Mark's Reading Place: Chapter 11

-Edward Hopper (I have not featured this artist in a long while. It is time.)



^Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center Vermont. I should be spending plenty of time here, next weekend. B.A.G.



^Just in case someone, gets miffed!

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

March:

24) Some Luck by Jane Smiley 3.2 stars (audio) AAC
25) King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild 5 stars
26) Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart 4.3 stars (audio)
27) The Vegetarian by Han Kang 3.6 stars ER
28) Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Seal by Morgan Callan Rogers 3.4 stars (audio) Booktopia
29) The Accidental by Ali Smith 3.5 stars (audio) BAC
30) I'm Glad About You by Theresa Rebeck 3.8 stars Booktopia
31) Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat 4 stars (audio) CAC
32) The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat 4.2 stars
33) SuperMutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki 4 stars GN
34) Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham 4 stars (audio)
35) The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein 3.8 stars Booktopia
36) Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate 4.3 stars (audio)
37) How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer 4.4 stars
38) Dodgers: A Novel by Bill Beverly 4.3 stars
39) City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg 3.6 stars (audio)

April:

40) The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan 4.5 stars Booktopia
41) American Housewife: Stories by Helen Ellis 4 stars (audio)
43) Denali's Howl by Andy Hall 4.2 stars
44) The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro 4 stars Booktopia
45) The Dream of a Common Language: Poems 1974-1977 by Adrienne Rich 4.3 stars Poetry AAC
46) Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert 4 stars (audio)
47) Silas Marner by George Eliot 4 stars BAC
48) Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond 5 stars (audio)
49) The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood 3.3 stars (audio) CAC
50) Shelter: A Novel by Jung Yun 4.2 stars Booktopia (E)
51) Fortune Smiles: Stories by Adam Johnson 4.5 stars (audio)
52) 10:04: A Novel by Ben Lerner 4.2 stars
53) New and Selected Poems, Vol. One by Mary Oliver 4.3 stars Poetry AAC
54) All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage 3.8 stars (audio)
55) Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit 4.2 stars (audio)

May:

56) The Mirror Thief by Martin Seay 4.3 stars Booktopia
57) As the Crow Flies (Longmire) by Craig Johnson 4.2 stars (audio)
58) Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys 4.5 stars (audio)
59) Life on Mars: Poems by Tracy K. Smith 4.2 stars Poetry AAC
60) This House of Sky by Ivan Doig 4.3 stars AAC

American Author Challenge 2016

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

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

January- Anne Tyler- Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant Completed
February- Richard Russo- Straight Man Completed
March- Jane Smiley- Some Luck Completed
April- Poetry Month The Dream of a Common Language Completed
New and Selected Poems, Vol. One Completed
May- Ivan Doig This House of Sky Completed
June- Annie Proulx
July- John Steinbeck
August-Joyce Carol Oates
September- John Irving
October- Michael Chabon
November- Annie Dillard
December- Don DeLillo

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

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE/CANADIAN AUTHOR CHALLENGE

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

BAC:

January - SUSAN HILL & BARRY UNSWORTH -Morality Play Completed
February : Agatha Christie & William Dalrymple The Murder on the Orient Express Completed
March : Ali Smith & Thomas Hardy The Accidental Completed
April : George Eliot & Hanif Kureishi Silas Marner Completed
May : Jane Gardam & Robert Goddard
June : Lady Antonia Fraser & Joseph Conrad
July : Bernice Rubens & H.G. Wells
August : Diana Wynne-Jones & Ian McEwan
September : Doris Lessing & Laurie Lee
October : Kate Atkinson & William Golding
November : Rebecca West & Len Deighton
December : WEST YORKSHIRE writers
Wildcard : Rumer Godden and George Orwell

CAC:

January: Robertson Davies, Kim Thúy- The Manticore Completed Ru Completed
February: Helen Humphreys, Stephen Leacock The Lost Garden Completed
March: Farley Mowat, Anita Rau Badami Never Cry Wolf Completed
April: Margaret Atwood, Michael Crummey The Heart Goes Last Completed
May: Michel Tremblay, Emily St. John Mandel
June: Timothy Findley, Joseph Boyden
July: LM Montgomery, Pierre Berton
August: Mordechai Richler, Gabrielle Roy
September: Miriam Toews, Dany Laferrière
October: Lawrence Hill, Jane Urquhart
November: Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Laurence
December: Alice Munro, Rawi Hage

^My May is going to be book crazy. These are just a few, of what I have lined up. I do not think I will get much reading in next week, so that means cramming a lot into 3 weeks. Oh, mercy!

Are these recognizable?

Edward Hopper, one of my favorites!!

Will you be commenting along the way about your bookish events? Or saving til after?

>5 msf59:

This House of Sky. Happy sigh.

I have Last Night in Montreal somewhere and I need to get to Jane Gardam. Is that The Bird Artist? I read it pre-LT.

Don't need to tell you to have fun at Booktopia! Don't forget to pass along the highlights!

>6 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! This is a Hopper I had not seen, so I wanted to share.

I will have my iPad along, for the trip and will try to check in when I can. Probably, early A.M... Go Cubs!!

>8 msf59: I didn't realize I had been so close....

>7 Copperskye: Happy Friday, Joanne! I was planning on listening to This House of Sky on audio but it turned out, I had an abridged version. The horror! So, I regrouped and requested a copy from the library. Looking forward to it. I think you were the first, to really warble about it. Smiles...

Yes, that is The Bird Artist. Joe suggested it, a couple years ago, while we were browsing bookshelves at Lit-Fest and I snagged a copy.

Looking forward to the Boston/Vermont trip.

Happy new thread buddy and you certainly kept up your pledge to chew up the threads this month.

With a full day to LT to go to May you have accumulated 665 posts this month some 10% than anybody else (who else but Mamie and then Amber).

Have a great weekend, buddy.

Good evening, Mark! I am excited for Doig and Gardam in May and, although I don't usually "participate" in M & M May, I will read at least one qualifying work. I purchased a copy of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold per Paul's "serious thrillers" list and I have several others that would fit the bill.

Hopper is a favorite. Thanks for featuring him again.

I am looking forward to following your New England adventures, including photos of the meet-up with Caro and Marianne. I've met Caroline and I know you and she will hit it off. And I can't imagine that Marianne won't be anything but engaging and fun.

And that bookstore in Vermont! *swoons*

Safe travels, my friend. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

I am looking forward to M&M, Mark. Have a great time on your trip!

>11 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! I wanted to boost my numbers a bit, because I will be absent, most of next week, with minimal posting. Kidding, of course. I am not that calculating. Grins...

I will give Caro a hug, for you. Have a great weekend.

>12 EBT1002: Happy Saturday, Ellen. I am also looking forward to Doig and Gardam. I have put both authors off, for far too long. I loved The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and should revisit it. It's been many, many years.

Hooray for a Meet-Up and a new England adventure!

>13 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! Glad you are pumped about M & M. I am too, I just wish I could bookhorn in, a few more titles, but it will be a very busy month.

Happy weekend!

>14 DianaNL: How cute! Happy Saturday, Diana! Have a great one.

Happy new thread, Mark! The Northshire Bookstore looks like it may contain some souvenirs for you. Have a wonderful day!

Thanks, Lynda! Happy Saturday! I have been in Northshire and it is wonderful.

>5 msf59: Some good choices there, I think. I must look around and see if I have any unread Jane Gardam's...

Your post to Paul in >15 msf59: made me laugh out loud! Morning, Mark! Happy new thread! Weren't we also supposed to do Master and Margarita in May with Ellen? DO we need to bump it to June? Whatever works for me - I am very flexible.

>20 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda! Those books do sound promising. I really liked Old Filth and have wanted to get to the next one for awhile.

>21 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! The rain has started to fall. Sighs..

I am still up for Master & Margarita. I am planning on doing it on audio but won't be able to start it until later in the month. Let me know, if it is decided to be delayed.

Nope, May is good. I just didn't want you to feel pressured if you had forgotten.

Happy New Thread, buddy!

Your May is going to be a good one, no doubt about that. I hope you do get a chance to read The Master and Margarita. It's a special one, IMO.

I'm into The Island of the Blue Dolphins and When Breath Becomes Air. I've got two GNs going, The Nameless City (pretty good so far), and one I know you liked, Ruins, by Peter Kuper.

I liked Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan. It's the first of a sci-fi time travel series, and I'm wondering how the rest will go.

ETA: Love that Hopper up top.

Happy New Thread , Lone Ranger! What! You'll be absent next week? Is that for your Boston meet up? Very cool but you'll be missed! Now you are advertising smoking on your thread, Mark! Tsk tsk! :) I'm sure I can find a book for M and M . Remember I thought it was Murderous March? How long does a girl have to wait!

>23 Crazymamie: I will do my best to get to Master & Margarita, Mamie! There will be lots of different kinds of M & M flying around in the merry month of May!

>24 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! I remember you were a fan of The Master & Margarita and that is one of the reasons, I want to finally get to it.

I am sure you are loving When Breath Becomes Air.

Sounds like you have some good GNs going. I really liked Ruins. And I have Paper Girls, in the GN queue.

>25 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! I will not be completely absent next week but my checking in time will be very limited. I will have the trusty iPad along. We will see.

Nope! Not promoting smoking, just fine art. I gave up smoking back in '84 and never looked back.

Ooh, Murderous March! You should start it!

>26 msf59: Including Mark and Mamie! Ha!

>27 Crazymamie: That sure has a nice ring to it, Mamie! LOL.

Okay, I recently read and enjoyed Anna and the Swallow Man. I am deep into my Longmire audio, As the Crow Flies and I have The Bird Artist coming up soon. Does anyone else, detect an avian theme here?

Ha! Your reading is for the birds, Mark.

I just picked up Anna and the Swallow Man today, based on your enthusiastic warbling. The bookseller said it's a great one, too.

>30 jnwelch: You are correct, Joe! My reading is for the "birds"! Grins...

Glad you grabbed Anna and the Swallow Man. Looking forward to your thoughts. It is a bit dark and sinister, for YA, but completely original. I am still thinking it over...

All this bird talk is so appropriate for our No. 1 Book Warbler! Mark, I am going to be living vicariously through you next week when you head northeast. A Boston Meetup AND Booktopia. That sounds like so much fun. I know you will keep us posted as time allows. I need to line up my May books. I have four waiting for me at the library. I'll be reading This House of Sky along with you. I have had it on the shelf far too long now. Thank you AAC! I had a blast with Billy Collins this past month. It's the first poetry collection I've read from cover to cover.

Hi, Mark! I love the Hopper topper! It has such an early 1960s feel.

Have a fabulous vacation!

...on the plane.

Safe travels, my friend!

Have a safe trip, Mark! Hopefully you'll land ahead of the rain.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Safe travels, Mark. Have a great time!

Has we got murder and mayhem?

have a great time!

Enjoy your trip, Mark. My hubby and I are also heading out next week for a short road trip. Great time of the year for some travelling.

How did this "new" thread get to 40 already?!

Love the bird theme you are developing. I like it when that kind of inadvertent pattern in our reading appears. I am tempted by all of them, of course!

Happy and safe travels, Mark! Shop till you drop!

>21 Crazymamie: Let me know when you start Master and Margarita--it's on the Bowie list and I couldn't fit it in last month when the other group read it. : )

>34 msf59: Safe trip and have fun (as if he wouldn't!)!!

Congrats on your shiny new thread, Mark and happy vacation. Enjoy it.

Morning, Mark! How's the weather in Boston?

Greetings from Cambridge! We had a great, action-packed first day. Visited Harvard Square. Had a wonderful Meet-up, with Caroline, Marianne and Suzanne. We hit it off, immediately like the old friends, we are. They treated us to a Scorpion Bowl at a Chinese restaurant. Yum. And had dinner at the John Harvard Brewery. Ooh, beer.

We ended the night, at Fenway Park, watching the Red Sox beat the Yankees and in good seats too, up, behind home plate.

I am not sure you could have dreamed up a better finish to a perfect day and that was Day One.

The only downside, was the weather. Early on, it was just cloudy and cool but later drizzled and got chillier, as the night went on. Looks like there may be more of this today. Oh, well...

I have to mention, that Marianne gave us a terrific tour of Harvard Square. She is incredibly knowledgeable, about Harvard history and we were blessed, by the opportunity, to have her as a guide. Suzanne also joined us, offering us many other dazzling historical facts.

LT people are wonderful aren't they?

Sorry, I will not be able to respond to individual posts, due to time restraints, but I hope you understand.

Plus, I am dying for a cup of coffee...

Wow, Mark! Your trip is off to an outstanding start even the weather can't sour LT get togethers! Have fun!!

>43 Berly: Will do, Kim - I'm just waiting for my copy to arrive.

Morning, Mark! Glad that you made it there safely. Sounds like you made the most of that first day - mighty impressive!

>46 msf59:, >47 msf59: Oh, does that ever sound like a great first day, Mark. I can't believe you topped it off with Fenway Park and a Red Sox win over the Yankees.

I wish I'd been there to hear Marianne on the Harvard Square tour. Lots of great memories there in Cambridge.

LT people are wonderful all right. Enjoy that cup of coffee!

Morning, Lynda, Mamie & Joe! We are getting ready to head into Boston center and do the Freedom Trail. Marianne may hook up with us for lunch and show us around.

Still damp and cool but we will persevere...

I walked the Freedom Trail in the snow one year and had a great time. The ponds in the Boston Commons were frozen over and there was snow on the statues, but it was a great time. I had fun having oysters in the oldest restaurant in Boston - located on the Freedom Trail and then ate more in Fanuiel Hall. It really is a good walk. And don't forget to spend an afternoon in the North End. The Italian restaurants there are fabulous. Coffee and pastry in one of those is always welcome.

Good morning, Mark! I hope you had a great weekend.

Love the bird theme in your recent streak of reading. It seems apropos.

I know you are already off onto your wonderful adventure and we will look forward to photos and stories.

>29 msf59: In continuing your bird theme, you might want to visit Barnes and Noble where you will find a reasonably priced coffee table size book with beautiful plates of Audubon's Birds of America!

>56 Whisper1: I got my wife a copy of that book a couple years ago for Christmas. its gorgeous

I get to Cambridge every now and then - Fenway's one of my favorite ballparks! One of these days I need to set up a meetup with the LTers there...

>57 mahsdad: Jeff, that is a lovely Christmas present. My partner Will gave it to me as a Christmas present as well. The library at Lehigh has a complete original set of Audubon's plates. The large book is prominently displayed in a locked case. Each month, a new plate is shown. I stand near the case fascinated by the beauty of this rare collection. I believe that it is worth millions.

Day 2: We met Marianne in Boston about 11am and bid her farewell, just before 9pm. Once again, she proved to be an invaluable guide. We walked portions of the Freedom Trail and veered off on occasion to see other interesting sights, Public Gardens, Boston Gardens, Beacon Hill. The list goes on and on.
Unfortunately, it drizzled most of the time and a more steadier rain drove us into a pub for lunch. We ended up boarding the Hop on Tour Bus, after that and did another full tour, but stayed dry and cozy, at least.
We popped into a couple more places for eats and brews, including some excellent clam chowder.

They call Boston a Walking City and we agree. We have walked it.

Big, big, thank you, to Marianne for being a wonderful guide and host. I just wish, Caroline could have joined us too.

Of course, we woke up to rain...ugh. But this will not defeat us, as we are heading to Concord and then Salem. Should be another full, action-packed, slightly damp day.

What a lovely meet up! My son in law went to Tufts for his masters in engineering. My daughter Amy and he lived in Waltham, near Lexington. We loved visiting them. Boston is an incredible city...except for the crazy drivers.

I'm glad you are having a wonderful time!

And, I have a book recommendation for you. If you haven't read Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger I highly recommend it! It took my breath away. The writing was incredible, and the story superb!

I think you would like it.

>60 msf59: Day 2 sounds so great!! Claw chowder?! Sounds kinda scary.

>53 benitastrnad: Glad you had a good time walking the Freedom Trail in the dead of winter. LOL. I would love to come back, in the summer and experience everything in the sunshine and warmth.

>54 brodiew2: >55 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen & Brodie!

>56 Whisper1: Ooh, I might have to request that bird book. Sounds gorgeous.

>58 drneutron: I am so glad we had a chance to see a game at Fenway, Jim. A highlight. And yes, you were mentioned a couple times.

It was so wonderful to spend the day with you, Sue, and your friends. Everyone is just so nice and interesting. We did manage to fit in a lot in one day .... Including stops for a pint here and there! Hope you all have a wonderful day today.

***If you message me your email address I have some further ideas for the rest of your trip.***

And the clam/claw chowder was just what we needed to warm up from all the rain!

Hoping everyone gets the chance to meet Mark someday. He does good Meet Ups!

>64 Carmenere: LOL! The claw chowder was fab, Lynda!

Hey, how did prom go?

>66 michigantrumpet: Hi, Marianne! Waking up to rain. Yah!

Thank you so much, my friend! Carl and Nancy, keep asking me how I know such interesting people. LOL.

I'm glad that you've had the opportunity to meet two of my favorite LTers (and their equally nice spouses), Mark! I'm sorry that the weather has been so lousy in the Northeast this week, though. Keep on keepin' on!

>67 msf59: Went really well, Mark! Shortly after I snapped a couple of pics the skies opened up and it rained till Sunday afternoon. Didn't stop their fun, at all.

>68 kidzdoc: Morning, Darryl! As usual, you were mentioned a few times too and I am glad you brought up Edd and John. Smart, interesting guys. I wish I could have spent more time with them.

>70 msf59: I hear you, Mark; I couldn't agree more.

BTW, there is a good chance that I'll be in Chicago at the end of July, for the Pediatric Hospital Medicine conference at the Hyatt Regency. I should find out if I've been granted time off for it in another week or two, and if I get to go I'll let you and Joe know.

>71 kidzdoc: Please, let us know, Darryl. Dinner and brews would be great.

Morning, Mark! Sounds like you are making the most of your trip - try to stay dry (on the outside, anyway).

Sounds like another great day, Mark. Clam chowder! Love that stuff.

Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures.

Mmmm....I'll bet you could make some fine chowdah from a few lobstah claws.... Stay warm and well fed, friend.

I spent a very pleasant day in Concord several years ago. The ALA conference was in Boston in January and my roommates for the conference and I arrived a day early. On a whim I rented a car and we drove out to Concord. We stopped and toured the Louisa May Alcott house and ended up spending four hours there. I was never an Alcott fan before, but since that visit have become interested in her life. Right across the road from Orchard House is the home of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Just down the road is the home of Emerson, and of course you can also visit Walden Pond.

We also drove out to the Minuteman Memorial at Concord Bridge, and since it was the dead of winter and cold we didn't stay long. I would like to have driven the road to Lexington, as it is historic and well marked, but I didn't.

The downtown of Concord is lovely and so quintessential New England. It is one of the places that I want to go back to. I keep thinking that a nice long weekend up there would be great, so that I could tour all those author's houses and enjoy the ambiance of the place in greater depth.

That trip turned out to be one of those great serendipitous moments that you really can't believe just happened with no plan in mind. I hope you end up with great memories of the place as well. (And perhaps you will come back with an interest in some author you never thought you would like. I did.)

Very glad you are having a great time in Boston, Mark.

Glad to hear that you have such a great time even the weather isn't good.

Greetings from Cambridge! Day 4. 50 degrees, overcast, with a chance of rain. Sighs...

Had a good time in Concord. Visited the town, Sleepy Hollow, Alcott's home, the North Bridge, drove the Battle Road, past the Wayside Inn, (many of these places were closed for the season), to the main visitors center.

We didn't hit Salem until late in the afternoon. We did manage to visit a brewery for dinner, took a brief brewery tour and sampled some fine brews.

We did take a night walking tour, that was fun and informative, although we did experience a light rain, at times. Really?

We leave today. We will drive straight north and may even make it as far as Portland. Have lunch and then start heading west into New Hampshire.

Do wish you were having better weather. Sounds like fun in Concord and Salem. Quite an itinerary you have there. I was exhausted from the couple days I spent with you - glad you are taking restorative beverages!

Morning, Mark! Sorry that the weather isn't cooperating. You sure are making the most of it, though. Wishing you safe travels today.

Sounds like a great trip so far even if the weather isn't cooperating. Will there be some bookshop visits?

Safe travels today, Mark!

Glad you had a good, albeit a bit wet, time in Salem. Never been there, but Becca liked it when she went. She found a photo of her great-grandfather in the museum there. I did like Concord way back when - we managed to time it for the country's bicentennial (yes, that long ago!), so there was a lot going on, including reenactments.

Have a safe drive north. I hear there are some mighty good book people up that way - it's pretty much a Booktopia.

Well, this thread is new to me, Mark, so Happy New Thread!

Glad you are enjoying your vacation, despite the weather (and the Yankees loss ;-) )

Greetings from Sunapee Lake Lodge, New Hampshire. This is a beautiful place.
We enjoyed our drive here, stopping in Portsmouth, NH for lunch, a nice little port town and then driving up the coast into Maine. We stopped at a lighthouse, with a gorgeous view of the ocean. We then began to make our way, south and then west into New Hamphire.

Our destination is Manchester Vermont today, home of Booktopia. We plan on hitting a few scenic points along the way. Maybe, do a short hike or 2.
Hoping the weather begins to improve. It has not cooperated much this week.

Love hearing of your days adventures, Mark! Sounds absolutely wonderful!!

Thanks again everyone, for stopping by and keeping the home fires burning. Internet time, will probably continue to be limited for me. Right now, we can't even get cell phone service, which is always a bummer.

I have done no reading either, which I am seriously getting an itch for and it does not look like I will finish The Mirror Thief before I see the author talk. Bummer, dude!

>89 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! I am down in the breakfast area and have the whole room to myself. LOL. The wives want to sleep in but I am hoping my buddy will wander down in a few minutes, otherwise I am cracking open my book.

>87 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Good to see you. Sorry, about your Yankees but our Fenway visit was definitely a major highlight, on our visit. It looks like the Red Sox are playing very well.

Morning, Mark! You are off having grand adventures, and I am enjoying hearing about them from the quiet of the Paradisio. Hoping that you got to crack open that book for just a bit.

Morning Mark! I hope you enjoy your trip to Manchester!

Hi, Mark! Glad to see you're having a good trip. I love Boston and, yes, definitely a walking city. I lived in that area for a while and NEVER drove in Boston, except once when a supervisor insisted on going by car. (I think the drivers there are maniacs.) I used the T system a lot, in addition to walking. Last time we visited, we got a day pass for the subway system, to ride as much as we wanted between walks!

Sounds like you are packing in a lot to every day, Mark. Too bad the weather isn't nicer but sounds like the people are making up for it. With the rate you are going, you will probably need a vacation to recover from your vacation!

Just catching up on the Warbler's travels. Sorry about the weather, but glad you ignored it and carried on! Have fun at Booktopia!!

Happy Friday, Mark. Sorry that the weather is so bad. Enjoy Booktopia.

Really enjoying your meander through New England, Mark. I am sure that Booktopia will meet with expectations and I wish I was there to share in the fun buddy.

Caro is a great pal already and I know her and Edd enjoy the company of Marianne and her husband.

Safe and dryer travelling my friend.

Greetings from Manchester Vermont. We have arrived. We are staying at a boarding house, a couple blocks from Northshire bookstore. Quaint lodging.

Not as much to report from yesterday but we did travel through some glorious mountains. I swooned. And we stopped at a trailhead and hiked a tiny, tiny portion of the mighty AT. Hey, it's a start.

We found a brewery, (like Duh!) in Bennington, which is south of Manchester, for a late lunch and then celebrated Cinco de Mayo at a Mexican restaurant, here in town.

We also hooked up with a few old Booktopia pals, last night, which is always a treat. Once again: Where are the LTers??

The Booktopia events kick off about noon today. I hope to bookhorn in a little more reading before then.

>92 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! I did get some reading in yesterday morning. The most since the plane trip but I do not think I will finish The Mirror Thief before the author event. Sighs...

>93 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel. The trip is going superbly.

>94 tymfos: Hi, Terri! According to my wife's Fitbit thingy, we walked nearly 30,000 steps, on Monday, with portions of it in the rain. Whew!

>95 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! The weather has been cruddy, for sure but has not slowed us, in the least.

>96 Berly: The Warbler's Travels! I love it. Hi, Kimmers! We are beginning our last phase and it should be just fine.

>97 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Thanks.

>98 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! My only regret, is not being able to spend more time with Caroline and Edd. We will have to come back, I guess.

Morning, Mark! Your vacation is making me tired, so I am having a jammie day today.

Good morning, Mark. Your travels are reminding me of my family's days living in Concord, MA. Caroline Kennedy went to Concord Academy and used to come into Friendly's with her friends for a fribble! My in-laws lived in Bennington for years so we spent a lot of time there. A wonderful town. I hope that you get some decent weather!

Sounds like a beautiful trip, Mark. 30,000 steps! That's a monster walking day. I'll bet you were ready for a brew after all that.

Enjoy the weekend and Booktopia, buddy.

"The house sits on its wide sandy lot like a lunatic on a park bench, tricked out in his best suit, with nowhere to go and nothing to do but fix passerby with a silent crooked smile."

-The Mirror Thief

>106 msf59: Sounds good!

Hope your trip continues to go well, sounds like a lot of fun. I just finished The Bird Artist with the Bowie readers - what a great book.

Glad you're having a great time. Loving the photos on Facebook.

Happy new threads Mark! Seriously, I wasn't expecting to find myself 2 threads behind. Oh well. Silas Marner was a good audioread - which is about the only reading I seem to be getting in lately. I am hoping to correct that and read some physical books this weekend. Glad to see you also enjoyed your read of it. Your comment that Silas Marner is not as polished as Middlemarch has me now itching to dip into Middlemarch!

Congratulations on passing the 50 books read point, Mark! Impressive, especially as we are only in the early days of May! Toasting that milestone with a craft beer sounds like a wonderful idea.

So far, I have made note of The Art Forger and Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.

>5 msf59: Oooohhh.... I spy a Europa Editions in the mix! Lovely!

Sounds like you have been having a wonderful - and busy! - vacation! Wishing you a happy weekend.

Your trip is sounding lovely, Mark. When we were in Boston (I know, that is a dim memory by now) we walked and walked and walked.....

I'm enjoying the photos on FB, too, and am glad you're getting such a great taste of New England.

Happy Saturday! Last full day in Vermont. Yesterday went well. We attended 2 author sessions. The author of The Mirror Thief and The Hummingbird. 2 of my favorite Booktopia reads. Both were smart and engaging.
They had a Welcome Dinner last night at the Inn of Manchester. With a buffet and a cash bar. We played Book Trivia and of course our team/table won the first round. Smirks...

>106 msf59: Love it!
>111 msf59: Smirk away Mark! You deserve the bragging rights!
Wishing you safe travels home.

>112 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! The Mirror Thief has been very good. The book is being released on the 10th but Northshire has been given permission to sell copies earlier. I'll be buying a copy.

Ooh, Book Trivia...especially delightful with a room full of bookies.

Good morning, Mark! Glad you're having such a good time at Booktopia.

Morning, Mark! Book Trivia sounds like loads of fun! And hooray for getting to buy a book early - also fun!

Happy Saturday, my friend!

Sounds like you are having a grand time!!

>29 msf59:. It must be spring migration!

Have a great time in Machester. Want to make it to see my friends at Northshire someday.

I am heading to Chicago on Wednesday for BEA. My first time in eight years!

Sounds like a fabulous trip! Happy Saturday.

Mark, your trip sounds wonderful in spite of the dampness. At least you are used to the vagaries of weather from your mail route. Your lovely wife is the one I feel sorry for but she looks happy in all the FB pics. I know the feeling about not having enough time to read. The first week of May has been a slow reading week for me. I don't have the fun excuses that you do, though. Looking forward to Booktopia details.

Final day in Manchester Center. Of course, we are waking up to rain but at least the last couple of days were pretty decent.

All the author events yesterday went great. We ended up going to an Irish pub afterwards, with Booktopia pals, a couple folks from Northshire Books, and as an added bonus, a couple of the authors. Beer was flowing and so was the book gab. Terrific time.

We will be taking off shortly, making our way back to Boston and Logan airport. We hope to make a couple of scenic stops along the way. It sure has been an action-packed week.

B.A.G.

>114 jnwelch: >115 Crazymamie: >116 Berly: Big waves to Joe, Mamie & Kimmers! I did get a nice stack of books and I am having them shipped straight to our home. Northshire is such a great bookstore.

>117 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy! So many of the people I have talked to, the past couple of days, are going to BEA. We may try to hook with one or 2 of them. Have a good trip.

>118 banjo123: Big waves to Rhonda!

Safe travels, Mark. Happy Mother's Day to Sue.

Safe travels, Mark. It sounds like you are having a great time -- lots of walking, interspersed with restorative beverages. :)

^We have arrived. A bit battle weary...but incredibly pleased on how well the trip went. The couple that joined us, (not book people) had a terrific time as well, although they didn't attend the Booktopia events but they did meet a few LT and GR friends and were immediately smitten.

I am taking an extra day off tomorrow...just 'cuz. So, I hope to post the photos I could not share over here and I have a boat-load of threads to visit. I appreciate your patience.

I am also looking forward to getting back to the books. I did a little but I am still working on The Mirror Thief. I am glad it is such a good book.

Welcome back, Mark.

Great episode of CTM tonight (for when you get a chance to see it). Two episodes left this season, I think.

>119 Donna828: Hi, Donna! Good to see you. We stayed dry most of Friday & Saturday, but it rained for a couple of hours today on our drive back to Boston. Oh, well...it was still a pretty drive.

Glad to hear, I am not the only one suffering through a slow reading stretch.

>123 lindapanzo: >126 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda! How about those Cubbies! Can you say Red-Hot?

We are a couple episodes behind on CTM. Looking forward to it. No TV watched this past week.

>124 BLBera: " lots of walking, interspersed with restorative beverages." LOL. Amen, to that Beth! The beverages always save the day!

^This is the Widener Harvard Library. Caroline, Marianne, Suzanne, Me, my wife- Sue and in the back row, Marianne's husband, John & Caroline's husband, Edd. Both great guys!

This was the first day! And Marianne gave us a great tour of Harvard Square.

Welcome back travelin man! Fantastic pic!

Glad you made it back home safely! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! There's nothing like meeting other bookish people on trips.

>129 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! It was a great action-packed trip. More photos to come, although most of them will have been posted on FB, previously.

>130 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel! Honestly, there is nothing like bookish people...period. Although, there were no LTers at Booktopia, other than myself, the others were "nearly" as wonderful as our bookish community. It is such a highlight.

^This was our view at Fenway Sunday night. Yankees vs. the Red Sox. Chilly and damp but our seats were terrific, plus it was a great game and the Red Sox won.

**most of these photos, I posted on FB, so sorry for the repetition but I wanted to share them here too.

^This is the couple, that joined us. This is early on our Boston tour, with the wonderful Marianne showing us around. It rained later, around lunchtime. We were not smiling.

^This was the North Bridge, at Concord. "The shot heard around the world..." We enjoyed our visit of Concord and the Battle Road. We will have to return, when the weather is better and more "sites" are open.

^Yes, I went to heaven. On Wednesday, we left Cambridge and started our way to Vermont. We drifted north, with a lunch stop in Portsmouth, NH. Very nice port city but, of course the Book & Bar was a major highlight. Cool bookstore inside, that offered beer (good stuff too!) and some eats.

Can you say SWEET??

Good morning, Mark. Welcome back!

Great photos. I'm glad you're taking an extra day off. What a trip!

>136 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Yep, great time. We will have to go back. And I haven't even talked about my book acquisitions yet...

Welcome back Mark! Sounds like a great trip. I'm eager to hear your Booktopia recommendations. Just started King Leopold's Ghost on audio on my way to work this morning and already find it riveting.

>138 vivians: Ooh, King Leopold's Ghost. I even warbled about it, on vacation. A time or 2...Enjoy, my friend. Can't wait to get to his new one. Swoons...

I will be slowing revealing my Booktopia books and recommendations. I had my books shipped from Northshire, so I will have to wait a bit.

^We stopped near Bromley ski resort, in Vermont and saw a trailhead. It turned out to be the AT Long Trail, so we decided to hike a couple miles of it. How can you pass that up? I just wish we could have had the whole day. It was cool but mercifully dry.

^This was the B & B we stayed at, Sutton's Place, in Manchester Center. Just an easy stroll from Northshire Bookstore. Not much on the 2nd "B"- coffee, apples and danish but we really liked it here and the old fellow hosting, did a fine job. Another bonus, was that a lovely Booktopia couple was also staying here. Awwww...

**Since the AT, passes through here, by a few miles, hikers stop in Manchester Center. Our host said, that he gladly welcomes hikers and even gives them a discount. He also mentioned that one of his hikers, was a writer, doing a book on the AT. Bryson, perhaps?

Great trip pics, Mark. Good idea to take a day to rest and regroup. I look forward to your warbling about the books you picked up on your trip.

Wonderful photos, Mark. Thanks so much for sharing them. I'm glad that you had such a splendid time even when the weather wasn't on the bright side.

>142 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! Glad you like the photos. A few more to come. And yes, there will be book warbling...right around the corner.

>143 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! Good to be back in the groove. Glad you like the photos.

Glad you made it back safely! Loving the pictures. Sounds like a lovely time had by all.

It turns out Northshire IS the same bookstore as the one I love in Saratoga. There is the same 'Nothing Is Carved in Stone' entranceway to both.

So just adding a little more love to the tons you've already heaped on the good people in Vermont. Aren't independent booksellers wonderful?

Love meeting you all. Even had a great time on Monday despite the downpour. Hugs to Sue!

>145 michigantrumpet: Thanks, Marianne! We sure had a good time and your touring abilities were a definite highlight. Carl & Nancy were also dazzled by you.

We hope to get back, in a bit warmer weather and if you ever get through Chicagoland, give us a holler!

And hooray for independent bookstores! They are the best!

Great pictures, Mark. I'm glad you had fun trip to Boston. Welcome home!

>135 msf59: Sweet!

Hope your cushion day is going well.

>147 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie! Nothing like a getaway, that involves bookish friends. You can't beat it.

>148 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! The cushion day is going well. I have done food shopping and laundry and now I am kicking back with the books. Trying to finish The Mirror Thief.

Afternoon, Mark! Smart thinking to take an extra day off to regroup. Sounds like you had a fabulous time, and I loved seeing all the photos here. I do not FB, so thanks for putting them here as well.

Welcome home, my friend. You were missed.

>150 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! Good to see you. I also have a short week ahead, since I also have the weekend off. Everything falling into place...

I will post a few more pics later.

Great pictures! Sounds like you had an excellent time, Mark and Sue! Missed you!

>152 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! Good to be back but we did have a great time. We saw the ocean and mountains and of course some LT buddies. You can't get any better, my friend.

^Northshire Bookstore. I did buy a stack. A few off this very table but I had them shipped home. The suspense builds...

^This is the 8 authors, in attendance. They are not holding their own books.

Sounds to me like a fun holiday! Books, walks, B&B s, awesome!
The book swapping authors are showing off their cheeky grins :)

>156 LovingLit: Yes, all the best things in life, Megan. All is good! But boy, do I have some reading to do! Whew!

Explorers Cry Out Unheard

"What I have in mind is the last wilderness.

I sweat to learn its heights of sun, scrub, ants,
its gashes full of shadows and odd plants,
as inch by inch it yields to my hard press.

And the way behind me changes as I advance.
If interdependence shapes the biomass,
though I plot my next step by pure chance
I can’t go wrong. Even willful deviance
connects me to all the rest. The changing past
includes and can’t excerpt me. Memory grants
just the nothing it knows, & my distress
drives me toward the imagined truths I stalk,
those savages. Warned by their haunting talk,
their gestures, I guess they mean no. Or yes."

-Marie Ponsot (from Poem a Day)

^I see no reason why every month, can't be poetry month. Are you with me?

Morning, Mark! Love, love, love the photos!

Morning, Amber! Glad you like the photos. Just a little snapshot, of a terrific vacation.

"The universe, in all it's disorder and variety, is the mirror which captured Divine Man's as-yet-unseen reflection."

"The moon will answer through the smoke: Imagine me not as a mirror, but as an opening, an aperture, a pupil admitting light. Imagine the earth curves around you, not under. Imagine this world to be the eye of God, and the ocean it's retina. Know that you are always seen."

-The Mirror Thief. I power-read this, through the day yesterday and finished it. An impressive debut. Wildly ambitious. More to come...

Morning, Mark! Look at you posting poetry in May! The Mirror Thief sounds good - I like those quotes.

Good morning, Mark!

Sorry we couldn't give you a better weather day for your first day back. It's stormy downtown.

>154 msf59:, >155 msf59: Nice!

I see no reason why every month, can't be poetry month. Are you with me? I'm with you!

Awesome pics, Mark! Those grey skies say chilly weather but the smiles say Ha! there's books & brews!
Looking forward to your book delivery!

Love the expression power read. And yes, every month should be poetry month.

>162 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! No poetry reading while on vacation. The little time I had was reserved for The Mirror Thief and I am glad it was.

>163 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Light rain falling, as I head out to the route. I will march on... Smiles for poetry.

>164 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Gloomy there too? And yes, looking forward to that book package.

>165 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! While I am away on vacation, there are so many distractions, involved while reading, so it was so nice to hunker down at home and just be swept along.

I was referring to the fact that you posted a poem in May. Up there in >158 msf59:.

>167 Crazymamie: I saw that comment and I should have made that clear in my poetry reply.

I am also enjoying Life on Mars. Potent stuff.

I just picked that one up from the library yesterday!

>155 msf59: Bootopia looks like fun, Mark. Would you be willing share some of the titles?

>169 Crazymamie: I only have a few pages left, Mamie! It is very good.

>170 brodiew2: Booktopia is great, Brodie! This was my 5th one. And yes, I will be sharing, my Booktopia lode, once I receive the package. Rubs hands, excitedly...

^I had Salt to the Sea on my trusty Nano, so I decided to jump in, after my Longmire read. A couple of my LT pals are reading it, or have read it and I hate to be left out.

I also enjoyed her last novel, Between Shades of Gray and this one begins well.

Welcome home, Mark!

Glad you had such an excellent vacation. I will look forward to your comments on Salt to the Sea, as I am nearing the top of the queue for the audio of it from the library...

>173 katiekrug: Hi, Katie! Great to see you. Yes, we had a terrific New England adventure and we were glad to participate in another successful Booktopia. Ann & Michael were sorely missed but it was nice to hang with the "regulars". Most likely, Northshire will host it again next year. I won't be able to go to Vermont every year but I will go back.

My fingers crossed that the bookstore, in Petoskey, will also host an event.

Salt to the Sea has been very good on audio, so far. Multiple narrators.

^ I just started This House of Sky. This one is going to be special.

Happy reading, Mark! I am looking forward to Doig as well.

Loved all your pictures, Mark. Glad you had a great trip!

Yay for This House of Sky *happy sigh*. I got tired of saying I'm going to read English Creek and decided to just read it.

Looks like you are back to regular reading and posting speed, Mark. That didn't take long.

>176 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda! Doig rings my bells, that's for sure. I can't understand why I am not reading more of him.

>177 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! Our New England adventure was one for the books, as they say, despite the funky weather.

English Creek was my first Doig. I hope to get to Dancing at the Rascal Fair later this year. Enjoy!

>178 Familyhistorian: My reading piles have grown like weeks, my friend. Time for some gardening.

^I was able to snag an e-galley of Lady Cop Makes Trouble. It doesn't come out until September, so it gives me some time. I really liked the first one on audio, but how could I pass this up? Seriously?

Has anyone else used Edelweiss? They give up e-galleys quite easily. Just sayin'...

Morning, Mark! I'm eager to see what you think of This House of Sky.

>181 scaifea: Morning, Amber! The writing in This House of Sky is gorgeous. I can't believe it has taken me this long to get to it.

^Just sayin'...

**I am trying to keep my Cubs posts to a minimum, for my non-baseball loving visitors but they are Red-Hot!! Best team in baseball.

Morning, Mark! I don't follow baseball, but GO CUBS! See? Just for you!

Hey Mark, It's hump day!
Woo Hoo, Way to go Cubbies! Definately, have to pull Doig off my shelf for my 2017 challenge.

Happy Hump Day, Mark!

Hey, great minds think alike. I'm reading Salt to the Sea right now. You're going to like it.

I'm also reading Dancing at the Rascal Fair and liking it. I'll be looking forward to your reactions to House of Sky.

My GN is The Immortal Iron Fist, an Ed Brubaker book. Unfortunately, it's okay, but I won't be recommending it.

Wow! It is Hump Day already. I'm currently reading English Creek and doing some browsing into Larry McMurtry and Keith Haring. Don Quixote is still on the agenda for May, plus an as-yet unselected Pulitzer winning non-novel.

Judi and I went to Kutztown yesterday to replenish the pantry, and we detoured into the community park to look again at the Haring sculpture there.

>184 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Thanks for the Cubbies Shout-Out! We Cubs fans are on cloud 9.

>185 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! 2017?? Come on, yank that bad boy down now!

>186 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I am nearing halfway in Salt to the Sea and I am really enjoying it. The Amber Room stuff is fascinating.
Sorry the Brubaker GN fell flat.

>187 weird_O: Hi, Bill! Hope you are enjoying your Doig book. I have read that one and was quite pleased.

Not familiar with Haring. Note to self...

Whew!! All caught up on the trials and adventures of The Warbler!! Glad you had such a fabulous time on your trip. I am eagerly awaiting the unpacking of the book box...

>180 msf59: Ooh! you lucky thing you! Look forward to hearing how great it is...

I returned from Montana late last night. I flew out in a late season snow storm. It snowed for a solid 24 hours in Bozeman and the electricity even went out. Unlike your Boston trip, I had great weather. Some days temps in the 70's and sunny and loved, loved, loved, the snow! Got the niece graduated from Montana State University, hiked a geyser trail in Yellowstone, went to two different hot springs spas, drove over to Missoula, and ate at Wheat Montana. It was great! I even got to laugh at my sister. In 23 years of visiting her I have yet to sleep on a bed. Once again my nightly resting place was an air mattress on the floor. It was good sleeping because I was tired with all the walking, but the last two nights it was cold. I love this state and Yellowstone was not nearly as crowded. All of the venues there were open except for the Boiling River. It was closed due to high water from the spring run-off. If anybody asks me I am going to say that now is the time of year to go to Yellowstone because the crowds are manageable. Don't go in August - crowds are not manageable then.

I read three books while there. Two Michael Dibdin mysteries - Ratking and Vendetta - both Aurelio Zen mysteries that make great plane reading. I also power read Imagined London by Anna Quindlen. All were great vacation reads. Now it will be back to my Guy Gavril Kay book River of Stars.

And - my travels are not over. I am sending this e-mail from the Starbucks in Hopkinsville, KY. I landed at the airport in Birmingham. Picked up my car and am on my way to Kansas for the graduation from college of my other niece. Unlike you my vacation isn't going to end until May 18. I have more vacation reading to do!

Glad to hear that Booktopia was a success. I know why the LTers weren't there. They can't get online fast enough to get registered. Those things sell out to fast.

>183 msf59: Glad to hear that your Cubs are playing good baseball. So are the Mariners, in fact. It is the third best start in franchise history. They split a series with Huston, but have not lost a series in their last eight!

I hope all is well with you.

>189 Berly: "Trials and Adventures of The Warbler". It has a nice ring to it, Kimmers! A memoir, perhaps?

Yep, waiting on that book delivery.

>190 charl08: Looking forward to it, Charlotte! Hope she strikes gold again.

>191 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita! Your Montana trip sounds fantastic. I am getting an itch to return to that wonderful state. We really want to visit Glacier National Forest. I have been to Yellowstone once but would love to go back and mid- to late spring sounds perfect.

Glad your weather was good and you got some reading in. Funny, this time around, I do not think the Booktopia event sold out. Probably because it is being hosted by someone else. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

>192 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! Glad to hear that the Mariners are doing well. I hope it continues. I do not think, the Cubs have lost consecutive games, which is pretty awesome.

Hmm , I do like the cover of Lady Cop Makes Trouble. But you know what they say, never judge a book by it's cover and it's true. I'll have to look into that one.

Lone Ranger - here is the love ! *smooches*

>195 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! I am not sure if you remember we warbling about Girl Waits With Gun, but Lady Cop Makes Trouble is the follow-up.

Thanks for the love, Tonto! All better now.

"Day by day as autumn tanned the valley around us, now with bright frost weather, now with rain carrying the first chill of winter, my father stayed in the dusk of his grief. That sandbagged mood, I understand now, can only have been a kind of battle fatigue-the senses blasted around in him by that morning of death and the thousands of inflicting minutes it was followed by."

"She came to the ranch on one of the first pale chilly days of an autumn, hired to cook for us for a few months, and stayed on in our lives for almost three years. Her time with us is a strange season all mist and dusk and half-seen silhouettes, half-heard cries. there is nothing like it in the sortings of my memory."

-This House of Sky

>197 msf59: Oh, those are lovely. That clinches it - This House of Sky goes onto the list.

Morning!

Morning, Mark! I also like those quotes.

Good morning, Mark!

Warmer, and it's supposed to clear up a bit. Hope it's a good one for you.

Salt to the Sea was good to the last drop. I'm making progress with Dancing at the Rascal Fair (love that title), and I've got an Agatha Christie on tap for M & M month.

I'm freaking out, Mark! I know I own Rascal Fair by Doig and I can't find it! Hmmm, Time to tear the books of the shelves.
Have a great Thursday!

>198 scaifea: Morning Amber! The Doig memoir is a special one.

>199 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Glad you like the quotes.

>200 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Not bad out here, at all. Glad to be wearing shorts, 2 days in a row.

I'll be wrapping up Salt to the Sea, later today.

>201 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! I have not read that Doig yet but I would suggest you start with English Creek, the first in that trilogy.

>175 msf59: that one is reminding me of Kent Haruf.....

>197 msf59: *confirmed*

Sounds good!

Shorts two days in row, youngster! I bet the girls are chasing after your tanned, toned legs now, Lone Ranger!

>203 LovingLit: Good catch, Megan! He also reminds me of Larry Watson but he is not as spare, as either of them and he is a bit more lyrical. I think he is an author you would like. Just sayin'...

>205 vancouverdeb: I would say semi-toned, but far from tanned. I will continue to work on it, weather permitted. Thanks for watching my back, Tonto!

Mark, New England is simply marvelous, and when lr meet ups occur , of course, you are bound to have a mighty fine time.

Years ago, the Air Force paid for my son in law to obtain his masters degree at Tufts. They lived in Waltham, near Lexington. We visited as often as we could, and fell in love with the area. Daughter Amy found a teaching job in Acton/Box Boro area and was so impressed with the level of support parents gave to teachers. They would move back thete if not for being settled in Dayton Ohio.

I am so glad that you have Marianne, Suz and Caro to show you round.

>207 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! Great to see you. Yes, we had a wonderful time in New England, as you can clearly see. Meeting LT friends is also fantastic but it is extra special when they show you the town. Swoons...

A package has arrived from Northshire...

The suspense builds...

(there is a post-it, near the phone, that is a reminder about the Richard Russo author event, but keep it under your hat or wig)

56) The Mirror Thief by Martin Seay 4.3 stars

We begin in glitzy Las Vegas, 2003, as a war weary, ex-marine tracks down a con artist gambler, who happens to be an old family friend. We then shift to Venice Beach, circa 1958, where a runaway, New York teenager is in search of a poet, that wrote a little book called The Mirror Thief. It is about an alchemist from the sixteenth century. And finally, you guessed it, we travel to Venice, in the late 1500s and follow this alchemist, as he plans to steal an enchanted mirror.
How the author weaves these stories together, is a marvel, especially for a debut. A nifty blend of thriller, historical fiction and magical realism, anchored by some exceptional prose. Smart and ambitious.
I have seen comparisons to Cloud Atlas, (high praise indeed), but I am not so sure about that, other than in a very general way but it does stand on it's own. Bravo!

**This author was featured at Booktopia. He lives and works in Chicago.

Hi Mark, Cubs long winning streak ends with losing both ends of a doubleheader. Ugh. I hope them being on the cover of Sports Illustrated isn't a jinx.

Have you gotten around to watching CTM yet?

>211 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! Not worried about those Cubbies! They will come roaring back. Hope they beat up the Pirates again.

I wonder what Epstein thinks about the S.I. jinx? Grins...

Nope, we are behind on CTM and a couple other shows. Hope to catch up a bit, in the next few days.

Are reading a Doig?

>212 msf59: I am going for a TIOLI sweep this month, one in every challenge, so I am focusing on shorter books, like mysteries. If I stay ahead of schedule, Dancing at the Rascal Fair could be the final book.

>210 msf59: Hey Mark, I added this to the WL when you mentioned it before. But now reading your review makes me want to read it even more. Cool

Reading Orphan Master's Son right now. Very Trippy

Two-thirds of the way through English Creek; hoping to wrap it up before the weekend ends. Gots to pick a non-novel Pulitzer and a Deadweight Doorstop. Just thinking it might be Truman by the inestimable Mr. McCullough (two challenges met with one book; oh, I LIKE that).

>214 mahsdad: Yes, Jeff, I believe The Mirror Thief is just your cuppa. I was crazy about The Orphan Master's Son. I hope you feel the same.

>215 weird_O: Hey, Bill! Thanks for the book update. I hope you are enjoying the Doig. I know I am loving my selection. I should add The Mirror Thief to the Doorstop Challenge. It was big enough.

Truman is probably the 2nd best presidential bio, I have read. Excellent choice.

Howdy Mark!
>202 msf59: Oooooh, so Rascal Fair is part of a trilogy!!! Well thanks for the heads up, Mark!

"Sometimes, what I see is a library in a rural community.
All the tall shelves in the big open room. And the pencils
In a cup at Circulation, gnawed on by the entire population.
The books have lived here all along, belonging..."

Excerpt from "My God it's Full of Stars"

"Out where the houses are low to the ground,
Dwarfed by overgrown trees and the ancient poles
whose wires carry gossip from kitchen to kitchen,
The dogs run in packs, like children. The true children
Live indoors like sullen sages..."

Exerpt from "No-Fly Zone"

I also love her description of Levon Helm, in "Alternate Take":

"While he drives donuts through my mind's back woods with that
Dirt-Road voice of his, kicking up gravel like a runaway Buick..."

^I loved Life on Mars: Poems, my 3rd collection in the past 6 weeks. It really grew on me. I want to thank Joe, for pointing me in the right direction. He is a perfect navigator.

>218 msf59: Ha! Nice excerpts, and that Levon Helm one always makes me laugh. I'm so glad you loved Life on Mars, Mark. So smart. You picked some of my favorites for the excerpts. I love that poem title, "My God it's Full of Stars."

I'm reading the Donald Hall one that Ellen recommended, Without: Poems, and it's everything she said it was.

Mirror Thief sounds intriguing. Good review of it.

Happy Friday, my friend! Pretty day out there. Hope it goes well for you.

Going home am. Had a great time talking books with old in Chicago! And I was judicious - only taking 15 books back with me.

Starting with Grief is a Thing with Feathers on my train ride.

When are you going to share what is in that box?

>219 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Glad you like the quotes. That is a collection that really grew on me. I may pick up a copy at some point, just to dip back into.

I also have the Hall collection waiting in the wings. I am going to start Trapeze: Poems and see where that takes me.

I think The Mirror Thief is just your cuppa. He is from Chicago so keep an eye out for an author appearance.

>220 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy! Glad you had a good time at BEA. Congrats on bringing back "only" 15. Anything stellar? I have a friend there who is bringing me back a few titles, which I will share later. I am hoping for the new Millard. I did get a copy of the new Whitehead.

"When are you going to share what is in that box?"

Since you asked...

^My Northshire booty! I am happy with it. The Zweig was a find. Okay, off to find shelf space. I may be gone awhile...

Hi Mark, just dropping in willy-nilly - I'll draw a line in the sand and try to start visiting more often. Congrats on the haul and the fantastic trip.

Nice stack there, sir. All new to me except the PKD. Yer sucha pioneer!

Mark, keep buying books, and soon your house will look like this:



I speak from personal experience of course!

>223 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen! Good to see you!

>224 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. I think you would like The Hummingbird: A Novel. I have been recommending that one to everyone. And if you have not read Stefan Zweig, I highly recommend him, plus many of his works are shorties! It's a Win/Win!

>225 Whisper1: Thanks for the warning, Linda! I better not show Sue that! Can you say D-I-V-O-R-C-E?

I'm still loving Jane Steele, Mark. I think you will, too!

>227 katiekrug: Of course, I was looking for Jane Steele on audio, but since my LT pals were warbling their tails off about it, I thought I would pick it up.

>225 Whisper1: Aw come on, Linda. It can't be as good as that.

>226 msf59: Thanks for the book recommendations, Mark. For the last week or so, I've been surfing through Larry McMurtry interviews. His advice to wannabe writers: "Read, read, read, read." I listened to a short interview taped two years ago and he is so soft-spoken, I could barely make out what he was saying. Yeah, with the volume maxed.

>222 msf59: Hope you enjoy the Coetzee. Dark! I think you might like The Glorious Heresies BTW: Irish, blackly comic. Maybe prize-winning in a couple of weeks...

>229 weird_O: You are more than welcome, Bill. Warbling is what I enjoy, nearly as much as reading the books themselves.

It is nice having you tag along on the AAC.

Love that McMurtry! I know he was a big big reader.

>230 charl08: I am moving Disgrace to the top of the pile. It came highly recommended at Booktopia.

Ooh, The Glorious Heresies sounds very good...

Loved all the photos I saw from your trip. Looks like it was pretty darn wonderful.

You have me very intrigued about The Mirror Thief

Hi Mark, we are back from our road trip and we had a lovely time. Drove across northern Washington and then back through B.C. spent a lot of time visiting some of my husband's brothers. (He has 8 siblings) Your trip sounds fantastic and that box of books is positively drool-producing. I am enjoying all the Ivan Doig love that I am seeing on LT these days, he has long been a favorite of mine.

>221 msf59:

Understandably, I got a number of nature-related titles, as well as a few novels that look to be gems.

I went to the Grove/Atlantic & Algonquin dinner where I picked up Jim Harrison's last book (they gave a beautiful tribute) as well as the new Larry Watson and forthcoming Robert Olen Butler.

A good trip all around.

>232 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli! Great to see you. We had a terrific New England adventure and mixing it up with fellow book people, is icing on the cake.

I think The Mirror Thief might be your cuppa.

>233 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! I am glad you also had a good trip. I sure hope to get up to your part of the world, one of these days. And hooray for Doig. It looks like he is another AAC success.

>234 alphaorder: Thanks, for the BEA update, Nancy. The Harrison tribute sounds wonderful. I hope to read much more of his work. Hooray for the new Watson. I have that coming from the E.R. The Butler sounds good too.

Fortunately I had another LT pal at BEA, and she picked me up a stack of books. How cool is that?

Nice haul from Northshire! Did that bunch really come through the mail in that dicey looking box, or did you purchase them?

Have a great weekend, Mark. Maybe some time for a brew and a book?

>236 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! Yes, I did personally selet and purchase these books. Why they decided to package them in a "dicey" box, I have no idea. Regardless, I am a Happy Camper!

>237 Familyhistorian: Happy Saturday, Meg! Yes, there will be plenty of time for books and brew. As a matter of fact, I have all ready got a head-start. Grins...

Morning, Mark! Nice haul!! I am jealous of Jane Steele - I am wanting to read that one as both Katie and Roberta said it was very good.

Morning, Mamie! Thanks! I am with you on Jane Steele. It looks great. Suddenly my To-Read pile has exploded. I will have to reorganize my Must Read Now Shelf. Many books are going to be demoted. Poor things...

^Well, this was a nice surprise. Last Monday, I saw an email, pronouncing a Richard Russo event on Friday evening, out in the western suburbs. I called and expected to be far down on the signing list but was SHOCKED to hear that I would be lucky #13, (on the 13th). It was a no-brainer.

Russo was unpretentious. Funny and engaging. I would love to hear him speak for much longer. He was asked, who a few of his current favorite authors are and, like most of us, he had a huge list but did mention:

Kate Atkinson
Sarah Waters
Jess Walter

...he would fit in, perfectly around here.

**Thanks to my wife for taking such a good photo.

So cool!

So cool you met Russo! I want to read his new book.

Curious to hear what you friend picked up for you.

Happy weekend, Mark. May it be filled with lots of R&R.

>242 Crazymamie: B.A.G.

>243 alphaorder: Happy Sunday, Nancy! Russo was also at BEA yesterday, so he has been a busy man. Have you heard him speak?

It looks like my pal, came through for me yesterday. Many fine titles, including the Millard. Swoons...I will be meeting her later and I will post more booty.

>244 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Love the photo! And hooray for R & R.

>245 msf59:

I met Russo at BEA when Empire Falls was published. We hosted him for that book, but I was still at the convention, so I didn't get to hear him speak. I have heard many interviews over the year and really like listening to him.

I'll say it one more time. I highly recommend Interventions.

>246 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy! He did mention a story collection but I am not sure which one. I would love to read his short fiction.

I was hoping my pal could have picked up the new George Saunders novel, along with the new Patchett. But, I guess you can't have everything. Grins...

Wow - love the photo of you and Russo. And what a haul!

I'm enjoying the audio of Work Song. I used to work in Butte, which is still one of the unique-iest cities ex mining towns around.

>248 streamsong: Morning, Janet! Happy Sunday! Yep, very pleased with the book haul and more booty on the way. Books are treating me just fine.

I will definitely have to read more Doig. Glad Work Song is enjoyable. Will have to watch for it on audio.

Happy Weekend, Mark!

>241 msf59: Nice! Glad to hear he's an unpretentious guy, too.

Enjoy the days off, buddy.

>250 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! So glad we got to see Russo. If you ever have a chance...

Hope you have a good Saturday. We may go see Jungle Book...

>241 msf59: Great picture - you both look like you're having a good time. And how fun to meet an author you like.

I saw Jungle Book last weekend on Mother's Day. I thought it was great. Amazing technology.

>252 charl08: I wish I could have chatted more with, Russo! He sure sounds like a big book lover and we know something about that.

>253 streamsong: Hi, Janet! We are going to take a pass on Jungle Book, at least for today. I think kicking back is the plan.

Glad you liked the film.

Oh wow, Mark, you make Russo sound so nice that I feel guilty for skipping him for the AAC. I didn't like Empire Falls when I read it, but maybe it was bad timing.

Hey, wow, Warblin' Mark. Richard Russo. That's great; I'd like to hear him, get some books autographed.

This has been a great spring for you and book/author related events, Mark. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Happy Sunday, Mark. I hope it's a good one.

>255 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda! Russo got me pumped about reading more of his books. I loved Empire Falls but it took the AAC to get me kick-started and now, hearing him speak, has bumped it up even more. I hope to get to Nobody's Fool in the next month or 2.

>256 weird_O: Warblin' Mark! It does have a nice ring, Bill. Keep an eye out for Russo passing through PA. He is worth the effort.

>257 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I feel the same way about my biblio-luck. It has been wonderful and I still have a bag of BEA books to share with guys. The hits keep coming.

>258 Ameise1: Happy Sunday, Barb!

Trapeze

"See how the first dark takes the city in its arms
and carries it into what yesterday we called the future.

O, the dying are such acrobats.
Here you must take a boat from one day to the next,

or clutch the girders of the bridge, hand over hand.
But they are sailing like a pendulum between eternity and evening,

diving, recovering, balancing the air.
Who can tell at this hour seabirds from starlings,

wind from revolving doors or currents off the river.
Some are as children on swings pumping higher and higher.

Don't call them back, don't call them in for supper.
See, they leave scuff marks like jet trails on the sky."

-Deborah Digges

^I am enjoying my current collection of poetry, Trapeze: Poems. I am keeping the love going...

^I started this one yesterday. Rosalie Lightning: A Graphic Memoir is a heart-breaker but beautifully rendered, about a couple mourning the loss of their very young daughter.

Happy Chilly Sunday, Mark

>222 msf59: Oh! What a beautiful sight! Hmm, I think I own Disgrace

>241 msf59: Wow! You and Richard Russo! Hey that's pretty darn awesome! Did you mention to him that you had 1/2 of librarything reading him for your AAC?! I think that would get you a big discount on a book.

Hi Mark! It is always exciting to hear an author speak, much less able to speak with them personally. Great photo by your wife, glad you had a good time.

>262 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! It is cool here but at least we have sunshine, which is good since I have to cut the grass.

I am going to try to read Disgrace in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, I had no time to chat with Mr. Russo, otherwise I would have gladly bent his ear about the AAC. Funny, I was prowling the bookstore, beforehand, trying to spot him but no such luck.

>263 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen! I wish Mr. Russo could have been at Booktopia. I would have liked to have spent more time with him. Possibly over a beer or 2?

>265 msf59: I have fantasies about sitting down with some of my favorite authors and discussing Books, Life, and All That. Of course, half of my favorite authors are dead...

>266 karenmarie: I think we all have those fantasies too. Reading can be so intimate, that we think we know the author.

We will have to figure out how we can reanimate those dead ones! Grins...

Happy Sunday, Mark!

>61 msf59: "Like". Deborah Digges is new to me, and I'll have to find more of hers.

I finished Without: Poems, rec'd by Ellen, and I can second that recommendation. Very moving poems relating to the death of his wife, poet Jane Kenyon.

Hope it's a relaxing one for you.

With all the Russo talk, I'm going to push Straight Man up the stack and read it after I finish Orphan Master's Son

>268 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! The Digges collection really ended up growing on me. I wonder if that will be the process, in my poetry reading? All about rhythms...

I will start Without: Poems as soon as I finish the Digges.
Yep, most of my chores are done, time for the Cubs game and book time.

>269 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff! Russo definitely fired me up, about his books. I loved Straight Man and see no reason, why you shouldn't either.

I sure hope The Orphan Master's Son is ringing your bells.

Happy Sunday, Mark! Wonderful travel stories and pics. Such a great trip, ending with a package of books being delivered! What could be better? And how cool you met Russo and he turned out to be such a nice guy.

>271 Storeetllr: Happy Sunday, Mary! Good to see you. We had a terrific time on our New England adventure. We will have to go back at some point.

And yes, suddenly I have a whole new batch of books to read. It is mind blowing!

>270 msf59: Orphan is a delightfully weird book. The first half I was thinking a weird Walter Mitty, then it took a turn and I felt shades of Catch-22. THEN, I read probably the most disturbing piece of prose I've ever read (and I read a lot of Clive Barker in my youth) and I was hooked for the full surreal ride.

Not done, but a very challenging (in a good way) book. Great imaginings of the innerworkings of such a closed off culture.

>273 mahsdad: Excellent observations about Orphan Master, Jeff. I think we will share very similar feelings. One thing is for sure, this guy can write.

^I have had a glorious glut of biblio-treats these past 2 weeks or so and this should be the other book-end. Suzanne, our LT pal, picked these books up from BEA for little old me and it was a nice trove of goodies.

Of course, the new Millard is super exciting but the Whitehead, Mullen, Winters and Parkhurst are all very special too, plus some very interesting possibilities too.

Big Hugs to Suzanne!!

So cool that you got to sit beside Richard Russo, even I have not read one of his books as of yet! Oh I am famous by association! :)

>241 msf59: *drool*
You are basically a literary celebrity now, Mark!!

>276 vancouverdeb: >277 LovingLit: Yep, just schmoozing with the biblio-bigwigs! What can I say! Honestly, I wish I could have sat down with him and had a beer or 2.

Big waves to Deb & Megan!

Glad you enjoyed The Mirror Thief. I've heard really great things about it.

>275 msf59: I'll be interested to hear what you think of the stuff that you DIDN'T request!! :-)

>279 The_Hibernator: I hope you can track down a copy, Rachel! It's a good read.

>280 Chatterbox: Happy Sunday, Suzanne! I am definitely interested in the Sneed, the WWII book and the Hicks novel. You made good choices.

Thanks again, my friend.

>275 msf59: Nice book haul, Mark. Wishing you a wonderful day.

>275 msf59: Oh I want to read the new Ben Winters. Looking forward to hearing what you think of that one! Such an interesting set up.

>282 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Glad you like the book haul. hope you had a good weekend.

>283 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! I like the premise to Underground Airlines too. Fingers crossed.

^When I was driving around on Saturday, I dipped into the audio of Splitfoot. Talk about dark & creepy! With echoes of Geek Love. Glad I love that stuff and look forward to going full throttle today.

Just a few pages remain in This House of Sky, (did not quite finish it yesterday) and then The Bird Artist...

My To-Read stack, suddenly is looming like Everest.

Morning, Mark! Wow - you have been enjoying an avalanche of good books lately. Another great haul!

>266 karenmarie: >267 msf59: Perhaps a call to Melisandre is in order. (GOT fans will know what I mean ;0) )

>275 msf59: Well, you lucky dog you! Good thing I can slobber all over my monitor without ruining your new books.

I'm sure you'll be walking your route smiling ear to ear!

I thought I'd mention that the newest Anthony Bourdain travel episode that aired last night is about Montana - with quite a longish section on Butte for anyone reading Work Song. (Although how Bourdain visited Butte without eating a miners' pasty, a very dense meat and potato hand pie that Butte is very proud of - is a mystery.)

There is also an interview and some poetry by the recently deceased and obviously very frail Jim Harrison.

Good morning, Mark!

We've got some improved weather for you out there.

Dancing at the Rascal Fair has picked up a bit for me, although I still have a long ways to go. Have you ever heard of the GN Torpedo? I picked it up with the third Lucifer (I'm liking the Lucifer series very much, but suspect it's not one you'd have a similar reaction to).

>285 msf59: Hi Mark, boy, you have gotten some great books! I loved Geek Love when I read it many years ago. I made the mistake of recommending it to a customer of mine who was an avid reader and he told me that he could never look at me the same again! I think I scared him after that recommendation. Did you hear that Katherine Dunn just recently died, I think of lung cancer. I was sad to hear that. Sure wish this weather would warm up a little. I had to bring in all the container pots that I just planted and they're warming in the living room until Spring gets back to NJ. Have a great week.

>286 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Yep, I am suddenly overwhelmed with books. Haven't even started shelving them yet...

>287 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! Nice shout out to the Red Woman. I am quite pleased with my various book hauls but it sure becomes daunting.

>288 streamsong: Thanks for that, Janet. Did you happen to share it on the Doig thread?

>289 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Nice start to the day but back to cool tomorrow, so I left the shorts home, at least until the end of the week.
Have not heard of Torpedo. Always like those GN recs.

>290 Dianekeenoy: Speaking of Geek Love (which I have to get BTW), did you see that the author passed away recently?

http://boingboing.net/2016/05/13/katherine-dunn-author-of-ge.html

>290 Dianekeenoy: Hi, Diane! Thanks for chiming in on Geek Love. Love your story and clearly see that happening. I read it last year. It is one you will never forget. Sad that we lost Dunn. She didn't write much else, correct?

>292 mahsdad: Thanks, Jeff, for supplying the link. Try to read it, when you get a chance but brace yourself, it is a doozy!

I haven't fallen off the face of the planet - yet. I am now in Kansas and don't have regular access to the internet. Even my cell phone won't work properly. I finished, what for me, is the best book of the year. River of Stars by Guy Gaveriel Kay is just as good as the first book in the series Under Heaven. Mark - you have got to read these two books. The 600 pages of River just swept by. They are wonderful storytelling. Now I have to read the other books by him. This guy is a great writer.

I am pumped about River of Stars! Can you tell?

This is warbling about a book - this is shouting about this one. Read It!!!!!!

Oh dear God, a new Candice Millard?!!! On to the list it goes...

>290 Dianekeenoy: >293 msf59: I have wanted to read Geek Love and I also heard that the author died recently, sad news!
I must check the library for it...

Sad about katherine Dunn.

A new Millard? Hooray! She could write about anything--lint filters, say--and I would read it. But this book sounds great!

Millard, indeed! On to my list as well. I enjoyed the audio of Destiny of the Republic I think I will stick to that format for this one as well.

Pardon my density here, but are all of these title ARCs?

>294 benitastrnad: Glad you haven't fallen off the earth, Benita. Whew! This is sure a long vacation. Hope you are enjoying it. When do you get back?

So you liked River of Stars? I wasn't quite sure and I wanted to make sure. Grins...

>295 drneutron: >297 banjo123: A new Millard is always a celebration. I agree. I just wish I could have met her. Slight crush, you know...

>296 LovingLit: Geek Love is super dark, super creepy and one of a kind. Her passing is sad.

>297 banjo123: Millard has a book coming out about lint-filters? I am in too. Yah!!

>298 brodiew2: We definitely love Millard around here Brodie!

To answer your question: The books in #275 are all ARCs, as far as I know. And you are not dense at all...