Sibyx and Books in September

**NOTA BENE** Because of a topic header snafu I've become disconnected from the 'automatic' shift from one thread to the next. Here is the link to get back to AUGUST



Here is the bear face, for those of you who had a little trouble seeing it!

***September Current Reads***
♬

new Self-Portrait With Turtles: A Memoir David M. Carrollnat hist/memoir
new Mirror Sight Kristen Britain fantasy (5, Green Rider)fantasy
♬ Insurgent Veronica Roth YA dystopic
✔ The Road Home Rose Tremain contemp fic
Monthly Murdoch: when I get to it it will be The Message to the Planet
IM readers group is HERE
Virago next one in ....?
Ongoing The New Yorker 2014 January Read my reviews here: New Yorkers 2014
The New Yorker / June. 2, 9-16, 23, 30

September Reads
89. ✔A Thousand Words for Stranger Julie Czerneda fsy
90. new Just One Damned Thing After Another Jodi Taylor hybrid mys ****1/2
91. new The Western Abenakis of Vermont 1600-1800 Colin G. Calloway history ****
92. ✔Family Album Penelope Lively contemp fic ***1/2
93. new The Word Exchange Alena Graedon spec f/ near future ****
94. ✔ Deceived With Kindness: A Bloomsbury Childhood memoir ****1/2
95. ✔ Ready Player One Ernest Cline sf/cyber ****
96. ♬Divergent Veronica Roth ya dystopic ****
97. ✔Beggars and Choosers Nancy Kress bk 2 Sleepless sf ****
98. new Myths and Truths About Coyotes Carol Cartaino nat hist ***1/2
99. New Yorker Magazine - May

Guide to symbols
♬ audio
✔ On Shelf Over One Year
VMC Virago-of-the-month

August Reads
77. ✔Memoir From Antproof Case Mark Helprin contemp f ***1/2
78. ♬ To Say Nothing of the Dog Connie Willis sf *****
79.new Spider Woman's Daughter Anne Hillerman mys ***1/2
80. ✔Motoring With Mohammed Eric Hansen travel/memoir ****
81. ✔Motorcycles & Sweetgrass Drew Hayden Taylor contemp fic *****
82. ✔The Voyageur Grace Lee Nute history ****
83. ✔Down to the Bone Justina Robson sf ****
84. ✔King Solomon's Mines H. Rider Haggard sf classic ****
85. new The Financial Lives of the Poets Jess Walter contemp fic ***1/2
86. new The Cuckoo's Calling Robert Galbraith mys ****1/2
87. April 2014 New Yorkers
88. new Archangel Andrea Barrett ss ****

ENOUGH ALREADY! I QUIT! 2014
1. Jan ✔A Mirror For Witches Esther Forbes see comment 155, thread one.QUIT
2. Jan ✔Jennifer Government Finished. See review page. SKIM FINISHED
3. Feb The Saliva Tree Brian Aldiss sf/ss See review page. SKIM FINISHED
4. Feb ✔ Gone to Earth Mary Webb QUIT see >75 sibylline:
5. March ✔ Celestis Paul Park sf SKIM FINISHED
6. May ✔ The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2000 I've read bits over 14 yrs. and I'm just done with it. DIDN'T EVEN START
7. June new Graveminder Melissa Marr spooky, not my thing QUIT
8. June. new audio ♬ War of Honor David Weber sf didnt like reader. QUIT
9. July new The Voice of the Dawn: An Autohistory of the Abenaki Nation Frederick Matthew Wiseman history. Need more on the writer's background. PAUSED
10. Talk Talk T. C. Boyle contemp f (p.99) QUIT I either love or meh Boyle.

August Reflections
I am even more surprised than I was in July (when I read nine books) that I have read twelve books in August - some of them of reasonable length or difficulty factor, although nothing truly challenging. Overall it seems as though I read in a fairly balanced way - some of this and some of that, but no concentration in any one area. Two clear 5 star reads - To Say Nothing of the Dog will be an SF classic long after I am gone, Willis in top form, and Motorcycles & Sweetgrass is a gem and as I wasn't able to put it down, it rates 5. The non-fiction reads were both strong and very different in flavour and in both cases I learned a lot, about early canadian history (a very different folkway from the USA) or contemporary Yemen. My fiction reading was rewarding, except for the Boyle which was one that didn't hold my attention - my own failing, mostly likely, I just felt I knew where it was going from the start. Both mystery reads were terrific and I can't wait to read more by both authors. As for sf I was agreeably surprised by Haggard and also by the final book in the Robson series which had begun to drag a little for me in books 3 and 4. (Also possibly my own fault as a reader....).

August Stats
Categories:
Total: 12
Men: 5
Women: 6
Man-Woman Team: (unless Rowling's alter ego counts?)
Non-fiction: 3 (includes NYers)
History: 1
Memoir/biography: 1
Virago: 0
Classic Fiction: 0
Contemporary fiction: 3
Historical fiction: 1
Short stories: 1
Graphic: 0
SF: 3
Fantasy: 0
YA or J fantasy: 0
Fantasy/SF/Mys hybrids: 0
Mys: 2
Thriller: 0
Humor: 0
Poetry: 0
New (to me) Authors: 4 ... or 5.... if Rowling/Galbraith counts as 'new'?
'New' books (less than one year): 4
✔: 5
Library/loan: 0
Audio: 1
Months of NYers: 1
Read it or Get Rid of It: 1

Housekeeping

Newly acquired:
AUGUST
6 physical /1 audio = 7 total
52.Signposts in a Strange Land Walker Percy
53.Beggars and Choosers Nancy Kress pbs
54.The Faulkes Chronicle David Huddle tupelo
55.The Word Exchange Alena Graedon READING
56. Myths and Truths about Coyotes Carol Cartaino
57. Just One Damned Thing After Another Jodi Taylor
58. Divergent audio

Released: 4

Annual totals:
Acquired: 58
Read: 88
Released: 46

January Reads
1. newWigs on the Green Nancy Mitford contemp f ***
2. new Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors Nicholas Wade science*****
3. ✔The Sparrow Mary Doria Russell sf ***
4. New Yorker - September
5. new The Widower's Tale Julia Glass contemp f ***1/2
6. ✔Mistborn Brandon Sanderson fantasy ***1/2
7. Catch the Lightning Catherine Asaro sf (book 2 Skolian Empire) sf ***1/2
8. new Good Daughters Mary Hocking contemp f ****1/2
9. Read It or... Jennifer Government Max Barry sf/near future ***1/2
10. Read It or... The Saliva Tree Brian Aldiss sf/ss
11. new Indifferent Heroes Mary Hocking contemp f ****1/2
12. ♬ Death of a Snob M.C. Beaton ***
13. ✔ Watchtower Elizabeth Lynn fantasy ****

February Reads
14. ✔The Dancers of Arun Elizabeth Lynn fantasy ****
15. October 2013 New Yorkers
16. new Welcome Strangers Mary Hocking bk 3, Good Daughters contemp fic ****
17. ✔The Horse, the Wheel, and Language David Anthony archaeology/linguistics ****
18. library The Northern Girl Elizabeth Lynn fantasy ****
19. newThe Last Hawk Catherine Asaro bk 3 Skolian Empire sf *****
20. new The Unicorn Iris Murdoch ***1/2
21. new The Radiant Seas Catherine Asaro sf ****
22. (SEL library)Witch World Andre Norton fantasy/sf blend ***1/2
23. (SEL library) Web of the Witch World Andre Norton fantasy ***
24. (SEL library) Three Against the Witch World Andre Norton fantasy ***1/2
25. November 2013 New Yorkers.

March Reads
25. (new) The Well of Ascension Brandon Sanderson bk 2 Mistborn/ fantasy ***1/2
26. (new)Ascendant Sun Catherine Asarosf Bk 5 Skolian ****
27. ✔Dersu the Trapper V.K. Arseniev biography/natural history ****
28. (new) The Quantum Rose Catherine Asaro sf / Bk 6 Skolian
29. ✔Restless William Boyd contemp fic ****
30. (new) The Hero of Ages Brandon Sanderson Bk 3 Mistborn/ fantasy ****
31. ✔The Probable Future Alice Hoffman contemp fic ***1/2
32. ✔Every Last Cuckoo Kate Malloy contemp fic ***
33. (new)The Hare with Amber Eyes Edmund de Waal nf /memoir ****1/2
34. ✔ Celestis Paul Park sf ***
35. newSpherical Harmonic Catherine Asaro sf ****
36. new The Moon's Shadow Catherine Asaro sf ****

April Reads
37. ✔True Believers Kurt Anderson contemp fic ***1/2
38. new The Last Family in England Matt Haig contem fic ***1/2
39. December 2013 New Yorkers
40. ✔Every Love Story is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace D.T. Max biography ****
41. ✔Thursday Next: First Among Sequels Jasper Fforde mys ***1/2
42. new Skyfall Catherine Asaro sf ****
43. ✔The Raphael Affair Iain Pears mys ****
44. ✔From Where We Stand Deborah Tall memoir/nature *****
45. new Schism Catherine Asaro sf ****
46. new The Final Key Catherine Asaro sf

May Reads
47. new The Ruby Dice Catherine Asaro sf ****
48. ✔ Bats Sing, Mice Giggle Karen Shanor**** nf animal behavior
49. new Diamond Star Catherine Asaro sf
50. New Yorkers/January 2014
51. new Carnelians Catherine Asaro sf THE LAST ONE FOR NOW!!!!! ****1/2
52. new♬ Ashes of Victory David Weber sf ***
53. ✔ The Green Knight Iris Murdoch contemp fic****
54. new Another Insane Devotion Peter Trachtenberg memoir, cats ***1/2
55. ✔ Broken Harbor Tana French mys ***1/2
56.new Hospital Station in Beginning Operations(Omnibus) James White sf ****

Read in JUNE
57. new Bleeding Edge Thomas Pynchon contemp f *****
58. new Beginning Operations Book Two Star Surgeon James White classic sf ****
59. new Beginning Operations Book Three Major Operation James White classic sf ****
60. new Three Men in a Boat Jerome K. Jerome humor ****
61. new Quite Ugly One Morning Christopher Brookmyre mys ***1/2
62. ✔ Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America Richard Nelson anthropo
63. new Whispers Underground Ben Aaronovitch f/mys hybrid
64. The New Yorker, February 2014
65. new June VMC Read The Three Miss Kings Ada Cambridge fiction australian ***1/2
66. new Some Kind of Fairy Tale Graham Joyce contemp f/fan hybrid...****1/2
67. ✔ Lux the Poet Martin Millarurban fantasy sort of? ***1/2

July Reads
68. ✔ Artifact Gregory Benford sf ***
69. new The Architect of Desire Susannah Lessard Bio/memoir ****
70. ♬ The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam Chris Ewan mys ***1/2
71. new Undertow Elizabeth Bear sf ****
72. new Rameau's Niece Cathleen Schine contemp f ***1/2
73. new Beggars in Spain Nancy Kress sf
74. March New Yorkers
75. new The Eden Express Mark Vonnegut**** memoir
76. new The Family Tree Sheri S. Tepper sf

Series Tally 2014

Series started in 2014
Divergent (3) Veronica Roth reading Bk 2 Insurgent
Tales of Sector General James White next up: bk 4 of many many
Trade Pact Universe (3) Julie E. Czerneda Next up: 2 Ties of Power
Sleepless (3) next up 3 Beggars Ride Nancy Kress

Series continued in 2014
Rivers of London 3 of 5 next up: Broken Homes Ben Aaronovitch

Series completed or caught up with in 2014
1. Good Daughters Mary Hocking (3)
2. Chronicles of Tornor Elizabeth Lynn (3)
3. Witch World - set goal of reading first three in series. Completed.
4. Mistborn Brandon Sanderson (3) 3 of 3 Completed
5. The Skolian Empire (14 of 14)Catherine Asaro (There are assorted novellas and ss)
6. ✔ Dublin Murder Squad 4 of 4
7. Quantum Gravity Justina Robson (5 of 5)

Ongoing Series to be continued from 2013
1. The Seven Kingdoms Kristin Cashore (2 of 3) Next up: Bitterblue
2. Liaden Universe Sharon Lee Steve Miller Let's say I've read 11 of 19!
4. Flavia de Luce Alan Bradley (5 of 6) The Dead in their Vaulted Arches audio only!
5. Green Rider Kristen Britain (4 of 4) (Mirror Sight out May 2014 Currently Reading
6. KingKiller Chronicles Patrick Rothfuss 2 of 3. Doors of Stone forthcoming (undeclared)

>6 sibylline: It lets you change the title if you edit the first message within 5? 10? minutes.

I think I was well within that time frame and it wouldn't - I think because there were more messages?? Too late now for sure.

>8 sibylline: Hmm, dunno. Annoying. The rule is too strict regardless; people typically notice errors later, not while in the throes.

I've found you in any case! I think I see the bear face. The photo is beautiful. I'm pretty sure I can smell all the forest smells and hear the water tinkling, or whatever it's doing.

Glad you found me, Ilana. Once you see it, there it is, I think. The snout, the eyes. It jumped out at me while I was sitting there the other day.

Hello all - my brain isn't working very well this morning, big surprise, so I am going to go and take a walk and then come back to finish organizing September. It's a lovely day. Thank heavens it is a holiday. I love it when my 'changeover' day on LT is on a Sunday or a holiday!

Haven't found that bear yet. I'll be back intermittently today until I do! Just marking my spot on your new thread, Lucy.

>1 sibylline: Lucy, it has a strong similarity to a bear's head, indeed. I love this photo. Happy new thread.

When my elder daughter left for the first time, it took some weeks to get adjust that I couldn't talk to her, face to face. But with all social medias we've stayed in a close contact. Than she came back for one year which was great. Since a year she is studying in another city. When she left that time it wasn't so hard anymore. From time to time she is coming home for a weekend and we are phoning and chatting very often.

I see the bear face. Happy September!

Is the tea on yet?

Tui - I'm trying to get that water to boil..... taking f.o.r.e.v.e.r! My walk was nice, but I don't feel any smarter or more together. Calmer, perhaps.

Oh, I think you can imagine it, Ilana: think if Coco had to live somewhere else, in very good hands, but you knew he'd only be home for visits from now on - even very long visits - but not the same as truly living with you. And it was, developmentally, what was truly best for him.

That is also comforting Barbara. I will confess that the LD has texted me approximately eight times so far (all about things she forgot etc.) and every time adds that she misses all of us. And that she is very busy. Each text helps though, because she is so completely and entirely herself (and treats me with the usual nonchalant charm) which is reassuring.

Oh I couldn't bear that. But then, unlike you, I'm an extremely clingy mom, I don't even try not to be. I need him by my side at all times and won't hesitate to unfriend someone who criticizes me for being too attached to my beloved Coco. So the comparison suffers in that I can't even imagine letting him go for more than a day and I don't know how you can stand letting your little girl go at all now!!! Slightly tongue in cheek, you'll gather I hope! ;-)

I see the bear! I love the woods! Lovely! Happy New Thread!
Big adjustments all around, and you know that it will be good and better and maybe that the best is still to come.......but different for sure.
(Sometimes Peggy-Anna shows up and I just can't help it.)

You've made me smile, Ilana. One nice thing about our pets is that we don't have to be too sensible about them!! I think ours will benefit hugely from all this! They do love the LD but they will love the extra focus on themselves.

Okay Tui, I think I'm done, although heaven knows if it all makes sense. I keep finding garbles here and there as my brain is quite scattered.

If it helps anyone having trouble finding the bear face/head - it really looks like a bear's face or head - not at all like a cartoon image of one. Very 3-dimensional. Quite startling, really. Don't look for ears though.

Thought of you when I saw this.

Oh dear. After possibly messing up your ability to change the title on your first thread, I jumped in before you had a chance to post your introductory information. I'm really sorry! I deleted that message so the beginning of your thread flows better.

>20 ronincats: I love that!

>20 ronincats: LOL

That's great, Roni!

>20 ronincats: Wow - that is so perfect, Roni!

No worries Laura!

89. sf ***1/2
A Thousand Words For Stranger Julie Czerneda

I'll leave some room for this series to grow on me - this first book had some choppy moments and it was a bit claustrophobic somehow, despite attempts to draw in some other characters and their POV's. Captain Morgan's (and, um, I couldn''t help thinking of the rum) eyes were just a bit too blue and the use of 'standard romance' vocabulary kind of got to me here and there. But things picked up later and while it still wasn't completely successful, I won't scorn trying the next book if it comes my way. The plot involves a telepathic race that can also teleport selves and objects who, in order to perfect and increase their abilities have created a restrictive social structure that might cause their own destruction. I did sort of figure out the plot twist early on, or should I say, what it might be, but I wasn't bored by watching to see how it would manifest. There are moments of originality, but they don't transcend and extend. At the very end is a short story that I enjoyed a great deal 'Brothers Bound.' about an unwilling bio-link between two 'Finders' - one an alien and the other a dog. ***1/2

I have a feeling that because of my current state I will do a lot of reading this week!

That is Czerneda's first book, Lucy. She does get better. Her last book, which is her first fantasy, was my #1 book last year, A Turn of Light.

Very much looking forward to seeing how you like The Word Exchange... Not an easy book to read (literally, often!) and doesn't always live up to what it could be, but fascinating and provocative.

I went to a talk Czerneda gave a few years back about using scifi as a teaching tool in schools to engage and motivate reluctant learners. It was a great evening, she used film as well as books.
The other thing I liked was she was extremely encouraging to wannerbe writers of fantasy and scifi and often includes new writers in anthologies that she edits.

That all sounds very good. Catherine Asaro's first book or two were not stellar and then she takes off, so that I am so glad that I stuck with her. And I like that she is so encouraging!

No *wonder* I had trouble finding you. Still and all, here I am again.

I've finally reviewed Ancillary Justice, an Early Reviewers win, in my thread...post #224.

Five major SF awards won by this book, and I can't for the life of me comprehend why. Not a bad book, but it's...~meh~

Now I'm curious!

It's highly predictable. RD pans Ancillary Justice, and I thought that it was wonderful - smart and original.

Hmmm, well obviously I am going to have to read AJ next and enter this debate. Meanwhile, i can't tear myself away from St. Mary's #1.

Doing better today, on a more even keel.

I'm a fan of Ancillary Justice myself, Lucy. Richard and I often agree (look at The Martian!) but not in this case. I'll be interested to see what you think.

ETA and I'm glad you are adjusting. Heard from the LD yet? My mother wrote me every week when I went to college, but I doubt I replied with much frequency. Of course, she had two more at home when I left.

My mother wrote me every week too - and there were ten in all that she was in charge of. She sat under the hair dryer at the beauty parlor and diligently wrote on her white 5 by 7 stationery - at least one page front and back and usually more - the latest dead woodchuck the dog dragged in, whose braces came off, so and so fell off their horse at Pony Club or whatever, that sort of thing. I wrote her a surprising amount (her letters are in boxes right here) but the LD is not anachronistic (I was, even then!). However, on Monday she texted me 11 times about things she'd forgotten (stripey pants, bathing suits) and things she couldn't remember (what meal plan did we buy her) and things she figured she better remind me (did you put in the money for my books?). Yesterday was down to three, but that included pix of her room, so I was happy.

Meanwhile, on the book front..... St Mary's is beguiling and wonderful and so well written - so crisp - I don't generally like first person, but it sure does work fine here in the hands of someone masterful. It turns out, however, that the other novel I'm reading, The Word Exchange, which I should have categorized in my head as Spec. Fic. is too similar - not a protag named Max but an important character and also first person narration.... overall a good deal more demanding and highbrow, I mean, Hegel? WTF? I had to spend a half hour reminding myself of his ideas (sigh, and I did philosophy kind of seriously in college, so that is just depressing) and reading up on words like 'sublation'. Long and short is that I am going to read One Damned Thing to the end, then get back to W.E. And I keep forgetting to take my ipod with me when driving around so pathetic progress on Divergent.

Back to add that the Western Abenaki history book is a painful read - this is our native tribal people and it is the story of their being slowly beaten back by disease and wars and pressures of various kinds. It explodes the idea, certainly, that 'no one lived in Vermont'. A fact of which I have become entirely aware on my own as traces of their presence right on our property are quite evident.

I miss getting real letters... When I went to University, it was daily phone calls (yes, daily - very clingy parents! We're down to every second day now 20 years later..). No emails yet, I got my first computer in my 2nd year, but that was pre-internet.
So nowadays it's texts... times are changing fast. But a good sign if the number of texts goes down, she's settling in. I wish I had a recipe that could help you over the first weeks that doesn't involve eating lots of chocolate cookies. Is Posey a dog that likes to be cuddled?

Posey would cuddle ALL DAY, with brief walks and food intervals.

The texts number is back up today as the LD is wondering where her 'stripey pants' have got to - I'm worried they got into her goodwill bag! She was being awfully ruthless for a bit there. But she's pretty sure she didn't do that however.... she swears they aren't in her stuff and I swear they aren't in her room! But there are a lot of dust bunnies under the bed, I can vouch for that!

Uh oh. Are 'stripey pants' replaceable?

I think not - they were kinda special..... I'm crossing my fingers that they are in her stuff..... somewhere......

>38 sibylline: uh oh ... I hope they are found! We have a massive Goodwill bag but am now thinking I probably won't drop the items off until after Thanksgiving, just in case one of my girls realizes something is missing.

I have a growing pile of things to bring in mid-October, when we will visit for Family Weekend.

Good job, Lucy! You did just fine dropping off your LD. She'll be back with lots of interesting stories.

>20 ronincats: I love it! And remember that scenario so well. I was 100% sure I would not cry when I dropped off my oldest the first time. I did pretty well till I started home and cried and cried in the car. I was by myself since we needed to take 2 cars to transport everything. I sang all our favorite songs and sobbed. BTW, I am not a natural crier. So I was surprised at myself.

>1 sibylline: I DO see the bear! How cool! Nice woods :-)

ETA: Did you stay in the Alexander Hamilton B&B in Croton on Hudson? That's where I stayed a night on the way to Montreal and another when we got back!

>42 -Cee-: Also not a natural crier here. I had a very similar reaction dropping off at college. The second time we had two cars and I was alone, and it hit me on the way there, as I crested a hill and campus buildings came into view. Singing definitely helped!

I never cry when I am supposed to, if you know what I mean, but unpredictably and often inopportunely.....but usually in private.

CEE~ SQUEE! That is exactly where we stayed, Tom and the whole deal! We like that place and plan to use it when we visit the LD. We ate at Tagine - where did you eat? What did you do with your car while you were traveling/training?

It's a big life event but I'm sure you'll be fine soon!

I had already googled Alexander Hamilton B&B - WHAT a nifty looking place! I'm envious of both of you! I can also see you meeting there by chance or on purpose. *sigh*

90. spec mys ****1/2

I kind of breezed through this.... as in.... didn't put it down, was late to appointments, that sort of thing. Lucy Maxwell's general intransigeance is a bit catching, methinks. Generous room in the over-arching plot (Good guys - historians, no less) with time machines battling bad guys from the future) for an indefinite number of these, I expect. Which is fine with me! ****1/2

It's very hot here today and no doubt the very last hot hot day, so I am off to dabble around in the river, something I meant to do ALL SUMMER. Hopefully I won't fall in and will have photos.

Best wishes for dabbling and staying as dry as you hope!
YAY for another St. Mary's convert!

I couldn't be more pleased with myself that I managed to go out and do this summery thing. It was blissful! Posey was not as well-behaved, kept trying to run along the bank which I know has poison ivy, so I had to put her on the leash which made her a bit grouchy, and then, being a dog, she forgot all about it and was fine. Here are a few pix.

Rock with lichen spirals:


slightly blurry tree root:


View from on top of a cool flat rock in the middle. The river is very low right now, so I just wore tevas and took poles .... it was perfect.

Bliss!

Looks like a lovely afternoon, Lucy. Good for you, doing that before summer leaves us.

>50 sibylline: Lovely!
Hoping the stripey pants turn up...

Not yet.....

I can't tell you how much I envy your water running over rocks......the #1 reason that I love the mountains of N.C. Thanks for the pics, Lucy.

Oh, Lucy, I have to say again what a gorgeous spot you live in!

>47 sibylline: *fist-pump*

>50 sibylline: Oooo
Aaaah
mmmmmmmmmmm

Lucy, I love your photos. They are so wonderful. I wish you a relaxed weekend.

Love your river outing photos. Thanks for sharing them here Lucy.

And now the temperature is down to 62 - only about an hour and a half ago it was almost 80! Did you have that change too, Ilana? Down to around 50 tonight I think.

And here is an sf meme from Roni by way of Richard:

What was the last sf/f/h book you finished reading? Just One Damned Thing After Another

What was the last sf/f/h book you did not finish reading and why? War of Honor David Weber Partly the whole story is too cumbersome for my patience, but partly because of a poor narrator. Perils of audio.

What was the last sf/f/h book you read that you liked but most people didn’t? Catch the Lightning Catherine Asaro This is the first in her big series and it is weak, yet there was something that caught my attention and I’m glad I persisted.

What was the last sf/f/h book you read that you disliked but most people did? Celestis Paul Park

How long do your 1-sitting reading sessions usually last? 30 minutes, sometimes more sometimes less?

What are you currently reading: The Word Exchange and several non sf

Do you like it so far? I like it - it’s inventive and though-provoking.

How long ago did you buy the book you are currently reading (or the last book you read)? It was a gift!

What was the last physical sf/f/h book you bought? Beggars and Choosers Nancy Kress

What is the sf/f/h sub-genre you like the most and why? character-driven space opera and fantasy (Yep - me too - this is what Roni wrote!)

What is the sf/f/h sub-genre you dislike the most and why? military science fiction--not into war and destruction (yep, me too, unless incredibly well character driven!)

What is your favorite electronic reading device? does not exist yet.

What was the last sf/f/h eBook you bought? Didn’t

Do you read books exclusively in 1 format (physical/electronic)? No, I listen to audio as well as reading.

Do you read eBooks exclusively on a single device? Not applicable

>50 sibylline: Oh, I love that last photo!!

We're getting lots of rain. It was obnoxiously hot and humid yesterday, then the thunderstorm in the early evening started cooling things down. Rained most of the morning (and all night too, I think?) and now around 19 C (66 F). Also expected to go to 50 F overnight, so yes, similar I guess. September is always ALL about change. Exciting times, these! :-)

Hi Ilana - it's a relief but sad too.

Did I mention we finished Morse last night? (Sad face goes here.) What a great actor Thaw was, what a perfect role for him. Tonight we will either watch the BBC 39 Steps or we will start Inspector Lewis!

I am SO looking forward to temps in the 50s overnight. Right now I'll settle very happily for 60s though.
But tonight we get to watch an episode of Doc Martin, so I'm good.

>60 sibylline: - That is one drastic drop in temp!

Happy to see the LD is ensconced in her post secondary institution, even if the stripy pants are still "AWOL"! No kids of our own to send off to the educational wilds but this past week saw one niece returning to her dormitory living quarters for her second year, one nephew embarking on his dormitory residence as a new post-secondary student and one niece be groaning the commencement of her 3rd year term, which starts on Monday. September is a month of transition!

The Word Exchange! Goodness. Such a dull and ponderous tome. Whoever could have wished that one on you?

We're having that drop in the temps too, Lucy. We had a humidex of 40C yesterday, with 30C real temps. Tonight it's about 16C. Crazy early autumn weather.

Totally a 50's night here, Peggy - and a relief after the last couple. I know, it's not much, but we are so ill-equipped in every way for heat.

>65 lkernagh: If those pants did go to Goodwill I sure hope they make someone happy.

>66Heh heh Ricardo - it's a gledbtu good book --- oh no! corblimey --- maybe I have got the word flu!

I'm really enjoying it - it's a real achievement for a first novel, I think. The premise is cool and spooky and I'm about half way and it hasn't faltered yet.

>67 tiffin: Yep - we're entering the see-saw season temp-wise, Tui.

Stopping by a bit late to wish you a happy new thread Lucy and best wishes for you and LD adjusting to this new stage in your lives. I'm glad she's texting you and hope the stripey pants show up somewhere soon!

>69 souloftherose: Yes, the stripey pants are quite celebrated here on LT and I think, somewhere I have a pic of her IN them. Which I plan to look for. The stripey pants, needless to say, are extremely cool.

It's been a week and overall I feel less tortured. The LD texts a lot and is willing (provided I keep it to a minimum) to answer questions - like - what courses did you pick? (She got her first choices: the one she already had that her don/advisor teaches: Gender Roles Shakespeare to Jane Austen, then Fundamentals of Drawing and General Biology: Genes and Evolution class) or Did you go to NYC? (No) - she gave herself some time out and sewed a cool shirt with some fabric we got earlier this summer. She used the pattern we got as a template but did her own thing, as usual....

Rolls of fog filling the valley this morning and steam rising off the pond - so autumnal - aiee. Not a cloud in the sky. I think a longer hike than usual is called for today.

As of this moment I'm reading:

♬

I wasn't too sure about the Lively, but I'm liking it better as it goes. The Graedon has a great premise and she is keeping it lively. I'm stuck in Divergent because I keep forgetting to take my ipod in the car, and the Abenaki history is so painful to read, such a tale of woe and betrayal that I am flinching the entire time I read it. I live on their former homeland and there are traces of their presence everywhere (frankly, except where bulldozers or or plows have destroyed everything there are traces everywhere, this country was fully inhabited before the arrival of Europeans) - whispers of a very different time. Anyhow, it's a tough read, so I'm taking it slow and just trying to absorb the relevant points. The British get an F minus for being arrogant self-serving bastards, really, pardon my language but anything less is .... inadequate.

I'm wondering at what point you'll do a check of the charity shop where all her stuff got taken, to see if the stripey pants are there by any chance.

I've thought of that, but figured it they did go there they would have been snapped up in a day!

>44 sibylline: The only time I went out to eat in Croton was the night we got in from Montreal. After a day of bland, cold, wimpy train food we both wanted something hot and robust. It was dark, starting to rain, and I had no idea where anything was. We found a place called Justin Thyme and had really wonderful burgers (Sam's was pulled pork and mine was beef). It was a truly good meal - especially the nice big glass of wine that served me well.

As for parking, the train station was about 1.5 miles from the B&B and they have ample parking. Tom wanted to offer a space at the B&B but he was having too many guests and no extra room for a car - as you can well imagine after seeing the parking he had in the back. The two nights I was there were not packed (midweek) thank goodness - but he does better business on the weekends. He is a character - a great host. I think he feels enslaved as he is the only one running it - still, he maintains a cheerful demeanor. Croton-on-Hudson is beautifully situated... a very pleasant spot.

I remember as a freshman in college I had a pair of pants that I made for myself and loved. They were dark purple corduroy. Unheard of back then! I was into colors long before the fashion world caught on. I'm sorry LD has lost her stripey pants and hoping they will show up unexpectedly and make her day! Waiting for the picture...

We heard about Justin Thyme - and intend to try that next time! I may well spend a few days there in October between one thing and another that I will be doing down that way. Then I can stop in and see the LD! If she'll have me. I think she is having a marvelous time, so far, not one tiny bit homesick. Sigh. I know that is good and means she is prepared and ready.

Very good to hear about the large parking lot!

91. ****
The Western Abenakis of Vermont, 1600-1800 Colin G. Calloway

Anyone out there who has subscribed to the myth that Native Americans lived 'only seasonally to hunt' in Vermont, disabuse yourselves of it immediately and forever. For the Western tribes of the Abenaki Vermont was home for millenia. Although I have known (somewhat) better for twenty or thirty years I've never read the story of the dispossession of these tribal people from their lands, and it is a sorry one indeed - of betrayal, genocide and woe. I had underestimated the extent of the struggle, in Vermont, often violent and ugly, of the white people to take the land for themselves and ignore the native claims. This is 'history' in its traditional form and, to paraphrase what a character says in a novel I've been reading: history is the story of people killing each other in various ways. It is a necessary part of the story to tell and it doesn't make for comfortable or easy reading. Calloway carefully builds the picture of the incidents, battles, confrontations, withdrawals and returns, putting together the information that he has gleaned out of British, American and French documents, mostly military. He is adamant in his descriptions of the bewilderment and confusion and heartbreak of the Abenaki as, no matter what choices they make or who they ally themselves with promises are broken outright or ignored once the desired outcome is achieved. After the formation of the United States and the entry of Vermont as the 14th state, the 'red men' claims to lands for their own are dismissed. They are called vagrants and gypsies and the myth of their seasonal use of Vermont was born. In truth they did move around seasonally, but not over large areas. Family bands lived on hunting lands that were traditionally theirs and did so for a thousand years and more. And yet the pressures of immigration from a restless population in Europe and the explosive burst of growth in population already here, doomed the Eastern tribes ultimately. It was never going to be fair, and Calloway doesn't have to say it. His goal is to outline how it came about. Many many Abenaki have never left, but quietly live and lived in communities they may be aware of as 'theirs' but do not make themselves known. Like the Spanish marrano, they have learned to live one way, while cherishing another way in their hearts. I can't in good conscience give more stars as it is dry dry reading, but it is 5 star scholarship. ****

So glad LD is in frequent contact. It will help the transition for both of you.

>76 sibylline: dry dry reading
Too bad. I might slog through for my part of the world, but not yours. Do post the review? I never heard of the author, but clicking through... he's written lots of books on a similar theme w/ few reviews on LT.

92. contemp fic ***1/2
Family Album Penelope Lively

At first I wasn't at all sure whether I would continue for there was something flat about the narration which was irksome, but somewhere between 50-100 I became more interested in what Lively was trying to do, explore the boundaries between individuals and the family they find themselves part of, what brings a family together, what sends them scurrying. I find myself in agreement with the reviewers who disliked it, but also in agreement with the reviewers here who liked it, which makes little sense, but there you have it. Alison always wanted a 'family'. Regard it the same way as someone else might wish to be a poet or a priest. Not so much a career as a vocation (although one of the children describes it as a career). I would say Alison's fixation on having a Family is ... never adequately explored..... anyhow, she finds her victim, Charles, a passive and removed man, and the house, and then the babies come. And then, as happens, the babies all start growing up, becoming unmalleable and uncooperative. Then they fly the coop. In this family (in which the characters say too often to one another what an 'odd' family they are) there are secrets, one rather big one. These are mixed in with trivial 'secrets' (what the six children did when they went to the cellar, who pushed whom in a scrum during an Easter egg hunt.....) The mixing of the real with such trivialities was jarring as it said, to me, that Lively wasn't making a distinction. Likewise sometimes the story veered off in a Binchy-ish direction but at others seemed to be striving for something much higher.... almost Woolfish, as Lively describes the century of life in the house. Overall, it was entertaining and not without interest. I won't rush out to read more Lively, but I wouldn't scorn one if it came my way. ***1/2

Lucy, have you read Lively's Moon Tiger? I really liked that one and always meant to read more of her books. Hmm ... But perhaps not Family Album.

Thank you for your PM ... I owe you a response but am having a very busy week at work and am tired tonight! So ... More later.

No worries, no hurry!

I got the rec for Moon Tiger from Laura's thread and can endorse. Just loved it!

I promise to check out Moon Tiger!

Piling on... Moon Tiger is fantastic!

93. near future/cyber ****
The Word Exchange Alena Graedon

What if..... someone got the idea that words could be bought and sold, traded, used, worn outand thrown away like last year's shoes? It's a great premise - and you can take it one step further in the 'what if' department by asking.... what if in their blind greed it doesn't occur to these entrepreneurs that they are opening up a can of words... oh... I mean worms.... because computers and biology have begun to interface making people physically vulnerable.... you get the idea. Ananda Johnson, daughter of Douglas Johnson, editor of NADEL, the North American Dictionary of the English Language, finds her father has gone missing in suspicious circumstances and starts following the trail of clue crumbs he has left behind him. It's fun and scary (mostly in the concepts) and sweet and smart, a great read. Lots of more in depth reviews, so I won't go on. ****

Mwah, Ricardo, for sending this to me.

This is absolutely not my genre, but you had me at "words could be bought and sold". Did I just catch my first cyber BB?

Lucy, I wish you a lovely weekend.

>85 sibylline: Word Exchange
Huh, cool. BB. Because really, despite my silence in recent months, I still read books.

Definitely a BB. It isn't your usual cyber book and it is certainly tilted towards the bibliophiliac!

hi Nathalie! I think you would enjoy it, I really do.

Greetings to you Barbara

I know you are busy protecting your pupae and trying to figure out what to do with all that zucchini!

Back to add that I am wearing a TURTLENECK and one of my (thin) cashmere cardigans. It is 43 F (6 C)! at 8:30 in the morning. Urk. I am even considering lighting the woodstove. I've kept the floor around 70 F the last few days as I saw this weather coming, but it doesn't feel that warm.... ran around checking all the windows, there's always one or two that are sneakily a bit open, but they are all shut. I'm not ready for this (wailing).

Yeah, it's around 10 C (50 F) here right now (was probably cooler earlier when you posted and I was still asleep). Grey grey grey out there and expecting some rain in the afternoon. Did you see they've been getting snow in Western parts of Canada already?? Truckloads of it too. Brrrr. Kinda scary. I'm not ready for that yet. I need to winterize my balcony, BBQ, wash the windows (as didn't land on an audiobook that gripped me enough to get me to do that hateful task yet), though there are only three (out of 6) of them I can reach from outside. I've been wearing some of my cashmere sweaters for the last few days too. They're all kind of medium-weight, as I can't afford really heavy cashmere knits anyway, but still. Wearing one of my very long argyle cardigans as I type this now, and my lambskin slippers too. I've overheard we should prepare ourselves for snow in October this year. Eek!

Snow in October, eh? That's just..... unseemly!!!! Plus that is one of my heavy driving around months..... I did a few 'winterizing' things earlier and I'm bringing in my orchids now as tomorrow night it may fall into the 30's and they don't really care for temps much below what it is now.

Glad I have some good reads going! It's that sort of a day.

Do you think I should be bringing in my geraniums too then?

No, no, geraniums are fairly hardy! Not unless you get a frost advisory! Let's hope that does not happen!

I went and read the long range forecast for the Northeast and it does look appalling. Cold, then rainy and then snowy. And all before the turn of the year.

I sit here sweating away and dreading winter already. 43° in early September (it's still summer, guys) is seriously scary.
O.K. There was thunder again, so I can't go swim this afternoon. Gee. I'll have to stay home and read!

Saw Blue-Winged Teal pair today - (this is not my photo of them) - read in my bird book that they migrate South early, August/September.

Aw—lovely!

I went out today as had to go to the post office and pick up a few things at market. Should really have put off the errands as going outside for that long put both Coco and I in a seriously bad mood. Phooey!

It was 38 at about 8:00 p.m. as I drove back to the hotel from the Denver meetup the other day. We had to head to the mall to buy warmer clothes the next morning. It was in the low 70's in southern Colorado this afternoon however.

Okay, confession time, I just watched Mean Girls finally - what a great movie!!!

>98 sibylline: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Has the LD seen it? It seems to be somewhat of a cult classic for young women although my impression is that's more the case with Kate's friends (~21) than Julia's (~18). I think Julia watched it a million times mostly because her sister did.

It took me a couple of years to get used to the idea that we usually have had at least one snowfall before Halloween here in Wisconsin. Weird.

Well, I broke down this morning and fired up the wood stove - with no sun at all for two days and the highs in the low 50's.... tonight's forecast keeps dropping.... latest is 37. Orchids are in.

What I am reading as of this dreary Sunday morning:

♬

Ready Player One is one of my daughter's favorites.... second cyber book in a row, I know it will not be my favorite, but it has just enough character development so far, to keep my attention. And it is a good 'entree' into the gaming world that has certainly passed me by. I took it off her shelf when I was cleaning up her room.

The Road Home is indeed a wonderful book. Such a relief to be reading a work of contemporary fiction that I can sink into trustingly.

The Angelica Garnett is my annual foray into Bloomsburyworld. For a period in the late 70's and early 80's I more or less lived there and I find now, that since it is a 'place' with which I am so famiiar, it is pleasant to round out the picture a little more now and then. Last year I read about the servants. This year it's Angelica, the daughter Vanessa had with Duncan Grant although she was brought up in the Bell household as if she was Clive's.

And I plod along in Divergent - I am into the second half of the book. Just don't drive about like I used to!

I'll look forward to your comments on The Road Home. So far, I've really enjoyed three of Tremain's historical fiction novels, Music & Silence and the two Robert Merivel novels, and still have The Colour on the stacks, but it's just a question of time before I get into her contemporary stuff next.

Miserable over here too this morning. I wish Coco would take to a training pad on days like this, honestly, so we could both just stay cuddled on the couch.

So with you, Ilana, just got back from my walk which wasn't too miserable once I was properly suited up and out there. But so so so nice to be back. And to a warm house. I even half re-arranged the furniture into 'winter' mode after reading that long-range forecast. Most important is to set up the arrangement for the three pets to sleep near the fire in perfect comfort. #1 priority. Will post a pic of that later. It's only 45 degrees! Ridiculous!

Your latest comment on my thread made me come to a sudden very revealing realisation, thank you so much! I'd been wondering why I felt so strongly drawn to that particular subject, of all things.

Mean Girls … haven't watched that in ages. Should re-watch. Btw, I love the blue-winged teal at #95.

Oh Ilana! I am so glad that I was helpful! Let me go over to your thread and see what you responded there.

>105 lit_chick: Thanks! Not my photo, though, just that I saw a pair.

Pleased to see that The Road Home is right down your alley, so to speak. One of my favourite reads of the last few years.

>107 PaulCranswick: Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep

94. memoir ****1/2
Deceived With Kindness: A Bloomsbury Childhood

Before saying anything, I will explain that the 4 1/2 stars are for a perceived genuineness to this memoir, an almost desperate effort to make sense of a childhood, which while it clearly had moments of happiness, was shot through with the effect of all the words not being said, all the explanations not being made. I did come to feel that this was a 'replay' of a classic Demeter-Persephone story, with Angelica's husband, David Garnett (Bunny) clearly in the role of Hades, taking the young girl away. In some ways it is an awkward book and an uncomfortable one, and at first I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it, as it appeared to be offering a much starker view of the inner world of the Bloomsbury folk than I have ever encountered and I was afraid there was vindictiveness in it. For all my wide reading, I realize I had a view of Vanessa informed mostly by Virginia's view of her, bountiful, calm, equilibrated in a way she herself never was, presiding over her house and strange menage a trois with calm dignity etcetera. I had a vague idea of Angelica as a somewhat 'difficult' child who had then gone off with a man twice her age, in a shocking defiant way. Vanessa had three children, two with her husband Clive Bell, and one with Duncan Grant, the passion of her life, but a homosexual who only briefly had a physical relationship with her, although their love/friendship continued through their lifetimes. Angelica grew up in this household, the unacknowledged child of Duncan and Vanessa. Both potential fathers, the real and the legal, however, declined to take on Vanessa and have some say in Angelica's upbrining and so Vanessa made all the decisions to do with her education etcetera, with disastrous effect as her priority always, was to protect her and smooth her way. Nothing was explained, little was required of her, and Angelica grew up somehow always 'locked out' of understanding and experience gained from hard work and high expectations from your parents. It is almost a horror story, frankly, not that far off from a kind of abuse by benign neglect - and it is a window into the ways in which this was a transitional group of people. While they had rejected the Victorian ways of their parents and they declared themselves bohemian, they had no tools for actually confronting and discussing and being open with one another, their upper-middle-class selves just could not take bohemianism that far! That is - you would accept that your former lover was gay, but you couldn't ask him what to do about your mutual child.... as if just accepting difference was as far as they could go. If you are a Bloomsbury afficionado, this is a must read, but expect to see things a bit less rosily at the end. I commend Angelica Garnett for her efforts to make sense of her life and to move on. It's quite impressive. ****1/2

You were one star more generous with Garnett's tale than I was. Your review is lovely and bang on.

Excellent review, Lucy. I'm tempted to put it on my wish list...but then Mt. TBR is so high after this summer's additions that I hesitate to add anything anywhere.

Thank you Tui, I am truly honored you liked it.

Not a hard frost last night, but a definite one!

Tonight my irish music posse plays at our local farmer's market and Sunday we play all day at the big Stowe farmer's market. Very exciting!

Yes, frost here too of course last night. I made room for my geraniums inside the apartment, which now more or less looks like a greenhouse, but I thought I may as well protect my investment till next summer.

Yay on the music gigs. Sounds like that should be good fun.

Hi Lucy -- your concerts sound fun. Wish I could drop in on the market and hear you.
Here you are having frost and we're just coming off of a horrible heat wave. September usually is our hottest month but this year it's trying extra hard to be unpleasant.

Not the world's greatest pic, but here I am today - note how bundled up we all are!

My kind of music. We had a light frost this morning too. I'm hoping for a good killing frost to batten down the allergens.

Ah, the run-up to MidAutumn Day is keeping us all from the sweltering horror that is summer. So happy!

Also happy that I was right about you and The Word Exchange! It felt very Lucy as I was reading it. Intricate craftsmanship and elegant design paired.

Poor Angelica. A tough life.

Ack! Frost! I shouldn't tell you that I walked the beach in shorts this afternoon, and there were swimmers too.
I wish that the pic were more centered on the harp, but I'm glad for the general idea.
Thank you very much for the Angela book review. I know my Bloomsbury reading is incomplete until I get to it.

Lucy, I'm cracking up because I was so pleased to be visiting your thread when there were only 7 unread posts. Ha! Not so fast my friend.

I enjoyed Ready Player One more than I expected to when I read it last year.

And I don't see the bear. :-|

Lucy, enjoyed the photo. Like Peggy, I wish the pic were more centred on the harp and you! And Peggy, walking on the beach in shorts, observing swimmers?

95. sf/cyber**** Ready Player One Ernest Cline

No doubt there are scores of reviews here, so I will simply say that while RPO is essentially 'the' ultimate gamer's game, I was sucked in after an initial period of doubt/resistance. It's an oddly compelling book, given that the 'tone' of the protagonist's first person voice is somewhat monotonous. Ultimately, the 'story' drives it, and Cline never swerves, the pacing is that of a movie, but unlike a lot of current 'action' driven movies, this one is logical and moves forward in a concrete way and I think that is what kept me pretty much riveted, even when a part of me was saying, 'Wait, this is really kind of one-dimensional!'. The allure of OASIS, the on-line 'verse and the real world which is falling apart adds a tiny bit of thematic heft.... enough, it was an entertaining read. ****

Why Read It Now?
One of the LD's favorite books.

I loved Ready Player One! Very happy to see it is one LD's favorite books and scored some high marks from you as well!

What I am presently reading:

♬

Will finish Divergent today for sure - it's close to an hour drive up to Stowe, where we have our second (all day!) Farmers' Market gig, I'll jump right into book 2, Insurgent. Somewhere between background music and concert..... which is fine with me, the less I think anyone is paying attention the better I play!

♬ YA dystopia ****
Divergent Veronica Roth

The city (Chicago?) in this future is fenced and protected - although whether the fence's purpose is to keep the five factions (Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, Candor, and Erudite) in or others out, is not clear, especially as one faction, Amity, lives outside the fence.... but never mind.... the point is at 16 the young adult is tested and then chooses a faction and to fail in your faction means to become.... factionless... (another never mind) - because, of course, the test isn't what it appears to be. Beatrice, from Abnegation is tested inconclusively and is told to keep that a secret. She joins Dauntless and becomes Triss. Things are not right at Dauntless - and in fact - they are not right anywhere inside this enclave. Triss although tiny, is a more flexible thinker than the others and quickly rises to the top. Just as she completes her initiation all hell breaks loose.... and it's up to Triss to save the day! Emma Galvin was a superb reader and I am more and more aware that a terrific reader can skew one's judgement about a book. Like RPO, reviewed above, there are no wasted moments, the book moves swiftly and energetically from event to event. Triss is more thoughtful and the moral and ethical dilemmas are the thematic content that anchor the book.... I know nothing about Roth's religious leanings, but from time to time, I did feel there was a skittering in that direction. Suspension of disbelief is necessary, of course. One thing about YA fiction that is fascinating is the conflict between longing for order, the need to prove yourself and grow beyond expecting simple answers. Divergent fits that model and explores that territory very well. In any case I am a completist, so I have moved on to Insurgent. I am giving this one a four, really it is a 3 and 3/4.
****

Why Read It Now? Can't really say! It was the audible choice that jumped out at me.

At the top I've posted a drawing of the bear face, for those of you who have had trouble finding it!

And oh my, the leaves are already turning!

>126 sibylline: Very clever!

Now I've cleaned those windows I can reach on the weekend, I can look out the front balcony window from where I sit at my computer and see the maple tree in front of it all green at bottom and red at the tippy-tip of a few branches up top.

Tracked you down to your new abode. (actually I was here the other day just lurking, but then lost sight of you again) And I must say, I saw the bear before the sketch was added! Glad you enjoyed Ready Player One. I thought it was an absolute blast and I'll very curious to see what the author will do next. Sequel, perhaps?
Divergent sounds kind of interesting, but only because it slightly reminds me of the fabulous Divided Kingdom by Rupert Thompson. Not a perfect book but one of the most memorably strange and haunting things I've read for many a year.
I feel your end-of-summer pain; your spring seemed to take longer to arrive than most, and now your autumn seems to be descending faster too. Northern England is currently grey and rainy but warm and humid, weather for which I seem to be permanently inappropriately attired.

A few people have mentioned they couldn't see the bear, so I thought, before the month ends, it might be nice to show it clearly.

Anyhow - I've added Divided Kingdom to the WL.....

Couldn't be more in sympathy with your clothing woes. This time of year can be a challenge - I am going on a work retreat to the Cape tomorrow, and the weather there tends to be completely unpredictable - even more so than here at this time of year. Could be downright hot or could be quite cold. Here at least, you can count on cool to cold in the morning..... and while you might be a bit hot in the afternoon if the wind dies down and the sun comes out, well, it's just plain a treat. .... Anyhow, I couldn't even think about it so I tossed half the contents of each drawer in the bag, I always have the wrong clothes anyway, so I may as well have a lot to choose from. No point thinking it out.

It has warmed up here a bit, fortunately, but not significantly. I dragged out the duvet over the weekend, when overnight temps were in the 40s -- and I refuse to completely close my windows (casements that open from the top down, and my ceilings are HIGH, making them impossible to open and close frequently/easily...) I'm postponing the evil day when I have to shut out fresh air as late as possible. That said, morning temps indoors in the low 60s, so I'm into my elderly Old Navy fleece tops. (immune to cat hair...)

Glad you liked The Word Exchange. It wasn't perfect, but it was incredibly creative, and I'm glad I read it.

I don't mind fall's early arrival; I like the season and prefer it to summer heat. That said, wouldn't have minded a few weeks in the low 70s... :-)

I was quite impressed with it, Suz - for a first novel. Wondering what she'll go for next, actually.

The silliest thing about all the clothes I've packed is that I pretty much spend the whole time alone and in sweatpants and that sort of thing. I may have to take the bag upstairs right now and start all over. It's really ridiculous what I put in it.

The very first time I went anywhere BIG as an adult, I overpacked terribly. The next time I was with Himself who never overpacks and frequently forgets things like underwear, so I worked to hit a better balance. Still overpacked a bit. Now I think I have acknowledged that I always go for comfort, that I'm not going to have lunch with the Queen, that if I have layers I can add more on or take more off, and that the most important thing is to have comfortable shoes.

But always, always pack a raincoat. Being wet sucks.

Let me see - been a couple of days with not much LT, traveling and getting settled.....

Poor dear Miss Po on the morning I was leaving managed to stick her nose in a hornet's nest and go about eight stings on her schnozz! I stopped at the vet first thing I got here and they recommended regular applications of neosporin and a little bit of benadryl to help with swelling. They said she could have a whole 25ml tab, but no way, I gave her 1/3 and that knocked her out for the day yesterday. She's been very good about leaving it alone and already today it looks so much better - swelling down, just the scabbing. But we are talking about Miss Pretty here! So we are kind of in seclusion. Is Miss Pretty vain? Not really, but perhaps her mama is a little.

I did get to work yesterday, to my surprise, but so far today I have been obsessively finishing a book. I've noticed that when I get below 100 pages left, I tend to need to just get on with it.
Later today, when I have met my quota, I hope to do some threading.

Oh Poor Miss Po! How horrid for her! I would have been terribly worried, so glad to know it's nothing more dramatic in terms of consequences.

Aw Miss Po, much sympathy. Those blighters hurt.

97. sf ****
Beggars and Choosers Nancy Kress

Such variety in trilogies, especially with the middle book. In some the first book is by far the most dynamic and the next two seem to more or less just play out the plot that was set in it, logically and sometimes even a bit tediously. (Most noticeable with YA fiction.) In others, the first book is so complex that just setting up the premise absorbs most of it for the writer, and ditto, getting used to the complexities of the premise is the main task of the reader. Then book 2 can take off - that's how this second book feels to me. Kress's writing style is still a bit uneven somehow, but the three main characters in this book, one held over (Drew) and two new, Diana and Billy, are fully realized and absorbing. The idea that drives the book is that gene modification once started cannot be stopped - it will proceed, in a Darwinian fashion, to some (in hindsight) logical outcome. The lowest level or 'Livers' - are people with no gene-mod and they have become utterly dependent on the good will of the next level up. The donkeys, gene-mod people, who still sleep, but who had various modifications making them more attractive, healthy and smart. It is their job to run everything, and they do it well and conscientiously. Then the Sleepless, highly intelligent gene-modified people are created who don't sleep, then the Super-Sleepless, created by the Sleepless - who think abstractly the way we breathe..... and they..... why they take the gene modification idea to another level...... But there are anomalies, a Lucid Dreamer who seems to have some of the conceptual abilities of the Supers, and throw-backs, a Liver who is born utterly brilliant.... and a Donkey who has a truly questioning and open mind and throws in her lot with a group of Livers.... There is scheming and counter-scheming - the overall 'plot' is quite complex - so if you are not interested in thinking it out, you won't like the books. But Kress is tackling a big issue with lots of energy and twists and turns, real 'what if' sf, so no complaints from me. ****

Why read it now? Because I'm a hopeless completer and because I've learned it is better to plug away at a series and not let too much time elapse between books.

I am thrilled that Beggars and Choosers takes off. I read the first one years ago and never got back to complete the trilogy. You have inspired me to move this one up the slopes of Mt. Bookpile even if I have to reread Beggars in Spain. I just went to try to star your review, which isn't on the book page and should be, and found that the first reviewer thinks that this is a "stand along". I'll also note that a former teacher took notes at a session meeting for me Sunday afternoon and wrote about keeping a committee "in tack". I shudder to think what I may write as a result of having heard words wrong.

Aww, poor Posey! And I am just like you when it comes to the last 100 or so pages of a book. Must.Finish.Now.

Hope the weather on the Cape is glorious!

I see from the other reviews, Peggy, that there are those who would disagree with me. I truly can't imagine what they found lacking in it - I felt engaged throughout and happy that I didn't have to be constantly working out the premise. She seemed to be intent on showing the liver side of things. I think one cause for disappointment might be that a lot of the 'story' takes place in a very unappealing 'liver' setting. Also that there is one 'side story' about a group of terrorist livers that is a bit nasty - but quite believable to me in the context, that is. No sexy space stations and only glimpses of the Supersleepless..... If anything this second book is more serious ethical/philosophical type sf, really trying to dig deep into a hypothetical situation.

Yes, a mistake like 'Stand along' kind of erodes one's ability to take a review seriously, I'm afraid. A mistake that is charming from a child or even a teenager is so not lovely from an adult. And you can usually tell the difference between one of these gaffes and an accidental typo!

Glad you have the same need, Katie - I'm in the same zone with the Coyote book I've been working on, and it is getting into some technicalities (like how to build effective coyote fencing) that I think I can skip, so I expect I'll be 'closing the book' on that one two 'ere long.

>138 katiekrug: well, I came here to say exactly what Katie said. I'm in that "less than 100 pages" situation right now with The Likeness, and just want to curl up with it and blitz through.

Ooooooo The Likeness - I didn't dare bring along anything like that on this retreat or I know where I'd be.... pasted to the sofa.....

Oh poor Posey!! I hope she's feeling better quickly.

>132 tiffin: I think I have acknowledged that I always go for comfort, that I'm not going to have lunch with the Queen, that if I have layers I can add more on or take more off, and that the most important thing is to have comfortable shoes.

And everything in compatible colors for simple mix and match. I have a generic travel packlist so I don’t forget anything crucial. When anxiety kicks in that I have not prepared for every possible scenario, I recall that I’m not going outside the bounds of civilization, and anything truly necessary is surely available there.

>133 sibylline: Poor dear Miss Po on the morning I was leaving managed to stick her nose in a hornet's nest
Oh no! Glad she’s recovering rapidly.

>136 sibylline: Hmm, maybe...

Oh, poor little Miss Pretty Posey! So glad to hear she is feeling somewhat better already. Good to know about the Benadryl, too, and the dosage you gave her of 1/3 tablet. Thank goodness you knew better than to give her a whole one.

Poor Miss Posey! And to think that she was just being curious and intrepid... Glad she is feeling better.

The Likeness was sooo good. And I have the latest Tana French sitting here, the ARC I got in late May taunting me... ARGH.

Poor Posey! I'm sure she won't be doing that again in a hurry!

Oh I sure hope not!

Looks worse at the end of the day, but every morning it looks a bit better. But I'm afraid it will be a little while before the poor wee schnozz looks normal again....

And thank you everyone for your commiseration - I have passed along yr. messages to Herself. The nice thing about dogs though, is that they mostly don't sit around moping. She mopes more on these retreats from just being bored. And also - she is the first dog I've had who prefers the whole family to be together, doesn't like going off on these solo trips. All my other dogs were happy - and they liked the beach better. Although yesterday I thought Po did enjoy herself. (I did take her and then I poured water (carefully) over her nose when we got back to get any sand off, no harm done.

Am I caught up on Tana? I think so, must check! I've read three and will willingly keep reading more.

There are now five by Tana....

98. nat sci ***1/2
Myths & Truths About Coyotes Carol Cartaino

Cartaino's book is exactly what it purports to be - a basic unglossed and relatively neutral offering of information about coyotes. By neutral I mean, acknowledging that there are two attitudes toward coyotes (with nuances, to be sure). Some folks are either terrified by the idea of coyotes roaming the 'burbs and city parks and convinced they kill an unusual amount of wildlife and others think we should figure out how to get along and believe there are benefits to having coyotes living alongside of us. The emergent fact is that coyotes, like several other species of mammal, are flexible enough to have adapted to human presence, not just adapted but are thriving. Urban and suburban settings are also excellent habitat for some of their favorite prey from mice, squirrels, rabbits (and rats) to larger animals, like deer.... and..... unfortunately, since they don't make much distinctions - your pets. So what to do. They are in fact, so wily, that exterminating them is out of the question - and it is ethically and ecologically a pretty stupid idea anyway, as coyotes keep the rodent population (and also deer populations) in check better than any other type of predator. Without saying it openly Cartaino makes it clear where her allegiance lies (well duh, who would write a book about an animal they loathe - we only do that for our politicians!) and offers sound advice about how to live with coyotes sensibly and safely. Rule number 1 is NEVER EVER FEED THEM. In fact, don't feed any wild animals beyond birds. JUST..... DON"T! Feeding rodents encourages them to multiply and that will inevitably attract more predators, and if it doesn't you'll have a rodent population explosion you really don't want. If you are developing an interest in coyotes then this might be a good place to begin. The last two chapters, about fencing and hunting coyotes, was only scanned/skimmed by me since I have no interest in either. I wish the bibliography in the back was more extensive, but I can work with it. I'd like to read more about the suburban/urban coyote.

I do have one quibble which happens in the opening paragraph where Cartaino states confusingly that dogs originated in the Americas, traveling back over the land bridge to Eurasia at some point..... all I could think was..... wait, what? I think it is more unclear writing than bad information.... that wolves are #1, (and originate in Eurasia) then they spread out and the dog subspecies rises and does trek back over the land bridge, but it's complicated and as DNA testing gets better perhaps a clearer picture of just how it all worked will emerge. The main point being that dogs are very much a native animal to North America. And coyotes, canis latrans, are as much dog as wolf and deserve to live here as much as we do. Being me, I think, of course, perhaps more than we do. ***1/2

Oh, I'm sorry to hear about Miss Po and her nose! Hoping she's even better this morning...

Lucy, sounds like an interesting read on coyotes. I've seen them right about my townhouse in the city, and can attest to are flexible enough to have adapted to human presence, not just adapted but are thriving. Urban and suburban settings are also excellent habitat for some of their favourite prey. Cairo is an indoor cat; I do take him out to the patio with me, but do not leave him unattended.

Weirdly, our cats, in a more wild setting may be 'safer' than suburban cats because plenty of folks around here shoot coyotes, so ours are more wary of people. That said, our cats are allowed out strictly 9-5 and we do, when we are around, keep tabs on them and the dog is never out alone. When we know we won't be around we keep them in. Ernie wasn't allowed out at all for a year and a half.

Only interesting because informative!

Hello Lucy,

just stopping by to say Hello :). I am trying to ease my way back into LT life, missed it soo much, but due to my health issues reading, computer and some other things had to take a back seat. I am still quite slow with my reading and still tend to listen more (but book is book whatever format), but finally over the past two month I seem to be picking up again.

I am very much looking forward following your thread again, and to hear stories about your pets, family, surroundings and obvious your reading.

I read the Divergent trilogy and enjoyed the first book most, and somehow I still have Ready, Player One sitting on my TBR.

Bianca! Delightful to hear from you and I am so glad you are recovering enough to spend some time here. Feel free to just skip around my thread as you please!

I'm perfectly happy with Book 2 of the Divergent trilogy, but I adore the person who is reading it, so it is hard to judge anything.

As far as Ready Player One - it's solid storytelling, no doubt about that. I got sucked in despite myself!

So, Lucy, did you read B. Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer? What I know about coyotes (before your review) I learned there. It's not among my favorite BKs, but it's pretty good.

I'm one of those oddballs who loved Prodigal Summer! She obviously did go through a coyote phase..... I had actually forgotten about that! The character I mainly stayed focused on was the woman on the farm, I think... hmmmm... might need to revisit.

Tons of brush wolves and coyotes in these parts. They run through the woods at the back of our yard and some nights even go through the yard. It's ok during the day but at night the dog doesn't go out alone. Himself was letting the puppy out at about 4 a.m. and he could hear the pack coming closer and closer. He picked up the pup and skedaddled back into the house! In the winter they have crossed the road about 100 feet in front of us but just a lone one and he left us alone.

>155 LizzieD:, >156 sibylline: Oh, yes, I thought of Prodigal Summer too. BK can get kinda lectury, but I don't mind if it's informative, and I started from zero.

Lucy, I wish you a lovely Sunday.

What a lovely picture, Barbara!

Apparently where I am now, on the Cape, there is an albino fox, which my friend who was living next door says he saw frequently running across the yard. Tempting to get up early and watch at a window!

It's insanely lovely today - I mean - it's Sept 28 in New England and I'm sitting outside on the deck! I can also report that Miss Po's nose, while looking a little worse for the wear, is totally on the mend. It will lend character to her already considerable charms, right?

What I am reading as of today:

♬

new Self-portrait with Turtles David M. Carroll nat hist.
new Mirror Sight Kristen Britain fantasy (5, Green Rider) fantasy
♬ Insurgent Veronica Roth YA dystopic
✔ The Road Home Rose Tremain contemp fic

It's Ms. Po's version of the Heidelberg duelling scar.

I always enjoy Barbara's weekend photos, left like little gifts on various threads. They are always so thoughtfully chosen.

>161 sibylline: Self-portrait with Turtles
Ooh, I have this! Got it fairly recently, don't remember what triggered the interest. I haven't read it yet because, well, I haven't read lots of books yet.

Q - So far I love it -- like the deer book I read recently - it's a love affair built on a solid foundation.

Back to say - the reference thingie is to comment 151 - not what you intended I am sure.... is that some kind of glitch?

Back again again to say, Tui, that is hilarious! I was thinking more along the lines of the 'bee-stung nose'. Now if it was chipmunk inflicted! That would truly be a badge of honour!

>164 sibylline: Fixed. :-)

I do love Sunday morning when lots of folks are here! Fun to communicate in RL.

Things are hopping over here! Just dropping by to say hi.

Well folks, today was a big day in my life as I finished the last chapter of the novel I've been writing for 3 1/2 yrs, completing the post-apocalyptic trilogy begun by Sterling E. Lanier. Some copy-editing remains to be done and then it is off to the agency which handled SEL's work who have expressed willingness and interest. So we shall see. Even if they turn it down, it will find its way into print one way or another. The big thing was to get it done and I have. I am in something of a state of shock. Took a walk on the beach with Miss Po just now. Like many big moments, it's a bit anticlimactic and I happen to be entirely alone, so the celebration will consist of...... of..... doing what I would have done in any event. I'm having a blast watching The Last Tango in Halifax at night, as it is available on instant netflix and reading my various books, all of them extremely good so that it is hard to choose. And some chattering on the phone between things.

And here is a bonus picture of my shadow and the sublime Miss Po! The blue of the water was electric, luminous, incredible, but does not translate here. Prolly I should have fiddled with it!


It was quite interesting out there sartorially speaking - there were some people in bathing suits, some people actually swimming, others, like me wearing hats and vests and sneakers.... I was totally comfortable in a t-shirt with a vest over it, and I think I would have been cold without it.

Lovely photo of the two of you. Well, nearly the two of you. Me and my shadow?

>168 sibylline: Wow, congrats! Miss Po is glowing.

Ooh, I love that photo, Miss Po is a beauty. Congratulations on finishing the book!

Love the photo! And congrats on finishing the book!

I'm loving Posey in the Sunshine - what a GREAT DAY!!!!!

Congratulations, Lucy! What an impressive accomplishment! The photo is so beautifully scenic … and Miss Po, of course, is the star!

Congrats on finishing! More importantly, when can we get a copy? :)

Congratulations!

Congrats on finishing the book - and of course, same question here! When can we get a copy?

Love the beach photo, very atmospheric!

Well done, you! It must feel wonderful to have it finished.

Fantastic photo, Lucy. I love those colours.

Yay! You have good reason for celebration! What an accomplishment! Do you have a bottle of champagne you could share with Miss Po? I can see the two of you, drunkenly snoozing on top of each other on the floor in the wee hours of the morning... or maybe not! ;-)

That's a beautiful photo of your two on the beach. Can't even see the demoiselle's nose is any bigger than it's supposed to be. I'm always among those that is more covered up than the average here, usually, but then, walking around with Coco tends to be a lengthy affair, because he's ALL male and wants to scent out and mark absolutely everything.

Sending you a PM for a non-pressing matter in a mo.

Thank you all so much! The serious response to 'when' is that I don't know. I'll send it to this agency first and I have no idea how long they'll take. If they say no, then I'll have to regroup and decide what to do next. I promise to keep you all posted, but it is a tedious process. At least Phase 1 (of 3) is done! Phase 2 (get agent, get it sold) Phase 3 (get through pub. and post-pub process). I would expect if there is any interest at all they would have a goal of pub. before the big sfcons of the summer months.

Having a mild migraine today - that tells me that I KNOW I am done. I mostly have them after something on the stressful or intense spectrum is concluded - even when it is the good kind which this has been. But it signifies to me that I am genuinely 'letting down'. Which I can hardly believe!

Ah yes, the joys of the post-stress migraine... *eyes roll*

But congrats on finally having finished it!

And Miss Po doesn't look the least daunted by her waspy encounter. Gorgeous late afternoon light.

I can't get the curser to show up in this message box...but letters are showing up so I hope I'm actually doing something! Very strange.

Congratulations on finishing the book. That's an amazing accomplishment. I can't wait to read it. Hope your headache doesn't get worse but rather goes away entirely soon.

Pouring buckets of rain here. Much needed, apparently.

Computer exacerbates whatever is going on w/ head and neck but I can do a little if I work standing up and move around a lot. I know it is my body telling me to be sensible, but how frustrating! Anyhow that is why such a low profile here. I will try to stop at threads in little batches!

Delighted to see a gorgeous painted turtle this morning. He'd just crossed a little sandy road that is part of one of my daily walks here (luckily not used much this time of year) so I moved him higher up out of harm's way a couple of feet. Turtles are so extraordinarily beautiful and strange. So happy to see it today as I am reading a marvelous book by a turtle-mad artist/naturalist.