Paul C's 2018 Part 6

Another man's poison? Why anyone enjoys rollercoasters I'll never know. Me with my brother's son and my sister in 2011 at Flamingo Land and obviously praying I can quickly get back to my books!

A Poet on a Poet.

I am reading Michael Longley's first collection from the Collected Poems I received from my pal, Caroline. This one called, Emily Dickinson caught my eye.

EMILY DICKINSON
Emily Dickinson, I think of you
Wakening early each morning to write,
Dressing with care for the act of poetry.
Yours is always a perfect progress through
Such cluttered rooms to eloquence, delight,
To words - your window on the mystery.
By christening the world you live and pray --
Within those lovely titles in contained
The large philosophy you tend towards:
Within your lexicon the birds that play
Beside your life, the wind that holds your hand
Are recognised. Your poems are full of words.
In your house in Amherst Massachusetts,
Though like love letters you lock them away,
The poems are ubiquitous as dust.
You sit there writing while the light permits --
While you grow older they increase each day,
Gradual as flowers, gradual as rust.

Who Am I?



Fifty something (already my God). Several businesses and thousands of books. SWMBO and three "children". A coffee making maid and almost little sister and a bald driver who assists in smuggling books past a watchful madam.

Books Read in 2018

January

1. The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien (1960) 224 pp
2. The Debt to Pleasure by John Lanchester (1996) 251 pp
3. Girl with Green Eyes by Edna O'Brien (1962) 256 pp
4. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (1996) 257 pp
5. Lupercal by Ted Hughes (1960) 63 pp
6. Girls in their Married Bliss by Edna O'Brien (1964) 199 pp
7. The Luck of Ginger Coffey by Brian Moore (1960)
8. Wild Tales by Graham Nash (2013) 345 pp
9. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) 300 pp

February

10. The Map and the Clock edited by Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke (2016) 669 pp
11. The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan (2013) 448 pp
12. Felicia's Journey by William Trevor (1994) 213 pp
13. Elegies by Douglas Dunn (1985) 64 pp
14. The Judge and His Hangman by Friedrich Durrenmatt (1951) 124 pp

March

15. An Armenian Sketchbook by Vasily Grossman (1962) 207 pp
16. The Road to Lichfield by Penelope Lively (1977) 216 pp
17. A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion (1977) 272 pp
18. 100 Best-Loved Poems edited by Philip Smith (1995) 93 pp
19. The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White (1936) 256 pp
20. Time Present and Time Past by Deirdre Madden (2013) 224 pp
21. Jamilia by Chingiz Aitmatov (1957) 96 pp
22. The Spartans by Paul Cartledge (2002) 254 pp

Books Read in 2018

April

23. Night Without End by Alistair MacLean (1959) 373 pp
24. Pandorama by Ian Duhig (2010) 55 pp
25. The Sword and the Circle by Rosemary Sutcliff (1981) 374 pp
26. The Light Beyond the Forest by Rosemary Sutcliff (1979) 164 pp
27. The Road to Camlann by Rosemary Sutcliff (1981) 159 pp
28. The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell (1995) 495 pp
29. Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell (1996) 473 pp
30. Arabian Sands by Wifried Thesiger (1959) 330 pp

BRITISH AUTHOR THEME CHALLENGE 2018

JANUARY - DEBUT NOVELS - https://www.librarything.com/topic/275745#6259410
FEBRUARY - THE 1970s - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6262597
MARCH - CLASSIC THRILLERS - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266669
APRIL - FOLKLORE, FABLES AND LEGENDS - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6264065
MAY - QUEENS OF CRIME - https://www.librarything.com/topic/275745#6260378
JUNE - TRAVEL WRITING - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266685
JULY - THE ANGRY YOUNG MEN - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266706
AUGUST - BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6265570
SEPTEMBER - HISTORICAL FICTION - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266539
OCTOBER - COMEDIC NOVELS - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266707
NOVEMBER - WORLD WAR ONE - https://www.librarything.com/topic/275745#6258461
DECEMBER - BRITISH SERIES - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276796#6268684

WILDCARD - THE ROMANTICS - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276796#6271176

The format of the British Author Challenge next year will be slightly different in that it will be based upon themes.
That said for guidance I will choose 10 books each month to help and guide that theme along but, as you know me, you can then read what you jolly well like anyway!

IRISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2018

Format

I will select five males and five females and there will be two special months.

January : EDNA O'BRIEN
February : WILLIAM TREVOR
March : DEIRDRE MADDEN
April : Samuel Beckett
May : IRISH CRIME WRITERS
June : ANNE ENRIGHT
July : COLM TOIBIN
August : MOLLY KEANE
September : RODDY DOYLE
October : POETS & PLAYWRIGHTS
November : EMMA DONOGHUE, JENNIFER JOHNSTON, MAGGIE O'FARRELL
December : JOHN BANVILLE, SEBASTIAN BARRY, COLUM MCCANN

American Author Challenge



American Author Challenge 2018

January - Joan Didion - A Book of Common Prayer COMPLETED
February - Colson Whitehead
March - Tobias Wolf
April - Alice Walker

ANZ Author Challenge



I will be doing Kerry's ANZAC Bingo Challenge 2x12

ANZAC Bingo 2x12
1: Read a book about conflict or war DONE THE NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH
2: Read a book with more than 500 pgs
3: Read an Aussie crime novel
4: Read a book using word play in the title
5: Read a book about exploration or a journey
6: Read a book longlisted for the IMPAC Award
7: Read a book that's part of a series
8: Read a memoir/biography (can be fiction)
9: Read a book written under a pen name
10: Read a book with a musical plot
11: Read a book with water featured in title/cover :
12: Read a book with an immigrant protagonist :

OTHER CHALLENGES

Guardian 1000 (998) Books - 332 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270237#6197972

1001 Books First Edition - 288 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/268508#6162704

Booker Prize Winners - 25 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/268508#6165614

Nobel Prize Winners Read - 63 out of 114 laureates read something. https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6207224

Pulitzer Prize Winners (6 main categories) - 23 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6207348

National Book Award Winners (Fiction) - 16 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208562

Women's Prize Winners - 5 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208568

Giller Prize Winners - 6 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208574

Miles Franklin Winners - 5 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208578

Walter Scott Prize Winners - 2 Read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209474

Baillie Gifford Winners - 3 Read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209503

James Tait Black Winners - 17 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209513

Whitbread/Costa Winners (4 categories) - 24 winners read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209540

Dublin International Literature Award - 7 winners read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209556

PEN Faulkner Award Winners - 3 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209725

National Book Critics Circle Awards - 6 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209733

READING PLAN FOR APRIL

BAC

The King Arthur Trilogy by Rosemary Sutcliff
- Sword and the Circle COMPLETED
- Light Beyond the Forest
- Road to Camlann

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell


IAC

Molloy by Samuel Beckett (Nobel)

AAC

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Old School by Tobias Wolf

ANZAC

The Bone People by Keri Hulme (Around the World in 80 Books)

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Poetry

XX by Campbell McGrath

Pandorama by Ian Duhig COMPLETED

No Continuing City by Michael Longley

Around the World in 80 Books

Arabian Sands - Ethiopia - William Thesiger

Homo Deus - Israel - Yuval Noah Harari

Storm of Steel - Germany - Ernst Junger

Augustown - Jamaica - Kei Miller

Life & Time of Michael K - South Africa - JM Coetzee (Booker)

To Finsh

Night Without End - by Alistair MacLean (BAC) COMPLETED

Empire of Silver by Conn Iggulden

CURRENT READING.

Boy I am lost. lost. lost. lost.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

READING RESOLUTIONS

NEXT IS YOURS

happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Paul. I love the topper. I am not a fan of fast rides either. I went on one with my son once and had my eyes closed the whole way. About midway through, he let me off the hook, and told me I no longer had to go with him.

>1 PaulCranswick: - Not a chance in hell you'd get me anywhere near something like that. No thanks.

Happy new thread, by the way!

Happy new thread! I hope you get your mojo back on this one!

Happy new thread, Paul! I enjoy roller coasters but don't feel the need to try all the newest, "most extreme" versions.

>1 PaulCranswick: yes you look very enthralled to be there .......

Happy New Thread Paul!
You're brave - never in my life have I been in a real roller coaster (not counting those water log things) and you'd have to pay me quite a sum to get me into one. Just looking at that pic makes my fingers sweaty.

Happy Weekend to you and Happy non-religious Easter. I'll be away again for a couple of days to see my parents in Bavaria.

Happy new thread, Paul!
I would never get myself into that thing at the top, life itself has been a roller coaster enough at times.

Happy New Thread, mate. Our son, when he was a young teen, took me on one of the less scary roller coasters, and I still ended up white-knuckled and swearing and making him laugh.

Happy new one, Paul. You don't look comfy in the topper. Neither would I. I really dislike all kinds of such roller coasters.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Paul. Is your roller coaster picture symbolic of how you feel? I'll add my voice to the chorus, I am definitely not a fan of those kinds of rides.

Brilliant roller coaster photo Paul - good luck with actually getting through some books, and the long distance love.

Happy new thread Paul, great photo and I too am not a great roller coaster lover.

Happy new one, Paul! I used to love roller coasters back in the day, but not so much anymore. A season for everything, I guess. Here's hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous.

>16 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita and well done for being first up - you almost made it before I did.

>17 BLBera: Not my idea of a good time either, Beth. I think it can clearly be seen that I am not exactly enjoying myself.

>18 jessibud2: I only went on it once, Shelley!

>19 thornton37814: Thanks Lori. Signs are not spectacularly good as I seem to fall straight to sleep as soon as I am home.

>20 harrygbutler: I don't think this one was overly extreme, Harry, a couple of years later they persuaded me on another one and I finished up smashing my glasses in my pocket.

>21 roundballnz: More enthralled that Alistair Cook seems to be by his batting in New Zealand. Please retire from the international game!

>22 Deern: Yes, Nathalie, I almost didn't realise that it is Good Friday. It is one of the few religious days of all the major religions that isn't actually a public holiday in Malaysia. Enjoy Bavaria.

>23 FAMeulstee: Indeed Anita. Life is a far more exacting ride than the roller coaster I was on. A fleeting moment of stomach churning cannot compete with years of struggling in business and life.

>24 jnwelch: Expressions and reactions are priceless, Joe. By far the most interesting thing about "white knuckle" rides.

>25 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara. I certainly was not comfortable.

Happy new thread, Paul! Roller coasters - nope nope nope nope nope. Well, for the most part anyways. I don't know if you've been to Disney so this might not make sense, but I like Thunder Mountain and will not go on Space Mountain again. I don't particularly like amusements parks in general nor any ride that goes exceptionally high or fast, which limits me.

Happy new thread, Paul! Also NOT a roller coaster fan, nor any other carny ride that triggers my motion sickness. Ugh!

No "amusement" rides for me. I get dizzy watching a carousel.

Paul

I would like roller coasters, but they don’t like me. I get motion sickness and tend to throw up on whoever is nearest. For that reason I avoid roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, and Ferris wheels. Airplanes also can make me sick. Trains - to so much.

The last roller coaster I rode was at Disney World in Florida. I was so sick that I had to sit down on the curb and try to breath deeply without getting sick for a half hour. I will never do that again. But Mr. Toad’s ride in DisneyLand in California is just my sped. I love that one!

>26 amanda4242: Thank you Amanda. xx

>27 Familyhistorian: Symptomatic - most definitely, Meg!

>28 evilmoose: Twisty rides, long-distance love and reading mojo. Makes for an interesting life at the very least Megan.

>29 johnsimpson: I know John. Us rough and tough Yorkshiremen really ought not to have much trouble with mere amusement rides. But......
I see England are starting the 2nd test much as they finished the last one. Cook is shot. Vince and Stoneman and Malan are not up to the mark. Good at least to see Leach get a well deserved chance. Hope he takes a few wickets such that my constant whingeing about his non-inclusion doesn't appear to be too misplaced.
I would have picked Livingstone and Foakes and had Bairstow as a specialist bat.

>30 Crazymamie: Lovely to see you Mamie. Relish for all things intrepid does diminish with the years, I think.

>36 bell7: Not my cup of tea at all, Mary, which I think can be seen! Haven't bee to Disney and it is not a searing ambition either.

>37 ronincats: I don't suffer from motion sickness, Roni, but having your insides turned inside out would trigger nausea in most people!

>38 laytonwoman3rd: I get dizzy watching action movies on the TV! Faulkner admiration and hair-raising rides don't sit well together? As I Lay Dying was quite a ride as I recall.

>39 weird_O: Bill Bill BILL

>40 benitastrnad: The rides themselves being full of spite is a marvellous image, Benita. I can well imagine some of those things being full of venom actually.

>43 PaulCranswick: Oddly, I have no problem with rollercoasters but get carsick easily.

Happy new thread!

>33 PaulCranswick: >42 PaulCranswick: Bairstow did well, showed some class there - Class Cook innings of the past are too few, overtime it looks like he will be dropped he pulls one out ..... this test match could be interesting, no rain likely so will be a proper test.

Hey Paul - Happy New Thread! Cricket news from SA rather depressing just now.

>45 amanda4242: It is a funny world, Amanda. Wouldn't do for us all to be the same. Heaven knows how little I would have read if I wasn't able to read in the car.

>46 drneutron: Thanks Jim

Hi Paul - Stopping by to say hi, since it has been a while. :)

>47 roundballnz: Good player Bairstow. I really don't understand why Livingstone didn't play whilst Vince was once again chosen. Really Stoneman, Vince and Malan are not international class batsmen IMHO and Cook is, well, cooked. So of the top seven only Root, Bairstow and Stokes regularly justify their place. Leach is a good spinner and I am glad that he has finally got a go. Anderson, Broad and Wood make up a decent spearhead although I would like to see a left arm quick come into the side for balance.
My team would be Bell-Drummond, Mitchell, Patel, Root, Northeast (Captain), Stokes, Bairstow, S. Curran, Wood, Leach, Anderson

>48 charl08: The Aussie team got a bit carried away with itself, Charlotte. Sad for Smith though as I think Warner appeared more to blame.

>50 alphaorder: Lovely to see you Nancy. I have been much less active this first quarter than I am normally, but hopefully I will soon get back to normality.

Happy new thread, Paul! That roller coaster looks pretty tame to me. No massive shoulder harness? It looks like a trolley ride on a windy day. *snicker* . Sadly, I was always fearful of roller coasters and avoided them.....until my husband and I began taking Will to amusement parks. Often times we were traveling so not a friend in sight and being an only child and his dad has back issues I elected myself to join him on the coasters he wanted to ride. That's when I fell in love with them. Scary as h*ll but stimulating.....yet, I still would rather read :0)

I find the rides I used to enjoy, the ones that go round and round and round at a high rate of speed, have me running for the restroom the minute I'm off of it.

"Faulkner admiration and hair-raising rides don't sit well together? " LOL! I hadn't thought of that...and I'll bet no one has actually studied the subject. Perhaps I DO have a thesis topic after all!

Ha, great topper. Not my kind of pass time either Paul.

Oh yeah, Good Friday and the first day of Passover. Big whoop says I.

Yorkshire: A Lyrical History of England's Greatest County
In YORKSHIRE, Richard Morris looks beyond stereotypes, exploring interactions between landscape, language, and memory. The county is one of Europe's most geologically varied areas - a realm where mountain, plain, coast, chalk hills, wetland and heath lie close, often within sight of each other. Morris considers how we discover Yorkshire, whether as modern travellers, through eyes of artists (J. M. W. Turner, William Sawrey Gilpin, Wlliam Callow, Henry Moore) or writers' imaginations (Michael Drayton, Winifred Holtby, J.B. Priestley, Ted Hughes). We travel to strange places, like the county's netherworld of caves, mines and tunnels, and confront dark subjects such as the part played by Whitby and Hull in the emptying of Arctic seas and shores of whales and bears. In contrarian spirit, Morris even finds Robin Hood to have been a Yorkshireman.
YORKSHIRE explore the tumultuous history of God's Own County and asks why it has so often been to the fore in times of conflict or tension (think Wars of the Roses, Northern Rising, Civil War, Cold War, the miners' strike of 1984). Outward-lookingness is a repeating theme. Eighteen centuries ago a province of the Roman Empire was governed from York; in the Viking age a trading axis ran from Dublin through the kingdom of York to the Baltic, along Russian rivers to Byzantium and Baghdad. Both in area and population Yorkshire today is larger than many member countries of the UN, yet remains just an English county. As Richard Morris reveals in this dazzlingly wide-ranging and lyrical history, Yorkshire has always been both a region with a distinct identity inside Britain and a fulcrum in the world.

Has your name tattooed on its little flyleaf.

Got caught up in a ridiculously busy week - between work and kids stuff I've not even turned LT on.

Hope all is well and you have a weekend full of good books lined up.

As if we don't already have too many books in Mount TBR, here are 50 writers you should read now, courtesy of The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/mar/31/fresh-voices-50-writers-you-should...

Happy New Thread, Paul and happy weekend. I hope you are finding some R & R, in your busy schedule.

>53 Carmenere: Tame eh, Lynda?! Not the usual riposte from this bookish crowd! I still have the heart of an eighteen year old encased in a middle-aged body.

>54 laytonwoman3rd: I thought you'd like that Linda. xx

Hi Paul and happy new thread.

>1 PaulCranswick: Ha. My daughter still teases me about her high school Jazz Band’s trip to Disney World. I went as a chaperone and every single roller coaster and thrill ride I screamed and held on like I was going to die. I don’t understand the attraction. Some of those rides are not-so-good-for-people-with-back-problems either. (like moi)

So is it a function of Age? Disposition? Physical Ability? Other? as to why most people who’ve responded here don’t like roller coaster rides either? *smile*

>61 karenmarie: why most people who’ve responded here don’t like roller coaster rides either
Because it is impossible to read in a roller coaster? ;-)

>62 FAMeulstee: LOL--so true, impossible to read on a roller coaster.

I never really got into rides, my parents would never take us on rides. (I think my dad that it was too expensive) and I never developed a taste. Banjo, jr didn't/doesn't like them.... the last one I did was with her at age 6 or 7. It was very tame, but she started crying immediately, and the Carnies stopped the ride so we could get off.

Have a great weekend, Paul!

>61 karenmarie: - Well, I can attest to the fact that it can't be a function of age because I have been terrified of roller coasters and all such rides since I was a kid. The speed and nausea-factor are what did it for me. Probably more a function of disposition: I'm a wimp. Case closed.

>55 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline, me too.

>56 richardderus: Thank you RD. That certainly looks like required reading. Great review too if I may say so in a completely unbiased way.

>57 BekkaJo: We are soul brother and sister these days, Bekka. I don't have time to brush my hair these days.

>58 alphaorder: What a fascinating list, Nancy. It is scary to think that someone with so many books as I have, has only got books by 4 of those 50 writers.

>59 msf59: Thanks Mark. I will be getting around the threads before the weekend is out, I hope and the second quarter is coming which I hope will give me a push to be more active.

>61 karenmarie: I can see why a dodgy back would suffer, Karen. Don't have that affliction at the moment but I can imagine the horror of being wrenched around on what is supposed to be a thrill ride.

>62 FAMeulstee: Hahaha, Anita. I am sure that at least one of us has tried to before!

>63 banjo123: I remember one ride I was enticed on and it was one which swung you around clockwise at a ridiculous rate of knots. You had to be fastened in and it sort of clamped across your body. I couldn't get the bloody thing to clamp on me properly and got into a panic thinking it would set of and throw me to the winds. It did eventually clamp and my family (except Belle who was aghast) thought it hugely amusing.

>64 jessibud2: I like that, Shelley - "a function of disposition". Very good.

Good Friday not a day off there, Paul? It is a day off here unless you work at the mall. I ended up there yesterday and one of the cashiers said it was as busy as it is at Christmas time. I thought maybe one or two stores would be open but they all were.

>69 Familyhistorian: Yes, Meg, but there is a small but pretty committed Christian community here who cancel meetings and so on during Holy Week. The shops never close here.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend, Paul.

Surprisingly to me, an anxious sort of person, I loved the roller coaster in my teens and early 20's. I could ride the roller coaster 6 times in row. That has changed with age. We have one of the oldest wooden roller coasters here at the PNE aka Pacific National Exhibition, and also the lock you in and pull a lot of G's sort of roller coaster. But age and not trying the roller coaster has led to me not caring for the roller coaster any more. I could never take those spinning rides. Now that would do me in.

Paul, if you have a minute, pop by my thread, I've got a couple of picture of my little granddaughter on my thread.

I get dizzy even on a simple swing these days, so wouldn't even attempt a fairground ride. Although in future I will claim >62 FAMeulstee: as the reason!

Happy new thread, and a nice weekend Paul!

I used to love the merry-go-round at the local fair, as a child. So I tried one of those roller coasters as an adult, thinking it would be fun, big mistake, I was terrified.

>66 PaulCranswick: That made me chuckle - mainly because I have taken to cutting my own hair (since being a young child I've loathed people touching my head and finally decided I don't care if it's not perfect) and I cut a few inches off yesterday.... possibly an inch too far. It's fine but the back is dodgy!!

Happy Easter!

And...I made a postcard every day in March. I thought you might enjoy this one since you started this thread with Emily Dickinson:

>71 figsfromthistle: Thank you Anita. It was a tiring Sunday as I decided to drive the kids down to Johor Bahru for the day to see their grandparents as Hani's mum was apparently pining a little for them. I reckoned it would be quite an arduous day as it is steadily a 3 and a half hour journey there and of course much the same coming back.
With heavy rain and ridiculous traffic it finished up being 6.5 hours there and 4.5 hours back. I returned home at 2.30 in the morning absolutely beat.

>72 vancouverdeb: I will certainly whizz over there post-haste, Deb. I am a big softy when it comes to babes-in-arms.
Better than sitting atop a roller-coaster anyhow!

>73 charl08: I wonder if audio books count?!

>74 EllaTim: I used to love the fair too as a child, Ella, more for the shooting gallery and the opportunities to kiss the girls in the long grass though, if I am being entirely honest!

>75 BekkaJo: If the cap fits as they say, Bekka, and it probably does if your barnet has been trimmed sufficiently.

>76 witchyrichy: Thank you Karen.

>77 witchyrichy: And for the Dickinson. At her understated best.

Here's hoping that the week is kind to you, Paul. Thinking of you, my friend, and sending you positive mojo.

>77 witchyrichy: - What a beautiful postcard! Are you, by any chance, also on Postcrossing?

>79 PaulCranswick: - Audiobooks always count! It's a book, and it's reading. It's just someone else reading to you! :-)

>81 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. I am feeling reasonably positive at the start of a new week.

>82 jessibud2: So next time I am on a rollercoaster I will listen to an audio book so I can say that I have read on a rollercoaster. xx

Hi Paul and yay for positive! Sending some positive energy to you from central NC!

You're a good dad to take the kids to visit the grandparents, especially since 7 hours of commuting turned into 11 hours. I hope you can get some good catch up sleep this week.

>84 karenmarie: I agree! I won't drive more than 2 hours each way in one day - can't handle it.

Have a great week, Paul!

>83 PaulCranswick: So you are planning a next time on a roller coaster :-D

Happy new thread, Paul! I'm also not a fan of roller-coasters -- I will ride the tame ones if I'm with others who want to ride, but anything that goes upside down or otherwise requires a shoulder harness, I will not do. I'm amused that so many of us here dislike them, as I usually feel that I'm in the minority on this opinion!

Gah, I missed the start of your thread! Hope you had a great Easter!

Hi Paul, your topper picture has me smiing, I love the contrast between your face and the girls sitting behind you. At least they are enjoying the ride. I used to love all the thrill rides but over the years I seem to have lost my taste for them so nowadays I get my thrills from books.

>84 karenmarie: I was all too sorry that it turned into such a chore as I hadn't expected almost 11 hours of driving on Sunday, but it was nice to see Hani's mum and I know she was touched to see the kids.

>85 alphaorder: The last 100 miles was a bit of a blur to be honest, Nancy! Kyran did me a good turn by staying awake and discussing books and music with me on the way back.

>86 FAMeulstee: It is something of a challenge, Anita, to ride and read!

>87 foggidawn: I think you are safely in the majority this time, Foggy!

>88 ChelleBearss: Plenty of time to get to my threads these days, Chelle and you are always most welcome. xx

>89 DeltaQueen50: My thrills are also preferred to be on the page, Judy. I have much more sedentary tastes than I used to have. The thought of whizzing down a mountain col in the Pyrenees would have me vomiting with fear and I used to do so regularly.

Isn't it about time that I updated the Thread Posting League.

First time up this year and probably a sign that I am getting a bit more energy. 96 threads have already 100 posts or more and Mamie leads the way presently.

1 crazymamie 3007
2 msf59 2845
3 jnwelch 2570
4 scaifea 2143
5 richardderus 1942
6 KatieKrug 1616
7 PaulCranswick 1552
8 karenmarie 1524
9 Berly 1355
10 EBT1002 1305
11 harrygbutler 1145
12 Charl08 975
13 FAMeulstee 967
14 rosalita 936
15 FamilyHistorian 874
16 drneutron 856
17 BBLBera 794
18 ChelleBearss 747
19 ireadthereforeiam 736
20 SusanJ67 735
21 thornton37814 727
22 mstrust 658
23 rretzler 629
24 ronincats 628
25 johnsimpson 556
26 lyzard 555
27 Ameise1 550
28 jessibud2 543
29 vancouverdeb 540
30 Carmenere 537
31 BBGirl55 487
32 jolerie 483
33 The_Hibernator 454
34 MickyFine 446
35 cameling 428
36 elliepotten 411
37 kidzdoc 397
38 rebarelishesreading 358
39 Chatterbox 355
40 brenzi 349
41 Sibyx 317
42 Deern 309
43 Streamsong 299
44 avatiakh 296
45 SandDune 287
46 EllaTim 279
47 bell7 275
48 mahsdad 270
49 SuziQOregon 269
50 LizzieD 268
51 foggidawn 263
52 coppers 259
53 laurelkeet 259
54 nittnut 256
55 souloftherose 256
56 donna 251
57 Swynn 250
58 Whisper1 249
59 Oberon 242
60 evilmoose 241
61 Weird_O 236
62 Humouress 235
63 laytonwoman3rd 235
64 SqueakyChu 230
65 majileavy 216
66 ffortsa 210
67 lindapanzo 208
68 norabelle414 206
69 Bekkajo 189
70 Quondame 189
71 storeetllr 188
72 SirFurboy 184
73 mdoris 177
74 AMQS 176
75 fuzzi 165
76 Caroline_McElwee 163
77 lycomayflower 158
78 Banjo 157
79 cbl_tn 151
80 tymfos 151
81 ape 149
82 PersephonesLibrary 138
83 alcottacre 136
84 PawsForThought 127
85 archerygirl 125
86 PaulStalder 125
87 diana.n 120
88 tiffin 120
89 witchyrichy 119
90 maggie1944 115
91 Luxx 111
92 seasonoflove 110
93 jennyifer24 107
94 Dejah_Thoris 105
95 vivians 104
96 susanna.fraser 100

Previous Winners since I started keeping score



2012 PaulC 9,477 posts

2013 PaulC 9,171 posts

2014 Amber 9,759 posts

2015 Amber 7,500 posts

2016 Mark 8,768 posts

2017 PaulC 10,057 posts

Yikes..that drive!

>93 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the stats, Paul!
I am at the perfect place, 13 is my lucky number and it was the 13th when I got married long time ago.

Hi Paul and thanks for posting the stats. First time up this year and probably a sign that I am getting a bit more energy. I'm glad to hear it!

I couldn't be more pleased. No. 8, and 1524 = (1+5+2)*4 = 32 = 1/2 of my lucky number squared.

Thanks for the stats, Paul.

Thanks for the stats! I'm in my usual spot in the low 50s -- consistency!

Yay stats! Reading so many books really drove up my numbers I think (maybe?)

Thanks for the stats, Paul! It's nice to see so many people with active threads!

Yay, stats! Looks like I'm consistent with the increase last year.

Ooh, stats. Amazing that you have the energy to post those after that day & night of driving, Paul. Good to see signs that you are getting your mojo back.

>101 ChelleBearss: It's nice to see so many active threads but it also explains why it is so hard to keep up!

Wow, 11th? Thanks for sharing the stats, Paul!

Top 50 for me? I'll take it. :) Thanks for keeping things rolling!

BTW, I love that you're rubbing off on your better half. Saw her pix in IG about the "heavenly" Daisy Lane book store. Did she pick you up any morsels?

Thanks for the stats mate, I am a little down on last year but will make up for that I am sure.

Glad you are getting your energy back, Paul. Do stop by and see my now three week old grand daughter when you get a moment :-)

>95 laytonwoman3rd: I know! I am still a little tired.

>96 FAMeulstee: That's good, Anita. 13 is lucky for some at least!

>97 karenmarie: Suffice to say, Karen, that I had at least noticed that you would be pleased with 8th place!

>98 BLBera: You are most welcome, Beth.

>99 foggidawn: Nothing at all wrong with being consistent, Foggy. xx

>100 evilmoose: You would think that if you read more you would post less but it never really seems to happen that way, Megan.

>101 ChelleBearss: Yes Chelle. The numbers this year are close to those in the previous two years and this group remains by far the most active on LT.

>102 drneutron: Consistently popular for sure, Jim.

>103 Familyhistorian: Mojo is certainly on the way back, Meg!

>104 harrygbutler: I think your leap has been the biggest this year, Harry, as our pals cotton on to what an interesting thread yours is.

>105 mahsdad: That is interesting, Jeff. I don't have instagram and I wasn't even aware that she had been to Holmfirth and Daisy Lane books this visit!

>106 johnsimpson: You're welcome, John. It is all those chunksters buddy holding you back!

>107 vancouverdeb: For sure Deb.

>93 PaulCranswick: Go Mamie! Go! I knew things were rockin' in Mamieland. Thanks for posting the stats, Paul.

>114 msf59: The Pecan Paradisio has been rocking in 2018, Mark, for sure.

Good reading start to April with three books finished in three days. Just completed the first book in the Rosemary Sutcliffe Arthur trilogy - The Sword and the Circle for the BAC.

I'll never make the top 5 in posting, but that doesn't bother me. I'm glad to see you are getting a bit of mojo back with 3 books in 3 days.

>117 thornton37814: Thanks Lori. Don't think that I'll make the top five this year either.

>116 PaulCranswick: That is a good start, Paul!

>119 harrygbutler: Finally aim to achieve my monthly reading goals this month, Harry. 3 down and 17 to go.

Yay a new thread for Paul! And I am still in the top 10 even though I have essentially fallen off the face of the earth in March. : ) Glad to hear you are getting your energy back.

I am having a hard time keeping up with the threads this year, Paul. Are we ahead on the posting numbers from previous years?

>121 Berly: Let's get back our LT fitness together, Kimmers!

>122 Familyhistorian: Ahead of 2015, Meg. About level with 2016. Slightly behind 2017. 2012, 2013 and 2014 are beyond reach at the moment.

Present % complete against the other years:

2012 28.63%
2013 29.96%
2014 28.91%
2015 41.88%
2016 37.01%
2017 35.25%

The percentage is derived by the consolidated total of the top 140 threads for the current year compared with the total for the top 140 threads for the subject year.

Therefore : 2012 - total of posts top 140 threads = 186,558
2018 - tota of posts top 140 threads = 53.412 (to date) = 53,412/186,558 % = 28.63%
l

I like rollercoasters

Sorry your Sunday journey turned out to be so exhausting.

>93 PaulCranswick: Pleased to see I broke into the top 50. I've been trying to be more present around these parts this year.

>116 PaulCranswick: Good to see you're having a good reading start to April

I'm with you on the rollercoaster question, Paul. Not my favorite cup of tea. Neither are the whirling teacups a la Disneyland. I'll be sitting with you (and Judy, Foggy, Charlotte, Ella, et al.) on a bench under a tree, reading a book, while the daredevils brave the thrill rides.

Hope you are having a good week!

>124 SuziQoregon: It is certainly nice to see more of you too, Juli. xx

>125 Storeetllr: That is a lovely image, Mary; all of us sitting there comfortably in the shade and reading away to our heart's content.

Reading continues apace. Now four books in four days with the second of Rosemary Sutcliff's Arthurian trilogy downed.

>127 PaulCranswick: Well done!

Slipping in to speak, Paul...... Hello! I'm surprised to be #50 in the stats since my time here has been curtailed this year. Friends are awfully nice.
I'm happy to see you reading Rosemary Sutcliff. I wish I had found her as a young teen. I've reread Sword at Sunset, and you remind me of how much I loved it both times.

>127 PaulCranswick: It will almost certainly be five books in five days as the third of the Arthurian trilogy has been gulped down driving between meetings. I wasn't driving by the way!

>128 amanda4242: I too am a relative snail this year, Peggy, but I do feel a touch of breeze billowing my sails. Rosemary Sutcliff is easy on the mind and eye. The stories are, of course, timeless but she tells them nicely.

>131 charl08: Nicely done with the Sutcliff. Glad the reading mojo is returning :-)

>127 PaulCranswick: Excellent!

>127 PaulCranswick: Rosemary Sutcliff is one of my favourite writers, I own all books that are translated and even one in English :-D

>97 karenmarie: No. 8, and 1524 = (1+5+2)*4 = 32 = 1/2 of my lucky number squared
I love it :):):)

Hey Paul- how's the reading??

>131 charl08: Easy reading really, Charlotte, but I did enjoy it.

>132 SuziQoregon: I managed five books in five days and I still have the weekend to come!

>133 FAMeulstee: Anita, it was my first experience of her writing but I will look out for other work by her for sure.

>134 LovingLit: Just what I expected Karen to say - honestly!

Reading is going well for a change, Megan.

Stats! Glad to see them - and you. If you get what I mean. Long week - not sure my brain is making sense.

Hi, Paul! I'm way too far behind to properly catch up, but must comment on your thread topper. I'm not a big fan of roller coasters, either.

I hope you have a great weekend!

>137 BekkaJo: I know exactly what you mean, Bekka!

>138 tymfos: Not exactly my favourite activity either as you'll probably have picked up from my demeanour on the darned thing!

I am very much enjoying assisting Samsung on their project in KL which is extending the KLCC Convention centre and mall as well as a new 53 storey office tower for the local Petroleum company, Sapura. An old colleague of mine is the Control / Engineering General Manager (basically second boss on the project team) and he looked me up and begged me to help them unravel some of their contractual disputes with the Employer and Sub-Contractors. Feels very much like old times for me as I first started assisting Korean firms in 1996, a few days after I married Hani and held retainers for over fifteen years with Ssangyong and Lotte as well as helping a number of other Korean companies in the region. It is hard work but fun and means that I am a bit remote-control with the construction company and am forcing my partners and fellow shareholders to finally do their share.

>140 PaulCranswick: This is what the building will look like when it is finished.

>141 PaulCranswick: Striking! Glad you're finding the work enjoyable!

>142 amanda4242: Of course, Amanda, it looks nothing like that at the moment. xx

>141 PaulCranswick: Wow! When will it be finished?

Sounds like you have some big projects on the go! Hope you get some reading time too!

>141 PaulCranswick: Impressive stuff Paul. Sounds like a good move.

Wow, that's an impressive building!

>82 jessibud2: I don't know about post crossing but now have some research to do on this rainy day! I make the postcards as part of the Connected Learning Mooc.

>140 PaulCranswick: The building looks amazing! And as long as you are having fun...

Thanks for the stats, Paul! I made it on the list at least ;-)

>141 PaulCranswick:: Very nice skyscraper! I can only imagine all the challenges from start to finish!

#127 and subsequent posts regarding Sutcliff

I am a big fan of Rosemary Sutcliff. I had not read much of her, but I have read the three Roman Britian books that start with Eagle of the Ninth. My sister, who taught 10th grade English for years, was a big fan of anything by Sutcliff. You won't go wrong by reading her books. They are fun and quick reads.

I have been reading my Italian books but this last week got hit by a book bullet for the Corfu Trilogy written by Gerald Durrell. Last year I watched the PBS series titled the "Durrells in Corfu'' and enjoyed it. It was because I was trying to find out more about the series that I found out about Laurence and Gerald Durrell as authors. I put the Alexandra Quartet by Laurence Durrell on my wishlist and ignored Gerry's books. While reading A Walk in the Dark for the Two Guido's Read Along (this novel is an Italian legal mystery), a reference was made to the author wanting to read something light and fun and so picked up his copy of My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Over the weekend I was doing my cooking for the upcoming week, and listening to podcasts while working. One of the contributors to the New York Times Book Review podcast started talking about the book My Family and Other Animals and how much fun it was to read. She said that it had never gone out of print since it was published in 1956 and was a great example of how to write a family memoir. Two references to the same book in a weekend was enough for me to say OK this is a book bullet. Now I have to try to find a copy.

I like your tall building Paul, it looks very shiny (is that the appropriate compliment for a building?)... now I'm hoping you'll have time to get to the Books Read stats some time soon, before more people have a chance to overtake the massive chunk of books I got read over Feb/March.

LT ReBoot April 2018.

Almost forgotten how to do this after two whole days away and I was behind as it is.

Thanks anyway to the LT guys for working hard to put right the gremlins that were keeping all of us apart.

>144 FAMeulstee: It should be completed in April 2020, Anita.

>145 ChelleBearss: Reading is itself a big project, Chelle!

>146 charl08: I am really enjoying it, Charlotte. I am effectively doing in contract management what I was doing 24 years with Ssangyong and the feeling of deja vu is actually quite compelling.

>147 drneutron: Thanks Jim

Hooray for LT back online! I think many of us were really starting to panic and possibly fall into a deep depression. All is good now, mate!

>148 witchyrichy: That is very interesting, Karen. Great postcards they are too by the way.

>149 witchyrichy: Nice to see you posting quite a bit this year. xx

>150 figsfromthistle: Yes Anita, it is quite a challenging project - especially as it also includes making the convention and shopping areas of KLCC bigger without impacting present operation.

>151 benitastrnad: I will certainly read other stuff by her, Benita. Very clear prose.

>152 benitastrnad: Love Gerald Durrell's books. His brother Lawrence was a wonderful writer but Gerald the more enjoyable to read.

>153 evilmoose: I suppose it will be shiny, Megan! I'll try to get the reading league up while you are still well up with the pack! xx

>157 msf59: It could have forced us to read a little too, Mark!

I am presently reading Bernard Cornwell's Arthur trilogy starting with The Winter King. It departs very radically from the traditional story as per Rosemary Sutcliff for example but it is hugely enjoyable nonetheless.

>161 PaulCranswick: Good point, Paul! LOL. But we also need a place to talk about those same books too, right. It is a symbiotic relationship...

>162 msf59: Symbiotic? Impressive to think we are in such a biologically scientific relationship somewhere out there in the ether as we sit by the fireside or under our air-conditioning units reading whatever it is takes our fancy.

>161 PaulCranswick: I remember really enjoying that one when I read it a few years ago.

>164 amanda4242: I quite like books which challenge our existing conceptions of a particular story or the characters within it. His depiction of Lancelot in the book is fascinating.

Hi, Paul! I'm just happy to be back and able to speak.
I like B. Cornwell but haven't read (didn't know about) his Arthur trilogy.
>141 PaulCranswick: That's SOME building!

>166 LizzieD: It is good Peggy because it doesn't ape other versions and sets out a radically different version of the legend.

It is great to be back with everyone again. Perhaps this should be done once in a while such that we all realise how much we like spending time "together".

Hi, Paul!

>161 PaulCranswick: Cornwell's is one of the few Arthur retellings I've read and I did enjoy it a great deal. I hope you do, too!

>168 scaifea: It is a winner, Amber, for sure.

Suzanne is a big fan of the Saxon series by Cornwell.

I was like everybody else. I plan my weekends around going to Starbucks and while there spending quality time with Librarything. When it was down Saturday I didn't worry, but I actually went to Starbucks twice on Sunday in order to make contact with everybody on LT. That meant that I purchased two coffee drinks from Starbucks on the same day. It was good for Starbucks, but bad for me as I am sure I was in withdrawal. I did spend some quality reading time with my current non-fiction work Dresden: Tuesday, February 13, 1945 so it wasn't a total loss.

Did you see the Google logo today? It is the birthday of Omar Sharif. Lawrence of Arabia and Dr. Zhivago are two of my all time favorite movies. They were simply amazing movies. In my mind very few other movies compare to them. Amazing films.

>170 benitastrnad: It rather disrupted my weekend too, Benita, I must say. I can take a fair bit of coffee but I was getting LT withdrawal symptoms!

>171 benitastrnad: My mum had a huge crush on Omar Shariff. When I worked in Egypt and she visited I remember her being hugely disappointed that all Egyptians didn't look like him. He was born in Alexandria which is a city I came to love and - you are right - played key roles in two of the best movies ever, both directed by David Lean.

Despite having a slight obsession with the subject, I've never liked Lawrence of Arabia; it was beautifully shot, well acted, but, in my not so humble opinion, really boring. My David Lean film of choice is Brief Encounter.

Paul, I'm just stopping by to say hello. I hope life is treating you well.

I'll have to say I still think of Lawrence of Arabia as a great movie. I don't think Dr. Zhivago is quite up to that level. But I loved Sharif in both of them!

It's good to have LT back. I was stuck on transit on Saturday afternoon with nothing to read because I rely on reading LT threads to make the journey go by quickly. I'm not sure about this month's read for the BAC. I picked up The Buried Giant but it is a very slow read and I just read a review (I should never do that when I am reading a book). The review said it has a melancholy ending. I am not sure if I want to put the effort into reading the book if that is the result.

>173 amanda4242: I enjoyed both Dr. Z and Larry of Arabia but they are both stamina testing.

I think my favourite David Lean movie would be Hobson's Choice.

>174 Oregonreader: I actually enjoy watching Dr. Z more than Larry but that is because of Julie Christie's performance as Lara.

>175 Familyhistorian: It is good to be back, Meg.

I haven't read The Buried Giant yet but am just finishing my 4th BAC book of the month.

I kept checking for LT's being back up over the weekend. I was on it when it went down. I kept thinking it would be back up soon. I was surprised it was down for such an extended period. I ended up putting reviews on Goodreads first instead of LT first, just so I could get them written and the e-books returned. I'm glad it's back up though.

I'm glad your Samsung project is going well Paul.

I've only skimmed your thread this time, so hope I've not missed anything important. My dear dad died on Easter Sunday, so there has been much to preoccupy me.

Thanks for the stats, Paul! I'm pretty happy at 30 considering I've not been very consistent.

>141 PaulCranswick: Wow! What a dazzling structure!

>141 PaulCranswick: I agree - it looks like a very impressive project, Paul! Is it safe to say good luck or are you superstitious about good wishes and prefer a 'break a leg' sort of wish?

I'm a sucker for King Arthur books, but have not read The Winter King. Onto the wishlist it goes.

Omar Sharif. Sigh. Perhaps why I'm a sucker for a guy with a mustache!

Hi Paul! How long will that tower take to build? years? I have to ask do you still do your weekly book buying sprees?

I don’t know about Paul, but I had a Cranswickian haul this weekend whenI went to the local public library “Friends of the Library” monthly used book sale. I exited with 21 titles for $25.00. The prize purchase - Marlborough: His Life and Times by his illustrious descendent, Sir Winston Churchill. Next best purchase was Heaven Tree by Edith Pargeter.

>177 PaulCranswick: Your 4th BAC of the month, Paul? That must mean that you enjoy this month's genre. It is a bit out of my comfort zone and hard to find something British when I was looking so I went with something on your list.

>179 Caroline_McElwee: I'm very sorry to hear about your loss.

>183 benitastrnad: I saw a program about Churchill and his books about Marlborough, Benita. Are there 3 volumes to the Marlborough books?

>167 PaulCranswick: Good point Paul. It was really disconcerting the site wasn't up!

I liked The Buried Giant although not as much as some of his other books. I admire him for taking on a completely different kind of genre. I do hope that you have time to read it.

>183 benitastrnad: woot woot! That is a prize!!! I'm green with envy. Don't tell me you paid something ridiculous like $1 for it?

I'm another who is popping The Winter King on the wish list. I've not read any Cornwell.

I'm struggling on challenge reads - must get back on it!

4th BAC book of the month! You are back to reading!

Hi Paul, hope all is well with you mate, looks like you are back to some semblance of normal reading this month.

I am looking forward to the start of the County Championship tomorrow but I wish the 20/20 malarkey would do one, very disappointed that so close to the start of this year's CC we lose both Willey and Plunkett to the IPL. There should be a cut off point after the player auctions for any additions to squads and once this has been reached they will have to look to Indian players to make up the shortfall. It is bad enough that our own governing body isn't bothered about the CC and the knock on to the Test team without losing player to the sloggathon tournaments around the world.

I have seen that Hani has seen Karen's baking photos on Facebook and they are going to have a chat about this at some point and we await you so that we can have a really good catch up and chin wag.

Look after yourself mate and keep up the good work on the reading front.

>178 thornton37814: I have never gotten into GoodReads, Lori; I would never have had the time anyway! I was also very surprised that we were down for such an extended period.

>179 Caroline_McElwee: So sad to read your news Caroline. My sincere condolences, dear lady.

>180 Carmenere: I think inconsistency is something of a theme this year, Lynda. I am certainly as guilty of that as you or anyone in the group. xx

>181 streamsong: I am not overly superstitious, Janet, so the idea of breaking a leg........
You really ought to fins The Winter King as it is truly excellent "historical" fiction.

>182 kiwiflowa: It will be finished in mid 2020, Lisa. I have something of an old style book haul to report shortly.

Lovely to see you back in the group. xx

>183 benitastrnad: 21 title for $25 is something to be proud of, Benite. xx

>184 Familyhistorian: I am really enjoying the books on Arthur, Meg. It is amazing how different the various versions can be.

>185 charl08: I will make time for The Buried Giant, Charlotte. He is a writer that I do admire.

>186 kiwiflowa: Lisa, I remember when I visited NZ, book shopping very briefly with Megan in CChurch and being awed by how expensive the books were. Cranswickian may never have made it into the LT dictionary had I been raised within your shores.

>187 BekkaJo: I like his Uhtred books and the Arthur books now more than I do his Sharpe series. That is quite good too in all fairness!

>188 SuziQoregon: I am doing OK this month so far, Juli.xx

>189 johnsimpson: I despair of the CCC, John. It seems that they are intent on destroying the county game. No plan at all and the fixture list is a disorganised mess. Go back to all 18 counties in one league with each team playing each other. Sunday League and one knockout competition and then the EPL of 20/20 over a few week period at the end of the season.

I am hoping to get to the UK sometime in May.

>190 PaulCranswick: Paul, I just began using it more the last part of 2017--mainly to try my hand at some giveaways. I basically just post the same reviews from here there. I get notifications of friends who "like" my reviews. I try to "like" theirs in return. I don't go out of the way to be sociable. I do like the way it counts number of books read, pages, average page count per book, etc. for you. I prefer the company here though.

>196 thornton37814: Ooh that has my statistical juices flowing, Lori - page counts etc will always get my notice.

Something of an old style haul dedicated to Lisa (kiwiflowa) for her return to the fold:

52. The Midnight Line by Lee Child (2017) 466 pp

Why? Hey, it's Jack Reacher!

53. Everything I Don't Remember by Jona Hassen Khemiri (2015) 306 pp

Why? Because the write up is great and it is a Lit Scandi

54. Lullaby by Leila Slimani (2017) 207 pp

Why? Prix Goncourt Winner and French version of Gone Girl.

55. Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi (2013) 281 pp

Why? Man Booker International Nominee and Iraqi contender for my Around the World in 80 Books

56. The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve (2017) 303 pp

Why? I always liked her middle brow fiction and was sad to see that she has just succumbed to cancer

57. A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert (2017) 237 pp

Why? Bailey's nominee and interesting subject matter

58. Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell (1996) 473 pp

Why? Rushed to buy having enjoyed the first book in the series so much (already started this one).

59. Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell (1997) 480 pp

Why? See the reason for #58.

60. The Dinner by Herman Koch (2009) 309 pp

Why? Part of a new series of cult classics - Dutch lit.

61. Purge by Sofi Oksanen (2008) 390 pp

Why? See #60....Finnish lit.

62. The World Goes On by Laszlo Krasznahorkai (2013) 311 pp

Why? Man Booker International winner in 2015.

>196 thornton37814: One thing Good Reads has never done well in my opinion is the social/group/talk functions which is weird because it has so many users, but maybe that's the problem, too many people. Everyone I consider friends on Goodreads has come from contact via other social media / real life (gasp) not Good Reads on it's own.

>198 PaulCranswick: yesss!! So are they in the house yet? Or has SWMBO relented?

I caught a book bullet with The Perfect Nanny off to go check my library catalogue... ouch just checked 125 holds on 21 copies. Might be a while!

>200 kiwiflowa: I started LT with the simple idea of cataloguing all my books but somehow stumbled upon this gang of bibliographical retrobates! Been smitten ever since.

>201 kiwiflowa: Smuggling is not exciting these days, Lisa, as Hani is in the UK for three months!

>184 Familyhistorian: >190 PaulCranswick: Thanks Meg and Paul.

>203 Caroline_McElwee: Hope you are coping ok, dear lady.

Nice haul, Paul. I hope to eventually get to Frankenstein in Baghdad, and possibly A Boy In Winter. I'm trying to make it through quite a few of the Women's Literature Long-list, and so far I've read 5 of them. A Boy in Winter is also on the Women's Lit Longlist - just another reason for you to read it! :-)

>198 PaulCranswick: WOW! I want a real book haul, too!! :)
I love my Kindle, but I miss those Saturdays when I dragged a bag with fresh books home from the English section of our book store and settled down in my comfy chair at once with the first one and a cup of coffee, all forgetting about the housework.
Have a lovely weekend!

Well, that haul is starting to look a bit more Cranswickian! 😀

Hmm, behind by 40 posts. Looks like Paul is back :-p

>200 kiwiflowa: That's why I prefer the company at LT.

Hoping your Friday was full of fabulous, Paul! That's a very nice haul up there - I am currently reading Frankenstein in Baghdad, and it is very good.

>198 PaulCranswick: A good-sized haul, Paul. Enjoy your weekend.

Aha! The Dinner was very good but I stopped reading Koch's next book because I hate all the characters in the novel-
Thinking about it- I didn't like any of the characters in The Dinner as well but I was held by the storyline.

>205 vancouverdeb: I did mention Seiffert's Women's Prize nomination, Deb and I cannot imagine I'll be long before trying it out.

>206 Deern: Yep I am pretty much doing that, Nathalie, as Enemy of God is already a hundred pages in and being devoured with relish accompanied by Earl Grey tea and fresh pastries.

>207 drneutron: I really do want to live up to the billing, Jim (hehehe) and I trust that circumstances will allow me to do so more often this year.

>208 ChelleBearss: I am enjoying the group, Chelle, probably more so for feeling the lack of it last weekend.

>209 thornton37814: I didn't know anyone in the 75ers before I stumbled upon the group, but I have to say that a goodly number of the group have become fast friends over the years I have been posting here to my heart's content.

>210 Crazymamie: It wasn't at all a bad day, Mamie. I reckon the Frankenstein book will be read very soon as the feedback is uniformly positive.

>211 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry; that is very much the plan.

>212 torontoc: Certain writers have a penchant for creating execrable characters, Cyrel, sometimes the books still works other time not.

>216 PaulCranswick:

Given most of the reactions to your top photo, many of us would welcome a new one!

>213 PaulCranswick: Books, Earl Grey, fresh pastries . . . I'm a little jealous, I must admit!

>217 m.belljackson: I'll try to get quickly to the end of this thread then, Marianne. xx

>218 foggidawn: Tea has been drunk, pastries duly nibbled, books will never be finished. xx

Tea and pastries sounds like a very indulgent accompaniment to books, Paul. Sounds wonderful, actually.

>220 Familyhistorian: Nice but ultimately unsatisfying when eating alone. Missing Hani a little bit today.

Happy Weekend, Paul. I hope you had a good week. Getting plenty of reading in?

When does Hani return?

Happy weekend! I am trying to post more but life seems to keep interfering. My goal was to spend more time here than Facebook and I think I am achieving at least that. My travel/work life gets much better in May and June so more time for reading and talking about reading.

As for Good Reads, I know several folks who use it and I get notifications when they post something but I just haven't explored it enough to know how it works. I haven't done any statistics this year so that may be the draw. I know I have been able to do a dump of my LT list and then import it fairly successfully into GR.

>219 PaulCranswick:

Okay, what kind(s) of tea and which pastries?

This morning, I had my usual healthy organic ALVITA Ginger tea
and a homemade flax and oat version of a Pumpkin Breakfast Cookie.

Happy weekend, Paul! I am envious of the tea and pastries.

I did miss LT last weekend! I haven't gotten into Goodreads, for the simple reason that I tried LT first, and haven't the time for two book apps. And the 75-ers are the best.

Benita mention My Family and Other Animals earlier in the thread, definitely one of my favorite books! We read it aloud to Banjo, jr, on a memorable camping trip when she was maybe twelve, and it's been a family favorite since. I actually have a couple of extra copies, so that if someone comes over who hasn't read it, I can thrust it on them. (granted the extra copies were picked up from free boxes). So, Benita, if you still need a copy, PM me your address and I can pop it in the mail.

#225
Will do. And did.

I had a Cranswickian haul last weekend at the Friends of the Library Bookstore. Here are the titles - minus the Marlborough book. There were lots of mysteries in the batch.

Holy Thief by William Ryan
Big Sky by A. B. Guthrie
Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols
Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Ann Fadiman
Paris Librarian by Mark Pryor
Bookseller by Mark |Pryor
We’ll Always Have Paris by Jennifer Coburn
Rum Affair: A True Story of Botanical Fraud by Karl Sabbagh
Heaven Tree by Edith Pargeter
United States of Europe by T. R. Reid
Stolen Figs: And Other Adventures in Calabria by Mark Rotella

It was a good haul

#186
The Marlborough book is the one volume hardback and it has his entire life in it - birth to death.

It was priced at $2.00, but on the first Saturday of the month the Friends of the Library hold a stuff-a-sack event at the Used Bookstore and everything you can fit in the sack is yours for $25.00. Since I walked out with at least 15 titles that works out to about $1.25 per book. Now the only problem is to get all of them read.

>227 benitastrnad: - Of your haul, I have only read the one by Anne Fadiman but it was outstanding. The Milagro Beanfield War was a good movie; I haven't read the book

>221 PaulCranswick: Be happy you have someone to miss, Paul. Tea and pastries solo still sounds pretty good to me.

Hi Paul!

>198 PaulCranswick: Nice haul! The Dinner was a 3.5 star read for me, powerful and disturbing. And of course the new Reacher was a must!

I just saw the phrase “Cranswickian haul” and have to tell you that over the course of 3 days of our Friends of the Library sale I acquired 87 books, 6 of them audio books, 3 movies, and 7 magazines. 15 of the books were for my daughter, but I have a card table buried under the titles to add to my catalog. USD 108 for the lot.

>227 benitastrnad: nice haul Paul Benita!

Happy new thread, Paul! Somehow I missed you starting a new thread and I haven't been on LT much this week.

It looks like I buck the trend on roller coasters, because I'm actually okay with them. Which is not to say I'm an addict. I haven't tried ones that go upside down, although I was requested to join my husband and children at Universal Studios last week so I could accompany our youngest on the roller coasters. My first ever roller coaster (which put me off for a time) was one of those you find at English seasides which look like they're constructed with scaffolding. I spent the ride terrified it would collapse under me if I didn't shoot off the corner at the top first. I do like the swoopy feeling, though, so I'm okay with the big-name theme park rides (please don't disabuse me of this notion, as I'm the elected ... um... passenger) since they must have been thoroughly tested as they have a reputation to maintain.

>152 benitastrnad: We read My Family and Other Animals in school, when I was about the age of the protagonist in the book. It was so much fun; highly recommended.

>179 Caroline_McElwee: I'm so sorry to hear that, Caroline.

Thanks Nina. It's the only thing in life's contract we can guarantee, but it is rarely easy with a loved one.

>222 msf59: Had a good reading weekend, Mark and made substantial ground reading 5 books without quite finishing any of them. The Arthurian series by Bernard Cornwell is great reading.

Hani returns to Malaysia on 1 June.

>223 witchyrichy: Lovely to see you Karen and I have to say that my own experiences this year largely mirror your own.

Just stopping by to wish you the best possible of work weeks, Paul, as yours is just starting! ((hugs))

>224 m.belljackson: Earl Grey and the pastries were from the wonderfully named French patisserie "PAUL". I just knew that the pastries had to be good!

>225 banjo123: Completely agree on My Family and Other Animals - it is an absolute classic.

>226 benitastrnad: Love the fact of our produce being spread around right here on my little ole' thread.

>227 benitastrnad: I have three of those, Benita, but haven't read them yet. Great haul as usual.

>228 benitastrnad: That must be some book, Benita. I would bet it is an interesting read as the Duke is often considered Britain's finest General alongside the tactically very careful Duke of Wellington. He was a character forever in and out of favour but he was unblemished in battle.

>229 jessibud2: The Milagro Beanfield War was an underrated movie. I am surprised it didn't seem to catch-on with the critics at the time.

>230 Familyhistorian: That is a lovely comment, Meg. I do have to be thankful as well as wistful.

>231 karenmarie: Now that one definitely qualifies for the sobriquet, Karen. The term generated in the time when I was adding 1,200 books in a year in my days of financial glee. Those days are gone for the present, but I am earnestly wishing them back!

The Dinner caught my eye as it is part of a series of books chosen by Atlantic press for cult fiction.

>232 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. I'll gladly take credit on Benita's behalf here.

>233 humouress: Sentosa always did a good job with rides at the water park and now with their Genting park.

>234 Caroline_McElwee: As inevitable as it is the passing of loved ones is always painful to those they leave behind. xx

>236 ronincats: Yes, I am a veteran of the working week here, Roni. Hard but enjoyable slog so far.

>241 PaulCranswick: Hah! I see you're claiming the credit for Malaysia.

>243 humouress: And why ever not?!

>241 PaulCranswick: oops, tweaked!

>245 PaulCranswick: yup, must be so. I'm stealing it.

>245 PaulCranswick: Love it.

>245 PaulCranswick: - Truth!

>237 PaulCranswick:

But what WERE the pastries?!?

More than a couple of LT fans love everything from lavender-laced gourmet Napoleon slices
to cream-filled luscious chocolate eclairs
thru Bear Claws,
Doughnuts (some can blind taste the oil used!),
and beyond!

Inquiring minds...

>246 Caroline_McElwee: I have my dear friend, Prue Gallagher (sometimes of the group), to thank for the image. It rings true for so many of us I think.

>247 BekkaJo: I thought you might, Bekka. :D

>248 jessibud2: Shelley, Prue knew very well that it would strike a chord with a goodly number of us.

>249 m.belljackson: Well I had three (greedy to the last!)

- a chocolate eclair (vanilla custard filled)
- a fresh fruit tart (blueberries, raspberries)
- some wonderful lemon scented biscuits

Here is proof that I am given to pastries and coffee/tea.

I haven't had breakfast yet!
*will not go to the bakery will not go to the bakery will not go to the bakery*

>251 PaulCranswick: >252 PaulCranswick:

Hey - that's more like it - thank YOU! and Yes, one of each!

I just read that another LT bought a book a lot for "the Smell of Warm Croissants" in the title -

who could resist?

>253 BekkaJo: Bet you gave in, Bekka!

>254 m.belljackson: Nothing in the world to beat the smell of freshly cooked bread, Marianne.

>252 PaulCranswick: Oooh! I'll take one of those, and one of those, and...

>256 amanda4242: That is a similar problem to mine when I am at the counter and the question "which would you like, Sir?" gets asked!

Much better reading month continues.

Finished Enemy of God, the second in the Arthurian trilogy for my BAC (straight onto the third book); and

Arabian Sands by Wilfried Thesiger which is a fascinating look at desert life in the immediate aftermath of WW2 and before the oil boom.

>258 PaulCranswick: I have Arabian Sands on deck for June. Glad to hear it's a good one.

Dear Friend Paul. Alas, work, family and health issues have left so little time for LT. I miss you and my LT friends.

All good wishes to you!

>259 amanda4242: I liked it Amanda although I could have done with one less pass through the Empty Quarter.

>260 Whisper1: I certainly miss your regular presence too, dear Linda. I am a little bit of an absentee landlord myself these days!

>255 PaulCranswick: Nope. Mainly because I didn't have time to leave the office. I had to make do with some slightly stale All Bran cereal. Wasn't the best!

I still can't get past the first two pages of The Buried Giant - not the books fault, I just keep picking it up and reading about a line before I get called away to something else. Very frustrating.

>257 PaulCranswick: The answer is "One of each, please." "And maybe two of that one, um and of that one. And, oh ..." etc. etc.

>262 BekkaJo: AAAAARRGGGGGHHHHH!! I feel your pain.

>255 PaulCranswick:

Still savoring the croissant and bread moments...

Today's online Atlas Obscura has a feature on Thailand's Leum Kleum - have you tried a bite?

>262 BekkaJo: Stale all-bran doesn't quite rock the boat, Bekka.
I haven't started The Buried Giant yet either. I am enjoying Cornwell's Arthurian trilogy too much.

>263 humouress: All for sharing, Nina.

>264 m.belljackson: Not a particular favourite, Marianne. I like kuih bakar , sago gula melaka and Onde onde of the local delights.

KUIH BAKAR (baked pandan flavoured cake with sesame topping)



SAGO GULA MELAKA (school nightmare sago enlivened with thick coconut milk and melaka sugar)



ONDE ONDE (little exploding bombs of flavour)

>265 PaulCranswick: Sharing?

I mean yes, yes of course. Um ... for sharing.

Whom did you share with?

Hi Paul!! Love the building up above. Hope you have fun with the project. And nice to see you book-hauling again. : )

>245 PaulCranswick: I feel justified. Thank you.

>267 humouress: Happy to share with you, Nina.

>268 humouress: I tend to share my lunch munches with my books as I do tend to eat alone at lunch time. In the absence of Hani, I would be eating kuih alone as the kids don't really care for it.

>269 Berly: Kimmers, so far the project is hard work but enjoyably so and my retainer fee is much needed at the moment.

Anyone in the group reading more than they are adding books would surely be in the minority. xx

>266 PaulCranswick: That's it. I'm officially not checking threads before breakfast anymore!

Actually should be eating breakfast right now but my replacement cereal is disgusting and the milk in the office is off.

I'll stop whinging about my breakfast woes now...

>271 BekkaJo: You make breakfast in Jersey seem so unappetising, Bekka.

Would love for you to share the traditional Malay delights shown above.

>266 PaulCranswick:

These look great, yet it was the idea of Mung Beans and a natural green dye in the Leum that was so intriguing.

Sago and Pandan sound inviting, but ANYTHING served in those sweet little baskets would be more than welcome!

>273 m.belljackson: Some of the desserts are sickly sweet, Marianne, but I do like quite a few of them.

>245 PaulCranswick: So that's what I'm doing. Knew there had to be some reason behind the book buying addiction.

>262 BekkaJo: Good luck with reading The Buried Giant, Bekka. I finally got it done because people started putting holds on the library book that I had or else it would still be languishing there partly read.

>275 Familyhistorian: You guys are not filling me with anything other than dread over The Buried Giant.

I'm starting to get into it - I'm still not far in but it is growing on me. I do love Ishiguro's writing. Still keep getting monumentally distracted by other books though!

>266 PaulCranswick: I'd try all of those! Can pandan taste be compared to anything I might know?

>276 PaulCranswick: Don't force The Buried Giant on yourself if it's not the right time. Beautiful book when read without any hurry and in a relaxed state of mind that allows you to "enjoy" (yes, really) the melancholy. Probably torture when read under challenge pressure. I've a bad plot memory, but I'll never forget the ending and how I felt.

Hi Paul! Wishing you a good weekend.

Hi Paul, hope you have a great weekend mate. Well it seems that the ECB have finally lost the plot now with their 100 ball game proposal, time for them to do the right thing and resign as they are not fit to run English cricket.

A bit of a mixed day for Yorkshire after the washout in their first Championship game last week, the lower order came to the rescue and we got a half decent total and then got four Notts wickets by the close. The way wickets have been tumbling both last week and this in both divisions has been shocking.

It's the weekend!!! Just thought I'd share my joy over here. : )

>277 BekkaJo: I am acutely aware of the terrors of distraction, Bekka. I have far too many books on the go at the moment.

>278 Deern: Pandan is south east asia's alternative to vanilla, Nathalie. Bit difficult to describe but not in the least trouble eating.

>279 karenmarie: Thanks Karen. The very same to you. I hope to be able to make my "rounds" this weekend.

>280 johnsimpson: Unutterably dense they are John. I am a bit worried about Yorkshire's chances this year but at least in Williamson we will have a reliable bat.

I think the number of wickets correlates to the conditions, John.

>281 Berly: And very welcome the joy is too, Kimmers.

>278 Deern: I had to google it, and I agree with this answer:

‘Pandan has a very unique taste that is quite difficult to pin down. For me, it's like a mixture of the sweetness of coconut with a hint of citrusy, nutty flavor and...how shall i put this...kind of grassy tang to it.’

And apparently, last October Nigella Lawson said it would be the Next Big Thing, so it should have made an appearance in the UK and US by now.

>1 PaulCranswick: Just looking at your topper again Paul. You could say that you’re so blasé about roller coasters, you fell asleep on this one :0)

>284 humouress: I saw that definition too, Nina. I am not sure about the grassy taste as I don't eat too much grass but pandan is certainly a pleasant taste.

I wasn't asleep, I can assure you, but was calling on the Gods to make the experience a fleeting one.

Hej Paul
>1 PaulCranswick: I don't like them either
>245 PaulCranswick: Infinity comes closer ....
>252 PaulCranswick: Hej, that's my coffee shop here at the airport

>235 PaulCranswick: "Had a good reading weekend, Mark and made substantial ground reading 5 books without quite finishing any of them" Ha! I know that feeling!

>245 PaulCranswick: Lovely! I have stolen it and added it to my junk drawer. Prepare to see it recycled soon!

Happiest of weekends!

>266 PaulCranswick: It all looks delicious Paul, I'm glad I did finish my breakfast before I saw it. We can get pandan rice here, but I guess it might still be better in your part of the world.

I don't regret finishing The Buried Giant Paul! It will stick in my memory, and that usually means it's a good one. And yes, melancholy is the right word for the ending, but quite beautiful as well.

>286 paulstalder: We Pauls are popping up everywhere!

>287 streamsong: Look forward to the recycling, Janet.

>288 EllaTim: Pandan is extremely sweet, Janet, but with a sweet tooth then it is heavenly.

Just checking in. Hope you had a lovely weekend - anything exciting planned for the week?

>278 Deern: Sounds like I'd love it! However, the next big thing will take app 15 years to arrive here... :(
I still have to see my first "avocado on toast" on a menu.

>290 BekkaJo: Weekend was eventually ok, Bekka, but week ahead promises to be tough.

>291 Deern: I reckon you would like it, Nathalie. xx

Hi Paul--Good luck with your tough week ahead. I just want to go home. ; )

>294 Berly: Un-obstruct yon bowel - my pal wants to go home!

Get well soon dear Kimmers. xx

Not posting until there's a new thread. Nope.

>296 richardderus: Thanks for your abstinence, RD.

>252 PaulCranswick: I will have three of each please.

>298 Whisper1: It would be my pleasure, Linda. xx

>276 PaulCranswick: Lots of readers enjoyed The Buried Giant, Paul. You probably will too. It was just not my cup of tea but fantasy seldom is.

Wow, you have a lot of books on your plate at the moment. Saw an Alistair Maclean in there somewhere. Bring back memories from a time where I devoured those books.

#245: I comfort myself with that - and the hope that a lot of creative works of literature will find their way into Heaven.

>300 Familyhistorian: I am not able to say fantasy is not my cup of tea, Meg, considering how much I have been enjoying all the Arthurian stuff this month.

>301 ctpress: Yes Carsten, I have probably read all Alistair MacLean and Hammond Innes books at least once each and some of them maybe three times.

>245 PaulCranswick: Love the sentiment. I'm heading to the Outer Banks and looking forward to spending some money in the independent bookstore in Corolla, NC!

>276 PaulCranswick: It took me some time to get into The Buried Giant but once I let the fantasy settle in, I enjoyed it.

>303 witchyrichy: I will be getting into The Buried Giant these couple of days.

I want to finish off a number of the books ongoing and turn a good reading month into a splendid one.

Hi Paul!

I'm glad that you're at "good" and may attain "splendid".

>296 richardderus: and >297 PaulCranswick: Made me laugh.

>305 karenmarie: Working on it Karen!

Richard rarely fails to make me chortle.

Excuse me, sir. You've exceeded your thread posts....

Paul's response....

>307 Berly: I guess that by the close of play today, Paul will have moved to new accommodation. xx

>308 PaulCranswick: Good Gracious, Gracias!

>308 PaulCranswick: LOL

>309 m.belljackson: Alliteration always arrests attention accurately and as always am amply astonished at all amigos awaiting altered address.

>310 Berly: :D