Joe's Book Cafe 21

Wind in the Willow illustrations by Inga Moore

Welcome back to the cafe!

Favorite Nonfiction from the Last 10 Years

1. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
2. War by Sebastian Junger
3. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
4. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
5. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
6. The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat by Eric Lax
7. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
8. Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand
9. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
10. Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff

Runners-up: The Swerve and Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt, The Judgement of Paris and Michaelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King, Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder, The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr.

Favorite Fiction from the Last 10 Years

1. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
2. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
3. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
4. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
5. Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
6. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
7. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
8. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
9. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
10. Old Filth by Jane Gardam

Runners-up: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace, After the Quake by Haruki Murakami, The Kite Runner and Life of Pi.

January 2013 Books

1. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
2. The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
3. Anomaly by Skip Brittenham
4. The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman
5. Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
6. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
7. The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon
8. Low Town by Daniel Polansky
9. Bend Not Break by Ping Fu
10. Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb

February 2013 Books

11. A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
12. The Miniature Wife and Other Stories by Manuel Gonzales
13. All Roads Lead to Austen by Amy Smith
14. Volt: Stories by Alan Heathcock
15. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
16. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
17. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
18. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
19. Howl A Graphic Novel by Allen Ginsberg and Eric Drooker
20 Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb
21. Jerusalem Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy Delisle
22. Show Red for Danger by Richard and Frances Lockridge
23. Emma by Jane Austen and Nancy Butler
24. Rebel Heart by Moira Young

March 2013

25. Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do It by Geoff Dyer
26. Witness in Death by J.D. Robb
27. Are You There God, It's Me Mary: The Shangri-Las and the Punk Rock Love Song by Tracy Landecker
28. The Dance of the Seagull by Andrea Camilleri
29. Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb
30. The Ghosts of Nagasaki by Daniel Clausen
31. Building Stories by Chris Ware
32. Old Goriot by Honore de Balzac
33. Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb
34. Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb
35. Benediction by Kent Haruf
36. Breaking Point by C.J. Box
37. Heads or Tails by Lilli Carre

April 2013

38. Beloved by Toni Morrison
39. Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb
40. Purity in Death by J.D. Robb
41. Germinal by Emile Zola
42. Looking for Alaska by John Green
43. A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori
44. Robert B. .Parker's Wonderland by Ace Atkins
45. Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb
46. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock
47. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen

May 2013

48. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
49. The Yard by Alex Grecian
50. Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
51. Before the Incal by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Zoran Janjetov
52. Wizard of the Crowg by Ngugi wa'Thiongo

June 2013

53.Imitation of Death by J.D. Robb
54. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
55. Almost a Remembrance by Jack McCarthy
56. Scott Pilgrim Infinite Sadness Volume 3 Color by Bryan Lee O'Malley
57. Lunch with Buddha by Ron Merullo
58. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
59. Among Schoolchildren by Tracy Kidder
60. Divided in Death by J.D. Robb
61. Feynman by Jim Ottaviani
62. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
63. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver
64. The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

July 2013
65. Saga Vol. 2 by Brian Vaughan
66. Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland
67. Visions in Death by J.D. Robb
68. Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather
69. Five by Endo by Shusaku Endo
70. Sum Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
71. Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel
72. The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen by Dominique Enright
73. The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann
74. The Softwire: Virus by PJ Haarsma
75. Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman
76, Origin in Death by J. D. Robb
77. Wool by Hugh Howey

August 2013

78. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
79. Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb
80. Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb
81. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb
82. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope by Rhonda Riley
83. Lady Susan by Jane Austen
84. Shakespeare's Sonnets by you-know-who
85. Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill
86. The Open Door One Hundred Poems edited by Don Shore and Christopher Wiman
87. Memory in Death by J.D. Robb
88. Never Go Back by Lee Child
89. TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
90. Mind Mgmt Volume 1 by Matt Kindt
91. The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

September 2013

92. How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
93. The Telling Room by Michael Paterniti
94. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
95. Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson
96. Me, Who Dove Into the Heart of the World by Sabina Berman
97. Born in Death by J.D. Robb
98. Death of a King by Andrew H. Vanderwal
99. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
100. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
101. A Bit of a Difference by Sefi Atta
102. The Greater Journey by David McCullough
103. Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb
104. Constellation Games by Leonard Richardson
105. The Treasure Hunt by Andrea Camilleri

October 2013
106. The Light Years by Elizabeth Howard
107. Innocence in Death by J.D. Robb
108. The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
109. Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson
110. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
111. Creation in Death by J.D. Robb
112. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
113. Interlude in Death by J.D. Robb
114. Pale Gray for Guilt by John D. MacDonald
115. Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie
116. Longbourn by Jo Baker
117. Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson
118. Allegiant by Veronica Roth

November 2013

119. Burma Chronicle by Guy Delisle
120. Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
121. The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber
122. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
123. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

New addition to the cafe:



and a nice spot for the evening:

New cafe is looking good, Joe! I love those illustrations up top - Wind in the Willows was one of Rae's favorites when she was little.

Thanks, Mamie! Aren't they great? This was inspired by the Tattered but Still Lovely group, which has a whole thread about Wind in the Willow illustrations. I like Inga Moore's work a lot. WITW was a favorite of mine, too, when I was a lad, and still is.

As first in the door, you get muffins and latte on the house. Here you go:



We're off on errands, so see everyone later.

Aha, I knew it was The Wind in the Willow from the first lovely picture. And I wouldn't mind hanging out in either of those spots you posted.

. I've been waiting to post until I was sure you would be finished setting up.... yummy treats.. beautiful thread.. thanks for taking such good care :)

*happy sigh* Wind in the Willows aaaahhhh

Oh, what lovely illustrations! The Wind in the Willows is a favorite of mine too.

Nice digs for the new cafe!

Wind in the Willows ... Love ! - Funny I always associate it with Xmas as there was always a televised version on the box as a kid.

Hi Joe, this is a gorgeous new thread and I love the two additions to the cafe that you have posted.

Inga Moore is one of my favorite illustrators. My granddaughter and I just finished The Secret Garden the other day, and I have an Inga Moore picture from that book posted near the top of my thread.

I grabbed one of those tasty doughnuts that were featured at the bottom of your last thread and now could sure use a cuppa coffe to wash 'em down.

Have a great weekend.

>7 ronincats: Ah, good, Roni. There's something about Wind in the Willows that just makes us feel good, isn't there? And I'm glad you like the new cafe areas. I wouldn't mind hanging out in either either. (Either either?)

>8 mckait: Thanks for waiting, Kath. I like that twirling star. You're welcome - there are times I still can't believe the cafe continues to plug along like this, but I'm glad people enjoy it. Hope you're having a good Saturday.

>9 richardderus: Aaahhh. I agree. Wind in the Willows just makes all right with the world.

>10 Cobscook: Thanks, Heidi! Good to see you. Glad you're a WITW fan, and you like the new digs. We keep trying to improve the place.

>11 roundballnz: Yes - loving all the Wind in the Willows love, Alex. I don't have that Xmas connection, but I know what you mean. I'll always associate the Oz books with my birthday, because for a number of years that was always a special present.

>12 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. Like you, I try to help make it a place people like to stop by. I'll stop by and check out the Inga from The Secret Garden. That's another book I love. I came upon it late, probably in my 20s, along with A Little Princess. Did you like The Secret Garden? You probably say over at your place.

Have a great weekend, too. How about some more donuts to go with that cuppa coffee?

Oh Joe, what a wonderful new thread! I love Inga Moore. Her Six-Dinner Sid is one of my favorite picture books of all time:

Oh yeah, I can see why you like Six-Dinner Sid, Anne.



Glad you like the new thread!

Hi Joe- Congrats on the new thread and the wonderful Moore illustrations. I also dig the Cafe additions. What incredible views!
Have you read the History of Love? If not, YOU MUST! It's breath-taking. I know, there I go again with my soft-selling.
How far into Allegiant are you? And...

Oh. I want to read Wind in the Willows again!

Hi Joe,
May I please reserve the seat next to the daylight window in #4 for my re-read tomorrow - or first available day?

Beautiful thread ;-)

I used to always hang a new star in new threads...but then I got lazy, crazy, overwhelmed and lost the habit...

Happy Sunday to you !

Joe, that top illustration almost makes me look forward to winter ...

then I remember that the snow gets dirty and stays and stays. Sigh. Maybe I'd better move to a village where the snow stays fresh and clean. Brigadoon? Three Pines?

I just started scrolling down your topper pictures and said to myself - oh, these would be wonderful illustrations for Wind in the Willows. I must read it, again, soon.

Yes! Happy Saturday. I did finish a few pages of Good Omens yesterday so I think I'll be able to finish it before the next real life book group. I am so looking forward to next week! The photographer was put back to Wednesday, rather than Monday, so I have a little more time to finish polishing the house. Then, all I'll have to do is pick up and clean after myself and the dogs every day! Every day! And if I am efficient I should have oodles and oodles of reading time to fill...

I hope your weekend is swell, friend.

I love the new cafe additions so much that I grabbed them for Pintrest!

>16 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Glad you're liking the latest and greatest. I know, I wouldn't mind spending some quality time in those additions to the cafe.

I'm going to ask a favor. I need you, for a while, to read some lousy books you don't care for at all. OK? But I've made note of History of Love, which I haven't read. Good to hear you're enjoying it so much.

I'm in Allegiant, and so far so good. It takes a while to get re-situated with all the characters and their histories with each other, but it's humming along fine so far.

>17 -Cee-: I know, see, I'm thinking the same thing - I want to read Wind in the Willows again, and now that Judy mentioned The Secret Garden, I want to read that one again, too.

Yes, there's plenty of room in #4, so come on by and settle in for a nice long re-read. That sounds like a mighty fine idea; you may spot me sitting in the corner doing the same, if the staff here can put up with that.

>18 mckait: Happy Sunday, Kath! The twirling star tradition seems like a good one to return to. Snazzes up the new place, you know? Hoping you're getting a chance to goof off some today. Don't forget to practice that!

>19 NarratorLady: I know, Anne. There are aspects of winter that are actually quite wonderful, like gathering in a warm place with some good hot drinks and either musing together about who knows what, or reading. I love that illustration.

Ha! Brigadoon or Three Pines works for me. Maybe Three Pines can go murder-free for a spell?

>20 maggie1944: I know - the Wind in the Willow cues aren't obvious in these four illustrations, Karen, but she has managed to capture the feel of the story so well. As I mentioned above, I'd like to re-read that one and The Secret Garden sometime soon. Timeless.

It's a swell weekend so far, my friend. Good to hear you got an extra two days for polishing up the place; that takes a little of the time pressure off. Hope you get plenty of time to relax and read today. Happy Sunday!

Here's one from The Secret Garden:



ETA: >21 Morphidae: Great, Morphy! Pinterest away. She's really good, isn't she?

Yes, The Secret Garden is a good one, too, except I recollect there is some moralizing in it that I don't like much. But the atmosphere of both books are so good at capturing the joy of childhood.

OK, now I need to get to work.

Happy Sunday!

>23 maggie1944: The moralizing in The Secret Garden probably sailed right over my head, Karen. Yes, I love the atmosphere. I remember liking that the pampered, obnoxious young fellow improves so much. And the garden itself seemed so real.

OK, you go to work. I've got to get back to goofing off, after the next post. We're off to the movies soon.

>24 richardderus: Happy Sunday, Richard! My favorite day of the week. Saturday often has errands and adventures going on, but we try our best to keep Sundays clear.

Sunny, we had a good walk, some reading (I won't mention that it was poetry for me) and writing, my MBH read some more Reacher aloud - how he's going to get out of the latest pickle, who knows - and soon we're off to the movies. A-OK. Hope you and Stella are having a good one. (We got a short visit from Becca's fur guy yesterday - what a charmer).

What a lovely start to a continuation thread, Joe.

After reading that thread about The Wind in the Willows illustrations, (http://www.librarything.com/topic/159157#4337524) I found a copy online and ordered it. I'm planning to reread it, very soon.


(not the copy I bought, but the same edition)

Oh my, The Secret Garden...I read and loved that when I was in 7th grade. That same year we also read The Gold-Laced Coat by Helen Fuller Orton which I still remember too. It took place at Fort Niagara during the War of 1812 and looks at the war through the eyes of children from three different cultures.

Joe, I didn't post about The Secret Garden but we both really enjoyed it. Your memory serves you correct, the garden is almost like one of main characters. Karen is also right, there was a fair bit of moralizing, which also must have sailed over my head when I was young. My granddaughter loved it enough that we have moved right on to The Little Princess.

>26 fuzzi: Thanks, fuzzi. Love her illustrations. Thanks for the link to the Tattered But Lovely thread that brought it to mind. I have to check with my MBH on whether we have a copy of Wind in the Willows. Is it possible we don't?! If so, we'll have to fix that. I couldn't resist, and went ahead and ordered a copy of the Inga Moore illustrated The Secret Garden.

>27 brenzi: As I probably mentioned, Bonnie, I came to The Secret Garden later, maybe in my 20s, and I loved it. I don't know The Gold-Laced Coat, but it sounds like a good one. I just ordered TSG.

>28 DeltaQueen50: Glad to hear you both enjoyed The Secret Garden, Judy. Yes, I can still see the garden, and feel like I could walk into it right now. The Little Princess is so good! Old-fashioned heartstring-puller. Sara Crewe - unforgettable.

Digression: we just saw the movie Gravity. What a pulse-pounder! Sandra Bullock is terrific, and George Clooney is just right.

I love Sandra Bullock. She is so "girl next door" which is a nice change from the typical American female movie star!

Joe, I haven't gotten to The Secret Garden yet, so you're still ahead of me!

I was a rather precocious reader (weren't we all?) and moved into adult books at a young age, missing a lot of children's and YA literature. I did get to At the Back of the North Wind and Poor Little Rich Girl and The Princess and the Goblins. But not TSG. Or even The Wind in the Willows. Somehow, I went right by them.

Loved Wind in the Willows and Secret Garden. The illustrations here are beautiful. Both of those are books I discovered after having my kids. I suspect that happened with a lot of us.

Morning Joe- We had a good time yesterday. I brought home 2 cases of Alpha King, a fine pale ale but once again they were out of Zombie Dust, they can never keep that stuff in stock. Did have one on tap though.
I finished Shortcomings. I really liked this one, thanks for the rec. What do you suggest, next from him? I started "Saints". You are going to flip for these GNs.
And yes, I will try reading crappier books but of course, no promises...

>30 Cobscook: Me, too, Heidi. And she's got great range for a girl next door. She was moving in The Blind Side, and hilarious in Heat with Melissa McCarthy, for ex. She's moving again in this one.

>31 ffortsa: You'll like TSG when you get to it, Judy. I suppose our reading menus as kids came in part from what was hanging around at home, and in part from what we could find at the library. At the Back of the North Wind and The Princess and the Goblins were on the shelves at home, as was The Princess and Curdie, and I liked the latter two in particular. I must have found The Wind in the Willows at the library at some point. Poor Little Rich Girl is new to me.

It's never too late. I've read in recent years Understood Betsy, Anne of Green Gables, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase,and Little Women, among others. I didn't know the Moomintroll books until I read them with my daughter.

>32 mckait: Aren't they great, Kath? Yes, exactly. I'm still catching up on ones I find out about.

Our kids were lucky, in that my wife and I had been booksellers, and she was a children's storyteller, so both our kids got more exposure to the best than she and I did when young. My favorites as a young guy were the Oz books and Alice in Wonderland. I remember when an older sister's boyfriend brought over a box of Hardy Boys for me, and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I later got enchanted by ones like The Wind in the Willows and The Secret Garden.

>33 msf59: I must try Zombie Dust! Those are some words I never guessed I'd be saying, Mark. You sure make it sound good. I don't know Alpha Kings either. I had PranQster, a Belgian style ale by North Coast Brewing, over the weekend, and liked it. Do you know North Coast? They identify themselves as award winners, but that could have been a trophy at a backyard barbecue for all I know.

I'm glad you liked Shortcomings. I really like his New York Drawings, for the art.

Yeah, I can't wait for Boxers and Saints. I see they're stocking up on both at the bookstores, usually a good sign. I'm near the end of Burma Chronicles, and it's been very good, up there near Pyongyang. He does a great job, in an "aw shucks" kind of way, of taking us inside parts of the world that are quite different from ours.

All right, how about starting the day with some hot cider and donuts?

Ohhh, are those cider donuts? I'll take a dozen. No box, just pile 'em on a plate, please.

Oh, and some napkins.

I snuck in some cinnamon donuts, Richard. Here's a plate full, and if you want some cider ones for dessert, we'll bring them.

How very odd. Bondage napkins. O.o

Regarding reading certain books in childhood, there were a bunch that I never read until I was an adult and had my own children, like the Anne of Green Gables series.

As a child I read a lot of books that were meant for "older" readers, mainly because of close proximity to my older sisters and their personal books. I also was blessed by living in a town where the librarian did not say "You can't borrow that book, it's too hard/advanced for you". I know of places where children were denied books that they wanted to read. I say, let them try, and if it's too hard, they'll skim it and learn some new words, as I did reading White Fang at age 9.

I still cringe when I hear parents telling their kids "That book is too hard for you..."

And I've read many so-called "children's books" since I discovered LibraryThing. :)

>37 richardderus: Ha! It's hard to show restraint while eating donuts, isn't it?

>38 fuzzi: With you 100% on that, fuzzi. If the child thinks she/he is ready to try that "hard" book, let them. They'll get something out of the effort, regardless, and a lot of times they're simply going to be ready for it. From another angle, we always encouraged our kids to read whatever caught their fancy, whether it was lowbrow or whatever. Just read!

I've found out about so many books I love now thanks to Librarything tips and comments, and that includes "children's books". The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is a recent example. I'd heard of it, but never tried it. After hearing from so many on Librarything that it was a good one, I tried it and liked it very much. Daddy Long Legs is another one, for a somewhat older age.

Love the Wind in the Willows illustrations Joe! (though for one minute I thought it was Pooh and Piglet trudging through the snow).

WITW isn't really a Christmas book but the description of The Mole and the Water Rat's Christmas underground is so beautiful one would have to have a heart of stone to read it without smiling.

Hi Joe! I see I've missed tons of lovely food, art, and reading nook images during the past two months.

From the last thread, I'm thrilled that you enjoyed your first Barbara Pym experience. I loved Excellent Women and Jane and Prudence and look forward to Quartet in Autumn soon. The subtle social commentary inserted into the prim and proper setting is a delight. And it's terribly funny.

I've caught up with you again. I'm calling my living room, my dining room, and my master bedroom and its bathroom, and the guest bathroom done and finished! All that needs doing is the daily keeping up with not making a mess. The kitchen needs cleaning up after dinner last night, and then I'll make another small mess, and clean it up. Tedious isn't it? Tomorrow I must clear the desk off and then the office is done, and I'll move on to the Crafty Room. There I just need to find a way to make things be "put away" neatly. I can leave it crowded with all the tools and inspirations an artist might use. Just has to be kinda neat.

Oh, man, I hope this house sells quickly. I do not look forward to every day picking up all my leavings. I'm just not that woman! I'd rather be reading.

Love the discussion of excellent children's books. Along with Wind in the Willows, and Secret Garden I also think Anne of Green Gables to be excellent. I also have very fond memories of Heidi, both the book and the movie. I especially loved the description of the wind in the fir trees as "roaring"; and they do.

OK, I'm off to feed the dogs and myself. Tired, I am.

Joe, those new additions to the cafe are going to be popular spots. I love all this talk about children's books now that I have an insatiable listener in 3-year-old Haley. I know she'll love the pictures in Wind in the Willows. I am going to look for it as soon as I return home from my travels.

Count me in with the Wind in the Willows fandom! Read it as a child, and loved it. Still a favourite. Wonder if I can get the kids interested...? Sadly, I've found my children have the attention span of a gnat, and unless things are exploding every five seconds, they're not always interested. "Big" words aren't really a problem, they're good at interrupting and getting definitions. (VERY good at interrupting in general.) Still, I think I shall give it a go, next time we're looking for a book to read...

I'll skip the donuts - they look delicious, but I'm stuffed with peanut butter toast already. A coffee (latte, thanks) would hit the spot, it's a week of early starts and I'm feeling pie-eyed with exhaustion already.

To join in on the children's books discussion:
When I found out that I was pregnant with Charlie, my love of lists immediately kicked in and I started reading through all of the children's award lists I could find. And I've enjoyed myself immensely, finding treasures that I never knew as a child, and that are now waiting patiently for Charlie on his shelves. As I'm now working thought the last of my lists (I've read all of the Caldecott winners, Newbery winners and through a couple of other, less-well-known lists, and now I'm about 3/4 of the way through the 1001 Children's Books You Should Read Before You Grow Up list), I'm a little bit sad that the end is in sight. I think I'll have to find some more children's books lists, or just start reading through the library's children's section...

There are many wonderful books, I'm sure, that never made any list or won any award.

Just ask us here, we'll give you titles!

>46 fuzzi:: Thanks! When I've read all of the books in the library, I may take you up on that - ha!

Passing through to refill my coffee cup and leave a hug for the proprietor

>40 magicians_nephew: 'What a capital little house this is!' {Ratty} called out cheerily. 'So compact! So well planned! Everything here and everything in its place! We'll make a jolly night of it. The first thing we want is a good fire; I'll see to that— I always know where to find things. So this is the parlour? Splendid! Your own idea, those little sleeping-bunks in the wall? Capital! Now, I'll fetch the wood and the coals, and you get a duster, Mole— you'll find one in the drawer of the kitchen table— and try and smarten things up a bit. Bustle about, old chap!'

You're right, Jim. Irresistible. And the field mice come caroling . . .

>41 DorsVenabili: How good to see you out and about on the threads, Kerri, and in the cafe! We all missed you. Yes, I drank the Pyms cup, and liked it very much. I've got Quartet in Autumn lined up, and I've heard good things about Jane and Prudence, too. She is terribly funny, you're right. I had to slow down and adjust a bit - no rocket ships or guns blazing - but it was well worth it.

What are you reading now? What are you quaffing in the evening? Something from the Mysterian moonshine still?

>42 maggie1944: Good for you, Karen. Congrats! That sounds like a major undertaking. We weren't nearly as conscientious when we sold ours years ago, but people are probably more demanding now. We also had two young kids, so forget going for a pristine look. I'm glad you've gotten so much done. It will all be worth it, I'm sure.

I agree with you on Anne of Green Gables. That was a rare instance where that great BBC series with Megan Follows got me to read the book. I want to read more in the series, but as always it's a question of where to slot them in the schedule. I never did read Heidi - should I? Would that hold up well with an old codger?

Seems to me by the time you read this you could use a morning latte. Here you go, on us:



>43 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. Yes, those new additions to the cafe are proving popular. That's where I'm hanging out, too, when it's slow here.

I imagine Haley would like the WITW illustrations a lot. I can't remember back to what we tried with the kids when they were three years old. Shakespeare and Wordsworth? No, I don't think so. (Sounds like a recipe for raising non-readers). Dr. Seuss and Sesame Street, for sure.

>44 wookiebender: Hiya, Tania. I know, the charm of Wind in the Willows lives on into all ages, as far as I can tell. You know, I don't think we ever tried it with our kids. I sure hope they found it on their own. I'll check.

For being read to, once we got past the Seuss and Sesame Street age (there were lots of others, of course - but I'd have to open up more of the memory vaults to identify them), Daughter #1's faves included The Happy Hollisters and Nancy Drew. She was a mystery buff from early on. Son #1 was more of a sci-fi/fantasy and factoid guy. The Hardy Boys went nowhere with him, but he loved being read the Oz books and The Magic Treehouse series. I seem to remember both of them were very good at interrupting, too . . .

Let us know how it goes with Wind in the Willows. I certainly had plenty that landed with a clunk when I tried them. I remembered being enchanted by Beatrix Potter's The Fairy Caravan when I read it as a kid; when I tried it with my MBH and the kids, they thought it was a slow and total loser. Oh well. But Wind in the Willows has a more universal appeal.

I peeked at the 10001 childrens' book list just now. It's too bad there isn't a publication date on them, as I suspect most of them were published after I was of an age, at least a reading age, for which they felt appropriate.

I guess that should have been 1001!

>>45 scaifea:-47 As fuzzi says, Amber, we're all willing to pitch in! What fun to share your love of reading with Charlie. I can tell from the photos that you've kindled the love of books in him. Finding those treasures you missed as a child is a great feeling, isn't it? It was never a hardship to read to our kids, either re-visiting old book friends or enjoying new treasures.

Ignore the following until you've worked your way through the library, as I can't resist. I've never looked at the 1001 Children's Books book, although my storytelling wife has it, but maybe one of these isn't an award winner or in that? Miss Rumphius, Tom's Midnight Garden, The Borrowers, all of the Pippi Longstocking books, the Moomintrolls? I liked the Borrowers and the Pippi books, and our kids liked the other three (as did I, actually).

>48 mckait: Hi, Kath. Thanks for the hug! The day feels better already.

Hope yours is off to a good start. Here's a refill for you:

>>50 ffortsa:-51 10,001 is the sequel, I think, Judy. Not easy to hold in just two hands, though.

I'll have to borrow my MBH's and take a look at the 1001. Probably brings up a lot of fond memories, and piques interest for some of the published later ones. I've liked Jon Muth's Zen Shorts one (and those after it, although not quite as much), having come upon them as a big guy.

The Borrowers!! Moomintroll Madness!! Of course, for me, the Hardy Boys and their problem-solving ways were catnip. Dr. Seuss books, as enacted by my father (the hambone), were magical and marvelous. I re-read a boyhood (under 8) favorite and wish I hadn't...Professor Diggins' Dragons didn't hold up too well. Disappointing. I'm now leery of re-reading The Wind in the Willows because I believe I'd be suicidal if I didn't love it just as much now as in 1965.

I read TWITW for the first time (YES!) just this year. I bought a beautiful new-ish edition illustrated by Robert Ingpen, who I did not know of before, and now I'm on a quest to find copies of favorites with his illustrations, because I love his style.

>54 richardderus: Wonderful memories, aren't they, Richard? How great to have your hambone father enact Dr. Seuss books! I don't know Professor Diggins' Dragons, but it reminds me that Elmer and the Dragon, beloved in my youth (along with its sequels), is another one that fell with a clunk with my kids. The Wind in the Willows stood up well on a re-read, for me. See the short excerpt up in >49 jnwelch:. It's just charmingly written.

>55 laytonwoman3rd: He's good, Linda. He gets discussed on that Tattered But Lovely thread that fuzzi mentioned up in >26 fuzzi:: http://www.librarything.com/topic/159157#4337524. Love the two you show. Here's another:

Children's illustrations! Ah. Joy.

Just a quick stop by, thanks for the coffee, it hit the spot ~ I'm resting after having wrestled with cutting cardboard big enough to wrap a large mirror!

Too scared to mess with the perfection of the memory.

My father was a *perfect* fun-daddy when I was small. My sisters say the same thing. Magical with sub-10s! Horrible, becoming intolerable as the teens wore on, and no easier to like in our adulthood.

But the wow factor of those early years...!

>57 maggie1944: I know, there's such a joyful feeling from well done children's illustrations, Karen. You bet - stop by for coffee any time. It's remarkable how exhausting cleaning up a place and packing can be. Our #1 son who you met just moved (not far from where he was), and conked out afterwards at 8 pm, unheard of for him.

>58 richardderus: Sounds like he should have retired from the father role as you all got to the teens, RD. Too bad. Mine didn't have the highs or the lows of yours, sounds like. By the time I showed up, my two older sisters had worn out my poor parents, and they pretty much let me go on about my business, unless I screwed up badly. Even then, actually. My dad was a bit distant as he earned the daily bread; he and I are a lot closer now that I've gone through so many things similar to what he did, in terms of raising a family and so on. Plus I'm having to take care of him to some extent now.

>52 jnwelch:: I've read all of those either on my own or from various lists already, and I agree with you that they're excellent (except for The Borrowers, which did absolutely nothing for me).

Hi Joe! Just popping in for a quick Hi! How about a coffee to go, kind sir. I am so glad you enjoyed Allegiant. I should have done what Mamie is doing and re-listen to Insurgent, for a refresher.

>60 scaifea: Ha! You're not alone on the Borrowers, Amber. I found that series in the library, and got immersed with the little tiny people. But I've never come across anyone else who did.

OK, sounds like this will be a hard project with you. Maybe you could identify all the good ones you haven't read yet or even thought of reading and we can comment. You know, the ones you've never heard of before.

>61 msf59: Re-listening to Insurgent before reading Allegiant is a smart idea, Mark. Roth throws a lot at you in this one, right from the get-go, and I found myself thinking, wait a minute, who is that, why is she mad at him, whose boyfriend did she shoot, how come those two are mad at each other, why are we supposed to hate that guy, and so on.

If you're like me, you'll find things to quibble with in it, and the writing can be rocky, but it also has the strengths of the prior books.

Coffee to go? You bet:

Looking forward to Allegiant but won't get to it till next year.

I like to read across a range of children's fiction and explore more obscure awards lists which bring up gems. I note if a book is included in the 1001 Books you must read before you grow up but don't use that book as my starting point.
I recently came across The Other Award and The Buxtehuder Bulle which have interesting histories. The Phoenix Award and The Carnegie Medal are great sources of reading material. I try to read a lot of translated children's fiction as well, my current read is Agnes Cecilia, a Swedish classic.

I read The Wind in the Willows for the first time a few years ago and really loved it. I was familiar with the story but had never read the complete unabridged book.

Need something nice for breakfast, I've been enjoying the Turkish breakfast dish, menemen, lately so please I'll have some more....and lots of good coffee please.

>63 avatiakh: Next year isn't all that far away, is it, Kerry? Allegiant will wait, although I couldn't wait to read it.

Those lists are filled with ones I don't know, and with reminders of ones I know but haven't read yet, like Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light. I've never heard of Agnes Cecilia, and it looks quite good. Please let us know what you think. My supernatural- and ghost-loving daughter would probably like it, too.

The Wind in the Willows is so good! An abridgement of it seems like a supremely looney idea. It's not really very long anyway. Glad you found the complete one.

OK, this will be a new one for the chef. Menemen it is, with lots of good coffee.

Menemen sounds a lot like a western omelette , plus olives. Yum!

Turkish coffee - I'm imagining it might have extra caffeine, eh? I could perhaps have a cup. It is late afternoon and I am not ready for tomorrow morning. Photographer must make my place look huge. Progress is being made, but oh, my, I'm getting weary.

Hi Joe- Love that to-go mug! Didn't Andy Warhol design that, for the Stones? Warhol and Lou Reed. Nice segue sir!
I am sure you are snuggling in to watch them Bulls! Go Bulls! Go Rose!

Thanks Joe, that coffee hit the spot and I actually just made more menemen for lunch. I make up a largish quantity of the spicy tomato mix and store it in the fridge, then just heat a couple of spoonfuls at a time and stir through a couple of eggs till they scramble. Real easy and tastes great.
A northern light is a good read. Just starting out on Agnes Cecilia but all the Swedish Lters raved about the author as a childhood favourite when I mentioned the book last year on the category challenge. I read her The glassblower's children and liked it a lot.

I just saw that The Glassblower's children will be republished by NYRB in March 2014.
http://www.nybooks.com/books/imprints/childrens/the-glassblower-s-children/

(59) It's interesting how our relationship with parents can and often does change.

Two years ago my father had his THR (total hip replacement) done by the same wonderful surgeon that did my THR in 2009. Spending several days with my dad in the hospital, including assisting him with nature calls in the wee hours (pun intended) of the morning...well, it just moved our relationship to another different and satisfying level.

This summer we "did" yard sales every Saturday morning while he was in the area. I have some wonderful memories to add to my childhood reminisces.

PS I read three or four of The Borrowers books as a child, but have not tried a reread. I've got Ginger Pye waiting on my shelves for a reread, too.

>65 richardderus: Menemen was a new one for me, Richard, and it does sound good. I'd be saying, "hold the olives", blasphemy to olive-lovers, I know.

>66 maggie1944: The Turkish coffee is strong, Karen. We'll get you some. Sending you positive thoughts for all being well with the photo-ing and selling the house. I'll bet you're weary! Take a load off today if you can. We've got a comfortable reading spot ready.

>67 msf59: That sounds right, Mark, Warhol making that logo for the Stones. You'll be the envy of the neighborhood with that one.

Poor Bulls got a smack upside the head last night from the champion Heat. Hope they learn from it. They've got the horses to go all the way, but they've got to learn how to do it. Bad defense, bad shooting, bad turnovers - not a winning combination.

>>68 avatiakh: -69 Tip of the hat from the chef, Kerry. Glad you liked the menemen and strong coffee. Your routine for "easy" menemen sounds like a good one. I put both Agnes Cecilia and The Glassblower's Daughter on the wishlist. Thanks for the heads up.

>>70 fuzzi:-71 Yes, exactly, fuzzi. I'm sure you're dad appreciated that a lot, too. Besides the changes in my relationship with my dad, my wife and I are having a good time with our own kids in a similar way now. We've always enjoyed our time with them, but knowing them and having adventures with them as adults has been a real pleasure. We can relax and let them create their own lives without constant nudging and concern from us. (That last part may be easier for me than my wife!)

Hey, at least you've read The Borrowers, fuzzi, and I take it you liked them all right? I haven't re-read them either. I suspect they'd pitch a little too young for me now. Ginger Pye - I loved Ginger Pye! That's another one I found in the library as a kid and knew nothing about before I read it. Let us know how the re-read goes.

Read the first book, The Borrowers, Joe. It's the litmus test, they might be too young for you, but the experiment is short and (I hope) painless.

So many good memories of those books!

I'm not happy about that 1001 children's books to read list (http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/1001+Children%27s+Books+You+Must+Read+Before+You+Grow+Up): I went over it twice, and did not see any of these authors listed: no Jim Kjelgaard, nor Glenn Balch, nor Jack O'Brien, nor James Oliver Curwood, nor Thomas Hinkle, nor Rutherford Montgomery, nor Joseph Wharton Lippincott. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

I don't recall seeing Lad: A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune either, but I might have missed it.

>74 richardderus: Ah, a Borrowers fan! I was hoping there was one out there, Richard. Me, too, on the good memories. You're right, that's an easy experiment for the re-read.

>75 fuzzi: I think you've given Amber (>45 scaifea:) her first productive post, fuzzi, on good children's books not listed in the 1001. You've got a bunch of authors there that are new to me, and I never read Lad: A Dog, either.

I don't think I ever read The Borrowers but it sounds like The Littles which I did read and loved.

#75 Jim Kjelgaard is one of my son's favorites....well, I guess I should say used to be his favorite since he is 15 now and moved on to older books when I can get him to read!

The Borrowers was one of my favourite books as a child. Just loved it.

>77 Cobscook: The Littles books do seem similar, Heidi, although no tails or mouse-like features in The Borrowers. Jim Kjelgaard is not one I've read. Looks like good outdoors-y stories.

>78 SandDune: Yay! Another Borrowers fan. Good to hear, Rhian. As there aren't any Borrowers conventions I'm aware of, it took an international book site for me to find others of a like mind about those books. These two get it:

No Lad? No Big Red? Horrors! What Deprivation!

I thrived on animal stories as a child, and still love'em.

oh, dog books: Where the Red Fern Grows. I read it to my 5th/6th grade class once and was crying so hard at the end I could not read. A kid volunteered to finish it. What a very sweet memory. I love that book.

That's another keeper, Karen, thanks for reminding us of it.

If anyone is interested, I've started a thread in the Tattered But Still Lovely group, for those wonderful animal stories that we loved, still love, and want to recommend:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/160576

Please stop by and share your favorites.

'Poetry should please by a fine excess and not by singularity. It should strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts, and appear almost as a remembrance." -John Keats, poet (1795-1821)

If, that is, one cannot be dissuaded from committing poetry.

Hi Joe!

#49 - Funny you should ask. Joe the Mysterian (he's on vacation this week) made a rye IPA yesterday. It will be a while until it's ready for consumption.

I watched a large portion of that Bulls game. Ugh. I'm going to try to be a better fan this year and watch more games...or at least watch the last 7 minutes of more games.

>75 fuzzi: & 76: Ha! Nope, sorry. I've read something of pretty much all of those authors (I've worked through quite a few lists so far).

>>80 fuzzi:-82 I love these discussions of childhood favorites, fuzzi and Karen. For me the animal ones that stick out were Jack London books like Call of the Wild and stories like To Build a Fire, and Julie of the Wolves.

I'll stop by the Tattered But Lovely thread, fuzzi, and mention those. Thanks for the link.

>83 richardderus: Thank you for that poetry quote, Richard. That Keats guy was pretty darn good, and to my mind Yeats should have rhymed his name. You were thinking pretty exalted thoughts in the early hours, weren't you? (Actually, I like the sound of Yeats name better).

>84 DorsVenabili: Mmm, a rye IPA. That sounds mighty intriguing, Kerri. You were so wise to hook up with a beer artist.

Ugh is right for those poor Bulls. Hope they learn a lot from it. Knicks tonight at home - we're not going because of the Halloween festivities, which are a big deal on our block. They should be fun to watch this year - a lot more fun than the Heat game. Derrick is back full throttle, and their starters and bench are filled with good players.

>76 jnwelch: You've probably got the luckiest boy on the planet, Amber. I'm sure he knows it.

Costumes to start the day (these two look just like the real ones, don't they?):



Spoiler Alert Those are the real ones.

hehehehe

I'm keepin' on. Brokers' Open house tomorrow.

I'll post how to look at the listing, and pictures, on my thread….

then I'm going to take a nap.

snnnnooooooooozzzzzzze

Just stopping in to wish you a Happy Halloween, Joe! Hope it's a good one!

To fortify you and the MBH for the descending hordes of ghoulies, ghosties, and greedys, some almond joy cookies:



I hadda test one, make sure they were okay. They were.

Perhaps I should test one also. You know, just for a second opinion.

I'm all for it. Got any coffee, proprietor? Mamie and I need to do a quality check on this batch of cookies.

Hi Joe- I hope you are having a good time celebrating Halloween on your block. At least the rain eventually let up, so the tykes could get out there.
I started the Returned. It is not scary but it is pretty creepy.
Go Bulls!

Morning! As usual, we had zero (0) visitors last night, we never do...but we were well fortified with mini-chocolate bars thanks to my dh, who made sure we had some treats, "just in case". We've not had any trick-or-treaters in the seven years we've lived here, but he wanted to be sure we were prepared. LOL.

Survived another Hallowe'en, much easier than last year when we were put out of house and home by the hurricane, which doused our electricity for days. We did our usual escape from responsibility by going to a party friends have in a neighborhood where the number of T&Ters usually tops 200. They set up a big tent in their front yard, with propane heaters if necessary, and the adults indulge in pizza, sausage or pulled pork sandwiches, homemade soup and booze while the kiddos trail by, helping themselves from the cauldron on the sidewalk. Guests are encouraged to bring bags of fodder to keep the pot full. It's fun for all. Rained fairly steadily last night, but we were snug inside, and the kids didn't seem to mind a bit. Accompanying parents nipped in for a nip, and they were happy too.

Our little suburb was happy last night. I mostly gave candy to little kids accompanied by parents, and saw at least two doggies all dressed up. I also gave candy to a dozen or so preteens who definitely were having their last Halloween, three of whom were big boys dressed like "army guys" with guns! I did not like their attitude one little bit as they thought it was fun to demand more candy as it was a "robbery"… ha ha ha. Not fun, IMHO. There were some other kids who shyly admitted to being a bit embarrassed and seemed happy to say yes, it was their last one! They were much more fun to talk with and to give to them.

I thought it was brilliant of my real estate woman to get the For Sale sign planted in my front yard just before Halloween so all these folks could see it, and hopefully spread the word.

OK, Brokers' Open House today, must go run and clean up a bit.

>>87 maggie1944:, 95 Your house looks terrific in those photos, Karen. You have done an astounding job of cleaning it up - I'm sure it looked great before, but those photos make it look like something out of Architectural Digest.

Sorry you got some stupid boys acting poorly. Having been one, I remember how we used to encourage each other to be jerks. Something in the genes? The best you can do is tolerate them, seems like, unless they get too far out of line. One year we had a bunch of teens messing around late at night by us, and had to tell them to get out of there or we'd call the cops. They did, after sharing a few choice words with us.

Both my MBH and I noticed the kids that came by our place were really polite this year. Lots of thank yous and wishing us a Happy Halloween. Good for them.

Good luck with the Open House today!

>>88 Crazymamie:-91 Thanks, Mamie. We had a great Halloween. Last year we supposedly had more than 1500 kids come to our block, and it seemed like at least that many this year. A couple of favorites were a little boy dressed as a fluorescent green highlighter, with the long cap as his hat, and a woman dressed in a zebra one piece with her face artfully done up as zebra, too. A colleague from work came as the wicked witch with her 8 month old as a winged monkey, very cute. (6'6" dad was a very tall Scarecrow).

Those almond joy cookies were most excellent, Richard, and kept us from fainting on the porch and losing our books, I mean candy. Nice of you to share with Mamie, too.

Coffee for you and Mamie? Thanks for your patience. Time-jiggered so it's still fresh:

TWO HUNDRED ANKLEBITERS!! Ye gawds. I love my neighborhood more and more.

Carrot cake pancakes, if you please, kindly proprietor...and some lovely runny eggs...a vat or two of coffee...a pig or two bacon...

We had four. That is a 100% increase from how many we had last year. So next year, I will make sure to have enough candy for eight. That coffee looks delightful, Joe, thanks! I'll just finish off the last of those Almond Joy cookies, shall I?

What do you mean there aren't any left?!

>92 msf59: How's it going, Mark? Yeah, the joint was hopping. Went through 5 big Costco bags of candy. You're right, once the rain let up it really got crazy. Fun to see all the kids having a good time.

Bulls eeked it out over the Knicks on a shot by Derrick with 5 secs left - looped it over a 7 footer. He's still rusty, but he's got that strong will to win.

The Returned looks interesting and timely. There were a number of dead people out wandering around last night. Debut novel, too, eh? It's supposed to be dark, though. Hope you can handle that. (Like chips and dip for you, I know).

>93 fuzzi: Jeez, you'd better come visit us, fuzzi. We can barely handle all the t-andt-ers who show up. Life in the city. Good for your dh for making sure you were well-stocked just in case. I could've helped you with those candy bars, for sure. My MBH stopped getting little Nestle Crunch bars for Halloween because we both like them too much. Maybe that's one of the first signs of adulthood - you stop getting something because you like it too much? This might help explain Peter Pan, too.

>94 laytonwoman3rd: Yikes, Linda, I must've forgotten the hurricane affected you like that last year. Rough to get ousted from hearth and home.

That party sounds like my cuppa. Great idea. We probably couldn't leave a cauldron of candy if we did it because numerically we get some kids coming by who are overly-enthusiastic and need structure - i.e., "No." But I've been to tent parties like that, and when better than during a rainy night?

We thought these guys did a particularly good job with their costumes:

>97 richardderus: You wouldn't have wanted to be in our neighborhood last night, RD - 200 ankle biters doesn't begin to cover it.

I can tell you're still recovering from the horror of what might have been. Let's get that furnace stoked.



>98 Crazymamie: Ha! We'll find some more cookies, Mamie. As word keeps getting around about Pecan Paradisio, I imagine your visitor numbers will keep going up. But for time and cost, we would have stopped by in our Wind in the Willows costumes, for sure.

More cookies!

*surfaces momentarily from bacon-sea to grab some almond joy cookies*

>101 richardderus: LOL! I can tell you're in your octopus mentality again, Richard. Back to the deeps you go, camouflaged in bacon colors.

*oink-bubbles arise from bacon-sea*

Hi Joe, that vat of coffee looks mighty tempting this morning. We had a very quiet Halloween with a total of 9 trick or treaters. I had candy for 40 ready so quickly bundled it up and sent it to work with my husband this morning. If I kept it here, it could possibly be all gone by noon!

Thank you for the compliments on the house, Joe. It was a lot of work, and there are a few details left but I love the job the photographer did. He really captured it so that it shows well. I just got a phone call for a "showing" tomorrow. I am expecting the phone to be ringing all the time, now. Oh, My! when will I be able to read, nonstop? Soon. soon.

>103 richardderus: *activates bacopus snorkel*

>104 DeltaQueen50: We tend to operate with big quantities when RD orders, Judy, as you probably noticed. The vat-o-coffee was tempting to me, too, as maybe I've got a sugar hangover or something, but I've definitely got the "slows" today.

A quiet Halloween sounds not all bad, I must say. My MBH and I have mixed feelings, enjoying the happiness and excitement of the hordes that descend, and the fun of it all, but holy candy bar, for us it's pretty much nonstop for more than 2 hours for me (I get home early), and 3 for her. She picked up some pizza and a rice-guac thingy from some friendly new neighbors, and we scarfed that down while still handing out candy.

She's the same way - any candy we're given or whatever, she has me take to work. I put it in the kitchen, and poof, it's gone. We never have any left over from Halloween, but other times, that's the routine. Like many, she has a particular weakness for chocolate, and tries to keep it out of reach except for once in a while. Woo, you would've been sugar-buzzing if you had candy for 31 before noon. Your quick action probably saved your house from a sugar tornado.

>105 maggie1944: You're welcome, Karen. I bet you do get a lot of calls; the house looks really appealing. There will be an end to it all some day, and then the uninterrupted reading can get started! I'm sure you can't wait.

Makes me think of our ongoing house renovation, which I hope will be finished in my lifetime. It doesn't need much involvement from me though, except to say yes that looks good or no it doesn't every once in a while. Eventually we'll have a cool second floor sunroom in the back, overlooking our garden. where we can read and write. Ahh. That will be great. Some day.

This ain't it, but doesn't this look like a good place to hang out?

What a beautiful sunporch that is! Wow. Not even the presence of a wicker chair can ruin it!

Such good energy in this thread Joe! I'm always so happy to stop by, even if I can't really catch up. I'm a bit worried about folks falling off my radar... eek! Don't want that to happen to my favorite cafe!

>107 richardderus: Didn't know wicker was on your "crummy" list, Richard. Seems so innocuous. A misadventure with a wicker basket in your youth?

It is a beautiful sunporch though, isn't it? Seems impossible not to relax and let the annoyances drop away if you're sitting there.

>108 mckait: Thanks, Kath! No worries, we'll all come and find you even if your radar lets us slide off. Plus your favorite cafe is open 24/7, so just stop by when you can.

Good place to practice that goofing off we've talked about, too.

I love TWITW stuffed animals in #99! I want!!

We only had two T or T's last night...and those only my cousin's two tots. We live off the beaten path so never have gotten the kids on Halloween. Personally, that's ok with me....Halloween is not my favorite holiday.

My kids love the adventure books. Some of their faves are Island of the Blue Dolphins, Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, Sign of the Beaver, and Lost on a Mountain in Maine. That last one is a true story of a boy who got lost climbing Mt. Katahdin and ended up in the wilderness for 10 days....great stuff!

I loved Hatchet and think Lost on a Mountain in Maine sounds like it would be a good read, too.

I also got a kick out of the TWITW characters, Joe!

Joe we are all out of my usual nespresso arabica pick-me-up because SWMBO forgot to place the order.

Would almost kill for some of your finest and strongest coffee mate.

Have a lovely weekend.

Morning Joe! Coffee, please. I am enjoying a rare Saturday A.M. We are taking off for Milwaukee in a couple of hours. We should have a blast, but I'll definitely have to pace myself. I do not have the stamina like I used to. We hope to meet up with Laura tomorrow morning for a late breakfast, early lunch.
Hope you have a great weekend, my friend.

>110 fuzzi: Me, too, fuzzi. Aren't those TWITW stuffers great?

>111 Cobscook: There are advantages to being off the beaten path, Heidi, for sure. I'm sure our relatives living up on that mountain in the Berkshires get very few T-and-T-ers. It's beautiful there, and we loved it. But we've talked about living off the beaten path before, and know we'd miss the city life too much, kooky as it is.

I've thought many times about reading The Island of Blue Dolphins and never have. Hatchet and the others look good, too. I liked Julie of the Wolves a lot, so My Side of the Mountain by the same author is particularly intriguing.

>112 maggie1944: Good to hear, Karen. Hatchet really caught my eye. Hope the house-showing is going well.

>113 ronincats: Hi, Roni! I know, great TWITW characters. They look like they're having a good time hanging out together.

BTW, I enjoyed Dragon Ship. Go Theo! I'm already ready for the next entry in her adventures, and don't want to wait for it to be written. Oh well.

>114 PaulCranswick: Hiya, Paul. Ah, it's tough when the essentials get missed in the routine. We've got some wonderful Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee from Peet's for you:



>116 msf59: There's Mark! Good morning, my friend. Good for you - enjoy the Milwaukee trip, and say hi to Laura for us. Here's some coffee for the road (extras for your fellow travelers):



And the proprietor will take a carrot cake muffin this a.m.:

Carrot cake muffin! Inspired.

I, OTOH, will have a double cheeseburger with extra onions and a superdedooper scoop of fries. Fatty goodness, please.

I've thought many times about reading Island of Blue Dolphins and never have. Hatchet and the others look good, too. I liked Julie of the Wolves a lot, so My Side of the Mountain by the same author is particularly intriguing.

READ THEM!!!

Island of Blue Dolphins was a book I read several times as a child, and a recent reread didn't tarnish the memories.

I discovered Gary Paulsen this past year, and have liked what I've read. Another 4-5 of his books await reading...they are glaring at me from my shelves as I type, oops!

I din't finish Julie of the Wolves as a child, but it is on my shelves and scheduled for a second attempt. My Side of the Mountain was another 'favorite' in my youth, skip the movie...although I do have to give it credit for sparking an interest in the book. This year I read the sequel, The Other Side of the Mountain, and the third, Frightful's Mountain is on my TBR list.

I'm currently on antihistamines due to a poison ivy outbreak in my yard...and all over my body...so a really tall and strong brew of java would be appreciated! Can you also throw a shot of espresso in it as well, and add a carrot cake muffin, sans icing, on the side? Thanks!

Oh, you are talking about some of Daniel's very favorite books from when he was younger - and he still has them on his shelves. Hatchet and the My Side of the Mountain books were ones he absolutely loved. There are other books by Paulsen featuring the main character from Hatchet, and he read all of those, too.

I'll take some of that coffee, please, and I wouldn't say no to one of those muffins. Happy Saturday, Joe!

>118 richardderus: Thank goodness, I don't have to share those carrot cake muffins. Double cheese, superdooper fry scoop, fatty goodness - you betcha:



>119 fuzzi: Good book tips, fuzzi, thanks. I'm reading an old one right now, Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks, and really enjoying it. He was a clever guy.

Ah, this can be a tough time of year for allergic reactions, I know. Poison ivy all over - yikes! Hope it's starting to clear up for you. Let's get you that java with a shot (this should pop your eyes open!) and muffin, no icing:



>120 Crazymamie: Good morning, Mamie. Happy Saturday! Hope the Mamie family is having a good weekend at Pecan Paridisio.

All is well here. Just had a good talk with my dad. He was feeling a little down, and I think he's perked up a good bit after our phone call.

Those are just the two books that interest me the most for starters, so I'm glad to have Daniel's endorsement.

Coffee and a muffin, you got it:

Gary Paulson is a very interesting author, also. Has live a bit of "the hard life" I believe and this has informed his writing, for sure.

I'm pacing myself this morning…. a little work, a little LT. Seems brilliant, eh?

>121 jnwelch: It's all about balance, Karen, isn't it? A little work, a little LT. I'm doing better with the little LT so far, so I'd better get it in gear with the work!

Pausen looks like an interesting character in his own right. His Amazon page says, "He divides his time among Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, and the Pacific." Lucky guy.

Oh you have to read Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen. I read this for the first time just a few years ago and it was very funny. Its not an adventure story like Hatchet. Instead the Maine character has to go live with his cousin on a farm around the Depression era. hijinks galore!

>124 Cobscook: Sounds like another good one, Heidi, thanks! I like the cover.

My stomach has been arguing with me for two weeks now. Doctors haven't figured it out yet. I think something mild is in order. Just plain grits. No cheese, no toppings. Just grits. A little salt and butter would be okay. Please?

>119 fuzzi:: I've read all of those mentioned and I agree - they're all excellent! I was fascinated by Island of the Blue Dolphins when I was a kid (the others I've read just in the past couple of years).

I'm glad to hear that your dad had a nice phone call from you. I know how I feel after talking to my kids :)

PEaceful sunday to you

Found these, think they'd go down a treat here:



Apple cinnamon BAKED donuts with brown-butter glaze. Yummers.

Yummers is right! I'll have a half a dozen and a big, big cuppa coffee, please. I think I am going to squeeze reading Housekeeping in right now. And then back to my lists of TBR.

All I need to do in the house right now is be the maid! Mop up after dogs, make the bed, wash the dishes. And wait for the buyers to arrive!

Hey! I'm hoping you guys can help me. Since we're chatting about childhood reads, there's a book I read in middle school that I can't remember the title of. I thought it was Secret Garden, but that's not it. I can't remember the whole story very well but it was about a girl who discovered a sort of secret garden that had statues in it. One of the statues wore a ring and somehow came to life. GACK! too many holes in my memory!! I'd really like to find that book again and read it, because it was captivating to my little mind. Any ideas?

Morning Joe! Hope you are sleeping and taking advantage of the extra hour. We are meeting Laura & Nancy shortly. I am getting hungry, so that is a good thing.

dragonaria - Could you perhaps be thinking of The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit?

Wow! Those donuts look fantastic

>133 Crazymamie: Thanks C.mamie, but not it. I want to say one of the characters is named Dominique. Of course it's only been 30 years ago, I can't imagine WHY I can't remember!

I swear to the goddess, I look for a LIKE button 5 times a day on posts here...
sigh

134 > drneutron
Wow! Those donuts look fantastic

ditto

Hi Joe... reality has returned, happy monday to you!

Good Monday morning. Cup of coffee please. And ah, let's see… a "Apple cinnamon BAKED donuts with brown-butter glaze" will be lovely. Thank you. I think I might get some reading done today, after I vacuum up after the Open House.

Hi, everyone. Caught a bug yesterday, so I'm not making much sense of things. Please enjoy the premises and the staff is on alert.

Feel better soon, Joe, or take as much time as it takes to feel better. I am sure your staff and your fine customers will be able to manage and enjoy themselves in the process. Take good care of yourself.

Ugh! Healing *whammy* speeding its way to you, Joe. Bugs are rotten.

Hiya Joe! Sorry about the bug! Hope it is very short-lived. Are you staying home?

::puts on apron::

Show me where the dish detergent is, and I'll make short work of the piles of dishes.

We can all lend a hand while you're "under the weather"!

Bears win! Bears win! Hope you are feeling better today, my friend.

I'm sorry to hear that you're not feeling well - hope it's over and gone soon!

OK, I'm back, although a bit brain-jumbled and way behind. Thanks for your patience! Let's try to catch up a bit.

>126 Morphidae: We've got the time-jiggerer warmed up, Morphy, and I have a feeling it's going to get a work out this morning. Grits, no frills? You got 'em. Sorry you're stomach's been rebelling.



>127 scaifea: I'll get to Island of the Blue Dolphins at some point, Amber. All these positive comments have been helpful on that, as I've gone back and forth on it for years. BTW, The Thirteen Clocks was excellent. Thurber was a clever guy.

>128 mckait: Thanks, Kath. My peaceful Sunday turned out to be dazed and lethargic, but all is well now. In the middle of the day I was in bed and felt like the bed was vibrating and shifting, just slightly, but noticeably. I'm wondering whether the bug has me hallucinating. Then I find out we had a minor earthquake out here.

>129 richardderus: Now those are DONUTS, Richard. Trying to resist scarfing them all down in seconds. Thanks for bringing them by.

An earthquake? IN CHICAGO???

>>130 maggie1944:, 139 Thanks for your patience, Karen. We'll time jigger you those donuts and some coffee. I miss Ellie! She used to step in and proprietize, or whatever proprietors do, when I'd be out of action.

I just started Housekeeping and, as expected, it's beautifully written. Thanks to Mark for finally getting me to read this one.

Here you go:



>>131 dragonaria:, 135 Hi, Kimberly. Hmm. There was one called The Stonewalkers where the garden statue came to life. There's also an LT group that specializes in these kinds of questions, called Name that Book: http://www.librarything.com/groups/namethatbook. Good luck! Come on by and let us know if you find out.

>>132 msf59:, 141 That extra hour really helped, Mark. We were out late at a party, and then about 2 a.m. I got hit with a nasty bug. I've been pretty much laid out. Unusual for me - I can remember the last time I missed a day of work. Years ago, whenever it was. I did get a mystery read (Strangers in Death), and I've now started Housekeeping.

>133 Crazymamie: Good guess, Mamie. I was a big E. Nesbit reader as a boy.

thanks Joe! I knew there had to be such a place. I shall seek it out!

>146 ffortsa: I know, Judy, weird. We do get them out here. This one was in the Western burbs. There's some debate centering around a quarry blast at the same time: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/chicago_news&id=9313036. We're in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. We're all on these plates that float on the magma, and these jolts happen. Sobering to think that the earth doesn't give much of a crap about all our scurrying around on the skin.

>134 drneutron: The donuts do look fantastic, don't they, Jim. I want some now, please.

>136 mckait: Hiya, Kath! I know, great donuts. I look for a like button all the time, too. I hope that's in our LT future from Tim.

Reality has returned? I'm not ready yet!

>139 maggie1944: Thanks, Karen. I'm doing well enough today to climb up to the crows' nest and keep a lookout.

Oops, more coffee. Here you go:



>140 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. Although any whammy, even a healing one, would've knocked me down in the last couple of days, I'm much better and my internal systems are gradually getting back to normal. Good to be reminded once in a while that our all-important plans for ourselves are always subject to change. A note to that effect would have been fine from my POV, though.

>142 fuzzi: Ha! This explains why the cafe was in pristine condition when I walked in today. Thanks, fuzzi!

>143 msf59: LOL! Great photo, Mark. Yes, better today, and no doubt even better tomorrow. Great Bears win. A good back-up quarterback? Very unusual for the Bears, right? Way to go, McCown.

>144 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. I'm getting it behind me, I'm glad to say. Yeesh. Not fun.

>148 dragonaria: You're welcome, Kimberly. Look forward to hearing what you find out. BTW, it's well worth reading their tips at the top on how best to post there.

OK, caught up? Seems like. I'm ready for more apple cider donuts, and there are plenty to go around.

Very glad you're back in the swing of things, Joe. I so dislike feeling that underwater-disco-dancing sensation of bug type illness.

The donuts are a hit! I'll take a half-dozen and a vat of coffee for my morning snicky-snacky.

>151 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. Ha! Underwater-disco-dancing sensation, I love it. I wasn't feeling much like dancing, but I sure was underwater.

Donuts and coffee, food of the gods (and the cops, last I knew). Here you go:

Yum! Perfection, thanks Joe.

You're welcome, my friend. Plenty of room for dunking should you wish it!

Here it is lunchtime, and I've been operating all morning in a seriously under-caffeinated state. What to do about that now, I wonder?

Hi Joe- Glad you are up and running, (okay, limping quickly). Do not like seeing my pals under the weather.
Glad to see you started Housekeeping. I really like it so far. Her writing is gorgeous.
Hey, I finished Saints. These were both terrific. I wonder if he will continue this? He sure seemed to leave it open-ended.

>155 laytonwoman3rd: Hmm, let's think, Linda. You're in a cafe, what might help with under-caffeination . . . I hear some shouting from the kitchen. Hold on a sec. Staff says this should help with that.



>156 msf59: Hiya, Mark. Yes, definitely on the mend here. Yes, she can really write. Sylvie just showed up, and the sisters-in-law are mighty glad. Not sure what direction this is going to go, but so far so good.

Great to hear both of the Gene Luen Yangs are terrific. Can't wait. More? Can't really comment yet, but that sounds good to me.

Duh! I keep forgetting you haven't read the Yangs! You are in for a treat.

>157 jnwelch: This? This what? I see nuffin. (Can you go blind from lack of caffeine?)

>158 msf59: Yeah, I'm being patient, Mark. Christmukkah comes early this year - Hanukkah begins Thanksgiving Eve this year (unbelievably early), so we'll see.

>159 laytonwoman3rd: Too bad - the site apparently only lets the pic stay briefly, and then it disappears. So we found a big bunch of caffeine for you to help with that blindness. (The original pic had a snoozing pug, which I wish would show).

>157 jnwelch: Better. But I've emptied that cup...may I have a refill, please?

>161 laytonwoman3rd: You may start rising up into the air after all this caffeine, Linda! Here you go:

Levitating Linda! Leapin' Lizards!

I got behind here Joe but since I taught fourth and fifth grade for more years than I like to think the titles My Side of the Mountain, Julie of the Wolves, The Sign of the Beaver, and Island of the Blue Dolphins are all familiar territory for me. Add to that The Westing Game, Maniac McGee, Sarah Plain and Tall and The Whipping Boy and I'm reminded of those little urchins that made teaching so enjoyable for me:)

Hello Joe, I think I just gained 10# catching up on your thread but I can't resist a fresh donut (or two).

I loved all the talk of children's books and the great illustrations. No one mentioned Walter Farley's Black Stallion books. My book shelves as a kid were filled with dogs and ponies.

I'm seconding Mark's rec of The History of Love.

Fifth grade for me was the year of Ring of Bright Water. Ermahgerd. Fourth was Charlotte's Web and third was Professor Diggins' Dragons.

I'll third it.

Good morning, Joe. Good to see you up and about. Coffee will be much appreciated this morning! Busy day. Yesterday I had two sets of people look at the house, today one will be coming, and tomorrow one of Tuesday's people is coming back (that's a good sign). Vacuuming…. mopping… (damn dogs with their muddy feet) and turning on all the lights in the joint. Sigh.

I do have one nice thing scheduled tho - I'm taking a friend to see the retirement place, and I think we might get a free lunch out of it! It will be nice to be reminded why I am doing all this.

I'm trying to make some progress in Good Omens but I think it is just not my cuppa. I heard about a book on "The Splendid Table" (public radio cooking show) and I had to buy it. Cooking Slow explains clearly the reasons why those cuts of meat, and chickens, and such which our Moms and Grandmothers made in their ovens, all morning long on Sunday, smelled so good, and tasted so good, and were not all dried out and tough to eat. It was all about not being in such a big hurry. It is not about using Slow Cookers, it is about putting something on the stove, or in the oven, at a low temp and waiting for it to cook to perfection. I am so wanting to make a really tasty pot roast now.

Sigh.

Need to shop for a really fine Dutch Oven.

Sipping my own brew this morning...thanks for the lift yesterday, Joe! I love those shoes.

Oh! The Westing Game! I loved that one. And also From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. My kids also really loved reading Tangerine, Down the Rabbit Hole and Holes. Those were such fun times!

Joe, sorry to hear that you have been under the weather, but glad that you are on the mend.

*Karen, the ones with a cast iron base are totally worth the money - I love the Staub and Le Creuset lines, but I think anything with a cast iron base would be fabulous. It makes a huge difference for slow cooking in the traditional sense (i.e. no crock pot).

Good morning Joe... hope you are feeling chipper and ready for the day.

Hey, we had some great news today in our unpredictable state. IL passed the gay marriage law, and it will become legal here in June next year. Finally!

>163 richardderus: Luscious lattes, love that leapin' Linda!

>164 brenzi: I like those book mentions, Bonnie. You were a brave lass to teach 4th and 5th grade. I remember those as ages in which kids were relatively well-behaved? I was a pill, as my mother would say, in 7th grade in particular, but a-okay, as far as I can recall, in 4th and 5th.

If you asked my daughter today, she still might name The Westing Game as her favorite book. She lurves it mightily. I liked it, but not to the extreme she does.

I need to get to Sarah Plain and Tall and The Whipping Boy some day.

>165 Copperskye: Hiya, Joanne. I know, those donuts all look so darn good. When I was a teen, I was skinny as a rail, and could have scarfed them all down without blinking an eye or gaining a pound. My older self thrives more on the virtual, calorie-free ones. An occasional RL donut sure is a treat, though.

For some reason, although I rode horses some as a kid (a friend had some), and we had dogs, I never read the horse or dog books. I was more into the Hardy Boys and the Oz books, with occasional others thrown in for seasoning. Charlotte's Web (see below) was a standout other.

>166 richardderus: Charlotte's Web knocked me out as a kid, Richard. Wow, what a great book. It got to one of my sisters, too, and she and I can remember going to an animated version of it at an older age and feeling awfully . . . tall, and old, compared to the main constituents in the theater.

I'm a pushover for otters - how have I not read Ring of Bright Water? I've at least heard of that one. Professor Diggins Dragons is completely new to me.

>167 ffortsa: I'm hearing the call for History of Love, Judy. As I said to Darry a while ago, I hope we get to continue working on our tbr in the afterlife!

>168 maggie1944: Good morning, Karen. That all sounds positive on the house. With how good it looks, it can only be a matter of time, IMO.

What sticks out for you about the retirement place, besides it's in the city? I haven't really heard you talk about it. Do you know anyone there?

Cooking Slow makes sense to me. Slowing down makes a whole lot of things better, including eating slowly, too. I don't read much about food and cooking, but I know my MBH and others have really liked Ruth Reichl's Garlic and Sapphires.

Coffee? Here you go:

I also hope you're feeling better Joe. Nobody does the breakfast service quite like you buddy.

>169 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! You're welcome, Linda. Those are cool shoes. It takes good coffee to get you up in the air like that, right?

>170 Crazymamie: We'll have to get you and seasonsoflove together to gush about The Westing Game, Mamie! She has the same reaction when she hears it named. I liked, and I'm pretty sure my MBH and the kids did, too, From the Mixed-Up Files. My MBH and I got my mom to read Holes, and she loved it. With our gifting, she became a big Joan Bauer fan, especially Hope was Here and Rules of the Road, and she loved Susan Cooper's King of Shadows. All favorites of ours, too.

I'm pretty sure Becca liked Down the Rabbit Hole, and Tangerine is new to me.

I'm feeling a good bit better, thanks. I'm hearing tales around work of people getting bitten by a similar bug, so I guess it's going around.

>171 mckait: Hi, Kath. I'm feeling chipper, but as a true blue LTer, what I'm really ready for is some more reading. I'm about 1/2 way into Housekeeping and it is, of course, excellent. Plus I've got a sci-fi-er I'm enjoying and I'm a ways into the selected poems of a poet Paul C. recommended, Wislawa Szymborska. So I'm ready for that, but not so ready for work. Oh well.

On a rainy day, how about some hot cider?



>173 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Good to see you, mate. Feel free to have some of the hot cider, although I guess you're up around 26 degrees C in your part of the world. That sounds pretty comfortable, actually.

Love the hot cider mate. It is 28 degrees c at almost 11 in the evening but I still couldn't resist the appleicious looking beverage.

Joe - I'm thrilled that you're feeling better! Happy Wednesday, and Go Bulls!

Joe how I've missed the cafe! Lots of delicious food and drink. The apple donuts look yummo! It's too hot and humid today for hot cider but it looks so good.

Joe I just LOL in post #22 when you asked Mark to stop recommending books to you for a bit. The LT Book Pusher asking The Recommender to slow down. Bwhahaha!!! Thanks for the chuckle my friend.

Happy that you're back in the lists, Joe. I suspect that, as it's lunchtime, I'd do well to request a hearty meal, so howzabout rustlin' up a chicken-fried steak, some skin-on mashies, and a field or two of collard greens?

Never read Ring of Bright Water! Well, go forth and fix that. A book I truly treasure.

Professor Diggins' Dragons didn't hold up well to an adult re-read, but it was very important to me back when. All about being a misfit, something I'm sure you never endured.

>177 luvamystery65: Good to see you, Roberta! You've been missed here. I'm glad it has sorted out well with your mom. Too hot and humid for hot cider? Ah, life in Texas. Our favorite son was just in Houston, and returns in two weeks for a poetry slam there.

Ha! You got me on the LT Book Pusher vs. The Recommender in >22 jnwelch:. What I probably should have done is alerted Mark to a great new series he should read. I've tried that, though, and he's really good at silent avoidance. I'll keep working on strategy. Balancing LT recs with reading wants and whims is an art form, isn't it?

>178 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. It's good to be back. We'll get working on that meal.

You'll be glad to know I added Ring of Bright Water to my wishlist. Otters know how to live, don't they? Food, mating and goofing around. What more is needed? Book reading, I guess. With that, life is complete.

All right, chick-fried, skin mashies and fields of green(s), here you go:

ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh

yyyyyyyyyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I hope you get the Maxwell for xmas, so put it on your swap list!

Chiming in as another big fan of The Westing Game and From the Mixed-Up Files!

Hi Joe- Silent avoidance? Who me? I'll do my best Elmer Fudd and be very very quiet!
The rain has tapered off but the wind is picking up. Might be time to add another layer. Glad you are enjoying HK. I am loving it too. Beauty, with just the right edge.

Oh Happy Day! thanks again Joe for pointing me to Name that Book. Sakerfalcon found it for me in less than a day and I now have it in my hot little hands. The Court of the Stone Children is the title. SQUEEE!!! thank YOU!!!!!

>180 richardderus: They're doing high fives in the kitchen, RD. Glad it all hit the spot. Maxwell for xmas is a fine idea.

>181 scaifea: Those are both excellent, aren't they, Amber? I wouldn't mind a re-visit with both.

>182 msf59: Is that being wery, wery quiet, Mark? Until you start singing, "Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit"? The fedora and raincoat help, too.



Yeah, the wind just about got my Hawks baseball cap today. By the Sears (Willis) Tower it's really been whipping.

I'm far enough into HK that I'm getting tangled up with the characters. I want to help each one of them. Beauty, with just the right edge - well put.

>183 dragonaria: Great news, Kimberly! The Court of the Stone Children?! By gum, we read that one! I bet our daughter remembers it. That was a good 'un, all right. Definitely SQUEE- worthy! Glad that worked out so well. Kudos to Sakerfalcon.

I'm pretty sure this was the cover when we read it:

Hi Dad! Sorry you're not feeling well, I'm not at all either. A big mug of hot cider sounds wonderful right about now please.

The Westing Game is still my favorite book, and has been for 18 years :)

Sorry you're feeling lousy, hon. We'll get that hot cider. I thought The Westing Game was still your #1! And you've read a load of books over the years. Do you remember The Court of the Stone Children? I read it, and thought I probably did that with you.

I'm also going to post, in a bit, that great Murakami vending machine you showed me. Here's the hot cider:



Hope you feel better soon.

Here's that vending machine:

I was also impressed that Housekeeping was her first novel. I loved it all the way to the end.

>187 maggie1944:. It was great, Karen. Holy guacamole, Lucille, Ruthie, Sylvie. That's a powerful book.

In case you don't make it back to Facebook soon.

>189 richardderus:. Ha! Man, could I use Beer Thirty right about now! Thanks. Won't be near Facebook til tonight.

hiya, Joe. just thought i'd bring a few friends in for a very late tea. Patches loves toasted tea cakes. i'm a scone fiend myself.



and oh, condolences on last night's game, hon. love the Pacers. serious D and major crashing of glass. of course, i only love the Pacers because i love the Fever but, whatever. it was a good game and their D may make me a serious Pacers fan.

Did you incorrectly guess that Facebook riddle?

Hey Joe- I LOVE the Murakami vending machine! I want one. What was the great series you want me to try? I must have missed the obvious references. LOL.

I was thinking about doing an American Author Challenge, next year. Pick an author a month and try to read at least one book by him or her. Of course, many of those would be books I have on shelf. Would you be interested in something like that? I know we talked about Morrison and I am sure we could easily come up with eleven more.

I want to do an American author challenge!

i was feeling chocolaty and thought i'd drop by with a chocolate gran marnier ganache in honor of all Inspector G* peeps. also made a whopper pot of Peet's Blue Mountain Jamaica from their really limited roasting.

djawanna nosh some ganache?



*eta for some reason i always think of Inspector Gamache as Inspector Ganache.

Hi Joe, looks like I picked the perfect time to drop by. I certainly want to nosh on some of Ellie's ganache! Hmmm, does that sound rude? Anyway coffee and chocolate are two of my most favorite flavors!

Mmmm....tempting. Must resist 'til later---fasting bloodwork in an hour. HOWEVER, if someone were to put aside a piece for me, I'd be grateful. Chocolate and coffee are two of my favorites as well, but I'm not particularly fond of them in combination with one another. *shrug* So I wait 30 seconds after swallowing one to swallow the other.

oh, gosh, now I have a mouth watering "jones" for chocolate desserts…with coffee.

I received the new Doris Kearns Goodwin book, The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism yesterday, as well as Ammonite. Oh! I have some great reading in my future!!

>191 mirrordrum: Is that Roy "pAtches" Hibbert putting his head through the window, Ellie? Them Pacers are good. We think them Bulls are better, but they're all arhythmic right now. Derrick wants to go too fast and do too much, and the rest aren't shooting well, and the defense they can play ain't happenin', especially in the 4th quarter. Going to be major disappointing if they can't pull themselves out of it, but we'll see. Good coach, plenty of talent, hard-working players - it should straighten out.

Tea cakes and cones with a s, coming up:



>192 thornton37814: I'm Facebook-impaired, Lori (hard to find time for both LT and FB). What was the Facebook riddle? If I knew, yes, I'd probably incorrectly guess it.

>193 msf59: Isn't that Murakami vending machine cool, Mark? Becca found it. I want one, too.

You're actually pretty good at series when you're not silently avoiding hearing about them. Two that come to mind right away are Bujold's Vorkosigan series and Parker's Spenser series. I'm an Inspector Montalbano aficionado, too, as you probably gathered. And there are others. This year I'm gobbling up those in Death books. Addictive.

An American author a month, sure. Morrison is a good idea, and as you say, we could come up with 11 others. That's enough time and flexibility to fit in among whims and wants, seems to me.

>194 luvamystery65: Roberta's in!

>195 mirrordrum: Ha! As soon as I saw your post I thought of Inspector Ganache, Ellie. That's a beaut - thanks for bringing it by. By gosh, it looks like a posh nosh of ganache. That's not tosh or a josh.

>196 DeltaQueen50: Unlike some curmudgeonly bloggers that are out and about, Ellie is a gracious sharer, Judy, so I'm sure you're welcome to a splosh of ganache. (I guess it makes a soft splashing sound as it hits the plate?) Hard to beat coffee and chocolate.

>197 laytonwoman3rd: We should be post-bloodwork now, right, Linda? We kept a slice for you. You deserve a reward for your efforts.



>198 maggie1944: Speaking of rewards for efforts - a house that looks like it belongs in Architectural Digest deserves a chocolate dessert and coffee, Karen. The Goodwin TR book should be most excellent. Look forward to hearing your reaction to it. And I saw Ellen (?) talking about Ammonite, so that one is intriguing, too.

Here you go.



Woo, the cafe has a sweet tooth this morning, doesn't it?

Goodness knows I won't be making any inroads into the chocolate stuff. Howzabout the ol' faithful standby, carrot cake? Yum!

YUMMMM......and is that Spode cup I see? Yes, the bloodwork is behind me. I had a stick failure for the first time ever...veins must be getting old and flat, like the rest of me. Left arm apparently is DONE with that nonsense. Right arm stepped up and did what was needed without complaint. I've now been fortified with one cup of Dunkin', and will happily take on that melt-in-the-mouth concoction above.

Soooo...when we say "American authors", do we mean US authors, or North American authors, or authors from The Americas? Whatever the criteria, I'm in. And I have two names to suggest for the list...Jeffrey Lent, and Jon Clinch..if we're not sticking to people with decades-long reputations.

I have a suggestion for the American authors' idea: Stuart Kaminsky

I have read a number of his Russian detective mysteries, but not his other works.



I'm thrilled by the menu this morning, my two favorite foods, coffee and chocolate!

>201 richardderus: You know I'm always glad of a carrot cake request, Richard, as I usually manage to get some on the side. Hope your Friday is going well so far.



>202 laytonwoman3rd: I'm not as Spode-savvy as I might be, Linda, but it sure looks Spode-worthy.

Glad the bloodwork worked, even if one arm balked.

I'm not sure what criteria Mark has in mind for Ammie authors, although I suspect he's thinking USA-ian. Mamie and Julia have started offering possibilities: http://www.librarything.com/topic/160731#4355230.

I'm Alice Walker-deficient, and wouldn't mind a prod to read more Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, too.

Eleanor Cameron of The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet and the rest of that series?

That was the series when I was a kid that I wanted to go where the author was and demand she write more books about the characters.

And I wanted to build a rocket ship in my garage and take off.

>205 magicians_nephew: Looks like one and the same, Jim. I'd never heard of this one. I didn't read her as a kid, only coming upon The Court of the Stone Children when my daughter was old enough for us to read it together. Looks like a fun one. Maybe a better Tom Swift? I wanted to like the Tom Swift books, but they never grabbed me.

You know it's good when it makes you want to chase down the author like that, and build your own ship.

Joe, you are braver than I. I had to go back and reread Balance of Trade after reading the first chapter of Trade Secret--although that is always a pleasure. Just getting ready to dip into Trade Secret later today.

>207 ronincats: I appreciate the "braver" thought, Roni, but "stupider" might be more apt. I'm having to work hard to remember the characters and relationships in Trade Secret. I think you're smart to re-read Balance of Trade first. I will say it gets better and easier after the first part of TS.

Hi Joe - Just a quick check in. Do you think I would like the Bujold series? I have read many of the Spenser books and I have tried and liked the Montabano series, which reminds me to get back to to it.

I will make up my list of North American Authors, along with the choices my pals gave me. It should be a blast. I would like to kick off the year with Cather. I know you've been singing her praises.

Linda- I also like Clinch but sadly have not read Lent. Very Bad Mark!

Mark there is a year long read of the Vorkosgian Saga next year. Join us!

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Group_Reads_of_2014#YEAR-LONG

>209 msf59: I think you would like the Bujold series enough that you wouldn't regret reading one or two books in it, if you weren't inspired to go further, Mark, and there's a good chance you'd love it.

You'll get two different tips on where to start. The first three books in the series are Shards of Honor, Barrayar, and Warriors Apprentice. The first two are combined in Cordelia's Honor. Warrior's Apprentice is the first Miles book. That's the one I started with (based on a bookseller's rec), and I got hooked. I then went back in time to Shards and Barrayar, which feature his parents. The rest of the series features Miles, although the most recent centers around his cousin Ivan.

Maybe Roberta knows in what order the Group Read will go. I'll be sure to kibitz on that one. (The definition of kibitz seems to include "offer unwelcome advice" - I'll try to avoid that).

>210 luvamystery65: I'd be all over that GR if I hadn't already read and re-read them, Roberta. I'll enjoy being a spectator, for sure.

Joe, the author herself recommends a chronological order instead of published order. I'm not sure what the group has decided but I don't think there will be hard and fast rules. They sound good so I'm going to give them a try.

I loved the year long Sandman read this year because everyone went at their own pace and commented when they got there.

>212 luvamystery65: Yes, the Sandman group read seemed like a big success, Roberta. I enjoyed following along.

It will be interesting to see how folks sort out chronological order. On that basis, there is at least one short story that precedes Shards, as does Falling Free. I wouldn't start with either, but that's me.

Would you read them in published order Joe? Some of the short stories look hard to get a hold of but I'm not going to worry so much with those and concentrate on the first few books and see how I like the universe.

This is basically it, Roberta, from my POV. It leaves out various omnibuses (except one)that combine these in various ways.

Cordelia Naismith

Shards of Honor (1986)
Barrayar (1991)—Hugo Award winner, Locus Award winner, 1992, Nebula Award nominee, 1991
(Cordelia's Honor (1996)—Combined edition of Shards of Honor and Barrayar with an afterword by the author).

Miles Vorkosigan

The Warrior's Apprentice (1986)
Borders of Infinity (1989)
Brothers in Arms (1989)
The Vor Game (1990)
Mirror Dance (1994)
Cetaganda (1995)
Memory (1996)
Komarr (1998)
A Civil Campaign (1999)
Diplomatic Immunity (2002)
Winterfair Gifts (2008) (novella)
Cryoburn (2010)
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance (2012)

Other

Ethan of Athos (1986)
Falling Free (1988)


Reading the series in this order would work out well. As I mentioned, I read Warrior's Apprentice first, and then went back to Shards of Honor and Barrayar. I liked that because it was an immediate intro to Miles and let me know I'd want to read the rest. I'm sure that's why the bookseller recommended I start with that.

But Shards and Barrayar lead up to Warrior's Apprentice, and Cordelia is a wonderful character (just wait!) A lot of people, and the author, would recommend you read them first.

You could read the two "Other" ones (Ethan of Athos and Falling Free) anywhere in there, after you're a ways into the series, as far as I'm concerned. They're set in the same universe, and feature non-Vorkosigan characters.

Some folks would have you start with Falling Free, as it is first in time.

Some folks also mention Dreamweaver's Dilemma, a collection of short stories, most non-Vorkosigan. I haven't read it. I think the one Vorkosigan story in it is Mountains of Mourning (great story), which also is in Borders of Infinity, up above.

>186 jnwelch: a Murakami vending machine?? Geeeeee-nius!

> 200 oh those pis slices are making my mouth fill with anticipatory saliva. Oh dear, imagine how many slow pilates sessions I would have to do to work even one slice off....

I am on my third coffee already for today, (it is lunchtime) as there was wine drunk last night. I am desperately clawing some sense of control over the day through caffeine.

Joe thank you for that recommendation. I have added the post to my favorites and will copy and paste to my notes later.

Roberta- Thanks for the Miles Vorkosigan G.R. link. I signed up. Have you tried any of these on audio? If you can remember to give me reminders when the new year starts, I would appreciate it.

Joe- Thanks for the Miles Vorkosigan info. This might be perfect for FF. You were joining on the Bleak House G.R. in Jan, right? I can not believe how many people are signed up for that already. That could be a big one.

Mark - I have not read any of Lois McMaster Bujold works. I look forward to reading them. Joe and Mamie (I think Richard also) made them sound so good. I will definitely remind you.

We can do it together, Roberta! Awwwwwww...

I like the Vorkosigan books a lot.

Wow! That is an endorsement! Walks away, jauntily...

I read two or three of the beginning books and I agree they are excellent!

Wow! This café is hopping! I think I just gained 5 pounds tonight.
Catching up on this thread (so sorry to fall so far behind) has been yummy - both for food and books ;-)
I always have fun reading through your thread. (I might have said that before.)
These group reads for 2014 sound great. Now I have to think about this and make some plans for the Bujold series. Yearlong! Didn't even know there was such an animal.

Sorry you had a spell of not feeling well, Joe. Glad you are better now.

Hi Joe, I am looking forward to the Vorkosigan read next year. I started this year with Shards of Honor and plan to continue with the second Cordelia book, Barrayar in January and then continue on with The Warrior's Apprentice etc. Should be a fun group read.

I've signed up for the Vorkosigan group read as well. I read Shards of Honor this year and really enjoyed it.

Cee is right.. Friday was a busy night here... are you sleeping in today to make it up?

I am trying to convince myself that I will feel much better and so very productive after some outside work. I guess I'm not a very convincing person.

Happy weekend Joe :)

Good morning! Saw a lovely production of Cyrano last night at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, with Harry Groehner doing a star turn as C. He was the Mayor in Buffy, as some of you will remember. We loved him in The Madness of George III (Alan Bennett) at CST, and he blew us away again in this one. I like him much better on the stage than the tube - subtler, more range. What a wordfest that play is!

>216 LovingLit: Isn't that Murakami vending machine the cat's pajamas, Megan? (Very USA-ian phrase; I thought he'd like a cat reference).

Yes, Ellie got us rolling with an excellent chocolate grand marnier gamache in honor of Inspector Ganache, or ganache/gamache in less silly parts of the world.

I envy you being on your third cup of coffee, a status I aspire to. That was a three hour play, and I had to watch some of the Bulls game (they won, yes!) upon return home, so I'm trying to swim my way up to the surface of the day myself.

>217 luvamystery65: You're very welcome, Roberta. I'm glad that's helpful. You'll see in a couple of this a.m.'s posts that folks started with Shards of Honor.

>218 msf59: Oh, man, so cool that you're going to give the Vorkosigan Saga a whirl, Mark. Can't wait to hear from you and the other group readers. Those books make me smile just to think of them.

I already read and enjoyed Bleak House, so I'll be following along on the GR. How could our favorite connoisseur of darkness resist a book with "Bleak" in the title?

>>219 luvamystery65:-222 Yes, when you get such varied readers endorsing a series, it's a good sign, Roberta. There are a surprising number of books Richard and I both like/love, despite a disagreement or two (ahem) over the appeal or virtuosity of some authors. Great to have Mark trying this series. I imagine you'll all have a good time.

>223 maggie1944: Ah, good, Karen. I think it gives folks comfort, in trying something new, to hear that dedicated readers from different tastes and backgrounds have liked it. I know it does me.

>224 -Cee-: Hiya, Cee. You can never say too much that you have fun here! The staff is high-fiving back there.

I know, yearlong is a bit boggle-minding. It worked great, from my POV, for the Steinbeck GR.

I'm feeling a good bit better, thanks, although about two cups of coffee shy of poking my head up into the normal world.

>225 DeltaQueen50: Oh my, just hearing you say those titles makes me want to read them again, Judy! I miss Cordelia, I miss Miles. I miss others you'll meet, e.g. Taura and Ekaterin. What a ride!

>226 SandDune: Excellent to hear, Rhian. If you really enjoyed Shards of Honor, you're off and running, and will have a good time with the rest. Wait until you meet hyperkinetic Miles.

>227 mckait: Not exactly sleeping in, Kath (got up at 5:30 am per usual), but slow on the uptake, struggling to screw in the dim bulb, wandering the paths of Stupor, yes. It was a late night after the play and dem Bulls.

It's a pretty crisp day here, so if yours is anything like, some time outside may have those restorative effects you're hoping for.

Happy weekend! It's my favorite part of the week, it is.

Hmm, looks like we're ready to open up the veranda if you're interested:

Hi Joe, oy was it a bad night for sleep. WIDE AWAKE until 4a, then drowsy/nappish unto this good moment.

Line up about six double espressos, if you please, and make sure no one gets near my carrot cake. The big triple-layer one, I mean.

Joe that veranda is perfect for a good book and a cup of coffee. I hope you don't mind if I show up in my pjs and slippers. Just tell the other customers I'm eccentric.

My nieces and nephews were instructed at quite a young age to call me eccentric (code for crazy). They still call me crazy but all in good fun and lots of love.

>231 richardderus: Sorry to hear that, Richard. Lousy to be wide awake til all hours. 6 doubles and triple, got it. Hope the weekend improves as it goes on.



>232 luvamystery65: We've got a cafe full of eccentric denizens, Roberta, so you fit right in. I know, from early on, when my kids would call me weird (why would they ever think that), I thanked them. Seems like the way to be, doesn't it?

Appropriate cafe attire:

I can't see the photo of appropriate cafe attire. What is it with LT and photos lately?

Huh. This one is right there for me. Not sure. I'll add one to it, since maybe this one's okay for other folks.

*glances up from devouring carrot cake with unseemly relish and slurping noises*

Aww the jammies are adorable!

Ha! They must be high up on the adorability scale if they distracted you from devouring that cake, Richard.

Glad they're showing up!

#218 I have listened to at least two of the Vorkosigan books on audio Mark and enjoyed them very much. I find them helpful in learning how to pronounce everyone's names!

Hi Joe! Hope you are having a relaxing Saturday!

#230 Ahhh! Now there is something to do this weekend ;-) Tropical porching!
If jammies are acceptable, I'm all over that veranda.
Coffee and hot bread pudding please - I don't care what kind, but please don't skip the sauce :)
Thx so much!

>238 Cobscook:. Good tip for our favorite audio guy, Heidi. I'd like to try that some time. Who reads them?

I'm home taking it easy, so life is good. Hope you're enjoying a relaxing weekend, too.

>239 -Cee-:. Jammie's are the clothing of choice today, Cee. Jammin' on the veranda, what could be better?

I'm all in favor of bread pudding and coffee. Unfortunately, I'm suffering from lousy iPad software update syndrome. I'm hoping maybe a guest chef will show up.

Hi Joe,
I have a feeling I'm stopping by the cafe just in time for a new franchise to open. Oh well.

At my RL Book Club last month, I was greeted by a chorus of gasps when I said I had never read The Wind in the Willows. I'm determined to rectify this gap in my education and, seeing the toppers for your thread, I hope I can find a copy with illustrations by Inga Moore. Lovely.

That veranda in #230 is also lovely! I can just tell that the air is perfect there.

I'm not sure what you're reading these days but I hope you're enjoying.

Oh my gosh Joe ... Harry Groehner?? Is this the same fabulous dancer from "Crazy for You"?

If so, I'm thinking that there's not much dancing in "Cyrano" but do you know if he dances still?

Hi Joe - I am getting ready to wrap up my work-day. I am meeting a friend for a couple quick ones and then heading home. Planning on doing very little tomorrow.
Glad to see the interest in the American Author Challenge. Should be a lot of fun.

*waves* Hi Joe! I'm scanning through your lovely thread! :)

Catching up here, but it's too late for caffeine.

In the morning I'd love a "red eye express"...a tall mug of strong java with a cup of espresso added! ::drool::

And a scone, made with real creamery butter.

Cyrano, a tale that made me cry when I watched an animated version as a child, but I'm sure it was wonderful to watch on stage.

Addendum: here it is! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360500/

Live theater is FUN! I took my children to little theater at a local college, and we all enjoyed it.

>241 EBT1002:. Consider yourself lucky, Ellen. I suspect a whole lot of denizens envy you reading The Wind in the Willows for the first time. I'm glad you like the Inga Moores. Great way to enjoy the book.

Let us know what you think once you get a chance to read it.

I just finished the beautiful, sad, moving Housekeeping, and now I'm reading a Liaden Universe sci-fi-er, Trade Secret.

>242 NarratorLady:. That's the guy, Anne! No dancing in this, but some most excellent swordplay.

What a talented guy.

>243 msf59:. Nice, Mark. Hope it was a decent workday. Glad you're starting some break time.

The American Author Challenge looks like a solid addition to 2014.

>244 leperdbunny:. Tamara! What a wonderful surprise! Where have you been? Welcome back!

>245 fuzzi:. Hiya, fuzzi. If the animation of Cyrano made you cry, it may have tracked the play pretty well, as that has some tear-jerker moments, for sure.

We're live theater nuts. One of the benefits of city life is lots of it around. We get to a lot, but expect to get to even more when retirement comes. Good for you for taking the kids.

Cyrano, with its passion for the power of words, makes for a natural match with LTers, doesn't it?

Let me be the first to wish you a happy Sunday.

With all the house craziness I still found time to read. I dipped into the big big big Theodore Roosevelt book last night and I love it. Doris Kearns Goodwin writes with such an accessible style that I feel as if I am sitting in a living room listening to her tell stories of American History. The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and the Golden Age of Journalism is a big one, and I have some other big ones I've set aside like Robert Caro's LBJ book. Oh, my, I don't think I'll be finishing any of them soon but they do provide some great reading times.

I also spent some time yesterday trying to fill in books for next year's American Authors Challenge. I am going to put the list on my thread. I'd be interested in what you might think. And then I also found time to read a few more pages of The Language of Flowers which I still am enjoying.

Today - shopping for a new bed at IKEA with my friend. I am lending her my big puppy fence as she is dealing with a new lab puppy. And her older lab is recovering from ASL surgery. OMG, what a lot of work she is doing. Like having new babies all over the house; and she's retired. Shopping will be fun.

Hope your day will be fun, too!

Joe, I would probably still go to live theater (college town here), but I just don't like going out at night any more...when it's dark, I want to be home.

I have mainly have attended musical productions: I've seen Fiddler on the Roof and Pirates of Penzance a couple times each, plus HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, The Music Man, and Man of La Mancha. I know we've done more than those, but my brain is feeling a bit befuddled this morning. I really need that Red Eye Express...

>248 maggie1944:. Happy Sunday, Karen!

Oh my, you've got me thinking about Bully Pulpit. I enjoyed Team of Rivals so much. You're right, such an accessible style.

Good idea to list books for the AAC. I'll try to do the same later.

We're off to breakfast. Debbi asked me to say hi to you - she really enjoyed meeting you in Seattle.

Hi Joe! Sigh, life. :( I realized that I missed reading and missed you guys! My reading has been abysmal this year- ready to get back into the swing of things!

I enjoyed Team of Rivals, too. I mean to read more by her, when the mood strikes :)

Hi Joe! I just started brewing my second pot of coffee.. yes pot. This does not bode well! Have a peaceful and happy day!

Joe, tell Debbi "hi" back at her. I enjoyed meeting you both and look forward to your visiting Seattle and the Elliott Bay Books store again.

Oh- forgot to post come stop by my thread and have a cuppa Joe :)

Joe, I read Jeeves and the Wedding Bells...loved revisiting the Woosterverse!...and reviewed same in my thread. It's so amazing to me that the man who wrote Birdsong also wrote this book! I need to look more deeply into Sebastian Faulks's ouevre, clearly.

Morning Joe- You must be sleeping in. Good for you! I think I unleashed a lion with the American Author Challenge but at least it's a fun cuddly lion. I do not think we can get enough book chatter.
Enjoy your Sunday and Go Bears!

Or football, baseball, soccer, or basketball chatter. Its all good stuff.

Hi Joe, I really enjoyed all the talk upthread about children's books. It brought back many happy memories for me of my own childhood (I'm another fan of The Borrowers), raising and reading to my three children, and my teaching years. And now I have the joy of grandchildren to read to! Life is good.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Ah the Borrowers. . brings back good memories!

I think the Vorkosigan books I listened to were read by Grover Gardner. In any event, the narrator was a guy and he did a very good job.

Oh, my, has any one seen Joe around the cafe? Seems like a very quiet Sunday here.

Just popped in to say I received, and accepted, a full price offer for my house. I have three crazy weeks to pack it up and then off to Hawaii to recuperate. I'll probably be a bit scarce again.

Oh, congratulations Karen, excellent news. Let's break out the champagne!

Yay, Karen!

Joe, I finished Trade Secret today. What a lot going on, very tightly plotted, and a very satisfactory ending.

Thank you, very much.

I think I can run the espresso machine. Would any one other than me want a cuppa? Latte? Where do you suppose Joe has holed-up? Maybe he is just into a book so much that he's not able to come say "hey".

Congratulations, Karen!

Congratulations on the house sale Karen!

I see that Karen has sold the house! Great!

Okay, let's catch up a bit.

>249 fuzzi: I work with a guy who loves to go to musicals, fuzzi. We've seen a lot of Sondheim, and ones like Book of Mormon. Makes for a great night at the theater.

Looks like you could use some time-jiggered oomph. Here you go.



>251 leperdbunny: Ah, life. It has a way of disrupting things, doesn't it, Tamara? You've been missed. Glad you're back! We can sure help with the reading part. :-)

>252 mckait: It was a peaceful and happy day, Kath. Hope yours was, too. I spent a lot of it goofing off, as you can tell. We visited with our #1 daughter and her furry sidekick, and went to a store with pickles and mustard we like. (Yes, perhaps some beer snuck into the bag, too).

Finished my sci-fi-er and started one I'm pretty sure you had a positive reaction to, Rough Passage to London. So far, so good, although Ely is getting some bumps and bruises and lousy jobs as the new boy on ship.

>253 maggie1944: I'll pass on your "hi" to Debbi, Karen. We hope and expect to see your fine city in January or February - not an ideal time of year, we know, but we miss the young lad.

>254 leperdbunny: Ooh, your thread looks inviting, Tamara. I'll stop by once we get everyone here served.

>255 richardderus: Great news, Richard! I know, Birdsong and Wodehouse? I wasn't sure it would really work, but your reaction is a big boost. I'll peruse the review shortly.

>256 msf59: As you can tell, Mark, not only did I sleep in (sorta), but after breakfast out we took it easy all day. Hope you had a good one. Not too bad out today, although a temperature drop is on the way, right?

I've got to put together my Am. Author Challenge list when time frees up.

Poor Bears!

>257 maggie1944: Sports Central here, Karen. The Seattle Seahawks juggernaut just keeps on juggernauting, doesn't it? Looking like a Super Bowl year so far.

>258 Donna828: Hi, Donna! Yes, it has been fun to talk about memories of childhood faves with a bunch of booklovers. Thank you LT. Where would we get a chance to do that in RL? Good to hear from another Borrowers fan. I've mentioned that series without success for years. I knew there had to be some fans out there. I broke down and bought a used Inga Moore illustrated Secret Garden. That should be a good read over the holidays.

We haven't gotten to the grandkids part yet, but I may try reading to Sherlock the fur dog. I suspect he's probably a mystery buff, and will bark out the solution before we get to the end.

>259 leperdbunny: Excellent, Tamara. We're starting to have a pretty substantial group of Borrowers fans. Now we just need an Ing Moore quality illustrator to redo them.

>260 Cobscook: Grover Gardner for the Vorkosigan audios. Thanks, Heidi. I'm really tempted to get one of those for our next car trip (my main venue for audio-listening).

>261 maggie1944: Wonderful news, Karen! Congratulations!

That must be a major relief, and that new chapter of your life is getting closer. Good idea to R & R in Hawaii after the craziness is done.

On us!

Morning, Joe. I'm pimpin' for an actual US Navy vet's naval thriller today. Bob Branco, husband of our own tututhefirst, wrote Strike from the Deep about Somali piracy, Russian oil-and-gas moguls' evilness, and a rogue submarine.

Even *I* was swept up.

So much so that I need a restorative vat of coffee with my mega-omelet. Maybe, hmmm, chili and cheese!

>262 DeltaQueen50: We're with you, Judy! We're going to be whooshing through the champagne with Karen's news, I'm sure.

>263 ronincats: Great news re our Karen, isn't it, Roni?

I agree with you on Trade Secrets. Great to see Jethri develop, and various threads start to tie together. I suspect that's not the last we see of the "dead" man. I'm may have to track down some more Liaden books; I know there are still a few off the beaten path that I haven't read yet.

>264 maggie1944: Books and movies and visits and walks on a nice day here (including to the library) tied me up, Karen. At our kids' urging we watched This is the End last night, and it was very funny. If you have a low threshold for being offended, you'll want to steer clear. But Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Jay Franco, Emma Watson and a bunch of others scathingly make a lot of fun of themselves and us.

Let us make you a latte, since the proprietor was an absentee for much of the day. You could probably use one after all that champagne.

>>265 fuzzi:-266 There's champagne for thems that want it, fuzzi and Roberta, and horse doovers. Great news about Karen's house!



>269 richardderus: Good morning, Richard! That sounds like a good one, all right, and how appropriate on Vets Day. I'm reading about a U.S. sailor in Rough Passage to London, but it's set way back in the early 1800s. I'll take a look at Bob Branco's book.

Chili and cheese omelet, and massive coffee, coming up.

2010 gallons of coffee! Heavens, might even be enough to fuel *me*! Thanks, Joe, you're a scholar and a gentleman.

Morning Joe- Coffee please! Missed you yesterday. I was busy juggling the AAC picks. This is going to be a lot of fun. I know you are a Vonnegut fan and the Amazon Daily Deal features a bunch of his titles.
Miraculously, I found several of the Bujold saga books on audio: Falling Free, Shards of Honor,
Barrayar and a few more. That should be a good order to start, right?

I am also joining Roberta on the Un Lun Dun Group Read, next month. I know you are a Mieville fan, have you read this one?

>272 richardderus: Ha! Glad that hit the spot and then some, Richard. We've got a coffee-filled fire truck ready if you need a refill.

>273 msf59: Hiya, Mark. I was just working on that AAC. I agree, it will be a lot of fun. Right now on Vonnegut I'm thinking I'll re-read Cat's Cradle and see whether it stands the test of time. Loved it muchly as a kid.

I have to admit I'm biased against starting with Falling Free. I'd start with Shards. Falling Free, to me, is better when you already understand the universe, including the "quaddies" a bit. But if you read FF and then Shards and then Barrayar, it will all be fine. It is the chronological way the author recommends, so who am I to quibble?

It's a cranky start to the day, I guess, but Un Lun Dun is one Mieville I didn't like at all. My Mieville fan sister didn't either. For me, his attempt to pitch it to a lower age level doesn't work. But plenty of other people disagree.

American Author's Challenge (thanks to Mark):

Willa Cather- January The Professor's House
Cormac McCarthy- February The Orchard Keeper
William Faulkner- March Anything but Faulkner
Toni Morrison- April Sula
Eudora Welty- May The Optimist's Daughter
Kurt Vonnegut- June Cat's Cradle (re-read)
Mark Twain- July Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Philip Roth- August The Ghost Writer
James Baldwin- September Notes of a Native Son
Edith Wharton- October Ethan Frome
John Updike- November The Witches of Eastwick
Larry Watson- December Let Him Go

Oh, Joe, I'm so glad you are reading The Ghost Writer. I bought it a while ago for my Kindle and I read a page or two and became distracted. I think I'll need someone else to read it along side of me in August, next. I also chose Cat's Cradle for June. Liked it also, when I was "young" - probably back in the 1970s.

Whoo hoo

Thank you for the celebratory consumables. Yummy. Happy Monday to you.

This thread is making me hungry! Good morning Joe- does anyone ever say that to you? *Cue rimshot* :P Off to make coffee and scrambled eggs!

>275 maggie1944: It will be a pleasure to have the company on The Ghost Writer, Karen, and Cat's Cradle, too. The only one of Roth's I ever read was Goodbye Columbus, and it didn't captivate me. This is a good example why Mark's AAC idea is such a good one - it's making us stretch.

My son is a big Vonnegut fan, too, but wasn't as keen on Cat's Cradle as me. His favorite, last I knew, was Welcome to the Monkey House.

You're welcome re the consumables. What a Happy Monday it is! I imagine you'll be smiling most of the day, with the good news you've gotten. Lots of details ahead, but how great to have the biggest worry taken care of.

>276 leperdbunny: Good morning, Tamara! You know, in part because LT is so international, I don't get the "Good morning" greeting as often as you might think. Thank goodness we have the time jiggerer to help us fill orders.

In case you're feeling a bit lazy or just want to treat yourself, here are some scrambled eggs and coffee for you.

Joe- Terrific AAC list! I wish I could join you on both the Cather & McCarthy. The only problem with this, is there are so many titles by each of the authors that I want to read. But, I guess you have to start somewhere.
Okay, if I started with "Shards", where would "Falling Free" come in?

Sorry, to hear you didn't like the Mieville. I'll give it a go and see for myself. You never know, right?

In case anyone is interested, I went to the movies yesterday with son and dh, and saw Ender's Game.

It was pretty good. And that's coming from a twice-a-year movie goer. I rarely will watch a movie unless I'm pretty sure I will enjoy it.

It's been 7 years since I read Ender's Game, but the movie seemed to follow the storyline fairly well. My son just recently read the book, and said that there was a compacting of the timeline, and some things were left out, but it was a fairly accurate rendering of the Orson Scott Card novel in his opinion. FWIW, he's a big movie buff, and a recommendation from him (even if lukewarm) is high praise.

Joe, I love that coffee in #270! Someone's got talent...

Joe if you want to read Wharton I would recommend The Custom of the Country over Ethan Frome.

It's from her New York society period and it's razor sharp. Great characters great observation great story.

People who only know from Frome don't know from Wharton

>280 magicians_nephew: I agree with Jim's last sentence, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading Ethan Frome; it's a nifty piece of literature too.

>278 msf59: Exactly, Mark. You may end up liking Un Lun Dun a lot. For some people it's their favorite of his.

Falling Free is separate and apart from the Vorkosigan books. I noticed that Bujold says this on Amazon: "Falling Free takes place 200 years earlier in the timeline and does not share settings or characters with the main body of the series. Most readers recommend picking up this story later. It should likely be read before Diplomatic Immunity, however, which revisits the "quaddies", a bioengineered race of free fall dwellers, in Miles's time."

I read it before Diplomatic Immunity, and agree with that. Because it's separate and apart, when you read it is flexible. It's a very good one (I think it won a Nebula), it's just not part of the series like the others.

>279 fuzzi: Isn't that coffee fun, fuzzi? Someone did well with that.

Good to hear about Ender's Game. Do you have a sense of whether it's better to see in the theater or at home? I suspect it may be one we should catch in the theater, as the special effects are supposed to be quite good.

>280 magicians_nephew: Thanks, Jim. The only one of hers I've read is Age of Innocence. I was thinking of a change-up from NY society with Ethan Frome. But I'll check into The Custom of the Country given your strong recommendation.

>281 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. I'll take a look. I do have the one other of hers in my psyche, which was quite good, no surprise.