Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Seven

-Jamie Heiden

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 3.6 stars
21) Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace 5 stars (audio)
22) In the Walled City: Stories by Stewart O'Nan 4 stars AAC
23) One Man's Owl by Bernd Heinrich 4.3 stars
24) In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides 4.6 stars (audio)

March:

25) A Separation: A Novel by Katie Kitamura 3.8 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, In the Walled City: Stories
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#

^Whew! This was quite a marathon and every bit as challenging, as advertised, but I am so glad I kept on trucking, through all 1,000 manic pages. It is truly a one of a kind masterwork. Super smart, baffling and laugh out loud funny. Oh yeah, let's not forget heart-wrenching and gut-wrenching. DFW's observational skills were unparalleled. Sure, I missed a lot. Words, clues, and passages hurtle past you like asteroids. This one screams reread! I think I will hold off for awhile and just mull over this literary marvel. 5 stars.

A Big-Shout Out to Joe, for getting the ball rolling. Otherwise, I may have left this Monster on shelf.

^I adore Hampton Sides. He is one of my favorite NNF authors, (I have read 3 of his) but for some reason, I have still not read his last book, In the Kingdom of Ice. It came out, in Aug of '14 and I have had it saved on audio for a year or more. Well, it will be my next audio after finishing the Mighty IJ.

First! Damn! Am I really first???

I clicked "post message", discovered I really was first!

WOW. Even the poochies were surprised.

you still need a big thumb over here!

>6 weird_O: Wow, you really surprised those pooches, Bill! Nice job, sir. Always nice to be Number One!

>7 ChelleBearss: We love those Thumbs, Chelle! Thank you, my friend.

Hiya Mark! Happy new thread.

Love the thread toppers, Mark. I haven't read that Sides book either. Thought I have, but I haven't.

I've more than halfway through Coretta Scott King and then will probably move on to the first of the Taylor Branch books, Parting the Waters.

>4 msf59: Yay! Congrats Mark!

Mark--Congrats on yet another new thread!! You are burning it up. : )

>9 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>10 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda! Glad you liked the toppers. I was not expecting to start a new thread tonight, so I had to choose something off the cuff.

I have had Parting the Waters, (along, with the 2nd one) on shelf for 20-plus years. I have heard nothing but great things.

>11 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne! I enjoyed chatting with Chris about it. It is a book that should be talked about.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Congrats on completing such a chunkster.

^I nearly used this one as my topper, but decided to stay bright and positive.

>12 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers! How is the birthday girl?

>14 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! It does feel like quite an accomplishment. I am just glad it was a worthy read.

>15 msf59: I've been trying to be positive. This McMasters guy sounds like a good pick.

Happy new one, Mark. The topper is lovely.

>16 msf59:

!!!!!!!!! Thanks. : )

From last thread.....I think you should read both Bury My Heart and IJ! How is that? Grins...
OK! I'll chuck Lonesome Dove in there too then huh? *famous last words*
:)

>15 msf59: i love that your "bright and positive" is a dark moody sky over a rustic old pair of sheds :)

Happy new thread!!

Great toppers, Mark. Happy new thread

Okay, I visit threads and I often comment on the toppers. I am a particular fan of Joe's topper art. But your >1 msf59:. Mark. That is breathtaking. I just love it. I would put that on my wall.

Oh, and Happy New Thread, my friend!

I don't suppose we can lure you to Portland for our March 18 meet-up, eh?

Happy new thread. I love the art being shared this year - that rural painting with the birds is one I'd like to see 'in real life'.

Thanks for explaining about the sapsucker. Some bird names just make me shake my head...

Can't believe it another new one. Congrats on that one and big waves from over the pond.
Happy Wednesday, Mark.

Morning, Mark! Happy new thread!!

Love the toppers - that red barn looks a lot like one of my parents'.

>20 LovingLit: Definitely add in Lonesome Dove, while you are at it, Megan. It is one of the very best. Snap to it, you have some reading to do.

Especially, in our current political environment, that topper is absolutely bright & positive.

>21 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley.

>22 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. I had that image saved for awhile. I am glad I finally posted it. I would LOVE to do a Portland Meet-Up, my friend, but it will have to wait for another year. I am hosting one HERE, in mid-April. Just sayin'...

>23 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! Glad you like the art. We are an arty bunch, aren't we? Honestly, I thought you might be kidding about the sapsucker. Grins...

>24 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. We like our waves and our hugs.

Good morning, Mark!

Are you going to be able to face a day without reading IJ? :-)

I should be able to get back to it later today. Off to work out soon. Hope you have a good one, buddy.

Happy New thread, Mark.

Interesting to see that you have warbled your way beyond our buddy, Mamie, in the posting stakes overnight.

Good morning, Mark!

Trying to stay positive is very hard with the incipient fascist in chief trying to start using local police forces to supplement the ICE storm troopers. And why won't he say Jewish, or Jew? He dances around those words.

He does have a couple of people in place that may stop some of the madness.

On a brighter note, I'm reading the 4th in the Fiona Griffiths series, This Thing of Darkness.

No wonder I feel like I am always running to keep up, another new one, Mark? Love that both of your toppers have birds in them, your newish interest is front and centre my friend. Oh yeah, happy new thread!

Morning, Mark! Happy new thread! And congrats on finishing Infinite Jest - way to go, you! And your topper speaks to me - I really love that one.

Work load is much lighter today, so I am bopping along...

>25 scaifea: Morning, Amber and thanks.

>27 jnwelch: Morning Joe. I do feel like a bit of a load is off my shoulders with finishing IJ. But my brain is still buzzing with it. I woke before the alarm today and started thinking about things I may have missed. Lol.

>28 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. So Warbler has been full throttle lately. I am sure it will slow down.

>29 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Fascist in Chief, eh? It fits...

Enjoy that Fiona Griffiths. That one has caught fire around here.

>30 Familyhistorian: Morning Meg and thanks. Many of us like the bird imager, so why not keep it up, right?

>31 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie and thanks, my friend. Glad you like that topper.

There is a mourning dove, on a telephone wire cooing away as I type this. Awwww...

Happy New Thread!

I'll be so curious to hear the report on your owl walk! I'll be doing one in April through The Glacier Institute.

And yesterday - hooray! - my night vision binoculars arrived. I'm already turning over the idea of putting in a night vision camera along the creek.

Good morning, Mark and Happy New thread!

Congratulations on finishing Infinite Jest.

>5 msf59: Hampton Sides looks like one to explore. I want to say I started Ghost Soldiers some years ago, but didn't get very far. I may try again, or choose another book.

Hey Mark, just in case you want to prepare.....;-)

http://www.audubon.org/news/hear-many-different-hoots-barred-owl?ms=digital-eng-...

Happy new thread, Mark, I love the second topper picture, that is a cardinal, right?
And congratulations on finishing Infinite Jest! :-)

>34 streamsong: Thanks, Janet! We will be looking for short-eared owls on our owl walk. They have been spotted in this particular area, at this time of year. fingers crossed.

Let me know how your walk goes. Keep me posted. And yah, for night vision binoculars. Very cool. Let me know how they work.

>35 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie. Happy Wednesday. Believe it or not, my first Sides was Ghost Soldiers, which I loved. I hope you have a chance to get back to it Sunday. All of his books have been very good.

>36 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Thanks for the barred owl link. It looks like we will be specifically looking for short-eared owls, (it is a more prairie setting) but barred owls are common to this area too, so you never know. I am going to have everyone on LT cross their fingers for me. Grins...



-short-eared owl

>37 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! It is a cardinal, actually it is a Northern Cardinal, which we have here too.

And yah, for finishing IJ!!

>26 msf59: Lonesome Dove?? Absolutely. LD was my favorite book last year, by far. I didn't want it to end. It was long, true, but as soon as it ended, I considered starting over right away.

I enjoyed the nice weather, finally. Took a late lunch and drove around with my sunroof open.

I might finish Coretta Scott King tonight. Very good memoir but the first half, while MLK was alive, was a tad more interesting. The second half is getting bogged down in details about meetings and committees.

All your owl talk reminds me of an afternoon road trip my dad (a bit of a birder himself) and I took while he was visiting me in Lethbridge a couple years ago. He pulled over on the side of the rural highway to look at what I described as "a white rock" right up until it spread its wings and flew a bit closer to us. It was a snowy owl. My dad still teases me about it occasionally.

Hi Mark. Congratulations on finishing Infinite Jest, that's quite the literary accomplishment!

When we visited the Crazy Horse Memorial a few years ago, I picked up Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee and have been saving it for when I feel strong enough to read it. Maybe this summer?

I am also a huge fan of Mari Sandoz and would add her Cheyenne Autumn as a must read for anyone wanting to explore American Indian history.

I'm so glad to see In the Kingdom of Ice. Both The Hubster and I enjoyed that one. Still seems weird that neither of us had ever heard of the Jeanette Expedition before.

It was my first by Hampton Sides but definitely won't be my last.

The topper is fabulous!

#15
For a minute there I thought you were going to be showing the Trump family portrait that was taken at the Lincoln Memorial on Inauguration Day.

>40 lindapanzo: Hooray for LD, Linda! I am glad you jumped in and ended up loving it. I am right, every once in awhile. Grins...

Another beautiful day in Chicagoland, my friend. Not sure the Coretta King is calling my name, but In the Kingdom of Ice has been excellent.

>41 MickyFine: A snowy? Get out! Now, I am super, super jealous, Micky! What a great memory and a terrific story. Is that the only type you have seen?

>42 DeltaQueen50: " that's quite the literary accomplishment!" It sure is, Judy. I can not deny the challenges and the commitment of IJ, but there are rewards for those that stick it out.

I think Bury My Heart would be perfect for the summer. I have not read Sandoz...yet.

>43 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli! Great to see you! I am loving In the Kingdom of Ice. I can't believe it has taken me this long to get to it. I think I was reading Endurance, right around the same time and wanted to space them out. Sides has been so consistent. If you can find Hellhound on His Trail try to do so. It might be my favorite.

>44 benitastrnad: Missed Opportunity, eh, Benita? Grins.

Happy 7th Thread, Mark! Congrats on finishing IJ! Everything else should be a breeze this year.
Hmmm, I've had In the Kingdom of Ice on my shelf quite awhile. Maybe this year will be the year.

The package arrived, Mark. Thanks. I owe you. The USPS rocks - it didn't take long.

>45 msf59: In the wild, I've seen a Great-Horned Owl. Joys of living further north. :)

Happy new thread, buddy!

>47 Carmenere: Thanks, Carmen! Yep, it is all gravy from here, my friend. At least IJ is not like W & P, which I was glad to be done with. I think I will be thinking about IJ for awhile.

I hope you have In the Kingdom of Ice on shelf. Expect much more warbling...

>48 BLBera: Thanks for letting me know, Beth! Yah for books! And yah, for the P.O.! Enjoy!

>49 MickyFine: Wow! You are my new hero, Micky! Swoons a little...I dearly WANT to see a GHO!!

>50 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. I am well into In the Kingdom of Ice. Sides is great, isn't he? So smooth.

Congrats on finishing IJ, Mark! Have a beer or three on me!

Love the owl talk. I've only seen one in the wild once, and he (she?) had taken off before we got a chance to properly admire, but it was so good to see that they are still wild here. Birds of prey have a tough time with all the farming chemicals around here.

Morning, Mark!

>39 msf59: I don't know, Mark. You say that's a short-eared owl? I don't see any ears at all! :-)

>52 kac522: Thanks, Kathy! I have started on the beer...not this morning of course...grins.

>53 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! Hopefully, there will be a lot more owl talk, in the coming week. I was surprised to hear there were as many owls, in our area too. Now, to see one...

>54 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>55 rosalita: Obviously, they have very short ears, Julia. Grins...



^This is a long-eared owl. At least this is quite clear. (These are not ears, but tufts).

>56 msf59: Well, he's a handsome devil!

They are also seen around here. Maybe I'll see one, on our short-eared owl walk. Fingers crossed.

^We watched Lion last night. Another terrific nominated film and another book-lover's type of movie. It is actually based on A Long Way Home, a memoir.
It is a helluva story. Has anyone read the book?

I have been slowly making my way through the nominated films, ( in between books & birdwalks) and I only have Fences to watch, to complete the list. Not bad, eh? This is actually a strong bunch of films, with Hacksaw Ridge being the weakest of the bunch. Manchester By the Sea, is still top dog, IMHO.

Morning Mark! Hope your load is light and the weather warm for today!

>59 msf59: Ursula read it recently Mark.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/244979#5933508

The film looks amazing. Hope to catch it before it ends it's run here.

>59 msf59: - I read the book a couple of years ago and am STILL recommending it to everyone I know. It was such a good read. I have hesitated in seeing the film because I am not a fan of Nicole Kidman and didn't want to be disappointed but my friends tell me to see it, that the film is good and I won't be sorry. So, I will. I may have to go see it by myself, though, because everyone I know has already seen it!

Good morning Mark!

>60 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle! I am off today, so it should be a very good one. Lots of book time.

>61 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. I may have to end up reading that memoir. I hope you get a chance to see the film.

>63 karenmarie: It really is, an amazing story, Shelley and they seemed to have done a terrific job adapting it. I do not think Kidman should have been nominated but she is very good as the adopted mother. I hope you get a chance to see it. Dev Patel, along with the little boy actor, are excellent.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you!

20) The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak 3.6 stars

In 1987, to the sheer delight of all adolescent boys, Playboy released photos of Vanna White. This monumental
event, is central to this story and Billy Marvin, who is fourteen, along with a couple of his goofy pals are obsessed with obtaining a copy. Billy is also a burgeoning computer geek, with dreams of becoming a programmer and video game developer. There is also a love story, between Billy and Mary, who also computer savvy.
How they team up to create a video game, to win a major contest, is a blast.

This is an ode to the 80s, with the music, movies and games, that dominated that era. This novel is geared more to a YA audience, despite a few dark, (and surprising) turns. It is not in the same league as Ready Player One, but if you are looking for something breezy and fun and want to find out if the boys find a copy of Playboy, with Vanna, in all her glory, give it a try.

>64 msf59: - Here you go, Mark. Short but good (about 3 minutes) : http://www.historyvshollywood.com/video/saroo-brierley-documentary/

>63 karenmarie: Morning, Karen!

>65 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Enjoying a day off today, so it should be extra Sweet.

>67 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley. I will check it out.

Hiya Mark! Is there a planning thread for this epic meet-up of yours? Is it by invitation only? Asking for a friend...

>69 katiekrug: !!

Sweet Thursday, Mark!

The Impossible Fortress looks like a fun one. I've heard nothing but positives about Hampton Sides. I've got Ghost Soldiers on the tbr.

I'm still enjoying Six Wakes. With any luck, I'll get to the top of Mount IJ today!

>69 katiekrug: Morning Katie! I do not plan on posting a Meet-up thread. We can just post info here. Less hassle. If someone has questions they can PM me.

It will be Saturday, April 15th. Early afternoon. My place. It will probably be a bit stuffy and boring but we will muddle through.

>70 rosalita:??

>71 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! You might like The Impossible Fortress. It's perfectly diverting. Please read Sides. Ghost Soldiers is terrific and if you can get your big mitts on Hellhound on his Trail, try to do so. It is my favorite. I think I passed my copy onto someone else, otherwise, it would be winging it's way to you.

Good luck with Mount IJ today!

>72 msf59: - Thanks for the info!

Good morning, Mark!

>66 msf59: Sounds interesting.

Enjoy your day off, Mark. I can't send you an owl but here in Davos I can see lots of yellow-billed chough.

Mark -

A publishing friend and I are recommending birding books to each other via Twitter today. He pointed me to this one, due out on March 14. I think you would be interested in it too.
https://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Good-Birders-Still-Dont-Wear-White/978054487609...
Nancy

Sure would like to join the Downer's Grove LT 75ers Meet-Up. But I'll be filing my income taxes that day.

>77 alphaorder: - I read the first book Good Birders Don't Wear White and it was funny. I also loved Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches which was also a delight. The author of that one, Mike O'Connor, I believe, opened the first store exclusively for birders.

Hi, Mark! Yay for meetups! And what a great day to have one. Take everyone's minds (except Bill's) off the dreaded Tax Day.

So, I wanted you to know that First to Read is offering a bunch of new-ish books for early review, including one I thought you would like. Not sure if you've signed up for FTR, but, if not, this may be a good time. My Cubs by Scott Simon sounds right up your alley! http://www.firsttoread.com/Books/BookDetails.aspx?id=738570&cdi=124A1AB94B51...

>79 jessibud2:. Ah, I will check out Mike O'Connor's work too.

Did you see an earlier mention on Mark's thread about the book I am reading and loving: The Warbler Road? Highly recommend.

>74 katiekrug: You are more than welcome, KAK.

>75 brodiew2: Morning, Brodie! Hope the day is going smoothly.

>76 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! Off day is going good. I like the yellow-billed chough. Nice looking bird.

>77 alphaorder: Love these bird book recs, Nancy. You are the best.

>78 weird_O: taxes, smaxes, Bill! Blow it off and join us in sunny Downers Grove. Guaranteed a great time.

>79 jessibud2: Glad to hear you chime in on these, Shelley. They sound fun.

>80 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary! Are you sure there is not someone you would like to visit in Chicago, (from your past) -say, mid-April and then you could a attend a certain event too. Hmmmmmm?

>81 alphaorder: Hooray for The Warbler Road!

I would love to visit Chicago and join in your meetup but I'll probably be in the middle of moving so will sadly have to miss it. However, I've been talking with my sisters who live in/near Chicago about a visit there after my move - perhaps in May or early June - so maybe we can have another meetup then? I mean, you can't have too many meetups, right?

>84 Storeetllr: That would be great, Mary! Keep me posted, my friend.

>59 msf59: I have neither read nor seen it but as the librarian responsible for adult non-fiction I slowly get driven crazy by people requesting the movie tie-in version of the book (with the movie title) when we already have the book with the original title. Same thing happened last year with Whiskey Tango Foxtrot which was based on The Taliban Shuffle. Why can't movie producers just use the same darn title?! End rant.

Just finished Infinite Jest!

>86 MickyFine: Good point, Micky! Must be very frustrating, especially when people are interested in reading the book, after the film, which I think is great.

>87 jnwelch:



^Fantastic job, Joe! I am so impressed you read the entire IJ in print. You da man, my friend.

"One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin."

-Shakespeare

"Trying to live in harmony with the dictates of nature is probably as inspirational as living in harmony with the Koran or the bible."

^I thought this would be a very good time to start One Man's Owl. If you recall I read Heinrich's One Wild Bird at a Time, his latest, awhile back and enjoyed it quite a bit. This one was written in '87, so this author has been churning them out for some time. I really like his writing, smart and informative. The book revolves around a Great Horned Owl. I am smitten.

>59 msf59: Very impressive. My sister was telling me how much she loved Lion. I've seen only La La Land and Hidden Figures and wouldn't mind either one of those two winning.

>88 msf59: Thanks, Mark. Kudos to you - you da man, as far as I'm concerned. I couldn't have kept it straight on audio, no way, no how. Of course, I didn't really keep it straight in print, either. :-)

>90 lindapanzo: I am sure you would like Lion, Linda. It may still be in theaters. La La Land may be the front-runner. I would have not problem with it winning.

>91 jnwelch: " Of course, I didn't really keep it straight in print, either." It looks like we are in the same camp, Joe. Grins...

>56 msf59: Hiya Mark! I will have to post my backyard owl photo tomorrow and then you can tell me what kind he is. : ) Your meetup sounds like fun. We have a Portland one happening in March!! Love them!

Happy Friday, Mark.

>93 Berly: Hi, Kimmers! I would love to see your owl photo, although I am no expert at IDing yet. I'll get there. And hooray for a Portland Meet-Up. I will have to get back there to join you guys, one of these days.

>94 Ameise1: Happy Friday, Barb!

Morning, Mark!

Morning, Amber!

Morning, Mark! Happy Friday!

Hi Mark and Happy Friday!

Happy Friday, Mark!

Hmm, a day without IJ. How will I get used to this?

Happy Friday, Mark? Did you get any snow? This is what we look like this morning. Nine inches, and another full day of snow. They say we will double that.

>98 Crazymamie: >99 karenmarie: >100 jnwelch: Morning, Mamie, Karen & Joe. Happy Friday!

Damp, cool and gloomy here. Trudging along...

>100 jnwelch: Life without IJ, eh?

>101 BLBera: Wow! Lovely photo, Beth, but sorry to hear about all that snow. I got rain last night and it is damp today too. No snow. Whew!

>101 BLBera: Beth, the metro has zero snow this morning. Totally missed us.

>101 BLBera: Oof. Eighteen inches of snow? That's just cruel. We had a hailstorm last night and drizzly rain today turning to snow later but less than an inch accumulation, they say. I can handle that.

Hey, I remembered something - you'll want to get your hands on My Favorite Thing is Monsters, the GN Ellie tagged us about. I'm a ways into it, and it looks like a major standout. Chicago author, too!

>26 msf59: Definitely add in Lonesome Dove, while you are at it, Megan. It is one of the very best. Snap to it, you have some reading to do.
I know! I know! And uni starts next week!!! BAW*
I want to read them all, ALL I say!!!

* W= wail

>89 msf59: that looks like a possible gift for my old man, as they say. He is an owl fan. And a book fan. Like all the best people. :)

>104 Oberon: >105 rosalita: it looks like we all dodged that bullet! Bummer, for Beth, though.

>106 jnwelch: LOL. Our timing is impeccable, Joe! I am picking up My Favorite Thing is Monsters, from the library tomorrow. Yah! I did not know the author was from Chicago! Double Yah!

>107 LovingLit: That is quite a "wail" you have there, my friend. I heard you at work. Grins...

You may have to just give up sleep. Who needs it, right?

Hi Mark, tomorrow is Oscar shorts in Barrington. Should be interesting.

I finally finished the Coretta Scott King book late last night and am now trying to decide what to focus on next.

>109 lindapanzo: Happy Friday, Linda! Let me know how the Oscar shorts program is. I am going to watch Fences tonight, my last of the nominated films. I have heard mixed things about it. We will see.

Are you reading a William Styron for next month?

>110 msf59: Yes, I am reading a Styron. Not sure which one. I just checked Nat Turner out from the library, in Kindle format. I also own a Kindle copy of Suicide Run.

Which will you be reading?

I plan on starting with Nat Turner too. Maybe next week?

>110 msf59: just did a write up about Fences, Hell or High Water and La La Land over on my thread. Will be interested in your thoughts.

^More books! More books! Time to bring out the mail-truck and a beer. I won "Days" from Good Reads, (a rare occurrence). The other two are from my LT pals. Human Acts, (and one other) from Lynda, and Mexico: Stories from Janet. Book people are the best.

>112 msf59: I have Nat Turner geared up for March as well. Just have to get through the February books first! Happy weekend, Mark. Hope you have a couple of days off to enjoy books and beer!

Happy Saturday, Mark! >114 msf59: Niiiiiiice, picture! I won Mexico and will probably read it in the next month or so.
I've given up on winning anything from Good Reads but now that I see it is possible I may try again in the future.

>115 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg! It looks like a bunch of us, will be reading Nat turner in March. Sweet. I am just off Sunday. I work today but I will have next weekend off. Grins.

>116 Carmenere: Happy Saturday, Lynda. I appreciate the books and I hope to get to Mexico, (the book) in the coming weeks. Always get an itch for a story collection.

^Man, I am loving both of my current reads. In the Kingdom of Ice is Sides, at his very best. What a thrilling read this is. And, of course I am in heaven with One Man's Owl. I WANT to live in a cabin in the woods, with a pet Great Horned Owl, named Bubo. He is such a character.

Normally, I do not read 2 NF titles at the same time but I am sure glad I made an exception this time. Smiles...

You must come to the Center the next time we have our owl program! We have six owls in our Raptor Program (our Barn Owl died not that long ago). There has also been a Screech Owl living in our Preschool Playspace!

Happy Saturday Mark, even though you are working.

I'm reading Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. I saw Saunders on Stephen Colbert's show and Had To Have This Book. I'm on page 76 and it's amazing so far.

Happy Saturday, Mark!

Cold one for your work day. Oh well, we're getting closer to Spring. Supposed to be about 10 degrees warmer tomorrow.

I've got to work day, too, unfortunately. They messengered a box of stuff for me to look over. Boo. Ah, well, it's short term.

Happy Saturday, Mark.

Brrr...Cold out here. 23, with flurries. We are not used to it. It hasn't been this chilly in weeks. It is only temporary...

>119 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. Please remind me of the next raptor event. I would LOVE to visit the center.

>120 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I am so glad that you are enjoying the new Saunders novel. I heard it is excellent and I have it saved on audio.
I heard it just hit the top of the NYT Bestseller list. Sweet!

>121 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Yes, I am quite bundled up. At least I am not trudging through snow, so there is that and then back to 50 on Monday.

Good luck with your work today.

>122 Ameise1: Happy Saturday, Barb.

Glad you're enjoying the Sides! I've read so much about Arctic exploration that I was surprised at how much I learned with that one. Like the fact that there are big freakin' Siberian islands up there. :)

A cabin in the woods sounds great! Not sure if an owl and the dogs would get along though!

>117 msf59: The anticipation of days off is sometimes the best part, Mark. I have every second Friday off and could have had a 3 day weekend this weekend but they called for overtime. Need the money to feather my retirement nest egg. Anticipation there too. Keep warm out there.

>125 drneutron: Hi, Jim! I am loving the Sides. This is such a good read and what an adventure. Was this your first Sides?

>126 ChelleBearss: Happy Saturday, Chelle! No dogs in this particular cabin but there is a cat. There is a wary agreement between the owl and the cat. It is pretty funny.

>127 Familyhistorian: We are going up to Michigan next weekend, for a little brewery tour. It is something we have wanted to do for awhile. Hooray for 3 day weekends and retirement nest-eggs.

If you would like to take photographs of the raptors, all 16 will be out at this event on May 13, which would also be a good time to see songbird migration
http://www.schlitzaudubon.org/calendar-of-events/2017-raptors-focus-photoshoot

Otherwise, our big Xtreme Raptor event, which is more of a festival, is September 9 (info not posted yet.)

We have an hour-long owl program once a year (need to find the date) and owl prowl's on the Center grounds in November.

On a related note, we are doing an all-birds edition of our next quarterly publication. My co-worker is doing the feature piece on warblers. Will post a link once we have it up online.

My book front: reading and enjoying both Insomniac City and The Warbler Road. I haven't read a lot this year, but what I have read is very good.

>128 msf59: Nope, I read Hellhound on His Trail a few years back and loved it.

Happy Sunday, Mark.

Happy Day off, Mark!! Nice book score >114 msf59:!!

>129 alphaorder: Happy Sunday, Nancy! Thanks for the links and the dates. It would be nice if I could make it up there in May.

You would love One Man's Owl. Heinrich might be my favorite nature writer...for the moment. How is Insomniac City?

>130 drneutron: I should have remembered you read Hellhound on His Trail. It may still be my favorite Sides, although Kingdom may come pretty darn close.

>131 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! Have a great Sunday!

>132 Berly: Happy Sunday, Kimmers! It is going to be Me & the Books today. Looking forward to it.

>133 msf59: - I have a few Heinrich books on my shelf but have yet to crack one open! That will definitely change this year though. As for nature writers, have you tried Pete Dunne? If not, put him on your list.....just saying

^I have finally added a birdbath, to my feeder area. I am happy with it, (although the water is frozen at the moment). I also picked up a double-hooked shepard's pole this past week. I plan on adding a finch feeder, in the next month or so. I also plan on adding a hummingbird feeder, but this will be mounted closer to our back window, for better viewing.

Yes, I am Full Bird Geek Mode!

BTW- That is a white-breasted nuthatch at the main feeder up there.

Do you see my improvised squirrel baffle, on the left pole? It does not work. Sighs...

>135 msf59: - Just a little hint, from my own experience. You might want to move the birdbath a bit further away from the feeders, to avoid it filling with seeds, shells and poop. I tip it and refill it with fresh water a few times a day (though not in winter, obviously). That's important in summer to also keep from allowing mosquitoes from breeding. Standing water is apparently a magnet for them. I also try to give it a good scrub from time to time, just to keep it clean.

Nothing is more fun than watching birds line up for a bath and then diving in! :-)

>134 jessibud2: Morning, Shelley! I want to read more Heinrich, so get crackin' on those books. I have not read or heard of Pete Dunne. Where is the best place to start?

>136 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. I was all ready planning on moving the birdbath, for that very same reason. The ground is a bit uneven, so I need to level out a spot. I plan on changing and cleaning the birdbath on a regular basis.

I have not seen birds at the bath yet. I am patient.

I own 4 books by Dunne but have only read 2 of them so far. He is also a regular contributor to one of the birding magazines (I forget which, at the moment).

The first of his I read and loved was (get ready for this title!): Small-Headed Flycatcher. Seen Yesterday. He Didn't Leave His Name. and other stories. This is the one that got me hooked. I also read Golden Wings and other Stories about Birds and Birding.Both are slim volumes and really delightful. The other 2 I have but have not yet read are The Feather Quest and Pete Dunne on Bird Watching.

You can thank me later. :-)

Hope you get lots of interesting birdies to your feeders! I always loved having a hummingbird feeder on our old porch. They are so fast and sweet.

>139 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! I am going to request Small-Headed Flycatcher. Looks like a good place to start.

>140 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle. I have never set up a hummingbird feeder, so I am looking forward to it. I am seeing some activity at the feeders, this early A.M.

The William Styron thread is up for March: http://www.librarything.com/topic/250015#

Stop on over and let us know what you'll be reading.

Morning, Mark! Hooray for the birdbath!

My kids gave me a new hummingbird feeder for Christmas. I haven't put it up yet, because we keep dipping into frigid temperatures, but I can't wait! Love the evolution of your birding area, Mark.

>138 msf59: - My birdbath is lower to the ground and it's not only a bath but also a source of drinking water. The squirrels love it too. :-D

Are you planning on putting up an oriole feeder?

Don't forget to put The Home Place on your nature reading list!

I need to give both Heinrich and Dunne a try.

I am LOVING Insomniac City. It is a beautiful ode to both Oliver Sacks and NYC (very different than the nature stuff, although he does talk about watching the trees change). I am trying to savor it, but can't stop myself from reading, so I will likely finish today.

Wishing you a great weekend buddy.

I am looking forward to Styron next month so thanks for putting up >142 msf59: with plenty to spare.

>143 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! I hope to see some splashing around in the bird bath, once it warms up a bit.

>144 Berly: Hey, we can trade hummingbird stories, Kimmers! Yah! Gearing up for my owl walk Tuesday evening. Double Yah!

>145 jessibud2: I have seen squirrels drink from the ground, but do they bath too?

>146 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy! Do you have an oriole feeder set up? I am not sure how common they are in this area. I may have to ask a few a my local birding pals, what they would think. I have not seen a oriole yet, to add to my list.

The Home Place sounds like another winner. You are hitting me with BBs left and right.

Glad you are enjoying Insomniac City. Sadly, I have never read Sacks, although I just snagged an audio copy of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales. I hope to bookhorn it in soon.

>147 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I hope you are enjoying yours too. It looks like there is much interest in Styron. Should be a good AAC month.

Happy Sunday, Mark!

Love the Full Bird Geek Mode. Squirrels are unbelievably clever and persistent in getting to bird seed. Our dad unsuccessfully battled them for many a year, with baffles and greased poles and I don't know what-all. We've got squirrels around us, too, of course, but so far (as far as I know) they haven't tried to get into the bird houses.

You'll like The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Still one of my favorite titles ever.

Morning Joe! Yep, Full Bird Geek Mode. That is me. Fortunately the squirrels can't get to the my main bird-feeder but they like to wreak havoc on the poor little suet feeder and I honestly believe they don't even like the suet, they just like to terrorize.

I will have to make time for The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. I have wanted to read that one for years.

Hi Mark! Happy Sunday.

>135 msf59: Yay for the birdbath. Farther away but still close is a good idea. Two good ideas my husband, bless his sentimental heart, has implemented:

1. A birdbath heater. He got ours from Amazon for about $20, and it automatically cuts on at about 40F. You do have to keep it plugged in, but even when it gets really cold he says it will maintain a drinkable area. We have a 20' extension cord that goes out to it.

2. Small copper fittings. If you put them in the bottom of the birdbath, he says they keep the algae down. He put some pre-1982 pennies in there for a while, but they are collectible and the fittings from Lowe's are very inexpensive.

The birdbath is about six feet away from the drip line of the suet feeder. My husband's idea of clean is different than mine.....
….

Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday!

>152 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen! Thanks for the lovely photos and the advice. I like your feeder set-up. That looks like a big tree, back there.
I think I will buy a heater. I have an outlet directly across, at the back of the house.

Are one of these a finch-feeder?

>153 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Enjoy your Sunday!

>154 msf59: You're welcome! The feeders are for anybody who shows up - two of them have mixed seed and one has oiled black sunflower seeds. We buy 50 lg bags of both and have metal trash cans in the garage to hold the seed. We buy suet 12-cakes at a time from Amazon. We get yellow and purple finches, cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, a male Eastern Towhee but we haven't seen the female, sparrows, bluebirds, bluejays, cowbirds, indigo buntings (rare, but definitely), juncos, which husband calls 'snowbirds, and lots of others. I'll have to ask Louise what other birds we get since she's the authority! I'm going to a homeowners association meeting with her today so have a chance to ask.

>155 karenmarie: I like your bird selection, Karen. I have yet to see a purple finch or an Eastern Towhee. I did see an indigo bunting, while on a bike ride.



-Purple Finch

^I finished One Man's Owl. I loved this book. Hoo, hoo...

I've had a lazy day after doing some Target shopping this am. Just starting Snowblind, the Icelandic mystery by Ragnar Johasson.

>156 msf59: Hi Mark! You're welcome. I'm extremely proud of the Towhee, because I saw the bird and then found him in my bird book. Louise confirmed it, but still! I spied, with my own little eyes.

Here's Louise's list of birds in our neighborhood: I posted on my thread 'cuz it's a long list.

Louise's Central NC Bird List

I might have missed this, but I am curious if you use eBird to log your sightings.

>158 lindapanzo: Happy Sunday, Linda! Hooray for lazy days! I am having one too. Lots of reading. Let me know what you think of Snowblind. It sounds really good.

>159 karenmarie: I love Louise's list. Thanks for sharing, Karen. I hope I can have a list like this in a few years. And hooray again for a Towhee!

>160 alphaorder: Yes, I do, Nancy. I started on the Audubon app, but I think I transferred most of them over to eBird. Very useful apps.

"'Confess, that all nations may know.'"

^I started The Confessions of Nat Turner. I am very impressed with the writing. Sometimes, you think that the writing may be a bit out-dated, after nearly 50 years but Styron is sure and steady, in the early going.

I noticed some of the reviews for this novel- How divisive! Lots of love and lots of hate. Very interesting.

I'm in the lots of love camp for The Confessions of Nat Turner. It's one you'll appreciate, I'm pretty sure.

Woo, we just finished our annual "latke party". Kicking back and watching a DVR of the Bulls game after clean-up.

>163 jnwelch: Hope you had a great time a your latke party! What is it, exactly, if you don't mind me asking?

Good to know about Nat Turner. I sure like the way it starts.

I spent the day with the books. And now I will put the Oscars on and keep My Favorite Thing Is Monsters and my poetry collection, close to hand.

>101 BLBera: What a lovely photo. Snow is beautiful, as long as you don't have to drive around in it. We had little snow thus far, but it has been a gloomy, grey, ugly sky kind of winter.

Hi Mark..Congratulations on reading so many books thus far.

Happy Sunday evening to you. Here is a touch of spring

Hey Mark! My husband walked in today with a bottle of Snowy Owl Red Amber from Sketchbook Brewery in Evanston. I thought of you...

>164 msf59: The latke party is a kind of Hanukkah party out of season. We've been doing it for 27 (!) years, and a number of years ago moved it out of the hectic holiday season to January, and this year, February. Lots of good food and good friends.

I'm watching Victoria - very good. No reading today, unfortunately, but some later on, I'm sure. I'm reading a Phryne Fisher mystery after climbing Mount IJ. Isn't My Favorite Thing is Monsters good? Better than I expected, so far.

>165 Whisper1: Happy Sunday, Linda! Love the spring flowers! It is so good to see you. You have been missed.

>166 kac522: Ooh, I LOVE the sound of Snowy Owl Red Amber. I have not heard of Sketchbook Brewery. Love the name. Ask your husband how he likes the beer.

>167 jnwelch: "good food and good friends."? I am in. Sounds like a lot of fun. Have a good time tonight with Victoria. I like the series but I think The Crown has it beat by a mile. Have you tried it yet?

I have the Oscars on.

>135 msf59: Your garden birding area looks fabulous. You are going to LOVE watching the birds in the birdbath.
This is a wonderful tough sturdy brush for cleaning the birdbath.



I think The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat was my first Sacks book and I was hooked after that!

We're over to the Oscars now, too, buddy. Our actress niece is the same as you about The Crown - she thinks it's show of the year. I do like Victoria, but haven't tried The Crown yet.

A bit late but congratulations on finishing up Infinite Jest. I'm tempted but not just right now. I've added The Impossible Fortress to my tbr list, I'll decide later on if I want to read it.

Our cat loves our bird bath, drinks from it when there's water and when it's empty, curls up in it for a snooze. No, we don't get many birds using it.

>169 mdoris: Happy Sunday, Mary. Thanks. Glad you like the bird feeder set up. I will be making improvements. I have a sturdy brush. The water is still frozen at the moment.

>170 jnwelch: Your niece has perfect taste. Try to catch The Crown.

Glad you switched to the Oscars. Glad Ali won for Moonlight. Excellent performance.

I also LOVED O.J. Made in America. Truly amazing.

What a great speech made by the woman on behalf of the Iranian director who won for foreign language film. My local doc cinema is having a series called *Ban This Film*, featuring films from each of the 7 banned countries. I hope to catch a few of them.

Sharp-tailed Grouse, doin' that dance.

>118 msf59: I WANT to live in a cabin in the woods, with a pet Great Horned Owl, named Bubo.
Hey, let's be honest here, who hasn't thought that!? ;)

When you and your lovely other visit NZ, I will take you to my dad's place, where we will be able to sit on the deck and watch/hear the birds all afternoon. It is a favourite pastime of mine (only I am usually looking at the ocean and just hearing weather than listening to the birds).

Good morning, Mark. Wishing you a great start into the new week.

>170 jnwelch: >172 msf59: I had great difficulty getting my family to watch The Crown. We're not huge fans of royalty in general and so it wasn't something that appealed. But now we have started watching it we all agree that it's excellent.

Morning, Mark!

>73 msf59: I agree with you about that woman's speech, Shelley. Let me know how that *Ban This Film* series goes.

>174 weird_O: Love that Sharp-tailed Grouse, Bill! He has the moves.

>175 LovingLit: "I will take you to my dad's place, where we will be able to sit on the deck and watch/hear the birds all afternoon." Well, this lovely offer, will carry me through my Monday work day and it will be an offer I hope to accept, one of these days.

Have a great week, Megan.

>176 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! Same to you.

>177 SandDune: Hi, Rhian! Great to see you. Glad to hear you are enjoying The Crown. I did not know a lot about her history and I think they did an excellent presenting her life.

>178 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Good morning, Mark! I hope you have a light load in good weather today.

I'm glad you liked Louise's list. While she was going through plates to confirm what she's seen here (she's from New Jersey and she and her husband Harold used to take birding trips - to Florida and to Arizona mainly), she pulled out her 2004 list. I don't know if many serious birders keep a life list and a year list, but Louise certainly did! She has too much to do now to take care of Harold - dementia and colostomy bag - but still feeds the birds and loves watching them when she can.

I'm wondering how a listen of Lincoln in the Bardo will be compared with a reading - each character says what she/he says and the name of the character is underneath their words. I found it interesting to get used to.

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

Morning, Mark! It's not Tuesday yet, so be careful out there.

Happy Monday, Mark! Nice bird feeder. Squirrels used my bird bath as a launching pad to the bird feeder, then I moved the bird feeder and hoped birds would find the bath.

>148 msf59: - By the way, I have never seen squirrels bathe but they use the birdbath to drink from. I have no problem with that. As long as they stay out of the feeders, I like them. I have only one feeder, a tube feeder that is squirrel-proof. And believe it or not, it works. It has a cage over the tube that is spring-loaded so that anything heavier than a small bird causes the cage to slide down, covering the ports. The largest bird I have ever seen on the feeder is a crow and that was a sight to behold! I guess he figured out that it was more trouble than it was worth because it was a one-time event. The squirrels are not quite so intelligent, though and they have tried many times. I use a long (maybe 12 inch?) S-hook to hang it from the branch so no matter how many times they try, they can't ever manage to slide down the hook and onto the feeder. The ports are near the bottom of it. This is the one I have, but I don't remember paying that much for it! It's the second one I have purchased, as the first one was stolen!

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14527&cmpid=10...

Happy Monday Mark! I'm back on the threads again. lol

Morning, Mark!

I'm not sure about naming the owl Bubo (I might name the owl the Count of Monte Cristo), but otherwise I like your plan.

Time for an IJ re-read yet?

I remember reading Owls in the Family by Farley Mowatt when I was in junior high. I can't remember many of the details, except feeling that it was really funny.

>181 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Thanks for more info on Louise. I should start a Year Long List too. Note to self...

I think the audio for Lincoln on the Bardo has something like 166 narrators. Say what?

>182 lunacat: Thanks, Jenny. And the same to you.

>183 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. Just plugging along. It looks to be another nice one- sunny and pushing 50.

>184 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. I have not seen the squirrels anywhere near the birdbath yet but I will be watching.

>185 jessibud2: Thanks for the great bird feeder advice, Shelley. I will be in search for a finch feeder and something like this would be ideal. We have to foil those pesty squirrels.

>186 The_Hibernator: Morning, Rachel. Good to see you. You have been missed.

>187 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Hooray for Bubo! No plans on rereading IJ yet. Lol. But it is still buzzing a bit in the back of my brain.

I'll be joining you soon on The Confessions of Nat Turner. I've started that Icelandic mystery I read about in the Trib and so I'll finish that one first.

I love the bird chatter here. I had a fun time on Sunday digging in the back garden being watched by some very brave robins jumping around the bits I'd just turned over (lots of worms). I've just upgraded to a 4 hole sunflower heart feeder, which at its best has had five or six goldfinches. I'm in the market for a bird bath now though...

>188 streamsong: I will have to look for Owls in the Family, Janet. I really liked Never cry Wolf but I have never read anything else by him.

>191 lindapanzo: Nat Turner has been very good, Linda. You should like it. How is your Icelandic mystery?

>192 charl08: Hi, Charlotte! Expect the bird chatter to increase as it begins to warm up and migration season starts to kick in.

Hooray for a sunflower heart feeder & a future birdbath!

>193 msf59: The Icelandic mystery is pretty good, though a bit slow starting.

Just heard about a little-known Turkish novel from the 1940s that I want to check into. The NY Times has a lengthy review on FB.

Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali.

>194 lindapanzo: Madonna in a Fur Coat sounds interesting. Let me know if you track it down.

You HAVE to read In the Kingdom of Ice. I finished it today. Excellent, adventure story. I can not praise it enough.

>170 jnwelch: Will and I watched The Crown and were hooked. It was very well done. I admit to not knowing a lot of the history of that time, and it has inspired me to learn more.

Happy Monday, Mark. I hope the weather was mild and your load was light.

>196 Whisper1: Glad to see The Crown love continue, Linda. I am going to finally watch the final episode tonight.

>197 BLBera: Hi, Beth. My Monday went fine and it was another nice day. No complaints.

>189 msf59: That isn't surprising, a large number of narrators. I haven't counted, but there are dozens so far by page 150.

>199 karenmarie: Well then, that makes perfect sense. The audio production has received praise, so it sounds like they pulled it off.

Loving all the bird talk. Enjoy The Crown! I am watching with Hubby and one daughter and we are having trouble finding time to all get together and watch. I think we are back on episode 4 still.

Happy Tuesday, Mark. I woke up and saw that it has snowed over the night. Gosh, and I thought spring is coming.

>201 Berly: I finally finished up the first season of The Crown, Kimmers. I was savoring it. What an excellent show, on all accounts. Wonderful writing, acting and production. And it looks like Season 2 will come out this fall. B.A.G.

Glad you are enjoying the bird gab. Expect much more...

>202 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! Boo to snow. We are only expecting some rain. Whew!

Morning, Mark! I have Kingdom of Ice on the wishlist, after, I think, Jim recommended it. How's that Nat Turner going, then?

>204 scaifea: Morning, Amber! In the Kingdom of Ice was terrific on audio too. Just sayin'. I am surprised how much I am enjoying Nat Turner. Honestly, I expected it to be a bit dated but it is holding it's own, in the early going.

^I had seen some buzz on A Separation, these past few weeks and since I found it on audio, (and it was a shorty) I thought I would give it a go. It has a nice, dark, psychological tone to it. I hope it stays on course.

Good morning, Mark! It's been so springlike out here that all the plants have started blooming and budding. Friday night is supposed to be a hard freeze of 26F.

For all that I am an Anglophile, I haven't had any interest in The Crown so far. Strange.

>206 msf59: That one sounds interesting!

Morning, Mark!

Good to hear re Kingdom of Ice. I'll get going with his books one of these days.

I've got News of the World, which I remember you loved, and Patti Smith's M Train on the reading agenda. Today through Thursday are work days, but I'll squeeze in some reading time, as always.

My Favorite Thing is Monsters is good, isn't it.

Mark, I am enjoying the bird talk here. We spent a day on Sanibel Island on our trip to Florida. It is a great place to spot the more tropical birds to boost the numbers on your bird list. I also love the cardinal picture topper. They are such standouts in the dreary winters here in the Midwest.

>207 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I do not think anything is budding or blooming here, but it is around the corner.

If you can access The Crown, give it one or 2 episodes. I think you will be hooked.

>208 drneutron: It is a quickie too. I should finish it tomorrow.

>209 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. I highly recommend In the Kingdom of Ice. NNF at it's best. I want to read M Train. I loved her first memoir.

I am really enjoying My Favorite Thing is Monsters but not reading it, as much as I would like. It's a bit too hefty to drag around with me.

>210 Donna828: Hi, Donna. Good to see you. I would love to go to Sanibel Island. I am looking forward to my first full year of "birding". And hooray for cardinals. They visit my feeder regularly and I have been hearing them singing on my route.

I'll jump in with my 2 cents on the Crown. Very Good. Watch it if you can.

We too, are spreading it out (just watched the Coronation), we've gotten spoiled re-watching old series (like House or West Wing) where there's ton's of episodes, or coming late to the game (like House of Cards). With a new one, like The Crown, binging on just 1 season and then you have to wait, isn't fun.

:)

Mark, I'll have to check out In the Kingdom of Ice. Just found out I've done the wellness steps needed to get my $200 wellness bonus. Naturally, if it's an option, I'll choose the Amazon gift card.

Belatedly, Mark, I want to "Huzzah!" you for racing through Infinite Jest. I want to keep an eye out for a copy.

^I am heading out, immediately, to attend my owl walk. They are forecasting storms this evening. I hope it holds off.

Wish me luck!!

Good luck!!

Maybe they're looking back at you....

If you love Great Horned Owls you would love me. One of my famous Halloween costumes one year was a Great Horned Owl costume. I spent weeks gluing feathers onto a mask. I made a cape with feathers that looked remarkably like wings. I even sewed feathers onto socks to look like the leg feathers. It was a great costume.

>216 msf59: Crossing my fingers that the weather cooperates!!

>219 benitastrnad: and the picture please?!

Wah!! Yes, the owl walk was canceled, due to weather. And to make matters worse, I did not get the cancel memo, so I drove out there and saw no one. It is a beautiful prairie reserve, (this made it worth it) and I walked the trails for about 30 minutes or so, (no owls) until the rain started to come down harder and chased me back to my vehicle. Thunder was rumbling a bit too, so this would have not been a good place to get caught in the open.

I am hoping for a reschedule. I also plan on bringing my bike out here. Some very nice bike trails.

>213 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff! Thanks for your 2 cents on The Crown. You will love it. I completely agree with you about watching cable vs. regular TV. I can't handle that many episodes. 6-12 is ideal.

>214 lindapanzo: Hooray for the wellness bonus, Linda. Let us know which books you buy with that gift certificate.

>215 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. It was quite a mountain, but I triumphed.

>217 jessibud2: >218 katiekrug: Thanks, Shelley & Katie. Much appreciated. Hopefully, they do this again soon.

>219 benitastrnad: We love you anyway, Benita. You should know that by now. I would still love to see you in the GHO costume. Come on, you have to have a photo?

>220 Berly: Foiled again by Mother Nature, Kimmers. Hope for a reschedule.

^I won The Lauras, on E.R. Yah! I read and loved Taylor's debut novel, The Shore, which was a top read for me in '15. I am hoping for this very talented author to strike gold once again.

Anyone else win anything worthwhile?

>223 msf59: Good for you. I asked for that one but won The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan.

Hope you're all ok. Heard the storms were worse down your way, though probably farther south and west. One person died from the tornado in Ottawa. I encountered heavy downpours driving home but just for a bit. Off tomorrow, though we'll probably reschedule festivities to a less snowy day.

>224 lindapanzo: - Ottawa? Here in Ontario, Canada? I am confused. Or is there an Ottawa down your way?

>225 jessibud2: Oops, Ottawa, IL, which is SW of Chicago, near Starved Rock State Park. They had a bad tornado awhile back. Maybe 10 years ago?

Ok, I see. I swear, I never knew there was another Ottawa! LT is so educational, lol!

>223 msf59: - I won The Lauras, too!

>227 jessibud2: Chicagoland is huge. I live near one corner of it and it'd probably take me 2 or 3 hours to drive to the other end, which is where today's worst storms were.

I won Alan 2, an ebook I don't remember even seeing, much less requesting. (I decided not to request ebooks anymore because the link is usually only good for a limited time, and I don't check my email as often as I should anymore and have missed downloading a couple of things, so I'm pretty sure I didn't look at any of the ebook offerings.)

Sorry your Owl Walk got rained out, but how cool you've discovered a new place to bike, hike, birdwatch!

>225 jessibud2: >226 lindapanzo: Yah, for Ottawa. A very nice, little town and they have a terrific brewery. We stopped there, while camping and visiting Starved Rock State Park, this past summer.

>228 katiekrug: We have perfect taste, KAK. Grins...

>229 lindapanzo: It is HUGE!

>230 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. Great to see you. I have never requested a ebook through E.R. I would rather get a good print title that I can share with my pals.

Happy Wednesday, Mark. Sorry to hear that owl walk was canceled without any notice.

>232 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb! Hope they reschedule. Fingers crossed.

I hope they reschedule your walk, but how nice that you've discovered some new trails to investigate :) I hope Wednesday treats you well.

Morning, Mark! I'm sorry about the owl walk, but at least you got a little of the walking part in...

>234 lunacat: Happy Wednesday, Jenny! Go Piglet! Go Piglet!

>235 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Funny, as I was walking the trails yesterday, I was thinking- Okay, I just walked most of the day at work and now I am out trudging along the paths. Am I nuts?

This is really a pretty place though. I should have taken a couple photos.

Good morning, Mark! I'm sorry your Owl Walk got cancelled, but it sounds like you made lemonade out of lemons with a good walk on your own.

Morning, Mark! Sorry that your owl watch got rained out and that you did not get the memo - total bummer. But look at you making the best of it - nicely done, my friend.

Morning, Mark! Yeah, what Mamie said. Sorry you got a rain cancellation, but I'm glad you got in a good hike.

Two more work days and then I can go back to being an otter, playing and eating. Mainly, I've been reading My Favorite Thing is Monsters - it has gotten deeper and more wide-ranging than I expected.

Hope today is okay for you. It's supposed to improve come the weekend.

Not a pleasant way to kick off March: rain, wind, gloom and a chill. Sighs...hey, at least I am not trudging through snow.

>237 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for lemonade. It is not beer but it will do just fine.

>238 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! A bit ugly out here at the moment. Yes, bummer about the owl walk but I did discover a gem of a place.

>239 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Pretty cruddy out here but I am off the weekend, so it is carrying me through.

Glad you are enjoying Monsters. I hope to get back to it.

Good morning, Mark! I hope you are having a good week.

>221 msf59: I'm sorry to hear that the owl walk was cancelled. I'm hoping you get a reschedule as well.

I'm halfway through River of Doubt and the river journey is now underway. The character of Candido Rondon is fascinating. Also, I am constantly amazed at how they steamed ahead with all the overland setbacks before actually getting on the river. One might think that if you don't have enough food or other supplies, you wouldn't start a potentially deadly endeavor.

Mark, the owls will wait for you!

Rainy, gray and warm here too but tonight, winter returns. At least, until the weekend. Oh well, it is March, after all. April and May are just around the corner, right?

Sorry your owl walk got cancelled. Sounds like you made mud pies out of those Spring showers!

>242 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie! The week is going well. I work tomorrow and then have a 3-day weekend. This only happens every 5 weeks, so I savor it.

No word on rescheduling of the owl walk. Hope it happens and I hope you continue to enjoy The River of Doubt.

>243 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley! "the owls will wait for you!" They have been waiting over 5 decades, so what's a few more months? LOL.

It looks like we are having similar weather. Cold and damp and then nice for the weekend.

>244 Morphidae: Thanks, Morph! Good to see you. The guide mentioned that they had the wrong contact number for me. I will have to remedy that issue. And yah, for mud pies.

^ After recently finishing In the Kingdom of Ice, I still had an itch for more NNF adventure stories, so I started The Lost City of the Monkey God. It grabbed me right away. I have never read any of Preston's fiction but this is really my cuppa. It reminds me of The Lost City of Z, which I know many of us are fans of. It is working great on audio too.

>246 msf59: is this a RL adventure told as a story? I liked On Foot Across Borneo by Eric Hansen a while back. I still remember a couple of scenes from that one, a great, if a bit old now, read! I like the look of your one too!!

edited to add: just WL'd all three NNF books mentioned in the above post. Wow, you really got me there, that was a BB whammy!!!

Sweet Thursday, Mark. It's stormy and chilly here.

>247 LovingLit: Hooray for BB Whammies!Yes, this is a true adventure story, that takes place in the deep dangerous interior of Honduras. I love nature and the great outdoors but I would gladly take a pass on this one, Megan.

I will have to keep the Hansen book in mind.

>248 Ameise1: Hi, Barb! It looks like March is starting out rough. Same way here. I woke up to some snow on the ground.

Morning, Mark!

Morning, Amber! Finally getting a touch of winter around here. It won't last.

Good morning, Mark! You got snow this morning, last night we had thunderstorms, power flickers, an inch of rain in about 2 hours, and house-shaking claps of thunder. We loved it.

Good Thursday to you, Mark! OH OH now you've done it! I've got to dig out my copy of The Kingdom of Ice and read it sooner than expected.
Yup, lots of weird weather going around. We've had a couple of bad storms and crazy wind gusts too. This morning, a little snow, fridged and tonight I hear 4 inches of snow on the way. 50f by Sunday. I'm so confused. I don't know what to put on in the morning.

>252 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Funny, that quickly the snow is gone. Just a cold early March day.

We got the same storms on Tuesday and even had a tornado touch down. A volatile season, (and not just the political environment either).

>253 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. Boo to 4 inches of snow. I woke up to a dusting but it has all ready departed.

I hope you can find time for In the Kingdom of Ice. NNF at its very best.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday!

>246 msf59: By the way, his The Monster of FLorence was pretty good too. Very different subject matter, in this one a serial killer investigation that he got involved in while in Italy.

>255 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

>256 drneutron: I have heard of The Monster of Florence. It is part of a popular series, right?

You would really like this one.

Uh oh. I think you got me with reading Douglas Preston. Like Jim, I've read The Monster of Florence. I haven't read anything else by him, however.

ETA: This month I won How to Be a Muslim: An American Story by Haroon Moghul from LTER.

>257 msf59: Actually, no, you're thinking of the Agent Pendergast series, I think, the starts with Relic that he wrote with Lincoln Child. (Which by the way, I like!) The Monster of Florence is true crime - well, true crime investigation - that has a large component of his experiences being involved with the Italian criminal justice system as they investigated the crime.

>246 msf59: I'm waiting for a copy of The Lost City of the Monkey God from the library, Mark. I need to read it before I visit our factory in Honduras so I'll know were NOT to go!

>256 drneutron: >257 msf59: I listened to The Monster of Florence a couple of years ago and was completely entranced by it. Such a weird/cool/insane true story. Mark, I think you'd dig it.

>258 streamsong: Hi, Janet! I am glad I snared you with the new Preston. It is a terrific read. I will also watch your thoughts on How to Be a Muslim. Sounds like a good one.

>259 drneutron: Thanks for the clarification, Jim. I had heard of the Pendergast series, but did not realize The Monster of Florence is not part of it. Now, I want to find a copy. Sounds like my cuppa.

>260 Donna828: Hi, Donna! Sweet Thursday! The Lost City of the Monkey God is a terrific read. You will love it. Honduras is a volatile place so be careful. The drug cartels have made it very dangerous.

>261 scaifea: Thanks for chiming in on the Preston, Amber! I will try to track down The Monster of Florence on audio. And if you can find The Lost City on audio, it also works very well in that format.

"Fer-de-lances are one of the largest and most deadly snakes of Central and South America. They are Costa Rica's most feared snake and with good reason: 50% of all snakebites are from this venomous viper. Described as the ultimate pit-viper, fer-de-lances are excitable, unpredictable and can deliver swift and aggressive strikes."

^Yes, I love nature and the great outdoors but snakes scare the sh*t out of me. The fer-de-lance is mentioned prominently in The Lost City of the Monkey God. Those fangs can pierce leather boots. Ah...no thank you.

I do have a picture of the GHO costume (with me in it) but I don't know how to get it into LT. If I figure that out you will get to see it.

Hi, Benita! Good to see you! Can you get the photo on your laptop?

Don't have a laptop. It is on my desktop PC. I tried copying it into LT, but it won't go. It is in a jpeg file.

Hmmm...I would think you should be able to add a jpeg. That is what I have. Put it on your desktop, go to your LT member's gallery, choose "add a picture", choose that jpeg and upload. You can then copy and paste from there.

^No question, my February reading was dominated by Infinite Jest, BUT, I was still able to read 10 books and this includes two 5 star reads, IJ and Just Mercy, (I did not review this one. Bad Mark. But it is a great book and a very important read). I also read three 4.5 star reads, with The Assault, Silence & In the Kingdom of Ice and just missed one with One Man's Owl, clocking in at 4.3 stars. So, the quality was there, even if the quantity lagged a bit.

And as an added bonus, I was also able to read two O'Nan books for the AAC. Yah!

>268 msf59: Ten books including Infinite Jest is amazing, Mark! Way to go!

Happy Friday, Mark. We have a wonderful spring day and the birds are singing. Big spring waves from over the pond.

Morning, Mark! Woot for all of the good reading going on (as if it's out of the ordinary...)!

>269 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! It ended up being a very good reading month.

>270 Ameise1: Happy Friday, Barb! Hooray for a nice spring day, with birds singing. We will have a cold, partly sunny day.

>271 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Yep, had a good reading month and this one is starting off very well too. B.A.G.

23) One Man's Owl by Bernd Heinrich 4.3 stars

The author, a naturalist and biology professor, spends a few months a year in his rustic cabin in Maine. Early one summer he finds an owlet, blown out of it's nest by a storm and takes the bird back to his cabin. This is our introduction to Bubo, a Great Horned Owl, that the author raises for the next 3 summers. He feeds the bird mainly road-kill and slowly tries to adapt the raptor to fend for himself.
This is a wonderful book, for bird & nature lovers and Heinrich is an excellent writer, with a profound love of nature. The star of the book is Bubo though. A fierce, quirky and playful bird, that can exude menace one moment and nibble your fingers affectionately the next. I am not sure I could spend such close proximity with this bird for such a long period but I sure loved reading about the experience.

Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! Your February reading was very impressive.

Ack Ack! Who posted snakes here?!! I can't review the above posts knowing that they are lurking.

It's snowing like crazy here. Hope you it's better by you!

Good morning, Mark!

I've added The Lost City of the Monkey God and The Monster of Florence to my wishlist.

>268 msf59: - last year I started tracking pages read and hours listened. My guess is that your February will be very impressive in pages and hours.

>274 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! And thanks!

>275 Carmenere: These snakes scared the crap out of me, Lynda! I had to spook someone else too. This is a terrific read though. Have you read Preston?

No snow here. Just cold.

>276 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! I am glad I added to your WL. I have to read The Monster of Florence now, since I am so impressed with this one.

I am impressed with you keeping up with your page and hour count. I think I will stick to a book count. It will keep me sane.

24) In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides 4.6 stars

In the summer of 1879, with a crew of 32, the USS Jeannette set sail for the arctic waters, to map a course to the north pole. If the Jeannette succeeds, it would be the first mission to do so. An extremely dangerous voyage, due to the unpredictable and unrelenting ice pack.
Shortly, after arriving in the northern waters, near the Bering Strait, the Jeannette was trapped. They were stuck there for two years until the hull was finally breached and the crew was forced to abandon ship and march across the ice. A thousand miles away from Siberia, battling the cold, starvation, snow blindness, injuries and polar bears. Did they survive? You will have to read it, to find out. These lips are sealed.

This is a harrowing, incredibly thrilling adventure tale, meticulously researched and written, by one of my favorite nonfiction authors.

>277 msf59: I don't suppose you keep a spreadsheet, then? *smile* It was simple column adds for pages and audiobook hours. I have @drneutron to blame for my new mania for keeping reading statistics. I tried it several years ago and dropped it, but was successful last year and have expanded it this year.

>275 Carmenere: - Agreed! And thanks for making me not the only one who can't look.. Mark, what were you thinking?! Those pics are almost as terrifying to me as Paul's topper (for different reasons). I thought LT was supposed to open my mind and bring out my happy side, not my worst phobias!!! It's bad enough that we have politics to do that, ;-p

We had a light dusting of snow overnight, enough that everything looks white but no accumulation to speak of. It's bloody freezing (-6C currently, with a windchill of -14C; that's 21F/6F to you), but I take comfort in knowing that by Sunday, we will be back on the plus side of the thermometer!

Have a great Friday!

>263 msf59: *shudder*
I am more afraid of spiders than most snakes, but anything that looks that terrifying has to make my list! I think the only venomous snake we have in Southern Ontario is the rattlesnake and they come nowhere near my house, thankfully!

>279 karenmarie: That Dr Neutron can be a very bad influence. I know he is our Founding Father and Grand Creator and all, but...

No spreadsheets for this dude.

>280 jessibud2: Morning, Shelley! The snake pics had a delayed response. I thought everyone really liked them. Grins...

Boo to snow. We have sunshine, but it is cold. We are supposed to get an inch or so late tonight. Sighs...

>281 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle! Sorry, for the shudders. There were spiders in this story too but they were not as menacing as these vipers. They even have ants there, that can kill you. WTH?

>282 msf59: I do believe that is the first I have ever heard of killer ants! So Costa Rica is off my list of places to explore someday! Eek!

Fear not. Many species of owls eat snakes. (hey I even googled that to make sure!) The thread is well-patrolled by owls so everyone should be safe. :-)

I think all of Central America is off my list, frankly. Snakes, ants, and horrible, horrible humidity. My nieces and our friends both commented on it.

Please don't post any pics of spiders, pretty please?

I have read and enjoyed Preston, Mark, but it your latest Preston has a snake on the cover, uh uh I ain't going anywhere near it. (poor English spoken for emphasis)
>284 streamsong: we found a dead snake on our deck last summer that Bill believes was dropped there by a hawk or owl Soooooo cringe worthy!

>279 karenmarie: Sorry notsorry about the evil influence! :D

>288 drneutron: I'm grateful for the evil influence - I like to quantify things anyway and once I got the format under control, I've been a happy camper ever since.

Ugh! on the snakes. Really, there should be some sort of warning.

Re: Expanded spreadsheets: Impressed by those who are so specific. I'm just happy when I remember to do the review and get it logged into LT.

Lovely reviews, especially the one about the USS Jeannette. I did a report about it in elementary school. Glad to see it getting some focus.

From record high temps Tuesday (70 F) to record expected this Saturday (10 F) -- what a crazy year. Stay warm and dry, my friend.

>283 ChelleBearss: Actually the story takes place in a rainforest in Honduras, but I am sure Costa Rica can be just as scary.

>284 streamsong: "The thread is well-patrolled by owls so everyone should be safe." LOL. I love it, Janet.

>285 karenmarie: "I think all of Central America is off my list, frankly." I might be with you on that one, Karen, for all of those same reasons, plus there is the human danger too. A very murderous place, thanks to the drug cartels.

>286 Carmenere: Come on, don't be a baby! Grins...I remember the author feeding his owl a snake in One Man's Owl. He liked it.

>287 lunacat: Thanks, Jenny. We are going on a brewery pub crawl tomorrow, in Michigan. One Happy Camper.

>288 drneutron: >289 karenmarie: Is it Dr. Evil or Dr. Neutron...I forget. Grins mischievously.

>290 michigantrumpet: Happy Friday, Marianne! Sorry about the lack of warning on the snake pics. I will try to do better.

I had not heard of the USS Jeannette before. It was a very big, national deal, at that time. I highly recommend the book. Have you read Sides, at all?

It looks like you are getting our weather. Cold today. Better tomorrow. Very warm on Sunday. Nutty!

Nice February reading, Mark. Love your owls.

Happy Friday.

No, I haven't read Sides. Going to check it out.

Got an amazing stout yesterday: Aphrodite from a Quebec brewer, Dieu du Ciel. Amazing. Thought of you.

>294 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Happy Friday! Glad you like the owls.

>295 michigantrumpet: Yes, find and read Sides, you will not be disappointed.

And the stout looks and sounds fantastic. Hooray for Aphrodite!

Started Sophie's Choice last night, Mark. Lordy! I didn't realize how many are the pages and how small is the type. It'll be a change of pace from The Things They Carried, which I breezed through in a day and a half.

To nudge into March on Wednesday, I stopped at the Goodwill store, helpfully stationed between Staples and Petco, which were my legitimate destinations. Nine-seven cents is Goodwill's everyday low price for books, and I've found some good books every time I've gone there. Found a Sherman Alexie, so I'm good now for whatever month he takes the AAC stage. Got 12 books altogether.

Have a good time in Michigan! Judi and I are going to Urinetown tonight.

>297 weird_O: Happy Friday, Bill. Nat Turner is the same way. Small print, lots of pages, but so very good. The guy is a helluva writer.

Glad you found a new and inexpensive book resource. I am trying to avoid these dangerous places and stay with the voluminous amount of TBR books I all ready have.

Urinetown?

Good morning, Mark! I hope all is well.

>278 msf59: Nice review. My NF brain is craving more, but after Monuments Men and River of Doubt, I may go back to war with Rogue Heroes. Not entirely sure, though. two and half disc left on RoD.

>299 brodiew2: Happy Friday, Brodie! All good here. Enjoying my 3-day weekend. I have Rogue Heroes saved on audio. Love, Mr. Macintyre.

>298 msf59: Urinetown, yeah.



Being done by my granddaughters' school.

>301 weird_O: Oh, that Urinetown. Grins...Enjoy the play, Bill and let me know how it is.