Joe's Book Cafe Door 25

By our psychedelic friend Peter Max

Welcome back to the cafe!

2017 Books

January

1. The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham
2. Bright Dead Things by Ada Limon (poetry)
3. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
4. Love Story with Murders by Harry Bingham
5. Four Swans by Winston Graham
6. This Thing of Darkness by Harry Bingham
7. Tell Me by Kim Addonizio (poetry)
8. Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love
9. A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install
10. The Dead House by Harry Bingham
11. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
12. Suspended Sentences by Patrick Modiano
13. Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
14. The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke translated by Stephen Mitchell
15. The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

February

16. The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
17. City by Clifford Simak
18. Eggtooth by Solia Carrock
19. The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer
20. A Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer
21. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
22. Binti Home by Nnedi Okorafor
23. Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer
24. The Dry by Jane Harper
25. I Will Have Vengeance by Maurizio De Giovanni
26. The Simple Truth by Philip Levine (poetry)
27. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace!!!
28. Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty
29. Away with Fairies by Kerry Greenwood
30. The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman*

March

31. News of the World by Paulette Jiles
32. My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris*
33. Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold
34. Nightmare in Pink by John D. MacDonald
35. The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey
36, There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce by Morgan Parker (poetry)
37. The Assault by Harry Mulisch
38. Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
39. Scriptorium by Melissa Range (poetry)
40. World of Edena by Moebius*
41. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
42. The Girl, the Gold Watch and Everything by John D. MacDonald
43. Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden*
44. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
45. Lucifer at the Starlite by Kim Addonizio
46. Echoes in Death by J.D. Robb

April

47. The Deep Blue Goodbye by John D. MacDonald
48. I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong
49. The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
50. Tender: Stories by Sofia Samatar
51. We Are Legion by Dennis Taylor
52. The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer
53. Just So Happens by Fumio Obata*
54. Wild Nights: New & Selected Poems by Kim Addonizio
55. I Must Be Living Twice by Eileen Myles
56. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
57. A Purple Place for Dying by John D. MacDonald
58. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Sanders
59. Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer
60. The Quick Red Fox by John D. MacDonald
61. Nutshell by Ian MacEwan
62. Orphan X by Greg Hurwitz

May

63. A Deadly Shade of Gold by John D. MacDonald
64. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
65. Eggshells by Caitriona Lally
66. Bright Orange for the Shroud by John D. MacDonald
67. Incendiary Art by Patricia Smith
68. Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
69. Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer
70. The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
71. The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla
72. The Nowhere Man by Greg Hurwitz
73. The Toll-Gate by Georgette Heyer

June
74. Vicious Circle by C.J. Box
75. No Middle Name by Lee Child
76. 99 Poems by Dana Gioia
77. The Angry Tide by Winston Graham
78. The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomer
79. The Deepest Grave by Harry Bingham
80. Imagine Wanting Only This by Kristen Radtke*
81. By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
82. Planetfall by Emma Newman
83. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
84. Czeslaw Milosz Selected Poems Revised
85. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
86. The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths

July

87. Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
88. The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths
89. Olio by Tyehimba Jess
90. Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich
91. Dr. Mutter's Marvels by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
92. No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay
93. Room Full of Bones by Ellie Griffiths
94. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
95. Robert B. Parker's Kickback by Ace Atkins
96. Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie
97. Crooked House by Agatha Christie
98. Never Go Back by Lee Child
99. Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
100. The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff
101. Leviathan Wakes by James S. Corey
102. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
103. Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine
104. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

August

105. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
106. Brand New Ancients by Kate Tempest
107. The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui*
108. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
109. The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee
110. The Windfall by Diksha Basu
111. leadbelly by Tyehimba Jess
112. Selected Poems of W.H. Auden, selected by Edward Mendelson
113. The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemesin
114. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
115. The Jane Austen Project by Kathryn Flynn
116. Horse and Rider by Melissa Range
117. Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs
118. To Siri, With Love by Judith Newman
119. Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds

September

120. Blind Justice by Bruce Alexander
121. Nest of Vipers by Andrea Camilleri
123. The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemison
124. Knockemstiff by Donald Pollock
125. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
126. Glass Houses by Louise Penny
127. Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb
128. Words Under the Words by Naomi Shahib Nye
129. Autumn by Ali Smith
130. Don't Call Us Dead by Danez Smith
131. The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham
132. The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye by David Lagercrantz
133. Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright
134. Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer
135. Electric Arches by Eve Ewing

October

136. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
137. The Legend of Light by Bob Hicok
138. The Western Star by Craig Johnson
139. Pale Gray for Guilt by John MacDonald
140. Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
141. Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
142. The Snowman by Jo Nesbo
143. Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer
144. Rain in Portugal by Billy Collins
145. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
146. Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele
147. The Punch Escrow by Tal Klein
148. Giving Godhead by Dylan Krieger
149. Murder in Grub Street by Bruce Alexander
150. The Loving Cup by Winston Graham
151. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories by Washington Irving
152. Lightning Men by Thomas Mullen

November

153. Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor
154. Reading with Patrick by Michelle Kuo
155. The Virginian by Owen Wister
156. Fort Not by Emily Skillings
157. Spinning by Tillie Walden*
158. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
159. Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudine Rankin
160. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
161. Midnight Line by Lee Child
162. Suds in Your Eye by Mary Laswell
163. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
164. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
165. Precious and Grace by Alexander McCall Smith
166. Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
167. Depression and Other Magic Tricks by Sabrina Bemain
168. Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson
169. All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

December

170. Provenance by Anne Leckie

Graphic Novels and Illustrated Books

1. Jessica Jones Pulse by Brian Michael Bendis
2. The Singing Bones by Shaun Tan
3. Whiteout by Greg Rucka
4. Jane, the Fox and Me by Fanny Britt
5. Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu
6. The White Donkey Terminal Lance by Maximilian Uriarte
7. Paper Girls Vol. 2 by Brian K. Vaughan
8. Ms. Marvel Vol. 6 by G. Willow Wilson
9. The Flight of the Raven by Jean-Pierre Gibrat
10. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson and Denise Mina (re-read)
11. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larrson and Denise Mina (re-read)
12. Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe
13. Coward by Ed Brubaker
14. Bandette Volume 2 by Paul Tobin
15. Saga Volume 7 by Brian K. Vaughan
16. Criminal Volume 3: The Dead and the Dying by Ed Brubaker
17. Lazarus Vol. 3 by Greg Rucka
18. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larrson and Denise Mina (re-read)
19. Jane Austen Cover to Cover by Margaret C. Sullivan
20. Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman
21. Strong Female Protagonist by Brennan Lee Mulligan
22. Black Widow S.H.I.E.L.D. Most Wanted by Mark Waid
23. Big Appetites by Christopher Boffoli
24. Lucifer Book Five by Mike Carey
25. One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg
26. Vagabond VIZBIG Edition, Vol. 11 by Takehiko Inoue
27. Tales of Honor On Basilisk Station by David Weber
28. The Encyclopedia of Early Earth by Isabel Greenberg
29. Wonder Woman Volume 1 The Lies by Greg Rucka
30. Dresden Files Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
31. Dresden Files Downtown by Jim Butcher
32. Buffy The High School Years by Kel McDonald
33. Lazarus Volume 4 by Greg Rucka
34. Wonder Woman Vol. 5: Flesh by Brian Azzarello
35. The Adventures of John Blake by Philip Pullman
36. Roughneck by Jeff Lemire
37. Wonder Woman Bones by Brian Azzarello
38. Archie Volume 1 The New Riverdale by Mark Waid
39. Tokyo Ghost by Rick Remender
40. Guardians of the Louvre by Jiro Taneguchi
41. Sleeper Season Two by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
42. Batman Hush by Jeph Loeb
43. The Girl from the Other Side by Nagabe
44. The Girl from the Other Side 2 by Nagabe
45. Black Hammer by Jeff Lemire
46. Scene of the Crime by Ed Brubaker
47. Spill Zone by Scott Westerfield
48. Quest by Aaron Becker
49. Return by Aaron Becker
50. Stumptown Vol. 4 by Greg Rucka
51. Ms. Marvel Vol. 7 by G. Willow Wilson
52. Valerian Complete Collection 1 by Pierre Christin
52. Valerian Complete Collection 3 by Pierre Christin
53. Paper Girls Vol. 3 by Brian K. Vaughan
54. Surreality by Caleb King
55. Monstress Volume 2 by Marie Liu
56. Catwoman Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker
57. Fatale Volume 2 by Ed Brubaker
58. Birdsong: A Story by James Sturm
59. Valerian Complete Collection 2 by Peirre Christin
60. Jessica Jones Uncaged by Brian Michael Bendis
61. Fatale Vol. 5 by Greg Rucka
62. Lazarus Vol. 5 by Greg Rucka
63, Witchblade Vol. 3: Borne Again by Ron Marz
64. Fatale Vol. 3 and Fatale Vol. 4 by Ed Brubaker
65. Criminal: The Dead and Dying by Ed Brubaker
66. Lady Killer by Jamie S. Rich
67. Baking with Kafka by Tom Gauld
68. The Golden Compass Vol. 1 by Philip Pullman
69. The Golden Compass Graphic Novel, Volume 2 by Philip Pullman
70. The Wheel of Time Eye of the World Vol. 2 by Robert Jordan
71. Level Up by Gene Luen Yang
72. The Wheel of Time Eye of the World Vol. 3 by Robert Jordan
73. The Girl on the Shore by Inio Asano
74. Shade The Changing Girl by Cecil Castellucci
75. Giant Days Vol. 1 by John Allison
76. Louis Undercover by Fanny Britt
77. Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too: A Book by Jomny Son
78. Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton
79. Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang
80. In Real Life by Cory Doctorow
81. Pashmina by Nidni Chanani
82. Eye of the World Vol. 4 by Robert Jordan
83. Giant Days Volume Two by John W. Allison
84. Boundless by Jillian Tamaki

Joe poem

Kingdom of Mu

I never conquered the Kingdom of Mu
Though I hoped I’d be one who did
I chased all the rumors, I geared up for battle
Made sure I was ready at every turn
But I never conquered the Kingdom of Mu

They must be inside the castle gates
At ease in serenity, they live without weapons
Having come from here, they understand our longing
We sit under the stars, trying out different prayers
They must be near us inside the castle gates

Inside I know it is peaceful; outside we all fight
Years of effort lead nowhere at all
They say it’ll be there
When we finally stop looking
Inside it’s peaceful; outside we all fight

There are stories of the paths they made
How they came upon the Kingdom of Mu
How they finally stopped looking
Drew breath and then the arrow flew away
There are stories of the paths they made

Somewhere they’re joyful in the Kingdom of Mu
In the public square, in the cool courtyards
While we suffer and pray in our close little rooms
They play, or dance, or sit by the fountain
Somewhere they’re joyful in the Kingdom of Mu

I’ll never stop searching for the Kingdom of Mu
I rise each morning with that my goal
What’s wrong inside us, there it is righted
What’s lost and forgotten, there it can be found
I’ll never stop searching for the Kingdom of Mu

I never learned where Kingdom lies
Or why it is so elusive
I've made every effort, but directions perplex me
I never learned where the Kingdom lies

Those before me longed for it, those after will, too
Its libraries provide answers, its chambers rest
Wherever we go, it awaits our arrival
Those before me longed for it, those after will, too

I oil my muscles, test the flex of my bow
I ride each trail as if it is new
When others call out, I’m never diverted
I press on relentless toward the Kingdom of Mu
I oil my muscles, test the flex of my bow

Some day I’ll find the Kingdom of Mu
I dream they see me near and find me worthy
Some day I’ll hear their songs and laughter
I’ll drop my bow and ride through the gate
And give up on conquering the Kingdom of Mu

Happy new thread! Poem's great!

>6 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! Great to hear!

First in the door gets a prize, you know. How about a handmade rocket ship?

Happy new one, Joe! Your poem has me missing Ellie, who I know would delight in it and analyze it and say brilliant insightful things about it.

>8 Crazymamie:. Thanks, Mamie!

Yeah, I miss Ellie like crazy. It was always so fun to get her reactions to the poems. I hope she's smiling somewhere at this one.

Thank Thoth it's Thursday.

I am extremely sore today, Joe, so will you please consult with the kitchen's baking staff and see if they can whomp me up a carrot cake the size of Missouri? Oh, and a Panama or two of coffee of course. I'm going to Eat to Forget, which has fewer residual problems that Drinking to Forget does. Amazing how few people value direct and uncompromising honesty when push comes to shove.

>3 jnwelch: RUN, CRAIG!! FAST!!

Reposted from Cafe XXIV

>10 richardderus: When push comes to shove, I always shove. And I was thinking the same thing about poor Craig up there.

>10 richardderus: Ha! Yeah, Craig better lam it quick!

Sweet Thursday, Richard. Let's see if we can get that cake and coffee for you.

>11 Crazymamie: Heh...my problem is I push one way, shove the other, and generally run roughshod every which way. It's why I stopped drinking.

>12 jnwelch: *aaahhh*

Home is where they get your order.

>11 Crazymamie: Having memorized that, Craig deserves better, doesn't he, Mamie?

>13 richardderus: Salud, RD!

Sweet Thursday, Joe. Happy 25th. Nice to see the colorful toppers on such a cloudy, windswept day.

I will have to come back and check out the Joe poem. No time now...

I was disappointed to hear the winners for the National Book Awards. My favorites were NOT among the winners. Oh well - what do those judges know anyway?

I was hoping that The Leavers or Pachinko would win for Fiction and wanted American Street to win in the YA category. I was also pulling for Killers of the Flower Moon in the Non-fiction works. But, such is life. The best doesn't always win.

>16 benitastrnad: It was a ~meh~ year for the NBAs, wasn't it.

Sing, Unburied, Sing was excellent, though I didn't like it as much as her previous NBA winner, Salvage the Bones.

Happy new one buddy.

Thoroughly enjoyed my visit to The Kingdom of Mu.

Good afternoon, Joe and happy new one!

>5 jnwelch: Love the deco coffee.

You are in for a treat with Stranger Things 2. I finished it last night and it is excellent.

Morning, Joe! Happy new thread!

>1 jnwelch: - Ah, Peter Max. A romp down memory lane. I had at least one poster of his on my bedroom wall when I was growing up (my hippy days/years) ....... Happy new thread, Joe

Hi, everyone. Thanks for stopping by.

Madame MBH and I got sideswiped by some bug, and are not good for much today. I'll catch up with you later or tomorrow.

Oh no! Feel better soon, Joe and Madame MBH.

and of course, Happiest of New Threads!

Oh dear, not both of you! Hope you both feel better soon.

Hankie. Honey and lemon... hope you both feel better soon Joe.

Morning, Joe. Sorry, about the bug. Hope it is fleeting. Get plenty of rest.

All the best to both of you Joe in your hopefully recuperative states.

Get-well-soon *whammy* aloft and incoming for you and Debbi, Joe.

Hoping you both feel better soon, Joe.

Good morning, Joe! I hope you are feeling better. Being sick stinks, but it usually means there can be quality time with the tube. :-P

Chicken soup, tea, toast. Warm blanket.

Feel better, you 2

Stay in bed and read.

I finished the second in Susan Dennard's YA fantasy Witchlands series. The first was the October book for my local Barnes & Noble Book Discussion group - Truthwitch and by the time I finished it I was hooked on the series. I went to the public library and got the second one in the series on CD and listened to it as my commute book. Windwitch was even better than the first! There is no second book letdown in this series. Now I have to wait for the next installment in the series.

Happy new thread, Joe. I hope that it is a short run bug and you are both back to your usual selves soonest.

Ohh , fantastic new toppers, Joe! So nice and colourful! I hope you and your other half are soon feeling better.

Oh, yoicks! I hope the two of you are already feeling better, Joe.

Hi Joe!

Happy new thread, and sorry about the bug. I hope you and Madame MBH are feeling better today.

>37 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. We're still feeling crummy, but a bit improved. Luckily we have no commitments today. We're doing laundry and that kind of thing, but otherwise we can take it easy.

>36 scaifea: Ha! Thanks, Amber. And "yoicks" always makes me feel better.

Let's see. I finished Midnight Line and Suds in Your Eye yesterday. Suds in Your Eye was a charmer, three enchanting older ladies without much money having a blast together. Midnight Line was another page-turning Jack Reacher story, this time centering around the opiate problem and a missing veteran.

Happy new thread, Joe, sorry about the bug, I hope it will be gone soon!

>15 msf59:, >27 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I hope you get time to check out "The Kingdom of Mu". Less complicated and more rhythmic than some I've posted.

I've always loved Peter Max's use of color.

This darn bug isn't a 24 hour one, but we're getting along okay. Lot of gallows humor with Debbi.

>16 benitastrnad: I don't think it was a great year for the National Book Award, Benita. Oh well - what do those judges know anyway? I know, sometimes the choices leave most readers shaking their heads, I believe. I'm really glad Danez Smith got to be a finalist for the poetry, and that Why Buddhism is True made the long list. I didn't have a favorite among the fiction ones; from my reading, my list would've been different.

>17 richardderus: Agreed, RD.

>18 katiekrug: Sing, Unburied, Sing was the one Darryl mentioned as being happy about, too, Katie. I haven't read her, and should fix that.

>19 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Oh good, I'm glad you thoroughly enjoyed the Kingdom of Mu poem. I thought of you - more rhythm and form in this one.

>20 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie. We're 4 episodes into Stranger Thing's second season, and it's another fun, creepy ride. We expect to watch some more today.

>21 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>22 jessibud2: Isn't it fun to see some Peter Max again, Shelley? Yeah, he was right in my mainstream during my pink bell bottom days. :-)

>24 streamsong: Thanks, Shelley. Madame MBH and I are hanging in there together. We don't often get sick at the same time, so there's some camaraderie in commiserating.

>25 NarratorLady: Thanks, Anne. A silver lining for me was your recommendation of Suds in Your Eye. It was a perfect anodyne read. Lots of laughs and charm.

Madame MBH is intrigued and will probably read it, too.

>26 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. Honey and lemon is a good idea. I've managed to get in a bunch of vitamin C this morning, and I'm hoping that helps.

>28 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Gradual improvement and an open day on our end. We're glad it's happening now, if it has to happen, as we're traveling to spend Thanksgiving with our son and his bride next week.

>29 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. We can use that *whammy*!

>30 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. We're both feeling a bit better today than yesterday, and I hope and expect that improvement to continue. I was hoping for a 24 hour bug, but no such luck.

>31 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie. We expect to spend some quality time with Stranger Things today. I did get in a lot of quality reading time yesterday, so that helped. Usually I can read lighter fare even when I'm laid up.

>32 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. Madame MBH just made an excellent breakfast for us with scrambled eggs, avocado toast and apple slices. That should help. I'm so used to drinking coffee, but I'll try to work some tea in.

>33 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita. I did get a lot of good reading time in - the new Reacher and an oldie called Suds in Your Eye that Anne recommended.

I'm glad you're having a good time with the Susan Dennard Witchlands YA books.

>34 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. It's not as short term a bug as I hoped, but the timing is good (we don't have a bunch of commitments), and we're comrades in arms about it.

>35 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb. Aren't those Peter Max colors great? I thought we all could use them in what are the low in color pre-winter days for a lot of us.

>39 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. Me, too. We're weathering it pretty well, all things considered. Good books and each other help. Madame MBH just finished, and enjoyed, reading Murder on the Orient Express for the first time.

Morning stranger passing thru ( this has been a bad year for me keeping up here this year)

Have you read H(A)PPY yet ? I think it might be your thing think post-post-apocalyptic Alice in Wonderland .....

Happy New-ish Thread, Joe. Love the psychedelic toppers.

Sorry you and Debbi are both under the weather (not fair!). I hope you both feel better soon.

I've about 100 pages to go in Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I am loving it again; I think I was just in a major reading-and-life funk. Luckily for me, I experience them rarely and they tend to be short-lived.

Hey Joe. I'm so happy you liked Suds in Your Eye...now skip High Time and go straight to One on the House.

Such great memories! Y'all feel better, hear me?

>51 richardderus: Oooh One on the House is new to me Richard. Must get that one.

>43 jnwelch: It's great to chuckle over a book, isn't it Joe? I just finished The Education of Hyman Kaplan (another title lifted from When Books Went to War). It was short and hilarious. Great pick-me-up on a cold, wet day or when nursing a bug.

Morning, Joe! I'm glad to see that you're starting to feel a bit better.
And yay for MBH reading Murder on the Orient Express! Charlie is really enjoying our bedtime read of it.

>52 NarratorLady: Heh...H*Y*M*A*N was amusing, IIRC. "Feh? For the class?" That's also where I learned the word "eumoirous." I still trot it out once in a way, with a carefully arched brow and a delicately raised pinky.

>49 roundballnz: Hey, stranger! Good to see you, Alex.

Thanks for the tip re H(a)ppy. You know me well. I hadn't heard of it before. I added it to the WL.

>50 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. I'm glad you're enjoying those psychedelic toppers.

Debbi and I are still moving in slow motion, but we're doing better. We've actually done pretty darn well with both of us laid low. We watched a lot of Stranger Thing's second season yesterday - really good.

Good to hear The Windup Bird Chronicle got your love again. RL can throw some bleh into our reading lives sometimes. I finished re-reading it a bit ago, and loved it again. It's still hard to string thoughts together, but I'll comment over on the group thread once my head clears. I had forgotten how important May Kasahara was throughout the story - I had mainly remembered her from the beginning.

>51 richardderus: Thanks, RD. We're feeling better, if slower than usual.

I LOVED Suds in Your Eye, and Madame MBH just did, too. Thanks for the tip on the next one to read. Such a fun book.

>52 NarratorLady: Oh good, Anne. We can both read One on the House. Thanks again for kicking things off for Suds in Your Eye. That's just the kind of old-timey read I enjoy (as did Debbi), and I'd never heard of it before.

The Education of Hyman Kaplan, eh? I'll check it out, thanks.

>53 scaifea: Hi, Amber. Yes, we're improved, if slow.

Ha! I can just imagine Charlie enjoying Murder on the Orient Express. Toward the end, Madame MBH said, Wait! They're all lying! Ha! Cracked me up. I may have to give that one another re-read.

>54 richardderus: More enthusiasm for The Education of Hyman Kaplan. Good to hear, Richard. "Eumoirous" is a new word for me; can't wait to annoy impress the neighbors with it.

I've started Turtles All the Way Down, the new John Green, and How Green Was My Valley, one I've meant to read for ages. My poetry book is A People's History of Chicago, and graphic novel the fourth Wheel of Time graphic. The last is middlin' fare, but I've always enjoyed the story.

Happy Sunday, Joe. Glad to see you check in and that you both are feeling better. I just popped outside to fill my feeders and there is a touch of winter in the air.

I finally started Don't Call Us dead. It is pretty stunning. I am so glad I have a keeper copy of this one.

Enjoy your time with Turtles. It is such a good read.

#58
I have long had How Green Was My Valley on my TBR list. I am still reading on the Poldark books and then I want to start Delderfeld.

>59 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark. I'm going to try to make it to the library and back in this touch of winter. That's pretty ambitious in our present state, so we'll see. I may sleep at the library.

Isn't Don't Call Us Dead a stunner? He's really something.

I'm enjoying my Turtles All the Way time. I was a bit worried when so much time passed after The Fault in Our Stars, but it sounds like he's come through in fine style again.

>60 benitastrnad: Ditto for me with Llewellyn's How Green Was My Valley, Benita, and it seemed like a must with my Welsh (Welch) background. I read Delderfeld's To Serve Them All My Days and loved it. I'm up to The Twisted Sword in the Poldark books, and expect to get to it before the end of the year.

>48 jnwelch: I only have read two Agatha Christie books yet, Joe, so I hope to enjoy Murder on the Orient Express for the first time next year :-)

>61 jnwelch: Glad you are enjoying Turtles All the Way Down.

Take care, Joe and Debbie. Take it easy until you are both feeling 100%.

>61 jnwelch:

My sister and I stayed up way late one night long long ago to watch How Green Was My Valley.

We cried and cried.

If you are still feeing unwell- I second chicken soup and add tea made with slices of ginger.

>61 jnwelch: Be very careful of spending evenings at the library. You just may find that the characters in books jump out of the pages. Will your attention be on those who speak the loudest, or those quiet blokes in the corner who simply want to paint a wonderful tale in an exquisite way> I'm thinking you may be amazed at finding Kent Haruf smiling will softly reading about souls at night!

If you happen to wander into a library such as this, please let our group know. In the meantime, I hope you feel well enough by next Thursday to eat a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

Hi Joe!

I'm glad to hear that you're both on the road to recovery.

I am seriously considering a solo run to see Murder on the Orient Express today. 25 miles there, 25 miles back..... that's what I get for living in the middle of nowhere!

Morning, Joe!

>67 karenmarie: We have the same problem. Fortunately, I work in town and Mrsdrneutron is in town most days with her mom, so we can meet for date nights relatively easily. Driving so much sucks, though.

>62 FAMeulstee: You'll enjoy Murder on the Orient Express, Anita. Dame Agatha is a clever one.

>63 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb. Madame MBH is doing pretty well, and I'm not far behind her. This bug doesn't give up easily, I'll say that.

>64 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. I haven't seen the movie, but the book is very good so far. I'll be sure to have Kleenex nearby.

It's a bit above my reading level at the moment, so I've switched over to Precious and Grace, a Precious Ramotswe story, until more of my brain starts working.

>65 torontoc: Thanks, Cyrel. I have been doing a fair amount of ginger. I'm just not much of a tea guy, but I'll keep trying to talk myself into having some.

>66 Whisper1: Hi, Linda! I hope you're feeling improved and the pain has diminished. It's great to see you here.

Actually, you make falling asleep at the library sound awfully good! I may have to make a point of doing it. I'd love to have Kent Haruf show up to softly read Our Souls at Night. :-) I'll report back if I get so lucky with him, or anyone else, showing up at the library.

We're driving over to Pittsburgh to see our beloved son and his bride for Thanksgiving, taking with us the lovely seasonsoflove. Can't wait - it's been too long since we last saw them in person.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, too.

>67 karenmarie: Ha! That's a bit of a journey to see a movie all right, Karen. One advantage for you, I'm sure, is lovely surroundings in the middle of nowhere. One advantage for us of living in the middle of somewhere is we can walk to the movie theater.

Please report back on the Murder on the Orient Express movie. We've gotten some mixed reactions so far.

>68 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>69 drneutron: I can attest to your being able to meet up in town, Jim. :-)

It's a tradeoff. Madame MBH and I are both city types now, although we each grew up in smallish towns. I had to drive to the movies when young, but it wasn't all that far in Ann Arbor.

Here it is Monday again, Joe, ain't it grand not going to an office while so many others do?

Oh dear, here I am gloating in public, how unattractive. *evil Muttley laugh*

Morning, Joe. Happy Monday. I am enjoying the day off and looking forward to a shortened work week, with the holiday coming up, (I do work the weekend though. Sighs...)

I am going on a hike with Bree and Duke a bit later. Looks like a nice fall day.

Glad you are having a good time with Turtles.

>74 richardderus: Ha! It is grand indeed not going to the office while so many others do, Richard. Even if I'm feeling lousy or doing some chore, I still think, "but I'm not going to work!" It's the best ever, particularly for folks like me with sloth-like tendencies.

Good to have a fellow gloater. You're way better at the evil Muttley laugh than me, though. :-)

>75 msf59: A day off - excellent, Mark. Right, short week with the holiday. Too bad about the weekend, but it still sounds pretty darn good.

Should be nice for a hike with Bree and Duke. We're still not entirely out of the feeling lousy woods, so we called off working out today. But I do hope to get out and about a bit.

Yes, I'll be turning back to Turtles All the Way soonish. It's a good 'un. I understand that Green himself suffers from some of this, is that right? I'm the opposite - rather than worrying so much, my thoughts tend to drift up into the clouds somewhere, while those around me try to get my attention.

P.S. When you get a chance, let me know what you think of the poem up in >4 jnwelch:. I miss your comments.

Linda's post up in >66 Whisper1: matched up well with this, I thought.

>76 jnwelch: Heh.


>77 jnwelch: How lovely!

>78 richardderus: Now that guy really has the evil Muttley laugh down!



Ain't >77 jnwelch: lovely? I like how he's walking toward us.

Well, Turtles All the Way Down by John Green was excellent. I know people who suffer from OCD, and this gets at it in a compelling way - including the roles of friendship and love. Aza and Daisy are unforgettable.

I liked seeing in the Acknowledgments at the end tips of the hat to Rainbow Rowell, an author I'm a fan of, and Ed Yong and I Contain Multitudes, an author and book I'm a fan of.

I'm now enjoying the second volume of Giant Days in this graphic novel series by John Allison and others. While the context at uni for Susan, Esther, and Daisy is quite different, the humor reminds me of Lumberjanes and Rat Queens. If you liked either or both of those, you should give this one a try. Quite charming, IMO.

>4 jnwelch:

"I oil my muscles, test the flex of my bow
I ride each trail as if it is new
When others call out, I’m never diverted
I press on relentless toward the Kingdom of Mu"

^I like it, Joe. It seems a bit different from your other work. Is this new or old? We will have to get together over a couple of brews and discuss the Mu. Smiles...

And hooray for Turtles!!

>82 msf59: Thanks, Mark. Brand new. I thought I'd lost it in our reorganizing - Debbi's given me a file cabinet and a place for writing supplies - but finally it resurfaced.

I'm glad you like it. Discussing the Mu over a couple of brews sounds perfect. It becomes more understandable, IMO, after some hops weigh in. :-)

P.S. And I join your Turtles hurray!

Sorry you are still filling badly, Joe. I'm glad you found the first in the series of the mysteries on my thread, A Killer in King's Cove.

>67 karenmarie: >72 jnwelch: I do believe there are few places where you can walk to a movie theater. The theaters are clusters of 8 or 12 screens, and planted in the center of a vast asphalt sea of parking. You can't get there without a car.

Judi and I did see Murder on the Orient Express, but it took two tries. We like going to the earliest showing; the theater usually has only a scattering of people. So we booked a day and head to the theater. We've got a choice of routes, and I picked the one that put us on the Interstate for 12 to 14 miles. Zoomed the first 2-3 miles, then came to a complete halt, behind what turned out to be 6 miles of mostly tractor-trailers. Took us 25 minutes or so to limp 5 miles to the next exit, where we bailed and headed home. We'd missed the show time. The next day, the flick was gone and we had to drive an extra 10 miles to a theater showing it.

My reaction? I enjoyed it. Depp is an excellent villain, all the character actors play their characters well. We know the story (having seen both the Stanley Lumet directed version with Finney and the PBS version with Souchet). Branagh is excellent.

But now both my wife and I want to read Dame Agatha's original version.

Morning, Joe!

>85 weird_O: I saw it last Friday after work. It was actually the cheapest time to view it (only $5.99). The earlier time was $8.99, but I was working then anyway. Later times were either $11.99 or $12.99.

I'm hoping your digestion is up to my latest discovery, Joe. A local friend decided to make sticky cranberry gingerbread and it was *out*stand*ing*


There's *shudder* Tea *urp* if you're not quite the thing for coffee. Which, I hasten to point out, is the perfect accompaniment to gingerbread of all types and sorts.

>84 vancouverdeb: We're doing much better, thanks, Deb. That was one stubborn bug.

I've got Killer in King's Cove coming my way. Thanks for bringing this unknown (to me) series to light. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

>85 weird_O: The big city is always different, isn't it, Bill. We can walk to one of the complexes you mention, but we prefer the Davis and Music Box theaters - the former is privately owned (not a chain), with four screens (and, importantly, is near the library!), and is where we saw the new Blade Runner movie, and the latter is a privately owned artsy movie theater where we saw Loving Vincent. We love being able to walk to them.

They're on city streets, with street parking, no big parking lots. The complex does have a parking garage. Our daughter saw Murder on the Orient Express at the Davis.

I'm glad you enjoyed MOTOE, although it sounds like it was a pain in the neck to get to it. You may want to add the David Suchet BBC one to the 1974 one for your viewing pleasure. Suchet is a peerless Poirot.

>86 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Happy Tuesday, my friend.

>87 thornton37814: $5.99 is a great price for a movie these days, Lori. What did you think of Murder on the Orient Express?

>88 richardderus: I'm having some morning coffee, and will gladly sample that scrumptious-looking sticky cranberry gingerbread, Richard. Yumdiddlyumptious.

It's funny, I'm not a big fan of cranberries, but in baked goods they're transformed. Glazed cranberry orange scones are among my favorites.

The past few days at Casa Welch

>91 jnwelch: I love cranberry scones, too...I am a cranberrista, though, my go-to juice being cranberry. I'm so weird that I even buy extra cranberry sauce, though not the jellied kind, for year-round application to sausage cornbread stuffing (which also lives in my cupboard year-round).

To me the cranberry's tartness is a fresh, alive flavor and makes my mood elevate. It pairs well with orange flavor, as we all know, but also gets a welcome kick-up from pickled jalapeños.

>93 richardderus: You've managed to exceed my gustatory imaginative powers, Richard. I can easily believe that cranberries get a welcome kick-up from pickled jalapeños, but for the life of me I can't imagine those flavors together! I suspect you'd get oohs and ahhs on one of those cooking shows.

My new favorite seltzer is Polar cranberry-lime.

(And Richard, I am really not intentionally following you around the threads, commenting on your foody comments, I swear!)

I use cranberries when I make applesauce. Just saying. (it also gives it a fantastic deep red colour)

>95 katiekrug: Nice job of following Richard around the threads, commenting on his foody comments, Katie.

I have no words for Polar cranberry-lime seltzer. But after several liquid-less days in the desert, I'd drink it for sure.

>96 jessibud2: I tried this idea on our maestra of applesauce here, Shelley - who likes cranberries and cranberry juice - and got nowhere. I believe she's wedded to our ancient traditions of cinnamon only.

>95 katiekrug: uh huh

But total +1 on the cranberry lime seltzer, which I use to make frozen limeade.

>99 richardderus: - Oooooh, how do you do that?

1 can frozen limeade
1 tray ice cubes
1 blender
whirl.
1 bottle cranberry lime seltzer
2/3 limeade slush
1/3 seltzer
stir.

Gracias!

>99 richardderus:, >100 katiekrug:, >101 richardderus:, >102 katiekrug: You two want more coffee?

>102 katiekrug: De nada.

>103 jnwelch: Yes please. May I have a Spanish coffee with extra condensed milk?

>104 richardderus: Hmm. Hope we got this right, Richard.

oooohhhh
yyyeeesss

*drool*

>106 richardderus: Ha! Excellent.

OK, cafe patrons. We're leaving early tomorrow morning with seasonsoflove to drive across to Pittsburgh, to celebrate Thanksgiving with son #1 and his bride (and various others). I'll check in periodically, but will of course be on LT a lot less than usual.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Have a good Thanksgiving, Joe and a good visit. Hope you are both feeling 100%

Safe travels, happy arrivals, easy journeys

Happy thanksgiving Joe. Hope you and Debbi are feeling better.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe, and safe travels! Charlie and I will be on the road today, too!

Morning, Joe! Happy Wednesday. Glad you are having a good time with Jane, Unlimited. I have heard nothing but good things. I am loving Flower Moon and I decided to go with a Longmire on audio. I still have a few of his books to catch up on.

Winter like out there. I am bundling up...

Have a safe trip to PA, my friend. I am so glad you will be able to enjoy the holiday with Jesse and his wife.

Morning, Joe! Wishing you safe travels and hoping that your Thanksgiving is full of fabulous!

Safe travels!

Have a great time in Pittsburgh. I will be leaving for Bozeman, MT tomorrow at 4:30 a.m. to spend time with my youngest sister and old friends from my school teaching days. My bag is packed, but I still have to work today. The library is open until 5:00 p.m.

I purchased Jane Unlimited after I heard Kristen Cashore talk about it on the New York Times Book Review Podcast. I had read the Graceling books and read the reviews, but didn't think that I needed the book right now. After hearing her talk about it I decided I did need it right now. Unfortunately, I found other books to read before it got to my house, and now it is setting on the TBR stack.

#116 & Joe
I am still reading on Raven Stratagem and am liking it. However, it is a much slower moving book than was Ninefox Gambit. I am 250 pages into the book and there is only one battle and it is those battle scenes that really made the first novel stand out. This one is much more about the structure of the universe that Yoon Ha Lee has created. It is now clear that the calendar to which the novels are constantly referring is some kind of space/time anomaly. I think they are worm holes, but am still not quite sure about that. However, the picture of the universe is becoming clearer. And of course, Jadeo's motivations as well.

Just in time for Thanksgiving! I doubt we'll be giving thanks for THIS any time soon. I'm being left further and farther behind with all the posts and all the threads. But this could really put me behind. And deeper in debt.

Trump's minion at the FCC is pushing through the end of net neutrality. This is what we all have to look forward to: major price increases, limited access to everything the 'Net has to offer, reduced speed. Wanna Google that? It'll cost ya. And it might take a while.

     

Safe travels Joe and Madam MBH. Have a Great Thanksgiving and wonderful family visit. (American Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me 'cause it is on a Thursday, so weird. Was it arranged that way for shopping?)

>55 jnwelch: "I had forgotten how important May Kasahara was throughout the story..."
And she is one of my favorite characters.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe!

Safe travels and a Happy Thanksgiving, Joe and family!

Hi Joe! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

>69 drneutron: Driving so much does suck, Jim. I did it for 25 years here in NC, and before that less miles but about the same time commuting in Los Angeles. The one benefit is either NPR time or audiobook time.

>72 jnwelch: Middle of somewhere – LOL.

Murder on the Orient Express toyed with the details but got most of it right. What I had a hard time with was Kenneth Branagh as Poirot and the way they did his moustaches. Silly, right? The visual just wasn’t there for me. I have been reading Poirot for decades and frankly so far every movie/series mostly irritates me. It didn’t work for me overall, although I’m glad I saw it just to say I’d seen it. I really want to re-read the book soon.

Thanks, everyone. We arrived safely, and it’s great to have the family together. Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy thanksgiving, Joe. Have a great time with the family.

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

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

I am thankful that you are part of this group.

I am thankful for this opportunity to say thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving, Joe, to you and your whole family

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



Thank you for being so wonderful! : )

Safe travels and a very happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Joe.

Dropping in late to your thread, Joe, to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Love the Peter Max, hate the bug you both were fighting and glad you are both better and with family today.

>109 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. We're both feeling way better, thanks. It was a fun Thanksgiving - we're a bit "social gabbing" hungover today. Big group.

>110 richardderus: Thanks, buddy. It was a long journey (lots of traffic, slow toll booths, and so on), but safe and so worth it upon arrival. We hadn't seen son#1 and his bride in what seemed like forever. Both doing beautifully, although she's experiencing a tough pregnancy.

>111 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. We are feeling better. Quite a feast yesterday - tops for me was son #1's garlic mashed potatoes and monkeybread, our applesauce, and the pecan pie. Photos from Adriana (his wife) on Facebook.

>112 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. I hope you and Charlie had smooth travels and a satisfying Thanksgiving with family.

>113 msf59: Morning, Mark. Jane Unlimited has morphed into something I didn't expect, and I'm bravely trying to get my bearings. I have a general idea of what the payoff may be, but we'll see. I'm also enjoying Precious and Grace: No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency 17, a Precious Ramotswe mystery; I've been with the series a long time, and I'm trying to keep a fresh view of it.

OK, we've got to go. I'll catch up more later.

Enjoy the rest of your extended Thanksgiving, Joe. I am thankful for your presence in my life and hoping to connect again in person in 2018.

I'm glad you're enjoying the No. 1. I do, too, although I'm far behind in the series. They are such perfect comfort reads on a trip or when you are not feeling quite up to snuff.

Continue having a good time! (I know you will - so carry on, sir!)

>113 msf59: cont. Flower Moon and Longmire on audio sounds great, Mark.

>114 msf59: All is well. It's actually in the 50s F and clear blue sky here, so we just took a long walk in the park with Bolita and Maleta (the little dogs).

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and are getting a chance to kick back a bit.

>115 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. Thanks - Thanksgiving was full of fabulous, and we're here until Sunday. Board game night tonight, with pals of the dynamic duo.

Hope yours was fabuloso, too!

>116 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! We head back on Sunday. Wasn't too bad coming here, although pretty lonnggg.

>117 benitastrnad: Hope you're having fun in Bozeman. Jane Unlimited starts out being fairly straightforward, and then morphs into something bee-zarre. I'm very curious as to how she's going to sort it all out.

>118 benitastrnad: Hmm, that's quite intriguing re Raven Strategem, Benita, thanks. That's pretty brave to start explaining a major plot driver in the second book. I look forward to hearing more of your reactions.

>119 weird_O: Right, our Orange Maestro of Bad Decisions and Despicable Behavior is pushing the FCC to make our lives worse, once again, Bill. Can it be stopped? Not much reason for optimism that I can see.

>120 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I don't know the origin of the last Thursday in November timing. Apparently Honest Abe started it way back when.

>121 EBT1002: I know, May Kasahara has really grown on me this time, Ellen. She's the source of so many of the book's great quotes. I appreciated Toru's restraint with her.

>122 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! We had a great Thanksgiving, and we're going to enjoy a couple more days with all of us together again - love it.

>123 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving.

I couldn't live in LA. Spending so much time in the car ain't for me.

Our Agatha-fan daughter had a similar reaction to yours re the new Branagh Murder on the Orient Express movie. She did like the 1974 one, and loves David Suchet as Poirot.

>125 msf59: Thanks, buddy. I hope you're having some good time off, and enjoying the family.

>126 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I return your gratitude for your being a part of the mighty 75ers. What a treat that LT and our group exists.

>127 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley. I hope you had a good one last month. I was just talking with someone about how many Canadians scratch their heads over why USA-ians make such a big deal out of this holiday, with eating way too much and shopping being part of the tradition. I hadn't watched the Macy's T-giving parade in a long time, and hadn't realized it's transformed into a product placement parade.

There's reason to believe we're a goofy bunch south of the border.

>128 Berly: Agreed, Kim! Thank you. It's an honor to be a friend of yours.

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving.

>129 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. I hope you had a good one last month. This was fun, and we're continuing to enjoy being reunited with our baby boy and his wife.

>130 ronincats: Thanks, Roni. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving, too. I'm glad you love the Peter Max - kind of a retro cafe this time. :-) We have finally defeated the bug, I'm glad to report.

>134 EBT1002: Thank you, Ellen. That is very nice to hear! Vice versa, my friend. I'm very glad you're in my life. We should be able to make in-person happen in '18, right? I know we have Portland on our "want-to-travel-to" list, and maybe I can find a biz conference in Seattle I "must" attend.

>135 streamsong: I am enjoying Precious and Grace, thanks, Janet. You're right, it makes for easy, comfort reading on vacation.

>131 jnwelch: - Oh! I must have missed the news that you are going to be grandparents! Congrats! I hope she feels better very soon so she can enjoy it! When is the estimated time of arrival?

>146 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley! First time grandparents for us, and for her parents, too. Rafa (Rafael Alejandro Welch) is due to arrive at the end of April.

>131 jnwelch: and >146 jessibud2: I missed that, too! Congratulations, Joe, and I echo Shelley's wishes for the pregnancy to become easier. How exciting!

>148 EBT1002:. Thanks, Ellen! ‘Tis!

They’ll be most excellent parents, these two. And we’ll just have fun with the little guy. It works out to be a pretty good deal.

Hi Joe!

Glad you had a good time at Thanksgiving although I can relate to the 'social gabbing' hangover.

I, too, somehow missed the news of the first grandchild, so Congratulations!

We saw a bit of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade a few years ago and were devastated at what it had become, so haven't bothered anymore.

Sounds like you and your MBH are having a whale of a time in Pittsburgh. I hope your DIL feels better soon as her pregnancy progresses. I'm sure your company over this Thanksgiving holiday is helping ease her discomfort somewhat.

Watching the Macy's parade is part of my inlaw's family because my MIL loves it still, and likes to have everyone around watching it with her and commenting (often negatively by the teenagers. haha) on the individual groups .. except the marching bands... those they all like. I am often cooking so in the recent years, the hubster has taken to recording the parade and then we'd watch it later since his mom doesn't want me to 'miss out' on the fun .... if only she knew I'd be more than willing to not have to sit through the parade at all. The only balloon I ever liked was Snoopy anyway. :-)

Morning, Joe! Adding my congratulations to those above - how very exciting!

>151 cameling: the Thanksgiving parade was never the same for me when they dropped "Underdog" from the line of balloons.

>151 cameling: They added an extremely evil looking Grinch this year, ....had to FF past it for my 3 year old grandson, who wasn't watching much anyway. Oh for the return of Snoopy and Underdog! Snoopy may still there. The parade is on in our house but with cooking, talking, "playing cars", etc. no one gives it their undivided attention.

>153 magicians_nephew: Agreed.

Happy Saturday, Joe. Sounds like you are having a wonderful time with the family. Enjoy, my friend.

>131 jnwelch:

When is Baby expected?!?

Morning, Joe!

Ohmygosh, you're about to become Grandpa Joe! I LOVE IT!! Congrats to you all!!

I am sure that it is a special Thanksgiving weekend, Gramps.

Safe trip back home.

>157 m.belljackson:. Hiya, Marianne. Rafa is due at the end of April.

>158 scaifea:. Ha! Thanks, Amber. Grandpa Joe sounds good to me! Jesse and Adri are really cute together. Can’t wait!

>159 PaulCranswick:. ‘‘Twas a special Thanksgiving weekend, Paul. Lots of good time with the parents-to-be, and we got to visit with a beloved sister, too.

We’re on the Ohio Turnpike, and it’s a clear day for driving (knock on wood!)

...how did I already know about Rafa (though not his name)? Did you or someone drop the bomb on FB?

Anyway, prepare for the best time y'all're ever gonna have.

>160 jnwelch:

Is Rafa a nod to Raphael Nadal?

>161 richardderus:. Yes, I think the Rafa news has been out there on Facebook for a while now, Richard. We’re looking forward to the parents do the worrying, while we just enjoy goofing around with him.

>162 m.belljackson: The parents acknowledge the Nadal connection, Marianne, and apparently there's some other well-known Latin Rafa? But they say he's named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. :-)

>141 jnwelch: I'm with Becca on that one. David Suchet is the best Poirot, probably the reason why I haven't been so keen on seeing the new "Murder on the Orient Express."

>142 jnwelch: Canadians also eat way too much at Thanksgiving but there is such a gap between the holiday in October and the Christmas Feast that we are ready for a good nosh in December. The retail tie in is one that isn't so obvious. We have adopted Black Friday Sales but the news did a feature on how those are kind of petering out, at least in the stores, online is probably a different story.

There's reason to believe we're a goofy bunch south of the border. That's probably not mainly because of your Thanksgiving, Joe.

Congratulations on the impending grandparenthood. First time grandparents on both sides - Rafa will reap the benefits there, I am sure. I hope everything goes well for mom and baby.

>164 jnwelch:

Earned (by doing online surveys) a free subscription to People (which I don't even read at the dentist)
en Español to keep my 3rd year high school reading level active. I'll look for Latin Rafa.

The Turtle was cool, but Raphael Nadal can be WAY cool - fun connections!

>165 Familyhistorian: - First time grandparents on both sides - Rafa will reap the benefits there, I am sure. As someone who was the first grandchild on both sides, I can attest to that fact. For four years, I was queen, then my brother came along. They might not want to wait that long; the smaller the age gap, the less chance there is of *territorialism*, if you get my drift, lol! ;-)

>165 Familyhistorian: Agreed re David Suchet, Meg.

Good to know Canadians go big on the eats on Thanksgiving, too.

"There's reason to believe we're a goofy bunch south of the border." That's probably not mainly because of your Thanksgiving, Joe. LOL! You think? Especially with our present administration.

>166 m.belljackson: Oh, People magazine in Spanish to keep your skills up. (And for free!) That's a clever idea, Marianne. Do let me know if you come across a standout Latin Rafa. There's a singer (not the kids' one (Raffi)), I know.

>167 jessibud2: Those halcyon days of being the only grandchild, Shelley. :-) I'm sure Rafa will enjoy that. His grandmother-to-be in Chicago is quite excited about his impending arrival, I know that much.

Hahaha, I like.

>164 jnwelch: Rafa will probably think the connection to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle is cooler than the tennis player. But vice versa for me!!

>170 jnwelch: Best life choice.

>170 jnwelch: - :-)

>171 Caroline_McElwee: Right, Caroline?

>172 Berly: I'm a big Nadal fan, Kim, so I was happy to hear his nickname would be Rafa. But I suspect the TMNT provenance will mean more to him, in the early going anyway.

We nicknamed son #1 Jesse, with Jesse Owens in mind. Needless to say, he's heard of others in his life.

>173 MickyFine: The retained relationship will undoubtedly be a long-lasting one, Micky, don't you think?

>174 jessibud2: That one got Madame MBH, too, Shelley. Luckily, I had said to her, way back at the beginning of our relationship, "Books and me", and she thought that sounded all right.

>176 jnwelch: - Smart move, there, Joe! ;-)

I enjoyed this long one

Those are terrific! And that flow chart above the staff pics, well, that was me today. And most days.

I have a magnet on my fridge that I got a few years ago at a literature fair in the city. It shows a girl on a chair with huge bookshelves behind her. The speech bubbles say: People are okay. But I prefer the company of books.

>170 jnwelch: Oh my, yes.

>178 jnwelch: One of my Young Gentleman Caller's friends made fun of me for being a bookworm...YGC said, "who says 'bookworm' after fifth grade, ya a-hole?"

Hard to quit that boy.

>179 jessibud2: Ha! That flow chart fits me well, too, Shelley.

I love the idea of developing a crush on a bookstore employee through the staff picks!

>180 richardderus: >170 jnwelch: gets it right, doesn't it, RD.

Ha! Yeah, your YGC sounds like a keeper to me. Bookworm: appreciator of literary wonders.

>178 jnwelch: All the symptoms....right here.

>182 laytonwoman3rd: I was able to check them off, too, Linda. Let's just hope they're not curable. :-)

>178 jnwelch: OMG, who took a picture of the nightstand next to my bed???

And congrats, Joe, on the upcoming Grandpa status....

Hi Joe!

>178 jnwelch: I loved every single one of 'em. And I've currently the "Do You Really Need a New Book" flowchart as my computer's background.

>184 kac522: - I was thinking the same thing...

Yup, me too!

Sorry your daughter-in-law is having a rough go...but there is a school of thought that holds that means an easier delivery. Being a Grandpa is the best thing ever, according to my brother, who has two delightful little granddaughters.

>184 kac522: Jenga! It takes a talented book reader to put together a night stand like that, Kathy.

Thanks re the grandpa-itude!

>185 karenmarie: Hi, Karen!

Ha! The book flow chart in >178 jnwelch: as your computer wallpaper, what a great idea. I love: "You must be mistaken". :-)

>186 jessibud2: We probably should have a day on which everyone posts photos of their night stand, Shelley. I bet we'd have a whole lot of Jenga goin' on.

>187 drneutron: Ha! Thanks for more support for that theory, Jim.

^Hooray for baby Rafa! Congrats, Grandpa Joe. Exciting news, my friend. I am very happy for you both. April will be here before you know it.

>188 laytonwoman3rd: The doctor and a number of women have encouraged our DIL by saying feeling awful like indicates the baby is strong and thriving. I hadn't heard the one about an easier delivery, but I'm sure she'd be happy to hear it, Linda.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be joining your brother in the best thing ever club, although it's going to be tough to beat being the dad of our two, as challenging as it was at times.

>191 msf59: Ha! Thanks, buddy. I sure like the idea of April being here before we know it - right now we're all so psyched up that we can't wait!

>170 jnwelch: Those are so good! I could relate to most but really liked the one where the book being read was "How to Get Up and Get Dressed"!

>193 jnwelch: I am patiently waiting for my turn, Joe. Okay, the patience is beginning to run thin. Grins...

I couple of our very good friends are also enjoying their grandchildren. Thinning a bit...

>192 jnwelch: Our 2nd grandchild is due in March, Joe, a little sister for our grandson. It's the greatest gig ever. Tons of fun and no responsibility - except for keeping them safe and happy when they're in our care! Aren't we lucky to be greeting 2018 knowing that we'll be adding a new member to our families?

And as an added bonus: welcome to world of 21st century kiddie lit!

>194 Familyhistorian: Ha! I love that one, too, Meg. Whenever a reader takes on a new project, the first step is to read up about it. How To Get Up and Get Dressed - hard to get much done without that one.

>195 msf59: Your time will come, I'm sure, Mark. These two knew they wanted this from early on.

I've yet to hear a grandparent say, "this is really crummy." I'm optimistic we'll be having a good time with it!

>196 NarratorLady: Congratulations, Anne! I'm also happy for the parents who'll be having a boy and a girl. We've liked that.

Tons of fun and no responsibility, other than keeping them safe and happy when you have them with you - that sounds good to me! We are lucky, you're right.

21st century kiddie lit - our book-reading son has already started trying newer kids' books to get ready. Ha! I love it.

>178 jnwelch: >198 richardderus: Love these!!! Thank you gents.

>198 richardderus: - Love it!

Morning, Joe!
So, have you started buying picture books yet?

Joe, if you take *my* advice, I'd say just give Amber your credit card info, Rafa's address, and let 'er rip. If *anyone*in*the*world* will know what to furnish Rafa's library with, it's Amber. That way you can concentrate your spoiling on food! And Debbi can focus on art!

*brisk hand-dusting* There. That's his future settled. Who needs parents?

I hear Go the F*** to Sleep is a good choice for bedtime...

>202 richardderus:

>204 scaifea: HA!!

>198 richardderus: LOL!



>199 Berly:, >200 jessibud2: :-)

>201 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Not yet on the picture books, although I have some ideas. I'll probably be consulting you when the time comes!

>202 richardderus: Ha! Great minds think alike, Richard. I agree; Amber would do a most excellent job of furnishing Rafa's library.

>203 drneutron: I don't know, Jim - is Go the F*ck to Sleep too sentimental? Hmm. Doesn't Samuel Jackson do a compelling audio version of that one?

>204 scaifea:, >205 richardderus: Wallace! We've got you on speed dial for Rafa's library, Amber. :-)

>203 drneutron:

This is the one I wanted to suggest once the kids are into toddler stage.

A hilarious book for adults!

Morning, Joe. Happy Tuesday. I am enjoying a day off and since it is so mild, I think I will go for a stroll. According to the Trib, our weather will remain mild for the next 10-12 days. We will gladly take it, right?

I really enjoyed Don't Call Us Dead. What a strong voice, and I plan on dipping into Citizen: An American Lyric today too.

>198 richardderus: Richard, Richard....are you going cute on us?

>211 laytonwoman3rd: CUTE?! Perish forbid! Bite your tongue! Why I never in all my born days!

...but it is sorta cute...

I know...the cuteness is only coincidental...you couldn't find one with the plain black background. *ahem*

>206 jnwelch: Perfect! For today, I'll take a Synonym roll for "Sleepy."

>213 laytonwoman3rd:

>214 Berly:. How about somnolent and languid, with icing, Kim?

>215 richardderus:. That’s one cute picture of Bernie, RD.

>209 m.belljackson:. The F*ck to Sleep book is hilarious, I agree, Marianne. I remember that, when it came out, Madame MBH and I looked at each other and said, Oh yeah. We knew that feeling well.

>210 msf59:. Happy Tuesday, Mark. What a great day to have off. I’m glad you’re taking a stroll in this mild weather. We walked about a mile and a half to a new (for us) cafe, where Debbi’s working on a story, and I’m working on some poems.

Hey, that makes me happy that you really enjoyed Don’t Call Us Dead! He does have a strong voice, doesn’t he. Some of it was like, wait, did he really say that?!

We were talking about Citizen: An American Lyric at Jesse’s House. Another great book. I’ve never read anything like it. I think about it just about every day - to have to live with that, find a way to thrive despite that. I think I’d be angry all the time - but you can’t live angry (at least, I can’t), so you have to figure that one out, too.

>211 laytonwoman3rd:, >212 richardderus:, >213 laytonwoman3rd:. You two are so cute!

>218 jnwelch: I agree but don't forget >204 scaifea:

>219 Familyhistorian: You're right, Meg. Amber (and Wallace) are mighty cute, too.

>221 jnwelch: - Now, there's a plot twist, if ever there was one! Go for it! :-)

>222 jessibud2: Ha! I felt like Lizzie was starting to fall for me in P & P, Shelley, but then that darn Darcy got his act together.

>220 jnwelch:

This thread makes me smile! Morning, Joe!

Morning, Joe. Good luck with the raking. Nice day for it. It is my least favorite outdoor chore. I worked an hour on Sunday and you can't even tell I did anything. Sighs...

Howdy do, Joe, got a pot on for me?

Joe, I've just returned from listening to our friend Anne Fadiman talk about her memoir of her father, writer and intellectual Clifton Fadiman, The Wine Lover's Daughter. She was every bit as funny, smart and charming as she seems from reading Ex Libris.

I'm halfway through the new book and it's terrific.

Lovely news about the impending arrival Joe . And Ms Welch's synonym roll is great. And pleasant. And lovely.

>228 NarratorLady: Indirect book bullet! Love her writing.

>224 scaifea: And a penguin! Fab.

>228 NarratorLady: - Book bullet here, too. I also love Fadiman's writing. I've read and loved Ex Libris and also The Spirit Catches you & You Fall Down

>224 scaifea: Ha! Cute and stylish, Amber. You never cease to amaze.

>225 Crazymamie: Hiya, Mamie. Good! We could all use a smile, right?

>224 scaifea: Ha! Cute and stylish, Amber. You never cease to amaze.

>225 Crazymamie: Hiya, Mamie. Good! We could all use a smile, right?

Wow! A double post. I didn't even know we could do those anymore.

>226 msf59: Hiya, Mark. What was most irritating about the raking is the leaves are from a huge tree across our back alley, in an apartment house's yard by its back fence. In other words, not our tree. But the leaves end up on our side, near our garage. Arggh. Took four big bags and the help of Madame MBH to clear it all out.

>227 richardderus: A belated pot, RD, but a pot it is. Here you go.

>228 NarratorLady: Oh, great to hear, Anne. Both about her humor, smarts and charm, and the excellence of The Wine Lover's Daughter. You know her Ex Libris is a fave. I'd love to see her in person some day. I'll keep an eye out for an appearance here. And I'm adding TWLD to my wishlist.

>229 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. The impending arrival sure has us curious. Can't wait.

I'm with you on The Wine Lover's Daughter bb, and you're right - a penguin! (In an amazing disguise).

>230 jessibud2: I'm a Fadiman fan, too, Shelley, but haven't yet read The Spirit Catches You & You Fall Down. That might be a good group read book some day?

We saw a most excellent concert last night featuring acoustic jazz guitarist Earl Klugh. I'll try to post a couple of pics later.

>236 jnwelch: LOVE this! Morning, Joe! Sweet Thursday!

Joe, congratulations on your upcoming grandson! What happy news! And already a name, which is not yet known for our impending granddaughter. Like you, I've started purchasing board books for babies!

>238 Crazymamie: Isn't >236 jnwelch: a hoot, Mamie? Someone clever and talented saw the opportunity.

Sweet Thursday, my friend!

>239 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb. It is happy news - as is yours! Congrats on your impending granddaughter. Ha! Yes, we book readers immediately start thinking about . . . books!

Sweet Thursday, Joe. Another nice day. Love all the sunshine.

In regards to the leaves, we are in the same boat. 80-90% of the leaves come from somewhere else. Sighs...

The Hate U Give is off to a strong start.

>229 charl08:, >230 jessibud2:, >234 jnwelch: After listening to her speak, I asked Anne Fadiman if she had done the audio version of her book. She seemed very pleased to say she had and although she found it hard work, she was delighted to have done it. She has a wonderful voice (perfect articulation which she probably inherited from her father who had his own radio program, "Information Please"). Many memoir writers don't excel at reading their own work, but I'm sure this one will be excellent.

>241 msf59: Sweet Thursday, Mark. It's a beaut - we had home things going on this a.m., but we'll be out in it after lunch.

So annoying re the leaves. It's a big project, too. Joining your sigh.

She just nailed it every which way in The Hate U Give. Beautifully done.

>242 NarratorLady: Do you mean an audio version of her new book, Anne? Or Ex Libris? Cool to hear she has a wonderful voice, and the father in radio background.

We just listened to the Trevor Noah book on audio, and he was terrific.

Earl Klugh!! *aaarrrgggh* Well, it pleases me to announce that *I* saw Sarah Vaughn perform live before she died, and was introduced to and conversed fairly extensively with Betty Carter.

But I've never seen Earl Klugh live. *waaahhh*

>241 msf59: That's such a great book. It's one of my Booksgiving picks.

>243 jnwelch: She's recorded The Wine Lover's Daughter Joe. In 1998 when Ex Libris was published, not many non-fiction works went to audio. But now everything is recorded and it will be a delight to hear her wonderful voice.

>235 jnwelch: - It's a bit of a chunkster, Joe, but so very worthwhile. I don't, as a rule, do many re-reads, not with so many unread waiting and calling from the shelves. But I did write a rather longish review after reading it and I can only say again, that she is a thorough researcher and excellent, passionate writer.

>242 NarratorLady: - Oh, this is good to know. I will see if my library has a copy of the audiobook and if not, perhaps they can order it.

>235 jnwelch: Another Fadiman fan here Joe, if I can find my copy of the book I’ll join the group read.

>236 jnwelch: tee hee - cool.

>237 jnwelch: heading off to have a listen. Glad it as a good one.

>244 richardderus: lucky you RD. she had a great voice.

Hi Joe!

>236 jnwelch: *smile*

Morning, Joe!

>244 richardderus: I'm so glad you're a fan of The Hate U Give, Richard. What a book. I'm giving it to folks, too.

Madame MBH sighed in envy upon my telling her you got to see Sarah Vaughan live (as did I), and talking with Betty Carter must've been a treat, too.

The Earl Klugh concert was so good! His band was way better than we expected - each one of them a virtuoso. I'll post pics in a bit.

>245 NarratorLady: Got it. That makes sense, Anne. I'll think about taking Anne Fadiman's audio along on our next car trip.

>246 jessibud2: I've heard nothing but good things about The Spirit Catches You, and plan to read it, Shelley. It wasn't the right time for the subject matter for me the last time I looked at it.

>247 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline.

I hope a group read of The Spirit Catches You does catch on. I'd be game, for sure. More than once I've found that got me to read a great book I've been dithering on. I'm glad you're a fellow Fadiman fan.

We've been listening to Earl Klugh when we're home ever since the concert! Smooth jazz is not my usual, but he's an exception.

>248 karenmarie: Hi, Karen!

Isn't >236 jnwelch: fun?

>249 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Happy Friday, my friend.

Here are some pics from the Earl Klugh concert. He's an acoustic jazz guitarist, an unusual combo. He's quite a songwriter, too. His band was outstanding.

Looks like fun! I'll have to check on Spotify to see if I can take a listen.

>216 jnwelch: Languid with icing please!!!

>236 jnwelch: Way to take annoying weeds and make the best of it! Love it. : )

>254 jnwelch: It's a real crime that you don't have any fun in life.

>254 jnwelch: I'm so jealous. That is all.

>247 Caroline_McElwee:, >250 jnwelch: What a tiny, privileged group we are. What amazing stuff we've seen with our own eyes and, as we pass from the earth, what we're taking with us! They are our grave goods: Our peak experiences.

I've seen Earl Klugh live, and he does put on quite a show and great music, but it was probably 25 years ago here at Humphrey's. This is the venue:

Congrats, Grandpa. When will the new Welch take the stage?

I have found that being a grandfather is e-z. Our sixth granddaughter will join our party in early February.

>255 drneutron: Do, Jim. I hope you find them.

Acoustic jazz guitar - they must've thought he was from outer space when he started.

>256 Berly: Ha! We do have some fun, Madame MBH and I, don't we, Kim? That was a great concert.

Languid with icing, you say? OK, here you go:

>257 richardderus: Truth, Richard. I don't think I could ever complete the list of the amazing things we've seen along the way. And this tiny, privileged group is filled with lucky folks, isn't it. All we've seen and experienced - plus books!

>258 ronincats: Oh my - in beautiful San Diego by the bay, right, Roni? How wonderful to have seen him like that, and 25 years ago he must have been in his prime. Madame MBH has loved his music as long as I've known her, and then some, more than 35 years. He's been a pro for 41 years, they told us.

>259 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. Six grandchildren. That sounds great to me. Congrats on the new granddaughter due in February!

Our new addition, Rafael, is supposed to show up at the end of April.

George Takei's tweeted pome:

"Some fortunes have started to tip
Now that Flynn's decided to flip
Impeachment? Indictment?
That's too much excitement
They'll scurry like rats off this ship"

*bwaaahaaahaaa*

>262 richardderus: - I like that! So, what's the news today? Did I miss anything actually *new*? I only listen to the news once in the morning and then the evening news on tv at dinner time. That's about as much as I can stomach these days (most days)

>263 jessibud2: - Shelley, buckle up for tonight's broadcast!

>264 katiekrug: - Ok, I am listening now. I plead ignorance because I am not American, so please remind me who Flynn is exactly and, more importantly, can this lead to trump's downfall? Finally?

He was Trump's first National Security Advisor. He has pleaded guilty to a relatively minor offense as part of a deal with the Special Counsel, which seems to indicate he has a very interesting story to tell and very important people are likely implicated in it.

I found this Twitter thread interesting.

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/936602442996813824

I don't think you need to have a Twitter account to see it.

>266 katiekrug:- My bedtime reading, Katie. Thanks.

Hard to keep track, without a program. Or a map. Or the play-by-play in your link. Or something. Thanks!

Bottom line: will it be enough to jettison trump (et al)? That's all anyone of us cares about, isn't it?

He is one scary-looking guy!! Is he still employed or is he one of the roster of those already fired by trump?

He was fired last February, but there is a whole lot of back story that's worth reading about.

Trump's unlikely to go anywhere any time soon (depending, I guess, on your definition of soon). Sorry.

Here's a "map" of sorts: http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/politics/trump-russia-connections/index.html...

>269 katiekrug: - Thanks, Katie. If it doesn't make my eyes cross and my stomach churn, I might actually gain some understanding from these links. (can you imagine trying to *map* this?!) ;-p

Good thing there isn't a test afterwards....

>270 jessibud2: There is for us in the US, Shelley, called "midterm elections." If the Trumpanzees have learned anything, we could actually see some districts flip back towards old-style conservatism from batshit crazy radical rightness.

>271 richardderus: - Like.

>271 richardderus: - Eek. Heaven forbid.

I like that *trumpanzees*. Vivid image... ;-)

Sorry for the hijack here on your thread, Joe. Just trying to ejamacate myself..

Happy Friday, Joe. Another beautiful day in Chicagoland. I see we get back to winter reality next week. Hey, we knew it was coming.

LOVING, The Hate U Give. I should wrap it up tomorrow. I will be sad to see this one end.

Hope you had a good day, my friend.

All the Anne Fadiman love is interesting. Quite by accident I ran across her name with regards to a book of essays she did some years ago on reading and readers. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader I went to the library to pick up this book and found a couple of others by her on the same subject. Rereadings: Seventeen Writers Revisit Books They Love and At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays. I took all three of them home but haven't started any of them at the moment. Instead I am just starting Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India by the actress and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey and just finishing up Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee.

I was not aware that Fadiman had written Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down until I started looking for her essays in the libraries catalog. That particular title was one of the required reading texts for a one of the teacher education courses here at the University. I had read some really good reviews of Wine Lover's Daughter but again didn't connect that title with Fadiman. This all adds up to a very interesting author to read and now I am anxious to start with the book I checked out from our library - Ex Libris.

>275 benitastrnad: Ex Libris is one of those books that I picked up at the library, read, then immediately went out and bought a copy. Fadiman has been a professor of writing at Yale for quite a few years. You have some great reading ahead of you.

I own a copy of her Rereadings and At Large and At Small but haven't read them yet either. I did love the other two I've read.

>260 jnwelch: ROFLOL!! Tell me, tell me! What words did you put into the search engine to find that one? Made my day.

>262 richardderus: LOL! I love this one, Richard. I saw it over on Paul's thread. George T. has a knack I didn't know about. It's all starting to happen, finally.

>263 jessibud2:, >264 katiekrug:, >265 jessibud2:, >266 katiekrug: >267 jessibud2:, >268 katiekrug:, >269 katiekrug:, >270 jessibud2: Lots of good things happening today! Looks like it's reached Jared Kushner, and there are indications Mueller's investigation may be reaching Trump. We'll see.

>271 richardderus: Can't wait for the 2018 midterm elections, RD. Virginia was encouraging. I'm hoping (of course) that there's a huge backlash against this administration and the largely amoral, unprincipled, bald-faced lying Republican party.

>272 katiekrug: Ditto

>273 jessibud2: Don't hurt yourself getting an ejamacation, Shelley. :-)

Treason's Greetings, Joe! :-) We can hope! Enjoy The Last Ballad, and I think I enjoyed A Land More Kind than Home and This Dark Road to Mercy even more! Put them on your Christmas list!

>274 msf59: Happy Friday, Mark. It was a beaut, all right, and we were just talking about what a good day we've had. We were just at the Bulls game - they lost again, but at least they kept it close. They're going nowhere this year with all these young guys, so the goal is to be competitive, lose a lot, get experience, and get a good draft choice.

Isn't The Hate U Give special? I knew you'd love it.

>275 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. As Anne says in >276 NarratorLady:, Ex Libris is great reading, and you'll be happy you found Anne Fadiman.

>276 NarratorLady: Yes, yes, yes, Anne. I didn't even go to the library first for Ex Libris, after hearing from you and probably Ellie about it. I bought a copy right away.

>277 jessibud2: I didn't even know about those two, Shelley. I just plain need to read more of her books. As Mark would say, bad Mark. Except Joe.

>278 Berly: Ha! I thought you'd enjoy that "languid and icing" post, Kim. I think I had to use "sleepy" in the search to find it, but sure enough, there was an image for sleepy and icing. :-)

OK, the new cafe is open. See you there!