Mamie's 2016 Madness (Page 7)

Continuing my list of favorite things...steampunk, the acting skills of Nathan Fillion, honesty...


"The secret of deep deception is to tell the truth."

...

...

snail's pace

Books Completed in March:
28. Empire Falls by Richard Russo (4 stars), ROOT paperback/audiobook, Pulitzer Prize winner, read for Mark's AAC

Reading Plans: None

I tend to make plans and then bail on them, so this year I am just going to take each month as it comes. I would like to participate here and there in some of the many challenges that are on offer, however, so IF I have a qualifying book on my shelf and IF I feel like it, I will. This month I have the following titles in my personal library or on loan that would work:

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley - 2015 acquired paperback - recommended by the LT masses including Katie, Ellen and Mark - fits Mark's AAC

The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy - ROOT audiobook narrated by Alan Rickman - recommended by Lucy - fits Paul's BAC COMPLETED EARLY to honor Alan Rickman's passing

Non-fiction Challenge - Travel is March's theme - not sure yet

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowfat - fits Ilana's CAC - requested from library because I saw that Joe gave it 5 stars and thought it would make a nice companion piece to Winterdance

The Thief by Megan Whalen - this has been on the shelf for years and Jenn and Amber both say it is excellent, so I'm finally getting ti it this month

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

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

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

Books Completed in February:
15. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Volume 2 by Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker illustrator (4.5 stars), 2016 acquired hardback, GN - sci fi/dystopian
16. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy, ROOT audiobook, narrated by Alan Rickman (5 stars) -audiobook recommended by Lucy
17. A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler (4.25 stars), library paperback, short stories, Pulitzer Prize winner - recommended by Megan
18. The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys (4.25 stars), library hardback, connected vignettes, read for the CAC
19. Fifth Business by Robertson Davies (4 stars), library hardback, humor, read for the CAC
20. Written in Red by Anne Bishop (4.4 stars), ebook/audiobook, urban fantasy - recommended by Morphy, qualifies for Fantasy February!
21. Blacksad by Juan Díaz Canales, Juanjo Guarnido, (4 stars), library hardback, GN - noir, crime fiction - Mark told me about this one
22. City of Djinns by William Dalrymple (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, non-fiction - travel writing/a history of Delhi, read for the BAC - recommended by Susan
23. Snow Angels by Stuart O'Nan (4 stars) library hardback, contemporary fiction - relationship/divorce/coming of age
24. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (reread), audiobook, crime fiction - detective, read with Birdy
25. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen (4.5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/memoir - Iditarod race, recommended by Ellen, Karen, and Mark
26. The Drowned Detective by Neil Jordan (4.2 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, mystery - saw this is Charlotte's Guardian reviews
27. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild (5 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, non-fiction/history/the Congo/slavery

A few of my favorite reads from 2015:

Although I am hoping to focus mainly on my own overcrowded shelves this year, I am not crazy enough to think that I could resist adding new books to my collection. I'll record those purchases here.

1. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, ebook - recommended by Heather COMPLETED
2. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley ($.99 on Kindle) - blaming this on Roni, who pointed out the deal
3. The Fade Out: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, paperback - mentioned by Joe on the GN thread COMPLETED
4. The Fade Out: Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, paperback - Mark said this one was as good as the first COMPLETED
5. Staked by Kevin Hearne - Iron Druid series, ebook
6. Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White - recommended by Heather ($1.29 on Kindle)
7. Some Must Watch: The Spiral Staircase by Ethel Lina White - Heather's thread($.99 on Kindle)
8. The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White - Heather's thread ($1.99 on Kindle)
9. Put Out the Light by Ethel Lina White - Heather's Thread ($1.29 on Kindle)
10. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer ($2.99 on Kindle)
11. White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones ($1.99 on Kindle) COMPLETED
12. City of Djinns by William Dalrymple - recommended by Susan ($4.99 on Kindle) COMPLETED
13. You Have Killed Me by Jamie S. Rich - Mark's fault
14. Hit by Bryce Carlson - also Mark's fault
15. Velvet: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker - recommended by Roberta
16. The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett ($1.99 on Kindle)
17. The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois ($.99 on Kindle/$.99 audio)
18. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop - 2nd book in The Others series - ebook
19. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild - purchased for the non-fiction/history challenge COMPLETED
20. Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel José Older - Mark's fault
21. The Drowned Detective by Neil Jordan - Charlotte's Guardian reviews COMPLETED

Katie’s Dirty Dozen – KAK has earned her own category on my thread because she has the habit of recommending books that I cannot resist adding to my stacks. Books listed here could be for the WL or purchased, but I will designate if I purchased them. Because Katie is a rebel, there will of course NOT be twelve books in her dirty dozen.

1. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
2. Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard
3. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez - seconded by Charlotte and Susan
4. In the Walled City by Stewart O'Nan
5. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - she recommended the audio, and don't speed it up

Saving this space for LT recommendations that I want to keep track of.

1. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - recommended by Heather (saw this as I was catching up with her 2015 thread) COMPLETED 1/15/16
2. Slade House by David Mitchell - recommended by Lynda - I know that Mark and several others loved this one, too, but it was Lynda's succinct review that places it firmly on the WL
3. Chinese Takeout Cookbook by Diana Kuan - recommended by Lori (thornton37814) - saw it listed as her favorite cookbook read of 2015
4. Revenant by Mel Odom - recommended by Mark, who came to my thread to deliver the book bullet!
5. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen - recommended by Ellen and Karen COMPLETED
6. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts - Lucy mentioned that she loved this on her thread, and I looked it up because I was unfamiliar with it. Note to self: DO NOT look up books mentioned on Lucy's thread!
7. The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra - saw Amy's review of this on her thread
8. I Am Spain by David Boyd - recommended by Charlotte
9. The Mirror in the Mist by Susan Hill - saw Lori's (lkernaugh) review of this on her thread
10. The Prestige by Christopher Priest - recommended by Mary (bell7)
11. The Electric Michelangelo by Sarah Hall - recommended by Charlotte - saw her review on her thread
12. The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker - Joe mentioned this one on the GN thread, and it sounds right up my alley COMPLETED 1/15/16
13. The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason - Faith reviewed the second book in this series on her thread
14. Names for the Sea by Sarah Moss - read Rhian's review on her thread
15. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - again, Lynda got me with her succinct review on her thread - how DOES she do that?!
16. The Men Who Lost America by Andrew Jackson O"Shaughnessy - read the review on Reba's thread
17. Wartime: Stories From Ukraine by Tim Judah - read about this one on Charlotte's thread, part of her posted Guardian reviews. LOVE those!
18. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill - recommended by Charlotte on her thread
19. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild - Suz mentioned this one to Charlotte on the non-fiction challenge thread COMPLETED
20. Everything is Broken by Emma Larkin - recommended by Erik on my thread when we were discussing books on Burma
21. The Rebel of Rangoon by Delphine Schrank - Charlotte recommended this to me on my thread when we were discussing books on Burma
22. Unwind by Neal Shusterman - Mary (bell7) was talking about a follow-up collection of short stories to this series, and peaked my curiosity about the series itself
23. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler - read Megan's review of this on her thread - I love interconnected short stories COMPLETED
24. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - I read Julia's excellent review on her thread
25. How It All Began by Penelope Lively - read Nancy's review on her thread
26. The Storyteller by Mario Vargas Llosa - read Lori's (lkernagh) review of it on her thread
27. TransAtlantic by Colum McCaan - Charlotte and Katie talked me into this! And Marianne approves.
28. Willoughbyland by Matthew Parker - read Carrie's review on her thread
29. The Quiet American by Graham Greene - read Bill's review on his thread
30. Coast to Coast by Jan Morris - read Paul's review on his thread
31. After Hannibal by Barry Unsworth - read Ursula's review on her thread
32. Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White - read Heather's review on her thread
33. The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White - also Heather's fault!
34. Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore - recommended by Megan (evilmoose)
35. Mademoiselle Chanel by Pierre Galante - read Judy's review on her thread
36. Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon - read Suz's review on her thread
37. Crow Lake by Mary Lawson - read Nancy's review on her thread
38. 16055966::War of Two by John Sedgwick - recommended by Reba
39. The Old Ways by David Dalglish - recommended by Charlotte
40. The Nest by Kenneth Oppel - recommended by Anne
41. The Noise of Time by Julian barnes - was included in Charlotte's Guardian reviews, and then Suz reviewed it which is what sold me
42. Countdown by Deborah Wiles - Judy hit me with this 60s Trilogy with her review of Revolution
43. Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal - recommended by Marianne, interconnected short stories
44. The Library at Night by Alberta Manguel - recommended by Carrie
45. Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis - recommended by Rhian
46. Tokyo Decadence by Ryu Murakami - recommended by Joe
47. American Housewife by Helen Ellis - recommended by Joanne
48. Trespass by Rose Tremain - recommended by Nancy
49. The Book of Sands: A Novel of the Arab Uprising by Karim Alwari - recommended by Deborah
50. A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin - recommended by Mary
51. The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey - because Mark said so!
52. That's Not English by Erin Moore - recommended by Susan
53. In the Country: Stories by Mia Alver - recommended by Mark
55. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin - Mark again
56. 14994800:: The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones - recommended by Suz
57. Saints and Boxers by Gene Luen Lang - recommended by Carrie (read them together)
58. The Good Wife by Stewart O'Nan - recommended by Jenn
59. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift - recommended by Suz
60. When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning - recommended by Amy
61. Exposure by Helen Dunmore - recommended by Charlotte
62 Reading Chekhov by Janet Malcolm - recommended by Charlotte

Bringing this over from my previous thread:



Yesterday I watched all three episodes of Death Comes to Pemberly, and can I just say that Nancy was absolutely right - it's fabulous! This was just so well done, and I never would have considered it if they hadn't been talking about it on Nancy's thread. I attempted the book when it first came out, and was just so disappointed with it that I ended up abandoning it about half way through. But this! This is excellent. Did I want Darcy to be just a bit taller and a lot more Colin Firth, well...yes. Did I want Elizabeth to look a little less worn out...again yes, but the rest of the casting was most excellent, and its not Matthew Rhys and Anna Maxwell Martin's fault that I had already fallen in love with a different Elizabeth and Darcy - I certainly can't fault their acting skills. This was just so much fun, and I highly recommend it to anyone, like me, who constantly craves just a little more Pride and Prejudice.

This should do it - next one's yours!

Woot! Happy New Thread!

You got me with your video warbling of Death Comes to Pemberly. I also have the book on MT TBR - eyes it suspiciously. I've put off reading it due to the lukewarm comments here on LT, but am now thinking I should read before I watch the miniseries.

Both my Netflix video queue and my physical Planet TBR have over 450 entries. I am far too suggestible.

Janet, you are first! Here is your prize - I kept in mind the staggering proportions of your Netflix queue and Planet TBR:



I did not care for the book Death Comes to Pemberly, but I LOVED the mini-series. Wishing you many hours of happy reading and viewing!

>9 Crazymamie: Ooh a new thread. I'm a big fan of Anna Maxwell Martin. I'm hoping they adapt Longbourn soon, I really liked that P & P retelling.

Hi there Mamie! Congratulations on reading so many great books. And, I'm sure it took a lot of time to compile all those wonderful lists.

I note that you read Thomas Hardy in February. While I loved the movie Tess of the d'Urbervilles, I found the book most difficult to read. His writing style seemed to stuffy.

Regarding steampunk, I had no idea what this was until we were in Disneyworld and there was an incredible steampunk dragon in the parade!



Happy Thursday to you!

>12 charl08: Hello, Charlotte. I loved Longbourn, and that would be lovely to see as an adaptation. That was one of my top reads from a few years ago.

>13 Whisper1: Hello there, Linda! The lists are an ongoing work in progress, so I just add to them as we go along. The Thomas Hardy was an audiobook read by the incomparable Alan Rickman - not sure I would have loved it as much if I had just read the print version. I am not a fan of Hardy - this is the only one of his that I have liked. Do you listen to audiobooks?

I love the steampunk dragon!! If you want a lovely introduction to the steampunk genre, I highly recommend The Bullet Catcher's Daughter - so well done, and you would love the main character. Here's my review from 2014, if you are interested:


Book #152: The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan

So, I just finished a well written steampunk novel that was really good - The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan. Strong, clever female heroine perfectly capable of rescuing herself, no love triangle (in fact no romance!), excellent pacing, and although it is the first in a series, it can stand on its own just fine - no cliffhanger. Highly recommended.

The main character is Elizabeth Barnabas, and she has made a life out of posing as two people - herself and her twin brother. The brother works as a private investigator, which would be impossible for a woman to do in Elizabeth's world. Set in an alternate history world where the United Kingdom has been divided into two realms - imagine if the Luddites had been successful, and the patent office became a very powerful entity with its own law officers. The world building here is lovely, and I like that Mr. Duncan doesn't try to cram it down the reader's throat, but reveals it bit by bit as the story goes along. Not only is Elizabeth's current case very interesting, her backstory has its own intrigue. This is a mystery with action and adventure that does not disappoint - the second installment comes out in May, and I for one cannot wait.

Happy new thread, Mamie! Seems most of my LT energy is devoted to keeping up with you and your threads!

I'm glad you enjoyed the Death Comes to Pemberley production. I watched the first episode and couldn't get into it, but I think my experience reading the book just completely tainted my reaction to it. I *loathed* the book....

Morning Mamie! Happy New Thread! Love the Fillion topper. Much better here today, than yesterday, so the day is going well.

I hope yours is the same.

Thank you, Katie! My threads and I truly appreciate your loyalty.

I thought that Death Comes to Pemberly was fun, but you do have to just say, okay, they got Darcy wrong, and he would never treat Elizabeth like that. If you can get past that, then you can just sit back and enjoy the rest of the production. I also *loathed* the book - I could not even finish it.

>16 msf59: Morning, Mark! And thank you! Today is really lovely here, but we are still experiencing the higher than normal winds left over from that big storm system. But the sun is out, and the temps are cooler, so no complaints from me.

Happy New Thread, Mamie. I just finished reading Tess of The d'Urbervilles. I liked it.

Thank you, Barbara! I have not read that one, but if I read any more Hardy this year it will be Far From the Madding Crowd, as I already own it.

>14 Crazymamie: OK, you got me with that one.

Happy new thread (even though I have no hope of keeping up with your thread...or your walking...oh well)

Happy new thread! Good review of Bullet-Catcher's Daughter. I really enjoyed it and have been looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you for the new topper. Every time I visited your last thread, the image of a yawning Hitchcock made me sleepy. LOL I'm easily influenced when it comes to sleep. *yawn* Er, um, sorry. Just the thought...

Happy new thread, Mamie.

>21 rosalita: *does happy dance* It's very good, Julia!

>22 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! Don't worry about the thread, and with the walking - I know you are right there with me in spirit. I can't keep up with you in travel, so you win that one every time!

>23 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary! I need to get back to that series - I have the other two books, so I need to see how it all comes out and what happens next. Although, I did love that it felt perfectly fine just all by itself, too.

Laughing about the old topper - I am happy this one doesn't make you sleepy!

>24 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!

Okay, just so I can feel caught up and not have "these books still need to be reviewed" hanging over my head, here are just very brief glimpses into how I felt about my last few reads:


22. City of Djinns by William Dalrymple (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, non-fiction - travel writing/a history of Delhi, read for the BAC

I really loved this travel writing that takes us into the history of Delhi and wraps the current situation (at the time of the writing, which was 1993), the past, and the mythology and superstition found in any city that old into a sort of patchwork quilt. Compelling and interesting and highly recommended. Travel writing is fast becoming a new favorite genre on mine.


23. Snow Angels by Stuart O'Nan (4 stars) library hardback, contemporary fiction - relationship/divorce/coming of age

I love the writing of Stewart O'Nan. Katie introduced me to this author several years ago, and I have yet to find one of his that I haven't liked. He always has something to say to me. What he does really well is to present the brokenness that can be found in all of us - we all have a weak spot. We all have a breaking point - will we rise up or fall down? Or maybe we will simply fall apart. In both ordinary moments and extraordinary ones, Stewart builds the tension and gently crafts a tale that will have you turning the pages to see what happens next because you have become invested in it. Whether he covers 24 hours, or 24 days, or 24 years, it is absorbing.


24. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (reread), audiobook, crime fiction - detective, read with Birdy

Birdy is on a Sherlock Holmes kick. I recently bought the Penguin Deluxe Classics Sherlock Holmes: The Novels (the one with the deckled edge pages!!) and she snagged it off the shelf straight away. I read all the stories when I was a teenager, so I decided to reread them with her - but I am listening to them on audio. This one was narrated by Simon Prebble, who is very good unless asked to do certain American accents - I am begging you to never listen to his version of Live and Let Die. Please just trust me on this. This particular novel, although it does introduce us to both Holmes and Watson, is not my favorite, in fact I really hate the part where it goes off on the tangent story involving the Mormons. What is interesting is that in this one Watson has been injured in the shoulder, not the leg while in Afghanistan! I didn't pick up on that my first time through the stories - the next novel changes this and has the injury in the leg. Anyway...well written and Doyle has gifted us with two of the greatest protagonists ever, but...um...kind of boring in the middle. There you have it. For me, it suffered from a reread.


25 Winterdance by Gary Paulsen (4.5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/memoir - Iditarod race, recommended by Ellen, Karen, and Mark

Delightful! Paulsen takes us along on his journey as he decides to train for and participate in the Iditarod. He does almost everything wrong from start to finish in this madcap adventure that will have you laughing out loud in places. Not to be missed, IMO.

Wow! Mamie. The City of Djinns sounds like something I would like. I need to check out O'Nan one of these days, too.

Happy new thread, Mamie. You are a hard lady to keep up with!

>27 BLBera: It was really good, Beth and very fascinating. It was my first Dalrymple, but it won't be my last. And I adore O'Nan I am making me way through his work one book at a time and loving every minute of it.

>28 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg! I am betting things will start slowing down now, and I'll be easier to keep up with. Hoping my reading doesn't slow down, though. *grin*

Love your comments on Snow Angels. Well said!

Why, thank you, Katie!

Happy New Thread Mamie! You got me with The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter. I've added it to my library wishlist since the public library has several copies in the system.

Thanks, Carrie! Hooray for The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter! Here's hoping that you like it!

Hooray, for Winterdance. I just picked up Woodsong from the library.

I also just finished When Breath Becomes Air. It is wonderful and it worked so well on audio, if you can find it, in that format.

>34 msf59: I'll be waiting to see what you think of Woodsong, Mark. I will check to see if the library has When Breath Becomes Air - it is a memoir, yes?

Like we said, Woodsong is only 2 1/2 hours long, which is ridiculously short. I'll let you know. Yes, When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir and it will make you cry.

Right - the length is actually very appealing to me. Ha!

Well, I don't want to cry. But if you say so...

Happy New Thread Mamie. Glad to see that the William Dalrymple hit the right spot.

It will be a good cry, I promise you that.

>38 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! I loved the Dalrymple and would not have read it if not for your BAC, so thanks for that!!

>39 msf59: Yes, but I do not want to cry. *looks over the top of glasses at Mark* I guess I could follow it up with the fourth audiobook in the How to Train Your Dragon series.

You remind me that I picked up the sequel to The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter when it was a Kindle special and need to get to it!

Happy new thread, Mamie and double YAY for steampunk! Great review of The Bullet Catcher's Daughter but no BB as I was already hit by drneutron with The Fall of the Gas-light Empire series, but I think you did hit me with the Stuart O'Nan book.... darn it all!

I also need to try and track down the Death Comes to Pemberly show. I love Bletchley Circle... such a great series/mini-series.

Happy New Thread!

Happy new one, Mamie!

*looks over the top of glasses at Mark* Uh-oh, I know that look. Backs off a little...

Morning Mamie! Happy Friday! Another chilly one here but it warms up nicely for the weekend.

>41 ronincats: I pre-ordered the sequel as soon as I had finished reading the first book back in 2014, so I did not get the fabulous pricing that you got , Roni. But then I never got to it, but that's okay because now I can read books two and three close together.

>42 lkernagh: Thank you, Lori! Last year The Doctor got me with The Goblin Emperor, and it was one of my favorite books for the whole year, so he is very good with the BBs. And yes, do read the O'Nan.

I have had Bletchley Circle in my queue forever, as I had heard good things about it here on LT - I NEED to get to it. Perhaps this weekend,,,

>43 BBGirl55: Thank you, Bryony!

>44 DianaNL: Ha! Thanks for that, Diana!

>45 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! It's Friday! We made it to Friday!

>26 Crazymamie: Morning, Mark! You snuck on there while I was posting. LOL! You know you're safe here - I was just giving you a hard time. And hooray for Friday!! It's going to be chilly here today - only going to 59F, which is cold in Georgia. Ha!

Happy Friday.

I am showing my faith in Spring by planting flower seeds (indoors for now). Fingers crossed!

Happy Friday, Charlotte! Rae just planted flowers, and she is so cute checking the weather and taking them in and out according to the low temps. I currently have a riot of daffodils in a vase on the counter looking all happy because they came up and then the temps were going to be below freezing, so Craig cut them and brought them inside. I usually prefer my flowers outside where they can continue to grow and exist, but I have to admit that the daffodils are mighty cheerful.

Crossing my fingers that you are successful with the flower seeds - what kind did you plant?

Happy New Thread, and Happy Friday, Mamie!

Love the steampunk Nathan up top. Do you have The Aeronaut's Windlass on your radar? Roni and I both liked it a lot - and the cats in it are a hoot.

Good review of The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter. RD liked that one, too, I remember. I need to read some Stewart O'Nan. Is there one you'd recommend?

Thank you, Joe! I do have that one in the stacks - Craig has already read it and loved it. I'll try to get to it sooner rather than later.

My review of The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter is just a reprint from when I read it in 2014. And yes, you are right that Richard recently read it and loved it.

Stewart O'Nan! My favorite is Last Night at the Lobster, but Snow Angels was also excellent, and West of Sunset is good if you like F. Scott Fitzgerald. And I know that Mark LOVED Circus Fire, which is non-fiction (I have not read that one yet). The library has just notified me that Wish You Were Here has come in for me, so that will be my next one.

Happy new thread Mom, Love the thread topper as always. Horray for the weekend, am I right?

>52 Crazymamie: Adding Last Night at the Lobster to the WL, thanks.

>53 Thebookdiva: Thank you, Abby! And yes - a huge Amen, sister! that the weekend is within sight.

>54 jnwelch: You are welcome, Joe!

>52 Crazymamie: Last Night at the Lobster was one I enjoyed several years back.

Oh, Wish You Were Here, (my favorite Pink Floyd album) was the prequel to Emily, Alone, right? I always forget about that one.

I also have Lobster on audio and need to bump it up.

>56 thornton37814: Hello, Lori! Last Night at the Lobster was my very first O'Nan, and it remains my favorite. I have read it several times and know I will read it again.

>57 msf59: Yep, that's right, Mark. And my BIL LOVES that Pink Floyd album!! Katie said that Lobster was good on audio - she has also read it more than once. I might try the audio next time I read it.

Happy Friday, Mamie.

LNatL is GREAT on audio - read by Jonathan Price, I believe.

Y'all are making me want to re-read it this weekend.....

Happy Friday afternoon, Mamie!!! I love O'Nan. I think I might have read 3 including Night at the Lobster He's such an underrated author in MHO.

>59 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara!

>60 katiekrug: I do want to try it on audio, Katie. Now you're making me want to revisit it this weekend. LOL!

>61 Carmenere: HA! Happy Friday Afternoon, Lynda! Although I guess I should say evening now. I think I have a bit of a bug - I took two naps today. TWO. Totally agree that O'Nan is an underrated author. I have read four so far - the three I mentioned to Joe and also Prayer for the Dying. I have liked all of them.

You got me with City of Djinns. I really like travel writing as well, and I haven't read much about India compared to some other places.

Have you reviewed King Leopold's Ghost? Must go have a look on the previous thread...

I have The Bullet Catcher's Daughter as an ebook--so glad you liked it! Hoping to get caught up on a few reviews this weekend myself...Happy Friday!!

>62 Crazymamie: It's finally Friday, and now you're under the weather? That doesn't seem fair! I hope you feel better soon!

>50 Crazymamie: Rae sounds dedicated. I have put my seeds in the porch. If I remember to water then I will be doing well. I've mostly used the seeds to hand, but bought some sweet peas and nasturtiums. I've started beans and cabbages for planting out at the allotment, but will have to keep an eye on then as they did v badly last year. Maybe need to splash out on a new seed packet!

>63 nittnut: I am new to the travel writing genre, Jenn - got bitten by the bug last year after reading Travels With Herodotus, which I highly recommend. SO fabulous!! City of Djinns is a good starting place for India, I would think, as it concentrates on the city of Delhi - I really liked how he brought past and present together. Fascinating.

I have not yet finished King Leopold's Ghost, so no review yet. I hope to finish it up over the weekend - I had to set it aside to finish up a couple of books that had to go back to the library. I loved the chapter on Conrad and his writing of Heart of Darkness, as I love that book - it always pulls me into its narrative. Anyway, soon, very soon I will finish and we can compare notes.

>64 Berly: It's very good, Kim, and loads of fun. I was thrilled to post the mini-reviews because they had been hanging over my head - I like to get a few words at least down about everything I read, but the longer I wait, the less likely I am to get it done.

>65 cbl_tn: Just dragging a bit, Carrie. I feel kind of achy and tired - just not quite myself, but nothing terrible. I can't complain as I usually have very good health. I thank you for those good wishes, though, as I am convinced they work!

>66 charl08: Rae is very nurturing and dedicated to everything she does - she has a single-mindedness that I greatly admire. I will be watching your thread to see how your gardening is going - Craig planted an herb garden for me last year, and I really loved having it even though I am not usually one for gardening. We have jalapeño plants that were here when we moved in, and they have come back every year - SO good! Last year we also had green peppers and tomatoes and some different lettuces. Craig grew up on a farm - his dad was a farmer, so he loves that kind of thing, He claims it is relaxing, although it looks anything but relaxing to me!

I think Snow Angels was the second of O'Nan's books that I read way back when (the first was A Prayer For the Dying). I loved them both. I'm planning to reread Wish You Were Here.

Definitely try to find a copy of The Circus Fire. And The Good Wife is excellent, too. I'll stop now...:)

Oddly, I know, Last Night at the Lobster was my least favorite of his books....(I'm going to try a reread of that little book one of these days - maybe I wasn't in the right mood!).

Feel better!!

>68 Crazymamie: It is relaxing bit I have found that I need to be careful not to do too much at once - my back does not like all the bending over for any length of time. I did one of my favourite jobs today, cutting back ivy. So great to clear a patch so that other things get to grow too.

Love that you can grow peppers. I'm not sure that would work here, unless with a greenhouse (which I've not set up yet - the plastic one comes our for the tomatoes next month!).

>70 Copperskye: Oh! You are a font of information, Joanne! I did have The Circus Fire out from the library at the end of last year, but I didn't get to it in time. I will be sure to make it a priority this year. And I am making a note about The Good Wife. Thanks so much for that. I loved Last Night at the Lobster - it spoke to me. Hoping you like it better on a reread.

I thank you for those good wishes!

>71 charl08: That's an excellent point, Charlotte! I am looking forward to having the herb garden again, and I will do better with it this year, as I learned so much last year about how to take care of each individual herb. I vow not to let the basil get out of control or allow the cilantro to flower. Our green peppers were so yummy! We didn't plant them - our compost is next to our container garden, and the peppers managed to plant themselves. Clever, clever vegetables!

Craig had a tiny greenhouse when we lived in Indiana, and he loved that thing! I mean really loved it.

Hi there, Mamie!

>69 Crazymamie: I love this pic. In fact, that's what I was doing this morning! Hope you were able to do the same!!!

Hey, Lynda! I was reading in bed this morning - how did you know?!

Happy Saturday!

>74 Crazymamie: Lol. morning is the best time for me to get some reading done. I usually fall asleep as soon as I open a book after 8pm.

PS are you feeling better today?

Library Bag Update:

The Pure in Heart by Susan Hill -book #2 in the Simon Serrallier series
The Risk of Darkness by Susan Hill - book #3
Everything is Broken by Emma Larkin - recommended by Erik
Heap House by Edward Carey - recommended by Ilana
Shaman Pass by Stan Jones - Book #2 in the Nathan Active series
Hold Still by Sally Mann - I don't remember why I requested this - did one of you recommend it? I FIGURED OUT WHERE THIS WAS FROM - LIZ'S (lalbro) REVIEW ON HER THREAD
Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan
All You Need is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, art by Takeshi Obata, this is a Manga - they made the movie Edge of Tomorrow: Live, Die, Repeat from this. We watched this movie recently, and the premise was so intriguing - I love stories that mess with time, so I wanted to read the original novel. The library did not have this labeled as a manga, but Abby read it and liked it, so I will give it a go.
The Best of Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury - this is a GN

>75 cbl_tn: Happy Saturday, Carrie!

>76 Carmenere: I always read before I go to sleep, and also when I first wake up. I worked the night shift for many years, and it messed up my sleep cycle, so I am often awake and reading at various times throughout the early morning hours. Thank goodness for me Paperwhite - I LOVE that thing!!

I am thinking that I have the beginnings of a sinus infection, so if I'm not feeling better by Monday, I probably need to get meds. In the meantime Mucinex, Advil and an antihistamine is helping to relieve the pressure. I need to get out there and walk, as I didn't get all of my steps these last two days, but i have no energy right now. More coffee, and then we'll see.

Happy new thread, Mamie! I hope you're feeling better today. A blah weekend is no fun, given how long we've waited for it!

>26 Crazymamie: I'm so glad you loved City of Djinns. My roomie gave it to me, which made me read it sooner than I might otherwise, and I can see myself reading it again.

>77 Crazymamie: See, this is why I don't need any library books, because you have them all :-)

Thank you, Susan! I don't feel better, but i don't feel worse either, so that's good.

Your review of City if Djinns is what made me pick that one when Paul chose him as a BAC author. I amended my entry up top to give you credit for recommending it.

Haha! But these are my picks - I want to see what you pick!

The Bullet Catcher's Daughter is now on the list of things to get from the library - eventually. And I loved The Circus Fire when I read it a few years ago. (I have a perverse liking of books about gruesome disasters.)

Hope you are having a good weekend, Mamie.

Hi Mamie! I'm sorry to hear about the sinus infection you're brewing. My father made me a firm believer in saline nasal spray. I inherited his sinuses. I always keep a spare bottle or two of saline spray in the medicine cabinet. If I start it early enough, it can nip a sinus infection in the bud.

>81 Fourpawz2: Charlotte! Lovely to see you here! Hooray for The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter - I love the cover on it. And you have convinced me that I need to get to Circus Fire ASAP - I'll make it my next O'Nan request. I have heard only good things about it. So far so good with the weekend - it's cold out there, and I love that, so thank you for those good wishes. Wishing for you a weekend filled with fabulous!

>82 cbl_tn: Okay, Carrie, I have to tell you that for many years Craig kept trying to get me to use saline nasal spray because I do tend to get these sinus infections every year or so, and I had always resisted because I hate anything nasal. But finally, the last time I had a really bad sinus infection, I caved, and guess what? I LOVE the saline nasal spray - it works!! SO now I always have some in my bathroom cupboard, and I hadn't even thought about it yet, so thank you. I will get it out.

>11 Crazymamie: Thank you, thank you I love my chair. HOWEVER, I'm not sure I'd be able to stay awake it in for either reading or video watching. Perhaps it will make a nice fainting couch.

>83 Crazymamie: I'll share a tip from my ENT. He told me to use the opposite hand to spray in each nostril - left hand, right nostril; right hand, left nostril. Apparently it's easier to direct the spray where it needs to go when you do it that way.

>84 streamsong: Ha! Well, you should at least try it out first, Janet. You may never want to get back up again.

>85 cbl_tn: I'll try that, Carrie! Thanks!

Feel better soon, Mamie. I love your workout plans. :)

Books two and three in the Serrailler series! I'll watch for your comments.

Thanks for the steampunk book recommendation. I've added it to the tbr list.

I hope you are feeling better today.

Sorry you aren't feeling well Mamie. Hope it's over soon.

>25 Crazymamie: I didn't travel much when I was your age either. Trying to make up for lost time now though lol

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

>69 Crazymamie: LOL!

I finished Heap House and it was pretty darn good. I'm not sure I loved it as much as Ilana, but I can see why she did, and I'm sure others will love it, too.

>87 BLBera: Ha! Thank you, Beth! I'm feeling like a mystery, so I'm thinking I will indulge in book two this weekend.

>88 Whisper1: You are welcome, Linda. I thank you for those good wishes.

>89 RebaRelishesReading: Me, too, Reba.

So there's hope for me yet, eh?! I am such a homebody, but I would love to see some of Europe some day.

>90 jnwelch: Happy Saturday, Joe! I am needing to get to Heap House - hopefully in March!

Morning Mamie! Happy Saturday. Nice library book-haul. I need to request Heap House. It is getting plenty of love.

Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you! The library haul will keep me busy, that's for sure. I am really hoping to get to Heap House in March. *crosses fingers*

Sorry you're not feeling up to snuff, Mamie. I hate that kind of general blah-ness. I hope you will be feeling better soon!

Enjoy your weekend!

Mamie I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. I hope you do feel better soon. Good thing you aren't lacking reading material. Lol!

I got my copy of Man by Kim They. I'm saving it for my reading retreat. Woohoo!

>94 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie. I am grumpy cause my head hurts, so I really appreciate those good wishes. Luckily the house is pretty quite today because Rae and Craig are at the office, and Birdy is working outside.

>95 luvamystery65: Howdy, Roberta! You made me laugh about the reading material - definitely no danger of my running out any time soon. I appreciate your good wishes!

I think you will like Mãn- I actually liked it better than Ru, but I seem to be in the minority there.

So, Mamie, I posted this a couple of days ago and NO ONE has commented on it. So I'm going to bring it here because I know you'll be proud of me.

So, for the last week, I've actually been walking every other day, from two to 3.5 miles, which is a change from none. Last Friday I did 5976 steps, Sunday was 9053 steps, Tuesday was 7455 steps, and today 9432. My weekly total is 34,325 steps, 14.52 miles which is probably a record since retirement. ''

And I've been waiting for Heap House to arrive at my library branch for a full month now! Hopefully, next week.

Hi Mamie!

The comments on you last thread have made me decide to try the TV series of Death Comes to Pemberley. I had skipped it originally because I wasn't a fan of the book.

>14 Crazymamie: And you've hit me with a belated book bullet for The Bullet Catcher's Daughter which I do now remember you reading in 2014 and thinking I should try it but never getting around to. Anyway, £0.99 for kindle and now downloaded.

>26 Crazymamie: I've enjoyed seeing everyone comment on William Dalrymple's books this month - they all sound really interesting. I have From the Holy Mountain on loan from the library and might get to it next month.

>78 Crazymamie: Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Sinus infections are the worst! I have also found the saline nasal sprays/rinses helpful. I thought they would feel awful but if you get the salt mixture and the temperature right you almost can't feel it. I used the NeilMed.

>97 ronincats: Woot, woot!! You go girl!! : ) (Did that help?)

Crazy-- I hope you feel better soon! Sinus stuff is no fun. : ( And I feel your grumpy. ; )

>97 ronincats: - Roni, that is awesome! I am behind on lots of threads, so will go get caught up on yours now :)

>97 ronincats: RONI!!! That is fabulous! I am so proud! And so happy that you came over here to share that! I'll be right over to applaud and to wax lyrical about your accomplishment!!!

>98 souloftherose: Hey, Heather! Me, too about the Death Comes to Pemberly, but the mini-series was a lot of fun once you get past the fact that they got Darcy wrong. He comes right in the end, so that is the important thing.

And hooray for The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter - I would love to see more people reading that one. It's so fun and so well done. And you can't argue with the pricing!

I'll have to watch to see what you think of Dalrymple's From the Holy Mountain - I would like to read another by him later in the year.

I am so glad that Carrie mentioned the saline nasal spray because I would not have thought to use it at this stage - I would have waited until I had the full blown infection. Crossing my fingers that using it now might help me to move this thing along.

>99 Berly: Thank you for those good wishes, Kim! And yes!! WOOT! WOOT! for Roni!!

>100 katiekrug: I'm coming over there, too, Katie!

Howdy, Mamie! I am home. Having a beer. Visiting a few threads and getting ready to out, to meet friends and co-mingle.

I finished Half-Resurrection Blues and I think you would like it and book 2, is all ready available.

Sounds good, Mark! I am sitting in the big bed reading and dipping in and out of LT, and Abby is here, too, playing a bit of Zelda. A nice quiet evening.

I will read Half-Resurrection Blues because you said so! Remember to use your power only for good!

The kids might like it too. It's a bit more hip and urban.

>101 Crazymamie: Thankee, Mamie! (and Kim and Katie as well) I feel MUCH better now!

>97 ronincats: Hey Roni, I commented on your post but I am so far behind on the threads that I didn't get to it until today.

Hope you are feeling better soon, Mamie. >78 Crazymamie: I worked graveyards for a couple of years, just enough to screw up my sleep cycle as well and to this day if I am ever awake at 4:00 am I get hungry - that used to be break time.

>91 Crazymamie: There's always hope for travel! I didn't leave the US till I was 39, and I was pretty convinced I never would at that rate.

>91 Crazymamie: I love to travel although I am not as well travelled as some of the group; Caro especially.
You would be welcome in Kuala Lumpur with the Pecan Paradisio gang in toto I am sure that I hardly need tell you. After my terrible troubles last year I don't want to set announced targets for making it stateside (God and The Donald notwithstanding) but it remains a major aim of mine - especially given the list of friends it would be incumbent upon me to seek out.

Have a lovely Sunday and I hope you are now feeling back to your fabulous best.

>104 Crazymamie: Sounds very relaxing.

Hope you have a great Sunday.

>105 msf59: Look at you reading hip and urban! Abby and Rae both love urban fantasy, so I picked it up on Kindle, and that way anyone who wants to can read it. See how fast I comply?!

>106 ronincats: You are so welcome, Roni!!

>107 Familyhistorian: I think I am feeling a bit better today, Meg, thanks. Carrie's saline advice is doing the trick, I think, so hooray for that!

Ha! Me, too about the 4am thing! I did love working that shift, but it messes you up if you work it long enough.

Morning Mamie! Happy Sunday! Hope Half-Resurrection Blues was affordable. I have to find the 2nd volume on audio. I am sure the kids will like it.

>108 ursula: Good to know, Ursula! I'm not too worried about it because life is a beautiful thing that can be experienced anywhere, and I am perfectly content with my pecan trees.

>109 PaulCranswick: Paul, if ever your travels bring you this way, I am sure you will be swarmed by the LT masses!! I'll be the short lady at the back of the room with the big smile who is patiently waiting for the hullabaloo to quiet down a bit. I'll bring along my copy of The Shipping News that you gifted me with, and that is now one of my favorites, and you can sign it for me.

Not quite back to fabulous, but I am getting there, thank you. And thank you for those Sunday wishes - yours is almost over, so I will wish for you a week filled with fabulous!

>110 charl08: It was lovely, and guess what I read, Charlotte? The Drowned Detective!!! And I liked it very much - I'm already finished with it.

I thank you for those Sunday wishes and wish the same for you!

>112 msf59: How DO you do that, Mark? Sneak in there while I am posting, I mean. Good Morning to you!! So sweet of you to worry about my pocketbook! Yep, it was affordable, and it sounds like something that Craig, Rae, Abby and I will all like, so it's all good. Looking forward to it!

>113 Crazymamie: Lovely picture! I am so tall Mamie that I wouldn't be able to see you stood well behind Danny Devito, but I would indeed be looking for you.

Happy Sunday Greetings, Mamie!

I will finish up Hollow city this morning and then move onto King Leopold's Ghost. See? You influence me too. We make a good team. B.A.G.

>115 PaulCranswick: I'll wear heels. Ha! No, I won't. I'll stand on the table.

>116 Carmenere: Well, look at you all proper, Miss Lynda! Happy Sunday Greetings to you!

>117 msf59: You did it again!!! Hooray for King Leopold's Ghost - you will love that one - I am almost finished with it. We do make a good team! B.A.G.

Book #26: The Drowned Detective by Neil Jordan (4.2 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, mystery - saw this is Charlotte's Guardian reviews

So I just saw this yesterday in Charlotte's latest batch of Guardian reviews, and it sounded interesting. Although the physical book won't be released here until May, the ebook edition was available, so I snagged it. A very good snag, as it turns out. Now I just have to figure how how to describe it without giving too much away.

It is a mystery, but it is also more than a mystery. The main character, Jonathan, is a private detective in eastern Europe - he has two other men working for him, and he also has a psychic that he consults whose name is Gertrude. The side characters here are fabulous, and Gertrude is my favorite. The books opens like any other detective novel, but very soon things start to go a bit wonky, and then the fun truly begins. There is a ghost in this story! I won't say more than that except to say that I loved the ending. If the premise is at all intriguing to you, do not hesitate to pick this one up.

Thinking of you and hoping today will be a good one for you. And, congratulations on reading so many good books..20 books at this point in time is great!!!!

Thank you for that, Linda! You always say the nicest things. Wishing for you a day filled with fabulous, my dear!

The Drowned Detective sounds good. I wonder if that is the same Neil Jordan, that is the filmmaker? From "The Crying Game", fame?

Yep, it is, Mark. And The Drowned Detective was a great find at just the right time for me. I love when you open a book and fall in and don't return to reality until you have finished.

That sounds like a great endorsement. Thanks!

Welcome.

Ha! Drowning indeed! Too many great book suggestions here. Glug, glug, glug!

Oh, dear!

>120 Crazymamie: Wow, that was quick!! It sounds like a great read, though. Happy Sunday Mamie :-) I finally finished the Jane Smiley. Phew!

>118 Crazymamie: >116 Carmenere: Just trying to mix it up a bit, Mamie! :0D
The Drowned Detective sounds good. I always add to my wishlist when I see Charlotte's Guardian post but look at you, you just dive on in!

Hi Mamie - Darn you - I added The Drowned Detective to my list; it sounds good.

>128 Crazymamie: Phew! Made it back to shore. Thanks. Although this was all your fault to begin with!!

>129 susanj67: I know, right?! It was the right book at the right moment. Happy Sunday to you, Susan! And hooray for finishing the Smiley - you go, girl!

>130 Carmenere: You are doing an excellent job, Lynda. The Drowned Detective was a winner - decided to just take a risk, and it paid off.

>131 BLBera: Hi Beth! Hoping you like it when you get to it - I thought it was a lot of fun and just so different from the usual fare.

>132 Berly: Thank goodness! But don't you feel refreshed from that swim? *blinks*

^ You are incorrigible!! And I like you that way. : )

Oooh, The Drowned Detective does sound quite good! On the list it goes. Happy Sunday & happy stepping! :D

Oh my goodness that was quick work with the drowned detective. And a review too. Glad you're feeling better.

I liked what you said about enjoying life anywhere. I'm not quite at that point but like the sentiment!

>135 Berly: *grin*

>136 dk_phoenix: I really liked it, Faith, so I'm happy it makes the list. Happy Sunday to you, too and happy stepping!!

>137 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte! Good thing only one book on that last batch of reviews really called to me. Ha!

I thank you for those kind words, and wish you well in your endeavor to enjoy life anywhere.

The Drowned Detective sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the bb!

Hope you're having a lovely Sunday!

Oh, yea, Mary! You're welcome. My Sunday has been really lovely - slow and lazy and indulgent. AND Craig just got back from running a couple of errands, and he brought me red tulips - in pots because he knows I prefer potted flowers. Tulips are my favorite, but they are impossible to grow down here because we don't get cold enough long enough to force the bulbs. Now I have two!! SO gorgeous. And so thoughtful. *sigh*

King Leopold's Ghost + A Lazy Sunday Afternoon = Happiness

Yes, this will be a very dark and unsettling book but it is also NNF, at it's finest.

My LT Pals Strike Again!

Yep. I knew you would love it, Mark. And it holds up all the way through - I am just about finished.

Okay, I just have to brag a bit - my kids were going crazy over these photos because look how much weight I have lost in my face!!

I can't decide what's better, the flowers or the kids being so complimentary.

>138 Crazymamie: I've decided to start small, and start loving being in the kitchen. The chocolate banana muffins have helped with this goal...

>145 charl08: So true, Charlotte. I am surrounded by kindness.

I love your starting point. And your incentives. Please pass the muffins.

>144 Crazymamie: Great job! You look fabulous!

Ha! Fabulous looking might be pushing it, Mary, but I do FEEL fabulous. And thanks for the applause!!

>144 Crazymamie: Crazy-- You have a nice, long neck now, too!!! How satisfying is that, to SEE the results? And kudos to your fab kids for taking notice.

I know! And I can touch my chin to my chest, which I had almost forgotten how to do. It really is an amazing thing, and it happens little by little, so you don't really understand the full effect until you see it in a photo. I mean, I knew I had gone down multiple sizes in clothing, but the face thing makes me really happy.

Thank you so much for your sweet words, Kim!

Love the photos. I am proud of you. Go Mamie! Go Mamie!

Great photos, Mamie! And I also love the topper image. My boyfriend and I just watched that episode of Castle. :)

ETA: Death Comes to Pemberly sounds fantastic. I'll check it out next time I'm in a TV show mood.

Hi Mamie! I finished Empire Falls and threw up a review on my thread. I'm looking forward to discussing it with you! How about that flashback chapter to Miles' drivers' ed experience?!

>144 Crazymamie: You look terrific! Good work, I know it's not easy, but it's definitely worth it.

>144 Crazymamie: Mamie, both photos are lovely! Your weekend sounds very relaxed. And yay for the tulips!

Morning, Mamie!!
You get the feeling good award too!

The kids, as always, are looking sharp!

Happy Leap Day, my friends! I am ignoring the fact that it is Monday, I mean, is it really Monday if it falls on a leap year? And just to be perfectly honest, while I leap like the above photo in my heart, in reality it looks more like:

I agree - you look fabulous, Mamie!!

Happy Leap Day Mamie! I had two Mondays last week, so I'm thinking about two Tuesdays this week. But Leap Day works, too. It doesn't really count, does it?!

Morning Mamie! Glad to see you leaping around but please be careful, will ya? I am enjoying another day off and hope to spend some time with King Leopold, the dirty scoundrel.

Fab photos, Mamie!

Hope you have a great week.

This made me think of you:



Happy Monday!

>162 scaifea: Love this. Great idea.

Catching up with the thread:

>151 msf59: Aw, shucks! Thanks, Mark! I can always count on you!

>152 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel! We love Castle!! SO funny that you just watched that particular episode - serendipity, baby! And hooray for trying out Death Comes to Pemberly - I hope you like it when you get to it.

>153 rosalita: I knew you would beat me, Julia - I'll come look at your review just as soon as I finish, which will hopefully be today. And I LOVED the flashback to the driver's ed. It had me laughing out loud. Poor Miles.

>154 ursula: Thank you, Ursula! SO worth it, but yes, a lot of work. Of course, if it had been easy or quick, I would not have nearly as much joy in the accomplishment - life is funny that way.

>155 susanj67: Susan, thank you! The weekend was lovely, and I didn't want it to end. And the tulips!! So unexpected, and usually I don't like surprises, but this one I liked.

>156 Carmenere: Thanks for that, Lynda! *clears throat* "I'd like to thank the academy..."

Um...the young man is my nephew, not Daniel, but yes, he is almost as handsome as very nice looking. And that is Birdy in the second photo.

>158 scaifea: Thank you, Amber! I hope you are feeling much better today.

>159 cbl_tn: Thank you, Carrie! Birdy says it is definitely Monday because she has to go to the dentist - they found a cavity when they cleaned her teeth, so she has to go back today to get that filled. But for me, it's Leap Day. Ha!

>160 msf59: Morning, Mark! I promise to be careful. Hooray for another day off!! WahHOO! I am finished with King Leopold - he stinks, but I am giving the book 5 stars.

>161 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! And thanks for those good wishes - wishing for you a week filled with fabulous!

>162 scaifea: OH. My. Word. I WANT that shirt, Amber! I love it!! And I love that it made you think of me!! Thank you!

>163 charl08: Me, too, Charlotte! It's fab!

>157 Crazymamie: Happy Leap Day!!! Surely you are closer to the first picture. : )

>167 Berly: Happy Leap Day, Kim!! Sadly, I am not - if we are talking physically, that is.

Well then, mentally you are!! Cartwheels and backflips! : )

Right. And trust me when I say that you do not want to se me attempt cartwheels and backflips. I am better with big wheels and flip flops.

Happy M-er-Leap Day, Mamie. Congrats on the new you in your photos!

Happy Leap Day, Mamie!

Good job you (you look great) and good job Craig (those tulips were very thoughtful) and good job kids (for complimenting Mom)

>171 Familyhistorian: Ha! Thanks, Meg!

>172 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy! I'm feeling a bit nervous - he doesn't look like he's going to make that.

>173 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! And so true about Craig and the kids - they are a thoughtful bunch. And go you with the walking!! You are doing great!

Reading Plans for March: None

I tend to make plans and then bail on them, so this year I am just going to take each month as it comes. I would like to participate here and there in some of the many challenges that are on offer, however, so IF I have a qualifying book on my shelf and IF I feel like it, I will. This month I have the following titles in my personal library or on loan that would work:

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley - 2015 acquired paperback - recommended by the LT masses including Katie, Ellen and Mark - fits Mark's AAC

The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy - ROOT audiobook narrated by Alan Rickman - recommended by Lucy - fits Paul's BAC COMPLETED EARLY to honor Alan Rickman's passing

Non-fiction Challenge - Travel is March's theme - not sure yet

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowfat - fits Ilana's CAC - requested from library because I saw that Joe gave it 5 stars and thought it would make a nice companion piece to Winterdance

The Thief by Megan Whalen - this has been on the shelf for years and Jenn and Amber both say it is excellent, so I'm finally getting to it this month

City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg - Doorstopper Challenge - library hardback, Reading this with Kim, slowly - moved to March with Mark joining in

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

Are you and Kim far in City on Fire? It's in my Mt. TBR, too.

Books Completed in February:
15. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Volume 2 by Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker illustrator (4.5 stars), 2016 acquired hardback, GN - sci fi/dystopian
16. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy, ROOT audiobook, narrated by Alan Rickman (5 stars) -audiobook recommended by Lucy
17. A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler (4.25 stars), library paperback, short stories, Pulitzer Prize winner - recommended by Megan
18. The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys (4.25 stars), library hardback, connected vignettes, read for the CAC
19. Fifth Business by Robertson Davies (4 stars), library hardback, humor, read for the CAC
20. Written in Red by Anne Bishop (4.4 stars), ebook/audiobook, urban fantasy - recommended by Morphy, qualifies for Fantasy February!
21. Blacksad by Juan Díaz Canales, Juanjo Guarnido, (4 stars), library hardback, GN - noir, crime fiction - Mark told me about this one
22. City of Djinns by William Dalrymple (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, non-fiction - travel writing/a history of Delhi, read for the BAC - recommended by Susan
23. Snow Angels by Stuart O'Nan (4 stars) library hardback, contemporary fiction - relationship/divorce/coming of age
24. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (reread), audiobook, crime fiction - detective, read with Birdy
25. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen (4.5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/memoir - Iditarod race, recommended by Ellen, Karen, and Mark
26. The Drowned Detective by Neil Jordan (4.2 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, mystery - saw this is Charlotte's Guardian reviews
27. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild (5 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, non-fiction/history/the Congo/slavery

SO last month, I read a total of 13 books, 3 of them were non-fiction.

3 of them were newly acquired this year.
4 of them were ROOTs.
2 of them were GNs.
6 of them were borrowed from the library.
1 was a reread.
4 were for challenges.
8 of them were authors new to me.
4 were part of a series.

Medium:
Hardback:6
Paperback:1
ebook:3
Audio:2
Audio/ebook:1
Audio/print:0

>176 DianaNL: Hello, Diana. Kim has read the first thirty or so chapters, Mark has not yet started, and I read the first several chapters but am planning to just start over again this month - please join us!

>178 Crazymamie: I'll dig it out, Mamie.

Good morning, Mamie!

Oh, I loved Never Cry Wolf. I hope you have a good time with it. I hadn't thought of the pairing with Winterdance. I have a few decades in between reading them, but that should work really well.

Mowat has written other good ones if you like it, like Snow Walker.

>179 DianaNL: *grin*

>180 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I like that you paired them a few decades apart - it shows restraint. And thanks for the rec, I'm making a note of that.

Hi, Mamie! Congrats on the weight loss. You look great!

The Drowned Detective sounds interesting. I'll have to look and see if I have it on my endless list . . .

I'm glad to see the Stewart O'Nan love here. I read and liked both Snow Angels and Last Night at the Lobster, but my favorites of his, grim though they are, were The Circus Fire (my first O'Nan) and A Prayer for the Dying -- both 4 1/2 star reads (and if I wasn't so stingy with stars, they could have easily been 5-star for me).

>144 Crazymamie: Well done Mamie! I thought you looked great in the before picture too but also great to see all your hard work has paid off :-)

Thank you, Terri! The Drowned Detective is new - it's available on Kindle, but the print version doesn't come out here until May.

I have plans to get to The Circus Fire this year - I keep hearing good things about that one. I read Prayer for the Dying last year and really liked it. I just love his writing.

>183 souloftherose: Hello, Heather! And thank you for those kind words. I would still like to lose a bit more - somewhere between ten to twenty pounds, and then I will be happy to just maintain it. I feel like I have learned a lot on the journey.

>176 DianaNL: >178 Crazymamie: Diana, Crazy, Mark I am ready to start up City on Fire whenever. : ) Shall I start a separate thread or not?

It doesn't matter to me about a separate thread - suit yourself, as I am good either way. I'll get the book back from the library today when I go out.

>177 Crazymamie: Sounds like a good month.
Have fun with City on Fire: I think I will have to wishlist that one.

>186 Berly: Ahum, I'm still digging; I get more and more embarrassed. I díd buy that book, didn't I?

Ack, it's coming late but good morning, Mamie! Hope it's off to a good start :0)

>188 charl08: It does, doesn't it, Charlotte? I am looking forward to seeing what I get read this month. And City on Fire looks like a good one - Kim has already started it and wad talking about it on her thread, which is what got this whole thing started.

>189 DianaNL: Good question, Diana! Good luck figuring that out - if you do have it, then we will be excited to have you join us, and if not, then it might be a good excuse to pick it up. *grin*

>190 Carmenere: Still morning here, Lynda! And it is off to a good start - just finished running my errands which included snagging City on Fire from the library. And I treated myself to a fountain soda, which I hardly ever indulge in - Diet Coke, and I have added lime wedges to it - YUM! Now I am headed out to the deck for a bit of reading - I don't have to do anything until dinner time except a bit of laundry, so I am doing the happy dance!

Hi, Mamie! Thanks for the reminder about City on Fire. I all ready had forgot about it, due to the book avalanche.

Hey, Mark! You're welcome - what do ya mean, you'd already forgotten?! *sob*

Hey, there's no crying in reading!

Of course that's a lie....

That's baseball, Mark. There is plenty of crying in reading.

Look how young, Hanks looks? LOL.

I know! He's a baby!

LOL!

He's pushing 60 now, but what a great career.

>198 Berly: *grin*

>199 msf59: So true - we LOVE him! And, Abby said she couldn't remember that quote, so she dug out the movie, and we watched it tonight. Birdy had never seen it before! Fun! See? Look what you started? Even when you are not trying, you inspire good times!!

>194 msf59: >195 Crazymamie: lol! I loved that film. Rosie O'Donnel (is that her name?) was so cool, and Gina Davis! And that singer lady who was in it too, I guess ;)

>195 Crazymamie: Great gif. I wanted to see Bridge of Spies at the cinema and completely missed the window. Not sure where the time goes!

>201 LovingLit: It's a very good movie. And I am guessing you are referring to Madonna, who I believe did also sing. Ha!

>202 charl08: I want to see that movie, Charlotte. We have it, but I haven't watched it yet. Soon. Very soon.

Morning Mamie! Yesterday I took a long walk, 55f. Today, I gaze out my window and admire the big fluffy flakes as they gently find a home on my deck.
>195 Crazymamie: There most certainly is, if you're a Cleveland Indians fan. :'(

Morning, Lynda! We got rain overnight, the wind has picked up and we have a ten degree drop in temps, so only going to 66F today - no complaints from me. I do remember the this time of year in Indiana, where one is hoping and wishing for spring and then you get just one more snow. UGH.

Oh, dear about the crying. I must confess that I do not watch baseball, so I know almost nothing about it. The kids all played soccer, and I love watching football and tennis, so...

Morning, Mum! It was a lot of fun watching A League of Their Own last night.

>203 Crazymamie: Only available on my digital thingy from the 28th. Gah. Back to the books! Mark recommended A Manual for Cleaning Women which has come from the library, so I need to get on with that I think. I love new books but sometimes feel guilty if I keep them for ages.

>206 Thebookdiva: Morning, Abby! It was fun, wasn't it?!

>207 charl08: Bummer! I am wanting to get to A Manual for Cleaning Women, too, but i don't think it's gonna happen this month.

Afternoon, Mamie! I'm still digging for City on Fire, but I start to get the feeling that it's not in there. *grins back*

Afternoon, Diana! Although here it is only 9:04 am. Hoping that you suddenly come across City on Fire, as it would be fun to have you along for the ride.

>210 Crazymamie: Oh, that's early. It's 15:08 in my part of the globe.

I'm off to a late start - just now drinking my second cup of coffee.

Hi Mamie! I brought your third coffee for later.

Most excellent, Susan!! Thank you!

Good morning, Mamie!

I do remember the this time of year in Indiana, where one is hoping and wishing for spring and then you get just one more snow. UGH. That's exactly what's going on for us in Chicago. I hope it's just one more snow - we've gotten snow as late as April in the past.

I can't remember whether you were one who liked the Mercy Thompson series. The new one, Fire Touched, comes out next week. I know Roberta will be all over that.

Morning, Joe! I can remember when Rae was little we once got several feet of snow in late March, and we were just so sick of winter by then. Rae, of course, was thrilled.

Yep. I love me some Mercy Thompson - we named our cat after her! I am eagerly awaiting the new one - already pre-ordered, so it will just download to my Kindle on the release day. Gotta love that!

>216 Crazymamie: Excellent - there's a very good interview with Patricia Briggs about the series and the new one on Goodreads. I had gone away from the series after not being smitten by the first one (Moon Called), and Roberta convinced me, successfully, to give it another go. Now I'm looking forward to the new one.

I remember that, Joe. I really love that series - my very favorite urban fantasy, hands down.

Morning Mamie! Just a quick check in. I am running a little behind on the route and want to get off early enough to pick up Bree. Lots of sunshine here but very cold.

Miles behind. You're looking gorgrous, Mamie! Wishing you a fabulous Wednesday.

>219 msf59: Morning, Mark! I bet you are most excited about getting Bree back home! Glad you at least have that sunshine.

>220 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara! And I thank you for those good wishes - my Wednesday so far has been fabulous. Craig is off the afternoon, so we are going to lunch out, run a few errands and pick up our palm trees!!!

Ah, summer is coming at your place.

>144 Crazymamie: You do look fabulous. Also, I have that same gray jersey. :)

>162 scaifea: I'd like one of those tee shirts. Lol

Funny thing - March 1 was the first day of fall and it was like instantaneous sweater weather. In the evening anyway...

It's my favorite scene from "A League of Their Own." I want a sign for my office: "There's no crying in English class." ;))

>222 Ameise1: It's kind of like summer never leaves, Barbara!

>223 nittnut: Thank you, Jenn! We're twins?! We both have most excellent taste. Ha!

And yes, isn't that tee shirt da Bomb?! I am jealous of your instant sweater weather! I have worn a sweater exactly one time so far this winter.

>224 BLBera: Mine, too, Beth. I think it would make an excellent English class sign!

Still need to get Fire Touched! Love Patricia Briggs and Mercy Thompson. : )

Morning, Mamie! Happy Thursday!

>226 Berly: It doesn't come out until Tuesday, Kim - the 8th. How are you feeling?

>227 cbl_tn: Morning, Carrie! Happy Thursday to you! There was no coffee this morning - I had to make it myself. Oh, the horror!! Craig must have been running late.

Howdy, Mamie!! Ack! to no coffee! I'm usually the first up at my house so the making is up to me. I throw a pod in the Keurig for me and make that horrendous drip coffee for Bill. Bllllaaaaaa Ptueee :P
Anyway, now that your coffee is made I hope you have a fab day!

You do look fabulous!! Hooray! Reward for effort!

I've arrived after my endless trek in Florida so now I am trying to catch up - I'm so far behind that I really scrolled through fast, but I didn't miss those pix! (I stop for books and pix!)

So yesterday, Craig and I went to the nursery to pick up our baby mule palms, and they are so cute. I know nothing about palm trees except that I like them. We are trying to decide if we are going to put them in back by the pool or in the front on either side of our driveway. Decisions. Decisions. We of course had to check out everything else that they had - Craig could live in a nursery, he loves them that much. I fell slightly in love with the blue Hawaiian ginger plant - very striking. I really liked the leaves and the height of it.

>231 Crazymamie: I have to say that I am a little envious of you being able to plant palms and have some confidence that they will live. Global warming may make Minnesota slightly more tolerable but we are a long way from palm trees.

Good morning, Mamie!

That sure looks like spring in >231 Crazymamie:. Love seeing the color of that blue Hawaiian ginger plant.

>232 Oberon: There are lots of palm trees in our neighborhood, Erik, so we are feeling very confident. We live in Southern Georgia, very close to Florida, so it is warm here pretty much year round. Winter is not anything like winter in your parts - more like 'less hot then summer' for a few months. It's 60F right now and going to 72F today.

>233 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! It feels just like an Illinois spring here right now - bright sun, a bit windy and 60F. The ginger plant was gorgeous - I loved the shape and the texture of the leaves.

Love the blue Hawaiian Ginger plant!Gorgeous. Rainy here, but not bad temp wise - 12 C / 52 F. I can live with that

Morning Mamie! Back to back busy mornings but I will wave to my pal.

Love the plants. I could use color about now...

I could live with those temps, too, Deborah. I love the 50s! I concur about the ginger plant - we may have to go back and purchase one of those for the pool area.

>236 msf59: Morning, Mark! I don't know how you always manage to post as I am posting - most impressive! Thanks for the wave! Georgia definitely beats the Midwest for year round color - but you win the Fall.

We got our monthly weather stats, Mamie. Warmest and driest February ever! Average 74.9 degrres F and .05 inches of rain. Those would be average figures for our July!

Wow, Roni! Now you have me wondering about our stats and where I could find them.

>231 Crazymamie: Lovely plants. That blue colour is gorgeous. I brought one of the seed trays inside and there are tiny green shoots in the lettuce row. Big smile... how are your herbs doing?

We brought home the palms, but we left the ginger there, Charlotte. It was very pretty, though...

I am so excited about the tiny green shoots - you go, girl! We have not planted the new herbs yet - I am still deciding what I want. I do still have some growing from last year, though, that made are still going. I had let the cilantro flower because I didn't know you weren't supposed to do that, so I will need new cilantro. And basil.

Where are the pretty palms going? And I did not know that about the cilantro. Learn something new everyday! Or at least I hope so.

Hi Mamie, I love the two little palm trees. Do they stay small? That blue ginger is gorgeous and I think you should definitely go back to the nursery and get one of those!

>242 Crazymamie: I don't know much about gardening, but cilantro is tricky. The growing season is short and it needs cool temps and once it goes to seed, it gets bitter. Every year I plant it with other herbs and it is disappointingly short lived. Let me know it you have success!

I'd love to live where I could have a palm tree!

>242 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie! Good luck with the herb decisions. I was looking last night at a crazy colour pack of veg seeds - lemon cucumber? Black tomatoes? I might just stick to green beans though (which is what I was looking for) the flowering plants are so pretty.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

Morning, Mamie! Love the new plants!!

Good morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

FRIDAY! I am very excited about this particular Friday because tomorrow Craig and three of the kids are leaving for a bit of vacation. Abby and I are remaining home with the dogs and Miss Mercy. The dogs are getting old and require more care, and I just refuse to board them - feel like we owe it to them to be here for them right now. AND Craig's mom is going along on the vacation! *horror face* So...NO. Actually this whole thing started because she needed someone to use one of her time-share places because she had accumulated too many points and didn't want them to go to waste - I have only a very vague notion about how time-share works, so don't ask me any questions because truly, I have No Idea. Anyway, after she got Craig talked into using it for her, and he had picked the time and place, she said that she needed to come along, but she would just pop in and then back out. Right. She forgot to mention that she needs Craig to pick her up and then take her back home again. *blink* Of course, she is on the way, and it's convenient to ...WAIT A MINUTE...actually, it's NOT on the way or convenient. She lives five hours away from us. *blinks*

Can I just say that Abby and I are looking pretty good because we actually declined the offer before she even mentioned that she would be coming along.

Catching up with the thread:

>243 Berly: Still thinking about the placement of the palms, Kim. And yes - you are supposed to be very aggressive with cilantro and keep cutting it back before it can flower. We use cilantro a lot, so I will be trying to keep it going this year. You also have to cut back basil. I am learning, so it's all good.

>244 DeltaQueen50: Hello, Judy! Those palms will actually get very tall! The bigger they are, the more they cost to purchase, so we went with the three gallon sized ones. They are very pretty tall, and they will have a smooth trunk. I agree with you that I need to go back and get the ginger plant - it was just so gorgeous.

>245 Copperskye: Joanne, you are making me feel batter about my failed cilantro. Last year Craig planted an herb garden for me in one of our container gardens - BUT he planted too many herbs in such a small space, and we both thought that the other one knew how to care for them. Ha! Anyway, it was a good learning experience. This year I will pick just four or five herbs, plants them further apart and make sure I read up on how to care for them before planting them. I am thinking cilantro, parsley, basil, dill and thyme. And the cilantro I think I will put in a pot, so that I can move it in and out of the Georgia sun. The youtube video I watched said you have to be very aggressive with cutting cilantro back - so cut it even if you aren't going to use it. I can't do worse than last year, so we'll see...

>246 charl08: You are welcome, Charlotte! I hear what you are saying with the choices - there are a million different choices just with herbs. All different kinds of basil and dill and parsley... I will start with five this year and see how it goes - maybe I can add some kind of specialty herb into next year's mix. Really, just studying the possibilities is a lot of fun!

>247 DianaNL: That is exactly how I feel about it, Diana! Thanks for that!

>248 cbl_tn: Morning, Carrie! Happy Friday to you!

>249 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Glad you love the new plants!

>250 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Happy Friday!

Happy Friday, Mamie! I love your new plants, and you have to get that blue one. Maybe two of them! I've had another gorgeous day - I could get into this whole holiday thing.

Hello, Susan! Thank you for those good wishes. I do think I need to go back and get that ginger plant - perhaps two, as you say. I am so happy that you have had another fabulous day - go you!! Abby and I are eagerly awaiting our own holiday - the rest of the household leaves tomorrow morning, I am practically giddy about it!!

Morning Mamie! Happy Friday! Not bad here today. Chilly but comforting sunshine.

Not very impressed with Some Luck but I am dazzled and appalled by King Leopold. Perfect NNF.

Mamie, I don't know about mule palms specifically but, although we don't have any palms, there are enough of them hereabouts that I know 2 things. One, they are messy, dropping fronds and fruit, so I don't know that you would want them near the pool or where a car might be sitting. Two, they require ongoing maintenance as they get bigger to look good--regular trimming that when they get tall usually requires a pro.

>257 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! Bit chilly here today, too - it's only 54F right now. We had a storm come through last night and lower the temps some. I like it! Sorry that the Smiley is not working for you. I knew that you would love King Leopold! The writing is terrific and the story is engrossing - truth really is stranger than fiction. Amazing what he got away with for so long - he was very sneaky, that one.

>258 ronincats: Good to know about palm trees, Roni, so I thank you for sharing. At the end of the drive it is, then. No worries about being too near the car because the driveways on our road are VERY long. This is our driveway!



Ongoing maintenance is fine - we can deal with that. It will be many, many years before they are too tall for us, and Craig can learn how to prune them in the meantime - he is quite handy and loves to learn new things. I'm sure what he'll do when I tell him is hire a professional to teach him how to maintain the trees. That's how he is - he is a pediatrician by trade, but he grew up on a farm and loves to learn, so he can do wiring, plumbing, lay floors, etc. I am sure he could build a house all by himself from start to finish if only he had the time - he loves doing all that stuff.

>251 Crazymamie: *SNORK!!* I love that meme! And good on you and Abby for getting out of that before it got awful! I will NEVER go on vacation with my in-laws. Ever. And they've been putting the pressure on us to go to Disney World with them. Um, no. The Happiest Place on Earth will not turn into My Worst Nightmare.

>254 Crazymamie: Need. NEED.

Afternoon, Mamie! Hmmm...not quite the same as an MM greeting. I see a lot of Stewart O'Nan talk here. I know he is a favorite of Joanne's. I just haven't quite gotten to him yet. I need to get going! I also planned to read Return of the Native, but with Alan Rickman narrating, my method might change.

>144 Crazymamie: Looking good, Mamie! Do you attribute your new body to walking or diet changes? I know both helped but which one helped the most? We walked many thousands of steps at Disney World. My DIL kept track on her Fitbit which didn't work when she had stroller pushing duty. I might have to get one of those gadgets.

>254 Crazymamie: Even though our son works at Google, "Like"

Brilliant precognition in avoiding the vacation with Craig's conveniently located (not) mom. I've no doubt you and Abby will have a relaxing good time.

>260 scaifea: Abby and I had actually said no from the start, but I would have backed out as soon as she announced that she would be going along. That woman hates me, and I am not exaggerating. She is a nasty piece of work - I just do not understand the level of unkindness that she maintains. It must be exhausting. Anyway, Craig can deal with her, and I know that Daniel will not let her pull any sh*t on Rae, so...

And you stand your ground with your MIL!

And yes, that bag is too cool, isn't it?!

>261 Donna828: I know, I feel the same way when I have to say afternoon to Mark instead of morning - I want that alliteration!! Whenever you get to him, Stewart O'Nan is very good. And you simply MUST listen to Return of the Native - Alan Rickman's narration is not to be missed. Divine.

Thank you for those kind words. I have to say that my new body is really a product of BOTH diet and exercise - I lost a lot of weight, and I did it by burning more calories than I consumed and by being careful about the kinds of calories that I consumed. To actually lose weight in a healthy way but at a faster pace, I burned 1,000 more calories than I consumed each day, and I drank 64 oz. of water a day. It was important to me to change my lifestyle so that I wouldn't just put the weight right back on. To maintain or to just lose a smaller bit of weight, I would say exercise is more important. And exercise just makes you feel so much better! Really, you can pretty much eat whatever you want as long as you keep track of what calories are going in and you are willing to walk them off. My Fitbit has been essential in the process, not just as a way to log my calories and to keep track of steps and calories burned, but to inspire me to do just a bit more each day. I love the stats and the badges, and there are a group of us here that are Fitbit friends, which is a lot of fun.

>262 jnwelch: Ha! Glad you liked it, Joe! Don't get me wrong - I adore Google.

And thank you. It's only taken me 25 years of marriage to attain this level of stealth.

I LOVE the Gaiman quote.

I have volunteer cilantro that comes up every year. I can take no credit for it. I must have a sweet spot for herbs because when I plant them, they do amazingly well, with my neglect.

*grin* I love that quote, too.

I am so jealous of your cilantro, Beth! What other herbs do you magically grow?

About 60 pages left in King Leopold. Things are unraveling but, like you said he is a sneaky, little beast. He would have made a perfect Republican.

Glad to put the Smiley behind me and I think I will really enjoy Girl Waits With Gun. I love snappy prose.

I will be awaiting your final thoughts on King Leopold, Mark.

Sorry that the Smiley wasn't a winner for you. And hooray for snappy prose. I have been listening to City on Fire, and I am really liking it. The writing reminds me a little of Michael Cunningham, whom I LOVE.

>251 Crazymamie: Ah! The MIL strikes again, but at least this time you managed to take adroit avoiding action!

By the way the Pecan Paradisio is looking lovely.

Have a lovely weekend, Mamie. xx

I am in fine form, Paul, managing to avoid the MIL in a single counter-move.

I am glad that you like the looks of the driveway. I can take absolutely no credit for it. That's the view fro our garage out to the road.

Wishing for you a weekend filled with fabulous, my dear! xx

>263 Crazymamie: Thank you for that detailed answer to my question, Mamie. I guess I will just have to suck it up and do the work. It's a good thing the Valentine's candy is almost gone. Oh noooo...Easter is coming up. I'm doomed.

Happy weekend, Mamie.

Mamie, you could fit a whole sub-division into your front garden! Lovely picture :-) I hope Craig and the travellers have a good trip, and you and Abby can start your holiday plans. Just remember not to cook for six people or you'll spend the week eating leftovers :-)

Okay. Here we go! The gang just left, so Abby and I have the house to ourselves (well, and the three poodles and Mercy). Looking forward to a week's worth of whatever we want.

On the reading front, I began City on Fire again yesterday. Those of you who follow Kim's thread might remember our letter exchange over this book - she convinced me to read it with her even though this bad boy is over 900 pages. We ended up moving the read to this month, and Mark is supposed to join in. Anyone else who is interested is more than welcome. Anyway, I had it out of the library last month, and had started it, but since we decided to move it to this month, I had returned it. I decided to just start over so that I could get a good flow going. As luck would have it, the library also had the digital audiobook available, so I have it both in audio and print - I will be switching back and forth. The audio is narrated by multiple people - so far it's not great narration, but it is not terrible, either. Definitely a decent job. I have read/listened to the first one hundred pages, so I am ready for chapter 12. Here's a bit of serendipity - I plan on reading A Thousand Acres this month for Mark's AAC, and that is supposed to be a retelling of King Lear - I listened to King Lear last year, and everyone was commenting that I should read A Thousand Acres, so I picked it up. Yesterday I was reading in City on Fire and came across this:

"He cursed his black dress shoes, which threatened to slip out from under him on the icy downhill path. A pile of black boulders rose to the left, a screen of bushes to the right. You're a fool, Mercer Goodman, he thought - a clown on the heath, with no Lear."

I am liking the book so far, and the writing is reminding me of Michael Cunningham, whom I love. Narrated from multiple viewpoints which change with each chapter, we slowly learn that all the characters here are interconnected in some way. It's beautifully done. Really hard to believe this is a debut novel.



I also started reading A Darker Shade of Magic - I have to confess that I fell in love with the covers of these books; there are two in the series so far. A very interesting premise - here's the blurb from Amazon:

"Kell is one of the last Travelers-magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes, connected by one magical city.

There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad king-George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered-and where Kell was raised alongside Rhys Maresh, the rougish heir to a flourishing empire. White London-a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, ambassador of the Maresh empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive."

>271 Donna828: Ha! I can resist the sweets; it's the salty snacks that call to me.

Donna, that was probably TMI - I have seen photos of you, and I am guessing that exercise is all you need if you are wanting to get in better shape. I think it is amazing how much more energy you get by expending energy - the walking has really increased my mojo.

>272 Ameise1: Beautiful! Thanks for that, Barbara!

>273 susanj67: It is a big lawn, Susan. We have almost three acres here. I thank you for those good wishes! Abby and I are very excited about our staycation - it's always nice to switch things up, so I am guessing it will be a very nice break for everyone. SO true about the cooking!! We both love to mess about in the kitchen, so we are hoping to try a few new recipes - often I have to double recipes for my crew, but with just the two of us, I will be able to try a recipe in its original form. Should be fun. We both love Chinese and Thai food, so I will probably be getting to use my new(ish) wok!

Morning, Mamie! I've been trying to ease back into walking now that there's more daylight in the evening after work. It's still too cold for me to enjoy it much, but I've done a single lap on the cross-country trail three or four times in the last week. I'm looking forward to consistently warmer weather to get back into the walking. I had more energy last summer and fall after I started walking regularly.

Morning, Carrie! Hooray for the walking! I can't believe how much better I feel if I walk every day. It's a big pay off for so little effort and just a bit of my time.

Happy week-to-yourselves, ladies! Woot!

Thank you, Amber! We will be sure to make the most of it.

Enjoy your week. Love the covers of >274 Crazymamie: and the blurb sounds intriguing too. Hope they're a good read.

Morning Mamie! Happy Saturday! Did I miss it up there somewhere? Where did the family go?

Glad you are enjoying City on Fire. I will join you later in the month.

>280 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! The covers are gorgeous, no? So far so good with the first book, so I will keep you posted.

>281 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday! The rest of the family are off to pick up Craig's mom and then vacation at one of her time-share places. It's close to Orlando, I think. Anyway, they are also going to Orlando, as Craig's nephew works at Walt Disney World and has free passes for them. Abby and I are holding down the fort.

City on Fire is very good so far - hoping it holds up all the way through. It's BIG book.

It sounds like you have a lovely week ahead.

I love all the fitness talk, too. As the weather gets nicer here, I want to walk more outside and less at the gym. I've been trying to up my steps, too.

I will do my best to insure it's a lovely week, Beth! I am liking all the fitness talk, too, because it keeps me honest - I need to do some more walking today, as I am only about half way there.

Good afternoon, Mamie! (I was a little slow getting to LT today).

There's a physical condition some people have which causes cilantro to taste like soap. Our daughter has it. We could never figure out why she, an otherwise wide-ranging eater, was so adamant about avoiding cilantro. Then we found out about this condition, and all became clear.

Afternoon, Joe! I had never heard of that before with cilantro - what a bummer! I love cilantro.

Woo Hoo, Mamie! Not only is it a happy Saturday but also, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and the day everyone returns home!
Perhaps Ice cream dinners and pizza breakfasts are in order.

I would love to have palm trees in my yard, but, ya know. *sigh*

Crazy--Happy staycation!!! Brilliant move not to go since you don't get along with your MIL. I happen to be one of the few that does get along with mine. Phew!

I started up again on City on Fire. I am on Chapter 33. It has been almost a month since I picked it up (due to other group reads that came first) so it is a good thing I wrote down all the characters and what they were up to as I went along, otherwise I might be lost!! ; ) I'll say more when I get back into the swing of things. And good thing I have a little lead on you, since you have all this free time this week. ; )

Anybody else want to join in? It is really an awesome book so far.

>287 Carmenere: I know, right, Lynda?! And I'm sorry about Ohio not being so great for palm trees - I'll share mine with you.

>288 Berly: Thanks, Kim! I did really try to get along with the MIL for many years, but there was just no pleasing her while remaining my own self. She thinks that Rae is spoilt, and that if we just had a firmer hand - she does not believe in Aspergers Syndrome. We should just help Rae to snap out of it. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Taking notes was an excellent idea since there are so many characters and since you took a hiatus - way to go, girl!! We'll see what I can accomplish this week.

Yay! for staycations and Whew! for escaping a week with the nasty MIL! My heart goes out to anyone (coughMamiecoughAmbercough) who is stuck with one of those. I was so lucky to avoid that particular unpleasantness by meeting my ex-husband just before agreeing to marry a man whose mother was similarly hateful. In fact, I admit I married my ex in large part because I loved his mom (and dad and sister) and was blessed with their kindness and love even after my marriage to their son/brother ended.

Well, I don't think I'll join you in City on Fire, but A Darker Shade of Magic sounds right up my alley.

>258 ronincats: Completely agree with Roni about the palms. Back in the 80s, we had palms around our pool and the front driveway in SoCal, and it was a constant fight against the mess they made. Now, here on the Front Range, I miss seeing palms along the boulevards (actually, I miss the boulevards too ~ Denver isn't really a boulevard kind of town). I have a sago palm that I'm growing indoors, and it seems to be thriving, but it's not quite the same thing.

>263 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, I love my Fitbit. It keeps me active. Another good fitness/calorie conscious app is MyFitnessPal. I find that app very helpful.

I am all caught up!

That is all. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Actually, I would be remiss if I did not add my compliments on the results of all your hard work in the diet and exercise arena. I am making slow but reasonably steady progress myself, and you're an inspiration.

Enjoy that staycation - those are one of my favorite things!

>285 jnwelch: Joe: I'm one of those people, well, sort of. I think eating cilantro is akin to chewing on tin foil. Blech!

>290 Storeetllr: Thanks for sharing that Mary. My oldest sister had that same kind of relationship with her in-laws, in fact, I LOVED them! I was only six when she got married, and her husbands' parents just took me in like I was one of their own. Sadly, they are no longer with us, and I still miss them - just two of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. The rest of us all got loser in-laws. It has been a learning experience for me, and I know exactly what NOT to do when I become a MIL.

I am really liking A Darker Shade of Magic so far. I can't wait to see what happens next.

And I am so glad that Roni said something about the palms!! We will plant them at the end of the driveway. One of the reasons we looked to the South when Craig decided to look for a new practice was the scenery down here. We had always vacationed in Hilton Head, South Carolina every year, and arriving always felt like a breath of fresh air to me. I loved the oaks with their wispy hanging moss and the tree lined driveways and the big front porches with their rocking chairs. It always felt like coming home. Georgia is not South Carolina, but it has some of that same charm and beauty.

>291 Familyhistorian: Hello, Meg. When I first started, I used MyFitnessPal all the time - I loved that site! SO easy to use and very helpful. But then it gave my computer a virus, which I was able to fix, but I have stayed away since. I miss it. I use the Fitbit site now which is not nearly as user friendly for logging calories. I wish they would revamp it, but I do love the rest of the site, and what a difference having a Fitbit has made for me!

>292 katiekrug: Ha! Okay, you have just made me day, Katie! Welcome back - I missed you!!! And I can't believe you caught up - you were supposed to report in at the bottom of the thread for a recap. Already you are misbehaving. You MUST be feeling better!

>293 katiekrug: Slow but steady is good, Katie because it is more likely to last. And I am thrilled and honored to be an inspiration - thank you so much for those kind words. It means a lot to me.

So far, Abby and I are loving the staycation. We have read books, made a few recipes, and binge watched tv. She and the dogs are still sleeping, so it's just Mercy and I enjoying the quiet of the house.

>293 katiekrug: *waves at Amber*

Morning Mamie!!!!!!! *oops sorry to shatter the quiet* Have a lovely day (she says quietly as she tip toes out)

Morning, Lynda! LOL! Abby and the dogs have just come downstairs with a noisy clatter - who knew that three toy poodles could be so noisy on stairs?!

Morning, Mamie! I'm glad you and Abby are luxuriating in your staycation!

My family has been blessed with inlaws. Both of my grandmothers were great mothers-in-law to my parents. For several years before she retired to Tennessee, my dad's mother spent Thanksgiving with my mom's family in Indiana and went to our family reunion with us. She took my mom to New Zealand for a month when I was in high school. It was my mom's dream vacation. My brother's Mexican inlaws have adopted me as another sibling. I am thankful for family who are also friends!

Morning Mamie! Happy Sunday! Looks like I got over here, just before a new thread pops up.

Some Luck may have been a let-down but King Leopold & Girl Waits With Gun have sure made up for it. Leopold is a 5 star read. I can not give it any less. And Stewart is ringing all my bells with "Girl". Happy Camper!

I hope you are enjoying your quiet house. Sounds grueling.

Morning, Carrie! Abby and I made a complete success of Day One. We will try to do justice to Day Two.

I am loving the stories about nice in-laws! It's so great to know that it can happen - family that can also be friends is a blessing indeed.

>300 msf59: Morning, Mark! Look at you snagging post #300! Happy Sunday to you! And yep - I will be starting a new thread soonish as I know that threads that get too long with too many images can be hard to load for some computers.

I gave Leopold five stars, too - it was just that good. I'm glad that you had two great reads to make up for the disappointment in the Smiley book. I have not read anything by her, so A Thousand Acres will be my first. You are making me excited to get to Girl Waits With Gun.

Having the house to ourselves is indeed grueling, but we will try to make the most of it. *grin*

Enjoy the bliss of your staycation!!!

A Darker Shade of Magic looks extremely tempting!!

Hey Mamie
Glad the staycation continues to be full of fabulous. I still haven't read the King Leopold's book but it's on the list...

>303 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy! A Darker Shade of Magic is really fun so far, and Abby has been eyeing it, so I think she will read it after me if I like it.

>304 charl08: Hello, Charlotte! Thank you. And yes - you must get to King Leopold's Ghost!