Joe's Book Cafe 17

Paintings by William Hernandez

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

March

23. The Orchard Keeper by Cormac McCarthy
24. Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb
25. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
26. My Dungeon Shook by Danez Smith
27. Black Boy Suite Black Boy Sweet by Danez Smith
28. Mrs. Tim of the Regiment by D.E. Stevenson
29. Little Green by Walter Mosley
30. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
31. Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen
32. A Truth Universally Acknowledged: Why We Read Jane Austen, edited by Susannah Carson
33. Dream London by Ian Ballantyne
34. Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope
35. Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb
36. Our Friends from Frolix 8 by Philip K. Dick
37. Burning Girls by Veronica Schanoes

April

38. New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
39. Refusing Heaven by Jack Gilbert
40. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
41. Sula by Toni Morrison
42. Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
43. Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb
44. William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher
45. To Darkness and To Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming
46. Vagabond Vol. 35 by Takehiko Inoue
47. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor
48. Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb
49. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor
50. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

May

51. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (re-read)
52. The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
53. Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb
54. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
55. Hexed by Kevin Hearne
56. The Woman Who Wouldn't Die by Colin Cotterill
57. Graveyard of Memories by Barry Eisler
58. Death Without Company by Craig Johnson
59. The Graphic Canon Vol. 1 by Russ Kirk
60. Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson
61. The Boy in His Winter by Norman Lock
62. Another Man's Moccasins by Craig Johnson
63. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield

June

64. This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki
65. Skin Game by Jim Butcher
66. Scaramouche by Raphael Sabatini
67. Redeployment by Phil Klay
68. Agent Zigzag by Ben Macyntyre
69. The Dark Horse by Craig Johnson
70. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
71. Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson
72. Aimless Love by Billy Collins
73. Shots Fired by C.J. Box
74. Concealed in Death by J.D. Robb
75. The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf
76. The Gauguin Connection by Estelle Ryan

July

77. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
78. Solanin by Inio Asano
79. As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson
80. Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan
81. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
82. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
83. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
84. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
85. Incarnadine by Mary Szybist
86. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
87. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Happy New Thread, Joe. I love those colourful drawings.

Happy new thread, Joe!

I got to thinkin' about some of the unreviewed books I need to get to, and thinkin' about today's meme-prompt: Beautiful title...hmmm...well, nothing beats The Optimist's Daughter for euphony and for sheer exuberant positivity of the image evoked.

I got the review up in the Orphans thread...post #65.

Oh, and happy new thread! Pretty pickchers up top there.

May as well get in on the ground floor here Joe. Love the Hernandez paintings.

Welcome back, Joe! Happy Sunday! Happy new thread! I really like the Hernandez artwork. I am not familiar with him.

Hi Joe! Hope you've got a whole lotta nuthin' on your radar to wrap up your weekend!

The Hernandez illustrations are sweet!

Happy new thread Joe! I'll be taking a window seat at the new cafe.

Happy new thread Joe.

>3 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara! Me, too - love his use of color.

>4 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! Looking forward to another good one.

>5 richardderus: Thanks, RD! I'll look forward to reading that review of The Optimist's Daughter. That's the Welty I read, so it'll be doubly interesting to see your reaction to it.

>6 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie! Thanks - I love those Hernandez paintings, too. I get mixed up sometimes, but I'm pretty sure you liked The Cuckoo's Calling, yes? It's getting unputdownable for me.

>7 msf59: Hey, there's our guy! Thanks, Mark. It's been a good Sunday for us. Hope you've been having a good one - with the way your schedule moves around, this is the only day I know for sure you have off.

How about Germany? They certainly seemed to be the ones playing the best in the tournament. Poor Argentina - they've made it to the finals three times, and they lost to Germany in at least two. Was it three?

BTW, the Bulls have added Gasol, Mirotic (supposedly the best player in Europe) and re-signed Hinrich. This could be a really good year. I know, so much depends on Derrick's health again. I hope the basketball gods start smiling on him.

Glad you like the Hernandez. I thin we might have run into his work in Seattle. It wasn't in Chicago.

>8 LauraBrook: Hiya, Laura! A whole lot of nuthin' is exactly what I've got on the radar for the rest of Sunday. The Cuckoo's Calling is surely going to take up a good chunk of it, as it has me in thrall.

Hope all is going well in your part of the woods. I'll check in - oof, I'm going to be behind on a lot of threads! But it sure feels good to be back.

>9 maggie1944: Thanks, Karen! Aren't they? I love it when someone has a knack with color.

>10 Thebookdiva: Hiya, Abby! Excellent. Do you like pumpkin chocolate chip muffins like your mom? We can bring some over to your window seat.



>11 GeezLouise: Thanks Rae. There's room over there with Abby if you've got time to hang out for a while.

>12 jnwelch: Yes Joe, I loved The Cuckoo's Calling and the second one, The Silkworm. My only regret is waiting another year for the next volume.

I believe I will do just that Joe thanks, sitting down after spending several hours on my feet would be nice.

Joe, I heard this story (it's just a few minutes long) on This American Life and wondered if you had seen the theatre group The Neo-Futurists in Chicago.

Happy New Thread, Joe!

Morning, Joe!

Happy Monday Joe!

>14 brenzi: I thought so, Bonnie, thanks. I'm encouraged now about reading the second one. I would've read it regardless, mainly because of Strike and Robin, and Rowling, but I'll look forward to it more knowing your positive reaction.

Now that I've finished the first one, I have a spoiler question for you (no one who hasn't read The Cuckoo's Calling should read this!): actually, it's too big a spoiler to even post with spoiler protection. I'll pm you.

>15 GeezLouise: Ha! Excellent, Rae. What kept you on your feet for several hours? Maybe I'll find out, as I catch up today.

>16 AuntieClio: That's very funny, Stephanie, thanks. I wish I could say yes. We've talked about going to see the Neo-Futurists many times. There's just such a large quantity of theater going on here. The Friday and Saturday shows also start late (11:30 or so) for the likes of us. But it keeps going, and it's still on our tbs (to be seen) list.

>17 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>18 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! The usual?



>19 Whisper1: Happy Monday, Linda! As a Grumpasaurus, I tend to view that as an oxymoron, but I'm trying to change my cantankerous ways.

I've seen The Neo-Futurists, and they put on an amazing show! Definitely recommend it.

Howdy Joe!

Happy Bastille Day! It's the fourteenth day of following the Book-A-Day meme, honoring our favorite French novel, or novel set in or about France. I picked Susanne Alleyn's wonderful Dickens-inspired novel A Far Better Rest. Yes. You read that right. Go look at my review in my thread...post #71.

PS may I please have a croissant, butter, and strawberry preserve with my expresso? (See how French I'm being!)

Oh, yes! Thanks for that, Joe!

Casting back to your last thread, I note the reference to Mary Szybist. I've never heard of her, but I had heard the surname before, and as unusual as it is, I thought it couldn't be pure coincidence. Back in the early '70's, I was student teaching in my college town, (Williamsport, PA) and one of my senior English students was a Debbie Szybist. Turns out Mary is a native of Williamsport as well. Surely they must be related.

>21 seasonsoflove: There must be some way your mom and I can stay awake long enough to see it, Becca. :-) It sounds like a ton o' fun.

>22 luvamystery65: Hey, there's Roberta! Howdy! Hope all is going well down in that giant-sized state of yours.

>23 richardderus: Now there's an invite that's hard to resist, Richard. Maybe Dickens-inspired isn't as bad as Dickens-written? Inquiring minds, including mine, will want to know.

I don't remember the French as being that polite. But we'll bring that out pronto.



>24 Crazymamie: Ha! You bet, Mamie. That would improve any day.

>25 laytonwoman3rd: I'll bet you're right, Linda. Coincidences don't come that big, I don't think. Her Incarnadine won the National Book Award for Poetry last year.

Hi, Joe! Compliments on your new thread. Nice new look for your cafe!

Happy Bastille Day! I agree with Richard that Susanne writes wonderful novels set in France, but my favorites are the Aristide Ravel mysteries, especially Cavalier of the Apocalypse and Palace of Justice.

I know it is Bastille Day and I would love to have that croissant right now. But I baked peach shortcake yesterday. (Can you get any more red, white, and blue than peach shortcake? At least I am in the right color family.) Some of that and a nice cup of iced coffee will be delightful this evening after a long Monday at work. I already have part of it in the freezer. The Chilton County peaches are ripe and ready so got down to baking. I also have a lot of roma tomatoes to work through this week.

Went to my knitting class on Saturday and since they were having a half-price sale, I came home with far more yarn than I needed. It is sort of like going to the Big Box home store and buying plants. I will be watering those darn plants for months. Why do I buy so many?

I'll have some of everything, Please, Joe!

Good morning, Joe. Thanks for this lovely breakfast. The French don't have a luxuriant breakfast they go more for lunch and dinner. Ha!

Morning Joe! Hope you are getting back into the groove after your Michigan trip. I'll be starting Middlemarch today. I've been looking forward to this one and I am glad to have a few LT pals tag along.
I am glad to see everyone enjoying the Cuckoo's Calling. I am so book busy these next few weeks, I am not sure when I'll be able to bookhorn it in.

>27 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary! A belated Happy Bastille Day to you, too!



That author is new to me, although I know I've read about the Aristide Ravel mysteries. I'll take a look.

>28 benitastrnad: Peach shortcake! That sounds mighty good, Benita. You obviously are a gifted baker. I've got a sister who loves to bake but as much to cook, and a wife who loves to cook but not as much to bake. They talked about combining efforts next time we're all together.

We're going to follow your inspiration on this one.



It's hard not to buy a lot of something you enjoy so much. Yarn and plants wouldn't be on my difficult to restrain myself list, although I admire that they're on yours. Books, of course, would be. Cookies, too.

>29 ronincats: Step right up, Roni!



>30 Ameise1: Good morning, Barbara. You're welcome indeed. Yes, the French seem pretty modest with breakfast, although a fresh croissant and some espresso ain't too shabby. We're big on breakfast over here, with a lot of ingenuity being brought to it. If it's on the menu, I'm likely to get chilaquiles these days. Best we ever had were in San Antonio.



>31 msf59: Morning Mark! I'm getting back into the groove, after a somewhat demanding Monday. It's always a little tough the first day back after being away. Things get backed up and so on.

I envy you starting Middlemarch. That one knocked me over when I read it. Go Dorothea! There's a character I'd be booing if I saw it on stage. You'll see what I mean.

You'll be glad when you have a chance to bookhorn in The Cuckoo's Calling. Pure enjoyment. I did do the audio for this one because of the car trip, and it was excellent.

I am enjoying this cool feel of the day. A nice surprise for mid-July.

I listened to the opening chapters of Middlemarch and her gorgeous prose snared me immediately.

Bastille Day pales in comparison with my husband's 70th birthday! We had a busy weekend (and yesterday) celebrating. Actually, we were both so tired yesterday that all I did was go out and bring food -- and a homegrown blackberry shortcake blizzard -- home for His Honor! Now it's my day to stay home while he's at work. And speaking of blizzards, today is more like an early fall day than one in mid-summer. If only it would last.

Happy Newish thread to you, Joe. I will be picking up the Galbraith books in the near future. I can't stand being left out of the love fest!

RD gave me ideas and it's been a long bit since I've made a request, so how about a croissant, cheese, and grapes? I love a good bread/cheese/fruit combo. No blue cheese or other moldy cheese like that though. Yuck.

>33 msf59: Isn't this cool weather great, Mark? In the middle of July. We'll take it!

Good to hear Ms. Evans has ensnared you. It is gorgeous prose, isn't it?

>34 Donna828: It is a love fest for the Galbraith books, isn't it, Donna? I wasn't sure what I'd get, but The Cuckoo's Calling sucked me right in and had me rooting for the main characters from the get-go.

Your husband's a lucky guy - his birthday ranking above a country's national holiday shows your high esteem. How did you celebrate during the busy weekend? A blackberry shortcake blizzard - can't resist that one. The blizzard part's tough, but here's the shortcake:



ETA: >35 Morphidae: You bet, Morphy. That RD is an inspirational foodie, isn't he? Here you go:

>32 jnwelch:. Oooh...chicken chilaquiles! I order it sometimes just to hear myself say it.

Oops! Hey Joe, sorry it took me a while to make my way to the new café. It's the place to be seen for sure! I wouldn't mind a latté, but I hope you won't mind if I bring my own sweet to accompany it, as I just got hooked on these little butter lemon tarts from France from the gourmet store at the market I always drop by to get my ration of weekly sweets. They are truly delish, and really tiny so it's easy to just keep chomping one after the other.

Here's a link I thought you might enjoy: The Best Illustrations from 150 Years of Alice in Wonderland.

eta: I think I'd die and go to heaven if I could get my hands on that John Vernon Lord limited edition. I saw one one Abe for just over $550. My b-day just passed, but maybe a collection on LT for next year...? Just a suggestion. ;-b

>37 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! My MBH sometimes orders "Tuscaloosa" for the very same reason, Linda, but they never know what to bring her.

>38 Smiler69: Maybe a Kickstarter campaign for that John Vernon Lord, Ilana? As you probably read, some guy got over $50,000 on Kickstarter when he tried to raise $10 to make potato salad. You might raise enough to get a passel of illustrated editions.

As usual, I'll have to try the link after this, so I don't lose the post. The title already has the bookish equivalent of my mouth watering - maybe my fingers twitching?

We'll get that latte for you, and I sure wish we were in RL so I could maybe snag one of those little French butter lemon tarts of yours. Yumdacious.



ETA: I checked out The Best Illustrations from 150 Years of Alice in Wonderland - love that it leads with Lisbeth Zwerger. I like Ralph Steadman illustrating Hunter Thompson, but illustrating our Alice, not so much. Who knew Tove Jannson illustrated an Alice edition?

That's as far as I've gotten, but I'll read (gawk) through it all. I'm pretty sure I told my Tove Jansson story here before. We had some teen girls visit from Finland, and my daughter and I, with our Midwestern accents, tried to tell them how much we enjoyed reading "Toave Jann-senn" when she was little. Totally baffled them. Then we mentioned the Moomintroll stories, and the light went on. "Oh, you mean 'Toe-vuh Yonn-sonn'!" We cracked up. OK, that does sound better.

>32 jnwelch: Great photo, Joe! Thanks!

I hope you do try one of the Ravel mysteries. If you like mysteries, I think you would enjoy the series! And the author is an LT author and one of the nicest ladies I know. Here's her suggested reading order:

"The Aristide Ravel /​ French Revolution mystery series

Each novel can stand alone, but if you're new to the series, ideally you'll ignore the publishing dates and read them in the following order:

1. The Cavalier of the Apocalypse (1786)

2. Palace of Justice (1793)

3. Game of Patience (1796)

4. A Treasury of Regrets (1797)"

http://www.susannealleyn.com/works.htm

>40 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. And she's an LT author and nice? Sign me up! I'll find a way to read The Chandelier of the Hypotenuse (don't ask - sometimes these irresistible urges come over me) sometime soon.

Red Rising is a pulse-quickening read that made me think of The Count of Monte Cristo, which I loved, among others. Main character Darrow is sixteen years old and as a miner, is helping to terraform Mars - or so he thinks. Democracy has been rejected, and classes are identified by colors, with his, Red, the lowest, and Gold the highest. Darrow is getting by with some success as a risk-taking "Helldiver", who takes chances to find valuable material in the mine. But everything goes dangerously off kilter when his clan is denied an earned reward and his love of his life wife decides to fight the oppressors. He can't resist the oncoming trouble, but ends up with kindred spirits wanting him to recast himself as a Gold and infiltrate the upper class.

Can he do it? And, if so, can he survive the leadership training school that permits lethal violence in furtherance of victory? (Hunger Games, anyone?) Alliances with vicious Golds will be necessary to get where he wants (he is wanted) to go - can he maintain his integrity while doing that?

I don't want to be too politically correct, but the treatment of women in parts is bothersome. (Comments welcome). There are several women leaders in the story, but there also are acts of sexual violence and oppression toward women that are disturbing. I do know we have women LTers who've enjoyed this book, so maybe I'm overreacting. Overall this is a compelling read, and I'm ready for the next one asap. Four stars.

Hi Joe, ohh, Red Rising sounds like a good one! I've been drooling over the yummy food on offer here and now I can wait no longer, must run off to the kitchen and snag myself some lunch!

>44 jnwelch: Ha! Hi, Judy. I know the feeling - I ran off and had some lunch myself, although it wasn't nearly as good as what's on offer here.

Red Rising is a page-turner, all right. Can't wait for the next one.

I can't think of many people I know who would enjoy Solanin like I did. A Japanese manga coming of age story? Pretty esoteric. But really well done and, for me, engrossing.

This is a 400+ pager, but they fly by. We've got twenty somethings Meiko and her boyfriend Shigeo Naruo living together in Tokyo. She works at a boring office job, and he is the songwriter/vocalist/guitarist leader of an indie rock band that's looking for a break. Meiko longs to quit, and Naruo isn't sure what's the right next step for her and him. Their friends and bandmates all have their own quirks and aspirations. Meiko has talent of her own, and faces her own decisions between a job to pay the rent and expressing her creativity.

It all took me back to those post-college days, and I got caught up in the stories of Meiko, Naruo and the others trying to figure it out, amid gentle humor and romantic yearnings. This is a quality graphic novel for those who like this kind of storytelling. Four stars.

>41 jnwelch: Chandelier of the Hypotenuse! LOL!!!

I got to meet the author of Red Rising last summer at the ALA conference in Chicago. He was an interesting speaker. He talked at a first time author's panel. He told the audience how appreciative he was of the publisher trying so hard to get the word out about his book. Of course, he was wanting the librarians in the audience to do the same. I have an ARC of the book, but I just haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Maybe I should move it up in the queue and then join you in shouting about it?

Along those same lines - I just have never been much interested in reading any of J. K. Rowling's books. I read the blurbs and they just don't catch my attention. It is a good thing that author doesn't need my help to get the word out about her books.

Thanks for the food! That blackberry shortcake looks even better than the peach shortcake. And those iced coffees! Yow!!!

>45 jnwelch: great art! Thanks for sharing. (Although they have a much better apartment than I had at their age...)

>46 Storeetllr: :-) It would be hard to resist grabbing that one off the shelf, wouldn't it?

>47 benitastrnad: Yes, I'd give it a try, Benita. Does the description sound at all appealing? If so, you may end up joining the shouting. As Alex says somewhere up there, thems that don't seem to be people that don't like this genre.

ETA: >48 michigantrumpet: Thank you, Marianne. My pleasure. Yeah, and a much bigger one than the studio apt's I lived in at that age.

>32 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. Wishing you a lovely day.

>50 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. I wish the same for you. It's turning into a lovely one here in Chicago.

Joe, it's starting to be very hot here in Zürich. At the end of the week we'll have around 35C.

>45 jnwelch: looks like a good 'un, Joe!

>52 Ameise1: That would be mid-90s F, Barbara - very hot! We're supposedly getting a benefit (finally) from the Polar Vortex (who'd even heard of that before the past winter?), with temps dipping down into the 50s at night and being in the 60s/ low 70s during the day. Very pleasant! 35C wouldn't be unusual for us in mid-July, normally.

>53 magicians_nephew: Ah, glad to hear it, Jim! If you end up reading Solanin, let me know. As I indicated, I'm figuring it takes a rare bird to pursue reading a Japanese manga coming of age story, even a high quality one like this.

*waving* good morning, Joe. News from the Seattle scene: I had an unfortunate reason to be in the part of Seattle which has been, over the last 5-10 years, re-developed into kind of a tech/medical research vortex, and I have to say, "oh, my goodness, this city has changed a great deal". This area used to be a quiet, nearly abandoned, corner of the downtown business district. Now it is almost Manhatten busy on the streets with most of the people looking as if they left the university in the last 5-10 years. Amazing. Entertaining.

Our weather will be high 80s and low 90s today, and then slip sliding back to more normal high 70s with threats of showers later in the week. Yay!

As the Crow Flies is the 8th in Craig Johnson's mystery series featuring rough and tumble Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire. This one takes him to a Cheyenne reservation in Montana. He's joined by his best friend Henry Standing Bear, as they try to pin down an appropriate location for Walt's daughter Cady's wedding to a Philadelphia cop. While exploring the bottom of the Painted Warrior Cliffs, they see a mother and baby son fall from above. The son survives. It's viewed as a suicide jump, but Walt is sure it's murder.

Walt quickly gets into a conflict with the reservation's new Chief enforcement officer, Lolo Long, a veteran of the Iraq War with a hair-trigger temper and no police training. After first thinking she's hopeless, he decides to become her mentor, and the benefits quickly begin to show. At the same time, he's torn between the investigation and delivering on his wedding-related promises to Cady. Then the FBI shows up and throws a monkey wrench into what little investigative progress has been made. The southern Montana setting for all this is a character unto itself, as usual in this series, and the human characters all come with believable flaws and proclivities. Chief Lolo Long is a nice addition to the series, and tribal Chief Lonnie Little Bird brings his unique humor. Another excellent entry in this series.

>42 jnwelch: Already here, nyahnyahnyah

>56 jnwelch: Longmire books, Longmire TV, life is good. What a wonderful time it is for good adapted TV!



These, please. In mass quantity, please. Yum, thank you please.

>55 maggie1944: *waving back to Karen* I don't know Seattle well enough yet to place the changed corner of the downtown business district you mention, but the whole joint has been jumping in that general area when we've been there. A thriving city that seems to be holding onto its personality, even with changes like you describe. Rain has always been a-okay with me, so high 70s with threats of it sounds good to me. Smiling thinking of you enjoying one of our favorite spots on the map.

>57 richardderus: Enjoying mature discussions about books is one of my favorite things about LT, Richard, and your "nyahnyahnyah" is just the latest example of the kind of elevating comment that makes me stop and think about life, creativity, and the wonders of literature. All I can say in response is, neener neener and tsk tsk, read it and then we'll talk.

Longmire is way better than a short bog, and I'm hooked on both the books and the tv series. Wonderful time for TV adaptations, for sure. Will we ever see Dr. Siri up there on the screen?

I don't think we could possibly do better on the fries than what you found for yourself. Man, those look good. And it's getting near lunch time here.

Joe, scoot on over to my thread and read all about my adventures in downtown Seattle. It was epic, as the young folks are want to say these ah days.

>59 maggie1944: Yeesh, I scooted, and commented over there, Karen: http://www.librarything.com/topic/175260#4772684

I'd pay to get whatever premium channel adapted the Dr. Siri mysteries!

Hi Joe- I enjoyed your review of Solanin. I will have to add that to my WL. I currently have a stack of 4 or 5 GNs, I need to make my way through, before they are due back.

I see you plowed through another Longmire. I had a sneaky feeling you would blow right past me, on those...

BTW- I am also really enjoying the latest season of Longmire. Very consistent...

>61 Storeetllr: Wouldn't that be great, Mary? Me, too. Some day some smartie will make it happen (I hope).

>62 msf59: I'm enjoying this season of Longmire, too, Mark. Are they close to finding out what really happened with his wife? Seems like it. Yes, consistent high quality. Same with the books, really.

Oh good. Give Solanin a try. I found it via one of those "best GN" lists we were talking about a while ago. I just got my copy of Bryan Lee O'Malley's Seconds, and so far I'm enjoying it. After the success of Scott Pilgrim, he's getting the full color treatment.

Have you read Hatchet? Simple story, but well told. I'll try to review it today. It came up in that discussion of people's favorite YA and middle grade books way back when.

Joe, Hatchet is one of my favorite YA books. I also like many of the other books Gary Paulsen has written. He is a recovering alcoholic and many of his books touch on the grittier side of life, without going over the top, staying appropriate as YA.

>64 maggie1944: Intriguing, thanks, Karen. I wondered about his others. In the afterword to Hatchet he mentions how it touches on some of his own experiences.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a well-written survival story featuring 13 year old city boy Brian, alone in the Canadian wilderness. His parents are divorcing. The two-seater plane in which he's traveling to see his father has gone off course and crashed on a lake in the endless forest. Brian desperately tries to remember the few survival tips he has picked up in books and on tv. He finds a shielding rock under which to build a shelter, and gradually, with the help of a hatchet his mother gave him, figures out how to get by, day by day. The wilderness is beautiful and dangerous, and he realizes that "food" is the guiding principle for most of what happens there. He scavenges for berries, manages to start a fire (after a lot of experimentation), finds sand-buried turtle eggs, makes a bow and arrows to get fish and birds, and so on. He's forced to become more patient, and to accept and learn from his mistakes. He has brushes with death from unpredictable wildlife and weather, and as the first month and then another pass, he has to start reconciling himself to the possibility of no rescue.

“He did not know how long it took, but later he looked back on this time of crying in the corner of the dark cave and thought of it as when he learned the most important rule of survival, which was that feeling sorry for yourself didn't work. It wasn't just that it was wrong to do, or that it was considered incorrect. It was more than that--it didn't work.”

“Brian looked back and for a moment felt afraid because the wolf was so... so right. He knew Brian, knew him and owned him and chose not to do anything to him. But the fear moved then, moved away, and Brian knew the wolf for what it was - another part of the woods, another part of all of it.”

This is a fast and gripping young adult novel. Thanks to Karen for recommending it. Four stars.

>66 jnwelch: *Blu-Blockers on, warble-canceling earphones on* Okay, ready for my trip into the wilds of the cafe.

>67 richardderus: It can get confusing, Richard. You might want to just start getting the warbled books.

Gary Paulsen was one of Delacorte BFYR's authors, so I got all the books of his there were to get while I worked there. *nyahnyah*

>69 richardderus: Nice! #1, I didn't know you worked there. How was it? BFYR means Books For Young Readers, right? #2 So did you read Hatchet? What did you think? Are there others of his you'd recommend? #3 I worked one summer at Academy Chicago Publishers (now part of Chicago Review Press). I did get some Leo Bruce mysteries and a few others from that.

As to nyahnyah, I say

Boys, you are making me laugh!

It's time for my lunch. I would like a slice of Pizza Margarita. (Or however, it is spelled in Italian.)

I have some of the Longmire books and need to make a trip to the library to get the first ones. Did I tell you that I got a chance to meet Craig Johnson at the ALA winter meeting in Denver? That was back before the series got to be so popular and went to TV. He looked just like a cowboy from Wyoming should look. Even though he is not from Wyoming. He does live there now.

For another look at the countryside in Wyoming you could read Bird Cloud by Annie Proulx. She built a house in such a remote place that she doesn't live there most of the winter because it is too hard to get in and out.

>71 maggie1944: :-) Good!

>72 benitastrnad: Congrats, Benita, on meeting Craig Johnson before all the foofaraw. He sure acquired a good feel for Wyoming for someone who's not from there.

I liked The Shipping News, so I'll keep Bird Cloud in mind. Between the mystery series by C.J. Box and Johnson, I'm getting some good armchair travel there. I've been in Wyoming in my travels, including the Big Horn mountains, but it's been a long time.

Pizza - lovely. One of my favorite food groups. Here you go.

>72 benitastrnad: Oh we had some wonderful margherita pizza in for lunch at the office today. Wish you could have joined us. There was also one with vodka sauce and mushrooms as well as the fresh mozzarella. Our office manager and her husband run a tiny Italian eatery, and he makes the mozzarella himself. To die for.

>70 jnwelch: BFYR does indeed mean Books for Young Readers. It wasn't a great gig because my supervisor got me wished on her, and never let me forget her anger.

Tracker, Dogsong and Hatchet are some of the best outdoor-themed YA books ever written. Paulsen should be given to the macho-poophead boys who say books are boring. And Nightjohn is *jaw*dropping* it's so good.

As to Pbbbbbbbbbbbtttttttttt, I respond:

>74 laytonwoman3rd: Oh my. How many of us want to work in Linda's office after reading those mouth-watering pizza comments? Raise your hand.



Wait, I don't remember the cafe looking like that. Or us.

Our office manager and her husband run a tiny Italian eatery, and he makes the mozzarella himself. To die for. Are you kidding? Sounds like you work in a Montalbano novel. This can't be RL, can it?

>75 richardderus: Hey, excellent Paulsen recommendations, Richard. You're the politest, most helpful fellow ever I met. I'm going to track those down.

As to your gratuitous insulteries, I'm going to get help from across the pond, to counteract that obnoxious-looking bloke.

HA!! It wouldn't surprise me one bit if my father *had* smelt of elderberries.

Still funny forty years on.

>77 richardderus: He claims your mother was a hamster, too. Scary!

You may have seen this appropriate celebration of their recent reunion in London:

>78 jnwelch: Oh, gosh, that one is really pining for the fjords, innee?

>79 laytonwoman3rd: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!

(With a tip of the hat to Morphy, who got us onto this earlier this year).

'E's only STUNNED!

LOL just gorgeous.

>81 laytonwoman3rd: STUNNED?!?

>82 Ameise1: But really, really dead, Barbara. Don't get distracted by the gorgeous plumage.

>78 jnwelch: through >81 laytonwoman3rd: HAHAHAHAHA!!!

>66 jnwelch: We had to read Hatchet for a YA lit class I took during my MLIS program way back when. It is one book that has stuck with me.

Hi Joe! I do not think I read Hatchet, but I do remember my son reading it for school. I usually read along with the books my kids were reading but somehow that one got by me. Hey, it's never to late, right?

I finished and enjoyed a GN called Tonoharu: Part One, about an American teacher in Japan. You would like it. I just started Afterlife With Archie, which is Archie & the gang, with zombies. Yes, you heard me right and believe it or not, it is really good.

"I didn't like Jughead when he was alive. Now that he is dead, well...the less said the better."

>86 msf59: Archie with zombies....I suppose it was inevitable. Archie's real end, however, has a lot more punch to it.

Happy Friday! I hope you can cut the working short, and the relaxing long!

>86 msf59: Hey, Mark! Definitely never too late. You'd like Hatchet, and you may have seen RD recommends other Paulsen books.

I'll check out Tonoharu, thanks. Sounds like my cuppa all right. How did you hear about it?

Afterlife with Archie - I'd never have guessed you'd be reading that one. I saw in the media they were killing poor Archie off. It must have been the set-up for this? Intriguing to hear it's really good. I'll be on the alert for when you finish. Daughter Becca used to read Archie when a wee lass, and her dad did when he was a wee lad.

>87 laytonwoman3rd: I can't risk going away from this post (I'll probably lose it), so I'll have to check out that link after this, Linda. It does seem inevitable, doesn't it? They're trying to juice up an old series, sounds like. If Charles Schultz were around, I wonder whether we'd get some Peanuts with zombies?

>88 maggie1944: Happy Friday, Karen! I do plan on leaving a little early today, as we're going to the White Sox game with some friends tonight. Relaxing is definitely on the agenda. I hope you get a chance to do the same.

I've kept the review-a-day pace with my latest: Black Irish, a twisty Buffalo Noir novel. It's violent, it's scary, and it's a 4-star read. Review in my thread...post #197.

>89 jnwelch: Knowing what I know about Archie's demise, I seriously doubt it is a set-up for him returning as a zombie. That would take all the positive impact away from the death story line.

>90 richardderus: Thanks, RD.

>91 laytonwoman3rd: Ah, okay, thanks, Linda. After I made that post, I read a bit about the story in the link you gave, and I can see what you mean. I've lost touch with those comics, and didn't realize they had published ones taking him into adulthood, with one storyline having him married to Betty, and the other to Veronica. That seems pretty clever. I liked all the comments of their CEO; he piqued my interest. I may track down the Death of Archie now that I know more about it.

I wonder whether the zombie storylines will be like Buffy. I can sure see potential similarities.

P.S. I came across this, and liked it a lot. Here's to a peaceful weekend.

Hi Joe! Another beauty out here. I will get spoiled. I think I heard about Tonoharu, through one of those invaluable GN lists. The 2nd volume is out or coming out.
Happy Friday, my friend!

>94 jnwelch: I know, Mark. This is just unbelievable in the middle of July. I think we'll all get spoiled. If we had lots of weather like this here, the population would triple. Loving it.

Those GN lists have really helped, haven't they? Who knew these gems were out there. I'm enjoying Seconds, and Becca gave me some nice hardcover Strangers in Paradise GNS as she cleans house (amazing number of books coming out of her apartment to be sold - we've got storage room she doesn't), so I've been enjoying a revisit with those, too.

Happy Friday! Do you work tomorrow? Might not be all bad to get another one under your belt in this weather.

A new picture of Sherlock, just taken-he is exhausted after a nice long walk with his mom and Bubbie ;)

>92 jnwelch: That place....I must go there!

>95 seasonsoflove: Ha! I love it when he sprawls out like that, Becca. You two must have really put him through his paces. What a beautiful day for it!

>96 laytonwoman3rd: Me, too, Linda! Isn't it tranquil and lovely? All I know is it's apparently located somewhere in Japan. Maybe a patron will have an idea. It's my pc wallpaper now, and looks even better bigger.

Oh my heavens! I have been howling with laughter with the ripostes back and forth and the dead parrot talk. Good thing the office is relatively deserted on a Friday afternoon.

This is why I love the LT 75ers! All the edifying talk!!

>98 michigantrumpet: Who you callin' edifyin'??

>99 laytonwoman3rd: Ha!! I'm so full of this edifying talk, if I hear one more bit, I'll just explode!

Not even one thin dinner mint!!

>100 michigantrumpet: Are you SURE? Not even ONE?

Snort! It's a good thing there's so few people left in the office right now! I let out a huge HAAA! with that one!

>98 michigantrumpet:, >99 laytonwoman3rd:, >100 michigantrumpet:, >101 laytonwoman3rd:, >102 michigantrumpet:

:-)

Nothing like a few good laughs, Marianne and Linda, to improve a Friday afternoon!

Or begin a quiet, gray Saturday morning. I have very few things I have to do today! Dinner out with friends at a near by Thai restaurant. Oh joy.

Think I'll go read a book.

>104 maggie1944: That sounds most excellent, Karen. We've got it pretty easy, too. We've been to the Farmer's Market, and picked up coffee/chai, and now we've got a few chores, but otherwise just a barbecue this evening with my MBH's writing/storytelling group.

Last night we were at a fun White Sox win over the Astros, followed by a colorful fireworks show. Beautiful weather, really nice time.



Enjoy your open day with reading time!

We love this photo of a girl and her dog - Becca and Sherlock reading in my dad's garden.

Wonderful photo! So peaceful.

I'm thinkin' it's the weekend, and I haven't had pecan pancakes with a vat of coffee and an Ireland of hash browns. Is there a way we can fix that? Hmm?

Black dog doing an imitation of the sphinx.

Joe, I wish you a fabulous weekend.

>106 jnwelch: what a lovely garden! I envy you, Joe.

>197 jnwelch: Isn't it, Richard? Makes me feel peaceful just to look at it.

Ha! Yes, I believe we can pull that together for you. Here you go - we had to bring that coffee in, special.



>198 AuntieClio: Ha! You're right, Karen. The Egyptian in him is coming out.

FINALLY a mug big enough for me! Thanks for the yums.

>109 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara, for the lovely thought and the lovely sunflower. So far so good on our end. I hope you have a fabulous weekend, too.

>110 ffortsa: Thank you, Judy. It is a beautiful, quiet garden, well-tended now by the son of our dad's caregiver.

Ann Arbor's a pretty town, and I was lucky to grow up there.

>112 richardderus: Ha! It took some doing, Richard - lot of equipment involved - but it was worth it to finally match up with your gargantuan coffee appetite. You're welcome!

Morning Joe! I love the Becca & Sherlock photo. That is worth framing.
I liked the Archie Afterlife GN, but I don't think it is your cuppa. It is nicely drawn and well -written, with just the right dark edge, I like.
Enjoy the day, my friend!

Great pic of Becca & Sherlock Joe. Sherlock is much smaller than I thought. How much does he weigh, more or less?

>114 msf59: Good to see you, Mark! Thanks for checking in on a work day. Isn't that a sweet photo? They're good pals, those two.

Thanks for the heads up on Archie Afterlife. I did find the first Tonoharu at the library, long with a Darwyn Cooke DC comics update I know nothing about, but it had lots of enthusiastic blurbs on the back. At some point I've got to get back to the monster-sized second volume of The Graphic Canon.

We've been out in this gorgeous day a lot already, and we aims to do that even more.

Hope you're enjoying it, too, despite working. Almost your two-day break!

>115 Smiler69: Thanks, Ilana. Becca is supposed to keep Sherlock at 15 lbs. or less because of his heart murmur. Last I knew he was around 14.5. That smallness is probably why his little gray cells are so developed for crime-solving, like Hercule Poirot.

... you mean like Sherlock Holmes of course! :-) Mind you, both sleuths are incredibly full of themselves. Is Sherlock like that too? I put Coco on a diet recently, not because he's fat but he was getting slightly pudgy and it's a well known fact skinny creatures tend to have longer life spans, and I do want to keep him as long as possible, especially as I didn't have him for the first 6 years of his life (he was 5 lbs when I got him and quite skinny, and now around 7.5; I'll try to get him around 6 or 6.5). The bonus is, he used to be incredibly picky about his food and now his portions are reduced, is only too grateful to eat whatever I put in front of him! :-)

>117 Smiler69: Good point, Ilana. His namesake has had a big influence on Sherlock, too.

I've also heard that small dogs supposedly live longer than large ones. Becca rescued Sherlock, so she's in a similar position to yours with Coco, although they're not quite sure how old he was when she got him - somewhere in the 3-5 range. He's a bit of a picky eater even at his low weight, although seemingly like all dogs, he's always ready for a treat, and human food always looks scrumptious to him.

He's not full of himself, for sure. If he's full of anything, it seems to be his mom, the sun around which he orbits. Given the rough time we think he had before he met her, and the beautiful care she takes of him, that makes a lot of sense.

Awwww... that's awesome. Coco is very loving too, but I don't think I'm the sun he orbits around, though. That would simply be because he's probably been used to having people fawning over him all his life. I can't ever walk out of the house with him without people going gaga, so really, he's the one who's a little bit full of himself. Not in an obvious way though; he's just in his little bubble is all. But then, he's always got to have me in his sight and follows me around the house from room to room, so I guess he does have his priorities straight! :-)

I didn't think Sherlock would be (full of himself), just made that comment because I'm struck by how insufferable the original SH is, now I'm discovering him for the first time. And that drug habit! Oy!

I just finished half of one of those huge cinnamon rolls with my coffee for breakfast, before checking out the threads. Good day, Joe!

>110 ffortsa: Gimme a bucket...

>92 jnwelch: Gorgeous photo!

Hopelessly behind and won't try to catch up, although skimming makes it seem I missed some good jokes. I didn't miss the pic of my pal Sherlock, though, with his most excellent mama Becca. Lovely!

I finally reviewed The Goldfinch in my thread...post #193.

I'll visit with everyone soon, but I had two Billy Collins-related thoughts on a day of the week that often involves poetry for me. The first is that a patron recommended a Billy Collins poem that involved a squirrel, and also one other one - if you see this, please remind me about the two poems again. I'd like to track them down.

The other thought is I've mentioned a Billy Collins poem about Victoria's Secret that my MBH and I love, and I thought I'd post it. It's a bit long, but it's a fast and wonderful read:

Victoria's Secret

by Billy Collins

The one in the upper-left-hand corner
is giving me a look
that says I know you are here
and I have nothing better to do
for the remainder of human time
than return your persistent but engaging stare.
She is wearing a deeply scalloped
flame-stitch halter top
with padded push-up styling
and easy side-zip tap pants.

The one on the facing page, however,
who looks at me over her bare shoulder,
cannot hide the shadow of annoyance in her brow.
You have interrupted me,
she seems to be saying,
with your coughing and your loud music.
Now please leave me alone;
let me finish whatever it was I was doing
in my organza-trimmed
whisperweight camisole with
keyhole closure and point d'esprit mesh back.

I wet my thumb and flip the page.
Here, the one who happens to be reclining
in a satin and lace merry widow
with an inset lace-up front,
decorated underwire cups and bodice
with lace ruffles along the bottom
and hook-and-eye closure in the back,
is wearing a slightly contorted expression,
her head thrust back, mouth partially open,
a confusing mixture of pain and surprise
as if she had stepped on a tack
just as I was breaking down
her bedroom door with my shoulder.

Nor does the one directly beneath her
look particularly happy to see me.
She is arching one eyebrow slightly
as if to say, so what if I am wearing nothing
but this stretch panne velvet bodysuit
with a low sweetheart neckline
featuring molded cups and adjustable straps.
Do you have a problem with that?!

The one on the far right is easier to take,
her eyes half-closed
as if she were listening to a medley
of lullabies playing faintly on a music box.
Soon she will drop off to sleep,
her head nestled in the soft crook of her arm,
and later she will wake up in her
Spandex slip dress with the high side slit,
deep scoop neckline, elastic shirring,
and concealed back zip and vent.

But opposite her,
stretched out catlike on a couch
in the warm glow of a paneled library,
is one who wears a distinctly challenging expression,
her face tipped up, exposing
her long neck, her perfectly flared nostrils.
Go ahead, her expression tells me,
take off my satin charmeuse gown
with a sheer, jacquard bodice
decorated with a touch of shimmering Lurex.
Go ahead, fling it into the fireplace.
What do I care, her eyes say, we're all going to hell anyway.

I have other mail to open,
but I cannot help noticing her neighbor
whose eyes are downcast,
her head ever so demurely bowed to the side
as if she were the model who sat for Correggio
when he painted "The Madonna of St. Jerome,"
only, it became so ungodly hot in Parma
that afternoon, she had to remove
the traditional blue robe
and pose there in his studio
in a beautifully shaped satin teddy
with an embossed V-front,
princess seaming to mold the bodice,
and puckered knit detail.

And occupying the whole facing page
is one who displays that expression
we have come to associate with photographic beauty.
Yes, she is pouting about something,
all lower lip and cheekbone.
Perhaps her ice cream has tumbled
out of its cone onto the parquet floor.
Perhaps she has been waiting all day
for a new sofa to be delivered,
waiting all day in stretch lace hipster
with lattice edging, satin frog closures,
velvet scrollwork, cuffed ankles,
flare silhouette, and knotted shoulder straps
available in black, champagne, almond,
cinnabar, plum, bronze, mocha,
peach, ivory, caramel, blush, butter, rose, and periwinkle.
It is, of course, impossible to say,
impossible to know what she is thinking,
why her mouth is the shape of petulance.

But this is already too much.
Who has the time to linger on these delicate
lures, these once unmentionable things?
Life is rushing by like a mad, swollen river.
One minute roses are opening in the garden
and the next, snow is flying past my window.
Plus the phone is ringing.
The dog is whining at the door.
Rain is beating on the roof.
And as always there is a list of things I have to do
before the night descends, black and silky,
and the dark hours begin to hurtle by,
before the little doors of the body swing shut
and I ride to sleep, my closed eyes
still burning from all the glossy lights of day.

Holy wow! Things I wish I could say also crossed my mind as I flipped through countless VS catalogues but failed to put down and thus forgot. You're turning me into a Billy Collins fan one poem at a time, Joe.

Perhaps her ice cream has tumbled
out of its cone onto the parquet floor.

...can't...breathe...laughing...

>126 Smiler69: Isn't that great, Ilana? I love it. Good to hear you're gradually becoming a fan; he's well worth reading. How contrarian to be a poet with a sense of humor!

>127 richardderus: "Yes, she is pouting about something." That expression of models we all know. Knowing I was reading poetry, my MBH heard me chuckling as I read about the perhaps ice cream tumbling, Richard, and said "You must be reading Billy Collins."

What would be a good collection to start with, Joe? I keep wanting to make poetry part of my repertory, but it seems to require some effort...

By the way, just got Rules of Summer from the library and quite enjoyed that, but now I'm onto The Bird King and have decided I MUST get my own copy!

>119 Smiler69: Sherlock always seems to be a bit surprised and delighted to have access to people fawning over him, Ilana. He mainly wants to reach them with kisses if he can. Coco sounds like a justifiably proud veteran of much fawning. I suspect Eloise would like to hang out with him. His always needing to have you in his sight and following you from room to room sure sounds like a bit of orbiting around the sun; he obviously does have his priorities straight.

Here's another one of seasonsoflove and Sherlock, enjoying a walk by my dad's place. Pere Welch is in the background.



>120 ronincats: Oh my, I love those huge cinnamon rolls, Roni. Give me one of those and a Vorkosigan book, and I'm ready to start the day.



>121 Morphidae: Was the bucket intended for >111 jnwelch:, Morphy? Or for gardening with Judy in >110 ffortsa:?

>122 thornton37814: Isn't it gorgeous, Lori? Feels like you could walk right into >92 jnwelch: and just cool out for a while.

>123 rosalita: Hiya, Julia! We've been having some fun all right. You'll see there's a new Becca and Sherlock pic for your viewing pleasure.

>124 richardderus: A Goldfinch review, Richard? I shall scamper over and read it.

ETA: >129 Smiler69: I recommend Sailing Alone Around the Room, Ilana, his collection of selected poems that has Victoria's Secret and a whole bunch of other good ones in it. But you wouldn't go wrong with his more recent collection of selected poems, Aimless Love, either. If you get hooked, you can go back to the individual books from which those were selected.

Glad you liked Rules of the Game; now you've got me itching to get my hands on The Bird King!

Joe, I love that poem, it made me chuckle. Yesterday I emailed a good friend of mine (who is a great lover of poetry) and asked her to write me up a prescription for some poetry. Her response:

"Billy Collins. Always."

Between the two of you, you're creating another Amazon problem! ;)

>131 jnwelch: Oh good, Laura! Love that message from your friend. Can you tell I agree?

Howdy Joe! Love the Collin's poem. I will have to read more of him. His style suits me. Love the Becca & Sherlock photo.

I just did a mess of yard work and now I am going to chill...

I finished a nifty GN called Alex Ada Volume 1. Have you heard of Jonathan Luna? He is one to watch.

>134 msf59: Howdy, compadre! I saw you recommended Alex + Ada on FB - I'm just such a once in a while FB user. I've never heard of Jonathan Luna, and on Amazon this one isn't even available yet. What's it all about?

Glad you love that poem. Me, too! Billy Collins' style suits me, too. Isn't that a great Becca & Sherlock photo?

I've done barely a lick of work, and still I chill . . . I'm getting to be a really lazy bum. Turns out it's something I'm good at.

>130 jnwelch: It's a nice change to see Sherlock on his feet instead of curled up in a ball of cuteness. I know this sounds weird, he's taller than I thought. :-)

I've just reserved the first from the library and wishlisted the latest release, thanks for the suggestions Joe!

>136 rosalita: Ha! I love "Sherlock is taller than I thought", Julia. I guess we have shown him lying down a lot before this one. Lying down is one of his favorite positions, for sure, particularly lying down on something of Becca's that she wants to use.

>137 Smiler69: Good, Ilana! I look forward to hearing your reactions. I've got so many favorites of his.

Maybe that's why I like him so much — lying down happens to be one of my favorite positions, too. Although the main reason is still that he is cute as a button!

It is a humid afternoon here in Alabama and I need to have something cold, tangy, and fruity (like mango or passion fruit) in my hand along with my book Spice Necklace. Does the Cafe have anything like that on the menu?

>139 rosalita: He is awfully cute, isn't he, Julia? I wasn't a big poodle fan before he showed up, but he's got a lot of pizzazz, this little guy. Plus he's an ace at resting and sleeping, something I aspire to. He takes good care of his mom, too, and vice versa.

>140 benitastrnad: Cold, tangy and fruity - we'd better have something like that on the menu, Benita, as it sounds like a summer must-have. Yes! says the beverage tender. How about some mango pineapple summer sangria?

Mmmm, that sangria looks delicious, Joe. Great pictures of Becca and Sherlock. Looks like it was a happy day when those two found each other. I am also becoming a fan of Billy Collins thanks to you, love how approachable and humorous his work is.

Sherlock is currently exhibiting his sleeping skills next to me right now ;D We just took our second walk of the day (shorter than the first, as it has gotten quite toasty in the sun out there), and he made friends with the owners of the new comic book store right by us :)

>142 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy! Doesn't that sangria look good? I'd take some right now - we just took a long walk, and had some gelato from a really good place not far from here. I'm ready now for a cool, refreshing beverage.

Glad you're joining the Billy Collins fan club. Approachable and humorous - well put.

>143 seasonsoflove: New comic book store by you?! What?! Why haven't you told me before this? Plus you should always lead with the most important news. I thought we raised you to realize the relative importance of comic books vs. everything else. We probably need to have a refresher talk.

At least I have an "in" now - I'll tell the owners that Sherlock sent me.

Second walk of the day on a pretty hot one - I'll bet he's sleeping well. I think he uses sleep like his namesake uses the violin, to help him figure the crimes out.

>141 jnwelch: I thought only red wine-based concoctions were called "sangria" (there is the "blood" root word in there, after all.)

I did tell you, when we went to Half Acre, I'm sure I did! It's on Lincoln near Julius Meinl-it just hadn't opened yet. It finally did and the owners are really nice-and Sherlock can go in the store anytime-dogs allowed! (of course he can't go in if there are other dogs ;D ) I didn't go in this time because Sherlock was tired, but I'm sure a field trip can be arranged soon ;D

I love the photo of seasonoflove and Sherlock. That dog is dangerously cute.

Hi Joe!

>130 jnwelch: Urp. It was meant for the fat man in >100 michigantrumpet:!

>145 laytonwoman3rd: Maybe it's in the tradition of Burgundy, Chianti, Chablis and so on, Linda. We take names that mean something elsewhere in the world and use them willy-nilly.

>146 seasonsoflove: Well, I was probably distracted by the tantalizing brews at Half Acre, Hon. Good to know you're keeping those comic book

priorities straight. Yes, a field trip must needs be arranged. Sherlock should come, in case he has any recommendations. Maybe combined with a beverage at Julius Meinl?

>147 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! Sherlock is a force of cuteness, I agree. They make quite a pair. His great grandpupdad also is quite taken with him. I suspect the rest of us are not half as missed after our visit as Sherlock is.

>148 Morphidae: Ah, that makes sense, Morphy. That's the grossest scene ever, isn't it?

I wouldn't mind something non-gross to start the day. How about breakfast on the terrace?

Lovely. I'll have some, thank you. Just what I needed this morning. That sunshine should do wonders for my chilly toes and fingers.

That sounds like a great plan Dad! Let's make that happen :)

I will join Karen and you guys for that breakfast. It looks delish. And so does Santorini.

>150 maggie1944: Doesn't that look good, Karen? I'll join you.

>151 seasonsoflove: Excellent, Becca! Maybe next weekend - we'll see how it goes.

>152 benitastrnad: Good call, Benita. It's Santorini, all right. With the right teleporters, we can pull off this breakfast meetup.

Hi Joe! It is warming up out there but nothing unbearable. Glad you enjoyed The Lego Movie. What a blast that was and that 90 minutes or so, flew by.
I started another GN, you might like, called Same Difference, another Asian memoir-type . I really like it.

Hope your Monday goes fast & smooth.

Latkes! Maybe I'll feel better if I eat a few dozen latkes.

>154 msf59: Hi Mark! We did have a good time with The Lego Movie; lots of humor in it, and what a fast pace.

Thanks for the tip on Same Difference; I'll check it out.

Lousy Monday so far; passport problems for our fall trip to London, and negotiating the forms, etc., is not my idea of a good time.

>155 richardderus: Oops! Let's get you them latkes, Richard.

>156 jnwelch: There are just so many wonderful ways to kill yourself with potatoes!

I am craving a falafel sandwich for lunch. Since the cafe is doing Santorini it has put me in the mood for eastern Mediterranean fast food.

Yaaay. Glad you liked the Lego Movie. I took my nieces to it last week not knowing what to expect but they wanted to watch it so to earn some Auntie points, I agreed. What a hoot!

I will start Angelica's Smile. I was going to read it over the weekend, but got sidetracked by The $64 Tomato instead which I really loved.

Where's my Passport Office clerk's Voodoo Doll? And my pins? I'll get them to behave better in your direction, Joe.

After all we can not have a frustrated proprietor fixing our food and drinks. The latkes look delish!

>157 laytonwoman3rd: Potatoes seem to be the Australia of the starchy foods, doesn't it, Linda?

Bill Bryson has a wonderful discussion of all the ways Australia can kill you in In a Sunburned Country, citing a fictional multi-volume treatise on that topic.

>158 benitastrnad: We love falafel sandwiches, Benita!



A mideastern restaurant in Ann Arbor, the Palm Palace, does them in a sort of pita wrap which is very non-messy and user-friendly - plus they're delicious.

>159 cameling: The Lego Movie was a hoot, Caro! They did a great job with it, and what a good cast of voices with Will Farrell, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett and others.

I liked the dvd of Angelica's Smile a lot, and I look forward to reading the book. Normally I jump on the newest Montalbano as soon as it comes out, but this one may take a while because so many books are lined up and waving to me. Have you watched the third Young Montalbano, called "Back to Basics"? I'm loving it - the clash between young Mimi and Montalbano would be worth the ticket price alone, but Livia shows up for the first time, too.

I don't know The $64 Tomato, so I'll follow your link after posting this.

ETA: >160 maggie1944: LOL! Thanks, Karen. I think the fault mainly lies with me. I hate having to figure out government forms and procedures. The woman at the place I'm going to actually was very helpful and patient over the phone. It was her first day, so I hope she hangs onto that!

Your proprietor will try to get into a proper frame of mind. Don't those latkes look good? And now we've got some falafels to dream about.

>161 jnwelch: My husband got In a Sunburned Country for his birthday; I may have to sneak a read before he gets around to it; he's one of those planners and it won't come up on his agenda for a while.

>156 jnwelch: Ooooohhhhh yyyyyyeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh

>162 laytonwoman3rd: Well worth the sneak, Linda. He's very funny, as usual.

>163 richardderus: LOL! Day improved - check.

I keeping 'Back to Basics' for maybe my flight over to Tokyo next Monday :-)

>165 cameling: It should be a good distraction for you. Lots of fun. The skirmishing between Mimi and Montalbano is hilarious.

BTW, I keep forgetting to mention. Those who liked R.J. Palacio's Wonder will want to read The Julian Chapter, a chapter she wrote from bully Julian's POV. Maybe a little too neat for me, but still a worthy addition to the story.

Next weekend could definitely work!

And I didn't know you guys watched The Lego Movie! I'm getting it from Netflix tomorrow.

The good news is that I am loving Billy Collins more and more. The bad news is there's not a bookstore in downtown San Jose to which I can hustle my bustle after my first paycheck to buy at least one collection.

Maybe that isn't bad news after all. The thought of being able to pay my rent makes me absolutely giddy.

Just dropping a star so I don't lose you entirely~

I have moved along in Pat Barker's second book in the trilogy: The Eye in the Door. I am liking it and appreciate that if the job has long hours of doing nothing, no orders for groceries, well, then, at least I can read. Yesterday I was gifted with four hours in the car.... reading, reading, reading. (-:

>167 seasonsoflove: Good to see you last night at your mom's performance, Hon. And your furry sidekick afterwards.

Let's stay in touch re the weekend. You'll like the Lego Movie, and there may even be a dog or two in it for Sherlock.

>168 AuntieClio: Ha! That was great news on the job/rent front, Stephanie. I'm glad your love for Mr. C is growing. Those collections will patiently wait for you while you enjoy your giddy times. :-)

>169 mckait: Thanks, Kath. We will wish upon that star that RL will let up a bit on your end and we get to see you more often.

>170 maggie1944: Must be the morning blearies, Karen, but I saw "Pat Benatar's second book" and knew nothing about her first one.

Regeneration is the only one of Pat Barker's that I've read.

I know what you meant about the gift of time to read; I was at the post office for a good bit this a.m. getting the passport straightened out, and read To the Lighthouse while waiting.

Howdy Joe! Very warm out here. The clouds and breeze are helping somewhat. Back to the upper 70s tomorrow. Happy Face!

It is EIGHTY-SIX FRIGGIN' DEGREES FAHRENHEIT (86°) and heeeeeeyyyyyyyooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuumid outside.

I want to speak to a human rights lawyer. This is insupportable.

>172 msf59: Yeah, I know, Mark. I had a pretty long walk in it to get from the post office (passport-related) to the Brown line. Thank goodness for that breeze, but I still ended up hot. Thank goodness it's going down again tomorrow.

Hope it's a good one for you - I'm pretty sure you're audio-ing Middlemarch? That would help.

>173 richardderus: Ha! Yeah, it's like that here, too, Richard. Shouldn't be permitted. Try to stay near the fan.

LOL ... what a great picture. He looks like he's having such a great time! Look at that cute widdle face!

I found the whole Young Montalbano series on a torrent site, and I was so excited thinking I could download them all for free and then when I looked at details of the files, I noticed there were no English subtitles. Arrgghhh!

>125 jnwelch: great poem Joe

Bold lover never never canst thou kiss
Though winning near the goal yet, do not grieve
She cannot fade, though thou has not thy bliss.
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!

>175 cameling: He looks like he might fly away with those ears, doesn't he, Caro?

That's a shame about the torrent site. I'd be lost without the subtitles. I got Angelica's Smile for "free" (if you ignore the cost of subscribing) on that cable tv station I mentioned before, and I hope more show up on Sunday nights. Here's the site for the outfit behind it, MHZ Networks, giving cities and cable tv stations: http://www.mhznetworks.org/about/press/detective-montalbano-back-better-ever. Unless I missed it, I don't see Boston. What's up with that?

>176 magicians_nephew: Ooo, nice one, Jim. Eternal, unreachable loveliness. Ode to a Catalog? Maybe some day a poet will write a third one, about billboards on a Grecian wall, featuring Victoria's Secret models amid admirers.

Joe, the "Regeneration Trilogy" is made up of 1. Regeneration, 2. The Eye in the Door, and 3. The Ghost Road. Most people have said they liked Regeneration the best but I will read all three and then decide.

>178 maggie1944: Thanks, Karen. I look forward to your thoughts on the trilogy overall. I liked Regeneration, but so far haven't been motivated to read the others.

It has been hot and humid here today. It should rain but it just won't. I could use a cold glass of that passion fruit tea from Starbucks. It is tangy and not so sweet that it sticks to your tongue.

>180 benitastrnad: It was like that last night for us, Benita. Then the weather finally broke - mid-60s and breezy coming in. Yes! I hope you get some of it.

In the meantime, let's time jigger you some of that passion fruit tea.

In To the Lighthouse, set on the Isle of Skye around the time of the first World War, 6 year old James Ramsay wants to go to the lighthouse, and has his mother's support, but his father says the weather will be bad and precludes their going. Family friend Lily Briscoe, unwed in her 30s, wants to paint, but doubts her ability, and is told by visiting Charles Tansley that women can't paint. These are two of the principal conflicts in this low key short novel. Will James overcome his domineering father and some day get to the lighthouse? Will Lily overcome her doubts and be fulfilled in her impulses to paint? Will the other characters, like Tansley, step out of the shadows of the overweening Ramseys and successfully lead their own lives?

Mrs. Ramsay is beautiful, charming and headstrong, with an obsessive desire to see others married. She is an avid admirer of her even more headstrong husband, who is accomplished and valued in his philosophical field. She is patient and benevolent, he is rude, quick-tempered and all about himself. Both fill the rooms they are in and leave barely enough air for others. Only the successful poet Mr. Carmichael avoids their effect and simply eats and drinks at their expense. The others are torn between admiration and resisting the influence.

Part of the genius of the book lies in Woolf's giving us the interior perspectives of all the characters. We get to know Lily's passions and longings, Charles' frustrations, and James' enmity toward and similarities to his father, as well as the views of peripheral characters like James' sister Cam, who is pulled toward both her brother and her father. The other part of the book's genius is the gorgeous writing.

"Night after night, summer and winter, the torment of storms, the arrow-like stillness of fine weather, held their court without interference. Listening (had there been anyone there to listen) from the upper rooms of the empty house only gigantic chaos streaked with lightning could have been heard tumbling and tossing, as the winds and waves disported themselves like the amorphous bulks of leviathans whose brows are pierced by no light of reason, and mounted one on top of another, and lunged and plunged in the darkness or the daylight (for night and day, month and year ran shapelessly together) in idiot games, until it seemed as if the universe were battling and tumbling, in brute confusion and and wanton lust aimlessly by itself."

Gorgeous, and also quite dense in the reading. I ended up with respect, not love, for this one. It made me think of Proust, with beautiful writing and not much happening. In the midst of such talented writing, it seemed sacrilegious to long for a shot to ring out, but long I did. Four stars.

Good morning, Joe. We are having thunder storms this morning which is worry-making as the lightening strikes may cause more fires in eastern Washington. So sad. I am scheduled for another "enforced reading" session this evening for Instacart. Will probably finish The Eye in the Door and will start The Ghost Road. Quick work through the trilogy. Even if Instacart does not become a millionaire's job, it does promise to help me catch up with the reading! Yeah. There's always a silver lining.

I think for breakfast this morning a steamy hot bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar and real whole cream is called for... and of course, some good coffee. What do you think?

To the Lighthouse is one of those books I'm pretty sure I will appreciate more on a second reading. But I'm laughing at your longing for a shot to ring out!

>183 maggie1944: I've read about the problems in eastern Washington, Karen. That is sad. I love a good thunderstorm, but we don't have the fire concerns here. I think it's great that you found a job that inspires so much reading, although I'm sure you'd like a better balance with income-producing work. That's a booklover's silver lining you have, that's for sure.

I think you're on target with that breakfast. Let's get it going for you (a few berries added):



>184 laytonwoman3rd: :-) I don't think I have the patience for a second reading, Linda. It did make me think of Waiting for Godot and Kafka's Castle, too. (Both of which I love). Will they make it to the lighthouse? A shot ringing out would've really perked it up for me.

Happy Hump Day, Joe! It is gorgeous out here. Good review of the Woolf. I have that one in the stacks. I did like Mrs. Dalloway.
I should wrap up Middlemarch tomorrow. It will be a 5 star read. The pace has really picked up in the last third, with all the intrigue.

>186 msf59: Happy Hump Day! Thanks re the review, Mark. Good to hear you liked Mrs. Dalloway. That's one I've been thinking about reading.

So glad that Middlemarch has been a hit with you!

I'm going out in that gorgeosity soon, after a lunchtime meeting.

It sounds like Mrs. Dalloway is much more accessible. Enjoy your lunch.

>188 msf59: As far as I can tell, Mrs. Dalloway has the added benefit of a relationship with Michael Cunningham's The Hours, a book I liked a lot.

Thank you, Joe. Wonderful break - fast. I've got vacuuming to do after breakfast, so I need the hearty fare.

>182 jnwelch:

As I think Alexander Woolcott said on a different occasion,

"This is a book that would only be improved by a good rousing Indian attack"

>190 maggie1944: You're welcome, Karen. They haven't invented food that would fortify me enough for vacuuming, so I substitute other chores. I find the noise so aggravating.

>191 magicians_nephew: Ha! Perfect, Jim. That's the idea.

Chocolate, rich gooey chocolate. I need chocolate. Warmish, gooey brownies would do the trick, I think. Oh, and a glass of milk please.

>193 AuntieClio: I was going to say I've had days like that, Stephanie, but the truth is that would sound good any day. I'm not a chocolate fancier generally, but brownies are a whole different ballgame.

Here you go:

Yes, Joe, I agree completely. The noise of vacuuming is very annoying. But the fear of seeing Benny hair tumbleweeds completely cover the floor is even more motivating. OMG, he lets loose of a lot of hair and it all curls up around itself and hides in nooks, and crannies, and behind doors, and under beds and dressers. Oh My!

ETA: Yes, thank you, I will have brownies and milk. What a great idea.

Ugh, chocolate.

Yay Woolf! It's not anywhere near as beautiful a book as Mrs. Dalloway, rest assured.

Caro is not only Satanically Book Warbling, now she's got to yodel from the rooftops about it being National Hot Dog Day! A Coney Island would be lovely, along with a Chicago Fire Dog, and...well, all of 'em.

>195 maggie1944: That would be inspiring, all right, Karen. We used to have the same problem with pugs when I was growing up. We could have made several more pugs out of what they shed. That's one of the welcome traits of Becca's Sherlock - he sheds not.

Yeah, I think we're all on board with brownies and milk, Karen. You'd have to be a total curmudgeon not to enjoy that.

>196 richardderus: Speaking of which, there's our pal Richard!

Good to hear re Mrs. Dalloway, thanks. I'm going to change my reading up for a while after To the Lighthouse, but I'll circle back to Mrs. D at some point.

I've been following the Satanic Warbling/Yodeling debate over on Caro's thread, but I thought it only applied to books. Regardless, we can serve up them dogs, here you go:

>194 jnwelch:, That's the ticket Joe. Things have finally straightened themselves out, and didn't really rise to the "must have chocolate" state of affairs. A warm brownie with a glass of mile just sounded really yummy. Perfect follow up to my ham and cheese sammich.

>198 AuntieClio: Excellent, Stephanie. That's the perfect topper for just about anything as far as I'm concerned.

>197 jnwelch: Owe. Emm. GEE!!

Yes please all please now please thank you please.

>200 richardderus: :-) All yours, buddy.

Joe, I too read Regeneration (years ago), thought it was a wonderful book, and somehow have never picked up the sequels. Not the first time you and I have had identical reading experiences, no?

(Also, I have a daughter who reads more than I do, who recently adopted a rescue dog with whom the entire family is besotted. We're pretty crazy about her owner too.). Parallel lives!

>177 jnwelch: I looked at the link and yes, they've missed out Boston *big gulping sob* .. what's up with that is right. Don't they know that Montalbano has a huge fan base out here too?!! I've been buying the DVDs as a treat to the hubster and myself. So far, I'm up to episode 24. Angelica's Smile was in Episode 23. My justification for buying the DVDs (and I don't usually buy movie or tv series DVDs) is that this is a great series and one I would happily watch repeatedly. :-)

Happy Hump and Hot Dog Day. Those dogs do look good with all the great toppings. Yum!!

It is time for supper and I am thinking that a nice pesto pasta sounds good. My basil is in high spirits right now so need to use it up. Does the cafe have anything like that on the menu?

For the RL book circle, I reviewed The Inferno of Dante, a new(ish) translation of the epic poem, in my thread...post #86.

Our Maia, a Shih Tzu/Pomeranian, is not a shedder thankfully. However, Sara, a black lab, WAS. My word was she a shedder. I remember getting a new couch a couple years after she died and there was a half inch of black fur in a perfect rectangle under the old couch when we moved it.

Yes, I have had those dogs who do not shed, but oh my they do get tangles and mats. Now I have one to give me the shedding and one to give me the tangles and mats. I love them both. Nothing in this life is simple.

Yep, I have to be good about grooming Maia because she gets mats.

>182 jnwelch: "I ended up with respect, not love, for this one."
So well-put, Joe. I started To the Lighthouse a couple of months ago and set it aside. I was just not, at that moment, in the mood for a respect-but-don't-love novel and I could tell that is where it was heading. I will give it another go when I have more mental energy.

Do you and Debbi have another visit to our fine city any time soon? If it fit into your plans and I could make it work, I'd love another meet-up with ale. :-)

Have a great Thursday (or a sweet Thursday, as Mark would say)!!

>202 NarratorLady: Ha! Ain't it the truth, Anne? And besotted with your daughter's rescue dog on top of it all. Is the rescue dog's name Dr. Watson by any chance? Or Irene (which is what Becca would've named Sherlock if he were female).

What are you reading these days? Any highlights for the year that you'd recommend?

>203 cameling: You might organize a march on your local public tv station, demanding Montalbano shows, Caro. Seriously, I can't see why they missed Boston. Among other things, it has a large Italian population, right? I used to go to the north end Italian area back in the day, for edibles.

I'm with you on the dvds. I think they're keepers and I re-watch them, too. But it's nice to get some free broadcasts in between gift-giving times. I've got a birthday coming up, and I'm hoping I get some new Montalbanos. I'm on episodes 19 and 20. Are there more Young Montalbanos? I really enjoyed those.

Happy Sliding Right into the Weekend Day, or Sweet Thursday, as Mark and his pal Steinbeck would say!

>204 benitastrnad: You bet, Benita! I love fresh basil pesto! Yum. Here you go, with a bit of time jiggery:



Oh my. I want some.

>205 richardderus: I will skedaddle over for your infernal Inferno review, Richard. I liked the Pinsky translation from a few years back.

"Respect not Love" is a good way to put how I feel about To the Lighthouse too Joe. I've read it twice by now, once in print, which time I LOVED part one, couldn't fathom part 2 and sort of got part 3 and the second time on audio narrated by Juliet Stevenson who usually makes me love everything and this time mostly made me love her voice (as always) and mostly respect Woolf (as always). Mrs Dalloway is a different story though. I attempted it a few times in print and gave up, because felt too depressed and it too depressing, and then gave it a go when the timing was right, with Ms Stevenson's help and while working on a painting and the planets must have aligned properly because it was a transcending experience. I've since purchased a sublime Folio Society edition I really look forward to rereading. And I'll of course will also be listening to that gorgeous audio version again too. And then obviously will just have to get my hands on The Hours.

>206 Morphidae: Ha! So Sara left you a memento, Morphy. That's a lot of fur! Reminds me that the pugs were not allowed up on the nice couch in our living room when I was growing up. When we'd come home after leaving them alone, they'd joyfully greet us at the door, all innocence. Then we'd look over and see two pug-sized impressions on the soft back-supporting couch cushions.

>207 maggie1944: Yeah, Sherlock can get tangled and matted, that's for sure, Karen, so I know what you mean. We like having the furry guys around to keep us smiling, and they like having us around to groom them - wait, the latter isn't really true, is it? Most would prefer it if we just left them alone, I suspect, like mud-covered little boys. Sherlock's biggest problem is the fur/hair over his eyes grows so quickly that it's hard to keep up with, and his eyes disappear. It makes him more inscrutable to criminals, but we like seeing his eyes, and I've got to believe it's a lot easier for him to see when it's trimmed back.

>208 Morphidae: I like that name, Maia, Morphy. Good to hear you'll go to the mat for her. (Don't tell my family I'm punning again, please).

>209 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. Yeah, I had to find a time when I was ready, and in the right mood, to tackle To the Lighthouse. Although it's not long, I found it a challenge to my reading chops. From Mark and Richard, I'm sensing that Mrs. Dalloway may be more my cuppa, so I'll get around to that one at some point.

I was just thinking about Seattle, and our nice visit with you and Karen! It's unfortunately probably going to be a while before we return. We've got London lined up for September, and there's this lousy show up at work thing that manages to get in the way on a regular basis. I wish we were heading your way tomorrow; we always have a good time in your fair city. Another meetup with ale sounds just the ticket. The day will come, but maybe not until after the turn of the year.

ETA: >211 Smiler69: Good morning, Ilana! I'm glad "respect not love" for To the Lighthouse expresses it well for you and Ellen (and maybe others). I'll pm you about my exchange with my MBH that had to do with parts two and three. I like your story about Mrs. Dalloway, and your eventual major enthusiasm for it. It's in my future. I loved The Hours, and I'm pretty sure that's one you'll enjoy.

Hi Joe! Another beaut out here. Hope you can take your book outdoors for lunch. The only problem is, you might not want to return.

Hi Joe! I hope you're doing well!

>182 jnwelch: - I've not read this one yet, but I think I've experienced the respect-not-love thing for a novel before. The Optimist's Daughter comes to mind. The only Woolf I've read is Orlando and that was when I was 19 and was probably a bit too immature to be reading it anyway. Oh, and I've read, of course, A Room of One's Own. I actually have plans to read The Waves soon and I'm looking forward to it.

>213 msf59: Hey there Mark! 'Tis a beaut out there all right. I didn't read outdoors, but I had a most excellent walk on this picture perfect day. You're right, I didn't want to return, but that house arrest ankle bracelet brought me back.

Hope you're having a good one on this Sweet Thursday.

>214 DorsVenabili: There's our Kerri! Good to see you back on the LT campus.

Yes, The Optimist's Daughter fits that for me, too. Respect for the writing, but not love for the novel. I want to read Orlando some day, and I'll look forward to your take on The Waves.

Did you read Ancillary Justice, and if so, what did you think of it? I liked it, but I don't think I'd put it up on the pedestal some have.

P.S. Did anyone reading this read Bee Season? My MBH and I thought it was terrific way back when, but I haven't seen it talked about much recently.

A new picture of Sherlock and a book ;)

>216 seasonsoflove: LOL! He looks like we interrupted his reading, and he's marking his place in the book.

>215 jnwelch: - I don't think I knew about Ancillary Justice, but I'm going to put it on my wishlist now. I'm intrigued by the description. Thank you!

>216 seasonsoflove: - Awe!

>216 seasonsoflove: That Sherlock is TOO cute!

All caught up with you, Joe, and now I am craving chili cheese dogs - those were a favorite of my Dad, so they always make me think of him. I liked your review of To The Lighthouse, and now that I have read Woolf, I know just what you mean. And the comment about wanting a shot to ring out had me laughing out loud! I do think that you will like Mrs. Dalloway better - it's just so lovely and dense in just the right places. But The Hours, now that one I truly loved. Have you read his latest one - The Snow Queen?

>217 jnwelch: Joe, that's exactly what I thought when I first saw it! He has that "Yes yes, hurry up and finish so I can go back to reading" look that all of us avid readers get when someone insists upon talking to us in the middle of a good book. Of course, I am sure he is always happy to get some love and attention from his mama!

Does Sherlock know what an online fan club he has? I feel like he needs his own LT account, and a thread here in the 75ers that would just be pictures of him with books. (Notice how glib I am about suggesting things that require other people to do extra work.)

Thanks everyone! (Dad, that's so funny, that's exactly what Mom said too!) I would love to have a Sherlock with books thread ;) Maybe we could start a trend of dogs with books on here! I tell Sherlock he has quite the fan club, and he licks my face and falls asleep ;D

LOL, Becca. I do love a celebrity who doesn't let his fans' adoration go to his fuzzy little head.

"The day will come, but maybe not until after the turn of the year."
Yes, that show up at work every day thing can be a nuisance, can it not? Still, after the turn of the year will be fine. Whenever you get here will be fine. I will look forward to breaking bread (and, more to the point, drinking ale) with you whenever it happens.

I read The Bee Season years ago and liked it quite a bit. I'd have to re-read or skim it to engage in intelligent conversation about it given the time that has lapsed.

Oh, that Sherlock is just the cutest!
On the topic of shedding: we have a long-haired cat and a Border Collie, to which crew we will, in the next year sometime, very likely be adding a golden retriever puppy. So, yeah, lots of vacuuming goes on around here to keep up...

Ah...... Dogs reading books! Yes, I think there is some very fine opportunities there. I have two candidates. I have not been sneaky enough quite yet to capture either on film (or digital, as it is) but soon....

Hi, Joe. Its Friday and that means it is the WeekEnd! yea! We are rumored to be having a "return to summer type weather" so I'll be interested to see what today has to hold. A friend and I are going to work on completing the shelving of books in the HOA's library. It was completely a jumble and I have put all the little old paper back books into Alpha by Author Order. Whew.

Then this evening another shift in the grocery store parking lot reading room (aka my car). Should be good.

>218 DorsVenabili: Oh good, Kerri. Yes, you'll want to read Ancillary Justice, so I'm glad I mentioned it. Not sure where you'll place it on the spectrum, but it's one of the top sci-fi books in this past year, for sure.

Seconding your reaction to the latest Sherlock photo.

>219 Crazymamie: Isn't that little guy a hoot, Mamie?

Glad you got a kick out of the review, and I welcome the encouragement for Mrs. Dalloway. I loved The Hours, too. I haven't read his The Snow Queen - boy, has it gotten mixed reactions. Have you read it, and if so, what did you think?

Chili cheese dogs - what a fine idea. And I know you were close to that most excellent dad of yours. Here you go, with time jiggery:



>220 rosalita: LOL! He relishes love and attention from his mama, Julia, but he does seem to be waiting for the interruption to be over so he can go back to reading, doesn't he?

I like the idea of Sherlock getting his own LT account and starting his own photo thread. I'd also be curious to find out what he reads. I'm guessing mysteries and true crime, but who knows. We may need to find a computer with really big keys. (We've already been looking for a phone with really big keys, so we can start teaching him to text his grandpupparents).

>221 seasonsoflove: Ha! I tell Sherlock he has quite the fan club, and he licks my face and falls asleep ;D Love that, Becca! He's quite a guy.

If he really gets going on LT, maybe he could start a "Dogs with Books" group, and we could get other dogs involved, like Karen's Benny and Greta, and Richard's Stella.

Reactions to the photo: Your mom and I both know how he gets a bit grumpy when his reading is interrupted. Don't we all?

>222 rosalita: He's a modest bloke, Julia. Give him a book to lie on (or something else of Becca's), and a treat here and there, and he's happy as can be.

>223 EBT1002: Ha! Ditto, Ellen. We will make it so, as Jean Luc Picard would say.

Good to hear you liked Bee Season, too. There is one gigantic plot twist that I'd remind you of if we were having an ale right now. Debbi and I were staggered by it, staggered I say.

It just struck me that I hadn't seen any discussion of it since I joined LT. On the other hand, I don't remember seeing any discussion of The Hours either, until we started talking here about Virginia Woolf.

>224 scaifea: Too bad dog and cat hair pillows aren't in fashion, Amber. You'd be the talk of the town with that crew.

Isn't that Sherlock a charmer? He seems to make human friends wherever he goes. I'm sure all those contacts pay off when it comes to crime-solving.

>225 maggie1944: Yes, I immediately thought of Benny and Greta Garbo for the "Dogs with Books" group, Karen. Plus you're such a good photographer - some candids of them reading their favorite books would be a big hit, I'm sure.

I hope the stormy weather didn't do too much harm out your way. At one point our son was at a bus stop talking to us on the phone and my MBH said, what's that noise? "It's the rain. It's pouring here." Back to summer, whatever it means, may be a good thing, yes?

I'm big on Alpha by Author order these days. I think I mentioned this way back when, but son #1, after seeing me endlessly hunt for books I wanted to show him, convinced me to put them all in A by A order, and, once I did, the clouds parted and the angels sang and all was well in the world.

Is it me, or does your new Instacart career seem to have provided you with excellent reading opportunities that you lacked before? Getting away from it all in a grocery store parking lot may have hidden advantages.

Happy Friday, Joe! I know that The Snow Queen has gotten mixed reviews here, but I absolutely loved it - a five star read for me. It was a slow starter, I thought, but once it took off, it really took off for me. Here's a few of the passages that spoke to me:

p. 88 “And, yes, we are creatures of the flesh. Who knows that better than Barrett? Who’s better acquainted with the invisible fibers that tie yearning to vestment; those solemn parades of gold-threaded chasuble and starched white alb under the suffering wooden eyes of the crucified Christ? Doesn’t the secular world want, need, to walk both proud and penitent, robed, for the benefit of some savior or saint? We worship numberless gods or idols, but we all need to be the grandest possible versions of ourselves, we need to walk across the face of the earth with as much grace and beauty as we can muster before we’re wrapped in our winding sheets, and returned.”

p.142 “People are more than you think they are. And they’re less, as well. The trick lies in negotiating your way between the two.”

p. 195 “Barrett is poised to say, “Don’t marry that guy. You love him right now, he probably dazzles you in bed, but you know, in a way you can’t articulate, not even to yourself, that you’re about to be usurped, you’re about to go live in a world where you won’t be welcome, and you don’t have enough history yet as a pretty girl, you’re still too grateful for his attentions.Gratitude will fade and you’ll still be going to those Sunday dinners in Jersey, where you’ll be merely tolerated, until he begins to side with his family, to regret the rebelliousness of his choice, to wonder why he married you and not the wise-cracking big-breasted Italian girl his mother had in mind for him. He’s a citizen of his mother, he probably does love you now, but his interest will fade, he’ll start compiling a list of your lacks, he’ll get sullen and resentful over crimes you don’t know you’ve committed."

edited to fix the touchstone - I was referring to the book by Michael Cunningham

>228 Crazymamie: Happy Friday, Mamie!

Good to hear your positive reaction to The Snow Queen. Those passages are striking. Thank you for posting them. I will have to give this one a look-see. I haven't read one of his since The Hours, and I know from that one what a good writer he is.

The one from p195 is especially telling. Love it!

>125 jnwelch: Ha! Love this poem!

>182 jnwelch: Great review. I keep picturing some Woody Allen film in which cowboys suddenly march onto the drawing room set with guns a-blazin'!

Happy Friday!

Pssst: New St. Mary's book just came out!

>232 jnwelch: Stop it stop it stopit!!!! Cannot afford right now. *grump*

>212 jnwelch: Why? Will they PUNish you? Will they PUNch you in the arm? I think I should be PUNctual in informing them about your sPUNkiness. That should PUNcture your PUNnier than thou ego. Now, I need you to exPUNge all puns from further posts.

(Don't hurt me)

>230 richardderus: Agreed, Mr. D.

>231 michigantrumpet: :-) Isn't that a good poem, Marianne? I love it, too. So clever.

Glad you like that review. I would've loved it if cowboys suddenly marched into the drawing room with guns a-blazin'. "To the lighthouse with you, you dadgum highfalutin' varmints!"

>232 jnwelch: You're certainly a handsome fellow. A bit hare-brained, though.

>233 AuntieClio: Stephanie, have Richard read it to you over the phone. He owes us that much.

>234 Morphidae: I'm going to PUNt on this one, Morphy. Not to be PUNctilious about it, but RaPUNzel herself couldn't escape from this PUNctate tower I'm trapped in. Let's face it, I'm a PUNk. Your criticisms just PUNctuate the PUNdits' PUNgent observations that puns are the products of PUNy, I mean, puny, minds.

(Throw me out the window, quick)

"...To the lighthouse with you, you dadgum highfalutin' varmints!"

Ha!

"...Stephanie, have Richard read it to you over the phone. He owes us that much."

Ha! Ha!

>212 jnwelch:, >234 Morphidae:, >235 jnwelch: Neither of you have the slightest comPUNction about what you're doing, have you? You've sPUN out of control. PUNitive measures may need to be taken.

It's looking good over here, Joe. Lots of pretty pictures, especially those of Sherlock and his photographic mistress!

>182 jnwelch:: I really liked To the Lighthouse, too, but my favorite is still Mrs. Dalloway. It's a special treat when it is closely followed by reading The Hours. Look at me, preaching to the choir!

Waay upthread you were singing the praises of Hatchet and Richard recommended some other YA books that were also very good. For the adults I would recommend Winterdance (about the Iditarod) and Clabbered Dirt, Sweet Grass, a lyrical paean to nature and ranch life (and death). Such a good author!

>236 michigantrumpet: Nothing better than a couple of good laughs on a Friday afternoon, right, Marianne? Can't wait for the movie of the cowboy To the Lighthouse.

>237 laytonwoman3rd: You can tell I have no comPUNction about it, Linda, and I don't think there's really any way I can exPUNge my guilt over it.

>238 Donna828: We owe a lot of thanks to Sherlock's photographic mistress, Donna, for posting those pics of him on a regular basis. I can be having a complete grumblemonkey day of it, and I see a pic of that darn Sherlock, and I can't help smiling.

Yes, we can stand side by side in the choir for The Hours, for sure. But I've got to say I'm way more encouraged about reading Mrs. Dalloway than I was before you all started talking about it.

Thank you for the tips on the two more recommended Paulsen books. This is not an author I knew, so I've got a lot of good reading ahead of me.

Joe I am way behind but able to peek in before the next thread starts up. Have a fantastic weekend.

Love all the Sherlock photos!

>240 luvamystery65: You caught me just before I started to skedaddle, Roberta. I hope you have a fantastic weekend, too.

That little guy is our favorite furry detective. He's very photogenic, isn't he?

>216 seasonsoflove: it doesn't surprise me that Sherlock is a reader, too.

There are two versions of The Snow Queen referenced/ touchstoned here ...one by Joan D. Vinge and one by Michael Cunningham...which is which and is there one I would like do you think?

Happyweekend to you Joe!

Per request, here is Sherlock with the latest finished read:

Just waving from Plymouth.

Nice review of To the Lighthouse Joe. I see that I liked it a lot more than you but it is a book I want to read again. I thought the atmosphere she created was worth the price of admission. I don't think I've ever taken a picture of Buddy reading, although I'm sure he's devoured a few books;-)

Hello, My name is Megan.
It has been 3 weeks since my last confession. And longer since my last visit to your thread.
*deja vu*
Have I said this before???

Yikes, I am all over the show on LT lately....I am dipping in here and there at best lately. But hello! And nice to see you!

>226 jnwelch: chilli cheese dogs. Now they look interesting- in a good way!

Good heavens. How did it get to be 23.49?

Oh yes! I was reading the latest entry in the Chronicles of St Mary's. Goodness gracious, how time flies.

Love the idea of Sherlock and the books! Great pic!

>242 mckait: I've actually read the Joan D. Vinge Snow Queen, Kath, which I thought was a very good sci-fi-er. But we meant to be talking about The Snow Queen by Michael Cunningham, who wrote The Hours. I can't comment on the Cunningham one, as I haven't read it, but I can certainly recommend The Hours. And I believe you enjoy a venture into sci-fi once in a while, so you might check out the description of the Vinge one. It's been a lot of years for me, but I had a good time with it.

Happy weekend to you! I'm glad things are sorting out okay at the library. Within walking distance is hard to beat.

>243 seasonsoflove: Woo, We Were Liars must have been a challenging read, Becca. He's obviously worn out from it. I can't tell his reaction to it from his expression (in fact, I can't find his expression). I'll just have to wait until he posts a review. Or maybe you comment on it over on your thread?

I can't believe they pulled Season 2 of Orphan Black from On Demand! Thanks for your kind offer to help us rent the dvd.

>244 Ameise1: Hi, Barbara! Thanks for stopping in amid all your adventures. It looks on your thread like a wonderful trip you're taking in southwest England. Inspiring. I've got a great-grandpappy who came over here from Pilsdon. I hope some day to go there.

>245 brenzi: Thanks re the review, Bonnie. To the Lighthouse is one I unfortunately don't expect to read again, despite how well-written it is. Glad I read it though. A shot ringing out probably would have altered the atmosphere too much, but it might have led to a re-read for me.

Who might be the victim? Mr. Ramsay seems most likely, as he had a highly developed ability to annoy everyone. Maybe he went too far one day? And James of course would top the suspect list, but it might be someone you least suspect - Lily? Her sensitive, artistic nature makes for an unlikely match with a pistol, but maybe, sometime in her past, things were different . . . And why, exactly, does that Mr. Carmichael hang around, when he doesn't even like the universally admired Mrs. Ramsay? There's something suspicious going on there. Might Tansley's envy of Ramsay have finally got the better of him? Is there there something more going on beneath that kind and sedate exterior of Mr. Bankes? Maybe his wife's death wasn't a natural one, and Ramsay found out?

I wonder about McAllister, the fisherman, too, who is supposed to transport the Ramsays to the lighthouse. Maybe there's a secret in the lighthouse worth killing for, and he wanted to make sure Ramsay never got there.

But I digress. (At least the digression was gloriously pun-free).

I'm looking forward to reading Mrs. Dalloway after the positive comments here.

I hope Buddy decides to join the "Dogs with Books" group. It's quite a restful place, as you can tell from Becca's photos of the furry Sherlock.

>246 LovingLit: *staff is jumping up and down at sighting of Megan*

Hi, Megan! Nice to see you, too! No worries. Just glad you had a chance to stop by. What's it like in your part of the world right now? Cool but lovely, I imagine. I keep Sydney weather on my phone, and I see we're talking 60s F and low 70s there. Sounds good to me!

Chili cheese dogs are quite excellent; we do the veggie version in our house. Well worth importing into the land of the Kiwis.

>247 richardderus: I'm caught up in A Trail Through Time, too, Richard. Right now she and Leon have figured out why it's so hard to elude . . . well, you know. I was going to criticize you for your book yodeling, but I'm liking the reading too much.

>248 michigantrumpet: Isn't that a great pic, Marianne? He obviously takes after his mom, who's a voracious reader. I believe they share an interest in mysteries and true crime.

Yeah, he moved his face right when I was taking the pic :D I left a review over on my thread-I loved it and read it in less than a day

>251 seasonsoflove: He may have thought you were one of the paparazzi he encounters around town, Becca. Or maybe he just was getting into a more comfortable position.

Wow, you ate that one up. I'll get over to your thread and see what you say about it.

OK, the new cafe is open. See you there!

>249 jnwelch:. I have added the Vinge version of Snow Queen. I do like sci -fi and fantasy...I will have a look at The Hours as well.

Awww puppy pic!

>254 mckait: Oh, good, Kath. Glad those intrigued you. I'll keep an eye out for your reaction to the Vinge.

Just saw that puppy in RL, and he also was awww in person (his mom looks quite adorable, too).