Carmenere's 7 foot 10 inch challenge for 2016

In celebration of nearing the end of War and Peace I invite you to partake of a traditional Russian Breakfast. (so says workpress.com)


I've reduced my challenge by only one inch (3 books) in January but February looks promising with 2 chunksters soon to be off the stack.
Here they are at ease

The List:

1. Isabel Allende
Paula
Infinate Plan
Ines of my Soul
Zorro
House of Spirits
Kingdom of the Golden Dragon
The Sum of our Days

2. Julia Alvarez
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

3. Laurence Bergreen
Over the Edge of the World

4. Eric Blehm
The Last Season

5. Andrea Cameleri
Angelica’s Smile
Game of Mirrors
Shape of Water

6. Agatha Christie
Postern of Fate
Murder in the Mews
The Hollow
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Then There were none
Evil Under the Sun 2-23-16

7. Sandra Cisneros
The House on Mango Street 1-6-16

8. Debra Dean
The Madonna’s of Leningrad

9. Ian McEwan
Enduring Love
Amsterdam 1-15-16

10. Lin Enger
The High Divide

11. Wm Faulkner
Mosquitos
Soldier’s Pay

12. Graham Greene
Our Man in Havana

13. Daoud Hari
The Translator

14. Charmaine Harris
Deadlocked
All Together Dead
Dead to the World
Club Dead
Definitely Dead
Dead & Gone
Living Dead in Dallas

15. Khaled Hosseini
A 1,000 Splendid Suns

16. Stephen King
11/22/63 2-15-16
Under The Dome
Lisey’s Story

17. Barbara Kingsolver
Prodigal Summer
Pigs in Heaven
Small Wonder
High Tide in Tucson
Animal Dreams
Homeland and other Stories
Flight Behavior
Poison wood Bible

18. Eric Larson
Thunderstruck
In the Garden of Beasts

19. Donna Leon
Blood From a Stone
About Face
Willful Behavior
Uniform Justice
Through a Glass Darkly
Dressed for Death
Doctored Evidence

20. Arturo Perez-Reverte
Captain Alatriste 1-4-16
Sun Over Breda
Nautical Chart
Club Dumas

21. Nathaniel Philbrick
In the Heart of the Sea

22. Jose Manuel Prieto
Encyclopedia of a life in Russia

23. Mary Doria Russell
A Thread of Grace
Doc
Dreamers of the Day
Epitaph

24. Richard Russo
That Old Cape Magic

25. C J Sansom
Sovereign
Dark Fire
Hearts tone
Revelation
Winter in Madrid

26. Raja Shehadeh
Palestinian Walks

27. Hampton Sides
In the Kingdom of Ice

28. Alexander McCall-Smith
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Kalahari Typing School for Men
Good Husband of Zebra Drive
Heavenly Date and other Flirtations
Sunday Philosophy Club
Forever Girl
Tea Time for Traditionally Built
Espresso Tales
Right Altitude to Rain
Lost Art of Gratitude
Blue Shoes and Happiness

29. Henry David Thoreau
Cape Cod

30. Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace

31. John Kennedy Toole
A Confederacy of Dunces

32. Jess Walter
Beautiful Ruins

33. Sarah Waters
Fingersmith

34. Simon Winchester
Surgeon of Crowthorne
A Crack in the Edge of the World
Krakatoa

Where my books take me...
States visited as of 6-21-15

visited 34 states (68%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

Countries completed as of 1-10-16

visited 29 states (12.8%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Tickers....







Books read in JANUARY

Captain Alatriste
The House on Mango Street
Amsterdam
Lumberjanes #1 Library e-book
Crippled America Neighborhood Book Swap
Lumberjanes #2 Library e-book

Books read in FEBRUARY
War and Peace
That Old Cape Magic
11/22/63
Over the Top and Back Library audiobook
Evil Under the Sun
Yes Please Library audiobook

Open for breakfast!

Happy New Thread, Lynda! I love the pictures in your opening. Both yummie. :-)

Hi Diana! Here's something special just for you

Oh, I love that!

Hi Lynda - Happy new thread. I LOVE the stack of books. Thanks for listing them. What a lot of good reading you have ahead. I should do something like that to see if my piles go down.

Have a great Sunday.

I am also here with a Happy New Thread wish Lynda. Very productive month if you don't mind my sayin'.

Happy new thread, Lynda!

Happy Sunday, Lynda! Happy New Thread! Like the way that Russian breakfast looks.

Hope you enjoy the day.

Happy New Thread Lynda! I'm a little late for breakfast, so maybe I can have brunch?

I've run a White Russian right over to you! Happy new thread!

OH! White Russian!! Wish I'd thought of that!

Woo Hoo! It is January 31st and I just took a long walk wearing just a sweatshirt and leggings. It's a whapping 50f. El Nino has been good to my area this year.

>8 DianaNL: I hope the timing for that cup of java was good for you, Diana. Personally, I could take coffee intravenously all day long. ;)

>9 BLBera: Hi Beth! Happy Sunday to you too! I love looking at my towers of books too! I hope I can could a good dent into them. At least two big ones will be off of them this month.

>10 PaulCranswick: Why thank you, Paul! I intend to have even more productive months. I'm just warming up :-)

>11 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie :0)

>12 msf59: Thank you, Mark! The Russian Breakfast looks inviting but it's missing my favorite treat. Blintzes with apricot or cheese filling. Yummmmers!

>13 cbl_tn: No probs, Carrie! Your just in time for tea!

>14 mstrust: Oh, Jennifer! You can read my mind!!!!! Love, love, love it!

>15 Crazymamie: oops, we cross posted, Mamie. I can split this one

Excellent!

>16 Carmenere: I love Russian tea! (The kind my mother and grandmother made in the 70s and 80s with instant tea, Tang, and spices, that is!)

It took me a minute to figure out that your next thread was numbered to reflect a one inch reduction in the towering pile of TBRs.
I love it.

Happy New Thread, Lynda!

Happy New Thread and Happy Smaller Stack! :)
I love that challenge, after going through my shelves yesterday I realized I should do something similar, I found so much good stuff.
I could do with some Russian breakfast and especially some strong tea now after another night with just 3 hrs sleep. But Erin fixed me up for work with some relaxing backbends. I never did wheel before at 5 am. :)

Morning, Lynda! Did not watch DA last night, due to family obligations but we hope to see it tonight.

Happy new thread, Lynda!

I'll take one of those White Russians, please.

Morning, Lynda! Happy February!

>18 Crazymamie: Glad you enjoyed that, Mamie!

>19 cbl_tn: Oh! The many uses of Tang! Not only a beverage but cleans film off of glasses too, just to name two. ;0)

>20 EBT1002: Ah, Ellen, you're quick as a bunny! Actually, I fooled myself! Once I posted the new thread I went back to add #2 but of course we all know, no can do. But, I like it that way and plan to keep reducing the inches.

>21 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie! I'm liking my challenge too. Of all the books I own there are some that I want to read more than others. Look for the inches to fall significantly by the time I start my next thread.
Ugh, to 3 hrs of sleep! One thing I've been hearing is a little yoga right before you go to bed could help you sleep better. I haven't tried it, It's a chore to add even one more thing to my bedtime prep.

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Happy Iowa Caucus Day! Hey, at least the results may whittle down the number of candidates. fingers crossed

I just read an interesting scene in W&P. It is in Volume III, Part III between Rostopchin and Vereshchagin. If you haven't read this far don't read the spoiler. Of course, I don't know if Tolstoy intended this but .....Rostopchin calling forth the prisoner, Vereshchagin, putting him on display to the crowd and telling them "You judge him! Do what you want with him! IMO it seems similar to Pontius Pilot's request to the angry mob in Jerusalem concerning Jesus, to which they replied Crucify him. Maybe reading too much into it. Thoughts?

Oooo, cross posters! I'm running a little late today as we have workmen here installing a new sliding glass door in the family room. Really throwing me off my schedule.

>22 msf59: I DVR'd DA too, Mark! Hopefully, I'll watch it this afternoon when the workmen are gone.

>23 scaifea: Yes!!! Nothing like starting the day with a White Russian, Amber! You're my kind of friend!

>24 Crazymamie: Happy February to you too, Mamie!! I love February! Days get significantly longer and spring is just around the corner.

Happy new thread to you! I need to get my new ones started.

I thought the same thing, Lynda. Actually I really liked that part because Tolstoy had some very insightful comments about human behavior there. SO glad I didn't remove my book darts yet:

"Rocking slightly on the soft springs of his caleche and no longer hearing the dreadful sounds of the crowd, Rastopchin calmed down physically and, as always happens, simultaneously with physical calm, his mind also devised causes for him to be morally calm. The thought that calmed Rastopchin was not new. As long as the world has existed and people have been killing each other, no one man has even committed a crime upon his own kind without calming himself with this same thought. The thought was le bien publique, the supposed good of other people. For the man not gripped by passion, that good is never known, but the man who commits the crime always knows for certain what the good consists in. And Rastopchin now knew it. In his reasoning not only did he not reproach himself for his action, but even found cause for self-satisfaction in having been able to make use so successfully of this à propos - to punish the criminal and at the same time calm the crowd."

>27 thornton37814: Thanks Lori! I find starting a new thread so annoying. After all, It takes up at least 30 minutes of reading time. *sigh*

>28 Crazymamie: Oh, that's deep, Mamie! In my old age, older than now, maybe around 70, I'd like to read this book again at an even slower pace and ruminate and relish all the gems Tolstoy included in this tome. His insightfulness is timeless.

That section was one of my favorites because it was just so revealing. And I think you are right - that you would find even more on the second reading. I love books that are like that!

>30 Crazymamie: I'm really curious as to how this will be presented or not presented in the mini-series adaptation.

Hurrah! I've made it to Volume IV!

Lynda

I very much like your idea of putting aside the books you want to read this year, and when you are finished with one, the pile gets a little smaller.

I am going to do it as well. You are an inspiration!

>33 Whisper1: Oh! Thank you, Linda! To be an inspiration to one who has inspired me, so many times, is an honor!

>29 Carmenere: I mostly do a lot of copying and pasting when setting up a new one.

>35 thornton37814: yup, that's what I do too, Lori, I must confess, I'm just a bit lazy and tend to put it off as long as possible.

---------
Just watched Downton Abbey. What a bloody mess! Won't the hospital situation ever be sorted out?

A cozy, heartwarming and enlightening scene with
Mr. Mason, Daisy, Andy and Mrs. Patmore.

Dang! Watching Thomas, this episode, was like watching the Grinch's heart grow and grow and grow.

It would be pretty cool if Mr. Chamberlain (sp?) gave Branson a job. Why would he, I don't know, maybe he just sees a man with promise.

I'm liking the race care driver more and more.

That's it. Nothing that earth shattering, just moving the story along.

Happy new thread, Lynda!

>25 Carmenere: - Interesting spoiler comment (I just finished reading that part of W&P today) but not something I can elaborate on. I like Mamie's response. ;-) You are just on fire with your W&P reading!

Going back to your previous thread - that is how far behind I am - sorry to read that Will's trip to Russia was cancelled. Always hard when that is the dream. Given his age, I am sure he will probably find a way to get there sometime in the future when he is older.

Good to know that the W&P mini-series is not working for you or Mamie. Something I can avoid... although, I am curious about it because of the ABBA comment. ;-)

"What a bloody mess". Yes, indeed, Lynda. I thought I was rewatching Alien.

Are they trying to get us to love Thomas? Tall order.

I thought it was a good episode.

Woot! Punxatauny Phil predicts an early spring! Got ta love that little rodent!

A typical night for us is Will upstairs on his computer or Xbox, Bill watching something on Netflix in the family room and me in another room reading a book. Some people will think we're off our rockers, but the Iowa Caucus brought us together last night as we watched Iowans caucus and the results filtered in. Will loves this stuff. A future David Axlerod, Karl Rove?

Now for yoga and then I'll watch last nights installment of W&P.

>39 Carmenere: I've been afraid to check out the local groundhogs since Phil gave us such a great report!

Morning, Lynda!

>39 Carmenere: Hi Lynda! Phil mght have been confused by the weather here. We have cloudless blue skies and nearly 70 degrees. It's beautiful!

>1 Carmenere: that looks suspiciously like a Latvian traditional breakfast, not surprisingly, I suppose. But I was surprised the first time I was offered one! Cold meat and pickles for breakfast? Not what I was I'd to, that's for sure ;)

Congrats on being a war and peace survivor! I admire your dedication.

>38 msf59: Glad you enjoyed DA, Mark! There's so few left, I hope they're all very good!

>40 thornton37814: Lol Lori! - I haven't checked Buckeye Chuck's prediction either. Phil's is good for me!

>41 Crazymamie: Good Afternoon, Mamie! Hope your day has been full of good things, which I know, includes Abby's birthday!

>42 cbl_tn: Oh my, Carrie, there's nothing worse than a confused rodent!

>43 LovingLit: Well, Megan, it could be Latvian, I don't know the difference between Russian or Latvian breakfast so I'll have to trust Google.
My husband warned me about lunch meats and condiments when we were staying at a hotel that catered to European clientele. Yeah, a little surprising but I'm too old to change longstanding habits so I stayed with eggs and bacon.
and thanks Megan, W&P is a really good book. It's been pretty easy to dedicate a month or so to this tome. Although I'm itching to get back to the books waiting patiently for me.
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Well, I'm almost done with War and Peace. Oh boy, Book 4/Volume 4 has been an emotional roller coaster. I wonder if Tolstoy liked happy endings cause it sure could use one.

Oh, I almost forgot! I won an ER! Shylock Is My Name by Howard Jacobson. I requested it based on everyone's googly eyes over The Finkler Question but Ugh I just now saw that it is book 2 in a series. Oh well.

>44 Carmenere: Don't worry about Shylock Is My Name being book 2 in a series. It's the Hogarth Shakespeare series of modern retellings of Shakespeare's plays. Each one will be written by a different author, and they don't need to be read in any particular order. Book 1 in the series is The Gap of Time, Jeanette Winterson's retelling of The Winter's Tale. The Gap of Time included a 2-3 page plot summary of The Winter's Tale at the beginning for readers who aren't familiar with the play or who haven't read it in a long while. You might want to brush up on The Merchant of Venice before you read Shylock Is My Name, but other than that you should be good!

I requested Shylock Is My Name and Anne Tyler's Vinegar Girl (also in the Hogarth Shakespeare series) from this batch, but I won a different book. I read The Gap of Time last fall and really liked it.

>45 cbl_tn: Thanks for the head up, Carrie, I appreciate it! Now that I understand what this series is all about, I may look into the others.

Oh Oh Oh! PBS is presenting the Life and Death of President Garfield this evening @ 9pm. We toured his home in Mentor, Ohio last summer and learned of his agonizing death. Looks like another family night around the television!

The PBS presentation (I think the serial is called The American Experience) was very good. Apparently, Dr. Bliss, who treated President Garfield did so without the assistance or advice of other physicians and the President languished for months until his death.
I'll be sure to add American Experience to me DVR line up.

Hey, hey, hey! I'm just 100 pages away from removing 2 1/2 inches from my TBR stack! Stay tuned!

>47 Carmenere: 21/2 inches? I wouldn't want to miss it!

Morning, Lynda! Yesterday was good but weird. One of those days where nothing goes quite as planned. Still, we are pretty good at rolling with it at the Pecan Paradisio, so we still had a lot of fun.

Go Lynda! GO LYNDA! Most exciting that you are almost there with W&P!!!

Morning, Lynda! I have the day off, so I am a Happy Camper. I will not be able to listen to W & P, but I am down to a few hours left.

Hooray for a 100 pages. I am mighty impressed.

I did record the American Experience. I LOVED that book.

Nice new thread, Lynda. I agree that setting up a new one is an aggravation. I'm very happy with my 6 threads per year arrangement. Congrats also on making such progress with War and Peace. That should be at least 3 inches worth, right?

I'm in favor of an early spring, although we've had a pretty mild winter (so far) in Missouri. We recently had a few days in a row where it was warm enough to read outside in a sheltered area. Heavenly!

>26 Carmenere: "Days get significantly longer and spring is just around the corner." Amen to that!

Congrats on snagging an ER book -- but sorry that it's second in a series. Rats.

I need to see if our DVR recorded the American Experience about Garfield. If not, I predict that they'll show it again. At least, I hope so because it sounds rather good.

Hi Lynda, I got behind here but I see you are in the final stages of W & P - woo hoo! I love how you are losing inches off your TBR pile - it's just like Weight Watchers - slow and steady and you'll reach your goal before you know it.

Need I say more?!

>48 DianaNL: I'll post my review tomorrow, Diana. Keep tuned.

>49 Crazymamie: Weird, huh? I need to visit your thread and learn more. Glad there was fun at the Paradisio!

>50 msf59: What?! There's a book? Please tell me more, Mark! Hope you've had a fantastic day off!!

>51 Donna828: Hi Donna! Good to see you! We've had a springlike winter. Today was a wonderful 63f! but very, very windy so walking was out. Ive heard that a front is moving in bringing lower temps and lake effect snow so I'll enjoy the nice weather whenever I can.

>52 EBT1002: My fault, Ellen, I got excited when I saw the author's name and just requested it before I read the description. Carrie told me, it doesn't matter, each story is a stand alone but I really must pay closer attention next time.

>53 DeltaQueen50: Hi Judy! Oh! believe me we are all behind. But it's really nice when we catch up. Lol, yeah it's sort of like Weight Watchers isn't it? Slow and steady wins the race, right? I'll be grateful if I can get through 3' 5". We'll seeeee

Now that W&P is completed: I'll finish my Shutterfly album, go back to 11/22/63 and start That Old Cape Magic and Beautiful Ruins

I'll visit tomorrow after I post my little comments for War and Peace.

#7-2016
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Anthony Briggs Translation
2005
First published 1869
1408 pages including notes, appendix, character list and maps
2 1/2 inches
4.75/5 stars

Location, Location, Location.....
St. Petersburg, Russia

Moscow, Russia

Borodino Battlefield, Russia

Thoughts......
Tolstoy's iconic tome is partly an historical rendering of three major Napoleonic battles leading up to the climax at Borodino in 1812 and partly a story of love, family and death with a smattering of philosophical thought for good measure.
The readers attention is drawn to the families Rostov and Bolkonsky and the estranged son and inheritor, Pierre Bezukhov. Through the instability of the times the characters lives cross and connect. Though their spirits are sometimes crushed and defeated, they begin anew and grow in love and understanding.
I'd say this story gobsmacked me! Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think it would be so readable, so enjoyable and so enriching.
Not a 5 star simply because the length of the story and the size of the book turn people away before they even give it a chance. Yet, when I look back I can't see where Tolstoy could have made it shorter. The battles are just as necessary as the gaiety, the vulgar as necessary as the innocence. I highly recommend readers cut a portion of time from their schedules to consume Tolstoy's masterwork.

Congrats on finishing W&P, Lynda!! WahHOO for you!!

Thanks, Mamie!

I know it's early but it is 6:10pm in St. Petersburg.

Ha! Okay, but just one.

There it is! Congratulations Lynda.

Congratulations! That's a big job, and I'm glad you found it so rewarding.
>57 Carmenere: Enjoy your breakfast!

Morning Lynda! Congrats on finishing W & P. Big High Five. I am glad you enjoyed it as much as you did.
I hope to finish it today. Fingers crossed.

>59 DianaNL: Thanks, Diana!

>60 mstrust: I didn't even need to force myself, Jennifer. Rewarding came rather naturally.
Breakfast went down rather easily;0)

>61 msf59: Mark, Mark, Mark! Reading W&P was all the more pleasurable because you and Mamie were reading along.
My fingers are crossed too, so you will probably finish today.

------------------------

I'm about to try a new recipe. I have coupons for Subway at the ready.

Lynda, congratulations on completing War and Peace!!!! Woot!!! And you gave it 4.75 stars. That's pretty wonderful.

I have That Old Cape Magic waiting for me at the library and (I may have already told you this) my sister (a reliable book recommender) raved about Beautiful Ruins.

Congrats on finishing W&P! Well done!

Have a good one, Lynda!

>63 msf59: What a stupendous achievement, Mark!!! Really high fives for you!

>64 EBT1002: Good news re: Beautiful Ruins, Ellen. I've got soo many good books lined up this month and it's already the 5th! *runs around in exciting panic mode*

>65 cbl_tn: Thank you very much, Carrie!

>66 DianaNL: Yes, indeedy, Diana! Here it comes and I've got my arms open wide and ready to embrace Weekend! Happy weekend wishes to you too!

------------------------
Will's home sick today. He's had a sore throat and cough all week long but continued to chug along. Today, he's got no chug left.

Off to my fave bookstore today for book buy back. It's a small establishment so I drop my books off and wait a couple of days for them to call me with the amount of my store credit. I'll look @ the $1 shelf to see if something wants to come home with me.

About to put baby back ribs in the crock pot so easy peasy dinner.

Almost 1/2 way through 11/22/63. It is an easy read, just as you all said.

Morning, Lynda! Sorry to hear that Will is sick - sending him some healing mojo.

Oh, ribs! That sounds SO good. I am thinking we might have baked potato bar.

Thanks for the mojo! Will woke up about 30 minutes ago. He really needed to catch up on sleep.

Baked Potato Bar! That's a thought although I'm not sure it would be hardy enough for my guys. Anything on the bar besides the usual toppings?

OK, now I'm really off to the bookstore.

Ours is a fully loaded potato, Lynda. We sauté mushrooms and onion, fry up bacon and crumble it, fry up sausage and ground turkey together, shredded cheese, butter, etc. It's very filling - we just set all the toppings out and everyone loads them up as much as they want. Sometimes we do broccoli, too.

Congratulations, Lynda. Lovely photos, comments and W&P.

I love the Funke quote, too. I might have to steal it.

Have a great weekend. Now you can read other things.

>70 Crazymamie: Woo Hooo, that is a yummy dinner. Just so long as meat is involved the guys will go for it. Thanks for giving my brain a little jolt, Mamie! I'll make that for dinner next week.

>71 BLBera: Thanks Beth! Feel free to steal the Funke quote, it is a good one. After I'm done with my current chunkster 11/22/63 I can move on to the others dying to be read.

----------------------
Remember I told you all that I was taking a box of books in for a store credit? Well, I did so and while there browsed around a bit. I hovered over the adult coloring books and the fancy dancy pencils and thought, "Hmmm, I may want to do that" but everything is way to expense at this store so last night I logged into Amazon and purchased two coloring books (color by number actually, so I don't even need to think about which color to use).
We've got lots of colored pencil sets around the house from pre-high school days and a good sharpener, so I'm all set. I'm really looking forward to this mindful bit of relaxation.

The bookstore called me last night after checking the books I'd turned in and my store credit is $38. Va Voom! Half of that goes to Will because he turned in about 6 Eyewitness Books.

Morning, Lynda! Hooray for book store credit! I give all of mine to the library as we don't have a bookstore that takes books in trade. *sad face* I wish we have a used bookstore but nope. All we have is a BAM, which is better than nothing. They recently updated their store, and now it is so much better with a much bigger selection.

The adult coloring books are fabulous, I think - such a great stress reducer, I would think.

Glad you like the potato bar idea - we have that about once a month because all of us love it so.

>72 Carmenere: I still have credit at the bookstore in Knoxville. I can also use it at their stories in Chattanooga and Nashville (and have done so). I've got a small stack of things to take. Sadly they don't take a lot of hardcovers or trade paperbacks. That means a lot of those end up in the library sale.

Morning, Lynda! Happy Saturday. How is the King coming along?

^Yah, for post #75!

Lynda - I'm curious about what you thought of 11/22/63. I've never read King, but this sounded like one I might like.

Hooray for reducing the pile of books AND getting paid for them. Now you can get more.

First, this is an interesting article regarding the W&P serial and Russians.

>73 Crazymamie: I'll let you know if they relieve stress, Mamie, or perhaps even add to it, because, you know, they'll be taking me away from my books.

>74 thornton37814: My bookstore has rules too, Lori. No library books and children's books only at select times. They accept hard covers and paper backs, they actually give more credit to hard covers. They don't have any branches, just the one small store. When I shop at my library book sale I try to avoid the library books knowing that I won't be able to trade them.

>75 msf59: Hey Mark, the King is going fairly well, I'm about 1/2 way through. I didn't realize King would also touch about racial inequality in the 50's.

>76 BLBera: Beth, I try to avoid any novel be King that seems satanic in nature, like Carrie or Olds 58 (or something like that) I've started both but didn't finish them. He's got a couple like 11/22/63 which are quite good, suspenseful but with out the blood and gore you might expect. I think you'd be comfortable reading 11/22/63.

======

Hubsters just returned home so off to put burgers on the grill. Ah, yeah, that's right, I said burgers on the grill. February in Cleveland is not usually grill'n weather but today it's a comfortable 45f and sunny. I'm taking advantage of it.

Morning! It's Superbowl Sunday!

For your Super Bowl Party enjoyment.....

Girl Scout/Wine pairings

Hmm, Thin mints and Brunello. Did I just learn about Brunello from Ellen?

Happy Sunday, Lynda! Glad you are enjoying the King. He gets a bit long-winded, (shocking, right?) in the second half but it was a terrific read.

>79 msf59: Yeah, you're right, Mark. I tend to skim through the long winded sections. Lol Sometimes, I know what he's going to say before he says it.

Happy Superbowl Sunday, Lynda!

And belated congrats on the 2 1/2 inches of W&P, yay!

Morning, Lynda! The Girl Scout cookies and wine pairings cracked me up - those cookies don't taste as good as they used to, is it just me?

>81 Deern: Superbowl Sunday is practically a National Holiday, Nathalie! For us that means, a lazy sort of day and order pizzas tonight with a side of chicken wings. Plenty of time to read before the pregame starts!

>82 Crazymamie: No, not just you, Mamie! Give me transfat, anyday! It's absence has changed the taste. Kraft Mac n Cheese doesn't taste as good either. :0(
I'll still order cookies from friends who have GS kids.

I've noticed the difference in the cookies, too. I try to convince myself that it's a good thing that I don't like them as much, but I still end up eating them, so... Ha!

Morning, Lynda! And good about the cookies - I thought maybe it was just me. I thought perhaps I was remembering them wrong. Ha!

>84 scaifea: It seems like an evil conspiracy at work here, Amber! I think it will be Charlie's age group who will benefit the most from these healthier cookies. Us, older folks, will just have to reminisce about the good ole days.

>85 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Nope, not just you. I'll eat them because I know it's for a good cause, but I'm not going to enjoy them as much.

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Got my yoga out of the way and watched Downton Abbey, which I DVR'd last night in order to watch the Bronco's leave the Panthers in their dust.

I'm 1/2 way thru 11/22/63 and 2 chapters away from finishing That Old Cape Magic.

Congratulations on finishing W&P, Lynda! I think all readers should be issued with W&P merit badges. I would wear mine with pride. ;-)

Lovely store credit and look at you fly through 11/22/63!

Morning Lynda! Hooray for hitting the halfway point in the King. How is That Old Cape Magic? I remember it receiving lukewarm reviews. I am loving Straight Man.

I liked DA. They seem to be wrapping up things nicely. Daisy is still bugging the crap outta me. LOL.

We've got Hurricanes
and King Cake
and Paczi Enjoy!

>87 lkernagh: Hi Lori! How's this for a merit badge?
The funny thing about 11/22/63 is I'm half way through and still a long way off from that fateful date.

----------------
Cleaning on the menu this morning but first I'm going to watch the last installment of War and Peace.
Oh, yeah, and write a review for a book.
My next book is one who's cover I've been slobbering over for many years............... What a wonderful vacation destination!

>89 Carmenere: I love the cover! Is there anything in the fine print that identifies the location? It reminds me of Italy's Cinque Terre, which I was fortunate enough to visit with my Italian-speaking SIL several years ago.

>90 cbl_tn: Lucky you, Carrie, to have gone to such an awesome area! I just Googled Cinque Terre and it certainly looks like the cover.
The location is not identified anywhere but the photograph is credited to Blonde Marson/Almony, at least I think that's it. They used a light blue print making it hard to read.
Hopefully, the location is mentioned in the text of the book.

>89 Carmenere: I thought it might be Manarola in the Cinque Terre and it is, with some color changes. This is a much photographed angle. Here's the wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manarola
It's absolutely beautiful there and I admire the locals - no real roads, just steps and steps and steps. Only 2 of the 5 villages could be reached by car when I was there in the late 90s, but there's a fast tunnel train connecting them with each other and to some bigger towns. Surprisingly many American tour groups back then. I had only heard about it shortly before travelling there.

Is King Cake edible? It looks a bit like a wild hairdo. Is it sprinkled with that stuff that quite explodes in your mouth?? (want some!)

#8-2016
That Old Cape Magic
Richard Russo
2009
261 pages
1 inch
3/5 stars

Location, Location, Location.....
Sagamore Bridge
Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Thoughts......I so wanted to read this book, really wanted to like it, but it was a bit of a let down. Every year, as a young boy, Jack Griffin's parents would drive to Cape Cod from the "Mid-f**king-west" for a month long vacation. The vacations don't seem to be all that enjoyable, yet they return year after year. Usually, a batch of bickering. Jack, now in his mid 50's, is returning to disperse the ashes of his father. His annoying mother tags along by way of telephone. Jack can't let go of the past and is just as annoying as his mother. The family dramas were tedious. Only Russo's use of humor allowed me to give this book 3 stars. I never thought I'd say it but I was really happy to have The Cape and Griffin's past in my rear view mirror.

Morning, Lynda! You have been busy! Sorry that the Russo was a bit of a let down for you.

I also love the cover of Beautiful Ruins - I am thinking that Mark liked that one. I have not read it, so I will await your thoughts.

Hoping that your Tuesday is full of fabulous!

oooo, a cross poster..............

>92 Deern: Nathalie! I really appreciate your input and knowledge! Thank you! Here is a pic of Manarola from Wikipedia That's it!! What a beautiful place. Glad it's a walking destination as it looks like it would be a frightful drive.
I'm not very knowledgeable about King Cake. What I do know is, a little baby is inserted into the cake. The person who gets the baby is destined to have a great year and have a mardi gras party the following year.

Hi Mamie! Yes, an exhausting morning. I haven't even started on the house cleaning and now my coffee's all gone! So off for another cup and a bite to eat.

I adore coffee. When we first got married Craig was not a coffee drinker, so I had the pot all to myself, but now he insists on drinking a cup. Or two. *sigh*

>92 Deern: >95 Carmenere: I thought I recognized it! My SIL used a combination of the train, the walking path between the towns, and a boat/ferry to travel between the towns. We spent the night in Vernazza. I remember seeing a car in at least one of the towns and wondered how in the world it got there. I wouldn't want to try to drive there. Walking was difficult enough!

>95 Carmenere: I looked at the pic of the cake before reading the text and thought it was a kind of orange cream oozing out, then I read "little baby" and that didn't make it more appetizing until my eyes finally refocussed and found the form of the baby and the plastic. I like this idea of hiding good luck symbols in traditional foods, like the penny in the plum pudding or the almond in the rice. The cake actually looks good, a bit like a brioche. Must find a recipe and would leave out the frosting.

I've been to the CT twice in the late 90s, for a week each time. The outer villages Monterosso and Riomaggiore (where we stayed) can be reached by car and all 5 are connected by hiking trails. I believe they have extended the roads in the meantime, at least Vernazza can be reached now as well. I ate some of the best Italian food there, it's the region where pesto comes from.

I spotted this "easy" recipe for King Cake on Food Network. I wish they'd not put it over several slides instead of as a "recipe" on a single page.

^^Did you miss me up there? Sad face...

I did LOVE Beautiful Ruins! A perfect winter antidote. Enjoy, my friend. Not sad anymore...

Taking a break from cleaning to have a yogurt and check LT.

>97 Crazymamie: I'm a coffee lover too, Mamie! My husband makes a pot every morning but it's basically for him alone as since I rec'd my Keurig as a present I can't go back to that ole drip coffee maker. Eeek! I think I've become a sort of coffee snob ;0)

>98 cbl_tn: What an extraordinary trip, Carrie! LOL, "walking was difficult enough"! I think I would have a case of vertigo just knowing we were on the edge of a cliff. We have so much technology available to us in the 21st century but I'm still waiting....and not patiently anymore.... is a "beam me up Scotty" kind of device. Manarola would be high on the list.

>99 Deern: lol, to be honest, Nathalie, I'm not fond of finding things in my cake, even if it is lucky. Orange cream oozing sounds much more to my liking. I've noticed some recipes call for cinnamon in order to make a swirl inside the cake. That I would like.
To spend a week in CT would be amazing!! I looooovvveee Pesto! OMG! I'd never leave!

>100 thornton37814: I've checked some recipes, Lori, but they all seem to call for yeast. I just don't do yeast. The sight of the word makes me cringe and I move on to another recipe. I'm not a fan of the recipe slides. I like clicking and pasting better.

OK, back to work. Later!

>101 msf59: ooooooo, Mark, I did miss you >88 msf59: so sorry, my friend! Please, no sad faces.

Well, as you can see, I gave Cape Magic a meh sort of rating too. I don't read books to hear families squabble and this particular family didn't even gain my sympathies because I didn't like them.

Happy Fat Tuesday!



I have to admit that King Cake is pretty much the only cake I know that I don't want. Too many pics of gaudy colored messes on Cake Wrecks over the years to tempt me.

I am guessing that you would like the coffee mine makes, as it grinds the beans fresh first for each pot.

>104 mstrust: Hey, Jennifer! Looking good! You really got some moves there, even in an alligator costume.
Today, I'm making my own version of a King cake. Recipe as follows: take a box of Pillsbury yellow cake mix and prepare as stated on box.
take it out of oven and cool
Open container of Pillsbury frosting. In my case, hazelnut
sprinkle top with any extra toppings you have on hand. In my case dinosaurs, valentine hearts, orange sprinkles, dolphins and fish.

>105 Crazymamie: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! Me want one of those! Details pleeeeeeease!

It's a Capresso. It has an attached Burr grinder that does all the work. You simply set it for how corse you want the grind, how strong you want the coffee, and how many cups are desired. Then you flip the filter part underneath the grinder, and it grinds the coffee in, shoots the filter back into place, and the machine brews the coffee.

>107 Crazymamie: Wow, it does all of that and yet they still haven't invented a "Beam Me Up Scotty" device!

>106 Carmenere: I'm begging you to post a pic of that cake.

>107 Crazymamie: Thank looks really nice, Mamie. I'll keep this brand in mind, possibly for hubsters birthday in May or Christmas. I've been thinking I'd want one with a thermal carafe too :0)

>108 DeltaQueen50: LOL! Ya see what I mean, Judy?! How many coffee machines and cell phones will they make when all we really need is a BMUS?!

>109 mstrust: As you requested, Jennifer. No big deal, actually, just wanted to clean my cabinet of remaining amounts of sprinkles.

Afternoon, Lynda!

>110 Carmenere: Hi Lynda! I was going to ask if I could borrow some sprinkles but I see you're all out! ;-) It's been years since I decorated any baked goods. I still bake, but I just don't do anything fancy these days.

Belated happy new thread and belated congratulations on finishing War and Peace! Well done!

>111 Crazymamie: Greetings, Mamie! It's snowing like crazy where I live. It's pretty but ugh! so cold! How's it by you?

-------------
Just a side note: blagh Hazelnut frosting is not so yummy. I thought it might taste like Nutella, but no, just not even close. :0(

working on shutterfly album today, almost done.

ooooo, cross posters!!!

>112 cbl_tn: actually, I still have a little left, Carrie! They never go bad, I know this because I had these for like 5 years and they are still sugary. Let me know if you want 5 year old sprinkles. LOL

>113 souloftherose: Thanks Heather!!! Speaking of belated, I owe your thread a belated visit. It's so hard keeping up these days.

>110 Carmenere: Thanks for posting the pic for me! I admit that it doesn't look as crazy as I expected, just festive and delicious. Like an "I heart oceanography" cake. Sorry the frosting doesn't taste like Nutella. I didn't even know there was hazelnut flavor in a can now.

Sorry to hear the hazelnut didn't work out as a flavour - it looks lovely though.

Cold. For Georgia, that is - bright and sunny, but windy and only 44 today. I like it, but then I am from Indiana.

>116 mstrust: I didn't even know there was hazelnut flavor in a can now. I've got connections! The doughboy and I are tight ;)

>117 charl08: My son always scraps out the frosting container until it's squeaky clean but as soon as he tasted it, I just knew, he put the container down and
walked away. I'm glad I wasn't making the cake for guests.

>118 Crazymamie: Sob, sob, sob, Give me my sun back you southern belle, you! Seriously, I don't mind the cold but a bright sunny day is a real pick me upper. The grey empty skies are a drag.

I will say that Georgia is great with the sunshine, and it does make a huge difference to one's energy. Even better than caffeine!

So, no to the hazelnut frosting, then? Hmmm, but it sounds so good!

Morning, Lynda! Sweet Thursday. I have the day off. A day to thaw out. It has been a cold week and it will stay that way through the weekend. Boo!

Hope you are staying warm too.

Morning, Lynda! Sorry about the hazelnut frosting - Amber's right, it sounds good. Thanks for taking one for the team - if even teenaged boys won't eat it, then it is definitely a loser.

I'm getting a bit of a late start this morning - a foot of snow greeted me this morning, then there was the phone call and text from the school system. No school as secondary roads are treacherous! Wha? What were the snow plows doing all night?
Anyway - No one is eating the cake, boo hoo. So guess who feels obligated to eat some of it before I throw it out? Yup, that would be me.

That's why I've started a new 30 day Abs challenge app this morning.

A little laundry and a stew for dinner with doses of Stephen King sprinkled through out.

Oh! What was I thinking. Responses!

>120 Crazymamie: Yes, sunshine and caffeine!! Almost everything is better with both of these ingredients!

>121 scaifea: That's what's so disappointing, Amber. I used a yellow cake mix so no other flavor would screw up the hazelnut taste, but lo and behold, it screwed up itself without any outside help :P

>122 msf59: It looks like we both have the day off, Mark! I won't be leaving the house today either. Wayyyy to cold, windy and still snowing off and on. Looks like a day of reading for us!! Yeah!

>123 Crazymamie: You got that right, Mamie! The frosting needs to go back to the laboratory til they get it right!

Hi Lynda - Your cake is beautiful. Everything tastes better with sprinkles. I've been using a lot of them when Scout helps me decorate cookies.

Have a happy weekend.

>126 BLBera: I agree Beth! the world is a much better place with sprinkles. Unfortunately sprinkles couldn't save this cake. :(

Big News!

Could the BMUS device be closer than we thought? Surfing the gravitational waves

Particularly cool to think that Stephen King was on to something in 11/22/63

OMG! Batten the hatches! Bring in the firewood! It's going to get really ccccccold! The temps plummet tonight into Sunday morning so todays agenda includes grocery shopping and delivery to mom and buy soup fixings for us. I think there's a readathon going on this weekend and couldn't be at a better time. Definitely need to finish that photo album this weekend and finalize the concession volunteer schedule for spring.

Big News!
Will has been selected to be in Pit Orchestra for spring musical! He loved it last year and was really hoping to be chosen again. I think the musical is Hello Dolly but I'm not sure.

Finally in the last 1/4 of 11/22/63 and I'm still not at that fateful day! Ugh!

>127 DianaNL: Ha! I love it, Diana! Thank you!! Actually, that is so fitting, cause I retired a few years ago and I feel exactly like......a dog! LOL!

Well. frosting can be cut off and the inner part can still be eaten I guess? I'm weird, I don't like anything on my cakes, no sprinkles, frosting or icing sugar. When someone brings a cake and powders/sprinkles it just before serving I always beg to leave a small bit free. It looks great though with all the sprinkles!

There's a 30 day abs challenge? :)

>128 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! I saw the news about the gravitational waves yesterday. Time travel might be fun. I have a few ancestors I'd like to visit! I really want a BMUS, though. Just think what that could do for LT meetups!

>130 Deern: Nathalie! You must have known that I've been trying to visit your thread, but I must have clicked on that red x and accidentally ignored you. I'm about to fix that.

Actually, that's what I started to do, scrape of the frosting and add a scoop of ice cream to the naked cake. It helps.

I found the challenge through my iPhone App Store. Free but I had to sign in to my Apple account. The App has different levels. I started with the lowest level yesterday which took about 15 minutes. 15 sit ups, 5 crunches, 5 leg lifts and 25 seconds of planks. I'm assuming the difficulty increases everyday. (I haven't done today's workout) Do you have an iPhone? Perhaps Androids have this feature too, I'm not sure.

Off to find you :)

>131 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie! Oh, yeah! I get teary eyed just thinking about visiting ancestors I've known and those I've never met. This is were Twilight Zone music comes in..........would we be able to change the future by going back? Hmm, lots to thing about.
--------

I'm watching Episode 4 of W&P as I type and it's a real tear jerker.

Morning, Lynda! Congrats to Will on being selected for the pit orchestra - I played in our high school one all four years, and it was such a blast!

Morning, Lynda! Happy Friday! I gave up on, the W & P series after episode 2. It wasn't tootin' my horn. Mistake?

>69 Carmenere: >70 Crazymamie:
Baked potato bar! I love it.
I used to do a good stuffed potato: hollow out the baked potato and mix it with ham, cheese, tomato (minus the runny bits), salt and pepper, and then stuff and re-lid them. Oh yea, and grill the tops with grated cheese and a sprinkle of paprika. Yum.

Your cake with ALL the sprinkels (!!) looks good enough to eat! ;)

Just caught up and in time to wish you a lovely weekend, Lynda.

Sorry I didn't respond sooner, I picked up groceries for mom and dropped them off to her and did a little shopping for us too so I wouldn't need to go out this weekend. Right now, the wind is howling outside and we get blizzard like bursts of snow. Oh, how fun being toasty warm inside.

>134 Crazymamie: Good evening, Mamie! Yup, Will is happy as can be! The play is Damn Yankees. I don't remember many memorable songs from the movie but that's what it is.

>135 msf59: Good evening to you too, Mark. If your horn wasn't being tooted then I'd say you probably used that time for something that was tooting the horn, like reading. I look favorably on episode 1 (though it was way to dry and I missed Tolstoy's humor.) Episodes 2 & 3 just sort of ran into each other but Episode 4 was by far the best.

>136 LovingLit: Oh, Megan, that potato sound so good! I wish I had one right now! It's good to see the cake is disappearing little by little. Hubsters had a nice size slice this evening. When you're hungry, I guess people will eat anything.

>137 PaulCranswick: Why thank you, Paul! I wish you a lovely weekend as well!!!!

I think I have another hour of reading in me before I fall asleep so Nighty night!

Happy Saturday, Lynda! I appreciate the W & P advice. Another cold one here. Mid-teens. Really?

Have a great weekend.

Thanks, Mark! The wind here howled all night, and still is. Windchill of -9. Today calls for a big pot of homemade beef soup and good books. I think I've come down with the sniffles :(

It's cold here, but not that cold! The temperature is in the 20s with a wind chill in the teens. That's very cold for East Tennessee! I have a friend visiting and we're going to watch movies today and celebrate a late Christmas. All great indoor activities!

>141 cbl_tn: That sounds like a great plan, Carrie. Enjoy the late Christmas celebration!

-------

The more I wake up, the more cold symptoms I have. Sneezing, sniffles and now the faint pangs of a headache, and a cough now :(

I've stayed in bed after waking up about 5:30 (I know, right?) and listened to 5 chapters from the Tom Jones autobio and read a few pages from 11/22/63. I'm about to zombie walk downstairs for coffee.

Morning, Lynda! Temps dropped here overnight, too, but that means we're in the 40s, which is cold in these parts but nothing like the Midwest. Bundle up, baby! Sorry to hear that you are not feeling well -hoping it passes quickly. You've been awake since %:30 am, but you're just now getting coffee?! You ARE sick!

Sounds like a good day to lie low, Lynda. Feel better soon.

>143 Crazymamie: Hi there Mamie!! I'm on my second cup of java, just to make up for lost time. I think I'll switch to juice then tea after breakfast. Will said he' smacking waffles today so I'll just sit and wait patiently. It seems the cold front is dipping down to even your area. The good thing is it won't last long!

>144 BLBera: It does indeed, Beth!! I've got my books, iPad and iPhone beside me in the family room and I feel quite cozy.

We had King Cake at work on, um, Ash Wednesday. One of the family practice residents won the baby, and we told him that he had to come back next year to host a King Cake party.

>146 kidzdoc: The library (and its cafe) were closed on Fat Tuesday due to the weather, so when I went back on Wednesday morning, they were selling the pastries that had been made for Tuesday, including a sweet roll with Mardi Gras colors, making it resemble a King Cake, although these were individual. As far as I could tell, no one got a baby.

Lynda, I hope you didn't throw the baby out with the cake. Sorry, I couldn't resist! You must bake a lot more than I do. If there is a cake around here, it will be eaten! I enjoyed King's take on the JFK story. It was a bit of something different for him to do. I can't believe how prolific he is these days.

Our weather may not be as cold as yours, but we are expecting ice by tomorrow morning. Yikes! I can skip church, but I don't want to miss the Missouri State women playing basketball tomorrow afternoon. And then there's that heart-shaped pizza my daughter-in-law makes every year. I love homemade pizza. I hope you get to do something special for V-Day tomorrow.

My energy is running low, so I've brought cookies to my place for all to enjoy.

>146 kidzdoc: Hey Darryl, I love the fact that the baby winner hosts the following year. Good way to keep the tradition going strong.

>147 thornton37814: Oh boy, Lori, that's a tough sell on Ash Wednesday when so many people are giving up sweets for Lent. If that's not temptation, I don't know what is!

>148 Donna828: Donna! It's so good to see you! King's writing seems like it would be effortless for him. Just sit down and watch conversations unfold between his characters. Nice way to make riches. It's a beautiful morning by me, the sun is shining through the snow covered tree branches. But I know it's all a joke cause the temp is 2f and I'm not going anywhere!!!

Easy peasy Valentine's Day dinner tonight. Giant Eagle caught me off guard Friday with crab legs @ $5.99 a pound. So with those and baked potatoes we're set.

200 pages to finish in 11/22/63. I will finish it today, for sure.

Morning Lynda! Happy Sunday! I hope those sniffles were temporary.

Hooray for finishing up 11/22/63. You can do it!

Happy Valentine's Day, Lynda!

>142 Carmenere: Sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Lynda. Rest and read is what I say.

>150 msf59: YEAH! I did it, Mark! finished 11/22/63! Sniffles are still visiting as is a minor headache. Eh, what can you do? Everybody seems to have it.

>151 Crazymamie: Ha, ha, ha. Thanks, Mamie!

>152 souloftherose: Perfect advice, Heather. I will definitely heed it!

Off to nap zzzzzz

Great news about Will being selected for the musical again. I love "Hello Dolly" - it's a classic and I think the music would be fun to play.

You've been reading some doorstops so far this year, Lynda. W&P and now 11/22/63.

I hope your nap took care of the headache and heads off the sniffles!

Morning, Lynda! Well, almost morning. Okay...Good afternoon!

>154 EBT1002: Hey Ellen, Yeah, the little guy is stoked! I'm glad to have two of the doorstoppers finished. I have one more in my huge stack for this year Under the Dome. I need to take a break from big books so I'll probably save that for much later in the year.

>155 Crazymamie: Howdy, Mamie! I've been dragging most of the day and just now getting myself geared up to put something on the dinner table.

Now to a review.....

>154 EBT1002: I done reading doorstops for awhile, Ellen, they are exhausting. My TBR's for 2016 contain Under the Dome but I'll save that for much later in the year.

>155 Crazymamie: Howdy, Mamie! I've been dragging all day and now trying to get myself in gear and put something on the dinner table.
---------

Soon will post review of my latest read.....

Hi, Lynda! Hooray for no more Chunksters! I have still not read Under the Dome. Maybe, I will join you on that one.

>95 Carmenere: - a little baby is inserted into the cake. I get that inserting a coin or a different kind of good luck symbol probably isn't very original by the idea of a baby is kind of .... well.... strange, don't you think?

>106 Carmenere: - Love your recipe for King Cake, even your son decided the frosting was not worth consuming.

Good luck with your 30 day abs challenge!

Congrats on finishing 11/22/63, but darn on the cold, both the weather and the illness kinds.

#9-2016
11/22/63
Stephen King
2011
849 pages
2 1/4 inches
3.75/5

Location, Location, Location.......
Lisbon Falls, Maine
Book Depository Dallas, Texas

Thoughts......Would the world have been a better place had President Kennedy not been assassinated? Al Templeton, owner of Al's Diner seems to think so and he has the ability to find out. He's got a "rabbit hole" to the past within his restaurant. Problem is, he's dying and he can't make the journey. He enlists his frequent customer, English Teacher, Jake Epping to keep Lee Harvey Oswald from accomplishing what he sets out to do. Jake lands in 1958 and till 1963, he has time to right wrongs, make friends, make enemies and make love and change the course of the future.
Three quarters of the 849 pages take place before 11/22/63 and King fills those pages with his usual good story-telling and page turning suspense but without scary, gory and nightmare inducing images.

>158 msf59: I'd really enjoy reading Under the Dome with you, Mark! Just as the GR was with War and Peace, it will keep me motivated. How's your reading agenda look for the remainder of the year? I'm in nooooo hurry.

>159 lkernagh: Hi Lori! Actually, I don't like finding anything in my cakes except chocolate chips or nuts. I'm afraid I or someone else will choke on inedible objects. I'm weird that way.
Before Will tried the frosting, I sampled a bit and I thought the flavor was a bit off but figured it was just me. When Will had the same reaction I just knew this was going to be a disaster.
Abs Challenge, ugh! I don't know about this. The reps increase a little each day. Today I had to do 20 sit ups, 12 crunches, 12 leg lifts and 20 seconds of plank. This can not continue. Maybe I'll just do this rep for the remaining 30 days. I'm too old for this :0}

I'm stopping by to let you know that I've copied your idea of stacking to books to read in 2016. I managed to pile 55 good ones, knowing there will also be library books in between. Thanks for this great idea.

>162 Whisper1: Ooooh! I'm so glad my idea influenced you, Linda!! I hope it works for you as it has for me (so far).

Probably later in the year, Lynda. A fall read, perhaps?

>160 Carmenere: I'm glad you ended up enjoying 11/22/63, Lynda! Sorry about sending our cold snap your way, but I'm glad to see the back of it! It's supposed to be above freezing the rest of this week here in Iowa. Yippee!

Under the Dome is on my list, too. Maybe this year with you and Mark?

yup, we got what they promised. A wet heavy snow. It's already moving out but it's going to take awhile for the roads to be cleared. A delay start turned out to be a disaster last year and probably why the school system didn't use it today.

>164 msf59: >166 DianaNL: Yeah, fall sounds perfect. How's September or October look for you, Mark and Diana?

>165 rosalita: Isn't it great, Julia!! I don't mind the cold/snowy weather so much when I see that it will all be gone by the end of the week!

I'm really enjoying Evil Under the Sun so atmospheric.

I've got a short review coming for the Tom Jones bio....stay tuned.

Morning, Lynda!

#10-2016
Over the Top and Back
Sir Tom Jones
2015
Audiobook
Read by Jonathon Pryce
5/5

Location, Location, Location.....
Pontypridd, Wales
Jones' Bel Air, California home

Thoughts.......Even if Tom Jones was not my Crush when I was 7 years old, I would still love this book and I think you will too. Jones begins his story where he's at right now, in a no name town, in a no name supper club doing what he loves, singing. Yet, the reader already knows that this wasn't always the case so Jones quickly segues into where he came from and how it all began. He tells his story in a good natured, humorous manner. He name drops a little, often as a comical aside. Despite his fame, he appears humble and amusingly forthright as he talks of his family, business associates and above all the ups and downs of the music industry. Beware his frequent f bomb usage. It took me off guard at first but then seems quite natural for him.
Jonathon Pryce did a spectacular job as narrator. He read it as if he, himself, was Tom Jones.

>168 Crazymamie: Oops, Hi Mamie, almost missed ya.

>169 Carmenere: Hi Lynda. I have never been a huge Tom Jones fan, but have always found him a very interesting celebrity in interviews so I am taking a book bullet for Over the Top and Back. He has certainly lived through some interesting times.

>171 DeltaQueen50: He has certainly lived through some interesting times. In deed he has, Judy! I thought it interesting how his popularity dwindled in the late 70's, early 80's and, with his son as manager, was reintroduced to a new generation.

Morning, Lynda!

Hi there, Mamie! Have you been out walking this morning? Breaking in those new Asics?

----------------

Finally, I'm just about to put the finishing touches on my yearly photo album. Determined to get it done TODAY!

I was just informed Yes, Please has just been deposited to my cell phone! I've been wanting to read that one for ages so everything else is on hold. Oh, not everything, I've got to wiggle in Beautiful Ruins before the end of the month. Time moves waaaaayyyy to quickly.

Getting ready to go walking - have to finish up my second cup of coffee first. Priorities, you know.

LOL! of course!!

Morning Lynda! We will have to remind each other about the King read. Maybe we can get more people on board.

Hope the week is going well.

Beautiful Ruins! Beautiful Ruins!

OK Mark, I'll try to remember but I can't promise anything :0} I'll put sticky notes on my bookshelves, maybe that will remind me to remind you.

So far, you, me and Diana. We have lots of time to recruit.

>169 Carmenere: You got me with that one! I was a big fan as a child, and I was living in the UK when he made his comeback. I think I'll try the print version so I don't have to hear the f-bomb. Plus, it has photographs!

While you were infatuated with Tom Jones, I was drolling over Mikey Dolenz of the Monkees.

I am late today, Lynda, so good afternoon!

Morning, Lynda!

Morning Lynda! Happy Friday! Pushing 60 here today, but very gusty. Hoping to get rid of the remaining snow and dry things out.

Wishing you a lovely weekend, Lynda.

Not sure that I would be throwing my undies at Tom Jones but I certainly liked his "Not Unusual".

My mum was not really a fan but his little known album from 1979 "Do You Take This Man?" is her favourite LP of all time.

Morning, Lynda!

Hi Lynda! Happy Saturday!

Well, it's just amazing that I'm here at all! It was an horrendously windy evening, thought our house would be uprooted, just like Dorothy's. We heard a tree crack last night but in the darkness we couldn't see where it came from. This morning, we see, a tree uprooted in our next door neighbor's yard and tree limbs here and there, but thankfully nothing serious. It's calmed down this morning with a bright yellow sun on the horizon. Snow is melting and temps in the 50's today. Yippers!

Very nice day yesterday as the Mindfullness group got together for breakfast at an Amish restaurant and then did some shopping in Amishland. Bakery, Bulk shopping and cheese factory. By the time I got home it was time for dinner. Will volunteered to make his specialty, pancakes. He made plain, chocolate chip, banana and pecan. What a nice surprise after my very strenuous shopping day. ;0)

RIP Harper Lee and Umberto Eco, two greats in the literary world.

>179 cbl_tn: I know what you mean, Carrie! I'm going to check out the book version from the library just to page thru the pics.
Funny story about my Tom Jones phase. I would always watch his show with my parents (Thursday nights, maybe) and I thought he was the best singer ever! Certainly different from David Seville and the Chipmunks. I was about 7 years old, at this time. So, my parents surprised me with one of his recent 45's, I think it was, I who have Nothing. The first time I played it on my little phonograph my dad suddenly fell to the floor. Ack! "Daddy, Daddy?!" He sat up and said he'd just fainted away when he heard Tom's voice. "OHHHH DAD!" I guess you had to have been there.

>180 Whisper1: I liked the Monkees too, Linda, I was a Davy Jones fan but certainly not to the extent of Tom Jones. (I'm a sucker for a British accent) Again, theirs was a show I never missed.

>181 Crazymamie: And I'm way late in reading your February 18th post, Mamie! Thanks!

>182 DianaNL: Diana, that is a perfect picture. After visiting with my mom and fixing her cell phone, and her glucose meter and calming her frustrations about not getting her mail on time I really needed a reminder. Thanks!

>183 Crazymamie: Morning to you too, Mamie. Again, a day late. *sigh*

>184 msf59: Oh yeah, We got those wicked winds last night, boo and temps in the 60's today, Yeah! Just another day in the mid-west, right Mark?!

>185 PaulCranswick: Good Saturday to you, Paul! Tom was off my radar by 1979 so I'm not familiar with that album, but now I'll look into it. In '79 I was still a big Elton John fan and just about to enter the Wham! with George Michael stage. Again, your countrymen.
>186 Crazymamie: Yeah, I can finally respond on the given day! Good morning to you too, Mamie!!!

>187 cbl_tn: Happy Saturday to you and Adrian, Carrie!!

I've got some time to read from my two current books today while I do laundry. Hope I finish one of them soon *fingers crossed*

Morning, Lynda! Happy Saturday! I am so glad the winds died down. According to the newspaper, it was one of the windiest days, in the past 40-plus years. It even knocked our power out for awhile. And we were forced to read. The horror...

So glad you survived the winds!
And shopping in Amishland sounds like a lot of fun- I'm a sucker for cheese! I'm guessing you're in Pennsylvania or Michigan?
I have a fuzzy memory from childhood of the Tom Jones variety show and remember he liked wearing very tight clothes ; D
I saw him on the Graham Norton show a while back. He performed a new song and his voice sounded just like it did 40 years ago.

A happy mistake...............Yesterday, as I was cleaning out all my starred posts from 2011 forward I accidentally deleted all my starred 2016's! Egad's! Anyway, as I was trying to sort through the groups I belong to and re-star my faves I found calm's thread!!! I must visit today but it will be after church services. I try to attend, at least, once a month....but....

>189 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark! Oh it's easy to believe that was one of our windiest days. Yet, as I drove through the neighborhood I didn't see much tree damage. Strange

>190 mstrust: In between PA and Michigan, Jennifer. Ohio has at least two major Amish communities in the state, that I'm aware of. Once towards PA and the other towards Columbus.
I imagine Tom was saving his voice by having Jonathon Pryce read the book. It seems music and his wife are the loves of his life, regardless of what we may have heard about his extramarital activities, he doesn't talk about it and he seems to love her deeply.

Morning, Lynda! Happy Sunday! Oh dear on the unstarring!

Morning, Lynda! Happy Sunday! Hope you have a nice day planned. I know I do...

Good luck starring the unstarred. Don't forget about me!

Hi Lynda - We made it through the wind unscathed also. Have a lovely Sunday.

We had a moment of silence for Harper Lee.

I need to read some Eco this year.

>192 Crazymamie: I know, Mamie! I think I've got all my stars back but time will tell :0}

>193 msf59: Got you starred, Mark. Ooo, so you have a nice day planned, aye? I must zoom over to your thread for details.

>194 BLBera: I'm having a lovely Sunday, Beth. Catching up on a few must do's. I've not read any Eco. I'll look for some at the next book sale.

Wind storms can be very unsettling. glad to see you came through your unscathed.

I accidentally deleted all my starred 2016's!

I have done that... more than once. Not as bad as clicking the 'ignore' X... have you ignored your own thread? Done that. ;-)

Am I making you feel better?

>196 lkernagh: Yes, Lori, wind storms are very unsettling. We have many, many trees in our yard some close to structures like the deck, shed and house and of course people.
Oh yeah, the dreaded ignore x! I'm glad I'm not alone!

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I'm half way through Evil Under the Sun. I think I know the culprit. We'll see if I'm right, probably later today.

Have I mentioned I finished my 2015 photo album and placed the order? Check that one off my to do list. Yeah!
I'll finish up my Volunteer Coordinator sign up today after clarifying a few things with the athletic director.
My next project is completing some paper work for my mom. Ugh!

>196 lkernagh: I ignored my own thread my very first year here, and it took me forever to find myself again! I didn't know about the Threadbook then or about the "threads started by you" thing.

Morning, Lynda! I love Evil Under the Sun - it was one of the very first Christie's that I read. And hooray for finishing the photo album!! You go, girl!

Evil under the Sun is among my favorite ACs, I loved book, movie and even the TV episode. I generally enjoy the "Poirot on holidays" stories very much. In the books I found Hastings as a narrator usually annoying (I like him much better in the TV show where he doesn't lead us on wrong tracks) and he is in many of the older London-based stories.

Hm... 5 stars are tempting, but I never really liked Tom Jones, so I'll give that one a pass. Glad you didn't hate the King. Whan era you planning Under the Dome? Haven't read that one yet either. Not that I'm in a hurry to get to it, but if we had a small GR on that one I'd join.

>198 Crazymamie: Mamie, I can really kick myself! A year or so ago, I saw boxes of Christie novels, boxes! I must have been feeling stingy that day because I did not purchase them. *sigh*

>199 Deern: I'm really enjoying EUtS, Nathalie. I think partly because the characters hang out at the beach a lot, although it appears no one brought a bottle of wine. Major faux pas in my book ;0)
Well, regarding the 5/5 rating on the Jones book, you could say it was "Over the Top". LOL

>200 Carmenere: Oh, dear! We have a ton of them - she was very prolific, wasn't she? Rae and I are both fans!

#1...Lynda, on you Russian breakfast i don't see vodka or borscht (although borscht is Ukrainian)

Morning, Lynda! Hope your books are treating you well. How is Gulp? I had a lot of fun with that one. Gotta love Roach!

Morning, Lynda!

>201 Crazymamie: Hey Mamie, I first read Christie when I was about 18. I loved Nancy Drew when I was younger and thought Christie would fill the gap. I was right, she did! I read about 5 or 6 then got board with them. Now, I want to start them again. Very good brain candy.

>202 xieouyang: My bad, Manuel. I was in a hurry to slap something up there and didn't fact check ;0)

>203 msf59: *Gulp* I'm not reading the Roach tome, Mark. I'd certainly like to but not this year.

>204 Crazymamie: Mamie, Mamie, Mamie! So sorry I wasn't around to read your happy greeting earlier. My day started off with our water treatment guy. Treated the water as usual but warned us that our hot water tank has a small leak. $$$ Not long after that, Bill discovered a leak in our furnace pipe/duct whatever. He tried to repair himself but now a good friend of ours is in the basement helping him complete the work.

I finished a book which I'll review later but for now a little visiting.

You have Gulp down as a current read, that is why I asked. Sounds like you are booked...

>161 Carmenere: Today I had to do 20 sit ups, 12 crunches, 12 leg lifts and 20 seconds of plank
I now have my evening exercise reps all set- thanks! Once upon a time I had this (crazy) idea that I would do 100 press ups and 100 sit ups a day. It lasted exactly half a day, by which I mean that I managed only 100 sit ups and then canned the whole plan. :)

>174 Carmenere: >177 msf59: Beautiful Ruins. Yes. I must, really I must!!

And I hear the news officially here first! Harper Lee and Umberto Eco!!! I had seen/heard bios on FB and the radio, and had assumed. But I never confirmed what it was they were featured for....now I know :(

>206 msf59: I do? Thanks for letting me know, Mark! Maybe I was wish listing or wishful thinking. I'll run over and change that.

>207 LovingLit: >161Hey Megan, glad I can be of assistance. My App is now requesting me to complete 40 sit-ups etc etc etc. I will not do it! After last year's frozen shoulder due to overexertion I'm going to listen to my body. My body says just continue with the 20, 12,12,20. It's better than not doing any at all.

>207 LovingLit: >174 Carmenere: I've finished Christie so now I'll devote the remainder of February to Beautiful Ruins and yes, you must :0)

>207 LovingLit: Again, Megan, although it's sad news, glad I can be of assistance

#11-2016
Evil Under The Sun
Agatha Christie
1940
223 pages
1/2 inch
3/5

Location, Location, Location..............

South Devon Coast, England
Dartmoor, England

Thoughts.......I enjoy traveling with Hercule Poirot, he finds such interesting places to go and travels with such well healed people. Unfortunately, murder and mayhem also travel with him so his relaxing holiday is disrupted by the murder of a fellow traveler. The misty moors and disappearing land bridge make the atmosphere ripe for death and betrayal. I was fairly certain I figured out who the murder was yet Christie had me fooled! (Lynda 0 Agatha 1) There were a few things about the story that bugged me but I had to remind myself of the context in which it was written. Good, quick, thought provoking read.

Morning, Lynda!

Hi Mamie!!

Oh! Lovely!

>209 Carmenere: (Lynda 0 Agatha 1) made me smile. I have long given up on trying to figure out whodunnit in Christie's mysteries. Sometimes she even fools me on a reread when I am certain I know who the murderer is, but no, wrong again!

Well, I feel real perky this morning! Yeah, it's snowing but I've got that cozy feeling and I've already put a batch of brownies in the oven, and that's before coffee! Yes! I'll put a load of towels in the washer clean bathrooms and floors and then I'm done for the day with only reading left on the agenda. Oh, they have to eat, doon't they, well I'll whip up chicken tortillas. But now that cup of coffee!
Wishing you all a supremely perky day too!! :0)

>212 Crazymamie: Thought you might like that, Mamie!

>213 DeltaQueen50: >209 Carmenere: That's funny, Judy. I guess that's why her books are keepers.

Morning Perky Lynda! Hope the perkiness lasts through the day. We missed the worst of the snowstorm. Whew. Maybe 2 inches, mostly in the grassy areas. That I can handle. Grins...

Morning, Lynda! Brownies?! I be right over!

>215 msf59: We're expecting about 4 inches, Mark, but so far it's not sticking on the cement, just deck and grass. I guess a couple of warm days was enough to make the roads and sidewalks warm enough to repel snow. *fingers crossed"

>216 Crazymamie: Oh, the smell sooooo good, Mamie! Better hurry before I eat them all! *yun num munch munch munch*

*grabs coat because it's cold in Ohio and wonders how many steps to Lynda's house* I'll be right there!

>218 Crazymamie: EEEK! I hope I caught you in time! Don't wear the nice Asics, you need boots. Don't forget a hat and gloves you need glove too.

Well, I don't have any boots, Lynda. This is Georgia. *takes off coat and goes to see if there is brownie mix in the pantry*

>209 Carmenere: How did you find such a perfect picture of a secluded beach just like the one in the book?! I have a Wii game based on Evil Under the Sun.

>213 DeltaQueen50: I do that, too! I must remember my wrong guess from the first time around instead of the real solution.

>221 cbl_tn: >209 Carmenere: I know, Carrie, isn't that perfect?! Just a little Google luck is all it takes.

>221 cbl_tn: >213 DeltaQueen50: Ha Ha! I'm sure I would do that too!

Wait! Did you say you have a Wii game based on EUtS?!
Which one is it?

>220 Crazymamie: Good thing you changed your mind, Mamie. Now the wind is picking up and the snow is falling sideways. Brrr

*pouts a bit*

>222 Carmenere: Yes, I do have a Wii game. It's called -- wait for it -- Evil Under the Sun! It's a fun game, but the repetitive soundtrack can get on your nerves after a while.

LOL! Ok I'll look for it in the used game area of GameStop. I'm assuming it's been out for awhile, right?

I've had mine for 3 or 4 years, and I think it had been out for a while before I bought it.

Yep. Rae has that game, too, and she got it when we lived in Indiana, so before 2012.

I hear you on listening to your body instead of trying to keep up with the reps the app wants you to do!

.... did you mention brownies? I never make brownies because I would eat the whole pan. Now you have got me craving brownies.

Brownies? Jummie.

>227 cbl_tn: >228 Crazymamie: Yes! Gamestop has that game and it's only $4.96ish. Into shopping cart it goes! (the Wii's been disabled because of our ongoing renovations but at least I'll have it when we're up and running again)

>229 lkernagh: lol I did mention brownies, Lori. I bake them in an 8" cake pan so they come out thick and chewy. Yum! but that's not all, last night I added whipped cream and drizzled chocolate sauce on top with some chopped nuts. Really yummy!!

>230 DianaNL: Awe, cute kitty! Thanks Diana!

I'll be meeting a couple of neighbors for coffee this morning. Maybe a spinach soufflé too, more yum!

Morning Lynda! Happy Friday! I see you started Beautiful Ruins. And....?

Morning, Lynda! Happy Friday to you - looks like it will be starting off well!

Morning, Lynda! Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday, reading buddies! Looks as if Spring's returned to CLE. Once again, feeling perky and will clean out a bedroom closet today.

I've always had great success with Jane Fonda workout and I'm really happy to have found it on YouTube. So I'm ditching the App with its growing number of sit-ups and going back to Jane + the usual yoga.

>232 msf59: yes, And a good start it is, Mark. I was discussing it with one of my friends over coffee yesterday and she enjoyed it so much she is reading another book by Walter, Citizen Vince.

>233 Crazymamie: it was a good start to the day, Mamie, and got me out of the house early to do my moms grocery shopping. Then, I dropped it off and visited with her a bit.

Happy Saturday Lynda! It's a lovely, sunny day here. I haven't been nearly as productive as you've been so far, though. I'm just now working myself up to taking Adrian out for his morning walk!

#12-2016
Yes Please
Amy Poehler
2014
Audiobook
3.75/5

Location, Location, Location..............
Boston..
Chicago...
New York...
Los Angeles...

Thoughts.......If you like Amy Poehler, as I do, you will enjoy her story. As narrator, she makes her story come alive and authentic. She talks about her life growing up in Boston and wherever her comedic ambitions take her. There are guest narrators too, which is sort of amusing and a nice addition to her narrative alone. Poehler also opens up about the actors she's worked with in a good naturedly manner. Just a fun book.
Caution: If quirkiness is not your style, just move along.

>236 cbl_tn: Carrie, I'm so glad you can look forward to a walk with Adrian as there's no walking on my agenda today, sunny here but still to chilly! I guess I'm a fair weather walker as I was a golfer. I need it to be at least 55 degrees, no wind, preferably sunny. A bit finicky, no?
Have a wonderful Saturday!!!

Great comments on the Poehler book, Lynda. I gave it to my daughter, who loves Fey and Poehler -- she loved both books. I'll have to borrow them from her one of these days. She listened to Bossy Pants when she was commuting, and said she had to stop because it was hazardous; she laughed too hard.

She's so funny and I've been wanting to read Yes Please since it came out. I was just watching Poehler in the series "Wet Hot American Summer" a few days ago.

Happy Saturday, Lynda! Glad you are enjoying Beautiful Ruins. Citizen Vance was a good one too. He is a terrific author.

>239 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I listened to Bossy Pants a couple of years ago and I enjoyed that one too. I thing Tina Fey is very funny and talented too. When they work together it's like Martin and Lewis.

>240 mstrust: Is that a new series, Jennifer? I'm still catching up on Parks and Recreation and my queue is getting quite long. *sigh*

>241 msf59: Well Mark, I'm really getting lost in Beautiful Ruins. It reads rather quickly.

OK back to work for me.

>242 Carmenere: "Wet Hot American Summer" was a movie from 2001 that became a cult hit and starred a whole bunch of people who were unknowns that went on to become famous. Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd Christopher Meloni... The Netflix series, with nearly everyone from the original cast, came out late summer of 2015 and is only eight episodes, I think. It's along the lines of the Bill Murray movie "Meatballs".

>243 mstrust: Sounds good! I'll check it out and add it to my line up :0)

>196 lkernagh: I decided a couple of years ago that there was little point in starring threads as I try to visit so many threads that there were less threads unstarred than otherwise! I use Jim's excellent group register to make sure that my friends don't fall through the cracks too often!

I do star the challenge pages though.

Have a great weekend.

Happy Sunny Sunday! Well, at least it is by me :0) Up to 60f today, so that means a nice long walk!

>245 PaulCranswick: You never cease to amaze me, Paul! I, on the other hand, would feel totally overwhelmed. You, my friend, rock!!!! No doubt about it.
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I'm working on *gasp* a new thread?! That in itself, is amazing! Never, ever, EVER, did I imagine to have 3 threads in 3 months! Thank you to all the lovely lt friends who visit!

I wanted to wait for March 1st but I've got my Volunteer signups to post live and emails to go out so I might be to busy to work on it then.

See you on the flip side!

Morning, Lynda!

"I'm really getting lost in Beautiful Ruins." Sighs, with pleasure...

Happy Sunday, Lynda! I plan on spending the day, curled up with the books. How about you?

>247 Crazymamie: Howdy do, Mamie!! I just realized my perkiness is probably due to the onset of longer days, ya think?

>248 msf59: Back atch, Mark! It looks like I'll take a nice long walk today followed by a lot of reading. I've got enough Chicken Paprikash left over from last night so no cooking today, yeah!