Mark's Reading Place: Chapter #5

-Benjamin Lacombe



^I am not sure who the artist is here. Anyone?

Audiobook:



Graphic:


Books Read So Far...

January:

1) The Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle 3.6 stars (audio)
2) Little Failure: A Memoir by Gary Shteyngart 4 stars (E.R.)
3) Hounded: The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne 4 stars (audio)
4) Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 4.6 stars AAC
5) Snapper by Brian Kimberling 3.8 stars (audio)
6) Bleak House by Charles Dickens 4.2 stars (partial audio)
7) Reality Boy by A.S. King 4 stars (audio)
8) The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta 4.2 stars (audio)
9) Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard 4.4 stars G.R.
10) You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack: Cartoons by Tom Gauld 4 stars GN
11) Mother, Mother by Koren Zailckas 4 stars

February:

12) Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch 3 stars (audio)
13) The Warden by Anthony Trollope 4.2 stars
14) The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin 4.5 stars (audio)
15) On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee 3.5 stars E.R.
16) The Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay 4.2 stars (audio)
17) Andrew's Brain by E.L. Doctorow 4.3 stars (audio)
18) Hexed (The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 2) by Kevin Hearne 3.8 stars (audio)
19) Light in August by William Faulkner 4.7 stars AAC
20) Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell 4 stars (audio)

American Author Challenge 2014

Willa Cather- January
William Faulkner- February
Cormac McCarthy- March
Toni Morrison- April
Eudora Welty- May
Kurt Vonnegut- June
Mark Twain- July
Philip Roth- August
James Baldwin- September
Edith Wharton- October
John Updike- November
Larry Watson- December

Mark's picks:

Willa Cather- Death Comes for the Archbishop *
William Faulkner- Light in August
Cormac McCarthy- Suttree *
Toni Morrison- Undecided. Tar Baby *, Paradise, a reread?
Eudora Welty- The Collected Stories *
Kurt Vonnegut- Mother Night. Possibly a second title. *
Mark Twain- Life on the Mississippi- Thanks to RD *
Philip Roth- The Plot Against America *
James Baldwin- Giovanni's Room- Thanks to Kerri *
Edith Wharton- The Custom of the Country
John Updike- Rabbit Run *
Larry Watson- Orchard or White Crosses or both. *

* On shelf

**If you are interested in the American Author Challenge, check out the main thread. This is shaping up to be a highlight of the year, IMHO:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/162960

I thought this would be a good idea, to keep track of what is coming up and to supply links when they are available.

The Great Portland Meet-Up. Saturday, Feb 1st: http://www.librarything.com/topic/167476#

Fantasy February: http://www.librarything.com/topic/167683#

William Faulkner- American Author Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/164037

March:
Cormac McCarthy- American Author Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/170080

Happy Sunday, Mark! Happy to be the first to stop by. I am hoping to get a fair amount of reading done today...

Good morning Mark. Congrats on your new thread. I love the pictures on the top. I hope you'll have a lovely Sunday.

Whew! I can see this one.

Hey Mark! I really like your "Upcoming Events" post. That's a very helpful community service. Hope you've got a relaxing day in store.
Finally watched last weeks DA. 'twas a good one. Oh my, what's Edith going to do?! And where's her BF? His 2nd family? Spy? I don't like the guy but he's making the story interesting.

Happy New Thread, Mark!

I'm glad there's a new one, as I wasn't allowed to open your last one there at the end...

Great new thread Mark. Have a nice Sunday.

Oh good, a shiny new thread, and no work today. All good.

Happy new thread, Mark! Hoping that your Sunday is full of fabulous!

Nice new thread!!

Good Sunday morning to you. After shoveling, I hope to get some reading in before my Olympics watching today.

Hi, Mark! Like Amber and Richard, I missed the end of your last thread because Chrome threw up a malware warning. I'm relieved to be able to check in with you again!

Yah, visitors! And no problems, (here, anyway)! I wonder if it was the Daria image? That was one of the last images I posted and then the issues began. Poor Daria. I had to send her to the refuse bin.

HELP! Okay, I do have another problem though and maybe my sharp-minded friends can help me. I've been using my old PC, of late, because my NEW laptop is giving me headaches. I am using the Firefox browser, but it is plagued with pop-ups and other evil, corporate tomfoolery. There is even Facebook images popping up on my thread. I have all the security settings set correctly, including the pop-up blocker and I constantly run my anti-virus programs. This sucks.

Sending out an SOS...

Nancy- It's great having you back, brightening my day! And if you need any audio recs, feel free to ask.

Lynda- I have a couple things I need to do today. I might have to do the food-shopping, since the wife is still recovering. Boo, hiss! And I will probably take my son driving. He needs more standard-shift experience. I also want to READ!!

Hugs & Waves, to Barbara, RD, Amber, Beth, Kath, Mamie, Linda! I hope you all have a terrific Sunday.

Julia- I sure don't want to prevent anyone from stopping by! LOL. This is important to me!! I prefer Firefox over Chrome but I wonder if I'll have less problems with Chrome.

Mark, I hope someone more familiar than I with Firefox will be able to help you solve your problems with gunky things. The only suggestion I would have had was a pop-up blocker but you've got that already. Boo, evil corporate tomfoolery!

Install Chrome. It takes no time at all and you can customize it extremely easily via the Chrome extensions store. Firefox isn't as much of a pain as IE, but it's close.

Julia & RD- Thanks! Funny, I never have had any problem with Firefox on my PC. None. I wonder if Windows 8, has anything to do with it.

RD- I tried Chrome on the new laptop and wasn't crazy about it. Maybe, I won't have a choice.

I used to love FF. Then it went crazy and got heavy with junk. I use Chrome now.. on my macbook, because safari is just so slow and not preferred ( by me ) .

Happy Sunday my friend. Have a lovely day and take care of your foot.

Mark - Not properly caught up but must jump in and congratulate you on another new thread mate. Hope the weekend has been a good one and that that foot is not bugging you too much.

Good Sunday morning, dear sir! I know computer worries can be very wearing on us. I hope yours are resolved very soon.

I will spend today alternating between reading, relaxing and fighting an impending cold and putting stuff away in the new digs. There is lots to do but I do not have to do it all today, do I?

Good Sunday Morning, Mark! I had the problem with the last thread, but I thought it was just me. I suggest Chrome, if nothing else. I loved firefox but then I had a lot of problems with it over the last year or so.

Yay for a new thread that I can access. I'm also on Chrome and got the malvare warning on your last thread. I actually also got it trying to access Ellen's thread yesterday. That's never happened to me before and to have it happen with your thread and Ellen's was weird.

Hope you find some time to read today.

Mark, regarding your Firefox popups etc., I'm not sure if this will help but I have a Firefox Add-on called AdBlock Plus and that blocks a lot of crap. Good luck!

Okay, got a little reading in. Now, I have to do a little food-shopping. Yes, I got STUCK doing it! Boo, me!

Kath- I uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled chrome on my laptop. I have no problem with Firefox on my PC. I don't understand it.

Roberta- The foot feels great today! LOL. I have an appointment on Tuesday. I hope to find an answer.

Paul- Good to see you. Always a pleasure.

Karen- Sorry to hear about your impending cold. I hope it misses you or is very brief. I hope to spend a big chunk of the afternoon in the books.

Tam- I think that might be the first problem I ever had with my threads and you know I've had a few of them over the years.

Pat- I wonder if Ellen is aware of the problem? That is freaky. All seems to be well today.

Cool illustrations up top, Mark! I didn't see any malware issues, but it's good to have a new thread anyway, right? I also use Firefox, which seems to catch a lot. Chrome seems to be more aggressive in its protection, though.

I can unreservedly recommend Cress. You'll have a good time when you get to it. Now I'm a little ways into Hounded for FF, and it's living up to its acclaim for a fun time from LTers like Roberta.

Hope you get lots of R & R today, after returning to some tough weather from your PNW sojourn.

Hi Mark, No problems at all! (firefox)

Happy New Thread!

I was another who had problems with your last thread and also with Ellen's thread. So happy that this thread is just fine!

Hi Mark! I haven't had any problems with either FireFox or your thread. But I asked my daughter--she is 17 so I figure that makes her an expert--and she says chrome is better. We have both on our computer, and safari as well. Maybe if you re-install firefox it will work better the second time around?

-Lacombe

Happy New Thread Mark.

I know nothing about PCs, so can't help you there I'm afraid. It was about time you started exposing Benjamin Lacombe to the masses!

Wonderful picture, I love it!

Hi Mark - glad to see the new thread works.

I enjoyed Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon. I really should get around to picking up the second one at the library.

Can't help with your Firefox issues. It used to be my preferred browser but the constant updates caused issues with add-ons all the time and it kept freezing on me so I gave up and switched to Chrome. Took some getting used to but I really like it now.

Laura- Thank you for that. I will keep that in mind. I have uninstalled FF for now. Once again, my Firefox works perfectly on my PC. I don't understand it.

Joe- The malware problems happened yesterday afternoon and not every visitor had a problem. Hopefully, that nonsense is behind me now. Grrrrr...
BTW- My Fairy Godmother came by and now I have the audio of both Cress & the Crane Wife, the latest Ness book.

Connie- Thanks! I hope there will be no more problems. I want visitors to slide in here, without a hitch.

Mamie- We'll have to make sure Ellen is aware of the problem too! I would not have known, if my pals had not informed me so promptly.

Rhonda- I know all about 17-23 year old Know-it-Alls! LOL. Yes, I did uninstall FF and reinstalled it and it had the same problems.

Ilana- I really like that Lacombe topper. What a cool use of the color green.

Barbara- Search the web for his other work. It is quite amazing.

3" of snow here, and my daughter is worried the chickens will get frostbite on their toes. I tired to tell her that it had to warm up to snow, so they are actually better off now, but she associates snow with cold feet. :-)

On your Firefox problem: you may have picked up a malware FF add-on. Check in the FF preferences to see if there's a new one installed.

I love that picture! I'm stealing it!

^ David Jon Kassan. This guy is amazing. I stumbled on him while combing through pictures of Lacombe.

Juli- I'll have to request the 2nd Hawkeye GN too. I usually do not care for superhero graphics, but this one satisfies.
I might just have to get used to Chrome. I do not think Firefox will work on my laptop.

Lisa- Tell your daughter, I completely agree with her. Chickens do not like snow or the cold. I have not seen nary a one, all winter. And yes, I also associate snow with cold feet. LOL.

Jim- Thanks! There were a lot of other Firefox issues, I was having on top of that. Ridiculous amount of pop-ups and other crap. I guess, I'll stick with Chrome...muttering a little.

Connie- Steal away. Check out his other work. Very impressive.

Happy new thread, Mark and Happy Sunday to you!

I use and love Firefox as my browser of choice and I never seem to have any popups. My other half is the techno guru for our computers but I wonder if the Outpost Firewall we use is what blocks the popups.

>40 msf59:: Wait, are those photos or paintings?

Hi, Mark!

ditto Amber's question.

I got the malware warning on your last thread too, Mark, using Chrome at the moment (though I use them all at different times). Something nasty must have gotten on there somehow! This thread seems OK . . . actually quite nice! Computers and the internet are wonderful, except when there are problems.

Hi Mark, I have no idea what your problem with Firefox is. I have it installed on my relatively new laptop (7/13) and have had nary a pop-up.....ever. It just works incredibly well (knock on wood). My hubby OTOH uses Chrome and is inundated with pop-ups. Go figure.

^ We watched this last night! It was a superbly crafted, white-knuckle thriller. Not your usual dumbed-down, overblown Hollywood fare. Gritty & intense. Just my cuppa! If you are looking for something for movie-night, look no further.

Lori- Thanks! Good to see you. I am typing away on my old PC, using Firefox and it works perfectly. It's befuddling.

Amber & Terri- Those are paintings. Google his work. It's quite stunning. There are some awesome nudes too, but since this is a family-friendly thread, I better play it cool.

Bonnie- When I used Chrome, I had no pop-up problems, it just was not a smooth user-friendly browser.
I am on the last 1/3 of the Lions. This is entertaining fantasy, very low-key.

Holy. Moly. They look like photos, and amazing ones, at that!

Captain Phillips is so emotionally charged, especially at the very end.

#46 How serendipitous! I just got off the phone with my dad who said that he watched Captain Phillips this afternoon and loved it. Unfortunately, Netflix does not have it for streaming.

I have used all the major players as browsers at one time or another, but use Chrome currently and have had good luck with it, with the exception that certain programs will only run on IE. But then Firefox wouldn't help there either. I thought this article in PC Magazine was interesting, but also shows how close all these browsers have become. Pop-ups are controlled through settings and add-in extensions. If you have problems with them, you might try checking your settings or trying a different pop-up blocker. I just recently tried a couple of new ones, but went back to Adblock Plus.

Hi, Mark! Just admiring your shiny new thread, though the first pic up top really creeps me out. I didn't have any problems with your last thread, either, but I'm happy you started a new one anyway. Glad you're enjoying Lions of al-Rassan as it is one of my very favorite fantasies of all time!

Hi Mark, I know nothing about computers but I was almost in a panic yesterday evening when I couldn't get into LibraryThing at all. I could access other sites on my computer but not LibraryThing. My solution was to turn off the computer, go watch a few hours of TV and then try again this morning. Works fine now, but haven;t got a clue as to why it didn't last night.

I have finished Cinder and I loved it. I thought the author took this well known story and breathed new life into it. Very creative.

I am not only looking forward to Downtown Abbey this evening, but I do believe the next season of Game of Thrones starts tonight as well.

DA time...

I have Chrome, IE and Firefox loaded and I almost exclusively use Firefox. IE is a ridiculous resource hog and Chrome is slooooooooow. But some forms only work in IE and my Evernote web copy thingie doesn't work in Firefox.

Another good DA. A nice balance of dark & light. The actress playing Edith, is really doing a fine job and Mrs. Hughes had a fiery moment. Thomas is exactly where he should be. There was a mud-fight and "Goody, Goody" said the Lady Dowager.

Amber- He's a strong artist.

Tam- I was really impressed with Captain Phillips. The film-maker also did United 93, which was also terrific.

Lisa- I picked up Captain Phillips from Redbox for a buck. More than worth it. Thanks for the browser info. I'll have to get used to Chrome I guess. Maybe, I can tweak it a little.

Mary- Sorry, about the creepy topper! I get a kick out of it. Have you read a lot of Kay? I also have his latest on audio.

Judy- I am so glad you enjoyed Cinder. The 2nd book is very good too. I just landed an audio copy of Cress too.
I think they were running a preview of A Game of Thrones but I don't think the new season starts until April.

Morphy- Good to see you! Firefox is my favorite. It's to bad it's giving me so many problems on my laptop.

Yes, I love Kay, especially Tigana and al-Rassan, but also his latest, Under Heaven, which I also listened to on audio. No worries about the creepy topper. It's not terrible, just a bit creepy, which I think may be the effect intended by the artist.

Hi Mark.
I've been completely awol but this is a lovely new thread you have. So, folks have told me that my thread has not been accessible via Chrome and that yours had the same problem. I'm building a new thread but thought I'd also ask about the security update I've gotten when I have been able to log on in the past couple of days. Requiring (?) us to change our password. Is this legit?

I hope you're doing well and that getting back into real life has been smooth.

More about books soon but it will take me forever to catch up after this horrible last week I've had!

Hanging around to see your reactions to The Lions of al-Rassan (which I loved but which turned me emotionally inside out) and On Such a Full Sea, which I received as an ER book a couple of weeks ago. Hope the foot gets better quickly.

>59 msf59:: *snork!*
I'll take this librarian, then, please:

Boo to Monday! And a double Boo to a frigid Monday. Only 10 today. It will creep up into the 30s later in the week, which will be a blessing.
I should finish On Such a Full Sea. Unfortunately, it has flagged in the final third. Hopefully, it can end on a strong note. I don't think I will finish the Lions but at least it has remained steadfast. The contentious Mr. Faulkner is up next...

Mary- I have Under Heaven on my To-Read list. I also have River of Stars. I think that came out last year. I haven't heard anything about it.

Ellen- Great to see you, my friend. It looks like you've been very busy. I am back in the swing of things but I am yearning for Spring.
And yes, I saw the LT warning about changing the password, which I did.

Roni- I am really enjoying the Lions. I read Tigana early last year. He is a solid fantasy writer. Not as heavy & dark as Martin and it's interesting that he does stand-alones.

Morning Amber- Yah, for Buffy!

>55 msf59:: Nice DA recap, Mark. :) Rose is really coming into her own and I loved Mrs Hughes' "fiery moment" !!

I'm having fun with Hounded, Mark. Hope you're able to stay reasonably warm today.

Mark, I gave Tigana a try but couldn't get into it. May yet give Lions a chance since the Audible returns policy is so generous, I have nothing to lose but a few hours listening time!

Hi Mark, I hope you're staying warm today. It seems like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe tomorrow will be the last sub-zero day of the winter?!?

With my in full-tilt Olympics-watching, I may watch the last couple of episodes of DA all at once after the Olympics end.

I saw Monuments Men on Friday (excellent movie!!) and the actor who plays Lord Grantham is one of the art soldiers during WW2. I saw a preview for that new airplane movie and I think the woman who plays Lady Mary stars in that one as well.

Mark, since I know you've read and loved at least 2 or 3 of the books in the list, I thought I'd post this here too:



I just received the following information from the Folio Society by email in the last hour:

The Folio Prize shortlist

This morning at the British Library, the judges of the 2014 Folio Prize, headed by Chair Lavinia Greenlaw, announced the eight titles on the much-anticipated inaugural shortlist. As sponsors of The Folio Prize, we wanted to ensure that our members would be among the first to discover this stellar list of new writing. The Folio Prize aims to recognise and celebrate the best English-language fiction published in the UK in a given year, regardless of form, genre or the author’s country of origin. The winner of the very first Folio Prize – worth £40,000 – will be announced at a ceremony taking place on Monday 10 March in London.

The eight books in contention are:

Red Doc> by Anne Carson (Random House / Jonathan Cape)
Schroder by Amity Gaige (Faber & Faber)
Last Friends by Jane Gardam (Little, Brown)
Benediction by Kent Harouf (Picador)
The Flame Throwers by Rachel Kushner (Random House/ Harvill Secker)
A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimear McBride (Galley Beggar Press)
A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava (Maclehose Editions)
Tenth of December by George Saunders (Bloomsbury)

At The Folio Society we are passionate champions of great literature. In sponsoring The Folio Prize, our hope was that we could continue this tradition of excellence and uncover the best fiction of our time, books that will be read and admired for decades to come. This outstanding shortlist, which consists of five US or US-based writers, one British, one Canadian and one Irish, confirms our expectations.

You can watch a video here which explains the concept behind The Folio Prize and our reasons for sponsoring it, and presents the shortlisted authors.

It was a long, cold, heavy-volume day. I just wolfed down dinner. Time for a hot shower and then I have 10 pages left in Full Sea and then I will return...Cool?

More than cool, Mark. Iced! Though I'm more looking forward to what you have to say about Lions when you finish that one.

Hi Mark -
I might have mentioned it before (?) but Ron and I both loved"'Captain Phillips". We watched it on PayforView a couple weeks ago. I remember this story in the news. Glad you enjoyed the movie too.

I am about 1/3 of the way thru Cinder and liking that a lot. I still have 2 huge additional doorstoppers going and feel like my progress on anything is really slow lately. I might be watching just a wee too much of the Olympics :-) Time consuming.

I still love DA - but I wish Thomas would get stuck forever in NY and Mr Bates would go to an anger management class.

Good luck with the foot tomorrow.

Okay, I finished On Such a Full Sea. I wish I could say I loved it. I really liked the first half but it began to drop off in the 2nd half and, for me anyway, it never recovered. Maybe, dystopia is just not his "thing"! Unfortunately, this is my first experience with Lee but since his earlier novels are so beloved, I will give them a go.
I am nearly done with The Lions. Maybe, while running around tomorrow, I'll finish it up.

Laura- I see you liked DA too! I am not as much of a fan of Rose and I also think the Ivy & Daisy storyline is a yawner, but it was a good episode.

Joe- Glad you are enjoying Hounded. How about that Oberon? I am going to start Hexed soon.

Ilana- If you were not crazy about Tigana, you might not like "Lions" either. Same type style.

Thanks for the Folio awards info. That is very generous of Folio. I have only read the Haruf & Saunders, but loved both of them. I've read Gardam and I've heard of The Flamethrowers but not the others. Have you?

Linda- I am looking forward to those 30s. Off tomorrow and then 25 on Wed. Glad you liked, the film, The Monuments Men. I just snagged the audio of the book and I am going to try and bookhorn it in.

Mary- I am just about done with "Lions" and I really like it. I am not sure I loved it, like you and Bonnie, but that could have had more to do with listening to the audio. Keeping the character's names straight was not always easy.

Claudia- Great to see you! Wasn't Captain Phillips excellent? Hanks was very good but I especially liked the actors that played the Somali pirates.
I am so glad you chose to read Cinder. It is such a good read. I have not seen any of the LT gang disappointed with that one. Enjoy!

"I wish Thomas would get stuck forever in NY and Mr Bates would go to an anger management class." I am with you, my friend. LOL.

Hi Mark! Just stopping by to say I decided to start Tigana first and it is very good so far. But then I loved The Lions of al Rassan.

I just got home from my first basketball game of the season (we won) and it is 4 degrees out....FOUR! This winter is really bringing me down!

Ok, it's safe to visit Mark's thread again now that I'm caught up on DA. :-) It was a good episode all around. I loved the Isabel-Lady Grantham storyline — Maggie Smith got some great zingers in that one! Poor Edith, poor Anna, poor Mary with three beaux all under her roof at the same time. Ok, maybe that last one deserves more envy than pity ...

I'm glad Edith decided to keep her baby. That should make for a very interesting story line Mark. I'm still interested in what happened to Michael. And I have a feeling there's going to be a confrontation between Mr. bates and Anna's attacker.

You are right, Mark, the Game of Thrones program was just a preview to whip up my appetite for the real thing in April.

Hi Mark, finally catching up on your threads. I was browsing at my local bookstore today after a trip to the library (they are next to each other in our mall) and came across Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and wonder if you've read it as it's set in Chicago.

Morning, Mark!

Sweet Tuesday! Yes, it will only be 12 today but I don't have to work in it. Yah! Doctor visit this morning, possible early lunch with wife & daughter, (the wife starts later on Tuesdays), library visit, return home-READ. Light in August is front and center.

Heidi- "This winter is really bringing me down!" Amen, my sister. Congrats on your basketball team winning. Are you playing too?
Hope you continue to enjoy The Lions. I have a feeling you will.

Julia- Thanks for the DA comments. I liked it too. Lady Dowager is still a hoot, even though she might be just a bit too "nice" these days.

Bonnie- I hope the Edith storyline has a happy ending. If anyone on the show deserves it, it is she. I hope they handle the Bates Revenge Issue, deftly. I don't want to see Anna dumped on again.

Judy- I have the GOT preview recorded. I'll have to check it out. How far did you get in the books?

Kerry- It's great to see you. I haven't been by your thread in ages. I always like to see what you are reading. I think I read the Jungle in my youth but I don't remember it very well. I NEED to do a reread.

Amber- It looks like we have a bit of a warm-up this week. We are SO over due. and please: No More Snow!

Re: DA, I have to admit I want Mr Bates to unleash a can of whoop-ass on the attacker.

Laura- No question the smarmy scum-bag deserves it. I just hope Bates is able to "do it", with some discretion. Find the dude in a ditch somewhere.

Hey Mark! I've been following you all over the threads this morning. I hope this means that you are enjoying a day off today.



Maybe Bates can do the dirty deed, slip through the cracks and blame it on the butler! Ha, now that's a novel idea!

Glad you're not working today, Mark - and this is supposed to be the worst of it for a good while. "Warmup" starts tomorrow.

I had fun with Oberon and Atticus in Hounded. Now I'm giving The Goldfinch a go.

After conversing with the radiologist, it looks like I just have a bad case of plantar fasciitis, and it has effected the left side of my foot. I guess having heel discomfort for years, I've over-compensated by putting more pressure on the outside of the foot. Now, I have to go back to the foot doctor on Monday and I'll be put on a treatment plan. Wow, this is going to drag on and on...
We had a nice lunch and now I should get warm and snugly with Mr. Faulkner. Is that even possible?

Lynda- My off day is moving to fast, but I can now kick back and relax. And yes, I hope Bates dispatches the scumbag, with immense stealth.

Joe- Warmer temps sound great to me. I want this snow to disappear. Return to grass and pavement. I might try to bookhorn in The Goldfinch for next month, after FF settles down. Hope you enjoy it.

Mark, don't worry. My specialist told me today that this foot issue can get healed but it needs a long time - several months - and a lot of exercise. The best thing is, while we a re sitting in the same boat, we can support each other :-D

Hello Mark, hope you're not freezing up there. Tigana is on my reading list this year - it sounds interesting.

Here is the first part of the plantar treatment:

"Give your feet a rest. Cut back on activities that make your foot hurt. Try not to walk or run on hard surfaces." OOOOOOOkay! It looks like I am failing miserably, right out of the gate...

Barbara- It's nice to have a friend to share the pain with. LOL. Rolling a frozen water bottle, under your foot does help. I NEED to stick with the exercises too.



Abby- Good to see you. I hope you are feeling better.

that is always the trouble with fysio exercises! You have to do them everyeeeeeeee day!

Hang in there!

Mark, I had some issues with what I self-diagnosed as plantar fasciatis. One thing that helped was a brace I got at CVS to wear at night. It's rigid plastic with some velcro tapes, specifically made for p.f. Your case sounds way worse than mine, but it might help a bit?

Mark - Faulkner for February was a mistake maybe as you have a painful foot and his books are generally a pain in the ass. Almost done with As I Lay Dying - I think that is how most of the readers feel close to the end of it.

Hope your foot ills get some positive impetus on Monday. Considering your line-of-work, it must be a real problem at the moment.

Can you get temporary disability, Mark?

I too had the foot brace for wearing in bed. It keeps that tendon stretched all night so that when you get up in the morning, it doesn't have the tendency to tear.

Ooh, boo for foot issues! Glad you are starting a Falkner novel, though. Have you ever read any Falkner?

"Oliver Twist" by Daniela Volpari

15) On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee 3.5 stars

Pan is sixteen and a fish-tank diver. Fish are raised and harvested in large tanks. She is very efficient at her job. She resides in B-More, an urban labor settlement, located on the east coast. The setting is the distant future.
After her boyfriend suddenly disappears, Pan decides to leave the settlement, which is bold, illegal and dangerous. She sets out to find him and her quest leads her on a long, twisty path, finding herself in one creepy, sometimes perilous situation after another.
This book immediately reminded me of the MaddAddam trilogy. Unfortunately, it does not have Atwood’s strong, narrative drive and lacks the humor and creativity that highlighted those books. I liked the way Lee set the story up and his prose is striking at times but it quickly flagged in the second half and never fully recovered.
Plus it is told in the first person plural, which can be a tricky device. I liked it initially but it wore thin after while. This was my first Lee and I heard his early, historical-type novels are excellent. I will still give those a try but I do not think dystopia is his strong point.

ETA- It was interesting, that I just started Light in August and it begins with a pregnant young woman, in search of the father of her child. Serendipity?

#88
I laughed. I defiantly felt that way after I read As I Lay Dying. Talk about "misery porn". Sheesh! That book is full of misery and it just keeps getting worse - not to mention the prose style. It will keep me from reading other Faulkner novels for quite some time. I won't say I will never read another Faulkner but it will take me a while before I brave those waters again.

I loved Under Heaven and want to start reading River of Stars as soon as our library gets it in. I agree with you that Mr. Kay writes in a low key fantasy style, but it is so High Class. He just hits all the right notes. He also does a good job of throwing in really good historical fiction as a bonus. I was so impressed with Under Heaven that I bought a copy and gave it to my niece for Christmas last year.

I don't really understand why Guy Kay has not been more heavily publicized and pushed by his publishers. It may be that he isn't a publicity hound. I have not read everything by him, but find his stories beautifully written with plots that keep a person interested. I don't think that all of his novels will appeal to everybody but he has enough variety that some of them will appeal to almost every reader. I would encourage readers to give him a try.

Well, I don't think I'll read On Such a Full Sea necessarily, but once again you've reaffirmed for me that I really want to read the MaddAddam trilogy, and more Atwood too.

And because she's Canadian, more Alice Munro,...

and because Munro's won the Nobel Prize, more Doris Lessing too,

and then because of Dorris Lessing... and so on.

Mount tbr is a scary scary thing!

Connie- I will have to get in a better exercise regiment. I will see what the doctor has planned first. Maybe, I can pass on other pointers.

Katie- I have not used that brace but have heard about it. I'll see what the good doctor has in store for me and I'll mention it. Thanks!

Paul- Funny, I just started Light in August and it is a very easy-going narrative. I have read As I Lay Dying and do not remember it being such a grind. I thought the Sound and the Fury was a bit tougher. Well, I appreciate you giving it a shot anyway. Now, you can move on to greener pastures.

Lisa- I might be able to, but that's not how I roll. I'll tough it out. Let's see what the doctor has planned. If I need to take off some time here and there, I will. God knows, I have enough sick-leave accumulated.

Tam- Which one you starting? I hope it's Light in August? LOL. I have read As I Lay Dying and The Sound and the Fury. It was about 10-15 years ago but I remember enjoying them.

Benita- Good to see you. How is your Dad doing? I remember you being a big fan of Under Heaven. Maybe, I'll make that my next Kay. I also snagged the audio of River of Stars.
And I agree with you, he should be better known.

Ilana- The MaddAddam trilogy is excellent on audio. Try the first one and you'll know pretty quickly if it's your "thing".
I hope to get to at last one more Munro this year. I have not tried her on audio but I have a couple saved, plus one or 2 print ones on shelf.
I have not read Lessing and yes, I agree "Mount tbr is a scary scary thing!"

I am reading Absalom, Absalom. .and I saw your post on my thread, well both of them. I am sooo sorry! I am a ditz sometimes. Sometimes his writing can be very easy to read but then other times it switches to like very subtle and I feel like I have to read in between the lines so to speak. And, the stream of consciousness is difficult for me to read sometimes.

I'm telling you....Halflingers

srsly

Sorry about the plantar fasciitis. I had that years ago and it did finally go away and I attribute it to the exercises. I did them so often I still some of them every day to this day!

I'm also sorry On Such a Full Sea wasn't as good as you'd hoped. I think I already told you I liked A Gesture Life a lot so don't give up on Chang-Rae Lee.

Hi Mark, Sorry to hear of your foot troubles. I hope you get some relief soon!

We watched Captain Phillips last week and loved it. Even knowing the outcome, it was still very tense.

Did you see American Hustle yet? It's a lot of fun.

I love the first of the thread topper pictures, Mark... It just captivated me right away!

I'm sorry to hear of your continued foot troubles. I hope you're doing the frozen water bottle thing since I know you aren't able to do the other instructions unless you take medical leave. Have you considered that yet?

I've started my Faulkner like a good girl. It's messing with my FF, just FYI. ;)

Hearing about your foot pain has made me start doing the exercises again, just in case!

The only Kay that I have read is the Fionavar Tapestry, an excellent trilogy that I loved. In fact I'm looking for a new old copy of the Summer Tree because my copy died. I would like to get one that matches the cover art of the others.

I'm sorry to hear about your plantar fasciitis--I had that for all of 2013. I also wore the boot at night, had to get orthotics because of ankle instability, and did morning stretches and the ice/heat variation while sitting down. After the orthotic insoles and the second cortisone shot, the pain finally disappeared over the holidays. Such a relief. I don't know if you can heal, though, if you are re-aggravating it every day at work.

Also sorry to hear about On Such a Full Sea since I still have to read it for the ER review.

UGH to plantar fasciitis. Boo to sub-freezing temps. Yay to the temporary disability idea! Is that available to you?

>55 msf59: I picked up Captain Phillips from Redbox for a buck.
Holeeee- that is cheap. What is Redbox?

Plantar Fasc sounds inconvenient. I recommend doing the exercises as much as possible. As Pat said....it might make all the difference.

I'm trying to understand how you heal your PF if you are continually walking on that foot. I would think you would have to just do the exercises, Mark, and then rest it. Otherwise it seems like a losing battle. I think I'll pass on On Such a Full Sea. I've read one book by Lee but it was a long time ago and I'm not positive which of his it was.

25 degrees today! May the heat wave begin! I did read a chunk of Light in August yesterday and it grabbed me pretty quickly. I heard this was one of his most accessible works and I can see why. Since I finished 2 FF reads, back to back, I thought I would take a short breather and check out the audio of Andrew's Brain. I received an ARC of this, weeks ago and then found it on audio. I am a big fan of Doctorow but have heard no LT chatter on this one. It's a shorty too. We like shorties!

Tam- No worries, my friend. We all miss posts on occasion. It's a given around here. I have not read Absalom, Absalom. I like the fact that so many are reading so many different books by him. It gives you a nice feel.

Kath- "Halflingers"? Are they like Hobbits?

Pat- I've dealt with PF, for over a decade or so. I have been able to get it under control. The snow and ice have just made it particularly difficult this time.
Aren't you glad you didn't buy the new Lee? LOL. I'll send it to you anyway and you can see for yourself.

Joanne- I saw American Hustle, while on vacation. I agree, it was very good. Jennifer Lawrence nearly stole the show. Have you still been watching True Detective? I watched the first 3. It is excellent and those leads are terrific.

Tina- I've dealt with PF, while working before. It's not easy but it can be done. I'll have to see what the doctor has in store for me.
Glad you started your Faulkner, like a good little LTer. Yes, the FF books are really piling up.

Lisa- I can't believe how prolific Kay is, especially how he builds new worlds each time. I've never even heard of those.

Roni- Thanks for the concern. It looks like PF is quite widespread. I'll have to see what the foot doctor has in store. Hopefully he'll have an effective game-plan.

RD- I have a ton of sick leave, if I need it. Nearly 2,000 hours. I think the intense weather has aggravated it and hopefully that begins to wane.

Megan- Good to see you! You've been missed. Redbox is a DVD rental service and they are located in kiosks everywhere. They are cheap and you can return a disc at any location. Very convenient.

Bonnie- Many of my fellow carriers have also dealt with PF. Recovery is not easy but it can be done. Just much more slowly. Did you start Light in August?

I'm sorry about the PF, and I understand how resting your foot isn't exactly an option for you! Dang. Here's hoping you find a workable solution soon...

(Warmer today - up into the 20s! - but 3-5 inches. DANGIT.)

Amber- Sorry to hear about more snow. Boo!! It looks like we might be avoiding the white stuff for awhile.

I'm serious Mark. I have had the same foot problem. Halflingers help. I'm not sure if they have shoes for you for work.. but surely they do for not work. They make men's and women's . I wear mine faithfully when I am going to be on my feet. They support in all the right places. So do crocs.. and they do have boots etc. I wear one or the other.. I know how painful that can be.... Crocs aren't just the clunky clogs you think of.. they have deck shoes and boots and sneakers and all sorts.

Mark, I've got my new exercices. OMG, it was'nt funny at all, but I have to do them every day. So, I think I must them fit in like brushing my teeth otherwise I probably won't do them ;-).

Still cold out there, Mark, but it's supposed to warm up some as the day goes on. Looks like more tough storms hitting out east!

Sorry On Such a Full Sea was a bit of a disappointment. Some day I'm going to try his A Gesture Life. I will say I'm totally snared by The Goldfinch. It's hard to put down so far - almost missed my El stop, always a good sign for the book I'm reading, if not for my getting to work.

I also started Ancillary Justice on my Kindle, and it's got an intriguing start. Over the Wall was a good YA GN, so worth a look at the library, but it's not an earth-shaker. I'm going to try the British Tamara Drewe next.

Halflingers are a breed of horse. They have tough toenails.

While I was at home my sister and I went to the movies one evening and saw "Saving Mr. Banks." I thought it was a great movie.

Did you see the pairs skating last night on the Olympics? Those programs rocked. Loved the Russian pair, and that Pink Panther was way cool.

Sorry about the foot pain. We librarians know of what you speak. I always thought mine was caused by being overweight. However, one of the thinnest librarians on our staff told us that back in the day when we had our dress code and wore heels and hose to work everyday, that her feet hurt so bad at night that she would soak them in ice water. At least you don't have to wear heels and hose to work.

At least you don't have to wear heels and hose to work.

Now that would be a sight!

All caught up with you, Mark! Sorry about your continuing battle with the PF - what a bummer! Hoping that the doctor can come up with a plan that works for you and allows your foot to heal.

I finished Andrew's Brain in a day. Actually, I listened to the first 30 minutes again, on the ride home. It's a good book, about a middle-aged professor/scientist, relating his tragic life to his therapist. It's a bit stream of consciousness and I know that turns off some readers but I thought it worked here.
Read another nice chunk of Light In August. He begins to veer off toward the deep end a couple of times but usually muscles it back to the center-line. I am really enjoying it.

Kath- Thanks! I will write that down and ask the foot doctor about them. I am sure they would make a sturdy walking shoe?

Barbara- Keep up those exercises, which reminds me, I better do mine. LOL.

Joe- I was hoping for a better warm-up today. Still chilly. Should be better tomorrow. Glad you are enjoying the Goldfinch. I am sure you will be giving me the nudge I need on that one. And thanks for the GN rec. I can always use those.

Benita- I am very glad I don't have to wear heels & hose. It looks like PF plagues, everyone equally. Weight, sex, size, no difference. I am used to dealing with it on the heel, this is the first time it has struck the side of the foot and that might be worse.

Lisa- No chuckling. Remember, you saw my calves! LOL.

Mamie- Thanks! I am hoping for a solid regiment too. I want to put this irritating issue behind me.

Mark, I haven't read a single Game of Thrones book. They are on my wishlist and I was planning on reading the series but then I got caught up in the TV series and I am loving that so much that I decided to wait on the reading. Someday, perhaps.

Currently I have just started another book for Fantasy February, Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold and I am pretty sure that I am going to love this one as much as the first in the trilogy.

>115 msf59: that is exactly what I look like when I am at the library browsing! In my mind anyway :)

I intend to read Game of Thrones, one day. I guess cheap copies will be plentiful in second hand stores in the coming year or two!

What if you worked 4 day weeks for awhile - using up some of your sick time? If the person who schedules your time knows in advance, it might work out.
I hope you are at least resting that foot off work.

Going a little slow with Cinder because it is my bedtime read and I've been going to bed a bit late - after the Olympics. I do like it though. From what I'm seeing on LT, I might have to read the rest of the trilogy. Oh! The pain and suffering I endure.

I am very sorry you are suffering from PF Mark. My mom had that a few years ago. She would sit on the couch at night and roll her foot on a golf ball. Also, her doc told her to always wear supportive shoes around the house, no going barefoot. I hope you get some relief soon.

^ I've been watching a new HBO crime series, called True Detective. It's dark, gritty, exceptionally well-written and both leads, Harrelson & McConaughey are excellent. Just my cuppa! It's only 8 episodes long and I just finished the 4th.

Judy- I love the GOT HBO series too but I still highly recommend reading, at last the 1st 3 books. You sure look like you are having fun with the FF books. I hope I can squeeze in a Bujold by the end of the month.

Megan- We should get a photo of you in the trashy housewife garb, perusing the shelves. LOL.

I own the 1st 5 GOT books in hardback. I would love to hear your thoughts on the first one.

Claudia- I just want to see what my foot doctor says on Monday and see what plan he has for me. If I need to take off a little time, I will. I want to get this healed.
I am so glad you are enjoying Cinder. It is such a good series. I hope to get to book 3 later in the month.

Heidi- I have used the golf ball trick in the past. I just need to get in a routine.

Just trying to keep up! Waving and feeling sorry about your feet woes.

I'm glad to hear you say that, if you need to, you'll take time off. It's much easier to fix a problem like this by doing the proper resting than by powering past the pain.

>125 msf59:: *snork!*

Morning, Mark!

Sweet Thursday! 34 today! Yahoo! Back to mid-20s tomorrow, so I better enjoy it. I will be jumping back into FF, with Hexed and the best dog in current fiction, Oberon. Woof! Anyone have a sausage?

Prue- Good to see you! Are you joining us on FF? I'll have to stop and see what you are reading.

RD- Thanks for the concern, my friend. I want to see what this doctor has planned and then I will move forward...quickly.

Amber- Big morning waves!!

Oh Oh, not great remarks about As I Lay Dying from Benita and Paul! I look will start it as soon as I finish Dorian Gray, probably tonight or tomorrow.

Ahhhh Ha! PF! The trouble with your job is you can't wear a good pair of shoes that you need to help ease the problem. Hey! can they give you a desk job for a few months?! I used Asic walking shoes during my recovery and followed all the tendon stretching exercises my doc gave me. After 4/5 months I was fine and never had a relapse.

Re-watched Sunday's DA last night and I think it's one of their best. At times laugh out loud funny measured with the seriousness of Edith's and Anna's situation.

Adding my sympathy to the chorus for your foot troubles, Mark. It's tough to do what's necessary for healing, isn't it?

>>115 msf59:, 125 LOL!

I join others in hoping your foot woes improve. The Bulls' Joakim Noah has PF, and now is able to play, but he says he does a lot each day to treat it.

The Goldfish continues to be compulsive reading. I had a GN jump the queue, and it looks like one I'll end up recommending to you: Who is Jake Ellis. A very face-paced noir with an interesting premise.

>125 msf59: GORGEOUS :-D

Ohh, True Detective looks good, Mark, I hope it shows up here in Canada at some point.

The Olympics has sure cut into my reading time! I am enjoying the games greatly. Between them and all the travel on Sunday's I have only seen the first episode of this season's DA. By the time I get around to watching it the season will be over and I will have to find a way to watch it on DVD. I am glad to hear that the story has picked up as there were plenty of complaints about the first couple of shows and I thought that perhaps it was going to fall flat on its face. Seems that hasn't happened.

What is True Detective about?

^Katie posted this gem on FB. I just want to be able to add books in there somewhere.

Lynda- I have read As I Lay Dying but with all these interesting comments, I would love to revisit it. I am now enjoying Light in August.
Thanks for your comments on PF. It's amazing how many people this affects.
I really liked DA this past week too.

Linda- I have a foot doctor appointment on Monday. I hope we can take off from there.

Joe- Noah has been on fire, hasn't he? Have you been going to many games? Looks like another GN to add to the request list. Keep 'em coming, my friend.

Barbara- Loving waves!

Judy- How do you end up seeing HBO programing? Do they show them up there, eventually?

Benita- I have not watched the Olympics at all. I follow it in the sports section of my paper. LOL. True Detective is a police procedural. They are investigating the ritualistic murder of a young woman. Both cops are struggling with their own "issues", during the case, making an interesting psychological drama, helped by excellent writing and acting.

Whew! I made it :-)

Love the bugs up there, very cute. And the friendship one is funny too. I had a good time with Light in August when I read it last summer, and wouldn't have minded the topic of As I Lay Dying so much, but the writing style really turned me off unfortunately, probably because I'm really needing things to be gentle and calming lately. Perhaps I'll give it another go when I'm feeling braver.

Sorry about your foot problems. Did the doctor mention inserts for your shoes maybe?

Snow has melted. Son is recovering. Time for LT again! Hi there. : ) And good luck with the foot thing.

Oh my, a third positive reference to "True Detectives" in a week that I've come across. Never even heard of this show before! Will see about downloading the first episode.

Mum bought me the 3D map of Westeros jigsaw puzzle for Xmas and I've finally cleared space on the coffee table and started it. I may go mad from all the black pieces, or blind from staring at the tiny little picture they give you as a guide to the whole puzzle. Or blind AND mad. But I'm enjoying the happiness when I finally get a few pieces stuck together properly. :) And I'm thinking I must get a copy of the first book and re-read...

Just popping in on a gloomy Friday afternoon to say Hi! And is it beer o'clock yet? (Sadly, not for a couple of hours yet.) I hope your foot pain clears up, sounds very nasty.

#134 They are definitely the best friendships :)

^Yep, you know I am enjoying this one. Well, we still have a couple COLD ones to deal with and then the WARM up begins. It looks like it might hit the mid-40s next week. YAHOO! I am Sooooooooooooooo ready.

Stephanie- Glad you made it and now that you know where I am located...grinning slyly.

Ilana- I am sure I will need inserts. I need something to support my foot and take the pressure off. Hope the week went well for you.

Kimmers made it! Kimmers made it! always a pleasure, my friend.

Tania- Great to see you. I've missed you. The GOT puzzle sounds cool and if you can find True Detective, do yourself a big favor.
Have you tried the Iron Druid series yet?

Morning, Mark!

>134 msf59:: *snork!*

Happy Warm-up! We've got 8" to melt so, in all the best spirit, I just dread the slush-and-refreeze cycle more than the cold.

Good morning, Mark! Nice doggie (and yes, I know what book you are reading but I'm pretending I don't to avoid bringing Roberta and Richard down on my head). ;-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love the doggie!

I am sorry about your feet. I hope you will follow your doctor's orders, and I hope he prescribes many days off your feet, with a book in your hands, and several waiting beside your chair. There! That's my take on it.

I'm spending the entire Friday at the kids' house and expect I'll do quite a bit of reading, both here on LT, and in books. I'm loving Light in August, too; however, someone posted a link to an article about how to read Faulkner and the article pissed me off. I do not see reading as just one more opportunity to force myself to do work. I already have to do that with common every day chores. OK, I'll skip the rant but I am here to say "I want reading to be as comfortable as a feather comforter".

Hope your Friday is swell. And the weekend...even better!

>141 msf59: Nice!

Yes, we've been going to Bulls games, Mark. They just got back from a long road trip, and we were there last night watching them beat a very good Brooklyn Nets team. Noah had another double-double - he's been amazing. They don't have the talent of some of these other teams with Derrick out and Luol traded, but they're still finding ways to win. If you're a basketball fan, it's a treat to watch, because they're doing it with team play. Noah will be in the All-Star game this weekend.

I'm really liking this Jake Ellis gn. I'll keep you posted.

Mark, Happy Valentine's day :-D

Mark, I never really thought about it but I guess I get HBO Canada. I watch so little TV that I haven't really investigated all the channels that we do get. I see that I could be watching True Detective, do you think it's too late to pick up the series now?

^My Happy Place Part Deux! We are heading into the city, meeting friends, for dinner and brews at one of our favorite breweries, Haymarket Brewery. Life is good.

Amber- Big waves!

RD- Our melt-off begins Monday. I am so sick of looking & walking through snow. Ugh! I hope you are doing okay!

Julia- No, we don't want to get the Hounds stirred up. They've been quiet.

Abby- Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks for the purr-fect poster!

Karen- I am glad you are enjoying Light in August. I am too. I am just hitting the halfway point. He likes dark & gritty doesn't he? I can't believe this was written in the early 30s.
Have a great weekend.

Joe- Go Bulls! You will love Hexed. Have a terrific weekend.

Kim & Barbara- Big loving waves!!

I am not going anywhere near a restaurant tonight. Will stay home and read and watch all that ice skating, sled sliding, and other pretty winter sights. I checked out three books from the library just in case I can't find anything to read on my shelves. Eagle of the Ninth, Perilous Guard, and Liesl & Po. I plan on reading something light since I just finished another biography Short Life and Long Times of Mrs. Beeton. At 400 pages it was about 100 pages to long.

Too much talk about Cinder... it's getting hard to hide from.

We stayed in, and did nothing.

Hi Mark, hope you have a loverly weekend. xx

Have a good night (and weekend), Mark. Hubby and I went to our favorite pizza place for, well...pizza, and Fat Tires.

I finally finished Orange is the New Black (so good!) so I'll probably give True Detective a try (although the Olympics seem to be dominating our TV watching of late).

Finished listening to Cinder and will resist getting book 2 until I have March credit with Audible. I read a bunch in the Parrot book, so now I need to spend a good deal of time this weekend with Mr. Faulkner.

Happy Heart Day!

Hope you're having a lovely weekend Mark! I'm in at work on a Saturday afternoon/evening (we're going live with some code changes, so I'm here as support in case something goes wrong; means an afternoon of junk food, pottering online when I get fed up with working on the current project, and occasional headless chook panic stations when something does go wrong). I do get time-in-lieu (at 1.5 rates), so it's not too bad.

Hm, hearing some good buzz about Cinder. Wish I'd remembered that when I was at the library on my way to work this afternoon! (Picked up lots of great books, but would have liked to add that one to the teetering stack as well.)

And I have read the first Iron Druid, and I was not a fan. I seem to be in the minority, however. I did love Oberon! But nothing else much.

Happy weekend, Mark!

Mark I hope your weekend is not as flat as the beer up in #153.

Have a good one buddy. Keep warm and keep reading.

Morning, Mark!

Happy Saturday! I work today and then I am off 2 in a row, with the President's Day holiday. Yah, me! It looks like it will be the coldest day I will work in for awhile. Let's hope it will be the last.

I finished Hexed. Another entertaining romp with Atticus & Co. I will take a short FF breather and start Eleanor & Park, which seems to be well-loved around here. I am also at the halfway point Light in August. It's a very good book but I think Faulkner needed more hugs as a kid.

Judy- I am glad you have HBO Canada but I am not sure you want to pay for it, just for one show. If you watch True Detective, you NEED to start from the beginning.

Benita- Glad you are enjoying the Olympics. And I hope you can bookhorn in Liesl & Po. It's excellent.

Kath- Cinder is a perfect comfort read. Give it a go.

Ilana- Thanks for the "Book Love"! I hope you have a great weekend too!

Joanne- Fat Tire was probably one of the first craft beers that I enjoyed. And it still holds up. Glad you wrapped up "Orange". That was a terrific 1st season and I have a feeling you will get sucked in immediately, once you start True Detective. It's probably the best show on TV right now.

Karen- More Cinder love! More Cinder love! I hope to get to Cress later in the month. Glad you are continuing to enjoy the Faulkner, so am I.

Tania- Over-time pay is good. More money for books. Sorry, you didn't care for the Iron Druid book but you should LOVE Cinder.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Diana- You too! Big waves!

Paul- The beer I had last night was excellent. Not a flat one in the bunch. We plan on going out for more tonight: more beer, friends, banter & chow.

Morning Amber! Big waves!

Yes! I finished listening to Cinder Friday evening and she kept me from falling into slumber land. Good story. I like the main character but I do wish the others were a little less one dimensional. A touch of teenage angst doesn't hurt too much, but it would be a great romp if there were a few more adult characters who were not evil, or almost evil. But it is a fairy tale, right? Right! Updated. Very good. Next installment will come when my Audible.com credit hits the screen.

I have to spend a good deal of the weekend working on HOA matters so will keep my focus on Faulkner. We are almost half way through Feb. and I am not half way through Light in August. I think you might be right about his needing a few more hugs, but then again, most of us do.

hugs to you!

Presidents' Day! forgot about that one. Enjoy the anticipation of 2-in-a-row.

We love Fat Tire too, and I think that was my first craft beer as well. That or Anchor Steam.

Enjoy your day off on Monday, Mark. I, too, am off for the President's Day holiday. With a potentially heavy snow that day, I figure I'll just stay home and read and watch the Olympics. I don't mind that a bit!!

I still haven't started my substitute American authors book, by Carson McCullers. I figure to join you again in March with the chosen author, Cormac McCarthy. All the Pretty Horses, I think.

I know how much you like pics of lady librarians.

Sorry to hear about your foot. But at least it isn't something that requires surgery, right?

I think all of us doing physical therapy should have a support group thread. I haven't been doing so well with my exercises. Bad Morphy!

>169 richardderus: Woo, that's not the usual type of librarian I see at Mark's place! I think she's even scaring the skull on the shelf.

Glad you had a great time at Haymarket last night. We will get there someday - hopefully with you in the vicinity as tour guide.

Not too terrible out there today, and I'm sure you're looking forward to two days off after this. The warmup is supposedly still coming, too. I hope they're right about that.

We're taking it easy today - some Goldfinch reading, some Ancillary Justice reading, some zipping around LT, some Olympics, some NBA All-Star Weekend. I believe I could do this every day, given the chance.

Happy weekend, Mark! Enjoy your day off on Monday.

Librarian pics? questionable.. lol

Questionable? I just Googled "librarian pics Baden" and voila! Up popped Eeyore.

>>169 richardderus: -Scary!!!!

Just rushing in and waving 'Hi '

**I seem to do that a lot!**

Just watched last week's DA. Lots of interesting subplots now.

Just two more episodes this season, correct?

Karen- Glad you liked Cinder. Scarlet is also very good. I wish the Faulkner was a little smoother. Hope you are having a fine weekend.

RD- I am looking forward to 2 days off in a row and the warm up starts next week too. Hooray!
Thanks for the very scary librarian. That is not exactly what I had in mind. LoL!

Jim- I always forget about Anchor Steam. That might be the very very first craft beer.

Linda- Since I am off Monday, it can do what ever it wants. LoL. All I care about is that it's going to the hit the 40s next week. Yah! I hope to start the McCarthy thread tomorrow.

Morphy- Good to see you! I am looking forward to the doctor visit on Monday, so I can get my game-plan. I need to get this problem taken care of.

Joe- Yes, you know what kind of librarian I like and that ain't it! LOL. Looks like we are chilling at home tonight, which is okay with me.
I am really enjoying Eleanor & Park. Thanks for the nudge.

Julia- I always love 2 in a row! We pay a heavy price on Tuesday but it is worth it. Hope you are having a good weekend.

:P

^Of course, I appreciate RD's thoughtfulness, but this is a bit more my style.

>180 msf59: Yes, mine too. Gorgeous b&w. I wish I had legs like that. I'd always be standing up on chairs in sexy underthings too!

I am really enjoying Eleanor & Park. Current YA still amazes me. And it works so well on audio too, especially with multiple narrators. Thanks to Joe for the nudge.
Mr. Faulkner never quite makes it easy but I still have to say Light in August is a strong read. 200 pages to go.

Kath- I hope I cleared up the sexy librarian issue!

Connie- I hope you can stop by, when you have more time. Pull up a chair and have a beer. You drink beer, RIGHT?

Linda- Glad you enjoyed the latest DA. I am not sure how many episodes are left. 2 sounds right.

All in all, Mark, I am enjoying Faulkner. He definitely is "different" but I love strong, unique characters and regionalism. I wonder why it has taken me so long to pick up one of his books. Having done history, poli sci, sociology, psychology, education, economics etc. while in various colleges I did not get the English Major's prejudice that he is "hard" to read. So far, not so hard. But I suppose if he becomes more obtuse, well it could be hard.

Glad you're enjoying E & P, Mark. Yes, >180 msf59: is much more like it!

I like the idea of coffee grabbing some bench so alcohol can get into the game, too.

We're taking it easy tonight, too. Sherlock has occasionally stirred when food appears, but otherwise he's in nap mode.

Morning Mark. I could not agree more about Faulkner needing more hugs as a child. Still, I am really enjoying (despite being rather disturbed by) Sanctuary. Light in August sounds a lot...well, longer, for a start :)

Mark, I wish you a lovely Sunday

Morning, Mark! Lovely library ladies (with one exception, of course)!

Happy Sunday Morning! I have a nice R & R kind of day planned and then I have tomorrow off to recover. Sounds brutal.
What are your Sunday plans?

Ilana- We needed those pics to erase the horrible one from our minds. LOL. Don't you stand on chairs in sexy underthings? I know I sometimes do.

Karen- The only issue with Light in August is it seems to be over-written at times. I am not sure this one needed to be 500 pages.

Joe- E & P is terrific. I think you mentioned it before, but it does remind me a little of Perks, which of course is a very good thing.

BekkaJo- I am glad you are enjoying Mr. Faulkner and yes, Light in August is LONG, but it might be the most accessible of his, that I have read.

Back at you, Barbara!!

Mark, can I have this seat, please? I take the books as well :-D

Good morning, dear sir. I hope your Sunday is filled with all you hope to have.

Good morning, Mark! I hope you're doing well and having a lovely Sunday.

Glad to read you're enjoying Light in August! I'm not sure I'd describe it as overwritten, but I respect your opinion.

Oh, and I thought of you when I saw this. It's an article called "This is What a Librarian Looks Like." Spoiler: All of them are fully clothed and some of them are males. :- )

http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2014/02/11/kyle_cassidy_photographs_librarians...

Morning Amber- I enjoyed following you around this morning and I never had to leave my warm, snugly seat.

Barbara- You have a seat front and center, my friend. Grab a book.

Karen- That's the plan! I've spent the first couple hours messing around on LT. I NEED to start making book-reading plans.

Kerri- Good to see you. Maybe I am being a smidge harsh on Faulkner, but I am wondering if he could have tightened it up a bit more. His writing is stunning though and I can not believe how dark this guy is! Wow!
Thanks for the librarian photos! And yes, these are the way librarians really look and I love every one, but we can throw a scantily-clad one in now and then, right?

Oh dear... >188 msf59: bears a resemblance to my reading chair. That chair is nicer though. And there is a cat or two on the backrest part of mine, and that's nicer. So maybe it's just the bookpile that is similar? lol

Mark, I am spending my day with Faulkner. As much as I like The Hamlet, I have The Goldfinch calling to me. I want that one to be my solo book when I get to it. Happy Sunday (and Monday) to my favorite mailman!

#192 - Hm. I'm confused. I think my examples are very cute (and two of them are friends of mine.) They don't look like pole dancers though. Maybe that's what you meant? :-)

>180 msf59: ...I can't see any difference...

Kath- I think we all have book stacks like that. We have no cats though, just 2 dogs.

Donna- I plan on getting to the Goldfinch next month, once the FF dust settles. Are you joining us on the McCarthy?

Kerri- I am sorry. "Cute" was a terrible word to use. I should have said scantily-clad or something else juvenile. So, a couple of these librarians, you work with? Cool.
**I corrected my insensitive blunder.

RD- ROTFL!!

^I started the Cormac McCarthy AAC thread, for March:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/170080

Hi Mark! I think I'm caught up, just please don't quiz me. ;) Happy Sunday to you! I think I need to back out of Faulkner Feb this month - too much going on IRL to challenge myself when I'm trying to relax. Nothing but fluff and easy reading for this gal for a while! And, I'm skipping on Mr. McCarthy too. I couldn't handle his books (I took two and they both did nothing for me except get pissed about not using punctuation at all), and was thinking of a substitution author instead. May do that, will depend on when my Mom moves in with me and how much "caregiving" will be going into her being here. Will have to find my substitute author list and see what I had planned.

Hope the foot is doing well!

I read The Road and it was pretty good. So I'm going to give All the Pretty Horses a shot. But then, I'm a completist and so must reach each author exactly.

Mark - Happy Belated Valentine's Day. I am glad you head to the doctor to get a plan for your PF. We need our happy postman to be, well, happy!

Having company and now being sick has really messed up my FF plans. I even took a day of staycation last week but didn't get to read very much. Boo!

I have a day to myself. Thank goodness! I am enjoying a cappuccino at my B&N, the first one I have been able to have in one of my favorite haunts in 2014. I haven't been in Tuscaloosa much this year. I plan on reading a little in Heartless and then go to the movies. I am going to see Monuments Men. I wanted to read the book first, but that isn't going to happen. I did see the documentary "Rape of Europa" when it came out, so I do have that background.

I don't want to make you feel bad, but after a week of the weather bouncing us around - first snow, then 60's, then back to snow, we are now getting ready for spring. That is normal for us, as usually by the middle of February grass is starting to green up and the temperature during the day modulates. Full spring will be in about two weeks.

I had time yesterday to look at my patio stuff, and the winter was very hard on my clay pots. Usually, down here I don't have to put them inside to keep over winter like I do in Kansas, but this winter broke several of my grand big pots, so this spring I will be on the lookout for some replacements. In the future, I may have to start looking at the long range forecasts for winter just so I can save my pots.

*waves* Hope you are doing well!

-Lee Moyer

^I think I found my Twain poster for July, plus the fetching young woman will be dressed appropriately for the HOT summer months.

Laura- Great to see you! RL can get in the way of our reading at times and you have your hands full. The books can wait.
Yes, it doesn't sound like McCarthy is your cuppa. Feel free to substitute.

Morphy- It looks like you are striving to be a "Purist". Good for you. We are a special breed. LOL.

Roberta- Thanks! I am so sorry you are not feeling well. I hope the worst is behind you.

Benita- Stop by and let me know what you think of The Monuments Men. It got lukewarm reviews here. I did snag the audiobook but I am not sure when I can bookhorn it in. Knee-deep in FF.
I thought the warm-up was supposed to start here tomorrow but it looks like we are going to get another snowstorm. WTH?

Tam- Big waves! So far, all is well! I hope you are enjoying your Sunday.

#197 - Oh, no big deal. I was just giving you a hard time. We're still buddies. :-)

> 182. I will have a drink with you, but I prefer a glass of wine. Beer is for carnival. (in two weeks time that will explode again here)

“Perhaps they were right in putting love into books,' he thought quietly. 'Perhaps it could not live anywhere else.”

“It does not take long. Soon the fine galloping language, the gutless swooning full of sapless trees and dehydrated lusts begins to swim smooth and swift and peaceful. It is better than praying without having to bother to think aloud. It is like listening in a cathedral to a eunuch chanting in a language which he does not even need to not understand.”

― Light in August

Bee-yoo-tee-full!

Kerri- I am glad we are still buddies. Smiles! I am drinking an Alpha King. Still smiling...

Connie- "Beer is for carnival." It's carnival here every day. Yah!

RD- He is an amazing wordsmith and a helluva storyteller.

Lovely book shelf photos above.
I am trying not to visualise Ilana stood on the chair putting the books back in place as it will only get me into trouble.

The one in B&W is wearing panties? Looks to me like she is filing au naturel.

Turbodog is a dark brown ale brewed with pale, caramel, and chocolate malts and Willamette hops. This combination gives Turbodog its rich body and color and a sweet chocolate, toffee-like flavor.
Founded in 1986, the Abita Brewing Company is nestled in the piney woods 30 miles north of New Orleans.

I am usually not a big fan of brown ales but I do like this one.

I try my darndest to keep things on this thread clean and and book centered and you men keep taking it to the dog house.

That is not at all the way I imagined Becky (Tom's partner in the fence painting episode) to look. She looks very uncomfortable. Probably has a case of split buns and if she stood up would be digging those things out of her crack. Not impressive.

Yes, Paul, all my models are wearing the proper underwear. This is a family-friendly thread and we have to tread carefully.
Do you think we could get Ilana to send us a photo of her stocking shelves?

We started watching Orphan Black again, after a hiatus. It's a good little show and the lead actress does a terrific job, juggling several different roles. If you can get this, where you are, give the 1st couple episodes a try.

DA coming up fast...

You can ask her mate - I value my friendship with her too highly; hahaha

I'm really enjoying my Faulkner Mark, Light in August; not at all what I expected. I'll be skipping McCarthy but I am reading Willa Cather's Pulitzer Prize winner One of Ours for my WWI book so she will have to suffice because I have a bunch of other commitments including the first book in The Raj Quartet:-)

Morning, Mark!

It's 6.15! Raus, you lazy...oh wait...this is the second-of-two. Silly of me. Sweet dreams.

The good news is, it's a federal holiday. The bad news is we are getting ANOTHER snowstorm. 3-6 inches, maybe more. This could put us over the 70" mark. At least I am not working but it still sucks.
A doctor's appointment later this morning and then dinner with a pal, weather permitting. In between, I hope to finish off a sizable chunk of Light in August. It's very good but it seems to be taking me forever to finish.

Benita- Boys will be boys, my friend. I do try to keep books front and center over here. That is our glue after all. Although, I actually like Becky up there, even though, those are not sensible "painting" clothes.

Paul- I not think I will be asking her either, my friend. Survival instinct. I hope you had a wonderful Meet-Up with Flexible Caro!

Bonnie- I had a feeling you would like Light in august. It does get darker and darker as it goes along. Did you see DA?

Morning Amber! Boo to more snow!!

RD- I was still up early, as usual, just took me a little longer to saunter my way over here. I LOVE my 2 days in a row!

Boo indeed. School's canceled, again. More shoveling ahead. DING DANG!

Just nodding in approval of all the Faulkner love above.."an amazing wordsmith and a helluva storyteller." Sho'ly.

Morning Mark. Another snowstorm? you poor, poor dear. That is just crazy, how much snow you all have been getting.

DA update: Another very solid episode. I thought I was done with this show but it managed to rein in the silliness, tone down the irritating elements and become quite enjoyable.
Maggie Smith has been terrific this season. I can't believe how central she's become. I also like the way they handled the "Rose" situation. My only fear is, how they will pull off, the "Bates" situation. That could be the only stinker in the bunch, except of course for Thomas...why didn't he just stay in N.Y.?

Amber- Big flakes coming down now! Ugh!!

Linda- There seemed to be a lot of fear & trepidation, with Faulkner on the AAC, but for the most part, everyone seems to be pleased.
I have to read much more of his work, that is a fact.

Abby- Thanks! We are right around 65 inches for the season but with today's snowfall, it could put us over 70". Ugh!

"Boo to more snow" is a sentiment I can definitely get behind this winter!

Me, too, Mark. It's starting to come down now. Boo!

Hope you have good day off. I'm liking both The Goldfinch and Ancillary Justice, and I can definitely recommend Who is Jake Ellis. There will be more to the Jake Ellis story.

Wow, really sorry you're getting more snow. We seem to have finally pulled out of the bad winter weather and I'm hoping it won't be coming back. Enjoy your day off.

Now that ice dancing is over and we had lunch, I think I'll watch yesterday's DA then take a nap.

Mark, I love Maggie Smith in DA this season as well. She's quite the player, working behind the scenes to make things happen, usually for the better. Mary is also coming into her own I believe.

I miss DA but it has to be on the back burner as my Sunday's have been spent in a car traveling and are likely to remain so for the next several months. I don't want to admit it, but most likely I will miss Call the Midwife as well.

Okay, the foot plan: I have to be fitted for orthopedic inserts, (unfortunately it will take a couple of weeks to receive them). I am on a higher dose of anti- inflammatory medicine and then I have my fun footie exercises. Like, I mentioned before, this will be a LONNNNNNNNNG process, especially with my job, but it's a start.

Yes, it is still snowing...

Julia- Originally they were forecasting the warm-up starting today, with some rain, but they LIED! Not looking very promising out there right now.

Joe- I have requested Who is Jake Ellis. I am deeply into Light in August and I am also really enjoying Eleanor & Park.

Pat- At least, we are not alone with the winter woes. Most of the country is getting a bitter taste, this season. I just want Spring to get here.

Linda- That sounds like a great plan. LOL. I think you will love DA!

Laura- I am so glad you mentioned Mary. I have really liked the direction her character is going in. And I like the fact that she is so straight up with these 2 gents. No teasing and come-ons.
And yah, for Lady Dowager!

The temperature has finally modulated down here. It is about 70 outside. The winter has been long down south, but spring is right on schedule. Dang - I'll have to start taking care of the Big Green Monster soon.

Mark, keep smiling! It takes time and the funny exercises help best. You are in my thoughts especially when I'm doing my exercises ;-D

A plan is in place! Bravo. Now follow it!

>169 richardderus: *snerk*
Well, technically, RD is right.

>204 msf59: Well, I like her shoes anyway.

And now I am left wondering if I can book horn in a Cormac McCarthy for March. I am thinking, surely?

I hope the plan works, Mark!
All the best with the exercises!

I was supposed to go into my wife's work, to have them scan my feet but the snow is coming down with fierce determination, I think we have nearly 4 inches already, so I will stay put. And obviously, I will not be meeting my buddy for dinner. It would probably take me 2 hours, just to get there. Uh, no thanks!

Benita- I had mixed feelings at the start of this DA season but surprisingly it has been quite enjoyable. It still follows a formula but in an entertaining way.
Enjoy that 70 degrees, you lucky gal.

Barbara- Thanks for the reminder. I better do my exercises before cracking my book. LOL.

RD- Now, I am anxious to get those inserts. I think that will give me the best results.

Megan made it! Megan made it! Yah! She was wearing shoes? Oh, yeah, she was. Which McCarthy are you thinking about? Have you read him before?

I'm glad there's a treatment plan...slow and steady works for lots of things. Hope it works for this!

That's a very funny one!

Mark, Paul, you two are too funny. Didn't I say I did NOT have legs like that? I'd look like a hippopotamus standing on that chair. Not sexy at all, no no. Remember Fantasia with the ballet-dancing hypos? Something like that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjPDS8Jp1E

I don't know what that says about me Mark, but I'd be more likely to find you on a milk carton than a beer bottle!

DA: I could watch the last episode right away and tease you all about it, but what would be the fun in that? I certainly expect they'd make good use of Maggie Smith, otherwise why bother having her on the show? It certainly wouldn't be the same without her. Mary has a stick up her you know what. Cora is so sweet, but so useless and clueless! Is there romance in the air for the older folks?

eta: added YouTube link.

25 pages left in Light in August and I should finish it. See, it was worth staying in and being safe. Plus it looks like the snow is slowing way down. I will still have to clear the driveway though. Ugh!

Connie & Linda- I just wish I could get those inserts sooner than later. It doesn't look like I will get in to size my feet until Wed or Thurs.



Ilana- I think you are being a bit hard on yourself. Plus, I think those hippos in tutus are kind of cute.
Yep, big DA finale on Sunday. Are you going to peek ahead? I like your description of Cora but I like Mary this season.

>238 msf59: Yup. Me too.

“Knowing not grieving remembers a thousand savage and lonely streets.”

"Like a long sighing of wind in trees it begins, then they sweep into sight, borne now upon a cloud of phantom dust. They rush past, forwardleaning in the saddles, with brandished arms, beneath whipping ribbons from slanted and eager lances; with tumult and soundless yelling they sweep past like a tide whose crest is jagged with the wild heads of horses and the brandished arms of men like the crater of the world in explosion."

-Light in August

Yes, I finished Mr. Darkness. Mr. Savage (Bill, adores that word). Yes, he could have used a few more hugs as a child but boy, could this man write. It's not always easy and not always smooth but the depth and celestial heights of his storytelling is truly remarkable. Like Cather accomplished in January, Faulkner has really inspired me to explore more of his work. AAC is really getting the job done. I am batting a thousand.

Hello, Mark. I hope you had a lovely day off today.

I'm glad you liked Light in August. I have yet to crack my Absalom, Absalom! for this month, but I will get to it. I can't believe you've already started a thread for McCarthy March....

As for Downton Abbey, I'm enjoying the season more as it has rolled along. I'm curious to see what the finale will have in store for us. It's hard to imagine the series without the inimitable Maggie Smith.

You need and deserve an early and a mild spring.

Hello from the land of "woefully behind in reading threads".

We're watching DA as I'm typing this so I don't have final thought on this week's episode yet.

I started a new GN last night - 100 Bullets: Vol. 1: First Shot, Last Call by Brian Azzarello have you read any of this series?

Good to hear there's a foot plan - hope it all helps and soon.

^Sadly, I did not read Murakami last year. Bad Mark. Not since tackling 1Q84, in the fall of '12. He's been on my mind, so I thought I would start Blind Willow, Sleeping woman. I have not read a story collection of his, since After the quake, ages ago.

I know Joe is a huge Murakami fan, anyone else?

>246 msf59:: Oh, me, me, me! And I've only read one of his Kafka on the Shore, but I *loved* it and keep wanting to get round to more of his stuff.

And yay for the Foot Plan!!

I was tempted by a book of his yesterday at B&N but I resisted, went home and read a few more pages in Light in August. Congratulations on finishing! I am about 50% with plans to continue my plan of 25 +/- pages a day and I will finish before February does, I hope.

Back to work on Tuesday, eh? Me, too. Luckily I also have Thursday off, so the week is not too bad.

It will hit 40 today. WHAT? Yep, let's start melting off these mountains of snow. We usually have a very tough day after a holiday, I hope it's not to brutal.

RD- Waves!

Ellen- Good to see you, my friend. Folks have asked me to start the author threads early, so they can get their books and ideas lined up. it's probably a good idea.
And yes, DA has been a pleasant surprise this year. I was ready to bolt.

Juli- Great to see another PNW pal! Did you survive all that snow? LOL. I did read "100 Bullets" and remember liking it but for some reason I didn't continue.
DA was another good one!

Morning Amber- Kafka was my first too and like you, I loved it. It might still be my favorite but please read more of his work.

Morning Karen- So you never tried Mr. Murakami? He can be off-center most of the time but what a rich and wonderful imagination. He is one of my favorites.
My day off is Wednesday this week but I am going to work it. I could use the cash and I haven't worked a day off in weeks.

I've read Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, and enjoyed it. Much like Faulkner, I think that one, at least, would benefit from a re-read, and I do intend to do that. Also on my TBR shelf are copies of Norwegian Wood and Kafka on the Shore. My son-in-law put me on to Murakami, and I'm glad of it.

Good morning - just wanted to pass along a GN recommendation I got this morning from a friend on Twitter. Red Light Properties by Dan Goldman.

Looks fun - Red Light Properties.

Red Light Properties
Welcome to Red Light Properties, South Florida's #1 source for previously-haunted homes! A family-owned business operated by Jude and Cecilia Tobin, Red Light Properties cleans houses of all manner of lingering spirits and psychic disturbances, guaranteeing you a green light-certified home at prices way below market value! If you own a home with bad vibes that you're stuck with, or you're just looking for a great deal... give us a call today! Hablamos español.

Haven't tracked down a paper copy yet but I'm grabbing the digital version for my ipad,

I really like Murakami. I just read Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. It is a story collection and there are some really good ones in there. Overall, I didn't think it was as good of a collection as After the Quake but it was still really good. Later this year I hope to get to South of the Border, West of the Sun. So far my favorite of his is Kafka on the Shore but Wind-up Bird Chronicle and 1q84 are also right up there. I know that Norwegian Wood was the book that put him on the map in Japan, but it is not my favorite. I think that is because it is very culturally specific while some of his other work is not.

Just for you Mark. :)

Ha! Very gracious of you, Tam. Mark's a lucky guy.

36 degrees out? I can barely remember it being that warm. Shorts weather!

Glad you're batting a thousand on the AAC, Mark. Same here, with the menu substitution. Great idea you had.

I'm almost done with The Goldfinch. You're going to love this one. Oh man, wait until you meet Theo and Boris and Pippa and Hobie and all the others.

I have After the Quake up for a re-read this month. Somewhere I have Kafka on the Shore, when that gets unearthed I'll be reading it too.

Doesn't Mark remind you of Boris, Joe?

For short stories, after After the Quake, I liked a lot of Murakami's older collection, The Elephant Vanishes, more than the more recent Blind Willow, although they're both good. I like all his novels, with Kafka on the Shore my favorite and The Windup Bird Chronicle and 1Q84 not far behind. Among his other novels, Sputnik Sweetheart and South of the Border, West of the Sun are really good, but my mindbender favorites are Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and A Wild Sheep Chase.

His nonfiction Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack is very good journalism about the cult that poisoned the Japanese subway trains. His running book is, as it turns out, a lot about running. Not as full of insights about him as a person as I had hoped.

ETA: Holy Toledo, I just saw your question in >256 richardderus:, RD. Those who have read The Goldfinch are going to have their eyes a-poppin' when they see what you've asked! Unless Mark has a mysterious second life I know nothing about, Boris seems to be in a different league, doesn't he? On the other hand, they're both very funny, and like to have a good time, so I can see the connection there.

^Gotta love that Ben!

I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail...

Mark and Boris?? That's just crazy talk, Richard, unless you know a heck of a lot more about him than I do. :-)

Glad to see there's a plan in place for your foot Mark. Slow and steady wins the race. I should finish Light in August tomorrow sometime. I'm really enjoying DA but I don't see how they resolve all the threads in a two hr. finale but we shall see. It was hysterical when the dowager figured out Edith's secret almost immediately. Haha.

It was a beautiful day, especially up until the early afternoon and then the wind picked up and it clouded over. I was enjoying lunch, with my window down and the sun warming the side of my face, just starting the Murakami. Yes, bliss...

I did finish Eleanor & Park, which was a sweet YA, with just a little edge. If you are looking for a "tweener" or a palate cleanser, this might work.
And then on audio, I jumped back into FF, with Daughter of Smoke & Bone, which isn't bad in the early going. I see that Taylor has written several other books before this one. Has anyone here, read her early stuff?

Linda- You started with a more challenging Murakami, even more than 1Q84. I think you are ready for Kafka. I am not sure I've seen anyone, not love that one.

Juli- Thank you! It sounds fun. I will add Red Light Properties to my WL, immediately. Make sure you give me updates.

Benita- I know you are a Murakami fan as well. I think he has a book coming out this year, I'll have to double-check that. Group Read, in our future?
I NEED to get his earlier novels. Here, is where I have stumbled.

Tam- Ooh-la-la! Now, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! Thanks!

Joe- It was 45 on my way home. Nice. I nearly texted you while I was having a warm & relaxing lunch. It looks like I might have to kick off March, with the Goldfinch. Since I have it saved on audio, I'll get it a go there first.
I am so glad you posted again, with your thoughts on Murakami. I love talking about him with you. Like I mentioned to Benita, I really have to get to his earlier work. This collection, is my 7th Murakami but I am still missing a few.

RD- Boris, eh? After Joe's comments, you have me a bit worried...

Stephanie- I also loved After the Quake and I highly suggest you find your copy of Kafka and get to it soon. I am due a reread on that one myself.

Boris loves him some quaffin' and has one helluva taste for the, errrmmm, aestheticalness of life much as does our own Mark...I agree, there are some fairly significant variations....

"To put it in the simplest possible terms, I find writing novels a challenge, writing short stories a joy. If writing novels is like planting a forest, then writing short stories is more like planting a garden. The two processes complement each other, creating a complete landscape that I treasure. The green foliage of the trees casts a pleasant shade over the earth, and the wind rustles the leaves, which are sometimes dyed a brilliant gold. Meanwhile, in the garden, buds appear on flowers, and colorful petals attract bees and butterflies, reminding us of the subtle transition from one season to the next.

My short stories are like soft shadows I’ve set out in the world, faint footprints I’ve left behind.”

-Murakami, from the introduction to Blind Willow.

I sent the link for Lee Moyer to MrMorphy. He loves pinups and has most of the works of Earl Moran, Antonio Vargas, and Gil Elvgren. Moyer is a new one for him.

Julia- I am very curious about this "crazy talk".

Bonnie- The foot bothered me quite a bit today but I'll just continue to do what I have to do. I hope you are loving Light in August. Yes, Lady Dowager has been a hoot. Smith is having a ball.

RD- Thanks for clearing that up with Boris. LOL. I plan on kicking off March with The Goldfinch. I have a couple more FF books to get through first.

Morphy- I had a book calender, last year, that featured Lee Moyer. I like his stuff. I'll have to check out those other artists. Thanks.



^I like Elvgren!

Good morning Mark. I hope you'll have a lovely day

I haven't worked a day off in awhile, due to foot issues and miserable weather, but I am going in today, for the extra cash and the fact that it will be sunny and in the low 40s. My books will keep me company.

Barbara- Thanks! Hope you have a great day too!

Morning, Mark! Wasn't that weather amazing yesterday?! Hoping you have another gorgeous one today...

>253 leperdbunny:: Oh, c'mon, she can *not* be comfortable! Sheesh.

Try to avoid those puddles, Mark! Sidewalks are turning into lakes out there.

Regarding Murakami, I'm not a big enthusiast. I read The Windup Bird Chronicle and appreciate it, but it's not my thing. I do have that non-fiction account of the Tokyo gas attack on my wishlist, because the subject matter interests me, so there's that.

Amber- LOL. I thought she looked comfortable. Maybe that is a lotus-pose or something.

Kerri- I agree, Murakami is not for everyone but if he clicks for you, it really works and not to many authors write in this style. I NEED to get to Underground too.
Have a great day!

>271 msf59:: *snork!* Well, she's clearly completely engrossed in the book, since she didn't even bother to close the door, so maybe she's not concerned with comfort, either. What was she, born in a barn?!

>253 leperdbunny: What's the title of that book, anyway??

>264 msf59:

I'm a little late getting around the threads today, Mark, but man, it's a nice one out there. Can Spring be far away? (Don't answer that - darn groundhog).

Glad to see RD's wily manipulations are working, as The Goldfinch definitely warrants a move up the tbr. You're going to eat it up with a spoon, as a friend used to say. It always surprises me when something really good tops the bestseller lists, but she's making it happen. Who would've guessed after everyone was disappointed by The Little Friend. (Not that I read it).

I'm turning more attention now to Ancillary Justice for FF, and I've got a Joe Pickett ER book up after that. Because my MBH was sick, I missed picking up the new Sarah Addison Allen, Lost Lake. at the library, so I hope I get an ER of that one. Otherwise it'll be a while, and I don't want to wait.

Hi Mark, I am catching up here after being away for a few days. I was glad to hear that there is a foot plan to help your get rid of your problem. I know these things take time, but it's nice to know you can look forward to a complete recovery.

I have had The Windup Bird Chronicle on my TBR shelf for a long time, but haven't felt the urge to crack it open yet. From what I have head about Murakami, one seems to either love or hate him. I sure hope I fall on the love side.

I am currently gobbling the anti-inflamatory pills as I had a flare up of arthritis in my shoulder that eventually led to a pinched nerve. It is much better now with all the swelling having been reduced, but it was mighty painful for a couple of days.

Hope the remainder of the week is a good one for you my friend.

Amber- I think she may have been born in a barn. Poor thing! My heart aches...

Linda- My guess, is she is reading a lovely hardback of Faulkner (#253) but has carefully removed the dust-jacket. Sexy and smart!

Joe- It was another nice one and lots of sunshine. There were areas I had to walk through 2-3 inches of standing water, though. I am sure tomorrow will even be worse.

You are definitely getting me pumped on the Goldfinch.

Judy- I did get my feet scanned today and hopefully I'll have my inserts in about 10 days. It looks like my left foot has no arch to it. I don't know if that is all related to PF or not.

I can't imagine anyone hating Murakami but there is no question he is not for everyone. The Windup Bird Chronicle is a bit more challenging but I loved it.

Hope you get a handle on that arthritis!

I am glad your weather is more supportive of comfortable mail carrying. Our weather is kind of wet these days but does occasionally remind me that spring is coming.

So is George R.R. Martin's next installments on the TV, I think. I have to decide whether I want to pay the extra to have it on my screen. Decisions. decisions.

Enjoy the last bit of your week!

Tom Gauld is so great. I've still got Goliath which I borrowed from the library to look forward to. I came very close to watching the DA finale today, but managed to resist the urge.

>280 msf59:: Ha! Love it.

Morning, Mark!

Sweet Sopping Thursday! I woke up to thunder. We will have a delicious mix of sleet, rain, wind and flooding, but it will be about 50. I better buckle up the galoshes. The good news is, most of the snow should go bye-bye.
I am on the latter half of Daughter of Smoke & Bone, which has been good and I am also enjoying Murakami's odd little stories.

Karen- I hope you are planning to watch GOT. It's been nearly flawless from the onset. Yes, Spring is just around the corner. Thank God!!

Ilana- I happened to see the Gauld comic on FB and thought I would share. Goliath is a very quick read. You are showing fine restraint on the DA finale. LOL.

UGH, the weather! We had that Tuesday morning, and it sounds like we will have more in a few days. Sleet is the worst. Snow is bad, rain is no fun, but sleep is just the worst, imo. Hope the day goes quickly!

Stay dry today, Mark. I woke up to a surprising amount of the heaviest, wettest snow imaginable. I thought it was supposed to be warm out!!

Spring must be coming - I had my umbrella blown inside out by the Sears/Willis Tower. For some reason that building creates a huge wind tunnel down here.

Feels odd not to still be reading The Goldfinch. 1Q84 was like that for me. I got so sunk into her world that I feel like I'm still in it. She's got me wondering what the characters are up to now.

We were just talking about you over on Judy's thread, Mark. She had mentioned meeting her mail lady and getting a package of books, and I wondered if all the mail carriers and UPS folks know how happy they make us when they bring us books, and Jim suggested I ask you! So, I'm asking: Do you posties know how happy you make us when you bring us books?

Mark, good morning. I hope your foot feels better today. I like @280. Wish you a lovely day.

Howdy! Just a nice light rain. Let's hope that continues for 5 more hours ...

Hi Mark! have a lovely day!

I'm in a Starbucks in Hopkinsville, Ky watching it rain. And it is really raining - complete with lightening and thunder. As soon as it is safe to walk outside I will do so and resume my journey.

I finished listening to Daughter of Smoke and Bone and loved it! I immediately started Days of Blood and Starlight because I want to know what happens. The worst thing is that the third book in this trilogy doesn't come out until this fall Dreams of Gods and Monsters and I know that unless book two is a real clunker I will want to know what happens to all these characters. I love the world that Taylor created for this series.

I have not read any of Taylor's other work, but know that Lips Touch Three Times had lots of fans and was nominated for the YA National Book Award. I have that one in our collection at work, and will try to get to it soon.

When I went to the library to get Days of Blood and Starlight I spied Liesl & Po on the shelves and picked that one up as well. I am sure that I will get to it on this trip and since you liked it thought I would give it a shot. You got me with that book bullet.

I also got Stardust by Neil Gaiman. That one is only 5 CD's in the unabridged form so I think I can listen to most of these on this trip.

There were a couple brief downpours, but mostly light rain and mist. At least most of the walkways and stairs are all cleared of snow and ice. Of course there are a couple of idiots that never shoveled but fortunately they are in the minority. They will receive their comeuppance in the afterlife.
Heavy fog on the way home.

Kath- Fortunately we did not get any sleet. Just rain. Not a bad day.

Linda- You got snow? Wow! That's a bummer! How much was it? And did it melt quickly?

Joe- The wind never kicked in, in the 'burbs, which is a good thing. We are supposed to get more wind and rain tonight.

Julia- "Do you posties know how happy you make us when you bring us books?" Well, I know I am very happy when I receive books. I honestly don't know what I am delivering, most of the time. Some packages look like books, but I just don't know and I don't talk to my customers about books. It's not like, they ask me if the new McCann came in or if the latest Iron Druid book arrived. Oh, sorry, sore point.

Barbara- Thanks! My foot feels fine, once I get off it. I hope to have these inserts in about 10 days.

Connie- Big waves!!

Your weather is looking like ours. Hope you get some relief soon. Today, we had some sunshine!

Hi Mark, I hope you didn't get washed away today. There is no doubt with my mail-lady, we often meet at the door and she knows how much I enjoy getting book shaped packages!

Benita- Are you traveling for work? If so, for how long? I am also enjoying Daughter of Smoke and Bone and should finish it early tomorrow. Thanks to a wonderful LT pal, I have the 2nd one, waiting on audio. I like to space my books out but hope to get to it in a couple of months.
I also have Stardust saved on audio. And Liesl & Po is excellent. You should love it.

Karen- Yes, we had PNW weather today and it was fairly mild too. Around 40ish. Back to winter temps all next week though. In the 20s. Boo! I want to move FORWARD!!

Judy- You know I would love to talk books with my customers. I have in the past and actually passed on books and recommendations to them as well.

Customers see me reading in the vehicle all the time, so they know I am a bona-fide Book Geek! I do not hide it.

>236 msf59: Have I read McCarthy?
Cormac McCarthy is one of my faves, Mark. I have saves a few to read though as I don't want to be all out. :)
Have read the border trilogy, The Road, No Country for Old Men...and one more I think? Not sure now...in too much of a rush to get Lenny to the dentist :) Bye!

Megan- Thanks for setting me right on McCarthy! LOL. You are an old pro!

**Come on and join me on the new thread, before I say Buenos Noches!

It looks like we are getting your rain tomorrow... that will add weight to the snow around here. Everyone is trying to clear off their roofs before they collapse.

So - Murakami. I've only read Kafka and I loved it. I have 2 others of his - but now I'm a little nervous to read Bird Chronicle if it's anything at all like Faulkner. I do want to try another by him though. Is 1Q84 better?

#204 Even I know you can't paint in heels!

Good luck getting those inserts for your poor foot :-(

Claudia- Good to see you. I don't think Bird Chronicle is Faulkner like. It's just strange and trippy. Since, you've had a taste of his style, you might be ready for it. I preferred 1Q84, but just slightly.
And no, I can not paint in heels! Stop by my new thread!

Claudia, I didn't mean to imply that Bird Chronicle was stylistically like Faulkner...just that it was one that would reward a second reading, as I so often find Faulkner does. Didn't mean to scare you off!