Mark's Reading Place: Booktopia #20

^Booktopia- Petoskey, Michigan- September 27th-29th. 9 authors + 75 book-lovers= Bliss

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.)

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)
104) The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri 4.4 stars
105) Son of a Gun: A Memoir by Justin St. Germain 4.5 stars ER
106) Thirteen Hours by Deon Meyer 4 stars (audio)
107) The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck 4.6 stars (audio)
108) Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer by Mari SanGiovanni 4 stars
109) Lexicon by Max Barry 3.8 stars (audio)
110) Let Him Go by Larry Watson 4.6 stars
111) The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore 4.3 stars Booktopia audio
112) Safe from the Sea by Peter Geye 4.4 stars Booktopia

September:

113) Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks 5 stars (audio)
114) Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford 3.8 stars Booktopia
115) Point and Shoot (A Charlie Hardie) by Duane Swierczynski 4 stars (audio)
116) Raven Girl by Audrey Niffenegger 3.6 stars Illustrated Novel
117) Crashed (Junior Bender #1) by Timothy Hallinan 4 stars (audio)
118) Nine Inches: Stories by Tom Perrotta 4.6 stars ARC
119) Another Man's Moccasins by Craig Johnson 4 stars
120) Life After Life by Jill McCorkle 3.7 stars Booktopia
121) A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny 4.2 stars
122) Not Your Mother's Meatloaf: A Sex Education Comic Book by Saiya Miller 4 stars
123) Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin 4.2 stars (audio) Booktopia
124) Volt: Stories by Alan Heathcock 5 stars
125) Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch 4.2 stars (audio)
126) Children of God by Mary Doria Russell 3.7 stars Booktopia
127) Love Songs From a Shallow Grave by Colin Cotterill 3.8 stars (audio)

October:

128) Tilt-a-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein 3.7 stars (audio)
129) Harvest by Jim Crace 4.2 stars
130) Boxers by Gene Luen Yang 4.5 stars (GN)
131) Bel Canto by Ann Patchett 4.2 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

Hi Mark! Remember me? I've been busy with designing our new house so haven't been on LT much. I'm guessing you're just about to go to Michigan for Booktopia. Have a great time!

Also, I'm thrilled you liked Volt so much since the author is a professor at Boise State University. I have the book but haven't read it and, unfortunately, have misplaced it. Maybe when we finally move, it will turn up.

Hopefully, I'll get some time to catch up with your previous threads. I'm sure there's a lot of great book recommendations on them.

So jealous of the picture. Enjoy yourself and, as Karen requested, KEEP US POSTZED on what you are doing at Booktopia. Now that you have an iPad there are no excuses.

Joe - I felt the same way about Frankenstein. It really is a different book than ANY movie version has presented it. It is a finally crafted and very nauanced protrayal of both Frankenstein and the monster. I was so amazed by the image at the end up in the Artic. It didn't seem like a horror story to me at all. I ended up really liking this novel and think it deserves to be a classic.

Thanks for providing the map, Mark. That's quite a ways away, isn't it? We'll want to hear all about Booktopia.

Have a wonderful time in Petoskey. I mean, that bursitis in both shoulders and the shin-splints must make it a bit uncomfortable to walk around and enjoy the place, not to mention the horrible case of hemorrhoids making it painful to sit.

Oh dear...I've said too much...

I just caught on to the fact that Mary Doria Russell is going to be at Booktopia MI. You lucky dog! I heard her speak at our local Indie bookstore after Doc came out, and she is a great speaker. I get her newsletter and think she's a terrific person as well as writer. Very funny. And Peter Heller's book is supposed to be great. I actually knew Peter Heller when he was hanging out at Ledyard Canoe Club and getting in to whitewater kayaking. I doubt he would remember me, but I remember sanding a boat with him once.

(I copied this from the last thread) I LOVE book turn-over day, especially when the books are as good as these have been. I finished Volt: Stories. My second 5 star book of the month and my second outstanding story collection. Let's keep it real simple: If you have not read Volt. Find a copy and READ IT. Capiche?

I also finished The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb, which turned out to be my most pleasant surprise of September. Looking forward to meeting the author. If you like historical fiction, little people, P.T. Barnum, circuses or tiny women, give this one a try.

I started Moon Over Soho. I love this series. Big smooch to Roberta, for putting me on this joy-ride. I also cracked...drum roll please: CHILDREN OF GOD! Spoken in the voice of Charlton Heston.

Lovely photo mate to start your new thread. For once I hope RD is joking about your ailments!

He's not ailing, Paul. Not yet. *sharpens pins for voodoo dolly*

Pat- It's so nice to see you! And you are my first visitor too! I've missed you. I noticed that Heathcock taught in Boise. He's also a native of Chicago. Don't be a stranger.

Benita- I promise I will keep you "POSTZED." Looking forward to finding out where the next Booktopia events will be held. I wonder if they will pick, another southern location.

Linda- I think it is about 6 hrs, coming up from the south end. That's not bad. We have to leave very early Friday morning. The first author event starts at 2pm.

RD- You must have been peeking at my last health exam. My wife is also attending, so she can always push me around in a wheelchair, if necessary.

Lisa- MDR also has ties to our area too, and lived here for awhile. I am looking forward to meeting one of my idols.
I read and enjoyed the Dog Stars. I heard he has a new book coming out, next spring.

All this excitement over Booktopia makes me very jealous Mark. And yes the push is on to bookhorn Volt in:)

Are you friends with MDR on FB?

Mark, how had I missed the news that there is a sequel on the way to 'Doc'? Be still my beating heart! And what is this MDR newsletter of which labfs39 speaks? I think I need that!

Happy Thursday! Warm and humid here today, with scattered showers. Back to comfortable temps for tomorrow and the weekend.
I can't wait to get back to Children of God and see what the poor, damaged, Father Emilio Sandoz is up to.

Paul- Lets hope he is joking. Haven't felt the voodoo pins yet but I expect they are coming.

RD- The Portrait of a Sad, Jealous Man.

Bonnie- I don't think I am friends with MDR on FB but I do follow her over there. Once we have a beer together, hopefully that will change.
Please request a copy of Volt. you will thank me later.

Julia- The news has been out for awhile, on the sequel to Doc. Hopefully, I'll find out more dirty details at Booktopia. I am also unaware of a newsletter. WTH?

Hiya, Mark. Ah, Father Emilio Sandoz. That guy sure goes through a lot thanks to MDR.

Congrats on the new thread. I love that part of the country - it's beautiful up there. I haven't been to Petoskey since the glaciers came and went, so I'll look forward to hearing what you think of it, not to mention how Booktopia goes. Are you driving there? It's a nice drive up the west coast of MI; lots of little towns along the water.

Wonderful to see another advocate for Volt. Keep spreading the word!

>5 benitastrnad: Nice to see someone else who liked Frankenstein, Benita. You're right, it's not really a horror novel, and that ending up in the Arctic is powerful.

A gift for you on Talk Like a Pirate (Librarian) Day, Mark:

RD- The Portrait of a Sad, Jealous Man. With a voodoo dolly. And a nasty track record. *evil Muttley laugh*

Hey Mark! I can't believe we're in another new thread already. Oh wait, YES I CAN.

I can't tell you how very jealous I am about your Booktopia weekend.....no voodoo from me, though (RD seems to have that covered). I don't have high hopes about a Denver Booktopia, but maybe I'm wrong. Great photo up top - take some pics at Booktopia, too!

It's cloudy and more humid today but there is a very refreshing breeze that helps immensely.
It has been a few years since I read The Sparrow, so I appreciate MDR recapping it, in the early going.

Joe- Thanks for the sexy pirate librarian. A perfect distraction. Yes, we are driving to Petoskey. It's about a 6 hr drive, so that's not bad. I have never been that far north on that side of Lake Michigan.

RD- Suddenly my lower back feels like needles are piercing it. Shakes fist in frustration!

Kathy- Wow! It's great to see you over here. I LOVE the beer pirate!

Hi Mark! Booktopia- exciting!
I have Bookarama this weekend, $3 books, still quite exciting :)

"God is waiting for you, in the ruins."

"Personally, I think the Cubs have a better chance at winning the World Series."
- Naples, September 2060

-Children of God

Funny, my used softcover copy of COG, is signed by MDR, to someone named Linda, who was celebrating her birthday, back in '08. Linda must not have liked the book.

Love the thread topper picture! That is simply gorgeous!

Mark so happy there is another convert for the Rivers of London series. Moon over Soho is my favorite of the first three. The others are fantastic but there is something so lovely about this one.

I just finished The Likeness and immediately started Gods of Gotham. Yay Mark The Recommender!

Regarding my post in #8 about a Mary Doria Russell newsletter: it's actually a blog, but you can subscribe and periodically you get a blog post, which I called a newsletter, in your email inbox. It's usual about a page long. In the most recent, she gives us a teaser about her next book.

The first paragraph for what might be a novel about Edgar Allan Poe has started floating around in my head.

You can read her blog, and subscribe, at http://www.marydoriarussell.net/blog/.

Happy Friday! This would be my weekend off, (today and tomorrow) but I volunteered to work both days. This will help with the costs of Booktopia, various bills and of course purchasing more books, plus the weather will be comfortable and I am off next week. Yahoo! Win, Win, Win!

I should wrap up Moon Over Soho today and then I am considering paying Dr. Siri a visit. Children of God is a slower read but MDR is such a delicious story-teller.

Joanne- They haven't selected a Booktopia location anywhere in your vicinity, so maybe they will this time. You know I'll give Colorado a Shout-Out when I see them.

Megan- Good luck at Bookarama. I hope you can hobble around okay. Be careful. You might get excited.

Tina- Thanks! I hope the weather is clear at least one of the nights, we'll be in Petoskey. Those sunsets look spectacular.

Roberta- Thanks for putting me on the path to the Rivers of London. Hugs to you. I was able to find both books 3 & 4 on audio too. I'll have to stop by and see what you thought of The Likeness.

Lisa- Thanks for the MDR blog-information. Do you follow her on FB?

Happy Friday, Mark. A Bit of a Difference is a slower read, too, but it's growing on me. A young Nigerian woman who has handled finances for a charity in London for many years goes back to hometown Lagos. She's clear-eyed about racism and tribism and other types of prejudice that influence us. The author has a very low-key writing style, but it keeps building power. We'll see.

#27 I have a super private account on Facebook, used solely for viewing others when I need to. I don't think anyone can see me, not that there is anything to see. I know it sounds paranoid in today's day and age, but I have issues with Facebook's policies. Anyway, that said, I think I will go check out MDR's page and see if it differs from what I am getting through her blog posts via email.

^Yoko Tanji

Okay, one more work day and then vacation begins, with Booktopia perched on the tail-end. BIG GRIN. The weather has cooled off nice. Tomorrow it will only hang in the upper 60s.

I finished Moon Over Soho. This has quickly become one of my favorite series books and I am looking forward to book 3. And speaking of favorite series books, I started Love Songs from a Shallow Grave. Dr. Siri is endlessly entertaining. Wouldn't it be great to have a beer with this guy?

I am enjoying Children of God but honestly I like the Sandoz sections, better than the alien sections. Hey, that could change.

Joe- I hope you have a nice weekend planned and I'll be watching for your thoughts A Bit of a Difference. It does sound interesting.

Lisa- Yes, FB does have it's creepy elements but it does have it's good points.

Sorry to hear you are working this weekend, Mark, but a week off and an upcoming Booktopia event sounds like it will make the extra work worthwhile. I am hoping for a quiet weekend with plenty of reading time as I still have so many series that I wanted to get to this month.

I've subscribed to MDR's blog. Cool.

Mark, have a wonderful, fabulous time at Booktopia! I know you are going to be the proverbial kid in a candy shop, including the buzz that comes from all that sugar! I'm hoping to do another Booktopia! run in 2014.

So excited for your Booktopia adventure!! Thanks for the Mary Doria Russel link. I love her stuff!

Great new thread, Mark. Enjoy Booktopia!

^This is where we will be staying next weekend and this is also where several of the book events will take place. What a dump, huh?

Happy Saturday! I hope everyone enjoys the weekend!

Judy- Keeping up with these series books is a monumental task. I have one more lined up for this month but I still wanted to read/listen to at least 2 or 3 more. Looks like S & S will stretch into October. Have a great weekend.

Ellen- You know the experience, being surrounded by book lovers, nothing can match it, plus there will be several people attending, that I met in Vermont. I've stayed in touch with some of them through Good Reads.

Kim- I hope you can make a Booktopia event in the future. You will love it!

Terri- Great to see you. I'll have to drop by your thread and see what you've been reading.

Oh, Gosh. I wish I was staying in that dump and rubbing shoulders with those book lovers. I hope your last day before vacation goes quickly and that then you have A Great Good Time!

>30 msf59: I like those Yoko Tanji illustrations, Mark!

That looks like a tolerable (!) place to stay for Booktopia.

Hard not to like the Sandoz sections in COG. You know I'm a Dr. Siri fan; I'm pretty sure I had him at one of my "what characters would you invite to dinner" tables. Having a beer with him would be a treat. Love Songs from a Shallow Grave is another good one (no surprise) in that series.

Looks like a cool, clear one today. If you be working, this ain't a bad day for it.

Love the sunset photo Mark! So pretty!

Have fun at BookTopia!

I just Yoko Tanji, Marky-Mark. What great pics to have posted. You gave me a big Saturday smile! ;-)

#36 - Mark!! That looks lovely! I am green with envy.

Mark, thanks for dropping by my thread and pointing out that glitch in my Guns of August post. I definitely lost part of a sentence when I posted that.

Hey, that looks like a nice place to stay . . .

A nice cool day here, with plenty of sunshine, although clouds are scuttling in. It looks like I can get off at 330 and then freedom.

Karen- I think we'll muddle through the dumpy accommodations. We are tough.

Joe- Yep, I am working but only a couple more hours. And yah to Dr. Siri! Enjoy your Saturday!

Chelle- great to see you over here. I hope the skies stay clear next weekend, so we can see a couple of those stunning sunsets. Hope you are having a nice weekend.

Caro- Have you seen Tanji's work before? I love it. I used one on my profile page too.

Ellen- I think the bookstore is right around the corner too, which is nice.

Happy Birthday to Stephen Edwin King -- born in Portland, Maine on September 21, 1947.

Ah, happy birthday to one of my very favorite authors! I am bracing myself to re-read The Shining which scared the bejeebers out of me back in the day, in preparation for reading his new book Doctor Sleep. Perfect for Halloween, I think!

#44- One has to wonder about that man's brain. Brilliant, yes, but how does one live in that kind of imagination?

Happy vacation!!

>27 msf59: I hope you can hobble around okay. Be careful. You might get excited.
Books were only $2 !! YAY
I did get excited, and I also got two sore shoulders, one sore hip and a little bit of a sore knee from holding it aloft (well, off the concrete floor) for so long. BUT I also got 10 books! Hoorah!

Maybe I should read some more King? I kind of liked some of his as a teen.... but these days I cant stand suspense or being scared in my reading. *boo hoo*

Well, fall has arrived. I love this time of year, I just don't care for what's directly ahead of it. It was a milder winter last year, let's pray for a repeat.
Today, will be appropriately cool too: only in the low 60s. Good day to stay in and chill.

Terri- I found the Guns of August on audio, but I am not sure I am ready for a long wordy slog, although I would like to read a definitive history of WW1.

Julia- What is amazing about King, is his staying power. I think his work in the past few years, equals the stuff he did 30-40 years ago.
I am also looking forward to his very first sequel, Doctor Sleep. I think I'll wait and try it on audio. His books work well in that format. I wish I could have bookhorned The Shining in. I probably haven't read that in at last 25 years.

Ellen- Just listening to Joyland, last month, reminded me how entertaining King is and how solid his craftsmanship remains. And yes, what a funhouse his mind must be.

RD- Thanks. Looking forward to it. I'll spend the first few days of the week, doing errands, chores, appointments, lunch dates and then BOOKTOPIA!

Megan- Sorry, you are a little beaten up but for 10 books, it was probably worth it. I'll have to stop by your thread and see what you acquired.

I am also a lover of autumn Mark which is a crying shame as we don't have seasons over here!

Enjoy your holidays mate and I'll be thinking of you with not an inconsiderable twinge or two of envy as you chew up the boards at the book fest.

>23 msf59: Someone GAVE AWAY a signed copy of an MDR book?!?!?!?

*Collapses in a heap *

I think the reason King's able to live with that imagination is that he writes it all down and, therefore, gets it "out of his system." He has an outlet for it.

Whoa--according to MDR's blog, she will do phone calls to book clubs. Wouldn't that be fun!

My reaction to COG was similar to yours, Mark. I enjoyed the story of the humans more, although I was very happy to get the alien explanation of the events in The Sparrow. Together they were a memorable read.

Enjoy your week off and your trip to Booktopia! I loved the one at Bellingham.

Mark, I just read the Tuchman book. It's not a definitive history of WW1. Just of the first month of the war. I started the John Keegan definitive history and might get back to it at some point.

Happy Sunday. Enjoy those cool temps. Weird to not have a Sunday afternoon Bears game. I'll have to make do with the Packers.

Just had a hearty breakfast, started some laundry. I am going to sneak in a half hour of reading and then off to food shop.

Paul- It looks like we are going to leave Thursday evening instead of early Friday morning and split the drive up, so it's not to frustrating trying to do it all in one morning. MDR has an author event at 2pm, so we should be all settled in by that point.

Kath- LOL. I am tempted to bring up the signed copy of COG and show her. I will bring my hardback copy of Doc though and I plan on buying a new copy of The Sparrow. Mine disappeared.

Morning Morphy- That sounds like a solid theory. He must have myriad of demons to work, through in his brain.

Janet- Wow, it's great to see you over here. The alien sections are getting better, as it moves closer to the humans arriving. This will be my second Booktopia and I hope I can attend another one next year, if the location is right.

Linda- Thanks for the Tuchman advice. I also have the Keegan book on shelf along with his WWII book. I have to squeeze these in at some point. I also have several Civil Wars books glaring at me too.

I see Linda set you straight on Guns of August and I would second her endorsement of John Keegan's World War I. I would also recommend Pity of War by Niall Ferguson. I think that Guns would make a good type of history to listen to as it is a fine example of the early narrative history form.

I liked COG. I thought it filled in lots of the holes left in the first book. In the end the alien parts were very powerful and somewhat unexpected. I will be jealous of you that you will have the great MDR's autograph on your books. I may have to send Richard more money to grease the voodoo machine a bit better.

I like the idea of the small weekend book retreats and think that Ann and Michael hit upon a great idea. I recently ran across a story about a woman from Nashville who, on a whim, decided to host a one day romance readers book conference and was overwhelmed when 300 people showed up. She is in the process of getting together another one and she says that this time around she will be better organized and it will be in a larger space. This reminded me of what happened to Ann and Michael with the first Booktopia. I think there is a real hunger for this sort of book/reader/author connection and that there should be more of them.

At the Oxford Booktopia Ann and Michael said that since they work with bookstores in their real jobs that they wanted the Booktopia's to highlight local small bookstores that were doing an outstanding business and that they wanted them to be an extension of the bookstore rather than a separate kind of thing. All of this is why they have resisted having Random House, their employer, fund or provide other kinds of support for the Booktopia's. They want to keep them small.

*pauses in the midst of removing voodoo dolly Mark's kneecap* What was that, Benita? I have another kneecap to go.

Mark, my daughter and I are going to see Stephen King and his son, Owen on Tuesday night for a reading of Dr. Sleep. We also will be getting a copy of his book. Some of them will be signed, I'm keeping my fingers crossed! I have and have read every one of his books. Have a wonderful time at Booktopia!

Echoing that Guns of August only covers the first month of the war, in detail. Maybe someday I'll read that Keegan book that's been mentioned.

Happy Fall, Mark, and enjoy Booktopia!

I think Morphy hit the nail on the head about King. He thinks up all manner of horrible things but then gets to write them down and beat the bad guys, which must be very satisfying!

I love seeing so many fans of 'The Sparrow' and 'Children of God' here in your thread, Mark. Such good books. And many endorsements of 'The Guns of August' which I must read soon.

#58--So jealous!! Have a great time. And Mark you too!

Ugh! We've been working on the garage for hours. We ended dumping a whole mess of crap in there, including our old furniture, while working on the family room. So, I haven't been able to park on my side of the garage for a couple of months but that needs to change. We made a huge dent and it was a beautiful fall day, so it is all worth it.

Benita- I have not heard of Pity of War. I have a ridiculous amount of history books to read, but they always keep getting shunted to the side, like bad pennies. I am going to start tracking more down on audio. That is an effective to way to plow through them.
Thanks for your thoughts on BOTNS. I can not wait to see those guys.

RD- Miraculously, my knee feels better. Maybe I'll go for a run........NOT!

Diane- Nice to see you over here. I think my Mom first handed me Carrie after it first came out, so I've been a fan since. There was a stretch in the late 80s and 90s that I stopped reading him but since Lisey's Story, I've been on task, except for Under the Dome, which I will get to.
I hope you and your daughter have a fantastic time. What a treat.

Terri- Too many books, too little time, they say. I'll save the Tuchman on audio and possibly bookhorn it in at some point. Hope you are having a terrific weekend.

Julia- The plan is to knock out a nice chunk of COG, before the Bears play later. My son just picked up the latest Grand Theft Auto, so this is dominating most of the house.

Kim- Big loving waves!

Mark! Sounds like you've got an excellent week, and more importantly, weekend, ahead of you! Bummer about the garage work - I'm avoiding mine and thinking of getting some professional help to re-think how things are "organized", and as it's just a 1-car garage it's not too bad - but YAY for wonderful weather! It's about 66 here, sunny, with a breeze. *perfection!!!* Was out watering the newly seeded/aerated back yard and just stood there soaking it in. Will have to try and retain some of this wonderful-ness for the sucky winter. :)

You picked The Sparrow for me to read this year, and it's still TBR, unfortunately. But I'm eyeing up my sadly neglected LT's Choice stack at least once a day, so there's still time! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and say hello to Sue for me!

Despite my plans to stay home and watch the Packers, I never did get to see them. My sister called and the next thing I knew, off to meet her and the kids for apple picking. The wait for the hayride out to the apple trees was something like 60 to 90 minutes. Couldn't get near the snack bar for apple cider and apple cider donuts. Even the store had a long, long line.

Sunday Night Football! Can the Bears go 3-0??

Laura- What a nice surprise to see you! I hope all is well and work has slowed down for you. Please get to the Sparrow. It will be a book you will never forget! Have I steered you wrong? Okay, I have I ever steered you wrong more than a few times?

Linda- I haven't watched much football either. It looks like the Pack got hammered. I did see the tail-end of the Colts & 49ers game. Colts look good!

Hi Mark, very jealous of your upcoming Booktopia and the opportunity to meet Mary Doria Russell. Have a great week off, the hardest working mailman in the country.

Seahawks did it! 3-0 for them! Whoo hoo! I am sure that Ellen's yelling at the game made the difference. 45- something smaller.....

Sending my jealous looks in your direction, but if I can't go, then I couldn't pick a better guy to take my place. Have good vacation, get lots done, and then go have your fun!

ETA: it was 45-17

>65 msf59: I saw a sign painted on the outside wall of a pub "FREE BEER TOMORROW!"
I was gullible and thought (thank goodness to myself) wow! That is worth coming back for! duh.

Lol Megan! Mark, the venue above for Booktopia looks beautiful. Do they ever take applications from foreigners? Wouldn't mind putting it on the Bucket list....

Bears lead 24-10- Half-time! Yah!

Bonnie- My quest: To have a beer with MDR! Fingers crossed.
"the hardest working mailman in the country." Wow! Thank you but I doubt I qualify. LOL.

Karen- Seahawks kicked butt! I miss Kerri. She is taking some time off around here.

Megan- I would be enticed by ""FREE BEER TOMORROW!" too! Sometimes dreams come true.

Prue- Foreigners are welcome! The first year I attended, there were at least a couple folks from out of country, including one from Australia.

Mark, I am eager to get all the Booktopia news firsthand. What a lovely place to stay. It looks like you will have a good view, too. Don't work too hard on the garage. We want you well rested for your big book week end.

Go Bears!

Bears win! Bears win! 40-23! Yah!

Good night!

And now: Good Morning. I hope you get lots of reading accomplished this week. And then a very pleasant trip up north! What a great week you have in front of you.

Just having a lazy morning. I have some running around to do but I hope I can buckle down and read a sizable chunk of Children of God. I didn't read much over the weekend. I wanted to be finished with it by mid-week.

Donna- I hope it will be clear skies for the weekend. We have to see a fiery sunset or 2.

Paul- They did it! Whatever hex you thought you had on the Bears, is there no longer. Have a good work week.

3 and 0!!! The hex is gone; Go Bears!

That was a fun game to watch, Mark, not least because I've never liked the Steelers :-) My hapless Giants got embarrassed by the Panthers and are now 0-3. Ugh.

I am looking forward to the announcement of next year's Booktopia dates and locations. I very much hope to attend one. I think the line-up for next week's event is the strongest of all of them so far. Lucky you!!!

The best I can say about the Bears win is that I had the D on my fantasy team, so they brought me two touchdowns. My Packers at 1-2 have a lot of catching up to do!

Love the chalkboard! Yay Bears (because you like them). Happy Monday. : )

^ I usually don't post old photos but a friend shared this one. I believe this is Caesar, our Rottweiler puppy, (my first dog as an adult). Unfortunately, he died at 8 months, from a heart condition. He would have grown up to be a beautiful Rott. This was from around '91 or so. I was over 30 but I looked like a little kid. And how about that brown hair?

Looking good, Mark!

Go Bears! That was a good win on the road. Wish they had let Cutler throw a little more in the second half, but it all worked out. Sounds like a bad injury for poor Melton.

Hope all is going well for you. Turned out we were hiding under dog beds and duck ponds in our part of Chicago.

Why you were just a young pup yourself in that photo, Mark!

Having some lunch and then heading out to do some yard-work, on this fine fall afternoon. I did squeeze in some reading and I am edging close to the halfway point in children of God. She is such a smart and nimble storyteller.

Karen- I hope to get some above-average reading time in this week. It's easy to get distracted at home, so I have to stay focused. Hope you are having a good day.

Paul- They should be able to beat Detroit on Sunday too! Actually, I won't be able to watch that one because we'll be heading back from Booktopia. I'll have to listen to it on the radio, which is not my favorite way to enjoy the game.

Katie- Maybe, the BOTNS folks will pick a city in Texas. You never know. Yep, I am looking forward to Booktopia. I am glad I got in.

Nancy- Hope you had a nice weekend. I agree, the Pack looks out of synch, which is okay with us Bears fans but must be frustrating for you guys.

Kim- It's so nice to have you dropping by. Always puts a smile on this old mug.

Joe- Yep, that photo goes way back. I think Bree was just a baby. She was to young to remember our Rott.
Sorry, to hear about Melton. That one is going to hurt.

Julia- Yes, just a couple of young pups. I am glad that I am still kicking. It's funny, we've had 3 other dogs, since that one.

Hi Mark! What a great picture of you and your pup. That's the only downside of pets--they just don't live long enough. Hope you thoroughly enjoyed your lazy morning and I'm so glad you were able to get into Booktopia. I'm all excited that you're going and will be eagerly watching for updates.

Done with yard-work, now...

Mark - I finally started The Gods of Gotham after a few detours. So far I really like it.

Author News:

"Acclaimed author Marilynne Robinson will return with another novel set in the town of Gilead, Iowa. Her publisher FSG has just purchased rights to publish Lila, the story of a mysterious young woman who arrives in town and marries John Ames, the hero of her second novel, Gilead, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. No release date has been set."

Very cool!

> 87 - Good to know! Sounds like I need to move up my read of Home, and possibly re-read Gilead.

I never finished Gilead. I really need to try it again.

Tomorrow I get my copy of Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. If I remember correctly, you read it and weren't as blown away as you expected to be.

Hey Mark! I'm so jealous, totally green! Looking at your weekend accommodations and events seem delightful. Have a terrrrriiiifffffic time!
You're going to have a stunning drive up north.

>80 msf59: brown hair! So 90's ;)

Old photos are something I want to see less of when it comes to myself! I'll stick to the modern day I think, for now anyway :)

>87 msf59: cool indeed, I loved Gilead.

I received a copy of Love and Hydrogen from Book mooch today. I've been meaning to read Shepard for awhile now, I've heard glowing reports. Has anyone read any of his short fiction?

Pat- I agree with you about the downside of pet owner-ship. We had to put our beloved lab down last year. What sucked about our Rott was, he was still a puppy. Bummer.
I can see why Gilead might not work for everyone but I adored it. Actually, I really enjoyed the Lowland. It might not have spark of her short fiction but it is still a very worthy read.

Roberta- I can't wait to hear your thoughts on "Gods". I wonder if the follow-up is out yet?

Lori- I loved Gilead and really liked Home, so you know I am looking forward to it. I have still not read Housekeeping. Bad Mark! Although, I did love the film version, many many years ago.

Lynda- It should be a blast. And it looks like we'll be busy, right up until the time we leave, around noon on Sunday. It looks like the weather should be nice too!

Megan- " brown hair! So 90's." Thanks for my first big guffaw of the day. Just a short time after this, I slowly started to go gray and never looked back. Actually, my daughter would have been about a year old at this time.

I never got into Gilead but LOVED Housekeeing when I read it around '90.

Fantastic news about Marilynne Robinson. Another Gilead fan here.

Mark Seven for a Secret is out now.

I have both Gilead and Home on the shelves waiting. Which should I read first? Just wanting opinions, as I've heard it doesn't really matter.

Love the young pups picture. :)

Hm, I've only read Housekeeping, but loved it. I keep meaning to get back round to her, but just haven't yet. This seems like good motivation, eh?

Enjoy the gorgeous weather!

^Cool!

Happy Tuesday! Fortunately, I did read a nice chunk of children of God yesterday. Hopefully, I can repeat that today. I still have 180 pages left. I NEED to have a beer with this woman.

Nancy- I can not believe Housekeeping was published in '80. she's been around awhile. Now, I NEED to get to it.

Laura- Did you read Home? It's a different type of read, than Gilead but very good.

Roberta- Thanks! I am going to keep an eye out for the audio. I think the first one worked very well in that format.

Tina- I think you should start with Gilead. That is the home base. That is the mothership. Glad you like the "young pups". Smile!

Mark - Just checked - Housekeeping was published in 1980!

I don't see a pic in #80! *pouts*

That's great news about Marilynne Robinson. Like Lori and others, I've only read Gilead. I need to get on the stick and read some others.

Right now I've having fun with one Jesse gave me, an aliens-come-to-earth-and-their-videogames-reveal -I'm not sure what yet - story. Called Constellation Games. May not win the Pulitzer, but a good ride so far.

Another beaut of a day. Let's just keep these kind of days for a few months, what say you?

“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book...”

― Dwight D. Eisenhower (Banned Book Week)

Amber- Hope you are enjoying this gorgeous fall weather. And I recommend everyone read Gilead. If it's not your cuppa, at least you gave it a shot.

Nancy- Yep, 1980. I was just a punk 21 year old, reading Robin Cook & John Saul.

Morphy- Sorry about the photo! I wonder why it won't come up for you?

Joe- "Let's just keep these kind of days for a few months, what say you?". Amen, my friend, AMEN!
Try to bookhorn in Home and Constellation Games sounds fun.

#100 Morphy, the photo you're missing is of a young, handsome Mark holding a puppy.

Happy Tuesday, Mark. Are we having a string of picture perfect days, or what?

Hope you'll send lots of reports back from Booktopia. I sent my registration in this morning for Murder & Mayhem in Muskego (in suburban Milwaukee). I think there'll be 25-30 mystery authors at this all-day event.

#80 Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I've never been a fan of Rottweilers but he's a prime cutey!

“A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ.”

― Travels with Charley



^Nice photo, but does this reader, with the cool tat, have to be drinking a Miller Lite? The Horror!

I picked up a gently-used copy of Orchard by Larry Watson. I love this guy's writing and NEED to start reading more of his work. Anyone read this title?

I have just under a 100 pages, left in Children of God. I wish this was a smoother read but when it's good, it is very good.

Linda- Yes, this has been a gorgeous stretch of fall weather. May it continue. The Muskego sounds like a blast. Is this your first time?

Bekka- Our next 2 dogs were a Golden Retriever, (we only had him a couple years) and then a Chocolate Lab, but Rott's are still one of my favorite dogs. Smart, loyal and intimidating.

What an adorable puppy! So sad that you lost him so soon.

I responded to your BB comment on my thread, so all I'll say here is "Oh Jessie.......".

So do you have any answer to "What is a good ending for Jessie?"?

Also Todd is pure evil.

I, too, loved Gilead. I didn't like Home as much, but I'm hopeful for the coming book. Great news!

Football has been a disappointment in our household. We all follow the Steelers (0-3), Hubby is a Giants fan (0-3), I'm an Eagles fan (1-2). So you could say we're collectively 1-8 so far this season . . .

“Perhaps they were right in putting love into books,' he thought quietly. 'Perhaps it could not live anywhere else.”
― William Faulkner, Light in August



Happy Birthday, Mr. Faulkner. September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962

I have only read three Faulkner novels and that was many moons ago, so I'll have to make an effort to get through more of his work.
I know he is not loved by everyone, (waves to Joe) but if you are a fan what is your favorite?

I've only read As I Lay Dying, and while I can't exactly say that I enjoyed it, I recognize that it was extremely well-crafted.

Happy Hump Day, for you working folks! I want get an hour-plus reading time in, before doing errands. The gorgeous fall weather continues here...

Joanne- "Oh Jessie." You said it, sister! Such mixed feelings going in to the finale: I can't wait to see how it wraps up and HATE to see it end. Shows of this quality, do not come around that often.

Terri- Sorry about the football depression. Bummer. My Bears are looking good. Let's hope that trend continues.

Amber- As I Lay Dying, is one of the 3 of his, I have read. It's been awhile, so I am a bit fuzzy on my feelings toward it. I see they are making a film of that one.

Mark, I love the photo of you and little Caesar. He was a cutie (and you were, too! -- I mean, you still are, of course, but, well.... we do have a bit of gray hair these days, don't we?).
*sets aside shovel before she digs that hole any deeper*

Congrats to your 3-0 Bears! Perhaps they will meet the Seahawks in the playoffs....

I am very, very glad it's Hump Day. I'll be even more glad when it's Thanksgiving. :-|

Enjoy your day of reading and errands!

A day of reading and errands sounds perfect, Mark, particularly if you can duck the errands.

Wow, another beautiful day, Are we living in Southern California? I lived in Santa Barbara for a while when I was a young guy, and it was gorgeous every day. In the end, though, it bored the crap out of me. No danger of that in our sweet city.

Glad you're liking Boxers. That's in my future, I'm sure.

Morning Mark! It's an hour earlier down here in Florida. Just beginning my trek to attempt to catch up on the threads - I fear it is a losing battle before it has even begun. I have only read two Faulkner's - As I Lay Dying, which I hated, and Light in August, which I loved. So, a mixed bag for me.

Hoping that your upcoming Booktopia trip is full of fabulous. Wishing you safe travels,my friend.

>98 msf59:: Laura- Did you read Home? It's a different type of read, than Gilead but very good.
Yes I did, Mark -- Gilead first, then Home. Loved them both. Still haven't read Housekeeping but it's on my shelves!

^Okay, Cheers! I finished Children of God. 2 days before Booktopia and my last homework assignment. I might butt heads with a few of my LT pals over this one. I liked it enough and gave it a decent rating but I did not love it. It was not always an easy read and the narrative was uneven, especially with all the numerous alien segments, which I had a hard time connecting with and then she jumped around in time, which also slowed the pace down to a crawl.
There is still much to admire here. MDR is an amazing talent and so very smart. There is great writing to be found in these pages and Sandoz is one of the great characters in modern literature. I wish it could have came together better for me, like The Sparrow, which I feel is a masterpiece.
Funny, there is a Q & A, at the back of the book, with MDR and she states, that she was surprised, how many readers preferred this one over the Sparrow. I wonder if those folks were on medication at the time? Hey, you never know!

I've read all three of Marilynne Robinson's novels and Housekeeping is my favorite, although I really liked the other two too Mark. Todd is definitely pure evil, even when he comes off as compassionate. That actually makes him even worse.

I agree, Mark, IMO Sparrow is much better than Children of God. Other than the shock at the beginning (that Sandoz is not living the life we expected from the end of Sparrow), I thought it jumped around and just wasn't compelling. I have reread The Sparrow a couple of times, but wouldn't bother with COG. Have you read either Dreamers of the Day or Thread of Grace? I thought DotD very good, but I know that other reviews have not liked it as much (or at all). I thought ToG good, and others have loved it. And Doc of course is great. I wonder how the sequel to Doc will compare to her last sequel...

My ranking:

1. The Sparrow
2. Doc
3. Dreamers of the Day
4. Thread of Grace
5. Children of God

What's yours?

Gilead it is, Mark!!

Are you READY?????????

Mark have a blast at Booktopia. We will keep your thread warm with talk of books and beer and awesome puppies!

My son and daughter took me to The Beer Market, a new local brew/pub for eats and fine ale. Of course, I was in heaven. Do you like the "Game of Thrones"- T-shirt?

Ellen- I would have loved to see Caesar live to be an older dog. He was such a laid-back Rott. His mother lived until 13 or so.
Hope the week is going well.

Joe- I finished my errands before noon and then worked around here, inside and out but I did get in plenty of reading, which was the game-plan. I hope to read more of Boxers, now that Children of God is behind me.

Mamie- Mixed feelings on Faulkner, eh? Not surprising. I have read As I Lay Dying and I really liked it but it's been many moons.
When do you return to Georgia?

Laura- It looks like we are on the same track with Ms. Robinson. How about you set a time in November or December and we will read Housekeeping. Sound like a plan?

Bonnie- That sounds like a solid endorsement of Housekeeping. Looking forward to Sunday's BB finale. We hope to be back by 6, from Michigan and then we are attending a BB party, with drinks and eats. I am off Monday but my wife isn't . Sometimes, you just have to roll with it, right?

Lisa- I am glad I am not alone on Children of God. I have not read Dreamers of the Day or Thread of Grace, although I have the latter on shelf and that it will probably be my next MDR.
I agree with the first two, on your rankings and, for me anyway, both 5 star reads.

Tina- I will look forward to your thoughts on Gilead. When do you think you will start it?

Roberta- Thanks! We are looking forward to it. I will have my iPad along, so I hope to stay in touch. We are not leaving until tomorrow evening, after the DW, gets home from work.

Safe travels to Petoskey, Mark, and have a great time at Booktopia this weekend.

We'll be back in Georgia late Saturday, Mark. It's always fun to get away, but I love going back home, too. I am missing my pecan trees and my LT buddies.

Have fun!

Looking good in all the photos Mark!! With or without the beer. ; ) Glad you finished all your reading assignment--time to play!

>122 msf59:: How about you set a time in November or December and we will read Housekeeping. Sound like a plan?

Oh, yes Mark, let's! Does November work for you?

We will be sitting on your shoulder, virtually, while you listen and converse books, and authors, and publishers, and all the other good stuff at Booktopia. Enjoy!

Sweet Thursday! It's been a very nice week off so far. The weather has been perfect and I've got a few things done around the house, in and out.
My wife works today but hopefully she'll be home around 530p and we can be on the road by 6. We are going to stay in Grand Rapids, which is about halfway to Petoskey. And the plan is to be up there by noon, tomorrow. Our first author talk is 1pm, with MDR, discussing the Sparrow & Children of God. Is my timing good or what?

Linda- Thanks! I wish more of my LT pals were going. Maybe next year, if they pick a location in the Midwest. The problem is, you have to jump on it quick, these limited spots disappear fast.

Mamie- Have a safe trip back to the pecan trees. I hope you guys had a terrific getaway in FLA.

Lisa & Kim- Thanks! I will try to take plenty of photos, without looking like a creepy stalker.

Laura- I just moved my copy of Housekeeping to the Must Read Now shelf, ( this is a bit of a misnomer, because books don't seem to fly off this space either, although it is a step closer).
November sounds perfect. We'll just had to remind each other.

Karen- It should be a blast. I just wish my wife could have done her homework but she'll be swept along in the geeky excitement.
It will be great to kick it off with MDR. I couldn't get into her regular session on Saturday but this one should be fun.

>128 maggie1944:: We'll just had to remind each other.
I've put it on my handy spreadsheet, Mark. That usually helps me remember my 'commitments'

Have a GREAT time at Booktopia!

Just heard that Jennifer Lawrence has been cast in the new film adaptation of Steinbeck's East of Eden.

For some reason, I'm seeing it now. Adorable dog. I have no idea about the person because he's hiding behind the puppy!

Good photo at the brew pub!

I liked Sparrow much more than Children of God, too, Mark, but I did like the different angles COG brought to the story and, of course, the fine writing. How great to start off Booktopia with MDR! Take notes - I may need to borrow some for the exam.

I'm reading some Sherlock Holmes and Constellation Games right now (not a short one), with the new Andrea Camilleri looking at me from the dining room table. Not sure where I'll go from there.

Safe travels, and please blog away here when time permits at Booktopia.

I agree with you that Children of God is a different book than Sparrow but that didn't bother me. As a sequel it did tie up some loose ends for me, and provide some closure. I also liked the way she handled Sandoz. She managed to make him into a character that grew and changed. She also showed he had feet of clay in some respects. In many ways I thought she was making him into a sort of Apostle Paul like character.

Hey! I got here just in time to wish you a very sweet Booktopia weekend! Just to let you know - I've listened to a couple podcasts recently of BOTNS - like :)

I was very afraid to try catching up here. I knew I would be struck down with many, many book bullets :D I need to get back to reading Marilynne Robinson... have only read Housekeeping and I liked it a lot.

I have no earthly idea how you keep up with so much in RL and cyber life - AND manage to read so many books. I wonder what kind of daily vitamins you take - or is it the fancy beer???
;-)

Love the Mark & Rottie picture!
Waiting impatiently to hear how your weekend goes...

^Mclean & Eakin Bookstore (Petoskey, MI). This is the place where we will be purchasing books and attending a couple of the author events. Looks cozy.

Laura- Gotta love those spreadsheets! I have to learn how to use one of those. LOL.

Linda- I saw that about Lawrence and East Of Eden. As much as I love the original film version with James Dean, it's truncated. I wonder who will be cast in the 2 brother roles and their old man?

Morphy- Don't even worry about the nobody kid behind the dog! It's all about the pup!

Joe- I NEED to return to Inspector Montalbano. I have only read the first 2 and they are a lot of fun. Series fiction always looms above us, in such an in intimidating and ongoing manner.
And yes, the iPad is packed and ready for reporting duty.

Benita- Sandoz is the MAN! And I adored the narrative, when ever he was on the page, despite the terrible and troubling situations, he finds himself in. COG is a decent read, just not the book the Sparrow is.

Claudia- What a perfect send-off! I always enjoy your visits. I do take a daily regiment of vitamins, fruit and veggies, but I really am a laid-back guy. I just enjoy my interests. And books and LT are right there at the top.
Glad you liked the photo of Caesar. I wish we could have a got another Rott, but I think my dog days are over. We still have our little monster and Bree's big Shepard. That's more than enough, although if someone dropped off a puppy Bernese Mountain Dog, I might be persuaded:

Mark, have a great time at Booktopia. I signed up yesterday to get alerts and newsletters from BOTNS so I'll hear as soon as possible where they will be taking place next year. Their website said they expected to announce the locations in late October.

MARK! You've never seen Foyle's War? Get yourself to Netflix and start at the beginning. I think you'll really like it.

Ssssh! Keep it under your hat but I managed to snag the audio of MaddAddam this afternoon. Yippee ki-yay! I'll have to find a sweet spot for it in October. I've been on a nice roll lately, with acquiring audios. I also grabbed the Son & The Returned, which has been getting some nice buzz. Now, bookhorning these babies in...that's another thing.

Pat- I am hoping to find out some insider secrets, on next year's Booktopia locations. I would think they would have a pretty good idea by now.

Laura- It looks like I'll have to scope out Foyle's War. I know, I've heard about it for years. Is it on Netflix streaming?

I'm completely absorbed in The Son Mark. Have a great time at Booktopia. We will be glued to our TV for the BB finale on Sunday night.

^Well, we have the wagon all packed and the horses hitched, should be ready to hit the trail in just a few...

Bonnie- I think I saw that you and Donna, were both reading the Son. Hopefully, I can make room for it in October.
Yep, looking forward to Sunday night but I am sure going to miss that show.

****waving to Mark and Sue***** Hope you guys are having a great time. I mean, I don't need to hope, I know you are having a special and very satisfyingly good time.

MARK! You've never seen Foyle's War?

Oh, you totally have to check out Foyle's War.... it is absolutely brilliant!

Have a great time Mark! Can't wait to follow along.

Just remembered - we have a Nicole Krauss read taking place next month, right?

Have a great Booktopia, Mark!

Just skimming.... I wish Dan would clear his stuff from our garage. It's all his stuff. :( It was clear once... thenhe started filling it up with .. well.. he has hoarding tendencies.. I can't put a car in :(

I think Carrie was my first King, too.

hope all is well out there!

Good morning from Grand Rapids MI. We had a good drive up here last night. Did not see any deer, thank God.
We have about a 3 hour drive, straight north to Petoskey and hope to get up there about noon.
On audio, I started my last S & S book for the month, Tilt A Whirl and this one looks to be a lot of fun. Thanks to RD & Joanne for the nudge.

Karen- We are looking forward to it and the weather looks lovely. Sunny and about 80! Enjoy your weekend.

Lori- That is two strong endorsements for Foyles. I better check it out.

Nancy- I have not forgotten the Krauss book. I'll probably book horn it in at the end of the month. I still have to get to Bel Canto. Running late on that one.

>139 msf59:: Mark, yes Foyle's War is on Netflix streaming. I just checked -- there are 6 seasons of 3-4 episodes each. Perfect for binge watching!

You'll like Bel Canto, Mark. Looking forward to hearing what you think of Tilt a Whirl, one of those I'd never heard of before the LT buzz.

I'm near the end of Constellation Games, and I can see why our favorite son gave it to me. Good sense of humor; nice parodies of videogames and of our usual conceptions of aliens. Then it's on to that new Montalbano.

Have a great first day in the land of Booktopia. The name alone sounds like a bit of paradise.

I don't have time to catch up, but wanted to say that the Nook Daily Find made me think of you -- The History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage. (He's the guy who write An Edible History of Humanity.) They say that the book

connects key periods of history through the glasses of six popular beverages: beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. Having influenced our lives and the world around us these drinks lead a fascinating trip through world history sure to quench your thirst.

I figured the first beverage might get your attention. Have you read this book yet? If so, is it any good?

I'm so glad you're liking Tilt-A-Whirl, Mark! Mad Mouse is good, too.

BROADCHURCH. OMG.

I hope the sudden stabbing pains in your joints and the sudden and inexplicable demagnetization of your credit cards won't affect your pleasure in Petoskey.

A quick check in from Booktopia. Our room is gorgeous, with a balcony over looking a breath-taking bay. I did take a few pics but I am not sure how to copy & paste on my iPad. Bad, ill-informed Mark!

The MDR talk was amazing. She was funny, smart and incredible engaging. Can you imagine 50 minutes devoted to the Sparrow & COG? OMG!

She started writing COG, before The Sparrow was even published. That was a surprise and The Sparrow was rejected 31 times. WTF?

MDR was told during the initial publication of The Sparrow, NOT to mention the words science fiction!! It would kill sales.

Glad you're enjoying it, Mark. Would love to hear your comments along the way.

So jealous of your time with MDR, Mark! Your summary is great. I had no idea she started writing the sequel before 'The Sparrow' got published. It makes sense, though, because it feels much more cohesive than those book/sequel combos that are published years and years apart.

#150
I read History of the World in Six Glasses and thought it was good. Not outstanding! - but good. It would be a good buy if you are getting it as the daily deal. There is alot of social history in the book.

T-Town is crawling with football fans. The traffic was horrid all day long. My library is right across the street from the stadium and the street was bumper-to-bumper traffic all day. The tailgaters were setting up last night and when I walked over to the main library for my meeting today I wondered how many of these people had jobs because they can't take that many Friday's off can they?

Glad to hear that the Booktopia is going so well. Petkosky sounds like a great place. Did you recognize anybody from your other Booktopia excursion? Did you participate in the Yankee Swap? Got any brew houses to speak of in that town? Or is it all about the books?

Hope Michigan recovers from your visit Mate! The bookstores and the beer halls all look great I must say. Have a wonderful time and fill your bags full.
btw. Great photo of you up above with your long-gone little pup.

Greetings from Booktopia! Everything is quiet here at the moment. Our first event with Peter Heller, doesn't start until 11. I think we will take a walk along the beautiful bay front, after breakfast.
The reception, last night went very well. Great to see so many book lovers in one place, plus the food and drinks were tasty.
I met MDR and her husband at the bar and they invited me to join them outside for a drink. They both grew up in the Chicago suburbs, very close to where I did and were high school sweethearts.
I did not share a beer with Mary but I mentioned it and she said she was game, hopefully tonight. I loved talking Doc Holliday with her.
And yes, there were several people I recognized and knew from the First Booktopia and a group of us went out afterwards, for beer and book gab.

Laura- I will give Foyle a shot. It does sound like my cuppa.

Joe- Not getting much reading in, but that was to be expected. I did start Harvest and I am enjoying it so far. Tilt a Whirl is a lot of fun. There is fresh angle to it.

Terri- thanks for the book rec. Looks fun.

RD- Tilt a Whirl has me grinning and chuckling throughout. It's good to hear that the second book is as fun, as well.

Linda- It's very pretty up here. I wish we had more time to explore.

Excellent! A good time is being had, I can tell. You can give us all the details later, when you learn to post the photographs, too.

Glad you're having a good time. I saw Michael's posts on Facebook. Looks like a lovely place to be this fall weekend.

Mark, I can just picture you hobnobbing with MDR. Do you get to call her "Mary" now? I love the bits you've shared with us so far. Keep up the good work.

Hey Mark, sounds like Booktopia is off to a great start!!! Would you please tell the powers that be the Ohio has been designated as the nerdiest state in the union all because of we have the highest number of library visits per capita. I think that's reason enough to hold booktopia in Geauga County, Ohio ;o)
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

How great to natter with MDR! You're a lucky (and deserving) guy. The Sparrow rejected 31 times! Amazing. I'm sure the sci-fi aspect had a lot to do with that.

Next, The Dog Stars guy. Man, no wonder RD's sticking pins in his Mark doll. I have to read that one, but I'm sure it'll be a good session.

Mark how wonderful that LT dreams do come true! I hope you get a beer with MDR.

Peter Heller is making the rounds next week here in the Houston area. The Dog Stars is the designated Gulf Coast Reads book for the fall.

Wow, first MDR and now the author of 'The Dog Stars'? You are a lucky man, Marky-mark!

Hola from Booktopia! What a long fun-filled day. Please, do not be disappointed but I did not get a lot pics. The situations were a bit chaotic at times and the opportunities were spare. There will be a Booktopia wrap up tomorrow morning, maybe I can be more aggressive but we'll see. I did sit with MDR and have a drink but no beer for her. I think she was having a V & T.
The MDR highlight was she read the opening couple of pages to the follow-up to Doc and it was gorgeous!
She also let it slip that her next novel may feature Edgar Allan Poe! She is an amazing woman!

Peter Heller was terrific. He is a big outdoor/nature guy and has wrote 4 or 5 non fiction books, about the outdoor experience. I'll have to sample a couple of those. He also has a new novel that comes out next spring, that involves, a painter, fly fishing and a murder mystery. Cool!

I also really enjoyed Jamie Ford. I really enjoyed his Songs From Willow Frost but I also picked up Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which he gladly signed. If you have not read this guy, give him a try.

I am sitting on my balcony, typing this, in a t-shirt and it is a beautiful night.

Of course, I am way behind on the threads. I hope you can give me a pass this time.

I am sitting on my sofa, typing this, in a warm pull-over, with wet shoes on. We had a deluge of rain today, and big winds, lots of power outages all around, and tomorrow may be worse in the wind department. ha! not such a beautiful night, but storms are a delight in their own way. I'm safe from outages with underground wiring, except if some big deal goes out in a big area.

I am very jealous. I think I'll see if Richard has any extra dolls. And I think I'll go to bed early and see if I can at least get a little reading done today.

Oh man, beer with MDR. I officially hate you. :)

Mark, thanks for the dispatches. Have they said anything about where the Booktopias will be held next year?

I'm glad you got a chance to see MDR up close and personal Mark. From her newsletter and her FB posts she seems like regular people and I for one can't wit for the sequel to Doc. She actually let it slip a while back that Edgar Allan Poe would be the subject of her next book.

Sounds like a great Booktopia, Mark! Glad you got to share a drink with MDR, I think that's going to be the highlight of the whole weekend! (Not that I think you peaked early, but you know what I mean. :)

Looking forward to more Booktopia gossip!

Oh, it's Booktober this October, and in Sydney they're opening the month with a **books and beer** event in the city. Guess where I'm going to be Tuesday night? (And $1 from every beer sold on the night goes to the Room to Read charity. Win win!)

So so so so so jealous of the MDR meet up. I wish there would be SOMETHING around here :(
Happy for you though... It sounds wonderful!

And Peter Heller. Uh-huh. Time to pull out the rusty pins. The ones with jagged edges. Maybe heat 'em up, too.

#174
I pitch in some money for more pins - should they be needed. But what I really want from the voodoo King is a hex on the iPod so Mark can't listen while he works. That way he wouldn't be telling us about the wonderful books he reads and then the wonderful conversations he has with the authors.

I hope that you had a wonderful relaxing time at Booktopia. The setting must have been lovely. Can you tell us a little about the Bookstore? I wonder how the town can support such a place?

>175 benitastrnad: Working on a MUCH larger curse on all things Apple. Catastrophic viral failure planet-wide.

*evil gleeful hand-rubs*

Well, it happened again. On Friday night I came home from coffee and catching up on LT about 10:30 p.m. only to find that - for the second time this year - my house and been broken into. This time somebody threw a brick through the bathroom window (the brick is still lodged in the drywall clear across the room from the window) came in, stole NOTHING, and let themselves out the back door. This left me with a broken window, lots of glass to clean up, and needing a large size patch in the drywall.

Since it was a football weekend it took the police some time to respond to my call. (Besides the UA - Ole Miss game there was a big high school game in my area on Friday night) When they did respond, they went to the house next door to me. I thought that was a mistake, but it turns out that they too had been robbed. They got cleaned out. It is a brother and sister who are students at UA and they are now missing two TV's, two laptops, one PC, and two Play Station 2's. I had my iPad with me, and don't have an iPhone or iPod, and since the thief who visited me before got my celebratory for moving in huge new a flat screen TV and my little portable spare flat screen TV there was nothing in my house they wanted. I can't believe that they did not want my Temperpedic mattress or my Ekornes recliner, or my 1/2 gallon of Jamieson Whiskey. (If you can't find electronics at my house at least you could party well.) Some people are really stupid.

I have then place cleaned up but am sure that I will be finding glass all over the bathroom for years.

#178 How horrible. I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Your burglars are stupid because I would have stolen your Ekornes recliner. I won't actually steal it, but I will covet it from afar. I hope you get everything settled as quickly and painless as possible. Sending you peaceful, safe thoughts.

Benita, I'm sorry you're having to deal with this twice. It must be very unsettling to say the least. Thankfully, stealing a Temperpedic mattress or an Ekornes chair isn't so easy to do but that's what I would have gone for too.

Hi Mark! I assume you're on your way home by now. Can't wait to hear more about Booktopia.

Ah, yes, it is Sunday late afternoon now isn't it. Trip home. With piles of books in the car? New author's works? Next year's locations. So many questions yet to be answered.....

^Little Traverse Bay, Petoskey Michigan. The view from our balcony. The weather was gorgeous!

Okay, we just got home a little while ago. A smooth ride back, listened to the Bears lose to the Lions, in grand fashion and didn't read anything and only listened to a small chunk of my audio.

I will have things to report, but we are now heading out to a Breaking Bad finale party! I am so glad I am off tomorrow. The wife isn't but she is continuing to be a trooper. She did manage to put up with dozens of chattering book geeks, for 3 days and for this she deserves a medal.

Glad you're home safely, Mark. I heard the Bears looked terrible. I spent much of the afternoon helping my friend buy, then learn how to use, her new iPhone.

Enjoy the last episode of Breaking Bad, Mark. I've heard so many good things about this show. I need to get it on Netflix and start from the beginning.

Perfect ending Mark!

Glad you're home safe and sound, Mark.
Since I've heard do many good things about breaking Bad, I watched the first episode on Netflix this morning before the Indians and Browns thrilled Clevelanders everywhere.
I thought Breaking Bad to be interesting, novel premise but a bit disturbing.

Home Sweet Home! It was a bit of a whirlwind weekend and I am so glad to be off today, to get my head together, take care of a few things around here and get back back into the books. I did not crack a book for 3 days, which is highly unusual but I was surrounded by book fanatics and a constant stream of book gab, so that counts for something, right?

Booktopia was fantastic and I highly encourage LTers to attend the event if it comes anywhere near you. You will be transported. The BOTNS folks are going to post the locations for next year, later in October. Fingers crossed.

I will post pics, book acquisitions and gossip. And I will try to make the rounds on the threads or at least make a dent. I am woefully behind.

HELP!

On my home page, under the Talk tag, I have my Starred threads listed but something got knocked out of whack on my ipad and it lists my starred threads as some kind of weird mishmash of past threads, some dating back for years. I have never seen this happen before and can't see how to change it. Some assistance here...thanks!

Reload! Reload! Wow, that's a weird bug, can't see that on my iPad (phew, panicked for a second there). Can you try one of the other settings? I use "Groups and Posts", maybe after toggling to that and back it'll sort itself out.

Nice to have you back, glad Booktopia was a blast! Gorgeous location too.

Benita, horrible story! Glad nothing taken, but what a pain to clean up.

ETA: actually, yes, the listing on my home page is different to that on the talk page. I'd recommend using the Talk page for the near future, http://www.librarything.com/talk and raise the discrepancies as a bug. (Me, I'm going to bed.)

Well Mark, sometimes this happens to me when I accidentally click on the unread message tab itself when all I wanted to do was click on someone's thread. Click on the column to the right of it "Last Message" and it will all come back. Hope that clears up your problem.

#189> oh, that worked for me! Both talk listings are in synch. Thanks!

maybe after toggling to that and back it'll sort itself out.
Yes ... Mark, could it be you're unknowingly using one of the different navigation options on the left? OR ... that you accidentally clicked one of the column headings (topics, unread messages, last message) which would change the sort order?

It's so easy to fat-finger the threads on the iPad. I've accidentally x'd a thread more times than I can count.

Why are you guys so fantastic? It was the Last Message tag, that brought it back. It's funny how something that simple, throws it all out of whack. We like order in our little LT World!

Big hearty hugs to Tania, Lynda & Laura! Thanks so much!

Lynda- Your state was beautifully represented at Booktopia! And of course MDR now lives in Cleveland. I have a feeling Ohio will be chosen at some point. They like to center it around a stellar independent bookstore, so whatever city has the best one, has the best chance.
I hope you continue with Breaking Bad. It only gets better and better, as it goes along.

Tania- I hope you are having sweet dreams, at this point. Have things settled down for you?

Laura- I have not watched the Broadchurch finale yet. Hopefully tomorrow night.

Bonnie- I'll stop by your thread and share some of my thoughts on the BB finale.

Pat- Have you ever tried the streaming on Netflix? I think most of BB is on there, except for the last 8 of course. If you watch the first couple episodes, you'll know if it's for you.

Linda P- Not a good Bears performance, especially by Cutler. I hope they can come back strong next Sunday against the Saints.

Karen- Thanks for all the encouragement. Since, you have attended, you know Booktopia is almost a religious experience. I even volunteered to be a moderator at the next one I attend. And yes, I brought home a healthy stack of books. It was nice to a have a $100 gift card to spend and the bookstore gave us a 20% discount. Sweet.

Benita- I am so sorry to hear about the break-in. That sucks! Glad nothing was taken, but the violation is always so unsettling.

Sorry to hear about Benita's break-in. You're right, Mark, it's good nothing was taken, but unsettling. Plus the hassle of fixing the window and wall (hopefully insurance covers the cost).

Too bad about the Bears. Two of those forced fumbles went right back to the Lions, which hadn't happened in the earlier games - seemed like a sign it was Detroit's day. And New Orleans is up next, a better team than Detroit. Yikes.

Sounds like Booktopia was a complete success. It's beautiful up there, isn't it? Talking about books for days on end - when do any of us get to do that? Great.

Welcome back! I'm glad you've got a day to get re-acclimated to the non-Booktopia world.

^With Peter Heller



^With Jamie Ford



^Peter Geye, Peter Heller, Edward Kelsey Moore and MDR. Unfortunately, that was the only one we took of her, although I had better opportunities. Bad Bad Mark!

I'm glad you enjoyed Booktopia. I felt the same way about the one in Belllingham. I can really understand the Booktopians who attend **all** the Booktopias in all the locations, although my wallet is too thin to pull that off.

I enjoyed your comments about Jamie Ford. He will be at the Montana Festival of the Book next week but the panel he is in conflicts with several other speakers I also wanted to hear. Your comments have made my decision easier--Jamie Ford's panel it is.

I am sure everyone is tired of my grinning mug, I know I am, but I have a couple more. Maybe I need to adopt Paul's dashing glower? I better practice.



This is Smiley-boy with Ann Kingman, (BOTNS co-founder) and my lovely wife Sue, who kept her bearing throughout.



With Jess & Matt, the wonderful owners of McLean & Eakin Bookstore. You could not ask for better people and their love for books is truly awe-inspiring.
Every town needs a bookstore like this one.

Dashing glower? Mark, you do great as you are mate. Your cheesy grin speaks volumes for how much you were enjoying the books and bookies. Sue's grin matches yours too.

Joe- I hope to drag you along to Booktopia next year! You would have a blast, plus I would have a beer-drinking buddy, although Sue actually fills in that slot very well. Bless her heart.

Janet- I am so glad I decided to see Jamie Ford. I had read his latest novel, so I knew he would be interesting but his talk was also at the same time as Peter Geye, who I also wanted to see. My wife attended that one and enjoyed it.
I hope you get to see Ford.

Paul- Yep, Marky-Mark's cheesy grin! You can't beat it! LOL.

Nice Mark! Everybody looks like they were having a great time.

And the books you bought were.......?

eta - Oh, and Breaking Bad = Best. Ending. Ever.

>178 benitastrnad: Benita... I am so very sorry to hear about the break in. How miserable to not only have it happen once, but twice. It has to feel horrible, even if nothing more was taken. I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this..

Clearly I am not a big enough person to be just happy for you ( although I am ) I am terribly envious as well. Sigh. And considering that perhaps you may have had too much wine while there, to only get the one pic of MDR. :(

Did I miss the list of books that you bought?

Wow, that month went fast! Well, back to the grind, but at least it's summer-like weather out there. Near 84. Let's hope I can keep the walking shorts on for a couple more weeks.

On audio, I'll be returning to Tilt a Whirl, which has been a lot of fun and then in print, I will continue, Harvest, which I thought I would be close to wrapping up by now. I can see why this book is not for everyone but so far I am enjoying it.

Joanne- I am glad you loved the BB finale. It was a bit, neat & slick for me but I can't really complain. At least he wrapped up everything cleanly. Where does Jesse go, though? That is still sad. Book list coming up...

Kath- Yep, I am regretting not taking that photo with MDR and we had the perfect setting too. I was so engrossed talking to them, that wife had to come find me. We were sitting outside on the porch. It was a beautiful evening.
Book list coming up...

Good pics, Mark - I bet Jess and Matt loved having Booktopia in town.

I'm a ways into an oldie, The Light Years by Elizabeth Howard, and liking it very much so far.

Mark, I'm so glad you had a blast at Booktopia! It's an extroverted book-lover's paradise. :-)

And if someone dropped off a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy at my house, I'd be in puppy heaven. I think they are beautiful creatures. The tri-color thing just works for me.

P and I are going to a Brews at the Zoo tasting event this Thursday with friends. I think it will be my first-ever beer tasting event.

Thanks Kath, I somehow missed Benita's break-in. It is a terrible feeling akin to a violation to know someone has been going through one's stuff without permit. It happened to me several times in the UK (twice each in Derby and Wakefield). I think I would have also been perplexed that they had a mooch and decided they didn't want anything! Their loss, Benita, I love Jameson's to bits.
Please take care of yourself.

Well, back to normal, eh? I'm glad your slipping back into the traces in good weather. You will have the chance to get used to your routines again before the nasties hit, I hope.

I received the Jamie Ford book, and thank you so very much! I almost dropped Night Soldiers to start it but thought better of it, and pledged to finish reading the Furst book, before I begin the Ford book.

Nice fall day to come back to work and both my current reads are treating me well.

Joe- You would love that bookstore. Good selection and a nice vibe. I have not heard of Howard.

Ellen- I hope you have a good time at the Brew Zoo. I think they have had that here too but it's usually about the timing.
I am seriously considering a trip your way, late January.

Paul- Big hearty wave!

Karen- I am glad you got the book. I hope it works for you. I picked up "Hotel", which I haven't read and hopefully I can book horn it in.
Yep, our weather continues to be gorgeous.

What a wonderful Booktopia! Thanks for sharing the photos. Isn't MDR a great speaker? So funny. I'm jealous you got one on two time. I'm looking forward to the podcasts of the talks. And won't it be nice for you that BOTNS is going to be reviewing audio books too now? Looking forward to drooling over your list of books purchased with that lovely gift card.

Thanks for all the great photos from Booktopia, Mark. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words and the smiles on your face say it all.

^Kind of nails it, doesn't it?

Okay, here is the Booktopia booty. These six are all Booktopia authors:

The Lighthouse Road by Peter Geye
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Life Among Giants by Bill Roorbach Has anyone read this guy?
Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (read it but wanted to own it)
The Sparrow- I had to buy a new one, because the one I owned is lent out to some unknown. Sadly, I have my nice hardback copy of Doc lent out too!

When We Were the Kennedys by Monica Wood This one was highly recommended by one of the authors and it sounds like just my cuppa. I think there are a couple of my LT pals that are also fans of Wood.
American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell I’ve wanted a keeper copy of this one, since I read it, a few years ago.

Such a Long Journey/ Tales From Firozsha Baag by Rohinton Mistry These 2 were given to me by a very sweet Good Reads pal. See, they aren’t all bad!

Great collection of new books, Mark! You remind me that I have a copy of The Dog Stars, purchased after your great review, that I want to read.

Nice haul Mark. I read and liked Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

Mark + Booktopia = happiness!!
Good on you mark- you look like you were having a ball. As I am sure most of us would have looked. And you are now BFF to all attending authors!?

ETA: I can walk!

Lisa- Yes, I could listen to MDR all day! I am looking forward to her follow-up to Doc and I NEED to get back and read a couple of her earlier books.
And yes, I like the idea of BOTNS, talking audiobooks, especially since I listen to so many.

Pat- Glad you like the photos. I was a very happy camper. Yes, try to get to the Dog Stars. I would love to hear your thoughts. If you can find Safe From the Sea, give that one a shot too.

Bonnie- Thanks! Try to find Songs of Willow Frost. That is a very enjoyable read. Are you a fan of Bel Canto? That will be up next.

*cry cry*
Missed out again.

I would NEVER miss you, my favorite New Zealander! We just cross-posted! Hugs! I am not sure I am best buddies with any of the authors, but it was cool to hang out with them!

Yah, for walking! Congrats!

Nice new set of books, Mark! I also bought a copy of The Dog Stars after I read it because I wanted to have it on the shelf.

Can you believe I have still not read either Doc or The Sparrow even though I own them both? What is wrong with me? (That was rhetorical...) :)

Oh Monica Wood! I read When We Were the Kennedys back in January and loved it. It was a 5 star read for me. Her Ernie's Ark was also a 5 starer for me. Enjoy!!

Joanne!
I read The Dog Stars after you raved about it, and you were right.
I started re-reading the Travis McGee series after you wrote about them, and you were right.
I read Tilt-a-Whirl after you reviewed it favorably, and you were right.
I'm sure there have been a dozen other books that I only read because you said they were good, and you were right.

So you owe me one. I hereby command you to make room in your reading life for The Sparrow and Doc. You will not regret it, I promise. And if you do, I'll drive out there to Colorado and let you throw rotten tomatoes at me until I beg for mercy.

Julia!!
LOL, I guess I DO owe you! How about I try to read Doc by year's end? I know I'll like it so no need to stock up on rotten tomatoes. Although feel free to come on out anyway and we can talk books and eat food rather than throwing it!! That'd be more fun. Come to think of it, I think there was some sort of tomato throwing thing in Denver this year....

**cough** Three Pines **cough, cough**

:o)

Happy October, Mark!

Good Morning! I've done a good job keeping up with my First time Author Challenge but September was a bit crazy, so I am a bit delayed on starting Bel Canto, although that will be corrected today. I have no idea why I have taken so long to read Patchett. Many puzzles in our Book-Picking Universe.

I really enjoyed Tilt a Whirl and look forward to continuing the series. Thanks to RD & Joanne, for the nudge. That was also my final S & S book.
I should wrap up Harvest today.
I am still planning on reading 2666 this month, alone or not. Probably crack it, next week. I still have a shit-load of promising ARCS to get to, maybe that could be my carrot on a stick.

Joanne- I remember you praising Ernie's Ark ages ago and I dropped the ball on that one. I will get to the memoir though.
And please read Doc. You will fall in love. And your timing will be good, because the new book comes out later next year. And then we can talk the Sparrow.

Julia- That was a beautiful web, you wove for Joanne. LOL. You go girl.

RD- Back at you, my friend.

Good Wednesday morning, Mark. I hope the fall weather continues to treat you well.

#220 by @coppers> OK, I'll make you a deal, Joanne. If you read 'Doc', I'll read the first Three Pines book.

Oh, Mark!! I loved reading about your Booktopia adventures and looking at your pictures from the event! Such a handsome smile!! And your lovely wife went along smiling through the whole affair???? She's a keeper for sure!!! :)

**hugs**

I am on lunch. I am parked in a shady spot.The vehicle doors are open. There is a comforting breeze. I have my books. Life is good.
I am really enjoying Bel Canto. Her prose sings. Once again, my LT pals, do not steer me wrong.

Karen- yes, this stretch of fall weather, is about as good as it gets. Hope your day is going well too!

Go Joanne! Go Joanne!

Tina- Yep, Booktopia was a major treat. I hope you have a chance to experience one of these. Book-Lover Heaven. Hope your week is going well.

Glad you're enjoying Bel Canto, Mark. She can write, can't she?

I was just out in this most excellent weather. They're predicting storms tomorrow, so let's enjoy it while we can. I'm getting quite caught up in the Cazalet family in The Light Years, and trying to figure out how to make reading it qualify as "work" during the work day.

Hi Mark- glad you haven't forgotten me. :)
I liked reading Bel Canto, but the plot wasn't all there for me. I hope you find it better than I did!

"On nights like this, when there is anxiety about, there is a glut of lovemaking. Then the moon is our dance master. He has us move in unison. He has us trill and carol in each other's ears until the stars themselves have swollen and ripened to our cries. As ever here, we find our consolations sowing seed."

^I ended up coming down on the plus side for Harvest. Crace is an amazing craftsman. I know others had problems with the first person narrative but I liked his "flat" voice. I think it fit the story and the tone. It is not always a smooth narrative and I can easily see why it could turn off readers but it worked for me. Crace does conjure up some dark & creepy imagery.

I listened to a healthy chunk of Bel Canto and continue to really enjoy it. It's not big on plot but the unique setting, her nifty prose and rich characters, make this highly entertaining.

Joe- Have you read any of Patchett's work? I have State of Wonder saved on audio, which sounds terrific and I also snagged an ARC of her latest.

Megan- You will not be forgotten in my little world. I want to see what Patchett does in the second half of the book, but so far it is clicking.

Mark,

I read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet back before it was published. And I liked it considerably more than Songs of Willow Frost, so I think you have a real treat ahead of you.

Starting new Julian Barnes - Levels of LIfe - tonight, if I can ever get off LT.

Nancy

I have had Bel Canto on my shelf for - EVER. But this month my book discussion group is reading Master Butcher's Singing Club and i have had that one equally as long. I am really enjoying MBSC and can't understand why I waited so long to read this book. I love the plot and the women characters are wonderful. I will try to get to Bel Canto this year.

I remember reading the reviews of Life Among Giants and I think I may have a copy of the book somewhere in a box. The reviews were good and I think that is why I have the book. Was the author at Booktopia? or was this a recommendation from a fellow Booktopian?

I added the Tilt A Whirl and all the John Ceepak novels by Chris Grabenstein to my wish list, and the Rivers of London series as well. Thank you and Richard for adding to my lengthy reading list. (and to think I was paying Richard for sticking you with pins while the whole time he was using you to bait me with such tempting novels) I wonder if I will ever get all these books read?

I tried reading Bel Canto but couldn't get into the story. I know it's Patchett's most popular book (I think it is anyway) but I much preferred two of her earlier books, The Magician's Assistant and The Patron Saint of Liars. I was a little bummed when my sister asked to borrow the former and I knew I'd never see it again (she loved it) but I bought myself an e copy when BN offered it for a couple dollars. I have Bel Canto and plan to give it another chance.

>224 rosalita: Julia, No, no, no! Read Penny when the spirit moves you. See post #219. I'm trying to balance the scales!! :)

Glad to see Tilt A Whirl getting some love!

I love the character of the translator in Bel Canto, which I've read three times so far, I think. No, the plot isn't earth-shattering, but the characters are so well drawn. The owner of the house, the young girl hostage-taker, even the General with his face. Wonderful. How is the narrator for the audio, Mark?

Hi Mark! Thanks for posting all the pictures and rubbing it in. ; ) Looks like you had a great time!

Hi Mark! The stupidity at work continues, but i don't care because I have tomorrow (Friday) off and Monday is a public holiday so it's a four day weekend for me! I'm taking the warrior princess (aka Miss Boo) to archery lessons, but nothing else planned (so far). Last weekend of the school holidays!

Sweet Thursday! I am starting Five Days at Memorial today. You know we LOVE our NNF and this one has been getting terrific reviews. Fink is a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, so she should have the right chops.

Nancy- Nice endorsement for Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Keep an eye out for Ford. He's been making the rounds and he is an entertaining speaker.
Looking forward to your thoughts on Barnes. That one looks interesting.

Benita- I have several Erdrich books, to get to. I have no explanation, why I procrastinate with this author.
The author of Life Among Giants was like an aging beatnik, a cool college professor and made some very interesting comments, so I have to give him a try.
Yep, keeping up or starting series fiction is always a monumental task.

Joanne- Thanks for your thoughts on Patchett. I will keep those earlier titles in mind. Did you read State of Wonder? I think that will be my next one by her. I also snagged a copy of her latest, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, at ALA.

Lisa- The audio of Bel Canto is very good, but I am not familiar with the female reader. Yes, I do like her characters.

Kim- I am trying to entice as many of you to attend a Booktopia event next year or in the future. My only regret was not rubbing elbows with my LT pals.

Tania- I hope you have a wonderful long weekend. It looks like you deserve it. Enjoy! Try to squeeze in plenty of reading time.

Here is Mary Doria Russell's current blog post. It's a great update:

http://www.marydoriarussell.net/2013/10/02/natural-history-of-a-novel/

I enjoy her blog as much as her books. Sometimes they are pretty darn open and funny.

I loved Bel Canto (8 out of 10 stars). I listened to it. But I didn't like State of Wonder as much (6 stars). I read it for my book club.

My micro-reviews - might be considered by the persnickety to be spoilerish (i.e. if you consider saying Romeo & Juliet had a sad ending to be a spoiler):

Bel Canto: "Narrator was excellent - there were several accents she had to deal with - Spanish, Russian, American, etc. Very well done. Great story-telling. Would have given a higher rating if it wasn't "literary," i.e. depressing ending."

State of Wonder: "This was a book club read. I was really looking forward to it because I so like Bel Canto but this was a disappointment. The main character was a doormat, changing little through the book and the mentor was a totally unlikeable piece of work. Lastly, the plot wrapped up in two pages and then the book just … ended. I did enjoy the author's writing. She gives a fabulous sense of place and is descriptive without being purple."

Mark - The picture of you finding a shady nook to enjoy your lunch and a bit of your latest book is a vivid and enticing one. I sneaked off today after paying wages to my Indonesian workers and prior to a lunch appointment with my Korean client and read a couple of chapters of Howards End is on the Landing in the lounge on the 38th floor of the Grand Hyatt with a fantastic view of the city whilst waiting. In truth I was enjoying so much Hill's recounting of encounters with Charles Causley, Edith Sitwell, Bruce Chatwin and a watery-eyed EM Forster that I quite forgot the time and was lucky my Korean client (representing the 5th largest company in Korea and the 30th largest construction firm in the world) was able to find me in order to take lunch together.

Thanks for posting MDR's blog. I loved this line of hers:

"I’ve never read horror, but I’m a notorious genre slut, shamelessly standing on the literary street corner, willing to get into any genre that drives by and promises to take me to a good party."

A wet humid morning. It 's better now but rain could still creep in at any time. My current reads are keeping me perfectly distracted.

Kath- I remember you were one of the first ones to praise MDR's blog. I have no idea why I dragged my feet on signing up for it.

Morphy- Wow! I loved your Patchett mini reviews. Thank you. I have heard mixed reports on State of Wonder but I will probably give it a shot anyway. Bel Canto has been a gem so far.

Paul- Glad you like my working-man's imagery. Kind of like Springsteen, huh? Lol!
I also liked the Hill book about books, but she did dwell on many English authors, I was not familiar with. I need to expand my Anglo-horizons.

Janet- That is a great quote from MDR's blog. She mentioned, at Booktopia, that she has very little patience for fiction these days and it usually ends up making her mad. Glad I don't feel that way. LoL!

hey Marky, are you down with Dogfish Head's latest brew, Celest-Jewel Ale? It's made with real moon dust. seems like an important item for beer lovers.

hope you're having a good one.

Ha! Sounds like quite a tip from Ellie, Mark.

I just saw a review recommending The Light Years for those who like Downton Abbey, so you may want to get in on this one.

Hope you had a decent day. It was much more humid than I expected. We're off to Steppenwolf tonight to see the return of Joan Allen - we saw her at the start of her acting career way back when in Steppenwolf's And a Nightingale Sang. She was outstanding. Should be fun to have her back on stage.

OK, I give up. I have to ask: Who or what is NNF? I see it mentioned up there in #236 and I saw you dropping it all over Megan's thread a while ago. I've tried and tried to figure it out and now my pride is gone. Please, Master Mark, clue me in?

^I try to avoid talking politics over here, but once in awhile, I just have to vent: I am so sick of the GOP! They are a party that does nothing but muck up the works. Negotiating?? What is there to negotiate?
Okay, I am through. Deep breaths...

Ellie- I miss seeing you around here! I'll have to stop by and see what you are reading. I LOVE Dogfish Head but have not heard of this one. It's on the To-Try list.

Joe- I will keep an eye out for the Light Years. It seems to be getting some solid reviews. Hope you guys have a great time at Steppenwolf. I haven't been there in 20 years. Love Joan Allen.

Julia- NNF= narrative non-fiction. Sorry for the confusion. We've been talking about the merits of NNF for awhile now, so I thought it deserved it's own abbreviations. The definition of that term, might be a bit elusive but we seem to know it when we read it. LOL.

Speaking of NNF Mark....I'm really enjoying Empire of the Summer Moon. I wish Mary's blog humor showed up occassionally in her books but other than Doc I don't think the others really showed that. I love her FB comments as well.

All caught up here, Mark. Looks like you had a fabulous time at Booktopia - sounds like so much fun! Glad you made it home safe in sound with no deer interference.

#246 by @msf59> Ah, now I get it. I think. Wouldn't be the first time I've been left in the dark, though! :-) Have a great Friday tomorrow.

I love a good NNF. How's the Memorial/Katrina book?

Happy Friday! Another warm and humid day, with rain in the area. It sure beats the cold and we need the moisture. I should wrap up Bel Canto, which has been very enjoyable. Five Days At Memorial is hard-hitting and quite the page-turner.

Bonnie- I am glad you are loving "Empire". He nails everything, so perfectly in that book. And yes, MDR has a terrific sense of humor, but it doesn't always come through in print.

Mamie- It's great to see you! Let's hope they have a Booktopia, down your way, one of these years. It's a Must-Attend Event!

Julie- I think much of the current non-fiction, going back a few years now, is getting this label and I believe the reason is, it reads like fiction, gripping and fast. Do you read a lot of NF?

Linda- I think you will love Five Days at Memorial. It's just your cuppa: well-written, disaster-related and meticulously researched. Find a copy!

>246 msf59: There is a general fog of HADDIT here at LT as well as across the nation. IT seems that if we could get a certain few out of Washington....sanity could be restored ... GRRRR

yay for friday!

So are you having a hurricane, a blizzard or a tornado today? MAybe just a heat wave. haddit with crazy weather, too.

Mark, I do read quite a bit of nonfiction, though not as much as I used to when I would just buy books I thought looked interesting. Now I have to find them at our little local library and the selection there is not the greatest. (I know I could order through interlibrary loan, but ever since I found out our local library has to pay every time we do that I'm reluctant to do it.) Since I majored in history and geography I got used to reading and enjoying nonfiction books that were written in a more academic style (read: dry and a bit dense), but it's great to have more accessible nonfiction choices, too.

Is your copy of 'Five Days at Memorial' from Early Reviewers? I won that one but haven't received it yet.

Happy Friday, Mark.

Wish I could tell you the Steppenwolf play was good, but it was awful. Joan Allen did a superior job just keeping people from walking out. I don't know what they (the folks at Steppenwolf) were thinking, High school-ish script. Waste of her talent and that of a lot of other good actors.

Oh well. It was good to be just a few feet away from her performance. Just wish it had been in a decent play.

We go to a storytelling event tonight, and hopefully it will wash out the bad taste from last night.

Happy weekend, Mark, even though I think you work tomorrow. When I used to work Saturdays, I was always amazed that I felt so much less like it was Work than on weekdays.

I am staying dry but it is humid. Five Days at Memorial has been heart-stopping, as the medical staff try desperately to evacuate the seriously ill, as the water rises and the generator power is flagging. Whew!

Kath - Yes, I think most of us have HADDIT, with our congress. OMG!
Just cloudy and humid here. I hope the rain can hold out for 2 more hours.

Julia- I received my copy of Five Days, from ALA. It is such a good read. Many of my favorite books from the past few years have been NNF. I hope you can get back on board.

Joe- What a bummer about the play. WTH! I hope you have a good time at the story-telling event tonight.

RD- I've been working most Saturdays forever now and kind of like having an off day during the week.

Hey Mark! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I too needed a definition of NNF but wasn't brave like Julia!

I can't wait to get a copy of Five Days at Memorial. Everyone is raving about how good it is.

Hi, Mark, I'm swinging through to say hi! and hoping the weather is not too tough on your work hours. You seem to be involved in some excellent books. Yay!

New glasses are still tough on my reading. With the Nook and Kindle I can make the font big enough so that I don't have too much trouble, but if I'm reading a RL book with smallish print, I need to place the book at an exact angle to my bifocal glasses. Found a book today where the wide paragraphs made me have to move my head, or the book, so the point of focus could take in the words. Shoot! I think I'll go back to the people who make the glasses first, and if they don't know how to help, then I'll go back to the optometrist and see if there is anything to do with the prescription.

Meanwhile, I'm reading The Murder on the Orient Express on the Kindle Fire and am enjoying it immensely. It is fascinating and amazing how Agatha Christie's books have held their own through the years.

^I decided on a movie night. Matthew McConaughey must be the hardest working guy in Hollywood but he is especially good here. If you liked "Winter's Bone", you might like this one. Same, woodsy, swampy, noirish feel. It also features Reese Witherspoon and Sam Shepard. Even Joe Don Baker makes a brief appearance. Remember him? I haven't seen the big "Walking Tall" fella in awhile. Big Thumbs Up!

Tina- My only advice: Read more NNF! Have a great weekend.

Lisa- Five Days at Memorial looks like a winner, in the early going. Intense and very well-written.

Karen- No complaints about the weather, that's for sure. Dips into the low 60s on Sunday and then back in the 70s next week.
Sorry to hear about the continuing issues with your glasses. I hope that's not slowing down your reading.

^Hey, no one likes my movie night? WTH? Pouts...but only for a moment.

Happy Saturday! It has been a good week back to work. I like it when I can just focus on my own route and get off on time.
I really enjoyed Bel Canto and look forward to reading more of Patchett's work. Thanks to Lisa for making this selection. I have been having a blast with my First Time Author Challenge. I have Nicole Krauss to look forward to, at the end of the month.

Long time visitors know, I have a man-crush on Charlie Huston, who remains one of my top crime writers. Not enough people read this guy and he deserves your time and he has such a great range. I just started Skinner, his latest. It's a stand-alone, a spy-tech thriller, told in his cool, smart, wicked style.

It's Saturday - so time to talk beer.

I know you aren't into odd-flavore beers, but still had to share with you: http://theweek.com/article/index/248696/avocado-ale-and-7-other-strangely-flavor...

Thanks, Mark. The glasses are slowing my usual reading speed, but I think it is a matter of my getting used to them. It is a different matter as the eyes do not adjust when moving from far vision to near vision, one has to become accustomed to relying on the spectacles. I am pretty sure it will all work out for the good, eventually. Patience is required.

I'm so glad you liked Bel Canto, I always worry that a recommendation will flop. And I owed you one after you got me reading (and enjoying) graphic novels.

Hi, Mark. Good to hear Karen's optimism on the spectacles.

You're probably working today, but the weekend is just up ahead. I'm reading some Sherlock Holmes now (The Valley of Fear) and then I think I'll slip in another in Death mystery. Some Barbara Pym may be just up ahead of me, thanks to Bonnie.

For the gns, I'm finishing one in a series set in the 19th cent. mideast by Kaoru Mori, called A Bride's Story, which probably isn't your cuppa, and then I'm trying another Guy Delisle one called Burma Chronicles.

I liked your movie review, Mark - you got me with "swampy noirish feel". I wondered if that one was any good - we will check it out! Hope your working Saturday goes quickly. Wishing for you a weekend full of fabulous!

Matthew McConaughey is a good guy, but I can't comment on Mud because I haven't seen it. I think it's an on-demand selection here, though.

Nancy- Hey, I don't wait until Saturday to talk beer! But if you want, go ahead. Thanks for the link. I am not big on fruity beers or pumpkin ales either and they are the rage right now. Have a great weekend.

Karen- Sorry the eyes are slowing you down, but you'll get there, my friend.

Lisa- Bel Canto was far from a flop. I trust my LT pals and they rarely let me down.

Joe- I will be looking for a GN, as soon as I am done with the Parker book. Maybe, it's time for Building Stories. I've been sitting on that one for far to long.

Mamie- I do not remember Mud opening at the show either. Surprising, considering the cast. My work day is winding down and it looks like I can get out a little early. Hooray!

RD- If you find yourself with 2 hours to kill. Give Mud a try. And plus Matthew is quite the hunk and yes, he does shed that shirt.

^Yes, I think it is that time! Do these look tasty or what? We are going over to a friend's house for chili, beer, banter and games. The perfect way to unwind. Well, there may be other things I am leaving out, but we'll just keep it clean & tidy.

Five Days at Memorial is excellent but it's tough reading about the conditions these people had to deal with, once they lost power. OMG! The sauna-like heat, the backed up toilets. Double OMG! I NEED a beer!

Hi Mark!
I'm behind as usual... but I'm so glad to see you had a helluva time at Booktopia. The pictures are great :) Thanks for sharing. I'm not really jealous - but I do dream about maybe going one of these times.

Also glad to see you like Bel Canto - a book I have on my shelf and have been wondering about. If you like it, perhaps I will too. It'll have to wait a bit though as I have a long list I have to get to first.

Your picture of Mud just made me kick myself for missing it at the movies. Sigh. (No VOD for me, sigh. And the local video shop has moved to an inaccessible location, double sigh. Lucky for me, there's always books!)

Oh, I saw that Charlie Huston has a new one! I just finally finished the Joe Pitt series too.

I like fruit beers, but only as a dessert tipple. Had a great organic ale the other day at a nice brewery/bar in the city. Yum!

Speaking of sauna-like heat...

Actually, it wasn't that hot. Just incredibly humid today but we got some badly-needed rain tonight. I read somewhere that it was our heaviest rain in this part of Lake County since June.

Enjoy your Sunday, Mark. Happy reading!!

btw, just heard that New Zealand's famous opera star, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has joined the DA cast, portraying opera star Nellie Melba.

I'll go rent Mud soonest. Shirtless Matthew = SOLD.

#274
I agree with you about the shirtless Matthew!

The last week at work has been awful and the humidity hasn't helped. There is a storm brewing in the gulf and I hope we get some rain out of it.

A friend of mine went with a party of girls (to help celebrate an 80th birthday) to see Mount Rushmore. They left on Tuesday. Got locked out of the park, and then got snowed in at a small town somewhere in Eastern Montana. She is now cursing everybody from the Government to God.

I spent this hot and humid Saturday (temps in the high 80's) cooking. I was completely out of stocks in my freezer (I went to the well and found it with a muddy bottom) so spent the day cooking. Tomorrow I will spend the day reading Michel Foucault for my class presentation on Tuesday evening.

I did order some of my Christmas presents today. Will order another one tomorrow. That will make my life easier in a few weeks, and should help my friendly postman.

Hot in Sydney too! Dragged the kids up to the shops to buy presents for their cousin's birthday (we got him a great info graphic book, plus the first Alex Rider novel, since Mr Bear just discover Alex and is quite hooked), and the *whinging* on the walk home was phenomenal. They're settled in front of a screen with iced water and I'm n the sofa with my iPad and book. And tomorrow is going to be cold and rainy again. What gives!

Happy Sunday morning! We have cooled off, after a stormy time yesterday. Only in the low 60s for today and tomorrow. And we got some well-needed rain.

My plans for the day= LT, book-reading, house-chores, BEARS game, book-reading. I like that plan. What about you guys?

Claudia is here! Claudia is here! Great to see you, my friend. I don't know how far you are from Manchester Vermont, but Booktopia will always kick off the year there, since that was was the location of their Maiden Voyage. I think you would have a great time.
Hope all is well.

Tania- I don't even remember hearing about Mud when it opened in theaters, must have had a short-shelf life. It's worth tracking down if you can find it.
I hate to admit it, but I might abandon the Huston book. It's just not clicking for me. Maybe the spy-thriller genre is just not his cuppa.
Keep cool in Sydney! *whinging*??

Linda- Yes, it was very muggy yesterday. Yuck! It down-poured on my way home from work and fortunately cooled things off nicely.
Enjoy football Sunday and hopefully you can squeeze in some reading time. And thanks for the DA info!

RD- I hope the cool weather has embraced you, my friend. Enjoy your Sunday!

Benita- Wow! Sorry, to hear about your friend, Mt. Rushmore & the snowstorm. What crappy timing. I heard about the snow storms out west. A little early for that, right?
Hope things cool off for you, down south.
Speaking of packages, I think we are going to have a banner year for holiday packages, at the P.O. We have seen such a big increase in normal delivery, that this could get crazy, tougher for the carriers but a big boost for the post office.

Hi, Mark. I think your Sunday plans are just about perfect. Mine are similar: coffee, feed dogs, watch Sunday Morning (TV show, the only one I always watch); read, read for a little longer; go over to niece's for pancakes; entertain her at my house, giving her some craft supplies for her cub scout troop; read, read, read, and oh, maybe clean up the kitchen a little bit before messing it up for dinner; maybe wash one load of laundry or maybe not; might need to read some more. Ha ha ha

I imagine I'll be aware of the Seahawks game while I have pancakes at the Niece's. Her husband is a season ticket holder and is very involved. Next weekend I'll be "babysitting" for them while the Niece and He go to a Seahawks home game.

I think reading/football is an excellent balance between quiet/loud and relaxing/energizing, don't you?

Mark - I hope the Bears fail to make it a double for my clubs this weekend as Leeds went down miserably to Derby last night. The kiss of death is working its magic again unfortunately.

Enjoy your Sunday mate and down an extra beer for me if the Bears bring home the bacon.

Happy Sunday, Mark! My plans begin and end with "wait for the plumber to come fix the flooded bathroom."

#280
You may have a long wait. I am still waiting for the new window for my bathroom - 1 week after the break-in. I was told it will take 2 weeks to get one here as the window had to be ordered. Hope your bathroom doesn't take that long.

Mark,
I heard that UPS and now FedEx has contracted with the USPS to deliver some packages so decided that while I could do so I would order a few Christmas presents and get theme here early. I ordered from a Kansas store and last time had the package delivered to the wild frontier. This time I had it delivered to Alabama and to my surprise discovered that I did not have to pay state sales tax on this order. It saved me $10.00. I then inquired what the sales tax rate was for Kansas and was told it was 8.5%. I was outraged. That darn Tea Party is at it again. Kansas has a Tea Party governor. He lowered the income tax because he said it was discouraging business investment in the state, but in order to make up the difference in revenue he and the other Tea Partier's passed a sales tax increase. On everything - food included. (The bastards.) Who is going to want to buy anything in Kansas with sales tax rates like that?

Of course, I told this to the guy on the phone. I was sure he would be sympathetic because I was ordering three pairs of Birkenstocks from the Birkenstock store in Lawrence, KS.

FOOD IS SALES-TAXED?!? Not eat-in-the-restaurant food, we expect that, but groceries?!? NO!! That's criminal! Oh wait...you did say it was a Tea Party asshat who did it. Never mind.

I simply love the term asshat. It is great! so accurately descriptive.

Mark, your thread is a regular tilt-a-whirl these days with lots of book talk and even a movie review. I'll take a pass on politics, though. I just don't want to go there. I feel sad that you might have to read 2666 by yourself. That's how I read it, and I could have used some encouragement along the way.

Thanks for posting the link to the Mary Doria Russell blog. I'll take a look at it if and when I ever get caught up on LT. Having internet troubles last week wasn't helpful in that regard. You do such a great job of keeping up with everyone. When do you sleep?

Can you believe, I have not cracked a book and it's nearly noon? WTH? The good thing is, we finished up cleaning up the garage, so I can finally park my Explorer back in there, after nearly 2 months. We still have a few boxes to empty in the family room/Man-Cave and we will be finished, fertig, fini & finito!

Getting ready for game-time:

Karen- I hope your Sunday plans go off without a hitch. I will have to save my reading time, for after the Bears game!

Paul- Usually the Bears/Cutler come back strong after a rough loss like last week, so I have high hopes. The Saints are tough, though, so it should be a good game.

RD- Well, that sucks! I hope you can the plumbing fixed quickly and the bastards don't rake you over the coals, it being a Sunday. That is exactly what happened to us, when we got water. Still pisses me off, when i think about it.

Benita- I am not sure how this collaboration is working between the P.O. & UPS! Hey, if it brings in more revenue, that's great.
Kansas seems to be the Poster Child for the Tea Party. My question is why? That's the heartland, dammit! Yes, asshat is a keeper!

Donna- I always love your visits. As soon as I wrap up Five Days at Memorial, which is excellent BTW, I will dive into the indomitable 2666, alone or not.
Yes, check out the MDR blog, it will only take a couple of minutes and it's highly entertaining.

Not only is Kansas the heartland it is the one state that has a bonafide convicted United States traitor larger than life painted right on its walls in the state capital. Yes, the famous painting of John Brown - conivcted and hung for taking up arms against the U. S. government back in 1859 at Harper's Ferry, right there in all his glory. Rifle in one hand and bible in the other. Painted by non other than thomas Hart Benton where everybody can see. He, the champion of liberty, and freedom for the udner-dog. I ask myself what the heck all the time?

Hi Marky Mark. I'm enjoying some pumpkin ales these days, both local and not. Yesterday I had this one and very much enjoyed it (even if it is from New York):

Ugh!! Another tough loss for the Bears. Saints win 26-18. Saints look fantastic. I think it is time to hit the books! They've been whimpering the last couple of hours.

Benita- Wow, that is scary about the John Brown mural. I find JB an endlessly fascinating individual but sainthood, is a bit of a stretch.
" what the heck all the time?" I'm with you, my friend.

Ellen- I am not big on pumpkin ales but since you are buying, I'll try one. I do like a couple beers by Southern Tier.
Hope you are having a great weekend.

^I know exactly how she feels. How about those tights? How about those heels?

> 290 - Ah, a book pile to prop oneself up with.... not sure about the green tights (I can't pull off that shade of green like our bookish model can), but the heels are pretty cool. Now if only they came in 2"-3" inch heels and not the 4"-5" skyscrapers she is wearing!

Happy Sunday, Mark!

I'm sorry Mark, my take on high heels = Chinese foot binding

No self respecting woman should wear those foot maiming torture instruments

Lean against a pile of books, now that is a good idea!

Lori- Nice to see you! Hope you had a nice weekend! I'll have to stop by and see what you are reading.

Karen- I never wore high heels, so I don't know. I just admire them from a distance. At least we agree about leaning against a pile of books. I think we all have one of those or 2....or 3.



^I think it is that time!