Mark's Reading Place #12

Audiobook:



Graphic:


Books Read So Far...

March:

31) Get in Trouble: Stories by Kelly Link 4.4 stars
32) The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys 4.5 stars
33) Find Me by Laura van den Berg 3.6 stars
34) The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan 4.7 stars (audio/partial)
35) The Sportswriter by Richard Ford 3.7 stars (audio) AAC
36) Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier 4 stars BAC
37) The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez 4 stars (audio)
38) Mermaids in Paradise by Lydia Millet 4 stars
39) Tunneling to the Center of the Earth: Stories by Kevin Wilson 4.4 stars
40) Embassytown by China Mieville 3.7 stars (audio/partial) BAC
41) Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel 4.6 stars (audio/print)
42) March: Book Two by John Lewis 4.5 stars (GN)

April:

43) Bring Up the Bodies (Wolf Hall, Book 2) by Hilary Mantel 4.5 stars (audio)
44) Epitaph: A Novel of the O.K. Corral by Mary Doria Russell 5 stars
45) The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich 4.2 stars (audio)
46) Stone Mattress: Nine Tales by Margaret Atwood 4.3 stars
47) Dead Wake by Erik Larson 4.7 stars (audio)
00) The First Bad Man by Miranda July DNF
48) The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black 4 stars
49) Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo 4 stars (audio)
50) Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum 3.2 stars (audio)
51) The Bloody Chamber: And Other Stories by Angela Carter 4 stars BAC
52) The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham 4.2 stars (audio) BAC
53) Aquarium by David Vann 4 stars
54) The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro 4.2 stars (audio)
55) Photobooth: A Biography by Meags Fitzgerald 3.7 stars GN

May:

56) H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald 5 stars (audio)
57) Bee Season by Myla Goldberg 4.3 stars
58) The Round House by Louise Erdrich 4.2 stars (E)
59) Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck 4.4 stars
60) The Marco Effect: Department Q Novel by Jussi Adler-Olsen 3.4 stars (audio)
61) The Secret Speech (Child 44 Trilogy) by Tom Rob Smith 3.2 stars (audio)
62) Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis 4 stars AAC

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 Completed
February - Henry James – Washington Square Completed
March - Richard Ford – The Sportswriter Completed
April - Louise Erdrich - The Plague of Doves Completed The Round House Completed
May - Sinclair Lewis – Babbitt Completed
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.

April:

Atwood April: http://www.librarything.com/topic/189477#
Louise Erdrich American Author Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/189382#

May:

May Murder & Mayhem: https://www.librarything.com/topic/190483#
Sinclair Lewis American Author Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/190597#

Happy Sunday! Happy Reading!





I did start The Round House. I know we are into May but I wanted to squeeze in one more Erdrich and I am glad I did. On audio, I started The Marco Effect, for M & M. My audio listening time will be very limited and this is a Big Boy, but I thought I might as well jump in. Yah, for Dept. Q!!

Ah! a happy new thread of warbling, and chatting, and cheering. I love it. I enjoy reading about what you are able to read/listen to/complete! You frequently make me want to get that book. I'm glad I've started to use my public library more as it will certainly help my stressed budget. Less stress! Yay! I hope your vacation provides less stress for you, too.

I'm working my way through So Many Books, So Little Time and Sara Nelson can make me laugh out loud occasionally. She is a good writer and takes the topic of reading and explains so well why we book lovers do as we do: read everywhere, and all the time.

Happy Sunday and nice new thread, Mark!

54) The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro 4.2 stars

“Be merciful and leave this place. Leave this country to rest in forgetfulness.”

“Are you still there, Axl?”
“Still here, princess.”

Axl and Beatrice are an elderly couple, who decide to cross the country, to visit their son. They have not seen him in many years. It is the Dark Ages, sometime after King Arthur's reign. The Britons and Saxons are not at war but the mood remains tense and unstable. There are many dangers along the way, making this a dark and perilous journey. The couple team up with an aged Knight, appointed by Arthur, who assists them along the way.
This is an interesting tale, combining history with fantasy. It is deliberately paced and deceptively simple in structure. The themes here, hover under the surface but it is a story about the power of memory and the value of forgetfulness. What we repress and what we cherish.
Ishiguro is known for tackling a variety of settings and issues and he does not disappoint here.

Excellent review, Mark. I believe you have hit me with a BB, but it doesn't hurt, too much...

>6 maggie1944: You are Number #1, Karen! Hooray! And yes, I love to warble. Glad you like my song. Smiles...

I read So Many Books, So Little Time a few years ago and remember enjoying it.

You might like The Buried Giant. It was also terrific on audio.

>7 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl! Hope you are having a nice weekend.

Happy New Thread, Mark. What a great painting in the top.

Happy new thread, friend!

I'll be starting Marco Effect very soon Mark. I just need to finish Second Foundation since it needs to go back to the library.

Happy new thread! Hope you are having a wonderful & sunny Sunday!

Hello Mark! Happy Sunday! I am so pleased to see your review of H is for Hawk. I have that one on hold at the library and look forward to reading it.

I also have The Buried Giant on hold and am very excited to read it.

Great thread topper, Mark. Somehow it brings back memories of a family summer holiday where we rented a cabin in Ontario. As we explored around, as kids do, we came across another cabin with a collection of comic books and no adults around. It was in a similar rustic setting as that picture and I would have looked like that youngster for hours on end (sans hat, of course.)

I saw some people at the ALA mid-winter conference carrying around copies of H is For Hawk but I couldn't find it when I went through the booth area. This is one that I will have to get from the library. (Wouldn't that be just awful?)

I did not visit my local independent bookstore yesterday because we don't have one in Tuscaloosa. I did visit the Friends of the Library Used Bookstore and purchased four books.
Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
Instructions For a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell
Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon

They cost me a total of $12.00. But the downside is that now I have four more books to read.

Okay, knocked out the food shopping, the lawn work and most of the laundry. Time for the BOOKS!! My wife and son took an impromptu trip to Great America Six Flags, for opening day, (it was heavily discounted) and since I don't do "rides", I have the house to myself. Sounds pretty cozy to me...

>11 Ameise1: >12 scaifea: Thanks, Barb & Amber! Hugs to my pals.

>13 luvamystery65: Happy Sunday, Ro! I am just over 90 minutes into the Marco Effect. Jussi likes to take his time, setting up the story, so Carl just came in. I will not be able to dip into it much, since I am on vacation but I will listen when I can.

>14 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! 2 visits! 2 days! I feel very honored.

>15 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! I haven't drawn up my mini-review of H is for Hawk yet but I will, very soon. This one deserves full-throttle warbling.

>16 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I am glad my topper brought back some fond childhood memories. I like the little guy's determination. He is churning through quite a stack of books. LOL.

>17 benitastrnad: I am not sure if I saw a copy of H is for Hawk at ALA, either. Although I am not sure I would have known about it then. I would like to eventually own a copy.
Nice book haul. I also have Birdsong on shelf and I liked Snow Hunters.

OK, I'll go see if I can get it from Audible. (It = The Buried Giant). I have become much more happy with audio books as I'm able to listen to them while I drive up to the kids house. Yay! And I'm catching up with having neglected BOTNS for months, but that does mean I can listen day after day. I'm somewhere in November/December right now. ha ha ha

Success is Mine! The Buried Giant is now "in my library", which I think means my Kindle....

^I've been thinking about making this offer for awhile now. I have many audiobooks saved on my hard drive and they are just collecting cyber-dust. I have deleted many of them, after giving them a listen but I still have a boat-load more, waiting patiently for a little love and attention.

Here is the deal: Send me a flashdrive, I will load you up and send it back. Easy, peasy!

I don't have time to list everything I have but I will accommodate as much as I can. Does this appeal?

Happy new thread, Mark!
You definitely got me with The Buried Giant so giant fat thumb from me!

I just started The Girl on the Train and I can already tell it's going to be my cuppa, but we will wait and see what happens with the ending. I will either love it or hate it..ha!

Audiobook swap? I'm totally down. I'll load it up with what I have before I send you one. Keep want you want, delete want you don't and load me up. :)

>22 jolerie: Hi, Valerie! I love a Giant Fat Thumb. Lol. I think you will like this one.
I hope you like The Girl on the Train. As you know, I enjoyed it.

>23 mahsdad: Yah, my first taker! Hey, Jeff. Do you have my address?

Try to make it a larger flash-drive, so there is plenty of space.

BTW- I have the Buried Giant.

Nice review of The Buried Giant! It would be a BB for me--but it's already on my to-read list!

Good morning, Mark. What's a flashdrive and how could I make one? I'm a bit hopless with those IT stuff.

>24 msf59:. Yep I do have your address. I'm on the road until Friday, so it will be at least the weekend before I get anything out. So excited.

Morning, Mark! We had some storms last night, but today is supposed to be really nice - Charlie's excited that I'm letting him wear shorts to school! Ha!

Happy new thread, Mark! Nice review of The Buried Giant!
Really enjoying The Round House, I'll probably finish it in a few days.

Happy Monday! Of course, I only say this when I am not working. Wet in the Midwest but still warm. Not a busy day: some house chores and meeting my cousin for lunch. And then on to the books. If it stays dry enough, I might get my bike ready and go for a ride.

>25 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. I think you will like The Buried Giant. It didn't bowl me over like the others I have read by him but it is a solid read.

>26 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! I am not sure you can make a flashdrive but you are free to try. LOL. They are a small thumb-sized storage unit, that fits into your USB port. There are a variety of storage capacities.

>27 mahsdad: Safe travels, Jeff. Send it, when you can. You can also peruse my reading lists up there, that include my audio choices and ask me if it is available.

>28 scaifea: Morning Amber! Yah, for Charlie and shorts. I wore them all weekend and I would be wearing them today, if I was going to work.

>29 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. I think you will like The Buried Giant. I am a 100 pages into The Round House and I am also enjoying it.

>30 msf59: Thanks so much for the explanation. Sometimes I fail due to the vocab, ha. I know that one. Well, I can't send you one due to international 'espionage'. We won't let a bunch of people work to find out what will cross the border, won't we? On the other hand it would be funny to see them analysing the data ;-).

56) H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald 5 stars

“We carry the lives we’ve imagined as we carry the lives we have, and sometimes a reckoning comes of all of the lives we have lost.”

Helen Macdonald, a naturalist and falconer, suddenly loses her father and it catapults her into an abyss of grief and despair. She then makes a radical decision to obtain a goshawk, a notoriously difficult and prickly bird of prey. This challenge, will absorb her time and focus and it begins to pull her out of her despondent state.
This wonderful, beautifully written book contains many things: it is a memoir, a nature book, a short biography on T.H. White, who wrote The Goshawk, one of Macdonald's favorite reads and it is a look at the complexities of bereavement.

“Here’s a word. Bereavement. Or, Bereaved. Bereft. It’s from the Old English bereafian, meaning ‘to deprive of, take away, seize, rob’. Robbed. Seized. It happens to everyone. But you feel it alone. Shocking loss isn’t to be shared, no matter how hard you try.”

I listened to this on audio and it is narrated by the author and she does a stellar job, capturing the different emotions with perfect aplomb.

Congratulations on a dozen threads Mark, dear fellow.

I thought of you a little today as I picked up a new book : The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman - can't think why?!

It feels good to be back but I am only slowly catching up to the pace again.

Happy New Thread Mark!

>31 Ameise1: No problem, Barb! I wish we all lived a bit closer and then we could pass books back and forth. Wouldn't that be nice?

>33 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! I am not a lonely postman, so it sure can't be my memoir. LOL.

Glad to see you making the rounds. Hope to see you around, more often.

>34 SuziQoregon: Thanks, Juli!

>35 msf59: So true. With the www I have the feeling of one global village but in reality it's the contrary. *sigh*

I don't know why I never made this connection, have you ever read The Postman by David Brin? Sure it was a bad Kevin Costner film, but the book was pretty good

Loved the quotes you chose for H is for Hawk, Mark. I've seen so many glowing reviews for that one that I have NO choice but to add it to my list. Thumb!

Congrats on the new thread, buddy!

I'm another one with H is for Hawk in my future. Glad you liked it.

How's it going with Finder?

“We passed over in a sweep of sorrow that would persist into our small forever. We just keep going.”



^The Round House

I am less than halfway in but I am enjoying this dark, mysterious, tale. I am glad I decided to add another Erdrich. Smiles...

>36 Ameise1: I am all up for an LT Global Village! I'll put my reservation in NOW!!

>37 mahsdad: I have not read The Postman and I am not sure I saw the film. I heard it was bad. I have not read anything by Brin, although I have one of his books on shelf. Have you read anything else by him?

>38 jolerie: Thanks, Val! There were many good quotes to be culled from H is for Hawk. Those two, stood out.

>39 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. H is for Hawk is such a keeper. I am sure you will enjoy it. Are you a fan of The Once and Future King? I am and it is mentioned a few times in this memoir.
I put Finder Volume 1 aside for now. I am having a hard time getting into it and I have a looming GN stack calling my name. I may dip back into it.

>21 msf59: I'd be very interested in taking you up on this offer. Having never experienced an audiobook, I borrowed one from the library. Didn't really get into it; I'm too deficient in attention. Trying to multitask left big gaps in the story. But it occurred to me that I might try this while mowing. Usually, I listen to music via an iPod. I finally got a pair of earbuds that stay in under the muffs. Maybe the mowing is sufficiently mindless that I can follow the story.

Will a flash card work as a transfer medium? I've got several for my camera, and my laptop has a slot in it specifically for those cards. I can get a thumb drive if that's preferred? How much capacity is needed?

Weird_O Bill

Hi there, Mr. Mark. I don't pay attention to LT for a little while and I miss a new thread with 42 messages, already.

Hope you're enjoying the beautiful weather.

Happy Monday, Mark! Just catching up a little before I fall behind on threads again.

I hadn't known much about H is for Hawk, but you sure make it sound good....

>37 mahsdad: >41 msf59: I will second Jeff's recommendation of The Postman. I was startled by how good the book was considering how bad the movie was. One of those cases where seeing the movie first nearly put me off what turned out to be a very readable if not magnificent book.

That reminds me that I was going to look for another of Brin's books one of these days ... sigh.

>42 weird_O: Glad to see you interested in my audio book offer. I do not think flash cards would work and I am not familiar with them. A flashdrive is perfect though. They come in many sizes but I suggest anything above 6GB, so there is room to fit a few books.
I will PM you my address.

>43 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! Yep, things are moving right along over here. I am sure enjoying this weather. Smiles...

>44 bell7: Nice to see you, Mary! I can not recommend H is for Hawk high enough.

>45 rosalita: Julia made it over! Julia made it over! Hooray! I have added the Postman to my vast To-Read list.

>41 msf59:. Yes, I am a fan of The Once and Future King, Mark.

I also liked the Mary Stewart Arhurian books a lot.

I understand re Finder. In my mind it's not required GN reading, like Sandman or Maus.

>41 msf59: >45 rosalita:. My favorite Brin is probably Practice Effect, a nice mix of fantasy and sci-fi, a story set in a world with no technology, unless you can "practice" it.

The first couple books of the Uplift Saga; Sundiver and Uplift War are really good too.

I'm going to also jump on the H is for Hawk bandwagon. It sounds really good. Saw it in the bookstore at the airport. Think I might have to get it on the way home.

>46 msf59: Okay then, a flash drive it will be.

>47 jnwelch: We did a Group Read of The Once and Future King a few years ago, Joe. It was a nice revisit for me. I have still not read Mary Stewart's Arhurian books or The Mists of Avalon.

>48 mahsdad: Thanks for the Brin recs, Jeff. I have a nice hardback of Existence on shelf. Have you read that one?

If you don't pick up H is for Hawk and can wait a little longer, it is one of the audios I have saved.

>49 weird_O: Sounds good.

^I just watched the penultimate episode of Wolf Hall. I can not believe we are nearing the end. I WILL MISS this show!!

>21 msf59: What a kind man you are .... I won't take you up on the offer though :)

recently acquired The Buried giant & H is for Hawk looks like am in for a real treat ...... great reviews

Morning, Mark!

^Anyone care for a shot?

Good morning, Mark. As I can see you're fully into the global village. Never miss a party out there :-).
I hope you have some nice plans for today.

>52 roundballnz: Hi, Alex! Great to see you. As you know, we love talking and sharing books. These audio books are just sitting around, not being read, why not spread the joy. Right?
I hope you enjoy The Buried Giant & H is for Hawk as much as I did!

>53 scaifea: Morning Amber! Waves & Hugs!

>55 Ameise1: Yep, Barb, I am totally into the global village. Especially when "shot girl" is in attendance. LOL.

I'll take a shot! I'd forgotten what day it is; thanks for the reminder, amigo.

>48 mahsdad: Thanks for the Brin recommendations, Jeff. I'm going to look for The Practice Effect next time I'm at the library.

Happy Cinco de Mayo, Mark!

Glad you've been having such a good time with the Wolf Hall series.

Long biz day and night ahead here, darn it. Oh well. Only happens once in a while.

>50 msf59: Existence, nope, haven't read this yet. I know I've seen it, but never picked it up. Thanks for the reminder

>57 kidzdoc: ^There is your shot, Darryl! I don't use a lime but in case you do.

>58 rosalita: Waves to Julia!

>59 jnwelch: Back at you, Joe. Good luck with your busy day. Cool and wet here. Warms back up tomorrow. And yes, Wolf Hall has been fantastic.

>60 mahsdad: I'll send you Existence at some point, Jeff, so don't pick it up. I am also going to see if I can find it on audio.

Waves to you, Mark. And I was thinking about you today, you are so much a core to this group and I thank you for your thoughtfulness in commenting on the books you read, and your cheering us all on as we read our good books, too. Thank you.

The only thing that lady is missing is a book. ;)
Happy Cinco de Mayo to you friend!

^I thought it was slim pickin's over on the E.R. I did not make a request, which is perfectly fine with me. I am still waiting for The Marauders from January. Really?

Anyone else request anything of interest?

>62 maggie1944: Thank you very much for the kind words, Karen. This is a special place for me. Where else can you be surrounded by people who LOVE what you do?
B.A.G.

>63 jolerie: You can't see it, Valerie, but there is a stack of books directly behind her. She reads when she is taking a break.

You are very welcome, Mark.

I did request three books, all of them narrative nonfiction history type books. I think it must be my favorite genre these days.

Nothing for me in ER this month. I'm waiting for my January book too.

>66 maggie1944: Yep, we sure LOVE our NNF around here, Karen. I have some very promising ones lined up, for the near future.

>67 mahsdad: You read The Marauders right, Jeff?

I think I had two ER picks but nothing urgent. I never received my book from the August batch, though I tracked down a library copy of it.

I made what I would call "second tier" picks with ER. As >69 lindapanzo: said, "nothing urgent."

Hi Mark, Nothing for me in this month's ER batch but I'm looking forward to getting Circling the Sun from the April batch.

How kind of you to share your audio books- what a great idea!

Enjoy your vacation!

>69 lindapanzo: >70 thornton37814: I've have gotten very picky on my ER requests. I did snag a NF title from last month but my over-flowing TBR shelves demand to be heard.

>71 Copperskye: Funny, I was just over at your homestead, Joanne. Circling the Sun did sound good and I liked the Paris Wife. I'll be watching for LT responses, on that one.

And thanks! Vacation has been wonderful.

>68 msf59: No, I never read that. The LT description sounds pretty cool. Boom, on the list it goes. :)

My January book is He Wanted the Moon, I got. All the Days and Nights for March and Among the Ten Thousand Things for April.

We'll see.

ETA - By "got", I mean I won. I haven't received anything since Kelly Link, and that was delayed as well.

Morning, Mark! Super foggy here this morning, which is supposed to devolve into thunderstorms and 80-degree weather. What the what?! It's too early for humid yuckiness! Gah.

I requested two LT ER books from the May list, One Righteous Man by Arthur Browne, and Project Fatherhood by Jorja Leap. My LT ER book from March that I finished on Monday, The Theft of Memory: Losing My Father, One Day at a Time by Jonathan Kozol, is once again available this month; I highly recommend it.

^ A popup library on Bondi Beach in Australia. I would gladly pick out something for the young lady.

Happy Hump Day, for those on the work force. This is about the halfway point for my vacation. Grins...

I did some power-reading yesterday and finished The Round House. I am so glad I chose to read another Erdrich, for the AAC and now I want to read all of her work. While power-washing my siding and windows, I knocked out a chunk of The Marco Effect, on audio. Jussi does take his time setting things up but it is always enjoyable. I am visiting my aunt today for lunch and it is a LONG drive, so I will take Dept Q along with me.

My next print book, will be Wolf Winter, which I snagged at ALA. This sounds good and I have not seen any LT activity on it. I will let you know...

>73 mahsdad: Someone mentioned they read and enjoyed The Marauders. I thought it was you. Yep, the ER books seem to arrive very slowly but then again, they are free...

>74 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Yes, it is foggy here too but I am looking forward to a warm day, after a cool, damp one yesterday.

>75 kidzdoc: Hi, Darryl. Sounds like you have managed to grab some good ER books.

>77 msf59: I think it was much warmer down your way. It was cold and foggy up here in our part of Chicagoland. I think Tom Skilling said that there was something like a 30-degree temperature spread from NE to SW parts of the area yesterday.

I'm still tickled pink over the Blackhawks thrilling 1-0 win over the Wild last night. What a pleasant surprise that was.

I got a copy of Wolf Winter at ALA also, but I have not read it.

I am currently reading Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall because I want to get it read before the new movie version of it is on PBS late in June. I am surprised at how good this novel is, considering that it was first published in the early 1960's. It is the first of 6 novels about the industrialization of tin mining in Cornwall in the late 1700's. Now I have another five books to put on my wish list and will have to read at some point. I also want to read the R. F. Delderfeld books. It continues to amaze me how much I love these big sprawling epic series - like the Amitav Ghosh series or Patrick Rothfuss. What also surprises me about Poldark is that this huge epic is only 350 pages. I venture to say that if he were writing now this book would be double that in page length.

Oh, a Department Q book! I'll have to track that down.

Glad the vacation is going well, Mark. We made it through the long day, and head out to the airport soon for the trip back. How's the weather?

It'll just be a few days back, as we leave next week to go to Houston in advance of our baby boy's wedding. We're looking forward to being home for a while after the wedding!

I think you recommended a Lucy Knisley book a while back - my library delivered An Age of License today - lovely travelogue, much enjoyed :-)

Hi, Mark! Happy middle of vacation day! I can't believe I missed posting to your new thread before it got this long! Oh, well, better late than never, huh?

Lovely offer for copies of your audiobooks. If I manage to find my flash drive, I'll load it with what I have in the way of audiobooks and send it to you for copies of what you have. I got rid of a lot of them, but I know I kept a few of the ones I liked most.

I only requested two from this month's ER selection: Theft of Memory based on Darryl's reccie and The Library at Mount Char, as I think I need to be more selective about my requests, too.

Howdy! I have only been home a short while and now I am taking off to meet friends at a "new" brewery, I have not tried. Yes, vacation can be grueling. If I don't stop back, later tonight, I'll see everyone in the morning. Thanks for the visits!

I didn't find anything worth requesting in the May batch. I expect to receive my copy of Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julia Pierpont from April. I think I only requested a couple of books from that batch so I was kind of surprised to "win" one.

The Swedish Laplands: the setting of Wolf Winter. Nice and atmospheric so far...

And since I ended up doing so much driving yesterday, I was able to listen to a sizable chunk of The Marco Effect. Love that Assad and his camel references:

“’You know, when a camel farts there can be two reasons . . ."

Sweet Thursday! Looks like another beauty! Sunny, low 80s.

Catch up time:

>78 lindapanzo: Foggy here too, yesterday, Linda. It will be beautiful again today. Go Blackhawks! Nice Cubbies win too!

>79 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I am enjoying Wolf Winter. I really like the 18 century Scandinavian setting. "Poldark" sounds interesting.

>80 jnwelch: Welcome back home, Joe! I am sure you can tell, we are having lovely weather. Where are you at on the Dept. Q series?

And hooray, for Jesse's upcoming wedding! How exciting.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday, indeed - I hope you can get out and enjoy it!

>81 charl08: I read Displacement, Charlotte, which I really liked. Glad you enjoyed An Age of License. I'll have to add that one to the list.

>82 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! I am so glad you are taking advantage of my audio book offer. I think this is too good to pass up. LOL. I am starting to make up a "short" list of what I have available, so I can pinpoint it down better. I suggest, you also take a look at my reading list at the top and see what I have read on audio and I can let you know if it is one I own.
I've been hearing good things about Theft of Memory.

>84 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! Yah, for ER book wins! Our weather in the Midwest has been gorgeous. This is exactly what we've been waiting for.

Speaking of ER, I don't know if you follow the threads on the ER group. The current missing books thread as a post for Loranne. She finally got confirmation from Crown that a bunch of books that were missing from this year's ERs were on the way. This included The Marauders.

She also said that she would go back thru the older stuff, but wasn't hopeful on those, but it was worth a try.

>89 mahsdad: It's very strange but I've never received my ER book from the August batch but the publisher is offering it yet again on ER this month. The Gary Krist book.

>87 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I just strolled out to get the newspaper and it is already warm & sunny out. Smiles...

>89 mahsdad: Thanks for the ER update, Jeff. I do not think, there was a time, that I NEVER received an ER book. It might be a long long wait but I eventually got it. I remember Get in Trouble was like that.

>90 lindapanzo: Are you requesting it again, Linda? Probably no point, right?

>88 msf59: Sweet Thursday, Mark!

I really liked Displacement, too. That and Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant make for quite a pair, don't they?

I've read the firs 4 Dept. Q's, so I think I'm caught up to the new one you're reading. It's on my radar, for sure.

Beautiful day out there!

Hope the day is going well, Joe! I am going brewery hopping with Bree and her boyfriend this afternoon. That sounds rough, doesn't it? I will muddle through.

^I have not read Jo Nesbo in quite some time and I just snagged the audio of Blood on Snow, which is not only a shorty, (Yah!!) but has been getting good reviews. This is not part of the Harry Hole series but a stand-alone.
The other, very interesting thing about it is: it is read by Patti Smith, the gifted songwriter:



^That could be very cool.

Happy Thursday, Mark! I hope your vacation time has been excellent so far. I haven't read anything by Nesbo yet...but you know it's just a matter of time. ;)

>93 msf59: Tough duty, but they picked the right guy. :-)

Another huge Patti Smith fan here :-). Enjoy the listening. Wishing you a wonderful day.

>90 lindapanzo: That happened to me a year or so ago, Linda. I requested the missing book from the second batch it was offered from and got that one, but still haven't received the first one.

>91 msf59: >98 Storeetllr: Since I've already read it, I don't feel I need a copy. I've got a couple of yet-to-read ER books so I chose only two this month.

Well, Mr. Mark, you sure do know when to pick optimal vacation time. It's spectacular out there today. I hated to have to come inside.

Enjoy!!

>95 jolerie: Hi, Valerie! Yes, I have been loving every minute of my vacation time. BA.G.

In regards to Nesbo, I started with the Redbreast and it remains my favorite. I think you will like this series.

>96 jnwelch: Should be leaving out about 2, Joe. Watch for my check-in posts, on FB. LOL.

>97 Ameise1: Yah, for another Smith fan! Have you read her first memoir, Just Kids? Sadly, I have not but I do have it on my audio pile.

>98 Storeetllr: Waves to Mary!

>99 lindapanzo: That does make sense on the Krist book. I am watching for that one on audio, since I really enjoyed his first book in that format.

It is beautiful out. I was doing a few thins outside and broke into a healthy sweat.

No, I haven't.

>85 msf59: Mr SandDune has just finished reading Wolf Winter and says it is the best book he has read all year!

>92 jnwelch: Don't know about Displacement but An Age of License is definitely lighter - much lighter - than Can't we talk about something more pleasant? (much as I liked it).

>102 SandDune: Good to hear, Rhian. I've put Wolf Winter on the WL.

>103 charl08: Thanks for the tip, Charlotte. I'm going to chase down An Age of License. My much better half loved her Relish GN.

>102 SandDune: Wow! Great to see you, Rhian. How are you stranger? Glad to hear your husband loved Wolf Winter. This is the Cecilia Ekbäck version, correct?

I am a 100 pages in and it's has been very good.

>103 charl08: I will also be requesting An Age of License, Charlotte. Thanks!

>104 jnwelch: I'll let you know what I think of Wolf Winter, once I finish it, Joe. I do like it, so far.

>79 benitastrnad: Poldark. Oh my goodness, I remember a summer when our kids were little that I fell off the face of the earth reading every Poldark book I could get my hands on, by Winston Graham. i was transported and it must have been a little tricky to child mind during the days as the nights were long in Cornwall. I loved them! Fun that there is a new PBS version soon.
Sure hope you're enjoying your holidays Mark!

Stopping by to say hi! I have Inside the O'Briens ready to read and I got my library to purchase Wolf Winter , which is also waiting for me . I think you are trying to copy me, Mark! ;) Currently reading The Farm by Tom Rob Smith which is really a fun read for May Murder and Mayhem!

Good morning, Mark. I wish you a wonderful day.

>105 msf59: This is the Cecilia Ekbäck version, correct? Yes, that's the one. I've been missing in action a bit recently. I've been struggling to keep up with my own thread let alone anyone else's.

Morning, Mark!

Yeah! What >110 scaifea: said. Hope you continue to enjoy your time away from the daily grind.

^I had a nice Thursday afternoon with my daughter and her boyfriend. We visited a nice little place called Penrose Brewery in Geneva IL. Very happy with the beer selections.

Happy Friday! Looks like another nice day in the Midwest. Not much planned for the day, mostly bumming around. I hope to go for a bike ride and of course, there are the books.

>106 mdoris: Hi, Mary! Good to see you. Thanks for the Poldark info. I am not familiar with him.

>107 vancouverdeb: Howdy, Tonto! It looks like we are in the same reading orbit. Smiles...I loved The Farm. i hope you continue to enjoy it.

>108 Ameise1: Waves & Hugs to Barb!

>109 SandDune: Sounds like you've been busy, Rhian. I hope you also get a chance to read Wolf Winter.

>110 scaifea: >111 maggie1944: Morning Amber & Karen! I hope you both have a terrific day!

>113 msf59: Thanks, Mark. And back at you.

>106 mdoris: My parents and I got totally caught up in the original BBC Poldark. So good! I haven't heard anything yet about the new one.

Good morning, Mark! Hope you're busy goofing off; "mostly bumming around" sounds like a little bit of heaven to me.

Besides Babbitt, I'm enjoying Bangkok Rules, a recommendation from Caro. Good private eye story set in you-know-where.

Big Bulls game tonight. I'll be there with young Becca. How 'bout them Blackhawks? Conference finals, here we come.

Happy Friday, Joe! Yes, I am loving my goofing off time. When I saw your current read Bangkok Rules, I immediately thought of the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series, which I think you also liked. Glad this one is working for you.

Yes, the Hawks made it look easy, didn't they? Sweet. Now, the Bulls need to come roaring back. Have a great time at the game, my friend.

#115
A friend of mine, who moved to Belfast five years ago, saw from an e-mail that I am reading Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall and wrote back to tell me that she had watched the "new" version on BBC TV and thought it was "gorgeous." She said that the new version was captivating but since she had not seen the old version wasn't sure how the two would compare.

I am now about 2/3's through the book, and am liking it. The way of life sure was different back then and makes me glad that I live today. The author does not color the life of the average person living in Cornwall as anything glamorous. Even the petty nobility don't live all that well, compared to what we tend to think. Ross Poldark works out in his fields most every day, and the live of the women is pure drudgery. As for the poor - let's not even go there. Last night on a PBS program I watched about Vincent Van Gogh there was a lengthy discussion of his painting "The Potato Eaters." One of the things the critic said was that in the 17 and 1800's in Europe 80% of the population was dependent on the potato for their daily caloric intake. Fortunately, for them, the potato is also highly nutritious and provides a good supply of the stuff that keeps us alive and healthy.

>112 msf59: Will have to keep Penrose in mind when I'm visiting my sister. I believe that's nearby.

Enjoy the warm weather. Strong storms moving in this afternoon, I understand.

Looks like you've had a great vacation. The brewery you visited yesterday looks nice.

"Wolf winter," she said, her voice small. "I wanted to ask about it. You know, what it is."

He was silent for a long time. "It's the kind of winter that will remind us were are mortal," he said. "Mortal and alone."

^Wolf Winter

>117 benitastrnad: I have added Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall to my To-Read list, Benita. Thanks!

>118 lindapanzo: Penrose Brewery is just a few minutes from downtown Geneva. What a lovely little town it is, off the Fox River. Hope your day is going well, Linda!

>119 SuziQoregon: Thanks, Juli! Having a great time. Penrose Brewery reminded me of a few of the breweries, I visited while in Oregon. We are going into the city tomorrow for a Beer Festival. Have you been to one of these yet?

It's ok, I am here. You can start now ;)
Yikes I have missed a lot, what a disaster. I am playing catch up and may just have to write off May until my course ends.
Still, I do try :)

My 4 year old son went on a nursery trip to look around the Jersey post Office yesterday - apparently he loved it. Made me think of our favourite posty :) Happy Weekend!

Hi Mark, I wish you a lovely weekend.

^^Happy Saturday! This event is on the agenda for today. This is the second time I have attended this Beer Fest and we have a bunch of friends going this time, along with my wife and daughter. This will be held at Soldier's Field, where the Chicago Bears play. After such a nice stretch of warm weather, unfortunately it will be cooler today, only mid-60s and it could be even cooler down by the lakefront. Oh, well, we will make the best of it.

>121 LovingLit: Great to see you, Megan. I appreciate you making time in your busy, busy schedule, to stop by and say hi!! Hugs!

>122 BekkaJo: Happy Weekend, Bekka! Hooray, for favorite posties!!

>123 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! Love the birdie!!

Enjoy your beer party.

>124 msf59:. Something tells me you'll muddle thru the cold. Wear a sweater. Plus the beer will keep you warm. Or at least after a while you won't care. :)

>126 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! It should be fun.

>127 mahsdad: Yes, Jeff, somehow we will muddle through. LOL. It starts at 11:30am here, so we are heading out shortly.

Morning, Mark! Have fun at the beer thing!

Have a great time at the beer fest, Mark! It should be fun to be down on the field at Soldier Field, not to mention quaffing all the great beer.

Hi Mark, delurking to wish you a great weekend. I've got Ross Poldark planned for this month as I'd been hearing great things about it from a couple of friends here on LT for the past year or so.

I thought about you as I was putting cans of food in a sack for our postman to take (we're on a truck route). Is it the same day all over the US? If so, you're missing all that heavy carrying!

>132 streamsong: It was the canned food drive here today. I managed to remember to purchase some earlier in the week and put them out this morning after the rain had left. I double-bagged mine just to make sure that the thin bags they left us didn't break. I know which local charity was receiving the donations and am quite excited because they do such good work.

A beer party sounds totally up your alley. I hope you are having a blast my friend!

I thought of you too while putting out my sack of non-perishables for the food drive; do you take your vacation to coincide with this day on purpose? It must be rather a pain in the doopah for the carriers, although for a very good cause.

I got a new 32g stick that I'm loading up as we speak. I'll send it out on Monday. Like I said, keep want you want, toss the rest and load me up. :)

Happy weekend! I hope you enjoyed your well-earned beer.

Mark, you sure are making good use of your vacation between house and yard chores, beer fests, and books. I am next in line at the library for H Is for Hawk. I can't wait to read it after yours and Bonnie's endorsements. I have really backed off of ER books. I only request one at a time and almost always receive it. It's the reviews that kill me. I find it harder and harder to find different ways to talk about books. I like your mini reviews!

Hi, Mark! I've fallen into Breakfast with Buddha. Its a good one!

^Big Hugs to all the special mothers, that visit my humble thread.

Happy Sunday! 2 days left on my vacation. Boo!! It's been great though, I just don't want it to end. Not much reading done yesterday, due to beery commitments but I hope to squeeze in some today, before we begin to spoil my dear wife.

>129 scaifea: >130 jnwelch: Thanks, Amber & Joe! We had a terrific time. I think we might make this an annual event.

>131 Smiler69: Good Too see you, Ilana. My LT pals are definitely peaking my interest on Poldark.

>132 streamsong: Yes, it was our National Food Drive, Janet. It is always about this time of year.

>133 thornton37814: Thanks, for supporting the food drive, Lori.

>134 jolerie: Thanks, Valerie! We had a very good time, despite the chilly, cloudy weather.

>135 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda! "do you take your vacation to coincide with this day on purpose?" No, it was completely accidental. We end up collecting some of the food bags but much of is picked up by a specific carrier, that drives around for that purpose. It is for a good cause, so we try to keep the complaining down to a minimum.

>136 mahsdad: Sounds good, Jeff. A 32G flashdrive is a hefty size. I should be able to load you up with many goodies.

>137 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda! It has been a great vacation.

>138 Donna828: Hi, Donna! Yes, I've had a nice stretch of time off and the weather was cooperative for the majority of the time. A bonus.

I am looking forward to your thoughts on H is for Hawk.

>139 maggie1944: Happy Sunday, Karen! Breakfast with Buddha is a lot of fun. Enjoy!

It is going to be in the 90's today so I will be off to the swimming pool in an hour or so. How was the beer yesterday?

Happy Sunday, Benita! We are having a cool weekend. It is only in the 50s right now. You are getting some heat down there. Wow!

The beer was just fine yesterday. Thanks. There were only a couple that really impressed me but there more than a few decent beers.

Morning, Mark! Still off today? If so, I hope it's a good one for you!

^Yes, this is the final day of a terrific staycation. FYI: Monday is my day off this week. I have a few chores to do, but books are on the agenda too. I plan on finishing up Wolf Winter and I hope to listen to some of The Marco Effect. I am over halfway through, which is more than I thought I would manage.

On the GN front, I am starting The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage. It is another comic biography, which I always enjoy.

>145 scaifea: Morning Amber! Yep, I am off one more day and back to the grind tomorrow.

Beery commitments, Mark! LOL! Thanks for the Happy Mother's Day wishes! My younger son invited me to his place and he and his fiance made dinner for my husband and me , and also invited our other son, who apparently does not wish to " be seriously involved with a girl." So it was very nice! We have the wedding coming up in mid July and I'll be glad to get behind me. A long day, Catholic Wedding, Chinese Tea Celebration , and then a evening dinner and dance in a hotel downtown.

I'm off to the dentist later today . Oh well, must be done. Enjoy your last day off!

Oh, please let me know if The Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage is a good one, Mark. Those are two of our son's heroes.

Happy *mumble, mumble* - you know, that day. Keep enjoying that vacation! We're off tomorrow to Houston in advance of son #1's wedding on the weekend. Should be quite an event.

I liked Bangkok Rules as escapist reading. You're right, it sounds like one in John Burdett's series, but this one is by someone named Harlan Wolff. Elitist and connected serial killer sends the troops after good guy private eye in Bangkok.

Read some more Babbitt, and I started The Girl of Fire and Thorns, which has gotten a lot of positive LT buzz.

>147 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! Glad yo had a nice Mother's Day. The wedding plans for your son sounds wonderful. I am sure everyone will have a great time. What is the date?
Good luck at the dentist!

>148 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Sounds like a perfectly short week for you. I am sure you both are a mile high, with Jesse's approaching wedding. How exciting.

I will be starting The Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage in a little while and Babbitt is my next print read. Possibly today?

The Girl of Fire and Thorns sounds fun!

Hi Mark, I wish you a lovely day. Enkoy it. :-)

Glad you enjoyed the Beer Festival and good planning to not return to work on a Monday!!

Yep - Portland has several beer festivals. We used to go to the bit one on the waterfront every year but it just got too big and crowded. For the past few years we have been going to the smaller North American Organic Brewers Festival and have enjoyed it a lot. They have changed the date this year to a weekend that conflict with another annual event we go to so we won't be going this year. We'll be at The Portland Adult Soapbox Derby - which is an event you REALLY should factor in to your next trip out this direction.

Looking forward to the final episode of Wolf Hall - we'll watch tonight. I hadn't realized that the show included the events of both Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies until I started realizing how much of what was in the show didn't happen in Wolf Hall. I still plan on eventually listening to the audio of Bring Up the Bodies though.

>150 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! I am enjoying the day but it is damp and cool. I was hoping to get out and do some yard work.

>151 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli! I am not surprised you have plenty of beer festivals to choose from. You live in a great area for it.
The Portland Adult Soapbox Derby sounds fun!

I have not seen the Wolf Hall finale yet. Hopefully tomorrow night. It sure has been good.

I finished Ross Poldark at the pool yesterday and started reading Margaret Drabble's Red Queen for Paul's BAC. I enjoyed the Poldark book and am dismayed to learn that there are 12 books in this series. 7 of them are about Ross and Demelza and the last 5 are about the next generation of Poldark's. I thought book 1 (about Ross) was good enough that today I put in an Inter-Library Loan request for the second book in the series titled Demelza. What made me do that was the fact that the series is based on the series of books, not on the first book. If I want to have the story in my mind as I watch the movie I will have to read the series. This morning I added 7 more books to the list of books to be read that are in my LT catalog.

Girl of Fire and Thorns is the first in a YA fantasy trilogy and it is a very good trilogy. I think it will make my best of the year list this year.

Call the Midwife was another winner last night. It was a tear jerker. Have I said that it is simply the best show on TV? (well, it is.)

Just stopping by with best wishes for fun and happiness and relaxation on your last day of vacation. Glad you had a good time at the beer festival. I never doubted for a minute that you would!

^^Elements: Books Coffee Beer, Biddeford, Maine. Sounds heavenly to moi...

>153 benitastrnad: The Ross Poldark series sounds really interesting. I may have to try it at some point. I do not think I'll be able to get to Drabble this month, due to bilblio-madness.
And yes, CTM was a real tear-jerker last night. Such a good show.

>154 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! My only problem with today, is that every time I try to go out and cut the lawn it rains and I was partially drenched at one point. I am finished now and I see a slice of blue sky, for the first time in several days.
Don't get me wrong: this sure beats a foot of snow. LOL.

Hi Mark, I already have Wolf Winter on my list, but you have reminded me that I would like to read this one sooner not later! I have finished one book for M&M so far and hope to start The Farm by next weekend. Right now I am busily reading three very different but equally as good books - The Diary of a Provincial Lady, Daughter of the Blood and Katherine. It's a lovely day here and I am planning on slipping outside with my three books shortly.

I like that book/coffee/beer shop. What a great idea. Where is Biddeford, Maine anyway? Can we get a LT tour of the place? I wonder if the LT Gods know about this one?

>141 msf59: glad the beer fest/party was good. Annual events are a good way to make sure you get to go....just by calling it an annual event means it will be so!!! I am heading to the Beer Library this evening, and I am sorry to report that I was mistaken. I thought it was books and beer, but it is just a load of beer. Ah well, I suppose I will manage ;)

>155 msf59: I would definitely move in above this café! (*dream come true*)

I'm simply stopping by and waving hi.

>156 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! I am sure you will like Wolf Winter and I am a big fan of The Farm. Enjoy!

>157 benitastrnad: I am not sure where Biddeford is but I agree with you, that the LT Gods should be notified.

>158 LovingLit: No, books at the Beer Library? WTH? Maybe you should bring some next time. Start a trend.
Good to see you, Megan.

>159 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Hope you are doing fine.

Also waving a hello. Like the sound of Elements too.

>160 msf59: I would take a book, Mark, but the friends I am going with might be offended. I took uni reading to Wilbur's soccer practice and was laughed at. WTH? Indeed. Heathens ;)
Oh. And it is tomorrow night I am going...got a little excited about it, obviously.

Morning, Mark!

^It was a great vacation, plenty of R & R and I knew it was going to end, so I am somewhat prepared. I hope the route is in good shape. My only dread.

Cool weather for my return though. Barely 60. What?? The warmth returns later in the week.

I will start Babbitt for the AAC. On audio, I am deep into the Marco Effect. This will probably be my least favorite of the Dept Q books, but it is still okay.

>161 avatiakh: Big waves & hugs to Kerry!

>162 LovingLit: I thought maybe you could bring books there and suggest starting a mini-library. Like a "take one, leave one" set-up? You could be famous, Megan.

>163 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Well, as normal my "day off" from herding the kids to school is one day after your day off. Their Dad, The Letter Carrier, is off today. Then I'm back to driving up there every day for the rest of the week.

I hope your route is in good shape so that you don't have too much catch up to do.

I am still working my way through Breakfast with Buddha; need to find a copy of "lunch" as I've also received the ER copy of Dinner with Buddha.

Should be a good day in the neighborhood today, not cold, not hot. Just spring.

Morning Karen! Enjoy your day off. Get some reading in. I think I will try to stick with the "Buddha" books on audio, since I enjoyed the first one in that format.

Ugh! Back to work already?! Well, have a great day, nonetheless. It's gotten cool here too. Seems like old man winter and Heat Miser are fighting it out.
Hope Mother's day was enjoyable and relaxing for your lovely wife.

Hi, Lynda! Very breezy and cool here. I thought I would return to work, wearing shorts full-time. No such luck!

Hope all is well.

Made it through the dentist appointment, Mark. No cavities, but I overbrush and need to get a couple of abraded areas filled in with something.

Date of wedding - July 18th , for my son and his fiance. Hubby and mine is on July 23rd.

I've got Wolf Winter out from the library, but I wonder if it might be too dark? I enjoyed Burial Rites last year, but oh boy that was dark!

Okay Wolf Winter sounds pretty interesting. On the list it goes.

- Mary Jane Ansell

>172 msf59: That's a problem? When I'm flying I'm always bringing at least 2 books, and I'll probably buy one at the airport too. At home, if we are going to dinner or something, and I'm almost done with a book, sometimes I'll just take a new one out, and then read them both later to finish the first.

But of course, with this crowd, that's something we all do. :)

Hope your first day back was a good one, Mark. Well, as good as a first day back after vacation can ever be.

>171 mahsdad: >173 mahsdad: I do the same thing, Jeff and I think we all share the same biblio-obsessions. I am getting ready to post my Wolf Winter review.

>170 vancouverdeb: Stop brushing your teeth so hard, Tonto! I have done the same thing, over the years and have to back off a little. You sure hate to have brushing cause problems. LOL.
My birthday is July 25th, so I will be right behind, those two important events.

>174 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary! My first day back went well. It always saps you a little but I'll quickly recover.

59) Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck 4.4 stars

Murder in the Swedish Laplands. It is 1717 and winter is beginning, as a Finnish family moves from their coastal town to a home on Blackasen Mountain. Shortly after their arrival, their two young daughters, find the mutilated body of a man. Most of the other residents think it was a bear or a wolf attack, but mysteries begin to surface, which will threaten everyone...
This is a deeply atmospheric novel, filled with rich detail, a dense plot and deft writing. There is also a strong mystical element, that really fits the story. I think fans of Burial Rites, will find much to admire here, since both books share, the same dark, ponderous, tone and historical depth.
Nordic Noir at it's finest.

Nice review, Mark , and thumbed. Dark! But maybe I'll read it next :)

Nice review! And it sounds right up my alley ~ dark, atmospheric, historical, mystical murder mystery. Yum!

>172 msf59: And what about if you have a book, and a back-up, but you are worried that you won't like the back-up, so you bring a third as well?

>179 banjo123: That's why I always carry two or three print books when I travel, plus my Kindle which has over 100 on it. Because you can never be too prepared!

It's true! I like to have a nice stash of TBR's lying around, one for every mood! :) And my kindle and my two day shipping from amazon ca, which I can always expedite and have the next day, if need be! And bag of 15 library books .

>165 msf59: I will certainly be asking where the books are at this so called library....

>172 msf59: oh, I know that one. You end up taking 2 big books to the drs waiting room and feeling like you are preparing for doomsday!

>176 msf59: Good morning, Mark. Nice review. My local library has got a copy of this book. I probably will read it this year.

Morning, Mark! Of course, when I travel I have at least two bags full of my Current Reads, plus a few more added in, just in case. I think Tomm is secretly glad that I'm afraid of flying - ha!

“Women want love to be a novel. Men, a short story.”

— Daphne du Maurier

Another cool day but at least we will have some sunshine. I only have a little bit left in The Marco Effect and I will be moving on to The Secret Speech, for M & M. I have dragged my feet on this one for eons, which is surprising, since I LOVED Child 44. Thanks to Valerie for the nudge.
I am also looking forward to jumping back into Babbitt.

>177 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb. Looking forward to your thoughts.

>178 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary! This one caught me off guard and I am glad I had picked it up at ALA.

>179 banjo123: Throwing another wrench in the works, eh, Rhonda? I, personally, rarely give up on a book, so I'll gladly take that chance. LOL.

>180 Storeetllr: I rarely read my Kindle but it sure makes a great biblio-back up!

>181 vancouverdeb: Looks like you have all bases covered, Tonto! Smiles...

>182 LovingLit: Hi, Megan! Tell the lovely proprietors to add just a small bookshelf and slowly add to it. See? Simple.

I HOPE, to never have to wait that long in a doctor's office. LOL.

>183 Ameise1: Waves & Hugs to Barb! Looking forward to your thoughts on Wolf Winter.

>184 scaifea: Morning Amber! It looks like you travel, perfectly prepared.

Hiya, Mark. Just checking in. I've picked up And Sometimes I Wonder About You by Walter Mosley for M & M.

The back seat of my car is technically a bookshelf. There are usually at least 3 books back there, in addition to whatever I intentionally take with me, and the audio book in the CD player, and the Kindle in my tote bag...

Wonderful review, Mark. You would have snagged me with that one, especially with the Burial Rites reference, but thank goodness it's already on the teetering library list.
Thumbers! :D

I am currently reading two books. One I carry with me at all times, and the other is at home and is my "spare." When I travel I try to take a big hefty book with me, as that way I know I won't run out of something to read. I don't like to take my Nook with me when I travel, as it takes to much time to get through security. If I take it I put it in the suitcase and end up taking a book anyway. Of course, it depends on the travel - it length, where I am going, and what I will be doing there.

To avoid having to take two books with me, when I get down to only having 50 pages or less to read, I leave the book at home, and finish it there, and take a different one with me.

My biggest problem with books is that as many as I have read there are more out there that are just waiting for me to read. I enjoyed the Poldark book and low and behold there are 6 more in that series. Instead of knocking one off my TBR list I added 6 more.

I am reading Red Queen by Margaret Drabble for the BAC and am enjoying it. It also has plenty of murder in it, as there is a crazy prince who goes around beheading people for little or no reason.

>182 LovingLit: You end up taking 2 big books to the drs waiting room and feeling like you are preparing for doomsday! Heh. Last time I went to the doctor's office, I found myself feeling very resentful when they called me in right away and I hardly had time to read one page in my book!

>185 msf59: Great quote!

I recently requested Child 44 from the library and was told I'd have to wait until July when it comes out. I thought it had been published awhile ago, but perhaps because I requested the audio of it? Maybe I better check to be sure I asked for the correct title.

^On this week's Books on the Nightstand podcast, Michael warbled his butt off about Epitaph and Ann chimed in too! If you are still on the fence, (Shame, Shame!) listen to this and it will get you running to the bookstore/library:

http://booksonthenightstand.com/

^And if you have NOT, listened to this book podcast before, once again: Shame, Shame!!

>176 msf59:, Yahoo, I have a copy of Wolf Winter waiting for me at the library. I loved Burial Rites so it sounds like I"m really going to like this one too. Great review! Hope that you get some hot weather soon. Our girls were just visiting from Denver so it was nice to have some warm weather here while it was snowing in Denver (which I thought was a bit crazy for mid May).

I just checked my library and they don't have Epitaph. Which of Russell's other books would you suggest?

>187 jnwelch: Howdy, Joe! Hope you are having a good time in the Lone Star State. And yah, for starting a Mosley. I know you are a big fan.

>188 laytonwoman3rd: "The back seat of my car is technically a bookshelf." LOL! It sounds like you are always, locked & loaded, Linda! A True Reader!!

>189 jolerie: Thanks for the Thumb, Val! Always appreciated. I also just started the Secret Speech. It is good so far.

>190 benitastrnad: "My biggest problem with books is that as many as I have read there are more out there that are just waiting for me to read. " You are not ALONE, Benita! Most of us are in the same boat as you!
Glad you are enjoying the Drabble.

>191 Storeetllr: " Last time I went to the doctor's office, I found myself feeling very resentful when they called me in right away and I hardly had time to read one page in my book!" LOL, Mary! This has happened to me too. How dare they??

I would not think you would have any problem snagging Child 44. I wonder if it has become more popular, due to the recent film version? It sure came and went quickly. It is a great book. I hope you can find it.

>193 mdoris: Looking forward to your thoughts on Wolf Winter, Mary. If you liked Burial rites, this should be your cuppa too!

>194 mdoris: Hopefully, they pick up Epitaph in the near future. You will want to read Doc first anyway. I am also a HUGE fan of the Sparrow, which is her Sci-fi classic.

Wolf Winter sounds good!

I finished the Wolf Hall mini-series. Wow! What a great adaptation. The cast was excellent but Mark Rylance (Cromwell) and Claire Foy, who played Anne Boleyn, were my favorites. I hope they bring this cast back for the final book, except for you know who, of course.

Anyone else watch it? Thoughts?

Back to the mid-60s today. I think I will leave the shorts at home, for one more day. I am enjoying the Secret Speech, it is nice to be back with Leo Demidov. Babbitt has been good too. I need to pick up the pace with it. Only clocking in about 40 pages a day, which is off the mark for me.

>197 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! I think you will like Wolf Winter.

Morning, Mark! Yeah, leave the shorts today and just focus on that partly sunny and 70+ weather tomorrow...

The first of the two pics above is not showing up for me. )-:

Wolf Winter is now on the tbr pile. Great review!

>200 scaifea: Hi, Amber! It feels a bit humid out here. I probably will shuck my jacket soon.

>201 maggie1944: Sorry, you can not see the pic, Karen. It is a Wolf Hall image.

>202 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda. I think you will like his one.

>201 maggie1944: I don't see the first picture either. We will be watching the final episode of Wolf Hall tomorrow night. It has been very entertaining, and visually stunning in high definition.

Hi Mark!! Waving!!!

Just stopping by to say hi, Mark. All's going well in the workup to the big event. It's hot down here in Houston! Hope all is well on your end.

^ LOVE that.
B.A.G! :D

^^Hooray, I received my January E.R. book, The Marauders. This keeps my perfect E.R. record going...

Funny, I received my April win, Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship, a few days ago.

The good news is, these are the only 2 E.R. books I have to read and review. Whew!

>204 laytonwoman3rd: I replaced the Wolf Hall image, Linda. I hope that one works. I am sure you will love the Wolf Hall finale. What an impressive adaptation.

>205 connie53: Waves & Hugs to Connie!

>206 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I am sure the excitement is building and building! Keep cool down there, my friend and have a fantastic time.

>208 jolerie: Hi, Valerie! I saw that image on FB yesterday and knew I had to share it. And yes...B.A.G.

I was reminded yesterday that I love books when it is raining outside and I can hear the rain on the roof, of the house, or of the car. Lots of rain with my being inside nose deeply in a book! (-:

I haven't watched a lot of tv while recovering, and thus sadly, I missed Wolf Hall. A friend called yesterday raving about it.

>211 maggie1944: Hi, Karen! I love reading when it is raining and when it is not raining, so we have that in common. Grins...

>212 Whisper1: I hope you can get to Wolf Hall, at some point, Linda. It is an excellent series. Did you read the books?

I want to read the books first but your enthusing about the t.v. series makes me want to jump the books to the top of the list.

>214 mdoris: Mary, I power-read both Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, back to back, just to be ready for the mini-series. And I am glad I did.

I liked the episode of Wolf Hall. However, I thought that they almost went to far at the end. I didn't like it as I thought it was to graphic. Of course that is the reason why I don't watch lots of historical movies. It is strange but I can read some things and it doesn't effect me like watching it does. I left the theater early when I went to see "Anne of the Thousand Days." I didn't go see "Braveheart" either and "Gone With the Wind" gave me nightmares for weeks. The worst thing is that I know how "Wolf Hall" ends. I hope they don't do it like they did this episode.

I listened to this week's Books on the Nightstand podcast and loved what Michael and Ann said about Epitaph and The Sparrow. What he said about Doc and Epitaph ("It's a western, yes, but it's so much more than that) is exactly the same as what I've said about The Sparrow, except that you'd need to substitute "sci-fi" for "western."

Love your reader's manifesto comic! So true , isn't it Mark! Just checking up on the murder and mayhem -especially the mayhem that is always on your thread! :)

>207 msf59: So true!

Happy Friday, Mark! Wishing you a lovely day.

I laughed at the last panel of the reader's manifesto. There are definitely some conversations that I wish I could escape from with a book.

Morning, Mark!

^That is perfect! Smiles...

Happy Friday! A bit of rain in the morning, but it will be mid-70s! Hooray! Back to shorts!!

I am continuing both Babbitt and my current M & M audio, The Secret Speech. I like both, for completely different reasons.

>216 benitastrnad: The trauma of watching beloved books, turned into films. LOL. Hope you have recovered, Benita. I liked the ending of the Wolf Hall series. I thought the last book ended in a similar, dark vein.

>217 Storeetllr: Didn't Michael nail, Epitaph, Mary? There is good reason I have a serious crush on MDR.

>218 vancouverdeb: Marky-Mark's Mayhem Thread! Has a certain ring to it, doesn't it, Tonto?

>219 connie53: >220 Ameise1: Waves & Hugs to Connie & Barb!

>221 kidzdoc: Morning Darryl! I am sure most of us, can relate to that one.

>222 scaifea: Morning Amber!! Shorts Day! Yah!

Glad to see how much you enjoyed Wolf Hall, Mark. I thought the ending was both powerful and chilling.

Hiya, Mark! Happy Friday!

>225 lauralkeet: Good to see you, Laura. Yes, I loved Wolf Hall. That was a uncomfortable, final shot, with Henry triumphantly hugging Cromwell.
I hope they bring this cast back for the final chapter. Fingers crossed.

>226 Crazymamie: Mamie made it back! Mamie made it back! Hooray. I have missed you.

#207 See now that's a manifesto I can get behind!

Still need to read Wolf Hall...

HI Mark,
When you track down Tracks track down the movie version too. Ha, that was fun! I watched the movie first which I don't usually like to do before I read the book but this time it was okay. It's of course an Australian movie and they sure know how to make great movies! There is also a book recently published by the Nat Geo. photographer who took photos and met up with Davidson from time to time. His name is Rick Smolan and he has put together a fabulous book Inside Tracks of photos from Davidson's trip and from the movie version. Hope you can find these. Have a wonderful weekend and hope some hot weather is heading your way. In Canada we have Victoria Day weekend, holiday Monday so yippee.

>207 msf59: Hi, Bekka! Good to see you. I think we all can agree on that manifesto. Wolf Hall, the book and mini-series, is excellent. I hope you get to them.

>208 jolerie: Thanks for all the Tracks info, Mary. The film sounds good too.

And yes, we are getting plenty of warmth this weekend. It feels good.

^ hey, is that Paul C in that cartoon? ;)

Glad to hear your legs are back out on display. Tis morning here it was coooold and rainy and we still all went down to the domain to watch W play soccer. Yikes. Lucky I had my gumboots!
Happy warming up!

Howdy Mark! I stopped by to see what you are warbling about my friend.

Love the cartoon. That's how I try to walk through a bookstore!

Happy Saturday! Looks like another warm one, high 70s, with a chance of rain. Should be a good one. I should finish the Secret Speech. I will not be disappointed, leaving this grim-fest behind.

>231 LovingLit: I think Paul leaves his "blinders" home, when he goes book-shopping. LOL.

Yep, it is nice to have the shorts back on. And yah, for the gumboots!

>232 luvamystery65: Happy Weekend, Ro! I'll have to stop by and see what you are reading.

>233 connie53: I am the same way, Connie. LOL.

Happy weekend, Mark!

Thanks, Darryl. It is the start of American Craft Beer Week. Get out and treat yourself, my friend.

Hi Mark, I wish you a wonderful weekend.

Thanks, Barb! Love the froggy!

Ha, thout you would appreciate the little cuty :-)

Hi Mark, Happy Saturday! I just came by to catch up on all I've missed here. You've hit me with the Wolf Winter bullet, especially as I LOVED Burial Rites, which I'm sure I'll reread (or re-listen to) eventually.

Pierre and I watched the Wolf Hall series and both thought it was amazing. He didn't read the books, but being familiar with the historical elements of the story was able to follow along without trouble, though of course I loved how closely they had struck Hilary Mantel's version of events and characterisations. We were both very sorry to see the last episode, not because of any heads rolling, since we both felt that A.B. had been perfectly detestable (what great acting!) and deserved to lose her head, even though it was contrived most miserably. I'm so looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, and then yes, hopeful they will adapt it with the same cast of characters eventually too.

I got my hands on the audio version of The Fatal Flame by Lyndsay Faye, the final book in the Timothy Wilde trilogy, which I'll probably listen in coming days. Also got The Fair Fight which came highly recommended by Suzanne a short while back. Both should do fine for M&M, even though I had plenty of other books planned already!

Love the cartoon.

Maybe I should stick it to my library card...

>240 Smiler69: Happy Saturday, Ilana! Thanks for the great post. I am sure you will enjoy Wolf Winter. It's a good one.

Glad you also enjoyed the Wolf Hall series. Perfect cast. Perfect production.

I have still not read/listened to Seven for a Secret. Bad Mark!!

>241 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! I say go for it! Grins...

^We are getting ready to watch Still Alice. I really liked the book.

Anyone else, see the film yet?

Haven't read it (bad Jeff), but I watched the movie. I thought it was pretty good. I cried. I probably shouldn't have watched it on an airplane. :)

Bah, my library still hasn't gotten a copy of The Fatal Flame. *taps foot impatiently*

I went to pick up my copy of The Fatal Flame from Murder by the Book today. I'll start it Monday evening and then take it to get signed next Saturday!

I haven't watched it yet but will at some point...

You finished The Secret Speech already??? I probably won't be done it till closer to the end of the month.

^We really enjoyed the film adaptation of Still Alice. Good cast but Julianne Moore really nailed the lead role and deserved the Oscar win, IMHO. And yes, WE cried.

>244 mahsdad: No worries, Jeff. I cried too. I am glad I didn't see it on a plane. LOL. It followed the book pretty faithfully too, from what I remember.

>245 drneutron: Good to see you, Jim. Bad Mark needs to get caught up on the Timothy Wilde series!

>246 luvamystery65: Go Ro! Go Ro!

>247 jolerie: You will like the film, Val, just keep tissues handy! And yes, finished the Secret Speech. Meh...

Here is an awesome quote from Lyndsay Faye's Facebook page.

So...thanks to the Times, my absolute favorite new euphemism for "bisexual morphine addict" (re: Val Wilde) is "swashbuckling."

Hilarious!

>249 msf59: Ever since my son was born (14 years ago now), I am a much more emotional person. Much more apt to cry at emotional moments in movies, TV and books. I used be such a stoic emotionless stereotypical male (HA that ain't even close to true, but I my emotions are closer to the surface now).

I'm not embarrassed when my eyes leak. :)

I'm about a 1/3 of the way thru Station Eleven. Not at all what I expected, but I like it, a lot.

>251 mahsdad: Getting kids will do that for you, It happened to me too. I even cry with some commercials!

61) The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith 3 stars

Instinctively, I must have known, there was a pretty damn good reason, I was avoiding this book. I read Child 44, five long years ago. I absolutely loved that debut. This one...well, it begins okay, as we revisit former MGB officer, Leo Demidov, the hero of Child 44. It is 1956. Stalin is dead and Khrushchev is on the rise. He pledges reform but the horrific ghosts of the past, refuse to relent. Leo is drawn into hellish retribution, involving an uprising, putting his family in grave peril. The story, begins to bog down in grim tediousness, about halfway through and never recovers, like those avenging ghosts I recently mentioned.
My last crime novel, The Marco Effect was also bloated and repetitive, but at least it had humor and engaging characters. I will not be reading the third book, which is sad, because I was crazy about his recent stand-alone, The Farm.

Nice review of The Secret Speech. I wasn't fond of Child 44, so I certainly won't read the subsequent book.

>251 mahsdad: "I used be such a stoic emotionless stereotypical male." LOL! I was exactly the same way, Jeff. Now, I am a blubbering baby. Fatherhood will do this, my friend.

Glad you are enjoying Station eleven. That one was such a pleasant surprise.

>252 connie53: " I even cry with some commercials!" LOL!

>254 kidzdoc: Morning Darryl! Yes, you should avoid the Secret Speech like the Bubonic Plague!

Morning, Mark!

I've not seen the movie version but I too thought the book to be well done. Tell you the truth, Mark, it freaked me out to and I became paranoid wondering if I exhibited any symptoms of Early Onset.
Have a relaxing Sunday :0)

I need to read Still Alice. All the attention given to Alzheimer's today makes me nervous, though, at this point, if I were to get it, it wouldn't be early onset. Still, I'm so aware of the possibility and the need to make my wishes known in advance so my daughter and sister aren't put in a terrible situation of having to try and figure it all out themselves, just in case.

And on that cheery note, hope you're having a wonderful Sunday!

Hi Mark! I'm glad you're getting some good spring weather for your daily walks.

A colleague of mine just finished Wolf Winter and definitely recommended it. I love the photo you posted of the setting. Your enthusiastic review settles it for me so I'll add it to my Book Depository Shopping Cart. I loved Burial Rites, so....

I have not yet read, nor seen, Still Alice. I thought the trailer looked excellent.

Wolf Winter sounds appealing to me -- great review!

I read Still Alice and it scared me to death -- so much Alzheimer's in my family -- but great book.

>256 scaifea: Waves to Amber!

>257 Carmenere: Happy Sunday, Lynda. I highly recommend seeing the film version of Still Alice, especially since you enjoyed the book.

>258 Storeetllr: Happy, Sunday, Mary. I wouldn't spend to much time worrying about Alzheimer's. I recommend reading like crazy, that should keep your mind distracted.
And yes, I am having a very nice Sunday. Thanks!

>259 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Yes, we have had a pleasant stretch of nice weather. It will cool off mid-week and then rebound. I am glad your friend enjoyed Wolf Winter. I am sure you will too.
And yes, I also recommend Still Alice.

>260 tymfos: Thanks, Terri! Wolf Winter is a keeper. And speaking of Still Alice, I am looking forward to Lisa Genova's new novel, which has been getting some good buzz.

Hi Mark! Sneaking in before it's over to say I hope you have (had) a good weekend :)

Great season finale to CTM. I'll miss it.

Oh boy, I'm on the west coast so waiting patiently for the season finale of CTM. What a great series! Meanwhile watching Canada/Cuba men's volleyball at World League Volleyball in Calgary. They are amazing!

>262 katiekrug: Good to see you, Katie! Hope you enjoyed the weekend and got some reading in.

>263 lindapanzo: Happy Sunday, Linda! We just watched CTM too. It was a good finale and another fine season.

Sad to see the Hawks lose and the Cubbies break their sweet streak.

>253 msf59: Hi Mark! Have you heard bad things about the third in the series? I have it in my pile and I was hoping it would leap back up to the greatness of Child 44. Sorry I have been neglecting your thread, and my thread and pretty much everything social lately. No offense intended. : ) Big Hugs.

Popping into see you. Sorry I am so behind - long weekend, son's birthday , that sort of thing. I have not written anything on my thread as yet, but I finished Lisa Genova' new novel Inside the O'Briens and it was a wonderful 4 star read. It is a well told story , but I learned so much about Huntington's Disease. I had known that it was a neurological disease, but I know so much more about it now. A fascinating read.

Morning, Mark! Looks like it might be a pretty nice Monday out there, if not as warm as you might like...

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. It looks like another warm day here, partly sunny, high 70s. On the reading front, (sadly, I did not read much yesterday), I hope to finish Babbitt and on audio, I am starting House of Meetings, for the BAC. This will be the second Amis I have read. I read and liked Night Train a few years ago.

>264 mdoris: I hope you enjoyed the CTM finale, Mary. Another teary close to a fine season.

>266 Berly: Kimmers made it! Kimmers made it! Hooray! I think I heard mostly positive things about Agent 6, but at this point, I do not think I will read it. I have FAR FAR to many books to read, that I am pumped about.
Hugs to my pal!

>267 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I hope you had a nice weekend, celebrating your son's birthday. Glad to hear, you enjoyed Inside the O'Briens. I will try to bookhorn that one in, in the coming weeks. Have you seen the film version of Still Alice? We watched it the other night and I was very pleased with it.

Morning, Mark! Is Grove Gardner the narrator on your audio of Babbitt? I think he's done a great job with it and is a large part of why I'm enjoying it so much...

Have a great day!

>255 msf59: When I look at that sentence now I think I made some mistake somewhere.

BTW Mark, every time I open your thread and see the little boy on the chair reading his book I think he looks like Amber's Charlie!

Hi Mark, another nice, warm day before it turns chilly again.

I'm taking a break from mysteries for awhile and picked up the Helen Humphreys book, Coventry. Not sure if you've read this, though I'm positive that you've read others by her.

A nice warm day out here. I believe I will be breaking into a sweat...

>270 katiekrug: I am reading Babbitt in print, Katie. And it is working out just fine. I do think audio, would work very well here, especially with a master like Grover Gardner.
I may have to revisit it, the book, in that format.

>271 connie53: I knew what you meant up, there Connie. You can even cry at commercials, right?

Funny, I thought of Charlie, when I posted that picture too. Smiles...

>272 lindapanzo: Big, sunny waves to Linda! I have only read one Humphreys but I was very impressed. I will read that one, along with all her others.

>273 msf59: right!

Ohh, that's perfect!

>273 msf59: - Derp! I need to read your posts more carefully...

Hi Mark, just using my holiday Monday to catch up on some threads when I should be doing something else to catch up with the big to do list. Sounds like your week is off to a good start and you are keeping up the pace with reading, posting and all that wonderful stuff.

Hi Mark, your reaction to The Secret Speech was pretty much the same as mine. I did go on to read the third book, Agent 6 and although it was better than book #2, it never reached the heights that Child 44 reached, so I think you've made the right decision to give it a miss.

I am currently reading The Farm and it has grabbed me right away.

^Lunch-spot in May! It seemed like it took these 2 trees, (maples?) forever to turn fully green, so I've been waiting patiently. The sunny, blue skies helped too. What a gorgeous day. Sunny & 75. B.A.G.

ETA: I included the truck, for the simple reason: Someone will ask, Where's the truck? LOL.

>274 connie53: I love the high-fiving little guys, Connie!

>275 katiekrug: No sweat, KAK. I only have a few pages left in Babbitt, as soon as I finish this post, I am going to finish the book.

>276 Familyhistorian: Hooray, for holiday Mondays, Meg. We get one next week. Looking forward to it.

>277 DeltaQueen50: I am glad I am not alone on the Secret Speech, Judy. Kerry also agreed with us. I really wanted to like the book, but the grim repetitiveness, really wore me down. Like, I mentioned in my review, I will not read book 3. Life is too short.

I think you will LOVE The Farm, though. What a great surprise, that one turned out to be.

>277 DeltaQueen50: >279 msf59: Well, poop. I so wanted it to be amazing! Oh well, I already have Agent 6 and I am sure some day I will read it.

Nice lunch spot, Mark. : )

>280 Berly: Hi Kimmers! Sorry, but The Secret Speech crapped out on me. I still, highly recommend his stand-alone The Farm.

And yes, I like my lunch-spot. Smiles...

I think >277 DeltaQueen50: will like The Farm, too, I certainly did. It was great to listen to, also. Creepy.

I love your lunch space, much better than my grocery store parking lots. Although today I did find a nice corner away from the front door of Costco, under some trees. A local food pantry, food bank, whatever they might be called in your neighborhood, was loading up a big ole truck load of fruits and vegetables which for one reason or another did not sell. Nice to know Costco is working to help feed people who need some help. That's my B.A.G. for today!

I finished my Margaret Drabble book for the BAC. I read The Red Queen and really enjoyed it. The second half of the book did not reach the heights of the first book, but it was still an over-all excellent book. Glad I finally got around to reading it. It was one of the first books I entered in to my LT account back in 2008. I should have read it much earlier so I am glad that Paul had Drabble in his BAC list. Now I am on to Gone Girl.

Glad your lunchin' spot is greenin' up :)

>282 maggie1944: There is a large tree-lined berm, to the right of my lunch spot, with railroad tracks at the top. Once in awhile, train will roar past, otherwise it is quiet and there are birds aplenty.

Go Costgo! Go Costgo!

>283 benitastrnad: I do not think I will get to Drabble, this month but I will keep The Red Queen in mind, for sometime in the future.
What did you think of the CTM finale? I thought it was another very good season.

>284 LovingLit: It sure is, Megan. A nice relaxing spot. There is a bright read Cardinal hanging out here lately. He is a beauty.

I didn't like The Secret Speech very much either, although, like you, I liked Child 44. And I wasn't overly thrilled with The Farm so I don't think Tom Rob Smith is an author for me. Oh well, I'm sure I can find something else to read. :)

Glad to see someone is having nice spring weather! We've been cold and rainy all month (seriously, only two days all month when it didn't rain) and no end in sight through the long weekend. I barely have any flowers planted but what's growing is green and happy.

Have a great week!

I *love* the lunch spot, Mark, and that you give us glimpses of it in all seasons. I'm glad you had a nice, warm, sunny day yesterday - ours was sunny but chilly! Crazy spring weather...

^I have a day off today, unfortunately it will be cool. Only in the 50s. WTH? I still have yard work to do and maybe, I will go for a bike ride. We will see.

I did finish Babbitt. I liked it. Lots to chew on. I am enjoying House of Meetings. It is very well written and cleverly ambitious but also a bit dense.

>286 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! Thanks for chiming in on Tom Rob Smith. I am sorry, that the Farm didn't ring your bells. I was a big fan. It is one of those rare disagreements. Grins...
Sorry, your weather has been cruddy. Hopefully, you settle into a comfortable pattern, very soon.

>287 scaifea: Morning Amber! It looks like we have to deal with another couple of cool ones, before it warms back up. Oh, well.

Glad you like the lunch-spot. There is a porta-potty too. Grins...

^Soar on over...

Morning, Mark! When will is start feeling like mid-May, please?!

Morning Amber! Stop by my new thread, will ya?