Joe's Book Cafe 1 2014

Kotor Bay, Montenegro; Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland; Portofino, Italy

Welcome to the new year's cafe!

15 Life-changers

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - opened my eyes to so many creative possibilities, including wordplay
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury - got me believing in school again after a soon-to-be favorite teacher assigned it
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - took a typical self-centered kid out of himself and got me thinking about others; broke my heart for the first time, too
James Wright Collected Poems - midwestern poet caught me and fueled a lifelong interest in poetry
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - read it way post-college and got walloped; started lifelong Austen fandom

Dune by Frank Herbert - got me excited about the possibilities of science fiction, and thinking about environmental effects
Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and others - this hokey, mystical comic book was my favorite as a kid, and fueled my lifelong graphic fandom
Future Shock by Alvin Toffler - he took on emerging issues like economic disparities, overpopulation and pollution; trying to look into the future fascinated me
After the Quake by Haruki Murakami - my entry into his world that started me on lifelong fandom
Remember, Be Here Now by Ram Dass - matched my youthful hippiness perfectly, still working on some of its ideas

The Chosen by Chaim Potok - for the first time, got me enthralled by lives very different from my own
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki - what a mensch this man was; still the best on this subject I've read
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - made me a fan of both Paul Farmer and author Tracy Kidder, and got me involved with Partners in Health
T.S. Eliot Selected Poems - bowled me over, so I felt like a patient, etherized upon a table; got the complete works later
Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - fueled my appreciation of the absurd and started a lifelong fandom for this author

Best of 2013

Top 5

1. Longbourn by Jo Baker
2. Benediction by Kent Haruf
3. Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
4. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
5. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley

Second Five

6. The Greater Journey by David McCullough
7. Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa'Thiong'o
8. Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
9. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
10. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

Favorite Graphic Novel: The Nao of Brown

Three that were hard to keep off the list: Housekeeping, Song of the Lark, and How the Light Gets In

2014 American Author Challenge (kudos to Mark)

Willa Cather- January The Professor's House
Cormac McCarthy- February The Orchard Keeper
William Faulkner- March The Color Purple by Alice Walker
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

2014 Books

1. Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein

Aha!! I'm first!!

Snazzy café you have here, Joe. Snazzy indeed...

Hi Joe! I'm in early :-)

Way to go, RD! Breakfast?

>6 jnwelch: Ooo! A royal fanfare AND mamacado eggs! *slurp*

Amazon US deal today only: Lost in Shangri-La, a nonfiction look at a group of airmen rescued after their plane crashed in the waning days of WWII. It's been on my wishlist for a while so I couldn't resist picking it up at that price!

>4 NielsenGW: Thanks, Gerard. Good to see you! Come on by on a regular basis if time permits.

>5 wilkiec: Hiya, Diana! Hope you're feeling good and have been having a relaxing holiday.

Hi Joe! The pictures are gorgeous. I'm a newbie but I like everything a Book Cafe can provide. So I hope you don't mind when I join your lovely place.
Best wishes Barbara

>7 richardderus: Whoops, missed you for a minute there, my friend. Glad you liked your fanfare and the mamacado eggs.

I saw that Amazon was offering Lost in Shangri-La for $1.99. I loved that book. I hope people snap it up.

>9 Ameise1: Great to see you, Barbara. Welcome! We've all been newbies, so no worries there. This is my third year of cafe-ing, and it's been a lot of fun. I look forward to enjoying 2014 with you and everyone else.

Hi Joe! I've got you starred. I'm not a fan of runny eggs, but it's late in the workday and dang! They're looking pretty good to me right now.

Starred you Joe, but I hope you're not going to make your customers eat avocado and eggs? The very idea of it just seems very, very wrong!

Joe. Great photos to kick things off buddy but where is the coffee and the cakes?

I had a few hours sleep and got up energised at 5 am...so pleased to see the cafe constructed whilst SWMBO was snoring.

Love your list of 15 life changing books. I did list mine in the 2013 group a few threads ago but we share having some Eliot in our influences.

Look forward to the year ahead and possibly a trip to the actual cafe later in the new year.

>11 Fourpawz2: Hiya, Charlotte! Good to see you. You know, they say hunger is the best spice. Lots of thing look pretty good when your appetite is stepping up late in the work day. RD's the one who introduced us all to mamacado eggs, so it seemed like an appropriate winner's prize.

Glad you starred the cafe. Look forward to your stopping by when time permits.

>12 SandDune: Thanks for the starring, Rhian. You know what, I'm able to pick up on subtle clues pretty well, and I can tell you and Charlotte just aren't enamored of mamacado eggs. How about some spice cake instead? I'm sure RD will be glad to take care of the ME's all by himself.



>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! There's cake up above, and we'll get the coffee out.

It was your list of life-changing books that inspired me to do mine! You're right about the Eilot overlap. I'm excited about your featuring John Berryman at some point this coming year.

Should be another great year on LT. What a blessing this site is.

OK, coffee:

Hooray! The cafe will continue in the new year to be one of the best places for a cup o' virtual Joe and some great book conversation with real Joe.
:-)

Joe, I'm back for another year of delicious food and drink, excellent book recommendations, and lively conversation.

Hi Joe- I see you jumped into the 2014 fray! You go, boy! I am looking forward to another excellent reading year and being surrounded by LT pals. I hope to post the American Author Challenge very soon. I am very happy with the participation.

{moan} Considering the lightening take-off of this thread, Paul's thread, Suzanne's thread and of course Richard's thread, I'm already three months behind. And I haven't even checked Mamie.

Oh well. Never at a loss for reading material!

Your cafe views at the top of this thread are lovely, by the way. I'd like a seat on the Kotor Bay side, if one is available.

Hi Joe!!! I will take a slice of spice cake a big mug o' coffee.

Nice to see the cafe re-constructed love the photos up top .......

Good Morning Joe! May I have a cappuccino please? Thanks so much :-D

While we are having cake, how about some German chocolate?

I brought the cinnamon-glazed spice cake donuts from the crumbling ruins of the old cafe.

Easing into my usual booth for another year of nourishment for the soul and body. (The view seems to have changed dramatically.)

Yay, the cafe's back!

Somebody needs to hit me up with a mojito and a warm beach around here. :)

>15 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! We just made our way back home, after a fine visit with the clan. Appreciate the kind comments. Looking forward to lots of joe and great conversations in '14.



>16 Crazymamie: You got it, Mamie! Should be a great year. The usual?



>17 msf59: There's our guy! Yeah, I got Jim's invite, and we're up and running, Mark. Looking forward to a most excellent '14. I'm ready for that American Author Challenge, starting with Ms. Cather.

>18 ffortsa: Hiya, Judy! Glad you like the toppers. I'm partial to that Kotor Bay view myself. You got it - table with a view.

>19 leperdbunny: Hi, Tam! Spice cake with big mug coming up:

>20 roundballnz: Thanks, Alex. Good to see you! Glad you like the photos up top. Dreaming of visiting these places . . .

>21 Ameise1: Hi, Amiese1! Thanks for your patience. Cappuccino? You bet.



>22 Morphidae: Oh, good call, Morphy. German chocolate cake - a friend of our family used to bring one by for us every once in a while. Mmm. We'll see if we can come close to that.



>23 richardderus: Oh yeah, nice save, RD. I've got to get to the old cafe and see what else we can salvage. BTW, I just finished Tilt-a-Whirl and enjoyed it. I'll be reading more about John Ceepak.

>24 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Amazing how those cafe views change, isn't it, Linda? Glad you found your way to the new place. Your usual booth is waiting.

>25 drneutron: There's Jim! You make it all possible, my friend. Mojito and a warm beach, on the house. Well, for free, not . . . oh, you know.

Oh, yeah... :)

Oh, Joe, your cafe remains one of my favorite places ever, along with the three locales up top -- wow! Happy New Year to you!

>28 drneutron: Ha! Success!

>29 AMQS: Glad to hear it, Anne! Aren't those great? Happy New Year!

8, 9, and 10 on your 2013 fav list are definitely on mine as well! Raising a glass to shared excellent reading tastes. Now, I might need to put books 1-7 on my TBR!

I love the colorful pictures up top.

Feeling poorly, so a cup of chicken soup will do just fine, thank you!

Thanks for the cappuccino. Now, my day can get started 😃

Oh, yeah. German chocolate. Nom nom nom.

>31 lalbro: Those three were really good, weren't they, Liz? I can tell you have wide-ranging taste, as those are all quite different. Excellent reading tastes - I couldn't agree more! :-) I hope you get a chance to read some of the others. If you decide you'd like to try Haruf, Plainsong is the first one, followed by Eventide and Benediction.

>32 tloeffler: Glad you like them toppers, Terri. Let's get you that soup! Hope you start feeling a bit better. It's a tough time of year for bugs going after folks.



>33 Ameise1: You're welcome, Amiesee1. I know the feeling - we're going out for some breakfast and coffee right after this. I may have a latte.

>35 jnwelch: Glad that hit the spot, Morphy. Whenever I hear "nom nom nom" I think of cookie monster. He probably has a cake monster cousin somewhere.

See you all soon!

Morning Joe- Coffee and spiced cake please. I am looking forward to sharing another great reading year with you and the rest of the group. It will be hard to top this year but we will give it a go.

We are planning on squeezing in Catching Fire before the Bears game. Let's hope the Bears make a game of it.

I share your pessimism re the Bears, Mark. Hope you enjoy Catching Fire - we loved it.

Should be another great reading year. What a blessing this site is.

I'm finishing up 2013 mainly with mysteries, although The Testament of Mary was good. I liked Tilt-a-Whirl, got the second John Ceepak (man, they're cheap on Kindle!), and I'm about 1/2 way through Fer-de-lance. I find it harder to read anything really challenging during the holidays. Just not the right time for that, for me, anyway.

Coffee and spice cake coming up.

O' Ye of little faith - the Bears will win tonight don't worry guys.

Dang that spice cake looks good! I will require cream and sugar in my coffee, though.

Here we are again, Joe! Starred, of course.

Hey - you and Mark - stop being pessimistic football fans! There's always hope!

So you liked The Testament of Mary then? I did too.

>38 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! We'll try to ride your positivity to victory. Meanwhile, some tasty beer helps.

>39 Fourpawz2: Hi, Charlotte! Doesn't that look mouth-watering? I'm a pushover for spice cake. Cream and sugar it is.



>40 DorsVenabili: Hiya, Kerri! Welcome to the '14 cafe - thanks for the star. You and Paul are having an effect - who knows, maybe they can win. How's that? :-)

Yes, I thought The Testament of Mary was good. I didn't know what to expect. I liked her strong voice, and her singlemindedness about her son as her son, vs. everyone else's focus on his religious role.

I lurked all over the cafe last year, Joe, but I'm coming out of the cloakroom and slipping into a table at the back in 2014. The views up top are a wonderful balm for a winter-weary soul!

Another frustrating Bears game! I wouldn't mind if they lost it and just let it lie.

Was that Kranky Kerri, telling us not to be pessimistic?

#43 - Yes! Yes, it was.

Joe, I brought some flowers for your cafe.

#2
I've read some that are on this list.

Dandelion Wine and After the Quake did have profound effects on me. I think Murakami made me realize that Magical Realism wasn't just for South American writers like Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Life changers? Probably most recently Quiet by Susan Cain, Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength by Laurie Helgoe have really changed how I view myself and allowed me to relax into myself.

Annie Liebovitz has made a profound mark. Pilgrimage made me weep.

Good to see that it's business as usual in here. I'll take a slice of spice cake, please.

I'm happy to see so much love for "Dandelion Wine" as I've got that one on my very own shelves and hope to get to it this year.

Oh, Julia, I think you will love Dandelion Wine! Oh, so fabulous!

Julia- READ Dandelion Wine! Am I making myself clear? I know Joe is a huge fan too!

Joe- Catching Fire: Thumbs Up! Bears game: Thumbs down! At least, I can ride out the post season, stress-free.

I always get hungry visiting your thread. You have some gorgeous views topping it.

>42 rosalita: Hi, Julia! Good to see you. A table with a view is way better than the cloakroom, although we do pride ourselves on a well-kept cloakroom. I have the same feeling about those views up top. Montenegro dreamin', on such a winter's day.

>43 msf59: They fought hard, Mark, but it wasn't in the cards. That weird pass/fumble, the ball going right through Conti, the ref giving GB a first down on that Peppers penalty. And others. Just not meant to be.

>44 DorsVenabili: You and Paul did your best, Kerri. Wait until next year.

>>45 AuntieClio:, 46 Thanks, Stephanie! The flowers are very thoughtful of you. They've got a peaceful feel - we can use that to help calm down the rumpuses over sharing that pop up every once in a while.

You can tell Dandelion Wine and After the Quake mean a lot to me. I'm a nut for Murakami, and I like Allende and Garcia Marquez. One Hundred Years of Solitude was a particular eye-opener. My sister liked Quiet a lot. The Laurie Helgoe is new to me. I like Annie Liebovitz, too. Why was she a life-changer for you, if you feel like saying?

>47 scaifea: We're up and running, Amber, although it's kind of a bootleg operation, since it's not 2014 yet. We're relying a bit on the time jiggerer to keep things going until the new year. Spice cake? You bet.

>48 rosalita: Such a good one, Julia. I want to re-read Dandelion Wine at some point.

>49 Crazymamie: You said it, Mamie. I love your enthusiasm!

>50 msf59: Amen re Dandelion Wine, Mark. Glad you liked Catching Fire! Isn't Jennifer Lawrence something?

Da Bears - I give them credit for fighting hard. That defense is just too banged up. As a friend said, that sure opens up some Sundays.

>51 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori! Gorgeous views and hunger-inducing food - throw in some beloved books, and the cafe is working well. Looking forward to a 2014 full of good times.

Well, this thread certainly looks like the place to be! Those photos at the top are breath-taking (actually, it was the photo of the eggs and avocados that took my breath away. Two of the best foods ever, combined!?).

If you like Jennifer Lawrence, check out her new movie, American Hustle. It is a very different role for her, and it's kind of an odd movie, but oh so good.

I'm glad I found your thread, and look forward to following your year of reading!

Hey there, Joe. Can't wait to see what the cafe will be serving up in 2014 ..and what beautiful reading nooks you'll be helping me dream wistfully to be in.

#52, I have been in a huge transition for a couple of years. Things really opened up after my layoff the end of July 2013. I've been a hobbyist photographer for years and Leibovitz has been one of my influences to make the decision to try to go pro with my online shop. Summer 2013 was an enormous opening up to accepting all the good around me, one of which was the privilege of seeing her show "Pilgrimage" at the local museum. In addition to the show, which moved me deeply, the gift shop had signed copies of the book which I knew I shouldn't really spend the money on but knew I would kick myself forever if I didn't. My friend and I went into the cafe after and I wound up weeping as I talked about it. It was probably the first realization, of many, that I was about to embark on something scary wondrous.

And, how could I forget Howl? That was definitely life changing. Every time I read it, I find more of a connection to Ginsberg and feel him telling me that I can be who I truly am even when I'm not sure who that is. The movie with James Franco also had a profound effect on me.

Morning, Joe, stoke me up on the caffeine and let's get this day rumblin' down the tracks.



Some Nutella/espresso rolls sound like a good start.

Wow Joe, things are already bustling hear. I think I'll snag one of the window seats and settle in for the year. Any chance I can get one of those rolls?

>54 Cait86: Hiya, Cait! Good to see you. Those mamacado eggs (avocadoes and eggs) were introduced to us by Richard, who frequently brings goodies by (see >56 AuntieClio:).

I've heard nothing but good things about American Hustle. On to the tbv (to be viewed) list it goes.

I'm glad you found us here, and look forward to seeing you around the cafe in '14.

>55 cameling: Ha! We'll be sure to come up with some dreamy book nooks in '14, Caro, and I can't wait to see what the creative chef comes up with. Did I tell you I got the first "Young Montalbano" dvd? I'll keep you posted - funny to see him with a head full of curly hair.

>>56 AuntieClio:, 57 Kudos to you, Stephanie, for embarking on something scary wondrous like that. You've got me wanting to take a closer look at Annie L's work, too.

Howl knocked me over, too. Our son's a slam poet, and I encouraged him to read Ginsberg as a kindred spirit. Many of us were quite struck last year by a well-done graphic treatment of it: Howl: A Graphic Novel. If you haven't seen that, you might enjoy giving it a look.

>58 richardderus: Awesome, Richard. I'm not normally a nutella guy, but that looks too good to pass up. Coffee - we'll get you one of these for starters.



>59 Thebookdiva: Oh good, Abby. I was going to let you know, on the old thread, that the new cafe had opened up. Good idea to grab a window seat - they're looking particularly good today, aren't they? One of those rolls, you bet.



P.S. Please let us know if you decide to start your own thread.

#43 by @msf59> My Saints back doored their way into the playoffs. I expect them to lose in Philly, playing outside in the cold. Oh well.

majkia - Oh so happy that our Saints are still in it, but yeah, I'm expecting a tough time in Philly!

Espresso roll....ummmm...

Hey! I have a favor to ask...

My dh is big into history, and wants a non-fiction book on Julius Caesar/Cleopatra/Anthony/Octavius(?).

As he has had learning disabilities, he struggles with textbook types of history (think Will Durant), though he is capable of reading that level.

He enjoys illustrated volumes, sort of like coffee table books one would find at B&N but with LOTS of information.

Any suggestions?

Feel free to PM me so I don't clutter up the cafe.

>61 majkia: Good to see you, Jean! I've got to say, with Drew Brees back there, seems like the Saints are always a threat. Tough to take on Philly in Philly, though.

>62 drneutron: I didn't realize you're a Saints fan, Jim. Good luck! I'm going to be able to be pretty philosophical about the playoffs now that the Bears ain't going anywhere.

>63 fuzzi: Well, the first one that comes to mind, fuzzi, is Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra: A Life, which is supposed to be excellent. No worries about cluttering up the cafe with responses - I know I like to see the recommendations that come up.

Joe, I just found these on Pinterest and thought the chef could whomp up a batch for the cafe denizens:



Lemon ricotta baked donuts! *drool*

Aarrgh! I want!!!!

Re: (63)

This is one book he has already, so something in this sort of format:

Cleopatra: Empress of the Nile

I NEED those lemon ricotta baked donuts! Yes, I do.

Howdy Joe! You will get your book today or tomorrow Amazon says. I am doing my best to bring Richard into my little cult. I see you are helping. Thank you.

I also NEED those lemon ricotta donuts.

>65 richardderus: Lovely, RD. Lemon ricotta baked donuts. Who knew? May be time to put on a cafe poncho.

>>66 fuzzi:, 67 Me, too, fuzzi. And good clues for the Cleopatra book, thanks.

>68 luvamystery65: Don't those look good, Roberta? I'm likely to go for lemon anything in baked goods, but this is genius.

Ha! Thanks so much for the 3d Carl and Assad and Rose. Can't wait! Nice work with Richard. Yes, I'm trying to help. He likes making his own path most of the time, but this series may hook him.

>69 Crazymamie: Given the response, we whipped up some more, Mamie, with a bit of lemon creme on top.

Joe, that one looks marvelous. I take one for dessert. I've eaten some lovely spaghettis for dinner.

Those look incredible! I need some too, Joe! Darn.. so much for starting a diet after the holiday excesses!

#63 : fuzzi - do you think he would like The Battle for Gaul? It's an illustrated series of commentaries written by Caesar that's been translated into English, and provides quite an exciting read of Caesar's war strategies and expeditions during the 50-something B.C.

Those lemon ricotta donuts look similar to ones I saw on one of those "River cottage" cooking series recently ..... seriously yum

>71 Ameise1: Spaghetti for dinner sounds excellent, Almeise. A lemon ricotta donut coming up, with some to share - they do look tasty, don't they?



>72 cameling: I know, right, Caro? Ameise has some extra up above that I'm sure she'd be willing to share with someone from the camel caravan.

Nice Caesar suggestion.

>73 roundballnz: I'd never heard of them before, Alex, but now I need to find some in RL, too. Maybe my MBH, who watches cooking series, knows something about this.

Absolutely delicious 😋. Thanks Joe.

Joe, Abby has set up her first thread - she would love visitors. She can be found here: thebookdiva's Book Nook

Joe, I have been to your thread a thousand times today just to drool over those lemon doughnuts! I just want to pick them up off the screen and stuff them unceremoniously into my mouth and then lick my lips with pleasure.

OMG this thread has exploded, Joe. Love all the goodies, maybe I'll have a virtual diabetic coma. ;P

>75 Ameise1: Ha! You're welcome, Ameise.

>76 Crazymamie: Cool beans, Mamie. I starred it, and I'll visit Abby right after this.

>77 Thebookdiva: There she is. You're not alone on the drooling, Abby. We may end up making a fortune on the cafe ponchos. I'm inspired to find them somewhere in the real world.

>78 leperdbunny: Ha! We'll try not to over-sugar you here, Tam. Those donuts are awfully hard to resist, aren't they? We promise to thin out their effect with lots of coffee, and tea for those who prefer that.

hahaha! This talk of drooling just reminded me of a funny story. We (my family that is) were driving in the van late one night and I was STARVING. I can remember looking at each fast food restaurant as we past them and my stomach growling. We finally, finally stopped at a Mcdonald's and got food. Since Dan and I were all the way in the back of the van we, of course, got our food last. The smell of the fresh fries was tormenting as the girls slowly handed back the food. I immediately fell upon the fires and picked up the first golden morsel. I didn't realize how intently my attention was on the fry as I raised it to my mouth until Dan burst out laughing beside me. I then realized that I had drool, actual drool, sliding down my chin with the fry half way to my mouth. He was so consumed with laughing he could hardly calm down enough to eat his own food. To this day the mention of the fry incident makes him double over with laughter.

@cameling, I'll look into it. He spent some years in the Army, and like strategy information. Thank you.

@Thebookdiva, that's hysterical!

If they are done correctly, McDonald's french fries are the best in all of fast food, imo. I worked for Mickey D's for about 10 years, so I am familiar with HOW the fries should be cooked and served...but the staff doesn't always follow the correct procedures. :(

*Wiping powdered sugar away* Smack, smack! Found and starred you. Looks like we'll be having some fun -- and good eats!

#60, Howl: The Graphic Novel is on the wishlist!

A friend just sent a text message telling me that she had taken her son to the Beat Museum in San Francisco and loved it. (We did too when we went.) But then she went on to say that he was buying a copy of Naked Lunch (ugh, she said). We both tried to read it and I got 30 pages in, which is farther than she made it, before giving up. I just couldn't.

Today I went to a different used bookstore than normal and found another biography of Ginsberg called I Celebrate Myself by Bill Morgan. I also got a copy of The Golden Bough, both within my rules of engagement. :-)

Not so pleased with the vibe of the bookstore so won't be returning.

>80 Thebookdiva: Ha! That's some powerful hunger, Abby! Mickey D does have some excellent fries, too. A cafe poncho may not have helped with the chin action on that one.

>81 fuzzi: Good luck, fuzzi.

>82 fuzzi: Agreed. Done right, their fries are most excellent. Getting them light and crisp and not greasy seems to be the challenge.

>83 michigantrumpet: Ha! Way to dive in on those lemon ricotta donuts, Marianne. Yes, fun and good eats are definitely on the '14 agenda.

OK, off to catch the train. See you all soon.

I've always meant to read Dandelion Wine so thanks for the reminder!

And Happy New Year Joe!

Hi Joe- I know we chatted at lunch, but I thought I would pop in and say hi, before I check out for the evening...which will be shortly.
Just 20 pages left in 84, Charing. Love it!

Before you all indulge in your substance of choice - Happy New year! - Have a great night & even better year to come - remember its the little things that make life what it is .....

>86 NarratorLady: Happy New Year, Anne! Looking forward to another great year of reading. Yes, you'll enjoy Dandelion Wine, methinks. Lots of good memories attached to that book.

>87 msf59: Such a great book, isn't it, Mark? Good to hear from you at lunch time. I'm still caught up in the world of mystery. Finished Fer-de-lance, and it was good. I should let Ellie know, as I remember her as being a big Nero Wolfe fan. Now I'm back to the second John Ceepak. I've got Eleanor And Park and The Luminaries waiting for me in the New Year, plus the essays on why we read Jane Austen. I think the last will be a dip into over time.

Hope you've got a reasonable day ahead. You must be off tomorrow, yes?

>88 roundballnz: Happy New Year, Alex! Thanks for stopping by. It's got to be in the beginning wee hours of New Year's Day for you. Right you are, it's the little things that make life what it is, and I have to keep reminding myself to appreciate them. I'd include books, and that part's easy to remember.

Mimosas to start the day? Yes, mimosas. Half day of work and then I take my MBH out to lunch.

Hey Joe, just stopping by to wish you a good morning!

>90 Thebookdiva: Good morning, Abby! Hope all is well at the Pecan Paradision. Those mimosas won't do you any good, so how about some fresh-squeezed OJ to start the day?

Joe was that your first Nero Wolfe? I have read them all multiple times. I usually do a re-read of the whole corpus every few years, and they never disappoint.

Everything's fine here, oj would be wonderful.

>92 rosalita: You know, Julia, I read Nero Wolfes as a kid, but because so many years have gone by (there were dinosaurs roaming the earth back then), I don't remember them well. For some reason, maybe because it wasn't around the house, I'd never read this first one. I don't know if you remember, Fer-de-Lance is unusual in that it mentions other jobs he and Archie had handled, and other characters, as if you're in the middle of a series, instead of reading the first book in one. I liked that. I may try some more at some point.

>93 Thebookdiva: Good, Abby, glad that works for you. I just stopped by at your place to mention that I'm looking forward to Cress coming out in February.

Back for another year of books, food, and general good times! Could use some brekkie, Joe - chef's choice!

And a very very happy 2014 to Debb and your various progeny!

#94> Yes, it gives you the feeling of just stepping right into an already fully formed universe. I love that. Robert Goldsborough, the author who was chosen to continue the Wolfe series after Rex Stout's death, published Archie Meets Nero Wolfe, intended to be a "prequel" to the series. It's OK but I don't find his entries in the series nearly as satisfying as the originals.

>95 LauraBrook: Good to see you, Laura! Books, food and general good times sounds just right - I'm ready! Some chef's choice brekkie to start your day? How about sourdough toast with ricotta and basil and fried eggs with capsicum egg rings?



>96 richardderus: Thanks, Richard! I specialize in good madness, so I've got a leg up on that part. That Neil Gaiman is quite a guy, isn't he? Happy New Year to you and Stella and any others who are special in your life.

>97 rosalita: Exactly, Julia. That stepping right into a fully formed universe surprised me. No matter how good authorized continuations are, they seem bound to fall short of the original. I remember that all the way back to Ruth Plumly Thompson's continuations of L. Frank Baum's Oz books. I read them because I was hooked on Oz, but nothing matched the reading quality of the originals.

Taking a different angle on a known book can work - you've heard me sing the praises of Longbourn, for example.

Ooo that brekkie looks delicious. I need to do that myself one day, it's not hard.

Stella sends slurps, as she woke up and gave me a kiss just as I read your message!

Mmmm, Joe, Mimosas are divine. :)

>99 richardderus: Ha! Great timing, Stella. Please give her an ear rub for me.

I imagine you could pull off that brekkie, RD. I know your culinary skills are wide-ranging.

>100 leperdbunny: Aren't they, Tam? Hard to find a happier drink than mimosas.

I surprised my friend at brunch by ordering a mimosa. I so very rarely drink adult beverages that it puzzled her. "It's New Year's Eve and I get to spend some time with you." She agreed those were good reasons. And in honor of Richard's mamacados I had a salmon benedict with avocado. Yummers. :-)

.

Happy New Year, and Happy New Thread !

May all your wishes come true.

Happy New Year to you Joe!

Nice place you've got here, Joe!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year Joe! Hope you have a wonderful 2014!

Hi Joe! Dropping by to wish you a very Happy New Year! And to belatedly thank you for recommending The Nao of Brown. I loved it and want to re-read it sometime.

To the Prop who's the absolute top:

Joe, last year was, as always, a pleasure and a privilege to try and keep up with all at the cafe.

You are a huge hearted fellow and I am proud to have you as a friend in the group. Hope to chew the fat in Chicago later in the year.

Have a wonderful 2014 mate: you and yours.

Happy New Year Joe! Wow, no surprise the café is hopping already. Looks like you've gotten prime locations locations locations. Wishing you a fantastic New Year and thanks for always spreading good cheer. xx

Happy New Year Joe. Have a great 2014!

Happy New Year Joe!

Happy New Year, Joe! Looking forward to sharing another fantastic reading year with you. I hope you have a relaxing day planned. I know I do.

I will *expire* if I don't get a mimosa soon.


Time for brunch yet?

I need one or five of those mimosa's too.

>>84 AuntieClio:, 102 I noticed I missed one of yours up above, Stephanie! Glad you're adding Howl: A Graphic Novel to your WL. It's a really good treatment of that amazing poem. Even Richard, generally a poetry-basher, liked that one.

I never could read Naked Lunch, or any other Burroughs. Sorry the bookstore vibe was off-putting. That can happen, and it's a shame when it does. It was not so much the vibe as a poor inventory on the shelves that disappointed us when we went to a B & N in Ann Arbor, although our son also disliked how they chose to organize the store.

Salmon benedict with avocado sounds good to me. We're going to be having mimosas with our breakfast as soon as we get an appetite - we didn't have dinner until 10 pm last night!

>103 mckait: Thanks, Kath. That's a good 'un!

>104 Ameise1: Thanks, Ameise! So far it has been a splendid 2014. :-) I hope it's a wonderful year for you.

>105 luvamystery65: Happy New Year, friend Roberta! Your thoughtful you-know-what arrived yesterday - thanks! Your note was spot on; I'm going to it as soon as I finish my current read.

Happy New Year, Joe! Here we go on another year of grand adventures!

>106 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. Good to see you! Happy New Year to you, too. How great to have another year of LT ahead of us.

>107 ChelleBearss: Chelle! How are you? Happy New Year! Here's to a great year ahead. I know you've got a lot going on in that hacienda of yours.

>108 phebj: Hiya, Pat! How good to see you. You've warmed the cockles of my heart - isn't Nao of Brown an extraordinary one? I had an artist at Comic Con do a portrait of her, and he did a great job. We're going to get it framed - turns out 8 and 1/2 by 11 frames aren't easy to come by, but we think we found one.

Happy New Year!

>109 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! You know, I've been accused of having a song in my heart, but after "To the Prop Who's the Absolute Top", I'm thinking you must, too. It's been a great pleasure to get to know my Yorkshire/KL pal, and thank you for all the joy you bring to all of us.

Really looking forward to this year on LT, and hoping your stateside trip works out.

Happy 2014 to you and that wonderful family of yours.

>110 Smiler69: Hiya, Mary! Thank you. The views in this cafe are spectacular, aren't they? Hope you have a fantastic 2014, too - I know we're all going to have a good time on LT.

>111 SandDune: Happy New Year, Rhian! Hope yours is off to a great start in Bishops Stortford. Looking forward to having fun with you again this year. We may be visiting London next September. I'll keep you posted.

>112 Thebookdiva: Happy New Year, Abby! Looking forward to more tales from the Pecan Paradisio this year.

Happy New Year, Joe! Woke late, still in jammies..and celebrating the new year with a big mug of green tea, hot buttered toast, eggs, bacon & baked beans. Blisssssss....

>113 msf59: There's our guy! Debbi asked me to make sure to wish you and Sue and your family Happy New Year for her, too.

Yes, we're busy making sure to relax as we speak. The day started with lots of shoveling, of course, but it was actually kind of fun to do it together. And then we got coffee, came back and read a chapter of Reacher - we're getting close to the end. Not sure how our hero will get out of this fix, but we have faith in him. After that, there's food and football. With some reading mixed in. I could do this for several days if necessary.

Hope you're having a good one - kick back. The universe definitely owes you some R & R.

>>114 richardderus:, 115 Happy New Year, Richard and Kath! Good to see you two buddies at the cafe. Mimosas and brunch - good idea! Here we go.



>117 Crazymamie: Another year of grand adventures - exactly, Mamie! Happy New Year! Looking forward to all the joys and surprises ahead of us.

>119 cameling: Ah, that sounds most excellent, Caro. New Year's Day in jammies, a grand plan, and that breakfast does sounds like bliss. We're going to put ours together right now. Eggs with veggies and cheese, garlic toast, and mimosas. Thank you, 2014. Happy New Year!

Oh! Pretty! Now stand back, this could get messy....

Happy New Year, Joe! I hope it's a great year for all of us, both inside and outside of a book.

Happy New Year, Joe!

Happy New Year Joe!

>121 richardderus: We're ready to distribute the cafe ponchos, Richard. Is this the Running of the Brunch?

>122 rosalita: I'm with you, Julia. I'm ready for a great year for all of us. Let's do it, best we can. Happy New Year!

>123 leperdbunny: Hiya, Tam! Happy New Year!

>124 michigantrumpet: Good to see you, Marianne! I have a feeling you're going to add a lot for all of us this year. Happy New Year!

Joe- I finished Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: The First Day of the Battle of the Somme. It is very good and not really long at all. There is text to go along with the fold-out illustrations. You could actually "read" it in a very short time. My only quibble, is I wanted MORE. It's both a fascinating and horrifying battle.
I did read one or 2 of the Fables GNs and thought they were okay but I picked up Fairest: In All the Land, which looks good. Have you read these?

You got me with your description of The Great War: July 1, 1916, Mark. I'll see whether the library has it.

I did read a couple of the Fables gns, and had pretty much the same reaction as you - okay, but not making me want to read more. They have a big fan base though; there are a ton of them published. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of Fairest.

I've been reading You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack, and getting a big kick out of it. Clever, funny guy.

(125) "Running of the brunch"...I love what images come to mind with that phrase. I betcha richard is at the head of the stampede as the fruit and muffins go flying off the tables. :D

Joe, if you get a chance can you post a picture of the portrait of Nao Brown? I'd love to see it.

And Mark, thanks for the recommendation of The Great War: July 1, 1916.

>128 fuzzi: I wouldn't bet against ya on that one, fuzzi. Richard's a tornado on the loose when good food's involved.

>129 phebj: Hmm, you know, I'm getting better at the personal photos, Pat. I may actually be able to do it. I have to get it back from my MBH, though, as she's been taking it around looking for a frame.

Here she is from the book:



Good news: our library had the Sacco Mark recommended, so I requested it. Maybe yours does, too?

Oh I'm so hungry now! I should get up and look to see what's in my own pitiful larder.

#116, Joe I've been thinking about the book store some more and it occurs to me to question what kind of people they attract if they feel the need to put a sign on the door which states, among other things, "No taking books into the bathroom" and "We don't need to hear your life story." In addition, the people behind the counter felt no compunction about bashing customers or book traders in other customers' presence. It was unsettling.

Yesterday brunch was across the street from my favorite used book store so I dropped in and was very disconcerted to see they were culling the shelves by putting the culls on the floor in front of the shelves. Then there were the people standing around talking. When they were in the science fiction/fantasy section (we kept getting in each other's way), the man said, "Who would read such crap? You know there are people who come in here and pick up a crappy book, sit down and read it and then leave?" So disrespectful. It was a nice warm day, go outside and talk if you're not there to browse and enjoy the shelves.

Joe- Honestly, I think The Great War: July 1, 1916 would be perfect from the library. It looks very expensive and I am not sure it would be worth it. Of course, I could be horribly wrong.
You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack sounds really good. I better get over and request it. Nice to see the Nao Brown love! I NEED to add it to my best GN list!!

ETA- I requested You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack. Plenty of copies available. High Five!

>131 AuntieClio: Jeesh, Stephanie. I would've said no thanks to that first bookstore based on the door signs, especially "We don't need to hear your life story." How offensive is that? I've worked in bookstores, and part of the fun on both sides is chatting about whatever, including, of course, books. And the bashing. Unbelievable. These people have their heads screwed on wrong. Given how hard it is for bookstores these days, they're really shooting themselves in the foot. Idiotic.

Dopey man in your favorite used book store, too. I'm a sci-fi reader, among other things. As you say, go outside and talk if you're not there to browse and enjoy the shelves.

I had good news at the library, Mark: they've got it, and I requested it. I'm sure it is very expensive; this is a much better way to go. Yeah, I don't see how Jetpack could miss with you. Lots of variety, lots of laughs, and so far, a lot of literary jokes.

I forget where you mentioned it, but I'll alert Jesse to The Martian. Anywhere you can give Nao a plug, I'll take it. It deserves to have word spread.

I read Nao, way back in January. Thanks for the reminder. I also mentioned the Martian to Jim. He's a big space guy! This one should be better known.

Good idea re letting Jim know, Mark. I just emailed the Jesse guy.

TLo had another good idea: hot buttered rum. Here we go, on a cold day with lots of shoveling here in the midwest.

As good as that looks, Joe, it's awakened a nostalgic craving in me: I want a Tom and Jerry. When I was a sprat, xmas eve drinks chez nous were Tom and Jerrys served from a biiiiiiiig crystal punchbowl, with eggnog for us under-agers.

Here you go, Richard. I'm still a pushover for eggnog.

Glorious yum! Thank you. I needed that.

Cheers!

Joe, it's good to see that you are off to a running start with lots of good food and conversation. I love the pictures you opened with. That water is of an otherworldly blueness and clarity. Thanks for sharing some beauty with us.

Happy New Year Joe! Cafe's hopping as usual. I love your opening pictures.

Hi Joe- late late running late again to every party here in the 2014 group....scrabbling to catch up....
I can't believe you have A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki in your top ten of last year....I had to check the heading twice as was sure it must have been Worst of 2013..hehe, needless to say I did not enjoy it.

But your life changer list? I really want to read After the Quake by Haruki Murakami, seeing as have lived through some shaky times myself. I take it it is actually about earthquakes? (I figure it must be as all copies have been out at the library practically all of last year)

Anyway...Happy New Year! I look forward to some delicious delectable calorie-free treats from your cafe as per usual. And just so's you know....my latest coffee order is a large triple-shot latte. Thanks.

Joe, I think this is the first year that I have not had eggnog sometime around Christmas. I usually just get a small quart-sized or smaller container at the store, although I've made it in the past. However, I didn't even get a quart this year.

Hello Joe, it's fairly snowy here, too, so I will have some hot bettered rum -- delicious!

Happy New Year to you!

Hi, Joe. Lemon-ricotta donuts? Who knew?
Please pass one and a coffee. Then, if you don't mind, I'll just take a wee corner seat to sort things out.

Oh are we passing out lemon-ricotta donuts again today? I'll take a few please with a Richard size coffee.

Good morning Joe!

>140 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. I know, it makes me want to go to Montenegro pronto. And what's out on that island? It looks like something from that old videogame Myst.

>141 brenzi: Happy New Year Bonnie! Thanks. Those pics allow for some high quality daydreaming. Otherwise, here anyway, we're seeing a whole lot of snow.

>142 LovingLit: No worries, Megan, I know the feeling. I know, I saw that you and others didn't like A Tale for the Time Being at all. Was it Ruth? Probably a few different things. For me, it all started pulling together when Nao joined up with Jiro, her grandmother. I know my MBH will never read it because of the bullying. It gave me a lot, lot to think about (still thinking about it), besides being well-written, and that's a big part of what put it in my top ten. Plus Nao and Jiro, who were compelling characters. Plus the Zen of it, which I'm a sucker for.

I knew it was a divisive one before reading it, based on LT reactions like yours.

Do read After the Quake - it's short and terrific. Have you read Murakami before? All the short stories are set during the 1995 Kobe earthquake. But saying it's about earthquakes is like saying 1q84 is about a screwed-up commute. He's a wildly inventive writer. If you haven't read him before, it's a good entry book.

Happy New Year! I imagine we'll have some more comestibles on offer soon. Pie is in the air. (Sounds like someone tossed one, right?) Large triple-shot latte? Here you go:



>143 thornton37814: No eggnog?! Lori, that's simply Scrooge-like. We must fix that pronto. I just wish it wasn't quite so seasonal. It starts disappearing after the holidays, when in my mind being widely available through winter makes more sense. Here you go:

>145 Matke: Hiya, Anne! Happy New Year!

Yeah, shoveled here 5 times yesterday and once this a.m., and I bet it's already covered up again. Hot buttered rum sounds like a grand idea. I'll join you.



>146 luvamystery65: Good to see you, Gail! Happy New Year! A wee seat to sort things out sounds good to me. I've been loving the holiday days off, but they do throw routines out of whack. I'm going to be sorting a bit myself.

I know, RD's opened up a whole new world for us with these lemon-ricotta donuts. Here you go, with some coffee.



>147 jnwelch: Good morning, Roberta! More of them donuts, with an RD-size coffee, coming up.

Joe, I'm sorry to hear you had so much snow fall yesterday. We were very lucky this go-round and only got maybe 3 inches total. Which is plenty as far as I'm concerned. :-)

Good morning, Joe! I hope you don't have to go out in the storm today!

I almost picked up a copy of A Tale for the Time Being the other day, but decided I had purchased enough books in the past week to last me a while. I am very interested in reading it though.

Happy New Year to you and the family!

>149 rosalita: Thanks, Julia. The news says we've had a foot of snow so far, and it's still coming down. It's light and fluffy, so that helps, but it just keeps coming! We're talking about building a snow ark. Plus a big ladder to climb up into it. Three inches sounds much more reasonable.

>150 DorsVenabili: Thanks, Kerri. I had to shovel the overnight accumulation and then walk to and from the train across the Arctic. So I'm pretty much done in for the day. Hot drinks and sitting are on the agenda. We're going to the theater tonight (Tribes at Steppenwolf), which we can get to on the El. I wonder whether it will be a sparse audience. We'll see.

I was the same way with A Tale for the Time Being. Despite the mixed LT reactions, I really wanted to read it. And I'm very glad I did.

Happy New Year to you and your family, and that beer savant Joe!

We are going to have a HIGH of 12 below zero on Monday. That's just not right.

Ouch! Agreed, Morphy. It's supposed to be cold down here on Monday, too, but not that bad! We'll have the hot drinks ready.

There are those doughnuts again. I'm going to find a recipe for those, they look too good not to. Sorry about the freezing weather, hope it gets warmer!

Thanks, Abby. Jan. and Feb. usually are pretty cold and snowy in these parts, but Mama Nature seems to be overenthused at the moment.

I know, this may be the Year of the Lemon Ricotta Donut (is that in the Chinese calendar?) They sure look good.

Soon we have dinner time and I guess you'll have some lunch. May I offer you 'une salade chèvre chaud et magret du canard'? So you must not envy Richard ;-)

Thank you, Barbara! I do envy Richard for the repast you supplied him, but this certainly helps. Delish. Mmm.

Welcome back, Joe! It's good to see that this year's café is just as active as last year's was.

Hmm...after talking with Jim and Judy yesterday, looking at Barbara's (Ameise1's) new thread and thinking of you and others in this group, I propose that we create a thread for theatre reviews. I'll do that now.

Hi Joe, glad you got to work safely. Up in my part of Lake County, we're up to about 18 inches of snow so far. That's on top of the foot or so that was left over from prior storms.

I stayed home today. About to get some chicken soup with dumplings ready.

>158 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl! Yes, it should be another great LT year. I like your idea of a theater reviews thread. Having them in one place would be a plus, seems to me.

>159 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! 18 inches! On top of the foot or so. Oh my. We're pikers compared to you Lake County-ans. That sounds like time for the snowshoes and sled dogs. Definitely time for chicken soup with dumplings.

Stay warm and safe - hope you get a chance to read. That's one of the silver linings this time of year. It's harder to do many of the things we do in good weather, so the time for reading seems to get upped. I'm reading a Scandicrime, and that seems so in the natural order right now.

All's I've got is a dusting of snow, and I am *laid*up* from the achiness. It's the low-pressure system, I think, since usually my joints ache when there's a drop in pressure. (Hurricane Sandy was horrible.)

Warm goat cheese and duck-breast pate! Yes please, thank you please.

Our sympathy, RD. Coming right up, my friend.



Stay warm, and positive thoughts your way for diminished aches.

So many future cult members friends reading my favorite Danish author right now!

ETA: I envy that kid by the fire.

Richard I'm sending you kind joint healing vibes!

Oh, the yumminess! Thank you, and the fireplace looks pretty darned cozy too. (Not that I'm chilled, it's 68° in here.)

>163 luvamystery65: Ha! You're onto something with that cross-out, Roberta. I envy that kid, too.

>164 richardderus: A fire always makes me feel better about everything, RD. (Oops, does that sound like I'm a pyro?) Glad the yummers hit the spot.

Dear Joe! I've finished the dinner (some salade and sandwich). It would be so lovely to get some dessert. Can you recommend something :-D?

Hi, Barbara! This is very USA-ian, so let us know if you'd prefer otherwise. It's maple pecan pie:

Yumie! Thanks so much. It's so delicious. :-D

Yes, yes, I'll take warmed goat cheese and duck pate any day! Alas, I made do with sushi and gyozas for lunch today.

>168 Ameise1: Ha! Glad to hear it, Barbara. You're welcome.

>169 cameling: You may want to check in with RD before starting a meal, Caro. He seems to be a festival of culinary ingenuity.

For those of us who don't know what gyozas are (proprietor included), they're wontons stuffed with pork and cabbage:



I think our sympathy for you is going to be limited, Caro. Sure beats a pb & j.

I ate so many pb&js just before Christmas that I managed to work off my craving for them. I am back to eating regular food for lunch now. :-)

I'm making a Guinness lamb stew that I'll serve in individual bread bowls for dinner. It's cold out .. I always need comfort food when it's cold.

Oh, those gyozas looks delish! I've never heard of them before now, either. And now I want a big plate of them.

Me, too.

>171 cameling: You're an inspiration to all of us, Caro. My MBH is quite a cook, but I can't remember the last time we had individual bread bowls.

Glad to hear you're back to eating regular food at lunch after a walk on the wild side with all those exotic pb & j's.

>>172 rosalita:, 173 Don't those look good, Julia? Such is the life of our Caro. Your own big plate? And more for Mamie? OK, but we're getting perilously close to one of those food battles. Look out if RD shows up.



Here you go, Mamie:

Mmmm so much yummy good food. . . must waddle on the way out. . This weather is for the birds. At least we can enjoy comfort food, though.

I can't believe we've got more snow coming down, Tam. Surely they must run out up there at some point. It's going to take a while before we can use our back dining area.



Comfort food does help, as do books. I'll be sticking my nose in some Scandicrime soon.

Scandicrime, Joe? With that much snow in my back yard I think I would be picking up one of Alexander McCall's Botswana mysteries or some other book set in a tropical setting!

No.bread.bowls. Say what?! Really, Joe? *heart skips a beat*

I love bread bowls in the winter. I'll scoop out the bread from sourdough rounds, cube them and either make croutons for salads with them, or breadcrumbs that I mix with dried herbs. Stews, NE style clam chowder, lobster bisque, broccoli and cheddar, shrimp & gorgonzola soups are my favorite bread bowls.

Holy cow that's a lot of snow! I wouldn't want to shovel that out. Sorry about the snow Joe. I hope it stops falling soon.

>177 rosalita: I know what you mean, Julia. That does have some appeal, and some logic. But A Conspiracy of Faith is riveting enough that it, too, diverts me from the overflowing snow.

>178 cameling: Ha! No bread bowls, and no gyozas, either, Caro. It's tough here in the heartland. At least in our small part of it.

I do like bread bowls, especially with soup. I love all the ones you list, although I haven't had shrimp and gorgonzola. Sounds right up my alley. Some NE clam chowder right now sure would hit the spot. In a bread bowl, of course.

ETA: >179 Thebookdiva: Thanks, Abby. Me, too! The first three or four times, there's some camaraderie with our neighbors and cardio benefits in all the shoveling, but then the feeling of "enough already" starts sinking in. My MBH keeps reminding me it's beautiful, so I'll try to keep that in mind.

>181 cameling: Thanks, Caro! Let the slurping commence! Wow, that looks good.

As much as I love gyozas/dumplings, I'm in the mood for some pulled pork sammys. And I'd like the chef to use this recipe I found on pinterest for Guinness barbecue sauce on the pork. And on a sourdough roll!

Omigawsh I'm drooling

>183 richardderus: Here you go, maestro. Extra sauce on the side.

It is from which to die! The delicious it is to hurting!

gyoza!!!!!! I loves me some gyoza. Later I will post a picture of what happens to recalcitrant food receptacles which do not yield to my command, refusing to let me at the goodies they contain.

>185 richardderus: Oh man, I know it's good when your English starts fracturing, Richard. Bon appétit!

>186 AuntieClio: Who knew, Stephanie? There was a football player named Lou Groza, but that's about as close as my world got until Caro's lunch news. Looking forward to your recalcitrant food receptacle post.

I'm joining my MBH soon for theater, so feel free to wander back into the kitchen.

We had lobster bisque tonight while watching the snow come down...No bread bowls, though.

No snow here, just chilly and rain, rain, RAIN...my yard is a squishy swamp.

It's supposed to get down to 30 tonight (watch out for that black ice!) but tomorrow it will be really cold, for us: 18 degrees and windy. Brr.

I'd love a Reuben sandwich, dressing on the side, with an order of crinkle cut cheese fries with bacon bits and ranch dressing.

Hi Joe! I'm glad I've finally made it over to your cafe but as always, I am now hungry from all the fabulous food talk. Those lemon ricotta doughnuts sound amazing.

We had a high here today of negative 5...and now it's snowing again.....it's going to be a looooong winter. Good thing we have books to share and a cozy place here to hang out!

Happy New Year, Joe! So happy to see the wonderful proprietor (you know who I am talking about!) has moved the cafe to the new group. Love the thread toppers, especially the Kotor Bay one.... that looks like heaven. I am also thankful that the cafe is virtual.... my waistline stays where it is but my poor keyboard is not fairing so well, I am drooling over all the mouth-watering foodie pics.

I managed to dodge all the blue text in this first of 2014 foray into your cafe thread but I don't think I will be able to keep that up forever but wow on the snow you have been receiving! If possible, curl up beside a fireplace with a good book and wait for the spring thaw to come!

Hi Joe- Just popping my weary head in. It looks like we'll be snow-free for a couple of days but then the intense cold moves in. Ugh!
I keep imagining myself on a beach somewhere with a cold beer and a good book.
I am sure you will continue to enjoy A Conspiracy of Faith.

All this talk of snow is cruel & unusual when you are sitting in a Hot & dry northwester weather pattern ..... any cold ginger beer around ....

I can't believe how much snow you're getting! Stay warm. (Hot Buttered Rum has to help, right?)

Skimming through - too far behind as usual. Wanted to wish you and your family the best of health and happiness for the New Year.



Gorgeous views around the café; they look like fantasy land, even the snow.

So many yummy dishes around here, I'm putting on weight. Especially as you've made me hungry in RL, so I'm going to pop downstairs for some berry fruit crumble (which I made from the leftover fruit from the Christmas wreath pavlova with Santa berries).

Any chance of an ice tea (or something stronger is fine) to go with it?

Good morning cafe folk! You know, this little corner has become as important as the group itself, I believe. Always a nice place to retreat to, and the proprietor is sweet and friendly. Something to be grateful for!

>gyozas

Huh, we just call those "pot stickers." Very yummy.

>188 drneutron: Ha! Time to stock up on bread bowls, Jim. Lobster bisque sounds mighty good.

>189 fuzzi: That sounds surprisingly lousy for your part of the country, fuzzi. We'd take it in a blink, of course, but still. The snow stopped here, for a while, anyway, so thank goodness for that. Coming home last night and not having to shovel was a blessing. Good play, too, which I'll talk about later.

Here are your vittles:



>190 Cobscook: Hi, Heidi! The food talk generates a lot of ideas - and appetite - doesn't it? Woo, that sounds challenging where you are, although I'm sure it's beautiful. We're headed for temps like that early next week; pretty unusual here. Are you on the route for that new storm?

I agree, hang out here, stay warm, and read good books.



>191 lkernagh: Good to see you, Lori! Thanks for the kind comments. It's hard to dodge bbs as we travel around LT land, isn't it? Glad you like the thread toppers; I'm particularly partial to the Kotor Bay one, too, although I think that Portofino one is visually amazing.

We're going to try to stay warm by the fire (see above) and keep quaffing hot drinks for the nonce, that's for sure. How is it out there on the west coast?

>192 msf59: Hi, Mark! I'll bet you had a weary head after that day. I was so glad the snow finally stopped! We're all going to look like that Michelin Man for the next few days. I believe I had 17 layers of clothes on today, and I'll have to up that early next week. I paid a small amount to a neighbor's boy to roll me on my side all the way to the train station. (He didn't even notice it was cold out). A bit embarrassing, but it was worth it.

Yes, I'm so caught up in A Conspiracy of Faith that I'm not sure why I'm doing anything but reading it.

Let's get you some daydreaming material:

It's even cold in Georgia, Joe. Just 28 outside right now. I'll second what Kath said about this little corner being as important as LT itself - it was well said, and she is right. I'll take the usual, please.

Thank goodness for that neighbor boy - I hope you tipped him!

Good morning Joe! So happy to here that the snow stopped. I bet it looks like a winter wonderland there.

>193 roundballnz: I think we'd all trade in a blink, Megan! (Maybe not hot-hating Richard). We really need to find some fully-functioning teleporters. Cold ginger beer? Mais oui:



>194 AMQS: Hot buttered rum is a big help, Anne. I think we all really appreciate getting indoors from this Arctic outdoors, too. We've had a couple of pretty mild winters prior to this, so I suppose we were due. Sounds like the northeast U.S. is getting whacked now.

>195 humouress: Thanks, Nina. Happy New Year! I like that 2014.

Glad you're enjoying the cafe views. Berry fruit crumble sounds most excellent; we may have to try that here. How about a Long Island iced tea?



>196 mckait: Good morning, cafe folkster! Thanks for the kind words, Kath. We figure we can all use a place to get away to for a while, right? Wish I could pull a benign Bradbury (thinking of his great short story The Veldt), and give us a 3D walk-in Kotor Bay cafe, but virtual ain't bad.

>197 Morphidae: Pot stickers are in my vocab, Morphy. I didn't realize that's what they were. Or dumplings, as RD said. I have to admit, the word gyozas adds some cachet to the (virtual) experience for me.

Or pierogies.

Hmm, good thought, Linda. I think of pierogies as bigger, but that may just be what I've come across. We used to be regulars at a great Polish diner in Chicago, called The Busy Bee, under the El tracks on Damen. Delicious pierogies. Unfortunately, after decades of it being a local institution, no one in the younger generation in the family wanted to carry it on, and proprietor Sophie couldn't continue. Too bad.

Saw a really good play last night, Tribes by Nina Raine. It features a high IQ family, with one boy who is deaf. The non-deaf parents, along with his sister and brother in their 20s (but living back at home), engage in fast-paced and very funny verbal battles and pyrotechnics. The family treats Billy, also in his 20s, as if he's not deaf, "on principle", as the never uncertain father, played by the always excellent Francis Guinan, explains. Billy, the deaf boy, handles it surprisingly well - at first. He can speak reasonably well, although he has to be reminded to enunciate the consonants, has exceptional lip reading skills, and he's bright enough to get along. But he's frustrated by all he's missing and all his busy family won't take the time to explain.



Then Billy runs into Sylvia at a party, and everything changes. Sylvia, played beautifully by Alana Arenas, has deaf parents, and for genetic reasons is losing her hearing. She lives in both worlds, generally able to understand what his verbose family is saying, and able to sign, something Billy has never been taught. They begin to open their hearts to each other.



She introduces him to the deaf community, and he is thrilled at finally finding himself among others like him. With her help, he gets a job at criminal court using his lip-reading skills to interpret conversations caught on surveillance tape. His independence increases, and he begins to see his family differently, wondering why they haven't done more to communicate with him. At the same time, his family is excited by his finding a girlfriend and becoming independent. However, he in fact has been the calm center for them, and his separation leaves them all in disarray, particularly his brother Danny, whose emotional problems often were alleviated by Billy.

Classical music plays a large role in the play. Danny uses it to help drown out the voices he hears; Billy has never "heard" music, and instead finds it distracting to his trying to understand the others. Sylvia loves music, but it is becoming nothing more than a "roar" for her. One of the most touching scenes has her playing a lovely piano piece with Billy's family gathered around her, after she has explained her growing inability to hear music.

I found it all fascinating. I don't know a lot about the deaf community, but I do remember the outcry when cochlear implants started allowing hearing for profoundly deaf people. Many members of the deaf community reportedly viewed accepting the implants as betrayal. Hard for a non-deaf person like me to understand, of course. The play deals with issues of communication, of "listening" on so many levels. At times Billy and Sylvia are the only ones making much sense, for all the others' highfalutin' verbosity. Sylvia mourns what she is losing, including, in her view, the ability to communicate irony. She is skeptical of the small deaf community's insularity at the same time Billy is for the first time learning sign language and becoming enamored of knowing other deaf people. Both of them struggle with the difference between being deaf since birth versus becoming deaf at a later age. Meanwhile, Billy's family has trouble "hearing" each other while at the same time they are all vigorously proclaiming their self-centered views. They have no clue about Billy's frustration, or his importance to them, until he begins to open up his life to the wider world.

Great play, well-performed as usual at Steppenwolf, after starting in London, playing in 2012 at the Barrow Street Theater in New York, and last year at the Guthrie in Minneapolis.

Hey Joe that fellow in the middle in the last photo could well be your doppleganger!
I have no Hani this weekend as she has gone to Singapore, so I'll be back in the morning to order up my breakfast dear chap.

Have a lovely weekend.

>205 PaulCranswick: Ha! In real life, he's not so much my doppelganger, Paul, although I wish it were true. That's Francis Guinan, and my goodness, the man can act.

Hope you have better luck finding the butter (and everything else) with Hani gone than I do when my MBH departs. Looking forward to seeing you in your a.m., buddy. Hope you have a lovely weekend, too. I need to get over to yours and mention how much I enjoyed the family video of the Monopoly game, although on a once-through, I have no idea why you were accused of cheating. I guess that's a testament to your skill.

Joe, what a great review about the play. There is a theatre thread which Darryl has put up. It would be fantastic if you could put your review over there. 😃

Thanks, Barbara. Has Darryl started it? I'll find it and post it over there, too.

On the wiki you're able to find the link. 😃

Look up, Joe. You missed Abby and me.

Oops! Thanks, Mamie. Must have been that kerfuffle in the kitchen.

>199 Crazymamie: You know, that neighbor boy won't take tips! Not even for shoveling snow, much less rolling me to the station. We actually had to give his parents a gift card in RL to give to him, as he has shoveled for us many times but won't take any compensation. 10 years old - good kid.

Thank you for the kind comments, Mamie. I sure have fun here and elsewhere on LT, so I'm glad folks enjoy coming here and just taking it easy for a while. The usual? Yes! We can't start out 2014 without that.



>200 Thebookdiva: Good morning, Abby! It is a winter wonderful here, and I have to keep reminding myself to look around and enjoy it. Yes, thank goodness the snow stopped. I didn't get as sore as I expected with that shoveling, but it was a treat to come home last night and not have to dig back into it. 28 degrees in your part of the world isn't balmy, but overall I suspect you'll be fairly comfortable this winter. Hope so, anyway. You can always come here to warm up, if need be. :-)

ETA: >209 Ameise1: Work is interrupting the search, Barbara, so I've asked Darryl.

Joe, I hope this will help you.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/163532

*plunk*

Sooooo sleepy. Cold here and a little windy, but I don't have to go outside. Still. Sleepy. I'll need a lot more coffee and a reason to wake up, but can't think of a darn thing that makes it worthwhile.

>212 Ameise1: Perfect, Barbara. That did the trick. I starred the thread, too.

>213 richardderus: How about the second Carl and Assad book, Richard? That make get the mind percolating. Coffee on its way.

*ngurmph* Ain't got it yet. ::discontented::

I'll just sit here guzzling coffee.

That should keep you guzzling for a while, Richard. Looking forward to hearing when it starts taking effect.

>204 jnwelch: Wow, that sounds like a wonderful play. I'd go see that!

#197, Morphy, gyoza is the Japanese version. Pot stickers are the Chinese version. Same diff. ;-)

Good morning/afternoon! Just a quick note before I dash out to have lunch with a friend. I posted two pictures on my thread, one of the recalcitrant food receptacle.

That reuben looks delish, but I think I'm have the mamacado benedict again today.

>217 leperdbunny: Worth the trip if you get a chance, Tam. Really well done. We've been going to Steppenwolf since they were a little tiny theater troupe, and this is one of their best.

>218 AuntieClio: I remember the song, Stephanie. "You say tomayto, I say tomahto, you say gyosas, I say pot stickers - Tomayto, tomahto, gyosas, pot stickers, let's call the whole thing off." Then there's the verse with dumplings and pierogies that escapes me at the moment.

>219 AuntieClio: Whoa! Remind me to stand clear next time you're faced with a recalcitrant food receptacle, Stephanie! You don't mess around. Do you take the same approach to jewelry store heists?

Joe - that's a superb review of the play. I'm bummed that it's only playing in Chicago for now. I missed it when it was in NYC and I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed .. maybe I should get my toes into the act as well,.. that it comes to Boston before too long.

With this cold, I indulged in a bubbling skillet of queso and hot tortilla chips today at lunch while waiting for steak fajitas. What's a scorched tongue because I couldn't wait for it to cool down a little before digging in?

Now that lunch sounds yummy Caro! I am sitting here with a hot cup of coffee...seems that silly keurig is good for something.. that single late cuppa :)

Actually I do like it, but it's so big and ..big. You know? Not to mention expensive and not green at all. I feel guilty using it! I still like having a nice big pot of coffee to start the day...

#220, if it were a jewelry store heist I would have better tools. Fortunately, this jar didn't require the blowtorch.

I know not everyone feels this way, but I'm a bit jealous of the snow. The picture of your back yard dining area is lovely!
And the play looks & sounds like a good one.

And about a gazillion posts up there you recommended After the Quake as a good intro to Murakami. I have a couple of books by him but have admittedly been a bit intimidated. Maybe I'll see if I can snag that one from the library.

Have a safe, warm, and wonderful weekend, Joe. I hope your snow melts quickly!

>204 jnwelch:: That sounds like an amazing play!

Just wondering - were the (relevant) actors deaf (or partially deaf)? I always wonder, when people portray someone with a disability (or whatever the current PC word is), about authenticity and so on.

My mouth is watering as I catch up on your thread. ScandiCrime sounds like my kind of diet!

Catching up here...I enjoyed reading your review of the play.

All pieroghi are dumplings, but not all dumplings are pieroghi....

I'm off to find the recalcitrant food receptacle pic, as I found myself in deep trouble with one or two myownself yesterday...

Hi Joe! Happy Saturday... working myownself :P

Caro got me salivating over at her thread earlier Joe with talk of Guinness Stew in individual bread containers. Just what the doctor ordered when my lovely wife is not at home.

Morning Joe! The play sounds wonderful. Any plans for this weekend?

> 198 - I woke up to unusual weather this morning for my little corner of the world: Clear blue skies and a lovely layer of frost covering the rooftops and even the grass! I love this kind of weather.... it is such a nice change from our usual winter grey overcast skies and rain.

That Reuben sandwich in #198 looks divine - I will have one with extra mustard and caraway seeds, please!

Pierogies are great comfort food when served up with lots of sauteed onions and large dollops of sour cream.

All this food talk is making me hungry. ;-) Happy weekend, Joe!

Woo, back from shoveling out the back and stocking up at the store. C-o-o-l-l-d-d weather coming, maybe 30F-50F below windchill on Monday. Not so swell tomorrow either. Yeesh.

>221 cameling: I hope Tribes makes it to Boston, Caro. If not, it's good enough that I wouldn't be surprised if it made its way back to New York.

Hot queso and tortilla chips sounds mighty good. I just had veggie tacos with salsa and Welsh cheddar - a bit of south of the border across the pondness.

>222 mckait: Good to see you, Kath! We used a Keurig this a.m. - we have one now in our newly fixed-up back room. I know what you mean about a pot of coffee, but these single cuppers are are convenient. And maybe green in the sense of not throwing away leftover amounts? I had Peet's Major Dickason and Green Mountain Breakfast Blend.

Hope you're having a good weekend.

>223 AuntieClio: Ha! I can tell you've given this some thought, Stephanie. And you seem well-equipped. We'll look forward to hearing more about your adventures as the year goes on. That recalcitrant food receptacle never stood a chance, did it?

>224 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. We're in a tough stretch weather-wise. More snow, then big drop in temperature. Lots of folks out trying to get last minutes taken care of. We've got books, food and hot drinks, so we're ready.

I honestly think there's zero reason to be intimidated by our friend Murakami. Try After the Quake and you'll see. He's a storyteller, just an unusual one. If he suits, you'll be off and running with his others.

>225 humouress: Thanks, Nina! It was quite a play. I'm still thinking about it. I want to know more about the playwright, and the social effects of being deaf.

The actor playing Billy, John McGinty, was born deaf in a hearing family. He's been in other plays, and played this part at the Guthrie, too. He was very good. Alana Arenas (Sylvia) is not deaf, just an excellent actor.

Joe, the only Murakami I've read so far is "1Q84" and I really liked it. What would recommend next?

Edited because the poor man's name is Murakami, not Hurakami!

I haven't been here yet today? How has that happened?

It's still chilly here, but NOTHING like yesterday thank goodness. I'm craving macaroni and cheese, the plain kind without crumbs, and meatloaf, and some kind of greens like spinach or collards or something.

Comfort food, I suppose. Something to reassure the inner caveman that the Ice Age isn't returning.

>233 rosalita: Julia - That's the only one I've read also. I think I want to do Kafka on the Shore next as both Joe and Mark said that was a good one.

>226 thornton37814: Hiya, Lori. I just finished A Conspiracy of Faith, and can heartily recommend it, if you like Scandicrime. I'll try to do a short review soon. It was excellent. The first is The Keeper of Lost Causes.

>227 fuzzi: Thanks, fuzzi. We've missed you! Glad you're caught up and liked the play review.

>228 mckait: Hiya, Kath. You may be happily working for all I know, but I hope you get a break this weekend. Stephanie has a very direct way of dealing with recalcitrant food receptacles - I think anyone could learn it.

>229 PaulCranswick: I bet this ain't easy to find in KL, Paul. That Caro sure can make food sound tantalizing, can't she? Here you go:



>230 Thebookdiva: Hi, Abby! Glad the play sounds good to you. Yeah, the practical plan was to get ready for the tough weather. We've got paths cleared as needed, and some dug out areas for the furry Sherlock. He and his human ma will be coming over here, as seasonsoflove's apartment doesn't have the reliable heat our house does. Going to be mighty cold here, and the snow has started up again.

But on the have fun side, we're going to the Chicago Bulls game tonight against the team that plays not too far from you - the Atlanta Hawks. We're fans, and go a lot to their games.

How about you? Any plans this weekend?

>231 lkernagh: Happy Weekend, Lori! Not surprisingly, your usual weather sounds a lot like what son Jesse experiences in Seattle. Glad you're getting a break from it. We texted him what we've got going on weatherwise, and his concise response was, "Ewww."

ETA: Whoops. Forgot the Reuben with mustard and caraway seeds. Here you go:

My weekend plans involve cleaning, drawing, reading, writing, and watching football. As of 5 minutes ago we just finished with putting away all the Christmas decorations (except the tree), so yay for that! I mostly want to draw and write however. Sorry about the shoveling of snow. I hope it isn't too hard.

>233 rosalita: Glad you liked 1Q84, Julia. To me, that's a sign you'd like any of his. That's a hefty read. (One of his best).

The other two knockouts of his, from my POV, are The Windup Bird Chronicles and Kafka on the Shore. But I've got to be honest - I've loved each and every one of his. We were just talking, for example, about Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, which deserves to be better-known. His most conventional book is Norwegian Wood, and that was his first big hit, becoming a huge seller in Japan.

>234 richardderus: We're getting a visit from the Ice Age, Richard. Each report the warnings get worse. Hope it stays away from your neck of the woods.

Comfort food sounds good to me. Here you go, buddy:



>235 Crazymamie: Kafka on the Shore is a good one, for sure, Mamie. I want to re-read it some time soon.

>237 Thebookdiva: That sounds like my kind of weekend, Abby. Although I can't draw much at all. We're also not getting the ornaments put away and the tree taken down. That may have to wait another week. We're wiped out at the moment. :-)

I bet, you poor thing! We did get the ornaments put away; now the tree is just standing naked. Hope next weekend is more relaxing for you.

Ah, you're a sweetheart, Abby. All is well. Yours truly just took a nap and feels much restored. We're taking the lovely Becca with us tonight, so we go pick her up soon. Hope it's a relaxing rest of the weekend at the Pecan Paradisio.

ooh..gooey mac & cheese. Always a crowd pleaser, the gooey-er the better. If I didn't already just make a batch of roasted garlic mashed potatoes, I would have made a mac & cheese to go with the roast garlic/rosemary & lemon chicken and the spinach, red onion & bacon salad that's for dinner tonight.

I have to get back to Murakami. I'm woefully behind getting to some of his books in my TBR Tower. Of the ones I've read, Kafka on the Shore still remains my favorite though.

>238 jnwelch:, Yeah, first it was 8-12 inches but now they are predicting 10-14. UGH. I am not pleased. lol

#242, Caro, I have a bunch of peeled garlic cloves I need to do something with. Can I just put them in a pan and sprinkle them with salt and olive oil in the oven?

I thought I had The Keeper of Lost Causes on my TBR list, but I didn't. I'll make a note to add it later. My library's online catalog doesn't work on my iPad since it requires Flash.

My favorite keurig coffee so far, is Tully's French Roast... yum!

Yes..it is right convenient to have the single serve option. I find myself drinking 2-3 times the amount of coffee lately though, between the keurig at work and now at home..

I made beef stock/soup today, a first!

I keep getting sick, and I'm seeing a connection (cause and effect) between my eating processed foods and getting sinus headaches, so I am going to try to cut waaay back on refined sugars, additives, etc.

Last night I decided to get some chicken and/or beef broth, canned, as a base for soup. I went to a local grocery store and Walmart, and got terribly frustrated! Every can or carton of broth, organic or standard, had all sorts of additives, like sugar, "flavor", and other unnecessary stuff listed as ingredients on the label, aarrgh! So I bought a section of beef shank, with bone, and made my own delicious broth in the crock pot today.

It's yummy. :)

Hi Joe! Sounds like the play you went to see was a winner. We don't get many chances to see live theater in my neck of the woods. When I was in college in Massachusetts going to the theater was something I really enjoyed.

I hope you are staying warm and cozy this weekend!

@274, fuzzi good for you! I too get frustrated with the extras in commercial stocks, especially all the frickin' salt. There's at least one brand I'm not adverse to using but saved my chicken bones for many months and then made my own stock. It's in the freezer waiting to be used because I want to use the commercial stuff first. Such a sense of accomplishment to make stock!

Thanks for the Murakami recommendations, Joe! And Mamie, I'm going to look for "Kafka on the Shore" at the library for potential February reading goodness.

Edited because the poor man's name is Murakami, not Hurakami!

>176 jnwelch: It's going to take a while before we can use our back dining area.
I think you might be right, Joe! That is going to take some snow blowing - haha.

In answer to your question of 1000 posts ago, I ave not read Murakami before. Well, that is a lie as I read his one What I Talk About when I Talk About Running which is not at all literary, and is quite plain in writing style. So no fiction of his then. I might have to put a $2 hold on the earthquake one.

>244 AuntieClio: I'm sure by now you've found a use for that garlic. Another good way to deal with it is to put it in a cruet with olive oil and let it sit. That makes a nice flavored oil and it keeps for a good while.

>244I was out eating with a friend ... years ago and she ordered garlic soup.
We were in a cute little place in Cambria, Ca, and I thought it was an odd choice, considering all the luscious looking options. She loved it! I have never eaten or made it, but it is out there and is supposed to be a good healthy choice?

http://www.shelterrific.com/2013/05/08/real-life-test-kitchen-julia-childs-garli...

Snow... I have had enough of it, and the cold weather too. Brrr

um... Hi Joe! keep warm :) and smiley

Happy Sunday Joe!

There's some strange weather going on. You've got your arctic cold and we, also having winter, reach high temperatures that fit the spring. No snow at all, but lots of rain, all the time.

>242 cameling:. Mmm. Roasted garlic mashed potatoes. I'm in, Caro.

I think Kafka on the Shore remains my favorite, too. What a book. Loved Nakata.

I have Kafka on the Shore in my stack. Joe how do you think Murakami compares to Allende and Marquez? (If you've read them.)

>243 leperdbunny: Mama Nature needs to take a break, don't you think, Tam? We're getting as much snow cleared as we can before the big chill arrives, but it just keeps coming, doesn't it?

>244 AuntieClio: I say yes, Stephanie, but hopefully the more knowledgeable Caro will weigh in.

>245 thornton37814: Well worth adding to your TBR, Lori. Among other things, this is one of those series where there is a continuing mystery - what's the real story with that ambush? - and the characters have depths that you find out more about as the series goes on.

>246 mckait: I have to try the Tully's, Kath. We got a sampler with the machine, and Tully's is one of them. This a.m. I had Green Mountain Sumatra blend, and that was good, particularly with some Bailey's thrown in. We decided we deserved rewards for the hard snow and ice work. My MBH had hot cider with amaretto. The lovely and talented seasonsoflove was designated sitter, with unadulterated tea, and Sherlock had a good time with his squeaky toy.

As you probably figured out, plenty of coffee drinking sounds just right to me. Didn't we have an LTer who let us know how good and popular coffee is in the Scandi countries? I can sure see why.

>247 fuzzi: Congrats on the soup stock/broth, fuzzi. You should talk to my MBH some time about food/health connections - she is dedicated to having me eat healthy, even if it kills me. Wait, that didn't come out right.

>248 Cobscook: Did you ever go to Tanglewood in MA, Heidi? My MBH grew up near there, went a lot, and worked there one summer. And lo and behold, it was an answer in the crossword today. She was quite pleased.

We would feel too deprived if we didn't have theater on a regular basis. Living in a beautiful area like yours with a chauffeured private jet commute to the theater district (we'd have to parachute, maybe?) would be okay, though. Or a teleporter.

Good morning, Joe, and Happy New Year! I've skipped from message 2 to the end, confident that I probably haven't missed a single book review, just a lot of good food and drink. I'm desperately trying to achieve equilibrium here on the threads, knowing that catching up is simply impossible.

>249 AuntieClio: I'm a pushover for frickin salt, Stephanie, so you should probably mail me any extra you come across. Actually, even I have my limits, and oversalted is a flavor killer, no doubt about it.

>250 rosalita: You just mashed up first and last names, Julia. (His first name is Haruki). For all we know, his friends call him Hurakami. :-)

Look forward to hearing your reaction when you get around to reading him. My first exposure actually was at the theater - Steppenwolf did a wonderful play based on After the Quake. That got me excited about his work, so I went out and got After the Quake and read it. That got me really excited about his writing, and I went on a binge reading his books, reading nothing else (well, hardly anything else) for a couple of months. Wonderful time in my life.

>251 LovingLit: I read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Megan, and of course liked it, but it didn't give a whole lot of insight into Murakami as a person. The word "Running" in the title probably should have given me a clue that that is what he'd be talking about when he was talking in the book.

His other nonfiction one, Underground, about the cult subway attack in Japan, is excellent, too. More of a straightforward, clear report on a horrifying incident.

>252 dragonaria: Loving the garlic talk, Kimberly. One of my favorite things in life. Our house is vampire-free, too.

>253 mckait: Garlic soup - me want? Sounds great, Kath. We're preparing for today's round two with the snow. We're keeping warm, and filled with hot drinks, and yes, we're smiling. Silly Sherlock is helping with this part. He loves the snow, he loves his squeaky toy, he loves rough and tumble play, he loves having his belly rubbed . . . you get the idea.

>254 luvamystery65: Happy Sunday, Roberta! Looks like we're going to find out more about that ambush, doesn't it? Thanks again for your cult, and the push to read A Conspiracy of Faith. As good as promised. Go Carl! What's the real story with Assad, anyway? I was right about Yrsa, wasn't I? More Mona, please.

OK, back outside to the snow. See you later.

#258 Joe I see you are recruiting so I think it safe to call it our cult now.

The more you learn about Assad the more mysterious he is. Yes you were right about Yrsa! Some folks were upset about that, but I loved how Carl just accepted her as is and gave her a mission that now makes her part and parcel of the team. That is my favorite thing about Carl. He huffs and hollers but he sure does take people as they are. Kind of like a certain curmudgeon we all know. After book three I hold Mona in very high esteem.

Take care in that cold Joe! Say hello to Debbie.

Joe, have you ever posted a photo of silly Sherlock? The world can always use more puppy picture posts. :-)

Stay safe and warm there, Joe. We are getting the deep freeze but thankfully no new snow. One winter disaster at a time, please!

Hi Joe! For dinner I had marinated beef, mashed potatoes and carrots. What would you recommend for dessert? :-)

>255 wilkiec: Spring-like weather with lots of rain sounds good to me, Diana. We just never know. The last couple of winters have been mild here, but we're sure getting walloped right now. Our daughter is hoping they're going to close school tomorrow, as she'll have to make her way by public transit, and it's going to be bitter out. Me, too (for work), but I'm an old crusty codger, so it doesn't matter as much.

>257 AuntieClio: I have read a lot of Marquez and some Allende, Stephanie. I can't really comment on Allende, as the two I've read (Zorro and Kingdom of the Golden Dragon) didn't have much in common with Murakami. The magic realism is the common denominator, of course, with Marquez. For me, Murakami's is lighter, less dense. You're out in the open, rather than in a tropical forest, as far as feel. Murakami can be more urban, too, although not necessarily. More Western, too, oddly enough.

>259 ronincats: Hi, Roni! Happy New Year!

You know, I was just telling walklover and seasonsoflove that Richard calmed me and others down last year at this time. I was freakin' about how active the threads were, and how hard it was to even try to keep up, and he pointed out that it's always like this when the New Year starts, and then it calms down. So, no worries, it will calm down and be easier to keep up with.

>263 rosalita: Yes, there have been a fair number of Sherlock posts, believe it or not, Julia. But it's easy to talk me into posting another one.



Yeah, we're getting the two-for-one winter combo, lots of snow and then arctic temps. Sorry you're getting the deep freeze, but I'm glad the snow is staying away. We're staying warm and currently having butternut squash soup, thanks to walklover. So this weather definitely has its compensations!

>264 Ameise1: That sounds like a solid, substantial meal, Barbara. Hmm, what for dessert? How about a pumpkin streusel cheesecake bar with ice cream?

OMG OMG OMG must must must have pumpkin streusel cheesecake bar hold the ice cream unless it's coffee must must have NOW

Hi Joe- How are you, my friend? Bree just came in awhile ago, after driving in from Plainfield and said that she hates this state and can't wait to leave it. LOL. Where's she going to go, Minnesota? That's my girl.
I am trying get plenty of R & R in today and trying to mentally prepare myself for tomorrow. So far, it's not working.

Have a nice relaxing Sunday!

>266 richardderus: We can bring the coffee ice cream if you decide you want it, RD.



>267 msf59: How you doing, buddy? Yeah, hard to grudge Bree that one today. Some time in MN might make her appreciate these southern climes more. Man, they should cancel the mail tomorrow. I guess they never do that. Enjoy today as much as you can. As you and Roberta predicted, I loved A Conspiracy of Faith. Now I'm reading a YA that made lots of top ten lists, Eleanor and Park. And I have to get to my Willa for the AAC!

Oh Joe, that's soooooooo delicious. Thanks a lot

Awww, Sherlock is a cutie! He looks very ruffle-able. :-)

>268 jnwelch: LOL! I'm a bit hard to get through to sometimes, Barbara, but I'm sensing you liked the dessert!

>269 Ameise1: Sherlock is very ruffle-able, Julia, no question about it. He has been having a blast in the snow, to the point where I thought he was trying to disguise himself as a white miniature poodle. Or maybe a mobile snow hill. Once dried off, he takes great enjoyment in lap-sitting.

OK, the new cafe is open. Come on over!