Mamie's 2016 Madness (Page 2)

Continuing with my list of favorite things - Raymond Chandler novels, Humphrey Bogart movies, clever dialogue...

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Books Completed in January:
1. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (3 stars), 2013 acquired ebook

2. Saga: Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughn, Fiona Staples (Illustrator) (4 stars), borrowed paperback from Abby, GN - fantasy

3. Mãn by Kim Thúy (5 stars), library paperback, literary fiction

4. The Fade Out: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker (4.25 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, graphic novel recommended by Joe - crime fiction/noir

5. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (4 stars), library hardback, graphic novel recommended by the LT masses, read this because Abby had it out from the library

6. The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook - recommended by Heather

7. Ru by Kim Thúy (4 stars), library paperback

8. Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson (3 stars), library paperback, graphic novel recommended by Karen, read this because Abby had it out from the library

Reading Plans: None

I tend to make plans and then bail on them, so this year I am just going to take each month as it comes. I would like to participate here and there in some of the many challenges that are on offer, however, so IF I have a qualifying book on my shelf and IF I feel like it, I will. This month I have the following titles in my personal library that would work:

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - I would actually like to tackle this one as last time I made it half way through before calling it quits. Maybe this time I will be able to finish it. (Not going to pretend that I am not tempted to begin where I left off even though that was several years ago...)




Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - would work for the non-fiction challenge, and it has been sitting on my shelf for years. In fact, it made the move from Indiana with us. *blushes*

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler - bought this last year on Katie's recommendation, and it works for Mark's AAC

Mãn by Kim Thúy - serendipity as I have this out from the library and it works for Ilana's CAC COMPLETED

The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill - works for Paul's BAC, and it has been sitting in the stacks since 2012

The Penguin History of the World: 6th Edition by J. M. Roberts - reading this throughout the year with Katie and Susan

A few of my favorite reads from 2015:

Although I am hoping to focus mainly on my own overcrowded shelves this year, I am not crazy enough to think that I could resist adding new books to my collection. I'll record those purchases here.

1. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, ebook - recommended by Heather COMPLETED
2. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley (!.99 on Kindle) - blaming this on Roni, who pointed out the deal
3. The Fade Out: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker, paperback - mentioned by Joe on the GN thread COMPLETED

Katie’s Dirty Dozen – KAK has earned her own category on my thread because she has the habit of recommending books that I cannot resist adding to my stacks. Books listed here could be for the WL or purchased, but I will designate if I purchased them. Because Katie is a rebel, there will of course NOT be twelve books in her dirty dozen.

1. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras

Saving this space for LT recommendations that I want to keep track of.

1. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - recommended by Heather (saw this as I was catching up with her 2015 thread) COMPLETED 1/15/16
2. Slade House by David Mitchell - recommended by Lynda - I know that Mark and several others loved this one, too, but it was Lynda's succinct review that places it firmly on the WL
3. Chinese Takeout Cookbook by Diana Kuan - recommended by Lori (thornton37814) - saw it listed as her favorite cookbook read of 2015
4. Revenant by Mel Odom - recommended by Mark, who came to my thread to deliver the book bullet!
5. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen - recommended by Ellen and Karen
6. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts - Lucy mentioned that she loved this on her thread, and I looked it up because I was unfamiliar with it. Note to self: DO NOT look up books mentioned on Lucy's thread!
7. The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra - saw Amy's review of this on her thread
8. I Am Spain by David Boyd - recommended by Charlotte
9. The Mirror in the Mist by Susan Hill - saw Lori's (lkernaugh) review of this on her thread
10. The Prestige by Christopher Priest - recommended by Mary (bell7)
11. The Electric Michelangelo by Sarah Hall - recommended by Charlotte - saw her review on her thread
12. The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker - Joe mentioned this one on the GN thread, and it sounds right up my alley COMPLETED 1/15/16
13. The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason - Faith reviewed the second book in this series on her thread
14. Names for the Sea by Sarah Moss - read Rhian's review on her thread
15. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - again, Lynda got me with her succinct review on her thread - how DOES she do that?!
16. The Men Who Lost America by Andrew Jackson O"Shaughnessy - read the review on Reba's thread
17. Wartime: Stories From Ukraine by Tim Judah - read about this one on Charlotte's thread, part of her posted Guardian reviews. LOVE those!
18. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill - recommended by Charlotte on her thread
19. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild - Suz mentioned this one to Charlotte on the non-fiction challenge thread
20. Everything is Broken by Emma Larkin - recommended by Erik on my thread when we were discussing books on Burma
21. The Rebel of Rangoon by Delphine Schrank - Charlotte recommended this to me on my thread when we were discussing books on Burma
22. Unwind by Neal Shusterman - Mary (bell7) was talking about a follow-up collection of short stories to this series, and peaked my curiosity about the series itself
23. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler - read Megan's review of this on her thread - I love interconnected short stories
24. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - I read Julia's excellent review on her thread
25. How It All Began by Penelope Lively - read Nancy's review on her thread
26. The Storyteller by Mario Vargas Llosa - read Lori's (lkernagh) review of it on her thread
27. TransAtlantic by Colum McCaan - Charlotte and Katie talked me into this!

This should do it - next one's yours!

Happy second thread!

Welcome, Katie! As my first visitor, you get this lovely prize for that new space you are creating for yourself:

And purple is my favorite color! Perfect.

Excellent. We actually have this mug - Rae uses it a lot.

I love the mug! Happy 2nd thread -- what? It took you a whole week? So you'll end up with 52 threads this year?

Hi Beth! We love those Penguin mugs, too - we have four of them. And no, I won't have 52 threads - YIKES! Things WILL slow down.

Second thread already! And more penguin goodies. Makes me want to dance:

OH, I LOVE that, Charlotte!! Thanks so much - so cute. And Mary Poppins is one of my favorite childhood books!

Happy New Thread Mom! Any thread is better with Humphrey Bogart AND dancing penguins.

Happy new one, lady!!

>7 Crazymamie: I love this gal and this is my very favorite photo of her.

Had to immediately rush over here, Mamie (finding your new thread in the process), when I opened an email from TheParagon.com to find a special on a Bath Wine Glass Holder--who knew such an essential accessory existed? Only $1.99 instead of the usual $14.99, today only!

Happy New Thread!

Got distracted and accidentally posted in your old thread, so I'll make up for it by posting in the new thread too! I just read The Big Sleep and then watched the movie with Bogart, and can say I thoroughly agree on all of your favourite things :)

Humphrey Bogart reading Raymond Chandler - love it! Another favorite Audrey Hepburn for me is My Fair Lady. We finally saw Roman Holiday for the first time last year. Jeez, she could light up a screen.

Congratulations to the Lady of the Pecan Paradisio on a quick-fire 2nd thread.

>18 ronincats: Got completely distracted as I ran to place my order ....

For a friend, of course.. :-D

Happy New thread (although I totally missed posting on the first one). Late getting to making my rounds of threads this week.

Oh, visitors! Lovely!

>16 Thebookdiva: Thank you, Abby. I concur.

>17 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! We are big Jennifer Lawrence fans here at the Pecan Paradisio, too. I knew when I came across that photo that I had to use it.

>18 ronincats: What a delightful bargain, Roni, and I have to admit that I don't have one of those. How have I managed without one of those for so long?!

>19 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori!

I'm here! I'm here! Howdy Mamie!

>20 evilmoose: Welcome, Megan! Extra points for making both threads right at the crucial moment. Hooray for another fan of Chandler and Bogart! Truly, I adore both. My Dad was a big Bogart fan, and we watched all of his movies together as I was growing up - such a great memory for me. Now when I read the Chandler books, I hear Bogart's voice in my head saying the words because to me Bogart IS Philip Marlowe. I also love The Maltese Falcon - both the book and the movie.

>21 jnwelch: I like that one, too, Joe, but Henry Higgins always makes me mad at the end. You are so right that Hepburn could light up a screen - she smiled with her whole body, and I love when people do that.

>22 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

>23 michigantrumpet: Right. For a friend, Marianne. Such a thoughtful gift.

>24 SuziQoregon: No worries, Juli. Lovely to see you here!

>26 luvamystery65: Hello, Roberta! Thank goodness you made - we could hardly go forward without you! *cancels the search party*

OMG!! one week into the year and second thread already!

*grabs the smelling salts* Now don't panic, Reba! Things will slow down...

A new thread already! And three books completed so far! You're on a roll!

I placed a hold on Ru a couple of days ago. The only copy available in our system is large print. I've never tried that format before. We'll see how it goes.

>31 cbl_tn: Hello, Carrie! So far so good with the New Year, which is a huge improvement over the end of last year.

Oh. Large print. I hate that - for some reason, large print really bothers me. Hoping that it does not disturb you as much as it does me. Truly, I can't get past it.

>7 Crazymamie: Oooh, I love that idea! (And I'm not just saying that 'cause I made the list ;) )

Happy new thread!

I am home. I am having a beer! Checking some threads. All is good!

Happy New thread, Mamie! You are on fire, friend! Love the Bogie topper!

Happy New Thread! So behind on your thread already but hey never mind. Yay for reading Saga Volume 4 I enjoyed this also was in my top 5 reads last year!

Happy new thread, Mamie! I'm blushing a wee bit as I'm so excited that my "succinct' review of Slade House put it on your wish list. Shucks and golly gee!
Shantaram was recommended to me by a lovely coffee buddy. She said it was her favorite book of all time. I really trust her opinion so I purchased the book and Oh my, it's a door stop.

Happy New Thread, Mamie.

Finally got here! First off, I love how you opened your first thread with a list of some of your favorite things! Fun. I am a little challenged these days with arthritis and the worst thing is that I can't sit at my computer for more than about 30 minutes at a time, so I am very slow to get to everybody this year. I've dropped my star and as I wander off I am thinking of snark, wine, shenanigans, and kindness!

Happy New Thread, Mamie. I believe yours has been the fastest going one in the last couple of days, at least of my starred ones.

Just trying to keep up here...! Now who I can get the wine holder for... ; )

Happy New Thread, Mamie! My goodness, thread 2 already!

Enjoy!

Chiming in (a little late, I'm afraid) to say that I, too, *love* Charade! My favorite Hepburn movie, for certain.

Morning, Everyone! Not too much on the schedule today, but I do need to go to the market. Abby and Birdy have appointments at the eye doctor. And it's FRIDAY!! My favorite! There's just something about a Friday...

Still working away on my current reads - today I will finish up Volume I of W&P - I know I have said this before, but I am truly shocked at how much I remember from my first go at it. Amazing! And very helpful. One thing I have discovered is that my audiobook does not translate the conversational French - what? SO I have been looking that up if I have been listening where I can't follow along with the text. And the differing translations are interesting - my audio and my print two different versions, so it's fascinating to me to follow along and see how the two vary. Maybe I need to get out more. HA!

I am more than halfway through Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick, which Joe recommended. I have been dipping in and out of this at my leisure - I love to read a few of the stories before bed. I keep thinking about how many of his stories have been made into movies and how the movies differ so much from the books but the premise is intact. It's like PKD was this great idea man, and he gifted us with all these wonderful, quirky, twisty tales that become even better with a bit of tweaking or a shift in focus. It makes me think of those story cards that they used to give us in elementary school - the ones where there was a paragraph of a story on the card and then you had to write what happened next.

And in other news - I need to get back to walking. My steps have been truly pathetic, and I keep taking off my Fitbit and forgetting to put it back on. Not that it matters because as I said, I haven't been walking. And we have been binge watching Veronica Mars lately, so that has cut into my reading time. Bad Mamie.

Wishing for all of you Fridays that are full of fabulous!

Morning Mamie! Happy Friday! I really want to get my mitts on a copy of Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick. Glad you are enjoying the collection.

I loved Veronica Mars. I will have to re-watch it one of these days.

Go PKD!

Happy Friday, Mamie!

Have you seen the movie The Adjustment Bureau, with Matt Damon and Emily Blunt? Based on a PKD story, it's one of our favorites.

P.S. I liked Veronica Mars, too, and my wife and daughter are major fans. They participated in that Kickstarter campaign for the movie, and got some decent swag.

Oooh, El Husbando and I binge watched Veronica Mars a few summers back and it was fantastic. Took us a little while to get into it, but by the end we'd become huge fans. I know there are some Veronica Mars novels out there and I hope to read them sometime.

I hear you on the walking. My FitBit step count has been abysmal lately, and I used to even pace/walk around while watching a TV show! I need to get back at it, I've connected with a number of others on FitBit and it's getting embarrassing to see my pathetic step count next to their amazing numbers on that friends chart... o_O

So many of the friends have told me that I simply MUST watch Veronica Mars because I'd LOVE it, but I just haven't done it yet. Some day...

>44 Crazymamie: Dang!! and just when I could maybe, possibly, have had numbers that weren't an embarrassment compared to yours, I'm not walking either!! And the weather is beautiful today...maybe I should get my walking shoes on...we'll see....

>44 Crazymamie: Binge watching Veronica Mars is one of my favourite things. I've sat through all of the series a few times now :) I enjoyed the novel as an audiobook, because it was read by Kristen Bell, and thus awesome - and hilarious to hear her impersonating some of the others when they had dialogue.

Okay. I'm back from running errands, and as soon as I grab something for lunch, I will catch up with my thread. In the meantime, here is s story to give you a chuckle:

This morning I needed to take Abby and Birdy to the eye doctor - just for routine checkups. (Alas, Daniel is the only one among us with perfect vision.) Anyway, we were leaving with just enough time to get there, but when we got out to the van Abby says, "Oh, Mom..." And I look and I see that the sunroof has been left open. So of course it rained last night and this morning. The inside of my van is a puddle. Yuk. And for those of you who followed my thread a few years ago, you will remember that this is a repeat because Dan accidentally left the sunroof open before and we had a torrential downpour. But Dan didn't do it this time - this time it was Craig. SO, Abby grabs some towels, and we dry everything off as much as we can because we have to GO. I don't want to sit on the wet towel, so I toss it aside. You know what's coming, right?! When we get to the doctor's, I get out of the van only to discover that I have wet pants. And not just wet all over - like stripes of wet. Crap. "Does it look like I wet my pants?," I ask. "Oh, no," says Birdy. Well....says Abby. Great. Just great. I had to leave the girls there to go on in, and I ran back home to change. And it did look exactly like I had wet my pants. AT least it's Friday, right?!

Catching up with the thread:

>33 bell7: Ha! I needed a place to keep track of it all, Mary.

>34 msf59: So now vacation! Lucky you, Mark! I'm glad that you like the Bogie topper, and I thank you for your kind words, my friend.

>35 BBGirl55: Thank you, Bryony! Have you read Volume 5 yet? Our library system has it, but it won't let me request it through ILL, so I'll have to be patient.

>36 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda! SO happy that you were excited to make the list. I used my last audible credit to snag the audio of it as Nancy mentioned that it was well done, so I didn't realize it was a door stop. It appears I am collecting those now. LOL!

>37 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

>38 DeltaQueen50: Oh hooray, Judy! Delighted to see you here! And I am so happy that you liked my list of favorite things, and thrilled that we share a love of the very best ones. Sorry to hear that your arthritis has been acting up - total bummer. Sending you my good thoughts and healing mojo.

>39 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie! I think most of the threads are moving pretty fast right now, but that should slow down once the newness of the year wears off.

>40 Berly: Hello, Kim! Let's see, we must know someone who could use that...

>41 susanj67: Thank you, Susan. My goodness is right! We'll all be exhausted if things don't slow down soon.

>42 DianaNL: Oh, Diana! How cute! Thanks for that - you made me smile big.

>43 scaifea: It's never too late to share a love of old movies, Amber! I am always more than happy to talk about them. It's my favorite Hepburn movie, too.

>45 msf59: Afternoon, Mark! You will like the Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick when you get to it - really good. Joe did not steer me wrong. And glad to see that you also like Veronica Mars!

>46 jnwelch: Indeed, Joe! Go PKD! And Happy Friday to you! I have seen the movie The Adjustment Bureau, and I loved it. In fact, we own it. SO awesome about the Veronica Mars kickstarter - what a great character she is, and the show is so well done.

>47 dk_phoenix: We all love Veronica here, so it's been fun watching it together - we have such different tastes a lot of the time, that's it hard to settle on any one thing. And I am wanting to read the books, too.

I did go walking this morning, so finally I begin again. There are a bunch of us here who are Fitbit friends, and that has been fun - I'll send you a PM.

>48 scaifea: I think you would like it, Amber, but I know what you mean - I have a huge backlog of stuff that I want to watch, but I don't watch that much tv except for football.

>49 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, you made me laugh. I did manage to get out there today, so come on, get those shoes on and let's go!

>50 evilmoose: I love series that hold up to repeated visits, Megan. And now I am going to have to get the audiobook read by Kristen Bell when I have finished watching the show. How fun!! Thanks for telling me about it!

I think I responded to everyone, but if I missed you HOLLER because if I did, it wasn't intentional. I really like to respond to everyone individually. you can just pop down to the bottom and, ahem, and I will know what you mean and come looking for you.

>51 Crazymamie: Well, I hope you didn't have to share the look of your wet pants with other people than your daughters,

>51 Crazymamie: My only disappointment with the humor quotient of this story is that there are no pictures. Honestly, I would think Abby the photographer would have thought of that.

>57 Ameise1: Nope. Dropped them off and drove straight home and changed, Barbara!

>58 rosalita: Ha! Actually, I'm surprised that neither one of them thought of that, Julia, since they both had phones on them. A lucky break for me.

Hello! I'm stopping by to wave hi.

Hello, Linda! *waves back*

Hi, Mamie! Just stopping by (a little late, sorry) to wish you a Happy New Year and, coincidentally, a Happy Friday and a Happy Weekend. It's all just Happy, Happy, Happy around here. Wet pants notwithstanding. :)

>54 Crazymamie: oh, me too please! I Fitbit, but I'm not a competitive so it's been difficult to find a group to get in with. And having had the flu this past week, I need some HEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!!!

>62 Storeetllr: Hello, Mary! Thanks for all that happy! Wishing for you a weekend that is filled with fabulous!

>63 dragonaria: I sent you a PM, Kimberly. It's been lovely having others to encourage me and it's fun to see where everyone is at!

Morning Mamie! It looks like another gloomy, damp day, with possible snow later. Since I am staying in for most of the weekend, I am not very worried about it.

We watched The Hateful Eight last night. I can not believe I disliked Tarantino's last 2 films. He has been one of my favorite directors. He has lost something and they are no longer fun to watch, especially for nearly 3 grueling hours.

Morning, Mark! Looks like rain here, too. But no snow! I am going to take your word on The Hateful Eight, so see?! You have saved me several hours of needless pain!

Mamie, yay for the renewed fitibtting! I have been at the top of the table with *no effort*. It's just not right. Or proper. I have nothing to aim for :-) Happy Saturday!

Yay, indeed, Susan! I NEEDED to get back at it - I am currently in 7th place. I have a lot of stepping to do to catch up! Happy Saturday to you!

Wishing you a most lovely weekend, Mamie.

Gorgeous! Thanks, Barbara! You always find the loveliest images.

:-)

Hello Mum, I was 54 posts behind here. I shouldn't have expected less. The wet paints will be a great memory, right up there w/ my 'I spilt'.

OH, I *snorked* at the wet pants story! And I agree with Julia - this should have been an illustrated tale...

Hello, Abby! Luckily the wet pants are behind me. Haha! I crack myself up!

>73 scaifea: Hey, Amber! I am SO thankful that there is no photographic evidence!!

Nice new thread :)

Thank you, Melissa!

Congrats, I think, on having a second thread already this year. Wow!

I agree with Mark, good idea to skip "The Hateful Eight". The 8 characters were all full of hate, everyone of them. And who wants to watch that?

Happy weekend, Mamie!

>65 msf59: It's not just you...my husband who has been a huge Tarantino fan also saw The Hateful Eight and came away thoroughly disappointed. He actually went while I browsed/read in the bookstore across the street! Three hours is a long time...and he was so frustrated at the lazy trope used for the ending. He'd figured it out early on and thought "there's no way, that can't be it, he wouldn't use that" and then it was. Sigh.

>78 maggie1944: Thanks, Karen! And thanks for backing Mark up - definitely will skip that one. A very happy weekend to you, dear!

>79 dk_phoenix: Okay, then. That seals the deal. No Hateful Eight for me!

Hi Mamie! I hope your weekend improves after a soggy beginning. I hate the sensation of wet clothes. Ugh!

>81 cbl_tn: Me, too, Carrie! So far so good with the weekend - I'm just back from walking, and it felt good! Managed about 4.5 miles, and it was great weather for it.

Uh oh. Don't know if I've heard of video bullets, but I've been hit by two of them: Charade and Veronica Mars. My Netflix que is now 440 long.

And even though this your second thread, Happy New Year!

Thank you for those New Year's wishes, Janet! And I am delighted to hit you with video bullets! I get hit by those all the time around here, too. Charade and Veronica Mars are both excellent.

We watched Blade Runner this afternoon. Talk about deliciously creepy. The movie has aged well, I think. I read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? last year, and have been wanting to see the movie every since then. So different from the book and yet it captures the essence of it. Abby and I liked it, but Birdy and Rae said it was too weird. It's one of those movies that you appreciate more if you have read the book, IMO. I thought they did a great job with the casting!

>79 dk_phoenix: Thanks for the confirmation, Faith. LOL. I did not like Django either but I think this one was even worse. And a big waste of the 70mm widescreen effect, since 85% of the film, takes place inside a trading post.

>85 Crazymamie: Yah, for Blade Runner! I also love that film. I saw a cool fact on FB yesterday- Roy Batty was created on Jan 8th, 2016. Neat, huh?

>86 msf59: I can't believe I hadn't seen it before, Mark. And yes, that is a cool fact - too funny!

Hi Crazy! Sorry about the wet pants saga. LOL. Hoping hubby and I will go to the movies tonight--still empty nesting one more night... : )

Hey there, Kim! The wet pants were...unfortunate.

A quiet house? SO what's that like?!

>90 Crazymamie: Really weird!! I am having a love/hate thing with it. There are way less dishes to do, which is good. And I got a solid 7 hours of sleep--loved that! But is is very quiet. LOL.

I love getting the house all to myself, which rarely happens, but if it lasted too long, I think it would freak me out a bit. I think I am addicted to chaos...

>88 Crazymamie: hahaha love it!

>88 Crazymamie: Well, naturally.

>18 ronincats: lol (or was that serious?!)

>88 Crazymamie: lol again! That face ;)

>95 LovingLit: Well, they were seriously selling it but did I think Mamie or any of the rest of us would be buying? No. My tub has nice wide ledges perfect for a glass of wine. Now if I needed a glass in the shower...no, I don't think that would work out.

>88 Crazymamie: Ah, how totally true!

>88 Crazymamie: Oh, yes! *melt*

Well now, I knew this was a group of discerning taste!

>93 bell7: Right, Mary?!

>94 charl08: But of course, Charlotte!

>95 LovingLit: That face...and everything else. Colin Firth delivers Mr. Darcy for me, Megan!

>96 ronincats: I know, right?! Because in the shower the wine would get diluted...

And another Colin Firth fan!!

>97 Storeetllr: My thoughts exactly, Mary!

Colin Firth, and plenty of HP -- definitely a swoon-worthy new thread! Happy weekend to you!

Already 96 posts into a second thread! No wonder I can't keep up. Sounds like you are making good progress with the Fitbiting. Your posts reminded me that I hadn't logged my activities for a while. - Oops must have been on this thread for a while - it is now at 99 posts.

Wishing all at the Paradisio a lovely Sunday.

>99 AMQS: Oh, swoon-worthy! Such a lovely complement - my thread thanks you, Anne!

>100 Familyhistorian: I am trying to get back into the swing of things, Meg. The holidays tripped me up a bit, but I need to get back into walking regularly. I feel so much better when I get those steps in! And the threads will slow down - it's all the excitement of a New Year, thank goodness. Although we ARE a chatty bunch!

>101 PaulCranswick: Thank you for those good wishes, Paul! Hoping that yours was lovely as well - entering the end stages there, right?

Morning Mamie! Happy Sunday in Mamieland! Not much on the agenda today but some football and lots of reading.

Morning, Mark! We will be watching football today, too - what a coincidence! LOL.

>104 Crazymamie: Happy Sunday, Mamie! I won't watching football, but I'm hoping to finish another book. Maybe. If I don't take a nap. Ooooh, nap.

I love a good nap, too, Susan! Happy Sunday to you!

That Seahawks and Vikings match up, should be a dandy!

That's the one I want to see!

Morning, Mamie!!

Morning, Amber!

And cheering for the Vikes, right?

Vikes all the way! (Or my family will disown me!) Happy walking, Crazy--make sure to swing by my rabbit hole, you know, the one I have fallen into?! ; )

Happy Sunday, Mark,oops, I mean Mamie! No football for me I just hope that all the teams you want to win, win. It must be an awesome feeling :0(

DA tonight, DA tonight that's what I'll be watching!

>111 BLBera: Um...well...to be perfectly honest, I usually root for Ellen's Seahawks if my Broncos are not playing. Or Abby's Saints...or Rae and Katie's Giants...or Birdy's Falcons...or Daniel's Eagles...It's complicated! What I really want is for my Broncos to take the whole thing, so whatever needs to happen in order for that to occur.

>112 Berly: No need to be disowned, Kim. Go Vikings! (for you and Beth) Go Seahawks! (for Ellen and Karen)

I have left you a ladder, and am prepared to come after you if need be.

>113 Carmenere: Ha! Happy Sunday, Lynda! I thank you for those good wishes. Sorry about your Browns.

And happy DA watching!

Great threads! So many great books and hot chocolate recipes ;) I have Saga Deluxe Edition on hold at the library and am hoping it will come in soon. You did hit me with a BB,Mãn. It sounds fantastic. For my 1001 challenge, I wanted to read Casino Royale this year but now I might listen to it on audio.

Wow, thread number two already. Nicely done, Mamie!

Thanks for rooting for my Seahawks but today feels like it is going to go Beth's way. The Seahawks are discombobulated and, well, less than sparkling. The defense showed up but the offense is in a daze. If we don't get a pick-six or a scoop-and-score, I'm not sure we'll end up with anything more than a bagel. And here I am trying not to let my blood pressure go up. Ha.

I will also watch DA tonight. I think the show has run its course but there are still a couple of story lines I'm enjoying.

>88 Crazymamie: Absolutely. Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy. End of story.

So, we are in agreement on Firth and the Broncs. BFFs forever. :) (BTW, if you didn't already know, Peyton's back!)

Have a lovely Sunday of football and books, though right about now I'd prefer a nap to either.

>115 Tanglewood: Hello, Michelle! Welcome! I am wanting to get to Saga, Volume 5, but it looks like I will have to wait for it to age - then I can get it through ILL. And Mãn is SO good - hoping you love it when you get to it. The Bond books are loads of fun on audio - Dan Stevens (of DA fame) narrates Casino Royale.

>116 EBT1002: Thank you, Ellen! Don't panic - your Seahawks are up by one at the moment. The first half was less than spectacular for both sides, I thought.

I confess that I only watched the very first season of DA. But I loved the costumes.

And yes - "Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy. End of story." True. SO true!

>117 Storeetllr: Yes, Mary! And I did know that Peyton was back - I was so thrilled to see them put him in during the second half of the last game. Finally.

A nap does sound good, but I am making ribs for dinner, so I'd better keep an eye on those!

Evening, Mamie! Nice new thread here. Hey! Didn't I just say that? Seriously, you are going to have to slow down a bit. I am trying so hard to keep up but I keep falling further and further behind! I do love your stories. The "Tale of the Wet Pants" did not disappoint. Have a fun and productive week.

Hi Mamie! I see that you're reading and listening to War and Peace. Do you do that at the same time, or do you sync them? I'm guessing the second. I have an audiobook option with my EMT textbook, and I find it much easier to get through the dry material by listening and reading at the same time. If I just read I fall asleep. But I don't remember War and Peace being as boring as my EMT textbook. :)

Happy weekend!

>88 Crazymamie: *swoon* Darcy pic and that scene! Thanks for improving my Monday! :))

I accidentally unstarred this thread when I wanted to unstar the old one and thought yesterday that "something's missing". Found you again before thread #3 is up.
The wet pants story was funny to read and it could have been me as well - I know why I don't have sunroofs anymore.

Have a good week!

Happy Monday, Mamie! I'm unswooned by Mr. Firth. *runs to another thread*

>119 Donna828: Hello there, Donna! I will slow down, in fact, I predict that all the threads will slow down as we head into February. It's that feeding frenzy of the New Year when all the threads are bright and shiny. SO glad that you love the stories I share here - life is funny, isn't it?! We just have to remember to laugh. I thank you for those good wishes and send along mine for you for a week filled with fabulous.

>120 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! Most of the time, I do listen and read at the same time with something like War and Peace that is dense with names and places I am unfamiliar with, and to be able to follow the footnotes, which are not read in the audio. If I happen to listen while I'm cooking or walking, then I take a few minutes the next time I have the book to go back and look at the footnotes that I missed. Now with something like a mystery or a thriller, I would just do the sync thing.

The weekend was a good one, so thanks for those wishes. Hoping that this week is kind to you!

>121 Deern: Ha! I love that scene, too, Nathalie. Abby and I are both completely besotted with that particular miniseries.

I have done that before - the unstarring thing. And sometimes I accidentally hit the ignore - once I even ignored myself, and I had to go to the threadbook to find me! I tend to do that more on my iPad.

Glad you enjoyed the story - ironically, my mininvan has taken two dousings like that, and it wasn't me who left the sunroof open either time!

Happy week to you, as well, dear!

>122 Carmenere: Um...*mutters*...Monday to you, Lynda! Mondays are not my favorite. And no worries about Colin Firth - if we all wanted the same things, there would be trouble! And oh how boring life would be without differences of opinion and taste.

Morning Mamie! It is cold here. Single digits at the moment. Glad I don't have to go out. Grins...

I did some cleaning, now it is time for the books!

And hooray, for the Penguin Clothbound classics! I should start getting them tomorrow or Wednesday.

>124 msf59: Morning, Mark! I saw those temps - YIKES! It's 32F here at the moment and very sunny. Yesterday was so windy that I didn't walk, but today I have no excuses, so I will have to get out there.

Hooray for book time! I am very excited about your order of the clothbound books - you will love those!

>125 katiekrug: Amen, Sister! That made me laugh!

>125 katiekrug: Exactly!

*waves at Kim*

Hi there! Crazy thread lady.

Tee-hee to wet pants and Amen to Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.

I started walking again yesterday. I wore my Fitbit religiously for months and then over the holidays I just decided I needed some time off. Which is all good, except then my stats start bothering me Lol.

Okay. Monday again, and really, I have very little to report. Lazy weekend - watched some football, made Big Breakfast, read some, listened to War and Peace, watched some more Veronica Mars, walked on Saturday but not Sunday (very windy and I had a killer headache), did some laundry and took a nap. Mondays are our Big Clean days, which means that each area gets a thorough cleaning by whomever was in charge of it for the previous week - then we change areas by rotating to the next one. Also the dogs get a bath. I am needing to write out my menu for the week - hate doing this, but I love when it is done. Makes things so much easier. And we really NEED to get the tree down, as it has been sitting naked in the living room for quite some time. Poor thing.

AND, since I don't have anything worthy on the reading front, I'm going to tell you about a book that I read at the end of last year, but didn't say anything about (on account of I fell off my thread). SO here it is:



"Flora had asked him once what he feared most and since then he had given the question a great deal of thought. Not rats. Not bad gin. He feared that he would never regain the certainty he had possessed when first reading Orwell.

Burning Down George Orwell's House by Andrew Ervin - I picked this up in a Kindle Daily Deal, and it was a good find. Dark humor and a quirky cast of misfits combined to create a delightful read.

Here's the Amazon blurb about it:

"Ray Welter, who was until recently a highflying advertising executive in Chicago, has left the world of newspeak behind. He decamps to the isolated Scottish Isle of Jura in order to spend a few months in the cottage where George Orwell wrote most of his seminal novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. Ray is miserable, and quite prepared to make his troubles go away with the help of copious quantities of excellent scotch.

But a few of the local islanders take a decidedly shallow view of a foreigner coming to visit in order to sort himself out, and Ray quickly finds himself having to deal with not only his own issues but also a community whose eccentricities are at times amusing and at others downright dangerous. Also, the locals believe—or claim to believe—that there’s a werewolf about, and against his better judgment, Ray’s misadventures build to the night of a traditional, boozy werewolf hunt on the Isle of Jura on the summer solstice."

What I liked about it, humor aside, were the tidbits of info on George Orwell and his masterpiece 1984. The main character has a bit of an obsession with this book - which is why he spends pretty much the last cash he has to rent the house that George Orwell lived in while writing the book. From the beginning, this feels like one of those old screwball comedies that I love so much, but the humor is much darker here. Definitely worth the read, although I'm not sure I would want to pay full price for it. If you can get it from the library or as a Kindle deal (they often repeat previous deals), then don't hesitate to go for it.

Hi there, Jenn! Glad to give your Monday a boost!

I hear you with the FIibit - I did the same thing because I tend to get a bit obsessive about checking my stats. SO now I have to climb my way back up the leader board again. Of course, that works as a great motivator.

Happy Monday Mamie! I hope your week is off to a good start. The good news is that this is the only Monday this week!

Thank you, Carrie! Way to put a good spin on it. LOL!

Had to share this - Mercy finally managed to climb the Christmas tree without getting caught!

Ha! Nice picture.

She was so cute up there, Charlotte! We hated to take her out.

>134 Crazymamie: I love your ornament!

Ha! Me, too, Lori. She was so pleased with herself!

Thread two, Mamie! You are so organized, having a Monday cleaning day! I'm one who cleans as needed! :) I'm skipping my walk today to just hang around, tidy a bit and find another book to read. I was so disappointed that I did not like Man by Kim Thuy more than I did. It is pouring rain out, and here I am leaving the dog walking to my husband today -and he works all day too. Mercy is a daring cat! Enjoy taking down the tree. I felt that my husband took down our Christmas lights too quickly this year. Never satisfied, am I? :)

Oh, I should add that I am crazy for Susan Hill and her Simon Serralier(sp) series! I've read The Woman in Black and enjoyed that too.

#88 So very very true!

>134 Crazymamie: Mercy me! Such a cute photo!

Started my annual weigh-in with my relatives. Every Monday, we must fess up! Accountability helps. Here we go....

Cute kitty in the tree!

>134 Crazymamie: Ah haha! My cat stared up at the tree last night after we took everything off, but I think it was more sadness than anything else...it seemed like she knew we were going to take away her favorite sleeping spot (next to the tree). I didn't let the empty tree sit around long enough to find out if she might climb it as a protest sit-in... o_O

>139 vancouverdeb: I am only organized about certain things, Deborah. And trust me, with six people, three dogs and one cat living in the same house, a Big Clean every Monday IS needed. Ha!

I will be interested to see what I think of Ru after reading Mãn first - seems like most of those who read Ru first preferred it to Mãn. I also just really liked the format, which I know would not work for everyone.

Good thinking leaving the dog walking to the husband when it is pouring out. Our dogs are all toy poodles, and they will not go out in the rain. I tried telling them that originally poodles were water retriever dogs, but they are not having any of it.

Mercy is a curious cat - I don't know about daring as she is very timid about most things, but she has been wanting to climb that tree the entire holiday season. I was actually thrilled for her that she managed it before the tree was put away. I always think we leave ours up too long, but the husband likes to have it up through the week of the New Year.

Glad to hear that you love the Susan Hill Serralier series - I have had the first of those in the stacks for years, so I am happy for an excuse that makes me get to it. I did read The Woman in Black several years ago and quite liked it.

>140 BBGirl55: *grin* Hello, Bryony!

>141 Carmenere: Ha! Abby took that photo with my phone - we couldn't believe that we didn't hear her climbing up there and settling into place. She was very sneaky about it!

>142 Berly: Oh, dear! DOn't know that I would want to weigh-in with the relatives. Yikes!

Glad you liked the kitty in the tree!

>143 dk_phoenix: Hey, Faith! You posted while I was posting! Mercy loves the tree, too. She was very excited when she saw us getting it out again this year. She loves to sleep under it, and she likes to hide under the tree skirt, which is very funny. She thinks that she is in stealth mode, but there is always a part of her sticking out that is clearly visible. Cats are so funny!

Morning Mamie! Low teens here today. That's it. I wish I didn't have to go out but I have a few errands to run, plus we got a couple inches of snow, which I need to clear up. Hey, it beats working, right?

Morning, Mark! Wow - double digits today, huh? It's another bright sunny day here, currently 32F but going to 56F today. I actually love this crisp kind of weather because I can walk outside and return home NOT dripping sweat!

Hoping that your errands behave themselves and can be managed quickly so that you can get back to goofing off.

I will wrap up the day, with my daughter. We are going to hit a local brewery, we have been meaning to get to and then go to dinner. I always enjoy my time with Bree.

Oh, how fun! So great that she lives close enough to do things like that!

Aaaah! so Mercy is a stealth kitty. Many seem to have that feature. My cat, Mittens, must think I'm a slow learner. Every morning he meows, jumps all over the furniture and getting into all kinds of mischief despite being fed and receiving kitty treats. Then it hit me, he wants attention, he wants to cuddle. Now he's happy and fully extended on the floor watching tv upside down. Perfect!

Yep. She loves to hide and then jump out at the dogs. Mittens sounds like he has a very fun personality, Lynda!

Good morning, Mamie! Just getting back in the swing of things - that Orwell-related book sounds interesting. I'm still working on War and Peace, but making some headway.

>152 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I quite liked the Orwell book. The best Orwell-related book I have ever read is Finding George Orwell in Burma, which is non-fiction - I might do a reread of that one this year. I am also still working on W&P - just getting ready to start Volume II, so I'm about 300 pages in.

>144 Crazymamie: Adrian will not go out in the rain either. I have to pick him up and carry him out. I keep telling him he won't melt, but I don't think he believes me!

And happy Tuesday! The best thing about Tuesday is that it's not Monday!

>153 Crazymamie: Completely agree about Finding George Orwell in Burma being a superb book. I am kind of hoping that Emma Larkin (pseudonym) would do some kind of update because Burma has been going through some major changes in the last couple of years.

>154 cbl_tn: Dogs are so quirky - I love that about them. And you are so right about Tuesdays, Carrie!

>155 Oberon: An update would be fabulous. I just loved that book - superb is just the right word, Erik. It made me go on to read more about Orwell and to begin reading through his works. I would also like to read more about Burma - any recommendations?

>156 Crazymamie: I have read and enjoyed The River of Lost Footsteps by Thant Myint-U. Unfortunately, this book is older and is before the recent political change. Emma Larkin wrote a second book on Burma called Everything is Broken about a cyclone that destroyed big chunks of Burma and that the government tried to pretend didn't matter. In truth, I haven't read it yet - it is still sitting on my wishlist. It was favorably reviewed in the Christian Science Monitor and the review plus my experience with Finding George Orwell in Burma resulted in me putting it on the wishlist.

Incidentally, Finding George Orwell in Burma caused me to read more Orwell too. Have you read his short story Shooting an Elephant?

Oh! I have The River of Lost Footsteps on the shelves! And I didn't know about Everything is Broken, but I checked, and our library system has it, so I have requested it. Thanks for that. I have read Shooting An Elephant - it made me cry. So powerful for such a short essay.

Tom Waits singing Always Take the Long Way Home

Walked five miles this morning - love when I can get my walk in earlier in the day as it makes me feel energized all day long. Thought I'd share one of my favorite songs from my playlist.

>134 Crazymamie: -- Love it! I'd been wondering how Mercy was doing. Looks like she's just fine.

Hey, Reba! Mercy has been doing great - she has settled in, and now we don't know what we did without her. She is very timid, so she hides when we have company over or when anyone comes to the door, but when it's just us, she loves to hang out on the windowsills or on the screened-in porch. She has no interest in going outside, so I guess her adventures as a kitten were pretty scary. She has a delightful personality and loves to explore anything new that comes into the house - especially the boxes that deliveries come in. We are all completely entranced by her - even the dogs!

Lovely review on Burning Down George Orwell's House. I saw that on the kindle deal when it was posted and considered it. Now I'm sorry I didn't take advantage of the deal. Usually not one for werewolves, but slapstick ones could be good.

>158 Crazymamie: I just read The Rebel of Rangoon last month - fascinating book about recent pro-democracy activists (although it sounds like you have plenty to read already!).

I like the sound of the Orwell book on Burma after reading his bio (or a bio on him rather) which discussed his changing views during his writing. Burma was the most interesting bit.

>162 michigantrumpet: Thank you. I am betting you would have liked it, Marianne - the dark humor was so well done.

>163 charl08: Oh, adding that to the list, Charlotte. Thank you! I always have plenty to read, but I love recommendations on subjects of particular interest to me. And I cannot recommend Finding George Orwell in Burma highly enough - I really loved that one.

Hi Mamie - I need to get back on the Fitbit track. Burning Down George Orwell's House sounds good.

I LOVE Tom Waits.

Hi Beth! I am working on getting back into Fitbit. I managed to get 15,000 steps so far today, which I am thrilled with. Let me know if you want to be Fitbit friends, and I will PM you my info; we are getting quite a group of us, and it's fun to compare stats.

Burning Down George Orwell's House is definitely good, or at least I thought so. And YES! LOVE Tom Waits!! What a voice!

>166 Crazymamie: Your 15,000 steps are amazing! I have made a resolution, if I want to read today, I have to stand at the treadmill desk to do it. There's so much sitting while writing throughout the day, I have to stop sitting down during leisure time. Ugh. But congrats on the step count yesterday!!! It's fantastic!!!

Thank you, Faith. I was walking between 15,000 and 20,000 pretty routinely there for a while, but I have slacked off in the past few months. Part of it was the holidays because, let's face it, walking that amount of steps each day takes time. And part of it was that I needed a break from concentrating on the stats - my own stats because I get slightly obsessive about it. Each new gain puts me closer to another goal, and when I get to that goal...I'm a bit crazy that way! But now I am ready to dive back in, and if you want to walk outdoors in Georgia, now is the perfect time to do so. And I need to get back to focusing on losing the rest of the weight - I have lost close to 50 pounds, which I am thrilled with, but I would like to lose about 20 more, which would put me well within that healthy BMI target.

I like your resolution! I will be cheering you on, so get to that treadmill desk!

Morning Mamie! You have been doing a great job with your walking and it has really paid off. High Fives to my pal.

I LOVE Tom Waits! I should put some Waits on, sometime today.

Morning, Mark! And thank you! Somehow I knew you would be a Tom Waits fan, and YES, you should listen to him today!

Getting ready to go out walking, but I thought I post what I picked up from the library yesterday - a few of my requests came in!

Ru by Kim Thúy
Fifth Business by Robertson Davies - saw this being talked about on the CAC, and wanted to check it out, but I don't know if I will be able to get to it this month
The Chinese Takeout Book by Diana Kuan - Lori (thornton37814) said that this was her favorite cookbook from last year, so I decided to check it out, as I did get that new wok last year and I LOVE Chinese food

And Abby got:
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson - she read this last night, so now I will read it before we take it back!

>171 Crazymamie: Yes! What a smart guy he was. Apparently he put together something about the Bronte sisters called "The Theory of Relativity".

Good morning, Mamie! Hope you have fun with Nimona and a good day.

>172 jnwelch: Haha, Joe! Good Morning to you! Abby liked Nimona, soI am guessing that I will, too. Hoping to get a chance to dip into it later today.

Colin Hays singing Waiting for My Real Life to Begin

Here's today's music moment from my playlist. I did 51/2 miles today!

>174 Crazymamie: So that's where my steps have gone. You've done them instead! Excellent job, Mamie :-)

>175 susanj67: Happy to help, Susan! You know I am a team player!

I loved both Fifth Business & Nimona. You are in for a treat on both.

Most excellent, Mark!

>130 Crazymamie: looks like you stumbled upon a good one there. I like the premise

>171 Crazymamie: that Einstein huh? He knew a thing or two :)

>178 Crazymamie: I think you would like it, Megan. And yes, from what I hear, Einstein knew a thing or two. LOL!

>85 Crazymamie: How interesting! We watched the Bladerunner this past weekend. I watched it years ago when it was first produced. Primarily, I love the music.

>181 Whisper1: Hello, Linda! That's quite a coincidence, isn't it?! I really liked the photography or whatever you call it - they did a good job of setting the mood with the camera angles and the lighting.

Go Mamie - Congrats on the weight loss and the steps! My goal is 12,000 per day, and I was doing pretty well before the holidays. So, I need to get going again.

>171 Crazymamie: Love that!

Hope you enjoy Nimona as much as I did.

Wow! Awesome on the steppage Ms. Mamie!

>167 dk_phoenix: treadmill desk? they actually make those? *off to google*

>183 BLBera: I had just increased my goal to 12K in September when my world suddenly took a slider. But yesterday I got close to 8,000 which is, sadly, the best so far this week. But today's a new day, eh what?

Steps are impressive. I am a bit scared of the idea of a treadmill desk. My first kindle gave up after an encounter with an exercise bike (and the floor).

>186 charl08: I've been using a music stand which isn't big enough to accommodate a notebook as well as a book, and inevitably I'll want to jot something down even when reading novels. The desk would be awesome, but the ones I looked at seem to cost as much as a treadmill!

You're awesome, Mamie! 5 1/2 miles is quite an invigorating walk!

Morning Mamie! Sweet Thursday! It's good to know that when I am walking the route, you are walking along with me. Smiles...

Morning, Y'all! Hold onto your hats because yesterday I managed to get over 21,000 steps!! I had walked the 5 1/2 miles in the morning, but Craig wanted to walk before dinner, so I went with him - ended up with 10.72 miles for the day!

I didn't get as much reading done as I had doped to, but I did get about half way through Ru, which is very good, but is not as nuanced as Mãn, IMO. Still, each small vignette provides a perfectly encapsulated moment and presents it to the reader like a gift. Beautiful. You are not going to get the detail or the structure of a novel here, but the format suits this author perfectly, so it works.

In A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, I am on the slide to the finish. This is very good and has been a lot of fun. My one small gripe would be that there is too much talking - I want a bit more action and a little less psychology. Still, it's a minor complaint, and I am enjoying the humor and the diverse cast of characters.

No W&P yesterday, so I need to get back to that one today. I was a bit alarmed when Joe mentioned that there were two lengthy epilogues - I really hate epilogues. Seriously. They are rarely well done and almost never add to the book in a positive way. I always feel like the book should have ended where the author originally closed up shop. But then, wait...here's a bit more because I just can't bear to let go...AND...the book is less than it could have been if the author had just said a quick and tidy farewell. In fact...*whispers*...I usually skip the epilogue because it usually ruins the book for me.

>190 Crazymamie: Mamie, that is awesome for the steps! Yay! Super-Fit Friend and I just went out for a walk, but it was so cold and blowy that we quickly gave up and hurried downstairs into the mall. This is why you will beat me today too :-)

I've fallen behind on W&P - I wonder whether it's worth continuing. We're two hours into the series now so I don't think I'm going to catch up.

>183 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! My goal is set at 12,000 steps, too - and like you, I was doing better with it before the holidays. It feels good to be getting back in the swing of things. I feel so much better when I get my steps - honestly, the hardest part for me is just getting out the door. Once I'm out there, I love it.

>184 SuziQoregon: I smiled when I came across that, Juli - perfect for this group, no?! I'm hoping to get to Nimona today - I have heard very good things, and it seems to be generally loved by this group.

>185 dragonaria: Thanks, Kimberly! And ha! I goggled the treadmill desk, too! I wanted to see what it looked like. I would have to use it like this:



I have a history with treadmills. Let's just say I should stick to the elliptical if I'm going to use electronic exercise equipment. Seriously, it wasn't pretty.

And HOORAY for you for 8,000 steps!! I love that each day is a new set of possibilities. Thank goodness life goes forward!

>186 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! I am scared of any kind of treadmill. I used to listen to audiobooks on the elliptical, and that worked well. I don't think I could manage a Kindle on there.

>187 dragonaria: You sound like me, Kimberly, with wanting to write things down as you read.

>188 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda! It was a lovely day for it - perfect temps!

>189 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday! That's a lovely thought - of course you are not walking the route today - aren't you still on vacation?! If not, you're doing it wrong.

>191 susanj67: Thanks, Susan! Such enthusiasm!! I didn't walk outside Sunday or Monday because it was so windy here - I don't like walking in high winds, either, so good thinking to give it a pass.

Not enjoying W&P? I say if it's not working for you, then put it aside, Life is too short to read books that don't appeal - there are too many other good ones out there!

I am devastated to learn that Alan Rickman died today. I Loved him. Only 69 - he will never get to be 80 and sit in his rocking chair.

What! Oh no. I hadn't heard about Alan Rickman. What a huge loss.

>195 jnwelch: I know, Joe. I just adored him - he was so talented and that voice! I feel like someone hit me in the stomach; I didn't even know he had been diagnosed with cancer. So sad.

>194 Crazymamie: I am so, so sad.

Love Alan Rickman. Have you seen 'Truly Madly Deeply'? It's my favorite movie of his. Sadly, it is not easy to find on DVD...

Even as Harry, the cheating jerk in 'Love Actually' he was wonderful...

>197 scaifea: Me, too, Amber. Me, too.

>198 katiekrug: Yes. About loving Alan Rickman. I am trying to remember if I have seen 'Truly Madly Deeply'. Okay Goggled it, and no, I haven't seen it. Now I need to track it down. And yes, he was wonderful as Harry! I also love his Colonel Brandon in 'Sense and Sensibility'.

No, I am not walking the route today but I will next week and I am sure you will be "steppin'' out then too! Smiles...

>190 Crazymamie: OMG!!! I've been focusing on my embroidery project and not walking much lately, then last night I twisted my knee so not I'm REALLY not walking!! (I am charging my Fitbit though :))

>200 msf59: Ah! I thought not - that would mean that your vacation was way too short. And yes - I will be steppin out with you next week. Birdy and I did just under 5 miles this morning, and I have managed a bit more this afternoon, so I have 6.34 miles so far.

>201 RebaRelishesReading: You made me laugh, Reba! Sorry to hear about your knee - take it easy with that. Don't try to do too much too soon. Sounds like your Fitbit will be read to go when you are!

So sad about Alan Rickman. I loved his voice.

Nicely done on the steps, Mamie. You go, woman!

How did Abby like Nimona? How did you like Nimona? I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

So I've decided to deal with my Rickman Sadness in the only way I know how - a new list. I've printed off his IMDB page and want to work my way through his movies, including re-watching those I've already seen.

Oh, and morning, Mamie!

Yes, another sad day it was, Mamie. Rickman was such a versatile actor and will be missed.
Celine Dion's husband who's struggled with cancer for many years, was taken yesterday as well. Very instrumental in her career.

Happy for your 10.72 Miles! Your'r Rockin'

I didn't have any time to read yesterday either. I'll be joining you on putting in a big chunk of time with W&P today.

You folks are hilarious. The treadmill of a treadmill desk runs very slooooowly, and it's super sensitive -- you have the clip, of course, but even the sides of the treadmill are sensitive so that if you touch the side or step off, it slows and stops. No danger! You can ramp up the speed if needed, but that's not necessary. It's just to keep you off your butt and in some kind of motion so you're not sedentary for 8+ hours every day. It's not really "exercise equipment" so to speak. Lol.

Morning Mamie! Happy Friday!

"How did Abby like Nimona? How did you like Nimona?" I wanna know too! I wanna know too!

Have a lovely weekend!

Happy Friday, Mamie! Count me among those curious about your and Abby's reactions to Nimona. "Inquiring minds want to know".

Mamie you MUST get a copy of TrulyMadly Deeply. Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson!!!

Still too bummed to talk about Rickman (and Bowie). Two brilliant artists. And too darn young. Every time I think of either, I start to tear up.

Maybe when the worst of the shock and grief is over, I'll watch their films/listen to their music/narration.

Happy Friday! May it be the start of a fantastic weekend!

Have a happy Friday, Mamie!

>206 dk_phoenix: but, why let the facts get in the way of a good laugh? :)

Amber's plan to deal with the death of Alan Rickman sounds therapeutic. I went to a friends house to watch a tv special on Bowie the night after he had died. It was nice.

I posted the same Rickman quote on my thread, but with a different picture. So sad.

I love the sideways treadmill/desk!! But I really need to use one that works. Felt horrible this week so I will be lucky if I just maintain my weight instead of going up on my Monday family weigh-in. Oh well. As you so nicely put it, each day is a chance to start anew. Happy weekend!

Sad weekend for many of us who like good music and great acting.

I had a quick reread of Song of Lunch yesterday along with the programme of Alan and Emma via YouTube

Both Bowie and Rickman left us with some great memories and a fabulous body of work to remember them by. xx

There is a lovely morning mist here, making the Pecan Paradisio feel like a place of magic, and I guess for me it is. This is the first place we have lived in that has felt like home since the moment I walked through the front door. And I never tire of the view, which, for me, is like a breath of fresh air - calming and reaffirming and life-sustaining. I can't believe how lucky I am to live in a place that holds so much beauty. Each season has it's own gifts, like now where winter means that I can walk outside without feeling like a puddle of perspiration. It means wearing a long sleeved shirt and perhaps a light pair of gloves. Maybe a hat, if it's windy. So different from the Indiana winters that I had always known where winter meant hunkering down because going outside required a kind of mental preparation for that bitter cold that could make your bones ache and your nose sting just from taking in that brittle broken air.

Yesterday was a very lazy one for me - the kids went to the movies and out to eat, so I enjoyed the quiet of an empty house. I put on clean pajamas, snagged my favorite comfy chair and settled in with my books. And I lost myself in the moment - it was lovely. I listened to the voice of Alan Rickman reading Return of the Native, and along with my sadness I was thankful that he had left us such tangible reminders of his extraordinary gifts. We had watched 'Sense and Sensibility' the night before, and fallen in love all over again with Colonel Brandon. I cried at the part where he has fetched Marianne's mother, and Marianne calls him back in the door to say thank you. He steps back into the frame of the camera shot then, and he needs no words because his face conveys everything. Yes, I thought to myself, thank you. For everything - for sharing that velvet voice and for giving us Professor Snape and Colonel Brandon and so many others...

I was greedy with my solitude, and I finished several books as if they were chocolates - I will share a few words on them later today, but here is a list of what I finished:

A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
The Fade Out: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker
Ru by Kim Thúy

>216 Crazymamie: Beautiful sentiments, Mamie, and an extraordinary way to mourn a beloved actor.

>217 Carmenere: Thank you for that, Lynda.

Morning Mamie! Happy Saturday. I enjoyed your early day ruminations. Glad you enjoyed your quiet, jammy time.

I hope you enjoyed The Fade Out. As a film lover, I am sure you did. I also liked the 2nd volume too.

Catching up with my thread:

>203 EBT1002: So true, Ellen. And thank you for those kind words - I skipped the stepping yesterday. (haha)

Abby and I both liked Nimona - I was ever so slightly disappointed with the ending only because I thought the story was going to be a metaphor for dealing with mental health issues, so it didn't end up where I thought it would. I loved the humor and the cleverness of it, though.

>204 scaifea: That is a most excellent plan, Amber. We are doing something very similar. And I started listening to Return of the Native.

>205 Carmenere: Well said, Lynda. And I didn't know about Celine Dion's husband, so sad.

My feet and I took the day off yesterday, and it was a lovely indulgence. But I didn't get to W&P, so I need to make sure I listen a bit this weekend.

>206 dk_phoenix: Faith, you have obviously never seen me on a treadmill! Seriously. No. But I bet it comes in very handy for those who are more talented than I and can manage to walk and work at the same time.

Beautiful photo, Mamie. It's wonderful to be able to take quiet time for ourselves, right? It sounds like you had a wonderful day.

>207 msf59: Morning Mark, even though it is a different morning. Your good wishes worked as Friday was a most excellent day! See my remarks to Ellen in >220 Crazymamie: for my comments on Nimona.

>219 msf59: And oh! Here you are again - how WONDERFUL! I loved The Fade Out: Volume 1! I saw Joe's comments on it over on the GN thread, and I went instantly to Amazon and purchased it because our library system wouldn't let me request it. He had me with noir and old Hollywood! It was great, so I have ordered the second volume and now must wait for it to arrive - volume three is coming out in February, sis you see that?

>208 DianaNL: That made me laugh, Diana! Thanks for that!

>209 jnwelch: Hello, Joe! Abby and I both liked Nimona - for more, see my comments in >220 Crazymamie:. And I LOVED your epilogue rant over on your thread - I need to come and tell you over there. I read it because I don't really care about spoilers for W&P, and it is funny because I was saying up there in >190 Crazymamie:: "I was a bit alarmed when Joe mentioned that there were two lengthy epilogues - I really hate epilogues. Seriously. They are rarely well done and almost never add to the book in a positive way. I always feel like the book should have ended where the author originally closed up shop. But then, wait...here's a bit more because I just can't bear to let go...AND...the book is less than it could have been if the author had just said a quick and tidy farewell. In fact...*whispers*...I usually skip the epilogue because it usually ruins the book for me.
" SO anyway, I am going to skip both epilogues! You have convinced me that I am better off without them should I actually manage to get to the end of the book. Let's just say it's beginning to look iffy. The newer, shinier books keep calling to me.

>210 luvamystery65: I WANT that movie, Roberta! Sadly, I cannot find an affordable copy of it anywhere, and our library system won't let me request it. Maybe they will make it available digitally. *crosses fingers*

>211 Storeetllr: I hear you, Mary. They will both be missed. And you are right - too young. I am finding that listening to and watching the films is a great help. Bittersweet, but still a comfort.

And thank you for those weekend wishes - I am ready for fantastic!!

>212 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy! I did! Hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

>213 LovingLit: Right, Megan! Since when do we let facts get in the way of a good laugh?!

We watched 'Sense and Sensibility' for the same reason, and it felt right. Therapeutic is a good way to describe it.

>214 Berly: Agreed, Kim. Abby posted the same thing, too.

All we can do is get up and put our best foot forward each day, Kim, so don't take it too hard. Losing weight is definitely not a simple or an easy thing - no instant gratification, which is a bummer but also makes it so rewarding when it actually happens.

>215 PaulCranswick: Could not agree more, Paul. I am really wanting to see 'Song of Lunch'. I am so very thankful that I have old favorites along with ones that I've yet to experience for both artists waiting for me. It's a comfort.

>221 BLBera: Hello, Beth! SO glad you like the photo - Abby took that one of the pecan grove that is behind out house. And yes - quiet time to ourselves is such a gift. Helps to recharge the batteries. It was indeed a wonderful day.

Hi Mamie, dropped by to catch up on your entire thread, but yikes! Not sure how it all got so huge so fast, you are one popular lady and your certainly deserve the fame! Looks like you've been doing some good reading. I'm sticking to my 20 pages of W&P each day, which is working out well for me. The chapters are so short that I get through several with each sitting. I thought I'd combine audio with it, as I like to do on really big tomes, but enjoying just the print version this time. Looking forward to getting my Folio edition... I'm sure I won't be finished by the time it gets here, since I've only gotten to page 276 or thereabouts so far...

Have a lovely weekend! xx

Hello, Ilana! Thanks for stopping in. I'm afraid that if I drag W&P out too much, I'll just abandon it again, so I'm trying to push it a bit. And I am liking the audio, although if I hadn't already read the first half of the book before, the audio might be confusing just because of the huge cast of characters that one must keep track of. Your Folio edition is GORGEOUS - checked it out online! What a lovely treat!

Thank you for those weekend wishes. Hoping that your weekend is filled with fabulous!

Happy Saturday, Mamie! I appreciate your ruminations on your home - reminds me to take a moment to appreciate what I have, so thank you. Enjoy your weekend, friend!

Happy Saturday, Katie! And thank you for those kind words so graciously offered. May your weekend be filled with fabulous!

>227 Crazymamie: I know what you mean about fearing to drop it. I LOVED the beginning of the book and was immediately hooked in, but as soon as the war bits started, my eyes glazed over immediately and I started thinking "ho hum", but I've done this kind of thing just before with Cecilia by Fanny Burton, another very long book, and just read 3-5 short chapters a day. It was a really fun page-turner, and I enjoyed my short reading sessions with it, which is what gave me the idea to tackle War & Peace that way. It's working for me because I don't want to be bogged down with a huge book and not be able to read other stuff too in the meantime, whereas this way, I can still fit in shorter stuff and get lots more reading done. Hey, whatever works with any given book, right?

And yes, sorry, I thought I'd mentioned the Folio edition to you before. Isn't it sublime, just? Must have just mentioned it on my own thread, but I thought I shared my purchasing glee on the group thread too. My memory is very, very bad.

eta: fixed "Cecilia" touchstone.

That's a really good point, Ilana. I'm going to think about that because I am growing weary of it, so maybe backing off a bit would actually be a better tactic. And yes, you had mentioned the Folio edition before, but I hadn't taken the time to really look at it - although I knew it would be gorgeous, because...Folio!

although I knew it would be gorgeous, because...Folio!

You know, when I first discovered the Folio Society, in early 2013 I think it was, I felt the same way and purchased LOADS of their books second-hand because I felt I'd want to read some books I wouldn't normally be that drawn too, just because... Folio! And in fact, it IS true that I'm more likely to read certain books if they are in a very nice edition. Makes up a large part of the reading pleasure. But since I've acquired a really unreasonable amount of them (close to 200 at this point...), I've become much more picky. If I don't absolutely LOVE the illustrations for example, no matter how much I love the title, I won't get it. This was the case for the two Jane Austens they released after Pride and Prejudice. I really disliked the illustration in the latest release, so while I'm sad I won't be getting the full set, I'm glad I can spend that money (which I don't actually have and just keep getting into debt for) on other books. I really wish they'd chosen to keep Anna and Elena Balbusso for the whole series, as they are among my all-time favourite illustrators.

I think if you set yourself a realistic and easy to reach target, and stick to it, of course, you'll find you can complete W&P over a longer period. It's kind of the same as sound dieting principles I guess! If you know you only need to spend 20-45 minutes a day on it, as I do for instance, because it's an easy allotment of time to carve out each day, I'm sure you'll manage it. Now if I could only apply that to other spheres of my life (like diet and exercise for example), everything would be just perfect!

I just have three Folios at this point, but I have loads of fun looking at their catalogue. Like you mentioned, I have to really LOVE the illustrations, and so far I have only purchased books that are household favorites. SO, we have Pride and Prejudice (my favorite), Emma (Abby loves this story), and Dune (Craig's favorite). And I so agree with you about wishing that Folio had used the same illustrators for all of the Austen books - why, oh why didn't they do that?!

I might try your approach to W&P this coming week and see how it goes. Thanks so much for stopping back in and elaborating!

Mamie, I wish you a relaxed weekend.

Lovely! Thank you, Barbara!

Late to say how much I liked your morning thoughts. Poignant but just right.

Book #4: The Fade Out: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker (4.25 stars), GN

Joe mentioned this one over on the graphic novel thread, and he had me with "good 1940s Hollywood noir". This is gritty and filled with sexism, just like old Hollywood, and very well done. I liked its seedy integrity. (ha!) I crack myself up! Anyway, it's just what you would expect from 1940s Hollywood noir, so Joe nailed it with his description. And the artwork is a perfect fit for the story. I can't wait to get my hands on Volume 2.

>236 charl08: Thank you for that, Charlotte. So lovely of you to say so.

Book #5: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (4 stars), GN

Abby had this one out from the library, so I snagged it while it was available. Very well done, and it has the approval of the LT masses. I was slightly disappointed with the ending, as I mentioned to Ellen above, but that was my fault. I thought it was a metaphor for dealing with mental illness, so I was expecting a reveal at the end. Instead this is a straight up little adventure filled with humor and wit and characters that defy scripting. Nicely done and worth the read.

Book #6: A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (4 stars), space opera

Here's the blurb from Amazon:

"When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn't expecting much. The Wayfarer, a patched-up ship that's seen better days, offers her everything she could possibly want: a small, quiet spot to call home for a while, adventure in far-off corners of the galaxy, and distance from her troubled past. But Rosemary gets more than she bargained for with the Wayfarer. The crew is a mishmash of species and personalities, from Sissix, the friendly reptillian pilot, to Kizzy and Jenks, the constantly sparring engineers who keep the ship running. Life on board is chaotic, but more or less peaceful - exactly what Rosemary wants. Until the crew are offered the job of a lifetime: the chance to build a hyperspace tunnel to a distant planet. They'll earn enough money to live comfortably for years...if they survive the long trip through war-torn interstellar space without endangering any of the fragile alliances that keep the galaxy peaceful. But Rosemary isn't the only person on board with secrets to hide, and the crew will soon discover that space may be vast, but spaceships are very small indeed."

I picked this one up on Heather's recommendation, and I'm glad that I did. Filled with charm and humor and compassion, this is a fun ride from start to finish. While I would have liked a little more action and little less psychology, this is still a solid read. I wanted the captain to be a bit more dynamic, but hey, they can't all be Malcolm Reynolds! A good one to pick up if you enjoy this genre and are looking for a lighter read.

How did Abby like Nimona? The Chambers book sounds fun.

>241 BLBera: Abby liked it, but she thought the artwork could have been better (she's tough on artwork). I think she liked Lumberjanes slightly better, but I could be wrong.

The Chambers book was fun - I love space opera!

Good to see the GN love, Mamie! Good reviews. You should share your thoughts on the 75 GN thread. Just to get the word out.

I thought Nimona was near perfect but you do have a point.

Thank you, Mark! I'll post them over there. I think what threw me with Nimona was that I totally thought it was going somewhere else. LOL! I should probably read it again. It was charming, though.

>240 Crazymamie: That one sounds like fun, Mamie! I have to confess that I've been seeing it on other thread but without reading the reviews I had assumed it was a nonfiction book about climate change or something. :-)

I'll have to check for it at the library. I could use some lighter fare after starting the year with some heavy nonfiction reads.

Edited to add that the library has it and there are 25 people ahead of me on the reserve list. Which is okay, as I am up to my eyebrows in library books at the mo.

Hello, Julia!! Lovely to see you! This made me laugh:"without reading the reviews I had assumed it was a nonfiction book about climate change or something." Too funny! It's definitely a good choice for a lighter read - and hooray that your library has it! I kind of like when I have to wait for library books because then it's like a little gift when it comes in.

>213 LovingLit: I adored your quiet and lovely tribute to Alan Rickman. Looks like you're having a wonderful weekend!

>240 Crazymamie: BB Mamie! None of my area libraries has it but I'm going to put in a request for purchase.

>247 michigantrumpet: Thank you, Marianne. I have been indulging in a wonderfully lazy weekend. Now tomorrow, I have to get back to it!

>248 luvamystery65: It's a fun read, Roberta! Hoping that your library gets it.

Morning Mamie! Happy Sunday! A frigid one here. Only single digits. It will be books & football for this guy!!

Morning, Mark! Single digits - YIKES! I just won't mention that it's currently 48F here. Books and football for me, too, today - what a coincidence!

Good reviews, Mamie! I'm glad Nimona and The Fade Out worked for you. I have to get my hands on that Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - it sounds like a lot of fun to read.

Thanks, Joe! You would A Long Way to an Angry Planet, I am thinking.

>240 Crazymamie: I've added The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet to the WL. I've seen some good things about it.

Hello, Rhian! How are you feeling? And hooray for adding to your WL!

>256 Crazymamie: :-)

They made me nervous, but they pulled it off, Carrie! I was a nervous wreck.

>239 Crazymamie: That looks pretty funny. I'll have to keep a look out for it. Though my time for "real" reading is low right now. Mostly making headway on the audiobooks.

Hello, Rachel! It's funny. A good one to keep in mind when you want something light and fun with a feel good ending.

>256 Crazymamie: Glad it was a good day for you and your team, Mamie!
No wonder you were not reading W&P, you've got 6 books under your belt! Nice going :0)

Glad Peyton and the Broncs pulled it out, but oof. Next week is going to be tough.

Thanks, Lynda! I actually have 8 books finished; I still have two that need reviews - Ru and Lumberjanes. I will return to W&P tomorrow.

>262 katiekrug: I know, Katie. I know! I was a crazy woman watching that game. And I would REALLY love to beat the Patriots.

Hooray for the Broncos! Hooray for Manning! A nice win, Mamie! You know I will be rooting for them again, next week.

Hope you had a nice Sunday. I sure did...

All caught up here, Crazy. Lovely misty scenery, quiet alone time for reading, a winning team...sounds like a perfect day!!

>240 Crazymamie: space opera!? Who'da thunk it? If I read that one I pick I'd be drawn to the psychology and be tuning out of the action.

Your day of solitude up there sounded fantastic, even if you were pensive and thinking about Alan Rickman :|

Okay. Back to the grindstone as another week gets under way. I got a lot of laundry done yesterday, and I finally descaled the coffee maker, so I am feeling pretty good about things. Yep. It doesn't take much. And the Broncos won!!

Today I need to knock out the weekly menu, put together a market list, and then actually go to the market. Not great fun, but I always love when I have a plan for the week. Or at least some kind of sketchy outline. Or a hazy thought or two.

On the reading front, I have started two new books! Still working on W&P, The Penguin History of the World:6th edition (this is a year long read with Katie and Susan), Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick, and Return of the Native, but to this mix I have added The Various Haunts of Men and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. SO far, so good; I am liking everything.

Morning, Mamie! "SO far, so good; I am liking everything." B.A.G.

I hope no one in the family, is standing on books like that. That could be dangerous...just a public service announcement.

Morning, Mark! I am reading a book for your AAC - what a good girl am I. LOL! I like to think of this year's challenge as The Year of the Annies since you picked three of them.

And no worries, we never stand on our books at the Pecan Paradisio, just on our soap boxes, and then only occasionally.

>265 msf59: Mark again! Ha! Thanks for rooting for the Broncos! I was so thrilled that we won. And relieved. And hooray for rooting for them again next week! And yes, Sunday was awesome. Enjoy your last day of vacation.

>266 Berly: Hello, Kim! Thanks for catching up with me - I just came from your thread! The weekend was just about perfect - no complaints from me.

>267 LovingLit: Hey, Megan! Yes! Space opera!! I love space opera and steampunk, too. Two very fun genres.

My day of solitude was lovely and came at just the right moment.

Oh, I could just do with a day of solitude. Yesterday we had a big dinner and three generations of family and whew! I am definitely a reader not a caterer.

Hope your marketing plans go well.
In Edinburgh they go out to run messages, instead of doing the shopping, which I rather like, bit never had the acent to pull off convincingly.

Oooh, I hope you continue to like The Various Haunts of Men and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. The Serrailler series is SO good, and that Tyler was the first of hers I read.

I hear you, Charlotte! The big get togethers always wiped me out, too. I'm actually a very boring person - I love to be at home. And family is exhausting after about an hour or two. Ha!

Thank you for your good wishes. I like "out to run messages" - sounds much more exciting!

>273 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! The funny thing is that I have had The Various Haunts of Men in the stacks since my first year on LT, when I kept hearing everyone rave about the series, but somehow I never got to it. I love the writing! Just started it late last night, so I am not very far in, but I am feeling like it's a winner for me. The Tyler I actually picked up last year on your recommendation - you mentioned on Mark's thread that it and The Accidental Tourist were your favorites of hers. Since I adored The Accidental Tourist, I snagged a copy of DatHR. I love how she captures humanity in all of its flawed beauty. She writes real people.

Morning Mom! I am soooo behind on the threads. Menu plan? I suggest panini blts, that noodle chicken pepper thing you made before and Dan ate it all, or that southwestern chicken nacho stuff you made in the slow cooker.

Morning, dear! Me, too, with the threads, but I am working on it. Birdy has already requested the southwestern chicken nacho thing - we're doing that tonight. And I want to try Amber's soup recipe - Katie tried it, and she said it was a winner. And the pasta thing you're thinking of (that Daniel hogged) is Cajun Chicken Pasta:



That's an excellent idea because...YUM.

>277 Crazymamie: - Mamie, if you try the Asian chicken noodle soup, when I doubled the recipe provided by Amber, it was a bit low on broth, so you might want to more than double that part. I also added extra ginger and garlic and soy sauce to punch up the flavor a bit, but all that can be done to taste, of course.

Thanks for that, Katie. I would definitely have to double it!

Morning Mamie! Dinner sounds great. What time should we be there ;0)

Morning, Lynda! We usually eat around 6pm - we'll set an extra plate!

Uh hem, that's 3 extra plates and a little dish for Mittens :0D

*salute* Yes, Ma'am.

I love the Susan Hill series. I just finished The Pure in Heart and had to start the next one right away.

What time do we eat?

Morning, Beth! SO great to know that the series holds up - I LOVE finding a good series! And dinner is at 6pm - you are more than welcome to join us!

I won't make it before dinner, I guess. What time is it in your world?

Hello, Diana! Right now it's 11:20am here.

>287 Crazymamie: That's 6 hours earlier... Nope, not without the Concorde.

Bummer, Diana.

Mamie, when someone invents teleporting, you're going to need crowd barriers :-)

and I finally descaled the coffee maker

I cleaned the soleplate of my iron last week. I pressed a cardigan with some acrylic in it, and it got gunged up (but the cardi was fine). It had been discoloured for a while, but finally wouldn't glide. Now it looks like new! Brand new! And all it took was a little tube of hot iron cleaner. I am ridiculously pleased at how easy it was. Also much cheaper than a new iron :-)

I want a teleporting dog (not coincidentally, reading Ms Marvel: Generation Why. (ETA: so I too can come to dinner!)

>290 susanj67: Haha, Susan! Like Scarlett O'Hara, I'll worry about that later, Susan. "Oh, Fiddle dee dee..tomorrow is another day..."

Oh, the joys of cleaning an appliance! I get ridiculously tickled by it myself. Today I cleaned the washing machine and drained the tub and cleaned the drain pump filter. Now it smells and looks great.

>290 susanj67: I would love to have all of you to dinner, or as they say in the Deep South, "all y'all". How much fun would that be?!

Book #7: Ru by Kim Thúy (4 stars), library trade paperback, literary fiction, read for the CAC

"As a child, I thought that war and peace were opposites. Yet I lived in peace when Vietnam was in flames and I didn't experience war until Vietnam had laid down its weapons. I believe that war and peace are actually friends, who mock us. They treat us like enemies when it suits them, with no concern for the definition or the role we give them. Perhaps, then, we shouldn't take too much stock in the appearance of one or the other to decide our views."

Earlier this month, I read Kim Thúy's Mãn, and it was a perfect read for me. Beautifully rendered with language and food coming together to tell a story. I loved it. I knew that Ru was an earlier work, and that it was about the immigrant experience - specifically about a young girl escaping from war torn Vietnam to land eventually in Quebec. I was expecting a certain sadness and a tale that would make me flinch. How could it not with that subject matter? What I got was something different - again we have the vignettes that are interconnected to tell the story, but while the use of language is superb, there is something lacking. Donna said in her review that; "It was a feast of language lacking the depth of feeling behind the scenes." This is a great point. There is an emotional disconnect, which detracts from the book's overall power. And too bad, because there is a wealth of narrative here rich in detail and nuance. I would have liked to have seen her focus on just one or two characters and tell their stories in a more linear fashion. As it is, the book is still good, but it could have been great.

Book #8: Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson (3 stars), library paperback, GN - humor, summer camp - recommended by Karen

Abby had this out from the library, so I gave it a go. This was fun! It had me laughing out loud in places, and while I thought at first that it was too immature, I am glad that I hung in there. I never got to experience summer camp like this or I might enjoy camping more. Okay. Probably not, but still this is light and funny and well done.

Morning, Mamie!

Morning, Amber!

Happy You-Made-It-Through-Monday Day, Mamie!

Ha! Thank you, Katie!

Happy Tuesday, Mamie! Sorry I was a no show for dinner. Ya know, stuff happens.
Lol re: Lumberjanes I'll have to check my library for that one.

Happy Tuesday, Lynda! No worries - we ate anyway. Lumberjanes is a fun diversion, for sure!

I've had probably about 6 different people recommend Lumberjanes to me, so I really do need to check it out...you've had a series of interesting books lately! So many BBs! Ahhhh!!! *runs flailing, clutching TBR list*

Your post made me laugh, Faith! I had not heard of Lumberjanes until Karen mentioned it over on her thread. Then Abby got it from the library, so really, how could I resist?