Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Five

^The Warbler at the Tonto National Forest, AZ. I know, this is not a surprise but I thought it would make a perfect topper.





^This is a Black-necked Stilt. We saw a few of them, trucking along the lakeside.

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

January:

1) News of the World by Paulette Jiles 4.7 stars (E)
2) My Father, the Pornographer: A Memoir by Chris Offutt 4.3 stars audio
3) One Wild Bird at a Time: Portraits of Individual Lives by Bernd Heinrich 4 stars audio
4) Kindred by Octavia E. Butler 4 stars AAC
5) Battleborn: Stories by Claire Vaye Watkins 4.2 stars
6) Victoria: A Novel by Daisy Goodwin 3.7 stars (audio)
7) The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart 3.8 stars (audio)
8) The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne by Brian Moore 4 stars BAC
9) Nutshell: A Novel by Ian McEwan 4.4 stars (audio)
10) Lady Cop Makes Trouble (A Kopp Sisters Novel) by Amy Stewart 3.6 stars (audio)
11) Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches from Turkey, Syria & Iraq by Sarah Glidden 3.8 stars GN
12) Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami 4.2 stars
13) The Mammy by Brendan O'Carroll 4 stars
14) I Will Send Rain: A Novel by Rae Meadows 3.5 stars

February:

15) Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson 5 stars (audio)
16) Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan 3.6 stars AAC
17) The Assault by Harry Mulisch 4.4 stars
18) Nine Island by Jane Alison 4 stars ER

Welcome to the AAC IV! It should be another fun year. Some interesting and diverse authors.

January- Octavia Butler Completed Kindred
February- Stewart O' Nan
March- William Styron
April- Poetry Month
May- Zora Neale Hurston
June- Sherman Alexie
July- James McBride
August- Patricia Highsmith
September- Short Story Month
October- Ann Patchett
November- Russell Banks
December- Ernest Hemingway

The General Discussion Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/244600#

Lucifer At The Starlite

"Here's my bright idea for life on earth:
better management. The CEO
has lost touch with the details. I'm worth
as much, but I care; I come down here, I show
my face, I'm a real regular. A toast:
To our boys and girls in the war, grinding
through sand, to everybody here, our host
who's mostly mist, like methane rising
from retreating ice shelves. Put me in command.
For every town, we'll have a marching band.
For each thoroughbred, a comfortable stable;
for each worker, a place beneath the table.
For every forward step a stumbling.
A shadow over every starlit thing."

-Kim Addonizio

^This is the title poem to, Lucifer At The Starlite a terrific collection, I just finished. Of course I have to tip my hat to Joe, for putting this wonderful poet on my radar.

Wow, I'm first again! Am I right about that? Happy shiny new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread, Mark!

>6 jessibud2: Twice in a row, Shelley! You are nailing it, my friend.

>7 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

Happy new thread, Mark! You're off to a fantastic start. I need to get a move on!

Here you go again! #5 !

Beautiful Black-necked Stilt. I never saw one of those. Cool!

Happy new one, Mark. Nice topper.

*blink* Another new thread. You da man!

>9 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie! Happy Friday, my friend.

>10 -Cee-: Hi, Claudia! Great to see you! And yes, the Black-necked Stilt was very cool.

>11 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Happy Friday!

>12 karenmarie: Howdy, Karen! I am just chuggin' along...

Mark--Congrats on yet another new thread. Nice topper you've got there! Glad we talked you into it. : )

I love the thread topper, Mark. Those Saguaros are amazing to see.

>4 msf59: Love it. Well, maybe fear it.

I am reading Snow Angels by Stewart O'Nan and it's okay so far. I remember really liking Last Night at the Lobster.

Happy new thread, Mark. Great topper. Now you can look back and remember your vacation as you trudge about your colder streets. Talking about colder streets. We were all geared for spring and it snowed - again! This is getting old really fast.

Happy new thread, buddy.

Happy new one, Mark. Looking forward about your thoughts of the O'Nan book.
Wishing you a great Saturday.

Happy new one, Mark.

>14 Berly: Thanks, Kim. I know you guys really applied the pressure on that topper choice...grins.

>15 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! I really enjoyed hiking through the desert mountains. I never expected it to be so beautiful. Plus, the weather was perfect.

I hope Snow Angels improves for you. I have only seen the film version and thought it was terrific.

>16 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Happy Saturday. Boo to more snow. We have not received any measurable snow, in over 5 weeks. I am not complaining but that is really surprising.

>17 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>18 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. Happy Saturday. Should finish Songs For the Missing today. Not my favorite O' Nan but still pretty good.

>19 DianaNL: Thanks, Diana.

Happy new thread, Mark!
Great toppers, you birdwatching in your natural habitat, encouraging to read & a Black-necked Stilt :-)
Closest relative of the Black-necked Stilt over here is the pied avocet, also black and white, but their beak is turned upward. I have seen a few in my life.

Happy new thread!! Love the topper!

>23 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. Glad you like the toppers. I will have to check out the pied avocet. I need to post more pictures of the waterfowl I saw. It was quite impressive.

>24 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle. Happy Saturday, my friend.

Hi Mark! Happy new thread! Good O'Nan choice! I read SftMyears ago, I think my first O'Nan, and I've been reading him ever since.

Happy new one, Mark!

Sorry you are only lukewarm on Songs for the Missing. I really liked it.

Any plans for the Super Bowl? Nothing here, just rooting against the Patriots :)

Hi Mark! Happy Saturday.

The Leopold and Loeb cartoon is funny and disturbing.

>26 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. Happy Saturday. I thought of you while reading this O'Nan, with its Ohio setting. Glad you liked it.

>27 katiekrug: Morning Katie. This may end up being my least favorite O'Nan but I did not dislike it. It will probably be a 3.5 star read.

<21 Hah!

Happy New Thread, Mark! And last work day since you got back. Love that topper!

>21 msf59: Great! Becca, our true crime aficionado, has long been fascinated by Leopold and Loeb. I sent that to her immediately.

Hoping to make some progress today on Infinite Jest. I should be able to; Debbi's got a writing class, so there'll be open time.

>28 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday.

>30 BLBera: Waves to Beth!

>31 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. Long 5 days but at least I didn't have to trudge through snow. Not bad today either...

Glad you like the cartoon. You are right, it would be perfect for Becca.

Good luck making progress with IJ. I am enjoying it, and a bit surprised how fast much of the narrative is.

Happy new one, Mark!

Happy new thread! Love the stilt picture. Never seen one of those. They look a bit like some seabirds here.

Yeah, I thought the stilt pic was great! I've never seen one before.

>33 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>34 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte.

>34 charl08: >35 drneutron: I saw the Stilts on consecutive days, which helped me remember what they looked like. They were just high- stepping it along the water's edge.

I saw some great ducks and geese too. I need to share the photos.

Leopold and Loeb...ugh.

I finished Moonglow and I'd say I liked it. At least the middle 80% of it. Started slow and crawled to the finish line, I thought, but most of it was very good.

>37 lindapanzo: Happy Saturday, Linda. Glad you liked Moonglow. I hope to get to it, in the near future.

Heading out for a quiet dinner with Sue tonight and then we might hit a brewery on the way home. Shocking, right?

>38 msf59: equally shocking as me staying home to watch the Blackhawks tonight.

>39 lindapanzo: Enjoy your evening with the Hawks, my friend. I am enjoying a beer and then we are taking off.

BTW- We watched Hidden Figures last night. Good film. Only takes a small portion of the book but they did it very well.

Oh , Tonto National Forest looks so nice and warm, Lone Ranger! We have snow again! I can't believe it. What a winter this year. I'm shivering just thinking about it all.

>20 msf59: I think that there was a mistaken delivery, Mark. We must have got your snow. Did you want it back?

Happy Date Night, Mark!!

Happy Sunday, Mark.

>41 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb! Yes, Tonto National Forest was a beautiful place. There are wild horses in this area too but we did not see any. Only some droppings. Boo!

And boo to more snow! We have not had any in over a month.

>42 Familyhistorian: That is a wonderful offer, Meg, but no thanks. Grins...We had a mild January and so far February has been reasonable. No complaints here...yet.

>43 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers! We had a good time and ended up at our favorite brewery too.

>44 Ameise1: Happy Sunday, Barb!

^Getting ready to start The Assault. Darryl & Paul's warbling was a direct result of me, having this in hand. Looking forward to it.

^I am making some headway in, Infinite Jest. 173 pages. I am still listening to it on audio but I have the book along, to mark my progress and follow the footnotes in the back. All the pieces haven't come together yet but much of his writing is stunning.

Good morning, Mark! Enjoy the (phew!) day off.

>47 msf59: Well said! I'm not as far along as you, but I'm getting there.

Off for coffee and errands.

>48 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Hope to get plenty of reading in, before heading out to the SB. Enjoy your coffee.

Happy new thread, Mark! Adding my compliments on the thread topper to the pile.

Hi Mark! Happy Sunday.

I should read The Assault and Infinite Jest to pace you, but frankly I'm just keeping up with my committed reads of The Literary Study Bible and Bleak House. I'm also reading The Old Man and the Sea for book club tonight and am 2/3 through. It's only 140 pages, easy and powerful.

>50 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! Great to see you.

>51 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! IJ is NOT for all tastes but I think seasoned readers would appreciate the incredible writing craft, this man possessed. It is truly masterful.

I hope you are enjoying Bleak House. It may end up being my favorite Dickens. The Old Man and the Sea was my first Hemingway and remains a favorite.

Happy Sunday, Mark. Good going on IJ.

Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you!

>53 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Have you read it or any DFW?

>54 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! I plan on spending lots of time with the books today before attending a Super Bowl Party.

I've just read essays, Mark. He does have a way with words.

>56 BLBera: I have only read A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again. I loved it and want to read more of his essays.

Happy New Thread, Mark!!! That's a great picture of the Stilt. I hope you have a good day.

Happy Sunday, Mark!!

>58 thearlybirdy: Thanks, Birdy! Glad you like the Stilt. Hope you have a fine Sunday.

Go Falcons!

>59 Berly: Happy Sunday, Kimmers.

There was a bio-picture made of David Foster Wallace a few years ago. It was very well done and I enjoyed it. It might make a nice evenings entertainment for movie/and book night. It was called End of the Tour. I recommended it to several people who like that kind of movie.

>61 benitastrnad: Happy Sunday, Benita. Thanks for the reminder. I have wanted to see End of the Tour since it came out.

We did watch Hidden Figures the other night. Terrific film. If you have not seen it, check it out.

Hey, buddy. I just realized I'll probably take a week's break from Infinite Jest starting Tuesday. That's when we head to NOLA, and IJ is hefty enough that I think I'll leave it here.

Right now I'm thinking I'll take Rules of Civility and Binti Home (sci-fi), along with a Heyer (The Black Moth) on my Kindle.

>63 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! We have never been to NOLA. It is on our travel list. Have a great time. Post some photos.

I listened to an excellent stretch in IJ yesterday, that was absolutely masterful. I will probably continue the audio, through mid-week.

So jealous, you are getting to Rules of Civility before me. Towles has been getting lots of love around here.

"All the rest is postscript--the cloud of ash that rises from the volcano, circles around the earth, and continues to rain down on all its continents for years."

"Amsterdam looked liked a dying man who suddenly flushes, opens his eyes, and miraculously comes back to life."

-The Assault. I am really enjoying this one. The writing is excellent. There is also a character called Fake Ploeg. What a great moniker, right? With a name like that, he would fit in perfectly, in our current presidential cabinet. Grins...

>61 benitastrnad: >62 msf59: End of the Tour was good! Even though I'm not a big fan of DFW, I enjoyed the movie.

>66 Copperskye: I want to see the film, Joanne. Despite it's challenging moments I am really enjoying IJ. I am so impressed that Chris plowed his way through it.

You and Joe are giving me the itch to tackle IJ. I'll have to see if I can work it in.

>65 msf59: Glad you like The assault, Mark, I had to laugh about your look at the Fake Ploeg character :-D

Hope you are having a great Sunday, Mark. Party plans sound good!

>68 drneutron: Well, Joe gave me just the right nudge, Jim. Guilt works every time. It is a challenging read, no question about it, but I have a feeling it is going to be worth every word. His writing is that good.

>69 FAMeulstee: Isn't Fake Ploeg a terrific name, Anita? And we have two of them in this novel. Really enjoying the book.

>70 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! Getting ready to head out. We will probably come home, right after the halftime show.

>71 msf59: I doubt Mulisch had an English translation in mind when he wrote this book ;-)

>72 FAMeulstee: Enjoying this conversation. I think I'm going to treat myself to a copy for the shelf. One I will definitely want to reread.

Hi Mark, hope you have a great week. Are you liking Ghosts? It is so popular in the library I haven't had an opportunity to check it out yet. My students love anything Raina Telgemeier!

>72 FAMeulstee: Good point, Anita!

>73 charl08: I am really enjoying The Assault, Charlotte. Have you read anything else by him?

>74 AMQS: Hi, Anne! Great to see you, stranger. I am really enjoying Ghosts. I am a big fan of Telgemeier.

>47 msf59: Mark, I'm so glad you are reading the footnotes. They are well worth the trouble. Some of them could be chapters in their own right as I recall. Such an interesting (and long) book. It does help to read it along with someone for encouragement. Lucy (sibyx) and I read it several years ago with some high-brow group. I mostly lurked on the thread…

P.S. Lucky you spotting a roadrunner in Arizona.

>76 msf59: I think The Falcons have #51 Super Bowl in the bag! The grands and I are rooting for them.

>76 msf59: >77 Donna828: La,la,la....I can't hear you!

Wow, that is some cactus up top. It must be 15 feet tall!

Infinite Jest sounds like a project for you, I love it that you have the paper copy at hand for reference. That is something I would do too :)

I hope your team wins the SuperBowl! (I'm allowed to say that to each teams' supporters right?)

>77 Donna828: Hi, Donna! I remember when you read Infinite Jest and I was very impressed, with my pal from Missouri. Thanks to Joe, I decided to finally knock it out. It is a challenge but the writing is awesome. I am not as thrilled with the footnotes, at this point. I was expecting a bit more.

Yah, for roadrunners! And the Patriots are a mighty, tough team.

>78 Berly: You should be very pleased, Kimmers! The Pats came roaring back.

>79 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. Yes, some of the cacti, might have been that high. The desert is a beautiful place and the temperatures were perfect.

I would love to see you take on IJ. It is your kind of book. Just sayin'...

>80 msf59: Not trying to tempt Megan are you ??? surely not with a doorstopper .....

Hi Mark! Hope you have a great week ahead and no snow. I didn't have the fortitude for IJ, but maybe sometime I will.

>80 msf59: Mark--Thanks. Super excited! I can't believe they came back from a 25 point deficit. Don't hate me. : )

>81 roundballnz: Who, me? Never...Good to see you Alex!

>82 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. Fortitude is a good word, for IJ, but I am glad I finally made the leap. I think it is one of those modern literary wonders, that should be read, especially by well-rounded readers like us, but there is no question, it is challenging.

Up and down temps this week, but no snow! Yah!

>83 Berly: I didn't like the Falcons THAT much, Kimmers. I was rootin' for the underdog. The Falcons should have won that game. Costly mistakes.

Morning, Mark! Yay for Infinite Jest! I need to get round to that one soon, along with his other stuff I haven't read. Love him.

>85 scaifea: Morning, Amber! If you can find IJ, on audio, try it that way, but keep a print copy handy too. It is working for me. I plan on diving back in today.

Good morning, Mark! I'm with you - rooting for the underdog and they made costly mistakes. Of course my husband blames me - I came home from book club when they were up 28-3 and he says I jinxed it.

I hope you have a great day

Morning Mark! Hope you enjoyed your Superbowl party last night. Mine consisted of popcorn in bed while playing games on my phone. Tres exciting :)

Morning, Mark!

What a Super Bowl! That was an amazing comeback. There's no joy in Peachtown today, I imagine. And lots in Beantown. Most importantly, the snacks were excellent at our place, and I hope at yours, too.

What a game is right! Well worth the price of two large pizzas, popcorn and a six pack. All enjoyed in our cozy family room.
I'm off to pick up March, book one from the library today and while I'm at it I'll look for Ghosts.
Good luck with Infinite Jest. I think I own it but no urge to read it.

Heavy Monday work load, but sunshine and mild temps will help...

>87 karenmarie: Morning Karen. You are no jinx, my friend. The Falcons lost that one, all by themselves.

>88 ChelleBearss: Morning Chelle. Your evening sounded perfect. We left after the halftime show, so it wasn't very late.

Morning, Mark! I do not want to talk about the game. And I am sad that football season is over.

Happy new week, Mark.

>89 jnwelch: Morning Joe! Sad time in Peachtown, sounds about right. Glad you had a good time at the party. I hope I can make it next year.

>90 Carmenere: Morning Lynda! Sounds like a cozy time, watching the game.

Hooray for March! You will love it.

>92 lunacat: Love it! Thanks, Jenny.

>93 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Gentle hug to my pal and Birdy.

>94 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. I hope your week goes well too.

My husband is almost in what he calls sports hell - as soon as college basketball season is over he droops. There are some things that vaguely interest him, but once he starts watching golf I know we've arrived in one of the circles.

>97 karenmarie: Not sure when golf season starts, Karen but I hope your husband does not have to wait long.

I am getting excited about Spring Training, which begins in a couple of weeks. Yes, we are still crazy about our Cubs.

Hi Mark, Happy Monday!!

Cubs pitchers and catchers report on Feb 14, a week from tomorrow. Yippee!!

>99 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! Hope you had a good Monday. I know it is not easy. Very nice weather, though.

We hope to return to Arizona next year, during Spring Training and catch a Cubs game. Tickets are a hot commodity there too.

>100 msf59: I heard about that. My snowbird friend who is there Jan til about March 9 couldn't get any Cubs tickets in Arizona. A guy at work ended up with a pair of lawn seats for two Cubs games in Arizona but couldn't get any more than that.

I've snagged a Friday package. I think I have 7 or 8 Friday afternoon games at Wrigley.

Besides the O'Nan baseball book, I'll probably read some mysteries for awhile, before I get going on Lillian Boxfish.

That is good to know, Linda! Maybe our friends out there can try to snag Cubs tix early.

Hope you liked the O' Nan. That one did sound promising.

>87 karenmarie: Tell your husband that he is wrong. I turned it on when they were up 28-9 and I'm sure it's me who jinxed it.

Hi Mark! I finished my O'Nan and didn't love it. It just fell short of my memory of Last Night at the Lobster (which may get extra credit for an awesome title), but I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it despite its shortcomings and I'm glad to get it off the TBR shelves. And next month we have William Styron. Oh boy.

I hope your Monday work day wasn't too bad. As I have been shouting about on my own thread, we had the first snow day, as in university closed, in 8 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, including about an hour reading The Unwinding and some time catching up on LT.

I really want to go to spring training one of these years.....

I'm afraid I'm one of those who does not watch even the Super Bowl. Glad you enjoyed it, Lone Ranger. Another snowy day here in Vancouver, though not a snow day like Ellen has, but in more easterly parts Greater Vancouver , they did get a snow day.

>103 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Good to see you. Boo to all that snow. We have not had any here, since before the New Year.

Sorry, your O'Nan didn't ring your bells. I had similar feelings about Songs for the Missing. Liked it. Did not love it.

Looking forward to Styron. And I want to get my mitts on The Unwinding.

>104 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. I can not believe you are getting more snow. Wow! Are you able to still go on your daily walks with Poppy?

Morning, Mark!

Morning Amber!

Morning, Mark!

Morning, Mamie!

Morning, Mark! I like >109 msf59: a lot. It's how I feel right now, too.

14) I Will Send Rain: A Novel by Rae Meadows 3.5 stars

“There had been no rain for seventy-two days and counting. The mercury would climb past a hundred today and no doubt again tomorrow."

It is Oklahoma, 1934 and there is dust...and a lot of it. This depression-era drama, features Annie Bell and her family as they struggle to survive, on their small farm. There is infidelities, drought, teenage angst, withering crops, sickness, more dust and there is even an ark, if you can believe it.
I think the author had read and studied, The Worst Hard Time. Many of the incidents, in that book are presented here, like the rabbit round-up. I liked the novel but it really never caught fire, in the way I hoped, but if the subject matter, interests you, give it a shot and say a little prayer for rain, will ya?

>109 msf59: That is an absolutely gorgeous image. Who is it by?

>114 lunacat: Not sure, Jenny. I just grabbed it off the web. I will check...

Sadly, it does not give a photo credit.

>109 msf59: Love it! Happy Tuesday.

>115 msf59: Morning, Kimmers! Glad you like the boy on a sea of books. That was me, as a little guy.

Happy Tuesday, Mark.

Thanks, Barb! Enjoy your day.

>117 msf59: Great cartoon. I hope you managed to find your work today in the fog. It was nasty out there.

>121 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! I am enjoying a day off. We have a big pot of chili in the slow-cooker and I have my books. It is shaping up to be a very good day.

^After finishing the powerful, The Assault I am moving on to Nine Island, by the Australian author Jane Alison. This is an E. R. selection. I had not heard of this author. I remember this getting some buzz when it came out but I do not think I saw any LT activity on this one. Has anyone else?

>123 msf59: I'm thinking I read The Assault back in my college years and liked it. More than 30 years ago, though.

I've been focusing on my Obama book club book about Vietnam and presidential decisionmaking/presidential advisors. Lessons in Disaster. Very good.

>124 lindapanzo: I would highly recommend The Assault. I am giving it almost 4.5. Terrific writer. The Vietnam book sounds good.

I was taking a quick look at the poetry shelves at my library and I stumbled upon a volume called Just Saying. Now, how could I resist a title like that? I had never heard of Rae Armantrout, but she seems to be an acclaimed poet. Not sure, I will complete the collection. Much of it is sailing over my silver head but here is the title poem:

Just Saying

"What might be said

to disport itself

along the cinderblock

in leaves.

*

What I write

I write instead

of ivy.

*

Green snouts

in evidence or—

more

to the point—

insolent

and tense.

*

What might be said

to writhe

professionally

as the days

nod and wink."

-Rae Armantrout

^I like the flow of it, but not sure what it really means. Help?

>126 msf59: - Hmmm. Over my head too, I'm afraid. Which is why, I think, I often don't go there, altogether. I think one has to have the *ear* for poetry, to fully appreciate it. And I don't think I do, for the most part. But I do have full admiration for those who do!

>127 jessibud2: I am getting much better at enjoying poetry, Shelley, but there are still some styles, that I can not connect with. I hope that, that improves with time, because when it clicks...it really sings.

^Yes, I am still reading my GNs, just not as fast & furious as before. I am sipping it, relishing it, like a fine scotch whiskey. This is not a review but, I solidly recommend Ghosts, which I know Joe is also a big fan of. I really enjoyed her last GN, Drama too, which I will also warble about.

>123 msf59: So happy you enjoyed The assault too, Mark!
I try to read along if someone in this group reads a Dutch writer, so if you ever plan a next Mulisch let me know :-)

Cartoons, Poetry, GNs...what's not to like here?! : )

>130 FAMeulstee: Have you read any of his other work, Anita? If so, can you recommend anything?

>131 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers. Just trying to keep it interesting. Are you reading any GNs, of late?

>92 lunacat: is that a roadrunner??!!

Because life is like that, I was watching the Simpsons the other night and and Homer (it was always going to be Homer, right?) saw a picture of a road runner and said "Wow! They are real???" I had just said the same thing on your thread ;)

>129 msf59: aaaah Joe's thread is where I had seen that before. I knew it was looking very familiar to me. Either way. It worked, as I want to read it asap.

>113 msf59:, >114 lunacat: I am wondering if it is a photograph by Dorothea Lange 1895–1965. She did such amazing photography of the dust bowl era. I remember reading about her and watching an amazing documentary about her after reading Mary Coin as her photograph was on the cover of the book, a very famous photgraph! I have had The Worst Hard Time on my "to read" list for a long time.

Hi Mark, I'm slowly getting caught up with everyone. Slow seems to be my speed these days, I find myself getting very tired quickly. I get to see the doctor tomorrow and I am hoping for the "All clear". My slow brain seems to be carried over to my reading as I can't seem to absorb anything too detailed so I am sticking to mysteries, westerns and YAs at the moment.

Your trip pictures are great and it sounds like you had a fun vacation. Sorry you are back on the grind but I hope that we will all be able to put winter behind us soon and move on to spring!

I'm putting The Assault back on hold at the library.

And Ghosts looks like fun.

Happy Wednesday, Mark.

>134 mdoris: Hi, Mary. I think Dorothea Lange is a terrific guest for that dustbowl photo. I wanted to read the Coin book. It is on my list. And please, please, dust off your copy of The Worst Hard Time. NNF at it's very best.

>135 DeltaQueen50: Howdy, Judy! So good to see you. You have been missed. Glad you are recovering, albeit slowly. And yes, we had a very nice AZ getaway.

>136 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! I am sure you will really like The Assault. It is short but packs a big punch. Ghosts is heart-warming and fun.

>137 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Great to see you posting regularly.

>126 msf59: Ooof, I like that one, but I'm with you in not knowing exactly what it's on about. Sometimes, though, I'm okay with that - the language is lovely enough for me to enjoy it nonetheless.

Happy Wednesday, friend!

>139 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Glad you like the poem. You are right- I think we try to find more meaning, when it is just a certain tone or a feeling. It takes time to get used to that. Just sayin'...

^I watched the film version of A Man Called Ove last night. It was a delight and it brought back many fond memories of the book, which I know many of us adored. The lead was much older than I remember him, but he did a terrific job. Nice job with the flashbacks and the actress playing his deceased wife was lovely. See it, if you can.

Morning Mark!

Hi Mark! Happy Wednesday.

>113 msf59: There was a fantastic series by Ken Burns on the Dust Bowl from 2012 that my husband and I watched last fall. I recommend it.

The whole series was fascinating and informative. The thing that has stuck with me is that the environmental disaster was entirely man made. From Wikipedia:

With insufficient understanding of the ecology of the plains, farmers had conducted extensive deep plowing of the virgin topsoil of the Great Plains during the previous decade; this had displaced the native, deep-rooted grasses that normally trapped soil and moisture even during periods of drought and high winds. The rapid mechanization of farm equipment, especially small gasoline tractors, and widespread use of the combine harvester contributed to farmers' decisions to convert arid grassland (much of which received no more than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation per year) to cultivated cropland.

During the drought of the 1930s, the unanchored soil turned to dust, which the prevailing winds blew away in huge clouds that sometimes blackened the sky. These choking billows of dust – named "black blizzards" or "black rollers" – traveled cross country, reaching as far as the East Coast and striking such cities as New York City and Washington, D.C.

>141 msf59: That one is on my TBR list still! I keep meaning to grab it at the library

>142 lunacat: Happy Wednesday, Jenny. Yah, for coffee. Our lifeblood.

>143 karenmarie: Morning Karen. I saw the excellent Burns doc too and it was based on The Worst Hard Time. You learn a lot here. A real eye-opener.

>144 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle. I hope you can find a copy. It is a little gem.

Good morning, Mark! Greetings from NOLA.

We arrived after the stormy weather here, and it's beautiful and in the 70s F now. Off to wander soon.

Glad you enjoyed Ghosts. Debbi was quite taken with it, too. I'm about halfway through Rules of Civility and liking it very much. What a touch he has - quite different from A Gentleman in Moscow, but charming again.

Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday!

>141 msf59: You are reminding me that I have that one in the stacks.

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

In answer to your question over on my thread, my print reading has slowed to a halt, but I have taken up Ready Player One on audio. I got through eight discs on Monuments Men and decided to take a break. The pace had slowed, and I plan to wrap it up after, or during RPO. As fo my print reading, my concentration is off and I am going to take a break for a week or so.

>132 msf59: The discovery of heaven is thought to be his best book, Mark, but it is a big tome. I hope to read it this year. I have many others on the shelves, not sure wich ones are translated.

Hi Mark -
Looks like I need to check the library for Ghosts. I loved Paper Girls Vol. 2 and today I started The Fade Out Vol. 1 which I think I heard about from you.

>147 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! 70 sounds great to me. Hope you are having a wonderful time in NOLA.

Good news about Rules of Civility. I hope to get to it, in the coming months.

>148 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! I am sure you will love A Man Called Ove.

>149 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! I hope you are having a good time with RPO on audio. I loved it, in that format. And I also hope you get back to The Monuments Men at some point.

>150 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita! I will be watching for your thoughts, on The Discovery of Heaven. It looks very promising.

>151 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli! Great to see you. You will enjoy Ghosts and if you have not read her GN, Drama, track that one down too.

I loved The Fadeout trilogy. Great stuff. And I have Paper Girls 2, home from the library and will start it next. Yah!

Just passing through to say hello, Mark!

>154 katiekrug: Hi, Katie! Hope you had a good day!

>138 msf59: you missed me out *waaaaah*
Tantrum over.

Also, Ghosts is at my library, but is currently out, I will definitely be going back for it.

In beer news (cos I know you're always interested in that)....I am on a two week hiatus. Just to see if I can. Summer gets a bit....beersy...so I am health-kicking :) Which means I have no cool beers to report today.

Ah, haven't kept up with your thread.

But I thought of you when I saw this piece about poetry.

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/08/513100833/poetry-to-pay-attention-to-a-preview-of-...

>133 LovingLit: >156 LovingLit: Sorry, Megan. I remember reading the post twice too and still forgot you. Bad Mark.

Yah, for roadrunners. You will like Ghosts. An entertaining GN.

Not drinking beer? Say what? Actually I am looking forward to a beersy summer. Grins...

>157 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. I have missed your visits. The poetry link looks wonderful. I will save it, so I can go back and take notes. Thank you, my friend.

>158 msf59: I nearly caved this evening, as my lovely other has some lovely home brewed beer that is at its peak. See how strong I am to resist!?? I think I might revise the scope of my experiment to one week.

Sweet Thursday, Mark.

>160 LovingLit: Ooh, that was a close one, Megan. Is he able to bottle you some, for future use? Fingers crossed.

>161 Ameise1: Sweet Thursday, Barb! The weekend is getting close.

Morning, Mark!

>163 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Heard the Skype news on your thread. Yahoo!!

-IJ Update: 313 pages, (29%) Thankfully, much of this is highly readable and clever. Once in awhile he goes off on a minor tangent, that is outside the main narratives, but I am sure it will connect somewhere down the line. He was one very smart cookie.

On a lesser scale, I am enjoying Nine Island. Funny, before I started it, I thought it was fantasy or dystopian, but it turns out, it is about a middle-aged woman, living in a high-rise in Miami. LOL.

Good morning and Happy Thursday, Mark! I'm impressed that you're persevering with Infinite Jest.

Happy Thursday, Karen. Lots of sunshine here but very cold.

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

>165 msf59: excellent job staying the course.

I saw a copy of News of the World at Half Price Books this week. I was surprised at how small and relatively short a book it is. I may have to take it up from the library. I read the first page and was intrigued.

Hello Mark!

I've been MIA for a few months, but hope to be back in the swing of things soon. Happy day to you.

Good afternoon Mark! Skipping over vast swaths of your threads. Seems I'll never be totally caught up, otherwise! things do move quickly around here!

I have a friend who is fanatically and obsessively evangelical about Infinite Jest. It's sheer size has always scared me away. will let him know about your progress!

Blizzard in progress here in Massachusetts, but just saw our local mailman scoot by. Very impressive. I love that guy.

Sounds like your current reads are going well. I am enjoying but making slow progress on a hard-core hard boiled Sci/Fi detective novel. Woken Furies is the last one of the Takeshi Kovacs series by Richard K. Morgan. I had to request this one through Inter-Library Loan because my library didn't have it. Usually it takes only about a couple of days and I get an ILL request. This one took three weeks. It came all the way from St. Louis Public Library system. Reading this novel is like reading Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett. This series is an intriguing mix of hard-boiled detective and far in the future Sci/Fi. I listened to the first one in the series, but was unable to locate a recorded version of the second and third in the series. If you can find the recorded version, I recommend it, (and Joe does too) and I guarantee that you find the time passing on your daily rounds rather rapidly.

I have a book of David Foster Wallace's essays, but haven't read it yet. I think my next book of essays will be something by Rebecca Solnit. Most people who read her essays love them.

Sweet Thursday, Mark!

Good IJ update. Agree with all you say.

We're continuing to enjoy NOLA. Off to a good seafood restaurant (Peche) tonight.

>168 brodiew2: Sweet Thursday, Brodie! All is good here. I keep plugging away here. Hope to get to the midway point, in IJ, in the next couple of days.

I hope you request News of the World. It is such a good read.

>169 Whisper1: Linda stopped by! Linda stopped by! Hooray! Good to see you, stranger!

>170 michigantrumpet: Skipped over "vast swaths" of my threads? Say what? Do you have any idea, what you may have missed, Marianne?

Kidding, of course. Keeping up on the threads, is no easy task, my friend. I would love to chat with your friend about IJ. This one screams- conversation/discussion.

And BOO to snowstorms! We have been very lucky in that department.

>171 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita! All is good here. The Takeshi Kovacs series sounds very interesting. How many of them, have you read?

Which DFW essay collection do you have? I have not read Solnit. I will have to research...

>172 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe! Another excellent stretch of IJ, today, dealing with Gatley and AA. Probably, my second favorite section.

Ooh, enjoy your seafood...sounds great.

Howdy Mark! Too bad Songs for the Missing didn't float your boat. He has written better.

>175 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda! I still liked Songs for the Missing, it just didn't hit the highs, that some of his others did. I still hope to bookhorn in, one of his story collections by the end of the month.

#174
I have Consider the Lobster.

Solnit has a new book of essays Men Explain Things to Me that has had great reviews. I have Wanderlust: A History of Walking on the table. It is not a book of essays, but it is a subject about which I have an interest.

The Takeshi Kovacs series is three books. The first one is Altered Carbon, second Broken Angels, and the third is Woken Furies. They are all about 500 pages so they are not short novels. I could only find the first one in a recorded version. Nancy Pearl recommended the first one. She said it was over-looked. I had not heard about them, but Joe has read all of them. They were published in the middle aughts, so they aren't new, but they are great fun.

>162 msf59: the beer is bottled, and will be savoured another day :)

>165 msf59: well highly readable and clever sounds pretty good! And that cover is gorgeous too. Go Mark!!

>177 benitastrnad: I WANT to read Consider the Lobster. Maybe, once you are finished with it, you could pass it on to your pal. It looks like I NEED to read Solnit. Wanderlust: A History of Walking sounds really good and I love that cover. I better request it...

I'll be watching your thoughts on the Takeshi Kovacs series.

>178 LovingLit: Hooray for saving the beer, for a better day. Perfect. I think you would appreciate Infinite Jest. It is so smart and well-written. If you lived closer, I would pass on my copy to you. It does not have the same cool cover, like the photo.

^I just bought a copy of Birds Art Life, from my local bookstore. How could I pass up a title like that? Thanks to Nancy & Shelley for first putting it on my radar. And I just received an advanced copy of Salt Houses, which comes out in May. It sounds really good. She is also a poet, which also interests me.

>180 msf59: - Woohoo, you got it! Birds, Art, Life. It's $28 plus tax here in Toronto (where the author is from, I might add) so I am waiting for either the soft cover or the library. I hope it's good!! Awaiting your review!

(I thought I was the one who mentioned it to you first but no matter...;-)

>181 jessibud2: Maybe, you did mention it first, Shelley. I know 2 pals mentioned it to me, in a short time span. I thank you both. With a coupon, I bought the book for 20 bucks. I buy very few "new" books but thought this would be worth owning. And I like buying a few "new" books from my local book store, each year, just to support them.

There was an interesting review of Birds Art Life in the Seattle Times this past weekend. I immediately put it on hold at the library.

And you, Joe, and Lucy have me thinking that I would like to tackle Infinite Jest. When I buy that Kindle I've been wanting for so long.... :-)

>183 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Birds Art Life is a lovely little edition and it is relatively short. Glad you requested it.

I would love to hear your take on IJ. It's size is very daunting but it has been a joy despite its length.

>179 msf59: I was just thinking the same thing about you (living so far, and posting books costing so much) as I think Jernigan would be up your alley. Has anyone invented a physical book portal yet?

>183 EBT1002: I think I'd have to read Infinite Jest on a kindle too, to save my hands from an eternity of pain.

I am a big fan of Birds Art Life for many reasons. It is a gem of a book that is hard to describe. I say the more warbling (sorry to borrow your term, Mark, but it seemed appropriate), the better.

Being a former bookseller, I am always happy when people purchase a book. On the other hand, my mother was a librarian and I used libraries often when I was a child, so I say any way you read a book is fine with me!

>179 msf59: "I'll be watching your thoughts on the Takeshi Kovacs series." they are very good, though audio-bpook version maybe a rears thing, as they came out before audio books went mainstream .....

Thirteen is also a great read .....

>141 msf59: I already read it, but my RL bookclub just chose A Man Called Ove for our next read. Maybe I'll just watch the movie this time!

>186 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy! Glad to hear you are such a fan of Birds Art Life. It looks like it will be money well spent. Have you read anything else by her?

>187 roundballnz: Thanks, Alex. I would love to try one of these on audio, (because of the length) but if I can't, maybe I can just track down the first book.

>188 Berly: Like in most literary cases, Kimmers, the book is more nuanced, so I would still recommend reading it but in a pinch, the film would do.

Good morning, Mark!

Birds Art Life sounds great. I've added it to my wishlist.

(I've posted my book booty on my thread. Come back for a visit.)

Morning, Karen. I hope to bookhorn in Birds Art Life, in the very near future. I will stop by...

Happy Friday, Mark!

Jeez, I'm going to have to race like the wind to finish within two weeks of you on IJ. Rules of Civility was very good, and I can see why it got all the accolades it did. We're going to find the bookstore today that so many have recommended - Faulkner House. I'll report back.

Hope you have a good one, buddy.

Happy Friday, Mark.

>192 jnwelch: Happy Friday, Joe. I haven't decided if I will take a break with IJ or not. Hope to be halfway done, by tomorrow, COB.

Let us know how the Faulkner House is.

>193 Ameise1: Happy Friday, Barb. Yah!

>113 msf59: >114 lunacat: >115 msf59: I know everyone else saw the image weeks ago, but I just now scrolled (or strolled) through the last 136 posts. The photo is indeed by Dorothea Lange. I love looking at photos at realms like Tumblr, but it really really really irritates me that those who post do so without attribution or comment or context. I often do a Google search, and often I do get a hit, but as often as not, even a match turns up no information.

With the cursor on the image, right click. The last item on the drop-down pop-out menu is something like "Search Google for this image." Click on that and a new tab opens with search results.

I am inspired by your message on my thread. I gotta give some attention to this group. My attention deficit seems to have me more scattered lately. Two chapters to go in A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz, then on to O'Nan and Kahneman.

>196 weird_O: Thanks for the image search tips, Bill. Unfortunately, I don't have that search option in my right-click menu in Firefox. Perhaps it's just a Chrome setting, since it is a Google product?

>189 msf59:. This my first encounter with her!

Happy Friday, Mark! I hope the books are treating you well. I am happy to report that it is raining here - on top of about two feet of snow but I am hoping that will soon disappear and this ugly winter will be behind us.

>195 EBT1002: Happy Friday, Ellen! I work tomorrow but I am still glad that the work week is nearly over.

>196 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Thanks for the confirmation on the Dorothea Lange image and thanks for the Google advice. I did not know that. Sometimes I post images of art and there is not a photo credit, so this will come in handy.

I like Horwitz but have not read A Voyage Long and Strange yet. It is on my list. I hope you enjoy your O'Nan selection.

>198 rosalita: Hi, Julia! I use Chrome, so I will have to give this tip, a try.

>199 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy. It might be a couple of weeks, but I plan on getting to Birds Art Life, in the very near future.

>200 Familyhistorian: Happy Friday, Meg! Yes, all is well here. 2 feet of snow? Wow! That is more than we have received all season...so far. You guys have got hit pretty hard. You need a break.

>141 msf59: The movie version of A Man Called Ove sounds interesting ... Although some of my favorite parts are his imagined conversations with the cat. Did they get that in somehow?

Happy Friday Mark. A little wine left over from last night is beckoning ...

Oh, and Tony Horwitz is married to Geraldine Brooks for people who like that bookish gossip types of things! :-)

>203 michigantrumpet: Happy Friday, Marianne! They do include the cat in the film version of "Ove", but no inner-dialogue. They probably thought it might be too difficult to pull off.

Yah, for Horwitz & Brooks! Love them both.

Enjoy that leftover wine, my friend.

^ I have wanted to read Silence for years. Joe and I, have talked about reading it together, a couple of times. Well, the film version is out and I have a copy on my Must Read Now Shelf, so it looks like I will read it next. (I LOVE that cover too! Not the same one I have.)

Anyone else read it, or any of Endo's other work?

>189 msf59:
I get the feeling I'm unloved and unwanted :(

Ill just slink off into the Southern Hemisphere and soak up some sun while you reflect on your old kiwi pal's hurt feelings. *Boo hoo*
Forgotten again......

>205 msf59: never heard of it, looks good, want to red it, want to see the film. Top tip: if its on your Must Read Now Shelf, then you must. Read it. Now. You yourself did say.....

>185 LovingLit: Sh*t!! I can't believe I missed you again, Megan. Sorry. Bad Bad Mark. Do not take it personal, I must be getting old and dotty. You are much loved.

Yes, a Book Portal would be great.

I will let you know about Silence. It looks great.

Hi Mark, happy weekend!! Watching the Hawks tonight and then will probably move on to my O'Nan baseball book. Pretty quiet weekend ahead so maybe I can get a lot of reading in.

>202 msf59: Two feet is just an estimate, but that is what fell last weekend, all weekend. We usually get mega rain, which is why the grass is usually green and the pine trees are giants, this time the temperature was just below freezing so, yeah, it was about two feet all tolled. Something wrong with this picture if we have snow and you don't. Sure you don't want us to ship it there?

>205 msf59: Silence keeps appearing on my want to read list as well, never quite got round to it, but do want to read before the film .... mmmm

maybe after the film as its out next week ......

hey ho marky. seen this?

My favorite things is monsters GN.

hope all's well, m'dear

>207 msf59: hooray!
It wasnt intentional 😉

Maybe Jim is working on a portal.....

Happy Saturday, Mark.

>209 Familyhistorian: We should have had that much snow, these past few weeks, but we dodged that particular bullet. Hope you manage to just stay to rain. Fingers crossed.

>210 roundballnz: Hi, Alex. I am looking forward to diving into Silence. The film didn't get as much praise but I want to check it out.

>211 mirrordrum: Ellie made it! Ellie made it! Hooray! And thanks for the Gn rec. My Favorite Thing Is Monsters sounds wonderful. I will request it immediately.

>212 LovingLit: It would never be intentional, Megan. You can guarantee that. And yes, let's get Jim working on a Book Portal. Amazing idea.

>213 Ameise1: Happy Saturday, Barb. Getting ready to head out to work shortly.

If You Are Holding This Book



^I have been reading Dog Songs, by Mary Oliver. I love dogs but this one isn't singing to me, the way I hoped, although there are still a few gems sprinkled throughout.

I enjoyed Dog Songs, but i really love her nature poetry. I have read so much of hers, I can't always recall which collectuons are my favorites, esp since i also read her Collected Poetry Vols 1 & 2. Have you read A Thousand Mornings? That one is a gem.

Happy Saturday, Mark!

Silence doesn't speak to me, nor does Dog Songs, but this is a rare non-BB series of messages. Usually you zing me even if I don't acknowledge it.

Hey Mark. Sorry about the Mary Oliver book.

Thought you might like this piece of Billy Collins, as a birder.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/feb/11/saturday-poem-tanager-by-billy-col...

Mary Oliver? One of my Thingaversary books was her book of essays Upstream. You've liked her in other books though, right?

Haircut this am, followed by a library lecture this afternoon. Ahem, it's on a history of Dog n Suds, the small drive in chain. We still have a couple around here and are very avid Dog n Suds fans. Have to find out when they open for the season. The other one opens on Feb 24 but I have to find out when the one the speaker owns opens.

Hey, buddy. Happy Saturday!

I haven't read that Mary Oliver, but kudos to you for keeping up the poetry exploration. Sometimes they zings ya, sometimes they don't. I've got a Philip Levine one with us that I expect to dip into tomorrow.

I finished another Heyer, and I'm going to start Binti Home, the second in an unusual sci-fi series by an up-and-comer. Oh, and Ethan of Athos, one in the Vorkosigan universe, but out of the main story line.

Nice start to the day. All ready 40 degrees and still warming up. Not shabby for February.

>216 alphaorder: Thanks for chiming in on Oliver, Nancy. If you can remember a couple ofyourfavorites, stop back by. I bought A Thousand Mornings last year but have not cracked it yet.

>217 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I better take better aim with my BBs. I am sure I won't get you with IJ either. Grins...

Morning, Mark! A Thousand Mornings is good and so is Blue Horses.

>218 charl08: Happy Saturday, Charlotte. I am definitely not disliking Dog Songs, it just isn't going to be one of my favorites.
I will checkout the Collins link. Thanks.

>219 lindapanzo: Happy Saturday, Linda. Upstream is on my WL. I have heard good things. I hope you enjoy it.
Have a great day.

>220 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Glad you are getting plenty of reading in, on your getaway. Which Levine are you reading?
I am starting Silence. I know we talked about that one, over the years.

Happy Saturday, Mark.

>222 Crazymamie: Gave Blue Horses five stars when I read it back in 2014. Highly recommend.

Then I would go with either edition New & Selected Poems. And although not poems, I loved Upstream!

>222 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie. I will give Blue Horses a go. Thanks.

>224 BLBera: Happy Saturday, Beth. Thanks.

>225 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy. I saw Blue Horses at my library. I will pick it up next time I go in.

>215 msf59: For whatever reason, I enjoyed Dog Songs more in my second reading.

I love that quote and think about it whenever I unclick Skye's leash from her collar and tell her to "go play". Unbridled joy.

Songs for the Missing is the only O'Nan I've previously read. Not bad, but didn't have me searching out more of his work. I've picked up the audio of City of Secrets for the AAC (I chose that one mostly so I could add to my global reading locations list).

I thought Silence pretty harrowing when I read it last year. I hope to see the movie when it comes out.

Happy Saturday, Mark! Love it when you display the books you purchased. Good marketing! Makes me want to run to my local and check them out!

I finished Tony Horwitz's voyage; an interesting, entertaining, informative read.

Starting Emily, Alone.

Hope you're having a righteous weekend.

>214 msf59: I checked out the reviews & see what you mean .... I think it might be better to read :)

>227 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! Dog Songs was okay. I just wanted the poems to be a bit loftier. This was pretty light musings, IMHO.

And hooray for Skye! Freedom!!

>228 streamsong: Hi, Janet! I hope your next O'Nan, works better for you. I have not read City of Secrets but there are many fine novels of his, floating around.

>229 Carmenere: Happy Saturday, Lynda! Yes, I like giving my little book presentations and it sure helps, when you get nice cover art. I hope to get to both of these, in the coming month or so.

>231 roundballnz: Hi, Bill! I worked today but I am looking forward to tomorrow off. Glad you enjoyed your Horwitz voyage. I will have to hunt that one down.

Emily, Alone is an excellent choice. Enjoy!

>231 roundballnz: Silence, the film, is directed by Martin Scorcese, one of my favorite directors, so I hope it is at least visually stunning.

Not far, into the book, but I really like it so far.

^Jesuits in Japan. Not far into Silence but I can tell this is going to be a good one!

>223 msf59: Levine I'm reading: The Simple Truth.

I just finished Binti Home, and it was as good as the first. I think you might like this African-flavored sci-fi, starting with Binti. She writes really well.

>205 msf59: I have Silence out from the library at present. I'm hoping to get to it, my current reading plans aren'tgoing so well.

Good to see that you are loving Infinite Jest, I can get the audio from my library and might just go that route. I listened to his Brief Interviews with Hideous Men and liked that and have also read Consider the lobster.

I'm adding the GN Ghosts to my tbr. I add books I want to read to goodreads where I'm friends with some children's literature experts and one linked to a blog post by Debbie Reese critical of the GN from a Native American pov.
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.co.nz/2016/09/not-recommen...
then another link to Laura Jimenez’s review: https://booktoss.wordpress.com/2016/09/18/ghosts-swing-and-a-hard-miss/ and a comment by Yuyi Morales in another blog post.
Debbie Reese is well known in childlit circles for speaking up about how indigenous people are depicted in children's literature so while we read the books for enjoyment value, it's also good to be aware that there is criticism of these works.

I'll get right on that Book Portal!

Hope you have a great Sunday with rest, relaxation, books and beer, Mark.

Happy Sunday filled with R&R, Mark.

Mark, I love Shusaku Endo's works. I think you're going to enjoy Silence. I've also read The Samurai, The Sea and Poison, White Man, Yellow Man, Five by Endo and I have Kiku's Prayer in my TBR Tower at home.

Silence sounds fascinating. I saw the trailers for the recent films adaptation and there was some discussion about his books when it came out. A friend of the author talked about his relationship with the Catholic community: I'd missed that it was such a controversial book.

I think I'm going to treat myself to some Oliver for my thingaversary.

>235 jnwelch: The Simple Truth is a good choice, Joe. A Pulitzer winner. We will have to share more of his work. I remember you warbling about Binti. I should see if I can track it down.

>236 avatiakh: Hi, Kerry! Good to see you. I hope you can make time to read Silence. I am not far in, but I can tell this will be a special one.

Yep, still plugging away at IJ. I am so glad that so much of it is entertaining and highly readable. I have only read one of his essay collections, but I want to read all the others too.

Thanks for the Native American links. I will check them out.

>237 drneutron: If anyone can come up with a book portal, it is, you, Dr. Neutron.

>238 Familyhistorian: Happy Sunday, Meg! My wife's aunt is having a 80th birthday party, this afternoon. It should be a nice mix of friends & family and I am pretty sure beer will be involved. Smiles...

>239 Ameise1: Happy Sunday, Barb! I hope you get some relaxing time in today too.

>240 cameling: Hi, Caro! Great to see you. Funny, I thought of you immediately, when starting Silence. I remembered your interest of Japan. You know your Endo, I see. What are a couple of your favorites or are they all good?

>241 charl08: Happy Sunday, Charlotte! Hope you can snag a copy of Silence. I have the film, waiting in the wings too, so I hope to see it soon after.

Hooray for Ms. Oliver! I plan on getting Blue Horses out from the library.

Mark, how have I missed 130 posts or so? Sorry Long Ranger! I watched Late Night with Seth Meyer a couple of nights ago and he interviewed Viet Thanh Nguyen Now I am keen to get my paws onto The Sympathizer and the The Refugees. He seems like such an interesting and fun guy.

>244 vancouverdeb: Happy Sunday, Deb. Things can move quickly around here, so no problem. I will have to look for the Seth Meyer interview. I hope to read both The Sympathizer and the The Refugees, in the coming months. I have the first one on shelf.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

17) The Assault by Harry Mulisch 4.4 stars

A gripping WWII novel, set in a war-torn Dutch town. After a A Nazi collaborator, is gunned down, while riding home on his bicycle, setting off repercussions, that resonate, with all the people involved, guilty and innocent, through the rest of their haunted lives. An excellent look at the ravages of war.

**I want to thank Darryl & Paul for putting this on my radar. The warbling paid off.

>247 DianaNL: Happy Sunday, Diana! Cute kitty.

18) Nine Island by Jane Alison 4 stars

The setting of this autobiographical novel, is the Venetian Islands, of south Miami. A place I had never heard of. (Why, we read books, right?)
The narrator, known simply as “J”, (presumably the author) is a middle-aged woman, living alone, with her elderly cat, in a crumbling high-rise. She shares with the reader, her sharp observations, about her tumultuous love life, her colorful neighbors, her ailing mother and her sexual fantasies.
I was not sure, this would be my sort of thing, but I was swept along with her bright, insightful prose and her vivid descriptions of steamy Miami. I am glad I stuck with it.

^A Muscovy Duck. Native to Mexico and Central and South Americas. This homely waterfowl was featured in Nine Island, as the narrator tries to rescue this wayward bird.

**Nearly caught up on my E.R. books. I just have Ill Will, which I just received yesterday.

Happy Sunday, Mark!

>246 msf59: Paul and Anita alerted me to this book, but your warbling has caused me to take it down to start it this afternoon.

I hope you have fun at the Beer Birthday Party!

>251 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen! Glad my brief warbling about The Assault got your attention. It is a very fine book.

We should have a good time at the Beer Party! Grins...

Happy Sunday, Mark!

Hope you get lots of Reading and Relaxation, buddy.

Happy Sunday, Joe! We have our aunt's 80th birthday party this afternoon. It will cut into my reading time, but what are you going to do, right?

Looks like another nice one in Chicagoland.

>246 msf59: You're welcome buddy - it was a no brainer!

Have a great day and give your aunt a gentle hug for me.

>246 msf59: Good review, Mark, thumbed it :-)

>255 PaulCranswick: Hey, Paul! Hope you had a great weekend, my friend. And I will give Aunt Cor a gentle hug. She will like that.

>256 FAMeulstee: Thanks for the Thumb, Anita. Not much of a review but I hope it sparks some more interest.

^There has been some continuing chatter about Rules of Civility and GUESS WHAT? It is an ebook deal today at 2 bucks. No-Brainer:

https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Civility-Novel-Amor-Towles-ebook/dp/B004IYJDVG/ref=...

Nine Island sounds good, Mark. I've been thinking about Silence, as well, but I have some things I want to read for Black History Month, so it may be a while.

>258 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I just picked up a copy.

Hope you're having a relaxing Sunday. I've got golf and hockey watching on the agenda, along with reading, reading, and more reading. I have the O'Nan baseball book in hand right now.

I have not read anything by Shusaku Endo and probably won't. I can't handle that much blood and guts in a book. That does not mean that I don't think he is a good author. Those I know who have read him think he is an outstanding author.

In general, most of the Japanese authors really dig into the blood and guts and some parts of books by these authors are harrowing experiences for me as a reader. Murakami is an author I can read, but from time-to-time, there are parts of his books that cause me to skip pages and hope I didn't miss anything vital in the story line. I especially have trouble with torture and have suffered many nights of nightmares due to my reading habit. I decided that none of the suffering was worth it and so avoid books or authors I know will write about such things. Endo is one of those authors.

I hope you like the book and that you will read more by him because as a nation, we need to widen our reading horizons.

It is also appropriate that you are reading this novel on the weekend when our president is entertaining the Japanese Premier to a golf trip at a resort that he owns. That can't be bad for business.

>261 benitastrnad: - I am happy to hear you say that, Benita. I often feel like a wimp because of the same reasons. I just cannot tolerate violence, especially when it is gratuitous, but even when it's a vital part of a story. I've read enough to know how it affects me and I have abandoned more books than I care to count, because of such stuff. I am even having a difficult time with Kindred, in some parts and won't read it at night. Yet, I know there are many outstanding authors out there who I will miss out on.

I guess there is enough of such stuff on the evening news, if I ever feel the *need* for blood, guts and horror. I don't need it as entertainment. I don't go to violent movies for the same reasons.

>258 msf59: Have you read it, Mark. My library has got a copy.

Just shy of a quarter through Emily, Alone, but it hasn't quite got its hooks into me. It probably will. Hell, it could be about Judi and I, doddering old, eh, with apologies to drneutron, farts. I've got a number of things to tidy up and post on my thread. Maybe I'll get something wrapped today.

Silence, I almost got that at the airport bookstore the other day (was on a quick business trip and needed an extra book, of course), but I opted for The Girl on the Train instead. Didn't start it tho. I think, that it will have to stay on the WL, I'll get to it eventually.

Nine Island sounds really interesting, going to have to add it to the WL.

>258 msf59: Perfect timing!

Hi Mark! I am trying to get caught up on ER books, too. I have a review to write 9for Dark Matter and then one more book to read and review I Am No One, then I will be guilt free again! I haven't requested any books for a while. Otherwise they are not EARLY reviews!!

>259 BLBera: Hi, Beth! I am sure you will love Silence. Sadly, I did not get much reading in today but I hope to get back on track tomorrow.

>260 lindapanzo: Glad you picked up Rules of Civility, Linda. Perfect timing. We were at a family birthday all afternoon and then went to friends for games and drinks.
Good time but not much reading.

>261 benitastrnad: Happy Sunday, Benita! I am less than 50 pages into Silence and there has been no blood & guts. Just excellent storytelling. I am sure there is going to be some rough stuff later on, but I have a feeling this is going to be an exceptional read.

>262 jessibud2: I do not think Silence is a blood & guts type story but they do make it clear that these Jesuits and some of their followers were tortured and killed.

>263 Ameise1: I have not read it yet, Barb! I have Rules of Civility saved on audio, so I think I will go that route.

>264 weird_O: Howdy, Bill! I hope Emily, Alone picks up for you. It is one of my favorites.

>265 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff. You should have snagged Silence, when you had a chance, but I also really liked The Girl on the Train. I hope it works for you. I have still not seen the movie version.

>266 jnwelch: Amen, Joe!

>267 Berly: Hooray for catching up on your E.R. reviews, Kimmers! I loved Dark Matter. I did not like I am No One.

I haven't seen the movie either. I love Emily Blunt and I want to watch it, but I am definitely a readit1st kinda guy.

>269 msf59: Looking forward to your thoughts.
Wishing you a good start into the new week.

Morning, Mark!!

>270 mahsdad: I am a big fan of Emily Blunt but the reviews of The Girl on the Train have been tepid at best. I will still see it, at some point.

>271 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Good luck at work, this week. Hope it goes smoothly.

>272 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Morning, Mark.

>273 msf59: Half day is over. So another two lessons and I'm heading back home.

Morning Mark. I hope your week starts off well :)

Hi Mark! Happy Monday - I'm off to a Friends of the Library Board Meeting. I hope the Birthday Party was fun and I hope your day is starting off well.

Happy Monday!!

The mail is heavy but I did receive assistance, so all is good, plus lots of sunshine and milder temps, should make it a fine day.

>274 DianaNL: Waves to Diana!

>275 Ameise1: Hopefully you are on your way home, Barb.

>276 lunacat: All good, so far, Jenny. Thanks.

Good morning, Mark!

Hope the mellow weather (for Feb) continues in the Chi-town area. Last full day in NOLA for us, although we'll have some time tomorrow a.m. before our flight leaves. The Philip Levine book is very good, and one you'd appreciate. I'm going to keep reading more of his stuff.

>277 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I hope the board meeting goes well. All is good here.

>278 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle.

>280 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Enjoy your last full day, in NOLA. The weather should be very nice here, on your return.
50s by the weekend.

I did read that Levine. I really liked it too.

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

Hello, Mark! I missed morning. *sigh* Thanks for the head's up on Rules of Civility - I snagged it!

>282 brodiew2: Hey, Brodie. My Monday is going good. Thanks. I hope yours is doing the same.

>283 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. Nice day in Chicagoland. I saw and heard a male cardinal singing his little heart out, earlier.

Glad you grabbed Rules. I see it was still on sale today.

^Good Reads offers an amazing amount of book giveaways, (I probably request 4 or 5 a week) but it is very difficult to win anything due to the sheer amount of readers, requesting these titles. I think I may have won 5 books, in 6-plus years. Well, I just snagged Days Without End and it really looks good. I have never read this Irish author, Sebastian Barry but he seems to be pretty popular. Has anyone read him? Thoughts?

I just read Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize back when that list was much more robust than it is now. He is Irish and focuses on Irish issues. Oftentimes there seems to be no heroes in his books, but he does have interesting characters. Secret Scripture was, in a round-about-way, about the hold the Catholic Church had on Ireland and how it insinuated itself into many of the laws of the new Irish state. I thought it was very good and enjoyed it. I hope this new book is of that same quality.

>287 benitastrnad: Thanks for chiming in on Mr. Barry, Benita. Glad you enjoyed Secret Scripture. His books do look good.

Yes, I have loved his books and I have Days Without End waiting for me at the library, tomorrow's pick up.

>289 mdoris: I'll be eagerly watching for your thoughts, on that one, Mary. It sounds great.