at the same time everywhere. Hope today isn't too brutal weather-wise.

Happy new thread :)

Hello Mark - just a flying visit to say that I love the photos - snug as a bug! I have been a little tempted by Twelve Tribes of Hattie and just need one good excuse to not bother - is it worth the bother, Mark?

I must be the only LT'er who is not watching Downton... If I ever do decide to watch it will be so long past these discussions that I won't have to worry about spoilers!

I love your reading room and lamp, Mark-tastic!! :)

Hi, Mark! Just a drive-by hello for your new thread. Love the photos!

I'm glad that's over! What a bitterly cold day! it was about 15 but with a cruel gusty wind, which probably put it into the low single digits! The DW had made a crock-pot of homemade soup, so that sure hit the spot, but I have a feeling I will be fading out early tonight.

I listened to another big chunk of Twelve Tribes. It's a bit uneven for me. Some good moments and some oh-hum ones. Don't understand the hype on that one.
I am also reading Rebel Heart, an FF title and the 2nd in the Dust Lands series. It's good & light, which I needed today.

Lynda- "It must be very difficult to leave that cozy room in the morning to walk the route." OMG! You have no idea! LOL.

Karen- Yes, I love my chair. My reading lamp is working out just fine too but one thing I learned is, that the light is just for reading or a similar task, it does not brighten the room at all.

Julia- I don't think there were any explanations necessary but thank you! Funny, I didn't know who would die but was expecting something at any minute. Yes, the extended hunting trip was definitely nerve-wracking. LOL.
I also love Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Patmore. Mrs. Hughes might be the best character on the show, always so perfectly level-headed.

Morphy- I'm glad Mrs. Hughes revealed that guy, who had his eye on Mrs. Patmore, as a stinker, without much damage done.

Chelle- Good to see you! You come out of hibernation, any time my friend. Always a seat for you at the Library Pub.

>26 TinaV95:: I've only watched the first episode, Tina, so don't feel bad :) I'm not up on DA at all.

Oh, and I love penguins...

Benita- Once I read the Fellowes interview, explaining the 3rd season, I feel much better about it, although I really hate seeing that character go. Did you read that article?

Joe- It was a brutal day! I even put my Gortex rain-jacket over my coat, to help keep the wind off me. The mail gets so cold that my fingertips start to go numb. I survived.
I'm so glad you loved Tiny Beautiful Things. I hope you are able to spread the word a little more on that one.

Julia- I had my little dog on the chair with me too, but he got restless and jumped down.

Terri- Good to see you! Where are you at on DA?

Pat- " I really wish they would have shown the episodes at the same time everywhere." I agree. It sounds like it's all about ratings or some out-dated reason.
I was lucky that I never learned what happened to either character. That could have been such a spoiler.

Esquiress- Are you going to continue to watch DA? Just curious. Glad you liked the penguin.

Prue- I have read the bulk of Twelve Tribes and I say take a pass. It's not bad, just not as strong as I expected.

Tina- DA is a good show and it's been a lot of fun talking about it with LTers.

Terri- Good to see you!

I am glad you survived! I remember getting home one afternoon, in Chicago, and not being able to put the key in the door because my hands were so cold. I almost sat down to cry hysterically, but I knew sitting down would just be more cold! And I just walked from the L to the apt. about 3 blocks. Gaw! I can not imagine tolerating that cold weather. But then, on the other hand, do not get me started on tolerating the heat.

I did make my trip to the P.O. today and she said the book should arrive, chez vous, in about a week to 10 days.

OK, I did not finish AK. But I'm on the verge. Maybe tonight if I could just get off the internet.

Hope tomorrow is not so brutal.

Lordy, that is too cold, especially for someone who has to be out in the weather for the day. I'm glad you are now home safe and warm, Mark.

I haven't read the Fellowes interview but I think I had read something that led me to suspect the ending of season 3. Like you and others, I was nervous while the men were all cavorting about the countryside with firearms!

The scene between Jimmy and Thomas was sweet; nice to see them finding a way to be friends. Maybe.

And I do believe TinaV may actually be the only LTer not engrossed in DA!

:P to Ellen!

But oh-so-true!

*raises hand*

Um, I haven't watched a single episode of DA. I do own the first two seasons on DVD (it was an Amazon deal a few months ago), but I am thinking of not watching it until the series is over.

Oh NO, Matthew died? I only watched the first episode of season three. For Christmas Will pre ordered the cd and I thought I would wait until I had dedicated time to watch all episodes at once.

I heard that the actor who portrayed Matthew was not going to renew his contact. Ah, geez, did they have to kill him off?

Tell me please this isn't true.

Downton Abby Spoilers

This is a re-post of the Julian Fellowes interview. It's very good:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/julian-fellowes-discusses-a-season-...

Thanks so much for the re-post of the Julian Fellowes interview. Right you are! It is very good indeed.

Good Evening to you chap!

Re: Downton Abbey - Anybody mention Edith's latest troubles in love? Really, can't anything go right for her? Plot points of Rebecca and Jane Eyre kept going through my head...

Yes, poor Edith! That girl just can't catch a break, can she?

And what about Isobel so gently deflecting Dr. Clarkson's proposal without seeming to? That was very delicate. A friend of mine thinks she didn't realize that he was proposing, but I think she did and didn't want to hurt his feelings by saying no outright. And the way he talked about it the next day, obviously he thought so, too. But all I could think of was when she first came to Downton and they got into a tussle over the proper way to treat a patient.

I think the bottom line of why DA works so well is the excellent character development in the historical social setting of the time.

Good morning Mark, what a beautiful new thread. Love the photo of you in the top in your extremely comfy looking reading chair. Rees is such a beautiful shepard is it a girl? At least it looks very female :)

I am not a DA watcher either, so all the discussions here mean nothing to me.

The audiobook of The Dog Stars just doesn't work for me. Ahem, I always go to sleep *blush* I felt it's just told too soothing. However, I ordered the book now via the library system.

Having previously read about why Matthew was leaving show made what happen so much easier to take. I think Edith's love life might just take off next season! At rate, she is improving in character quite a bit. Those sister's are quite forgiving . My sister's were never quite as dastardly as Edith was once was with the secret she told about Mary.

Morning, gang! It'll reach 21 today but I hope that wicked wind is out of the equation.

Karen- I am sure there are many frigid Chicago stories. My Dad loved telling them. The last couple haven't been bad. It's really the snow and ice that I have a problem with and that's mainly because of my job. Hope you can wrap A.K. up today.

Ellen- I'm not sure how you felt about the tragic end of DA but for me, the Fellowes interview helped put things in perspective. It looks like he really had no choice.

Tina & Katie- Big waves!

Linda- "Oh NO, Matthew died?" These things happen, my friend! LOL. Can you try to put it out of your mind? And yes, in GB, actors only sign 3 year contracts, unlike the US.
Since the cat was out of the bag, I'm glad you could enjoy the interview.

Joanne- I agree with you about Edith. The girl needs a break. Mr. Rochester seems like a good man, maybe his batty wife will kick the bucket.

Julia- I really liked the scene between Isobel and Dr. Clarkson. I like Isobel in this season. In season 2 she got irritating and pushy.

Bianca- Good to see you! Reese is a boy, sorry. He's getting to a big boy too. Over 90 pounds. Sorry, The Dog Stars didn't work for you. Fortunately, there are a zillion other books to take it's place. LOL.

Deb- I like Edith's character this season. They dumped some pretty harsh stuff on her but she bounced right back. I hope they really give her a chance in season 4.

Hmmm as is usual these days.. I am behind. Well .. glad your cold day is over.. we have it today... I hope that we do have more moderate temps soon... I don't have much to say, I never did get started with DA... so just a hello! And wishes for a good day to you!

Hey Mark, to piggyback on what Julia said, I think Isobel is a very wise woman. Why! why on earth would she want to marry again. What would she have to gain by it......................at that point.............but now that her son is gone I don't see a storyline for this poor woman. One proud mama, two doting grandmama's and one great-grandmama is just too many mama's - someone's got to go.

Tina and Katie,
Just do it. Start with episode one of season one and see if you can stop. Worse than Lays potato chips.

Hi Mark! Thanks for re-posting the Fellowes interview. I won't get to listen to it until later this evening or even tomorrow, but I will do so. I did know that he had no choice with regard to the plot, and I do wonder what Dan Stevens will do next. I hope the departure works out for him.

Mark, that combo of low temps and high wind is brutal. I can barely tolerate a 30-minute walk when it gets like that here. Just can't imagine being out in it all day. I hope you have a thermos of that soup Sue made to warm you up today.

I'm loving the Downton Abbey talk here. The next season seems a long way off. I agree with you on the hype for Hattie. It was just an okay book for me too.

Yikes, I think you've got another tough one today, Mark. It's supposed to ease up a bit after this.

I reviewed Tiny Beautiful Things, and maybe that will help spread the word. It deserves it.

Now I've started The Greater Journey and Binocular Vision. I think the former will be a long term read on my Kindle, like I did with All Roads Lead to Austen, dipping into it when it's a good time for a Kindle read as opposed to the hard copy BV.

I just finished Tigana and wanted to thank you for the terrific recommendation! I've never considered myself a fantasy fan (although I'm loving George Martin's Game of Thrones) but this one was so worthwhile. What a talent - to develop an entire world, complete with history, religion, culture, geography...all in one volume. I will definitely look for more of Kay's writing.

I'm a DA fan too and have been watching with my 11 year old daughter who is hooked as well. We typically watch the episodes a few days after airing (on pbs.org) which allows us to pause and replay Maggie Smith's memorable lines and also allows me to put some of the remarks in context. It has provoked lots of conversations (Thomas' orientation, the moves on Tom by the parlor maid, Isobel's re-education of women "of the street", etc.) - a great mother-daughter bonding opportunity!

All done with Anna Karenina!

Congrats!

Way to go, Karen!

I don't know why, but I thought that it was Old Bat Grantham that was killed off this season. The end, for me, was a big shock. Totally didn't see that one coming.

I saw this one FB and had to share it! I have to start dinner, (my wife is working late) so I'll be back! And yes, cold today but much better than yesterday, plus plenty of sunshine helped.

Kath- A little better today, weather-wise and around 30 tomorrow but with a snowstorm coming in tomorrow night. We've been dodging a lot of snow bullets these past few weeks, so we will see.

Lynda- Good thoughts on Isobel! My God, you are right about her losing Matthew. How devastating!

Ellen- It's only a print interview. It'll just take a few minutes. Yes, we will have to see what Dan Stevens will do. I don't think the show has much longer to go. Maybe one more season, so it might have been a good time to get out.

Donna- It was still cold today but taking the wind out of the equation, helped immensely. I think I may have liked Twelve Tribes less than you. There were a few good moments but over it dragged for me. Disappointing.

Joe- It was much better today! A frigid start but it got better as it went along. I'll be by later to check out your review of Tiny Beautiful Things. I am sure you did it justice. I'm sure you will love binocular Vision. It's another excellent find.

I did finish The Twelve Tribes of Hattie. This was a disappointment. With the strong advance buzz this one was getting, I was expecting something special. The Warmth of Other Suns dealt with many of these same issues, but in a much better way and that was nonfiction.
I started the audio of the Lies of Locke Lamora. It's another fantasy epic and I am really enjoying it so far. It has a profane sense of humor, which has me chuckling, as I stumble along.

Vivian- I'm so glad you enjoyed Tigana. It was a new one to me too and I look forward to reading much more of his work.
I appreciate your thoughts on DA. I thought this season was going along pretty good but it was the final 2 episodes, where the show really shined and will probably have me tuning in for Season 4.

Yah, for Karen! Yah, for Karen! Throwing confetti and releasing balloons. So what did you think? Or should I not ask?

Benita- Funny, I thought the same thing about the Lady Dowager biting the dust. I wonder if she is signed up for season 4. I really like having her around. I did not see the ending coming either! Will this make Mary more insufferable than ever?

Hi Mark, finished my second book for Fantasy February. Thanks for the opportunity to expand my comfort zone. And I took Roni's tip and bought another one for Kindle.

As far as DA goes, I don't buy Julian Fellowes' excuse for killing off Sybil. She could very easily have been living in Ireland with her husband and daughter and just never appeared again. I would have liked that better than that horrible episode. Matthew would have been a lot harder. I think he had to die.

Watching the show from the 10th tonight, probably the finale tomorrow night. I'll be glad to catch up so I can start reading your thread again! If you read anything fun, post it on my thread!

>30 msf59:: Yes, Mark, I do plan to continue at some point. Between DA and Black Butler (an anime I swear I will finish some day), plus trying to play catch-up with Big Bang Theory, I'm sorely behind when it comes to TV :)

>54 msf59:: Love the pic. That's so me :)

#55 by @msf59> I'm glad the Dowager Countess did not bite the dust! It would be a much duller show without Maggie Smith around to provide all those classic scene-ending one-liners!

Whether Mary will become even more insufferable is a good question. It was striking to me how much the final episode played up the fact that while everyone else at Downton (or anywhere, probably) who's ever met her thinks she's a grade A witch, Matthew sees "the true Mary" who has a good, kind heart. It came up over and over again. I assume they were foreshadowing Season 4, but I haven't figured out whether it means she will let everyone see the Mary that Matthew saw, or if she will just bury that side of herself and continue her witchy witchy ways.

I am so late to this party, Mark, but lovely new thread you have here! Abby thinks that looks like Velma (of Scooby Doo fame) up there in post 54, and I have to agree. I always wondered what she did in her spare time!

Is anyone still watching The Walking Dead? This is such a tiresome show. I liked the 1st part of this season but it's, once again, becoming a slog. My wife said she is through with it...I might be too! The writers really excel at creating annoying characters. And everyone takes a turn.

Bonnie- I am so glad you enjoyed FF! The ice is broke, my friend. Good point about Fellowes and Sybil. I liked that episode, so it didn't bother me as much as Matthew's "car trouble".

Terri- I hope we didn't spoil anything for you on DA! I hope you enjoy it. I'll be by to visit soon.

Es- I am watching less and less TV too! Just no time, plus I like to watch at least a movie a week too. The good thing is with the British shows, is that they are relatively short seasons.

Julia- Thanks for your thoughts on Mary. She was a stinker most of this season, so it'll be interesting
to see where she goes next.

Mamie- Thanks for dropping by. You didn't bring any germs did you? It sounds like you have your hands full in Mamieland. Good luck. I love the idea of the gal in #54 being Velma. Spot-on!

50... Congratulations for finishing AK!!

54... I LOVE that picture! She's a little smaller than me so imagine her a little bit fluffier; change the wine to water; and then that's me every time I'm out on traveling week and eating alone in a restaurant with a great book!

Mark, did you see the 60 minutes interview with Maggie Smith on Sunday (here)? It mainly focussed on her popularity because of DA and is worth watching if you missed it.

Hi Mark, I am still faithfully watching The Walking Dead and yes, I am a little disappointed with a couple of characters. I may be to go back to getting my zombie fix just from books and the GN series. Yours is the second meh review of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie which is enough to remove it from the wishlist.

Tigana eventually. Lions first though. I haven't read Guy Gavriel Kay and Lions is shorter. ;) (What a pathetic reason to choose a book!)

Hi Mark! Yeah, I agree that the The Walking Dead has been a bit disappointing, but I'll probably stick with it for now. I'm becoming less and less interested in reading the books though, although I hear there are a few important differences.

Gasp! And here I am, liking Mary, for the most part, in DA. Sorry to hear that The Twelves Tribes of Hattie was only a 3 star read. I will strike that book of my list for certain now!

^We can hang this sign in the Library Pub! It can be one of our mottoes! Sweet Thursday, everyone! The Lies of Locke Lamora is a chunkster, so I am looking forward to getting back to that one.

Tina- Glad you like the picture of "Velma". LOL.

Pat- You always find good links and interviews! thanks! I'll check that one out tonight. How was the Slate recap of Sunday's DA?

Judy- I think I might be done with Walking Dead. Funny, I've been saying that since the middle of the 2nd season. Talk about inconsistent. Take a pass on Twelve Tribes, although Oprah loved it!

Katie- I've picked a book because of it's length many times, so you are not alone. LOL.

Kerri- There is very little worth watching in Walking Dead. No likable characters and stale storylines. The Governor stuff was interesting at first but boy has it wore out it's welcome.
Have a good day, my friend.

Deb- Maybe you can relate to Mary? Although I can't picture you snobby and filthy rich, even though you won't have a beer with L.R.! Steer around Twelve Tribes. It had an ambitious idea, poor execution.

I was thinking of getting Twelve Tribes of Hattie - maybe I'll pass after all.

Hmmm Tiny Beautiful Things looks pretty good. Too many books on my piles right now...but maybe sometime :)

Definitely passing on Hattie now. Too bad, it sounded promising when I first heard of it.

Mark - sorry to see that Twelve Tribes of Hattie didn't meet with expectations. Your thread always does on the other hand and I am pleased to have finally caught up. Love the photo with you and Reese in your reading den. Chair looks pretty damned comfy too mate.

Hope this bit of a warm-up is working for you, Mark.

I'm surprisingly a bit "meh" about Binocular Vision so far. The handful of stories I've read are good, but for me, not great so far. There are plenty more ahead of me, though.

I'm getting into the last section of Jerusalem Chronicles. It's a long one! He's got the same charm as in Pyongyang, but overall I'm not liking it as much. Maybe he tried to cover too much ground this time?

Here's my few words about AK: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147636#3929283

I think that Mary is in training to be the next Old Bat Grantham - which if you can't tell, is a character that I don't like at all. She does nothing important for the story except provide snarky one-liners.

Did anybody else see the DA cartoon in the New York Times yesterday? Of maybe it was in USA Today. Whichever, it was really funny and so cute. Made me laugh after a tough day at work.

Benita, I don't know if this was the cartoon or not but after reading your post I went looking for DA cartoons and I loved this one since right after the finale, PBS started a pledge drive on my local station.

Marky-Mark, you told me Devil's Peak is on your wishlist, didn't you? I think you'll love it, I finished it this week and I think it's a very good book!

Hi Mark, thanks for reminding me about the Slate DA articles. Here's the one about the Season 3 finale called Joy! Sadness! Is this the cruelest show on television?.

Warning: the link is full of spoilers!

I have to agree with their comment that DA is a victim of it's own success with some of the best actors wanting to move on to other things.

Mark - I've gotten behind on threads. I finished The Burgess Boys too. I didn't like it quite as much as you did. I gave it 3.5 stars. The characters just didn't resonate with me.

Hi Mark: Gearing up for the "big snow" tomorrow. I'm packing up a whole bunch of work so I don't need to go out, thankfully. I can always bring it back, if the storm doesn't pan out.

Stay safe out there, especially if we get that freezing rain.

Pretty amazing that our official "heaviest snow of the year" so far is only 2.9 inches, according to Tom Skilling.

>60 Crazymamie:: I thought so too! I used to have a Velma-like haircut when I first started teaching, and one of my office-mates (he and I didn't have classrooms that year) secretly called me "Velma" to the rest of the English department :)

^Yep, that's me! And I am so glad I am not alone! We are legions!

Rhian- See, how helpful I am? Now you don't have to read Twelve Tribes. You are welcome.

Kath- Maybe, you can get Tiny Beautiful Things on your Kindle (or at the library) and dip in and read a couple. You'll know pretty quickly if it's your cuppa.

Laura- Many people loved twelve Tribes, if you check the reviews. LT has been lukewarm and those are the opinions that MATTER, IMHO, of course.

Paul- Good to see you! I've missed you around here! I'm glad you like the reading chair! A very important place in my life.

Joe- I'm sorry to hear Binocular Vision isn't grabbing you! Hey, you were on a pretty good roll there, it has to come to and end sometime, right. I wish it was a different book. LOL. I'll be watching for your thoughts on the Delise book.

Karen- "frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". I think I get your point! LOL. I am glad I read it and it contained some excellent story-telling but I wish it would have grabbed me more.

Okay, we have a snow storm arriving in a few hours and it's supposed to snow through the night. I am hoping we get 2 or 3 inches, tops! If you care about me, (I know a few of you do) you will cross yourfingers and hope for the best, along with little old me. If you care about a privileged spot at the Library Pub, I'm sure you will go along. Thank you.

Benita- You might have a point about Mary turning into the Lady Dowager. I liked Violet this season and I think they gave her more to do, than spout one-liners. It may not have all worked but I think it's obvious she will conform, if it's for the greater good. She sure came off better than Cora's mother, that's for sure.

Pat- I saw that cartoon on FB. Very funny. I'll come back and read the Slate update. I'm sure it's a hoot! "Is this the cruelest show on television?." Good point!

Diana- Everyone seems to love Devil's Peak. I NEED to snag a copy of that one, immediately.

Lori- I may have gave the Burgess Boys a little more than I should have. I'll correct that over-sight, when I finally get to my belated review.

Linda- I am hoping for the best, with the snow, but we can't dodge the snow bullet every time. It seems to be really dumping on Kansas and Missouri, as it makes it's way here.

Es (Velma)- Nothing wrong with being a nerd. I think they are really the cool ones.

Okay, since you do what you do, I'm crossing my fingers for you: 2-3 inches, tops. If it were here, where I would have a shot at a snow day off from work, I would have my fingers crossed for two or three feet!!

Take care and stay warm, Mark.

NO.

Really???

I am really, really mad.

Hey Mark, only a hundred posts later I find there's a new thread.

I am crossing all crossables that you avoid a storm tonight! As long as you promise not to send any snow here!

Ellen- Thanks! I'll take all the help I can get! I'm off Saturday, so I just need to get through tomorrow. No snow days for us! I think we had one in 25 years.

Terri- I see, that you saw the finale! Are you okay now? Still hyper-ventilating? Read the Fellowes interview. It helps smooth it over....a little.

RD- I'm glad you found me, my friend! Hope you are feeling okay.

Chelle- Thanks! I am sure you have had your share of snow & winter. We have only received about 10 inches this winter, which is amazing. I shouldn't be complaining!

I'll throw my crossing of fingers, holding of thumbs, and generally wishing the gods of weather have some mercy for the letter carriers of the Chicago region, please.

Meanwhile, we are having cold, damp, and gray days. Typical Feb. - Mar. - Apr. - May - June pacific northwest weather.

speaking of mail service and its risks and discomforts, i've just downloaded Orphans preferred:The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express from NLS. title taken from an 1860 help-wanted ad in a CA newspaper (possibly apocryphal): “WANTED. YOUNG, SKINNY, WIRY FELLOWS. NOT OVER 18. MUST BE EXPERT RIDERS. WILLING TO RISK DEATH DAILY. ORPHANS PREFERRED.”

you follow in a long line of heroic types. now, don't you feel better about freezing your tuchus? yeah, i thought not. ;)

OK you convinced me, Im crossingm y fingers toes (ouch- maybe not the ones on the operated on foot!) and my pig tails for you not to get too much snow. We dont want you freezing your tuchus (!!!#!!)

Good morning Mark,

I am glad to see that you enjoy the sense of humor in The Lies of Locke Lamora that was one of the main characteristics I did enjoy in the book.

I am still watching faithfully the Walking Dead and although, there are quite a few characters quite annoying I still will stick with it. I was especially annoyed with episode 10 and how stupid Andrea is - sorry I can't stand that gal at all - well, that Rick is loosing it was quite clear but that hasn't been portrait in such a tacky way in the GN's.

I also cross all my possible limbs for you that the weather will finally have some mercy on you *smile*

Gasp!! Such an insult, Mark!!! The suggestion that I can relate to Mary of DA!!! Truthfully, I took the Downton Abbey Quiz which is here and there on library thing, and you know what character I most resemble .... the helpful, do - gooder, sympathetic , meddling Isobel Crawley. I am not sure what characters were possible, but at least I did not turn up as the bad tempered Bates.

I hope you have a nice day tomorrow with not too much snow. As per your order L.R. I shall see if I can procure a copy of Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.

Oh dear, the LT Oracle predicts that I won't like Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Still, I will have a look out for it, but I do have a copy of The Inconvenient Indian - -perhaps that will do, Kemo Sabe? :)

no snow, no snow, no ice, no ice, sunshine, sunshine

Thanks for all the finger crossing. You guys are great. There is about 3 inches out there. It might be a slow commute but it's sure better than it could have been. I am off the weekend, so I'm looking forward to getting through this one.

Karen- Thanks! It all helped. And you stay dry in the Pacific Northwest!

Ellie- "Orphans" sounds like a great book. Just my cuppa, although I am not skinny or wiry. I'll be watching for your thoughts on this one.

Megan- Thanks for watching out for my "tuchus"! Crossing your pig-tails sure helped.

Bianca- I am enjoying Locke Lamora. It's very loose fantasy, structured like the Name of the Wind. But why do these books have to be 700-plus pages? Did you read the 2nd book?

Deb- Sorry, I called you Mary Crawley, Tonto. It won't happen again. And I think everyone who took that DA quiz was Isobel. LOL. You haven't read The Inconvenient Indian yet, right? It looks good.

Morning Lynda- She's a cutie! And it worked. I don't think there will be any sunshine but the snow is winding down. Yah!

OK, watched all 3 seasons of DA, so I am back! Where is the quiz? I must take it.

Be safe out there Mark!

Since I heard all the dyer reports of the HUGE snowstorm in Kansas I called my Dad last night and asked him if he was snowed in. He replied, "No, I don't think so. I didn't even hit a snowdrift coming home from the farm." He did tell me that the TV had people whipped up into a frenzy so much that they purchased all the snow shovels at Walmart in Concordia and all the milk was gone from the local grocery by Tuesday. He said that when he came home last night about 6:00 p.m. the snow had stopped and in hard hit North Central Kansas they had 6 inches of snow. I told him something was wrong because the TV down here said that Lincoln, Nebraska had 12 inches of snow and Wichita Kansas had 14 inches. He simply said "I don't think so, but maybe they're right." My Dad did tell me that the school district called off school because they thought that the weather might get bad, but the courthouse was open. Granted, my parents are rather dour people, so I called my sister. She lives about 20 miles away and asked her about the storm. She said that they had about 6 inches of snow and that it was very pretty outside last night. The moon made it so sparkly, and it was laying so nicely. However, she thought the wind was going to come up in the morning (Friday morning) and since it was a light dry snow it might blow. I asked her about the rest of Kansas. She said that they had some cattle trucks come in from southwest Kansas and they had heavier snow but no blowing. She said, "you know, lots of snow isn't a problem. It is when it blows around that it is a problem." She did tell me that the Weather Channel people were in Wichita claiming that it was a bad storm, "but nobody believes them anyway." Moral of this story. Don't worry about the weather so much. Dress for it, and carry on.

To which I will add. Come on Mark, You are a postman. You can handle it. It's the job. Man up. Put that long underwear on. Get the Siberian Tundra hat and the big gloves and boots. Don't let me down. I depend on the USPS to keep their standards high. And most of all KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

We got dumped on in the city, Mark. I hope it's better out your way.

I switched to an Eve Dallas mystery for the nonce. I may just be short-storied out. I realized part of why I don't read them often is I miss the momentum you get with a novel or an NF. Starting all over again after a few pages - I know some people love that, but I like the rhythm of the longer reads better. And the ones in Binocular Vision, so far anyway, don't have a tying thread, e.g., locale, which is something I liked in Volt Stories.

>100 benitastrnad:: To which I will add. Come on Mark, You are a postman. You can handle it. It's the job. Man up. Put that long underwear on. Get the Siberian Tundra hat and the big gloves and boots. Don't let me down. I depend on the USPS to keep their standards high. And most of all KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

HA! Good one, Benita.

>83 msf59:: Yes, Mark, we nerds are definitely the cool ones.

"A Reclining Woman Reading"- Albert Ritzberger (Austrian painter)

^ Now, this is what I would have liked to do today. Not a bad day overall. A few inches of snow, but wet & heavy. Why do people drive like idiots, in dangerous conditions? Either to slow or to fast! Folks in SUVs are the worst, except me of course. I just cringe when a guy flies past me and I'm no slowpoke.
My customers did a fantastic job clearing their walks & stairs. Not everyone of course, it snowed through the night but more than I expected. Hugs to the kind & considerate!

Nancy- Congrats on catching up with DA! Hooray! What did you think of this season? You should be able to Google DA quiz and find it, with no problem.

Pat- I managed fine. Thanks! We sure didn't get hit as bad as many other places. Whew!

Hiya Mark, happy weekend off!

Benita- "Come on Mark, You are a postman. You can handle it. It's the job. Man up." Well, I do! LOL. That doesn't mean I hope for horrible weather! All my customers got their mail! We have had one snow day in the nearly 27 years that I've worked this job and that includes many many nasty days. I think I just gripe a little more as I get older. The snow & ice wear me out! That's all! I know, Wah! Wah!

Joe- Thankfully, the snow ended early. That was a life-saver. People were able to clear streets, sidewalks and driveways. By the time I left work, the roads were great!
Binocular Vision might be better to dip in and out of. Are you giving it up for good?

Laura- Don't encourage, Benita! She needs no help! LOL.

Es- Yah, for the nerds, especially the book ones!

**Anyone want to join me on Love in The Time of Cholera? It's part of my First Author Challenge and I hope to start it tomorrow, once I finish Rebel heart. I can always use company!

I know what you mean about getting older and how bad weather wears on you. But I love a postman! Or post woman. Today I got two postcards in the mail from a devoted fan of the hand written note delivered by mail and it was such a wonderful surprise! Did I mention yet that I love the Post Office?

But seriously, I wonder how people coped with bad weather years ago. Our clothes are so much better now. My long underwear is so cozy and yet I don't sweat in it. And let's hear it for neoprene and polar tec.

I think people coped poorly. People froze to death, died in childbirth, got lost in blizzards, I know all this because I read books! The original people in my part of the world built long houses out of cedar and assembled multiple families around multiple fire pits. They ate salmon, and berries, and whatever else they gleaned from Mother Earth. Ha! They coped very well indeed. Except perhaps their immune system was not as robust as they might have wished, pre-contact with the Others.

OK, it's Friday night and I'm just babbling. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend. I saw you are working on Saturday, oh mail carrier man! Sorry to hear that, as I know you were looking forward to Sat/Sun off. now it is to be Sun/Mon off? Well, OK. Enjoy the extra fat pay envelope!

I have Sat/Sun/Mon. off. I'm loving it.

post script: I love the P.O. too and am a great fan of hand written notes and letters, and handmade greeting cards. (-:

I think I might. Or like the post office if it was likely to deliver bad things - like, summons to court, overdue tax notices, etc.

Speaking of taxes, got to go to my library and get my tax forms. Yes, I fill them out and mail them in.

I recently finished reading Above All Things about George Mallory's last attempt to climb Everest in 1924 and was shocked at the clothing they wore--basically tweeds and gabardines to climb mountains!

I had read some stuff about clothing worn by some of the early Article explorers and had the same reaction as you. No wonder it was considered such a risky business.

I'm glad that you didn't get too much snow, Mark. I admit I had visions of you mushing through the snow like this:



Enjoy your weekend off, my friend, you deserve it!

Mark I am slowly reading Love in the Time of Cholera in Spanish. It goes very slow. FF has interfered, but FF has been a nice diversion. Back to the Garcia Márquez book. I will certainly join you. Will you be starting a thread?

You likely already know of this site, but is case you don't, there are some lovely ladies reading to be found in here:

http://awesomepeoplereading.tumblr.com/

Have a great weekend!

Happy Saturday, folks! Change of schedule: I am working today after all. They were short-handed today. The good news is, I am off Monday instead. Since that's a very heavy mail day, I consider it a fine switch. I'll be wrapping up Rebel heart and should start Love in the Time of Cholera. I am also still enjoying the audio of Locke Lamora, which continues to crack me up.

Benita- Yes, I love that UnderAmour, especially the long-johns. So lightweight. I hope you can still love the Post Office in 5 years! It's rapidly changing. The good news is: Our parcel delivery has exploded. It's probably doubled the last several months. Must be good affordable rates.

Karen- Thanks for the cheerful history lesson! LOL. I could have worked today for overtime too but I wimped out. Being off Monday was to good to pass up! Now, instead of working a 6 day week, I'll only work 5.

Pat- "basically tweeds and gabardines". That is amazing, especially the Everest climbers! Now, they have all the high-tech clothes & equipment and it's still incredibly dangerous.
I downloaded the audio of Forever on the Mountain, which looks very good.

Judy- How did you get that picture of me? LOL. I did cross a few lawns yesterday but I tried sticking to the cleared sidewalks, whenever I could. Walking a bit further, is better than plowing through heavy snow. More miles, less strain.

Roberta- How are you enjoying Love in the Time of Cholera, besides the task of reading it in Spanish? I was not planning on doing a separate thread of it. My first Marquez. Looking forward to it.

Morning Amber- No, I have not seen the tumbler link! Thanks! Are you staying warm up there?

Yes, it's in fact not all that bitterly cold out there right now, despite the 5 inches of snow. Charlie and I will likely be snowman-building today...

>104 msf59: srsly, who dresses like that to read?

40F high today, andI will take it! Hope all is well, I am way behind, just looked at pictures :P

Love the cartoon!
Have a good day at work. I was called in today but I woke up feeling sick so I declined to go in.
Hope you love Love in the Time of Cholera! I really enjoyed that one

Not giving up on Binocular Vision - if so many good readers like you recommend it, I'll at least keep going. Dipping in is probably what I'll do. So far nothing's given me momentum on it.

I've already read Love in the Time of Cholera, or I'd join you. I liked it a lot. My favorite of his is One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Hi Mark. I've never heard of Forever on the Mountain. I'll have to look for it at the library. Hope you like it.

Last night I started a relatively new (2011) non-fiction book about George Mallory called Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest. It's a big book, about 640 pages, but really well written so it looks like I'm going to continue.

Will you hate me if I don't end up reading The Magus in March. It's another big book and I'm not sure I'll be able to fit it in. I plan to start it but if it doesn't grab me, it may get put aside.

Just so you know, I am reading The Magus and I find it reads quite quickly. Not dense. I don't think. But you are right it is not a short little book. 700 + pages on the Nook.

>115 msf59: haha!

Sorry wont be joining you on a mini GR of Love in the Time of Cholera. I hope you get a rag tag bunch of folks together and have a rollicking good read of it! I gave up on thinking about reading One Hundred Years of Solitude as I feared its fantastical nature. I am a chicken!

#122 Thanks for the encouragement Karen. I will definitely give The Magus a try. I think I freaked myself out a bit when I ended up liking the new Everest book which I had no intention of reading right now. It can be dangerous to take books out of the library before you're ready for them!

Yes, I do that, too! Shame.

Happy Saturday, Mark! Sorry you had to work, but hooray for Monday off! I might join you for Love in the Time of Cholera - that one has been sitting on my shelves forever, and I would really like to get to it.

LT MEET-UP: We are meeting LT Kerri and her husband for eats & beers, at one of our favorite watering holes. We had a very nice time together last time and I see no reason tonight should be any different.
I finished Rebel Heart but did not start the Marquez. I am behind on a couple of GNs and I want to finish, Drinking at the Movies, which has been very good! I have the next 2 days off! Yah!

Amber- It should be ideal snowman making weather! The snow was heavy and packed. Hope you guys had fun.

Kath- You don't dress like that to read? I'm really surprised, actually. I wish we would get back to the 40s. All next week looks like well-below normal. Boo!

Chelle- I hope you are feeling better! I've been sitting on Love in the Time of Cholera for a couple years now. It's about time!

#127 - Yay beer and meet-ups!

I really do have to read a Gabriel García Marquez novel at some point, but I haven't been in much of a magical realism mood lately, so now might be a bad time.

Joe- I am glad you are not abandoning Binocular Vision. I am really itching to get back to more short fiction. I have a couple lined up. I hope to get to One Hundred Years of Solitude one of these days too. I heard it's a bit more difficult. We will see!

Pat- Into the Silence sounds terrific! I'll add it to the list. Into Thin Air still remains my favorite Everest book. I get chills thinking about it.
Actually I am reading the Collector in March, part of my First time Author Challenge and then I might tackle the Magus at a later time, so no problem.

Karen- I am glad you enjoying the Magus. Have you read the Collector? A special LT friend gave me a copy quite awhile ago and I really want to get to it.

Megan- You are going to let me read Love in the Time of Cholera all by my lonesome? I thought you were my pal? I don't see you as a chicken.

Mamie- Great to see you! I don't know if you are ready to read Love in the Time of Cholera right away, but if you are, it would be nice to have the company. Like you, I've put if off, far to long!

Mark, I loved The Collector. So, yes, I've read it. I will not be joining you for Love in the Time of Cholera, sadly.

I have found myself a huge photography class... Tuesday evenings and Sat. and Sun. all through March. I will be skimping a bit on the reading, I think.

But more photographs, perhaps.

>118 mckait:: True indeed. Who dresses like that in general?! :)

Yep, I'm ready. I'm starting it this evening.

I can't come here anymore...I keep seeing books on my list that I want to move up!

I read Love in the Time of Cholera after giving up on One Hundred Years of Solitude a couple of times. I decided I'm not a Marquez fan. I have The Collector and would like to read it next month but I already have quite a bit planned. We'll have to see how it plays out Mark.

Mark, I'd read The Collector with you if I hadn't already read it. I planned to try The Magus because I own a copy and figured I'd join you in reading another book by Fowles. I think you'll like The Collector (and I'm hoping I'll like The Magus enough to bookhorn it in in March).

Hey Mark... Just catching up. Nothing to add other than my wish that you stay warm!

Ohhh sorry, won't be reading Love in the Time of Cholera, but good for you! We had a nice sunny day today - just like the picture on my thread! It was stilll kind of cool , with a north wind. Maybe 45 F or so today?

I'm sure you will have a great time with Kerri and her husband! Don't drink toooooooooooooooooo much! :)

Have a wonderful Sunday, Marky-Mark!

Happy Sunday! The meet-up with Kerri & her husband went great. Such nice people. Beer, laughs, eats and chatter! Also planning a Chicago Meet-up for early April, probably in the city!

I have to stay on task, these next two mornings. A few reviews to write and a boatload of LT threads to visit. It's getting harder to keep up with everyone during the week. Like, duh!

Karen- I'm glad you loved the Collector. I'm looking forward to it. Congrats on starting the photography class. Very cool.

Es- That painting was made in the late 1800s, I believe. Maybe that was common reading apparel.

Mamie- I have company! I have company! I hope to dive head-first into Love in the Time of Cholera today. I still want to knock out 50 pages of my current GN first.

Cheli- Yep, the hazards of life on LT! Don't you love it? LOL.

Bonnie- I'll be finding out if I am a Marquez fan, very shortly. I have heard One Hundred Years of Solitude is a difficult read. I hope you can join me on the Collector. At least it's only about 300 pages. A relief.

Pat- I can't believe the March reading plan is already filling in. I am also hosting a G.R. of The Big Rock Candy Mountain, probably mid-month. Have you read that one?

Tina- Good to see you! hope you are enjoying a nice weekend.

Deb- Had a terrific meet-up! And we all enjoy a good beer! Huzzah! And yes, the Lone Ranger was well-behaved. BTW- I requested the Lone Ranger from the library, so I plan on reading it next month.

Diana- Thanks! You do the same!

Behold the greatness:



"Stargazer" (I feel like I talk about this song on the internet more than what would be considered "normal." Ha!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=rVXy1OhaERY&NR=1

I was wondering why your thread wasn't showing up in my starred list. I had accidentally hit Ignore Topic. Happy it is all fixed now and you're back!

Enjoy your two days off, Mark. Keep in mind that spring is just around the corner. Maybe you should listen to books with a tropical setting while walking your route these cold winter days.

I really liked Love in the Time of Cholera and hope that you and Mamie do too. I'll skip the Fowles book next month but happily join in on The Big Rock Candy Mountain. I love Stegner and that title!

Kerri- I am listening to Stargazer! You are going to shoot me but I don't remember ever hearing this one. WTH! Good stuff! Nice Blackmore solo. I did see Dio solo once or twice too, back in the day.

Nancy- I thought you were upset with me, maybe something to do with DA! LOL. Good to see you. Hope you are having a good weekend.

Donna- Great to see you! Good idea about listening to some tropical audio, while strolling the route. Looking forward to the Marquez and I'm glad you'll be joining us for the Stegner. I am way overdue on the latter.

Hi Mark! Glad to see you survived another winter blast!!! We got more than 8 inches on Friday.

I'm still plugging along with AK, can't seem to stick with it and read it straight through. I promise I will finish.

Hope you have a relaxing Sunday!!

I'm reading After Visiting Friends. You might be interested in it, given all of the Chicago newspaper history included. Plus it is just a good read.

19) Unsaid by Neil Abramson 3.8 stars

Helena is a veterinarian. She is an animal lover and an animals rights activist. She lives in a big country home, with her lawyer husband and her many pets, including a pair of horses and a pig called Collette. She narrates this story, even though she has died from cancer, some weeks earlier. This can be a tricky gimmick in fiction but I think it works here. Helena oversees her loved ones, with perfect insight and compassion, especially her beloved husband, who has fallen completely apart since her death and she is also able to re-evaluate her own life in the process, the many joys and missteps.
The book also becomes a tense courtroom drama, as her husband takes on a complex case, dealing with a research chimpanzee, that Helena was personally involved with.
This is a good story and avoids the sappy pitfalls, many books like this suffer from. The writing is good and animal lovers should take to it like a dog with a rawhide.

oh, dear, that does sound like I might like it.

Mark, I thought you might enjoy the fact that I am so far behind. I did finish Anna Karènina, thank goodness, but now I am confessing I just finished watching Season 1 of Downton Abbey. I am watching it little by little over dinner times. I am also contemplating signing up again for TV cable so I can watch the next season of George RR Martin's opus.... starts 31 March here, I believe.

Hummmm

I also signed up for a huge time eating photography class. All of March: every Tuesday night, and every Saturday and Sunday! The instructor makes it clear you have paid for all those classes and workshops but allows you might choose to "make as many as you can". Whew

Busy, busy, busy. How did I ever work, pre-retirement?

Ignoring review after thumbs-upping and liking. IGNORING.

I finished Drinking at the Movies, a graphic memoir by Julia Wertz. Another gem! Why are most cartoonists so dysfunctional? I guess, to entertain us!

Tammy- Great to see you! Yes, we dodged another snow bullet. It was about 3 inches. You guys have been getting your share. I want SPRING! Good luck on finishing A.K.!

Nancy- I've been hearing very good things about After Visiting Friends! It sounds excellent. I have to see if it's available on audio.

Karen- A friend from work lent me Unsaid and I wasn't sure I would like it, (snobby, I know) but I ended up really enjoying it. Glad you are enjoying DA. I am also looking forward to Game of Thrones Season 3!
I hope the photography class goes well!

RD- We all have to do a certain amount of ignoring. It's becoming part of our LT World, otherwise we would be sunk. I don't think that book is your cuppa anyway.

**BTW- We are going to see Silver Linings Playbook (finally!!) this afternoon, after a quick visit to the library sanctuary. I've heard such good things and I am crazy about Jennifer Lawrence, (dirty old man!).

Hi Mark. I have read Big Rock Candy Mountain and will be following along with the GR but probably not re-reading it. Hope you enjoy Silver Linings Playbook. I hope it wins some Oscars tonight.

Okay, I think I have all my March and April books ready! I would sure like a sip of that coffee!

Hey Mark, I love that photo above. I ran across it myself when I started my last thread and almost snagged it. Hope you enjoy SLP - I am a fan and will be rooting for it at the Oscars (because it's so good and because it's the only nominated film I've seen in any category, I think!). I might join you on the Stegner next month, as I have not read any of his work but have a few on the shelves.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

#151 if there was a dog in the picture it would be my idea of heaven!

I plan on joining you for Big Rock Candy Mountain. I have been wanting to read Stegner for along time. I went to the library last Thursday night and got my copy. As soon as I finish Barbie and Ruth I plan on starting it. I have a cold and don't think I will be going to work tomorrow so should be able to finish reading at least one more book this weekend.

I finished Life of Pi yesterday and do wonder why all the hype about an average book? This was one I have had around for a long time and would look at and then put back on the shelf. Guess there was a reason for that as in the end it just wasn't that exciting for me. I would like to see the movie but think I will be skipping that as well.

#147

I don't think I would pay money for cable to see Game of
Thrones. If the series is anything like the books it seems like one long endless stream of creative ways to kill people. I have the third book in the series Storm of Swords and I have been putting off reading it just because I need to find the mental fortitude to read through all the endless blood and guts. Last year I read Clash of Kings for Mark's Fantasy February and wasn't sure I was going to make it through the reading. I am sure tht watching it would just put me out the door for fsh air in no time. Book two in the series was just one long (and I mean long) blood bath and I just don't think I am ready for another dunking. I like the story but just can't take all that grossness.

Oh dear .... Unsaid sounds very much like something that's right up my alley, Marky-Mark. Good review. I'll have to add to this to my obese wish list.

We loved Silver Linings Playbook! Terrific film. The cast was excellent but Jennifer Lawrence was a stand-out. I'll be rooting for her tonight. What an amazing actress she has become.
In regards to the Oscars, I still hate the idea of 10 nominated films but the top 5 are truly remarkable:
Lincoln
Zero Dark thirty
Silver Linings Playbook
Flight
Argo
I have seen each one and this is the order of my preference. I have not seen Amour but I heard it was outstanding and have not seen Life of Pi, which I don't think should have been nominated, going by the reviews.

And she (Jennifer Lawrence) looks gorgeous tonight!

Glad you liked the film.

I will have the Oscars on, but I plan to dive into a couple of GNs, while I am watching it. Yes, I am off tomorrow but I don't think I'll be able to stay up until the end.

Pat- I thought you had already read that Stegner. I hope to read another of his later in the year. We will see.

Katie- I loved Silver Linings Playbook. Russell is a really terrific film-maker. I also loved his last film, The Fighter. Did you see that one? I've seen most of the key films and I think Lincoln & Zero Dark Thirty were my favorites.

Roberta- I wish I could photo-shop! I would put a doggie in that picture, just for you.

Benita- Sorry, Life of Pi fell short for you. I was a big fan and do not think it was middling at all, but very original and very creative. I know opinion is mixed.
If the blood & guts of the Game of Thrones books are to much for you, I think watching the HBO series is a perfect alternative. Sure, it has it's violent moments but it is much more contained.

Caro- I think you would enjoy Unsaid. If I owned the copy, I would wing it your way, once my wife reads it, that is.

>151 msf59: love love love that image

Glad you loved Silver Linings Playbook, I used to work in mental health, and it has such a bad image, so this film really puts some perspective into what it is like for people who live with illnesses like depression/Bipolar Disorder. And yay Jennifer Lawrence. She is cool!

We will probably hear on the news tonight at 6pm (in 3.5 hours) who won what. If I remember to watch!

Hi Mark, I know you have a very busy March planned reading-wise, but I just wanted to let you know that there is a thread for the March Mystery Month . Of course I am also shamelessly using your thread for advertising!

Hmmm - that towering pile of the books that you are carrying, Mark... I see a visit to your chiropractor in you future....

Good Morning! I went to bed at 10:30pm, late for me but missed the big wins at the Oscars. I did not like what I saw of the show. Bloated and mostly blah. McFarlane wasn't terrible, just weak production. And how about the Boob Song? Yikes. I was happy for Lewis and Lawrence, 2 worthy winners. How did Ang Lee pull out best director in that bunch? Okay, enough of that...

Megan- If you didn't see the Oscars, you didn't miss much. Just 3 1/2 hours of bloat. I loved Silver Linings Playbook and Lawrence, once again, kicked butt!

Judy- You advertise over here whenever you want! I already have a busy reading schedule for March, but I will try to slip in one or 2 mystery/crime books.

Deb- We are getting braced for another snowstorm tomorrow. I'll probably need to see the chiropractor for that reason. I hope you have a great week.

Have a very happy Monday Mark! I'm off, too, and plan to spend large chunks of time in the home office. I did get the downstairs all ship shape this weekend, plus read a little, and went to the Flower and Garden Show.... spring is coming, yes it is!

I had the show on and the sound off last night :) I rarely watch ... I was busy reading, but I had planned to watch a bit. Turns out I didn't, as I too went to bed at 10:30

21) The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout 4 stars

This is a story of a Maine family. Twins, Bob and Susan and their older brother Jim. In their early childhood, they witnessed a horrific accident, which killed their father. This link will haunt all three, in various heart-breaking and disturbing ways. Jim and Bob became lawyers and moved to New York City. Susan remained behind in Shirley Falls.
When her troubled teenage son is arrested for a “hate crime”, she calls on her brothers to help her. Old wounds are opened and some begin to heal, as the family reluctantly pulls back together.
The prose is strong and deft. Her characters, however frustrating they appear, are well drawn. I do not think it works on the same brilliant level as her last book, “Olive Kitteridge“, maybe something lacks in the storytelling. I still think it’s a good work, just not a great one.

Morning Mark! Nice review - I have not read anything by Strout, but I have had Olive Kitteridge on the shelves forever. I will try to get to it this year. I started Love in the Time of Cholera and am about 100 pages in. I am liking it so far - I love how Márquez writes! Thanks for the push I needed to get this one off the shelf. Enjoy your day off!

Doggone it, I still have not received my copy of 'The Burgess Boys'. I'm starting to get a complex because I think everyone else has received theirs already. :-(

Good morning, Mark. Day off, yes? Hope so. I know you had a string of work days there.

How did you like Rebel Heart? Hope it was as good as the first one.

I didn't think One Hundred Years of Solitude was harder than Love in the Time of Cholera, for what it's worth. Same fluid writing style.

Drinking at the Movies looks like a good GN. I'm near the end of another Jane Austen graphic treatment, Emma, but I've found it disappointing. The Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Marvel Classics GN (can't get the touchstone to work), adapted by Nancy Butler, was pretty darn good, but none of her Austen adaptations since have reached that level. Too bad. Just as they make for good movie adaptations, there's a lot of graphic potential that's being missed.

Busy times. I was at the Blackhawks game and, even though it was a 6 pm start, it was a close game so no one left early. It took us a half hour to get out of the parking lot.

I made it home just as they were announcing the nominees for Best Director so at least I got to see the last four awards.

I need to track down the musical numbers from last night on youtube.

>157 msf59: re: Jennifer Lawrence What an amazing actress she has become.
Was she a child actor or something, as isnt she just 22? Im guessing she has been around and it is only me who doenst know what in!
Of course on our news they show her tripping up the steps, *grrr*, not exactly the most impt part!

^ Yesterday, I was holding them up, today they are holding me up! Nice hat, huh?

Karen- Yes, I will have a good day off. Lots of sunshine today and pleasant. Another snowstorm arrives tomorrow morning. Oh joy! Hope you have a good one too!

Kath- I was reading and farting around on the internet through most of the Oscars. I don't think I missed much.

Mamie- Olive is a great read! Try to move it up. Wow, a 100 pages into Love in the Time of Cholera. I wish I could be that far along. Hopefully, I'll make a dent today, although I haven't cracked it yet in the early going.

Julia- I think they released The Burgess boys twice on the ER! I snagged a copy the first time around. I am still waiting for another ER from 2 months ago. Were you a fan of Olive?

Joe- Yes, I am enjoying my Monday. It's very nice out too! I have been doing chores and running errands, so I haven't had a chance to crack a book yet. Hopefully a good chunk of the afternoon.
I really enjoyed Rebel Heart. Bree didn't care for it but it worked for me. I'm interested to see where she goes with it now.
Thanks for the Marquez input. I like his writing so far. I started Anomaly last night. You could get a hernia dragging that baby around. Gorgeous illustrations.

Linda- Good to see you! The Blackhawks have been RED HOT, haven't they? I am not much of a hockey fan, but I should be giving them their props more over here. What a stellar start!

*boo hoo*
you forgot me

^Wading through books? Am I alone here? Is this common among us nerds & geeks?

Megan- LOL! We posted close together and I was going to come back and reply and Marky-Mark got distracted. Jennifer Lawrence was nominated for Winter's Bone (great movie, BTW), in 2010. I think she was barely 20 and then she snagged the coveted role of Katniss in the Hunger Games and will continue that trilogy. Immensely talented and quite attractive I must say.

I thought she looked familiar!! I saw The Hunger Games.

I heard that the second movie in that series is due out later this year.

>166 msf59: Well not an awful lot of difference in our rating Mark but just a difference of opinion on which was the better book I guess. I'll take The Burgess Boys over Olive by .5 points.

As far as the Oscars go, I seldom watch but I wanted to see Adele perform so I watched and I thought the host was just awful. Did he think that no women would be watching? I've never seen such blatant disrespect starting with the song he did naming all the actresses whose boobs he'd seen in movies. I'm not sure I laughed once all night. He was terrible.

*phew*
You found me
;)

Hey there Mark, you might - might - like The Age of Hope, my latest Canada Lit read... you are such a Renaissance Man, plus the author is a Man! :)David Bergen has also written The Time in Between and The Matter with Morris, both of them books about Vietnam. How can you resist? You have the day off today? I hope you've enjoyed it! It's been very windy here today ... due for my walk with the dog!
I confess I did not watch the Oscar's but I'm so delighted that Argo won best picture! :) at least I think it did....

>166 msf59:: Good review, though it gave me the bullet of Olive Kitteridge instead :)

Jennifer Lawrence might be a good actress but she is a horrible dresser. That dress was pure ugly! Jennifer Garner, on-the-other-hand, was beautiful! Halli Berry was also a disappointment. even if she was a Bond girl. And then their was beautiful eye candy Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron. All I can say about them is WOW!

Adele did a horrible job of singing. Way to cautious of a performance. She looked like she was scared out of her pants. The woman who sang Goldfinger had the audience there and the TV audience eating out of her gold hands. She was gooooooooood! Now that's entertainment.

Streisand, as usual, wowed the crowd. What about her see through dress?

It seems to me that the oldsters showed the younger crowd how to entertain.

>166 msf59: Upgethumbed...book bullet dodged, thank goodness....

Mark - I think we had a similar reaction to The Burgess Boys. In my review, I wrote, "The characters are well-drawn, and the book is well-written. I should have loved it more than I did. I simply failed to connect with the characters."

I haven't been able to spend enough time today with Love in the Time of Cholera. Distractions, LT, chores, getting dinner ready, making lunch for tomorrow, LT. Yes, LT is there twice for a reason.

Linda- You might get a kick out of Silver Linings Playbook. There are some rabid football fans in that film. There is romance, laughter and well-balanced drama.
It looks like Catching Fire comes out in November.

Bonnie- I think we have different opinions on Strout! For me, Olive was a stunner and the Burgess Boys was good to very good.
I didn't mind McFarlane as host, although the boob bit was distasteful. Most it was just blah.

Megan- Did you make it back to the wop wop, little girl?

Deb- I will check into Mr. Bergen, Tonto! I trust my LT friends above anyone else. Yes, Argo won best picture. Good film, I would have preferred Lincoln or Zero Dark Thirty, But that's just the L.R.!

Es- I think I caught you with the right blue bullet! Good aim, huh? Olive was my top read from a couple years ago.

Benita- Who was the snobby guy that used to do the fashion critique, for the award shows? Blackstone, Blackwell? LOL. That's who you remind me of. I don't know much about fashion, I just like what I see. And your are correct, the old-timers ruled the day!
ETA- It was Mr. Blackwell! Benita Blackwell! Has a nice ring to it!

RD- Big waves!

Lori- Maybe it just wasn't there, although many other readers loved it completely. Interesting. Some books are just like that.

I did not watch but I saw a parade of dresses, and suits, on FB. None of the dresses impressed me as drop dead beautiful. Too bad.

#172 by @msf59> Ah, well I feel better knowing you got your copy the first time around. I didn't snag it until the second giveaway, so perhaps it's just taking the scenic route to Iowa. :-) I loved 'Olive Kitteridge' and I can't imagine this one living up to that, but I'll keep an open mind.

>183 msf59:: That was definitely some excellent aim!

Just read your review of The Burgess Boys, thumb up and it sounds interesting, Mark. I could never quite make it through Olive Kitteridge , but even though you say that this is the less strong of the two books, I will look into The Burgess Boys. Olive seemed like such a miserable person in the book - is she really - or did I not give the book a full chance?

“He never went out without a book under his arm, and he often came back with two.”

— Victor Hugo / Les Misérables (never read it!)

Morning! We have more winter on the way today, into tomorrow. Rain, snow, etc...Fun, fun. It's doubtful I'll finish Love in the Time of Cholera, but I'll give it a shot.

Karen- Big waves!

Julia- I hope to read another Strout, sometime this year. I believe I have Amy and Isabelle in the stacks.

Es- Call me sharpshooter! Grins...

Deb- I agree the Olive character was grumpy and edgy but I thought it worked. It's been a couple years since I read it, so I'm a little fuzzy on the details.

I'm pretty sure that I won't be pursuing another Strout... I liked Burgess Boys well enough, fled from Olive...BUT, I think I will spend my precious reading time with someone else.

The Boob song was very weird for me, Mark. My son was in the room, sort of watching, I was seated in front of him. I wasn't sure if I should comment on the song, I wasn't sure if he was paying attention, I didn't want to make a big deal about it. So, I just said "What a silly song". Lame, I know.
The opening of the show was tremendously loooooong, too long. IMO, Let's just get to the point of the show.
I've not rec'd my ER of The Burgess Boys. *sigh*

To me Jennifer Lawrence is a perfect Katniss for The Hunger Games movies. She's got the strong physique to make it believable and, as you say, amazing acting chops for a young 'un.

I just picked up Rebel Heart, so I'll start that after the mystery I'm working on.

I think that Lincoln would have been my best choice for movie of the year. I haven't seen the picture but read the book and based on the books read that were turned into movies Lincoln would have gotten my vote. If the academy panned Zero Dark Thirty for not being historically accurate it should have done the same for Argo. The director even admitted that he put a chase scene in at the end that never happened just to add excitement to the movie. So once again Lincoln probably gets the vote for being historically accurate. Except that Mary Lincoln was not twenty years older than Abe as is Sally Field and Daniel Day-Louis. And I thought Beasts of the Southern Wild was a stinker. I almost got up and walked out of that movie. Maybe none of them should have won it and Amour should have been the winner?

Did anyone hear about the stink about the Onion calling that young child actress a c**t?

Worst. Commute. Ever.

My usual 40 minutes stretched to well over 2 and a half hours.

They really got this storm wrong. We have at least 6 inches so far and it's still snowing like crazy.

^I could use this pillow tonight! Carried in blizzard like conditions today! (Sorry Benita!) The first 90 minutes, it was dry, then it quickly turned into sleet and then blowing snow. We probably have 3 or 4 inches, but it is still snowing. I'm sure this will be our heaviest snowfall of the year. February has not been kind.

Kath- In our little book world, we always have choices. If an author isn't knocking your socks off, there are multitudes waiting to give it a try!

Lynda- Good to see you! I agree the opening of the Oscars was way to long, along with the rest of the show too! I'm just getting really impatient with that show.

Joe- Yah, for Jennifer Lawrence. As long as she keeps her head on straight, she should have a fantastic acting career. I hope you enjoy Rebel Heart. I like her nice, lean style.

Benita- Lincoln should have won...period. From what I have read Zero Dark Thirty was pretty accurate. It looks like Argo took more liberties with the truth. I did like the movie too!
I thought Sally Field and Lewis were a good match, despite the age difference, which you can't tell in the film. I WANT to see Amour.

Morphy- Yes, I did hear about the Onion. I love that site but that was way out of hand. They have apologized profusely. They should have screened that one!

Linda- I am sorry you guys got hit so bad again! South and west were much better. My commute was just about normal. Hopefully, they can clear things out for the morning rush.

Ugh on the blizzard, Mark, just U.G.H.

I'm sure this will be our heaviest snowfall of the year. February has not been kind.
urgh indeed.
It looks like your pain is my gain though, we are having a corker here again today. I am lapping it up while I can.
Sat on the sunny deck with the kids playing around the driveway with the hose, and read Little House on the Prairie. I cant complain.

RD- I know you guys have had your share of snow, snowstorms. Compared to that, we can't complain...okay maybe just a little.

Megan- I am glad you are enjoying your lovely summer. I know our time will come. December & January were relatively mild but Feb has not been fun.

I am starting to fade...I'm grabbing my Book Junkie pillow and heading upstairs. Good night, kids!

Sweet dreams , Mr Sexy Librarian Thread! :)

Hello Mark, I'm glad Argo won and I have no problem with the film makers embellishing to make things more exciting - it wasn't a documentary, after all. And anyway...didn't Titanic win an Oscar? All those people wading around in frigid waist deep water seemingly unaffected by the cold...it made me nuts.

And I really liked the movie Life of Pi - I thought the visuals were stunning and it was true to the book (which I also loved).....

I'm taking my cranky, headachy self off to bed now, too...good night!

Oh and I thought Jennifer Lawrence was adorable....

>"In our little book world, we always have choices. If an author isn't knocking your socks off, there are multitudes waiting to give it a try!"

words to pearl-rule by.

just dropped in to wish you joy and crow loudly over having finished all 36 hrs of Middlemarch with an exceptional narration by Juliet Stevenson whom i first saw and adored in that goofy ghost story movie with Alan Rickman. now i can start Return of the Native narrated in glorious tones by that same Mr. Rickman.

i know that snow can be a pain, m'dear, but believe me, it's nahsomuch nice when things warm up in winter, the snow stops, the cold stops, and the bugs of all kinds, wee and not so wee, get REALLY NASTY 'cause there's no kill off from freezing weather! cold doth have its functions. it's the Tao, also i guess the bible (or in my case, Pete Seeger--yes, i know da boids did it, but they just covered Seeger) "to everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season . . ." and etc.

Happy Hump Day, folks! I'll be wrapping up Locke Lamora. The last 1/3 has been a bit of a slog, (over 750 pages is to long!) but overall it's still been a good listen. I might start a NF audio, a friend recommended. If it's to slow, I'll shake it up with something else.

Deb- I'm not sure the DW will agree with you, but I'll sure take it. Thanks!

Joanne- Hi, cranky friend! I really liked Argo too, I just liked Lincoln better. Sadly, I have not seen Life of Pi yet. I hope I still have a chance to see it at the show. I loved the book too, but have not read the follow-up. Have you?

Ellie- congrats on finishing Middlemarch. Hooray! I still need to read this classic. i am not sure I can get to it this year. Maybe, I'll try the audio, if you say it's good.
I don't mind bugs in warm weather but the intense heat, is no fun. Last summer was very warm, in most of the US. Let's get a break.

ugh on the blizzard for sure.. and poor LindaP!!!

We had ice here.. getting home last night was a wee bit dicey.. but today is just rain.
Hope it's better there, too :)

Good day to ya!

Emmys. Grammys. Oscars. I think they should have an awards show for books!

What should be some of the categories? Other than the obvious - best new author, best YA, best romance, best urban fantasy, best literary fiction, etc.

Best cover?

Best use of an over-used trope?

Morning Mark! Breezing through LT with a few Hi's!! Hope the weather is kinder today. Big hugs!!

Tina and Amy should emcee every award show, including the new one for books Morphy's got going.

Rebel Heart is off to a good, although alarming (would somebody squash those TonTons, please?) start.

Hearing commute stories like Linda's (>194 lindapanzo:), I'm so glad I take the train. It was a mess on the streets and highways.

I reviewed Jerusalem Chronicles, but unfortunately I can't urge you to go out of your way for it. Now I'm getting into Building Stories more; you need a strong heart to meet up with his bleakness. So far all the parts I've read are great, and quite sad.

Post #86...very, very funny.

It is hard to keep up with you Mark. You are quite a well-deserved popular guy.

Happy Wednesday to you.

Morphy -- love your suggestion.

Hi Mark! Hope life is treating you well! :)

The question of how much or how many liberties to take with the "truth" when making a movie is always a question and I realize that directors and producers walk a fine line when they make that decision. However, I don't think it is right to castigate one movie, in this case Zero Dark Thirty, for inaccuracies, and then reward another movie that did the same thing, in this case Argo. That makes Lincoln the clear winner for me, because this movie was bound by history, but also by Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, which given all the previous controversy about her work, had to have almost every comma authenticated and backed up.

I am sorry about the bad weather. Working in snow is lots of work. Snow is very weighty.

^I am not exactly sure what is happening in this picture but I like it, anyway. Light rain/snow this afternoon. The temps are mid-30s so nothing was sticking, just wet.
I finished Locke Lamora. It's good fantasy but, ONCE AGAIN, I wish the last 3rd was tighter. It really felt dragged out. Also, it might be the most profane fantasy I have ever read, so if that's not your cuppa, steer clear.
Taking another classic left-turn, I started Botany of Desire, which was recommended by a couple of friends. Interesting so far. The first part dealt with the apple, including an extended look at Johnny Appleseed, aka John Chatham.

Kath- Not a bad day! Some snow to walk through. Most of my customers cleared the sidewalks and stairs. It's just a bit more tiring. Funny, a month ago we had less than 2 inches total and now we are already at 18.

Morphy- I like the way you think! Only us geeks & nerds would watch a book award show, but I'm sure it would be much more entertaining than the other crap.

Kim- Big Hug back! Good to see you!

Linda- Thanks for dropping in! I'll have to drop over and see if you are reading any choice YA.

210: Mark, clearly the young woman is overwhelmed with her TBR books. I'm sad for her because she had to sell her clothes to buy more books! Hey, now I'm an art critic. ;-)

I agree with Donna. She tried to put one too many books on that teetering tower and....well, you see the result Mark. LOL

Joe- Good idea about the hosts for the book awards show! Glad you are enjoying Rebel Heart. Nothing earth-shattering in the narrative but solid & steady story-telling.
So don't bother with Jerusalem Chronicles? I'm sure that was a bit disappointing. I am glad you are immersed in Building Stories. I hope to get to that one in the next few months.

Tina- Big Wave! Yes, the week is going okay, despite the weather. At least no more snow in the immediate future. Whew!

Benita- I can't complain to much about the winter so far! Dec & Jan were exceptionally mild. Feb has been normal, which is snowy & cold. It's nearly March and you just start getting tired of it.

Donna- That is very imaginative! LOL. At least she looks more thoughtful, than overwhelmed, which is a good thing. I hope she finds her clothes, unless of course she prefers the buff state.

Bonnie- Yes, those teetering towers! I can't believe most of March is already booked, (I have a little flexibility) and a nice chunk of April is already slotted. Wow! We are a book-obsessed bunch and I love every second of it.

Hope that you enjoy Botany of Desire. That's what got me started on Pollan books and I have enjoyed them all!

210, 211 & 212 LOL!!!

Hi Mark -
Scampering through and feeling sorry for your wintry February. Really, I am.
Even tho I love snow, etc... it makes life miserable for you. I sure hope March is nicer to you - but... living in the "windy city" I wonder.

Got me with a BB on Unsaid. No surprise there, I guess.

Didn't like Olive, probably won't run to the Burgess Boys too soon... or at all.

Cheer up! Spring is coming ;-)

I just started reading Omnivore's Dilemma by the same author as Botany of Desire and I have had BoD on my TBR shelf for a long time. Lots of interesting stuff in books by him. He also has a couple of great feature length articles in the New York Times Magazine. Very good author.

I started on Big Rock Candy Mountain on Monday. I know - I am ahead, but as slow as I read classics I need the head start.

Botany of Desire- A short description: "This work explores the nature of domesticated plants from the dual perspective of humans and the plants themselves. Pollan presents case studies that mirror four types of human desires that are reflected in the way that we selectively grow, breed, and genetically engineer our plants. The apple reflects the desire of sweetness, the tulip beauty, marijuana pleasure and the potato sustenance."
It might sound a little dry but it's actually pretty interesting so far!

mdoris- I've had Omnivore's Dilemma saved on audio for nearly 2 years. I wanted to read this guy and a good friend recommended this one, so here I am. I like it in the early going.

Claudia- I know you LOVE snow, so I'm trying to imagine how earnest you actually are. LOL. I wish Unsaid belonged to me, otherwise I would have gladly sent it to you. I hope the weather improves in March. It suppose to be a COLD weekend.

Benita- After reading and loving Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, I had added Omnivore's Dilemma, after it was recommended by LTers. Unfortunately I haven't got to it yet. Glad you started the Stegner. I'm not going to start it until mid-month.

Re. your latest read...How do you find such interesting books?

>204 Morphidae:: Now *that* is an awards show I would actually watch!

There is some great streamed debates between Pollan and John Mackay CEO of Whole Foods that came as a result of the criticisms by Pollan in Omnivore's Dilemma re mega-agriculture. It's worth listening to Pollan interviews if you get a chance.

I liked The Botany of Desire a lot, and even liked the documentary of it.

Hi Mark, just passing through and catching up. I have one more Fantasy February book that just came in from the library so I keeping my head down and reading. I think I will get it done as it's a lighter YA read that's doing a good job of holding my attention.

My March is pretty much booked as well. I will be starting The Count of Monte Cristo this weekend, this is going to be a three month group read so I will be able to pace it out nicely.

I really like Michael Pollan's work. He has a new one coming out in April cooked.

Hi Mark! I have the The Botany of Desire as an audiobook, but have not listened to it yet, because it does sound so dry. On the other hand, I've heard good things about it, so I look forward to your comments.

I really liked The Omnivore's Dilemma, Mark. I agree he's thought-provoking.

I have Big Rock Candy Mountain ready to go, although I suddenly find myself with 3 group reads in one month. I don't know quite how I will manage that so I may lag behind e rest of the Stegner gang.

Sweet Thursday, people! Hope everyone's week is going well.

Linda- Luck, I guess! LOL. RL Friends recommended this one but most of my recs come from LTers. Where else?

Es- Big wave!

Mdoris- Thanks for pointing out the debates. I'll have to look them up, when I'm through.

RD- I forgot, my friends mentioned the documentary too, I'll have to add it it my Netflix queue. Have you read The Omnivore's Dilemma?

Judy- Did you read Delirium? I just downloaded the audio, along with fire. It looks like my FF will continue. One of these days I will tackle The Count of Monte Cristo! Good luck!

Nancy- Pollan is more popular than I thought! I'll also keep an eye out for his new one.

Kerri- The audio is read by Scott Brick and it is moving along nicely. Give the 1st section, the apple, a try! He definitely does his research.

Laura- Hopefully, I can give The Omnivore's Dilemma a try soon. Have you read the Kingsolver? What are your other group reads?

Tina and Amy should emcee every award show, including the new one for books Morphy's got going

I agree! That is the only award show I have ever watched all the way through. I usually put them on.. and either turn off the sound, or change the channel before long. But those two had me LOL'ing

Oh Michael Pollan is quite popular. We hosted him when I was back at the bookshop to a sold out crowd of over 900.

Hope you have a light mailbag and a snow free day today Mark!

Oh, I love The Count of Monte Cristo, Mark and Judy. Suspense, adventure, great characters, great storytelling, it's a blast. Plus the Catholic Church condemned it back in its day.

I'm not even pretending that I'm "caught up" but I've got that ugly "146 Unread Messages" off the top of my thread list.
Hi Mark!! I hope you are well and have been doing some good reading!

You'll be happy to know that I'm almost done with Ready Player One and I've enjoyed it more than I expected to do.

Fantastic to know that Pollan has a new book coming out in April Cooked a Natural History of Transformation. If you're a gardener his book Second Nature is good too!

Just finished Behind the Beautiful Forevers about Mumbai. Amazing writing and very difficult subject. I think I read about it first on your thread so thanks!

Just a quick drive-by Mark - loving all your pics.

I saw the PBS series made off of Botany - the apple was quite interesting. Hadn't thought of Johnny Appleseed going around spreading the means of producing hard apple cider across the United States. :)

& yes, love your multitude of book pics!

No, haven't read The Omnivore's Dilemma. I'll look forward to your review!

LONG LONG DAY! We were short-handed and they called mandatory overtime, because a couple ass-wipes couldn't make it to work. I punched out after 5 and nearly 2/3rds of the office was still out on the street. Ugh! Okay, Double Ugh!
At least I had Botany of Desire to keep me company, especially the long chapter on cannabis and it's many enchanting qualities.

Kath- I hope your day went better than mine. I did not see Tina & Amy, but I heard they were very good.

Nancy- I'll definitely be reading more Pollan. He has a nice, assessable writing style and he really sounds like he does his homework.

Chelle- You were half right! LOL. No snow, but a heavy mail-bag. Fortunately most sidewalks and stairs were cleared of snow. It sure helps.

Hi Joe- I'll get to The Count of Monte Cristo one of these days, even if I have to set a G.R. up to do it.

Ellen- "but I've got that ugly "146 Unread Messages" off the top of my thread list." Whew! Thank God for that! LOL. I'll have to stop by and see your final thoughts on RPO. That's one that stayed with me for a long time.

Mdoris- Thanks for another Pollan rec. I am glad you liked Behind the Beautiful Forevers. I thought it was amazing and one of my top reads of last year.

Prue- Big Hug!

Katie- Nice to see you! Are you surviving the winter? I know you folks from Minnesota are pretty tough. I'll be watching for that documentary. I heard it was good.

RD- Thanks for the Bilbiobimbo cover! I have to post that baby!

Before I was married, this is all I was looking for...

Good night, guys!

LOL - Love the cover. Too bad it's a fake... er, I'm assuming it's a fake. I'm not sure Bibliobimbo would've made it past the censors back in the day when books cost 25 cents.

Yup, we Minnesotans are pretty tough and it's actually been "warm" around here - slightly above freezing during the day - although I did just scare a 6th grader pretty bad the other day. He asked when the snow was going to melt and I said I've seen it snow in April. I thought he was going to run screaming out the room and hop on a plane to anywhere south before I could stop him. He obviously wasn't born in this state. ;)

The Omnivore's Dilemma...Im afraid that I need this book. *sigh*
Ah well, Ill chuck it on the virtual pile and get to it sometime this century.

>238 msf59: slightly concerned about the blood on her skirt, but other than that she seems a lovely girl! My lust for books is unbridled too :)

I read the first part of The Omnivore's Dilemma a couple of years ago. It was about corn colonizing humans. Very interesting, actually, and a bit disturbing. I didn't complete the book but I do still have it.

Goodbye February, don't let the door hit you...Come on Spring! The next few days don't look promising though, with below normal temps.

Katie- I am sure that cover is fake! LOL. Great story about the 6th grader! I probably would have done the same thing.

Megan- I had The Omnivore's Dilemma on the audio stack for over year. I'll have to finally get to it too. Yes, I thought that might be blood too. Yikes! She does have an unbridled lust.

Ellen- When it comes to our food, sometimes it's better not knowing to much. Have you read: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life? That's another very good one.

Hurray for March! So nice that spring is within our grasp. LOL, that cover looks like a Nancy Drew gone baaad. Have a super duper day, Mark.

I'm pretty sure the only months we haven't ever had snow here in Minnesota is July and August. All others have been fair game.

Love Bibliobimbo! Hmm, I wonder why the touchstone won't work? :-)

Right at the end of the fast-paced Rebel Heart. Man, it sure takes you in a lot of unexpected directions.

Hope you have a good first day of March. Yeah, I guess we're going to have to be patient in waiting for some Spring weather. Boo.

I've only had 2 visitors, since I left for work? Time to put up a puppy pic! OMG, that's cute!

Lynda- " that cover looks like a Nancy Drew gone baaad." You got it, sister! LOL. It was a cold one today! Do the weather Gods realize it's March?

Morphy- You Minnesota folks are a tough breed! I admire that! Enjoy your weekend.

Joe- I'm not sure I would want to read Bibliobimbo, but I sure get a kick out of that cover. It sounds like you enjoyed Rebel Heart. I'm curious to see what Young does next.
I started Fire. Cashore sure draws you in quick, doesn't she? I love her style!

LOL
Mark you shamelessly promote your thread in using puppies! Devious indeed :)

I saw a beautiful husky puppy at the markets this morning, the nice looking male owner knew he was on to a good thing there!!! He had the girls flocking!!!

I hope March is kind to you, and to me too :)

Ohhh Puppies!! heehee

Oh and Hi Mark!

Yay, Mark, puppies! And don't be shocked, but I will admit to enjoying the Bibliobimbo cover. Although, like Megan, I have concerns about the blood.

^ I like this room. Thanks RD! This could easily be a room in the Library Pub! I love that natural light streaming in.



^ See, I can get profound when I want to! Thanks again RD!

Megan- Yes, I will use puppies if I have to! I lured you in, right? The husky puppy sounds adorable!

Chelle- Glad you like the German Shepard pups! Everyone loves puppies, right? Even RD, as long as they have bacon collars!

Kerri- I am not shocked! LOL. I did not notice the blood right away. Yes, that's creepy!

Love the puppies!

So glad it is the weekend. Like so many others here I have had a long hard week at work. Hope to get lots of reading done.

I finally got my haul from Seattle all entered into my LT library. Now my total entered into LT is almost 3,000. Thank God Paul has me beat! With him around I don't feel like a hoarder.

aaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwww pooooochieeeeees! itty puppiewuppies!! *smoochiesmoochsmooch*

Well, that's me for today....

Happy weekend, Mark. Delirium is on my list and I am planning on getting to it this year for sure. I will be interested in your comments.

If the picture at #250 is your Library Pub then please book me in ASAP, and reserve me that comfy looking chair - that would be a perfect place to curl up and read The Count of Monte Cristo!

Adorable puppies, Mark!
I do worry about Richard, though. Probably time for me to put some kitten spam on his thread.

Re so few visits while you were working: it was Saturday, maybe everyone was out playing or reading. Heh.

I like beer as the question and yes as the answer. Although, for me, replace wine with beer. Mostly.

^ Well, I found T-shirts for the Library Pub! Happy Saturday, guys! I am on the homestretch of Love in The Time of Cholera, about 80 pages left, plan on finishing tomorrow.
Really enjoyed Botany of desire. The potato section was fascinating. I am also enjoying the audio of fire. Cashore can write fantasy!!

Benita- I am glad you received your Seattle book haul! Yah! Now, to find them a home. Enjoy your weekend.

RD- Glad you like the "puppiewuppies"! Have a great weekend.

Judy- There is always a seat for you in the Library Pub and you can sit where ever you like! I am going to try to bookhorn Delirium in, later this month.

Ellen- I think Friday is sometimes quiet on the threads, people winding down after a long week. Have you have a relaxing weekend planned!

I want this day to go quick and smooth. I am off this Monday, so another 2-dayer! Yah!

I hope you have a nice, easy Saturday, Mark. Enjoy your two-day weekend, and thanks for the puppies!

I would have posted last night, but I fell asleep at 7:30. What a wild and crazy life I lead. :-)

Excellent T-shirts! I'm slowly recovering from a very intense read :)
Have a great weekend, Mark.

puppies... I'll take 2 please...

Oh wait, Dunkers protests that move, so never mind. Still...

I like that beer question and answer, Mark. You'll have a good time with Fire all the way through, methinks, and her Bitterblue is great, too. She's a natural. I expect whatever she writes is going to be high quality.

I agree with you Joe.. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next one:)

Happy two-day to come, Mark! Beer being the answer, find a lot of questions to fill the days.

1. Love the shirt!

2. I plan to read Fire this month *fingers crossed*, so I'm glad to hear you're liking it :)

OMG - Where can I get that t-shirt!!! & love your charging German Shepherd puppies photo. Their floppy ears always make me laugh!

Mark - I thought my ears were burning. So Benita has me down as a book hoarder? I resemble that remark!

Lovely puppies mate. Have a great weekend and if not in that splendid room that in a cosy tavern somewhere.

Mark, love the Library Pub and also the room you've posted which needs to be in a Library Pub, hehe! Hope you enjoy Love in the Time of Cholera as much as I did. Has anyone watched that movie?

btw, how's the new reading light? (I realize you've probably answered this somewhere)

Got home later than I would have liked but what are you going to do? I am meeting a couple buddies, from my school days, for beer & chow. We are going to this German restaurant, which has terrific food and an even better beer selection. Yahoo!

Julia- I am looking forward to my 2 days off! Yah! Glad you like the puppies!

Diana- I'll have to stop by and see what "intense read" you are talking about! Enjoy your weekend too!

Kath- We can't upset Dunkers now, can we? I am already halfway done with Fire. It's a lot of fun. Do you know when the 4th book comes out?

Joe- I am enjoying Fire. I'll try to get to Bitterblue, in the next couple months. Bree is bringing her boyfriend by tomorrow. He sounds like a nice guy, (is he a reader?) but we will see...

RD- " Beer being the answer". Yes, my friend, it is! Hope your weekend is going well too!

Es- I read Graceling last summer. I shouldn't have waited so long. I won't make the same mistake with book 3, Bitterblue.

Katie- I am glad you like the T-shirt and the charging German Shepard puppies. LOL.

hey Markey. i think you were the one who recommended Olive Kitteridge to me. i downloaded it from NLS and am absolutely gobsmacked by it. i had sort of blown it off after reading less-than-enthusiastic reviews by LTers and others a couple of years ago and i'm so delighted to have had it recommended highly. thus far, admittedly only 2 stories in, i can scarcely bear to leave it but want to absorb each story before moving on.

unlike everyone else whose reviews i've read, i liked Olive immediately because of her, um, well, immediacy and her tight, strong characterization. thus far, nothing's changed.

i owe you one, bud. happy camper, me.

>edited to correct finger malfunction consequences. ;)

#268 by @mirrordrum> LOL at "finger malfunction consequences". I'm going to start calling all my typos that, too.

LOVE the t-shirt.
Everyone here should have one.

Looking forward to your comments on Love in the Time of Cholera which I have never been courageous enough to read.

Shh - but your forget Nancy at post 266.

L.R. , I was out at the bookstore earlier today and I looked for Lone Ranger and Tonto but no go. Hmmm... I'll see what I can do....The pressure, the pressure....

No idea when her next book comes out. I follow her all over the internet, but she is not much of a presence there... she is an unusual person, one with much talent... and quite the keeper of secrets about her writing.. :(

Happy Sunday, people! Lots of sunshine and blue sky out there. Bree is coming by this afternoon with her boyfriend, who we haven't met yet. He seems to be a really nice guy. We will see...

I just have a few pages left in Love in the Time of Cholera and then I can start Lone Ranger and Tonto.

Nancy- I did not forget you up there, I just had to leave abruptly! LOL. I really like Love in the Time of Cholera but I wonder if it could have been tighter, especially in the last 100 pages? I'll have to see the film version. I haven't heard much about it.
Glad you like the Library Pub. There is always plenty of room.

Ellie- I am so glad you are an instant Olive fan! That's one of those literary puzzles, on how divided opinion is, on that book. Like you, it grabbed me immediately and never let me go, not even 2 years later. Like to see a happy camper!

Julia- Big wave!

Ellen- T-shirts for everyone! Try to read the Marquez. He may be a little wordy but his prose is not difficult at all.

Deb- I didn't forget Nancy, I just had to leave all of a sudden. My ride showed up early. I was going to wait a couple weeks on starting Lone Ranger but it's due back at the library in less than 2 weeks. I guess I'll just have to read it with someone else. LOL.

Morning Kath- I hope to get to bitterblue in a couple of months and then I'll be caught up. I know you've been singing her praises for years.

Puppies! And t-shirts! Yes, I want one of those shirts. Lucky is destined to be an only dog I'm afraid. He tolerates his cousin Cassie when she comes over but occasionally growls if he doesn't get all the attention.

You will zoom through The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Mark. I'm glad you have tomorrow off so you can kick back and get some reading done.

I started the thread for The Big Rock Candy Mountain Group Read. I am not planning on starting it, until mid-month but please start anytime your little heart desires.

Here's the link: http://www.librarything.com/topic/150879#

Donna- I am looking forward to Lone Ranger. I was going to start Karen Russell's first story collection but I'll read that later in the month. And yes, I am looking forward to tomorrow, which will be a better reading day than today.

"But is he a reader?" LOL! We've talked about giving prospective boyfriends/girlfriends for our kids a questionaire to ferret out important information like that, but so far we haven't done it. Plus they're old enough that it doesn't matter what we think, but we won't go into that part.

I've got to find my way to a mystery for Mystery March, but right now I'm in a non-mysterious but good Geoff Dyer.

HI Mark! Hope your meeting with Bree's fella goes well!
I may have missed an update somewhere in your thread, but how are you enjoying Love in the Time of Cholera?

Hi Mark: Happy Sunday!!

When is The Big Rock Candy Mountain GR starting?

Here's hoping that they're wrong about the 6-10 inches of snow on Monday night and Tuesday. I'm getting tired of all this snow.

Joe- I hope he's a beer lover too! He supposed to be a smart guy, so I look forward to talking to him. He lives in the U.P., so it's been a long-distance romance. I have not heard of Mr. Dyer.

Chelle (I love your full name! It's very cheery!)- I just finished the Marquez. It was wonderful. Thanks so much for making that selection.

Linda- NO MORE SNOW! Is that clear? And it is supposed to get up to 50, later in the week. Crazy. I am not starting the Stegner until mid-month but you can jump in at any time.

Okay, grab your books, coffee, beer mugs & misc and join me on the Lucky 7!