Carmenere's (aka Lynda's) place - 2017 edition

Greetings and welcome to my 2017 Thread. I'm Lynda, I've been a 75er for 8 years, married for 23 years (Bill), one son (Will) going on 18. Life long resident of Northeast O H I O and we enjoy traveling as much as possible. When I'm not physically traveling, the books I read take me places I long to see and I tend to share pics of those locations on my thread.

The Tickers:



Books I've read in Inches



Maps:

Where my books take me...
States visited as of 2-5-17

visited 38 states (76%)
Create your own visited map of The United States
Countries completed as of 2-12-17


visited 42 states (18.6%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Yes! I do have goals this coming year, loosely formed, but goals nontheless.
1. Read the ER's I've been accumulating - I'm serious about this so here's my link to the TBR Challenge page https://www.librarything.com/topic/243399
2. Read books within a series I've also accumulated, particularly mysteries by Donna Leon, Alexander McCall Smith, Charlaine Harris and C J Sansom
3. Award Finalists - Awards I may want to follow in 2017. I'm thinking I'll just be focusing on the short lists.

National Book Awards:

Approx - October 12: Finalists Announcement

Approx - November 16: National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner (Winners announced)
-------------------------------------------------​
The Wellcome Book Prize timetable
https://wellcomebookprize.org/

April 2017
Winner announced

March 2017
Shortlist announced

January 30, 2017
Longlist announced
How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS by David France
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Mend the Living by Maylis de Kerangal (alternate title: The Heart: A Novel)
The Golden Age by Joan London
Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body by Jo Marchant
The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss
The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived: The Stories in Our Genes by Adam Rutherford
* Miss Jane by Brad Watson
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong

*read
-------------------------------------------------​
2017 winner of the Baileys Womens Prize for Fiction
http://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/

Short list announced in April
Winner will be announced on Wednesday 7th June
-------------------------------------------------​
The Best Translated Book Award
https://pen.org/literature/2017-pen-translation-prize

FINALISTS
Finalists will be announced on January 18, 2017.

Confessions by Rabee Jaber

Between Life and Death by Yoram Kaniuk

Angel of Oblivion by Maja Haderlap - on hold

Justine by Iben Mondrup

The Vegetarian by Han Kang - on hold

WINNER
The winner will be announced on February 22, 2017
------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Booker
http://themanbookerprize.com/fiction
The ‘Man Booker Dozen’ of 12 or 13 books will be announced in July 2017 and the shortlist of six books in September 2017. The winner of the 2017 Man Booker Prize for Fiction will be announced on 17 October 2017 at an awards ceremony at London’s Guildhall, broadcast live by the BBC.

Man Booker International
http://themanbookerprize.com/international
Shortlist 4-20-17 Winner announced 6-14-17

4. Read the US Presidents in chronological order
1. Washington
2. Adams
3. Jefferson

5. Neighborhood Book Swap
Finding me by Michelle Knight - COMPLETED 12/16

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - my submission

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - read several years ago

Salt sugar fat by Micheal Moss

STING by Sandra Brown

Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

The girl on the train - Read in 2015

6. I'm lurking here and will follow along as time permits
The Bible as Literature
https://www.librarything.com/topic/243886

Accomplishments:
January
1. The Invoice ER
2. The Princess Diarist Library
3. A Gentleman in Moscow Passed from Mark, sending on to Beth.
4. Without you, there is no us ER

February
5. A Thousand Acres Thanks to Julia for sending me to Iowa!
6. Human Acts ER
7. March: Book One Library
8. The Vegetarian Library

March

Accomplishments - 2nd Quarter
April

May

June

Accomplishments - 3rd Quarter
July

August

September

Accomplishments - 4th Quarter
October

November

December

Hey there! Dropping my star and looking forward to your 2017 reads! :)

Just dropping off my star, Lynda! Happy New Year of Reading!

>8 EllAreBee: Hi Kelly! You're the first visitor to my new thread! Around here, when a person visits a 75er's new thread, and they're the first, cyber prizes are sometimes meted out. As this is your first year, your prize is a brand new
You'll need that and more for all your book purchases based on other LTer's recommendations!

>9 EBT1002: Great to see you here, Ellen!! I love the optimism and grand designs that a new year brings.

Welcome back!

I am looking forward to keeping up with you again in 2017, Lynda. xx

Dropping my star, Lynda!

Hi Lynda! I didn't realize there was another Northeast Ohioan in this group.

Dropping my star!!

Hi Lynda! I'm glad you found the new group.

>11 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>12 PaulCranswick: Likewise, Paul!!

>13 Crazymamie: Yay, Mamie!!!

>14 kgodey: Welcome, Kriti! Yup, there are a couple of northern Buckeyes around. Glad you found me.

>15 Berly: Hey Kim, glad to have you on board!!

>16 DianaNL: Hi Diana! I waited till Christmas hysteria passed. I'm now ready to dive in and start swimming!!

Hi Lynda, happy reading in 2017!

>18 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita and same to you!!

Always good to find your thread and hang my star!

>20 thornton37814: Hey Lori! Always good to count you as one of my frequent visitors :0D

Happy New Year!

Woo Hoo, Diana! Happy 2017 to you as well!!!

>10 Carmenere: Weee! Thank you for my gift! As you already saw, I'm making good use of it! ;)

Hope you have a great 2017!

I was looking for the website to get those interactive maps the other day and couldn't find it. Where is it?

I am part of the group.
I love being part of the group.
I love the friendships bestowed upon my by dint of my membership of this wonderful fellowship.
I love that race and creed and gender and age and sexuality and nationality make absolutely no difference to our being a valued member of the group.

Thank you for also being part of the group.

>24 EllAreBee: Lol, and I'm sure you'll need another soon enough, Kelly!

>25 ChelleBearss: Thank you Chelle! All the best to you and your family, as well!

>26 The_Hibernator: Welcome, Rachel! I'm working on getting that link for you

>27 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! Your comments are amazing and so are you!
Happy new year to you and yours!!

>26 The_Hibernator: It's google charts but I've no idea how I did it many years ago. Here's my code just add less than sign at the beginning and hopefully after you have that you can delete my states/countries and add yours. Let me know how it goes. PS: Maybe some wiz kid can offer more info than I.
States
img src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=t&chtm=usa&chs=440x220&chf=bg,s,336699&chco=d0d0d0,cc0000&chd=s:9999999999999999999999999999999999999&chld=AKALNEAZCAILFLLAMEMAMIMSNJNMNYNCOHOKUTVAWATXMOVTRIMTGASCPACTORWYNDMNTNINMD" width="440" height="220" >
visited 38 states (74%)


Countries
img src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=map:fixed=-70,-180,80,180&chs=450x300&chf=bg,s,336699&chco=d0d0d0,cc0000&chd=s:9999999999999999999999999999999999999999&chld=US|CO|CA|TR|IQ|DZ|FR|GB|IT|IE|DK|RU|PR|DE|MX|AU|BA|AR|NO|ZA|ES|CN|LY|CL|BY|CU|SE|PK|NL|BW|ID|PQ|NG|VN|AF|SY|KW|IR|BG|IN" width="450" height="300" >
visited 40 states (17.7%)

Best wishes for the New Year! :)

>30 Carmenere: I actually found a link to it on someone else's thread. Thanks though.

>31 EllAreBee: Thank you, Kelly! Same to you and yours!!

>32 The_Hibernator: Great! Glad you were able to find it!
---------------------

Just returned home from my mom's Senior facility where surf and turf was served. So good! Now we are taking a little breather before we head out to a friends house to bring in the new year. The weather is quite nice here, very windy but dry and temps are in the 40's. Sweet!

Happy New Year, Lynda! Glad you're well fed for the festivities; have fun tonight.

>34 jnwelch: Happy 2017 to you too, Joe! I would love to have a nap about now but I'll muddle through ;0)
-------------------------


Happy New Year to book buddies everywhere!!!

Hi Lynda! Happy New Year! I've dropped my star and I look forward to following your reading again in 2017.

Happy New Year, Lynda.

Happy New Year, Lynda! I couldn't help but notice that Iowa is one of the states you haven't visited yet. There's a few of us LTers who will be waiting if you come this way in 2017!

Morning, Lynda! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Lynda

Happy New Thread, Lynda! Looking forward to another book-fueled year, with my bookish pals.

Have a great holiday and I hope you are having a grand time with the Count.

Happy New Year, Lynda! I've starred your thread.

Hi, Lynda!

Happy New Year, Lynda. I dropped my star and am looking forward to following along.

Morning, Lynda!

Happy New Year and Happy Reading and Travelling, Lynda!

Oh my goodness, I was so busy yesterday that I've missed the big new years post extraveganza! As many of you know, we've been laying laminate through our second floor bedrooms for the past, wait for it......3 years! Well, the major project is almost complete and our Master Bedroom is just about ready to reinhabit. The bed is reassembled, almost, and we're just about ready to work on the master closet and bathroom! Yayyyy!

>36 cbl_tn: Happy New Year, Carrie! I look forward to another year of bookworming it with you!

>37 BLBera: Happy New Year, Beth! I was so happy to find and star your new thread this morning!

>38 rosalita: Happy New Year, Julia! I found and starred your thread this morning too. Actually, the map only indicates places my books have taken me. I would love to one day visit the heartland of America, aka Iowa, but till I do, I'd love a book rec from you which takes place in your great state.

>39 Crazymamie: Happy New Year, Mamie! Also found you this morning too!

>40 calm: Thanks calm and happy new year of reading to you too!

>41 msf59: Happy New Year, Chief Warbler! The Count is just as awesome as everyone's said.

>42 tymfos: Welcome Terri! Happy New Year to you as well!

>43 scaifea: Hi Amber and Happy New Year!

>44 Familyhistorian: Welcome, Meg and Happy New Year to you! I've found your thread this morning and dropped a star there as well.

>45 Berly: Thank you, Kim and Happy 2017 to you as well! Thanks for the bubbly, I was getting a wee bit thirsty.

>46 Crazymamie: Good morning, Mamie! Ack! Do you know what day it is? I know the calendar is all off with those holidays in there. Have a good ***day!

>47 Deern: Thank you and thank you and thank you, Nathalie! It's looking as if we've got a RL vacation in the making and it's going to be a good one. You know we've been bit by the European travel bug since our trip to Spain last year.

BTW this is what I'm reading now (a new feature to this years thread which may or may not be kept up to date :} )


Thanks to Mark


From my 2017 TBR Challenge Thread https://www.librarything.com/topic/243399


When I'm able I'll follow along with The Hibernator's Group Read: Bible as Literature https://www.librarything.com/topic/243886

>48 Carmenere: Ah, books set in Iowa. Let's see ... A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley is probably the most well known entry. I've seen it described as King Lear on a farm, but I read it before I ever knew much of anything about Lear and still enjoyed it very much.

Hi Lynda, thanks for stopping by my thread. Congratulations on nearing the completion of your house renovations project!

Relying on my Irish heritage to leave you the following Happy New Year wishes for you and your family:

Morning, Lynda! Happy Monday! I like your current reads feature. Keep it up. Hope you find plenty of time with the Count today.

Hi, Lynda! Found and starred you, and looking forward to all your reviews and chat!

Some Luck and the others in the trilogy are also set in Iowa, among other places.

Hooray for finished, or nearly, DIY projects!

Happy new year, Lynda.

I was given a copy of A Gentleman in Moscow for Christmas. Looks good and I can't wait to get to it.

Happy New Year, Lynda. I am still looking for and starring friends' threads. Yours is one of my favorite places to visit. I'm glad you are loving A Gentleman in Moscow. it was my No. 1 book of 2016.

>50 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! A branch of my library system is sending A Thousand Acres to my branch and I should have it in a couple of days.

>51 lkernagh: Thank you Lori! That is absolutely beautiful and I certainly wish the same to you!

>52 msf59: Ugh Mark, between putting Christmas back in the closet and helping hubsters with the DIY my reading has been touch and go. I've been touching The Invoice more often because it's easier to carry around the house while I work.

>53 mstrust: Yeah Jennifer! I'm looking forward to chatting too!!

>54 BLBera: Thanks for the additional info, Beth!

>55 cameling: Happy New Year, Caro! You just happened to post a pic of my favorite flower, the simple and sturdy daisy!

>56 Donna828: So happy you found me, Donna! I'm still finding friends too! AGiM may likely be No.1 book of 2017 for me when all is said and done.

I've been lounging around all morning and I've got to get myself in gear. I'll be back later with my first review later today.

Hi, Lynda. Just stopping by to drop a star from Dublin, OH!

>58 rretzler: Welcome Robin, fellow Ohioan!

#1-2017
The Invoice
Jonas Karlsson
2016
204 pages
Librarything Early Reviewer
2017 TBR Challenge
3.75/5

Where am I?......
Stockholm, Sweden

Thoughts.......What would you do if you were invoiced for all the happiness you've enjoyed in your life? It's tempered by all the negative things that have happened, of course, but what if, like this novel's protagonist, you find good in bad circumstances? The price is rather steep, no? There's no way this simple, sensitive man who works at a video store can pay this exorbitant amount. No matter how hard he tries to reduce his balance, it only seems to increase. Karlsson brings this petite novel to a satisfactory conclusion with a sound moral to the story.

>57 Carmenere: I hope you enjoy the Smiley book, Lynda!

>60 Carmenere: That's an intriguing premise for a novel.

>61 rosalita: >57 Carmenere: If it comes recommended by you, I think it has a good chance.

>61 rosalita: >60 Carmenere: Yes it is. Karlsson toys with the redistribution of happiness wealth but its just something you'd have to visualize because the book doesn't expand on the affects of that scenario.

--------------
Off to get ready for Wednesday coffee with the moms. C ya later!

Morning Lynda! Winter is back! Boo! I read Karlsson's "The Room" awhile back,(Can't find the touchstone). I remember liking it, so I might check this one out too.

The Karlsson book sounds interesting, Lynda.

Morning, Lynda! Enjoy your coffee.

>63 msf59: Brutally cold out there today, Mark! and the wind, Oh my!!! I think you might like The Invoice a bit quirky but less so than The Room

>64 BLBera: It's different, Beth, I'll give you that. : }

>65 Crazymamie: Afternoon, Mamie! Coffee with egg and cheese breakfast sandwich were quite good as was the camaraderie of breaking bread with the moms after winter break.

Happy New Year, Lynda!

>67 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl! Happy 2017 to you too!

----------------------
I'm back to my 8am walking regimen today (via DVD) and Will sets off for his last semester of high school. Freezing cold this morning but I'll visit mom today because it's only going to be more freezing tomorrow.

I'll try to get in a nice chunk of reading time today. Fingers crossed.

Morning, Lynda! Wishing you a good visit with your mom.

I keep seeing Gentleman in Moscow everywhere. I'll try to get to it this year. It fits the "in a hotel" category for Pop Sugar Challenge

>69 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie, it was a pleasant visit and she's doing well :0)

>70 The_Hibernator: A Gentleman in Moscow would be perfect, Rachel. The Count is in the Metropol in Moscow for a very large portion of the book.

Deep freeze hit our area this morning with temps around 1, in the negatives if you take the windchill into account. Brrrrrr!

Stay safe all you southerners. I hear you've got some nasty weather headed your way and when you're not accustomed to it it's even worse.

One degree! Lynda, get to the bunker!

>72 mstrust: *snork!* Hunkered down, for sure!

Hi Lynda! The National Weather Service has just upped our snow forecast from 1-3 inches to 3-6 inches. My side of Knoxville is supposed to be on the upper end of the scale. I went grocery shopping last night so I will not need to go out tomorrow. At least, not out in the car. I will have to go out with Adrian a few times.

Morning, Lynda! Happy Sunday! Are you still enjoying your time with the Count? Dumb question, right?

I received The Invoice yesterday. Thank you very much. We love spreading that book joy. And a love a "shorty"!

When I see the weather reports from you guys I don't know whether to be relieved that I live in a place without seasons or jealous that I don't.

I guess when I move back to the UK, I'll reacquaint myself with finding out!

Morning, Lynda! Happy Sunday!

>74 cbl_tn: Hey Carrie! How did the winter storm affect you? Bad as the forecast?

>75 msf59: Glad you've rec'd the book, Mark! Count Rostov is so endearing! About mid way and since I'm not going anywhere today, once again, I'll read some after LT.

>76 PaulCranswick: I'm not sure I'd like Malaysian weather 24/7/365. The daily changes in weather help me appreciate the sunny warm days. I may complain a bit but it's not all bad especially since I've retired and have no need to go out if I don't want to go out.

>77 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! I just stopped over to visit you! Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Stopping by to wish you a lovely Sunday, Lynda, which I hope is a relaxing time indoors for you if it continues to be brutally cold outside.

>79 lkernagh: Glad you stopped in, Lori! I'm doing a little reading, a little vacation browsing but most of all keeping warm. Hope you are too :0)

Hi Lynda, I'm finally here to drop my star. I am looking forward to following your thread once again this year.

Lynda--The Invoice sounds quite good! And I see you are yet another LTer reading A Gentleman in Moscow. ; ) Stay warm.

Morning, Lynda!

>81 DeltaQueen50: Finally, Judy! I've been waiting for you!

>82 Berly: Yes, Kim, I am yet another reading of AGiM but probably the slowest. I am thoroughly enjoying it.

-----------------
Ugh Ugh Ugh, Dentist appt this morning. Possibly crowning 2 molars, I insist I only need one - let's see if I can persuade her to change her mind.

Ooop! Hi, Mamie! Good to see you on the second day of the week! Help yourself to something off of Judy's tray. I'm sure she won't mind.

Oh, the dentist! You poor, poor baby!

Best of luck with the dentist today, Lynda!

oh no! Hope you win! Good luck today

Good luck with the dentist, Lynda.

>86 Crazymamie: :(
>87 scaifea: :((
>88 ChelleBearss: :(((
>89 BLBera: :((((

Thanks for the sympathy and good wishes Mamie, Amber, Chelle and Beth however I did not win, two crowns it is. How can you negotiate over your teeth? The good news is the molars border each other so both were done simultaneously and, for now, share a temporary crown. The permanent's will be put in later in January.

Leftovers tonight and me cuddling up with the Count in Moscow.

I have had that done on both sides of my upper jaw, Lynda, and I did like that because the teeth were side by side they could share a temporary crown. I am betting in the end run you'll be glad that you went straight to the crowns, as they last a lot longer than fillings if they are done right.

>91 Crazymamie: Good Point, Mamie! I imagine after these two are complete she will begin with the upper teeth. *sigh*

Ok folks, I've got nothing to report. I'm reading 4 books, completing nothing *deeper sigh* and I need to check on the woman who is interested in taking over the volunteer position after I graduate. So, on to that *bing, bing, bing*

O o o! I watched the first episode of Crown last night! Good stuff! Anyone else been watching it?

Dan! Sorry about the teeth. : /

I just started watching The Crown! Loving it. : )

Morning Kim! I geek royals so The Crown has me in its grasp. Interesting to see how the new queen and her husband transition and adapt to their new roles. Lol, fun to see how they were before responsibilities, young and carefree.

Morning Lynda! Sweet Thursday! I am on the 3rd episode of The Crown. I am also enjoying it.

I have also been listening to Victoria: A Novel, about young Queen Vic. There is a upcoming Masterpiece series about Victoria, that starts Sunday. The book has been entertaining.

Thanks, Mark, for the heads up regarding Victoria. Masterpiece has done splendid shows in the past so I'd expect Vic to be of top notch quality entertainment. Marking my calendar for Sunday.

Mittens has stopped by to say Sweet Thursday to all!

Mittens is beautiful. Sweet Thursday to you Lynda.

>98 calm: Hi calm, Mittens says thank you very much
🐱

>97 Carmenere: AW! Sweet Thursday, Mittens! And to you, too, Lynda!

>100 Crazymamie: Consider yourself kitty nuzzled, Mamie!

>97 Carmenere: Aaaw, Sweet Thursday to you both! :)

Following the dental updates with sympathy pain. I haven't been to the dentist for quite a while and while I have no pain or other issues, I know the next one will have much work with me and I don't know how to face that bill anytime soon (when I still had private insurance in Germany I had a dentist who imo "generated" implant fillings where they weren't needed and they didn't fit perfectly so bacteria wandered in and then my dentist here in Merano had much repair work to do).

Hi Mittens and Lynda!

>97 Carmenere: Well hello there, Mittens! Are you helping mama Lynda read her books? Good kitty!

Hello Mittens!

Sorry about the dental woes. I put my big dental trip off when I couldn't stop sneezing. Not something I am looking forward to rescheduling.

Hi Lynda,
Mittens is indeed gorgeous.
Good luck with your 2017 reading goals!

>102 Deern: Truthfully, Nathalie, I've always enjoyed an appointment with my former dentist. Never an issue. But apparently from what I have to do now, I've found he wasn't addressing some potential problems. My new dentist is showing me what my former dentist avoided and not I've got some catching up to do. She's taking her time and has even given me time to subscribe to a better dental plan to cover more of the cost.

>103 DianaNL: Mittens says "Puuuurrrrrrrr" I say Hi there, Diana!

>104 rosalita: Oh, Julia, Mittens just loves your attention! In this photo, you may have noticed he's stepping on the Smiley novel. Oh so much to read, so much to do. I just can't find my groove.

>105 charl08: Good luck with your impending dental appointment, Charlotte! A meowwww to you from Mittens!

>106 -Cee-: Ceeeeeeee! You're back!!! Must find your new thread! Mittens is a handsome cat, a huge, fat cat and very loving. A great cuddle cat when he wants to.

#2-2017
The Princess Diarist
Carrie Fisher
2016
257 pages
Library
4/5

Where am I?...................Esmond Court Kensington - London

Elstree Studios - London

Thoughts..............."Sullen and scornful; a real Marlboro man
The type who pours out the beer and eats
the can
A tall guy with a cultivated leer
One you can count on to disapprove or
disappear..............."
Taken from Ms. Fisher's diary and written during the filming of Star Wars in 1976 it looks like she had, co-star, Harrison Ford figured out pretty well. Having an affair with this actor for the duration of production gave her the time to do so.
This short memoir begins with some background for those unfamiliar with her family tree and quickly jumps to her first film, Shampoo with Warren Beatty. Shortly after, she is tested for and ultimately given the part of Princess Leia. The rest is motion picture history, well not quite, up to the writing of this memoir those who cared only surmised that she and Ford had an affair. Now, before, as she thought, it is revealed by people who weren't actually there, she confirms it rather succinctly and, as many post pubescent girls do, kept a diary of her first real romance. Much of the diary is shared with the reader. It is both touching and sad. Could it actually be so long ago? Could Carrie Fisher actually have died shortly after the release of this book?
Not one to pay much attention to Ms Fisher's earlier books, this one caught my eye. I was pleased with it and occasionally laughed aloud. In true Hollywood style, she leaves us laughing.

Hi Lynda - I don't usually pick up celebrity memoirs, but this sounds good. An affair with Ford? I didn't know about that. One to keep in mind, for sure.

Morning, Lynda! A very nice review of the Carrie Fisher book - it's a maybe for me. Like Beth, I usually don't read celebrity memoirs - sometimes you learn more than you want to know.

>109 BLBera: I'm not one to pick up celebrity memoirs either, Beth, and before my son became a huge SW's fan, I disliked the movie. Yet, when I saw Carrie Fisher on the Today Show shortly before she passed I became interested in reading it. Her sudden death pushed the book to the top of my list.

>110 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie and what you say is true. Fisher mentions that she's avoided saying too much because it's her business and preferred to keep details private.

Dinner is done, dishes in the dishwasher, kitchen tidied and I'm awake enough to read a good while. Yeah!!!

Lynda--That one sounds quite good--I have always liked Carrie Fisher. I am reading a light one right now: Amy Schumer's The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo. I wanted something on the light side after The Vegetarian! Happy Monday.

Morning, Lynda! I am going to look for the audio of The Princess Diarist. It looks like a fun listen.

Rainy, gloomy and chilly today. Good day to stay in with the books.

Hi Lynda, I have great sympathy regarding your crowns. I am in the process of getting my third (and last) one placed. Right now I have the temporary one in. It was suggested that I go to the dental lab so that they can match the color perfectly, I wouldn't have bothered but since it is a front tooth - off I go tomorrow. At least all these appointments involve waiting rooms and waiting rooms mean reading time!

I have also started watching The Crown on Netflicks and I am really enjoying it.

Hi Lynda! Sorry I didn't get back last week. We did get about what was predicted for us - just under 3 inches of snow at my place. I stayed indoors all weekend. We still had patches of snow and ice on the ground when I went to work on Tuesday morning. by Friday we had highs in the 60s. It's still in the 60s today.

>108 Carmenere: The photo of Elstree Studios takes me back a few years! I lived very near the studios for a couple of years in the late 1980s. Borehamwood and Elstree were not actually places you would go to rub elbows with the stars. I never ran into any stars in the supermarket or at the shops on the high street!

Just driving by to say hello and wish you a lovely week, Lynda!

>112 Berly: Mmm, I haven't read Vegetarian, Kim, but if I do, I'll remember to have a lighter read handy.

>113 msf59: Hey Mark! Looks like we'll have rain all day, perhaps some thunderstorms and upper 50's. Weird weather for January, I wouldn't be surprised much if the crocus bloomed.

>114 DeltaQueen50: Yes, Judy! that is the conciliatory thought!! Yesterday, I took my son to the dentist for a couple of fillings and although I could have just dropped him off, I saw an opportunity to get in, maybe an hour of uninterrupted, guiltfree reading. So even though the dentist's office is 4 minutes from our house, I stayed and finished A Gentleman in Moscow. Yay!
Did you also begin watching Victoria this past weekend? I did and between the two queens I'm getting slightly confused. It's a royal muddle.

>115 cbl_tn: and that's the good thing about this winter, Carrie! We get snow, it melts, we get more etc etc. The melting stage is quite a relief when winter typically lasts 5 months and snow on the ground the entire time drains the life out of a person.
>115 cbl_tn: >108 Carmenere: Ha! At first I was wondering if you might have met movie stars, so thanks for putting my thoughts to rest. "Borehamwood and Elstree were not actually places you would go to rub elbows with the stars." Hmmm, Why was that? Studio tours?

>116 EBT1002: Thank you Ellen! My LT auto has stalled in thread garage, of late. Must jump start and visit more often. Hope you have a lovely week as well!!!

Currently reading.................

ER from 2014 - TBR Challenge


Recommended by Julia who suggested a literal visit to Iowa.

Be back soon, working on a review :0)

Morning Lynda! Love those current reads. I wanted to read Without You, since it came out and A Thousand Acres is fantastic!

Morning, Lynda! Oh, don't you love that guilt-free reading time! I generally get to any appointments about 30 minutes early just for that reason...

#3-2017
A Gentleman in Moscow
Amor Towles
2016
462 pages
5/5

Where am I?........... Metropol Hotel - Moscow
Metropol Hotel - restaurant Boyarsky
Metropol Hotel - Shalyapin bar

Thoughts..............."....several duly goateed officers of the current regime determined that for the crime of being born an aristocrat, I should be sentenced to spend the rest of my days....in this hotel." And so begins Count Alexander Rostov's peculiar/absurd punishment at the luxurious hotel Metropol in Moscow. A reader might think that a book of almost 500 pages recounting his day to day life in one building would be tedious, repetitive and dull. Not so! Rostov's imprisonment is anything but! In the early to mid 20th century, as the world outside the Metropol changes, the Count retains his aristocratic lifestyle while still befriending those from the working class. Intriguing, beautiful and beguiling guests of the hotel add spice to his life and there's never a reason for Rostov to be alone or listless. Author, Towles, delivers a masterful story. It's smart, it's well paced. The characters are lovable and there are some who are despicable. It is a marvelous read, one which should be savored and enjoyed.

Thanks Mark for warbling and sending this treasure to me.

>119 msf59: Morning, Mark! Oh, so you've been wanting to read WY,TinU. Noted.

>120 scaifea: Morning Amber! Ha! Isn't it funny how readers think alike?! I don't mind waiting anywhere as long as i have a book!

Morning, Lynda! I have A Gentleman In Moscow out from the library - it's practically glaring at me because I haven't picked it up yet.

Let me hypnotize you, Mamie...........pick it uuuuuuuuup, pick it uuuuuuuuuuuuuup. Oh for heavens sake, just pick it up. I think you'll be hypnotized by the end of the first chapter. :0)

Great comments, and pictures of A Gentleman in Moscow, Lynda.

>121 Carmenere:



Good review of A Gentleman in Moscow, Lynda! I am so glad you loved it. I hope your warbling, ensnares a few more readers!

>117 Carmenere: I am recording "Victoria" but I think I may save it until I have finished with "The Crown" in order to avoid mixing the queens up!

>125 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!

>126 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I hope I warble loud enough for others to hear cause it is certainly a must read. I see movie potential here too.

>127 DeltaQueen50: Smart, Judy!! I have a hard time watching anything I record, I tend to forget about it. So, I'll muddle through and if it gets extremely difficult I'll pause Netflix and pick it up when Victoria ends. Ha! As if juggling books were not enough!

The moms are trying a new restaurant this morning, supposedly very healthy selection. See ya's later!

>117 Carmenere: Hi Lynda! When I lived there in the 1980s, Borehamwood looked like it was mostly council housing. I was told that the houses were built right after WWII to house Londoners whose homes had been destroyed in the WWII bombings. Even though Borehamwood is in the suburbs, in many ways it was more like an inner city community.

You made me laugh, Lynda. I will pick it up.

So, what's next, Lynda?

Hi all, checked out that healthy breakfast spot yesterday and I don't do oatmeal for 6 bucks. uh ah, nope. Good concept but not for me.

>129 cbl_tn: aaaaah, got it, Carrie!

>130 Crazymamie: Lol, well picking it up is a good start, Mamie. You're certainly ready for step two!

>131 BLBera: It's going to be hard to top, Gentleman in Moscow, Beth! Currently reading an ER from July 2014 - Without you, there is no us, and about to open A Thousand Acres. Oh yeah! I pulled out Prague. I want to read that one soon.
ps. the Gentleman was mailed out yesterday :0)

I've requested 3 of The PEN literary finalists Jean Stine Book award (To recognize a book-length work of any genre for its originality, merit, and impact) from the library and hoping I can get them in before the award announcement on February 22nd.

Known and Strange Things (Random House), Teju Cole
Olio (Wave Books), Tyehimba Jess - At this time, library doesn't have it in their catalog
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between (Random House), Hisham Matar
Dark Money (Doubleday/Penguin Random House), Jane Mayer
The Underground Railroad (Doubleday/Penguin Random House), Colson Whitehead - Read in 2016

Who's read any of these finalists?

Morning Lynda! Happy Friday! How are those current reads coming along?

>133 msf59: Ugh! You had to ask, Mark! Well, truth be told, not as well as I would have liked. I'm feigning a head cold today so I won't feel guilty when the hubsters is doing things around the house. So, I may be able to finish the ER today.

We will keep your secret safe, Lynda. I would also like to read Known and Strange Things & Dark Money.

>135 msf59: Yeah, I like this PEN award because it crosses genres. Nice way to stretch my reading limitations.

I would like to read more essay collections in '17, old and new.

Morning, Lynda!

>137 msf59: Yup, essay and poetry! I need to delve into those genres

>138 Crazymamie: Howdy dooo, Mamie!

Lynda, you've tempted me with the Carrie Fisher memoir. Such a sad loss of both daughter and mother. So glad you loved A Gentleman in Moscow. Thank you for including those pictures in your excellent review. I so agree with you. It is tough on the next few books after reading a 5-star book. I wish you luck with the PEN finalists.

>121 Carmenere: What a lovely review of A Gentleman in Moscow, Lynda. I thumbed it. How great to have those pictures, too. I'm another fan of the book, and it's fun to see where it's set.

I liked Known and Strange Things. Made me look up a lot of artists - I wished there were more pictures.

I'm hoping that A Gentleman in Moscow gets into my library soon. Although not too soon - too many books at the moment.

>132 Carmenere: Thanks Lynda.

>139 Carmenere: I am wilfully trying to cross genres this year and read outside my normal comfort zone, Lynda. My first ever GN was read this month and I will read a few more this year certainly.

Have a great weekend.

>140 Donna828: Hi Donna! Thank you for your kind words regarding my review and pics. I hope you find time to read The Princess Diarist. Really quick read.

>141 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe for your nice remarks, as well!! I love Googling the places I read about and hope I'm not spoiling anyone's reading experience by posting the pics. I'm glad you liked them.

>142 charl08: Oh, I'm glad you liked KaST, Charlotte! I'm looking forward to discovering new to me artists. I'll try to make your wish come true and post the pics which are lacking.

>143 BLBera: You are more than welcome, Beth! I'm anticipating your review!!

>144 PaulCranswick: I delved in to the waters of GN a year or two ago, Paul! I was amazed by the artistry. Still, I don't read as many GN's as I would like but then again my library doesn't house the newest and greatest. I do have March, Book 1 coming my way through inter library loan! Yeah for that.



I recently viewed a TED Talk regarding using your time to it's full advantage. I got to thinking just how much I need to do and I always say "there's no time to do it"and ultimately many things get brushed aside. I'm not using my time wisely and I know it. When I had a job I scheduled everything. Since I've been retired everything's loosey goosey.

I'm going going back to my At a Glance calendar book and try to become a little more functional. Schedule housework, reading, etc etc etc.

Firstly, I want to create my annual photo album. Secondly, I want to finish the cross stitch I've been working on/dusting for the past 20 years ha! Lets see if I can stay focused and accomplish great things:0)

Happy Sunday, Lynda! We have Mamie reading A Gentleman in Moscow! Long live the Count!

And hooray for reading more essays & poetry!

>146 msf59: Yeah for that, Mark! I tried to hypnotize Mamie but, in the end, told her the book will do that on it's own. Beth may be reading soon too as the book is on its way to her.

Aha! Time management is off to a good start and I'm ahead of schedule!

Victoria was quite good last night and looks to get even better once Albert is in the picture next week.

I'm up to episode 6 of The Crown! besides being quite entertaining it also offers very good explanation as to why Royals do what Royals do. My attitude regarding Philip has become more favorable. Another side to him I didn't know existed.

Off to exercise and begin the annual photo album.

Morning, Lynda! I did not watch Victoria last night but I did watch the 6th episode of The Crown. It is such a good series.

Go exercise! Yah!

>149 msf59: That it is, Mark! Are you planning on viewing Vic at a letter date?

Yes, tonight or tomorrow night.

Yay for time management! I'd be lost without my At A Glance calendar and my trusty daily To Do list.

>151 msf59: wonderful, Mark! The actress playing Victoria, Jenna Coleman, is both beguiling and adorable.

>152 scaifea: and Amber, it only took me 7 1/2 years into retirement to realize time mgt isn't just for the office. :0P

Found and booked caterer for Will's grad party😄
Got a good start on album with Shutterfly

After lunch, the bathrooms! Fun!

Wow, Lynda. I need your calendar.

>154 BLBera: LOL! Well, if you need to feel more focused, Beth, I would certainly recommend it. I have a feeling you're probably focused enough. You have a job to attend to everyday. I was feeling like an untethered balloon which was bound to break the ozone when Will goes off to college in the fall. Had to reign it in.

I almost finished a book yesterday and downloaded all the 2016 photos to Shutterfly and did layout for the cover. After coffee with the mom's (can't wait to find out more about the March, which some had attended in DC. Afterward, back at home and work on the photo album.

Morning Lynda! Travel day for us, for our quick jaunt to Arizona. Watched Victoria last night. I like the series and it should be interesting to watch as Albert enters the picture.

>156 msf59: Safe travels, Mark! Bring home that Arizona sunshine!

RIP MTM - my role model growing up in the '70's and entering the workforce in 1979 . Thank you!

#4-2017
Without You, There is No Us
Suki Kim
2014
285 pages
2.5/5
ER July '14 - 2017 TBR Challenge

Where am I?.........
PUST (pyongyang university of science and technology)


Mount Kumgang

Thoughts............Kim's memoir regarding her 3 stints in the Pyonyang area of North Korea, first as a journalist and twice as an impostor school teacher is a repetitive observance of the young men she taught. I'm not entirely sure what the author's objectives/motives were in impersonating a Christian English teacher at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology or if she had achieved what she set out to do. Of course, as a journalist, she observed some things which are consistent with a country ruled with an iron fist but it's certainly not investigative reporting. That said, she and other teachers were watched constantly by the Christian church, which helped in building the school and employed them, as well as the students and the government. Without the opportunity or permission to question those outside the community, there's just nothing new here.

Thanks to Early Reviewer for sending this to me. Sorry it took so long to write a review.

>158 Carmenere: I loved her!! :(

That is so cool that you make an album each year! I just take the photos and slide them into a book with photo sleeves. That after doing the scrapbook version for years--it eventually took up too much time. I think my youngest is still only two in his. Oops!

MTM rocked! She was a remarkable woman.

>160 Berly: I really enjoy doing the photo albums and with Shutterfly you can be as creative as you want. 2016 is going to be a larger one, many pics of Spain and St. Maarten and high school band pics. Fun to relive the year that was.

>161 BLBera: She did, indeed, Beth!

Now that I've finished a book, here's what I'm working on now!

- thanks for the tip Julia I'm loving it!

Since I'm in Korea, i might as well move south.

Morning Lynda! Happy Friday! Greetings from Goodyear!

Hooray for A Thousand Acres. And I have heard very good things about Human Acts. It is on the list.

>163 msf59: Happy Saturday, Mark! Human Acts on your list too? Ok, noted!

--------------
The hubster's out with friends most of the day, Will is going over to play Dungeons and Dragons with buddies and I'm here with Mittens.

Enjoy your Me Time! Plan on following Elaine's lead?

>164 Carmenere: Oh! I know that feeling, Lynda!! Soak it up, baby!

I loved both of your current reads, Lynda. I will await your comments. It sounds like you have a great day ahead. Enjoy.

>165 mstrust: I did a little, Jennifer, then remembered I'd promised to make a pot of beef/vegetable soup. *sigh*

>166 Crazymamie: As much as I'm able, Mamie!

>167 BLBera: Well, not exactly a jammie day great but great enough.

----------
A friend in the neighborhood is a 7 year cancer survivor and now recovering from a liver transplant which she has waited soooo long to receive. So, since she keeps sending me Facebook game invites, I'm catching up with some of those requests today. Now back to A Thousand Acres.

Hope your free day is going well. I'm another fan of Human Acts - hoping her new one comes out soon, too.

>169 charl08: The free day went quite well, Charlotte, but after awhile the silence was killing me and I began to look forward to their return.

Morning, Lynda!

Morning Lynda! Happy Sunday. I hope you were not enjoyed while performing your Happy Dance.

Happy Sunday, Lynda!

>171 Crazymamie: Good morning, Mamie!

>172 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark! Still in AZ?

>173 scaifea: Happy Sunday, Amber!

Snow day! Maybe tomorrow too as another front approaches tonight. Stay tuned :0)

Will's high school orchestra had the great privilege of performing at Severance Hall yesterday, usually the winter home of the Cleveland Orchestra. Truly an awesome afternoon!


I'll be trudging through the snow today to have the temporary crowns replaced with the permanent! Oh! double the fun :0( Oh! of course, it's Monday wouldn't cha know.

Morning Lynda! Boo to snow. I am enjoying the sunshine and 70 degrees. I do not want to leave.

Shuffles to the airport...

Oh No! Snow days are meant to be enjoyed at home, not the dentist! Hope it goes quickly for you

>176 msf59: Morning Mark! Are you sure you want to leave today? It's still cold up north. Brrrr.

>177 ChelleBearss: Chelle! Hi! I just visited your thread! What a coincidence! Yeah, who would have thought it would work out this way Waaaaaaa! I don't want to goooooo.

Lynda--Glad you got some alone time and how fun for your son to play in that awesome venue!! Good luck with the dental work. I just spent the day yesterday with my son getting fillings. So much fun. Not. Empathy on the snow trudging.

>179 Berly: Yeah, Kim, Severance Hall is the bomb! Dental work is complete till my 6 month checkup. I'm sure she has something up her white coat sleeve!
My son had 3 cavities filled shortly before my crowns came in. Funny how these cavities pop up as soon as the braces come off. A dentist/orthadontist conspiracy for sure :0/ Hope your son's filling went well.

Go Falcons! As a Clevelander, I still hold a grudge with Bill Belichick. Grrr.

Happy Sunday, Lynda. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. How is Human Acts coming?

Oh yeah- Go Falcons!

Uhhhh, well Human Acts have seen no action lately. I've been absorbed with A 1000 acres. Now that ones just about done I can go back to HA.

High fiving another Falcons fan!

Ok! here we go! SB is about to start!!!

I am the only one left watching the Super Bowl at my grandkids house. Mom and Dad are getting close to landing in KC and should be home by 10:00. Lots of excitement here. I'm excited to be going home tomorrow.

Will and the orchestra look pretty spiffy at their big event! When does he graduate from high school?

>183 Donna828: Safe travels, Donna! I'm sure you had a wonderful time with your grandkids.
Will graduates this May. It's coming around so fast now. I'd like to hit the pause or slow motion button just so we can savor
this. I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it.
--------------
Super Bowl thoughts: Hope nobody went to bed thinking the Falcons had won SB VI! Wouldn't you have loved to be in the 1/2 time locker rooms?
I thought the Falcons a little too excited from the start and mentioned to Will they shouldn't be using up all their energy in the 1st quarter. Well......

Lady Gaga nailed it!

Fave commercials: Melissa McCarthy with whales etc.
The talking yearbook

-----------------
Other things:
Review coming up

Current reads:
- from neighborhood swap

60f tomorrow with rain and thunderstorms. Whaaaaaaa?

Finishing up concessions sign ups for spring sports. Just need to review and double check dates.

Completed photo album through April 2016.

I apologize, just haven't had time to visit :0( - here, there's nothing like leftover pizza for breakfast

#5-2017
A Thousand Acres
Jane Smiley
1991
371 pages
4.75/5
Thank you, Julia, for suggesting this book!! My literary road trip to Iowa was great!

Where am I?.........
Iowa farmland

Mason City, Iowa

Thoughts...........A family saga, taken from the pages of Shakespeare, contains Larry Cook as patriarch, farmer and owner of 1,000 corn luscious acres, and his daughters Ginny, Rose and Caroline. Living and tending this land, surrounded by family and friends, sounds ideal. Yet, as with every perfect picture, this one has tiny fissures that become crevices once Larry decides to divide the land between his daughters. Caroline, the youngest, walks away from the deal but remains in the background. The older two manage the land with their husbands and despite their cool feelings toward each other run it quite well. With old age, Larry becomes paranoid and wants his land back. Hey wait, you've heard this story before, haven't you? Well, sure, it's King Lear but Smiley brings the old story up to date and sheds light on a world unbeknownst to many, the ins and outs, ups and downs of farming. She raises awareness of farming methods that in 1979 were just beginning to become a concern.
The reader meanders through this story as if traveling a country road but be watchful, the author, occasionally, throws you a curve ball which makes you stop, back up and travel that sentence again thinking, "What?! Did she just say what I thought she said?!
Highly recommend you pluck this one off the shelf soon.

>185 Carmenere: So glad you loved A Thousand Acres, Lynda! When I first read it I was not at all familiar with King Lear, so all those allusions slid right past me, but I loved it anyway. I should re-visit it sometime now that I know more about the Shakespeare play to see if it changes anything.

>186 rosalita: Yeah, I'm not really up on Lear either, Julia, but I know the premise but not enough of the details it to ruin this story for me. Sometimes, it's good not to know too much. Thanks again for the rec as it was completely off my radar.

Great comments on the Smiley, Lynda. I should reread. I remember loving it.

I saw your review of A Thousand Acres pop up in my review feed. I'm glad you liked it as much as I did last year!

>188 BLBera: Thanks Beth! I'd say it's worth the time to reread. Smiley offers up some hints as to how Ginny's life progressed so, I'm thinking, I may want to read the follow up.

>189 cbl_tn: Hey Carrie, Have you read other books by Smiley. I'm interested in doing so.

>190 Carmenere: I haven't. I think I'd like to try Some Luck next.

>191 cbl_tn: Looks like an interesting trilogy, Carrie. While I was looking that book up, I noticed she wrote a book entitled Moo which tickled me, so that may be my next Smiley.
------------------------

I can barely put down Human Acts. So much suffering in this world :0(

Morning Lynda. Glad to hear that Human Acts has you in it's grip.
Enjoy your Wednesday.

Morning, Lynda!

Oh come on! I could swear I responded to Mark and Amber yesterday!

>193 msf59: Hey Mark, yup, quite a read. Once again, I don't get the chance to read it as much as I would like.

>194 scaifea: Morning, Amber (Wednesday)
Morning, Amber (Thursday)
Morning, Amber (Friday) Caught up and even early :0)

How will I ever get ahead. I'm watching Crown, I need to watch last season of Orange is the New Black before the new season comes out and now friends have recommended I watch This is Us.
Then the Tournament of Books bracket came out yesterday and I'm going to try to read those that I haven't already read and try to continue with old ER's
and PEN Jean Stine finalists. Then there's the neighborhood swap book. Oh my, I'm getting dizzy
Need to go back to annual photo album too. Volunteer Sign ups are done!

>195 Carmenere: I am also watching The Crown and This Is Us. Read A Thousand Acres ages ago and having never read King Lear, missed all the references. No matter. I enjoyed it anyhow! A neighborhood book swap sounds awesome!!

>196 Berly: Let's just say, NBS was awesome. Before LT came along it was a great way to be introduced to new authors but in the past 2 or 3 years I've found that at least 50% of the books swapped I've already read. Ha! thanks to Librarything book buddies I'm really on top of new literature :0D

I hope to finish Human Acts today in order to get started on this months swap book. One which I have not read :0) Last month's was Girl on the Train. Yup I'd read that one.

I'm up to episode 7 on The Crown. Such a suitable actress for the roll of QEII. I'll have to catch up on Victoria as I missed last weeks installment. Perfect actress for that role as well.

Have a lovely weekend, Lynda. What is your next book swap book?

>198 BLBera: Next one up is The Summer before the War and the woman who suggested this one is quite a prolific reader and I've liked her choices before, buuuutttt another WWII ish book I'm just not feeling it right now. I will give it a go and hope it ensnares me. :/

Hope you have a lovely weekend too!

Glad Human Acts is gripping. That book has stayed with me.

There are a lot of WWII books, aren't there? I hope this one captures you. Happy rest of your Sunday.

I loved Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, and I hope that The Summer Before the War will live up to it. I know what you mean about another WWII book, though!

Morning, Lynda. Hope you had a good weekend. I enjoyed The Summer Before the War. Not as good as Major Pettigrew but a pleasant read.

>200 charl08: Just finished it,Charlotte. All I can say is Wow!

>201 DianaNL: Thank you, Diana! I love when little kitties meander through my thread! Hope you had a lovely weekend too!

>202 BLBera: Well, Beth, what's possibly egging me on is it appears to be pre-warish so that could be its saving grace.

>203 cbl_tn: I've heard tons of good things about MPLS, Carrie, but haven't read it......so that's a positive :0)

>204 msf59: Morning Mark! *sigh* Well, pleasant is good but at 479 pages I'm hoping pleasant doesn't wear itself out.

------------
I didn't plan on watching any of the Grammy's last night but since I was still wide awake after Victoria I tuned it in. Perfect timing. Saw Adele nail a tribute to George Michael, I didn't know she asked for a redo till later, and the incredible showmanship of, my fave, Bruno Mars and his tribute to Prince. Great to bop around the house at midnight!
When I mentioned to Will this morning that Beyonce is looking like a religious icon lately, he said "Well, she is the queen" Ugh!
I've got a list to tackle in my planner so I'm going to do a couple of reviews and visit later.

#6-2017
Human Acts
Han Kang
2016
218 pages
4/5
Librarything ER, July 2016

Where am I?
Gwangju Provincial Office

Thoughts...........I don't recall, in 1980, hearing about South Korea's Gwangju Uprising. Back on May 18th of that year, the story was probably covered with the ashes from Mount St. Helen's eruption, which I remember quite clearly.
Author, Han Kang, takes a brush to those ashes and reveals how young, vibrant men and women, some merely boys and girls, were slaughtered. Some of them were pro-actively seeking Democratic reforms, others caught in the cross hairs. Kang focuses on several individuals in this slim work and overall it is enlightening but sometimes her story telling method is a bit confusing, still, I admire her tenacity in revealing the thoughts and despair of those who remain affected by their loss.

#7-2017
March: Book One
John Lewis, A Aydin, N Powell
2013
121 pages
4/5
Black History Month

Where am I?
Troy, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama

Thoughts..........Well, this book is a healthy reminder that everyone has a story and frankly although I'd heard Congressman Lewis reference his past I didn't know his whole story. March: Book One gives us details of his rise from a young caregiver of chickens at his family's farm to a young adult who sees and feels the way people of his race are mistreated. He is noticed by, none other, than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr who offers an idea to Lewis that, due to his circumstances, isn't the appropriate action to take at the time. Yet, Lewis is inspired and he works towards ending the injustice he observes through non-violence, the nonviolence to which King and Ghandi prescribe. The Book One ends when a small path to equality is achieved but with the knowledge that it will still be an uphill battle. The reader knows things will change for the better because John Lewis is relating this story, in his Congressional office, prior to the inauguration of Barak Obama to President of the USA. Still, it will be a long and difficult path and Book Two will continue the story.

Morning, Lynda! You're doing some great reading, and I always enjoy your reviews.

>208 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie and thank you!

>205 Carmenere: Morning! I think I might be in the minority of people that thought Beyonce's pregnancy reveal was a little tacky. To each their own I guess but it's not the quality of photo that I would have thought the "queen" would do.

Hiya, Lynda.

I liked The Summer Before the War a bit more than Mark. I thought it was well-written and quite good, even if not at the level of the exceptional Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. I was relieved that she showed she's not a one book wonder.

To all my Lt Valentines!

>210 ChelleBearss:

This is what I thought, Chelle. On the left Black Madonna on the right Beyonce. I get the feeling she was trying to project an image of motherhood, maybe?

>211 jnwelch: Greatings, Joe! Well, I just discovered it is pre WWI not WWII as I had assumed. I looked through the book and found soooo many words, Ugh!. But yahoo! I'm able to download the audiobook from the library. Yippee!

Got to run. Mom's seeing her doc today!

Morning, Lynda! Wow, that is some get up on Beyonce.

Wonderful comments about A Thousand Acres, Lynda. I read it way back when and I recall being wowed by it. It's one that I have considered rereading this year.

Your comments about Human Acts are compelling, as well. I have seen that in the ER offerings the past couple of months and have not requested it. I'll keep it on my radar.

Happy Valentine's Day!

>212 Carmenere: oh dear, I didn't see those!! Is that from the Grammys?
I meant her announcement photo. I found it a touch tacky

>215 ChelleBearss: Me too. I felt it was tacky, with too many clashing colours, and why the veil? Very odd. I can think of better ways to announce a pregnancy!

>213 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Happy Wednesday!

>214 EBT1002: I know what you mean, Ellen! A 1,000 acres is written very well and I really felt apart of the landscape. Human Acts! ugh, the the torture of innocents is ...... there are no words. I wrote down this quote from the book on my calendar "I never let myself forget that every single person I meet is a member of the human race" I was touched by that. Might be nice on bumper stickers and just about everywhere else.

>215 ChelleBearss: Yes, from the Grammy's, Chelle. I saw the announcement photo prior to the Grammy's and even then I thought, "what's this about? Is she trying to be the Virgin Mary?" Ya know, Catholic school education always steers me in that direction. *shrug*

>216 lunacat: >215 ChelleBearss: The baby bump pic has been so overdone in MHO. Why do these celebrities continue to put it out there. Ugh! They must think so much of themselves! I DO NOT CARE! ah hem rant over. PS: Thanks for stopping in lunacat! Don't be a stranger :0)
--------------
If it's Wednesday, it's coffee with the neighborhood moms. Then, my iPad is running slow, need to check that out. AFter that, a number of other trivial but time consuming things.

Morning Lynda! Happy Wednesday. I was listening to a book podcast yesterday and they were discussing A Gentleman in Moscow. They both agreed that Rules of Civility was a much better read. Hard to believe, right? I hope to get to it soon.

Glad you finally got to March. It is such an amazing achievement.

>212 Carmenere: That is one sexy "Mama" picture for Beyonce! She was practically popping out on top. Of course, the only time in my life I had to worry about that was when I was pregnant. LOL

Have fun with the Wednesday Coffee Moms!

>218 msf59: Hey Mark! was that the podcast "What Should I Read Next" which mentioned some pretty unique things about AGiM? Like every chapter begins with the letter A? or how Towle
did some sort of doubling method in storytelling? I couldn't wrap my head around that one.

>219 Berly: LOL! You and me both, Kim!
-------------------
Coffee was fun! Now I've got to prep for the music parents meeting this evening. So tough being retired :}

Yes, it was the "What Should I Read Next" podcast. I did not realize you listened to that one. I only listen to a few lately and that is one of them.

>221 msf59: Yup, I began listening to that podcast after BOTNS abandoned us. Still, I enjoyed BOTNS more.

My current listens and reads............

and

Great comments on Human Acts and March, Lynda.

>224 BLBera: Oh! Let me know what you think of the Vegetarian! I thought it was wonderful, strange, but wonderful. Just read it this year.

>224 BLBera: Thanks Beth!

>225 Berly: I'm liking it, Kim. No plans for tonight so hopefully I'll get it done.

-----------------
Today, I brought home a bag full of books I had on hold at the library.
I think they are all the Tournament of Books books I haven't read. I'm going to zip through these as fast as possible.
Black Wave is up against The Underground Railroad. BW needs to be pretty darn good to beat TUR. I'll keep you up to date.

Afternoon, Lynda! Hooray for no plans!

Hey Mamie! Just about to make a cup of tea and nestle with a couple of books. The guys are doing their own thing, but home, still it should be a quiet night.

Morning Lynda. Happy Saturday. Another gorgeous day here in the Midwest.

Did you see my PM? I received the books. Thank you, my friend.

>228 Carmenere: What a good idea, Lynda. Nestling sounds like a perfect pastime to me too.

Have a lovely weekend.

I really enjoyed The Summer Before the War, Lynda. How are you liking it?

>229 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark! Isn't this weather amazing?! I'm loving this springlike feel and was able to do a little work around the yard yesterday.

>230 PaulCranswick: Hi there, Paul! Looks like nothing doing on my calendar today. Perhaps, I'll take my books outside today as the temp is expected to reach the low 60'sF

>231 jnwelch: So far, Joe, it's charming! The audio version is quite good and the narrator is fantastic.

------I've finished The Vegetarian but I have to gather my thoughts together before I comment.
------I read a good chunk of March: Book two this morning. Wow!