RebaRelishesReading in 2014 - part 2

Knitting these little "Peace Pals" for Women4Women Knitting4Peace is one of the things that "gets in the way" of my reading -- but it's fun and rewarding so I don't mind :)

My reading goals for 2014 are to:
- read 100 books, including
- 10 Pulitzer winners
- 10 books written by Nobel winners, and
- more from TBR pile than ones purchased in 2014.

UPDATE: I'm going to amend these goals in honor of all of the huge books I've purchased recently. I'll still try to read 10 Pulitzer winners (the recent tomes are Pulitzer winners) and to read more from the TBR pile that ones purchased but I'm not going to try for 100 books or for 10 by Nobel winners.

BOOKS READ IN 2014

January

1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
2. The Hawk and the Dove by Nicholas Thompson
3. Homer & Langley by E. L. Doctorow
4. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
5. Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
6. We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

February

7. A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers
8. Philomena: A Mother, Her Son and a Fifty-year Search by Martin Sixsmith
9. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

March

10.An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine
11.A History of the Present Illness by Louise Aronson
12. Radiance of Tomorrow by Ishmael Beah
13. At Night We Walk in Circles by Daniel Alarcon
14. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk
15. Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford
16. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

April

17. The Names of Things by John Colman Wood
18. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
19. Every Day is for the Thief by Teju Cole

June

20. Bossy Pants by Tina Fey (audio)
21. Carry on Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse (audio)
22. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
23. Rather Outspoken by Dan Rather (audio)
24. The Boy Detective: A New York Childhood by Roger Rosenblatt
25. Winter King by Thomas Penn (audio)
26. Wild Berries by Yevgeny Yevtushenko
27. Waltzing the Cat by Pam Houston
28. You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett
29. Old Love by Isaac Bashevis Singer

July

30. Letters from Robben Island edited by Robert D. Vassen
31. Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey by Jane Goodall
32. Citizen: Jane Addams and the Struggle for Democracy by Louise I. Knight
33. Charming Billy by Alice McDermott
34. The Translator by Ward Just
35. The Archivist by Martha Cooley
36. Jefferson's Pillow by Roger Wilkins
37. My Connemara by Paula Steichen
38. Life in the Treetops by Margaret Lowman

August

39. From This Day Forward by Cokie and Steve Roberts
40. Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink
41. Pele: Why Soccer Matters with Brian Winter
42. Baseball Haiku edited by Cor van den Heuvel and Nanae Tamura
43. The Night in Question by Tobias Wolff
44. Someone by Alice Mcdermott
45. When Winter Come: The Ascension of York by Frank X. Walker
46. My Foreign Cities by Eliabeth Scarboro

PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS (for fiction) read in 2014

64. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk (1952)

Pulitzer Prize Winners read before 2014
1. The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1928) by Thornton Wilder
2. The Magnificent Ambersons (1919) by Booth Tarkington
3. The Stories of John Cheever (1979)
4. The Optimist’s Daughter (1973) by Eudora Welty
5. The Able McLaughlins (1924) by Margaret Wilson
6. His Family (1918 – first award) by Ernest Poole
7. Early Autumn (1927) by Louis Bromfield
8. The Reivers (1963) by William Faulkner
9. A Death in the Family (1958) by James Agee
10.The Good Earth (1932) by Pearl Buck
11.Angle of Repose (1972) by Wallace Stegner
12. A Visit from the Goon Squad (2011) by Jennifer Egan
13. Tinkers (2010) by Paul Harding
14. Olive Kitteridge (2009) by Elizabeth Strout
15. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2008) by Junot Diaz
16. The Road (2007) by Cormac McCarthy
17. March (2006) by Geraldine Brooks
18. Gilead (2005) by Marilynne Robinson
19. The Known World (2004) by Edward P. Jones
20. Middlesex (2003) by Jeffrey Eugenides
21. Empire Falls (2002) by Richard Russo
22. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2001) by Michael Chabon
23. Interpreter of Maladies (2000) by Jhumpa Lagiri
24. The Hours (1999) by Michael Cunningham
25. American Pastoral (1998) by Philip Roth
26. Independence Day (1996) by Richard Ford
27. The Stone Diaries (1995) by Carol Shields
28. The Shipping News (1994) by E. Annie Proulx
29. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (1993) by Robert Olen Butler
30. A Thousand Acres (1992) by Jane Smiley
31. Rabbit at Rest (1991) by John Updike
32. The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (1990) by Oscar Hijuelos
33. Breathing Lessons (1989) by Anne Tyler
34. Beloved (1988) by Toni Morrison
35. A Summons to Memphis (1987) by Peter Taylor
36. Lonesome Dove (1986) by Larry Mcmurtry
37. Foreign Affairs (1985) by Alison Lurie
38. Ironweed (1984) by William Kennedy
39. The Color Purple (1983) by Alice Walker
40. Rabbit is Rich (1982) by John Updike
41. A Confederacy of Dunces (1961) by John Kennedy Toole
42.Humboldt’s Gift (1976) by Saul Bellow
43. House Made of Dawn (1969) by N. Scott Momaday
44. To Kill a Mockingbird (1961) by Harper Lee
45. The Old Man and the Sea (1953) by Ernest Hemingway
46. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) by John Steinbeck
47. The Yearling (1939) by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
48. Gone With the Wind (1937) by Margaret Mitchell
49. Arrowsmith (1926) by Sinclair Lewis
50. So Big (1925) by Edna Ferber
51. One of Ours (1923) by Willa Silbert Cather
52. Alice Adams (1922) by Booth Tarkington
53. The Age of Innocence (1921) by Edith Wharton
54. The Orphan Master's Son (2013)
55. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren (1947)
56. The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter (1966)
57. The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau (1965)
58. Martin Dressler: A Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser (1997)
59. The Fixer by Bernard Malamud(1967)
60. Elbow Room by James Alan McPherson (1978)
61. A Bell for Adano by John Hersey (1945)
62. The Late George Apley by John P. Marquand
63. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (1975)

note: the year in parenthesis is the year the book won the Pulitzer Prize

Books by Nobel Prize Winners read in 2014

28. Old Love by Isaac Bashevis Singer (1978)

Book by Nobel Prize Winners read before 2014

1. Ernest Hemingway (1954): A Moveable Feast, The Sun Also Rises, Old Man and the Sea
2. Pearl Buck (1938): The Good Earth
3. W. B. Yeats (1923): A Poet to His Beloved: The Early Love Poems of W. B. Yeats
4. William Faulkner (1949): The Reivers
5. Doris Lessing (2007): The Sweetest Dream
6. Gunter Grass (1999): The Box: Tales from the Dark Room
7. Rudyard Kipling (1907): Captains Courageous
8. Yasunari Kawabata (1968): Snow Country
9. Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1982): Love in the Time of Cholera
10. Mario Vargas Llosa (2010): The Storyteller
11. Sinclair Lewis (1930): Main Street, Babbitt, Arrowsmith
12. John Steinbeck (1962): The Grapes of Wrath
13. Saul Bellow (1976): Humboldt’s Gift, Herzog
14. Toni Morrison (1993): Beloved, The Bluest Eye
15. John M. Coetzee (2003); Disgrace
16. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse (1946)
17. Fatelessness by Imre Kertesz (2002)
18. Vipers' Tangle by Francois Mauriac (1952)
19. Red Sorghum by Mo Yan (2012)
20. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot(1948)
21. The First Man by Albert Camus (1957)
22. Cain by Jose Saramago (1998)
23. The Appointment by Herta Muller (2009)
24. Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahrouz (1988)
25. Dear Life by Alice Munro (2013)
26. One Day in the Life of Ivan denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1970)
27. Silent House by Orhan Pamuk (2006)

note: the year in parenthesis is the year the author was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature

OK, I messed up again!! I somehow managed to open this thread before I changed the title so now I have two "number 2"'s and I can't figure out how to change the name of this one. Help anyone???

Oh..I've done that myself on many occasions. From what I know, there is no way to edit it? Things might have changed from the last time I made the mistake so maybe someone else has a techy solution or another work around. I'd be curious to know if you find anything out!

From PaulC and Richard (who made the mistake before, I think) I learned that there is no way to change that.

Happy New Thread, Reba!

P.S. I love the picture of your grandkids in the previous thread. So cute.

We soon are conditioned to make that title change the very first thing because, once you submit that first post, you cannot change it ever again!

We'll keep track of you anyway. ;-)

Are you loving our 70 degrees, 60% humidity today? Such a pleasant change!

Happy new thread, Reba! Just remember the next one is number 4 and things will soon be back to normal :-)

Unfortunately, you can only edit for the first 10 minutes after you create the thread and only if there aren't any other messages in it...

But I got it right on the Threadbook! :)

The grandkids are so cute, and I love the peace pals.

Thank you Valerie, Connie, Roni, Susan, Jim and Rhonda for visiting, for the info and for the sympathy.

Yes, Roni I am definitely enjoying the weather and looking forward to the rain tomorrow. Thanks Rhonda for kind words about the grandkids and pals :)

Happy New Thread, Reba! I love the photo of Grandkid 1 and Grandkid 2, and the little knitted guys up top are very cool!

I love the knitted Peace Pals, Reba. So cute.

Adding to the sympathy! I've been living with a horrendous typo in the title of my 1,001 thread for about 3 years now... finally it's nearly to the point where I can justify a new one and ditch the awful typo :)

Hi Mary, Julia and Bekka! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your sympathy and kind words.

I've had a touch of food poisoning or stomach flu and haven't been doing much for the past 48 hours or so. Now I'm miles behind with everyone's threads. I hope to catch up a bit this morning. The grandkids are coming over this afternoon to work on scrapbooks of our trip so I won't have any free time then. I see I'm 200 posts behind on Paul's thread. May have to just skip a bunch of those and jump back it toward the end of the list.

Happy new thread! The photo of your grandkids was really cute. I'm very sorry to hear that your feeling under the weather and hope that it passes quickly!

>17 RebaRelishesReading: Oh, I'm sorry about the stomach bug! I hope you're feeling better soon!

The peace pals are great! Does the group sell them? Display them?

Oh and I messed up my header once or twice in the beginning - it's one thing you learn to be careful about.

Hi Mary -- thanks for your concern. I'm all better now.

Hi Lucy -- Peace Pals are given to children in areas of poverty and/or violence around the world. They are generally delivered by people going to provide educational or medical assistance. We also make hats, scarves, mittens, socks and blankets for the poor in cold areas and a few other things. You can check it out at www.knitting4peace.org.

Yep, I'm hoping I will be more careful in the future :)

Love, love, LOVE the peace pals that open your new thread, Reba. Have fun making scrapbooks of your wonderful trip with the grandkids. Making memories and then reliving them. Life doesn't get much better than that!

Have a great weekend!

As someone who has occasionally screwed up the title edit I am in full sympathy, Reba. Congratulations on the new thread in any event!

Have a lovely Mothering Sunday.

Thanks, Donna. I'm glad you like them. They're fun to make and I hope they bring a little sunshine to some kids who need it. I agree to about making memories and reliving them -- I hope we'll have many opportunities over the years to talk about this trip.

Thanks Abby. Hope yours was good too.

Thanks for the sympathy Paul and for the Mom's day wishes. I have had a lovely one.

Wow, it's been a busy weekend. Friday late afternoon we had friends over for "tea". I saw a show on making British scones (as opposed to the very different ones typical of the US) and decided it would be fun to try the recipe. We had travelled in the UK with these friends and all enjoyed cream tea so much I got inspired. It was more work than I thought it would be but was great fun and well worth it in the end.

Yesterday we went to Roni's craft show in the morning and then took the grandkids to see a wonderful production of Shrek at the San Diego Junior Theater. When my son was in high school his main extra-curricular activity was Junior Theater so it was fun to go back after all these years. The show was near professional level with wonderful acting and singing. We all four really enjoyed it. I dropped the grandkids home and got back just in time to pick up other friends to go hear the San Diego Master Chorale.

This morning we went to church, then heard a presentation on a ballot measure coming up on the June ballot and finally had a lovely Mother's Day brunch. It's been a quiet afternoon...thank heavens!!

You'll note there's no mention of reading in this list. I did get in 1/2 hour this afternoon while I was on the stationary bike. Not only have I been busy lately but I'm just not all that into my book & Sons. I do hope to finish it this week and them move on to something that holds my interest better.

Reba, I'm sorry your latest book isn't thrilling you. Maybe you are tired from all your activities! We have & Sons coming up in our book club line-up later this summer so I'll be waiting and watching for your final opinion of it.

How nice that you are able to attend Roni's craft shows. She does such beautiful work. I will stop by her thread and see if she had better sales this time. I know from personal experience that many people attend these shows just to ooh and ahh at the talents displayed!

Squeaking in just under the wire to wish you a Happy Mom's Day!

Love the little Peace Pals. Do you have the knitting instructions for them? I guess I should Google Women4Women Knitting4Peace.

BTW, don't feel too bad about putting the wrong number on your thread. I didn't just misnumber my first thread of this year, I put the wrong year on it. *sigh* LT should really allow us to edit thread titles for a little longer than 10 mins after they have been published.

Hi Donna. Could be that I'm tired (although I don't really feel tired) but I think it has more to do with the book. I don't find the story very interesting and it's written in the first person but who that person is keeps changing, without warning or announcement. You just suddenly realize that it's someone else and then have to figure out who it is. I haven't figured out who the latest one is yet.

Hi Mary. Thank you I hope you had a good one too. The web site for Women4Women is www.knitting4peace.org. There's a lot of information there about what we do as well as patterns for lots of items. The woman who founded it lives in Denver and there are several "peace pods" there if you're interested in participating (or you can just make things on your own). There's info about that on the web site too.

Hi Reba, not really much to say, but I'm glad you were able to see Roni's craft shows!

Hi Connie -- nice to get a message from you :) I've been busy and distracted so not on LT much recently but I'll be back soon.

>29 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks! I'll check into it as soon as I get settled. (I hope it's soon, although, at the rate I'm going, I am afraid it might be weeks!)

Stopping by, really, nothing big to say!

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi, Lucy. I've had a muscle spasm in my back much of last week and didn't even visit LT. It's nice to find a message now that I've finally checked in.

Holy cow, that must have been one big bad muscle spasm, Reba. I hope all is well again. My son in Colorado gave me a new "cure" to try for my wonky back. "Colorado" was the key word in that sentence. Can't say much more than that, don't want to get busted!

*waves*

Hi Donna. Yep, it was the worst I've ever had. Usually they go away in three days or so with heating pad, back rubs from hubby and Motrin. Couldn't budge this one without some big drugs. I'm fine again now though.

Still haven't finished & Sons. Maybe today. I'm having a hard time motivating myself to read it but I want it to be over with. Hubby keeps saying "you don't have to finish it" but I'd feel like I had wasted all the time I've spent so far if I did that.

Reba, I'm checking in after an extended absence to say I'm glad your back spasm has eased. I've had two bouts with a bad back and both times it was agonizing. Can't sit, can't stand, can't walk, can't lie down — the pain drove me to distraction.

>35 Donna828: I'm glad your new "cure" worked, Donna! I wonder how it would work for my hip pain ... should have checked it out while I was there! :-)

Hi Julia -- thanks for stopping by :)

Based on book and magazine sales per capita, Amazon says that San Diego is the best read city of over 1,000,000 in the U. S. My hubby says they have me to thank for that :)

Not so amusingly, I've also had a back spasm starting Sunday. It seems to be better today, after a bad night, so hopefully it's gone. Huh, you'd think with our climate and people being outside all the time, we'd be lower. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

Oh no, Roni, sorry to hear about your back. I hope it gets better quickly so you can enjoy this run of beautiful weather before it turns beastly again.

& Sons by David Gilbert *

We meet reclusive author, A.N. Dyer, when he waiting to give the elegy at the funeral of his "oldest and dearest" friend Charles Topping. Topping's son has often wished he were Dyer's son and has been a hanger-on to the (dysfunctional) Dyer family which consists of the author and his three sons. Flashbacks to the relationship between A.N. and Charles are provided by letters from their youth which are included in difficult to read handwriting. We follow the two families back and forth in time for 434 very boring pages. The biggest problem with the book is that none of the characters are interesting or likable so I simply couldn't get interested in what happened or was going to happen to them. I finished it only out of sheer stubbornness.

Hi Reba, Not nice, a muscle spasm! Are you all right now, or still hurting a bit? I've had some in my legs. When the real spasm id gone it will still feel kind of not okay for a few days. So I hope that not so in your case.

Happy weekend and happy reading!!

>40 RebaRelishesReading:: I read that too, Reba, and immediately thought of you and Roni! I'm glad your back is better but sorry about your last book, especially since I will be reading it for my book group later this summer -- unless I can think of a reason to be "busy" that night!

Hi Connie. I'm feeling fine now. After spending a "lost" few days on pills it finally relaxed last Sunday and I've been fine since. So nice to be moving normally again. Hope you're having a good weekend.

Hi Donna. I'm sure Roni and I contribute greatly although I don't buy many books locally I tend to buy at used bookstores, especially when I'm traveling, and from Book Passage in northern California and at Chautauqua. As to & Sons, I did notice the average rating on LT is about *** so others liked it better than I did. If you decide to read it I'll be interested to see what you think.

Reba, I'm sorry to hear about your back. Ouch.

I love your husband's comment about the best-read city in the US :-)

Hi Susan -- my back's fine now but thanks for the sympathy.

This is my 7th thingaversary. Not sure I'm going to have time for a big binge though. I'll postpone it until next week when I get to Chautauqua because I know I'll have a great time in the bookstore there :)

Happy Thingaversary, Reba! How nice that they are having a holiday for it this year. How are the preparations for Chatauqua going?

Happy Thingaversary, Reba!!! I'm so glad that you found LT and the 75ers! It's been fun following your reading and getting to know you. I can't wait to see what treasures you find in the bookstore at Chatauqua!

Hi Roni and Amy. Thanks for the Thingaversary wishes :) I'm certainly glad I found this group too. I've started getting things out and building a pile of things that have to go with me. Hubby is going to take the car for service tomorrow and then Wednesday I'm going to start loading the trunk. It's a good sized car but with a very small trunk so I'm worried about getting everything in. I'm pretty good at efficient space utilization but still...

Reba, I imagine the packing is a little trickier without your RV to hold it all!

Happy Thingaversary, Reba! Can't wait to learn which eight books you decide to buy next week!

Happy Thingaversary, Reba. It looks like I will miss you as you travel north of us. I will be heading west to Denver in mid-June and hope to have new gutters and house paint by then! This darn weather is not cooperating. We had intermittent showers over the Memorial Day weekend. Save travels to New York!

Hi Julia -- packing is indeed going to be tricky because this is a bit of a mini-move. Since we bought the condo last year there are some things from here that I want to take there, including a TV we weren't using. The trunk of the car isn't all that big and I don't want to leave things in the back seat overnight if I can help it. I don't actually think that's going to be possible though so hope to put things there that I don't think anyone would break into a car to steal. Should be interesting.

Hi Mary -- I know what some of them will be already because there are several books on the Chautauqua list for this year that I'll buy when I arrive. I'll report as soon as I have them :)

Hi Donna -- it's too bad we're going to miss again. I'm not sure what route I'm going to take at this point. I'm planning on I-40 but I also plan to adjust as I go if necessary to avoid bad weather. Hope the weather allows you to get your projects finished and that you have a great trip to Denver (which I'm sure you will).

7th Thinga! Congrats! Such fun to have 'permission' to go wild.

Ah! How long to do you stay at Chatauqua? I love your reports from there!

Just strew McDonald and Dunkin donut bags, singleton, preferably dirty, sneakers, old pillow and other unpromising junk over anything you plan to leave overnight.

Two weeks ago I was organizing the trash for a trip to the transfer sta. and had a spasm - wow - it's like an electric shock with a prod, innit? Mine took a week to unravel, very unpleasant. Happily rare. I was suffering in good company, no matter how unwillingly!

Hi Lucy -- I'll be at Chautauqua until just after Labor Day I think. Season ends on August 24 so I'll be there at least until then but we plan to stay on a bit afterwards. Thanks for liking my reports from there...I'll try to keep it up this year. I like your idea about covering up things left in the car overnight. I may have to try that. Right now I'm thinking a basket of yarn and a bag of books may be all that has to stay overnight and those probably wouldn't do much to tempt the sort of person who would break into a car (I hope). Sorry to hear about your back. I don't get spasms all that often but sure hate it when I do. Glad yours has ended too.

Have a good journey to Chautauqua. (Going to google that) and happy Thingamedingy!

Edit: there are a few Chautauquas. That does not make is very easy.

Hi Connie -- where I go is the original Chautauqua called the Chautauqua Institution. It's in New York and the web site is ciweb.org

Happy thingaversery and safe travels!

Happy Thingaversary Reba! Is that a 1 star book I see up there? Wow! You must be really stubborn to tolerate that; not sure I could've finished. Haha. You have some good weather to look forward to when you get here: low 70s and sunny:-)

Thank you Rhonda :)

Yes, Bonnie, it's a one star and i only finished it because I am stubborn. My hubby kept saying "you don't have to finish it" but I felt like it would have been a waste of my time spent to quit (why the solution to that is to waste more time I don't know). Now I'm reading The Confessions of Nat Turner which seems a much more worthwhile read.

I have given up my subscription to The Book Passage's first editions club. I'm having a hard time keeping up with them plus I often don't buy books I hear about and want to read because Mt. TBR is so high. If I find I really miss that source I can always go back. Anyway, my last book from them arrived yesterday: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr}}. I think I'm really going to enjoy it and, at 530 pages, it seems to fit into my recently declared "year of the big book" so I'm going to take it with me for summer reading.

I leave for Chautauqua on Monday. I've been watching the 7-day forecast on The Weather Channel and it looks like I'm going to have a pretty easy drive. I have the big stuff in the car and it fits in the trunk. Tomorrow I'll do the laundry and pack my clothes and then after morning rush hour on Monday I'll head out. I've never done a big cross-country drive on my own before and I'm rather excited about it.

Wow! You're going to have quite the adventure! I like driving solo (you know, books on CD), but not sure I'm adventurous enough for cross country.

Reba, your trip sounds amazing! I can't imagine driving that far (but then nowhere is very far in the UK!). How long will it take?

Wow! That's some drive you have ahead of you, Reba. According to Google it's just under 2500 miles one way.

Hi Mary, Susan and Daryl -- I'm excited about it. You're right, Daryl, it's just about 2500 miles. I plan to drive about 500 per day (probably a little more, depends on where good stopping places are) and arrive there Friday afternoon. I'm not going to be a tourist along the way, although I think that would be fun, but just drive straight through. I have loaded two audio books on my phone and we have Sirius so I should have plenty of entertainment. I'll keep you posted.

Safe travels, Reba! I just did a 2,000-mile round trip by myself and it was fun. I was doing back roads and the stop-along-the-way bit, though, so a little different experience.

Reba, I found I-80 a much more relaxing drive than I-70--you basically escape the mountains. Of course, then you don't get to wave hi to my hometown or hit Kansas City.

>69 rosalita:. We may do that kind of a trip on the way home.

>70 ronincats:. Actually I'm going to go I-40 to Ok. City and then I-44 northeast through Missouri. I think that's the shortest route and it looks like weather should be OK ( so I still won't get to wave at your hometown).

It's shorter but the truck traffic is heavier.

Here's a picture with some alternatives. The smallest crystal is the size in your composite bead, while the medium is the size of the separate beads on your necklace. I've got them with either silver or the multicolored seed beads. They can be either way, any combo of colors or size. The top of the headpin will be looped and on an earring wire. Let me know what you thing--at your leisure! If you don't check in tonight before you leave, it will wait.



Safe travels!

I am so jealous of your trip to Chautauqua, Reba. I have always wanted to drive cross-country and hope some day to make it to the Institute also. My lifelong learning organization is exploring taking a group for a week next summer. Unfortunately, we have some other major traveling planned and I don't feel we can do both. But maybe in 2016. It would be great fun to have a meet-up with you there!

Safe travels!!!!

Have a safe trip, Reba!

>72 ronincats: I like the two bigger ones best but I'm having a hard time choosing between them with out seeing them in real life. Maybe we could leave it until I get back and meet up to see them together with the necklace.

>73 Linda92007: A Chautauqua meet-up would be wonderful!

Thank you Roni, Lucy and Katie for the good wishes. I had a very easy drive to Flagstaff today. Arrived at the hotel just after 5:00 pm. Hope it keeps going this well.

>76 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, I looked up a map to follow your progress. It's good to hear your first day went well. Are you aiming for Albuquerque tomorrow?

ETA oops, that would be "today" now.

Hi Susan -- no, not Albequerque. I was planning to go to Tucumcari but decided last night to push on beyond there in the hope that I can get to Chautauqua in the early afternoon on Friday. So I'm writing this from Amarillo, Texas. I have a reservation for Springfield, Missouri tomorrow night. Some "severe weather" is supposed to move through just north and east of Springfield tomorrow. I hope it moves right on by quickly because that's the direction I'll be going on Thursday. One major downside of driving across the middle U.S. in spring or fall is the possibility of serious storms including hail and tornados. I'm not used to dealing with that kind of weather and the risk of it makes me nervous.

Yes, Amarillo is totally doable from Flagstaff (we usually turn NE at Tucumcari and cut up through Dalhart into the Oklahoma panhandle). Glad you are safely there. Did you look up any barbecue?

>78 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, that's great progress! This time I put "Flagstaff" and "Amarillo" into Google maps and got a much more detailed map. Springfield seems like a long way away! I hope you don't hit the bad weather on Thursday.

Hi Reba! Glad your trip is going well. Hopefully, the storms stay away.

>79 ronincats: Hi Roni. It was a long day and there were strong winds from the south the whole way which didn't help but I was in the room by 7:00 p.m., even with the 2 hour time change. I'm not much for going to restaurants by myself so I went to the mall across the highway from the hotel and had some very mediocre Chinese at the food court. Oh well, it fed me.

>81 porch_reader: Hi Susan. Amarillo to Springfield is actually about 50 miles less than Flagstaff to Amarillo. I was having trouble with my blue tooth connection between phone and car today so spent some time trying to sort that out so I could listen to my book. Didn't succeed but at least I have satellite radio and a TON of music on my iPod so I'm good.

>82 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Amy. Hope you did alright with all the storms up your way. Since you're posting on my thread I assume you did. I've now positioned myself right between the old storm which is moving SE to the north of me and the new one growing in the plains west of me. Weather Channel says that one has potential for tornados in Oklahoma City tomorrow -- glad I went through there today. They're also now saying Springfield may have severe thunderstorms tomorrow. The sky is definitely getting dark (and not just from sun setting lol). I think I'm going to get up early tomorrow and head northeast hoping I can get away from this. Having grown up in California and never lived where there are tornados I get REALLY nervous with this kind of weather. Otherwise the trip is going quite well.

Be safe, Reba! I hope all the thunderstorms have the good manners to stay away from you.

Thanks, Julia. We did have some very loud thunder last night which kept we awake later than I wanted to be. Also the Weather Channel said Springfield would have "severe weather' warnings by mid-morning today so I set the alarm for 6:00 a.m. when I went to bed. Didn't need to do that because I woke up at 5:30 all by myself. So, I was on the road at 5:45. Drove under dark grey skies to St. Louis but found some lovely blue skies and puffy white clouds soon after I go to Illinois. I'm very tired but now have a long evening in Dayton, Ohio and I don't have to get up early tomorrow. :)

Glad you didn't hit any severe weather, Reba! You're getting close now.

Reba, I am so sad I didn't check your thread until today. I live in Springfield and a quick meet-up would have been so easy for me. *Kicking self* You could even have been a guest at our book group last night! Doggone it. I thought you would be traveling north of me on I-70.

The weather here has delayed the progress of our new gutters and outside painting. I hope we can get back on track next week. You are a real road warrior. I hope the rest of your trip goes well.

>85 ronincats: Hi Roni. I'm really glad I missed the dangerous stuff. We had a noisy thunder storm the night I was in Springfield but no hail (at least none that I know of) or tornados. I was glad to get away from those black clouds and threats though. I arrived at Chautauqua about 2:00 yesterday afternoon and have been crazy busy since, unloading the car, putting things away, running to Jamestown to refill the car, running home to put it away then running back for more. I have quite a bit done though. Contractor is coming Monday morning so I hope to get the little things in the condo done next week. We're also looking for bids for a "ductless A/C" and I've got a couple of leads for people to contact. All by all a very productive, but tiring, two days.

>86 Donna828: It is too bad Donna. I didn't know where you live in MO or I would have given you more exact info to begin with. We might have been able to do a meet-up Wed. evening but it turned out to be a narrow window. I originally had thought I could hang around for a full day but as it turned out I was worried about the weather building to the west and anxious to get out of there.

We're having spectacular weather here in SW New York. Temps in the 70's with sunny blue skies. It's supposed to rain tomorrow evening but be gone again by Monday so even that doesn't sound too bad.

I still don't have WiFi in our condo (it's ordered and the box is on the way) and I've been busy and it's been raining so haven't been on-line. I have managed to do some reading, though. First, I borrowed two audio books to listen to in the car on the drive here. I ended up not listening so much on the drive but have finished listening here. Then, I finally finished a Pulitzer winner -- whew!

Audio: Bossy Pants by Tina Fey

I had no idea what a potty mouth Ms. Fey is but, aside from that, it was an entertaining book.

Audio: Carry on Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

Another entertaining book but from a different age.

I have now borrowed the audio version of Rather Outspoken by Dan Rather. I'm hoping it will be interesting and more substantial than the other two which is appropriate since I won't be driving while listening to it.

The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron ****1/2

Written during the 1960's, this book is a fictionalized account of the 1831 Nat Turner Rebellion including the story Nat's life leading up to it. It is somewhat controversial because it was written by a while man and some would say he can't truly understand nor present the story of a black slave. Nevertheless, it is a gripping and thought-provoking tale and a worthwhile read.

I hope you get wifi soon, Reba--I hate having you completely out of touch. When does your husband arrive? Are you working for Chatauqua again this year?

Hi Roni -- thanks for missing me!! The WiFi box is supposed to be "in the mail" but FedEx hasn't delivered yet. When it comes I'm going to have to figure out where to put it and how to set it up. At the moment the condo is a disaster. We had bead board installed this week and the space is so small that it really turned everything on its head. Carpenters are done and I got the primer on this morning so another two days of painting and I can put the furniture back and straighten things up. I'll probably have to do all of that before I can hook the WiFi up. Fortunately the library is only a short block away although until June 21 they're on off-season hours and are only open every other day. I can also get WiFi in Bestor Plaza (our town square) but it's been raining so can't really sit outside. Hubby arrived July 20 and, yes, I'm working at the welcome center again. I have training tomorrow morning and Tuesday afternoon. Also, we have tenants in our condo for the first four weeks so next Friday I have to move to a rooming house and will be dependent on library for WiFi again until July20. I'm rambling but bottom line is I need to accept the fact that I'm not going to have good connection for quite a while yet. :(

Good news is I have no TV so instead I'm listening to audio books while doing my needlework in the evening. After posting exactly zero books in May I hope to do somewhat better now.

Hope you're having a good summer.

A peak at the (very small) "great room" of our condo in the midst of getting bead board installed. Installation is done now and I've started on the painting. Kneeling to paint the base board isn't much fun...even when atop two cushions. I finished the priming this morning and will start on the finish coat tomorrow.

What a nice bright airy feel it has, even if it looks a little small!

Looks like you've got your hands full Reba. I was really interested in how you were painting those baseboards. My doctor said, "Sure, you can kneel down. You won't do any damage but it will probably be quite painful." Uh, no thanks, I'll remain upright for now. LOL

Your condo looks lovely and airy. I bet you will miss it while you have tenants.

Wow! Sounds like you are busy, Reba! I hope that everything continues to come together in your condo and that you are getting some good reading in!

Reba, I'm still in awe of that long drive you did. The condo looks lovely, but I hope the painting is soon finished so you don't hurt your knees.

>93 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary, It IS tiny but it's plenty for the purpose and it's quite cozy.

>94 brenzi: Hi Bonnie. Remember I'm almost 6 months from surgery now. Kneeling on cushions is uncomfortable but tolerable. I'm so proud that I can get down there and back up again :) I have a friend who had one knee replaced a few years ago. She can now kick herself in the backside with that leg!! Something to shoot for.

>95 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda -- yes I will miss it, especially since I'll be staying in a tiny room with the bath down the hall lol

>96 porch_reader: Hi Amy. Yes I'm very busy but I have been reading and, even more, listening to audio books while I embroider in the evenings. Most of my cleaning and painting will be finished by tonight. Then I have to get the WiFi hooked up and working after which I will have a lot more time to read.

>97 susanj67: Hi Susan. The drive was OK. I didn't spend any time sight-seeing or visiting just drove about 550 miles per day and then holed up in my hotel room. As to the painting, I have a second coat to do on one wall and then I'll be all done with the painting. Plan to do that as soon as I get home from the library where I am using the WiFi. I have the WiFi modem now but haven't really worked on getting it set up yet (that's to come after the painting). Bummer is I move to my temporary quarters on Friday and probably will have to come back to the library for WiFi while I'm there.

Rather Outspoken by Dan Rather audio****1/2

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir of Rather's life as a journalist. He not only takes us through his journey but also describes the research and findings for some major stories including Abu Ghraib and George W. Bush's non-participation in the Texas National Guard during the Viet Nam war. Mr. Rather and I share a political perspective, which I'm sure made it more enjoyable for me, but I found his discussion pretty balanced and most interesting. He reads the book himself which added to my enjoyment.

The Boy Detective: A New York Childhood by Roger Rosenblatt ***

I read Making Toast by Mr. Rosenblatt a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it but this one left me a bit perplexed. Both books are written in a stream of consciousness style, which suited Making Toast which discussed his grieving and recovery from his wife's death. The Boy Detective, on the other hand, is about New York City and growing up there. He talks about having played at being a detective while as boy but also seems to e taking a walk around the city in modern time, sharing memories of what used to be there, who used to live there, and what used to happen there. It's pleasant enough but not really gripping. He'll be at Chautauqua to talk about this book a week from Thursday and I'll be interested to see what he has to say. If I've badly missed the point and "get it" after his talk, I'll report back.

Welcome back to LT, Reba. You are one busy woman!!!!

Winter King by Thomas Penn (audio) ****1/2

I have read and heard a great deal about the reign of Henry VIII, his children, his niece (Mary Queen of Scots) and her son but I knew next to nothing about his father, Henry VII. This very interesting book covers Henry VII's life thoroughly. It covers how he came to the throne, his marriage to Elizabeth of York, his political and diplomatic maneuvering, his relationship with his sons and with Catherine of Aragon. It was well read by Simon Vance who has the perfect English accent. Highly recommended for those interested in English history.

Winter King sounds like a good one, Reba. I don't know much about Henry VII either. I'm glad to hear this one works well on audio. I generally like biographies and history on audio as long as there aren't too many people to keep straight.

Hi Amy -- there are several minor characters but I didn't find it too hard to keep them straight. The big ones, mostly kings, queens, princes and dukes are recognizable and pretty easy to keep straight. I think you'd be fine with it.

Reba, so you are fixing up a condo for someone else to live in? Do you need to live on the Chautauqua grounds in order to work there? I do hope you get your wifi hooked up soon. I could live without a TV but my computer is my lifeline!

Putting Winter King on my Wishlist, though it is already so long that in order to read everything on it I can never die.

>104 Donna828: I've been fixing it up so we can enjoy it but, meanwhile, we have tenants for 4 weeks. They've been renting this condo for 10 years (and I just heard want to come again next year) and take great care of it. Rents during "season" are high so renting it for four weeks pays our annual expenses (taxes, association dues, etc.) which is nice. My husband is coming 4 weeks from Sunday and we'll move back for the rest of season plus a week or two. With help from the nice technicians on the phone I got the WiFi going the next morning and I'm very glad to have it in the condo even though it's available only a short block away in the Plaza and at the library. Sometimes the weather prevents one from using it in the Plaza and the library isn't always open while at home it's available 24/7 and from my comfy chair. No, I don't need to live on the grounds to work here, many people live year-round nearby and work here in the summer, but we will also be going to speakers, concerts, etc. on the grounds and it's much easier to just stay on site.

>105 Storeetllr: I know what you mean Mary. I borrowed it from the library while I didn't have TV and wanted some entertainment while I did needlework. I liked it so much I continued listening even after the TV was working.

I am glad that you are settling in!

The Dan Rather book sounds interesting--I have wishlisted it.

Here's the finished product of our condo "great room" (except we're going to have ductless a/c installed which will remove the ugly monster from the right hand window and free it up to let more light in...either this fall or next spring). The last thing was delivery of a new chair which arrived about 1:30 this afternoon. By 2:30 I had everything on it's way to my digs for the next 4 weeks -- a TINY room in a communal house. The new room certainly isn't luxurious but it's clean and being here will give me a chance to meet more people with whom I probably will share interests, so happy about that.

Hi Rhonda -- I think you'll like it. I sense you share his political philosophy like I do and will enjoy finding out some of the background information he shares.

Reba, the "new" great room looks lovely! Sorry you've had to leave it for the time being, but if four weeks' rent pays all the expenses, I can see the sense in that, particularly if you have good tenants.

Hi Susan, thanks for stopping by :)

So last year Margaret Atwood was at Chautauqua on a Thursday afternoon. I worked Thursday afternoons last year so couldn't go. She's back this year and will have the main stage for the big morning session this coming Tuesday morning. Guess who works Tuesday morning?

So I was just telling you on my thread that I wanted to see the finished product, and here you have already anticipated me.

Could you try to trade with someone for Tuesday? Given the circumstances?

Your condo looks great!

No! You'll miss Margaret A. again????? That is just not fair!

Love your great room, but I can't believe you'll miss Atwood again. Hopefully you'll get a chance to go to lots of other interesting sessions!

Hi Roni, Lucy and Amy -- I'm afraid it's true that I'm going to miss Atwood again but I do get to see Elizabeth Strout, which is at least as good imho. Tomorrow morning is Tom Brokaw, which should be good too. And thank you for the kind words about the "great" room (I have to use quotes because it's so tiny I find it funny to call it "great" but it IS the combo living, dining, kitchen).

And, speaking of tiny, here's my room for this month. No, I haven't become a nun, but I will say that the time spent living in an RV is quite helpful. Actually, it's a comfortable bed and a cool, quiet room plus I'm meeting a lot of really nice people here. Spent this afternoon knitting in a rocker on the porch chatting with a delightful lady, for example.

Totally jealous of the RV living! I really miss those trips with my parents. I wish I could afford an RV of my own.

This morning we had Roger Rosenblatt and Tom Brokaw. This week's theme is the art of writing but is called "Roger Rosenblatt and Friends" because the format is RR in conversation with a different person each day. I often don't like that format because it often stays at a very superficial level. This time, however, RR spoke for a few minutes and the pretty much turned it over to TB who talked about writing The Greatest Generation and about interations he's had with people of that generation before and after. It was great!!

Wild Berries by Yevgeny Yevtushenko***

This was the first novel by a famous Russian poet which was published in 1981 and released in English translation in 1984. Yevtushenko was born and raised in Siberia which is where the novel is set. It's a broad story of life in Siberia under the Soviet system. A team of geologists from Moscow arrive in a tiny, isolated Siberian village and we follow a sizable cast of characters, both villagers and Moscovites. I found it hard to follow, partly because the Russian names were difficult for me, but also because it seemed somewhat disjointed to me. For example, toward the end there are a couple of chapters on Allende's Chile and the Pinochet which are tied into the story through a radio which one of the characters has with him on which there are reports on the situation in Chile. On the positive side, it is an interesting portrayal of life in a normal Siberian village (as opposed to a prison camp) during Soviet times and of the morals both of the village and Moscow.

>106 RebaRelishesReading:: I get it now and think that is a wise and wonderful plan. I even kind of like the idea of monastic living - for a month! Very cool that you can escape your cell and interact with the other residents at meals and porching times! I do envy your exposure to interesting people and ideas. Roger Rosenblatt is such a good interviewer. Great picture of Mr. Tom, too! It looks like you had a front-row seat. Elizabeth Strout is a favorite of mine. Atwood, too. Maybe next year for her. Thanks, Reba, for including us in your intellectual adventure!

>121 Donna828: There was a bit of telephoto involved but I did have an excellent seat. Very glad to have you along on the adventure.

And where is Mr. Reba during this time? I don't see room for him!

Mr. Reba is still in San Diego. He had a meeting to go to in L.A., July 8-10. It didn't make sense for him to come East, then go back for it plus, you're quite right, there is only room for one here. I'm going to pick him up in Cleveland on July 20, the day after we can move back into the condo. That's the beginning of week 5. We're going to stay through week 9 and then perhaps another week or so just to enjoy some NE fall weather before we drive home together.

Todays main speaker was Elizabeth Strout again in conversation with Roger Rosenblatt (the theme this week is "Roger Rosenblatt and friends"). Here are some of my notes from her answers to Roger's questions:

- when asked if she has her reader in mind when she writes (as opposed to just being concerned about her own need for expression), she said she thinks a lot about her reader and feels a responsibility to make what she's saying clear; but, she says the reader has to "come to her too"..."reading is not a passive activity. She also said she wants her work to be "porous" enough to allow the reader to "fill in the gaps" with his/her own experience.

- the scene with the kid kicking the pig head through the mosque door in The Burgess Boys is the first time she ever used something in her writing that she found in the newspaper.

- she likes to explore differences. She used to think people were more alike than different but is moving away from that idea and she's also learning that no matter how far you go and/or for how long, you can't leave home (it has formed who you are)

- when asked if she knows exactly what is going to happen in the story when she begins writing or does she have surprises along the way she said she just "makes a little mess, then makes another little mess and hopes they'll go together". She feels the need to let her characters be what they are. For example, she said at one point when writing Olive Kitterage she felt the she wanted to make Olive "better" but then concluded that she had no right to mess with her character.

- when asked what happens to Jim and Helen she said people often ask that which she understands because it's the first thing she would want to know. Then she said "because I'm me I'm hopeful for them".

I found her to be delightful--witty, optimistic, open. Made me like her books even better than I already did.

Waltzing the Cat by Pam Houston****1/2

This is a collection of charming linked short stories about Lucy O'Rourke, a 30-something free-lance photographer who is trying to get her life together including trying to find love. She sells many of her photos to adventure magazines which leads her to travel to far-flung places. She also seems to have a taste for adventure including white-water rafting, gliding, and sailing in stormy weather which leads her into some dangerous situations. I'm usually not a big fan of short stories but this one read much like a novel. I loved the story line and Lucy.

What a wonderful summer you are having! Thank you for letting us read some of your notes!

You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett ****

I enjoyed this well-written collection of stories dealing with difficult topics of the heart and mind. I was bothered, however, by the fact that about half of the stories dealt with gay men/boys coming to terms with their identity while the other half dealt with mental illness as though the two were the same thing. I hope that is not what the author intended to suggest but it's still an odd combination in my opinion.

Elizabeth Strout sounds really interesting. I haven't read any of her work, but have heard great things.

I do like Pam Houston, and I think I have an unread copy of Waltzing the Cat.

Hi Rhonda -- thanks for coming to visit. What have you read of Pam Houston's? This was my first by her. I've only read Olive Kitterage by Elizabeth Strout but I really liked it a lot. She told a little about The Burgess Boys on Wednesday. I've been planning to read that for a long time but now actually have a copy in the TBR.

Just saying. Tell us about his talks at Chatauqua!

Hi Reba. It looks like you've gotten a lot accomplished in your short stay at Chautauqua. Not sure I could handle such a small room but you probably don't spend that much time there. Too bad about missing out on Atwood again but lucky you seeing Tom Brokaw and Elizabeth Strout. She's a favorite of mine and I've read all of her books and loved them all. The Pam Houston book landed on my teetering tower so thanks for that:-)

Reba, thanks for sharing your notes about Elizabeth Strout's talk. I loved Olive Kitteridge. Olive is such a compelling character, and that impulse — "I like her; I wish she was nicer" — is one I had as a reader and I think it's interesting that the author felt the same way.

>130 RebaRelishesReading: I read Cowboys are my Weakness, years ago. I think I've read something else, but can't remember what! (life pre-LT was pretty chaotic, I guess). My partner heard Pam Houston read recently and was very impressed with her newest book; Contents May Have Shifted.

>131 ronincats: so which of his books do you suggest I start with? I only got to one of his talks but read articles about them in the newspaper. I'll try to find copies and cut the articles for you. He was talking mostly about his book on the gospels and the fact that they were written by Jews and, therefore, need to be read with understanding of that tradition in mind. One lovely quote in that context was "just because something didn't happen doesn't mean it isn't true"

>132 brenzi: hi Bonnie. You're right I don't spend much time here. There are certainly times when I would go back to my space if it were larger but I always find a comfortable alternative.

>133 rosalita: Thanks Julia. Glad you liked it.

>134 banjo123:. Thanks Rhonda. I wasn't familiar with Houston but enjoyed this one and may try some others in the future.

So cool that you got to see and listen to Strout - she sounds so thoughtful.

Your condo will seem huge when you get to move into it!

>136 sibylline: right on both counts Lucy :)

Old Love by Isaac Bashevis Singer

This charming short story collection by Nobel Prize winner Isaac Bashevis Singer was especially interesting to me because all of the stories were about jewish characters and most were about orthodox jews invoved in life rituals with which I was unfamiliar.

NOW READING:



Letters from Robben Island edited by Robert D. Vassen

Reba - I love Elizabeth Strout and loved the highlights from her interview. Thanks for sharing those! You are getting some good reading done too. My reading has slowed down appreciably over the past week. We are on a family vacation and I fall in bed each night exhausted! Oh well, there will be plenty of time for reading when we get home.

I think you're making the right choice, Amy, enjoy your vacation now. Where are you?

We spent a few days on Cape Cod and a few days in Boston. My boys are great ages to travel, and we all had a great time on beaches, seeing historical sites, and going to a Red Sox game!

>142 porch_reader: Sounds like a fun trip! Glad you enjoyed yourself.

Letters from Robben Island edited by Robert D. Vassen

I had always thought that this book was a collection of letters written by Nelson Mandela but it turns out they are by a fellow prisoner, Ahmed Kathrada. The letters cover the time from their trial in 1964 until Mr. Kathrada's release in 1989. They give a good view of life in both Robben Island, where they first were, and Pollsmoor Maximum Prison where they were toward the end of their time in prison. In addition, the letters include frequent philosophical comments that give insight into how Kathrada managed to endure twenty-five years in maximum security prison and come out with little, if any bitterness, and just take up life. Like Mandela, Kathrada was politically active after prison, serving in the South African parliament. Even twenty-five years after their release I found this to be a most worthwhile read.

Reason For Hope: A Spiritual Journey by Jane Goodall*****

What a lovely book!! This "spiritual autobiography" begins with a description of Ms. Goodall's childhood and how she came to study chimpanzees in Africa and then moves on to describe how these experiences, especially getting to know chimpanzees so intimately, have affected her spiritually. She ends with a chapter on why she has hope for the future. I found the book both interesting and moving, even finding myself misty-eyed several times.

>145 RebaRelishesReading: I love Jane Goodall, Reba! I enjoyed her book harvest for Hope when I read it, and Reason for Hope sounds like one I would enjoy as well.

>145 RebaRelishesReading: I remember watching a special on Jane Goodall way back when featuring her and her chimpanzees. I'm thinking it may have been the one she did for National Geographic back in the 1960s that they showed in school or perhaps even re-aired on TV in the 1970s.

I love reading about your reading now! So much great stuff.

Hi Amy. I've always loved what she did too and really enjoyed learning more about her as a person, plus her spiritual thoughts were most interesting.

Hi Lori. I too have seen something on film about her work. As I said to Amy, I really enjoyed learning more about her as a person and about her spiritual side with this book.

Thank you Lucy. I'm trying to read as many of the old "CLSC" books as I can while I have access. I've been striking it rich.

Today I started reading Citizen: Jane Addams and the Struggle for Democracy by Louise W. Knight and it has certainly passed the 50 page test. I'm enjoying learning about Addams' early life and fine the book quite well written. My only (slight) criticism is that she relies very heavily on previous works. I hope she will get to some more original research before long.

Each Monday at 4:00 p.m. there is a chamber concert. Today the group was the Donald Sinta Quartet, a saxophone quartet which I had never experienced before. They played a combination of 19th, 20th and 21st century music, all of which was extremely enjoyable.

This morning Jeffrey Rosen, president of the National Constitution Center, spoke on the 4th amendment as it relates to this week's theme "The Ethics of Privacy". He was balanced and knowledgable plus he was an excellent speaker. I'd love to have a class on the constitution from him.

This evening at 8:15 we have the Music School Festival Orchestra playing Gandolfi, Respighi and Tchaikovsky. This orchestra is made up of the students in instrumental music who are here for the summer. It's a highly competitive program (I'm told about 700 applications per spot) and they are EXCELLENT. A most enjoyable day.

I love Sax music - that sounds brilliant. Actually all of it sounds brilliant. Glad it's all going well.

Sounds like yesterday was a great day, Reba! I've always loved the sax, and I'm even more partial to it now that my older son is a tenor sax player. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.

Never heard of a sax quartet, but I love the soprano, tenor and alto saxes and it looks like they were all represented! I would have loved to hear it.

>152 BekkaJo: -- thanks :)

>153 porch_reader: How neat your son plays the tenor sax, Amy. My son did the alto sax briefly when growing up (then turned to vocal music) but I actually prefer the richer tone of the tenor sax.

>154 ronincats: I had never heard of it before either Roni. Actually they asked how many people were at their first classical sax quartet performance and everyone I could see raised their hand so it clearly isn't wide spread. Indeed there was a soprano, alto and tenor in the group plus a baritone. I would definitely like to hear more if I every hear of an opportunity.

I worked from 8-2 today so missed the morning lecture. Also it was pouring rain much of the day so I stuck pretty close to "home" in the afternoon. This evening I went to a performance of the symphony with the ballet corps. It was really full and I ended up with a seat looking straight into some very bright lights so I left at intermission. Enjoyed what I saw though.

Jane Goodall came and spoke at my high school when I was a junior (I think? Maybe a senior?). Anyway, she was delightful - warm and funny and very inspiring. What a life...

Hi Katie -- I'll bet that was great. I can well imagine her being warm, funny and inspiring.

>155 RebaRelishesReading: Adding to the music-y chat, I agree that I love the variety on woodwind instruments. All the saxes are so different but all so amazing. I play b flat clarinet for a long time but would have loved to have a go at some of the variants. Likewise I played in a recorder choir for several years, but unfortunately just do not have the reach for the bass recorder which was my favourite. Stupid stubby fingers!

Reminding me that I must go and listen to more live music.

>159 BekkaJo: I too love the woodwinds. They have such mellow tones. I wish I had learned to play one or more, but never did. I do love to listen to music though...and often do :)

Citizen: Jane Addams and the Struggle for Democracy by Louise I. Knight****1/2

This wonderful biography of Jane Addams, founder of Hull House in Chicago, follows her from birth into an upper-middle-class family to winning the Nobel Peace Prize four years before her death. It not only provides the facts of her life but also looks at the changes in her attitude toward privilege, power, "culture", etc. as she matures. In the afterword, the author writes

Citizen is intended to show how Jane Addams was born to one life and chose another and how she was transformed by that choice. Her self-expectations were strongly shaped by her femaleness and her upper-middle-class consciousness and status, yet she found a way to break with resulting social pressures even as she partly conformed to them. Her emerging feminism, though not fully robust in 1899, was one result. Her increased willingness to examine and selectively reject the dominant beliefs of her class was another. Her deepening Humanity was a third.

As a sociologist/city planner I had read about what Ms. Addams accomplished but I had no idea about her personal journey. I found this book to be well written and thoroughly engaging and it added another heroine to my list.

Reba, it sounds like you're having a great time! The concerts must be an entertaining change from all the book things going on.

I remember reading one of those orange books about Jane Addam's as a girl.... do you remember those?? I still remember many of them vividly but they have utterly vanished from the face of the earth. I suppose they were terrible in some way. That has nothing to do with your review, of course!

A sax quartet. Wow.

Charming Billy by Alice McDermott****

This is a charming tale of an Irish American family and of Billy, a charming, much-loved alcoholic. We begin at Billy's funeral and start to learn his story through the gossip being shared over the table at lunch following the burial. It's a gentle book which moves a bit slowly but which spins an interesting family history in which we get to know and like Billy. Although not explicitly, the book raises the question of how much Billy's alcoholism is a result of genetics and how much it is a result of life experiences. An easy, worthwhile read.

>162 susanj67: Hi Susan. Chautauqua is a wonderful mix of things and the evening concerts are among my favorites.

>163 sibylline: Hi Lucy. No, I don't remember those books but they may have come after I was at that age. I think my first encounter with Jane Addams was in college. I've always admired her but much more so now that I know more about her. Amazing woman.

Lucy, I read what was probably the same bio of Jane Addams as a girl!

Sounds like you are having a wonderful time, Reba.

Hi Roni -- I always enjoy Chautauqua and this year is no exception!! It will be getting better this weekend, too, when Hubby arrives and we get to move back into the condo.

The Translator by Ward Just*****

My first book by Ward Just, this novel kept me interested from start to finish. It begins in Germany during the late days of WWII where the main character, Sydney, is being raised by a single mother after his father has been killed by the Nazis. With this background we quickly move to Paris where Sydney moves as a young adult to pursue a career as a translator. On the one hand the story is about Sydney and his American wife but at the same time it is the story of Europe finding its way in the second half of the 20th century. There is also an undercurrent of mystery -- you sense something is going to happen but don't know what or to whom. Wonderful ***** read.

I was an addict of those orange books! I wish I'd saved all of mine since they have vanished utterly. I was mad for the " Little Maid of ....... ' books too - sort of early American Girl without the dolls.....

Hm. One of these days I have to look up those books and find out what happened to them and why. And when published. My sense of them is that they are a 1950's production mostly. Many were pretty worn-out and much read by the time I was reading them in the early to mid-60's.

Good luck finding them, Lucy. I wish I had some of the books I remember well from childhood.

The Archivist by Martha Cooley *****

This many-leveled novel is hard to put down. Matthias is an archivist at a university library where among the treasures he is responsible for are letters from T. S. Eliot to an American woman with whom he (Eliot) was very close. Matthias is a widower whose wife, Judith, suffered from mental illness which may, in part, have come from her difficult childhood. The story begins with Matthias' story then moves to Judith's journal which forms the middle of the book. We also meet Roberta, a graduate student who comes into Matthias' life because she wants desperately to read the Eliot letters (which cannot released until 2020) because she is struggling with her recently discovered jewish background and wants to see how he dealt with religious conversion. Judith also struggled with her jewish heritage particularly in relation to the holocaust. The author manages to weld these themes of love, mental illness, and holocaust into a seamless whole which is challenging and delightful.

I have The Archivist on my shelves - glad to hear it was a good read for you!

Hi Katie -- I would advise "get it off the shelf and read it" :)

Reba, you've been doing some great reading lately! And yay for Mr. Reba joining you at Chautauqua. I'm sure you're glad to have him there.

Oh dear, two 5 star books in a row. Lucky you Reba. I haven't read anything by Ward Just but I will have to remedy that.

So are you in your condo now?

>174 rosalita: thanks Julia! I've been reading books from previous years' Chautauqua lists and finding some winners and, yes, it's nice to have the hubby here.

>175 brenzi: Hi Bonnie. I had never read anything by Ward Just either but will be on the lookout for him now. (Sending you a PM re Duff's)

>176 ronincats: Yes indeed, Roni! It's so nice to be able to stroll into the adjacent room in my robe and have breakfast and a read before I get dressed instead of having to shower, dress, and walk down two step flights of stairs for breakfast and then have to figure out where I can find a comfortable seat and some quiet to read before I head out for the day.

Jefferson's Pillow by Roger Wilkins ***

This fairly short book starts with America in the 17th century and discusses how history, especially the main figures in the Revolutionary War period, allow slavery to remain in a country based on principles such as "all men are created equal" and how this affects African-American feelings of patriotism. I gave it only three stars because, for me, it rehashed a lot of history that I know and that I've read a good deal about. It was well written, however, and might have been much more interesting when it was published in 2001 than it is to me now.

My Connemara by Paula Steichen ****

This delightful memoir written by Carl Sandburg's granddaughter tells of her childhood growing up on a farm with her grandparents, mother, two aunts and older brother. It's not only fun to read because of the picture of farm life it presents but also because it shows the personal, human side of Carl Sandburg (who sounds like a delightful person). Edward Steichen, who was her great uncle, also appears and seems a most likable fellow. I have been unable to find out why the author adopted his name, however.

Recommended as a quick, pleasant read.

>179 RebaRelishesReading: I visited Connemara a couple of years ago over in Flat Rock, south of Asheville. I really enjoyed my visit, and I fully intend to visit there again. If you like the setting, The Sandburg Connection by Mark De Castrique is a nice mystery featuring private eye Sam Blackman, a military veteran, that is set there.

Congrats on leaving the nunnery, Reba! It must be good to have your husband there, too. What a fun way to spend your summers.

I remember reading and liking The Archivist. I don't think it got the recognition it deserved. I haven't read anything else by her. Need to do some research to see if she's written anything new.

Hi Lori and Donna -- Nice to share books I enjoyed with you. I would like to visit Connemara someday when we're down that way.

Life in the Treetops by Margaret Lowman ****

Margaret Lowman is a woman addicted to science. During her post-doctoral days she meets a sheep rancher in Australia, marries and has two sons. Life in the Treetops moves between descriptions of research she does around the world as a botanist specializing in tree crowns, some interesting things she learns doing that research, and a memoir of her personal life dealing with prejudices against professional women. An interesting read.

From This Day Forward by Cokie & Steve Roberts ****1/2

This book is a pleasant, quick read in which the Roberts discuss their own lives/marriage along with stories of several other marriages while they discuss what they think makes for a successful partnership. I thought their advice was sound and the stories interesting.

I've been so busy the past couple of weeks that I haven't done a very good job of letting you know what I've been up to.

Last week's theme was Brazil and we had good speakers both morning and afternoon talking about economics, democracy, equality, cultural and religious diversity, and inclusiveness in post WWII Brazil. Most interesting and makes we want to go back and see some of southern Brazil. This week Ken Burns is here and will be speaking and showing his films every day. He's very popular and the grounds are simply packed with people.

Yesterday was the annual "Old First Night Run/Walk" and hubby and I participated Photo above is us just about to start. It's a 2.7 mile course, mostly level but with a couple of nice hills. We walked and I was thrilled with how well my knees did...especially when I showered after the walk and then went straight to work where I was on my feet for 6 hours.

Capitol Steps will be our evening entertainment on Wednesday. I just love that group!

So there's a very brief update on the past two weeks.

Oh yes, and I've finally started Five Days at Memorial

Great pictures, and hooray for how well your knees are working!

Thanks for sharing the picture and re-cap. The Capitol Steps are a lot of fun!

Hi Roni and Katie -- thanks for stopping by :)

What a diverse and interesting schedule they put together at Chautauqua! I can see why you enjoy it so much.

Hi Julia -- yes, there's something for everyone. Tonight we have a Puccini Opera performed by the music students. They're amazingly good so we're really looking forward to it.

Looks like you're having a great time Reba. Love the picture. I've been to Brazil but it was many, many years ago.

Hi, Reba! Glad you are having such a wonderful summer!

The Archivist sounds terrific! I am so glad you are back in your own digs and enjoying yourself.

And best of all that your knees are in great shape!

Hi Reba, just catching up on LT and waving! I love the pictures!

Five Days at Memorial by Sheri fink ****1/2

Like many Americans, I spent days in August 2005 watching post-Katrina events in New Orleans with horrified fascination. As a city planner I had known for years that New Orleans was a prime candidate for a devastating flood and here it was being played out before my eyes. I had not known how woefully inadequate their emergency response pans were, however. After the first couple of weeks, media coverage slowed down and, although I was aware of the talk of euthanasia, I didn't know any of the details of the later events.

In Five Days at Memorial Ms. Fink does a thorough job of relating the details of what happened during the first five days after the storm in this large privately-owned hospital in the flooded area. The description was comprehensive and gripping and clearly described not only the harrowing conditions but also the gut-wrenching decisions the staff had to make. It's a VERY readable and though-provoking book raising serious questions about how to decide what to do when people are suffering and resources are limited. Is euthanasia ever warranted? If so, under what circumstances?

The disappointment that led me to rate the book ****1/2 instead of ***** was that in the second part of the book I felt that Ms. Fink put aside the objective journalism that had governed the first part and showed clearly her conclusions about what should have happened in the aftermath of the storm. I wish she had remained more objective throughout. With that rather minor complaint, however, I highly recommend the book.

Hi Bonnie, Mary, Lucy and Connie. Thank you for stopping by. Nice to see you here.

>185 RebaRelishesReading: Love the picture! And hooray for your knees!

Thanks Rhonda.

This has been a busy week at Chautauqua. The main speaker of the week is Ken Burns who has attracted huge crowds. Monday he talked about his film "The Central Park Five". On Tuesday it was the Civil War and on Wednesday a new film he is making (and expects to release in 2017) on the Vietnam War. Yesterday and today were about The Roosevelts, which will be screened next month. It was SRO for all five of his talks with even the seats behind poles taken. Wednesday evening our entertainment was The Capitol Steps, which I think is the funniest group anywhere. Tonight we'll be entertained by Jackie Evancho. In between we've had a production of Puccini's "La Rondine" and a wonderful symphony concert. In the afternoons Krista Tippett has been taping her "On Being" while conversing with various guests on "American consciousness".

Hi Reba! I just got back from a conference and I'm catching up on what you've been up to. What a diversity of activities! I agree with you about Five Days at Memorial. I thought the first, more objective part was much more insightful than the ending. And congrats on the 2.7 mile walk. Your knees must be recovering nicely!

Wow! What an amazing summer you are having! Ken Burns is awesome, at least the productions of his that I've seen are. Enjoying it all vicariously.

What a great week you are having!

Hi Amy, Mary and Roni -- so nice to have visitors.

We continue to be very busy with fun and interesting activities. Have been out to dinner (off the grounds) with friends twice this week having a great meal and fun company both times. Friday night our entertainment was a concert by Jackie Evancho -- amazing to think she's only 14 with such a strong, mature voice. Unfortunately, they have her dressed like a 20 year-old. This morning we'll be hearing Fareed Zakaria. I always find his columns most thought-provoking and I'm really looking forward to hearing him in person. Tonight the Music School Festival Orchestra will play its last concert before the young people head home tomorrow. They are so amazingly good you would think they're a fine professional orchestra to hear them.

Pele: Why Soccer Matters with Brian Winter****1/2

I'm not a big soccer fan. My grandchildren play and I go to their games but have only a limited understanding of even what happens at these simplified versions of the sport. I read this book only because it is on this year's Chautauqua list but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's Pele's memoir told to Brian Winter who wrote it up and it describes not only Pele's life and the impact that soccer has had on him but also describes the recent history of the game and the role it has had in connecting players around the world and providing a focus for national pride in Brazil. As one review says: "Pele relentlessly promotes the positive influences soccer can have to transform young men and women, struggling communities, even entire nations". After he retired from soccer, Pele became a cabinet minister in one of the early post-military governments in Brazil where he worked to help keep Brazilian youth in school and busy with wholesome activities by building a series of sports facilities throughout the country. This is an enjoyable and worthwhile read for soccer fans and non-fans alike.

What fun to see Ken Burns. I'm so culturally out of it I have no idea who Jackie Evancho is.

Don't worry, I didn't either. She's a 14 year-old soprano with an amazing voice who won America's Got Talent 4 years ago. After I heard her I remembered my son sharing one of her recordings with me.

Reba - I saw Pele on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart a whole back and thought that the book sounded good. I knew nothing about soccer until my kids started playing, but Pele is certainly a legend.

Hi Amy. There's really no need to know a lot about soccer to enjoy it (I don't and I did). It's a pretty quick read too.

Baseball Haiku edited by Cor van den Heuvel and Nanae Tamura****1/2

I picked this little volume from the 2009 Chautauqua list in furtherance of my goal of improving my appreciation of poetry and got more than I bargained for. The book includes a short, but very interesting, discussion of the history of Haiku in both Japan and the U. S. and the differences between traditional haiku, gendai haiku, muki haiku, American haiku and senryu. A single-page introduction to each poet describes their connection to both haiku and baseball in addition to examples of their work. Here are some of my favorites

by Jack Kerouac

Empty baseball field
--- A robin,
Hops along the bench

by Sylvia Forges-Ryan

sandlot players
a mockingbird sings
the umpire's call

by David Elliott

Empty bleachers ---
on the freshly raked baseline
pigeon tracks

by Ed Markowski

late innings
the shortstop backpedals
into fireflies

by Chad Lee Robinson

long summer day ---
spoke by spoke the baseball card
loses its rattle

That last one! I remember so well sticking baseball cards in the spokes of my bike and blatting along the street when I was a kid! I like the one with the fireflies too, and the one by Kerouac. Well, all are very evocative, and that's one reason I love haiku so much. So much is distilled into three short lines.

Thanks, Mary. Glad you like them :)

This is the adorable little movie theater at Chautauqua. We've been to several movies this summer including Chef, Redwood Highway, Begin Again and (today) The Grand Seduction. All were very good but I especially enjoyed Chef and The Grand Seduction, which was one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time.

Now I have to go read about these movies!

Hi Lucy. You may find something there to interest you. As I said, I liked them all.

I'm glad that you also enjoyed Five Days at Memorial, Reba. Pelé: Why Soccer Matters sounds interesting, so I'll add it to my wish list.

Hi Darryl. Hope you enjoy Pele when you get to it.

Hubby and I had a fun meet-up with Bonnie (brenzi) at a Duff's in Buffalo today. Hubby had been wanting to taste their wings and I'm always happy to meet an LT friend in person.

A huge THANK YOU to Bonnie for the surprise bag of books she so thoughtfully chose for me:
The Vagrants by Yiyun Li
Light in August by William Faulkner and
The View From Castle Rock by Alice Munro

I'll be diving into those on the way home.

Great picture! And those wings look yummy....

Reba, I was sitting next to one of our retired faculty members yesterday at the distinguished faculty luncheon. She told me that she and her husband had just recently returned from a visit to Chatauqua. I must confess that I wondered if she had met you. I didn't ask her, but I did wonder.

Great picture, Reba!

>219 katiekrug: they were really hot and I ordered "light medium"--hubby ordered "medium" and thought they were perfect

>220 thornton37814: hi Lori. There are about 7000 people here at any point during the nine weeks of "season" so it isn't all that likely, however I do work in the information office so I meet more people than most so who knows :)

>221 ronincats:. Thanks Roni. We were having a great time.

>218 RebaRelishesReading:: Thanks for the recent updates, Reba. It sounds like Chautauqua is just as wonderful as ever. I love that cute Cinema. And you got to meet Bonnie! Lucky you. She picked some great books out for you!

Meet up season!

Hi Donna. Yes, we're having a great summer. It was really nice to meet Bonnie and I can't wait to settle in to the books.

Hi Lucy -- we're lucky in that we travel across country every year which gives us an opportunity to meet LTers.

I love meeting LTers! Some of my happiest times here in Colorado were meet-ups with Anne (AMQS), Joanne (coppers), Donna (Donna 828), Julia (rosarita) and Katie (KatieKrug). What a great group of people! And coming soon: a meet-up with you and MrReba! Can't wait!

We're excited too Mary.

>222 RebaRelishesReading: She talked like she had been there before so she may not have come to the information office.

Hi Reba, I don't know why I haven't been by your thread before now - most of my friends seem to hang out here!

Mary invited me to the meet-up when you come through Denver and I hope I can meet you then.

Your summer at Chautauqua sounds wonderful!

Hi Joann, how nice of you to stop by. I'm really hoping a Denver meet-up can work and look forward to meeting you then.

Someone by Alice McDermott*****

This little novel by the author of Charming Billy is exactly the sort of book I love. It tells the story of nice, normal people facing the challenges of a normal American life. The main character is Marie, an Irish girl born Brooklyn between the world wars. We follow her through her life meeting her family and friends. My only complaint is that the book jumps around in time, which I'm not fond of, but in this case it is easy to follow and so not as much a problem as it often is.

Anna Quindlen is quoted as saying "All of McDormott's books mirror the central truths of existence so sure-handedly that they are neither comedies nor tragedies but merely true" I agree.

When Winter Come: The Ascension of York by Frank X. Walker

Continuing with my quest to read and appreciate poetry more and continuing to read books from the Chautauqua list, I read this poetic telling of the Lewis and Clark story from the perspective of York, the slave that accompanied them. I found it surprisingly readable and enjoyable. Here's the last poem in the book:

Like Heroes

is how the party was treated
when we returned
even me, back in the quarters

truth is
we ran out a food an supplies
before we even reached the ochian
we stole horses an anything else we could use

we pried the legs a women an girls open
let them think we had something special
something powerful to leave
with the trail a half-breeds
an sores and sickness

drunk with power an arrogance
we killed some young Blackfeet boys
then hung a peace medal 'round they neck

truth is
Indians was better people than us

instead a killing us all
they give us comfort an food
when we was starving

guides an directions
when we was lost

they traded their horses an women
for our survival an pleasure

watched us stumble all the way
to the ochian an back

we got better than we deserved from them

they got a whole lot worse

Chilling. I don't read a lot of poetry, but I think that one's going to have to go on my wishlist.

Hi Mary -- nice to see you. Glad When Winter Comes attracts you.

I'm a McDermott fan too!

>234 RebaRelishesReading: what else have you read of hers?

>232 RebaRelishesReading:: What a powerful poem. It gives a decidedly different slant to The Lewis & Clark Expedition. I enjoy poetry in small doses, Reba. Thanks for sharing that one.

Nice to hear from you Donna. Thanks

Yesterday I worked my last shift for the summer and, probably, forever. I have very mixed feelings because I enjoyed the people I worked with and love talking to people about Chautauqua but, at the same time, I don't like having to miss events I would otherwise attend because I "have to work".

No more working? What are your plans for next year?

Love the pictures! thanks for posting them.

Hi Rhonda, thanks for stopping by. We've decided not to spend the entire summer at Chautauqua next year, Instead, we're going to come for weeks 1-4 then take a road trip up through New England the the Atlantic Provinces before coming back for week 9 and a couple of weeks afterwards. Since I won't be here all season I won't be able to work. As I mentioned, I have mixed feelings but mostly I'm good with moving on

My Foreign Cities by Elizabeth Scarboro *****

This warm, interesting, sad, happy memoir was the winner of the 2014 Chautauqua Prize. It covers the author's friendship and marriage with a man with cystic fibrosis. They were friends first and then fell in love and were partners/spouses for ten years before his death in 1999. While the subject matter certainly has the potential to make a very sad book, they have so much joy in the relationship and in life that the sadness just feels like an integral part of this honest and very human account. A warm, human, compelling story.

Hi Reba! I'm just catching up and love the pics of your meetup with Bonnie and of you working. Your plans for next year sound fun too! And I'm glad to learn about My Foreign Cities. It sounds like an excellent memoir!

Hi Amy! Nice to hear from you. Hope you're having a great summer. When does school start again?