Mamie's 2016 Madness (Page 4)

Continuing with my list of favorite things - the musical talents of Louis Armstrong, the Blues, the color red...

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snail's pace

Books Completed in February:
15. Do Androids Dream of electric Sheep? Volume 2 by Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker illustrator (4.5 stars), 2016 acquired hardback, GN - sci fi/dystopian
16. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy, ROOT audiobook, narrated by Alan Rickman (thinking) -audiobook recommended by Lucy
17. A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler (thinking), library paperback, short stories, Pulitzer Prize winner - recommended by Megan

Books Completed in January:
1. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (3 stars), ROOT ebook
2. Saga: Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughn, Fiona Staples (Illustrator) (4 stars), borrowed paperback, GN - fantasy
3. Mãn by Kim Thúy (5 stars), library paperback, literary fiction - read for the CAC
4. The Fade Out: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (4.25 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, graphic novel recommended by Joe - crime fiction/noir
5. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (4 stars), library hardback, GN - fantasy, 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 - read foot the CAC
8. Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson (3 stars), library paperback, graphic novel recommended by Karen, read this because Abby had it out from the library
9. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (4.5 stars), audiobook/trade paperback - Group Read - Doorstopper challenge
10. The Fade Out: Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (4.25 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, GN - crime fiction/noir
11. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Vol. 1 by Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker illustrator (5 stars), library hardback, GN - science fiction/dystopian
12. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill (3.5 stars), ROOT ebook, mystery - police procedural - read for the BAC
13. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler (4.25 stars), ROOT paperback, contemporary fiction - dysfunctional family - recommended by Katie - read for the AAC
14. White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, mystery - police procedural

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 or on loan that would work:

Empire Falls by Richard Russo - AAC - ROOT paperback - recommended by Katie

City of Djinns by William Dalrympole – BAC – library hardback - recommended by Susan

Agatha Christie – BAC - I have almost all of her Hercule Poirot books and some of her others

The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys - CAC - requested from the library but it hasn't come in yet

King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild – Non-Fiction Challenge - requested from the library but it hasn't come in yet

Fantasy February - I have loads that would fit this, so we'll just wait and see what strikes my fancy

City on Fire by Garth Risk - Doorstopper Challenge - library hardback, Reading this with Kim, slowly

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, Sean Phillips, paperback - mentioned by Joe on the GN thread COMPLETED
4. The Fade Out: Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, paperback - Mark said this one was as good as the first COMPLETED
5. Staked by Kevin Hearne - Iron Druid series, ebook
6. Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White - recommended by Heather ($1.29 on Kindle)
7. Some Must Watch: The Spiral Staircase by Ethel Lina White - Heather's thread($.99 on Kindle)
8. The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White - Heather's thread ($1.99 on Kindle)
9. Put Out the Light by Ethel Lina White - Heather's Thread ($1.29 on Kindle)
10. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer ($2.99 on Kindle)
11. White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones ($1.99 on Kindle) COMPLETED
12. City of Djinns by William Dalrymple - recommended by Susan ($4.99 on Kindle)
13. You Have Killed Me by Jamie S. Rich - Mark's fault
14. Hit by Bryce Carlson - also Mark's fault
15. Velvet: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker - recommended by Roberta
16. The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett ($1.99 on Kindle)
17. The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois ($.99 on Kindle/$.99 audio)

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
2. Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard

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! And Marianne approves.
28. Willoughbyland by Matthew Parker - read Carrie's review on her thread
29. The Quiet American by Graham Greene - read Bill's review on his thread
30. Coast to Coast by Jan Morris - read Paul's review on his thread
31. After Hannibal by Barry Unsworth - read Ursula's review on her thread
32. Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White - read Heather's review on her thread
33. The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White - also Heather's fault!
34. Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore - recommended by Megan (evilmoose)
35. Mademoiselle Chanel by Pierre Galante - read Judy's review on her thread
36. Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon - read Suz's review on her thread
37. Crow Lake by Mary Lawson - read Nancy's review on her thread
38. War of Two by John Sedgwick - read Reba's review on her thread
39. The Old Ways by David Dalglish - read Charlotte's review on her thread
40. The Nest by Kenneth Oppel - read Anne's review on her thread
41. The Noise of Time by Julian barnes - was included in Charlotte's Guardian reviews, and then Suz reviewed it which is what sold me

This should do it - next one's yours!

Am I first?

I quess I'm second! It's a wonderful world, yes?!

Happy to be third on fourth! Congratulations on your new thread Mamie. Flying along at the very top of the posting league at the moment 40 or so posts ahead of Amber and leaving The Postie With The Mostie, The Doc, Joe the Prop and yours truly floundering a little. xx

As Mark would say; Go Mamie Go!

Yes, Ma'am! Welcome to the new digs, Ellen!! Let's see...here's your prize:

Heading off to work but relishing the opportunity to be both first and fourth! Heh.

Happy Sweet Thursday, Mamie (for another Mark-ism with a nod to John Steinbeck).

oops. Make that first and fifth.

And I love the chair! Would that I could snuggle up in it for the whole day. It's pouring rain here and I have to go to work. Boo.

Sweet Thursday, Mamie! Congrats on the new thread.

I'm going to read Jim Butcher's Aeronaut's Windlass for Roberta's Fantasy February, and then I plan on finally getting to The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. I've been dying to read TLWTASAP (woo, long acronym).

>9 Carmenere: Welcome, Lynda! I'll just set out some snacks, shall I?



>10 PaulCranswick: Greetings, Paul! Come on in! Look at you getting here early! I'm truly shocked that I am on top right now - it's temporary, I assure you. Amber is the queen of the threads, and I bow to her awesomesauceness.

Ooh, a New Thread to play in!

From your list of recent purchases, I read The Lady Vanishes a couple of years ago before watching an adaptation on PBS. I liked the movie a bit better than the book. I read White Sky, Black Ice a few years ago and liked it a lot, but I haven't picked up any more books in the series yet.

>12 EBT1002:, >13 EBT1002: Nope you were correct the first time. And Sweet Thursday back to you! So glad you love the chair. Sorry about having to go to work - it's also raining here, but I don't have to go out in it, thank goodness.

>14 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe! And thank you! Craig just finished Aeronaut's Windlass and he quite liked it - he is a HUGE Jim Butcher fan. And hooray for The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - that was a lot of fun, and I think you will like it.

Happy new thread, Mamie! I see you're reading City of Djinns. I loved it.

>16 cbl_tn: Hello, Carrie! I find that I almost always like the Hitchcock version better than the original novel with those, but then I am a huge Hitchcock fan. He was almost my thread topper, but I am saving him for next time. I picked up White Sky, Black Ice on a whim - I love to try new mystery authors, so when I see them as a Kindle deal...Good to know that you liked it!

Ah, give a tip of my hat to Craig. Good to hear he's a huge Jim Butcher fan.

Another thread already? Show off ;-)

Katie's Dirty Dozen looks severely under-populated. I am going to have to start choosing what books to read based on whether I think you'll like them, too!

>18 susanj67: Welcome, Susan! I just started City of Djinns late last night, but already I am loving it. I need to give you credit for that because you are why I chose that one for Paul's February BAC entry. And you will love this - I originally requested it from the library, but when it came in it was totally disgusting. I don't know what was on the pages, but no. Just no. SO I checked on Amazon, and the Kindle version was only $4.99 - pretty much a no-brainer.

>20 jnwelch: I will tell him, Joe. His favorite are the Furies of Calderon series - he rereads that series every year, but he also really loves the Harry Dresden books.

>21 katiekrug: Right, Katie. I am practically a peacock.



I agree about your Dirty Dozen - you need to get a move on, already! And that last part of your statement made me laugh out loud!

It's as good a way to pick books as any other, I guess. I put together a list of all the books I wanted to read in February (and didn't even include the 8 I have out from the library), and there are about 15. In a good month, I can do about 10, so I have a bit of a conundrum :)

Morning Mamie! Happy New Thread. Love the Satchmo topper.

I hope you enjoy Fifth Business, as much as I did.

Still plugging away at W & P. Just started Book 3. This one is taking me awhile but at least I am enjoying the trip.

>24 katiekrug: Just choose them one at a time according to your mood.

>25 msf59: Morning, Mark! And thank you! Birdy and I have a deep love for Satchmo. He's da Bomb.

Glad you are enjoying W&P - I don't think I could do it with your narrator because he gets on my nerves. You are much more tolerant than I.

Happy new thread, Mamie. What a lot of reading you packed into January. And W&P! Impressive.

I'm reading the third Simon Serrailler now - I love the series.

What a wonderful idea it is to post some of your favorite things as the topper....You are one smart lady!

Also, WOW, all those books read already this year, including the massive War and Peace. I am most impressed.

>22 Crazymamie: Ew!

In better news, another new thread!

>27 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! Fully half of those books have been GNs, which are much faster to read, but W&P, yes I am thrilled to have that one up there!

Another fan of the Serrailler series! I am looking forward to seeing where she goes with the second book. I did request the third book also because Katie said something about a cliffhanger, so...

>28 Whisper1: I thank you kindly, Linda! I usually do pretty well with my January reading stats - let's see if I can keep it up.

>29 charl08: I am guessing you are not a fan of the peacock, Charlotte. Not sure what tipped me off. LOL! Come on in, I'll make sure the peacock stays outside.

Hi, Mamie! Happy new thread. Some good reads here - and good purchases. I recently got White Sky, Black Ice and am thinking of getting Rubbernecker, which sounds right up my alley.

Yes, I started the third one almost right after finishing the second one. I'm actually listening to the third one. I wish I had more driving time.

>31 tymfos: Hi, Terri! Thank you! I have only read one other book by Belinda Bauer, but I really liked it Blacklands. And I am excited to try White Sky, Black Ice - I liked the sound of it, and you know I love a good mystery, so I hope it's good.

>32 BLBera: Okay. So good thing I followed Katie's advice and requested both at the same time. Thanks, Beth!

Happy New Thread! I'm quite impressed that you've already finished W&P. I haven't started it yet. I waited until I saw comments on the different versions from people reading it. Ultimately I decided to pay the 99 cents for the translation it seemed was getting the most favorable comments rather than do the free one from Project Gutenberg. Reading for me has slowed down this week because I have too many other irons in the fire. I'm not all that hopeful that I'll be able to read while our youth choir is rehearsing with the statewide youth choir for "Youth Project." Two years ago most of us sponsors hung out in the back of the auditorium. We had a conflict with an event at our church last year and did not participate. Fortunately, it's being held in a church adjacent to the campus on which I work. I'll have to drive to my church (in the city where I live) and ride the bus because I need to be on it. In reality, only one building is between the library and the church so I wish I could just walk. It will be okay though. I am going to take some cross stitch along with me. I stand a better chance of being able to work on that than reading.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Friday Mamie!

Good morning! Happy Friday!
LOL - I had to delete the 24 volumes of Android's and Electric Sheep from my ipad. Not enough storage :0( I'll try again after I clean out my storage.

>34 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori! For me, W&P really took off in the second half, and so I didn't want to put it down. Bummer about the loss of reading time - I think you are right about the cross stitch because you can visit and work on that at the same time. Wishing you the best of luck!

>35 DianaNL: SO true! Thank you for that, Diana!

>36 cbl_tn: Happy Friday, Carrie!!

>37 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! Happy Friday! Oh, dear on the deleting. Here's a good laugh - yesterday I sat down with volume two of that and started reading. As I got further and further in, I was thinking this doesn't make sense - I don't even remember this happening in the book, and it certainly doesn't take up where volume one left off...wait for it...IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SERIES!!! Yep. What I have is volume two to a prequel series by the same title. So be warned - there are two separate series, and they look very much alike, but the Dust to Dust subtitle means it's a prequel to the story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Is that a bit crazy or what?! And the artwork is different - Tony Parker does the artwork for the series that I started. The prequel artwork is done by Robert Adler. This is the correct series:


Cover of Volume One


Covers of all six of the books.

Here's what the library sent me, which is volume two to the prequel series - I do want to read this, but this story was not written by PKD, merely inspired by the events that happened in the original novel, They got permission to write this prequel. The distinguishing features on the prequel series are this - the Dust to Dust subtitle. On the bottom left you see PKD's name and them under it two other names - Chris Roberson wrote the story and Robert Adler did the artwork. The series I was talking about that uses PKD's entire original text from the novel does not have a second author because there wasn't one - that's what makes it SO cool to me - they used PKD's original text and they didn't edit anything out. AMAZING. Also, as I mentioned above, the artwork in the series I am reading (well, trying to read if I can get my hands on the correct book) has artwork done by Tony Parker.

Oops (re reading the wrong book)

Just to clarify in case any peacocks are feeling offended by the post above, it was the dirty library book I was bothered by, not the birds. The birds I can take or leave (beautiful looking but their calls are prettry intrusive - the agriculture group kept them in school and they would screech away during exam season.)
.

OH!! Yes. It was completely disgusting, Charlotte. I hate when that happens. Too funny that I thought you meant the peacock!!

Whaaaa?! Seems like a money grubbing scheme to me. Will has been buying the Star Wars books and comics and I don't know how he keeps it all straight! There's stories wedged in between all the different movies or stories regarding the different characters. It's just preying on Star Wars fans.

My kids love all that Star Wars stuff, too. Of course, they are very picky about which books and comics they buy, and I can never tell how they know which ones to get. The prequel series looks decent, but it is definitely not of the same caliber as the other series. I think they should have to make them more easy to distinguish from each other.

Good morning, Mamie!

I treated myself and ordered the Do Androids omnibus. Can't wait!

I just finished Valis, and it was bizarre. According to Wikipedia, "in February and March 1974, Dick experienced a series of visions and other inexplicable perceptual and cognitive phenomena. For the rest of his life, Dick explored the philosophical implications and hypothesized about the origins of the experience, in a journal". This novel is based on that, with religious preoccupations way out of the norm. He's brilliant, and it's fascinating (including his own participation as a character in the novel), but I sure wouldn't recommend it for PKD neophytes.

There are two more in the Valis trilogy that I'll be reading, Divine Invasion and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer. I also want to read his Martian Time-slip.

Yay! Another Crazy thread. That is kinda crazy about the different series, but kinda cool. Have fun with it. I have never lived near a peacock, but they look pretty. LOL. Life is good and it is Friday!! : )

I've added White Sky, Black Ice to the tbr pile. Happy Weekend to you Mamie!

Morning, Joe! Hooray for ordering the omnibus - I think you will love it. SO save Valis for later in my PKD journey, right? Making a note of that. I did read that he became addicted to amphetamines, which would explain the hallucinations.

>46 Berly: Hello there, Kim! SO lovely to see you out and about! Yep - the series stuff is a bit mind boggling. The only peacocks I have seen have been at the zoo, and to be perfectly honest, I am slightly intimidated by them. Agreed - life is good and it IS Friday!!

>47 Whisper1: I just started that one last night, Linda, and I am liking it so far. Happy Weekend to you, dear!

Crazy---Just had to laugh about something you said in your last thread--so true for me, too!! "Ratings are so funny, aren't they? I always look back over my reads at the end of the year, and I am always surprised by some of the ratings, and they're MY ratings."

Oh, good! Then it's not just me!!

>45 jnwelch: I read Valis as well, and totally agree with your comments. Not for PKD newbies, and not for the faint of heart (ie, people willing to close their eyes and make a leap only)! My husband has the other two, and he's started The Transmigration of Timothy Archer but has found it hard to get into. >48 Crazymamie: It was my second PKD novel, actually, but it's probably better to get a little bit more of a feel for him first. It does explore a lot of his pet themes, though.

>52 ursula: Thanks for that, Ursula! I am currently working on a collection of his short stories, but next I plan to read Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said.

Hiya, Mamie!

That is all.

Hiya, Katie!

It is more than enough.

>52 ursula:, >53 Crazymamie: Well said, Ursula. I loved Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said, Mamie.

>56 jnwelch: *grin* I am excited to get to it, Joe, but I want to finish up the short story collection first.

Morning Mamie! Got in, just under the wire. Mid-30s here, with plenty of sunshine. Not bad, at all.

Happy Friday!

Morning, Mark! Guess what? I just finished my Anne Tyler read! I was just saying over on your thread that this might be the one and only time that I can claim to be a Purist for your AAC. I mean, you know it's temporary because I will end up being tainted, but let's just bask in the moment, shall we?

Bask in your purist glory, Crazy!!

Ratings are so funny, aren't they? Yes, they are! And, as you point out, Mamie, they're my ratings, LOL! I have a very rough 5* rating scale, but the truth is, it's completely subjective.

Hi Mamie! Happy New Thread! I'm impressed that you've finished War and Peace already. I've just reached book 3 and am happy with my reading schedule. The episode with Natasha's elopement had me totally enthralled!

>60 Berly: Why thank you, Miss Kim!

>61 lit_chick: That's what I find, too, Nancy. And I rate against other books in that same genre because for me it would be impossible to rank a GN against War and Peace. So my rating is a reflection of how much I liked that particular book when compared to others I have read in that same genre.

>62 Smiler69: Hi Ilana! Thank you! I was actually planning to slow down with W&P, like you suggested, but then I got totally caught up in it and couldn't put it down. At just about where your spoiler comment is from, as a matter of fact! I wasn't expecting to like it so much!

Mamie, I confess I skipped down to here to wish you a wonderful weekend. I've cut my reading on LT down to a bare bones minimum, so I hope you'll forgive me for skimming, skipping, through your thread! Thanks for visiting mine.

>61 lit_chick: >63 Crazymamie: Totally agree! I'm sure some people look at my ratings and think I must be almost illiterate to give a GN a 5-star rating, but it's all about how well the particular genre is done, the writing, the story, the way it makes me feel while I'm reading it, the way it resonates with me after I've done.

Anyway, I just stopped by to wish you a Happy Friday!

ETA that I love the Louis Armstrong picture up top.

Hi! Just trying to catch up around here. Good grief! Love the Louis Armstrong topper. He's one of my favorites too.
Happy weekend!

Happy new thread Mamie and super congrats on finishing W&P!!! That really does deserve a "three exclamation point" mention. Excellent review back there on your other thread of this monster tome. Great comments about the translations. I am listening to the audioread of the Garrett translation while my e-book is the Maude translation. I still haven't decided which translation I prefer... or if I even have a preference. Both strike me as having some limitations and odd choices of words/phrases.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Happy new thread, Mamie! (It's not too late to say that, is it?)

Glad to see you enjoyed War and Peace. It's on my "someday" list but there were a few books I had to read for work this month and I had to give myself a break somewhere ;)

Enjoying the comments on PKD from Joe and others. I read Valis a few years ago because it was one of the books either referenced on or on some other list related to LOST and I was reading a bunch of those books that I probably wouldn't have otherwise picked up. It was so weird I'd sworn off other books by him, but I may have to reevaluate.

>64 maggie1944: Hello, Karen! Feel free to skim or skip away, no worries. I am touched that you stopped in to wish me a wonderful weekend - thanks for that.

>65 Storeetllr: Hello, Mary! I did answer the post you left on the old thread, just so you know. And EXACTLY. That's exactly it about the ratings, and for me, a five star rating on a GN means that it is a perfect GN read for me. I get too overwhelmed if I try to compare different genres against each other - I do not want to go there.

Thanks for those Happy Friday wishes, and I am delighted that you love the Louis topper!

>66 nittnut: Hello, Jenn! Welcome home! Another Louis fan!! Hooray for that! Happy Weekend to you, too!

>67 lkernagh: Hello, Lori! And thank you. I was so excited to actually finish W&P this time, and even more excited that I actually liked it. I thank you for those kind words about my review of it. I will be interested to see what you think about how your two different translations compare when you have finished.

Thanks for those weekend wishes! Hoping that yours is filled with fabulous!

>68 bell7: Thank you, Mary! It's never too late for any kind of happy! W&P is definitely a commitment, so good thinking to wait until it fits better with your schedule. That's the great thing about books - they are very patient.

I am liking all the PKD discussion, too. I love when people jump in with their thoughts and opinions - I always learn so much. Have you read anything else by PKD? I really loved Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and think that is a good entry point. He is definitely out there - I like his quirky twisty plots and his characters. I like that he thinks WAY outside of the box.

>70 Crazymamie: I'm afraid I have not and because Valis weirded me out so completely I wasn't going to. I'll have to add Do Androids Dream to the list to try.

I would encourage you to give him another chance because I think Valis sounds like it's not for rookies. I'll be leaving that one for last, I'm thinking. I also liked The Man in the High Castle, which is alternate history, but not everyone likes that one.

Are you still basking in that "purist" glory? It does become infectious, so beware and plus you have Empire Falls lined up. B.A.G.

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

Yep. Still basking.*preens a bit* And Empire Falls moves with me from Indiana, so it is past time to get to it. I have Winterdance out from the library thanks to Ellen and Karen saying how great it was, so I will get to it soonish. Glad you are enjoying it!

I am nearly a 100 pages in, all ready and it hasn't let up a bit. Incredible dog stuff and the wildlife and scenery are stunning.

ETA: Hey post #75! I love it, when that happens.

Look at you snagging post 75!! Serendipity, baby! And yes, Paulsen can write - I have read quite a bit of his stuff as he has long been a favorite author of Dan's. He loved Hatchet and the other Brian books.

Oh, Mamie, I think you'll love Empire Falls. Deceptively quiet but packs a punch.

Hooray for that resounding recommendation - now I am even more excited to get to it.

>78 Crazymamie: I will also be joining for Empire Falls next month.
Wishing you a lovely weekend my dear as you close in on 1000 posts. xx

Happy Friday, Mamie. I am looking forward to a quiet weekend with lots of reading time. I am glad that others seem to look back on their book ratings and wonder what they were thinking. I admit that I surprise myself sometimes Although I do tend to look at the rating as a very personal scale, a 5 star read for me might not tip the scale for anybody else.

>79 PaulCranswick: Oh, good, Paul! Will be fin to compare thoughts. And I thank you for those good wishes. xx

>80 DeltaQueen50: Happy Friday, Judy! A quiet weekend with loads of reading time sounds delightful. I'll take one of the same, please.



I also think of the rating scale as a very personal thing, and really, with me, it tends to be very mood dependent.

Hi Mamie and Happy Weekend! Can't believe it - 2 busy days at work with no LT and I missed almost 100 posts and another new thread! #4 and it's still January! *faints* :)
I really liked "Androids" and I'm usually not into sci-fi. Didn't know it wasn't a stand-alone.

Hello, Nathalie! *runs to get the smelling salt*

Androids is a stand-alone. They got permission to do a graphic novel prequel to the story, and so that what I was talking about. The six volume set of Android that I pictured is simply the original novel put into graphic novel format, and it's very well done, at least the first volume is.

Hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

Happy Saturday Mamie! No Broncos this weekend :-( but that means more time for reading! :-)

Happy Saturday, Carrie! No Broncos, is right. *sob* This time of year is always a difficult transition - I mourn the loss of the regular football season. Of course, if there were football year round, I would get a lot less done, including reading.

Happy Saturday, Mamie! How lucky for you to have spotted, the often evasive, Birdus Broncolitus!! Ohhhh, I envy you!

Happy Saturday, Lynda! It's a rare bird indeed. And he's not happy about the absence of the Broncos this weekend.

Happy Saturday, Mamie! Yeah, that bird does seem quite annoyed. At least the extra week gives the Broncos a chance to get healthier before the SB.

Hiya, Joe! Happy Saturday! That bird is definitely miffed. And true about the extra week. *sigh*

>86 Carmenere: OMG! my brain just woke up and my sleepyhead typed evasive. It should have typed elusive. *walks away to bang head on wall*

Now you are cracking me up, Lynda!!

Hey Mamie thought you might like this -

Tom Gauld on War and Peace – cartoon
http://gu.com/p/4g9bf?

Too funny, Charlotte, and I am so glad that you brought that over here because you are reminding me that I need to come follow that other link you had posted about W&P.

I don't "do" graphic novels but thanks for reminding me I wanted to read some Philip K. Dick this year!

And I'll add my congratulations to everyone else's for finishing War and Peace. You made it sound more interesting than I would have thought, so perhaps someday I'll tackle it. This is one where an e-reader will come in handy to avoid dragging around that doorstop!

Happy Saturday, Mamie! It's a beautiful day in North Texas - sunny, blue skies, and about 70F. Of course, I wish it was cold and snowy, but I'm odd like that :)

Morning Mamie! I like the crabby rare bird. We have a few of those around here, although I prefer the warblers.

I hope you have a terrific day, my friend.

I am a recent convert to GNs, Julia, but I am very picky. But yes, do read some PKD - have you read him before? If so, what?

W&P was very good - no one is more surprised than I that I actually liked it. And it would be perfect for e-reader!!

>95 katiekrug: You and I both, Katie - I love those crisp cold days. We get about two of those in Georgia. It's gorgeous here, too - sun is out and it's going to 68 today.

Happy Saturday!

>96 msf59: Morning, Mark! I like that crabby bird, too - I might have to keep him. Thanks for those good wishes. Hoping that your day is full of fabulous! Where are you at with W&P?

Should be crossing the 10,000 page Mark. Oh, sorry, the 1,000 page mark. Deep into Book 3.

HA! You are almost there, my friend. Any week day hour moment now. You are practically finished.

>97 Crazymamie: I don't think I've ever read any PKD, because for a long time I thought I didn't like science fiction. So I have a lot to catch up on.

Hi Mamie! I hope your Saturday is going well. You have more left than I do :-) I see you're reading even more things now - and you're still ahead of me in the numbers.

I thought I didn't like it, either, but it turns out that I love it. LT has been very good for me that way.

>102 susanj67: Hello, Susan! SO far so good with the Saturday - no big plans. I need to write a review for Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, which I actually loved (I think I am in the minority here, but it spoke to me). Other than that, I plan to get a February list of planned reads together, perhaps watch some tv, and read.

The numbers are temporary, I assure you, and the high number of GNs skew things as those are quick reads. Also, Ru and Mãn were both short. But as you say, I am still ahead of you, so perhaps I had best get my giddy on now.



And I need to add a few more covers up there because I have several that are not listed up there going right now. I am a bit crazy that way. I'm also reading A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain and The Long Way Down.

>104 Crazymamie: LOL! As a Kiwi, I love the sheep :-) And I'm not sure my Sons of Anarchy hiatus (current length: 19 hours) will last forever, so you might stay ahead!

Oh, yes, you must get back to Netflix, Susan. I say this only as a friend concerned for your welfare, it has nothing to do with my competitive nature. Actually, I don't have a competitive nature, but I do enjoy a bit of snark, and having bragging rights almost always involves snark, so...

>92 charl08: Hilarious, Charlotte. I stole it and posted for Mark. I love Tom Gauld.

>104 Crazymamie: Woo, great giddy, Mamie!

Why thank you, Joe!

Happy Saturday! Settling in to watch the Women's Tennis Final....pretty sure Serina is gonna win.

Hello, Kim! Happy Saturday! I'll see you after you watch the match. I already know the outcome, but mum's the word.

3 days. 3 days I'm away and I come back to thread 4 with 110 unread messages. Oy!

:)

Hey, Jim! Um...coffee?

Oh, I love it!

*grin*

And here's a special latte for you
Have a great Sunday!

Perfect timing, Lynda! Thank you. Hoping that your Sunday is full of fabulous!

Morning Mamie! Happy Sunday! Love the fancy coffees. We are hosting a family birthday party later but I should be able to bookhorn in some reading. Can't wait to get back to Winterdance.

BTW- I threw "caution to the wind" and upped my audio- speed of W & P, yesterday. It took a few minutes to get used to but it is working. Now, I wish I would have jacked it up, a week ago. I would have easily been done. Oh, well...

Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday! I do love me a latte. I am going to get to Winterdance just as soon as I clear one of my current reads off the deck. And hooray for trying a faster speed for W&P!! I thought you could easily get away with it - especially with Davidson as narrator. You fly through it now!

"You fly through it now!" Music, to my ears. Hope to wrap it up by Wednesday. My audio stacks are immense and very disgruntled.

Hello mom! It's only January and I already fell behind *hangs head*. Oh well, fiddle dee dee tomorrow's another day!

Ha! Wishing you the best of luck with that. What's up next on audio?

>112 Crazymamie: Love it!

Happy Sunday, Mamie.

Winterdance is in my near future, too. Right now I'm enjoying the riproaring Aeronaut's Windlass for Fantasy February.

>120 Thebookdiva: Abby! Or is it Scarlet?! Just start fresh in February - this group is a very forgiving bunch, and they know that sometimes life gets busy.

>122 jnwelch: Joe! You snuck in there while I was posting! Happy Sunday! Craig really enjoyed Aeronaut's Windlass - I'll get to it eventually. And I am very excited about Winterdance!

"What's up next on audio." I am thinking about this new book called Eleanor, that has been getting some very good buzz. I also have the Girl With All the Gifts in the wings.

Oh, I like that plan! Lovely.

Oh! I have heard good things about both of those, so I will wait for your report!

>126 Thebookdiva: *grin*

Hi Mamie! Hope you're having a great weekend!

Book #13: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler (4.25 stars), 2015 acquired paperback, contemporary fiction - dysfunctional family - recommended by Katie - read for the AAC

"There ought to be a whole separate language, she thought, for words that are truer than other words - for perfect, absolute truth."

This was my second book by Anne Tyler, and I read it for Mark's AAC. The first book of hers that I read was The Accidental Tourist, and I really loved that one. What Tyler does so well is to create quirky characters and then slowly peel back and reveal the layers. I find that her books are more of a character study than a plot driven narrative, so she is not for everyone, and it shows over on the AAC thread. I like her because I find that she always has something interesting to say about life, and because I think she is a keen observer. What she captures over and over again is brokenness. This novel had less humor than The Accidental Tourist, but it really spoke to me - perhaps because I come from the same type of dysfunctional family that Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant encapsulates. If you have read this book, then you have met my mother, and I have found that the same insights that Cody, Ezra, and Jenny gain as adults also apply to my mom. Because distance and time reveal truths.

I know that some readers have commented that nothing happens in this novel and that there is no character growth. That it's too depressing. But that's just it. Life is like that sometimes. Painful to experience and tortuous to watch unfold. We want the characters to escape, to be stronger, to make smarter choices, to walk away. To not look back. But that is the burden and also the blessing of family - it clings to you, ensnares you and refuses to let go without a fight. Not everyone rises above their circumstances, and we certainly, even when we know it is absolutely hopeless, want our parents to value us. To love all of us, even the parts they don't understand or agree with. And when they can not or will not, it hurts. It breaks us a bit. And this is where Cody and Ezra and Jenny are stuck - in their brokenness. They cannot distance themselves from their mother's grip. And this impedes their forward progress in life.

"At the funeral, the minister, who had never meant their mother, delivered a eulogy so vague, so general, so universally applicable that Cody thought of that parlor game where people fill in words at random and then giggle hysterically at the story that results. Pearl Tull, the minister said, was a devoted wife and a loving mother and a pillar of the community. She had lived a long, full life and died in the bosom of her family, who grieved for her but took comfort in knowing that she'd gone to a far finer place.

It slipped the minister's mind, or perhaps he hadn't heard, that she hadn't been anyone's wife for over a third of a century; that she'd been a frantic, angry, sometimes terrifying mother; and that she'd never shown the faintest interest in her community but dwelt in it like a visitor from a superior neighborhood, always wearing her hat when out walking, keeping her doors tightly shut when at home. That her life had been very long indeed but never full; stunted was more like it. Or crabbed. Or...what was the word Cody wanted? Espaliered. Twisted and flattened to the wall - all the more so as she'd aged and wizened, lost her sight, and grown to lean too heavily on Ezra. That she was not at all religious, hadn't set foot in this church for decades; and though in certain wistful moods she might have mentioned the possibility of paradise, Cody didn't take much comfort in the notion of her residing there, fidgeting and finding fault and stirring up dissatisfactions."

>129 LauraBrook: Laura!! How ARE you?! SO great to see you here - thanks for stopping in.

Good review of Homesick, Mamie! (You should post it. Thumb waiting) I think you liked more than I, which is great.

>130 Crazymamie: I want to read this one right now.

>130 Crazymamie: Great review Mamie! I just finished my second Tyler as well, and your review captures what I love about her writing. She could be writing about people I know. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant is at the top of my Anne Tyler TBR list.

Book #14: White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, mystery - police procedural

I picked this one up as a Kindle deal for a mere $1.99, and it was worth every penny. Set in the village of Chukchi in Alaska, Nathan Active is an Alaskan State Trooper who happens to be Inupiat by birth. He was raised by white parents who adopted him but kept in touch with his birth mother, who was just fifteen when he was born. He has returned to the village he was born in to work, with the goal of getting transferred back to Anchorage, where he was raised and grew up. So he is an outsider in his own hometown, and now he has two apparent suicides that look suspicious only to him on his hands. With his boss out of town, Nathan is forced to take matters into his own hands, and this is where things get interesting. I liked Nathan, and I loved the setting and the supporting cast of this book. Nathan doesn't always play by the rules and he is not afraid to take chances, which make for an entertaining story. Fast paced and intelligent, this mystery holds up from beginning to end. This is the first book in a series that currently has five entries. I have already requested the next book from the library.

>135 Crazymamie: I'm glad you liked that one, too! You've reminded me that I need to continue with that series.

>132 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I have posted it!

>133 SandDune: Hooray, Rhian! I have hit you with a BB. Most exciting!

>134 cbl_tn: Thank you, Carrie. Hoping you like it when you get to it. What others have you read by her?

>136 cbl_tn: It was good, Carrie! And a very fast read, so I am looking forward to the next one.

>130 Crazymamie: I'm also glad to find that you liked your Anne Tyler. I hope to finish The Accidental Tourist today and I am loving the quirky characters. >134 cbl_tn: says "She could be writing about people I know". Not only that, but I think I've **been** some of those characters.

This is my first Tyler - I'm looking forward to reading more and also seeing their movies.

Hello, Janet! I loved The Accidental Tourist! I saw the movie years ago, but I should watch it again now that I have read the book - read that one just last year. I'm trying to decided what to read next by her.

Good review of White Sky, Black Ice. You know, I read and enjoyed this one a few years ago but never continued the series, which I guess is something that happens now and then, in LT Land.

Thanks, Mark! I requested the second one from the library, so I'll let you know if it is worthy.

I read Digging to America a few years ago and I just finished Saint Maybe. I liked the subject matter of Digging to America a bit better - international adoption. assimilation of immigrants into American society, and intergenerational differences/conflicts.

Thanks for that, Carrie!

>130 Crazymamie: If you have read this book, then you have met my mother

A book resonates more when it speaks to you doesn't it?

Great book reviews mom!

>135 Crazymamie: Forgive me, just running off to Amazon to download this (or as autocorrect said, to fowl pad this. Now I am wondering what that activity might be). BB. Back soon...

>145 PaulCranswick: It surely does, Paul.

>146 Thebookdiva: Thank you, dear!

>147 charl08: I am also wondering what fowl pad might be, Charlotte. LOL! And I am delighted to have hit you with a BB!!

>147 charl08: >148 Crazymamie: I think a "fowl pad" is a chicken coop. (Or maybe a dovecote or a bird house.) Although why anyone would want to put books in a chicken coop is beyond me. I don't think the chickens would appreciate it. ;-)

Thank you, Carrie. I will second that advice to Charlotte to not place her books in a chicken coop. Although to be honest, I am less concerned about the chickens and more worried about the poop. The poop in the coop! Ha! I crack myself up! I'm very mature that way.

>130 Crazymamie: If you have read this book, then you have met my mother. Yikes! Congratulations on transcending that one, Mamie. That would drive me crazy.

Great review of Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. Good choice of quote, too. I'll add a thumb if you post it.

White Sky, Black Ice sounds good, too. I've noticed Ammie's been offering the first in some mystery series for $1.99, to give readers an incentive to try it and maybe then continue with the higher-priced rest of the series. That seems smart to me, and I've taken advantage, too. The one I remember is the first Kate Shugak, which unfortunately I didn't like enough to continue the series.

I'm just gonna ignore the chicken coop poop comments.

January Stats:

Total books completed:14, 6 of which were GNs

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 - read for the CAC
4. The Fade Out: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (4.25 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, graphic novel recommended by Joe - crime fiction/noir
5. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (4 stars), library hardback, GN - fantasy, 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 - read foot the CAC
8. Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson (3 stars), library paperback, graphic novel recommended by Karen, read this because Abby had it out from the library
9. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (4.5 stars), 2016 acquired audiobook/ ROOT trade paperback - Group Read - Doorstopper challenge
10. The Fade Out: Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (4.25 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, GN - crime fiction/noir
11. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Vol. 1 by Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker illustrator (5 stars), library hardback, GN - science fiction/dystopian
12. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill (3.5 stars), 2013 acquired ebook, mystery - police procedural - read for the BAC
13. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler (4.25 stars), 2015 acquired paperback, contemporary fiction - dysfunctional family - recommended by Katie - read for the AAC
14. White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, mystery - police procedural

Fiction: 14
Non-fiction: 0

Female author: 7
Male author: 6
Female/Male team: 1
New to me authors: 7

Living author: 11
Dead author: 3

Medium:
Hardback: 2
Paperback: 7
ebook: 4
just audiobook: 0
audio/print combo: 1
audio/ebook combo: 0

Borrowed: 6
Acquired in 2016: 5
ROOT: 3

Rereads: 0
Part of a series: 7

Challenges:
AAC - 1
BAC - 1
CAC - 2
Doorstopper - 1

>151 jnwelch: You snuck in there while I was posting my stats, Joe. Yikes is right - my mom was not a nice person, and she was very difficult to live with. And I thank you for your kind words - I was very lucky to have the Dad that I did. I would be delighted to have you thumb my review - it is posted. *does happy dance*

The low Kindle pricing on first books in a series is so smart, I think. I also tried the Shugak, and it was okay, but like you I have not read more. I do have another by her that I picked up for $.99 way back, but it has not been calling to me. White Sky, Black Ice is a different creature - better pacing and a good plot that is well written. I recommend, especially at that price.

No worries on skipping the poop!

>149 cbl_tn: I'd advise her especially to keep library books out of chicken coops. Partcularly if she uses the same libraries as Susan. Hmm. Maybe chicken coop book storage accounts for the filth on some of those library books Susan keeps finding?

February 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:

Empire Falls by Richard Russo - AAC - ROOT paperback - recommended by Katie

City of Djinns by William Dalrympole – BAC – library hardback - recommended by Susan

Agatha Christie – BAC - I have almost all of her Hercule Poirot books and some of her others

The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphries - CAC - requested from the library but it hasn't come in yet

King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild – Non-Fiction Challenge - requested from the library but it hasn't come in yet

Fantasy February - I have loads that would fit this, so we'll just wait and see what strikes my fancy

City on Fire by Garth Risk - Doorstopper Challenge - library hardback, Reading this with Kim, slowly

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

>154 cbl_tn: *nods head in agreement* Oh, dear! Susan has certainly run afowl afoul of some soiled books. The horror!

The poop in the coop! Ha! I crack myself up! I'm very mature that way. SNORT!

*grin*

Mamie, that's a great review of the Tyler. I am so glad it spoke to you.

Thanks, Katie! I am so happy that you mentioned it on Mark's thread last year because that is when I picked it up.

>155 Crazymamie: Oh, I bought a copy of Empire Falls at the Joplin Meet-up this year! I will try to read along with you if I can.

Happy new thread Mamie! Looks like you got a lot of good books read in January. Good luck with February!

>161 rosalita: Oh, I hope you can, Julia! That would be fun to compare notes. Have you read anything else by him?

>162 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel! January was a very good month for me, for sure. And thanks for those February wishes - wishing you the same!

>163 Crazymamie: I don't think I've read any other Russo, although I confess to often getting him confused with Richard FORD, who I have read plenty of.

I know that I have not read Russo before, but Ford I have - and I did not particularly care for him, but it might have been choice of books. Don't laugh, but I do the mix up thing with Helen Dunmore and Helen Humphreys.

>155 Crazymamie: I like and am trying to emulate that laissez faire approach to the monthly challenges, Mamie. I do plan to read something by Helen Humphreys because she has been compared to other authors I love, and I'm determined to get the purist pin for Mark's AAC..... but, you know, laissez faire.... heh.

I'm pretty sure I read Empire Falls a long time ago and liked it. You can see how it stuck with me.

Have a great week, my dear!

>154 cbl_tn:, >156 Crazymamie: It's worse than coop poop! Just one of the reasons why I reserve all the new books :-)

Sorry it's Monday, Mamie :-(

>167 susanj67: Gosh that was quite restrained. I was expecting a larger reaction to chicken pooped books.

I can confirm that no chickens or books were harmed in the downloading of White Sky Black Ice.

Good morning, Mamie!

I liked Empire Falls, too, but I haven't been tempted by his others. Like Charlotte, I unharmfully downloaded White Sky Black Ice.

>166 EBT1002: Hello, Ellen! I have never gotten a purist pin for Mark's AAC, but he knows that I love him. I just want to take each month as it comes and not feel pressured to read any particular thing. That being said, the various challenges on offer provide a great reason for reading the books that are already on my shelves. What I did is to create a 2016 Challenge category in my library, and then I can just go through my books as I have time and add them to that category if they fit a particular challenge. In the private notes section, I add which challenge and what month. That way when a new month is approaching, I can just go look at that category and see if I have anything on offer from my own stacks that will work. If there is something that I want to read that fits the challenge, but I don't own it, I can check the library and request it. If it comes in on time, and I feel like it, I can read it.

Your comments about Empire Falls made me laugh - that's why I am trying to write more reviews, not just to share my thoughts with others, but also to put them into words for myself. That way, when the memory is rusty, I can refer back to myself. Ha!

Wishing you a great week as well, my dear!

>167 susanj67: I love those newer books, too, Susan. I am with you all the way, sister! I feel like I should show up to pick up my reserves with a hospital mask and a pair of those latex gloves in order to first preview the book on offer to see if it is worthy of a trip to the Pecan Paradisio. Wouldn't that be a hoot!

Monday. This to shall pass. But I thank you for your sympathies, Susan!

>168 charl08: Hey, Charlotte! It's Monday, so she probably held back knowing that Mondays and I are not the best of friends. Your poultry-free and book-friendly approach to downloading are greatly appreciated. Your activism will not go unrewarded.

>169 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I don't even remember purchasing Empire Falls, but there it is on the shelf, so I must have. Anyway, Katie says it's good, so I am feeling pretty safe with it. Good for you keeping our books and our poultry safe! I expected nothing less!

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Monday is just
a big pile of poo.

Ha! I LOVE that!! Thanks, Katie!

Howdy, Mamie! I own Empire Falls but it's That Old Cape Magic that I included in my 7' 11" challenge. I have a thing for Cape Cod.

Howdy, Lynda! I was just over at your place. We can compare notes then and see if we each want to read the other.

>175 Crazymamie: Sounds like a plan!

*grin*

Happy Monday, Mamie. I liked Empire Falls. I read another one by him that I also liked but don't remember the title...

Hello, Beth. What was the name of it? *blinks* This will be my first Russo, so we''ll see what I think. I'm hopeful.

>4 Crazymamie: (yes, I'm that far behind!) so you read Endurance about Shackletons journey? I had a few Antarctic and sub-Antarctic survival stories on the go this summer and quite enjoyed them. This one, I take it, was a fabulous read?

>68 bell7: War and Peace is also on my some day list. Like, some day when I find myself with 3 weeks off, a hammock nearby and a warm sea breeze washing over ma and my mimosa. :)
Good on you Mamie for knocking that one off!

>180 LovingLit: Hello, Megan! Yes - Endurance is very gripping. I listened to the audiobook, and this is an excellent example of narrative non-fiction. Can't recommend it highly enough. And thank you - it was a lovely surprise that I actually really liked it and would be willing to read it again at some point.

Hi Mamie, I sure hope that chicken coop everyone is talking about isn't this one!



Hope your Monday is as good as a Monday can be!

Oh, dear, Judy! Ha! Not too bad so far for a Monday. Of course, I napped a bit, so that helped.

"but he knows that I love him." Yes, I do, my friend and a little love goes a long way...at least with me, anyway! Hey, plus you are 1 for 1!!

Hi, Mamie! Missed my early check in, due to a heavy work-load, but I am home, a bit weary, but upright.

That's right, Mark. And it's big love, not little...just saying. And I have a Russo, so I could end up two for two by the end of this month. *does the Meg Ryan awkward high five*

Sorry about the heavy day but glad to hear that now you are home. Time for a beverage and a book.

Hooray for Big Love! And hooray, for 2 for 2!! You can do it!

Mark, your enthusiasm is contagious. I will make it a point to read the Russo this month - just for you.

Russo is a good author! you should like that one.

*fingers crossed* You and Katie both say it's good, so chances are I will also like it.

Wow! Your thread exploded over the weekend. I'm getting caught up slowly. Looks like January was a good reading month for you. Hoping your February reading goes well too.

Hey, Lori! We were chatty, weren't we? January was very good to me, and I am hoping for similar results in February, so I thank you for those wishes!

You've got me laughing out loud with the chicken coop jokes . . .

Glad to see that the Nathan Active mystery is worthwhile, as I downloaded too.

The Kate Shugak series is one that I sampled out of order from library holdings befor I downloaded the first installment for free from iTunes a year or so ago. I liked later ones better than the first.

>33 Crazymamie: I continued on and read the two sequels to Belinda Bauer's Blacklands. They are very unusual, I thought, especially the second one.

Dang woman-- t.r.y.i.n.g t.o. k.e.e.p. u.p. h.e.r.e.....! The pace is killling me. : ) Glad you made it through Monday. 14? You read 14 books in January?!! I hope you are reading City on Fire really slowly. I can get to it after I am Malala for my book club next week. I hope CoF will nicely balance In Cold Blood, which I am reading with Megan.

>182 DeltaQueen50: I see no books in there. No harm no fowl, right? (pun intended)

Morning Mamie! I hope you are enjoying those current reads. Everything looks good.

I finished Winterdance. Swoons...Did you know they made a film of this called "Snow Dogs"? I did not know this. Although, I see it more The Revenant, than Disney.

Happy Groundhog Day greetings, Mamie!

Morning, Mamie!

>171 Crazymamie: Mamie, I am tempted to do that :-) I had a reserve come in once that smelled so strongly of smoke that I had to put it in a plastic bag on the balcony when I wasn't reading it. That was before ebooks. These days I'd just put it straight back and buy it :-)

Happy Tuesday! The sun in London is hiding a chilly wind, so I did some circuits of the mall at lunchtime to get some steps in. I just got the Fitbit report for last week, and we are BAD. And not in a good way. If that makes sense.

Morning, Mamie!

Good morning, Mamie!

Morning, Y'all! It's a special day today at the Pecan Paradisio. Abby is twenty today. And today also marks our two year anniversary with Mercy - those of you who followed my thread back then will remember that we found her in our crawl space, just a tiny and very scared ball of fur. Now both of these girls have grown into lovely young women - a much shorter and easier journey with Mercy, I must say. Ha! Thank goodness children do not grow as quickly as kittens.

>201 Crazymamie: Mercy is a beauty! Of course, so is Abby.

>192 tymfos: Always happy to provide laughter, Terri! I think you will like the Nathan Active book - a very quick read, and I loved the supporting cast. And good to know that the Kate Shugak series gets better - I know I have another one of them in the stacks. have you read any of her other series with a male main character (can't remember the name)?

I didn't know there were sequels to Blacklands - are they just as creepy? Did you like them?

>193 Berly: Come on, Kim, put your running shoes on. *ducks* And yes, I survived another Monday!! You will be happy to know that I have barely dipped into CoF - I knew you had your hands full, so I am not hurrying to get to it. If I catch up to you, I will just stop and wait. No worries - our local library has it, so it's easy for me to get ahold of. And it's big, so less chance of someone requesting it. Ha!

>194 charl08: Hahaha, Charlotte! you slay me!!

>195 msf59: Morning, Mark! I am really enjoying everything that I am currently reading. I am excited to get to Winterdance, which I plan on doing this week. I did not know about the film - you are a font of information, my friend!

>196 Carmenere: Happy Groundhog Day, Lynda! Did you know that Groundhog Day is always on February 2nd? I do only because it's also Abby's birthday - three of our kids were born on funny days like that. Rae was born on 3/13 which was a Friday the 13th! Daniel was born on 11/11 which is Veteran's Day. And then Abby on 2/2 which brings us back to Groundhog Day. Birdy, of course, did not cooperate because she is a rebel. There's your fun bit of trivia for today!

>197 scaifea: Amber! Where have you been, young lady?! We have been waiting and waiting for you! Never mind, you're here now, and there's cake - come in and have some.

>198 susanj67: I know, right, Susan?! I want to inspect them and then have the right to refuse them on grounds of disgustingness. I have my limits. I can't take the ones that smell strongly of smoke, either, Well, really, if they smell strongly of anything, I don't want them. My current copy of Fifth Business looks like it needs to be taken out and shot. It's not dirty, but it's completely falling apart. So yes, thank goodness for ebooks.

Um...let's not mention the Fitbit report, shall we? The less said, the better because you are right - we are BAD. *hangs head*

>199 katiekrug: Morning, Katie!

>200 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

>202 thornton37814: You snuck in there while I was posting Lori! Good morning! And thank you! Mercy has grown into quite the lovely lady. Here is a more recent photo of her:

>206 Crazymamie: Awww!

She is a sweetie! She has a very fun personality, and we are all completely in love with her. Even the dogs.

Happy birthday to Abby! And happy finding-her-forever-humans day to Mercy too :-)

Thank you, Susan!

Mercy must be very happy you all found her. How great that she's healthy and happy (and not scared) now.

Abby is full of fabulous, as you said over on her thread. Hope she has a wonderful birthday.

I think she found us, Joe! She is an awesome cat, and I have no idea how we managed without her before. And I thank you for those lovely words about Abby - she is a delight.

Happy birthday to Abby. Do you have a fun day planned?

Woohoo!!! Happy Birthday Abby and Happy Gotcha Day to Mercy!

Howdy Mamie! ;-)

>213 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. We do indeed - Abby has set the itinerary, which basically involves playing a lot of games, eating at Mellow Mushroom and a very decadent choice of dessert - BOTH cheesecake bite and chocolate ganache cake.

>214 luvamystery65: A lucky day indeed, Ro! I'll pass along those good wishes.

*Announcement* Abby does have her own thread this year, so if you want to wish her happy for yourself, here is the link to her thread: Thebookdiva

Big birthday hugs, to Abby. Love those photos.

Thanks, Mark!

Happy Birthday, Abby, Happy Groundhog Day and happy prediction for an early Spring!

Michigan Trumpet loves her some Louis Armstrong!! Have adored him since I was a little girl picking up my first horn, and starting to use a white hanky in emulation.

Nice topper!

Hello, Marianne! Thank you for those good wishes and kind comments. I have loved Louis Armstrong forever, too. Here's one of my favorites - Birdy used to sing when she was just a wee thing:

I Guess I'll Get the Papers and Go Home

Happy Birthday to Abby, and Happy Gotcha day to Mercy! Give that pretty kitty a smooch from me, would you?

>172 katiekrug: Perfect.

Happy Happy Birthday to Abby who is indeed a lovely young woman. I also adore the photo of her and Mercy when M was just a tyke. And she has grown into a lovely young woman, too (with, perhaps, somewhat less investment than Abby).

I've put White Sky, Black Ice on Paused Hold at the library, planning to read it during our summer solstice camping trip in anticipation for August's Alaska trip. (As I wrote that, I thought "you're putting way too much thought into this, Ellen.")

Happy Birthday Abby!! And happy homecoming Mercy. Pecan Paradisio is a most excellent choice. : )

Happy Birthday to Abby! Mercy looks so pretty - Tenzing was looking at the photo of her.

I'm a big fan of both Russo and Ford. Russo's books set in the Mohawk/Hudson River area are the best (to me), although I liked Empire Falls too - it's on a grander scale.

>220 LauraBrook: Hello, Laura! Thank you for those good wishes. The kitty has been smooched just for you!

>221 EBT1002: I loved Katie's Ode to Monday, too! Thank you for those kind words and lovely wishes. Mercy has definitely required less investment of funds and time and...And I must confess that the potty training was MUCH easier. You would love that Mercy's splash of white on her back looks just like a stingray - I will try to get a photo of it sometime.

Good plan with White Sky, Black Ice! It is the perfect book to read during one's "summer solstice camping trip in anticipation for August's Alaska trip". See, now it's been used twice, and was well worth the time it caused you and besides, it's been quoted! It will probably be snatched up as a catchphrase by all those people who are planning to camp during the summer solstice prior to traveling to Alaska in August, which will make it an Ellenism.

>222 Berly: Thank you, Kim! I shall pass along those wishes. Mercy loves it at the Pecan Paradisio - she adores the screened-in porch and often can be found lounging on the windowsills throughout the house, which are the perfect size for a cat, but she is not at all interested in going outside. Must have been pretty scary out there for her. SO glad that she found us.

>223 sibylline: Thank you, Lucy! SO sweet that Tenzing was looking at the photo!

This will be my first Russo, and I might have chosen poorly with the Ford. I read a collection of short stories that was okay but not great. I probably should have read The Sportswriter.

Happy Hump Day, Mamie! Hope your day of celebrations and game playing was enjoyed by all!

Morning, Mamie! I am off today, so you might see my mug, pop up, a bit more often. I know, big deal, right? Grins...

>225 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda! I was just saying over on Mark's thread that it feels like Thursday to me, which is going to throw everything off today. We did not get to the game playing as Dan and Craig both got home late from work - we watched Thor instead, which was fun. We are hoping to get to the games either tonight or tomorrow.

>226 msf59: Morning, Mark! I just came from your place! So excited that you are off today -I love when you are around more, so YES, it is a big deal! It's raining here and it's going to 72F if you can believe that. Tomorrow's high is...wait for it...56F, so that's quite a drop in temps. Crossing my fingers that the weather man in not messing with me because I want that cold.

You do most of your walking outdoors, right? You can also walk indoors? Yes, I am full of questions. You might get tired of it...

Yep. Except in the summer when it gets stinking hot, and then I walk indoors. To avoid becoming MEAN MAMIE, which happens when I become less like Mamie and more like a big puddle of perspiration. Ask away - I got all day! I promise not to get tired of you.

Ooh, MEAN MAMIE, I don't want to meet that version. LOL.

Right. Smart man.

>224 Crazymamie: Mamie, I absolutely adore you. You just totally cracked me up.

I'm using a sick day today. Not really "sick," per se, but absolutely exhausted. I think the physical healing may be done but the emotional adjustments are tiring (and this stupid heart monitor is About. To. Make. Me. Lose. My. Mind.). Anyway, I'm tucked up in bed with my Abby (who is a black and white tuxedo cat like your Mercy) and planning to read and LT all day. Well, I may go for a walk to get a bit of exercise.

I hope YOU have a wonderful Wednesday!!!!

Oh, good! I'm here for you, Ellen! And good for you taking a sick day - think of it as preventing sickness because really, you do need to keep the stress at manageable levels. I feel for you with the heart monitor - you are so much better than I, as I would have ripped it off by now and sent it back with a little note saying,

"Due to new stress management techniques that have recently been put into place, I am no longer able to wear this damn irritating device which is slowly removing both my skin and my patience, not to mention my sense of humor. Please be advised that whatever data has been collected will be all that is forthcoming. Sincerely yours (and I mean this literally as I am convinced that some of my skin remains attached to the device), Ellen"

Roni was talking about getting some cobalt blue in her hair, so I was mentioning that Birdy had blue hair (for her 15th birthday) a few years ago:



Wanted to post the photo to remind Roni, but didn't wan to put a personal photo on her thread, so I am putting it on mine.

>233 Crazymamie: You did it again. Totally laughing out loud. Abby the Cat is even looking at me like "what??"

>234 Crazymamie: I remember that!

Hi Mamie; just dropping by. What a gorgeous shade of blue there.

I remember that photo. One of my favorites. Smiles...

>235 EBT1002: Most excellent, Ellen! Laughter is probably just what the doctor ordered, and if he didn't, he should have! Your Abby's response is making me think of Mercy the other day - I was on Lucy's thread, and she had posted a link to a corgi train (which is hysterical), and Mercy jumped right up on my desk and watched the video with me. So funny!

Birdy's blue hair was a fabulous thing, no?!

>236 humouress: Hello, Nina! Welcome! Birdy had always wanted blue hair, so for her 15th birthday we made an appointment for her to get it colored, and it was so gorgeous on her. The people at the salon still talk about it when she goes for a haircut. Here is what it looked like from the side - you can really see the different shades it there from this angle:

>237 msf59: Hey, Mark! They keep asking her when she's going to do it again. It really did look great on her, and it suited her personality.

And now I'm green *sigh*

It really was gorgeous.

*heading over to Lucy's thread to find the link to the corgi train*

Ha! You will love it!

MAMIIIIIIE, I missed an entire thread. I hope doing better from now on. I wish you a lovely day.

>234 Crazymamie: Such a great photo, Mamie! Nice to see it again.

I did like Birdy's blue hair a lot. As I think I mentioned back then, our son had blue hair for quite a while in high school, and purple for a while. Looked good on him, too.

Corgi train? On my way . . .

Corgi train. Corgi train.

Nine fabulous seconds.

How's my friend, Rae? Please tell her I said hello. And remind her that today is the anniversary of the Giants beating the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and ruining the Pats' perfect season - HA!

Hooray for the helmet catch!

>244 Ameise1: No worries, Barbara! You're here now, and I thank you for stopping in. I love fresh fruit, so that image looks yummy. And thanks for those good wishes - it is pouring here, so I have settled in with a good book taking time here and there to check in on LT. All in all, a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

>245 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! I remember you saying that about Jesse - good for him! And Lucy's daughter likes to change her hair color as well. Hair is such a great accessory!

You're in for a treat with that Corgi train - so cute!

>246 EBT1002: Yep. I knew you'd love it, Ellen. Just makes you smile big, doesn't it?!

>247 katiekrug: Katie! Rae will be thrilled with that! I will send her here to see it for herself!!!

Please say hi to Rae for me, too, Mamie.

Will do, Joe!

Oh! Tell Rae I said hello, as well!

All of you are so sweet! I will, Ellen, and she will be absolutely thrilled!

Hey Katie thanks for the reminder I needed a pick me up. It has been storming all day here quite dreary outside now today rocks.

Hello Joe how have you been I am staying busy with some work I am doing at my dad's office.

Hi Ellen hope you are doing good I have been remiss in not being on here this year.

You all are so kind I shall make an effort to be on here more often. I am very touched you all thought of me thank you it just made my day.

Oh! Love the blue hair! It looks so good on Birdie. I always wished my daughter was a little more adventurous about things like that and secretly thought she'd look good with blue or purple streaks. Well, now that I think of it, maybe not so secretly. I think I said something about it to her once when she was around 15, which may be why she never did it. (She was definitely a Little Miss Contrary. For instance, she refused to listen to rock, which I loved ~ often telling me to "turn that music down!" ~ and didn't care for blues or classical baroque, which I also love. Instead, she went for jazz and show tunes, neither of which I like.)

>233 Crazymamie: LOL @ your letter to Ellen's dr. You'll be my go to person if ever I need a way out.
>234 Crazymamie: I remember that pic too. Seriously good looking kids.
>238 Crazymamie: I don't remember this picture, but Birdie's cut is awesome! It's perfect for the dramatic color.

Dang for men working late yesterday. Hope your playing games right now!

My hair is very tame in comparison, Mamie.

Can't.Keep.Up. :)

Morning Mamie! I should come very close to finishing W & P today. Yahoo! Soon, I WILL be FREE!!

As Mark would say, "Sweet Thursday" Everyone! It has stopped raining here for a moment - I think the sky is just taking a deep breath and then will be at it again. Rained all day yesterday. Georgia rain, I call it because we never had rain like this in Indiana. Rain that just comes steadily down in torrents with no fuss and no fight. A gentle rain.

I finished up The Return of the Native yesterday, and here's a surprise - I actually liked it! I listened to the audiobook read by the incomparable Alan Rickman, and it was pretty much perfect. There were a few times when I thought about sticking it in the freezer, this is after all, Hardy, and I was waiting for the punch in the gut, but I did not have to resort to that tactic. More about my thoughts on that book later. I also finished up A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain - a collection of short stories that are connected by setting and culture. This is a solid read - very well done and it's not just me that thinks so; it won the Pulitzer back in 1993. A huge thanks to Megan who read and reviewed this on her thread this year, which is how I found it. Again, more thoughts on it later. The other book that I have completed this month is the second entry in the Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Vol. 2, and it maintains the integrity of the first one - I just cannot praise this graphic novel adaptation of PKD's novel highly enough.

Back after I pay the bills because, really, it HAS to be done. *sigh*

>253 GeezLouise: Good to see you put in an appearance, Rae!

>254 Storeetllr: She did wear it well, Mary! Birdy is very adventurous about her hair - she gets it done differently every time, and the amazing thing is that so far every style has looked good on her. I don't know HOW she does that! She usually just tells the hair stylist to do whatever. I have three daughters, and they are all very different from one another. VERY different, which makes for some interesting...discussion...when trying to decide what music to listen to while making dinner or what movie to put on. It's a beautiful thing when we find an area where our tastes overlap - luckily, they all love Louis Armstrong, so we can always listen to him! And Mumford and Sons!

I don't know if I could survive show tunes, so you have my complete sympathy there.

>255 Carmenere: I'll be standing by, Lynda, in case you need me to correspond with your physician. I thank you for that lovely compliment to my children.

I really loved that hair cut on Birdy - probably my favorite one that she has had.

We did not make it to the games last night, either, Craig has been swamped at the office lately, so by the time he gets home he is pooped. Hopefully we will get to the games this weekend. I do love me a good board game!

>256 ronincats: I love how your hair turned out, Roni! I think it is full of fabulous!

>257 nittnut: Sorry, Jenn. I am thrilled to see the threads hopping again, but it also means that it is harder to keep up.

>258 msf59: Morning, Mark! Crossing my fingers that you can finish up W&P and be freed today. It's holding you back, huh?!

>253 GeezLouise: Hi back to Rae! Good for you for working in your dad's office. Our son worked with me one summer, and it was pretty cool.

Nice to hear from you, and that things are going well.

Good morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday!

I got my hands on that graphic compilation for Do Androids Dream, and really liked the start. Sure enough, the library immediately got in from other libraries in the system three GNs I'd been waiting for a long time (Roller Girl, Under the Sign of Capricorn and Tangles), so I've got to read those first now. Oh well.

I want to go to Sweet Thursday! Wouldn't that be a great name for a bookstore or a brewpub? Just sayin'...

>262 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Hooray for getting your hands on the compilation!! And of course a bunch of reserves came in all together - that's how it always happen for me, too. Happy reading to you, my friend.

>263 msf59: I knew you would, Mark! Looks like an excellent spot to hang out, doesn't it? And yup, good name for either one of those.

Yiy gadds!! I'm gone a week and come back 264 posts behind on your thread! Really?!?!?

Anyway -- a belated Happy Birthday to Abby. What a beautiful young woman she is. Also very glad to see an more recent photo of Mercy. Finally, want to mention that I'm a huge Richard Russo fan. I hope you'll like Empire Falls.

Reba!! SO happy to see you! You have been missed. I will pass along those birthday wishes to Abby and the lovely compliment. Mercy is probably one of the most photographed cats on the planet. Seriously. She is just so funny - she loves to hide in bogs and boxes, and she thinks that she is in stealth mode when really there is part of her hanging out in plain sight. Her latest stealth mission is to hide below the window ledge in the bedroom, with just her front paws on the window ledge, so that she can jump up and terrorize the birds.

Hooray for another Russo fan! I am very optimistic about my chances of liking his stuff.

Hi Mamie, and happy Thursday! We have done so well to get 80% of the way through the week :-) I hope you got those bills paid and you can enjoy Friday.

I love stealth kitties .. ~

>267 susanj67: Well, Susan, thank goodness you've surfaced. I knew that everything was fine, and that you would turn up when you could. *cancels search and rescue team* I did get the bills paid, and even went through all the paperwork on my desk. *pats self on back* I am ready for Friday!

>268 Carmenere: Me, too!

Love the blue hair! Wish I had the courage to do something that daring...

And to think that Abby has almost the same b-day as I do -- Aquarians forever!!

I'm desultorily persuing books for author challenges. Which means that I may get around to some of the January reads now that February is here! My Robertson Davies paperback just arrived from Amazon Canada...

Love that picture of your kids and the blue hair. Sarah has red right now, but she is going in tomorrow for a cut and color, so stay tuned....! And Happy Almost Friday. : )

Now I have Tricia Yearwood's rendition of "Georgia Rain" in my head. This is not a bad thing. :-)

Yesterday I got all caught up with you, and then some, and I want to maintain it!!!!! Gah!!!!!!

>270 Chatterbox: Hello, Suz! The blue hair was uber cool - I am not that daring, either. You and Abby do have close birthdays, and now I have that Aquarius song in my head from Hair. Ha! Look how it all came back to hair!



I am still working on a February challenge book, and it just happens to be by Davies - which book did you just get?

>271 Berly: It made a great memory, that's for sure, Kim! I can't wait to hear what your Sarah does with her hair (my Birdy is also a Sara, but she says that's her paper name as she doesn't really use it except on...paper). Happy almost Friday back at ya - I love me a Friday!!

>272 EBT1002: Ellen, look at you staying all caught up! I'm happy to have stuck song in your head as long as it doesn't make you...crazy. Like crazy could be a bad thing. Ahem.

LOVE the kitty on caffeine - too cute!

Hi Mamie! Happy Thursday! I'm working Saturday so I have the day off tomorrow. :-)

>272 EBT1002: Adrian goes after my tea if I'm not careful. Fortunately I drink decaf!

Hi Carrie! Hooray for a Friday off! Big plans?

No big plans. Laundry, banking, laundry, shopping, laundry, cleaning, laundry, making soup. I hope I can squeeze in some reading between loads of laundry!

>273 Crazymamie: Just got The Rebel Angels; I want to read the Cornish trilogy this year. Assuming I can get caught up with my Amazon Vine ARCs... I have to stop spontaneously requesting stuff that I have to read and review by a deadline, unless I am really, really committed to it, not just mildly curious about it.

>238 Crazymamie: now that is seriously blue hair! She could have autitioned for the Smurfs movie ...oh no, that was blue bodies, not hair :)

Lately I have seen a lot of light purple and light pink hair lately, I think it was a spin off from the grey that was going around too. Young people with hair dyed silver/grey! Makes you look twice, but I am growing my own naturally now ;)

Light pink hair is hot here, too. And young girls with grey hair.



Have a wonderful one, Mamie!

Morning Mamie! Happy Friday! Early check-in. Thanks for the beer last night. It hit the spot.

Morning Mamie!
Have you seen this! ha! golden retrievers pick winner of golden superbowl

>276 cbl_tn: Ha! So maybe some laundry?! What kind of soup are you making?

>277 Chatterbox: I will have to stay tuned to see what you think of that, Suz. I am quite enjoying Fifth Business, and it is my very first Davies. I don't do well with deadlines, so I hear you, but it is hard to say no to an almost free (as you do have to provide a review) book. I have not requested anything here in a long time just because it gets in the way of my enjoyment when I feel I have to read the book.

>278 LovingLit: Right. Glad you got that sorted, Megan. As far as I know she has no plans for blue skin at this time. Lavender seems to be a popular shade right now - I like it; I like to see color. I am growing some silver myself, but not very much which really surprises me as my mom was completely white by the time she was 35, which is when she had me. Coincidence? I think not.

>279 DianaNL: Love that kitty, Diana. Thank you! I have not seen any young girls with gray hair - I'll have to keep a look out. Of course, this is the Deep South, and people tend to be a bit conservative in these parts. Ha! I crack myself up. Wishing for you a weekend full of fabulous!

>280 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! DO you work tomorrow? I am guessing yes, but I can't remember. And you're welcome - I am always here for you, my friend!

>281 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Thanks for that link - I had not seen that! Too funny! And smart puppies!!

>282 Crazymamie: Beef soup today. I've got carrots, celery, butternut squash, parsnips, and peas to go in it.

Yum, Carrie! That sounds so good! I just love soup.

>282 Crazymamie: before or after? ;0)

Ha! Good question, Nina, and the truth is I don't know. She just always said that her hair had turned completely white by the time she was 35. And I know that she was 35 when she had me. I'll have to ask my sisters if they remember. I know that everyone always thought she was my grandmother and that really miffed her.

Happy Friday, Mamie! Hope you're setting up for a good weekend at the Pecan Paradisio.

>288 jnwelch: Hey there, Joe! Happy Friday! I am in love with our current weather conditions - sunny with temps in the 50sF for the high. YES!!! Supposed to hold for the seven day forecast, and I really hope it does. I love me some crisp cold weather that is perfect for walking outdoors.

>287 Crazymamie: Ah - so your sisters are older. Maybe you can't claim all the credit then.

Right - I have five older sisters, and they are quite a bit older. I was the flower girl at my oldest sister's wedding - I was six at the time!

See? Here's a funny!

Like :0)

Yeah, the 70s were just so great, weren't they? Especially for fashion?!

>292 Crazymamie: "Like" You can see you had a lot of personality even at that young age!

>292 Crazymamie: No wonder your mum went grey. Six girls!

Thank you, Joe! You are most diplomatic.

>296 charl08: I know, right! But really the true horror lies in the fact that our house had just one bathroom. And no shower.

>292 Crazymamie: That's a great picture! It looks like you can't wait to jump off your sister's lap and get into shenanigans!
I wore glasses just like your sisters wore. I was 6 years old and looked 86, like Mrs. Beasley.

>299 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! I was usually in the midst of shenanigans, how ever did you know? I personally love those old cat's eye glasses - I WANT! And Mrs. Beasley!! DON'T get me started on Mrs. Beasley. I had that doll, and I loved her and one day I came home and found that my mom had given her to the minister's daughter. That girl somehow always ended up with my best stuff. I am still miffed about it. You probably couldn't tell because I hide it so well.