Paul C's 2016 Reading and Life - 4

January is very much Belle's month but February belongs to our first born - Yasmyne. She is 19 on the 27th of February. Here she is around the time of her 18th birthday:

Current Reading Opening Lines

I am starting February with the mustaches of Hercule Poirot as he takes trains between Aleppo and London (couldn't do that today).

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie



It was five o'clock on a winter's morning in Syria.

BOOKS READ IN 2016

First Quarter

JANUARY
1. Ru by Kim Thuy (2009) 153 pp
2. A Story I am in : Selected Poems by James Berry (2011) 208 pp
3. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (1983) 200 pp
4. Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis (2015) 159 pp
5. Clem Attlee by Francis Beckett (2015) 476 pp
6. The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman by Denis Theriault (2005) 117 pp
7. 40 Sonnets by Don Paterson (2015) 44 pp
8. The Quality of Mercy by Barry Unsworth (2011) 294 pp
9. The Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie Divry (2010) 92 pp
10. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler (1993) 269 pp
11. Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen (1998) 104 pp
12. Coast to Coast by Jan Morris (1956) 238 pp
13. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler (1982) 314 pp
14. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James (2014) 688 pp
15. The Perfect Stranger by P.J. Kavanagh (1966) 182 pp
16. The Manticore by Robertson Davies (1972) 255 pp

FEBRUARY
17. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (1934) 347 pp
18. The Zimmermann Telegram by Barbara Tuchman (1958) 200 pp
19. Coventry by Helen Humphreys (2008) 169 pp
20. Selected Poems by Cecil Day Lewis (1965) 158 pp

Reading Plans and a little about me

Me?
I am 50 this coming September and have enough unread reading material on my shelves to take me safely into my seventies! I have lived in Malaysia since 1994 and have a long suffering (but never quietly) wife, Hani (sometimes referred to as SWMBO), three children Yasmyne (18), Kyran (16) and Belle (12 - well almost), as well as a supporting cast which includes Saad Yasmyne's Egyptian boyfriend and very much part of the family fabric, my book smuggling assistants Azim (also my driver and a part time bouncer who, despite his muscles, lives in almost as much fear of my wife as I do) and Erni (my housemaid, almost-little sister and the worlds greatest coffee maker). On this thread you'll probably read as much about the vagaries of life, book buying and group related statistics as you do about the actual books themselves.



clockwise from top left: Kyran, Saad, Yasmyne, Belle, Hani & I

2016 Reading

British Author Challenge - This is on its second year with two books/authors a month. Since I administer this challenge I will keep up with this one fairly religiously.

American Author Challenge - Mark (msf59) is on the third year of this great challenge where the task is to read a work by a featured US author each month.

Canadian Author Challenge - This is its inaugural year and I will try to read (and find books for!) as many of the 24 authors featured as I can.

ANZAC Challenge - Set up by Kerry this year. I will try to follow this one alternating between Oz/Nz

Pulitzer Challenge - Bill has created a challenge to read a Pulitzer winner each month in 2016

Chunkster Challenge - Also set up by Bill to take care of that small matter of books over 600 pages!

Non-Fiction Challenge - Suz (Chatterbox) has put this up and I will follow this one too

TIOLI Challenge - Surely needs no introduction!

1001 Books First Edition - I am working my way through these. So far at 262.

Booker Prize Winners - Another one I am wending my way through

Nobel Laureates - I am trying to read something by all the Laureates - so far have read 57 of the 112 winners.

Poetry - I will be trying to read a different collection/anthology each week and at the same time promote poetry in the group (tough one that) which will include my own occasion clumsy scribblings.

Series I have so many I follow Montalbano, Reacher, Hole, Banks, Davenport, Sejer, Allon, Lennox .....and I will be trying to read many of those as I can.

History Another favourite of mine

Political Biography - I am of the left in political terms so I prefer to read more from my heroes than my villains but sometimes it pays to check out what the opposition are up to!

I will try to combine challenges as much as I can to do something in each challenge each month.

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2016

February thread : http://www.librarything.com/topic/218471

January : Susan Hill & Barry Unsworth
February : Agatha Christie & William Dalrymple
March : Ali Smith & Thomas Hardy
April : George Eliot & Hanif Kureishi
May : Jane Gardam & Robert Goddard
June : Lady Antonia Fraser & Joseph Conrad
July : Bernice Rubens & H.G. Wells
August : Diana Wynne-Jones & Ian McEwan
September : Doris Lessing & Laurie Lee
October : Kate Atkinson & William Golding
November : Rebecca West & Len Deighton
December : WEST YORKSHIRE writers
Wildcard : Rumer Godden and George Orwell

Round up of Stats

1001 Books First Edition - Read 262 of 1001

Nobel Winners - Read something by 56 of the 112 Laureates (half exactly)

Pulitzer Fiction/Novel Winners - Read 12 of 88 outright winners

Booker Winners - Read 21 of the 50 winners

TIOLI Challenges for February

TBR Records Update :

Year reading record to date:

January 1st frozen TBR : 3,714

Books read : 15

Revised TBR : 3,699

January 1st Pages : 1,300,667

Pages read in completed books : 3,634

Revised TBR pages : 1,297,033

Other Books added since 1 January : 25
Pages : 8,136
Read : 1
Read Pages : 159

Total Books Read in 2016 - 16
Total Pages Read in 2016 - 3,793

BOOKS ADDED SINCE 1 JANUARY 2016

1. Fifteen Dogs Andre Alexis (2015) 159 pp (Added 6 Jan) COMPLETED
2. Rain by Barney Campbell (2015) 362 pp (Added 6 Jan)
3. Coventry by Helen Humphreys (2008) 169 pp (Added 7 Jan -Secret Santa (Katie))
4. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (2015) 362 pp (Added 14 Jan)
5. How Good We Can Be by Will Hutton (2015) 250 pp (Added 14 Jan)
6. Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco (1988) 641 pp (Added 14 Jan)
7. The Chimes by Anna Smaill (2015) 289 pp (Added 14 Jan)
8. Wild Swans by Jung Chang (1991) 669 pp (Added 14 Jan)
9. The Black Moon by Winston Graham (1973) 546 PP (Added 14 Jan)
10. Let Me Be Frank With You by Richard Ford (2014) 238 pp (Added 22 Jan)
11. Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker (1992) 270 pp (Added 22 Jan)
12. Cat and Mouse by Gunter Grass (1961) 191 pp (Added 22 Jan)
13. The Castle of Crossed Destinies by Italo Calvino (1969) 129 pp (Added 22 Jan)
14. The Enigma of Arrival by VS Naipaul (1987) 387 pp (Added 22 Jan)
15. Mao II by Don DeLillo (1991) 241 pp (Added 22 Jan)
16. A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham (1990) 343 pp (Added 22 Jan)
17. Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids by Kenzaburo Oe (1958) 189 pp (Added 22 Jan)
18. Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord by Louis de Bernieres (1991) 280 pp (Added 22 Jan)
19. Spring Flowers, Spring Frost by Ismail Kadare (2000) 182 pp (Added 22 Jan)
20. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (1972) 172 pp (Added 22 Jan)
21. Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts (2014) (Added 29 Jan)
22. March by Geraldine Brooks (Added 29 Jan)
23. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen (1935) (added 29 Jan)
24. Mary Barton by Mary Gaskell (1848) (added 29 Jan)
25. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien (1990) (added 29 Jan)

26. White Crocodile by KT Medina (2014) 374 pp (added 8 Feb)
27. A Brief Stop on the Road From Auschwitz by Goran Rosenberg (2012) 331 pp (added 13 Feb)
28. Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser (1996) 274 pp (added 13 Feb)

Review of January 2016

Books Read : 16

Genre : Literary Fiction : 11
Thrillers/Sci Fi : 0
Poetry : 2
Plays : 0
Non-Fiction : 3

Author Nationality : UK : 7
Canada : 4
USA : 3
France : 1
Jamaica : 1

Author Gender : Male : 11
Female : 5

Booker Winners : 1 A Brief History of Seven Killings // 21/50 done

Pulitzer Fiction/Novel Winners : 1 A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler // 12/88 winners

Nobel Winners : 0 // 56/112 winners

1001 Books First Edition : 0 // 262/1001

British Author Challenge : 2 (Susan Hill & Barry Unsworth )

American Author Challenge : 1 (Anne Tyler)

Canadian Author Challenge : 2 (Kim Thuy & Robertson Davies)

ANZAC Challenge : 0

Doorstopper Challenge : 1 A Brief History of Seven Killings
Wedge Challenge : 1 Soldier's Heart

Non-Fiction Challenge : Biography - Clem Attlee by Francis Beckett

Pages Read : 3,793
Average Pages per day : 122.35 (31 days)
Average Pages per book : 237.06 (16 books)

Books Added after 1 January : 25

Books of the Month : Coast to Coast by Jan Morris & The Quality of Mercy by Barry Unsworth

One for Mamie!

Good morning Paul dear! I see we are already busy starting a new thread. Yasmyne is as beautiful as always.

Wow! When did this happen? I only just posted on the last one!

>11 Crazymamie: There will always be a place for the Pecan Paradisio Proprietress. xx

>12 Thebookdiva: A very good habit Abby, to follow your Mom!

>13 michigantrumpet: Marianne, I always get 10 or so quick posts when I set up a new thread but what makes it much nicer is having my pals stop by to say hello. xx

Thank you, dear Paul! That is such a lovely photo of Yasmyne up there, but then she probably doesn't take a bad one. She and Abby share a birthday month - Abby will be twenty tomorrow.

>16 Crazymamie: Almost exactly one year between them. I am sure that they would get along if and when I manage to get the tribe stateside. I will certainly remember to stop by her thread tomorrow to wish her happy Tuesday!

Congratulations on the new thread, Paul. Beautiful photo of Yasmyne up there.

>18 jnwelch: Thanks buddy. My thread would be a much lesser place without your regular visits.

Greetings, Paul! I just love it when I catch a new thread early in the game! I agree with the previous posts, Yasmyne is a lovely young lady.
I have a couple of Christie's on this year's TBR stack and I always count on her for a mindless bit of entertainment. That's said with the utmost respect.

>20 Carmenere: It is funny Lynda but fans of the Dame's books will take mindless as the compliment intended!

Happy New Thread, Paul! Lovely photo of Yasmyne, as well.

Just weighing in on your eldest - she really is stunning!

How are you liking MOTOE? I started it last night and it's great fun :) I was supposed to be reading Land of Marvels. Oops.

Just wanted to thank you, Paul, for giving me that Jan Morris poke a thread (or maybe it was two) ago. Hadn't heard of Coast to Coast, but it sounds good. I had heard of Venice, but when I looked for it at Amazon (a couple years ago), the many and varied editions flummoxed me. Your mention of it prompted me to investigate the used market, and I just bought a Folio Society edition of it on eBay. Has to come to eastern PA from Hawaii, and apparently USPS media mail will get it here for $4. I'm kind of excited. First Folio edition for me, first Morris. May be here for Valentine's Day.

Happy New Thread, Paul! Quite a proliferation this week of threads, yes?

Hapoy New Thread, Paul. I admit that I can't keep up pace.

Happy New Thread! Must fish out my Miss Marple book for BAC this month.

Paul - I lost you again! Stay still a minute, would you?

Happy new thread!

ETA : I've discovered why I lost you, but not why I lost you; you're not showing on any of my thread lists and I have to navigate to you via the 75ers Threadbook. But why are you not showing? Suddenly turned shy? Unless I put a cross by one of your old threads in an attempt to clear up my 'Your Posts' list (which is how I keep track of my LT friends) and it's carried through to all your threads. But how to undo it?

SOS - can anyone help?

ETA : found you in my 'Ignored topics' list (sorry!) but I don't know how you got there or how to bring you back in from the cold....

>28 humouress: Nina, all you have to do is to unclick the red x, and then you will stop ignoring him. I've done that before on accident, too - usually when I am on my iPad.

Happy new thread mate.

Happy new thread! I love Murder on the Orient Express. I ought to see if I can find something by Christie that I haven't read, but since so many of her books have different titles on different sides of the pond, it's tricky. I'll think I've found a new one, only to discover that it's one I know by a different name.

>22 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl. That is one of my favourite shots of her.

>23 BekkaJo: Yes Bekka, I suppose when it comes to murder few could make it as enjoyable as Agatha Christie could!

>24 weird_O: Oh dear Bill if I have lead you indirectly to the Folio Society and their gorgeous collection of books, I may well fall foul of your better half as your disposable income will get well and truly disposed when you add to Venice for the sake of aesthetics!

>25 ronincats: Late January has stayed busy, Roni. After peaking in 2013 there has been a slight decline in comparative posting figures - I put up posting records last year on 11 February and I am hopeful that those numbers will get equalled at least this year bucking the trend a little.

>26 Ameise1: Barbara, thanks. I think you have been keeping up splendidly.

>27 BBGirl55: Bryony, I suppose that becomes one of life's important questions - Marple or Poirot? I like the character of Marple better but prefer the books featuring Poirot - go figure!

>28 humouress: I am completely non-plussed too, Nina. I admit that I don't know how to ignore topics or really how to go missing at all! Whatever it is, I am very sure that you had not overlooked me on purpose despite my difficulties of making it to Singapore! xx

>29 Crazymamie: Isn't it funny how we learn something new most every day, Mamie?

>30 johnsimpson: Thanks John. I see Manchester United have gotten themselves a good draw in the last 16 of the FA Cup whilst we have a very tricky looking tie at Watford to look forward to. I think your lot need to get rid of Van Gaal tout-de-suite mate if they are going to get back on a par with Arsenal, Man City et al.

>31 foggidawn: She almost started that trend of two continents two titles didn't she, Foggy?

>28 humouress: If you are on a slow connection or using a tablet or phone to read LT it can be easy to unstar or ignore a thread accidentally. At least that's what happens to me from time to time.

Hi Paul - I decided not to comment on your poetry list, as I'm not a great reader of poetry though I adore verse novels.

Happy New Thread, Paul! Love the Yasmyne Topper! She's a beauty!

Hope the week goes well.

>29 Crazymamie: >34 PaulCranswick: >36 avatiakh: Hmm; while it's definitely in the 'ignore' folder, the X isn't showing as red, so I'm hesitant to click it in case it disappears the thread to somewhere else that I won't be able to find.

And yes, I usually use an iPad or phone to read LT.

So how do I unignore Paul?

>36 avatiakh: I did figure that my poetry list would receive a good deal of bemusement, Kerry. As Faith and others correctly pointed out, poetry is such a personal art that it can be difficult to have a list that speaks to others.

>37 msf59: Thanks mate. Not looking forward to the next couple of days if I am honest.

>38 humouress: I am about to be un-ignored and will glory in it surely! Don't worry too much about it Nina. xx

>38 humouress: Nina, when you come to this thread, at the top do you see "ignore topic"? You want to star the thread and make sure that the ignore topic is not red - if it is red, then unclick it so that it is clear.

Ah, got it. Thanks Mamie!

You're welcome!

>40 Crazymamie: , >41 humouress: >42 Crazymamie:

Well done ladies; I can feel the difference already!

Your migration to a new thread made me almost forget my comments from your previous one.

Regarding the 30 poets, I've read at least one poem by at least half of them.

I've already been warned of the strong bad language in A Brief History of Seven Killings. Someone who read it and has seen my comments has said that I probably would abandon it. I don't know if I'll even attempt it because if it's really so bad this person noticed, then I probably won't like it at all.

Posting Stats at 1 February.

107 threads by my reckoning are above 50 posts. Mamie leading the way from the hardy perennials.

1 crazymamie 1099
2 scaifea 955
3 msf59 874
4 PaulCranswick 844
5 kidzdoc 785
6 jnwelch 752
7 KatieKrug 528
8 EBT1002 512
9 Charl08 470
10 Ameise1 399
11 lkernagh 380
12 Berly 370
13 cbl_tn 369
14 MichiganTrumpet 348
15 DianaNL 325
16 thornton37814 321
17 ireadthereforeiam 312
18 lyzard 310
19 Carmenere 303
20 Whisper1 291
21 BBLBera 289
22 ronincats 285
23 mstrust 279
24 SusanJ67 274
25 Deern 243
26 vancouverdeb 242
27 Chatterbox 234
28 FamilyHistorian 219
29 drneutron 218
30 cameling 204
31 Ape 198
32 SandDune 195
33 souloftherose 192
34 lit_chick 190
35 The_Hibernator 189
36 maggie1944 176
37 LizzieD 173
38 Sibyx 173
39 smiler69 171
40 rosalita 170
41 avatiakh 168
42 johnsimpson 164
43 bell7 162
44 dk_phoenix 161
45 Donna 158
46 coppers 155
47 Oberon 154
48 AMQS 142
49 qebo 140
50 laurelkeet 139
51 Weird_O 128
52 Ursula 120
53 mahsdad 117
54 nittnut 117
55 RichardDerus 117
56 Streamsong 117
57 tymfos 116
58 Porch_Reader 115
59 laytonwoman3rd 110
60 SqueakyChu 107
61 Banjo 106
62 karenmarie 104
63 MickyFine 103
64 foggidawn 102
65 Fourpawz2 101
66 TheBookDiva 101
67 lindapanzo 100
68 luvamystery65 100
69 evilmoose 97
70 storeetllr 97
71 PaulStalder 96
72 BBGirl55 95
73 _zoe_ 92
74 FAMeulstee 92
75 norabelle414 92
76 harrygbutler 91
77 rebarelishesreading 82
78 Dianekeenoy 80
79 labwriter 79
80 rosylibrarian 79
81 eclecticdodo 77
82 Swynn 77
83 ffortsa 71
84 archerygirl 70
85 Aunt Clio 69
86 elliepotten 69
87 Cariola 67
88 SuziQOregon 67
89 Cait86 66
90 catarina1 66
91 inge87 63
92 Kassilem 62
93 cushlareads 59
94 rretzler 58
95 fuzzi 57
96 ctpress 54
97 lovelyluck 54
98 jessibud2 53
99 kac522 53
100 roundballnz 53
101 Xymon81 53
102 aktakukac 52
103 Luxx 52
104 mdoris 52
105 lycomayflower 51
106 tiffin 51
107 mckait 50

>44 thornton37814: Lori, I would never discourage you from reading, but it is certainly true that the book is full of expletives and shooting and sexual violence.

Of the 107 threads listed:

90 are ladies
17 are gentlemen

Residency:
USA : 72
Canada : 12
GBR : 8
NZ : 5
Holland : 2
Switzerland : 2
Italy : 2
Australia : 1
Malaysia : 1
Denmark : 1
Ghana : 1

Ursula is also in Italy, Paul - do you go by permanent residency or where they are living?

Hi, Paul! Just staking a claim on a tiny bit of space on your shiny new but already relatively long thread. Hope your week started out well!

ETA that, though all your children are beautiful, Yasmyne is exquisite, and that's a gorgeous image of her. Did Belle take it? I know Belle is a good photographer.

Happy new thread, and great picture of Yasmyne.

>48 Crazymamie: Thanks for that Mamie. I go unscientifically on where they are living. I thought that Ursula was merely visiting Italy on an extended holiday. I will amend.

>49 Storeetllr: I think Belle maybe did take that one Mary. There will always be a little corner of the thread for you my dear. xx

>50 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. xx

The February British Author Challenge thread is up albeit a bit late:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/218471

#32 I am Marple all the way get that from my Mum.

#45 *does little dance* In top 100 threads!

Not to worry, Mr. C. I don't know what this book cost new, but I'm paying less than $30. It's a pig in a poke; I understand from several sources that Morris's text is excellent. What the trim size is, how many pages it has, and what the FS did to gussy it up, all are things I do not know. You will be blameless (but also creditless). Ha ha.

>47 PaulCranswick: NZ well represented in the stats there, I'm sure per head of population we'd be right up there :)

Happy birhtday month to your oldest, Paul! I have been giving my friends' parents strife for their children turning 40 this year and last...you have a child in the last year of her teens now, so you'll be feeling it too!

>53 BBGirl55: I like Marple because of the old Margaret Rutherford movies which I grew up on. Dance noted!

>54 weird_O: Don't give me too much information Bill or I will start adding Folio Books en bloc on the premise that I am getting a bargain! I am sure it is lovely.

>55 LovingLit: NZ does indeed punch above its weight, Megan. I feel a little older every day. but that is simple mathematics, my dear.

>56 PaulCranswick: there's nothing wrong with age! I wear my greys with pride :)

Lovely pic of Yasmyne. She looks very exotic in black and white! :-)

>57 LovingLit: Same thing, Megan. I don't envisage ever being likely to dye my hair to an imitation of the colour it used to be!

>58 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley. She is far more quixotic than exotic, I fear.

Hi Paul, thanks for all the stats! I've read about 12 of your Commonwealth list, and about 9 of the American authors. Numbers may be a bit off, but many that I haven't read are on my To Read list, and may have been there for a few years now *looks around guiltily* And I was rather surprised to get as high as 4 in your non-fiction list - although I wouldn't include In Patagonia on my own, that's the only place where I violently disagree with you on any of the lists! And I'm at 13 for the translated books. And am trying not to look too hard at the others you have listed, as my To Read list is already spiralling wildly out of control every time I come near this place, and you have been responsible for recommending far too many enjoyable books for me to trust you *eyes Paul suspiciously*

>60 evilmoose: So what you are telling me Megan is that, out of 38 books, only 1 you hated. I would call that pretty sound in terms of recommendations. I can tell you also if I pared down to 25 books per list In Patagonia wouldn't make the cut!
Don't fret about those "suspicious eyes" and keep on coming as I would miss you otherwise. xx

>48 Crazymamie: Good catch, Mamie! I was going to point that out and then didn't have to. :)

>62 ursula: I have corrected my carelessness Ursula. xx

For some reason I double posted my reply to Ursula. In my hurry to keep up on my own thread. This post is to replace that type of type stutter.

^we forgive you :)
I was about to flee your thread in terror with Megan/evilmoose violently disagreeingq with you on the categorisation of In Patagonia. ;) (was she disagreeing that it was NF, or that it was good??'I've read it and all, and didn't rate it too highly)

>65 LovingLit: Well then both Megans are in agreement because she doesn't rate it highly either.

>56 PaulCranswick: I have an unread Rutherford biography somewhere - it's called something wonderful (ETA googled it) Dreadnought with good manners (in my head it was Dreadnought with a handbag, for some reason...). I don't think I got all the way through, but she had a pretty amazing life.

>67 charl08: She always reminded me so much of my dear old gran - they looked somewhat alike also - that watching her now occasions some sadness as well as a lot of fondness.

Thanks for the posting stats, Paul! Looks like the Mighty 75 is still Red-Hot! And once again, Go Mamie!

Hope the week is going well.

Somebody in your sphere is good with the camera. Love the pictures! (And all the stats!)

Happy new thread, Paul!

>69 msf59: I certainly wouldn't write off Amber just yet and I am sure a certain Postie will keep that level of consistency that is his hallmark; Joe is putting up some impressive numbers and our Doc is as good on the threads as he is with the infants (well nearly) and I will have my moments I suppose. It is all good fun though.

>70 countrylife: Thanks Cindy -Belle my youngest fancies herself behind the camera and her big sister likes to get in front of it.
Glad you like the stats - I will do my best to keep them coming.

>71 scaifea: Thanks Amber, you just got mentioned in despatches. xx

>73 PaulCranswick: Ha! I don't begrudge Mamie her top spot - I happily yield the apex to the Queen of Pecans!

>65 LovingLit: Mmm .... I don't know. That's a pretty serious transgression.

>74 scaifea: Oh Amber, surely that would make at least one of you nuts!

>75 humouress: Nina; the Megans can do so wrong in these parts and neither can the Ninas.

>76 PaulCranswick: *snork!*

>77 scaifea: All joking to one side, Amber, it is very noticeable to me (because I am another to visit everybody's thread) just how much thought you give to new members of the group dropping by and welcoming them to the group. Your threads are always so welcoming, warm and engaging. The numbers you have put up in the last few years are a testament to who you are and how much you are treasured here.

Howdy Paul! February is my mom's birthday month and I do miss her. We will drive out to the beach this weekend and celebrate her.

>79 luvamystery65: I do think it is important for us to remember those we love and who loved us so. Your feelings for your mom are well known in the group and say just as much about the daughter as they pay homage to the mom herself. xx

>72 PaulCranswick: I would never, ever write Amber off. She is a driving force around here and I am always in her corner.

I just like seeing the place hopping. B.A.G.

>81 msf59: That is part of the joy and part of the problem. I would like to think I am good pals with all of the top ten posters and would be happy whichever one gets the most posts. I liked the time when I was out front normally just about holding Richard at bay but I always felt others more deserving. You have been on the podium long enough to more than justify the top step and I think all of us would welcome that too.

>80 PaulCranswick: Well said, Paul!

>81 msf59: And you too, Mark! So happy to be back in this lovingly chatty group.

Paul, are you reading Christie in any order?

>83 LauraBrook: I think I have read all of them at some stage Laura so nowadays I just sort of pick up which one calls to me.
When I worked for 10 weeks in Gibraltar at the end of the 1980s I read slightly over a book a day and basically I only read three writers - Christie, MacLean and Hammond Innes

Hi Paul! Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors. In the 1980s and 1990s my mother bought me The Agatha Christie Mystery Collection by Bantam Books - one or two at a time for birthday and Christmas. One memorable time, when I was 5 months pregnant, she sent me 5. I love them and re-read them periodically. Murder on the Orient Express is excellent. My mother gave me that one in 1988. I've just gone to get it, and think I'll re-read it for the umpteenth time.

>85 karenmarie: I did check after Laura's post yesterday and I have read 23 of the 35 Poirot books and 11 of the Marples.

>65 LovingLit: & >66 PaulCranswick: Yes, I definitely didn't rate it highly. I felt like it was drunk, and wandering about aimlessly, and may have thrown up on my carpet once or twice. If sober, it could have been a good book.

>87 evilmoose: Hahaha - I think I should re-read it Megan if I can pluck up the, erm, spirits to do so.

>87 evilmoose: I felt quite proud reading that, seeing as I spent a year living in Chile, but reading the book didn't live up to the expectations I guess. I proudly mentioned having read this ancient book to my dad and he shrugged, which pretty much told me he thought it meh.

SO no to In Patagonia then. Good to know. Evening, Paul! I have no idea how many Agatha Christie's I have read because I read everything I could get my hands on in my teens, and my oldest sister is a huge Christie fan. I do remember that Mrs. McGinty's Dead was my very first and remains one of my favorites because it was where I first encountered Hercule Poirot.

>89 LovingLit: I went back to the work page and read the reviews put there and they are a mixed bag in truth. One of the most reliable of reviewers and my friend, Rebecca (rebeccanyc) thought the book was very good but some others agreed with the two Megans.

>90 Crazymamie: I had a notebook Mamie in which I kept a record of all the books I had read from before the computer age. It was from that book that I checked what I had read and I got that number. It is an approximate one though.

>78 PaulCranswick: Well, gosh. *blushes*

>81 msf59: Mark: I love that you're in my corner! B.A.G.!

>92 scaifea: Mark is a crafty bugger - he is in everybody's corner!

>93 PaulCranswick: Ha! So true!

>92 scaifea: Amber, you will always be Queen of the Threads in my book!

Mamie and Amber taking the lead. It's a long race, though.

Of course, I'm trying very hard not to let my competitive self get activated (who, me? competitive? never!). I do love the stats, though.

Your "Opening First Lines" thing is fun, Paul. I have been thinking that I might not read an Agatha Christie this month but Murder on the Orient Express is such a classic! And Then There Were None is another that I've read (long ago but I remember it as if it were last month) and that has simply never been matched by other mystery writers.

>93 PaulCranswick: "Mark is a crafty bugger - he is in everybody's corner!"
It's true! And it's one of my favorite things about him. :-)

>94 Crazymamie: Part of Mark's charm is that he likes most all of us and all of us certainly like him. One of my absolute ambitions in life is to share a beer or five with him and Joe in Chicago.

>95 EBT1002: Wow Ellen you make it sound like the aftermath of the Iowa caucuses! I see Rand Paul has dropped out today - a strange chap - a mixture of lunacy and good sense.
I have to wrack my brain a little less with the opening lines bit than choosing and sometimes re-typing a poem to top the thread.

>96 EBT1002: Mark is actually my outside bet to top the lists this year as he keeps on keeping on, just as Amber has tended to do and Joe does. Mamie, Richard and myself are or have been more quixotic and can post stellar numbers in bursts. As you know I find the statistics very interesting and the posting patterns bear out those comments.

Tomorrow early morning I am driving up to Phuket in Thailand for a week away with the tribe and our friends who have a second home there. Only problem is that Hani and the girls and Erni are flying with Lisa and her kids (my business partner Charles' wife) whilst Charles and I are driving up there. 12 hours solid driving - it should be fun!

Go Mark! GO Mark!

>100 Crazymamie: Go Joe! Go Joe!

This year's presidential primaries are notable for being even more unbelievable than usual. I'm not a head-in-the-sand sort of girl but I have to say that I am not seeing anyone whose leadership excites me. Heck, I'm not seeing anyone whose leadership can even wake me from a nap!

Twelve hours of solid driving with your business partner -- I suppose that means you can't just sit in the back seat and read, no? I hope it's a good conversation and, of course, the week in Phuket sounds lovely. Is this all vacation?

Well, I was just rooting for Mark because he always roots for me. Who's on top doesn't really matter to me, as I have not one competitive bone in my body, but it sure is fun to watch the threads explode! nice to see things hopping again.

>103 Crazymamie: That is definitely the spirit. We are ALL winners around here!

>102 EBT1002: Yes, Ellen, I would agree that the candidates don't seem the most inspiring bunch ever. Bernie Sanders is an interesting fellow but he doesn't look the healthiest.

Yep it is all vacation. I will do my stint of driving but I expect good reading time too!

>103 Crazymamie: My joke about Mark was that he roots for all of us! & >104 EBT1002: ......Ellen & Mamie, if it became a serious race I certainly wouldn't want to record the numbers - it is fun because we egg each other on and support each others threads. All of the other top ten threads (post numbers wise) are among those I love to visit - we are all such good pals.

"...we are all such good pals." Spot on. It's just such a fun group and I love love love the positive, supportive, friendly banter. I wish I could spend more time amongst you all.

>106 EBT1002: I agree Ellen; there are times when I love my business/career but other times it sucks.

Nope, not in everybody's corner, just my pals. We are a community after all, right?

>99 PaulCranswick: Safe journey, Paul. I can't even manage the 4 hours to KL though admittedly we did get halfway there, to Malacca. And I managed it all myself; driving in cool climates with the insulation and heating makes me sleepy.

Are you following me around Paul? We went to Phuket a couple of months ago, to Kamala Beach. Great fun!

>105 PaulCranswick:, >106 EBT1002: Yep. This is an amazing bunch.

>108 msf59: So true, Mark!

>108 msf59: I'll go with that mate; since we're all pals here ergo both of us were right.

>109 humouress: I have regularly driven to Kulim and back in the same day which is 4 and a half hours there and the same time back. So if we share tomorrow it is "only" six hours driving each! Looking forward to some real down time - and plenty of reading time.

>110 Crazymamie: Agree with all that Mamie, dear.

Go Mamie Go!
Go Ellen Go!

TIOLI READING PLAN FOR FEBRUARY

1. A book of modern Japanese fiction - Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids
2. A book whose title suggests damage -
3. A fiction book Number #1 on NY Times bestseller list during 2010s -
4. A book that references a gold rush -
5. A book where a word in the title can be an action
6. A book set on a means of conveyance - Murder on the Orient Express
7. A book set in a place you've not read about before
8. A book that has an animal in the title - Cat and Mouse
9. A book's first line answers 'Where did it happen' - Coventry
10. A book with the word 'extraordinary' on the cover -
11. A series book that has been a television show - Demelza
12. A book written at least 50 years ago
13. A book in which the newspaper "The Times" is mentioned - The Zimmerman Telegram
14. A book with a "leap" in the title or text
15. A book about black history -
16. A book from Bowie's Top 100 list -
17. A book with a person-possessive title
18. A book with a four-corner-letter-word on page 20 or 16 -
19. A nonfiction book of the Asian continent -

I'm so far behind, Paul. I hope doing better now. Waving.

>90 Crazymamie: Oh geez, somehow I missed the In Patagonia discussion. I liked that book a lot. That and The Songlines are my two favorites by Chatwin.

>114 Ameise1: Don't worry, I am lost too, Barbara

>115 jnwelch: Finally someone else that liked it Joe.

Hey Paul, Happy and Safe travels to you, your family and co-workers! I've tossed a Christie on my planned reads for this month, just because, well, it's your challenge!
Congrats to the top 107!

Safe travels, Paul!

Hi Paul! Enjoy you down time and reading time.

Paul, I just wanted to let you know I've checked in with Book Depository about the missing Christmas Swap package. Their only advice offered was to check if it was stuck in a local sorting office in KL. So helpful. I've asked whether they will offer a refund or voucher for the lost items and am awaiting a response. Not terribly impressed with their customer service, to be honest.

>120 katiekrug: That's too bad, Katie. A couple of years ago my Christmas Swap package never arrived but Book Depository sent me a new one, no questions asked. Sounds like their policy has changed.

Hi Paul!

>117 Carmenere: Thanks Lynda you are such a sweetie.

I am typing this in a restaurant by the nai yang beach in northern Phuket. Sipping an ice cold Heineken and waiting for my barbecued fish fillet. The drive up from Kuala Lumpur was arduous but Charlie and I made it after 13 long hours. Hani and the rest of the gang flew up early this morning and I am using her phone to catch up.

>118 DianaNL: Thank you Diana xx

>119 karenmarie: Well Karen I have recovered from the drive and am starting to chill.

>120 katiekrug:. Thank you for troubling with it Katie. I will follow up on my side when I go back. It doesn't sound as if they were helpful but I haven't had any books go astray from them before.

>121 DeltaQueen50: That would be a great solution Judy.

Enjoy your stay, Paul!

>122 PaulCranswick: Gosh, Paul, I don't know how you can stand it. You're so brave! ;0)

Oh. I see, then. I'm not particularly special, having Mark in my corner. Fine. No, really, I'm fine with that. I'll just be over here in my not-so-extraordinary corner. Demonstrably not pouting.

Seriously, though. I agree with Mamie that I've never really looked at it as a race and remain bemused that enough of you find it worth your while to visit my threads repeatedly to put me in the top posts regularly. I love this group, which has become such an integral part of my every day. I feel that my life is so much richer with all of you in it. Thanks so much for being my friends and letting me be yours.

I ordered two copies of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent for members of my real life bookclub (we are reading it in March) and was notified by Better World Books that they were unable to fill the order. So I went back online and ordered two more copies from two different sources. Wouldn't you know it! One day I got the two copies from Better World Books and the next day got both of the copies that I ordered to replace them. I can only hope that the ladies in my book club need the extra two copies.

Paul, I think I read most every book by Agatha Christie in my teens and as young adult. I was fortunate to have grandparents with a basement full of books -and they certainly loved their Agatha Christie's, so I must give them a lot of credit. I was very blessed to have a lot of access to books as child - via my grandparent's, my own parent's and my mom's once a month trip to the bookstore where each of we five kids were encouraged to choose our own book and read it. Truthfully, my family of origin - we all read books at the dinner table and breakfast table - and everything now and then my mom would say - we've got all 7 people at the table, - we'll have to put our books away while we eat.

Happy Vacation, Paul and Family! I must say that you are surrounded by gorgeous women!
You may put me in the list of those who really enjoyed In Patagonia although I don't know that I'd include it in a BEST list.
Benita reminds me that I started Burial Rites and couldn't get past the writing. I'll try again; I do get curmudgeonly now and then - maybe mostly now.
I have loved Christie since I was 11 and read Murder on the Links. I was pretty sure I knew what "links" meant, but I wouldn't have testified to it in court.

>125 DianaNL: Thanks Diana, I look like a lobster already.

>126 humouress: Well the 13 hours was a bit on the tough side Nina but the rest of it is relaxing, although 1 year old twins can make a fair bit of noise together!

>127 scaifea: Thank you Amber - I think we all know why you get so many posts and to term your activity on this group is anything if not extraordinary. You will always be a favourite of mine. xx

>128 benitastrnad: You make book ordering sound like waiting for London buses, Benita!

>129 vancouverdeb: I used to get into trouble for trying to read and eat at the same time, Deb. I had teachers, a gran and an uncle who encouraged me to choose what I liked to read rather people determining what I read and it is amazing how you enjoy it more choosing your own.

>130 LizzieD: You know Peggy, I don't associate you at all with the word "curmudgeon" at all. I won't be a smart Alec and explain the difference between a links golf course and a parkland one but the sea air for the former accompanies a walk nicely.

I won't get round the threads much for the next couple of days as I am relying on Hani's "hot-spot" and she is protective of it!

Happy Saturday, Paul! Hope you are enjoying an R & R weekend. Since, I put W & P behind me, I can now rocket forward.

Holiday sounds lovely Paul. Enjoy your break.

Happy weekend, Paul.

Hope you've completely recovered from the drive and are good and chilled out :) Have fun with the folks!

Have a lovely weekend, Paul. What a great January you had!

Safe and happy travels, Paul!

Enjoy your vacation! Everyone needs to relax sometime. Hope you have time to get to some of those books I'm sure you took with you! If not, I'm sure you can find a bookstore. ;-)

Paul, thanks for the nudge to read Agatha Christie this month. I haven't picked up a Christie since my teenage years which was over half a century ago! I'm still a girl at heart so I know I will enjoy the trip back to my youth via at least one book!

I trust you are having some lovely family time together. Your family always looks like you all enjoy each other so much. Fun times!

Happy Weekend, mate.

Our mystery-loving daughter owns every Agatha Christie book out there, and was nice enough to lend me The Moving Finger. I read it as a wee lad, and don't remember much, other than that it was good. So that'll be my BAC book this month.

I have only read one Agatha Christie, Amy has them all as she liked her and over a period of three of four years I picked up old copies of all her books, Amy was very appreciative.

Dropping in a little late to say happy new-ish thread and enjoy your vacation!

Happy new thread and happy weekend Paul! xx

>135 msf59: it hardly seems fair Mark to count War and Peace as only one book. I am sure that you'll move forward like buzz lightyear now.

>136 charl08: it is a good rest Charlotte. I managed a bit of reading this morning by the pool

>137 Ameise1: Thank you Barbara you foxy lady.

>138 BekkaJo: All fine Bekka but I will start worrying about the journey back soon.

>139 BLBera: I think so many of us had good Januaries Beth. Yours was more than half decent too.

>140 scaifea: Thankyou Amber dear.

"To Infinity and Beyond..."

Waah - totally lost again and February is only a week old! Happy half-full thread and happy vacation in Thailand!

I came in to say a Happy New Thread, but I guess I should have waited until the NEXT one...haha. Hope you've had a fantastic vacation with the fam!

>141 thornton37814: I haven't seen anything like a bookstore here Lori. The only books I did see in 7-11 were in Thai.

>142 Donna828: I have just finished Murder on the Orient Express and although I remembered the solution I still enjoyed the revisit. Charlie and his adorable wife Lisa are great fun and the holiday is going great but for limited internet.

>143 jnwelch: I am sure you will enjoy that one again Joe.....they are like old friends.

>144 johnsimpson: That does surprise me John. No way could you term them literature but they are great fun.

>145 amanda4242: Thanks Amanda. The thread has slowed with little Internet access but the holiday is going swimmingly.

>146 The_Hibernator: Thank you Rachel. I trust your weekend has been as good as mine.

Evening, Paul! Murder on the Orient Express is a favorite of Rae's, and I like it, too. SO glad that you are enjoying a lovely holiday, but my sympathies about the lack of internet - I always miss that when I don't have access to it.

Glad you've been having a good holiday and weekend, mate.

That Dame Agatha is a crafty one, isn't she? Murder on the Orient Express is one of her very best, IMO. Our daughter's favorite is And Then There Were None. I've got a soft spot for both The Tuesday Murder Club aka The Thirteen Problems and The Mysterious Mr. Quin.

>154 PaulCranswick:, Am confused Paul or is it my age, lol.

I am taking advantage of Superbowl Sunday to try and catch up with some threads. Happy new thread, Paul and have a wonderful vacation time in Phuket!

Stopping by to say hello to you Paul! Thanks for the time spent in compiling all the stats.

>150 msf59: Kyran used to love Toy Story when he was just learning to talk. But he mispronounced it wonderfully as "nip nippity and beyond".

>151 Deern: I wonder if that will catch on Nathalie. Happy Half Thread. Good idea.

>152 dk_phoenix: Still got three more days to avoid getting sunburnt. Hope your week will be a wonderful one Faith.

>156 Crazymamie: I am utterly dependent on taking hotspot from Hani as my phone won't work here on the internet for some reason. She is rationing me cruelly.

>157 jnwelch: My absolute favourite is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Joe, but she always entertained.

>158 johnsimpson: The surprise was only one Ms. Christie read mate and we are BOTH getting old.

>159 lkernagh: Thanks Lori. I am only interested in the Superbowl to see if Mamie
comes out smiling. Hopefully she does!

>160 Whisper1: Lovely to see you Linda. I hope you have no pain at the moment.

"I am utterly dependent on taking hotspot from Hani as my phone won't work here on the internet for some reason. She is rationing me cruelly"

Hmmm Handbag bribing maybe needed ????

apart from your rationing I hope the weekend has been great to you ........

Hope you are still enjoying your vaccay, Paul. I read most of the Christie's in my teens at least, I think I did, it was always very confusing with the change in titles. My favourite was Miss Marple until David Suchet played Poirot, after that I enjoyed the Poirot books more.

Oh, dear. Rationing? You poor thing. And I'll save you the trouble of checking - I am smiling BIG. We won, so I am most happy.

Yes. Mamie, Lori, and Carrie are all smiling because Peyton won!

>163 PaulCranswick: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a classic, and reportedly made a lot of readers angry at the time. She was so clever.

I love "nip nippity and beyond". Our daughter wonderfully used to call pajamas "jamajas" when she was little, and I unsuccessfully tried to get her to keep calling them that as she got older.

Morning Paul!! Slipped that in right before noon here. Your thread is exploding.

Hi, Paul! I hope you're relaxing and NOT getting sunburnt. The sun shines here, but there is no worry about the burn, with temperatures hanging around the freezing point. But still no snow to speak of. I wish I could keep up with your threads!

>165 roundballnz: Well I did give her some pocket money yesterday, Alex, so hopefully that improves my situation somewhat!

>166 Familyhistorian: David Suchet really became Hercule Poirot didn't he, Meg? A little like I always see Margaret Rutherford when I am reading Miss Marple.

>167 Crazymamie: I did check Mamie and sent over to your thread to wallow in your happiness but lost internet just as I was posting! I will say it over here for now then that I am pleased for my pal from the Pecan Paradisio.

>168 thornton37814: I am just as pleased then for you and Carrie, Lori.

>169 jnwelch: Nice story Joe. Belle's own slip used to be she used to excitedly exclaim "member" instead of remember when drawing our attention to something. Kyran, a polite boy, would preface with "excuse me" before asking a total stranger a completely inappropriate question. Something like "what's wrong with your teeth?"

>170 Thebookdiva: Morning right back at you Abby! You would enjoy the leisure time here I am sure ....reading by the pool, sampling the local food, the beautiful scenery.

>171 laytonwoman3rd: I am too much of a bookworm to get burnt, Linda!

Actually managed to find a bookstore yesterday as we went to one of Phuket's only malls. They had a small selection but an ok one and I added one book

White Crocodile by KT Medina (2014) 374 pp

I also bought a copy of the British satirical magazine Private Eye which is not available for sale in Malaysia.

>113 PaulCranswick: yay, you plan to read one om Bowies list. :)
I started In Cold Blood this morning. And I am loving it so far....but, I have this terrible sense of foreboding. I can't figure out why ;)

>165 roundballnz: handbag bribing! Classic.

>174 PaulCranswick: I love kids crazy substitute words. Lenny's recently advertised 'chickeraki' chicken for teriyaki chicken springs to mind. And snippy pickers will always be what we call tongs around here now. A less obvious one is dig-eye-digga for trailer. It was the 'r's that wrecked that particular word for a vey young talker. His tongue was everywher in attempting to say it :)

Enjoy your beach and your hotspot!

>176 LovingLit: I knew we could rely on your boys for some classics!
I am going to read the Nellie Larsson on Bowie's list. Knew you would like In Cold Blood.

>174 PaulCranswick: I love the idea of politely beginning with "excuse me" before asking something wildly inappropriate! As for childhood mispronunciations, my daughter used to call juice "goof." That one always amused me.

>178 ursula: Ursula, Kyran was taught to be polite but he cannot help himself. I also remember him being taken to the neighbour of my mother to apologise after throwing something over the fence into her garden. "It's ok" , she said "Do you know you love, I'm 98?
"My God" he replied "You'll soon be dead!".
Unfortunately he was right. She died two weeks later.

>179 PaulCranswick: - Paul, I recently retired from teaching primary school. For years, I kept a notebook in which I'd jot down funny things kids said. I titled that notebook *Kidisms*. From the mouths of babes.... ;-)

Howdy, Paul! So happy you finally found a bookstore! The mall is a wonderful place to avoid sunburn, as long as it is enclosed.
I couldn't help but laugh aloud reading Kyran's "excuse me" tale and OMG the 98 year old lady story, too much!
The drive up from Kuala Lumpur was arduous I'm interested....what makes the drive arduous? Mountains, poor roads, boring drive".
As you pack up to head home, wish you safe travels. More arduous driving or flying?

>180 jessibud2: I hope you'll share some off those "kidisms" with us Shelley.

>181 Carmenere: It was a combination of things really Lynda. 13 hours of solid driving, unfamiliar Thai roads, unfriendly Thai border crossing, 4 a.m. start to make sure that we made it here I time for Charlie and Yasmyne arriving in the evening and Charlie having the remnants of his serious eye infection........arduous!

Hi Paul, thought you'd like to know that I started on my first William Dalrymple book last night, From the Holy Mountain and am completely charmed. What a fantastic writer! I must thank you again for making him a selection this month, otherwise it might have taken me goodness knows how long to get to him.

>179 PaulCranswick: oh my goodness, that is classic :)

>180 jessibud2: brilliant idea to write them down. I collect my own childrens' isms here on LT on my thread. The most descriptive one I have had yet was when L was 3 and had strep throat, I asked him what hurt, if anything was sore. He replied "the roundabouts of my eyeballs and in between my skeletons". The doctor and myself thought that a very apt synopsis!

Kyran's comment to the elderly neighbour is priceless. I just read Kamchatka on Katie's recommendation - it as full of wonderful moments where kids completely misunderstood what was going on - especially in church. As someone who was convinced theapostlejohnwrote was one, mystery word until I learnt to read, this rang true for me.

Quick Hello, Paul - hope things are going well. I've been reading everybody's comments about Agatha Christie - I love everything she wrote EXCEPT her Tuppence and Tommy series. I have pretty much all of her books on my shelves, T&T included, but have never even cracked most of the T&Ts.

>182 PaulCranswick:- I will definitely share, as soon as I remember where I put the notebook. Hopefully, soon

>174 PaulCranswick: Love this story. I'm going to have to 'member to say "Excuse me, ..." at the start of all my own interactions. Will save TONS of heartache and trouble to be sure! (Or does one have to be a cute kid to pull off properly?)

Happy vacationing! : ) Love all the kiddisms here--they are so cute!

>183 Smiler69: I am also reading Dalrymple amongst others at the moment. His Return of a King about the Great Game and the Afghan wars. He certainly knows how to engage the reader.

>184 LovingLit: Lenny sounds like a doctor in the making! Great story Megan and I agree that Shelley's idea to not them down is a sound one.

>185 charl08: Church can be as baffling to some adults as well as the kids Charlotte! I remember my time as an altar boy waiting in expectation of snaffling some of the communion wins rather than trying to ponder on its meaning.

>186 karenmarie: I haven't read any of those Karen but I note that there is now a BBC series of the books. With the name "Tuppence" it is just a little too twee.

>187 jessibud2: We will hold you to that Shelley!

>188 michigantrumpet: Lovely post Marianne. East Coast ladies can clearly get away with it too.

>189 Berly: Thanks Kimmers!

Hej Paul, just flying by. *waving*

>193 paulstalder: great to see you as always, Paul

Paul, thanks for stopping by my thread to say hello. I've starred yours, but I can see that I likely won't be able to keep up with it. I tend to be a bit of a quiet hermit on LT. But it's February and I'm still visiting other threads! That's a big improvement for me compared to other years.

I am a big fan of Christie, and especially Miss Marple. Have you read this ode to her?
http://sarahtales.livejournal.com/196423.html?page=1
Makes me laugh every time: "Some weird kinky stuff goes down in Miss Marple’s books. Poirot was not ready for that jelly. Miss Marple’s like ‘Oh, I remember having that jelly at the village fair. Twenty years ago.’"

>195 justchris: Lovely to see you here. Entertaining essay I must say even though I wouldn't put Joan Hickson before Margaret Rutherford.

I do hope you are able to drop by every now and again as I always try to make my pals welcome.

Hey Paul! Before I forget, I just wanted to say the snorkeling pics on FB are amazing. It looks as if you're all in paradise! Enjoy!!

>197 Carmenere: Lynda I haven't seen those pictures yet! I didn't go and stayed back reading. The wife and Yasmyne are already back in Kl but Belle, Erni and Charles will set off driving back very soon.

Safe travels back, Paul

>199 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita. I am back on "home soil" and typing this on my phone as I hurtle down past Pinang whilst Charlie takes a turn at the wheel. Hopefully I will update later.

Have a happy weekend, after your Thai adventure.

>201 DianaNL: Thanks Diana - I am safely back in Kuala Lumpur after 15 hours solid driving almost literally puffing and panting; your doggie photo is therefore very appropriate!

I am looking forward to a couple of days catching up on the threads and updating my own reading.

Welcome home, Paul!

>203 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie xx

Hi Paul, just passing by to wish you a very lovely and enjoyable weekend mate, sending love and hugs to all.

Welcome home! Is it hard coming back?

>205 johnsimpson: Thank you John. I have just had a full six hours kip and will get round some of the threads shortly.

>206 michigantrumpet: Yes and Yes Marianne. It was lovely putting life on hold so to speak last week without really any internet in an environment I would defy anyone not to enjoy. The journey itself was also on the tough side from a fairly hazardous early morning trail through Thailand's slowly improving but strangely lighted roads to busy Malaysian northern expressways as the Chinese community anticipate even busier roads on Saturday and Sunday.

POSTING STATS UPDATE

Having a week without internet my personal posting has suffered a little but overall posting activity is close to last years level. Last year 106 threads had over 60 posts and this year it is 102 threads with many other threads close to that number. Here are those 102:

1 crazymamie 1451
2 scaifea 1216
3 msf59 1172
4 PaulCranswick 1008
5 jnwelch 994
6 kidzdoc 937
7 KatieKrug 720
8 EBT1002 701
9 Charl08 658
10 Ameise1 499
11 cbl_tn 467
12 lkernagh 449
13 MichiganTrumpet 444
14 Berly 432
15 Carmenere 405
16 DianaNL 400
17 thornton37814 397
18 ireadthereforeiam 383
19 BBLBera 369
20 SusanJ67 366
21 ronincats 361
22 vancouverdeb 353
23 mstrust 350
24 Whisper1 348
25 lyzard 328
26 Chatterbox 315
27 FamilyHistorian 308
28 Deern 304
29 SandDune 285
30 lit_chick 263
31 Ape 259
32 drneutron 256
33 smiler69 244
34 The_Hibernator 243
35 LizzieD 229
36 souloftherose 221
37 cameling 220
38 avatiakh 215
39 Sibyx 210
40 johnsimpson 204
41 maggie1944 201
42 AMQS 200
43 Donna 200
44 coppers 199
45 rosalita 192
46 bell7 187
47 laurelkeet 184
48 dk_phoenix 182
49 Oberon 176
50 Weird_O 174
51 qebo 169
52 tymfos 154
53 Ursula 147
54 Streamsong 143
55 laytonwoman3rd 142
56 mahsdad 141
57 nittnut 138
58 TheBookDiva 135
59 PaulStalder 130
60 karenmarie 129
61 Porch_Reader 129
62 foggidawn 128
63 RichardDerus 126
64 Dianekeenoy 125
65 Banjo 123
66 luvamystery65 123
67 FAMeulstee 117
68 norabelle414 116
69 _zoe_ 115
70 SqueakyChu 115
71 lindapanzo 114
72 rebarelishesreading 114
73 storeetllr 114
74 evilmoose 112
75 Fourpawz2 112
76 MickyFine 112
77 BBGirl55 111
78 harrygbutler 103
79 ctpress 93
80 labwriter 93
81 eclecticdodo 92
82 rosylibrarian 91
83 archerygirl 84
84 elliepotten 84
85 ffortsa 81
86 Kassilem 80
87 Humouress 78
88 mdoris 78
89 rretzler 78
90 Swynn 78
91 inge87 75
92 SuziQOregon 75
93 Cait86 74
94 Aunt Clio 72
95 Cariola 71
96 catarina1 68
97 Xymon81 68
98 lovelyluck 65
99 cushlareads 63
100 aktakukac 60
101 fuzzi 60
102 jessibud2 60

Hi Paul, dropping by to catch up and wish you a great weekend.

He certainly knows how to engage the reader.

You can say that again! From the Holy Mountain is my first book by Dalrymple, but certainly not my last! I happen to already have City of Djinns on the tbr, so that might be the next one, unless I acquire other titles of his in near future, which is not at all unlikely!

>209 Smiler69: I had heard many good things about William Dalrymple, Ilana, and he got a number of quick nominations last year when I asked for ideas. I am also so pleased I backed a hunch and shortlisted him.

>208 PaulCranswick: Love the stats but really, there are less posts than last year? Why am I so much further behind?

Have a great weekend .... tortured myself by watching the NZ vs Aus in Test cricket today .... don't do it people its not worth the pain!

Off to start another book I think

Your thread is reminding me that I must pick up the Dalrymple! It's been sitting on my shelves for so long, what a shock to finally get taken down and read.

>211 Familyhistorian: Well Meg, I don't wish to be an absolute anorak but at February 11 2015 the top 106 threads had garnered 28,481 posts - this year at the same stage the top 106 threads had 26,466 posts - so it was close. Last year at this stage you stood in 78th place with 108 posts whilst this year you had already 200 more posts with 308 for 27th place.

>212 roundballnz: Well I reckon that test is beyond the Black Caps, Alex. Amazingly Voges is averaging over 100 in test cricket at the age of 36. Just to drop into my stats mode - he has scored 551 runs to date in test matches between dismissals and this is a record beating Tendulkar whose previous record was 497. His present average of 100.33 is currently the highest in test history for anyone playing more than 1 innings - amazing!

>213 charl08: So far so good Charlotte. I reckon some of my books would be utterly bewildered to be taken down from their overly long resting place.

Mamie on Top! Mamie on Top!

Happy Weekend, Paul! I wish I could have joined you on vacation. I could have used some warmth and a beachy setting. Toes in the sand, with a drink and book in hand. It has been COLD here!

I hope you are getting back into the swing of things.

>215 msf59: Yep Mark, I got all of that in Phuket - it was a real R&R experience. I will try to cosset a few photos from the Boss to share here.

Cosset away, my friend, so I can gaze on with envy.

>217 msf59: I have to cosset them Mark otherwise she would never let me take them!

Some prawns we cooked up:



Me and Belle and Agatha Christie



View from the beach

Typical Phuket market stall



View from the snorkelling vessel



Mother and Daughter in rare moment of accord

There were one or two fish in the water



Alex and Lauren (The Twins) double teaming the camera



Charlie and I plotting world domination or our next beer

Oh gorgeous pictures, Paul! Thanks for sharing them with us on LT. Great captions! I love the beautiful beach scene in particular. Great picture of you and Belle . I'll take a pass on the prawns:)

Lovely photos, Paul! I thank you for sharing them. And I am so happy that you are back home again, although it sounds like a fun and relaxing get away. Your girls are beautiful, as ever!

Love the photos. The food in >220 PaulCranswick: looks yum!

Glad you're home, Paul! Thanks for the wonderful pictures!! I say again that you are surrounded by beautiful women. Don't have a chance, do you?
Let's see ---- I own one Dalrymple, Nine Lives, which I imagine is maybe not the one to read first, but it was available at PBS.
And allow me to add my own kiddisms..... Maybe the best one is DH's childhood friend's, "moconut co-raccoons," a favorite confection. DH and I were less creative. For him Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer "yougelled" down in history. I sang, "Sleep in heavenly peas," and I hated garden peas and felt really sorry for the baby Jesus.

I love the pictures too Paul. Welcome home!

Beautiful photos! I may be just a smidge jealous...

Paul must be back home--look at the traffic! ;-)

Another picture fan. Looks like a good time had by all. I still haven't quite cracked open the Dalrymple...

Great photos, Paul!

>192 PaulCranswick: - Ok, Paul, here is one of my Kidisms. This happened many years ago. I was a teacher in a school for physically and developmentally disabled kids, here in Toronto. My mum was visiting me one time, from Montreal and she came to school with me one day. I asked one of my more articulate kids to introduce the students to my mum. Understand that my students were 6, and 7 years old and that some of them were beginning to read. Very recently, we had been working on recognizing and differentiating between the sounds of *f* and *th*, and the way kids often confuse these sounds (one, two, *free*, or *toof* instead of *tooth*). So, Cameron is introducing each student to my mum. Then he comes to Kyle. "This is Kyle," he says. "He is death."

By now you should figure out that Kyle is *deaf*, not *death*. At least Cameron had been paying attention to our lessons....! ;-)

Kidism - my favourite of my oldest boy - 'porse drumping' for horse jumping at a Field Days outing.
Another son said - 'eep' so much it almost drove us crazy. Years later I discovered a Dutch children's book Eep! so I bought him a copy.

Great photos! I especially love the one of you and Belle.

>222 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb; I am happy enough to retain the prawns - they were yummy actually.

>223 Crazymamie: You are right Mamie. It is great to get away in order to relax and recuperate, but having done so, it is so much better to come home.

>224 rosylibrarian: They were tasty Marie. There is little better than seafood by the sea in the tropics.

>225 LizzieD: Peggy as I have said before, my ladies are lucky not to share to greedily from my gene pool. I have that book too by Dalrymple and by all accounts it is well worth a go. The kidisms are too cute. xx

>226 Smiler69: Thank you dear Ilana. I safely expect work will take its revenge next week my having avoided it steadfastly for a whole week.

>227 BekkaJo: The Channel Islands are just as lovely too in their way, Bekka. xx

>228 ronincats: Hahaha - the road traffic definitely slowed down my thread traffic Roni. I hadn't quite figured that 15 hours would be required to make it home.

>229 charl08: Charlotte, the salt sea air was surprisingly very good for Charlie's dodgy eyes as well as it was conducive to my mental well being.

>230 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl.

>231 jessibud2: Very nice Shelley. I am sure endless thun could be had wif fat one.

>232 avatiakh: It is wonderful Kerry how our kids invent new words or misappropriate old ones isn't it?

>233 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. What is funny is that Belle hates any form of physical contact and is an extremely awkward and reserved young lady. What you see is a grimace more than a smile from her!

>214 PaulCranswick: Well if they could just learn to occupy the crease a draw could be on, a win was out of their hands on day 1 .... Voges is a real talent! none of the usual Aussie bravado either ( we will leave to umpiring disaster alone) now the stats boys on TV commentary were stating Bradman's stats were still better than Voges - at same Number innings ?? though can see others star he is better than Bradman .... big boots to fill there

Lovely pic of You & Belle up there .... def in holiday mode

>238 roundballnz: Well he was finally out. 614 runs between dismissals is extraordinary and beats a record in a 144 years of test cricket by an amazing 117 runs!
His average has dropped below Bradman's by a fraction but with New Zealand's bowling at the moment who knows?

I really enjoyed your vacation pictures, Paul. Cute twins! Also loved the one of you hugging Belle…with a book under your arm. We can never be without our books, can we?

Love the vacation photos, Paul! I would have fit in perfectly. Sad face...

>240 Donna828: Donna, they are adorable but hard work those two little princesses. At least the book wasn't squirming.

>241 msf59: You would have fit right in mate. Plenty of books and beer, good cooks and good cheer.

I posted this on Karen's thread (maggie1944) and I will put it here as a reminder to myself.

I am now 232 lbs which is heavier than I have ever been and it is not acceptable when I have a stressful life and so many dependents. I am also losing some of my stamina and have to act now.

I have come back from Phuket with a determination to look after myself a little better; lose weight, exercise more, eat better foods, rest up more and sleep in a more planned manner. Some things I will be doing:

1 Start my day with lemon juice slightly diluted in warm mineral water (it has been shown to balance your body sytem and help metabolism.

2 After my shower. Wholemeal toast, muesli and my coffee.

3 Lunch will be hard boiled eggs or tuna and a piece of fruit and a yogurt.

4 Dinner will be before 7 pm and will NOT involve any rice which I will replace with quinoa.

5. No fast food, no cakes and chips, cut out anything over a single glass of wine, nip of single malt or glass of beer. Plenty of mineral water. No added sugars.

6. Swim or walk every day for the month prior to stepping up things as the weight reduces a little.

Happy Valentines Day to everybody!

Here is my own Valentine (thankfully quietly sleeping at present) with yours truly in Krabi, Thailand about fours ago:

>219 PaulCranswick: I can see you and Belle (nice picture) but it is hard to see Agatha! Great holiday pics, Paul. Looks like you were all enjoying yourselves.
>244 PaulCranswick: I found https://www.myfitnesspal.com/ helpful in keeping me on track and, of course, my FitBit helps keep me active as well.

>245 Familyhistorian: I will look that one up for sure, Meg. xx

Great Thailand photos! And a very debonair final one! The twins look so cute! And a handful...what happens in the event that there is one caregiver and one twin crawls one way and the other twin the other way?! Yikes ;)

Your health plans sound so difficult....I am always intending to be healthier and lose a little weight, but in honesty, the only times I have lost weight is when I have either been stressed or on morphine based medications! Not a good tactic to rely on for me then. Good luck on your quest, it's a tough road, but as soon as you get some sense of it working, it will get easier!

>247 LovingLit: Thanks for that Megan. Yasmyne has been banging on about quinoa for a while and I tried it on holiday and thought it great. As it is a grain or seed it doesn't have the starch, sugar and carbs that rice has and which has contributed to my personal one-man balloon show.

A typical portion is only 50 plus calories and is a very tasty alternative.

>174 PaulCranswick: before asking a total stranger a completely inappropriate question. Ah yes, that one. Just yesterday my youngest challenged someone with "What are you doing here?" We were in the lobby of the club, and as far as I know, had never met the man before. Though I never know, he's such a sociable creature, he stops to chat with everyone, and he most likely meant it as a conversation opener, which is how the guy took it.

>186 karenmarie: I thought the Tommy & Tuppence were quite cute (though not as incisive as, say, Poirot) but I never found more than one or two. Is 'Tuppence' in reference to her hair colour (copper)?

>196 PaulCranswick: I don't know; I saw the Margaret Rutherfords before they made the Joan Hicksons Miss Marples, and I thought she was a bit too brash. Each to their own.

>249 humouress: You gotta love kids Nina. I remember Kyran in the elevator on his way to a kid's playgroup asking politely a heavily pregnant lady "What's wrong with your tummy?". "I'm pregnant sweetie", she replied - "My mummy was pregnant and she didn't look like you" was his riposte.

Love all the photos of your trip and, of course, the happy couple!

>250 PaulCranswick: Classic!

My kids had so many, but even my youngest is growing out of them; the only one I can ever remember of his is that he called beet roots 'beet fruit'. We do remember he mispronounced his name when he was learning to talk, and sometimes call him that. And my eldest would say 'foo' instead of move, which I still use sometimes, to the kids' utter bewilderment.

251 Thanks Kimmers. I am going to take her to dinner shortly.

>252 humouress: I like those too Nina. Isn't it funny how we cling to those sorts of things. We do it all the time too.

Best of luck on your new and healthier lifestyle, Paul. I have varying success at the same, falling off then climbing back on that wagon. We eat a fair amount of quinoa here at Scaife Manor, as it's a nice gluten-free option for Tomm.

>243 PaulCranswick: Looks like a good plan, Paul! There are many of us on LT dependent upon you too.
>244 PaulCranswick: Lovely picture!

This is driving me crazy.....How do you pronounce Phuket ? I know it can't be the way I'm thinking.

Happy Valentine's Day, Paul!

Love the photo, and I am wishing you the best of luck with your health plans. I lost 50 pounds last year, and it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I feel so much better and have so much more energy. Sending you positive mojo, my friend.

That's not you on the Graham Norton show, is it Paul? There's a Paul in the red chair from oop North somewhere who looks rather like you, telling a story of when his now-teenage son was a toddler.

>254 scaifea: I am surprised at exactly how tasty quinoa is Amber. It acts as a wonderful substitute to rice and gives all of its benefits with none of the downsides of rice.

>255 Carmenere: Flattery can get you everywhere, Lynda!
The pronunciation of Phuket changes somewhat depending upon your intake of alcoholic beverage. I don't speak Thai but having heard them I would say the closest approximation would be POO-KET.

>256 Crazymamie: Thank you Mamie. That is so impressive. If I could do something similar (4 stone) or 25 kilos and I think that I would be happier in my skin.

>257 humouress: No it isn't Nina but I wouldn't mind that gig at all; Graham Norton is such good fun.

>243 PaulCranswick: I don't start my day with lemon (I know it is supposed to be good) but during the day I drink a lot of lemon juice with tapped water, besides my 4 cups of coffee & 2 cups of green tea

I like the benifits of quinoa, but have troube with the impacts of our taste for quinoa, the prices have gone up and locals in Latin-America can't afford their traditional food anymore...

I start the day with a cup of coffee, and after a walk with the dogs I have breakfast with Weetabix with cocosmilk, followed by a cup of green tea (gunpowder).
I love Weetabix, so that is the main reason not to give up wheat ;-)

>244 PaulCranswick: Nice picture of you two :-)

>260 FAMeulstee: Quinoa is extremely expensive Anita. Over here a smallish packet is almost $10.

I won't do this every day as I would bore everyone to tears but this is tomorrow's menu:

Breakfast : Muesli with skimmed milk; two smallish slices of high-grain bread; lemon juice with warm mineral water; coffee (no milk or sugar)

Lunch : Tuna (1/3 can in brine) with black pepper and baby tomatoes; hard boiled egg; fuji apple

Dinner : Chicken breast (no skin) grilled and served with vegetables (kale, leeks and baby bell peppers) sauteed in olive oil and a small jacket potato; non-fat Yogurt; coffee (no milk or sugar)

8 glasses of Spritzer mineral water (high mineral content)

1,500 calories approximately

That is one healthy menu, Paul. You, go!

>261 PaulCranswick: as I would bore everyone to tears
not everyone ;-)

Looks like a foodwise healthy day, Paul, some exercise included too?

>262 lit_chick: Thanks Nancy. I want to enjoy my food so that what I do will be sustainable. I don't think I will miss the rice but the lunches with my penchant for fried rice or noodles (fried or in soup) will need some watching. Packing a lunch to work should change that.

>263 FAMeulstee: Half an hour walking and twenty minutes or so of breast-stroke in the condo pool should do it for me, Anita.

Couple of additions I forgot to mention from yesterday:

27. A Brief Stop on the Road From Auschwitz by Goran Rosenberg (2012) 331 pp
This won the August Prize for Literature
28. Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser (1996) 274 pp
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1997

Good luck with the new diet, Paul. As soon as I get over this dizziness thing, I will be back to adding exercise to my weight loss effort.

>266 Berly: Take things easy Kimmers ......and then join me.

Time for a new thread. For me to catch up with reviews and relate some quality time spent with Kyran

Happy Sunday, Paul.

>219 PaulCranswick: Mmm, prawns.

>244 PaulCranswick: Nice pic of you and the Missus!

Meet you on the new thread.