Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Six

^This is my nemesis- The Infamous Must Read Now Shelf, where I wage war, on a weekly basis. It is a hopeless battle. Gain an inch, lose a yard. Currently at 33 books, but I have to add a couple more, which means demotion time. Hums taps and sighs...



^A Common Merganser. We saw a few of these guys in Arizona. Love the punk rock hairdo. They can also be found in the Midwest.

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

January:

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

February:

15) Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson 5 stars (audio)
16) Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan 3.6 stars AAC
17) The Assault by Harry Mulisch 4.4 stars
18) Nine Island by Jane Alison 4 stars ER
19) Silence by Shusaku Endo 4.5 stars
20) The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak 3.7 stars
21) Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace 5 stars (audio)

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

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

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

^Still making my way through Infinite Jest. I am at 607 pages, (56%) but this percentage does include footnotes, which I am reading in my print book, as I go. Whew!

It remains a challenge but the writing and sense of humor are stellar.

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

>5 msf59: I haven't read anything by him, but I saw someone post a review in the last day or two which was favorable.

Happy new thread, Mark. Good luck with your shelf of infamy. DO NOT take off Spain in Our Heats; it is one of my favorites from last year.

I think I've read something by Barry, but it was a while ago.

Hi Mark - I just got Days Without End from the library this week. It recently won the Costa Prize, and those picks always intrigue me. It's interesting that he chose to write about the Civil War. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Go, Mark! Happy New Thread, buddy.

Good luck with the Infamous Must Read Now Shelf. I think we all can sympathize.

Happy Thread, Mark. I've read Annie Dunne by Sebastian Barry and I loved it. It was slow and very " everyday" and yet, infused with meaning. I can't remember if it was short listed for a prize or not, but I'm keen to read more by Sebastian Barry. Enjoy!

Wait, Mark...you are on Good Reads, too? How do you keep up?!

>6 thornton37814: Hi, Lori! Good to see you.

>7 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. No worries, Spain in Our Hearts, will not be removed, unless it is being read. I also have it saved on audio. I really NEED to get to that one.

>8 vivians: Hi, Vivian! I didn't realize Days Without End was out all ready. Stop back and let me know what you think. Have you read him before?

>9 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! The Infamous MRNS, is always being utilized but I add books faster than I pull them down. Good problem to have, right?

>10 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! Thanks for chiming in on the Barry title. Do you have any of his other work?

>11 Berly: Hi, Kimmers. I have been on Good Reads, since BOTNS and Booktopia. I have many friends over there but there is very little chat, which makes it doable.

>13 msf59: Do you have to post everything twice?

>14 Berly: No. I just add my reviews over there.

Hold on, I am going over to Good Reads and post over there...Grins.

: P

I've got A Long Long Way and On Canaan's Side, but I've yet to read them. I know Nancy has read On Canaan's Side and she really loved it.

>17 vancouverdeb: It looks like I will have to search out more Barry, but let me read this one first. Thanks, Tonto!

Happy new thread, Mark! I picked up Rules of Civility today for 1.99. Thanks for the heads up on the book sale thread!

Happy new thread buddy.

Oops posted on your previous thread. Happy new thread Mark! I have Days Without End waiting at the library for me, tomorrow's pick up. I have read The Secret Scripture and On Canaan's Side and loved them.

Happy new thread, Mark. Your Must be Read Now shelf doesn't look too daunting - only single stacked.

Hi Mark! I keep my must-read-now books in two different rooms, so it's not as daunting.

>1 msf59: Gain an inch, lose a yard.
Or as we would say, gain a centimetre, lose a metre....doesn't have the same ring to it, does it ;)

Happy newest thread, and keep on fighting the good book fight!!

Also, was Nine Island- reviewed on your last thread- a paper book? Or do they do audio books for ER? I have WL'ed it already based on someone else recommendation, I can't remember whose!

>19 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! Looks like a few of us took advantage of the Rules of Civility deal. I hope we can all read it around the same time.

>20 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.

>21 mdoris: Thanks, Mary! Another Barry fan! Yah! Both, The Secret Scripture and On Canaan's Side sound promising.

>22 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Even a single shelf is daunting enough for me, because it is all ready to hard to keep up.

Morning, Mark! Happy new thread!

>23 banjo123: Smart woman, Rhonda. Very crafty.

>24 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan, I wish we could lose an inch and gain a yard but if this is one the biggest challenges in my life, I can happily deal with it.

Nine Island is a softcover. They do offer an audiobook, on a rare occasion, but I like the print copy, so I can pass it along.

Happy new one, Mark. I've read The Secret Scripture by Barry. Was a four stars for me.

>27 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>29 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. Yah, for Barry & The Secret Scripture.

Morning Mark. I hope you have a good Tuesday with a light load :)

>31 lunacat: Thanks, Jenny. I just pounded down my second cup of coffee and now I am heading out the door. Have a good one!

Happy new thread Mark!

If I had a Must Read Now shelf, I'd feel like it was homework - I'm having a hard enough time with my commitment to read the Bible this year (we've got a group read for it) and Bleak House. I'm enjoying the reading it's just that it feels like I have homework every day. I also have a few books tagged 'priority', but I never pay attention to them, poor darlings.

I hope you have a great day.

Happy New Thread and I hope you have a great day at work!

I had to move my 'must read now' shelf to a lower level of the end table because it was starting to look like a book fortress. I'm reading several 'this will be good for me' books right now and I agree with Karen, that it can feel like homework.

I just started listening to Thud! for the BAC so light relief is in sight.

Happy new thread!

Have a great day, Mark. This is my first day back after the long weekend for Family Day. Our weather is getting warmer and a lot of the snow is gone but still lots of frost on the car this morning. I hope you are still having your better winter weather.

>33 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Since I enjoy most of my books, it never feels like homework. I like to keep certain books in this location, so they don't completely get lost in the shuffle.
Glad you are hanging in there with Bleak House.

>34 streamsong: Morning Janet. I like the sound of a Book Fortress. If it involves books, it rarely feels like work, IMHO.
Infinite Jest is a major challenge but I am enjoying the journey.

>35 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

Sometimes, my entire house feels like it's filled with *must read now* books because I really do want to read them all! But that will never happen so I try to organize and make a plan. Challenges, books that I can move out easily, etc. Though, every time I bring a new one into the house, it's that one that I want to read right away (that rarely happens, too)

BIBLIO- BULLETIN: I was just listening to a book podcast and a woman was describing LT. She stated that there was not a social aspect to the site but it was very handy for cataloging your books. Really? I must have not received the memo.

^Ha! Someone send her a 75er invite!

Good morning, Mark. We're packing and getting ready to head back. Boo! But it's good to hear that Chicago's weather ain't too bad.

Hope you have a good one today.

>36 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! Hope you had a great Family Day weekend. And yah, for most of that snow departing. Hope it keeps up.

>39 jessibud2: LOL. I think we are all in the same boat, Shelley. I am pretty selective about my book acquisitions, so just about everything I own, I picked up for a good reason. I stink at thinning out the books because everything sounds so good.

>41 jnwelch: LOL. We should all send her a 75 invite.

Safe travels, Joe. Nice day here. Chilly tomorrow but then back to a nice warm up.

>40 msf59: Oh dear, Looks like she has missed the true LT experience!

Hiya, Mark! Happy new thread!

Good morning, Mark and happy new thread!

>40 msf59: No social aspect? Hmmm, you must all be figments of my imagination.

Happy beautiful Tuesday, Mark. Looks like a winner of a Valentine's Day today.

Happy New Thread, Mark. And Happy Valentine's Day, as well!

I read Silence back in 2012 and gave it 4 stars. I didn't write a review but I'm sure I left comments on my thread back then (this is one of the down-sides of writing comments but not posting them as a review). I remember it only fairly well but what I recall is that it was very powerful.

>40 msf59: Well, it's not built in the way it is on some other sites, is it? We have made LT incredibly social and I would list it as my primary "social media" site. And yes, we need to invite her to join the 75ers!

Happy new thread, Mark!

I joined GoodReads late last year so I could keep up with the reading of my IRL friends. I've also taken to keeping my To Read list over there as I'm not a fan of how LT counts titles I put on the list as part of my collection number totals.

Happy new thread, Mark!
>1 msf59: That Common Merganser looks good, indeed punky hair ;-)
I couldn't bear a "Must Read Now Shelf", I am not very good at MUST DO... so I keep it at "Books I do want to read someday, preferable sooner than later".

>40 msf59: Always looking for new podcasts, what 'cast were you listening to?

>40 msf59: Haha, she apparently never heard of the 75ers.

Hi, Mark! Happy new thread!

Hey Mark, here are a couple of podcasts I have bookmarked. I haven't listened to the birding one but have listened to a couple of episodes of Malcolm Gladwell's and, as expected, they were excellent:

This Birding Life: https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/podcasts/thisbirdinglife.php?mc_cid=8...

Gladwell: http://revisionisthistory.com/

Hi Mark. That's it. That's all I've got in me today. : )

I did get home at a decent time but I wanted to read another nice chunk of Silence before I jumped online, which, as we all know, can be a bit of a time-suck. I love the book and should finish it tomorrow. Okay, now on to my pals:

>43 ChelleBearss: "Looks like she has missed the true LT experience!" I think there are scores of people out there, unaware of this amazing place. Am I right, Chelle?

>44 katiekrug: >45 brodiew2: Thanks, Katie & Brodie! hope you both had a good day.

>46 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! At least we are all wonderful " figments". Yes, it was a lovely day for February.

>47 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen! Happy Valentine's Day! I am glad you also enjoyed Silence. You are right, it is a tough, powerful read. I will probably give it 4.5, maybe more and I am looking forward to the film too.

"We have made LT incredibly social and I would list it as my primary "social media" site." Amen, my friend. The world's best secret.

>48 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I like Good Reads for the same reasons you do. I have many friends over there, including RL ones, that would never dive into the deep waters of LT. It is much easier to use than LT, but the social part, IMHO, is pretty weak. There is plenty of time for both places.

>49 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! Hooray for Common Mergansers! Cool water fowl!

"I couldn't bear a "Must Read Now Shelf", I am not very good at MUST DO..." We all have our little preferences, don't we. My Must Read Now Shelf, just keeps certain titles in my spotlight.

>5 msf59: I loved this. Manages to chew through some fascinating periods of US history too. I've enjoyed his other books as well.

>50 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff! I have cut down on my podcast listening, due to my very demanding audiobooks. They can be very domineering, right? But I do listen to a few faithfully. This one, is "What Should I Read Next" podcast, (You can find it on iTunes). Laura turned me on to this one. Great book talk and I love her voice, if you know what I mean. Wink, wink...

>51 Storeetllr: " Haha, she apparently never heard of the 75ers." You sure got that right!

Thanks, Mary! Hope you are doing well.

>52 jessibud2: This is why this place is special, Shelley. We share the best stuff. I have not thought about a "birding" podcast, but I am sure I will love these suggestions. Thank you, my friend.

>53 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! Hope you are doing better. Gentle Hug to my pal!

>40 msf59: I thought that LT was only for cataloguing books too for the first 4 or 5 years. Then I checked the groups button and thought that I probably read 75 books in a year so checked out a few 75ers threads to follow. Now it is my main social media source as well.

I hope the load is light and the weather is kind today Mark.

Morning, Mark!

>58 Familyhistorian: I somehow, connected socially right away, with LT. A couple people "friended" me and we began to chat. And then, I found the "What Are You Reading Now" thread and I was off and running. I wish LT presented the "social" aspect of LT with more fervor.

>59 lunacat: Hi, Jenny! My off day today, so my load will be extremely light. Smiles...

>60 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

"Until this day there was no sign of land, no trace of an island. The grey sky stretched out endlessly and sometimes the rays of the sun struck the ship so feebly as to be heavy on the eyelids. Overcome with depression we just kept our eyes fixed on the cold sea where the teeth of the waves flashed like white buds. But God did not abandon us."

“Christ did not die for the good and beautiful. It is easy enough to die for the good and beautiful; the hard thing is to die for the miserable and corrupt.”

-Silence

Good morning, Mark. Happy new thread (at least it's new to me)! I hope you've been doing well. I love your thread toppers. That mail truck is adorable. Sorry, I haven't been around much.
>62 msf59: This is a nice one.

>63 thearlybirdy: Morning, Birdy! Glad you like the toppers and the little mail-truck. One of my customers gave it to me, years ago and it has become a bit of a trademark.

Morning, Mark! I am late to wish you happy on your new thread. Love those quotes in >62 msf59:. Enjoy your day off, my friend.

Good morning, Mark! I hope you enjoy your day off. Books, books, books!

>65 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! Good to see you. I have an eye appointment this A.M. and then I am meeting my cousin for lunch. I hope to spend the rest of the afternoon with the books.

>66 karenmarie: "Books, books, books!" This is the life we chose, my friend! Happy Wednesday, Karen!

Morning, Mark!

A day off - great. Enjoy, buddy.

We're off to workout soon. I'm liking The Dry, but I'm not sure it's enough of a deviation from standard mystery fare to recommend. It is well-written.

Morning Joe! Welcome home! Working out, eh? Good for you guys. I know you both like to walk too. Fantastic idea.

I have heard a lot of buzz, surrounding The Dry. I will watch for your final thoughts.

Hooray for a day off when the weather is bad and you can curl up indoors. Have fun with your books :).

>62 msf59: Lovely, Mark.

Happy Wednesday, Mark. Yeh, for a day off. Enjoy it.

>70 lunacat: Hi, Jenny! I had a doctor's appointment and then went out to lunch with a friend. Now, I am ready to curl up with the books.

>71 BLBera: It is a very good book, Beth. Very quotable.

>72 Ameise1: Hi, Barb. Hopefully you are home by now. I am going to spend the rest of the afternoon with the books.

Happy reading :-)

I want to cuddle up with Silence and finish that one.

Hey Mark! Two more books to curl/cuddle up with are on their way! You'll probably receive Monday.

>62 msf59: Great quotes from Silence.

I hope your eye appointment went well, that lunch with your friend was enjoyable (did it include a pint?), and that your afternoon with the books is perfect. Happy day off!

I went to work for a couple of hours and everyone told me to get out of there. So I am back in bed in my pajamas, reading The Round House and The Fire This Time and messing around a wee bit on LT. I may have to include a nap in my day, as well.

>76 Carmenere: Thank you so much, Lynda. I am looking forward to both. We LOVE spreading that book joy. I have 2 more to send out tomorrow. The cycle of love continues.

>77 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! I am loving the Silence and will finish it today.

I met my cousin, who also happens to be one of my best friends, for lunch. I had an oatmeal stout. He had tea. He was going back to work. We talked Dylan, Trump, movies, Dylan and many of the hypocrisies & aberrations, that are happening at an alarming rate. Sighs...

Great start to your day, Mark. I hope the books are treating you well.

Hi, Meg! The books are treating me grand. Thanks!

Hey, Mark. Can you, or maybe one of your birding mentors, identify this owl for me? I think it's an owl, anyway.

>81 weird_O: It is obviously, a very rare owl, I will have to study my bird manuals. Howdy, Bill!

Hello there, Mr. Mark. Now that I've finished my O'Nan book, I took a peek ahead to March. Need to look for a suitable Styron book. I've read several of his already, though not lately.

^ I have not set too many reading goals, for myself, but the one I am going to try and stick with, is to read these advanced reader's copies I have been receiving. I still have ARCs from last spring and summer. I figure if, a publisher is going to send me a book, I better take the time to read and review it.

That said, I am going to start The Impossible Fortress, which I received a few weeks ago. It looks like it will be a smart & entertaining read.

>83 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! I have never read Styron. Which ones did you read? Do you remember?

How was your O' Nan?

Happy Day off, Mark! Glad you had a nice lunch and I assume your eyes passed muster and you were able to fit in some books today. ; )

>81 weird_O: Love that owl!

>85 msf59: It was a memoir/diary of the 2004 Boston Red Sox season from O'Nan and Stephen King. Once I got past not knowing who they were talking about, players like BK and Tek and I figured those out, I liked it. Pretty straightforward and both brought a lot of life to it

I read Styron's Sophie's Choice for a college class and it was probably my favorite novel in maybe 6 literature courses in college. It was made into a movie and I think Meryl Streep got an Oscar for it. Right around that time, I read his novel, The Long March and liked that one too, though not as much as Sophie.

Maybe 10-15 years ago, I read his Darkness Visible, his memoir of dealing with depression. At that point, I was reading everything I could find about that topic and the Styron book was well done. Very short.

>86 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers! I do not like those eye drops they put in. It screws up my vision, for a couple of hours. I did get some reading in and finished Silence but I did hope to read more. I did listen to a small chunk of IJ, while running my errands.

>87 lindapanzo: I really want to read Sophie's Choice, (I loved the film) but I also want to read The Confessions of Nat Turner. Decisions, decisions...

I also have Darkness Visible saved on ebook.

I just put O'Nan's Last Night at the Lobster on Kindle reserve at the library. I'm first on the waiting list.

For March, I'm thinking Nat Turner or else maybe Suicide Run or Lie Down in Darkness.

Yeah I recommend The Confessions of Nat Turner, it won the Pulitzer (if you're into that sort of thing) in 1968.

Its the only one of his I've read, but I think its the one that got me started down the path of the bucket list of reading all the Pulitzer novels.

My Styron novel will be Sophie's Choice. Got a first edition, first printing hardcover, dust-jacket with faded spine, at a library book sale for $2 or $3. Haven't seen the movie, but I know what the choice is she must make. I wouldn't want to have to make such a choice.

I've read Nat Turner, Lie Down in Darkness, Darkness Visible, The Long March and In the Clap Shack. I'd suggest you read The Confessions of Nat Turner, Mark. It won Styron a Pulitzer.

>40 msf59: first off, love the term BIBLIO BULLETIN. Brilliant. And hm to the no social aspect of LT, for me it is mainly social. I mean, the books come up from time to time ....but.... ;)

>73 msf59: doctore (meh), lunch with friend (yay), curling up with book (awesome).

It sounds like you had a pretty good day off, apart from the eye drops :). I hope today treats you nearly as kindly.

Morning, Mark! >62 msf59: Silence sounds lovely!

>90 lindapanzo: If you change your mind on Last Night at the Lobster, let me know. I can still send it. It looks like I may kick off March with Nat Turner.

>91 mahsdad: Thanks, Jeff for chiming in on Styron. I think I will read Nat Turner and I do like to read a Pulitzer pick, from time to time.

You should join us for one, next month.

>92 weird_O: Looks like a lovely copy of Sophie's Choice, you have there, Bill. Enjoy! Nat Turner looks like the way to go and I have Darkness Visible saved on my Kindle. I should be set to go.

>93 LovingLit: " I mean, the books come up from time to time ..." LOL! Amen, to that, my friend. It is our glue! And yes, look for more BIBLIO BULLETINs!

>94 lunacat: It was a good day, Jenny and my son & I finished the evening by watching Manchester By the Sea. It is excellent. Favorite film of '16...so far.

>95 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Silence is not a smooth read but it is dark & intense. Highly recommend it.

Morning, Mark.

Morning, Birdy! Have a great day!

Good morning, Mark! I've both read and seen Sophie's Choice. The movie was with Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon. Both were devastating. Not light hearted. Not for the faint of heart.

Stopping by to let you and your thread readers know about this great sale at New York Review

Winter Sale 2017! – New York Review Books https://www.nyrb.com/collections/winter-sale

Morning, Mark! You are reminding me that I still have two ERs from last year that I need to get to soonish.

One more thing: My friend just showed me this book I know you are going to LOVE: The Warbler Road

>100 karenmarie: Morning Karen! I did realize that Kevin Bacon was in Sophie 's Choice. It has been many years since I saw it.

>101 alphaorder: Morning Nancy. You always share the best links. Thank you. I will check it out when I get home.

Morning, Mark!!

Good morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday!

I can see why The Dry is getting all the buzz. For me, I'd say - promising. It's her first novel, and she can write. But it wasn't like Fiona Griffiths for me, where I popped up like a meerkat and had to read them all.

>102 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Good luck with those tardy E.R. books. I am all caught up, except for the one I just received last week.

>103 alphaorder: Hooray for The Warbler Road! Great title. Could be the name of my memoir, if I ever choose to write one.

>105 Berly: Morning, Kimmers!

>106 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe. Have a safe trip. Glad you liked The Dry. I might try that one, if I can find it audio.

Cute meerkat!

>100 karenmarie: Just a quick correction - it was Kevin Kline, not Kevin Bacon who co-starred with Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice!

It was Kevin Kline in Sophie's Choice.

Your day off sounded pretty good, Mark. I am also struggling to decide which Styron to read. I want to read SC and Nat Turner, but the library also has a few available that look good, too! Decisions, decisions... Of course, maybe I should read my O'Nan first - ha!

Cross-posted with Vivian!

Love me some Kevin Kline :)

Ditto!

>107 msf59: I'm 3 in the hole for ER books

New Boy
The Things We Lost in the Fire
Human Acts

And of course I requested another for this month. :)

I am also quite behind on my ER read-and-review commitments. I keep saying one of those will be next and then a book comes available from the library or I get involved in a book for an LT challenge or.....

I read Sophie's Choice decades ago and also saw the movie. Both were spectacular. I mean, Meryl Streep. That is all that needs saying.

But I plan to read The Confessions of Nat Turner for next month. I brought home my copy last week so it is here and ready (it was one of the books I had left at the office to occupy those shelves instead of these shelves...).

I hope you're having a Sweet Thursday, Mark!

Happy Thursday, Mark! Good job getting caught up on all your E.R.s. I haven't asked for any of those in many moons!

I've got 4 ER books outstanding. I always try to catch up but end up reading one and winning one every month. The Coretta Scott King memoir is interesting and the one about The Monkees TV show doesn't look too bad, nor does the one about presidential chiefs of staff. The one about the New York City fiscal crisis...argh, why did I ever pick that one?

If I can finish the memoir and the one about the Monkees this month, maybe I can finally get ahead but I just got distracted by The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

I finally got to see the movie version of A Man Called Ove. I liked the actor who played Ove -- and loved the portrayal of his relationship with his Persian neighbor. I relize that some things end up getting cut for a reasonable length to the movie. I regret not seeing more of the gay kid from the cafe, and, of course, the cat.

Overall Thumb's up. Thanks for recommending it to me.

Re: Sebastian Barry: Only one I've read is On Canaan's side. I liked it well enough. That one was based in part in Ireland, which I believe is true for many of his books.

>116 lindapanzo: - So few of the good ER books are ever available for Canada. I think I've won 3, maybe 4, since joining. Very discouraging. We had some discussion with the powers that be and it seems to boil down to the publishers. But there is a real disconnect when books by, for example, Canadian authors, published in Canada, are not available as ER to Canadians. I know this happens for UK as well. It's maddening. For awhile, I stopped even looking at them but now, I look, just to jot down titles that look good to me so I can look for the in them stores here. The last one I won was Loving vs Virginia and it was great.

>109 vivians: Thanks, Vivian. I should have remembered Kevin Kline was in Sophie's, not Kevin Bacon. LOL.

>110 katiekrug: >111 katiekrug: Hi, Katie! I want to read both Nat Turner and Sophie too. I will probably go with NT, but I hope to get to Sophie this year too.

>113 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff. At least 2 out of the 3 are pretty short. I really liked The Things We Lost in the Fire and a dear friend is sending me her copy of Human Acts. Not familiar with New Boy. Good luck, getting caught up.

>114 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! This is why I like keeping a Must Read Now Shelf, so I can keep these E.R. books front and center at all times. Like I mentioned earlier, if they are going to send me free books, I should at least read 'em.

It looks like we will be reading Nat Turner together. Yah!

>115 ChelleBearss: Hi, Chelle! Sweet Thursday! Are there very many titles available to you, on E.R.?

>116 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! I requested The Lauras from this batch. I really like her writing. Her last book, The Shore was excellent. I am usually very happy about my E.R. wins, but then again, I am extremely picky about what I request. It is also a bonus, that I receive nearly everything I pick. Sweet, eh?

>117 michigantrumpet: Hi, Marianne! I am so glad you liked the film version of A Man Called Ove. I think the actor playing Ove was much older, than the character from the book, but he did a fine job, so no quibble there.

And thanks for chiming in on the Barry. Looking forward to trying him for the first time.

I loved The Shore and I also requested The Lauras this month. I put in for New Boy by Tracy Chevalier, as well.

>121 msf59: Not surprisingly, I am pigeonholed into sports and mysteries but lately, I've been winning a lot of history.

I never did win that one WW2 book I wanted. Not even after 6 tries. However, a mutual LT friend of ours just sent me a copy and so I'll have to read it soon.

As for baseball, I am eager to read the new books about the Cubs. I ordered a small Cubs package and those tix arrived yesterday. Still plotting out which of the other games I'd like to get to.

>119 msf59: - Mark, what did you post here? All I see is a little black *x*...

>122 EBT1002: Hooray for The Shore! What a gem that one turned out to be. Let's hope her new one, stays at that same level. Fingers crossed.

>123 lindapanzo: Are you generally happy with your sports & mystery books that you get from E.R.? I'll be watching your thoughts on those new Cubs books.

>124 jessibud2: It is an image of Kevin Kline. Can you still not see it?

>125 msf59: I doubt the Cubs ones will show up on ER but, if they do, I think I'd have an excellent chance. The sports books I get from ER are mostly very detailed and geared towards people like me. Not towards casual fans. I note that there haven't been very many lately.

Of course, I could read nothing but baseball books, 100+ books a year, and fall further and further behind.

Reminds me that I haven't visited the baseball books blog lately. I need to take a look. Sometimes that guy has giveaways.

ETA: Well dagnabit. The good Cubs books aren't due out til the late March/early May timeframe. Phooey. I will somehow have to make do with some of the hundreds I already own.

>125 msf59: - No, still not. How odd. I've never had that problem with anything else you've posted. Oh well. I know what he looks like, lol!

You and Ellen likely will appreciate The Confessions of Nat Turner, Mark. I thought it was really good when I read it back in the day.

I'm going to be in the Sophie's Choice camp, I think. I bought it a couple of years ago and then chickened out of reading it because I know enough about it to know it's intense (I've never seen the movie, either). But this is the perfect time to pull it out and finally read it.

>119 msf59: I can't see Kevin Kline, either, fwiw.

>126 lindapanzo: Keep broadening those reading horizons, Linda. You have been doing very good.

>127 jessibud2: I added a different image, Shelley. It was funny, I could see it on my end.

>128 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Another vote for Nat Turner. Looking forward to it.

>129 rosalita: If I don't read Sophie's Choice next month, I hope to read it sometime this year.

I added a new image up there.

>119 msf59: >130 msf59: That Kevin Kline I can see! Yum.

^Watched Manchester By the Sea last night. I have been hearing such great things about this film, for the past couple of months and it easily lived up to the accolades. Excellent, on all counts. Casey Affleck was terrific, giving my favorite performance of the year...so far. I was surprised and pleased to see as much humor, in the film which helped soften the grimness, which permeates much of the story.

This a book-lover's film, IMHO.

>132 msf59:, Oh me too, I saw MbtSea last night. What a tough story and amazingly acted by all. Yes, I can see why you are saying it is a book lover's fllm, agree! In my new community these good movies are in the theatres for only a week so you have to be speedy and go! Wasn't the music amazing too? Have you ever see You Can Coiunt on Me? another of the director's movies and with Laura Linney who I think is fabulous.

Happy Friday, Mark.

>133 mdoris: Morning Mary! Hooray for Manchester By the Sea! Great film. I found the score baroque, almost Bergman like, which fit the material. I know Michelle Williams is not in the film very much, but she is terrific in that final scene.

And yes, I also loved You Can Count on Me. I am due for a re-watch of that one.

>134 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. I hope the day goes quickly.

Morning, Mark! I'll join in on the Kevin Kline love - he's excellent!

Morning, Amber! We don't see much of Kline these days but he definitely ruled the 80s and early 90s.

>130 msf59: - Thanks, Mark What ever happened to Kline, anyhow? He hasn't been on the radar for years, it seems, now that I think of it...

Morning, Mark. I'm glad you liked Manchester by the Sea.

I might need to re-watch Manchester. I had such high expectations and thought it was good, but not great.

>120 msf59: Not as many as are available in the USA.

Happy Friday!

Good morning, Mark!

And sorry for the Kevins mixup. I hadn't had enough coffee, probably!

It proves that people read in detail, though!

>138 jessibud2: Morning Shelley. I am sure Kline is around, I just haven't seen him in much. He did start in the theater. I wonder if that is what he is doing.

>139 thearlybirdy: Morning Bitsy. Happy Friday!

For all you Kevin Kline fans: he's going to be in Noel Coward's "Present Laughter" on Broadway beginning in April!

Morning, Mark! I adore Kevin Kline, so I am enjoying all the love here for him. I have not read or seen Sophie's Choice.

>140 alphaorder: I Know Manchester does not seem to work for everyone but it rang my bells.

>141 ChelleBearss: Happy Friday, Chelle.

>142 karenmarie: No problem, Karen. Honest mistake. It has been many years since I saw it, so I thought Bacon may have had a minor role. Grins...

Good morning, Mark!

>132 msf59: Thanks for 'Manchester By the Sea' review. I have certainly heard of it, but know absolutely zero about it.

Has anyone seen Casey Affleck in 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints'? I've been considering this one for some time, but still haven't seen it.

Mornin' Mark and Happy Friday! I'm still mostly napping and reading as I try to get over this bought of pneumonia. Right now I am puzzling out Ancillary Justice, I was going to abandon it but have decided to try Roni's idea and read 1 chapter a day and hope that the story eventually grabs me. My other book right now is Salvage the Bones and I'm finding it quite a powerful read.

#101
You got me with multiple book bullets. I love the New York Review of Books titles and have several on my wish list. I have the sight up and will make some purchases. Haven't decided which ones yet, but I know there will be at least two. Who can resist a book sale.

#148
Don't give up on Ancillary Justice. You will figure it out and by that time the story will have grabbed you. Just remember Breq is one, but many. She/he is handicapped because so much of her is missing and she suffers a deep loneliness. I loved that trilogy and I hope everybody does, but it does take some work.

I went to the local Art House Theater on Tuesday night for an evening of Shorts. Last year and this year, they show a collection of the short movies nominated for the Oscar's. It was a really interesting way to spend the evening. Some humor and some seriousness. It is amazing how easy it is to tell a story in 8 minutes. It is also a good way to get some of this work out to the public as most of the time the public never sees this kind of movie, but they are filled with good things for movie goers.

>150 benitastrnad: Thanks Benita. I really am hoping that the story does eventually grab me, especially as I already have the other two books!

>135 msf59: yes, Mark I thought Michelle Williams was amazing in MbtSea. I got home and researched about her and her other films and see there is a long line up for me to view. Ideas?
Started Days Without End and content is raw/difficult but writing out of this world so I will for sure continue! I am not an audio book reader but I think with the right person narrating it could be amazing as I "hear" the words strongly.

Happy Friday, Mark. What a spectacular day.

Dinner and La La Land tonight. I've heard lots of great things about it but also heard from people who hated it.

Here is the link for Kevin Kline's upcoming performancesin Noel Coward's "Present Laughter" with Kate Burton, Kristie Nielsen and Colbie Smulders.

http://laughteronbroadway.com/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PaidSearch&u...

He is also in the movie "Dean which one top honors at the TRibeca Film Festival. Due out in June. Here is the trailer:

http://deadline.com/2017/02/dean-trailer-demetri-martin-kevin-kline-tribeca-1201...

Wow! Finally settling down at my laptop. Not a particularly busy day but somehow it slipped right on by. Now, for my visitors...

>144 vivians: Hi, Vivian. Have you followed Kline's career, these past few years? Is he doing lots of theater?

>145 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! Happy Friday! March may be the perfect time to finally read Sophie's Choice. Just sayin'...i am probably more surprised that you never saw the film.

>147 brodiew2: Happy Friday, Brodie! It is not easy film, much sadness and grief but I still highly recommend Manchester.

I think I did see 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints'? It sounds very familiar. I try to catch Affleck, in just about everything he is in.

>148 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy! Great to see you. Sorry, you are still struggling with the aftermath of your illness. Bummer. I ended up really liking Ancillary Justice, so I think you should try to tough it out.

Hooray, for Salvage the Bones. I loved that one.

>151 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I really liked Ancillary Justice, but have not read the others. It seems like I am taking a little break from Sci-Fi/fantasy. I have so much literary fiction & NNF titles to get to.

Watching the "Shorts" films, sounds fun.

>153 mdoris: Glad you discovered, Michelle Williams, Mary. She is very talented. I think the first time I saw her and was impressed was Brokeback Mountain. I liked her in Meek's Cutoff, Blue Valentine and Wendy and Lucy. These are mostly smaller indie films.

So glad to hear that Days Without End is off to a good start. Looking forward to it.

>154 lindapanzo: Happy Friday, Linda! Have a good time at dinner and the movie. I hope you like La La Land. Sue went with a few of her friends and none of them liked it. I loved it. Go figure.

>155 michigantrumpet: Happy Friday, Marianne. Thanks a lot for the Kline links. This is perfect. I think the first time, I saw him, was in the western Silverado. He nearly stole the show, along with a fiesty, young Kevin Kostner.

My first Kline experience was The Big Chill. Loved him in that Michigan T shirt!

>159 michigantrumpet: He definitely owned the 80s and we can't forget about A Fish Called Wanda. LOL.

I was reading Joe's thread and he mentioned you. I wondered, "Where is Mark? I haven't seen him post in forever."

Argh! I missed a thread change! I missed all of thread five and most of this thread. I hate when I do that!

I have A Man Called Ove on the way from Netflix. I'm looking forward to watching it.

Absolutely loved La La Land!! Played the jazz station during the whole ride home.

I'm thinking your TBR shelf looks in control, neat and tidy and there's actually room for a miniature truck on it... that represents one that will bring you more books. I questioned if you'd googled cool looking bookshelves, cuz mine aren't so tidy!

Love the "punk rock" comment on the merganzer. I've seen them up on Lake Superior and called it very properly a "crest" but you are right. It looks kind of like a wild mohawk. But this little guy has them beat:

>132 msf59: well, if it's a book-louvers film, then I must see it!!! Crikey, it's lucky I have yet to start any proper study! As I said to my supervisor the other day, why put off till Friday what you can do tomorrow....which is my round about way of saying, I'm going to try and rope in a friend to go tomorrow!!! My sister missed out on the session she wanted to go to as it was sold out.

Also, I have stumbled across Kill Bill on telly just now, not sure I have the stamina to watch it (it's already 10pm), but the first scene is.....compelling!

Kevin Kline is fine, but Bacon is shakin'!!!

>120 msf59: I will also be reading Nat Turner next month, Mark.

Have a great weekend, Buddy.

>161 Morphidae: Morning, Morph! Good to see you. And no problem. I have done the same thing. You have found me now. Let me know what you think of "Ove". Did you ever read the book?

>162 lindapanzo: Yah, for La La Land! What a breath of fresh air and yes, I forgot to mention the jazz element. It is rare in film, to have jazz featured prominently. Have a great Saturday, Linda!

>163 cammykitty: Hi, Katie! Happy Saturday. The TBR photo, does not show a few stacks of books on the floor or my back closet, which is loaded with helter-skelter books. I keep those private. Smiles!

Yah for punker Mergansers! And, of course, punker doggies.

>164 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. Were you talking about going to see Manchester by the Sea? I hope you get a chance to see it.

We watched both Kill Bill movies over the Christmas holiday. We are big fans. You like your Bacon shakin', eh?

>165 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul! Good to see you. It looks like a few of us, will be reading Nat Turner. I love it, when that happens. Hope you are having a good weekend.

^Well, folks, I am beginning to see daylight, on Infinite Jest. I am at 853 pages, (78%). The total includes footnotes, so I actually have just over a 100 pages left. This is like climbing a Biblio-Everest, but I am about to plant my flag. B.A.G.

I am also enjoying The Impossible Fortress. Fans of Ready Player One should have a good time with this one too.

Morning Mark!
Ouch, just got hit with a BB!! I loved Ready Player One so I guess I'll have to check out The Impossible Fortress

>169 ChelleBearss: Morning Chelle. Yes, like RPO, The Impossible Fortress is steeped in 80s pop culture.

A Roman walks into a bar and holds up two fingers. " I'll have five beers please."

Happy Saturday!

Morning, Mark. I'm glad Infinite Jest is coming along so well for you.

>171 michigantrumpet: I love it! Although, it is making me thirsty...

Happy Saturday, Marianne!

>172 thearlybirdy: Morning, Birdy! Have a great day.

Good morning, Mark and congratulations on the final ascent to the summit of Infinite Jest! Major accomplishment and I'll be interested in seeing what you think about it.

Morning, Mark! Woot for Infinite Jest! I'll get round to it someday...

>166 msf59: Woukd anyone really think to watch Ove if they hadn't read the book?

Yes, I did and enjoyed it and am thinking of reading it again. The question is: do I read it before or after I watch the movie.

You've moved IJ an infinitesimal amount higher on Mount TBR. (It's been pretty low.) It's one I want to read, maybe, someday, but is intimidatingly large and complex.

Hey Mark! Woo Hoo for seeing daylight on IJ! What a door stopper!
I'm glad to see Kevin Kline is still out there, I haven't thought of him in ages. I checked out the clip of Dean and it looks pretty good but as with most of the trailers shown before a movie starts, it pretty much tells you the whole story. TMI me thinks.
Have a wonderful Saturday! Hope you're home with feet up and book in hand

>174 karenmarie: Morning Karen. I think it is quite an achievement for anyone to finish, IJ. I have never read Ulysses but I heard that one was nearly inpenetrable. This one is at least highly readable.

>175 scaifea: Morning Amber! IJ is excellent on audio, so if you can ever acquire a copy, that might be the way to go.

>176 Morphidae: Morning Morph! I should have never asked a fellow LTer that question. LOL.

I would reread it after seeing the film, this way you do not get as frustrated with the changes that they made.

Hi Mark, another gorgeous record breaking day on tap, I suspect. What a treat for February.

I'm at the library and just came upon Hero of the Empire. Seems to me you loved this one, didn't you? I read an earlier one from her and loved it so I'll be taking this one home.

Lots of reading ahead during my 3 day weekend. Heading down to my niece's conference swim meet tomorrow. Not in DG this year though. It's a home meet.

Mark--Congrats on having the finish line in sight for IJ!! Perhaps something a little lighter now?

I'm also impressed that IJ is going so well for you! Maybe, maybe some day.

Yay! I caught up. Hi Mark!

Huh. We have a few mergansers in the cove, but their heads are white. I didn't know they came in brown, too. Interesting. The ones up here stand out nicely as the majority of our ducks are black/brown - so the punk white feathers make a bold statement.

Have a good weekend!!!!

>163 cammykitty: Katie, I've been toying with the idea of pink hair. Now I see what pink and grey look like together - kinda cute! Hmmm....

Look at you, almost done with IJ! Well done.

I do want to see Manchester by the Sea. It sounds like the kind of film I like.

You know what we say about timing is everything in our reading? Well, guess what book I took with me to the hospital when I had my daughter (my second child)? Yup, Sophie's Choice. What was I thinking? I blame the pregnant brain.

Hiya, Mark! Happy Saturday!

Man, you're disappearing around the curve with Infinite Jest. Kudos, buddy! I'm looking forward to being able to say the finish line is in sight - I'm enjoying every step along the way, but I'm only about 200 pages in. I hope to make more solid progress next week.

If you liked reading Ancillary Justice, it's definitely worth reading the following two. She does a very good job developing and finishing the story.

Impossible Fortress - On the list it goes. Thanks!

And to thank you for one book, I'm going over to my thread to warble about 100. Kindle is giving away a 2 volume set of the 100 books you must read before you die. :)

^ I have been thinking about one of these all day. Yum. Record-breaking day in Chicagoland. 70 degrees...in February. Sure it is freaky, but this old mailman is not complaining.

Looking forward to the next 2 days off. Yah!

>180 lindapanzo: Happy Saturday, Linda! It was a beautiful day. I was in short sleeves, since 11am. I am sure I got a little sun today, on this fair skin.

I am sure you are going to love Hero of the Empire. Millard is the Queen of NNF.

>181 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! About 60-70 pages left in IJ. Yah! I am reading something much lighter in print- The Impossible Fortress. So, no problem there.

>182 streamsong: "Maybe, maybe some day." I think that is the mantra around here, Janet, in regards to IJ. If it wasn't for Joe, I might be one of those chanting those words. Fortunatley, I am getting close to putting a certain notch in my belt.

>183 -Cee-:



Hi, Claudia! Great to see you. This is a Hooded Merganser. My first merganser. Do you see them around too? I am slowly learning my waterfowl. They are very shy here, so you have to get lucky and in some cases have a viewing scope.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

>184 BLBera: Happy Saturday, Beth! The finish line is on the horizon for IJ. Yah! I loved your Sophie's Choice story. Have you read any of his other work?

I hope you get a chance to see Manchester By the Sea. It is excellent.

>185 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I have about 70 pages left in IJ, plus some footnotes. I should finally wrap it up on Tuesday. I like the fact that the narrative finally narrows down to Hal & Gatley, in the later sections, although this does not mean he doesn't go on, in DFW tangents.

It has been a couple of years since I read, Ancillary Justice. I wonder if I would have to reread the first one?

>186 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff. I think you will like The Impossible Fortress. Light and fun. I will have to stop by to see the warbling and possible BBs.

>157 msf59: Thanks Mark for the Michelle Williams movie advice! I will look for those! 70 degrees sounds dreamy!

Saw your comment about The Impossible Fortress - will check it out.

>191 mdoris: Hi, Mary! Let me know if you can track down those Michelle Williams films. Yes, 70 degrees today! And it will be in the 60s for the next few days. Wow!

>192 drneutron: Happy Saturday, Jim. The Impossible Fortress is lighter than my usual fare and not quite up to par with RPO, but I am sure I will still recommend it.

70?! It was in the mid 50s here, and sunny. I was grateful.

I haven't read anymore Styron; I was traumatized. :)

I have a hooded merganser but I can't remember if I have the common. I needed to pull my bird book out that has my life list in it.

>132 msf59: I have been wanting to see Manchester By the Sea but P has dragged her feet (well, and then I was sick so I can't totally blame in on her). I may have to watch it through on-demand when she is otherwise occupied.

I've finished with my Erdrich and with The Unwinding and am now happily making my way through His Bloody Project. I don't think it's going to be quite as warble-worthy as those other two but it's quite engaging so far.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday on tap, Mark!

>190 msf59: 70 degrees? That is very strange for winter weather in Chicago, Mark. It seems like the weather has been strange all over North America what with the flooding in California and snow here. You seem to be getting the pleasanter side of the odd weather - enjoy it while it lasts.

Happy Sunday, Mark. We arrived safely in Davos. I'm soon on my ski.

Hey Mark. I saw a wagtail on my way to swim this morning, it was a nice surprise as normally just see the black and white ones. Hope you've had a good weekend.

>194 BLBera: "I haven't read anymore Styron; I was traumatized." I see exactly what you mean, Beth. Enjoy this gorgeous holiday weekend.

>195 Morphidae: Come on Morph, keep that bird book handy. Grins...I think we have Common Merganser in our area too but I have not seen one yet, only in Arizona.

>196 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. I hope you are feeling better. I am looking forward to hearing what a few of my LT friends think of Manchester By the Sea.

I will have to stop over at your digs and see what you thought of the Erdrich and The Unwinding. I enjoyed His Bloody Project. 4 stars?

>197 Familyhistorian: Happy Sunday, Meg. Yes, it has been a freakishly mild February and it is supposed to stay warm for the next few days. I wonder what our spring in summer is going going to be like? It has me a little worried.

>198 Ameise1: Enjoy your time in Davos, Barb. Be careful on those skis, my friend.

>199 charl08: Happy Sunday, Charlotte. Hooray for a wagtail! I forgot what they look like, so I will have to check it out.



^Was it this one? I see they come in different colors.

Good morning, Mark! I hope you enjoy your two days off. The discussions about various birds are fascinating.

>202 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen! I have to help my FIL move this morning, but I am hoping to spend some time with the books, in the afternoon. I might even sit outside. It is supposed to be that nice.

And yah, for birds! There have been many migrating bird sightings lately. All heading north. I think I saw a nice flock of Sand Hill Cranes yesterday, on the route.

Happy Sunday!! It got to be 15c here yesterday but I was stuck inside work. However, it's supposed to be 11c here today and I am off work and home with the family! Hope you enjoy your days off!

Morning Chelle! I am helping my FIL move today but I hope to be back home, at a reasonable time. The books will be waiting, you know.

Have a great day too!

>201 msf59: Yes. The black and white ones (pied) seem to be a lot more common here.

>201 msf59: I took it smoothly today and enjoyed lots of sun and deep blue sky.

>206 charl08: Nice, looking birds. I always like to hear about a bird sighting. I just saw a housefinch, at our feeder, for the first time, in quite awhile.

>207 Ameise1: Now, is it time to relax, with the books, Barb?

Happy Sunday, Mark!

Enjoy the good weather. Good luck with the move, and getting back to some reading.

Happy Sunday, Mark!

I saw 'La La Land' yesterday - it was fun and entertaining. Not sure about award-worthy - it seems like one of those movies that Hollywood loves because it's an homage to Hollywood :-P

>210 katiekrug: - I happen to agree with you on this one, 100%. It was fun but not Oscar material. I also thought that, while Manchester by the Sea was well acted, I don't think the actress up for the Oscar should win it over any of the actresses in Hidden Figures, who had much stronger and more lengthy roles. I am often in my own little bubble, though, when it comes to picking the winners, lol

Morning, Mark!

>189 msf59: yup.... that's it. the male hooded merganser. As it turns out, I'd better look more carefully through my spotting scope since I just found out the female has the brown "hood". Haven't noticed that before... or if I did I don't remember. Off on a new adventure!

I'm wondering if you have ever read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. I started it a couple weeks ago but had to give it up since it wasn't calling to me. I do like to read about current American Indians and their history, but BMHWK seems to only scratch the surface of several tribes' histories in summary form. It feels inadequate. Several people have raved about this book. I'm wondering if I am missing the mark and should try again - or what?

Hey Mark. Isn't this weather amazing? Here, too! I'll be heading out for a walk soon.

Just came across this quote and thought you and the other poetry lovers would appreciate it:

"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance."
Carl Sandburg

>208 msf59: I always like to hear about a bird sighting
Okay, if you ask, Mark, I finally saw the great spotted woodpecker sitting in a tree yesterday, like this one:

I hear him all the time in the morning when I walk with Ari, but saw him only a few times before, flying away.

#213
I have not read Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee but two years ago I read Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Oglala's by Mari Sandoz. I recommend it. Sandoz was bred, born, and raised in the Nebraska Sand Hills - the home territory of Crazy Horse. The biography was written and published in 1942 and was controversial at the time it was published. It is not a conventional biography. It is narrative without footnotes on the page, but has endnotes. I thought it was a great introduction to the history of the northern plains Indian Wars. That summer I visited the Little Big Horn National Battlefield and think that reading the book better prepared me for that visit.

My only recommendation about the battlefield - don't visit during the first two weeks of August. Those are the weekends of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the battlefield is so over crowded that it is almost impossible to make a meaningful tour.

Oh, the drama! We went to my father in law's, to help him move to another apartment. All was going well, loading the truck, and my FIL falls down the front concrete stairs and gets pretty banged up. Since he was in such pain, I ended up taking him, in my vehicle, to the Emergency Room. My wife was visiting a friend in Wisconsin and headed home early to meet her Dad at the hospital. They are waiting for the test results and are currently doing a CT scan. Hoping it is not a broken hip.

He lives alone. Is moving into a studio apartment, jammed full of boxes and furniture. Where is going to go, if he is released? Good, damn question. I am sure stairs are going to be very difficult to navigate for awhile.

>217 msf59: - Oh no! How awful! Fingers crossed for just bruises and nothing broken! How far is the new place from where you are? Is it a building that has an elevator, at least?

>209 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Lots of unwanted activity here. I can't believe it is all ready 3pm. Only read a few pages of my GN, but we did stop for a burger and a beer on the way home. Hope to squeeze in some reading shortly, if I don't take a nap first.

Absolutely gorgeous day.

>210 katiekrug: Hi, Katie! Glad you liked La La Land. I think it was award worthy, but not my favorite film. I thought it breathed some fresh air into the musical format, which has been pretty stagnant.

>211 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley! I really liked Hidden Figures too. I hope it gets some recognition, on awards night.

>212 scaifea: Happy Sunday, Amber!

>213 -Cee-: Happy Sunday, Claudia! Yah, for hooded mergansers. What beautiful birds. Ooh, a spotting scope. I WANT one of these. They are expensive, so it may take me awhile to save up. They especially come in handy here, where the waterfowl are very very shy.

It has been, at least 15 years, since I read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, but I was blown away by that book and have raved about it since. So, I recommend hanging in there with it but, then again, if it isn't working for, after giving it a reasonable chance, then...

>214 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley! It is crazy, beautiful here. Plenty of sunshine and 67 degrees. I should go for a walk too but I think I will huddle with the books.

Ooh, I love the Sandburg quote. Thanks for sharing.

>215 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita. Love the great spotted woodpecker. He has very similar markings to our downy & hairy woodpeckers. We see downys at our feeder regularly.



^Male Downy.

>216 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I still recommend Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee and I would like to read the Sandoz book. And thanks for the Battlefield advice. When we went out there, nearly 20 years ago, it was also during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but it wasn't too bad.

>218 jessibud2: Just waiting on the reports, Shelley. Fingers crossed. He will be living about 15 miles from us. It is an apartment on ground level. No stairs and he can park near his entrance.

We have stairs up and down at our place. Could be tricky, plus I would hate to give up my Man-Cave. Shaky smile...

Oh, no! I'm sorry to hear about your FIL! Crossing my fingers, too!

Sorry to hear about your FIL but happy to hear that at least he'll be in an accessible apartment.

>200 msf59: Fine! The book is now at hand and not only do I have the hooded and common merganser, I also have the red-breasted. So there. :P

Some that I found the most exciting were: wood stork, white ibis, pileated woodpecker, belted kingfisher.

(The first two in Florida.)

Okay, the FIL was discharged. No fractures, just deep bruises. Whew! He will be staying with my BIL for a few days. He will not have to navigate stairs there. Unfortunately, my wife will be escorting him around for a couple more hours, this evening, taking care of his various needs. She is going to be pooped. But it is her Dad and she loves him.

>222 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! Looks like all is good.

>223 Morphidae: Thanks, Morph! Yah, for finding the Good Book. I did not know there was a red-breasted merganser. Cool.

I like those exciting finds- I have only seen a belted kingfisher...but I am still new at this birdy game. Grins...

Sorry to hear about your FIL, Mark. I hope all goes well and he is able to take up residence in his new place.

>224 msf59: - Well, all things considered, Mark, it's a good outcome for your father-in-law. I hope the bruises heal quickly.

Had lots of goldfinches, juncos, chickadees and nuthatches all weekend. Lots of activity and I bet they were happy that I was able to put fresh water in the birdbath, finally!

Sorry about your FIL but thankfully it wasn't worse! Hope he heals quickly!

Hi Mark, I'm returning to LT after a week of mostly-disconnected vacation. No way can I catch up on all threads, so I'm just going to start fresh from here. I did scroll up and read about your FIL though ... I hope he heals quickly.

Hi Mark, hope you had a nice Sunday. I finish my Henry David Thoreau mystery this morning right before I left for the swim meet. Jill had a 1st place medal, 2 2nd place medals, and 2 4th place medals. A nice day followed by a tasty dinner.

Watching hockey but will pick up my Coretta Scott King memoir again soon, I think.

>225 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Hopefully, he will get back into his new place in a couple of days.

>226 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! "Had lots of goldfinches, juncos, chickadees and nuthatches". We did too! Only one housefinch though.

>227 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle!

>228 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! Great to see you, stranger. I hope you enjoyed your "mostly-disconnected vacation". I will have to stop by and see what you have been reading.

>217 msf59: Oh dear, so sorry to hear about your FIL's fall and glad to hear that there are no fractures.

Wishing you a good start into the new week.

>167 msf59: I didn't get to go and see Manchester by the Sea :( But it is on my WL. I recall you saying about seeing Kill Bill recently, I ended up watching an hour of it and then getting the plot synopsis from the internet. *naughty Megan *

I see from a scan of your posts you have been birding and beering!! Good to see everything is as normal in my absence. ;)

Sounds like a nasty scare about your FIL. Glad to hear that no major harm was done.

Morning, Mark! I'm glad the news for your FIL was the good kind!

>231 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb, for your concern. Off today for President's Day, so it should be a Happy Monday!

>232 LovingLit: Yah, for "birding and beering!" Since it is supposed to be freakishly mild here again today, I hope to go on a little bird walk.

I hope you get a chance to see Manchester, sooner than later.

>233 SandDune: Thank you very much, Rhian. I hope he feels all right today.

>234 scaifea: Morning, Amber! And thanks!

^I am starting In the Walled City: Stories for the AAC. My second O'Nan of the month. Katie, an unabashed O'Nan fan, sent me this book, a few years back, along with a very nice note, which I had kept inside the cover. Nearly, brought a tear to my eye, so I thought I would share it here.

Go Katie! Go Katie!

I did finish The Impossible Fortress yesterday. I will write up a mini-review on it. It was good enough but no RPO, despite a few similarities.

This was my 6th book of the month. Say What?? It should be 9 or 10. It just shows you, how much my audios, beef up my book output and Infinite Jest has dominated all my listening, for nearly 3 weeks. Hey, you can't climb Everest, in just a few days, right? I should finish it tomorrow. Yah, me!

Good morning, Mark! I hope that today is less 'exciting' than yesterday! I'm glad your FiL didn't break his hip. Bruises are bad enough for a senior citizen.

A 61-year old friend of ours broke his hip falling at work almost two weeks ago and they discovered severe kidney dysfunction due to blocked ureters..... they've been working on getting his kidney function up so they can perform a hip replacement surgery, this week, we hope. It can happen to anybody.....

I read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee when it came out in paperback and was stunned. I had never known much about Native Americans before that except for the politically-skewed teachings of the public schools I attended in California.

We have two types of woodpeckers, but I'll have to wait 'til my neighbor Louise is available this morning to ask her what they are.

Morning, Mark! I am all caught up with you now. Sorry to hear about the FIL's fall - scary, that. Crossing my fingers that the bruises heal quickly, and thank goodness for no broken bones.

Congrats on being near the finish line with Infinite Jest - way to go!

>236 msf59: That Katie is a keeper. What a lovely note.

Sorry to hear about your FIL, Mark. I had lunch with some friends yesterday, and we ended up talking about our aging parents. I hope he gets well soon.

>236 msf59: What a nice note from Katie.

>236 msf59: Nice note! That Katie's a peach!

>238 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! I just received a text from the FIL- He is feeling a lot better. Whew!

Thanks for chiming in on Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. It is a special and a haunting read.

Let me know, about those woodpeckers, will ya?

>239 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! It was a crazy day, yesterday. And my poor wife was frazzled, when she finally got home at 8:30. She is now worried about the place my FIL, is moving into. A dumpy studio apartment, so she didn't sleep well.

At least her Dad is banged up, but fine.

Great note, from KAK, right?

>240 BLBera: Morning, Beth. My FIL is 74, which is not super old anymore, but his health is not perfect.

>241 drneutron: B.A.G.

Good morning, Mark!

Oh man, what a shame with your FIL. Falling is such a concern as they get up in age. I hope he's okay.

I'm one who LOVED La-La Land, and I think it's very Oscar-worthy. I thought Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling were both terrific, although I'd give her the edge for an award.

Good news - I've gotten up over 500 pages in IJ. Can't see the light at the end, but now it seems possible to get there.

>244 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! We hope the FIL gets settled back in his new place, in a couple of days. Sue is completely stressed out.

Yah, for La La Land love!

And yah, for hitting 500 on IJ. That is over halfway there. Go Joe!

What time is your train home?

>236 msf59: - What a nice thing to do! Who the hell is that person?!?! Ha!

I sure hope you like the book :)

Enjoy your day off. I'm glad your FIL is okay!

Oh, Mark. Sorry to hear about your FIL's fall. Thank goodness nothing will lay him up for any length of time. I imagine he will be hurting for awhile, but I do hope he recovers quickly. Extra hugs for your wife :-)

Falling is a major concern of mine with my Mom. She fell 3x during the week of Christmas. Was making me crazy! She's in a wheelchair now, but still thinks she can do anything she wants and tries to get up at times. She's 93 now and with her dementia any fall could be devastating. I just don't want her to suffer pain especially since she can't communicate.

>216 benitastrnad: Thanks for that input Benita. See, the book you recommended is more what I like to read when it comes to anything historical. It's much more interesting to get a sense of place, learn more about the key figures and lifestyle. I do want to read more about Crazy Horse. I will put Sandoz's book on my WL. Done. Looks like she has a bunch of books that might be interesting.

>220 msf59: So, Mark, I predict you will buy a spotting scope eventually. I had to save up for mine - but it's a cool tool.

>238 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. It's hard to believe I would not go for a book that impressed so many. I guess I need to give it another go. If it doesn't satisfy my need to know, at least it might whet my appetite for further reading and offer some direction.

Mark--Two days and like 70 posts! You crazy man you! Sorry about your FIL's fall. Glad it is only bruises, for him and your man cave. So jealous you had a beautiful 70 degree day--we are on track for the wettest February on record. Should hit third place today and 8 more days to go! I am also way behind on books this month, but am hoping I can pull it off by the end. Enjoy your day off!

Good morning, Mark!

>217 msf59: I am sorry to hear of your FIL's fall. I hope he is recovery comfortably and that his housing issue is something that can be resolved relatively quickly.

I'm glad your FIL didn't break anything. I hope he heals quickly and that the place works outs for him. It's such a worry.

Enjoy your day off!

Yikes, Mark! I can only imagine what went through your mind when your FIL fell! I'd guess your whole life flashed before your eyes. I understand.
Glad he'll be returning to his new apt once he's spent a few days recuperating at BIL's. Very tough when our parents age *sigh*
BUT! enjoy the remainder of your free day. Have a beer!!

Hi, Mark - So glad Sue's dad didn't break anything when he fell. I hope he recovers quickly from the bruises. Having fallen a few times over the past few years, and being within spitting distance of his age, I know how scary it can be to take a bad fall when one is older. One begins to question one's ability to manage. I personally am going to be looking for a place with NO STAIRS. Of course, I am capable of tripping over the canister vacuum cleaner's hose...

Bury My Heart is one of those books whose impact has never been forgotten, though I read it long ago - maybe back in the 80s? In fact, I think I still have the paperback copy somewhere in my bookshelves.

Hope you're enjoying your day off!

Happy Monday, Mark! I am happy to have the day off, also.
Sorry to hear about your Father In Law's fall, glad it sounds like he'll be OK. It sounds so painful.

>246 katiekrug: "Who the hell is that person" Not sure, but she is definitely Kick-Ass!

Thanks, Katie!

>247 -Cee-: Thanks, Claudia. My wife is taking off tomorrow and they hope to get him into his new place by the end of the day, Tuesday.

And yes, a spotting scope is my WL. I could have used it today. The waterfowl were just out of binocular sight.

>248 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! Yes, it has been chatty around these parts lately, but I do like it that way. Sorry, about all the rain and lack of book reading. Hope, both of those things change.

>249 brodiew2: Morning, Brodie! And thank you, sir.

>250 streamsong: Thanks, Janet. I appreciate it. The day off is going quite well, although I haven't cracked a book yet.

>251 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. I did not see the FIL fall. my son and I, were around the back of the house. He fell down the front stairs. When we saw him, he was bleeding from his elbow and knee, quite copiously. Thankfully, he did not hit his head, which is amazing, with all those steep cement stairs.

>252 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary and thanks. The FIL's new apartment is ground level and he can practically drive up to the door, so that is good. He is only 74, so he is not a doddering old man yet.

>253 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. I appreciate it. He is doing better and I am enjoying my off day. Just returned from a bird walk and hope to get to some reading this P.M.

#247
Sandoz is usually not considered a classic author, but she is. She came out of the same writing tradition as Willa Cather. Sandoz is most famous for her book Old Jules which is a fictionalized account of her father's homesteading in the Sandhills of Western Nebraska. Maybe I should get out Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and read it myself?

#255
Maybe it is time for the FIL to consider assisted living?

^I went on a solo bird walk this morning. Another lovely day in Chicagoland. About, 60, partly cloudy. The first bird I saw and heard, was a red-winged blackbird, singing his tail-feathers off. I ended up seeing and hearing many more. So, I spied, with my little eye:

Red-winged blackbird, (many), downy woodpeckers, (many), a starling, (possibly more), cardinals, chickadees, (many), nuthatches, a robin, a gull, mourning doves, mallards, (many), Canada Goose, (many). There were other waterfowl present but I could not quite make out, what species they were.

I am sure I missed a couple others, due to my inexperience, but I will get better, as time goes by.

Sounds like you are enjoying a lovely day off! It's beautiful here but unfortunately I am stuck indoors until after dark, boo

Hi Mark!

Woodpecker report. I saw, this afternoon, with my own little eyes, a male Red-Bellied Woodpecker eating suet out of our feeder. He's sure pretty! And then I had to call Louise - who tells me that we have Hairy Woodpeckers too. I know I've seen them - the little woodpeckers. But she also tells me that we have Pileated Woodpeckers. One is apparently putting a nice hole in one of her trees and she says they live in the woods behind our neighbors. I haven't seen them. She also just called back to say that Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers are in our woods but she doesn't think they'll eat off the feaders since they eat bugs and sap.

>258 msf59: Nice report from you!

>256 benitastrnad: "Maybe I should get out Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and read it myself?" Excellent idea, Benita.

My FIL is not ready for or would be willing to do assisted living...yet. He is 74. I think this was just a slip and a bad fall.

>259 ChelleBearss: I have been doing some chores here and there too, but it is nice to have the doors and windows open. Boo, to staying there until dark. Good luck, Chelle.

>260 karenmarie: Hooray for a woodpecker report. Yah, for Karen. Love those red-bellied. We get them at our suet feeder too. We also have hairy woodpeckers around here but I have still not seen one. They have the same color and markings as a downy but a longer bill. I have also not seen a pileated or a Yellow-Bellied either. I will bide my time...

Sorry to hear about your FIL, Mark. I'll have to search back through all the posts to read that unfortunate news. All the best.

Only part of my company gets off for Presidents Day. We are always envious of the part that gets the Friday before Memorial Day instead. Hard to imagine how that day could be any nicer than our day off today.

Back to Coretta Scott King...

I got halfway through Bury My Heart and had to quit. Not because it was bad but rather because it was upsetting me too much. It was the same story of brutalization over and over again and I was about to start sobbing.

A pileated isn't very common but if you are patient, you'll see one eventually. It's not so much one you look for but rather one that finally shows up. And it's quite large. Body size is about that of a crow. A crow has a significantly larger wing span though.

>261 msf59: and >263 Morphidae: Louise is a hoot - she said that to her pileated woodpeckers look prehistoric. One of these days I'm going to get her to show me her life list - she's been a serious birder since her teens and she's 82. Her knowledge of birds is staggering.

>262 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! Hope you had a great holiday off. I know I did. And yes, the FIL is doing better.

>263 Morphidae: Hi, Morph. I also remember being very disturbed by Bury My Heart. It pulled no punches. I think it should be required reading.

Pileated woodpeckers are seen in this area but can be elusive. I did not realize they were that large. Wow.

>264 karenmarie: Louise sounds like someone, would love to have a coffee with or two.

That must be a helluva life list. Grins...

>265 msf59: I am very interested to see what your reaction to Days Without End will be as maybe it will be the same reaction and feelings as Morph had to Bury my Heart >263 Morphidae:. I can understand the reaction of sobbing to the story content.

Glad to hear your FIL is ok, Mark. That's scary.

Did you participate in the bird count this weekend? I try to every year but don't always remember.

Have a good week!

Happy Tuesday, Mark.

Morning, Mark! I do enjoy your bird walk reports, I have to say.

>266 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. Days Without End looks like it will be a tough one. I will have prepare myself.

>267 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! My FIL should be going home tonight. Whew!

I did not participate in the bird count. I worked Saturday and was busy most of Sunday. It looks like something I would enjoy though.

>268 Ameise1: Big Waves to Barb!

>269 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I am looking forward to my first full "birding" year. Yah.

There is an owl walk scheduled for next week. Double Yah!

Morning Mark! Nice bird walk! I am loving listening to the birds on my dog walks this week - still dark out, so I am not seeing them.

Glad to hear your FIL didn't break anything during his fall. Still scary.

Good morning, Mark! I hope your Tuesday is going well. I can't remember if you've read any of the Fiona Griffiths series yet or not, but I know some of the people who visit you here do and thought I'd post the following because you have such a .... well.... following. *smile*

For Fiona Griffiths lovers, author Harry Bingham has made arrangements with Amazon to sell all five novels for 99 cents each on Amazon Kindle through February 24th. Here's the link to the message I posted on my thread: Fiona Griffiths Books on Amazon Kindle for 99 Cents Each, which also includes info about the next book. I have the first and second in hardcover. I borrowed #3 from Amazon Lending Library but had to return it, so have just purchased #3, #4, and #5.

Woooo's hosting the Owl walk, Mark? Well, whooooooever, I'm sure it will be a hoot ;}

>258 msf59: Hooray! When the red-winged blackbirds show up, you know spring is here. They usually show up before the robins in this area - except for a few stray robins that winter over for some odd reason. I see that you saw a robin, too!

Very cool report!

I have a book out from the library called The Inconvenient Indian which I have heard good things about. It's written by American Indian Thomas King. I believe he is living in Canada with First Nations people. I need to get it read sooner rather than later as I have reached my check out limit.

We are going to be seeing more Native fireworks under Trump soon. The Tohono O’odham Nation has a reservation that spans seventy five miles along the US border and extends into Mexico. The tribal leader has said a wall will be built 'over his dead body'.

Trump rammed through the Dakota Access pipeline. He calls Elizabeth Warren Pocahantas. I'm betting that what happens with the Tohono O'odham and a few other tribes/nations that also span the border is going to be ugly.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/native-american-tribe-stop-dona...

>271 msf59: Oooh, an owl walk sounds amazing!

Howdy Mark.

>271 msf59: What a hoot the owl walk will be (sorry).

>277 PaulCranswick: *snork!*

Heavy, heavy work load today. The price we pay...

Replies may be brief or delayed. Thank you for your deep understanding.

>272 alphaorder: Morning Nancy. When are we going birding together?
Grins...

Good morning, Mark!

We're back, and at our neighborhood cafe reading and writing. I had to do some work this morning, but now it's in other people's hands, thank goodness.

Sounds like a fun bird-spotting outing you had. I love red-winged blackbirds - that flash of color always gets me.

Up over 700 pp. on IJ. Are you done? I've gotten into a rhythm with the footnotes, and the whole thing has become a bit easier. How many times has he unexpectedly cracked you up?

I'm also reading a sci-fi mystery, Six Wakes, featuring clones, and it's intriguing so far. My GN is the new Ms. Marvel.

>273 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I did read and enjoyed the first Fiona Griffith mystery did not follow through on the others. Maybe, this will spark me, along with the LT love for this series. Thanks for the link.

>274 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. Yes, this should spark a myriad of owl jokes. Grins...

>265 msf59: The only people that you can have required reading for are children. And under no circumstances do I think children should be required to read Bury My Heart at all. If I could, I'd put an R rating on it like you do with movies. But as soon as you do that, they'll start reading it in droves. There have got to be less brutal books out there that provide a similar history that are more appropriate for children rather then the Texas Chainsaw Massacre version.

I finished IJ! I finished IJ! Pumps fist wildly...staggers and slumps over.

>279 msf59: Same thing at the emissions testing place today. All the people that would have shown up yesterday showed up today along with today's customers. Argh! :)

Hope you've had a good day even if it's busy.

>283 msf59: Impressive stuff Mark.

I'm still trying to work out if a yellow bellied sapsucker is a bird or an insult? ;-)

>263 Morphidae: that is what is holding up my read of Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee. I don't want to sob my way through it. And also, I can get arsy at my kids when I read sad books of brutality, it makes me get cross at them for being so cruel to each other.

>283 msf59: You just got INFINITE JESTED!

Way to go, Infinite Jester!

We are dealing with issues with my FIL, as well. He is 94, lives alone (in a retirement community), has Parkinson's..... He took a fall a couple of weeks ago that landed him in the ER but not overnight. No concussion, thank goodness. Taking care of the generation before us is important and challenging.

I love Red-Winged Blackbirds. They have such a distinctive voice.

And ... WELL DONE, YOU!!!!!!! Your pace of knocking off the books should pick up now.

BTW, I ordered a Kindle. After talking about it for years!

Happy Tuesday evening, my friend!

Congratulations, Mark, on finishing IJ. Fantastic accomplishment.

Too funny your summit picture. Well done on your major triumph of IJ. Good on ya!

>283 msf59:, >291 msf59: - Congratulations!! Now, the big question: was it worth it? Was it a good read? Inquiring minds need to know....;-)

>275 streamsong: Hi, Janet! Hooray for red-winged blackbirds! Others have spotted hundreds in north-eastern Illinois. I have seen robins on my route for a couple weeks now too. All pointing toward Spring.

I'll be watching for your thoughts on The Inconvenient Indian. Sounds like a good one. Thanks for your comments on the current affairs of our Native Americans. We are all in for a bumpy ride.

>276 scaifea: This will be my second owl excursion. I hope this one is more productive.

>277 PaulCranswick: I hope it will be a successful hoot, Paul. Fingers crossed.

I looked out the window about an hour ago (before it got dark) and there was a hairy woodpecker on my tube feeder! it was huge! I am used to downies, I see them frequently enough, and they look almost identical except for the size! I've seen them once before here on the maple tree in the back yard but never on the tube feeder. He made it look like the feeder shrunk, he was that big! lol

>280 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I bet it feels great being back in your neighborhood cafe and on such a lovely winter day. Good for you, on IJ. You might also wrap up this Monster Baby this week.

>282 Morphidae: Hi, Morph! I know some people don't care for the "required" tag and I understand that. Let's just say, I think Bury My Heart is an important read and I agree, that it would be too heavy for grade-schoolers.

>284 drneutron: Hope you survived the emissions center, Jim. Never fun. It was a long day and I am pooped but I am going to see if I have enough gas in the tank, to start a new thread.

>285 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! What a load off. I say we just describe a yellow bellied sapsucker as a woodpecker. Sound good?

>286 ChelleBearss: Thanks for the Thumb, Chelle!

>287 LovingLit: Guess what, Megan? I think you should read both Bury My Heart and IJ! How is that? Grins...

>288 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! Love the Fraulein!

>289 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Sorry, your FIL is having health issues. 94 is getting up there. I think Joe's father is about that age. My FIL is 20 years younger. I just wish he would take care of himself a bit better. Sitting around 24/7 is not healthy.

Hooray for Red-Winged Blackbirds & new Kindles! Welcome a board, my friend.

>290 karenmarie: >292 mdoris: Thanks, Karen & Mary. It does feel like crossing the finish line with that monster.

>296 msf59: I'll be over 800 pp. in IJ shortly, Mark. Getting there!

>293 jessibud2: "Now, the big question: was it worth it? Was it a good read?" A big YES, to both questions. I am sure I made it very clear, that this is a challenging read. It jumps around. New characters pop up and then disappear. He will spend a couple pages, describing a meal. But you can not deny his amazing talent & smarts and his wicked sense of humor. This is a 5 star read, but, obviously not for everyone.

>295 jessibud2: I want to see a hairy! LOL. So, they are bigger than downys, eh? This is good to know. I am on the look out all the time.

>298 jnwelch: 800 pages? You are making great progress, my friend. It helps that the narrative narrows down to Hal and Gatley.

Yo, Mark! Extra credit is awarded for finishing Infinite Jest on the author's birthday, which is today. He'd be 55 years old, except...well, he chose to stop living.

ETA: Is this the last post on this here jam-packed thread?

>299 msf59: - Downy: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/id - ~ 6 inches

Hairy: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hairy_Woodpecker/id - ~ 9 inches (and longer beak)

>300 weird_O: Wow! What a wonderful coincidence, Bill. Happy Birthday, DFW! Too bad he decided to end his life early. He was such a talent.

>301 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelly. The links are perfect. Now, I HAVE to see a Hairy!