vancouverdeb's reading for 2017 Thread 1

To remind me that Spring is coming! :)

The Best of 2016 in no particular order.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Book of Sands: A Novel of the Arab Uprising by Karim Alrawi
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
The Break by Katherena Vermette
Kit's Law by Donna Morrisey
Miss Jane by Brad Watson
When the Moon Is Low by Nadia Hashimi

Happy New Year image

welcome to my thread - will be back later to fill in my place holders

January
1) Tooth and Nail by Ian Rankin ( Scotland) 4 stars
2) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (UK) 4 stars
3)He Wants by Alison Moore (UK) 4.5 stars
4)Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones ( New Zealand) 3.8 stars
5)Great Expectations byCharles Dickens (UK) 4.5 stars

Currently reading Tooth and Nail by Ian Rankin and it's really scary! My third in the Inspector Rebus series.

Happy new year and happy reading!

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.

Crystal ball gazing......I see a lot of Ian Rankin in your future reading. xx

Welcome back, Deb!

Ah, there you are, Deb. I like that topper. I need to remember spring is coming - I spent more time today shoveling and trying to get the snow off my car. When will it end?

Lovely opening, Deb. Happy reading 2017. Dropped a star.

Found you!

Happy new year Deborah. Love your topper picture. Wishing you a lovely year of good books.

Happy New Year and new thread, Deborah! That's a handsome fellow in your topper :-)

Happy reading in 2017, Deborah, lovely topper!

We are ging to the city Coevorden this afternoon and I read at Wikipedia the name Vancouver comes from Van Coevorden ;-)

Happy New Year, Deb!

Wishing you a very happy New Year, Deborah! All the best in 2017!!!!

Hi, Deb! Happy new year!

Ah ha! I found you. Starred and happy to join in another year with you.

Happy New Year and all good things for 2017, Deborah.

Happy New Year, Deborah. I'm glad to see you back.

Dropping my star, Deborah! Happy New Year to you! I love your topper image.

Yay, hi Deb! Love your topper. Here's to another fabulous year of literary adventures, my friend.

Love your topper too! Good for you to be up and going!

Hey Deborah, still celebrating, huh? It's good to see you post a new thread. I look forward to our visits this year. I hope 2017 is filled with all good things for you and your family.

>8 banjo123: Thanks Rhona and a Very Happy 2017 to you too!

>9 PaulCranswick: Wonderful good wishes, Paul! It is lovely to be part of this group!

>10 PaulCranswick: Yes you are correct, Paul, I forsee lots of Ian Rankin in my future too!

>11 Familyhistorian: Oh I know, Meg! I've think you've had it harder then we have with the snow and temps, but today one of the outside taps is thought to have be in the process of bursting due to the cold temps. All we don't need ;( I'm hoping the fellow who noticed is wrong. Filling up the bathtub just in case..

>12 Ameise1: Happy New Year, Barbara and thanks for dropping a star!

>13 Berly: Hi Kim, thanks for the champagne!

>14 charl08: My best to you Charlotte and wow , the new job must be starting soon!

>15 susanj67: Happy New Year, Susan! I thought that fellow to be quite handsome too! Glad you like him.

>16 FAMeulstee: Happy 2017, Barbara and how interesting that Vancouver originally comes from Van Coevorden ! I had to go look that up , because I know the story of Captain George Vancouver discovering the area sometime in the 1700's . But apparently Van Coevorden was originally his forebears ( is that a word) original name from the 1300 - 1400's! Have fun in Coevorden!

>17 DianaNL: Happy New Year, Diana! Thanks for stopping by!

>18 Carmenere: All the best to you in 2017, Lynda!

>19 scaifea: Happy New Year, Amber!

>20 karenmarie: Glad you found me, Karen! All the best to you in 2017!

>21 BLBera: I'm not sure if you can rid of me, Beth :) I look forward to reading with you in 2017!

>22 Crazymamie: Happy New Year, Mamie! Thanks for dropping a star!

>23 lit_chick: Hey there, Nancy, old friend, looking forward to a year of reading with you! Thanks for dropping the star.

>24 mdoris: Great to see you , Mary! Took me a day or two to migrate over here, and I've still got a little more to do with my thread. It will have to wait til after the dog walk.

>25 Donna828: Oh yes, always celebrating, Donna :) I look forward to seeing what you read this year too.

Hope you have a great 2017, Deb!

Tooth and Nail does sound scary. Specially if it has something to do with extracting. My sinister mind is in crime mode (listening to Dark Matter)...

Looking forward to many visits and conversation here, Deborah. What about what "He Wants"? Ready for a read? (Then we can forget what she wants for a couple of days). Hmmm....being silly at the moment, but I guess it's ok on this thread...

Welcome back!

Hi, Deb. Stopping by to drop a star.

I can see that I'm going to have to get back into Ian Rankin again. I started years ago, but I was in kind of a "no gore" mood and his first Knots and Crosses(?) was not the right book at the right time. I've been thinking that it deserves another chance.

>31 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle! A wonderful 2017 to you too!

>32 ctpress: Well, no , Tooth and Nail did not have anything to with a extracting, but a bit more about a serial killer, but Ian Rankin is fairly minimal with the gory aspects. Yes, imagine if that was a horror book about going to visit the dentist, Carsten! Now that would be scary! I'll be reading for He Wants fairly soon - I'm just in the midst of Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde. Ian Rankin refers back to Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde in his first couple of books - though neither is as " evil " as Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde. See - a bit of crime fiction can lead you back to the classics :)

>33 drneutron: Great to see you, Jim! Happy New Year!

>34 rretzler: Hi Robin! Great to see you! True story - I had a copy of Knots and Crosses for several years and it just did not appeal to me. Then I tried reading it in earnest and I've found a new author that I love. So maybe give another chance? But everyone is different.

Howdy, Tonto! I missed you in the shuffle! Happy New Thread, my friend. Looking forward to following your reading life for another year. I am sure we will swap a few book recommendations. I do like warbling.

Hope you are staying warm and cozy!

Hi Deb, I've got He Wants here from the library ... going to start reading tomorrow.

>36 msf59: I'm sure that we will be trading book recommendations in 2017, as always, Mark! What would the 75's be without your warbling!

>37 lit_chick: UH oh, Nancy! I'll likely start a day later than you. And you'll probably have it read in a day, whereas I will take 2 - 3 days to read He Wants. I'll do my best!

I finished my 1st book of the year a day or two ago, Tooth and Nail by Ian Rankin. This is my third in the series and I am very keen on the series.

Inspector Rebus finds himself seconded from the Edinburgh police force to London. Apparently a serial killer is stalking London and Rebus is called to assist Scotland Yard. ( A bit ironic that New Scotland Yard is located in London ). Rebus is not keen to go to London, nor is most of Scotland Yard pleased with his interference. As Rebus arrives on the scene, a body is being processed at the scene of the murder. A jarring fact is that the murderer takes a bite out of every victim.

The characters are well drawn and complex. Rebus is troubled man, bedeviled by his own rather difficult personality. Red herrings abound, as does dark humour. This series is a joy to read.

Shortly after Rebus arrives on the scene in London : p21 " ' I don't know anything about serial killers," Rebus protested to his boss.
' Well, it seems you will be in good company , doesn't it ?' And now look at him, standing on a stretch of of ground in north- east London, a cup of unspeakably bad tea nursed in both hands, his stomach churning, nerves buzzing, his bags looking as lonely and as out of place as he felt ."

Another excellent entry to the series, Four big stars! High recommended.

Since the author of the Inspector Rebus series often refers back to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, I decided to read the novella for myself. It is great when a crime series leads one to a bit of literature that I had not yet read. A testament to Ian Rankin. Currently reading Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

I always like it when one books leads to another, Deborah.
I have already Ian Rankin on mount TBR and am curious for your thoughts about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

I also love when one book leads to another. I think I have to add that Inspector Rebus series to my list, Deborah, so thanks for that.

A Scotsman in London and of course hating it - with "unspeakably bad tea nursed in both hands, his stomach churning, nerves buzzing, his bags looking as lonely and as out of place as he felt ." Great quote. Love the setting. A good start on the new year of reading.

There's more of foggy London in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Hope you enjoy it, Deborah.

Deb, great review of Tooth and Nail. I've definitely got Rankin on my radar. Love this: Red herrings abound, as does dark humour. This series is a joy to read.

>42 Crazymamie: I love it when one book leads to another, too!

ETA: I won't be that quick about He Wants, Deb. Remember, work is once again interfering in my reading life.

Hi Deb, I have just starred you my dear as I love our little conversations and to see what you are reading and getting up to. Sending love and hugs and Karen says hello.

>41 FAMeulstee: Anita, I love it when one book leads to another too. Nearly finished Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In his first book, Knots and Crosses, Ian Rankin tries to pay homage to Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde by using many of the Dr J and Mr H names in his bookHide and Seek , such as Lanyon, Carew, Poole, etc. I decided I had to read Dr Jeykll and Mr hyde.

>42 Crazymamie: I think you would enjoy the series, Mamie. Inspector Rebus is not one of crazy adrenaline shoot-em dead sort o heroes. He's a complex character, as all the characters.

>43 ctpress: Thanks Carsten! I love the setting too - Ian Rankin is really an excellent writer, I think. I'm nearly finished the foggy night- filled London in Dr Jekylll and Mr Hyde. ;) Good thing it is sunny and cold outside, I guess, instead of foggy, or I might be spooked while walking the dog :) But oh it is cold. Brrr!

>44 lit_chick: Thanks Nancy. I'm quite sure you'd enjoy the series too. Sorry to hear that work is interfering with your reading life, but perhaps I will be able to keep up with you :)

>45 johnsimpson: Thanks John. I hope you are feeling better. I thought of you when I had a cup of tea last night. I usually only have a cup of tea in the am to help me wake up and a second cup leads to " caffeine jitters " for me. So I purchased Stash Meyers Lemon tea for the evening and oh my it was bursting with lemon and citrus! Just a delightful warm up for the evening.

Happy New Year, Deborah!

>3 vancouverdeb: Great list of the bests. I have copied and pasted it to my special book file. Wishing you a superb reading year!
Have you found the Rebus DVDs yet? Maybe you want to read the books first so there is no interference to your imagination.

Happy New Year, Deb!

I like that list of bests, too. Everyone Brave is Forgiven wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but it really worked for me.

Duh, me, don't know how I missed your list of Bests until just now. Woot! I've got several of these to read this year: Kit's Law, Everyone Brave, and My Name is Lucy Barton, and Book of Sands. I've read several of the others and agree they are wonderful books!

I hope you enjoy Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. I should read it someday. But so much to read so little time.

>48 kidzdoc: Happy New Year, Darryl!

>49 mdoris: Mary, so far I have not looked for the Rebus DVD's. I think you might be right, that I prefer for him to remain the Rebus of my imagination, at least for now. Glad you enjoyed my "best of " reading list.

>50 jnwelch: Happy New Year, Joe. Everyone Brave is Forgiven sure worked for me, I'm glad you enjoyed it so thoroughly too.

>51 lit_chick: Nancy, no problem. I did not fill in my " Best of 2016 til a couple of days ago, so no wonder you missed it initially. For some reason I just assumed you'd read Everyone Brave and Lucy Barton. You are in for a bit treat with Kit's Law and Book of Sands: A Novel of the Arab Uprising.

>52 The_Hibernator: I know what you mean, Rhonda. But to my surprise, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is only 78 pages long. I think it looks longer because it is usually packaged with several other short stories / novellas.

I finished Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. An enjoyable read of a classic. I should have read it long ago. A novella really, I think illustrating the struggle that we as humans have with good and evil within our beings, or souls. I think of Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde as an allegory for the human condition, but I suppose back when RLS wrote the book, it was probably considered a " horror story."

4 stars and easily recommended.

Yay, I found you! Happy new year to you and Poppy! Stella has a new "nephew", I supposed you'd call him. Stella's "mom" volunteers at a local shelter, and she found a puppy for her son and his wife. She's been fostering the puppy this week at her house. Stella and the puppy have bonded. I hope Adrian will get a chance to meet the puppy soon. Although the puppy won't be living at my friend's house, I would imagine it will be visiting sometimes when Adrian is staying there.

Glad you enjoyed The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Deborah. It's one of my favorites by R. L. Stevenson. Fascinating story and also in a way as you write an interesting study of the human nature - Stevenson came from a home marked by puritanism and reformed theology, and although he rejected that I think he's much influenced by it or struggling with it.

Also of course written in a time of victorianism where the rational, aloof approach to life were set up against the wild, unrestrained nature of man.

I've bought "He Wants" and will start to read it probably today so I can keep up with you two quick-reading ladies.

>55 vancouverdeb: So good to hear that you liked it. It's on my reading list for this year's BAC, too. Happy weekend Deb.

>55 vancouverdeb: I just read that one a few years ago, Deborah, and I imagine it was considered horror when it first came out. What got me was that I knew where the story was going because it has become such an iconic tale, but I bet the first readers were spellbound - probably read more like a thriller for them.

>55 vancouverdeb: Sounds good. I should add this to my list - if I ever read it, it's been covered over by memories of TV programmes.

>39 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! Your good review of the 3rd Rebus has inspired me and I just found the second, Hide & Seek on Bookmooch.

Hi Deborah - I don't think I've ever read the Stevenson. I guess I'll have to add it to my list. Your year is starting off strong.

Carsten is quite right "quick reading ladies". Indeed! Good idea to read a classic. It will go on the list.
Quite the cold day today. Maggie has not stirred. (me neither!) Forecast -7. (Are you kidding me?)

I like what you've written about Dr Jekyn and My Hyde, Deb: I think of Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde as an allegory for the human condition. Well said!

I've found you! I have a couple of Robert Louis Stevenson's to read this year, but I'm not planning to re-read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

>56 cbl_tn: I'm glad you found me, Carrie! How exciting that Stella will has a new nephew and Adrian a potential new friend. How perfect to volunteer at a shelter and find just the right pup to fit into a family!

>57 ctpress: My copy of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde did not have an introduction or preface, which I always enjoy, so I read up a little on RLS. Apparently - and I am sure you already know this, Carsten, RLS stories were regarded as very " second tier" and were "written as a "shilling shockers..", that is to say, short, graphic, and inexpensive books eagerly consumed by the masses—like those cheap romance novels you find in the supermarket. It was till sometime later that RLS works were well regarded. I had no idea that was the case. I'm glad you've got He Wants. I'm only 25 pages in or so, but it is great to have you along for the ride!

>58 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is very short read at about 80 pages of so, I should have read it sooner.

Hi Deborah,

Just stopping by to say happy new year and to drop a star!

>59 Crazymamie: It is interesting, isn't it, Mamie. To be honest , though I had a pretty good idea of where Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde was going, I'd never watched it on any tv show or movie and I thought that Mr Hyde was " the good guy" :)

>60 charl08: Hi Charlotte! And for me, I'd never watched anything on TV about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. At your reading speed, you'd probably have it finished in 15 minutes.

>61 karenmarie: I hope you enjoy Hide & Seek. I might prefer to read them in order, the first in the Rebus series is Knots and Crosses. It is Ian Rankin's books that led me to read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

>62 BLBera: Thanks Beth, but check out Nancy for someone who is starting out the year strong. I'm just toddling along in comparison.

>68 vancouverdeb: ok I guess I have to read this book as I also thought Dr Hyde was the good guy!

>63 mdoris: Mary , I read in the Vancouver Sun or somewhere that this is Vancouver's longest cold snap in 30 years. Wow! No wonder we are feeling cold and as though we don't have the right clothes and snow shovels etc. Brrr - 7 C. Yes, it is cold!

>64 lit_chick: Kind words Nancy, even though perhaps RLS meant it purely as a horror story! :)

>65 thornton37814: Hi Lori! I realized I had read / been read to A Child's Garden of Verses as a child. I'd forgotten that. I think I may still have the volume tucked away. My maternal grandma loved to read poems to us as little children - spooky sorts of poems , and she was an excellent narrator.

>67 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! I heard that you somehow got locked out of Library Thing due to forgetting your password or some such thing, I'm very glad you found your way back in.

>69 ChelleBearss: Chelle, I know! Because "Mr Hyde" sounds so " normal' compared to " Dr Jekyll." LOL! Great to see you , Chelle :)

>70 vancouverdeb: - I didn't forget the password, Deb, but when my computer crashed on Christmas Eve, and I got a new hard drive, then tried to log in to the site, it wouldn't recognize my name or password. I tried a reset, but still no luck. Long story, lots of frustration but it's in the past now. Thankfully, I have a friend who is a computer wizard and somehow, he managed to fix it. Don't know how, don't much care. I'm back, that's all that matters, :-)

>72 jessibud2: Ah, thanks for the explanation. I wondered exactly what happened. Just prior to Christmas - or was it November? Anyway, I got a new computer. Fortunately my son is a computer wizard and he managed to set up everything for me without a problem. Glad you are back, Shelley !

Currently reading He Wants by Allison Moore. I had read the booker short listed The Lighthouse by the same author a few years ago. I think that Nancy and Carsten are also reading He Wants , as the the three of us all read The Lighthouse within a few weeks of each other.

Love that the three of us are all reading this at the same time! It's excellent! I'm up to about p 120.

Yay! Miss Jane is on my Top Ten List. I don't think I will ever forget that book. I should buy a copy for my permanent library. I probably will see it sometime at a book sale and snap it up! If I have read Dr. Jekkyl and Mr. Hyde I've obviously forgotten about it. How cool that you were inspired to read it by a modern book…and that you learned about its interesting past. Keep up the good work, Deborah!

>75 lit_chick: I love that the three of us are reading He Wants at the same time. I'm not sure how far in I am, but not as far as you. I try to step up the pace , Nancy!

>76 Donna828: Miss Jane was excellent, Donna! I think it made several best of 2017 lists here on LT. I was pleased that a modern book inspired me to finally read Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde at last. It's such a short novel , I should have read it a long time ago. Happy New Year, Donna!

I'm getting into the novel today and are at page 44 out of 124 in my ebook edition.

Initial thoughts:

I remember reading the "The Lighthouse" being struck at the command she had of the prose, the sentences - it's the same here. It's a delight.

I'm pretty sure we will not have the same exciting plot in this one, but I like the theme of desire/unfulfilled desire - a widower who tries to hold on to his routine life and resisting change (yet hoping and dreaming for something different - but somehow it is out of reach, or he's not grasping for it).

Chapter two "He does not want soup" is brilliant - a tragicomic example of this theme. Lewis eating his cold soup and ordering pizza, but dreaming of Beef Wellington. It's the reverse - What he doesn't want - he gets.

Chapter four "He wants to fly" - also memorable about the Billy Graham evangelistic meeting. Lewis' father accepting Christ and saying "I'm a new man" - and then "Lewis, swallowing his flat lemonade, shrugged and said that nothing had really happened to him in there". To include "swallowing his flat lemonade" makes all the difference in that sentence. Well, it's small things like that I enjoy.

The chapter headlines are of course following up on the theme in the books title about desire/dreaming "He Wants".

Hiya, Deb.

I'm glad you enjoyed Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Me, too.

My sister had recommended that my wife and I read it in tandem with Valerie Martin's Mary Reilly, which tells the story from the viewpoint of his maid. We found that a really good combo.

>68 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! I have read Knots and Crosses and really liked it. I've gotten to the point where I'll only read new series in order. I hadn't thought to pursue Rebus, frankly, but your review caused me to go look on Bookmooch to see if I could mooch it and I will probably be successful - I've put in the mooch request and now have to see if it will be accepted and actually sent! I only put in the mooch request yesterday, so am content to wait.

>78 ctpress: Great post on He Wants, Carsten. I agree with all of your points. Have just finished this one and posted a review. Excellent read!

>78 ctpress: Excellent thought, Carsten. I'm still on page 70 or something. I am puzzling over the colour yellow that seems to be used frequently - or maybe not puzzled, but taking note and wondering what it means. I recall The Lighthouse by the same author and how much there was to be mined from the novel, so like you, I'm trying to read carefully. As you say, it's the small things ( at least I think so , it was with the previous book ).

>79 jnwelch: Joe, I think you just shot me a book bullet with Mary Reilly. That sounds fascinating!

>80 karenmarie: Hi Karen! I've never used book mooch. I think if you live in Canada it is not a very good solution as our postal prices are so high. I'm glad you found the next in the Rebus series! I'm so delighted to have found a new series that I enjoy. It is great to have a go - to - series and my only other one is Maisie Dobbs and she only has a few books left in the series that I have not read. A go - to - series is great full pulling out of a " book funk", or so I have found.

>81 lit_chick: Nancy, great review on He Wants. I just checked your excellent review - skimmed it very briefly actually, since I am reading the same book, though more slowly than you. You are on fire and I seem to be on a slow- down .

Still reading He Wants and it is fantastic! However, I've come down with " the cold' that my husband ( and everyone else ) has had for about 4 days now and I'm not feeling like doing much at the moment. Binge tv watching would suit me today, but I don't have enough internet capacity for netflix, like say the Crown. I think my husband Dave is going to take a a couple of days off with his cold so both of us don't feel like doing anything much.

Hope that your cold feels better soon! I have the same malady, and it doesn't lead to a lot of productivity.

>84 banjo123: That is for certain, Rhonda! I have feel a bit nauseous and feverish too. Yuck. I hope you are feeling better too.

Oh dear, keep warm and lots of hot lemon drinks! Hope you're feeling better soon.

Hi Deborah, Sorry to hear that you're under the weather - take care and feel better soon!!

>1 vancouverdeb: Love you topper art!

>86 mdoris: Feel asleep on the couch this evening, now I'll be awake for awhile, Mary. I sure hope I'll get rid of this cold fast. Not as yet. I took some advil this evening and that helped some.

>87 Copperskye: HI Joanne! Great too see you! This cold seems to be going around bout here on LT and in real life. I was hoping to avoid it altogether, but apparently no such luck. I hope if will be brief :)

Hope you feel better, Deborah. I think taking it easy is a good idea. I'll try and get hold of He wants soonish.

Hi Deborah. Feel better. Just hibernate and hunker down until the miserable cold goes away!

Oh dear, you've caught the plague too! Hope you feel better quickly!!

Feel better, Deb! I'm just getting over (sort of) that horrible dose of cold. Too bad you can't binge watch The Crown -- would be perfect for lolly gagging on the sofa while sick. Thinking of you ...

Hi Deb, so sorry that you have caught the dreaded bug my dear and I hope you feel better soon. I am sending special love and hugs to help you get shut of the cold dear friend.

I'm almost convinced that germs are traveling on LT threads - so many of us are sick! Get better soon Deborah!

It is getting a little spooky as I think almost all of us have bitten the dust over the last couple of weeks.
Take care Deb and get well quickly. xx

^Sorry, to hear you are under the weather, Deb! Sending healing vibes from the Midwest.

Can you read, at least?

>89 charl08: Thanks Charlotte. I did finish He Wants and it is really excellent. No review as yet. Too much energy required for that chore :)

>90 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley! I am hunkering down,but I sure hope I feel better soon. The advil I took did help, but it bothers my stomach, so I can't quite win.

>91 ChelleBearss: Just the other day I was thinking - it is so nice now that our kids are grown and don't bring home colds like in the old days ! Pride goeth before a fall, I guess! :) Dave seems to be feeling worse today. I think we call out dog walker for tomorrow.

>92 lit_chick: I know, Nancy! I was just talking to my sister and she said when she had the cold near to Christmas she binge watched The Crown. I don't think I am welcome over there right now though. We only have one full sized couch and Dave and I are " fighting " over who gets to lie on it. :) The love seat doesn't cut it. And we don't have a TV in our bedroom.

>93 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John for the special wishes. They seem to be required everywhere on LT and in real life lately! Love and hugs to you and Karen too!

>94 karenmarie: I wonder about " virtual transmission " of colds too, Karen! It is amazing how many of us have " the cold " here on LT. I wish it was just a virtual cold! :)

>95 PaulCranswick: So true, Paul, so many of us biting the dust of here on LT! Could you send a bit of Hani's chicken soup over this way? That's a sure cure!

>96 msf59: My goodness, Mark, even a special get well card! Well, I'm filled with sunshine! Yes, I can read, but I'm looking for something maybe a little light hearted. Not sure what my next read will be. Not quite feeling up to heading to the library or the store, so it's a TBR , or maybe something I can find from amazon ca.

I am sure you will have no problem plucking something off the old TBR shelves, Tonto. No shortage there, I am sure.

>101 vancouverdeb: True, Mark, but you know how you just crave to get out and look for something new in real life? Never satisfied :) One can never have to much on the TBR piles. I've been fairly good lately.

Something light hearted sounds good, Deborah. Hope you'll get better soon and you can win the fight over that couch :)

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on He Wants when you can muster up the energy for it. A lot of things going on in that short novel.

I'm reading a lot at the moment - having a few days of work and are just relaxing and reading (and listening to audiobooks on long walks) - it have to be long walks to finish my first book in the Brontenathon: Shirley takes 26 hours.

Sorry Deborah, the bug seems to go around here. You and Dave both ill makes it harder, I think.
I only had a slight cold this season, nothing worse, I hope to keep it that way...

Sorry to hear there's not enough space on the couch Deborah. Feel better soon!

I hope you find something exciting from your "To Read" stacks. Boo, flunk that there is only one full-sized couch, and re the TV in the bedroom - when husband and I got married I told him he got his choice - me or the TV in the bedroom. He chose wisely and we've been married almost 26 years. *smile*

Hoping you feel much better very soon, Deborah. And that you gain control of the full sized couch at some point.

>102 ctpress: Wow, Carsten! 26 hours of walking to listen / read Shirley . How is the weather in Copenhagen for all of that walking? And yes, I loved He Wants and indeed , a lot going on in He Wants. I've yet to gather my thoughts on it, though in many ways I have. What a fascinating novel! Not word wasted and so much to ponder on packed into that novel! Really amazing! My copy is all bent - paged and has passages circled with pen (can't find my highllighter ) , so yes, very much enjoyed .

>103 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita, yes I think that both Dave and I feeling unwell does make worse. It was difficult to sleep last night. I think I was fairly quiet , but Dave is more stuffed up and somehow this cold has irritated some neuropathic pain that Dave suffers from on and off. Dave has seen several specialist over the years for it, and it has seemed to be well under control for quite a while, but has flared up with this virus. So he is pretty miserable , and I don't mean that in a bad way - he is really suffering I think. He has some sort of neurpathic pain that began in his late 40's , and though we saw several neurologists, and one most excellent, they could not find a specific diagnosis for it, despite an MRI, muscle biopsy, nerve conduction testing. DNA testing, etc. It seems to be mainly not too bad, but right now it has flared up for Dave.

>104 charl08: Oh, it is rough, Charlotte! :) Dave is pretty good about preferring to sit up , most of the time, so our battle is not too bad. Even Poppy the dog has to get in there and fight for the couch, she thinks. If she is sitting in the middle of the couch and I go to sit down , she will give me a growl. Such a sassy dog we have.

>105 karenmarie: When I married Dave 32 going on 33 years ago I did not think of the idea of having a TV in the bedroom , so it was not a rule I put into place. Dave works shift work and also is a light sleeper, so though I'd love a TV in the bedroom, I think it is not practical. Perhaps I could try a spare bed in the house, but it is single bed . I've been dipping into Mr Pip, but I'm not sure if it is the book for me right now.

>106 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. I'm really hoping to feel better soon too. Mostly it is me who is gaining control of that full sized couch, but every now and then I relinquish to Dave. I'd like some warmer weather, I feel it would be conducive to healing. Not really warm, just back up to say 12 C or so , or even 10 C. Just our normal winter temps.

Oh dang, Deb, not you, too! I hope you're feeling better soon!

Sorry to hear both you and your Dave have the dreaded virus. My Dave told me he felt "funny" this morning. Oh oh.

I just checked with my library, and no books by Alison Moore. Dang. I will do an advanced search to see if I can get either The Lighthouse or He Wants from a library in our consortium.

Please feel better soon, Deborah.

Deb, great description of He Wants: Not word wasted and so much to ponder on packed into that novel! Absolutely!

Sorry to hear both you and Dave have this horrible dose that is making the rounds, and also very sorry to hear about Dave's neuro pain. Hope both of you feel much better by day's end. Hugs, Deb.

We have a TV in the bedroom and it is only watched if either of us is ill or we want to go up to bed but want to watch a particular programme. To be honest we rarely watch TV in bed preferring to read, it was mainly there for me when I am having a bad spell with my back and I need to lay down to get some relief.

I hope you and Dave are both feeling better soon!

Hi, Deb! Hope you are feeling better. We have been married 27 years and have never had a TV in the bedroom. This will continue...

^Ditto for us, Deb. 33 years of marriage (because Mark and his bride are younger), and no TV in the bedroom.

We don't have a TV in our bedroom because being shift workers we already sleep worse than most people. Our work put out an online seminar about being healthy while working shift and it recommended not having a TV in the bedroom as well as keeping electronics like phones and computers out of the bedroom. I am bad for using my phone or ereader in bed and it angers Nate when he can see the glow.

>109 scaifea: Dang, yes , me and Dave our both feeling lousy and we are getting on each others nerves, I'd say, Amber. Misery does not like company after all! :)

>110 Donna828: Sorry to hear that you can't find He Wants or The Lighthouse, Donna. I think that the challenge for you in the USA is that the author is a UK writer and then the was picked up in Canada by a small / micro publisher. That likely means it is less available in the USA. ( I think that the UK publisher is "Salt" and in Canada it is www.biblioasis.com . I hope you and your Dave are feeling okay!

>111 lit_chick: Thanks for your well wishes, Nancy. So far I don't think either of is feeling any better, sad to say. I hope it will be sooner than later. I am ready for a nursing home at this point in time :) He Wants is definitely another fabulous read by Alison Moore. Such a fascinating writer!

>112 johnsimpson: That I think would be a good reason to get a TV in the bedroom. When Dave's neuro pain bothers him - or I could easily drift off while watching tv - heaven knows I already do it! ;) But Dave is quite opposed to the idea, and I'm not too bothered by that.

>113 banjo123: Thanks for your kind wishes, I hope it will be soon too! Both of us will go slightly crazy if one of us doesn't soon feel better! :)

>114 msf59: Such a youngster, Mark! Only married for 27 years! Hmm , perhaps that TV will happen in " your old age! :) Just kidding!

>115 jnwelch: It's nice to know that Dave and I aren't the only people with a TV in their bedroom, Joe. It seems that so many people do. Nothing wrong with having a TV in the bedroom, I don't think. I think I would fall asleep really easily with the tv on , but not so Dave.

>116 ChelleBearss: Yes, Dave is a shift worker like you and Nate, though his hours are not overnight, - though we have had years where they were. We too sleep worse than the average people thanks to that. Dave too is driven mad by the light of my phone etc when he is trying to drop off to sleep. I'd love to be one of those people who only needs 6 hours a night of sleep! ;)

No tv in the bedroom for us, but iPads are great for watching or reading while the other is asleep!

Well, Deb, wishing you both a speedy recovery! Here in Toronto, the temps have been so up and down lately: from snow, wind and rain one day to +7 today and back down to sub-zero tomorrow - perfect breeding grounds for winter colds, flu, etc. I have been lucky so far, just sneezing, sniffling but nothing more than that (knock wood, or something!). When I was still teaching, I inevitably caught whatever the kids had, like clock-work, every winter. I always get a flu shot, though, so maybe that helps, too.

Anyhow, feel better! Do you have a room humidifier? The dry indoor air doesn't help!

>119 vancouverdeb: I wish I needed less sleep too! If I don't get at least 8 I am a very cranky bear!

43 years married and no tv in the bedroom. Plane today was a AC Dash-300 off Vancouver Island. Does Dave work on those? Thanks Dave! (if he does) Are you drinking hot lemon drinks?

I hope that you are both feeling better, Deb. What happened with that tap that was supposed to burst? It sounds like after tomorrow it will warm up and rain - I just want all the snow and ice to disappear, like yesterday. Where I work the snow melted some of the snow so there is green grass showing - I wish that would happen where I live.

Get well soon Deborah. People put TVs in bedrooms??

>120 drneutron: And here I thought Dave and I were one of the only couples without a tv in our bedroom - or at least I though we were in the minority. Dave would still be bothered by me reading an I pad in bed. Maybe if we got a king size bed ?

>121 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley for the well wishes. No, we don't have a humidifier in our room. Generally speaking the humidity is so high in Vancouver, we don't need it, but right now it might be nice. The temperature is supposed to rise to about 8 or 10 C later in the week and for that I am very grateful! Give me the rain over the cold , sunny days!

>122 ChelleBearss: Another 8 hour sleeper, Chelle! My younger son says he only needs 6 hours, but sometimes I look at him and he looks pretty tired to me. When you are 26.....

>123 mdoris: Another hold - out, Mary! You must delighted to be off visiting your new grandson! Congratulations again!No, Dave does not work on the smaller planes , he works on the Airbuses, and Boeing 777 and 787's - that sort of thing. I think that smaller planes - propeller planes etc are part of ? Air Jazz or Air Canada Regional? All these subdivisions Air Canada get complicated for me at least.

>124 Familyhistorian: Both of us still feeling poorly, Meg. Today we had run rather low on groceries and each of us urged the other to go out and do the grocery shopping. Dave went in the end. Now if I want something that Dave does not like to purchase I'll have to go out myself. And the water tap that was dripping and was thought initially to be a sign of a burst pipe turned out be actually just a problem with the tap itself - the soldering had ? broken or something. Dave was able to sort that out . He was able to turn the water off completely and later in the spring, we'll just get a someone to solder the faucet joint back together. I'm sure looking for the weather to warm up too.

>125 BLBera: Thanks Beth! Well, my sister and her husband recently got a TV in their bedroom after 30 + years of marriage and I think they quite enjoy it. I have a good friend with who has long had a TV in their bedroom - again ,married 30 plus years and she says it is great. Her husband sleeps like a log and she enjoys TV while he sleeps . Sound good to me.

>127 vancouverdeb: Too bad that you are both still down with the sick, Deb. If Dave went in the end does that mean you are worse off than he is or more stubborn. It's good that you didn't have to deal with a burst pipe. That must be bad as they are always warning about it. I am looking forward to getting back to normal weather and can't wait for all the snow and ice to just disappear!

I have finished He Wants , but not up to writing a review as yet. What an excellent writer. I loved it every bit as much as her first book, The Lighthouse , which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Full of unexpressed longing, repressed desires, interesting and uncomfortable relationships, it is fascinating. The many references to books, especially D. H. Lawrence and the Bible, point to the tensions between desire and repression , I think. The passage on page 88, where Lawrence ( Lewis's father) speaks to Lewis about " the Great Disappointment of 1844, when thousands of people gave away their possessions in anticipation of of a Rapture that never came. It seemed to Lewis that his father was sorry not to have been there, not have been amongst them , as if that wealth of wanting was something desirable in itself, even if it came to nothing in the end. " Alsion Moore's epigraph says" We are meant to be hungry" - Lionel Shriver, Big Brother. The other epigraph , attributed to Nick Cave and his lecture , The Secret Life of the Love Song, I also checked out. Nick Cave is song writer and also gives lectures . Nick Cave says of his mentioned work " (My) own definition of a love song is unflinching: love, for Cave, cannot exist without all of the attendant pain; as such, his love songs live and change over time, twisting from songs of joy to songs of pain-sometimes over the course of a few verses."

I think that is also what is being expressed in He Wants, that love and wanting go along with pain. Such an intriguing book , packed with references . And perhaps just wanting is the is wealth in itself. I do think that absolutely Sydney was real, and in a sense, the ending was just perfect. That tension between wanting and repression, the idea that we were meant to be left wanting.

So perhaps that is my review -all a spoiler! :) Carsten and Nancy wrote such fabulous reviews. Do read the book! So complex, and so few words.

>128 Familyhistorian: Meg, I am very sick of being sick. I think as I had to go out to an appointment yesterday, Dave was okay with finally going out to get the groceries . We are both skipping a dinner invitation for Saturday, with regret. Neither of us feels well at all. Perhaps gradually a little better? Yes, very glad we are not dealing with a burst pipe. Over the past few years. we have had about 3 burst pipes on common property in our townhouse complex and being without water is such a nightmare as they fix the pipes , often over a matter of a couple of days, plus it is quite expensive. The original developer of this townhouse complex used to code pipe, but it was in that brief period where one could use that cheap , not very long lasting PVC pipe, instead of copper piping.

I'm sorry you're both still feeling sick, Deborah. It's worse when you're both sick at the same time, for sure. Good of Dave to go get groceries. I did that yesterday, but only to save husband having to spend newly-precious weekend hours food shopping with me. He was appreciative.

>130 vancouverdeb: I hope you are over it soon, Deb. It is no fun having no energy for fun!

>130 vancouverdeb: Get better soon, Deb. I was hoping this weekend would see an end to the group's collective epidemic.

Feel better soon, Deb!

(We don't have a tv in our bedroom, either...)

Deb, wonderful review of He Wants. I love that the three of us all got some of the same things from the book, but we all got some of our own things from it, too. Sign of a fabulous writer. Love what you've written here: Full of unexpressed longing, repressed desires, interesting and uncomfortable relationships, it is fascinating.

Goodness, sorry to hear you and Dave are still unwell. That illness has been hanging on for weeks in many cases here in the Okanagan. We're on rotation at work being off sick! I hope that it won't be much longer before you're both feeling better.

>131 karenmarie: That was kind of you, Karen! I'm sure your husband appreciated any help around the house given that this his first week back to work.

>132 Familyhistorian: You've got that right, Meg, No fun not having the energy to do much, especially fun stuff. I hope I'll soon be feeling back to usual.

>133 PaulCranswick: It does seem to be an LT epidemic, doesn't it, Paul. However, as I talk to more people in real life , as well as Dave mentioning his work place , there definitely does seem to be a bad cold / flu- ish thing around.

>134 scaifea: Thanks Amber! Another person without a TV in their bedroom.

>135 lit_chick: Nancy, I agree! All three of us could see many of the same themes in He Wants, but we also had our own individual themes that stood out to us more. For certain, the sign of an excellent author. I'll maybe write a bit more of what I " mined" from He Wants in a PM to you and Carsten, so as not to spoil it for those who have not read it. I get really lost in the details and symbolism and really enjoy that . I found that Alison Moore has written another new book, Death and the Seaside. which I've ordered from a bookseller in the UK via amazon. Somewhere Alison Moore's books where described as stories within stories, and that I would certainly agree with. Like Russian Nesting Matryoshka dolls. So fascinating! :)

Currently I am reading Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones. For all of the times I've picked it up at the library and not read it, this time I kind of started thumbing through it and it has grabbed me.

>138 vancouverdeb: I do like it when that happens. A good reason to keep books in the house.

Hope you are both feeling a bit better, if not completely recovered yet.

Happy Sunday, Deb! I hope your health has been restored. Is Dave back to work?

Mr. Pip sounds interesting.

I hope you're feeling better, Deborah.

Great thoughts on He Wants, Deborah. Interesting that we picked up different things - but also some of the same things - it's a many layered novel - clever writing.

Funny - I'm rereading Great Expectations at the moment and you pick up Mr. Pip - Actually I read half of it last year but got distracted - doesn't matter that much. Know the story well.

Happy Sunday, Deb. I hope both of you feel better soon. Here in Switzerland we have a heavy flu season too. Sending lots of healing vibes.

Hi Deb, hope you have had a good Sunday despite you are still not 100% and hope you are fully better soon my dear, sending love and hugs.

>138 vancouverdeb: Oh good, Deb. I got Mister Pip enthusiastically rec'd to me by two Pauls, Cranswick and Harris (polaris). It grabbed me, too, and was quite memorable.

Hope you are feeling better! I am still feeling crummy myself, it seems like the germs this year really linger.

>139 charl08: Actually, Charlotte, Mr Pip is a library book! But yes, always a good reason to keep books on hand - and re -take the same book out of the library til it actually catches your interest! Still got a bit of a head cold and that lingering fatigue that you can get after having a bug of some sort.

>140 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark. No , Dave is still not back to work. He works 4 days on, 4 days etc , and he began to feel unwell at the last of his 4 days on shift but worked through it. Then he had four days off, during which he felt worse and than he actually took 4 days off. He is now on his usual 4 days off, lucky for him, as he is still not feeling great. I'm quite sure he'll go back to work on Tuesday . But I don't think he's feeling 100 %.

>141 BLBera: Getting there, Beth, thanks! I was chatting with my sister and she told me she felt kind of weary from this same sort of cold virus for about 3 weeks over Christmas. She says she coughed so much that her ribs still hurt, though she is feeling fine and only missed a day or two from work, thanks to it being Christmas time.

>142 ctpress: Carsten, it sure is a many layered novel! I really enjoyed He Wants too. You picked up on some fabulous thoughts too - The chapter headlines are of course following up on the theme in the books title about desire/dreaming "He Wants". and Lewis never seemed to get what he wanted. I'm nearly finished Mr Pip and I've been enjoying it. I wonder now if I would have gotten even more out of it had I read Great Expectations. Maybe I will. Not sure as yet.

>143 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara. I guess the flu / some sort of virus is sort of hanging around all over the world - it seems to be all over LT - and we live in quite far flung places from each other.

>144 johnsimpson: A nice restful Sunday, John, thanks . I hope you and Karen have had a lovely day.

>145 jnwelch: Good to know, Joe! Apparently there was a movie made about Mr Pip and I'll check my library to see if they have it. I've quite enjoyed the book. I'm glad it grabbed you too. Hugh Laurie plays Mr Watts, and I think he'd make a good Mr Watts. ( Mr Pip) .

>146 banjo123: Feeling slowly better, but still crummy , to use your words. Mostly just tired and stuffed up, Rhonda.

Found you, only to discover that you have come down with the darn bug that is doing the rounds. Poor Deb. ;-( Hope you are feeling better soon!

>138 vancouverdeb: I loved Mr. Pip when I read it.

>150 lkernagh: Found you too! I thought that you were only running a thread in the Categories, Lori! Good to see you! Happy Birthday!

>151 thornton37814: Nearly finished Mr Pip and I'm really enjoying it too, Lori.

Hi Deborah! I'm another who loved Mister Pip when I read it several years ago. I liked the movie, too. Hugh Laurie plays the title role.

I hope you feel better soon!

I'm sorry to have to write that I'm sorry you're still both feeling sick, especially Dave missing his 4-days on and probably still under the weather when he goes back.

I looked at LibraryThing's predictor for whether I'd like He Wants because I didn't get much of a sense of the book, and it says I probably won't like it. Then I read a synopsis and realize that LT knows me pretty well..... So I'm actually glad to have avoided a BB in this case.

Sorry you and Dave are still sick and tired, Deborah, I am sending comforting and healing thoughts for you both.

>153 cbl_tn: Glad to know that you enjoyed Mr.Pip too, Carrie. Hugh Laurie sounds like the perfect person to play the title role. Now to see if I can find the movie.

>154 karenmarie: I think both of us are feeling a lot better, just lingering fatigue now, Karen. But yes, I think when Dave goes back to work, he won't feel 100%. I really loved He Wants, but of course we are all different in our tastes. I'm sure you have plenty of BB's already !

>155 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. Mainly I need to regain my energy now. Thanks for the healing thoughts. So kind of you!

Boo to being sick & tired. I sure hope this is the last of it, Tonto!

>157 msf59: Well, Mark, I just got in from a trip to the library and the grocery store, so I seem to be well on my way to being on the mend. Unfortunately I forgot my I phone so I could not look up what books I wanted. Just had to check around the library and hope for the best :)

Glad you're on the mend Deborah. Know what you mean about the post bug tiredness. Hope Poppy will let you take it easy for a bit!

>159 charl08: Thanks Charlotte. Yes, I'm on the mend, and I hope Poppy will take take it easy on me for a while until I feel 100 % We really had heavy downpour today and another expected tomorrow. Lots of wind too, which makes the rain that much worse, because it hits you sideways. But I much prefer rain and higher temps to our sunny but icy past three weeks.

Hi Deborah! I'm glad you're finally on the mend. Horizontal rain is absolutely no fun but definitely beats ice.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Glad to see you are starting to feel better!

Deborah--FINALLY! You are on the mend. Yay! Sorry about the horizontal rain. I have ice. : ( Mister Pip goes on the WL. : )

>161 karenmarie: Thanks Karen! As of this moment, no rain! So soon I will get out with the dog, aka Poppy. Thanks for the good wishes! :)

>162 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle! Yes, now to get back into my regular routine. Dave went back to work today.

>163 Berly: Hi Kim! No rain at the moment - of course that you could change at any moment. Mr. Pip was a wonderful read, I hope you enjoy it.

I'm having trouble settling on my next book. We'll see....

>164 vancouverdeb: I am having trouble as well! I ran out of Montalbano books to read as the next book in the series is still on hold. Maybe have it by Friday. What to read, what to read ...

I don't think it is only recovering from illness that makes you feel sick and tired, Deb. It is the time of year, the dark days and the effort to get around in the inclement and/or cold weather.

I found you! And I've starred your thread so I can keep up (ha) with you through 2017.

I love your thread topper!

Sorry you were under the weather, hoping you continue to feel better. It was pouring when I left Seattle early this morning, weird after the cold and sunny days we've been having, but probably more in line with expectations.

I'm in Tampa for a conference, it was 76F when we landed. I haven't yet gotten to enjoy it but I do hope to get out into the balmy weather at for at least a few minutes tomorrow!

Hang in there and feel better soon ~~

>165 ChelleBearss: I've got a few contenders in the running,Chelle, but I can't quite make up my mind. What to read! I even popped out to the local Indigo Spirit store this evening. Nothing really cried out to me and I left empty handed. Indigo Spirit stores as so tiny! I need a bigger bookstore!

>166 Familyhistorian: I'm sure you are correct, Meg, the dark and the rain can get to one. I like the rain much better than the snow. I felt so much more like myself walking in the in the rain with the dog today. A short sleeved t - shirt, layered with a light cotton flannel shirt, and then my layer of gortex, plus my reflective gear. No more shivering in the cold and layers of jackets etc.

>167 EBT1002: Yes it has been pouring on and off. I actually like the sound of the rain. It is really pouring right now, but was not too bad when Poppy and I got out for walk. Enjoy yourself in Tampa, Ellen! I hope you get a decent chance to suck up the sun and balmy temperatures.

Hooray for feellng better, Deb but take it easy and don't overdo until you're 100% fit.

Glad you're feeling better!

Hi Deborah, glad to read you are feeling better and that Dave is back to work.
Have you decided what to read?

>168 vancouverdeb: I feel your need for a bigger book store! In our town we only have a Christian book store :( We go into London all the time so I could hit the large Chapters but I tend to buy most of my books from Amazon.
I ended up starting The Beast by JR Ward but I only read a few chapters before falling asleep. I may go back and forth between that and the next Montalbano book when it comes in

>169 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara. I'm sure I won't overdo it . I hope you are not too busy at work.

>170 mdoris: Thanks Mary! I hope you are enjoying yourself visiting your new grandson!

>171 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. I think maybe I'm going to read Great Expectations. I'm about 75 pages in and not ready to fully commit. But Mr Pip is some what based on Great Expectations and it's been a long time since I've read a Charles Dickens.

>172 ChelleBearss: Oh that is even worse than me. I purchase most of my books from Amazon, but sometimes I like to look at what is new in the store, and sometimes I see books I had not heard of checking out the store. Yesterday at the bookstore I looked at a few books that I had though looked interesting on amazon ca and in real life, not so much. Enjoy The Beast . If I am willing to go into Downtown Vancouver then I will have a better selection.

>173 vancouverdeb: Have you checked out the Indigo Spirit downtown, Deb? I am just wondering if it is the same size as yours. It doesn't have the selection that the one on Robson used to have but it has a lot of books and probably a high turn over too because there are always a lot of people in there.

>174 Familyhistorian: Meg, no I have visited Indigo Spirit Downtown. I miss the one on Robson! Now when I say " The Downtown Chapters" I really mean the Chapter as Broadway and Granville. Even Broadway and Granville Chapters carries a lot more of ? Gift good etc. One day I'll get to the downtown location. I think I'm afraid it would be similar to my local indigo Spirit, but perhaps you have a good point.

>175 vancouverdeb: - Deb, is Indigo Spirit connected with Chapters Indigo? I have never heard of Indigo Spirit. Just curious

I'm very busy but here is hope that after the upcoming week it'll be getting better.
Sending Happy Birthday wishes here too.

Happy Friday, Deb. We will refrain from discussing any American politics. How are those books, Tonto?

>176 jessibud2: Yes, Shelley, Indigo Spirit is the small version on Chapters Indigo. In Toronto and thereabouts, there are quite a few " Indigo Spirit Books" - try googling it :) Sadly quite a few Chapters Books stores downsized to Indigo Spirit bookstores.

>177 Ameise1: So kind, Barbara! Thanks for the Birthday Wishes! Sharing my birthday with the Trump inauguration. Such an indignity! :)

>180 charl08: Thanks Mark . I've finished Mr Pip, but have not come up with any comments as yet. But the Mr Pip is somewhat based on Great Expectations so I am now about 150 pages into Great Expectations. I had not planned on reading Great Expectations, but Mr Pip pushed me into it! :)

Happy birthday! Hope you have a lovely one.

I am impressed Deb: Dickens is an ambitious January read ... at least for my winter brain (slower, colder, needing light, LOL.)

Oh, and ...

Great birthday wishes to you........

Happy birthday, Deb!

Happy birthday, Deb. Too bad about who you had to share your day with but I hope you enjoyed your day anyway.

Happy birthday, Deb!!

Happy Birthday, Deborah. Many happy returns.

Happy Birthday, Deborah - hope you'll have a nice day of celebration with family and friends. Or maybe you'll take it easy today...

If you get through Great Expectations my expectations is a full review/comparison with Mr. Pip :) funny that we should read it at the same time...

>180 charl08: Thanks Charlotte! Since my husband was working all day and is working today, I think we''ll celebrate on his days off.

>181 lit_chick: Thanks for the darling cake, Nancy! I'm about 250 pages in to Great Expectations , and I must admit it is quite dark at times. But also so interesting! Miss Havisham is quite the surreal character !

>182 mdoris: Thanks for the birthday wishes, Mary!

>183 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley! Much appreciated!

>184 Familyhistorian: Agreed, Meg, the indignity of sharing my birthday with Trump's inauguration! Not my plan!

>185 scaifea: Thanks Amber!

>186 BLBera: Thanks you for the Birthday Wish, Beth!

>187 ctpress: Carsten, Dave is at work , yesterday and today, so I think we'll have a bit of celebration when he is off work. As for Great Expectation, don't get your Expectations up to high, but at least I am about 250 pages into Great Expectations. It is proving to be very interesting. I've read Nicholas Nickelby, Bleak House and of course The Christmas Carol, but that was back in my late teens/ early twenties. It's been a long time!

Does Tonto have a birthday? The Lone Ranger did not get the memo!

Happy Birthday, Deb! Big hug to my pal.

I love Great Expectations, but of course I do...

Hope you had a great birthday!!

>191 msf59: Yes, indeed, Tonto had a birthday, Mark. I did not announce, not even on facebook, but of course people I know in real life know I have a birthday , yes, on Trump's inauguration day, so word got out! What a person to share the day with! ;)

>192 ChelleBearss: A bit of delay on the celebration, owing to my husband working Friday and Today. Later on in the week, Chelle! Thanks so much for the good wishes!

>193 vancouverdeb: Well, at least no one protested your birthday, Deb, unlike the other event. Did you enjoy a nice sunny day today?

Slightly belated Happy Birthday wishes from me too Deb. I will try to claim time difference excuses but truth is I was going through the threads alphabetically this week and only got to "P" yesterday!

Have a lovely weekend. xx

>194 Familyhistorian: Good point, Meg! Thanks for making me chuckle. No, no one protested my birthday. I enjoyed the day, but as my husband was working yesterday and today, we'll celebrate a little later this week on his days off.

>195 PaulCranswick: * Note to self - change name of the thread to something higher in the alphabet like DebVancouver so Paul will visit my thread more often. *

Just kidding Paul, thank for the Birthday Wishes! :)

>196 vancouverdeb: I would get to you earlier in my weekly round - I wouldn't visit more often. I try to do a sweep at least once a week but there are a goodly number that I visit much more often (sometimes depending upon activity). Yours is definitely a thread I keep up with more than just on a weekly basis, Deb. xx

>191 msf59: Mark never fails to crack me up!: Does Tonto have a birthday? The Lone Ranger did not get the memo!

Happy Belated Birthday, Deb! Did you have a good one, despite inauguration day?

Hi Deb, belated birthday greetings my dear. I am sorry that the greetings are late due to me not being on here since Thursday, mu excuses are that Friday we were out and yesterday I was feeling rather ill through a combination of back pain, neck and shoulders pain and a headachy pain but at the side and rear of my head, poor excuses really as I was fit enough during the daytime yesterday but was reading. Please forgive my lapse and I will send very special birthday loves and hugs.

OMG... I am late with my birthday wishes for you, Deb. Happy belated Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day and that the year is a good for you.

Happy belated birthday!

Well, you haven't celebrated yet, so that means I am not late, right? Happy Birthday!!

>197 PaulCranswick: Oh agreed, Paul! :) My thread is not one to just visit weekly! :)

>198 lit_chick: Nancy, when I was new to LT, somehow marked dubbed me " Tonto" and I therefore dubbed him " Lone Ranger' and that has been what we have called each other for years. Right, Lone Ranger?

>199 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. I a was little saddened to share my birthday with inauguration day. Of course I have done so quite a few times, but not with THE DRUMPF!

>200 johnsimpson: Thanks John. I am sorry to hear that you have been feeling unwell and in pain. No need for apologies . Love and hugs to you and Karen!

>201 lkernagh: Thanks Lori! Looking forward to a good year.

>202 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda for the good wishes!

>203 Berly: Thanks for the darling image, Kim! Much appreciated by this old girl!

Happy Belated Birthday, Deb!

>204 vancouverdeb: I hadn't thought of the unhappy coincidence of your birthday with trump's inauguration. I know which one the group is pleased to celebrate.

Hi Deb, looks like we are in for a sunny few days. I hope that Dave has his days off soon so that you can celebrate and enjoy the good weather at the same time

>206 DianaNL: Thanks so much, Diana!

>207 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. What to do about the unhappy coincidence of my birthday with the inauguration of Trump. I guess that is behind me now. Thanks for the well - wishes.

>208 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. Yes, we have had some nice sunny days lately! Dave and I and some family and friends got out Monday night for low key dinner out in Steveston.

Okay, I'm having trouble wanting to compose comments / a review about Mr Pip and I just formed a couple of paragraphs and then somehow lost the LT page, so I'm just going to note that I read the book and that I enjoyed and would have given in 4 stars, but for the abrupt ending. It is well worth the read, a combination of a coming of age story of 13 year old Matilda and somewhat of a re- telling of Great Expectations . The backdrop of the story is the conflict / civil war on the Island of Bougainville in the 1990's. In Mr Pip, the eccentric Mr Watts, aka Mr Pip, is the only remaining white person on the Island. He sets forth to educate and engage the children by reading them Great Expectations, bit by bit, each day. There are times that the war action in the story is very graphic, but primarily this is a story of re- invention of both Mr Watts and Matilda. I enjoyed it very much, but I did feel that the story ended very abruptly, thus my 3.8 rating, instead of 4 stars.

It has led to me to read Great Expectations and I'm appreciating Mr Pip that much more. One certainly does not need to read Great Expectations to enjoy and benefit from reading Mr Pip, but I think I would have gotten more out of the novel if I had read Great Expectations first.

Mr Pip was short listed for the Booker Prize some years ago and just seeing it at the library quite frequently prompted me to pick it up and read it.

Currently about 1/2 way through Great Expectations, thanks to Mr Pip by Llloyd Jones.

>211 vancouverdeb: It's great Mr. Pip got you to read Dickens. I'd read it years before I read Mr. Pip. I did sometimes wish I'd read it right before I'd read Mr. Pip, but I knew the story well enough.

Hi Deborah!

We just had a group read of Great Expectations in September of last year, and I paced myself by reading 2 chapters a day. It isn't a book I'd have started otherwise, but I'm glad I read it, if for nothing else than catching references to it other places.

I'll mention it even though you may not want to tackle two Dickens' at a time, although you seem to be powering through Great Expectations. There's a group read for February for Bleak House that I've started.

Bleak House Group Read

I'm sorry you had to share your birthday with the inauguration of the Dangerous Orange Gasbag. I would have boycotted watching it anyway, but was busy with my mom's Memorial Service in California.

Happy Belated Birthday!

Howdy, Tonto! Hope you are doing well. Mr. Pip is now on my list. A big thumbs up for Bleak House. It might be my favorite Dickens.

Enjoyed your comments on Mr Pip, Deb, and so glad it led you to Great Expectations.

Are you going to join Carsten, me, and others (?) in reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall in March? Say you will ... (no pressure, LOL!)

Very interesting comments, Deborah. Sounds like an imaginative spin-off/version of Great Expectations - I can imagine it would make sense to have Dickens original as a reference reading Mr. Pip.

#215: Pleeeeaaassss :)

Seems there's some peer pressure round here Deborah!

>212 thornton37814: I agree, Lori. Back in my late teens /early 20's I read several Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers , and maybe the Bleak House, as well as of course the A Christmas Carol, but somehow I missed Great Expectations. But I did not know a thing about Great Expectations other than the title until now! :) I'd heard of Pip and Miss Havisham, but had no idea what who they were beyond characters in a Dickens book.

>213 karenmarie: Well, I'm not sure I'm powering through Great Expectations, but I am enjoying my way through at my own speed, Karen. You are so kind. It's a little dense at times, but a fascinating read. I'm so glad that your mom's memorial service went well and you are feeling rested now. I'll hold off on the Bleak House group read for now, but thanks for the invite. I think I'll be wanting something different from Dickens once I finished Great Expectations.

>214 msf59: Have a great vacation , Lone Ranger! I hope you get some sun. I'm quite sure you would enjoy Mr Pip. It was really an intriguing look into the civil war in Bougainville, which I'd never heard of prior to reading Mr Pip.

>215 lit_chick: Thanks Nancy! I'm also glad Mr Pip lead to Great Expectations. It's been an interesting month, with Ian Rankin causing me to read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. A couple of contemporary books leading me to read old classics. Errr - at this time I'm not sure about The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - but I'll see once February rolls around. No pressure! :)

>216 ctpress: Mr. Pip can most definitely read as a stand - alone, but I was just curious as to many of the references Dickens book , and it's been really worth it. Mr Pip is definitely it's own story, but I think knowing the themes and characters of Great Expectations has increased my appreciation of the first book.

Carsten, I do like the cover of The Tenant of Wildfell Wall as seen on your thread! :) Oh the pressure! Will you somehow get a job with Kate and William if I do the read? That's still on, my friend! ;) They are moving to KP sometime over the summer. Wouldn't you like to shine their silver / help little Prince George with his tea? :) Let's make a deal! ;)

>217 charl08: It's rough, Charlotte! With this kind of pressure I'm going to have to read The Art of the Deal by Orange Gasbag! ( no, really not going to do that at all. Far too depressing to do that :)

Love the "classics" talk over here and for sure the peer pressure is there to read some oldies but goodies!
Glad that you had a wonderful birthday dinner in Steveston! All the best!

Maybe I can pull a few strings at Kensington, Deborah. Let's see:) I'm sure I read that Kate has read The Tenant and has recommended it to everyone....well, maybe you've recovered from Dickens in march so you feel ready to take on a new one.

You are lucky to be reading Great Expectations as an adult, Deb. It was required reading for me in High School and the next year at University. I was done with it by the time that it was pulled to pieces in both classes.

Good luck with all the peer pressure.

>221 ctpress: LOL, Carsten! You've got Deb hooked into our GR now for sure, hehe!: I'm sure I read that Kate has read The Tenant and has recommended it to everyone.

Oh what a bunch ! I have to go out to an appointment right now, but I'll be back to properly respond to the peer pressure! :) LOL!

>220 mdoris: Yes , Mary, I did have a lovely time at at dinner - pan fried halibut and veggies ! Nice view out to the water in Steveston. Today I was over at my son and daughter in laws as it is her birthday. Had another lovely evening !

>221 ctpress: Oh Carsten! You can pull some strings for me at KP! We'll see about the Bronte book. I put a hold on it at the library , just to see how " yuge " it might be. I was out at the second hand bookstore, but no dice with The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

>222 Familyhistorian: Meg, I'll bet you were done with Great Expectations, studying it two years in a year! I can't entirely recall what I studied on Senior High, except dystopian novels and T.S Eliot poems. Quite depressing, but I did like the teacher very much , he prepared us well for 1st University. And there is also the socializing side of English class! :)

>223 lit_chick: Nancy, the pressure is on if Kate ( That is Duchesss Kate to you) read the Tenant at Wildfell Hall .

Happy weekend, Deb.

>226 vancouverdeb: Yes, there did seem to be an idea that depressing novels carried more weight, didn't there? I remember the more depressing works like Lord of the Flies but didn't find it inspiring! With that and the fact that I found analyzing novels to be a chore it is amazing that I continued to study English literature.

Looks like another good day out there, Deb. I hope you are enjoying the day.

Princess Kate, eh.... The peer pressure is pretty smart around here :-)

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Hi Deb, hope you are having a good Saturday my dear, sending love and hugs.

Belated birthday greetings, Deborah. My DIL Mary did not enjoy sharing her birthday with our new president, either. We partied on Saturday. I had the LT CRud for a good 3 weeks. I've been sicker before but this one lasted longer than any virus I can remember. I am still coughing a little at night. Ugh!

I liked both Mr. Pip and Great Expectations. I've read the latter 2x now. Too bad you are Dickensed out. Bleak House was a great book. The PBS adaptation was very good as well. Happy Sunday to you!

My apologies if I missed any posts about the filmed version of Mr. Pip, but it was great. Hugh Laurie played Mr. Watts (the volunteer teacher). Beautifully filmed and acted, as powerful as the book, well worth a watch.

Karen O.

>227 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara! I did have a lovely weekend!

>228 Familyhistorian: Agreed Meg, there seemed to be an idea that depressing books were good for the soul back in my highschool days - or maybe that was all that was available to the teachers? I recall reading 1984, The Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451. Saturday was lovely sunny day - today was kind of rainy , and sunny off and on.

>229 charl08: Oh the pressure to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Charlotte! Maybe if Carsten can secure inside information from KP! ;)

>230 johnsimpson: I did have a lovely Saturday. A nice sunny day and a dinner of Butter Chicken Pizza and a coke while we were out! So sinful! ( Just one piece of the pizza , though ).

>231 Donna828: It has been rough for quite a few of us, sharing our birthdays with Trumps inauguration. Best wishes to your DIL , Donna! I'm actually enjoying Great Expectations, and I should finish it tonight or tomorrow. Trump and his politics have been wrecking havoc with my concentration. Yes, the LT crud has sure been making the rounds! A virtual bug. Who knew?

>232 klobrien2: Thanks for stopping by, Karen! I hope to borrow Mr Pip , the movie from my library, if I can find it. I have to double check. Hugh Laurie would be perfect as Mr Watts aka Mr Pip.

Happy Monday! Glad to hear you are enjoying Great Expectations. I would like to get to that one day

On my travels yesterday I actually saw some small daffodils in full bloom. Maybe the cold will be over soon?

>234 vancouverdeb: Only one piece of pizza? My, my. Impressive.

The LT crud, LT lurvy, LT virus, whatever, snagged me on Thursday and I'm feeling a bit puny. Wah.

Just catching up here. I love Hugh Laurie! Now I have to find the movie...

>235 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle! Just about 40 pages to go in Great Expectations. I hope you had a great Monday too!

>236 Familyhistorian: I've seen a few crocuses just starting to bloom, but not daffodils as yet, Meg.

>237 karenmarie: Karen, they are big pieces of pizza! So yes, just one. Sorry to hear that you are down with the LT virus / crud got you!

>238 Berly: Hi Kim! Thanks for visiting! I've yet to hunt down the movie too.

You saw already some crocuses? Lucky lady. I still see snow.

>240 Ameise1: We are fortunate in our little corner of Canada, Barbara. Spring comes early to the Vancouver area, and we often don't get snow over the winter, but this year we did for a few weeks.

Canada Reads Finalist have been announced for 2017



https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2017/01/31/canada-reads-five-shortli...

The Break by Katherena Vermette

Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis

Nostalgia by M. G. Vassanji

The Right to Be Cold by Sheila Watt-Cloutier

Company Town by Madeline Ashby.

Last year I read and loved The Break. I also enjoyed Fifteen Dogs. I'll have to look into Nostalgia, which I have seen around. The other two I am less familiar with.

Thanks for that link, Deb. I haven't read any of the books mentioned and am not sure I will get to any of them. Sadly, for the one you liked, I personally can't stand to listen to Candy Palmeter. She used to have her own short-lived radio show on cbc before it was cancelled (not sure if it was nation-wide or just local) but her voice drives me around the bend and I can already see her being as annoying as that other gal whose name I can't remember (or maybe have blocked out, hehe) last year, who defended one of the final five books. I will watch/listen when I can.

>242 vancouverdeb: not gonna lie, I haven't heard of any of those! Perhaps I will check them out though

Woot! Thanks for the Canada Reads post, Deb!

Thanks for the Canada Reads post, Deborah. They all look good.

Will you read all of them Deborah? Interesting list.

>244 jessibud2: Lucky for me, I guess, I never listen to the people defending the books on CBC, so I am not influenced by the who defends which book in Canada Reads, Shelley. I just read the Canada Reads books that appeal to me and that is that :)

>245 ChelleBearss: Chelle, you have a young child , work full time, just finding time to read is amazing, so I would not worry about reading from a list, unless you want to do so.

>246 lit_chick: Good luck with the list, Nancy! I know you have already read The Break and Fifteen Dogs just like me, so we have at least read a couple from the list.

>247 BLBera: Beth , your very welcome for the list.

>248 charl08: Charlotte, no , I don't think I will read all of the list. In fact, I already may have read what I will read from the list. Company Town sounds too sci / fantasy for me, and Nostalgia : " From one of Canada's most celebrated writers, two-time Giller Prize winner Moyez Vassanji, comes a taut, ingenuous and dynamic novel about a future where eternal life is possible, and identities can be chosen." sounds a bit fantastic too. Then again, Fifteen Dogs was about dogs communicated with each other , so I suppose anything is possible with my reading.
I think maybe The Right to Be Cold might be the most likely of the books that I will read, supposing that I can get them from the library.

Thanks for posting the Canada Reads list Deborah! I read your perfect description of your Poppy dog walks on Nancy's thread. I will not share the story with Maggie as she would feel greatly neglected by comparison. But no audio books for me either. We saw 2 perched eagles side by side high up in a tree today on our dog walk. What a sight!

Hi, Deb! As you could tell, I had a good time traipsing around the Tonto National Forest, in Arizona. Of course, I was thinking about my sidekick, whenever I was not bird watching...grins.

Hope all is well, my friend.

Only one book of that list is available in Dutch, Fifteen dogs. Since you liked it, Deborah, I might read it too.

>251 mdoris: I can understand your not wanting to share information about Poppy's walks with Maggie, Mary! :) Maggie might get all high and mighty like Poppy has. I blame my husband her " princess - like ' behaviour. Yes, it is Dave's fault! :)

>252 msf59: Tonto National Park! Imagine a park names after me! It blows the mind, Lone Ranger! Glad you all had such a great time!

>253 FAMeulstee: Anita, I enjoyed it, but I''ll just warn you that Fifteen Dogs won't be for everyone. It was an interesting concept, but some of the dogs turned out to pretty rough creatures and it was a bit disconcerting and there was blood shed between the dogs at times.

I finished Great Expectations yesterday and ended up really loving the story. At times I did find the story to be quite wordy, but I had grew very attached to the Victorian world of Pip, Herbert, Biddy and Joe as the story progressed. Miss Havisham, Magwitch are characters I won't soon forget. The novel was very touching in its examination of social class and the great expectations that Pip had. In the end, Pip discovers that being a " gentleman" is much more than social class or one's work , but rather a gentleman / gentle person is one possessed of an internal conscience and the willingness to act on one's internal values. Truly a touching story, I can understand why Great Expectations remains such a wonderful classic. 4.5 stars I am delighted that I read it.

Currently just starting Dragon Springs Road by Janie Chang. She is a Canadian author, who was born in Taiwan and now makes her residence here in Vancouver. I had heard good things about her first book, Three Souls, so I thought I'd give this book a try.

Happy belated birthday, Deb!

I read Three Souls last year and have her on my list of authors to follow. I have Dragon Springs Road in my teetering wish list, so I'll be watching out for your review :-)

Glad you liked the "wordy" Dickens. I've also finished Great Expectations and will post some thoughts on it soon.

Like what you write: Pip discovers that being a " gentleman" is much more than social class or one's work, but rather a gentleman / gentle person is one possessed of an internal conscience and the willingness to act on one's internal values.

I will be honest with you. I am not sure that I will get to any of the books offered up this year in Canada Reads. I have heard enough about Fifteen Dogs to be quite sure it isn't for me. I am also not into fantasy or sci-fi, or violence. Oh well. Not even sure I will be watching this year. We'll see

Glad you enjoyed Great Expectations! I agree, he is a touch wordy

I haven't seen any of the books on the Canada reads list. I remember your review of Fifteen Dogs and it sounded a bit odd. Some the others on the list sound that way too.

Woot! Wonderful that you finished Great Expectations, Deb, and loved it so much! Nicely done : ).

Dragon Springs Road looks interesting. Chang is an author new to me, so will be looking forward to your thoughts on this one, too.

Hmm, Dragon Springs Road does sound good!

Deb--Thanks for the list and the quick overviews sprinkled in. Glad you liked Great Expectations! One of my favorites, although it has been years since I read it. Nostalgia sounds good. I am due a sci-fi futuristic read.

That is wonderful that you enjoyed Great Expectations so much. I will have to unpack the box that it is in.

>257 cameling: Hi Caro! Thanks for the belated birthday greetings. I've heard good things about Three Souls too, but never got around to picking it up, but I found Dragon Springs Road at the library, calling to me, so I thought I'd give it a try . So far I'm enjoying it very much.

>258 ctpress: Great Expectations is quite the tale, as you know , Carsten , having read it several times. It was a new story for me, and I had not read any Charles Dickens since my late teens or early twenties? It is an interesting world that Dickens draws and some rather fantastic characters! I found Magwitch, Joe, Biddy and Herbert and even Pip to be such touching characters. I've read quite a few reviews where people felt angry / frustrated by Pip, but I was fine with him. It is a bit wordy thought :) I'll look forward to your thoughts , Carsten , since you have recently finished Great Expectations.

>259 jessibud2: No worries, Shelly. I have never watched / listened to the debates from Canada Reads. I just like to keep track of the list and consider whether any of the books are worth looking at . By happy accident I've already read two of them and I'm rooting for The Break.

>260 ChelleBearss: Yes, Chelle, Dickens is a bit wordy . I think quite a few of his books were serialized in newspapers at the time , and perhaps he was paid by the word? :) I think that wordiness is also characteristic of the time period.

>261 Familyhistorian: Well, Meg, you know Can - Lit , when is it not a bit odd! :) I just use the list to point me in the direction of books that I might be interested in. The Break was shortlisted for a couple of Can Lit prizes in 2016 and I was really glad that I read it. I had read Pastoral by Andre Alexis the year before, so I decided to try Fifteen Dogs and I think it won the 2015 or 2016 Giller Prize. I enjoy following the Can - Lit prizes.

>262 lit_chick: Thanks Nancy ! I confess the length of Great Expectations did intimidate me at first. But I do feel a real satisfaction in understanding who Mrs Havisham is , Pip etc. Dragon Springs Road seems to be very promising - I'm not far into the story as yet.

Hooray for Great Expectations! So glad you loved the Dickens. One of my favorites.

Sweet Thursday, Tonto!

>263 drneutron: Hi Jim! Great to see you. I'll let you know about Dragon Springs Road.

>264 Berly: You are welcome, Kim. Let me know what you think of Nostalgia if you get to it. I've definitely seen it in the library and in the bookstores. Maybe one day for me?

>265 mdoris: Oh more unpacking, Mary. Are you sure? I think you mentioned you might have another move in store before all of the renovations are done at your new place?

>268 msf59: Sweet Thursday back to you, Lone Ranger! Yes I did enjoy Great Expectations. Hope you had a good day!

>269 vancouverdeb:, Yes Deborah. So fun...... another moving date booked for March 2nd. We will be living like vagabonds for 6 months.

Hi Deborah! I'm one of those people who didn't particularly like Pip, but agree with you that Pip discovers that being a " gentleman" is much more than social class or one's work, but rather a gentleman / gentle person is one possessed of an internal conscience and the willingness to act on one's internal values. I still can't fathom his love for Estella though.

Waving hi and wishing you a very happy (belated) birthday!
You did some excellent reading lately (and reviews that match!).

Hi Deb, glad you enjoyed the Dickens my dear, I am hoping to read one of his along with one or two other classic novels this year. Hope you are having a nice Friday and hope you and Dave have a lovely and relaxing weekend my dear. Sending love and hugs.

Have a lovely weekend, Deborah.

>271 mdoris: That's not fun, Mary, living like vagabonds. Maybe when we were in our twenties ( if then ) but certainly not fun as reach a " certain age." It will all be worth it by the time you get into your new home!

>272 karenmarie: Karen, occasionally Pip annoyed me, but overall , those " Great Expectations " that he had, created the problem. I can't fathom Pip's love for Estella either, but someone of library thing said that they had read that " Estella " was Dicken's mistress in real life. So, really, you can just blame Dicken's choice of mistress for Pip's lack of judgement :) In the end, Estella seemed to be fairly sensible.

>273 Trifolia: Such kind words, Monica. The books have been excellent , for the most part, but my reviews or comments , not so much :)

>274 johnsimpson: Thanks John! I'll enjoy checking out your thread for your reads this year, as always. You always fit some chunkstes in there!

>275 BLBera: Thanks Beth! Have a lovely weekend!

And sadly, my husband works over the weekend , which is not unusual at all. However, we have gotten a big dump of snow ( for here, anyway ). The slushy icy kind. Early this morning we cleared away the snow, but it just keeps falling. I'm not sure that the city was prepared for this much snow. I'm dreading going out to forage for food on the slushy roads. * sighs to self * Really not a snow person.

>211 vancouverdeb: Hello Deb. I look forward to Great Expectations later in the year. I'll be sure to drop you a line as I proceed through.

>278 vancouverdeb: So I take it the groundhog lied? Is there a Vancouver Vince or whatever?

>278 vancouverdeb: Deborah--I feel your snow pain. Check out my thread for a picture of my morning ice. Sigh. Luckily, it is mostly gone and the temperatures are only supposed to continue to warm tonight, so I think we are out of the woods. Hope your food foraging went okay!

We had a fair amount of snow here today, too, but I didn't realize you were also getting it. I prefer a bit of snow in the winter, makes things so much brighter than the gray skies and brown grass.

I saw your snow photo on FB. Sorry that you're back to winter. Stay safe and warm.
Happy weekend, Deb.

>279 brodiew2: Hi Brodie! Yes I'll be glad to see your take on Great Expectations. Let me know when you get to reading it.

>280 karenmarie: Karen, yes , apparently our Canadian Groundhogs lied as well. They have such long names, I forget what they are. Drat them!

>281 Berly: Thanks Kim! Yes, I am glad I got my food foraging done yesterday, though I am not sure if it is better or worse out today. I'll check out your picture .Apparently our snow is supposed to hang around for a week! Sighs! It is the slushy, icy , messy kind that falls right around the freezing mark, so some is snow, some is slush, some is ice - and it really makes for treacherous walking and driving.

>282 lit_chick: Nancy, here we have green grass all year round and a predominance of evergreen trees, so it looks lush and green all year round, except when it snows. I'm definitely not a snow person. Poppy does love it either as her paws get filled up with balls of frozen snow. And I'm not going to try little boots on Poppy. That would not go over well with her!

>283 Ameise1: I think it is a little better today, for getting around, Barbara. Yesterday when I went out it was snowing hard enough that I could not see the lines on the road, and what few plows we have certainly could not keep up with the roads. It snowed more overnight , but right now it is not snowing outside. I think there is more in the forecast - a mix of rain, snow , slush etc. Happy Weekend, Barbara!

Sorry to hear you got the white stuff! It's cold here (-10ish) and our snow is crunchy. It's suppose to warm up and be a mixed bag of ick by Tuesday. Thankfully I'll be off work and can hide from it for a couple days!

>286 ChelleBearss: It is really a messy sort of snow, Chelle. The temperature hovers around + 1 C to -2 C , so it's back and forth between heavy snow and ice pellets and just a big slippery mush. We are supposed to have a mixed bag like this all week long * sighs*

follow me to my new thread.