Richardderus 2013 thread 13

`

I loaf and invite my soul, I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass. --Walt Whitman

I have a category called Orphans, which will still catch all the other reading I do in 2013. Thinking 60 reviews as my target.

My 2013 ORPHANED books ticker:




I want to treat the Short Story collection challenge as a ticker-to-itself thread, thinking 48 reviews as my goal. I'll keep the thread over in the Short Stories forum.

My 2013 SHORT STORY collections ticker:




I'm going to keep a mystery-genre thread over in Crime, Thriller, and Mystery forum, with a goal of 50 reviews. Way way way too many of my reviews this year, in all forums, were mysteries and thrillers, and while I love them, I don't want to get too rut-ified and read only those books while keeping up my self-made review writing census.

My MYSTERY & THRILLER books ticker:




THIS THREAD is the 75 challenge for 2013, which will be non-fiction and non-genre-fiction books published in 2012 and 2013, plus recommendations from other 75ers.

My last thread of 2012.

My 2013 NEW books ticker:




Book 1...thread one.
Books 2 & 3...thread two.
Book 4...thread three.
Book 5...thread five.
Books 6 & 7...thread seven.
Books 8-11...thread eight.
Books 12-19...thread nine.
Books 20 & 21...thread 10.
Books 22-25...thread 11.
Books 26 & 27...thread 12.

Books are reviewed in post:

28. Dead Ever After...#63.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

*smooch*

Hiya....delurking here

'Ello Ricardo!! Smooches.

Can't beat that bevy of beauties to the podium of early visitors to your latest splendiferous thread. Will make do with being the first of your male friends to do so.

Good morning, RD! I'm off to Mexico City on a 2 day business trip sandwiched between two travel days. Much reading on the travel days. Kindle charged and ready to go.

Have a super day.

Good morning, friend. Have a great Tuesday.

Morning RD- Congrats on lucky 13!! Enjoy your day, my friend.

Oh goodie, I always like new threads :) I used to do that, many years ago... with my grandmother. Lie on the ground, and just look down into the grass and watch what was going on there.. feel the grass..smell it. I learned a lot from that woman! But really, where did that go? Why am I so busy :( Bah! I need more downtime.

13 is a good number, I like it. Always have. It was my employee number at the vet clinic because even though I was originally going to be 2 , the number 13 person was in a fit, so I switched. people. oy.

I know it's a cat. I still hate cats. But this face expresses exactly how I've felt since 5 this morning when an altercation took place in the street in front of my driveway, resulting in my trash being knocked over, the can-and-plastic recycling scattered, and the cops being called (by me).

The cops had the combatants cuffed when I said, "no fucking way, these heifers are picking up every damn piece of my trash and putting it back in the proper container" and the cops, after a short argument with me, made them do it.

Then their boyfriends came by and tried to do the trash-dump again. They ran away when I went outside loudly talking to the 911 dispatcher.

The father of one of the heifers came and threatened me until I called 911 and got a photo of him on the stoop. The cops asked if I wanted to make a complaint against him. I did.

Tacky low-class jerks.

I took my shoes off since this is a nice, shiny new thread. Wow! What a morning you have had already! There, there, dear. I'll make a second pot of coffee. Pumpkin butterscotch muffins with that?

*growl*

Yes thanks.

Ugh. Still fuming.

Ooh, Richard, if you ever need a job, I'd hire you in a minute to work security at the library where I work. Especially if you can get the police to respond in a timely manner when there is a problem.

How about some fresh strawberries for breakfast?

Strawberries. Mmm. Perhaps a nice rum-strawberry frappe.

Need some book porn to make me feel better:



Acqua Alta bookstore, Venice.

What a dreadful way to start the day, but it sounds as though you were steadfast. Kudos to you that you convinced the cops to make them pick up the trash.

Whenever I'm confronted with bureaucratic nonsense, I remind them that we pay a LOT of property tax and can, at any time, start a movement to disestablish their layer of bureaucracy like the next village over did.

More gorgeous book porn to lighten my mood.

That is lovely book porn Richard. Definitely lightens my mood:)

Sorry your day get off to such a bad start. I hope it improves.

Stopping by to say hello and send smooches your way.

oh, the staircase. such a staircase. this is my favorite book porn pic ever.

i was so excited to see that you'd read, and liked, Hariett Doerr. she's one of my favorite authors but rarely mentioned. i like the way she looks at things without flinching, juxtaposing very hard and very wonderful things and just leaving you with them.

my current loo read is her Tiger in the grass: Stories and other inventions. in one story, in the small Mexican town where the protagonist and other expats are living, there is a drought. the drought breaks with a tremendous downpour. she describes a little girl dancing in a puddle, consumed with joy, oblivious to the puppy shivering in the doorway or the soaked bird huddled in its cage.

i shall never forget the nuns riding in lawn chairs in the back of the truck in Stones for Ibarra.

abt yr trash tipping heifers, i must say that the good thing about such as them is that the law can be called. wouldst could we but call the law on the folks who trash the planet, like Monsanto, ConAgra and Dow Chem. but lo, even the Supreme Court and EPA bow down to them. golden idols, i say, who am not religiously striped.

Adding my sympathy to the pile...sorry your day got off to such a bad start. But I am so impressed at your handling of the situation. I am so conflict adverse I often walk away from altercations I *ought* to have. Kudos for you for standing up for what is right and proper!

Also LOVE the book porn...I want to be lying on that couch right now!

Now, when I get flack for loafing, I'm going to point out it's poetic, and quote one of our great American poets.

Loving the book porn Richard.

>11 richardderus: no way! that is a rough start to the day. Im really glad you made the cops make the hooligans clean up your rubbish, I would love to have the guts to get the cops to remove handcuffs in order to set the mess right. And there's no accounting for the families of hooligans, that is how they got like how they are, no doubt.
If I were a bigger person Id feel sorry for them, but no, not yet.

Book porn #1- they must be very confident of a no-rain day with those books outside! Id love to live in a place where I could have that kind of confidence :)

I wish I'd been there to film every minute of your neighborhood squabble on my little itty bitty cell phone so we would have really good evidence for their less than neighborly behavior. You are a super hero!

Now, I hope you've settled down to a good day of posting and reading. Don't let people like that ruin your day. Gives away too much power, it does.

Sending strong good neighbors mojo in your direction.

>19 calm: Thanks, calm, it's settled into a groove.

>20 MonicaLynn: *smooch* for Monica

>21 mirrordrum: Ain't that grand? I love everything about that room. So when ya think you'll be done with the Doerr? I want to hear about it.

The heifers are out on bail, and came to apologize. They're best friends and were fighting over a boy. They politely asked if I'd intercede for them. I politely said no. They silently left.

>22 Cobscook: Hi there Heidi! I want to be there, too. Mellow mellow.

>23 jnwelch: Ta-da! "Inviting my soul, Debbi, like Whitman adjures us to do," and she's stymied.

>24 johnsimpson: Lush, isn't it, John?

>25 LovingLit: Thanks, Myrtilda June, it wasn't my dream way to start the day. It's not outside, the room's a courtyard and there are metal covers that fold out. Besides, the place is called "Acqua Alta" or "High Water" bookstore. One expects there's a chance of water damage. Kind of a tourist draw.

>26 maggie1944: Thanks for the mojo. I'd love that to work! *smooch*

Am absolutely *adoring* The Teleportation Accident.

I am going to go *buy* a copy of The Teleportation Accident. How could I resist?

Nice new thread.

*bites tongue before saying anything about the cat*

Tacky low-class jerks.

Shoot. I can think of more un-classier things to call them. Apparently, you surpass me in the class department.
*bows*
"I'm not worthy. I'm not worthy."

Love the Whitman quote and the picture together. :)

Praying no tacky low-class jerks are hanging around you or your area ever again!

>27 richardderus: that *was* a good thing that the heifers came and apologized. i must confess that in a younger day i too did things that i would now think of as trashy. may they learn, may we all learn, to act more considerately.

dunno when i'll finish Doerr. depends on mis ojos. not a long book, but Doerr through and through. i expect when one's first book is published when one is 74, wild creativity ain't in it. she's an acute observer in all her books. that continues in this one with what appear to be wonderful reminiscences.

>31 EBT1002: I don't think you'll be sorry that you did. On either count.

>32 avidmom: I have little hope of eternal respite, but am happy to see a loooooong interval between incidents. I'm trying out this new thing called "restraint." So far it gives me a headache.

>33 mirrordrum: I hope it shows they're not irredeemable.

From 74 to 90-plus she made some amazing art. Nary a wasted syllable, never a sloppy thought, no slapdash expressionary. Just...luminous, acid-etched, obsidian-sharp tales.

How did I miss this yesterday? My day was so scattered and so busy. I was on the run all day. Never got to read until nearly 9pm

Bah

Sorry

Hope today is much much nicer!

Hi Richard, going to have to get more creative with my book storage.

*waving while rush through the threads*, must do a preschool observation today, and then read! I'm thinking On Sal Mal Lane is going to be a longer read than the first two Booktopia books I've read, but also more meaty. All about Sri Lanka and its "troubles", in fiction, and I'm knowing it is not going to be a joyful reading. But the style of the author's writing may just make it a jewel.

>35 mckait: It's okay, Kath, I know you ignore me because you don't love me. *sniff* poor little match-boy sellin' used matches in the snow *sniff*

>36 johnsimpson: Does sorta set up a target to aim for, no?

>37 maggie1944: HiKaren44byeKaren44

Off to read Sookie now. See ya.

Enjoy your vampire adventures!

I am, though a break was in order plus I need to walk the dog.

And then there's this book porn:

sweet

Smooches RD... Just read your awesome reviews of the recent Sookies 10-12. I have finished the last & need to go head over to that thread now to chat some! Looking forward to your always insightful comments!! :)

Richard, I'm sorry to hear about the altercation in front of your house. Low life about sums it up.

Speaking of low lifes, three low lifes in the south side of Bethlehem, near Lehigh, decided that since one of them had a 19th birthday, they should drive throughout the neighborhood randomly shooting a stolen gun.

Luckily, no one was hurt---too bad that none of the three were uninjured. I'm not so nice in my older years! I have such little tolerance for ignorance.

Regarding your situation, I would have been very, very upset. What the heck? You live in a nice area!

I am waiting to hear what todays excitement will be, rd.

Linda... that is terrible and scary...

As for rd.. I think they are considering a reality show starring rd, Newman's cookies, Stella and books.

>42 maggie1944: SO agreed.

>43 TinaV95: Hi there Mrs. Lisa! I'm still slowly savoring the pieces I've got left in Dead Ever After. This will be it...so slow and steady makes it last.

>44 Whisper1: Agreed, Linda, at least one of them should have bullet holes for doing such a stupid thing.

WAITWAITWAIT I'm not speaking to you! Inspirer towards book-hoarding and therefore purchasing that you are!

>45 mckait: Newman's Own Ginger-O's and Mint Cremes, to be precise. *drool*

Oh, yes, weltschmers visits chez moi from time to time; but, I pick up a book, open it, and off goes the weltschmers.

Then there is Sockenschmerz - the utterly paralyzing state of mind caused by contemplation of the interior of one's sock drawer.

And Book Porn!

>48 maggie1944: My Weltschemrz is worse bookishly, today at least, as I finish up Sookie's last book-adventure.

>49 sibylline: I solve this problem by never putting socks in drawers, but leaving them in the wild.

Astounding book porn lately, Rdear.#50 is breath-taking.

I need a manual (I may have one that does it, but I haven't looked into it yet) which will fully explain the distinctions between, and the uses of, the words "which" and "that". I have trouble there.

Mah Jong is played on the kindle. I have several sorts, some quite challenging. It's an easy way to forget everything else for a while, as I become completely absorbed in meeting the challneges. It works much better for me than solitaire or even free cell, although I occasionally resort to them as well. I've never played in real life, but I'd like to learn how.

Gentle hug and big hope that the gout attack peters out quickly.

View into the living room from >50 richardderus::

>52 Matke: Games on the kindle? Really? I never know this possiblility. I used to play solitaire a lot, but found that reading was suffering. That Cannot Be Allowed. I haven't played any kind of game on the computer since.

Gout's subsided nicely! This is the cycle when going back on the meds...attack, retreat, attack, retreat for a while, then better. Yay for better.

Yay indeed.

I would kill for that house. Well, almost.

And agree completely about games taking away from Sacred Reading Time. Sometimes things around here get a bit hairy, though, and so I must escape the best way I can, even if I can't summon the concentration to read.

I completely completely completely understand and agree! I wasn't Thundering from the Pulpit, just reminiscing. I was doing a boring job and playing solitaire on that computer, and the habit migrated home; that was horrible!!

De-lurking to say I love the way you handled the heifer fight in front of your house. Especially the part about taking a picture of the irate father on the stoop. Even the biggest jerk seems to object to having his picture taken when he's behaving at his worst.

I will never have a gorgeous house... so, now and then I envy someone who has one. And now and then I envy people who can vacation where and when they like. Pointless... so mostly I try to be grateful for what I have. Mostly.

Farmers market tonight..

I love the book porn in #5, but I can't help but wonder how many people will need to scramble when it starts to rain.... unless i'm wrong and the lovely books aren't stacked in a lovely uncovered courtyard.

>38 richardderus: re >35 mckait: *snort*

but re: Harriett D "From 74 to 90-plus she made some amazing art. Nary a wasted syllable, never a sloppy thought, no slapdash expressionary. Just...luminous, acid-etched, obsidian-sharp tales." indeed, and this continues in TItG. i'm reading the current story s e n t e n c e b y s e n t e n c e. savouring to the max.

later, batbatbat boy. *giggle*

>57 laytonwoman3rd: Odd, isn't it? Behaving like an asshole, okay; documentary evidence of same, not okay. People are weird.

>58 mckait: What's the what on the market? After some farmers? Can one still buy them at a market? I thought that was illegal.

>59 cameling: It's Venice. Everything's wet all the time. But they also have covers above the stacks, I think, if the photos can be believed.

>60 mirrordrum: *smooch*

>53 richardderus:, don't you just hate some people.

Review: 28 of seventy-five

Title: DEAD EVER AFTER

Author: CHARLAINE HARRIS

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: Sookie Stackhouse finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough...

My Review: Parting is such sweet sorrow. Sookie is not to have another annual entry in the Sookieverse after this.

I got my first Sookieverse bite in 2001. I was dating Andy, who worked at the Half Price Books near my house. I stopped in after work one fine afternoon to make goo-goo eyes at him, and his boss complained. Andy handed me Dead Until Dark and told me to go wait in the bar down the strip mall.

I barely noticed when he came in. I was hooked.

Andy had some troubles, vanished, reappeared twice, then vanished for good. Sookie, on the other hand, has been with me, amusing me, sometimes making me mad, for twelve years. So thanks, Andy, for the longest relationship of my entire life! Even though it wasn't with you.

And now Miss Charlaine has snapped that branch. She's whacked me in the readerly kneecaps. She's stuck the shiv into my pageturnin' shoulder. And, after I get my copy of After Dead, the what's-next wrapup of everyone in the Sookieverse's life or undeath, it will be all True Blood all the time.

That's not a bad thing, I hasten to add, since there exists the possibility in each episode that either Alexander Skarsgard or Ryan Kwanten will get naked, but the series is real, real, real different from the books. And I loved the books first. And I will miss the books.

I'm past the point in life where re-reading stuff seems like a good use of my eyeblinks. I'm well and truly past middle age...not a lot of 106-year-old men around...and there are squillions of books I want to read. Lucky me, in a weird way, that I can't work anymore as that leaves time to read. Not much money, but time! None of which I want to use re-reading even the most wonderful books.

The events of this book are fast-paced. The people from Sookie's past are effectively deployed to move the plot along while also tying up the loose ends. The entire ending made me smile through tears. The last line? Well, sentimental old fustilugs that I am, that last line was a dam-breaker.

Yeah. I am FOR SURE gonna miss these books, all Sookie's Jesusiness aside, all the moments I've thought Harris had lost interest or lost the thread or just lost me, all the emotional rollercoaster-ride queasiness...all of it is over now.

Unlike every other relationship of my life, this one ends well. I'm smiling because it happened, if also sniveling a bit because it's over. It's been a terrific ride.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

"I got my first Sookieverse bite in 2001. I was dating Andy, who worked at the Half Price Books near my house. I stopped in after work one fine afternoon to make goo-goo eyes at him, and his boss complained. Andy handed me Dead Until Dark and told me to go wait in the bar down the strip mall.

I barely noticed when he came in. I was hooked."

this makes me wonder if i should rethink. and it gave me a good laugh, too. i have no interest in vampire stories, except the original Dracula, but mercy, mercy me.

i didn't know Alexander Skarsgård was in True blood. people keep telling me i should be watching and i tried the first few eps, but nothing clicked. i'd never seen Skarsgård till he blew my socks off as "Iceman" in Generation kill and i didn't recognize him in TB. maybe i should try a book. or not. probably not as listening takes so long and i'm jonesing for somebody like Anthony Trollope or Jane Austen. mmmmfffff.

On the whole, Ellie, I'd say don't invest the time if you aren't almost pantingly eager. Audiobooks are so damn long, and so much depends on who narrates the thing, that I don't think I'd urge one on you.

Glad you got a chuckle out of my review!

thumbed

thanked

ps box on its way

Hi RD- I love the Word of the Day! And I love the book porn. Always puts a silly grin on my face. I am amazed on how much you like the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have never even considered reading them, until now that is. I did try to watch True Blood and bailed early on in the 1st season. Just not my cuppa.

>68 msf59: I'm always a bit surprised myownself, Mark, but it got me hooked early and, despite some sagging middle books, kept me.

Thanking

How far did you get on the Dr. Siri books! I just finished book six! Talk about fun & consistent. I love spending time with these characters.

>70 mckait: smooching

>71 msf59: I've read the first five, and then physical problems intervened, so no more liberry trips. They do stay good, don't they!

Oh Richard!! I loved being called "Mrs. Lisa"! :) I changed my marital status at the doc's office yesterday & that was amazing for me!

On to Sookie ... If I could give multiple thumbs, I would! But alas, I gave it the only one I could. It was so wonderfully written. I'm so glad that someone else loves Sookie as much (or more) than I do! Fare-the-well, Sookie!

>74 TinaV95: I thought you'd be okay with that. *smooch* to Mrs. Tina, too.

I do love the Sookieverse. It's funny that I would, because majgickq in most contexts makes me break out in painful red lumps and causes my eyes to swell shut. Rule, meet exception.

Smooches to you Richard dear. Thank you for swooping in on your broom and delivering elevenses! I have skipped your Sookie 13 review for now. I am anxiously awaiting my library copy. As soon as I'm done I will come back to your review.

Hugs to Stella!

*smoochiesmoochsmooch* and Stella sends slurps

Today the procession of books that LINDA/WHISPER1 made me order, with a turboboost from Paul Cranswick *ptooptoo* and Maude the Kiwi, began:

The Radical Jack London--London's underappreciated leftist side placed center stage!
Radio Goes to War--the way "the Greatest Generation" let the New Deal anti-trust sentiment get corroded and squashed by "the Good War", which they weren't and it wasn't; it's been a long, steady battle by the rich and vicious to make things safe for vile, exploitive, immoral conservatism ever since FDR died, and sad to say the people of this country are so stupid they've bought it

Hello dear Richard! I can't read your latest Sookie review as I am so far behind, however, I know I will love it as soon as I do. Big smooches to you on this fine Friday!

P.S. The Lions of al-Rassan is GREAT!

Games don't take away from reading....you just plug in the earphones and listen to the books while you slap those solitaire cards back and forth!!

78 > 'Made' - really ? I think you are being a touch contrarie

>79 Cobscook: Thanks, Heidi, and so glad you're enjoying the Kay book. I liked it a lot, too.

>80 tututhefirst: I can't listen to books any more than I can read comic books. Too hard. Can't stay focused. I forget 98% of what the narrator's narrating before it's fully out of his mouth.

>81 roundballnz: Nope. She MADE me. Forced. Compelled. Threatened and browbeat. She's in Philly now, being all sweet and lovely, but just you wait...

What Eudora said......

Me three.

>73 richardderus: I love that picture! :)

>73 richardderus: all those butterflies! imagine the sound--all those great wings. up, up and away in my butterfly, my butterfly balloon.

and amen to Eudora as well.

off i go strewing drops of chocolate mint Oreo cookie trifle so if i get lost i can find my way back.

Ditto the sentiment about books. Mmmm dessert!

#83 You know those surveys that ask you "Who would you invite to a dinner party if you could have anyone you wanted, living or dead?" Miss Eudora is high on my list.

>84 tututhefirst:, 85 Me four!

>86 avidmom: Me too. Gowergeoussss.

>87 mirrordrum: The trifle looks yummers, thanks Ellie, and how are we going to get you down from the butterfly balloon?

>88 mckait: Okay, you five...wow, I think we all feel this way.

I would like some of that trifle, too.

*waving at Richard*

waaaaaaaaaaaah

>91 maggie1944: Help yourself, dearie-o, too much for me to eat alone.

Isn't this beautiful?

too much for me to eat alone Are you running a little fever, Richard? You worry me.

>94 laytonwoman3rd: *hackcoughwheeeeezegasp*

...just...a touch of...pneumonic plague...will...pass *clunk*

Love that review! Funny, and enough to get the not-my-cuppa's like me to at least pause to question that. Thumber from me.

Man, it's easy to fall behind fast as the Richard rocket ship careens out of the Sookieverse into the Bookieverse - and I don't mean place your bets. Great book quotes and pics up there.

I am going to make that chocolate mint Oreo cookie trifle!!!

>96 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! Lovely to hear.

>97 luvamystery65: Looks pretty fam dabulous, doesn't it?

Love the butterflies, love Miss Eudora, and simple adore the desk-books-bed picture! *smooch*

>99 ronincats: Thanks, Roni, I agree on all counts. *smooch* back

I will miss Sookie when she's gone from my life, too. Two books on request so taking a brief break. I have you to thank for this current light in my life :) much enjoyableness ...

So happy that it's a light! I think the books are fun farb.

I share the Sookie love! Happy Sunday, dear!

>103 Crazymamie: Thank you, me lurve, back at'cha doubled.

I will visit Fever today, once Dan leaves and my chores are done.

Hope it's a good day for you :)

>105 mckait: A sound plan. I'll cross my crossables for this to be a good read!

I've posted my review of the first Amish-Country mystery, Blood of the Prodigal, in my thread...post #78.

A good read, too, Kath.

RD....I mistakenly got an egalley of the latest Amish-Country mystery The Names of Our Tears back in Feb, read it, really liked it, and have been wondering ever since whether to explore earlier ones in the series. Based on your excellent comments, I have just downloaded the audio of Blood of the Prodigal. BTW, the latest is due out the end of this month, and my review (attached to the book page) will appear on the blot later this week.

Hi Richard... my grumpy, righteous, ironic, over the big ocean friend.
You make me laugh every time i manage to through an eye on FB (the other either is catching some zzz's or working).

But you are slipping. Paul has 16 threads since i lost been her, you only 13... What is going on, the horror of it ;)....

Hope you have a great Sunday, that sun is warm and tea is sweet :)

Just the right amount of scruffy charm. Yum.

>107 tututhefirst: I'll be on the lookout for it! Thanks for coming by to let me know.

>108 tigerlyly: Hi Liliana! Happy to see you all the way from Bucharest! *smooch* Yes, Paul's quite the megathreader these days. I'm just old-hat compared to his youthful charm and vigor.

Why do things like this always make me think fondly of you?

>109 richardderus:: my new retirement digs. Just add a pallet on the floor. And oh, two dog beds.

Hi RD- Hope you are having a lovely pain-free Sunday, filled with wicked wordplay. I love the book porn and I love the Welty quote. I NEED to read this woman. Last summer I picked up one of her collections and read the first couple stories and they fell right in my biblio-wheelhouse! Hey, I just found another topic heading!

>87 mirrordrum: oh my, That looks like minty goodness!

>111 ronincats: ha! I swear my parenting improves with (a) a glass of wine and more importantly, (b) in the presence of others!

Hi RD!

#109 If I ever get to open my dream used bookshop, it will look like this I think....minus the fan. I am always cold so I won't need that!

50 and 53 made me drool. Very nice.

I hope your weekend was excellent, Richard dear!

>111 ronincats: I have NO idea. But just you wait until all these people leave....

>112 maggie1944: I agree!

>113 msf59: Hop to, the Weltylove Express needs people!

>114 LovingLit: Amazing how that works, eh Maude?

*smooch*

>115 Cobscook: It's in India. I seriously doubt you'd be cold there!

>116 EBT1002: Here's a drool-rag, Ellen, for your next visit. *mops floor*

Love your scruffily charming den of books, plastic chairs, dodgy standfans and indian door drapes. Reminds me of then harrowing but now memorable business trips to the Sub-Continent.

Not cold here either. 84f today. Wtf happened to the seventies? Sigh. Well...it's too early to start complaining about heat.

Work today......hope all is well and peaceful in rd-land

Loving all the book porn Richard Dearest :). I have been so busy as of late. Just getting caught up again. Sending Big Smooches and some for Stella too...

Oh, happy Monday! Should be a relatively quiet week for me, perhaps I'll get some reading done. I hope you are feeling good, and are able to do all you want to do.

>119 PaulCranswick: Your personal favorite place, India! I swanee we'll have to direct mail to your retirement home in a cantonment in the Himalayas.

>120 mckait: It is never too early to complain about heat. Heat is the devil.

>121 MonicaLynn: Hi Monica! Thanks, and smooches plus slurps for your busy-ness.

>122 maggie1944: Happy Monday indeed Karen44. I'm the sole possessor of half a pineapple upside down cake. How bad can life be?

A loft in Birmingham, Alabama. Alabama!

I certainly never have.

RD - First time I have ever wanted to go to Alabamy.

>126 PaulCranswick: Me too!

#124 Wow. Just wow.

>128 BekkaJo: I know, right?

>124 richardderus:: Proving yet again that no place on earth is homogenous. Birmingham is quite a large city, but I'll just take the loft, thanks.

>125 richardderus:: Why would a lack of space stop one from buying books? Whatever could make one stop that lovely hobby, except dire poverty? Although Erasmus did say, I believe, "When I have money, I first buy books. Then I buy food and clothes." Or something very similar. It's so nice to be in this gigantic enabling group of people.

xo Danny

>130 Matke: Even that loft can't convince me to move to Alabackward.

And there are people, I'm told, who base their book-buying on the concept that there *can* be "too many books" in one's home.

I hasten to add that none of these people are numbered among my friends.

#124 = Love. Too bad I did not win the powerball on Saturday night.

All of your talk about pineapple upside down cake made me hungry so I just finished making homemade brownies. I am willing to share however.

Blondies I'd share...brownies, nahsomuch. Chocolate without mint or peanut butter isn't a favorite of mine. So you're safe!

Whoever that is that bought the ONE winning ticket in Florida: Will you marry me?

And now beginneth my Season of Book Gluttony. It is *entirely* Paul Cranswick and Linda Lipko and Megan Apse's fault that I have gone completely mad, run off the rails of sanity, and purchased these many many books.

ATHEIST MANIFESTO: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism, and Islam -- who doesn't revel in reading about his pet crusade?

ORCHARD: A Novel -- Larry Watson, he who wrote Montana 1948, is the author, so when it was less than $4....

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN: Story to Screenplay -- because, as foolish as it is, I nourish an ambition to see a screenplay of mine produced.

RIGHT BEFORE YOU WRITE -- a successful grant-writer gives tips.

DESERT -- I don't think I've read anything by Le Clézio, so this seemed a good place to start since it was $1.

RED SUMMER: The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America -- a vanished moment of possibility derailed by money, much like the 1960s.

A SECRET GIFT -- has a really long explanatory subtitle. Go look.

SCATTERBRAINED: Trivia Stun Gun -- Mental_Floss's editors pick trivia to amuse and enlighten.

WHAT THERE IS TO SAY WE HAVE SAID: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and William Maxwell -- like I could resist this! For $2? C'mon! You woulda bought it too, for $2!

THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES: His Own Words -- see comments above.

TYPE & TYPOGRAPHY -- because I'm a complete geekmoid fanboy nerd about type.

The shame! The shame the vile tempters who forced me to binge like this must bear! Sinful wicked shame!

I forgot five books:

AMERICAN WINE -- Jancis Robinson describes 'em all. 'Nuff sed.

DOGS -- adorable little giftie for Puppymommy's upcoming birthday

GLEANINGS IN FRANCE
TRAVELS WITH A DONKEY
A MOTOR-FLIGHT THROUGH FRANCE

A three-volume hardcover set in a slipcase. Ten bucks. Say no to that. I dare you.

I love the book porn Richard but hate the owners because there not mine.

They all look just spectacular! I would read them if I didn't have so much to read already. Hope your Monday is especially swell! We've got sun, and so I must go mow the lawn, cuz next comes rain and more grass growing.....

>136 johnsimpson: ME TOO. But then I console myself: They live in Alabama. Like living in Liverpool, to a Londoner.

>137 maggie1944: It's a pretty durned fabulous haul!

Oh you wicked wicked man.....posting that list to up my booklust by a factor of a bazillion!

hehe, your book haul is all my fault, I see that now. All. My. Fault. Yuh ha.

>139 tututhefirst: I have done my small best to redress the wild imbalance from the many series you've hooked me on, good beldame Branco. Sending hugs!

>140 LovingLit: Wonderful! You realize the error of your ways, so you won't resist paying the $400 bill Amazon will be sending you!

I'm about to start Definitely Dead. So addicted .....thanks though.

Oh good! Wait...has that box arrived already?! Wow. The mules must have been amped up.

RD- Hope you had a good day! It was a hot one here. Love the Alabama book porn. What a great LT meeting room that would make. We just need to place a bar in one quiet corner.

>144 msf59: Hiya Mark, wouldn't that be a blast? A well-stocked bar, cute bartender, all those books...yeah....

Heartbreaking video of Moore, Oklahoma. If anyone can spare some money, the American Red Cross needs all the help it can get: http://www.redcross.org/ok/oklahoma-city

Both incredibly sad and shocking. Heartbreaking.

I note that the universal feeling seems to be that my (sobbing) home state is a less than desirable place to be from.I couldn't agree more. I've spent a bit of time trying to figure out how in the world I wound up here. Still not sure how this happened.
Never mind. One does what one must. It can't last forever. One day I'll return to civilization.

How's my favorite Mets fan?

I've been lurking all along but by the time I have something to say, the conversation is days old!

Space porn! What if the earth had a ring like Saturn's?

>147 Matke: Well, yeah...not a good place, Alabackward...you'll be out one day.

>148 katiekrug: Hi Katie! All coversations are re-openable. xo

The OK tragedy is heartbreaking...

Take care you EOM, you.

Just dropping in to say hello and how are you? Hope your health is at least a bit better.

I have read two, just two, only two, books this month. I'm ashamed of myself.

Okie tragedy is moving. America is always so big hearted and I hope the rest of the world reciprocates. Good man for putting up the link.

>150 mckait: It breaks whatever is inside me and I call a heart. Makes me sad and miserable. I gave the last dregs of money I had to the Red Cross to help with the immediate needs. I wish I could do more.

>151 Matke: Oh dear, that can't be any fun. Well my sweet, you'll find your footing again, be back to reading at a normal clip. In the meantime, there's no wrong amount to read!

*smooch*

>152 PaulCranswick: I posted the same link as my status on Goodreads. I've got contacts all over the world there, and a lot more of them, so permaybehaps they'll donate.

Sad news, but it makes me drool a little to imagine having lottery money to spend on this:

Once Sold Tales bookstore in Seattle to close, struggling to find homes for 500,000 books: http://mbist.ro/13IajuF

A book, the sun, and the sea...what else do you need?

#154 OMG, tell me how to order some...

As for Oklahoma, I have old friends in Oklahoma City. They've been through this before, and are stoic about the tornado season, but this has shaken them a bit. Thankfully they were not in the direct path of this monster, and have escaped serious damage over the years, but close calls like this happen much too often. I won't even visit! They recommend donations to the Salvation Army. My check's in the mail.

Help is good, Linda3rd, no matter where it goes.

I don't know how to order online, but I'll bet one can call them and find out!

Ain't that the truth?

I've never been a fan of the state of Alabama (apologies to LTers who are), but that >124 richardderus: makes me want to go wherever it is.

loved the quote from once sold's owner: "i'm not a librarian. i can make fun of authors and books."

in re: donations to Moore, OK, stumbled upon http://www.portlight.org/, a group that works with Wunderground and the Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation. they're totally volunteer and totally grassroots! they're based in SC and focus on the needs of people with disabilities and the many underserved the ARC doesn't reach. i think they're worth a visit. they're kinda like a small version of PIH. kinda. a little bit.

#155 is that Chuckles and is the young fellow about to jump?

Congratulations on your large book haul! Makes me smile!

Also, I love the book porn images!

Drooling over book porn; relishing your book haul; tearing up over OK and our dear self proclaimed curmudgeon's reaction; considering checking out website of closing bookstore.

Lots of action from one catch up to your thread!

>141 richardderus: I think I just moved house and forgot to tell Amazon! Whoops. What an innocent mistake! *flutters eyelids*

>159 jnwelch: It is the truth. I know what you mean...I'd even go to *shudder* Alabackward to visit that bookcase! I mean, person.

>160 mirrordrum: Heh, yes indeed, a good quote. Good find re: Portlight.

>161 PaulCranswick: If it's Chuckles, I should think so. But there's no reason to suppose the poor lad is suffering like that.

>162 Whisper1: Oh Linda, I fear that is but the first of, well, more.

>163 TinaV95: Indeed; me too; awww; DO!!

>164 LovingLit: I shall report this terrible mischance to the Amazonians immediately! All future shipments will be sent to me, for safety's sake.

Okay, that bookstore near Seattle? With the website? Well now. Since LINDA LIPKO, PAUL CRANSWICK, & MEGAN APSE have been adding books at a jealousy-inducing pace, I have given in to my baser instincts and bought books like a fool.

I rattled my piggy bank and checked the sofa cushions and the pockets of my overcoats. Did I save this money, in a wise and thrifty fashion? HA! It is to laugh. I bought *mumble* books, and did that lovely lady who's going out of bidniss a solid!

Their fault. All their fault.

A fly by. Can't find time to read much last couple of days. LT Oracle assures me with high confidence that I won't like Sookie. Oh dear!

Tumbed last review... Be well.

RIchard - I'd consider moving to Alabama for those bookshelves. So pleased to hear that you are helping out the poor Seattle lady with the 500,000 books.

>167 mckait: *performs wafture at the welkin in the general direction of Kath*

Thanks!

>168 avatiakh: Oooh be careful Kerry! The vengeful xian gawd is listening...and that's like moving to Auckland, only populated by hyper-religious Scots.

And I *am* a good-spirited citizen, amn't I? *noble profile*

>124 richardderus:: Nothing against Alabama, but I'm shocked and skeptical. Or maybe just envious. :-|

Yay! Thanks for supporting Seattle-based book"store"!! Still, I want the list.

*smooches* to you and the noble Stella

Book Porn!

*shifty eyes* ...list? What list might you be referring to?

That room is missing a good reading lamp. What is wrong with these people?

ooops, Hi! Richard. I hope your Wednesday is better than mine. I have a bunch of "must do" things on my list but I'm spending a few minutes here first. I deserve some pleasure.

I suspect there should be a chair in the corner, under that floor lamp. Removed for the photo shoot, since the space is so eeentsy-teensy.

I 'spect you're right.........too claustrophobic for me tho, chair or no chair....

>174 tututhefirst: "Ample" and "spacious" are not the terms for this space. I think I'd be happy because there's a window letting in real light plus lamps. A recipe for good reading to me.

Well now. There was a big THUMP at the vestibule door a while back. I thought permaybehaps it was the FedEx minion with my shipment from Duke University Press. As it turns out, it was not.

It was the FedEx minion with my Duke University Press order, the UPS droid with my California order completion, and the mail person with my Science Fiction Book Club membership whooptydoo.

LINDA LIPKO, PAUL CRANSWICK, AND MEGAN APSE are to be calumniated and shamed for leading me into the paths of economic unrighteousness. There will be another of these posts quite soon, as the haul from the nice Washington lady who's going out of business will arrive before the end of the month. All because^those^three^perps awoke my envious, acquisitive biblioholism.

I, of course, am an innocent victim.

BELOW THE LINE: Producers and Production Studies in the New Television Economy -- because it's interesting
BRING ON THE BOOKS FOR EVERYBODY: How Literary Culture Became Popular Culture -- it's about books, need one say more?
NEW QUEER CINEMA: The Director's Cut -- criticism of gay-themed films, it was $3 so whatever
SHAKESQUEER: A Queer Companion to the Complete Works of Shakespeare -- something somewhere someday will give me a reason not to cringe, moan, then sleep, when confronted with Shakesbore, and maybe this is it
CLOSET DEVOTIONS -- outing all those horny bastids who wrote "sacred" works with naughty subtexts during the Renaissance
STELLA MANHATTAN -- Brazilian classic novel of the nation's transformation in the 1960s
All of these are from Duke.

ARABIC SHORT STORIES -- translations of the short fiction so abundant in Arabic-language publishing, not generally known in the US
TYPOLOGIA: Studies in Type Design & Type Making -- Frederic Goudy (that last name look familiar?) wrote this and it's never been surpassed
AMBROSE BIERCE AND THE QUEEN OF SPADES -- a mystery novel; don't know what I was thinking
All of these are from California.

THE WALLS OF THE UNIVERSE
THE BROKEN UNIVERSE -- the first two volumes in a cross-time adventure series, the first of which I read and liked, but hadda give back to the liberry
THE AFRIKA REICH -- alternative history of WWII-won-by-Nazis 1952
WORLD WAR Z --hardcover for a buck, why not
THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION: Twenty-Eighth Annual Collection
THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION: Twenty-Ninth Annual Collection -- pretty self-explanatory; hardcovers for a buck, like I could even dream of saying no
All of these are my thank-you gifts for joining the book club.

It is probable that I will be found dead next to a pile of these unread tomes, albeit smiling happily.

Disgraceful! *sniff*

(and, me, in bold and capitals!?- I defer all blame to PC, all of it)

WOOHOO- great book haul! TYPOLOGIA: Studies in Type Design & Type Making...looks interesting, and I find it hilarious that the only review of it moans about the typeface it is written in!

I plan to die with a smile on my face too RD. Its source is yet to be determined, but it could be books. Lets face it, it'll be either that or food!

Better books than food, a fat head's more attractive than a fat gut.

Seductress.


Amanda Nelson of BookRiot posted this pic of the books she's purging from her shelves, as she has no plans to re-read them. It's what I'm doing, sending books to Kathleen's little Baden, PA, liberry.

Stop laughing! I am TOO sending books there!

Goudy old style



it's hyperlinked to the gawgeous much, much, much larger version. fancy him writing a book.

must fly. mind the swinging door after my exit.

That is quite the book haul! You have been a busy EOM, well done. Hope you ate your wheaties, so you can get them all up the steps...

And i will confirm, rd has indeed been adding to our shelves, and book sale. Much appreciation headed his way!

Oh, my, oh, my...Richard, one of the first signs of addiction is blaming someone else. But, I'll take the blame.

It looks like you added quite a few wonderful titles to your expanding cache of beauty!

Now 31 books added in less than 3 days....you are getting the hang of this Richard I must say.

Very nice though that you are also sending books over to Kath's library. Don't give the address out though or Linda will get there and snaffle them all in a discount splurge.

>179 mirrordrum: Isn't deviantArt the coolest? That's lovely. See you soon.

>180 mckait: They all fit nicely in the electric chair. I've been even busier, as the next few weeks will attest.

>181 Whisper1: Addicted?! *twitch* Addicted?! *blinkblnkblinkSTARE* Me oh heck no not me no no no *twitch*liplick* where's the damned UPS driver shoulda been here already

>182 PaulCranswick: Oh this is a hang I'm so in sync with it's not funny. Ooo baby baby I could do some damage to the warehouses of the world with a lottery win.

#182...Paul, thanks! I'm laughing right out loud.

Richard, just skip the postage to Baden and send them here fed express.

>184 Whisper1: o.O

O.o

mmmmm hmmmmmmm suuuuure I will



This would be a very very bad day chez moi.

Mine too. I admit to being something of a coffee hoarder. And a book addict. And a food addict. A we bit ocd and .. well.. more as we discussed.. lol. What a mess is me.

>185 richardderus: The horror! The horror! Of course, I know nothing about it. Just because I start looking forward to the next morning's cup of joe about 8 o'clock at night doesn't mean anything right? Right? .......

>186 mckait: Messes are more interesting than perfect things.

>187 avidmom: Right! Of course it doesn't!

*boopbeepbeep* Hello Caffeineoholics Anonymous? Hi there, have I got one for you....

LiveScience is fascinating to me. Their tweets and Facebook posts are endlessly intriguing. This one, though, misses out on the *real* issue:

Why do flowers close up at night? Scientists know the mechanism behind the behavior, known as nyctinasty, but are not quite sure why some plants evolved this way.

The question they SHOULD be asking is, "whatinahell kinda horrible sounding thing is nyctinasty?!?"

#185 Hah! You posted this on fbook and it caused me to quickly go and make myself a large Americano, just to prove it wasn't true :)

You're right, of course, about nyctinasty. What were they thinking? And it's actually a wondrous thing those flowers do.

Sorry those enablers got your book-buying mojo on overdrive. On the other hand, those look like awfully fun and interesting books. Maybe you'll just have to set aside some time each day for reading.

>190 BekkaJo: I did much the same thing. It remained true for me. Did it majgickq away the horrid thing for you, he asked hopefully?

>191 jnwelch: Reading! READING! Imagine such a turn-up. Me, reading a book! The very idea!

Speaking of which, I got a review in a new-to-me and really cool blog:
My newly calm spirit has mused aloud about the beauty of A DIFFERENT KIND OF LUXURY, and the charm of its contents, at The Small Press Book Review.

Some books are perfect marriages of form and content. This is one. It's simply lovely and quite a luxe little item all by itself.

^The perfect tat for Mr. Crabby Pants! Just returning the favor.

Totally jealous of your book haul. I *only* bought four tonight at my daughter's elementary school book fair....and they were all for her...HONEST they were.....and they were buy one get one free. Who could resist that????

>193 msf59: That is about perfect for me all right! Thanks.

>194 Cobscook: No one, that's who! More to the point, who would *try* something so ridiculous?

I ordered the first four Sookie (did I spell that right?) books for #2 son (by two minutes), all because of your reviews. Of course, I want to read them. hehe
I hated how your morning started way up top but I'm glad you got the heifers, made them pick up your garbage AND got their bull moo father.
>124 richardderus:: that's a wonderful room. Gobsmacked that it's in 'bammer, which I always think of as unloftish and very flat.
And I'm with Eudora.

Hi Tui! Heh. I am chuffed you're gettin' on the Sookie train! I'm with Eudora, too.

Alabackward's flat for a good piece, then hilly. As in billy. What it most definitely is is BACKWARD.

He posted the list! *smooch*

I'm off to make tomorrow's coffee now.....

Now I want a T-shirt that says "I'm with Eudora". Wouldn't that make people (the wrong sort of people, of course) wonder?

Books: Either fuel for the mind, or a lot of noxious gas.

>198 EBT1002: Drinking some for you right now.

>199 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! I think those would be great t-shirts, Linda3rd.

Oh. Oh yes. Yes please.

That photo is weird RD; nobody is touching the books and you have that dimwit half out of shot with his hand in his pockets checking his, erm, loose change when he ought to be sorting through the sale items.

Have a wonderful weekend buddy - it is a public holiday here celebrating Wesak Day whatever the heck that is.

Wesak Day! Oh frabjous day callooh callay! It must be Malaysian Memorial Day, since it's Memorial Day here and we know all places model themselves on the USA.

Right?

*snort*

We're rainy and cool and dank. Since *shudder* the hot part of sumer is acumin in, I'm storing up happy memories of not sweating.



Bruised Apple Books, Peekskill, NY. An hour from where I sit.

#201 - I believe that's the Southbank Book Market under Waterloo Bridge in London. I was there in March, and it was fantastic! I'll be going back when I'm in London again in August.

I am trying sooooo hard not to buy any more books/movies for a while; you are *not* helping.

Still love you anyway. A big fat smooch to you.

>204 katiekrug: *hatehatehatehate*stabbystabbywhackwhack*

>205 Matke: *smooch* for darling Danvers, remember Resistance is Futile

-204 Katie, it just figures that those are British hands in pockets.

RD - Wesak or Vesak Day is celebrated by Buddhists to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing/rebirth of Buddha or, popularly, Buddha's Birthday.

#206 - Hmph. And here I was thinking of bringing you back a gift...

>207 PaulCranswick: Happy Buddha Day, then!

>208 katiekrug: DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLING!! Come, come, sit down here in this comfy comfy wing chair! Let me move the lamp a bit so you can see the book better!

Now, about this list...

That's better. One UK edition of Gone Girl coming right up!

>210 katiekrug: *stabbystabstabwhackcrunch*

Memorial Day idea: Make the day brighter for a soldier overseas!

An Illustrated History of Cats 'n' Kittens?

No?

Hmmm...

Love the Memorial Day idea - when my BIL was deployed to Afghanistan, I was the designated family member in charge of sending reading material :)

(ETA: I really should be working but Fridays before a long weekend are THE WORST in terms of motivation!)

>212 katiekrug: Ain't that the truth! Hard to care about petty stuff when there's three days of eatin' drinkin' and doin' it again coming up!

We're having Storm Surges, our summer party cocktail, strawberry rhubarb pie, pig-lickin' cake...hot dogs on the grill...*drool*

#192 Totally :) All gone by the bottom of a massive mug of warm lovelyness.

Happy bank holiday from me too - well it will be on Monday, so LONG WEEKEND! Yay!!

Hip hip Hooray for long weekends! *smooch*

Well really, don't we all?

Oh. "books". First I read it as "looks".

Ha! I'd never count my looks even once.

"The buying of more books than one can perchance read is nothing less than the soul reaching toward infinity, and this passion is the only thing that raises us above the beasts that perish." --A. Edward Netwon

Whoever he is/was, I agree.

Who is/was this man? Obviously a secret LT hero, but in real life?

Please, oh please, pretty please, save me a piece of pie. I'll walk the dog all day, for two days.

Loving the book porn photos Richard, keep them coming.

>219 richardderus: Copying and pasting. You know, in other words stealing that comment. Thank you. :)

Is it Netwon or Newton?

Happy long weekend to you Richard dear! I'll just sit over here in the corner and wait for my Storm Surge....yum!

Hello Richard.

It was a damp, chilly, rainy day and I wish I could have been home reading instead of pushing papers on my desk.

I hope your weekend is a good one.

Quick and hearty *smooch* to you and Stella!

Fly by smooches. Quite the haul, Richard. You are stepping up to the big leagues indeed!! :)

Yesterday was damp and chilly here, too. Today should be less of both. Still, another freeze warning for tonight.

Great book porn! How goes the weekend so far??

>220 Matke: One piece of fresh rhubarb & strawberry pie saved. What'll you do for a piece of pig-lickin' cake?

>221 johnsimpson: Thanks John, they're a staple around here.

>222 avidmom: Ain't it grand? Feel free, I don't own any of these, copy and share at will!

>223 tiffin: *shrug*

>224 Cobscook: Happy long weekend back! Storm Surges on the way.

>225 Whisper1: It's a damp, chilly, rainy Saturday now. Blech. Of course I'm tucked up and ready to read here, so I have zip to bitch about.

>226 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen, smooches back to the Northwestern Outpost!

>227 TinaV95: These leagues are waaay too big for me. It's a temporary diminution of responsibility. Must. Cease!

>228 mckait: Companionable, one supposes. *smooch* Comcast is the Devil! (I think that should be the new way you greet people. "Comcast is the Devil!" "Uhhhmmm, can I check out this book please?" "Of course, sir, here it is. Comcast is the Devil!")

So, last night, I was getting up out of my chair (a process) and felt something *snap*.

This morning my left side *hurts*.

I think I've bruised/broken a rib. This is making me testy. I must now do make pig-lickin' cake and eat it all, washed down with Storm Surges, until I 1) feel better or b) pass out in a pool of melting whipped cream.

Yes this is the sort of weather wherein one thinks, Hmmm perhaps I should bake something. I'm thinking along the line of brownies.....

Marvelous book buying.

Extra extra love the Sean Bean. Well, really, any mention of the man makes me swoon.

Hope your side hurt abates quickly.

I'm told I must wait until tomorrow for the cake-baking. *sniff*

I'd be better with the pain if there was some reasonable cause for it! Getting out of my chair? Really?

Brownies. Put peanut butter in 'em and I am SO there.

Oh I've done some things like that, cuz, just moved my neck wrong or whatever and kablam.

I'll prolly put in pecans although I just found some very ripe bananas so maybe I'll go that route.

Pecan banana brownies sound OUTSTNADING. I'll be there in an hour. They should be cool by then.

*grumble* Rib hurts. Hate this.

I like the rug under the text, too!

Is that a rug? It looks like painted cinder blocks to me?

Either way, hope you have a wonderful weekend!

It could be. I just looked closely at it. I thought those were rug-loops.

Happy coffee-smelling weekend, Richard.

Sorry to hear the pain gremlins are after you again. Hard to get clear into Enjoyment Land when that's going on. Pecan banana brownies sound like a good help.

Happy weekend to you, too! I'm fully caffeinated at last.

you gotta lotta nerve whingeing on everywhere about people making you scarf up books and then putting that list on my thread. fortunately, of the three i wanted, only two were available at audible but still those ate all but 2 of my remaining credits for the year which means I'LL HAVE TO BE BUYING ANOTHER YEAR'S WORTH OF BOOK CREDITS AND IT'S ONLY MAY thanks to you, mr. nyctinastykins!

if i could but speak french i would turn "honi soit qui mal y pense" into something meaning "evil to those who make me think about buying books" and i'd make a garter out of it and put it on my arm! but alas, je ne parle pas français. don't comprends pas it either.

diminutive wafture, minimally less diminutive buccal peck. no *smooch* for you today, exchequer wrequer. ;)

Sorry you are in pain hun. *smoochies* Feel better.

hi, Richard, dear.

I hope you're feeling better and finding time to read in between all the goodies.

Me? I'm reading and napping and bein' lazy lazy lazy

I don't like things that go snap when one gets out of a chair. Never a good sign. I've been hirpling all week with something out of place, so you have my heartfelt sympathy.

Ouch ouch ouch and dammit.. no more of THAT sort of thing. No. More.

Oh dear! Sorry about the rib. Poor, poor baby. Definitely cake. Or brownies. Perhaps both. And a vat of gin and tonic?

What a lovely book splurge you went on, thanks for sharing!

Feel better. And stop getting up!

Do you know one of the nicest things about being old? No one can tell you not to do stuff! It was a Storm Surge kinda day.

750ml brown rum
pint vodka
large can frozen limeade
large can frozen lemonade
half one of those cans Campari
3 fresh limes, squeezed and chucked in the pitcher
1 fresh lemon, as above

Refrigerate overnight.

Tall drink glasses with ice, half full of the boozeohol, get finished off with ginger beer and stirred. I had three before and with din-din. Yeah, the rib hurts, but so effin' what.

missed the bit where you fracked up your body parts. be good to yourself, 'kay?

eta after reading >247 richardderus: oh blech. that spells worse hangover than a Harvey Wallbanger and, looking back down the long sleeve of memory, thass awrful.

>241 mirrordrum: But Ellie! Petite choux! I am not running about tempting innocents to violate their bank accounts, like LINDA LIPKO, PAUL CRANSWICK, & MEGAN APSE (the Axis of Evil) have done to me, I merely inform the interested parties of the existence of things. Completely different. Surely the distinction is obvious to you: Sweet innocent tempted into waywardness vs crabby meanie that is dear little punkinblossom informed of some vital information.

>242 BekkaJo: Too drunk at the mo to really care, but smooches for thinking of me!

>243 maggie1944: Hiya Karen44! Does drinking count as one of the goodies? Cause they ain't been no pauses between drinkin's.

>244 tiffin: Oh no, Tui, do you know what's out of place? Can it be put back? *there there, pat pat*

>245 mckait: Heating pad under rib is doing a fine job of making this bearable. *smooch*

>246 Crazymamie: Mamie dear! See above for my imbibulatory substance. Yum! Getting up is overrated. Unfortunately I don't have a valet to run, fetch, and carry for me.

Yet.

Book porn!

Ouch, ouch, ouch -- I'm sure your side must hurt like hell.

Hurting on a holiday weekend...Will you see a doctor on Tuesday?

I would like a Storm Surge, please. Now.

>252 Whisper1: If it's worse, I will, but if it's the same I'll save the money. Ribs don't get treated anymore. Eccchhh.

>253 katiekrug: Comin' right up!

Well, it sounds like you have things under control... Hope today is good !

>255 mckait: Thanks, pet, you too!



It's not *tidy* therefore I like it.

Goodies = any thing which encourages and supports Feelin' Groovy! Remember "feelin' groovy"? Broken ribs? I've been there, and back a couple of times and the best advice I rec'd was to keep a pillow handy so you can hold it against your side should you need to cough, sneeze, or otherwise exhale violently. Otherwise, yes, no treatment. No need to spend precious dollars going to see a doctor who will tut tut and look sympathetic and tell you it will just take time. 6 weeks maybe. Who really knows?

I hope sitting quietly and reading satisfying books is well within your schedule for these 6 weeks!

I'm checking in to see how you are feeling this morning. Any better?

>257 maggie1944: Exactly my thinking. Why spend money to learn what I already know? If it gets worse, I'll go see the doc. Am finishing two mysteries, one for the Small Press Book Review and one for me myownself.

>258 Whisper1: Same ol' same ol', thanks Linda! I mean, Axis of Evil-woman. *smooch*

Not sure about the tumbling stack of books.. you can't see the titles.. ( for one thing )

Yes my dear, but you're also a *tidy* person. It is your second worst character flaw. I magnanimously overlook it. xoxo

Tonight was Murrikin night! We ate liver, bacon, and onions; a tossed salad with cucumber and avocado; and a pig-lickin' cake, all while watching the 2007 remake of 3:10 to Yuma, which is terrific. Sadly, the last of the Storm Surges went down the hatch as well.

Tomorrow? Salmon on the grill, roasted mustard greens, and more pig-lickin' cake. Oh woe.

How's your side / rib?

You made me buy books, RD so you could be considered to be approaching evil... I didn't blame you when I confessed my late night book purchase to Lisa. I said I was just trying to help out a business that was closing. That's what you said and I think it's a great excuse.... I mean reason.

>247 richardderus:: Well, that would certainly take the edge off! xo

Good morning, Rdear. Sad news on the rib(s). My dad broke a couple, in a funny-but-true story; they taped 'em up and told him to wait for it to heal. Not much differerent now, it appears.

(Side note: apparently now I've had so much practice typing using the keyboard that my fingers get ahead of my thoughts, which when using the keyboard need to at least recognize that spelling is important . This is truly special when my right hand is set one key off. Why does that never happen to my left hand?)

>229 richardderus:: For pig-licking cake I would, um, smile sweetly and clean up after dinner.

>256 richardderus:: Love that. Pigs lost in books--wait, are you sending me a subliminal message??

Enjoy your day, Sweetiebuns. Smoochings to help pain.

ETA: I am aware that there is a split infinitve in this post.

8-P~~~~~~~~~~~~

>262 TinaV95: I've taken to exercising through the pain. It's not helping, in that the pain isn't going away, but it is helping me get used to it. *grumble*

Oh, one little grab bag doesn't put my in the Axis of Evil category! I mean, Linda Lipko, Paul Cranswick, & Megan Apse routinely haunt charity shops, Friends of the Liberry sales, and various malls to winkle out the treasures of the book industry, reporting their greedy hoardings with no obvious sense of shame!

*I*, OTOH, merely report a matter of great public concern (death of a bookshop) and afford all who pass by the rare and valuable opportunity to ease the burdens of this reluctant (and failing) capitalist. See? Worlds of difference!

>263 EBT1002: *hic* mmmm hmmmm

>264 Matke: Danny darling! *smoochiesmoochsmooch* It's tasty, but has a PR problem with the name. I use real whipped cream instead of uccchy Kool Whip, and butter instead of vegetable oil in the cake mix...it's dense and puddingy that way.

I don't mind split infinitives or prepositions ending sentences or any of that pedantic hoo-hah. I mind misplaced modifiers, dangling participles, and the like, because they obscure meaning. Otherwise, it's all Norma Loquendi having her way with the world.

>265 mckait: *smooch*

>256 richardderus:: nope, couldn't do that. The book I'd want would be at the bottom and I'd kill myself trying to get it out. And why the plastic pigs? Give me alphabetical order and easily accessible any day. Old farts with bad backs can't do stacks in closets.

The pigs puzzle me a bit...but Tui, this is a window, and the photo was taken from the street looking in to the window! That's why I like the image so much. It's a peek into a serious bibliomane's world, with piggybanks. Surreal!



I'd totally do this. Bathtubs are icky. Showers preclude reading, though...hmmm...

In my uni days, I knew another bibliophile who turned his room into library stacks: at right angles coming out from the wall, he had about five double sided floor-to-ceiling shelves extending into the room with the space between them big enough for a person to walk between comfortably. On the other side of his room he built a platform, with his bed on top and his desk underneath (old house with high ceilings); the end supports were also bookshelves. His room had a bay window: he had a wing chair, a footstool, a reading lamp and a small table for his mug of whatever perfectly positioned in it to read. It was as perfect a student's room as I had ever seen and beat the tar out of my board & brick shelving system.

Hey RD!- Sorry you are having to deal with more pain issues. Boo! Hopefully you can find some comfort in a book or 2.

>270 tiffin: Exactly my dream room. Exactly! Oh the beauty of such a solution.

>271 msf59: Thanks, Mark, not doing too badly on the book front today. Lake on the Mountain is good!

I am getting so many good ideas here for my Studio apt. in the Old Folks Home. Yup. Be care with them ribs, bub! Their healing will depend on your not jerking them around too much with "exercising". Really? Exercising? Reading is so much more advised!

Buenos noches and buona notte from your globe-trotting Horrible.

*smooches*

>274 maggie1944: We **need** the Tome Home more than ever! I want a studio with bookcases, a bed, and a communal kitchen!

No one would want to eat my cooking, though, since I made grilled salmon with a wasabi/soy/balsamic marinade & basting sauce, with mustard greens sauteed in olive oil. No one would like that. All meatloaf and mac and cheese and mashed potatoes.

>275 karenmarie: Hi Horrible! Magenta is so interesting that I hope you get to go back. I loved visiting Trezzano sul Naviglio 25 years ago.

Tome Home! Where do I sign up? What? Meatloaf, mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. Nevermind.

Stopping by to add one more vote for the tome home. Hope today is a good one!

>277 avidmom:, 278 How 'bout this as a model?



H/T to my GR friend Melki for this view of the B2 Hotel in Zurich. Serious book porn!

A biker I could hang with.

>279 richardderus: I could never go there. I would never leave.

>281 avidmom: Pretty damn good model for the Tome Home, then!

Wonderful book porn today. I took a nap (or something) and suddenly you've galloped down the road. The book bike reminds me of Philadelphia, me packing my bike too and from my studio -- I think I sometimes looked a bit like that and things did sometimes go Ka-blam.

>280 richardderus:: Of course Ms. Pragmatic here is thinking of the road dirt flying up and into those books if it were actually to run, which I don't think it does...just outside-the-bookshop art, right? I'm also thinking that when I'm 87, I don't want to be climbing up a ladder to get to the top of the shelves in >279 richardderus:. What a killjoy, eh?

>283 sibylline: Howdy cuz! Glad you're all into the book porn, unlike SOME OLD FOGEYS *glares at >284 tiffin:*! I suspect ka-blam is inevitable on a loaded-down motorbike like that.

>284 tiffin: The point of the Tome Home is assisted living for book lovers, though! There are flunkies hired to get the books for you. Goddesses forfend a resident should fall and break a hip!

(And I agree with you about the road dirt.)

Evil old ish huh?
And yes we did... we oooohed and we ahhhed over inventing the whole thing, in fact

:P~~~~~~

Heh. Looked at your email, did you? *smooch*

hmmmm

Are you home alone yet?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nice :)

any leftover goodies....?

Pig-lickin' cake. It needs a new name. I think I'll call it "diabetes in a pan." Suuuuuuuuuh-weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

I saw it somewhere just now.. yellow cake and etc. Sounds yum. I would love some cake..

>270 tiffin: I wish I'd had a room like that back in my student days!

>279 richardderus: I wish I had a room like that right now!

And Richard, yes the remake if 3:10 To Yuma is terrific.

I had to go look it up---never heard of pig-lickin' cake before. Now I have a question....how can there possibly be any left over? I've been sick for two days, and I still want to eat the entire thing by myself, right now.

>294 Emrayfo: Don't you just slobber a little over that one, Charles? Although being in BA you must go to El Ateneo once in a while. That's a gorgeous bookshop! I liked Russell Crowe a lot in the remake of 3:10 to Yuma. He nailed that role.

>295 laytonwoman3rd: I reposted the recipe for pig-lickin' cake on Facebook a while back. I've made my modifications to it, like NOT using Kool Whip, but the cake itself...oh yeah, most yummalicious. My housies and I don't really like stuff that's quite so sweet, though.

Hi Richard! I've been lurking on your very entertaining thread and would like to introduce myself. Hi, I'm Natalie and I love your thread!
I had never heard of a Pig-Lickin' Cake and had to go look it up at Food.com. Wow! Sounds very yummy and rich.
Have you ever made a No-Name-Cake? (The kind with pineapple and walnuts, not the one on Food.com with graham cracker crumbs and chocolate chips.)

Hello Natalie, thanks for joining the party! Happy to have a new face.

I've never heard of No-Name Cake, but the pineapple and walnuts have my attention. Care to share?

I'd love to share! Isn't sugar one of the five basic food groups? I'll dig out my recipe and send the recipe along.

hey, RD. just sloping through whilst being besieged by stink bugs. they keep dive-bombing my computer screen. very time consuming catching them and transporting them out. and i have downloaded more books and must pay them a visit.

sadly, but fortunately, i shall never need a tome home. it's all on the iPod and the NLS player. except for the large print books that are starting to proliferate in the most peculiar fashion. they're like rabbits that way.

brought you a slice of chocolate peanut butter potato chip cake to tide you over till the no-name-cake arrives.



smooch-a-lot, chico.

>299 nmcognito: *pats foot impatiently awaiting recipe*

>300 mirrordrum: OMGOMGOMG ZOMG *drool* peanutbutterchocolate OMG



A wee bit of sleep deprivation humor.

Yes, El Ateneo Gran Splendid on Santa Fe is amazing. The Cuspide and the two other El Ateneos on Florida are also very fancy too, with high ceilings, plaster mouldings, wooden staircases and imposing pillars, though their setting is not quite as dramatic as the one set in the ex-theatre.

For something a little cosier but also with lovely timber floors and floor to ceiling bookshelves, two other wonderful and very attractive bookstores I love to visit, both in Palermo, are Eterna Cadencia and Libros del Pasaje. Check out photos of those two if you get the chance. I have already posted some photos of Libros del Pasaje on my thread, but there are lots more better photos of both stores available on the Internet.

Another favourite, also in Palermo, is Alamut Libros. This one looks very nice too, but with not quite as many books as the others. It does however combine two of my passions as it is also a high quality wine shop. Needless to say I have spent too much money in all these places. In fact, with us leaving Buenos Aires very soon I have just sent back to Australua a box of forty books in Spanish I have picked up since I have been here. I was a little shocked! : D

Reading in the tub used to be a favorite pastime of mine. At our house in Oregon, we remodeled the bathroom and set it up very intentionally to be a comfortable tub with good lighting in just the right location, and of course a good shelf for holding one's glass of wine. I miss that. At our current house, we have the world's tiniest bathroom and the world's least comfortable tub. Oh well, I seem to manage with the sofa.

>301 richardderus:: TOO true. At least I have (finally) learned to stop calculating, sit up, turn on the light, and read.

>302 Emrayfo: Alamut Libros is run by a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, who reads PKD and Julio Cortázar novels.

Awe. Some.

Forty books, pifflepoff! Well, forty books sent back to Oz would be costly.

>303 EBT1002: I mostly read in bed, since I don't have a recliner here. Can't sit for long enough at a stretch to make reading while sitting doable.

Me, I sleep the second I decide to....

"I sleep the second I decide to...." I used to know what that was like. *sigh* I hate you a little bit now.

I also lose weight easily....

You are dead to me now.

So sorry to make you wait! Crazy morning.

No-Name-Cake: 2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. crushed pineapple (20 oz. can), with juice
2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. crushed walnuts

Stir above ingredients together just until combined. Pour into greased and floured 9" x 13" pan or 10" round pan. Bake at 350 degrees about 40 minutes or until tests done.

1 1/2 c. evaporated milk
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. butter

Combine final three ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring.
Boil and stir 1 minute.

While cake is still warm punch holes with a fork all over the top. Pour hot topping over warm cake, letting it all absorb. Cool.

Turn out on plate and garnish with an icing border. I usually do cream cheese walnut or lemon cream icing.


This is one of my mom's recipes from the seventies. Before sugar and butter became the devil! It is very rich!

>307 laytonwoman3rd: *evil Muttley laugh*

>308 nmcognito: Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Thanks!!

Hello St. Richard. I would like to introduce myself as I have been lurking long enough. It is getting mighty chilly in this vestibule. My name is belva and I still enjoy your wit and humor, your thread and I too, do almost all of my reading in or on my bed. My hip flexers rotate outward so I am most comfortable standing or lying down. Should add that all of my work years were spent on my feet and that might possibly have something to do with it. But it doesn't explain my three acre azz!~!

>#306:
I could also really dislike you easily if I allowed myself.

>#307:
DITTO that Linda!~!

**smoooch**

BELVA!!! Sweetiedarling!! I assumed I was simply Off Your Card List, since you don't comment here any more. AND may I just add here since we're talking about reasons for h8in', of the two of us which one was at the massive meetup in Philly, and which one of us was stuck at home with painful owwie joints? Hmmm?

There. That's YOUR hash settled.

I will need all that easy-weight-loss mojo after the no-name cake binge I'm planning.

Lake on the Mountain is a terrific first-in-a-series mystery, for any who might care about such things....

Dead men should not be firing book bullets at people. I'm just saying.

What, you've never heard of BookZombies?

>269 richardderus: bathtubs are icky!!??#!@!?

Oooooh, you mean bathtubs are heavenly and wonderous in every way possible, particularly when filled with scalding hot water and then a world-word body with a book.
Thought so :)

Signing off for now, staking my rightful claim to the title Megan, one-third-of-the-Axis-of-Evil. *mwah*

>314 LovingLit: Baths = ickyicky ptoo ptoo, therefore bathtubs = nastificated. SIT and stew in one's own greasy filthy slimy skin-sloughings, with accumulated and attendant atmospheric grunge and particulate pollution?

NAY NAY NAY!

SOMEone, who apparently wishes to remain anonymous, has gifted me with THE TIGER IN THE GRASS. No note, nothing from Amazon telling me who sent it. SO, whichever kindly soul did this, thanks awfully! *smooch*

What?!?! You get peanut butter chocolate cake and anonymous gifts of books? What did you do to make the Karma Fairy love you so. Tell me now so I can go do it too. :)

Don't take baths...? Dunno, to be brutally barbra. I mean, frank.

It is OK. You do not need to be a bath taker. More baths available for the rest of us.... I think. Ah. Maybe.

Never have worried about stewing in my own.... and it is so relaxing. And the books just add the final element of Ahhhhhhh.

But really! The food in this thread is going to kill me. Dead. Then who'll poke you?

I'm going to go make a banana with choco sauce drizzled all over it. With cinnamon, I think. Or ginger.

Have a great week!

I love that someone sent you The Tiger in the Grass ---- I know nothing about it, but the title is great. I'm put in mind of a line from an old favorite song:
"He who made kittens put snakes in the grass...."

It's a loose association but I'm on my second glass of wine. xo

*Going to investigate Lake on the Mountain.*

Just wafting a wafture your way, Richard!

I prefer showers myownself.. Never had one until we moved to Boston in the 80's and never took a bath since..

That cake recipe looks delish.

RD... Laura changed her mind about Sookie.. on the shelf she goes. Long story behind it.. will share soon.

Happy Thor's Day.

>318 maggie1944: Thanks luvvie! This week's cooked, the weekend's packed. Yuck, summer.

>319 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! It's a mystery series. *heeheehee*

>320 ronincats: *return of wafture*

>321 mckait: That recipe does indeed look delish. Can't wait to try it!

Glad about Sookie. It really does make sense. *smooch*

322 posts! I've been laggard in setting up a new thread. I have now, however.