KatieKrug Clears the Shelves - Part Ten

CURRENTLY READING


A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell (year-long group read of the complete quartet)
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

Books Completed: 78
Books Read Off My Shelves/Kindle: 45

Reading "Intentions" for 2013
For 2013, I will be concentrating on reading off my shelves and Kindle, where, between the two, I currently have more than 2200 unread books. I will still acquire books, I’m sure, and I am making no promises about reading more than I buy. Rather, I just want to focus on clearing out some of the backlog.

I am not doing a formal category challenge this year, but I would like to read 13 books from each of these:

1. Books on my Kindle (13/13)
2. Europas, NYRBs, Viragos (2/13)
3. Hardcovers off my shelves (3/13)
4. Books from the built-ins in our family room (nonfiction, classics, non-Western literature) (4/13)
5. Books from series I have started; basically, trying to get a bit more caught up! (8/13)

Wish me luck...

BOOKS READ in NOVEMBER
75. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
76. Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope
77. Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple
78. These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

BOOKS READ in OCTOBER
67. The Parent Pact by Laurie Kellogg
68. A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer
69. Defending Jacob by William Landay
70. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
71. Books Do Furnish a Room by Anthony Powell
72. Wool by Hugh Howey
73. The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore
74. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

BOOKS READ in SEPTEMBER
63. The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn
64. Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb
65. The Military Philosophers by Anthony Powell
66. Countdown City by Ben H. Winters

BOOKS READ in AUGUST
56. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
57. A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths
58. This Town by Mark Leibovich
59. My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
60. Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie
61. The Soldier's Art by Anthony Powell
62. The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg

BOOKS READ in JULY
55. A Marriage of Convenience by Doreen Owens Malek
54. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
53. They Eat Puppies, Don't They? by Christopher Buckley
52. The Valley of Bones by Anthony Powell
51. Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
50. The Dinner by Herman Koch

BOOKS READ in JUNE
40. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
41. Gossip by Beth Gutcheon
42. Cover Her Face by P.D. James
43. The Kindly Ones by Anthony Powell
44. Moneyball by Michael Lewis
45. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
46. Star Island by Carl Hiaasen
47. A Small Fortune by Audrey Braun
48. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
49. Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town by Nick Reding

BOOKS READ in MAY
29. Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie
30. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
31. A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks
32. Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb
33. At Lady Molly's by Anthony Powell
34. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
35. When the Dead Cry Out by Hilary Bonner
36. Casanova's Chinese Restaurant by Anthony Powell
37. Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
38. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
39. Hikikomori and the Rental Sister by Jeff Backhaus

BOOKS READ in APRIL
23. Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb
24. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
25. Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood
26. Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden
27. Old Filth by Jane Gardam
28. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

BOOKS READ in MARCH
15. Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliott
16. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
17. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
18. The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James
19. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
20. The Acceptance World by Anthony Powell (A Dance to the Music of Time, 1st Movement)
21. Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda
22. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

BOOKS READ in FEBRUARY
8. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
9. Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb
10. Round Mountain by Castle Freeman, Jr.
11. America Again by Stephen Colbert
12. Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
13. A Buyer's Market by Anthony Powell (A Dance to the Music of Time, 1st Movement)
14. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

BOOKS READ in JANUARY
1. A Question of Upbringing by Anthony Powell (A Dance to the Music of Time, 1st Movement)
2. Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
3. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
4. Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie
5. Scorecasting by Tobias Moskowitz and L. Jon Wertheim
6. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
7. Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

Amen, Sister Jane!

You said it! Amen, Sister Jane! Happy new thread, Katie!! (And I can't see your thread topper - just letting you know)

Hi Mamie!

Stupid thread topper - I can see it on my laptop but not on my iPad. I have no idea how to fix it...

Good morning Katie. There is no place like home! I'll add my Amen to Sister Jane too.

#7 Amen indeed!

Re the thread topper - is it because you've used the URL for the HTML file rather than the jpeg? (if any of that computer gobbledygook makes sense)

Hi Roberta! Glad to have you aboard :)

_____________________________________________

Yesterday, I went down to Dallas Market Hall where Half Price Books was having a massive clearance sale. Everything was $2 or less. I skipped the CDs and DVDs and non-fiction and spent a very nice couple of hours browsing the dozen or so fiction tables. It was almost overwhelming having that many books available so little money. I was very discriminating in what I picked up though, and came away with just a bag full:

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Against Gravity by Farnoosh Moshiri
Loon Lake by E.L. Doctorow
Bury Me Deep by Megan Abbott
Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
Wild Thorns by Sahar Khalifeh
The Cry of the Dove by Fadia Faqir
Talk Talk by T.C. Boyle
The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique Roffey
The Nature of Monsters by Clare Clark
Another World by Pat Barket (turned out I already had this one :-P )
Waterland by Graham Swift (I knew I already had a copy of this but I liked the newer edition better!)

Last night, I went out with friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. We went to one of my favorite places, though none of the others had been there before. I guess it's a gastro-pub? Lots of beer selections (like 4 menu pages worth!), good cocktails and really interesting food, most of which is done as share plates. Some of our selections included "bacon lollipops" which was fried pork belly with funnel cake and maple syrup, rabbit pot pie, zucchini chips, sauteed asparagus with lemon, shrimp and jalapeno grits, steak tartare, riccotta pasta balls in brown butter, hummus and pita, seared ahi with avocado, and that's all I can recall but there was definitely more food than that. We just kept ordering more!

This restaurant is the first place I ever had a Pimms cup - it used to be on the cocktail menu but they've taken it off. Sometimes if you ask nicely, they will make you one, but unfortunately last night, there wasn't a bottle of Pimms to be found :( I had been looking forward to introducing my friends to it but that will have to wait...

Hi Heather - you posted while I was composing the above :)

I will check on the link and see if I can figure it out....

ETA: the link ends in .jpg so I'm assuming that should be right?

#12 "I was very discriminating in what I picked up though, and came away with just a bag full" *grin*

Good haul! I have The White Woman on the Green Bicycle but still haven't read it.

When I met Darryl in London he had a Pimm's cup in your honour - I obviously hadn't been paying enough attention to your thread because I had no idea what it was.

#13 You're right. When I copy and paste the jpg url into my browser window it takes me to this page: http://best-wallpaper.net/Painting-autumn-wind_wallpapers.html rather than just opening the jpg which is what I'd expect. I don't know why it's doing that but I was wondering if that's why the image isn't showing up? Doesn't help much though.

The only thing I can think is that the website is redirecting the jpg to the html page (presumably to stop people posting the image on webpages although why?) which is making the image go funky. You may need to download it and then upload to your member gallery and then link to it from there. Very odd.

</techno babble>

Hi Katie - nice book haul and sounds like a nice evening too. Sorry about the Pimm's. (and I can't see the topper either).

Happy weekend.

No Pimms! Oh, the horror! So sorry about that - don't you just hate when you get all set for something in particular, and then you can't have it?! So disappointing! Your book haul, on the other hand, is delightful - go, you! And the food sounds like it was incredible.

Hi Katie. Sounds like a great meal. Too bad about the Pimm's Cup, or lack of it. I need to try it myself!

Great book haul!

Hi Katie - Happy New Thread. I always love new threads because I can glance through the books people have read through the year. You're almost to 75. You've read some great books this year.

I applaud your restraint at the book sale.

#7 Amen, sister Jane That about says it all, I think! Happy new thread, Katie : ).

Happy new thread, Katie! What a great collection of books from the clearance sale. I was in a branch of Daunt Books yesterday, looking for something set in Greece. Thanks to our tour of the Marylebone branch, I knew where to look!

I'm falling behind on my own thread! And the next few weeks at work are going to be crazy, so I had better get caught up while I can!

--------------------------------

Heather - Considering how many books there were, one bag was pretty good! Darryl mentioned the Pimms in my honor - I was very touched :) As for that darn thread topper, I can see it fine on my work computer, so I'm chalking it up to techno vagaries that I can't understand...

Reba - Thanks. I had a pretty good weekend - good mix of relaxing and getting out for some fun. Grumblegrumblestupidinternetimagegrumblegrumble. It's a lovely autumn seen with vibrant colors - you'll just have to use your imagination!

Mamie - I was bitterly disappointed but got over it reasonably quickly, thanks to their extensive cocktail menu :)

Anne - Pimms is nectar of the gods as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately, when restaurants have it over here, they often make it with Sprite or 7-Up and it's way too sweet. I prefer to use those Italian sodas you can find at places like Whole Foods - carbonated and citrus-y without being overly sweet.

Beth - I hope I have a good one for #75!

Nancy - Thanks!!

Susan - Jealous!!

Public Service Message:

Just a reminder to my lady friends and lurkers as Breast Cancer Awareness Month nears its end... I probably would not have lost my mother when I was just 21 if she had gotten regular mammograms. She would have seen me graduate from college, she would have met the love of my life, and she would have been by my side on my wedding day. 54 is too young to die, especially from an increasingly treatable and curable disease. Check with your doctor and follow her advice on when you need to be checked, but for goodness sake, take care of your boobs!

I had my first mammogram today, and am glad to report it was not nearly as awful as I had expected :)

Nice new thread, Katie! Is there supposed to be an image at the start of message 1? I can't see it.

Your book haul was excellent, and your meal sounds almost great, except for the lack of a Pimm's cup, of course.

I look forward to meeting you in the future, on either side of the pond. Regardless of where we meet, we'll have to order a pitcher of Pimm's.



Well done on promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I'm very sorry to hear about your mother's premature death from breast cancer. Delta Air Lines is a sponsor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and on the flight back to Atlanta on Monday it collected donations from the passengers in honor of its campaign, which has raised over $6 million in the past 5-7 years (I gave £10, since my American currency was in my shoulder bag in the overhead space).

HI Katie,
Nice book haul at Half Price Books!

I can't see your thread-topper and I don't understand the gobbledegook, so I can't even pretend to help. But it matters not, your thread is always lovely regardless of whether it is topless. ;-)

Thanks, Darryl! Gosh, that Pimms looks good. I've been enjoying seeing your most recent trip to London through the photos on your FB. What fun!

Ha ha, Ellen! I assure you it is not topless :-)

You pix is stilll not showing and two of your book covers (the two on the right)..... Hmm.

Glad you found the mammo not too bad. It has become somehow a 'rite of passage.' I feel that most clinics make an effort to create a calm and supportive environment and that piece of it helps.

I swear, I am going pic-less next time!!

Okay, I changed my top picture - it shows up on my iPad and my laptop so that should work. Of course, on the iPad, the proportions are wrong but it's the best I can do :)

Currently enjoying the audio of The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen, though it is the weakest of her books, I think. And I am reading The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore, a post-WWII ghost story. I think Dunmore is under-appreciated as a writer. I've read a couple of her books and have several others on my shelf, that I look forward to getting to!

I can see it now and it's really beautiful!!

Hi Katie - Beautiful picture to top your thread. Nice PSA about breast cancer. I'm so sorry about your mom.

Picture's working! I've heard very good things about Helen Dunmore - have The Siege to read at some point...

Thanks, Reba. It's not the same picture, but it'll do :)

Thank you, Beth.

Heather, I also have The Siege to read. I've read Burning Bright which was wonderfully tension-filled and creepy and A Spell of Winter which I don't remember a lot about, except that it had a wonderful sense of atmosphere...

____________________________

The hubs and I are finally going to see Gravity tonight! Hope it lives up to the hype!

Hi Katie - hope all's well there. I've been following your travel tales - a busy life. I've had two recent top ten reads: The Hired Man and Let Him Go - just in case you don't have enough on your pile.
I agree with you about Helen Dunmore, at least the two I've read so far: The Siege and The Betrayal.
Fall has been great here in New York - trees are in full color this weekend and the temps have been perfect. Hard to believe that a year ago we were struggling through a hurricane.
Enjoy the weekend!

Good to see you, Vivian. I've been doing a lot of lurking on your thread but finally commented earlier!

I did just snap up the Watson for my Kindle. I look forward to The Hired Man, too. I still have not read her The Memory of Love though I bought it in hardcover when it was first published... Too many books...

We've been having some nice (for Texas) weather here - rather cool (low 70s) and crisp. But no lovely foliage, unfortunately...

Yesterday, I spent my lunch hour at Half Price Books. I was thrilled to find a mint condition copy of The Signature of All Things which I know Bonnie and others have loved recently. It's a gorgeous book, from the dust jacket, to the deckle-edge pages, to the full-color end papers. And it was only $13!

_____________________________

Gravity was very good and a little more "action-packed" (for lack of a better word) than I anticipated. I thought most of the 90 minutes would be Sandra Bullock and George Clooney just floating out in space together, but other things happened. It was neat to see it in 3-D but I'm not convinced it was as necessary to my enjoyment as some reviews and comments from others suggested.

______________________________

This afternoon I'm taking the hubs (whose knowledge and experience of Shakespeare is minimal) to see the NT Live production (?) of Macbeth with Kenneth Branaugh and Alex Kingston - both actors I love in one of my favorite plays. My thanks to Darryl and others whose positive experience with these showings encouraged me to try it. We are lucky to have TWO theaters around here (one in Dallas and one in a close suburb) that show the NT performances. I'm curious how seeing a filmed play on a big screen will work but yay me for trying something new!

We haven't been to filmed live plays yet but have gone to Met and the Movies several times. I was hesitant at first. I thought "it won't be the same," and it isn't, but it has its own advantages and I like it. Interested to hear what you think of the theater experience.

OH, I will be waiting to hear how you like the Shakespeare - I wondered about those productions. And I LOVE Macbeth! How fun! Also good to hear that Gravity holds up - I am wanting to see that, but think I will skip the 3D.

LOVE that thread topper! At least we can enjoy virtual seasonal foliage! It has been cooler down here in Georgia, too, which I have been loving. Supposed to be back in the 80s by Thursday. Ugh.

I have not read any Helen Dunmore, but I have The Siege on my shelves.

Reba, I will be sure to report back!

Hi Mamie - Macbeth is one of my favorite Shakespeares. I also love King Lear. Definitely go to see Gravity in the theater - I think you need the big screen but the 3-D was just meh. I have The Siege to read, too! I've spent some time thinking over my reading "goals" for next year, and no matter what I do, I know I won't get to everything I want to. It's so frustrating in a way!

The hubs and I are going to see that very same broadcast of Macbeth on Nov. 10 -- can't wait! Our first NTLive experience was Othello, earlier this month, and it was great. Like you, I learned about this from Darryl -- yay LT!

I missed seeing the NT Live broadcast of Macbeth in London this summer; it was the live showing of that evening's performance in Manchester, but I ended up seeing something else, possibly Othello on stage at the NT. My local theater (Midtown Arts Cinema) is showing the rebroadcast of Othello this weekend, and hopefully it will show Macbeth and Frankenstein later this year.

I'm glad that you enjoyed Othello, Laura!

Hi Katie - I'll be anxious to hear about the Macbeth performance. I love the play, but I've never seen a performance that, in my opinion, does justice to it. One director conversation that I heard explained that it's a difficult play to stage -- which might explain that. I hope you love it.

The Siege is great.

I hope you and the hubs both enjoy Macbeth - it's also one of my favourites although I didn't manage to see the NT production. I have seen two of their productions via the live broadcasts (Othello and Hamlet) and they were both excellent. I also got hooked on these thanks to Darryl :-)

Laura, I think you will enjoy Macbeth! It was very well done, IMO.

Darryl - it was great. And the same theater is also showing Othello and Frankenstein, but I'm not sure I'll get to see both. I would especially like to see Frankenstein, as I've seen lots of different productions of Othello, and it's not a favorite of mine.

Beth, this production was done in a de-consecrated church in Manchester. Most of the action took place between the stalls (?), so it must have been a really interesting experience for the audience as they were right there. It made really interesting use of the space, including a balcony and the front of the church (wish I remembered the names of the various parts of a church - maybe the nave?). The floor was covered in dirt/mud which gave a suitably earthy element to the whole thing. It was really good.

Heather, I'm sorry you missed seeing Macbeth, but I'm sure the two you did see were excellent! I don't think they showed Hamlet around here, which is fine. I think it's kind of over-rated (says she who really has no business commenting!).

Hi Katie!

#34 - I second extreme enthusiasm for The Hired Man. It will definitely be in my top five (probably two) of the year. I'm looking forward to reading The Memory of Love as well and can't quite believe I haven't yet.

Kerri - Between you and Darryl and Suz and Vivian, I really must get to The Hired Man sooner rather than later. I try to resist buying Kindle books over $10, but I might make an exception... BTW, it's great to see you back among the threads!

Sorry to read about your mom, Katie. And thanks for the reminder.

Thanks, Joanne :)

__________________________________

I finally won another ER book - Wake: A Novel by Anna Hope about the effects of WWI on three women. I had won an ER almost every month since I joined, and then the well dried up, probably because I got behind in reviewing them. This one looks very good.

And has anyone heard about the new Amazon program - Kindle Matchbook? So far, only 13 of my books qualify but they say they will be adding more. I know it's probably a way to transition us totally away from print books (which I am against), but I would find it really useful, as I like reading certain books (like big ones!) on my Kindle, especially when traveling. The program basically offers you a cheap Kindle version of printed books you have bought from Amazon in the past. Not every book is available yet, but I'll be keeping my eye on it.

>47 katiekrug:: I hadn't heard about Kindle Matchbook yet, Katie, but it sounds interesting. Off to investigate!

I'll be interested to see how it develops. I'm very intrigued, but a little suspicious, too!

Hi Katie! I love the thread topper!

Nice book haul way up there in post #12...

Sorry to hear about your mom's premature passing due to breast cancer. A very somber reminder to do those mammograms, no matter how awful they are! I have had my own scare prior to the *recommended* age of 40 so I do know firsthand how important they are.

Ooh, I hadn't heard of Kindle Matchbox either. I agree that it sounds both intriguing and suspicious. I'm still waiting for my darn ebook settlement. Isn't that supposed to happen soon?

I'm with Tina on mammograms. So important!!

Kerri - I think early in 2014? Suz is the expert on that settlement. I'm hoping for a little something back...

Tina and Laura - thanks for your words of support. I feel very strongly about this. I teared up getting my mammo thinking of my mom...

Which leads to the news I know everyone has been waiting for - my "girls" are fine with no areas of concern :-)

Good news on the mammogram, Katie. We all need to be reminded of that most important yearly test. A good technician makes all the difference. I've had all kinds of experiences over the years.

Wow, a clearance sale at Half Price Books. I wish I had been there. The store in KC is a decent one but quite a long drive for me even from my daughter's house in south Overland Park, KS. That's probably a good thing as I have plenty of unread books around here.

We saw Gravity in 3-d and it was all right, I would have begged not to, but never thought of it and the spousal unit had gotten tickets, etc. But it was fine.

Donna, I have plenty of unread books at home, too. I think my book buying compulsion has abated a bit. Though I do find myself buying more Kindle books than I used to...

Lucy, I'd never seen a film in 3-D except for something at the Air & Space Museum in DC. The format was fine, I'm just not sure it was worth the extra cost!

Wool by Hugh Howey
Completed 22 October 2013
4 stars

A very good post-apocalyptic dystopian story originally self-published in five parts as e-books. This is obvious in the somewhat disjointed nature of the first parts of the story, but it all comes together as a complete picture of a world and society falling apart under the weight of questions and truths. I've already purchased the second full book, Shift.



The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore
Completed 27 October 2013
3.5 stars

This was a fine ghost story about a woman in the 1950s in England visited by a dead airman from World War II. It's not scary or anything, and I don't think it was as good as some of Dunmore's other works that I've read, though there were passages of lovely writing and images that I couldn't help but read over again.

"She was at the top of an endless slide, clinging to the rail, looking down at the fall. He was a stranger, but she knew him. Every word he spoke and every shadow of his expression fitted patterns she had never seen before but which had always been there, beneath the skin of her life." (page 71)



The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Completed 31 October 2013
3 stars

Definitely not Allen's best, this novel is her signature blend of quirky Southern characters and charm, gentle magical realism, and modern angst. It just didn't come together for me. Part of my problem may have been the narrator whose Southern accent was not very good. When I listened to another Allen title - Garden Spells - the narrator made the book with her genuine accent and instinctive feel for the rhythms of Southern speech. Still, I am looking forward to Allen's next book - Lost Lake is due in January 2014.

Dunmore is a fine writer, isn't she? Excellent quote, Katie, even if this one wasn't as good as The Siege.

Hi Katie - Nice reviews. I agree about the Allen book. I'll have to check out her new one next year.

Katie - Enjoying catching up with your reading and buying and watching (the Scottish play).

Isn't it amazing how rarely we buy the same book twice. My memory is pretty good at realising what I have already on the shelves although the Kindle is making the process more difficult as I have so many still uncatalogued there.

Have a lovely weekend.

Nancy, I do like Dunmore's writing and am looking forward to reading The Siege. There seems general agreement that it's her best.

Beth, I am secretly hoping Sarah Addison Allen will be one of the authors at the Asheville Booktopia next August. I really want to go and that would be icing on the cake!

Hi Paul, good to see you back posting. Yes, I only rarely purchase a duplicate book. And I find it very annoying when I do!

It's been a busy weekend with lots of errands and a few social engagements. I should be packing right now for my trip to Calgary, but I'm enjoying having a moment of inactivity (well, except for checking LT!).

As for books, I'm enjoying (bad word for it - appreciating?) Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, about life in North Korea. Fascinating stuff. And very disturbing. I'm also alternating between reading and listening to Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope which is my first foray into his work. I am liking it very much so far.

So that's that. Next check-in will be from c-c-cold Calgary!

From a former Calgarian, have a safe trip and stay warm, Katie! ;-)

Thanks, Lori. My coat is packed on top of my suitcase so I can easily pull it out before leaving the airport :-)

Have a good trip. I've been to Calgary twice for very short visits, but really like what I've seen. I need to go back and stay longer.

delurking to say hello Katie!

Oh, I hope you will love Can You Forgive Her? as much as I did, Katie. Enjoy Calgary.

Hi Reba - I've only ever been here briefly, as well. Looking forward to seeing a bit more this time around...

Hi Roberta! Always glad to have you here - lurking or not :)

Thanks, Nancy. So far, so good with CYFH?...

Uneventful trip up here. I was delighted to see the snow and didn't care that it was only 28F outside :)

I've spent the last couple of hours doing work in my room but will be off to bed soon, as tomorrow is an early start. Thank God for the Starbucks in the lobby!

Hi Katie - Snow? Enjoy it?

Neither I or my spousal unit could get into Wool - maybe it was the disjointedness - I don't know what - I kept thinking I should be liking it better, but then I just thought, let it go.

We've seen flakes and what might be called 'a dusting' - but that's all so far. There was a bit of ice on our pond yesterday though after it went down to 15 F.

I woke up to our first dusting of snow this morning. That's early for us. It's very wet and won't stay, but I love the first snowfall, it's so pretty. (I'll be singing a different tune in January, of course, LOL).

Beth, it's not a lot of snow and it was already on the ground when I got here, so I am enjoying it. Such a novelty!

Lucy, it took me a while to get into Wool and I can definitely see it not being for everyone, even usual fans of that kind of dystopian story. 15F, huh? Brrrrr! It's been that cold here, but my hotel is connected to the Convention Center, so I haven't been outside yet :)

Nancy, I'll remind you of your fondness for the first snow in January - LOL!

Well, I hope you're having a lovely time in Calgary! Is Alberta the Texas of Canada? That's what I've heard. And, honestly, I don't really know what that means.

#57 - It's helpful to know The Greatcoat is a ghost story, as I think I had it on a wishlist somewhere (or maybe it was another one of her novels) and didn't realize this.

"Is Alberta the Texas of Canada? That's what I've heard. And, honestly, I don't really know what that means. " LOL!!

I have The Greatcoat on my WL, too, and I remember that I put it there last year when Deb (vancouverdeb) recommended it. At the time it wasn't available here in the US, so good to know that I can actually purchase it now. They even have it for Kindle. I'm thinking it's something I would like although I have yet to read anything by that author. I do have The Siege waiting patiently on the shelves, so perhaps I should read that first.

And snow...*sigh*...I miss snow, although I don't want to have to shovel it or be inconvenienced by it.

Kerri, it kind of is the Texas of Canada, though I'm sure Albertans would hate that designation. I am basing it solely on the fact that they have lots of cattle and oil :)

Mamie - I hope you like The Greatcoat when you get to it! I'm glad I only borrowed it from the library but I'm not a big ghost story person, so....

ETA: This part of Canada also has something of a "cowboy culture" - hats and boots and all - which may help explain the comparisons to Texas.

That is what I was thinking that Alberta has a lot of cowboys so that it would fit in with Texas but then I would think so does Montana, Wyoming etc… Is there lots of big hair up there?

Katie, with luck you may be able to experience the beauty of snow in Calgary without the cold and inconvenience. How cool that your hotel is connected to the convention center where your meetings take place. I have read the first few short chapters in Can You Forgive Her. I also have it on audio and may follow you with both reading and listening. You are in for a treat with your first Trollope!

Roberta - I have not seen a lot of big hair so that may disprove the entire hypothesis!

Donna, I am enjoying the Trollope! I'm trying to get into the groove with the group read thread and participate, but sometimes I think I'm too much of a lone wolf ;-)

Hi Katie- I am glad you liked Wool. I did too and have the next 2 books, saved on audio. I need to try and bookhorn in the 2nd.
Glad to see you are reading Nothing to Envy. It was one of my top reads from a couple years ago. Have you read the Orphan Master's Son? It makes a terrific companion piece.

it kind of is the Texas of Canada, though I'm sure Albertans would hate that designation.

Nah, its' been known as the "Texas of the North" for decades and its one of those monikers that won't disappear any time soon. One thing I do like about Calgary's downtown is the +15 walkway system. I remember relying on that system when I worked downtown to as a way to get from one area of downtown to another during the wet and winter months without needing my jacket or getting my feet wet. Definitely handy! ;-)

Glad to see the trip is going well.

Hi Katie, glad to see you are enjoying a small part of our scenic country. Have you been able to see the mountains at all? I love driving out of Calgary and seeing the Rockies rise up in front of the car.

Snow! And cowboys? I had no idea there was a cowboy area in Canada - now I know!

#79 Do come join the group read thread on Can You Forgive Her? I'm a bit worried I'm chattering too much and scaring everyone else away... I'm probably reading the book too fast (for the group read) but I am really enjoying it so not wanting to put it down and also conscious that I have to start The Luminaries and get it back to the library in a couple of weeks.

Hi Mark! Nice to see you over here. Nothing to Envy was very eye-opening. Obviously, we know things are bad in North Korea but wow. Fascinating. I have The Orphan Master's Son on my TBR shelves, and I would like to get to it soonish. I read Escape from Camp 14 earlier this year - I think you read that one, too? After this, I'm going to know all I want to about that particular country!

Lori, the +15 is fantastic. It's only 30F right now and I appreciated it. I can't imagine what the "real" winters would be like without it!

Judy, I haven't seen much of anything this trip, but I did go out to Kananaskis a few years ago, so I know exactly what you mean about leaving the city and seeing them rise up before you. So gorgeous...

Heather, I try to make my thread as educational as possible ;-) I am following the group read of Can You Forgive Her?. I haven't made much progress in the book (I'm on chapter 11, I think) but am enjoying it, and enjoying your comments, as well as the others. I hope when I can devote some more concentrated time to it, I will have something to contribute!

Katie, I am also surprised to learn there are cowboys in Canada! I must have missed the Canadian Western romance novels, or perhaps there is a whole new unexplored genre there :-) I hope you keep warm. And enjoy Can You Forgive Her?! I want to reread the series, but keep taking stuff out of the library. It's like a sickness...

Susan - it sounds like you have some research to do to find out about Canadian Western romances! Surely, they exist? I am enjoying my first Trollope, though so far all the characters are incredibly annoying. But in a fun kind of way..

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Completed 4 November 2013
4 stars

"North Korea invites parody. We laugh at the excesses of the propaganda and the gullibility of the people. But consider that their indoctrination began in infancy, during the fourteen-hour days spent in factory day-care centers; that for the subsequent fifty years, every song, film, newspaper article, and billboard was designed to deify Kim Il-sung; that the country was hermetically sealed to keep out anything that might cast doubt on Kim Il-sung's divinity. Who could possibly resist?" (page 45)

An eye-opening and disturbing account of life in North Korea, as lived by several people who eventually escaped. The everyday details of people trying to eke out an existence, especially during the famine of the 1990s, are horrifying and heartbreaking. While I found parts of the book a bit repetitive, overall it tells a compelling story, and an important one. Demick and her several sources give voice to an entire country locked away from the world.

Excellent review of Nothing to Envy, Katie. I've had this one on my list for a while.

Love the cowboy-Canada remarks : ). To my knowledge, we don't have western romance novels per se, but I highly recommend Vanderhaeghe's The Last Crossing for those wanting to adventure on Canada's dusty trails.

>85 susanj67:, 86 I'm just going to leave this here . . . . .

Nancy - I will look for The Last Crossing - sounds good. Susan, make a note :-)

Nora - Mwahahahaha! I forgot how much fun we had with that...

It was very cold today and when I finally ventured out of my hotel room to get something to eat, I saw that there had been quite a bit of snowfall. It's been grey, with that flat winter light all day. A good day for reading and getting some extra work done, while watching football of course :)

I head back to Dallas on Wednesday and have already been notified that my upgrade request came through, so that's a nice little bonus and something to look forward to (though going home is fantastic enough on its own!). I'll be home for a few days before leaving again for a conference planning meeting in Spokane, followed by a short getaway in Seattle with my husband (much deserved, if I do say so myself!).

I have been reading a lot of Can You Forgive Her? but it feels like I'm not making much progress. I am enjoying it but it's certainly not a fast read!

"Upgrade" -- one of the nicest words in the travelling vocabulary

Amen, sister.

Katie, I listened to Simon Vance narrate all of Trollope's Palliser novels. He is FABULOUS! I found some of his audiobooks at my library, but they are also all available from Audible.

Nancy, I can't remember who is narrating my version but I know it's not Simon Vance. Regardless, I am looking forward to getting back home so that I have some drive time to help me make progress in the book! I think switching between the audio and the print versions will help me feel like it's going a bit faster...

Catching up here... The only one of Dunmore's novels that I have liked as well as her Leningrad tomes was Zennor in Darkness. Definitely worth trying, IMHO.

I accidentally turned on my audiobook in the quiet car of the Amtrak train on Friday night and nearly got lynched. It was a genuine oversight -- I thought that having headphones plugged in to my Kindle Fire meant that all the audiobooks automatically got routed that way as well as music. Clearly not...

Let's say that Alberta is the closest Canadians come to having a Texas. Calgary is a boomtown that goes through economic cycles based on what's happening to oil, with its first big boom coming in the mid-1970s. It's in the midst of another one now, although nothing to what is happening further north at Fort McMurray. That said, while Albertans have sometimes had big chips on their shoulder ("Let those Eastern bastards freeze in the dark," the late premier Peter Lougheed once pronounced), it's usually for good reason. For a long time in the 70s and 80s and into the 90s, they were under-represented in the Canadian parliament -- or rather, their views were. That's because even when the Conservatives held power, if I recall correctly, there were gripes about under-representation in Cabinet and the need to pacify Quebec with special treatment.

IMO, the best part of Calgary is that it's only a two hour drive from Banff. In summer, home to a great arts festival; in winter, to great skiing. In all seasons, home to a fabulous national park.

I think I have Zennor in Darkness on my TBR shelves - will have to check when I'm home. I also would have thought if your earbuds were plugged in, the audio would be routed through them. I hate when I do things like that because I hate having people - even total strangers - think I'm that dumb or inconsiderate.... Calgary is fine, though after a week, I am ready to go home! I have been to Banff once. we had a Board meeting in Kananaskis and went into Banff for one of the social outings. This was in early June. Very pretty. Calgary is definitely bustling but the shale gas boom in the States is hurting some Canadian firms a lot. Encana (I think it's Encana) just announced they'll be laying off a bunch of people - I think the headline I saw said one in five employees were getting the ax. It's surprising because the rest of the industry is booming but the US increase in production has really hurt Canada's exports.

Yes, that and the delay in approving the Keystone expansion. I sometimes wonder about how ill-informed some of that debate is. The Keystone question isn't going to stop the production, for heaven's sake, or its transportation via pipeline or even rail car.

Indeed. I think people here "oil" and freak out. Ill-informed is a nice way to put it :) It's also the victim of blatant political jockeying, IMO.

I believe Canada is wanting/planning to build a new west-east pipeline - I've seen some commercials advocating for it. I wonder if they'll have an easier time of it.

All caught up Katie and will try to maintain---oh I have Zennor in Darkness on my shelves so good for me. I'm reading Can You Forgive Her? too but I just started this morning so I'm only on Chapter 13. Trollope has been one of the best things to happen to me this year (reading wise that is), along with the Powell books and Barbara Pym. Gotta love LT. I've never been to Calgary but I can attest to it's beautiful scenery. My son was asked to present his Master's thesis to a Mechanical Engineering conference several years ago and went through the Canadian Rockies. The pictures were breath taking.

>99 katiekrug: - OMG - so embarrassed by the typo in my message. "Here" instead of "hear." I am not going to change it - every time I see it will be like a punishment.

_____________________________-

Hi Bonnie! I'm hoping to explore more Trollope. He was a favorite of my mom's and I've always meant to get around to reading him! I have several Pyms on my shelf but have yet to pick one up. Bad Katie. And you are right - the scenery here is breathtaking. But I'm still ready to go home!

In other news, plans are afoot for an LT meet-up next week... It will be my FIFTH one! Fingers crossed Ellen can make it!

I am getting worse and worse about homonyms. I recognize them and know which word to use, but my brain has started substituting them unconsciously. I really believe it's part of aging... Oh, and I had my first Alzheimer's stress dream last night. I had taken the Megabus to NYC and left my suitcase in the luggage compartment. But when I got to my friend's house, I couldn't remember the name of the bus company, and all I could say was, "it was that giant purple double-decker bus line..." Oddly enough, in the dream, I remembered that they were owned by Dattco, at which point I woke up.

#102 - Oh, my! Enjoy Seattle and please take photos!

#102 - Katie, I hope to make it to our meetup. I love it when people come to Seattle. :-)

And I really must get around to reading Nothing to Envy. It's been on my TBR shelves forever.

Katie, typos happen! I once sent a letter to a few hundred students telling them how many suitcases they could bring...only I hit the "h" instead of the "u". That was embarrassing.

Suzanne, at least you remembered the all-important Dattco! I (think I) rarely mess up homonyms because I recognize them and usually pause to make sure I get it right, but sometimes my mind betrays me. Oh well.

Kerri - I will do my best with the photos. I have no idea what we will be doing. My husband HATES to plan and since I want to make this trip mostly about him because I've been gone so much and he is actually getting on an airplane to go, I am trying to rein in my own planning tendencies. Mostly I just want to relax. I also expect much food and wine to be consumed :)

Ellen, I do hope it works out. And yes, you MUST read Nothing to Envy. I think you would "enjoy" (totally wrong word for the book) it.

Oh my, Reba! That had me chuckling (after I made the substitution in my own head)! I worked one summer with a "Director of Public Relations" whose business cards, when she first ordered them, arrived without the all-important "L"...

Oh Reba, that typo made me laugh out loud - thanks for sharing!

And the missing L on the business cards is too funny!

I think the expectation of "much food and wine to be consumed" is adequate planning for your trip. I hope your meet-up with Ellen works out and that you and The Wayne have a great time. Then will you get to settle down, or is there more traveling?

Thanks, Mamie. I'll be home for Thanksgiving week and then in DC for several days. After that, I am home until we leave for my MIL's in Florida around Dec. 20 :)

I've been working on my budget for next year and so far, I"m scheduled for very little travel :) I'll lose my elite status on AA, but I'm thinking the sacrifice is worth it after this year!

Oh, dear. The MIL visit. Please take wine. Perhaps a case.

Hmm. In DC, you say?

Oh, I will, Mamie!

Yes, indeedy, Nora... First week of December. Plans?

>112 katiekrug: Either the 1st or 2nd of December is the grand naming ceremony for the Giant Panda cub, which *obviously* I must attend. Other than that I have no plans.

Cool. Let me check on a few things. I'm traveling with my boss, so I will have some mandatory evenings but I should be able to sneak away at least once!

#107 - Oh! I just meant the obligatory meet-up photo. Have fun!

Ha ha - sorry Kerri. Got a bit carried away... Will try to get a photo if/when I meet up with Ellen :)

Hi Traveling Katie - It's hard to keep track of you.

Just stopping in to wish you a lovely weekend, Katie.

Beth, I'm having a hard time keeping track of myself! In the homestretch of all this travel, though, so I should become a lot more homebound soon..

Thank you, Mamie!!

FYI for anyone interested in The Luminaries, this year's Booker Prize winner. Amazon US has it for under $10 for Kindle now. It's been right around $12 since it came out, so I was glad to see the drop and snatched it up :)

___________________________

As the end of the year approaches, I - like many others here - am giving serious thought to next year's reading. I hate maintaining two threads, but the siren call of the Category Challenge is always so strong... I love thinking up categories and lists of books to fill them. I may come up with some categories for next year but just track them in my 75ers thread.

I am also planning to participate at least in part in Mark's American Author's Challenge. I may swap out some of his chosen authors for ones I'm more interested in or have not read before. I would also like to participate in the Reading Globally themes this year, depending on what themes they ultimately select, and the same goes for Reading Through Time. I seem to be neglecting historical fiction lately which has always been one of my favorite genres, so RTT would be a good way to get back to that. And, of course, I'll continue to participate in the TIOLI challenges here in this group. Phew! Lots of plans and good intentions... :)

Almost forgot.... My 3rd Thingaversary is in a few days, so I purchased the following books this afternoon:

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
We Are Water by Wally LAmb
They Were Counted by Miklos Banffy
Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward

Thanks for that heads up on The Luminaries! And nice haul for your third Thingaversary!!

I caved to the siren call of the Category Challenge and created a thread for next year - but I only have seven categories, and I am only aiming for seven books in each category. I went with a theme of Casablanca quotes.

Mamie - I just saw your thread over there a bit ago. I love the theme - but you left out my favorite line: "I am shocked - shocked - to find that gambling is going on here!"

My plans are still in the early stages, so I could totally cave and start a second thread....

I know you're traveling, Katie, but I thought I would check in nonetheless. I'm looking forward to meeting you (and the hubster) at Elliott Bay Books this Thursday!

Thanks, Ellen! I am at the airport, waiting to board my flight to your fair city and on to Spokane!

Yay for Thursday!

Have a great meet up and we expect pictures. Happy Thingaversary. Nice haul.

Enjoy your meet up.

Loved the Alberta discussion! We stayed on a ranch there once for a week once in the early 60's as a break from an epic family camping trip - Rafter Six - it was called. Disney filmed some animal movie there - it was a wonderful place. I was about six and fell madly in love with one of the 'dudes' working there - Walter - sigh!

I found a pic of it online - now it is some sort of resort -

When we stayed there it was very very rustic, looks all fixed up in the other photos, not at all how it was. Just sweet and funky.

Happy Thingaversary, Katie! SO glad that you are part of this wonderful place - can't imagine LT without you!

Katie- Happy Thingaversary, my friend. Love the books you chose. Thanks for the heads-up on the ebook of the Luminaries. I think I will mosey on over and one-click that bad boy. I am intending to read that next month. It could very well be my VERY first ebook experience.
I did find the audio of the new Lamb book. I've seen no word about it on LT. You?

Thanks, Beth. I have informed the hubs he is on photo duty. He'll be fine as long as it doesn't interrupt his beer drinking too much ;-P

Oh, Lucy, that does look gorgeous. The scenery must have been nothing compared to ol' Walter, though, huh? We never went anywhere interesting when I was a kid, but we always drove wherever it was we were going...

Aw, thanks Mamie, and right backatcha! I'll forever be grateful to the hubs for finding this place and telling me about it. And, you know, for being a good husband overall :)

Hiya, Mark. I really must find out where you snag all these great audios from. So jealous! I haven't heard anything about the new Wally Lamb but I liked the two of his I've read (She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True) so I thought I'd give it a shot. If you're reading on your iPad, change the settings so the page is "sepia". It's less hard on the eyes than the bright white, IMHO.

______________________________-

Ok, off to my day-long meeting, followed by a reception and dinner. Then I head to Seattle tomorrow for some MUCH needed R&R for a few days!

Happy Thingaversary, Katie, and enjoy the books you got to mark the occasion.

Have a great time in Seattle.

Thanks, Judy!

____________________________-

So I may be crazy, but I am thinking about registering for all three BOTNS Booktopia events. I probably couldn't attend all three but I hate to commit to one and have the author line-up not be stellar. Plus, my schedule can be flaky so I may not be available on the dates for the one I register for. There are non-refundable reg fees involved, but I would use part of my book budget to cover those... Hmmm.

^ Cool idea!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It's Wednesday evening here in Seattle and today was lovely!! Cold, but sunny and crisp. Not all that usual for our fair city.

I'm looking forward to my Thursday evening meet-up with Katie and hubs at Elliott Bay Books.

Hi Ellen! I've decided to register for the Boulder and Asheville Booktopias, as they are both closer than Vermont and places I am more interested in visiting anyway. Vermont is lovely, but I grew up in that part of the world so don't feel the need to visit.

Anyway, I am here in lovely Seattle. What a gorgeous day! The flight from Spokane was so pretty going over the mountains.

The hubs missed his flight this afternoon but got re-booked and should be landing in a couple of hours. Poor guy was SO upset when he called but all's well that ends well.

See you tomorrow!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!

Thanks! Technically, it was last month but we deferred celebrating until this trip :-)

It was SO great to meet you and we had a really lovely time last night. Thank you! I will post the photo here and on your thread once I get back on my laptop.

Enjoy your weekend!

Well, this is turning in a great few days! I got to meet Ellen last night. She is just as warm and funny and incisive in person as she is here on LT. We had a good time browsing the shelves at the Elliott Bay Book Company and then a delightful dinner at a restaurant nearby. I have a photo but am currently using my iPad so will post it later.

The second awesome thing that has happened while in Seattle is that I just registered for the Booktopia event in Boulder, CO taking place next May. I hope to see some other LTers there! Ellen and I are both planning to register for the one in Asheville too. This is, of course, all Mark's fault!

Katie, I am planning to go to Boulder in May. I registered today without any problem but I noticed from Ann's email that it filled quickly. I am crossing my fingers that nothing comes up on either end so we finally get to meet in person. You are getting to be the Meet-up Queen around here lately!

I love the idea of an LT meetup at Booktopia! I'm excited for everyone going to Boulder.

Katie- This is blame I will gladly accept. You guys are going to have a terrific time in Boulder. I can not believe there are at least four of you going. How very cool.
Glad you had a chance to meet Ellen. I have had that honor too and she is a warm and kind person.

Booktopia Vermont sold out in 6 minutes! Imagine! I'm really impressed.

Hooray for meeting Ellen, and also for getting into Booktopia!! How fabulous!

Oh, Donna, that is great about Boulder! The hubs and I are planning to drive up there from Dallas. He's not doing the Booktopia thing but can explore on his own :-)

Laura, it should be fun!

Mark, Ann and Michael should use you to help promote the events - you do a fine job :-) And, yes, Ellen is great, isn't she? We had a lot of fun.

Lucy, I was thinking of trying for the Vermont one, too, but it just seemed a little too much...

It's been a great few days, Mamie!

We are in our last few hours here in Seattle, and can I just say this is a fantastic city and one I would move to without hesitation? We've just loved it and are plotting to come back already. If you have a chance, it's definitely worth a visit. I have some photos and will post them when I get home.

We are headed back to Dallas this afternoon and should land ahead of the sleet storm being forecast for Sunday/Monday. It's really early for any kind of winter weather in Dallas, but of course I'm hoping the office will be closed Monday :-)

See you in Boulder, Katie!! I registered, too!

WOO HOO!!!

Belated happy thingaversary and happy anniversary Katie! Safe travels home.

So glad that you got to see the Pacific Northwest at it's best, Katie. Have a safe trip home.

Katie, here's hoping, too, that your office is closed Monday, LOL! You make me want to visit Seattle, so glad you enjoyed.

Safe trip, Katie. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a sleet ? day for you.

Safe travels back to Dallas, Katie!

Katie - Nice to see your endorsement of Seattle and one of our favourite inhabitants thereof.

Like you I am starting to think about next years reading and, like you, I have far too many books to choose from. I am another that likes to choose my categories but I think I am going to pass next year and am trying instead to read one book from each year since 1865. (150 years of reading in one year so to speak).

Have a lovely weekend and safe travels.

So glad you had a wonderful time with Ms. Ellen in Seattle. We would love to move there too (We have serious conversations about it)!

Looking forward to the meet-up photo.

#138 - She is just as warm and funny and incisive in person as she is here on LT.

I'm truly blushing! I had a delightful time with you and hubs, Katie! I'm so glad we made time for dinner as well as bookstore browsing. I will definitely keep my eye out and register for Asheville Booktopia! and hope that I can make it work with my Scotland trip.

I'm liking all this talk about folks moving to Seattle! If Katie and hubs, and Kerri and hubs, all moved out here (anyone else? anyone?), I would be a very happy LT camper. :-)

eta: I hope you get home safely and just in time to hunker down for the office to be closed on Monday!

Oh, my! All these visitors!

Thank you, Heather!

Judy, I just loved this first trip to the PNW. I plan to go back and maybe I'll even make it across the border :)

Nancy, So far the forecast is holding up and we should be getting some nasty precipitation overnight. Fingers crossed... And, yes, you should visit Seattle, too. You can meet Ellen and go to Quinn's and have the excellent pinot noir!

Beth, we are such weenies down here that sleet can shut the city down. Here's hoping!

Thanks, Julia!

Hi Paul. I just love thinking about reading plans for next year. I think you are much better about carrying such plans out than I am, though.

Kerri, the photo will be coming up shortly! I think our conversations about moving might get a little more serious after this trip...

Well, it's all true, Ellen! So blush away ;-) I do hope we can both make it to Asheville. Let's work on Kerri, too, shall we?

It is f-f-f-freezing here in Dallas! We had a bit of freezing rain earlier this afternoon but the serious stuff isn't supposed to hit until overnight.

We had a nice trip home. I had gotten my husband's ticket using FF miles and splurged to get him a First Class ticket. The night before leaving, I got notified that my upgrade request came through, so we both got to enjoy the free drinks and food and roomy leg room on the three and a half hour flight :)

I will work on posting some photos of Seattle now...

#157 - "we both got to enjoy the free drinks and food and roomy leg room on the three and a half hour flight"

Excellent!

Katie (l) and Ellen (r)





Our hotel, the Olympic Fairmont, and the Christmas tree in the lobby



A Chihuly sculpture photographed over the fence because I was too cheap to buy a ticket :)

The Space Needle, artistically framed by tree branches



The Public Market at twilight. We went back the next day to explore



A small corner of the market...



The Gum Wall. Gross but oddly fascinating...



Exterior of the Experience Music Project and Sci/Fi Museum which we got to too late to visit. Poor hubs.



A view across the water to the sunset over the Olympic Mountains. Kinda blurry...

I think you're having the weather we had a couple of days ago but today it's upper-60's and sunny so that's probably on its way to you too :)

Katie, the gum wall is something of which I am completely (and perhaps gratefully) unaware. Where on Earth (or in the city) is it?? I love that it takes visitors to introduce us "locals" to some things.

You got some nice photos. The Chihuly museum is indeed spendy. I'm sorry you didn't get to go into the EMP. I still haven't been in but I know that I'll go one of these days.

Stay warm down there in Dallas!

Gosh, I hope so, Reba!

Ellen, the Gum Wall was in an alley off of the Public Market. Ha! It has its own Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gum_Wall. We just stumbled across it - it was not on our list of places to see!

It's always a good day when the 1st class upgrade comes through...except when you wind up sitting next to a very drunk B-grade actress Kristy Swanson*! On the other hand, that makes for a great story... :)

*best known for playing Buffy in the initial movie version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Nice pictures, Katie. As usual, thanks for sharing your travels with us -- and your latest meet up. The gum wall sounds disgusting. I will not be clicking on the link.

Sounds like a wonderful trip, Katie, including a fantastic LT meetup! Sorry to see that the weather is on the cold side at home.... the cold front seems to be taking over large chunks of the NA continent, stay warm!

"It has its own Wikipedia entry."
Of course it does.

Have a good week and a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friend. Salutations to the hubs.

LOVE the pics of Seattle, Katie : ).

LOL, Jim! I've never sat next to a "celebrity", though I was a couple of rows behind Ted Cruz on a flight to DC earlier this year. He's even creepier in person!

You're welcome, Beth - for the pictures AND the gum wall ;-)

Thanks, Lori. It is still cold here but turns out not cold enough for sleet and/or freezing rain. They canceled our winter storm warning and I dragged my sorry self into the office...

Thank you, Ellen. Enjoy your time with family in Tennessee - safe travels!

Thanks, Nancy!

Hi Katie- Love the Seattle photos and yah for another wonderful Meet Up! You can't beat 'me!
You cracked me up with your Ted Cruz comment. He's a proud Texan, right?

Mark, I'm sure he is. Luckily, I'm only a transplant and wish I lived elsewhere, so we don't even have that in common :)

Sen. Cruz was of course born in Canada, so he's a transplant, too. See, Katie, you have more in common with him than you thought (shudder).

*shaking fist at Julia* Darn you!

Lol! Poor Canada!

:-D

Ack! He's Canadian!!!! I thought the only wacky Canadian these days was Rob Ford.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, Judy. You can console yourself that even counting Cruz and Ford the wacky Canadian per capita ratio is still far below that of the States.

Sen. Cruz clearly has found his spiritual home south of the border. The Canadians probably would have deprived him of his citizenship.
Amusingly, my closest friend from college is now the lawyer serving as the independent counsel for Toronto's city legislators, trying to figure out how to run the city sans Ford.

A gum wall. Well, I'm speechless.

Have yet to make it to Seattle, or the Pacific NW in general. But I love Vancouver, so the region should be on my list. Although I have been in transit at Sea-Tac airport, flying Vancouver to Tokyo. Don't suppose that counts...

Interested to see, but not too surprised having read your threads for a few years that you don't really want to live in Texas.

I am fairly content in Kuala Lumpur but I would move to New Zealand in a trice if I could afford to and if the books there weren't so bloody expensive.

LOVE the photos from your trip, Katie. Especially the one of you and Ellen. Lucky you! Lucky Ellen! And the gum wall…um…WOW!

You know, if any other LTers want to come to Seattle to see the Gum Wall, you know you're welcome. I mean, I'm just saying. If that doesn't get you to come visit us here, I don't know what will!

My daughter LOVED gum when she was little. I rarely gave it to her, but every once in a while I would find her chewing it. You see where this is going, right? Yes, she was harvesting gum from under desks, the street, etc. So, chewed gum still makes me shudder. But I love telling the story today; she is totally grossed out over it.

Did you get your "snow" day today, Katie?

Wow! I was in Seattle three years ago and somehow missed the Gum Wall. You'd think the Chamber would be out there promoting that thing. I certainly would have gone out of my way to see it Katie;-)

Poor Canada, indeed, Mark! Though, if he was born on foreign soil, doesn't that mean he is ineligible to be President? (she asked hopefully)...

Julia, look what you've started!

Judy, you can have him back! And Rob Ford is in a league of his own ;-)

I don't know about that, Julia. There were a lot of wacky Canadians in Calgary when I was there earlier this month ;-)

Suz, surely in some ways it's easier to run the city without the mayor?!?! You should try to visit Seattle. Very walkable (if you don't mind some hills) and beautiful scenery. I also visited two decent used bookshops, and of course the wonderful Elliott Bay Book Company. Many treasures to be had....

Paul, Texas is very unique. Very proud of itself and its heritage. The only state to be its own country once upon a time blah blah blah. It wouldn't be a bad place if it weren't for so many right-wing and religious loonies - by which I mean real loonies. I have some great friends who are pretty far to the right and still lovely people. The loonies are just awful. But it's got a booming economy (very pro-business) and a great housing market. So I bemoan the fact that I live here while enjoying the lifestyle I can afford because I live here. It's kind of a catch-22 which makes it all the more frustrating... sigh...

Thanks, Mamie! I was so pleased to get to meet Ellen.

Ellen, when are you and P. going to go see the Gum Wall?!?!

Okay, Beth, you definitely get a pass ont he whole gum thing. That is so gross! And no, I didn't get a snow day - the temperature stayed in the high 30s so nothing froze and I had to go to work :(

Well, Bonnie, you just need to get right back to Seattle and visit the Gum Wall. Worth every penny. Guaranteed!

I neglected to note my book haul from Seattle (a very bookish city and just another reason to love it). The hubs and I were sitting in a coffee shop while two employees debated the merits of various books. I leaned over and said to him, "People here read AND talk about books. I'm in love!"

From Left Bank Books, an anarchist bookshop located just outside the Public Market:
School for Love by Olivia Manning (NYRB edition)

From Elliott Bay Book Company discount table:
Word Freak: HEartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players by Stefan Fatsis
(there was so much at this shop I would have loved to bring home but I was trying to be good... It's a lovely place.)

From Lionheart Books (inside the Public Market; Ellen, if you've never been there, it's a funny little place with a small but very good selection...)
Terrorist by John Updike
Lantana Lane by Eleanor Dark
The Living is Easy by Dorothy West
My Career Goes Bung by Miles Franklin
Troy Chimneys by Margaret Kennedy

(The last four are all VMCs which I was thrilled to find in this little hole in the wall shop!)

You bought something by John Updike. I see you are in training for the Updike Drinking Competition.

Trust me, this winter break (I am so ready!) will not pass without me finding and browsing in Lionheart Books. I can't believe I haven't found it yet! Thanks for the tip, Katie.

I really do need people to keep visiting Seattle so I can keep learning about this city.

Katie, I love your trip photos. I had no idea there was a whole Chihuly museum - I would love to see that. Maybe not the gum wall...

Well done on the book haul, and for the upgrade going home! Now you just have to wish for one of those on your next long-haul flight.

Ellen, I couldn't resist the updike. It was only $1.75 so if it's terrible I won't feel too bad. I wish I could remember exactly where the bookshop was. I think it was one level down from the main level of the market, if that makes sense... Don't forget to stop by the Gum Wall while you're there!

Hi Susan! I will probably shell out for a ticket to the Chihuly museum the next time I am up there. His work is so stunning... I NEVER get upgraded on international flights, but I will be traveling a lot less next year so it's ok :)

Loved the Seattle photos Katie, and the gum wall!

#184 "So I bemoan the fact that I live here while enjoying the lifestyle I can afford because I live here."

I think that's a good summary of how I feel about my job a lot of the time! :-)

#185 I have My Career Goes Bung (unread of course) but not any of the others. What a good haul!

Hi Heather! Glad you liked the photos. Next time I need to make them bigger, I think...

Ha! I guess I have the same issue with my job, too!

Those VMCs were such a lucky find. There were a few others there, but ones I already had. I think Lantana Lane is a duplicate for me but it's in beautiful condition so I couldn't resist...

Thanks for the photos!

Maybe we can all move to Seattle and start a commune. I will work on developing a practical skill.

I found something (although not anarchist pamphlets) at Left Bank Books too, but I didn't know about the other place.

Happy Thanksgiving, Katie. I hope you have a lovely day.

Kerri, I will need to develop a practical skill for the commune, as well. Goat herding? Sheep shearing? Rabbit milking?

Thank you, Beth! You too!

Have a lovely Thanksgiving, Katie.

Gotta chew over the idea of a gum wall...... does sound horrible/wonderful!

Have a fine Thanksgiving, Katie.

Happy Thanksgiving, Katie! I hope you have a great holiday. Get some reading in, will you!

ETA- What do you think of the Boo book? I was crazy about it.

I'm thankful that these days are behind us! Happy Thanksgiving, Katie! Hope it is full of fabulous!

Thanks, Judy! Happy Thursday to you :)

Ha ha, Lucy! Hope you have a great holiday, too.

Mark, I will do my best to get some reading in! I am listening to the Boo book and haven't had much time to devote to it - I'm only around Chapter 2... not thrilled with the narrator but will persevere...

LOL Mamie! I love Thanksgiving and a lot of that has to do with the fact that I don't have to do anything for it except show up and make merry. And buy the booze. The hubs and I always buy the beer and wine to ensure we get good stuff ;-)

HA! Just kidding. I love Thanksgiving and I love my family, so we should survive unscathed. I hope everyone celebrating today has a wonderful time with family and friends.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Lucy

Enjoy your Thanksgiving festivities, Katie!

>199 katiekrug:: I absolutely love that cartoon, Katie! We gave up spending Thanksgiving with extended family years ago, because it was just way too stressful. Hope you enjoy your holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving, Katie!

I was born and have lived in Texas my whole life Ugh Ted Cruz. He offends me as a Texan. He offends me as an Hispanic. He offends me as woman. He offends me as human being. You are right about Texas being very conservative etc… Some of us are living blue in a red state.

ETA: I still think of you as Katie from Texas but I mean it in only the best way! We are lucky to have you here.

Happy Thanksgiving Katie!

My thanks to Reba, Julia, Laura, Darryl, and Roberta for the Thanksgiving wishes. We had a very nice afternoon/evening at my cousin's home - good food, funny stories, heated game-playing, etc. We have the rest of the night to ourselves, and I don't plan to leave the house tomorrow. Hooray for being lazy!

>204 luvamystery65: - Aw, Roberta, you can think of me as Katie from Texas. I am here after all! and Ted Cruz embarrasses a lot of people on a lot of levels, I think!

Katie - Don't feel so bad about Ted Cruz. We in Minnesota have Michelle Bachman... Have a great lazy day.

Katie - Even an exiled Brit such as I can get affected by the holiday mood. Have a great Thanksgiving Weekend my dear.

Ha ha, Beth! Just goes tos how no one place has a monopoly on crazy :) Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Thanks, Paul. I'm enjoying a quiet Friday. Tomorrow will be for running errands, and I leave on Sunday for a short trip to Washington, DC.

_____________________-

I'm behind on reviews again, though only by 3. I'm going to go for super short...

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope
Completed 18 November 2013
3.5 stars

My first Trollope and a good introduction. His characters are well-drawn and the mix of social commentary and humor struck a good balance. I look forward to reading more.



Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
Completed 24 November 2013
3.5 stars

I liked this one more than I expected to. It helped that I read it mostly on the plane ride home from Seattle so could identify some of the place names and locations. At heart, it's a story about maternal love - not in a cheesy Hallmark way but in reality, with all its miscommunication, hurt, depth and power. It lost a half star for the last quarter or so which I thought was just a little too silly.



These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer
Completed 29 November 2013
3 stars

A very slow start finally led in to a fun Georgian romp, set in England and France. For me, the story fell flat due to my meh feelings for both the hero and heroine. Not Heyer's best.

>210 katiekrug: I agree re: the last quarter of Where'd You Go, Bernadette? being just too silly. Also, **SPOILER** I really thought she should not have forgiven Elgin so quickly. He was such an awful, awful husband for so long.
But overall I enjoyed it, especially hearing the story from so many different (flawed) perspectives.

I agree about Elgin. I was really expecting to not like the book but was curious about it. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise!

So my trip to DC got shortened, so my only free evening is Monday... I think you mentioned possibly being at the zoo that night. If not, let me know!

I thought Bernadette was a pleasant surprise, too. And These Old Shades is the only Heyer I've read, and I decided she wasn't my cuppa. I've often thought I should give her another chance, but there are too many other books competing for my attention.

Happy Thanksgiving, Katie : ). Lots of reading for you! I think I also gave Bernadette 3.5 stars, but I enjoyed Can You Forgive Her? much more. As for Heyer, hmm, sounds like These Old Shades is lukewarm at best.

>212 katiekrug: The Giant Panda naming ceremony has been officially scheduled for Sunday, so I'm free on Monday after work. I can probably do anything after 4:30 or 5, depending on where you want to meet.

I think being born overseas disqualifies Mr. Cruz from running for president. Thankfully. Just imagine all the right wing lunatics who don't think that Obama was born in the US and who would have to reverse all their objections to see Cruz pull that off. I found myself wondering where Cruz WAS born and am not all that surprised to see it was Alberta (Calgary, to be specific). I remember back in the 80s and early 90s, when I covered the energy industry in Canada, having to read "Alberta Report". They crusaded to ban abortion, and liked to refer to clinics as "abortuaries" and women who had abortions as "murderesses". Regardless of one's feelings on the topic, the rhetoric was over the top and fairly emblematic of a certain streak of right wing lunacy. Cruz left when he was still a v. young child, but yes, it should disqualify him from running for the presidency. Amusingly, I -- as a US-born person with Canadian parents -- could run for the presidency but Cruz, born to US parents in Canada, can't. I'm not sure I agree with that in principle, but I'm fairly pleased that the rule exists in practice...

I think I might have read These Old Shades when I was about 10, but haven't re-read it -- it's one of her Georgian tales, not a regency romance, right? I'm gradually adding the Heyers to my Kindle.

Belated happy thanksgiving wishes Katie! These Old Shades wasn't my favourite Heyer either.

There seems to be a great deal of debate over whether Cruz can or cannot be president. This article in Politifact explains it pretty well:
Is Ted Cruz, Born in Canda, Eligible to Run For President?

I love (*sarcasm alert*) that he renounced his Canadian citizenship; frankly it was the only thing I liked about him. :-)

Laura, These Old Shades was just odd to me, and I'm glad it wasn't my first Heyer. Maybe you'll giver her another chance sometime...

Nancy, I did give Bernadette and the Trollope the same rating, but it's kind of misleading because I try to rate within genres. And 3.5 stars is above average!

Nora, I doubt I'll be free before 6:30 or 7:00. Is that too late to grab dinner? I'll be around Chinatown but could venture afield if you don't mind an even later dinner? I'll PM you...

Suz, it is a Georgian rather than Regency, and most of it takes place in France. I found the plot to be a little ridiculous (granted they often are but this one just seemed dumb) and the main characters not very interesting. There were some wonderful secondary characters, though... As for Cruz, it seems most legal scholars agree that "natural born" means you have citizenship at birth (which Cruz would by virtue of his mother being American) rather than going through the naturalization process to obtain citizenship. So he can run. Boo.

Heather, I'm glad it's not just me!

Julia, So we can't ship him back? ;-)

I rate by genres, too, but you are right that it can be misleading, Katie.

It's something I struggle with, Nancy. My ratings are really scatter-shot, and I never go back to change any, even if my feelings about the book have changed. I'm toying with the idea of not doing star ratings next year...