Paul C's 2016 Reading and Life - 6

Daughter gives way to Mother as February melts into March. Hani celebrates her birthday on 5 March. Here they are in New Zealand.

Book opening lines

Struggling to finish off a few before the month end including: Towards Asmara by Thomas Keneally for the Anzac Challenge:



I suppose my connection with the Eritreans, brave and starved creatures of the Horn, began not with my first visit to Africa but a little later, with something I and half the world saw on television.

BOOKS READ IN 2016

First Quarter

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

FEBRUARY
17. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (1934) 347 pp
18. The Zimmermann Telegram by Barbara Tuchman (1958) 200 pp
19. Coventry by Helen Humphreys (2008) 169 pp
20. Selected Poems by Cecil Day Lewis (1951) 158 pp
21. Return of a King : The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple (2013) 487 pp

MARCH
22. Assalamualaikum : Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia by Zaid Ibrahim (2015) 200 pp
23. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo (2009) 339 pp
24. How to be Both by Ali Smith (2014) 372 pp

Reading Plans and a little about me

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



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

2016 Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TIOLI Challenge - Surely needs no introduction!

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

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

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

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

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

History Another favourite of mine

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

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

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2016

March thread : https://www.librarything.com/topic/219825

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

Round up of Stats

1001 Books First Edition - Read 262 of 1001

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

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

Booker Winners - Read 21 of the 50 winners

TIOLI READING PLAN FOR FEBRUARY

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

TBR Records Update : (TO UPDATE)

Year reading record to date:

January 1st frozen TBR : 3,714

Books read : 20

Revised TBR : 3,694

January 1st Pages : 1,300,667

Pages read in completed books : 5,165

Revised TBR pages : 1,295,502

Other Books added since 1 January : 72
Pages : 24,995
Read : 3
Read Pages : 528

Total Books Read in 2016 - 23
Total Pages Read in 2016 - 5,693

BOOKS ADDED SINCE 1 JANUARY 2016

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

26. White Crocodile by KT Medina (2014) 374 pp (added 8 Feb)
27. A Brief Stop on the Road From Auschwitz by Goran Rosenberg (2012) 331 pp (added 13 Feb)
28. Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser (1996) 274 pp (added 13 Feb)
29. The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien (1967) 199 pp (added 20 Feb)
30. The End : Germany 1944-45 by Ian Kershaw (2011) 400 pp (added 20 Feb)
31. In the Light of What We Know by Zia Haider Rahman (2014) 555 pp (added 20 Feb)
32. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (1929) 293 pp (added 20 Feb)
33. Peacemakers : Six Months That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan (2001) 500 pp (added 20 Feb)
34. My Life as a Foreign Country by Brian Turner (2014) 224 pp (added 20 Feb)
35. Astragal by Albertine Sarrazin (1965) 190 pp (added 20 Feb)
36. If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes (1945) 259 pp (added 20 Feb)
37. The Seven Madmen by Roberto Arlt (1929) 304 pp (added 20 Feb)
38. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2012) 331 pp (added 20 Feb)
39. Six Days : How the 1967 War Shaped the Middle East by Jeremy Bowen (2003) 373 pp (added 22 Feb)
40. I, The Jury by Mickey Spillane (1947) 164 pp (added 22 Feb)
41. The Life of Elves by Muriel Barbery (2015) 258 pp (added 22 Feb)
42. Ostland by David Thomas (2013) 430 pp (added 22 Feb)
43. Trigger Mortis by Anthony Horowitz (2015) 310 pp (added 26 Feb)
44. The Pier Falls by Mark Haddon (2016) 321 pp (added 26 Feb)
45. Assalamualaikum, May Peace Be Upon You: Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia by Zaid Ibrahim (2015) 200 pp (added 27 Feb) COMPLETED
46. The Illuminations by Andrew O'Hagan (2015) 293 pp (added 27 Feb)
47. The Children Who Stayed Behind by Bruce Carter (1958) 216 pp (added 27 Feb)
48. Armada by Ernest Cline (2015) 349 pp (added 28 Feb)
49. The Walk and Other Stories by Robert Walser (1957) 197 pp (added 28 Feb)
50. Fatale by Jean-Patrick Manchette (1977) 98 pp (added 28 Feb)
51. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (2016) 191 pp (added 28 Feb)
52. The Civil War : A History by Harry Hansen (1961) 655 pp (added 28 Feb)
53. The Invisible Guardian by Dolores Redondo (2013) 420 pp (added 28 Feb)
54. Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg (1998) 562 pp (added 28 Feb)
55. The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World by Edward Shepherd Creasy (1851) 380 pp (added 28 Feb)
56. Hitler's Spy by James Hayward (2012) 278 pp (added 28 Feb)

57. A Cautious Approach by Stanley Middleton (2010) 220 pp (added 2 March)
58. Incandescence by Craig Nova (1979) 297 pp (added 2 March)
59. Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa (1977) 374 pp (added 2 March)
60. Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid (2014) 343 pp (added 2 March)
61. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (1977) 337 pp (added 2 March)
62. Love in Winter by Storm Jameson (1935) 407 pp (added 2 March)
63. How I Became a Holy Mother by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (1976) 363 pp (added 2 March)
64. On Horseback and Other Stories by Guy de Maupassant (1877) 130 pp (added 2 March)
65. Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski (2007) 349 pp (added 2 March)
66. Anything but the Law by Tommy Thomas (2016) 334 pp (added 4 March)
67. The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker (2011) 841 pp (added 4 March)
68. Why the West Rules by Ian Morris (2010) 645 pp (added 4 March)
69. Out of Africa by Karen Blixen (1937) 330 pp (added 4 March)
70. Make Me by Lee Child (2015) 544 pp (added 4 March)
71. The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall (2015) 432 pp (added 4 March)
72. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936) 984 pp (added 4 March)

Oh good! Back to books. A much happier subject. : )

>10 Berly: Wholeheartedly agree with that Kimmers. This one a politics free zone......probably. xx Thanks for being first up.

Claiming a seat at the table :)

Pulling up a chair too!

>12 BekkaJo: Plenty of space Bekka because the lady of the manor is still in Southern Malaysia although rumours are that she is about to set off back to civilisation.

>13 Carmenere: Come on in Lynda - the more the merrier. xx

Happy New Thread, Paul.

Thanks Barbara - I didn't want my threads reaching 300 posts this year.

Earliest I've ever managed a visit to one of your new threads! Do carry on, Good Sir.

>17 laytonwoman3rd: To be fair Linda it is rare that I set a new one up Prime Time on a Sunday evening. A welcome development though I must say.

Taking advantage of Hani's absence to surf all the threads this weekend, I see. Good for you! Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread, Paul! I actually aim for 300 before starting a new one, so your comment made me laugh. Is reaching 300 taboo?

Must update on some book additions over the last few days:

Friday with Caro

Our intrepid international jet-setter gave me four books which included two great books by Nick Hornby that I have already read but which Yasmyne and Belle will definitely lap up. Also:

Trigger Mortis by Anthony Horowitz (2015) 310 pp
The Pier Falls by Mark Haddon (2016) 321 pp

Yesterday (Waiting for Hani to finish eating)

One of Hani's good friends met her for lunch and she had me kill time in the nearby bookstore. I wasn't complaining.

Assalamualaikum, May Peace Be Upon You: Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia by Zaid Ibrahim (2015) 200 pp
The Illuminations by Andrew O'Hagan (2015) 293 pp
The Children Who Stayed Behind by Bruce Carter (1958) 216 pp

Today - With Hani safely in Johor Bahru (no smuggling required)

Yasmyne went swimming and on to the cinema.
Kyran went to the theatre and then onto a friend's house to do "a project"
Belle had a day skating with her best friend.

I met Belle in KLCC (Michelle, her friend, escorted her together with her father) and we book shopped before a Korean meal together.

Armada by Ernest Cline (2015) 349 pp
The Walk and Other Stories by Robert Walser (1957) 197 pp
Fatale by Jean-Patrick Manchette (1977) 98 pp
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (2016) 191 pp
The Civil War : A History by Harry Hansen (1961) 655 ppd
The Invisible Guardian by Dolores Redondo (2013) 420 pp
Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg (1998) 562 pp
The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World by Edward Shepherd Creasy (1851) 380 pp
Hitler's Spy by James Hayward (2012) 278 pp

>19 ronincats: I have done reasonably well getting around the threads Roni. I didn't post on every single one I visited but more often than not I did. Her return is imminent!

>20 Crazymamie: By no means! It is just that last year I think one of the factors in slowing me down so was that my threads simply got too long with some well over 320 posts. Around 260 or so now I start thinking about starting a new.

Thanks for the new thread wishes, Ladies.

Happy New Thread, Paul! Gorgeous topper! Two beauties! March is a big birthday month for our family. Both of my kids, with Bree kicking it off on the 8th, just after Hani's and my son's on the 20th.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Paul. Pisces is big in my family; all the adults except me have their birthdays at this time of the year.

One good fly thru deserves another. Thanks for swinging by my quiet little corner of the LT-verse.

Hope you are enjoying the end of your Sunday. Mine started out with a quick run with 4000 of my closest friends. Ran an 8K. My dogs are barkin'

Congrats on the new thread, mate.

I saw Ellie (mirrordrum) loved The Illuminations. I need to find out more about that one.

Popping in to say hello & happy Sunday/new thread! :D

Beautiful photo topper. And happy new thread. Great book hauls - were you feeling restrained though? Pacing yourself?! Just kidding. Wishing you a good week.

Happy new thread, Paul. Lots of new books. That civil war book - which civil war is it about?

>23 msf59: Thanks Mark. My father also fits in with the pattern having his on the 19th.

>24 foggidawn: Thank you Foggy. xx

>25 humouress: It is surprisingly often Nina that birthdates are concentrated at certain times of the year. My partner Charles for example has almost all his family birthdays in February. As I twin I obviously share a birthday but somewhat creepily Saad (Yasmyne's boyfriend) also shares the same birthday.

>26 mahsdad: 8K Jeff! I would have caught the bus I guess.

>27 jnwelch: Joe, its reviews are uniformly excellent buddy so I will need to get to it fairly soon.

>28 dk_phoenix: Lovely to see you Faith. xx

>29 charl08: I can actually feel myself starting to lose my book buying restraint as usual at the end of February. So much for reading more than I buy.

>30 Familyhistorian: Meg, it is the US Civil War and is a hefty looking tome published by Signet Classics so I guess it is a well known one.

Happy new thread, Paul! Hope you had a lovely weekend!

>34 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary. It is pretty much done and dusted unfortunately!

Lovely photo up top, Paul.

In my family, the birthdays/anniversaries are concentrated in Nov/Dec. Funny how that works out

Happy New Thread, Paul! I love the opening photo of Hani and Yasmyne. Please remind Hani that the invitation for alligator tail, crawfish étouffée, sweetbreads and all-you-can-drink Sazeracs in New Orleans still stands!

Happy new thread Paul!

Happy new thread!

>36 jessibud2: I do wonder if genetics are at play there Shelley.

>37 kidzdoc: It is a sure sign Darryl that you struck a chord with Hani as alligator tail is strictly speaking out of bounds for muslims but she confirmed that she would definitely try it just for you.

>38 The_Hibernator: Thanks Rachel

>39 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda

Happy new thread!

I wasn't around to congratulate you with Yasmyne, so here are my belated wishes. And happy new thread!

Happy New Thread and very belated (sorry) Happy Birthday to the beautiful Yasmyne. Was the cake as good as it looked? I know it's bad manners in some countries, but as I won't be here much in the next two weeks can I already leave pre-bday wishes for Hani? Let's say I put them in the freezer and you take them out on Saturday, so they're punctual and still fresh?

Thanks for updating us on politics in Malaysia, you almost never hear anything here on the news.

Happy new thread mate, hope you had a good weekend mate notwithstanding Yasmyne's birthday.

Happy new thread, Paul!!

Hi Paul! You may have answered this elsewhere, but just where do you keep all these new books? I seem to recall that you lost space last year.

Inquiring minds and all that!

Happy Monday to you, Paul and here's hoping for a good week.

>42 amanda4242: Thank you Amanda.

>43 DianaNL: Belated wishes are still sweet wishes, Diana. Thank you my dear.

>44 Deern: Hahaha Nathalie, I wish I could do something similar but it would probably cost me money in advance and she would conveniently forget that when her birthday actually arrived.
Malaysian politics are a soap opera that viewers would dismiss as too contrived and far-fetched with pantomime villains and hopelessly out-gunned heroes and heroines.

>45 johnsimpson: Yes mate it was a good weekend as I got to spend some good time with Kyran and Belle too, although I am on something of a reading funk at the minute with something like six books part finished and grinding only slowly forward. Roll on March!

>46 scaifea: Thank you dear lady.

>47 karenmarie: I am struggling actually Karen. Piles of books are starting to appear all over the house; in my reading alcove (previously just an alcove!), in my reading room, in my bedroom. Hani looks askance at these piles I must say and it will cost me a handbag or two soon I think! I am about to buy new shelves and a bookcase to alleviate some of the problem - now where to put the bookcase?!

>48 rosylibrarian: Thanks Marie. It will be a busy one as usual. Tomorrow I have a key meeting on a project that caused me some grief last year so fingers crossed that this gets resolved nicely.

Think I am on reading surge as I have now read 22 books in two months, not sure I will keep this up but I could be on for 121 books at the rate I am on now.

>52 johnsimpson: Looking at your numbers over the last couple of years John that is quite a leap although to be fair your average number of pages per book would certainly be in the top few percent so number of books can be an inaccurate guide.

Hi Paul, I can't believe how early on I am on this thread! I actually have a computer connection I can utilize at home now so I think I can legitimately say I will be on LT daily. It feels so good to be in the loop again and see what everyone is up to in the world of books. I see some new names and some familiar. I have been working on reviews so there are several on my thread that is after I make a nice convenient link there will be. I'm indulging in lots of audio books as well as actual books,as I listen to them while I do housework and sometimes while crafting. I like some of the challenges you have set for yourself, although I have to go back and look to remind myself which ones they were. Wait! I remember-the Chunkster, the Non-fiction and the Booker and Pulitzer prize winner challenges. I must admit I am keeping it simple- I'm reading all the books on my shelves this year. Gotta get them moving outof the house! Naturally now and then I will see some at my local libraries and won't be able to resist...so that's me this year. So happy to be here again!

>54 mmignano11: I think that is about right Mary Beth. I have probably been thinking a little too much of challenges than actually reading the books and there is a danger that, if I am reading merely to meet challenges I won't enjoy the reading. Rather defeats the purpose doesn't it? Nice to see you'll be more regular in these parts henceforward. xx

That was exactly what I found happening as soon as I started the challenges. I knew right away that I has to go with what I most desired to read at the moment. Also out of necessity I have to get books out of my house as soon as I read them. The only books I keep are a very few favorites and my crafting books. The pictures of the artwork are often so beautiful and I use them over and over for the instructions for different projects. I'm thinking I will include them in my books read this year. I read them from cover to cover so why not?

>56 mmignano11: Why not indeed, Mary Beth. I do think we should read what we want to and without pressure. I love the challenges, don't get me wrong - as it would be a little hypocritical having foisted the BAC on the group otherwise, but there is a risk sometimes of them taking over completely. I have always said that the BAC is to dip in and out of as one pleases and I probably should do the same thing myself.

I will put the stats up for the thread/posting in about half a day as LT moves into March but I am struck as always by comparing year on year.

Last year at the beginning of March the top twenty threads in terms of posts were:

1 scaifea
2 PaulCranswick
3 Crazymamie
4 msf59
5 katiekrug
6 jnwelch
7 kidzdoc
8 Lunacat
9 Ameise1
10 ronincats
11 cameling
12 jolerie
13 ireadthereforeiam
14 DorsVenabili
15 Whisper1
16 cbl_tn
17 Berly Kim
18 EBT1002
19 Morphidae
20 susanj67

Of that group:
13 remain in the top 20 this year.
The top four last year is the top four this year albeit shuffled a little.
3 of last years top twenty have not posted in the group this year (Lunacat, DorsVenabili & jolerie)
A further four drop out but ronincats is 21st and Whisper1 22nd, Cameling with a new job is 42nd and Morphidae struggling back to us in 110th.

This year at the end of February the top twenty are:

1 crazymamie
2 scaifea
3 msf59
4 PaulCranswick
5 kidzdoc
6 jnwelch
7 Charl08
8 KatieKrug
9 EBT1002
10 Ameise1
11 cbl_tn
12 Berly
13 DianaNL
14 lkernagh
15 Carmenere
16 SusanJ67
17 vancouverdeb
18 ireadthereforeiam
19 MichiganTrumpet
20 thornton37814

The new seven entrants this year into the present top 20; Charl08 (7th), DianaNL (13th), lkernagh (14th), Carmenere (15th), vancouverdeb (17th), MichiganTrumpet (19th) and thornton37814 (20th) .

Thanks for sharing the posts, Paul! It's nice to see the "Core" folks, still at full-throttle but I really like the "newbies" on there. Always makes my day.

>59 msf59: What makes me a little sad is that we lose posters year on year:
This year so far we have not seen among others:

Jenny, Kerri, Valerie, Pat (sadly sick again with a recurrence of that dratted illness), Jean, Heidi, Connie, Bonnie, Cee, Tad and Stasia and I miss them.

>58 PaulCranswick: I'm sure I'll be dropping out of the top 20 at some point. It seems that I just don't keep the momentum going enough with my busy life!

>61 thornton37814: Tell me about it Lori. I move in fits and starts these days myself. Both Loris in the top twenty thus far is something I like the look of!

>60 PaulCranswick: I do miss my old pals and I hope they can return at some point but fortunately we have wonderful new "bookies" making their presence felt.

Well, I am about to drop out of the top ten and trying to tell myself I'm okay with that.... Sigh. I miss LT these days but I just can't keep up. I expect to be around more starting in mid-March or so. And, I miss those other posters, too, but it's so understandable that "real" life intrudes at times.

Meanwhile, I missed your mum's surgery, your lovely daughter's birthday, and many more important life events. Not to mention a boatload of book therapy acquisitions!

Hang in there, my friend, and keep on readin'!

ETA: I finished and enjoyed That Old Cape Magic. I actually posted a short review on my thread! Wonders never cease.

>63 msf59: Yes mate that is some consolation at least. Every year also brings with it new "faces" who make their presences felt quite splendidly and some who return to active posting after a period of lull or reflection or poor health (like Diana and Marianne this year).

>64 EBT1002: It is difficult with RL so insistent to keep up with any degree of regularity Ellen. I surprise myself that I have combined work and 9,000 posts a year for so long but with work burgeoning (thankfully), I fear my own lull of last year will become the norm rather than the exception. When I was first joining the group Stasia, Kath, Richard and Stephen were mega posters with Ilana and Claudia also top ten, the point being that it is difficult to maintain that amount of posting and reading for an extended period. In longevity terms Mark is amazing and his numbers year on year on year are remarkably similar.
I will not finish That Old Cape Magic by the LT month end and for which I am disappointed. No reflection on the book which I am actually quite enjoying - it is just that time seems to have slipped by me as RL got its grip.

I miss many of those old friends and hope that some of them can pop back in again. I am pretty psyched to have moved up the list! We will see how the year goes...I often start strong and then come and go. ; ) Thanks for the stats Paul!

>66 Berly: Yes, Kimmers, me too. In addition I also miss Rebecca (rebeccanyc), Judy (DeltaQ), Chelle and several others who don't post in the group so often these days.

I have been keeping posting stats for five years now.

At 1 March if I consider the top 50 threads in each year, this year's activity is the least of the last five years for the first two months of a calendar year:

2012 - Top 50 - Total Posts - 29,111 - Leading Thread Richard (1,834) - Threads above 1000 (7) - Treads Above 500 (18) - Median Thread 459

2013 - Top 50 - Total Posts - 37,324 - Leading Thread Paul (3,157) - Threads above 1000 (8) - Threads above 500 (31) - Median Thread 584

2014 - Top 50 - Total Posts - 42,404 - Leading Thread Paul (3,714) - Threads above 1000 (10) - Threads above 500 (32) - Median Thread 584

2015 - Top 50 - Total Posts - 30,576 - Leading Thread Amber (2,126) - Threads above 1000 (8) - Threads above 500 (20) -
Median Thread - 421

2016 - Top 50 - Total Posts - 27,643 - Leading Thread Mamie (2,006) - Threads above 1000 (6) - Threads above 500 (17) - Median Thread - 401

If I total up the total posts cumulatively for the first two months in the last five years there are nine threads that have more than 4,000 posts :

1 Paul 11879
2 Mark 8343
3 Amber 8221
4 Richard 7697
5 Joe 7392
6 Mamie 7098
7 Darryl 5093
8 Katie 4592
9 Ellen 4175

Evening, Paul! Interesting stats - I did not know that my first year on the threads was the first year you started keeping the stats.

Hi, Paul! Happy March! Congrats on the new thread.

>60 PaulCranswick: Looking at the discussion of missing posters. I did spot a few posts in the group, earlier in the year, from Bonnie (if you mean brenzi), though she said she wasn't going to have her own thread.

I know I'm not as active as I once was. It's just so hard to even try to keep up here.

Tad is back this year--30 posts on his thread this year. We've also had several people back who weren't around last year; Sir Furboy (Stephen) and Genny are two who have set up threads this year. And Sarah (beserene) and David (tapestry) are promising to be more active as well as Faith (dk_phoenix). But yes, the others are missed, definitely. I was in the top 10 at this point last year because I was getting all kinds of love and support from the group. In fact, it was a year ago today that I was called back home to spend some time with my brother before the end.

>69 Crazymamie: Yes and I remember your first year surge which took you well into the top ten from 'only' 200 posts in March. It is certainly interesting that Richard, with two years of barely posting still managed 4th cumulatively in that snapshot of early movers and shakers. He was always phenomenal in January and holding onto his coattails certainly made my own numbers soar in 2013 and 2014 in particular.

>70 tymfos: I hadn't spotted Bonnie's posts actually Terri but it is always sad when one of our number is not with us as before, especially when we consider the reasons why they are less active.

>71 ronincats: Yes I noticed that we have some returnees too, Roni. Posts do often get a boost in a time of sadness or crisis but you are beloved enough in the group to garner that form of support. xx

I am presently reading Assalamualaikum : Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia by a prominent lawyer and erstwhile politician Zaid Ibrahim. I have done a fair bit of work for his firm and he is an enlightened and brave dissenting voice against the domination of one race over the others in Malaysia and the disastrous islamisation of the country by its political elites. I have had coffee with him several times and chewed the fat with him and I do hope this book which is elegantly written and persuasvely argued gets the attention and credit it deserves.

>50 PaulCranswick: six books part finished! Me too :)

>64 EBT1002: it's a tough call to reduce LT time, but sometimes it just has to be done. Health first Ellen! (see, I am your cheerleader here )

>73 PaulCranswick: this one sounds very interesting, and topical. I had heard on the radio about the Islamification (Islamisation!?) of Malaysia, and clearly it has /is already happening in Indonesia. Not that religion is bad per se, but the ideological recruitment of people in droves does make me nervous that it isn't for their well being that it is being done.

>73 PaulCranswick: Sounds good reading Paul. I want to read more about Islam in the UK.

>74 LovingLit: I would hazard Megan that LT and particularly the 75ers is good for one's health! Go Ellen!

It is indeed interesting and topical. It also seems that "islamisation" is correct english. Like you I have previously used islamification but apparently that is old hat now and the newer phrase predominates.

>75 charl08: "Islamisation" is a subject that makes my blood boil to be honest Charlotte. I don't think religion has a place in the polity of any nation. One of the most attractive things about Malaysia when I first moved here was the harmony between three distinct ethnic groupings Malay, Chinese and Indian but this has been eroded over the last twenty years. It is now state controlled religious organisations that insidiously have gotten into the position to dictate almost every aspect of Malay life and the political party has managed to engineer that a questioning of them or some of the lunacy they propagate is taken as being anti-islamic. When I first arrived here I would guess that the proportion of ladies wearing the headscarf would have been maximum 30% but today it stands at over 80%. Now I have no issue whatsoever if a lady of her own free-will and whose conscience dictates feels she should wear a headscarf - what I object to is the judgemental environment that results in a good proportion wearing them because of peer pressure.

Hey, Paul! Very interesting stats. I'm always amazed you find the time to keep so many of them.

Hubba Hubba! I like the looks of the top 20, Paul!

I too miss many of the posters you mentioned. I was excited and relieved to see calm made a late entrance, hopefully the others will eventually.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't your wedding anniversary in March? Around the 21st or so?

>77 Thebookdiva: You are about to get some more Abby. xx

>78 Carmenere: Wow Lynda what a great memory. It is actually the 23rd or the 25th. The religious chief of Johor decreed that Hani and I could marry on Monday 25th March 1996 as there was a problem originally with my embassy paperwork. We had already organised everything for Saturday 23rd March and the Imam of the local Mosque married us on the 23rd but purposely got the date wrong on the wedding certificate to make it look like the actual ceremony took place two days later than it actually did!

Yay!!!

>80 Thebookdiva: And here we are:

POSTING/THREADS LEAGUE TABLE:

Mamie leads the way after a mega month and the slowest moving thread count since I started keeping records five years ago. Richard, Kath, Jenny, Stephen and Stasia amongst others have put up big early year numbers in past years and their relative absence is shown in the numbers. Nevertheless there are 126 threads over 50 posts:

1 crazymamie 2039
2 scaifea 1769
3 msf59 1682
4 PaulCranswick 1440
5 kidzdoc 1313
6 jnwelch 1271
7 Charl08 1013
8 KatieKrug 930
9 EBT1002 783
10 Ameise1 764
11 cbl_tn 636
12 Berly 608
13 DianaNL 592
14 Carmenere 557
15 lkernagh 554
16 SusanJ67 515
17 vancouverdeb 512
18 ireadthereforeiam 502
19 MichiganTrumpet 490
20 thornton37814 484
21 ronincats 472
22 Whisper1 461
23 BBLBera 450
24 mstrust 450
25 FamilyHistorian 402
26 lit_chick 394
27 Chatterbox 386
28 Deern 370
29 Ape 363
30 lyzard 362
31 SandDune 362
32 smiler69 339
33 johnsimpson 315
34 LizzieD 313
35 The_Hibernator 307
36 souloftherose 301
37 drneutron 293
38 bell7 286
39 Donna 284
40 avatiakh 267
41 Sibyx 267
42 cameling 255
43 coppers 254
44 rosalita 251
45 Weird_O 247
46 maggie1944 238
47 AMQS 235
48 Ursula 231
49 tymfos 230
50 qebo 226
51 laurelkeet 221
52 Oberon 214
53 dk_phoenix 204
54 nittnut 190
55 laytonwoman3rd 189
56 PaulStalder 188
57 Dianekeenoy 186
58 Streamsong 182
59 TheBookDiva 175
60 foggidawn 168
61 MickyFine 164
62 mahsdad 162
63 lindapanzo 161
64 karenmarie 159
65 Porch_Reader 159
66 norabelle414 155
67 Banjo 153
68 storeetllr 152
69 RichardDerus 148
70 FAMeulstee 146
71 luvamystery65 146
72 _zoe_ 142
73 rebarelishesreading 138
74 harrygbutler 134
75 SqueakyChu 134
76 ctpress 133
77 Fourpawz2 132
78 Humouress 131
79 BBGirl55 130
80 eclecticdodo 130
81 evilmoose 125
82 mdoris 125
83 rosylibrarian 121
84 Swynn 117
85 labwriter 114
86 archerygirl 111
87 rretzler 109
88 ffortsa 103
89 Kassilem 103
90 elliepotten 99
91 inge87 99
92 SuziQOregon 99
93 Cait86 90
94 lycomayflower 89
95 Aunt Clio 85
96 Cariola 82
97 lovelyluck 82
98 Bekkajo 77
99 Xymon81 75
100 fuzzi 74
101 cushlareads 72
102 catarina1 71
103 jessibud2 69
104 mckait 68
105 Luxx 67
106 LauraBrook 66
107 seasonoflove 66
108 aktakukac 65
109 roundballnz 65
110 cyderry 64
111 kgodey 64
112 Morphy 64
113 leahbird 63
114 tiffin 63
115 tututhefirst 63
116 okrysmastree 62
117 witchyrichy 62
118 JustJoey4 61
119 dragonaria 60
120 kac522 60
121 amanda4242 57
122 arubabookwoman 56
123 Dejah_Thoris 55
124 klobrien2 53
125 susanna.fraser 53
126 abergsman 50

Of the 126 Threads:

Ladies : 109 threads
Gentlemen : 17 threads

Residency

USA - 92
Canada - 12
GBR - 9
NZ - 5
Switzerland - 2
Italy - 2
Holland - 2
Australia - 1
Malaysia - 1
Singapore - 1
Denmark - 1
Ghana - 1
Belgium - 1

>79 PaulCranswick: Ha! my memory is good because your anniversary is the day after my birthday. Otherwise my memory is on the wane.

Top Six Ladies :

1 Mamie
2 Amber
3 Charlotte
4 Katie
5 Ellen
6 Barbara

Top Six Men :
1 Mark
2 Paul
3 Darryl
4 Joe
5 Stephen
6 John

Top Six Americans
1 Mamie
2 Amber
3 Mark
4 Darryl
5 Joe
6 Katie

Top Six Canadians

1 Lori K
2 Deb
3 Meg
4 Nancy
5 Ilana
6 Faith

Top Six Europeans
1 Charlotte
2 Barbara
3 Diana
4 Susan
5 Nathalie
6 Rhian

Top Six from Asia Pacific
1 Paul
2 Megan
3 Liz
4 Kerry
5 Jenn
6 Nina

>83 Carmenere: I am still impressed Lynda!

I see there are not many Europeans. In my memory, there were more British people.

Ooo, stats! Thanks for those, Paul. Posting may be down from previous years but it is still a struggle to keep up. Now if RL would slow down maybe I would make some headway!

>86 DianaNL: A few Europeans that are either not with us this year or have not yet enough posts:
Genny, Kerry, Fliss, Dee, Calm, James, Tony, Jenny, Hannah (UK)
Bianca (UK/Germany)
Susan (France)
Liliana (Romania)
Paws (Sweden)
Connie (Holland)
Kathy (Austria)

>88 PaulCranswick: O Paul, that's more like it. :-) Thank you.

Wow. That's a whole lotta stats Paul.

>81 PaulCranswick: Breaking into the top 40! *dances*
I suspect baby pictures have a little bit to do with that... :)

Just dropping by to say hello and catch up with you Paul.

Thanks for the stats mate, you do a fabulous job.

>89 DianaNL: There are a number of others too Diana as that list was "off the cuff".

>90 Thebookdiva: I will put the Books Read list up for those with over 50 posts within the next day or two Abby.

>91 bell7: Pictures of babies are a draw for all of us Mary, but your numbers have been consistent all year. xx

>92 Smiler69: Lovely to see you my dear. Thinking about you quite a bit lately knowing you must still be hurting quite a bit in the absence of Coco.

>93 johnsimpson: My pleasure John. Still typing with one finger?!

I believe there is statification occurring here, Paul. Or would that be statistication? Definitely not statistification ;)

It doesn't hurt that the stats summary helps to boost your own stats Paul!! Keep it up--they are fun to see. And I am always happy to help your numbers. ; )

>96 LovingLit: Hahaha Megan. Does that mean that I have been statified?!

>97 Berly: Kimmers you have a point there. I would probably be at the back with the wheezy boys otherwise!

>98 PaulCranswick: Nonsense. I was just teasing. You have one of the most frank, open, interesting threads with discussions ranging from books, to kids and parenting, love, politics, you name it. And you are welcoming to all. THAT'S why you have such high numbers. Well deserved, sir.

BTW, Paul, next to all the stats is there a possibility for a BAC March thread?

Always interesting to see the stats! I'm curious enough to check them out, but I'd never be curious enough to put them together so thanks for that. :)

I love stats! Thanks Paul. Where do I fall in the europe stats?

Interesting discussion about Islam and religion in general in Malaysia. I find the wearing of the hijab to be endlessly fascinating and wasn't aware that so many Malaysian women wear them.

Yeah, top 100... out of 382 members? Well, maybe not quite that high since people do drop off in the first few weeks. Happy Thursday to you, Paul!

>95 PaulCranswick:, Still typing with one finger but getting faster mate. Sad news about the death of New Zealand Great Martin Crowe, such a stylish batsman and a lovely fellow, he will be much missed.

I love numbers and statistics, Paul. Thank you for your detailed and ongoing efforts.

I particularly like seeing that I'm 64th in # of posts, my lucky number 8 squared (#81 above - and of course the post number itself is a square too).

>99 Berly: *Blushing* - thanks for those lovely comments Kimmers; I do try to make everyone welcome here.

>100 Ameise1: Ooops Barbara, I was sleeping! I will get that done very shortly my dear!

>101 ursula: Your return this year has been impressive Ursula. Running top 50 is quite a return.

>102 BBGirl55: Lucky thirteenth among European residents Bryony and sixth among Brits.

>103 rosylibrarian: Well Marie I was referring to Malay rather than Malaysian ladies. Malays make up approximately 60% of the population here so the numbers are still very significant.

>104 johnsimpson: That is sad John - Crowe was an elegant batsman, probably the best New Zealand middle-order batsman that I have seen.

>105 karenmarie: It is my pleasure to do the stats, Karen. I am also pleased to see you land on a number that meets with such rounded approval!

So excited for the Books Read Stat!!!

>108 Thebookdiva: I reckon it will be up by tomorrow Abby. I expect to see you near the top!

Sorry for my tardiness but finally the British Author Challenge Thread for March is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/219825

>110 PaulCranswick: Thanks so mich for putting it up, Paul.

#107 thanks Paul. Doing well then.

Just commenting on what you said way up top about having something like 6 books going at once? I do the same thing. I used to be very obsessive about not starting another book until I finished the current one but now I feel that there are times I want to read a certain book and that is what I pick up. I actually think I get more reading done that way because if I am reading what I like I can focus better on the book. Sometimes I just want that fiction and sometimes I have to have my Game of Thrones and then there is the intense non-fiction...truly depends on my mood.

>111 Ameise1: My pleasure Barbara

>112 BBGirl55: Doing great. Compared to this time last year you had 85 posts and were 107 th

>113 mmignano11: Reading multiple books is great Mary Beth so long as you actually get the books done which I haven't been doing!

#114 Wow that was a big jump! I'm having the same problem as you so many books started very few finished!

>115 BBGirl55: Well Bryony I have managed to finally complete one!



22. Assalamualaikum : Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia by Zaid Ibrahim

Date of Publication : 2015
Pages : 200

Not too much to add to my comments in >73 PaulCranswick: above. Timely, prescient and persuasive.

Malaysia is seen by many in the West as a shining example of a democratic majority muslim state. The Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has somewhat speciously been lauded by Obama as an enlightened leader and a friend to the West.

The truth is far different with Malaysia moving ever closer to Saudi Arabia and the polity here seeking to adopt and mimic some of the oppressive kingdom's pontifications on religion with dangerous consequences for all.

Will be of more interest to Malaysians than others but the narrative here is one that America should take note of. Saudi Arabia is a key allay of the USA but at the same time as sponsored and been the breeding ground for Al-Qaeda and Daesh successively. It is the Saudis encouraging the US towards regime change in Syria which would be a further mistake as it is al-qaeda affiliated fighters that they are encouraging to do exactly that thing and we know what the consequences of that are don't we?

8/10

" I don't think religion has a place in the polity of any nation." That was supposed to be a basic tenet of our founding fathers, but it's losing ground steadily here. And yet, for an ostensibly "Christian" country, the hatred and lack of love for one's neighbor is appalling, and often demonstrated most obviously by those proclaiming their "faith" the loudest.

Hi Paul, I love the insights you give us about life in Malaysia. The world seems to be generally going in a wrong direction these days with so much hate and violence. You would think in these enlightened times we would all be more tolerant and forgiving. After watching the news these days, all I want to do is go and bury my head in a book and escape!

Happy Birthday to Hani, Paul. I imagine you will have a big celebration? Fun stats. It doesn't seem slower around here this year.

>117 laytonwoman3rd: I find the main problem is that there is too much effort to find differences between the various belief/faith systems and nowhere near enough concentration on the similarities. There are too many wrongs in the world done in the name of religion, Linda.

>118 DeltaQueen50: Thanks Guru - I will certainly follow you on the book bit! Lovely to see you here by the way as you are truly missed as a regular in th group. xx

>119 BLBera: Thank you Beth and lovely of you to remember her. Yes indeed my Queen Bee is 27 again tomorrow (although my tomorrow of course starts as your today). I am sure that I will have a picture or two of her expected surprise candle blowing at 12.00 midnight.

23.

That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo

Date of Publication : 2009
Pages : 339
AAC Challenge February

This book was neither profound nor was it brilliant but it was certainly believable.

Jack and Joy are stuttering in their marriage and a visit to the Cape Cod of his youth to attend a wedding and scatter the ashes of his father, forces Jack to think back over his life and how he was going wrong.

A second wedding and ashes scattering the following year, during which time Jack's life has further unravelled, is an occasion when things come to a head.

The main characters in this book are likeable and the subsidiary ones well drawn. It causes us to wish until the last pages for the best for all of them. The characterisation alone wasn't enough to elevate this to the inspired but it did leave me wanting to give the author another chance.

7/10

>122 DianaNL: It is indeed Diana. Thank you my dear and yippee!

Some more book buying therapy to report over the last couple of days.

On Wednesday I had a meeting with a good friend who happens to have his office in the location of a discount bookstore. So of course I stopped off and added:

A Cautious Approach by Stanley Middleton (2010) 220 pp
Incandescence by Craig Nova (1979) 297 pp
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa (1977) 374 pp
Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid (2014) 343 pp
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (1977) 337 pp
Love in Winter by Storm Jameson (1935) 407 pp
How I Became a Holy Mother by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (1976) 363 pp
On Horseback and Other Stories by Guy de Maupassant (1877) 130 pp
Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski (2007) 349 pp

Happy Friday, Paul! I see you boosting your posting numbers with myriad of stats again. You scoundrel. Grins...

Bree had a terrific time in, your part of the world. A few fellow travelers recommended Malaysia, so you never know.

Glad you liked the Russo.

Caught a BB für >116 PaulCranswick:, but probably won't get to it very soon.
Religion plays a less obvious and less restrictive part in Western countries, but it's very much there, with church taxes in Germany (not to mention the hidden church contributions everyone pays without knowing because there are centuries old deals between state and churches) and all that terrible fuss in Italy as soon as a group (women, gay people) try to raise their voices.

Oh yes - posting my "Happy Birthday" to Hani now as it's only a couple of hours away and certainly has started in NZ and as I won't be here tomorrow. A wonderful birthday to her and a happy Weekend to all of you!

Book Therapy continued.

Today in celebration of, ahem, World Book Day, ok in celebration of Friday. I sidled down to Kino and added the following:

Anything but the Law by Tommy Thomas (2016) 334 pp - No touchstone yet. Series of essays by a leading Malaysian constitutional lawyer.

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker (2011) 841 pp

Why the West Rules by Ian Morris (2010) 645 pp

Out of Africa by Karen Blixen (1937) 330 pp

Make Me by Lee Child (2015) 544 pp

The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall (2015) 432 pp

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936) 984 pp

>125 msf59: Needs must buddy, needs must! I am so pleased that Bree had a lovely time. If you or she ever gets the chance to make it this way - you'll surely enjoy the experience.

>126 Deern: Thank you on her formidable behalf Nathalie. xx
Zaid Ibrahim's book has certainly piqued my interest and I bought another book today looking at the political and constitutional situation in Malaysia written by a renowned lawyer who actually was on the other side to me in a commercial arbitration (we won!).

How is the dieting going? I decided, FINALLY, to drop a few pounds too. I will have to deprive myself of a few things. I will be cutting down on the Holy ale, but not completely, of course.

I am still keeping it up Mark. I am still off rice and have shed 7 pounds so far. Not too shabby really. Good luck yourself buddy.

Happy Friday evening, Paul! My Friday is just beginning, and boy, am I glad it is here. Friday just has a different kind of mojo than the rest of the days of the week, so it never fails to make me happy.

I love reading about your book hauls - you've got some good stuff in these last two batches. I have even read some of them! I love Out of Africa and Gone With the Wind! That Scarlet is so selfish and never learns her lesson, but I love watching her misbehave, and I also love her resilience.

And WahHOO for you loss of seven pounds!! Nicely done!

>131 Crazymamie: Fridays are special Mamie aren't they? I am gearing up for a pleasant turn of midnight wishing my long suffering spouse a happy repeat 27th birthday. I hadn't realised that Gone With the Wind was such a chunkster.

READING LEAGUE TABLE

For those who prefer this list!

Usual apologies for any mistakes or misinterpretations in compiling this list. Have done my best to figure things out but I haven't included Nora (Norabelle414) or Richard as I simply cannot figure out what they have read. Sorry guys.

One of our number has passed the 75 mark already - congratulations Charlotte! Only included those threads with more than 50 posts.

1 Charl08 78
2 inge87 59
3 PaulStalder 56
4 avatiakh 53
5 Dejah_Thoris 51
6 smiler69 47
7 Chatterbox 45
8 luvamystery65 44
TheBookDiva 44
10 scaifea 40
11 harrygbutler 38
12 Dianekeenoy 37
13 amanda4242 36
dk_phoenix 36
15 nittnut 35
rretzler 35
seasonoflove 35
18 storeetllr 33
19 souloftherose 31
susanna.fraser 31
21 lyzard 30
22 fuzzi 29
23 crazymamie 28
mckait 28
Swynn 28
26 jnwelch 27
27 eclecticdodo 26
foggidawn 26
lovelyluck 26
rosalita 26
Sibyx 26
tymfos 26
33 klobrien2 25
34 Berly 24
okrysmastree 24
36 bell7 23
cbl_tn 23
DianaNL 23
msf59 23
PaulCranswick 23
The_Hibernator 23
42 arubabookwoman 22
cyderry 22
EBT1002 22
johnsimpson 22
karenmarie 22
Morphy 22
ronincats 22
SusanJ67 22
50 laytonwoman3rd 21
lindapanzo 21
52 mstrust 20
Oberon 20
Xymon81 20
55 Donna 19
FamilyHistorian 19
lycomayflower 19
Weird_O 19
Whisper1 19
60 BLBera 18
drneutron 18
ireadthereforeiam 18
kgodey 18
Porch_Reader 18
witchyrichy 18
66 thornton37814 17
Ursula 17
68 _zoe_ 16
Ameise1 16
AMQS 16
archerygirl 16
MichiganTrumpet 16
rosylibrarian 16
SandDune 16
75 coppers 15
Deern 15
Fourpawz2 15
Kassilem 15
MickyFine 15
Streamsong 15
81 BBGirl55 14
dragonaria 14
elliepotten 14
ffortsa 14
kac522 14
KatieKrug 14
LauraBrook 14
lkernagh 14
89 aktakukac 13
Carmenere 13
evilmoose 13
JustJoey4 13
mahsdad 13
mdoris 13
qebo 13
SuziQOregon 13
97 Cait86 12
cameling 12
ctpress 12
FAMeulstee 12
kidzdoc 12
lit_chick 12
Luxx 12
vancouverdeb 12
105 Ape 11
Banjo 11
Bekkajo 11
Cariola 11
leahbird 11
110 abergsman 10
Humouress 10
rebarelishesreading 10
113 LizzieD 9
maggie1944 9
tututhefirst 9
116 Aunt Clio 8
jessibud2 8
laurelkeet 8
SqueakyChu 8
120 catarina1 7
121 labwriter 6
roundballnz 6
123 tiffin 5
124 cushlareads 4

Yep. I love me a Friday! A repeat 27th birthday cracked me up - I always love embracing a new age. And yes, Gone With the Wind is a doorstopper! You can think of me when you read it, as it is set in beautiful Georgia - of course, Scarlet and I have almost nothing in common except that we both believe that "tomorrow is another day". Ha!

OH! The reading stats!! I love those! And Abby has been waiting to see where she lands, so she will be thrilled. Thanks so much for taking the time to do that, Paul!

Loved the Wolf Border. Hope you do too! Happy Friday Paul.

>134 Crazymamie: Scarlet O'Mamie indeed! I will certainly think of you and the Pecan Paradisio while I am reading it.

>135 Crazymamie: Well Mamie the talented young lady is running top ten in an impressive field.

>136 charl08: Happy Friday to you too, Charlotte. Note that you studiously avoided commenting on the Book Reading League?!

You've got several in your latest book hauls that I've enjoyed, Paul, but the one that jumped out at me is Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. I think you'll have a good time with that one.

Happy Friday, buddy.

Once again, lots of interesting books here, Paul.

I, too, loved Out of Africa and Gone with the Wind. My daughter read Gone with the Wind when she was 11. It took her 6 months. The school had an on-line test to prove a child had read a book. She failed it miserably, and when I saw the questions I realized that most adults could not have passed. Nit-picky, persnicky stupid questions. So her teacher allowed her to write a book report instead to get the credit and she got an A on it. To this day, 11 years later, she loves reading what we here on LT call doorstops or chunksters.

BOOK STATS!!!! *squeals with delight* Super excited to be in the top 10! Thank you so much for posting them!

>138 jnwelch: I have only read The Storyteller by Vargas Llosa a number of years ago and I didn't really like it, but that was a while ago and it is certainly time he got another chance. I have heard such good things about the better known novels of his that I really ought to get stuck in, Joe.

>139 karenmarie: It makes my blood boil a little when schools or teachers get involved to deflate or deter children from the love of books, inadvertently or otherwise. Pleased at least that it didn't succeed with your daughter, Karen. xx

>140 Thebookdiva: I wondered what that faintly echoing noise was Abby! My pleasure my dear.

>106 PaulCranswick: Certainly nice to feel like I still have a place here after a bit of a hiatus. :) And good to see that I'm doing respectably on the book-reading table, too. Goodness knows I don't aspire to be in the top tiers but I don't want to be left behind either!

>143 ursula: I know exactly what you mean Ursula. I started keeping tabs for two reasons - I was originally spellbound by how quickly Richard's threads zipped along until my own went (for a short spell) even faster. I was also initially taken by how rapidly people like Suz and Luci and Morphy were reading and I wanted to see just how much of a slow coach I was in the mean.

This is the birthday girl yesterday relaxing by the pool at our condo:



HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART. We have had our ups and downs but I wouldn't swap you for a gold pig.

This was her earlier today....erm...snacking on her favourite Japanese food.

>107 PaulCranswick: I see now, thanks for the correction. Still, very interesting!

>145 PaulCranswick: Happy birthday to her! Ah, relaxing by a pool sounds magical.

Hi Paul, thanks for the latest stats on the reading front mate. Please pass on birthday greetings to Hani from the pair of us, hope you all have a lovely weekend mate.

Happy Birthday, Hani. You are reading one of my favorite books. I plan to read the sequel, my brand-new hardcover of The Mountain Shadow soon…very soon.

Thanks for posting all the stats, Paul. I'm glad someone enjoys doing that. I don't even mind slipping down in the ranks a bit. I'm here for the long haul and don't want to burn out. That's my excuse anyway. Sounds better than being too lazy to post…it's so much fun to lurk!

Many happy returns, Hani!

Happy birthday to Hani. Love that shot by the pool. Looks very relaxing...

>137 PaulCranswick: I'm not that modest - we double posted!

Happy Birthday to Hani, Paul! Finished and very much enjoyed The Murder of Roger Ackroyd for the BAC February . A dollar short and a day late, that is me! Excellent fun to become re-acquainted with Dame Christie! :)

>147 rosylibrarian: Well I suppose I have made it so Hani has a hard life indeed, Marie! Thanks for your kind wishes - she is already good pals with quite a number of our little group.

>148 johnsimpson: Thank you John. I have noticed that that is the most books you have read in the first two months of a year since you were in the 75ers.

>149 Donna828: I have the sequel also on the shelves and do hope that she doesn't drop Shantaram in the pool because I haven't read it yet myself! I do have a habit in previous years of burning out half way through the year which I hope won't happen this year as I haven't set off like an express train as in previous times.

>150 laytonwoman3rd: Thank you Linda. It is 9.00 a.m. here and the crew are having Koran reading class - one of their teachers from school is an Algerian and a lovely fellow and visits once a month to listen to my three butcher his native language. Hani is happily sleeping off her cake and cuddles.

>151 charl08: Hahaha Charlotte - I will never top the reading league table for sure but I have to say that to pass the group target of 75 in the first two months of the year is quite an achievement. I have seen Suz and a few others do it before but it never ceases to amaze me that you can average more than a book a day and be so informative and erudite about what you are reading.

>152 vancouverdeb: Lovely phrase Deb! It really doesn't matter when we finish them I think. I was late with the AAC and ANZAC challenges too actually after a pretty torpid reading month. Hope I will do a little better in March.

I'm way down on the reading list this time. Maybe I'll eventually go a bit higher.

>156 thornton37814: I seem to recall you started slowly last year and zoomed forward a goodly bit, Lori?

Belatedly and somewhat shamefacedly!

Review of February 2016

Books Read : 5
Year to date : 21

Genre : Literary Fiction : 1 (Year to date 12)
Thrillers/Sci Fi : 1 (Year to date 1)
Poetry : 1 (Year to date 3)
Plays : 0
Non-Fiction : 2 (Year to date 5)

Author Nationality : UK : 3 (Year to date 10)
Canada : 1 (Year to date 5)
USA : 1 (Year to date 4)
France : (Year to date 1)
Jamaica : (Year to date 1)

Author Gender : Male : 2 (Year to date 13)
Female : 3 (Year to date 8)

Booker Winners : 0 (Year to date 1) // 21/50 done

Pulitzer Fiction/Novel Winners : 0 (Year to date 1) // 12/88 winners

Nobel Winners : 0 // 56/112 winners

1001 Books First Edition : 0 // 262/1001

British Author Challenge : 2 (Agatha Christie & William Dalrymple ) (Year to date 4/4)

American Author Challenge : 0 (Year to date 1/2)

Canadian Author Challenge : 1 (Helen Humphries) (Year to date 3/4)

ANZAC Challenge : 0 (Year to date 0/2)

Doorstopper Challenge : 0 (Year to date 1)

Non-Fiction Challenge : 1 : The Zimmermann Telegram by Barbara W Tuchman (Year to date 2/2)

Pages Read : 1,361 ( Year to date 5,154)
Average Pages per day : 46.93 (Year to date 85.90)
Average Pages per book : 272.20 (Year to date 245.43)

Books Added : 31 (Year to date 56)

Book of the Month : Return of a King by William Dalrymple

Love all the stats and Happy Birthday to Hani, Paul!

>159 ronincats: Thank you Roni. I always have you in mind when I am updating the books read list as you always encouraged me so to do it. xx

I have a distinct feeling that you'll finish higher than a share of 42nd.

Happy Birthday to Hani, Paul!

>161 DianaNL: Thank you Diana.

Happy weekend, Paul.

Happy Birthday Hani! Hope you are sharing a fine weekend!

>163 Ameise1: Snowdrops are a timely reminder of how much cooler it is almost everywhere else, Barbara! Thanks my dear.

>164 msf59: Mark our friends came over and we had a good old chat and then out for Hani's favourite food - Japanese.

Happy Birthday to Hani! The photo of the spread in the Japanese restaurant looks amazing.

>166 kidzdoc: Thanks Darryl. And why do Hani and Caro get on well together? Well look at that spread and know that it is Hani being abstemious and you can then make a very educated guess.

Pat Conroy author of Prince of Tides and South of Broad amongst others has sadly passed away aged 70 in the bosom of his family in South Carolina. He had had pancreatic cancer.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/05/pat-conroy-bestselling-us-author-...

My Happy Birthday wishes to Hani, too, Paul.

I had heard about Pat Conroy. Too bad. That's pretty young these days, but pancreatic cancer is still one of the ones that's very hard to beat, as far as I know.

Happy birthday wishes to Hani. Looks like she's having a wonderful birthday weekend!

Thanks for putting together all the stats, Paul! Not surprised to see I'm lower on the number of posts list but closer to the top on the number of books read list. Of course, I'll never catch up to Charlotte, who is on fire in the reading department.

Happy birthday to Hani, Paul. Looks like the celebrations were a success

>168 PaulCranswick: One of my favorite authors. Being from the south, reading his books always helped alleviate my homesickness. My mother and I used to read his books together, her in North Carolina and me in New Jersey and discuss them on our frequent phone calls. His writing is just perfect. And, he never wrote a bad book, just not enough of them for me. I'm so sad...

>169 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. I have nothing of his on the shelves at the moment surprisingly and I ought to get something of his shortly, I suppose.

>170 Storeetllr: Thank you Mary. Hani is taking a course of 18 acupuncture sessions and one of the things she wanted treating was insomnia. It is almost 11.30 a.m. and she is still asleep.
I think that the point of the stats is good fun but also an encouragement to read. I don't want to slip down that list much further!

>171 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley. We had a nice meal yesterday at one of her favourite venues and one which is not thankfully one of the more expensive of her favourites! It is quite rare that we get all the three kids to follow us out to dinner these days which was nice.

>172 Dianekeenoy: You know Diane it is difficult to think of a more fitting eulogy to a writer than one from his or her readership. Your comments ensure that I will add one of his books this week to my collection. I have seen Prince of Tides and South of Broad in the bookstores here. Which would you recommend as a starting point?

I performed poorly last month but I have plans (as usual) to do a little better this month).

Here are the TIOLI Challenges and what I think I can fit into them:

1. A book with me in the title - Make Me
2. A book you're panicky over - Assalamualaikum : Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia Complete
3. A book with an embedded word in the title - The Hand of Ethelberta
4. A book with a "wind" word
5. A book that mentions a fictional poison or drug
6. A book in memory of Coco
7. A book with yellow on the cover
8. A book about the homefront during a war
9. A book where the author's name starts with "L"
10. A book whose title each word can be anagrammed
11. A book that has inspired a video game
12. A book whose title could be an essay question
13. A book on ethology/ non-human animal behavior
14. A book by an author whose initials form a word - How to be Both Complete
15. A book by a writer born in Wales - New Selected Poems
16. Reread a book
17. A book on Daylight Savings Time
18. A book whose title describes a place you could live - That Old Cape Magic Complete
19. A book in which pulses are eaten

In addition I am reading

AAC - Jane Smiley - probably A Thousand Acres which will also fill my Pulitzer challenge

ANZAC - I will finish Towards Asmara shortly Thomas Keneally for Jan/Feb
I also want to read March for March/April Geraldine Brooks which uniquely also fits the Pulitzer

CAC - I will read The Boat Who Wouldn't Float by Farley Mowat

I am still mulling over DOORSTOPPER, NOBEL, NON-FICTION and BOOKER challenges and I will try to see what if anything fits with TIOLIs I cannot cover.

Book reading stats - I don't remember seeing those before. Looks like I am in good company but I feel like I am slower than usual this year. Happy belated birthday to Hani, looking good for 27!

Hita hope the weekend has treated you & yours well ... Belated birthday wishes to your better half!

>175 PaulCranswick: Sounds like you've got some varied reading planned for the month. Hope you can fit them all in.

I do empathise with Hani having had difficulties with sleeping. Sounds like acupuncture is doing the business.

Hi Paul as always thank you for the stats! I hope Hani had a good Birthday and that you all had a good weekend.

Re Pat Conroy. Being a teacher, I would have to say that my most favourite of his books was The Water is Wide. I read it early in my teaching career but it left a mighty impression on me. It was also made into a film, named *Conrack* and starring Jon Voight and I think it was a rather good adaptation.

I work at the college Pat Conroy so famously went to in Charleston. We're all in a bit of shock. I felt like we were just sending him best wishes to fight the cancer, but pancreatic cancer is so vicious that I supposed it isn't surprising he went so fast. Very sad, indeed.

Hi Paul, I see I'm doing ok in the reading stats so far for the year. Happy Birthday to Hani and great to see you still nimbly accumulating new books. I've been in lots of bookshops this past week (including this one: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/el-ateneo-grand-splendid), though as 99% are in Spanish I just get to admire the diversity of great writers on display.

Greetings, Paul! It appears your weekend has been delightful! Terrific Book Therapy selections! Happy Belated Birthday to your lovely wife! Looks like Hani had a perfect birthday, pools, books and food! Can't go wrong with that! I own Shantaram and it will likely go on my 2017 book challenge.

So impressed with the accomplishments of the Reading League!

Equally impressed with your comments regarding Assalamualaikum : Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia. I never thought I'd feel the way I feel today but I've become disenchanted with religion in general.

Your thoughts on That Old Cape Magic seem to be similar to mine. I found the characters less likeable than you but I plan to give Russo another shot.

>182 avatiakh: - WOW! Good thing I don't live in Buenos Aires! I would disappear into this place, never to be seen again... What a beautiful bookstore!

Checking in and catching up with you, Paul. It is Sunday evening where you are at, if I am not mistaken, and I am hoping that your weekend was a success - sounds like Hani had a lovely birthday. Wishing for you a week that is kind.

>176 Familyhistorian: Seriously Meg? I do try to put up the Book Reading League monthly although I don't always keep to it.
If Hani sticks to that 27 story for too much longer then I will be considered universally as a Dirty Old Man!

>177 roundballnz: Weekend has been good Alex. We went to see "Hail Caesar!" today but I think I enjoyed it more than Hani judging from the snores! Bloody acupuncture is working far too well!

>178 charl08: I have been reading How to be Both today and she has certainly gotten herself a new fan - I think it is the best thing I have read this year so far.

>179 BBGirl55: Thank you, Bryony - my pleasure as always. There was a scene in Hail Caesar! with Ralph Fiennes as a director trying to teach his actor how to say his lines which was hysterically funny. Reminded me very much of something Peter Sellers would have done - priceless.

>180 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley - I will have a look for that one this week but I don't recall seeing it in my regular bookstores.

>181 rosylibrarian: It is sad Marie. Cancer is something that many of us if granted three wishes would do away with at a stroke. When a sadness touches us a little more personally it is felt ever more.

>182 avatiakh: Wow, Kerry that is some bookstore! I have been enjoying your photos on your thread - it is a place that Hani has long agitated to visit actually.

>183 Carmenere: Not exactly perfect for Hani yet because I am supposed to buy her an IPad.
Religion is great when it is between the believer and his/her God but when it gets organised it becomes oppressive and judgmental.

>184 jessibud2: Needless to say Shelley we would meet each other somewhere among the shelves occasionally or wherever you can get a bite to eat or a shower and powder room. I don't think I would leave it often either!

>185 Crazymamie: Your timing is as impeccable as always Mamie in more ways than one - evening here indeed.

>174 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Of those two, probably The Prince of Tides. But, you can't go wrong with any of his books!

Your reading plans for March are impressive as always! I, too, have March on the TBR pile for this year, but, duh, it didn't dawn on me to read it this month.

Perhaps if I get through the other huge stacks of TBR's, I'll join you. I haven't made it to any of the Pulitzer winners yet this year.

>190 Dianekeenoy: I will see what I can turn up this week, Diane. xx

>191 streamsong: Too many books and too little time Janet, that is something I live my life by and will obviously do so until my last breath.

>187 PaulCranswick: Hurrah! I loved that book. Well deserved prize winner imho.

>193 charl08: Flanagan's book that won the Booker must be one heck of a book to have beaten this one, Charlotte.

My favorite Pat Conroy book is Beach Music and my second and the first Conroy book I ever read, Lords of Discipline. Beach Music has lots of Southern history in it as well as a fictionalized account of the environmental movement to save the coastal lowlands of South Carolina. Conroy was active in that movement. Lords of Discipline was one of his early books and supposedly was a fictionalized account of his time at The Citadel - the West Point of the South. He was also a renowned cook. Italian was his speciality.

>195 benitastrnad: Thanks for that Benita. I will buy what I can of his this week in the bookstores. Italian is my favourite form of cuisine, I think, it certainly isn't Hani's Japanese.

>194 PaulCranswick: *squawking* Paul! You've not read Narrow Road to the Deep North?

>197 charl08:, >194 PaulCranswick: Joining the squawking, Paul. You may want to give a go to Narrow Road to the Deep North some time, as it's starting to get loud in here. :-) No worries - I can see up above that you have more than a few reads lined up already.

>197 charl08: Not yet Charlotte. I am always a little behind as I wait for the paperback edition to arrive here and by then the buzz has died down slightly

>198 jnwelch: I know buddy I am also hearing its echo! I will definitely read it some time soon.

Don't feel bad. I haven't read it yet. When I wanted to read it, all the copies were gone from the library so I decided to wait until the demand slacked off.

I was way behind, but did catch up (nearly two threads!)

Belated Happy Birthday to Hani!
Thank you so much for the statistics

And on birthday cumulation, the season in my family went from early February to early May. I don't like birthdays, they were always bad and stressed days in my youth, I am still off on those days and don't visit my parents on the day itself... My mother turned 84 today...

*delurking to say hello*

More another time, but know that I'm tracking you, my friend.

>200 benitastrnad: One of my challenges is to read all the Booker winners so I have a bit of work to do Benita.xx

>201 FAMeulstee: Thank you Anita. Very best wishes to your mother; 84 is a great number. xx

>202 EBT1002: You're not involved with the CIA by any chance are you, Ellen? xx

>199 PaulCranswick: OK. I'll let you off (!!). Just a great read, one of those ones that sticks with you.

Oh an I pad sounds great for Hani! She will enjoy it! I enjoy my little I pad mini and my mom loves her I pad . She is off to Costa Rica on some sort of eco - nature tour, and when ever she finds wi -fi , she sends me an email. She seems to prefer to her desk top computer and keeps in touch with the younger grandchildren that are across Canada via her I pad.

>204 charl08: It will be on my April reading list then Charlotte, promise!

>205 vancouverdeb: I wish my own mum would take an interest in computers and emails and skype and the like as it would narrow the difference in so many ways but she has no interest in it at all. Bravo to your mom for embracing it and seeing its benefits. xx

>73 PaulCranswick: I don't know much about the topic myself, but I sometimes wonder if religion doesn't sometimes get confused with the culture of, maybe, the place that a religion originates from.

>84 PaulCranswick: Ooh; I made a top chart. Number 6 in Asia Pac, despite being at 78 overall. Usually I skim the stats posts ;0)

Belated birthday wishes to Hani!

And belated happy Mothers' Day to all mums!

>186 PaulCranswick: That gave you more free time to read or acquire then ? .... big fan of acupuncture myself

Paul, is your mother's surgery this week?

>73 PaulCranswick: Part of the problem in Malaysia, Nina, is that the religion is being used as an attempt to subvert the culture of the Malays creepingly. There are many indo-hindu roots in Malay culture which you will see clearly if you witness their wedding ceremony but one by one through the issuance of fatwas the state muftis are declaring so many of these traditions as "deviant" and unislamic. The result is that the Malay culture is become entwined with that of the Arabs which is a pseudo-cultural-religious form of colonialism if you ask me. The Malays need to revert to their more gentle and tolerant form of the faith - the very one which originally drew me towards it but which is disappearing in a haze of jellaba's and headscarves and bigotry.

Thought you would be pleased to be included in the stats!

Thanks for the birthday wishes. Got her a mini-I Pad today and got blasted because she said it was too small and I shouldn't buy things like that without asking - I was quite deflated actually - but took the blame as I bought what Yasmyne recommended and she gets grief enough!

>74 LovingLit: Acupuncture is fine Alex but I could have wished her a six foot needle this evening when my surprise gift fell flat!
Sometimes she can be painfully honest - I would have smiled, kissed her and said it was great - not she. Still I did get a peck on the cheek a little later when she saw I was not overly impressed by the quality of her frankness. Still the silly bugger missed the four new books I sneaked in at the same time!

>75 charl08: Actually no, Diana. I spoke to her a couple of times last week including last night which was Mother's Day in the UK (but not here, why so darned confusing?) and the surgeon wants her to have tests to make sure that she is up to the stresses and strains of the operation. She has had some of those tests and, despite reduced lung function, she will have the main operation in two weeks time but the kidney stent will be on Thursday.

That's only more stress, what a pity.
Mother 's Day is in May overhere.

I went to KLCC twin towers today for the sole purpose of seeking out SWMBO's I-Pad. Yes well, only one of those words which was added makes the phrase untrue - sole.

Nipped into Kino whilst thinking over my I-Pad options having remembered poor old Pat Conroy. Unfortunately I could only find one book of his there today as they must have had a run on the late author's books in the few days since his passing, leaving me with no choice.

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (1986) 664 pp

You might have noticed that I have been buying more non-fiction recently. The reason is that I have been buying three books from each row of non-fiction shelves in Kino. Today's three shelves were British and French history. I got:

From Restoration to Reform by Jonathan Clarke (2014) 299 pp (no touchstone yet - I'm the only one on LT with it)
Josephine : Desire, Ambition, Napoleon by Kate Williams (2013) 303 pp
Britain's Royal Families : The Complete Genealogy by Alison Weir (2008) 331 pp

Also I have a correction to make. I added Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter last week with a lovely cover and an attractive sizeable font completely forgetting that I added it in a second hand store in Hay-On-Wye recently. So nett addition is only three today! Not like me to do that ~ I really am getting old.

>212 DianaNL: And Malaysia and the USA/Canada too I think?

She was a little down yesterday but better by far than prior to the diagnosis being established as she feels vindicated in her complaints of a year or so.

Howdy Paul! Happy belated birthday to all the lovely ladies in your family. Thanks for posting the stats. My number of books read includes a large number of graphic novels. It's exciting to see what peaks my interest year to year and this year the comics have taken over my life. ;-)

>168 PaulCranswick: There were not many mentions of South of Broad. Though I have not read it, I have been considering it. Given that it is newer, it certainly doesn't have classic status as some of his others. But, is it good? what did you think of it?

>213 PaulCranswick: A complete genealogy in only 313 pages? Do you hear my skepticism?

>215 luvamystery65: Thanks Roberta. I have included graphic novels but not children's picture books, if that makes sense or unless the 75er includes them specifically in their overall total. Don't know if that is quite right but it is not meant to be overly scientific! xx

>216 brodiew2: Nice to see you here Brodie. I am just starting my acquaintance with Pat Conroy as a writer actually so I am not the one to answer your question - the reviews for it were good though I must say.

>217 thornton37814: Hahaha - well it is Alison Weir who is something of an anti-Ricardian so I would be skeptical anyway!

Hi Paul! I finished How to Be Both this afternoon on my iPad Mini (which I adore)! Which version did you read? I read it Camera - Eyes, and I'm glad I read it in that order. There were some things about Eyes that wouldn't have made sense to me if I hadn't already read Camera.

>220 PaulCranswick: Yes Carrie same as you. Loving the writing and I think I will be chewing up her other books pretty quickly as a result.

The gentlemen are heavily outnumbered in this group by the ladies and on behalf of one of the outnumbered I must say I am not in any way complaining!

My family wouldn't be anything without the woman at the heart of it. Here she is at the centre of things at a family dinner in our favourite restaurant - Tattoo - in Kuala Lumpur :



Clockwise from bottom left : Erni, Belle, Kyran, Yabo, Hani, (Yenti, the restaurant owner), PC and Yasmyne.

Great photo!
Also, lovely video on Google today, for International Women's Day:

https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl

>222 PaulCranswick: Love it! Thanks for sharing.

>223 jessibud2: I like that Shelley. I am given to tokenism and there is some quarters that criticise Women's Day on that basis. I don't think so - I believe it is meet and right to celebrate the better part in us and recognise that the struggle for empowerment and real equality is not yet over but has come a long way.

>224 scaifea: Thank you my dear. I don't know whose birthday we are celebrating for sure but I am guessing it is a joint Paul and Erni celebration. Erni's birthday is towards the end of August whilst mine is at the beginning of September.

Hi Paul! Just spending a short break catching up on threads. As always, I love the stats!

>222 PaulCranswick: Great family photo, Paul. You're a lucky man.

>226 The_Hibernator: Enjoy your break, Rachel, I am always in a good mood when you get to catch up.

>227 jnwelch: Thanks Joe - I don't think you do half bad in the family stakes yourself buddy. I have heard, albeit third hand, glowing reports of the company of your goodself and your MBH in London and elsewhere and I hope to enjoy the experience sooner rather than later.

I have figured out my reading funk at home. Some time ago I gave up my reading room for the kids tuition area (the school teacher uses my room to teach about half a dozen kids a couple of days a week there) and my comfy chair was taken away. I was struggling to get comfortable on the round sofa in the TV area which is more appropriately a Hani zone.

Well I have sort of taken it back. Sneaked my chair back in and realised too that I like to read with the accompaniment of my music.

Today's playlist CDs:

1 Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac - The Pious Bird of Good Omen; including Black Magic Woman, Albatross and Need Your Love so Bad

2. Harry Chapin - The Road to Kingdom Come

3. Bob Dylan's seminal Blood on the Tracks

4. And the mellow goodnight croon of dear old Quintessential Bing Crosby including some of my favourites Keeping Out of Mischief Now (I never do), Little Man You've Had a Busy Day (yes indeed) and Try a Little Tenderness.

Reading :

Ali Smith - How to be Both - still excellent

Thomas Keneally - Towards Asmara - so so

&

Robert Minhinnicks New Selected Poems - truly excellent collection of poems from the Welshman.

Good for you for reclaiming the throne and sneaking it back into position, Paul! The proper reading accoutrements are very important. Wishing you the best of luck on keeping it there.

>230 Crazymamie: Have distracted Hani with the IPad (even though she is still complaining it is too small) so I should be able to put down my roots again and then.......sort of .......fait accompli.

>221 PaulCranswick:, I agree with these comments mate, the ladies on here are great.

>232 johnsimpson: They are indeed John. I have always been very comfortable in the company of ladies so the groups composition is certainly not intimidating!

#206
I don't have much interest in anything iPad, iPod, Ianything. They scream of work, and when I get home I don't want to be looking at another screen. That's why I pick up a book!

My sisters says that as soon as all these young people get a job that demands their full attention and when they work all day long they won't spend nearly as much time on an iPhony, iPotty, iPity, or iAnything. They will be WORKING and not have time to do Faceybooky, Tweety, or electronic bulletin boards, because they will be at work, and at home they will be cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, hauling kids around to soccer games, etc. I am not that optimistic because my experience with young people is that you can't get them to work. Work to them means that they can sit around at a meeting, not pay attention, and do their facebook, tweeting, etc. etc. while they should be paying attention to things like CUSTOMERS! or their SUPERVISORS, etc.

>234 benitastrnad: Benita - work is not an issue with Hani, my dear, she doesn't do any! A veritable lady of leisure who supervises home, family and self and has plenty of time for her phone and IPad.
I on the other hand insist upon holding a real book in my hands when I am reading and calculating the percentage complete myself without a machine imparting the information to me.

>145 PaulCranswick: >146 PaulCranswick: now that is what I call heaven! Oh boy is it ever :)

I loved Shantaram, my sister loved it too and after reading it she used it to jack up one end of her baby daughter's cot on account of the old reflux...the other side was held by the phone book. Talk about useful!

And, I'm with you on the 'real' book thing, Paul :)

>236 LovingLit: Hahaha books are useful objects aren't they? I suppose I am something of a Luddite when it comes to my reading habit but we can't help our likes and dislikes can we?

Evening, Paul! You have made it through more than half of the week! I love reading an actual physical book, but I also love reading on my Kindle - especially out in the bright sun as there is no glare. And with my carpal tunnel, the big books are so much easier to tackle on the Kindle because they are not nearly as heavy. Ha!

>238 Crazymamie: Well I have tried Mamie but it doesn't get me going the Kindle. I love the storage bit and that I can organise so many books and have them at the tip of my fingers literally, but in all honesty, the reading experience falls flat.

How the mighty have fallen! I don't post as much as I used to, I see . . .

I love the pictures you post of your family - always having jolly delicious-looking feasts at home or out!

Back ensconced in my reading room but sad at the passing of George Martin. In fact I have changed my playlist today so that the last CD remembers him and where he got it all started for the Fab Four - Please Please Me. The Beatles were great talents but whether they would have been recognised as such is debatable but for the polishing of the great George Martin.

Pretty much the Fifth Beatle.



Today's Playlist

1 Donny Hathaway - Extension of a Man
2 Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials
3 Bill Withers - Still Bill
4 Beatles - Please Please Me (George Martin tribute)

Reading :

How to be Both by Ali Smith (Completed)

New Selected Poems by Robert Minhinnick (Continues to be excellent)

Towards Asmara by Thomas Keneally (Anzac - closing on Asmara!)

>240 sibylline: I am sure that you'll keep on keeping on, Lucy.

We didn't get our shape by accident you know - what you put in gets reflected back at you in that cruel truth-saying mirror!

I wasn't trying to change your mind, Paul, just commenting that I like reading on it. I love that we all have different tastes and opinions.

Greetings Paul, I was sorry to read of Sir George Martin's passing. He had an incredible way with music and left an indelible print on the industry.

Quotes of the day:

I am enjoying Robert Minhinnick's New Selected Poems tremendously. He has an appealing lyricism that melds the wild nature of the Welsh coast as it is impinged upon by its broken industrialism. I love his wordsmithery and his elevation of the workaday working class concerns of his background - poaching, drinking, the mines, post-industrialisation. He deserves to be more well known.

Here is a extract from "The Drinking Art"

"Like the yellow pinpoints of yeast
Falling through my beer, the bitter
That has built the redbrick
Into the faces of these few customers,
Lonely practitioners of the drinking art.
Ashtrays, a slop-bucket, the fetid
Shed urinal, all this I wondered at,
Running errands to the back-doors of pubs,
Woodbines and empty bottles in my hands.
Never become a drinking-man, my
Grandmother warned, remembering Merthyr
And the Spanish foundry men

Puking their guts up in the dirt streets,
The Irish running from the furnaces
To crowd their paymaster into a tavern,
Leather bags of sovereigns bouncing on his thigh.
But it is calmer here, more subtly dangerous.

>243 Crazymamie: I know that mt dear - I didn't mean to appear full of self-justification but I have just had another bollocking for Hani's IPad being too small so I am tetchy on the topic of gadgets this evening. xx

>244 Carmenere: He saw and heard something special in what many others cringed at and disregarded in John, Paul, George and Ringo. Their worldwide success was never a foregone conclusion. He also produced "Goldfinger" for Shirley Bassey which many people don't realise, Lynda.

a little late on this but just wanted to say I loved "Out of Africa". The movie with Meryl Streep as well.

No worries, dear. Sounds like maybe Hani should pick out her own tablet - I love the mini, personally. It's actually my favorite size because it is so portable. Sending you my best thoughts and all of my love.

>248 Crazymamie: I was about to say something similar about mine! To each her own, I suppose.

>247 mmignano11: Never too late in these parts Mary Beth. xx Karen Blixen was a very interesting character as she was a Danish national who wrote in English and then translated her own work into her native language.

Women's Day was yesterday and I am sure that in these days she wouldn't have felt the need to use the Nom-de-plume Isak Dinesen in order to be taken seriously.

isnt it also the Ides of March?

>241 PaulCranswick: - I just posted an article on George Martin from our local paper, on my thread, Paul. I hadn't realized he came from such humble beginnings, for all that he accomplished in his lifetime and how polished and gifted he truly was.

>248 Crazymamie: & >249 foggidawn: Mamie and Foggy - Yasmyne and I agree with you both; I think the bigger ones look a tad clunky. I should have asked her to choose I suppose but when you weigh the element of surprise and the joy etched features when they see what you got them..............no it didn't work did it!

>251 mmignano11: I'll have to keep my eyes skinned for sharp knives and getting cornered on my way to the forum then, Mary Beth!

>252 jessibud2: Yes, I know Shelley, he always came across as something of a toff, but he was apparently a down to earth chap. I'll go over and enjoy your article straight away.

by a woman, I'm guessing

>245 PaulCranswick: Strong poem excerpt from Mr. Minhinnick, Paul. (I find spelling his name challenging!)

>255 mmignano11: Ha! I normally get along with most ladies better than with guys in truth Mary Beth but there is one lady in particular.....!

>256 jnwelch: It is one heck of a name isn't it, Joe? You would seriously like his work, mate, I am positive on that - difficult family name or not.

23.

How to be Both by Ali Smith

Date of Publication : 2014
Pages : 372
BAC Challenge March
TIOLI Challenge March #14 - 3/19

I think I pulled the slightly longer straw out from the webbed fingers of fate in getting my edition with the Georgia novella part preceding the stream of consciousness "renaissance man".

Both have their merits but the former is immediately gripping and written in incendiary prose by Smith. Wonderful gift for the glib as well as the gab and her dialogue here was special. Had it continued in such vein throughout it would have sauntered onto my best of lists without further ado. Unfortunately it doesn't quite maintain that level but still has peaks that has the reader staring down on the hillocks of lesser writing.

Loss, observation, seeing what is really there and not only what is apparent and a celebration of the different are my encapsulation of what these linked stories are about. Ali Smith may look like Clare Short on a good day (fierce and humorless) but she writes with a dexterous touch that leaves the lumpen earth-mother image I had misconstrued for her far behind. Just goes to show that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover which is, I guess, part of what the good lady was trying to say.

I was apprehensive originally about this particular choice for the BAC. Needn't have been as it was splendid.

9/10

I have to say that I don't like anything to do with Apple products and as for books I like the feel of books and as I am a frequent visitor to secondhand and antiquarian bookshops I just love the smell of books.

>259 johnsimpson: I too love the smell of second hand book shops, John, but I am not convinced that this is exactly wonderful for my asthma!

Hey Paul, congrats on losing 7 lbs just by quitting eating rice! Nice! My next door neighbours are from Hong Kong and about a month ago we were talking about how Asian people most often look younger than they are . She credits eating rice for her youthful appearance! ;) I did not argue of course, but it did make me chuckle a little on the inside. My mom likes the full size I pad . I think at her age - a youthful 74, she can see the images and typing more easily. She is off in Costa Rica on a "jungle glamping tour" and it is lots of fun to get photo's from here and brief emails. She went with a cousin and 4 other family member and seems to be having a great time with the howler monkeys, birds, staying in cabins with tin roofs and screened in windows. Part of the trip is also in nice hotels. My son and his wife are off to Hong Kong to visit his wife's family and they are taking a side trip to Japan. I hope they will send me an email and a few photos

As for books, I must prefer print books, but if I can only get them in e -format , I will read on my kindle.

Hi, Paul! Nice to see all the tributes, about George Martin. Talk about being at the right place, at the right time. A perfect storm of talent and creativity.

And I love it that the Beatles brought Martin back for their finale, Abbey Road. What a way to go out.

Good review of How to be Both. I'll be reading The Accidental but that one is also high on my list.

>261 vancouverdeb: In fairness Deb it is not only just cutting out rice, Deb - cakes and junk food as well as fast food have all bitten the dust too. This is more of a lifestyle change than a diet actually. I am also taking a glass of warm lemon juice in the mornings to apparently restore body balance - it certainly wakes me up! I have a wee bit more energy and am walking more and occasionally swimming too.

Your mom is wonderful "jungle glamping" at 74 - I couldn't have done that when the two numbers were reversed.

>262 msf59: It is funny because George Martin wasn't actually credited as producer on Let it Be although he did supervise the original mixes. The album was controversially re-produced by Phil Spector much to Macca's annoyance. When he subsequently released Let it Be.....Naked, that is pretty much what Martin produced.