Michigantrumpet Toots Again 2017 (part 2)

Hello and Welcome!! My name is Marianne, a 50ish lawyer living and working in the Greater Boston area. I moved here over 30 years ago from Ann Arbor, hence the Username. Mine is an eclectic mix of reading, spanning serious to fluff and both fiction and non-fiction. I managed to make it to 75 in 2016 with a few to spare. Yay, me! hoping for more of the same in 2017.

This is my fourth year in the 75er group. Last year was a complete bust as to active posting, but I did plenty of lurking keeping track of you all. I hope to be more present in the upcoming year!

I ADORE 75er meet ups! The true highlights have been meeting up with Caroline (Cameling), Suzanne (Chatterbox), Darryl (Kidzdoc), Jim (magiciansnephew), Judy (ffortsa), Benita (Benitastrnad), Mark (msf59) as well as the excellent crew from LibraryThing holding fort at the ALA convention table. I still wear my LT t-shirt every possible chance!

Look me up if you're in the area!

"I've developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by far, than I learned anything useful from." ~Marilynne Robinson, Gilead

A concept we probably all take to heart!

I adore Ms. Robinson's writing. And I'm not the only one. Check out this love letter of an interview with President Obama, who clearly has read her thoroughly and deeply. Don't you just appreciate literate readers?:

Part one: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/11/05/president-obama-marilynne-robinson-co...

Part two: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/11/19/president-obama-marilynne-robinson-co...

Books Read in 2017




1. Matilda by Roald Dahl
2. Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler
3. When God Isn't Green by Jay Wexler
4. Hissing Cousins: The Untold Story of Eleanor Roosevelt and Alice Longworth Roosevelt by Marc Peyser
5. Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
6. Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prentiss
7. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
8. A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams
9. Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro
10. The Water Room by Christopher Fowler
11. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
12. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
13. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
14. Maestra by L. S. Hinton
15. Seventy-Seven Clocks by Christopher Fowler
16. Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
17. Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt
18. All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker
19. Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
20. Human Acts by Kang Han
21. The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson
22. The Great St. Mary's Day Out by Jodi Taylor
23. Lionel Asbo by Martin Amis
24. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
25. Three-Martini Lunch by SuzanneRindell
26. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
27. Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
28. Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
29. The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith
30. The Thirst by Jo Nesbo
31. Ten Second Staircase by Christopher Fowler
32. Theft by Finding by David Sedaris
33. Crossing the Borders of Time by Leslie Maitland
34. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
35. David Sedaris: Live at Carnegie Hall by David Sedaris
36. David Sedaris: Live for Your Listening Pleasure by David Sedaris
37. Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie
38. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
39. Hear the Wind Sing by Haruki Murakami
40. Pinball by Haruki Murakami
41. Murder at Fenway Park by Troy Soos
42. Dinner With Edward by Isabel Vincent
43. Dear Mr. M by Herman Koch
44. New Boy by Tracy Chevalier
45. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift
46. Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken
47. Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa
48. Heat and Light by Jennifer Haigh
49. The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King
50. Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
51. The Girl Who Takes an Eye For an Eye by David Lagercrantz
52. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
53. News of the World by Paulette Jiles
54. Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
55. The Scarred Woman by Jussi Adler-Olsen
56. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
57. The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer
58. The Pier Falls by Mark Haddon
59. Trapeze by Simon Mawer
60. Tightrope by Simon Mawer
61. The Windfall by Diksha Basu
62. Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams
63. My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix (-Ish b/c I Pearl Ruled it. I feel I should get credit though for reading/suffering through as much as I did.)
64. The Decent Proposal by Kemper Donovan
65. L'Appart by David Lebovitz
66. Rare Objects by Kathleen Tessaro
67. A Fine Imitation by Amber Brock
68. Mon Amie Americaine by Michele Halberstadt
69. City of Secrets by Stewart O’Nan

Getting caught up on Reviews from 2016

1. The Travelers by Chris Pavonne
2. Rogue Heroes by Ben McIntyre

The biggest event in these parts was the New England Patriots' incredible comeback Super Bowl win over the Atlanta Falcons. I want to give a shout out to the Falcons - a good young team, with a great quarterback and well coached. Everyone I know who went to the game said the Falcons fans were fantastic. They just came up against Tom Brady, who refused to be denied.



Tom Brady is indisputably the Greatest. Of. All. Time. Have followed him since his earliest days coming to the University of Michigan.He is hard working, dedicated and does TONS of unsung charity work here in New England.

Now I hear you about the Donald Trump thing. Belichick, Brady and Kraft never endorsed the man. (It's true. Look it up. Just because Trump says it, doesn't make it true. Really.) But there is no doubt, they all consider him a friend. Bugs me, too. But, then again, look at some of the people I'm friendly with. Brady has said he appreciates the support Trump gave during Deflategte.

Which brings me to the whole Cheater Cheater thing. I have read every word of the Well's report, NFL front office releases, testimony, legal briefs and motions filed, Judicial Orders and decisions. There is NOTHING I have not read about the entire affair. I will tell you categorically, having read it ALL, it was a hatchet job from day one. I will fight you on this one. And unless you've read it ALL, don't even try coming after me on this one. And I have Patriots Nation at my back. This was about Goodell's preservation and abuse of power.

Happy new one, Marianne. I'll return when the first four posts are filled but now I have to sleep (10.10pm here).

First one in, Barbara! Sweet dreams!

Thanks for the assist Anita! I think I may need a nap, too!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Marianne!

Boston threw a pretty sweet party afterwards. Here is the route for the Victory Parade:



My office is located between #1 and #2 on the map. You would think I was well placed for the parade, right?

A million people lined the parade route, according to the local TV stations. I had court that morning in a city North of there. Which made getting back to the office pretty near impossible. Had to drive home and watch it on TV! My colleagues had a great time though.

But let's get to the most important topic -- the food at the Super Bowl parties!!

I was asked to bring dessert, so I brought Margarita Mini-Cupcakes, recipe from Prohibition Bakery:



Lime Cake, filled with tequila infused lime curd, and topped with a tequila/triple sec frosting and sprinkled with flake salt!

What did everyone else make?

>8 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>9 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley!

Happy new thread, Marianne. xx

Happy New Thread, Marianne! Try not to have any strong opinions, now. ;-)

>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul!

>14 ronincats: Well, I really am a pussy cat, Roni! At least no one can say they weren't warned if they want to talk smack. :-P

Another from the famous ALA Book Haul of 2016

6. Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prestiss
4 stars



Spend enough time with New Yorkers and you'll get an earful about gentrification and Disneyfied Times Square. If you, too, reminisce about a grittier and more authentic NYC, you will enjoy Tuesday Nights in 1980. Time: The dawn of the '80's, the age of disco, women's lib, and just before AIDS, when everything felt wild and excessive. Setting: The arts scene of high end dealers, top auction houses, galleries in abandoned factories, and artist studios in rundown squats. The players: Raul, talented, broke painter on the cusp of notoriety and fame with a mystical connection to a sister left behind in dictatorial Argentina. Young, fresh-faced Lucy, newly arrived from the Midwest and ready to start life and adventure. Peculiar James, who turns his synesthesia into success as a top art critic. From disparate backgrounds, the three each find a way into the edgy art world and connect in ways surprising, erotic, and tragic. Each sustains a loss which may jeopardize their place in this rarified world.

I enjoyed learning about synesthesia, a condition in which the senses overlap. James can look at art and experience sounds, smells and flavors. Numbers and people take on explosive colors. Prentiss uses James' unique experiences to make the art exciting, fresh and palpable. The narrative gained an immediacy by being always in the present -- one character picks up at exactly the point where another left off. I was rapt until the end and quite satisfied with the ending.

>11 michigantrumpet: I brought wings. I know, pretty standard fare, but these are wings from Kloby's BBQ, my favorite place in town. They fry them, coat them in Buffalo sauce, fry them again, then coat them again. Nice and crispy!

Happy new thread, Marianne!
>7 michigantrumpet: No that wasn't me, Barbara was first.

>17 drneutron: I can't get enough good wings, Jim! I agree - the crispy kind are the best! I've never heard of Kloby's - Can see why they are your favortie!

>18 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita for the assist. Clearly I need a nap, too! I went up to edit with the change. And thanks for stopping by!

So, how much snow did you end up getting today? Is it finished or is it still falling?

It's dry here in Toronto. I didn't even have to wear boots today but I did, because it was cold.

I made a King Cake. My supper club, (non-pro football followers to a person) didn't realize that the Sunday we picked to meet and eat was Super Bowl Sunday. We had a Mardi Gras themed supper and I made one of the deserts - King Cake. I had made this recipe before, and with my new Kitchenaid mixer it was even easier to make.

Along with that King Cake we had shrimp romolade, beef tenderloin, creamed peppers, cajun mashed potatoes, and strawberry shortcake. And some nice wine. It was a great meal. After we ate, we watched the end of the game.

#5
I don't know about The.Greatest.Of.All.Time thing. I think that John Elway was pretty good, and Jim Kelly were good. But for my money, the greatest of all time was Bob Griese. He called all of his own plays. He wasn't just an automaton of the coach. Quarterbacks went to heck in a hand-basket with Tom Landry and Roger Staubach.

And don't get me started on those so called great football players of today who play one down. Give me Jim Brown, John Riggens, Ray Nitschke, or Dick Butkus. They played every down. Or almost every down.

Happy New Thread, Marianne! I skipped over "vast swaths" of your threads, just to catch up...kidding, of course. It is so nice to see you posting, my friend.

And hooray, for Ms. Robinson. I love that woman.

How you doing with that snow?

Happy New Thread!!! And Yay Patriots!! I think this is a good place for me to hang out. ; ) I can't believe your office was right on the parade route and you couldn't get to it! Dang it. LOL

>20 jessibud2: Thanks for asking Shelley. It's slowly coming to an end, but with a heavy wind, sending it drifting back right over where I just shoveled! Hard to tell with the drifting, but I would guess about 13". We've decided to hold off on clearing the driveway again until tomorrow morning when the wind dies down.

>21 benitastrnad: >22 benitastrnad: Oh, Benita! I love King Cake! Friends from Louisiana send us one every year for Fat Tuesday. Don't you just adore your Kitchenaid stand mixer? It made the mini-cupcakes above so easy to make! One of the small kitchen appliances I would be loathe to give up! The rest of the menu - mouth watering! That's a great supper club you have!

I can see some arguments to be made for Joe Montana or Brett Farve, too. If you want to go back to QBs who called their own plays, Bart Starr and YA Tittle come to mind. But it's hard to argue with 5 Super Bowl rings, multiple SB and League MVP titles, and records in just about every category. And he's not done yet.

>23 msf59: Ha! That's a good one Mark! My vast swaths of a thread comes to a quick walk down the front steps to the driveway. Yours is down the drive, around the corner and about two miles to the Town Center. After literally hundreds of posts in about five days, I was panting for breath on your thread! Good for you! Pretty popular guy!

Loving the Robinson appreciation -- pretty special author!

Done shoveling for the night. Wine beckons!

>24 Berly: Thanks Kim! Feel free to pull up a stadium seat in our preferred section!

I tried like anything to get the case that morning moved. No such luck. The Judge is a Giants fan.

I hated to miss the parade. Got to trudge through some confetti the next day, though! :-D

" Yours is down the drive, around the corner and about two miles to the Town Center." LOL! That's about right!

Enjoy that wine, my friend! I am having a pale ale.

>15 michigantrumpet:. Love that pussy cat...that's a look that would put you in your place, right?

Happy snow day, Marianne! My students always look so surprised when I cheer for a snow day. I tell them that one is never too old to enjoy one.

Your cupcakes look yummy.

Love the Robinson quote. I think I'll go and order some books.

Tuesday Nights in 1980 goes on my list.

Oh, and happy new thread.

Hello again, Marianne - I'm not sure how to send the Link you mentioned, but here is the complete Thread name:

FEBRUARY 1st, 2017 - Happy 133rd to the OED!!!

(if you still don't see it, I'll add a post so it goes back to the front.)

You also might enjoy MEMES - with compilations now added.

I remember seeing a poster near our Elementary School Gym (1950s) that read:

"Otto Graham - One Mile Through The Air" and always being amazed that he could throw a football a mile!

>2 michigantrumpet: "I've developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by far, than I learned anything useful from."
Well I certainly take solace from that!

>16 michigantrumpet: I enjoyed learning about synesthesia
My old boss (and coincidentally, my best ever boss) has synesthesia. For her, numbers all have colours. She couldn't stand to look at certain number combinations as the colours didn't match! She ended up abandoning having a land line, as all the numbers he was offered weren't right. It was fascinating talking to her about it.

>30 m.belljackson: Here's a link to the thread.

Thank you, laytonwoman3rd! At nearly 73, I'm still computer challenged.

Hope you enjoy the story and MEMES too!

>25 michigantrumpet: Sigh. No one mentions Fran Tarkington. His Vikings were lovely to watch.

My dad was a fan of Tarkington. I don't think he (my dad) ever set foot in Minnesota, though....

>27 msf59: Oh Mark - Keeping up with your thread is a major - but enjoyable - undertaking. I'm just thrilled I can say I know The Man of a Million Posts! Hmmm .. some of the wine from yesterday still left. Guess I'll just have to finish it tonight. Taking on for the team and all that.

>28 laytonwoman3rd: I loved that look, Linda! That's a serious cat! Mom: "Morris! Din din!" Morris: "Can't you see I'm reading?"

>29 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Tuesday Nights in the 1980's was a little uneven in spots but overall I quite enjoyed it. Especially as I first hit the Big Apple just a few years later. And I adore Ms. Robinson.

>30 m.belljackson: Throwing a football a mile -- That's an accomplishment! Glad to see you back, Marianne!

>31 LovingLit: Hi Megan! Isn't that a lovely quote? And I'm quite fascinated about your boss with the synesthesia. what an interesting syndrome! And apparently far more common than one would think. A bit unusual to have it encompass all the senses, though, like with the protagonist of the book. I love how the brain works!

>32 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, thank you for finding Marianne's thread for her!

Please, everyone, let's all now go over to Marianne's (m.belljackson) thread and say hello. She's new to the 75ers and feeling her way around a bit!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/247744#

>33 EBT1002: That penguin sliding around on ice looks like most of the greater Boston area the other day! But so jubilant -- because FRIDAY!

>34 m.belljackson: I loved your story about The Professor and the Madman and how you got interested in the OED, Marianne. Hoping you will post more one your thread about your general reading for the year. I'll be sure to check back in on your progress!

>35 ffortsa: Oh Fran Tarkington! Yes, Judy, he was a joy to watch!

>36 EBT1002: And Ellen agrees with you, Judy! Ellen - My Dad was more of a college football fan. I think he liked Joe Namath because of his cockiness, though.

Happy Friday, Marianne! I hope you have a nice weekend planned. I read/listened to The Professor and the Madman, just a couple of months ago. I really liked it.

Happy weekend, Marianne. Any plans?

More New Person questions:

1. Do readers post the same reviews BOTH on their Threads and on their Review pages?

2. If a review on a Thread is intriguing, how do you see all of that person's Review pages?

Thank you.

>42 m.belljackson: Welcome to the group! Most people don't know this, but I was the original founder of the 75 Books Challenge. It's now the largest group on LT!

1. I do post the same reviews on the book's page and my threads in 75ers and Club Read. And also on Goodreads and Amazon. The only difference is that I add a star rating for 75ers.

2. All you need to do is click the reviewer's name. That will take you to their profile page, where you can click Reviews to see them all.

>42 m.belljackson: I sometimes tweak my reviews a little before posting them on the book page. Some of the information I include on my own thread may be a little "inside-jokish", designed for my 75'ers group buddies, and it may not work for the general LT readership. But that's a personal quirk. Also, sometimes I don't think I have anything great to add to the already existing reviews of a popular book, and I just don't bother to post to the book page at all.

>42 m.belljackson: - I can't really call myself new anymore but I also wondered about those very questions, so thanks for asking!

>43 Cariola:, >44 laytonwoman3rd: - And thanks for answering! :-)

>42 m.belljackson: I always write a (short) review on my thread, if I post a review at the book page I do it in Dutch and only for books that have no or very few reviews.

Fran Tarkenton also played for the New York Giants.

>40 msf59: and >41 Ameise1: Thanks for asking Mark and Barbara. The weekend has been filled mostly with shoveling out from the latest snow storms and running errands, I'm afraid.

We joined out next door neighbors for dinner out followed by an evening of cards. We play a game called "Euchre." It's a simplified game of pinochle played with four people (two sets of partners.)

Each hand is started by one person declaring a suit "trump." Of course, in liberal New England, this wouldn't do. So, we've decided when declaring a suit at the beginning of the hand, it instead will be called "love." This led to all sorts of commentary such as "Diamonds are love." "I had a handful of love."
"I haven't seen any love all night!"

Such is how we entertain ourselves on snowy winter nights!

>42 m.belljackson: Good questions, Marianne!

1. I will always post a review on the the book page, and will *try* to get it onto my thread page unless I'm ferociously behind, like I was last year! :-D

2. When posting a review into a message on their thread, many people will include the book's touchstone (a hyperlink you can click on to go directly to the book page). To do a touchstone, you type in the book name between two brackets -- the keys just to the right of the letter "p" on your keyboard.

If done properly, the book name will appear in blue once you've posted the message.

Once at the book page you can usually find the person's review pretty quickly, and give it a thumb's up if so inclined.

3. To get to anyone's profile page, you can click onto their name at the top of their message. Right now, at the top of this message, you will see 49 michigantrumpet. Clicking on michigantrumpet will bring you to my profile page. from there you can click on the reviews to get to them all. I think it says 366 reviews right now. You click on that.

>43 Cariola: and >44 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks Deb and Linda! I love all my 75er friends!

>45 jessibud2: We're a helpful bunch around here, Shelley! I'm always learning new things - especially when it comes to technical 'computerese!'

>46 DianaNL: Awwww! what a cutie! Thanks Diana!

>48 benitastrnad: I love that you include a review for Dutch readers, Anita!

>49 michigantrumpet: I'd quite forgotten about his time on the Giants, Benita! Glad you chimed in there!

It'a snowing again now. Planning on watching the film version of A Man Called Ove on DVR. My RL book club is tomorrow, so I'm preparing for the discussion about Roz Chast's Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?

Then off to start another week!

7. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
3.5 stars



Few readers astounded by Alexandre Dumas' swashbuckling tales of derring do in The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers realize they have a basis in a true French hero - Dumas' father. The story of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas - a larger than life character befitting any novel - is well worth resurrecting from obscurity. He was a black man who rose to Commander-in-Chief (equivalent of a four star general), "the highest rank for a man of color in an all-white army before Colin Powell."

Thomas-Alexandre Dumas was born on a Haitian sugar plantation to a French nobleman father and slave mother. When the father returned to France, he took his then freed son along and gave him a gentleman's education. When Thomas Alexandre decided to join the military at the very lowest level, the father was incensed that his name would be attached to a private. The resulting, never-repaired rupture led Thomas Alexandre to adopt his slave mother's name, 'Dumas'.

Surviving the French Revolution, Dumas rose quickly through the ranks, gaining a reputation for valor, physical strength, moral conviction, and courageous leadership. He was revered and respected by those men serving under him. By 1796, he formed an alliance with Napoleon Bonaparte which would lead to Dumas' greatest fame and lowest despair. They fought together through the Italian and Egyptian campaigns. His great height (over 6 foot tall) and dark good looks led the Egyptians to believe he was the leader, not Napoleon. This assuredly did not sit well with Napoleon.

Dumas, having the "unique perspective of being from the highest and lowest ranks of society at the same time", was firmly committed to The Republic's principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. He soon came to feel Napoleon was more interested in self-aggrandizement than concern for his own soldiers. After a confrontation, Dumas was ordered back to France. On the way, the poorly equipped ship ran aground. Dumas was thrown into an Italian dungeon as a prisoner of war. There he languished for two years. Napoleon refused to have his name spoken in his presence. Dumas' wife eventually won his release. He returned to France a broken man.

Although novelist Alexandre Dumas was just a young boy when his father died, he was raised on stories of Thomas Alexandre's meteoric rise, enormous charisma and military prowess. These form the basis of his greatest novels. To those who knew General Dumas, the fictional characters were thinly veiled depictions of the great man. Nevertheless, the victors write the history and Napoleon effectively erased the quarrelsome General from our collective consciousness.

Author Thomas Reiss goes far in repairing and resurrecting the Black Count's reputation. This is a fast moving book that kept me drawn in to the finish. One might complain that Reiss slips occasionally into hagiography, and also inserts himself too much into this otherwise engaging story. The book opens with Reiss battling with French bureaucracy and dynamiting into a sealed safe in an attempt to access some Dumas family documents and memorabilia. Overall, though, I was quite satisfied. Anyone who is a big fan of the younger Dumas' novels, or those lovers of military history will be particularly drawn to this book.

>49 michigantrumpet: - You crack me up. Yes, the new president certainly requires a re-write in the dictionary for that word (his last name), doesn't it? It just seems to have one (bad) connotation at the moment!

Great review, Marianne. I've read The Orientalist by Tom Reiss. He is a good biography author.

That is a great review of The Black Count, Marianne. Thumb from me. I've been curious about Dumas the author for a long time, and this book about his father sounds very good.

>52 michigantrumpet: Interesting story about Alexander Dumas' father. Goes to show that you really don't know about people's backgrounds unless you take a good close look. The Black Count sounds very interesting.

I hope your snow is starting to disappear, Marianne.

>53 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. It was all in good fun. It took us a while to come up with the substitute word, until we latched onto the "Love Trumps Hate" Meme going around.We were in stitches laughing at all the odd permutations of our usual card night conversations.

>54 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara. I took a look at The Orientalist when I finished this one. However, all the books on Mount TBR were giving me that head-shaking look of disapproval. Needing to get more books out of the house before I bring more in! (Yes ... famous last words!)

>55 jnwelch: Mighty kind of you to bestow the thumb, Joe. Much appreciated. The Black Count naturally has a good amount of discussion about the novelist Alexandre Dumas, but I would not consider this a full fledged biography of the writer.

I've not hit on a good Alexandre Dumas biography. Perhaps someone here knows of one?

>56 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! "...Goes to show that you really don't know about people's backgrounds unless you take a good close look." So true in so many different situations!

I think it will take a while for the snow to melt. We got about 12" in the first round with another 8" yesterday. High winds, so lots of drifting.

Early in the snowfall -



Afterwards:



Plus, another front is expected through here sometime Wednesday! All told, we're likely to have over two feet of snow on the ground!

>58 michigantrumpet: you're certainly getting whacked with snow this month. Our deposit is mostly gone already, but the storm was nice while it lasted, especially as I could watch it come down in comfort.

I have The Black Count on my Kindle, got a deal on it. I fully intend to read it--one of these days! And I love the two feet of snow...;-)

>49 michigantrumpet: You're from Michigan; of course you play euchre! That's where I learned to play myself, when I had a brief sojourn at MSU. I love it.

Why euchre so widely played in Michigan (that's where I learned it, too)? Is this an immigrant story?

Marianne--Our snow is finally gone, the roads are dry and it was sunny today! In fact, no one knows how to drive when it is that sunny because I think we have all forgotten where we put our sunglasses!! So traffic was still bad. I am not kidding.

I thumbed your review of The Black Count. : )

Yikes. I think I'd be tempted to hibernate forever if there was 2ft of snow outside my front door. Of course I've never seen that much snow in my life so maybe I'd cope alright when I got used to it. Or maybe not. Good luck, and I hope you don't end up buried!

>62 jnwelch: That's a good question, Joe. It turns out people here in Iowa play quite a bit of euchre, too, but growing up in downstate Illinois it was not on my radar. Coming from the East Coast, we played 500 and gin rummy and Spit On Your Neighbor (which I believe is a bowdlerized name for us kiddies' sake). I know my mom could play pinochle and canasta but she never passed those on to us.

Hi Marianne. I've had The Black Count on the shelves for a few years now. Honestly, I've not really read any Dumas and I don't think of myself as a lover of military history, but I will still get around to it one of these days. :-)

I played quite a bit of euchre when I lived in Oshkosh and I enjoyed it. I don't remember the rules now, though.

Good luck with all that snow! It is beautiful.

I want to learn to play pinochle, canasta, and euchre. I love card games and love to play and socialize with people while playing. I think it is a great way to pass the time during a snow storm.

>59 ffortsa: I so agree, Judy - nothing cozier than reading with a cup of tea of a glass of wine while big puffy flakes drift down outside!

>60 ronincats: Isn't that the funniest picture, Roni? It had us in stitches!

>61 rosalita: I forgot about your time in EL, Julia! With the Euchre, at least we can say you learned something! (Just after your goat, m'dear!) Our Euchre playing options narrowed significantly when we moved to Boston. We've taught our next door neighbors from New Jersey how to play to expand opur options. Now they are quite cutthroat!

>62 jnwelch: Very good question, Joe. Here is the Wikipedia entry. Seems you may be right - brought here by the Germans!

Euchre appears to have been introduced into the United States by the early German settlers of Pennsylvania, and from that region gradually to have been disseminated throughout the nation. It has been more recently theorized that the game and its name derives from an eighteenth-century Alsatian card game named Juckerspiel, a derivative of Triomphe. Also, it may have been introduced by immigrants from Cornwall, UK, where it remains a popular game. It is also played in the neighboring county of Devon; one theory is that it was introduced by French or American prisoners of war imprisoned in Dartmoor prison during the early 19th century. Ombre is an ancestral form of Euchre.

In the United States the only teaching of the game, except a few paragraphs in the late American editions of Hoyle's Games, and of Bonn's New Hand-Book of Games, is contained in The Game of Euchre; with its Laws, 32mo., Philadelphia, 1850, pp. 32, attributed to a late learned jurist.

The game has declined in popularity since the 19th century, when it was widely regarded as the national card game, but it retains a strong following in some regions like the Midwest; especially the states of Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In recent years, it has regained some popularity in the Eastern United States in the form of Bacon. It is played differently from region to region and even within regions. In Canada, the game is still very popular in Southern Ontario, and the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, Australia and New Zealand all have large followings of the game.

>63 Berly: I hear you about the sun, Kim! Seems I always end up my journey westward at the end of the day to coincide with solar glare. We come up over an incline and ... BAM! ... sun full in our faces. then everyone hits the brakes as they search for the sunglasses!

Thanks for the thumb on The Black Count review. Much appreciated! I made the Hot Review list!

>64 lunacat: Good point, Jenny! Although it doesn't seem quite so bad given it has been spaced out over three storms. Just a big pile at the side of the driveway.

>65 rosalita: Canasta! My Mom used to play that, too, Julia! Hadn't thought about that in years. Thanks for the memory.

>66 EBT1002: I can see, Ellen, why you aren't racing to snatch that one from the shelves. It did give an interesting perspective on French perspectives on race at the time of the Revolution and the early Republic. Quite different than in the US and England.

>67 benitastrnad: I'm with you on that, Benita! We love card and board games - especially when snowed in!

Am thinking I might need to pick up Bridge, if only to have something for my time in the Old Folks Home!

Wonderful discussion at my RL book group on Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast.

A VERY lively discussion! We first discussed the format. Many had never gotten into graphic books at all, and most had a bit of a prejudice against them. And yet to a person, they felt the combination of the cartoons, text and photos to be very effective. They felt that it added to Chast's personal and breezy style of writing. It was more informal and thus more personal, immediate.

Everyone there had been through dealing with an elderly parent/relative. People tumbled over one another to share passages that equated with their own experiences. We then discussed how our perspective of the book might have differed if we were 20-30 years older and more closely situated to the elderly parents. Several have children, but many do not. "Even if you don't have kids, you can't count on them to be there for you at the end." "I don't want a family member to be dealing with 'bodily functions', but I do want someone there I can trust to advocate for me."

WE concluded that there are too many variables to accurately counsel someone as to your desires for decisions to be made for you. But talking to one's children/parents now -- maybe even about the book -- means that the discussions will be easier when they are more necessary and specific.

A big thumbs up from us!!!

>71 michigantrumpet: I've thought about choosing a graphic novel for my RL book club too, but I've never had the nerve! Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? sounds a good first choice.

John Lewis' MARCH books might be a good followup/contrast for book clubs.

Also, my 4th Grade classes and I read the Workman Publishing Illustrated MACBETH
(before they were called "Graphic Novels") up to the last Act, then headed for
a full day field trip to Spring Green, Wisconsin, to watch The American Players
live version.

These Illustrated Classics are great fun reading!

It sounds like you had a great discussion of the Chast book, Marianne. I'm going to suggest it to my book club next year.

I also thumbed your review of The Black Count - we have to take care of our 75ers, right? And it was a great review.

>58 michigantrumpet: Two feet of snow. I hope you get warmer weather. Our snow is almost gone. And the predictions are for near record highs this weekend.

>71 michigantrumpet: I echo: big thumbs up for Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast.

Congrats on the Hot Review!!

>71 michigantrumpet: sounds good! The discussion, and the book. Course, now I have to check the book page, just to see....

Trumpet - don't see tapestry posts here, so guess this can be a secret, till it isn't:

Is there a way for 75ers to join together to send an online Barnes or Amazon or ???
Gift Certificate to David to send the message of how we are in awe of his strength
and positivity in facing the challenges he will endure...? and more...

(Remembering that this is all new to me so don't know if it's been done before.)

If one person could collect donations using a P>O> Box or Business address for privacy,
ten of us @$5.00 each would yield a $50 Gift Card.

Marianne J.

Oh, I am a huge fan of Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?. I'm glad your book group all gave it thumbs up! And a hot review.... look at you go!
:-)

By the way, I can't seem to find the list of hot reviews. I know I have seen it before. I may have mucked around with the view on my home tab and maybe I made it go away....

ETA: I found it. Had to click on "Reviews" under "Discover" over on the left sidebar.

>72 SandDune: You know, Rhian, I, too hesitated due to the graphic nature of Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?. Another group member had also read the book and joined in the recommendation. As you could tell from my comments, few had previous experience with the format, but liked it over all. I don't know that they'll search out more GN in the future, though. :-)

>73 m.belljackson: Good recommendation, Marianne, on the John Lewis March books. I adore the way you introduced your 4th graders to Macbeth!

>74 BLBera: I'd be interested, Beth, on your RL book group's reflections on the book when you get to it. And THANK YOU for the thumb. Much appreciated. But, please, no pity votes! :-)

>75 Berly: Thanks, Kim. I just spent some time talking with my Mom about it. Anything that stimulates conversation is good, right?

>76 LovingLit: Thanks a bunch, Megan. Well worth checking it out!

>78 EBT1002: and >79 EBT1002: Howdy Ellen! See, I don't even need to be here and all your questions are resolved! Glad to see you are feeling a bit better!

For those of you who might not know, David (Tapestry100) a 75er since 2010 has just learned he will be hospitalized for an extended time (weeks!!!) for a stem cell transplant. Scary times, although we are all thrilled he has been approved for the procedure.

>77 m.belljackson: I applaud you for your generosity of spirit, m.belljackson (Marianne), and your hope to raise a little money to send some reading material during his long convalescence. I seem to recall instances in which a gofundme page was established for others on these pages. I'm not too versed in how that gets set up. However, if someone else can take the ball and run with it, I am happy to contribute and post the link here. Any one willing to help? We'd need to have David's full name and an address, though.

Thanks, Michigan Marianne - if you can find one of the Workman MACBETHs, you will be well rewarded and enjoy how enthralled my students became.

Have you watched Roman (himself still a mystery) Polanski's MACBETH? The opening alone is incredible...

Since retiring from teaching, I no longer have a business address and gofundme is beyond my computer skills...it just feels like the right thing.

I hope someone can handle it skillfully.

I seem to recall a post mentioning a person in Michigan who was asking David if he wanted a visitor,
but cannot remember who that was.

Wisconsin Marianne

>82 michigantrumpet: We have done those sorts of things in the past, but I'm not the right one to ask about how to go about it. Maybe Amber? But I'd contribute if one gets set up.

So very excited: Saturday is Day 1 of the Best Picture Showcase. We'll see four of the Best Picture nominated films from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Have already picked out what to wear. Almost too psyched to go to sleep. It's like the first day of school.

The line up:

Manchester by the Sea
Fences
Hell or High Water
La La Land

Obviously, I won't be able to check the thread much, so you'll have to entertain yourselves.

Here are some pretty dresses to look at!

Enjoy your day, Marianne. I'd love to see all of those.

Thanks for the dresses.

>69 michigantrumpet: Thanks, Marianne. Euchre's popularity apparently is more widespread than I thought. I'm used to thinking of it as a Michigan game. It would be fun some time to learn those old-timey games. Juckerspiel? Triomphe?

My dad and I used to play cribbage and pinochle most weekends when I was growing up. Good times.

What a good idea to have Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant as a book club book. I'll bet that was a terrific discussion.

Someone's suggestion of the John Lewis March trilogy (or the first one in it) seems like it would work well, too. They're great books.

Last week our local art house movie theater held "An Evening of Shorts." This was a full night dedicated to showing all the movies nominated in the short film category. It was amazing the story that can be told in as little as 8 minutes. I believe that this same program is available from Netflix under that title. If so you might want to plan an evening at home to watch them with friends. And one of those cocktail cupcakes you are becoming famous for making.

>83 m.belljackson: >84 drneutron: We'll see if there is anyone who is tech savvy enough to be able to set up a gofundme page for David (tapestry100). Thanks, Jim and Marianne for your support for the idea. Marianne - perhaps you might go back to see if you can find out more information re: name and address.

>86 BLBera: Aren't they lovely, Beth? I adore watching all the dresses on Oscar night!

>87 jnwelch: I agree, Joe! I thought the same thing when reading about some of those old time games. Although, not whist. I'm terribly competitive as it is. I don't need $$$ on the line. It seems to be a perpetual plot twist about someone losing all their inheritance at the Whist tables!

Hope you are enjoying your time in A2.

>88 benitastrnad: I've been talking about signing up for Netflix for ages, Benita! However, I have hours upon hours of shows already on the DVR and I never seem to watch as much as I'd like of the shows for the channels we get as it is. Maybe once I win the lottery ....

Our local theater has "I Am Not Your Negro", an Oscar nominated documentary about James Baldwin (!!!). Hoping it will still be around after my orgy of Best Picture nominated films. There is only so much time I can spend in the movie theater.

The boozy mini-cupcakes, however -- Excellent idea.

Best Picture Showcase Day One Wrap Up --

First of all -- my husband surprised me by saying that I am in the minority about being as excited like the first day of school. He says that he looked at the first day of school with dread. He also says that he'd bet most people are with him. Me, I would plan out what to ear the first day, couldn't sleep the night before and was almost giddy by the time the day arrived.

So -- Am I wrong? Who is with me, and who is with my hubby?

Manchester-by-the-Sea: Not only up for a Best Picture award, but also Best Actor (Casey Affleck), Best Supporting Actor (Lucas Hedges) and Best Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams). Set (and filmed) in my neck of the woods. This is indeed what many of these coastal old fishing towns look like. Although, I must say Manchester-by-the-Sea is usually seen as being a very upscale place. The parts I've visited aren't anywhere as gritty as portrayed. Many of the "Bahstahn" accents were spot on. The ones that weren't grated terribly.

I had been looking forward to this film with great anticipation. Many of the 75ers gave is great reviews, as well. This film did not disappoint. Affecting story, great acting by Affleck and Hedges. I'm not so sure I would go with Michelle Williams, only because her role was so abbreviated.

Though I'm rarely a Middle of the Roader when asked an opinion, on this choice, I'll vote for Both of You.

At the end of every Summer, I'd visit each of my in-coming students at their homes...
this left a lull of 2-3 weeks before Labor Day
(plus or minus since Wisconsin cannot make up their collective
mind about when to start)

for preparation AND for the gradually mounting dread
because I knew that my Life would not be my own for the NEXT NINE MONTHS.

((Sometimes for 24 hours a day of each of the nine since my imagination worked overtime
during my 6-7 hours of sleep
to create Perfect and Wonderful Solutions - none of which usually worked or,
more important, got me out of Recess Duty,
which I hated, not for the fun of fresh air and happy kids,
but because it left Zero time for a bathroom break.))

Then...as soon as those first VERY EXCITED 4th Graders zoomed up to the door of Room 27,
I was right up there with them and the Joy of being able to LEARN EVERYTHING!!!

RE: more information

Awhile back, I sent a message to his Thread mentioning that I was new, but had a long ago connection since
my daughter was born in Lansing and my musician husband and I (then, a potter)
had lived in both Laingsburg and Bath in the 70s.

Yet, a request like that might be better coming from one of the Old Time LTers instead of a stranger.

>85 michigantrumpet: i love that image! Did you post it on FB, or like it there? I ended up looking at each image, dress by dress. It really shows the evolution of designers and stylists and their reaction relation to the Oscars as well.

>90 michigantrumpet: I always loved the first day of school, a fresh start. And the last day of school, when the fresh start had fizzled. The days in between ... meh*. :-)

* (I should specify that this applies to junior high/high school. I loved every minute of elementary school!

I always, always LOVED the first day of school! Picking out what to where, new school supplies, a new teacher,... It was all always so wonderful. And I still get excited for the First Days with Charlie.

Morning Marianne! Hope you had a good weekend. I enjoyed your thoughts on Manchester by the Sea. I like having a local's POV. There were some beautiful exterior shots in that film. I love Michelle Williams and thought she was strong in that final scene but, i agree, not enough for a nod. Give it to someone, with a bit more screen time.

I'm with you Marianne - I loved the first day of school.

Good morning, Marianne! I wanted to pop by and say that Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is a Kindle special today at just $1.99. After our discussions on your last thread, it sounded like you might be interested in reading it.

I'm in the "excited about the first day of school" camp. In fact, every September I'd be jealous of that feeling when my daughter was preparing for her first days, and now it always feels like something is missing because nobody in my world goes back to school anymore. Getting new supplies was such fun, and in my day you didn't find out your class schedule (grades 7 and up) until you got to school that first day. (We had no say in it, other than picking "College prep", "business" or "tech" as the course to follow. Even that was almost a given by ninth grade, based on your past performance.)

I think I looked forward to the first day of school more when I was a teacher than when I was a student! Seriously!

>82 michigantrumpet: Oh yikes, my dad's cousin is actually being hospitalized for the same procedure right now. Best of luck to him, and please do post if there's anything set up for a group gift card or some such thing.

I always did look forward to the first day of school, mostly the whole idea of a fresh new start, new book smell, and such. Somewhere in the school year it would always lose its luster. I love learning, but I am not a fan of homework or reading on a schedule.

Movie title here in Madison is "I am Not Your Negro" !

I always loved the beginning of school, even though I wasn't a very social person. I just loved learning.

>91 m.belljackson: and >92 m.belljackson: Hello again Wisconsin Marianne! I love that you had such interaction with your students. I'll bet they adored you!

>93 LovingLit: You know, Megan, I wish I could remember where I got that! It must have been on FB, but can't remember which page! Aren't all those dresses fun?

>94 rosalita: Ah, Julia! I love that perspective! I loved my elementary school, too!

>95 scaifea: That is exactly how I would feel, Amber! And lucky you to relive it all over again with Charlie!

>96 msf59: Hello there, Mark! I also liked Michelle Williams -- especially in those two great scenes: outside the burning building and confronting the main character. But those were fairly abbreviated. Then again, they gave the nod to Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love!

>97 BLBera: See, Beth! I knew I wasn't such an oddity!

>98 rosalita: Great catch, Julia! I immediately purchased it. Thanks for the head's up!

>99 laytonwoman3rd: Oh, Linda, I almost forgot all the fun of getting those school supplies! Few things carry such promise and hope than an unsullied binder full of pages awaiting the first essays!

>100 jessibud2: Now that's a pretty interesting perspective Shell. I'm going to have to ask my retired elementary school teacher mother which one she preferred. I never thought to ask. Thanks for putting that out there.

>101 bell7: It is a scary procedure, I think, Mary. Hope your cousin is doing well.

I love learning, but I am not a fan of homework or reading on schedule. I hear you. Even now, I never plan out my reads, just going where whimsy takes me. On the other hand, I'm hoping that insatiable curiosity and the desire to follow up when intrigued will be a lifelong habit!

>102 m.belljackson: Fixed Marianne. I was half-listening to the movie-fone recording when I typed that. Silly me.

>103 ffortsa: And I think you continue on with that love, Judy!

Another movie seen last week: Fences: It has garnered a Best Picture nomination, as well as Best actor nomination for Denzel Washington and Best Supporting Actress for Viola Davis, It is based on the play by August Wilson, whom I adore. His is a superlative ability to create nuanced and genuine characters. I can so relate to the humanity of those who people his plays - even though remarkably different from me, like an ex-con black garbage collector. Washington and Davis both put up outstanding performances. I could see either one winning their category. I also liked the movie up until it's 'epilogue' section. The movie was a bit too long and could have done with some judicious editing, but now I'm nitpicking!

The third movie from last Saturday was also my least favorite: Hell or High Water Nominated for Best Picture, as well as best actor for Jeff Bridges. Not a big fan of shoot-em-ups, and this one did not draw me to the genre. Amazingly, the movie actually caused me to root for the bank against the poor people. And that takes some doing!

Our final movie from Saturday: La La Land. I really liked it, but I'm a sucker for musical theater. My husband was explaining to me going in that he generally doesn't like musicals. People marching off to war and suddenly bursting into song a la Les Miz is not his thing. And yet .... Coming out, he said it was his favorite of the day! I liked Emma Stone's and Ryan Gosling's performances well enough, although not enough to hand over the statuette.

I can certainly see, though, why some people found it too hokie.

>106 michigantrumpet: - It was interesting, Marianne. I never loved being a student; I was painfully shy and it always seemed that everyone in the class was smarter and faster than I was. But I loved being a teacher of young kids. Maybe I wanted to be the teacher I wish I'd had. I was always in my classroom the entire last week of August, setting up my room, getting things ready and planning units and activities s the first day would be a great one.

>110 michigantrumpet: - I also thought it was a fun film but I think so many others were meatier and better on so many levels. I think I'll be really disappointed if it sweeps, as it is rumoured to, on Oscar night. I enjoyed it but also felt it is not Oscar material. But then, I guess that's why I would be a good fit to be part of the *Academy*... ;-)

Last night I saw the Boston Ballet's premier of William Forythe's "Artifacts" Lots of gushing from various artsy sorts, but I have to say I've not drunk the Kool-Aid on Mr. Forsythe. There are two characters "Woman in Historic Dress" and "Man with Megaphone" who wander about making nonsensical pronouncements about knowing and seeing and forgetting and hearing. Extremely pretentious and unnecessary.

It is broken up into four sections. One section features the Corps de ballet in a "Simon Says" Round of standing around the edges of the stage following "The Woman in Gray" in waving and positioning their arms about. Another section shows the Corps counting and clapping while Historic Lady and Megaphone Guy blather on. We have a world class company, and to waste their talents (and to have to pay HUGE sums to watch) on activities that any high school group could have performed was frustrating.

On the other hand, when there was actual DANCING, it was breathtaking. Full of energy and inventive choreography. The two pas de deux were my favorite parts of the evening.

I love modern dance and am not put off by abstract and inventive dance. But this was just over the top. My season ticket subscription for next year is coming up. I've been going since the late 1980's. Forsythe is going to be associated with the Boston Ballet for 5 years. If we have to put up with years of arrogant twaddle and no dancing, I'm going to have to reconsider where I spend my entertainment $$$.

Here is the NYT piece on it: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/23/arts/dance/boston-ballet-takes-on-artifact-a-...

>111 jessibud2: I'll bet you had amazing bulletin boards, too, Shelley! And as for trying to be the teacher you wished you had -- I'll bet that would apply to a lot of professions! Excellent point.

>112 jessibud2: Absolutely agree with you on La La Land. But, of course, a movie about trying hard to make it in the world of movies and music would especially appeal to the members of the academy, no?

Happy Friday, Marianne! I liked your mini-movie reviews. I hope I feel the same way about Fences. I liked Hell or High Water, more than you but did not love it the way others have.

I watched Lion the other night and it is a very good film. I look forward to your thoughts on Moonlight too. I think this is an impressive batch of films, with a more indie-feel to them.

Now...Fences.

I have no memory and cannot remember if you have already seen Hidden Figures or if you are going to--I loved that film!

I love your comments on the Oscar-nominated films, Marianne. I was thinking of you this week. Steve Kurkjian came to campus. He gave two talks, one about the Gardner heist (I got an autographed copy of his book Master Thieves, and later about investigative journalism and Spotlight. He was a good speaker and a very nice man.

>114 michigantrumpet: - LOL! Our class was renowned throughout the school for our bulletin boards! They were often interactive and I always tried to involve the students from step one till the end. I LOVED doing bulletin boards as unit wrap-ups.

Today's movie line up:

Moonlight
Lion
Hacksaw Ridge
Arrival
Hidden Figures

Happy Saturday, Marianne. Have a great time at the movies. My favorites of that bunch are Lion & Moonlight and my least favorite is Hacksaw, but it is still worth seeing.

Don't overdue it on the popcorn.

>111 jessibud2: How interesting that you became a teacher when you didn't enjoy school yourself---and that you love it, and put so much of yourself into it! I had a couple teachers in my time who I believe hated school and were taking it out on us. I always figured they had wanted to do something else entirely, but couldn't, for one reason or another. Bless you for breaking that stereotype.

>113 michigantrumpet: It looks like you had a fabulous evening.

Happy weekend, Marianne.

>121 laytonwoman3rd: - I have always loved learning, just never did all that well in school as a student (except in English). I was reading at age 4, both parents were big readers and I always related well with little kids. Maybe I was lucky but most of my colleagues were people who I believe loved what they did. Of course, there were always a few who should have been *elsewhere* in their professional life, for sure. And believe me, I've had a few administrators who should NEVER have been in charge of a school! But overall, it was a great career. I retired last year (and don't really miss it, except for the kids. I don't miss the administrative end AT ALL!) ;-)

>119 michigantrumpet: I absolutely loved Lion--hope you like it, too. I thought Dev Patel gave a wonderful, passionate performance. He's nominate for Best Supporting Actor, so I guess they consider the little boy in the first half as the main actor (he is pretty awesome). One of the things I liked the most was the camera work in the first half. There wasn't a lot of dialogue, but the camera really made you feel the fear and confusion of little Saroo.

I'm kind of with your husband on La La Land. I don't care for musicals and don't plan to see it. It always seems to me that depth of character is sacrificed to fit in the musical numbers, and I'm a fan of character-driven books and movies.

I have mixed feelings about Moonlight. The performances by ALL of the actors were exceptional, but the story didn't exactly grab me.

I will be seeing Hidden Figures at a special free performance on March 11 (that is, if I can get in).

Overall, I'm partial to Manchester by the Sea and hope it wins a few awards.

I haven't gotten into movies much in the last few years. I stick mostly to the Art House films and I have a season ticket to those films.

The only two movies I wanted to see were Fences and Lion. The others sound boring.

>125 benitastrnad: - I think you would also enjoy Hidden Figures. It is NOT boring, by any stretch and it is a really good story, very well-acted. I would love to see it acknowledged at the Oscars

Finding some time to get caught up with some threads. Love that you were able to accuse opposing counsel of spouting "alternative facts". Trying to find confirmed facts is becoming quite the tiresome endeavor these days.

Hissing Cousins .... what a great title. ;-)

>52 michigantrumpet: - I have a copy of the Reiss book and I am hoping to get around to reading it soon. Great review!

>58 michigantrumpet: - Love the snowfall pics!

>108 michigantrumpet: - I haven't see the movie but I did read the play Fences a couple years back and thought it was brilliant. I can totally see Denzel Washington in the lead role!

>104 michigantrumpet: I think I saved the link to the cool dresses page, want me to send it to you?
ETA: actually, I just looked, I saved your image, not the website it came from. But i looked at it at the time, and saw that they had actual photos to go with the drawn images. It was cool to see the designs, against the actual dress, in an actual women.

>119 michigantrumpet: are you going to watch ALL those films!?

#126
I did see the movie version of Hidden Figures. I also have the book. I thought the movie was good, but to put it bluntly, it wasn't a film to knock my socks off. Several of my friends here have read the book and seen the movie, and the book is quite different from the book - according to them. I am looking forward to getting the book read, but I have to wait for it to come back from a friend to whom I loaned it.

I enjoyed watching the "Parade of Beautiful Dresses" last night, but went to bed before the show was over. I missed the excitement.

I love watching the clothes. I was astonished at the Marie Antoinette dress. What was Janelle Monae thinking? Didn't she know that panniers went out of style back in 1795? She should have said no to that dress.

Watched most of the Oscars but fell asleep before the end. The little boy from Lion was really cute with Jimmy Kimmel. So happy that Casey Affleck won! There were some pretty amazing dresses, but what was going on with Halle Berry's hair?

>131 Cariola: - I also watched but fell asleep before the end. I had a feeling I might but who knew what I'd miss!

I'll tell you what I really miss: Billy Crystal!

Didn't watch, but wow, it was all over the news today... :)

I haven't seen any of the movies yet but I am dying to!! What a snafu at the ending with the Best Picture!! Whew! I still miss the fist day of school. I loved getting my new supplies and clothes. Every year was a fresh start and I looked forward to all the new info and classes--I love learning!

We just got a hold of a copy of Arrival. Looking forward to watching it. We thought that was a surprisingly entertaining Oscars program, but what a screwup at the end. The saddest part was the Moonlight group didn't get much time for sharing the joy in acceptance speeches.

>120 msf59: Thanks, Mark. We had a great time. Sadly, one of our friends had to bail due to the stomach flu. So, had to rush abut at the last minute looking for someone to sit in.

John and I split a HUGE tub of popcorn over the 12 hours. It was so salty, I also gulped down four of the largest size drinks. Then struggled mightily to plan potty breaks! :-D

Thank Heavens for the greatest app known to mankind: Runpee!!! It tells you the best time to run to the bathroom to miss the least in the movie. It also gives you a little synopsis of what is being missed. you can even set a little timer so your phone vibrates when it's time! Technology in the service of humanity! Hugh Jackman, Rashida Jones, Stephen Fry and Hank Azarria all give testimonials!

http://runpee.com/

Oops! Noticed I missed a few up above!

>115 msf59: Thanks for the input, Mark. I'll get around to the mini movie reviews in a bit, but will say I liked Moonlight quite a bit. It is very character driven, You are quite right - this is an excellent selection of movies overall.

>116 ronincats: Thanks for checking in, Roni. Hidden Figures was the very last film I viewed Saturday night. Seems they saved the best for last. My favorite of the 9!

>117 BLBera: What a great evening to have seen Steve Turkjian! For those that don't know, he is a well known figure here in the Boston area. Excellent reporter and editor for the Boston Globe, founding and eventually leading the investigative reporting Unit, later featured in the film Spotlight. I'm wondering what he said about the film and his role in the investigation. Rumors were that he wasn't thrilled with how he was portrayed. Would love to know what he said.

I adore the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The burglary there was so tragic. I adored the Vermeer they had there and mourn its loss.

>118 jessibud2: I just KNEW that you had excellent bulletin boards, Shelley! My elementary teaching Grandmother adored making bulletin boards. My elementary school teacher Mother, not so much.

>121 laytonwoman3rd: Good point, Linda. Interestingly, I know several attorneys who are considering second career changes into teaching, while I also know several teachers who think they'd like to give law school and being an attorney a go. Grass always being greener ...

>122 Ameise1: It was an interesting ballet Barbara. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. Three more ballets to go!

>123 jessibud2: Neither my grandmother nor my mother were enamored of the administrative end, either, although my grandmother did go on to be a Principal later in her career. I think things have only gotten substantially worse since they left teaching. I'm glad it was so rewarding for you. I'm sure your students picked up on that (as children seem VERY capable of intuiting!)

>124 Cariola: Thanks for the insights, Deb. I'll be posting mini-reviews of the films, shortly. But I have to agree with you about Lion - Loved Dev Patel, the story, the cinematography and everything. Have to admit to boo-hooing a bit at the end.

>125 benitastrnad: Just love the independent films, too, Benita. You might want to consider Moonlight which was made on a very small budget and has that independent/character driven feel to it.

>139 michigantrumpet: - Your film experience sounds so fun, Marianne! I admit that I have not yet seen Lion. I read and loved the book though, a couple of years ago. I will attempt to see it soon. Also want to see Moonlight. And I agree with you about Hidden Figures! I just recently purchased the book because I want more of the background story.

Our local doc cinema is showing a series of 7 films in a series they call Ban This Series. Each film is a doc from each of trump's banned countries. As a member of this cinema, I am entitled to 2 free tickets to each. I ordered and printed out my 2 for only one of them, however. It shows next Wed. afternoon. I usually don't like to go to films downtown at night because it means travelling home on the subway at night, then walking a few minutes to my car. It never used to bother me but I really don't like to do it if I can avoid it. Anyhow, the entire series sounds so good.

>126 jessibud2: You certainly called that one, Shelley!

>127 lkernagh: So good to see you stopping by Lori! I took particular joy in the alternative facts line, myself. I should seek out the play Fences. A HUGE fan of August Wilson, having seen several of his plays at the theater. I was so very happy Viola Davis one the Nest Supporting Actress award.

Does anyone know how it is that she was up for Supporting and not LEAD actress? It's not as if any one else in the Movie had a more primary role. And she was on screen constantly. Inquiring minds ...

>128 LovingLit: Hey there Megan. Sorry I have no idea where the image came from at this point. Glad you were able to find something. I loved looking at all the beautiful gowns on Oscar Red Carpet.

I am not a fan of the naked dresses where they have all the sheer netting strategically placed. Hailee Steinfeld wore a a see-through dress, which all the commentators loved. Ugh. Give me the classy glamorous old Hollywood style of dresses!

>129 benitastrnad: and >130 benitastrnad: RE: Hidden Figures: I've read there is a scene involving a colored ladies bathroom sign which was completely made up for the movie. Will be interested, Benita, as to how you felt the movie holds up v. the book. Of course, we *know* the book is always better, but some translate better to the screen than others.

Loved watching all the dresses and fashion on the Red Carpet. I agree with you about Janelle Monae's Marie Antoinette dress. Way too busy for my tastes. Can you imagine trying to fit the dress into one of the auditorium seats?

>131 Cariola: Given all the drama -- the Oscars ran VERY late! Can perfectly understand how you might have fallen asleep.! The young boy from Lion was adorable. He was interviewed on the Red Carpet and also on Good Morning America the following day. I heard somewhere that he has only just started learning English -- pretty proficient so far!

And Halle Berry's hair! Do you think that was a wig? My aunt and I were wondering. Here dress was kind of striking but whoever paid attention to it with that hairdo?

>132 jessibud2: I agree with you about Billy Crystal, Shelley! Although the tour bus schtick was pretty entertaining. Didn't you just LOVE Gary from Chicago?

>142 michigantrumpet: - Do you think it was staged, that bus tour thing? I waffled back and forth between thinking it was and thinking it was just crazy enough not to be. Staged or not, how classy to be *married* by Denzel!!! ;-)

>133 drneutron: Hi Jim! Wasn't that something? As it was happening, my husband and I just kept saying over and over: "Unbelievable!"

>134 Berly: I'm with you on loving the first day of school, Kim. Having reported back my VERY scientific poll here about people's feelings on the matter, I was surprised that my husband was unmoved. Amazingly, he suspects that a bunch of book loving friends are an anomaly and not representative of the population as a whole!

>135 jnwelch: I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on Arrival, Joe. The end was sad for both the LLL and Moonlight teams.

>140 jessibud2: and >143 jessibud2: Oops -- you snuck in there Shelley! The Best Picture Showcase event is one of the highlights of my year. This is my tenth year in a row. Have to say, I thought overall the selection of movies were outstanding. Even the ones which were not 'my cup of tea' had great performances and redeeming qualities. Not a Tree of Life or Mad Max in the bunch!

I don't think the tour bus was staged, but who knows any more? Loved Gary from Chicago and the Denzel wedding ceremony. IT did take up a lot of time for an already lengthy evening.

So, back to my thoughts on the movies:

Moonlight Everyone in our group was taken with Mahershala Ali's performance. We were afraid that he had too little screen time to count with the voters. But he was mesmerizing every time he was on the screen. Split decision on the movie overall. Husband didn't care for it, but I loved it. I thought it was very character driven. Even though it presents a very specific set of people - troubled black gay youth grappling with lack of care and support in drug ridden Miami - the way they were presented seemed to me to have a certain authenticity. We all have our struggles in life, have times where we are not supported or understood. There isn't much action here, but I'm fine with that. As in my reading, I can handle a non-plot driven book so long as the characters are strongly drawn and presented.

Lion: I adored Dev Patel's performance in this. I thought he deserved the Best Supporting Actor nomination for this one. (Not disappointed in the least that Mahershala Ali got it instead.) Another thumb's up for this one. Great cinematography - utterly captured how I would imagine Calcutta to be. The final minutes had me and the several ladies next to me in tears. Fortunately I was warned to bring kleenix!

Hacksaw Ridge: As would be expected from a Mel Gibbs film, TONS of blood, gore, shredded bodies, explosions, Flame thrower burned bodies, etc. I am not a fan at all of any of the above. I will admit that my "watching" of this movie took place peering between the fingers of the hand covering my eyes. Excellent story about a WWII conscientious objector who displays enormous courage as a medic in the Pacific theater. Andrew Garfield did a great job in the title role. Surprised to learn he is British, which one would never know from his performance. I don't know enough about Appalachian accents to judge how close he got. If he missed, it wasn't so far off to distract me. I'm glad to now know about this amazing man, but was mightily relieved when the movie ended.

Arrival: The Sci-Fi addition to the list. Generally not a big fan of the genre, but this one was so much more. Like I said above, I love character driven stories, and this one fit the bill. Plus, I love Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. It had a big plot twist at the end, which NONE of us got -- until we got home and read a few reviews. I wouldn't warn anyone off this movie, but it didn't hit the pantheon of favorites, either.

>148 michigantrumpet: - You couldn't pay me enough to sit through and watch this sort of film. Reading about violence is bad enough. I simply don't have the stomach to see it. I'd probably not sleep for a month after that. And since this type of genre is what passes for entertainment to a huge swath of people, I am, as usual, out in left field quite often. I don't mind. I console myself in the knowledge that I save so much money on movies! :-)

Hidden Figures: My pick for the 2017 Best Picture. Loved the acting, the story, everything about it. I'm also a sucker for "based upon a true story" type pictures. All three of the female leads were excellent - and they played off of one another so well. Any of them could have been nominated. Octavia Spenser has always been a favorite. Enjoyed the set design and seeing all those 60's props.

So, my picks going in:

Best Picture: Hidden Figures, I would have been happy with Moonlight, Lion, La La Land or Fences, though. Shows you waht a strong set of movies were made this year.

Best Actor: Denzel Washington. Casey Affleck did a great job, and I wasn't surprised by the win. Don't know as much as I should about the sexual abuse accusations against him, but that put me off.

Best Actress: I only saw Emma Stone's performance so far, so couldn't really say.

Best Supporting Actor: Dev Patel. We loved Mahershala Ali's performance, but thought he hadn't enough screen time to win.

Best Supporting Actress: Super strong category, great performances all around. Viola Davis was my pick going in though.

Can't stop without addressing the unfortunate event at the end. Incredible. That's what live TV will do for you! Felt so bad for so many people:

The LLL Team - to be on stage celebrating only to have it snatched away. They acted with amazing grace in the face of it all. Props to them.

The Moonlight team: They absolutely deserve to have all the discussion about their Best Picture award winning film to actually be about the film -- not the snafu at the end. What a shame, because the film was great.

Faye Dunnaway and Warren Beatty: Warren Beatty has especially come in for some brutal commentary, especially those conservative leaning folks enjoying their moment of schadenfruede with this well known Democrat.

He *could* have done more perhaps when he thought he'd been given the wrong envelope. But extemporaneous speaking apparently isn't his strong suit. I'd like to see how well other people think on their feet on live TV in front of millions.

The PwC accountant: Who hasn't screwed up before at work? But to have an error play out like that in such am enormous way? That's a really bad day. Some people are saying that this will hurt PwC itself. I suspect that's unlikely - self-appointed experts liking to pontificate. PwC is huge, and I doubt this one thing will seriously affect shore value or account retention.

So, now it's your turn - Any more thoughts?

>150 jessibud2: I'm with you, Shelley. That type of excessive violence appalls and frightens me. But then again, I had nightmares about the mean apple trees and the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz for years.

>136 michigantrumpet: LOL!! That's really an app?! OMG. I have to tell my kids. And I have to get to the movie theatre. : )

>155 Berly: Yes indeed! I use Runpee all the time! It tells you what happens in the first three minutes in case you've arrived late to the movie. And also tells you if there is anything happening during the credits in case you want to fly out to the bathroom at the end. One of the best inventions out there since heated car seats!

In case you don't like my mini-movie reviews, here's a link to a tongue-in-cheek Donald Trump's Reviews of the Best Picture Nominees:

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/donald-trump-reviews-the-best-pictur...

Someone in the Plattesville Library has a sense of humor:

>157 michigantrumpet: - Bwahaha! Reminds me of those trump book reviews of not too long ago...

>158 michigantrumpet: - :-)

>158 michigantrumpet: I mentioned this over on FB, but of course have to do so again here: That's my local library, and my librarian friend, Lydia (and Charlie's book club organizer) is the one who posted it!

>158 michigantrumpet: Hah!

Thanks for all the commentary on the movies. I've only seen "Hidden Figures," which I loved. The acting was great, and the story is inspiring.

Kurkjian was a good speaker; I had to leave before he finished talking about "Spotlight" the movie, but I guess he was played by the woman, which he wasn't happy about...I didn't hear the whole story. He was very nice, and told me to e-mail him when I come to Boston, to get a "Heist" tour.

So you saw the paintings before they were stolen? One point he made was that his son and grandchildren have never seen them. I'm anxious to read his (now autographed) book.

I really enjoyed your mini-reviews, Marianne and your various recaps. My pick for Best Picture is Manchester, along with Affleck as Best Actor. That said, I also loved LLL, Moonlight, Lion & Hidden Figures. On the female side- Viola Davis was my favorite of both actress categories.

That major snafu at the end, diluted a very good award show. One of the best in memory...

And Hooray for Runpee!! What an amazing app!

Are you always looking such a lot of movies, Marianne? I'm a theatre person and see a movie only once in two years.
Happy Wednesday.

>159 jessibud2: I thought the Trump Reviews were pretty amusing, too, Shelley!

>160 scaifea: That's very cool, Amber! Your brush with greatness for the week. I saw it in Shelf Awareness, and posted it here and on FB! I love when people are so clever.

>161 BLBera: Thank you, Beth. Excellent points on Hidden Figures, too. I hope you get to see some of the others eventually.

I am very jealous of your time with Kurkjian. He was played by Gene Omoroso in the film. http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/spotlight/

When you come to Boston??? Is this really happening? If so -- 1) We have to meet up! and 2) Get me in on that "Heist" tour!!!

I first went to the Gardner Museum about 1977 and have been many, many times since. An absolute gem of a Museum. Mrs. Gardner's will dictates that nothing is to be moved from how she had hung things. She was very particular as to how her artwork related to one another. So, the museum now has the empty frames from where the stolen artwork was cut out. There is a little sign explaining what happened.

>162 msf59: You get no argument from me on any of your picks, Mark. It was such a strong year for films and acting, I think.

You're right, it was a pretty entertaining show up until the snafu. Some good speeches, the tour bus, that cute little actor from Lion, the goodies falling from the ceiling.

Hooray for Runpee! Because Movie theaters don't have pause buttons! http://runpee.com/

>163 Ameise1: I'm a big fan of the theater, as well, Barbara. But I do love going to the movies! It sure beats a lot of what passes for entertainment on TV these days. I'm lucky in that we have three excellent art film/independent movie houses within a relatively short distance. Superman 6? Not particularly interested, but I love the more serious stuff.

No immediate plans, Marianne, but in the next couple of years I should make it. I will definitely get you in on the Heist tour, whatever that entails. I really want to see the ducks.

Marianne the story goes that Viola Davis thought she would have no chance competing in the Best Actress category but would have a shot at Supporting. So she specifically asked the film - and the academy - to consider her there instead.

Would she have beaten out Emma Stone? She would have had my vote.

>167 magicians_nephew: - Mine too!

>166 BLBera: It's a date, Beth!! And I will certainly make sure you get to see the ducks!

>167 magicians_nephew: Very intriguing how all the politicking goes, Jim. Thanks for the info. Am never sure how these things are determined, didn't know that it was so ... fluid.

>168 jessibud2: Add my name to Jim's list of Viola Davis votes, Shelley!

>167 magicians_nephew: Were both movies from the same studio, by chance? If so, the studio often "demotes" one actor or actress to Supporting so that there won't be competition with what they figure is their best shot as Best Actor/Actress. Their hope, of course, si that their film wins both awards.

>170 Cariola: That's an interesting theory, Deborah. Fences was distributed by Paramount. La La Land by Summit Entertainment. No idea about the others. But just goes to show how prevalent politicking is in just about anything.

So here's an intriguing article about a study showing that readers enjoy a book MORE if they've been told the ending!

"...Even ironic-twist and mystery stories – which you’d be forgiven for assuming absolutely depend on suspense or surprise for success – aren’t spoiled by spoilers, according to a study by Nicholas Christenfeld and Jonathan Leavitt of UC San Diego’s psychology department, to be published in a forthcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science."

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/archive/newsrel/soc/2011_08spoilers.asp

So --- Are you a peek-at-the-back-of-the-book reader, or a hands-over-the-ears-la-la-la-la-don't-tell-me reader?

I think "spoiler alerts" are overrated but given my druthers, I'd druther not know the ending before I read it myself.

>172 michigantrumpet: Interesting article. I've heard people say they look at the end, so they aren't anxious.

>172 michigantrumpet: Oh, no, I don't want to know how a book ends until I get there. I really try not to give too much away in my own reviews. Of course, I don't read thrillers, horror, or crime novels. No vampire or apocalyptic either.

>172 michigantrumpet: If the book gets to much thrilling I will peek at the end.
Somewhere I saw a quote where someone stated she would always reading the end first, so she would know how the book ended in the unfortunate event of dying before finishing the book ;-)

Rarely do I do that with books--like Anita, if it gets too dark or suspenseful I might to reassure myself. However, ALWAYS with movies ever since I went to see Easy Rider in the 70s without a clue.

>172 michigantrumpet: Hi, Marianne. I'm not sure I could sit through a marathon of movies as you did. But we did manage to see 7 of the 9 nominees, and I'm so glad Moonlight won, even with the snafu.

As for reading the endings of books, I generally don't, but after one read, knowing the ending doesn't stop me from rereading, and often knowing the ending is very enriching.

>163 Ameise1: as for movies and theater, I'm more like you, Barbara. Jim and I see an amazing number of plays (of course, in NYC, how could we not!). He's often frustrated that we don't see more film, but really, when? As I said above, we managed to squeeze in 7 of 9 nominees this year, thanks to a friend who had some Academy dvds to share.

>149 michigantrumpet: We saw Arrival on our TV, thanks to an Academy dvd we borrowed, but I wish we'd seen it in a full-sized theater. Even on our 40" set, we found it mesmerizing.

>178 ffortsa: Judy, I think when living in a big city which has lots of theatres then it's easier to tend more to the plays than movies. I love the plays because I have mostly read the plays. I like to see all the difference performances for one play over the decades.
I suppose that lots of people prefer movies to plays is mostly due to the entry fee. For one play one could see four to five movies. Furthermore I suppose it depend also what you have done as a kid. I was much more at a play and rarely saw a movie. The same we've done with our daughters. Both still like to go seeing a play.

>179 Ameise1: yes on both points. We are lucky that we can afford to buy a season worth of tickets to some of the better off Broadway houses, and we aren't that interested in the big Broadway shows, which can be very expensive.

As for what we grew up with, my family always went to one or two musicals a year, even when money was a little tight. Jim grew up a city kid and saw everything, and caught the acting bug himself, graduating with a degree in theater. When he retires, we will probably add more movies to the mix.

I never want to know how a book ends!

Happy Saturday, Marianne! Hope you have a relaxing weekend planned. We are going to Michigan for the day and night, (Grand Rapids & Kalamazoo) for some brewery hopping. We have wanted to do this forever.

>158 michigantrumpet: Now that's funny!

>160 scaifea: And you know the librarian who put it together--cool!

>172 michigantrumpet: Thank you once again; I started The Madwoman Upstairs. But don't tell me the ending! I don't want to know. : )

Marianne, I always look forward to your movie reviews. I have seen zero movies nominated for Oscars this year. I usually manage to get to two or three of them. I would like to do a blitz one of these years.

I never peek at the end of a book but I'm not upset by spoilers either. I know most people read for the plot reveal but I focus on the language and the art of writing itself. Authors are my rock stars!

I loved your film reviews but this year the big movies, except La La Land, have been slow coming to Malaysia so I cannot really comment. I love the August Wilson play Fences and plan to read it this month in celebration of the success of its cast. The film that appeals to me the most is Lion and I am really looking to see that one.

>172 michigantrumpet: I never want to know until the author is prepared to reveal all.

Have a great week, Marianne.

>151 michigantrumpet: bummer your pick didn't win. I liked that film and apart from La La Land, it is the only one I've seen. I found Hidden Figures a little bit light? Im not sure that is the word....soapy maybe. But I loved every minute of watching it on the big screen, and I agree all female leads (the three of them) were fantastic!

#186
I agree with you about Hidden Figures. It was fun, but it wasn't the kind of movie that I think should have been nominated for Best Picture. I am glad Viola Davis won. The movie was great fun and had me and everybody in the theater rooting for the "girls," but that doesn't mean it is Best Picture stuff.

>173 magicians_nephew: Understandable, Jim. I suspect most people feel that way.

>174 BLBera:, I feel that way myself, Beth.

>175 Cariola: Interesting point, Deb. Along the same lines, I try not to read any reviews before writing my own.

>176 FAMeulstee: Ha! I love that quote, Anita. Sort of along of the lines of a great-uncle who claimed he was at an age where he wouldn't buy green bananas.

>177 ronincats: Me, too, Roni. Also, reminds me of an early date with the hubster where we mistakenly went to Terms of Endearment, thinking it was a COMEDY! We won't make *that* mistake again.

>178 ffortsa: Excellent point, Judy. People enjoy re-reading books all the time while knowing the ending. But, there are some books where, the suspense is everything. I wonder if many people re-read those.

>189 michigantrumpet: people in the New York City off Broadway theater circle swear that when there was semi risque show at the Village Gate called "Let My People Come" the Box Office staff had to be trained to explain to every group sales caller that it was NOT about the Jewish people or the state of Israel.

Even so, once in a while an old rabbi and his sisterhood group would wind up at the show and be greeted by the opening number - a dance number with girls dressed as dildos.

Oy vey!

>179 Ameise1: and >180 ffortsa: Costs are clearly an issue - particularly in NYC. Judy is so lucky to have access to world-class theater. But let me raise up the excellent and unsung merits of Community Theater. Lots of great productions going on in people's backyards.

>181 DianaNL: I hear you, Diana. It's unavoidable at times, though.

>182 msf59: Sounds like you had a great trip, MArk!

>183 Berly: Looking forward to your thoughts about Madwoman Upstairs, Kim. Very timely -- PBS Masterpiece is doing a program on the Brinte Sisters:

To Walk Invisible The Brontë Sisters follows the Brontë sisters in the eventful three-year period that saw them rise from ordinary, unmarried women, to the secret authors of the world’s most sensational literature. See the film Sunday, March 26th, 2017 at 9/8c on MASTERPIECE on PBS. #BronteSistersPBS

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/clips/to-walk-invisible-the-bronte-sisters-p...

>184 Donna828: Thank you, Donna. I look forward to the Best Picture Showcase every year -- and hearing your perspective once you've had a chance to see one or two. I think your view on spoilers is quite reasonable!

>185 PaulCranswick: Hello, Paul! Looking forward to your take on the movies once they make it your way!

>186 LovingLit: I love your takes on the various movies, Megan. Just shows what a strong group of contenders we had this year.

>187 benitastrnad: Benita - you and Megan make some strong points against Hidden Figures as Best Picture. I would have been happy with any number to have won.

But it begs the question:

What qualities does one look for in a Best Picture film?

>190 magicians_nephew: Thanks for that, Jim! Oy vey is right!

My nominee for the greatest spoiler of all time:

As many of you may know (and as my username reflects) I am an ardent alum of the University of Michigan and played trumpet there for four years in the Marching band and other ensembles.

This past Wednesday, the Michigan Men's Basketball team, Pep Band and cheerleaders, while en route to the Big Ten Tournament in Washington DC, were in an airplane wreck. This was miraculously short of a major tragedy. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. The details are here:

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/jeff-seidel/2017/03/09/michigan-bak...



This has been very upsetting for me and has kept me from the threads even more than a busy schedule usually does. I am friends with the Pep Band conductor and staff, and know some of the kids in the band. That I lost my father in a plane crash makes it all the more horrifying.

All of which serves as a little reminder to treasure what is important in life. The life of the mind, reading and exploration of all of life's vagaries are decidedly important to me.

All of which is a long way to say: I am grateful beyond measure for all the friends I've made here on LT. Thank you!

{{Marianne}} Wow, that was really lucky, all things considered!

>195 michigantrumpet: Wow, Marianne - Great reminder. How lucky they all were.

>194 michigantrumpet: Love it!

>192 michigantrumpet: Masterpiece is on my calendar. Love the Brontes.

Happy Friday, Marianne! I am so glad a tragedy was averted with the Men's Basketball team. Wow! How scary.

Hope you have a nice weekend planned and it involves books.

>195 michigantrumpet: I am so sorry that you lost your father to an airplane crash.

Sorry about the trauma, Marianne, but I do think the wins of that Michigan team since the incident speak volumes to their merit!

>195 michigantrumpet: YOW! I didn't hear about that--what a miracle there were no serious injuries. Sorry it brought back heartache for you.

>195 michigantrumpet: That is scary, Marianne and, obviously, the terrible memories it stirs is upsetting. Take care dear lady.

>193 michigantrumpet: Best movie - should surely be a composite of all the other awards - Direction, production, cinematography, screenplay and acting. Often the winner stands head and shoulders above the rest but sometimes we are baffled by the choice.

>192 michigantrumpet: Glad this most recent scare didn't leave anybody seriously hurt. Sorry that it brought back awful memories for you.

On the brighter side, Ctpress set up a thread for The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for March, in case you are interested. Ann Brontë. : )

And I posted your info on the PBS Brontë show there.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/250589#

Hugs.

I just saw "Hidden Figures' on Sunday. Really liked it, and I didn't think that I would.

Stopping by to get caught up Marianne and love your film summaries!

>158 michigantrumpet: - That is awesome! I love the idea of communicating a message using a combination of book titles.

>172 michigantrumpet: - I am definitely a "hands-over-the-ears-la-la-la-la-don't-tell-me reader" unless the book is dragging and I am trying to decide whether to Pearl Rule it or not. ;-)

>195 michigantrumpet: - Glad to see no one was seriously hurt in that plane crash and very sorry to learn of how your father died.

Hope you are doing ok, Marianne. Come and update us soon dear lady.

>193 michigantrumpet: qualities for best picture? Substance. That is all :)

Hello? Keeping your thread warm for you. : )

OK, it's almost a month now since you've darkened your own door here....I hope that's not a sign of something unfortunate going on. But we do miss you!

The local Sunday paper had an article in it about the Matisse exhibit in Boston. Have you made plans to see it. The paper said it would be there through the summer and is the first Matisse exhibit to be in Boston in many years.

This morning on NPR Barbara Lynch was interviewed. Her memoir Out of Line: A Life of Playing With Fire has just come out. I have put it on my wish list. Have you eaten at any of her restaurants? It sounds to me like Boston has much to be proud of in her.

Adding my hellos and concern. Hope all is ok at your end
{{hugs}}

Marianne has been posting on Facebook now and then; I think she's just taking a break.

It is a beautiful Easter Day here in Tuscaloosa. I made some ginger rose cupcakes last night and will make Asparagus Mimosa today for a nice dinner with friends.

I am starting to make plans for my trek to the Franklin Roosevelt library in Hyde Park, so might be in the mid-Atlantic region next month.

Or just Happy Sunday!!

I am starting to get bulletins about speakers and authors at ALA this summer. I will e-mail the LT Gods around May first and see if they are giving the free passes. In the meantime - time to energized about the conference. It is in Chicago at the McCormick Place Convention Center and the exhibits are open on June 24-26 from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.

Many MANY thanks to Shelley, Beth, Mark, Linda, Roni, Linda, Paul, Kim, Deb, Lori , Megan Diana and Benita for all your wonderful posts checking in on me. So very much appreciated. Our LT community is a wonderful place. I am lucky to know you all.

It's daunting to try to get caught up with folks, but I'll be trying to reach out on the threads over the next week or so. If I haven't hit yours yet, know that I fully intend to!

RL sort of caught up with me a bit. As real life is wont to be, it was a combination of both the good and the not-so-good. I have been battling most of the winter with that crud that has been going around. I ended up with a severe inner ear infection that is now abating, although my hearing in one ear isn't quite back yet. Hoping I've seen the end of it. The doctors' bills will be keeping that happy (not) memory alive a while longer, I suspect. Nothing truly bad medically, especially compared to the truly concerning travails of so many of our LTer friends. Just energy-sapping in the extreme.

Also on the not-so-good front, a dear longstanding friend just passed away after a 10 month struggle with cancer. I've known him since 1978. I was in their wedding, his wife was in ours. No trip to Ann Arbor passed without some good John-and-Gail time. I was lucky enough to spend a weekend there when he went into hospice a few weeks ago. What a blessing to be able to say good-bye properly. We're flying back again for the funeral this weekend. You could say our trip a few weeks ago was for him. This one is for her.

On the plus side, we had a glorious Easter, complete with some truly uplifting and transcendent church services.

Making it more special -- we were joined by another dear friend (part of that 1978 College cohort) came with his wife for a wonderful visit. Peter ran in his 26th (!!!) Boston Marathon -- his 282nd over all. LaVette and I were able to cheer him on at several points along the race route, and then meet him in the Boston Public Garden after the finish. Such delightful people. I am truly blessed.

Have fallen behind on the reviewing and reading front, but any reading is good reading, right?

Welcome home! :-)

Yes, real life does have a way of intruding sometimes. Just do what you need to do and LT will always be here when you are ready! :-)

Sorry for the loss of your friend. The older we get, the more real these *events* become, :-(

>220 jessibud2: Thanks a bunch, Shelley!

In case you are interested, here is a great article about my friend. He lived a truly remarkable life in his short time on this green orb.

http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2017/04/remebering_the_michigan_ma...

So sorry to hear about your friend, John. He sounds like a wonderful guy. Hug, to my pal.

So sorry about your friend passing, but very impressed with 26 Boston marathons!

He sounds remarkable, Marianne. I'm sorry for your loss.

>221 michigantrumpet: - Wow, he sounds like lived many lifetimes, packing a lot of living into the short time he had! I always have so much admiration for people like this. He proves the theory that the busiest people seem to have the time and energy to do the most in life (while slugs like me get tired just imagining it all!)

>222 msf59: Thanks Mark. And the hug is always much appreciated!

>223 drneutron: Thanks Jim. The total of 282 marathons over all is staggering to me. Thanks for the lovely thoughts about my friend.

>224 BLBera: How very sweet of you, Beth. He was pretty remarkable. And extremely funny. A joy to be around, right up to the end.

>225 jessibud2: Excellent point, Shelley. As close as we were, I didn't know some of this until I read the article. He wasn't much to toot his own horn, pardon the music composer's pun!

I am sorry to hear about your friend but it is good that you got to spend some time with him before the end. Too often we are denied that transition. RL sometimes takes us away from LT but there are always fellow book nerds to welcome you back.

>219 michigantrumpet: I'm sorry to hear about your friend, Marianne. That must hurt.
Today is the 22nd anniversary of the death of a friend of mine, and i just texted her sister wishing her well for the day. She replied that she was shocked about how hard it still was on the anniversary- which sadly didn't surprise me.

So good to have you back, Marianne - here's hoping things just keep getting better for you from here.

Hi Marianne - first time visitor here. I believe you about Deflategate and the non-endorsements, so now it's okay that the Patriots won! Seriously, my Panthers flamed out early and consistently all year, so I enjoyed the game for the game. Now, if you were to talk about Men's College Basketball, that's a different matter. I'm a Tarheel fan by marriage, but a pretty serious one at that.

I'm sorry about your friend, and appreciate your insight: You could say our trip a few weeks ago was for him. This one is for her.

Safe trip.

You've been missed on LT, Marianne. I'm sorry it has been a rough few months for you from the crash of the plane carrying your beloved band members (and the sad memory of your father) to the loss of your close friend, John. Thank you for those heartfelt expressions of thankfulness for this group. I agree wholeheartedly.

>227 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg! I mean it quite sincerely that the knowledge of my FBNs (fellow book nerds) having my back was a true comfort. I did come through quietly lurking now and again. Just no energy to try to formally post on everyone's threads. There is no denying this is a magical place.

>228 LovingLit: How insightful, Megan. Even over the expanse of years, those dates can sneak up with a punch to the gut, can't they? How very sweet of you to remember to reach out to his sister.

>229 scaifea: It's good to be back, Amber. Albeit a bit exhausting trying to catch up on threads. People have been BUSY the past month or so! Clutching my online persona's side and gasping for breath! It's been nice, though hearing what everyone has been up to. Thanks for checking in on me.

>230 karenmarie: Howdy and welcome, Karen. I checked out your profile - gosh we sure do seem to love a lot of the same books! Will try to locate and check out your thread soon. Appreciate the comments about the Patriots and Tom Brady. It's not as if the Panthers wouldn't have their own issues with Roger Goodell and the NFL front office. Jeesh - did it really have to take a Cam Newton sit down with Goodell to address all those illegal hits? Just shows the league is only giving lip service to the concept of player safety. Jumping off my soapbox now. We'll just have to disagree on the College Basketball front. :-D

Thank you for your kind words -- Being there is what friends do, right?

>231 Donna828: You are so sweet, Donna! We've had about 10 months of getting used to the idea of eventually losing our dear friend, although the hope for a miracle never left us. Even so, one never truly is *prepared,* is one? I suspect that anticipating Gail's loss only amplified and brought back the feelings about my own father's death so many years ago. Looking forward to our trip in a way. A lot of people are flying in for it. What a nice tribute to John. He seems to be bringing people together even now.

My gratitude for this group is entirely genuine. I belong to several online communities, but none compare to the people here. The LTers are singularly intelligent, empathic, interesting, and respectful. The only downside is to my pocketbook given the number of book bullets flying about the place!

>233 michigantrumpet: You put it so well, Marianne. The group is truly special and so ready to offer heartfelt condolences and a sympathetic shoulder to lean on in times of stress.

The BBs are another matter which the group, as a whole, does not take responsibility for. We just put the book information out there. What you choose to do with it is entirely up to yourself.

>234 Familyhistorian: Au contraire, my dear Meg! Some people not only take responsibility for a well shot BB, they chortle in maniacal glee with pleasure! Don't make me name names! :-D

Glad to see you around, Marianne.
I am sorry for your heath problems and even more for the loss of your friend. (((hugs)))

Thanks so very much for stopping by, Anita. I know you've had a lot on your plate, too. Here's hoping the winter crud is behind me and that we give my friend a good send off this weekend!

"but none compare to the people here." Amen, my friend.

Happy Friday, Marianne! Hope you have a nice weekend planned. How are those current reads coming?

>235 michigantrumpet: so very true .....

Looks like you have been experiencing a challenging time recently ( well since my last visit) - Take care of you & yours ....

>235 michigantrumpet: Well, some admit to the maniacal glee while others go "what, not me" while chortling in private.

I agree - this group is most definitely special to me. I can't imagine life with it or its inhabitants.

>233 michigantrumpet: I agree with that bold sentiment entirely, Marianne. Including the book bullets flying around. :-)

Marianne, I'm so sorry to hear about John Stout. I think of the Michigan band as one of the best of the best, and I know he was one piece of making that so. I'm glad you got to spend time with him and I wish you a wonderful trip.

And I can't overstate my concurrence with your comments about the community that is LT. When we're losing a dear friend, when we're struggling with life's challenges, when we're exploring an exciting possible next step..... this group is there and supportive and (on line, I'm saying) always civil. More than civil, truly, but in a world full of uncivil online forums, this one is so damned special.

Take good care, my friend. Celebrate and grieve John's life and death all the way.

By the way, I though of you today as I was browsing in the bookstore at the campus for which I was interviewing -- I rented a car and drove over there to check it out -- they have a sign that says "Go Blue" and I wondered how Michigan fans feel about a Div III school borrowing that slogan.
:-)

Hi Marianne, I'm so glad to see you posting.
I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Gentle hugs.
Hooray for the 26th Boston Marathon. I've never done one marathon. I'm not zhe runner.

Wishing you a lovely Sunday.

I'm thinking about you this Sunday, Marianne, as you grieve your friend and support his widow.

Hugs to you Marianne and condolences to your friend's widow. xx

>238 msf59: Thanks Mark! A lot of those book bullets seem to be flying from your direction!

>239 roundballnz: Nice to see you here, Alex. Have been enjoying following your travels on FB.

>240 Familyhistorian: Ha! But we can all agree that, public or private, the chortling is very much there, Meg!

>241 scaifea: Couldn't imagine these pages without you, dear Amber - what would be do without our Charlie fix?

>242 jnwelch: Those bullets do whizz by, don't they, Joe?

>243 EBT1002: Thank you, Ellen, for those beautifully expressed sentiments. My friend, John, spent 40 years making the Michigan bands what they are. And I quite agree with you about the civility found on these pages. A rare and precious thing these days.

I have been sending you positive karma thoughts! I know you are rocking it!

Morning, Marianne! Happy Sunday! And yes, the BBs will continue to fly, as long as I am still breathing...

>247 michigantrumpet: Yes, we are all enablers LOL.

Sending my condolences on the loss of your friend, Marianne. Thank you for sharing the piece about him--not being a big sports follower, I am not much aware of marching bands in general, but I have heard something around here about that one from Michigan. ;>) When real life is tough, LT is a blessedly peaceful place to spend a little time, isn't it?

I watched the YouTube video that as posted in the piece about John Stout. What a hoot that show must have been? I am glad that you were friends with him. It must have been rewarding in so many ways. These will give you many happy memories in the future.

What a funny - and brave - guy your friend was to get on out there with BACK TO THE FUTURE!

How hard to lose such a young man who left a powerful legacy.

oh dear. Sorry to hear of your loss, Marianne. It's hard to lose any friend, but those of long standing and special meaning are hardest.

Hope you will have a peaceful and relaxing weekend, Marianne.

Thinking about you, Marianne, as you grieve for your friend.

I finally have some time tonight to visit some thread and find myself getting caught up with the very sad news about your friend John. My deepest condolences to you and his family on your loss. {{{{ hugs}}}}

Hi Marianne--I watched the whole halftime show. What a fun concept! John must have been a great guy. So sorry for you loss. Big hugs.

It is time for ALA summer conference. It is in Chicago, June 23 - 26, 2017. It looks like Suzanne is going to be able to come and we are planning a meet-up with the Chicago Warbler and other Chicagoans. I think we are going to do a Books and Brews night at Haymarket Brewery. That establishment is close enough to downtown that a cab ride to and from won't break the bank and yet far enough out that those who don't want to drive into the city will be able to come.

Tim and Abby are going to be there but aren't sure if they will be able to offer the free passes this time around. They are going to be part of the ProQuest booth this year because LT is partnering with ProQuest on a new product called Syndetics Unbound. For that reason LT has to abide by ProQuest rules so until they find out what those rules are the free passes are on hold. I hope that we can get the free passes as there is interest in them. But at least there will be an LT meet-up.

Just in case you might be thinking of going to Chicago for ALA - the LT folks came through and got free passes for everybody. Here is what Abby had to say.

Okay, ProQuest is very kindly allowing us to give out free exhibit-hall only passes. The info you need:

Customers will enter this code when they register for the event in order to receive a complimentary Exhibit Hall Only registration badge.

https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=136&oi=9mzor8YRH9nHoIiGjo9vo...

ProQuest Exhibitor VIP Code: V312

See you in Chicago!

I hope you are doing well, Marianne, and having a good summer.

Hi Marianne!

Sending best wishes and hoping you're doing well.

Mrsdrneutron and I will be in Cambridge Wednesday through Saturday morning. Want to try for a meetup? We have Wed and Friday evenings available as well as lunch on Friday.

Also pinging Caro.

We're on it!!!!

Yup, looks like it's a date!

A meet-up!! Jealously happy for you. ; )

Have fun - pictures?

Caro's got a couple of pics she'll post when she gets a chance. It was an absolutely fantastic meetup - both for the LTers and the support spouses! 😀 I'm always amazed at how at home I feel with folks I get a chance to meet in real life.

*huffing and puffing from having just run over from Jim's thread*

Here's the pic from our Meetup yesterday ... what doesn't show is the pouring rain outside.



*whew* ..... I need a nap now ... oh wait, i have to get back to work.

Ha! I know that feeling, Marianne. What a meetup! Looks like a blast.

>269 cameling: That's a very fine-looking group. I'll bet the conversation was even finer. Lucky you all.

Gosh you guys look good. Bet it was fun as well.

Yep, it was!

>269 cameling: Fun, fun, fun!!

Nice to see you in >269 cameling: Marianne. Do come and say hello on your thread now and again!

>269 cameling: That's a happy looking group!

Hi, Marianne.

Where'd ya go? Hope all is well. : )

This is a time of year when I as a non-American ponder over what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for this group and its ability to keep me sane during topsy-turvy times.

I am thankful that you are part of this group.

I am thankful for this opportunity to say thank you.

On this day of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for many things, one of them being my



Thank you for being so wonderful! : )

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

Hi Marianne!



Stopping by to wish you and yours all good things this holiday season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

(Or in other words, Happy Christmas, to you and yours!)

Merry Christmas, Marianne!

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

Merry Christmas to you and John, Marianne! I hope that we can meet up again in 2018.

Happy Boxing Day!!

Happy Holidays, Marianne!

Go Blue!

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