Mark's Reading Place: A Nudge and a Warble # 3

Audiobook:



Graphic:


Books Read So Far...

January:

1) Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 4.5 stars (audio)
2) We Live in Water by Jess Walter (Stories) 4.2 stars
3) The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins 4.3 stars GN
4) The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami 3.7 stars
5) The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: and Other Stories by Carson McCullers 4.2 stars AAC
6) Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson by Hampton Sides 4.8 stars (audio)
7) The Call by Yannick Murphy 4.3 stars
8) All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 4.3 stars (audio)
9) Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively 4.5 stars
10) Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Ward 4.5 stars (audio)
11) Through the Woods by Emily Carroll 4.5 stars (illustrated)
12) Being Mortal by Atul Gawande 4.7 stars (audio)
13) The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier 4 stars
14) Broken Homes: A Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch 3.7 stars (audio)
15) The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli 4 stars
16) Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle 4.2 stars (audio)

American Author Challenge 2015

Carson McCullers- January
Henry James- February
Richard Ford- March
Louise Erdrich- April
Sinclair Lewis- May
Wallace Stegner- June
Ursula K. Le Guin - July
Larry McMurtry- August
Flannery O' Connor- September
Ray Bradbury- October
Barbara Kingsolver- November
E.L. Doctorow- December

**If you are interested in the American Author Challenge, check out the main thread:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/185195

Mark's Picks:

January - Carson McCullers - The Ballad of the Sad Cafe
February - Henry James – Washington Square
March - Richard Ford – The Sportswriter and possibly Independence Day, for a reread.
April - Louise Erdrich - The Plague of Doves and possibly The Round House
May - Sinclair Lewis – Babbitt
June - Wallace Stegner - Beyond the Hundredth Meridian
July - Ursula K. Le Guin - The Dispossessed and possibly a re-read of A Wizard of Earthsea
August - Larry McMurtry – Pretty Boy Floyd and I would LOVE to do a reread of Lonesome Dove.
September - Flannery O' Connor - Everything That Rises Must Converge
October - Ray Bradbury - The Golden Apples of the Sun and possibly a second.
November - Barbara Kingsolver - Pigs in Heaven and possibly a NF choice
December - E.L. Doctorow – World's Fair?

I thought this would be a good idea, to keep track of what is coming up and to supply links when they are available.

January:

Carson McCullers American Author Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/185171#

February:

Fantasy February: https://www.librarything.com/topic/187066

Henry James American Author Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/187114

Is it safe to peek in yet? (I hope so, since that is what I'm doing.)

Okay, I think it's safe. I wanted to say that I read The Remains of the Day this weekend and absolutely loved it. This January has been outstanding* so far!

*I guess that goes for reading and football!!! :-D

Happy new thread, Mark! I figured it was safe to come in since Ellen is here. Nice thread toppers, although I must say that the second one would be an excellent way to get me to always read from the bottom of the stack first!

Wow, what an incredible opening pic. Ah, that would be of the skyline I'm talking about.
Happy new thread!

Another nice Chicago scene.

The third full week of the new year and Mark's already got a new thread!!

A thread per week. And I am keeping up. Yay for us!

>5 EBT1002: >6 EBT1002: You are #1 and #2, Ellen! Congrats! I am so glad you loved The Remains. It was my first Ishiguro and "remains" my favorite.

I am also having an outstanding reading month and we still have 10 days or so!!

>7 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! Always read from the bottom. Excellent advice. LOL.

>8 Carmenere: LOL, Lynda! I figured that was what you were talking about.

>9 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda! I saw a great winter sunrise photo, in the Trib the other day but I couldn't find it, but I am happy with my substitute.

>11 Donna828: It is more like one every 10 days, Donna, but who's counting? The threads are definitely on fire, in the new year. Whew!

LOL, ice is melting outside here too. 40 degrees F perhaps?
To quote Two Live Jews:

Oy it's so humid Oy it's so humid, it's like a sauna in here...

Happy new thread.

I hope that stack of books is sturdy. Wouldn't want her toppling over or anything....ha!

And people wonder why I like to read? Nice toppers. ;)

I am watching The Imitation Game, about Alan Turing and Bletchley Park. It's been very good...

Great opening photos Mark. I like them both for different reasons!

Congratulations on thread #3 and some great reading so far.

In a return to something said on your previous thread - At least Chris Collingsworth is an ex-football player, so he knows of what he speaks.

I finally figured out why you want to do the meet-up and go to ALA on Saturday. It seems that there is some kind of football game on Sunday. The exhibit booths are starting to advertise that they are going to have TV's set up so that people can watch the game.

Happy New Thread, Mark.

Happy new thread, Mark!

>14 cammykitty: Hi Katie! It looks like it will above normal temps for the rest of the week. Happy Camper!

>15 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie!

"Wouldn't want her toppling over or anything." No, worries! I would be right there to catch her. Smiles...

>16 mahsdad: I am right there with you, Jeff.

>18 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! Good to see you. I need to stop by and see what you've been reading.

>19 benitastrnad: LOL! I promise you I will be at ALA for the BOOKS! The Super Bowl will be that Sunday. You should try to find The Imitation Game, if it is still playing near you. This is just your cuppa, Benita!

>20 BLBera: >21 katiekrug: Thanks both of you! Big Hugs!

I thought about going to a movie this afternoon and instead I stayed home and read and cooked. Somehow the day got away from me. Probably because I stayed in bed reading until about 9:00 a.m. I haven't done that in a long long time.

I always have a long list of movies that I want to see. Right now I have The Imitation Game and Blackhat on the list. I would also like to see Cake. I saw a trailer for the BBC production of Wolf Hall last night on Masterpiece. Now I will have to get the book read before it comes on TV. I just keep getting more and more titles on my TBR list and I am reading as fast as I can.

Hi Mark, some interesting thread toppers here! Mamie cracked me up with her comment about reading from the bottom of the stack! I see you are reading A Brief History of the Dead which has been on my wishlist for years, I'll be looking forward to hearing what you think of it.

^I highly recommend The Imitation Game. Fans of WWII, The Bletchley Circle and well-written historical dramas will enjoy it. Good cast too!

Happy New Thread, Mark!! That gal up there at the top must be a Chicago native enjoying the heat wave, eh? Otherwise you should get the poor thing some clothes...

Back to work Tuesday! Hope the holiday mail is not to overwhelming. Looking forward to jumping back into Being Mortal. I am so impressed with this one so far. My LT pals Darryl & Joe nudged me into another winner. I am also enjoying A Brief History of the Dead.

>23 benitastrnad: If The Imitation Game is playing at a theater near you: SEE IT!! I would really like to get to Wolf Hall before the Masterpiece series comes out. I can not believe I haven't read this one yet. WTH?

>24 DeltaQueen50: Great to see you, Judy! A Brief History of the Dead has been very entertaining so far.

Happy new thread, Mark! I'm interested in seeing The Imitation Game too. Glad it was a hit!

Nice balmy day out there today and most of the goop has melted, so it wasn't too slushy either, which is nice.

>25 msf59: I really do want to see this one and not just because I love Cumberbatch, though that could be reason alone...

Woo, it must be warmer where that young lady in >1 msf59: is reading! Although maybe she's like the nut in >10 msf59:.

That was a great weekend. Glad you've got so much topnotch reading going on. I'm enjoying The Night Circus so far.

We want to see The Imitation Game. Helps to hear you liked it. Young Jesse has been a Turing fan for years.

Looks like we've got a stretch of decent weather ahead of us. Hope it's a good one for you today.

Hi Mark, Happy New Thread. It looks amazing, Toppers and all.

Happy New Thread Mark! Agreed on the Imitation Game recommendation. I went to see it a few weeks ago and thought it was really well done. I didn't know about Turing till then, so it was educational for me as well. Cumberbatch was excellent as always.

Gloomy and damp but the temps are mild. Much of the snow has melted, leaving the ground dirty and mushy in places.
Mail is heavy, especially the parcels, which haven't slowed down much since the holidays. I am barreling through though...

>28 DorsVenabili: Morning Kerri! I am sure enough will enjoy The Imitation Game. Lots of fascinating history there.

>29 rosylibrarian: Hi, Marie! Yes, Cumberbatch is terrific but so is the rest of the cast.

>30 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! You both will enjoy The Imitation Game. I am glad The Night Circus is working for you.
I am looking forward to jumping back into Being Mortal. Wow!

>31 connie53: Thanks, Connie! I am glad I was able to find your new thread, that was a little bit bizarre. LOL.

>32 Smiler69: Hi, Ilana! Glad to hear you also liked The Imitation Game. Interesting to see Tom from DA in it, along with evil, Tywin from GOT.

Hope you can keep barreling and the mush doesn't get on top of you.

What a gorgeous opening. Congrats on your new thread. I hope your day isn't too stressful.

I also need to read Wolf Hall before the Masterpiece series starts. It's been on my Kobo for ages.

I saw the trailer for Wolf Hall yesterday, and it's on BBC2 tomorrow night, so I'll definitely be tuning in - probably not live as my housemate won't watch it, but I'll make sure to watch it before bed tomorrow, or on Thursday.

I just got Wolf Hall from SantaThing. I had never heard of it. Of course the BBC is doing a series on it. :)

Yup yup, I really enjoyed 'The Imitation Game' too, Mark. Benedict Cumberbatch is such a good actor. Did you ever watch 'August : Osage County'? He was pretty good in that movie too.

The BBC has a series on Wolf Hall? Well, I'm so glad I popped in today when I did. I will need to keep an eye out for this when it airs.

Mark, I really liked The Imitation Game too.

Wolf Hall airs in the UK starting tomorrow (as mentioned by >37 lunacat:), and in the US on PBS Masterpiece beginning April 5. If the trailer is any indication, it's going to be amazing.

>33 msf59: there is nothing bizarre about the Dutch language! Just think of what I'm going through every day. Al those English words.;-)

We were enthralled with The Imitation Game too. It's based on Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, so of course I had to immediately buy it.....

>34 lunacat: The mush didn't get me, Jenny! Hooray!

>35 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! Good to see you. The day went better than expected.

>36 SuziQoregon: Maybe we should do a mini- Group Read of it in March, in preparation to the Wolf Hall premiere. Possibility?

>37 lunacat: Thanks, Jenny! I take it, you read the book? If so, how about the 2nd? Sadly, I have not!

>38 mahsdad: Wolf Hall was all the rage on LT, a few years ago, Jeff! And for some odd reason, I did not read it. Did you see my comments to Juli, in #36? I plan on reading it for sure.

>39 cameling: I have not seen "August : Osage County'', Caro and I did not know Cumberbatch was in it. Does he play an Englishman? Was the film any good? I remember it getting lukewarm reviews.

>40 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! That gives me an extra month to read Wolf Hall. Whew! Are you going to watch the U.K. broadcast?

>41 connie53: I was not calling the Dutch language bizarre, Connie, I was referring to how strange the thread was. There was no reply or post buttons. I can only imagine how difficult it is to navigate our slang-filled language. LOL.

I have been trying to get A Place of Greater Safety read for two months. It is a behemoth (750 pages) and from comments made by others who have read Mantel, it is written in her signature style. It is all short and with a great sense of immediacy. One person who read the book told me she would not read another by this author as she simply couldn't abide the style in which it was written. I have not found it that annoying, but just haven't had the time to devote to finishing the title - as of yet. I planned to take up Wolf Hall when I had finished Place of Greater Safety. Now I will have to rush my reading plan, but don't think that the BBC version of the book will be here in the U. S. until at least next fall. That should give me some reading time.

Correction - I will have to get my reading done by April 5! Egad's I won't have enough time.

>43 msf59: yes I probably will Mark!!

>45 lauralkeet: You are showing amazing restraint, Laura! LOL. I take it, you read the book?

Wolf Hall has been sitting on my TBR mountain for awhile now and I blame it on the fact that it's such a chunkster...... Glad to be dusting it off later this year!

Oh! You started a new thread when I wasn't looking and I'm already half a hundred posts behind. Sheesh! Well, happy new thread anyway, Mark!

>10 msf59: LOVE it! It's the same here in Colorado, except our picture would show someone on a snowboard in shorts and tee, whooshing down the slopes and smoking a doobie. (Do they call them that anymore? I'm so out of it anymore.)

Lots of good books being touted around here. I've been dodging BBs like mad, trying to avoid being hit, and not really succeeding. If it's not a direct hit, I often get hit by the shrapnel of other's later comments.

Hi Mark! Glad to hear you are enjoying some reasonable (for Chicago in winter!) temps for a change. I also havne't read Wolf Hall but will try to get to it this year. I was going to to read it for the BAC, but I've gone all curmudgeonly, as you know ;-)

Can't wait for the Apr. 5 start of Wolf Hall. It will be amazing Mark:-)

>44 benitastrnad: I will eventually read A Place of Greater Safety, after I read the first 2 Wolf Hall books. I plan on reading Wolf Hall in March, in time for the Masterpiece production.

>47 jolerie: Hi Valerie! If you decide to dust off Wolf Hall in March, let me know. I've also been dragging my feet on this one.

>48 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! Good to see you! It's been a great reading month for me and I see no reason why it won't continue.

>49 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! It looks like it will be up above normal all week, with highs hitting the 40s again this weekend. Smiles...

>50 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie! I will finally get off my butt and read Wolf Hall before April.

Mark, you bet I read the book -- both of them! I understand the series covers both books too, putting pressure on the book nerds who want to read before watching!

Morning, Mark! Did you get any snow last night? It looks like we got a little bit out there...

Morning, Mark! It's going to 71F here today! 71F! I want winter!! Good thing I'm far enough away that you can't slap me, right?! On the bright side, it's Wednesday, which means we are already half way through the week. Hoping that today is kind to you.

-BEATRIZ EUGENIA NARVAEZ PALACIOS

^Wow! This is creepy but I like it. Is this how it feels being surrounded by warblers?

Happy Hump Day! I am working my day off again this week. Ka-Ching!! Just a few more days...

I should wrap up Being Mortal. I can not recommend this one high enough. It has so much to say about getting old and facing death, which of course we are all sliding toward. Might as well go down swinging, right? I am also still enjoying A Brief History of the Dead.

Wow! Aren't I Mr. Sunshine, this morning!

>52 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! Aw, shucks! I don't think I'll get to both books before April.

>53 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I do not think we got much snow. Maybe a coating on the grass. Whew!

>54 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! I would never ever slap my pal! Only hugs, my friend. Enjoy the warmth!

Um...that is pretty creepy. I forgot to mention that I started Brown Girl Dreaming on audio yesterday - checked it out on your recommendation, and it is very good so far. I love that the author is reading it herself.

>57 Crazymamie: Oh, that is great, Mamie! It is such a special book. And yes, Woodson did a wonderful job narrating it. Enjoy! Men We Reaped is the darker version.

>55 msf59: Wow. That's so wrong. Especially the hand.

Hey Mark! Glad I stopped in and was reminded of the Wolf Hall mini series. I just inked it in on my calendar!
Have a great Hump Day!

>59 lunacat: Oh geez, I didn't even notice the hand until you said that, Jenny! Now I can't stop seeing it.

Yay for Brown Girl Dreaming!

Wow! Aren't I Mr. Sunshine, this morning! Somehow you manage to be Mr. Sunshine even when describing the darkest books. It's a talent, my friend.

I finally remembered to post that illustration of Nao from The Nao of Brown I told you about. It's over on my thread.

Great to have the elevated temps out there. Hope it's a smooth one for you today.

I finished Bird Box last night. At first I was mad...then I calmed down and thought about it and I was still mad! Haha! It does indeed stick with you. Now I don't know what to do with my rating........

ETA: I'll probably read Wolf Hall during December to follow along with the BAC challenge schedule.

Next up for Mr. Sunshine:

The Dead
Being Dead
Call For the Dead

Snickers...

>59 lunacat: That is a very creepy hand, Jenny.

>60 Carmenere: I am glad the series is coming out, Lynda. It gives me a chance to finally read the damn book. LOL.

>61 rosalita: Creepy Hand! Creepy Hand!

>62 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! A little chillier out here today but I am still not complaining.
I will have to stop by and see the Nao illustration.

>63 jolerie: Sorry, to hear the frustration with Bird Box, Valerie. I was expecting it, so it did not surprise me as much.

So at what part in Turing's life does The Imitation Game end? I know that the government treated Turing very poorly about his sexuality, convicting him for indecency, and he committed suicide soon after. I really don't want to watch the movie if it includes that.

>64 msf59: Heh.

I'm joining Mr. Sunshine in the dead books ~ at least Being Mortal and The Brief History of the Dead, both of which sound like they should put me directly in a tailspin of depression, but maybe not, considering I adored Stiff.

Hope your weather doesn't tank and you finish out a warmish (for Chicago) week. (We got hit by a snowstorm this morning. About 3 inches so far, and it's still snowing. Brrrrrr!)

^ Atul Gawande

I finished Being Mortal and it was excellent. Gawande did a terrific job in every way. It sure opened my eyes up. Everyone that is going to die and yes, that is everyone, should read this book! Actually, it should be taught in every school. If you want Big Boy Reviews, check out Darryl's and Joe's. Both of these men nailed it!

>66 Morphidae: Hi Morph! Yes, Turing's later life is covered briefly in The Imitation Game. It shows him during his prosecution but his death is off screen. He was only 42. I think it will be safe for you.

>67 Storeetllr: Yah, the Mr. Sunshine Book Club! Neither of those books are depressing. Of course, Being Mortal has it's sad moments. It is dealing with death and suffering, but the overwhelming compassion keeps it afloat and riveting.
And I agree, Stiff was a hoot!

I saw Gawande talking about Being Mortal on The Daily Show and thought it sounded like an important book. You've made me bump it up on my TBR list, Mark.

The Brief History of the Dead is one of my absolute favorites. Looking forward to your thoughts on that one.

Damn it Mark, stop reading books that need to be read by me. :) Boom, headshot.

>69 porch_reader: Thanks, Amy! I must have missed Gawande on The Daily Show, but I just watched it and it is very good. Hope you can find time to read the book.

**If anyone is interested here is the link for Atul Gawande on The Daily Show:

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/hz2xb6/atul-gawande

I did not realize Gawande also wrote The Checklist Manifesto, which I had on my To-Read list a couple years ago. Has anyone read that one?

>70 mahsdad: Sorry, about the headshot, Jeff. My bad! I have read some terrific NF this year. This one might be tied with Blood and Thunder.

I should finish The Brief History of the Dead tomorrow. It's been fun.

I listened to The Checklist Manifesto on audio a couple of years ago. It's a very practical book with lots of interesting examples from healthcare as well as other industries.

>72 msf59: You are most definitely not sorry, and neither am I. I love that I am able to get my horizons broadened by this wonderful group. Carry On!

Sweet Thursday! 3 more work days. I plan on finishing The Brief History of the Dead today. On audio, I started Broken Homes. An early FF title. It has been a year since I read book 3. What?? Thanks to Mamie for the nudge.



^Pale Fire is the Audible Daily Deal. I snagged it. I wonder if this will work on audio. Any fans?

>73 porch_reader: Thanks, Amy! I will place The Checklist Manifesto back on the To-Read list. BTW- It is nice seeing you over here.

>74 mahsdad: "You are most definitely not sorry, and neither am I." At least we got that cleared up, Jeff. LOL.

Morning, Mark! I'm not usually up early enough to catch you before you go to work.

Hope it's a good day for you!

Definitely agree that everyone should read Being Mortal. Such an important book.

>77 katiekrug: Wow! Look at the early riser! Happy Thursday, Katie! Have you read Pale Fire?

>78 lunacat: I agree, Jenny! Did you watch the Daily Show clip?

Happy Thursday Mark,

shesh this was hard work now. My laptop was misbehaving for the past week+ and now I am having a hard time catching up.

However, thanks for several BB's. I have put Through the Woods, The Brief History of the Dead and Kinski on my WL. Men We Reaped is already on.

I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the film Imitiation Game. As you may remember, I also thought it was absolutely brilliant.

>64 msf59: So, they are up next? Great title selection, Mark - LOL

>76 msf59: Interesting that you do have "daily deals" on audible. I am registered with audible.co.uk and audible.de and we don't have them. Also, we do have regular other offers. I would have been interested in Pnin, also I do have this one as a "proper" book.

In regards to GN's have you started already on the Saga Volume 1 series? Absolutely brilliant. Read in one go, whilst waiting for my mom at the doctors.

Morning, Mark! I've got Being Mortal sitting on the shelf behind me just waiting... I'm excited to get to it!

I have not read Pale Fire. I've not read any Nabokov - bad Katie!

>71 msf59: Thanks for the Daily Show link for Gawande and Being Mortal. So not only Mark, Darryl, Joe, Jenny and other LTers are calling the book terrific, but Jon Stewart, too. That should inspire folks, What a wonderful human being Gawande is. Now I want to read his Checklist Manifesto.

>80 drachenbraut23: I'm with Bianca; the Saga graphic novel series is brilliant. I know you agree, Mark. Now Debbi's hooked on it.

Not bad out here, this fine Thursday. I just wish we would get a hard cleansing rain to wash away all the dirt and grime that is coating everything.

>80 drachenbraut23: Hi, Bianca! Thanks for the thorough post. It looks like you got hit with some promising BBs!
No, I was only kidding about those "Dead" books, plus I think I have read them before.
I loved Pnin, which I think I read last year. I have read the first 3 Saga books, waiting on the 4th.

>81 scaifea: Looking forward to your thoughts on Being Mortal.

>82 katiekrug: I know some of my LT pals disagree, but I think Lolita, is a true classic. I loved Pnin too.

>83 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! One of my favorite things in The LT world is watching a book catch fire, like Being Mortal. Fortunately, we have a few of you, that can write a kickass review!
Glad to hear, Debbi is hooked on Saga. Yah!

>55 msf59:. Yikes! That's really bizarre. The first thing I noticed was the hand!

Well, it's in, Mark! Through the Woods is waiting for me at the library. I'll pick it up tomorrow morning after coffee with my friends. Tempted to read it during the Readathon on Saturday. *off to contemplate*

>71 msf59: I read The Checklist Manifesto. (Are you kidding me? It's about LISTS!) I gave it 8/10 stars. I don't have a micro-review as I wasn't writing them yet.

>82 katiekrug: While I didn't enjoy the story of Lolita that much (6/10 stars), I thought Nabokov a genius for making me feel sympathetic toward Humbert.

Cumberbatch played a rather limpid young American man in "August: Osage County" and did a decent job. The movie had a star studded cast, but I think Merryl Streep and Julia Roberts made the film. It did receive lukewarm reviews but I don't think it was because of the acting. I think it may have been because the movie was focused on a very dysfunctional matriarch and her family just after the patriarch's funeral. It's not the most uplifting movie by far, but I thought it was very well done, especially since it touched on many uncomfortable subjects.

I watched the first episode of Wolf Hall this morning. Very good, very realistic, a little difficult to follow at times but the wonderful details of costume etc more than made up for it. I'll be watching it again in the next couple of days to catch all the bits I missed and try and pay attention to the scheming a little more. So far so good.

^Hooray! I received my ER copy of Dead Wake today! Very cool. I am STILL waiting on my October win- Get in Trouble. Has anyone got their copy yet? If so, I could get a little pissed...

>85 connie53: Ooh, the hand! It sure is creepy, Connie!

>86 Carmenere: Hooray, for Through the Woods, Lynda! I am looking forward to your thoughts. I hope you will not be mad but very happy.

I won't be participating in the Readathon on Saturday, since I am working, but I will still be reading my butt off, as much as I can.

Hi Mark! You've convinced me to add Being Mortal to the ever growing WL. I do plan to participate in the National Readathon and I joined the BOTN team. WooHoo 4 hours of reading!

>87 Morphidae: Hi Morph! I am going to see if The Checklist Manifesto is available on audio. I am a Gawande fan now!

>88 cameling: Thanks, Caro! I will give "August: Osage County" a try and see for for myself. I started the Lotus-Eaters. Have you read that one?

>89 lunacat: That is good news, Jenny! I am looking forward to watching Wolf Hall in April. First the book...

>91 Cobscook: Hi Heidi! Yes, Being Mortal is worth all the warbling. I hope you can get to it. And enjoy that Readathon!

I think a mini group read of Wolf Hall in March sounds wonderful!!

I lost you somehow, but now you are found and starred again. : ) I wish I looked as good as your topper when I am reading a book!! LOL

>92 msf59: Definitely try to read the book first, or at the very least familiarise yourself with the characters and schemers involved. I think I'd have got thoroughly lost if I didn't know some of the story beforehand. Of course it didn't help that I wasn't paying it 100% of my attention.

A book about lists, by the Being Mortal guy, and Morphy liked it?! Wishlisted!

Morning, Mark!

Happy Friday! 2 more days. I remember The Lotus-Eaters was a hot title, around here, a few years ago and I missed the boat. Well, I started it and it is very good. I will give Bonnie the credit for the nudge.

I am also enjoying Broken Homes. Feels good to be back with Peter & the Gang. On the GN front, I started How to Be Happy. A quirky collection of stories, nicely illustrated.

>93 SuziQoregon: Sounds good, Juli! We'll have to remind each other.

>94 Berly: Now, how did that happen?? Well, I am glad to see you make an appearance. It always puts a smile on my face.

>95 lunacat: Great advice, Jenny! I look forward to finally getting to Wolf Hall.

^Is anyone participating in the big Readathon tomorrow? If so, what are you reading? I will be at work and could never squeeze in 4 hours of uninterrupted reading time but if you know me, I will be reading or listening whenever I can.

>96 scaifea: Morning Amber! I requested the audio of Checklist Manifesto from the library. It is only 5 cds. Yah!

I love how I'm always on your thread in the mornings at exactly the same time you are... Ha!

(It happened again - *snork!*)

>99 scaifea: I am such a routine guy, Amber! LOL. I usually squeeze in about 45 minutes of online time, with coffee and breakfast, before leaving for work, around 6:30. It soothes me...

Yep, me, too. I get up at 5am so that I have a good hour and a half for my cuppa and some LT time before Charlie gets up...

Hi, I'm early up, too, as you probably know. Many days my only posts are done in the morning. It is Friday and I have today and tomorrow with Instacart, and then a day to relax. I'm opening the clubhouse's library this Sunday and hope to get some focussed reading finished! Hope your Friday and Saturday are excellent!

>101 msf59: I do that too...unfortunately, it tends to make me a little rushed in leaving for the office. (And a lot of that is your fault, I'm just sayin'...no apologies necessary, however.)

Stopping by for a quick hi, Mark. You are such a fast reader and thread creator! I might just have picked up The Ballad of the Sad Cafe from a second hand bookstore. I'll have to double check , but maybe I will get to it sooner than later!

Good Morning and Happy Friday to you Mark

They keep saying the sun will come out, since yesterday morning and it still has not made an appearance. It is chilly!

>102 scaifea: I love my early morning time, Amber!

>103 maggie1944: Hope everything goes smoothly, Karen. Do you listen to anything while you commute?

>104 laytonwoman3rd: I am a very bad influence, Linda. Great to see you, my friend.

>105 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I hope you can join us on the McCullers. That is a shorty too!

>106 Whisper1: Happy Friday, Linda!

Jealous you got the Lusitania book already, Mark. I've got it on reserve at the library so, hopefully, it won't be too long.

Is the readathon just the one day? We're spending the day with my nephew who tends to get bored at all day swim meets. His sister has a 2-day meet in Wisconsin.

Happy Friday, Mark! It is a wee bit nippy out there, isn't it? They're promising upper 30s. We'll see.

Good for you for grabbing Checklist Manifesto. I'm a Gawande fan now, too. I've got my Helen Humphreys book up after I finish The Night Circus. I was reading it at the same time, but now TNC has got me plowing through the pages.

Happy Friday, Mark! I accidentally hit ignore to your threads, so just catching up now. I want to read Being Mortal, but it's hard to know when I will get to it. I did read Checklist Manifesto, which is good.

It is just a few more days until Fairest, the fourth book in the Lunar Chronicles is published. For some reason our public library got a couple of copies early and already has them out circulating.

I finished listening to Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar J. Mazzeo. My real life book discussion group has a Biography Book Talk day and I decided to use this title as my entry into the book talking. At this meeting everybody reads a biography of their choice and then gets to talk to the group about it for 10 minutes. I think that the subject of champagne is a good one for the beginning of the year.

I have now started on the first of the Longmire mysteries - Cold Dish by Craig Johnson. So far the TV shows have nailed the atmosphere and characters found in the book, so my admiration for the series has gone up another notch.

^Yes, it is Friday night! One more work day! Cheers!

>108 lindapanzo: See, Linda, if we were neighbors, I would place Dead Wake right into your hands. I am sure I won't be able to bookhorn it in, until later next month. I will pick it up and caress it on occasion, just to keep it warm.

>109 jnwelch: Happy Friday, Joe! Yes, it was nippy today. The sun just started to peek out, on my way home. Yah, for the Night Circus!

>110 banjo123: As long as it was an accident, Rhonda, it is okay. Hope you have a nice weekend planned.

>111 benitastrnad: Happy Friday, Benita! I am looking forward to Fairest, also. I'll be interested in hearing about the champagne book.

I LOVED The Cold Dish. I think I have read 6 in the series.

Mmmmmm beer. I have a Pliny, 2 Enjoy Bys, a Ballast Point Dorado DIPA and a Bootlegger's Knuckle Sandwich waiting for me in the car. I had a very successful shopping experience at lunch today. :)

Happy Weekend, or in your case, Weekend Eve.

>90 msf59: Dead Wake…you're not kidding us again, are you, Mark? You do seem to be in a bit of a morbid rut!

I would love to participate in tomorrow's readathon. We are taking daughter-in-law and family to a belated birthday lunch and then babysitting for Molly while they take Haley to see "Paddington"… Boo Hoo! I want to go, too!

^We watched American Sniper tonight. I liked it but did not love it, which is what I expected. I would give it 3 stars. It definitely doesn't deserve to be nominated, although Bradley Cooper was very good in the lead. I hope I don't receive "hate mail" from my friends on the "right".

I intended to read/listen to the book American Sniper a couple years ago. I still might check it out...

Right now, my 2 favorite films of 2014 are "Boyhood" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel".

I still want to see "Wild", "Selma", The Theory of everything & "Birdman"

>114 mahsdad: Ooh, Jeff! Looks like you have the perfect line-up for the weekend. Cheers, my friend!

>115 Donna828: "you're not kidding us again, are you, Mark? You do seem to be in a bit of a morbid rut!" I didn't even realize that, Donna. LOL! Yes, I did receive Dead Wake, but it might be awhile before I get to it.

Enjoy your day tomorrow, whatever you decide to do!

#116
My favorite film of 2014 was "Grand Budapest Hotel." It is very original and so well done.

I am listening to Wild and so far am not liking the main character very much at all. She is a self-pitying whiner and stupid to boot. Maybe she will get to be more likeable as the book moves on. I had no desire to see the movie of this book (I haven't seen a movie with Reece Witherspoon in it since the days of "Legally Blonde"and "Election" that I thought was worth the price of admission) the book isn't doing anything to increase my level of interest.

There will never be another Mr Cub. Very sad to hear about his death.

>10 msf59: lol! You mean it's nearly above freezing point!?

>71 msf59: I read The Checklist manifesto and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also Better and Complications are very good.

>102 scaifea: you get up at 5am!!! That is what I am doing wrong then.....

>118 benitastrnad: I have heard people say that Cheryl Strayed was a fool to go hiking on her own, by putting herself in a dangerous position etc. I reckon it was a great alternative to being a drug addict ;)

hi Mark! I am keeping cool here in the heat, and you are keeping warm in the cold. I guess its all ok then!

R.I.P.- Ernie Banks (1931-2015)

^We lost a Chicago sport's institution. Mr. Cub was a hero of mine, since I was a kid. I did get to watch him play at Wrigley a few times and I have an autograph around here somewhere.

Goodbye, Ernie!

Yay for one more work day, and then your weeks holiday, right?

Do you have anything fun planned for your time off, or will you simply revel in sitting indoors in the warm?

8 working hours and I will be wrapping up this Bad Boy! I am enjoying The Lotus Eaters, but due to various distractions, I am reading it slower than usual. I should finish up Broken Homes today. I really love Leslie's character. I hope she gets the "help' she needs.

>118 benitastrnad: Grand Budapest Hotel is such a good film. I loved it too! Sorry, "Wild"is such a drag for you. I've heard others mention these things too but I had no problem with any of it. I think it is a terrific book.

>119 lindapanzo: I heard that this morning too, Linda! What a sad loss. I never heard a bad word about that man.

>120 LovingLit: Good to see you, Megan! Glad you enjoyed The Checklist manifesto. I will get to that one in the coming months. Our winter weather has been fairly mild for January, with little snow, so there are no complaints out of me. And Spring is just around the corner!
Thanks for standing up for "Wild"!

>122 lunacat: Happy Saturday, Jenny! It will be a stay home vacation, which is perfectly fine with me. I hope to make a few lunch dates with some relatives, putter around the homestead and get LOTS of reading in.

>121 msf59: What sad news to wake up to this morning, Mark. Ernie Banks was one of a kind. The world is poorer for his passing. How lovely that you had a chance to see him play in person, and get his autograph!

That is sad news about Ernie Banks; I read about his death on ESPN earlier this morning.

Have a good weekend, Mark!

Hi Mark, Saturday is almost half gone here (it's 2.30 p.m.)

Wishing you a very relaxing weekend with lots of good reading.

When I told people last night that Ernie died, everyone knew who I meant. Everyone was talking as though a family member died. In some ways, that's true. At some point, we had all met him and his always sunny disposition etched itself into memory.

I saw him play at least a dozen times and met him many times at the ballpark and other locales.

Whenever I go to a game or anywhere else and the weather is terrible, I always think: "Ernie would say it's a beautiful day, let's play two."

Not shabby out here today, with the sun trying to peek through...

>124 rosalita: I agree, with your thoughtful comments on Mr. Cub, Julia. He will be missed.

>125 kidzdoc: Happy Saturday, Darryl. We will miss one of baseball's greats!

>126 connie53: Thanks, Connie! I hope you having a very fine day, with your nose stuck in a book.

>127 lindapanzo: I love positive people, Linda and Banks was one of those special people. I had a feeling you would have seen him many times. One of my fondest childhood memories, are of those late '60s Cubbies!

Was I hallucinating, or did I see somewhere that you read Here by Richard McGuire? If so, what did you think? I almost bought it in Iowa, but it was too expensive. I really want to check it out.

Oh, and I picked up a couple Enjoy Bys (2/14/15) in Iowa City and had one last night. Delicious!

Hi Kerri! You were not hallucinating, my friend. I did read Here and it was very good. What a mighty big undertaking.
Glad to hear about the latest Enjoy By. I am going to stop by Binnys later on. Hope they have some.

We loved The Grand Budapest Hotel.

I didn't remember you'd read Here. I'm trying to get it from the library. Good to hear you liked it. Sure sounds interesting.

Not bad out there today, right? We were out with Becca and her furry sidekick a little while ago. Hope you have a great rest of the weekend, buddy.

^Well, I think I've earned a couple of these!



^^Yeah, baby!!

Good for you, Mark. Enjoy!!

Enjoy Mark!!!

Hurrah for a holiday!

Do you mean Sunday is vacation time - or are you actually on holidays? I hope you have some time off - though the weather is not the best. Thanks for the American author's push - I've just started The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Happy Sunday! Just poured my second cup and I am ready for a little LT Time. Nothing planned for the day, other than laundry and food shopping, which should leave me large chunks of time for R & R. The Lotus Eaters continues to read slow but it is me not the book. It is quite good and she is a strong, vivid, writer. I hope to spend quality time with it today.

>131 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Missed you up there. Yes, I am neglecting mentioning my GNs again. Bad Mark. Here was quite good, in a very unique way. I will try to put together some thoughts on it later. How to Be Happy has been very interesting too.

>133 lindapanzo: >134 Berly: >135 lunacat: Thanks, my friends. I am looking forward to it. The winter has been fairly mild, so vacation isn't quite the oasis, it was last year, but it will still feel good.

>136 vancouverdeb: Morning, Deb! Yes, I am off this coming week, so my vacation has started. I am so glad you are attending the AAC. Grins...I plan on putting up the Henry James thread today or tomorrow.

Oh, I really loved The Lotus Eaters, Mark! Good Sunday Morning to you! And hooray for vacation!

Morning Mamie! Is The Lotus Eaters her first novel? If so, that is a mighty debut. I am only a 100 pages in but I am impressed.

Yep - it was her first novel. I really liked her writing.

I have not heard much about her other 2 books. I will have to explore. I can't imagine her only having one terrific book in her.

Happy Vacation, Mark!!

^^FF is on the air! Grab your sword and laser, stop by, drop a star and tell us what your plans are for this busy busy month:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/187066

Enjoy your vacation week, Mark! I hope lots of beer and books are in our future.

>142 scaifea: >144 rosalita: Thanks, Amber & Julia! Looking forward to a relaxing week. Of course, beer & books will be on the menu.

A week off! Go, Mark! Beer and books = a little bit of heaven. Cheers!

Does The Night Circus count for FF? I loved it - good call.

Now I'm caught up in Coventry, by the author of The Frozen Thames, Helen Humphreys.

We're off to see them Bulls soon. They seem to be back on track, and thank goodness, Noah is back. He makes a big difference for them.

Morning Joe! I have The Frozen Thames on my To-Read list. I know several of my LT pals are fans of hers.

Sure you can count the Night Circus for FF. I am glad you liked it. Have a good time at the game. Go Bulls!

I haven't read The Lotus Eaters yet, but I have it in my TBR Tower. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it.

I haven't seen the 'American Sniper' movie but some friends did and their didn't think it was great either, so I'll probably hold off and watch it maybe on a plane during one my trips or wait to Netflix it.

"After all the wars he covered, this place spoke to him. The quality of light on young American faces in this ancient land that was by turns beautiful and horrific. He had found his war."

-The Lotus Eaters

>148 cameling: Happy Sunday, Caro! I am really enjoying The Lotus Eaters. It sure seems like your cuppa and I would have thought for sure, you would have read it.
I liked American Sniper well enough. I just didn't think it was as good as it could have been. Of course, my "righty" pals, think it was a GREAT film.

Happy Sunday, Mark. Sorry, no photo this weekend due to my busy RL.

>130 msf59: Glad to see you liked Here! I will definitely check it out. I thought the art looked gorgeous when I flipped through it at the story.

Yay for vacation!

Food shopping done: Check!

Laundry nearly complete: Check!

Book Reading: In progess..

>150 Ameise1: No photo, Barb? Awwwwwwwww....Happy Sunday, my friend.

>151 DorsVenabili: I had no problem getting Here from the library, so I am sure you will have no problem landing a copy. I've been reading How to Be Happy, which also a unique, inventive GN.

Yay for the checks, and isn't book reading always in progress? I dread to think what would happen if it was 'nearly complete' with no prospect of more!

>153 lunacat: "isn't book reading always in progress?" Excellent point, Jenny! I just have to stop taking LT breaks. LOL.

No! You mustn't stop taking LT breaks! I mean, I get so many great reading ideas (i.e., BBs) from you, I don't know what I'd do if you stayed away from LT for too long. :)

Happy Sunday and happy First Day of Vacation! wOOt!

Happy vacation!

Hi Mark, happy Sunday. Is this a staycation? Looks like a good week for it.

Bulls flubbed the dub against the Heat, but we still had fun. I think you'll like Helen Humphreys when you get to her.

I'm reading a Captain Marvel GN, the forerunner of Ms. Marvel, and it's actually pretty good. More plot than I expected.

^We watched the film "Wild" this afternoon. It was a good adaptation, with a terrific performance by Reese Witherspoon. She ended up being perfectly cast as Strayed.

>155 Storeetllr: Happy Sunday, Mary! You know I will always make LT- Time, my friend. Got to spread the joy and receive some. It is my fuel.

>156 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda! It was about a year ago, that I was in Portland. I hope to do it again next year.

>157 lindapanzo: It is a staycation, Linda, which is perfectly fine with me. I have a couple lunch dates set up and not much else.

>158 jnwelch: Sorry about the Bulls, flub, Joe! It sounds like you had a good time anyway. Captain Marvel sounds interesting. I'll be watching for your thoughts.

>159 msf59: eeeuurrgghghh! I cannot wait to see that :)

> 161 >159 msf59: Does look very good - But am terrible at getting to films still haven't made it to Imitation game - maybe tonight

Popping in to say Hi! I would love to see Strayed! As soon as I have more free time....And a Portland trip would be much appreciated. : )

>161 LovingLit: Of course, it isn't as good as the book, but they still did a good job capturing the feel of the memoir and Witherspoon's presence was a big plus.

>162 roundballnz: Good to see you, Alex! The Imitation Game was also very good.

>163 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! I would love to see Strayed in person too! Hard to believe it has been nearly a year since my Portland visit. I hope to do it again next year.

There are some really good adaptations on at the moment Mark. Wild and The Imitation Game will hopefully force me to read the books first before the films hit Malaysia. We have had Gone Girl and Before I Go to Sleep and I enjoyed the ridiculous Mortdecai on Saturday despite not remembering it being at all like Don't Point That Thing at Me which it was based upon.

Have a great week buddy.

#90: A new Erik Larson book?! I love his books, so this one is definitely going into the BlackHole, I do not care what the topic is.

Oh, I love Reece Witherspoon, but I need to read the book first!
Also, I hope you had a lovely Sunday afternoon of reading - I know I sure did, with a nice nap thrown in there, too!

What else is on the books for your vacation?

125 messages in 6 days. I absolutely cannot keep up.

But, happy Monday! Hope you have a good day, Mark.

I love being off Mondays and especially ones that kick off a vacation. Ahhhhhh....sweet. Almost nothing on the agenda for the day, so you know what means? Me & the books!

I plan on reading a healthy chunk of the Lotus Eaters and I will do my best to fight the fierce magnetic pull of my laptop. I might also try to listen to an audio, while home, which I rarely do but I am going to give it a go. I started Wolf in White Van on Saturday and it is fantastic. More on that later...

>165 PaulCranswick: There seems to be a lot of film adaptations going on right now, including Unbroken, (did you ever read this?) and American Sniper.

Boyhood remains my favorite film of 2014. Has it been shown there yet?

>166 alcottacre: Great to see you Stasia! I am with you: Whatever Larson writes- I am in!

>167 scaifea: Morning Amber! I am glad Witherspoon was cast in "Wild". She was perfect. Did you know that Nick Horny was one of the producers and wrote the screenplay?
My week off, is completely open. I have a few lunch dates and the rest of the time will be dates with BOOKS! I also have the ALA lined up for Saturday.
Hooray!! More BOOKS!

>168 karenmarie: Morning Karen! Yes, these people keep coming over here and posting. The nerve!! I hope you have a good day too!

Morning Mark! "Me & the books" What a great way to kick off your vacation! Enjoy, my friend, you've certainly earned it!

Hi Mark! I managed to get to third thread, which isn't really so bad considering how much goes on around here!

I hope you're enjoying your vacation - I can't wait to find out what you'll be reading.

>170 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! I plan on enjoying this vacation. How much snow did you get? We only got about an inch or so. Whew!

>171 Dejah_Thoris: Great to see you, Dejah! I'll try to slow it down around here, so you will come back to visit. Smiles...

For a chunk of the week, I will be reading and hopefully finishing the Lotus Eaters and slipping in a GN here and there.

Yeah, we really dodged one with the weather, didn't we? Phew. Looks like our eastern friends are going to get hit hard.

I'm enjoying The Rosie Effect, the sequel to The Rosie Project, and after liking Coventry a lot, I'm starting another Helen Humphreys, The Lost Garden. Hope you enjoy The Lotus Eaters and your other reading.

>169 msf59: Sort of interested in Wolf in White Van, so looking forward to your thoughts! How's the audio version?

Hi Mark! Wow. It took me some time to read all the new posts.

Happy Vacation, Enjoy the Books and the Beers. I hope you have a fabulous time.

We rec'd about 3-3 1/2 inches. Which doesn't seem like all that much but we still have snow cover, about 2 inches, and we are just sick and tired of it! boo hoo, boooo hoo hoo hoo hoo. *runs for kleenex*

^Wolf in White Van is my current audio and I am trying to find bits of time, to listen to it, while at home. Yes, it is that good. Here is a brief description:

" Isolated by a disfiguring injury since the age of seventeen, Sean Phillips crafts imaginary worlds for strangers to play in. From his small apartment in southern California, he orchestrates fantastic adventures where possibilities, both dark and bright, open in the boundaries between the real and the imagined. As the creator of “Trace Italian”—a text-based, role-playing game played through the mail—Sean guides players from around the world through his intricately imagined terrain, which they navigate and explore, turn by turn, seeking sanctuary in a ravaged, savage future America."

I am thinking of it as a mash-up of Wonder/Ready Player One, which is a fascinating mix. I am finding it hypnotic.

John Darnielle also narrates it himself and he is doing a good job. For you adventuresome music lovers, Darnielle is the lead singer, for the band The Mountain Goats.

>173 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Looking forward to your thoughts on The Rosie Effect. I think I have that one saved on audio. Loved the first one.

^Check out my comments on Wolf in White Van, my current audio.

>174 DorsVenabili: I think the audio is very good, read by Darnielle himself. Are you a fan of The Mountain Goats. I have heard them awhile ago but I remember liking what I heard.

>175 connie53: Hi, Connie! Going through my posts, does count as reading, so it is a Win/Win. LOL. Hope you have a good week.

>176 Carmenere: I feel your pain, Lynda. Most of our snow had melted away before this last little bit. I think our snow total for the season is 10-12 inches, which is very light. We had nearly 40 inches last year at this time. Ugh! That was awful.

Happy vacation my friend! I know you will spend it doing what you love best. Nose in a book and mouth on a beer. ;)

I will definitely check to see what fantasy I have lined up for February!

I thought I was the only one who had come across Wolf in White Van ..... though I have the book not audio, do think they are a different experience

>178 msf59: I'm actually not very big on the Mountain Goats (his voice makes me want to poke my eyes out), but I really like the idea that the dude from the Mountain Goats wrote a novel and people think it's really good. Good for that guy! Also, the premise intrigues me.

>179 jolerie: "Nose in a book and mouth on a beer." You know me so well, Valerie. LOL.

Looking forward to hear what you have lined up for FF!

>180 roundballnz: Hi, Alex! I remember hearing about Wolf in White Van as soon as it came out and I was immediately intrigued. This will not be a book for everyone but I think it will really click for some. The audio is working well. I am sure the print version, will work just as good.

"his voice makes me want to poke my eyes out." Kranky Kerri! Kranky Kerri! LOL.

If you try it, either on audio or print, I think you will know very quickly if this is your "thing". Like, I said to Alex, this one will not work for everybody. My only disadvantage, is, I have never been much a "gamer".

>178 msf59: LOL, yes you could say that. Maybe I should print every thread, bind them into a book and count them as a ROOT.

Now, you got the idea, Connie! You will now be able to add dozens more to your reading totals. LOL.

Some of these threads are just as entertaining as a good book!

Happy vacation, Mark!
Is Chicago supposed to get much from this storm? I am happy to be in Ontario and not the Maritimes. Looks like Boston is going to end up with a couple feet!

>177 msf59: And another one goes on the list. This sounds really good

Plus I've gotnto read Wonder, which was already on my list

>186 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! Vacation is going along very smoothly. The storm did not bother us in the least. We got maybe an inch or so. Yes, I feel bad for the folks on the East Coast.

>187 mahsdad: Wonder is excellent, Jeff. Have you read Ready Player One? It is also a Must Read. It was the Martian of 2011, IMHO.

Oh yeah, RP1 was excellent. read/listened to it at least twice.

Rumor has it he's working on a sequel

I heard that too, Jeff. Ready Player 2?? Very cool and a film is in the works. Sweet!

The Henry James thread is up. Come on by and let us know what you plan to read. Who can go 2 for 2?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/187114

I loved both Boyhood and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Have you seen Jake Gyllenhall in Nightcrawler? He should have been nominated for an Oscar. Really creepy.

>192 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie! Good to see you. I have not seen Nightcrawler. I will put it on the list. You will also like The Imitation Game, if you haven't seen it already.

Any Henry James on shelf?

>186 ChelleBearss: Boston and Manhattan, where my daughter lives, is looking like they are in for a real snow storm, with wind and thunder and lots of snow. I saw on the news that most of the grocery stores were sporting empty shelves. I just hope everybody out that way stays safe.

On the other hand, I'm wearing a glove. No, wait, not today, that's for sure. We here in Denver are experiencing a real heat wave. It got up to 71F today in downtown, and I went for a walk in the sun wearing a short sleeved top, with Nickel perched happily on my shoulder! Crazy!

^"The Fall is a BBC crime drama television series set in Northern Ireland. The series stars Gillian Anderson as Superintendent Stella Gibson, a senior police officer investigating a string of murders in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan plays the serial killer she is pursuing."

We started watching this one and we are hooked. Great cast. We are 4 episodes in. Has anyone else checked it out? It looks like the 2nd season has already aired in Ireland.

>195 msf59: regarding crime series, we are hooked on Wallendar, the swedish version! It is so original,, and the character development is wonderful.

I hope you are not getting a whallop of snow. The weather people cannot decide what is in store for us tonight or tomorrow. I do not envy you having to drive around in this mess.

>191 msf59: Off to check out the Henry James thread. I got my first McCullers read (and loved) but not the second one I was hoping to fit in. So it goes ...

I am glad to hear that you liked the movie Wild. I have heard mixed things, and Mrs. Banjo is reluctant to see it because she loved the book. But I really want to see it!

>182 msf59: It looks brilliant, definitely in the i had to buy camp .....

>195 msf59: Mr SandDune watched both series of 'The Fall' and loved it. I only watched the first one, but it wasn't really for me: a bit too menacing somehow.

#178: Adding Wolf in White Van to the BlackHole. It sounds right up my alley! Thanks, Mark.

Morning, Mark!

“Reading was my escape and my comfort, my consolation, my stimulant of choice: reading for the pure pleasure of it, for the beautiful stillness that surrounds you when you hear an author's words reverberating in your head.”

― Paul Auster, The Brooklyn Follies (I have not read it. I've done badly reading Auster)



^ "Love of books" oil on canvas, Anna Sponer

Good morning Mark! Wishing you another fabulous vacation day!

Morning Mr Vacation Man! I'll mention The Fall to the hubsters. Like >196 Whisper1: he's hooked on Wallendar. He also enjoys Lilyhammer . Have a great day!

Happy Tuesday! I hope my friends on the East Coast are surviving. The reports sound brutal. Sending positive vibes...

I am enjoying The Lotus Eaters and read a nice chunk yesterday. This is not a fast read. It is languidly paced but it does keep me coming back for more.

I am having lunch with my Aunt today. She lives far west of here, so I plan on getting some listening in, on the drive. Curious to see where Wolf in the White Van takes me.

>194 Storeetllr: Wow! It sounds like you guys are enjoying some terrific weather, Mary. I hope it continues.

>196 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! I do not think I've seen the Swedish version of the Wallander series. I did enjoy the Kenneth Branagh one. I will have to check it out.

And no, these storms have been bypassing the Chicago area. Smiles...

>197 rosalita: Glad to see you joining us for the Henry James. He has a variety of good stuff to choose from. Have you read him before?

>198 banjo123: "Wild" is not perfect. I was expecting a bit more, but Witherspoon makes it work. And that scenery is to die for.

>199 roundballnz: I'll be watching for your thoughts once, you get to it, Alex. Have you heard The Mountain Goats?

Not wasting a moment of your vacation, are you? That's what I like to see! Enjoy your drive, and your lunch with your Aunt. I may have to check out The Fall. Do you find it hard to follow the dialogue? I had a bit of trouble with that in the Jackson Brodie adaptations, but I concentrated on his lips when necessary. Ahem.

>200 SandDune: Good to see you, Rhian. I am glad to hear that Mr. SandDune enjoyed The Fall. The serial killer thing has gotten so tired but they do manage to give it a fresh spin. The actor playing the killer is doing a, well..... "killer" job!

>201 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia! I am really enjoying Wolf in White Van but this one will not for everyone.

>202 scaifea: Morning Waves & Hugs to Amber!

>204 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers! This will be a very relaxing vacation. A recharge, before the last leg of winter.

>205 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! I think your DH, will like The Fall and the 2nd season should be broadcast here, in the near future.

Morning, Mark! I am off to check out the Henry James thread - you know what I'll be reading, LOL!

>207 laytonwoman3rd: No, moments wasted, Linda! And the TV stays off until the wife gets home in the evening. As far as watching The Fall, I do not find it to difficult to follow. Unfortunately, we can not put the captioning on, while we are watching Netflix streaming, which really stinks.
I have also had a tough time with heavy dialects.

>209 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! I am so glad you are giving Portrait of a Lady a try. It really is an excellent book and easy to read.

Happy Vacation Mark! I am home on a snow day so catching up on the threads. You can have some of our snow if you want. I am happy to ship it to Chicago. Can you believe they actually cancelled mail delivery in my area??? I don't remember that ever happening before.

You got me with Wolf in White Van as I LOVED both Wonder and Ready Player One.

>211 Cobscook: That's the same reaction I had - Wonder + Ready Player One = liking Wolf in White Van? Onto the wishlist it goes!

Good morning, Mark! Yeah, that Wonder + Ready Player One formula got me, too, so I'll take a look at Wolf in White Van. I'm quite near the end of The Rosie Effect and really getting a kick out of it.

>177 msf59: I put it in my Maybe collection. It might be too weird or dark for me but it intrigues me.

The Jaguar's Children comes out today. Here is a description:

"Héctor is trapped. The water truck, sealed to hide its human cargo, has broken down. The coyotes have taken all the passengers’ money for a mechanic and have not returned. Those left behind have no choice but to wait.
Héctor finds a name in his friend César’s phone. AnniMac. A name with an American number. He must reach her, both for rescue and to pass along the message César has come so far to deliver. But are his messages going through?

Over four days, as water and food run low, Héctor tells how he came to this desperate place. His story takes us from Oaxaca — its rich culture, its rapid change — to the dangers of the border. It exposes the tangled ties between Mexico and El Norte — land of promise and opportunity, homewrecker and unreliable friend. And it reminds us of the power of storytelling and the power of hope, as Héctor fights to ensure his message makes it out of the truck and into the world."

This is John Vaillant's first novel and it sounds great. I loved his NF book, The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival. If you missed that one, do yourself a BIG favor and pick it up.

>211 Cobscook: Yah, for a snow day, Heidi! And save the shipping costs. We do not need snow but thanks for the kind offer.

In all the years, I have been a carrier, we did not deliver mail, maybe 2 or 3 times, tops.

>212 lunacat: Did you read both of those, Jenny?

>213 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I did mention that winning formula in my brief description of Wolf in White Van up there. I am glad I repeated it, since it does a good job luring potential readers.
And yah, for The Rosie Effect!

>214 Morphidae: I try to a put a disclaimer, along with my warbling, Morph. I can see some folks being turned off by Wolf in White Van. I think most people will be able to tell, within 20-30 pages if this one will work or not, for them.

>216 msf59: Yup, read and loved both of them!

That's my, Jenny! Very fine taste!!

Off to see dear Auntie...

I'm glad you're enjoying a nice vacation so far, Mark... and you guys are missing a grand storm for a change. :-)

>195 msf59: I just heard about this yesterday! It sounds interesting, and I may check it out.

Hi Mark! I finally made it over to your third thread. I don't know why I thought I'd immediately be able to keep up with all my LT starred threads starting in January. The number of posts I'm behind on is overwhelming.

I wanted to thank you for the AAC. I didn't participate last year but I finally read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter this month and am so glad I did. I also have a copy of Portrait of a Lady on my shelves which I will try in February. It's very satisfying to read books you already own and discover you love them!

Thanks for the heads up on John Vaillant's new book. I also have his book on The Tiger and need to get to that.

Hope you thoroughly enjoy your vacation. Aren't they wonderful?

Hope you're enjoying your vacation Mark.

We'll have to check out The Fall - sounds like our type of show.

I'm looking forward to the new season of The Americans starting this week.

I'm on the waiting list at the library for The Jaguar's Children.

^SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! If there is anyone interested in attending Booktopia Petoskey, registration opens Thursday at noon ET. This will be the final Booktopia, (fingers crossed, they reboot it at some point). This will go FAST! Vermont sold out in 2 minutes. Wish me luck!

I had a great time with KAK, in Asheville and I would sure LOVE to see more LTers attend Booktopia. Like, I've said before, these events are tailor-made for us, much more than the Good Readers, no offense, oh lesser ones.

ETA: Sorry, I forgot to mention- Booktopia Petoskey is at the end of September.

>219 cameling: Hi Caro! How you surviving out there on the East Coast, my friend? You've been in my thoughts. And yes, vacation has been grand. I just cracked open my first beer...of the day, of course.

>220 DorsVenabili: The serial killer tropes have gotten so damn tired but they do take this in interesting directions. We are only halfway through The Fall but it has been very good.

>221 phebj: "Be still, my beating heart..." Is that truly, Pat? It is not a mirage is it? Great to see you, stranger. It's interesting, that about one year ago, we met in Portland and had a terrific time at the Meet-Up. I hope to do it again next year.

I am so glad you enjoyed the McCullers. Were you able to stop by the AAC thread and leave a comment? Also the Henry James thread is up and running.

>222 SuziQoregon: I am having a terrific vacation, Juli! Thanks. I am sure you will enjoy The Fall. Let me know if you start it. Sadly, we have never watched The Americans but I am having lunch with my cousin tomorrow and he has the first season on DVD. Yesssssss!!!

The couple reviews I've heard of The Jaguar's Children are extremely positive. This could be a keeper!!

>224 msf59: - oh yay for the DVD of season one of The Americans - we binged watched it just before season two started last year. It's an amazing show. Glad you'll be able to start watching it.

>224 msf59: Mark, you're right about it being a year ago. I remember meeting on Saturday, February 1st 2014. I'm actually hoping to make another one this year if it gets organized. We're not that far from Portland plus my brother-in-law lives there and then of course there's always the lure of the coast.

I forgot to mention that I also need to get to Wolf Hall and hopefully Bring Up the Bodies before the BBC series airs. Let me know when you plan to start. Maybe we can get a bunch of people to do it together.

>225 SuziQoregon: I remember The Americans getting very good reviews but no one I knew, gave me a nudge, until recently. I am looking forward to it and the timing is good, since I am watching very little, as far as series TV goes.

>226 phebj: I plan on returning to Oregon next year, Pat. Probably, when it is a bit warmer. April, maybe?

A few of us are going to read Wolf Hall in March. Hope you can join us.

I dowloaded The Jaguar's Children from the library today Mark. I have lots of books I want to get to, as always, but maybe I'll make room for that one sooner than later, only because I thought The Tiger was really great. I know this kind of thing is right up your alley, but people suffering in general isn't really the kind of thing I like reading about... so yeah, I'll give it a try, but won't guarantee I'll finish it unless it's really really gripping me.

eta: fixed touchstone.

Hi Mark, it's great to read that you are getting some well deserved vacation time. I came down with the flu over the weekend and really haven't been doing much of anything except sleeping and reading. I am very envious of you obtaining a copy of Dead Wake and I'll be watching for your comments. I too am looking forward to eventually reading The Jaguar's Children as I loved the non-fiction book of his that I read. And of course you caught my attention with Wolf in White Van. I am now going to head over to both the FF thread and the Henry James thread and check in there.

>223 msf59: Good luck tomorrow, Mark!!

I just finished reading the first Longmire novel Cold Dish by Craig Johnson and really enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading more of these.

Got my suitcase packed for Chicago last night. No room for my winter coat so am thinking I will bring a bigger suitcase as I don't want to traipse around airports with a coat in my arms. On-the-other-hand, I don't have that much to put in the larger size and don't want things to rattle around inside it. It's a dilemma.

Did you get your passes? I will be staying at the Travel Lodge downtown (a block from the Hilton along the park on Michigan Ave.) so will take the train in from O'Hara. I have your cell # - if it is still the same as last time. See you on Saturday.

>223 msf59: - I *so* wish I could go to Petoskey! It's right on top of our annual conference and a Board meeting so there is just no way... :(

I hope you get in! Did you see MDR is one of the authors in Manchester in May?

Mark, I hope you get into the Last Booktopia as our LT ambassador. I decided to pass on it and aim For the Iowa City Book Festival in October in hopes of meeting up with more 75ers. I love Michigan but dislike most resorts just on general principle.

Sounds like the Staycation is going well. Are you getting some of our balmy weather? Mid-sixties today and tomorrow; wintry mix this weekend.

"She closed the book quickly. This was the way she dealt with books now, plunging in and out of passages as if they were glacial rivers too cold to be endured long. She could not imagine reading a book from cover to cover, the idea of narrative old and quaint, like a tea cozy in this new fractured world."

-The Lotus Eaters

>228 Smiler69: Great to see you. Ilana. Hope you are feeling better. I am also looking forward to The Jaguar's Children. I always find it interesting when an author can bounce back and forth between fiction and NF.

>229 DeltaQueen50: Judy made it! Judy made it! Sorry, to hear about the flu. I hope you are recovering. My wife has had a bad sore throat for a few days, making her miserable. I am looking forward to Dead Wake & The Jaguar's Children.

>230 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers! Hugs!

>231 benitastrnad: I love the Longmire series, Benita! If you get a chance, try to listen to one or 2 on audio. They are excellent in that format.

We have not printed our passes yet but we will soon. Yes, that is my same cell #. We plan on getting there around noon or so, on Saturday. Have a safe trip.

>232 katiekrug: "wish I could go to Petoskey!" I wish you could too, my friend. I love being able to experience this event with an LT-pal(s). And yes, I did see that MDR was going to be in Manchester. That is a KILLER line-up. Maybe the best one yet!

>233 Donna828: Hi Donna! Petoskey is such a small town! It doesn't feel like a resort town. More quaint than that. I think you would love it.

No, mid-60s here, my friend. It might get close to 40 tomorrow, which is not bad for late January.

Good luck in trying to sign up tomorrow, Mark. Sounds tougher than trying to get Blackhawks playoff tickets.

>236 lindapanzo: I am so glad I am off tomorrow, otherwise I would have been S.O.L. I would have tried it on my iPad at work but it would have been clumsy. Katie signed me up for Asheville, which I am continually grateful for.

Sue is going too, so I have to reserve 2 spots.

I would sure love to see you make one of these events.

Mark, I hate to put a fly in the ointment but did they change the registration? I was considering it and so I signed up for their email. I found it, along with a link to the registration, and it says it is at 12 pm (eastern, aka 11 am central) on Jan 29.

Thanks, Linda! I thought a Good Reads friend of mine mentioned Wednesday, but I clearly must of goofed it up. Thanks, for sending me the link too. I will keep it handy.

Happy Hump Day, to my hard-working pals! And I hope it has eased up out there on the East Coast! Yikes! It has been in the mid-30s here, with lots of sunshine yesterday.
The only thing on the agenda today, is lunch with my cousin and then book time. Sounds absolutely grueling. I should finish up The Lotus Eaters and I hope to squeeze in a little audio time for Wolf in White Van.

"The title Wolf in White Van is a reference to backmasking in rock records, specifically the evangelical Christian scaremongering that if you played seemingly benign records backwards you'd hear all kinds of Satanic messages."

^^I did not know that this title referred to that practice. Did anyone else?

Hi Mark, I hope you have a great time. Waves

Happy Hump Day, Mark! Hope you're enjoying the well-deserved time off.

The Rosie Effect was a hoot, and now I'm a ways into First Frost, the sequel to Garden Spells. So far I'm having a good time with it.

>241 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Everything ha been going just about perfect.

>242 jnwelch: Looking Forward to The Rosie Effect, Joe. Sounds like another good one. I have still not read Allen. Even Sue has now read a couple of hers. I am biding my time, I guess.

Hi Mark. I'm eager to hear what you think about The Lotus Eaters since that's another book that's been sitting on my shelf for too long.

Enjoy your lunch and your book time!

Happy Wednesday Mark! I hope you are enjoying your time off. I'm just trying to squeeze in one last post before you start a new thread. ;)

I enjoyed my lunch with my cousin and since my favorite west suburban brewery, Solemn Oath was scant minutes away, I thought I would make an appearance.

OMG! I am glad I did.

#215. HI Mark, Have you read The Golden Spruce Vaillant's first non fiction book? I loved it and he does such a good job describing a very interesting character and a remote location in British Columbia too. We once went to a book talk by him and he was very charming! His new book looks like it's getting some great reviews.

Mark, my friend, I hope you are doing well. About a month ago we were happily scanning the shelves at Powell's and trying beers at... what was the name of that place? Whatever. They had beer. :-)

Have fun at the ALA events!

I am back home from "lunch". Yum! Now, it is time to finish The Lotus Eaters.

>244 phebj: Good to see you again, Pat! I am almost finished with The Lotus Eaters and I can safely say, pull it down off the shelf and READ IT!!

>245 jolerie: Hi, Valerie! I usually go closer to 300 posts on my thread, so you are plenty safe, my friend.

>246 msf59: Hi, Mary! I had never heard of The Golden Spruce, so thank you for the rec! It immediately made the To-Read list!

>247 mdoris: Ellen made it! Ellen made it! " About a month ago we were happily scanning the shelves at Powell's and trying beers at... " I think it was a year ago and the brewery was Deschutes. It's okay, my friend, if you decided to have a "few" at home today! LOL.

I don't know, Mark. Sometimes times flies by so quickly a year seems like a month. For example, I just brought my newborn daughter home from the hospital about a year ago, and she's turning 32 this coming April. How the heck did that happen??? :)

>251 msf59: Thanks for stopping by, Mary! I was getting lonely. LOL. Yes, my friend, time is slippery. My oldest will be 25 in March. Amazing!

Month, year. You know, something like that. LOL

:-)

>252 EBT1002: I am glad that was last year 'cuz if Mark had been here again last month and I had missed it I would have been @*!#$@.

Just saying.

Morning, Mark!

Glad you are enjoying your holiday! I'm very much finding The Heart is a Lonely Hunter a fascinating read. I'm about 50 % through the book, according to my kindle, so thank for the rec/ American Reader Challenge.

-"Winter Solstice" by Simon Palmer (wood engraving)

Here's a touch of fairy dust to help get you into Booktopia/Petoskey, Mark!
Looks like you're enjoying your vacation! Carry on, my friend.

Sweet Thursday, my compadres! The vacation is zipping right along. I wish I could slow it down a tad. Monday is looming and it has teeth and claws. No lunch dates today but I am going out to breakfast with the dear wife, since she starts work later today. I am then meeting friends for dinner, at a favorite suburban brewery. It has been grueling, I tell ya!

I did finish The Lotus Eaters. It was my longest book of the month and it did feel like it at times, but I still liked it. It is a good 4 star read. I just wish she would have picked up the pace, at certain points. She does capture the beauty and allure of Vietnam.

I am switching to a shorty, to end the month: Dept. of Speculation, which I've been hearing very good things about. Ilana recently warbled about it.

>252 EBT1002: Yes, whatever, my friend. I just hope we can Meet-Up sometime this year. Fingers crossed.

>253 Berly: I would not have overlooked you, Kimmers! You know me better than that.

>254 scaifea: Waves & Hugs to Amber!!

>255 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! Glad you are enjoying the McCullers. LTers seem to be the happiest with that one. I know it is my favorite.

psst! I was here >257 Carmenere: while you were typing. Did you get the fairy dust?

>259 Carmenere: I think we cross posted, Lynda! Good morning my friend and thanks for the fairy dust. I have reminder notes plastered around my laptop and I will be parked right here at 10:50am CT. I can't miss this one!

>256 msf59: Wow, that's stunning.

Good morning, Mark! Hope you're set to enjoy another staycation day. That sounds mighty good.

I'll be interested to hear what you think of Dept. of Speculation. Sounds like an unusual one.

I'm nearing the end of First Frost and liking it very much. I need to get back to The Lost Garden, which also started well.

Lots of work to do today. Boo!

>261 lunacat: Glad you liked it, Jenny! It caught my eye right away.

>263 msf59: I assume the lady means the blurb on the back cover in which case, nope, never that brave!

>258 msf59: I know. ; )

>263 msf59: LOL! Very rarely am I that brave.

Morning, Mark!

Good luck today, Mark.

>263 msf59: Depends on the author. If its one of my default authors (in other words, buy it as soon as you see it), then no, but usually yeah I'll read the blurbs. At least I'm not like my MIL who likes to read the end of a book first, so that she can relax knowing how its going to end.

Well. in less than an hour, I will know about Booktopia. Nervously drumming fingers...

>262 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe! Thanks for your help earlier. I haven't cracked Dept. of Speculation yet, but I will soon.

Boo, to lots of work!!

>264 lunacat: That is what I am assuming too, Jenny.

>265 Berly: My thinking on that one is: If I have a copy of it. Then I have it for a very good reason. No need to read the back. Just dive in!

>266 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Hugs!

>267 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda! I also have my ALA passes printed for Saturday. Another event that should be a blast.

>268 mahsdad: Like, I mentioned to Kim: If I have the book at hand or I have requested it, that must mean it is ready to be cracked. I love going in, barely knowing anything.

>263 msf59: Aw, yeah, that's how I roll. All the time, baby.

^^We are going to Petoskey!! Yeah, baby! It was a bit nerve-wracking and we were almost immediately directed toward the waiting list. Ugh! But within, 20-30 minutes, we were given the chance to register. Whew!!

Knowing what a beer nerd you are (coming from one myself), I thought you'd be interested in this blog post from Stone.

http://blog.stonebrewing.com/index.php/stone-levitation-self-righteous/

Yay for another Booktopia!

>271 msf59: Congrats, Mark! Outstanding!

>271 msf59: Congratulations!

Congratulations, Mark. It is almost like you planned your vacation so that you would be able to get to register!

>270 scaifea: Me and you both, Amber!!

>272 mahsdad: Thanks for sharing, Jeff but that one is bittersweet for me. Stone Levitation Amber Ale has always been a favorite. Swipes at a stray tear...

>273 katiekrug: Thanks, KAK! As usual, I wish I could share the experience with more LTers. It looks like a few of the same folks I saw in Asheville are attending. Did you meet Cory?

>274 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! We sure were hoping to get in. Wouldn't it be great to have an LT event like this?

Did you see Jeff's post up there? It is a sad one. Stone Levitation is leaving us...sobs.

>275 Dejah_Thoris: Thanks, Dejah!

>276 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! Petoskey is a pretty little bay town and it is only a 5 hour drive, so it is a win/win all the way.

Oh congratulation on getting in to Booktopia. I too am SO JEALOUS!!!!

And this >277 msf59: has me LMAO.

I think we are channeling each other's reads....I finished Brown Girl Dreaming (amazing!) and was planning to start Dept. of Speculation tomorrow on audio. Weird!

Congrats on the Booktopia plans Mark!

I am currently reading The Ballad of the Sad Cafe.

>278 msf59: - "Cory" sounds familiar but I can't summon a face to put with it...

Glad you got into Petosky. i am really bummed about no more Booktopia's. Maybe when I retire I will start trying to put something like this together. I think reader's really dig things like that. Having a great bookstore host it and having it in a bit of an exotic location makes it a great way to spend a weekend.

Did you get the passes printed. I sent a text and got no answer so may not have the correct number.

Is it Friday, already? Tries to step on brakes...

>279 jolerie: LOL! Waves & Hugs!

>280 Cobscook: I wish all my LT pals could experience a Booktopia event, Heidi. Wasn't Brown Girl Dreaming a joy?

Dept. of Speculation is very good. It is done in an interesting staccato style.

>281 luvamystery65: Thanks, Ro! Hope you enjoy the McCullers.

>282 katiekrug: I couldn't remember if you had met Cory in Asheville or not. I sat next to her at the final author talk. I think I have seen her at all 3 of my Booktopia events. She's in too...

>283 benitastrnad: I hope the author line-up is as good as the last Petoskey, Booktopia. That was killer. I also hope that we could put a national LT Meet-Up together.

I did get your text. I was out with friends last night and didn't get a chance to reply, but I did print our passes and we are ready to roll.

See you tomorrow!!

Oh man, I missed that post of Jeff's and had no idea they were discontinuing Stone Levitation! I am so bummed. No wonder it's been hard to find. Arggh.

I'm going to go somewhere and drown my sorrow in a good book.

I was telling that to friends last night too, Joe and we were also bummed. It remains one of my favorite Stone beers. At least, we will have Enjoy Bys, to....Enjoy!

Are you working today?

So glad you read Being Mortal. It was one of my best reads of 2015 and, like you, am recommending it to everyone. I am a big fan of anything Gawande writes. Check out Checklist Manifesto too. Although it focuses on workers in health care, it is applicable to any life.

Looks like Joe will not be joining us for the evening. I hope that I can get away from the discussion group I said I would attend in time to see him. I got his phone number so will try to contact him before he leaves the exhibit hall. As far as I know it will only be you, me, & Sue for going somewhere, but I will check with Abbey and Tim tonight. Usually they have a exhibitor meeting that they attend on Saturday evening, so I wouldn't count on them. If it is only us three I would be all for going to Haymarket if that is the closest brewery to downtown. I will talk to you later and will meet you in the exhibits on Saturday.

>287 msf59: Yes, I'm at work today. I finished First Frost, BTW, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Some day you may want to give Garden Spells a try and see what you think.

Benita's right about the evening tomorrow, unfortunately. I didn't realize she wasn't going to be in the exhibit hall at all until later, but with luck we'll still get a chance to say hello.

Oh my, suddenly they're predicting 10-12 inches of snow for Chicagoland from Sat evening through Sun. What happened to the 1-2 inches they'd said? Yikes. Worse south though, so there's that, at least.

>288 alphaorder: Great to see you, Nancy! Yes, I loved Being Mortal and I am picking up Checklist Manifesto from the library on audio. I am instant fan too. Hope all is well.

>289 benitastrnad: Hope the conference goes well, for you today, Benita! Pace yourself with the books, okay? Sue & I will decide where to go to for an early dinner. I kind of liked the sound of the place Kerri mentioned.

>290 jnwelch: Hope work goes smoothly, Joe and you don't spend the day dreaming about books you are planning on hauling home tomorrow. LOL.

>291 lindapanzo: Last I heard, was about 6 inches or so. I am keeping my cool. It has missed us before, although I am glad we will be spending Super Bowl Sunday, homebound.