Mamie's 2018 Madness (Page 12)

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Books Read in May:
52. Still Waters by Viveca Sten, translation (3.75 stars), 2018 acquired Kindle Book, crime fiction/police procedural (The Sandhamn series, book 1)

Books Read in April:
40. Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard (4 stars), 2018 acquired hardback, non-fiction/essays/feminism - recommended by Charlotte
41. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf, narrated by Juliet Stevenson (5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, non-fiction/essays/feminism - recommended by Joe
42. The Hounds of Spring by Lucy Andrews Cummin (5 stars), 2018 acquired paperback, contemporary fiction/utterly delightful
43. The Wendy Project by Melissa Jane Osborne, Illustrated by Veronica Fish (3.5 stars), paperback borrowed from Abby, GN/grief/fairy tale retelling
44. The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths (4 stars), traveling paperback sent by Katie and going to Beth next, crime fiction/mystery (Ruth Galloway, book 10)
45. Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, translation, (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired paperback, contemporary fiction/horror
46. The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas (3.5 stars), library paperback, crime fiction/police procedural (Chief Inspector Adamsberg, book 1)
47. Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes (4 stars), 2013 acquired ebook, espionage/WWII
48. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (3 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, humor - recommended by Lucy
49. The Chessmen by Peter May, narrated by Peter May (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/mystery (The Lewis Trilogy, book three)
50. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (3 stars - reread), paperback borrowed from Birdy, YA science fiction/time travel (The Time Quintet, book 1)
51. All Systems Red by Martha Wells (4 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, science fiction/AI (The Murderbot Diaries, book 1)

I am planning on walking the cat again this year. That is, I am just going to go where my reading takes me. I am not committing to any challenges except for Katie’s PopReadHarderSugarEtc.Challenges 2018

Books Read in January:
1. Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker (4 stars), library hardback, YA non-fiction/history - mentioned on Julia's thread last year in reference to the 100 year anniversary of the incident
2. March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (5 stars), library paperback, GN non-fiction/memoir/Civil Rights Movement
3. Artemis by Andy Weir (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, sci-fi
4. You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams by Alan Cumming, narrated by Alan Cumming (4.5 stars), 2018 purchased audiobook, non-fiction/vignettes with selfies
5. The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher, narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billy Lourd (4 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook - recommended by Mark
6. The White Album by Joan Didion (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, non-fiction/essays
7. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (3.8 stars), 2012 or earlier acquired paperback, gothic fiction/classic
8. Ties by Domenico Starnone (4 stars), library paperback, literary fiction/relationships - recommended by Lynda, translation
9. God Stalk by P. C. Hodgell (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, fantasy - recommended by Roni and read for her GR of it
10. The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant (4.5 stars), library hardback, contemporary fiction/illegal immigration - recommended by Katie
11. Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson (3 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Dark Iceland series, book 2), translation

Books Read in February:
12. The Dying Detective by Leif GW Persson (4 stars), library hardback, crime fiction/police procedural (Johansson and Jarnebring series, book 8) - recommended by Charlotte, translation
13. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (4.5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/grief
14. The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey, narrated by Finty Williams (5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, dystopian/zombies - recommended by Mark
15. Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (October Daye series, book seven)
16. March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell (5 stars), library hardback, non-fiction/The Civil Rights Movement
17. A World Gone Mad: The Diaries of Astrid Lindgren 1939-45 by Astrid Lindgren (4.25 stars), 2016 acquired hardback, non-fiction/diary/WWII, translation
18. Greenglass House by Kate Milford (4 stars), library hardback, juvenile fiction/mystery - recommended by Amber
19. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, narrated by Fiona Shaw with Jonathan Keeble (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, non-fiction/feminism
20. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, non-fiction/democracy - recommended by Joanne
21. The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/police procedural - recommended by Charlotte
22. My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris (4.5 stars), library paperback, GN - recommended by Mark and Joe

Books Read in March:
23. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming, narrated by Alan Cumming (4.5 stars) 2017 acquired audiobook. non-fiction/memoir/abuse - Katie's Dirty Dozen
24. The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Fiona Griffiths series, book 3)
25. Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris (4.5 stars), 2014 acquired paperback, non-ficiton/film history
26. Slow Horses by Mick Heron, narrated by Gerard Doyle (5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/espionage (Slough House, book 1) - recommended by Charlotte and Deborah
27. The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White (3.5 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, crime fiction/mystery - recommended by Heather
28. How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran, narrated by Louise Brealey (5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, contemporary fiction/coming of age
29. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (4 stars), 2016 acquired ebook, sci-fi/space opera (Binti, book 1) - recommended by Joe
30. Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer (4 stars), 2017 acquired paperback, weird fiction (Southern Reach, book 3)
31. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery, narrated by Rachel McAdams (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, juvenile fiction/classic (Anne of Green Gables, book 1)
32. MI5 and Me: A Coronet Among the Spooks by Charlotte Bingham (3 stars), 2018 acquired ebook, non-fiction/memoir - saw this mentioned on Charlotte's thread and loved the quotes she posted from it
33. Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagleu (5 stars), paperback borrowed from Birdy, GN/non-fiction/history, translated - recommended by Charlotte
34. Octopussy and The Living Daylights by Ian Fleming, narrated by Tom Hiddleston (4 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, short stories/crime fiction/espionage (James Bond, book 14)
35. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming, narrated by David Tennant (3 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, juvenile fiction
36. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré (5 stars), 2013 acquired paperback (also listened to the 2017 acquired audiobook), crime fiction/espionage (George Smiley novels, book 5)
37. A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes, narrated by Samuel Jackson (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/noir (Harlem Cycle, book 1)
38. How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse by Cressida Cowell, narrated by David Tennant (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, juvenile fiction (How to Train Your Dragon, book 4)
39. The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel by Kate Westbrook (4 stars), 2015 acquired ebook, crime fiction/espionage (The Moneypenny Diaries, book 1)

Katie’s Dirty Dozen - That’s right, folks, KAK’s reserved spot is back for a fourth year, let’s see what she gets me with this time

1. The North Water by Ian McGuire - Mark and Judy loved this one, too. And also Richard, though a weentsy tidge less.
2. Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat
3. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan - Katie says for when I'm in the mood for something light and recommends the audio
4. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman - Katie mentioned on Joanne's thread that she loved this one

From 2017:
1. Everyday people by Stewart O'Nan (linked short stories)
2. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
3. Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin (memoir)
4. The Golden Legend by Nadeem Aslam
5. Personal History by Katherine Graham
6. Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
7. Taft by Ann Patchett
8. Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence
9. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
10. The Lost Book of the Grail by Charlie Lovett
11. Snow in August by Pete Hamill - Katie mentioned how much she loved this one over on the AAC thread after Mark had posted the list for next year

From 2016:
1. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
2. Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard
3. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez - seconded by Charlotte and Susan
4. In the Walled City by Stewart O'Nan COMPLETED 8/12/16 3.8 stars
5. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - she recommended the audio, and don't speed it up
6. Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo COMPLETED 7/21/16 5 stars
7. Ruby by Cynthia Bond - seconded by Charlotte
8. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming - she recommends the audio read by Cummings himself COMPLETED 3/01/18 4.5 stars
9. Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan
10. Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye - Roberta also loved this, Katie says the audio is great, purchased 5/15/16
11. The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant COMPLETED 1/2018 4.5 stars
12. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi COMPLETED 10/2/16 5 stars
13. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat - she pointed out that this was only $1.99 on Kindle and that it was one of her very favorites, purchased 7/13/16
14. Tribal: College Football and the Secret Heart of America by Diane Roberts
15. Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon
16. Nutshell by Ian McEwan COMPLETED 1/2017 5 stars
17. Black River by S. M. Hulse

AND, from 2015:
1. The Mermaids Singing by Lisa Carey ($1.99 on Kindle), purchase on 2/18/15 COMPLETED 8/19/16 5 stars
2. Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter (2.99 on Kindle), purchased on 2/23/15
3. The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly ($3.79 on Kindle), purchased on 3/31/15 COMPLETED 11/7/15 4.2 stars
4. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler ($12.77 trade paperback), purchased on 4/1/15, COMPLETED read for Mark's AAC in January 2016, 4.25 stars
5. Paradise Alley by Kevin Baker ($.99 on Kindle), purchased on 4/9/15 - second book in a series, first book Dreamland was recommended by Katie and purchased last year
6. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing - used an Audible credit COMPLETED 6/16/15 4.9 stars
7. Academy Street by Mary Costello ($9.99 on Kindle), purchased on 6/12/15 COMPLETED 7/2/16 5 stars
8. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn ($5.99 on Kindle), purchased on 8/28/15
9. Sweetland by Michael Crummey ($.99 on Kindle), purchased 9/5/15 COMPLETED 11/19/15 4.5 stars
10. If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins ($7.99 on Kindle), purchased on 10/26/15

Susan’s Summer Shivers - Susan’s suggestions for some cold reading during the hot summer, which lasts about 9 months in Georgia

1. The Terror by Dan Simmons
2. The Abominable by Dan Simmons

Every year, LT is an embarrassment of riches for me. I like to keep track of who recommends what and any other pertinent info that lands a book on The List.

1. Curse of the Narrows by Laura m. MacDonald - about the Halifax explosion of 1917. Recommended by Bonnie, Meg, and Susan
2. Greenglass House by Kate Milford - recommended by Amber (she gave it an A!) COMPLETED 4 stars
3. In America: Travels With John Steinbeck by Geert Mak - recommended by Anita
4. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - recommended by Barbara
5. Darktown by Thomas Mullen - Jim, and he says the second book Lightning Men is just as good
6. The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman, audio narrated by Michael Sheen - recommended by Traci
7. 9360974:: Number 17 by Jefferson Farjeon - Harry recommended this series on his thread
8. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney - recommended by Lisa (jonesli)
9. Slow Horses by Mick Herron - recommended by Deborah and Charlotte COMPLETED 5 stars
10. The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt - recommended by Carrie
11. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley - recommended by Caro
12. For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio by W.H. Auden - recommended by Christina
13. Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain by Charlotte Higgins - recommended by Beth
14. The Good People by Hannah Kent - recommended by Bonnie
15. Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton - recommended by Shannon
16. How to Build an Android The True Story of Philip K Dick's Robotic Resurrection by David F. Dufty - recommended by Victoria
17. The Confession by Jo Spain - recommended by Susan (Irish noir, she says!!)
18. Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper - recommended by Richard
19. Black Hammer by Jeff Lemire - recommended by Jim (GN)
20. Hedy's Folly by Richard Rhodes - Jim again (the doctor is IN)
21. The Wandering Falcon by Pakistani author Jamil Ahmad - recommended by Judy - interlinked short stories
22. Exposure by Helen Dunmore - recommended by Anne
23. Silent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say - recommended by Richard
24. Dead Wake by Erik Larson - recommended by Karen
25. The Passage by Justin Cronin - recommended by Lori (ikernagh)
26. Drawing From Memory by Allen Say - recommended by Richard
27. A Catalog of Birds by Laura Harrington - recommended by Beth
28. The Largesse of the Sea Maiden: Stories by Denis Johnson - recommended by Mark
29. The Twelve-Mile Straight by Eleanor Henderson - recommended by Susan, it's Southern Gothic
30. Autonomous by Annalee Newitz - recommended by pammab
31. Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu - recommended by Charlotte (GN) COMPLETED 5 stars
32. Women and Power by Mary Beard - recommended by Charlotte COMPLETED 4 stars
33. Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde by Jeff Guinn - recommended by Mark and Jim
34. Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky by Patrick Hamilton - recommended by Susan
35. 1939: The Making of Six Great Films from Hollywood's Greatest Year by Charles F. Adams - recommended by LittleTaiko
36. MI5 and Me: A Coronet Among the Spooks by Charlotte Bingham - saw this mentioned on Charlotte's thread, and I loved the quotes she posted from it COMPLETED
37. Enchanted Islands by Allison Amend - recommended by Chelle
38. A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor - recommended by Megan (evilmoose)
39. The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood - recommended by Vivienne (VivienneR)
40. Conclave by Robert Harris - recommended by Vivienne (VivienneR)
41 The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn - recommended by Meg, she says it's a prequel to The Bridgertons series! *happy dance*
42. The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell - recommended by Shannon (sturlington) - zombies!
43. Lonely Hearts by John Harvey - series recommended by Charlotte (she reviewed book 12 on her thread)
44. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend - recommended by Anne
45. Time After Time by Jack Finney - recommended by Richard (time travel)
46. Time on My Hands by Peter Delacourt - Richard again (time travel)
47. The Grass Dancer by Susan Power - recommended by Charlotte
48. The Dry by Jane Harper - recommended by Charlotte
49. The Last Man in Europe by Dennis Glover - saw this mentioned on Charlotte's thread - "April, 1947. In a run-down farmhouse on a remote Scottish island, George Orwell begins his last and greatest work: Nineteen Eighty-Four"
50. Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig - recommended by Deborah and Charlotte
51. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee - recommended by Meg
52. Road to the Isles: Travellers in the Hebrides 1770-1914 by Derek Cooper - Meg again!
53. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome - recommended by Lucy, and Reba also loved it
54. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong - recommended by Chelle
55. 13572217:: The lost by Claire McGowan - recommended by Charlotte for those who like Ruth Galloway
56. Astrid Lindgren: The Woman Behind Pippi Longstocking by Jens Andersen - saw this on Charlotte's thread in the Guardian reviews
57. Euphoria by Lily King - recommended by Karen
58. Happiness by Aminatta Forna - recommended by Beth
59. Paradise in Chains: The Bounty Mutiny and the Founding of Australia by Diana Preston - recommended by Susan
60. Assignment in Brittany by Helen MacInnes - recommended by Paul
61. The Shadow Killer by Arnaldur Indriðason - recommended by Chelle
62. Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng - recommended by Heather
63. E. B. White on Dogs by E. B. White - recommended by Lucy
64. Less: A Novel by Andrew Sean Greer - recommended by Joe and Richard

2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge

1. A book made into a movie you've already seen Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
2. True crime
3. The next book in a series you started The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths
4. A book involving a heist Greenglass House by Kate Milford
5. Nordic noir Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson
6. A novel based on a real person
7. A book set in a country that fascinates you - The Chessmen by Peter May
8. A book with a time of day in the title - Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire
9. A book about a villain or antihero - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
10. A book about death or grief - The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
11. A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym - The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas
12. A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist
13. A book that is also a stage play or musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming
14. A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you - March: Book Three by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell
15. A book about feminism A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft
16. A book about mental health
17. A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift
18. A book by two authors
19. A book about or involving a sport
20. A book by a local author - March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
21. A book with your favorite color in the title
22. A book with alliteration in the title - The Dying Detective by Leif GW Persson
23. A book about time travel - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
24. A book with a weather element in the title
25. A book set at sea
26. A book with an animal in the title The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant
27. A book set on a different planet All Systems Red by Martha Wells
28. A book with song lyrics in the title The Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty
29. A book about or set on Halloween
30. A book with characters who are twins God Stalk by P. C. Hodgell
31. A book mentioned in another book Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes (mentioned in A World Gone Mad)
32. A book from a celebrity book club
33. A childhood classic you've never read Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
34. A book that's published in 2018 MI5 and Me: A Coronet Among the Spooks by Charlotte Bingham
35. A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner Artemis by Andy Weir
36. A book set in the decade you were born - The White Album by Joan Didion
37. A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn't get to - The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey
38. A book with an ugly cover The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham
39. A book that involves a bookstore or library
40. Your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges (you can easily Google these)

Advanced Reading Challenge

1. A bestseller from the year you graduated high school
2. A cyberpunk book
3. A book that was being read by a stranger in a public place
4. A book tied to your ancestry
5. A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title
6. An allegory Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
7. A book by an author with the same first or last name as you Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
8. A microhistory - Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker
9. A book about a problem facing society today On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
10. A book recommended by someone else taking the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Slow Horses by Mick Herron (Charlotte)

My 2018 Data:

Books read: 52
Group Read: 1
Formatted Challenge: 1
PopSugar Challenge: 30

Books that are part of a series: 26
In Translation: 8
Rereads: 1
GNs: 5

Format:
hardback: 8
paperback: 12
ebook: 13
audio: 17
audio/print or ebook combo: 2

Borrowed: 10 (public library), 2 (Birdy's library), 1 (Abby's library), 1 (traveling LT book)
Archive (Purchased in 2012 or earlier): 1
Purchased in 2013: 2
Purchased in 2014: 1
Purchased in 2015: 1
Purchased in 2016: 3
Purchased in 2017: 14
Purchased in 2018: 16

Authors:
Living: 39
Dead: 13

Male: 24
Female: 28

American: 20
Canadian: 2
English: 16
French: 2
Icelandic: 1
Iraqi: 1
Irish: 2
Italian: 1
Scottish: 4
Swedish: 3

New to me authors: 32

fiction: 36
non-fiction: 16

Genres/category:
non-fiction/memoir: 8
non-fiction/essays: 4
non-fiction/film history: 1
non-fiction/history: 2
non-fiction/politics: 1
classic: 2
literary fiction/contemporary fiction: 4
literary fiction/historical fiction: 1
crime fiction/espionage: 5
crime fiction/mystery: 3
crime fiction/noir: 1
crime fiction/police procedural: 6
weird fiction: 1
dystopian: 1
fantasy: 2
urban fantasy: 1
sci fi: 4
juvenile fiction: 5

LT Recommendations Read:
Amber: 1
Birdy: 1
Charlotte: 7
Deborah: 1
Heather: 1
Katie: 2
Lucy: 1
Lynda: 1
Mark: 3
Joanne: 1
Joe: 3
Roni: 1

Time Travel Book Recommendations:

1. Time And Again by Jack Finney - Richard (ask Richard if he meant the Time and Again book or if this is different), Shelley, Joe and Debbi also loved this
2. Time on My Hands by Peter Delacorte - Richard
3. If I Never Get Back by Darryl Brock - Shelley, but it involves Mark Twain AND baseball, so maybe not
4. Replay by Kevin Grimwood - Shelley and a BIIIIG second from Richard
5. A Time to Remember by Stanley Shapiro, about the Kennedy assassination - Shelley
6. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis - Julia
7. Murder in Time by Julie McElwain (they are good but not spectacular) - Julia
8. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneggar - Beth (and Helen says DO NOT read the coda) and Chelle
9. Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach by Kelly Robson - Susan (quondame)
10. The Dechronization of Sam Magruder by George Gaylord Simpson - Karen
11. The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier - Karen
12. 11,000 Years Lost by Peni R. Griffin - Karen
13. The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes - Karen
14. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - Karen
15. Household Gods by Judith Parr and Harry Turtledove - Richard loathed it but Susan says yes
16. How To Stop Time by Matt Haig - Chelle
17. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - Lucy says, "Helps (but not at all essential) to have read Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. Highly recommended. A hoot! I actually listened to it on Audible."

This should do it - next one's yours!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

>1 Crazymamie: - Snork!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Good morning, Mamie! Happy twelfth 2018 thread!

Sweet Thursday, Mamie, and Happy New Thread!

That's so sentimental up in >1 Crazymamie:. :-)

>11 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita!

>12 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Glad you love the topper - I mean, it is National Poetry Month.

>13 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry! And thank you - my own Dirty Dozen, huh?!

>14 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe! Thanks! I hope the topper didn't get you too choked up.

Happy new thread Mamie. Is it the weekend yet?!

>16 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte! SO close...

Happy new one, Mamie :)

Happy new thread! I stole your recipe from the last thread... Looked great!

Happy new thread, Mamie. Loving the poetic thread topper. I'm a fan of good vodka, so you'd get quite a good dinner for two for the cost of a bottle. I'm afraid I have expensive tastes when it comes to spirits.

Happy new thread, Mamie. Your topper made me laugh.

Happy new thread Mamie!!

Happy new one!

>18 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! Did you see that I left you the recipe on the last thread? It was a winner with us.

>19 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! It was delicious - and so easy.

>20 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen! Your post made me smile - I also like the good stuff. The topper just cracked me up, so I decided to use it.

>21 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Mission accomplished with the topper. And Ruth is on her way to you - put her in the post yesterday.

>22 SuziQoregon: Thanks, Juli!

>23 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

Mamie, knowing your love of Skinny Taste recipes, I wondered if you'd tried the shwarma grilled chicken? It looks good, but I was hoping for a Mamie seal of approval before trying it :)

>26 katiekrug: No, I haven't tried that one, Katie, but it looks excellent.

>24 Crazymamie: No I hadn't got that far yet. Thanks for alerting me, I'll go right over and get it :)

>28 RebaRelishesReading: You're welcome.

OK all printed out. When we get back from Portland it'll be one of the first things I try

Hoping you like it as much as we did.

>27 Crazymamie: - Ok, thanks. I'll be gone all weekend so can't try it for several days, so you have some time to give it a whirl ;-)

It's almost too late to say happy *new* thread but I'll say it anyhow: Happy new thread, Mamie! :-)

>32 katiekrug: *belly laugh*

>33 jessibud2: Nope, it's still bright and shiny new, Shelley! And thank you.

Happy New Thread, Mamie!!

>1 Crazymamie: Amen and Hallelujah! I'll drink to that!
Happy new thread, Mamie!

>35 ronincats: Thank you, Roni!

>36 Carmenere: Ha! Thanks, Lynda!

Happy new thread, Mamie. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Wishing you a happy Friday, Mamie. Hoping it is more to your taste than it's evil counterpart at the other end of the week.

Morning, Mamie! Happy New Thread! I was busy yesterday after work and didn't get a chance to make my rounds.

Happy Friday, my friend. Hope the day goes smoothly. I am really enjoying Frankenstein in Baghdad.

>38 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg! Hoping your weekend is also full of wonder!

>39 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>40 Helenliz: Thank you so much, Helen. I love me a Friday, and it's a Friday the 13th - BONUS!

>41 msf59: Morning, Mark! Thanks. I need to get back to Frankenstein in Baghdad - I broke away for Lucy's book and then Ruth arrived, but hopefully I can finish it up this weekend. Here's hoping your Friday is full of fabulous!

Happy new thread, Mamie! Hope you have a good weekend!

>43 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle! Hoping your is also full of happy.

>41 msf59: >42 Crazymamie: Good stuff. Great book!

It really is, Charlotte, and I heard about it on your thread first - the title alone was enough to make me order it.

Good morning, Mamie! Are you still enjoying Above Suspicion?

Morning, Harry! Yes, I am - I have it on Kindle, so it's my read before I go to bed.

>42 Crazymamie: I have Frankenstein in Baghdad and must get to it sooner rather than later.

>8 Crazymamie: I have that book now! I plan to read it, definitely within the next 40 years.

Happy weekending :)

Within the next forty years, huh, Megan?! Perhaps you could bump it up a bit - it's one of my favorites.

Have a marvelous weekend, Mamie. I see you are stepping like crazy!

>52 BLBera: Thank you, Beth. Hoping your weekend is also full of marvelous. I had to make myself get going on the stepping to begin with, but now I look forward to it each day.

Morning, Mamie. Happy Saturday. Cold, windy and damp here. WTH? Glad I have some good books along, to distract me.

Have a good weekend, my friend.

Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you! Poor baby - it's 73F here currently and going to 84F. Bright and sunny with a bit of a breeze. Hoping the weekend is kind to you in spite of the cold.

It sounds like you have great weather, Mamie. No wonder the stepping feels easy. I have to make myself go out in the rain. But at least the weather here is better than the freezing rain they have in Toronto!

Happy new thread, Mamie! And happy Sunday. I was going to try and catch you up on Fitbit today, but 70,000 steps is a bit much, so instead I'm having a quiet day in :-)

Happy new thread, Mamie!

From your previous thread: that Country Captain recipe sounds great - I've cut and pasted it into a word document and saved it! Thank you.

Which reminds me, a friend of mine wrote out a version of Country Captain a long time ago, but misnamed it. Don't click the spoiler if you don't want to permanently think of Country Captain as Captain Chicken.

Also from your previous thread: x-ray on right foot on Tuesday, info on the interpretation on the medical practice's website Wednesday. Stress reaction, usually caused by a stress fracture, but the x-ray didn't show the stress fracture. I was referred to the Orthopedics dept. in the same building. They called Thursday to set an appointment, but I was crazy busy with the book sale and will call them tomorrow. I'll also talk to them about the tops of my feet hurting.

And I like your topper. *smile*

>56 Familyhistorian: Well, it's pouring cats and dogs today, Meg, so I will be walking inside unless it lets up.

>57 susanj67: Thank you, Susan! Happy Sunday! You're giving up just like that?

>58 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen! Okay the Country Captain spoiler cracked me up.

Keeping you in my thoughts and wishing you well - hoping they can tell you something definite next week.

So glad you like the topper!

Book #45: Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, translation, (4.5 stars), 2018 acquired paperback/audiobook, contemporary fiction/horror

"Anyone who puts on a crown, even if only as an experiment, will end up looking for a kingdom."

I finished up Frankenstein in Baghdad last night - it's really good. I read this as a print/audiobook combo - the audio is narrated Edoardo Ballerini and Kaleo Griffith. The narration is good but not great; it delivers the story, but it does not elevate it. I love that it's told from multiple viewpoints. There has been a lot of talk about this one lately, so I'll just add that it is a worthy read. I think it could be called an allegory, although I haven't seen anyone label it that way yet. It's a fitting homage to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and I loved that each body part still knew whose soul it belonged to. This would make an excellent book club selection, as there is so much to talk about here.

"He believed that emotions changed memories, that when you lost the emotion associated with a particular event, you lost an important part of the event. So he had to write down things that he thought were important or record them on his little recorder when the emotions that went with them were still strong."

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday! Good review of Frankenstein in Baghdad. I like the quotes. I finished it yesterday too. It fell off a bit toward the end, so I docked it a bit for that, but it is a good read and such a fantastic premise.

Are you a fan of the Dark Materials trilogy? I started his prequel, The Book of Dust and it begins very well, with an excellent narration by Michael Sheen.

Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you! And thank you. I liked the ending, but I finished it in print, not on audio, so that might have made a difference. Agree that the premise is fantastic.

I have that one on The List already - I did enjoy the Dark Materials trilogy. I can remember listening to them on audio with the kids while traveling to Minnesota for the annual cabin on the lake experience.

>60 Crazymamie: Great review Mamie. I think you're right, the book would be great for a group. I think I should pick up Frankenstein - one of those books I think I've read, but...

>60 Crazymamie: Great review! I can't wait to buy the book and read it. Sounds fascinating!

>63 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte! I like Frankenstein - I still remember how very different it was from what I was expecting.

>64 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita! It is fascinating - I really liked the little bits of foreshadowing here and there and the multiple viewpoints.

Craig and I have been watching The Expanse, and it is most excellent. Based on the books by James S. A. Corey - the first in the series is Leviathan Wakes, which I loved. It's available for free if you have Amazon Prime - highly recommended.

Morning, Mamie! Hope you had a great weekend.

Hi, Mamie! I hope your weekend was a good one. Enjoy your day.

>59 Crazymamie: I wish walking inside because of the rain was an option here, Mamie. Off into the downpour I go! I hope you are having a sunny first day of the work week.

>68 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle! The weekend was very good. I especially enjoyed the pouring rain yesterday morning - I love listening to it fall. And I got a lot of laundry done and finished up a book I had been working on.

>69 harrygbutler: Hello, Harry! Hooray for an excellent weekend, but now we are back to the dreaded day. Although...it is nice to have a quiet house again, as everyone except Birdy and I are off to work. *grin*

Hoping you day is also full of joy.

>70 Familyhistorian: I literally just walk a circuit around the house over and over again, Meg. This is what I did yesterday. I love the rain, and I would totally walk in it, but I hate what it does to my shoes.

It is sunny today, and cooler - high of 69F only, which I love. BUT it is very windy. Crazy windy.

Book: #46: The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas (3.5 stars), library paperback, crime fiction/police procedural (Chief Inspector Adamsberg, book 1)

This was an interesting police procedural set in France and introducing Chief Inspector Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg, who works a bit like Hercule Poirot by not explaining things to those who are working with him. He is an odd mix, and I think I like him. I am glad that Beth warned me that this is not the best book in the series - it's too long and there is some slogging in the middle. I will definitely try another few books in the series before passing judgement. I tend to like the setting to feature more in my crime fiction, and I want to understand more of either the plot or the procedure. The pacing was too slow and it took too long for the murders to start, still, these could be good if the characters evolve - I really liked the second in command, Adrien Danglard, and would like to learn more about him.

Hi Mamie and happy Tuesday to you.

>60 Crazymamie: Great review on a book I think I'll pass on. If I don't take another BB all year I'll still be okay book-wise because of my book sale haul.

Book #47: Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes (4 stars), 2013 acquired ebook, espionage/WWII

I picked this book up in a Kindle sale back in 2013, and I finally got around to reading it thanks to another book - A World Gone Mad: The Diaries of Astrid Lindgren 1939-45. Lindgren made a habit of listing the books that they gave and received for holidays and birthdays, and Above Suspicion was one of them. Published in 1941, this is set in 1939, making it contemporary fiction of WWII. It's enjoyable despite the surplus of coincidences that the plot depends upon. She did a good job of building the tension and then escalating the pacing, especially for a first novel. I would call this cozy espionage - not as tight or as dark as say le Carré or Steinhauer and more character driven.

>73 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Tuesday! And thank you - maybe I'll get you next time.

Morning, Mamie!

Have you read The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan? If not, you might consider the audio for when you need something light and fun. I just finished it on my walk this morning, and really enjoyed it.

Morning, Katie! I have not read that one - I'll add it to your Dirty Dozen and note that you recommend the audio. Thanks!

Okay, I kinda missed your last thread, so I don't want to let this one slip by! Happy Tuesday. : ) And thanks for the hint on Netflix Expanse.

>78 Berly: No worries, Kim! Great to see you!! Hoping your Tuesday is full of happy.

The Expanse is on Amazon Prime. I'll change my image in the earlier post since it's confusing.

>79 Crazymamie: You said Amazon and I missed it. I'm still not 100%. ; )

>80 Berly: The graphic I had up said Netflix Original for some reason, which it's not, and I missed that when I first posted it, so you are not completely crazy.

Morning, Mamie. Another cold one here but that seems to have become the norm...sighs.

I need to get back to the Fred Vargas series, one of these days. Crime series fiction is the most difficult for me to keep up on.

Morning, Mark! Boo to the cold overstaying its welcome. Crime series fiction is my very favorite.

Good morning, Mamie! I'm glad you enjoyed Above Suspicion; I hope your review will help her find a few more readers, too!

Morning, Harry! I would definitely read another by her. LT is great for finding new authors and for branching out in your reading.

>67 Crazymamie: wow, that poster is amazing! Very enticing :)

>86 LovingLit: Hello, Megan! I love that poster, too. The show is very good, and the book was excellent - there are nine books (I think) so far in the series, but I have only read the first one.

'Morning, Mamie!

Happy Wednesday to you. How's it going at Pecan Paradisio?

>83 Crazymamie: Me, too. I'm reading a book I started last fall and put down - it's working for me now. Blue Monday by Nicci French.

>88 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Wednesday! Everything is going well here at the Pecan Paradisio - sunny and going to 84F today, so the day should be full of beauty.

Your touchstone goes to Breakfast of Champions, which cracked me up. I don't think I have read anything by French.

Happy Wednesday, Mamie.
Only mildly suffering weather envy today, it;a balmy 21C (70F) out there today, clear blue skies and a load of white washing flapping in the light breeze.

My husband has a load of Helen McInnes books on his shelves. I've never been tempted, but maybe I should try one, after your review.

Hello, Helen! Happy Wednesday to you! Oh, I would rather have 70 than 84 any day.

I liked her writing, and she had good description of place. I hope you do give her a go.

Good morning, Mamie! Not quite so warm here — distinctly chilly at the dentist's office this morning, where the heat was out — but a beautiful, sunny day nonetheless.

>83 Crazymamie: I like series mysteries, too. One thing I'm really recognizing as I'm reading the pulps is just how many short story series there were, in all sorts of genres, including crime (such as the Carroll John Daly's hard-boiled tales of Satan Hall).

>89 Crazymamie: Fixed. Okay, so I've only had half a cup of coffee. I usually at least glance over to see that I've gotten the right touchstone, but Breakfast of Champions??!?? Really? The touchstones did start getting surreal several years ago, but this is one for the books. (sorry, couldn't resist)

Blue Monday is very good. Takes place in London, missing children, interesting characters. This time I made sure the touchstone was right the first time! Yay coffee.

>92 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry! I love learning stuff like that - I am delighted by your company this year. So happy I found your thread.

>93 karenmarie: I know, right?! I know the touchstones work on some formula, but you would think they would pull up things with the actual same title first. It boggles the mind. And your pun made me laugh - excellent work on the first cup of coffee.

I will await your final thoughts on Blue Monday. I am always happy to add a new series to my list.

Morning, Mamie. Happy Wednesday. Just about done with The Book of Dust. It has been so much fun. I am also having a grand time with my birding book. All good on the reading front. Smiles...

Okay. I love this idea of using the empty tea tin for potted herbs. It doesn't seem like that would be big enough for them, but it is so cute. This year Craig has planted my herbs in individual terra cotta pots that we have arranged on the deck - they look great, are closer for me to keep an eye on, and can get some much needed shade, as the Georgia sun is a harsh mistress. No basil this year as it really attracts the bees, and Rae freaks out a bit with that. We have already used some parsley in the Country Captain recipe. *grin*

Get your own for dinner tonight, I think. We did parmesan chicken with jasmine rice and peas for dinner on Monday, and had Big Breakfast for dinner last night. Yum. I tried a new kind of chicken sausage, and it was really good - it's already fully cooked, so you just have to reheat it.



On the reading front, I started Caliban's War, which is the second book in The Expanse series. Craig has read and really enjoyed the first four of these so far. This is my current Kindle read. On audio, I am listening to The Chessmen by Peter May. It's narrated by Peter Forbes, who does an excellent job of it - I also listened to the second book in the trilogy; for some strange reason, the first book is not available from Audible. I love the setting, which is the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. These books have a great sense of place, and the writing is superb. I am also listening to Three Men in a Boat narrated by Martin Jarvis. This is very funny, just like others have said, but it is too much of a good thing to me, so it's kind of getting on my nerves. I wish it were shorter.

>95 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday! Glad your current reads are working so well for you.

>96 Crazymamie: Very cute idea, but they do look small.

The other Vargas books are better; I love the quirky characters.

Thanks - I got a package in the mail today. :)

>98 BLBera: I know, right?! You would have to trim them every day.

Good to know about the other Vargas books - I will definitely read more of them.

Hooray for the package arriving! Don't forget about the wine - I am counting on you, Beth!

We had a gorgeous day here too. Tomorrow is supposed to be 60 - which is fine by me. I can get some yard work done without boiling. I am less excited about the predicted high 30's for tomorrow night. I've just planted some Hosta clumps that I got from a friend and they need it to be slightly warmer.

I am ready for bed, but I am hanging out with a very grumpy teen who has wasted a lot of time over the last week or two and is behind and angry about it. I am being very unsympathetic and generally horrible, and it is clear to her that I have no understanding at all of the plight of an 8th grader. I can't possibly know what she's going through. After all, there was no internet when I was in 8th grade. In my head, I am thinking 1. There was no internet, but there were books. Lots of books. 2. I don't really care if you don't do that particular assignment, because it's 8th grade. Who cares if you get a B? 3. Go To Bed.
Also, I am binge eating cantaloupe from the bowl we had at dinner. *grin*

>74 Crazymamie: Glad you liked that one, Mamie. I do enjoy Helen MacInnes's books and the next one she wrote Assignment in Brittany is in my opinion one of the best she wrote.

>100 nittnut: I so do not miss my daughter's teenage years. She is such a fun person at 25 & has been for about 7 years.

>100 nittnut: Oh, Jenn! Your post made me smile. I remember the teen years. Both my own and those of my children, and I'm not sure which is more painful - enduring them or watching someone endure them. And now I just have one teenager left, and she will be turning twenty in October, so it does pass. In the meantime, I am sending you Mom Mojo and my best wishes.

I adore both cantaloupe and Hosta plants. Hoping the Hosta make it - can you cover them? That's what Craig always does when the temps drop.

>101 PaulCranswick: Paul, thanks so much for that! I was wondering which of hers to read next, and now I know. How is the big project going?

>102 quondame: Hello, Susan! Yep - I never want to go backwards. My daughters are 26, 22, and 19, and they are so fun to hang out with.

>92 harrygbutler: Thanks, Mamie! I've enjoyed spending some time amid the madness here, too!

>96 Crazymamie: Sorry to hear Three Men and a Boat isn't quite working for you. Could it be the audiobook format? I would think it would be harder to vary the pace to savor the humor, but I've no real experience with audiobooks (as I tend to go to Old-Time Radio programs for listening).

Enjoy your Thursday!

>104 harrygbutler: "...amid the madness.." made me laugh!

Morning, Harry! I don't think the problem is the audio - I love audio and Martin Jarvis is great. I think the issue is that I should have dipped in and out of it instead of listening straight through. It was too much of the same sort of humor. And there were no murders. Heh. I finished it yesterday, so I am done with it now. Some very funny parts, but it will not be a favorite of mine. I loved the part with the stuffed trout.

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday. Finally getting a warm-up starting tomorrow. Yippee!! We NEED it! I am enjoying Career of Evil. A good choice and like you mentioned on my thread, they work wonderfully on audio.

Amazon has an amazing deal for World Book Day - you can get nine books from around the world for free on Kindle.

>106 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday! We love those Cormoran Strike books on audio. I was just reading that the fourth book, Lethal White is finished, so hopefully it will be released very soon.

Morning, Mamie! Hope you are having a good week with some medium temperature days :) We are hovering above freezing but it just won't stop snowing :(

>108 Crazymamie: I think one of Rowling's tweets a while back mentioned a autumn release date was possible.

>109 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle! So sorry about the snow and freezing temps. It's 64F here and going to 80F today, so warm. We have been enjoying perfect weather for reading on the screened-in porch.

Autumn would be most excellent!

'Morning, Mamie!

Bill and I had breakfast for dinner Sunday night and it hit the spot. I can't wait for Lethal White to come out.

We're at 64F right now, too, but only going to 76F.

>111 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Breakfast for dinner is one of my favorite things. And yes - Come On Lethal White!!

I am enjoying the fact that we are actually getting s Spring - some years we go straight from what they call Winter down here into the dog days of Summer.

>107 Crazymamie: - Oooh, thanks for the heads up, Mamie! I hadn't heard about this.

>113 katiekrug: I just stumbled across it today, Katie. And you're welcome.

Good morning, Mamie!

Thanks for >107 Crazymamie: . I had seen that and forgotten to go back to it. It's good through 4/24. I just downloaded several of them for my global reading challenge.

>115 streamsong: Morning, Janet! You're welcome - and I forgot to mention that it's good through 4/24, so thanks for bringing that up.

>102 quondame: and >103 Crazymamie: Fortunately, she is mostly lovely, with only occasional nights like that one. Phew! Compared to the first teen, so far she's a walk in the park. One more year until the baby enters the teen years.

>107 Crazymamie: What? Now? Byeeeee!

>107 Crazymamie: Are those your nine, Mamie? If so, I got two of the same ones. Some of the other ones look interesting too but I didn't see them. That was a pretty over-whelming list!!!

I had similar issues with "Three Men" on audio, and I'm quite sure it was mainly the format. I eye-read such books very fast, and the audio goes on and on and on and turns monotonous.

I made my approximation to the rice dish, but made it so differently that I fear it hasn't much to do with your recipe anymore. Used smoked tofu and threw in some red lentils as well, had no celery but found a zucchini in my fridge instead, but worst of all was too lazy to clear out the oven and bake the whole thing and made it on the stove in a wok. Not a great idea. Woks are for quick frying, not for slow "stove-baking". It took forever and after an hour the brown rice (which normally cooks in 30 mins) was still "crispy". The taste was/ is very good however, the raisin/almond combo gives it a nice kick. I made a big batch that will feed me also tonight and tomorrow. Next time I'll put it in the oven as I should have.

Have a lovely weekend!

>96 Crazymamie: it's funny with herbs, isn't it? I don't want to have to walk the whole way around the house to get the herbs, and generally don't. So if they are in pots in the deck, I use them far more often. And those tea tins are so cool!

Love the world book day graphic. Most of those are new to me, so look forward to hearing more.

I'm hoping that having planted raspberry canes next to the back door, I can run out and defend the fruit from any birds. (There will also be nets!)

Made it to Friday. Phew!

Happy Friday - lovely day here already, hope that it's as delicious for you.

Those tins look great, but they also look like they'd get upset if I forgot to water them for a week (not entirely unknown for me). I don't do high maintenance gardening, it has to thrive on neglect and a yearly haircut.

My raspberry canes have a custom made frame with wire net for the sides, top and mesh for the front. It's a bit like fort knox for plants; ain't no pesky bird burgler getting my fruits!

Hi Mamie! Happy Friday to you.

We're getting some nice spring-time weather, too. It's a nice crisp 39F out. I've got one window open just a teensy and hope the pollen doesn't make its way into the house. We've had the winter->summer phenomenon other years, too, so I'm enjoying spring while I can.

Good morning, Mamie!

>105 Crazymamie: Nothing like a murder to spice a story up!

>107 Crazymamie: Though I skipped this promotion, as I don't like reading on the Kindle, your post did prompt me to poke around a bit among my various wishlists on Amazon yesterday morning, and I was able to get a couple books for free same-day delivery — ordered around mid-morning, delivered before 6 p.m. Nearly instant gratification! :-)

Enjoy your Friday!

Good morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

>117 nittnut: Being a teenager is hard. And middle school sucks. Sounds like Miss M is doing fine.

Hoping you picked up a couple, Jenn.

>118 RebaRelishesReading: Those are the nine that were offered, Reba - I went ahead and picked up all of them because free is free. And I would like to focus on reading more translated books. They are available through the 24th of this month, so go back and get the others if you want. Here is the link: Read the World

>119 Deern: I really think it was just too much silliness for me. Even in print form, I think it would have been too much - about half that size would have worked for me.

Your post made me smile, Nathalie - you really did change a lot, but it sounds like the outcome was good. I also loved how the almonds and the raisins worked together. And the smell of the spices! Yum! I am already wanting it again.

Hoping your weekend is also full of beauty!

>120 LovingLit: Exactly, Megan! I am loving having them right on the deck - so close to hand. I think the tea tins would be fun for growing something that you just wanted to enjoy the smell of but not harvest - like rosemary or lavender, since the tins are so small.

>121 charl08: Charlotte, now I am picturing you standing at the ready, binoculars in hand, prepared at a moment notice to defend the raspberries.

And yes, HOORAY for Friday!

>122 Helenliz: Happy Friday, Helen! Looks to be full of gorgeous here.

Agree about the tins. I do not have a green thumb, so I just harvest the herbs and give them a trim if they need it - Craig does all the rest.

You should post a photo of those custom vaults for the raspberry canes - I'd love to see them. And I bet Craig would, too!

>123 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! Happy Friday! I hear you about the pollen - it is crazy making, isn't it? But the weather being so mild makes up for it. I spent all of last evening out on the screened-in porch listening to an audiobook while doing a jigsaw puzzle with that puzzle app that Jim recommended. So full of fabulous!

>124 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry!

Exactly. A murder makes everything more exciting.

Same day delivery rocks! Good for you! I actually love reading on Kindle, but I get that it isn't for everyone.

>125 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Happy Friday!

>128 Crazymamie: Oh, cool! I scored puzzle app recommendation!

>130 drneutron: Yes, and Rae and I both love it! So double score!

Please to share name of app of puzzles?

(No, I've not been drinking.)

It's called "Jigsaw Puzzle" by Critical Hit Software/Mobilityware

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jigsaw-puzzle/id495583717?mt=8

.

Book #48: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (3 stars), 2018 acquired audiobook, humor - recommended by Lucy

I know I am in the minority here, but this one was a miss for me. It is funny, but too much of the same humor for too long made it a bit of a slog. There were some very funny parts, and I did love the story of the stuffed trout, but on the whole, I thought it needed to be much shorter in length.

.
Book #49: The Chessmen by Peter May, narrated by Peter May (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, crime fiction/mystery (The Lewis Trilogy, book three)

This is the final book in Mays' Lewis Trilogy, and it is beautifully done. I loved all three books, and they are brilliantly delivered on audio by Peter Forbes. Set in the Outer Hebrides, these mysteries bring the Isle of Lewis to life, the setting as much a member of the cast as the other characters featured in the books. In each of the three books, the story unfolds slowly, bringing together past and present until we are fully immersed in the experience. I just cannot recommend this trilogy highly enough.

>132 katiekrug:, >133 drneutron: I see Jim has already hooked you up, Katie. Thanks, Jim!

And just why are you not drinking, young lady? I mean, it is Friday after all.

I rated Three Men in a Boat higher than you, but all of your comments ring true - I think mine was a bit of a pity rating. And because Hugh Laurie read the audiobook, and he's lovely.

>135 Crazymamie: - I'm working! Well, I'm at work. In my house. Hmmm....

I will shortly be indulging in a new favorite - Deep Eddy's grapefruit vodka with seltzer. Just a shot or so of the vodka in a nice tall glass of seltzer and ice....

>107 Crazymamie: Thank you!! I ordered several. : )

>108 Crazymamie: I hope they release the new Cormoran Strike book ASAP. I love that series.

>136 evilmoose: Thanks for that, Megan. I agree that Hugh Laurie is lovely.

>137 katiekrug: Umhmmmm....and is there no wine at your home? I mean, really!

Deep Eddy's grapefruit vodka! Interesting - I have not had this. I have recently become a huge fan of seltzer. I love me some cranberry lime seltzer poured over ice and lime wedges.

>138 Berly: You are most welcome, Kim. Me, too, with the Cormoran Strike love - Abby and I are not so patiently waiting for the next one.

Hi Mamie, you must be deep into the weekend and enjoying things right now. I hope the weather is cooperating!

Hi Mamie!

I still haven't read The Chessmen although I loved the first two of the series. I can even see it from where I'm sitting. Sigh. Too many books, too little time.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Seems like the right direction to head, no?

Frankenstein in Baghdad rockets to the top o' the list. *smooch*

Morning, Mamie. I hope you had a fine weekend, at the Pecan Paradiso. I am working today but it will be a short work week. B.A.G.

Continuing to have a good time with Cormoran Strike...

>140 Familyhistorian: Hello, Meg! The weekend was a mixed bag weather-wise. Gorgeous on Saturday but very windy, and then it poured buckets on Sunday, and the temps dropped as two fronts came through. Left me with a killer headache, but yesterday it was much better.

>141Hello, Karen! I hear you - luckily, books will wait patiently for us to get to them. I really enjoyed all three books in that trilogy, but I think the second book was my favorite. I love the sense of place he captures in his writing.

>142 richardderus: I am SO happy to see you here, BigDaddy! And yes, that is definitely the right direction - thank you!

Hooray for hitting you with a book bullet!! *smooch back*

>143 msf59: Morning, Mark! Saturday was most excellent, and Sunday was a wash as I spent most of it in bed with a horrendous headache.

A short week sounds most excellent. I knew you would have fun hanging out with Cormoran and Robin - LOVE that series!

Hi Mamie! Catching up a bit here so firstly, glad to liked Frankenstein in Baghdad. Yes, I thought allegorical in nature, as well.
I'm reading/listening to The Cuckoo's Calling end enjoying it thus far. Fun noir-ish read.

>146 Carmenere: Hello, Lynda! I'm glad you agree about it being an allegory - I kept looking at reviews of it to see if anyone else had mentioned that, but no one had. Charlotte thought it fit the allegory tag, too, so with two of you agreeing, it makes me feel more confident about it.

Those Cormoran Strike books are so fabulous on audio! I had read the first two in print but went back and listened to them when I discovered how great that narrator was. I might re-listen to all three of them once we have a publication date for book four.

Morning, Mamie!

I made the Skinnytaste shawarma spiced grilled chicken last night, and it was excellent. And reasonably easy. It includes a recipe for garlic yogurt (really just finely minced garlic mixed into plain Greek yogurt) that was very tasty. I added diced cucumber to it. Anyway, it was a winner :)

>148 katiekrug: Oh! Good to know! And excellent thinking to add cucumber to it. Thanks for letting me know, Katie.

>148 katiekrug: - That sounds like tzatziki (the garlic yogurt with cucumber)!

>149 Crazymamie: - Happy to return the favor for all your recipe recommendations :)

>150 jessibud2: - Yep, it was a basic tzatziki. I had no idea how easy it could be to make. I'm totally hooked on it now... I have some leftover and am going to use it like sour cream tonight and put a dollop on my chicken enchilada soup!

Good morning, Mamie! I hope your week is off to a good start.

>150 jessibud2: *waves at Shelley*

>151 katiekrug: I think I'm gonna make it tonight. How long did you marinate the chicken for? And I love your idea for using up the leftover sauce!

>152 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry! So far so good with the week.

Mamie, sorry to hear that your head got you. I hope it's gone away.

>154 susanj67: Thanks, Susan. It's gone now - I always get really bad headaches when strong weather fronts come through - I think it's the pressure change.

Sorry to hear about your headache on Sunday, Mamie. I hope your head and the weather have improved, it sure looks like your steps have!

I put the marinade together around lunch time. We eat kind of late, so it probably was marinating 7-8 hours or so.

I grilled it on one of those cast iron double burner grill pans with ridges. It would be even better on an outdoor barbecue, I bet.

>156 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! They are both much improved. I had a great stepping day yesterday after only getting 8,000 on Sunday - my first day in April not to get my 10,000 steps in, so I was bummed. But yesterday I got 27,472 steps, so I was thrilled with that.

>157 katiekrug: Okay. Thanks. I'm going to get what I need from the market and then put it together when I get home. I'm going to have Craig grill it on his Egg - he grilled this weekend and commented yesterday that he was still in a grilling mood, so this will be perfect.

Excellent! The Wayne has an Egg, too - he needs to revive it from its winter slumber soon so we can start using it!

Morning, Mamie. Beautiful day in Chicagoland. A male Cardinal is serenading, as I peck away at my little keyboard.

Have a great day.

>159 katiekrug: I can't wait to try it - the marinade smelled most yum! And yes, The Wayne needs to wake up the Egg.

>160 msf59: Afternoon, Mark! It's beautiful here, too. I love to hear the cardinals - we get quite a few of those at our feeder. Hoping your day is also full of great!

Hi Mamie!

Happy headache-free Tuesday. We've got rain and clouds. At least the rain's knocking the pollen down.

I just filled the feeders and the birds are happy.

>162 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! Usually I love rain and clouds, but not when they also bring me a headache. Heh. And yes, rain is wonderful for knocking the pollen down.

Hooray for happy birds - ours are also happy.

Hiya, Mamie. As Mark said, it was a beaut of a day here. We're glad to be back home. I hope all is going well at the Pecan Paradisio.

>164 jnwelch: Hiya, Joe! Welcome home - glad you had safe travels. Everything is most excellent here.

We're getting back to our normal routine, finally, Mamie. Plus our thoughtful son is sending daily photos of young Rafa. Hope you have a good one today.

>166 jnwelch: Good to hear it, Joe. You have had a very busy couple of weeks. And Rafa!! What a cutie!

Hi Mamie!

More rain here today. We're up to over 2 inches since Monday night. I don't have to go out today, so will indulge in a spot of reading. I'm reading steampunk, unusual for me, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

>168 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! I love when it rains like that if I don't have to go out in it. Heh.

Oh, I love steampunk! And I have that one in the stacks on my Kindle - I will be awaiting your thoughts on it.

Hoping your day is also full of wonder.

Grilled Chicken Shawarma

We made this recipe last night - Katie had recommended it, and it was a winner here, too. I served it with rice pilaf, cucumber, and grilled red onion - just like the photo. It was delicious and very easy to make. Abby was the only one who didn't like it, which really surprised me - I thought it would be Rae, but she absolutely loved it.

Next I am wanting to try her Asian Turkey Meatballs with Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce:

Reading update:

I finished my reread of A Wrinkle in Time, which was fun - this is one of Birdy's favorite books, and we were so disappointed by the movie that we decided a reread was in order.


In print, I started The World Broke in Two: Virginia Woolf, T. S. Elliot, D. H. Lawrence, E. M. Forster and the Year that Changed Literature by Bill Goldstein - I have a fascination with the Bloomsbury Group, so this is very interesting to me. The writing is a bit tedious in places - not the wonderful narrative non-fiction that we are being treated to these days, but the subject makes up for it.


On Kindle, I started Caliban's War, which is book two in the Expanse series. I loved the first book, and the tv series based on these books is excellent.


On audio, I am starting The Terror, which was recommended by Susan - very cold and also scary, she said, so a perfect one for the Summer Shivers list of cold reads to keep me cool in the heat of the Georgia summer. It's narrated by Tom Sellwood - I have not listened to him before, but the sample sounded very good.

Oooh, those turkey meatballs sound good. Will await your report!

>172 katiekrug: *grin*

>168 karenmarie: >169 Crazymamie: The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is one of the best books I've read in the past few months!

>171 Crazymamie: I enjoy The Expanse books, but can't take the set-ups seriously for a minute.

>174 quondame: Guess I need to bump it up on the list, huh, Susan?

I agree that they are just plain fun - nothing wrong with that. I love pairing lighter stuff with heavier reads, so this works nicely with my non-fiction picks.

Good morning, Mamie! The Grilled Chicken Shawarma does look tasty. I'm not a big fan of meatballs, but we do have Sauerbraten Klopse from time to time, which I quite like because they incorporate cloves and allspice.

Morning, Harry! I love meatballs, and all of the ones I have made from her blog have been very tasty. I had to goggle yours - I love the smell of cloves, so I might have to try those sometime.

>177 Crazymamie: I'll have to poke around that blog some more; thanks for linking to it. I've successfully swapped cloves, allspice, and the like for Italian or Southwestern seasonings for the sake of variety.

>171 Crazymamie: Oooh, enjoy! The Terror scared me, a lot!

>178 harrygbutler: Sure thing, Harry. And good to know - I love playing around with recipes.

>179 ChelleBearss: I am really liking it, Chelle. The narration is fabulous. Yesterday I was walking around listening to it with my noise reduction headphones, and I turned the corner to the kitchen to find Rae standing RIGHT there. Made me jump - they were just finding the claw marks and the blood down in the hold. I had to stifle a scream - Rae and Craig had been at work, but they came home for lunch and had come in through the garage. I had not heard a thing, so just turned the corner and there she was.

>180 Crazymamie: 😀 I loved THe Terror - read it in a July and it was the coldest I've felt in a while.

>181 drneutron: I did not know that at the right temperature tooth enamel could crack and then the tooth could explode - I am learning so much. Susan said it was very good, and she was right.

Morning, Mamie!

Our daughter and a friend are going to see A Quiet Place, the new Emily Blunt movie, and that looks good for a scare. We're going to watch it at home when the time comes, as Madame MBH likes to be able to take a timeout or move around with scary ones.

>183 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I also prefer to watch movies at home unless it is something that seeing it on the BIG screen makes a big difference - like the Star Wars movies.

Right. Star Wars for sure. We recently wanted to see Ready Player One on the big screen. The one movie I can think of that significantly benefited from 3D viewing on the big screen was Avatar. There were some beautiful 3D scenes in that.

Hi, Mamie. I'm still making the rounds, just in Super Sloooo Mo.

Here's a cat gif for you.

>186 weird_O: Blatant provocation that! 😉

>170 Crazymamie: yum yum yum (yum)

>180 Crazymamie: I am not one for scary movies, by which I mean suspenseful ones. My next one will be Star Wars.

Good morning, Mamie! I hope you have a fine Friday!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

I hope it's setting up for a good weekend at the Pecan Paradiso.

>185 jnwelch: Craig and the kids saw Avatar in 3D and they loved it - I don't do 3D as it makes me nauseous for some reason.

>186 weird_O: LOVE that, Bill! Too funny. Thanks for stopping in.

>187 quondame: Agreed, Susan.

>188 LovingLit: It was most delicious, Megan. I love suspenseful movies, but by that I mean movies like Hitchcock made, not horror movies.

>189 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry! Thanks for those Friday wishes - hoping yours is full of fabulous!

>190 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Happy Friday! Looks to be a very good weekend here, and Abby is thrilled that she has both Saturday and Sunday off - she very rarely gets two days off in a row.

These Tor books that have been nominated for the Nebula Award are on sale on Kindle/Kobo/Nook for just $2.99 each! On sale through 4/30.

'Morning, Mamie, and happy Saturday Friday to you!

>174 quondame: Nice to know, Susan. I'm about 2/3 of the way through The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and am thoroughly enjoying it. Especially Katsu, the mechanical octopus.

>194 karenmarie: Um...Karen, I hate to break this to you, but today is Friday. Sounds like I need to get to that steampunk book - a mechanical octopus?! Yes, please!

Eek. Bill's home, so therefore it must be Saturday. Never mind that it's also my anniversary and I should know better! I just zoomed over and fixed the other threads I'd screwed up on.

Whew. I think you're the only one who caught me.

>196 karenmarie: Gotcha.

Happy Friday, Mamie.

>198 Helenliz: Happy Friday, Helen!

>180 Crazymamie: I do this without the scary book, so possibly not one for me!

Made it to Friday. Hurrah!

>200 charl08: Right. Good thinking, Charlotte. And yes, hooray for making it to Friday - my very favorite day!

Happy Friday, Mamie. Trying to catch up on some threads and juggle some reading time. I thought we might have turned that weather corner but another chilly one tomorrow. Sighs...70s next week, though. This will be nice.

>202 msf59: Hey there, Mark! Happy Friday! Hoping your weather warms for you. We are going to 80F tomorrow.

>193 Crazymamie: You are 2 for 2 now on sending me over to Amazon to acquire books. I picked up Weave a Circle Round. About the 9 books for world book day. Yeah, I picked up a few all of them.

>204 nittnut: Jenn, if it makes you feel any better, I picked up ALL the books.

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

Thanks for giving me an idea for dinner tonight. Chicken Sharma it is!
Have a wonderful weekend!

'Morning, Mamie! Happy Saturday to you.

>206 Carmenere: Happy Saturday, Lynda! Hope you like the Chicken dish - it was a big hit here. Also hoping that your weekend is full of wonder.

>207 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Saturday - it's off to a beautiful start. Craig and I have already gone walking and are now sitting down to our first cups of coffee. Sunny and going to 80F here today, so it should be a glorious one.

Happy Saturday, Mamie. Sounds like a good start to your day!

Should be gorgeous here - high 60s and sunny.

Did you end up making those Asian turkey meatballs? Any good?

Oh, that sounds good, Mamie. Morning! Today's Independent Book Store Day, and we're about to take a walk to a breakfast place, and then visit three local independent bookstores.

>209 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! Happy Saturday! I like your temps better than mine, but I was happy to get a walk in early before it gets hot.

I have not made the Asian meatballs yet - probably Monday. We had a couple of days of everyone doing their own thing, and then last night we got pizza. Heh.

>210 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Alas, we have no independent bookstores in the area - have fun and be sure to make a purchase at each store.

The Asian Meatballs sound wonderful - I plan on making them tonight. Husband won't touch zucchini even if you offered to pay him, so I'll have to figure out something else to serve them with.

My closest indie is about 25 minutes away, but we have a used-book store in our little town, so I might go there to see if they have either or both of the two books I need for book club (Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer - touchstone isn't working for me - and Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor).

>212 karenmarie: Oh, good - be sure to report back. I love zucchini, but I do not have a spiralizer.

Hoping you can find what you're looking for at the used book store - we also don't have one of those. *sigh*

I thought a ham-and-cheese salad bowl would be The Thing for Saturday lunch munching.


>193 Crazymamie: Amberlough is fun, I've got Autonomous up soon on Kindle, and the other one I've never even heard tell of.

>214 richardderus: Forget the salad it's the dough bowl that looks fabulous! Like a formed light of Yorkshire pudding.

>215 quondame: It's a popover-like batter, so the Yorkie puds comparison is fair. Nummers.

We had pizza last night too :-)

Re: the zucchini and spiralizer, both our grocery stores sell "zoodles" in the produce section with the pre-cut fruit and veg. So you could check there if you want to serve the meatballs as presented.

>214 richardderus: Thank you, BigDaddy! I'm with Susan - that dough bowl looks most yum.

I'm excited you thought Amberlough was fun, and I am looking forward to Autonomous - the last one sounded like something Abby and Birdy would both like.

>215 quondame: *nods head*

>216 richardderus: It makes for a great presentation, that's for sure.

>217 katiekrug: *grin* We are grilling hamburgers and dawgs tonight, so I am looking forward to that.

And thanks for the head's up - I did not even think to check for something like that. I will look!

Hi Mamie and happy correct-day-of-the-week SUNDAY to you!

I got lazy yesterday and didn't make the Asian Meatballs, but did buy everything and will make them today. Probably with basmati rice.

edited to add: I did make the Asian Meatballs, and they were very good. The dipping sauce was too bitter as the recipe was written, IMO, but it mellowed out when I added some brown sugar. Since there was scallion in the meatballs, I didn't put any in the dipping sauce either. I also made some fried rice. (I need to find my Wok. Frying Pan was okay but didn't get hot enough) Bill liked it all and said I could put it in the rotation.

Hello, Karen! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the Asian meatballs - I am hoping to try them tonight if I get to the market today. You are right that nothing beats a wok for making fried rice. Good to know about the sauce - I cannot wait to compare thoughts!

Here it is Baja Tuesday again, 45's still not dead (preferable) or in jail (not nearly as good), and the lunatic fringe is shrieking their lungs out over a woman who dares to pole fun at the traitorous scumbags infesting the country. Yup. Startin' to agree with your opinion of this day of the week.

Yep - just another "It's Definitely Not Tuesday". *sigh*

Happy Monday Mamie! I hope things are going well!

>223 The_Hibernator: Rachel!!! Good morning! Things are good here - hoping you are doing well and that things are settling down for you.

Good morning, Mamie! I trust you had an enjoyable weekend, and that the new week is off to a good start.

>225 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry! The weekend was truly lovely. Today is my least favorite day, so...

Hi Mamie!

Ha! Exactly. Hello, Susan!

Afternoon Mamie. Hoping you've having better weather than here today. We have a smidgeon of rain, I have my ark building kit ready...

>229 Helenliz: Hello, Helen! Let's see - sunny and going to 82F (28C). Supposed to be into the 90s by the end of the week, so I think summer is breathing down our necks. Spring was good while it lasted. *sob*

Okay...It's Tuesday!!! You can come out now. : )

Sorry spring is over already.

*grin* Happy Tuesday, Kim! No need to be sorry - I'm thrilled we actually got a Spring. Last year we just launched straight into summer, and it was miserable.

Morning, Mamie! Hope you are having a good start to your week now that the dreaded Monday is past :)

>233 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle! I woke up wide awake this morning at 2am - could NOT sleep. So, I read for a few hours, and I was finally able to drop back off to sleep somewhere around 4:30am. Of course, Craig's alarm went off at 5am because he needed to take Abby to work - she is the baker this morning. Heh. BUT, at least I got some good reading time out of it.

Sounds like a good day for a nap! Lately, I've been waking up about 20 minutes before my alarm goes off. No matter what time I set it for. I don't know how I feel about that. But it's nice for quietly reading before everyone else gets going.

I don't know if yesterday was Spring, or what, but it looks like it's starting to be summer the rest of the week.

>214 richardderus: Define salad?

>235 nittnut: Agreed, Jenn. Too weird about the alarm thing - of course, if you set the alarm to go off twenty minutes late, you would then probably sleep all the way until it went off. Heh.

>235 nittnut: Salad: Some form of chlorophyll-infested roughage hidden under mayonnaise.

Here's another cat gif, Mamie.



I know, Awwwww.

>237 richardderus: I'm partial to bread salad, and my local deli does a salami and cheese one. No Mayo in either.

>237 richardderus: Oh, dear! Hello, Richard!

>238 weird_O: LOVE that, Bill! Made me laugh!

>239 quondame: Hello, Susan!

>239 quondame: ...no mayo...? Then what the heck is the point?

>240 Crazymamie: *smooch*

>241 richardderus: *smooch back* Your response to Susan made me laugh.

Hi Mamie!

>234 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! I also woke up about 2:30 this morning and could not get back to sleep. In my case I think it's partly allergies making me miserable. My alarm goes off at 5:00 so I'd rather not get back to sleep at all than fall asleep at 4:30 and be deeply asleep when the alarm goes off! Surprisingly, I have not fallen asleep at my desk yet, and don't even feel that tired. Which isn't to say I wouldn't take a nap if it was offered ...

:-D

Sorry about your rotten night. Hope you do better tonight.

Happy hump day, Mamie. If you're headed for summer we seem to have regressed to winter. Cold and windy. But then it is a bank holiday on Monday, so I don't know why we're surprised!

Hopefully you're sound asleeeeeep about now, no 2 am waking. I did that last night, as I'd overheated. I kicked off the extra blanket and went back to sleep quite quickly.

Morning Mamie! Happy May! What an awesome month! I woke up pretty early this morning, about 4amish mainly because a most beautiful full moon was shining right in my face. No complaints though it was quite the sight to behold.
Chicken sharma turned out well! Love those Indian flavors.
Have a happy day :0)

Hiya, Mamie.

We're the beneficiaries of some decent weather in Chi-town, climbing into the low 80s yesterday and today. Rain (of course) supposedly is on the way, but it's been nice here.

I'm reading one called Lilac Girls on Madame MBH's recommendation. Have you heard of this one? It's very good.

Hope you're OK Mamie, and that Thursday treats you well.
Pseudo Friday for me, as we're off tomorrow, making it a 4 day weekend.

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday. I see you are laying low. I hope all is well. I am enjoying our warm-up. We NEEDED this.

>243 karenmarie: Hello, Karen!

>244 rosalita: Hey, Julia! I'm hoping the allergies are letting you get some sleep. I have been taking Xyzal every night along with a nasal spray, and that has really helped with the allergies. However, it does not help with the insomnia...oh, well.

>245 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks for the good wishes, Reba. I seem to be on some sort of roll with the waking at 2am thing - I have just been reading on my Kindle, so at least I am getting something done with the missed sleeping time.

Sweet Thursday, Mamie!

Looks like you're busy catching up. Hope it's a good one today at the Pecan Paradisio.

Happy Thursday Mamie! Hope you have slept better the last couple of nights.

You hit me with a book bullet for Frankenstein in Baghdad - although when I went to add it to my list I realised it was already on there which means I must have been hit by someone else first. @BLBera maybe? Anyway, good to see multiple positive opinions for it!

>246 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen. Wednesday was good but very busy. You're going backwards with the weather, huh? We are definitely making progress here - into the 90s for most of the week.

I keep waking up at 2am for some reason - I have just been reading in bed on the Kindle as I am too tired to actually get up but too awake to go back to sleep.

>247 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda, even though it is a different morning. Happy May! I love me a full moon - so gorgeous and well worth waking up for.

I am so happy you loved the chicken recipe! All credit goes to Katie who found it and tried it first. We loved all the flavors, too. Did you do the grilled red onions? That was a perfect companion for it, I thought.

>248 jnwelch: Hiya, Joe! Hooray for the lovely weather - you certainly deserve it! So funny you mention Lilac Girls - yesterday I was getting my hair cut, and one of the ladies in the salon was reading that. I was thrilled because one of the PopSugar prompts is to read something that you saw a stranger reading in public. It's harder than you would think to catch someone in public with an actual book these days. AND it's a good one - BONUS!

>249 Helenliz: I'm fine, Helen, thanks for asking. Yesterday was just very busy, so I did not get time to get on here. And thank you for those good wishes - Thursday is looking to be a good one. I have already run all my errands, so now I just have to get my steps in and make dinner. I'm hoping to snag some reading time on the screened-in porch.

Hooray for the four day weekend! Hoping it is full of fabulous for you!

>250 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday, my friend! I was not intentionally laying low - just busy with real life. the nerve of it intruding on my LT time! All is very well here. I am thrilled you are finally getting some warmer weather. *grin*

>254 Crazymamie: Ha! Perfect re Lilac Girls.

>252 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Sweet Thursday! Thanks for those good wishes. Did you see my comments to you in >254 Crazymamie:?

Gorgeous here today - sunny but not humid and going to 88F.

>253 souloftherose: Hello, Heather! Happy Thursday! Unfortunately, I am still not sleeping well.

I think you will really like Frankenstein in Baghdad when you get to it. I know Mark, Charlotte, Roberta and Lynda all gave it favorable reviews. I am not remembering if Beth read that one yet or not.

I recently read and loved All Systems Red, and I am thinking that you put that one on my radar - is that correct?

>256 jnwelch: Joe, we cross-posted again!

>258 Crazymamie: *silence from Chicago* :-)

>259 jnwelch: *belly laugh*