Mamie's 2013 Madness (Page 18)

(illustration by Brett Helquist)

Currently Reading

Currently Listening to:


October:
122. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (4 stars)
123. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (A New Verse translation) by Simon Armitage (4 stars)
124. Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney (4 stars)
125. The Witch's Grave by Phillip DePoy (3.4 stars)
126. Night by Elie Wiesel
127. Till We Have Faces by C. S Lewis (4.5 stars)
128. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (3.5 stars)
129. The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer (4.6 stars)

October Possibilities:
Strangers on the Train by Patricia Highsmith - TIOLI #1 - 2013 acquired ebook
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - TIOLI #2 - ROOT audiobook
Zealot by Reza Aslan - TIOLI #3 - 2013 acquired ebook
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny - TIOLI #5 - library hardback - COMPLETED
The Witch's Grave by Phillip DePoy - TIOLI #5 - ROOT ebook - COMPLETED
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (A New Verse Translation) by Simon Armitage - TIOLI #6 - Abby's paperback - COMPLETED
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - TIOLI #7 - ROOT paperback
Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis - TIOLI #13 - Birdy's paperback - COMPLETED
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith - 2013 acquired ebook
Looking for Rachel Wallace by Robert B. Parker - TIOLI #5

Hey, Wait Minute...This Wasn't on the List...
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill - TIOLI #2 - 2013 acquired ebook
Dracula by Bram Stoker - TIOLI # - ROOT hardback

My 2013 Data (I shamelessly stole this idea from Cee!)



Total Books Read: 129

ROOTs books (off my own bookshelves): 56 counted/ 1 reread not counted

Fiction: 120
Non-Fiction: 9

New to me Authors - not including manga or graphic novels: 62

Male authors: 60
Female authors: 69

US authors: 84
Authors from other countries: 44
Unknown: 1

Living Authors: 97
Dead Authors: 32

Medium:
Hardback: 20
Paperback: 47
ebook: 51
audiobook: 11

January (17 books)
1. Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie (4.25 stars) - ebook - ROOT
2. Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson (4 stars) - paperback, library book
3. Alice in the Country of Hearts by QuinRose - paperback - ROOT
4. A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori - hardback, Abby's book
5. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt (4 stars) - ebook - ROOT
6. Maus I by Art Spiegelman (4.5 stars) - paperback - ROOT
7. Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken (4 stars) - ebook - ROOT
8. In the Woods by Tana French (4.5 stars) - paperback, library book
9. Volt by Alan Heathcock (4 stars) - paperback, library book
10. Emma by Karou Mori (3 stars) - hardback, library book
11. Maus II by Art Spiegelman (4.5 stars) - paperback - ROOT
12. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (4 stars) - audiobook - ROOT
13. The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair (3.75 stars) - paperback, Early Reviewer book
14. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (4.5 stars) - paperback - ROOT
15. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (4 stars) - hardback - ROOT
16. Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (5 stars) - ebook - ROOT
17. The One Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith (5 stars) - this was a reread, I am leaving the previous rating that I assigned it in place - hardback - ROOT

February (10 books)
18. Before Midnight by Rex Stout (4 stars), paperback, library book
19. 420 Characters by Lou Beach (4 stars), hardback, library book
20. The Iron Duke by Maljean Brook (3 stars), paperback, library book
21. Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors (4.25 stars), paperback, ER book
22. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (4.25 stars), hardback purchased hot off the presses
23. A Literary Guide to Flannery O'Connor's Georgia by Sarah Gordon (4 stars), paperback, library book
24. Soulless by Gail Carringer (3.5 stars), library ebook
25. The Pale Criminal by Phillip Kerr (3.5 stars) ebook, ROOT
26. Blue Bloods: The Graphic Novel by Melissa de la Cruz (3.5 stars), hardback purchased in 2013
27. Pyongyang by Guy Delisle (3 stars), paperback, library book

March (12 books)
28. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (3.75 stars), paperback - ROOT
29. Twilight by Stephenie Meyers - reread (I know what you're thinking, but I like it)
30. Killing Floor by Lee Child (3.5 stars) - ebook - ROOT
31. Hamlet by William Shakespeare - reread (4.5 stars) - hardback - ROOT
32. The Five-Forty-Five to Cannes by Tess Uriza Holthe (4 stars) - hardback - library book
33. The Ladies of Mandrigyn by Barbara Hambly (4 stars) - ebook - 2013 acquired
34. Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson (4.25 stars) - ebook - ROOT
35. The Chardonnay Charade by Ellen Crosby (3.5 stars) - ebook - ROOT
36. The Bordeaux Betrayal by Ellen Crosby (3.5 stars) - ebook - 2013 acquired
37. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb (4 stars for sheer entertainment value) - ebook - 2013 acquired
38. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming (3 stars) - ebook - ROOT
39. The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend by Glenn Frankel (5 stars)- hardback - 2013 acquired

April (13 books)
40. Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman (4.5 stars) - Thanks for the shove, Morphy!
41. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (4.25 stars)
42. Round Mountain by Castle Freeman, Jr. (3.75 stars)
43. The Searchers by Alan LeMay (4.25 stars)
44. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (4.5 stars)
45. A Man Without Breath by Phillip Kerr (4.3 stars)
46. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (3.75 stars)
47. Ashfall by Mike Mullin (4 stars)
48. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (4 stars)
49. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (4 stars)
50. The Shipping News by Annie Proulx (5 stars)
51. Howards End by E. M. Forster (4.5 stars)
52. Me, Who Dove into the Heart of the World by Sabina Berman

May (15 books)
53. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris - reread
54. The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker (3.75 stars)
55. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (4.5 stars)
56. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris - reread
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx (5 stars)
57. Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver (5 stars)
58. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris - reread
59. Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C Gwynne (4.5 stars)
60. The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh (3.5 stars)
61. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris - reread
62. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris - reread
63. The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler (4.75 stars)
64. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (4.5 stars)
65. The Making of the African Queen by Katharine Hepburn (5 stars)
66. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris - reread
67. The Ghosts of Nagasaki by Daniel Clausen (4.5 stars)

June (18 books)
68. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris - reread
69. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris (3 stars)
70. The Radleys by Matt Haig (4 stars)
71. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (5 stars)
72. The Cottage at Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri (4 stars)
73. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris - reread
74. Austenland by Shannon Hale (4 stars)
75. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - reread (4.25 stars)
76. God Save the Child by Robert B. Parker (3 stars)
77. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris - reread
78. The African Queen by C. S. Forrester (4 stars)
79. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (3.75 stars)
80. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (4 stars)
81. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (4.25 stars)
82. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (4.75 stars)
83. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith - reread
84. Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout (3.75 stars)
85. Blood Kin by Henry Chappell (4 stars)

July (11 books)
86. American Born Chinese by Gene Yang (4 stars)
87. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley (4 stars)
88. gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson (3.5 stars)
89. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (4.5 stars)
90. The Bat by Jo Nesbo (3 stars)
91. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - reread
92. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler (4.25 stars)
93. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler (3.75 stars)
94. A Bride's Story, Vol. 2 by Kaoru Mori (4 stars)
95. Mortal Stakes by Robert B. Parker (3.25 stars)
96. Pride and Prejudice adapted graphic novel by Nancy Butler (4 stars)

August: (12 books)
97. Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (4 stars)
98. Cop Hater by Ed McBain (3.5 stars)
99. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch (4.25 stars)
100. Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (4 stars)
101. Storm Front by Jim Butcher (4 stars)
102. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (3.75 stars)
103. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff (3.75 stars)
104. Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch (4.25 stars)
105. Promised Land by Robert B. Parker (3 stars)
106. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (3.75 stars)
107. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (5 stars - It's always a 5 star read!)
108. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (3.75 stars)

September: (13 books)
109. Light in August by William Faulkner (4.25 stars)
110. Raylan by Elmore Leonard (3.3 stars)
111. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (4 stars)
112. The Judas Goat by Robert B. Parker (3 stars)
113. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman (3.5 stars)
114. The Road Home by Rose Tremain (4 stars)
115. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - reread (always 5 stars for me!)
116. The Asphalt Jungle by W. R. Burnett (4 stars)
117. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs (3.75 stars)
118. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (3.75 stars)
119. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling -reread
120. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling - reread
121. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling - reread

Books Purchased in 2013:

January
1. Sandman, Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
2. Dog Stars by Peter Heller
3. Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus
4. The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson
5. Nightbirds on Nantucketby Joan Aiken
6. In the Woods by Tana French - read it this year, but I loved it so much that I wanted my own copy
7. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
8. Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie - collecting these covers
9. Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie - collecting these covers
10. The Clocks by Agatha Christie - collecting these covers
11. Third Girl by Agatha Christie - collecting these covers
12. The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch
13. The Likeness by Tana French - the book store had the hardcopy edition on sale for $6, how can I resist that?
14. Raylan by Elmore Leonard - Craig and I will both read this
15. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - I read this on Kindle last year, but wanted a physical copy of it
16. The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory - book store had this on sale for $3, recommended by Chéli
17. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCollough - I read this forever ago and loved it, today I found a lovely edition with deckled edge pages, enough said!
18. Old Filth by Jane Gardam - my very first Europa edition!
19. The New Moon With the Old by Dodie Smith
20. One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
21. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin - I read this on Kindle, but wanted a physical copy of it for my shelves
22. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
23. A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
24. A Feast of Crows by George R. R. Martin
25. A Dance of Dragons by George R. R. Martin

February
26. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer READ
27. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
28. Vampire Empire by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
29. Faithful Place by Tana French
30. Grave Mercy by Robin LeFevers (Kindle Daily Deal)
31. The Woman Who Wouldn't Die by Colin Cotterill - the latest Dr. Siri!
32. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - deckled edge pages!
33. The Cider House Rules by John Irving - Kindle Daily Deal
34. The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend by Glenn Frankel READ
35. Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell
36. Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer
37. Still Life With Murder by P. B Ryan (Kindle Daily Deal)
38. Blue Bloods: The Graphic Novel by Melissa de la Cruz READ
39. The Ladies of Mandrigyn by Barbara Hambly (Kindle Daily Deal) READ

March
40. West With the Night by Beryl Markham (Kindle Daily Deal)
41. Made in the USA by Billie Letts - bookstore had this hardback on sale for $6
42. Die Trying by Lee Child
43. The Searchers by Alan Le May READ
44. The Witches of Wenshar by Barbara Hambly
45. Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (Kindle Daily Deal)
46. The Poet by Michael Connelly
47. Blood Work by Michael Connelly
48. The Bordeaux Betrayal by Ellen Crosby READ
49. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
50. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
51. Ashfallby Mike Mullin - because Judy and Dejah assure me it is good! READ
52. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - who can resist this title? And Dejah says it's good! READ

April
53. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold - READ
54. The Radleys by Matt Haig READ
55. Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard
56. Bandits by Elmore Leonard
57. Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold READ
58. The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
59. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
60. The Green Mile by Stephen King
61. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons - because of Roberta's lovely review and because it comes in a Penguin deluxe classic edition with deckled edge pages
62. Valdez is Coming by Elmore Leonard
63. Road Dogs by Elmore Leonard
64. The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker - this is Joe's fault READ
65. Blood Kin by Henry Chappell- because Richard begged so prettily and used puppy dog eyes READ
66. Another Man's Moccasins by Craig Johnson
67. The Watchman by Robert Crais - Kindle Daily Deal
68. Appointment in Samarra by John O'Hara - Penguin Deluxe Classic Edition

May
69. The Map of the Sky by Félix J. Palma - Kindle Daily Deal
70. The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann - recommended by Richard and Roberta
71. God Save the Child by Robert B. Parker - also Joe's fault! READ
72. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving - Kindle Daily Deal
73. Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood - free on Kindle, recommended by Dejah
74. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
75. The Cottage at Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri READ
76. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
77. The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carré
78. The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
79. Call for the Dead by John le Carré
80. A Murder of Quality by John le Carré
81. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré
82. The Looking Glass War by John le Carré
83. Smiley's People by John le Carré
84. The Little Drummer Girl by John le Carré
85. The Naíve and Sentimental Lover by John le Carré
86. A Perfect Spy by John le Carré
87. Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carré
88. Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver - bought the ebook and added the professional narration for a few bucks more READ
89. Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne - bought the ebook and added the professional narration for a few bucks more READ
90. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown - bought the ebook and added the professional narration for a few bucks more
91. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward - hardcover with deckled edge pages on sale for $3
92. City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte - Reading
93. Lord of the Flies by William Golding - replacing my sad mass market paperback with a trade paperback with deckled edge pages
94. Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist by Tim Federle
95. Close Range by Annie Proulx
96. The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway
97. Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey - Kindle Deal ($1.99)
98. Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey - Kindle Daily Deal ($.99)
99. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - read it this month, but wanted my own copy, added the audiobook for $3.49
100. Heaven's Prisoners by James Lee Burke - Kindle Daily Deal ($.99)
101. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Kindle Daily Deal (1.99)
102. Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton - Kindle Daily Deal (1.99)
103. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway - Kindle Daily Deal (1.99)
104. The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories by Ernest Hemingway - Kindle Daily Deal (1.99)
105. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - Kindle Daily Deal ($1.99) READ

June
106. Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith - Kindle Deal ($2.99)
107. The African Queen by C. S. Forester - gift READ
108. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson - gift READ
109. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman - gift READ
110. Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene - gift
111. The World According to Garp by John Irving - gift
112. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly - Kindle Daily Deal (2.99)
113. The Reversal by Michael Connelly - Kindle Daily Deal (2.99)
114. The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly - Kindle Daily Deal (2.99)
115. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
116. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler - recommended by Megan READ
117. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - discussion on Megan's thread
118. Worlds of Exile and Illusion by Ursula K. Le Guin - because I liked The Dispossessed, which was recommended by Kerri. This book contains three more in the Hainish Cycle: Rocannon's World, Planet of Exile, and City of Illusions
119. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman - recommended by Joe READ
120. A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson
121. The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
122. Saving Cee-Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman - bargain book $2, set in Georgia
123. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope by Rhonda Riley - recommended by Karen and Kathleen - deckled edge pages!!
124. The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank
125. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler READ

July
126. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald - free on Kindle
127. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff - Kindle Daily Deal $1.99 - recommended by Valerie last year READ
128. The Bat by Jo Nesbo - I had preordered this, the first book in the Harry Hole series - FINALLY! READ
129. The Bone People by Keri Hulme - deckled edge pages!
130. Light in August by William Faulkner READ
131. Zelda: A Biography by Nancy Milford - $2.99 on Kindle
132. Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch - ebook with audio added READ

August
133. Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch
134. Storm Front by Jim Butcher - audiobook $4 READ
135. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher - audiobook $4 READ
136. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher - audiobook $4 READ
137. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher - audiobook $4
138. The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas - recommended by Cee
139. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain - Kindle Daily Deal ($1.99) - recommended by Bonnie
140. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs READ
141. Crown of Embers by Rae Carson - Kindle deal $1.99
142. Tilt-a-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein - Kindle deal $.99
143. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs READ
144. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs READ
145. Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos de Laclos
146. Stick by Elmore Leonard
147. The Switch by Elmore Leonard
148. The Bounty Hunters by Elmore Leonard

September
149. Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry - Kindle deal $1.99
150. Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard - Kindle deal $2.99
151. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs READ
152. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs READ
153. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
154. High Sierra by W. R. Burnett
155. Little Caesar by W. R. Burnett
156. Over My Dead Body by Rex Stout
157. The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint - author recommended by Kathleen
158. Mind's Eye by Hakan Nesser
159. The Tourist by Olen Steinhauser READ
160. Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote
161.Plainsong by Kent Haruf
161. The Storycatcher by Ann Hite
162. All Quiet on the Western Front by Enrich Maria Remarque

October
163. Zealot by Reza Asian
164. The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny
165. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill - $2.99 on Kindle
166. The Shining by Stephen King - $3.99 on Kindle
167. Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews
168. Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein - Kindle Daily Deal
169. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick - Kindle Daily Deal (I think)
170. Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson - free on Kindle - recommended by Julia
171. Whack A Mole by Chris Grabenstein - $.99 Kindle Deal
172. Free Fall by Chris Grabenstein - $1.99 Kindle Deal
173. Face in the Frost by John Bellairs - $4.99 0n Kindle, recommended by Roni
174. Jurassic Park by Michael Chrichton - $1.99 Kindle Daily Deal
175. The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings - $1.99 Kindle Daily Deal

An idea stolen from Heather (souloftherose), who borrowed it from Liz (lyzard): ongoing series that I am actively reading. This doesn't include series where I have the first book in my TBR pile (i.e. series I haven't started reading yet aren't included). An asterisk (*) indicates a series where I already have a copy of the next book. A pointing finger (☛) indicates a series where I am waiting for the next book to be released.

1. African Trilogy by Chinua Achebe: Next Up: Arrow of God (3/3)

2. *Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones: Next Up: Third Grave Dead Ahead (3/4)

3. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache by Louise Penny: Next Up: The Cruellest Month (3/8)

4. *Commissario Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri: Next Up: The Snack Thief (3/15)

5. * Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Next Up: Days of Blood and Starlight (2/3)

6. *Divergent by Veronica Roth: Next Up: Insurgent (2/3)

7. *Dr. Siri Paiboun by Colin Cotterill: Next up: Slash and Burn (8/9) - Richard's fault!

8. *Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French: Next Up: The Likeness (2/4) - Dee's fault!

9. Duncan Kincaid/ Gemma James by Deborah Crombie:Next Up: Kissed a Sad Goodbye (6/15)

10. * Dust Lands by Moira Young: Next Up: Rebel Heart (2/3) - Mark and Chelle's fault!

11. *Fever Devilin by Phillip DePoy: Next Up: The Minister's Ghost (3/8) - Terri and Kathleen's fault!

12. *Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly: Next Up: The Narrows (10/18)

13. *Harry Hole by Jo Nesbo: Next Up: The Snowman (7/9)

14. ☛ The Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh: Next Up: ? (3/3) - Judy's fault!

15. *In Death by J. D. Robb: Next Up: Glory in Death (2/44) - Joe's fault!

16. *Inspector Sejer by Karin Fossum: Next Up: He Who Fears the Wolf (2/9)

17. Jack Taylor by Ken Bruen: Next Up: The Dramatist (4/9) - also Mark's fault!

18. *James Bond by Ian Fleming: Next Up: Live and Let Die (2/14)

19. *Jackson Brodie by Kate Atkinson: Next Up: One Good Turn (2/4) - Stasia's fault!

20. *Kenzie and Gennaro by Dennis Lehane: Next Up: Sacred (3/6)

21. *Lady Julia Gray by Deanna Raybourn: Next Up: The Dark Enquiry (5/5)

22. ☛ Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer: Next Up: Cress (3/4)

23. MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood: Next Up: The Year of the Flood (2/3) - Mark's fault!

24. *Matched by Ally Condie: Next Up: Crossed (2/3)

25. *Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs: Next Up: River Marked (6/8)

26. *Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larrson: Next Up: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest (3/3)

27. *Philip Marlowe by Raymond Chandler: Next Up: Trouble is My Business (6/8)

28. *Raylan Givens by Elmore Leonard: Next Up: Raylan (3/3)

29. *Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch: Next Up: Whispers Under Ground (3/4)

30. *Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris: Next Up: Dead Reckoning (10/13)

31. *Song of Fire and Ice by George R. R. Martin: Next Up: A Clash of Kings (2/5)

32. *Spenser novels by Robert B. Parker: Next Up: Looking for Rachel Wallace (6/39) - this is Joe's fault!

33. Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs: Next Up: Grave Secrets (5/15)

34. Vish Puri by Tarquin Hall: Next Up: The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing (2/3)

35. *Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold: Next Up: Warrior's Apprentice: (3/16) - also Joe's fault! Also Richard's fault!

36. *Walt Longmire by Craig Johnson: Up Next: Another Man's Moccasins (4/8) - blaming this on Mark!

37. Wine Country Mysteries by Ellen Crosby: Next Up: The Riesling Retribution (4/6)

38. ☛Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel: Next up: ? (3/3)

Series that I am reading out of order:

39. Bernie Gunther by Phillip Kerr (3/9)
40. Nero Wolfe by Rex Stout (3/47) - Julia's fault!

*smooch* I hate people. Not you, of course, but people.

heh! I see I'm here before the curtain goes up officially.

Well, third isn't bad.

Hi Mamie. Love the pictures of the kids and the hammock in the woods.

Mamie!

Looks like Mamie got sidetracked starting her new thread. :-)

Look forward to seeing you fill in all those blanks, I want one of those hammocks and the locale to place it into.
Congratulations on your latest thread, Mamie.

Mamie! Are you dozing on your hammock? It was such a lovely night in Cleveland, certainly a night for sleeping bags under the stars so a hammock in Georgia is conceivable!
Happy 18th Thread! You're legal now!

Morning Mamie- Boy, I miss seeing you around! Hope all is well, in your southern world. Congrats on the new thread and as usual I love the kids pics!
Lots of interesting & fun current reads too!

Wow... Great thread so far, and I can hardly wait to see what awaits when you fill up those spaces !!

Good Morning, Y'all! Yesterday got away from me, and I fear that might be a common theme for the month of October, which looks to be very busy for us. I did get those top spaces filled in, but it was just the usual stuff - all those lists I like to keep. I read a total of 13 books in September, and four of them were rereads. While on vacation, I delighted in revisiting the Harry Potter books and reread the first three books in that series. Just plain fun - I LOVE those books! I managed three books by authors that were new to me, so I was introduced to the writing of Rose Tremain, W.R. Burnett, and Alice Hoffmann. All three were winners for me. I am way ahead of my reading stats for last year, as last year I completed a grand total of 108 books, and so far this year I have read a total of 121 books, so yea me! Very excited about that. I do not have specific plans for October yet, but I hope to squeeze in some scary reads. I always try to read what the kids are reading if I haven't read it before or if it has been a long time, so you are going to start seeing some unusual choices among my usual haunts. Right now I have too many books going - I NEED to fix this! The Louise Penney has to go back to the library soon, so I will focus on that first. Here's what I'm working on with the kids:

Beowulf - reading this with Rae, Dan and Abby, it's the Seamus Heaney translation
Till We Have Faces by C. S Lewis - reading this with Birdy, it's a retelling of the myth of Psyche and Cupid

Richard - SO good to see you here, BigDaddy! And I'm glad to know that you don't hate me, even though, technically, I am a person. *smooch for you*

Lucy - Welcome! Lovely to see you here!

Reba - Third place is nothing to sneeze at!

Pat - Hey there! So glad you love the photos!

Roberta - Welcome!!

Julia - Excellent deduction - must be all those Rex Stout books! Yes, the day totally got away from me. I am hoping today will be better.

Paul - The spaces are all filled in now! Craig would also like one of those hammocks! We had one in our old yard and Rae spent many, many hours in it - she loved reading out there. And thanks for those congrats!

Lynda - We have a hammock very similar to that, actually, but no where to hang it right now - our trees are not close enough together. I guess I'll have to settle for poolside reading...or the deck...or the screened in porch... It's definitely still warm enough to spend the night outside down here - we are still in the high 80s. We can still go swimming! And thanks for those congratulatory cheers - so lovely to be legal!!

Mark - Morning! I am hoping to be around more this month, but things are already crazy, so we'll see. I might have to actually schedule LT time in! Thanks for your good wishes, and I'm glad you liked the thread topper. Dan and Abby are only 14 months apart, and that photo shows just how close they have always been. I was hoping to get most of my current reads finished in September, but it was not to be. I need to get my groove on!

Kathleen - You probably DON'T want to see how I filled up those spaces because they are all lists! I like having a place to keep track of everything, so I always have all those lists up there. Don't look!

So which Alice Hoffman did you read?

Morphy - The one that I sent to you! The Ice Queen, which was good - I would like to try another. Have you read any of her others?

Practical Magic years ago. But that's it.

Till We Have Faces!! That's one of my daughter's very favorite books, and mine too. I can't be objective about Beowulf because it's always been part of my mental furniture. My father told me the story all my infancy long, deliciously scary, and he was a hambone so he acted it out.

Whatever the many many things my parents did wrong were, stories and reading were the compensatory benefits I got. They were both avid readers. My father read non-fiction and maybe a thriller or two, but he knew him some poetry.

I really enjoyed the Seamus Heaney Beowulf, Mamie. Lacking a parent like Richard's, I thought of it as a dusty old tale until I got hold of his translation. I hope you and the girls are enjoying it.

I have to admit, it feels good to be at fault for some of the series you like now. Did you notice that Richard and I tend to recommend ones featuring smart alecks?

Morphy - Did you like it?

Richard - I had not heard of Till We Have Faces before, but both Birdy and I are loving it. And the others are really enjoying Beowulf - I have read it before, but it has been waaayyy back in my high school days. The newer translation is beautiful. We are having fun comparing the graphic novel and the movie versions with the real thing. I'm so glad to hear that in that mixed up childhood of yours there were bright moments with stories and reading.

Joe - I am quite liking the Heaney Beowulf, too, Joe. It makes the story so much more accessible, and all the kids are really enjoying it. So nice when that happens.

And what would I be reading without you and Richard's input?! I did notice that they all seem to feature smart alecks - what does it say about me that those are my favorites, too?

Smart alecks make the world a better, funner place. Yep.

Happy new thread Mamie!! I'm glad you had such a lovely vacation... Excepting the broken toe, of course. Hope that's feeling better now.

I'm so glad Beowulf is doing the rounds, it was quite a lucky occurrence that I have it in my possession at all. The Seamus Heaney one is a beauty, isn't it?

We are having fun comparing the graphic novel and the movie versions with the real thing.
I would have loved to grow up in your house! I was considered a nerd of the highest order for doing things like that in my childhood :)

So sorry about the toe! I have a broken one too, but it is the second one, which is not quite as bad. May we both heal quickly!! Love the Oz books. I have the whole series from when I was a kid; they are all lined up in a place of honor in the book shelves. : ) And happy bleated Thingaversary!! Love the Beowulf and CS Lewis books!! Hugs.

Did you feel me thinking about you yesterday? I was perusing YA books and wishing you were sitting there with me ( and coffee.. and pie) and helping me figure out what to buy. Still don't know. We are trying to beef up our YA and fiction sections and since I'm the only reader in the place, it is falling my way. And so of course when that happens, my mind goes blank.

Perelandra was well read around here.. I'm not sure which of my kids absconded with it. Even as a non-religious household, we all liked that one a lot.
I now want to read Till We Have Faces.

Books and story telling? No. Well, I loved being at my great grandmother's house, because there were family stories told around the dinner table for hours after the last of the food had been eaten. That is where I got stories. Books? No one ever read to me, no wonder I figured out how to do it myself :)
My grandfather read me the sunday funnies... my favorite was Prince Valiant. There weren't many books in the house after my dad left... a few, not many. ( no $) Thank goodness I happened on the library!

I have never read Beowulf. Is it safe to say that here?

It was many years ago so I don't remember a lot to be honest. I do remember not liking it as much as the movie. But then I ADORE the movie.

Book #122: A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (4 stars)

I finished up the second book in the Three Pines series by Louise Penny, A Fatal Grace, and with this one I see what many of you have said about this series. The first book had left me wanting more, although I enjoyed both the characters and the setting. This second book was so much better. Very well done even though I put a lot of the pieces of the mystery together right away - I'm clever like that. The writing was rich and wonderful, and I loved all of the literary references. So much more complete and complex than the first book, so for me, this series is a keeper.

Richard - Agreed!

Tina - Thank you! The vacation was wonderful and the big toe is healing. I whacked it again yesterday, and that really hurt, so I'm trying to be very careful with it now. On the bright side, Craig brought home red bandaging to buddy tape it with - it matches my toenail polish! Is he the greatest guy or what?!!

Megan - I am loving the Heaney translation of Beowulf! And thank you for that lovely compliment! We are total nerds with that sort of thing - it's SO much fun! And we love to quote Star Wars, so you would fit right in here!

Kim - Broken toe sisters unite!! So you are literally feeling my pain, huh?! The Oz book is a beauty - I might have to snag one for myself. They have a whole line coming out under the Puffin Chalk label - they are all gorgeous. And thank you for those Thingaversary wishes! It was a good one.

We are enjoying our shared reads - Birdy has already finished Till We Have Faces, and she loved it. And Beowulf! We are all loving that!

Kathleen - What a lovely thought! How much fun would that be?!! My kids tend to read a lot of fantasy and paranormal stuff. You can check out Abby's library here if you want to see what she loves most - she is our biggest reader by far. A complete nut, just like her mother. Her username is thebookdiva.

I will have to check out Perelandra - I am not familiar with that one. I am really liking Till We Have Faces so far - very well done, and Birdy and I both really love the main character. I don't really remember anyone reading me books, either. My Mom would read Bible stories, but that was it. We had some of those Readers Digest books that people used to collect - all the stories were abridged, and some great old books like The One Hundred and One Dalmatians and Escape to Witch Mountain. I got most of my stuff from the library, too. Thank goodness for libraries!

And yes, it is always safe to confess anything that you want here!

Morphy - Okay. I think I will try it just so I can watch and then compare it to the movie, since you say the movie is good. Thanks for that!

thebookdiva ?

This place is loaded with book nuts...

I used to like sharing reads with my family... I miss it.

Hi, Mamie! So sorry about the broken toe, but glad your trip had good times to balance out that a bit.

Glad you enjoyed your 2nd Penny!

Love the thread-topper photo!

Sis - Yep, that's her! I love sharing reads with them.

Terri - Hey there! Thank you for those fine comments! I keep hoping to get back to Phillip DePoy, who you turned me on to. Since the one I am ready for is titledThe Witch's Grave, this would be the perfect month, right?!

. Since the one I am ready for is titledThe Witch's Grave, this would be the perfect month, right?!

Sure would! I will tell you, that may have been my least favorite of the series, but still some good reading there.

Oh dear.

Morning Mamie- How are you my friend? Hope the week went well. It looks like we felt exactly the same way about A Fatal Grace and the Three Pines series. I have the 3rd book saved on audio and hope to get to it, in the next couple of months, if not sooner.
Were you a fan of Bel Canto? I am nearly finished with it and it is very good.

Friday. Finally.

I liked the entire DePoy series.. which I found thanks to Terri. Great setting, great quirky characters... totally enjoyable series.

Morning Mark! I'm SO fine - thanks for asking! The week was a busy but productive one. I feel like we are settling into a rhythm with the school stuff, so that is good. I bought the third Three Pines book as soon as I had finished the second one last night - I had an Amazon gift certificate from my sister. I will probably try to get to it sooner rather than later because there was a lot of stuff that I had forgotten from the first book. I was a mazed at how much better the second book was than the first.

I have not read Bel Canto, but I would like to get to it - I have a very nice copy with deckled edge pages! Good to know that you are liking it. That bodes well for me also liking it!

Kathleen - Yes! Hooray for Friday!! I have only read the first book in the Fever Devlin books so far, but I loved it - and it's hard to snag a copy. Why is that I wonder? I can buy all of them on Kindle except for that first book - I had to hunt down a used copy of it. I LOVE the setting and the quirky characters. I started the second book last night.

How funny is this bumper sticker? I WANT one!

Happy Friday, Mamie! Nice bumper sticker. Wish we really could drive there.

Glad the Three Pines series has grown on you with the second one. She just gets better as the series goes along, IMO.

I'm another one who liked Bel Canto a lot, as did my MBH.

I love the bumper sticker! Happy weekend, dear Mamie.

Happy Friday, Joe! I wish we could really drive there, too! I want to hang out with Gabri and Olivier and all that fabulous food. Good to hear that the series just keeps getting better - in almost all of my favorite series, the first book is the weakest one. The exception to that rule - The Coroner's Lunch of course!! And that reminds me that I need to get back to Dr. Siri. I haven't read any Patchett yet, but Bel Canto is sure to be my first as that is the only one that I own!

Richard - I really do want one! Happy weekend to you, too, BigDaddy! Hoping that it is full of fabulous!

I really want one too! And I'd love a meet-up at the cafe, especially on a cool day with the fireplaces going.

All caught up here finally and quite proud of myself for it!

Have a great weekend, Mamie.

Reba - Um, yes, sign me up! That would be so lovely!

Katie - Thank you for taking the time. I am honored! And thanks for those weekend wishes. Wishing for you a weekend full of fabulous! And a win for those Giants!! Please, please let the Giants win this Sunday.

To give you an idea of how little interest I have in sports, I had to go look up to see if the Giants were football or baseball.

>51 Morphidae: Both. And most confusingly, both from New York.

Life goes on...thunderstorms predicted for today, desperately needed, are not forthcoming. Re-reading Common Sense, also desperately needed, is making me cry instead of buoying me up. Who is today's Thomas Paine? Jonathan Franzen? That boy who killed himself?

I despair.

Richard, the young whippersnappers are going to be totally confused by your claim that both baseball and football Giants are from New York, since the baseball Giants have been in San Francisco even longer than I've been alive (and I sat behind Plato in the third grade).

I'm 48. Is that a young whippersnapper?

They're the New York Giants. Yeah, they play in San Francisco now, but they ARE the New York Giants. 1958, pfah pfui, it was yesterday.

Oy, those Giants. Breaking my heart (and Rae's!) week after week. I will miss Sunday's game, as I leave for Dubai that afternoon. Maybe I will help them by being out of the country?

Morphy, I'm 48 also, at least for a couple more weeks, and you can see how I described myself!

Morphy - If it's on my thread, and I'm talking about it, then it's football.

Richard - Don't laugh, but Common Sense is one of Birdy's favorites. When we took her to Williamsburg and asked her what she wanted for a souvenir, she responded, "Well of course I would like my own copy of Common Sense." She was nine.

Julia - This is the only thing that I know about the San Francisco Giants - their catcher, Buster Posey, is from Leesburg, Georgia. Which is where we live. Which is how come I know that one and only baseball fact.

Morphy - I'm 46, so I say YES, you are a young whippersnapper.

Richard - LOL! A mere blink of the eye, right?

Katie - Yes - totally breaking Rae's heart. She says, "This is beyond reason. It just cannot be."

Julia - You are also a young whippersnapper, but like Birdy, you have an old soul.

I think whippersnapper-ocity is a state of mind, and as we all know I lost my mind several years ago. You, dear Mamie, are the very image of a whippersnapper, and I'm pretty sure Morphy is as well.

Now - where do we place our orders for those bumper stickers?

Hi, Mamie. I'm another big Three Pines fan and I'm so glad you're finding them as much fun as the rest of us think.

I can't join into the broken toe, or the Giants, conversations as neither is a part of my life these days although I do remember a time when I would bang my little toes on coffee tables all the time. Now I wear shoes, or at least flip flops and seem to be able to avoid doing that. I hope your toe heals quickly as walking does seem to be something we all like to do.

Have a great weekend! I hope the tropical storm down south west of you does not cause you uncomfortable weather.

Morning Mamie- All these forty-something's! I just sigh and stare off wistfully.
Hope you have a nice weekend planned, filled with bookish things.

It's gorgeous here today! We had a quiet evening last night, well, quiet in that we watched a movie at home, not so quiet was the movie of choice. Blade - remember that one? Wesley Snipes and vampires - it was made in 1998, which surprised me because I would have thought it was older than that. For some reason Craig really likes these types of movies, which fascinates me because he will not watch horror or old sci-fi movies. Anyway, Dan, Abby and I made it through the movie with him. Birdy and Rae said absolutely not. And last night's dinner made me think of y'all - remember the "great noodle search"? When we were looking for those fresh egg noodles to make Abby's requested birthday dinner of chicken and noodles served over mashed potatoes? We finally found them on Amazon, but I had to order an entire case of them, so we are making our way through them. Well, that's what we had, and it was delicious.

Birdy's birthday is coming up (on Tuesday), and she has requested pineapple chicken with steamed broccoli and rice. No cake for Miss Birdy - she wants Big Ol' Cookies, which is what we call these big chocolate chip and toffee cookies that I make. She wants them served warm with vanilla ice cream on top. She will be fifteen, and that just does not seem possible.



Proof positive that our Birdy was born an old soul. We took the kids to Disney World when she was about three, and she loved it. She enjoyed meeting Cinderella and the characters where you could see the actual faces, but she wasn't too sure about the full costumed characters like Mickey Mouse and Goofy. "Let's steer clear of the loonies," she said, "these people think they actually are the cartoons."

I love, love, love that hat!

Julia - What a lovely compliment! Thank you, my dear! And just for the record, I do not think you have lost your mind.

Lori - I know, right?!

Karen - Lovely to see you here! There was a big jump in the writing between books one and two in the Three Pines series. I am definitely a fan. The toe is coming along nicely, thanks, and I am glad to hear that you cannot join me in having a broken toe!! And you don't have to talk football just because I like to do so, but I must say that your Seattle Seahawks are looking good this year.

Thanks for those weekend wishes - hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous. We are supposed to get rain tomorrow and Monday, which is probably a fallout from the hurricane, but no severe weather as far as I know.

Morning Mark! - I LOVE when you say that! (the Morning Mamie part) You are still very young at heart, dear. Chronological age is just a number. Craig is on call this weekend - we plan on making lasagna (Rae's favorite), getting ready for Birdy's big day, and whipping up some sncks to enjoy with Sunday's parade of football games. Hopefully, I can also squeeze in some reading.

Karen - And those sunglasses are the kind with the dark lenses that flip out! She was so funny - she wore the hat and the glasses the entire time!

BTW, I'm watching that storm in the Gulf because they named her Karen. And She's impacting Morgan City, Louisiana. How funny... given that my given name is Karen Morgan. Ha ha ha! Hopefully, She'll quiet down, and go away before doing damage.

That is funny, Karen! That's down in the area where we just were on vacation.

>69 Crazymamie: Oh my...the Redneck Riviera, Panama City to Pensacola. *shudder*

I'm sensing a sort of negative aura about Florida, Richard.

<64 LOL -- that made my morning.

>71 Crazymamie: Oh no no no. Florida's *urp* perfectly delightful *retch* and full of such lovely *heave* folks with enlightened *hurl* values!

And the *convulse* weather is just *expectorate* scrumptious! *gag* So refreshing, so healthful! So like a suppurating sore on the gangrenous buttocks of the planet.

Reba - Good! Happy Saturday to you!

Richard - LOL! You make me laugh, BigDaddy! That last sentence is especially delightful! Let's see what we can do to get that nasty taste out of your mouth...



Gin and tonics on the screened in porch overlooking the back gardens?

That works! Howzabout some pecan pie, too?

ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh that's a homemade Crisco crust or I'm your maiden auntie! I ***love*** Crisco crusts!

Me, too!

Hi Mamie, I'm glad you got out of the Gulf Coast before Karen arrived. Yes, that is pretty funny. I am reading the latest Three Pines book. Such comfort reads. That's kind of odd because of all the murders that occur there.

It's kind of like Soenser being the source of so much humor as he goes about killing or maiming before he is killed or maimed. I didn't see Parker's book on your October plan. I hope you weren't turned off by his last book to the point of abandonment.

51 posts behind. That happened so fast! Love the Birdy anecdote.

That story about Birdy and the "loonies" cracked me up.

After spending the last few years in Broncos country, it's strange to not have football exist at all. Or I guess I should say American football.

Mamie- I really enjoyed the first 2 Blade movies. My son was a big fan and we have to keep the kids happy, don't we? I liked the Hell Boy movies too!
Hope your Saturday is going well.

You have amazing kids!

not surprising though...

mmmmmm G & T

Hi Mamie. I loved the story about Birdy and the accompanying picture. And I'm salivating just thinking about gin and tonics and pecan pie. What a great combination.

I love the Birdy / Disney story! Priceless! You really should write a book. You have such wonderful stories / anecdotes!

Mamie - How did I get so far behind?
Love Julia's Plato comment made funnier by its wild inaccuracy (he was actually schooling with RD).

Couldn't finish Still Life and I am going to have to return to it soon to see if it was me that is wrong or everyone else.

Have a lovely weekend.

Plato was schooled BY me. I'm Homer's pupil.

Hi Mamie! Long time no visit. I think I may be coming back from buried-in-report land.
I see that you are reading The Tourist which I have had on my TBR shelf for years. If you enjoy it, maybe that will motivate me to actually get around to reading it!

I hope October is bringing lovely weather to the Atlanta area.

Go Colts! Go Colts! You guys must be celebrating. That is a big win.

^ Grrr

Mamie, you know I love you but we Seahawks fans are so disappointed!

What a day! First of all, today was Craig and my 23rd anniversary!! Go us! And we still actually like each other. Amazing. Secondly, both the Colts and the Broncos won their games today!! Go Colts! Go Broncos!

On the reading front, I managed to finish two books this weekend; they were both epic poems, and they were both books that I am reading with the kids as part of their literature unit. The first book was one I actually had not heard of before, but really enjoyed - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This was the translation by Simon Armitage - what a great story, although I hate how in those old tales somehow a woman always ends up being blamed. What's up with that? This is the book that Dan and Abby and I will be discussing this week, so I was actually getting ahead of the game.

The other book was the Seamus Heaney translation of Beowulf. Very well done. I had read this before many, many years ago, and I cannot say enough about this beautiful rendering of the story. We all liked it, and it made for some great discussions.

Birdy and I are continuing with Till We Have Faces, which Birdy has already finished because she fell in love with this book. Written by C. S. Lewis, it is an incredibly detailed retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, told from the point of view of Psyche's oldest sister Orual. Those of you familiar only with Lewis' Narnia books might want to check this one out - his writing is very different here and beautifully layered.

Hope everyone out there has as lovely of a weekend as we did.

Happy Anniversary! Still liking one another -- that is a good thing. :-)

Donna - I consider murder mysteries and thrillers comfort reads, too! And I don't mind that so many murders take place in such a small town as Three Pines because I love that place. I am chomping at the bit to start on the third one, and I am trying to make myself read a few other books first. We'll see how that pans out! And I just forgot about the Parker book when I was making the list - I got sidetracked when I was setting up my thread, so things were slight disorganized this time around. I had added it now - did you fit it into a challenge yet?

Lucy - I know just how you feel! And I'm glad you like the Birdy story.

Ursula - I wish I had her on tape! She has always been an old soul in a young body, and how she thinks about things totally cracks me up. The Broncos did good today - beat those Cowboys, and Tony Romo was having an awesome game. I felt a little badly that he played so well for most of the game and then lost it with one tiny interception. But then I blinked and got over it. Go Broncos! Go Peyton!

Mark - Yep. I like the first two Blade movies. I will have to check out the Hell Boy movies, as I haven't seen those yet.

Kathleen - Thanks for that! You say the sweetest things! And agreed that G&T makes for very yummy.

Pat - So happy you liked the Birdy story and pic! And I can't take credit for the G&T and pecan pie combo - that is Richard's doing, but now I want that pecan pie with that Crisco crust!! LT is a dangerous place!

Tina - I have this stuff jotted down on scraps of paper and stuffed into a drawer - I need to write it all down in one place for the kids. If only there were more time in the day... We are great with the oral tradition of repeating our favorite stories and the kids all have their favorites, but I need to write it all down before it gets lost in the cobwebs of my memory.

Paul - I ask myself that every day! And LOL about the Plato comment! Julia always makes me smile with her sharp wit. Still Life was not that good in comparison with the second book. Okay, it was just not that good - I only tries the second book because I liked the characters and the setting so much, and because everyone assured me that the books got better. You kind of need that first book to set the stage though, so it's kind of a Catch22. If you decide to try it again, just remember that it is not good - think of it as a stepping stone to book 2. My weekend was lovely, thanks. I hope yours was, too.

Richard - ROFL! YOu crack me up, BigDaddy!

Ellen - So glad you have survived the work overload! I am very much liking The Tourist so far, but I'm only about half way in, so I'll let you know when I finish if it holds up or not. The October weather is lovely so far, but nothing like Indiana Fall - it was 86F today! And I am sorry, so very sorry about your Seahawks. I did not get to see that game because it wasn't shown down here. I was thrilled for the Colts, but sorry for you and Karen and Kerri.

Mark - We were thrilled with the Colts win! Amazing! And then the Broncos won, too!! I was sorry for your Bears (who lost to Abby's Saints today) and Ellen's Seahawks, though.

Ellen - I know. I'm sorry.

It's hard (but not really) being part of a community with such divided loyalties! It's a good thing we're all so nice and supportive. One person's loss is another person's win, and our ability to keep it all in perspective is one of my favorite things about LT!!

Ellen - I hear you. And it's so true. Hugs to you, dear sister. Rae is beside herself because the Giants have yet to win a game. We will be rooting for your Seahawks next week. That's a powerful thing because there are six of us, and we are VERY loud!!

...people like you...and after that long! Will wonders never cease.

;-P~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Richard - I know, right?!

>70 richardderus: redneck riviera!? I love that I learn new things every day here on LT, but *whispers* is it true?

The suppurating sore on the gangrenous buttocks of the planet I take it is subjective? lol

Birdie's comment about the cartoons cracked me up! No one is going to pull the wool over her eyes. When I went o Disneyland as a 7 (8?) year old, I got Snow White's autograph, I was very very pleased with myself.

Glad you finished Beowulf and that it brought forth some interesting conversations. Talking about books brings so much more out of them, for me anyway.

Hi, Mamie. Happy Monday. I know you don't like Mondays but you can have some happiness in the mix, right?

I, too, am sad for my Seahawks and Huskies, as Ellen is; but she's right about the fact that LT is such an affable place where we can have our differences and yet love each other dearly.

(I hope I used affable correctly)

ETA: yup, definition from wiktionary - affable: Receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable

perfect use of the word, and I blame it on my being a reader. I use all kinds of words which are first learned in books.

Time for Monday face, Mamie!



Paint that smile on!

Way to go, Colts and Broncos! I feel like there's a horse theme going on here, Mamie.

Yeah, our Bears weren't good enough to beat them Saints. I could see the Saints going a long way this year if Drew Brees stays healthy.

Hope your week is off to a good start.

I love Hell Boy. The second one not quite as much. There is such a great sense of humor and love. You must see it!

Hello Mamie!

>94 Crazymamie:: Mamie, the new (to us) Parker, Looking for Rachel Wallace, has many Halloween word possibilities -- elf, fear, fog, howl, king, ogre, owl, and wig...may be more...I just looked for the short ones! I think that is TIOLI Challenge No. 5. Or, if we're patient, it could go in Madeline's challenge. I think the current title has five letters in the first word. I reserved my Spenser No. 6 copy today and was not happy. The only one our library has is the audio version. I remember how much you disliked that format last month.

Mamie, I'm confident we'll hear you cheering all the way out here on the west coast!

I hope your Monday has been a good one.

Oh, 'Looking for Rachel Wallace' is one of my favorites, Donna and Mamie. It may read as a bit dated now, but it's got a great proto-feminist heroine and Spenser gets the chance to show off his uber-sensitive but macho dichotomy.

Donna, if you're thinking the audiobook won't work for you, I would be happy to send you my well-used paperback for your next Spenser. Is it 'Rachel Wallace' you need, or the next one, 'Early Autumn' (an even bigger favorite, if that's possible)?

Mamie I have your copy of Rachel Wallace from paperback swap. It will be in the mail by the weekend.

Donna take the copy! Even the sample of the audio is hideous. LOL

Okay, so typical Monday. It actually started out fine enough - I got the meals for the week planned and did the necessary grocery shopping, Morning Meeting went well as we launched another school week, and I managed to squeeze in some reading. But by evening it looked as if the house had exploded - how DO these things happen?!

Megan - I don't feel qualified to confirm or deny the redneck riviera comment. I have only been to that area the one time, and we went in the off season, so it was basically just us. Since I was born and raised in the Midwest, my parents were not related to each other, and my hairdo was never ruined by a ceiling fan, I don't consider myself a redneck.

Birdy has been fourteen years of pure delight - I can't wait to see what the next year holds. What ever it is, I hope she never loses her sass and her spunk. And I agree that talking about books is one of the coolest things ever - you always find things you didn't think about or that you perceived differently. I love hearing what everyone gets from the same book.

Karen - It was not a bad day for a Monday. Well, except for the house looking like a hurricane swept through. I'm tired, so we'll have to fix that tomorrow. And excellent use of the word affable! Don't you just love vocabulary?! I do! This group is pretty awesome with just meeting everyone where they are at and agreeing to disagree. And supportive? Amazing support here!

Richard - That image is just so deliciously creepy!! Thanks for thinking of me! Today actually wasn't too bad - for a Monday!

Joe - Isn't it funny that both teams have horse mascots? And YES! Go Colts! Go Broncos! Two big games for us. And I am sorry about your Bears. Those Saints were looking mighty good on Sunday. The week is off to a lovely start, thanks. Hoping yours is, too.

Morphy - Allrighty! If you and Mark both say watch it, then I will!

Roberta - Hello there!

Donna - It does not matter which challenge that it goes in to me - I'll just look to see where you slot it and then join you there. And ...um...avoid the audio if you possibly can. SO not good.

Ellen - You will, my friend. You will! My Monday was very productive for the most part, so good.

Julia - So good to know. Roberta said the she heard it was one of the better ones. I hope Donna takes you up on your offer because the audio is a disaster.

DONNA- DID YOU SEE JULIAS OFFER?

Roberta - Oh thank you for that!!! So sweet of you! And yes - Donna should take Julia up on her offer!

My dear sweet Birdy is fifteen today. Happy Birthday, Birdy!

Happy Birthday Birdy!

*sniff* They grow up so darn fast.

Happy Birthday, Birdy!

Mamie, I love the stories you've included further up the thread. I had never heard of Common Sense, so I had to look it up. Quite something for a nine-year-old to request!

I hope you experience a reverse hurricane today, to save housework :-)

Oh! Do tell Birdy, as you know, The Entire Universe Danced on the very Day She was Born!

Happy Birthday, dear girl.

and as Dr. Seuss would say: Oh, the places you will go!

and you have a great Tuesday. Hopefully the reverse hurricane did its job yesterday and today will be more clean and calm.

I have to chime in with a Happy Birthday to Birdy too, Mamie. She has grown into an enchanting and confident young lady. Poor Craig and you! I know all about the problems trying to fend off the posse of boys waiting upon Yasmyne's every move.

Good Tuesday Morning! I wish that I could bottle Birdy's energy this morning - if I could sell it, I would make a fortune! Was I ever that young? And she was thrilled with the birthday wishes from all of you, so thanks for that!!

Roberta - Thank you.

Richard - She LOVED that! *sniff because yes, they do*

Susan - Thanks for that. Before going to Williamsburg, we had studied the American Revolution and the events leading up to it. That was our first year of homeschooling - after really immersing ourselves in early American history, we took the kids to Williamsburg where they could see the first House of Burgesses and see history acted out before their eyes and to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Birdy had already fallen in love with the Thomas Paine pamphlet, and had decided that she wanted her own copy of it. The book dealer was delighted when she inquired where she might find a copy, and they discussed its merits.



And I could use that reverse hurricane!!

Karen - I let her read your message for herself! Thanks for that. And the reverse hurricane has not yet occurred - hopefully very soon!

Paul - Thank you! Poor Craig and I is right!! I am SO not ready for our baby to be 15!

A very happy birthday to Birdy from Iowa! I so enjoy all your stories about her, Mamie. She sounds like a really special young lady.

Happy 15th to Birdy! and congrats to you, Mamie, for your guidance and love that is producing a wonderful human being.

The only thing better than a house filled with little ones who hang on your every word and deed... is a house filled with growing kids who have minds and opinions of their own. Never simple, never boring. I miss it so much! It does go fast.

Bridie... I hope your birthday and fifteenth year are as amazing as you have shown yourself to be.

Oh, I'm pleased that Birdy liked it! It seemed to suit her essential upbeat way.

Happy Tuesday! I'm having extra coffee. It's that kinda day.

Happy Birthday to Birdy, Mamie. 15 - she's probably a lot smarter than the clueless guy I was at that age.

I remember Looking for Rachel Wallace was the first Spenser I read, and it got me hooked immediately. I have particularly fond memories of that one.

Happy birthday lovely Birdy!! Hope you have a wonderful day.

Julia - Thank you for your wishes and those lovely comments. She is certainly very special! (I might be a tiny bit biased!)

Lynda - Thank you, dear.

Kathleen - Oh. I LOVE that! Exactly how I feel! I am trying to soak it all up because I know I just have a small bit of time left with everyone living at home. And Birdy thanks you for those kind and wonderful words.

Richard - She did - I am going to print it out for her! So good work, BigDaddy! And extra coffee sounds wondeful - I could have used some of that today.

Joe - Thank you. I cannot imagine you as clueless! And another positive vote for the next Spenser - that makes me SO happy!!

Reba - Birdy thanks you! She has had a fun day so far and has been so thankful for all the birthday wishes here. She was disappointed that she did not get one birthday card in the mail - usually the aunts and uncles remember. So all of you made her day!

So what do you give a young lady who was born old for her fifteenth birthday? Um...blue hair. Birdy has wanted blue hair for the last two years, so as a surprise for her birthday, Craig and I scheduled her an appointment to get her hair dyed blue. To say that she was over the moon is inadequate. And believe it or not, it is REALLY cute on her. It was the kind of thing that my mother would have said was stupid, but it's just hair - I wanted her to have a day that she would remember forever, especially since her last birthday sucked. (Remember last year on her birthday our house was being packed up so that we could move to Georgia?) Anyway, she LOVES it and is practically vibrating with happiness. She was just so thrilled.


We had the picture all posed, and then at the last minute Dan leaned forward with Rae and Birdy, shutting Abby out of the photo. I loved the totally candid moment - look at Abby's face!

*I realized that I assumed that all of you knew who was who - Abby, Rae, Dan, and Birdy

And here's another one that captures Dan and Birdy's relationship perfectly. The bracelet on Birdy's wrist was another birthday gift - it says, "And though she be but little, she is fierce." (William Shakespeare)

I never, ever thought these words would come out of my tetchy old man-mouth. Never. If you repeat them I will swear a mighty oath that you're lying.

Birdy's blue hair rocks.

Richard - I know, right?! The people in the salon were so excited about it, too. I thought it would be just one dense color, but the stylist put in highlights and lowlights, and her eyes are so blue that the whole thing just works. Way cute!

It is!

I love it. It's a fun look for a way cute young lady. Happy Birthday, Birdy. And belated Happy Anniversary to you and Craig, Mamie.

I will put the latest Spenser book in the Halloween word challenge as Madeline's challenge has diminishing letters going on and I don't want to wait until it works its way back up to seven!

>107 rosalita:: Julia, that was a super generous offer but I had already decided to order a copy from another Missouri library. It's on its way to me! I didn't want to ruin a good Robert B. Parker book with a lousy narrator. My library system has two copies of Early Autumn. I hope as we get to more recent books that I will be able to find them locally.

Wow, Mamie, Birdy looks so beautiful in blue hair and you're right it really suits her. You and Craig are such cool parents. Please tell Birdy Happy Birthday from me too. And thanks for posting those pictures of your kids. They're all so grown up. It's a bit jarring to see them that way after seeing so many pictures of them when they were little.

I generally don't like hair in colors that people don't naturally have but Birdy's hair looks fabulous!!! And what cool parents to do that for her!

Tell Birdy, Happy Belated Birthday for me! Love the electric blue-hair and the gorgeous photos!

OK, OMG... You are the best mom EVER! I totally am in love with Birdy's hair! She looks freakin' fantastic with that color! And the candid kids' photo is too much! I'm grinning like a dopey fiend looking at how gorgeous your kids are... Someone mentioned above, but I'll reiterate that we're so used to seeing the pics of them as "little" ones that seeing them all together in one shot, so loving and natural... Just wow.

Frame that one, k??

>126 richardderus:. Special smooches for admitting to the awesomeness that is Birdy's new hairdo! :)

Hi Mamie, I have so much to catch up on, but first and foremost a very happy birthday to Birdy and I love her hair, what a great birthday present!

I was happy to read your throughts on the second Three Pines Mystery, I am another one who read the first one and hasn't really had the urge to pick up the next one. Now both you and Mark have spurred me on.

My youngest daughter and her husband were in Florida at Disneyland during the last week of September and they suffered through a lot of rain as well.

I was sorry to read about your toe, I broke mine years ago and thought no more about it but found out years later that I also did ligament damage as well which I am paying for today. So perhaps you should get your personal doctor check that out for you.

Love Birdy's blue hair, and the photo of all the kids. To tell you the truth, I have a huge crush on your whole gosh darn family, Mamie. This world could use a few more just like ya.

Way behind on the happy birthday wishes to your darling Birdy.... the blue hair is amazing and just so darn cool, love it!!!!

That's a great birthday gift! A friend and I put turquoise streaks into my daughter's hair when she was somewhere around that age, too - it's a great time to play around with looks like that.

That's a great photo of all your kids and Birdy's hair looks just wonderful.

Love, love, LOVE the blue hair. Happy Belated Birthday to Birdy, all the way from Dubai :)

And I'm with Julia in having a crush on your family - obviously no family is perfect but yours seems pretty awesome. Would that we all had such a one!

Blue is almost never my favorite hair color..( although I have been wanting to add a few blue strands in the back to mine for years... long story and silly me ) But Birdy looks fabulous!!! Gorgeous cut, too. Well, hard to miss with those beautiful kids.. ALL of them..

Great photos, too! And yes! Great gift! Good on you for doing it for her.. as you say, it's only hair.... no harm ... even if everyone hated it. Still, many parents wouldn't see it that way. Well done Mamie family!

Totally cool blue hair for Birdy. We're with you on the parenting - our son had purple hair in high school for a while. We figured he was a great kid in all the ways we cared about, and it was his hair, not ours. It looked great on him, too.

Wonderful pics of your family; Craig (no surprise) looks like he's a most excellent dad.

Love Birdy's hair and all the photos!

Love Birdy's hair! How old are each of your kids? I love the candid shots. It really shows their personality! I especially love Abby's look. Both loving and exasperated. And Birdy's in the second shot, "Don't even start with me." Is Birdy her real name or is it a nickname?

Buffet's all set up, dear, what'll you have to drink?

Wonderful photographs of your family, I enjoyed the dynamics so much. Glad you all loved the Heaney Beowulf. I've only read the Tolkien Gawain.

Congrats on 23 wonderful years and still friends!

Happy Birthday to a very beautiful 15 y/o with gorgeous blue hair!

Thanks so much for the pictures, Mamie - they are all great! They have grown so much even in the short time we have known you - thanks for sharing. These pictures will bring back precious memories in years to come of when they were teens ... especially when they have families and teens of their own.
It all happens so fast. Ach - I feel so old now that my grands are becoming teenagers.

Mamie, I love the photos - they really show the personalities of your dear ones. And I think it is SO COOL that you let Birdy die her hair blue. As you say, it's just hair and it's not permanent and I just love it when parents let kids define themselves. Kudos to you! And the message on the birthday bracelet is wonderful. You have a lovely clan there, Mamie my dear.

Happy weekend, Mamie dear.

Mamie, you must have been having a busy week as I haven't seen you either here or around the threads much. Hope all is ok and you and your family have a great weekend.

Great shots of the gang Mamie. Birdy's hair looks fetching and will certainly turn the heads downtown.

Have a great weekend - maybe mum should follow suit and choose a rainbow colour to join her baby?!

Morning Mamie! We miss you!

I think Mamie should have pink and lime green hair. In stripes.

Brilliant, Morph, just brilliant. I'm sure her new southern neighbors will be quite charmed.

A huge thanks to all of my visitors! This has been a whirlwind of a week but in a good way. I am hoping to get caught up on my own thread and on all of yours tomorrow - ha, ha! Okay, so I will attempt to catch up starting tomorrow. I have managed to finish two more books - The Witch's Grave by Phillip DePoy and Night by Elie Wiesel. And I am attempting once again to read Dracula - maybe this time I will actually manage to finish it! I really think that the good doctor could save us all a lot of time and bother, not to mention deaths, if he would just cut to the chase in the very beginning instead of being so mysterious about everything. I guess that would pretty much kill the suspense though, right?

Today is our one year anniversary of living in Georgia - can you believe that?! One year ago today we bought this house and spent our very first night in our new and extremely empty home - the furniture and everything else arrived the next day. What an extraordinary journey the past year has been - I know that I could not have managed it without all of you! SO here's to our friendship and to the Pecan Paradisio - thanks for sharing in our journey!

And what a journey it has been too.

I am not always gifted in "christening" places or giving taglines but I am thrilled that "Pecan Paradisio" not only found its way towards being lingua franca in this diverse group but also that the connotations it brings to mind seems to have been largely fulfilled in the reality of your daily lives down there. xx

You did good, kid. (My Dad always used to say that when he was particularly pleased about something) I cannot imagine a more perfect name for the place! I get to wake up every morning and look out on those pecan trees that speak to me, and it always makes me smile. Paradise indeed!

xx :D

Happy omigosh-it's-been-how-long-aversary!

#155 I really think that the good doctor could save us all a lot of time and bother, not to mention deaths, if he would just cut to the chase in the very beginning instead of being so mysterious about everything.
LOL! That is very true. I did enjoy Dracula but I remember having pretty much the same thought on more than one occasion.

Congratulations! I'm glad that you love your new home so much!
It's always good to fulfill a dream, even if it's one that you never knew you had...

:)

Mamie! Congratulations! That is truly awesome - you've settled in, and are loving it! It seems like the trees, the pool, the house, the neighborhood, and all that has been perfectly paradisical. Will you, too, be becoming the Pecan Pie goddess this fall? Happy Sunday, dear friend.

Good Sunday Morning, Everyone! It's Football Day!! Yesterday was spent doing those chores that need to be done seasonally but that there never seems to be enough time for - spraying the house for bugs, trimming the hedges, removing dead things from the garden, attacking the Morning Glory that is trying to take over the deck...it was exhausting watching Craig work so hard. LOL! The rest of us did manage to get some work done, too. Today I aim to make a big pot of chicken corn chowder, read a bit, and then settle in to watch some football. Broncos play the Jaguars today, so I'm hopeful that we'll get to see that game - I will check just as soon as Craig gets off of the X-Box! Colts don't play until Monday night, so we will also get to see that game - WahHOO! Go Broncos! Go Colts! And GO Seahawks - I promised Ellen I would root for them this week!

Paul - xx back!

Richard - Thank you, dear! You always make me laugh!

Rhian - Oh, good! Then it's not just me!!

Kathleen - Thank you! I love what you said! Sometimes it's fulfilling the dreams that we didn't know we had that makes the biggest impact.

Karen - Thanks! I have yet to make a homemade pecan pie, but that is on my list for this Fall. Pecan Pie goddess sounds like something to reach for!! Happy Sunday to you, too!

Just stopping by to say hello. Congratulations to you all on your first year in Pecan Paradiso (TM) and to Birdy on her birthday and her fantabulous blue hair!

Now to really catch up - back up there to post #128!

>128 maggie1944: Karen - Thank you! I thought it turned out so fabulous!

>129 Donna828: Donna - Thank you for those good wishes for both Birdy and for Craig and me! I added my name to challenge #5 for a shared read - LOVE those. And I am so glad to hear that you will be reading the print version!!

>130 phebj: Pat - Thank you! It does seem to suit her! I had Birdy come in and read all of your lovely messages for herself, and she was grinning from ear to ear, so thanks for that! And thanks for the kind words concerning our parenting skills! I bet it is strange to suddenly see the kids looking so old after all of those photos from when they were young! They suddenly morphed before your eyes! LOL!

>131 RebaRelishesReading: Reba - What a lovely thing to say! She is still thrilled with the hair, so it was the perfect gift for her.

>132 msf59: Mark - Thank you! I had her read it for herself. She couldn't believe all the fabulous comments from people that had never even met her! Glad you liked the hair and the photos!

>133 TinaV95: Tina - I LOVE your enthusiasm!! And what wonderful compliments - thank you, my dear. I never even thought about how different they look almost all grown up when you are used to seeing the photos of them so young until Pat mentioned it! And I did frame the photo - Craig has it sitting on his desk at work. I need to get another frame so that I can put it on my desk here at home.

And Richard deserved those special smooches - I was touched by his comments, too!

Hey Heather!! SO lovely to see you here! I really need to come catch up with your thread! And thank you for those good wishes! I love the (TM)!! And I will tell Birdy that you think her blue hair is fabulous!!

>135 DeltaQueen50: Judy - Thank you for those good wishes for Birdy! She had such a great birthday - and she will always remember it, which is exactly what I wanted for her. And the incredible support and love that she got from LT will be part of that memory - she loved reading through everyone's comments and compliments!

The second Three Pines book is worth picking up - I could not believe how much better it was than the first one. Now I am dying to dip into the third book, but I am trying to get to a few other books first.

And yes - the weather was very wet for the first few days of our Florida vacation. Luckily the end of the week was gorgeous. And Thanks for the head's up about the ligament damage - it is healing nicely if I could just stop bumping it on things. I will have it checked to make sure that I did not do any damage beyond breaking it.

>136 rosalita: Julia - That was just the loveliest compliment! Thanks so much for that! We love you back.

>137 lkernagh: Lori - Thank you! She loves the hair!

>138 ursula: Ursula - Turquoise streaks sound like a lot of fun! I think the teenage years are the perfect time for playing around with different looks. SO much stuff going on inside trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be, that changing up the surface appearance becomes a fun way to let off some energy. Hair is a good conduit for self expression!

>139 SandDune: Rhian - Thank you! Glad you liked the photo and Birdy's blue hair!

>140 katiekrug: Katie - Thank you! She was thrilled to get birthday wishes all the way from Dubai! And thank you for that awesome compliment! I am wanting to adopt you and Julia!!

>141 mckait: Kathleen - I myself would never choose blue, but it has always been Birdy's very favorite color, and she has been saying for the past two years that someday she was going to dye her hair blue. That's what gave me the idea for the birthday present - it was a huge hit. She absolutely loves it, which was what I wanted for her - that I also think it looks really cool was an added bonus! SO I hear you!! I do think that you should go for the few strands in back on your own self - I bet it would look fabulous! And if you don't like it - it's just hair, you can let it grow out or color it back.

And you are right - the haircut suits her. The back is a stack if you know what that is - I have a photo somewhere... And thanks so much for your wonderful praise - you always say the nicest things. SO glad I have you for my sis!

Here's the photo I was thinking of:

>142 jnwelch: Joe - That sums up my thoughts exactly! I think that self expression is vitally important when you are trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be. I always tell my kids to define themselves because if they don't, someone else will. It's important to know who you are. And it's just as important to decide that for yourself. I would love to see that purple hair on Jesse!

>143 ronincats: Roni - Thank you so much!

>144 Morphidae: Morphy - Thanks! Rae is 21, Dan is 18, Abby is 17, and Birdy just turned 15. The candid photos are always my favorites, too! Because you are right - they reveal so much! And Birdy is her nickname - her "paper name" as she calls it is Sara. We started calling her Birdy when she was little because she is always up early in the morning, she is always cheerful, and she chatters away all day long! It suits her - the necklace that she always wears (you can see it in the photo) is a little silver bird and there is a little silver tag hanging by it that says "fly". I gave it to her many years ago and told her to always remember who she was - defining yourself is not about your name on paper; it is about letting your spirit soar and being true to yourself. Birdy was born old, so she has always known that, but just in case she grows young as she ages, I don't want her to forget that she was born to fly.

>145 richardderus: Richard - I ADORE you! How thoughtful! I think a glass of Chardonay would go nicely with that feast!

>146 sibylline: Lucy - Thank you! And we all loved the Beowulf translation - so good! There is a Tolkien Gawain?! I WANT!!

>147 -Cee-: Cee!! SO lovely to see you here! And thank you for those wonderful wishes! I am glad that you liked the photos - I am trying to remember to take more of them because, as you say, time is short! I just want to soak up as much as I possibly can. Time does have a way of moving more quickly the older one gets...

>148 EBT1002: Ellen - Thank you, thank you, thank you! Such kind words! And the birthday bracelet was a moment of serendipity - Abby and I went into a shop just a few doors down from where Birdy was getting her hair done while we were waiting. We found the bracelet in there - such a perfect fit for our Birdy, so we bought it and they gift wrapped it for her. We gave her the bracelet right after she was finished with her hair, and she LOVES it. She looked it up, and it's from A Midsummer Night's Dream.

>149 richardderus: Richard - Thank you! Happy Weekend to you, too! Hope it's been good to you so far!

>150Judy - Thanks for thinking of us - you are right; I haven't been on the threads much lately. I have been lurking in spare moments, but this has been a busy week for us. I keep hoping that things will slow down and settle into a rhythm, but time has been tight lately. We are all well and have been enjoying the gorgeous weather. I am truly hoping to get more time for visiting the threads this coming week - looking good so far as we have no appointments scheduled.

>151 PaulCranswick: Paul - Thank you, dear! I did have a hair appointment on Friday, and Craig asked before he left for work if he needed to brace himself before coming home! I do get my hair colored, but nothing so exotic as Birdy's new do. Just a bit of red and the roots covered up!

>152 msf59: Mark - Aw! It's so nice to be missed! Thanks for that! I should be around more this week. I hope.

>153 Morphidae: Morphy - You made me laugh! Good work!!

>154 maggie1944: Karen - Now you made me laugh! I am picturing the looks on the faces of my Southern neighbors!! I could go big, no problem - the South is very accepting of big hair drama. But lime green and pink stripes might get me in trouble with the local church ladies. Then again, they might stop asking me if I have found a "Home Church" - something to think about!

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE... I have caught up with my own thread!!

Hooray!! With the activity on your thread you catching up with it is definitelly worth a cheer.

Thanks, Reba! I hope you are enjoying a lovely Sunday!

...wow...marathon...postfest...exhausted...

*pulls up the fainting couch*

Woohoo on catching up on your thread!

I love Birdy's blue hair and the cut suits the color. I am laughing at your kids morphing before our eyes. It reminds of SORAS (Soap Opera Rapidly Aging Syndrome) Ha! Your thread is a soap Mamie and you SORASed your own kids. I love it.

Happy Sunday!

Roberta - I know, right?! Glad you love Birdy's new hair color - the cut is actually the cut she always has. And I LOVE your comments on the kids morphing!! Too funny! And we would have to be a soap - I think we are too functional for our own reality show! LOL! Now we just need to come up with a catchy title...

>174 Crazymamie: Oh, thank you dear. I'll be fine in a book or two.

That looks so inviting!

Congratulations on catching up on your thread!
How is Dracula going? Is it long?

Thank you, Ellen! It's not long (my copy has about 400 pages), it's just that it drags a bit for me, which is why this is my third attempt at it. I get annoyed with Dr. Van Helsing every time - if he could just be more open about what he knows and about what he suspects, the story could move along at a nicer clip. Still, I love the totally creepy beginning and the diary entries.

^ Okay, I'll wait and see what your final verdict is before running out and purchasing it. :-)

OOoooo I like Birdie's blue do! My own girl likes change-ups a lot too:
(This will take two passes to get both photos up, so bear with me)

This is the 'real' hair although it was a 'spirit' week, and I believe the black lipstick etc was because her 'class' color is black this year.

And this is the very next day for Formal Day:

She was particularly amused because people kept asking if it was her real hair!

Ellen - I think most people end up liking it, but I should be able to give you my final verdict in a few days! And what about those Seahawks?! Did you hear us cheering? Congrats on the win!

Lucy - Oh, she is just gorgeous! I LOVE the real hair, but look how great she is with red hair and a completely different style! How fun! Thanks for sharing, Lucy!

She's really quite a fashion chameleon! I thought you with all your lovely girls would enjoy the transformations. Wait til you see the Hallowe'en outfit..... I forget what it is right now, but it's incredible.

She definitely has a good eye - completely different looks, and they both look so good on her. She captures the whole attitude of the look so wonderfully. I am just so glad that you shared them! And I cannot wait to see the Hallowe'en outfit!

Hi Mamie- Glad to see you got caught up and I hope you had a fine Sunday. I did not watch much football today, we were at a christening. The Bears won on Thursday, (sorry Rae) so at least I got that under my belt.

Mamie, thanks for cheering for my Seahawks. It wasn't pretty but they won and that's all that matters. I'm not aware of any serious Titans fans around here, so the win doesn't seem to come at anyone else's expense. Anyone?

Lucy and Mamie, you both have beautiful daughters with great senses of style!

Hey Mark! Yep! Finally caught up with my own thread - oh the shame! We watched the Packers/Ravens game, the Saints/Patriots game, and are now watching the Redskins/Cowboys fame. What can I say? I am a football junkie, so I will watch anyone but the Lions. I was totally put out that the Broncos game was not shown here despite the fact that they were playing a Florida team - we were so bummed. But at least the Broncos won. And tomorrow night we will get to see the Colts play, so that will be fun. I was happy for your Bears but so sad for Rae and her Giants - not having a good year. Rae is beside herself. Thanks for thinking of her - you are so sweet to remember!

Ellen - I did not get to see the game because it wasn't shown here, but we followed the game on the internet. So thrilled that you won this week. And thank you for the compliment to my daughters and to Lucy's.

Your Broncos are 6-0, are they not?

Yes, ma'am.

Less astounding, I think, than the 6-0 Kansas City Chiefs. That is not what anyone predicted!

True. So true.

Scary sports talk. On fb Brit was talking about balls hitting numbers ... which somewhat baffles me.
Yesterday was not a good day for tv for me :P That is one reason I read two books.. which reminds me...

Silver White and The Call by Shawn Underhill were kindle.. inexpensive and rather good.. I would think you and yours might enjoy them. Book three by Halloween per the author.

Here we are back at Square One- day

blah

Monday morning, dear friend. I know you hate these days, and yet, it is better than not having any days, right?

I watched a little bit of the Seahawks game yesterday. Truly, it was not blacked out in the local market even though it was a home game. The stadium was chock-a-block full of screaming fans, including my niece and her hubby. The game was fun to watch because as Ellen said it was not pretty. But Seahawks did win which is nice for the home crowd. They are on some kinda roll this year. And Seattle needs a big winning team, or two, or three.

Huskies lost, but still looking good. And I think we are still doing OK in the soccer arena with the Seattle Sounders, too. Seattle is quite the young and sporty city right now. Not the place where I grew up, that is for sure. Used to be fishermen and loggers and gold diggers (real gold, real digging, not the girls after rich men).

Have a great week, dear friend. Enjoy those kids and their schoolin'.

Good to have you back, Mamie. Looks like all is well in Pecan Paradisio. We can get through Monday, and it'll all be downhill from there. Say hello to Tsukiko for me.

Ok Mamie, Rachel Wallace is finally en route to you. I think it will get to you on Wednesday. It's kind of a crappy copy. Sorry about that. It meets "acceptable" guidelines from PBS. I smelled it. It passed, BARELY! It doesn't stink but if they get too old they smell dusty and make me wheeze. This one didn't make me wheeze.

I almost didn't send it but then I thought your poor ears with that narrator.

Okay, so it's Monday. Again. I can handle it.

Kathleen - Sorry about the scary sports talk. Two books read yesterday? Awesome! And I'll look up those recommendations - love getting recs form you! This Monday is not too bad so far - it is cooler and overcast here, so I was able to open up the French doors to the screened in porch. I LOVE doing that! Only 74 here, so hooray for cooler. Hoping that today is kind to you, sis!

Karen - Right. Monday is better than no day. Good point. I did not get to see that Seahawks game, but it was a hoot watching the highlights! Not pretty about sums it up, but in the end the Seahawks won and that's what goes on the record books, so...

Thank you for those good wishes - schoolin' and the kids is always an adventure! Wishing for you a week full of fabulous!

Joe - Thanks! All is indeed well in Pecan Paradisio - we got a lot of those Fall chores checked off the list this weekend, so that's good. And you are so right - it's all downhill after Monday! Especially this week, because I have no appointments scheduled!! Yippy Skippy for that! I will tell Tsukiko that you said hello. LOL!

Roberta - You are cracking me up! If it passed the smell test, it's all good. Free is free! Thanks so much for thinking of me. I am just so thankful not to have to borrow the audio. Truly.

Mamie- Hope your day is going well. I am going to try and get lost in 2666 for awhile. I hope to take a nice bite out of it. Let's hope it's tasty.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, Mamie. I cooked the big turkey dinner yesterday and am looking forward to doing plenty of nothing today.

I can't believe that you have been in Georgia a year already! It's scary how fast time flies.

Mark - So far, so good for today. 2666 looks like a book you could get lost in for quite a while! We're talking doorstopper there. Here's hoping that it IS tasty.

Judy - Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Day! Yours is timed better than ours, I am thinking - ours comes so close to Christmas, it would be lovely to stretch the holidays out a bit more. Plenty of nothing sounds like a fabulous plan!! I can't believe it has been a year already for us, either. Amazing. Enjoy your holiday, and eat some turkey for me.

Mamie...

take a look at this :)

http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/assignments/explore-our-changing-world/?r...

you read (and Sharon McCrumb wrote?) Bimbos of the Death Sun? hmmm. i can't decide if i should come here more often or if it's best to stay away. heh!

we were looking fwd all week to the Broncos- Jags game and mightily miffed when it got dumped. Titans? blech!

i expect i read Dracula 3 or 4 times in my yoot. loved it. and The graveyard book? now that's one to listen to. Gaiman is a soopurb narrator.

chortled at your "fainting couch" for RD. they are crucial, apparently. with one, one is faint but fetching. without one, one could lose one's book at a crucial passage, which is enough to cause a second fainting. horrors!

with fainting couch:



without fainting couch:

Hey Mamie! Just dropping by to catch up & leave some germ free hugs! Love to you all!

#202 - Love the fainting pictures! Just once in my life I would like to sink gracefully on a fainting couch with my hand pressed lightly to my brow!

lol, with my luck I'd miss the couch, land on the floor giving myself a concussion and a broken hip

Time for a nightcap! Perkins is stirring up a martini or six for me. What will you have?

**thump** (I fainted)

Good Wednesday Morning! Yesterday was gorgeous here - we had the French doors open to the screened in porch for most of the day. Delightful! I tried a new banana bread recipe that was truly delicious - I LOVE when that happens. It was the Cooking Light recipe. I added a teaspoon of vanilla. Very Yum.



Kathleen - We checked that out. Very cool. Abby really wanted to enter, but you have to be 18. I wonder of they do it every year - do you know?

Ellie - Your post made me laugh out loud, so of course all the kids came running, and they got a good laugh, too! Thanks for that - LOVE those images!! And it supports my claim that a fainting couch is required furniture!

We were totally bummed not to be able to see the Broncos game - there was shouting, and I'm pretty sure it was me. Then we did get to see the lots game on Monday night, and they lost. They deserved to lose - they dropped the ball five times. What's up with that?!

I am enjoying both Dracula and The Graveyard Book. I do know that Neil Gaiman is a fabulous narrator - we have Graveyard both in print version and in audio. I started with the print version just to get a good jump start into the story, but I'll probably listen to part of it, too. Recently I haven't faired too well with audio just because I keep getting interrupted - imagine that in a house with six full time residents!

And I'm firmly convinced that the fact that I read Bimbos of the Death Sun means that you should come here more often!! Just saying…

Tina!! - How ARE you, my dear? Feeling any better? Thanks for stopping in and checking on me. Hugs back to you!

Judy - I loved the fainting pics, too! And me too with the drama! Although I probably have more Scarlett O'Hara in me than Melanie Hamilton.

Reba - Oh dear. Let's not do that. No falling on the floor.

Richard - YES! Let's just pretend that it's still evening, shall we? I'll take two martinis, please.

Karen - Oh dear! *moves fainting couch closer to Karen and has the menfolk place her gently on it. Goes to fetch the smelling salts*

Forgot to mention that I finished Till We Have Faces, and I absolutely loved it. 4.5 stars

So glad you liked Till We Have Faces! Such a provocative book. Happy Hump Day, and may it be humidity free.

Perkins, refresh Miss Mamie's martini, please.

It's a bit early in the morning for a martini but a mimosa would be lovely :-)

Oh thank you, BigDaddy! I was feeling powerful thirsty! And yes - no humidity, so really beautiful here. I really loved Till We Have Faces - and the very last chapters were so excellent. Definitely a keeper.

I'm trying to think of good spooky/scary or creepy reads for next week - we are having a free read, so the kids will each choose their own book to read, but we are keeping to a Halloween inspired theme. Here's what I listed for them so far:

Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Macbeth by Shakespeare
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
World War Z by Max Brooks
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marlon
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Any other ideas?

Perkins, a mimosa for Miss Reba, please.

Why thank you, dawling

>212 Crazymamie: Ooo...Rebecca! Ooo. Did I say "Ooo" already?

Those mimosae can be addictive, eh Reba?

Love the Rebecca inclusion, too. The Ocean at the End of the Lane? The Haunting of Hill House? Dracula?

If you can find it, The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs. It's not a kid's book like his others.

The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers, or The Drawing of the Dark or The Anubis Gates. Most of his are plenty spooky.

Something Wicked This Way Comes is definitely a favorite of mine.

Maybe some of Terry Pratchett's DEATH books, for fun? Mort or Reaper Man, for example.

I honestly don't know about the nat geo thing. I happened upon it as an ad on photobucket, and just sent it along :)

I really like Woman in Black, hope you do too!
Michael Koryta writes a good creepy novel... tymfos found him and I really like him!

I look forward to seeing which book(s) the kids choose for next week, Mamie.
And I am realizing that C.S. Lewis is another of those authors whose works I have simply never read and really should, or at least really want to. I'm thinking that 2014 might be the year of trying to hit at least one work by a dozen authors in that category. Or maybe I'll do 14 since that's a relatively undemanding way to give a nod to the year.

Have a great Thursday!

Ellen, I'm in the same boat. I did download all of the Narnia e-books when they were on sale for $1.99 each a few months ago, and I'm going to read them. Soon. Soon-ish, anyway. Next year! Yes, that sounds like a plan.

Good morning, me lurve. I've brought a favorite summer breakfast of mine. French breakfast radishes, avocado, and buttered toast:

What a great list of "creepy" books you are compiling. Do let us know which ones your children select. Will you be reading each of their books? I'll join you on Something Wicked This Way Comes if that is one of the winners. I've been saving this one for the week before Halloween.

Mamie, I hope you like Spenser #6, Looking for Rachel Wallace. It is my favorite to date!

Well, we made it to Friday again. Hooray for that! Rainy and much cooler today here - only going to 77. Feels like a good day for getting cozy in my favorite chair and getting lost in a good book. Of course, every day feels like that to me...

Reba - You are ever so welcome.

Richard - I started Rebecca, but have never actually finished it. Bad Mamie. I am planning on picking it back up next month. Laughing about mimosae! I'm totally stealing that!

Joe - Oohh, The Haunting of Hill House - adding that one to my own reading list! Dracula is a good one, too - reading that one right now. Should have put that on the list - blaming that oversight on a mental moment.

Roni - Thanks for that! I snagged the Kindle version of Face in the Frost for just $5, so I have added that one to the list. I read and LOVED Something Wicked This Way Comes last year, so I am hoping that one of them chooses that! I have not read Terry Pratchett or Tim Powers, so sounds like I need to look into them.

Kathleen - I hope they do it again next year - she barely missed it because she will be 18 in February. I read Woman in Black last year and loved it. Abby is reading it right now and is also liking it! I'll look into Michael Koryta - thanks for that!

Ellen - I will definitely report back on the kids' choices of creepy reads. Concerning C. S. Lewis, I have only read his Narnia books before this. Till We Have Faces was even better, in my opinion, and the writing was so layered and thought provoking, but very accessible, if that makes any sense. The last chapter is a gem all by itself. Wonderful! Your challenge sounds like a good one - I have authors I need to get to, too! Thursday was great, thanks, and your Seahawks added another win to their total!

Julia - We loved the Narnia books. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a favorite of Rae's when she was younger.

Richard - I have to admit that I never would have thought to put that combo together, but it looks delightful. I have never eaten radishes.

Donna - I will be sure to post which books they choose! I have already read most of the books - still need to get to Rebecca, Warm Bodies, and World War Z. I am really hoping that one of them chooses Something Wicked This Way Comes - I read that for the first time last year, and I absolutely loved it.

And I keep hearing good things about Spenser book #6 - that is just so fabulous. The lovely and generous Roberta has sent me a copy of Looking for Rachel Wallace, which arrived on Wednesday, so I look forward to diving into it - probably next week.

Hi Mamie!
Sounds like a lot of fun going on over there with the creepy reads ;-)
So many great reads to choose from.

I am now well into A Stranger in a Strange Land rec'd by Kath as I have never read that one and she was shocked. It's a fun read - just kind of long... 500 pgs or so. Wish I could read faster and the phone would stop ringing. I need to put it down today to get some housework done - lol.

Enjoy your Friday!

Happy Weekend, Mamie Dearest! *smooch*

Cee!! - Oh, dear. I have not read Stranger in a Strange Land either. I'll wait for your thoughts on it. I have too many books going at the same time again - I need to focus and actually finish one up! And the audiobooks - forget it! I keep getting interrupted every time that I start to listen - I need to listen at night when everyone else is sleeping!

I am anxiously awaiting to hear what books the kids choose - they have to decide by Saturday night.

Thanks for those Friday wishes - here's hoping that yours is full of fabulous!

Richard - Darling! Thanks for that! *smooch back*

Happy Friday, Mamie!

Thanks, Joe! Happy Friday to you!

You've never eaten radishes?!? Really?

Truly, Reba.

Do you like food with a bit of bite to it? If so, you should definitely try them. I grew up eating them raw (Mother ALWAYS put them in a mixed salad) but I do know that people cook them too, although I've never tied that. The long white "icicle" ones are milder and used to be one of my favorite snacks.

Yep. I sure do. I'll have to give them a try.

Hope you enjoy them.

(if we don't stop posting on each others' threads we're never going to get off of LT this morning lol)

...I thought you meant for BREAKFAST...never, ever? Wow. I love radishes. Nice and peppery, as Reba points out, though the French breakfast radishes aren't at all strongly radish-y. They're a lovely, crisp, earthy-sweet way to start a day.

General radish rule: The longer, the sweeter.

Reba - True. SO true!

Richard - Right. Never. Guess I need to get out more. I love peppery, so I am guessing that I will enjoy radishes. And thanks for sharing the general radish rule!!

Oh Good, I am so glad to see that Cee is liking Stranger in a Strange Land. I am always shocked when people haven't read my favorite books :P There are certain can't miss books that live n the list in my brain.. Stranger in a Strange Land, Mists of Avalon, The Sparrow, Night Circus, Dovekeepers, and of course more.

Sorry about missing the deadline.. fingers crossed for next year, I think she would have a great time with it!

Radishes: I stopped buying them when I read somewhere that there is exactly 0 nutritional value in a radish. Like black coffee, although, lack of nutritional value does not mean they are not appetizing. I may have to go hunting for some French breakfast radishes, they look good.

>237 maggie1944: Well, not quite:

The good: This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Folate and Potassium.

The bad: A large portion of the calories in this food come from sugars.

Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2606/2#ixz...

Kathleen - She didn't miss the deadline; she is just too young. You have to be the age of majority where you live, which would be 18 for Georgia. And the only book I have read out of your list of favorites is Night Circus - so you've given me some great ideas for next year!!

Karen - I'm so shallow about these things! It's all about taste for me, so if I like it, I'll eat it even if there is 0 nutritional value. The trick for me is to balance those types of foods with ones that are also very good for you.

Richard - You are a font of information, BigDaddy!! And naturally occurring sugars are so much better for you than...sugar...right?

:( Sorry, That's what I meant... missed being old enough...

Sugars are a concern mainly for diabetics in this context. For non-daibetics, it's a non-worry because the amount of sugar we're talking about in a serving, about 100 grams or 2-3 radishes, is negligible for us.

Sis - Whoops! My bad. If they do it again next year, she would for sure enter. Crossing my fingers.

Richard - Oh, I see. I should have thought about that. My Dad was a diabetic.

If you are reading a 500 page Stranger in a Strange Land, you are either reading the large print version or the later author's cut. The original Stranger was more in the 350 - 400 page range.

Hi Mamie! Happy Friday! Chilly here but dry. I like your spooky list. Some nice gems on there. I am steadily plugging away at 2666 and thinking about all the other books I want to read.

Morphy - You are right "The original Stranger was more in the 350 - 400 page range."

According to Heinlein's widow, the edition I am reading is the true original - which was unpublished at the time and uncut. The original editors required a cut of words from 220,000 to 160,000 for the first publication. When Virginia (the widow) renewed the copyright on the book (after Heinlein's death) she compared the uncut and cut versions. She, Heinlein's agent, editors, and senior officials at the publishing house agreed the uncut version was different and better.
I requested Stranger in a Strange Land from the library and , of course, got the longer version. I'll never know if it is better or not. But I do know it is longer! That's ok. I'm liking it a lot.

Hi Mamie!

>245 -Cee-: Cee, the longer version is a more substantial treatment of Heinlein's subject...the value of individuality...than the dimmed-down and dullness-added shorter version.

I hope you'll enjoy it.

I think that is just cool - his longer, more authentic, version is now being published and read. Good for all of us!

Morphy, Cee, Richard, Karen - LOL! OK, so am I the only one who hasn't read Stranger in a Strange Land?

Mark - Hello there! SO glad you like my spooky list! Wishing you happy reading and good luck with finishing up that doorstopper you are currently working on. Rainy and 70 here - just so you know.

Richard - Hello!

Happy weekend! The carrot cake in the background is my Saturday breakfast. Knowing that you don't like cakes and sweets, I've brought you a plain, unbuttered, no-jam tough and leathery two-day-old croissant, with some cold coffee.

...wait...why am I mad at you again...hmmm I've forgotten. Maybe I'm not? Was I supposed to be? Most bewildering.

Richard - You are NOT mad at me. You adore me. I'll whip up a little something for both of us, shall I?

OOOOOOOooooooooooooooohhhhhh yeah, that's right, I'm NOT mad at you! Someone else smacked me with a book bullet and you got the heat. So sorry, sweetness. Any boysenberry syrup around? I'm feeling fruity.

Stop laughing.

Mamie - Wait! Is that bacon, ham AND sausage!??? What a revolutionary idea :-) I'm all over that one...

Richard - Comin' right up, BigDaddy!



Cee - Yeppers! If you're going to have Big Breakfast, no sense in holding back! Sit down, dear, I'll fetch you a plate.

YUM! Please pass the syrup when you are done, RD :-)

*smacksmackyum* here ya go, got the butter over there?

Way way behind Mamie but enjoyed trying to catch up with a week in a single reading.

Lucy has something in common with you I see........delightful looking daughters.

Creepy books?
Salem's Lot
The Historian

Have a lovely weekend. xx

*grins at Cee and Richard*

Paul - Thanks for checking in over here! I know exactly how trying to catch up feels! And thank you for the lovely compliment to Lucy's and my daughters! And more creepy book suggestions - hooray for that! Wishing you a lovely weekend as well, dear. xx

Book #128: Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (3.5 stars)

Well, Joe was right. This third installment in the Dresden Files is not quite as good as the previous two. Still loads of fun especially if you are listening to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous James Marsters.