Mamie's 2016 Madness (Page 11)

Continuing with my favorite things...The Great Gatsby, prose that reads like poetry, small bouts of decadence...

...


...

snail's pace
Books Completed in April:
44. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
45. The Misty Harbor by Georges Simenon (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural - recommended by Charlotte
46. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (3.5 stars), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
47. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris (4 stars), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
48. Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris (4 stars), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
49. Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker (4 stars), 2015 acquired paperback, crime fiction/police procedural
50. The Portable Veblen (I have no idea), 2016 acquired ebook, um...weird fiction?
51. Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, fantasy - series recommended by Roni
52. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (4 stars), 2016 acquired audiobook, fantasy
53. Black Diamond by Martin Walker (4 stars), 2015 acquired paperback, crime fiction/police procedural
54. Gorsky by Vesna Goldsworthyy (2.5 stars), 2016 acquired book, retelling of The Great Gatsby
55. Ballistics by Billy Collins (4 stars), library hardback, poetry
56. Shaman Pass by Stan Jones (4 stars), library hardback, crime fiction/police procedural
57. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer (3 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, crime fiction/mystery

Reading Plans: None

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


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


The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov - reading this with Mark and Ellen


The Bird Artist by Howard Norman - reading this with Kim, Megan, Mark, Paul and Charlotte

Coming in July:


Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry - reading this with Diane and Kim

A few of my favorite reads from 2015:

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

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

Books Completed in March:
28. Empire Falls by Richard Russo (4 stars), ROOT paperback/audiobook, Pulitzer Prize winner, read for Mark's AAC
29. Fade Out: Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (4 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, GN - crime fiction/noir
30. Velvet: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker (4.5 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, GN - crime fiction/espionage - recommended by Roberta
31. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
32. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
33. Crooked House by Agatha Christie (reread), ROOT paperback, mystery/crime fiction - read for Paul's BAC (yes, I know this was last month's author)
34. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
35. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
36. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
37. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
38. Velvet: Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker (4.5 stars), 2016 acquired paperback, GN - crime fiction/espionage - recommended by Roberta
39. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
40. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
41. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver (4 stars), library hardback, poetry - read for Mark's AAC
42. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (reread), ROOT ebook, urban fantasy
43. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler (4 stars), ER paperback, retelling of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew

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

1. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, ebook - recommended by Heather COMPLETED
2. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley ($.99 on Kindle) - blaming this on Roni, who pointed out the deal
3. The Fade Out: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, paperback - mentioned by Joe on the GN thread COMPLETED
4. The Fade Out: Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, paperback - Mark said this one was as good as the first COMPLETED
5. Staked by Kevin Hearne - Iron Druid series, ebook
6. Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White - recommended by Heather ($1.29 on Kindle)
7. Some Must Watch: The Spiral Staircase by Ethel Lina White - Heather's thread($.99 on Kindle)
8. The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White - Heather's thread ($1.99 on Kindle)
9. Put Out the Light by Ethel Lina White - Heather's Thread ($1.29 on Kindle)
10. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer ($2.99 on Kindle)
11. White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones ($1.99 on Kindle) COMPLETED
12. City of Djinns by William Dalrymple - recommended by Susan ($4.99 on Kindle) COMPLETED
13. You Have Killed Me by Jamie S. Rich - Mark's fault
14. Hit by Bryce Carlson - also Mark's fault
15. Velvet: Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker - recommended by Roberta COMPLETED
16. The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett ($1.99 on Kindle)
17. The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois ($.99 on Kindle/$.99 audio)
18. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop - 2nd book in The Others series - ebook
19. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild - purchased for the non-fiction/history challenge COMPLETED
20. Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel José Older - Mark's fault
21. The Drowned Detective by Neil Jordan - Charlotte's Guardian reviews COMPLETED
22. A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab COMPLETED
23. The Fade Out: Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips COMPLETED
24. Velvet: Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker - recommended by Roberta COMPLETED
25. The Misty Harbor by Georges Simenon - recommended by Charlotte COMPLETED
26. Gorsky by Vesna Goldsworthy -Charlotte again, and on my own thread!
27. The Trees by Ali Shaw - Guardian review on Charlotte's thread
28. The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth Mckenzie - Charlotte's thread? COMPLETED
29. The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster by Scott Wilbanks ($.99 on Kindle)
30. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman ($1.99 on Kindle)
31. Galore by Michael Crummey ($3.99 on Kindle)
32. An American Childhood by Annie Dillard ($1.99 on Kindle) - for the AAC
33. Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon ($2.99 on Kindle) - Charlotte's fault
34. The Carter of 'La Providence' by Georges Simenon - Charlotte again
35. The Late Monsieur Gallet by Georges Simenon - Yep. Charlotte
36. The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien by Georges Simenon - Ahem. Charlotte
37. The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker - book #4 in Bruno, Chief of Police series
38. The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker - book #5
39. The Resistance Man by Martin Walker - book #6
40. Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara ($1.99 on Kindle) - series recommended by Roni COMPLETED
41. Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara - book #2 - series recommended by Roni
42. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan - heard about this on Ellen's thread

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

1. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
2. Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard
3. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez - seconded by Charlotte and Susan
4. In the Walled City by Stewart O'Nan
5. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - she recommended the audio, and don't speed it up
6. Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo
7. Ruby by Cynthia Bond - seconded by Charlotte

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

1. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - recommended by Heather (saw this as I was catching up with her 2015 thread) COMPLETED 1/15/16
2. Slade House by David Mitchell - recommended by Lynda - I know that Mark and several others loved this one, too, but it was Lynda's succinct review that places it firmly on the WL
3. Chinese Takeout Cookbook by Diana Kuan - recommended by Lori (thornton37814) - saw it listed as her favorite cookbook read of 2015
4. Revenant by Mel Odom - recommended by Mark, who came to my thread to deliver the book bullet!
5. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen - recommended by Ellen and Karen COMPLETED
6. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts - Lucy mentioned that she loved this on her thread, and I looked it up because I was unfamiliar with it. Note to self: DO NOT look up books mentioned on Lucy's thread!
7. The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra - saw Amy's review of this on her thread
8. I Am Spain by David Boyd - recommended by Charlotte
9. The Mirror in the Mist by Susan Hill - saw Lori's (lkernaugh) review of this on her thread
10. The Prestige by Christopher Priest - recommended by Mary (bell7)
11. The Electric Michelangelo by Sarah Hall - recommended by Charlotte - saw her review on her thread
12. The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker - Joe mentioned this one on the GN thread, and it sounds right up my alley COMPLETED 1/15/16
13. The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason - Faith reviewed the second book in this series on her thread
14. Names for the Sea by Sarah Moss - read Rhian's review on her thread
15. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - again, Lynda got me with her succinct review on her thread - how DOES she do that?!
16. The Men Who Lost America by Andrew Jackson O"Shaughnessy - read the review on Reba's thread
17. Wartime: Stories From Ukraine by Tim Judah - read about this one on Charlotte's thread, part of her posted Guardian reviews. LOVE those!
18. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill - recommended by Charlotte on her thread
19. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild - Suz mentioned this one to Charlotte on the non-fiction challenge thread COMPLETED
20. Everything is Broken by Emma Larkin - recommended by Erik on my thread when we were discussing books on Burma
21. The Rebel of Rangoon by Delphine Schrank - Charlotte recommended this to me on my thread when we were discussing books on Burma
22. Unwind by Neal Shusterman - Mary (bell7) was talking about a follow-up collection of short stories to this series, and peaked my curiosity about the series itself
23. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler - read Megan's review of this on her thread - I love interconnected short stories COMPLETED
24. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - I read Julia's excellent review on her thread
25. How It All Began by Penelope Lively - read Nancy's review on her thread
26. The Storyteller by Mario Vargas Llosa - read Lori's (lkernagh) review of it on her thread
27. TransAtlantic by Colum McCaan - Charlotte and Katie talked me into this! And Marianne approves.
28. Willoughbyland by Matthew Parker - read Carrie's review on her thread
29. The Quiet American by Graham Greene - read Bill's review on his thread
30. Coast to Coast by Jan Morris - read Paul's review on his thread

LT recommendations continued...

31. After Hannibal by Barry Unsworth - read Ursula's review on her thread
32. Fear Stalks the Village by Ethel Lina White - read Heather's review on her thread
33. The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White - also Heather's fault!
34. Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore - recommended by Megan (evilmoose)
35. Mademoiselle Chanel by Pierre Galante - read Judy's review on her thread
36. Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon - read Suz's review on her thread
37. Crow Lake by Mary Lawson - read Nancy's review on her thread
38. War of Two by John Sedgwick - recommended by Reba
39. The Old Ways by David Dalglish - recommended by Charlotte
40. The Nest by Kenneth Oppel - recommended by Anne
41. The Noise of Time by Julian barnes - was included in Charlotte's Guardian reviews, and then Suz reviewed it which is what sold me
42. Countdown by Deborah Wiles - Judy hit me with this 60s Trilogy with her review of Revolution
43. Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal - recommended by Marianne, interconnected short stories
44. The Library at Night by Alberta Manguel - recommended by Carrie
45. Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis - recommended by Rhian
46. Tokyo Decadence by Ryu Murakami - recommended by Joe
47. American Housewife by Helen Ellis - recommended by Joanne
48. Trespass by Rose Tremain - recommended by Nancy
49. The Book of Sands: A Novel of the Arab Uprising by Karim Alwari - recommended by Deborah
50. A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin - recommended by Mary
51. The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey - because Mark said so!
52. That's Not English by Erin Moore - recommended by Susan
53. In the Country: Stories by Mia Alver - recommended by Mark
55. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin - Mark again
56. The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones - recommended by Suz
57. Saints and Boxers by Gene Luen Lang - recommended by Carrie (read them together)
58. The Good Wife by Stewart O'Nan - recommended by Jenn
59. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift - recommended by Suz, Ellen also loved this
60. When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning - recommended by Amy

LT recommendations continued...

61. Exposure by Helen Dunmore - recommended by Charlotte
62. Reading Chekhov by Janet Malcolm - recommended by Charlotte
63. Ways to Disappear by Idra Novey - recommended by Beth
64. The Widow by Fiona Barton - recommended by Diane
65. Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo - recommended by Reba (over on Katie's thread)
66. Super Mutant by Jillian Tamaki - GN - Mark and Joe's fault!
66. The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice - recommended by Charlotte
67. The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell - recommended by Susan
68. My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem - recommended by Beth
69. The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks - recommended by Rhian
70. Dodgers by Bill Beverly - recommended by Ellen and Mark
71. The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro - recommended by Mark
72. Zero World by Jason M. Hough - recommended by Jim
73. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie - recommended by Susan (and Carrie recommended it to her)
74. Without by Donald Hall - recommended by Ellen, who read it because of the poem that Katie had posted - poetry collection
75. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan - Ellen mentioned this on her thread as getting great reviews
76. River Thieves by Michael Crummey - Judy mentioned that she loved this one (on Ellen's thread)
77. The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild - Beth's review on her thread
78. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine - read Julia's review on her thread
79. Georgiana by Amanda Foreman - read Anne's review on her thread
80. Pleasantville by Attica Locke - read Charlotte's review on her thread
81. Locally Laid by Lucie Amundsen - Janet's review on her thread - I can't believe that she actually got me with this one, but there you have it!
82. Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan Howard - Jim said to just read it, already

This should do it - next one's yours!

Hi Mamie, I am back in KL so it is easier to get in early and wish you Happy New Thread

Happy new one. Another quote from Gatsby seems appropriate

Paul, you are first!! Here is your prize:



Your very own small library corner. You will of course be needing a different table and chair.

>12 charl08: Charlotte, you snuck in there! Welcome! I love that quote, and yes, very appropriate. Thank you.

Happy Happy New Thread Sunday, Mamie!!

Thank you, Lynda!

>13 Crazymamie: Probably a bigger chair and a carpet on the stairs so I can slide down them like a twelve year old. Thanks Mamie. xx

Duly noted, Paul. I'll have my people get right on that! xx

Happy New Thread, Mamie. Looks like you've moved on to the second Cast in...--JUST like potato chips!

Thank you, Roni! Yep. Just like you said!

Happy new thread! And happy Sunday! I hope Mercy's beginning to feel better.

It's still the weekend...happy Sunday!!! Lovely new thread and I want to slide down the staircase after Paul.

>21 cbl_tn: Thank you, Carrie! Happy Sunday to you! Mercy is feeling a bit better today - not quite her usual self, but we are getting closer.

>22 Berly: Yes, hooray for still the weekend, Kim! I am sure that Paul would be happy to share the staircase with you. LOL!

>22 Berly: / >23 Crazymamie: I would indeed.

>7 Crazymamie: Hello Mamie! Destiny of the Republic is very good. Tragic, but highly interesting.

>13 Crazymamie: Nice library corner!

Happy new thread!

>13 Crazymamie: What a beautiful and tiny library. And extraordinarily well-lit!

Happy New Thread, Mamie! Love the topper! Hope you are kicking back, at the Pecan Paradise.
Lovely here in the Midwest.

>24 PaulCranswick: I just knew that you would, dear!

>25 brodiew2: Hey Brodie! I have heard good things about Destiny of the Republic, so I will be sure to get to it eventually. I read way more fiction than non-fiction, but I have been upping my nf numbers lately - I blame Susan, Mark, and Charlotte!

I like the library corner, too. A bit fancy for our home, but I am sure I could manage to make it work. *grin*

>26 mstrust: Thank you, Jennifer! Okay - I didn't even notice the lighting until you mentioned it. You are so right!

>27 msf59: Mark, where have you been?! Never mind, you're here now. SO happy that you love the topper! I have spent most of the day reading on the screened-in porch - it's another day full of beauty here at the Pecan Paradisio. Glad to hear that the Midwest is also lovely. I hope you are tanning those legs. LOL!

>28 Crazymamie: You and me both. I am definitely more of a fiction reader.

I listened to Destiny of the Republic on audio. It is a great presentation.

Happy new thread, Mamie. Love your topper. You've been on a Walker/Harris binge lately!

>29 Crazymamie: Hey, I was on the old thread at 8:30 this morning. Thank you very much. Grins...

And yes, these legs are still WHITE!! It takes awhile in the beginning.

Happy Sunday Mamie! It's raining in Houston again. Sigh

>30 brodiew2: Someone else was saying that it was very good on audio - I am thinking it was Ellen. I'll have to be sure to listen to it when I get to it, then, Thanks, Brodie!

>31 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! SO happy that you love the topper. And yes - I have been binge reading. I have read all the Sookie books now, so you folks are safe for another year or two from hearing about her exploits from me. The Bruno books are delightful in a totally different way. Such lovely reads.

>32 msf59: I know - I'm just giving you a hard time, Mark! Besides, I like having you around, so the sooner you get to the new thread, the better!

Yes, give those legs plenty of prep time. You don't want to cause any accidents from the glare...

>33 luvamystery65: Happy Sunday to you, Roberta! Oh, the irony - no sun on Sunday. Too much rain lately?

I'm a bit late with new thread wishes... I hope you're having a lovely Sunday, Mamie!

Oh, Katie! Thank goodness you're here! And I am having a lovely Sunday- are you?

I am! Dragging a bit from a late night last night, but otherwise just fine. We adopted a cat today, so that's exciting - details on my thread :)

Oh! I'll be right over!

Congrats on the new thread, Mamie! I like Paul's prize up in >13 Crazymamie:..

Hope you and the Pecan Paradisio gang have been having a great weekend.

Thanks, Joe! Glad you like Paul's prize. The weekend has been great - too bad it's almost over.

Hello Mum! LOVE LOVE LOVE the thread topper!!!

>13 Crazymamie: Ooh, what a perfect reading nook; all we need is two comfy chairs and we'd be good to go.

>3 Crazymamie: Billy Collins is going to be at Chautauqua this summer -- I can't wait. I'm not big into poetry but I love his.

Hi Mamie! I have caught up with you finally and thought I better say hello while it's still Sunday and not yet the dreaded first day of the week. I read of Mercy's woes with sympathy and hope she is feeling better.

Time to wake up, buttercup! have a lovely Monday! yes, they can be lovely....really!

Happy Pre-Tuesday, Mamie!

What a great weekend that was.

Billy Collins is a treat to see in person. He has the wry humor and self-deprecation you'd expect, and an excellent voice for his poems.

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Morning, Y'all! I'm hoping that your weekends were lovely and relaxing - mine was. I spent most of it on the screened-in porch and on the deck. Today is The Big Clean at the Pecan Paradisio, and I also need to go through the paperwork that has piled up on my desk - ugh. Menu planning, the market, and the library are all on the to-do list.

On the reading front, I have continued in Rubbernecker, but I am still not sure if I will finish this one or not. Just taking it one chapter at a time right now. Also I started The Other Side of Silence, which is the latest Bernie Gunther, and it takes right off. I am loving this one so far! I have finished up a few books that I have not yet reviewed:

54. Gorsky by Vesna Goldsworthyy (2.5 stars), 2016 acquired book, retelling of The Great Gatsby
55. Ballistics by Billy Collins (4 stars), library hardback, poetry
56. Shaman Pass by Stan Jones (4 stars), library hardback, crime fiction/police procedural

I am hoping to post my thoughts on these later today, before I get any further behind.

And on audiobook, I have begun listening to You Only Live Twice - I have been slowly listening to these books in the order they were written. I love the celebrity narrations, which are just so well done. This one is narrated by Martin Jarvis. I highly recommend these narrations to anyone who would like to listen their way through Bond's adventures - just so well done.

>41 Thebookdiva: I knew that you would, Abby, since we share a love of The Great Gatsby. Agree about the reading nook - now where can we put it?!

>42 RebaRelishesReading: OH, I bet that will be fun, Reba! There is so much humor in his poetry. And sarcasm, which I adore.

>43 DeltaQueen50: Hello, Judy! SO great to see you here - thanks for taking the time to catch up with me. Are you back home from your travels now? I am assuming yes.

Mercy is still taking it easy, but she is much more herself. She goes back on Friday so they can see if it is healing properly - I'm glad they are going to keep a close eye on it.

>44 Carmenere: I'm up! I'm up! Morning, Lynda! I don't know about lovely, but I do love your optimism. I shall try my best to find lovely in Monday.

>45 jnwelch: Happy Pre-Tuesday, Joe! Our weekend was good here, too. Well, Craig, Daniel and Rae had to work, but the rest of us had one full of fabulous! Craig cooked sliders on the grill for supper last night, and they were very YUM.

I just knew that Collins would be good in person - you can tell by his photos - the laughter is shining in his eyes. He looks like he is always ready for mischief.

>46 susanj67: Well, hello there, Susan! So glad you made it!

Ooh Martin Jarvis. He does a very good Just William. I also am a big fan of Jason Isaacs, although that had more to do with his Jackson Brodie series.

Hope Mercy continues to improve.

Hello, Charlotte! I am loving the Martin Jarvis narration. And Jason Isaacs - you are reminding me that I need to track down that Jackson Brodie series! Someone mentioned it a few years ago after I had read the first Jackson book, and then I completely forgot about it. Must Find. It.

Thank you for those good wishes for Mercy.

Please give my love to the beans.

Well the beans are loving the attention - I'm hoping shortly I may have flowers to report. I was hoping Atkinson might write more Brodie but it seems that's my lot.

>47 Crazymamie: Wow! I had not heard of these new Bond narrations.I will definitely check them out? David Tennant!

Happy New Thread! Looks like lots of fun with the new Bond Narrations !

>52 charl08: Flowers!! I'm excited!

I have only read the first Jackson Brodie book - I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am purposely hoarding the others.

>53 brodiew2: The new narrations are really a treat, Brodie. David Tennant did a fabulous job, as always - that's the one that I listened to last: On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

>54 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah! The new Bond narrations are fabulous - and yes, fun!

>50 charl08: Have you seen Brotherhood, Charlotte? It's a series starring Jason Isaacs and Jason Clarke (another one of my fave actors) as Rhode Island brothers — one (Isaacs) is a criminal and the other is a state legislator. It's really good.

Mamie, I've never even read any of Fleming's Bond books, but the audios sound like a good way to go!

>56 rosalita: I haven't - is he a baddie? I like him to be the hero. (Pathetic, I know!). At the moment I get my fix via the Wittertainment film review podcast (he's was a schoolfriend of one of the presenters, so turns up every so often. Always comes across as charming.).

Sorry Mamie. Isaacs-swoon over. Er. How's the reading?!

Missed Morning Mamie, but big waves anyway. We are all ready pushing 80 here, with a bit of humidity.

How are those current reads coming?

>57 charl08: Sorry, Charlotte — he is the baddie in Brotherhood. But he's deeply conflicted about it, if that counts! :-)

>56 rosalita: Hello, Julia!! Lovely to see you here!! The Bond books are not great literature, but they are great fun, and audio is definitely the way to go.

I have not heard of Brotherhood, so I will have to check that one out.

>57 charl08: Are you sure, Charlotte? I mean, look at those eyes!



My current reads are not coming. I keep getting distracted with murder mysteries. I can't stop. Truly.

>58 msf59: Afternoon, Mark! Maybe tomorrow with the morning. *waves back* It's 80 here right now, and not too bad with the humidity, so I cannot complain.

Please see my response above to Charlotte concerning my current reads. The poor dears.

>59 rosalita: I loved him as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, so I think he makes an excellent baddie. The "deeply conflicted" part made me laugh out loud. He's bad, but he doesn't want to be bad. He feels badly about it.

We liked Jason Isaacs as the lead in the tv series "Awake" a few years ago, where he had one life when he was awake and a different one when he was asleep.

>60 Crazymamie: He's bad, but he doesn't want to be bad. He feels badly about it.

Exactly, Mamie! You understand him so well ...

>61 jnwelch: That sounds interesting, Joe. How am I missing all these shows?

>62 rosalita: LOL!

>56 rosalita: I will be checking out 'Brotherhood' for both Isaacs and Clarke. I absolutely loved Jason Clarke on 'The Chicago Code'. I never got into 'Awake', but I look forward to his Bond.

Just jumping into the new thread... And I see I made the recommendation list! :)

>64 brodiew2: I loved 'The Chicago Code', too! I wish it had gone another season. I haven't seen 'Awake' yet - need to see if it's on Netflix.

Happy new thread and happy pre-Tuesday, Mamie. Cleaning day - maybe that's why you dread pre-Tuesday.

>64 brodiew2: Again, another show I need to look up, Ha! I have my work cut out for me.

>65 drneutron: Hey there, Jim! I always pay close attention to your reading because I have found some favorites through you - Boneshaker and The Goblin Emperor come immediately to mind as just two examples.

>66 rosalita: You guys are killing me. Just kidding - keep 'em coming!

>67 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg! Um...that's an excellent thought, but actually The Big Clean used to be always on a Saturday, but then I moved it to Monday after we moved to Georgia, since I already have a thing about that day anyway. Ha!

>68 Crazymamie: Luckily, Chicago Code is only 13 episodes.

Then I will probably love it because all the shows that I love tend to only have one season.

>70 Crazymamie: Isn't that the truth? Only the good die young after one season.

Okay. Chicago Code and Awake have both been added to my Netflix queue. I found Brotherhood on Amazon Prime, but sadly, no Jackson Brodie. *sad face*

BUT the library did!! I have requested it. *happy dance*

>73 Crazymamie: Whee! Hope you like it. If nothing else, the scenery is pretty good.

>60 Crazymamie: Once you have your fill of Murder, you'll get back on track. Actually my current audio, All Things Cease to Appear has a couple of nasty murders. Just sayin'...

Happy new-ish thread :)

>74 charl08: I am sure that I will like it - I loved the first book. Plus Jason Isaacs. What's not to like?

>75 msf59: I'm not too worried about the track, to be honest. It's all about the journey. And you say there are murders in your current read? Nasty ones?! Oh!

>76 nittnut: Thank you, Jenn!

>72 Crazymamie: Happy watching, Mamie!

Thank you, Julia! Should be fun!

Happy Almost-Tuesday!! Dang, not only do I get hit with book bullets here, now I am getting peppered with TV-bullets!! LOL.

>48 Crazymamie: Birdy doesn't really need a room, does she?

>60 Crazymamie: Wow. I can't believe that's Lucius Malfoy, he has so much more color in real life. Tom Felton looks so much like his character in real life I guess I just assumed Lucius did too. Amazing what makeup can do to a person.

>60 Crazymamie: THIS is Malfoy senior!?! Hm... but how many years passed since the lassed HP?
I feel tempted by Moonraker read by Bill Nighy. Saw 3 movies with him and can't imagine his reading voice at all.

Happy Week, Mamie! Thanks to internet problems I didn't make it here over the long weekend, but now Friday is almost in sight again.

Happy Tuesday, Everyone! The forecast says rain the rest of the week, which is fine by me. Except I do still need to go to the market. Not much on the agenda today - Abby and Birdy are getting haircuts, I need to write those reviews, and the afore mentioned trip to the grocery. Not bad at all.

I read a bit more on The Other Side of Silence, and it is highly entertaining. Good stuff. Nothing new out from the library (I pulled a Susan!) because I really need to finish up what I already have out. AND I watched the first episode of Chicago Code last night. Julia and Brodie were right - very good. And JULIA!!! I don't know how I missed you up there in >71 rosalita: (well, I am guessing we cross posted, but I usually check, so my apologies). But yes, all the good ones die young. It's the story of my life...Firefly>, Detroit 187, Life on Mars, The Dresden Files...

>80 Berly: Thank you, Kim! You are never safe on the threads - you never know what yo will get hit with. LOL!

>81 Thebookdiva: Ha! Yes, she does - unless you are volunteering to share your room with her. *blinks*

I know, right?! He looks totally different!

>82 Deern: Oh, Abby could have answered that right off the top of her head, I bet. I had to look it up - the last movie came out in 2011, so five years ago.

All of the narrations that I have listened to so far have been fabulous, Nathalie. I didn't listen to the Bill Nighy one because I had already read that one in print before I discovered the celebrity narrations. But you can be sure I will revisit it with the audio.

Sorry to hear about the internet problems - so frustrating. And I am thankful that you are here now. Thanks for stopping in, my friend!

Morning, Mamie!

Oh, we miss that Dresden Files show. Wish they'd let it go at least one more season.

Morning, Joe! We do, too - about the Dresden Files. Craig really loved that show - he loves those books, but his favorite series by Butcher is the Furies of Calderon, which I have not read.

Morning Mamie! So much for working on my farmer's tan. Sighs...

Enjoy your day, my friend.

Hey, hey, hey, Mamie! Bond on audio sounds like a really good idea. I'll try to slip them in at some point.

Morning, Mark! For a good farmer's tan, you really need the sun to be consistent - sorry that the weather is not cooperating. My day is looking to be a good one. Hope yours is, too.

>84 Crazymamie: You are really tempting me with those Bond audiobooks. I may have to see if the library has any of them.

They are really fun, Julia! Crossing my fingers that your library has them.

Sounds like you have a relaxing schedule today. Guess that's what happens when you do the big clean and get it over with. Have a great day!

SO true, Meg! Thank you for those good wishes. Hoping that yours is full of fabulous!

I'm way behind on your thread so here's a couple of remarks that go with your previous one.

#220 That Coke float is definitely inspiring me. I may have to make one when I get home.

#233 The Martin Walker series sounds really interesting. I checked, and the first in series is on my wish list already. Your review of the third in the series makes me want to get to that series sooner rather than later. I will have to see if it is available in either e-book or audiobook format from the library (and actually available before I head out to my conference next week). I'll have about 7 hours in the car roundtrip if it's available in audio format. If it's e-book, I might be able to read a little each evening. We'll have to see.

I hate to tell you this, Lori, but that is an iced latte over on the other thread - but you should definitely go for it with the Coke float. Birdy LOVES those.

The Martin Walker series is truly fabulous - lovely storyline, interesting characters that continue to develop across the series, drool-worthy paragraphs filled with food and wine, the French countryside, some history and along with all of that comes a mystery. Just a wonderful escape. Hoping you can find them in your library system.

Hi Mamie! Just dropping by to wish you a happy Tuesday!

Hey, Carrie!! Thank you! Happy Tuesday to you! Please give Adrian my love.

Book #54: Gorsky by Vesna Goldsworthyy (2.5 stars), 2016 acquired book, retelling of The Great Gatsby

This was a big fat fail for me. I guess I should start by saying that I LOVE The Great Gatsby. LOVE. IT. So, I was excited by a retelling, and after I read the altered premise - the setting is moved from New York to London, from the 1920s to modern day, Gorsky (Gatsby) and Natalia (Daisy) are Russian, Nick is Serbian and works in a bookstore, Gery (Jordan) is a Bulgarian Olympic gymnast who has defected instead of a professional golfer...I thought that this could be a fun spin on the original. And parts of it are fun, BUT in losing Nick's relationship to Natalia (in the original, they are cousins), the plot quickly falls apart. Why on earth would Natalia's husband want to hang out with a bookstore clerk? I loved that Gorsky meets Nick when he comes into the bookstore to arrange to have them build a personal library for him, and not just any library! This part is brilliant and so well done - I loved reading about what Nick was selecting for Gorsky's library. This was the only redeeming factor of the novel - it was lovely and the premise could have worked if Goldsworthy had kept Nick's relationship to Natalia intact. However, that misstep is just the beginning in a series of bad decisions by the author that spin this retelling completely out of control. Lost is the beauty of Gatsby's struggle to recapture a perfect love; we do not get to experience his longing or his struggle with feeling inadequate. We do not get to wonder about his murky past or about how he amassed his tremendous fortune, or even to have Nick's grief at the end of the novel leave us yearning for a happier ending for someone who loved so deeply. Instead we get a story with great bone structure and little substance.

"An orchestra played Shostakovich's Waltz No. 2 somewhere in the background....Everything around me...was harmoniously orchestrated, beautiful to look at, yet the cumulative effect was melancholy, as though some unquenchable thirst lurked at the heart of it all."

YES! Yes, that is just exactly it. Oh, the irony that I can quote from this book to describe my own feelings of supreme disappointment. This is no Great Gatsby counterpoint, but it could have been. It could have been.

I loved the library building bits too. I was also amused by the specialist art history section he built up in the shop. Otherwise, rather forgettable.

Yep. Totally agree, Charlotte.

>1 Crazymamie: you know what? I am totally with you on The Great Gatsby. The more I red that book, and see versions of the film, the more I love it. I read it twice before seeing Baz Luhrman's film, and then last year I watched the other two versions as well. It is an amazing story.

(>98 Crazymamie: oh dear, that sounds a shame)

Well, hooray for that, Megan! Another fan of The Great Gatsby!! There is a very cool book written by Maureen Corrigan titled So We Read On: How the Great Gatsby Came to be and Why it Endures that I read and loved last year. Highly recommended if you are at all interested.



Here's what I said about it last year: "So We Read On: How the Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why it Endures was very well done and truly interesting. I love The Great Gatsby and have read it many times over the years, and it's one of those books that I continue to take away something new from each time. The author of So We Read On is a professor who teaches The Great Gatsby every year, and her journey to find out more about Fitzgerald and his iconic novel was a fascinating one. At first she seems condescending in tone, and that was off-putting, but she looses that as the book gets into the meat of her subject. She is definitely in the Fitzgerald camp, which she freely admits at the beginning of the book, so Hemingway and Zelda get no sympathy here, but her enthusiasm is catching, I think. I learned a lot and now look forward to rereading Gatsby again with new eyes. Highly recommended to anyone at all interested in the subject."

That sounds like a great book and I love The Great Gatsby so there ya go! Did I mention last year that my friend actually worked in post production on the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio? Well, she did. : )

>103 Berly: Hi, Kim! It really is a fascinating book - I'm thinking of doing a reread. And no, you didn't mention that your friend "actually worked in post production on the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio"!! WAY cool!

Hi Mamie! Happy Wednesday! Did you notice that I'm here early today?!

Morning, Carrie! Happy Wednesday! I am also here early today!! Look at us being so productive!

Morning, Mamie! So We Read On, sounds really good. Nice review. I'll have to team that up with a reread of the Great Gatsby. I have still not seen the DiCaprio film.

Hi Mamie! Wednesday already :-) Sorry that Gorsky didn't work for you, as I know what a Great Gatsby fan you are. Hey, both those touchstones worked first time, and didn't pretend they were Harry Potter, Great Expectations or the Bible. I must have the skillz today.

Morning, Mark! Thank you - it's very good, and would make an excellent companion read to The Great Gatsby - but read The Great Gatsby first. There is an audiobook read by Jake Gyllenhaal that is very well done, so you might want to see if you can find that. He does a fabulous job of it. I like all of the movie versions because they each bring something different to the table.

>108 susanj67: Hi, Susan! You do have mad skills if you got the touchstones to work on the first go!! They have been wonky lately. And yes - so disappointing about Gorsky because it could have worked, She had some great ideas that just were not well executed.

Morning, Mamie!

Morning, Amber!

>109 Crazymamie: *sigh and swoon*

Oh, Hi there Mamie!! good Wednesday to you!!

I know, right?! Mighty easy on the eyes. Good Wednesday to you, Lynda!

>109 Crazymamie: I think trying the audio, would be great. I think I have one saved in the audio stacks but I am not sure...

ETA- I do have an audio copy but not the Gyllenhaal version. Sighs...

Morning, Mom! Love Jake Gyllenhaal.

Morning, Mamie!

I passed on your recommendation in >102 Crazymamie: to our Great Gatsby-loving daughter. (I liked it, but not at the level you do and she does).

>115 msf59: Dang! Who is the narrator?

>116 Thebookdiva: Morning, Abby! Me, too!

>117 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Oh, I hope Becca reads it! It's really interesting, and after I read it I had to go back and read the novel all over again.

Alexander Scourby. I have not heard of him but he does have a deep and resonant voice.

>109 Crazymamie: Think it might be time for The Great Gatsby on audio.

>119 msf59: Hmmm. Me, neither. I'll have to see if I can find a sample of him reading.

>120 charl08: YES! *calms down so as not to scare Charlotte off* Yes, Charlotte, I think that would be lovely.

Morning, Mamie! I last checked in here yesterday afternoon and already this morning I was 27 messages behind! Good grief!

I like The Great Gatsby, too, but am thinking a re-read is due to see if I can reach your level of enthusiasm :)

Have a good day!

Morning, Katie! We've been chatty, huh?

Oh yes, a reread! Pretty please.

My library has three audio editions, but not the Gyllenhaal one... I do have 4 credits on Audible burning a hole in my pocket, though.....

I loved the Gyllenhaal narration. Just saying...

I really need to see the Baz Lurhman 'Gatsby'. Given my love of the Jazz Age/Golden Age, how is it possible I have not yet seen it!

I really liked it, Brodie. A very nice addition to the other films, and I loved the modern music paired with the 1920s setting. It's a feast for the ears and the eyes - just so different.

>47 Crazymamie:...Cool beans...I'm going to try to find this collection. I finished the last Bond movie last week. I really like Daniel Craig as James Bond.

Happy Monday Mamie

Hello, Linda! So lovely to see you here! I am excited you are going to check out the Bond audits. So much fun! I also really love Daniel Craig as Bond- he's fabulous!

Thanks for those good wishes. Hoping your day is full of fabulous!

>127 Crazymamie: I am a fan of the Baz Lurhman version too.

*grin* It's well done, won't it, Erik?

I really liked the music and the over-the-top parties as spectacle - it was a neat take on the Gilded Age. That said, I really like Luhrman's Romeo & Juliet so I have a fondness for his imagery already.

Okay. I can tell I'm posting on my iPad. But yes, a very neat take on the Gilded Age. I have not seen his Romeo and Juliet, so I will have to correct that.

Evening Crazy!! Is it time for a glass of vino yet? I am thinking YES!! : )

I really liked Luhrman's Romeo & Juliet. I liked the idea that it was produced in such a way to give modern audiences a similar feel to what Shakespeare's audiences might have gotten. I guess that's what he has done with Moulin Rouge and Gatsby as well, modernizing it to impress upon the audience the radicality, the excitement, etc., but Romeo & Juliet was the first one I saw and I really got it there.

>134 Berly: Hello, Kim! It was just after 11pm here when you posted that, so definitely wine time. I must confess that I had more than a glass. But less than a bottle. Heh.

>135 ursula: You always make interesting comments, Ursula! I think you are completely correct about the modernizing, and now I am convinced that I must track down the Romeo and Juliet - sounds like Abby and I would both love that.

Happy Thursday, Mamie!

Morning, Lynda! Happy Thursday!

Book #55: Ballistics by Billy Collins (4 stars), library hardback, poetry - read for Mark's AAC

This is a tiny collection of poems, and it suffers in comparison to Aimless Love, which I loved - an unfair comparison, really, as that collection is larger and contains poems from many of his previous collections as well as new ones. I wanted to read this one because several of the poems that were favorites from Aimless Love were from this collection. I should have realized that I had already read the best ones, which is why they were chosen for print in another volume. Duh. Anyway, it's Billy Collins, so they are still wonderful. My favorite is the title poem:

Ballistics

When I came across the high—speed photograph
of a bullet that had just pierced a book —
the pages exploding with the velocity —
I forgot all about the marvels of photography
and began to wonder which book
the photographer had selected for the shot.
Many novels sprang to mind
including those of Raymond Chandler
where an extra bullet would hardly be noticed.
Nonfiction offered too many choices —
a history of Scottish lighthouses,
a biography of Joan of Arc and so forth.
Or it could be an anthology of medieval literature,
the bullet having just beheaded Sir Gawain
and scattered the band of assorted pilgrims.
But later, as I was drifting off to sleep,
I realized that the executed book
was a recent collection of poems written
by someone of whom I was not fond
and that the bullet must have passed through
his writing with little resistance
at twenty—eight hundred feet per second,
through the poems about his childhood
and the ones about the dreary state of the world,
and then through the author's photograph,
through the beard, the round glasses,
and that special poet's hat he loves to wear.

Book #56: Shaman Pass by Stan Jones (4 stars), library hardback, crime fiction/police procedural

This is the second book in Jones' Nathan Active series. You really need to read the first book in order to appreciate this one because the first one sets up Active as a fish out of water in his own hometown and introduces the key characters that pick up where they left off in book one. Nathan Active was born to a 15 year old Inupiat girl who gave him up for adoption by a white family. He was raised in Anchorage, not in his home village of Chukchi, and so when he returns as a State Trooper, he is out of his element even though he should belong - these are his people but he does not know their ways or speak their language fluently. But he is learning, and that learning process is part of what makes these books so interesting. Another is the setting - a small village in Alaska makes for some challenging law enforcement. I love the humor and the character development and the sense of place. This one is fast paced and twisty, and I gobbled it right up. Definitely going on to book three - just waiting for my library hold to come in. *sigh*

You really need to read the first book in order to appreciate this one

HA!

Hi Mamie! Happy Thursday and all :-)

Book #57: Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer (3 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, crime fiction/mystery

What Bauer does so well is draw you into her story and not let you go until you have finished it. Once she sets the scene, she does a good job of keeping the pacing and tension at just the right level. SO why didn't this completely work for me? Well...a few things.

First, the main character in this has Asperger's Syndrome, and as a parent of a child with this same syndrome, I felt like she didn't get this right. This really bothered me at first, but I was able to just let it go as I got further into the novel. She did a good job with the dialogue - with the not understanding sarcasm and idioms, with the not picking up on body language and facial clues, with the poor social interaction skills. She also did a good job with the intense focus in a very specific area. Where she failed is that she put Patrick on a learning curve that has him understanding humor and empathy. She also made a lot of his actions inconsistent with his particular phobias. I'm going to stop there. Let's just say that while I think Patrick would fall into the autism spectrum, he does not have Aspergers. IMO.

Secondly, there is just too much going on in this book. I do not understand the need for Tracy's viewpoint. I think the narrative would have a better flow and be less wieldy without her. Leave in the Deals, but remove Tracy, you don't need her - she just pulls the story arc down. I think there would actually be more tension without her - particularly in the ending. If we learn that the finger tapping literally points the finger, then we would be left wondering - who? The husband or some other he?

Thirdly, I think it was completely unrealistic that the murderer just confesses. I think he would lawyer up. He is not stupid; he is smart, and so I think he would have been smarter about hiding the bike and about handling the questioning once he realized that he was a suspect.

Still though, I give Bauer credit for creating something that I continued to read even though I didn't want to. Once you pass a certain point, it just drags you right in. This one was good, but not nearly as good as her earlier novel Blacklands.

>141 susanj67: Susan! I knew you would appreciate that comment - I was thinking to myself as I typed it: "Susan would be proud."

Happy Thursday to you!

Storming today, and I am ever so happy that I do not need to go anywhere. *happy dance* And look at me all caught up on my reviews! What a good girl am I!

Sweet Thursday, Mamie!

ha! You deserve that happy dance. We've got a glum, chilly day here, so your dancing sheep is quite inspiring. Very Murakami-ish, too, I might add.

Three good reviews! You've got me bumping the second Nathan Active way up the tbr. I agree with you on Ballistics - still good, but less than Aimless Love in more ways than one. Great spotlight of the title poem. He's so rarely snarky, it's fun to see where he ends up with that one.

Very fair review of Rubbernecker. Your point is well-made about Patrick and Aspberger's. One of your comments made me think of Temple Grandin, who has learned to be funny when she wants to. I'm not sure where she lies on the spectrum, as her high-functioning seems so unique. Probably Bauer would have been better off not naming Patrick's condition.

I agree with both your spoilers, particularly the second. That bothered me, too.

>145 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe!

You are reminding me that I need to get back to Murakami - I have Kafka on the Shore in the stacks, and it has been very patient.

I think so, too, with Bauer being better off not giving his condition a name. Humor can be learned, but not that quickly - and some of it is learned and some of it is memorized. Glad I am not alone with those spoiler thoughts. The book was good, but it I think it could have been great with a bit more editing and a less tidy ending.

Morning Mamie! Hooray for another Collins collection. My poetry WL has really been growing. It should keep me busy for awhile. Smiles...

Morning, Mark! Look at you reading poetry collections and stuff!

Happy Thursday, Mamie! Good reviews. I am about 5 behind, myself :-/

Happy Thursday, Katie! Thank you - I really hate when I get behind with the reviews because then I start to feel the pressure. Silly since I don't even have to write a review, but there you have it.

Same here...

Ha! We're both nutty.

Great reviews Mamie. I am sitting in front of a heater trying not to feel the chill. Is this April or a do-over February?

(I'm saying nothing about the book order. For once I read the first one first!)

>140 Crazymamie: That's sounds really good so I'm taking a BB for the first in the series, White Sky, Black Ice. Thanks for the review!

Hooray for the Nutty Ones! No worries, you are not alone.

Morning Mamie! It's not easy to review every book but as long as a few get the "treatment", I am satisfied.

Wow! You got 2 Morning Mamies! Aren't you special?

So, sheep dance when you catch up on your reviews? I think pigs might fly if I ever catch up on mine!

Happy Thursday!

>10 Crazymamie: Woo Hoo!! I'm getting some love in your recommendations posts. xoxo
You know, you'll be posting whole threads of recommendations by the end of the year, right?

I only skimmed your review of Rubbernecker. I have it from the library and have been ambivalent about starting it, knowing that you had some concerns about her portrayal/capturing of Asperger's. I think I will go ahead and read it, but with a grain of salt.


For no particular reason.

Maintaining my all-caught-up status here!! Happy Thursday to you and the happy sheep. :)

Okay, so I ended up having to go out today - Daniel forgot his phone. But then I also got the bills paid and dropped at the post office, mailed my nephew a package, and stopped by the market. Today we are having bacon, lettuce and fried green tomato sandwiches with a bacon-horseradish cream sauce, and I have already mixed up the sauce and fried the bacon, so I am feeling pretty good about just having the rest of the afternoon to chill. (Susan - I might Netflix and chill!)

Thanks for stopping by my thread - so fun to see so many visitors while I was away!

Umm, those sandwiches sound a-MA-zing! I love BLTs, I love fried green tomatoes, and I love horseradish! What kind of bread?

>That sounds so delicious!

>153 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte! A chill, you say? It is so humid here - it's like soup out there, but overcast and rainy so at least it's not nearly as bad as it could be.

I think that sometimes *Susan, please look away for a moment*...um...sometimes the order does not matter - like with Agatha Christie or Nero Wolfe. But sometimes *you can look again, Susan* reading in order is very important, so I try to specify if I am reviewing a series.

>154 mstrust: Hooray, Jennifer! I love the setting and the characters are so great.

>155 msf59: I love that I am not alone, Mark! And yes, I feel very special to get two Morning, Mamies! Thank you! I like to do the reviews even just for myself as a reminder of what I liked or didn't like about it.

>156 cbl_tn: That's exactly right, Carrie. Sheep dance. I will be looking forward to seeing pigs fly when you catch up with yours. Of course, now I will be bugging you so that I can see those pigs fly...

>157 EBT1002: WahHOO for sharing the book love, Ellen! Whole threads of recommendations - wow. Um...I am wondering who will be doing the laundry and planning the menu and looking over the tops of their glasses when people get out of line around here. *blinks* But it sure would be fun! xxoo

Go ahead and read it, Ellen, and then we can compare notes - I love doing that. She writes a good thriller, so it pulls you right in once you get past the first few chapters where she is setting the stage.

I love those sheep - thank you!!

>158 Berly: Look at you, Kim! Thank you for those good wishes - hoping your day is filled with fabulous!

>160 katiekrug: I am hoping they will be fabulous - the sauce is really yummy. I hadn't made it before, but I will be making it again. Going to use sour dough bread.

>161 brodiew2: I will be sure to report back, Brodie. I love fried green tomatoes, but I have never made them myself before. Look at me going all Deep South! But I ca already report that the sauce is really good.

Sour dough is my favorite for anything toasted... It doesn't help that all I had for lunch today was Greek yogurt and I'm a *little* bit hungry :)

I love sour dough, too. I didn't eat any lunch today because I was very bad yesterday. Um...VERY BAD.

We all have those days!

Hey, I just ordered a FitBit Alta, so once I figure it out, I'm going to "friend" you on it, if that's ok?!!?

Yep. We do. And YES! Most excellent - I'll PM you my info so that you'll be all set. Very exciting!!

>144 Crazymamie: best happydance photo ever. Sorry not having to go anywhere didn't pan out as planned.

I want one of those sandwiches!

Your sandwiches do indeed sound delicious! I have to admit that I have never read The Great Gatsby but I think it will be a future read for me. I was rather off-put by the Robert Redford movie years ago, but I realize I shouldn't judge the book by the movie!

>169 SuziQoregon: That sheep appears on my thread every year, Juli, because I love him so. Having to leave the house worked out fine, as I did get some things done which I would have had to do tomorrow. SO now tomorrow, all I have to do is take Mercy back to the vet so they can check to see how her spider bite is healing.

The sandwiches were a huge hit - the sauce was fabulous and my fried green tomatoes were yummy. We will definitely be doing those again.

>170 DeltaQueen50: Hey, Judy! There were full of fabulous.

None of the movies can ever compare to the novel, so I hope you do read it some time. The language is beautiful, and he really captured 1920s America. I could read it every year and never tire of it.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday! We are stuck in an ugly weather pattern but I work 2 more days and then I am outta here.

Enjoy your day!

>172 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! Just two more work days - WOOT! Sounds like your vacation will be full of fabulous (unlike your weather).

Morning, Mamie!

It's Friday, it's Friday!! :D I could dance around with those cute sheep! And the sun is finally shining again!! Still cold, but that doesn't matter as long as I can switch out the lights again during the day.

Fried green tomatoes sound SO yummy, I'd have the sandwich (love sour dough) bacon-free.

I liked that poem. It took me some tries to get through it (English poetry isn't always easy for me), but it was worth it.

HAPPY WEEKEND! :)

Happy happy Friday, Mamie!!
I had fried green tomato sandwiches for the first time, last year, in New Orleans and loved them! I intend, to one day this summer, recreate the deliciousness.

>174 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>175 Deern: YES! I love me a Friday, Nathalie! And hooray for the sun - I have not seen it yet today as it is overcast and very foggy here at present.

The sandwiches were so good. I was thinking of trying a take that would work with or without the bacon - basil instead of the lettuce and mozzerella cheese. Like the idea behind a Caprese salad, but put into sandwich form with fried green tomatoes. The sauce would still work excellently with it, and although it has bits of crumbled bacon in it, you could just leave that out when making it. I might have to try that this weekend.

Glad you liked the poem.

Wishing for you a weekend that is filled with fabulous!

>176 Carmenere: Happy Friday, Lynda! My fried green tomatoes turned out so pretty and so yummy - I was very pleased. I didn't think Rae would like them, but she LOVED them!

Mamie, you are on fire. Every time I miss a day or two, I find myself 60 posts behind on your thread! The Stan Jones sounds good. I am trying to avoid new series, but...

I have some Collins on my shelves, I should pick him up again.

Happy Friday.

I fell off the threads last year, Beth, so I am really trying to make sure to keep up this year. I think the Stan Jones is worth adding to the list even though you are trying to avoid new series - it's just so different, and the pacing makes the books a fast read.

I will definitely be reading more Collins - I love his humor and his sarcasm.

A very Happy Friday to you!

Morning, Mamie!

And Happy Friday!

It's great here - I don't know why Mark doesn't like chilly, gray, drizzly weather. I will say it's perfect weather for going somewhere else, say, Boston.

I'm starting When Breath Becomes Air, and so far it's very good.

Morning, Joe! Happy Friday! I just LOVE Fridays! Your weather comments made me laugh out loud.

When Breath Becomes Air - is that the memoir by the neurosurgeon?

WOW! 57 books read thus far! You are incredible.

>181 Crazymamie: Yes, by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon who died of cancer, with, I believe, a last section by his wife. My wife loved the book, and it's been getting raves all over the place - so far I can see why.

>182 Whisper1: Why thank you kindly, ma'am! You are always so good for the ego, Linda! And for the heart - I think that YOU are incredible.

>183 jnwelch: Okay, I thought so.

Hi Mamie! Happy Friday! I'll give you a heads-up when it's time to watch for airborne pigs. ;-)

Hey, Carrie! Happy Friday! I'll be waiting for your signal.

>184 Crazymamie: ditto

I thought I heard one overhead.

>187 Whisper1: *grin*

>188 jnwelch: Ha!

>139 Crazymamie: Good old Billy Collins having a rival poet's best work taken out.

Things still in an effervescent mode over at the Paradisio I see, Mamie.

Have a lovely weekend, dear.

Mamie, I forgot my Fitbit for our walk this morning (I had hooked it up to charge before going) and so had to log it in when I got home, so refreshed myself on the details.

When you have the Fitbit Dashboard open on the computer, at the top where it says: Fitbit Dashboard Log Community etc., you click on Log and then on Activity and can put down what kind of activity, how much time, and distance to get your steps counted--thank goodness! It doesn't show up on the Fitbit itself, but it does on your daily and weekly totals.

Have a lovely rest of your Friday!

>190 PaulCranswick: Good thinking on his part, right, Paul?! We try to keep things lively in these parts, so effervescent is good. It's hot, HOT, HOT here at the Paradisio today, and we are expecting more storms. I am hoping they might bring a relief from the humidity - look at me complaining, and it's only April. YIKES! I better put my Big Girl panties on and deal with it. Hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous, dear!

>191 ronincats: Oh, bummer, Roni! I have done that before. And that's good to know about logging in your info manually - I figured there was a way to do it, but I haven't done it yet. SO you have saved me some trouble - I'll tell Craig so he will know for next time. Thanks!

Friday has been kind of yuck so far - a comedy of errors has thrown things completely out of whack. I'm having a glass of wine RIGHT NOW if that tells you any thing. Ha! Hoping that yours has been better than mine.

Oh lord, I do love fried green tomatoes. I loved the book, too. ;-)

Wishing you a weekend full of fabulous, Mamie!


Again, for no particular reason.

Morning Mamie! hope the yuckiness that was Friday is gone today!

Morning, Mamie! Have you seen the Gatorade video honoring Peyton Manning? If not, grab a box of tissues and enjoy!

http://www.local8now.com/content/news/Touching-new-Peyton-Manning-ad-spotlights-...

>192 Crazymamie: Isn't it amazing how much better we feel in hot weather simply by wearing over sized pants?!

>193 EBT1002: Ha! Me, too, Ellen. I thank you for those wishes - you made me smile BIG. And I love that kitty - too cute.

>194 DianaNL: Thank you, Diana. That cat looks exactly like one that used to hang around outside our house when I was little. I called her Sally, and she would let me pet her, and she usually had her kittens in our yard somewhere. She was just the sweetest thing.

So far so good with today - there's coffee, so that is an excellent start.

>195 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Me, too! Hoping to read outside, but it is going to 90 today, so we'll see.

>196 cbl_tn: Morning, Carrie! I had not seen that video, so I owe you a huge THANKS - that is just so cool. And you were right, I did need the tissues. Thank you so much for adding fabulous to my morning.

>197 PaulCranswick: Paul! You made me laugh out loud! Thank you for that.

Morning Mamie! Happy Saturday! Chilly, Chilly, Chilly here, with rain moving in. Sighs...

Just have to get through this one...

Keep cool, my friend.

>199 Crazymamie: :-) I feel like we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg, and that there are so many more stories like this that we'll never hear. I love that he treats everyone the same - average people and celebrities, adults and children. The world would be a better place if more of us approached it with that attitude.

>200 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday! Well, it's not chilly here, that is for sure - could you maybe send some to us?

Hoping it goes quickly and smoothly for you. I will do my best to keep cool.

>201 cbl_tn: Me, too, Carrie. Me, too. And you are so right.

So Craig rescued Friday for me. The kids went to the movies, and Craig and I treated ourselves to take-out and watched Bridge of Spies in the comfort of the Pecan Paradisio. What a great movie! I really loved it, and now I need to read the book which I shamefacedly admit has been sitting on my shelves since it first came out.

I also picked up some books from the library which had come in for me:

Frozen Sun by Stan Jones - the third book in the Nathan Active series
Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbø
The Museum Guard by Howard Norman

Please send warmth, Mamie! Send it Express, will ya!

I also enjoyed Bridge of Spies. Love that Rylance!

Do any of you listen to The Lumineers? I have fallen in love with their new album. Abby and Birdy love it, too. Not a bad song in the bunch and the flow is perfect. Just saying...



Here's a link to their song Ophelia, which opens the album: Ophelia

>204 msf59: I am on it, Mark! Yes! Rylance did such a good job - he didn't over play it. Perfect.

>191 ronincats: Thanks, Roni. I didn't know that and have felt sad a time or two when I ended up missing a bunch of steps while Fitbit was charging.

Me, too, Reba. Happy Saturday to you!

>205 Crazymamie: Ho! HEY! Mamie. (That is the only track of theirs I know)

Sunshine is out and the beans have been transplanted into bigger pots.

HA! That's a good one - I just love their sound.

Oh! The beans are moving up! The little dears!

Howdy Mamie! Happy Saturday. I just finished the first Nathan Active mystery and ordered the second from the library.

Howdy Roberta! Happy Saturday - you just made mine! SO happy to see you here!

The second one is really good - I loved that every time you thought it was about to be all neat and tidy, suddenly it wasn't. You'll tear right through it.

Now I can't wait to get it!

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

I like that Ophelia song by the Lumineers. Thanks for the link. I'll have to track down more of theirs.

>213 luvamystery65: * grin*

>214 jnwelch: Happy Saturday, Joe! I'm so happy you liked it!! The entire album is really good. Listen to their Cleopatra If you get the chance.

>205 Crazymamie: That's Theda Bara on the album cover!

Okay, I knew I had seen that image before, but I did not know who that was - thank you, Jennifer!

I watched Bridge of Spies this week, too and also loved it. How cool that's it based on (slightly altered) true events. But, oh my, as a fan of MASH, watching it when it first aired, seeing an elderly Allen Alda always breaks my heart a bit.

It was so well done, wasn't it? I hear you about Alan Alda - I am also a huge fan of MASH.

OOh, how did I manage to misspell Alan Alda's name?! He's not the only getting elderly, obviously.

Ha! I hear you there, too!

Easily influenced, I found the film online. Gripping stuff. I'm intrigued about Abel's life - even the wiki entry reads like a call for a good biography.

You didn't waste any time, did you, Charlotte! LOL! I was also wanting to know more - I also googled!

Psst! Mamie! Duck for low-flying pigs!

I remember listening and enjoying The Lumineers but I would like to revisit them.

I may not get to visit much, during my New England adventures, Mamie, but my heart is always with the group. Awwww....

>224 cbl_tn: Whoot! Whoot!!

>225 msf59: oh, yes, do, Mark! They are full of fabulous!

You will be missed! We will keep your thread warm. Wishing you safe travels, my friend.

Hi Mamie, we saw Bridge of Spies a few weeks ago and loved it, too. Back in my teens, I had such a huge crush on Alan Alda when he was in MASH. How did he get so much older? *sigh* I probably did, too.

Love The Lumineers, too. They're Denver based and very popular around here. I saw them at Red Rocks a couple years ago. They sell out multiple dates there every year.

Hope your weekend is wonderful!

Hey, Joanne! Yep - I loved him, too. It always makes me just a bit sad to see the actors and musicians that were such a part of my teen years getting older, which is so funny because I don't have a problem with aging myself. I just want them to stay young!

I did not know that The Lumineers were Denver based! And you saw them!! I am not surprised that they sell out multiple dates - I bet they give a fabulous live performance.

So far so good with the weekend, so I thank you for those good wishes! Hoping that yours is also full of wonder!

Happy Sunday, Mamie! Hope all is well at the Pecan Paradisio.

Happy Sunday, Joe! All is well here. Just sitting on the deck reading and checking in on LT from time to time. Wishing you a Sunday full of happy!

In case it is still hot at the Pecan Paradisio, some big girl pants....



Happy Sunday!!

You made me belly laugh, Kim! And yes, baby, it's HOT.

Good Sunday to you, Mamie! Hope you're sitting poolside with a sweet tea (although I prefer mine unsweetened) and a good book!

Happy Sunday to you. I am checking out Monday, and it's not too bad so far. Busy, but clearly I am avoiding that. ;)

Hope you are having a great Sunday, Mamie.

Thanks for the Fitbit instructions, Roni. I was so interested I almost missed my bus stop!

>223 Crazymamie: It was kind of a relief to watch a film with a guy who had such a clear moral compass. I saw Son of Saul on Friday and it was so grim I'm still feeling bothered by it. Given the subject matter, entirely appropriately. But it was relentless.

Uff, I missed an entire thread. Waving and sending hugs and love before you make a new one, Mamie.

Morning, Mamie!

Hi Mamie!

I can't possibly catch up on this thread, but I do see you've been on a Charlaine Harris binge!

Bridge of Spies was terrific!

>233 Carmenere: Hey there, Lynda - like you, I always take my iced tea unsweetened. I got some reading yesterday, but mostly I binge watched White Collar

>236 charl08: I completely agree, Charlotte. I have not seen Son of Saul.

>237 Ameise1: HA! No worries, Barbara! Thanks for stopping in on this one - always lovely to see you!

>238 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>239 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! LOVE that! And it's so true - I am at the coffee part right now.

>240 sibylline: No worries, Lucy. Yep - I read through all of the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have really been in the mood for crime fiction lately, so I have been reading it in all its various forms.

I really loved Bridge of Spies - it's one I will definitely watch again.

Please give Posey and Tenzing and Ernie my love, and take some for yourself.

Good morning, Mamie. Lonesome Dove arrived last week. It's over 900 pages...of a western...yikes! Glad I won't be going it alone!

Good morning, Mamie!

I'm drinking coffee, and ignoring what day this is. So far, so good.

Morning, Diane! I know - it is a bit daunting, isn't it?! BUT all these lovely people have assured us that it is just so great. We can hunt them down one by one if it turns out they were fibbing. Heh.

I am also glad to have company on the journey - and Kim (dragonaria) is also going to join us!!

>245 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I just read your poem out loud to Abby, and she loved it, too! SO now you have made two Paradisians very happy - good work for a Pre-Tuesday!

>246 Crazymamie: I do trust the recommendations made by this wonderful group so you're right...we can hunt them down later if we need to! Glad that Kim is joining us, if we don't like the book, we can each read a third and count it done!

Ha! I like how you think, Diane!

>247 Crazymamie: Ah, wonderful, Mamie. If you and Abby love the poem, my day is made. :-)

We did, Joe! It's full of fabulous!

>251 Crazymamie: Ha! Thanks, my friend.

You are welcome - thanks for sharing it.

Good morning, Mamie!

>203 Crazymamie: I'll take your word on this one. I wasn't too interested in it, but you have sparked it up. I felt so burned by his 'Munich' that I have stayed away from his non genre films.

>205 Crazymamie: I have not hear of the Lumineers. Cool name, though. What kind of music is it?

I have a friend who loves the Lumineers but I've never really listened to them. I'll check out the link!

Happy Monday, Mamie!

Hi Mamie, quick lunch break here so no time to properly catch up, but July is coming, LOL! Let's pretend it's not Monday, indeed. Count me in!

Just wanted to say that you have just passed your total number of posts for 2015 and it is only May! This is post 3,337 and in 2015 you finished with 3,335. Way to go, Mamie! xx

No news here. Just dropping in to say hello!

>254 brodiew2: Hey, Brodie! You can take my word for it - it's really well done. It does not disappoint.

The Lumineers would be considered Alternative in genre - I like that they have a lot of piano and guitar in there. Also, the lyrics are clever. Follow the link and listen for yourself - I like their rhythm.

>255 Berly: Ha! Well, Monday, there is a reason for that.

>256 EBT1002: It was not too bad for a Monday, actually, Ellen. I need to post that graphic every Pre-Tuesday!

>257 EBT1002: Yes, check them out - I really love them. Let me know what you think.

>258 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! Hoping it was kind to you.

>259 lit_chick: Hello, Nancy! What happens in July? Besides my reading Lonesome Dove, that is? Hoping that the pretense worked for you!!

>260 PaulCranswick: The Stat Master! That's pretty embarrassing, actually. I knew I fell off the threads last year, but OUCH! I thank you for all your hard work gathering that info and for your kind words. xx

>261 cbl_tn: You don't need any news, Carrie! You're a regular, so when you come in the bar thread, we just yell your name and get you a drink. What'll you have?

>264 Crazymamie: It's turned cool this evening, so I was just thinking about making myself a cup of chai. :-)

It is cool in NE Pennsylvania as well. Cool, but not cold. It was a rainy, overcast day with periodic beams of sunshine that did not last long before the gentle rain sprayed the green grass once more.

Hi Mamie, it's almost Tuesday - hope it's a good one for you.

Morning, Yeah! It's Tuesday!! Schwew, what a relief!

>246 Crazymamie: >248 Dianekeenoy: Ha! I'm not worried! The only reason you'll be hunting down the LD lovers is to give them a hug!!

Morning, Mamie!

We're done with the toughest day of the week. It'll all be easy from here on out.

>265 cbl_tn: Nice choice - Abby loves Chai.



>266 Whisper1: Cool but not cold would be lovely, Linda. It is very sticky here. That last sentence of yours is like poetry - beautifully said!

>267 Familyhistorian: It's Tuesday now, Meg, and I am happy to see it. I thank you for those good wishes - looks to be good so far.

>268 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Happy Tuesday!

Good to see you are not worried. It bodes well for my reading experience.

>269 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Thank you. Easy from here on out sounds good!

Good morning, Mamie. Though Monday is behind us, this Tuesday has its own brand of crazy!

Hey Mamie - sunshine here (shocker! )

>271 brodiew2: Good afternoon, Brodie! Crazy, you say?! You have come to the right place!

>272 charl08: Hello, Charlotte! The sun actually broke through here, too. Evidently it didn't read the forecast.

Mamie? MAYmeee? . . . oh Mamie . . . (feet-pattering sounds and some scruffling) . . . Mamie? . . . . oh well, i'll just leave a note. (scritch, scritch, scritch) Mamie, i need help, i need stuff-knowing help, Mamie help. i was at the doc's office, there was a current People mag to a page of which my HSO called my attention. 2 new books i had to have. arriving home, i sought audible.com sure they'd not yet be available in audio. they are, they are. but/and on the page for the second of the books were, of course, all manner of books they thought i might also like. usually, i remain unmoved but today, they hit, i mean, they truly hit, gold. i now have 5 books in my shopping cart. i just went on two audio book binges so, you know, lots of stored sound waves. now five more? Mamie, you're the only one who can help. what should i do, oh Sapientia? please help.

jeez, this is long for a first visit. sorry. sort of. :-)

Ellie!! I am thrilled to see you here! I am thinking that you must buy all five books. I just see no other way.

Your posts always make me laugh! Please come back soon.

Let The Westing Game begin!

Since mid April, when I finished my last book, I've been wandering the literary desert, its genre laden dues taunting me, looking for an oasis. I've started two and put two down. Ack! I won't get to 15 much less 75 this way. That said, I'm taking the plunge into this Newberry Medal winner.

Even my Newberry endeavors of late have fallen short. But...that's a story for another time.

Wish me luck, Mamie!

Good luck, Brodie! If it helps, I am a huge fan of The Westing Game - hoping it hits the spot for you. Often if I am feeling a reading slump, I will just reread an old favorite, and that helps.

Ironically I don't hate Mondays! I am a shift worker and normally get Monday's off. Now Fridays I have a problem with and Saturdays are just evil!

>270 Crazymamie: Yum!

Happy Wednesday to you Mamie!

Good morning, Mamie!

What are you reading now? I've lost track.

Morning Mamie! You must be off making your new thread. See you on the flip side.

Morning, Y'all! The sun is out in all it's glory here today - making up for lost time, I suspect. It is supposed to rain later, but for now the sun is ruling the skies. Not too much on the agenda today since I did the menu and went to the market yesterday. Broccoli cheese soup for dinner - I am thinking with these:



Anyway, I need to deposit cCraig's checks, pay the bills and do a bit of laundry. After that, I can read - hopefully on deck if the rain holds off.

On the reading front, I have mostly new things going and I am being kind of slutty sharing my favors with more books than I normally take on at once. Here's what's on tap:


The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov - reading this with Mark and Ellen this month. My copy, which is GORGEOUS, arrived yesterday, and I have read the first chapter - I am listening to this on audio while following in print. The audio is narrated by Juliann Rhind-Tutt - no Russian accent, but I am loving the narration so far as each character has a unique, distinct voice. Very well done even if it is filled with British accents. The audio is a different translation than the print book, so I will let you know which translation speaks to me the most when I have finished.


The Bird Artist by Howard Norman - reading this with Kim, Megan, Mark and Paul. There is a GR thread here: The Bird Artist. Please feel free to join us if you would like. It's one from David Bowie's list of his top 100 books, which Kim and Megan have been selecting a title from each month. It would also qualify for the Murder and Mayhem thread, as the narrator states at the very beginning of the book that he has murdered someone. I read the first chapter yesterday, and I like the humor and the flow so far.


The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker - book four in the Bruno, Chief of Police series. LOVE these!


Frozen Sun by Stan Jones - book three in the Nathan Active series, set in Alaska


Pietr the Latvian (also known as Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett) by Georges Simenon - this is the first book in the Maigret series. I started with book #15, which was very good, and now I am mending my wicked ways and starting at the beginning of the series.

I have also not abandoned what I already had going, which are:
You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming on audio
The Trees by Ali Shaw
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff
I Am No One by Patrick Flanery

And yes, I am completely crazy. But then, you already knew that!


ALSO, I am reading The Penguin History of the World with Katie and Susan - we are reading 100 pages/month, so feel free to join in and catch up with us. Well, catch up with Katie and Susan - I am behind but working on it. *blinks*

>278 BBGirl55: Bryony!! Delighted to see you here! Your post made me laugh - it's all about perspective, isn't it?!

>279 cbl_tn: Glad it meets your approval, Carrie. I don't drink it warm very often, as my heart belongs to coffee, but I do love it iced now and then.

>280 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda! That is the sweetest image - I would love a kitty to organize my reading material!

>281 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Ha! I have answered that question in the post above.

>282 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Nope, not quite ready for a new thread. I like to go to 300.

>283 Crazymamie: Glad you found the first Maigret, Mamie :-) Now I know.

Beautiful sunshine here again today. Lovely weather for the washing...

I actually bought the first three right after I read the one that you recommended. The weather is lovely here today - the humidity is down, so it is very pleasant out there.

>283 Crazymamie: - Um, you seem to have forgotten about your PHW reading, young lady. Tsk, tsk.

Nope. I just didn't list it since it's a year long read - it's up top. But, just for you, I will amend that list. I am actually almost caught up to where I am supposed to be. *nervous grin* Almost.

Perhaps I should have said 'for now' I know this is the first. I make no promises to remember it is.

Perhaps my awful memory is the real reason I don't read in order..!

hey Mamie. just dropping by to flap a mitt.

>1 Crazymamie: "small bouts of decadence..." mmmmmmm. and the quotation. i do believe i must reread Gatsby. i'm not sure i had any wits working when i read it the first time. also, it's difficult to catch nuances in audio. re-listening isn't the same as holding the volume and reading, rereading, coming back to, pondering, reading again. not complaining, mind, just saying.

eta >275 Crazymamie: i told my HSO what you'd said and we both roared with laughter. of course, since i try to model my life on your precepts, oh Sapientia, i went and got them.

HA! I usually only read in order if it matters. I did, however, want to see how it all began - there certainly are a lot of these books in the series to choose from!

>290 mirrordrum: Ellie! I do hope you reread it. The writing is so lovely, and I think every word was purposefully and carefully selected. "..it's difficult to catch nuances in audio. re-listening isn't the same as holding the volume and reading, rereading, coming back to, pondering, reading again." This is so true! This is a book that cannot truly shine fully on audio if one has not first read it in print. I get something new out of it every time I reread it. It's just so lovely and so deep.

>290 mirrordrum: i eta-ed on that.

>291 Crazymamie: i know, i know. but if audio is the only option and one was so foolish as never to have read Fitzgerald in print while one could, well, what can one do? fortunately, i read Mrs. Dalloway any number of times in print so i knew it already and when i had to switch to audio and found Phyllida Law's narration it was an indescribable revelation and a joy.

Oh, hooray for the getting of the books!!

And yes, I know. My Dad was completely blind for the last 17 years of his life. I like the Jake Gyllenhaal narration of The Great Gatsby - I think he does a wonderful job of it.

Oh! Mrs. Dalloway! LOVE that one.

Wow, Mamie - You are in the middle of many books. Good luck. I am interested in The Master and Margarita but doubt I will get to it soon -- unless, of course, I hear wonderful, irresistible things about it.

Happy Wednesday.

I know, Beth - probably too many going right now, but I am actually enjoying all of them, and some of them have back burner status.

I am really enjoying The Master and Margarita - I have read the first three chapters now, and I am intrigued.

Happy Wednesday to you!

Good morning, Mamie. Glad you like Master and Margarita. I loved it.

Morning, Mamie! I've heard so many good things about TMaM! Enjoy!

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday! Just a quick stop to say hello. Hope all is well.

>297 Ameise1: Morning, Barbara! I remember you loving it - so far it is a hit with me. I am excited to read further today and see what happens next.

>298 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Too bad it's not in your stack - it has a nice thickness to it, and we could read it together!

>299 msf59: Mark!!! Morning, Mark! Fabulous to see you here -I have been missing your presence on the threads! Sweet Thursday to you, my friend. Indeed, all is well - we are even getting a break from the heat. Only going to 72F today - definitely great deck reading weather!

Okay. You are NOT going to believe this, but I actually left a book off the list of books that I am currently reading when I posted yesterday. I definitely have too many books going! Here is the one I forgot:


The Other Side of Silence by Phillip Kerr - this is the latest Bernie Gunther, and it is fabulous so far. I love that Somerset Maugham is a main character!

Hi Mamie! I hope you enjoy Master and Margarita. I kind of fell off the reading wagon for a while, so I didn't get it read last month. And I'll probably go for something light this month - just to help me get back on the wagon. So unlikely to join you in the reading either.

Rachel! Hello! I say read whatever appeals to you in the moment.

Just saying hello!

>283 Crazymamie: grilled eggplant? Looks yummy

There you go! Nice start, Terri! Just so great to see you here!

Just popping in to catch up all things Crazy! : )

Looks like you are juggling a lot of books there, Mamie. I have the same reading habit and then I wonder why I have a hard time finishing any books - duh.

Happy Friday, Mamie. I hope it's a good one.

>109 Crazymamie: if anything was going to get me into audio books, Jake Gyllenhal reading to me is what it would be :)

Tonight I really need to get reading The Bird Artist... After my premature start I have really lived up to my threat of not reading quickly :)

Hooray - it's Friday here and almost everywhere else - surely in Georgia as well by now, so Happy Friday and Happy Weekend, Mamie! :)

I have too many books going as well, and none of them will be finished any time soon. Trying not to start any new ones, but they're all so tempting.

I'm very hungry right now and those toasts in >283 Crazymamie: look so good I'm salivating. Will another cup of tea help? I fear not...

Starting fairly early with my happy weekend messages, Mamie and in time to get another message in here before number 12 is a reality.

Great to see Ellie posting here; have missed her around the threads, I must say.

Hi Mamie! It's Friday!!

Have a good weekend!

Well, HELLO, Friday! Abby and I have decided that a jammie day is in order, so we plan to do just that and binge watch Trueblood - we are on Season 5. Last night we finally got back into watching it - it's been a while. Rae and I had gotten caught up in Season 2 of Broadchurch: I thought they did a good job with it. Then, I got slightly addicted to White Collar, and I may have watched a few episodes of Chicago Code, so... *ahem* BUT today is all about Sookie. And me, of course, because after all, this is my Friday. I am thinking pizza for dinner. I might even go completely crazy and try to squeeze in a bit if reading. Who knows?! Anything could happen. Except getting dressed -that is most assuredly NOT going to happen. I mean, I do have standards.

They are spraying the pecan trees today, so it is NOT quiet here at the moment. They started early, so I have high hopes that they will be finished soonish.

*MERCY UPDATE* We took her back to the vet last week, and they thought that the bite looked better but they were still not sure it was going to heal all the way - they are worried she may have some necrotic tissue, which would need to be cut out. They said keeping putting the antibiotic cream on twice daily and bring her back in two weeks for a recheck, at which time she will also get the rabies vaccine, again with the Benedryl and steroid to counter an allergic reaction (this is the one I am really nervous about). BUT I am very happy to report that Mercy's bite is looking very good - it looks like it will heal all the way to me, which would be awesome. SO keep your fingers crossed - she goes back next Friday.

>307 Berly: And I thank you for keeping up with me, Kim! Always great to see you here!

>308 Familyhistorian: Yep - I know. I am happy to hear that you do it, too! The problem is that if I am not in the mood to read any of my current reads, then I just pick up something new, and then slowly things spin out of control. But I am used to chaos, so I kind of like it that way. I am hoping to finish up a few of them soon - I am getting close. Unfortunately these are not the ones that I have been reading the longest. And then yesterday I got another ER in the mail, and I haven't yet read and reviewed the previous one. Oh, dear!

>309 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara! I will give it my best effort! Happy Friday to your own good self!

>310 LovingLit: Ha! He does make it seem like an easy choice, doesn't he? You could have him whispering poetic prose in your ear, Megan. Just saying...

I completed chapter three yesterday, but I haven't posted my thoughts on it yet. When you said you would read it slowly, I fully expected you to come back next day and say that you had accidentally finished it. Ha!

>311 Deern: Yep - Friday when you posted here, Nathalie. It was 3:05am here. And thank you for those lovely wishes! May your weekend be full of happy!

I just go ahead and start new ones if I feel like it, and finish them as they call to me. If it takes two days, okay. If it takes two months, still okay. If I end up setting them aside, well then, okay. It was not their moment and I will try again when the mood strikes me.

I am sorry that my thread is making you hungry - I do not know how you do the fasting thing. I do the intermittent fasting, where you only eat between set hours, which for me is 11am and 6pm, then just do zero calorie beverages (but not diet beverages - no artificial sweetener) the rest of the time. I do this during the week, and I find it does help me burning fat. Then on the weekend, I give myself the two days off. For losing weight, I just make sure to always burn 1,000 more calories than I consume. And to drink 64 ounces of water each day.

>312 PaulCranswick: Thank you for those good wishes, Paul! Hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

I am also delighted to see Ellie posting here - I am honored to have her.

>313 cbl_tn: I'm excited about that, Carrie! Happy Friday to you!

>314 BBGirl55: Thank you! Happy Friday, Bryony!! How was your birthday?

>315 Crazymamie: I love having a jammie/robe day! In fact, our plumber just canceled for this morning, so I just might join you! I have lots of new books that I want to look at to put them in reading order and it's raining again! Enjoy your day!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

So glad The Master and Margarita is catching your fancy. I'm another one who loved it.

Sounds like you have a great, relaxing day planned with Abby. Enjoy the Sookie-thon.

Hey, Joe! I am really enjoying The Master and Margarita - so fun and so clever. We are doing great with the Sookie-thon! LOVE that!