Joe's Book Cafe 7

Art by Romare Bearden

Welcome back to the cafe!

Favorites from 2013

Top 5

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

Second Five

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

Favorite Graphic Novel: The Nao of Brown

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

2014 American Author Challenge (kudos to Mark)

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

Life-changers

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

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

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

2014 Books

January

1. Mad Mouse by Chris Grabenstein
2. A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussie Adler-Olsen
3. Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb
4. The Professor's House by Willa Cather
5. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
6. Die Trying by Lee Child
7. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
8. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
9. Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink
10. Japantown by Barry Lancet
11. View with a Grain of Sand by Wislawa Szymborska
12. Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
13. High Heat by Lee Child

February

14. A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming
15. Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang
16. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
17. Cress by Marissa Meyer
18. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
19. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
20. Stone Cold by C.J. Box
21. The Martian by Andy Weir
22. Necessity's Child by Sharon Lee

Love the decor in your 7th cafe!

Those are some of the best Beardens around, Joe. Yay!

I was fortunate a few years ago to see a Bearden exhibit in Washington, D.C. and loved it. Wonderful work. Some nice jazz to go with this and some sort of fizzy cocktail from the 1960's sounds really good.

Joe you may not be a tuns that tastes good

But you sure are a tuna with good taste!

So much colour! Makes it seem like spring is just around the corner!

>3 ronincats: Hiya, Roni! Thanks! I really love the colors in his paintings.

How about some fresh donuts for our first customer?



>4 richardderus: Yay! Thanks, Richard. Aren't they beautiful?

>5 benitastrnad: Oh, we'd love that, too, Benita. Some nice jazz we can do - Gregory Porter is getting a lot of good buzz. Fizzy cocktail? You got it:

>6 magicians_nephew: Ha! Higher praise has a tuna man never received, Jim. Thanks!

>7 Smiler69: Doesn't it, Ilana? We sure can use some color right now, can't we?

Yes indeed! I was going to start working on a new drawing this morning, but not so enthused about working on b&w right now (my metro portrait series, if you remember). I might push a little bit of colour around first to get it out of my system before I settle down for the serious stuff.

Let's inaugurate this branch of the cafe right! I'd like a big bowl of beef borscht with dill and sour cream, a tuna salad sandwich with pickled beets, and a bowl of orange-glazed baby beets!

Hot corn bread and butter.

Raspberry lemonade.

Hot cocoa

and a good book

>11 richardderus: Sorry you're so adverse to the ruddy root veg, Richard. *tongue firmly in cheek* I remember thinking beets were nasty until I helped my grandmother pull the tiny ones from the garden, and then ate them hot with vinegar. I was about 8 at the time. It almost made up for the fact that by then I was getting too big for her to give me rides in her wheelbarrow anymore. *sigh*

Joe, thanks a lot for sharing those GORGEOUS COLOURFUL pictures. I love them very much. Unfortunately there isn't any Jazz concert at Zürich tonight, otherwise I would have to go straight away.

>10 Smiler69: Great idea, Ilana. I'm glad we were an inspiration for a little creative fun. How wonderful it must be to have your talent.

>11 richardderus: Ha! I know there's a subtle (!) dig there somewhere, Mr. D, about my dislike of beets. We can do it, though - the chef is even enthusiastic. Here you go (we'll let you assemble the sandwich) :



>12 magicians_nephew: Woo, the joint is hopping! On its way, Jim:

>13 laytonwoman3rd: Now there's a story that I could see changing my mind about beets, Linda. Sounds lovely. I'm sure she wished she could still cart you around in a wheelbarrow, too. I know I wanted to keep carting our kids around when they were in college.

My MBH tells similar stories about growing up picking fruit and vegetables out of her aunt and uncle's garden in Western MA and having them fresh. When we visited there last Fall we had fresh-picked plums, freshmade plum tarts, plum jelly, homegrown potatoes, and homemade applesauce. Mmm.

>14 Ameise1: Lovely graphic, Barbara. And lovely thoughts - thank you!

Beets, I love beets. My mother grew them in her garden, both the red and the golden varieties.

I never have been able to grow them well, however... :(

Back to Python: i've been a fan since I first saw Flying Circus on PBS, about 1974, I think. And the first episode I saw was with The Spanish Inquisition...and boy I was hooked, solid. I introduced my children to MP at an early age: one loved it, the other did not.

The Holy Grail is my favorite of all their productions...

"She turned me into a newt..."

"A newt??????"

(Long pause as everyone looks at him)

..."I got better..."

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xzYO0joolR0

The new café is perking right along, Joe! Some good stuff up there, along with some not-so-good stuff, but as long as the not-so stuff doesn't get put on my table here in the back I'm happy!

Everyone has different talents Joe. My abilities in the art department are certainly more than dampened by my complete lack of discipline and capabilities in other areas which are commonly well in the competence of most people. ;-)

>17 fuzzi: I remember while growing up my parents made us sing the Beets song all the time: "Beets, beets, beautiful beets, the more you cooks them, the more we eats." Needless to say, I was scarred for life, and since I moved away, I haven't been able to look a beet in the eye.

But you don't need to hear my sad story, fuzzi. I jsut wish I'd been raised by parents like you, rather than those awful beet boxers. If I'd grown up singing Monty Python songs and explaining about newts, I'd be a completely different guy. I like that link, by the way.

>18 rosalita: I know some stuff up there I consider not-so-good (that darn Richard!), so I'm with you on that, Julia. That's why it's good to have a big cafe. We can make sure your table is just the way you want it.

>19 Smiler69: Yeah, I know what you mean, Ilana. Still, I imagine many would give up their discipline and capabilities in other areas to be able to do what you do.

As long as it doesn't involve beets in any way. :-)

Oh proprietor! Please send a large, large basket of these freshly fried beet chips with sea salt to Miss Julia's table, eh what?

Glad you like the link. :)

FWIW, my parents did not introduce me to MPFC, but I did introduce my mother to their antics. She loved the "village idiots" sketch.

Addendum: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bhDJxEPRDek

Have you tried pickled beets? Yum...

Love the art at the top Joe.

"'allo Bruce!" :-)

"Blimey it's 'ot in'ere, Bruce"

Aarrgh!

>21 richardderus: *surprised at sudden inability to hear* *puts lovely vase of flowers on Julia's table*

>22 fuzzi: Love the MP talk, fuzzi! Completely ignoring the pickled beets reference. Even Darryl runs from those.

Another most excellent link. I think we all know some blithering idiots who have done awfully well in life. A certain real estate magnate comes to mind. (My apologies to any magnate clan LTers who may be about).

>23 AuntieClio: Thank you, Stephanie.

In the Hollywood Bowl live show a number of Aussie Bruces come out to sing the Philosophers Song, and greet the audience as "Ladies and Bruces".

>24 fuzzi: Yes, 'ot enough to boil a monkey's bum, fuzzi, as the prime minister would say! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f_p0CgPeyA

Strange, but Days of Blood and Starlight had Monty Python in it. The sketch about "I feel happy!" It was one that I never saw or heard, but thought it was interesting that it was such an important clue in the book.

Sneaking into a spot in back, where I can watch....

Hi Joe- Congrats on Lucky #7! Love those vibrant toppers. Perfect fit over here. Glad you are loving the martian.

>26 benitastrnad: There's a lot of Monty Python in the air, seems like, Benita.



That is a strange coincidence, because those Laini Taylor books are being talked about all over the 75ers group with FF going on.

>27 mckait: We've got your spot waiting, Kath.



>28 msf59: Hiya, Mark! Glad you're off work. Enjoy the evening! I am enjoying The Martian. Today I've been caught up in the new Joe Pickett, but I'm sure I'll read some Andy Weir tonight.

Thanks re the toppers - seems like we could all use some color right now, doesn't it?

Thank you, Joe, for delivering flowers instead of *shudder* beet chips. I might have had to retaliate by demanding that you put a plate of chocolate brownies on Mr. D's table. But live and let live, I say!

And about your current read, the Books On the Nighstand podcast folks just blurbed The Martian and the premise sounds incredible. I look forward to seeing if it holds up for you all the way through.

>30 rosalita: You're welcome, Julia. You know I'm with you on that one! Maybe some day we'll send him chocolate brownies in the shape of Charles Dickens characters.

So far The Martian is holding up well indeed. The main character has an engaging way about him, and I'm liking his problem-solving. Good to hear about its getting a mention on BOTNS.

*flees shrieking about the horrors and injustices of the cruel 75erverse*

Oh, My! Shenanigans going on over here! I love beets. Pickled beets. Hot beets. Beets in soup. Cold beets in salads.

Love the vibrant colour in the Romare Bearden pictures decorating the new cafe, Joe! I am drooling over those donuts in post #8 - don't ask me why as I think pink and sugar overload in the same moment but they do look good.... and bite size, so no real calories, right? ;-)

Tonight's dinner is already taken care of: vegetarian pizza with a spinach side salad, so think I will just settle in a corner booth and see about finishing reading A Game of Thrones.

I'm going to look for a can of beets in the cupboards....

Hello, Joe! I love the art by Romare Bearden -- new to me.

I finished A Tale for the Time Being. What a wonderful novel! It came very close to being a five-star read. I'm so glad I read it.

Oh! Monty Python! We saw "Spamalot!" on the stage last week and it was quite entertaining. Based heavily on the first ("Holy Grail") MP film, it took me back to my college days. Some very funny dialogue and irreverent (duh) songs.

Joe - Colourful art to kick off #7. Have a great weekend buddy. I would order up some food but I am still a bit disorientated from flying to and back from Hanoi with a beer-fuelled couple of business meetings in-between. I am not quite as young as I sometimes fool myself I am if that makes any sense at all.

Joe, I wish you alovely Sunday

Congratulations on your new thread, Joe. I love, love the Bearden colours!

>32 richardderus:. You look like you're being chased by a wheelbarrow full of pickled beets, RD. I can relate.

When you're feeling up to it, we'll get you some calming chili cheese fries.

>33 maggie1944:. Beets in the morning, beets in the evening, beets around supper time. I'm happy for you, Karen, but that is not a universe I care to live in. Mine has plenty of zeppelins and good theater, but zero beets.

>34 lkernagh:. Good morning, Lori. I was just talking with my MBH about those vibrant colours of Bearden's. We almost have a hunger for colour in all this white and gray.

I know, there was something about the simplicity of those donuts up there that really grabbed me. Plus they look like they were done just seconds ago. They're so simple and attractive, they can't possibly have many calories, right?

Your dinner sounds delish.

I never got caught up in Game of Thrones for some reason, but I know a whole lot of folks have loved the books and the cable series.

Oh, I adore beets! You remind me I haven't yet made any borscht this winter, which is usually often on the menu here during cold month. But boiled, pickled, raw in salads, pass them over!

My mum, when she used to live here in a big country house with a huge vegetable garden, prepared a huge vat of fresh beet greens once. I was a tiny little thing, perpetually dieting, but stuffed myself with two of the biggest helpings of beet greens you can imagine. Family-sized, each! Of course Weight Watchers put no limits on veggies, so i had a free pass! Will never forget that. Still makes my mouth water. :-)

Eta: I'm a huge Game of Thrones follower. The HBO series got me completely hooked. And you know how I usually do with fantasy...

>35 fuzzi:. Good luck with that, fuzzi.

My wife may have some squirreled away somewhere, but my cupboard mainly has chips and cookies. Occasionally, muffins, donuts and pies. I want to be sure I'm sufficiently carbo-loaded in case a big race comes up.

>36 EBT1002: Yay! Great to hear you enjoyed A Tale for the Time Being, Ellen. It's not for everyone, but if it's on your wavelength, it's such a great reading experience. I agree, close to five stars.

I think The Goldfinch is going to get the full five from me. What a book she crafted.

I'll bet you had a great time at Spamalot. We've been tempted, and may just have to take advantage next opportunity.

The last play that had us laughing throughout was The Book of Mormon. Jeez that was a great show.

>37 PaulCranswick:. Makes perfect sense to me, Paul. I'm out ahead of you on the timeline, methinks, and for a while now recovery time has been a part of my travel and event planning. We always have at least a day off before work upon return now, when before it wasn't an issue.

That of course doesn't keep me from thinking I'm still in my 20s most of the time.

Glad you're liking those colours up there. What a talent that is.

>38 Ameise1:. Ha! You have a knack for making me laugh, Barbara. Much appreciated. Hope you're having a lovely Sunday.

>39 wilkiec:. Thanks, Diana! The colours are really striking a chord with folks, and I'm happy they are. Me, too.

I remember on one thread I posted some art dolls, and they really creeped out some of our patrons. The Beardens seem to be resonating with everyone.

Hope you've been having a grand weekend.

>41 Smiler69:. How can a person possibly adore beets, Ilana. It's one of life's great mysteries. I believe Einstein was working on a Unifying Theory of Beets/No Beets at his passing.

I love those family memories, even when they involve the vegetable that has been named enough. I also like that "calories don't count" aspect of veggies.

Of course, it has crossed my mind that the wiseacre conductor of the universe's symphony seems to delight in making things that taste like a sugary dream worse for our health than things that taste like a handful of lightly toasted dirt. Why, I ask you, why?

I know you're not big on fantasy (but, to your credit, open to exceptions). Interesting that GOT works for you.

OK, my MBH is ready to leave this RL cafe, so here we go.

Joe...dear heart...you realize that you eat beets every day, don't you? All...well, most of...the sugar you consume is made from...wait for it...beets! Cane sugar is more expensive to produce. It's used in luxury items like rum.

You're welcome :-D

>44 richardderus: Sure, and ranch dressing is made from little tiny ranches. You must think I'm really gullible, Richard. Beets = sugar. C'mon!

Wait - if you're right, does that mean that whenever I eat sugary treats, I can tell my MBH I'm eating beets? You may have just dramatically improved my life.

>45 Ameise1: :-)

#46 Joe
all I can say is ROFL! :-)

Trumpets! I see Trumpets! Nice thread topper.

My DH also hates beets. After our wedding, he agreed to write 6 out of the MANY MANY thank you notes outstanding. When he procrastinated forever, I resorted to placing a stack of thank you notes, postage stamps and a can of beets on the kitchen table. "If these aren't done by sundown on Sunday, you are eating these beets." Worked a charm! ;-D

Hi Joe, how are my chances of getting a cup of hot chocolate with a side of crunchy cookies? We are having that rare occurance for the Pacific Northwest - Snow!

>47 AuntieClio: What a potential life-changer, Stephanie! Do you think my wife will buy it?

>48 michigantrumpet: Everything's better with trumpets, don't you think, Marianne?

Your beet ploy would've worked with me, too. I suspect your DH and I have many important things in common. Including procrastinating over thank you notes.

>49 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. We can do that - first time I learned you get little snow, I was surprised.

Becca wants me to mention that she and the furry Sherlock are visiting us. Done.

OK, hocho with crunchy cookies. Here we go.

Oh, my, I thought this was a book site....

but no, beets, and pictures of cookies, and hot chocolate

Oh, my

Hi Joe- Hope you guys are having a great time at the production of Plainsong. Looking forward to your thoughts.

You know, if you're going to mention that Sherlock is visiting, the least you could do is take a new picture of him and post it. Just so we can make sure he hasn't uglied up any, you know.

:)

Karen, your post 51 made me think of something...

...repeat after me:

"Beets, and cookies, and cocoa, oh my!"

#54> Ah! Still adorably cute. That's a relief.

I'm now starving, and I just ate a piece of my banana bread.

Can we do some scrummy pastries, Joe? And while we're at it, coffee? :) I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Happy Monday, everyone! I'll start my day with some cafe au lait, please. I have a CT scan today and so I might get a little reading done in the waiting room.

>46 jnwelch:: *snork!*

I don't think that I've ever even tried beets. They're just so, well, RED.

Morning, Joe!

Say, could the chef rustle up some warm gingerbread, do you think? I've a hankerin'.

awww Sherlock! Food. I should find something before I leave..

Warm gingerbread

(SQUIRREL!)

Oooo warm gingerbread sounds perfect, as does coffee and lots of it. Love gingerbread.

>51 maggie1944: Hi, Karen. I'm trying to find a book on Beets, Cookies and Hot Chocolate, so we can talk about it. We may end up having to write one.

>52 msf59: We LOVED the play production of Plainsong, Mark. Way better production in a small theater than we expected. So great to reunite with the McPherson brothers, Victoria, the Guthrie boys, and the others. If you and yours can get to it, it's a beaut. I'll say more down below after catching up a bit.

>53 rosalita: As you can see, Julia, Becca responded immediately with a Sherlock pic. I've got another that she texted to us, so here you go:



He's our favoritest dog ever, he is.

>54 seasonsoflove: Thanks, cutie-pie! I'm sure he's getting warmed up after a walk outside. Is that his football blanket, or a different one?

>55 fuzzi: Beets, and cookies, and cocoa, oh my! Cookies and cocoa seem like good companions, fuzzi, but beets are definitely scary. Should we change it to "Lions and tigers and beets, oh my!"?

A delicious beet salad, with balsamic dressing, sprinkled with fresh thyme.

Or permaybehaps this ultra-delish dish:


Roasted apple-and-beet salad with cider-vinegar dressing, garnished with mint! Yum!

>56 rosalita: Isn't he, Julia? We've supplied more of his adorable cuteness this a.m.

>57 thornton37814: Was that banana bread enough, Lori? If not, we'll find some more for you.

>58 leperdbunny: We flew these pastries in from Paris for you, Tam. Avec du café.



>59 maggie1944: Good morning, Karen. Hope the CT scan goes well, and you get some good reading in. What are you reading these days? Here's your cafe au lait:

Sherlock is soooo cute. I love the pic of him all bundled up in the blanket. Edited to say that what you just posted looks delicious!

I finished Cress yesterday morning, 5 stars, I loved it!

>60 scaifea: Glad we were able to make you *snork!*, Amber. Love that word. Remain beetless and you'll miss nada. They are awfully red, aren't they?

>61 laytonwoman3rd: Mm, warm gingerbread sounds mighty good, Linda. I may join you. Here's some with pears. It's really good with caramel sauce or ice cream, too, if you get a hankerin' for either of those.



>62 mckait: How about warm gingerbread with caramel sauce and a little whipped cream, Kath?



>63 magicians_nephew: I didn't see any squirrel, Jim, although I of course looked right away. Some warm gingerbread seems to be missing though. Coincidence?

>64 richardderus: All right, more warm gingerbread it is, Richard. We seem to be missing some anyway. With coffee, here you go:

>66 richardderus: *ignores impolite post, while proprietor considers posting cute pics of cats and Charles Dickens quotes on Richard's thread*

>68 Thebookdiva: Oh good, Abby! I knew you'd love Cress. What a good series she's created, hasn't she?

Sherlock is a sweet little guy. There's not much to him, so he can get pretty chilled out there in the cold weather. Becca takes great care of him.

Don't those pastries look good? I want to try some, too.

Joe, I appreciate you and Becca supplying my Sherlock-doting needs! What a great way to start a Monday morning!

Glad to hear that there is at least one other book person who is not totally enamored of Game of Thrones. I read the first two books and haven't felt the call to read the third one yet. I won't say I never will but isn't going to be right now. I simply had enough of all the blood.

All those gingerbread variations look utterly scrumptious, Joe. We often eat it with warm homemade chunky applesauce on top.

Roasted apples and beets? What an idea....must try!

>71 rosalita: You can tell it's a real chore for Becca and me to post pics of our favorite little guy, Julia. ;-) Ask any time. He is a great way to start the day, isn't he? He and Becca are great pals.

>72 benitastrnad: Yeah, I know he's undercutting fantasy conventions and so on in GOT, Benita, but it just wasn't enough to drive me forward. You and I are in a diminishingly small club though.

>73 laytonwoman3rd: Mmm, warm gingerbread with homemade chunky applesauce would be really good, Linda. We even have the homemade applesauce at home.

I'm refraining from commenting on any beet suggestions that may be made here, while I think about zeppelins and good theater.

We went to a play adaptation yesterday of Kent Haruf's Plainsong, and LOVED it. (If you haven't read the book, don't read this - and go read the book!) Signal Ensemble Theater seats only 50, but they did a great job of using simple techniques (including adaptable tables and chairs on wheels) to make scene changes, and the 19 member cast was much stronger than we expected. It was wonderful to re-unite with the McPherson brothers, sturdy and honest, who lost their parents when teens and had lived alone together, working their farm into their senior years, until they're asked to take in pregnant teenager Victoria, whose awful mother has expelled her from her home upon learning of her condition. All three actors were terrific in the parts.



There's more going on in the small town of Holt, Colorado, with Tom Guthrie's wife experiencing mental problems and withdrawing from Tom and her two boys, and teacher Tom having to deal with a school bully and his no better parents. The young actors who played the two boys were exceptionally good; we've seen a lot of child actors in theater here, and it usually has at least some element of artificiality, as they try to "act". Not these two. Simple and sincere. The director Bries Vannon deserves a lot of credit for that, I'm sure.



As readers of the book will remember, the McPhersons become fiercely protective of Victoria, who is being enticed to go to Denver by the father of her baby. Teacher Maggie, a bright, practical woman who is the one who first saves Victoria, hopes that she can finally kindle a romance with Tom, the love of her life, now that his wife has left him. The boys stay tied to their mother, but finally have to accept that she won't be returning. They befriend an elderly woman who lost her son in the war, and she gives them some of what they're missing at home, despite Tom's best efforts. It's an entrancingly told small town story, and this adaptation does it justice. The narration is conveyed by different townspeople strolling through or speaking to the audience through windows, and that takes some getting used to. But it's probably the right choice. As my MBH said, one narrator would've been too much "Our Town", and getting the narration from a multitude of actors added to the small town feel of the play.

What a pleasant surprise the quality of the production was. We left wanting to re-read all three books, Plainsong, Eventide and Benediction.

I must get to Plainsong, which has been on my TBR pile for many many moons.

I loved the book Plainsong and I'm so glad to hear the stage adaptation was so good!

I've avoided any and all calls to read Plainsong because, well, Jesus. Ick.

And I, also, did not care for or about Game of Thrones.

Yes, that is Sherlock after his great arctic trek the day it was snowing really hard-he got the royal snuggly treatment after that ;) He is wrapped in one of his giant bone blankets.

Thanks so much for all the compliments on my pup pup-I think he's awfully darn cute as well ;)

Dad, I would love a giant chai please, gingerbread flavored, and a cheese omelette with french fries please!

>76 laytonwoman3rd: It's a wonderful book, Linda. You'll be glad when you get to it.

>77 rosalita: Me, too, Julia. The production had gotten good reviews, but we went in with low expectations, figuring we liked the story so much that even a sub-par production would be okay. Instead we got a production we loved, with fine acting by the ensemble. I just found out that the girl who played Victoria, Elizabeth Stenholt, is a high school senior here. Unbelievable. She gets it right with Victoria.

>78 richardderus: To me, someone who likes Willa Cather and Volt: Stories would like Plainsong, too, Richard. Good to have another member of the no thanks, GOT club. Who knows, we may even get it up to a half dozen or so LTers, out of what, more than a million?

>79 seasonsoflove: This will surprise you, Becca, but I'm another one who thinks highly of that Sherlock. You never would've guessed, right?

Giant gingerbread chai, and c-o with ff, got it. Hope your week is off to a good start, Hon.

Thanks Dad!

Happy Monday to you Joe! As always, it is a delight to visit here.

>80 jnwelch: Do you think? But Jesus! I really really dislike not-anti-xian stuff. My impression is that there is no religion-bashing in the mentions of religion and that just ruins my day.

63: (Do I have to point out that "SQUIRREL!" is a reference to the movie "Up"?)

>81 seasonsoflove: You're welcome, Hon! That should fuel you up enough to deal with those crazy little ones of yours.

>82 Whisper1: Good to see you, Linda. Happy Monday! It's always a delight to have you visit, too. I hope all is going well for you.

>83 richardderus: Yeah, to my memory there's no religion-bashing in Haruf's books, Richard, although I also don't think of religion as a major thematic element. Can anyone else comment on that? Do you avoid Marilynne Robinson, too? It's much more pronounced in her books, of course.

>84 magicians_nephew: Not to me, you don't, Jim. Our family says "Squirrel!" all the time, and we loved that movie. On the other hand, I'm the guy who missed the Monty Python reference, so I probably should've acknowledged "Up". I figured you were distracting us to grab some warm gingerbread, yes?

Like she gots the cooties...can't get past the pro-xian stuff. Makes me angry and ill.

See, I read Marilynne Robinson because her Christians are the kind I knew growing up...the kind I was trained to be...the kind that don't make me angry and ill. Not the hateful, exclusive, damn-you-to-hell-for-your-wicked-differences kind. I don't claim membership in the group any more, but I still feel comfortable in their presence.

I fear I have become the intolerant anti-xian to match the intolerant xian. I think it's a shame, but I've been reviled and insulted both personally and as a group member for too long to want to give any of them the benefit of the doubt. My mind closed up shop on the topic: They're wrong, their beliefs are forces for evil, and they should all be humiliated and mocked for the sheer stupidity of the "holy book" they allege to base their nonsense on.

I will take another chai if you don't mind-second round of children coming in four minutes ;) Definitely wishing I had the means to make fresh flowers appear in this classroom of mine, get a little spring in here-the weather is even making my four and five year old students exhausted before they even start their day. No caffeine for them though ;D

It's Green Eggs and Ham day of Dr. Seuss week, so the pre-k is having an excellent time :) Will try to take a picture :)

>86 richardderus: OK, gotcha, RD. I certainly have my own buttons that get pushed like that. I will say, there was no mention of religion in the play production of Plainsong, and I can't remember there being any in the book, although other LTers may.

>87 laytonwoman3rd: Yeah, I don't have a problem with her Christians either, Linda. Or Buddhists in novels or what have you, as long as it's not proselytizing literature. But as some here know, I have a tough time reading about alcoholics or addicts, or abused (or killed) kids. Your going to see a review from me about The Goldfinch, and the drug use aspect of it was hard for me, but it was an essential part of the story, and the story is simply outstanding.

>88 richardderus: Yeah, we all come to this with what we've been through, RD, and what we've "closed up shop" on. Understood.

>89 seasonsoflove: When I was a wee lad, Becca, I was a pretty good reader, and the 1st grade teacher had me read Green Eggs and Ham to my class. I wasn't as good as Jesse Jackson on SNL, by a long shot, but that's always been one of my favorite books. Any day with that in it has to be pretty darn good, even in this lousy winter. Would love to see a pic of the pre-Ks enjoying it.

Gingerbread chai coming up for the supremely skilled teacher:

This one gets 5 stars, and maybe that's all you need to know. If you haven't read it, go read it. If you haven't read it, you may not want to read this, as some aspects of the story of course are revealed.

Donna Tartt has accomplished the rarity of a powerful page-turner that is written on an enormous canvas, that asks, and to a larger than expected extent answers, big questions. It has readers all over the country aching to help the downtrodden main character Theo make better decisions, while they laugh helplessly at the antics of his one great friend, bad boy Boris.

It all revolves around the painting of The Goldfinch identified in the title. Reportedly the Frick Museum in New York is now attracting big crowds every day clamoring to see it. Although Tartt's story is made up, this beautiful painting by a contemporary of Vermeer, little known painter Carel Fabritius, is real. In the novel a bomb explosion in the museum changes high schooler Theo's life and, at the urging of a dying man, brings the painting, his mother's favorite, into his possession.

His beloved mother has died in the explosion, and his scoundrel father had previously disappeared, so only child Theo is on his own. Eventually he ends up with the wealthy Park Avenue family of his schoolmate Andy. The mother is chilly, but her charity toward Theo helps him make it through a difficult time, and she will re-enter his adult life. "Her voice, like Andy's, was hollow and infinitely far away; even when she was standing right next to you she sounded as if she were relaying transmissions from Alpha Centauri". As for his affect-less geek friend Andy, "Sometimes I wondered what it would take to break Andy out of his math-nerd turret: a tidal wave? Decepticon invasion? Godzilla tromping down Fifth Avenue? He was a planet without an atmosphere." Via a last request from the dying man in the museum, Theo comes to know antique furniture refurbisher Hobie, and Hobie's sweet ward Pippa, who is Theo's age and also a survivor of the museum explosion. Theo yearns for the relaxed, safe atmosphere provided by Hobie and his back of the store living quarters in the Village in Manhattan: "{S}ometimes I could lull myself back to sleep by thinking of his house, where without realizing it you slipped away sometimes into 1850, a world of ticking clocks and creaking floorboards, copper pots and baskets of turnips and onions in the kitchen, candle flames leaning all to the left in the draft of an opened door and tall parlor windows billowing and swagged like ball gowns, cool quiet rooms where old things slept."

Theo comes to live with Hobie, a disheveled and kind-hearted craftsman who brings some stability to Theo's life. Theo in turn begins to learn Hobie's trade. But then Theo's father reappears and takes him to live with his father's girlfriend in a sterile outpost of Las Vegas townhouses. There Theo meets Boris, a crooked Russian mining magnate's son with an idiosyncratic grasp of English. Like Theo, Boris has repeatedly been left to his own devices, but in Boris's short lifetime that has occurred all over the world, as he traveled with his father. In Indonesia Boris briefly and happily converted to Islam, because the Muslims were so good to him. "{T}he mosque was brilliant. Falling down place - stars shining through at night - birds on the roof. An old Javanese man taught us the Koran. And they fed me too, and were kind, and made sure I was clean and had clean clothes. Sometimes I fell asleep on my prayer rug. And at salah, near dawn, when the birds woke up, always the sound of wings beating!" Boris has endless enthusiasm for life even as he routinely engages in self-destructive behavior. The two ingest astounding quantities of drugs while living their unsupervised lives. As they grow older, their paths will cross in unusual ways, their friendship always strong and shaping the events that follow. "{I}t occurred to me that despite his faults, which were numerous and spectacular, the reason I liked Boris and felt happy around him from almost the moment I'd met him was that he was never afraid. You didn't meet many people who moved freely through the world with such a vigorous contempt for it and at the same time such oddball and unthwartable faith in what, in childhood, he had liked to call, 'the Planet of Earth'".

The characters are all three-dimensional. Even Theo's father, one of the most reprehensible individuals ever to inhabit a book, has more than one side to him. Boris appreciates his kindness: "feeding me, talking with me, spending time, sheltering me in his roof, giving me the clothes off his back . . . you hated your father so much but in some ways he was a good man."

"I wouldn't say good."

"Well I would."

"Well, you would be the only one. You would be wrong."

The painting eventually brings both Theo and Boris into danger, as they team up to retrieve it from international crooks. I'll leave it up to you to find out how that is resolved. All of this makes putting the book down nearly impossible. But at the same time Tartt manages to weave in bigger questions and issues, including about the experience of art. At one point Hobie says, "You see one painting, I see another, the art book puts it at another remove still, the lady buying the greeting card at the museum gift shop sees something else entire, and that's not even to mention the people separated from us in time - four hundred years before us, four hundred years after we're gone - it'll never strike anyone the same way and the great majority of people it'll never strike in any deep way at all but - a really great painting is fluid enough to work its way through all kinds of different angles, in ways that are unique and very particular. Yours, yours. I was painted for you." And what does the beautiful Goldfinch itself have to tell us, a bird fettered by a chain but given eternal life in this painting? Tartt takes on the meaning of life (the answer is not "42", for you Douglas Adams fans), and God ("a long term pattern we can't decipher {like a} huge, slow-moving weather system rolling in on us from afar") and more. Theo experiences horrible loss, and makes headshaking mistakes, but continues on with the same unthwartable faith as Boris. “Sometimes, unexpectedly, grief pounded over me in waves that left me gasping; and when the waves washed back, I found myself looking out over a brackish wreck which was illuminated in a light so lucid, so heartsick and empty, that I could hardly remember that the world had ever been anything but dead.”

He longs for romance with Pippa, but are they too closely tied by the trauma they both have experienced? When he is in that home with Hobie, in those "cool quiet rooms where old things slept", he learns what is most important in his life. But he repeatedly risks losing that haven with his risky behavior and passion for the painting. For the reader who avidly rides through all this with Theo and Boris, there is an insatiable desire to guide each of them into safer harbors. They won't have it. It is a large, profound story, and you won't forget either of them, or the others that surround them.

Well done, Joe!

>92 rosalita: Ha! Thanks, Julia. I know we're kindred spirits on this one. Your positive view of the book helped get me onto it, and now I've had a chance to read your most excellent review.

@Morphidae in an ambulance on the way to ER, good thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery would be welcome.

#88
Richard, Plainsong was not religious. Or at least not in my book. If paying homage to hardworking people who try to do the right thing and live in those forgotten towns in the great uncharted middle of America, is religion then Haruf is religious. His story is essentially about areligious, not anti-religion, or pro-religion, people who do the right thing because they try to help their fellow man. Or in this case teenage girls, and other people.

Marilynne Robinson, on-the-other-hand, is overtly religious. I agree with #87 on Robinson. She describes perfectly the people with which I grew up, know, and love. For that reason I like her books, even though I may not like all the people in them or approve of what they do. I understand where they are coming from. As an author she deals with many of the questions I have regarding folks. Like why would some people prefer to be wandering and homeless? How can a child raised with all the love in the world end up disappointed with life and disappointed with those who love him?

Robinson and Haruf aren't the same kind of authors. I may have missed something in Haruf, but don't think he writes about religion. It is part of his stories, but it is not the story. I do agree that both of these authors are not going to be appreciated by every reader.

#88
Richard - glad to hear that you aren't that much of a GoT's fan either. You have good taste.

Thanks for the second chai! Will try to get a picture of our special Green Eggs and Ham snack :)

Great great review of The Goldfinch.

>94 MDGentleReader: I just came in to make that announcement myself. Hoping for a simple solution and a quick return to health for Morphy.

>>94 MDGentleReader:, 97 So sorry to hear about Morphy, MDG and Linda. Is it her back? Sending lots of positive thoughts her way, as I'm sure others will.

>95 benitastrnad: Good comments, Benita. I'll leave it to RD to respond, as you've seen my thoughts on this.

>96 seasonsoflove: Thanks, Becca! I know you loved The Goldfinch, too - and in fact you've been a Donna Tartt fan longer than anyone else I know.

Looking forward to the snack pic if you're able to do it.

As promised, Pre-K's snack of Green Eggs and Ham, composed of an egg made of green vanilla pudding and a Nila wafer, and ham:

98> She was having so much trouble breathing, her doctor wouldn't see her and sent her to ER. Scary.

>99 seasonsoflove: Thanks! How did they like it? How did they like their Seuss experience?

>100 MDGentleReader: Oh, thanks, MDG. Jeez, that is scary. Hope we get some good news soon. That may be one they can address quickly.

Great review of The Goldfinch, Joe! That one is already on the future reading list, maybe for this summer.

Joe> I have to confess that I actually let the bananas get ripe so I could make banana bread. I've generally only been buying in quantities so they are usable at breakfast; however, I deliberately bought those to ripen!

Oh gosh, poor Morphy!! So much healing whammy heading her way!

Benita, permaybehaps I'm misinformed...I'll try Plainsong.

GoT failed on several levels for me, not least of which is the years-long winter...really? How many people die each winter? What earthly (pardon) sense does it make to fight battles and wage wars when there's food to stockpile and preparations to make for this years-long winter?

Stupid.

Add me to the no to George R. R. Martin and his throne games.

Joe! Joe! Joe!!! Taco Bell *urp* is introducing a waffle-taco filled with scrambled egg and bacon and doused in maple syrup!! *swoon*

>102 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! As you can tell, it's one I hope a lot of people pick up and try. Overflowing with good writing it is (oops, sounded a bit like Yoda there).

>103 thornton37814: Best reason to buy them to ripen I can think of, Lori. I love banana bread. I'm sure you're enjoying it.

>104 richardderus: Yes, lots of positive thoughts going out to poor Morphy. I'm hoping we get some good news on her ER visit.

Wonderful re Plainsong - I'm glad Benita was able to clear that up. Now I just hope it hits you the way I think it will.

Good point on GOT. Man, you remind me there's also no way I could read about a years-long winter right now. It's bad enough living it.

>105 AuntieClio: We've added you to the "No GOT for Me" membership roster, Stephanie, and you can pick up your gift bag at the Admissions table.

>106 richardderus: RD! RD! RD! I can see you've got your hand raised at the back of the room. Maybe we can find you a somewhat less urpsome TB waffle-taco. Here you go:

There's prizes for not wanting to read GoT? Sweet!

>108 AuntieClio:

Oh hello! What a lovely gift basket full of yummies.

>107 jnwelch: Per. Fec. Tion. YUMMMMMM

>109 jnwelch: Pickled asparagus...oh drool...

PLAINSONG on its way for $2. Why the hell not.

Wow, lots of good stuff here today, Joe, with food, content and pictures. Lucky Becca and Sherlock having such a welcoming place to visit for the weekend. I am sure you pampered her accordingly. BTW those green eggs and ham looks neat and I bet the kids were thrilled with their snack.

That play based on Plainsong sounds fantastic. Was it done by a local theatre group or is there a chance that it is travelling around (like, maybe to Canada)?

Another excellent review of The Goldfinch, this is the third one in two days. Right now I am just savoring the fact that I have this on my Kindle, but with such excellent reviews, I hope to get to it in the near future.

>110 AuntieClio: We'll see whether this causes membership to grow, Stephanie.

>111 richardderus: Excellent, excellent, here's a wetwipe and a poncho for the drool . . .

That's some deal! Enjoy.

ETA: >112 DeltaQueen50: We did try to pamper Becca and of course her furry pal, Judy. They were nice enough to surprise us outside the theater and head home with us (a walkable distance). The play was indeed fantastic. It was done by this local group: http://signalensemble.com/

I honestly don't know what will happen from here. We have seen a lot of local plays get picked up and go national. Whether this one will, I don't know. I imagine Kent Haruf must be pleased with it.

I'm glad you liked the review. I know, The Goldfinch was almost one I didn't review, because it has already been so well-reviewed by others. But I liked it too much, and couldn't not review it. Plus I think those who have read it enjoy reading the reactions of others who subsequently do. I know I'm looking forward to reading the reactions of others to it going forward.

JOE!! JOE!! JOE!!

They're making a movie of The Martian: A Novel!

The kids loved their first day of Dr. Seuss week-tomorrow is The Lorax!

Mmmm...prizes for NOT reading. OK...let me tell ya. I won't read any Danielle Steele, or John Updike novels, or the Game of Thrones, or Twilight, or Hunger Games... What's all that get me?

116> I agree with all of the above non-reading choices.

** Stands behind @laytonwoman3rd at the prize table. **

Anyone heard from Morphy? One of those (very) few times I wish I was on Facebook.

Hi Joe- 65 posts? Wow! The Cafe is hopping like a one-legged cocktail waitress. I loved your descriptions of the stage production of Plainsong. It brought back many fond memories. I adored the McPherson brothers. I do not remember any religious undertones, to these books, unlike Robinson, who handles it with perfect dexterity.
What's up with all the GOT bashing? Is this a club now? LOL. I unashamedly love the first 3 books and I am nuts about the HBO series. Did you ever watch it?

I skipped your Goldfinch review and will savor it later. I hope to start the book next week.

Don't mean to bash GoT...it just isn't my kind of thing from what I can gather from the discussions. It may well be an excellent entry in its category; I just don't care for the category.

Joe, when I was somewhere in the middle of The Goldfinch, my heart was beating so hard in my chest out of fear for Theo, I actually had to close the book and remind myself "He's not real. He's a character, invented by a wonderfully talented writer. Get a grip." I don't remember ever having that visceral an experience while reading a book.

Of course I agree with everything you've written but...in looking at the length of your review, I'm sure any one of the cafe denizens would know that there are spoilers involved, but just in case, would it be appropriate to warn of spoilers? I'm not entirely clear on spoiler etiquette so maybe I'm out of line.

I'm with #116 laytonwoman3rd. I intensely disliked the whole idea of the Twilight series and thought that the Hunger Games was absolute tosh. I do confess that I think I have read a Danielle Steele book about thirty years ago, but I can't remember which one it was, so don't think it counts. Do I get a prize for two out of three?

And I haven't read any harry Potter books either. I don't know if they are good or bad because they simply never called to me to read them.

Mark, Not bashing GoT, just saying I'm not interested.

Morning Joe!
Chiming in with Mark to say that I'm a member of the Love GoT Team. Also, Hunger Games - such a hoot!

I'm not a fan of beets. I have tried them a time or two but.. no. Just no.

REALLY wonderful review of Goldfinch!

Tuesday and one day closer to March. yay! Good day to you, sir!

Love beetroot Joe.
Borscht is a particular favourite of mine.

>114 richardderus: RD! RD! RD! Wonderful news! The Martian has the potential to be a really good movie, doesn't it. Watney's a great character. I'm somewhat over halfway through - the crew is now fired up and on the move.

>115 seasonsoflove: I bet the kids loved the first day. Thank you for my green eggs and ham; your mom remembered late last night. And the surprise burrito! Delicious.

Your bro should be here for Lorax day. Both of you love that one, as I recall.

>116 laytonwoman3rd: That'll get you a big tip of the hat, Linda! Except you should read Hunger Games. All of the Welch clan ate up those books.



Better than a gift bag?

>117 MDGentleReader: You'll have to wrestle Linda for the hat-tipper, MDG. Morphy: she's okay, but only in the sense of they didn't find anything wrong. They released her. Her thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/170730

>118 msf59: Ha! Hopping like a one-legged waitress? Love it, Mark. You've got a future in noir. Trenchcoat, fedora, and you're on your way.

The two actors who played the McPherson brothers had it just right. They were funny, charming in their humility, and fiercely protective of Victoria. Can't say enough about this production of it.

I never watched the GOT cable series, although I know it has myriad and avid fans. I thought the No GOT for Me club might get up to a half dozen members; I don't think we've quite made it yet, but we're close. It's a bit late for you to join - otherwise I'd offer a gift bag or a pic of a librarian hat-tipper.

I gave The Goldfinch 5 stars. Hope you enjoy it. It sure seems like the type of book you would enjoy.

>119 laytonwoman3rd: The fantasy category is fine by me, Linda, but GoT just didn't work for me. I'm not bashing it either. I've got relatives who love it, not to mention lots of LT pals like Mark.

>120 NarratorLady: Hi, Anne! Good to see you. Have you heard anything from Ellie? I got a nice note from her, but it's been a little while.

Good to hear you had the same experience reading about Theo that I did. I have felt protective toward characters in other books, but not to that degree. You're right, you have to remind yourself he's not real, he's just a character in a book.

I constantly struggle with that concern about spoilers. If you read the reviews in the NYTimes or other reviewing sources, they're rife with spoilers, and it just seems to be accepted. In this review, I knew I'd have to cover some of the plot developments, which is why I said at the beginning, " If you haven't read it, you may not want to read this, as some aspects of the story of course are revealed." I don't usually do that, but it worried me more than usual with this one. You can see Mark isn't reading my review before reading the book, which is what I did with Julia's lauded review - I waited until I finished the book before I read hers.

I guess in my own mind, if I read a review (here or elsewhere) a reasonably long time before I read the book, I know any plot specifics I pick up will be hazy enough that it won't affect my reading enjoyment. If I'm just about to start reading the book, though, I won't read reviews of it. Among other things, one person's spoiler can be another's legitimate basis for comment.

But, despite all that, I agree that on this one it seemed appropriate to warn of spoilers, which is why I said that at the beginning of it.

>121 benitastrnad: I've been known to nosh on tosh, Benita, and The Hunger Games may be a good example. I got quite caught up in it, and have been loving the movies, too. Our whole family had a wonderful experience with the Harry Potter books, with my storyteller wife reading every one out loud to us. The kids and I will never forget it.

Maybe it's my background working in a bookstore, but I don't look down on books unless there's something vile about them. I know plenty of people who have loved the Twilight books, and that's fine by me. These days in particular I'm just happy when anyone's reading a book, any book. Some think that may be a dying art. I hope not.

(59) Hope everything is okay, Karen.

Add me to the not-interested-club for Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and Twilight.

But I love warm gingerbread, and beets.

Someone keep us updated on Morphy, please. I will be praying for her.

>122 AuntieClio: Me, too, Stephanie.

>123 scaifea: Good morning, Amber! Yeah, I'm with you on The Hunger Games, and I'm glad you're loving GoT. You've got lots of company.

>124 mckait: Ha! Good day to you, ma'am! Glad to have a fellow beet-avoider in the cafe. One day closer to March - I like your way of thinking. We're starting another (!) deep freeze here. If I could kick this winter's hind end, I sure would.

Glad you liked the review!

>125 PaulCranswick: That's a lovely-looking borscht, Paul, but I've got to ask myself - what is it about me that causes friends to post photos of beet dishes on my thread, when I can't stand beets? How have I offended thee, sir? Can't your beets find a home elsewhere?

>128 fuzzi: Good question, fuzzi. Sounds like Karen's doing okay, except for some sinus inflammation: http://www.librarything.com/topic/169516#4561402

We'll keep you posted on Morphy. She may stop by if she's feeling up to it.

OK, I'm up for some breakfast pecan pie this morning. Here we go:

Pie for breakfast is never out of order

>130 magicians_nephew: You know what they say, Jim: When the winter gets tough, the tough eat pie. The day seems better already.

Joe, I found a recipe for pecan-pie bread pudding that I am eager to try out:



Does that make up for the beets (which I still love but will refrain from placing in your path)?

::drooling over the pudding::

>132 richardderus: Ha! Yes, that more than makes up for it, Richard! Pecan-pie bread pudding - oh my stars and garters!

>133 fuzzi: Try to drool on the tablecloth if you can, fuzzi. :-) *hands out wetwipe and poncho*

I'm wearing my bib, your tablecloth will stay clean. :)

>135 fuzzi: Ha! Very thoughtful, thanks, fuzzi. It's the pecan-pie bread pudding that I'm most worried about.

ETA: Darn it, I got the Shakespeare/Star Wars parody as an ER, but didn't get Lost Lake. And I missed it at the library while my MBH was sick. That seals it. I still have some holiday dollars on my gift card, and I'm buying that puppy.

This is me, stopping by. :)

I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon to see my regular doctor since they couldn't find anything immediately life threatening yesterday.

Re: Newts

Green Dragon likes newts. We have the list 1001 Fantasy books Before You Are Turned into a Newt.

Plus whenever we have a troll, we do Morphy's Newt Maneuver (TM). Instead of responding, we post pictures of newts. :D

Re: Beets

Brings to mind a book called Jitterbug Perfume. Lots of beets in it. Reread it in 2010 and gave it six out of ten stars: "I remember enjoying this very much a couple of decades ago. But I found it waxed a little too philosophical for me this time. I wanted more story and less soap-boxing.

In other words, the Suck Fairy waggled her wings over it a bit. Not a lot. But it's been smeared forever…"

Tom Robbins is a young man's game, sez me.

Rereading Even Cowgirls Get the Blues recently and it just doesn't stand up. All dazzle dazzle, no substance

So glad to get an update, Morphy! Glad you're okay.

On beets: Yes! Any time, any way.

On GoT: NO. Just no. (I tried to read it three times ~ twice in print and once as an audiobook, but I was bored to tears before I finished the first two chapters. And I hated the reader's voice.)

On Plainsong, I haven't read it yet but have been meaning to, because I really like the title.

Yes, Morphy's back. :)

Now y'all have done it...I just added Plainsong to my TBR list...

Joe, I wish you a lovely day.

>127 jnwelch: re: Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Twilight et al. - Sing it, brother Joe!

Morning Joe- I started In the Bleak Midwinter, which is a perfect title for the misery we are experiencing. LOL. I know you nudged me towards this one and I really like the way it begins. A touch of Three Pines?

I see you may have inspired a couple readers to pick up Plainsong. Always a joyous occasion. Have a great Hump Day, my friend.

All the GoT talk has me thinking of this Bad Lip Reading video http://youtu.be/5Krz-dyD-UQ funny on its own, hysterical if you've seen the HBO series.

What a wonderful experience to have with your family... and Harry Potter. I envy you that...

Cold here, snow.. I am already filled up with coffee... so I will just catch up and leave a hello... and wishes for a happy day.

>137 Morphidae: Good to see you, Morphy! I hope you find out something useful today.

Sounds like the Green Dragon has "All the Newts That're Fit to Print." I'm sure the NY Times is envious. Posting newt photos when trolls show up: great idea! Good for a laugh, and I'm sure you have enjoyably puzzled trolls. The 1001 (463) fantasy book list looks intriguing - we should resurrect it before FF next year.

I'm with Jim in >138 magicians_nephew:; the Tom Robbins books don't seem to age well. I didn't read Jitterbug Perfume, and hearing now about the prevalence of beets in it, I'm doubly glad.

>138 magicians_nephew: Yup, I'm with you, Jim. I haven't tried a re-read of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, but your reaction is pretty much what I envisioned. His books sure were a hot commodity back in the day.

>139 Storeetllr: Yeah, it's good to know Morphy doesn't have some fatal tropical disease, Mary, and we'll hope her doc can solve some of the mystery today.

We've asked all beets to beat it. They can be found in a convenient store near you, but not here, gods willing.

Your experience with GoT was similar to mine, although I only tried the once. You get bonus points for the extra effort. Do take a look at Plainsong. It's a beautiful book.

>140 fuzzi: Plainsong is a worthy addition to your tbr, fuzzi. More pecan-pie bread pudding? It's the Breakfast of Champions, especially with a little ice cream.

>141 Ameise1: Good morning, Barbara! You're making me feel lucky and Irish. I hope you have a lovely day, too.

>142 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! You know, this is a cafe, so we have to wax philosophical every once in a while, right?

In a comic in the paper today a teenager scoffs at her father's enthusiasm for the city's beautiful new library, saying, "that's like building a state of the art blacksmith's shop". Oh no! And here we all are loving beautiful libraries, new and old.

>143 msf59: Morning, Mark. Hey, great. I hope you get as big a kick out of In the Bleak Midwinter as I did. Clare and Russ make for quite a pair. Yes, there's a bit of Three Pines feel to it. If I've got it right, Bonnie only reads two mystery series: Clare and Russ, and Three Pines.

I know you're as big a fan of Plainsong as I am. What a beautiful book. I'd like to get to a time when I can re-read all three again. Among other things, that play made me miss the McPherson brothers and Victoria more than ever.

Happy Hump Day! Stay warm in this stupidest winter in a long, long time.

>144 dragonaria: That's a funny video, Kimberly. Thanks! I particularly liked the "jazz hand" near the end. If that's what the GoT series was like, I'd be glued to the tv.

>145 mckait: Thanks, Kath.

It was one of the best experiences of our lives. We picked up the first Harry Potter right away when it first came out, and started it when our daughter was the same age as Harry in that one. So Debbi read them to us over a period of many years - early on we'd order the newest one from Amazon UK, because back then you could get it a half year earlier that way. Then they started coordinating the U.S./UK releases. She read them to us all over the place - including on beautiful days in our big lakefront park. It worked out perfectly, because as the books got darker, our kids were old enough to handle it fine. Knowing them, they could have at earlier ages, too, but this made it quite comfortable. And Debbi has a lovely reading voice.

Crazy cold here, too. Good to see you, and I hope you have a happy day, too.

I'm enjoying the beet love here! The only thing that's missing is some Beet poetry. Bongos, please.

Molly Claire
Beet.

In the ground I grow
I grow plump
I grow red

Once I am all done
I am yanked out of my home
Yanked out of my warm dirt

I am taken with strong hands
Placed in a basket
Where I meet all of my brothers

We will all have the same fate
We are baked
Slowly dying

We stain the hands of our murderers
We are no longer whole
We are gone.

>147 jnwelch: Lovely, Darryl. Who knew there was a poem about beets? It expresses why I stay away from them - my deep sympathy for all of the beet brothers.

>146 jnwelch:. MY. That looks heavenly. May I put in a standing order?

It's a funny thing with me and fantasy. I have been a devotee of Tolkien since my college days when I first learned of him. I've read the Harry Potter series with varying degrees of enjoyment (I'm not a rabid fan, but I am listening to it all again on audio these days). I think my problem lies with books that begin with the premise that our society has collapsed in one way or another, and been replaced with something more primitive and dystopian. I just don't want to go there. Ancient fantasy worlds and hidden magical societies are different, apparently.

>150 laytonwoman3rd: A standing order sounds like a good idea, Linda. The proprietor may join you. Pecan pie bread pudding - what a brilliant invention.

I love the Tolkien books, too. (Our kids think there's "too much walking" in them. Too much of the books involves people crossing the landscape to get from Point A to Point B, in their view). Our son sent me a funny 2 minute video that makes the point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yqVD0swvWU Maybe surprisingly, though, both of them loved the movies.

You're not taking to dystopian fantasy of course means you're out of one of the most prevalent trends in fantasy books right now, especially YA. Not sure why these themes fire up the way they do - vampires remain a big deal, too. I don't go for a lot of the popular fantasy series, but I am a Harry Dresden fan (he got me through a hip surgery recovery), and I did enjoy the first in Roberta's Iron Druid series. Plus Kristin Cashore and Suzanne Collins and, of course, Harry.

I'm not sure I could explain why I like some, and not others, but there is a wide swath of fantasy books that seems by-the-numbers and not interesting.

Joe, I thought your review of The Goldfinch was stellar. Such an emotional ride. I'm glad to see Ms. Tartt is having success with another excellent book. I've enjoyed all three of her books, even The Little Friend which many people didn't like so well. I really liked how you wove some great quotes into your comments. Good job!

Morning, Joe, I come bearing book-bullets for the techno-enabled readers. All of them cheap!!

All platforms, each $1.99:

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. is the story of Breakfast at Tiffany's, the film, as told by the makers, the movers, and the shakers involved in it. I'm a hopeless Hepburnian, and this book brought me a lot of pleasure.

Collected Stories of Carol Shields...well, you like her already or you don't, but if you've never dipped in the waters this is the time and the way to do it. Two bucks! Who *cares* if you hate it!

Knocked Up: The Shooting Script is what it says. I read screenplays and shooting scripts like I take painful shots. They're teaching tools. And this movie didn't even raise a smile off of me. But it made a zillion bucks at the box office, so it pays to pay attention to the how....

Hello, and thanks for the wonderful review of The Goldfinch. I am #7 thumbs up.

I'm on a long list waiting to obtain this book from the local libraries. I may have to break down and purchase it.

Good day to you Joe!

>152 Donna828: Thanks, Donna!

I'm glad you liked the review, especially seeing that you're such a fan of her books. So is our daughter. I think she liked The Little Friend, too, although she seemed a bit disappointed that it didn't have the impact on her that Secret History did. (She LOVED that one). Thanks for letting me know you liked the quotes - they of course struck me as I was reading the book, but it's not always easy to gauge how they'll come across to others in a review.

>153 richardderus: Oh good, I like it when you give us all a heads-up on the ereader bargains, Richard. I'm a Hepburn fan, too (we just saw her first one, Roman Holiday, on New Year's Eve). I need to see Breakfast at Tiffany's.

>154 Whisper1: Thanks for the thumb, Linda! I'm glad you liked the review. It's worth buying, seems to me, if you're 8 zillionth on the library waiting lists. We were lucky - a sister of mine gave it to my MBH for Christmas. I'm the third one (after Debbi and our daughter) to read it in our family. We may have to gang up on our son to get him to read it, too.

Good day to you, too, Linda! I hope it's a relatively pain-free one for you.

Hiya Joe! Just stopping by to say hi and let you know I will be picking up Scarlet from the library today. I believe you were one of the book whisperers who enticed me into reading this sooner rather than later!

I've skipped your review of The Goldfinch for now as that is one I plan on reading in the next few months. It is on the Maine Readers Choice Awards long list.

Also, I love beets! LOL! My mom makes yummy pickled beets but we will eat them any old way at my house.

>156 Cobscook: Hiya, Heidi! Yes, I'm in that group of book whisperers. You'll have a ton o' fun with Scarlet. Anyone who likes Cinder will like the others as well, and Scarlet is a strong one with new characters you'll enjoy.

Good for you for skipping my review of The Goldfinch. I did the same when Julia wrote her excellent review, as I knew I'd be reading the book too close in time. You've probably got a better memory than I do. If months pass, details in a review become hazy for me, and the review doesn't affect my reading of the book.

Have a great time with those beets in your house. In mine, my wife and daughter like to tease me by threatening to make or bring in beet dishes. It probably traces back to that memorable childhood incident when I got beaten up by a beet.

Beat by a beet? That must be some story! If it's not still too painful for you to recall, Joe, do tell!

>158 Storeetllr: It is a bit of a painful memory to revisit, Mary. But I'll give it a go.

When I was a young guy, there was a gang of beets at my high school, and one day I was making derogatory comments about a poorly-designed Porsche to one of my car-fancier friends. Only one of the beets heard "Borscht", and it was like I'd tried to spray toxic pesticides over acres of vegetation. Next thing I know I'm pinned down by five of his "highly nutritious" buddies (no surprise their scientific name is "Beta Vulgaris", right?). Then I'm being slapped around with stems and broad, dark-green leaves. Their fabled "anti-aging" qualities seemed to involve my not getting any older because it was my last day on earth. If my car-fancier friend hadn't distracted them by throwing sour cream, I might have been six beet under. As it was, I felt like I'd been sliced and grilled. So you can see why I might be a bit traumatized. Stupid tubular root vegetables.

I don't usually get this personal, but you asked, and I thought I should answer.

Stone Cold by C.J. Box is another fun outing with Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett. He gets sent to a different game warden's territory to find out whether a local wealthy landowner is behind the assassinations of some rich, difficult to convict frauds, one of whom is reminiscent of Bernie Madoff. Wyoming's Governor Rulon believes in Joe, and looks once more for him to get to the bottom of a tough problem:

"You've always had this ability to get into the middle of things. And when you do, you look at the situation in a clear-eyed way. At times it's annoyed me, and I just wish you'd gone on with your business. But it is a unique gift, and I recognize that. . . . Joe, you're my range rider - a seeker of truth. You're my man on the ground, like before. Only this time, you can't get directly involved in the situation and you need to be wary not to embarrass me."

Joe's honesty and integrity in the face of pressures to bend like everyone else are major aspects of his attractiveness as the main character in this series. His ability to unwisely annoy other people, his sometimes clumsy responses to problems in his family, and his occasional Stephanie Plum-like ineptness, help keep him from achieving only boring sainthood in the eyes of the reader. In this one, his friend, the complicated but deadly efficient Nate Romanowski, may be involved in the murders-for-hire. Joe also is trampling on the turf of a fellow game warden. Although he promises the Governor, the FBI, and most importantly, his wife, not to get directly involved, that of course is exactly what he's drawn into doing. Meanwhile, his adopted teen daughter April is swooning over a local rodeo champ who Joe suspects of being a rapist, and his college daughter Sheridan is worried about a darkly asocial student in her dorm who seems to have Columbine tendencies. These other stories are smoothly integrated, and one in particular leaves room for development in the next book.

Joe isn't very good with his gun, and as always attacks the problem with his wits and doggedness, rather than brawn and firepower. I was ready for more when this one ended, and look forward to the next chapter in his adventures.

>159 jnwelch: Ha!! Some of my bestr friends are beets ...

I know, I'm pretty fond of the Beet Generation myself, Marianne. But this was hard to get over. As you can imagine, after all that, I had to go out with my friend and get pickled.

>159 jnwelch: LOL!

>161 michigantrumpet: Yes!

>163 laytonwoman3rd: By "Yes!" I assume you're expressing sympathy for the dressing down I got, Linda. Russian away saved me, as they seemed to think it was a Feta Compli.

OK, off to catch the train. Looking forward to not-beets for dinner.

#160> Joe, I just picked up the first book in this series in an ebook deal earlier this week because my LT pals who read it seem to like it quite a bit. The last thing I need is another series, but what are you gonna do?

>164 jnwelch: You do not have parmesan to continue the punning.

Oh, dear, I try so hard to dodge certain BBs from certain Reader-type who might live on an Island, but now I've found them here. I had to buy that book about Audrey Hepburn. Thanks a lot!

I'm sorry about how badly you were treated when you were a "young guy" admiring Porche cars. Sigh.

Hi Joe- "stupidest winter in a long, long time." Amen, my friend. Today was rough! I am enjoying Claire & Russ, though.
I should get back to Joe Pickett. I only read the 1st 2. They were a bit overshadowed by the Longmire books, which I am crazy about.

I bought the Audrey Hepburn book too!

*preens* People DO listen to me!

I posted my review of The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope on the book page and my thread.

I just gave Richard's review of Adam Hope a thumb and noted that Joe also posted a review. It is a good book.

ETA: oh, yeah, Hi, Joe. Hope Thursday goes by quickly so we get right to that Friday joy.

Coffee and breakfast. Good plan.

I read Richard's review this morning. I'm off to find Joe's as well. Looks like I need to move this one up to the top most. I'll check the library after work today.

Ah, ha! I found your review Joe! Thumbs up.

>165 rosalita: Hi, Julia! You know, to me finding a new series I like is one of life's great pleasures. Two recent ones for me are the in Death and Clare and Russ mysteries, the latter of which I tried thanks to Bonnie's enthusiasm.

The hard part is when you get caught up, and have to wait for the next one, but that's a nice price to pay. If you like the first one in the Joe Pickett series, you've got a lot of good ones out in front of you.

>166 richardderus: I guess I was getting a little juiced over the beets, RD. Sometimes it's hard to just chill it and leave it for another day.

>167 maggie1944: Thank you for your sympathy on my misunderstood young guy Porsche-loving days, Karen. You have mine on that sly BB from our favorite bearded fellow.

>168 msf59: Hiya, Mark! Yeah, it was bad yesterday and, unfortunately, worse today. Wish we could invent a heat bubble you could travel about in. We'll bring out some hot coffee in a minute.

I'm the reverse of you - you need to get back to the Joe Picketts, and I need to get back to the Walt Longmires. The cable series started taking the place of the Longmire books for me, and that ain't right.

Here you go for some heat to help the day's start:

Aack! I'm behind on this whole thread Joe! I'll have to come back to catch up. I wanted to thank you for checking in on me while I was feeling yuck.

>169 walklover: Wasn't that cool to see AH in Roman Holiday, oh lover of walks? Glad you picked up the book RD recommended. If we happen to run into each other, let me know what you think of it.

>170 richardderus: Cool and different kind of review of Enchanted Life, Mr. D. Bethumbed by moi. We listen all right.

>171 maggie1944: H! Hi, Karen. Thanks for finding my review of ELOAH, and I bethumbed RD's too. As I noted in the review, you and Kath were the ones who pointed me to the book.

This does seem like a "get-through-it" kind of Thursday, particularly in our frozen over part of the country here. But I can hear my mom or somebody urging me to treasure every day, etc. Not easy sometimes. This winter sure has been a test.

Coffee and breakfast, a fine idea. Here you go:



>>172 Whisper1:-173 Thanks for the thumb, Linda! I'm glad RD's spotlight helped bring Enchanted Life to people's attention. It's a good 'un. I gave a copy to one of my sisters for Christmas. It will suit you, methinks.

>175 luvamystery65: No worries, Roberta. There is a lot of silliness in this thread about beets that should make for quick reading when you have time. I was happy to stop by, of course, and I'm glad you're getting on the far side of yuck.

Morning Joe- At last I am off today, so that is a relief. I heard we are getting more snow over the weekend. REALLY?
I will try to get back in the saddle with Mr. Pickett. I like the Longmire TV series. Great cast but the books are so much better.

>177 msf59: Yes, I just saw over on your thread that you're off today, Mark. Excellent! Wise strategic move. It was a battle just getting in today. Shaking our fists at the sky doesn't seem to help much, does it? More snow? This is getting ridiculous.

Hi Joe! Hmmm... I purchased The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope at Booktopia last year but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I guess I will do so.

I'm still in the library queue for The Goldfinch but if it comes out in soft cover before I get it, I will certainly purchase it.

Sherlock is adorable!!

Sorry about the winter you and your Chicagoland community have had to endure. I hope spring arrives soon.

I hate to be the one to break this to you, Joe (he smirked with no tiniest shred of evidence that this locution was anything but a salt-in-the-wound smug lie), but there will *never*again* be a summer. The Maunder Minimum has struck, the poles are shifting, and the climate is destabilized so Chicagoland is the new Arctic!

Howzabout some chili cheese fries?

>179 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. It has been one long, stupid winter. Too bad, as we had a couple of mild ones before this.

The Enchanted Life is well worth your reading it. Different, memorable, and well-executed. Quite a feat of the imagination, among other things. Full of quiet, beautiful moments.

You'll be riveted by The Goldfinch, I'm pretty sure, once you get your hands on it. Theo . . . woo.

>180 richardderus: Ha! Jeez, you're cheery as you whistle past the graveyard, Richard.

I had to look up Maunder Minimum. Low number of sun spots? Is it possible that the universe cares not a tater tot about our little lives played out on an icy midwestern tundra? Is there some way we can funnel global warming to offset this? What if we sacrificed several snow plows to the gods? Or should we just surrender to the inevitable, and make cocoa?

Chili cheese fries - you bet:

I dropped my car off for routine maintenance this morning, and got a ride to the office from their courtesy shuttle; the personable young man driving responded to my grumbling about the cold and the state of the roads & streets by saying he's saving up to move "out of this crummy state" to.....wait for it.....CHICAGO. I asked him if he'd heard about the winter conditions there, but he was all "their economy is BOOMING". So I shut up for the rest of the ride. You can't tell young people anything.

>182 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! That's hilarious, Linda. I guess he figured out we're in the Low Sun Spot Belt. The economy's fine, but this weather needs to get tossed in the dumpster. I will say it has been about 35 years (1979) since it was this bad, and I'd be fine with going another 35 before we see weather anywhere close to this again.

Sorry, Joe (not sorry), your homeland appears to be the new pole in a colder world! I mean, world. The exclam is just too, too cruel. *evil Muttley laugh*

Lovin' the chili cheese fries with sour cream!!

And, for your edification, I reproduce my warbles of ecstasy from threads gone by:

This Steinbeck letter, released or publicized for his birthday today, is his take on falling in love. It is *marvelous* and a quick read.

AND!! AND!! For all ereader platforms, there is a $1.99 sale today on a book I loved immoderately when it was first released: Further Adventures by Jon Stephen Fink. It came before the (distinctly inferior, IMO) Adventures of Kavalier and Klay, telling much the same sort of story...well, with an admixture of Redshirts, the Scalzi novel.

As this was long Before LT, I've never reviewed or rated it, but will soon because I enjoyed it so much in 2000.

>The 1001 (463) fantasy book list looks intriguing

Yeah. I know. But what the Green Dragoneers know but you don't is that I *listed* only the first book in a series but *counted* all the books. As an example, with the Lord of the Rings, I listed Fellowship of the Ring but counted three books. Or the Narnia books - I listed The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but counted seven books. So there actually are 1001 books (at the time of the list.)

>184 richardderus: Richard, "I can't handle the truth!" OK? So make something up involving sun and warm temps. I don't need no stinkin' truth. And tell that Muttley to pipe down.

Glad the CCF's hit the spot.

Love the Steinbeck letter - I warbled back to you about it on your thread. I passed it on to my MBH, who loved it, too.

Further Adventures never have I heard of, and it does look intriguing at that attractive price.

>185 Morphidae: Clever, indeed, Morphy. That would have challenged my math skills, and my patience, so my hat's off to you for creating that accurate 1001 list. Truth is, we all do need to read all of the books in those series before we turn into newts. I'm good on the two you mention in the post. Now the top of my head is getting cold, and I'm going to put my hat back on.

We also have 111 Science Fiction Books to Read Before a Supernova Kills Us All, 111 Nonfiction Books to Read Before Your Brain Atrophies and 50 Mysteries to Read Before They Find the Body. Links are on my profile page.

>187 Morphidae: I love the titles of each of those, Morphy. I'm sure they're good resources, too. I will visit and peruse.

ETA: You certainly have some in the sci-fi list that I haven't read and thought I should. Have you read More Than Human? How about Cyteen?

Love the Floyd Benton cartoon! I hope that is not me over the weekend. Fingers & toes crossed.

I picked up Over the Wall. Shamefully, I have not picked up a GN in nearly 2 weeks. Horribly Bad Mark.

>189 msf59: You and me both, buddy. I will say the brief warm temperature melt gave us back some room to place the shoveled snow. But who wants to use it?

Jeez, I've grown so used to having a gn going that I can't imagine being without one for that long. How did you do it? I'd probably be so annoying Debbi would find me one just to quiet me down. Over the Wall should be an a-okay quick read for you. It's no big deal, but it's a well done first outing, and he shows promise.

>188 jnwelch: Joe, no, neither of those are books that I've read.

I saw and was justifiably impressed by your review of The Goldfinch when you first posted it Joe. Although the reviews have been all over the place I have it safely stored on my iPad and will read it at some point. I seem to be in a reading rut of some kind and I've really slowed down andseem to have no ability to concentrate right now. But I really want to comment on BEETS! Possibly my favorite vegetable, especially as beet salad, with onion, vinegar and oil, salt, pepper and oregano---mmmmmm.

oh, poor Joe. Your least favored vegetable seems to have hit an all time high on the hit parade. I have some in my refrigerator right now waiting to be cooked. I think I'll go cook them, eat them, and get them out of my mind so I'll not be tempted to talk about them here.

Richard wants me to post a picture but I'm having the devil's time remembering how to post pictures. If you never want to see those vegetables on my thread, do not go over there and tell me how to post a picture.

Have a nice Thursday evening and a lovely Friday.

>191 Morphidae: Jeez, good job with that link to the first post, Morphy. Thanks. I think at some point I just have to dig in and give them a try.

>192 brenzi: Ha! My MBH was teasing me about how much beet talk there has been on this thread, Bonnie. You may have seen (>159 jnwelch:) that I had a traumatic experience with beets as a kid, so I unfortunately can't join your enthusiasm.

Thanks re the review of The Goldfinch. Can't wait to hear your thoughts when you do read it; you may not have the same reaction, but I know it'll be an insightful review. It's immensely readable. Sorry you're in a bit of a reading rut. I'm not sure whether you read much "lighter" stuff, but that's what I go to when I feel like that. I'm sure you're all caught up with Clare and Russ - a new one of those would probably be perfect.

>193 maggie1944: My MBH, who you met, Karen, is just shaking her head over all the beet talk at this cafe. Please consume them quietly in a shadowy nook of which I know not the whereabouts. I'm just hoping Darryl doesn't show up with another Ode to a Beet.

Count on me not to go over and tell you how to post pictures until after the last beet has left town. But once that happens, I'll be able to tell you that I've found copying them into my Word Pictures folder, from there to my Profile, and from my Profile to here, works. There are probably easier ways, but at least that gets the job done.

Thanks - Thursday evening was quite nice, and Friday is starting out well. Hope you have a lovely Friday, too.

I'm in the mood for a beautiful place to visit, how about you?



No idea where this is. The photo doesn't say. Does anyone know?

Once again I agree with you about the beets, and would be very pleased to have them consumed out of sight :P

I don't know where the beautiful place is, but it really is beautiful, and it looks warm.

Yes, I am in the mood for a beautiful place to visit, too. I agree. Picture is fascinating, beautiful, and as Kath says looks warm.

My left wrist is giving me fits this morning, so I think I'll take a recess from the computer and go have a shower and take my RA meds, and start the day again a little bit later. Lucky for me, no work today. Just a tai chi class after lunch.

More Than Human is Ted Sturgeon really on a high wire. More "speculative fiction" than pure sci-fi and as always with Sturgeon wonderful complex characters.

Or Venus Plus X

going off to look at Morphy's list

>194 jnwelch: I don't know where it is, but I want to go to there!

Shoot, I lost my posts while pursuing a book link. Drat. OK, here goes.

>195 mckait: Great to have a fellow beet avoider, Kath. Too many folks singing their praises here.

It's a beautiful spot, isn't it, and it does look warm.

>196 maggie1944: We can visit via daydreaming, Karen. Good day for that. It is fascinating, isn't it? I think that's a moat, but I've never seen one like it. And what are the buildings?

>197 magicians_nephew: Sounds like you'd recommend reading More Than Human, right, Jim? It shows up on a lot of "Best" lists.

Venus Plus X is new to me. Morphy's links for the Green Dragon's Ones to Read Before You . . . lists are on her profile page.

>198 rosalita: Me, too, Julia! It combines beautiful, warm, and making you want to explore. It'll be fun to see whether anyone recognizes it.

daydreaming is a great way to spend the day!

Daydreaming is one of the things our fast-paced lives don't allow for anymore, and it's a great shame. It's the kind of activity that can open a real creative vein of thought, quite opposite the checklist of accomplishments and deadlines we endlessly pursue.

>194 jnwelch: India? Sri Lanka? Burma? Looks vaguely Hindu-temple-y.

Have a restful weekend, Joe.

>200 maggie1944: Ain't that the truth, Karen? I could daydream all day, every day. Although I suppose I'd roust myself out of it for some reading every once in a while.

>201 ffortsa: It's funny, Judy, I've actually talked to our multi-tasking, always on the go son about that. I've urged him to leave some time for just sitting back and dreaming. Of course, he's at that stage of life where he's out of school and the whole new world is in front of him like a smorgasbord.

To his credit, he does regularly manage to create time for writing new poetry.

As I get toward the far end of checklisting accomplishments and deadlines, I'm becoming more and more interested in that kind of creative daydreaming you talk about. I agree with you; even if we're not talking about accomplishments and deadlines, we've still got endless distractions in front of us these days. We can continuously move from one to another at a fast pace, and think we're getting somewhere.

Hmm. We'll keep working on that one, right?

>202 richardderus: You know, I'm still not sure about that photo in >194 jnwelch:, Richard. I had a similar thought, but that foliage looks like it could be in Europe, doesn't it? Mysterious.

Thanks for the wishes for a restful weekend; it's going to be a bit activity-filled for us, but if I manage to stay mellow, it still can be restful. We've got a party at a bar/restaurant tonight (obligatory - both of us would choose otherwise if we could), a play tomorrow (an adaptation of The Little Prince, a fave of my MBH's, at Lookingglass Theater), and then a Bulls basketball game mid-day on Sunday. All good stuff, but picking up on Judy's point, we normally try to leave more time for daydreaming on the weekend.

Hope you and Ms. Stella have a restful one, too.



(We remembered the butterscotch chips).

Das nummyness, thanks!

(pssst skip the game)

>203 jnwelch: I've got a poetry class tomorrow morning and a concert in the evening, but Sunday is blessedly free.

Jim has suggested I would get more of my long-standing home projects done if I made a project plan! I'll have to build some daydreaming time into it.

I also HAVE to take 3 1/2 carryover vacation days before the end of March. What a pity.

>204 richardderus:

:-)

I'm a pushover for the games. For me, they're visual jazz. Tons o' fun.

>205 ffortsa: A poetry class in the morning and a concert at night sounds like a primo day, Judy.

There is a lot of enjoyment to be had in daydreaming about home projects, if they're not of the chore nature. We're finishing up that back sunroom I mentioned, and loving it. My MBH has outdone herself with creative thinking (with some input from her bonehead husband), and we've had some good help from our contractor, too. Plus our sister-in-law made some great sunflower quilts for the two beds in there that just arrived this week.

I was going to get envious about your 3 1/2 days before the end of March (what a pity), but we're about to take some time to go visit our son, so I can't complain.

>194 jnwelch:
Chittorgarh, India

>194 jnwelch: My Google Foo worked today. It is Benteng Chittorgarh India

http://www.bluecanvas.com/magazine/articles/random-inspiration-benteng-chittorga...

>207 AuntieClio:, >208 calm: Well done, Stephanie and Calm! Southern India, eh? Richard had the right idea in >202 richardderus:.

Impressive display of Google Foo. Seems to warrant some Indian treats, don't you think?

Joe, I got your comment about finishing Necessity's Child and posted my caveats on my thread.

>211 jnwelch: I put my spoiler-covered response on your thread, Roni. Good points, all.

>194 jnwelch: No idea where this is. The photo doesn't say. Does anyone know?

It's in northern New Jersey. I'm sure of it.

Joe,

Happy Saturday, Joe! Looks like I will be walking through more snow. Is this cruel or what? The good news is, I am going to finally start the Goldfinch. That should take my mind off things.
Have a great day, my friend.

So glad you're going to start The Goldfinch, Mark. Can't wait to hear what you have to say.

>212 kidzdoc: We have to find time for you to be my tour guide in northern New Jersey, Darryl. I had no idea. Now calling it "the Garden State" makes more sense to me. Is that Mafia housing?

>213 Ameise1: Ha! Thanks, Barbara! You've already made it a happier one. Hope you have a great weekend, too.

>214 msf59: All right! Glad to hear you're starting The Goldfinch, Mark. Yes, that should make the day fly for you.

Crummy weather continues, but at least it's not bone-chilling out there. Hoping the load of snow doesn't arrive until your day is done.

>215 walklover: Me, too, young lady. Are you busy today? How about seeing a play?

Hmm. Breakfast for walklover, breakfast for walklover. Got it! How about a piece of chocolate cake?

>208 calm: Would you share the terms you used to search? I tried the Google magic myself, and I'm usually pretty good at it, but failed failed failed this time.

A play sounds lovely. Why don't we meet for lunch first - that is, if I have any room after that delicious chocolate cake. How'd you know?

>217 laytonwoman3rd: I didn't actually use any terms. My browser has an option when you right click an image to search for the actual picture. So it wasn't that difficult.

>218 walklover: :-) It's just those cafe proprietor instincts kicking in, I guess. How else would I know?

I like your plan. It's a deal.

>219 calm: Oh my, I like that browser, calm. What is it?

Morning Joe, hope you have a great weekend. That chocolate cake looks decadent.

I use Google Chrome Joe. .

>216 jnwelch: Joe you sure know how to treat your lady right with that chocolate cake for breakfast. You two have a Happy Saturday!

>221 Thebookdiva: Hey, there's our Abby! How are you?

Doesn't that cake look decadent/good? It's my MBH's favorite food. If they were calorie-free, I think yours truly could eat pizza every day, and she could eat chocolate cake.

Hope you have a great weekend, too. So far so good for us. A nice birthday party for a friend last night, and a play adaptation of The Little Prince today.

ETA: >222 calm: I'll have to try that, calm. I always wanted that ability to search images. Thanks.

P.S. It worked! Thanks!

>223 luvamystery65: Thanks, Roberta. As my MBH could explain in more detail, I try to come up with some thoughtful gestures to help balance out the myriad ways I manage to annoy the heck out of her.

We are indeed embarked on a happy Saturday, and I hope you have one, too!

Joe, The Little Prince is my favourite story I've ever read. Nothing can top it. Wish you a lovely theatre evening.

>225 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. Your favourite story ever - that's high praise indeed! The play has gotten good reviews, and we're looking forward to it. We'll report back.

Oops - the rare double post. Let's substitute a nice place to hang out.

White pizza, spinach, garlic. Das nummyness.

Lovely dinner with friends last night at a local delight called A Little Pizza Heaven (also owned by friends). Gorged on bruschetta, manesta soup ("beans and greens"), shrimp "gumbo" (delightful, but not gumbo) over rice, and Southern Comfort bread pudding. By the time I got to the desert, I just couldn't do more than a couple bites...so, happily, I had it for breakfast this morning!

>228 richardderus: Mmmmm! *remembers supposed to eat slowly as slloowwwllly scarfs down delicious pizza*

>229 laytonwoman3rd: Oh my, that sounds wonderful, Linda. Perfect - carry over that dessert to breakfast time. We're going to an Italian restaurant for lunch, Francesca's, figuring that will be our big meal of the day.

Southern comfort bread pudding? Sounds like one we need to try here.

Oh, and I posted (at long last!) my review of the August 2013 Early Reviewers book I won. If Kennedy Lived is posted on my thread, post #285.

An alternative history, actually closer to a counterfactual (subtle difference mostly to do with the tone of the presentation and the purpose of the read), that stems from the author's presence at many important events of the day. If you don't know where you were and what you were doing that day, this might not interest you too terribly much. But WE were there, and I think it's very much worth your eyeblinks.

>227 jnwelch:
>228 richardderus:

nice!

Very

>227 jnwelch: Oh I want to hang out there

>230 jnwelch: Innnnnteresting...mine looked nothing like that. It had pecans and raisins, and the gooey-ness was more integrated into it.

Doesn't this look *scrummy*?!

...what...? It's red-wine poached pears on a tart!

Oh, man... That looks gooooood.

Hi Joe- I am enjoying the banter between you and Debbi. Oh, you newlyweds! Hope you enjoyed the play.
I am really enjoying The Goldfinch in the early going. She likes to take her time but as long as those pages keep turning.

There is seriously way. too. much. yummy. food. here.

*collapses from over-eating*

Omg that chocolate cake looks do die for. Good thing it is calorie free! We went to one of our favorite coffee shops tonight and they had a homemade chocolate ganache cake to die for. I resisted. I deserve a gold star. Yes oh yes I do.

Hello :-)

How was the play, Joe?

Hi Joe! A play? I hope you didn't get snowed in or under or what have you, on the way home! Blasted Blasts of Bloody Winter !

Grrr

Well, I finished Gemini and liked enough to put another of that authors books on my short stack,,,But first, I have a James Rollins to read. I love James Rollins. The Kill Switch is the book, it is written with someone, and is a Sigma Force novel. I am always trying to get folks at our library to read Rollins.. those who like this sort of read but they resist. Silly them.

Hope you are sleeping in and not shoveling out.

Happy Sunday, good proprietor, and may the Weather Goddess ^^ take mercy upon you. Might I trouble the chef to rustle up a pig or two of bacon and a coop of eggs, scrambled? Feelin' old school.

Good morning, everyone! We're back from shoveling and errands and picking up coffee/chai.

>231 richardderus: Sounds intriguing, RD. I've certainly thought about the concept of If Kennedy Lived, as I'm sure others have. I'll check out the review.

>232 mckait: Thanks, Kath. I wouldn't mind combining the two, eating some of RD's delicious pizza somewhere in the vicinity of >227 jnwelch:.

>233 SuziQoregon: Me, too, Juli. It has an old-timey feel to it, doesn't it?

>234 laytonwoman3rd: Yours sounds better, Linda. I like the idea of pecans and raisins, and interior gooeyness.

>235 richardderus: Splendiferous, mon frere. Let's get it sliced up and dig in.

>236 drneutron: Ain't that the truth, Jim. I like pear-just-about-anything, but red-wine poached pears on a tart sounds like a little bit of heaven.

>237 msf59: Ha! The banter with walklover never ends, I can tell you that much, Mark. That's why I need to rack up those bonus points (e.g chocolate cake for breakfast) to balance out those times I manage to annoy her more than usual.

I've no doubt those pages will keep flying for you in The Goldfinch. It's a long one, but you'll keep motoring along. Have you met Boris yet?

>238 LovingLit: *helps get Megan to the cafe bed* No worries, Megan. Happens all the time. Rest up and get your appetite back.

>245 jnwelch: Such a nook!! Love love love it.

>227 jnwelch: - Lovely!

Hi Joe - I don't have much to add, but I wanted to pop in to say hello! I hope you and the family are having a lovely weekend.

>239 leperdbunny: You do deserve a good star, Tam. Homemade chocolate ganache cake? Oh my. The chef whipped up some calorie-free in your honor.



Whenever I see the word "ganache" these days I think of Inspector Gamache. When's the new one supposed to come out, I wonder?

>240 AuntieClio: Hello, Stephanie. Good to see you! Hope all is well in your part of the world.

>241 wilkiec: The play wasn't a worldbeater, Diana, but it was pretty good. My MBH and I agree that we'd probably recommend this adaptation of The Little Prince to a family with kids, but maybe not to adults. The acting was good, in fact it featured one of our favorite actors from Steppenwolf, Ian Barford, as the Aviator.



There were good "special effects", with people on planets descending from above the stage and ascending from below.



The Fox was funny and poignant.



But overall it wasn't at the level of the Plainsong adaptation we saw. In part, for me, the set wasn't as imaginative as it might have been. It's tough to depict a desert story with all the oddball planetary stuff, no question. But for me the way it was done didn't help pull us into the spell of the performance.

So, we were glad we went, and it has enough complexity to entertain adults as well as children, but it wasn't quite at the high level we were hoping for.

We had fun, though, including an excellent meal at Francesca's. Spaghetti al Limone e Gamberi for me, and Gnocchi a Bavosa for walklover.

>242 mckait: It started getting windy and snowy right as we were leaving the play, Kath, so that worked out okay. (Instead of walking out into a mess).

Gemini looks intriguing - nice review! I haven't read James Rollins, so I'll look into his books, too.

We did sleep in - 7 am, oh my goodness! Well, I did. My MBH was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed long before that. Then we read in bed for a while. Among others, I'm reading Why We Read Jane Austen, a number of writers talking about why she's important to them. I'm on W. Somerset Maugham's, which is good so far. I was really disappointed by Lionel Trilling's. He gives this big build-up about how 150 students wanted desperately to get into his 40 student class covering the six Austen novels and - then, nothing! No clue as to why anyone would be desperate about that, or what came out in the class.

We've since shoveled and been responsible in general, but that will end soon as we go off to watch a Bulls basketball game at the United Center. They're playing the Knicks, usually a strong rival, but not very good this year.

>243 richardderus: Happy Sunday, good patron. The Weather Goddess, in her mysterious ways, has not chosen to be merciful. Frigid cold and about a half foot of snow. Oof. Here we go again.

Thank goodness we have a warm cafe, right? An old school breakfast, coming up:

Well, that's Richard's portion of bacon....what do the rest of us get?

(227) OOOH! OOH! I want to go! Where? :)

(228) That looks scrumptious.

(248) Yes!!!

We went to National Harbor (Maryland) this week, me for a work-related convention, and my dh, to keep me company. We got to meet three other LTers, and spent several hours at Arlington National Cemetery (a must-go place!). On the way home we stopped in Dumfries, VA, and had a fantastic meal/experience at...an IHOP! I ate the best scrambled eggs I've had in a restaurant in years, kudos to the staff, there.

>245 jnwelch: If only those bed nooks were a wee bit wider...

>249 laytonwoman3rd: :-) We had to go on a bacon run after Richard's order, Linda, but we'll have more soon.

>250 fuzzi: Where the >227 jnwelch: library is will have to be our next question for our patrons, fuzzi. All I get so far is "old library", and I have to get ready to go to the ballgame.

Sounds like a wonderful trip this week. I know my MBH wants to go to Arlington National. We've had some mighty good breakfasts at IHOPs, so I join you on that one.

ETA: >251 Morphidae: Ha! I know what you mean, Morphy. We'll take a look when we get back.

Off to the game!

>227 jnwelch: Stunning picture. Let's see if I can find where to go to see this one:)

According to Google it is The House on the Rock, Wisconsin

>253 calm:. Which is about a 20 minute drive from my house. Meet-up, anyone? :)

Amber - It does look like an amazing place but it would take me a lot longer than 20 minutes to get there:) If there ever is a 75er Meet-up at the House on the Rock I would love to see the pictures.

Hi Joe- I have not met Boris yet but he sounds like an intriguing character. Theo is still staying at his nerdy friend's house. It's still early on.

Have you read March Book 1? I've been sitting on this GN for a couple weeks. I finally did start it and it's very good. A strong civil rights history with Congressman Lewis.

Amber- I think a Meet-Up at the House on the Rock would be fantastic. A nice overnight trip.

>245 jnwelch:
I'll take two!

Hi Joe. This morning P and I walked to our favorite RL cafe (not competing with the virtual Joe's Cafe, of course) where I got my favorite "Onesie." One banana pancake, one egg, and one slice of bacon. Perfect. We also got a 3-mile round trip walk in!

I have been at a loss as to what fiction I want to read while I'm reading The Guns of August. I keep browsing through my shelves and nothing sticks. I gave up on To the Lighthouse (just not in that mood). Maybe I'll give The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope a try.

I hope you are having a relaxing and warm(?) weekend!

Hmmm... touchstones out of order, it appears.

>248 jnwelch: *demure belch* That was perfect. It's Oscar night! Let's all have the same again!

Made some spinach gnocchi yesterday and it turned out well. However, it was sad because I had to use some homegrown spinach that was so delicious on its own. I had it as a salad for a few days but didn't have any other way to preserve it except to cook it. Boy howdy was it good in that salad!

No more beets from me Joe just a wish for a wonderful week.

Morning Joe! I'm good, just been crazy busy lately. Your thread is hopping. Any chance of getting a mocha?

Since we were goofing off, we've brought out a breakfast buffet for everyone.



>253 calm: Thanks, calm! We actually visited the House on the Rock years ago with the kids, so it must have been buried in my subconscious. It also comes up in Gaiman's American Gods, as I recall.

>254 scaifea:, >255 calm: Wouldn't that be a hoot, Amber and calm? It's a very eccentric place.

>256 msf59:, >257 msf59: I've heard good things about March, Mark, but haven't read it. Boris is indeed quite a character. Those are good scenes with his nerd friend's family.

House on the Rock LT meet-up. I could see it.

>258 AuntieClio: Doesn't that look great, Stephanie? There's one place you can comfortably while away the hours, book in hand.

>260 richardderus: Hiya, Richard! I have to admit, we got bored by these Oscars pretty quick. Did you watch the whole thing?

>261 benitastrnad: Woo, that does sound good, Benita! Homegrown spinach, spinach salad, spinach gnocchi, I'm on board for all of it. Even furry Sherlock would like that one. My MBH was feeding him pieces of spinach leaves as a "treat" last night, and he loved it.

>262 PaulCranswick: Ha! Thanks, Paul. No more beets sounds just right. Hope you have a wonderful week, too.

>263 Thebookdiva: I know you've been busy, Abby. Always a pleasure to have you stop by! Mocha? You bet:

Come on over to the new cafe!