coppers' (Joanne's) 2014 Challenge - Part 1

Hi! I'm Joanne and this is my 5th year in the 75 Book Challenge Group. I only actually made it to 75 books once, in my first year, but no one has kicked me out yet for only reading around 65 in a year. It didn't take me long to discover that it's not the number but rather the camaraderie wrapped around the love of books and reading that makes this group so much fun.

I'm about as chatty here as I am in real life which means that I'm fairly quiet. I like to visit threads and will make more of an effort this year to at least say hello when I've got nothing constructive to add. I love visitors and everyone is welcome so please stop by and say hello.

I've been topping my threads with pictures, and I love visiting Maui (or just thinking about visiting Maui when it's cold and snowy in Colorado), so here is one of a beautiful old church in East Maui.



Kaulanapueo Church, built in 1853

My 2013 Favorites in the order I read them:

Fiction
1. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
2. The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner
3. Benediction by Kent Haruf
4. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
5. How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
6. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
7. Let Him Go by Larry watson
8. Snapper by Brian Kimberling
9. Someone by Alice McDermott
10. The Given Day by Dennis Lehane

Favorite audios, both memoirs:
1. My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
2. Still Foolin' 'Em by Billy Crystal

Favorite memoir not on audio:
1. When We Were the Kennedys by Monica Wood

Favorite non-fiction:
1. Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss
2. Last Train to Paradise by Les Standiford
3. Lost Cat by Caroline Paul

January 2014
1. The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland 4.25 stars, OTS#1
2. Stitches by Anne Lamott 4 stars (audio)
3. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 4.5 stars OTS #2
4. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell 4.25 stars OTS #3

February 2014
5. Doc by Mary Doria Russell 5 stars OTS #4

.

Happy New Year, and Happy New Thread !

75 is just a number... it means nothing...

It's the company that matters :)

Yay! Hi Kath! My very first visitor in 2014! I love the company and that's why I'm back!

Happy New Year to you!

ooops! hope I didn't spoil a plan here ? I didn't realize I was first! yay! or oops?

Hi Joanne! Love the picture of the church. Happy (almost) 2014!

Nope, no oops, Kath - it's all about yay!! :)

Hi Pat! Happy New Year to you, too!

Hi Joanne, nice to meet you! :) That church is amazing. I share your love of Maui; if I could just stay on Ka'anapali Beach forever, well, that'd be all right with me. Never really spent much time in East Maui, though. I imagine it's just as wonderful.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Hi Paige, (Such a clever LT name!) Welcome to LT, the 75 Challenge group and my little thread! (You've reminded me that I need to visit the introductions thread and say hello there!)

I love the little churches that are dotted around the island - their age amazes me. I love Ka'anapali Beach as well. We tend to stay right up the road from there in Napili.

Happy New Year to you, too!

The Twilight Zone Marathon is on..."Time Enough at Last"...sad. eta: And now my favorite "The Hitchhiker"...creepy.

Thought I should mention my current reads:

(audio)

Heading out soon...for just a few hours. Be safe out there all!

Gorgeous church on Maui. I would like to visit.

Hi Joanne and Happy New Year of Reading!

Here you are at last. Ah good. And with a serene image of Maui no less, well begin as you mean to go on as the saying goes.

Happy 2014!

Hi Joanne!! Starring your thread to follow you along! I love it when you visit me... whether you have lots to say or are just dropping in for a "hi". ;)

Welcome back!

Dear Joanne, I hope and trust that you will have a wonderful, book filled 2014. I'll do my best as always to try to keep up. xx

Hi Joanne!

Hi Joanne - Starred. Lovely picture. Happy reading in 2014.

Starred!

Happy New Year, Joanne!

Hi, Joanne !

I am more of a lurker then one to make comments. Hope you don't mind.

Hi Joanne! I hope you had a good New Year's Eve and that 2014 brings lots of good reading!

Dear Joanne, I wish you a happy, smooth, productive, satisfying 2014 --- and .....

Hi, Joanne! Oh, I love photos of old (i.e. non-modern) churches - thanks for sharing!

I like that church photo, too, Joanne. Happy New Year!

Hi Joanne!
I was here earlier - but forgot (?) to leave a message.
I watched part of the Twilight Zone Marathon last night. I used to love that show. So funny to see it in black and white - and the acting is so old fashioned now. That show used to creep me out... course I was a lot younger.

Happy 2014! Planning another trip to Hawaii?

Here you are, Joanne! I was starting to get anxious, because it wouldn't be nearly as much fun around here without you to hang out with! Happy New Year to you and your family.

Happy New Year, Joanne! Looking forward to spending another year, following around a long-time friend.

^Was that a Cindy Sprocket sighting? OMG!

Happy New Year, Joanne! Love the images of Maui -- I hope to get back there some day.

Happy New Year Joanne! I finally made it over here after struggling to find all my old friends through the maze of threads. I love the church on Maui. Hope 2014 brings you many great reads.

I love the church! I looked up where it was, but we didn't make it out that far on Maui when we were there. It was 18 years ago and the road to Hana was definitely not the "Hana Highway" I see on the map now!

Hope you have a great year of reading!

I love the picture also! I don't make my goal either, but its fun trying! Good luck and God Bless!

Hi Ellen, Happy Reading to you, too!

Hi Richard, Thanks for stopping by and saying hello! Happy 2014 and I hope the snowstorm isn't causing problems for you!

Hi Tina - I'll be by to find your thread soon!! I did some starring and now I need to go back and start reading!

Thanks Jim!

Hi Paul, How you keep up with everyone is beyond me! I hope you're reading a good book!

Hi Diana!

Hi Beth! The same to you! :)

Hi Katie - Happy New Year! Thanks for starring me.

Hi Cindy! Welcome! Lurk away but feel free to say "hi" whenever the spirit moves you!

Hi Amy - I had a fun New Year's Eve and hope you did too. I was home shortly after 10 but I actually made it to midnight!

Hi Peggy - Oh, how pretty! I hope your 2014 is a great one!

Hi Amber - I love them, too. They are graceful in their simplicity.

Hi Joe - Happy New Year!

Hi Cee! I actually watched a few episodes I've never seen before. I still love the stories. No Hawaii trips planned... :(

Hi Julia - I'm here! I hope to be at least a little fun. :) Happy 2014 to you!

Hi Mark! Good to see you, as usual!

Hi Ann, Me too!

Hi Bonnie, I think we've been spoiled by the thread continuation feature. I'm glad you found me! Hope you're not buried in snow.

Hi Ursula, We drove to Hana for the first time over 25 years ago and, although the road has seen some improvements, calling it a "Highway" is still quite a misnomer. Happy reading to you as well!

Hi Kyndra, Welcome! I seem to be off to a slow start already and it's only the 2nd. LOL! I just hope to read more books than I buy.

Here you are! I didn't realize you'd started your thread yet, until I looked on the Threadlist and there it was! Glad you had a fun New Year's Eve and Day. Wishes for a wonderful book-filled 2014 that includes at least a few meet-ups.

Mary's here! Happy 2014! I know we'll have another meet-up soon.

Looking at the threadbook is pretty ingenious, why didn't I think of that?

The threadbook is very helpful! It's an amazing feat that Jim has undertaken each year to keep us all organized. I stand in awe!

I watched some Twilight Zone episodes, too :) I love when they do those marathons!

No books read yesterday... but maybe today? What's the snow level there? Only about 6-8 inches here I think? Cold though. Clearing off my car will take a chunk out of my down time today :(

Hi Joanne, I see your new year is off to a good start. It's strange being here and not seeing my CO buddies. It has been very good to spend this time with Mike, Rebecca, and Hope. They are so happy despite the challenges of having a preemie. She is doing well but needs to eat frequently. Today is Mike's birthday and they are off to return the oxygen monitoring machine and have breakfast at VooDoo Doughnuts. I think they like having a Granny-Nanny around!

Have a wonderful year of reading. I will be back at the end of March so maybe a meetup then?

I lived on Oahu for four years. After now almost two winters in NC man do I miss it.

Mary - I know, it's like a part-time (full-time??) job for him, I'm sure, to keep everything orderly here in this very active group.

Hi Kath, I've been slow on my reading too, although I'm very much enjoying my current book. The weather here is actually pretty balmy - 60 today! Tomorrow, and the weekend, will be a different story. The highs will only be in the 20s and snow showery, so grey and damp. I heard there is cold weather following the east coast snow storm. Stay warm and safe!

Hi Donna, Happy birthday to Mike! Glad to hear the monitor is no longer needed. Are they going to let you go back to MO? They must love having you there. They'll miss being able to go out together knowing that Hope is safe with you. And I'll be here -just let me know when you'll be back!

Hi Matthew, Welcome! Oh, what a beautiful beach! How lucky you were able to live there for 4 years but I'm sure it was tough to leave.

I finally added my 2013 favorites in post #2 above, if anybody's interested.

I enjoyed the audio of My Beloved World, too. I've read nothing else on the list but there are several on my shelves to be read!

The weather here is actually pretty balmy - 60 today!

I had to read that 3 times. We've been struggling to get above freezing for weeks now!

I can barely remember 60 degrees, Joanne. I think we will be closer to -60 than +60 by the time Monday rolls around.

Hi Katie, It surprises me that you haven't read any of my favorites except for My Beloved World. Just goes to show you that even with similar reading tastes, there are an awful lot of good books out there.

Hi Pat - Weeks?! Brr!! It was such a nice day today. I'll be thinking of it fondly tomorrow in the cold!

Hi Julia, Maybe a little of this warm weather will blow your way! Hope you can curl up in a cozy spot with a good book!

Joanne, would you believe I have not read ANY of your top reads from last year (though I have many in my TBR pile)?! You never lead me astray, so I look forward to some great reads on your recommendation!

Joanne - We are in a fairly cosy minority at the moment as group members not freezing their butts off. I am though uncomfortably warm and 60 deg f sounds much, much nicer.

Have a lovely weekend.

So much for balmy. Hope you're inside warm and cozy enjoying a good book or movie, because it's darned cold outside! We got about 3 inches so far (so far!); how about you?

Hi Anne, Really? Wow, I'm starting to think my favorites were off the wall choices! You do have some good reading in front of you. I think you'll especially like Benediction and Let Him Go.

Hi Paul, Well, odds are that you are still uncomfortably warm but Colorado winter weather being as it is, the temps have turned. It's currently 14F with about 6" of snow on the ground. Hope you're having a good weekend!

Hi Mary, It was nice while it lasted! We got about 6" here. I'm inside warm and cozy now but spent the morning out walking and playing (the dogs love the snow, and honestly, I do too....). We all went to a movie this afternoon (Anchorman 2 - kinda' funny) and then we walked across the street for dinner. Glad to be home - it's icy out there now! And I have about 10 pages to go to finish the first book of the year.

My girls had fun in the snow today. That's Copper on the left and Skye on the right.

1. The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland

Wonderful historical fiction told as a series of fictional diary entries written by Josephine Bonaparte. This is the first book in a trilogy and begins when Josephine/Rose is a 14 year old in Martinique, takes us to Paris and the French revolution and then, towards the end of this book, she finally meets and marries Napoleon. My knowledge of European History is cloudy at best but I thought it well researched with the added bonus of fine storytelling with lots of romance and political intrigue.

I'm very happy that I picked up the other two books in the trilogy at a library sale a few months ago. 4.25 stars

Joanne, thanks for pics of the girls. Isn't it fun to watch dogs play in the snow? They are so unself-consciously goofy, the way kids can be.

A fictional diary of Josephine Bonaparte? Now that sounds interesting.

What is it with dogs and snow? LOL
Dunkers loves it, too. He also loves to eat it.. quite a delicacy in Duncan-land

Nice pics :)

Hi Julia, I highly recommend it - it was very good!! And yes, my girls are really just goofy little kids!

Hi Kath, Thanks! As old and arthritic as Copper is, she still loves to lie out in the snow and get covered with it. Yesterday she was even running in it. And they both love to catch and eat snowballs. (Low cal treat!) Today is their swim day - the happiest day of the week.

Hi Joanne - I hope to finish my first book of the year today, too. Nice review of the Gulland book. Nice list of favorites for 2013. Life after Life made it to many lists. My book group will read Someone this year, which I am really looking forward to. I'd also like to read My Beloved World one of these days...

Stay warm. It is frigid here. We don't have a lot of snow, but the expected high today is -15 -- that's air temperature -- not windchill. Tomorrow I think the expected high is -25.

Happy, snowy dogs! Whistler had a good time frolicking in the snow yesterday, though he has to bundle up. Hope you're in and staying warm.

Hi Beth, Oh my, that is VERY cold! Yikes. You've made our 13F seem downright balmy. I feel bad for people looking forward to going to the Green Bay game today. Stay safe out there!

Hi Ann, Greyhounds look so cute with their jackets on! I'm in this morning. I was going to head out to Target but decided I didn't need anything that badly. Cold weather saves me money! Although, looking at Beth's temps, I feel a little whimpy.

Love your Favorite List Joanne mostly because I have Life After Life, How the Light Gets In, and Let Him Go on my own list and I have The Paris Wife, The Big Rock Candy Mountain and The Given Day on my shelves.

Mighty cold here and the next couple of days will be bone chilling. Perfect reason to stay in toasty warm and with a book.

Hi Bonnie, I was starting to think my favorites list was a little off the wall this year! You've got (at the very least!) three good books on the shelf, waiting to be read. :)

Sounds like the entire country is suffering in the cold this week. But it is January, after all...

Stay warm!! Enjoy your book! (I think we're both reading the same Cather.)

Hi Joanne! How is my pal from Colorado? We are finally going to Hawaii this September for our 25th. Yah! We can not wait.

Guess, what I just snagged on audio? Snapper! Yah, again. I hope to bookhorn it in soon. Hope you are having a fine Sunday.

I love the cover of Snapper! May have to put it on the wishlist, just for that (and your and Mark's reccie of course).

Well, it's STILL snowing here. Beautiful pristine view out the window, but, as my parrot Nickel says, "'S cold!" (Apologies to Beth, but 9 degrees is still cold, even though it's colder where she is.) I'm in bed snuggled under the down comforter (had a late night/early morning and am just relaxing a bit before starting to put away the Christmas stuff), and Nickel's on her porta-perch next to the heating vents preening, so we can enjoy the view with equanimity.

Stay warm, all, and have a lovely Sunday!

Love the photos of Skye and Copper. So cute! Louis the Lab loves snow but sees very little of it here in Dallas. When we do get some, he stands around looking puzzled for a minute or two and then starts to run around like a crazy dog. I love watching him :-)

Marking my place to say I'll be back often. As always, the love the photos of the lovely, lovely fur kids. My, how quickly Skye grew.

The deep snow is physical therapy for Lilly. I've noticed that since October and her broken hip, she is walking increasingly on her back left leg. When navigating through the deep piles, she must use that leg and the muscles to pull herself up.

Happy New Year, and Happy Sunday.

Hi, Joanne! I'm stopping by to catch up and star your thread. I love your thread topper photo!

Hi Mark - OMG! That is so exciting!!! (Hawaii, not Snapper, not that Snapper isn't good, but HI is much more exciting.) Which island(s) are you going to? I've only been to Maui, Kauai, and Lanai. Maui quite a bit, if you have questions. Too bad you aren't there now, huh? I just watched the evening news - yikes! - way too cold.

Hi Mary, I loved Snapper! Give it a try! Sounds like you and Nickel had a cozy day in the cold. Hey, it warmed up a bit today - at least the sun was out! I cleaned up the last of the Christmas stuff yesterday too, and luckily, my husband took down the outside lights the day before it got cold.

Hi Katie, Thanks! Louis is welcome to come play in the snow here anytime! Even Copper starts acting puppyish when there is snow to romp in.

Hi Linda! Happy New Year! So nice to have you visit. I hope Lilly's recovery is going well!

Hi Terri - Thanks! Glad to see you! I'm still trying to star threads, too.

Oh, Joanne!!!! Copper is so beautiful in the snow, as is Skye! You know I have my own Copper (boy), so I am partial to her.... but that is such a gorgeous picture!

Hi Tina, Oh, aren't you sweet! Copper (girl) says thanks. :)

2. Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair by Anne Lamott (audio) 4 stars

Anne Lamott's take on finding meaning in life while struggling through life's trials - she wrote it after the Sandy Hook shooting. Her's are probably the only books on spirituality or Christianity that I can read - she's frank, straight forward, and certainly not for everyone. And although I liked Help, Thanks, Wow and Plan B more, this one was pretty good. It was short though - only two discs (about 100 pages). Thread your needle, tie a knot, find a spot near the tear strong enough to hold the thread, and place your stitch...

Lamott reads the audio versions of her books and I absolutely love her voice and I know that's part of the appeal for me.

I love Annie Lamott's writing. That looks like another winner.

Have you read any of her fiction, Julia? I haven't.

I don't think so. I've read Bird by Bird and Traveling Mercies for sure. I feel like I might have read Operating Instructions, too, but I'm not sure.

I have Bird by Bird but haven't read it (it's my son's actually). I'll probably try Traveling Mercies if I can get it on audio.

I thought I posted this yesterday, but obviously not.....I've succumbed to the meme, all answers are titles of books read in 2013:

Describe yourself: Bright-Sided

Describe what you feel like: Still Foolin' 'Em

Describe where you currently live: The Big Rock Candy Mountain

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Your favorite form of transportation: Last Train to Paradise

Your best friend is: The Paris Wife

You and your friends are: Wallflowers at the Orgy

What’s the weather like: Cover of Snow

You fear: A Dying Fall

What is the best advice you have to give: Survival Lessons

Thought for the day: Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

How I would like to die: Doctor Sleep

My soul’s present condition: Lost Cat

Joanne, if it's warmer than 7F, I want to go with you to The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Sounds good to me too, Lori! I know a lane on Maui that ends at the ocean and it's probably warm there at least!

Brrr, 7f is too cold...

I guess I should not complain. It was -4F when I got up this morning.

We're above freezing, still at 8:30, so hopefully warmer weather will get to you soon!

First, Time Enough at Last is my favorite episode of The Twilight Zone! It's so cruel.

Next, I adore the pics of the puppies in the snow.

Then, I love that meme. Great answers!

Finally, I don't think I should share what the "cold" weather is like here in Phoenix or I may spoil our friendship.

Oh, can I come to the Ocean at the End of the Lane? I'm listening to the audio right now. And you're right: oranges are not the only fruit!

Hi Pirate! I know, I can barely stand to watch that episode, especially now that my arms are too short to correct my vision. :) And no, you don't get to complain much about cold temps but summer will be here before you know it and triple digit heat is also unbearable! We've got temps now, and for the next week or so, in the 40-50s, so no complaints from me!

Hi Anne, Sure, we'll have a beach party!!

I have only about 10 pages to go to finish Death Comes For the Archbishop and I've enjoyed it quite a bit, thanks to the group read for the extra nudge. Anne had recommended it a while ago after she read it, too, so thank you, Ann.

Another round of reading pleasure for Willa Cather! How did she ever fall out of style? Her novels are quite well-made.

But Death Comes for the Archbishop is a whole different order of good.

Hmm for me My favorite episode is The Box. Could you push the button knowing a random person would die?

Hi Joanne - I'm glad you're enjoying Death Comes for the Archbishop. I'm glad the weather is improving. I think there's a warming trend happening here, too.

Love the doggies-in-the-snow pictures! Snowy hugs to both!

I can't believe that I have not read even one of your 2013 favorites. You are still #1 on the list of member who shares most books with me. So we have the same books, but I'm reading different ones? Still, I know we have the same tastes in reading so now I know which to go for - your favs!

>82 xymon81: Matthew: Oh, that's my favorite, too! So creepy.

Hi, Joanne!

Hi Joanne- I'll fill you in on the Hawaii details, once they start taking shape. I think I will start Snapper tomorrow, just before I take on Mr. Dickens. I'll be wrapping up Death Comes shortly too! It's fantastic.

Hello Richard! I finished Death Comes for the Archbishop and thought it was lovely. I also wonder why Cather is not read more in schools. It's too bad.

Hi Matthew, Wasn't that a movie, too? Push a button and a stranger would die and you'd get money. But then someone else would get the box...

Hi Beth, I liked Death Comes for the Archbishop very much! Yay for the deep freeze ending!

Hi Cee. None of them? Hmmm... I just had to go back and revisit your end of the year list. I read The History of Love a few years ago but it would have been a year end favorite. Same with Jane Eyre (although that was closer to 40 years ago - lol). I think I'm going to read Doc this month (finally!). So I guess our reading is still similar, just on different timelines! I highly recommend any of those books on my list!

Hi Amber!

Hi Mark, Sounds good! Wherever you go, you'll love it! I highly recommend reading Isabella Bird's Six Months in the Sandwich Islands and you can get it as an ebook. I think it's best appreciated when you're there or after your trip, although I'm not sure why I feel that way... I hope you like Snapper.

3. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 4.5 stars

Lovely, episodic, story of two Catholic priests in 1800s New Mexico. Cather's descriptions of the Southwest bring the landscape and its people to life.

Ch 4 Eusabio:
“The sky was as full of motion and change as the desert beneath it was monotonous and still, — and there was so much sky, more than at sea, more than anywhere else in the world. The plain was there, under one’s feet, but what one saw when one looked about was the brilliant blue world of stinging air and moving cloud. Even the mountains were mere ant-hills under it. Elsewhere the sky is the roof of the world; but here the earth was the floor of the sky. The landscape one longed for when one was far away, the thing all about one, the world one actually lived in, was the sky, the sky!”

Book VII, Ch. 4:
"Father Latour judged that, just as it was the white man's way to assert himself in any landscape, to change it, make it over a little (at least to leave some mark of memorial of his sojourn), it was the Indian's way to pass through a country without disturbing anything; to pass and leave no trace, like fish through the water, or birds through the air.
It was the Indian manner to vanish into the landscape, not to stand out against it. The Hopi villages that were set upon rock mesas were made to look like the rock on which they sat, were imperceptible at a distance."

Hi Joanne. I'm glad you loved Death Comes for the Archbishop. It's one of my favorite books and I enjoyed reading the quotes you posted.

Hi Pat, And now of course, I want to read more Cather. I know I've read My Antonia and I'm pretty sure I've read O Pioneers! but that's it. I have a lot of catching up to do.

>87 Copperskye:: Yes, there was a movie, too, but it wasn't nearly as good. The original, if I'm remembering correctly, didn't have the detail of getting the money, so the motivations for pushing the button were more complex and spooky.

Yes it was, I was really diasapointed in the movie. It is the only episode that I know of that was ever expanded into a movie. I love the twilight zone, great series to drink and watch.

Have a wonderful weekend, Joanne!

What a lovely review of "Archbishop", Joanne! I am so looking forward to starting it soon.

Have a lovely weekend!

I like that review of "Archbishop", too, Joanne. Nice quotes you selected.

Good review! Archbishop is one of my favorite novels, and next to My Antonia my favorite Cather.

Did you see the northern lights last night? It was too cloudy here, but tonight may be better so am going to try and catch the show tonight. Got my camera ready to go, just in case they are visible.

Have a great weekend! It's supposed to be warm and sunny, at least tomorrow.

Add me to the growing list of fans of DCFTA Joanne. I thought that last chapter was sooo emotionally powerful.

Oh my goodness - I'm going to get spoiled by all these visitors! I'll enjoy all the activity here while it lasts.

Amber - I'm going to have to keep an eye out for that episode. It sounds like a good one and I don't think I've ever seen it.

Matthew - ...great series to drink and watch. LOL. And you're right!

Hi Diana - Thank you! I hope you have a good weekend, too!

Thanks Julia, You too! I should mention that it took me a while to warm up to DCttA. Just in case it's a slow starter for you, too.

Hi Joe, I've seen other people noting that first long quote, too, it seems to be popular!

Hi Mary, I think I'm going to reread My Antonia and maybe the Trilogy. It was cloudy over here last night too, hopefully tonight will be better! I hope you get a chance to get some good pictures. And thank goodness the wind finally died down!

Hi Bonnie, As I mentioned to Julia, it did take me a while to warm up to it but once I did, each page just got better and better as I got more emotionally attached.

Mark has done a good job, Joanne setting us all back onto the merits of Willa Cather. I read O' Pioneers! a few years ago and then promptly "forgot" about her. I have read My Antonia this month and it was a real pleasure.

Have a wonderful weekend. xx

Hi Paul, This was the only month I planned on participating in Mark's American Author Challenge, but I'm sure as many as 11 other authors will have a resurgence in popularity this year.

I hope you had a great weekend!

Joanne, I'm so glad you enjoyed Death Comes for the Archbishop! I've been so pleased to see how many 75-ers are loving it. I may reread it this year.

Did I read you were going to Granby soon? Safe travels.

Anne, I've meant to read it ever since you read and recommended it! I guess the group challenge was just the extra push I needed to actually do it. I think I'm going to read O Pioneers next.

Yes, I think I mentioned it on Mary's thread. We were supposed to leave today but because of the weather up there, we're leaving tomorrow. The winter storm warning is running through tomorrow, though, so we'll see. We've lived here for almost 30 years and I still hate driving in the mountains in the winter!

Morning Joanne! I liked Snapper. The problem with episodic story-telling, is that it gets a little choppy and this suffered a little from that too but there are many good moments and I love outdoor & wildlife writing. There are not a lot of books that do that.

Good morning, Mark! I'm so glad you liked it! I read it more as a collection of stories so the choppiness didn't bother me. I just thought it was so fresh and interesting, and for a debut, not bad at all!

Thanks for starting the American Author Challenge, I don't know when I would have gotten to Death Comes to the Archbishop without it.

Hope you're having a lazy Sunday!

I thought this was cute.

Morning, Joanne! Hope you are having a good Sunday!

Hiya Mary!

I almost got blown over on our walk this morning so now I'll just hunker down and watch some football.

Enjoy the day!

Just a drive-by wave and hello!

I like the cartoon in #105, Joanne! I loved having a dog; they are such great companions. Certainly I was the most physically active as I've ever been when I had Odie, as we went on long 45-minute walks both morning and night. It was a perfect time to listen to audiobooks (which were actual Books on Tape back then). I can see myself having a dog again when I retire.

>105 Copperskye: Amen!! *And I would add a cat to that quote too!

Finally made it over. Yay Broncos!! Happy New Year and Happy reading. :)

Hi Katie! I hope you have a good week.

Hi Julia, I sometimes think I'd never go out and get any exercise if I didn't have a couple of hopeful faces looking at me. And of course I love the welcoming committee when I get home.

Hi Tina, Well yes, I would, too!

Hi Jenn, I'm so glad that you finally made it over!! Yes, all are gleeful here in Broncoland, I guess. You know how Bronco crazy it gets.... Happy New Year and Happy New Country to you!

Hi Joanne - Go Broncos. I love the Atwood quote - I understand her entirely. :) Have a great week.

I love the Broncos!!! Patriots are going down!

>113 Copperskye:: Yes! I frequently feel that way!

Hi Beth, And I tend to be surprised to find that people my age are my age, if that makes any sense!

Hi Pirate, Yes, let's hope so!

Hi Amber, Atwood gets a lot of us, I think.

Snow Mountain Ranch is living up to its name. Wind Mountain would be fitting, too. It's too windy to ski (ground blizzards are unpleasant) but we'll hit the tubing hill in a little bit and see how that goes.

I'm loving the Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox.

Haha! And I tend to be surprised to find that people my age are my age, if that makes any sense! Yes, it makes perfect sense!

Oh thank goodness, sometimes I wonder about myself...

Hi Joanne! Thanks for posting pics of the girls playing in the snow!

I'm glad that you, along with others, so liked Death Comes for the Archbishop. I hope you enjoy O Pioneers! as much.

And I also totally get your comment about people your/my age. :-)

Hi Joanne - O'Farrell is becoming one of my favorites. I LOVED THe Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, and last year Instructions for a Heatwave was one of my favorites. I'll be anxious to see what you think when you are finished.

Oh, I've seen The Vanishing Act on audio a few times at the library, but never picked it up. Now I'll have to look again.

It was Bronco day at school today. We had fun with this SI for Kids cover (the library has a subscription):

Hi Joanne, nothing interesting to say. *smooch*

For the sheer joy of it, I went back to the lovely photos of Coopers and Skye. They are beautiful dogs! I'm sure it brought a bright smile when you saw a covering of a snow blanket and the look of contentment on their face.

When I watch Lilly sleep, I smile. I watch her beautiful face. Having lost loving animals, I hold memories of Lilly and enjoy each and every day with her. Will did not want another dog after our previous Sheltie Simon passed away. Now, every morning, Lilly waits to hear sound from upstairs. As soon as she hears the door open, she bounds right up the steps barking as she goes.

It is a wonderful way to start the day.

Joanne, I'm glad you are loving The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox… and I am glad that I've already read it! I will echo Beth in her enthusiasm for Instructions for A Heatwave.

I just finished Someone which went on my WL after you raved about it last year. Thank you for calling it to my attention. I do enjoy McDermott's writing and thought this was one of her best and very deserving of the National Book Award.

Hi Ellen, I'm going to have to read more Cather this year for sure. The timing of me seeing that Atwood quote was actually perfect - Monday was my birthday and now that I've reached the dark side of my 50s (good lord, I can barely type that...), her words feel more real to me every day.

Hi Beth, It was your reading of Instructions for a Heatwave that finally prompted me to give O'Farrell a try. I loved it and I'm so glad that I have more books of hers to read!

Hi Anne, It would be interesting on audio. Love the SI cover! I'll bet the kids had a great time with that! We had Bronco cupcakes at work today. I felt a little guilty scraping the orange and blue frosting off but it was just way too sweet for me.

Hi Richard, Just nice to have you wander on by! And smooches are always appreciated! :)

Hi Linda, Oh, I loved your story! Thank you for sharing. Animals bring such joy to our lives - we are lucky that they share their love with us so selflessly. I don't know what I'd do without my three little girls.

Hi Donna, Wasn't it a joy?! And nothing out of the ordinary really happens but McDermott's prose is just so lovely. It was one of my favorites last year and I'm so glad you loved it, too!! I aim to read more of her this year - either Charming Billy or At Weddings and Wakes, both rereads.

Joanne, congratulations on reaching a milestone birthday. I myself will hit the half-century mark in October. I can hardly wait. Actually, I can. :-)

Sorry I missed your birthday, Joanne. Hope it was very happy. Did you get books?

Happy, happy birthday to you, Joanne, hope it was a good one.

Happy Birthday Joanne! Sorry I missed it. I loved Charming Billy and hope to get to Someone soon. And I'm glad I have The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox sitting on my shelf.

Tom Brady---blech! Go Broncos!

Thanks Julia, Well, a milestone plus 5. :P Turning 50 reaally bothered me but I'd take it now in a heartbeat!

Thanks Pat! My darling (and smart) son used my computer to check my LT wishlist and picked out Old Filth for me. My hubby, who has apparently given up on his claims of too many books in the house, gave me a gift card for the Tattered Cover. Yay!

Thank you Anne!

Thanks Bonnie, Two really good books to get to (among many others...)!! Esme Lennox is very gothic-y (that's probably not a word), which I love. Agreed about Brady. I really like Peyton Manning.

What? It was your birthday and I missed it? So sorry, but hope you had a wonderful day, dark-side milestone (hah!) or not.

I will use the confusingly different time zones as an excuse for being late in wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Joanne.

Your son looks like he is growing up properly if he can know where to look to find what Mom wants most for birthday. xx

> 105 LOVE it :)

Just stopping by to say thank you for visiting. I am continuing in my lazy ways, it seems and not getting around LT much these days. Appreciate your visit!

Joanne, belated birthday hugs from me. You will love Old Filth and can use your gift card to purchase the rest of the trilogy. Smart men in your family!

Joanne, I need to find Stitches. I love Anne Lamott. I've read a bunch of her books, but I've never done one of hers on audio -- I think it would be neat that she reads it!

Glad you enjoyed Death Comes for the Archbishop. Such wonderful writing!

Oh yes, you are in for a treat with Old Filth! I loved the whole trilogy.

And stars to Chris for checking out your LT wishlist -- how smart, and how thoughtful! I think I need to keep a WL here, as my family is afraid to buy books for me, not knowing what I've read and what might be in one of the many book piles.

Happy Belated Birthday, my friend! I hope you had a great week. I WISH I could be going to Booktopia Boulder. We were supposed to have plans to go to New York that week but of course those plans fell through. Bummer! I did get into Asheville, though, thanks to Katie!
Hope you are having a great weekend.

Happy, happy birthday (a bit late, but very sincere)!

I didn't think a thing of turning 50 until my doctor threw every test in the book at me. Her justification was that I was pre-geriatric or some such poppycock. Anyway, I fooled her. When she saw the results of all the tests, she said I had the body of an 18 year old! Ha! (She was not referring to my looks, btw.)
Take it from me - 50 is still YOUNG!
You are entering a really great decade, imo. Enjoy :-)

Happy Belated Birthday wishes to you, Joanne!

Hi Mary, Thank you!

Hi Paul, No excuse necessary -how would you know? But thank you. He is a clever kid.

Good to see you, Kath! I hope you are feeling better.

Thanks Donna! I see a trip to the Colfax or LoDo TC in my future. Maybe in March when Donna comes to visit? :)

Hi Terri, Stitches was good. I have to remember to look for more of her books on audio. There is something about Lamott's voice that I find very honest and matter-of-fact.

Hi Anne, I remember how much you like Old Filth and I that's why it ended up on my wishlist! I'd recommend keeping a wishlist. Chris used it at Christmas, too (The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox and Palisades Park). It was better than throwing his hands up in despair!

Hi Mark, Thank you! I'm sorry you aren't going to Boulder! :( Maybe next time... You're getting to be quite a regular.

Hi Cee, Thank you, thank you! But whoops, I've apparently misled you about my age - dark side of my 50s - 55. Sorry. I'd take 50 now (and all those tests I put off for years) in a heartbeat!

We just watched Lee Daniel's The Butler (silly title). Good movie. Inspired casting having Alan Rickman and Jane Fonda playing the Reagans. As was John Cusack as Nixon.

Hi Katie! Thank you!!

Happy Belated Birthday!!!!!

The world needs more kind people like you.

Chiming in,I loved The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. I've added Instructions for a Heat Wave to the tbr pile.

Good morning, Linda! Thank you, and that's certainly high praise coming from the kindest person I know here on LT! Maggie O'Farrell has a lot of fans. I know you'll really like Instructions for a Heatwave.

Joanne, many years ago I realized that if I viewed my current age from the vantage point of the future I would feel better about my birthdays. So when I turned 54, for example, I would think about my opinion of that age from the perspective of being 64 and immediately feel younger. (Hope that makes sense!)

Happy belated Birthday! Sounds like you got good presents. :)

Hi Pat - That actually does make sense - I should give that a try! And I do know you're only as old as you feel and I still feel pretty darn young (which is why I find my age so damn shocking!). :)

Hi Jenn, Thank you! Books are always good, aren't they!? And I remember you gave me a cupcake at the TC a couple years ago. :)

Yay for the Broncos heading for Omaha New York New Jersey for the Super Bowl in a couple weeks!!

4. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell 4.25 stars, OTS #3

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox is the story of Esme who, at 16, is deemed insane and sent off to live in an institution. This was done at a time when a woman could be locked up simply by acting a little differently or not as expected and her father or husband could easily have her committed.

The story starts in India and moves to Scotland and we really don’t know a lot about Esme or her circumstances at the beginning – we only learn her story piece meal. And indeed, her life is a total mystery to her grand niece who knew nothing of her existence until the institution called to explain they were closing and what would she have them do with Esme?

The story moves back and forth in time and is told from different, not always lucid, perspectives. It is very gothic in tone and very tragic and I felt a lot of empathy for the characters, especially Esme and her niece, Iris. The ending was a surprise and I kind of liked the way it ended – nothing neat and tidy about it.

This is the second book I've read by Maggie O'Farrell and I'm so happy to know I've got more to look forward to!

Hi Joanne - Happy belated birthday. I hope you had a great day. Nice review of Esme Lennox. I just finished Someone -- thanks for the recommendation - it was beautiful!

Thank you, Beth! I'm so glad you enjoyed Someone!!

Joanne...Thank you for your kind words.

You really captured the essence of The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. I read it a long time ago, and your review brought back the reasons why I liked it so much.

Thanks Linda. I sometimes forget why I liked a book and reading others thoughts can oftentimes bring the forgotten storyline back to me, too. Another one of the joys of LT!

I've got Esme Lennox waiting on the TBR shelves...

Please don't make poor Esme wait much longer Katie! :)

As for me, I am finally reading Doc.

Oh, Doc! Loved it! Hope you enjoy it too. You know that John Henry Holliday spent the last few days of his life in Colorado, and his gravesite is here too? I've been wanting to get out to visit it. I posted a picture of his grave stone in last year's thread, in case you missed it.

I'm really enjoying Doc. I don't know what's taken me so long to finally get to it! It's been years since I visited Glenwood Springs, where he's buried - I'll probably want to make another trip when I finish Doc.

I looked at your thread again - Lookout Mtn is a nice, close drive. That's where "Buffalo Bill" is buried. There's a nice nature center up there, too.

Did you know Alferd Packer is buried in Littleton?

Alferd Packer! No, I didn't. *shivers*

If you feel like company on a field trip sometime (up to Lookout Mountain, not Littleton), let me know.

That might be fun! Maybe in the spring!

You got something against cannibals?? :)

And Epitaph by MDR is coming out soon... more to that Doc story, I think?

So glad you like Doc, Joanne! I loved it. I'm looking forward to the sequel which comes out later this year or next year, I think.

Hi Kath, I had no idea there was going to be more to the story after this book ends. That's very good news! This is my first MDR, btw, I know you are a big fan.

Hi Julia, Sounds like I timed my reading of Doc almost perfectly! Maybe subconsciously I was waiting for the sequel I didn't know was being written. You never know. I like it quite a bit.

Joanne, I have Doc lined up to read next. Great minds...

And here I was thinking everyone else had already read it, Donna! I'm pretty darn slow so we'll probably wind up reading it at the same time (until you finish it, that is). :) Oh, and it's really good!

I haven't read it! Not in the pile, either.

I'll gladly go up Lookout Mountain with you -- it's practically in my backyard!

Cheers! Adding to the Doc love, and eagerly awaiting Epitaph, the end of his story.

Well Anne, You know what I'm going to say don't you? Add Doc to the pile! The more the merrier on our field trip!

Richard! Cheers to you! I hope you are bundled up and safe and sound and that the latest storm has moved along.

I've been messing with photos tonight. Here's a couple from our trip to Snow Mountain Ranch last week:

Skye didn't want to walk on the nicely plowed road. That's Chris with Copper. I'm at the other end of Skye's leash.


Here's comes trouble, er, Skye.


Our home away from home. Aptly named Blue Spruce. Again, I'm at the other end of the leash.

What gorgeous pictures! I don't miss the snow though. :)

Beautiful pictures! Snow Mountain appears to be living up to its name very well indeed. :-)

LOVE the photos! Thanks for sharing :)

Hi Joanne!
Doc was one of my favorites last year. I think what I liked most about it was to find out there was so much more to the man than I knew. Of course, I only had TV to go by - which was way off the mark.

Love your pictures. That place looks great. Looks like the dogs loved it too...
Wish I could go with you all to Lookout Mountain. My daughter used to live in the Denver area - and they are talking about possibly moving back. They miss it.

What beautiful pictures! Nothing makes a dog quite so happy as a ton of snow to romp through!

I know lots of front range trails, and I'm sure you do, too. We should plan an outing! One of our favorites is Meyer's Ranch in Aspen Park.

*adding Doc to the list*

Beautiful pics! Can't wait for our meetup in March (and outing soon after, or maybe even before?)! And, yes, Anne, do add Doc to your pile!

Thanks for sharing the pictures. Your dogs are so pretty.

Oh, gorgeous photos - beautiful dogs! Thanks for sharing.

I, too, have Doc on my wishlist - I really should get round to it before that sequel comes out...

Joanne- I hope you are loving Doc. It is such a gorgeous book and me fall head over heels for MDR! She is busy doing final revisions on "Epitaph", her follow-up!
I love the snowy photos of the dogs!

BTW- True Detective is excellent. What a nice surprise!

Thanks Jenn, I'm sure you don't!

Thanks Julia, Yes, it really did.

Thanks Kath!

Hi Cee, I know next to nothing about Doc Holliday, etc, but it's fun learning! I wish you could come, too! If your daughter moves back here because she misses it, you'll miss her... :(

Hi Anne, Yes, they were both very happy in the snow. Isn't Meyer Ranch the place with the sledding hill along 285? If so, we've had a lot of fun up there. We are so lucky to have so many local trails available! I can walk down the street and hook up with the Highline Canal Trail which I just love.

Thanks Mary! Me too!

Thank you Beth!

Thanks Amber! And here I was thinking I was the last person to read Doc...

Thanks Mark. I'm only about 70 pages in with Doc but I love it. Good news about True Detective. I still need to finish Orange!

Here's another doggy picture of my two girls. I think there was food involved off camera but I can't be sure.



We got some hard news today. Copper has been limping and we took her to the orthopedic vet today. Apparently she has a mass behind her elbow/shoulder. It's either a fatty mass or a nerve sheath tumor. We are probably going to have an MRI done in a few weeks. We have a long few weeks ahead of us but we'll do the best we can for her. She'll be 12 next week. I can't even talk about it without tearing up...

Oh, Joanne. These vet visits are so difficult, especially when waiting is involved. I sit her with tears in my eyes, simply thinking that something could by wrong. We will pray that it is a fatty mass. Did the vet say what the MRI should be done in a few weeks, rather than sooner?

My heart goes out to you dear friend. Wile 12 years is a long time for a pet. In some ways it is even harder, because of course, you have 12 years of many, many memories.

Please keep us posted.

Oh, dear Copper! I'm so sorry. We do so love our pets. Hugs to you all.

Oh dear Joanne. Sending up healing vibes for Copper. It's so hard because we are so attached to our pets.

I loved Doc and am looking forward Epitaph.

Hi Joanne- I am sorry to hear about Copper. I hope the old girl will be okay. Hugs!

Oh no, poor Copper! And poor Copper's mom, too. We will all be hoping for the best possible news. No matter how many years we have them with us, it's never, never enough.

I am sorry to hear about Copper's problems. She is a lucky girl to have you to care for her.

Oh, nononononononono!!!! It's just a fatty tumor! That's all. ***Holding out hope for you*** Gosh, I'm so sorry Joanne!!

I was all set to gush about your review of The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox too.

(((JOANNE & Copper)))

So so sorry to hear about Copper's health issue. I will be hoping and praying it turns out well. {{{Joanne}}} *patpatpat*Copper*patrubpat*

Dear Linda, Anne, Bonnie, Mark, Julia, Carol, Tina, and Mary,

Thank you so much for your kind words and concern. It means a lot to me, more than I can express.

Joanne

I'm stopping by simply to say I've been thinking of you and Coopers a lot today. Ditto to all the messages posted above. Reach out when you need us, my experience proves that this 75 challenge group is one large caring, sensitive and heart felt group.

Hugs, and then more hugs to you, your family and Coopers.

Oh, no! Adding my good wished for Copper to the pile, and I'll be keeping him and you in my thoughts.

Sending love to you and Copper!

Joanne, I am sending all my best wishes for a good report on Copper. It's a shame you have to wait so long. Labs are prone to getting those fatty tumors so I'm thinking Goldens are, too. Crossing my fingers…and toes…which is hard to do. That is a beautiful picture of the girls in #177. {{Hugs}} to all of you!

Of course Joanne we all know how much you love your dog as she has the honour of being named with you in the group and is without stretching things too much a little bit a part of us as a result. Our pets age faster than we do and it is traumatic seeing them struggle. Coppers, judging from all your photos has aged gracefully and I trust that the scare is what we hope and not what we dread. xx

Hi Joanne, your girls are beautiful and look so happy in the pictures. I will be hoping that everything turns out OK for Copper. The waiting is very hard. I'll be thinking of you.

Oh, Joanne, I'm so sorry about Copper's health issue! I hope and pray it will be OK. The photos of Copper and Skye are beautiful.

I'm another who loved Doc. I listened on audio, and it was superb. I hope the same narrator (Mark Bramhall) does the sequel; I'd listen to that, too!

Hi Linda, Amber, Pirate, Donna, Paul, Pat, and Terri, Thanks for stopping by and for your thoughtful, kind, and complementary words. Forgive me for the group response. I'll be better eventually. Everything seems to make me cry. I'm such a baby. Please don't respond to that - you'll make me cry....

I'm still loving Doc. Everyone seems to know about the sequel but me!

Also, in the car, I'm listening to an ER book, The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith. I've only listened to the first two in this series (#1 Ladies Detective Agency) and it was years ago, but the narrator, Lisette Lecat, is wonderful and makes me want to listen to more.

oh poor Copper... she has been through a lot and so has her Mom :(
Hugs and love to a beautiful girl -
yes, Joanne. You too... but I was thinking of Copper. lol

Wishing for much comfort to Copper until you can get this figured out.

LOVE the pic in #177. It must be food!

LOL, Cee, with this head cold and lung-ripping cough I have, I'm feeling very un-beautiful but I appreciate the thought! :) And thanks.

Hi Joanne. I'm so sorry about the news about Copper. I hope the MRI provides some better details -- optimistic ones! She is a sweet dear pooch. Give her a hug and a scratch behind the ear for me (and one for Skye, too).

Hi Ellen, Thanks! And I will certainly do that! :)

Hi Joanne, I was checking in to see if there was any more news about dear Copper, and now I see that YOU are sick, too! I'm so sorry! Hope you get to feeling better soon.

Callia has a raging cold. She asked to stay home from school tomorrow, which is unheard of -- usually I have to beg her to stay home. Poor both of you!

Oh dear, I hope Callia is feeling better soon! I'd be fine if this darn cough would just go away. I think it's actually a side effect of some migraine meds I've been taking that I've decided I'm going to stop taking. The cough is the least of it!

We're going to have a consult with our vet tomorrow, just to ask him some questions, etc, since he knows us and Copper best.

Stay warm out there Anne! I was so glad I had a good audio book to listen to on my way home tonight. It was a long crawl.

(((((Copper)))))

>202 jnwelch: Sorry to hear about Copper, Joanne, and your persistent cough. Hope you get some good news today and that cough starts leaving you alone. We've had to deal with side effects from meds all over the place in my family. You've probably zeroed in on the cough culprit.

I've found the whole Precious Ramotswe series to be good reading, and thought Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon kept up the high quality. I haven't tried audio, but I bet it would make for entertaining, maybe even comforting, listening.

Best wishes to you, Joanne. I hope you feel better, and that the news about Copper isn't bad.

Hi Ellen, We have our fingers and paws crossed. :)

Hi Joe, Thank you. I hope so all around. I'm enjoying The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon very much. It's been years since I read any of the books in the Precious Ramotswe series (and I've only read a couple). Lisette Lecat is a fabulous narrator! I could listen to her all day. Have you seen the short series HBO did a few years ago - No 1 Ladies Detective Agency? I thought it was pretty good. (It's still available on HBO GO.)

Thanks Terri!!

Hi Dear One

I'm stopping in to tell you once again that you, Coopers and your family are in my prayers. Holding all of you to the light!!!

Hi Linda, How beautiful! Thank you! We had a nice visit with Copper's vet today. I'm going to schedule the MRI for next week and we'll move on from there. Deep breaths...

One step/one day at a time. Breath in...and remember to breath out...

Lots of love

Hi Joanne. So sad to hear about Copper. Hopefully you will get good news with the MRI. Feel better soon!

My fingers and Abby's paws are crossed, too!



(No, that is not Abby but it will have to do for now. Being a cat, she won't perform on demand.)

Hi Joanne - I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Copper. I hope your cough is better.

Thanks Linda!

Thanks Jenn!

Thanks Ellen! Lol, I was already thinking, oh my god, how did she do that!!??

Thanks Beth!

One day at a time. :) And some day, I know I'll eventually finish a book!

Hi Joanne!! Found some time to wander around LT. I don't know how, but I finished 10 books this month!!
I liked your review of Death Comes For The Archbishop!!! I read Alexander's Bridge for the AAC. I'm coming to realize that Cather is one of my favorite authors and reading all of her works would be a good goal.

Hope Copper is doing well!!! Sending prayers and happy thoughts!!!

Joanne - Don't want to add my thoughts and tributes to the many or to repeat what I said earlier because you have said you don't want to cry.
Wishing all at home a comfortable weekend. xx

Joanna...ditto once again to what our cherished wise spokesperson Paul said.

Hi Tammy! It's great to hear from you. I have a lot more Cather to read, including Alexander's Bridge. Since I'm probably not going to read any more authors for the challenge, I should probably just read a Cather a month. I'm on target to again fail at making my 75 book goal this year but I have a lot of time to catch up. Thank you for the well wishes, they are much appreciated!

Hi Paul, you're such a dear. We're having a wonderfully quiet weekend and everybody seems fairly healthy and happy. Finish it off tomorrow by driving to Ft Collins, taking the girls swimming, and then watching the game.

Hello dearest Linda, thanks for checking in!

I'm halfway through Doc. Good grief, I can't believe how slow I am.

Happy Sunday, Joanne! Don't fret about going slow with Doc; it's a book that rewards careful reading, it seemed to me. And who cares whether you make 75 books or not? I sure don't!

Tousle some ears for me, will you? (I'm thinking of Copper and Skye but hey, if your husband would enjoy it too, go for it!)

Good morning, Julia. Lol, I'll stick to tousling animal ears. There are six of those and the cat could give me some trouble. Doc certainly isn't suffering from being read slowly. I'm finding it delightful.

Best wishes to you and Copper, Joanne!

I'm glad you're enjoying Doc Joanne. I will ditto what Paul said because I couldn't say it better.

Hi Terri and Bonnie, Thanks for the well wishes!

Copper goes for her MRI on Wednesday morning.

Hi, Joanne ~ Doc is a lovely book, isn't it! I just saw that Russell just sent the manuscript of the sequel to her editor, so it won't be long until Epitaph is on the shelves! Can't wait!

Sending prayers for good news tomorrow.

Hi Mary, I have about 100 pages left to go with Doc and I guess, like everyone else, I'm looking forward to the follow-up! Stay warm!

Hi Linda, thank you! I know she'll be fine tomorrow (an hour of anesthesia, but a low dose), but I am very concerned about what they'll find. I want to know and then again, I don't.

Slow or not, as long as you are loving Doc, all is well. Big loving waves from the winter wasteland!

Hi Mark! Good to see you. Waving back from my own winter wonderland - it's 1 degree and dropping, with snow all day. So, unfortunately, more on the way for you...

Fingers crossed for you and Copper.

Thanks Beth!

X'd fingers for Copper and great news about a sequel to Doc. That was a great read and I'm wondering what she can do to follow-up.

Hello Joanne me deario, hope you and Copper and the family are all well at this point. *smooch*

Hi, Joanne! Staying warm ~ in bed under the covers, reading LT threads and wondering whether I'll make it to spring. How's Copper?

Hope all went well yesterday...

Hi Tina, Thanks! I can't wait to read more about Doc and the Earp brothers. I've grown very attached to them!

Hi Richard, We are well a this point and your visits always cheer me. *smooches*

Hi Mary, Brrr! In bed under the covers sounds perfect! It'll be spring before you know it!

Hi Katie, Copper is a good little patient and she did great, just a little loopy afterwards.

Copper had her MRI yesterday and we are awaiting the report which takes a few days. I'm dreading that phone call. We are being optimistic but I don't feel good about it. But she is happy. She plays and eats, and swims on Sundays. I put our hospital volunteering on a leave of absence. Our usual walk used to take us to a nearby park but it's too far for her to walk to now so we get in the car and drive the couple of blocks so they can romp and sniff off leash. It's hard to dampen a golden's enthusiasm for fun even when they start slowing down.

I finished Doc!

5. Doc by Mary Doria Russell

What a treat! Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and his brothers - Russell brings the worn and dusty figures of Western legend to life in the rollicking cow town of Dodge City, Kansas, circa 1878. Witty and engaging historical fiction, beautifully written. I hated having to say good-bye. This will be a year end favorite. 5 stars

I love that you loved Doc, which is one of my favorites from both 2012 and 2013 (first read it in print and then listened to on audio). Actually, Russell is one of my favorite authors, ever since The Sparrow.

Yay! You loved Doc. I think I read it too quickly. The pleasure didn't last nearly long enough!

Joanne, I am praying that you get good news from the MRI. I'm glad Copper is enjoying life and doesn't seem to be in pain. I'll keep checking back here to see how things are going.

Doc was the first book I've read of hers, Mary, but I have The Sparrow and A Thread of Grace on the shelf. I was thinking that the audio version might be fun. I think I'll give it a few months and then maybe "reread" it on audio. I love to do that with favorites - it's a different experience.

And I have the sequel to look forward to!

Hi Donna! I did spread that one out! Luckily Doc didn't suffer a bit from being neglected every now and then. It's funny that I kept putting off reading it when I knew I'd probably love it.

Thanks for the prayers!

Yes! *fistpump* The Sparrow and Children of God are considered specfic, rather than historical fiction like Doc and A Thread of Grace, but they are still well-written and filled with great characters and plot.

>233 Copperskye: +1 on all counts, plus I can't wait for Epitaph later this year!

Congrats on finishing Doc and for loving it so. She is such a wonderful writer.

We are all hoping for the best for Copper. I feel as if I know her, thanks to her frequent appearances on your thread.

Doc was a favorite of mine, too. Glad you enjoyed it.

Hugs for you and Copper! Happy and enthusiastic is good. We can learn a lot from dogs...

Hi Joanne - I'm thinking of you and Copper. Doc sounds wonderful. One of these days...

Hi Joanne
I'm stopping by to let you know that I'm thinking of you, your family and Coopers. Waiting is tough...We can all hope the news is positive.

With warmest regards to you and the dog you love ever so much and the dog that loves you right back!

Mary - She really is a favorite author of yours, isn't she? :) I'll probably give The Sparrow a try sooner or later. It's not my usual fare, but I know a lot of people loved it.

Hi Richard - And add me to the list of people happily waiting for the follow-up!

Hi Julia, I knew I'd love Doc and I'm glad to have two more of her books waiting for me on the shelf.

Hi Cee, We can learn a lot from our pups, good friends that they are. Doc was great!

Hi Beth - I feel very confident saying that you too will LOVE Doc!

Hi Linda, You're so sweet! That's very touching.

So no news today on Copper's MRI. Maybe tomorrow morning. Frankly, I don't mind waiting until Monday morning. Thanks everyone, for all your good wishes! You are all the best!

My current reads are Anna Quindlen's newest Still Life with Bread Crumbs, and an oldie but goodie, Buff: A Collie by Albert Payson Terhune. And I'm almost finished with the audio of The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon which has been a real treat.



Boomer's two-dog night

The photo of your lovely three animals together is beyond words..That is a photo to frame and treasure...

I can hardly bring myself to come to your thread. My own recent health issues with Duncan make me very sensitive to what you are going through with Copper. I am hoping that we have gotten a handle on his problem, and I have found that meds at Costco are much less expensive than other places ... There is an 80$ difference on one of Duncan's meds.

Duncan had a malignant tumor a few years ago.. surgery took care of it, and we have been trundling along. So scary when we reach this precarious point with our furkids. KNow that I am sending you good energy.. and wishes for good news.

eta

and hugs

Crossing my fingers and hoping and keeping you and Copper in my thoughts, Joanne.

Also, I've had Doc on my wishlist for some time now and I'm getting more and more impatient to get to it...

You have a very smart cat!

OMG! That is one beautiful picture of a two dog night! Bliss for Boomer.
How did you ever take that picture without someone popping up?

Hi Linda, Aren't they adorable! It doesn't happen often with all three of them.

Hi Kath, Funny, I was on your thread last night and was going to make a comment but then I didn't because I figured you'd come over here and see my news and I thought, well, if I don't comment, maybe you wouldn't see this. I should have known better. I know how upsetting these pet issues can be. I'm glad you stopped by - thanks for the hug and good wishes. I use Costco for Copper's Meloxicam which she takes every day. It's about $5 for 60 days worth. She takes another med now for pain, too, so I'll probably check out Costco for it as well. I'm glad Duncan's tumor was resolved successfully! Each year that goes by makes them more and more susceptible, especially purebreds and especially goldens.

Hi Amber, Thanks! And really, get to Doc soon! I kept waiting to come across a used copy and finally just bought it one day at the book store in Ft Collins. I still haven't come across a used copy anywhere.

Hi Pirate, She is pretty bright. Too bright, sometimes.

Hi Cee, Boomer loves to cuddle up to Copper when Copper lets her (sometimes Copper just gets up and lies down somewhere else). I think Skye was lying nearby but then rolled over towards the cat. It didn't last much longer - maybe 10 minutes. None of them are still for very long!

Joanne, the picture of your three beautiful pets brought a smile to my face! How sweet they look.

I'm glad you liked Doc so much. I have a copy but haven't read it. My husband has How the West was Won on TV at the moment and they just mentioned something about Doc Holliday.

Boomer's "Two Dog Night" is precious.

Beautiful, heart-touching photo, Joanne!

Thinking of you, anxious to hear news, hope that it is good. Hugs!

Pat - You're going to love Doc when you get to it!

Thanks Carol!

Thanks Terri!

Good news! Good news! The MRI indicates a fatty mass. It may be pressing against a nerve, though, causing her pain and other symptoms. Or something else entirely. We have another appt on Wednesday to discuss further, but it doesn't appear to be a nerve sheath tumor (removing such a tumor would entail removing her leg, as well, since the nerve would be gone) that both the surgeon and the oncologist thought was very likely. Best $2k I've spent in a while. :)

Thanks everyone for your kind words and concern!! I'm so relieved!!

YAY! So YAY!
Good girl, Copper! You're the best ;-)

That fatty tissue can be bothersome... I know.
:p~
Hoping for an easy solution, sweet girl.

Oh. Hi Joanne!

Thank you for sharing that excellent news, Joanne. *BIG sigh of relief*

Cee and Donna, I felt like I had a 20# weight taken off my shoulders today!

That's great news, Joanne, and like you said some well spent money for a test with good results. Hope the appointment on Wednesday goes well in trying to figure out how to address her symptoms.

Wonderful news Joanne. Thank goodness! And yay for Doc. Bring on Epitaph!

Good girl Copper!

Hooray!

Whew! Great news!

Pat, Bonnie, Pirate, and Katie - Thanks! I was so happy to share good news!!

eta - And Terri! Whew is right!

That is great news, Joanne! So happy the diagnosis is so favorable to a good outcome!

We're hoping, Mary!

:). Good news. Point of info....expect more of those lipomas to show up over time. Once they start, they tend to pop up. I hope that you find an easy and workable solution for this one.....and soon!

Whew! Wonderful and relieving news about Copper!

Hi Kath, I know - it's going to be one thing after the other now, I'm afraid.

Hi Amber - Absolutely!

Time for a new thread!