Mark's Reading Place: Books, Banter & Beer #17

- Valery Rybakow

Currently Reading:



Audiobook:


Graphic:


Books Read So Far... (You can always go to my profile page and check earlier threads for my complete reading list. I don't like to make this to cumbersome.)

May:

52) Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson 3.8 stars (audio)
53) Benediction by Kent Haruf 4.5 stars
54) Dark Places by Gillian Flynn 4.2 stars (audio) OTS
55) Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver 4.6 stars (audio)
56) Little Wolves by Thomas Maltman 3.5 stars
57) Iron House by John Hart 4 stars (audio) OTS
58) Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala 4.5 stars (audio)
59) The Ghosts of Nagasaki by Daniel Clausen 4.6 stars (OTS)
60) The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill 4 stars (audio)
61) When She Woke by Hillary Jordan 3.8 stars (OTS)
62) Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss 4 stars (audio)
63) A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness 4.7 stars (audio)
64) Nineteen Seventy-Four by David Peace 2.7 stars (audio) OTS
65) The Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa 5 stars (OTS)
66) Life After Life by Kate Atkinson 4.4 stars (audio)

June:

67) Enon by Paul Harding 3.6 stars (OTS)
68) Black Irish by Stephan Talty 3.7 stars (audio)
69) Looking for Alaska by John Green 3.8 stars (audio)
70) A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra 5 stars
71) The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud 3 stars (audio)
72) The Whispering Muse by Sjón 4.3 stars
73) The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen 4.6 stars (audio)
74) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 5 stars
75) The Godfather of Kathmandu by John Burdett 2.8 stars (audio)
76) Wool by Hugh Howey 3.8 stars
77) Marbles: A Graphic Memoir by Ellen Forney 4.6 stars GN
78) There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz 4.7 stars (audio)
79) Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden 4.2 stars (audio)
80) How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu 3.7 stars (OTS)

July:

81) The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman 4.3 stars (audio)
82) Five by Endo by Shusaku Endo 4.5 stars (OTS)
83) Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr 4.6 stars
84) The Given Day by Dennis Lehane 3.8 stars (audio) (OTS)
85) The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks 4 stars (GR)
86) Among Others by Jo Walton 4.5 stars
87) The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer 4.7 stars ER (audio) (OTS)
88) Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon 4 stars
89) Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, Book 2) by Marissa Meyer 3.8 stars (audio)
90) The Last Policeman by Ben Winters 3.8 (audio)
91) A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 5 stars (GR) (OTS)
92) My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf 4.5 stars (GN)
93) NOS4A2 by Joe Hill 4.4 stars (audio)
94) Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch 3.8 stars (audio)
95) TransAtlantic by Colum McCann 4.8 stars (OTS)
96) The Andalucian Friendl by Alexander Soderberg 3 stars (audio)

August :

97) Dangerous Laughter: Thirteen Stories by Steven Millhauser 4.2 stars (OTS)
98) Little Brother by Cory Doctorow 2.8 stars (audio)
99) Tampa by Alissa Nutting 4.2 stars
100) Paco's Story by Larry Heinemann 4 stars (audio)
101) The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle 4 stars
102) The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye 4.2 stars (audio)
103) Joyland by Stephen King 4.3 stars (audio)

First-Time Author Challenge 2013

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

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

Group Reads 2013:

2666 by Roberto Bolaño- October

Summertime reading! love it. Will do some today, I promise. Nice new thread, pal.

I've been wanting to pop by and say hello but was a bit intimidated by the long last thread. So here I am to wish you a Happy New Thread Mark! I'll still take the time to scan through the last one as I'm sure there's plenty of interesting stuff to take in.

Oh, and by the way, I'm dying to read A Fine Balance, just don't know if I can actually fit it in until I've finished the Coursera class...

Hej Mark - happy new thread and a happy Sunday

oh! pretty pretty thread topper... happy new thread to you!

Howdy Mark!

I finished TransAtlantic. Wow! Another 5 star read. How does McCann do it? His writing seems so effortless but glows with such beauty. He has quickly become one of my top working writers.

Like I've mentioned before, I am having an excellent reading year but unfortunately my short fiction has been abysmal. I did so much better last year and of course the story collections just continue to stack up with everything else. Soooooo, I'll be starting Dangerous Laughter, which I have had on shelf forever. I have heard very good things about Millhauser's work. Has anyone here, read him?

Karen- You are number one, my friend! Yah! I have a busy day planned but I hope to squeeze in some reading here and there.

Ilana's here! Ilana's here! I was looking for a ray of sunshine, (it's very cloudy here) and look: I got one. Great to see you and yes, bookhorn A Fine Balance in as soon as you can. It's monumental.

Paul- Thanks for dropping by! I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Kath- Glad you like the topper! And no semi-clad women? What's the world coming to?

Happy Sunday, Mark! I'm glad that you rated TransAtlantic so highly. I'll get back to it soon, and hopefully finish it today.

^Hey, it works for me! Grinning like an idiot!

Good morning, Mark!

What on earth is Dangerous Laughter? The cover is fantastic and also sort of creepy.

I'm glad you enjoyed TransAtlantic. I haven't read McCann yet. Which novel do you recommend for my first?

Happy Sunday, Mark! I see by your spectacular new thread that you're spending the day wisely.
Love the keep calm post. I do believe I'm going to steal that one.

Hi Mark. Have a great birthday celebration with the family.

Mark - congratulations on your latest thread mate. Have a drink on me or should I say for me on this your birthday weekend.
I must say that I see Transatlantic as the frontrunner for the Booker this year.

Did you mix something?


and I love the Valery's in the beginning, although one is a man the other looks more like a woman, isn't it?

Well, I did mention beer in my topic heading, so here goes:



^This is Victory Golden Monkey Belgian-Style Tripel, (9.5 abv) and it's mighty tasty. Had one last night. This is from the Victory Brewing Co. out of PA.

Roberta- Howdy, up there! Hope you are having a nice Sunday!

Darryl- Looking forward to your thoughts on TransAtlantic. It's dazzling.

Kerri- Dangerous Laughter is described as "darkly comic" & "mesmerizing". Hey, that's good enough for me.
I have only read 2 McCann's, but I would suggest you go with Let the Great World Spin first. It was a fantastic introduction.

Lynda- It's actually been a very busy morning around here, getting the final touches done, along with some cleaning, to get ready for the party. Did not crack a book yet.

Pat- Thanks! Big Wave! How is A Fine Balance coming? Since you are still able to type, I guess you haven't finished yet. LOL.

Paul C- Yes, I will gladly have a beer on you. Possibly 2 or 3.

Paul S- I never miss that one, my friend. It's what keeps me calm. LOL. That looks like a young woman to me in that 2nd picture. It doesn't have anything to do with the painting though.

Good morning, Mark! Hope you're enjoying a good day off.

Debbi reminds me that we got some great hard cider at Tandem Ciders in the Leelenau area in Michigan. All from local apple growers. We had good fun at a tasting and bought a growler (big jug) of one, and a smaller bottle of a pricier one that had some brandy characteristics. We'll save the second one for the winter months. You would have enjoyed the visit, methinks. A festive buzz was had by all.

I'm going to read Wool next, I think, which I remember you enjoyed. A present from young Mr. Jesse.

We had a blast at the Sandra Bullock/Melissa McCarthy movie yesterday, btw. Laughed our tails off. Nobody drops the F bomb like Melissa M.

I confess that I had to abandon my coursera course. The assignments were affecting my ability to write stuff that I have to do to generate income. I'm still listening to lectures, though. I suppose if it were a credit course or a program... I sometimes dream of getting a journalism fellowship like the Neiman at U Mich, which allows you to cherry pick from classes while pursuing a project. Sadly, it ain't never going to happen.

Sigh, I'm going to have to try again with TransAtlantic, clearly.

McCann has quickly become one of my favorites too Mark. Glad to see you really enjoyed TransAtlantic:)

^Finally a photo of our finished family room, aka Marky-Mark's Man-Cave. It only took nearly five months, but we DID IT!
My reading throne is at the top of the L, near the fireplace. You can just make out the stalk of the reading lamp, next to the 2nd end table lamp. It's a recliner and it's very cozy.

Looks great, Mark!

I love the man cave Mark. Especially because it really has room for the whole family. Look at your lovely books!

Joe- I am not much into ciders, (I know I'm a snob) but actually I haven't had it very often, so you never know.
I hope you like Wool. Nothing earth-shattering but good clean fun. I'll have to see The Heat. It looks like a ball.

Suz- So, you tried TransAtlantic and couldn't get into it?

Bonnie- I could never write a review of TransAtlantic like you or Richard, but I will continue to shout it's praises. Now, I NEED to find that story collection.

Katie & Roberta- Thanks! We are very happy the way it turned out. We just have to keep the clutter down and I have to stay on top of my books. They can be like weeds you know, growing in every patch and every corner.

Love the new man-cave, Mark. Very nice.

Your man-cave could be mistaken for one of Richards book porn pictures! Great looking place--you should be proud!

Love the Man Cave, Mark - though hardly a 'cave' - it's beautifully light! Close up of the bookshelves next please!

Wow, your man-cave looks great. Although I agree with Prue, it certainly doesn't look like a cave. Did you say this was your basement? I can't remember.

Like very much your reading room Mark - hope it doesn't stay as tidy as that for long mind.

Mark, your man-cave is bookishly delightful! Thanks for posting a photo -- now I can happily imagine you reading and relaxing. I would love a close-up of your shelves... just sayin', and I suspect I'm not the only one;)

Great living/reading room you have there. Well done.

^We have to start Monday morning with a smile.

I did not get in one lick of reading in yesterday. It was a whirlwind of chores and socializing but the party was a hit and the weather was cool & gorgeous.
I'll be digging into Dangerous Laughter and I started The Andalucian Friend on audio. It's a Swedish crime thriller, which has been getting some praise.

Linda, Terri & Prue- Thanks! We are happy the way it came out. We are tired and broke but very pleased. LOL.

Pat- Yes, this is our basement but I prefer lower level. LOL.

Paul C- The mission will be to keep the clutter down, especially with the ubiquitous books. We moved quite a bit of stuff (not books) into the garage and it will have to be sorted and disposed of at a later time.

Anne- Thanks. I'll try to get a better shot of the bookshelves, although I have to be careful with the TBR shelves, they hate to be reminded that they are still there. Much grumbling and dirty looks.

Paul S- Thank you sir. We are pleased.

Very nice mancave you have there!
With ya on the ciders.. I find them gagsome, and I mean that literally.
bleurgh

Oh, excellent man-cave! Looks wonderful!
I'm such a nosey nellie - I love it when people post photos of their favorite reading spots!

Lovely reading space, Mark -- well worth the time and effort!

The mancave looks great, Mark. Lighter, and even more comfortable. Looks like there's a table for snacks and beverages in the back, another important element.

I started Wool, and it's intriguing so far. I keep thinking - he had to self-publish this? Really? It's certainly better written so far than a lot of sci-fi I've read.

I don't know how in the world Reacher is going to get out of the fix he's in, but Debbi and I are having fun finding out.

Dayum. That man-cave doesn't look all that cave-ish with all that openess and light. I should get a shot of MrMorphy's man cave. Now THAT'S a cave!

#23 Yup, others have it right - that there is book porn and I am going to retreat to lurking in a mass of seething jealousy :)

LOVE the man-cave/book room! Looks great Mark!

^I am going to Booktopia! I am going to Booktopia! I just got the call! Petoskey Michigan, here I come! Yahoo!

Great news, Mark!! When is it?

Re: #34--LOL! One of my favorite books!

Wait. What the heck is Booktopia? And why do you get to go? Something nefarious afoot, I fear...

Great news Mark!

"But what struck me was the book-madness of the place--books lay scattered across the unmade bed and the top of a battered-looking desk, books stood in knee-high piles on the floor, books were crammed sideways and right side up in a narrow bookcase that rose higher than my head and leaned dangerously from the wall, books sat in stacks on top of a dingy dresser. The closet door was propped open by a pile of books, and from beneath the bed a book stuck out beside the toe of a maroon slipper."

-Dangerous Laughter, my current story collection.

Kath- Thanks! I LOVE both fruit and beer, but not together but hey, to each his/her own., whatever wets your whistle.

Amber- I had to give up my reading recliner, because we really like this set-up. But this LazyBoy sofa is very comfortable and reclines quite nicely.

Laura- It was a long haul, but we finally got it done and are very pleased with the results.

Joe- Yes, the Man-Cave is much lighter. We still have to put up curtains on the french doors and window but they will be open as much as possible. I like light. The folding table in the back corner was set up for the party, normally we take it down.
I am glad you are enjoying Wool and I think it gets better as it goes along.

Morphy- Yes, Man-Cave is more a term than a description. LOL. I don't want it to be dark, dank and dusty.

Bekka- "a mass of seething jealousy." Easy there, my friend. A few deep breaths. It will be okay. Humming softly. Have a pint, you'll feel better.

Chelle- It's nice to have it all in order. I am going to have to work extra hard, keeping the books under control. No stacks on the floor. The boss's orders.

You're welcome. ;-)

Roberta- LOL! Nothing like a big chuckle before bedtime! Thank you, my friend! Wouldn't that be a great part-time gig? Maybe, we could combine it with books too!

Linda- Booktopia is at the end of September! The weather should be gorgeous. I have not been to Petoskey, have you?

Terri- "What the heck is Booktopia? And why do you get to go?" That was my first chuckle of the evening. The Booktopia events are organized by the folks at The Books on the Nightstand podcast. This is the 3rd and final one of the year. It's for 3 days, filled with author talks, books and book lovers. It's heavenly.

Good night! Off to see the Sandman...

I love the remodeled space, looks perfect for reading, and for beer drinking with buddies, whether related to you or otherwise. Great job, and tell your BH that I think she did famously good with the carpet. Beautiful. I did see the wonderful reading lamp, hiding there in the corner, too. I can see you reading your Booktopia books in prep for the occasion! Go Mark. Are there other LT people going? Do you know? Will there be a Meet-Up?

Heya Mark! I LOVE the man cave! I'm a fan of wide open floors, so kudos for going coffee-table-less. I also really like all the natural light coming in those huge windows.

Booktopia is but a daydream for me, but I can't wait to hear all about it from you!

>23 msf59: Cool man-cave, Mark!

Ok that is way to lovely to be a man cave Mark. Just beautiful. My nephew has a real man cave in his garage and I can stand to be in there for about five minutes. Nope what you have is a gorgeous family room.

Congrats on the Booktopia invite. Take lots of pics.

Nice man cave, Mark!

Yay for Booktopia!! Read some Peter Geye before you go!

Booktopia. Hmph. I am jealous too :(
Ok, I got over that, now I am happy for you as I am sure you would be for me. Think of us lonely Antipodeans here at the end of the earth who dont have such awesome events.

I'd love to have a Winebulance.....it'd be awesome!

“Literature presents you with alternate mappings of the human experience. You see that the experiences of other people and other cultures are as rich, coherent, and troubled as your own experiences. They are as beset with suffering as yours. Literature is a kind of legitimate voyeurism through the keyhole of language where you really come to know other people's lives--their anguish, their loves, their passions. Often you discover that once you dive into those lives and get below the surface, the veneer, there is a real closeness.”

― Chaim Potok

Wow! Our gorgeous summer weather continues. Mid-70s. Can you say: Blissful? I knew you could. I am enjoying my current reads, Dangerous Laughter & The Andalucian Friend. I am going to, ONCE AGAIN, organize my reading schedule, to include a few Booktopia titles. Whew, the life of a reader. So grueling.

Karen- Yep, I have Booktopia homework to do, but at least it is my favorite kind of homework. No other LTers are going to Petoskey, that I know of. It sold out so damn fast. But, several folks from my first BOTNS outing will be there, which will be nice.

Kathy- We'll have to see where they hold the Booktopia events next year. Maybe in the South or Southwest. Have you ever listened to the podcasts?

RD- Thanks! Fortunately, it's my domain, although occasionally my son takes over.

Bonnie- Thanks! We are happy the with the results. My mission: to keep the books under control. Not easy, my friend.

Joanne- I WILL be reading Geye! I didn't sign up for his author talk because he was at the same time of the author of the Dog Stars, but I will be seeing him around.

Megan- I was hoping I got in. It was an event I hated to miss, plus I heard Petoskey, Michigan is a beautiful lake-side town and it's in driving distance from here.

Oh, I really hope next year's Booktopia sites include something somewhere within reach of my budget.

Booktopia.. yep. Jealous. Glad you're getting to go, though!

Love the cartoon!

42: That is awesome news, Mark. I look forward to your Booktopia reports. And now I can uncross my fingers! Love the picture of your updated family room. I see you have chosen the prime spot closest to the books. Like Anne, I would love to sneak a peek at those shelves.

Congrats on Booktopia, Mark! I know you were hoping, hoping, hoping. I think you'll like the Petoskey area, too. It's been a lot of years for me since I was there, but it's a beautiful part of the country.

>57 msf59: Love that comic! I immediately copied it and sent it to my voracious reader goddaughter who lives in a small apartment with her folks in NYC.

That's encouraging to hear Wool gets even better, as it's pretty darn good already. Right now, Jules is on her own, having been sent back down, and is trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Debbi gave me The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope, so I'll be doing that one soon.

Mark, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I saw on Karen't thread that you got into Booktopia! You are going to LOVE Booktopia.

I can't wait to hear all about it.

How cool is it that you get to go to booktopia! Awesome!

Hey, we expect a full report from Booktopia!

Lovely new thread, Mark! And already there is SO much here! Love the man-cave, although it looks anything but like a cave. We have those exact same sofas in our living room except that they are done in a different fabric - we're practically twins! And HOORAY about getting into Booktopia!! Excellent news!

So jealous of you that you get to go to Booktopia. I think I will stomp away and cry and try to forget that you are the guy who thought a YOUNGER Nicole Kidman would have done a good job in the movie version of Gone Girl. Do they let people into Booktopia with opinions like yours regarding younger actresses? Maybe they don't know about your opinions regarding younger actresses? Maybe I should tell them? (Gives an evil laugh and goes off into a corner to sulk.)

Happy Mark on Tuesday, what with this cooperative spell in the weather! It's only 80F here, so I have no real grounds for complaint. Enjoy Petoskey! At least as much as you can with those mysterious stabbing pains you'll be having in your chest and knees and feet.

Oops, I've said too much....

We've had a long string of long work days lately and they are wearing this old fella out. By the time I get home, eat and shower, a good chunk of my evening is shot.
Of course my thread gets preferential treatment, but I always hope to visit some of my pals too! That's the plan anyway!

Kath- I would love to have a Booktopia, where many of us could meet. I'll be watching for next year's line-up.

Donna- Yep, we are happy with the family room. We just have to get curtains and we are done. Maybe, they'll have a Booktopia event in Missouri. I would drive down.

Joe- Yes, sir, I am very pleased with getting into Booktopia and I am booked at the hotel where many of the events will take place, thanks to Sue, who made the reservation right away. Maybe, I can try to get you to come along next year.
I am so glad you are enjoying Wool and look forward to your thoughts on Adam Hope. I have that one on the WL too!

Ellen- Yes, I am one happy camper! Sadly, there will be no other LTers in attendance, (WTH?) but several people I met at the very first Booktopia, (it wasn't called that yet) will be at the Michigan one and I've already started chatting with them about it. Most of them are Good Readers. I hope they don't drag me to the other side.

Chelle & Jim- You know I will give a full report. I'll be schmoozing with some authors. I want to have a beer with Mary Doria Russell!

Mamie- I know you have excellent taste in decor. I will have to give the majority of the credit to my wife, although she always asked my opinion on each item.

Benita- You are evil, my friend! You wouldn't throw me to the dogs, would you? I hope you can make a Booktopia event next year.

RD- Come on, you wouldn't stick pins in an old buddy, would you? It got a little more humid today, even with the low temps, but it was cloudy and drizzly at times.

Booktopia Mark.

Just sayin'

Great Man-Cave, Mark!

Ok, this thread took off really fast. Congrats on Booktopia, so what is your reading homework?

Love the photo of your 'man-cave' too.

It's going to be a long week, since I will probably work my day off tomorrow, as well. It's all about the "Benjamins", my friends! My vacation starts on the 12th, so I have that in my sights.
I should wrap up The Andalucian Friend, which has been so-so Scandi-Crime. Don't break your neck finding this one.

RD- I appreciate the early morning guffaw! That's perfect, even looks like me a little.

Diana- Thanks! It's nice having things back in order.

Kerry- I would like to read each of the authors attending Booktopia. I have read a couple already but this gives me the perfect excuse to finally read Children of God. I would also like to read one of Peter Geye's books, along with Life After Life, the McCorkle version. I have nearly 2 months, so it does give me some time.

An LTer Booktopia would be a great thing indeed! :)

^ I love this! If I had more guests come over, that appreciate my shelves, I would seriously do this.

You can tell he's not a reader. He obviously doesn't care.

The line-up for the Petroskey Booktopia is the strongest of any of them, IMHO. Lucky you!

I think you might have found a good question for the day, Mark: what author(s) would you like to have a beer with? I see you've got Mary Doria Russell as one of yours. One I'd pick is Sandra Newman, the author of The Western Lit Survival Kit. I'd hope she's as witty in person as she is in that book.

Our friend Cheryl Strayed would probably be a good pick, too.

Different topic: have you ever had the Belgian Ale "Kwak"? A co-worker recommended it. Apparently the glass comes in its own wooden stand?

I LOVE your new man-cave! I seriously thought you were channeling Richard and posting some book porn! Y'all did a great job! I'm very impressed/envious. :)

Sorry I've been on a bit of a hiatus. I've been lurking sporadically over the last 2 weeks because of travel and work stuff. But now I'm home, and back with a vengeance.

I LOVE your man cave! What a gorgeous room. This room should definitely be added to the book porn website.

Hi, Mark! I missed your birthday. Oops!


glitter-graphics.com

I love your man-cave. The bookshelves are lovely -- made me gasp out loud!

Great that you're going to Booktopia. (That name alone sort of sounds like my idea of heaven . . .)

I hope they don't drag me to the other side.

Mark, don't even say such a thing. You are not allowed to leave us here!

“May I suggest that you all read? And often. Believe me, it’s nice to have something to talk about other than the weather and the Queen’s health. Your mind is not a cage. It’s a garden. And it requires cultivating.”

— Libba Bray, A Great and Terrible Beauty

^ I have not read Libba Bray but I might have to now.

I got off earlier today and it felt great. I hope the rest of the week goes smoothly. Marky needs his rest. I finished The Andalucian Friend. It wasn't terrible but it's never a good sign when I kept hoping that it was over. Like many, Scandi-Crime novels, it was to bloated.
On audio, I just started Little Brother, which is fast and fun in the early going. A big wave to Kathy for recommending this one! I have not read THIS Doctorow!

Kath- " LTer Booktopia ". Doesn't that sound heavenly?

Morphy- I agree the guy in #73, looks pretty unexcited, like many of our long-suffering spouses. At least he seems tolerant.

Katie- I have to agree with you on the Petoskey line-up. Very choice. One of the main reasons I wanted to make the cut. I'll have to re-shuffle my reading plans but for a good cause, it's never a chore. Maybe, they'll have one in Texas next year. Is there a big, accessible book store somewhere, where a large group could congregate? I am sure that's a dumb question but that's one of the criteria they use.

Great quote, Mark.

"What author(s) would you like to have a beer with?" Joe suggested I post this deep penetrating question and I have to admit, there are A LOT! Of course, beside the Goddess MDR, I would also love to have a brew with Ken Bruen, (if he still drinks. LOL.) and my guy Charlie Huston. And how about Maggie Atwood? OMG! Of course, there is Murakami, McMurtry...wait I better get back to the A's!

Joe- ^ See, how easily swayed I am? I am a powder-puff. I would LOVE to have a beer with Strayed and Gillian Flynn too, but it would have to be a well-lit place, with a visible exit.
I have not tried "Kwak" and I have not heard of it either. Sounds wacky!

Tina- Thanks! We are pleased. If you are ever in the Chicago-area...

Caro- It's great to see you! I always enjoy your visits. I'll have to stop by and see what you are reading.

Terri- Thanks for the birthday wishes. They are never belated around here. I understand there is a RL, we have to deal with and that takes priority.

Ellen- "I hope they don't drag me to the other side." Well, they didn't do it '10. I was completely surrounded by Good Readers. Once again, no LTers were present. Of course, I praised LT whenever I could. I can't believe how many people asked me-"What's that?" Of course my gaze went heavenward and I slowly shook my head.

Hello friend, I'd love to have a beer and/or go to a ballgame with Doris Kearns Goodwin. Between the history talk and the baseball talk, we'd go on forever.

I was just reading as to how the first Friday of August is International Beer Day. How're you planning to celebrate? I'll be at the Cubs game.

>67 msf59: Most of them are Good Readers. I hope they don't drag me to the other side
What does being a good reader involve, pray tell? You mean a book snob?

And what is this about "getting in to Booktopia"- is it not a case of buying a pass/ticket? Is it that there is high demand, and some sort of lottery for tickets? If so, then even bigger congrats on getting in, I am very happy for any book-lovers getting more immersion in books!

>76 jnwelch: ooh, good question Joe! (What authors would you like to have a beer with?)
Off the top pf my head.....Naomi Klein, Lionel Shriver, Noam Chomsky, Christopher Hitchens (I know, he died ,but only fairly recently....), Barry Lopez.....up- that's all for now. Could be a fun night though! (I hope some of them are funny, I couldn't cope if it was all serious talk)

Happy August 1st! Wow, the summer is flying. I am nearly done with Dangerous Laughter. What a wonderfully trippy collection! The author looks like an older guy but I wonder if he took LSD while writing this.

Linda- I did not know Friday is International Beer Day. Thank you. I'll have to pick out something extra special, when I get home from work tomorrow. Yes, there are several NF authors I would love to have a beer with too. Candice Millard?

Megan- Sorry, for not explaining things better. Good Readers are people that hang on GoodReads, another book site. I hang over there too but this is HOME. As far as Booktopia goes, they keep the attendance down to 75, (what a great number!) to keep it more intimate and the Michigan event sold out in an hour. I was on a waiting list.
Yes, there are plenty of authors we would LOVE to have a drink with.

^Okay, I have my August reading all ready to go! Now, to find a comfy spot!

I could easily read nothing but ARCS, (I have at least 15-20 of them) and Booktopia books, for the entire month. Better get cracking...

What authors would I like to have a beer with? MDR and deLint. For sure. Absolutely. What good fun that would be!!

"Goddess MDR" - Okay, for those of us who are drain-bamaged. Who is this?

A beer...lessee...MDR of course, and Mary Roach, and Candice Millard...Mari SanGiovanni...Ben Winters...Guy Gavriel Kay...

I think we need to get the Tome Home up and runnin' so we can have the Barside Meet'n'Mingle for the residents.

>87 msf59: That is a great shot!
I would also like time to slow down a bit, Mark. But August is usually a gorgeous month in Seattle, so I'm going to enjoy it.

It wasn't terrible but it's never a good sign when I kept hoping that it was over. Ha! Well put, Mark. Man, have I had a few of those.

Liking those answers to "what author(s) would you like to have a beer with". I'll cherry pick Murakami from yours, Barry Lopez from Megan's and Mary Roach from Richard's answers. I'll add Tracy Kidder to mine. He might turn out to be invisible, as he seems to be in many of his books, but if we get some beers into him, I'm hoping he starts telling stories.

BTW, as you probably know, Gillian Flynn is a Chicagoan, and supposedly is as sweet as can be in person. Apparently she gets the dark stuff out in her books.

Happy Belated Birthday!!!!!!

I would choose John Irving to have a glass or two of wine.

Of those you note, what questions would you ask them?

I'd like to have a Leinenkugel's (the Cork O'Connor character's favorite beer) with William Kent Krueger, some jambalaya with James Lee Burke, and a glass of good wine with Philip DePoy. I'd just like to know how they keep coming up with ideas for their books . . . dePoy especially, as his mind works in most strange ways, it seems!

I'm going to add both Ryu and Haruki Murakami, Mary Roach, Colin Cotterill and J.D.Robb to my list of authors I'd like to have a beer with.

Mark, I sat in on a talk that Libba Bray gave to a few hundred odd high school students back in May, she was phenomenal. I've read a couple of her books but can't recommend anything. I'm going to try Going Bovine which looks to be a bit different from Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy. I gave up on Beauty Queens after the first chapter.

"Leaving any bookstore is hard, especially on a day in August, when the street outside burns and glares, and the books inside are cool and crisp to the touch; especially on a day in January, when the wind is blowing, the ice is treacherous, and the books inside seem to gather together in colorful warmth. It’s hard to leave a bookstore any day of the year, though, because a bookstore is one of the few places where all the cantankerous, conflicting, alluring voices of the world co-exist in peace and order and the avid reader is as free as a person can possibly be, because she is free to choose among them."

-Jane Smiley Thanks to RD for posting this one on FB. It's lovely.

According to the Web-World, it is also IPA (Imperial Pale Ale) DAY, which I though was everyday, but whatever! Hey, Happy IPA DAY!



^This is one of my absolute favorites! It's Dogfish Head 90 min IPA! I wish I had one right now!

Oh Mark, I know who I would like to have a beer with (does it count that the only beer I drink is the one I share with my hubby every summer?): Hillary Mantel, Kate Atkinson, and MDR. Oh what fun that would be.

Hey Mark - Booktopia sounds like heaven-on-a-page. I would love to have a beer with Bill Bryson, Mary Roach, Michael Dirda, Richard Ford, Dave Eggars and Caitlin Moran.

Kath- I hate to admit it, but I still have to get to deLint. Bad Bad Mark. I know you've been raving about him for several years.

Morphy- There is only ONE Goddess MDR and that's Mary Doria Russell. And yes, I am genuflecting, as I type.

RD- "I think we need to get the Tome Home up and runnin' so we can have the Barside Meet'n'Mingle for the residents." Here, Here, my friend! But sadly, I have not read or heard of either SanGiovanni or Mr. Winters. Do I see a punishment in store? Be gentle...

Ellen- Our weather has been fantastic. Fingers crossed it continues! But boy, do I have a flood of books to get to!

Joe- Yep, skip that Scandi-Crime, there are so many others worth diving into. I hope to get to the 3rd Department Q book in September.
Shit, I forgot about Mary Roach! I would love to find out what kind of books she reads. All NF? I have not read Lopez. Good?

Linda- Thank you! I think John Irving would be a good choice too! Lots of literary history there.

Terri- I love your food/drink pairings with your favorite authors! Very cool! And thanks for the reminder of returning to the Cork O'Connor series. I have put that one off forever.

Caro- Nice author line-up. I have not read Ryu and I probably will never read Robb. Go ahead, call me a snob. I've been called worse. Cotteril would be a blast.

Kerry- I do love the Bray quote, but it looks like I can avoid her books. LOL. Thank you.

Ben Winters! Wrote The Last Policeman! Earth to Mark, come in please.

LOL! And I am completely sober! It looked familiar, but...I just looked past it, thinking you would have selected someone different. Did you read the second book?

Bonnie- If we ever have a chance to meet-up, you'll have to have a beer with me! For me, that would be like having a beer with MDR.

Prue- I am not familiar with Dirda & Moran. Should I be? I am hoping to get to the Ford trilogy. I read the middle book over 20 years ago and now I want to read them in order.

> 90 Mari SanGiovanni! yeah!

Mark, if you check out the Lake Forest Bookstore website, they're bringing a whole bunch of authors to local libraries for talks/signings. Alas, mostly northern suburbs so convenient for me and not so much so for you. Larry Watson, author of the terrific Montana, 1948 will be coming in on a Saturday in early September. I'm considering that one.

Hello Mark - Michael Dirda is a literary critic who writes for the New York Times among others. He also has an excellent book about reading classics for pleasure. Definitely not a snob about them though! I urge you to go back to Richard Ford. Now. Caitlin Moran is a UK journalist/feminist. Her book How to be a Woman was both thought-provoking and HILARIOUS. Oh and I should have added Sam Shepard - Pulitzer-prize winning playwright AND Oscar-nominated actor for The Right Stuff and all-around drop-dead good looker.

With whom would I like to have a beer?

Pat Barker
John Irving
Dave Eggers
John Steinbeck (yeah, I know...)
Alison Bechdel (maybe two beers with her, or even three....)
Annie Proulx
Geraldine Brooks

^Okay, I started Tampa. I received this as an ARC nearly 2 months ago and it's been getting a lot of buzz lately. It's a twisted mash-up of Lolita/American Psycho and this one focuses on a sexy, sociopath. A gorgeous middle-school teacher, preying on 13-14 year old boys. It's both fascinating and stomach-churning, in equal measures.

"Jack Patrick. Something in his chin-length blond hair, in the diminutive leanness of his chest, refined for me just what it was about the particular subset of this age group that I found entrancing. He was at the very last link of androgyny that puberty: undeniably male but not man."

I know, EWWW! The ick-factor is high and many readers will understandably shun this but I'll stick it out and test these creepy depths.

Kath, RD- It looks like I'll have to check out SanGiovanni. What's a good place to start?

Linda- If Watson makes it down to my neck of the woods. I might just check him out. I hope to bookhorn Let Him go in soon.

Prue- Thanks for the info! I like the idea of having a beer with Sam Shepard too! The stories he could tell!

Ellen- I like that author/beer line-up! You be careful with Ms. Bechdel! LOL. That reminds me, I have 2 Brooks books, waiting in the wings.

Greetings from Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer. Laugh-out-loud funny.

Tampa is too much like Life With Mother for me to want to read it, but it sounds like an out-of-the-ballpark hit. I'm very glad she's telling this story.

Rdear sent me a copy of Greetings from Jamaica, and I fell instantly in love. She is a wonderful, funny and real woman who writes with a laugh out loud flair. Not to be missed. Another time rd got me hooked on an author, but in this case, I fell for the woman behind the words too.. her life is a series of highs and lows and she shares both with fb folk. She is one author I wouldn't hesitate to walk up to and say hello. And then, probably laugh. So yes! Definitely a have a beer ( she drinks mostly wine, I think ) with!

Heh. I'm like the book world's Byron: Mad, bad, and dangerous to know.

Yeesh, life gets away from me for a bit and you're on a new thread! Congratulations on getting into Booktopia! And a very belated happy birthday...?

I just finished The Name of The Wind and I adored it. So much so I had to buy Wise Man's Fear on my way home today. :) I think you were a fan too?

You're going to love Wise Man's Fear, Tania. Can't wait for the next one.

Yay for Dogfish Head IPA! I've got to find the 120 minute some day.

Life After Life was most excellent. I imagine a lot of research underlay those compelling WWII scenes in the London Blitz.

Mark - Thanks for the warning on The Andalucian Friend. I'll take a pass. I'll also pass on Tampa. Too many other books to be creeped out. I read Lolita earlier this year. That is enough for me.

My next Scandi Crime will be the Martin Beck series. Fingers crossed I start with Roseanna in September. Perfect for the month of Series and Sequels!

I'm reading The Garden of Evening Mists and listening to Hounded right now. I'm also reading A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield. It's a little to 90s (written in 1993). Still it has good insight.

Today is my Saturday. Have a great day!

hiya Mark. hope your weekend rocks. aren't these gawgeous?



you like Stonebrewing's Arrogant Bastard Ale, don't you? Zymurgy ranked it 7th this year. you need a California friend to get you some Russian River Pliny the Elder. it got Zymurgy's 1st again.

“The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites,
it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.” ―

-Elizabeth Hardwick

RD & Kath- I requested Greetings from Jamaica from the library. I am not sure when I'll be able to bookhorn it in, but I WILL try.

RD- Many readers will be appalled and disgusted with Tampa. Being in the head of a pedophile is a disturbing place. Nutting does not hold any punches.

Tania- Good to see you and thanks! Glad you liked The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear is a lot of fun too but why do they have to be so dog-gone LONG?

Joe- Any word on the new Rothfuss? I know he takes his time. I never had a chance to try the Dogfish Head 120. It's hard to find and very expensive.
I am glad you enjoyed Life After Life. I had a feeling you would.

Roberta- Thanks for the book update! Always love those! I loved Lolita and would love to do a reread one of these days. I heard Jeremy Irons narrates one of the audios. Would that be sweet or what? I would like to try the Beck series again too. I think I read a couple of those back in the 80s.
I was crazy about The Garden of Evening Mists. I hope you feel the same way.

Mark, I'll be interested in your thoughts on Tampa. I find the premise intriguing, if only in the sense that I often think women who prey on young men/teens are never quite as vilified as men who prey on young women/teens. It's a double standard I have never understood.

Hi Mark!

I was on Goodreads for a long time, then deleted my account, but just rejoined. I occasionally interact with people I know in real life there, but that's about it. I never quite grasped the groups. I would find one that seemed interesting, and it would be marked private and not accepting new members. That sort of thing. Are you in any groups? There are so many and it's baffling...or maybe I'm just easily baffled.

#107 - That does sound creepy! There seems to be a rash of female teacher pedophiles in the news in recent years, so I suppose it's timely. And I agree with Katie regarding the double standard issue.

I may have to skip on Tampa, I couldn't even finish Lolita. Too creepy for me.

I'm looking forward to Wise Man's Fear, but the mate of mine behind the counter at the bookshop did say it bogged down badly in the middle, in his opinion. (I like getting an honest opinion, and 20% discount!, from him. :)

Lovely sunny winters day in Sydney. When we do nice winters, they're very very nice. This looks like one of those days. :) Planning to catch up with mum this afternoon for a bookshop crawl and afternoon tea, then she's coming by to babysit while Don and I go out for dinner and to see The World's End! Huzzah! I may also celebrate the end of Dry July (I personally raised just over $500 for adults living with cancer, go me!, while the charity as a whole raised well over $3 million) with a frosty beer or two. :)

Booktopia sounds fantastic!!
Really, what a grand idea- and, DO NOT get dragged to the other side, pu-lease. (as if, right?)

Ellie- You know, I love the beer line-up! I am crazy about most of the Stone brews, including Arrogant Bastard. I have not heard of Russian River and Pliny the Elder sounds terrific, so I will keep an eye out. I hope they have it in the Chicago-land area.

Katie- If you think if you have the stomach for it, try Tampa, but be forewarned, it is very very explicit.

Kerri- I joined Good Reads in early 2010, because of the connection with Books on the Nightstand and the 1st Booktopia. I made some friends over there, so I still keep up. I joined a couple groups but do not follow them. LT takes up a big chunk of my internet time. No time for any other social media.

Tania- I was a big fan of Lolita but this one is much more explicit and if you can believe it, darker and more disturbing. I agree, that Wise Man's Fear had some slow sections but overall it works.
Congrats on Dry July! You did it!!

Megan- I'll post the author line-up again. It's pretty amazing. And, NO, I will not be dragged to the other side.

Tampa sounds like one I might have to skip. I will look forward to your review, though Mark as I can pretty much count on your likes to mirror mine...

Book-topia only has 75 participants??? Wow, you really did hit it big with that win!!

Hi Mark: Happy weekend!! Looks like I've become quite a jinx for the Cubs this year as they lost again today. In 8 games, I still haven't been able to sing Go Cubs Go this year.

Happy Saturday! I am trying to wrap up another long work week. I have Sunday firmly in my sights. And then I work 5 and then VACATION! Amen, brothers & sisters.
I hope to wrap up Little Brother today. I am disappointed in this one. I will continue Tampa. Back into the head of this feverish monster.

Tina- Ann & Michael over on Books on the Nightstand really want to keep the Booktopia small and manageable, otherwise you lose that intimate, living room atmosphere.

Linda- Sorry about the Cubbies! They've had a rough week. I guess it's all about the future now!

Happy Saturday, Mark!

I am on vacation and currently planted in a hotel room at "The Oasis on the Plains' in Colby, KS. It has been so dry out here that my relatives never harvested their wheat crop this year. Just 200 miles east of here it rained 11 inches in 12 days and one of the reservoirs on the Solomon River rose 5 feet in two days! I am traveling with my Dad to visit relatives and do some interveiwing for the family history we are putting together. Yesterday we drove through some beautiful country in the High Plains. Long rolling vistas and I got to see thunderheads form - something I never see in Alabama. I just love the space out here and kept thinking about what Annie Proulx wrote about in her memoir Bird Cloud and all that wide open space. This is harsh country but beautiful and so vast. Even today when REA poles and high voltage transmission lines crisscross the openness is awe inspiring. There is so much here to see and the wind! The sight and the feel of the wind just fills the mind. And there simply isn't any way to describe the sky. The color, the intensity, the space and the horizon. It was a beautiful drive.

Today I am attending a wedding for one of my many cousins so will end this little excursion with a party. Nice.

I really envy you getting in to Booktopia and hope that the experience is as good as it was in Vermont. I'll check in with you later this week.

Not that I drink beer, but if I did, the authors I'd like to have one with:

Spider Robinson
Geraldine Brooks
Stephen King
Jim Butcher
Anne Fadiman
Anne Bishop

If I could bring them back from the dead:

Isaac Asimov
Robert Heinlein
Anne McCaffrey

Ah, I'll cherry pick Ann Fadiman from Morphy's list, although all of hers would likely be fun to have a cold one with.

Hope your last workday of the week is okay, Mark. At least nature is doing its part again with the nice weather. I was thinking of you with the Saga graphic series; if you haven't read the second one yet, you'll want to. Even better than the first. I just read an article saying that's the one that's flying off the shelves at booksellers these days. Building Stories was the other big seller.

^ I met my daughter after work and we hit a couple brew/pubs and I got seriously buzzed. Do not Laugh! And I will see you in the A.M.!

*trying to hide laughter*

So Little Brother didn't turn out to be super?

Glad you had a good time with your daughter! Hope you took a couple advil before bed ;-p

"buzzed" - what a nice euphemism mate.

Literary drinking buddies:

Will Self
Jo Nesbo
Andrea Camilleri (with interpreter, I suppose)
Jhumpa Lahiri
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (the latter two for obvious testosterone fuelled reasons)Jo
China Mieville (based on Rhian's recce)

Have a great weekend Mark.

Oh, I've met China Mieville at a booksigning and was too shy to say more than "loveyourbooks" but friends of mine from the bookshop went out to dinner with him afterwards and apparently he's great entertainment! He'd definitely be on my beer-drinking-with-authors list, I just have to get over my shyness around clever people. :)

I think I'd also nominate John Scalzi, Justine Larbelestier, Ben Aaronovitch, Scott Lynch, Margo Lanagan, P.D. James, Donna Leon....

I did enjoy "The World's End" last night, although it wasn't as good as "Shaun of the Dead" or "Hot Fuzz". The jokes were funny, but the ending was just rather silly. Entertaining, but silly.

Went to a new drinking hole last night, Miss Peach's Soul Food Kitchen. Not knowing much about soul food, we unfortunately ordered everything that was deep fried so was a bit bilious after eating and only got through one beer. Their beer list was predominately American, so I had a Anchor Brewing Steam from San Francisco (I asked for a Liberty ale, but was given the wrong thing, no biggie). Rather nice, although let's not think about the carbon footprint of shipping bottles of beer from there to Sydney... A cup of tea (and a bookshop visit) sorted my queasiness out before the movie. I'll just know to order more carefully next time I go to Miss Peach's. :)

Glad you had fun with your daughter, Mark (at least, I assume buzzed means fun). I hope you wake up on Sunday headache-free.

Ahhhh...Sunday morning! Coffee, quiet, LT. The Holy Trinity. I slept great, just a wee bit fuzzy, which I'll probably shake off after cup 2 or 3.

I finished Little Brother, which was disappointing. It's NO 1984. National Security is a hot button issue, with many facets, good and bad but Doctorow deals with it in such a thoroughly ham-fisted way, it wore me out.

Tampa also wears you out, but in a different way. Being in the head of a monster, is not always the most pleasant place to hang but at least Nutting is a good writer.

RD- Big hearty wave. I am still grinning over the fact that you really liked the new Gaiman. There is still HOPE in the universe. Glancing heavenward...

Benita- Thanks for stopping by on your vacation. I love your descriptions of Kansas. Sorry to hear your area is dealing with drought issues. What books did you take along?

Cup 2...

Morphy- That's a good author/beer list! King would be high on my list to.

Joe- I better get over and request the 2nd Saga book. Last time I checked it wasn't up yet. I NEED to get to Building Stories too. Now, I have NO EXCUSE!

Chelle- Little Brother is a popular book, it just didn't work for me. No subtlety at all. Hey, no headache this morning. Yah!

Paul- That's another terrific author/beer list. I would love to sit across from Ms. Lahiri but I would imagine I would be completely tongue-tied. LOL.
BTW- I plan on starting her new one very very soon.

Where did you go? Did you have anything good? Do you even remember? :-)

Sorry Little Brother was disappointing. I know a few people in real life who rave about it, but I haven't read it yet.

Tania- I like your author choices. I think Mieville is a good selection too. I NEED to get back to some of his books. It's been awhile. I also need to get to the 2nd Lynch book. Have you read that one?
I'll have to keep an eye out for The World's End. I'm not sure if it opened here yet.
I like Anchor Steam. They have been around forever. I don't think I've had Liberty Ale but it sounds good.

Ellen- I didn't have a lot of beer but the ones I did drink had a heavy alcohol content. They sneak up on you.

Morning Kerri- Everything I had yesterday was terrific. We started out at Lunar Brewery Pub in Villa Park, just a hole in the wall place on St. Charles Rd. They make their own plus some nice guest beers. And then on to Tap House. Little Sumpin' Sumpin', 3.50 pints. And then we stopped at Urban Legend Brewery, just to find the location. The doors were open and they invited us in and offered us some of their pale ale. They officially open on the 17th. The little bar area is not even finished. By the time I got home, I was wiped. LOL.
Little Brother is a beloved title. Maybe it was just me.

92) My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf 4.5 stars

Could you imagine being childhood friends with a serial killer? Well, that is what happens in these pages. The author recalls his high school days, which included palling around with Jeffrey Dahmer. Backderf even started a Dahmer Fan Club, because Dahmer was such an oddball.
This is not a frivolous or exploitive book. It is dark and disturbing and shows the creation of a killer, as he struggles with his demons. He begins to kill small animals, which does little to quench his horrific desires and then he turns his murderous gaze on a jogger that passes his house.
The author has done extensive research and gives detailed footnotes at the back of the book, explaining each incident, culling much of it from Dahmer’s own interviews, after his arrest. This is an excellent read and the illustrations are stark and haunting. If you have the stomach for it, give it a try.

The only thing with King is that he has a very annoying voice. But he would be so fascinating to talk to!

93) NOS4A2 by Joe Hill 4.4 stars

Charlie Manx is a vampire of sorts, but instead of feeding on blood, he thrives on the souls of children. Driving around in a ‘38 Rolls Royce Wraith, trolling for adventure and bringing these kids to a special place he has created called ChristmasLand.
Victoria McQueen is only a child, when we first meet her. Smart and adventurous. She also possesses a rare gift, that might just give her the power to do battle with good old Charlie.
This is a terrific horror story, the type you do not see much of anymore. Filled with humor, thrills and chills galore. Also, you will never look at Christmas, the same way again. Do not fear the massive length. Hill is a wonderful storyteller and keeps the narrative amped up and moving. A perfect summer read.

**Note: Hill is Stephen King's son and boy is he a chip off the old block.

^^Wow, am I filled with sunshine this morning or what?

Serial killers and soul suckers! Happy Sunday Mark!

I think I'll pass on your last two books, Mark, but I enjoyed your comments. happy Sunday to you. Hope you can take it easy after your night of fun:)

Happy Sunday, Mark!! It's a picture perfect day. Did some yard work in the a.m. and now I'll be putting the Cubs game on, along with my current book.

While you were sampling all these brews, I had two Coors Lights at a family party in Bartlett. We really needed a fun family event, for a change.

Hmm I have to have another go at the Hill book...
I hope you like Greeting from Jamaica :) it's very short! Easy for a nice fast read.

Whew! I finished Tampa and immediately took a hot and then a cold shower, brushed my teeth a couple times and now I wish I had a sauna close by, to cleanse my pores. Of course I am kidding but it was that kind of book. It was like passing a horrific highway accident, you try to look straight ahead but you still keep cutting your eyes toward the carnage. It's actually a pretty good book but you have to have the stomach for child abuse and graphic sex.

(Wow, no one is ever going to mistake me for Mr. Rogers!)

Next up, Thank Heavens, is something lighter and more fanciful- The Last Unicorn, which I've heard good reports about.

Morphy- There was an excellent article in the NYT about the King family:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/magazine/stephen-kings-family-business.html?sm...

Roberta- "Serial killers and soul suckers!" LOL. A future topic heading?

Anne- I can't recommend any of my last few books, to you anyway! LOL. But, I'll come up with something. Yes, my day is going as planned.

Linda- I briefly considered cutting the lawn but it actually doesn't look bad. It can wait. LOL. 2 Coors Lights, huh? You are a Wild Woman!

Kath- I think you'll have a lot of fun with NOS4A2. It's like King at his best. Yes, Greeting from Jamaica should be the ideal "tweener" book.

Oh, my, Mark. The juxtaposition of your latest read and upcoming read is really something!

Goliath by Tom Gauld 4.3 stars GN

Yes, Goliath is a big strapping dude. He is also shy, reticent and prefers admin work over anything physical or warlike. One day he is told to don his armor and head out to the Valley of Elah and deliver a challenge to the Israelites.
This is a smart, crafty, retelling of a biblical tale, but from the reverse angle. It is poignant, bittersweet and thought-provoking. The illustrations seem to be spare and simple but actually pack a nice punch. Once again, this proves how effective and invaluable GNs can be. Highly recommended.

Never read Ryū Murakami, Marky-Mark? I think you would enjoy some of his works, especially Audition.

Mark, Goliath sounds excellent! I only learned about the power of GNs this summer when I read Maus and Maus II. The Testament of Mary is also something of a retelling of a biblical tale, but from the reverse angle. Another excellent read.

Whew. Back from exile. Still don't know the whys or wherefores, but here I am!

"Serial killers and soul suckers!" LOL. A future topic heading? Yes, but it's something only YOU can host! LOL!

^Okay, I found a tattoo that would work for me. Of course, it would go right on the back of my neck. And this would come in handy if I got lost or something.

Katie- "The juxtaposition of your latest read and upcoming read is really something!" You are not kidding! LOL. I keep waiting for something horrible to happen to the unicorn or a child.

Caro- Yes, now I remember you talking about Ryū Murakami before. I saw the film version of Audition and it was one of the most twisted and disturbing films I have ever seen.

Nancy- Goliath is one that really sticks with you too! I am considering picking up a "keeper" copy.

RD- Welcome home, my friend. Glad to have you back from the Black Hole!

Roberta- That's a deal!!

Both My Friend Dahmer and NOS4A2 look interesting.

I hope you have a wonderful week off, Mark!!

>153 msf59: tattoo LOL. At least they could keep you satisfied while they search for your identity, family, etc:)

Hi Mark, cant catch up fully just now as am dying to crawl into be with my book, but I wanted to stop by and say (1) my lovely other is enjoying a drink of Samuel Adams Noble Pils...very hoppy! I didn't mind it actually, do you know that beer? and
(2) I stole Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail from my sisters place this weekend. I think it was you who rated it highly!? I stole it in your name....and I can wait to read it.

^Poor little owl, I know exactly how he feels!

Let the countdown begin: 5 work days and then freedom from the grind. 9 glorious days. Okay, back to reality: I started the Last Unicorn, another LT rec, (waves to Kathy)and the polar-opposite of Tampa, unless it takes an ugly detour somewhere. On audio, I started Paco's Story, another LT rec, (waves to Joe). It's a Vietnam novel. Has anyone read Heinemann before? I see he has released several books over the years. Click on his profile. He looks like a frontiersmen.

Ellen- Those are my dark-side books! LOL. Although, the Hill book is infused with enough humor, to keep it afloat. Tampa also has humor but it is so black, it's nearly unrecognizable.

Anne- Let's hope so! I hate being lost for long.

Megan- Of course Sam Adams is a US stalwart in the beer industry but I don't think I've heard of this one. I know they are introducing more product, to keep up with the explosive craft beer scene, that is cheering the nation.
I'll be watching for your thoughts on "Wild". Strayed kicks butt!

Man, you're going to have some kind of whiplash or culture shock going from My Friend Dahmer and NOS4A2 to The Last Unicorn! Be careful driving heavy vehicles.

Goliath looks particularly good to me, so I'll cast around for that one. I've started Mind Mgmt, and it is meeting its reputation for strangeness. I loved The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope, and that one might be a good bleakness changeup for you some time. Now I'm reading an Austen I've never tried, the cynical and funny so far Lady Susan, which was one of those I picked up at ALA along with the Cather.

Hope you have a good one today. The weather is starting out pretty nice again, although apparently some rain is heading our way.

I had to tip-toe in here. I didn't want to wake anyone or stir up any ghosts or serial killers! Awfully quiet...

Joe- Of course, my Chicago peep comes through! High Five! I thought it was another perfect weather day and I stayed dry the whole time. Win, Win!
I'll have to request Adam Hope. I've had it on my WL, since Karen raved about it a couple months ago. I'll be watching for your thoughts on Mind Mgmt, always interested in a good GN. And yes, I am way overdue for Ms. Austen.

Sshh...we are hiding the bodies. *tiptoes away*

Hello Mark - hmm, 4 stars for Tampa - sounds interesting. I am really on the hunt for a five-star read as I haven't had one since Train Dreams. Might get A Fine Balance off the Shelves of Shame. I'm reading Elizabeth StroutThe Burgess Boys at the moment for Book Club at the end of the month. Gotta say that I loved Olive Kittridge but still a bit early to know about BB.

It IS awfully quiet around LT. I figure everyone's on vacation somewhere. Not me. No sirree bob.

I'm still humming along on my WW1 book, The Guns of August.

Whew! I was just on the phone with my sister for over an hour! Wow! The DRAMA! It's like a bad (are there any other kind?) reality show. I love her but sometimes I am glad she's safely 2,000 miles away. I prefer my pleasant, low-drama existence.

Roberta- You guys did a good job hiding the evidence, but what is that smell?

Prue- I wished we all lived closer, so I could slap Tampa on you. It's not a five star book but entertaining in a dark & twisted way. If you are looking for a 5 star selection, pull A Fine Balance down off the shelf. I liked the Burgess Boys but LOVED Olive.

Linda- I am glad you thought LT was quiet today too! I thought I might have got tipsy and made a fool of myself over here and was put on a time-out.

Hi Mark! My Friend Dahmer does sound good. What an interesting perspective. I may put it on the wishlist.

*snorp*smacksmack* ...wha...? Quiet guys, tryin' ta sleep here.

I'm so glad that someone else has phone conversations like that with a sister! Now you know why the big move to Georgia was so inviting! Mark, I feel your pain. I know it will make you feel better when I mention that I have four sisters back in Indiana and one in Missouri.

Kerri- If you like true-crime, this is a one of a kind GN. You are right about the unique perspective. Check with your library.

RD- Sorry to disturb you sweet-cheeks. Go back to sleep...

Mamie- Unfortunately, my sister doesn't have anyone to talk to, outside of her immediate family and they all completely shutdown when a crisis arises, so I am her only lifeline. Hey, at least I have LT! Awwwwwww....

Hi Mark, I just read about Tampa somewhere online; can't think where but it sounded like a fascinating read and here you are already gotten it under your belt. I'm intrigued by the sounds of it and you know I like dark so I will have to look for it. Was it one of your freebies from the ALA conference?

I was just joking around, Mark, you know that right? I'm glad she has you to talk to. I make jokes about the fact that I have five older sisters, but the two oldest pretty much raised me, so I was being very tongue in cheek. I'm sorry if it came out wrong.

Nothing brings a family closer together than a few thousand miles...

Authors and Beer?

I'd love to sit around with:
Stephen King (and maybe his whole family, the NY Times had a great interview with them recently)
Anna Quindlen (I'd love to spend time with her)
Kent Haruf (I chatted with him when he did a talk a month or so ago and he's as warm and friendly as you'd think)

>164 msf59: wow, an hour! That must have been a drama. It's nice that you can be there for her. I got talked at for an hour by my aunt a few months ago...and I haven't made contact since. Bad of me, but I found it a challenging experience to say the least.

Morning! I'll be wrapping up Paco's Story. Actually, very little of it takes place in Vietnam. Most of the story involves a wounded vet, returning to the states. More of a snapshot of that era in America. I am enjoying The Last Unicorn. It is light but fun and very inventive.

Bonnie- I did not snag Tampa from ALA but I did receive an ARC from a publisher a couple months ago. I am sure you are no prude but be prepared for a slew of graphic sex.

Morning Mamie- Oh, I knew you were kidding around. I am sorry if the tone of my reply, told otherwise. I was just referring to the fact that I had NO choice. LOL. Hey, what are big brothers for?

Joanne- "Nothing brings a family closer together than a few thousand miles." Thanks for the early morning chuckle. How true. I love your choice of Kent Haruf and I am sure Joe would agree with us on that one too!

Megan- The drama with my sister and her very colorful, sometimes irritating family is business as usual. But she is bi-polar too, which doesn't make things easy and I have to monitor her, the best I can from this distance.

Thanks for reminding me to catch up with my sister! She doesn't live far away, but what with kids (she has four) and work (she's a doctor) it's impossible to find time to chat. Although she's also getting her kitchen renovated at the moment, so I'm expecting my eyes to glaze over at some stage, probably during a discussion of tile colours or something....

Oh, the Last Unicorn! a wee little book but a good one!
Every single time I talk to my sister, her first sentence is something negative about her son in law...who btw is a very good husband to her daughter. And then she starts on how Owen is a monster. I am having a really hard time dealing. Sisters... can be irksome.

I do know that my mom and I get along MUCH better now that we live 1800 miles away.

I'm reading A Fine Balance. I was dreading it a bit. It's a door stopper and the plot is bleak and depressing.

But OMG, the writing is exceptional.

Yeah, that description of A Fine Balance is right on the money, Morphy. It's an exceptional book, but you need a strong heart.

I like Joanne's comment up in >171 Copperskye:, Mark: Nothing brings a family closer together than a few thousand miles... Ha! Ain't that the truth. I know what you mean on the drama. Good to have some distance.

I just started Howard's End is on the Landing. Did you read that one? She starts with a Lord Peter Wimsey, so of course I liked that.

^I want a pair of these!

Yah, I finished my 100th book. It was Paco's Story, which I really liked. Heinemann is a terrific writer. Very observant and uncanny with detail. He reminded me a little of Steinbeck in his older years, with a more hip sensibility and no fear of profanity.
Wasting no time, I jumped right into The Gods of Gotham. I have wanted to read this one since it's release and I've had it on shelf for at least a year. What was the hesitation? Who the hell knows but it's excellent and pulled me in immediately. Does anyone watch the British series Copper? It's a very good series and reminds me of this crime novel. That is set in NYC, 1864-65. This book takes place in 1845, when the New York City P.D. was just forming, right after the devastating fire that swept the city. It looks like this is going to be series and the second one comes out, next month I think. So my timing ain't bad!

Well done mate for passing 100 in such style!

Tania- Do you get together with your sister very often? Is she a reader? LOL. My brother lives in Florida. Our relationship is just okay, so I don't mind the distance.

Kath- I was going to ask you about The Last Unicorn. I had a feeling you would have read this one. It's actually very good and not quite as "lite" as I thought it would be.
Your sister sounds like a bundle of joy to talk to! LOL.

Morphy- I am so glad you bit the bullet and started A Fine Balance. I know you are not a fan of heavy, dark & disturbing books and this is one of those, so pace yourself, my friend. It might be my favorite read of the year...so far.

Joe- The only family members I want within shouting distance is my kids and I am sure you agree with that.
Yes, I read and enjoyed Howard's End is on the Landing. I think she focused on English authors and I wasn't as familiar with them, where you have an advantage there.

Hi Mark, I was so moved by A Fine Balance when I read it. Can't say that I could read it again, though.

Wow! 100 - congrats Mark!!!

>178 msf59: - I'll take a pair, too, size 8, please!

Congrats on your century, Mark!
And I love the flip flops!

congratulations on your 100th book!
What about some fliflops with 'Have Beer' and 'Don't follow'?

^ Broadchurch. This is is a new British crimes series, that's been getting good buzz and it premieres tonight on BBC America. A short description:

"It centers on the investigation into the murder of a young boy in a British seaside town.

Leading the investigation are two detectives – the strong yet compassionate local Detective Sergeant, Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman), and the by-the-book Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant), Ellie’s newly appointed boss.

By circumstance they are partnered to solve the murder, keeping the newspapers from derailing the investigation and trying to prevent the crime from impacting tourism at the beach where the boy was murdered."

By George, I think I'll give it a go!

Happy Hump Day! 3 more days. I can smell that finish line and it smells oh so sweet. I should wrap up the Last Unicorn today, which has been fun. I think I'll start The Lowland, the new Lahiri, which I snagged at ALA.
Anne- I don't reread much anyway, although it is a long term objective. I will read more of Mistry's work though.

Joanne & Ellen- Thanks! I have only read 40 print books so my audios save the day, once again. Glad you like the flip-flops.

Paul- Thanks! I would love to buy a pair of those flip-flops too. LOL.

You're onto me. Yep.. read it, and glad you are liking Unicorn.
Those flip flops are creepy :P

Oh boy Mark, I'm knee deep in posts, my friend, but I caught up enough to see I missed your b-day so sending my belated good wishes.
Congrats on going to Booktopia! Every avid readers dream!
Your man cave looks awesome! I know you never want to leave it so I recommend not walking in there before you head off to work.
Awesome flip-flops but what can we wear in the winter? Boots that leave prints in the snow?

Congratulations on 100 books, Mark!

Yay for the century!

Glad you liked Paco's Story, which I found very melancholy, and The Last Unicorn, which I barely remember reading. The Gods of Gotham will join the pile sooner or later.

Congrats on the 100, Mark!

I'm another one who's glad you liked Paco's Story. You may inspire me to read this book I recommended. :-)

Good to hear the thumbs up for Howards End is on the Landing. She just engaged in extensive praise of Charles Dickens' novels, so she's probably on Richard's "do not invite" list.

Busy day today. I'd rather be reading.

I admit it, I read books regarding serial killers.

For years, I tried to find what went on in that creepy and very intelligent brain of Ted Bundy.

What in the world makes these people do what they do?

Answers any one?

That Broadchurch show on BBC America tonight sounds pretty good. I may watch it.

I am SOOOO going to have to read BOTH of your recent creepy tales! Both were already on my WL, but I'm going to officially have to move both My Friend Dahmer and NOS4A2 up on my huge tower of 'to be read one day' books!

I don't reread much, either, except for the favorite favorites.

Okay, the new series looks interesting, but what's it called??

(I don't even know if I get BBC America.)

^Me, next week? Quite possibly!

#196 Broadchurch

Mark, I wondered if you'd be watching Broadchurch! We were able to watch on demand before tonight's preview. I liked it. How about you?

UGH! Long, grueling day! And hot & muggy on top of it. I didn't get home until 7:30pm. Normally, I get home 3 hrs earlier. Let's see how long I can last until Mr. Sandman begins to beckon...

First of all, I am so sorry I forgot to mention the title of the British crime show that premieres, in the states tonight. It is called BROADCHURCH! DUH!

I did finish the delightful the Last Unicorn. Thanks Kathy, wherever you are. I started the Lowland and it begins in Calcutta, which immediately reminded me of A fine Balance. I'll report a bit more, as I move along. I LOVE the Gods of Gotham. It was one of the only things that kept me chugging along today.

Kath- Creepy flip-flops! Creepy flip-flops! Sounds like a discarded Stephen King story!

Lynda- Great to see you! Thanks for catching up! I love the idea of snow-boots with the "Follow-Me" imprinted on them.

Diana- Thanks! Big Wave!

RD- I hope to inspire a few more people to pick up The Gods of Gotham. It's a perfect historical crime novel. Cool to see NYC in the 1840s. Have you watched Copper?

Joe- Try to find Paco's Story. It's a fast read and packs a nice punch. Speaking of Dickens: I am considering doing a G.R. of Bleak House, the early part of next year.

Linda L- Good to see you! I like reading true-crime also. Lately, many of my true-crime books have been graphic novels, which I think is a perfect format for them.

Linda P- I can't believe I forgot to mention the title of the British crime show. LOL. I have Broadchurch, recorded and hope to watch the first episode, in the next couple nights.

Tina- I am so glad to see you like your creepy horror. Yes, you will enjoy both these titles.

Anne- I hoped to pose that question on my thread about rereads. Truthfully, I am so overwhelmed with titles I NEED/WANT to read, it's nearly impossible for me to bookhorn a reread in. I think I will start to take advantage of audios, as re-visits.

Ellen- I can't believe I forgot to mention the title, Broadchurch. That's what I do, when I post things so damn early in the morning! LOL.

Linda P- Thanks!

Laura- No, I have not seen Broadchurch. I only heard about it over the past weekend. How much of it, did you watch?

Mark, so sorry you had a hot, muggy, icky day at work. I hope Thursday is better! That image in #197 should keep you going for just a few more days.

I didn't even try to find and watch "Broadchurch." We ended up going to the lake for an impromptu swim and picnic with P's brother and SIL. It was mid-80s here today; everyone was melting and searching for shade. :-|

I'm looking forward to getting a copy of The Lowland from the library. It may take a while.....

>197 msf59: gone swimming, leaving book and mug alone?? how can you? or are you fetching beer?

^ I WISH!

Sweet Thursday! I hope they have the routes covered today. Fingers crossed. At least the weather will be nicer: 79, low humidity.
I didn't realize I had 2 book packages, until I was going up to bed. Always a joyous occasion. I landed an ARC of Night Film which has been garnering some buzz lately. It'll be released on the 20th. It's a big boy too, clocking in at over 500 pages. Did I mention that, I ADORE 200 pages books?
I also received Strange Pilgrims from Bookmooch, which of course is on my WL and will probably be the next Marques I read.

Ellen- I hope we have a chance to watch Broadchurch tonight! I want to watch it before I head North on Sunday. the Lowland isn't released until September, I think.

Paul- I just went to fetch a beer. I won't be doing any swimming, but I plan on doing plenty of fishing.

Congratulations on reaching 100!

My sister is a reader, we do share books all the time, but what with her stupidly busy life (did I mention the four kids? The career in medicine? The house renovations? And the 16k "fun" run this weekend?) she hardly reads anything. (And I don't always approve of her reading tastes. But at least she could fill me in on the later Twilight books, after I refused to read past the first.) Mum is the big reader in our family, and Ann and I have followed happily in her footsteps. Dad also reads quite a bit, we swap crime novels (although he's currently reading my copy of Lis Miserables), but that's more of a post-retirement phenomenon.

This horrid week is almost over. Can't wait for beer o'clock tomorrow afternoon....

Morning Mark! I hope that today is less grueling than yesterday - that was some long day you had! Glad there were new books waiting for you when you got home. And congrats on reaching (and passing) 100!

On rereading - I tend to reread a lot. Some years more than others. I like to reach for familiar and beloved books when I feel a reading funk coming on or when I am feeling stressed out.

Hey Mark! You know I love Marquez but I must admit I've never read Strange Pilgrims. I'll be looking forward to your comments.
I like the pic of the Adriondrack chair. But darn it, my husband always laughs at me cause I can never pronounce that word correctly :0P

I would like to hang that sign up in a few places.....
Nice find :)

Oo, I really liked Bleak House, Mark. You could make a good argument it's his best. (I've got a soft spot for Great Expectations). Hope you do the G.R. of it. There was a very nice BBC production of Bleak House in recent years, too, with X-Files' Gillian Anderson surprisingly good as Lady Dedlock, and Charles Dance scary good as Mr. Tulkington.

I'm still enjoying Howards End is on the Landing. Right now Susan Hill is describing her inability to connect with Jane Austen, which was unexpected to me and quite interesting.

*befuddled at the idea of a "favorite" book by Chuckles the Dick, as he would be by the idea of a "favorite" thumbscrew or catherine wheel*

^Awwwww...

Another long one but at least I can see daylight at the end of the tunnel. I have to get through one more and then...FREEDOM.
I finished The Gods of Gotham. It was a terrific entry into a promising series. The Lowland has been quietly wonderful. Her prose is so lovely.

Tania- Thanks! And thanks for the lowdown on your Twilight reading sister and the reading habits of your other family members. My Mom was an avid reader, nothing deep but she liked to be entertained and we shared a lot of books, when I was growing up. I wish she was still around, so I could keep feeding her books.

Mamie- Many thanks! It was another long one and tomorrow might be too. The big hassle is, is having time to get my stuff together for my fishing trip on Sunday. I am off Saturday, so I will be hustling.
I have a fair amount of books on my "keeper" shelves and most of those I would love to reread, but I get so obsessed with churning through the avalanche of stuff I haven't. I could just focus on ARCS for the next 6-8 weeks but of course I won't...

Lynda- Good to see you over here. Love in The Time of Cholera was my first Marquez and I would like to sample his short fiction before tackling another one of his challenging works.

Kath- Wouldn't that be great to have a sign like that for every door?

Joe- While reading that terrific Dickens bio, (have you read it yet?) I was really taken by Tomalin's descriptions of Bleak House and immediately bought a big ole softcover. I would like to tackle at least 2 classic chunksters next year and that will be one.

Down, RD! Down! Bad boy. Now roll over....Good Boy!

Well coincidentally Mark, I am now reading Night Film but I'm only 50 pages in so too soon to know for sure but it's by far the quirkiest book I've ever read. I was thrilled to see on NPR that everybody in the dept. said they couldn't put it down but I'm not to that point yet.

We're watching Broadchurch right now.

Mark, only the first episode of Broadchurch was available on demand, but it was enough to whet my appetite. I hope you enjoy it.

I've just looked and the BBC America website has the first episode of Broadchurch available "for a limited time." I will def. check it out!

I liked Copper all right, and sampled Broadchurch, but haven't been hooked. Something has to make me jump up and slap my mama before I'll sit in a chair and watch it on TV.

(It's an idiom, calm down. Besides my mother's dead.)

I usually don't mess with book trailers, although there are some cool ones out there but I did get a kick out of this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw97w49Mi8w

It has a nice creepy feel to it. It will be released on September 3rd. Wouldn't this make a great HBO series?

Bonnie- I can't believe you are already dipping into Night Film. COOL. Were you able to snag an ARC too? Looking forward to your thoughts on Broadchurch, as well.

Laura- Thanks. Hopefully we can watch it tomorrow night.

Katie- I am always on the lookout for a solid crime show. Of course I am picky and have limited patience but once in awhile...

RD- "Something has to make me jump up and slap my mama." Those don't come around very often. LOL. Maybe Breaking Bad?

Hi Mark, I admit that I sort of skimmed through your thread in order to get caught up but I did notice that you are getting to go to Booktopia so congrats for that.

I wanted let you know that your last message that you left on my thread brought a big smile to my face at the thought of having my husband dress up like a viking! And I needed that smile, so thank you, my friend, for that.

Here's hoping tomorrow will be a great day for you!

And, here's hoping that you have a weekend filled with great books!

Wait. You mentioned that The Lowland isn't available until September, but you are reading it and I have it on hold at the library. What am I missing?

Happy last day of work for a while, Mark!

^ As soon as I spotted this image, I had to share it! I hope I can get out at a decent time today. I have a lot of stuff to get ready for Sunday. Fingers crossed. I think I will start Joyland. I think that title fits the beginning of my vacation perfectly.

Judy- Great to see you! I forgot about that viking quip. LOL. Enjoy your weekend.

Linda- Hope all is well, my friend. Vacation starts tomorrow. Yah!

Ellen- If you remember, I snagged, (actually Sue did) an ARC of the Lowland at ALA. I am about 90 pages in and it's lovely so far.

I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying The Lowland, Mark. Hopefully the publisher will release it earlier, now that it has been chosen for the Booker Prize longlist.

Yay! It's the weekend! Mad week at work, glad it's over!

Miss Boo and I are hitting the library tomorrow. She's got a kids' crafternoon, and I'll be browsing the shelves. Huzzah! Better bring my backpack to carry all the books. :)

I hope your weekend starts soon, too!

Mark, I think Joyland will be the perfect book to start off your vacation. I hope you like it as much as I did. Congratulations on reading 100 books already. I can't compete with you anymore, but it was fun watching you sail past me. Love the "Gone Reading" sign. I need to post one on my front door today.

I haven't read the Tomalin bio of Charles Dickens yet, Mark, but I've got it on the wishlist. Universal approbation for it on LT, as far as I can tell (RD aside).

Hope you're setting up well for the weekend, although that probably means Sunday for you, the way things have been going. Glad The Lowland is as good as hoped so far. I've been a bit disappointed by Howards End on the Landing. Almost done with it, so I'll hold off on final reaction for now. Mind Mgmt, on the other hand, has been strange and entertaining and a good time.

Helloooooo Mark! Yeah for the workdays end! My requests for Joyland and Gaiman's latest are at the library and I'll pick up with the hour. Have a splendid weekend!

>216 msf59: book trailers ?#@!%@
huh? Like a movie trailer but for books?
*faints*
What is the world coming to?

I love the cover for The Lowland- cant wait til it hits my library system.

I am on holiday soon too, Mark. In a few hours I'll be winging my way (by car) with 3 friends to a remote rural location for a wander around the farm, a slap up meal, a game of 500, and a glass of wine or 4.
Have a good weekend!

Enjoy your vacation, Mark. I've got a 3-day weekend this weekend and a 4-day weekend next weekend. Three straight days with no plans. Yay!!

Cheers, my friends, to the end of the work week and the beginning of some serious R & R. If you don't have a beer handy, (WTH?) you can use water, a soft drink or even a can of Ensure. Raise it high & proud!

Darryl- I hope they release the Lowland early too! I am 140 pages in, just shy of halfway and it just sings. This is the first novel I have read by her. I never got around to the Namesake, although I have it in the stacks. Have you read that one?

Tania- I am off tomorrow, Saturday and my vacation officially kicks off Monday. Yippee! Have a good weekend and have a good time at the library with Miss Boo!

Joe- Try to bookhorn in the Dickens bio! I know it's never easy, but you are a big fan of him, so I think your appreciation will soar. I really like Joyland. This might be a good fit for you too. Very little horror. I like to see King do more of this type.

Lynda- I hope you enjoy both the new Gaiman and Joyland and the good news is, both are shorties! Hooray, for shorties! Mr. King is in his mid-60s now and still kicking biblio-butt!

Congrats on hitting 100 books Mark!! Whoot Whoot!

Love that trailer for MaddAddam! I've never watched a trailer for a book release, how cool!
Enjoy reading Joyland! I enjoyed that one.

Happy Weekend!

^This is one of my current favorite brews: Half Acre Daisy Cutter. They come in 4 packs of 16oz cans. It's heavenly and Half Acre Brewery is out of Chicago! That's a Win, Win! Of course Kerri knows all this because she's also a huge fan.

Megan- Book trailers have been very popular here for a couple of years. I don't check out very many because my mind is usually made up beforehand but anything to promote books, I highly encourage.
See? If we lived close to one another, I would cross the road, and hand you my copy of the Lowland and I might just bring a six-pack too!
You have a great weekend too and behave yourself!

Linda- Wow, it sounds like you have some nice long weekends ahead of you. Usually you are always on the go, so it must be nice to kick back.

Chelle- There are many book trailers out there but I rarely check them out. I did get a kick out of that one. I hope they release MaddAddam on audio, as quick as the print version. Fingers crossed. and yes, I am really enjoying Joyland. I am already halfway through.

I thought of you this past week, Mark, when Tomm and I took Tomm's brother to a local brewery, The Potosi Brewing Company, and had a lovely lunch. If you're ever in the area, you should think about checking it out!

Good night! See you in the A.M.!

>217 msf59:. can't believe you are already dipping into Night Film. COOL. Were you able to snag an ARC too? Actually, I'm reading my LT ER copy that I've had for a couple of months now. Finally got a time to squeeze it in. The trouble is I haven't had much reading time and won't until next week so I'm only about 150 pages in and it's almost 600 pages.

If we lived close to one another, I would cross the road, and hand you my copy of the Lowland and I might just bring a six-pack too!

I foresee a mass influx of LibraryThingarians to Chicago now... It's a mighty tempting offer!

>233 msf59: Love it! Enjoy your weekend and vacation, Mark!

Enjoy your vacation! I'm off next week too. We're going to the Great Taste of the Midwest beer fest today! I know Half Acre will be there. Also, last night, we had some Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. It's great if you see it anywhere.

100? Yay You ! Hope you are enjoying the day :)

Happy Saturday! Ahhhhhh...! The day will be spent getting my gear ready for my fishing trip up North, plus laundry and some chores around the homestead. Hopefully, I can squeeze in some reading here and there too. Of course I am really enjoying the Lowland, but unfortunately probably won't finish it until I return later in the week.
It looks like the weather will be lovely. Partly sunny, mid to high 70s. Can you say sweet? I knew you could.

Amber- I like it when people think of me while drinking a fine ale. LOL. I have not heard of Potosi Brewing Company. Are they only confined to Wisconsin like New Glarus, or can you get it elsewhere?

Bonnie- I didn't realize Night Film was an ER! Must have missed that one. My reading will be limited the next few days too. Hopefully I can sneak in a few pages here and there.

Tania- "LibraryThingarians"! Wow, I love that term. We NEED T-shirts now!

Anne- Thanks! I am looking forward to it. Have a great weekend too!

Kerri- Have a great time at the Midwest Beer Fest. I'll be passing Madison on my way north tomorrow morning. Make sure you pass on any good/ great finds you stumble upon. We recently had Ballast Point Sculpin IPA too. It was pretty good.

Kath- It's always nice being off on a Saturday. It doesn't happen much for me. They begged me to work but I had to much to do today, plus it was a long tough week.

OK, I'm jealous, I'll admit. It sounds like a great week of relaxation! Don't let the big one get away.

I don't really know if you can find Potosi beers outside this area, but I highly recommend a trip to their brewery, which has an excellent restaurant and a museum, too. Potosi is a neat little town, too. Here's their website: http://www.potosibrewery.com/index.cfm

Have you been to New Glarus? It's a cool little place, too.

They used the same voice over in the MadAddam trailer as for the Year of the Flood audiobook.

I finished A Fine Balance. And you were right on both counts. The writing is exceptional. And it was too bleak and depressing for me!

Ok, you got me with Broadchurch and I watched the episode on bbcamerica.com

David Tennant does dark, wounded-but-still-the-warrior-in-command superbly. As DD pointed out that's a great description of the 10th doctor.

I'm hooked. Unfortunately, I can't get BBC unless I order the super whazoo allthebellsandwhistlesanddogshows package from my satellite company.

99) Tampa by Alissa Nutting 4.2 stars

Celeste Price is twenty six. She is blonde and gorgeous. She is married to a hunky cop and teaches eighth grade. She is also a sociopath and a predator, with a penchant for adolescent boys.
The novel is told from Celeste’s perspective and it’s not a pretty place. Feverish, calculating and dripping with sexual obsession. It’s like a mash-up between Lolita/ American Psycho, although her character makes Humbert Humbert, look like Mr. Rogers.
This is comedy at it’s darkest pitch. The sex is graphic and relentless, mirroring the main character’s twisted mind. Obviously this book is not for everyone, especially the prudish or faint of heart, so beware, but the author pulls no punches here and the novel has a lot to say about how society looks at women, especially very attractive ones.
A cautious recommendation.

At the risk of sounding like the assholes at Fox "News", that was very fair and balanced.

Hi Mark, I think I know what you meant about Broadchurch being heavy handed. We thought it gave much more attention to the grieving family than most mysteries/crime series do, and weren't entirely okay with that. My daughter's theory is that we are used to watching Masterpiece Mysteries like Inspector Lewis, that are self-contained in 1.5 hours. This, being a series, goes deeper because it has however many episodes to tell the story. She may have a point. We'll watch more episodes and see how it goes.

Hi Mark, took me a while to get all caught up and now not sure what to comment on... So I'll keep it short and sweet:

Think I'll pass on Tampa. Enjoy your holiday and cheers on getting into Booktopia!

^ Odd, you say?

Lynda- Last year, the big one did get away. We had a monster bass in the boat and we had him hooked to the stringer, and the clip snapped off and he was gone. Did not photograph him or weigh him but he was a lunker. Sad Mark.

Amber- Thanks for the website info and no I haven't been to New Glarus either. Linda P recommended it too!

Morphy- Cool! Looking forward to MaddAddam. I loved the 1st 2 books. I am so glad you hung in there with A Fine Balance. It breaks your blessed heart but boy what a special book.

Janet- Great to see you over here! Broadchurch didn't impress me as much as I hoped but I'll watch a couple more episodes. I do not watch Dr. Who, so Tennant is new to me.

RD- Thank you kind sir and I don't think you sound like "the assholes at Fox News", in the least. Smiles.

Laura- If you have a chance to see the 1st season of The Killing, on AMC, they handle the victims family, much more adeptly on that show, or at least in the first half of the season. Broadchurch is also photographed very nicely but it still is a bit arty at times but that could level off.

Ilana made it! Ilana made it! I am a happy camper. And no Tampa is not for you!

224: *sniff sniff* I'll get over it, Mark. I still love you!

OMG! How, did I miss one of my longest running and favorite LT pals? I try to be so careful too! LOL. My audiobooks keep me in the running, otherwise I would be much lower in the standings. Gone Reading is a great sign, isn't it? Have a great weekend, Donna! Big apologetic HUG!

Mark, I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty; just wanted you to know I stopped by. I don't always post because I'm trying to lighten your load. You are a very popular guy...and a very GOOD FRIEND...for a reason.

HUG right back atcha!

I am forgiven! I am forgiven! That's a great poster! I don't like being missed on posts, so I dislike doing it to others, even if I am Mr. Popular! LOL.

Okay, the lawn is mowed, some laundry is done and my packing is starting to take shape. By golly, I think I'll have a beer...

Donna, that is a very cool graphic!

Hi Mark :)

You did laundry?

Quick gripe with LT having been away for three days and starting to try to catch up. Why on earth have they taken away the different colours that were previously there for read/unread posts. Makes realising where you previously were extremely problematical BOO HOO HOO!

Quick gripe over. Will gladly share one of your beers buddy and wish you the very best of R&R.

Just dropping in to wish you a great vacation, Mark. Hope the fish are biting, the beer plentiful, and the books unputdownable!

Happy Sunday! I am getting ready to head out. I will be bringing my iPad but I do not think I'll get a connection up in the wilds. So, most likely I'll be back later in the week.

Kath- Yep, Laundry is part of my chores and I don't mind it a bit.

Paul- I agree, I like the old color scheme better. Enjoy the weekend.

Judy- Thanks, my friend. I am looking forward to it.

Happy fishing!

Ahhhh, at last he's gone and I can nestle into his man cave for a few days.

MARK!
Um...

I am liking Broadchurch since it's David and it's something I can "watch" while playing games on the tablet.

I recently read a Nutting book and couldn't recommend a thing about it!

I will have to try and stay more up-to-date in here as I seem to be missing some great stuff. :)

Hey! Mark's gone, and can't defend his beer supply!!



BEER BASH!!



Some of those are *shudder* turkey, and there's even a few *barf* veggie ones heating up.

Oh man, did I miss Mark? That's what I get for following Mad Hatters and Princess Leias.

Mark, whenever you tune in again, I hope you're having a great time.

I had a delicious Delirium Tremens a little bit ago, and I'm watching the Sky in the lead in OT against Minnesota in a battle of the #1's. This rookie Elena Delle Donne is un-freakin'-believable. What a terrific player.

Looks like there's a party going on in extended celebration of your some day return. I brought some of that Dogfish 120, which I found out our local little liquor store does get sometimes.



Sky win! Sky win!

Hooray for vacation! I'm chilling this for all of us to share when you get back:

I see the Beerbulance made a delivery!

Mark re: Broadchurch, I liked it. It was very slow and built tension. It left more questions than answers. A touch of creepy but not blatant. The creepy is more in your mind than the story right now. It left me wanting to know more. That's good if it is going to be 8 episodes. You don't want to give it all away upfront. Well, maybe YOU do, but...

LOL!

Wow! What a man cave/reading room for everyone! Looks so comfy.
That came out awesome. When I first saw the picture I thought it was from the internet - a room to lust after!
And now it is!
You did great. Enjoy!!!

Glad you are going to Booktopia - we are all envious but know you will share the experience ;-)
Congrats on 100 books!
Have a wonderfully fun vacation - hope the weather is ideal!

Can I join in the party in the man cave? I'll bring some local beer, from Young Henry's, just up the road from me. (They do free tastings in the brewery! The one time I popped in though during a free tasting session one Friday afternoon, I had to pick up the kids from school afterwards so declined picking them up with beer on my breath. :)



I'm afraid I don't seem to have a photo of the beer itself, but it's yummy, and I thought Mark wouldn't mind their mural. :)

Nice review of Tampa, Mark. I won't be reading it, though.

Here's a nice 8% ale made by the Yards Brewing Co. in Philadelphia - based on Thomas Jefferson's original recipe!

>244 msf59: that sounds like some book! Not sure I'll be tracking it down, but if I saw it I would flick through and make my decision then.

Nice party Mark- when are you coming back? *must make sure to tidy up in time*

I'm on my way back from vacation and Mark leaves on his. What luck?

He's off fishing and I will be touring the Clinton library in Little Rock, Arkansas tomorrow.

Hey Mark, you're off fishing. Hope you have a wonderful time!

We've got the coffee going for you, Mark:

Happy Vacation Mark!!
Hope the fish are biting and the beer stays cool! :)

Party platter's here. Who brought the tequila for margaritas?

Ohh, those party trays look delicious!

I whipped up a pitcher or two (or five) of margaritas:



Bottoms up, everybody!

Those look delish, Judy! Pour me one, please!

Me, too! I love a good party.

What a party!..These guys hopped in my car to provide a little salsa music.

OHHHHH, please be careful, watch the reading lamp!

Some tropical beer for my contribution. This is Tiger Beer, Singapore's finest:

Can't forget the younger generation:

^Yep, the Fish Warrior is home. Just staggered in after a 300 mile drive. A bit frazzled but nothing beats stopping here and seeing the love, the beer, the cocktails, the chow and that amazing conga line. You know I'll jump right in, (I like the blonde with the big legs and the big laugh!) and do the old white guy boogie. I'll be back in a few...

Glad you're safe home!

Welcome back from fishin', Mark. I am confident that you had fun, caught some fish and read some books, and are settling in with a good ale to make home feel, well, like home.
No work until next week, though, right?

^These are perfect representations of what I was doing the past 3 days and that 2nd photo, looks like our last cast of the day before heading in. It was gorgeous.

The wildlife is wonderful too! Bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, loons and various other waterfowl. We also saw deer drinking on the shoreline and men drinking beer in the cabin (only me, my buddy is a teetotaler. WTH!), after a long day on the water. Ahhhhhh....

I did finish Joyland on the way up there. It was another little gem by Mr. King. He's the gift that keeps on giving. On audio, I also knocked out a chunk of Thirteen Hours, which has been fun but keeping track of all the names is a bit tough. Very little time to read the Lowlands but I did snag a page here and there. It's beautifully written but not very joyful.

Welcome home!

Very nice! Glad you had such a great time ;-)

The photos are beauteous!

RD- Wow! Thanks for the great posts and the beer, the burgers, (ewwww veggie) and the hearty welcome home! It's tough being without the internet but coming home is such a pleasure.

Lynda- You go GIRL! I see, your party-side came out! Very nice. Crazy about that conga-line! Even a bit weary, I had to join in! Thanks!

Kathy- I haven't watched anything this week. WTH? I also missed Breaking Bad. I might be going to see World War Z tomorrow night, so I have no idea, when I will get caught up.
And please stop by more often. Love having you visit.

Joe- Thanks for all the great posts, my friend. And you know I am crazy about Dogfish Head and still have not tried the 120! I am WAY overdue on the Delirium Tremens.
Try to find Half Acre Daisy Cutter by you! Comes in pint cans, available at Jewel or Trader Joes. It's YUMMY!

Anne- I do not think I've tried La Fin Du Monde but I have seen it in the local stores. WILL have to sample and share. Thanks!

Roberta- Love that Beerbulance! Were you referring to the first episode of Broadchurch? I have not had a chance to watch the second.

Claudia- It's great to see you stop by. It immediately puts a smile on my face. Glad you like the Marky-Mark Man Cave! We are happy with it. It was COOL up north. I bet it dropped into the 40s last night, with no heat. Brrrrr....

Tania- I love the look of Young Henry! (Wow, that sounds creepy!) Love that mural!

Darryl- I do not think Tampa is your cuppa but I am anxious to see some opinions by other LTers. I am still working through the Lowlands. I am sure you will like this one.

Jim- Ooh, Tavern Ale. Sounds mighty tasty and 8%. NICE! I'll have to see if Yards is available here! Thanks!

You found Thirteen Hours on audio? Did you read Devil's Peak? If not, that may be why you are having trouble with the names.

Megan- I would DIE for your opinion on Tampa. I would supply you drinks to finish and review that baby! You might have to have some serious yoga sessions afterwards but it would be worth every moment.

Benita- I hope you had a great vacation at home in Kansas. I was only gone a few days but we leave for Michigan on Friday. Of course I read the Devil's Peak and loved it and remember a few names but the audio is a little tougher. Have you read any of the earlier books?

Diana, Chelle & Mamie- Thanks guys! Nice to be back!

Judy- I don't drink a lot of margaritas, but those look mighty tasty! Thank you!

Paul- I wonder if Tiger is available here! Looks very enticing! Sneak me a bottle, if you make it stateside!

Kath & Ellen- Nice to be back! Very little reading though! Our butts are in the boat from 8 to 8, with an hour-plus dinner break and by the time we get back I am cross-eyed. Read a few pages, savor a couple beers and fall into bed.

I'll have to visit my pals in the A.M.! Good night, everyone! Big Hugs!

Glad you are back Mark! Yes, I was referring to the first episode of Broadchurch.

I haven't read the earlier ones, but somebody on one of the threads I follow here on LT had read one of them about the ex-KGB guy who was the hero in Devil's Peak and thought it was very good. None of the libraries I frequent have any of the earlier ones, so I will have to do ILL requests for them. I hope to get to them a little later this year, but first I have to finish the Matthew Shardlake series and the Sharon Kay Penman series. Then I can go back to regular thrillers.

I think that listening to this book would be great fun. While Thirteen Hours had me on the edge of my seat, the style of Devil's Peak was more unusual.

Welcome back! I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the trip, and I'm always glad to know that there are plenty of people out there who love the Outdoors, as it doesn't get the attention or love it likely deserves from me... I *have* had all the windows open in the house for the past few days - such amazing weather we're having here!

Good Thursday morning. I'm working my way baaaack. I can't possibly read all the postings I have missed so I just jumped in here to say "hey", and moving on from here.

Tuesday's cataract surgery on eye #2 went well, and this morning I am reading my on line stuff with cheap reader glasses on the end of my nose, and my new eyes look up to see the TV. Nice. I like walking around with no glasses at all, but I need to find some of those little ole lady chains for keeping my readers at hand, or resting on my boosum, as it were.

Hope you are doing well!

Welcome back, Mark. Sounds like you need to rest up before you leave again.

Scenery looks spectacular.

Oh! Mark! er, uh, You're home!! Well, uh, welcome home my friend :0} *he, he - reaches for sponge - straightens reading lamp - fluffs pillow on recliner*

Hey, that sunset pic is awesome. It's so awesome I can imagine that fishes broke surface just to gaze at the incredible sight.

Glad you're back and refreshed and ready to continue your chill pill vacation.

Roberta- I want to watch the 2nd Broadchurch but we'll be busy the next few days. We are heading up to Michigan tomorrow for the weekend.

Benita- I can find Dead at Daybreak on audio, so I think I'll give that one a try as my next Meyer. I do like his writing.

Amber- I enjoyed visiting your state. It was a nice & comfortable. Tuesday, unfortunately was windy all day, making it difficult on a boat all day but we found as many quiet bays as we could.
Hey, and it's only in the mid-70s here in Chicago too! Not shabby!

Karen- Great to see you! Glad the surgery went well and you can start seeing through those peepers of yours.

Linda- We are heading up to the western edge of the U.P. tomorrow to visit friends. Been on the go but it's been fun.

Lynda- Thanks for taking care of the Marky-Mark Man-Cave while I was gone. And nice job cleaning up. You would never know there was a boisterous conga line snaking through here.

The NEW THREAD is up and running, so come on over and say HI!