Joe's Book Cafe 2016 Door 11

Paintings by Henri Matisse

Welcome to the new cafe!

They liked this one I wrote over on the AAC Poetry Month thread, so I thought I should share it here, too.

A Good Book

Here goes:
Miles Vorkosigan, the pluckster,
Any time. A mystery set in
Asia, most rainy days and
Train rides. Easy Rawlins, Fearless
Jones, Socrates Fortlow, R.L., every
Difficult day. Sharpe and Harper,
Wherever they march again. John
Berryman, shaking that word cup.
Billy Collins, shoveling snow and
Drinking cocoa. James Wright
Dragging a hand in the black river.
Robert Bly, fresh snow on the mailbox.
Sharon Olds when I cut myself,
Homer, when life needs to be bigger.
Spenser and Hawk, for a snack.
Wodehouse, when it's bubbly time, with
Music hall on the radio.
Dean Young for surprises.
Dickens, for family and a
Blanket by the fire.
Harry Potter to cheer and find out.
Jane Austen, to travel slowly, and
Patiently, correctly, find satisfaction.
William Gibson, for Sarah Sze in words.
Haruki Murakami, for unsettling shapes in a darkened room,
Neruda for passion. Yeats for
Fife and fairy and bee-loud glade.
T.S. Eliot for a hand at the
Shade, above the early morning
Slowly stirring street.

OK, for those of you who enjoyed the poem up in >2 jnwelch: jnwelch:, here's one of mine called "Dream Baby". It's absolutely chock full of useful advice.

Dream Baby

Dream lightly, then glide
Wakefully through a loose-lipped life
Bang each drum brought your way
Apologize where necessary
When tossed a ball, toss it back
When planted in the ground, be sure to multiply
Given twenty, save ten, spend
Ten, make up ten, and dedicate ten
Dream lightly, but carry a big lipstick
When randomized, pour concrete
When straitjacketed, get Houdini
And apply your favorite decals.

Give everyone the time of day
When you can, or are grateful.
Trade membership in a high society
For inkwells and clarinets.
Donate all largesse to various
Open-eyed wanderers.
When left in front, consider the back.
If no car appears,
Dream lightly, and leave no prints.

If tomorrow will not come, split
Up today. If today convenes
At a special time, then
Give it a bump and a boot.
Triangles can add up, squares, too.
Give no quarter, but consider larger
Amounts, or more than one.
Dream lightly, and leave the prince behind.

Don't buy the party line, but
Please consider the conga line.
If the shoes fit someone else,
Try on some sandals.
Dream lightly, and dance
Whenever asked, or not.

If you spot a star somewhere overhead
Imagine a life you think cannot be.
Dream lightly, then come to me.
I'm waiting serious/not serious
As can be.

2016 Books

January

1. Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson
2. Saint Odd by Dean Koontz
3. Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich
4. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
5. Cold Mountain by Han Shan (re-read)
6. Bryant & May and the Burning Man by Christopher Fowler
7. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler
8. Valis by Philip K. Dick
9. Neon Vernacular by Yusef Komunyaka

February

10. Tokyo Decadence by Ryu Murakami
11. The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
12. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold
13. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
14. Martian Time-Slip by Philip K. Dick
15. The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
16. Natural Birth by Toi Derricotte
17. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver
18. Winterdance by Gary Paulsen
19. Heap House by Edward Carey

March

20. Evicted by Matthew Desmond
21. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
22. Voyage of the Sable Venus by Robin Coste Lewis
23. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
24. Dead Man's Mirror by Agatha Christie
25. White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones
26. Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs
27. Divine Invasion by Philip K. Dick
28. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
29. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
30. Fair Game by Patricia Briggs
31. Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs
32. Venetia by Georgette Heyer
33. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
34. Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer

April

35. Off the Grid by C.J. Box
36. Lighthead by Terrence Hayes
37. At The Threshold of Memory by Marjorie Agosin
38. A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin
39. Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
40. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
41. Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith
42. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Inga Moore (re-read)
43. The Transmigration of Timothy Archer by Philip K. Dick
44. In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan
45. Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb
46. The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
47. Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer
48. The Bangkok Asset by John Burdett
49. The Swallows by Adriana Ramirez
50. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
51. The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell
52. The Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

May

53. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
54. Shaman Pass by Stan Jones
55. Poems from the Typewriter Series by Tyler Knott Gregson
56. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
57. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
58. Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie
59. Without: Poems by Donald Hall
60. Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig
61. A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler
62. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan



Graphic Novels

1. The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker
2. Concrete Park by Tony Puryear
3. The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua
4. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
5. Killing and Dying by Adrian Tomine
6. Sleeper by Ed Brubaker
7. Where is Jake Ellis by Nathan Edmondson
8. Lucifer by Mike Carey
9. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Omnibus by Philip K. Dick
10. Super Mutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
11. The Fade Out Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
12. Low Moon by Jason
13. The Fade Out Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
14. Fatale by Ed Brubaker
15. Demo by Brian Wood
16. Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna
17. Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton
18. The Property by Rutu Modan
19. Descender by Jeff Lemire
20. Ms. Marvel Vol. 4 by G. Willow Wilson
21. The Sleeper Omnibus by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
22. Lucifer Volume 2 by Mike Carey
23. Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan
24. The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks
25. Ruins by Peter Kuper
26. Harrow County by Cullen Bunn
27. The Story of Mu by James Cordova
28. Torpedo Volume 1 by Enrique Sanchez Abuli

OK, here are our new bookshelves in our family room, surrounding the tv cabinet. Before filling and not-quite-after, as we're still moving books onto the shelves.

Joe's Top Reads for 2015

Book of the Year: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Fiction

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Non-fiction

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Graphic Novels

Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman

Mystery

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Ancillary series by Ann Leckie

Top 5 First Quarter of 2016

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Tokyo Decadence by Ryu Murakami (finally available in the U.S.)
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Top graphic novels so far in '16:

Super Mutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
The Sleeper Omnibus by Ed Brubaker
The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks

Happy New Thread, Joe! Nice toppers! I think the sun is trying to emerge and it feels good. Finally brought the shorts out. Yah!

Salt to the Sea has been very good.

>6 jnwelch: Thanks, Mark!

Sun! I'll get out there at lunch time. Shorts weather? All right. That's like the groundhog coming out, only better.

Yes, agreed. I'm liking Salt to the Sea very much. I'm encouraged that so many teens are reading it (it's on the YA bestseller lists); this is a story and part of history they need to know.

The YA tag is pretty broad on this one. Same as Anna and the Swallow Man. I wonder if it is easier to publish these books if it is considered YA?

Hey, I am just glad they are out in the world.

Street art for ya, Joe.

Happy new one, Joe!

Taking my usual seat...waiting for something scrumptious (food-wise) to appear...

Getting into the cafe early for a change! I love your poem, Joe, what a great philosophy to live by. Those bookshelves are making me drool. Isn't it fun to have lots of new shelves to fill!

>9 msf59: Yes, so true, Mark. The Book Thief being YA here and not in its home country (Australia) is another good example of that. The bookseller at Roscoe Books said the same thing about Anna and the Swallow Man - he thought it should be shelved in literature. That one comes up soon for me.

Yeah, I'm just glad they're out in the world, too. For some reason I have no trouble adjusting to books pitched to a younger age, including middle grade books and even picture books for kids younger than that. But some folks do. That wouldn't be a reason not to read Salt to the Sea or The Book Thief (or, it sounds like, Anna and the Swallow Man), IMO.

>10 weird_O: That's so thoughtful of you, Bill. Beautifully lettered, isn't it. And "Dung" can be a verb - maybe this is an anti-war commentary? :-)

>11 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

>12 laytonwoman3rd: Ah, glad you found your usual seat, Linda. Hmm. Something scrumptious from the kitchen. How about something light for lunch?



>13 DeltaQueen50: Hiya, Judy!

Thanks re the poem! I'm glad you get the philosophy of it. Reminds me of one of Madame MBH's sayings - "If they don't like you, screw 'em!"

Glad you're liking those new shelves. Yes, one of life's great joys is having empty shelves to fill, isn't it. We're still strategizing a bit.

>16 jnwelch: Make that a double! That looks delicious!

Good morning, Joe! Good to see you have a new thread going.

>16 jnwelch: That looks delicious and not very hard to make. Is there a recipe or name for it?

>17 Crazymamie: Doesn't that look delicious, Mamie?

We're bringing out more.



>18 brodiew2: Good morning/afternoon, Brodie! (We've already switched over here in the heartland). Thanks.

I agree. I'd scarf that up in RL. It's from a food photographer who doesn't say, but to me it's a bruschetta on flatbread - mozzarella, fresh tomato, and basil. Not very hard to make is right.

Margarita pizza.

>20 Crazymamie: To me, the non-oven element (no melted cheese) would make it something else, but I defer to those who know a heck of a lot more about it than I do.

If it's a margarita pizza, here's one classic recipe, Brodie:

Sometimes you just can't beat a classic like fresh and simple Margherita Pizza. This homemade pizza recipe hits the spot and is so easy to make!
Ingredients:

1/2 recipe homemade pizza crust
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves roasted garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup your favorite pizza or tomato sauce
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/2 inch thick pieces
2 plum tomatoes, sliced (or any tomato you like)
handful of fresh basil
fresh ground pepper, to taste

Directions:

Prepare the pizza dough through step 11, including preheating the oven to 475F as described in step 8.
Mix the olive oil and chopped garlic together in a small dish. After waiting 15 minutes as described in step 11, spread olive oil/garlic mixture on top of crust. Top with pizza sauce, then the mozzarella cheese slices, then the tomato slices.
Bake for 14-16 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned and the cheese is bubbling. For the last minute, I move the oven rack to the top rack to really brown the edges. That's optional.
Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil and pepper. Slice pizza and serve immediately. Store leftover pizza covered tightly in the refrigerator and reheat as you prefer. Baked pizza slices may be frozen up to 1 month.
Please see homemade pizza crust recipe for how to make ahead and freeze the pizza dough.

http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/07/15/classic-margherita-pizza/

ETA: Here's one for bruschetta: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/tomato-mozzarella-and-bas...

It does have slightly melted cheese:

1 (32-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained (why not use fresh?)
1 cup fresh basil leaves, washed and spun dry
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 large French baquettes, sliced 1-inch thick (about 36 slices)
1 1/2 pounds fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Add Checked Items To Grocery List

Directions
Watch how to make this recipe.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In the bowl of a food processor, add drained tomatoes, 1 cup basil leaves, olive oil and 2 cloves garlic. Pulse until smooth, but somewhat chunky. Season with salt and pepper.

On a baking sheet, line up baguette slices. Toast in oven for about 3 minutes or until light golden brown. Working quickly, rub the remaining garlic on the toasted side of each slice and then lay a piece of mozzarella cheese on top. Place bread back in oven and melt cheese slightly, about 45 seconds. Remove from oven and spread one tablespoon of the tomato mixture on each piece.

Place bruschetta on decorative platter and garnish with basil leaves.

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

By David Zinn

Isn't that buffalo mozzarella cheese in >16 jnwelch:?

>23 Crazymamie: I don't know, Mamie. The no doubt excellent food photographer has left us guessing.

It may well be.

Pizza looks lovely Joe. And the Matisse of course. Happy new thread.

>22 jnwelch: Sweet! I love three dimensional street art. Now with monsters!

Okay then. I said Margarita pizza, which I LOVE because I thought it was melted buffalo mozzarella on there. I totally agree that melted cheese is a key ingredient of any pizza.

Landed in Birmingham last night and am now in Hopkinsville, Ky on my way to Kansas to attend the other nieces graduation from Kansas State University.

I have not read Keith McCaferty myself. I heard him speak in Chicago at an ALA conference. He has a series of mysteries set in the Bozeman area. The detective is a fly fishing guide and expert. I had picked up a couple of the books at ALA and sent them to my sister. She convinced her book club to read one and she thinks they are good. She sent the title that they read as a book club selection home with me,so I will have to read it.

I loved that Blue Bear at the Convention Center in Denver. It is so cool! and seeing it in real life makes it amazing. The art around Bozeman is really cool as well. There is a sculptor who does monumental metal art. His work is all around the area. There is a larger than life size horse at the entrance of the Museum of the Rockies. My favorite is the series titled Blue Horses. These are placed on a hillside over by Three Forks. They are placed on the hillside so that they overlook the highway that goes north to Helena from I90. The grouping is very impressive and have become a tourist attraction. We saw them the morning that we went to Wheat Montana to eat breakfast. (I love that place!) Wheat Montana is a company that produces, processes, and markets flour products from Montana. I almost had to pay over-weight charges on my suitcase because I stocked up on flour products from them. The man who owns Wheat Montana paid for the Blue Horses art installation. I think it was a great use of the money.

>25 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. Glad you found the new place. Who knew Matisse had done so many paintings of women reading? There are others besides these four.

>26 brodiew2: Ha! The 3D street art is fun, isn't it, Brodie? This David Zinn is a master of it. Love his monsters.

>27 Crazymamie: Thanks for pitching in, Mamie. I think we've got Brodie covered for it every which way.

>28 benitastrnad: I think in your honor the Allman Bros. need a sequel to their "Rambling Man" song called "Rambling Woman", Benita. You are moving about the map with alacrity.

Sounds like it may be worth giving Keith McCafferty a try based on your sister's reaction.

I'll bet that big blue bear at the Colorado Convention Center is amazing to see in person. Very clever.

I think these are a couple of the Blue Horse sculptures near Three Forks? Supposedly there are around 30 of them? I bet they're awesome in person.



Wheat Montana sounds great, too. I'll have to ask my Helena-based sister and BIL whether they know about it and the sculptures.

That is them! (The horses.) They are made out of some kind of steel alloy that gives them the blue cast. They are all placed in ways to provide great views of them from the highway. They are mounted in cement and have been there about 5 or so years. There is now a turn-out for all the people who stop to see them, but no signs or other explanations- yet. They are placed quite a distance from the road and there is no walking trail. They are on private land, but I think they are so popular that there soon will be more of an effort to capitalize on their popularity. I think that they are all life-size because they sure look live from the road.

I also wanted to tell you that I love Mary Renault's books. There are several of them that I have not read, but I want to get to in the future. Probably, when I retire.

>31 benitastrnad: Beautiful! Thanks for mentioning them, Benita.

>32 benitastrnad: I love Mary Renault's books, too. I read a whole bunch of them when I was a young guy, and that quality was high in each and every one of them. The King Must Die, Fire From Heaven, The Persian Boy, Last of the Wine, The Bull from the Sea, The Mask of Apollo, The Charioteer, The Praise Singer, all great.

Congrats on your shiny new thread, Joe. I love the Matisse paintings.

>16 jnwelch: - I definitely think that's melted mozzarella, but the thick crust throws me off as pizza. And to me, bruschetta has chopped elements.

I'd call it a caprese focaccia :)

Happy new thread, Joe!

Great new thread, Joe. Love the Matisse, and love the bookshelves--what a great way to use that space in your house!

Happy New Thread, Joe! Love the Matisse. Wonderful new book shelves!

Happy new thread, Joe. Great art and scrumptious lunch, what more could one ask - maybe some wine to go with?

The horse sculptures reminded me of this Scottish pair of 'Kelpies', in Falkirk Scotland



http://www.thehelix.co.uk/things-to-do/the-kelpies/

Morning, Joe!

Happy new thread, Joe!!

>34 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. Glad you found the new place, and that you like those Matisses.

>35 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

Yeah, I thought about foccacia. You may be right - I've seen ones that look kinda like this one.

Maybe we should have a "mystery dish" contest every once in a while. Unfortunately, with this one, the photographer was so taken with its beauty that he forgot to say what it was.

>36 kac522: Thank you, Kathy! Our friend Matisse had an affinity for women reading, so he goes up even higher in my estimation.

Glad you like the new shelves. We're really happy with them. They're the third set we've had this guy do. He lined our basement den with some beauties, part of which was shown in Mark's Super Bowl pic back at the start of the year.

>37 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! We've got a party on Saturday (part of a neighborhood traveling party), so we'll be showing off those shelves. We do have some book reader neighbors, so they should enjoy that.

Glad you like the Matisse art. I was surprised by how many he painted involving reading.

>38 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Great art, scrumptious lunch, hmm. What's missing? By George I think you've got it. Wine it is.

>39 charl08: I can see why, Charlotte. Jeez, those are huge. The people look tiny next to them.

I want to get back to Scotland. We loved it there.

>40 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

Is it a nice weather day at the Pecan Paradisio? Hope all is well with the clan.

>41 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

Good Thursday morning to you, Joe! What a treat your threads continue to be. As you know, I'm not hanging out in LT as much as I used go do, but I continue to keep up with you because of the visual delights here. Occasionally, I think perhaps there is too much to make my mouth water, and then I say, nope, its is all good!

By Santiago Picculo

>45 maggie1944: Good morning, Karen!

I know you're a busy lady, but I'm glad you're still able to stop by. We'll keep the visual delights coming. Hope all is well with you on this fine day.

>46 jnwelch: Love that one! Very nice here today - currently 72 and going to 88 today. Gorgeous right now, but we might get some showers later.

>47 jnwelch: Isn't that one in >46 jnwelch: cool, Mamie? One of my favorites.

Ah, you picked a good place to live. That sounds gorgeous indeed. And the pecan trees and your plants and flowers will welcome any showers. Rain is good for reading, too, right?

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys is an excellent novel set during WWII. It centers around three teenagers who, along with others, are trying to escape war-torn East Prussia in 1945. Joana is a generous-spirited Lithuanian nurse, a critical skill for those fleeing; reluctant-to-give-his-name Florian is a mysterious Prussian who is on a personal mission that aligns with those fleeing; and Emilia, saved by Florian from a predatory soldier, is a damaged but determined Polish girl with her own secret. Their stories are interspersed with that of the insufferably self-centered Alfred, a late-developed Hitler youth, devoted to the Fuhrer, who unwittingly assists their flight. The "liberating" Russians are even more dangerous than the still hopeful German soldiers, and we get to see multitudes of people suffering from the clash of powers. Many others join the teenagers in the sustained flight, including the beloved "shoe poet", a cobbler who gets insights into others based on their footwear, and giant stubborn Eva who has disdain for everyone except the nurse Joana.

The chapters are short, and the pages move fast. It all feels as if it could easily be real - and it is indeed based on extensive research and interviews by the author, as discussed in her afterword. The ship they all seek to board to get away is a real one, the Wilhelm Gustlof, and its little-known real life destiny is dramatic. Harrowing images of danger and loss are leavened by the growing bonds of those traveling together, including a key romantic one. Sepetys has given a moving tribute to those often forgotten victims of wars, people who have no stake in the conflict and hope only to survive and find some place safe.

Morning Joe! Sweet Thursday! Great review of Salt to the Sea. Big Thumb! Plus you saved me writing one but I will warble about it anyway, and should finish it this afternoon.

I did not realize you had a Montana-based sister. Is she a reader? If so, has she read Doig?

Nice review, Joe! Thumb from me if you posted it. Mark was just recommending that one over on my thread, so I'll add you to the credits for recommending it.

Happy new thread, Joe.

Enjoyed 'Dream Baby'; nice rhythm, a coda to live by.

Salt to the Sea looks a winner too.

>51 msf59: Morning Mark!

I like it when we both warble about the same book. That should help spread the word about this one. Thanks for the thumb!

My Montana-based sister is a reader, although not as much as me, and her husband is, too. I'll have to ask her about Doig. They're very Montana-proud since moving there from Chicago a number of years ago, and I'd be surprised if they weren't enthusiastic readers of his books.

>52 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! The review should be there on the book page. Thanks for the thumb!

Like Mark, I think Salt to the Sea is one you'd really appreciate.

>53 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.

Ah, good to hear re "Dream Baby". I posted the poems with some trepidation, as I'm sure you can appreciate. I'll try to find another one that fits here this weekend or the next (our schedule is getting loaded).

Yes, Salt to the Sea is a winner. Now I need to track down her Between Shades of Gray, another WWII story that's supposed to be mighty good.

>55 jnwelch: When I put up some of my own scribblings, Joe, it was in the knowledge that the group is sensitive enough to criticize in a manner that would encourage rather than discourage. You have little need of trepidation, Joe, good sense and humanity speaks eloquently in your lines, buddy.

#39
Those Kelpies are so cool! I would travel there to see them rising from the sea.

A book about them that would be a good read while contemplating them is The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. It is a great book by a very strong YA author. It is a stand alone title - no series with this one.

>46 jnwelch: I love it! The goggles are awesome. Her sullen, disaffected attitude works well. I'm not sure about the red star. It reminds me of Che' imagery.

Joe, I'm considering purchasing Girl Waits With Gun. What did you like most about it?

lovely new thread, dear Prop. so much numptious stuff but i'm never coming here again never ever am i coming because here i am now and already in this coming here, salt to the sea has found its way into my audible cart. *sigh*

>1 jnwelch: the 2nd woman down reading either has a headache, can't understand the book or her shoes are too tight. i like me a Matisse or two from time to time.

stunning horses.

ahem, Prop, the poems in this thread have been previously posted and are therefore enjoyable in the way of old and familiar friends in whom one relishes the known and yet forever finds something new and remarkable, but isn't it time for another one, new to us and aching to be met by welcoming patrons?

finally, i've brought a tasty morsel and am hoping you have a crusty roll or similar to go with it. fortunately, it's a bottomless morsel so others may share. :-)



eta: >46 jnwelch: how wonderful

Oh, yes, I would love a portion of the above salad, and a crusty roll, with lots of sweet creamery butter, too! And perhaps, a nice cup of tea would be nice with these fine foods! Your place is always a joy.

>56 PaulCranswick: It's been a long time for me, mate. Lots of years charging up the hill; hard to realize I can stroll the fields now and look around. You're right about the group; very encouraging.

>57 benitastrnad: Those kelpies are cool, aren't they, Benita. I've heard of The Scorpio Races, and I know our daughter has read and liked Maggie Stiefvater. Thanks for putting it on our radar.

>58 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie. I'm glad you love that one, too. Yes, sullen, disaffected attitude. Well put. I just connected the red star with her sleeves, but it may well be the artist had something else in mind.

Girl Waits with Gun - I don't think I reviewed that one. What I liked is the Kopp sisters, and particularly Constance, a character you can really root for. Here's a blurb from the Washington Post that covers it pretty well:

"Constance Kopp, the feisty heroine of Amy Stewart’s charming novel 'Girl Waits With Gun,' sounds like the creation of a master crime writer. At nearly 6 feet tall, Constance is a formidable character who can pack heat, deliver a zinger and catch a criminal without missing a beat. Based on the little-known story of the real Constance Kopp, one of America’s first female deputy sheriffs, the novel is an entertaining and enlightening story of how far one woman will go to protect her family."

>61 jnwelch: Thanks for the input, Joe. I'm gonna buy it!

>59 mirrordrum: Hiya, Ellie!

We pride ourselves on numptious vittles, and boy howdy are we glad you're here to sample them.

Salt to the Sea is quite the fine one, and I'll bet on the audio they have different voices (and maybe even narrators?) for the four teens, which would add to the experience, I imagine. Please report back when you get to it, which I know may take a while among all the bountiful gems we're given here.

Ha! You're right about the woman reading in the second one down. I thought she looked filled with disgruntlement, maybe based on what's in the book? "Are you kidding me?", she seems to be saying. The one in the middle of that one seems a bit surprised that we've shown up to look at them.

Point well taken, and appreciated, re the poems. I didn't have time to find a fitting one last weekend thanks to a full schedule, and we're looking at something similar this weekend. Lots of folks on Saturday, and then our niece visiting from LA on Sunday. But I'll try to find something. Your reaction is a lot better than, would you mind not bringing that kind of junk around these here parts no more, pardner?

That is a photogenic and tasty morsel you brought, all right, and thanks for sharing. I know we've got some crusty bread around here somewheres.



Isn't >46 jnwelch: a wonder?

>60 maggie1944: Hiya, Karen!

I always say, you can't beat our prices. Or the generosity of our patrons.

Let's get you that crusty roll to go with, as we say here in Chicago. (Madame MBH always responds, "to go with what? You have to say what it goes with"). Not to mention my love of dangling prepositions.

Plus we need some sweet creamery butter and tea. OK, here we go.





>62 brodiew2: Glad to help, buddy. Let us know what you think of it.

>1 jnwelch: >59 mirrordrum: 2nd one down. She appears annoyed that she cannot get any reading done because her mother and sister are talking overhead.

>63 jnwelch: >64 jnwelch: that bread looks so good! I'm a bread fiend. I admit.

>64 jnwelch: :-) Good one.

Oh good, more love for Salt to the Sea! I didn't know what the outcome would be, so I was on the edge of my seat reading the end of the story for sure. My teen librarian talked me into reading it, and I'm certainly not sorry.

Love the pics and recipes for margherita pizzas. Yum! I don't often splurge on fresh mozzarella, but I did recently. I make my own pizza crust and love a good white pizza topped with whatever I feel like at the moment. (Why anyone uses cooked/canned tomatoes instead of fresh in ANYTHING is beyond me...)

>63 jnwelch: shirker. in re: poetry, that is. oh, btw, i love having your previous writings reposted each new thread. please continue. i really do enjoy rereading them and love not having to search.

>65 brodiew2: >1 jnwelch: oh that's marvelous, Brodie. when i could read visually, crowds could scream and natter about me and i'd never know it.

>61 jnwelch: girl waits with gun. ka-ching goes the catch radisher at audible.com checkout. i keep telling you, i'm not coming here anymore ever again. i used to love the sound of those old cash registers at JC Penney in my yoot. oh and yes, they do have a whole bunch of narrators for the salt book.

>64 jnwelch: Madame MBH always responds, "to go with what? You have to say what it goes with." i like her more and more. also "come" instead of "come in." the first in each case leaves me feeling suspended.

have a lovely eve, dear Joe.

>67 bell7: Yes, you and me both, Mary. Great storytelling - I was at the edge of my seat, too. I couldn't believe it when umph mmm ya know happened, on top of everything else they'd been through.

We love fresh mozzarella, too, and fresh parmesan is another one. I couldn't believe it when canned tomatoes showed up in that recipe - even bachelors (I remember the days) can do better than that. Oo, you make your own pizza crust. We may be heading your way soon. (My wife grew up in Pittsfield, in the Berkshires, and my dad grew up in Walpole, near Boston. Are you in western or eastern Mass?)

>68 mirrordrum: They call me Shirker Khan, Ellie. You remember my hit song, "I'm Every Woman"? No, I made that up. They call me Shirker-ah. You remember my hit song, "Hips Don't Lie"? Oh, never mind.

I'm glad you like the poem re-postings. I was of two minds, but I figured some patrons probably missed them the first time around, and others would be okay with their reappearance. Enjoyment of re-reading them - you lift my heart, dear friend.

I'm like you were when it comes to print reading - when I'm in a book, screaming and nattering is in some other world that doesn't reach me.

I'm like that watching sports, too. Madame MBH taught the kids to swat me on the leg to get my attention if a game was on. More than once if necessary. :-) Of course, they loved that, the little brats.

To think that Constance in Girl Waits with Gun is based on a real person, and the events to a large extent are fact-based, is mind-boggling.

I love your expression "cash radishers"! I worked more than one old-timey one in my day, but I have to admit, the fancy cash radishing they do at Starbucks impresses me.

Yes, you also would like Madame MBH more and more in person. She knows her own mind and isn't shy about it. She just needs to learn to be more tolerant of regional dialect. (Fat chance).

You have a lovely eve, too, my friend.

>69 Rosemarie_Cortez: A spammer! Haven't seen one of those in a while. Let's see if I remember how to flag it. I bet "Rosemarie"'s popping up all over the place.

Sent you a PM regarding how to find the LT's oracle. I hope it makes sense to you, otherwise maybe someone else here on LT can explain where to find it ? Best of luck, Joe!

>72 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! That made sense and worked perfectly. Thank you for taking the time to explain it. I'll have fun with that.

I'm a pushover for a pug.

Morning Joe! Happy Friday! I have the weekend off. Yah! Love a short work week. I also have an LT pal, picking me up a few books from BEA. Life is good!

Loving This House of Sky. You will love it.

ETA: Hey, I hit post #75! Sweet!

Happy Friday, Mark!

The weekend off - a rarity for you, I know. Great!

We thought about trying to go to BEA, and decided not to. Perfect to have an LT pal pick up a few books for you.

Looking forward to reading The House of Sky some day, based on your endorsement. Dancing at the Rascal Fair is very good, no complaints, but I'm not racing through it.

Lucky 75th post in the 75er group - you'll probably want to buy a lottery ticket today. :-)

I wanted to like Shrunken Treasures, an ER book I received. Nine literary classics (The Odyssey, 1001 Nights, Jane Eyre, Moby-Dick, The Metamorphosis, Remembrance of Things Past, Don Quixote, Hamlet, Frankenstein) are reduced to short verses in a "versizer" and illustrated. I enjoyed Henrik Lange's 90 Classic Books for People in a Hurry, for example, distilling classics to four panel cartoons (hilarious!), and the Cozy Classics versions of books like Pride and Prejudice, short children's books simplified to one word pages featuring photos of well-made cloth doll characters (you have to see one for that to make sense). So I was ready to enjoy this one.

Nope.

The illustrations by author Scott Nash are fine, if not exactly my taste. It's the choices made in "versizing" the stories. Any darkness is avoided, and of course all of these classic stories in the original have that to some extent. Rather than doing witty verses that account for that darkness in some way, the stories are toned down and cheered up. Ahab ends up riding the white whale, rather than . . . Odysseus ends up pushing all the suitors over, rather than . . . ("Odysseus is not a wussie", it begins. Groan).

“No sissy was Ulysses:/He journeyed ‘cross the sea/ And risked his life/To find his wife/The sweet Penelope” is not as bad as that "wussie" line, and one I loved was the very short distillation of Proust's Remembrance of Things Past, emphasizing the dipping of a cake. Hamlet as a great "Dane" (dog) had possibilities, but the sanitizing was really disappointing. The idea of this book, I assume, is to interest young readers by introducing these classics in an accessible way, while also entertaining adults who know the originals. Unfortunately, it falls short on both counts, IMO. These banal versions are unlikely to trigger a young reader's desire to read the originals (some darkness surely would have, as has been true from the earliest fairy tales), and adults like me will feel short-changed. Go have fun with 90 Classic Books for People in a Hurry instead.

>77 jnwelch: OK, added 90 Classic Books to the wishlist. Thanks Joe!

>78 charl08: Ha! Kind of weird, I know, to tout it in a review of another book, Charlotte, but I'm glad you WL'd it. So much fun, that one. You're welcome!

Mmm, thanks for the wine, Joe. Crusty bread with butter is some of my favourite food as well - and tea to boot. The fare at the cafe is very tempting lately.

>50 jnwelch: You hit me with a BB for Salt to the Sea Joe. I have Sepetys' earlier novel (Between Shades of Grey) also set in WWII on Mt TBR.

Happy weekend, Joe.

>80 Familyhistorian: You're welcome, Meg. Glad the cafe fare is so temptacious these days. I love crusty bread and butter, too.

>81 souloftherose: Oh good, Heather. Glad you're going to read Salt to the Sea. Really good. Yes, now I want to read her Between Shades of Gray, which has gotten lots of positive buzz, too.

>82 Ameise1: Ha! Wonderful, Barbara. Happy Weekend to you, too. I hope you're continuing to enjoy your holiday.

I know some people don't like art dolls, but I enjoy this one by Jenny Meilihove.

>84 jnwelch: What's not to like about that reader? I didn't know that there is a genre of art dolls, interesting. Looks like they are a cross between art and crafts - something I used to experiment with myself but I found out that it was frowned upon when I tried to get into art school.

>85 Familyhistorian: Oh, good. I'm with you, Meg.

"Frowned upon when I tried to get into art school." There's some irony there, isn't there? How people can put themselves up on a pedestal to frown on creativity like that is beyond me.

Forgive the following whatever it is, but you made me think of it, as slam poetry was frowned upon in some high falutin' quarters for a long time.

Slam poetry is different from what we think of as traditional poetry (and what slammers call "page poetry"). There's overlap, of course, and there are poets like Nate Marshall who do both. Our son ran into ignorance of slam poetry in a college poetry class, and was frowned upon (as I understand it) for his unconventional opinions and ex's of what he thought was worthwhile poetry. Remarkably, over time he brought the professor around, and he was told that one of her last conversations with another professor before she died was about him.

Poetry magazine, located in Chicago, used to shun the slam community here. That never made any sense to me. Why would you shut out an enthusiastic group of young people who loved poetry and performed poetry and talked poetry, many of whom had their lives changed by the poetry and that poetry community? Particularly when page poetry had wandered so far out of the mainstream.

Anyway, I'm digressing, aren't I? The good news is the new administration at Poetry magazine and the Poetry Foundation embraces slam poetry and performance poetry, hosting events in its cool new building (this is the organization Ruth Lilly gave $100 million to).

Anyway, I'd like to smack upside the head those who frowned upon your experimenting with the combination of crafts and dolls. That seems unsupportably foolish to me.

We love art dolls, and have several in our house. The reason I said some people don't like them is that some of our cafe patrons had an adverse reaction to a set of art doll toppers I posted. They basically found them creepy, as I recall. Surprised me.

Morning Joe! Happy Sunday! Is the warm weather ever coming back? Sighs...

I have some house chores to do today but there should be plenty of R & R in the mix too.

I started Rosalie Lightning, which has been getting some serious buzz but it is a heart-breaker, that is for sure.

>86 ronincats: Wonderful, Roni! I love it when they fool around with urban buildings like that.

We used to have sculptures of a businesswoman and businessman climbing up a building corner like that, about halfway up the building, which I'd see from my commuter train each day. It was funny, and in some way reminded me not to take my job life too seriously.

Wow, I was able to find it. Here you go.



It's gone now, unfortunately. I miss it.

>88 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark!

Yeah, we're foregoing our usual morning walk with these cool temps. We leave not that long from now to walk to a lunch anyway. Our niece from LA (the one in Transparent) is taking Becca to an early birthday lunch, and graciously is taking us and our niece's dad and his wife, too.

I was sending you beer photos from our progressive neighborhood party last night. Lots of fun - one house in particular had done a complete makeover (they lived elsewhere for 7-8 months), and it looks great.

I don't know Rosalie Lightning at all, so I'll look for your comments. I'm reading another Brubaker/Phillips, this one called The Last of the Innocents.

OK, for Ellie and others who enjoyed those previous poems o' mine, here's another.

Beast

I

We whack
Crack the hanging
Jack till all them jewels
Spill out.

II

If some rough beast slouches,
A pinpoint of blary color
On the bright blue white-clouded ball
Floating in the star-speckled black
If some rowdy miscreant creates minor havoc,
What's one more satellite picture
Of interest to so few.
Bethlehem is a little town in a small country.
The beast hides
In a rocky desert cul-de-sac, hemmed in, alone.

III

God declines to supply the hero
A modest handyman with well-made words.
Bhagwan Shree Provocateur gets lost in sex and riches.
A thousand points of light, flashlights
Fading, blinking out, then
Darkness. No monster can scare us, represent us,
Lead us astray, no wise man
Shepherd us to the promised land.

No upswell of chanting, no soaring chorus,
No one hand clapping no other.
Each man/woman is an island, unbeholden
To the rest, joinder is mere sentiment
Lost upon the waters.

Diverted to a cul-de-sac
It howls unheard.

IV

Crack smack that Chihuly, Jack,
Whack it till them
Jewels spill out.
Grab, grab as fast as you can.
There's nothing to wait for
This is bluster's last stand.

>89 jnwelch: Love that! There was a piece of graffiti on one of my commutes that I used to appreciate. "Thatcher: the witch is dead but the spell lingers on..." Like your art, making the viewer think (and the poetry too).

>92 charl08: Ha! I can imagine, Charlotte. I'm sure your understanding of Thatcher is much deeper than mine. It took us a long time here to get out from under the lingering spell of George W.

I can be a reluctant thinker (especially on the weekend!), but I do love being given surprises like >89 jnwelch: along the way.

We're heading out for that lunch, so I'll check in later.

>77 jnwelch: This reminds me of another book for adults. Shrinklits: Seventy of the World's Towering Classics Cut Down to Size is a very amusing little book published years ago. Of course you have to have read or have a passing knowledge of the books to get some of the jokes.

>89 jnwelch: That would definitely catch the eye, Joe. Too bad that it is no longer there.

>50 jnwelch: oh boy. Now you have me wanting to read this book, which is not what I need right now ;) I guess I'll have to WL it and get to it in due course.

>89 jnwelch: I like that one! I wonder how many phone calls emergency services got about that?

>94 NarratorLady: Good tip, Anne, thanks. Looking at the cover, I remember Shrinklits, but never read it. Adding it to the WL.

>95 Familyhistorian: Yeah, it is too bad they took it down, Megan. I never heard why; my guess is there started being a danger of their falling, and no one coughed up money to redo the support. If that's right, I would have contributed if I had known.

>96 LovingLit: Oh, Salt to the Sea is really good, Megan. I think it would be just your cuppa.

Ha! I like the idea of emergency calls about these two nuts climbing up the building. I hope someone else picks up on the idea some day; it really added to the streetscape.

By Fin Dac

Morning Joe! Lots of nice sunshine out here. I wish it would stay with us.

How did your lunch with your niece go? Is she a big reader?

>99 msf59: 'Tis a good one, today, isn't it, Mark. I'll be out in it soon.

Great lunch at Victory Banner with our niece from LA, Amy Landecker, thanks. She is a reader, but not like 75ers. She's got such a busy schedule these days - 3 parties in NYC next week to promote I'm not sure what (she's in another movie coming out in September, called Hunter's something, filmed in England, and Transparent seems to always have something going on). She originally was taking Becca out with us for an early birthday celebration, and then her father (the former Chicago dj John Records Landecker) and his wife joined us, along with a long time friend of Amy's who's in theater here (they went to the Steppenwolf alumni celebration Friday night, which is why she was in town). Lots of laughs and news from her world.

Afterwards we went to Becca's nearby apartment. Amy hadn't been there before, and realized it was the same building Amy lived in when she was last in Chicago. Same layout as her apartment and everything. Small world!

Good morning, Joe! I hope you had a good weekend.

On the reading front, I was gifted a copy of Who moved my cheese? I have heard of the book but never read. It is an intriguing metaphor for how different people hand change in their lives, personal or professional. I'm hoping it will have something to say that reached beyond platitudes.

>91 jnwelch: whoa! unbefrackinlievable, Joe. and one of my very favorite poems too. i'm so glad i dropped by. wow. srsly. just wow. i love that you're posting these. thank you, thank you.

>77 jnwelch: and in re: The Metamorphosis without a dark side, i guess that left him with "One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from" to work with. and of course there was cake-dipping in Remembrance of things past.

here, have some lime-flower tea to go with the cake-dipping. got any madeleines?



this thread is full of riches. i am not worthy.

>101 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie. Beautiful day here, too. Being out at lunchtime was a pleasure.

I remember Who Moved My Cheese; it sold like hotcakes back in the day. Looking forward to your reaction to it.

I haven't read it, but I bet someone could do a good parody based on questions clueless husbands like me ask their wives, titled "Where's the Butter?" I gave my wife a card saying that way back when; it has the guy asking that looking into a refrigerator filled with butter on every shelf. (Yes, she loved it).

>102 mirrordrum: Oh good, Ellie. Thank you! I hadn't gotten any reactions, so I thought maybe I missed the boat with that one. So glad it worked for you. Seems to fit our current times. Yeah, that Yeats poem that inspired it is one of my favorites, too.

Your instinct is right. A sanitized Metamorphosis is just too much to bear for the likes of me. Good intentions, but bad directional choices in that book, as far as I'm concerned. The Proust one he does, however, is very short and very good, if you get a chance to browse it or have it read to you somewhere.

Thanks for the lime-flower tea. Madeleines in honor of Proust - what a good idea. Here you go.



ETA: You're "I am not worthy" cracked me up. Made me think of those two schmubs (if there is such a word) bowing on "Wayne's World".

HI there - just a quick stop as I do some thread browsing after a busy weekend.

Waving

>104 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli. Glad you could stop by. I still hope to get out your way before too much time passes. I've never been to Portland or Powell's, and I want to fix that.

*waves back*

Joe, I love your new bookshelves. Filling them with books sounds like a fun activity. Thanks for posting more poetry. Keep it coming! I also liked learning more about slam poetry. I find your thread to be very informative about the arts. I like the art doll, too!

>98 jnwelch: you'd think with a waistline that tiny, she'd be able to do up her buttons ;)

>100 jnwelch: aaah, the whirlwind life of an actor! Sounds like a fun time had by all.

>98 jnwelch: oooh, very into that. Love the merging styles and the splash of electric blue.

Here to wish you a happy morning and to catch up a bit.

I've got a dental appointment (routine), so I'll check in later.

Morning, Joe! Hope the dentist visit goes smoothly.

Thanks to you, I had a copy of The Bird Artist on shelf and now I can enjoy it...which is exactly what I am doing, plus I love reading a novel set in Newfoundland.

>106 Donna828: Hi, Donna. Glad you love the new bookshelves. You're right, it's a treat to fill them. I've got a whole shelf for the prolific Walter Mosley now, among other things, and we've got our tbrs there now.

Thanks re the poetry. This latest one: Madame MBH started to read it, and said, oh, I'm going to need some quieter time for this one. :-) It may be a bit much for folks stopping by briefly. I'm glad you want me to keep them coming. I think I'll try a more straightforward one next that may be right up your alley, sort of a Buddha/Jesus mashup.

I'm also glad you liked the slam poetry discussion and the art doll. Slam poetry is a big part of our lives, as you can tell. Did I mention our son Jesse just won the Pittsburgh slam finals? I think I did. So he's now slam champion of Seattle and Pittsburgh. His wife Adriana is a big deal nationally on the slam circuit, too, and won the Pittsburgh finals in the past. (This time she wanted to coach). If you ever get a chance to see one, it's normally a treat. The passion and talent of these kids (well, "kids" to someone my age) is really something, and the adult circuit normally is compelling in a different way, sort of like pro sports vs. college.

>107 LovingLit: He, Megan!

Re >98 jnwelch:, she doesn't look she cares much what we dopey mainstreamers think, does she. :-)

Fin Dac actually is an Irishman. That spray of color across the eyes is his trademark. I really like his street art - normally they're not as scornful and unbuttoned as this one, but I thought her attitude made her worth posting. Plus I think her fully-buttoned tattoo is funny.

Re >100 jnwelch: - it is a whirlwind life Amy leads. She was an active supporter of the LGBT community from long before Transparent, and she's very articulate. So she's on talk shows a lot, and emcees fundraisers, besides these promo events. I just saw on Facebook another charity promoting her as the host of an upcoming fundraiser. Besides my lack of acting talent and good-lookingness, I don't have the stamina to begin to do what she does. Really impressive.

>108 Thebookdiva: Hi, Abby! Oh good. You might look for more Fin Dac; that splash of color is his trademark, and I think you'd like others of his.

Another one you might like is Alice Pasquini. Here's one of hers.



Happy Morning! Glad you could stop by.

>110 msf59: Morning, Mark!

Smooth dentist visit, I'm glad to report. But I've got to go back next week to get measured for a tooth replacement - I got some kind of gum infection a good while ago, and they yanked a back molar. No cavities only goes so far, I guess.

Oh, yeah, baby. The Bird Artist! I think you're gonna love that one. Yes, beautiful setting, and Norman does a superb job of pulling off an unusual story.

Thanks for the Madeline's. Those are on my list of items to learn to bake before I die.

>113 benitastrnad: Ha! You're welcome, Benita. That is a worthy goal. Do I remember correctly that they're a bit tricky to make well?

I don't have any particular baking goals, but I was just talking to our daughter about how I expect to do a bit more cooking once I cut back on work. Mainly to take the load off Madame MBH, who's a superb cook but deserves a break every once in a while - and not just order in or a trip to the restaurant.

Morning, Joe!
I sympathize with your dentist woes - I've a visit today for a new filling and a replacement filling. Not my very favorite thing to do, but not the worst ever, either, I guess...

Catching up after more that a week of very warm weather, that made me do nothing except reading a lot.

>1 jnwelch: Ah, lovely Matisse toppers :-)
>87 jnwelch: I will never understand people frowning upon any effort...

>115 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Yeah, I constantly remind myself how lucky we are to have people who labor to keep our teeth and gums healthy. They get paid well, but the mouth can do so much damage if unchecked. I also constantly shake my head over teeth - what a bizarre part of us. They have to painfully break through gums for the little ones, then they fall out, and get replaced by permanent ones, and then they need pretty scrupulous attention if you're going to avoid trouble from them. And I've had all my wisdom teeth pulled - why do we even have those?

>116 FAMeulstee: Hiya, Anita. That sounds awfully good to me - a week of very warm weather, that made you do nothing except reading a lot. I would take to that quickly; it's been like fall here, with temperatures around 10 -14 degrees Celsius.

Thanks - I'm glad you like the Matisse toppers.

You and me both re >87 jnwelch:. Having opinions on the quality of a piece is one thing, or whether it connects with you, but to reject art because it's "just not done that way" is absurd.

I've become a fan of the street art of the Brazilian twins, Os Gemeos.

Happy Wednesday, Joe. I love street art.

Morning Joe! Happy Wednesday! Let the great warm up begin. This weekend should be wonderful.

I loved Rosalie Lightning but it is emotionally draining. A parents worst nightmare.

I also loving The Bird Artist. Let's keep those hits coming.

>118 jnwelch: Nice!

>119 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. Happy Wednesday to you. I'm glad you're a street art fancier. It's become a bit of a regular feature here, hasn't it?

>120 msf59: Morning Mark! Happy Wednesday, buddy.

"This weekend should be wonderful". Music to my ears. Not just because enough already with this late October weather. We're having a big birthday party for Becca on Saturday, and were hoping the weather would be nice. She's turning 30 later this month (I know, she's blessed with looking younger), so folks are coming from all over to help celebrate, including her godfather from NYC.

I don't think I'm ready for a parent's worst nightmare right now, but the tough ones like Rosalie Lightning can also be so good, so I'll keep it in mind.

Go Bird Artist! I thought you'd love that one.

>121 kidzdoc: Isn't that a good one, in >118 jnwelch:, Darryl? One of my favorites. These guys are really talented.

>112 jnwelch: Good morning, Joe. I really like this one by Alice Pasquini. She is beautiful and yet sad.He sadness could be related to the state of the world in her hand.

>123 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie.

You've got a good eye. That would make sense - I wondered about the world in her hand. Glad you like it. I'll post some more of Alice Pasquini's as we go along.

mornin' Joe. how's tricks?

Morning, Joe! I had somehow managed to lose your thread, but don't worry, you are found again. I had a load to catch up on. LOVE that newest poem up there (>91 jnwelch:) - nice!

Morning, Joe!

Good morning, Ellie, Mamie and Amber!

I've got jury duty today, so I'll check in a bit later.

>125 mirrordrum: I love it! I want one! Who? Where?

Morning Joe! Sweet Thursday! Looks like a nice one today!

Did you see that Darwyn Cooke died? And at the tender age of 53? What a bummer. I know you were a fan.

ETA- Good luck with jury duty.

>130 msf59: It is sad to hear that Darwyn Cooke died. I loved his classic style which had a simplicity that often time heightened the edge of some the material he produced. I really enjoyed The New Frontier.

Looks like we may get released soon. The criminal defendant plea bargained.

>125 mirrordrum:. Ha! Now that suits you, Ellie. Just livin' the good life. :-)

>126 Crazymamie:. Hiya, Mamie! Glad we've got you back in the cafe.

Thanks re the new poem! I thought it fit pretty well with our current political climate in the U.S.

>127 scaifea:. Morning, Amber!

I'm enjoying following the further adventures of Charlie on FB.

>129 maggie1944:. Ha! That fits you, too, Karen. You and Ellie are definitely kindred spirits.

>130 msf59:. Sweet Thursday, Mark!

I'm not exactly out enjoying the nice weather, but at least I'm facing a wall of windows in the jury room. It's a pretty one.

Oh no, I hadn't heard about Darwyn Cooke! Terrible; way too young. You're right, I'm a big fan. His noir Parker books are so good, and his Catwoman was the best, IMO. Darn it. What a shame.

>131 brodiew2:. Agreed, Brodie. I don't know The New Frontier, but I'll look for it now.

You never know when this is going to happen. Makes me think of how lucky we are with. Andrea Camilleri, who started writing the Inspector Montalbano mysteries late in life, and still is at the top of his game in what I believe are his late 80s.

Arggh. Such a shame with our friend Mr. Cooke.

>131 brodiew2: >134 jnwelch: He sure seemed like he had a lot of fans, Brodie & Joe! I have only read a couple of his Parker books. Not big on superhero comics but I may have to check out a few, in his honor.

>135 jnwelch: Speaking of Montalbano, I just finished The Smell of the Night. I know I have a long way to go in this series but it is one of my favorites.

Morning, Joe! Happy Friday!

>136 msf59: Yes, you're right, Mark. As far as I know, Darwyn Cooke had a lot of fans. Too bad. Definitely read the Parkers you haven't, and maybe try a superhero tale or two of his.

Yay for Montalbano! I'm so glad it's become one of your favorite series. Lots of good reading waiting for you. And some day try the Italian tv movies based on it - also great. They've been popular, so the library might even have some.

>137 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

I've been looking forward to this. An old friend, our daughter's godfather, comes into town today, and we have a big party going for her 30th tomorrow.

There's a new movie out based on Austen's Lady Susan, which has been getting lots of positive buzz. It's called "Love and Friendship", which is actually the title of a different Austen book from her teens (with "Freindship" misspelled). I'm hoping the movie kindles interest in the Lady Susan book, which I had a great time with.

Here's my review from way back when:



I got a kick out of the snarky little novel Lady Susan by Jane Austen. It manages to turn traditional romantic themes upside down. I'm not a big fan of epistolary novels, but here the letters back and forth effectively convey the main players' different perspectives and perceptions, as widowed Lady Susan works her mercenary schemes to land her and her daughter rich husbands, while others seek to thwart her. Lady Susan is in her early 30s, and is attractive, perceptive, intelligent, and witty. She also is totally focused on #1, and can seemingly talk any fool of a man around to seeing things her way. She typically has her eye on much younger men, making her an intriguing opposite to standard older male/younger female relationships like that of Colonel Brandon and Marianne in Sense and Sensibility. Mrs. Vernon's young brother Reginald, for example, is adamantly set against Lady Susan after hearing tales of her villainy. "She (Lady Susan) does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable." However, once Lady Susan cleverly and modestly provides her side of things, he is smitten. Lady Susan is quite frank about her pulling of men's puppet strings in her letters to her friend Alicia, and concludes, “There is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a person pre-determined to dislike, acknowledge one's superiority." Mrs. Vernon sees through Lady Susan immediately, but despairs of making any of the mesmerized menfolk understand there is a wolf among them.

It was a pleasure, as always, to read Austen in her cynical, gloves-off mode. She obviously had affection and admiration for the devilish Lady Susan.

Here's another Alice Pasquini street piece for Brodie and other fans:

>140 jnwelch: Good morning, Joe. I am enjoying these Pasquini paintings. I think the eyes are what draw me in the most. There is a world weariness in the beauty of her subjects. I'm not quite sure, but appears to be a hint of playfulness in this one's eyes.

>141 brodiew2: Good morning, Brodie.

She gets us with the eyes, doesn't she. I also love the mix of colors she brings. What she does with them is complex, and satisfying.

Here's one I just came across by Mr. Pilgrim:



A little treasure left for passersby by the artist.

>140 jnwelch: I love that one!

Morning Joe! Happy Friday! Cloudy out here but I am wearing the shorts, so all is good.
Thanks again for placing The Bird Artist into my hands, a couple years ago. Have you read anything else by him?

I just started the "Without" collection. Beautifully done. Was this your first Hall collection?

Happy Friday, Joe! As usual, loving all the artwork and food here. Oh, and the books. : ) I could use a little of whatever she has in >140 jnwelch:.

>144 msf59: Oh good, Mark. Isn't that a great one in >140 jnwelch:?

Good morning and Happy Friday! This weather is much more like what we should have this time of year. Shorts = good news.

I had forgotten I put The Bird Artist in your hands! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much. A special one, IMO.

I haven't read anything else by him. I'm hoping some of our fellow LTers will come up with another one of his they recommend.

Yes, Without: Poems is my first and only Hall collection so far, although I've read poems of his in magazines. This one is so beautifully done, isn't it. His love for her is palpable on every page, and he's so honest about everything going on.

>145 Berly: Happy Friday, Kimberly! I'm glad you're loving the artwork and food. And the books! :-) We've been a bit remiss with the food today; some of what she has in >140 jnwelch: is an excellent start. Here you go:

I've had a question to ask everyone that's been on my mind for a while:

Who is a favorite author of yours, where you've read a number of her/his books, and who you wish more people would give a try?

I know who jumps to mind for me, but I'll wait a bit and see what other folks have to say.

Great question Dad!

Will Lavender immediately jumps to mind for me-I've read both his books multiple times, but he doesn't seem well-known like (I think) he should be.

>148 seasonsoflove: Wow! We don't often see you around these here parts, Becca. Nice!

I remember your love for all things Lavender. Is there a starter book you recommend?

I was quite sure to find some good street art when dropping in. I like it. Happy Friday, Joe.

For the authors: well, I need to read everything from David Hewson especially the Costa series and of cause Steve Berry with his Cotton Malone series.

I constantly talk to others about Timothy Egan. He breathes so much life into history with his narrative nonfiction.

Enjoy your weekend. I am going to Storm's first home game with Ellen and P. Expect to have good fun! Also, a Studio Open House for an artist friend . Whew! When to read?

Julian May, especially her Saga of the Exiles series, starting with The Many-Colored Land, SF/Fantasy.

I know, life, especially at work, is so busy, but it was such a good question, I had to jump in ;) (and the kids are napping now)

He only has two books out right now, Dominance and Obedience, both of which are excellent.

>129 maggie1944: >125 mirrordrum: Karen, i think the artist is Marina Grankova but i'm not sure. i found it on pinterest.

>147 jnwelch: oooooh. that's a hand-rubbing good question, Joe. i'd say Lawrence Durell, Rumer Godden, and Harriett Doerr just for startles.

this has been one of my favorite threads for artwork. thanks. have a wondrous weekend if you aren't already. :-)

>150 Ameise1: Happy Friday, Barbara. Glad you like the street art.

I read the first couple of Cotton Malone books and liked them. I don't know David Hewson. Is there an entry book you recommend?

>151 maggie1944: Hi, Karen. I thought I'd read a Timothy Egan, but apparently not. I've heard you and others extol his books. Good one.

Thanks. I hope you enjoy your weekend, too - sure sounds like you will. I look forward to your report on the Storm game with Ellen and P. And you know I like the idea of that artist studio open house.

I know the problem re reading this weekend. With visitors and events, I don't expect to get to much reading either. Tough to contemplate that part, but the rest should be great.

>152 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. Julian May, The Many-Colored Land. Got it. I'm a pushover for quality sci-fi/fantasy, so onto the WL it goes.

>153 seasonsoflove: Oh, I thought he had more books out than that. OK. I'll check them out.

When the kids wake up from their naps, be sure to ask them this question. :-)

>154 mirrordrum: Hiya, Ellie.

Oh, I loved Stones for Ibarra. I should try some more Harriet Doerr. I tried some of the Alexandria Quartet, but lost momentum with Durell. Rumer Godden, hmm. Is In the House of Brede a good starter book? Someone else recommended that to me.

I'm still working away (can't you tell?), so the weekend hasn't quite started for me, but we're getting close. Hope you have a wondrous one, too.

>155 jnwelch: Start with the forst one of the Nic Costa series so you get the know the protagonists which are growing with the series but also some disappears.

>158 Ameise1: OK, so, A Season for the Dead first. Got it. Thanks, Barbara.

>159 jnwelch: Yep, it's better so. When I first stumbled over this series I read one of the middle. It was vety good and so I went on with what I coul find in my local library. Only later I started to buy the first ones.

>147 jnwelch: Of course, there are many authors to choose from here, but I will have to go to Charlie Huston. He does not get the LT credit he deserves. I know you tried Already Dead a few years ago and it was not your thing but this guy really knows how to write genre fiction.

I would suggest starting with Already Dead or Caught Stealing, the first in a series. He also wrote a few terrific stand-alones, The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death and Sleepless. If you like tough, no nonsense genre writing, give this guy a try!

>91 jnwelch: *tips the hat*

Love the street art too buddy, very fetching.

Have a great weekend, Joe.

>147 jnwelch: Lately I've been thinking that Willa Cather isn't read widely enough, especially her lesser known works. Every word of her prose is so carefully chosen.

Street art and the coffee is a great combination. Can I be fussy and request one of those pretty cups with the picture on top.in the froth? Too much?!

I love the question - and the answers. Lots of authors I haven't come across.

Morning, Joe! Happy Saturday to you. Good question - you know I will say Stewart O'Nan.

Happy weekend, Joe! Going back to your previous thread, I am a huge Rhubarb fan! My favorite breakfast treat back in my university days was a strawberry rhubarb stuffed croissant. Sooo good!

Love new bookshelves in your family room! There is a condo with vaulted ceilings near our place and one wall is floor to ceiling bookshelf, full of books!

I am quite happy that I knew the pictures adorning the new cafe were Matisse, before I scrolled down to the name. I am not usually that good at identifing artists of paintings.

My favorite go-to salad at the moment is a bed of chopped fresh spinach topped with chopped grape tomatoes, avocado, feta cheese and dressed with homemade tzatziki sauce. Had it twice this week. Would have had it for lunch today but I ran out of avocados.

Well, darn on Shrunken Treasures not working for you, Joe.

>82 Ameise1: - Go, ducky, go! You can do it!

>98 jnwelch: and >112 jnwelch: - Those are fantastic!

>139 jnwelch: - Thanks for the info that Lady Susan has been made into a movie. Lady Susan continues to be my favorite Austen read, so far... I haven't read very many Austen's I'm afraid.

>147 jnwelch: - Alessandro Baricco and Francois Gravel but English translations can be hard to come by. Also Louis Bayard and Helen Humphreys, although these two are now getting some good awareness here on LT.

Happy Saturday, everyone!

We're in major party prep mode for the delightful seasonsoflove, so I'll rejoin you tomorrow.

Have a very happy party, family!

Have a great party!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Happy Birthday to your daughter. I hope you had a great party, Joe.

Morning, Joe! A very Happy Birthday to the daughter. I know her party will be full of fabulous!

Happy Sunday, Joe! I hope your daughter has a magnificent birthday!

Happy Birthday to your youngest, Joe!

Yeah! A May child. Gotta love them.

For authors I have several.

1. Deon Meyer This guy writes in Afrikaans and so all of his books are translated. He is a great writer of thrillers that are heavily laced with insights about the current state of affairs in South Africa. I wish more people read his books.

2. David Downing Writes spy thrillers set in World War II. The spy is based in Germany and it sort of tells the story of the war from the point-of-view of people inside Germany. These books are just as good or better than those of Alan Furst but Downing just doesn't get the press he needs to be a blockbuster author.

3. Rae Carson She writes wonderful YA fantasy that exceeds that of Veronica Roth or Lauren Oliver. Her Girl of Fire and Thorns series is great reading.

4. Guy Gaveriel Kay He has a cult following among fantasy fans but is not well known as an author. His books take the reader into history and fantasy and he creates these worlds so well that you simply don't want to leave.

5. For children's books John Stephens His Books of Beginning series is wonderful reading for kids in grades 3 - 6. And they deal with tough life lessons in the same graceful and sensitive way that is reminiscent of the work of Katherine Paterson.

I just finished reading River of Stars by Guy Gaveriel Kay and I can't recommend it highly enough. It's a chunkster but it is worth every page.

lessee, it's 2:30 here so Seasons' bash may not have started. if it has or when it does, i hope you, Mme MBH, guests and Most Excellent Daughter have a splendid day and that she's delighted with Mmmphmumble.

Happy Sunday, Joe! Still celebrating? You guys don't mess around.

Big Birthday Wishes to Becca! I know she received books, right? We will wait patiently for a complete list. Sits down, with a book...

>147 jnwelch: - I'm a big Stewart O'Nan fan, Joe, and wish he had a bigger audience.

Thank you for bearing with the absentee proprietor. We're recovering from a terrific party last night for our daughter's 30th birthday. Thinking much doesn't seem to be on the agenda.

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

Tomorrow I'm having an endoscopy, so I'll probably miss you for one more day.

Ah! Your daughter's 30th Birthday! I hope it was wonderful! Our eldest was 31 last December and our younger son just turned 26 last weekend, but he and his wife went away to Los Angeles for a long weekend. We are planning the big May birthday party next weekend, as so many of the family are out of town this weekend.

Hmm - I will think on #147 - I am being " paged " by my husband right now! :)

Hi Joe, I would mention Joe Abercrombie who writes fantasy and Daniel Woodrell who writes delicious red-neck noir. Oh, and for British Crime Denise Mina, Morag Joss and Sophie Hannah.

Happiest of birthdays to Dear Daughter! I hope it was a good one. And best of luck with the procedure today - we'll, um, see you on the other side, then...

>147 jnwelch: If it weren't for all the adulation he's been getting from the AAC, I'd put Ivan Doig's name out there. He's terrific, and more people should know it. Thanks to the AAC, though, he's getting to be pretty well known around here!

I will therefore plug Jon Clinch. Both Finn and Kings of the Earth are remarkable achievements. I know a few people here have read him, but he deserves a much wider reputation. AND, he's a nice guy.

Good morning, Joe! I hope all is well with you.

>147 jnwelch: This is harder than I thought. I guess there is no series, other than Spenser: A Catskill Eagle, that I love. He's not exactly lesser known.

>183 laytonwoman3rd: Ooh, great choice, Linda. I was a fan of both. Never did read Clinch's last book.

>147 jnwelch: I'm always happy when I see anyone pick up a Glen Duncan or Christopher Brookmyre book so I guess these two would be my selections.

>179 jnwelch: *chortle*



hope all the bends and sinuosities were where they were supposed to be and free from clutter. i know that even if they were, it will feel temporarily as though the colonoscopy store people pulled them out and thoroughly rearranged them, loop by loop.

Hi Joe. I am just catching up and enjoying the suggestions for under-appreciated authors. I need to think about it a bit, but I'm making some notes, too. There have been a few mentioned who are new to me. That's always fun.

I hope your party for seasonoflove was wonderful!

I'm currently feeling very happy to have played a part in turning Mark onto Without: Poems. Of course, Katie is the one who turned me onto the collection. And that is how we roll. It's the best.

Woo, I'll have some catching up to do tomorrow. All went well at the doctor, and the worst case scenario blessedly stayed out of the picture. The anesthetic is dissipating, and I'll be back pouring coffee tomorrow. See you then!

Yay for the good report at the doctor's office!

So glad that all went well at the doctor's office, Joe. We are missing you and hope to see you back here today. Take care, my friend.

>187 mirrordrum: That made me laugh, Ellie!

OK, Happy Tuesday! Let's get that lazy proprietor in motion.

>160 Ameise1: I'm glad to be benefiting from your experience, Barbara. First one it it.

>161 msf59: I remember Charlie Huston was a favorite of yours, Mark. Good pick - maybe we'll get some more momentum for his books. I'll have to try another.

>163 kac522: I'm with you on Willa Cather, Kathy. I read a lot more of her books after joining Librarything, and now I list her as one of my favorite authors. My favorites are My Antonia and O Pioneers, but Death Comes for the Archbishop is up there, too, and others of hers have had major moments for me, too.

>164 charl08: Good thing we've got a top of the line time jiggerer, Charlotte. I believe we can get you that illustrated latte in a timely fashion.

Glad you're liking the book recommendations. Lots I haven't heard of before, or thought about reading, too.



>165 Crazymamie: Ha! I didn't know if you'd pick Stewart O'Nan, Mamie, but that makes sense. Last Night at the Lobster certainly was a good starter book for him.

>166 lkernagh: Hiya, Lori! It was a good weekend indeed.

Strawberry rhubarb stuffed croissant - I could see my way to trying that one!



Thanks re the bookshelves. We're really happy with them. Current project is re-siding the house with hardy board - I'll post a pic of that at some point.

Good job re identifying Matisse. :-) The more you play around with identifying the artists, the easier it gets, IMO.

That salad sounds good. I'll eat avocados with about anything. They get the "healthy" blessing from Madame MBH, too.

Maybe I was too harsh with Shrunken Treasures, but it really disappointed me. I had been looking forward to it and then . . . ugh.

Glad you're enjoying the street art. I'll try to post some more today.

You're a rare bird who has read Lady Susan, and not much other Austen. So snarky and good! I work hard to try to get Austen readers to try Lady Susan, often unsuccessfully (or at least with great delay). What caused you to read it?

I've certainly enjoyed Alessandro Baricco and Helen Humphreys. I don't know Francois Gravel's books, and I haven't read Louis Bayard yet. What are good starter books for those two?

>168 maggie1944: It was a very happy party, Karen, thanks. You've probably seen the photos on FB. Lots of fun, beautiful weather, happy seasonsoflove.

>169 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. The party turned out to be as good as we could ever have hoped.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - nice choice. I haven't read her yet. What would you start with? Half a Yellow Sun? Americanah?

>170 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara. Yes, our daughter had a wonderful time. She's getting to enjoy pretty much a birthday month, as she has been taken out for birthday celebrations by people visiting in town at different times, she had this party, and her birthday actually is this coming weekend, with friends and family again celebrating with her. This fits the family tradition of never restricting a birthday celebration to one day. :-)

>171 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Her birthday was indeed full of fabulous. Maybe I can get a pic or two over here later. It was a charming time with all sorts of folks who love her nearly as dearly as we do. The furry Mr. Sherlock was wearing his tie and looking quite dapper.

>172 Thebookdiva: Thanks, Abby! It was a magnificent party, and she had a great time - best birthday ever, says she.

I hope some day the two of you get to meet - kindred spirits, methinks.

>173 kidzdoc: Hiya, Darryl. You cracked me up on FB, recognizing the exasperated look Becca was giving me (over some perhaps very loud socks I was wearing) as the same one Debbi has given you and me. They have similar, inexplicably low levels of tolerance for certain kinds of behavior. Well, in my case, for my normal behavior. That's why I'm always looking for bonus points to help save me.

>174 benitastrnad:, >175 benitastrnad: Growing up, Benita, my whole family had their birthdays in April, except for me. I was so grateful when our kids turned up in March and May. They got on my good side right from the start.

That's a lot of authors! I've read ones by Downing and Rae Carson (I agree with you about that Girl of Fire and Thorns series), and I think I have Deon Meyer on the WL somewhere.

I tried Guy Gavriel Kay, (Tigana), and unfortunately it just didn't work for me. I know he has a ton of fans. I'm sure others will pick up on River of Stars. I'll keep John Stephens in mind, as I sometimes read ones targeted to the lower grades.

>176 mirrordrum: Ha! Her party was a treat, Ellie, and I know you've had a chance to enjoy (and comment on) the FB photos. The Mmmphmumble was a book her mother put together - she asked all guests to write Becca a note about a favorite memory or memories, and the result was beautiful. The love for that girl is (deservedly) overwhelming, and if she ever feels down, that book should help pick her right back up. She has the best mom ever, IMO.

Here is my official warble about River of Stars. I hope that you will give this series a try. I rated both Under Heaven and River as 5 star reads. The only other Kay book I have read at this point is Ysabel which was published as a YA book. It tackles the subject of the early Gaelic Wars of the Roman Republic and was a much more straight forward fantasy then either of these Imperial China books. By that I mean, that the fantasy elements were much more like what people expect from fantasy novels. "Under Heaven" and River are not that way. Expect for a few places in the books I would class them as straight historical fiction epics with plenty of adventure and great storytelling that reminded me of the way I felt while reading the Bartle Bull books like White Rhino Hotel.

River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay is is an excellent blend of fact, fiction, and fantasy. As with "Under Heaven," Kay is light on the fantasy and heavy on the storytelling. This novel is a sequel of sorts to "Under Heaven" but by the time the events of this novel take place the Tang Dynasty is long buried. Imperial China is faced with a new threat - the Mongols, and this novel is all about how they deal with that threat. Kay has created memorable characters that stick with you. You like the heroes and hate the villains, but the reader also likes those in the book who fail, because Kay helps you to understand why they have failed. Like "Under Heaven," this is a work of fantasy, but the fantasy elements are light and are almost missed. They are not the main focus of this novel. This is just plain great adventure reading on the same scale as the work of Bartle Bull. Even at 630 pages this is a great ride!

I will confess that I waited for this book to be published and then hesitated to read it due to its length, but it was worth the ride in every since of reading. I am not an expert on Chinese history, but just as "Under Heaven" did, this novel made me want to read more about Imperial China and all of its dynasties. When a work of fiction does that it has succeeded. I cannot wait to read more of this author and hope that he is not done with this series on Imperial China.

>177 msf59: Ha! We managed to sit on our porch and talk to neighbors on Sunday, Mark, but that was about it. Lot of prep for that party, and folks stayed and stayed and stayed. :-)

No books as gifts at this party - lot of gift cards she can use to buy them, though. She has Chicago family presents coming this weekend, and mayhap there'll be a book or two among those. We'll report back.

I want to remember to link to a really cool (IMHO) guest blog she did, recommending Agatha Christie books based on "if you liked" books. Here you go: http://trishajennreads.com/2016/05/22/agatha-christie-books/

Good morning, Joe!

>193 jnwelch: Now, that is some precision work. You almost don't want to drink it. I love my espresso, though.

>178 katiekrug: You and Mamie are compelling warblers for Stewart O'Nan, Katie. I enjoyed Last Night at the Lobster, and will have to look for a next one.

>180 vancouverdeb: Hiya, Deb. We match up pretty closely - soon to be 30-year-old daughter, and 26 year old son. We had to pick a date that we thought would work for the birthday party; the real day comes up this weekend.

>181 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Joe Abercrombie, okay. I thought about reading The Blade Itself. Is that one you'd recommend?

Daniel Woodrell, Denise Mina, Morag Joss and Sophie Hannah. Today probably won't be the day, but I'll try to look at those authors later.

>182 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. Becca had a wonderful time at the party (as did we all), and the procedure went fine. I had some anxiety about what might turn up, but it looks un-alarming at this point. One more stop on the doctor train coming up, but this was the big one.

>183 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda.

Yeah, Ivan Doig is getting a lot of love thanks to Mark's AAC. It's great when that happens, isn't it? We probably should buy Mark a couple of rounds at some point.

Jon Clinch, with both Finn and Kings of the Earth being remarkable achievements. Good tip, thanks. I remember being curious when Finn came out.

>184 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie. You know I'm a fan of the Spenser series, too. It's a good recommendation as far as I'm concerned - we'd like more people to give that series a try. A Catskill Eagle certainly is a good one. My first was Looking For Rachel Wallace, and then I went back to the beginning and read them all.

>185 msf59: Thanks, Mark. More support for Jon Clinch's books.

>186 AHS-Wolfy: Good to see you, Dave! Glen Duncan and Christopher Brookmyre - nice. I tried The Last Werewolf and Quite Ugly One Morning; both good.

Did someone mention buying a round?

Morning, Joe! Nice to see you catching up. Did everything go okay at the doctor visit? Just routine I hope?

I highly recommend Finn. This is Faulkner worthy.

>187 mirrordrum: Thanks for the chortle-provoking cartoon, Ellie. :-)

An endoscopy turns out to be even easier than a colonoscopy. They gave me some new anesthetic which left me with more marbles than I expected when I came to, although I realized I'd been singing "My Girl" for a while when my senses started returning (true story - I grew up with the Motown sound).

All is well, although I need to get one more doctor to sign off on that, and straighten out the prescription that my insurance doesn't want to pay for. (Aggravating, but there should be something similar they'll pay for).

>188 EBT1002: There's our Ellen!

Isn't reducing your number of jobs supposed to free up more LT time? :-)

I'm the latest Without: Poems domino - Katie tipped you tipped Mark tipped me. What a great and moving collection. I'm so glad I read it. Poetry Month at the AAC - another reason to thank our friend Mark.

Yes, please stop by with your under-appreciated author recommendation, unless it's among those I'm still getting to.

>205 msf59: Ha! You've got that extrasensory perception working when it comes to a free round or two, Mark. :-)

The doctor visit wasn't routine (persistent problem), but the result was a relief, as there was a possibility of dire news.

This is Faulkner worthy. You forget who you're talking to. That means I avoid it forever. :-)

>190 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! It was a big relief. Nice as can be doctor, too - there seem to be a lot more of those out there now. Maybe the profession is finally understanding that being a jackass to patients isn't the best approach?

>191 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

I missed being here. I was a bit of lulu-head yesterday (whatever the heck that is), but not as out of it as I've been post-anesthetic in the past.

I'm glad you got through the dreaded Mmmphmumble day without me, and we're now safely enjoying Tuesday.

>199 benitastrnad: You are a zealous advocate, Benita. :-) I did enjoy White Rhino Hotel, which LTers rec'd, and I enjoy tales of Imperial China.

>201 brodiew2: Hiya, Brodie! I know, that's a work of art in >193 jnwelch:. It would be hard to mess with it by drinking it, but sometimes art just has to be imbibed.

I love my espresso, too.

Did I get everybody? Did I miss anybody? Let me know if so.

Good to be back!

>207 jnwelch: "That means I avoid it forever" Now see here, young man. I like you, but we may be about to misunderstand one another. (That's a Faulkner reference, too.) But let me try to clarify. Clinch doesn't write like Faulkner, but he kind of feels like Faulkner...does that help?

>196 jnwelch: Oh I love never ending birthday months. That's so fabulous.

>210 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! I know you're a big Billy F fan, Linda. What we've got here is a failure to communicate? (Paul Newman's Cool Hand Luke).

Kind of feels like Faulkner - I like you, too, so I'll keep an open mind about Mr. Clinch. :-)

>211 Ameise1: Ha! Me, too, Barbara. The more birthday celebration days, the better, as far as I'm concerned. Madame MBH and I are taking her out to a restaurant she wants to try this weekend, and a friend will be celebrating with her on another day.

>210 laytonwoman3rd: "Clinch doesn't write like Faulkner, but he kind of feels like Faulkner..."
Well. That sounds like an author whose works I need to investigate. AND I want to read more Faulkner.

Joe, the idea of the only-one-job opening up more time for LT was, indeed, what I had in mind. But here's the clincher: I'm so used to working 55 hours a week, I can't get used to this 45-hour schedule I seem currently to have. I feel guilty not being overwhelmed and overworked. Weird.

*toodles off to investigate Clinch, whoever he is*

>213 EBT1002: You're not the first LTer to need a goofing off tutorial, Ellen.

We'll be offering a seminar next semester. Attendance is not expected.

I will attend that seminar myself. I'm retired now for 15 years and yet I keep finding work to do.

>215 maggie1944: It's very popular, Karen. The field trips are excellent. It's a bit like a drinking game: the first time someone in the seminar mentions work or, even worse, begins to do some work, we all have to find a comfortable spot and read.

Hey Joe! What is the most meaningful work of fiction you have read?

>217 brodiew2: Wow, you don't mess around, Brodie. What a question. Most meaningful. Hmm.

Getting to the top of the heap is the hard part. I've read some awfully meaningful NF over the past year, Evicted, Being Mortal, When Breath Becomes Air, Between the World and Me. Mountains Beyond Mountains knocked me over. so did Dispatches. I just finished a very meaningful book of poetry, Without: Poems, about Donald Hall's love for fellow poet Jane Kenyon, and their dealing with her fatal illness.

In fiction, I think of Kafka on the Shore, with Nakata being a particularly meaningful character for me. Plainsong, Lila (more than Gilead, for me), Charlotte's Web, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Right now I'd have to put Evicted at the top. I think he's onto something revolutionary, that could really make a positive difference for many, many people if it catches on.

Oops, you said FICTION! It's not like you put that in a fine print footnote. Jeesh.

OK, that's even harder. I guess Plainsong would eke out a win over Kafka on the Shore right now. It just went way deep into my bones.

I appreciate you answering so quickly and fully. I know that nonfiction can have a heavy impact, but fiction has been a place where I have found a lot of meaning. I have heard of Plainsong and will take a closer look at it based on your recommendation.

For now, The Killer Angels remains one of the most meaningful fictions I read. The book bowled me over in passion of the characters, moral dilemmas, and crises of loyalty which were presented. For me, Longstreet's break with Lee was portrayed with such wrenching personal pain that I could not help but be moved.

Prior to this, it was Delderfiled's To Serve Them All My Days. I was in boarding for a couple of years and it remains an important part of my life. This novel brought that home. Plus, I was captured by the damage the Great War had done to main character and the uphill battle he had to fight as a new public school teacher in Britain. The journey and its conclusion is bittersweet, but none the less powerful.

I'm not sure if I set you up here, or not. :-)

>219 brodiew2: Yeah, I LOVED Killer Angels, Brodie. Really well done. And To Serve Them All My Days. That one was a heartbreaker, wasn't it? Powerful for me, too.

Yes, give Plainsong a look. It's a special one.

Such a deep discussion here. I'm not sure I'd have an answer to what is the most the most meaningful piece of fiction I have read. That would take a lot of thinking.

But I'm very much enjoying The Summer Before the War. Close to the finish and now I'm feeling sad I will have to leave that lovely world. She is a wonderful author, Helen Simonson.

^Warble loud and clear for Plainsong. Do not let up either...This is our mission.

>207 jnwelch: You are correct sir, I should have never mentioned Faulkner. I may have been suffering from sun-stroke? Honestly, Clinch's writing is much more accessible and I think it would be something you would like, despite it's very dark underpinnings. Plus, it is a great alternate take on Huck Finn.

Also loved Killer Angels.

Only time for one word today, Joe, and that word is: coffee.
(see you after I have had some!)

Meaningful fiction - Plainsong is a very good recommendation. I have not read Lila but I loved Buleah and Gilead, and Housekeeping was very good as well. I think it would be hard to beat Robinson for a work of fiction with a deep message. Murakami is also a heavy hitter in that department. Kafka is a good but Windup Bird Chronicle is also a work of fiction with a message. And of course, River of Stars is all about loyalty to the state as well as to individuals and how generals make those decisions.

>70 jnwelch: sorry, Joe, I posted and forgot to check back in for your reply! I live in western Mass near Springfield about an hour from Pittsfield. If you have time next time you're in the area definitely let me know and we can try for a meetup!

A late answer to your author question, but lately I've had a lot of fun recommending Mary Doria Russell. She gets a lot of love on LT but most of my friends and library patrons are unfamiliar with her work. I lent my brother A Thread of Grace and he loved it, plus snagged the copy of The Sparrow that I'd found at my library book sale, so I considwr that a win!

>221 vancouverdeb: It's an interesting question, isn't it, Deb. The most meaningful piece of fiction you've read. Maybe the most impactful for me would've been Dandelion Wine. I was turning away from school with some kind of frustration, and it rekindled my belief. The teacher who assigned it was terrific, and got me back on track.

Helen Simonson is a wonderful author, and I'm so glad you're enjoying The Summer Before the War. It's exciting to have someone new who's so good.

>222 msf59: Ha! Warble loud and clear for Plainsong. Do not let up either...This is our mission. Yes! You started my day with a big laugh, my friend. I'll stay on mission.



Thanks for the Faulkner/Clinch clarification. I know that sun can get strong some days. :-)

I wish Michael Sharra had been able to write more like Killer Angels. So good.

>223 LovingLit: Yes, Megan, I'm with you: COFFEE.

Sending some more to you via time jiggery (we'll clear those beans off of there):



>224 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Agree re Marilynne Robinson. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is terrific, and would be my runner-up to Kafka on the Shore. I'm just such a pushover for KOTS. River of Stars obviously has had a strong effect on you, to GGK's credit.

>225 bell7: Oh, great, Mary. I'm sure I've mentioned that Madame MBH grew up in Pittsfield. I've been to Springfield for a day at the Basketball Hall of Fame (great fun for basketball nerds). Her brother and our SIL moved from Pittsfield to TN, but her aunt Ruthie Bass still lives in Pittsfield and we visit her (she writes for the Berkshire Eagle - maybe you've seen her column).

Mary Doria Russell as a favorite author whose books you wish more people would read - good one! I know you'll get some "hear hear"s from other cafe patrons like Mark. I thought The Sparrow and Children of God were most excellent; I've yet to read others of hers.

More Alice Pasquini:

Morning Joe! Glad the warbler put a smile on your face. A warm one out here but I am definitely not complaining.

Happy Hump Day!

Happy Hump Day, Mark!

Yeah, it felt so good commuting to work today. I'm not complaining either.

We'll keep on warbling about Plainsong. :-)

Not sure about *most* meaningful novel, but definitely up there would be All Quiet on the Western Front for me.

Happy Wednesday, Joe!

>232 katiekrug: Happy Wednesday, Katie!

Oh yeah, definitely. All Quiet on the Western Front. Poor Paul. I hadn't read it until fairly recently; powerful, and deserves its stellar reputation.

Thanks is for the coffee Joe. I'm waiting (as patiently as I can) for some GNs to turn up at the library.

I'm not sure about the most meaningful book either - I did love Alain de Botton's non-fiction The Consolations of Philosophy - one of the first authors I came across who used images amongst the text (and lots of humour).

>235 jnwelch: You're welcome, Charlotte. It can take an awfully long time for requested books to show up at the library, can't it. I look forward to hearing about the GNs once you get your hands on them. I'm going to the library more and more for GNs, as it's such a money-saver.

What an intriguing choice for most meaningful; that's the How Proust Can Change Your Life author. I've read some of the western philosophers, but I sure could use some additional understanding. Onto the WL The Consolations of Philosophy goes.

Now you have to figure out a fictional one to answer Brodie's original question. Good luck!

Good morning, Joe.

>229 jnwelch: Another Pasquini! I like this one as there is a glint of happiness or satisfaction that is missing in the previous paintings you've shared.

>232 katiekrug: Hello Katie. All Quiet definitely has the impact and meaning I was asking about.

>236 brodiew2: :-) Glad you like that latest Pasquini, Brodie. She's from Italy (a graduate of Rome's Academy of Fine Arts), and she has a lot of good ones out there.

Agreed re Katie and All Quiet.

>229 jnwelch: oh man, i love that. think i'll put it on the book of face.

meanwhile, a buddy sent me the below saying i was the only person he could think of who'd like it and i told him i would pass it on here (LT) as there were a lot of folks who would.



it's by Dave Coverly.

ya know, i may finally have found something to convince me to read Plainsong. it simply hasn't called to me and i'm not wild about the narrator. this exceptional review, the cherry on top of the sundae of recommendations of LTers whom i respect and trust, may have done it. it's well worth reading in its own right.

into the audible.com basket it goes. unless i can find it w/ a good narrator on NLS.

>228 jnwelch: The Berkshires are lovely. We've been to the Norman Rockwell Museum nearby a couple of times and my sister and I went out to Tanglewood for an event as well. Would you believe I've only ever been to the Basketball Hall of Fame once, probably over a decade ago? No excuse, really... except as my dad says, we're often the last people to see what's close to us because we can go "anytime" instead of making a destination out of it.

>238 mirrordrum: Glad that's worthy of the Book of Face, Ellie. She's good, isn't she?

Bring your friend on over to LT. That Dave Coverly cartoon is a stitch, and perfect here.

>239 mirrordrum: Great to read that exceptional review; thanks for posting the link. Haruf has made a novel so foursquare, so delicate and lovely, that it has the power to exalt the reader. Yup. Once you get to it, you'll be glad you did. I hope you find the narrator that'll do it justice.

>240 bell7: The Berkshires are lovely, aren't they? Madame MBH's aunt lives halfway up one of the mountains; so pretty.

We haven't been to the Norman Rockwell Museum, but we have gone more than once to the Clark Art Institute. I annoy the heck out of my much better half by referring to it as a world class museum out in the middle of nowhere. It's that last part that makes her huffy - but jeez, we drive up to the end of this deadend in the trees - what does she expect me to say?

Enjoying the Berkshires love... My grandfather lived in Williamstown (he and my dad were both Williams College grads) so I used to visit there often. And I had a lot of school trips to the Clark because it was less of a hassle to get to than NY or Boston from where I was in the tri-state (MA, CT, NY) area.

>243 katiekrug: Nice, Katie. Isn't that a great museum? And that's a beautiful area to visit. We've been there a lot over the years.

>241 jnwelch: not too often i find a review that's quotable. i too liked that line. it was one of the lines that helped nudge me. i thought if that reviewer can write that beautifully about Haruf, it's got to be a good book. i liked her thoughts on, er, minimalist writing. was that the word?

my buddy is an old computer/math geek. not a great reader, really. we became friends in the Xenaverse, both being addicts and all. we've always wished we could live side-by-each and i could make him bread and soup and we could chat and share dogs. he might like Ready Player One. :-)

Joe, The Blade Itself would be a very good place to start with Joe Abercrombie. All his books are set in same fictional land, but The Blade Itself is the first book in a trilogy, the other two being Before They Are Hanged and The Last Argument of Kings.

>245 mirrordrum: I likewise loved your friend's joke. I might just print it, blow it up and put it on bulletin boards here in the Retirement Heaven. I think there are a good many here who would love it, too, and the ones who don't, well, they are probably on to better things to love like swimming at 6 am. Wheeeeee, ain't we got fun!

I survived another Board meeting and am now convinced I'm totally around the bend. Why do I do these things?

>244 jnwelch: Summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Berkshires. This year the plan is to go for a day, take in a matinee at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (known as WTF before those letters came to stand for something else!) and then across the street to the Clark. Other years we've gone for long weekends, taken in A Tanglewood concert, then visited Edith Wharton's estate. Magical place!

>238 mirrordrum: Ellie: Ha! Love it!

Morning, Joe!

>213 EBT1002: My work here is done! *dusts off hands*

The Berkshires really are lovely; I attended an LT meet-up a few years ago in Stockbridge. A group of us (with some spouses) spent a delightful weekend visiting the Mount and the village; we even found Alice's Restaurant!

>245 mirrordrum: Hi, Ellie. Yeah, her point in the article that his writing isn't "minimalist", it's plain and direct.

Minimalism has often been something of an emotional stunt, a withdrawal, a coyness on the part of the narrator. The pervading minimalist silence is one of contempt, of irony at the very least, an embellishment of the writer's autonomy. Nothing could be less like ''Plainsong.'' Haruf allows himself no irony -- and yet forsakes no humor -- because he never withdraws from these characters or the country they inhabit. To have called them into being at all implies profound acceptance. At times, a sentence almost suggests Flannery O'Connor, if she had got some dry wind into her lungs and a glimpse of open country where providence was not so unappeasable. But the prose and the outlook are always Haruf's own.

Can't wait to hear what you think, once you get into Plainsong. I imagine you'll love it.

Ha! The Xenaverse. I hadn't heard that one before. I watched many of the shows, but I'm not at the level of you and your geek friend.

The whole Chicago Welch family, with our differing reading tastes, liked Ready Player One. I bet your friend would, too. Our son is suggesting to his mom science fiction she might like. So far, Ender's Game, The Martian, and Ready Player One have all hit the spot.

>246 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. I've looked at The Blade Itself a number of times, and it just didn't fit my mood back then. I'll give it another look-over.

>247 maggie1944: Ha! Well put, Karen. That Dave Coverly cartoon in >238 mirrordrum: is a keeper.

I don't know how you do your Board, Karen. It would drive me crazy. That's one reason I never wanted to own a condo. Sharing decisions with neighbors - not my idea of a good time.

My father's in a town home complex that has a Board, and I have to help him sometimes with their rules and demands. Arggh. I'd rather rent than that.

>248 NarratorLady: That sounds wonderful, Anne. I've never made it to the WTF (!) or Tanglewood, although I think Madame MBH worked at Tanglewood one summer as a youngster. Such a beautiful part of the country.

>249 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>250 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. I'll leave you and Ellen to discuss Faulkner. I'll be over in the Haruf section. :-)

Love the photos of Alice's Restaurant - we enjoyed Stockbridge, and we also went to Alice's/Theresa's while there.

We're being pulled in so many directions by relatives needing visits. We're probably going to miss the Berkshires this fall (darn it) to visit family in Tennessee. But we'll be back the next year for sure. An LT meetup in Stockbridge - that sounds great. Maybe we can do it again at some point.

Morning Joe! Sweet Thursday, my friend. A few drops came down but I hope to remain mostly dry. Fingers crossed.

It looks like you are working on a new thread. I will see you over there...

>254 msf59: Sweet Thursday, buddy!

Yeah, I got a few drops falling on me, too, but it seems to be holding off.

See you at the new cafe . . .

Come on over to the new digs!