Scaifea's 2013 Challenge - Thread 4

Welcome to Thread #3!

Last year, I started each thread off with a photo from my Mythology course files; this year I thought I'd take inspiration from Paul's threads last year and share photos of places I've lived and interesting attractions thereabouts.

My undergrad degree is from Indiana University, and some of my fondest memories come from my time there. I *love* the town of Bloomington and I wish we could move there someday. This photo is, like that of the last thread, taken at the to entrance to the college, but facing the opposite direction. What you see here is Kirkwood Avenue, which forms the line between college and town and a lovely interweaving of the two. I spent many hours strolling up and down this street, eating at an amazing and amazingly cheap Chinese buffet, having ice cream at the White Mountain shop (best ice cream I've ever tasted), browsing the used bookstores...



Below you’ll find an explanation of my reading habits, which, I warn you, is a bit crazy. Usually I have about 10-12 books going at once, one each from the following groups (and occasionally other books slipped in there too):

1. A library book. In Library of Congress call number order. So, yes, from the beginning of the library's shelves. Crazy? Or crazy like a fox?...

2. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

3. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m working through two lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The CYOA books

4. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

5. A book for the Presidential Challenge. Books for this category are read in chronological (presidentially) order.

6. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

7. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker lists (combined, in chronological order)

8. For this category, I cycle through 7 different stacks:
a. A book from my shelves which I haven't yet read
b. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. Stephen King's bibliography (in chronological order)
d. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
e. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
g. The NEH Timeless Classics list
h. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
i. The Pulizer list (in alpha order by author)

9. A bath-time book: I read aloud while Tomm gives Charlie his bath.

So, now you've got a glimpse of just how neurotic I am.
Please feel free to post comments, recommendations, or whatever else strikes your fancy. And Happy Reading, everyone!

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-An American Tragedy (Banned Books list)
-Milky Way Railroad (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (audio book)
-The Big Time (Hugo award list)
-A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (Pulitzer award list)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus (off of my classics shelves)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 13: Roads to Adventure (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

Books Read:
JANUARY
1. Little Mouse Makes a Mess (CYOA series) - 7/10
2. The Very Lonely Firefly (gift to Charlie from The Ladies Who Live Next Door) - 7/10
3. Lots of Bots (present to Charlie from Santa) - 8/10
4. The Tower at the End of the World (Bellairs bibliography) - 9/10
5. Wall-e (present to Charlie from Santa) - 8/10
6. Eve (present to Charlie from Santa) - 8/10
7. Mo (present to Charlie from Santa) - 8/10
8. Aboard the Axiom (present to Charlie from Santa) - 8/10
9. The Whistle, the Grave and the Ghost (Bellairs bibliography) - 8/10
10. That's Not My Pony (public library book) - 8/10
11. Feet Are Not For Kicking (public library book) - 7/10
12. Was It a Good Trade? (public library book) - 6/10
13. Checklists for Life (christmas present from Tomm) - 8/10
14. The House Where Nobody Lived (Bellairs bibliography) - 9/10
15. Toy Boat (public library book) - 9/10
16. The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (Bellairs bibliography) - 9/10
17. Oh, What Nonsense! (book off of my shelves) - 7/10
18. Little Panda Gets Lost (CYOA series) - 8/10
19. The Light at Tern Rock (picked up from the library sale shelf) - 6/10
20. Greetings from the 50 States and How They Got Their Names (picked up from the library sale shelf) - 7/10
21. A Grand Old Tree (public library book) - 9/10
22. Valentine Surprise (public library book) - 8/10
23. At the Back of the North Wind (1001 Children's Books list) - 6/10
24. Llama Llama Home with Mama (public library book) - 8/10
25. The Tale of Desperaux (Newbery award list) - 9/10
26. Llama Llama Mad at Mama (public library book) - 9/10
27. Llama Lllama Misses Mama (public library book) - 8/10
28. The Hunger Games (Parent & Child list) - 10/10
29. Happy Valentine's Day, Curious George! (public library book) - 8/10
30. Cranberry Valentine (public library book) - 8/10
31. The Water Babies (1001 Children's Books) - 6/10
32. Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse! (Charlie book) - 8/10
33. What the Ladybug Heard (public library book) - 8/10
34. The Kettles Get New Clothes (public library book) - 8/10
35. Paddington at Work (Charlie bath-time book) - 9/10
36. Catching Fire (Parent & Child list) - 9/10
37. Little Boat (public library book) - 6/10
38. Clink (public library book) - 9/10
39. Mockingjay (Parent & Child list) - 9/10
40. Gossie (public library book) - 8/10
41. Kira Kira (Newbery award list) - 7/10
42. Gossie & Gertie (public ibrary book) - 8/10
43. Little Kangaroo's Bad Day (CYOA series) - 8/10
44. The Lightning Thief (Parent & Child list) - 6/10
45. Old Bear and His Cub (public library book) - 8/10
46. Criss Cross (Newbery award list) - 7/10
47. Llama Llama Time to Share (public library book) - 8/10

FEBRUARY
48. The Bad Beginning (Parent & Child list) - 8/10
49. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! (Newbery award list) - 8/10
50. Don't Worry, Bear (public library book) - 8/10
51. This Is Not My Hat (Caldecott award list) - 8/10
52. I Want My Hat Back (public library book) - 8/10
53. Who Sees the Lighthouse? (public library book) - 7/10
54. When You Reach Me (Newbery award list) - 9/10
55. Honk! (public library book) - 8/10
56. The Monster of Florence (audio book) - 9/10
57. The Princess and the Goblin (1001 Children's Books list) - 7/10
58. The One and Only Ivan (Newbery award list) - 8/10
59. The Forever Machine (Hugo award list) - 8/10
60. Little Men (NEH list) - 7/10
61. The Graveyard Book (Newbery award list) - 10/10
62. The Family That Couldn't Sleep (audio book) - 9/10
63. Where Is the Green Sheep? (public library book) - 9/10
64. Let's Count Goats! (public library book) - 9/10
65. Bear Says Thanks (public library book) - 8/10
66. The Higher Power of Lucky (Newbery award list) - 8/10
67. Moon over Manifest (Newbery award list) - 10/10
68. Bear's New Friend (public library book) - 8/10
69. Dead End in Norvelt (Newbery award list) - 8/10
70. Bear Feels Scared (public library book) - 8/10
71. The Canterville Ghost (1001 Children's Books list) - 9/10
72. Hide and Squeak (public library book) - 8/10
73. Bear's Loose Tooth (public library book) - 8/10
74. The Happy Prince (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10
75. Bear Wants More (public library book) - 8/10
76. Bear Feels Sick (public library book) - 9/10
77. Blue Chicken (public library book) - 9/10
78. Diary of a Wombat (public library book) - 7/10
79. Little Raccoon Goes to the Beach (CYOA series) - 8/10
80. Little Auto (public library book) - 7/10
81. Paddington Goes to Town (bath-time book) - 9/10
82. Worms for Lunch? (public library book) - 8/10
83. Little Lord Fauntleroy (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10
84. Caramba (public library book) - 8/10

MARCH
85. This Is the Firefighter (public library book) - 8/10
86. Little Bear and the Papagini Circus (public library book) - 7/10
87. The Best Tales of Hoffmann (1001 Children's Books list) - 9/10
88. Where Is That Cat? (public library book) - 9/10
89. Drum City (public library book) - 8/10
90. Three by the Sea (public library book) - 9/10
91. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10
92. The Very Busy Day (public library book) - 7/10
93. Five Children and It (1001 Children's Books list) - 7/10
94. The Boxcar Children (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10
95. The Little Prince (1001 Children's Books list) - 6/10
96. Half Magic (1001 Children's Books list) - 9/10
97. Double Star (Hugo award list) - 9/10
98. A History of Greece to 322 B.C. (from my classics shelves) - 8/10
99. Women in Love (banned books list) - 5/10
100. Augustus: A Novel (NBA list) - 9/10
101. The Tower Treasure (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10
102. At Home (audio book) - 9/10
103. The Funny Thing Is... (audio book) - 8/10
104. The Very Noisy Night (public library book) - 8/10
105. Don't You Feel Well, Sam? (public library book) - 8/10
106. Old Bear (public library book) - 7/10
107. Duck Sock Hop (public library book) - 8/10
108. A Little Princess (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10
109. Kiss Good Night (public library book) - 9/10
110. How Rocket Learned to Read (public library book) - 9/10
111. Pollyanna (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10
112. Wow! Said the Owl (public library book) - 8/10
113. The Incredible Journey (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10
114. A New House for Mouse (public library book) - 8/10
115. The Children's Hour, volume 12: Stories of Long Ago (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little) - 8/10

Here's Charlie at the local library's preschool Sock Hop:

And the Bonus Question:

What sound do you love?

First one here! Woo hoo!
Lovely IU photo and Charlie as always is adorable.

At this time of day I love the sound of the coffee grinder and I'm off to make that sound now!

Morning, Laura! I love that sound (and the smell), too, but I don't actually like coffee all that much, so I'll stick with my tea.

Hi Amber! *Smooch* I'm sure about a sound that I love, give me a couple days and I'll try to pay attention.

The sound of a baby's laughter

Happy new thread and great new Charlie picture! And a smile too!

I love the sound of the ocean

Charlie is such a cutie!

My favorite sound is a creek in the woods.

1 -- You mean Kirkwood? Everyone wants to live in Bloomington.

Stephen: Aw, thanks for the smooch!

Morphy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FvTVWjLiHM

Chelle: I've only heard that sound a handful of times in my life, but it is a very good one.

Laura: Now *that's* a sound I grew up with, and love it, too.

deniro: Ha! You're right. Clearly I've been away from there too long. (I'll correct the above post.)

#9 You stole my sound!!! There is simply nothing more soul-soothing than the ripply running-over-rocks sound of a brook. Weston Brook, not to put too fine a point upon it.

Linda & Laura: Oh my goodness, you two! Clearly I need to have Time-Out chairs in opposite corners of the thread for you. Sheesh.

My answer to this question used to be, BC, the sound of a teacup clinking on its saucer. I still love that sound, but Charlie's laughter - or just his voice in general - has won out since then.

Sounds I like:

The voices of my parents
My dog's tags against his metal food dish and water dish
All my music collection. All good music. I can't imagine life without it.
Honest laughter
"You may now leave the aircraft…"
Storms at night
Winter wind at night rattling the windows while I'm in bed
Rain at night
The ocean
The snow crunching under my boots (I wrote a poem about this in 1st grade)
Church bells in the distance
When I was a kid in my backyard, the sound of the basketball swishing through the net.
Even better when the net is new: snap/rip.
Winter when it's dead quiet outside and everything is still
Fall wind through the dead leaves

Sounds I don't like:

Screaming
Yelling
Baby crying
Leaf blowers (the worst)
Snow blowers
Lawn mowers
Jackhammers
Chainsaws
Sirens
Car horns
Car subwoofers
That beeping when trucks back up
Diesel engines
Cell phone tones/noises/dopey music
Electronic car key lock/unlock
Fake/dishonest/cruel laughter
Drunk/abusive/swearing fans at sports events; booing, esp. your team
Neighbor(s) dog barking outside. He's barking because he's lonely and wants to come in. Dogs are social animals. Why did you buy a dog only to leave him outside? Bring him in and play with him.
Tornado siren (too loud) near my house
Tennis players that grunt whenever they hit the ball
The applause of TV audiences
When everything in a DVD movie is loud except the dialog which is quiet.
Pet birds
A charging elephant

deniro: Lovely list of liked sounds. Let's keep your unloved list until next thread...

Samantha: Oooh, good one! My parents have a chicken house that they have long since restored and repurposed into a workshop for my mom's rug loom. It has a metal roof, and I *love* to be in there during a soft but steady summer rain.

A loon call at nightfall.
Rain lashing the window when I'm in bed.
Logs snapping in the woodstove.
My lads' voices.
When he was alive, my father's singing.
A train whistle.
Chickadees.
Wind in the corn stalks.
The sound the canoe makes going through the water on a quiet lake; the sound my paddle makes.
Many more.

Oh, tiffin, you've brought tears to my eyes with the comment about your father's singing. The last time Charlie and I visited my parents, my dad got out his guitar and played and sang - something he does less and less these days - and I had the morbid thought that at some point I won't be able to hear that wonderful sound ever again (he's in his upper 70s).

Oh! So many of those sounds are favorites (at least at the moment I hear that sound)! I particularly like to listen to ocean waves surging against the shore, streams trickling over rocks in the silent woods, early morning bird songs when the rest of the world is still asleep, the sound of rain falling at night when I'm snug in bed, the gurgling laughter of babes, my parrot saying, "I'm so cute!"

Just curious, deniro. What kind of pet bird sounds are you talking about?

My favorite sound. Rain on a tent. Me,in a sleeping bag,reading a book.

Mary: Excellent answers!

Cindy: Ha! I'll let you keep that one all for yourself - I'm demonstrably *not* a fan of camping!

Several people have already said one of my favorite sounds, rain falling on the roof at night while you are in bed. And a meadowlark's trill is another one.

19 -- My sister has had two cockatiels (one after the other). She spoiled them. They didn't sing, like parakeets, which can sing some extraordinarily complex and beatiful music. My sister's birds couldn't talk either. They would scream. High pitched screech. And so often. I like birds. But as pets? No.

My cousin has a macaw. When that bird screeches, the sound is so loud like it goes right through you. It sounds like a dinosaur. Or what I imagine one sounded like.

18 -- I get thoughts like that, too. My Dad is 78. He's the greatest man I've ever known. Mom is the greatest mom I've ever known. I don't know why I have been given so much. I can't possibly pay the debt.

deniro: It's good to know that there are others out there with weirdly wholesome relationships with their parents. I have such an amazing relationship with mine and always have - they have always been wonderfully supportive of me in every way.

24 -- God bless the Hoosiers.

#17, 18, 23, 24 I too feel my Dad was one of the best men ever, and I have almost always had a very good relationship with my parents. (There was a brief spell there when I first went off to college and was testing my independence.) My Dad has been gone almost ten years now, and he is still very much present in my life. And I love my Mother and enjoy her company more than that of most other people. I feel so sorry for others who don't or didn't have the blessing of that kind of closeness with their parents. There's no substitute for it. Dad didn't sing, but he did whistle, and I miss that sound beyond measure. If you have the opportunity to record you father singing and playing the guitar, Amber, do it.

deniro: Amen, brother.

Linda: I did indeed get some video of him playing and singing with Charlie on this last trip. And my mom is absolutely my very best friend, and our relationship has evolved over the years into a fantastic mix of mother/daughter, friend/friend and mother-to-mother. Grateful doesn't even begin to describe it for me.

And, btw, I think lycomayflower will confirm that we have a pretty wonderful relationship too, in spite of the little squabbles we appear to have on LT threads from time to time. ;>)

No, no, the squabbles are completely genuine! *whacks LW3 with pillow*

Laura & Linda: *SNORK!*

I watched Now, Voyage last night for the first time. I've never been a fan of Betty Davis, but Paul Henreid? Oh my, yes.

Tomm comes home today, so Charlie and I are both excited. We've decided to make applesauce and some chocolate zucchini bread to welcome him home. Otherwise, another quiet day, I think, especially as I shoveled the drive yesterday and am now feeling those muscles that I only know I have when they're aching. Sigh.

Thanks for the video. My favorite part was the first laughing baby.

My mom and I have a great relationship now. However, when I was a child it was very dysfunctional. After I went into therapy as an adult, I confronted her and she came through with flying colors. Since then, our relationship has slowly grown from a fragile one to one of great respect and love.

The same cannot be said of my father and we haven't spoken in perhaps 15 years. I'm perfectly fine with that as a few years ago I found out he continues to be abusive (drunk dialing from his current wife of all things.) I do miss having a "father relationship" with someone, however.

Morphy: You're welcome! That first baby is hidorable, no? I'm sorry to hear about your (lack of a) dad, but very happy for you about your new relationship with your mom - great story.

Morning Amber- Congrats on the new thread! Love the Bloomington photo and the joyous Charlie. I loved Now Voyager. It was also one of my Mother's favorite films. Classic weeper. Davis had such an excellent stretch of films in those years.

Mark: I found the whole relationship between Davis and Henreid a little creepy, really. He's married, she's repressed and borderline-crazy, and the 'happy ending' is that they decide to pretend that his daughter, whom his wife clearly doesn't want or love and is therefore far from emotionally stable herself, is theirs, and Davis will raise her in this weird fantasy world? Wow. I can think of healthier and saner love stories.

But still, Paul Henreid is a dreamboat.

Sigh.

I just got an invitation to my 20 year high school reunion. Gah.

I love the sound of Legos ("clink!") and the sound of book pages turning. Not glossy pages though, like textbooks. They have a different sound.

ETA: and the whistle of my tea kettle when it first starts to whistle. After a couple seconds it gets really high pitched and annoying though.

Class reunions...ugh. I went to one awhile back. I came away knowing I'd never do that again. Small town girls; small town gossipers

Some things are meant to be "regretfully" declined.

37 -- Don't go. I didn't go to mine. Any of them. High school or college.

Nora: Legos, eh? I've never gotten that answer before - good one!

Linda, tiffin & deniro: Yeah, I haven't decided yet. We'll see.

I didn't go to any of my h.s. reunions (college was a dream of mine that did not come to fruition until I was in my 40s). I am however thinking of going to my 50th h.s. reunion, just to see how many of my former classmates are still with us.

ETA assuming I am still with us.

High school reunions... *Shudders* Yeah, I will never attend any of those...

Hi Amber, hope you are having a wonderful weekend. In the winter I love the sound of a crackling fire, and in the summer I love to take my morning coffee outside to the patio and listen to the early morning bird songs.

I've always loved Bette Davis and "Now Voyager" but when I read your plot synopsis I had to shudder! In this movie she's a little crazy and very noble, but to see her at her best, try to get hold of "Mr. Skeffington", in which she is crazy and really mean.

My dad turns 90 in April and still plays harmonica and sings. He used to play banjo and ukelele, but can't get his fingers to work well enough for those any more. We all feel fortunate we still get to hear him, as we have for many years.

I know what Tui and you mean, Amber. It's a special connection.

Mary & Stephen: Well, I've got some time before I need to decide. There are a few people that I'd really like to see, but otherwise, meh.

Judy: The crackling fire comment makes me warm and comfy just thinking about it. As far as Betty Davis goes, I've seen several of her movies (although not the one you've mentioned) and I just haven't warmed to her at all. Clearly I'm in the minority about her, though.

Joe: My dad is having that problem, too, with his fingers (not to mention the fact that he lost half of two of them 30 years ago in a farming accident), but for the moment at least he still plays beautifully. Yay for wonderful parents!

Charlie and I have a playdate to go to this morning, after which we may head to the library. We haven't been in awhile and I'm missing it (and we need to pick out more books for Charlie), but I keep putting it off, waiting for my reserves to come in - they're taking way longer than usual for some reason.

I did get some sewing done yesterday - finished one purse for the shop and started on another. Hopefully I'll get some more sewing time in this afternoon. Oh, and I finally managed to put together a facebook page for the shop, too! Now if I can just remember to keep it updated...

I forgot to mention that I also watched, in Tomm's absence, My Neighbor Totoro, finally. What took me so long to get round to this one?! Spirited Away has been once of my absolute favorite movies since I first saw it in theaters, but nonetheless it took me a long time to watch this highly-recommended film, also by Miyazaki. I still like Spirited Away better, but Totoro is amazing, too:

Morning Amber- I haven't seen now Voyager in at least 20 years, so I can't remember it much, other than the soapy, weepy moments.
It looks like we are bracing ourselves for another snowstorm. Oh joy! It looks like a nice day today, though.

Mark: Another storm?! I haven't checked the weather in a couple of days - clearly I need too. Sigh.

I love Miyazaki. We're going to re-watch Princess Mononoke in the next couple of days.

Morphy: Another one I haven't seen yet!

On the subject of high school reunions: Back in the 1970's we lived outside of New Orleans, and there was a TV journalist on WWL, Jim Metcalf, who had a feature on the Sunday news where he delivered a little personal essay. Many of them were published in book form, both before and after his ridiculously early death, in volumes titled Jim Metcalf's Journal, In Some Quiet Place, and Please to Begin. One of those essays was entitled "Class Reunion", and it took the form of a letter to the classmate who had extended an invitation to attend. In part, it said "If I were to see them now, the people and the places and the changes times has brought...there would be middle-aged people where children were supposed to be, fat where once there was muscle, and wrinkles would replace the dimples I recall on certain freckled faces...And there would be plastic booths where tables with wrought iron legs and marble tops once held the sweet and wondrous delicacies from the soda fountain at Old Man Peters' drug store...and it would be air-conditioned. ...So if you will, Dick, give my regrets and tell all I'll be thinking of them. And when you hear them tell each other how they've changed, tell them that to me, they haven't. Sincerely, Jim"

Did you watch Totoro with Charlie? My children love that movie. We own a copy and I took them to see it in the theatre when they did a Miyazaki movie festival. Spirited Away is great too. My son's favorite movie is Ponyo and my daughter is a big fan of Kiki's Delivery Service. I would recommend both. As good as Princess Mononoke is, that is not a movie for kids, or at least not little kids like mine.

My wife accuses me of corrupting our children as their favorite movies are all Studio Ghibli productions. I view it as doing my part to make sure they are properly educated.

Linda: Neat story!

Oberon: No, I didn't watch it with Charlie, although I did purchase it with him in mind. I tried watching Spirited Away with him and he thinks it's scary, so I think he'd probably think the same about Totoro, for now, at least. But I want them around for when he's bit older. And I'll be getting the other Studio Ghibli movies for our collection, too. They're just a fantastic realization of a wonderful imagination.

Oh, I loved My Neighbor Totoro, Amber, and so did my kids! That still shot you posted is from my favorite scene in it. I'm a big Miyazaki fan. They've converted stills from his movies like this one into graphic novel sets, btw, which really show off the artwork. I liked the Princess Mononoke film, too, but like you, my other favorite is Spirited Away.

I agree with Oberon that Princess Mononoke isn't really for kids. Ponyo, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Castle in the Sky are all good. I haven't seen The Secret World of Arrietty yet.

I had a friend in high school who was obsessed with Princess Mononoke, and to this day I still have no idea what it is...

The Secret World of Arrietty is good. We saw that in the theatre. Not scary for the kids though my five-year old found it a bit boring - I thought it was cute.

My daughter saw Spirited Away at about age three (I admit to being a bad parent on a particular Saturday and unable to stand more Elmo). She was never scared by it - I think it was so different and non-Western that it just captivated her.

We have seen almost all of the others. Castle in the Sky, Porco Rosa, Secrets of the Heart (or something like that). Those are probably a bit older 7-10 years old in my opinion. Same with Howl's Moving Castle. That could be a bit intense for a sensitive kid.

Oberon: Thanks for the run-down; I plan on watching them all eventually. Charlie is hard to predict when it comes to what will frighten him in movies, so I watch everything first before I let him watch (not including the Dora and Diego and *shudder* Yo Gabba Gabba that he sometimes watches on Amazon Prime - those we let him watch without a pre-screening, although we're watching with him). I do hope he grows into the Miyazaki films, though, eventually.

79. Little Raccoon Goes to the Beach by Marcia Leonard (CYOA series, 18 pages) - 8/10
Little Raccoon, his family and his friend go to the beach for the day.
Again, there are not high literature, but the fun and interactive for children who are Charlie's age.

On the agenda for today:
While Charlie's at preschool this morning:
-Grocery shopping
-Try to put together the syllabus for this online Latin course I'll likely be teaching this summer
-Take photos of the two purses I've finished and get them posted to the shop

Besides a quick trip to the library, we've no other plans for the day, so this afternoon will be playing with Charlie and hopefully a bit of sewing and reading. I'm getting close to finishing the Hoffmann stories, and I'm surprise at how much I'm enjoying them.

Amber> I actually got to use my rudimentary Latin skills yesterday. However, my skills were sufficient enough that I was the only librarian who was not stumped by the student's very scrambled interpretation of what she was seeking. Part of what was stumping them is that she thought that the work name was the author's surname. The actual author was abbreviated. (I'm sure there was a key in her original source that she ignored.) Then she thought the series title was the single volume she needed.

Amber, you didn't tell me you had a black cousin:

http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20130224/SPORTS20/302240034/Scaife-hits-last...

deniro: Ha! I don't think he's related to Tomm - Tomm has no sports abilities whatsoever.

Lori: What was she looking for?

80. Little Auto by Michel Gay (public library book, picture book) - 7/10
A strange little book about a car who goes on vacation, angers a crab and feels said crab's wrath. They become friends in the end. Yep, it's a little one the weird side.

So, totally skimmed to catch up - but I cannot believe you watched Now, Voyager! That is my Nana's all-time favorite movie and I have never heard of anyone else watching it! So funny!

Brit: I likely never would have, but I'm working my way through all of the AFI 100 Films lists, and it's on the Romance one. Ha!

Charlie's screening for 4-Year-Old Kindergarten is this morning (he's very excited). Other than that, not much on the agenda for today. We'll likely bake some cookies, and I'd like to get some sewing done. It looks like we got a couple more inches of snow during the night, but nothing excessive.

Kindergarten!?!?

Well, 4-year-old Kindergarten, which, apparently, is a thing here. He's already 4 now, but his birthday is September 15, which will just miss the cut-off for regular 5-year-old kindergarten. We'd have him take the test to test ahead into the regular kindergarten (I know that smarts-wise he'd be just fine), but regular kindergarten these day meets all day, 5 days a week, and I think that's too much for a 5-year-old. So, 4-year-old Kindergarten meets all day, but only 2 days a week, and I think that's much better for him. He'll start in the fall, but the screenings are ridiculously early, apparently.

Around here we call it "Pre-K" (as in pre-kindergarten)

Nora: Yep - here they seem to call it 4-K, but I like the sound of Pre-K better.

81. Paddington Goes to Town by Michael Bond (bath-time book, 136 pages) - 9/10
In this addition to the series, Paddington ushers at a wedding, wins a golfing contest, unwittingly impersonates a doctor, becomes a budding landscape artist, dabbles in the field of wait-service, and goes to town to see the lights.
Adorable and wonderful, as usual.

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-Women in Love (Banned Books list)
-Little Lord Fauntleroy (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Best Tales of Hoffmann (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-At Home (audio book)
-Double Star (Hugo award list)
-Augustus (NBA award)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 12: Tales of Long Ago (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1
-A History of Greece to 322 BC by N. G. L. Hammond

Wishing Charlie good luck on his 4-K screening! What will you do with two full days a week to yourself?!! Actually, I know the answer to that -- your Etsy shop will really take off then!

Thanks, Laura! The screening has been pushed back to this afternoon, as we had, apparently, 5 inches (Tomm did the shoveling, not me, so I wasn't aware that we got that much) and so the schools are delayed 2 hours this morning.
Yes, I'll likely get more sewing time for the shop, unless this online Latin course takes off, and then I may be devoting more time to that. We'll see, I guess.

>70 scaifea:- Am ber I think you are likely wise in not pushing Charlie ahead. our son has a late Sept birthday and we had to decide whether to push him or not at age 3 in college-run daycare- The 3 yo class was big enough and busy enough for him to stay two years, but he could have moved up. Academically he could have skipped ahead several grades over the years, but socially he has been exactly in the right place and I am happy to have an 18-yo high school senior with relatively sane and responsible attitudes. A year ago, senior status would not have been a disaster, but this is better.

Indeed, boys mature emotionally at a different rate, in general, so I think that even though he'd be just fine academically in regular kindergarten, even right now, we'll place him in the 4-K for next year.

My brother was born in August and he's always been the youngest in his grade. It was a little tough for him sometimes.

Nora: I was born in August, too, and was *the* youngest in my class, but I think it's easier for girls, again, for the maturity reasons. Plus, selfishly, I'm not ready to send him off to kindergarten all day, every day. Sigh.

82. Worms for Lunch? by Leonid Gore (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
Details, very simply and in a slightly silly manner, what certain animals like to eat.
Meh. Nothing really at all special; the illustrations, which are nice, kept this from being a 7/10.

School pictures for Charlie today - he should be good at this, since he's had much practice at it...
I'd like to be sewing while he's at school today, but instead I need to work on my syllabus for the online Latin course. *slight grumble*
At least I don't need to cook today - leftover Mulligatawny Soup from yesterday will suffice.

YES!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c6qENWh2jQ&feature=youtu.be

What does Charlie have to do for the screening? I think that's probably different from the way things work here, shouldn't he just automatically go up the next grade from Junior k to Senior k?

Chelle: I think it's a fairly new process here, even. And one that I'm not terribly fond of, really - what can you really understand about a 4-year-old within 15 minutes of interaction with them?
They gave him a hearing and vision screening, and then asked him about his colors and numbers, and then just chatted a bit. He's quite shy and closed-lipped around strange adults (and I'm not unhappy about that), so they didn't even finish the vision screening because he refused to answer their questions at that point, apparently. Ha! But, honestly, who thinks it's a good idea to take a 4-year-old off into a room alone (I had to go into a separate room and fill out paperwork and then just wait) and try to assess their abilities?! Sheesh. He passed the screening, though, of course.

@ 82

Best. Video. Ever.

Laura: It's a hoot, isn't it? And David is so adorable in it. Sigh.

>86 scaifea: When is David not adorable? Seriously, he's always great.

casvelyn: Point well taken.

83. Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1001 Children's Books list, 210 pages) - 8/10
A young boy's life changes in a heartbeat as he learned that he is the heir to the Earl of Dorincourt. In the end, though, this innocent and loving child changes more lives, for the better, than anyone could have imagined, including his grousy, curmudgeonly old grandfather, the Earl himself.
Well. Saccharine, yes. In fact I never really warmed to the title young boy. But, I did find myself enjoying the flow of the story, which is surprising, as I usually react with a much more defined dislike to such syrupy characters and plots. It's not Secret Garden, but it's not terrible, either.

84. Caramba by Marie-Louise Gay (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
A young cat is troubled because he can't fly like all the other young cats (?!). In the end, with the help of his young pig friend, he discovers a different talent and is content.
Odd, but in a good way, and the illustrations are great.

85. This Is the Firefighter by Laura Godwin (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
Points out the various aspects of the firefighter's job.
Not fantastic, but Charlie seemed to like it.

Please to ignore if you're not at all interested, but on the off chance that some of you may be, here's the link to my new facebook page for my etsy shop:

http://www.facebook.com/elizaandelectra

#91. Been there. Liked it. Lotsa luck with it!

I have not read Little Lord Fauntleroy, but I read both The Secret Garden and A Little Princess when I was younger. I wonder if I could read Little Lord Fauntleroy to Will. . .

Linda: Thanks!

Brit: A Little Princess is coming up on my list soon. And I don't see why you couldn't read it to Will...

86. Little Bear and the Papagini Circus by Margaret Greaves (public library book, picture book) - 7/10
A little bear wants to be a part of his family's circus, but is continually told that he's too little. During a performance one day he blunders through a show of his own and gets both chastised and offered a part in the circus, too.
Meh. Nothing terrible here but nothing noteworthy, either.

87. The Best Tales of Hoffmann by E. T. A. Hoffmann (1001 Children's Books list, 419 pages) - 9/10
I'm very happily surprised at how much I enjoyed these stories, which are full of excellent fantasy, drama and comedy.
This was not the exact collection of storied recommended in the 1001 Children's Books list, but it was the one I could find, and I'm glad that I did. I suspect that some of the tales included in this one would not be listed for children, but they were excellent reads and I recommend them all heartily. Here's the list of stories included in my Dover Edition:
-The Golden Flowerpot
-Automata
-A New Year's Ever Adventure
-The Nutcracker and the Kind of Mice
-The Sand-Man
-Rath Krespel
-Tobias Martin, Master Cooper, and His Men
-THe Mines of Falun
-Signor Formica
-The King's Betrothed

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-Women in Love (Banned Books list)
-(awaiting next trip to the library) (1001 Children's Books list)
-Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-At Home (audio book)
-Double Star (Hugo award list)
-Augustus (NBA award)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 12: Tales of Long Ago (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1
-A History of Greece to 322 BC by N. G. L. Hammond

>92 laytonwoman3rd:: me too!!

Thanks, Laura!

I liked it too.

82: Just when I thought I couldn't love the show or David any more.....

Great new facebook page! LIKE from me :)

That screening for Charlie sounds odd. Good on Charlie for refusing to talk lol

Amber, I am chuckling at Charlie clamming up at his "interview". I can just see Haley in the same situation giving her life history. She is quite a talker. Her birthday is September 17 so she will also be one of the older kids in her class when she starts school. I don't think that hurts a bit, though I wish she weren't also going to be one of the biggest kids in her class. At almost 2.5 years she is 37 inches tall and weighs 37 pounds! Quite a chunk for an active little girl.

tiffing & Chelle: Thanks!

Laura: I know!

Donna: Charlie's birthday is Sept 15, so, yes, I expect that he'll be the oldest in his class, too. And he's still in the 99% for height for his age, but I think that isn't so bad for boys. It was funny/frustrating that, as soon as we left the building, Charlie started chattering at me excitedly about the "new school". Sigh.

Liked your FB page. Will check it out.

81 books already Amber, way to go.

Thanks, Cindy!

Hi, Paul!

Tomm's steeling himself for a 30-mile commute in possibly nasty weather today, and Charlie and I will be certainly staying at home. 2-4 inches expected by noon, with another 6 inches by the end of the day tomorrow. Sheesh.

On the up side, we had an excellently cozy Sunday night: at some point last week, Amazon had as their daily deal a boxed set of Rogers and Hammerstein musicals, which regularly runs at over $100, for $33. Two days later, I was the proud owner of said set. Last night, we watched one of my favorites, The Sound of Music, ate pizza, and had chocolate creme brulee for dessert. It was my first time lighting up my creme brulee torch, but it turned out quite nicely:

88. Where Is That Cat? by Carol Greene (public library book, picture book) - 9/10
An old lady goes out to get her mail one day and discovers a stray cat in her yard. She takes him in, but insists that she prefers a clean and tidy house and so she won't keep a cat, and runs an ad in the paper. Several people come to take the cat, but somehow or other, she can never find him at those times, and in the meantime, she grows quite fond of him.
Excellent little book - interesting and fun story, beautiful illustrations. Charlie had fun finding the hidden cat on each page. Certainly recommended for those reading to wee ones.

You know, I've never actually had creme brulee. What's it taste like?

I've never had it either, but it sure looks delicious. :)

Morphy: Well, I don't much care for the vanilla kind, but the chocolate is amazing. It's like a fancier, richer version of pudding, with a very thin crust of caramelized sugar on top.

Stephen: It was. I'm excited to use my torch again!

Oooo, The Sound of Music. I've loved that one since I was a kid, and it's one those movies that just seems to get better every time I watch it.

mmm .... creme brulee. looks pretty too!
And I love The Sound of Music also, and really much of the American Musical Theater genre, especially Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Creme brulee is custard, not pudding! And it's the crispy burnt-sugar top that makes it brulee I've never had chocolate, but the regular kind is one of My Favorite Things. (See how I tied in the various threads, there? Eh?)

Amber, I just finished a book that I think you would like. It's called A Bag for All Reasons. The purses and bags are all so professional looking. I'm afraid it's above my sewing skills, but I thought you could handle it!

Laura & Laura: I have fond memories of watching this movie throughout childhood, too. It's my dad's all-time favorite.

Linda: Yep, it is custard, but to me custard always tastes like a richer version of pudding, especially the chocolate variety.

Regina: Thanks for the heads up - I'll definitely look into that one!

Crime brûlée is one of my favorite desserts. That looks awesome!

Jim: Thanks! Good to see you!

I took the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg and it was totally awesome! Unfortunately for our poor bus driver, hauling around a choir meant lots and lots of singing on the way to each different site. But So Much Fun for us!!!

Laura: Ohmygosh, I'm so very jealous right now!

It was great! I recently looked through my pictures and they made me smile all over again. :)

Mmmmmmmmm that creme brulee looks delish!!

Chelle: It was good - definitely will make it again!

Snow day today, so no preschool for Charlie, which means no grocery shopping for me and no extended sewing time, either. Sigh. *shrug* Oh well. Maybe we'll make bread instead.

89. Drum City by Thea Guidone (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
A little boy starts beating on a saucepan with a metal spoon and starts a revolution of drumming in the city.
S'okay, I guess. The illustrations were interesting, but the story not really there, and the rhymes, for a book about music, were clunky. Meh.

90. Three by the Sea by Mini Grey (public library book, picture book) - 9/10
A cat, a dog and a mouse live together in relative harmony in a shack on the beach. And then a fox comes to visit, claiming to be a representative of the Winds of Change company, and tries to sow the seeds of discontent among them. It doesn't work.
A weird but weirdly wonderful little book. I can't say that I wholly understand it, but I liked it muchly. And so did Charlie.

It sounds like winter is starting to get old, Amber. I'm happy to have a sunshiny day, although I had to bundle up for our walk this morning. At least you have some great musicals to watch. I am jealous of Laura's trip to Austria as well! The hills are aliiive...

Yesterday was a snow day for my pre-K teaching daughter, too, Amber. She was delighted!

Here's the house and lake that the Von Trapp family lived in in the movie!

Donna: I am indeed growing weary of the snow and the cold. But, yes, excellent musicals!

Joe: I bet she was! Charlie was bitterly disappointed, however.

Laura: Holy Moly! The hills are live with the sound of CHA-CHING!

Charlie and I are attempting to beat the blizzard blues by invoking a bit of the tropics today: we're baking Macadamia Nut Custards and Pineapple Bread.

Mmmm to both your desserts, Amber. We've been very lucky this year and haven't had any snow but right now we seem to be stuck in limbo, Spring is trying to break through but the weather is staying so cool that it's having a hard time arriving.

Judy: Thanks - they both turned out pretty well. And I'm not a big fan of that nearly-spring-time limbo, either. Oh well, it'll get here eventually, I suppose.

On the agenda for today: packing up our things for another trip to Indiana, mostly. Charlie and I will be gone from tomorrow through next Wednesday, so I'll be here only very briefly until then. Hoping to get a bit more sewing in this afternoon, too, as I'll be away from my workspace for that time and want to get another bag or two posted on etsy before we leave. Oh, and a quick trip to the library to stock up for the trip, too! No cooking necessary today, as Tomm has offered to treat us to takeaway pizza tonight. Yum!

91. (37th non-picture book read) Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin (1001 Children's Books list, 342 pages) - 8/10
Young Rebecca is taken in by her two spinster aunts, who will keep her, clothe her and put her through school, much to the relief of her much-put-upon widowed mother, who had 6 other children to try to keep fed. She's flighty and over-active, in the eyes of the spinsters, but she comes into her own and learns how to shine and wreaks changes in the hearts of all her encounter her.
A nice little story and I did enjoy reading it, but I think the premise has been done better elsewhere.

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-Women in Love (Banned Books list)
-Five Children and It (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-At Home (audio book)
-Double Star (Hugo award list)
-Augustus (NBA award)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 12: Tales of Long Ago (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1
-A History of Greece to 322 BC by N. G. L. Hammond

92. The Very Busy Day by Diana Hendry (public library book, picture book) - 7/10
Two mice spend the day in different occupations - one working hard in the garden, the other puttering and playing. In the end they both have a picnic and a nap.
Yeeeah. I wanted to knock the little mouse (the one not helping the hard-working one, even when asked) for a loop. Sheesh. Cute illustrations, though.

Well, Charlie and I are off to Indiana this morning. We'll be back Wednesday, so until then I'll be a lurker mostly on LT. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Morning Amber- I hope you had a good week! Let's get this white stuff melted off and start moving toward Spring. Sound good?

Safe trip, Amber. You are making me long for a trip home to visit my Mom and the rest of the family, hopefully I will get a chance to get away towards the end of the month. Have fun.

Hope you're setting up for a good few days with Mr. Charlie, Amber! Have fun in Indiana!

I found Rebecca too saccharine. I much preferred Anne of Green Gables.

I really want a "LIKE" button for the picture of the VonTrapp house!

I hope you're having a lovely trip!

137: Thanks, Lori!

Glad you're seeing your folks again, Amber! Have a great time!

We're back home, safe and sound! Had a lovely time, as always, with my parents, although I'm worried about my mom, who goes to see her doctor tomorrow about some trouble she's having, which sounds to me like it may be her gall bladder. I know that this isn't usually a bad thing - out-patient surgery, even - but my mom is in her 70's and is a type-1 diabetic, so no medical issue is trivial. Please, if you have a spare moment, keep her in your thoughts for me. If you've frequented my threads much at all, I suspect that it's fairly obvious that my mom and I are very close (she's my very best friend), so I'm trying not to panic here, as I can't, nor do I want to, imagine life without her just quite yet (read: ever).

Mark: Yes, melting away this snow sounds great, although sadly Charlie and I came home to the same old stuff we left. Sigh.

Judy: I hope you can get away to see your family soon!

Joe: Thanks! We had an excellent time, as always. Lots of great food, too.

Morphy: I did too, to a certain extent, but surprisingly I found Rebecca more palatable than others of her ilk that I've read previously.

Lori: Agreed!

Luxx: Thanks! Been thinking of you lately - need to get over to your thread...

Laura: Thanks!

Yay, Amber's back! *Swooping hug*

I'm sorry to hear about your mom, I really hope it's something simple. *More hugs*

93. (38th non-picture book read) Five Children and It by E. Nesbit (1001 Children's Books list, 242 pages) - 7/10
Five siblings move to the country with their parents and discover a sand fairy in the quarry near their new home. They get one wish from his a day, and find that wishing for something that doesn't turn into a disaster is nearly impossible.
This one didn't do anything for me. I didn't really grow fond of any of the characters and the story was tiresome. Meh.

94. (39th non-picture book read) The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner (1001 Children's Books list, 163 pages) - 8/10
A family of children find themselves orphaned and afraid of their unseen grandfather, who they believe doesn't like them. So they run away and make a home in an abandoned boxcar. They are befriended by a nice doctor and his family, and all turns out well in the end.
This one was better than the Nesbit, but nothing spectacular. A little saccharine - the children are so very good that it strains belief.

95. (40th non-picture book read) The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1001 Children's Books list, 93 pages) - 5/10
I can't believe that I was actually excited finally to read this thing. What in the name of all that is sane and sacred in this world do people see in this ridiculous little book?! Depressing and oh-so-self-satisfied. I think I threw up a little in my mouth while I was reading it. P-tooey!

96. (41st non-picture book read) Half Magic by Edward Eager (1001 Children's Books list, 217 pages) - 9/10
A family of children discover an odd coin that turns out to be a talisman that half grants wishes. Once they figure out how it works, they have a lovely time with it, with a few hiccups along the way.
Now *this* is how you write a wish-granting book! Nesbit, take note! Fun and with likable characters. Recommended.

97. (42nd non-picture book read) Double Star by Robert Heinlein (Hugo award list, 128 pages) - 9/10
An actor is roped into the role of his life - in more ways than one - when he is all but abducted by some top-secret people and whisked away to Mars. If his performance flops, it will mean the difference between inter-planetary peace and an all-out war of the worlds, and between life and death for him.
This is my first Heinlein and it will *not* be my last. A cool mix of old-fashioned noir fiction and scifi, backed up by excellent writing. Definitely recommended.

98. (43rd non-picture book read) A History of Greece to 322 B.C. by N. G. L. Hammond (from my classics shelves, 667 pages) - 8/10
The title says it all. And it's a history in serious detail. Quite dry in places but thorough. Not for those who aren't absolutely serious about their Greek history, I'm afraid. And even I nodded off in quite a few places.

99. (44th non-picture book read) Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence (banned books list, 448 pages) - 5/10
I'd give you a summary of the plot of this festering turd of a book if I honestly could find one. Nothing happens. Nothing. Not even in the 'steamy' scenes, it's difficult to say if anything really happens. Because it's all in the heads of the characters. The reader is constantly beaten over the head with what the characters are thinking and feeling. Cripes, it's terrible. Something does happen right at the very end, and I swear I was so shocked that something was actually happening that I had to re-read that section, for fear that I'd nodded off and wrote my own ending. It's as if Lawrence thought, "Oh, crap, I'm almost to the end and I haven't made anything happen at all - I'll just stick this random action in right here and call it a day." Again I say, Cripes. My advice? Stay away from Lawrence. Far, far away. Sadly, I think he's coming up again on one of my lists soon. Cripes.

100. (45th non-picture book read) Augustus: A Novel by John Williams (NBA list, 305 pages) - 9/10
An historical epistolary novel, this is an excellent dramatization of Augustus' life, through the eyes of his family and friends. Excellently accurate yet nicely fanciful. Loved it.

101. (46th non-picture book read) The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon (1001 Children's Books list, 214 pages) - 8/10
The Hardy brothers are eager to become private detectives like their father, and are itching to prove themselves useful in the field to him. They get their chance when their chum's car gets stolen and then the local rich-and-eccentric family has their prized jewels stolen.
The first of the Hardy Boys series, this one was a hoot. I loved the Nancy Drew books as a kid, and this was just as satisfying. Hokey? Yes, but fun nonetheless.

102. (47th non-picture book read) At Home by Bill Bryson (audio book) - 9/10
Bryson takes us through the rooms of his own home, and at the same time through the history of all sorts of things that are associated with those rooms.
This was my first Bryson and I'm hooked. What a charming writer, and what a wealth of trivial knowledge. And I love that sort of thing. Definitely recommended.

103. (48th non-picture book read) The Funny Thing Is... by Ellen Degeneres (audio book) - 8/10
I'm a fan of Ellen and so I was excited to listen to this, but I think I'll not try her other books - I was slightly disappointed in this book; she's certainly funnier on her talk show and elsewhere. It was okay, but not great.

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-An American Tragedy (Banned Books list)
-(awaiting trip to library) (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (audio book)
-The Big Time (Hugo award list)
-A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (Pulitzer award list)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus (off of my classics shelves)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 12: Tales of Long Ago (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

Thanks, Stephen!

I was thinking of you, too, but that tends to happen when I get the sewing bug.

Ha! I was thinking of you because I've been writing the syllabus for my online course!

142 #102> I can't believe you waited this long to read Bill Bryson. He's high on my list of all-time favorite non-fiction writers. You should try A Short History of Nearly Everything next.

Welcome back Amber! I'll keep your mom in my thoughts and hope everything sorts itself out quickly.
>146 NielsenGW:: I'm another Bryson fan! I read Notes from a Small Island just before moving to the UK, but it was even funnier on a re-read a couple years later. I also enjoyed A Walk in the Woods about hiking the Appalachian Trail. I don't have a camping/hiking bone in my body and still loved it.

>142 scaifea: Woo! Half Magic was my FAVORITE book when I was a kid. I still have the same tattered copy, in which I colored in all the pictures with markers when I was 8. Are you going to continue with the series? (most of) The other books are just as good.

It's funny that you relate Edward Eager to E. Nesbit. Eager thought that Nesbit was the greatest children's writer of all time, and fully based his books on hers. But I agree, I think he was much more creative ;-)

Sending all good vibes to your Mom. If it's her gall bladder, she's wise to have it tended to sooner rather than later...as you say, it can be a fairly simple procedure, and if they can do it with the scope, recovery time isn't very long. Nothing beats having your Mom for your best friend!

@ 142

Looks like you had a chance to get a lot of good reading in!

Yay! for a new Heinlein fan! I first discovered him at about fifteen, when every single thing he said seemed to be a revelation. I don't still get that feeling reading his stuff, but I still enjoy it immensely.

Bill Bryson is one of my favorite, go-to non-fiction writers, especially when I want to feel like someone who knows stuff is just talking to me about what he knows.

Poor, poor DHL, all misunderstood and unloved. ;-) I always think his summaries of his books sound much more interesting and are more satisfying than actually reading the books themselves.

I tore through a whole bunch of the Boxcar Children books when I was wee (when I was about seven, and I think the appeal was short-lived), and now when I go back and look at them I can't quite understand (or remember) what I liked so much about them. I remember that my best friend at the time read them too, and that might have been part of the appeal--having someone to talk to about what I read. A librarythinglet in the making!

My thoughts are with you and your mother. I went through a nasty gall bladder surgery a few years ago, and my dad just dealt with one a couple months back. Fingers crossed whatever it is with your mom is as uncomplicated as possible.

>150 lycomayflower: I felt that same way about The Boxcar Children! I had about 8 of them and I read them over and over and now I can't for the life of me remember why I liked them!

I don't feel the same way as you about The Little Prince but your review did make me laugh.

Glad to see you liked Heinlein. He's an old favorite of mine.

Gerard: Ha! I just came back from the library with that one!

Laura: I'm certain to get round to all of Bryson's stuff eventually; he's fast approaching and seems to be coming in a close second to my favorite non-fictioner, Simon Winchester.

Nora: I noticed the Nesbit references, among others, in Half Magic, although I didn't know it was the beginning of a series. I liked it very much, but I'm not likely to pick up the others soon - too many other things on the list!

Linda: Yes, the recovery time can be fairly quick, if you're not in your 70s and a type-1 diabetic, which is what has me concerned...

Laura: Heinlein was the one who started writing at about 15, no? He's certainly good at it, at any rate. I think I would have felt the same about the Boxcar Children had I read them in my youth. I far from hated it now, but I think I would have been more enchanted then.

Morphy: Yeah, I know I'm not making any friends with my Little Prince rant, but honestly I don't at all see what the fuss is about. Blech. Heinlein most likely has more engaging bowl movements that that silly book. As Charlie says, "Peeee-yew!"

104. The Very Noisy Night by Diana Hendry (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
Little Mouse can't sleep and keeps waking up Big Mouse with all sorts of concerns, mostly about strange noises he hears. They all end with the same request, that he be allowed to crawl into bed with Big Mouse. In the end, he gets his wish.
So-so story, but Chapman's illustrations are excellent as usual.

Hi Amber, glad to see you and Charlie are home safe and sound. I sure hope everything goes well with your Mom, please let us know how she's doing. Glad to see you enjoyed your first Bill Byson, I will have to add At Home to my wishlist, as I like how he writes as well.

105. Don't You Feel Well, Sam? by Amy Hest (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
A sweet little book about a little bear who has a cough but doesn't want to take the nasty cough syrup offered by his mother. Lovely illustrations.

Judy: Many thanks for the kind thoughts about Mom - she goes in tomorrow morning for an ultrasound of her gall bladder, so we'll see. An added bonus for the audio version of At Home is that Mr. Bryson reads it himself and he has a lovely voice.

Amber! Glad you're both home and will keep your Mom in my thoughts and prayers. Bryson is one of my favorite writers and he's narrated most of his own books, though some are abridged. My favorite parts are always when you can hear him smiling and trying not to laugh while he's reading them - hilarious! (I seem to remember a lot of that in Neither Here or There.) And, as a fellow Midwesterner, you'll probably really appreciate The Lost Continent, though you can't go wrong with anything Bill Bryson, IMO.

Hi Amber,
just stopping by to wish you and your family a lovely weekend! Please, count me as well to the one's who think about your mom. I hope that everything will be ok.
I very much enjoyed your discussion on the Gibli studio movies. I have collected most of them and one of my faves are Howls Moving Castle.
I am also a great fan of creme brulee and don't care whether it's vanillia or chocolate :)

Morning, Laura! I'll have to look out for the abridged business - and avoid it!

Bianca: So good to see you! I need to get round to your thread to see what you've been up to.

Today is Charlie's half-birthday (the Ides of March, how cool is that?!), so there will be some cake baking and decorating this morning (strawberry cake with "blue" icing has been requested), then a play date with a couple of his buddies, a bit of shopping for a helium balloon to match the Dora plates and napkins I bought yesterday for our tiny party (just Charlie, Tomm and me), and at some point the putting together of the Chia Pet that my mom gave Charlie as an early Easter present. Oh, and *loads* of laundry from our trip. So, yep, a busy day here at Scaife Manor.

Shamrock cookies, anyone? Charlie and I made these yesterday, out of pi(e) dough, of course. Pie dough makes the most amazing cookies, really.

Charlie and his cake, as promised - strawberry with blue icing:

Oh wow, that cake looks delicious!

how blue was his face after eating that??

Stephen: It was pretty good. When he requested that combination I was skeptical, but I think it looks pretty good, too. Colorful, at least.

Nora: Ha! He had a Senior Smurf mustache that was pretty hilarious.

I never would have thought of stawberry cake with blue icing...but I think it looks pretty awesome. He never ceases to amaze me, really. :)

Stephen: He's a classy dude, for certain.

106. Old Bear by Kevin Henkes (public library book, picture book) - 7/10
A bear hibernates and dreams of all the different seasons.
Not great. Essentially no story at all, and only so-so illustrations.

Amber, hope your mom's doctor appointment went well. The cookies and the cake both look delicious! How long do you bake the cookies? Btw, loved the comment on Women in Love where you feared you had nodded off and wrote your own ending. Too funny!

Regina: I sort of winged it on the cookies, but it seems that 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees does the trick. I rolled the dough out to between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick. And I use a fantastic pie dough recipe, too - the easiest and best-tasting I've found so far.

Basic Pie Pastry

Ingredients:
double crust:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup cold butter
• ¼ cup cold water

single crust:
• 1 ¼ cups flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup butter
• 3-4 tablespoons water

1. Place steel blade in work bowl of food processor.
2. Add flour, salt and butter.
3. Process with on/off turns until most of the mixture resembles cornmeal but a few larger pieces remain.
4. With machine running, quickly add water through feed tube.
5. Stop processor as soon as all water is added.
6. Scrape down sides.
7. Process with a couple of on/off turns (mixture may not all be moistened).
8. Remove from bowl and shape into 1 or 2 equal balls.
9. Chill for 1 hour or overnight, if desired.

I don't chill it, usually, and it still rolls out just beautifully. The recipe is from one of my favorite pie cookbooks, Cooking at a Glance: Pies and Pastries, which I highly recommend.

Hope Charlie had a great half birthday! The blue cake looks delicious!

107. Duck Sock Hop by Jane Kohuth (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
A bunch of ducks get together every week for a sock hop, and, apparently, they ruin all their socks every time.
Cute, but not super great. Trying to be Sandra Boynton and not hitting the mark.

Charlie looks very pleased with his half-birthday cake. Today is Haley's half b'day...2.5. I cheated and bought fancy cupcakes from a specialty store downtown after yesterday's St. Pat's parade. Pricey at $3.00 each but I had a coupon for a free one, and I only bought three for them because hubby and I are staying home today. I should have taken a picture!

Chelle: Thanks - the cake was pretty good (it's of course totally gone now)!

Donna: Oooh, fancy cupcakes sounds wonderful!

108. (49th non-picture book read) A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1001 Children's Books list, 178 pages) - 8/10
Sara Crewe is taken by her very wealthy father (a soldier in India) to England for boarding school. She is given special treatment by the woman who runs the school, who thinks that this will gain her more of the rich father's money, and so many of the other students at the girls' school resent her. She is not, however, a spoiled child, and quickly makes friends despite the special treatment. But then her father loses his money in a seemingly bad investment and dies, suddenly, penniless. And so Sara finds herself suddenly not the pampered prize student, but the servant who lives in the cold attic.
When I started this book, I thought I'd have trouble finishing it, as Sara is another of those syrupy, saccharine characters who is never bad. But, this is, after all, the author of The Secret Garden and so she is indeed capable of a bit of literary magic. And she pulls some of that magic here. By the end, although I still think Sara is too goody-goody, I loved how the story had progressed and the secret 'magic' that the Indian Gentleman next door is able to pull off for her.

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-An American Tragedy (Banned Books list)
-Pollyanna (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (audio book)
-The Big Time (Hugo award list)
-A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (Pulitzer award list)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus (off of my classics shelves)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 12: Tales of Long Ago (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

Just passing through... and now I want cookies and cake. And creme brulee. DANGIT!!!

Just stopping by to wish you a lovely remaining Sunday and a belated half birthday to Charlie. He looks so delighted about the cake in the pic. *smile*

Faith: Ha! Come on back - I've got some pumpkin custards chilling in the fridge...

Bianca: Thanks! He helped me make the cake, so, yes, he was pretty excited.

Pumpkin!!! *Drools*

Sorry, it's an automatic response.

Charlie's cake looked so awesome, I was inspired to whip up a strawberry cake myself, which I don't think I've ever had before. Pretty good. (No blue icing, alas.)

Sooo, if I were to carry on with A Little Princess, I might find it worth my while? I tried to read it awhile back and quit because I was afraid things were going to get too sad. I've always loved The Secret Garden, though.

Stephen: Ohmygosh, they turned out *really* good! Definitely will be a repeat recipe.

Laura: Yeah, go ahead, I'd say. It isn't terribly sad in the end at all.

109. Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest (public library book, picture book) - 9/10
Mrs. Bear puts Sam to bed, tucks him in just right, reads his favorite book, arranges his stuffed animals all round him, drinks warm milk with him, but they both save the best for last - the good night kisses.
Sounds sappy and hokey, but it's really sweet and adorable, and Charlie loves these books. Plus, the illustrations are wonderful.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Amber. The Little Princess was one of my favorite stories when I was a girl, I remember shedding a few tears over it. Looking back, I wonder if those very popular "goodie-two-shoes" heroines were meant to be a example of how we children were supposed to behave. I did prefer The Secret Garden over it and I never took to Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Judy: Funny that you mention that - I was thinking to myself today that I bet I would have loved this story if I had read it as a girl, as I did The Secret Garden, although I'm fairly certain that I would still love the latter, should I read it today.

Tomm left very early this morning on a business trip, so it's just Charlie and I for a couple of days. Shamrock stuff comes down today and Easter decorations will go up, plus I think we may make some bread. Need to start mentally preparing for the Inlaw Invasion this coming weekend. Sigh.

>187 scaifea: Ew? You have my sympathies.

Morphy: Yeah, thanks. Ugh.

Would it help if you pictured them in their underwear?

Stephen: OHMYGODNO!!

You should picture Stephen and I standing behind your in-laws making funny faces and bunny-ears at all times.

Nora: Wait, are you two naked, too?

Of course not! Stephen is wearing a dress and I'm wearing a gorilla suit. You know, because I'm dressed as your M-I-L.

*SNORK!!*

Ugh, sorry about your upcoming invasion!

Try not to giggle when you start to picture a naked Stephen and Nora behind your inlaws when they arrive! ;)

>190 Ape:-194: too funny!

Chelle: Oh, there won't be any giggling this weekend, I'm afraid. There never is.

Laura: I think we should take the act on the road, don't you?

110. How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills (public library book, picture book) - 9/10
Rocket is a dog who enjoys chasing leaves and napping, that is until he meets a certain bird with a passion for reading and teaching others to read, too. Rocket becomes a model student and studies hard, until the weather turns and the bird leaves for the winter. All winter Rocket keeps up his studies, spelling out every thing he encounters. When spring comes around, he's reunited with his teacher and they read on and on and on.
A sweet little story, very cleverly laid out, so that Charlie was spelling and reading the words along with Rocket. The clincher, though, is Hills' illustrations, which are some of the best out there in children's books these days. His Duck and Goose series are at the top of my Best Children's Picture Books list, for certain.

Not much planned today, although I am having breakfast with a friend after taking Charlie to preschool this morning. Otherwise, laundry will be the big event of the day, I'm afraid. It turns out that I had to shovel snow yesterday - we got about 3 more inches. I mean, seriously. It's mid-March, forsobbingoutloud. Sick of it. Just sick of it.

I know! It's supposed to be in the 40s and tomorrow the high is going to be 19. 19!!! Argggggh!

It's impossible to picture me naked and not giggle, so I think this would be an effective strategy. :)

Morphy: It's irritating, isn't it? Is this what winters in The Frozen North are always like?

Stephen: Well, we'll see...

DING DANG! Preschool is canceled today. So no breakfast with friend. *grumps* Charlie's mad, too - he loves school so much that he hates when he can't go.

No, not typically. I mean, last year at this time, it was in the 70s! Also, not typical. But still. It's supposed to be in the 40s!

Wow, I don't remember that! Sigh. Sound wonderful, though.

Don't you feel sorry for this poor Lunchables Container? What could possibly have scared him so badly?

111. (50th non-picture book read) Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter (1001 Children's Books list, 266 pages) - 8/10
Pollyanna is a young orphan who is sent to live with her prudish and strict aunt in a small Vermont town. She and her gladness about every little thing change nearly all of the people in that town, making them all a little more glad themselves. When Pollyanna herself needs something to be glad about, they all come together to help.
Welp. Another sugary-sweet-little-girl-changes-everything-for-the-better story. I must have very nearly read them all but now. Sheesh. This one was more palatable than others, though, as Pollyanna herself is comic in her goodness in some ways. I didn't hate it, at least.

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-An American Tragedy (Banned Books list)
-The Incredible Journey (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (audio book)
-The Big Time (Hugo award list)
-A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (Pulitzer award list)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus (off of my classics shelves)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 12: Tales of Long Ago (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

206: Haha!

I forgot that is the other reaction upon seeing me naked. I suppose this plan could backfire.

Stephen: Ha! I don't think Mr. Container is reacting to you. But maybe he is - were you naked in my house around lunchtime today?

112. Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
An owl decides to stay up during the day to see what it's like and is dazzled by the array of colors in the daylight world.
A nice little story with nice illustrations.

I love learning about all the children's books you read to Charlie.

209: You know how modest I am, I don't like to brag or anything...and besides, I think we both know that I DO NOT have amazing ninja skills, and that my testicles WERE NOT dangling inches above your head as you were taking that picture. *Shakes head* That would be completely absurd.

(With that image fresh in your mind, scroll back up and look at the picture again.) =P

Linda: I'm glad; sometimes I wonder if people aren't annoyed that I list all of these picture books, but they *are* books that I have read and my neuroses won't let me leave them off of a list of Books Read for the Year. Plus, it's my thread and I'll do as I please. Ha!

Stephen: Ha! That's hilarious. Poor little guy.

Since I've been on my own for the last two evenings with Tomm away on a business trip, I've been able to watch a couple of movies that he's not interested in but are on my movie lists:

-The Thing That Couldn't Die: I watched the MST3K version of this one, which turned out to be one of the best I've seen. Hilarious! Oh how I love poorly made horror films!

-Out of Africa: Well, okay, now I can say that I've seen it. But that's about all I can say about it. I'm just not a Streep fan, I suppose. Why would such a 'strong' woman be such an idiot when it comes to men? The scenery was the star, for me - such beautiful landscapes.

"Why would such a 'strong' woman be such an idiot when it comes to men?" She was, though. Don't blame Meryl Streep.

I loved the Disney version of Pollyanna. As you say, it had wonderful comic elements and...well....you know...Haley Mills.

Linda: Yes, but I think I would have been more tolerant of the character's idiocy had she been played by someone else. Unfair of me? Absolutely. I have these wild and irrational dislikes for certain actors, and Streep happens to be one of them. To be fair, my dislike of her doesn't seem to be a hindrance to her career, so I don't feel too bad about it. :)

I've only seen about the last 20 minutes or so of the Disney movie, but I agree the Haley Mills was the perfect casting decision. Although Streep would have been an interesting choice, too... Ha!

Update on my mom:
After a sonogram and some blood work, the doctor says she can't find anything wrong. While mom does say that she is feeling better, this sort of 'diagnosis' is always frustrating. At this point we're just hoping that it was some passing, what? virus? (seems unlikely, really), and that it is over, but I have my suspicions that whatever it is will come back. At any rate, at least there was no mention of the dreaded C word, and no immediate need for surgery. Sigh.
Sorry. I don't mean to come off as ungrateful for the negative results, but it just seems not accurate somehow. We'll see.

I agree with you, Amber...negative results aren't helpful in a situation like this. When my husband had his wicked gall bladder attack, the first tests they did didn't find any stones or blockages, but the doctor was sure there had to be something (the man was turning yellow, for cryin' out loud). So repeat tests are probably in order for your mother at the slightest indication of a return of symptoms. She might have had a stone that blocked a duct temporarily and then shifted itself. Hoping this all gets sorted out quickly or just goes away and never comes back!

Morning Amber- I would take the negative results for your Mom, positively but I can only imagine how frustrating it is, when you want some answers.
Hope you are bundled up, up there. Only 24 here today. Brrrrr...!

@ 213

Just chiming in to say that I love hearing about the picture books you read. I wouldn't hear about them any other way, so it's a little peak into a book world I know nothing of.

Mark: Yes, here's hoping that the results are actually correct and she's okay! And YES, it's COLD! Whew!

Laura: Oh, good! I'm relieved to hear it. I'm blessed with a local public library that has an *amazing* children's section, so Charlie and I have access to all sorts of new reading adventures.

>214 scaifea:: I watched the MST3K version of this one, I love love love MST3K! I haven't watched it in ages though.

Sorry your mom's results were kind of inconclusive. But yeah, let's just hope they are correct and she's OK!

I read Pollyanna as a kid because my grandmother mentioned liking it. I just wanted to slap the poor girl, although I did like it that her aunt and what's-his-name finally got together in the end. She's just too happy; I mean, it's probably good to learn to not become inordinately upset about minor trials in life (like getting crutches when you wanted a doll), but there's no reason to be gleeful about not getting what you wanted.

113. (51st non-picture book read) The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford (1001 Children's Books list, 148 pages) - 8/10
Two dogs and a cat, belonging to the same family, are lodging with a family friend while their owners are away on an extended trip. The animals decide to take matters into their own, *ahem*, paws and head back home on their own, a trip of over 300 miles.
I normally try to stay away from animal stories, because they're usually so terribly sad at the end. This one actually ends not unhappily, but I still wasn't crazy about it. I was rooting for them to find their way home, but I was never completely engrossed. And then the ending was irritating - Burnford pulls a low-blow stunt of trying to make you think one of them doesn't make it, and does so at the expense of the characterization of the animals, which she has spent the entire book building up. Anyway, not a terrible read, but not a superb one, either.

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-An American Tragedy (Banned Books list)
-Milky Way Railroad (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (audio book)
-The Big Time (Hugo award list)
-A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (Pulitzer award list)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus (off of my classics shelves)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 12: Tales of Long Ago (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

>113 thomasandmary:: was the movie "Homeward Bound" based on this book? My girls loved that movie when they were young and I remember kind of bawling at the ending.

Oh, I loved Homeward Bound as a child, and that sounds exactly like the plot.

Oh, I forgot! Librarything has a "related movies" field in the Common Knowledge section on the pages of books. I just checked, and yes, Homeward Bound was based on that book. There was also a movie called The Incredible Journey released in 1963. :)

Laura & Stephen: Yep, both movies are based on this book, although I've not seen either one (I'm not a fan of animal movies, either, and for the same reasons as stated above).

114. A New House for Mouse by Petr Horacek (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
A little mouse wants to bring an apple into his house, but the doorway is too small, so he sets out to find a new home. He finds increasingly bigger homes, but they're all already occupied. He gets hungry while he's at it and nibbles at the apple as he goes. Finally he comes across a nice little house with a nice little doorway, and there's no-one in it and somehow the apple now fits (spoiler: it's his own house).
Cute, and Charlie liked trying to guess what kind of animal was in each house. Illustrations are so-so.

115. (52nd non-picture book read) The Children's Hour, volume 12: Stories of Long Ago (I'm working my way through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little) - 8/10
An okay medley of stories and snippets from longer works. Some were good, others were quite dated, which has been the standard for these volumes so far.

What I'm reading now:
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 26: Continental Drama (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.26)
-The Harvard Classics Five Foot Shelf of Books, Volume 27: English Essays Sidney to Macaulay (library book - call #AC1.A4 v.27)
-An American Tragedy (Banned Books list)
-Milky Way Railroad (1001 Children's Books list)
-The Faerie Queen (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness (Presidential Challenge)
-Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (audio book)
-The Big Time (Hugo award list)
-A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (Pulitzer award list)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus (off of my classics shelves)
-Paddington Takes the Air (bath-time book)
-The Children's Hour Volume 13: Roads to Adventure (I'm working through this series of old volumes that were my brothers' when they were little.)
-The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Our Country's Presidents (to accompany the presidential challenge)
-Vogue Sewing

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

New thread, if you please:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/151726