Scaifea's 2014 Challenge - Thread #9

Welcome to The Ninth Thread!

This year, since I read a fair amount of children's books, I think I'll open my threads with photos of the work of some of my favorite picture book illustrators.

Charlie, Tomm and I are all big fans of Sandra Boynton's books. Her excellent sense of humor shows in her illustrations, too. And I should mention that it was one of her books that became Charlie's first favorite, which he would request over and over again.





Below you’ll find an explanation of my reading habits, which, I warn you, is a bit crazy. Usually I have about 10-12 books going at once, one each from the following groups (and occasionally other books slipped in there, too):

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m currently working through three lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The CYOA books
c. The Caldecott Honor books

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A book for the Presidential Challenge. Books for this category are read in chronological (presidentially) order.

5. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

6. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker lists (combined, in chronological order)

7. For this category, I cycle through 7 different stacks:
a. A book from my shelves which I haven't yet read
b. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. Stephen King's bibliography (in chronological order)
d. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
e. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
g. The NEH Timeless Classics list
h. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
i. The Pulizer list (in alpha order by author)

8. A bath-time book: I read aloud while Tomm gives Charlie his bath.

9. A book from my Classics shelves.

10. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

11. Book-a-year challenge: Last year at some point, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've decided, again, to follow Paul's lead and try to fill in some of those blanks, and so I'm adding an entry here to my lists.

12. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

And on top of these, there will be a multitude of picture books, which Charlie and I read together. I only list picture books that I or we read for the first time - no repeat reads will be mentioned here (and they are legion).

So, now you've got a glimpse of just how neurotic I am.
Please feel free to post comments, recommendations, or whatever else strikes your fancy. And Happy Reading, everyone!

What I'm reading now:
-Lady Chatterley's Lover (Banned Books list)
-Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King (Guardians of Childhood series)
-Journey to the West (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life (Presidential Challenge)
-The Amulet of Samarkand (audio book)
-The Man in the High Castle (Hugo award list)
-Enemy of God (from the TBR shelves)
-Mr. Poppers Penguins (bath-time book)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus (off of my classics shelves)
-Deity Yoga (buddhism list)
-My Man Jeeves (year-by-year book list, 1919 (1919 is the first year, going backwards from 2013, in which I've not read a book, so I'm starting here and working back.)
-The Life and Times of Paddington Bear (from the READ ME NOW pile)
-The Iliad (everyday audio book in the car)

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

And here's my list for the Reading Bingo, which seems to be taking us 75ers by storm. Like many others, I'll not make an extra effort to fill it, but rather just see which of the books I read this year happen to fit what categories:

More than 500 pages:
Forgotten Classic:
Book that became a movie: The World of Pooh
Published this year:
Number in the title: 45 & 47 Stella Street
Written by someone under 30:
Book with non-human characters: Odd and the Frost Giants
Funny Book: Diggers
Female Author: Flora & Ulysses
Book with a mystery: One Came Home
One-Word Title: Truckers
Book of short stories:
Set on a different continent: Wings
Non-Fiction: Buddhism for Beginners
First book by a favorite author:
Heard about online:
Best-selling book:
Based on a true story:
Book at the bottom of TBR pile:
Book my friend loves: Stories I Only Tell My Friends
Book that scares me: The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook
More than 10 years old: The Genie in the Bottle
Second book in a series:
Blue cover:

Books Read (see previous posts for previous reads):
FEBRUARY
85. (#8) 45 & 47 Stella Street (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10
86. Under the Willow Tree (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10
87. 1 Is One (Caldecott Honor book) - 9/10
88. Locomotive (Caldecott Award Winner) - 9/10
89. Marguerite de Angeli's Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
90. The Storm Book (Caldecott Honor book) - 9/10
91. The Thanksgiving Book (Caldecott Honor book) - 7/10
92. Journey Cake, Ho! (Caldecott Honor book) - 9/10
93. A Very Special House (Caldecott Honor book) - 7/10
94. Fly High, Fly Low (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
95. Crow Boy (Caldecott Honor book) - 7/10
96. Snowy Valentine (public library book) - 10/10
97. Owen (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
98. The Happy Day (Caldecott Honor book) - 7/10
99. Song of the Water Boatman (Caldecott Honor book) - 7/10
100. A Is for Amos (public library book) - 8/10
101. Word Bird's Valentine's Day Words (public library book) - 8/10
102. 1,2,3 in the Box (Charlie's school book) - 8/10
103. Best Valentine's Book (public library book) - 7/10
104. (#9) One Came Home (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10
105. (#10) The Bigfoot Mystery (CYOA series) - 8/10
106. Lifetime (public library book) - 8/10
107. The Emperor and the Kite (Caldecott Honor book) - 9/10
108. The Fox Went out on a Chilly Night (Caldecott Honor book) - 9/10
109. The Valentine's Express (public library book) - 8/10
110. Happy Valentine's Day, Sweet Babboo! (public library book) - 8/10
111. Little Bear's Valentine (public library book) - 8/10
112. A Pocketful of Cricket (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
113. Anatole and the Cat (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
114. The House That Jack Built (Caldecott Honor book) -8/10
115. (#11) Funny Letters from Famous People (Blind Date with a Book choice) - 7/10
116. I Can See (Charlie's school book) - 8/10
117. Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine (public library book) - 8/10
118. Which Would You Rather Be? (Charlie's school library book) - 7/10
119. Math Fables (public library book) - 8/10
120. Some Monsters Are Different (public library book) - 9/10
121. How to Catch a Star (Charlie book) - 9/10
122. Penguin in Love (Charlie book) - 9/10
123. Extra Yarn (library book) - 10/10
124. Yummers, Too (Charlie's school library book) - 6/10
125. Gilgamesh the King (public library book) - 9/10
126. The Steadfast Tin Soldier (public library book) - 9/10
127. Simon Welcomes Spring (public library book) - 8/10
128. The Quiet Book (public library book) - 9/10
129. (#12) Diggers (series read) - 8/10
130. The Zoo (public library book) - 8/10
131. Volcanoes (public library book) - 8/10
132. The Moon Jumpers (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
133. Umbrella (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
134. Curious George Dance Party (public library book) - 8/10
135. (#13) The World of Pooh (Charlie's bath time book) - 10/10
136. (#14) Flora & Ulysses (this year's Newbery Medal winner) - 8/10
137. If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (Charlie book) - 9/10
138. The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive (public library book) - 8/10
139. The Loud Book (public library book) - 8/10
140. Lizette's Green Socks (public library book) - 8/10
141. See the Shapes (Charlie's school book) - 8/10
142. (#15) Wings (Bromeliad series) - 9/10
143. Thy Friend, Obadiah (Caldecott Honor book) - 9/10
144. Goggles! (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
145. Moja Means One (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
146. The Angry Moon (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10
147. The Man in the Moon (Guardians of Childhood series) - 9/10
148. Elephant's Story (public library book) - 8/10
149. One-Dog Sleigh (public library book) - 8/10
150. Duck at the Door (public library book) - 9/10

The Charlie topper:

And the Bonus Question:

Favorite famous, non-famous, or infamous quote?

"The past is never dead. It's not even past."

I have two quotes to share:

"I am not young enough to know everything."
– Oscar Wilde

"You can't get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."
– C.S. Lewis

"Wherever I go, there I am." or "The more it changes, the more it stays the same."

Linda: Faulkner, eh? I'm shocked. Shocked, I say! It's a good one, too!

foggi: I have a soft spot for Wilde, and although Lewis isn't always my favorite, I do agree with him on that count.

maggie: Classic!

That lovely Mr. UPS came to see me this afternoon, and cleared my pain-induced haze a bit with these (all but the top one are for Charlie, of course):

Hi Amber -- love, love, love your thread toppers! Love Boynton! Love Charlie! Her board books were my kids' absolute favorite when they were little, and we have several memorized.

I'll have to come back later with a quote. Head too foggy at present.

We love Laura Jofffe Numeroff. I don't think we have If You Give a Cat a Cupcake though.

All my favorite quotes are movie related, as opposed to being inspirational or life mottoes or something. Though I guess this could be a life motto:

"Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!"

I have two favorite and not terribly famous quotes:

"I still think that one of the pleasantest of all emotions is to know that I, I with my brain and my hands, have nourished my beloved few, that I have concocted a stew or a story, a rarity or a plain dish, to sustain them truly against the hungers of the world." (M. F. K. Fisher, The Gastronomical Me (I think))

"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." (Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, but also used to good effect by T. S. Eliot in what has to be my favorite poem of all time, "Little Gidding"

I came by earlier when you'd just put up the thread, but felt intimidated by the question, with brain barely functioning today. I took down lots of great quotes when I read Pride and Prejudice recently, so will look through my notes and post one or two soon.

Oscar Wilde was just wonderful wasn't he? Such wit!

>11 katiekrug: Princess Bride! I don't watch a lot of movies, but that one is so very quote-worthy :) Sorry, don't mind my fangirl gushing...

One of my personal favorites is from Erasmus: "When I have a little money, I buy books; if I have any left, I buy food and clothing."

Charlie and his Legos! So cute.

I have three favorite quotes that came to mind, and instead of choosing one I'll give you all three:

"Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never vote for president. One hopes it is the same half." — Gore Vidal

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." — Rogers Hornsby, early 20th century professional baseball player

"Dreams will not be thwarted. Faith will be rewarded." — Bruce Springsteen, "Land of Hope and Dreams"

Hi Amber! Nifty new thread.

Amber:
"Women are made to be loved, not understood" - Oscar Wilde

Congrats on #9

Anne: Yes! I like her books so much that I've even translated a couple of them into Latin...

Jess: We do, too! Charlie even has a plush version of Mouse that is one of his loyal inner circle of 'guys,' as we call them.

Katie: You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means. Ha!
Okay, this thread could easily turn into a Princess Bride quote fest. Just wait until Morphy gets here...

casvelyn: Oh, I love both of those!

Ilana: I just love Wilde to bits - just a clever one! And you, lady, along with Suzanne, have been on my mind all day as I suffer through what must be a piddly little headache compared with what you two endure.

Mary: I know, right? One of my all-time favorite movies.
Every time I see that quote I mean to look it up in Erasmus, but have never gotten round to doing so.

Julia: Nice ones, all three! And I'm just as shocked that you referenced Bruce as I am that Linda quoted Faulkner...

Bonnie: Oh, yes! I love that one! Groucho, right?

Paul: Very nice choice, sir.

#16> Ooh, I like that one too! I wish I'd remembered it, but I'm glad you did, Bonnie. That's Groucho Marx, I think?

Boynton is very big in our house as evidenced by the number of books and the number of repetitions on my list.

As for a quote, I used to maintain a notebook of favorite poems and quotes. I haven't thought about it in years. I might have to do some digging to see if I can find it so I can properly respond to your question.

I have tons of favorites, but this is the one that comes to mind now:

Dorothy Parker, when asked to use the word "horticulture" in a sentence, replied, "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think."

Despite the mean-spiritedness, I can't help but admire her wordplay. What a woman.

#18> Well you know, if I didn't think he was a fab songwriter worth quoting I wouldn't be such a big fan, right? It's not all broad chests and tight hineys that catch my attention.

Julia: Well, since we both think it's Groucho, it must be - two brilliant lady-minds can't be wrong, can they? *snork!*

Erik: Boynton is hugely popular and for good reason, I think.
And please do dig it out - I'd love to see what you found record-worthy!

>23 rosalita: Julia: *SNORK!!* I seriously just let out a huge snort at "tight hineys"! You are awesome.

#25> I'm here all week. Don't forget to tip your wait staff. ;-)

One of the most-used quotes around our house comes from A Bug's Life:

"That's our lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's our life!"

Julia: I sure hope you're here longer than that...

Ursula: Oh, we love that movie, too! Great casting for that one.

Hmm, as an ad using the theme from the new Star Trek movie just played, I guess I'll go for one of my favourite quotes from that:

"Are you out of your Vulcan mind?!"

Micky: *snork!* That reminds me of my favorite scene from 3rd Rock from the Sun, in which someone at a costume party asks Dick, who is dressed as a pirate, "Where are your Buccaneers?" and he, looking confused, answers, "Under my Bucking hat?"

>16 brenzi:, 19, 20 The one and only: Grouch Marx:-)

Favorite fast food breakfast: Sausage biscuit

Love Jungle Book. Bare Necessities is one of my favorite Disney songs.

My dad used to take me to all the Disney movies when I was 8 - 12 years old. The Apple Dumpling Gang was one of them.

MrMorphy and I now go to Cinema Grill. It can still get loud but there are much fewer people and you get to eat a meal at a table while watching the movie. Most of the seating is at an even level with the screen so no cricks in the neck either. We go once or twice a year. The vast majority of movies we watch come as DVDs from Netflix. For the meal (usually burgers) and movie it's about $25.

Just wait until Morphy gets here...

Well, yeah, but not for the reason you think. Not because I'm going to start a The Princess Bride quote war but rather because you didn't know that I collect quotes and it will be IMPOSSIBLE for me to pick A favorite. So you are going to get a LIST of some of my favorites.

"Never give up. Never surrender." ~ Galaxy Quest (Morphy's Personal Motto)

"Whatever you can do or dream, you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." ~ Goethe

"I see skies of blue and clouds of white. The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night. And I think to myself what a wonderful world." ~ Louis Armstrong

"Man's reach must exceed his grasp; or what's a heaven for?" -Robert Browning

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Would you rather be right or be happy?" - Unknown. Got in therapy at some point.

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see." -John Burroughs

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. " — Dr. Seuss

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. " - Maya Angelou

"G'Quan wrote, There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way." The war we fight is not against powers or principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting in moments of transition to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain." - Babylon Five

"May the gods stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk." - Babylon Five

"If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again." ~ authorship disputed

Well, if she's not, *I* will!

You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line"!

Bonnie: Yes! I knew it!

Morphy: The Cinema Grill sounds great - lots like the Studio 35 in Columbus. Also, Bear/Bare Necessities is definitely one of the best Disney songs ever. Love that soundtrack. The Aristocats has some pretty great songs, too.
And thanks for all of the quotes! Galaxy Quest is a favorite here, too.

Jim: Ha! Love it. (Anybody want a peanut?)

136. (14th non-picture book read this year) Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo (this year's Newbery Medal winner, 231 pages) - 8/10
A young girl living with her inattentive-at-best mother after her parents' divorce saves a squirrel from dying after being sucked up by a vacuum cleaner, and her life and the life of the squirrel are changed and entwined from that point on, which has a great deal to do with the fact that this traumatic episode has changed the squirrel into a superhero. A flying, typing, poetry-writing, donut-loving super-hero.
It's difficult to describe what this book is about. Or at least it is for me. Or it could be the headache and the heavy eyelids talking. It's quirky and funny and touching and meaningful. It's good and I enjoyed it. But it's no One Came Home for me. *shrug*

137. If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff (Charlie book, picture book) - 9/10
In the same vein as the Mouse books, this one is a hoot. Funny turns of events and hilarious illustrations by the very talented Felicia Bond make this one - and the entire series - a winner.

What I'm reading now:
-Lady Chatterley's Lover (Banned Books list)
-Wings (series read)
-Journey to the West (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life (Presidential Challenge)
-The Amulet of Samarkand (audio book)
-The Man in the High Castle (Hugo award list)
-Enemy of God (from the TBR shelves)
-Peter Pan (bath-time book)
-The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus (off of my classics shelves)
-Deity Yoga (buddhism list)
-My Man Jeeves (year-by-year book list, 1919 (1919 is the first year, going backwards from 2013, in which I've not read a book, so I'm starting here and working back.)
-The Life and Times of Paddington Bear (from the READ ME NOW pile)
-The Iliad (everyday audio book in the car)

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

I just finished One Came Home, and I also found it preferable to Flora and Ulysses.

foggi: I know, right?! Clearly *we* need to be on that committee... Ha!

Hi Amber- Congrats on #9!! You are rolling. Yes, it was a lovely day. Let's have a few more in a row. We are not getting any snow in the near future but it will get cold again on Saturday.

Funny, I just picked up a copy of Birds of a Lesser Paradise, while in Portland. I've heard very good things and I hope to get to it soon.

Hi, Mark! I'll look forward to what you have to say about it!

Princess Bride: "Have fun storming the castle."
"Hello Nice Lady"

Socrates: "... the life which is unexamined is not worth living"

Philo of Alexandria (maybe): "Be kinder than necessary for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

Wil Wheaton: "Depression lies."

Star Trek: "You cannot speak to Spock now, he is deep in the plak tow."

Oh, FINE...

Ack! "Have fun storming the castle!"

"He's only mostly dead."

#37: It's one of my goals in life, actually. :-)

And I can't resist Princess Bride Quotes...
"Who are you?"
"No one of consequence."
"I must know."
"Get used to disappointment."

"To blave"
"Liar! Liar! He said 'true love!'"

"Love is not the dying moan of a violin, but the triumphant twang of a bed spring!" (forgot who said it and I'm on my phone)

and,

"Don't take life too seriously. No one makes it out alive anyway."

Princess Bride: "'I'll probably kill you in the morning.'"

Hi Amber, a couple of my favorite quotes are:

"Women are like tea bags, they don’t know how strong they are until they are in hot water."
Eleanor Roosevelt

"Well, it's not the men in your life that counts, it's the life in your men."
Mae West in I'm No Angel, 1933

Amber
I agree with you, One Came Home was deserving of the Newbery medal...much more so that Flora and Ulysses. However, tonight I finished Counting by 7s and in my opinion, this book tops them all. It is touching, poignant, well written with superb character development.

It is my #one book thus far this year.

>1 scaifea: That is some list of lists you are working off!

I love that the BINGO "book that scared you" category was a first aid book ;)
I came across a pile of the BINGO cards printed off at the library today- I almost cheered I was so happy to see them there. I know if I worked there they would have been there weeks ago, but. Never mind. I am tossing up whether or not to take my BINGO card to book club next week. I would probably be mocked senselessly for being a book nerd, but hey. If your own book club isn't a "safe place", then where is!?

Quote are aplenty here!

I like this one: Philo of Alexandria (maybe): "Be kinder than necessary for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
I think it has a truth to it and that if more people took note of it the world could be a kinder place.

ETA: from the last thread....no, I don't have a peanut allergy at all. I just feel like all that peanut butter in my mouth would be terribly gluggy and sticky. *ew*

Good morning Amber! One night with a sound sleep and your new thread is already on post 47 - sigh. I love the topper and Charlie playing with Lego.
I wish you a lovely day

Hi Amber, nice new thread my dear and a great photo of Charlie. I see he enjoys Lego and I love Lego and will be getting it out for Hannah in the near future. She currently plays with Duplo but as I say I will get her Daddy's Lego down for her before long.

Hope you have a lovely Wednesday my dear.

Stephanie: What a great mix of quotes!

Morphy: "Oh, what I wouldn't give for a holocaust cloak..."

foggi: Really? That's wonderful! I'd certainly vote for you! How does someone get on that committee, anyway?

Christina: *snork!* Funny!

Judy: Two very different but both very strong and smart women. Well done! I'd love to know more about Eleanor Roosevelt; I need to find a good biography of her...

Linda: And that one didn't even get an Honor medal, did it? Clearly we *need* to get foggi on that committee. Ha! I'll keep an eye out for it at the library.

Megan: The lists. I know. And you don't know the half of it: I have a manila envelope that is bursting at it's poor seams with lists just waiting for me to get to them...
And the First Aid Book - yep. I tend toward over-protectiveness with Charlie as it is, and reading that book didn't help matters. There are trauma dangers out there that I hadn't even *thought* of before! Ha!
Peanuts: Oh, okay, so no allergy, just an aversion to a gob-full. Got it. :)

Barbara: Thanks for the Pooh picture! Since we've just recently finished up the Pooh stories with Charlie, we're due for a re-watch of the two movies that we own soon...

John: Good to see you! I love the idea of you bringing out your own Legos for Hannah - the day we decided that Charlie was ready for regular Legos was a banner day for Tomm, I think, as he loves them, too. In the photo up top, Charlie is playing with his Duplos, which he still does from time to time.

On today's agenda:

Lots of errands this morning: We'll start by stopping by Charlie's school so that I can chat with the librarian about tomorrow's schedule (I asked her to write out a schedule and set of instructions as detailed as she could for me and I want look through it and get any questions I may have answered - I don't want to mess anything up!), then to the sign shop to pick up the latest Charlie 365 poster (of last year's photos), put the car through the car wash, take a package to the post office, pick up more medicine at the vet's office (just the regular monthly flea/tick/heart-worm stuff), and then spend some time at the library.
Maybe some sewing this afternoon, but maybe just hanging out with Charlie. We'll see what he's up for.
Dinner tonight will likely be leftovers, or maybe the tomato bisque (we went with Tuna Melts last night, which really hit the spot and helped my aching head, too). The gumdrops were a bit of a bust, I'm afraid. They taste really pretty good (we decided on lemon extract and yellow food coloring), but they aren't setting up like I think they should. They're pretty much the consistency of thick jello. Charlie seems to love them, though. *shrug*

Today's Calendar Book won't be making it onto my wishlist because it's already on my Favorite Books shelves: American Gods. Loved it! But, then again, there isn't a Gaiman book out there that I don't love, so my own opinion is a bit skewed. I know that opinion is pretty divided about this one. Can we have a tally? Who's read it, who's loved it, who's hated it?

Morning Amber- Looks like another very nice day. Yah! I am a big fan of American Gods too but really need to get to The Anansi Boys.

Morning, Mark! Yes! Do try to get to Anansi Boys soon!

I purchased American Gods in 2009. Looks like I better find it in one of the book stacks and read it.

Linda: Speaking of Gaiman, have you read Fortunately, the Milk? I really think you'd like that one, too.

I have yet to read American Gods. I started with Anansi Boys which did not really do it for me. I think that is why I have been hesitant to pick up American Gods even though it has been on my Wishlist forever!

Jess: American Gods is really pretty different from Anansi Boys, so don't let your lukewarmness to the latter keep you from trying the former, I'd say.

#50 -- To be on the Newbery committee, you have to be a member of the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Eight of the committee members are voted in by the membership in their yearly elections, and the other seven are appointed by the ALSC president. I'm told it helps if you have done previous committee work (I have, once) and generally been active in the organization. I think it's too late to get on the ballot this year, but maybe next year I will look into what it takes (I believe you have to get a certain number of signatures from ALSC members).

foggi: Thanks for the explanation. I'm rooting for you for next year, then!

I had a Tuna Melt for dinner last night, too!

I'd love to see a photo of one of Charlie's year posters.

"Tyrone, you know how much I love watching you work, but I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder and Guilder to frame for it; I'm swamped. "

Morphy: "If you haven't got your health, then you haven't got anything."
Tuna Melt Party! Wait, that sounds funny. Ha!
I'll work on taking a picture of one of the posters, or something...

Good morning, Amber! You and Charlie have a busy day ahead of you. How big are the Charlie 365 posters? I think that's such a cool idea!

Julia: They're pretty much normal poster size, I think: 20"x30"

NB: Change of plans with the bath time book: We tried a few pages of Peter Pan last night and, well, no. Not yet, at least. I didn't remember the language being so, well, complex? At any rate, it's too convoluted to keep the interest of my 5-year-old. So, re-shelving that one and we've decided to start Mr. Popper's Penguins tonight instead...

Well, here's a picture of the first poster, Charlie 365, Year One:



I have them as pdf files and I don't have any idea how to link those here...

Wow, how did you set it up? Did you have them in order and they put it on a screen? Did you have them in a digital document?

Morphy: I download photos from our digital camera once a week and chose one photo per day to put in a separate file for the yearly poster. I name the photos 1-365, to keep them in the proper order, and then at the end of the year, I turn the file over to Tomm, who puts them into some program he put together for me to make the poster and then saves it as a pdf file. I then put that pdf file onto a USB stick and take it to the sign shop and they download the file and print the poster for me.

That is so cool!

What a beautiful idea - you will treasure it! I'm sure you already do. They change so fast.

I love the 365 poster! What a splendid idea!

Have a great Wednesday, Amber!

Love the poster idea!

And something in No. 44 above made me want to share some of my favorite Pogo quotes (Walt Kelly was a genius at paraphrasing, and he reminds me of Faulkner):

"Don't take life so serious, son. It ain't nowhow permanent."

"We have met the enemy, and he is us."

Y'know, ol' Albert leads a life of noisy desperation."

"Thar’s only two possibilities: Thar is life out there in the universe which is smarter than we are, or we’re the most intelligent life in the universe. Either way, it’s a mighty sobering thought."

Julia, Lucy & Connie: Thanks! I can't remember where the idea came from, but I'm glad I've done it - Charlie has had at least one photo taken of him every day of his life!

When Charlie and I stopped by the sign shop today to pick up this latest poster, the receptionist said, "Wait right here, please" and then went into the back, and I could here her say, "She's here - and the little boy is with her!" And then the entire staff came out to meet Charlie - because I've had 3 years of posters printed there, he's a bit of a celebrity! Ha!

Linda: I love all of those quotes - thanks for sharing them! I especially like "a life of noisy desperation" - I know some people like that. Sigh.

When we stopped by the vet's office today to pick up more pills, they were so disappointed that we didn't bring Tuppence with us! She's such a sweetheart and has such a funny personality that she has a solid fan base there. So, time for another Tuppence photo:

*sings, "Feed the birds, Tuppence a bag..."

Lovely pic, Amber. She is adorable.

Oh oh oh another Tuppence photo! She is just the cutest little nuggin ever! I hope I get to meet her in person someday, but in the meantime you can read her my post. :-)

Morphy: She in fact gets totally confused when she hears that song. Ha!

Barbara: Thanks! You'll get no argument from me there.

Julia: Ha! Warning: she pees when she meets new people (generally not *on* the new person, though). Then she wags her tail so hard that her whole back end wiggles. It's pretty adorkable.

#78 -- Your dog and my dog have a lot in common, then. Sophie's attitude toward new people is, "You're terrifying, and I love you!"

foggi: Ha! If there is some sort of barrier between Tuppence and a 'stranger' (if she's inside and someone comes to the door, or if she's out in the yard and someone is just off of our property), she'll put up a ferocious-sounding ruckus, but as soon as the person crosses over the barrier into Tuppence's area, she's all peeing-on-the-ground-and-wagging happy.

#78> Duly noted. ;-)

So funny about the barrier issue with Tuppence. Our dog, Penny, is the same way. In fact, we had a workman who came to our apartment once - she barked fiercely at him when he was outside the door, then covered him with kisses once we let him in. While he was still working, we had let her out. When he approached the (inside of the) door, she barked at him fiercely - from the outside! She just has a problem with thresholds, apparently.

Skimming through, I think, 'Hey! Who's Mary Flora?' And then it occurs to me ...

Princess Bride:
"Mahwage...Mahwage is wot bwings us togeder tooday..."

Inigo Montoya: "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."
The Man in Black: "You seem a decent fellow. I hate to die"

And the quote to end all quotes: "As you wish ..."

"There is no robber worse than a bad book." ~ Italian proverb

"Definition of a classic: a book everyone is assumed to have read and often thinks they have." ~ Alan Bennett

"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?" ~ Henry Ward Beecher

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." ~ G.K. Chesterson

Julia: I sure hope you get to meet her someday, because that would mean that I get to meet-up with *you* again!

Ursula: Ha! Yep, sounds like Tuppence.

Marianne: *snork!* Subtlety is my speciality.
*Love* the quotes - they're all wonderful!

Okay, so it's *gorgeous* outside. 45F and sunny, and that sun feels *warm* on your face! So Charlie, Tuppence and I went out to play for a spell; there was bike-riding, frisbee-throwing, snowball throwing... Just wonderful. Here's Charlie striking a happy pose:



But. BUT. For tomorrow morning through evening? Winter Storm Warning: Ice, sleet, possibly 8-10 inches of snow. !!

What. The. What.

It's funny because it's true.

I donno about that...we're pretty happy with it in PA today too. Don't even dare to check and see what is forecast for tomorrow.

I am a true Neil Gaiman fan, love everything I've ever read by him. If it weren't for an ex-boyfriend introducing me to Terry Pratchett, I never would have found Gaiman.

Linda: I'm trying not to think too much about tomorrow. I suspect, though, that it if does take a turn for the cold and icy tonight and tomorrow, I'll pay for it with a nasty headache...

Stephanie: Me, too! I've loved everything by Gaiman that I've read. I've loved his stuff since reading The Sandman as it came out in comic book form every month (my best friend made me read the first couple of comics and I was hooked - we'd go together to the comic book shop every month for the next one!

Love the poster Amber. 40 degrees is also becoming common in Malaysia, only ours isn't fahrenheit.

Paul: Ooof, I think I'll take the 10 inches of snow. Ha!

I love the picture of Tuppence! And Charlie is very cute.

Oof! 93 messages already and the NINTH thread! Can't keep up....

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. Robert Frost

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all of the miseries of life. W. Somerset Maugham

The failure to read good books both enfeebles the vision and strengthens our most fatal tendency--the belief that the here and now is all there is. Allan Bloom

Categories, if you'll excuse a brief digression, are a useful way to get a handle on things you don't understand, as long as you don't get too attached to them and forget that things like to pop out of one category and into another, and that sometimes the whole category turns itself inside out and becomes something different. Steven Brust, Issola

People do get hypnotized by the hard choices and stop looking for alternatives. The will to be stupid is a powerful force...but there are always alternatives. Lois McMaster Bujold, Brothers in Arms

I suspect it may be like the difference between a drinker and an alcoholic; the one merely reads books, the other needs books to make it through the day. Gail Carriger

I have a bunch more, but these are the more book-related ones!

Love the pictures of Charlie and of Tuppence!

Looks like you had a gorgeous day over there in Wisconsin, Amber. But lordy, you do have a lot of snow. Charlies' pose makes me think of a matador.

I think you know that I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan and that I loved American Gods when I read it.

I like the cold. I'm going to miss it.

So many quotations to choose from.

Power is poison.
—Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams

If men were angels, no government would be necessary
—James Madison, The Federalist

Humankind can not bear very much reality.
—T. S. Eliot, "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets

He asked me about my family. I told him about my grandma on my mom's side who lived with us. She was filled with nobility and goodness, told me once that happiness isn't on the road to anything. That happiness is the road. Had also instructed me to be kind, because everyone you'll ever meet is fighting a hard battle.
—Bob Dylan, Chronicles: Volume One

>94 ronincats: I love all of those!!

Connie: Thanks!

Roni: Oh, those are all good - thanks for those!

Judy: We did! And I'm feeling that wonderful kind of I've-been-outside-in-the-air kind of tired. *contented sigh*
He does look a bit like a matador, doesn't he? Ha!
And yes! I remember you liking AG - it's part of the reason I like you so much. Ha!

barney67: I like the cold, too, really. I much prefer winter to summer (I can't stand being hot), but enough is enough. The past two days has seen the first time we've been above freezing since late November, and that's just nuts.
Love the Eliot quote, and Eliot in general.

Christina: I know, right? I'm so glad I asked this particular question!

138. The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive by Joanna Cole (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
The Friz and her students take a field trip (of course they do) to an apiary and along the way they turn into bees themselves (of course they do) and tour a hive.
Charlie loves the Magic School Bus episodes that we've found on Netflix, so he was excited to find this one on the library shelves. It was okay, but not great.

139. The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
A companion to The Quiet Book, which wasn't quite as good as the first.

140. Lizette's Green Sock by Catharina Valckx (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
Lizette finds a lone green sock while out walking, loves it and decides to wear it. She then gets taunted by the neighborhood bullies while looking for the other half of the pair, decides, from advice given by her friend, to wear it as a hat, and ends up, in the end, with a pair of hats.
A strange little book, but a cute one. We all enjoyed it.

The small percentage of dogs that bite people is monumental proof that the dog is the most benign, forgiving creature on earth.
—W. R. Koehler

Lord Byron wrote a poem after the death of his dog Boatswain, a Newfoundland. Written on the dog's tomb at Byron's estate, next to his own, it is part of a poem called "Epitaph to a Dog" or sometimes called "Inscription on the Monument to a Newfoundland Dog." The tomb is bigger than Byron's.

Near this Spot
Are deposited the Remains of one
Who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the virtues of Man without his Vices.
—Byron, Epitaph to a Dog

barney67: I'd read the Byron before but had forgotten about it - many thanks for the reminder, as it's a lovely poem. Do you have any dogs?

On today's agenda:
Well, the temperature seems to have decided to stay relatively warm and we're currently getting rain instead of ice or snow, so I suspect that school will be not be delayed or canceled. Which means it's my day to be the substitute librarian! I'm more nervous than I thought, and I can't imagine why, really. I have no hesitation to be in front of a class - I've done that for years. And I'm very excited about reading to the kids. I think it's the thought of an entire workday of, well, work (ha!) and the little what ifs (what if I can't remember how to log onto the system and therefore no one will be able to check out books, what if a student doesn't remember where he goes next and I won't be able to tell him,...). So, anyway, that's my day today. Wish me luck!
Also, Charlie is very excited that his mom is going to be "the library checkout lady" today. Thank goodness he hasn't hit the oh-my-gosh-she's-so-embarrassing phase!
No idea what dinner will be, as I'm certain to be completely knackered by then...

The calendar book of the day: Nightwoods by Charles Frazier. Apparently, it's about "an Appalachian woman protecting two motherless children from their murderous father." I haven't even read Cold Mountain yet, but I know there are a lot of Frazier fans out there. Thoughts?

Morning Amber- It looks like we are going to have a very wet day. The good news is, we should get rid of some of this dreaded snow.
I have only read Cold Mountain but I was interested in this one as well. Have a good day.

Morning, Mark! Yes, I'd love to see the end of all of this snow - here's hoping the temperature doesn't decide suddenly to drop...

I'm sure you'll do a great job today. Have fun!

Hi Amber! I hope you enjoy your Librarian for a Day experience! I'm sure you'll do a great job.

foggi: Thanks! I'm excited.

Just found out that we've got a 2-hour delay for school this morning. I suspect that they're worried about the temperature dropping a smidge and the rain turning to ice...

Carrie: Thanks!

Hi Amber.
I've read Cold Mountain and Thirteen Moons - liked them both. Had forgotten about Nightwoods and will have to try that one out, too.
I, too, prefer the cold weather, but am done with it for this year.
Hope you have a good day as substitute library lady.

Charlotte: I've had Cold Mountain on my TBR list for a good while - one of the many that I need to get to soon...

Amber, you are going to be a GREAT librarian today, and all the kids are going to love you! It's so great that Charlie is excited for you to be the check-out lady. I'll look forward to hearing all about it when you get home tonight.

And double yay for rain instead of snow! That's what we are getting, too, and it's wonderful.

Amber, I'm sure you'll do it absolutely great today. :-D

Eagerly awaiting the librarian update!

She looked at the three tall firemen in their shining helmets, standing among the smoke and cinders and dissolving snowballs, and she said, "Would you like anything to read?" ~ Dylan Thomas, A Child's Christmas in Wales

My husband met me downtown for lunch today, and at a table across from us sat a young man with a T-shirt that proclaimed "I READ BOOKS".

Julia & Barbara: Thanks!

Marianne: Love that quote, love the book and love the movie!

Linda: Ha! Good for him!

Whelp, I survived 4 half-hour story times today, with kindergarten and 1st grade classes, plus helping the 4K students return and check out new books, plus re-shelving 7 classes worth of returned books. Oh good lordy lou, am I tired! But it was a hoot and a half. Some rowdy kids here and there, but nothing horrible.

And awaiting me when we returned home were a couple of packages full of books! WooHoo!

(Yep, I'm hooked with those Penguin Drop Caps editions - I'm allowing myself one per month...)

Amber, it sounds like you had a fabulous day. Enjoy your evening with some reading :-D

Congrats on being a successful librarian! That does sound like it was a full day.

I'd never heard of the Drop Cap editions but I'll definitely be checking them out. I treated myself to a Denise Mina book from Abe Books myself today.

Sounds like a good day, and a perfect illustration of why ONE child at a time is all I was ever comfortable with!

Lovely edition of P&P.

So glad you hear your librarian gig went well today!! I see more of those in your future ...

So glad it went well, but we all knew you would do a great job. I'm with Linda — I never want to be responsible for more kids than I have hands! Nice book haul, too. So glad you got another of the Drop Caps editions — didn't you snag your first one at our meetup at Prairie Lights?

Barbara: Thanks! I think I have just enough energy to plop down in a chair and open a book...

Christina: Careful - the Drop Caps are addictive, but at least there will only be 26 of them. Ha!

Linda: Yes. And I'm spoiled with an extremely good-natured kid, so I'm not used to the slightly-out-of-control ones.

Laura: Well, maybe, but I need about 6 months to recover first, I think...

Julia: Thanks! And, yes, it *was* at the meet-up! I blame you. Ha!

Okay, pizza ordered for dinner, and Tomm's home early and has his usual Charlie shadow, so I'm off with a book to the rocking chair until dinner arrives. Life is pretty wonderful.

Amber, so glad your day as librarian went well. You deserve a rest with a good book. :-)

Well done, Amber!

Glad your day went well, Amber. That Drop Caps edition of P&P is gorgeous. My Janeite self may have to acquire just that one. :)

I've succumbed. I ordered that edition of P&P today. And now that I have one, I must have them ALL!!!

Stephanie: Thanks! I had a good 20 minutes of reading pre-pizza, and now I'm getting ready to head back to the rocking chair for more!

Darryl: Thanks!

Micky: Just the one? Ha! Best of luck with that.

Katie: Yep. That sounds like perfect logic to me!

Barney

Those gorgeous books look like the perfect reward for a librarian, Amber.

#130> Oh, now that's a cute dog!

barney67: Is that a Westie? He's so handsome.

Judy: Thanks - I thought it was a perfect thing to come home to today, too.

Julia: I agree - so glad he shared the photo!

>129 scaifea: Although I'm an avid reader I don't usually buy more than about a dozen books a year. So just getting one Drop Caps edition should be pretty easy.

Micky: I'm sure that Tomm wishes my purchasing habits were more like yours! Especially with a series like the Drop Caps, I feel compelled to complete the set.

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping this morning. Laundry. Perhaps some sewing room time (I did manage to finish making a hat a couple of days ago - yay! Photos soon.) Tomm's working from home today, so once his call-in meetings are over this afternoon, I may head down to Dubuque to the fabric shop for a bit.
Dinner tonight will likely be the Tomato Bisque that didn't get made earlier, and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Today's Calendar Book: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, about an 18-century man who has "a bizarrely, powerfully acute sense of smell...that will ultimately drive him mad and lead him to do some very bad things." Huh. Sounds, uh, weird. Anyone read this one?

Read Perfume many years ago and found the premise to be quite intriguing. It has an unsympathetic protagonist, which puts off some people. I personally don't care if I 'like' the main character if the story is good and I'm drawn in. I enjoyed it. For some reason, I was thinking about it a couple days ago. Looking forward to your thoughts.

Had a weird experience last night, described on my thread, involving a young child. Hope over with your thoughts - not having children myself, perhaps I'm not being understanding enough.

Marianne: Ha! I just posted over on your thread!
And if you say it's good, I may just have to stick Perfume on the wishlist...

Happy Friday, Amber! Looks like we are moving in the wrong direction. The cold returns for the next week. What??
It looks like I wrote that calender. LOL. I did read Perfume several years ago. It's a good creepy book.

Morning, Mark! I know, right?! So, so tired of the cold.
Another vote for Perfume, eh? That clinches it - wishlisted!

The only thing I know about Perfume is that Alan Rickman was in the movie version -- which I didn't watch, because it didn't sound like my kind of thing.

Good morning, Amber! How does it feel not to have to go to work today? :-)

I've never even heard of Perfume but it sounds intriguing. You can always count on LTers to know about books!

foggi: Alan Rickman, eh? *scurries off to Netflix*

Julia: Morning! It feels good. I loved reading to the kids yesterday, but I also love my love of leisure. Ha!

Amber, I've read Perfume the first edition in German (must be something around 1985). I remember that I loved it very much.

Barbara: Another yea vote - excellent!

I have a copy of Perfume around here somewhere, but I haven't read it yet...

Wow! I slobbered all over my iPad when I saw your Penguin drop cap. So beautiful. Want. One. Badly.

Barney-dog is a-dorable. Would like one like him, too. (Don't tell Willie.)

Katie: If you find it and read it, let me know what you think!

Charlotte: I know, right?! Those editions are gorgeous.
Westies are such a neat breed of dog - they've got such cool personalities. I'd love to have one someday, too. And a wire-haired terrier, and a rough-haired jack russel, and a golden retriever, and a wolf hound. And we'll always have a border collie, too. If Tomm and I can ever afford a home with a couple of acres again, we'll be a multi-dog household, I'm certain.

#148 -- I remember looking through dog books, as a kid, and making lists of all of the different types of dogs I would like to have when I grew up. Your list reminded me of that. :-)

foggi: Which breeds were on your list?

#150: Most of them, as I recall! :-) I've always been partial to large breeds, so St. Bernard, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Old English Sheepdog . . . and I grew up with English Springer Spaniels, so those were on there as well, and a variety of others (most of the spaniels and probably about half of the terriers). I'd still love to get a really big dog, perhaps a Great Dane, but at the moment neither my living arrangements nor my budget would support it!

Oh! I forgot about Irish Setters! I had a german shepherd as a kid and loved that dog, too. Captain was his name.

I think my love of Great Danes came from the Pinkerton books by Steven Kellogg -- have you and Charlie read those yet?

foggi: Nope, we haven't, but I'll be stopping by the library this afternoon and I'll have a look... Thanks for the recommendation!

A Rose for Pinkerton is my favorite. I even named my childhood cat Rose after the one in the book, despite the fact that she looked nothing like the book character.

We had a beagle when I was a kid, and I've always been partial to them since, even though they do tend to be rather vocal. :)

foggi: I love that story.

Julia: My brother has beagles and I love them, but don't really want my own because of their vocality. They are, though, The Most Adorable puppies. I mean, seriously.

Yummy book parcel!

And, way up there.....I love your daily pic poster of Charlie! That is a list thing too, right!? Showcasing your organisational skills at the least.
*impressed*
I am not sure I would have the patience. (proven by the fact that I took a series of alphabet photos intending to make a book out of them, but still have the prints....not digital...and no book).

happy-weekend *smooch*

>148 scaifea: - I'm owned by a rough coated Jack Russell. I'd post a picture of him, but don't know how to do that magic. I have a couple of pictures in my gallery if anyone is interested.

#160> I went and peeked. He's adorable!

I am an entire thread behind?! An entire thread?! How did this happen? YIKES! Back in a bit after I catch up.

>161 rosalita: - Thanks! He's a sweetheart too. I'm pretty proud of him.

I'm hitting some of the big threads with hopes of catching a bunch of people. Apparently Morphy is having a very bad day. If you get a chance to stop by her thread and leave some encouragement, that would be awesome!

Yes, Barney is a West Highland Terrier. Shocking that I have only a couple pictures of him, and those aren't very good. I don't have a camera. I've never owned a camera.

Too bad, because whenever people see him they think he is the cutest dog in the world. He is. He's so cute it breaks my heart. He's so cute it's painful. He spoiled me. I can't even look at other dogs. Oh, they're cute. Lots of good, great dogs out there like Tuppence, the smartest of all breed. But there's only one Barney. At his best, somewhat shaggy and relatively clean, he really is professional photography material. I have often thought of taking a picture of him and sending it magazines that have contests, or who want dog pics, and so on. But then I'd have to borrow someone's camera.

Remember folks, although he looks like a stuffed animal, he is all terrier. If you want an old-fashioned American dog who will play fetch, obey you, and come when you call him, avoid terriers. Barney has a mind of his own. Incredibly smart. Likes to push boundaries. Likes to throw you a curve now and then. To some degree you have to accept terriers on their terms.

But among other good qualities, he is extremely sensitive and lovable. Barney is my best friend. I love him and I don't know what I would do without him.

Here's fellow Italian Al Pacino. Wonder what it says about us that we own the same breeed.

I gave Perfume a solid 7 out of 10 stars. It might have gotten an 8 if I didn't feel so sick afterward.

My micro-review: It is hard for me to rate a book highly when all the characters in the tale are "bad," but this came close. The story, the look into the manufacture of perfume in the 1700s, and the glimpse into the mind of a monster was fascinating. The unpleasant feeling in my gut when I finished the book brought it down a notch. A dark, twisted and horrific tale.

Hi Amber, your thread is a very busy one! *waves*

Riva: Oh my, what cutie you've got!

Julia: Me, too! Isn't he lovely?

Mamie: Okay, see you soon! :)

Jim: Thanks for spreading the news. Nothing like this group for circling the wagons, as Richard says.

barney67: First, I have to say that I of course saw the picture first and thought, "Oh dear lord, barney67 is Pacino?! What!?" Clearly I'm a bit slow in the noggin today. Ha!
As to terrier personality, my brother had Scottish Terriers, which are the same, in that they are really intelligent and strong-willed. The whole family loved them, though.
I'm touched by how much you clearly love Barney. He's a lucky creature to have you, I'd say.

Morphy: I saw from your thread that you're back on LT - yay!
And, whoa - I guess I didn't realize how dark the book would be...second thoughts...this is a pickle!
I just came home from a quick trip down to Dubuque this afternoon and had 25 minutes both ways completely devoted to good thoughts for you and the Mr.
Hoping, hoping that good news is on your way, friend.

Hi, Connie! Good to see you!

This came in today's mail:



I suspect that I don't need to mention to this crowd how excited this particular purchase makes me...

#149I remember looking through dog books, as a kid, and making lists of all of the different types of dogs I would like to have when I grew up

I did that too, but my tastes in dogs has really changed.
I wanted a Cavalier King Charles Spaniels above anything, or failing that an Italian greyhound. Now I've got a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and definitely tend towards terriers. I'd have a Welsh terrier if we didn't have a staffie.

Stopping by to see how "Librarian for the Day" went - sounds like it was a great day!

Oooooohhhhh...... I went a googled Penguin Drop Cap and fell in love with those covers. Must resist tempation, I must. ;-)

Westies are wonderful dogs with such great personalities. We encountered one one day walking in a off-leash walkway/park and the dog decided it wanted to join us on our walk and not follow its owner... the dog had decided the owner wanted to go the wrong way and there was nothing the owner could do or say to change the dogs mind. It was comical to witness!

#170> Oooh, shiny! I reckon you'll be in your bunk this evening, Amber?

Rhian: Oh, yes, I love the Welsh Terriers, too. All terriers, really. Oh, heck, all dogs, to be honest.

Lori: It was a great day! And, yes, I know that the temptation is pretty strong with those Penguins.
And what a great story about the Westie! Ha!

Julia: *snork!* You know me so well. Will it be awkward that Tomm will be in the bunk, too?

If you are not into dark, disturbing and violent books, Perfume is NOT for you, no matter how well it is written.

Morphy: Okay then. I think I may need to take it back off the wishlist. I used to be able to handle that stuff, but the older I get, the less I can take. Thanks for the warning.

Good idea. Perfume was the first book in a long time that made me feel physically ill after reading it.

I have been collecting pictures of authors, and some others, with their dogs. It would make a great book. But some of the pictures are not the greatest quality. And I would have to get permission to print every picture.

I'm reluctant even to post pictures on LT because I don't want to break any state or federal copyright laws. There are always people out there trying to make a buck by suing an innocent Midwesterner like me.

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
His reserve, a quiet defense
Riding out the days events
The river…

Morphy: Ooof. Yep, I don't need that, I think. Ha!

barney67: I understand your reluctance to reproduce the photos, but I love the idea of your collection.
And you know *my* kind of poetry, sir. Love those three Canadians, I do. Mean, mean pride.

Hi Amber

Stopping by to wave hello. As always, I love the Charlie photos. The collage of photos is a wonderful idea.

I hope your weekend is a good one. At least rain is predicted instead of snow. The highlight of my day was going to the library to collect Locomotive which finally came through because I was on a long waiting list.

Have a Happy Weekend and lots of reading, Amber.

Morning Amber- I hope you have a perfect weekend planned, with plenty of R & R in the mix.

Connie & Mark: Thanks! It's off to a pretty good start, since I ever slept in this morning (and I never do that)!

On today's agenda:
Last weekend's canceled birthday party is rescheduled for today, so we'll be heading to the bowling alley later for that. Otherwise, I'm hoping to catch up on threads, read and relax a bit. Tomm leaves tomorrow for another business trip and won't be back until Thursday, so lots of hanging out/family time today.

The Book Calendar quote for the weekend is from The Catcher in the Rye, which I *still* haven't got round to yet:
"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."

Hi Amber, thanks for sending your blue skies and 40ish temps to my neck of the woods. Like breaking free of a cocoon we feel alive again, part of the world again. But, come Wednesday, we'll be back to 13f. Once again, time to weave a cocoon! glad you, Charlie and Tuppence took advantage of the nice weather.
Stalled on The Iliad 'cause I was too optimistic and put too many books on my Feb. reading mantel. But! good news is I got the Great Courses dvd back from the library and I'm watching all those and taking notes before they snitch it away from me again.
Have a great weekend!

141. See the Shapes by Heather Hammonds (Charlie's school book, first reader book) - 8/10
Another book sent home by Charlie's teacher for him to read to us. I *love* to hear him read to us!

142. (15th non-picture book read) Wings by Terry Pratchett (Bromeliad series, 154 pages) - 9/10
I don't know how to give a plot blurb here without spoiling something or other, so I won't try. It's a very good ending to the trilogy, which I enjoyed very much. I'm fast becoming a Pratchett fan, for his wit, his excellent characterization and his clever and touching way of looking at the world. Definitely recommend this series for a fun, easy and relaxing read.

143. Thy Friend, Obadiah by Brinton Turkle (Caldecott Honor book, picture book) - 9/10
A young boy in colonial(ish?) Nantucket is befriended, reluctantly, by a seagull. He tries to avoid the bird until one day, the bird isn't there and Obadiah realizes that he misses him...
Oh, what a wonderful little book! A great story, well told, and I fell right in love the the illustrations. This one is definitely going on next month's Amazon order for Charlie's shelves. Linda (Whisper), if you're reading this, I highly recommend this one for you - you'll love it, if you haven't read it already!

144. Goggles! by Ezra Jack Keats (Caldecott Honor book, picture book) - 8/10
Two boys find a treasure in the trash heap - a pair of motorcycle goggles - and spend an afternoon evading a group of older boys who also want their treasure.
Keats has a way of capturing the feel of an afternoon in childhood like no other, I think. A lovely little story.

145. Moja Means One by Muriel Feelings (Caldecott Honor book, picture book) - 8/10
A counting-in-swahili book.
Lovely illustrations, but I think the number vocabulary could have been tied to the other information she gives a bit better.

146. The Angry Moon by William Sleator (Caldecott Honor book, picture book) - 8/10
A re-telling of a Native American folktale. So you know that I loved it, as I'm nuts over anything involving folktales. Plus, the illustrations are excellent, and not surprisingly so - they're by Blair Lent! A word of caution, though - some of Lent's pictures are a little unfriendly-looking (the angry moon is *really* angry-looking!), so I wouldn't exactly recommend this one for tiny wee ones...

147. The Man in the Moon by William Joyce (Guardians of Childhood series, picture book) - 9/10
Gives the back-story for How the Man in the Moon because, well, the Man in the Moon.
Not too long ago we watched "Rise of the Guardians" with Charlie and it immediately because a favorite here at Scaife Manor. I only realized afterwards that it was based on the series by Joyce, so the natural next step was to seek out the books! This is the first I've read and I loved it! Onto the Amazon order list it goes!

148. Elephant's Story by Tracey Campbell Pearson (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
A little girl loses her favorite book, which is found by an elephant, who accidentally sucks up all the words into his trunk.
Meh. Neat idea, but not very well played out. S'okay but not great.

Good morning, Amber! I'm happy for Charlie that he is getting to go to the birthday party after all. I've read The Catcher in the Rye and wasn't moved, but to each his own. I'm glad I read it just so I know what it's about but that's about it.

Lynda: I'm glad you were able to enjoy the nice weather, too, while it lasted. I'm really not looking forward to this coming week, I can tell you. Sheesh.
Let me know if you have any other questions about Homer when you get back to it!

Julia: That's why I want to read it eventually, too - just to know what it's about since it's so seminal, it seems. I'm not really expecting to love it. Ha!

Hi Amber, you and Charlie have been reading a lot! Good Job.

Connie: Ha! Thanks!

Have a fun party today! How can I add an encomium to your Etsy? I can't find a way to do this.

Richard: I think you can only do so if you've purchased from the shop, but you "liking" my shop page on Facebook is wonderful - thanks! If you really wanted to, you could post a comment there...

Aha! What a wonderful idea! *smooch* I will attend to it today.

Richard: Aw, thanks so much! Such a sweetheart, you are.

*waves* Peeks in :P

Amber, I wrote my college thesis on Salinger. Long ago. When I tried to be a literary intellectual.

The Catcher in the Rye seems to be one of those books that people love or hate. Students read it in high school, though I didn't, but I'm not sure it is a book for teenagers. My own feeling is that it has been much misunderstood. Readers tend to see their own biases and interests in it, which is sometimes said of great works.

Last month on American Masters, PBS showed a documentary about him based on the book Salinger by Shane Salerno and David Shields. The same two guys did the movie as the book. The book is more a collection of interviews, a companion to the documentary, rather than a biography. That irked a lot of people. Terrible reviews. Not me. I loved both the book and the movie.

For me Salinger is like an old friend. Thinking about him again after all these years. Remebering the joy of writing my college thesis, with that luxurious, obsessive interest in a subject of study, when I thought intellect was the most important thing in the world. I have made my peace with Salinger. There was much sadness in his life. I feel bad for him. I wish there had been more happiness.

Tamara: Hi!

barney67: I'm of the Reader Response way of thinking, so I believe that it is, in fact, impossible to read *anything* without in some way or another seeing one's own biases and interests in it, but I do also think that this is more intense with some books than others.
I can't understand high school literature curricular choices. Honestly. Okay, fine, so some of these works are seen as seminal to a genre or school of thought, but that does not mean that high school students have had enough experience, well, *living* to even begin to understand and appreciate those works. I did a great deal of work with Cicero for my dissertation and my professional research and I taught him in my college courses whenever I got the chance because I'm crazy about him and his work, but I do not agree with high school Latin curricula which assign him at that level. Yes, he's extremely important within the field, and when we talk about classical Latin we're really talking about Ciceronian Latin - that's how influential the man was on the language - but no student of Latin can understand and appreciate him until he/she has had more Latin under his/her proverbial belt than they could ever hope to have read in high school. *shrug*
You've made me push Salinger up on the mental list, with your praise and your thoughtful words about him. When I do get round to reading some of his work, would you be willing to chat about him?

The party was a huge (crazy) success - 10 (!!) 5-year-olds in a bowling alley. And they turned off the lights and turned on the disco lights. Some of you may recall what a fan of dancing Charlie is, so you'll know just how excited he was about it:

I'm glad Charlie has enjoyed himself! Woohooh for Charlie!

Thanks, Connie - he really did!

Okay here's the hat that I finished the other day. It's a size 2T and made of fabrics from a men's sports coat (outside) and shirt (lining):

WOWOWOWOWOWOW.

You must be a real wizard with a sewing machine

Such a cute hat! You are a fine needlewoman, Amber!

My senior-year English teacher, who nearly sank my application to Kenyon, spent our last year of high school on existentialism. She made us read Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus at the very time in our lives when we should have been hopeful and optimistic about our futures. The last thing any teenager needs to hear is that life is meaningless and that work is futile.

#183 Amber,
Oof, I just re-read The Catcher in the Rye last year and didn't like it at all. One of the faculty members in the clinical psychology program I worked for used it in his class. Students were to read it and then develop a diagnosis and treatment based on it. Interesting concept I thought.

That's a fabulous hat, Amber. Nice work. Glad Disco Charlie had such a great time at the party!

Connie & Julia: Thanks!

Barney67: While I don't agree with you completely on taking fiction out of schools altogether, I do agree that some of the assigned stuff is, as I said, too difficult for them and leads to them hate what they likely would not, if they were to encounter it at a better time in their lives.
I don't know if I'm sorry for you about your wholly non-fiction lifestyle or no. I would certainly miss it in my life, but there is an absolute wealth of non-fiction in this world and I would never lack for reading material.

Stephanie: Oh, that *is* an interesting idea!

Thanks, Laura!

Amber, Catcher in the Rye is a must read imo, thats all I would say on this topic, given that it seem to be eliciting strong reactions on your thread.

#204 One can always debate the use of fiction in school curriculum, compared to, say math or science, though I have been a Math and Science guy, I guess I would be in the pro-literature camp.

This the wrong place to say it, but…I feel that most fiction and literature consists of unhappy books written by unhappy people for other unhappy people. I grew tired of make-believe.

I must say I strongly object to the sentiment implied in that sentence - life isn't all happy either, atleast not for me, nor I guess for many people in the world, or here in LT. I wouldn't begrudge a book if it told me that.

Piyush: I think that any book that draws out strong reactions of various kinds is worth something.

Piyush & barney67: I think the part of that statement that makes me a bit sad is the growing tired of make-believe part. I can't imagine ever growing tired of it. But, I have a great respect for your opinions, barney67, and so I respect your decision to leave fiction behind and will be happy that you're happy about it.

Love the hat!

Thanks, Pat!

What a great hat!

..... but going back to Charlie and the birthday party: BOWLING! I love bowling and have no where to play it since they shut down all of the bowling alleys in town over ten years ago. I am no good at the game but it just so much fun to try and send a ball down a long wooden alley in the hopes that it will knock down pins at the other end, and not go in the gutter!

>204 barney67: The last thing any teenager needs to hear is that life is meaningless and that work is futile. I would agree with that, and the curriculum in your high school English classes may have been misguided (although from what I know of high school education in the U.S., it almost certainly wasn't the teacher's fault). But to dismiss all of fiction because your experience with it at one point in your life was dismal is quite unfair. Of course, there may be more to it than that, but if your days of discussing literature are over, then I guess we are not to know?

>213 lkernagh: I love bowling too...and I do it every week, as a league bowler. We've lost a lot of bowling alleys in this area, and in fact our league has had to move to a new location twice in the last 12 years or so, as the alleys closed. It's still a pretty popular activity around here, though, and I hope the community can continue to support those alleys that do remain open. There's nothing like a birthday party at the bowling alley---the kids always seem to love it.

Lori & Linda: Thanks! And, yes, bowling is a hoot. The bowling alley here is great - the people who own/run it are so friendly, and they are part of a national program that sends coupons out every week in the summer for free bowling passes for kids, and all you need to do is sign up for it. So last summer we went several times for a very small price and Charlie loves it. I'm rubbish at it, but it's fun. And they have a great grill - best hamburgers in town.

149. One-Dog Sleigh by Mary Casanova (public library book, picture book) - 8/10
A girl goes out for a sleigh ride with her dog and along the way all sorts of animals want to hop on, too. It becomes a bit crowded, stuck in the snow, and then once they're up a steep hill and whooshing down the other side, there's a bump and a crash and animals flying everywhere.
Cute and silly in all the right places. A fun little read, which produced some Charlie giggles along the way.

150. Duck at the Door by Jackie Urbanovic (public library book, picture book) - 9/10
A house full of dogs, cats and birds of various types - and one human, Irene - hear a knock on the door one cold winter night and find a poor little duck at the door. He quickly makes himself at home, and a bit of a nuisance, but once spring comes and he is reunited with his flock, they all begin to miss him...
Hilarious and adorable and hilariously drawn. Loved it, as did the Scaife Men. Certainly recommended.

I'm with Morphy on Perfume, a great but definitely creepy read. I read Catcher in the Rye a few years ago and really liked it. I find it useful to have read the book as so many other novels reference either the book or the main character and it helps to know where they are going.

Bowling parties are great fun.

Amber, congrats on your gorgeous hat. It's a fantastic piece. I love it.
I wish you a wonderful Sunday

Kerry: I agree that some books I want to read not necessarily because I think I'll love them, but just because I want to be a more informed reader in general, since it is so well-referenced elsewhere.

Thanks, Barbara!

On today's agenda: Tomm leaves for his business trip this morning and won't be back until Thursday. So it'll be just Charlie and I for a few days again. A little cleaning, a little baking maybe, reading, sewing...

Have a Happy sunday, Amber!

Thanks, Connie!

#217 & #219 I have occasionally given in, to reading well referenced and often mentioned works too, there wouldn't have been any other reason for me to read those horrid Ayn Rand books.

Piyush: Ha! I've got a Joyce Carol Oates book coming up on one of my lists, and the *only* reason I would *ever* touch one of her books is to satisfy a list. Ugh.

Morning Amber- Sounds like you had a great bowling night. Dancing Charlie, is always a wonder to behold.
And yes, get to Catcher in the rye. If it's not your cuppa then you don't have to worry about it again.

That bad, huh? I haven't read any of her works so can't really comment on the quality of her writings, but there are writers on lists, that I want nothing to do with, the recent example of Toni Morrison comes to my mind.

Good morning, Amber! Cold but sunny here this morning. More snow predicted tomorrow. Lather, rinse, repeat. I hope Tomm gets off safely and that you and Charlie have a lovely day!

Mark: Ha! Dancing Charlie is a wonder indeed; when the other boys deteriorated into wrestling with each other, Charlie just moved over to the side and kept on dancing. Ha!

Piyush: Yep, I've read a couple of Morrison's books and while I don't despise them, I also don't see what the big deal is about her. *shrug*

Julia: What?! *scurried off to weather.com*
...
Well, only 30% chance of moderate flurries here on Tuesday. So here's hoping we don't get any.
Tomm has flown the coop already this morning. At least this time he's not off to some tropical climate - Albany. Ha!

We're supposed to get about an inch, they say. I know it's not much but I don't want to see ANY!

Julia: Me, either!

Snow is predicted here Tues-Wed, but not a heavy one. Snow showers. Like Julia, I don't want to see any at this point because it'll melt and refreeze. I detest black ice!

Richard: Agreed. As much as I shudder at the idea of more snow, ice is way, *way* worse.

>219 scaifea: I do that too. And sometimes I'll even re-read something that didn't impress me years ago, to see if my opinion has changed. I sort of feel I ought to do that with Catcher in the Rye, but if it was ever going to speak to me, I think it would have been at the time I first read it, so I'll probably just let that go. Now, as for Joyce Carol Oates, she writes many different sorts of books. Most of them don't appeal to me at all, but once in a while she does strike a chord with me, so I read reviews carefully, and pick one from time to time.

Linda: Well, you're willing to take an extra step, then - once I've read something, I'm rarely interested in reading it again, even if I liked it. There are a few exceptions, though.

Well the discussions have me looking forward to the month when we get to read Toni Morrison. Sounds like I'd sooner go bowling.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. xx

Paul: Ha! Don't let me sway you - I think I'm in the minority with my opinion on Morrison. But bowling *is* pretty fun...

Hi Amber, hope you are having a lovely Sunday.

Thanks, John! So far, so good, beyond seeing off the husband for nearly a week.
German Butter Pound Cake is out of the oven and smelling *very* good...

The cake sounds good and trying to *sniff* it from here. Where is Tomm going to be away for the week.

One-dog sleigh sounds fun, but stuck in the snow... Oh, that's a little too realistic in the US midwest right now. I tried to go to work on Friday and got stuck in the driveway so bad that I had to call my brother that evening to push my car while I coaxed it back into the garage. And like I brother, he scolded me soundly for even attempting to go to work. Hope the snowstorm that hit MN lost its fury by the time it got to Wisconsin.

Cassanova is a "local" author here, and I've read her adventure stories for middle grade kids. They're fun, but a bit darker than One-dog sleigh. I definitely keep my eye open for her books.

John: He's in Albany, New York, with a quick side-trip to Rochester, NY - until Thursday.

Katie: Ha! I know, right?! I didn't know that Cassanova was a MN author - I'll have to look for more of her stuff...

Paul, I think I remember seeing another dynamite in your TBR for this year, which I think it is my duty to warn you about: The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek. I tried, really did, reading one of her other work, Lust, and it wasn't pretty. One thing that was clear to me was her very obvious and very real hatred of men. She has an amazing command over language, and she uses it to provide the unfortunate male reader with a full castration experience, page after page.

Obviously it made me curious and tried to find more about her views in general, and I found this little gem, in one of her interviews. Please note that I am not criticising her holding the opinions she does, but her way of exerting / exercising them over an entire nation, no less!

"She had a difficult childhood, both her parents were ill, and for sometime now she has been critical of Austrian society.

– The government has once again made the right socially acceptable. That was when I finally parted ways with Austria. I forbade them to perform my plays in the state theaters, and I took all of them back because it does not give anything."

Sounds hypocritical, no? I would liked to see her "forbid" something in an extreme leftist nation, one would think intellectual ownership is a rightist, capitalist notion.

Darn! Just realised I ended up spamming Amber's thread, Amber please let me know if I should remove my rant from your page and transfer it elsewhere, Paul's page, mine or the recycle bin.

Piyush: Ha! I admit that I was a bit confused at first, but I wouldn't call it spamming! I'm made a mental note to stay clear of that particular author...

Just waving!

Saw the Salinger PBS documentary which was fabulous. Actually made me consider reading Catcher in the Rye -- one of those books I've faked reading for years.

Hi, Connie!

Marianne: Huh. A documentary, eh? I wonder if it's on Netflix...?

I think you can download directly from the PBS site.

Marianne: Oh, great - thanks!

New thread! Please do join me:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/170729

Piyush - The Piano Teacher is on the shelves and since she did win the Nobel I will read it sometime though I doubt whether it will be this year. Have seen a number of negative reviews of her book and will go into it expecting to be unthrilled. Thanks for the warning!