Paul C's 2016 Reading and Life - 16

Three things for me. Coffee.....a good book.......and my fitbit!

OPENING LINES

Stanley Middleton is one of the more obscure of Booker Winners. He was Joint Winner in 1974 for Holiday.



Light shimmered along the polished pews as the congregation heaved itself to its feet, hailing the Lord's anointed.

BOOKS READ FIRST QUARTER

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

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

MARCH
22. Assalamualaikum : Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia by Zaid Ibrahim (2015) 200 pp
23. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo (2009) 339 pp
24. How to be Both by Ali Smith (2014) 372 pp
25. Towards Asmara by Thomas Keneally (1989) 320 pp
26. New Selected Poems by Robert Minhinnick (2012) 185 pp
27. The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (1986) 664 pp
28. Around the World ichael Palin (1989) 241 pp
29. Poems of the Past and the Present by Thomas Hardy (1901) 96 pp
30. The Boat Who Wouldn't Float by Farley Mowat (1969) 243 pp

BOOKS READ IN 2016

Second Quarter

APRIL
31. A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (1991) 371 pp
32. What Work Is by Philip Levine (1991) 77 pp
33. Eventide by Kent Haruf (2004) 300 pp
34. A New Selected Poems by Galway Kinnell (2001) 179 pp
35. The Black Album by Hanif Kureishi (1995) 276 pp
36. Demelza by Winston Graham (1946) 521 pp
37. Geography III by Elizabethe Bishop (1976) 50 pp
38. The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1855) 142 pp
39. Why I am not a Christian by Bertrand Russell (1957) 259 pp

MAY
40. Belfast Confetti by Ciaran Carson (1989) 108 pp
41. Ruby by Cynthia Bond (2015) 330 pp
42. The Bird Artist by Howard Norman (1994) 289 pp
43. The Sea Runners by Ivan Doig (1982) 275 pp
44. Make Me by Lee Child (2015) 544 pp
45. Old Filth by Jane Gardam (2004) 290 pp
46. The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin (1964) 46 pp
47. Fault Line by Robert Goddard (2012) 509 pp
48. AWOPBOPALOOBOPALOPBAMBOOM by Nik Cohn (1972) 247 pp
49. Risk by C.K. Stead (2012) 267 pp

JUNE
50. Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey (2006) 46 pp
51. The Shadow Line by Joseph Conrad (1917) 145 pp
52. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) 333 pp
53. Crow by Ted Hughes (1970) 89 pp
54. A Zoo in My Luggage by Gerald Durrell (1960) 173 pp
55. The Green Road by Anne Enright (2005) 310 pp
56. Famous Last Words by Timothy Findley (1981) 396 pp
57. Bird Cloud by Annie Proulx (2011) 234 pp
58. Mary Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser (1969) 691 pp

BOOKS READ IN 2016

THIRD QUARTER

July

59. The Pearl by John Steinbeck (1948) 89 pp
60. The Sergeants' Tale by Bernice Rubens (2013) 217 pp
61. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895) 106 pp
62. The Orenda by Joseph Boyden (2013) 487 pp
63. The Battle for Scotland by Andrew Marr (1992) 240 pp
64. The Fifth Son by Elie Wiesel (1985) 220 pp
65. Holiday by Stanley Middleton (1974) 222 pp
66. Karl Doenitz and the Last Days of the Third Reich by Barry Turner (2015) 275 pp
67. Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham (1950) 344 pp
68. The European Union : A Citizen's Guide by Chris Bickerton (2016) 230 pp
69. An Event in Autumn by Henning Mankell (2013) 169 pp
70. Bad History : How We Got the Past Wrong by Emma Marriott (2011) 173 pp

Reading Plans and a little about me

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


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

2016 Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

TIOLI Challenge - Surely needs no introduction!

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

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

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

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

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

History Another favourite of mine

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

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

Reading Plan for July 2016

My plans for June 2016 were another wildly optimistic failure. I go into July with the same misplaced optimism.

I will have primary and then secondary targets this month so I hope to hit at least the former and some of the latter.

Primary Targets (1) - Unfinished books

1 The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood (CAC, 1001) Reading
2 The Orenda by Joseph Boyden (CAC) COMPLETED
3 The Penguin Anthology of Twentieth-Century Poetry Reading

Primary Targets (2) Main Challenges

4 The Pearl by John Steinbeck (AAC) COMPLETED
5 The Sergeants' Tale by Berenice Rubens (BAC) COMPLETED
6 The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (BAC, 1001) COMPLETED
7 Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery (CAC)
8 The Battle for Scotland by Andrew Marr (NF Challenge) COMPLETED

Secondary Targets - Catch-ups and Other Challenges

9 March by Geraldine Brooks (ANZAC, Pulitzer)
10 White Noise by Don DeLillo (Bowie Books, 1001)
11 Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham (Series) COMPLETED
12 An Event in Autumn by Henning Mankell (Scandi) COMPLETED
13 Holiday by Stanley Middleton (Booker) COMPLETED
14 The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien (1001)
15 Ake : The Years of Childhood by Wole Soyinka (Nobel)
16 The Heart Laid Bare by Michel Tremblay (CAC)
17 Silas Marner by George Eliot (BAC & 1001)
18 Karl Doenitz and the Last Days of the Third Reich by Barry Turner (History) COMPLETED
19 The Fifth Son by Elie Wiesel (In Memoriam) COMPLETED
20 An Imaginary Life by David Malouf (Anzac)
21 The European Union : A Citizen's Guide by Chris Bickerton (NF Challenge) COMPLETED
22 Bad History : How We Got the Past Wrong by Emma Marriott COMPLETED

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2016

July thread : https://www.librarything.com/topic/226480

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

TBR Records Update : (Revised after giving away 114 books in June)

Year reading record to date:

January 1st frozen TBR : 3,600

Books read : 53

Revised TBR : 3,547

January 1st Pages : 1,254,776

Pages read in completed books : 13,359

Revised TBR pages : 1,241,417

Other Books added since 1 January : 174
Pages : 61,338
Read : 11
Read Pages : 3,313
Books still to read from this year's purchases : 163
Pages to read : 58,025

Total Books Read in 2016 - 64
Total Pages Read in 2016 - 16,672

Total TBR Physical Books @ 13 July 2016 - 3,710
Total TBR Pages - 1,299,442

Round up of Stats

1001 Books First Edition - Read 264 of 1001

Nobel Winners - Read something by 59 of the 112 Laureates

Pulitzer Fiction/Novel Winners - Read 13 of 88 outright winners

Booker Winners - Read 22 of the 50 winners

Bowie 100 Books - 21 read a further 22 owned

1000 Guardian Books - 309

BOOKS ADDED SINCE 1 JANUARY 2016

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

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

57. A Cautious Approach by Stanley Middleton (2010) 220 pp (added 2 March)
58. Incandescence by Craig Nova (1979) 297 pp (added 2 March)
59. Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid (2014) 343 pp (added 2 March)
60. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (1977) 337 pp (added 2 March)
61. Love in Winter by Storm Jameson (1935) 407 pp (added 2 March)
62. How I Became a Holy Mother by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (1976) 363 pp (added 2 March)
63. On Horseback and Other Stories by Guy de Maupassant (1877) 130 pp (added 2 March)
64. Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski (2007) 349 pp (added 2 March)
65. Anything but the Law by Tommy Thomas (2016) 334 pp (added 4 March)
66. The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker (2011) 841 pp (added 4 March)
67. Why the West Rules by Ian Morris (2010) 645 pp (added 4 March)
68. Out of Africa by Karen Blixen (1937) 330 pp (added 4 March)
69. Make Me by Lee Child (2015) 544 pp (added 4 March) COMPLETED
70. The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall (2015) 432 pp (added 4 March)
71. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936) 984 pp (added 4 March)
72. The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (1986) 664 pp (added 7 March) COMPLETED
73. From Restoration to Reform by Jonathan Clarke (2014) 299 pp (added 7 March)
74. Josephine : Desire, Ambitions, Napoleon by Kate Williams (2013) 303 pp (added 7 March)
75. Britain's Royal Families : The Complete Genealogy by Alison Weir (2008) 331 pp (added 7 March)
76. A Brief History of Indonesia by Tim Hannigan (2015) 277 pp (added 12 March)
77. Max Havelaar by Multatuli (1860) 320 pp (added 12 March)
78. Jernigan by David Gates (1991) 339 pp (added 12 March)
79. Private Life by Jane Smiley (2010) 480 pp (added 12 March)
80. Betrayal : The Crisis in the Catholic Church by Matt Carroll (and others) (2002) 265 pp (added 12 March)
81. The Green Road by Anne Enright (2015) 310 pp (added 12 March) COMPLETED
82. When I was Old by Georges Simenon (1970) 452 pp (added 15 March)
83. The Full Catastrophe : Inside the Greek Crisis by James Angelos (2015) 292 pp (added 15 March)
84. No Highway by Nevil Shute (1948) 325 pp (added 19 March)
85. The Italian Girl by Iris Murdoch (1964) 171 pp (added 19 March)
86. Diary of a Mad Old Man by Junichiro Tanizaki (1961) 177 pp (added 19 March)
87. Most Secret by Nevil Shute (1945) 346 pp (added 19 March)
88. Kathleen and Frank by Christopher Isherwood (1971) 510 pp (added 19 March)
89. The Viceroy of Ouidah by Bruce Chatwin (1980) 101 pp (added 19 March)
90. The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen (1948) 330 pp (added 19 March)
91. Sarah Thornhill by Kate Grenville (2011) 304 pp (added 19 March)
92. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn (1980) 688 pp (added 27 March)
93. Home : A Time Traveller's Tales from Britain's Pre-History by Francis Pryor (2014) 290 pp (added 27 March)
94. The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing (1962) 576 pp (added 27 March)
95. Ultimate Questions by Bryan Magee (2016) 127 pp (added 31 March)
96. The Four Books by Yan Lianke (2015) 338 pp (added 31 March)
97. Find Me by Laura Van Den Berg (2015) 278 pp (added 31 March)
98. A Reunion of Ghosts by Judith Claire Mitchell (2015) 371 pp (added 31 March)
99. The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1855) 142 pp (added 31 March) COMPLETED
100. The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1762) 168 pp (added 31 March)

Books added second quarter

Books added third quarter

Next one is yours

Hi Paul! Happy new thread!

Good grief, did I actually make it to first place for once? Well, I'm back home in sunny Singapore, and feeling homesick for sunny London. I kid you not - we had great weather while we were over there.

Happy new thread, Paul. Great opening picture showcasing your new Fitbit!

Happy New Thread, Paul!

Trying hard to keep up with your constantly renewing thread!

Happy new thread, Paul! It's just about time for me to start one of those, myself. Not tonight, though!

Stopping by to wave hello.

Paul--Love your topper! At night you are beating me on the Fitbit and then it motivates me to walk in the morning so you don't trounce me. Thanks!

Congrats on another new thread. : )

>15 humouress: That is because you are so nearby, Nina! Maybe time differences legislate to give an advantage, but I am pleased to see you safely back.

>16 Familyhistorian: Hani actually snapped the picture during the holidays and posted it to FB indicating some midlife crisis on my part, cheeky mare!
I thought it opportune to give the fitbit centre stage and hope to climb the table amongst the 18 of us in August.

>22 PaulCranswick: I didn't know that a Fitbit could be the sign of a midlife crisis. Hmm, maybe you should get Hani a Fitbit as a gift. (Wonder how that would go over.) There were 19 on the table when I last looked, Paul.

>17 msf59: Thank you mate. I hope to have a little more time to concentrate on the threads in the coming week or so.

>18 ronincats: Well Roni in terms of thread numbers I am still behind Amber and Mamie and Mark and level with Joe so I am certainly not on my own these days. Last year I kept the stats much less frequently than this and also previous years. I did record the stats at the beginning of October last year wherein 66 threads had 500 posts or more. In terms of the total posts at that time the top 66 threads this year are on the cusp of 90% of October's figures already which means that we will as a group almost certainly surpass where we were at that stage this year (if that makes any sense!)

>19 foggidawn: Thanks Foggy. I will keep my eyes skinned for your new one going up.

>20 Whisper1: Is that Little Red Riding Hood?.......no it is Linda! I prefer Linda of course and I always have the big bad wolf waiting for me at home.

>21 Berly: I haven't been doing any Mamieesque trouncing for the time being, Kimmers! I am so happy that Mamie invited me into our little coteries as it is a spur to progress knowing that a bevy of my friends will be unimpressed if I have virtually no stepping progress. xx

>23 Familyhistorian: I don't think it is meant to be such a sign, Meg, it is just my good lady wife being churlish because she wanted me to buy a treadmill. Quite right too there are 19 of us now - I meant to say the "other 18 of us".

Happy new thread!

>1 PaulCranswick: yum! 2/3 is all I need there...the coffee and the book, I mean ;)

I did immediately think, Holiday? What kind of Booker winner is that? And luckily you explained it, one of those dual ones. How did you get hold of it, was it re issued?

Happy new thread. I am currently celebrating your new thread with a lager (topped with ginger wine). De-yum- ziss as my kids would say in a typical word mash-up.

>26 amanda4242: Thanks Amanda. xx

>27 LovingLit: Well as Meatloaf sang in a slightly different context and immediately before collapsing - two out of three ain't bad!
I think Holiday is not too tough to find, Megan (why is the touchstone for The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, for heaven's sake?). The edition I have is published by Arrow Books in 2008.

>29 PaulCranswick: maybe it's just hard to find in 2nd hand shops!
And meatloaf was right, 2/3 ain't bad! Particularly if. Get to keep the coffee and the books ;)

Happy new thread Paul. I like the topper photograph - it's reminded me it's time for coffee...

>30 LovingLit: Hahaha coffee and books are a good start to anything and never mind my thread.

>31 charl08: Thank you Charlotte. Me too!

Happy new thread, Paul, just had my coffee and now off to walk the dogs.

>33 FAMeulstee: So you have a full three out of three Anita, as you and books are never far from each other. :D

Happy new thread mate.

>35 johnsimpson: Thanks John. I am feeling myself coming down with something approaching flu - I have a stinking head cold and my bones are starting to ache a little. I probably need some medicine, some fresh air and some rest.

>34 PaulCranswick: Except that I don't catalogue my steps ;-)

>36 PaulCranswick: Hope you feel better soon!

>36 PaulCranswick:, You need some Yorkshire air mate. Hope you are not suffering too much and make sure you take some meds, rest and if able get some fresh air. You have had a difficult year and you may be a bit rundown and so the bug has taken hold, look after yourself dear friend and you will soon be back to your fine self. Karen sends love and hugs.

Happy new thread, Paul!

Happy new one, Paul.

>37 FAMeulstee: Sneezing, sniffling and sneezing in sort of that order Anita. It is great because the watch does all the counting for me!

>38 johnsimpson: Thanks for that John. I think you're right - the sweet air of God's country beckons and I am yearning for it!
When I get back in August Karen and Hani must join us in celebrating the great Northern air!

>39 scaifea: Thank you Amber, dear. Seeing my friends whizzing around the threads is a tonic indeed.

>40 Ameise1: I am sure it will be Barbara once my blasted nose stops running! Le Tour visits your lovely country today if I am not mistaken.

Happy newish thread, Paul! That Fitbit sure looks good on you!

>42 PaulCranswick: Yep, they'll arrive at our capital Bern. It's too hot to be there. I will watch it on TV.

Congrats on your new thread, Paul!

Books, coffee and your fitbit - sounds just right to me, although in our house Madame MBH wears the fitbit, and I just tag along.

I'm LOVING Heany's Aeneid VI. I can recommend it to you - so far, I like it even better than his superior Beowulf.

>43 Carmenere: Thank you Lynda, although it saw little action today with me bunged up with flu. I crashed out at 9 and awoke at 2.00 a.m.

>44 Ameise1: I missed the fun - first one I have missed on TV due to sleeping off my flu.

>45 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. You can share her steps though right?
For me Heaney was the last of the great poets.

Get well soon dear friend.

The flu is nasty. I'm not prone to it, but even though I had the flu vaccination, I spent a week in bed a few months ago. It is no fun at all. I hope you feel better soon.

Here are some flowers for you:



and, some books:

>41 PaulCranswick:, That sounds like a damned good idea mate.

>47 Ameise1: Thank you Barbara. xx

>48 Whisper1: Flowers and books are a great combination. I don't suffer from hay fever so that is one thing that is good, I suppose. Thanks for the pics, Linda. I can just see myself perched on those books casting my line to snag a few more.

>49 johnsimpson: Will hold you to it. Rashid, Stokes and Anderson back for Old Trafford. I wouldn't rush Stokes back and our spinners are simply not good enough to play two of them. Surprised that they have done nothing at all with the batting. I will be interested to see how the young Welshman Aneurin Donald develops mate after his record breaking double-ton the other day. Bell-Drummond should be drafted in and I fear Hildreth is going off the boil so that is when they will give him a chance. Surely James Vince had only one more opportunity for the moment.

>50 PaulCranswick:, I was surprised that they did nothing with the batting and agree that Bell-Drummond is one to look at and I think he is in the Lions' side, his captain Sam Northeast has had a good season and seems to like the 190's and fell six short of 1,000 championship runs with his latest knock of 190 albeit in Div 2 but like B-D has come through the youth ranks and I think skippered the U-19's.

Young Donald's knock was spectacular, I was keeping in touch via the BBC Sport app and his score kept jumping and now seeing he hit 15 sixes and 26 fours I am not surprised and it was his maiden ton turned into a Daddy score and he is not 20 until 20th Dec. One to look out for I hope.

>51 johnsimpson: I am not sure that there is much of a divide between the two divisions, John, and frankly I preferred the old format where everybody plays everybody else once a year. I also liked the Sunday league which was a great fixture of my summers as a kid. A 50 over a side competition along the lines of the old Gilette Cup and the 20/20 stuff to replace the Benson and Hedges. I really don't like this pampering via central contracts and some of the batsmen would be better off applying themselves more than whinging about playing a game they ought to relish.
Northeast does look like he is doing well as is Westley and Borthwick. The latter would have been a better pick than either Ali or Rashid IMO.

65.

Holiday by Stanley Middleton
Date of Publication : 1974
Pages : 222
Booker Prize Winner 1974; joint winner (22/50)

This is a clever little novel of the sort that wouldn't possibly win awards this century.

It is a subtle work of art that blends nostalgia, grief and marital difficulties in a knowing and effective manner.

Edwin Fisher has left his wife in the emotional turmoil following the death of their son. He goes to the seaside of his youth to think on his situation and future. There entirely by accident he bumps into his in-laws and is forced to consider whether or not he has made the right choices in life.

Sympathetic and well observed, Middleton created a very satisfying story here which appealed to my provincial sensibilities. His star has waned somewhat in the 42 years since this was published but he is deserving of recognition just as this book is deserving of a read and the accolades that once came its way.

8/10

>1 PaulCranswick: *turns head sideways to try to make out title*

>2 PaulCranswick: Oh, thanks!

>53 PaulCranswick: I'm hit!

Dear, dear, dear, dear Paul! Thanks you for starting a new thread -- I feel it's a narrow window in which I can sort of catch up. How are you, my friend?

Here's a personal question for you... Saad has been around for a very long time, as boyfriends go. How do you feel about this? Boyfriends are hard, I think, particularly for Stelios. Will he be going to school as well?

P--Feel better soon, young man!!

>54 AMQS: Very interesting and germane question, Anne! Saad and Yasmyne were brought together very much with the encouragement of Hani and he was "the Golden Boy" in her eyes long before Yasmyne became truly smitten. He is a lovely boy - kind, thoughtful and many things one would look for in a possible future addition to the family. The main problem with him is that he has a doting mother and father and, partly as a result, is both lazy and unambitious in terms of his own personal development and which is obviously necessary for him to share a life together successfully with my daughter. After many struggles he eventually made it onto the foundation course at Heriot-Watt University as per Yasmyne although he was doing Science foundation to her Business. Unfortunately two semesters later he managed to pass only one of eight of the exams he sat and his father removed him from the University. He is now at a loose end and talking dreamily about pilot's school - possibly now in Egypt. I know he is not so keen on Yasmyne going to Scotland this Autumn to pursue her own studies and whether the strain of this is a mortal blow to their relationship I am not sure.
Hani is now of the opinion that we should actively seek to split them up but I don't agree with her. Yasmyne remains smitten and it is her choice at the end of the day. I have spoken at length to Saad that the only way to win the approval of parents is to demonstrate your worth as a suitor to their daughter. He needs to make something of himself in short.

>55 Berly: Thank you Kimmers. I am at work but feeling like death warmed up ever so slightly.

>56 PaulCranswick: Paul, I am with you 100% on not actively breaking them up. I feel that can backfire big time, particularly if she is smitten. Yikes. What do I know, though, I'm parenting teens just as you are... Is Yasmyne excited about going to school?

>57 AMQS: I think so Anne. Saad goes back to Egypt next week so she is a little distracted at the present time! Hani can be a bull in a china shop. She does not hide her feelings at all well despite substantial attempts at coaching her.

Well... I'm not really someone who should comment on how relationships succeed, but I'd also say it's best for Yasmyne and Saad to find their own way.
There's (sadly) only one really "perfect" couple I met in RL (there seem to be many more here on LT). She was all power and smartness and her career has brought her (and him) to many interesting places. At the same time she's incredibly gentle, friendly, open towards people. He clearly was the "weaker" part - no career at all, a lot of dreams (DJ, writer), usually working somewhere in admin. But just as gentle, friendly and open and extremely supportive when it came to her and her career. And she never saw him as a "loser", but just loved and respected him and encouraged him in his dreams. They were illusion-free - she knew he didn't have the drive for a career and would never support her financially in the traditional male role. But he also wasn't envious as many men are when their wife is more successful, and she could count on him (and he on her) in any situation. When I met them, they had already been together for 13 years, that was in 2000 or 2001, and as far as I know they're still going strong.

I myself have been way too much under the influence of my parents who on the one hand encouraged me to study and build a career to be independent, on the other hand expected me to find a strong and "presentable" husband who'd "take over" the financial part. Of course I should have 2 kids and then could work in my husband's office, they said. While I felt insulted by their idea (why pay me the education just to "sell" me into a traditional marriage), until today I haven't fully freed myself of their contradicting ideas. They're buried deeply inside and their voices are with me all the time. I had a "weak" boyfriend for 12 years - only basic education and he was a farmer. When they couldn't break us up, my dad subtly encouraged his career. When he had a great job, was driving a Mercedes, wearing Boss suits and had basically become a puppet of my dad, I left him. Dear, were my parents angry with me! Not that my love life improved after that. :)

66.

Karl Doenitz and the Last Days of the Third Reich by Barry Turner

Date of Publication : 2015
Pages : 275

On 30 April 1945 Hitler killed himself and was burned with gasoline fittingly atop a rubbish heap outside his beseiged bunker.
Into the vaccuum created by his absence came head of the kreigsmarine, Karl Doenitz - Hitler's chosen successor at the prompting of Albert Speer who believed he could end the hostilities with the least mess still possible and to prevent Himmler and Goering from ascending the slippery slope.

Turner describes the terror and the chaos of the final days either side of the capitulation of Germany with vividity and a liberal quoting of direct sources. The signing of surrender and the subsequent arrest of Doenitz, Speer, Jodl and Raeder among others to be tried at Nurembourg. Doenitz can be spared some of the harshest of histories judgements for his war conduct and (though an anti-semite) played no role directly or indirectly in the holocaust; he certainly deserves some credit for the evacuation of the baltic areas in the face of Soviet advances in an effort to surrender to the Western allies and for his calm in bringing the conflict to a close on terms his predecessor would never have countenanced.

Largely cowing to Russian pressure and despite the American judge voting for acquital, Doenitz was found guilty by majority and sentenced to 10 years in Spandau which was served in full. His comments which had rankled with the Allies about the bellicose nature of the Soviet Union were proven in good time to be true.

Well balanced view of a fairly obscure figure nowadays from the war. Recommended.

8/10

>59 Deern: Thank you for sharing that Nathalie. The path of love does not run straight and true for most of us I feel. I have a wonderful but extremely complex lady as my wife and we spend a lot of our time in a state of muted (and not-so-muted) conflict. The good far outweighs the bad in my particular case but she went against the dictates of her own parents to be with me and I would have expected more sympathy for Yasmyne from her to be honest. She is also worried about the world situation in the middle east and impending and real restrictions on travel and the manner of Saad's parents but I still hold the position that she needs to determine her own future.

Day 10 of 59

The Penguin Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Poetry

Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Stanley Kunitz

Langston Hughes needs little introduction, although I am surprised that he is represented here by a mere three poems. Leader of the Harlem Renaissance and innovator of jazz poetry his rhythmic work has retained its lustre.

Countee Cullen was very much a contemporary of Hughes' but a little more formalist in his writing style.

If longevity makes a great poet then Stanley Kunitz was of the Gods as he lived to the ripe old age of 100. To be fair he was a rare talent too.

It has to be Hughes that I quote from. This is I, too

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

Seems I have missed out on a lot you have a fitbit ? (first glance wonder if it was one of those fancy Apple watch contraptions) ....

>63 roundballnz: Nope Alex - a fitbit it is. I am inordinately pleased with it though and spend far too much time checking and rechecking its stats.

>64 PaulCranswick: who woulda thought the stats man would be checking it all day ??? ..... I like mine keeps me honest, though I do take it off on the weekend

>65 roundballnz: So far bathtub, shower and swimming pool only as places for removal. Paid for it though at the weekend as I left the charger in the office and the battery ran out leaving me shy of about 2,000 steps (honestly!).

Happy newish thread, Paul.

>52 PaulCranswick:, I would agree with you Paul about how cricket should be and that Borthwick would have been a good option. I think we should take over the running of the game and I am sure that with your skills we could get a better T.V deal that would also give coverage on Terrestrial T.V to get the youngsters back interested in the game as we were in the Seventies. I know some people don't like me harking back to when I was a lad but the amount of cricket I got to see was phenomenal and if I wasn't watching I was with my mates in the school field playing the game or with my dad bowling to me. It was a lovely time, Rugby League through the winter with the Yorkshire and Lancashire cups to start with then the John Player / Regal Trophy and then the Floodlit league on BBC 2 on a Tuesday night before the start of the Challenge Cup and all this alongside the two divisions of Rugby and by the time the Challenge Cup Final was played the Cricket season had started. Oh to be back in the seventies again with all that sport on television, and occasionally that other sport, Football got an airing unlike now when it is wall to wall Football to the exclusion of just about everything else. Rant over, have a good day mate.

Morning, Paul!
Ooof to the teen relationship woes. Not something to which I'm exactly looking forward in a few years...

>67 DianaNL: Thanks Diana - despite continued aching limbs and a spiteful cough - it has made my day that you are back amongst us in the threads. xx

>68 johnsimpson: Rugby League was great for us then wasn't it - not being able to decide which team to follow for a start. Always professed an affinity for Leeds (the Holmes and Dick combination was magical) but then I was much closer geographically to Featherstone and Wakefield. Speaking of the 1970s one of my favourite programmes from that era was Superstars where sports stars competed in a series of different sports. Brian Jack, Brian Hooper, David Hemery and of course Keith Fielding the Salford winger. Great fun.

>69 scaifea: At the risk of being a tad sexist and as a father as well as a full-blooded male, believe me Amber, it is more difficult bringing up daughters around the age of Yasmyne.

Hi there, Paul! Hope you're feeling much better today!

Hi Paul! I get busy for 3 days and get behind on your threads! Sorry to hear you've been sick and hope you're on the road to recovery.

I may be glad that my daughter, who turns 23 next month, hasn't brought home anybody for us to meet yet. So even when she does, there won't be any teenage angst about it.

Good luck with the continuing Yasmyne and Saad saga!

>71 Carmenere: A bit worse actually Lynda. Just had a few hours sleep but it doesn't seem to have helped me any.

>72 karenmarie: You will still feel that tingle Karen when she does, believe me!

>70 PaulCranswick: More difficult? No, I don't think so. Definitely the challenges are different ones.

>74 scaifea: Well I am basing it on having two Yasmyne and Kyran who are both already sort of on the dating game. I suppose for a lady it is easier to bring up a lady and vice versa, but I am only commenting on my own experience recognising that there are probably no universal rules.

Have a great week Paul.

Hi, Paul.

Nice Langston Hughes poem. Jeez, progress is slow and arduous. So much is better since he wrote that, and so much is not.

Relationships: I share your view re Yasmyne. Our son at 17-18 had a horrible girlfriend, who had a knack for getting him in trouble. We felt that if we told him how we really viewed it - that she was awful for him and he should go nowhere near her - they'd be off and getting married in defiance asap. So we kept our thoughts to ourselves, and were polite and treated her well, and let him work it out. He eventually did, and now is married to a woman who's great for him, whom we love dearly.

>70 PaulCranswick:, I loved superstars but it couldn't be done now. They did try a version of it a couple of years ago but it was so anaemic it bored me, I was used to the rough and tumble especially the bike racing. Do you remember Kevin Keegan getting severe cinder rash when he came a cropper big style, can you imagine premier league footballers doing something like that.

I remember watching Leeds V Leigh in the 71 Challenge Cup Final on colour T.V at a friend of my dads and Alex Murphy got Syd Hynes sent off. Like you I was torn who to watch and started off at Post Office Road before switching to Belle Vue.

>76 GeezLouise: Lovely to see you Rae. xx

>77 jnwelch: You are right Joe; there are as many steps sideways and even backwards than forwards it seems in race relations.
I am actually rooting for Saad to make something of himself as he is a lovely boy but I do have my reservations. I am also worried the father may simply buy him a university certificate as that is apparently common in Egypt and he did so already for one of the nephews. It would hardly demonstrate someone likely to strive for his family.

>78 johnsimpson: I reckon they could do it with a little more imagination mate. Recently retired soccer players for example like say Rio Ferdinand. I do remember that with Keegan and with Malcolm MacDonald getting himself injured.
It was eventually Trinity for me too.

Happy new thread, Paul! I think you are right to stay relaxed with Yasmyne and Saad. Maybe Saad will pull himself together... and if not, Yasmyne will figure it out herself, she is smart... and will have plenty of young men following her around when she goes away to school.

Langston Hughes is a huge favorite here.... we even have a portrait of him up in the house.

>80 banjo123: Impressed with the portrait Rhonda. Certainly an impressive fellow, Langston Hughes.
Yasmyne will decide for better or for worse and I am trying to reconcile Hani to the fact that whilst we can advise we cannot dictate to a strong willed 19 year old and that, if we do, we risk losing her altogether.

When Emily was deciding where to go to college, part of her decision was influenced by her boyfriend, who was a year older than her and already attending university in New York. She decided to go to New York as well (a different university). I cautioned her that while it may influence her decision, of course, she needed to look realistically at whether or not she'd be happy there if they split up. She ended up going there anyway and they were finished by the end of her first year. She got through it, though, and I'm glad that she made her own decision.

Now she's living with her new boyfriend until she starts graduate school. Then they'll be doing a short long-distance relationship (from Athens, Georgia to just across the border in South Carolina near Augusta, Georgia - about 150 miles). This time her school decision wasn't influenced by him, although she met him through that university. She just happened to be made an offer she couldn't refuse there. :)

I am late to wish you happy on your newest thread, Paul. Everyone started new threads while I was sick. I LOVE your topper! And I want that coffee.

>82 ursula: Thanks for sharing that Ursula - I think our children are more formidable and resilient than we give them credit for. Yasmyne's heart is on her sleeve but I guess she will follow it nonetheless. Good luck to Emily with studies and that pesky opposite sex.

>83 Crazymamie: Well I dunno how many steps it is from Georgia to Kuala Lumpur but if you'd made them the least I could have done was provide you some of that fine arabica.

Day 11 of 59

Penguin Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Poetry

WH Auden, Theodore Roethke, Charles Olsen

Whether you would think of Auden as an american poet would conversely go with whether you would consider Eliot a British one. Since Ms. Dove has included both here it would seem a little bit of having one's cake and eating it. She gets round it by including only Eliot's earlier work and Auden's later work. Only two poems here but both are well known.

James Dickey thought Roethke the greatest and best poet America has yet produced. I don't quite agree with him but it is hard to dislike or not admire the poignant and effortless rhythms he produced.

Charles Olson was most famous for his Maximus poems which charted the history of America in a most unorthodox manner. A great influence on the post-modernist movement , the Black Mountain School and the Beat poets he became known as the "archeologist of morning".

This is Auden's pithy Epitaph on a Tyrant

Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after,
And the poetry he invented was easy to understand;
He knew human folly like the back of his hand,
And was greatly interested in armies and fleets;
When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter,
And when he cried the little children died in the streets.

Twenty-Four hours without any posts for me but I am back at least on the physical mend. Still a bit chesty but the other flu symptoms have disappeared so I shall be able to get back to walking a bit tomorrow.

Couple of things happened today.

First the Volvo refused to start and is becoming a temperamental fellow. Seems the fuel pump has given up the ghost.

Secondly Hani has a boil or bite of some description on her shoulder that has been bothering her for a couple of days. Erni assisted her to bathe it in hot water yesterday and it burst. Today when she went to the clinic they recommended a minor surgery as the Doctor seems to think that there may be an infection. Hani, hypochondriac that she is is having kittens at the prospect.

Where have all my pals gone?

I just ordered a FitBit! I'm jumping on the bandwagon!

Sorry to hear about the Volvo and really sorry to hear about Hani's infection! It sounds uncomfortable and a bit scary!

xo

Hey buddy, we're still here! Hang in there, it's almost the weekend

Oh, poor Volvo. And poor Hani!

Oh, poor Hani! Also, sorry about the Volvo. But, I am glad that you are feeling better.

Also here, just knackered out from gardening, and unanticipated hot weather!

Hope Hani's able to get it sorted out ok. That doesn't sound like fun.

Good thing you are feeling better in time to deal with sick wife and car, Paul. I hope everything gets resolved quickly.

Poor Hani will keep her in my thoughts, and I am sorry to hear about the Volvo.

Hi Paul! Those darned Volvos! Love 'em and spend money on 'em, too.

Poor Hani! I hope the surgery goes well and that all infection is removed.

I'm glad that you're back on your feet, too.

>87 EBT1002: I am sure that you'll leave quite a few of us in the dust, Ellen.
Hani will not have the op today because I have an appointment in Melaka and even a minor op like that she will require me by her side!

>88 mahsdad: Hahaha thank you, Jeff. The weekend cannot come soon enough actually.

>89 scaifea: And poor old me, Amber, because I'll be picking up the tab! In fairness the health insurance will pay for Hani and her "growth".

>90 Crazymamie: Of course Mamie, one thing is not the product of another! Volvo in the hospital today and Hani on Monday.

>91 charl08: Nice to see you Green Fingers. I have seen talk of a heatwave in the UK - I hope it cools down a little when I get there in the third week of August.

>92 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. I am getting fed up.......with the car.

>93 GeezLouise: Thanks Rae. One of the two has problem with a fuel pump. I hope I don't send the wrong one to the garage!

>94 karenmarie: Yes, Karen it is funny that since I have finished paying off the car loan it has decided to cost me money on a similar basis to the previous installments.

We are here! Having a heat wave, even in San Diego!

After 32 years of working with and supervising college students, I've heard many relationship stories. The over riding fact that is mentioned is parental force fullness. Sadly, this equates to a few of those I've listened to rebelling against their parent (s) and making some poor decisions in the process.

I think back to my life and the fact that I married my high-school sweetheart, quarter back football player, handsome from a family with money. It was puppy love and didn't last. The friendship remained, but I am so glad that we went our separate ways. We both are much happier than we ever would have been had we stayed together just for the sake of staying together. Unfortunately, I was the go getter and the one who wanted to succeed. His parentental money left him with a lack of needing or wanting to achieve a goal.

Have you got a fitbit fan club as well ??? must have missed that .....

Hope Hani's little op goes well & recovery does not need a new 'shoulder handbag' ....

>98 ronincats: Roni, I thought that San Diego was in permanent heatwave!

>99 Whisper1: Thanks for sharing that Linda. I am another smitten with my first love - made my college days less, shall we say, adventurous than they might have been only to be dumped the week before my finals. Took me two years to pick myself up and I did plenty of things along the way that I would gladly take back today had the chance to do so. Hani was engaged to the Chief of Police of Johor State's son when we met (boy did he make things tough for me!), but she realised that there is in life more likelihood of a happy and sustainable marriage when the breadwinner actually has to work hard for his money than have it provided without effort by Daddy and Mummy. This probably explains her change of view in my daughter's case - her ex-fiance now has two wives and never held down a reliable or steady job, being constantly pampered by the parents.

>100 roundballnz: Hahaha I am at the bottom of the fitbit pile Alex and not deserving of much attention there at all. The fact that I am 1 thorn amid 19 roses does make me stand out!
She will now have the op next week.

>97 PaulCranswick: It's a given, Paul. I'm sure there's a Murphy's Corollary somewhere about that.

Happy Friday, Paul. Hope you have the Volvo issues solved.

Have a good relaxing weekend, my friend.

>102 karenmarie: I am still trying to figure out how the heck the car knew when to start playing up.

>103 msf59: Azim will collect the car tomorrow Mark with my wallet another $800 lighter.

Hiya, Paul, just wanted to wish you a happy new(ish) thread, and a great weekend!

Hope Hani is okay. You don't want to mess around with an infection, but I'm sure it's not what she was expecting. Best wishes to all of you.

>105 bell7: I was looking forward to these few days of rest Mary. Work is challenging to say the least at the moment and I need what times of relaxation and recuperation I can get for myself.

>106 AMQS: Thank you Anne. She is OK actually and I do feel that when she sees the specialist there will not turn out to be any cutting and carving.

Catching up, Paul. I take it that you're feeling better if not yet fully recovered. I hope that you're right that Hani has conquered the infection, and that no surgery will be necessary. Courage to you both!
Ah- romance. I think you have the right of it. I've watched many, many high school couples get together and then split. Parental interference never really helps unless the other half is abusive or criminal, and Saad seems not to be either.
I love and adore Roethke, btw. I'm not sure that he's actually the best, but he's certainly near the top of my list of favorites.

>101 PaulCranswick: What? 95% of the time our high temperatures are between 65 and 80 degrees F. (19 to 27 degrees C.)--we have the most moderate temperatures in the US matched with reasonable humidity (which rules out Florida and the Gulf Coast).

>108 LizzieD: Thanks Peggy. i am still coughing a little but am feeling much more like my usual self.
It isn't easy to be objective in parenting but I think that the best option is to let the kids stand, stumble or fall of their own volition with the proviso that we should be in close attendance, albeit discreetly.
Roethke wouldn't make my top six American poets but I do like his work too.

>109 ronincats: Go and check me out some accommodation then Roni - I'll be over shortly. xx

Sorry to read of your troubles with young romance. I'd be thinking it would be best not to forcefully break up a romance. Let them come to their senses themselves, however that sorts itself out. As a parent I've been very fortunate that way. Our eldest so far tells me he in not interested in marriage or the work of a long term relationship and as far as I know, he has not had much in the way of a dating life. Not quite what I had hoped for him, but better he realizes that he is not suited to such a thing as yet, if ever. As long is he is happy and productive. Our younger son , William had friends that were female all through high school, but none were more than friendships. He went to grade 12 graduation prom with a girl from his math class as a friends -and a " spark" was lit, and the two of them went through university together, and got married last year at the age of 25. And as they say, the rest is history.

I'm glad to hear that Hani's infection seems to be clearing up, My younger son and his wife are Paris right now and off to Rome tomorrow and while I know they are having a wonderful time I'll be glad when they return at the beginning of August. First the attack in Nice, just prior to theor leaving and now this terrible madness in Munich. However, each day they have been sending me photos via email and are having a wonderful time.

>112 PaulCranswick: Sensibly said, Deb. Your two boys do seem to be grounded but in entirely different ways.

The world is in a terrible place at the moment. So much hatred, so little effort at tolerance and understanding.

Cars just have some sixth sense, Paul. They seem to know when you get a windfall, like a bonus or a tax return. They figure that money is to be spent on them and they develop some sort of nasty and costly problem. I guess it is better than adding and extra expense when you are down.

>113 Familyhistorian: Something they put in the tank no doubt Meg. Anyhow the Volvo is swanning it at the garage for the whole weekend and will only resume active duty on Monday.

Hi Paul! I have a friend who had what sounds like a similar infection to Hani's a couple of times. She did have to have minor surgery both times, and her husband was pressed into service changing the dressing at home between trips to the doctor. I hope you can avoid that!

Happy Saturday, Paul! I see you cutting a blaze through the threads this morning, (here anyway). I am getting ready to head to work. Another hot one here in the Midwest.

>115 cbl_tn: She won't let me do it, Carrie, I am far too clumsy. Poor old Erni (our maid and the Continent's finest maker of coffee) will be pressed into action I am sure.

>116 msf59: Yes mate, it is the first time I have had in a while to get around some of the threads properly. Posted on about 60 threads and lurked on a goodly number of others! I will get around several more before I am through this weekend, I guess.

Make sure you don't expose too much skin to the sun, Mark, and drink plenty of water.

Yes sir, I will do all those things. 60 threads? Busy man. Get some reading in too!

Stopping in to catch up with you and to wish you a weekend full of fabulous - how's it going so far?

>119 msf59: It was actually 73 threads posted to and 117 in total visited. Doing the reading bit too.

>120 Crazymamie: It is going great guns so far, Mamie. I am just polishing off the third installment of the Poldark saga and Hani is fast asleep!

Managed a good surf around the threads earlier for the first time in a goodly while. xx

I saw you making your rounds! Good to hear that your Saturday was a success. Ours is just getting started - I am hoping to get a lot of stepping done today as I have put up a poor effort so far this past week.

>122 Crazymamie: I am going for a walk shortly, Mamie, and today is the first day I have felt like trudging up the hills of my compound after my bout of flu.

Glad that you are feeling better, Paul! I am doing my walking inside - it's already hot and steamy outside here and something in the air is messing with my allergies, so no outside for me just yet. Perhaps this evening.

Hi Paul! You have been busy! Congrats on just polishing off the third installment of the Poldark saga Jeremy Poldark. I've loaned mine out to a friend and haven't seen her in a while, and next time we have dinner I'm sure she'll return it. I just finished the 8 books of the Outlander series and I think I'll have to dive back into Poldark until the 9th book comes out. They are both excellent, in different ways.

>124 Crazymamie: I did something similar this morning waiting for my bath to fill pacing up and down the bathroom (five steps forward and five back). The sun has long ago rested its head for the evening here.

>125 karenmarie: I really enjoyed the third Poldark although the title was a mystery until the end! I haven't started the Outlander series yet. xx

Hi Paul I've been away all week and just got home last night. I hope all the Cranswick Manor residents are settling down, getting healthy and getting back to the daily routines of life!

Happy weekend, Paul!

>127 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley. Yes, all is pretty much in order at the moment. xx

>128 scaifea: Thanks Amber. I hope yours is a swell one too.

Just sending good wishes for your continued recovery, and for Hani's healing as well. I do hope there isn't a need for "cutting and carving" as you say!

Hi Paul, Root again showed why he is one of the top three batsmen in the world at the moment with a superb knock of 254, he was ably supported by useful contributions from Woakes, Stokes and Bairstow and then Woakes took three wickets to leave Pakistan 57 for 4 at the close.

A good win for Yorkshire last night in the T20 against Northants and if they beat them next week at their place then we are through to the quarter finals which a few weeks ago looked a long way off with the weather costing games and the ones we managed to play we lost. Hopefully the confidence in the squad has picked up with these results and that will stand them in good stead for the championship run in.

Hope you and the family have a great weekend mate, sending love and hugs from Karen and I.

>60 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. I just read your review to my husband, Kevin and I will be looking for this book for him. It's right up his alley. Great Review!

>130 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks Linda. As Hani is a self-confessed hypochondriac the mere thought of a pimple on her back never mind some kind of boil or cyst sends her into paroxysms of fear. I am sure she will be fine. It was amazing when she had the laser blasting for her kidney stones a couple of years ago (she created a royal fuss and got me admitted into the procedure room) in that the machine monitoring the whole thing included a recording of her blood pressure. The upper number spiked above 200 just before we began and after she was administered something to calm her down it dropped 60 points in less than three minutes!

>131 johnsimpson: We have what is approaching a very good team, John, I think our seam attack is well balanced and in Cook, Root and Bairstow we have three top-class bats. A spinner and two batsmen and I don't think anyone would beat us regularly. Woakes by adding some pace to his bowling over the winter is now our top all-rounder and we still have Stokes.
I would look at Rayner actually at the test level to see how he could do and bring in Borthwick at number three and Hildreth at number five whilst giving Hales a little longer.

>132 Dianekeenoy: Thank you Diane. I really enjoyed the book to be honest on an individual I was not overly familiar with.

I plan on taking the 4th Poldark book with me on my trip to Seatte next weekend. I am looking forward to Warleggan and will also be taking an Aurelio Zen book by Michael Dibdin. It always amazes me how much reading I get done on airplanes and in airports.

I find myself missing your play list posts. There was lots of food for discussion in them.

>134 benitastrnad: Noted Benita. i have been slacking a bit there but listening a-plenty nonetheless. I will put one up today as I enjoyed my music last night.

I enjoy airports and flying for getting reading done. I am not one to sit with headphones laughing aloud at comedies no-one else can appreciate. I liked the early books in the Aurelio Zen series.

Have a great weekend. xx

#135
The Aurelio Zen books have been my traveling companions for some years. It started some years ago when I purchased my first Zen mystery at Kramer's Books in Washington D.C. I think I only have 3 of the titles left to read in that series. The BBC TV movies done for Masterpiece Mystery were well done. There were 3 of them shown in this country and I wish there had been more.

>136 benitastrnad: Michael Dibdin died at a tragically young age, Benita. I think he lost his mojo for the series part way through but it is still well worth the trouble to read.

Just stopping in to say hi and wish you and yours all the best.

Hi Paul - I just made an LT list for Book Riot's 100 must-read Jewish books. I was especially smitten when I came across this list as there are many writers I haven't come across before. Thought you might like to take a look as I know you love your lists.
http://www.librarything.com/list/10922/all/Book-Riots-100-must-read-works-of-Jew...

>138 amanda4242: Thank you Amanda. I have you down as one of the best one line reviewers in the group.

>139 avatiakh: I do indeed love those lists, Kerry, and as you know I do very much enjoy Jewish fiction. A double whammy for me in the best possible way.

>139 avatiakh: Jolly interesting list it is too, Kerry.
Doris Lessing converted to Judaism following marriage as did Geraldine Brooks although in the case of Ms. Lessing I am not sure whether she disavowed her faith as she is also associated with the Sufism movement.
I don't place William Styron as a Jewish author or is that because of Sophie's Choice?

Amazed no place has been found for E.L. Doctorow or for Mordecai Richler or for Irene Nemirovsky or for Yoram Kaniuk or for Bernice Rubens.

Yes, I also found it interesting and was just excited to discover some new writers. Quite a few that I'll be checking out. On the Book Riot site she does say that there are a few Jewish stories rather than Jewish writers in there. I was alerted to it over on goodreads and some of the posters on the thread there were not so impressed with the list and are putting up their own lists, so I'll probably grow one of the Jewish literature lists here on LT. Will keep you updated.

Indeed, how could they forget Bernice Rubens! Still even with 100 it's hard to have a complete list.

I've just got from the library an alternate history, Judenstaat by Simone Zelitch which is set in a Jewish state founded in Saxony after WW2.

>142 avatiakh: Sounds like one to look out for, Kerry, and I will have a look at what Book Depo has to offer.

>139 avatiakh:, >141 PaulCranswick: - Fascinating list and I agree, it's difficult to have a *complete* list. Of that list, I have only read 5, started but not finished 2, and have one on my current actual shelf. But I can also think of several others that are not on the list that perhaps could be. I will follow this! Avatiakh, could you post a link to any further lists you create for this. I did join the email list for Book Riot (never heard of that before!)

Hi Paul! I hope this finds you fully recovered and the Volvo with no excuses to break down. :)

>139 avatiakh: Interesting list. I've read 6, and read others by some of the authors. I think I've read more non-fiction than fiction.

>139 avatiakh: Wow - Thanks for adding the list to LT and for the link to it. I've read far more of the authors than the specific books.

>144 jessibud2: Shelley, as always I find all these sorts of lists fascinating. For the record the I have 7 of the books listed, read books by 17 of the authors and have books by 38 of the authors listed in the house.

>145 karenmarie: Karen I am feeling fine but the car is still "on holiday". xx

>146 streamsong: Same here Janet, same here.

>139 avatiakh: Interesting list. I love lists, too (I mean, who among this group doesn't love a good book-related list??). I also love Book Riot. There are a lot of books on this list of which I've never even heard.

Hi Paul! I hope things are calming down a bit at your house....

>144 jessibud2: >145 karenmarie: >146 streamsong: >148 EBT1002: I look at so many booklists where I've read most or am aware of all the books on the list so for me that was the most refreshing aspect of this particular one. I've only read about 14 of the books, and am familiar with only about half the authors - either read alternate titles by them or have them on my 'to read' list.

There is an extensive LT Best of Jewish Literature list, though I think it includes nonfiction and has about 270 books on it. I'll probably add to that list if they aren't already there. What I like about the LT lists is you can have your own list within a list - I already have my mini-list, and yes, it includes Bernice Rubens.
http://www.librarything.com/list/825/all/Best-of-Jewish-Literature

>148 EBT1002: Listaholics of the world unite! I am not too bad Ellen but expecting another pretty tough week ahead.

>149 avatiakh: Another list! You are out-doing yourself Kerry. Thank you for this my dear. I'm off to explore it forthwith.

>149 avatiakh: Slightly more inclusive list but I actually preferred the first one where the effort was made to pare down one work per author. I didn't see Bernard Malamud in the second list which is a shame.

>149 avatiakh: - Thanks for that!

>152 jessibud2: Shelley, here would be my own list of ten:

If not now, When? by Primo Levi
Night by Elie Wiesel
The Fixer by Bernard Malamud
Enemies : A Love Story by Isaac Bashevis Singer
The Sergeants' Tale by Bernice Rubens
Right and Left by Joseph Roth
David Golder by Irene Nemirovsky
Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth
A Kaddish for an Unborn Child by Imre Kertesz
My Michael by Amos Oz

>153 PaulCranswick: - Of that list, Paul, I have only actually read Night by Elie Wiesel. I have read another title by Nemirovsky (Suite Francaise). Wait, no, I have also read the Philip Roth novel as well. I should try to compile my own list of books read in this genre. I will try that tomorrow! I may have a difficult time restricting it to ten, though

>155 PaulCranswick: The difficulties of down-select! That is why I did it off the cuff so to speak, Shelley.

>153 PaulCranswick: I've read 8 of those writers though not all of the books you've listed.

I'd like to make a list of lesser known works deserving of a wider audience, just have to clear my day a bit.

>151 PaulCranswick: Paul, if you join the list you can add books to it. Then you can add books from the list to your own list within the list, which appears on the righthand side of the screen. You can move the books up and down according to your own wishes.
The more people who join the lists and 'vote' for books makes the list more usable as the better books rise to the top.

Stopping by to say I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I hope Hani is all healed up. I confess I prefer to have Dave along is possible if I need a procedure - but with his work I've learned that sometime I have to go it alone. 11 1/2 hour shift work and no way you can leave planes sitting on the ground. When I broke my wrist and foot about 8 years ago, and I had to have the fracture reduced - and I am the sort that likes to keep an eye things, I opted for no sedation, just a freezing in my wrist. I was very glad to have Dave with me for that procedure. But - IV therapy for cellulitis - a skin infection I got last spring - I could handle 4 daily hosptial visits for IV antibiotics all by my lonesome. :) Took about 2 hours each day and I kind of got to know the folks who were getting the same IV infusions - plus - a time to read a book. :)

>156 avatiakh: That would be extremely interesting Kerry as you are much wider read in the genre than I am. I will be watching for that!

>157 vancouverdeb: I think it incumbent upon a spouse to lend love and support wherever it is needed or humanely possible, Deb. Hani wanting me there even when she goes to the normal clinic may seem a little bit of overkill but it does reflect our closeness too, I think. To be quite honest the loving nature of your family resonates from every post that you make mention of any of them.

Hope this week has gotten off to a good start for you, Paul and that Monday has been kind to you. I am just starting it, so I hope it behaves.

>159 Crazymamie: First day had no major disasters Mamie which is something I suppose!

Hi Paul! Any day without disasters is a good one. Our disaster of Friday was that my husband was permanently laid off from his job. 60 years old with no college degree, and I retired 6 months ago. Bad timing.

>161 karenmarie: That really sucks Karen. I did see that terrible news on your thread during my visits over the weekend. I don't think platitudes at such a time are worthwhile but you both have my very best wishes going forward. Charlie, my partner, flunked college and has no degree and, at 57, he often worries aloud to me at what he can do for his young family (3 kids - 1 boy less than 4 years old and twin girls under 2; wife barely 30) in the event that some of our hair-brained schemes fail to pay-off. He'll make it; we'll make it and I am sure you and your husband will make it. xxx

Hi Paul - Have a lovely week. I'm enjoying your poetry discussion from the Penguin Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Poetry.

>163 BLBera: Thanks for stopping by Beth, especially if you heeded my none too subtle hint over at Mamie's pad!
I am behind a little but will have another instalment of American poetry very soon. xx

Hi, Paul.

Glad you're recovering your health. I liked the pithy Auden poem up there.

That's a good list of Jewish literature supplied by Kerry in >149 avatiakh:, especially at the top. I'm a Chaim Potok fan, and if you haven't read Levi's The Periodic Table, it's a really good one. Some on the list I haven't thought of as "Jewish", e.g. Kafka's The Trial and his short stories.

If you get a chance you simply must watch Michelle Obama and Corey Booker's speeches last night. They were terrific. I am sorry to say that Elizabeth Warren's speech fell flat - at least I found it so, but you could listen and see what you think. It is clear that Bernie Sanders is the conscience of the Democrat party at this point in time, and his was a good speech as well.

>165 jnwelch: Auden did pithy with the very best of them but I still have a little trouble thinking of him as an American poet! Primo Levi is a particular favourite and If Not Now, When? is definitely one of the books that regularly features in any top ten lists I prepare.

>166 benitastrnad: Yes Benita I agree that Elizabeth Warren's speech was not all I had wished it to be. I don't really get a say as a Brit living in Malaysia but it is common knowledge that I thought Bernie head and shoulders the best candidate.

>158 PaulCranswick: >165 jnwelch: Ok, some of the GR people are now creating their own lists on the thread discussing the Book Riot list, so as I haven't had a chance to look at all what is suggested, here's the link to the thread over there - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/18184446-book-riot-s-100-must-read-works-of...
Paul, I haven't had a chance to make my own list as yet, I'm struggling to finish a few nonfiction reads before the month ends. Also preparing for our trip next month to South Australia, we've decided on a mini-road trip driving from Melbourne to Adelaide rather than flying. We'll do one way via the Great Ocean Road and return via Ballarat. Love a good road trip.
I'll be doing lots of family history stuff so need to do some homework.

>168 avatiakh: Road trips are great Kerry! I look forward to your lists as always and will certainly check out the GR comments.

Hi, Paul! Just making the rounds, trying to catch up. Lost cause, I'm afraid, but I try!

>166 benitastrnad:, >167 PaulCranswick: As a citizen of the world, you're right to be concerned about this presidential election in particular, with one of the candidates a loose canon who, if elected, would have access to the nuclear codes.

Some recent additions to report:

179. Bad History : How We Got the Past Wrong by Emma Marriott (2011) 173 pp
Exposes historical fallacies apparently
180. One Bloody Thing After Another by Jacob F. Field (2012) 180 pp
"A bloodstained tour through tales of mayhem and madness..."
181. The Ends of the Earth : The Wide World by Robert Goddard
Third in the Maxted trilogy
182. Morning Sea by Margaret Mazzantini (2014)
Italian novel of Libyan refugees crossing the Med
183. London Belongs to Me by Norman Collins (1945)
Compendious novel set in, well, London.
184. Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby (1964)
Bowie books

>170 Storeetllr: One a loose cannon and another of questionable probity, Mary. I prefer the latter over the former but am not getting excited about Hillary winning either.
It is quite right as Karen has stated on her thread that Bernie was not a Democrat until recently and came to the colours as the best means of getting his message to a wider audience. Well, I accept that, but it worked didn't it? Having a groundswell of support for him in the name of the Democrats it is entirely wrong to then have the Democratic National Convention systematically undermine him and subvert his campaign. I cannot believe that HRC wasn't aware of this and it is very shabby indeed.

>171 PaulCranswick: Looks good Paul. I'd not heard of Morning Sea - sounds very timely.

>173 charl08: It looks a winner, Charlotte. Apparently written originally in 2011 and is certainly topical given the sad sights before us in the last few years.

Crystal Ball time.

The Booker Longlist is out this morning in the UK and here is my guess on what will be on it.

Here I Am by Safran Foer
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Barkskins by Proulx
The Cauliflower by Barker
The Essex Serpent by Perry
The Noise of Time by Barnes
Beatlebone by Barry
The Natural Way of Things by Wood
Under the Udala Trees by Okparanta
Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain by Norris
How I Became a North Korean by Lee
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Also watch out for McEwan, Swift, Strout, DeLillo, O'Brien, Patchett and Tremain. In other words, I don't have a clue but let's see how many of my guesses hit home.

>77 jnwelch: Joe and mrs Joe: so wise. I can only hope to be so wiser hen my terrors become teens. *face palm*
;)

I enjoyed the teen boy/girlfriend discussion Joe's comment followed. Always a tricky one, I recall my mother marching into a movie theatre to extract her eldest son from a date he had been barred from going on! Yikes!

>175 PaulCranswick: Oooh, a punt on the long list! You will hit home with at least 4, is my guess. At least.

Well... I better don't comment on your Booker guess... :)
But I myself haven't read any from your list not from the actual list so far, I wouldn't have been able to list 5 books published since last year. Didn't even know there was a new Safran Foer. No review yet on the book page but high ratings. Hm... that whole list of yours looks tempting just looking at the titles and authors, as does the list of books by Jewish writers. I notice LT is becoming a dangerous place for me again BB wise.

>172 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Bernie did what any politician would do to get ahead - use the best means available. I don't hold it against as much as I did earlier in the election cycle, especially as he has gotten more people into the process and influenced the party platform.

I don't know anything about the DNC undermining him and whether Hillary was involved or not. If so, it is truly despicable (and politics as usual, sadly) and yet here we are, really needing ABT - Anybody But Trump. I do think Hillary's better than just keeping Trump out, though.

Have you seen Bill Clinton's speech from last night? He emphasized two things - their original love story and (positive parts of their) personal life, and then educated most and reminded some of the amazing things Hillary has done in her life as a Change Maker. It was a great speech, warm, personal, and just plain good speechmaking. Tonight Chelsea Clinton Mezvinsky speaks. I might just check it out.

Hi there, Paul! Just stopping in to catch up a bit during a yard work break. Seems threads tend to slow down this time of year, northern hemisphere heat and summer activities, I assume.

I've picked up a new word, thanks to you............com·pen·di·ous
kəmˈpendēəs/Submit
adjectiveformal
containing or presenting the essential facts of something in a comprehensive but concise way.
"a compendious study"
synonyms: succinct, pithy, short and to the point, concise, compact, condensed, compressed, abridged, summarized, synoptic, capsule; informalsnappy
"a compendious essay on Italian music"

I will attempt to use it in a sentence today ;)

>175 PaulCranswick: No comments on the actual list Paul? I've only read the Strout and Work Like Any Other.

>175 PaulCranswick: Looks like you batted .000

>171 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, hope you enjoy London Belongs To Me when you get round to reading it, I read it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Hope all is well with you and the family mate.

Two good wins for Yorkshire in the one day cup, carrying on the recent good form. Hope this form lasts right to the end of the season.

Ellen, Karen, and I (Benita) will be meeting at the Amazon Bookstore in University Village in Seattle when it opens at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, 2016. I am excited to see this store and try to figure out what Amazon is doing with a brick and mortar store. Plus it will be great fun to see Karen and Ellen. Anybody who lives in the Seattle area is welcome to join us.

>176 LovingLit: I demonstrated both my brilliant analytical skills and the reason why I am neither a gambler or a high roller with a brilliant 0/13 for the Booker List. Can't say that I am surprised too much but I thought I may have gotten at least one. In fairness I only picked 12 possibles but if I had listed another it wouldn't have been on the list either!

Saad has gone back to Egypt to supposedly go to "pilot school" and Yasmyne is looking crestfallen and her mother pleased. I had a long chat with him via mobile phone whilst he was at the airport and I hope things work out ok for him as he is a lovely lad.

>177 Deern: I am sure that there will be comments on the accuracy of my list at least Nathalie! I suppose it does show the sheer volume of good books issued into the public domain every year.

>178 karenmarie: Karen, I didn't see Bill's speech but I can imagine its effectiveness. I do agree on the importance of beating Trump and now that it is Hillary she will have to do, I suppose. Her record does sincerely worry me as does the fact that whenever she is criticised she seems to be able to mobilise a "its only because I am a woman" theme which is both disingenuous and insulting.

>179 Carmenere: I was being my usual ironic or even sarcastic self though in using it Lynda since the book I used it in reference to is all of 900 pages long!
You are right that the threads do slow down a bit over the sultry summer months. This year in fairness has not been bad and we are ahead in total posts from last year.

>180 charl08: I slept through the announcement Charlotte after a few drinks discussing a potential new project. I will be commenting but I have certainly excelled myself with my gift of foresight. No gypsy blood in me obviously.

>181 thornton37814: Exactly Lori. You know I have always strived for consistency in both my private and professional life. This level of consistency was not exactly what I had in mind. If I had gotten the lot it would have smacked of insider trading so, at the very least, I am untainted by the stain of being a sullied insider!

>182 johnsimpson: Yes John I saw that we were doing pretty well. I also noticed Duckett and Bell-Drummond doing wonderful things for the Lions. I really think the latter is the answer in the batting line-up.
Hope everything is going swimmingly mate for you and Karen.

>183 benitastrnad: That is interesting Benita that Amazon have gotten themselves an actual in addition to the virtual bookstore. I wish I was able to join you guys in Seattle where I would have been on the constant look-out for Daphne and Niles and Frazier Crane - Seattle We Love You!

>184 PaulCranswick: I would have not even known which ones were eligible!!

>188 LovingLit: Well even though I studied it a bit I still managed a big fat zero in the prediction stakes, Megan. I still to review over preview!

Spurred on by yesterday's failures of prediction I trawled Kinokuniya and added the following from the Booker Longlist this lunchtime:

185. Eileen by Otessa Moshfegh (2016) 260 pp
186. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien (2016) 466 pp
187. The Sellout by Paul Beatty (2015) 289 pp
188. All That Man Is by David Szalay (2016) 437 pp

Books 1 and 4 are, unusually for me in hardback version as I would really like to read the longlist this year for a change.
I have My Name is Lucy Barton on the shelves already so that is:

Booker Longlist
Acquired 5/15
Read 0/15

Will finish off March by Geraldine Brooks which I am loving and get on with the longlist.

Stopping by to say hello and wish you a happy week. How is Hani?

I loved March. Have you read Little Women recently?

>191 AMQS: I read it about a year or so ago Anne so it is still very familiar to me.

Yay for March.

I read a review of Eileen a while back and suspect that this will be my A Little Life of the list. Unless everyone on LT raves about it, in which case I may well change my mind and pick it up.

Good day, Paul!

I am reading a beautifully written book, The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman for my book club meeting in August. Have you read it?

>194 karenmarie: - I read the Stedman book last summer and found myself thinking about it for days afterwards. A really stunning book, I agree.

Lurking alert! Watch what you say. Or not.

I spent the evening watching the speeches at the convention and, as usual, Joe Biden knocked his speech out of the park. It was inspiring. Tim Kaine didn't do bad either. The clinker last night was Obama. His speech was so boring I went to bed and didn't finish listening to it.

I know I am in a minority, but it has honestly always amazed me that his speeches get such high approval ratings. I have never thought he was a barn burner of a speaker. For me his speeches lack emotion, passion, and power. I heard him speak in person when he spoke to the American Library Association and I simply couldn't understand the long ovation he got. He never made me feel like he was in the room with me. For me he is always a talking head. Totally boring. I think that Obama got it right last night when he said that he is the guy with Michele. He should just sit down and let her talk.

Joe Biden, on-the-other-hand, can really get me.

Since this is a list making thread here is my list of best speeches at the Democrat Convention - in order of effectiveness.

1. Michelle Obama
2. Bernie Sanders
3. Bill Clinton
4. Joe Biden
5. Corey Booker

>197 benitastrnad: Do you think Michael Bloomberg's exhortation to independents to keep Trump out of office will have any impact?

#198
I don't think that Trump is electable. Too many Republican's will either not vote or will vote for the Centrist candidate - Hilary Clinton.

As to Bloomberg's speech - it was good but not the kind of speech to get much attention from those voters who need persuading. Those voters who would listen to him are already thinking that they won't vote for Trump or that they won't vote for either candidate. For his speech to make any difference there would have had to be several others in the same vein - and there wasn't.

>197 benitastrnad: - I am not American so my comments may not mean much. But it seems to me that any and all speeches made at conventions are preaching to the converted. Are there actually members of the opposite parties even present at the conventions, that is, Republicans at the Democratic Convention, and vice versa? I wouldn't think so.

I am pretty left-leaning myself and I don't agree with you about Obama but that is neither here nor there. I think many of the speeches were powerful and filled with passion and truth and meaning. But the people who most needed to hear their message (ie, the Republicans) either won't hear it or won't heed it. The way I see it, the sole point of the convention speeches is to pump up the party supporters to make sure they get out and vote. Yes, I know this is probably a very simplistic view on my part, but as an outsider looking in, that's my take on it. I can't vote, but I sure hope you are right about Trump not being electable. I wish I were as sure of that.... I think he would be an absolute disaster as President.

>193 charl08: One of the best things about this year's list Charlotte is the absence of doorstoppers. Eileen appeals to me to be honest and on the front cover of the hardback I bought, John Burnside has termed it "a modern masterpiece" - let's see.

>194 karenmarie: I have it on the shelves, Karen, but have not read it yet. Looks like I should put that right soon.

>195 jessibud2: Even more so as Shelley likes it too!

>196 weird_O: Hahaha, Bill, your interjections are always so welcome and smile provoking.

>197 benitastrnad: I'll admit Benita to not having seen the speeches in full yesterday. I have always liked Obama as an orator so I am surprised that you felt his speech fell flat. I did see large parts of Biden's speech and that of Michelle Obama. There is a distinct difference between speechifying in the USA compared to the UK. I thought Biden's speech was extremely direct and a little homespun and certainly effective but not statesmanlike. I am definitely impressed with the First Lady. I think that she has fulfilled her role wonderfully and it is unimaginable that the spouse of the British Prime Minister would make a speech of such a nature at conference/convention.

>198 karenmarie: I do hope so. I was rather hoping that a less rabid voice would emerge from the centre right and split Trump's vote.

>202 PaulCranswick: - Here is Obama's speech, Paul. It's long, but worthwhile, in my opinion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soz2u6lv4jw

>199 benitastrnad: I think it is dangerous for the centre and left in America to be in any way complacent about Trump's chances in November. Not many would have given him a chance to get the nomination but he did. He addresses the concerns of many middle americans but in a way that appeals to their baser instincts. I am hopeful that the American people are bigger and wiser than he believes them to be, but it would be a fundamental error to believe that he is toast before the race is really run. Hillary will get flak. Her record will be analysed. Her probity scrutinised. She is not the ideal opponent to The Donald in so many ways. She does however have to win and the Democrats have to give her a voice united behind her that resonates across the country exuding positivity rather than the negative storm being blown out of Trump.

>200 jessibud2: Definitely right Shelley. We have conference season for the parties annually in the UK and they are often (except my own party usually!) love fests. A great speech is a great speech in any event. I didn't see any great speeches this week but there were many that played effectively to their constituency which is the point of the thing I suppose.

>203 jessibud2: I will certainly watch it Shelley as I have a great deal of admiration for Obama in truth.

>205 PaulCranswick: - One of the most powerful and eloquent speeches tonight that I have seen so far was by the father of a fallen soldier, a Muslim. This man spoke quietly, calmly but very very directly and sincerely. If I can find a link to his short speech, I will post it for you. I have a feeling it is going to get a lot of attention. All I could think after he left the stage was: wow!

Ok, this is it: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4616023/father-fallen-soldier-donald-trump-sacrif...

>206 jessibud2: As someone essentially from the left I have been most impressed by speakers who vocalise splendidly my own prejudices.
In the UK, I always thought the late Tony Benn and Michael Foot were wonderful speakers and I recall vividly the hair rising on he back of my neck listening to the brilliant resignation speech by Robin Cook in the House of Commons due to the UK deciding to invade Iraq in the absence of proof of WMD.

There are also occasionally speeches by people I admire who eloquently expound a position that I don't agree with which garners my admiration if not my concurrence. Tony Benn's son Hilary gave one such speech on the issue of supporting air strikes in Syria. I didn't agree with him but, boy, what a speech.

I am not as familiar with American speakers but I have always liked Obama's way with words and the late Mario Cuomo could hold a crowd. Sometimes, as you rightly point out, sincerity and simplicity is highly effective.

Hi Paul! Just catching up on everything here. All my best to Hani as she recovers and to Yasmyne as she pines for her true love. And to Dad, who is holding it all together!!! Happy Friday.

>208 Berly: Lovely to see you Kimmers. Hani is back to close to her best, Yasmyne is being nicer to her mother without the pull and friction of blameless Saad between them and Dad has just paid out $5,500 as deposit on her University in Edinburgh and he is not smiling!

>209 PaulCranswick: Ouch! I'm sure it will be worth it though. Hope Eileen is a good read. One of the comments I thought was really interesting about the list was, as you say, the length. Such a contrast with the doorstoppers of some years.

Happy Friday, Paul. I am enjoying the political discussion. Smart, well-mannered. I am a bit more hopeful, after the DNC. I like what I heard and I hope it translates to a Dem win in November. Fingers crossed.

Hope you have a good weekend, my friend.

>209 PaulCranswick: And yet, you are!! Smiling. : ) Congrats on her college choice.

Hoping Friday was happy, Paul - and may your weekend be filled with fabulous!

Hi Paul! I'm glad Hani and Yasmyne are getting along better, and that Hani is well. Shelling out money is what, if we're fortunate enough, we do for our children.

Have a wonderful weekend!

>210 charl08: It is a bit rich I think Charlotte as in Scotland, Scots and people from the EU are free - English, Scots and Northern Irish have to pay and Yasmyne has to pay a little more as she doesn't qualify on residency grounds for the local fee structure. I do think the Scots have an extremely selfish view of the union.

>211 msf59: Let us hope it does Mark. You have a good weekend too, buddy.

>212 Berly: Probably looks more of a grimace than I smile I'll bet, Kimmers. xx

>213 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie, nice to see you out and about early spreading your good cheer.

>214 karenmarie: Yes Karen my ambition has always been to blow all my money on my kids! Hahaha. They are worth it I suppose.

Oh lord. Please can my kids stay under 8 forever? (Cassie is 8 going on 18 - I'd like my cute 7 year old back please). I don't think I can cope with the idea of romance etc!!!! More power to you and good luck :/

If it helps (and I doubt it will) Jersey also has to pay more for Uni fees in the UK... oh wait.. we're part of the UK. No? We still have to pay more? AGH!

Wishing you all the best for the next couple of weeks - I'm off for a bit (holiday not AWOL this time, promise).

I'm glad to read that Yasmyne is doing so well without Saad. It sounds like more of a case of puppy love rather than anything serious if things are going so well. It will be quite a change for you and your family to have Yasmyne over in the UK. My son and daughter in law are just wrapping up their tour of Europe , and are flying from Venice to London today, I believe it is. They then have 3 or 4 days in London, where they will check out London and also visit my sister's son, Alex, who is studying at Cambridge. I'm not sure if Alex is traveling down from Cambridge or whether William and Serenade are traveling up to Cambridge . My nephew is coming home from his first year in England for a couple of weeks late in August. I am quite keen to see him. He is the same age a William and is my sister's son.

>217 BekkaJo: It is supposed to get easier Bekka but don't hold your breath!
If we are supposed to be a United Kingdom then some things definitely need to change. If we are heading for a federal republic when the Queen is no longer Queen then I am fine with that as if we loosen things it gives more control to the people and actually conversely brings us all closer together. What I object to is the petty mindedness of it all. Why do the Scots need to discriminate against England, Wales and Northern Ireland. I am starting to dislike very much those bitter opportunists in the SNP and I hope that Theresa May tells Sturgeon to get lost with her harpy like demands for another independence referendum just two years after the last one. The SNP when they thought it an advantage to them were all for being out of Europe and in the 1975 referendum were the only major party to have that as official policy. Now they are pro-Europe and want to seek a place in Europe outside the UK even though Spain have made clear they would Veto the attempt. As with the issue of so called "Scottish oil" they continue to mislead and misrepresent their population to calamitous effect.

>218 vancouverdeb: Time will tell I suppose Deb on whether it is puppy love or not. They are in constant whatsapp communication but I am not sure how sustaining that will prove to be. The key is Saad and whether he will buckle down and study - Yasmyne is a very loyal type and it is his game to lose so to speak.
Serenade? What a lovely name.

>216 PaulCranswick: I never said all your money, Paul! I am totally in favor of your music and books!

>220 karenmarie: Hahaha Karen. I also hope that there will be a little left over too. xx

Calling in to say hi. Have to say that that Sturgeon really stirs the pot doesn't she.

>222 avatiakh: With her Kerry it is irritation tempered with admiration. She is a supremely gifted politician and an excellent debater, I just can't take her policy positions and her brazen opportunism to turn every subject to the issue of Scottish independence. Undoubtedly had the scottish "exiles" elsewhere in the United Kingdom been allowed to have a say it would have been more markedly in favour of keeping the Union together.

Going to school in Edinburgh! How great for Yasmyne. I feel your pain with tuition. The only good part is when you're done - for us, all of a sudden we had this money on hand that we hadn't seen for years.

As you know Joe, it is a cultured, historic and beautiful city and I am a proud Dad that she has been accepted to study there. I cannot remember what it was like not to have the kids to "help" me spend the money.

Have a terrific weekend Paul.

Late to the discussion but I read Eileen last year and pretty much hated it. I see I still gave it two stars for some reason that I no longer remember.

>226 GeezLouise: Thank you Rae. xx

>227 ursula: There is always at least one book on the Longlist that mystifies everyone Ursula, don't you think?

Ahh! WhatsApp! I need that on my phone to keep in contact with William and his wife while they are in Europe. But I am getting pictures via instagram. It will be interesting to see how everything goes with Saad and Yasmyne. They would not be the first couple to " break up " until the one of the two " pulled up his/ her socks" so to speak. I hope Saad get some motivation happening.

Yes, I think Serenade is very pretty name too. Initially is was quite new to me, but she and her family immigrated from Hong Kong when she was about 6 years old and then the family took " English" names. Her dad goes by " Schubert" , mom by Sally, sister by Stephanie. At times the Chinese pick out unusual English names, like Windy, Pansy, Cinderella, Romeo, but overall, Serenade got a lovely name.

I am looking very forward to Serenade and William's return on August 3rd, though I doubt I will see them on that very day. William returns to work the next day - he never seems to suffer from jet lag and has really maxed out his holiday time this year.

Congratulations again on Yasmyne being accepted to University.

Happy Sunday, Paul.

Happy weekend Paul!

>229 vancouverdeb: The Koreans often choose themselves "Christian" names to apparently help them in business dealings. I have one good friend from Ssangyong who decided to call himself "Duque" and he spends more time explaining his name to clients than talking about the business itself. Some of the names are patently unfamiliar such as use of Celtic names (I have another friend "Aiden" who clearly has no Irish antecedents) and some are painfully pretentious but Serenade is a lovely name.

>230 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara.

>231 The_Hibernator: Thank you Rachel, dear.

>232 Berly: Kimmers, it is also a pleasure to see you here with or without daisy chains.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and getting in some walking, Paul.

>227 ursula: I'm sure. I liked last year's mystifier to many, A Little Life.

>234 Familyhistorian: I hope to do a good bit of walking today Meg, but I am geared up for 300,000 steps in August.

>235 ursula: I am not much of a contrarian Ursula but I remember Darryl hating Snowdrops by A.D. Miller a few years ago while I thought it a really good read. I haven't started A Little life yet but the snippets I have read thus far seem more likely to put me in your camp on that one.

My brother did his masters and PhD at St. Andrews (and is likely still paying off the loans). It is a pretty magical place. We're a year behind you. Our credit card is already quivering.

>237 AMQS: Hahaha Anne, tell me! I tried to use my card on Friday evening to pay the fees and had the card declined. This is despite having gone personally to the bank of the card provider earlier in the day to ensure that there would be no problems. I called the "service" centre and they told me that my card was blocked "at my request" for overseas transactions. Keeping my temper I informed them that overseas transactions was the only bloody reason I maintained the card. I was assured that they would sort it out and they asked me to try to do the transaction 20 minutes later. When I did it was declined again. Slightly less confined in my temper this time I explained to another officer the problem and he gave me the 20 minute spiel again. I told him I would do no such thing and insisted he call me back when my card could be used. In fairness he did, and I managed to pay third time around. What a palaver. Malaysia is a difficult place to make such transactions from due to money laundering issues some of which seem to emanate from the heart of the government here.

>236 PaulCranswick: Good luck with the 300,000 steps in August. Don't start counting too soon because I think that the Library Thingers Fitbit board is in Mamie's time zone - the last time I checked it said there were 0 days left and it isn't even the 31st here yet.

>239 Familyhistorian: Thank for the tip Meg. I think I need all the help I can get to climb the table next month. If I can rid of this cough I will be set fair.

Just popping in and saying 'Hi' to you, Paul!

And most welcome too, Connie. I was so pleased that you came back to the group last month and that you are slowly climbing up the posting league. xx

I'm doing my best, Paul. Vacation and nice weather and good books were keeping me away from LT lately. But now I'm catching up and I hope to do so for the rest of the year.

I think our small contingent of Europeans add so much to the group - you, Diana, Nathalie, Carsten, Anita, Bianca, Paws, Paul S, Barbara, Monica, Liliana etc - help to make things truly international. Good news that you are up to date. xx

Credit card companies and their mysterious ways. You have my sympathy Paul.

I'm picking up practically anything except for Booker reads just now - if I don't get a move on I'm going to miss the boat.

>245 charl08: Erni has moved my copy of Lucy Barton and I have had a fruitless couple of hours trying to hunt it down. Grrrr

Happy Sunday, Paul! I posted an excerpt from Ted Hughes on my thread, in your honor. Crow is not an easy collection to read but the dark, violent theme is crystal clear. I will have to research this more. Do you know what he is doing here?

If you have not read Through Black Spruce, try to track that one down. I know you loved The Orenda.

>247 msf59: I will go and have a look at that for sure Mark. I have ordered Through Black Spruce from Book Depo and am looking forward to it.

I have plenty of Joyce Carol Oates on the shelves (my tip for the Nobel prize this year along with Ngugi Wa Thiong'o)
but am struggling to decide which to pick up for the AAC Challenge.

In regards to JCO, I have the Blonde in the audio stacks and will go with that one. I would like to try a volume of her short fiction as well, even if I don't get to in August.

I do have plenty of Ian McEwan in the stacks though. Hope to knock out 2 of those, at least.

>249 msf59: I am edging towards Rape : A Love Story but have not made up my mind. I have Blonde too but it may be a little on the long side for a full month next month.

Catching up here! Or trying to. Sorry you were under the weather, but it sounds as though you recovered quickly.

It is hard watching your child make those first few attempts at a coherent relationship, isnt' it? - Expectations are so high, even in high school. After one break up of my dauhghter's I said (when I felt the time was ripe), "but you didn't really think you would be with him forever, right?" And she gave me such a startled look, as if she hadn't thought about the fact that, of course, (with rare exceptions) the people you date until -- somewhere between 20-25 are very unlikely to last. It is interesting too that in two cases it was the guys who said things like "I want to marry you." And the LD was a bit taken aback, she admitted later.

Woot on going for 300,000 steps next month. I'll be very happy if I make 2/3 of that. :-)

I have Atonement on audio from the library. I've only read one other McEwan.

>251 sibylline: I remember my own first stumbling attempts at relationships too, Lucy, so I am able to sympathise with the boyfriend as well as my daughter. I am not so strict a parent and I suppose I only want my three to be happy - I don't have great ambitions for them beyond that as I feel that their own ambitions are what count. Hani doesn't think that Yasmyne's boyfriend is right for her because he is unlikely to be much of a provider. I don't want to interfere and will give my daughter my view only when asked really.

>252 streamsong: As usual and in keeping with books and life and everything, my ambitions are ambitious! I will probably settle for a lesser figure too Janet.
I am thinking Black Dogs for McEwan.

August's BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE thread is up.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/227948

Diana Wynne Jones

&

Ian McEwan

>254 PaulCranswick: - the only McEwan books I have read are On Chesil Beach and The Children Act and I felt both started with promise but I was disappointed at the end of both. I do have Atonement on my shelf, though but have yet to pick it up.

>255 jessibud2: My favourite that I have read of his was the first I tried - The Innocent; I didn't like Amsterdam too much even though it won the Booker.

Paul, are you actually planning to get place in Edinburgh for Yasymyne and Hani and family? I had assumed that Yasmyne would live in residence on campus? Quite the outlay of funds to purchase a place. Or is renting a place an option?

I've read Atonement and The Children Act . Can't say I was overly keen about either. Ian McEwan does not seem to be my type :)

>257 vancouverdeb: The first year Yasmyne will definitely live on campus. It is more like the ladies dreaming, Deb, to be honest. If funds allowed I would buy an apartment in Edinburgh for the second year as I have always been fond of the place and it would be a safe investment.

McEwan is one of those authors that misses as often as he hits. I have enjoyed some of his novels and not been keen on several others.

Hi Paul! When does Yasmyne head off for Edinburgh?

I have never read any McEwan, and have Atonement lined up.

>259 banjo123: It will be in August, Rhonda. We will all go there for holiday and she will stay on.

I enjoy Ian McEwan but will readily agree he is not for everyone ..... bit like Franzen

>261 roundballnz: Quite right Alex. He is a rewarding read but often a demanding one.