RichardDerus second thread of 2015!

held

held some more

Me too!

It's got that cool new thread smell!

>4 rocketjk: But not too many features so far...maybe we should talk among ourselves. So, Jerry...what have you been up to? Haven't seen you around lately.

Ooh, a new thread is being set up! *smooches*

#5> Linda, I've been around, but with not enough reading time to get much finished and posted. My bookstore keeps me busy, as does my darling wife. Plus, the homeowner chore time commitment on weekends when I'd just as soon be on the deck reading. And now I'm involved in pulling a fundraising bbq together for the local elder home, as I somehow have found myself on the board of directors of said facility. So . . . busy. We had a great week away in New Orleans in April, though.

fwiw, my 50-Book Challenge thread for the year is here, although the list is meager so far (plus I started the year with several long books): https://www.librarything.com/topic/185977

How about you?

Woohoo, Happy New Thread, Rdear. *smooches*

Dropped by to give big hugs, smooches, and other sincere and warm expressions of love! Are you home? How's the health? How's the TBR pile?

Benny is in the vet clinic having all but his canines removed by the doggie dentist. Otherwise, we are all good and having a mid-week "weekend".

Looking forward to reading much more from you, and what has become of Stella? Love to her, too.

Happy New Thread!!

Happy new thread Richard, hope you are feeling well dear friend.

Happy new thread, Rdear!

xoxoxo

>7 rocketjk: I'm hanging around over here on my thread reading as much as I can, buying too many books, still working and dreaming of retirement.

It was great to talk to you today, Richard! Glad the fingers are healing. Now if you can just get the wrappings off so you can type better!! Smooches.

#14> Ah, the 75-Book Challenge thread. Too daunting for me, by far, but I will try to keep up with your action henceforth.

Happy new thread, Richard.
>14 laytonwoman3rd: I'm with you on the dreaming of retirement, Linda.

Happy New thread, Richardmydear!

Happy new one, mister!

Happy New Thread, RD!! Hope those books are treating you dandy.

Looks like the finger is healthy enough to push the new thread button, right? Seems like good news to me.

OOoh new-threadage... Hope all is well with you and smoochies from the t'other side of the big blue wet thing.

Just dropping by...

WHAT a gorgeous day! I made use of it by breathing sea air. Lunch was salmon, dinner chicken milanese.

And thus the report. I must off to Cinnamon and Gunpowder, which will likely be one of those "shove it in y'all's face" books.

Kiss kiss! Love love!

I'm glad to hear that you have such a lovely day. Enjoy it :-)

Happy New Thread, Richard!

Interesting comment about Cinnamon and Gunpowder---that's one that's been sitting physically on my shelf for over a year, and I keep thinking it looks like it would be fun, but others keep bullying their way to the front of the queue. I will await your judgement on whether C&G should bully back. SOO glad to see you back.

Don't know if Cinnamon and Gunpowder is a BB headshot yet, definitely a light wounding. I too am intrigued to see what the master things about it. But I suspect I'll be putting it on the list.

Oh I love it when you get all "shove it in y'all's face"-y

and just requested Cinnamon and Gunpowder from the library - sounds fun.

>25 Ameise1:
>26 kidzdoc:
>27 tututhefirst: Thank you too much, flatterers.
>27 tututhefirst: What I can tell you about this intriguingly titled sophomore effort is that I've been comfortably insulated from Serious Stuff yet ripped from character after character and shown how real-seeming storytellers compel you to laugh while exasperated and sniffle when they get there comeuppances.

>28 mahsdad: Looking over the reads we've shared suggests to me a library borrow, even if they have to send in the Undersea Rebellion's latest drama. *happy sigh*

>29 SuziQoregon: *baaaaaaaaaaawwwwwww* blushblushblush

>30 SuziQoregon: I predict, Juli, a positive reaction to the book. Just the right levels of fun, fast, and fair reading!

Happy new thread, dear! *smooch*

Stopping by with {{{ Hugs}}} and happy new thread wishes, RD!

>33 Crazymamie: *smooch* Thankee most kindly, Mamie dear one.

>34 lkernagh: Greetings gratefully returned, my dear Western Eskimo.

>32 richardderus: sounds like just what I need

Hi,Richard! Sending love and hugs from the beautiful pacific northwest corner of the US of A.

xoxoxo 'cause that's all I got

'Morning RD! Happy Friday. It's raining here in central NC and things are green, green, green! Unlike SoCal last week, which was dry and brown and all withered.

*smooches* from your own Horrible

Smooches to you!! Sounds like you are doing well! Enjoy your sea air friend!

>24 richardderus: I will be interested to see your comments on Cinnamon and Gunpowder. I am kind of stalled in the middle of it.

Hope you are having a relaxing Sunday, Richard dear!

Love Pocket! We miss you so...

xoxoxo

Hi Richard, hope you are having a lovely Monday dear friend.

Dearest.....let's hope your silence is a function of healing fingers and so many lovely books to read that you haven't the time to commune via the keys. Enjoy this blossoming spring weather.

We DO miss you...

>45 tututhefirst: and >46 ronincats: - What they said!

Good moŕning, Rdear. Wishing you a most lovely day. *smooches*

rd has been laid low by an attack of the nasty fingers again. He sounds good, but still feeling blech. Not to worry. He'll be back.

Thanks so much for the update, Kath.

Get well soon, Rdear.

Sending healing mojo to the fingers of Richard! Health and well being to you!

Who would think that fingers could be such a problem. Our bodies can be such traitors.

Sending you healing vibes and hope you are back to 100% soon, Richard!

How do, y'all! I'm antibioticking apace. Hoping against hope that the stubbornness of its metabolism is finally weakening.

The weather has been wonderfully bright and freshening. It's a lovely life, here on the beach. **happy (if evil)laughing***

Hoorey, it's wonderful to see you posting and I'm glad you enjoy your beach life. Keep my fingers crossed that the healing will turn to the bright side. *smooches*

Howdy and xoxo from me and The Devilles.

A pox on the nasty fingers!! Oh, wait...maybe that isn't just the thing...

Fingers be healed!!!

>57 laytonwoman3rd: Yeah, he's got the pox, he needs the anti pox, and a lovely life on the beach.

Happy days, Richard. I also do love the beach, it seems so supportive of good breathing, and good living, and relaxing. I have some surf noise on my radio for a selection of "noise" to go to sleep with.... I love it. Next best for me is rain on the roof, but I know that is not to everyone's taste.

Hope all is improving day by day!

Howdy, Mr. D. I join the hopes and positive thoughts for improvement and healing fingers.

Picked up Cinnamon and Gunpowder at the library yesterday. It's duly tagged "Richard's Fault". Looks fun.

>22 BekkaJo: you mean that pile of wet towels that my kids used to clean up the horrific watery mess in the bathroom this evening? That big wet thing??
;)

Happy new thread RD. I hope the world is good in Rd land today.

Hi Rdear, I wish you a lovely weekend.

Hallo RD! Nasty old fingers. I hope you're better sooner than soon.

*smooches* from Horrible

Miss seeing you buddy, hope all is well.

When you are up to it, come over to my thread, I did some Book List warbling. I miss your curmudgeonly complaints :)

Be Well!

Just for you!

Hi guy! Just checking up on things here. Hugs.

>64 Ameise1: an octopus in a clam shell? What will they think of next?

Greetings, RD.

stopping by to wave Hello!!

*drive by smooch*

Thinking of you....and the vision is something like this:


only with a bigger book and a heftier cup of joe.

Linda made me think of this, RD. Hope things are going well for you.

Coffee and octupi abound. But where is RD?

(((hugs)))

And here I thought I was neglecting LT!! Come out, come out wherever you are....! : ) Smooch.

I picked up my copy of The Lovecrft Anthology Volume I and started looking at the first short story, with illustrations..... wait for it.....

It was "The Call of Cthulhu" and I am gaining a new appreciation of all things octopus! I appreciated the preview I have gained from lurking around your threads, dear friend. I hope you have not developed a new habit of not being present here very often....

Hi Rdear, I wish you a fabulous weekend. smooches

Just checking in and hope all is well!

I had occasion to speak to RD yesterday. His residence is undergoing renovation, while all are in place, he says, and communication systems are not very good. He actually said he was taking a break from all electronics until the situation improved. And he sounded very good on the phone.

>79 ffortsa: Thanks. Good to knnow.

Good to hear about RD, sad not to see him here.

Hallo, you old curmudgeon! *smooches* from Horrible

Thank you for the update on Richard, Judy. Miss him around here, that's for sure.

Appreciate the update, mille fois! merci!

Also appreciating the update!

Richard and I talked last night for about an hour. It's been quite an adjustment for him, as you may imagine, but he sounds good, as Judy noted above, and things seem to be working out for him.

He appreciates and misses his LT friends.

Glad to hear he's okay and it's just technological issues :)

Big love to our one and only RD.

>79 ffortsa:, >85 Matke: Thank you, Judy and Gail. Great to hear that he sounds good, and that things seem to be working out. All his LT pals are thinking of him.

^ What Joe said. ^

Missing you!

Thanks for the updates on Richard. Good to hear. Just stopped by to tell him I started Cinnamon and Gunpowder yesterday.

Hey Richard, mix yourself a pitcher of margaritas, sit back and enjoy cephalopod week:
http://sciencefriday.com/segment/06/19/2015/cephalopod-week-is-back.html#path/se...

Coming out of hibernation, dear Richard to shout a huge HUZZAH! at the wonderful affirmation from the Supreme Court. This is a lovely day.

Celebrating...

Coming by for the same reason. CELEBRATE!

Popping in to say hello! I hope the renovations are going well and that things will settle down soon, with all communication facilities back up and running smoothly again.

Hooray!! Yay for the Supreme Court and Marriage for all!! Smooches.

Stopping by to send you Happy Hellos and wishes for a wonderful weekend.

Hi Rdear, I wish you a fabulous weekend and yeh for Marriage for all.

*aaahhh*

I now have a/c! I'm in a weird position with all my stuff, since the man saying no thought I already *had* my stuff down the basement!

Is this what "fixin' up" really means?

You live!! I am so glad you have AC--me, too, since it is steadily in the 90s here. Good luck with the "stuff." Smooches!!

Lucky boy, we don't have ACs and it's 93F and getting hotter every day.

>99 richardderus: Wait...who is that I see? The tone is familiar, could it be....it IS!! So glad you have your stuff and your A/C. Not that you would have needed it here the last few days.

We do love our A/C, don't we? Nice to see you posting, sir!

So good to see a post from you Richarddear, missed you!!

>79 ffortsa: Judy, thanks for the update on RD. i've been quite worried and *finally* found some news.

i just finished listening to Queen Lucia again and he was much in my thoughts throughout.

love to you, RD sweetums. how you are missed.

Hey Richard!!! Just de-lurking to pass on a message... You expressed some interest quite a few threads ago on the Jeri Westerson's (Crispin Guest) series I was reading. The Kindle version for her up-until-now unpublished prequel, Cup of Blood is available now on Amazon for free. Just thought you might be interested (and I don't even know if you do e-books or not) .... Can't vouch for the book itself, one way or the other, having not read it myself yet. (I did get it, though, I mean free is my favorite four letter word!)

Anyhooo..... been following along here and praying that your particular corner of the world is a bright and happy one. :)

Just checking in... glad to see you post on occasion and know you're somewhat comfortable with working A/C (one of the best inventions ever, IMO, even if I am so terribly cold all the time that a really good A/C means I'm wearing a sweatshirt). I hope all the issues with your stuff get sorted out soon. *smooch*

Okay... RD update:

He is doing well, physically better than in a long time. I know that some of you have tried to call him in the last months and not gotten through. Some of you have let me know this. I had the same issue.. the phones there were wonky for WEEKS!!

The phone system is now up and running and pretty dependable. Sometimes the receptionist leaves the desk on break, but otherwise...its a go, and he has a phone next to his bed, so that helps too. PM me for the number, or just look at my profile.. those of you angels who tried and failed to reach him, can call again and just ask for him...he will be delighted to hear from you !

Further internet problems are one reason you haven't seen him here.... as well as the death of his chromebook. .. so he hasn't forgotten his friends here, it is just continuing issues with getting here to visit.

Thanks for the update, Kath. It's always worrisome when there is no word for a while.

i know.... sorry. I just didn't think. Sorry :(

Good to hear all is well!

Kath, you don't have to feel sorry. We all appreciate what you are doing but first you have to look after yourself. Hugs and many thanks. xx

Hi Rdear, I hope you're able to get online soon. *smooches*

>108 mckait: Thanks so much for the update!

>108 mckait: You're so good to keep us informed and be the bridge between Richard and his minions.

You are missed dear friend.

Yes, John is right. I think of you often and wish to read some intelligent, funny, and lively words on books.

Kath--Thanks for the update. I will give the wonky phones another try. Thinking of you Ricardo!! xoxox and smooches.

Hallo RD! I (selfishly) hope to see you back in full force soon. I miss you, you old curmudgeon.

*smooches* from Horrible

A sighting! There's been a sighting over on his mystery thread!

A little birdie told me he'd popped up for a pocito momentito on Facebook earlier this evening too. Welcome back!

Waves, Hi Richardmydear!

Gout pain week 2. Trip to new rheumatologist soon! New shoes soon! Books all accepted for facility liberry!

And Jeff...the card of the bulldog you sent me is still making me laugh, thank you thank you!

Great to see you posting, Rdear. Sorry to hear that you're in pain. Get well soon my friend. *smooches*

Hi Richard, nice to see you posting again dear friend. Sending love and best wishes from John, Karen and darling Hannah.

>122 richardderus:. +1. Nice to see you!

Hi, Richard! I was so happy to see you out and about on FB and now here.

Drat! I was hoping they had gotten that stupid, stupid gout under control for you by now. *smooches*

Oh how wonderful to see you popping up/in/about these days. Your re-immergence will give me an incentive to stop by LT more often. Looking forward to hearing that toes are better, and reading life is good.

Hi all! I'm sitting in the little nooky-thing in the...whatever this space is called...elevator lobby? in my 75er t-shirt, ignoring annoying nutcases. It is damned near impossible for me to read these days because the crud I still have to do to finish dealing with the stuff from my storage unit.

And of course, I've got a LOT of stuff queued up! eeeuuurrrgh he'p me

Do whatcha gotta do; we'll all be here when you get back. :)

>129 richardderus: Ha! I can picture you in the little "nooky-thing". I have an uncle in an assisted living facility where they have a common sitting area around the elevator---I suspect it's similar. They call it the "staging area", as it's where everyone gathers in advance of meal times...the dining room being down one floor from the living areas.

I am moving into a place where there is a nooky thing by the elevator, but I think it is mostly for show. No one hangs out there, as far as I can tell. But we do have a library, and a visiting library van once a week. That will be interesting.... perhaps.

I'm mostly looking forward to my patio under the evergreen trees, and the walking path.

I hope you have some parts of your place that you enjoy; and that there's stuff to which you can look forward.....

Yo, RD. I hope some space opens up soon in your life for reading. I mean really, it has to, right? Crossing crossables, as is sometimes said around here :)

Richard!!!

Hey, bro. Just a quick hello from Mendocino, CA.

The Tennessee Waltz in all its schmaltzy melodiousness is making me a wee bit testy. I'm sure it's a lovely tune for the love-struck, but my teeth are gritting. My love object not being within schmaltzing reach, well...

Love you all a scroodle apiece and will soon report on my current (severely neglected) read: FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER.

Caught up! Dear Kath for keeping us up to snuff on your slings and arrows (how's that for a mixed metaphor!). I have hardly been visiting LT at all this summer, dear Richard, because I decided to be a dutiful gardener and go head to head with the weeds. Think Xena Warrior Princess with a shovel and claw hoe. Also my eyesight can no long sustain long computer bouts. I am so glad I didn't miss anything you posted too much. Hope the fingers are truly healing and damn the gout.

Waving hello to Richard. Great to see you here.

Lovely to see you posting again, Richard, both here and on fb. I have missed your wit and entertaining comments!

Ear buds, perhaps? Don't hurt your teeth! I hope you're feeling well otherwise!

Ear buds, nothing. Try noise canceling headphones! :)

Yes! Let's hear it for "noise canceling headphones"! (Oh, maybe you can't hear the cheers....because you alredy have some?)

Good to see you back, RD. Out, out, damn gout!

Gout. How I hate it.

Heat. Hate about as much as gout.

Both very present today, making me extra grumpus.

Not y'all, though! *smoochiesmoochsmooch* all around!

Good morning, Richard! *smooches* right back atcha! Hate gout. Hate excessive heat--sat out at a farmer's market in 96 degree heat for 5 hours yesterday. Sorry about the grumpus.

ETA I've still got a copy of Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim for you if you haven't already read it. Let me know if you want it.

Thought of you, RD, when I read this article, "Scientists Declare That Octopuses Are Basically Aliens": http://www.geek.com/science/scientists-declare-that-octopuses-are-basically-alie...

Ok, so that is one cool article. And what I suspected all along...

>144 ronincats: OOOOO! Yes please. Long Beach Assisted Living, 274 W Broadway, Room 4, Long Beach NY 11561-3911

>145 jnwelch: W.O.W. Joe, that was....WOW!!

>146 drneutron: I, for one, welcome our octopus overlords.

>147 richardderus: :-)

Oh, lovely, a real address. Going into my address book as soon as I can find it. Unpacking is hell!

>148 jnwelch: :-P

>149 maggie1944: Ain't it? I've GOT to organize myself when my roomie leaves. I need the whole room, there's so much paperwork!

>150 laytonwoman3rd: !!!!!!!!

>147octopus overlords. There's a name for a band! If I ever form one, I'll credit you, RD
;)
(((hugs)))

Happy Friday, RD! Good to see you posting again. How are the books coming? Getting some reading in?

Yes, happy Friday from me, too. I hope to see more of your words here. It does not feel "normal" without reading what you've been writing.

>152 LovingLit: I'll be in the mosh pit - a geriatric mosh pit, I'm not sure how much body surfing we could accommodate

Lovely to see you posting, RD!

Happy Weekend, Rdear. *smooches* from over the pond

Hello RD!

Happy Saturday, dear one.

*smooches* from Horrible

Watching the Hugo awards online tonight, and they presented a posthumous award to Jay Lake, accepted by his sister and his daughter. Thought you'd appreciate that.

Howdy!

Smooches!! Glad to see you posting again here. Missed you so!

Hello hello! What a gorgeous weekend it was. Fun at the local Drum & Bugle Corps' crafts fair. I bought a Kenyan male-potency symbol...iron etched with beautiful thises and thatses, a beautiful black bead string...the reason I bought it is that the organization selling it sends the proceeds to Kenyan moms who make the items and they use the proceeds to send their children to school. That day, Saturday, the purchase price was matched to send to the moms!

My necklace was a whopping $25, the most I could afford. I asked the local chairwoman if she had any frames, I want one for a drawing done by my late friend Irene, and was told to come back tomorrow. The Kenyan mom who made my necklace was there on Sunday! So sweet, so kind....she gave me a nice frame, and took my photo with the framed drawing on my lap and the necklace glowing around my neck. Apparently I'm a phenom among the moms.

I have real trouble reading right now. The pain, and the osteoarthritis causing it, are bad. I hate summer. The heat and the changing weather don't help at all.

And still I'm contented, the sea and the sunsets and the winds in from Africa, the lovely people I know, gulls and petrels and shearwaters and dunlins to entertain me when the boardwalkers go home...

Hi Richard, nice to see you posting dear friend, I have missed you and your comments. Sending love and hugs and smooches from Hannah.

I feel with you, Richard dear, my reading is slowly coming back after four long long years....

"the sea and the sunsets and the winds in from Africa" Well...it wouldn't quite make up for difficulty reading, but it's something mighty fine, just the same. I'm glad you find contentment these day, Richard. It's a rare, rare thing.

But Richard, have you thought you might be living in an Edward Gorey book?
http://the-toast.net/2015/08/17/how-to-tell-if-youre-in-edward-gorey/

I have had periods when I could not read for more than about 5 minutes at a time. I just kept trying. And then, lo! Some book came right up and grabbed me by the brain/heart connection and I was off and reading at moderate speed. I don't think I'll ever read as fast as I did in years of yore.

Just lovely to have you back posting with us Richard - we're missed you very much. Glad you have the sea with you - the sea and I are great friends :)

So glad you are back online, Rdear.

So sorry to hear that the heat is causing your osteoarthritis to worsen. I thought cold temperatures did that. Does it help to put your hands in some cooling mits, or perhaps go for a little paddle in the sea? I've heard sea water works wonders for joints.

Well, rd might be hard to find for a week or two. Seems he has managed to get himself injured. He is fine.... but he took a fall yesterday. His shoulder took the brunt of the fall, and he said that he will probably spend most of this morning being seen by doctors. What I say is thank goodness he has doctors to see and the ability to see them! Also, he was out and about when the injury occurred and that is a good thing, too. He CAN be out and a bout a bit. So, no worries, he sounded pretty good... but send him healing energy to get him back here more quickly :)

I hope you get well soon, Richardmydear!

Thanks for the update, Kath.

Rdear, I hope you're not suffered major damage to your shoulder or anywhere else, for that matter and that you heal up quickly. *virtual hugs*

Thanks, Kath. Like you, I am so glad he now has access to swift medical treatment.

I'm glad he is being so well attended, and that he can get out from time to time. I hope this doesn't discourage him from doing so. ~~~~~~healing vibes~~~~~

Falling! Damn it! That falling thing is such a pain. I'm in great fear of falling having done so, and broken ribs, more than once. I'm determined to not do any more. At all. Ever.

Richard, I hope you are able to be as determined. No more falls.

And then, in the meantime, have a swift and full recovery, dear.

I say down with falling!! As opposed to the much more hurtful falling down....Get well soon Richard! Smooch.

Sending you a load of healing vibes, Rdear.

Hi RD!

Smooches from central NC!

No more falls. That's an order.

Richard, dearest, it's so nice to see you back here on a semi-regular basis. Big big hugs and smooches from this chubby Wisconsin gal to you.

*whammy* for good health and no more ouches and falls and gouts and infections and things **double whammy**

Good to see you checking in once in a while. Stop it with the falling stuff, OK?

Falling resulted in a fractured humerus. Fractures and sprains hurt more than breaks, I've heard, and I believe it! Unsurprisingly, no personal injury lawyer is interested in my case, since I can't afford to accept anything less than lottery-jackpot money. Any smaller amount would only cost me my disability and Medicaid benefits.

So reading is going slowly, but I can report that FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER by Ellen Meister was a hoot and a holler. Other books have been varyingly successful.

Happy long weekend to my US compadres and comadres! The rest of y'all already had your hols, so nyah-nyah.

Love you all scroodles!

Hey, Richard. I'm glad to see you have the priorities all sorted! Thanks for the good wishes for a long weekend. I have moved into a new digs, with one small living room, one small bedroom, an even smaller kitchen, and bathroom. Glad to see I do have a bathtub. Far too many "retirement" places assume we older people do not have the wherewithal to climb in and out of tubs, but truth be told some of us do! My sweet Niece and her eldest came by today to pick up and put together small furniture: TV console, and a little round drop leaf tea table. Life is good.

I'm happy to say I'm very comfortable here. I've decided I made the right decision. Other house is on the market. Put your mojo on it so I will receive full price for it and retire with a few dollars in the bank in case I have some contretemps. But sadly I no longer have a second bedroom to offer visitors, so you'll just have to scratch off Seattle from your bucket list.

I am almost back to the state of organization and settlement that I can start doing some "Do Nothing But Read" days! They will be coming soon. Hope that is true for you, too. Continue to heal up, young man, and let us hear from you more often!

>181 richardderus: Wow, so sorry to hear that. When you break a bone it has to be a big honkin' one, huh? Glad you found a little something to lighten the mood, and I hope all your little osteoblasts blast your way to a strong femur soon.

Oh, dang, Richard! I'm so sorry about the fracture. Be thinking of you, friend.

Healing vibes being sent your way. This might lift your spirits..


Credit goes to Steve Hely, from his How I Became a Famous Novelist

I want a LIKE button to hit on >185 laytonwoman3rd:!

>185 laytonwoman3rd: I love it.

Ouch!! So sorry to hear about your fall and fracture, Richard. Miss your smooches but sending one your way!

Smooches Ricardo. Sorry about the humerus...not very funny is it?! (Bad pun, I know.) You have my utmost sympathies. I had a bone cyst and broke mine 8 times!!! It was so high up on the arm I couldn't get a cast. Aren't I a medical wonder? : ) Heal quickly.

I keep seeing these things that remind me of you...

Dancing Squid

Ho there ladies and gentlemen, I am more than merely pleased to report that I'm a lot less pain-addled than I was before. Eliminating the "stronger" painkiller helped!

Y'all're too much with the funny clips and stuff. I'm close to feeling settled in...a few more things to do, but when I get bored, tired, or anxious, I go stare at the sea. Better than Klonipin. (Almost.)

Happy weekend!

Yay for less pain-addled! And for the soothing power of the ocean! And for drugs!

All these exclamation points have exhausted me.....

Happy weekend *smooch*

Staring at the sea is a wonderful past time. So glad you have the ability.

Hi Richard,

Just catching up a bit on threads and had to stop by to land a *smooch* on yours.

Glad to hear you're on the mend, almost settled, and relaxing by the sea. That sounds lovely. Happy weekend!

Oh....I am so pleased that the you have the soothing sounds, sights and even smells of mother ocean. Does wonders for the soul. Mend gently my friend.

I am, according to one of the med-techs who passes out our medications, part Wolverine (from the comic books) because I heal so fast. My fractured humerus is, apparently, healed. At least it's no longer hurting me. If that ain't healed, it's good enough fer me.

I'm working up a review for EUPHORIA, which I believe was a tutu-inspired read. One thing I'll say now: The jacket of the hardcover is *gorgeous*. More to come....

Review: 10 of seventy-five

Title: EUPHORIA

Author: LILY KING

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: English anthropologist Andrew Bankson has been alone in the field for several years, studying the Kiona river tribe in the Territory of New Guinea. Haunted by the memory of his brothers’ deaths and increasingly frustrated and isolated by his research, Bankson is on the verge of suicide when a chance encounter with colleagues, the controversial Nell Stone and her wry and mercurial Australian husband Fen, pulls him back from the brink. Nell and Fen have just fled the bloodthirsty Mumbanyo and, in spite of Nell’s poor health, are hungry for a new discovery. When Bankson finds them a new tribe nearby, the artistic, female-dominated Tam, he ignites an intellectual and romantic firestorm between the three of them that burns out of anyone’s control.

My Review: Five stars were well within reach, in fact were more or less guaranteed, but there was a problem. Well, isn't there always. But this is my happy place:

I asked her if she believed you could ever truly understand another culture. I told her the longer I stayed, the more asinine the attempt seemed, and that what I’d become more interested in is how we believed we could be objective in any way at all, we who each came in with our own personal definitions of kindness, strength, masculinity, femininity, God, civilisation, right and wrong.

Yum. And many more like it:

It’s that moment about two months in, when you think you’ve finally got a handle on the place. Suddenly it feels within your grasp. It’s a delusion – you’ve only been there eight weeks – and it’s followed by the complete despair of ever understanding anything. But at the moment the place feels entirely yours. It’s the briefest, purest euphoria.

But the beautiful writing is only part of the story. The plot follows, not overly closely to be sure, the New Guinea experiences of Margaret Mead and her team. But as we draw closer and closer to the end, the setting changes to Australia and becomes pot-boilery, overheated, and unconvincing to me.

It is, however, one of the last passages set in the 1930s that made me shout at the page: The woman DIES HAVING A MISCARRIAGE on the ship back to New York City, and her Australian husband vanishes forver. Unworthy of a writer of the caliber Lily King is.

But the ride...the pages flying and the telephone ignored and the dinner gulped...that can't be discounted or devalued by a misstep, no matter how infuriating I found it.

A proper review in the proper RD format. Go you! Not sure its a BB for me, but I always enjoy reading your opinions. ;)

>197 richardderus: Lookit that there! An RD review. Sweeeet.

>197 richardderus: I loved Euphoria, glad you did too. I lead me to reading more about Margaret Mead, but I still haven't got to Coming of Age In Samoa

A Ricardo review as only he can do! My day is complete. Smooches.

>197 richardderus: I have not read Euphoria and see that I shall have to remedy that. Love your review!

Yay! As Berly says, a Ricardo Review.

There is joy.

*smooches* from Horrible

Yay, a Ricardo review to enjoy, welcome back dear friend. Sending love and hugs from Karen and I and smooches from Hannah.

>197 richardderus: Read this one twice, it's a finalist for this year's Maine Reader's Choice Award. Was more impressed the 2nd read than the first, but still found it less praiseworthy than many others. The subject matter just did not generate much enthusiasm, and characters were not ones I found appealing. Good to see you back reviewing again.

Good morning, Rdear. I'm so glad to hear that the humerus is healing well. Wohoo for the review. It's great to have you back and seeing you posting reviews. :-)
*smooches*

I enjoyed the review. Good to see you posting again. I have hopes to see more.

Review: 11 of seventy-five

Title: SANDMAN SLIM

Author: RICHARD KADREY

Rating: 3* of five

The Publisher Says: Life sucks, then you die. Period.

Unless you're James Stark, a hitman in Hell for eleven years before escaping back up to Hell-on-earth L.A.—looking for revenge, absolution . . . love, maybe.

But Hell's not through with Stark. Heaven's not either.

My Review: This was a perfectly fine page-turner, and had all the expected supernatural accoutrements. I read it, flipping from violence to massacre to torture. It got a little wearing. I'm not young enough to appreciate the transgressiveness of all that murder and stuff, and I'm not intellectual enough to overthink and hyperanalyze the cultural significance of Heaven and Hell and lone gunmen.

This is a series of summer movies for 17-year-old boys just waiting for a producer and a director. In development = Hollywood Hell. We shall see what comes next.

>208 richardderus: I kinda sounds like an interesting premise but, This is a series of summer movies for 17-year-old boys just waiting for a producer and a director.
Maybe not. Thanks for the review.

#208
I get requests for this series at the library. I have couple of the books myself. As for the violence and stuff - can't be any worse than books written by George R. R. Martin?

Happy weekend, Rdear.

>209 Citizenjoyce: Not a bad decision, Joyce. I think its hipsterization of slaughter makes it mildly distasteful for me.

>210 benitastrnad: Decidedly not, Benita. It's the 'tude, not the violence per se.

>211 Ameise1: Thank you most kindly, Barbara!

Review: 12 of seventy-five

Title: THE BOOK OF LIFE

Author: C.H.B. KITCHIN

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Publisher Says: Set in the twilight of the Edwardian era, this is the story of Francis Froxwell, a young orphan fascinated by his grandfather's 'Book of Life', a ledger that lists the immense wealth he and his relatives will inherit when the old man dies. Unhappy at boarding school and treated coldly by his relations, Francis finds solace in the thought of his future fortune and a possible baronetcy. Francis's only friends are his uncle Demetrius, whose affair with a divorcée has made him the black sheep of the family, and Jimmy Waring, a disgraced ex-schoolmaster and the brother of Demetrius's mistress. As Francis finds himself unwittingly caught up in the intrigues of these two men, a chain of events is set in motion leading to sex, scandal, blackmail, and death . . . and the elimination of at least one name from the 'Book of Life'.

An unjustly neglected novelist, C.H.B. Kitchin (1895-1967) was best known for his early mystery novels and was frustrated later in life when he continued to turn out minor masterpieces like Ten Pollitt Place (1957) and The Book of Life (1960), which won critical acclaim but were largely overlooked by the book-buying public. This edition features an introduction by Francis King.

My Review: There is a little teensy warm spot in whatever it is that passes for my heart saved just for old-fashioned, mannered stories and prose. This book sat directly on the spot, and almost extinguished the warmth.

The story of an orphan with Great Expectations isn't new or fresh, but the spin Kitchin (almost) puts on it...coming of age as gay in the Edwardian Era...was tenuous at best, and sank with barely a bubble in the narrative flow. So, in the end, it's Great Expectations Disappointed and some highly noxious people benefit from the main character's fall from grandparental favor.

Blech.

But there is still a lovely lilt to Kitchin's words. The characters, for all the unpleasantness of their personalities, are sharply and wittily limned in vitriol and rosewater. In some moods, that's enough. For me, this wasn't one of those moods. Too bad.

TWO Ricardo reviews!! I think I am in heaven. : )

*big smile*

Omigosh, three reviews à la Ricardo! I swanee I swoon. (Did I spell swanee correctly, oh he who explained the term to me?) Glad you healed swiftly. Most especially glad you have an ocean to look at. How divine! After all the sh*t and kerfuffle you went through, you deserve an ocean. Most interested in Maggie1944's latest move, in that quotation provided by laytonwoman3rd, and citizenjoyce backing away from the 17 year old movie (which made me snort, Joyce).

So lovely to have you oot and aboot, Richard.

>214 Berly: Egads! If THIS is heaven...well, it simply doesn't bear thinking about. :-*

>215 maggie1944: *baaaawwwwwww* blush

>216 tiffin: You spelled "swaNEE" perfectly, though without the Southern emphasis, Tui me lurve. (The river, BTW, is spelled "Suwanee." That "u" was dropped by Stephen Foster, bless 'im.)

I am so happy to report that there is another review a-comin' today!

So lovely to see you posting Rdear. Hope the most recently beaten up bits are healing up okay. Just happy to have you back with us :)

Review: 13 of seventy-five

Title: THE BURNING DARK

Author: ADAM CHRISTOPHER

Rating: 3.75* of five

The Publisher Says: Back in the day, Captain Abraham Idaho Cleveland had led the Fleet into battle against an implacable machine intelligence capable of devouring entire worlds. But after saving a planet, and getting a bum robot knee in the process, he finds himself relegated to one of the most remote backwaters in Fleetspace to oversee the decommissioning of a semi-deserted space station well past its use-by date.

But all is not well aboard the U-Star Coast City. The station’s reclusive Commandant is nowhere to be seen, leaving Cleveland to deal with a hostile crew on his own. Persistent malfunctions plague the station’s systems while interference from a toxic purple star makes even ordinary communications problematic. Alien shadows and whispers seem to haunt the lonely corridors and airlocks, fraying the nerves of everyone aboard.

Isolated and friendless, Cleveland reaches out to the universe via an old-fashioned space radio, only to tune in to a strange, enigmatic signal: a woman’s voice that seems to echo across a thousand light-years of space. But is the transmission just a random bit of static from the past—or a warning of an undying menace beyond mortal comprehension?

My Review: Compulsively readable, like all of Christopher's work appears to be. I was up until 12:45a as the pages, it seemed, turned themselves.

I loved Ida (our captain and PoV character is so yclept) for his square-jawed, straight-shootin' inability to lie, tolerate lies, or accept anything less than the facts in any arena. I know him, of course, from a squazillion other books, movies, and TV shows. He's surrounded by snakes and fools, and he's one man against the Universe.

Except he doesn't exist. All the computer records and Flyeyes (combination secretary, file clerk, and cyborg) who run the world's electronic memories agree that Ida isn't. His great military victory against the Spiders (more cyborgs, this time *really* scary) also isn't. And it's one of the very few victories in the war.

This does not sit well with Ida, whose medal for the matter means a lot to him. He can't investigate effectively in the Coast City's orbit around one of the weirdest energy masses in Fleetspace. That's what we call the equivalent of the Free World from the Cold War years.

Ghostly happenings, a lot of fist-fights, a few really really handy coincidences, and the story gets its deeper tale all nice and set up. That's not a knock on the book, by the way. This is a fully realized story on its own, and its resolution is such that the lukewarm responder wouldn't feel the lack of an ending as in so many other series books.

There are a lot of in-jokes (a starship called the Bloom County, for a wonderful example, and a starship called the Carcona captained by a man named Manutius for an Italian flavored other) and a bunch of ideas that suggest, to me at least, that Christopher has read Rupert Sheldrake's books. This is a darn good entertainment with a serious and still shivery point to it. Jeff, Roni: Go now and procure. Everyone else, at least flip through it and see what grabs ya.

OK, BB! *waves cast*

I love sandman slim precisely because of the deep thoughts on heaven and hell. *smooches*

>219 richardderus: Looks like a good one. You seem to be approaching the old, loves to read Richard. It's been a long, parched dessert but it looks like you've come to an oasis.

Review: 14 of seventy-five

Title: CALIFORNIA BONES

Author: GREG VAN EEKHOUT

Rating: 3.75* of five

The Publisher Says: When Daniel Blackland was six, he ingested his first bone fragment, a bit of kraken spine plucked out of the sand during a visit with his demanding, brilliant, and powerful magician father, Sebastian.

When Daniel was twelve, he watched Sebastian die at the hands of the Hierarch of Southern California, devoured for the heightened magic layered deep within his bones.

Now, years later, Daniel is a petty thief with a forged identity. Hiding amid the crowds in Los Angeles--the capital of the Kingdom of Southern California--Daniel is trying to go straight. But his crime-boss uncle has a heist he wants Daniel to perform: break into the Hierarch's storehouse of magical artifacts and retrieve Sebastian's sword, an object of untold power.

For this dangerous mission, Daniel will need a team he can rely on, so he brings in his closest friends from his years in the criminal world. There's Moth, who can take a bullet and heal in mere minutes. Jo Alverado, illusionist. The multitalented Cassandra, Daniel's ex. And, new to them all, the enigmatic, knowledgeable Emma, with her British accent and her own grudge against the powers-that-be. The stakes are high, and the stage is set for a showdown that might just break the magic that protects a long-corrupt regime.

My Review: Unmemorable writing telling good spin on adolescent-angst-magician-goes-apeshit.

Ain't nothin' like a pot-boiler. This is one. I liked it. I didn't love it (that pesky unmemorable writing) but don't let that stop you SFnal filk from reading it.

But borrow it from the library.

Good to see you reviewing again Richard. xoxo from me and The Devilles.

Ah, this feels like some sort of "good ole days". Love the reviews. Feel like I've come home after a long, lonely trip around and about without having found much to make me sit still.

Unfortunately, I still (!) am not in a situation where I can sit still and read for whole days at a time. The young man who evidently wants to buy my trailer has made an offer which is at once attractive, and paltry. He proposes to pay full price but in a way which does not satisfy. Big down payment is very nice, but the proposed plan to pay the remainder is a bit too full of risk. I countered. We shall see.

Off today to get kids to school, and then, this afternoon the last Instacart shift for a while. I've gotten a bit burned out delivering groceries to people who do not know, or understand, that the majority of the worth while compensation comes from their tips. Some are very generous and much appreciated, others are not tippers. Sigh.

I am still working on reading The Bone People and I really must carve out some quality sitting still and reading time!

It makes me so happy to pop in here and see that Richard is less pain-addled and reviewing again.

Yay!!

Smooches. : )

Great to see you up and about and posting your sizzling reviews again. Long may it continue!

Hi RD!

Just a quick hello and some smooches from your own Horrible

Happy Sunday, Rdear.

Review: 15 of seventy-five

Title: THE MACHINE AWAKES

Author: ADAM CHRISTOPHER

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: In the decades since the human race first made contact with the Spiders—a machine race capable of tearing planets apart—the two groups have fought over interstellar territory. But the war has not been going well for humankind, and with the failure of the Fleet Admiral’s secret plan in the Shadow system, the commander is overthrown by a group of hardliners determined to get the war back on track.

When the deposed Fleet Admiral is assassinated, Special Agent Von Kodiak suspects the new guard is eliminating the old. But when the Admiral’s replacement is likewise murdered, all bets are off as Kodiak discovers the prime suspect is one of the Fleet’s own, a psi-marine and decorated hero—a hero killed in action, months ago, at the same time his twin sister vanished from the Fleet Academy, where she was training to join her brother on the front.

As Kodiak investigates, he uncovers a conspiracy that stretches from the slums of Salt City to the floating gas mines of Jupiter. There, deep in the roiling clouds of the planet, the Jovian Mining Corporation is hiding something, a secret that will tear the Fleet apart and that the Morning Star, a group of militarized pilgrims searching for their lost god, is determined to uncover.

But there is something else hiding in Jovian system. Something insidious and intelligent, machine-like and hungry.

The Spiders are near.

My Review: This is book two. I have only one question: WHERE THE HELL IS BOOK THREE?!

Exciting intrigue, insane religious nutballs trying to bring Lucifer "back," twisty and unexpected politico-personal betrayals...IN SPACE! ON JUPITER!! Add in some vile, evil corporate chicanery, some love and some heartbreak...well, what are you waiting for? Go forth and buy from your favorite bookery.

Leave the lights on.

*waves cast--one more week!*

Is Adam Christopher related to John Christopher? The reason I ask is that the plot of these books sound very much like those of the YA books written by John Christopher back in the 1970's and 1980's.

>232 ronincats: Yay for a week!!

>233 benitastrnad: No, John Christopher was really named Sam Youd and he was never married. I loved The Death of Grass!

#234
I thought perhaps there was a tag team thing going. Like Anne Hillerman and Tony Hillerman.

>235 benitastrnad: No, Adam's a Kiwi living in York, England, and is 45...I suspect he read John Christopher's books, like most of us SFnal fanboys. But no connections of a deliberate nature that he admits....

More BBs from RD. I've read a couple of Adam's books Empire State and Hang Wire, didn't know about this series. More on the WL.

Also, now I have to get John's stuff. Death of Grass sounds cool.

Hi RD! just passing and waving!

Richard, it's all coming back to me. The only reason why I don't like you....book bullets!!!! : ) Thanks.

Refusing the bullet -- you know this one ain't no way near my cuppa, but so thrilled to see you back and posting imperial decrees.

Hey, Richard, nice to see you! *hugs, and smooches*

>237 mahsdad: Also The City of Gold and Lead, The Pool of Fire, and The Lotus Caves.

You're welcome.

>238 connie53: *smoochiesmoochsmooch*

>239 Berly: Heh...always a risk round these parts, girlie. Wear your literary Kevlar.

>240 tututhefirst: *guffaws hugely at the image of Tutu reading an SF novel with a blank, confused stare*

>241 maggie1944: *smoochiesmoochsmooch*

*waves*
Hi, Richard - so very good to see you round here, I have to say.

*waves cast--6 more days* xoxox

Good to have you back posting, RD! I'll have to check out Adam Christopher.

ummm

Thread police. Time to move along young man.

>243 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! *smooch*

>244 ronincats: TWO MORE DAYS!!!

>245 jnwelch: Thanks Joe! I think Mr. Christopher will please your adventure needs.

>246 mckait: Yes, ma'am.