KatieKrug Reads in 2016 - Part 2

Hello Old Friends and Welcome New Ones!

About me: I'm a New York transplant living in Dallas, TX with my husband and two cats and a dog. The cats are his; the dog is ours. He (the dog, not the husband) is a black lab mix named Louis and may just be The World's Best Dog. I work in association management, currently at a membership association for engineers and other professionals in the upstream energy industry. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling (my job usually takes me to interesting places but, sadly, my only overseas trip in 2016 will be to Dubai), snark, participating in shenanigans, and drinking wine. I have over 3000 unread books on my shelves and Kindle and a very understanding husband.

I have been a 75er since 2011. This year, I plan to participate in the American Author Challenge and the Nonfiction Challenge, as well as a few of the challenges in the Category Challenge group, where I will also be maintaining a thread. A few of my goals for the year are to read more of the Pulitzer winners on my shelves, to read more global lit, and to be more selective in my reading - both in what I pick up and in giving myself permission to put things back down if they are not engaging me.

Cheers!

CURRENTLY READING

(Print) (Print) (Audio) (Kindle - year-long project)

BOOKS COMPLETED in JANUARY
1. Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
2. The Year of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller (audio)
3. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
4. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez (audio)
-- Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh (DNF)
5. Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
-- Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz (DNF)

Ratings: I've stolen my star scale from Ellen and slightly modified it.

5 stars = I connected with this book in a special way. It may not be perfect, but it was perfect for me.
4.5 = A great read, among my favorites of the year.
4 = A good read and one that I recommend; truly enjoyable and/or worthy.
3.5 = Pretty good, with a few things done very well.
3 = I don't hate myself for reading this.
2.5 = Average, and life is too short to read average works.
2 = A bit below average. A waste of time.

Anything worse I probably didn't finish and so wouldn't get a rating.

Reserved just in case!

Happy New Thread, Katie! LOVE your topper!

>6 Crazymamie: - The crown belongs to you, Mamie!

Happy new thread and Happy Friday, Katie!

Aw shucks, I missed the chicken dinner! Happy new thread and Happy Friday, Katie! Congrats again on those Clothbounds!

>8 DeltaQueen50: - Thanks, Judy!!

>9 msf59: - That Mamie has cat-like reflexes, Mark. Maybe she'll share her dinner?

I didn't even get thru thread 1 and yet another grouper is onto to thread 2. :)

I need a chair like that (toppers), looks like a wonderfully uncomfortable reading position, but in a good way.

New thread! Like the reading pose. I always look that elegant whilst reading (!)

>11 mahsdad: - Hi Jeff! Yeah, it is a little ridiculous, but i do sometimes find myself stretching oddly after a long reading session :)

>12 charl08: - Me too, Charlotte! Also, I daintily eat chocolates like that, rather than stuffing them whole in my mouth three at a time....

Happy new thread and happy Friday, Katie. I love the topper -- it's so Katie.

Hey, Katie, great topper. Byrony is right--it's YOU!

>14 BLBera: and >15 ronincats: - Thanks, Beth and Roni! Happy weekend to you both :)

#2 The Year of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller
3 stars (I don't hate myself for reading this.)

I very much enjoyed the first half or so of this book, which I listened to, read by the author. He has a good sense of humor and didn't seem to take himself too seriously at the start of his "project," but by the end, the whole thing had become pretentious and tiresome. I wanted to hear more about the books themselves and his experiences reading them rather than the quasi-philosophical ramblings of a smart but not particularly profound middle-aged man.

Notes: His ruminations on War and Peace did give me hope that it wouldn't be the total slog I am expecting. But he doesn't like Pride and Prejudice so what does he know?

Nice thread. Nice review. Nice person!! Starred, of course. May have to steal your rating system--love 3.0 and 2.5!!

Happy new one, Katie!

Loved your comments on The Year of Reading Dangerously. I will keep them in mind; I have this on my ereader.

>17 katiekrug: He doesn't like P and P? Well, that's one book I don't have to put on the wishlist. Thanks!

Happy new thread! Did someone say chocolate? I was just thinking about making myself a mug of hot chocolate. *Wanders off to the kitchen.*

>21 charl08: Yep, what she said.

And I am always happy to share. Well, mostly.

>18 Berly: - Steal away, Kim! I stole it from Ellen who stole it from Kerri, so...... :)

>19 scaifea: - Thanks, Amber!

>20 BLBera: - Beth, it might work better in print. Maybe it was just tiresome hearing it in his own voice....?

>21 charl08: - Exactly, Charlotte!

>22 cbl_tn: - Hi Carrie! Bye Carrie!

>23 Crazymamie: - Speaking of chicken dinners, Mamie, I was perusing that Skinnytaste site you like and saw a skillet chicken cordon bleu recipe that looked yummy. Have you tried that one?

Up and at the gym before 8am this morning. Now I need to clean up the guest room which becomes Gift Wrap Central over the holidays and a bit of disaster zone. Then I will settle in for some reading and football later this afternoon. Almost a perfect day :)

No, I haven't tried that one. Just looked it up, and it does look GOOD. I also think the Korean grilled chicken breasts look delicious, but haven't gotten to that one yet, either. There is one with a balsamic glaze on drumsticks that is very yummy - it's here: Asian Glazed Drumsticks, but keep in mind that the sauce takes longer to thicken than she says - I took the drumsticks out after they were done, turned up the heat and thickened the sauce, and then put the drumsticks back in to coat them before plating it.

And look at you up and to the gyn on a Saturday!! You go, girl!!!

Katie at the gym early on a Saturday. Wow! Impressive. I'm not even dressed yet...

Look at you exercising on a Saturday morning so early. Proud of ya!

>27 BLBera: Yeah...what Beth said. Although I am dressed, all I've managed so far this morning was to pay a few bills and get them to the mailbox before the carrier comes through. It's so bleccch outside it makes me want to hibernate. So I declare it a Reading Day!

>26 Crazymamie: - Those Korean grilled chicken breasts do look so yum! I will have to get my chef to make them ;-) And I think he'd also be willing to try the drumsticks, as he loves dark meat.

>27 BLBera: - Thanks, Beth! I appreciate the positive reinforcement - I need all the help I can get! I posted on Facebook that I was going to check into the gym every single time I go because I like getting all the "Likes" and supportive comments. I'm so needy!

>28 luvamystery65: - Thanks, Ro! Now I can be mostly lazy all day ;-)

>29 laytonwoman3rd: - Linda, you win. Paying bills has to be worse than working out! It's pretty grey and chilly here so the rest of the day will mostly be spent reading :)

I've finished cleaning up the guest room and reorganizing all the Christmas wrapping doodads. I have ended up with a giant plastic bin full of nothing but those stick-on bows. *sigh* I really need to stop buying wrapping supplies before I pull out what I have and assess what I actually need...

I've decided my next house has to have 4 bedrooms, so I can have The Room of My Own as mentioned previously, plus a room for things like wrapping stuff, extra odds and ends, you know, basically a dumping ground :-/

#3. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
4 stars (A good read and one that I recommend; truly enjoyable and/or worthy)

This story of a 10 year old boy forced into hiding with his parents and younger brother during the “Dirty War” in Argentina is told in two voices - the young “Harry” and the older one recounting his story. The story is told in short episodes and much of the context of the story is ambiguous, just as it probably would have been to a young boy. He’s pulled out of school, given a new name, and moved out of the city in which he has grown up - all major upheavals which we follow him trying to make sense of, trying to assert order in a chaotic, uncertain world. What I loved most about this novel was how Figueras portrays “Harry” and his family - it’s a beautiful portrait of one’s relationships with parents and siblings, at times loving and warm and at others frustrating and incomprehensible. But it feels very real, and despite everything that they are going through, one feels how lucky they are.

I loved this passage from when “Harry” and his family are visiting his grandparents farm in Dorrego:

”Before Dorrego, I had always thought of the sky as a black screen on which a handful of scattered stars twinkled vaguely… Dorrego revealed the other sky, the boundless dome that sends you rushing to a dictionary for synonyms for ‘infinite’; stars that clustered, not into constellations, but into galaxies; stars like swarms of bees which suggested not stillness or permanence but movement, the trail of something, of someone that passed just now, a moment ago, when you weren’t looking. A sky that seemed to suddenly reveal the meaning of all things: Man’s need to create language to describe it, geography to explain his place within it, biology to remind him that he is a newcomer in this universe, and history, because everything is written in the sky above Dorrego: intimate and extravagant stories, love and loss, the miniature and the epic.” (page 263-4)

Notes: I know very little about this period in recent Argentine history, and this novel made me want to learn more. Also, it made me want to go back to that beautiful country and explore it more - I spent about a week in Buenos Aires in 2010.

I wavered between 4 and 4.5 stars and may yet change my rating.

Darn you, another book for my list.

And so we begin. The first book in your Dirty Dozen. Well done, Katie!

>33 BLBera: - Sorrynotsorry!

>34 Crazymamie: -

Ha!

Happy new thread, Katie! I borrowed The Book of Unknown Americans yesterday. And now I see that Kamchatka is available as an ebook. Fancy that!

I read The Year of Reading Dangerously a year or so ago, and I think I agreed with you about it.

Great review of Kamchatka, Katie. I own a copy of it, and I'll plan to read it soon.

I look forward to your comments about The Book of Unknown Americans.

Nice photo to open your new thread! I knew that it wasn't you, though, as there wasn't a refreshing adult beverage within reach.

Morning, Katie! Football today, but I am already in mourning for the regular season. I hate when football is over.

Stopping by to get caught up here, Katie and bringing Happy New Thread wishes with me! Congratulations on sticking with the gym workouts. Good for you!

>17 katiekrug: - Lol your review. If it helps any, War and Peace is proving to be a pretty good read for me.... even with the detailed warfare/battle bits. I am officially 1/3 of the way through. Kind of bugged that I still have 2/3 to go - boy, did Tolstoy ramble on some - but it is not as bad on audio.

>32 katiekrug: - Great review of the Figueras book.

Wishing you a Happy Sunday!

>36 Crazymamie: - :-D

>37 susanj67: - Susan, I am still very much enjoying The Book of Unknown Americans - I'll be interested in what you think of it - and of Kamchatka because I know you'll give in and read it :)

>38 kidzdoc: - Darryl, we have so little overlap in our reading, I feel the need to celebrate that we even own a copy of the same book - ha! I hope you will read Kamchatka soon, as I'd be very interested in your thoughts on it. It's a relatively quick and easy read, if that helps...

I am hoping to finish TBoUA this week. It's very good so far.

And I like to think there is a table with a glass of wine just out of the frame in that photo ;-)

>39 Crazymamie: - I hear ya, Mamie. I think today's Seattle-Carolina game is going to be very good. And then, of course, I'll be rooting hard for the Broncos because (1) Peyton and (2) I don't like the Steelers :)

>40 lkernagh: - Hi Lori! I'm glad W&P is working for you. I am not sure if I will join the group read or not. It's just not calling to me, and I've promised myself there are no "have to's" this year when it comes to reading :)

I was up early this morning (well, 7:30 which is early for me on a Sunday!) and went to the store and then took a brisk walk around my neighborhood. It's chilly here, but sunny, and the walk was invigorating. Now I'm just doing laundry and waiting for football to start... I have some work to do in advance of the week ahead - we are having some Board committee meetings in the office this week, so about a dozen of our Directors will be in town making nuisances of themselves - I kid, I kid! But it's going to be a long week...

I'm planning to make Amber's Asian chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight, and I have high hopes for it. No pressure, Amber!

Hope y'all have a good day!

>41 katiekrug: I think so, too, Katie. And yes! Go Broncos!!

>43 Crazymamie: - Well, um, so far, Seattle appears not to have showed up... What a start!

>41 katiekrug: Katie, yeah, you're right :-) But I haven't so far, and I posted 8.5 hours ago! Self-restraint!

Hi Katie. Nice new thread! I like the modifications you made to my rating scale. I especially like "It may not be perfect, but it was perfect for me."

I'm looking forward to your comments on The Book of Unknown Americans when you finish. It has been getting some love around here.

The Seahawks did not show up today, at least not for the first half. They won the third quarter 14-0 but sheesh. It's a good thing I don't really care..... (right)

>13 katiekrug: Ha! Oh, how great is that, Katie? Pure happiness.

>17 katiekrug: But he doesn't like Pride and Prejudice so what does he know? Amen.

>32 katiekrug: You hit me with a bb with Kamchatka. That sounds really good.

>32 katiekrug: Sounds good! Jealous of your travels to Argentina. Two friends have been and both were keen to return.

Great opening photo, Katie! Weren't you looking for a reading chair? Looks like you found one, LOL!

I'll come back and respond individually but I'm going for a quick walk.

Wanted to drop this here before I forgot: http://www.npr.org/2016/01/17/463223886/in-anything-for-you-raising-a-last-glass....

A good explanation of why I love that series and the author so much.

>45 susanj67: - I am very impressed, Susan!

>46 EBT1002: - Sorry about those Seahawks, Ellen. I'm glad they ended up making a game of it, at least.

>47 jnwelch: - Hi Joe! We aim to please around here :)

>48 charl08: - I was in BA for work (of course) but did manage to see some of the city, and we did a boat cruise down the (a?) river which was lovely. And the wine was excellent everywhere we went, so that helped....

>49 lit_chick: - Ha, Nancy! That chair does have a certain charm, doesn't it?

Hi Katie--Great review of Kamchatka and I love that the Dirty Dozen has begun for the year. Nice job. : ) My guest room suffers a similar fate during the holidays, which is problem when I actually have guests who want to come visit!! LOL. And I have vowed that next year I will bring out all my wrapping supplies before I purchase anything. I have so much wrapping paper....! Way to go on the exercising -- I am trying to prioritize that as well. Here's to us!!

>52 Berly: - Well, at least I don't have guests actually wanting to use my guest room, Kim! Thanks for the encouragement on the exercising - it's going well, and I feel so much better. Lots more energy :)

Morning, Katie!

Morning, Mamie!

I'm ridiculously behind on threads but it looks like you've been doing some good reading, Katie.

Hi Micky! Wish I was doing more reading than I am, but I've been enjoying what I do manage to squeeze in :)

I finished the audio of Teh Book if Unknown Americans today and recommend it, especially in audio. I'll say more later when I'm not feeling as brain dead as I am right now!

Morning, Katie! Happy Thursday! Your previous post made me laugh - you WERE tired, weren't you?!

>59 Crazymamie: - Oh my goodness, yes I was tired! I usually read over my posts before posting... *blush* I won't fix it or none of this exchange will make sense!

Yes. PLEASE don't fix it because it makes me laugh when I see it!

It's like one of those off brands in a discount store that have a name almost like a real brand you might use, but not quite.

Exactly.

>63 Crazymamie: - :)

Book update:

My current reads are Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh and on audio, The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason, which I started this morning.

I keep going back and forth on whether to toss Eileen aside. It's weird and grotesque and uncomfortable but I kind of want to know where it's going. On the other hand, it's not something I can't wait to get home to and settle in with at the end of the day, so maybe I shouldn't waste my valuable reading time?



I have completed my 100 pages for the month in PHW.

And I have decided NOT to try to read War & Peace with the group read currently going on. It just isn't calling to me.

>65 katiekrug: Katie, excellent about PHW! I have also read my pages, and I think that February might be easier going. I've also given up on War & Peace (and the TV version!). Re Eileen, a test I use is: how would I feel if this book burst into flames in front of me and I couldn't finish it? If the answer is "relieved", give it up :-)

I am also finished with my 100 pages. Look at us, finishing ahead of schedule for the month! And smart of both of you to dodge W&P. I am...almost...500 pages in...Knowing how much I still have to go feels a bit like this:



Susan, I love your test for determining whether to carry on with a book or not! Good advice.

>66 susanj67: and >67 Crazymamie: - We should start a girl gang.



I wouldn't feel relieved if it burst into flames, but I just don't think I'd care that much...

>65 katiekrug: I read Eileen last year and ended up pretty much not enjoying it at all.

So there. See? Listen to Ursula.

And hell, yes, to starting a girl gang. I'm in. And that photo made me laugh.

>69 ursula: - Yeah, I'm thinking I will put it aside. I saw on Darryl's thread it was just nominated for a NBCC award, but to each her own :)

>70 Crazymamie: - I Googled smart girl gang :) Because I'm so smart...

>71 katiekrug: Yeah, I see now that on your last thread you'd asked what I didn't like about it (I was traveling and totally missed that somehow), and it's really just what you were talking about in your comments about thinking about putting it aside - the grotesqueness. It just seemed pointlessly in-your-face to me. I read an interview with the author where she talks about why she wrote what she did and all of that, and I guess I get where she was coming from in some ways (as the awards would hint, it was all Very Deep) but it was just not connecting with me or working for me at all.

>72 ursula: - Good to know it's not just me! I am by no means a prude or very sensitive at all but it just seemed gratuitous. I may try it again at some point, but for now, I'll let the e-book loan expire.

I have a fairly large, mostly empty living room, and I'm thinking I need to make it look like this. Not necessarily the same colors, but the built-ins and giant couch...

Oh, a giant couch. I want!

Although those bookshelves look like someone isn't trying hard enough (!)

Lovely topper -- I seem to end up in the oddest positions during a long read. I don't even realize until someone comes into the room and looks at me quizzically.

>66 susanj67: loved the new test for giving up on a book! Nancy Pearl step aside!

GORGEOUS living room! Yes, I think you should make yours look like that, Katie, and then post pictures for us : ). Love it!

>75 charl08: - Charlotte, you can bet my shelves would be FULL!

>76 michigantrumpet: - Ha! Thanks, Marianne.

>77 lit_chick: - Thanks, Nancy. If my living room ever gets there, I will definitely post some pics :)

Hi, Katie! I had Eileen on my To-Read list. It did sound good. I will wait for the final verdict.

W & P is, actually pretty good. It's a Monster, no question and I would not call it fast-paced but it does move along at a decent clip.

>79 msf59: - Hi Mark! I'm abandoning Eileen for now. We'll see if I feel the urge to give it a try sometime in the future. I hav eno doubt War and Peace is good - I just don't want to read it right now :)

Hi Katie--Love the idea for you empty room! Let me know when you want me to come test out the couch for you. I'll bring some nibbles and a few books. ; ) An as for W&P, I have already read it twice, which is quite enough for me so I am just reading the comments.

>66 susanj67: Excellent test! Although I assume it is theoretical. Because how sad would it be it you lit a book on fire and then realized that you actually wanted to read it and all you had was a pile of ashes?!

>67 Crazymamie: Perfect Face!!

>68 katiekrug: Can I be in the Smart Girl Gang, too?! Pleeeeeeze! : )

>81 Berly: - Kim, mi sofa es su sofa (or something like that)! And OF COURSE you can join the gang. The more the merrier! And smarter!

>13 katiekrug: (yes, I am that far behind)
That pic reminds me of a little boy in my own household (ok, it's Lenny) who gleefully ate choc chip biscuits dipped into tomato sauce. Today, three years later, he is dipping his salt and vinegar flavoured chips into strawberry yoghurt! Not discerning ;)

Re smart girl gangs....my lovely other commented upon hearing us girls at book club last evening, that we sounded like we were a smart bunch. I was like, would have you shacked up with anyone less?!

>83 LovingLit: - Hi Megan! I think Lenny's experimentations made me throw up a little in my mouth, but good for him for being adventurous - ha!

Smart girls rule.

Morning, Katie! We made it to Friday!! I love that room you posted up there - LOVELY!

>85 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie! Hooray for Friday and my Friday off! Headed to the gym soon and then a pedicure this afternoon, followed by dinner and a trip to the natural science museum with friends this evening. Good times :)

Sounds most excellent! Please report back on what nail polish color you choose.

>87 Crazymamie: - Will do, Mamie! I may go tomorrow morning, though. After the gym, I went to the library to pick up a book on hold (Winterdance by Gary Paulsen - thanks Ellen!) and then home to shower and eat lunch. No power at home :( It finally came back on, but now that I'm all showered and wrapped in my robe, I kind of want to just do some reading!

I also picked up Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman from the new books shelf at the library. Last night, I had a hard time deciding what to read after tossing Eileen aside, so I started a fluffy romantic suspense novel. Not sure if I'll continue with that or try something else. i also have a couple of ER books I need to get to... I don't like feeling overwhelmed with options. But I also don't like the opposite, so....?

I also have Winterdance out from the library thanks to Ellen!

I say stay in your robe. Life is short. And I'm going to be reading King Leopold's Ghost next month...just saying...

>89 Crazymamie: - Reading twins! That's what we are....

#4. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez
4 stars (A good read and one that I recommend; truly enjoyable and/or worthy.)

A very engaging and moving novel about the contemporary immigrant experience in the US. That sentence is actually misleading, though, as there is no single story to describe the whole, and Henriquez does a nice job of giving us a variety of voices and experiences. The primary narrative follows a family that comes to Delaware to allow their daughter to attend a special school. They immigrate legally, and move into a run-down apartment building populated with other immigrants from Latin America. Henriquez interposes the main narrative with brief outlines of other residents' stories, thus providing a much richer and deeper understanding of what can motivate people to leave all they know behind to pursue the promise of a foreign country. What binds them all together, however, is their status as outsiders - no matter how long they have been in the US, how much they buy into the idea of the American Dream, and how much they contribute, they are still viewed as other. While I found the parts about the teenaged girl and boy unnecessarily angsty and drama-filled, the rest of the novel was beautifully written. And the chapter detailing the grief over the death of a loved one had me crying like a baby. I listened to this one, and the audio book used multiple narrators, all of whom were very good.

Notes: Read for my migration category challenge and as part of an informal effort to read more diverse authors. Henriquez is of Panamanian descent and has a couple of other books I plan to check out.

Hi Katie - I also loved The Book of Unknown Americans. If I had a couch like that in your ideal living room, I think the only time I would move from it would be to get a book from the bookshelf.

I am picturing a Smart Girl Gang meeting - Everyone shows up wearing glasses and sensible shoes with a book (or two) tucked under their arms. They nibble on crackers and cheese, drink some wine, discuss emerging world literature and then plan a field trip to go and correct the spelling and punctuation at nearby graffiti sites.

Hmmmm.... count me in!

Happy Friday, Katie! Good review of The Book of Unknown Americans. We shared very similar feelings about the book and audio. See? We agree, on occasion. I've been meaning to get to Trigger Warning too. I have it, on both audio and ebook.

>93 DeltaQueen50: Where do I sign up, sounds like a fun evening / lost weekend...

>74 katiekrug: Go for it! You'll need a large, comfy sofa for the gang meetings. It looks like your place has already become the unofficial headquarters!

>92 BLBera: - Agreed, Beth!

>93 DeltaQueen50: - Judy, that's a perfect imagining of the gang :)

>94 msf59: - Mark, I always feel like I should keep a special list of the books you and I both like ;-)

>95 charl08: - Ha! "Fun evening/lost weekend" indeed....

>96 DianaNL: - PUPPY! Thanks, Diana.

>97 cbl_tn: - Excellent point, Carrie!

We had a great time last night. Had an amazing Mexican dinner with interesting cocktails... The winner for me was a margarita with muddled berries and serrano peppers - sweet and a little fiery. The avocado margarita was nasty. But the food was amazing - best carne asada I've ever had. My friend, Kelli, and I then walked the couple of blocks to the museums while the husbands went to find parking. It was cold (for Dallas) but felt good after the big meal. The museum was fun. They do these "Social Science" nights about once a quarter or so, and have a special theme, stay open late, serve adult beverages, and only allow adults in. Since the museum is very kid-friendly (as it should be), it's a nice way to visit it without the screaming hordes. If you're ever in Dallas, I recommend a visit - lots of hands-on stuff and interesting exhibits all about science and nature.

Today I will finally get that pedicure, and then I'll pick up around the house as the clutter is giving me anxiety, and get to the gym at some point. The Wayne is going to play poker so I'll have a nice quiet evening with my book - I'm sticking with my silly romantic suspense novel because it's reading fast and what I'm in the mood for.

Sounds like a great Saturday, Katie. Enjoy.

>101 BLBera: - Thanks, Beth!

And for those who care (Mamie!), I went with a bright sea foam green color on my toes :)

Most excellent!!

>103 Crazymamie: - I always jokingly ask The Wayne what color I should get and he usually just shrugs, but this morning he was quite specific - "sea foam green." It's super bright - almost fluorescent - my toes will probably glow in the dark...

Too funny!

>105 Crazymamie: - :)

I went to the library to pick up a book I had on hold that came in (Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz - don't judge me) and came home with 3 others, as well. *sigh*

I am feeling overwhelmed with books right now. And not in a good way. In a weird, nervous way where it feels like each time I pick one up, it's a test, and if I don't pick the right one, it'll be the end of the world or something. Gah!

Nope. I would never judge you, Katie. I myself like to indulge in romance or romantic suspense - there is a place for it! When I am feeling the way that you describe, I usually just drop everything and read what appeals to me in the moment if I don't stop to analyze it. A lot of times it is an old favorite, but sometimes it is a cover that calls to me or a series that I haven't read in a while and the next book is sitting right there. Just read what you want and forget about what's on the schedule for the month. They will wait. They always do - that's the beauty of books. Sending you hugs and a giant glass of wine.

>107 Crazymamie: - Thanks, Mamie :)

I am happily reading a trashy novel and seem to have gotten over my little freak-out...

When I started dating The Wayne, he had two cats - Molly and Lisa. Molly was - and is - an attention whore. Lisa was incredibly skittish and wouldn't let anyone near her. She's mellowed a bit over the years but is in no way a lap kitty. Which is fine with me, as I'm not a cat person. However, Lisa has decided that I am an acceptable person and will allow me to occasionally pet her. She remains terrified of my giant of a husband :) Anyway, she and I have been bonding, and I bought her a little bed which mostly stays at the foot of our bed and in which she spends most of her days now. She's a beautiful tortoiseshell cat, and she let me take her photo today... So for all you cat people who perhaps are tired of pictures of Louis the World's Best Dog, here is Lisa:

Awww, Lisa looks like a sweetie (who might bolt at any moment). The sweetest cat I ever had was a tortoiseshell named Simone.

You got me with Kamchatka. Square on!

>74 katiekrug: Yes. You do need a room that looks like this. Come to mention it, so do I.

Struggling to catch up Katie but I have to say that >13 katiekrug: is absolutely priceless and has been a mirror image of myself a time or three.

Sorry to inform that those other two tomes have not thus far surfaced.

Have a lovely Sunday.

>68 katiekrug: I saw that picture on my phone, and, really tiny, I thought that the middle lady was a nun. But I see now that she's not :-)

>74 katiekrug: Definitely yes to the giant couch! But don't you just want to *straighten those shelves*?! Of course, your shelves would actually be full of books and not junk.

>109 katiekrug: What a sweet girl! I didn't know what a tortoiseshell cat was before I saw this. I'm glad you're bonding. How did they get their names?

Happy Sunday, Katie - I hope you get some reading done in between staring at your cool new toes :-)

Your museum outing sounded like great fun (except for the avocado margarita), especially the toes. LOL. Cute kitty shot and read what calls to you, otherwise it is a chore and no fun and I know you are fun!

>109 katiekrug: Aw, she's a beautiful cat! How old are Lisa & Molly now?

That is the sweetest photo, Katie! And I like that you and she are bonding.

I think a trashy book and wine are the answers to most of life's questions, so good for you! Happy Sunday to you!

>110 AMQS: - Hi Anne! Yes, Lisa is definitely a bolter :) Glad I got you with the BB for Kamchatka - it's a great book. And I think we *all* need a room like that....

>111 PaulCranswick: - Paul, if it's a struggle then you may be doing it wrong ;-) As far as I'm concerned, there are no obligations when it comes to LT and it should be nothing but fun! I'll check to see if Book Depo can do anything about the errant package - I guess the downside of free shipping is it can make it difficult to track. I'm glad one of the books, at least, made it.

>112 susanj67: - Hmm, if it were a nun, which of us would take that role? If I were Catholic, I'd probably have been ex-communicated by now, so definitely not me!

My shelves would be full of books - no straightening needed :)

Both the cats came to The Wayne with their names. He acquired both from different neighbors who were moving and couldn't/didn't want to take their cats with them.

>113 Berly: - Hi Kim! Friday night was fun. And thanks for your advice on the reading. That's pretty much what I'm doing, and the anxiety has receded for the most part :)

Happy Sunday!

>114 lauralkeet: - Molly is 11 or so and Lisa is 8 or 9 - both were rescue cats so details are sketchy. I'm not sure if we'll get another cat when they are gone. The Wayne really wants another dog, and I am thinking a two pet limit makes sense, so either two dogs or a dog and a cat. Gotta have the dog :)

>115 Crazymamie: - I definitely had the trashy book and wine covered last night, Mamie - you'd be so proud of me! Ha. I'll give Lisa your compliments but she'll just look disdainfully at me while I do, so....

Okay - off to the grocery store - I overslept this morning and am "late". I usually try to be in and out of there by 9am!

Way behind as usual but:
>74 katiekrug: I'd never leave that room. It's amazing!!
>109 katiekrug: Lisa looks sweet -- glad she likes her bed

Lisa is beautiful, Katie! Lucky you, to have two cats, even if one is an attention whore, LOL!, AND Louis, the world's best dog.

>118 RebaRelishesReading: - Hi Reba! I've been looking for similar looking sofas for my living room...

>119 lit_chick: - Nancy, all the luck is really in Louis. The cats are just gravy, I guess ;-)

Hi Katie! I think you got me with The Book of Unknown Americans--zing!

>74 katiekrug: That is a pretty sweet room set up, but I am baffled by the empty space in those bookshelves. This is what mine look like:

Hi Anne! My shelves are much like yours with lots of horizontal stacks in front of the vertical. I think it adds character :)

Hope you like The Book of Unknown Americans when you get to it! It was a good read/listen.

>109 katiekrug: Thanks for the picture of Lisa, Katie. I would never, ever tire of photos of Louis the World's Best Dog but Lisa is a cutie.

I agree with everyone else that the vision for your living room is quite nice but the empty space on the bookshelves is confusing. P keeps reminding me that I can't buy more books until I make disappear (presumably by reading and giving away) the books that are stacked in front of the books that are traditionally displayed on our shelves (well, they would be "displayed" if all those other books weren't stacked in front of them). Kind of like yours and Anne's.... Next time the topic comes up, I'll mention the added character argument. Maybe it will be persuasive.

Nice review of The Book of Unknown Americans.

Aww...what a pretty tortie Lisa is. @lycomayflower married a man with a tortie also....CallieCat, who is getting rather old and maybe just a bit demented...

>109 katiekrug: What a gorgeous little tortie!

>123 EBT1002: - I thought you'd like that photo of Lisa, Ellen :) I've cleared some room on shelves and can now shift things to get rid of a lot of my horizontal stacks, but I am rather attached to them... To me, it looks like a real, well-loved library rather than a tasteful decoration somehow. But perhaps I'm over-thinking it!

>124 laytonwoman3rd: - Our other cat, Molly, has feline dementia - or at least some symptoms of it (like sitting in front of a wall just staring at it, and forgetting where her litter box is - gross!). Tortoise cats are pretty, aren't they?

>125 ronincats: - Thanks, Roni! (I say like I have anything to do with it!)

>121 AnneDC: My kind of bookshelf!! It signifies the very best kind of character. : )

>127 Berly: - Amen.

I am happy to report that I have the very best kind of character. *stands a bit straighter*

Morning, Katie!

Nice shelves, Anne. I see some empty spaces though...

>122 katiekrug: My shelves are much like yours with lots of horizontal stacks in front of the vertical. I think it adds character :)

Just like Mamie, I am proud to report that I also have a lot of 'Character"!

>129 Crazymamie: and >131 DeltaQueen50: - The girl gang is practically bursting with character!

>130 BLBera: - Beth, I'm sure the empty spaces are just where her pile if current reads would be ;-)

Snuck out of work with a friend this afternoon to go to Top Pot, a new coffee and doughnut place near the office. Had a salted caramel doughnut and O.M.G. So yummy but I feel a sugar crash coming on......

Seriously. Salted caramel doughnut. While I've been stuck at home behind 2.5 feet of snow. You're evil. Lovable, but evil. :)

Sorrynotsorry, Jim! Maybe I could send some to you by dog sled?

Sure!

Nice review of The Book of Unknown Americans, Katie. I bought it at the London Review Bookshop last year, as it was on display and I hadn't heard anything about it before then. I'll probably read it later this year.

>135 katiekrug: I covered for you, Katie. : ) Want another one?

I think I've turned into Homer Simpson (mmm, doughnut). Just have to make do with crumpets instead.

Ooh! Doughnuts! Yum!

Morning, Katie! Monday has gone, so it's all down hill from here.

>126 katiekrug: Our cat (also Molly!) sits and stares at the oven door...not when it's in use, just any old time. It might be the reflection in the black glass, but I thought all cats had that habit to some extent.

>136 drneutron: - I'll get right on that. Though delivery by rocket would probably be faster. Maybe you could send me some schematics to build one?

>137 kidzdoc: - Darryl, I have a feeling that you will find the angsty teen bits tiresome, as I did. I wish Henriquez had given us more about other residents rather than the formulaic "romance" between two of the primary characters. I'll be interested to see what you think of it overall.

>138 Berly: - Yes, please, Kim! Actually, now I want to go back there and get one of their raspberry glazed rings.... Sigh. But I went to the gym this morning, and I refuse to sabotage that hard work. Go me (she said half-heartedly, dreaming about doughnuts)...

>139 charl08: - Charlotte, what do you put on your crumpets? We get crumpet-like things here, and I like them toasted with lots of butter and strawberry jam...

>140 Crazymamie: - "Down hill from here" sounds negative, Mamie, but I know what you mean :) I've got a big planning meeting for my next Board meeting (early March) today - this is the one that was supposed to be in Croatia but got moved to across the highway from my office :( I'm still sad about it.

>141 laytonwoman3rd: - Linda, I have heard that about cats, but she never did it before and the vet suggested it could be a sign of her age. Otherwise, she is doing reasonably well which is good because The Wayne will be inconsolable when any of our pets die, I think... Makes me sad just thinking of how sad he'll be.

"Go me (she said half-heartedly, dreaming about doughnuts)..." This is the story of my life! I am slightly saddened that it can be summed up so succinctly.

>143 katiekrug: Now Katie, wouldn't you rather go down hill than up hill?

>143 katiekrug: Sorry about the Croatia meeting now across the street. : (

>145 Crazymamie: So true! Happy Tuesday.

>144 Crazymamie: - Maybe I could get it embroidered on a pillow....

>145 Crazymamie: - Yes, unless we are talking about a medical situation, I guess. Actually, at the gym this morning, I did the last 10 minutes on a moderately steep incline and it felt fantastic. So sometimes uphill is good. Look at me being all positive and sh*t!

>146 Berly: - I went from THIS:



To THIS:



Keeping fingers crossed we don't move any more meetings! Next year, we're scheduled for Bangkok and Aberdeen :)

Morning Katie! I have the Russo thread up and running and you will be glad to know that Straight Man is on the agenda. I do not think I have any Chunksters lined up for next month, so that is liberating.

Monday.


The rest of the week.

And I am so proud of you being all positive and sh*t. *wipes away tears from eyes*

>147 katiekrug: Tears of Sadness. >149 Crazymamie: Tears of Laughter.

>148 msf59: - Yay for Russo! One of my favorites. I will be right over to blather on about him :)

Straight Man is so great. Maybe I'll re-read it... I was planning to read Nobody's Fool, but we'll see...

>149 Crazymamie: - LOL, Mamie! And thank you for your support of my emotional growth. It means a lot. *swipes at tears*

>150 Berly: - Well, we certainly have both ends of the spectrum covered here, don't we, Kim? Ha!

Oh my goodness, a salted caramel donut? What other deliciousness will they come up with next?

>147 katiekrug: Crack me up! This is a keeper, Katie: Look at me being all positive and sh*t!

Shame about the venue change from Croatia. All the doughnut talk means I have to mention a book I started last night 100 days of happiness, it's translated from Italian. The cover has a giant doughnut sitting in the sky and the main character's father-in-law specialises in doughnuts at his bakery which is where said main character is currently holed up after his wife kicks him out.

>109 katiekrug: Hello, sweet Lisa! My own Molly cat is purring in my ear right now...

I don't understand the fuss about messy bookshelves. It's easily solved by turning those horizontal stacks into two rows of books, one in front of the other. Admittedly, it can make finding stuff in the back rows tough, but just make sure that you build the bookshelves deep enough and it will all work out.

I love that living room pic, especially the sofas. Though the risk is that I would succumb to too many naps...

>152 bell7: - I plan to try their chocolate old fashioned next :)

>153 lit_chick: - Glad I could give you a chuckle Nancy!

>154 avatiakh: - I just looked up the book cover, Kerry - YUM!

>155 Chatterbox: - Suz, I thought you'd like that photo :) I do horizontal stacks halfway up the spines of the vertical books so I can still see what all is back there (at least I try to make it work like that....) I don't think going two deep for me would work, in terms of seeing what all I have and in terms of my cheap-o shelves aren't deep enough I don't think. The only solution is custom built-ins which I have been researching but they are crazy expensive alas.

OMG Katie you are doing awesome with the workouts. I want that salted caramel doughnut. Mmm...

>157 luvamystery65: - Hi Ro! I'm doing okay with the working out - far from awesome - but I appreciate the support!

And um, yeah, everyone needs that doughnut in their life...

>143 katiekrug: Crumpets with lots of butter. But jam is good too.

Morning, Katie!

>159 charl08: - Charlotte, this is good news. If we are ever trapped together with only crumpets to eat, we won't argue over the proper way to "dress" them :D

>160 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie!

Glad to hear it. Am reading Five Days at Memorial and it seems having a good disaster plan is important...

>147 katiekrug: and >149 Crazymamie: and >150 Berly: Yes! What Kim said!

Nothing but Characters around here.

>162 charl08: - Absolutely! And crumpets form an integral part of any disaster plan...

>163 EBT1002: - Amen, Ellen! Wouldn't have it any other way :)

Morning, Katie!

Hiya Mamie! It's Thursday - possibly my favorite day of the week because of the anticipation of Friday and the weekend!

Had a fun outing last night to try a new restaurant - we were just going to get drinks and share an appetizer or two, but ended up with four appetizers between the three of us (we all shared fried green tomatoes with spicy shrimp, black-eyed pea hummus, lemon pepper chicken wings, and fried pork belly with apple slaw) and then a whole fried chicken. I'm not a huge fried chicken fan, but this was pretty good, as were the collard greens and mac and cheese we had as sides. One would correctly guess that it was a southern cuisine restaurant. It just opened on Monday and is co-owned by Tre Wilcox, a Dallas restaurateur and former contestant on Top Chef. And he was there last night and chatted with us for a minute or two, which gives me one degree of separation from Tom Colicchio and two from Anthony Bourdain! I'm such a chef geek...

I kinda like Thursday myownself. It's like a prequel to Friday!

That restaurant and its offerings sound great, Katie!

I want the fried green tomatoes with spicy shrimp.

>169 kidzdoc: - The food was delicious, Darryl, but the service was a bit slow. I chalk that up to it only being the third night it was open. I will definitely go back.

>170 Crazymamie: - Mamie, it was SO good. A lot of times, the tomatoes get mushy, but these still had a nice bite to them in terms of texture. The Wayne was not a fan, so I ate his :)

That restaurant sounds mighty good, Katie. My chef geek wife would appreciate the Colicchio/Bourdain degrees of separation.

I'm a mac and cheese aficionado - how was that part?

>172 jnwelch: - It was good, Joe! It didn't look particularly impressive, but whatever combo of cheeses they used was excellent - it had a distinctive flavor and the pasta wasn't overcooked. It also had nice browning on top for a little crunch. I hate when mac and cheese is just a flavorless gooey mess...

>167 katiekrug: The black-eyed pea hummus sounds intriguing, and I'm a fan of collard greens.

My SIL in Fort Worth went to some kind of fair or expo and saw one of the TV chefs there. I can't remember which one, but I think he's known for baking. She realized that she was wearing the same color shirt and slacks as his "people" so she mingled with them and acted like she belonged there. She ended up in a private demonstration and no one ever caught on that she wasn't supposed to be part of that group.

Lucky, lucky you that The Wayne did not like it - he is so thoughtful! I once had a bacon, lettuce and fried green tomato sandwich, and it was divine. I wish I knew exactly how they made it because it was YUM.

>174 cbl_tn: - Carrie, everything we had was delicious - even the toasted baguette slices that came with the hummus - they were crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. I was a happy girl! That is so fun about your SIL - no harm, no foul!

>175 Crazymamie: - Oooh, that does sound good, Mamie!

Oh, too bad about the change in venue for your meeting.

>177 BLBera: - Yeah, it was super disappointing, but the right decision to make.

I'm abandoning another book:



I got 57 pages in, and it was just too formulaic and not very well-written. I can't abide clunky dialogue... Back to the library it goes!

>179 katiekrug: I've never read a book by Krentz although she generally checks out pretty well in our library.

>167 katiekrug: So jealous of your chef meetup!! Very fun.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Friday Katie!

Morning, Katie! It's Friday!!



Of course, this is reminding me of Julia's pig farmers farmer from last year.

Happy Friday, Katie.

>180 thornton37814: - She is pretty popular. I picked that one up because one of my favorite romance authors recommended it on Facebook, but it was pretty disappointing.

>181 Berly: - Hi Kim! It was fun!

>182 DianaNL: - Thanks, Diana!

>183 cbl_tn: - Thanks, Carrie! Back at ya!

>184 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie! Love the pig! But not as much as Julia loves those pig farmers ;-)

>185 BLBera: - Thanks, Beth! Hope you have a great weekend.

The weekend agenda:

Quiet evening at home tonight.
Errands/house stuff tomorrow.
Dinner party tomorrow night.
Brunch and a concert Sunday afternoon.

The concert is a Frederica von Stade recital put on by the Dallas Opera. I'm really excited!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVYFpY3VL4

>179 katiekrug: Good for you! That's one of the many benefits of the library - you can try a book, and if it doesn't work, just take it back.

Sounds like a fun weekend agenda. I'm not an opera buff, but I'll check out the youtube link for what's got you excited.

ETA: OK, I can see why. She has a beautiful, clear voice, doesn't she?

Thanks for the link, Katie - she's amazing! SO beautiful! Your weekend plans sound perfect.

>184 Crazymamie: It was ONE pig farmer, Mamie! Gee whiz, some people. And when he was on the show this season he was no longer cute. I guess I'm not attracted to stupid, which is a blessing let me tell ya.

>189 jnwelch: - Joe, I really need to be more disciplined about using the library and only buy books that I've read and loved or are by a known author that I like. It's so much easier to let myself abandon a book when I haven't paid any money for it!

I love opera. I don't know a lot about it, but I enjoy going. The Dallas Opera is not first-rate but it's gotten a lot better in the time I've lived here. They finally got a real opera house a few years ago, part of the downtown Performing Arts Center, and it's beautiful.

>190 Crazymamie: - Glad you liked that, Mamie! I'd love to be able to sing like that...

>191 rosalita: - A blessing indeed, my friend! Have you requested your time off in early April yet, hmmmm?

>193 katiekrug: Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow. If I get through and snag a ticket, we can go from there. :-)

OK :) A reading retreat the weekend before would be fun... just sayin'...

It certainly would!

>191 rosalita: My sincere apologies, Miss Julia. I have corrected the post to accurately reflect the fact that it was just the one pig farmer. I was probably thinking in plural because, as I recall, it set off quite the frenzy of posting! Ahem.

>197 Crazymamie: Thank you, dear Mamie. I think living in Iowa has made me overly sensitive to being accused of being a pig-farmer-lover. :-D

>184 Crazymamie: I love it when Mamie starts shenanigans!

>198 rosalita: They're just teasing you a wee bit Julia. *snork*

>195 katiekrug: Yes it would!

>199 luvamystery65: - You should take that weekend off work, just in case, Ro.....

Dropping by to say hello before this thread is blown through. :) Hope you have a great weekend.

Nice weekend plans, Katie! The Opera House looks fabulous.

I live with walking distance of the Woodruff Arts Center, which contains Symphony Hall, the home of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art, which is the city's largest art museum, and the Alliance Theatre, one of the main venues for plays here. I plan to see Disgraced there on Sunday night, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2013, and will soon be shown on HBO.

Happy Friday, Katie! It sounds like you have a nice weekend planned. Enjoy, my friend.

I am crazy about Winterdance. Thank God, for my LT pals, or I would have missed this one.

>201 nittnut: - Hi Jenn! Glad you're home safe and sound. I loved seeing all your pics on Facebook. Road trip vacations are The Best - I can say that because I never had any other kind as a kid :)

>202 kidzdoc: - Thanks, Darryl - I'm looking forward to it. I wish I lived within walking distance of these venues (we live about a 20 minute drive away, but often take the light rail down which is reasonably convenient) - it's actually turned into a nice area and is helping Dallas begin to cultivate a feeling of being a "real" city (says this snobby Northeasterner!). We've really enjoyed having more things to do than just go out to eat in the surrounding suburbs.

Disgraced looks excellent - I look forward to your thoughts on it.

>203 msf59: - Cross-posted, Mark! I'm looking forward to getting to Winterdance - it sounds like a good, fun read.

It is fun but also tough and gritty.

A work friend lent me a copy of The Girl With All the Gifts. This does seem like a KAK book. Have you heard anything about it? I do, remember hearing some buzz about it, but very little LT response.

I think Judy read it late last year and really liked it? I've heard really good things about it, and it's on my library wish list (along with about 300 other books!)...

In other fun news, Alan Cumming just announced two performances of his cabaret show "Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs" in Dallas in June, so I snapped up two tickets. I think he's so incredibly talented.

The NY Times reviewed his show last year: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/04/arts/music/review-in-alan-cumming-sings-sappy-...

Oh I'm jealous of Alan Cumming show. He was in a silly thing about Scottish air stewards that made me laugh like a drain many years ago. Do you wear a fancy frock like Julia Roberts when you go to the opera? I was so disappointed when I went to see Madame Butterfly and everyone was dressed normally.

>209 charl08: - No fancy frock for me! I don't wear jeans or anything - usually just black pants and a sparkly top or something. Sunday is a matinee, so maybe just black pants and a nice top sans sparkles :)

I am sure that Alan Cumming's show will be a hoot, Katie. I am another one who longs to get home and get into easy pants.

>206 msf59: Hi Mark. I read The Girl with All the Gifts and was surprised by how much I liked it.

>212 Dianekeenoy: Thanks, Diane. Good to know. I also have it saved on audio, so I plan on getting to it, in the next 2 weeks.

Fun, fun, fun weekend plans!!

>211 PaulCranswick: - Looking forward to it, Paul!

>212 Dianekeenoy: and >213 msf59: - I'm looking forward to reading it myself. Let us know what you think, Mark!

>214 Berly: - Hi Kim! I hope your weekend plans involve NO trips to the ER ;-)