Mark's Reading Place: Chapter 4

^Roberta is taking over the Fantasy February duties for this year. Go Ro! But I thought, I would include a Tattoo Girl Topper, someone near and dear to all our FF hearts.



^Of course, I have to include a warbler too...

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

January:

1) Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick DeWitt 3.5 stars (audio)
2) The Revenant by Michael Punke 4.3 stars (E)
3) The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen 3.8 stars (E)
4) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 4.2 stars (audio/print)
5) Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler 3.8 stars AAC (E)
6) The Manticore by Robertson Davies 4.8 stars CAC
7) Morality Play by Barry Unsworth 4.5 stars BAC
8) Two Brothers by Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá 4.5 stars GN

February:

09) Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen 4.7 stars
10) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 4 stars (audio)
11) Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny 3.8 stars
12) Eleanor by Jason Gurley 3.2 stars (audio)
13) My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout 4.2 stars (audio)
14) Straight Man by Richard Russo 4.6 stars AAC

American Author Challenge 2016

January- Anne Tyler
February- Richard Russo
March- Jane Smiley
April- Poetry Month
May- Ivan Doig
June- Annie Proulx
July- John Steinbeck
August-Joyce Carol Oates
September- John Irving
October- Michael Chabon
November- Annie Dillard
December- Don DeLillo

Mark's Picks for the AACIII: (under construction)

January- Anne Tyler- Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Completed
February- Richard Russo- Straight Man Completed
March- Jane Smiley- Some Luck
April- Poetry Month
May- Ivan Doig
June- Annie Proulx
July- John Steinbeck
August-Joyce Carol Oates
September- John Irving
October- Michael Chabon
November- Annie Dillard
December- Don DeLillo

The General Discussion Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/209611

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE/CANADIAN AUTHOR CHALLENGE

There is no way, I'll be able to read all 4 of these Challenge authors, per month but I will select one each and try my best to bookhorn them in. There are other various Challenges going on, in '16 and I would like the chance to give one or 2 of those a chance too.

BAC:

January - SUSAN HILL & BARRY UNSWORTH -Morality Play Completed
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

CAC:

January: Robertson Davies, Kim Thúy- The Manticore Completed
February: Helen Humphreys, Stephen Leacock
March: Farley Mowat, Anita Rau Badami
April: Margaret Atwood, Michael Crummey
May: Michel Tremblay, Emily St. John Mandel
June: Timothy Findley, Joseph Boyden
July: LM Montgomery, Pierre Berton
August: Mordechai Richler, Gabrielle Roy
September: Miriam Toews, Dany Laferrière
October: Lawrence Hill, Jane Urquhart
November: Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Laurence
December: Alice Munro, Rawi Hage

Hope you are all set up buddy. Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread! Hey I am second!

Whoa, I'm third?!? It's been awhile since I was near the top of such a hoppin' place. Hope you didn't get caught in any crappy weather today, Mark. It's been raining/snowing/sleeting/slushing in a random way all day long. Felt bad for Pam, my mail lady.

Had to scan the end of the last thread as I haven't watched the last DA episode yet.

Also, just had two power flickers in a row...perhaps it's time to shut down the computer and fire up some candles in case I lose electricity.

Happy new thread, Mark!

What Mamie said! :-)

Mark this spot! Mark my words! Hi Mark! This is the place to be.

>5 PaulCranswick: Nice job, Paul and thanks!

>6 vancouverdeb: Hooray, for 2nd place, Tonto!

>7 LauraBrook: Hi, Laura! Good to see you, this early on. Yes, it rained here all day and is still raining. I am sure glad it wasn't snow.

Stop by, when you see DA.

>8 Crazymamie: >9 EBT1002: Thanks, Mamie & Ellen. Big Hugs!

>10 Berly: Thanks, for marking your spot over here, Kimmers! Always a pleasure to see you.

congrats on your new thread!

Hi Mark, nice new thread.

Lots of rain today, with occasional sleet mixed in. Could've been way, way worse, of course.

Hello Mark, and happy new thread to you! Hope you are having a great week.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy New Thread, Mark!

>13 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Figs! I appreciate you stopping by.

>14 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda! It sure was a wet one, out there today, but I will take that anytime, over snow.

>15 AMQS: Thanks, Anne and good to see you, stranger.

>16 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda! Looking forward to a good reading month.

Hello warble wizard, or maybe the warble warlock!? Lol, well, your warbling worked. I happened upon a GN this afternoon at the library. The Property by Ruth Modan, and very eye catching it is too!

A new thread! Is our snow storm headed your way?

>17 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl!

>19 LovingLit: Hooray for the Warble Wizard! And hooray for snagging The Property. Her book Exit Wounds was also excellent. Look forward to your thoughts.

>20 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. Sorry to hear about the snowstorm. Bummer. We are getting all rain and I don't think there is anything else on the horizon. Whew!

>21 msf59: it was actually a fun storm, Mark, and I got to spend the day at home! Tomorrow morning's drive probably won't be much fun, but that's ok, I have Anne Lamott to keep me company.

Happy New Thread, Mark! Love the little yellow warbler

>22 Copperskye: Fun storm and a snow day? Nothing wrong, with that Joanne. Grins...

>23 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! We have to feature a warbler. It is our mascot, after all.

Happy Wednesday! I am enjoying a day off. And the only thing on the schedule is R & R. Can you say sweet? I knew you could.

I am reading Single, Carefree, Mellow. It is an easy-going collection, about relationships. It deals, mostly with women in their 20s and 30s. I will also read a nice chunk of my current GN, Blacksad.

I still have a few hours left in W & P, (sighs) but I don't expect much listening time today.

Morning, Mark! It's raining here. It feels like Thursday to me, so I'm going to be off all day, and then tomorrow I'll have to do Thursday all over again. Have you read A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain? If not, I am recommending it to you - a great collection of short stories connected by setting and culture. I picked it up because Megan had reviewed it on her thread, and it's really fantastic.

Morning Mamie! I much prefer a chatty, Mamie, so hooray!! We had our rain, all day yesterday. I am sure glad it was not snow. Whew!

I have A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain on shelf and it has been present, for a few years. This is the perfect time to yank it down and add it to the Read Now Pile. Plus it is a shorty. Thanks!

Hello Mark! A day off with R & R sounds great to me. Enjoy!

You are welcome - hoping to write a review of it later today. And I will try to always be chatty, as it means so much to you.

09) Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen 4.7 stars

"But the beauty of the woods, the incredible joy of it is too alluring to be ignored, and I could not stand to be away from it--indeed, still can't--and so I ran dogs simply to run dogs; to be in and part of the forest, the woods."

“How can it be to live without the dogs.”

Paulsen is a outdoorsy, kind of guy, living in the wilds of Minnesota, but one day, in his early 40s, he decides to run the Iditarod. A grueling 1,180 miles dog-race, from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.
This is his memoir, of that event and it is awesome. It is also funny, gripping and terrifying. There is more adventure packed into these pages, that you would find, in a half a dozen other books.
I thought the idea of climbing Mt. Everest, is insane, (it does remind me of Into Thin Air, just not as somber) but this is a whole different kind of madness.
I can not recommend this one high enough and I will be searching out more of his work.

**I would like to thank Ellen & Karen, for the perfect nudge.

Happy new one, Mark!
I've read a couple of Paulsen's books and really enjoyed them, so I will definitely put this one on the list!

Look at you posting a review so quickly! Glad I already have that one out from the library, or you would have hit me. Nice review, Mark!

>28 DianaNL: Thanks, Diana! No reading yest but I am getting very close...

>29 Crazymamie: "And I will try to always be chatty, as it means so much to you." Of course, I love a Chatty Mamie but a visit is a visit, so it is all good.

>31 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! Which is your favorite Paulsen?

>32 Crazymamie: Thanks! I was determined to knock out a mini-review, Mamie. I was hoping it wouldn't be to anti-climatic.

Happy Day Off, Mark! I'm using a sick day today so I sort of have the day off, too. I'm not sick, per se, but still trying to manage my return to full steam. So, other than a walk to get a bit of exercise, I plan to rest, read, and LT (which, as we all know, is a verb).

Nice review of Winterdance and I'm thrilled to have been Karen's coconspirator in nudging you.

I purchased a sale copy of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain on Monday and your comments, along with Mamie's praise, are nudging me to make it my next story-collection read. I haven't read any short stories in a while....

How is Blacksad?

>26 Crazymamie: Mamie, I have this book. Now, the challenge is to find it.

>34 EBT1002: Hooray, for a self-inflicted day off. Enjoy, Ellen. I have not cracked a book yet, but I am about to.

I will get to A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain soon, plus it fits with the Pulitzer Challenge. Win, Win.

Blacksad is a fairly traditional, hard-boiled story, but done with anthropomorphics. Great illustrations.

Winterdance - boom head shot. Sounds great, on the list it goes.

A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain - Read this 10 years ago (ah that's what I love about LT, it remembers for me). I probably should read it again, as I have only vague memories of it, but I do recall liking it.

>35 Whisper1: No, Marky-Mark love? Sad face...

>37 mahsdad: I definitely thought of you, in regards to Winterdance, Jeff and it is a fast read. Have you read Paulsen before? I thought I had read Hatchett but now, I am not sure.

A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain is now on the tbr pile.

Happy new thread, Mark!

I think I am going to have to read Winterdance next! And maybe I'll like it and we'll have another book to add to our small pile of books we agree on ;-)

?38 I've heard of Paulsen, but I never read Hatchet, I think my son might have in 4th or 5th grade. I know his school then, had a pretty extensive reading program.

>39 Whisper1: Still no Marky-Mark love...

>40 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! We NEED to grow that pile, my friend. That will be a 2016 initiative. Grins...

>41 mahsdad: I will be checking out more of Paulsen's work, Jeff, especially the Alaska books.

I'll send you some Marky-Mark love, even if others won't. (I see you, Linda ...)

Happy New Thread, Happy Hump Day and Happy day at home!

Good morning (barely), Mark!

Congrats on the new thread! Nice to see our FF tattooed lady up there.

Nice review of Winterdance! I have it and will read it soon. I think you'd like his "Brian" books after Hatchet: The River, Brian's Winter, Brian's Return and Brian's Hunt. Lots more of that outdoorsy goodness.

I just got the newest in the Vorkosigan sci-fi saga, Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, so that's jumped the queue. Tokyo Decadence was most excellent, and I'll review it soon. I'm also very much enjoying The Aeronaut's Windlass, a chunkster.

Not too shabby out there today. Hope it's a good one for you.

Happy New Thread, Mark. I'm so far behind threads but I hope doing better from now on.

>43 michigantrumpet: Hooray for Marky-Mark love. Thank you. Yes, it has been a good day off so far and then I have the afternoon stretched out ahead of me...

>44 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Yah, for Tattoo Girl Love! You are the first.

I am off today and haven't been out yet. I will definitely be looking into the "Brian" books. Thanks.

>45 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! And yah, for Snoopy!

Winterdance sounds tremendous. I need to look for that one.

Warble Wizard? I like that.

Did you win any ER books? I won a baseball book, about a baseball scout, so I'm pretty pleased with that.

Still loving the outstanding The Train to Crystal City, about the family internment camp in Texas during WW2 for Americans of German, Italian, or Japanese descent, as well as the secret prisoner exchange program. Great NNF but, if you read it, be prepared to be really ticked off at least once each chapter. It was not a great moment in American history, though individual American officials tried to do their best.

>47 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! Yes, the Warble Wizard is in the house. LOL. I am sure you will love Winterdance, plus it is relatively short at 260 pages.

On ER, I snagged The Vegetarian: A Novel, which sounds good. The first I have requested in 3 months.

The Train to Crystal City does look excellent. Did you watch the American Experience, last night, about the Garfield assassination? I heard it was very good. I have it recorded.

>48 msf59: No, I didn't but the McKinley assassination would be interesting. The Blackhawks were on.

I'm down to four ER books right now. In Feb, I'm hoping to read the two I have on hand. One is a collection of short stories, mysteries set in Chicago. So far, I've kept it in the car and read a bit when I'm bookless somewhere (what I call a catastrophe). I need to make a better point of reading it.

At some point, hopefully, the two baseball-related ER books will show up (from Dec and Jan). This is prime baseball reading season for me, now til the end of Spring Training.

Chiming in to say thanks for the American Experience recommendation - I'll definitely watch it as I loved the Millard book. One of my all-time narrative non-fiction favorites.
Also...you were right about Mystic River - it was terrific. Have you read any more Dennis Lehane?
I'm now reading a Montalbano installment (Excursion to Tindari - so far very good) and have started the Poldark series. And..enjoying my reread (actually on audio) of The Manticore.
We're getting all your wet weather fro yesterday - but at least it's not snow!!

Keeping a backup book in the car sounds very wise Mark. I have just started Tokyo Decadence - finding I enjoy short stories more than I used to.

>48 msf59: I have been led astray!! My co-worker just asked whether I watched The American Experience last night about the death of Garfield. I said "oh, you mean the assassination of McKinley" and she said no, Garfield.

I read the Millard book about Garfield. Good book.

>52 lindapanzo: Sorry, Linda, that was a slip-up. Of course, I meant Garfield. Duh! LOL. I corrected the blunder. I had forgot you had read the Millard book.

Yep, it sounds like you have some ER books to catch up with.

>50 vivians: Hi, Vivian! I am going to try to watch the American Experience tonight. I am so glad you loved Mystic River. It's a terrific read. I have read Shutter Island, "meh" and a couple of the Kenzie & Gennaro books. Gone Baby Gone was very good.

Excursion to Tindari was also the last Montalbano book I read. (Like minds, my friend) I am due for the next. Have not read Poldark yet, though.

>51 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! That was Linda and the emergency car book. LOL. I do have the Kindle app, on my cell, just in case...

I am also looking into Tokyo Decadence.

Tokyo Decadence sounds like a fancy chocolate, but what flavour?

"It might seem as though it would be difficult to summon the moral fortitude to have an extramarital affair when a minister was living above your garage, but Nina had discovered that almost anything was possible."

- Single, Carefree, Mellow I am enjoying this collection. I like it, when a character resurfaces, in another story.

"The whole sordid tale had left a bad taste in my mouth, I was breathing in a vicious atmosphere of hate, vengeance, and corruption.

From that day forward, that has been my world. a jungle where it's survival of the fittest- where people act like animals. I had chosen to walk the dark path in life..."

Blacksad I like this GN. It is 3 different stories and I am on the third.

>53 msf59: No problem, my friend. I still want to see it. Have to plan around those Blackhawks games though.

>51 charl08: Truth be told, I've been told that my car resembles a library. Actually, my (not so) new car is much improved in this respect. My previous car had a ton of books in it. This one, just a couple, including the Chicago mystery short stories. I also have the Kindle app on my phone but that would be for true emergencies.

>54 vancouverdeb: From what I can tell, Tokyo Decadence would not be a flavor you would like, Deb.

>56 lindapanzo: No wonder, you beat me at TC, Linda. LOL.

>57 msf59: I have been on a winning streak lately but I seem to recall you clobbering me a number of times before that.

I think I've loosened up my brain cells playing Stop. I almost never win at that one.

I like the art image you posted from Blacksad. And I love the name.

>58 lindapanzo: We have had some fine battles, Linda. I have not heard of Stop. I try to avoid starting any other games...

>59 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! I hope you are having a nice day off. I know I am. Give Blacksad a try. There is enough there to recommend. I did not know cat Women or Dog women could look so darn sexy. LOL.

A day off in the middle of the week! Sweet! Looks like it was a good one to be indoors.

I loved all the Kenzie and Gennaro mysteries except the last one, which I also enjoyed but not as much as, say, A Drink Before the War and, your favorite, Gone Baby Gone. Agree that Mystic River was good and Shutter Island not so much. Did you read Any Given Day and its sequel? I started Any Given Day but got bored after a few chapters. I figured it was just not the right time for it, because one thing Lehane is not is boring.

I'll be getting Blacksad from the library on Hoopla as soon as I get to my tablet. I've never read a GN as an eBook before.

ETA online games are not for me. My sis got me started on some word game (not Words for Friends), and I got so immersed that I started dreaming about making words out of letters. I had to stop playing.

Hi, Mary! It was a great day to be indoors. I loved it. Looks like we have very similar feelings about Lehane, although I liked Any Given Day but have not read the sequel. You might want to try it again.

What are you reading an ebook, GN on? I could not imagine reading it on a Kindle. I have read a few on an iPad, which wasn't bad and a couple on my laptop.



^Just sayin'...

I am going to hijack your thread and put in a plug for the Fantasy February reads and the book I am reading for it - all at the same time.

I am in the middle (literally) of reading a fun new YA series. The title of the series is The Goddess War by Kendare Blake. Book 1 in the series is Antigoddess and book 2 is Mortal Gods. Book 3 hasn’t come out yet but is titled Ungodly and will be out later this fall.

The series is a take-off on the Iliad and the Odyssey. It’s about the Trojan war. The author has spun the story so that Athena is a punk rocker 21 year-old, Hermes is a Tommy Hilfiger poster-boy, Cassandra is still in love with Apollo (or he with her) and they all live in Kincaide, New York and go to High School. What Marissa Meyer did for the Cinderella story in the Lunar Chronicles, Blake has done for the Trojan War. It is great fun to see how she has spun the story and in the process has made it so much fun. I have been reading them during my lunch hour and I keep trying to drag out the lunch hour so I can read longer. If you are looking for something fun to occupy your reading time – try this series.

I also got hit by a book bullet from Ilana about Heap House. I had it on my TBR list and today I went and got that book off the shelves. It will be next up for Fantasy February.

I'm going to try reading it on my Fire tablet, Mark. Or my laptop. Definitely NOT my Kindle Paperwhite. That wouldn't work at all!

>63 benitastrnad: Hijack anytime, Benita. I hope you are sharing your fantasy plans on the FF thread.

Are you watching this week's American Experience? It is excellent.

>64 Storeetllr: A tablet should be perfect, Mary.

Hi Mark, it's been awhile since I've come visiting so I had a lot of catching up to do. Blacksad has been on my list for some time, I really need to get going on that one. You must be feeling good that your War and Peace marathon is almost completed, so many seem to have really enjoyed their W&P experience I wasn't a big fan of Anna Karenina so decided to give W&P a miss. I have gotten off to a good start in my February reading with The Watch which I learned about on BOTNS and now Mrs. Poe, currently I am enjoying a fun read - Ragtime Cowboys which features Dashiell Hammett and Charlie Siringo as Pinkerton Detectives in the 1920's.

Hi Mark! Congrats on getting The Vegetarian. I think that you will like it.

>53 msf59: Shutter Island is a terrific book. I so much liked it. GN I can only read and enjoy in book form. I need the big pictures and colours.
Wishing you a lovely day.

>53 msf59: Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro series is a favorite of mine. I read them all, one after another...

>53 msf59: Oops Mark. Sorry!

I have tried reading GN on my paperwhite - not recommended.

>66 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! Good to see you. You will like Blacksad. the Watch and Mrs. Poe also sound good.

>67 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda! Glad to know you liked The Vegetarian. Looking forward to it.

>68 Ameise1: For some reason, Shutter Island fell short for me but I know it has it's fans. Are you reading a GN at the moment?

>69 Copperskye: For some oddball reason, I still have not read Moonlight Mile, which I received for Christmas, 3 or 4 years ago. WTH?

>70 charl08: Yep, GNs and Paperwhites, not a good match. LOL.

^I watched American Experience: Murder of a President. This was about the assassination of James Garfield and is based on the Destiny of the Republic, by one of my favorite NNF authors, Candice Millard. She also offers commentary, throughout and I still have a major crush on her.

This is an excellent program and one I highly recommend. Garfield had the potential to be one of our finest presidents. Thanks to my LT friends, for the heads-up, otherwise I would have missed it.



- sighs...

Morning, Mark! I pretty much disappeared from the threads yesterday to finish up W&P. *sigh of relief*

Winterdance is on the wish list. Snow and adventure suit me, when it's from the comfort of my cozy chair beside a fire.

We watched American Experience and thought it very interesting and very sad. I've set my DVR to record the series from today on, so well done.

>73 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Congrats on finishing W & P. High Fives! I should be very close to finishing today. Whew!

I thought the "Murder of a President" was terrific and want to watch more of the president series.

Morning, Mark! I am also a fan of Dennis Lehane, but unlike you, I adored Shutter Island - it was the first book I read by him. And I love the Kenzie and Gennaro series. I have Mystic River in the stacks, and I am hoping to get to it in May. Everyone says how great it is, so I freely admit to hoarding it - precious, my precious...

I did watch the PBS program Murder of a President and thought it was well done. I liked the talking heads commentary part and wish that they didn't depend so much on reenactments. I think you can do a great documentary and not have those inserted. But that is a minor quibble. I also liked the one they did of Henry Ford. As always American Experience is a great series with quality productions.

I do like Candice Millard but didn't think that this book was one of her strongest. However, since she lives in Kansas City (well a suburb) and graduated from a Kansas college I won't say too much bad about her. Being from the vast square heartland makes her dear to my heart.

Good morning, Mark!

Chilly but sunny out there. I'm in sci-fi/fantasy mode, closing in on the end of The Aeronaut's Windlass (very good!) and enjoying the beginnings of the newest Vorkosigan, Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen.

Okay, the epilogue for W & P is nearly 5 hours. Really??

>75 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Hooray for hitting #75 and hooray for Lehane and Mystic River. I am a huge fan of that one.

>76 benitastrnad: Thanks for chiming in on the American Experience. I did not mind the reenactments. I thought they were done well. I also think "Destiny" was my favorite of her works...to date. Different strokes...

>77 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Glad you are enjoying your a Sci-fi/fantasy reads.
Chilly out here but not bad. The sunshine helps.

^ I finished it! I finished it! I am a free man. I started this on January 18th. Whew! I have to give this Classic Chunkster 4 stars, there is much to admire but the length, made it, a bit of a grind to finish. Maybe, it was the lackluster audio version and maybe I should have stuck to print. Well, that's all behind me now. The load has lightened and I can now focus on a backlog of audiobooks.

>79 msf59: Well done. When do the celebratory fireworks start?

>80 charl08: I have no energy for fireworks, Charlotte, but it looks like Mamie brought beer. Now, we are talking...

>81 Crazymamie: B.A.G.

>79 msf59: *impressed*
Now, you're going to read the print version right!? While walking your rounds....maybe not :) That's just asking for an injury....

It make me laugh that to you, starting a book (that book, nontheless) less than 4 weeks ago and only just finishing it now counts for a hugely extended period for you!

>83 LovingLit: No, walking and reading for this guy, Megan. Too dangerous. LOL. Honestly, there was probably plenty I missed, while listening, so that's why I may consider tackling it in print...someday.

This may be longest, it has taken me to "listen" to a book. I read 4 print books, in the same amount of time, sure, a couple were shorties, but still...

Congratulations, Mark!! You are free once again to roam the shelves and willy nilly choose a book! Whoohoo!

Congrats on finishing W&P! A celebratory beer sounds just about right! What's up next? Inquiring minds want to know

>79 msf59: Congrats on the finish! I will be starting soon.

Congrats on finishing W&P, Mark. That's impressive, but I also totally understand being ready to be done with it.

CONGRATULATIONS on finishing War and Peace, Mark!!!
I think you get two celebratory beers for that! Maybe two beers per day for a week! :-)

Congrats on finishing War and Peace!! Seriously awesome!

>85 Berly: >86 Storeetllr: >87 thornton37814: >88 lauralkeet: >89 EBT1002: >90 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Kim, Mary, Lori, Laura, Ellen & Figs!! I feel liberated and satisfied.

Not having a beer tonight but I will make up for it over the weekend. Grins...

Next up: Straight Man, for the AAC and on audio, Eleanor: A Novel, because it sounds good and I like this cover:

"...liberated and satisfied."
Excellent.

>92 EBT1002: I was just over at your homestead...

Hurrah, Hurrah! You did it, my friend! War and Peace can now go back to being a paper weight or a door stop!

Congrats on finishing W&P, Mark.

Oh and happy "Thank a Mailman Day." I heard it's always celebrated on Feb 4.

Congrats on finishing W&P and on your new-to-me thread. Post 96 already! The threads are getting away on me and it is going to get worse. Curse Microsoft and its download of Windows 10 - it has frozen my main computer.

>79 msf59: Congrats on finishing W&P, Mark. Wishing you a fabulous day.

Congrats, Mark!

>94 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! I am pleased with myself. Now, I am deciding, if I should finish the W & P TV series. Meh...

>95 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda! ""Thank a Mailman Day." What? I did not get one single hug yesterday. The nerve...

>96 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! I am avoiding Microsoft 10, like the plague. Hope you get it worked out.

>97 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. Happy Friday!

>98 DianaNL: Happy Friday, Diana! That kitty looks a bit nervous.

Good morning, Mark! Happy Friday!

Congratulations on finishing that whopper, War and Peace. What did you think of those epilogues? There's a major feeling of accomplishment in getting this one read, isn't there? Similar to Moby Dick for me.

The Aeronaut's Windlass was a blast, and I'm liking the new Vorkosigan. This is a science fiction-y period for me, I guess, and I'm going to pick up a copy of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, which has been getting a lot of LT raves.

Kudos, Mark. You've read two doorstops already this year.

Only 10 more to go.

Bwahahahahaha...

Morning, Mark! I got nothing, but I wanted to share it with you.

>62 msf59: Love this!

>79 msf59: Congratulations, Mark! I thought W & P was a bit sluggish in places, too. I read that beautiful print version you have pictured. I'm keeping the book as a trophy, not because I want to read it again. I actually liked Anna Karenina better. Maybe because we spent two book group nights discussing it.

Sorry I've been AWOL lately. I am having trouble keeping up with my friends with lengthy threads. I may have missed the last one entirely. Oops!

I see you loved Morality Play. I can recommend Sacred Hunger highly. I also finished the sequel The Quality of Mercy which was very good.

Have a wonderful weekend!

>100 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! The epilogues were tiresome. Just when you thought the story was wrapping up, that slog begins.
I am impressed you and Lynda read it in print. Maybe I should have went that route but it would have still taken me forever.

>101 weird_O: I am Doorstop free, for the rest of this month. Deciding what to read for March.

>102 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

>103 Donna828: Hi, Donna! Great to see you. I do miss you, when you do not stop by but understand how difficult it is to keep up with the threads. Drop by, when you can, my friend.

Afternoon, Mark! It's been a bit of a crazy-busy day, so I'm only now getting round to the threads. Hope your day has been a good one so far!

I'm late to the party to congratulate you on finishing W&P! Go Mark, go Mark!

I was interested in your and Benita's comments about the relative merits of Destiny of the Republic and Millard's other works, only to find she seems to have only written two! You guys are a tough crowd ;-)

Looking forward to your reaction to Straight Man!

Hi Mark, happy weekend.

On my way off today, we went to see the new movie, Hail Caesar. Very funny. Loved it, especially the spoofs of the old movies.

Also got some reading in on my collection of Chicago mystery short stories.

Congratulations on finishing War and Peace . Quite a victory! Now you are free to read what grabs your interest.

>105 scaifea: Hi, Amber! I just got home. I poured a beer and now some relaxation time...ahhhhhh.

>106 katiekrug: Happy Friday, Katie! Yep, I am glad I read W & P but I am also glad it is behind me.

Benita wasn't as crazy about Destiny of the Republic, but I think it was excellent. Her book River of Doubt is very good too. I highly recommend both.

Not far into, Straight Man but I like it. Do you remember the part, in the very beginning where they bring the boy home a dog, and it dies in the first 30 minutes of old age? Wickedly funny.

>107 lindapanzo: Happy Friday, Linda! Hope you enjoy your long weekend. I am going into the city on Sunday and watching the Super Bowl, with Joe & family. I have not seen him in awhile, or you for that matter. Sad face.

Glad you liked Hail Caesar. I am a big fan of the Coen brothers.

>109 msf59: - I don't remember that part, Mark (it''s been more than 15 years - yikes!) but I do remember laughing out loud almost right from the beginning...

>108 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! It is a bit of a victory and I am glad to cross it off the list. I started Eleanor: A Novel on audio and it is quietly compelling so far, although I am not sure exactly where it is heading.

>110 katiekrug: The father brings home an old Irish Setter and it dies before they can give it a name, although the boy does come up with "Red", as the Dad buries the dog in the backyard.

>109 msf59: Enjoy the Super Bowl!! You're right...I haven't seen you in awhile. Next time I'm in your town, we ought to get together for lunch or something. I think I'll be at DG North later on in Feb. An outing to HRI, perhaps?

>112 lindapanzo: Sounds like a plan, Linda! Maybe we could put together a Chicago Meet-Up this year too! We are overdue!!

#104
Strange that both of Millard's books were best sellers. I have not read the one on Theodore Roosevelt. That was her first, but was very interested in the Garfield book and just didn't think it lived up to my expectations. It seemed like "history light" to me, but it wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't anywhere near the quality of Hellhound on His Trail.

>99 msf59: I'm back and not using Windows 10, Mark. My son has set me up with nonWindows software that looks like it will do the trick. Now the tricky part is finding everything and maybe even trying to catch up with the threads - everything is moving so fast!

Hello, and sending love!

>114 benitastrnad: River of Doubt is very good, Benita. We can't get enough of T.R., right?

>115 Familyhistorian: Happy Saturday, Meg! Glad you got rid of the Windows 10 and I hope things get back to normal. Fingers crossed.

>116 Whisper1: There's some Marky-Mark love! Yah! Good to see you, Linda. I hope you have a nice weekend.

^We watched the film, Room, last night. What a terrific adaptation of a very difficult book. Creepy and emotional, with a strong cast. Donoghue, also wrote the screenplay, which is a bonus.

Anyone else see it yet? I know it didn't last long, at the theaters.

Happy weekend, Mark.

Hi Mark - Have a great weekend. I love the W&P comic. You're done!

>119 msf59: So, maybe that's why so few people read W&P. Nobody likes an angry tome. :(

Have a spectacular Saturday!

Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you! Are you working today?

Happy weekend Mark!
My copy of Winterdance arrived today :-)

>120 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. Love the fox.

>121 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. Happy Saturday.

>122 Carmenere: Happy Saturday, Lynda. Yes, beware of those angry tomes.

>123 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Yes, I am walking the route. A bit chilly, but the sunshine feels good.

>124 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita. Good to see you. Looking forward to your thoughts on Winterdance. I see my warbling paid off.

>119 msf59: Very appropriate. Although I've banished the huge hardcover version from the house, it's still there whenever I pick up my Kindle Fire, with its spiffy icon nestled between Stephen Leacock's Sunshine Sketches of a Small Town and Mahjong Journey, taunting me with that "23%" figure.

How have I forgotten about fantasy February!!!! Wah! Must stagger off and find some fantasy for the month.

Hiya, Mark!

>118 msf59: I haven't seen Room, but I know the young woman got nominated for an Oscar.

Hope today goes well for you. Really pretty darn nice out there! I'm walking to the library soon and looking forward to it.

Happy Saturday, Mark! Congratulations on finishing War and Peace. I own it and I'll eventually get to it, one of these days...

> 119 I love the book talking "I will never let you rest!". It's true, they do talk! Good for you for W&P completion.

>118 msf59: I read the book Room but somehow the movie did not appeal to me. That said, I suppose the novel had a limited appeal to me. It was okay. Glad you enjoyed it. I guess I am a strange bird, Mark. I felt that Room was not that believable as a novel.

Happy Saturday, Mark!

>117 msf59: Well, not normal but I can do most computer stuff now that I am on Linux. You must be almost done with your work day by now. Enjoy your weekend. I know I will enjoy mine because it is a long weekend due to BC's Family Day on Monday and it is not supposed to rain for the entire weekend!

>126 laytonwoman3rd: "I've banished the huge hardcover version from the house." That cracked me up, Linda. Happy Saturday, my friend.

>127 BekkaJo: Hi, Bekka. Good to see you. I hope you didn't have to stagger far. I am still trying to line up a couple FF titles myself.

>128 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Hope you had a good trip to the library. Anything good? Did you read Room? It might not have been your cuppa.

>129 kidzdoc: Happy Saturday, Darryl! I hope you have some down-time this weekend.

I fell ridiculously behind while I was on vacation. Congratulations on finishing War & Peace!

>130 mdoris: Hi, Mary! Good to see you. Yes, some books, will keep their hooks in you. I am glad I can strike this Classic Chunkster, off the list.

>131 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! It will be no surprise to you, but I loved Room. LOL. Yes, it was a disturbing read but I thought very well executed.

>132 scaifea: Big, Saturday Waves to Amber!

>133 Familyhistorian: Well, that is good news, Meg. Yes, I am home and deciding if I will go out with friends, or stay at the comfy homestead.

>72 msf59: I'll have to check out the show. I own Destiny of the Republic, but I haven't read it yet. I have no idea why. Hope you are having a great weekend!

I've just downloaded The Destiny of the Republic on audio, planning to listen to it after I finish my Brother Cadfael.

>136 msf59: I agree that Room was disturbing but very well done and a worthwhile read.

Hi Mark! Hope you're having a good weekend.

>118 msf59: I didn't see Room, and don't plan to. Got enough creepy when I read the book!

Congratulations on finishing War and Peace!

Happy Sunday, Mark. I hope it's filled with R&R.

>135 MickyFine: Great to see you, Micky! I hope you had a great vacation.

>137 The_Hibernator: Hi, Rachel! I hope you can bookhorn in The Destiny of the Republic. Millard is a terrific NNF writer.

>138 EBT1002: Happy Sunday, Ellen! Congrats on getting The Destiny of the Republic on audio. I can't remember if I listened to it or did the print version, which I own. Either way, it is an excellent read.

>139 AMQS: Hi, Anne! It's good to see you. The film version of Room doesn't soften the edges, so there are disturbing moments, but they did a very good job with the adaptation.
And yes, it is nice having W & P, under my belt.

>140 Ameise1: Happy Sunday, Barb! I have a few things going on today, but I am going to try to squeeze in some reading, here and there.

Happy Sunday, Mark! Have fun at that, um, football is it?, party!

11) Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny 3.8 stars

Okay, I am not a young woman, (no, giggling, please) in various relationships and illicit affairs, but I did enjoy the eleven stories in this snappy debut collection, which all deal, with these universal themes. Finding love and happiness, in the modern age. I may not agree, with all the infidelity that runs rampant here but it does make for an entertaining read, plus, one of the characters, Maya, pops up, in a few of the stories, a device, I appreciate, in my short fiction.

ETA: This was one of my Christmas Swap books. Nice pick, Suz!!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, Mark!

>143 msf59: Is Maya a floozy?

>142 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Looking forward to a Super Bowl Meet-Up!

>144 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! I do not think Maya was a floozy but she does have a hard time, focusing on one partner and the interesting thing is, she loves her husband. It is a quick, easy read.

focusing on one partner and the interesting thing is, she loves her husband.
Ohh, poor girl! Offers an interesting bit of suspense. Will she stay or won't she? This may be a good book for next years neighborswap.

It takes Maya, through stages and hopefully she has "matured" enough, by the last story.

This should be ideal for "neighborswap". LOL.

>147 msf59: LOL, tightknit communities! Ohhh, the stories I've heard!

Morning, Mark! Have fun at that Super Bowl party!

>148 Carmenere: Sounds like quite a swinging community, Lynda! Enjoy your day!

>149 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! I have not seen Joe, in quite awhile, so it should be a nice reunion.

>143 msf59: Okay, I am not a young woman, (no, giggling, please) in various relationships and illicit affairs Sure, " Mark". Just like I am not the person shown on my thread topper! ;)

Good morning, Mark!

Looking forward to seeing you later on!

Debbi loved Room, and you're right, not a book for me. Those situations creep me out. She's given me the gist of it.

I enjoyed Under the Sign of Capricorn, and you may want to try it out some time, if only to check it off the "best GN" list. Adventure stories, and refreshingly non-racist. Apparently Hugo Pratt had quite an interesting life himself. I'll probably read others in his Corto Maltese series.

>151 vancouverdeb: Snort.

>143 msf59: Sounds good. BB. (Or do I credit that to Suzanne?)

>151 vancouverdeb: Happy Sunday, Deb! Great observation about my Tattoo Girl topper. I would have never thought that. You are a sharp one.

>152 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I have to do a quick food shopping and then I am going to squeeze in some reading time before I hit the Big City! Grins...

Under the Sign of Capricorn sounds good.

>153 charl08: Happy Sunday, Charlotte! How about dual credit? Smiles...

>143 msf59: I like that device of a recurring character in story collections, too. However, I'll probably skip this one.

So, what's next on the reading agenda, my friend?

And Happy Sunday!

Hi, Ellen! I have been reading and enjoying Straight Man. On audio, I am listening to Eleanor: A Novel. It is interesting but it has not come together for me yet. There are fantasy elements to it, so it could work for an FF title.

"It was my opinion (then and now) that two people who love each other need not necessarily have the same dreams and aspirations, but they damn well ought to share the same nightmares."

“…imagination without energy remains inert...”

-Straight Man

^I am going into the city, to watch the Super Bowl with Joe & the Gang. There will be beer, some eats, and possibly some book talk, although you never know...

Go Broncos!!

>157 msf59: LOVE those quotes, Mark!

Hi Mark. I just finished a fabulous NNF that I think you'd like if you haven't read it yet. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild is about the use of forced labor in the Congo by the King of Belgium in the late 19th century and is filled with fascinating characters and an account of history that I knew very little about. I know how you love your NNF:-)

I am taking advantage of Superbowl Sunday to try and catch up with some threads. Happy new thread, Mark!

>78 msf59: - Okay, the epilogue for W & P is nearly 5 hours. Really?? I know... that was just crazy. That was when I started to wonder if the book was ever going to end. ;-)

Congrats on completing your read of W&P!!! WHOOT!

Hi Mark! I thought Room was a terrific book... I am really a fan of Emma Donaghue. I wasn't sure about the movie, but maybe.... glad to here your positive thoguths.

And >161 brenzi: let me second the recommendation for King Leopold's Ghost. It's a great book.

>160 Crazymamie: Glad you like the quotes, Mamie. It's a very good book.

>161 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie! Great to see you, my friend. Thanks for the rec. King Leopold's Ghost sounds terrific. I have added it to my WL.

>162 lkernagh: Hi, Lori! Hope you had a good weekend. Yes, I am sure, we are both glad to have W & P, in our rear-view. Grins...

>163 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. Ooh, 2 recs for King Leopold's Ghost. That sold it. I NEED to read more Donaghue. I have had Frog Music in the stacks forever and I have her last story collection, on shelf too. Better bump 'em up.

^At half-time, with Joe and his friend Keith. Had a great time and look at those books!! I have never been in a home, that had so many books and bookshelves. Yes, I was swooning...

^ Me and Sherlock. He is very dark, against my shirt but the adorable little guy is there.

Morning, Mark! Football, perusing Joe's bookshelves AND you got to hold Sherlock! Sounds like a most excellent time. Isn't it funny how when you see someone else's bookshelves for the first time, you just want to go investigate and look at the titles, check out how they are organized, etc?! That's how you can always tell if your visitors are readers or not.

I am not usually a Monday person, but this one will do; hope it is full of fabulous for you. LOVE the photos - thanks for sharing.

Love the meet-up photos! So, so jealous...

Yeah, me too. Especially since I know the beer was outstanding... :)

>169 drneutron: Ha! The beer was outstanding, Jim. We split a growler from Half Acre, a local brewery, that Mark brought, and it was delicious. He also left some "Gone Boy" (I think I got that right), that's new to me and I'll be trying.

We managed to get in a lot of book talk even while enjoying the game. It was great to have our favorite warbler join us. Sherlock found him quite comfortable to rest on.

Come to think of it, this is Mark's thread. Good morning, Mark! If you don't mind, I'll copy the pics over to my thread. Great to have you with us last night!

I'm reading King Leopold's Ghost this month for the Nonfiction Challenge. I think Mamie is, too.

Yep.

>167 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! Yes, what an amazing house of books. Books in every room and the bookshelves were glorious.
You should see Joe's GN collections? OMG!

>168 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. One of these days...

>169 drneutron: Great beer, Jim and very fresh. I just had it poured 30 minutes prior. Yum.

>170 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Thanks for inviting me to your wonderful home. Home of books and magic. LOL. I also enjoyed Keith's company.
The beer, I left was Gone Away. Mighty tasty.

>172 Crazymamie: >173 msf59: If I can find a copy, I might join you. The book sounds terrific.

Great pictures of you and Casa Welch and Sherlock too! Glad enjoyed your day!

OH! I WANT to see the GN collection! We have books in every room, but I do not think our bookshelves could be described as glorious. LOL! Now I have something to aspire to!

Mark - Suz and Erik both recommended it highly, so see if you can track down a copy.

>175 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! Had a great time at Casa Welch and I hoisted a couple in your name.

>176 Crazymamie: Yes, Mamie! Glorious was the first word that came to mind. Sadly, I did not get the chance to scrutinize the shelves, as closely, as I would have liked. Maybe next time?

I'll check with my library and see if King Leopold's Ghost is available. Thanks.

>119 msf59: made me laugh out loud. Not W&P, but other classics have been like that for me.

I loved Destiny of the Republic when I listened to it on audio and am sorry I missed the TV adaptation. I'm hoping I'll be able to stream it sometime on one of the on demand channels. BTW, I keep thinking the author's name is Fillmore. Can you guess why?

Great meetup photos.

Wow I had some catching up to do on your thread, and will also add my love for the graphic novel Two Brothers, this one can't be plugged often enough!

>179 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! Glad you were able to chuckle. I hope you get to see the American Experience program.

I give up on the Fillmore reference. Inside joke?

>180 avatiakh: Hi, Kerry! Yes, the Meet-Up was great and yes, we need to keep spreading the Two Brothers love.

>179 Storeetllr: - Candice Millard / Millard Fillmore?

You nailed it Katie! I forgot Fillmore's first name was Millard. LOL.

My mind works in mysterious ways. Apparently so does Katie's. ;)

>119 msf59: now I want to see a cartoon of you yelling at War and Peace, or maybe one of kangaroos jumping and reading it? Ok, now I am grasping at straws...

>165 msf59: aw, that's cool. A boys books-beer-and-(super)bowl club ;)

>184 Storeetllr: "My mind works in mysterious ways." Mine only works in slowish ways...grins.

>185 LovingLit: I want to see a kangaroo jumping up and down, and reading W & P too! LOL.

And yes, a fine time at the "boys books-beer-and-(super)bowl club". You would have enjoyed the beer and book gab, Megan.

Morning, Mark!
I've got a dusting to shovel off this morning; thankfully it's not more than that!

Happy Tuesday, Mark! The meet up photos are, well, "super"! We've got snow in the forecast for the next 4 days and then, ZOOM, the thermometer plummets. Whah!!!

Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday! Your thread is hopping. Love the cartoon up there in >178 msf59:!

>187 scaifea: Morning, Amber! We have about an inch on the ground. Not bad at all, but it can get slippery.

>188 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. Yep, the Meet Up was another fine one.
Boo to snow. We will have frigid temps, right through the weekend.

>189 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! Glad you like the Monday cartoon. I hoped someone, would have got a chuckle. I certainly did.

Good morning, Mark!

We got to see the pre-K class Becca teaches this morning, and Debbi read stories to them. Very cute bunch of kids. Wanted to know whether we liked mermaids and swimming. (Becca's feeling healthy again, BTW).

Hope you're doing okay in this chill-down.

Hey Mark, send some of that snow this way would you? I'm really sick of the endless rain. Just got to finish up the Leonard and can start The Book of Unknown Americans. So great to have recommended books to read!

We have temps in the mid teens Celsius - I have to transfer that to Imperial for you, Mark, but it means I might only need short sleeves to walk the dog today. Okay, it is 12 C or 56 F and sunny! And getting warmer today, apparently. But only for a couple of days.

Huzzah! Welcome to the "I read War and Peace Club!"



And, NICE meet up photos!

>191 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Debbi reading to Becca's class is wonderful. Glad you got to be there too. And hooray for "mermaids and swimming". And hooray for becca feeling better.

>192 charl08: Not enough snow here, Charlotte, to pass around. LOL. We only got an inch or so. Raincheck? I hope you enjoy The Book of Unknown Americans.

>193 vancouverdeb: Ooh, I am jealous of your weather, Tonto. It was bitter cold today. About 17F, with a wind chill. It gets into your bones. More of the same tomorrow. Ugh!

>194 michigantrumpet: Hooray for joining the "I read War and Peace Club!" I think this is a special honor and I am glad to see so many of us, wearing that badge proudly.

Had a great time at the Meet-Up, Marianne. Our time is coming...

“I kept thinking how the five of us had had a really unhealthy family, but I saw then too how our roots were twisted so tenaciously around one another’s hearts.”

“But the books brought me things. This is my point. They made me feel less alone.”

-My Name Is Lucy Barton. I started this on audio today and I am almost finished. It is that short and I am really enjoying it. A tree in a cornfield is mentioned a couple times in the narrative and I think it is a strong image. Lucy was raised near Rockford, Illinois. It is about 80 miles from here and I have family living there now.

I have Eleanor in my TBR pile near my bed. I knew it had Fantasy elements to it--hope it is working for you better under that category! Love the half-time photo. Gotta love guys with beers in front of a bookshelf!!

>196 msf59: love that image, and the quote too. Maybe this is one I need to read. I bet its brand new....so I'll look forward to it in 4 years time when it hits the second hand market! :)
*good things come to those who wait*

>197 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! Eleanor was just okay. It never really came together for me. Maybe it will work better for you.

Glad you like the Meet-Up photo. It was a good time.

>198 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. I really like Strout's work. Olive remains one of my favorites. Have you read her yet?

Great meet up photos, Mark. Whose idea was it to pose you all in front of a bookcase? Or maybe there are no walls at Joe's without bookcases?

>200 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! I think it was Joe's wife, Debbi, that posed us in front of the bookshelves. Good decision.

I am not sure there was a bookshelf on every wall, but it was pretty damn close. Grins...

>199 msf59: I read Olive Kitteridge at your insistence, Mark, and proceeded to warble about it to friends, who then also went on to read it. *job well done*

Duh!! I should have remembered that, Megan. It is bedtime for me, so I will blame that. LOL.

Hooray for Olive love!!

Nighty night, Mark. I have 3 hours til the kids are in bed fully, then I can get back to In Cold Blood which is amazing.

>204 LovingLit: I wish I could have slotted in In Cold Blood for a reread. It has been, at least 25 years. I am so glad you are enjoying it.

^I will finish the audio, of Lucy Barton this morning and then move on to The Girl with All the Gifts. This should fit into the FF theme. Anyone read it?
I am still enjoying Straight Man and I have not cracked a GN this week. Bad Mark?

What's up with the touchstones?

Morning, Mark! I have The Girl with All the Gifts on my shelves and I hope to get to it soon...

Morning Amber! Bad touchstones? Let's get it together LT Gods!

>208 msf59: Pardon? Were you addressing me? On my best day I think I'd struggle to be worthy of a Mamie Label...

Good morning, Mamie! I mean, Mark!

I never screw up names, as you probably noticed. :-)

Woo, that's a chilly one out there today. I'm reading The Moving Finger, a Dame Agatha mystery, for the BAC. My GN is Sleeper, an Ed Brubaker one that is pretty good.

Hope it goes well for you today. We take off tomorrow to see my dad in Ann Arbor, so my attendance on LT may be sparser.

ETA: Bad touchstones is right!

Happy Hump, Day, Mark! The touchstones are indeed funky today and so is the weather! 3 inches of snow last and Brrr is on the way. Keep those tootsies warm.

Morning, Mark! My Wednesday is off to a somewhat crazy start, so when I came here I immediately became confused - what, I've been here already? I don't remember it at all - it took me going through twice to finally get what happened. LOL! This is some kind of wacky Wednesday I'm having. So now I have figured it out - Amber posted, not me, and then Joe jumped in on the fun. Ha! Anyway, that might have used up all of my intellectual capacity for today.

Sending you warm thoughts - I saw the temps in your neck of the woods. Brrrr.

Cold as anything here but No Rain! :-) I have even been out doing the garden.

Have a good day - I've got Marbles waiting at the library but trying to clear the decks a bit before picking it up.

>209 scaifea: See what happens when I start responding with only one cup of coffee, in my system? LOL.

>210 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. I did notice you never screw any names up. Grins...

Ooh...the Brubaker sounds good. And yes, it is quite brisk out here but I am glad the sun is out.

>211 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. Boo to snow. We are dealing with only an inch or so but it is COLD!

>212 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! My mind must have been on Mamie. That's not a bad thing, right?
And yes, I have all the warm stuff on today. Getting ready to tackle the residential. Ugh...

>213 charl08: Hope you are staying warm in the garden, Charlotte. And hooray for Marbles!

Hi Mark. Making the rounds, but being speechless.

Hi there, Mark. Trying to look past the cold and seemingly daily light dustings of snow til warmer weather. Not too long til pitchers and catchers report.

A great collection of ER choices this week. Hard for me to decide which I want most so I may ask for 3 or 4.

My reading right now is divided between a Donna Leon mystery. There are probably 25+ of these but I'm on only number 2. Not sure why I haven't gotten too them sooner.

Also reading an interesting American history about January of 1973 and all the huge happenings that month.

>216 weird_O: Hi, Bill! Good to see you, sir, speechless or not!

>217 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! Honestly, I can deal with the cold, for the most part, but the snow and ice...forget about it! We have been lucky, in that regard.

WHAT?? I did not get my ER notification! I was wondering about that. I better buzz over...

"Not too long til pitchers and catchers report." B.A.G.

Oh the coldness you have to suffer. How do people live that far north? I'd love to visit the northern states one day, and Canada, just to see.

Here, we are pleasant, good warm temps into the evening to go out and enjoy the noodle night market that is here for 5 days only.
*extra chilli please*

>219 LovingLit: There are plenty of other places that have it colder, Megan. If I wasn't trudging around in it, all day, I probably would not mind it much. Once I retire, I would definitely like to live in a place, with more moderate temps.

Ooh, what is the "noodle night market"?

>218 msf59: Mark, I never got an ER notification this month either. There was something about how they always get released the first Monday of the month, unless, as is true this month, the first is on a Monday.

“The offspring of two bookish parents, I made up my mind as a boy that I would be as unlike them as I could. I was determined not, as an adult, to look up from a book with that confused, abstracted, disappointed expression that my parents shared when jolted out of book life into real life.”

-Straight Man

^I am loving this book...

Hey Warbler! Thank for visiting my thread. I have "Empire Falls" lined up for the AAC. I hope to get to it soon. Did the mailman come on Monday? I am not sure. We did not get any mail, so I am not if he/she was was on deck for the mail on Monday. It it is confusing when the postal system is on on National Holiday deal and then different provinces have " Family Day". Ohh! Straight Man sounds good!

I didn't receive and ER notification either! Oh well I never seem to win one anyways! There must be some kind of hidden secret to snag one....

>221 lindapanzo: I wonder if the issues they have been having on LT, has something to do with the lack of notifications, Linda?

>223 vancouverdeb: It has been quite a few years since I read Empire Falls, Deb, but I think it is a very good choice.
We have a national holiday on Monday. President's Day. Sweet.

I got a notification, so something's hitting a connection somewhere in the depths of the site. Hmmm.

>218 msf59: Thanks for the heads up on the ERs. I didn't get a notification either and it wasn't in Recent News.
>219 LovingLit: Actually not all the places in Canada are as cold as Chicago, just saying.

>165 msf59: >166 msf59: Looks like you guys had a great time!

>224 figsfromthistle: Hi, Figs! I suggest you keep requesting books, eventually you should start snagging them, on a regular basis. I usually get, what I select.

>226 LauraBrook: You must be on that special list, Laura. I am jealous. LOL. Did you request anything?

>227 Familyhistorian: No Problem, Meg. You have been enjoying some mild weather, haven't you?

>228 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. Another nice Meet-Up. Our turn will come, one of these days...

>229 msf59: Hah! I did, Mark, I got the only one I selected, Only In Naples by Katherine Wilson. It sounded like a little treat of a book, an American in Naples and about food, but I've since read some online reviews on other sites and it sounds like the author may be a 'murrikan idiot, so I'm less excited than I initially was.

I've had to stop requesting so many, though, as it took me almost a year to catch up on the ones I had sitting around, and I'd like to read more of the ones I have stacked around this place.

You'll like Helen Ellis's American Housewife...

Good morning, Mark. Just waving and wishing you a lovely day. I only have to work today before my vavation starts.

>229 msf59: The crocuses are out, Mark.

Morning, Mark!

>231 Copperskye: I hope you get your ER pick, Laura. I rarely request 2 but this time I did. I thought it was a pretty decent list. I have not requested anything the past 2-3 months.

>232 Ameise1: I want to get my mitts on American Housewife, it sounds like my cuppa. Thanks, Joanne.

**Touchstones work! Touchstones work!

>232 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Ooh, a vacation coming up. Sweet. Where you headed this time?

>233 Familyhistorian: Hooray for the crocuses, Meg! A good sign.

>234 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Morning, Mark! Touchstones are working again?! Hooray for that! I didn't get a notice about the February batch, either, but now I am off to check it out.

Morning, Mamie! I am sure the ER snafu, had something to do with the tech problems, LT was having. Hope it is all solved.

I requested Dodgers, which I have been hearing some buzz about and also a novel about Screaming Jay Hawkins, which sounds fun.

12) Eleanor: A Novel by Jason Gurley 3.2 stars

The story begins, with Eleanor, a haunted young woman, disappearing into the ocean. It then picks up with, her grand-daughters, identical twins, Eleanor and Esmerelda. They are involved in a tragic accident and their young lives are ripped apart. One departs and one stays to pick up the pieces.
This is a tale, with bursts of magical realism, dealing with grief and separation, as we follow Eleanor's quest to heal her family and to discover her unusual connection with her grandmother.
Despite, it being well-written and nicely atmospheric, I had a hard time connecting with it. The fantastical elements bogged the story down for me. Many readers loved this book, so it might just have just hit me wrong. If it sounds good, give it a try.
The audio by Cassandra Campbell was excellent.

I was hoping that one would be better, Mark, as I really love the cover. Shallow, I know, but there you have it.

Good Morning, Mark! Hurray for a day off! Your personal solar panels better get recharged in preparation for the days ahead. LOL we got about a foot of lake effect snow last night. *sob, sob, sob*

>240 Crazymamie: I love that cover too, Mamie! If you can find it on audio, give it a try, it might just work for you. I was reading several glowing reviews on it, so I may have just missed the boat. This happens from time to time.

>241 Carmenere: A foot of snow? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! I feel for you, my friend.

And yes, I am getting those "personal solar panels" all charged up. LOL.

Sweet Thursday, Mark!

Straight Man sounds interesting. I'm going light right now, with Maniac Magee and Martian Time-Slip, a PKD I haven't read.

Hope it goes well for you today. We're taking the train, so there should be some good reading time.

>238 msf59: I requested Dodgers too.

Also checked off I Am No One, and The Never-Open Desert Diner, both of which I feel that I've heard of and should have on my list.

We'll see. Stay warm, wish I could send you some of our heat.

>235 msf59: To Davos as always for our ski holiday. One suitcase is filled with books. Ha.

>206 msf59: Hi Mark. I did read The Girl with all the Gifts. I had no idea what I was getting into and by the time I found out, it was too late! I read it straight through! And, loved it. I definitely think you will really like it.

>239 msf59: I also won this book for the Early Reviewers and gave it 3.5 stars for the very same reasons you did!

>206 msf59: Hi Mark. I commented on this post earlier but I have my Bichon, Jeffrey, napping on my laptop keyboard and I have to assume while typing around his head, I must have sent the post into outer space...

Anyway, I did read The Girl with all the Gifts and by the time I found out what it was really about, it was too late! I was hooked and read it straight through. I loved it and I think you will definitely love it!

Well, shoot...it just popped up. Sorry about that. No more Bichon heads allowed on the laptop!

>238 msf59: You know me. I've got quirky tastes. I requested the swimming bio, the one about 1970s music and the one about books high school students are reading.

Another cold one today but it doesn't seem so bad when you realize that it could well be the last bitter cold weather of the season.

>244 mahsdad: Hey, Jeff! Good to see you. Dodgers: A Novel does sound good, doesn't it? I also requested Screamin' Jay Hawkins' All-Time Greatest Hits, which I just heard someone warble about, over on Book Riot.

I am off today, which is giving me a break from the cold.

>245 Ameise1: "suitcase is filled with books." Sounds great and hooray for Davos and your ski vacation.

>246 Dianekeenoy: Hi, Dianne! Nice to see you & Jeffrey, stop by. LOL. A friend/co-worker lent me her copy of The Girl with all the Gifts and I was able to snag it on audio too and went with that format. I am only a few hours in but what a pleasant surprise so far and it's good to know you are a fan too.

I am also glad I am not alone in my thoughts of Eleanor: A Novel. I was skimming through the reviews on Good Reads and most readers loved it. Interesting...

>249 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! I have the day off, so I am thawing out. We still have a couple frigid days left this week. Ugh. But you are right, only a few more weeks left.

^ I finally picked up my first GN of the week. It is a memoir called Letting it Go and I am enjoying it. This author wrote her first GN at age 63. Impressive. It also includes this quote from Swann's Way, (which I have not read):

"Ten times over I must essay the task, must lean over the abyss. And each time the natural laziness which deters us from every difficult enterprise...has urged me to leave the thing alone and drink my tea and to think merely of the worries of today...which let themselves be pondered over without effort or distress of mind."

Hey, maybe I'll read Swann's Way after all...

Hi Mark! So great that you enjoyed Lucy Barton - I'm really looking forward to it. I just finished the first Poldark and loved it, and am almost done with Sacred Hunger which is brilliant but devastating. So much to read and never enough time!

We're supposed to get record cold temperatures this weekend - guess you'll be having some too. Stay warm!

Hi Mark, I am also a fan of The Girl With All the Gifts. I gave it 5 stars at the time of my reading it but with hindsight I would perhaps scale that back, but it was a fun, lively read that I enjoyed.

>252 vivians: Hi, Vivian! Lucy Barton is a good read/listen. I'll try to put together a mini-review. I really want to read Sacred Hunger, despite it's devastating themes. Hey, it can't be as bad as A Little Life, right?

We have been COLD all week and it will stay that way, through the weekend. Oh, joy!

>253 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! I am enjoying The Girl With All the Gifts. I love it when an author brings fresh ideas to the table. I hope all is well.

>222 msf59: disappointed expression ... when jolted out of book life into real life
I know that one, happens fairly often :-)

I had a great day with the books, now I am off to have dinner and brews with friends. Life is good...

>255 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita! I think we can all relate to that quote. Good to see you.

I am glad that you have had a good day. I had a crappy weekend (even though the Broncs won) and this week has been even worse. Work is a snake pit right now and it is so bad I went to our Benefits office and inquired about retirement. I am closer than I thought, but 1 year to young. At least I know I have to wait one year to retire. I decided that I was just going to take it one day at a time and get through each day as I can. Then I can retire.

I am still trying to read through that god awful Goldfinch. Talk about a book that needed editing. At 771 pages - I could have made it come in at half that and still told the story. I simply can't understand how this young adult novel got to be such a literary success. (leaves shaking her head.)

I forgot to say that it looks like your Super Bowl Sunday was great - spent in the company of books and bookish friends. I am so jealous.

>239 msf59: Sorry this wasn't such a good read for you.

Had a great GN day with Marbles and The Arab of the Future. Will look out for more by these two talented artists.

>257 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita! Sorry, to hear that work has been such a grind. A year left, is not to bad, you can muddle through it...I hope.

I am also sorry that the Goldfinch is such a slog for you. I agree, it could have been better edited but there was still plenty redeeming qualities too, IMHO.

Yes, the Super Bowl Meet-Up was great. Had a good time with the Welch clan.

>259 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! I go into all books, expecting to be satisfied and I thought Eleanor was going to succeed, but something went missing along the way.

Glad you are enjoying Marbles and I will have to request The Arab of the Future. It sounds good.

Morning, Mark! It's snowing here...again...

Morning, Amber! Boo to snow. Looks like it will just be cold and windy here. Sighs...

I had a perfect reading day yesterday. I finished Straight Man, (loved) and my GN, Letting it Go, (liked). I even listened to a small chunk of The Girl with All the Gifts, (strong like). Don't you love it, when the books sing?

I plan on starting Ru, for the CAC. I was not sure I was going to read this one but many of my pals like this one and it's a shorty!

Have a happy weekend.

Happy Fridayyyyy! Hope you have a hot toddy thermos in your mail bag today.

Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! I am liking but not loving Blacksad - the artwork is terrific, but the storylines feel rushed.

>264 DianaNL: Happy Friday, Diana. I have to work tomorrow so I am not quite a Happy Dog today. Little wag of the tail...

>265 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. Not bad out here right now. The sun is peeking out and that might make things a bit more tolerable.

>266 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Sorry, Blacksad is not tooting your horn. Joe wasn't as crazy about it either. For some reason, it worked for me.

I like it - I just want the plot to be better. I love the artwork and the characters.

I think the story was pretty routine but I agree, the artwork and characters, make it work.

I would like to look into, other things, that might have done.

"In French, ru means a small stream and, figuratively, a flow, a discharge--of tears, of blood, of money.
In Vietnamese, ru means a lullaby, to lull."

"I was born in the shadow of skies adorned with fireworks, decorated with garlands of light, shot through with rockets and missiles. The purpose of my birth was to replace lives that had been lost."

-Ru

I am enjoying this slim, but lovely book. It will be a fast read and one I better savor.

Hi, Mark! Not much to say, but have you seen the list of Early Review offerings? I requested only two (one is Old Age, a Beginner's Guide by Michael Kinsley ~ don't ask) and the other is the 25th Anniversary edition of Griffin and Sabine, though there are one or two nonfiction books I am considering (Apache Wars and The Naturalist: Theodore Roosevelt). I see The Library at Mount Char and Vinegar Girl by Ann Tyler are also on the list.

ETA the closing parenthesis. I seem to be forgetting to close parentheses today.

Hi, Mary! It was a good ER list. I requested a pair, which I rarely do. The Naturalist: Theodore Roosevelt does sound good. I will watch for that one on audio. I had mixed feelings about Mount Char but others have liked it.

Not familiar with Griffin & Sabine. Good?

Different. It's not like a regular novel, more like a GN, but not quite.

I enjoyed Mount Char, though it did have an issue or two imo. Still, I thought it was good enough that I'd ask for it if I hadn't already read it. :)

I think the Roosevelt and the Apache books would be great as audiobooks! Good idea. Which two did you request?

Just checking in with the Lone Ranger and wishing you a great weekend!

>273 Storeetllr: I requested Dodgers: A Novel, which I have been hearing good things about and Screamin' Jay Hawkins' All-Time Greatest Hits, which someone on Book Riot warbled about. Hawkins sounds like an interesting guy.

>274 vancouverdeb: Happy Friday, Deb. How are those books treating you?

Just received the announcement about the ER books today so looks like everything is on track. Sorry to hear about your cold weather. I saw that most of the northern US and Canada is also in a deep freeze - stay warm!

450 pages into the Goldfinch and I quit. I am going to spend the weekend looking at new cars and reading a fantasy. I am not sure which fantasy, but I will find one. I checked out House of Shattered Wings by a new author I have never heard of Aliette De Bodard. It sounds good and if that doesn't help me get in a better mood I will just read Hell is Empty my latest Walt Longmire book.

>276 Familyhistorian: Happy Saturday, Meg! Another frigid one today but then temps rise early next week. We have been blessed with very little snow, so I am happy with that.

>277 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita! Wow! 450 pages? I am surprised you lasted that long. LOL. At least you gave it a gallant attempt. Hell is Empty was also my last Longmire. I would like to bookhorn in another, in the next few weeks.

Have you read The Girl with All the Gifts? If not, this might be your cuppa. I am really enjoying it.

Enjoy your weekend of car hunting and fantasy reading.

^Okay, I am bundled up and ready to head to work. Warm thoughts are welcome. Only mid-teens today, with a nasty wind chill.

I'll be leaving my iPad home today, to keep that baby safe & warm, but I do have the BOOKS!

>279 msf59: Warm thoughts for you, Mark!

Sending warm thoughts as well, Mark! Just think of books and brew waiting for you at the end of the day. That should warm you up a bit.

Morning, Mark! Thinking warm thoughts and sending them your way. Hope it goes quickly for you.

Thanks, for the warm thoughts, as I start my residential...

Oof! Feel badly you have to work out there in the punishing cold today. If it weren't for Coco, I'd avoid going out there altogether. Just delurking to say hi, basically, and I'm sure you'll appreciate that beer and cozy warm home once your workday is over!

Brrrr---- Chicago sounds really cold right now. I guess I shouldn't mention that it's pretty much sweater weather here?

I thought The Girl with All the Gifts was pretty good.

>280 DianaNL: >281 Carmenere: >282 Crazymamie: See? All the warm thoughts worked. It was not as bad, as I thought and I made it through, with just minor frostbite, (kidding!). Now, I am in my comfy home and just poured a beer. Ahhhhhh...

Plus! I have the next 2 days off. Yippee!!

>284 Smiler69: Hi, Ilana! Good to see you. I made it through the day, just fine. Lots of sunshine and light winds helped. Yes and now a beer is helping too.

>286 banjo123: Happy Saturday, Rhonda! I want it to be sweater weather here! Wah! Things warm up a bit next week, at least above normal temps, so I am not complaining.

I am really enjoying The Girl with All the Gifts. I like it's quick no-nonsense style. Were there things, you didn't like?

The books are treating me well, dear sir. Really found The Book of Sands to be a very worthwhile read. I read Ru a while back - a couple of years ago and very much enjoyed it - 4 stars. For some reason, " Man" by the same author was a disappointment to me. Too disjointed? I'm not certain. But overall this year has been a very good book year.

>288 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I am home, my friend and it feels good. I like Ru and only have a few pages left. I will probably go with 4 stars. I especially like the Vietnamese/ Canada angle.

"But overall this year has been a very good book year." Let's keep it going, Tonto!

>287 msf59: The only thing I really didn't like about The Girl with All the Gifts was all the spoilers ahead of time. It's not great literature, of course, but for a Sci-Fi-ish, YA book; I thought it was great and a good message. I really liked the ending.

I'm also enjoyed The Girl with All the Gifts. Glad that your day wasn't too cold.

Good to hear that you survived the cold day and made it back to your den and beer. It might not be cold here but the rain was got really heavy when I was in Costco so my groceries etc got wet in the dash back to the car. Hate that when some of the purchases are books (just one this time, I am still working on getting my thingaversary books and it is more difficult than usual!)

>290 banjo123: I don't remember the spoilers, Rhonda, so I hope that is a good thing, right? LOL. I am glad that it ends on a strong note. That is important, especially for genre fiction.

>291 avatiakh: Happy Weekend, Kerry! Good to hear, that you were a fan of The Girl with All the Gifts. I missed the warbling, the first time around.

>292 Familyhistorian: Boo to wet books, Meg! Hope nothing was ruined. Fingers crossed.

And yes, I made it back to my den and beer. LOL. Actually, the wife and I went out for deep-dish pizza and to another place for a couple of beers. Nice time.

>165 msf59: How wonderful for you -- a football game, a wonderful friend, and you were surrounded by books. It just doesn't get too much better! How great also that you and Joe live within driving distance of each other.

This group never ceases to amaze me.

It is so darn cold here that Lilly, a Sheltie whose bred hails from Northern, cold Scotland, does not do her usual pracing around the yard, hesitant to come in when called. Will left her out and a few minutes later she was lying right by the deck sliding door.

It is the coldest night of the year with wind chill negative eight. It is zero degrees out there.

I am a little early, but here's to two days off and....

>295 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Good to see you! Stop by my new thread and see a sketch of the Super Bowl Meet-up. It is pretty cool.

It is about 10 degrees, here at the moment but it is supposed to warm up, next week. Whew!

>296 Berly: Valentine Hugs to Kimmers!