Mark's Reading Place #19

- Amiya Bhattacharya



- Igor Oleynikov - "The Emperor and the Nightingale"

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

June:
69) Deep Down Dark by Héctor Tobar 4.2 stars (audio)
70) The Shore by Sara Taylor 4.5 stars
71) What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe 3.8 stars (audio)
72) The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi 3.7 stars (audio)
73) Beyond the Hundredth Meridian by Wallace Stegner 3.5 stars AAC
74) Just Kids by Patti Smith 4.4 stars (audio)
75) Hell's Bottom, Colorado by Laura Pritchett 4.2 stars
76) The Children Act by Ian McEwan 4 stars (audio)
77) Nimona by Noelle Stevenson 4.5 stars GN
78) The Marauders by Tom Cooper 4 stars E.R.
79) Delicious Foods by James Hannaham 3.8 stars (audio)
80) Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy 4.5 stars (audio)
81) A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor 4.2 stars
82) Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman 3.8 stars (audio)
83) Crow Lake by Mary Lawson 4 stars

July:

84) On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss 4.2 stars (audio)
85) At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft 3.6 stars
86) The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin 3.8 stars (audio) AAC
87) In the Country: Stories by Mia Alvar 5 stars
88) Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks 4.5 stars GN
89) Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes 3.4 stars (audio)
90) Hell Is Empty (A Longmire Mystery) by Craig Johnson 3.5 stars (audio)
91) The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler 3.7 stars
92) Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer 4.4 stars (audio)
93) Strong Female Protagonist Book One by Brennan Lee Mulligan 4.3 stars GN
94) The Hunters by James Salter 4.2 stars
95) Hunted (Iron Druid Chronicles) by Kevin Hearne 3.6 stars (audio)
96) Girl at War by Sara Novic 3.7 stars (audio)
97) A Kim Jong-Il Production by Paul Fischer 4.4 stars
98) The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert 4.5 stars (audio)

August:

99) Fifth Business by Robertson Davies 4.7 stars
100) The Devil's Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea 4.4 stars Booktopia
101) Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke 3.5 stars (audio)
102) The Room: A Novel by Jonas Karlsson 3.6 stars (audio)
103) The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs by Matthew Dicks 3.7 stars (E)
104) Pretty Boy Floyd by Larry McMurtry 3.8 stars (audio) AAC
105) To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf 3.6 stars BAC
106) Brighton Rock by Graham Greene 3.7 stars (audio) BAC
107) Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League by Jonathan Odell 3.5 stars Booktopia
108) Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson 4.3 stars (audio) E.R.
109) Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julia Pierpont 3 stars (audio)
110) The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon 4.3 stars Booktopia
111) Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates 5 stars (print/audio)
112) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling 3.7 stars (audio)

September:

113) The Water Museum: Stories by Luis Alberto Urrea 4.3 stars (audio) Booktopia
114) The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories by Anthony Marra 4.7 stars
115) The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion 3.7 stars (audio)
116) Wind/Pinball: Two novels by Haruki Murakami 3.6 stars (audio)
117) The Bell by Iris Murdoch 4.2 stars BAC
118) No Time Like the Past (Chronicles of St. Mary's) by Jodi Taylor 4 stars (audio)
119) Almost Famous Women: Stories by Megan Mayhew Bergman 4.2 stars (audio)
120) The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog by W. Bruce Cameron 3.2 stars (E) Booktopia
121) The woman who wouldn't die by Colin Cotterill 4 stars (audio)
122) Redshirts by John Scalzi 3.8 stars (audio)
123) Days of Awe by Lauren Fox 3.8 stars (E) Booktopia
124) Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor 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

**Kent Haruf- Memorial: http://www.librarything.com/topic/191598#

**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 Completed
July - Ursula K. Le Guin - The Dispossessed Completed
August - Larry McMurtry – Pretty Boy Floyd Completed
September - Flannery O' Connor - Everything That Rises Must Converge Completed
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?

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE

2015 selections

January : Penelope Lively & Kazuo Ishiguro (Moon Tiger, The Buried Giant: Completed)
February : Sarah Waters & Evelyn Waugh (The Night Watch, Brideshead Revisited Completed)
March : Daphne Du Maurier & China Mieville (Jamaica Inn, Embassytown Completed)
April : Angela Carter & W. Somerset Maugham (The Bloody Chamber, The Moon and Sixpence Completed)
May : Margaret Drabble & Martin Amis (House of Meetings Completed)
June : Beryl Bainbridge & Anthony Burgess
July : Virginia Woolf & B.S. Johnson To the Lighthouse Completed
August : Iris Murdoch & Graham Greene (Brighton Rock Completed The Bell Completed
September : Andrea Levy & Salman Rushdie
October : Helen Dunmore & David Mitchell
November : Muriel Spark & William Boyd
December : Hilary Mantel & P.G. Wodehouse

Thirteenth Month : Bernice Rubens & Aldous Huxley

Am I first again? Two threads in a row?

>5 lindapanzo: You get the Grand Trophy, Linda! This is only given out on very special occasions. Good job, my friend.

Sweet.

Had dinner with some new friends in my retirement place, and I'm delighted to report they seem to be a nice group, very similar to LT. Talking about books over dinner, even.

Congratulations on a spanking new thread!

Just finished baking and icing a spice cake for Gram's birthday. Kids and grandkids coming tomorrow. Yahoo!

Happy new thread, Mark. Hope you have some of this weekend to enjoy some R&R and maybe a brew or two. I am busy getting all of the last minute details sorted out before I leave for Scotland on Tuesday. Five weeks vacation - wooho!

Good morning, Mark and congrats on your shiny new thread. I love the opening paintings - strong and colourful. The Emperor and the Nightingale is such a wonderful story. We own a wonderful edition.
Wishing you a relaxed weekend.

Happy New Thread Mark :) I'll try and keep up with this one better!

Happy New Thread, Mark! Have a nice Sunday!

>7 maggie1944: Hi, Karen! Glad you are making new friends at the new place. And they like books? Sounds heavenly.

>8 weird_O: Hi, Bill! Sounds like you have a nice Sunday lined up. Enjoy the grandkids today!

>9 Familyhistorian: Happy Sunday, Meg! I am going to the Cubs game today. Should be a blast and tomorrow, (we are off, for the holiday) will be a mix of tasks and R & R.

Wow! Your Scotland trip is coming up fast. How exciting.

>10 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! I do not think I have ever read The Emperor and the Nightingale. I will have to track it down.

>11 BekkaJo: Thanks, Bekka. Good to see you over here. Big Smile!

>12 connie53: Thanks, Connie! Happy Sunday!

^We are going to the Cubs game today. This will be my first time at Wrigley Field, in 2 or 3 years. We will get to finally see the new renovations. We also love to see another win. This has been a terrific season of baseball.

Can you even see the baseball from this far back?

Too much fun, by half. Seahawks are catching our attention again, and the Seattle Storm WNBA season is coming to its end. I'm not much of a sports fan, but I do have a couple of enthusiasms.

114) The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories by Anthony Marra 4.7 stars

“There was coherence in exiting by the same door through which you entered, bookending with order this senselessly churning existence.”

In the 1930s, a failed portrait artist, is given the task, by Soviet censors, to erase images, from photographs. He will blot out the faces, of all political dissidents, including his own brother, who fell astray, a few years earlier. It is a painstaking job and he excels at it, until he makes a fateful mistake of his own...
This is the first tale, in a collection of interconnected stories, that span the decades. There is a legendary ballerina, a retired gangster, a pair of mercenaries, nickel miners and various war criminals, all thrown in to a vast human mixtape and all anchored by Marra's wonderful prose and his uncanny ability to capture the Russian landscape, in it's many diverse forms.
I was first introduced to Marra, through his novel, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena which completely blew me away. I am happy to report, his streak continues. He is quickly becoming a very important American writer.

Happy new one, Mark - and happy Sunday!

>15 maggie1944: Morning, Karen! That will not be our view today, we will be far off in left field. Hopefully well-shaded. Most of the seats at Wrigley are pretty good and you can watch the game, with minimal problems.

>17 scaifea: Morning Amber! Hope you have a nice Sunday planned.

>16 msf59: - Can't wait to get my hands on this one! So glad it lived up to Constellation....

FYI, I FINALLY put Little Beasts into the mail for you yesterday. Sorry for the delay - bad Katie!

Hi Mark! Sorry I've been AWOL. I hope you have had a good summer. I hadn't heard that Anthony Marra had a new book out. I'll keep an eye open for you it. Have you read The Painter yet? If I remember correctly, you like The Dog Stars, too. I just picked up a copy of The Painter a couple of days ago and hope to start it soon.

***Oops, yes, I see you have. I just saw your review.

Happy New Thread, Mark, and Happy Sunday!

Glad you had a good time with Wind/Pinball, and that the Marra turned out to be a solid read throughout. I actually think a newbie would do okay with Wind/Pinball, maybe because of that great intro. But they'd need to know his writing/storytelling gets even better.

You have some excellent Gamache stories ahead of you when time permits. I just picked up the newest Inspector Montalbano for our trip. Redshirts is a pretty good insiders' jokefest so far.

>19 katiekrug: Morning Katie! I can not warble enough about The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories. What a dazzling writer he is.

Thanks for letting me know about Little Beasts. Looking forward to it.

>20 labfs39: Wow! Great to see you, Lisa! I've missed you, stranger. The new Marra is wonderful and I also really enjoyed The Painter. Heller is another one of my current favorites.

>21 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! And thanks. I can't wait to see what everyone else thinks of the new Marra. I would not be surprised if it makes a few Best of the Year lists. I am also way behind on the Montalbano series, which I also really like.

I have Redshirts, in my audio queue. It will be my first Scalzi.

Happy new thread, Mark! I love interconnected stories, so I have added The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories to my list. AND, you are reminding me that I need to get to A Constellation of vital Phenomena, which is sitting patiently on the shelf. Happy Sunday to you, my friend!

>22 msf59: My own suggestion for starting with Scalzi would be Old Man's War, but I'll have a better bead on Redshirts when I'm done.

Happy new thread and hope the game is great!

>24 jnwelch: I have read Old Man's War a couple of times, I enjoyed it so much. The last time round I read the sequels as well. They were okay, but each was a little less interesting and more repetitive than the one before, IMO.

>26 labfs39: That's a good way of putting it. Agreed.

Looks like you saw a good ballgame today and brought home a Cubs winner. The longest home run in the majors this year and, later on, a Cubs grand slam. Woo-hoo.

I m going to add to the Facebook discussion from the previous thread by saying that I don't have a FB account. I was put off it by the attitude of the founder and figured that I didn't need anything in my life that was started simply as a way to rate girls. There is enough of that done already. Nothing I have read or seen on, or about FB has changed my mind.

I think that when times are hard for people they get fearful and the easy answers provided by hate mongers has its appeal. It is sad, but jobs that pay well and allow a person to move into the middle class are hard to come by and that makes everybody fearful. Including me. I have to fight constantly to not fall into the traps set by easy answers to problems. That is why that type of sound bite sensibilities works so well on FB. It is easy.

^At Wrigley Field, along with my son and my cousin Danny, who is a BIG Cubs fan! Had a great time and witnessed a 6-4 victory, including a grand slam and another homer that rocketed 495 feet, the longest in the major leagues, this season. Yeah, baby!

ETA: My son bought me a Kris Bryant jersey for my birthday and of course that is who cracked the long ball. Sweet! My son is wearing a Kyle Schwarber jersey.

LOVE the Wrigley field pic!

>23 Crazymamie: " I love interconnected stories." Me and you both, Mamie! Can't get enough of those. Please try to put A Constellation in your rotation. You will thank me later.

>24 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! I have Old Man's War saved on audio too. I will try to get to this guy soon.

>25 banjo123: >31 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda! Happy Sunday! It was nice to finally get down to Wrigley Field.

>26 labfs39: Thanks, Lisa! Your Scalzi opinion is noted. I better get crankin'...

>28 lindapanzo: It was a great time, Linda, but it was a HOT one. Fortunately , we were up by this fence and caught a decent breeze and stayed in the shade, for the most part. The only drawback, was we were to the side of the jumbotron, so could not see it clearly, although we did see Bryant bounce a ball off of it. B.A.G.

>29 benitastrnad: Thanks for your FB input, Benita. I have to admit, I really like my FB experiences. It is a great way to stay in touch with family and friends, swapping updates and photos. There is plenty of fascinating stuff out there. I just do not like the political poison, that rains down. At least you can switch that garbage off.

So glad you had a great day and the Cubs won so spectacularly!

Glad you had fun at the game! Cubs win!! Cubs win!! All the better! What a year.

It's hard being a baseball fan in Denver. Coors Field is beautiful and we've been to a lot of games but the Rockies are kind of sad and the owner is an idiot who doesn't care about the game.

We are Mets fans from way back but frankly haven't been following baseball very closely for the last few years.

Morning, Mark! You know I don't follow sports at all, but I'm happy for you and your Cubs! *grins*
Happy Labor Day, friend!

>33 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary! We had a good time. Now, we have to deal with the Cardinals...

>34 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. Sorry, to hear about your Rockies. That gets so frustrating. As you know, the Cubs have gone through many dismal seasons, in which I rarely watched a game. It is nice to have a great team back on the field and for many years to come. Your time will come...

Hope you are having a great holiday weekend.

>35 scaifea: Morning Amber! Happy Labor Day! Hanging at home today, doing a mix of chores and R & R.

^If I had to pick a favorite novel about our country's labor struggles, I would have to go with In Dubious Battle. If you have not read it, keep in mind Mr. Steinbeck WILL be featured in next year's AAC. Yes, I am shameless.

Do you have a favorite book that captures the labor movement?

^If I had to pick a film that best depicted our labor struggles, I would wholeheartedly go with Matewan. It came out in 1987 was directed by John Sayles. If you have not seen it, try to track it down.

Morning, Mark! I have In Dubious Battle sitting on the shelves, but I haven't read it yet. Better get it down, eh?!

Wow... a new thread, a wonderful time at the Cubs game and a glowing review of the Marra book. Looks like you have had a great weekend, Mark!

Way to bring home a Cubs win, Mark! Looks like you had a great time. Good day to have a Bryant jersey on!

In Dubious Battle is a Steinbeck I didn't get to during the Steinbeckathon, so that's perfect for next year's AAC.

Happy Labor Day! Hope you get to kick back and relax today.

Good morning, Mark, happy Labor Day!

I haven't read In Dubious Battle yet. I need to get to it. Matewan is an excellent film. I'm partial to Silkwood. Her Union was the same as my husband's, the OCAW (later merged with the Paperworkers and then the Steelworkers). When I met my future hubby back in the 80s, he was president of his Local and I was working in the accounting dept at the same company. Management was not happy.

Monica Wood writes about the paper mills and small towns in Maine. You'd like Ernie's Ark.

>38 msf59: I read In Dubious Battle years ago, recall thinking highly of it. I'm going to read several Steinbecks next year for the AAC.

Glad you had a good weekend, with big Cubbie's win. Keep the string alive and your feet up. It would be okay if you had a brew or two.

We had a super family day yesterday, celebrating (late) grandson Gus's 5th birthday, Gram's mhhmnn birthday, and son Ned's upcoming birthday. Lots of racing around, laughing, story-telling, snacking. Gus starts kindergarten tomorrow, his cousins Claire, Helen, and Gracie started school last week. Everyone liked the spice cake I baked! (Yaayyy!) And a chunk is left for Gram and me to share with afternoon coffee.

>40 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Glad you have In Dubious Battle on shelf. Try to fit it, in the rotation. It's not a long work, about 300 pages.

>41 lkernagh: Morning Lori! And thanks! Have you read Marra yet? And yes, Go Cubbies!

>42 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Happy Labor Day! Hope you have a nice day planned. In Dubious Battle will be perfect for next year's AAC. I'll have to decide, which one(s) I will read.

I just finished The Bell. I really liked it. Not always the smoothest read but I definitely got caught up, in that bittersweet story and those characters.

>43 Copperskye: Happy Labor Day, Joanne! I hope you can get to the Steinbeck at some point. I think Silkwood is an excellent film choice. I remember Cher being really good in that one.
I have Ernie's Ark saved on ebook. I remember you warbling about that one for years. I better get to it.

>44 weird_O: Happy Labor Day, Bill! It has been a good weekend and it will be even better if the Cubs can beat the Cardinals today. Grins...

" It would be okay if you had a brew or two." I just might take you up on that, kind sir!

sounds like you had a great time with the family yesterday! That is what it's all about, right?

>45 msf59: Glad you really liked The Bell. If nothing else, you've given me reason to pick it back up some time.

I thought you had completed, The Bell, Joe! I definitely think it is worth finishing. I think she goes "on" a bit at times, but her writing is really strong and descriptive. I am glad I was introduced to her.

>47 msf59: Yeah, I had trouble with those characters and so much oppressive churchiness. The writing was excellent; I just got turned off by the story.

Happy Labor Day Mark. I am at work laboring. LOL!

>48 jnwelch: It took awhile, Joe but I ended up getting into the characters, in The Bell. A couple, were definitely unpleasant.

>49 luvamystery65: Boo, to work, Ro!! Ugh! Try to muddle through, my friend!

>45 msf59: - No, I haven't read any Marra yet, but does owning a copy of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena give me some street creed over here? ;-)

Absolutely, Lori! You are on safe ground. Hope you are having a great day.

>16 msf59: love that cassette tape on the cover! And I have always meant to read A Constellation of Vital Phenomena...clearly I need to get moving on the Marra front

The baseball park (field? arena?) looks huge! And wrm and sunny....I hope you had a great old time. Looks like you did :)

Oh, and, I love that thread topper! The texture in the back ground is amazing.

Another good Labor Union novel is Out of This Furnace by Thomas Bell. It is about the founding of the Steelworkers Union and the early days of Pittsburg. It is a book that was introduced to me by my father. Bell was Czech. (His real name was Belicheck - no relation to football that I know of.) My father was interested in reading about the Czech immigration experience and this book is full of that. The descriptions of the working conditions in the mills are hair raising.

This morning the Tuscaloosa News had stories in it about the former glory days of Labor Day celebrations here. They had a huge parade and even had a Labor Union Queen. Several of the past Queens were interviewed. (They are now in their 80's) One of them told about a parade route that was over a mile and a half in length with thousands watching. The reporter asked what she thought accounted for the difference from then to now. She said that people nowadays don't think that labor unions are important and don't understand what a struggle it was to get those rights. I thought that was interesting considering that last week Lily Ledbetter was the guest speaker at a women's and workers rights symposium that was held at UA. I think it shows just how easily we forget.

>53 LovingLit: Hi, Megan! Hopefully you have a copy of A Constellation. That would be half the battle, right? The new one is so good too.

Yes, Wrigley is a baseball field and one of the smaller venues and one of the oldest. (2nd oldest!)

Glad you liked the topper! I found it striking too.

>54 benitastrnad: Thanks for chiming in on the "labor" novel. Out of This Furnace sounds very good.

Are you working today?

I have the day off. The library is closed. It is closed 8 days out of the year and this is one of them.

I thought about driving over to Atlanta for DragonCon and trying to meet up with Darryl but it is SO hot here that just vegged out.

*Cubs beat the Cardinals 9-0!! Yeah, baby!

I am working, without the benefit of a Labor Union! Don't get paid much, and am depending on the kindness of strangers. It amazes me how many people do not provide TIPS (to assure prompt service). But I never know until the next day so I cannot provide anything but the best I can do 😋

>56 benitastrnad: Hope you are enjoying your day off, Benita. How far is Atlanta from you?

>58 maggie1944: Happy Labor Day, Karen! Depending on the kindness of strangers is always a crapshoot. Hope you made the best of it, my friend.

I started reading The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog. Cameron is one of the authors that will be attending Booktopia Petoskey. I am not attending this session but the wife is. This is a prehistory tale, about the first domesticated pooch. A doggie version of The Clan of the Cave Bear.

Cameron wrote the popular A Dog's Purpose, which I did not read, but I am sure a few of my LT pals did. Comments?

Whew, a hot and muggy one at U.S. Cellular today. At one point, we went into the Stadium Club for awhile to cool off.

How about those Cubs?!?

Happy Labour Day, Mark! My husband had part of it off. It is a holiday here, but his sort work as an aircraft mechanic means he does not necessarily get the actual holiday off. I had to attend a party on Saturday night all by my lonesome - but I've become accustomed to that. But I had a great time anyway! I've not read The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog but I must say the picture of the dog looks quite scary! I'll take my little maltipoo , Poppy, over that scary dog!

>61 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! I bet it was a hot one down at Cellular. Did they win, at least? I am looking forward to those cooler temps. Much better on Wednesday.

And yes, sweet, sweet, win by our Cubbies! Let's do it again tomorrow!

>62 vancouverdeb: Hey, great to see you, Deb! Miss, seeing you over here. The image of the dog, is a prehistoric wolf, which are featured in the book. Yes, they eat maltipoos for breakfast. LOL.

>63 msf59: The Sox lost, with Chris Sale pitching. Pretty close game though.

Wow! That's a surprise, especially after beating up on the Royals!! Sales is a great one. That is for sure.

^Sedge Warbler- Featured in The Bell

Back to work Tuesday! One final day of heat and humidity, (it has been over a week, folks!) and we get more comfortable tomorrow. We also hope to get some well-needed rain through the day and night.

Like I mentioned up yonder, I started The Dog Master, (the writing is just okay but I am curious to see how the story unfolds) and, on audio I am going to start No Time Like the Past (The Chronicles of St. Mary's Series). This is the fifth in the series and each one, is a lot of fun. This will also be my second S & S title.

Good morning, Mark! You'll have fun with No Time Like the Past. I get the feeling the success of this series has surprised the publisher. I've got a new short story of hers on my Kindle, What Could Possibly Go Wrong, which I'm sure I'll read on our trip.

I'm really enjoying Signs Preceding the End of the World right now. Translated from Spanish - as someone here said, a good translation is so important, and this seems to be a good one.

No rain yet, but at least it's not going to get as hot as it's been. The rain would be welcome, you're right.

Morning, Mark! One more day, eh? Let's hope that's all. We're getting rain here this morning, so here's hoping it comes your way soon.

>38 msf59: Somehow I was unaware of In Dubious Battle ("and you call yourself a Steinbeck fan??"...there, I said it so you don't have to.) Must see if it's included in the LOA volumes, and put it on the list for next year's challenge, if not sooner. I remember Matewan being excellent. And of course, let's not forget The Molly Maguires with Sean Connery and Richard Harris...filmed right here in my neck of the woods.

Mail very heavy, (Ugh!)...no rain yet...still hot & muggy.

>67 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Yes, I am enjoying the St. Mary's book. Always a fun, ride.

Funny, someone on Book Riot was just warbling about Signs Preceding, but I could not recall the title, until your warble. I will hunt down a copy. Thanks.

>68 scaifea: Hi, Amber! I saw on the news that WI, was getting all kinds of rain. Still dry here...

>69 laytonwoman3rd: I am sure you will enjoy In Dubious Battle, Linda. I reread it for the Steinbeckathon and it held up, just fine.

Thanks, for including The Molly Maguires. I completely forgot about that labor film.

Suddenly it is pouring...happily I am on lunch. All about the timing...the timing.

I wish it would rain down here. It has been so hot and sticky and yesterday was the last day for the pool. I don't understand why when the temperature is still in the low 90's, but the manager said it was because it cost too much to keep the pool open more days. I think it is because of the upcoming football games. They don't want to have people outside the university paying to get in when they want to bring their beer and drunken conduct to the pool.

Football game days - ugh. Misery as great as that produced by the humidity.

It's really blasting down here, with lots of lightning. Stay safe!

We just had a little thunder, here, too. Weird. Poor Greta Garbo, ever since we moved to this new apt. she's been listening to thunder, and this after an entire summer without much of it. I wonder if she thinks these phenomena are linked by causation?

>72 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita! I hope you get some rain down there. We had a very dry August and we really needed some relief. We did not get as much as our neighboring states but it all helps.

>73 jnwelch: It seems like the rain stuck around for a good chunk of the afternoon, Joe but the heavy stuff, happened on my lunch break. Good timing, but I was still tired, wet and funky, when I finally got stumbled home.

>74 maggie1944: Poor Greta! I hope her Mom, gave her plenty of love and comfort. We are fortunate, our current little pooch, is completely oblivious to thunder. I hope he stays that way.

Enjoy the rain...if that is possible ;)
I am enjoying a cool morning, but a sunny one (vitamin D, I need you!!!). Spring is here, and for that I am glad.

She comes and doglaps me regularly; I love her up a lot.

Tomorrow flooring begins and I am happy! Greta and I will go to the dog park and friend visiting😃

>76 LovingLit: Hi, Megan! Always good to see you. We needed this rain and behind it, are much cooler temps. This will make me very happy.

Enjoy that sunshine and warmth.

>77 maggie1944: Hooray, for dog-laps! And hooray for new flooring. Take photos, Karen!

Hey Mark! I'm really pleased to see that Anthony Marra's new novel worked so well for you. I very much look forward to reading it!

I'll second Joe's recommendation for Signs Preceding the End of the World. It's a good translation (I think) and a nicely poignant short novel.

Have a great week, my friend!

Not caught up at all, but wanted to say Hi! to my favorite postman. : )

Morning, Mark! High of 77F and sunny today? I'll take it! B.A.G.

^Oh, it feels good to have the windows open again, after nine, long days! 75 degrees, today. Perfect number, right?

>79 EBT1002: Howdy, Ellen! I can't wait to see what my LT pals, think of the new Marra. I must have missed your warbling on Signs Preceding the End of the World. I have requested it. Plus, I love those shorties!

>80 Berly: Thanks for dropping by, Kimmers! Always a pleasure.

>81 scaifea: Morning, Amber! First, thing I did, after getting out of bed, was throw open those windows and shut off that A/C. Ahhhhhh....

B.A.G., for sure.

Morning, Mark! The windows open?!! You lucky dog, you! Going to 91F here today....

Morning, Mamie! Feeling wonderful out here. Now, this is my kind of weather.

Hope you get some relief.

>82 msf59: Love that picture. Can almost feel the breeze. Just picked up The Illuminations, hoping for Good Things...

Happy Wednesday, Mark. Hope everything goes fine at your place.

>86 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! I especially like these cool nights, with a sweet breeze. Looking forward to your thoughts on The Illuminations.

>87 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Hope you had a good Wednesday yourself. All good here.

^Sandro Botticelli- Birth of Venus

Botticelli makes a brief appearance in No Time Like the Past, so I thought I would share. This is such a stunning work.

Hi, Mark! Hope the rain cooperated with your schedule today.

I saw The Birth of Venus when I was in Italy a decade or so ago (along with other of his masterpieces). It's even more stunning and, to be honest, exciting to see in person. But, I was there for an entire month, and by the end of that time, I would walk through museums, merely glancing at all the gorgeous works on display, muttering, "Oh, how nice, another Botticelli," or, traveling through Tuscany, would glance up at the bell towers and mutter, "Oh, lovely, another Tuscan hill town." I think it was a case of overload ~ there is just so much amazing art and culture and antiquities to take in that it can be a bit overwhelming. Or was for me. But, oh! I do wish I could go back!

>89 msf59: I saw this painting when I was in Florence. It's beautiful.

Good morning, Mark.

Good evening, Mark! The Giller Prize Longlist ( A Canadian Lit Prize that pays $100,000 to the winner included Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt. I visit your threads often enough to know that you are eager to read it. I loved The Sisters Brothers by the same author, but I'm not sure Undermajordomo Minor is going to appeal to me .

Sweet Thursday! Another lovely day in the Midwest. This makes a Happy Camper! I should wrap up the audio of No Time Like the Past. Another fun romp with Max & Co. I am still making my way through The Dog Master. It's not bad but, it is taking me awhile to get through.

>90 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! No problem with rain yesterday. It was perfect. We are supposed to get more rain, later today.

I have never been to Italy. Yes, I am extremely jealous. I bet the painting was gorgeous.

>91 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! I want to go to Florence! Wah!!!

>92 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I am really looking forward to Undermajordomo Minor. I loved the Sisters Brothers. I admire an author who can mix things up.

>93 msf59: - Oh that is just perfect!

Have a great day, Mark!

>95 katiekrug: Morning, KAK! Glad you liked the Scully. I chickened out and did not post it on FB. I did not want to "offend" my sensitive family members.

"Did you see what Mark posted?" "OMG!!" "We know where he is headed."

>93 msf59: *snork!* Love it.

>97 scaifea: Big, morning waves to Amber! We have a nice day out here...at the moment.

>98 msf59: I wonder if the rain we're getting up this way will make it down to you, Mark.

Liking the cooler temps though, for now at least.

I'm glad that you were happy about the rain, Mark. After a long, long hot summer our last weeks of August broke rainfall records and water levels at the lake are back to normal - the floating fishing platform is floating once more. Sometimes the timing of rain can be the pits, though - like on Tuesday when I wheeled my suitcase to the bus stop. I must have gone through a few puddles as there were wet clothes at the bottom of that suitcase as I discovered many miles and hours later.

We're finally getting some rain today too and I'm in a much better mood. The last few days were just miserably muggy. Bleech!

Are you liking the The Dog Master so far, Mark? I may not be in the right mood for it right now because I started it 2 days ago and have had to put it aside already. It's just not holding my interest.

A cool, steady rain falling...

Less than 30 minutes left on the route....

>99 lindapanzo: It definitely made its way south, Linda! It rained for about 90 minutes solid. At least it wasn't warm & humid and I could wear the rain gear comfortably.

Go Cubbies! Go Arrieta!

>100 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! It looks like you guys, sure got caught up with your rain totals. Yikes! Have you left for vacation yet?

>101 cameling: Hi, Caro! We had quite a turn around, on the weather. Much better yesterday and today and only in the 60s tomorrow. Wow!

I am nearing the halfway point in The Dog Master. It is not bad but I am not sure I would have continued, if it this wasn't a Booktopia Author read.

Vacation is started, Mark. I am currently in Glasgow and heading out to Islay this morning.

>104 Familyhistorian: Oh, that is wonderful, Meg! Have a fantastic time. I will have to drop by your thread and follow your adventures in Scotland.

^Daisy & Violet Hilton (February 1908 – January 1969) English conjoined twins.

I just started the audio of Almost Famous Women: Stories. In each of these tales, she features a real-life woman or women that nearly became famous, including the lead off story, starring the twins.

I loved Bergman's last collection, Birds of a Lesser Paradise, (if you haven't read it: Find a copy!) and it looks like she delivers the goods again here.

Morning, Mark! Glorious weather today, eh? I know I'm looking forward to it!

>107 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Cool and cloudy right now. I am hoping to stay dry for a few more hours.

Fingers crossed....

It finally rained down here in T-Town! It was two weeks of hot and humid summertime in the deep south. It is such a relief. The weather of the last two weeks will not be anything I will miss when I retire and leave the south.

It is the weekend of the first home football game and I am not really happy about that so I plan to avoid all the traffic and nasty fans by heading to Birmingham and some furniture shopping followed by some used book shopping.

Huh. I'm going to have to look for one (or both) of those Bergmans. They sound fascinating!

>102 msf59: Heh, love it! I know I'll be thinking of that cartoon when (if) I read GSaW.

^Our Cubs continue to be Red-Hot, as they sweep a double-header in Philly, last night. Plus, our ace pitcher, Jake Arrieta clocked in his 19th win.

Yeah, baby!

>109 benitastrnad: Hooray, for rain, Benita! Sounds like you guys could use it. We have really cooled off here. Only 62 today for a high. Say, what?

>110 Storeetllr: Happy Saturday, Mary! I think you will enjoy the Bergman books. She has quickly become one of my top short fiction writers.

Hi Mark - Good luck with your Cubs. Love #93!

Have a great weekend.

Hiya, Mark, I'm afraid I got behind on threads for awhile there but I'm somewhat caught up on yours now! I'll be going for the Cubs since the Red Sox are out of the running.

Happy weekend!

Surprisingly cool and breezy. Only about 60. Can't believe I am wearing long pants and a light jacket.

On the audio front, it is nice to be back with Dr. Siri & Co.

>113 BLBera: Hi, Beth! Good to see you. And yes, Go Cubbies!

>114 bell7: Hi, Mary! How are you stranger? Glad to see you rooting for the Cubbies. It has been a fun year.

Almost Sunday again over here, Mark. I hope it's a nice one for you.

Hey Mark. I didn't realise the BAC was doing Helen Dunmore next month. Which book are you aiming to read?

>116 connie53: Great to see you, Connie! I am getting ready to start my weekend and I have Monday off! Hooray!

>117 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! I have not decided what Dunmore to read. I did love the Siege but was a bit underwhelmed by the follow-up. What would you recommend?

^Now, is this the way to kick off the weekend, or what? I received the new Mitchell yesterday, (thank you, God!) and I am drinking the beer, as I post this.
Cherries all around!

>115 msf59: Keeping busy! My niece was born on July 28 and I went down to visit my sister's family to meet her (she's my parents' first grand). Most of my reading lately has been for work, but next week I'm looking forward to choosing a just for fun book!

Hmm, what to read if The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore did not do a lot for you after reading The Siege. Since I've read 4 of her books, and have one sitting on the shelves, maybe House of Orphans which both Charlotte and I enjoyed might be a good choice. I was quite underwhelmed by The Greatcoat by the Helen Dunmore but it was short. There is always A Spell of Winter by the same author, but it sounds a bit creepy to me, a story in which to siblings live as orphans and "their sibling love deepens and crosses into forbidden territory" to quote a review. On the other hand,A Spell of Winter won the Orange Prize for Women's fiction. Oh decisions! ;)

>93 msf59: LOVE it!!

So, did you receive the new David Mitchell as an ER?

I haven't yet read Dunmore's The Siege and I'm looking forward to it.

Your Cubs are tearing it up, which is awesome, awesome, awesome! Since the Mariners are wasting away in the gutter, I am rooting for my second team. Yes, that would be the Cubbies.

>119 msf59: Looks like your extended weekend is having a great start, Mark.

Mark I have also had a decent start to my own weekend with great Mexican food on Saturday night and a couple of glasses of Hoegarden beer.

Morning to myself as Hani slept in and I was at the French bakery for breakfast before a trip to the bookstore for a couple of purchases.

Got lost browsing the shelves until Hani sent out the search party and I got a rollicking on my return home.

Have a good Sunday, buddy.

>124 PaulCranswick: sounds like a perfect way to start a Sunday, Paul.

>125 connie53: Well Connie, on balance I would have preferred Hani's company but she couldn't get up!

Happy Sunday! Other than laundry and a quick food shopping, it will be a day of baseball, football and of course BOOKS! I plan on finishing up The Dog Master. This one is taking me longer than I expected. I also expected more dogs. This is basically a caveman story.

>120 bell7: Thanks, for the update. Congrats on the new niece. How exciting. And I am glad you will be finally picking up a "fun" book.

>121 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! Thanks for the Dunmore suggestions. Actually, I like the sound of A Spell of Winter, which I have not heard of.

>123 connie53: Thanks, Connie! Today should be filled with R & R.

>122 EBT1002: Happy Sunday, Ellen! I did receive Slade House as an advanced copy but not from E.R. The bonus is: It's a shorty!! Yah!

The Siege is sooooooo good! A perfect choice. And yes, Go Cubbies! Our Bears will be abysmal, so baseball is an ideal distraction. At least, you have your Seahawks!

>124 PaulCranswick: Good to see you, Paul! Sounds like you are having a perfectly fine weekend. Are you reading an O'Connor?

It sounds like your Sunday is set! Enjoy, friend.

Morning Amber! Yep, my day is set. Very cool night but it looks like a beauty today and for the rest of the week. Smiles...

Mark, I've added No Time Like The Past to my reading pile. In checking notes, I realize that your recommendations are the most on my list thus far this year.

We seem to have similar reading tastes.

Happy Sunday to you.

>124 PaulCranswick: I will try to get an O'Connor done but whether I manage it in time I cannot predict.

>130 Whisper1: Happy Sunday, Linda! Always good to see you. Have you read the other St. Marys books? If not, you should read them in order.

>131 PaulCranswick: Time restraints on these various challenges, is very loose. You get to them, when you can. I know I will be starting the Levy a bit late but I plan on starting the O'Connor very soon, perhaps today.

Hi, Mark! Nice three day weekend, eh? I'm working today, and paying attention to The Seahawks, and going to a Seattle Storm season ending game. There's always next year, right? Storm had a tough building year, and played the last few games without their powerhouse Sue Bird. But every family has to grow, right?

Have a great day!

When do you go to Booktopia? How much reading did you have to do for it?

I had hoped that Michael and Ann would keep doing Booktopia in Vermont even though they quit in the other parts of the country. It seems like perhaps they could do one a year. It is such a good idea. I keep thinking that I might try to do something like that when I retire - start a weekend book conference on the order of Booktopia that is.

Lots so flipping back and forth between the Bears game and the Cubs game. No time for the books. WTH? The Bears look surpringly good and keeping it close with the Packers.

>133 maggie1944: Howdy, Karen! Just a 2 day weekend for me, but since that includes Monday, I will gladly take it.
One more week, before vacation.

How are the Seahawks doing? I haven't checked.

>134 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. We leave for Petoskey, next Sunday morning. We are really looking forward to it. I have done a good job with my Booktopia reading. I am almost done with The Dog Master and then I only have one more left. My wife is 2 or 3 behind.

I wish LT could put together some events. I will certainly miss Booktopia!

Mark -

I will refrain from mentioning today's football game. :) Feel free to mention baseball to me.

I read Almost Famous Women last year and really enjoyed it. I read part of Birds of a Lesser Paradise some time ago (pre-pub) but never finished. I don't think that is a comment on the book, but rather my life at the time. I guess I should go find it, given your comments.

Reading The State We're In and just started Negroland.

>127 msf59: Yeah, if you live in Chicagoland, baseball is your favorite sport this season. In Seattle, we're football fans. That is assuming that they can come to an agreement with Kam and start winning some ballgames! Sheesh.

You warbled crazily about H is for Hawk. I am soooo glad I listened to you. I really dug into it today and it is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Sorry about the Bears, by the way, although it was hardly unexpected. "We" have to go play in Green Bay on SNF next week, so we'll see how that goes.

Did I mention that I'm loving H is for Hawk? ;-)

>136 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy! Happy Sunday!

Honestly, I wish we had a team as good as the Packers. They had their own problems today and they still beat us up pretty good. It's going to be a long Bears season.

Please try to find the Bergman collection again. It is terrific. Make sure you stop by and let me know about the Beattie collection. I've been hearing good things.

Hiya Mark! Congrats on those Cubs and the new Mitchell book. Sounds like you had a great weekend. : ) It was my first one not spent at work in a long time. I basically caught up around the house and tried to catch up on my backlog of posts on LT. Just a few more to do!! Hugs.

>137 EBT1002: It looks like the Seahawks lost a tough one, my friend. We sure get wrapped up, with our favorite teams, don't we?

So, I take it, you are enjoying H is For Hawk? I don't want to be presumptuous here. It is such a great book and I am sure it will be right at the top of my favorite reads of the year.

Hope you had a good weekend.

>137 EBT1002:: I keep saying I need to move H is for Hawk up to the top of my pile.

We'll see you next Sunday night. :)

Ah, Mark, sorry you are unfamiliar with the CanLit on my thread. As a peace offering, Lone Ranger, I'll let you know that Margaret Atwood has new book out at the end of September , The Heart Goes Last. No idea what it is about, but I know she is a popular author. Best I can do for you, good sir!

Hey, buddy. All is well across the pond. I'm enjoying Make Me, which is the new Jack Reacher, and Jeremy Poldark.

Could be a long, frustrating season with the Bears. But go Cubbies!

Have a good one today.

^I got a big kick out of this one and had to share it over here.

>139 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! Glad you got to enjoy a kickback weekend. Did you get much reading in? Return Hugs to my pal.

>141 alphaorder: I am sure you will love H is For Hawk, once you get to it, Nancy. It should be just your cuppa.

We are playing the Pack again, so soon? OMG!

>142 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I'll try to keep up better with the CanLit. I have always had a soft spot for Canadian writers. And I did see Ms. Atwood has a new book coming out. I know she is not your favorite but I am crazy about her.

>143 jnwelch: Howdy, Joe! Thanks for making time in your busy schedule, to drop by and say hi. Glad you are enjoying your Reacher. I liked the couple books I read in that series but never followed through.

Continue to have a fantastic time.

Morning, Mark!

>145 msf59: >141 alphaorder:

That comment about playing the Pack was for Ellen. :) We'll see you again on Thanksgiving night.

I LOVE being off on Mondays. I can't stop grinning...plus it is back to 80 degrees. More grins...

>146 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Big Waves from the Midwest!

>147 alphaorder: Duh!! LOL. I thought we were playing Arizona next week...Should be an interesting Thanksgiving, eh, Nancy?

<144 *SNORK!!* Love it.

Happy Monday Off, friend!

Enjoy your lazy Monday! Slacker. : P

>149 scaifea: I am not a fan of Cheney and I thought this was perfect. Giggles a little...

Getting ready to run a few errands, so I can free up my afternoon for the books.

>150 Berly: Call me Marky-Mark The Slacker!! And I LOVE every minute of it. Stifles more laughter...

Hiya Mark! Enjoy that day off!

>144 msf59: Perfect!

By the bye, Mark, you asked about my thoughts on The Plague of Doves. I put them here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/189318#5272925

Hi Mark, I hope you have a good start into the new week.

>111 msf59: Congrats on your Cubs. Have to say that I am little worried about what the playoffs will look like give how strong the NL is this year.

Shockingly my beloved Minnesota Twins are still in the hunt, only 1 game back of the last wild card slot. After four consecutive years of 90+ losses, this season has been a real restoration of our faith.

>152 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! It has been a fine day so far. Absolutely, beautiful out too. Getting ready to buckle down with Ms. O'Connor.

>153 weird_O: Howdy, Bill! I am so glad you enjoyed The Plague of Doves. I also read and loved it, earlier in the year. I will stop over and check out your comments.

>154 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! I love starting the week off, with an off day. Plus, I am going to be on vacation next week. Happy Camper!

>155 Oberon: Hey, Erik! Good to see you. I have not been this excited about the Cubs or baseball for that matter, in about 7 years. It's a good feeling. Even if the Cubs do not advance, this will be a banner year for this young team. Big series coming up in Pittsburgh, starting tomorrow.

Glad to see that the Twins are showing signs of improvement. The rebuilding process takes time and patience. God knows, I am aware of this.

Lucky boy. Where are you going?

>156 msf59: Patience is an absolute requirement for any Cubs fan.

"The tide of darkness seemed to sweep him back to her, postponing from moment to moment his entry into the world of guilt and sorrow."

- Everything That Rises Must Converge: Stories

^This quote is from the title story, that kicks off this collection. I know she doesn't work for everyone but O' Connor, sure speaks to me. I adored her first collection and this appears just as strong. This is what I wanted from Welty...



^O' Connor Self-Portrait

>157 Ameise1: We will be going to the final Booktopia next week. Held in Petoskey, Michigan. If you recall, we went there 2 years ago and had a fantastic time.

>158 Oberon: Amen, my friend. Amen!

I confess I have not read any Flannery O'Connor , but I do appreciate your interesting pictures. As for your not keeping with CanLit this year, I have had a hard time doing that too. Either I have failed to notice new books that have been published, or it has been a slow CanLit year.

What is Booktopia? That is something I don't anything about.

Longmire Season 4, recently arrived on Netflix (all 10 episodes). I just watched the first one. Good stuff. It looks great too and you really can't beat that cast. It does not matter if you read the books or not. It follows it's own path, but does keep the spirit of the books.

Anyone else dip in yet?

>161 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I am not sure if O'Connor is your cuppa. If you are curious, try one of her short stories. I am knocked out by her.

I have been mentioning Booktopia for a few years now. This is an author/book event, put on by the Books on the Nightstand podcast. They usually have 2 or 3 events a year but this will be the finale. This will be my fourth Booktopia and each one has been terrific. My wife will be attending this time too. It will be her second, both in Petoskey, Michigan.

Hi Mark,

I'm glad to see you liked Almost Famous Women. I've had it on my list to check out. I've been meaning to try Birds of a Lesser Paradise, too. You read that, didn't you?

We just finished the third Longmire episode. Yup, definitely good stuff!! I'm so glad Netflix picked it up.

My sis just informed me that she has Netflix, so I'm in on the Longmire. Though I'm going to be starting from the, well, start. Can you say binge-watching?

I'm sorry Booktopia won't be going on another year, and sorry I didn't manage to get in on it last summer in Boulder. It's such a good idea.

Hooray, for my Colorado visitors!

>164 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! I can not warble loud enough about Birds of a Lesser Paradise. One of my favorite story collections and Almost Famous Women is a worthy follow-up.

Glad you are enjoying the new Longmire series. I seem to be watching less and less television, (especially with baseball season still going strong) but I will continue to follow this one.

I still can't believe New Mexico can stand in for Wyoming, so beautifully.

>165 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! It was nice that they added all the seasons to Netflix, not just the new one. And it is a show, you should watch from the beginning.

I wish we could hold our own Booktopia events. Unfortunately, it is a lot of work and very time-consuming.

It looks like we are back to lovely weather, for the rest of the week, which sure makes my work day, a bit brighter.

I read the first 3 stories in the O' Connor collection and I am definitely hooked, but she sure had a dark side. She kills off characters, with cold-blooded abandon. She gives George R. R. Martin a run for his money. LOL.

I should finish up my Dr. Siri audio too! Deciding what to listen to next...Redshirts...finally?

I am also really enjoying my current GN, A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return. Life in battle-torn Lebanon.

Morning, Mark! The last Booktopia ever?

Hi, Mark. I surely wish Booktopia was on my itinerary for the rest of this life..... What a wonderful program. I am enjoying the Podcasts each week, and I have learned to really love Anne and .... (whoops, whatishisname?). I have not been buying/acquiring the books they talk about as I still want to have a small number of real books in my new small apartment but I must say they will be talking me right to the library very soon, soon as my life settles down a bit more.

I had my last session with the Organizer Lady yesterday and we arranged furniture in my small living room so I could have "a computer station" (AKA the sofa, small), "crafts and arts station" (AKA drafting table and multiple chests of small drawers), "library station" (AKA to be placed, multiple bookshelves), and "entertainment center" (AKA the TV, video box and the cable connections). Pretty good for two ladies with small muscles and no degrees in interior decorating. I am so ready for the moving project to be finished, but I do see it approaching some sort of end, soon.

Reading today.

Morning, Mark! I am also a fan of the Longmire series - both the books and the series. I am behind in the tv show, though, so not yet ready for the latest season on Netflix. I am waiting for them to get Broadchurch Season 2.

I have not yet read any Flannery O'Connor (and me living in Georgia!), but I have A Good Man is Hard to Find in the stacks - I NEED to get to it. I love the self portrait you posted of her up there. I want one of me, but instead of the peacock, I could be holding my wine glass. LOL!

>168 scaifea: Yes, Amber, this will be the final Booktopia event. Swipes at a tear...

I hope they change their mind but this was a lot of work for them.

>169 maggie1944: Morning, Karen! You forgot Michael's name? Tsk, tsk. I share similar literary tastes with both the hosts, of BOTNS, so I always find it a fun listen.

Hey, at least you were able to attend one event. My only regret, is that more LTers, didn't attend. This was definitely tailor-made for us.

>170 Crazymamie: Morning Maimie! You have a lot of good Longmires to look forward to. I am so glad Netflix picked it up.

I think you will like O' Connor. Look forward to your thoughts.

And I want to see your self-portrait, with a book and a glass of wine. LOL.

>144 msf59: love this one! It was inspired to include the Scooby gang.

>162 msf59:. We're looking forward to jumping back into the Longmire TV series on Netflix when we return home. Is the whole new season available? I love it that TV producers are starting to do that. Great cast is right, and good way to put it- the story lines are different, but they have the spirit of the books.

The Reacher book was good, and now I'm reading the next Poldark book, called Warleggan, and the next Montalbano mystery, Beam of Light. Amazing that Camilleri is still writing such good ones in his mid-80s.

>172 jnwelch: Great to see you, Joe! Thanks for popping by on your busy vacation. Glad you liked the Cheney & Scooby-Do post. It is a real hoot!

Yes, they post the entire Longmire series at once, on Netflix. I will take my time and savor them. Added bonus: each episode is, at least an hour long ,(no commercials), so you are getting more Longmire bang for your buck.

It sounds like you picked the perfect vacation books. Nothing to dense or demanding.

Thanks again for texting me the beer pics! You know I love it.

Good afternoon,Mark! As for me, I don't follow baseball or football - not even hockey, except hockey for the sake of one of my sons and then only vaguely. All this Longmire talk is making me think I need to look into the new C.J.Box for "the husband." He relies on me for his book choices most of the time. Such a trial, that man of mine. Expecting me to keep him supplied in books. *Shakes head* ;)

Mark, I am absolutely loving H is for Hawk. Thank you for warbling about it!

>141 alphaorder: Game on, Nancy! *cowers in the corner at the prospect of facing Aaron on the frozen tundra*

I also like the Cheney and Scooby Do post. I used to love that cartoon.

>174 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! The majority of what my wife reads, is something I recommended. I think we take very good care of our spouses, in the book department along with our children and our friends...

>175 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! I am so glad you are loving H is For Hawk. I am really enjoying my O' Connor collection but she was one dark puppy!



^Speaking of H is For Hawk, it is today's Audible Daily Deal. The author narrates it herself and does a wonderful job! If you are interested- Jump on it! Great deal.

Morning, Mark!

Happy Wednesday, Mark. Booktopia sounds like a lot of fun.

Booktopia always sounds like a lot of fun! *sniff*

Happy Wednesday, Markie-Mark.

It is beautiful out here. Ahhhh....

>178 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>179 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Looking forward to Booktopia. I will be reporting on my visit...

>180 maggie1944: Morning, Karen. Booktopia will be a bittersweet event this time. It will be nice to see the friends I have made over the years. It's a good bunch.

Morning Mark. At least you made it to Booktopia--now I never will!! *Sulks away*

>144 msf59: Oh, my....the resemblance is amazing.

^ Harry Bliss

LOL.. that's what my mom used to say to me!

>182 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! We'll just have to have our own version of Booktopia. It takes a lot of work, but it would be a blast.

>183 laytonwoman3rd: Glad you liked it, Linda! I chuckle every time I see it.

>185 cameling: Hi, Caro! The look on the reader's face is priceless. LOL. I see these in the Trib every day and also in my email. Bliss really nails it and he does so many bookish ones.

I eat alone a lot when I travel, and always with a book. I wonder if that's what the waiters think when they walk past my table for the 50th time.

Have a great time at Booktopia.

I saw something about the shortlist coming out today. Man Booker? Have you read any of those? Not my usual but, from the descriptions, some sounded pretty good.

As of Thurs at 3 pm, I'm off for nearly a full week. Whoot, whoot.

Watching the Cubs & the Pirates and sipping a fine ale. Life is good...

I am enjoying Redshirts. What a fun listen, (narrated by Will Wheaton). My first Scalzi. Grins...

>187 cameling: LOL! I can easily picture you, at dinner, fully immersed in a book.

>188 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! It looks like we will be on vacation, about the same time. We leave for Petoskey on Sunday and return Wednesday.

I am impressed by the Booker Short List and plan on reading most of them.

Go Cubbies! Go Arrieta!

So glad you are liking Redshirts. Tongue is firmly planted in cheek in this one. Wil is an excellent narrator too.

^Thanks to Mary, for posting this one FB. I love it.

>190 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff. Yes, I am very happy with my first Scalzi. Now, I want to add Old Man's War to the audio rotation.

Sweet Thursday! Another fine early fall day, breezy and warm. I have 2 stories left in Everything That Rises Must Converge. I am going to switch to my last Booktopia book, Days of Awe. I want to make sure I finish it before Monday. I'll finish up the O' Connor, during breaks.

Like I mentioned up there, I am enjoying my audio, of Redshirts and now I am looking forward to reading more of his work.

>191 msf59: Ha!

So glad you're enjoying Redshirts, and glad it works well on audio. I forgot about Old Man's War. I need to pick that up one day soon.

That is an ironically funny cartoon, isn't it.

Hiya, Mark!

This was a bookstore day. We met Darryl at Daunt's bookshop, where he bought eight, and almost beat Debbi's and my combined 7. Then we all met for a good lunch with Claire (Sakerfalcon). From there Debbi and I headed to Foyle's on Charing Cross Road and bought a bunch more.

We're wiped from all the walking, but when we catch our breath I'll figure out exactly what we came home with!

Hope all is well with you. Looks like the Cubs continue to win, and I'm psyched that Elena Della Donne won the WNBA MVP. She's a phenomenal player. Now they need to carry over their hot play into the playoffs.

^Engrossed Reader by Pablo Gallo

Fighting the good fight. I think most of us can relate, right? This is me, making my way through my Booktopia books, my ARCS, my challenges and various other sundries. This kind of stress, I can handle.

>193 laytonwoman3rd: I like that comic too, Linda! Spot-on!

>194 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! Just about done with Redshirts. I am not as crazy about the codas but this was still, a lot of fun.

Trump is such an easy target, isn't he?

>195 jnwelch: Howdy, Joe! Sounds like some serious book buying going on. Good for you guys. Looking forward to hearing what titles you nabbed.

The Cubs ended up taking 3 out of 4 from the Pirates. Wowza! A great road trip. Now, we play the Cardinals at home. It has been a fine baseball September!

I'm so behind here, I have no idea where to start. How about the Scully meme that you didn't post to Facebook for fear of offending your sensitive rellies. *confession alert* I don't get it!
Boo hoo. Can you explain? It must be either about God or politics....

Other than that, I come with reports of much small book reading and much presentation planning. So all in all, a good balance :)

Mark, I haven't read the st. Mary's books. Do you know which is the first one?

Curious to find out whether you have decided on a Helen Dunmore as yet, Mark.

So The Dog Master was just meh? So sorry. I was hoping it was a book to be put on my category list for next year.

Redshirts is fun!

>198 LovingLit: Hi, Megan! In regards to the Scully meme: there was a lot of controversy surrounding a county clerk, from Kentucky, who refused to issue same-sex marriage licences, due to her religious beliefs. She was sent to jail briefly and of course, the "right" came to her rescue. It was another one of our circus-related shit-storms.

>199 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Good to see you. The first St. Mary's book is Just One Damned Thing After Another. These books are a lot of fun and have a strong LT following. Hope you enjoy them.

>200 vancouverdeb: Hi, Tonto! Still working on the Dunmore Decision. Things will lighten up, later next week, so I can focus on it.

>201 cammykitty: Hi, Katie! Great to see you. My daughter really enjoyed The Dog Master and so did a couple other friends. My wife is reading it now, with little complaint. Maybe, it's just me...but I doubt it. Grins...

Hey buddy! I listed our book haul over on my thread.

Right now I'm enjoying the new Inspector Montalbano and the new Dr. Siri.

Glad you're enjoying Redshirts; I had fun with that one, too.

Go Cubs!

Happy Friday! Stormy here, all night long. Better than storms all day long. 2 more work days and then Booktopia!

Just a few minutes left in Redshirts and then I will take another sharp left turn and start A Spool of Blue Thread. I love Tyler and thought this was the perfect time to jump into this, since it just made the Booker Short-List.

In print, I am enjoying Days of Awe. It will be my last Booktopia read. I think I have read 6.

>203 jnwelch: Howdy, Joe! I witnessed and commented on that splendid book haul of yours. Reading new Montalbano and Dr. Siri books, sounds like perfect vacation reading.

Yes, I had fun with Redshirts and look forward to more Scalzi.

Go Cubbies! Playing the Cardinals this afternoon. Yah!

Morning, Mark!

>119 msf59: Lucky you, Mark, snagging a copy of the new book by David Mitchell. Reminds me, I must get on the library list for that one. It sounds like book pressure from ARCs and Booktopia reads is not getting you down. Pure joy, right?

I came over to wish you a wonderful time at the Very Last Booktopia. I'm so glad I got a chance to go to the one in Boulder. It is a fond book memory for me, and I still have my picture of Peter Heller and me prominently displayed in my little book snuggery. I know we can depend on you for lots of details about the Petoskey Booktopia. Have fun!

^Cubs just beat the division-leading Cardinals, 8-3.

Hooray!!

>206 scaifea: Big Waves to Amber!!

>207 Donna828: Happy Friday, Donna! Great to see you. I am pumped about the new Mitchell and it's a shorty! Win-Win, in my book.

"Very Last Booktopia." That has such a bittersweet sound to it, doesn't it? I have made many friends, through Booktopia too and it will be nice to see a few of them, this final round. Why can't LT, put on an event like this?

Nice! Way to go, Cubs!

Why can't LT, put on an event like this? You keep asking that, but only on your thread. Maybe you should run it by Tim or Loranne? I'll second you!

>209 msf59: & >210 Storeetllr: Don't know about LT but the 75ers doing an event would be excellent. Darryl does do his bit regularly for international relationships with his regular trips across the pond and there are a lot of meet-ups but I dream of a day deep pockets allow us to get most of the group together.

Have a great weekend buddy.

>202 msf59: Roger that Mark. The meme makes sense now.
And is funny, well, as funny as such a "circus-related shit-storm" ;)

>210 Storeetllr: Good point, Mary! I will have to do that. If that doesn't work, maybe we could try to put together one of our own. It would be a daunting task but what a blast it would be.

And yes, Go Cubbies! Let's take another one today.

>211 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! Great to see you. Well, the 75 is LT, isn't it? Are there other groups, as well? Smirks!

Yes, it seems like Darryl and the Gang are having a wonderful time in your homeland. I am jealous as hell.

>212 LovingLit: I imagine the rest of the world watching the US, as some scary, absurd Reality Show. Especially with the upcoming 2016 election, there is wackiness (some of it dangerous), nearly every day here. Never boring anyway...

Happy Saturday! Last work day. Heading to Michigan tomorrow morning. Another stormy and rainy one, last night but, it looks like we will be dry and cool here today.

On the book front, somehow I have 2 family dramas going on and I am enjoying both: I am reading Days of Awe. This author will be at Booktopia and I like her writing. The other one is from an old master, A Spool of Blue Thread, which just made the Booker shortlist. Tyler works very well on audio. I think this is the second one I have tried in this format.

Happy Saturday, Mark! It's gonna be a gorgeous fall-like day here and I'm ready for it!
I keep eyeing A Spool of Blue Thread... someday...
Safe travels to Michgan!

Happy weekend and happy holiday, Mark.

>215 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Nice, cool and breezy out here at the moment. Glad that humidity has moved on. Ugh!

I am enjoying the new Tyler. She has an easygoing style.

>216 Ameise1: Happy Saturday, Barb. Love the warbler. Sing it, baby!

Mark, in two hours I'll be at the Patty Smith concert. I'm really looking forward to it.

Wishing you a safe journey and enjoy Booktopia.

Hi Mark, I'm glad I finally decided to head over here before you start a new thread! Hope you're enjoying the weekend. I'm putting off my Flannery O'Connor reading and really shouldn't, since she's been on my tbr for quite some time and I've yet to discover her, so maybe I'll just pick up my Everything That Rises Must Converge audiobook and listen to an occasional story between other stuff. Might get to it sooner than later that way.

I was so happy to see H is for Hawk as an Audible daily deal last week—I'd requested it from the library around the time it came out, but they aren't exactly being quick about adding it to their OverDrive catalogue. Now it's all mine! :-)

eta: I can't seem to recall whether we have a monthly reading challenge for October?

Wishing you lots of fun at Booktopia! And I am shamelessly stealing your thread space to post...

SO, I am headed out to MN for a wedding and have Sunday, October 4th wide open. Anyone up for brunch or something? : )

>213 msf59: scary thing is that 'reality show' is the image many outside have of the U.S ... See trump is doing his bit as well

>218 Ameise1: I will have to stop over, Barb and see what you thought of Patti Smith. I am a big fan too. I listened to her excellent memoir, Just Kids a couple months ago. If you have not read it, give it a try.

>219 Smiler69: Hi, Ilana! Good to see you. I had to put aside Everything That Rises Must Converge for the moment, (which is very rare for me), so I can finish up a Booktopia book. I'll get back to it soon. I like this collection but I prefer her first one.

Congrats on snagging the audio of H is For Hawk. It is one of those rare instances, where the author does a stellar job narrating it.

" I can't seem to recall whether we have a monthly reading challenge for October?" I am not sure I understand the question. Are you referring to the AAC?
If so, it will be Ray Bradbury. I will get the thread posted, late next week.

>220 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers! We should have a good time in Petoskey. You can shamelessly steal space over here, anytime. Have a great time at the wedding.

I wish you could stop through Chicago.

>221 roundballnz: Just what I thought, Alex. LOL.

>222 msf59: Sorry man. It's a direct fight. Someday I'll make it to Chicago!!

Swipes away a stray tear...

^We will be on our way to Petoskey, Michigan, in just a little while. We will be making a lunch stop in Grand Rapids. Of course, it will be at one of the many breweries in that fine city. We will hit our final destination, later in the afternoon and hope to meet up for dinner, with a few old bookish friends.

I will be listening to A Spool of Blue Thread on the drive up. This should be a good companion, while the wife catches up on her Booktopia reading.

>225 msf59: Hope you have a great trip.

I'm reading Sweet Caress which I think I only ordered from the library because you mentioned you'd got a free copy? Anyway, it's brilliant, a fictional memoir of a female photographer who has had an amazing life (and I'm only at 1934): really enjoying it.

Have a great time at Booktopia, Mark!

Ditto, Mark. Enjoy!

>222 msf59: No, I didn't mean the running challenges like the AAC or BAC, I meant the monthly theme challenges, such as Fantasy February, Atwood April, and this month, Series & Sequels September, etc.

Go cubs! And have lots of fun at Booktopia!

Have fun at Booktopia! Mark!!

Have a great time at Booktopia, Mark. We expect to hear lots about it!

Morning from Petoskey! We had a very nice dinner last night, with new and old bookish friends. And you know, once books become the main topic, you can't shut me up. The Dear Wife suffered through it, admirably.

I have said this before and I will say it again, the only downside to this event, is the complete lack of LTers. Our community excels at this type of biblio-camaraderie.

My posting time will be limited and since I am using my iPad, there will be a lack of photos but bear with me and I will catch up....

>226 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! Congrats on starting Sweet Caress. Glad you are enjoying it. I hope to work it into the rotation soon.

>227 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. Wish you were joining us. I miss my Booktopia Buddy.

It was nice to see so many familiar faces last night.

>228 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! We already managed to find a couple fine beer establishments.

>229 Smiler69: I got you now, Ilana. I think someone runs a Halloween-themed October, but that is about it. We do need a reprieve now and then.

>230 banjo123: >231 EBT1002: >232 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Rhonda, Ellen & Meg. I will try to keep the events posted.

Mark I'm glad to see you made it to Booktopia. I will be following your adventures.

I finished Nimona last night. What a treat. Thanks for the recommendation.

>235 luvamystery65: Howdy, Ro! Having a good, bookish time in Petoskey.

I am so glad you enjoyed Nimona. It is such a fun, read isn't it?

Greetings from Petoskey! Happy Tuesday! An active day yesterday, kicked off by a Hemingway walking tour in the morning. Hemingway spent 22 summers up here. His family started coming up here from the Chicago area, when Hemingway was a boy. The tour guide was terrific and supplied us with so much interesting lore about the region and the author.

We spent the rest of the day, at bookish events, including a nifty book recommendation session, at the book store, by the owners. We bought 4 of the recs. They were that convincing.

We finished the evening with a big dinner at the hotel and more book chat.

Today, will be author sessions, throughout the day, starting right at 9am, a session I will be hosting. Glances around nervously...but way too early for a beer.

Sounds like a lovely day. Please tell us what you bought. Good luck with your session!

Just got an email from Ann and Michael that Northshire is going to continue on with Booktopia VT. Never been there. Maybe I need to go!

Just stopping in to say Cheerio! It's past 9 am, so I hope your hosting gig is going well. You're a natural.

*watching from afar with eyes green with envy*

Hi Mark, sounds like you are enjoying Booktopia in Petoskey! I would have loved to have joined you on your Hemmingway Walking Tour. I just finished For Whom The Bell Tolls and really, really liked it. Of course picturing Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman as the main characters was no hardship!

September has simply flown by and I am very much behind with everyone. I leave in a couple of days on a road trip but October will be catch up month for me!

BTW Hooray for Netflicks and Longmire!

Enjoy Booktopia, Mark!!

Sounds like you are having a grand time at Booktopia ..... rather avid listener of BOTNS so am sure bits & bobs will trickle thru to me

>238 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy! My author session went well. Thanks. It always helps when the author is interesting and engaging.

If Luis Urrea ever attends an author event, up in your area, try to see him. He is fantastic.

Ann and Michael are not continuing Booktopia but the owners of Northshire Books are going to hold Booktopia next May, in Manchester, Vermont.

>240 weird_O: Thanks, Bill! The hosting gig went very well. I am not sure I am a natural. Lol. But I managed, without any embarrassing gaffes.

>241 maggie1944: Hi, Karen! The celebration of authors went really well last night. It is very cool to have all the authors up there at once.

So cool that you hosted, Mark! A labor of love, I'm sure.

We have a duffel bag full of books to bring back. Now we're talking about getting a second duffel bag. :-)

The Jane Austen tour was a dream come true; where she grew up, where she spent her last years, her father's church, villages she visited, houses where she danced.

It even scored on the Ale-o-Meter: at the old Swan Pub where we ate lunch, the beertender told me the one I wanted to have was Timothy Taylor's Landlord Ale. Best I've had here. When our guide saw what I was having, he went on and on about how, in his opinion, it was the best ale in the UK. Smooth and flavorful; I could have had it by the bucket.

Still waiting to hear what books you bought...

>245 msf59: I know a number of folks from Northshire, although I have never been there. I am sure they will do a fine job with Booktopia.

Happy Wednesday, Mark. So great to hear that you have a fabulous time. Enjoy it.

>242 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! Good to see you. Booktopia was a blast, as expected. The Hemmingway Walking Tour was terrific. You would have loved it. Just hearing about how the Hemingway family came up there, from Chicago, every summer was exhausting. Trains, boats, more trains, wagons and some of it on foot. No, wonder they spent 3 months. Wow!

Hope to see you around more, in October! And hooray for Longmire and Netflix!

>243 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda! Great time in upper- Michigan. We stayed busy with Booktopia stuff and really did not get a chance to explore the area. Our car never left the parking lot, since the bookstore and eating establishments were all with in walking distance.

And Go Cubbies! It looks like all 3 teams keep winning. What a race!

>244 roundballnz: Hi, Alex! A joy to see you. Glad to hear you are a BOTNS fan. I never miss it and it remains one of my favorite podcasts.

>246 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Good to see my globe-trotting pal. I am home now and hope to get caught up with a neglected LT. We were pretty busy for all three days.

Hooray, for duffel bags of books! Looking forward to seeing a list. We brought home some too but I showed my usual restraint. I will post a photo, on my new thread.

The Jane Austen tour sounds wonderful. Looking forward to more details.

And double hooray, for Timothy Taylor's Landlord Ale. Sounds mighty tasty. I wonder if they export it?

>247 alphaorder: I will list or post a photo of my book haul, Nancy. I showed admirable restraint, although Mclean and Eakin is a well-stocked bookstore, especially for serious readers.

I remember meeting some of the staff, at Northshire. I am sure they will do a fine job. We are seriously thinking about attending.

>249 Ameise1: Thank you, Barb! We had a great time. Nothing like, being surrounded by book geeks, for 3 days.

Hope you had a fantastic time at Booktopia!!!

From the photos I saw from you and others I follow who where there it looked like a great turnout and lots of fun.

I have been wanting to attend a Booktopia in Vermont since they started it there. However, I learned early that you have to be fast off the block in order to get a spot in that race. I think those New Englanders love books and authors and race to get to events that have both.

In fact I have been wanting to get to that part of New England for a long time. I also want to go to Norwich, Vermont to the King Arthur Flour Mill. I have tried to sign up for a bread baking workshop a couple of times and those spots fill up almost as fast as the Booktopia events.

I was amused that you said your car never left the parking lot. That's alota book love. I hear that the area around Petovksy is very nice and you forewent all that natural beauty in favor if books?! Wow!
If you get time I would like a little more detail on how your hosting stint went. I would bet you were very good at it. Who did you introduce? What book did they write? What questions did you ask? etc. etc. Maybe a picture if you have one?

>253 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli! Yes, it was a fine time, at Booktopia! Like, I have mentioned before and will continue to do so, I wish I could have experienced it with more LTers. This is "Our" kind of gig!

^This is Jim Ottaviani, (yes, I stumbled over his last name, after practicing a bunch of times. Nice going, on the hosting job.) He is a nuclear engineer, a librarian and graphic novel author. He is known for doing science-related comics. Feynman is his most popular work and it is fantastic.

His current book is Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas, which I also really enjoyed.

>254 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita! I hope you see the previous post. ^^ It is for you. I hosted Jim Ottaviani. Have you read any of his work? You would like him.

"you forewent all that natural beauty in favor if books?" LOL. Yes, we did and you know I love the great outdoors. We just did not have enough free time. We did not even walk down to the lakefront, this time. Lots going on. We are planning on returning at some point and just sight-see.

Sounds like your trip was a success!! And very easy on your car. ; )

I just had a brain storm: my house sale will net me a little bit of money which can be used for important cultural experiences, such as traveling across our fine country to attend the next Booktopia. Keep us well informed so we can jump on lots of the spots available when they are....

Whooooo weeeee

Maybe I'll take the train across Canada...on the way there.

Oh, a girl can dream....

^This is a photo of the authors in front of McLean & Eakin Bookstore. That is Ann & Michael in the front, along with Matt & Jess, the bookstore owners. These are wonderful people. The perfect booksellers.

>258 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! Yes, had a terrific time at Booktopia. Wish you were there.

>259 maggie1944: Wow! A train-ride across America, heading toward Booktopia! Sounds dreamy! Maybe, you could pick up LTers, along the way? Including, Moi?

Perfect! I think the opportunities abound!

Hi Mark and welcome back! Booktopia sounds like it was another great experience and I'm glad your hosting gig went well. I will look for Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas; it looks and sounds appealing.

Also, the Hemingway tour sounds like fun. I predict we will see him among the AAC-III twelve, which is awesome as he is one whom I have (embarrassingly) never read.

Have a great rest-of-your-week!
(Do you go back to work tomorrow?)

Glad you had a great time at Booktopia!! Thanks for sharing your photos!

Sounds and looks great, Mark. I loved Feynman, too. I'll look for this new one.

We leave tomorrow, coming back to what we hear is a warm Chicago.

>262 maggie1944: I will be waiting patiently for that train to pass through, Karen. Backpack and books ready to go...

>263 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! You will like Jim Ottaviani, especially Feynman, which was fascinating. These are smart, well-crafted GNs.

I definitely got a kick out of the Hemingway Walking Tour. It is looking unlikely, that Hemingway will make the cut, for the AACIII. He is not an LT favorite for some reason, although I am fan. I really think you should give him a try and see for yourself.

I am off the rest of the week. Generally, we have to take our vacations, in full week increments, although you can request a single day here and there.

>264 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! Yep, good time, at Booktopia! You know, I've always been a bit shy, (hard to believe, I know) but being around bookish people has really opened those doors and I find myself chatting with many different people. Books are the catalyst.

I hope bookstores, continue hosting Booktopia-Type events.

>265 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe! Wow! It sure looks like you are having an absolutely wonderful vacation. I am sure you will hate to see it end. Debbi, you & Darryl make a fine-looking team. Safe travels home.

So Mark. I just might squeeze in a Flannery O'Connor after all. I e-mailed a couple of bookish friends and neither had O'Connor in their libraries. BUT one was in NYC yesterday and found a copy of Wise Blood in a used book shop. Now I just have to work out the logistics of borrowing it from her.

>268 weird_O: Well, that is good news, Bill. Glad you'll be joining us on the O' Connor read. I just finished up Everything That Rises Must Converge. This is her 2nd and final collection. Very dark stuff. I have not read her novels. I look forward to your thoughts.

A Hemingway walking tour! How cool is that!? And a Hemingway challenge sounds good. I've only read two of his and was surprised by how much I enjoyed them both. I'd like to read more.

^ Since I finally finished Everything That Rises Must Converge, after wrapping up my Booktopia homework, I decided to go with Signs Preceding the End of the World. A shorty, (under a 120 pages) that Joe and Ellen warbled about. Only 40 pages in but it has me in it's grip.

"Slippery bitch of a city, she said to herself. Always about to sink back into the cellar"

"Here came the hustle. Mr. Aitch was the type who couldn't see a mule without wanting a ride. Mr. Aitch smiled and smiled, but he was still a reptile in pants."

^This is definitely my cuppa!

>270 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! There was so much cool history around Hemingway and northern Michigan. He began to hone his craft up there and of course, many of his short stories take place in this area.

I am considering taking an AAC vote on Hemingway but I am afraid of the outcome. LOL. I like his work.

>261 msf59: Sounds like you had a great time at Booktopia. That cross Canada train to Booktopia sounds like fun maybe there would be a whole train car full of book lovers by the time it got there. It would have to go through Vancouver, right?

Hi, Meg! Good to see you! Hope you are having a great time in the U.K.!

Yes, the train will definitely hit Vancouver. From B.C. to D.C. and all points in between.

^This is my Booktopia Book Haul! I am sure it is a puny stack compared to other folks but I am pleased with my bounty. I will be adding several of these to the Must Read Now Shelf and they are not happy over there, let me tell you. If looks could kill.

I am especially proud of landing A Brief History of Seven Killings. I promised myself, if they had the book in paper, I would snag it. Six of these other books were recs from the bookstore owners, Ann and one of the authors. Warbling pays off, let me tell you.

ETA- My Must Read Now Shelf, is the top shelf on the left, in the photo. The books stacked on top are looking for a TBR Home.

>275 msf59: Nice stack. I enjoyed The Last Policeman. Looking forward to your thoughts on Seven Killings too.

Will it win? I can't wait to find out...

>266 msf59: Feynman "Hmmm, That Sounds Interesting" so onto that list it has gone. Quite a few years ago I read two of Richard Feynman's "popular" books, Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman and What Do You Care What Other People Think? And Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman, James Gleick's bio of the physicist.

And now--having just looked--I am wondering who boosted those books from my shelves! Help! Murder! Police! Well, I'll see the prime suspect tomorrow at the field hockey game...

>276 charl08: I wanted The Last Policeman for my "Keeper" shelf, Charlotte. I liked the trilogy but loved the first one.

Looking forward to starting Seven Killings. Looks like a winner to me!

>277 weird_O: Sorry, your books vanished, Bill. This happens to us book lovers. I am sure you will enjoy Feynman. He does a terrific job with it.

Mark - I am off today! And it is a beautiful day, so I hope to spend the afternoon outside reading H is for Hawk.

Morning Nancy! Happy Friday! Enjoy the day off. We have been having a beautiful stretch of weather.

Spending the day with H is For Hawk sounds wonderful.