Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Sixteen

-Wildflower Hill Print by Erin Hanson

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

OTS- Off the Shelf

March:

24) Don't Skip Out on Me by Willy Vlautin 4 stars ER
25) Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie 4.6 stars OTS (audio) OTS
26) An American Marriage by Tayari Jones 4 stars (audio)
27) Saving Tarboo Creek: One Family’s Quest to Heal the Land by Scott Freeman 4 stars
28) American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee 4.5 stars (audio)
29) The Night In Question: Stories by Tobias Wolff 4 stars AAC OTS
30) My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman 4.2 stars (audio)
31) Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson 3.4 stars E
32) Where Now: New and Selected Poems by Laura Kasischke 5 stars Poetry
33) The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks 4 stars (audio) OTS
34) Mozart's Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt 4 stars
35) Celine by Peter Heller 3.4 stars (audio) OTS
36) On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder 4.5 stars (audio)
37) Arthur & George by Julian Barnes 4.4 stars OTS
38) I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search by Michelle McNamara 4.3 stars (audio)

April:

39) Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu 5 stars GN
40) Since We Fell: A Novel by Dennis Lehane 3.3 stars (audio) OTS
41) All the Names They Used for God: Stories by Anjali Sachdeva 4.5 stars
42) Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly 4.3 stars (audio)
43) We Are Okay by Nina LaCour 4.2 stars
44) The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe 5 stars (audio) OTS
45) In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose by Alice Walker 4 stars AAC
46) Becoming Unbecoming by Una 4.6 stars GN OTS
47) Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi 4.3 stars (audio)
48) The Book of Dust: Vol 1 by Philip Pullman 4.2 star
49) Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker 4.5 stars OTS
50) Cove by Cynan Jones 3.7 stars
51) Career of Evil (A Cormoran Strike Novel) by Robert Galbraith 4 stars (audio) OTS
52) When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors 5 stars (audio)
53) Happiness: A Novel by Aminatta Forna 4 stars

May:

54) Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover 4.6 stars (audio)
55) The Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss 4.2 stars OTS
56) Black Swans: Stories by Eve Babitz 4.4 stars OTS
57) A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne 3.6 stars (audio) OTS
58) The Beekeeper's Lament by Hannah Nordhaus 4 stars (audio)
59) Tabloid City: A Novel by Pete Hamill 4 stars AAC
60) The Boy on the Bridge by M. R. Carey 3.8 stars (audio)
61) The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat 4 stars OTS
62) The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya 4.3 stars (audio)
63) Whispers in Dust and Bone by Andrew Geye 4.2 stars OTS
64) End of Watch by Stephen King 3.6 stars (audio) OTS
65) Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison 4 stars Good Reads
66) A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey 4.2 stars (audio)

June:

67) Less: A Novel by Andrew Sean Greer 4 stars (audio)
68) Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley 4.2 stars (audio) AAC
69) Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year by Kenn Kaufman 4.3 stars
70) The Night of the Gun (Memoir) by David Carr 5 stars (audio) OTS
71) Bearskin: A Novel by James A McLaughlin 4.2 stars
72) CIRCE by Madeline Miller 4.5 stars (audio)
73) Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck 4.4 stars
74) The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea 4 stars (audio)
75) Cathedral by Raymond Carver 4.3 stars
76) Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan 3.8 stars (audio)
77) There There: A novel by Tommy Orange 4.5 stars

July:

78) The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley 4 stars (audio) AAC
79) The Locals by Jonathan Dee 4.3 stars
80) Dry Bones (Longmire) by Craig Johnson 4 stars (audio)

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

2018 AAC

January- Joan Didion Completed The White Album
February- Colson Whitehead Completed Sag Harbor
March- Tobias Wolff Completed The Night in Question: Stories
April- Alice Walker Completed In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens
May- Peter Hamill Completed Tabloid City
June- Walter Mosley Completed Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
July- Amy Tan
August- Louis L'Amour
September- Pat Conroy
October- Stephen King
November- Narrative Nonfiction
December- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Here is a link to the General Discussion Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/279501#

^Once I finished the excellent, Go, Went, Gone, I had an itch for some short fiction. I had Cathedral and a Saunders collection, on my Must Read Now shelf and decided on the former. Honestly, I don't think Carver gets much LT love, as far as I can tell and I hope to remedy that, or at least a smidge, anyway. I read and loved What We Talk About When We Talk About Love last September, for the AAC.

Anyone else read this one? Come on, don't be shy.

Oh, yeah- Getting close on hitting 75. Which one will it be...

Happy New Thread, Mark. That wildflower print is spectacular.

>5 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda. Glad you like the wildflower topper.

Come on, Cubbies! We need a comeback win.

At least Schwarber tied it up.

Billy Williams is still looking good, even at 80. I met up with him at a casino and spent well over an hour talking to him about everything but baseball. A great guy!!

What a finish!! Hooray for our Cubs. Love those walk offs.

Love the painting topper!!!! Happy new thread. : )

oooh, you are so close to 75 books :)

You have piqued my interest with the Raymond Carver, surely a must-read for any bibliophile!?

Happy new thread, Mark!
As always, you found some lovely toppers :-)
Good you also loved Go, Went, Gone, it was one of the best books I have read this year.

Wonderful topper up there, Marc, love the colours. But I wouldn't dream of doing that to an owl!

Happy new thread.

>7 lindapanzo: >8 lindapanzo: Glad to hear that the Cubs won the second one. I went to bed at ten and missed it. I think that is great that you spent some time with Billy Williams. That is very special.

>9 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers.

>10 LovingLit: " surely a must-read for any bibliophile!" I agree with that, Megan. One of our finest short fiction writers. Looking forward to digging in.

>11 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. I think Go, Went, Gone will stick with me for awhile.

>12 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. Glad you like the topper. I was looking at the owl as being my helper, not being tethered. Smiles...

Happy new thread, Mark! A suitable bird topper, I'd say.

Happy new one, Mark! Cool toppers

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy Wednesday and happy new thread, Mark!

I like Wildflower Hill Print a lot, and of course an owl with reading materials on a mailbox is perfect.

Morning, Mark! Happy new one!

Howdy Mark! Happy new thread day! Ugh we have more rain :0(

>15 harrygbutler: Thanks, Harry! Yah, for the owl!

>16 jessibud2: >17 drneutron: >18 alphaorder: Thanks, Shelley, Jim & Nancy.

>19 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Hooray for the wild flowers & owl toppers!

>20 Crazymamie: >21 Carmenere: Thanks, Mamie & Lynda. Not bad here today. Overcast, but no rain expected and less humidity.

Hi Mark - Happy new thread. I loved Carver's stories. You are in for a treat. I'm glad you loved Go, Went, Gone.

Happy New Thread, Mark - and of course, wishing you many more! :)

Lovely painting topper and I like your helper owl. Is that my Hogwarts invitation it's holding? I had wondered where that had gone!

It's the first bright shiny day I've had in several weeks. I just saw on the news that areas where I live have received 2.5 inches of rain in the last week which is unheard of for Montana. I believe I got close to that amount - I've never seen such mud and have standing water everywhere. I keep changing around horses and pens but it's not going to do much good until we have some hot sunny days to dry up the sog.

Happy New Thread, Mark. Go Cubs!

Not much to report on my end. Hope this a bit cooler day goes well for you.

>24 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. Looking forward to diving into the Carver collection, in just a little while...Glad to hear from another fan.

>25 streamsong: Thanks, Janet. I think my owl helper, may have your invite. I will let the suspense build a bit more...

Sorry, to hear about all the rain and the mud. Yuck. We have had above normal rainfall this spring too. Pretty crazy.

>26 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. Good to see you stop by. Hope the Cubbies can win the series, this afternoon.

Happy new thread, Mark. A wildflower painting seems a great way to top a June thread.

>28 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I was looking for a late spring, early summer topper and this one seemed to fit the bill. Glad you liked it.

Happy new thread! And beautiful painting up top.

>30 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. Good to see you.

^Shelley shared a link, with me, on my last thread about this Birdchick author and birder, so I took a look and saw she had a book 1001 Secrets Every Birder Should Know and that they had a copy available at my library. With an irresistible title, like that, I had to jump on it. This one might be worth buying. The GN is a bio of Calamity Jane, which also looks very promising. And the beer was mighty tasty too.

^I saw something special at my feeders last evening. A male cardinal feeding a fledgling, that was waiting patiently on my shed roof. Dad would go to the feeder, collect some seeds and then go to baby and fill her up. The fledgling could fly but she was dull colored like a female sparrow. Perfect camouflage, I am guessing.

Mother Cardinal made an appearance too, but she was just feeding off the ground, quite contentedly.

>33 msf59: wow! And is this your photo of them?

>33 msf59: Lucky you to catch sight of that.
Happy almost-Friday, Mark!

'Morning, Mark, and happy Thursday to you.

>32 msf59: Great photo!

>33 msf59: Very exciting.

>32 msf59: - Woohoo! Let me know how the book is!! :-)

>33 msf59: - Oh, you are so lucky! I have seen the male feed the female, many times. That's part of their courtship ritual although, if I am not mistaken, they mate for life and do this every year. But I've never seen a fledgling being fed. Great siting!

It is currently raining buckets, in Westchester IL, as I start the route. Sighs...

Send dry thoughts.

>34 LovingLit: Not my photo, Megan. It was a bit to far, for me to capture with my cellphone, plus I was enjoying the view through my binocs.

>35 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura. Always something magical going on in the bird world, if you look close enough.

>36 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Looks like an all day soaker ahead of me. Glad the mail is light and the books are good.

>37 jessibud2: Thanks to you, I have the book and I downloaded a couple of her Birdchick podcasts, which I'll be sampling shortly. I love her bubbly enthusiasm.

I did not know this about the cardinal mating ritual. Very cool.

I have never seen a cardinal. How great to see the father feeding the fledgling! And I love >37 jessibud2: 's comment that even though mated for life, they go through courtship each year. I could anthropomorphize (sp? sorry!) all over that one!

>40 streamsong: Sweet Thursday, Janet. Northern Cardinals are one of favorite birds and we get them year round. And the males are quite operatic, especially in the spring.

Sweet Thursday, Mark.

Looks like an all day soaker ahead of me. Sure does. It's pounding down by us.

I'm liking the graphic novelization of American Gods (no touchstone today) a lot; it fits the medium well. Did you see the TV series? I didn't.

Stay dry, Mark. It's been raining all week here. My grass is going to be knee high if it doesn't dry out enough to mow soon.

>39 msf59:, >40 streamsong: - I found a link: http://lansingwbu.blogspot.com/2013/01/northern-cardinal-mating-rituals.html

We are having a beautiful first day of summer, Mark, but your rain is heading our way for the weekend. Hope you have managed to stay (relatively) dry today.

Hi, Mark! Happy new thread - love the toppers!

I posted a couple of pics on my thread especially for you.

Happy First Day of Summer! (Wish you could send some of that rain my way - we are in SUCH a drought.)

Well, it finally stopped raining, about an hour before I finished the route. Things got wet...

>42 jnwelch: Sweet Damp Thursday, Joe. Lovely first day of summer.

Glad you are enjoying the American Gods GN. I did not know about this. I did start watching the TV series, but could not get in to it and jumped ship after about 3 episodes.

>43 BLBera: Hi, Beth. I could not stay dry today, despite wearing all the rain gear. Things got wet.

Bummer, about your grass. I managed to get mine cut, earlier in the week. It should be okay this weekend.

>44 jessibud2: Thanks, for the link, Shelley. I will check it out a little later. Enjoy your dry weather. If it is like here, you are going to get some rain.

>45 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. I will drop by. Sorry, to hear about the drought. Most of the Midwest have had a very wet spring. I hope you guys get some soon.

>46 msf59: That says a lot (your giving up on the American Gods tv series after 3 episodes). Too bad. So many folks were looking forward to it, and it seems to have floundered.

I missed a whole thread. Things move fast around here. I am trying to get things done so that I can go home to pack my suitcase for New Orleans and the ALA. I can tell that there will be lots of books waiting for me. I am driving down, so I don't have to be frugal in my title choices. I plan on picking and grabbing and sorting when I get home. See you later, alligator.

p.s. Barbarian Days is really good. I have been listening to it again. It is a very casual autobiography, but at the same time so detailed.

>49 jnwelch: The American Gods TV series has it's fans, Joe, but it just didn't work for me. Give it a try and see for yourself.

>50 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Have a fantastic time in NOLA. I am sure you will come home with a load of books. It looks like another banner year, for promising reads.

I am starting Barbarian Days tomorrow.

>33 msf59: Did you ever watch Deadwood Mark? Calamity Jane was a fairly central character in that show and the actress who played the part was excellent. That was a terrific show.

Whoa, Mark. My internet goes out for 2 1/2 days. (Yes, thank you Mr. Anonymous Dump Truck Highly Professional Driver, maneuvering around a country road with your truck's dump bed tilted up so it can snag the phone/internet cable and rip it and a pole down to the ground. But, never mind.) And you're halfway through your buzzillionth thread. What a man.

Like both toppers. Surprised this got to post #25 before a reader (>25 streamsong: Kudos, Janet) recognized the Hogwarts messenger owl. Am I the first to greet Hedwig?

Started and finished Case Histories while the communications links were severed. Good but not great; too many murky issues left seemingly unresolved. And crappy police work. But you mentioned it last thread.

Larry McMurtry wrote a great novel that featured Calamity Jane, among others. Have you read Buffalo Girls, Mark?

>52 brenzi: ^^I LOVED Deadwood, Bonnie and this is one of the reasons why I was intrigued by the GN bio. And yes, Robin Weigert was excellent as Calamity Jane.

>53 weird_O: Hi, Bill. Glad you have your internet issues resolved. Hooray for the Hogwarts messenger owl! Honestly, I did not intentionally combine the two, but it definitely works.

Glad you got to Case Histories. Yes, it has been many years since I read it, bit I remembered it being close to perfect.

>54 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. I LOVED Buffalo Girls. One of my favorite McMurtrys. Did he write another book about Calamity Jane?

"Barbarian Days is William Finnegan’s memoir of an obsession, a complex enchantment. Surfing only looks like a sport. To initiates, it is something else entirely: a beautiful addiction, a demanding course of study, a morally dangerous pastime, a way of life."

^ I have wanted to read Barbarian Days since it came out in, 2015, nearly 3 years ago. As usual, I kept putting it off. Well, thanks to Benita, who recently started it on audio, this inspired me to finally add it to the queue. I will start it tomorrow.

For some reason, I have seen very little LT attention, directed toward this book. I hope to change that.

^Lets also keep in mind, that it was an Obama pick. Just sayin'...

I will add my two cents - this is a good’un. The style is homey - not pretentious. The recorded version is read by the author and his voice is really laid back. Not much emotion, and yet the book deals with some very emotional things. The author speaks honestly about his life as a “child of the age of Aquarius” (his term not mine), as well as being a globetrotting surf bum and all that term evokes. There is great detail about the mechanics of surfing, surfboards, and the ocean as well as “the life.” So far it is pretty good. However, I do wonder what the Pulitzer committee was thinking when they awarded it the prize for autobiography as it is very simple and homespun in vocabulary and structure. It is not at all polished and is very honest.

Like Mark, I am a bit puzzled about the lack of buzz here on LT about this book, as I think there are many people who would like reading, or listening to it.

>56 msf59: No, only Buffalo Girls that I'm aware of. I've read most of McMurtry's Westerns and don't recall another with Calamity Jane in it.

Sounds like sweet Thursday it wasn't. Hope you have a drier day Friday, Mark.

>58 msf59: well we've all seen the video of Obama surfing after handing over the reins to the current clown.

Have a good day Mark. Hope the rain has stopped.

>59 benitastrnad: Thanks for chiming in on Barbarian Days, Benita. Looking forward to starting it this morning. Have a great time at ALA.

>60 Storeetllr: I would love to revisit Buffalo Girls on audio, one of these days, Mary.

>61 Familyhistorian: Well, it looks like it might be raining out there right now, Meg. Sighs...I just hope we have many more dry spells today.

>62 Caroline_McElwee: Happy Friday, Caroline. Boo, to the current clown. I don't think he believes in exercise at all, but we know he can EAT!

Happy Friday, Mark. We leave soon. Have a good weekend.

>64 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Just wrapping up breakfast and my second cup of coffee, before heading out. Raining again? Really?

Have a safe trip, my friend. I hope everything goes smoothly.

>65 msf59: Hi Mark. Sorry about the rain. I hope your day goes well.

Well, it feels like Groundhog Day here, once again, as a steady rain continues to fall, with no let up in sight. Sighs...I will muddle through...squish, squish.

>66 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. ^You can see my rain report up there. I may need to take off tomorrow, just to dry out...Sure, thinking about it.

Good morning, Mark! Too bad about the rain; here's hoping it clears up for you. We have a threat of rain here, but nothing going on at the moment.

>33 msf59: That was a nice moment. The only unusual thing around our feeders is that there's at least one red-winged blackbird visiting these days.

>49 jnwelch: Late to the discussion but I will say that I have enjoyed the American Gods adaptation. I have especially liked the "Coming to America" sequences that are set outside of the main story line. The Anansi bit from Episode 2? was great. https://vimeo.com/217101191

>68 harrygbutler: Hi, Harry. Well, the rain wrapped up before noon, so it wasn't as bad as I thought. Just breezy and cool, after that.

We do not have any open areas, in my immediate neighborhood, so red-wings don't hang around here. I am glad you get them to visit.

>69 Oberon: Hi, Erik. Good to see you. Glad you enjoyed the American Gods adaptation. I liked the book, but I wasn't thrilled with this version.

How I Go to the Woods

Ordinarily I go to the woods alone, with not a single
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.

I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours.

Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible, I can sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.

If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much.

- Mary Oliver

^I finally started dipping back into Devotions: Poems. It is such a joyous collection.

Michelle Obama was the main speaker in NOLA today. The convention center was very crowded and it was stop and go traffic to get into the hotel, so I missed hearing her speak. I did pick up my first books this evening but had an event to go to so just skimmed booths closest to the doors for 45 minutes.

>71 msf59: lovely poem Mark.

>71 msf59: - I am not such a *poem* person, but Mary Oliver gets me every time. You picked a lovely one in this! Thanks

>72 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Sorry, you missed Michelle Obama, at ALA. I am sure that was a treat. I am sure you will have a full day with the books today. Enjoy.

>73 Caroline_McElwee: >74 jessibud2: Devotions: Poems, is a wonderful compilation of Oliver's work. I highly recommend it. I am barely a third of the way through, so expect more sharing. Smiles...

^After I got home from work yesterday, I was checking out my feeders, like I do and there was plenty of activity, with cardinals & sparrows, along with a squirrel and bunny, frolicking on the ground. Suddenly everything bolted, into the trees and brush. A coopershawk had landed on the ground about twelve feet from the feeders. She just stood there for a few minutes, wondering where the party-goers went and then flew off, empty-handed. This is not my photo but it captures this raptor's beauty. This might be the first time I saw a coop, in the backyard but I know I have seen a red-tailed hawk there, a time or two. They like to scout the feeders.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you!

How exciting to have a coopershawk land in your yard. Congrats on being there to see her. Timing's always the thing with birds, isn't it?

>71 msf59: So happy you are getting back to the Oliver. Lovely poem.

>76 msf59: Nice shot!

Zoe took A Walk in the Woods for the solstice. Here is the result: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/2018/06/22/a-long-hike-on-the-summer-solstice/
I am learning so much from these new blog posts of hers! I love that I can go back and look at them and get to know my plants and birds better!

No real plans today. I may start Old in Art School. Have a good Saturday!

I decided to take the day off. Bad Mark? No, more like Smart Mark. Heading out on an organized bird walk. I'll be back later...

>77 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen. Yes, it is all about timing, my friend, but if you are not watching, nothing will happen. That is about as profound, as I get. Grins...

>78 alphaorder: Happy Saturday, Nancy. I keep setting the Oliver collection down, to read another poetry collection, but this time, I am going to focus on finishing this one and I am keeping plenty of bookmarks handy too. Smiles...

I will check out Zoe's contributions on the blog. I am sure they are lovely. Thanks.

We are heading out to the Morton Arboretum, for a Beer Festival, this afternoon. Sounds kinda of interesting, right?

^Great-Crested Flycatcher

^I enjoyed the organized bird walk this morning, although it was swampy and buggy in certain areas. This walk focused on bird songs and calls. My hearing is not great, so I struggle with higher sound ranges, but sound identification is something, I want to get better at. Not a ton of birds seen, but there were bluebirds, orioles, nuthatches, eastern pee-wee, woodpeckers and other usual suspects. My highlight was the flycatcher.

>78 alphaorder: Sounds really interesting. I have the Arboretum on my list of things to do this summer. You'll go with me, right? Not likely to have a beer festival the day I go, but maybe we can grab a beer somewhere too.

There is a roving beer garden at the park near my sister's house today. We are going to head over there later.

Hope the birds showed up for the walk, Mark. Have a brew for me this afternoon.

Do you like Guinness? I won't be surprised if we visit the Guinness brewery in Dublin next week. My wife has been skimming through Rick Steve's guidebook to Dublin, and this morning commented, "You can't see Dublin in two days."

>76 msf59: fabulous visitor Mark. How lucky. And you weren't her hoped for dinner, so double lucky.

I've got the two volume edition of Oliver's poems, I should nudge that up.

>79 msf59: Yay for playing hooky! Did you get rewarded with lots of bird sightings? Of course, there is always beer to make up for it if you didn't.

>82 alphaorder: Happy Sunday, Nancy. I would love to show you around the Arboretum. Would a Sunday work for you?

>83 weird_O: Hi, Bill. I do like Guinness but with all the great American craft beers available, I rarely have one anymore. I sure hope you make it to the brewery in Dublin. I would think that would be a Must Stop.

>84 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. Yep, lucky to see the Coopershawk. I occasionally see one on my route but very rarely at home. I hope you can nudge up the Oliver collection. She is always a joy to read.

>85 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. It was a great day to take off. We enjoyed all of it. Not a huge amount of birds for my walk, but a stroll in the woods, regardless, is well worth it. The beer event was a lot of fun too and the weather was gorgeous. I NEED to do this more often. Grins...

-Harry Bliss

Good Sunday to you, Mark! I think we may dry out today. My yard is a squishy squashy swamp.

>>89 Carmenere: Happy Sunday, Lynda. Looks like we are finally drying out too, after record breaking rainfall in June. And now the HEAT returns, about mid-week. Sighs...

Have a great day, my friend. Happy Reading!

I’m loving Black Swans Mark🤗

75) Cathedral byRaymond Carver 4.3 stars

“In those olden days, when they built cathedrals, men wanted to be close to God”

This collection of twelve stories, might be my favorite of Carver's work. He writes very well about ordinary lives but favors the messiness of life. Alcohol abuse, infidelities and heartache. The opening story, "Feathers" prominently features a peacock. A homage to O' Connor, perhaps? And the title story, which wraps up the collection, is a stunning look at blindness and religion. A knockout.

A perfect choice for my 75th read of the year.

>91 brenzi: Happy Sunday, Bonnie. Hooray for Black Swans: Stories. I was hoping you would love it.

Yay, congratulations on hitting 75 reads Mark. I'm a way from that.

>88 msf59: Love the cartoon. My P just finished Pollan's new book How to Change your Mind and thought it was great. Like Bliss, we are BIG Pollan fans.

Congrats on hitting 75!!!

>88 msf59:, >95 mdoris: - I have one Michael Pollan book on my shelf, The Botany of Desire. As yet unread, sad to say. :-)

Pouring rain here in Toronto, Mark, but the feeder is hopping!

>71 msf59: Mark, I love that Mary Oliver poem. I also am fond of her “When I am Among the Trees”. I finished The Overstory a few days ago and have trees on my mind.

75 books already? You are a reading machine these days. Congratulations! Of course, I get my best reading suggestions from you. The House Of Broken Angels looks good. It’s been a few years since I’ve read Urrea. I need to catch up.

75 reads so far is great.

I am only to 50 and feel like a pause. Next up though in the TBR is Dream Street by Damon Runyon. This will be my first Runyon. It looks like my pause will not be for long.

When finishing my 50th, I had noisy company from the neighborhood woodpecker. We live just across the river from where Audubon lived and painted so there is no limit to the flying friends.

>92 msf59: Cheers, Mark. The Mighty Seventy-Five!

I hope to finish numbers 50 and 51 before leaving on Tuesday afternoon. Then 75 by the end of September and 100 by the end of December. Started the year by reading only 4 books in January.

>94 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I have been clocking in about 150 books a year, so I am on target. Like most years, I owe a lot of it, to my audiobooks.

>95 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. Good to see you. I heard Pollan on the NYT Books podcast, recently, and I would really like to check out How to Change your Mind. I loved The Botany of Desire.

>96 jessibud2: Happy Sunday, Shelley. I loved The Botany of Desire, which I read a few years ago. I want to read more Pollan. I hope you get to him.

>97 Donna828: Happy Sunday, Donna. Always good to see you. Oliver is sure a favorite around here. If you don't all ready own it, I highly recommend Devotions: Poems for the keeper shelf. The Overstory sounds really interesting. A good fit for me?

If you are a fan of Urrea, you should enjoy The House Of Broken Angels.

>98 Forthwith: Thanks, Forthwith. Good to see you. I do not think I have ever read Runyon. Hooray for the noisy neighborhood woodpecker. Sounds like you live in a perfect location, for bird sightings.

>99 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. Hooray for the Mighty 75! This is our magic number around here. I think your reading goals are perfect, for the rest of the year. I hope you pull it off. Have a fantastic time in Ireland.

>101 msf59: Mark, The Overstory is definitely a good fit for you. There are even a few birds in the many trees in the book. I have read three books by Urrea and liked all of them. I will get to this one and the two others I've missed as soon as I read through the backlog of books the library keeps sending me. ;-)

Congrats on hitting 75!

>102 Donna828: I have The Overstory near the top of the pile. Glad to hear you enjoyed it Donna.

Congrats on 75! I'm only about half way there. But its not a race, now is it. :)

>100 msf59: Regarding Pollan, I too have only read Botany of Desire. Got to read more of him.

Here's a great video of a talk he gave. Titled : "You'll Never Eat McDonald's French Fries Again After Watching This". Sure its click-bait, but it is an excellent but scary video.

https://youtu.be/rbZBJT358_Y

Congrats on hitting 75! I am hoping to get to that number for the full year. I'll need to pick up my pace. I haven't even hit 30 yet!

>102 Donna828: "There are even a few birds in the many trees in the book." Well, that seals it for me, Donna. The Overstory is on the list. Thanks!

>103 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>104 Caroline_McElwee: Let me know when you are going to read it, Caroline.

>105 mahsdad: Thanks, Jeff. Speaking of Pollan, I have wanted to read The Omnivore's Dilemma for several years now. I had even had it on audio, at one point and now it is gone. Sighs...

I will check out the link. It reminds me of the film doc, Supersize Me. Have you ever seen that?

>106 alphaorder: Happy Sunday, Nancy and thank you. Let's hope you have a strong finish to your reading year. Books are the objective! That should be your mantra. Smiles...

^"There There is a relentlessly paced multigenerational story about violence and recovery, memory and identity, and the beauty and despair woven into the history of a nation and its people. It tells the story of twelve characters, each of whom have private reasons for traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow."

There There has been getting very strong reviews. It just came out, earlier this month. I saw that it was available through my library's digital collection, so I grabbed the ebook. I just started it and it packs a strong punch. This young writer has talent. I love reading about the Native American experience. Past & present.

Hi, Mark! Happy Sunday to you!

>108 msf59: Didn't I give you The Omnivore's Dilemma a year or so ago? I still have it (on Audible) and can resend it to you.

>110 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. Thanks for the reminder on The Omnivore's Dilemma. I do still have your copy. I just have to figure out, how to add it to my iTunes. The Audible files are a bit trickier.

We were very taken with Omnivore's Dilemma as well as Cooked (there are some interesting bits of information in his sections in both books) His early book about gardening Second Nature and then Botany of Desire I found really good too. As you can see we are BIG fans! He's an interesting guy!

Congrats on the 75 Mark. >109 msf59: sounds good, will pop back for your comments.

>112 mdoris: I will try to get to The Omnivore's Dilemma in a month or so, Mary. Glad to hear you are such fans of Pollan.

>113 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. Good to see you. There There is off to a strong start. Pulls no punches.

^We finally started the second season of The Handmaid's Tale, aka, "Mike Pence's America". The first season was excellent. A perfect literary adaptation. This one begins strong, but could end up being darker and more disturbing, if that is possible. The imagery is stunning and the acting is first rate.

Has anyone else been watching this? I do not think I have hear any warbling, yet...

Hey Mark - just stopping by to tell you that Kathleen Rooney is going to be in my neck of the woods on Wednesday. Can't wait to meet her!

Hiya, Mark. That's a lovely Mary Oliver poem; thank you for featuring it.

We're back and heading to work out for the first time in . . . a month? What a crazy time this has been.

I'm glad you're reading There There. I've been seeing those strong reviews and thinking about reading it, too. It'll probably be a while longer before I get back into the swing of reading the more challenging books. Right now I'm re-reading another good Agatha Christie mystery, Murder in Mesopotamia.

Should be a nice one out there today. I hope it goes well for you, my friend.

>116 alphaorder: Hooray for meeting Ms. Rooney. I have not met her but I have met her husband at Booktopia. She has also been to Booktopia Vermont. You'll have to ask her about it. I also like her book reviews in the Tribune.

>117 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Good to see you back. Expect more Oliver, as I make my way through this big collection. Do you own this one?

I hope you take it easy with the workout. Always tougher, after some time off.

It is a heavy Monday for me, but the weather is nice.

>119 msf59: I've never read any Mary Oliver poetry but I do note that I own a copy of her essays, Upstream and will try to get to that one soon.

>119 msf59: Do you own this one? I'm pretty sure I do. I've read it, for sure. Ellie Moses is the one who got me from reading some Mary Oliver to reading a lot. I love the way MO enjoys the world, and describes her experience of it so beautifully.

>120 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Good to see you. I may have to join you on Upstream. I have wanted to read that since it came out. I would love to see how she does on her essays.

>121 jnwelch: This is from Devotions: Poems, a collected works that came out in 2017. A lovely volume and one I am glad to have on shelf.

>92 msf59: I am late to the party, Mark, congratulations on reaching 75!

>123 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. You are never late to this party.

>122 msf59: I'm also planning to read The Joy Luck Club for next month's AAC, too.

Even this diehard Cub fan is not planning to stay up late to watch the Cubs on the West Coast. The new and improved Linda, at least for now, goes to sleep much earlier than before.

>122 msf59: Right, her selected poems. We've talked about this one before. Great collection.

>125 lindapanzo: Hey, Linda. I think The Joy Luck Club is a perfect choice for Tan.

It looks like you are going to bed, around the same time this old guy does. Grins... I won't be watching much of these next 3 Cubs games either. They need to get back on track, though.

>126 jnwelch: That is great, Joe. I just wanted to make sure, we were talking about the same collection. I am about a 120 pages in.

Hey, buddy. Woo, the rain just started pounding down here. I hope it's not too bad where you are.

I started The Bear and the Nightingale, and I'm liking it.

I'm so jealous of your rain - and I've NEVER said that before. It's so dry here in Pueblo that I get excited when I see dark clouds or hear there's a chance of rain. So far it has all come to naught.

Sorry the Audible file I sent you is difficult to add to iTunes. I think I was able to add it to my iTunes library, but it was so long ago I don't remember how I did it.

>128 jnwelch: Hey, Joe. I am off today. It did rain this morning but I think most of the afternoon should be dry.

I had a feeling you would have a good time with The Bear and the Nightingale. A good fit for you.

>129 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. I wish I could send you some of our rain. We have been getting hammered this month. Bummer, about the continuing drought.

I will keep toying with the Audible file. I may be able to figure it out. No, worries.

-Common Yellow-Throat Warbler, (And yes, he was singing).

I am enjoying a day off and returned to the Arboretum, despite the light rain, hoping it would let up, before hitting the trails. It did not but the woods kept me mostly dry. I clocked in just under 4.5 miles, so I was doing some serious strolling. Birds began to get active after the rain stopped, so I saw enough. Swallows, bluebirds, many indigo buntings, goldfinch, northern flickers and other woodpeckers. And of course the warbler, which was a definite highlight.

I did fail to see the Blue Grosbeak, which has been spotted here recently and is not at all common to our area. I received perfect directions too. I guess I'll just have to go back for this "lifer".

I am back from New Orleans. I am now on CD 6 of Barbarian Days and this is a very good memoir. It took me a little time to get accustomed to his laconic reading style, but it fits the book. Boy oh Boy was he one rigid dude in his didactic philosophy of life. This book is full of descriptions of the surfing life, but also full of descriptions of ocean waves and surfing technical talk.

I am also enjoying my other non-fiction read Seeing in the Dark: How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth From Interplanetary Peril by Tim Ferris. This one is also for a non-fiction challenge here on LT. The writing is excellent and so exciting. The chapters are short and that makes it perfect for lunchtime reading. (which is where I am reading it - at lunch)

>132 benitastrnad: Welcome back, Benita. It sounds like you had a whirlwind of a time at ALA. I am also enjoying Barbarian Days. I am getting close to the last 1/3 of the book. He sure saw the world, didn't he?

Seeing in the Dark sounds interesting. I had not heard of that one.

Of The Empire

We will be known as a culture that feared death
and adored power, that tried to vanquish insecurity
for the few and cared little for the penury of the
many. We will be known as a culture that taught
and rewarded the amassing of things, that spoke
little if at all about the quality of life for
people (other people), for dogs, for rivers. All
the world, in our eyes, they will say, was a
commodity. And they will say that this structure
was held together politically, which it was, and
they will say also that our politics was no more
than an apparatus to accommodate the feelings of
the heart, and that the heart, in those days,
was small, and hard, and full of meanness.

-Mary Oliver

This one looks like it was written in the days of "W" but it also resonates now.

>134 msf59: - The difference today being, of course, that there is no heart at all. I'm with the Lady ^ :-(

Overlooking the sad poetry and images to say a belated HAPPY 75th*!!!

*book! not birthday ;)

>134 msf59: Even more true today than in the time of the Shrub, though I agree with Shelley that there is no heart at all.

>135 jessibud2: >137 Storeetllr: I completely agree with you both. Yah, for Shelley & Mary.

>136 LovingLit: Thanks, for the clarification, Megan. I got awhile before I hit that milestone. Grins...

Morning, Mark.

the heart, in those days,
was small, and hard, and full of meanness.

That sure does resonate today.

Have a good one, buddy. I'm glad you had such a good day off yesterday.

>139 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. I knew you would appreciate the Oliver poem.

Yes, I had a great day off yesterday and today is off to a decent start. It looks like I will stay dry.

You could send some of that rain and cool down here to Alabama. It is hot, hot, hot. And it was hot, hot, hot, in NOLA.

Congrats for reading 75, Mark. On track for 150? I thought I was on track for 150 but I am slightly ahead of you, maybe I will make it to 200 this year!

A most upsetting day. This is when I realize how important books are to me. Helps me take my mind off of things.

>141 benitastrnad: Sorry, about all the heat, Benita. I wish we could send you some rain. We are in for our little heat wave, right through the weekend. Ugh! Keep cool, my friend.

>142 Familyhistorian: Thanks! Ooh, 200. Now that has a sweet sound to it. I did not realize that you are cranking them out, at such a pace. Go, Meg!

>143 lindapanzo: I am sorry, to hear about your upsetting day, Linda. I will have to stop by and see what is happening.

>134 msf59: Now more than ever, sadly. That is a good one, Mark.

>143 lindapanzo: I’m only guessing, but I think I know of what Linda speaks. I, too, have been lost in my book.

Homegoing is excellent!

>145 Copperskye: It's very slow and quiet at work. Has a holiday week feel. One friend was in an all day meeting and the other friend is even more liberal than I am. I told him I was going out to drown my sorrows. Knowing that I don't drink much, if at all, he looked shocked and confused, til I explained I was taking my Kindle out to lunch and reading until my mind had forgotten about today's horrendous political news. Then I got a decadent Starbucks drink. Felt better too.

I don't know mystery author Victoria Houston's political leanings but her latest sure helped me take my mind off of things today. Oddly enough, another mystery author FB "friend" was questioning whether her staying and writing mysteries helps in a world gone mad. It does. It helps keep those of us who are extremely upset, sane.

>145 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. Good to see you. Glad you like the poem. Are you an Oliver fan?

I had a sneaky feeling, you love Homegoing.

>146 lindapanzo: Nothing wrong with slow and quiet, right, Linda? My work week feels like any other week and I am sure next week will too.

Glad to hear you are taking comfort in your mystery. A perfect distraction, eh?

>147 msf59: When the Cubs aren't on a realistic time, though I did see a bit last night, nothing like books to distract me.

I've also been playing around with the Poetry Foundation's app and their Spin feature, which gets you to a randomly chosen poetry topic.

I think I mentioned elsewhere that I loved that Mary Oliver poem and might check out a copy of that collection you were talking about. Somehow, despite my reading in highly technical areas, poetry scares me a bit. I like it but don't know enough.

>148 lindapanzo: I miss, the Cubs being on, despite their recent woes. They will be back in the swing tomorrow and then back to Wrigley.

I think Mary Oliver is a perfect choice for the reluctant or spooked poetry reader and I believe Devotions: Poems would be an ideal volume to start with.

74) The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea 4 stars

"The entire history of his family, the world itself, the solar system and galaxy, swirled around him now in weird silence, and he felt blood dribbled down inside his body and the clock, the clock, chipped away at his existence."

“That is the prize: to realize, at the end, that every minute was worth fighting for with every ounce of blood and fire.”

Miguel Angel De La Cruz, also known as Big Angel is ailing. He doesn't think he has much time left and when his mother suddenly dies, as she approaches her 100th birthday. This beloved patriarch decides to throw a big birthday bash for himself and for his big, shaggy, but lovable family, in their San Diego neighborhood.
Most of the events here, other than the flashbacks, take place over one long weekend, as the party preparations come together, in quite dramatic and humorous ways. We are introduced to quite a cast of characters, but at the center of the novel are Big Angel and his young brother Little Angel, (based somewhat on the author).
This is a Mexican-American family but I think it is an American story, first and foremost. Urrea proves, once again that he is a master storyteller. Yes, there is humor and pathos here but every so often Urrea floors the reader with a stream of gorgeous, poetic prose. If you are looking for the perfect summer read, look no further.

**This is also wonderful on audio, with Urrea doing a fantastic job narrating.

#150
This novel was reviewed favorably on the New York Times Book Review podcast and the interview with the author was very interesting.

Wow! What about the Anthony Kennedy resignation? I surely didn’t expect that. Now the Great Orange Gasbag will get to appoint two judges, thanks to that feckless Congress who wouldn’t do the right thing and approve Obama’s appointment back in 2016. Idiots. That’s all I can say about them. And isn’t that Jeff Sessions a weasel. He even looks like one.

Dropping by to say, me and the lovely other are heading to Wellington in a few months to go see Courtney Barnett! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been on to her nearly so fast...(your exact recommendation, if I recall, was "she's the real deal").
Just listened to her three albums, in reverse chronological order, and on that note, good night!

>151 benitastrnad: >152 benitastrnad: As I mentioned, I loved the Urrea and the podcast interview. He is such a talent.

Very disheartened about the Kennedy decision. I wish he could have hung in there for 2 more years. Boo to Sessions too. A weasel is, right!

>153 LovingLit: Hooray for Courtney Barnett and seeing her later in the year. Sadly, I have still not listened to her latest. I'll try to remedy that this week. Which of the 3, is your favorite?

^It looks like I will be wrapping up both Barbarian Days & There There today. Loving both. I am also still working on the Oliver collection, (And will be for awhile. This is 440 pages). I am still enjoying my GN, Calamity Jane: The Calamitous Life of Martha Jane Cannary, (another Big Boy!) and I am also dipping into a birding book. Whew!

>154 msf59: oooh, tough call. I love her biggest hit Depreston, it is such a clever song (I think my fave song of hers is still the one about swimming at the pool- a punchy and poppy number). Fave album though might the one with the Japanese print of the wave on the cover - well, her rendition of it. It is low-fi and full of story-telling. The new album is even lower-fi! The lovely other is hooked on it, but I have only had 2 listens to it, so know it will grow on me.

>156 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan. I can imagine it would be a tough call. She is remarkably consistent. Let me listen to the new one...

Ooooba doooooba! congrats on reaching and moving past 75 reads!

Still went in CLE and gloomy and fall like and chilly to boot. Where are those 90 degree temps? Are you holding them hostage? ;0)

Sweet Thursday, Mark. Thank you for the encouraging review of House of Broken Angels. Thumbed!

I assume by yesterday's horrifying political news you mean the announcement that Justice Kennedy will retire? Ouch. Can we hold off any new appointment until the November elections, when a new Congress might have an effect?

After Amber enthused about it, I'm finally reading Gaiman's Trigger Warning, and liking it very much.

>158 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. No worries, about the heat, it will be there shortly. We are getting our first taste today and then much worse for tomorrow and the weekend. Groans...

>159 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Thanks for the Thumb. Urrea rules!

I figured you would have read the Gaiman collection all ready. Well, I have not, so I better move it up and join you guys soon.

On the SCOTUS issue, we really need the Dems to start showing some real backbone. Being wimpy, will not cut it.

You mentioned that you were interested in Seeing in the Dark by Tim Ferris and I am only 52 pages into Seeing in the Dark but find it totally fascinating. I am reading it at work during my lunch hour and my lunch times have been erratic this last month so I haven't been able to read as much at a time as I would like.

The book is just chock full of fascinating stuff. Right now I am reading chapter 5 and in this chapter the author is talking about the roles of amateurs and professionals in exploring the sky. He has just finished a portion of the chapter in which he talks to amateurs who are presenting posters of their research in collaboration with professional academics at the American Astronomical Society meeting. The man he interviewed is an aerospace engineer in real life who does nightly observations on "Late-Type Stars." (These are stars cooler than our Sun.) He is working with an astronomer at Wichita State University and his graduate student group. They are measuring the the chemical composition of these Late-Type Stars and how their atmospheres change when they vary in brightness. He goes out every night for twenty minutes to take his measurements on an 8 inch off-the-shelf telescope. Having him collaborate with the academics makes the research cheaper for the academic institution because they don't have to pay for time at the big telescopes when a small telescope, in the right location, can do the job. It is a win-win situation for everybody and it makes for fascinating reading.

I am so totally going to finish this book and look for the others by this author. This is great stuff.

I am about half done listening to Barbarian Days and the author is now in Australia in 1978 chasing waves. See - you started after me, but will finish before I do. Mark is correct. This is a good memoir. There are times when you want to hit the author and tell him to wake up and behave, or smell the coffee, and then there are times where you are into the groove of the descriptions he has of surfing and why it matters so much to him.

I am one lucky reader - Two great reads going on at the same time. And both of them are non-fiction.

>152 benitastrnad:, >154 msf59: I'm sure he chose to retire now because of fear they will lose the majority in Congress in November, which would have made it impossible for Drumpf's nominee to get in.

>161 benitastrnad: Seeing in the Dark sounds great, Benita. I think you have sold it. I'll see if I can track it down on audio.

I finished Barbarian Days. I liked it but it was a bit exhausting, to tell the truth. I think he could have pared this down a bit. Have you read any of his journalistic pieces? I would like to sample some.

>162 Storeetllr: Good explanation, Mary. I am sure that is the case. The Dems need to start stepping up their game. They need to start showing some backbone. We are up against a repellent and relentless foe. This needs to stop.

#163
I think the same. At times it sounds as if he is reading from his journal, and then at other times I get totally into his reading and what he is feeling. When he describes the waves and his experiences in the water his writing is very good, but he seems to brush off his lack of responsibility and continuous self-centered arrogance in a way that I find irritating. I also agree that this book could have used some editing. It seems to me that it could have been tightened up and it would have been a better memoir. I wonder why it won a Pulitzer Prize as it doesn't seem to me to be as high of quality as I was expecting.

>158 Carmenere:, >160 msf59: The heat is on its way. It was 105F today in Denver. At least it’s a dry heat!

It’s going to be in the 90s her with high humidity starting this weekend into next week. Gah!

I’ve never read anything by Luis Alberto Urrea Mark. Sounds like I should.

>165 benitastrnad: Finnegan writes beautifully about surfing but after 50 or 60 different descriptions, my eyes began to glaze over. You could have edited, much of this down, to a more reasonable level.

I don't think the Pulitzer committee gets very many of their choices right, especially in NF. IMHO, of course

>166 Copperskye: Yippee! We got a little taste today, with the temps hitting near 90. 95 tomorrow. 97 on Saturday. Ugh!

105 is unpleasant. Dry heat or not.

>167 brenzi: Boo, to the heat, Bonnie. Please give Urrea a try. I think you would really like The Hummingbird's Daughter and on the NF side, The Devil's Highway. Both are excellent.

"A masterful, moving novel about age, memory, and family from one of the true literary icons of our time."

^For my second Mosley selection, for this month's AAC, I am going to start The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. I have been interested in this stand-alone novel, since it came out in 2010, but of course it took the AAC to get me to finally dust it off and queue it up. I am starting the audio tomorrow.

^I remember reading and liking The Privileges many years back, (I think it was an ER book) but never got around to reading another Dee. Well, thanks to Nancy, she shared her copy of The Locals with me and I decided to dust it off and crack it open. I start it today.

Any other fans of Dee out there?

Happy Friday, Mark.

We leave soon. I hope you enjoy The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. So cool that you're having the Mosley month.

I'm taking Trigger Warning and a Dr. Siri mystery with me, and we'll see what we find at Powell's. Can't wait!

One of the reporters killed at the Capital Gazette newspaper yesterday was the brother of author Carl Hiassen. I need to work one of his books into my near term reading plans.

>172 jnwelch: Safe travels, Joe. Ptolemy Gray is off to a good start. Interested in seeing where this one is headed.

You will love Powells, my friend. Look forward to hearing about your haul.

I am way over-due for a Dr. Siri. Thanks for the reminder.

>173 lindapanzo: Wow! I did not know that, Linda. I like Hiassen. I have enjoyed a few of his books.

Happy Friday, Mark! Congrats on hitting 75!!

>176 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle. Great to see you.

A Friday treat for you Mark:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44658839/what-a-ho...

I hope you enjoy The Locals.

Hiya Mark! Congrats on blowing past 75 before half the year is over. I just received There, There and am really looking forward to it. Happy Friday!

Congrats!

I am in Australia with William Finnegan and this section of the book is much better than the previous section. I have had the book and the CD for almost three weeks and had to renew both of them yesterday. I am on CD 7, just about the halfway point of the memoir.

I am not sure about your assessment of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. I just checked the winners lists and found some famous authors in there Douglas Southall Freeman and Samuel Elliot Morrison among the early winners and Robert Caro and Edmund Morris in the 1980's. I was struck that Harriet Beecher Stowe is the subject of two biographies. Why is she so popular?

>182 benitastrnad:

Strong female abolitionist?

>182 benitastrnad: -

Re: Harriet Beecher Stowe - not sure if your comment was tongue in cheek, but besides being an influential abolitionist, she was a prolific writer, from a well known family, and led an interesting life. Seems like any number of academics and writers would find her a fascinating subject.

Belated congrats on reaching 75!

I have the audio of The House of Broken Angels in my queue. Good to hear you liked that format.

Took this in my back yard last night. The feeder needed refilling and she was buzzing around and fretting while I had it inside. When I took it back out to hang up she was buzzing around my head as I was doing it. She let me get to within a couple of feet of her to take the photo.

Female Anna's Hummingbird

>185 SuziQoregon: Lovely! She looks like quite a determined little lady.

>185 SuziQoregon: stunning photo.

^I know much of the U.S. is suffering with the HEAT and I can confirm that it was brutally hot in Chicagoland today, with more of the same tomorrow. It was 96-97 on the way home from work. Ugh! These are days, where I begin to dream about retiring...

Hey, I am home now, safely in the Man-Cave, with a beer and the Cubs game on. Smiles...

>178 Caroline_McElwee: I LOVE the tawny owl video, Caroline. Thanks for sharing. With the intense heat we are having, I wish I could have cooled off in a fountain.

>179 alphaorder: I am really enjoying The Locals, Nancy. Much more, than I even expected. Thanks, to you, of course.

>180 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers! Hooray, for having a copy of There There. I can confirm, it is an excellent. Enjoy, my friend.

>181 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. Was this for hitting 75? You got me the first time around. B.A.G.

>188 msf59: Yuck! Yay for beer and baseball

>182 benitastrnad: I am sure the Pulitzer committee has recognized many fine NF titles, Benita. Maybe, I am just being selfish, since they rarely even nominate my favorite NF books of any particular year. How could Columbine, or Evicted not win? Come on!

I should read a bio on Harriet Beecher Stowe one of these days.

>183 m.belljackson: >184 katiekrug: This is why I should read a bio on Stowe. Have either of you, read one? Always looking for suggestions.

The oppressive heat is here in Canada too, Mark. And it's expected to last at the very least until next Thursday. That is just too damn long. Maybe some rain on the weekend, but otherwise, just sun and heat. It feels like an episode of The Twilight Zone...

>185 SuziQoregon: >190 SuziQoregon: Thanks, Juli. Hooray for having The House of Broken Angels in your audio queue. You will not regret it.

LOVE the hummingbird photo! You captured her beautifully. I need to refresh my feeder. There are ants in there. I will try to do it over the weekend.

And yes, yah, for beer and baseball. I might not last long tonight, but I will go down happy.

>186 Storeetllr: >187 Caroline_McElwee: I agree with you both!

The heat is not oppressive in all of Canada, Mark, no matter what Shelley says. It is cold and rainy here. I was away in cold Ontario when there was a heat wave here and now I am back for this - where is summer? (Obviously wherever I am not.) Stay cool!

>194 Familyhistorian: - Mid 30sC here, Meg, with humidex making it feel into the 40sC. And the only rain in the next 7-day forecast is a *possibility* on Monday. I'd take your weather any day! I really would

>191 msf59:

Mark - my daughter and I have read many articles on Harriet Beecher Stowe, but no books yet.
It will be welcome to see LT reviews.

It's only one degree cooler up here near Madison - 95 and sweltering.
Gardening lasted 20 minutes...until my hat slid off...

>194 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. At this point, I will take cool and damp.

I hope you get some summer weather soon.

>195 jessibud2: Definitely sounds like we are sharing similar weather, Shelley. Keep cool.

>196 m.belljackson: Good to know on the Stowe, Marianne. I will see if I can track down a bio.

More intense heat tomorrow. Boo! I wish I was off.

>197 msf59: Stay hydrated out there, Mark! I was out for a bit today, and seems like any establishment with half-way decent A/C was filled with people.

I drove to my friend's memorial Mass in Waukegan this afternoon. My car thermometer (outside temp) was at 102 (the "feels like" temp was something like 110, I heard). A much cooler 95 on the way home afterwards. Even with AC on, on the way there, it still felt warm in the sun.

And I am looking up online recipes for french onion soup and have had the wood fire place going. Rain/cool/overcast. Great weather for reading! Meg is right about the west coast weather on the B.C. coast. Hope it cools off for you soon.......

>195 jessibud2: You would probably have second thoughts with a forecast of rain and below seasonal temperatures for the next 6 out of 7 days (the one outlier is just cloudy).

>197 msf59: If I could I would send some cool and damp your way, Mark.

>200 mdoris: Maybe some hot chocolate too, Mary?

>198 kac522: Thanks, Kathy. I am staying hydrated. No worries there. I just wish I had the day off tomorrow.

Keep cool this weekend.

>199 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Yep, it was a HOT one. At least, once I got home and I got to watch the Cubbies thrash the Twins. Yah!

>200 mdoris: LOL. We are not thinking about soup at the moment here, Mary.

>201 Familyhistorian: How about cold chocolate?

Did you see the cover of the recent New Yorker mag June 25th? It is a wonderful one by Harry Bliss called 'City Living' and I know you are a fan of Bliss (as I am). Interesting write up about him being the founder of the Centre for Cartoon Studies Fellowship Residency for graphic novelists. I had a peek at the site and it's an interesting one.

Back to my soup and hot chocolate!

-Harry Bliss "City Living" New Yorker

>203 mdoris: Thanks for the reminder on the Harry Bliss cover and article, Mary. I thought I would share it. Enjoy that soup and hot chocolate!

It will be water and cold drinks for me all day.

Water and cold drinks here too Mark - plus ice lollies.

>204 msf59: I've not come across Bliss, but love this image.

Wishing you a good weekend Mark.

>206 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Good to see you. Hot weather there too, eh? Harry Bliss appears in my daily newspaper and I have shared him many times over here. He captures every day life, with a dry wit.

Happy weekend!

>204 msf59: Funny!

Stay cool, Marc! And have a nice weekend.

We're having wonderful summer weather, 75 degrees Fahrenheit. But the driest June month in 50 years, and no rain for the next week or longer.

80F and soupy, at 6:15am. Oh, joy...

>208 EllaTim: Happy Saturday, Ella. It sounds like your summer weather is perfect, despite the absence of rain. I hope that improves for you. We may have had record rainfall, in June.

>209 msf59: same in Philly, Mark. I'll be indoors keeping cool as much as possible today.

Hot here too and I'm headed into the city... I'll be a sweaty mess as soon as I step off the train :(

Good luck on the route today, Mark!

>211 lauralkeet: That is exactly what I would be doing, if I did not have to work, Laura. Enjoy!

>212 katiekrug: I definitely know I am not alone, in this sweltering heat, Katie. Good luck in the city. Keep cool.

I am heading out to the route. I am loaded down with water. Hazy sunshine. I wish there were more clouds. Cut down on that brutal sunlight...

I am glad I have a couple of good books going.

>204 msf59:

Fun cover there and how about the cover of this week's NEW YORK!?!

Hope you survive a Saturday in the "hot, hot sun" workday.

Mark, do you have one of those headband things that you soak in cold water then wear around your forehead? Or neck? I would imagine it might help, if only a bit. But in this crazy heat, any little bit would be better than nothing

I am sending you one of these...

On the subject of congrats... I thought I had missed it, then thought I hadn't, then thought I must have, so finally gave up and made sure. Brain's filled with other things these days. :)

>214 m.belljackson: OMG, I am glad that day is over, Marianne. Back to back, tough days.

>215 jessibud2: I have used these before, Shelley and I might have one laying around, I just forget to look for it. Good suggestion.

>216 Berly: Pretty cool, Kimmers! Grins...

>217 drneutron: I completely understand, Jim. You are a man on a mission.

>194 Familyhistorian: "where is summer?" Well, we were asking that question here in Northeastern PA for a while, but it's here now, without question. 92F today, and heading for 100F tomorrow, so they say. Out here in the country, we'll probably be 4 or 5 degrees cooler than the official reading at the airport, but that's hot.

Congrats on reaching the 75 book milestone, Mark.

Whoa, another scorcher today. Not as hot here as yesterday but more humid, though windier. Happy to be home and sitting inside the AC.

Totally missed the fun Cubs game today. Suddenly, the Cubs offense is explosive. It's about time.

Huh. How did I miss it that you have hit the 75-book milestone, Mark? Well, late congrats are better than none, right?

Hope your heat cools down a bit - 85F sounds about right for this time of year. Hope it doesn't rain on the 4th of July. I remember it almost always rained that day when I was growing up in Chicago, at least for a bit, making us kids worry we wouldn't be able to blow off firecrackers and play with sparklers and watch neighbors launch bottle rockets in the street, but it almost always worked out okay. Those were the days.

We raised a toast to you tonight--wish you could have been here. : )



Love Kim, Walt, Joe, Debbie, Juli, Zoë and Mark

: )

>219 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. After a long cool, damp, spring, we are now being blasted with the HEAT. Ugh. It looks like it will be a very warm week ahead too. Keep cool.

>220 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda. That was 2 rough days at work. About as bad as it gets. Glad to chill today. Sorry, you missed that rollicking Cubs game. Plenty of fireworks, with that barrage of 20 hits, by the northsiders. Lets keep it going.

>221 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. I know you guys have been cookin' out there in CO too. Working in the extremes, are always tough on me and the last two days were as bad as it gets. Hey, 2 more summers left for me. I can deal with it.

>222 Berly: Awwwww...thanks, Kim. That looks like a tasty round. Glad you made it back to Deschutes. I am sure the chatter was non-stop. Looking forward to hearing more about it.

Sorry, for the delay, but the Amy Tan thread is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/293046

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

Hey, buddy. Having a great time in Portland, and you were right, I loved Powell’s. And what a treat to meet Kim and Juli and Zoe and the hubbies.

Our heat is going to continue through Thursday Mark. I hope your relief arrives sooner than that.

>226 jnwelch: I knew you would have a great time in Portland, Joe. It is a fine city. If it wasn't 2,000 miles away, I would consider relocating there.

I am glad you enjoyed the Meet Up. Great group of people.

>227 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie. We are mostly staying in the upper 80s through the week, with possible rain each day. I guess that beats the 90s.

Keep cool, my friend.

^Our Cubbies beat up on the Twins, the whole series, scoring double digits all three games. Condolences to my Minnesota pals.

What a wild ballgame!!

>230 lindapanzo: I agree, Linda. What a wild series. Now, let's beat up on some Tigers.

Congrats on 75!

Congrats on 75, Mark! And I am glad you liked the Urrea. I read Hummingbird's Daughter years ago, and have been meaning to read more ever since.

>232 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel. Good to see you.

>233 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. Sorry, to hear you missed the Portland Meet Up. You would have loved meeting Joe & Debbi.

I am a big fan of Urrea and highly recommend reading more of his work, including his NF, The Devil's Highway which was excellent.

^I am nearly done with the Mosley, on audio, so I will then switch to Dry Bones, the 11th Longmire tale. I usually don't go deep into crime series fiction, (at least not anymore) but this one is irresistible, especially in the audio format. I also have a signed copy of this one, when I first met the author, during this tour. That will be kept on my keeper shelf.

Good morning, Mark. Have you liked the Mosley okay?

Last day in Portland. Nice and cool here. We lucked out in missing the big heat in Chicago. Hope your day goes well.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe biography that won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1995 was Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Life by Joan D. Hedrick.

There is a newer biography Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Spiritual Life by Nancy Koester. It has a starred review from Booklist back in 2014. Near as I can tell, neither of these books have a recorded version.

Incidentally, the other Harriet Beecher Stowe biography that won the Pulitzer Prize was in 1942. That biography was titled Crusader in Crinoline: The Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Forest Wilson.

#183 & 184
Her role in history is undoubtedly the reason why she has so many biographies, but what about biographies of women in general. There aren't that many of them, so how does she rate two? Charles Sumner and the Coming of the Civil War won in 1961 and in 2007 there is Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher, Harriet's brother. The in 2008 there is Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father by John Matteson. All of these are famous abolitionists, but Harriet gets two winning biographies. Not even Lincoln has that many. In fact, I don't think he has one. Grant does. So does Lee. Each have one, but Harriet gets two? Interesting.

>236 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I liked the Mosley quite a bit. 4 solid stars. I was very pleased with both of my Mosley reads and will definitely be reading more of him.

You sure missed the heat wave. Back to hot the next 3 days but it gets back to normal, toward the end of the week.

>237 benitastrnad: 238 Thanks for supplying the Harriet Beecher Stowe titles, Benita. I definitely want to read a bio on her, if I can find it on audio or not.

I can not answer your question about the lack of female bios and why Stowe won twice. I have no idea. Like many different literary awards, they are flaws in the system.

^The House of Broken Angels is currently a Kindle deal for 3 bucks. As my more attentive visitors know, I recently read and warbled loud and clear on this title. And it is a steal, especially for a newer title:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073P5D4WQ?ref=pe_2267260_290863950_a_1_4f3c&a...

^No-brainer...

>241 msf59: - Ha! I just came over here to alert your faithful readers of that deal :)

What a picture perfect day. Couldn't ask for nicer.

Still plugging away on The Joy Luck Club but having a hard time keeping the characters straight.

>242 katiekrug: Thanks, for thinking of it, Katie. Like minds. The timing was great and I hope some readers take advantage of it.

>243 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. It was a good day. Still warm but much better than the weekend. Sorry, you are struggling a bit with The Joy Luck Club. I hope that improves. I has been 20-plus years since I read it, so I can't recall any difficulties.

^ I read eleven books in June, which is a bit low for me. Not sure the reason. It wasn't like I read a couple of real “Chunksters”, or anything. Hey, whatever, it was another good month of reading and that is all that matters.
I kicked the month off with Less, a funny, smartly-written novel. I enjoyed my first Walter Mosley of the month. My AAC author. I read 3 very good memoirs, all completely different: Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year , The Night of the Gun and Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life. It still baffles me, that there are readers out there that disdain memoirs. I think they are some of the best NF being written.
I read a good, rugged thriller, called Bearskin. I really enjoyed Circe, a terrific return for Ms. Miller. Go, Went, Gone and The House of Broken Angels were both solid novels. I bookhorned in a story collection, a Carver classic, called Cathedral. I NEED to start reading 2 collections a month. And I finished, with my strongest novel of the month- There There, (mini-review forthcoming).

It looks like July is starting off strong...

Related to your comment about memoirs....did you see this?

>219 laytonwoman3rd: Do you mean I should be careful what I wish for, Linda? But seriously, the furnace came on in my house today.

I hope you are finding ways to beat the heat, Mark. Love the Bliss cover.

>246 mdoris: I love that turtle image, Mary. Thanks, for sharing.

>247 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Furnace? Really? Yikes. We actually turned the A/C off last night. Having a rare, cool night but back to the A/C for today and the next couple of days. Ugh!

I hope that weather turns around for you. Fingers crossed.

Hey Mark! I jumped in and grabbed the The House of Broken Angels deal! I've admired Urrea for a bit now and look forward to reading this one that you thought so highly of. Temps should be getting more to your liking. Hoping for a drop in humidity too!

Mark - online today is this inviting bird find:

Hawaii Island Festival of Birds!

It rained here yesterday and today it is back to the heat. I am sick of it. I told a friend this morning that I have already decided that when I retire I am moving west of the Mississippi and north of the Platte. That way the summers are short and, because of the length, sweet. I have had enough of this cranky weather.

>249 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. Glad you grabbed the Urrea. It is a fine, entertaining read. We don't cool off, until Friday and then only for a couple of days. Sighs...

>250 m.belljackson: Thanks, for sharing that, Marianne. I wish I was more into birding when we visited Hawaii, for the first time 4 years ago. I could have ticked off a lot of birds.

>251 benitastrnad: " I am sick of it." I can see why. Do you have a specific place in mind? I do not want tough winters either, so I am leaning toward North Carolina.

-Baltimore Oriole (not my photo)

^I had the day off today, which turned out to be a bonus since my scheduled day off is tomorrow. I thought they would ask me to work and I would have but they said they were covered, so I took full advantage and went back to the Arboretum early, to beat the heat. I love the Arb, but I am on a mission to see a Blue Grosbeak, which are somewhat rare here, but a pair have been nesting here. This is my second attempt and I came very close today. I met 3 older gentleman birders who were also looking for the elusive pair and they did spot the female but I could not get get her in the sights. I will return. I did see some other birds, including the lovely oriole, (pictured above) several indigo buntings, many goldfinch, a couple of Great Blue Herons and a few other usual suspects.

The oriole is beautiful.

>254 The_Hibernator: It was a beauty, Rachel. Good to see you.

Hey MF, have you ever read The Zero? Its one of our literary man-crush's (Jess Walter) early novels.

Its pretty interesting. A "9/11 type tragedy" is the back drop of a mystery were the main character has memory lapses, where he is constantly confused about what is going on, just like the reader.

I'm listening to it on audio. Speaking audio, I know you do the majority of your audiobooks thru actual mp3 files on an old-school ipod (I admire that about you), but if you ever want to go the app route, I highly recommend Libby (its an offshoot of Overdrive). It has a really simple interface, especially with its connectivity to searching thru your library's available catalog. Commercial over.

Hope all is well. Stay cool. I'm in San Antonio and baking as well. I miss my seabreezes, partly cloudy and mid-70s

>256 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff. Good to see you. I have The Zero on shelf but have not read it yet. Glad to know the audio version is good too. Maybe, I'll see if I can find it in that format. Walter should have a book out soon, right?

Thanks for the Libby recommendation. I have heard of it. One day my Nano will crap out and I will try something else. Grins...

Keep cool down there in Texas. I am sure it is ridiculously hot.

^Have a safe and happy Fourth of July, everyone!

**The Bald Eagle is also the Cornell Lab Bird of the Day. Good choice.

American Coma

I believe in the burned field,
the sailboat on the sill
of a desert farmhouse.

That stars on the undersides of our skulls
can spell the way home
even when the lights have gone out,
the maps again erased.

The fray of a rope. Chafe of my hands.
Black horses broken loose
over a trampled dawn—your body
beneath the tin of a bent truck grating.
Footprints at the edge of the earth
where they found you. Magdalena

I believe you became the clouds,
the Sangre de Cristos’ pink rim of morning,
the musk of your blood on my t-shirt as I drive away,
all smoke and sooty desert in my rearview.

It’s not the fantasy of a land that survives
but its rocks, redwoods, ghosts,
armadillos crushed in roadside gutters through Texas—

I believe their blood can stay with you
six hundred miles to the Mexican gulf,
that you can use their remains
to bind bear claws, cowrie shells,
something to dance with.

That when you awake you will not remember
any of this: the sirens, sticky
tubes they cocooned around you

the way you looked at me from behind the in-patient door,
eyes empty boats dozing on the edge
and I on the rocks peering into waves
piecing together fins out of crushed armadillos
picked up from the roadsides I traveled to find you
where Chevy appendages, cigarette-butts,
the birdfood of petrified Wonderbread crusts
are the songs of detached, mechanical wings.

I believe
when America awakes
she will not remember any of this:
you smashed over the precipice—
a pipe dream hinged upon a dead saguaro root.

Your pages flapping, tar-stained,
blown into shadows of buttes.

I gather you like kindling,
set you on fire, the fugue of black
horses drowning in the surf.

—Jennifer Elise Foerster

Morning, Mark! Hope you are having a great week

>260 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle. Good to see you. I am enjoying back to back days off, so all is well here. Thanks.

77) There There: A novel by Tommy Orange 4.5 stars

“Maxine makes me read her Indian stuff that I don’t always get. I like it, though, because when I do get it, I get it way down at that place where it hurts but feels better because you feel it, something you couldn’t feel before reading it, that makes you feel less alone, and like it’s not gonna hurt as much anymore.”

“We stayed because the city sounds like a war, and you can’t leave a war once you’ve been, you can only keep it at bay”

This multi-generational novel focuses on twelve Native American characters, all living a hard-scrabble life in the environs of Oakland. All these characters are planning on attending the Big Oakland Pow Wow. How each of these people make this journey and cross paths with each other, is the heart of this story.
This is a stunning debut. The writing is fierce, angry and poetic. There is beauty in these characters, but also a dark sadness, as they try desperately to survive and find an identity. We have a strong new voice, in our literary world. Move over Sherman Alexie, there is a new guy in town.

>262 msf59: - I've been seeing this everywhere and it's on the list!

>263 katiekrug: It is an excellent read, Katie. It easily lives up to the accolades, IMHO.

Glad to hear you are going to have a Happy Fourth figuring out what to do with BOOKS! There should be some story collections in the lot. I was lucky and got multiple copies of most of the stuff sent to you and Suzanne. I was happy to get multiple copies of Fall of Wisconsin in particular. TO be honest there weren’t as many non-fiction titles this time around. Or maybe I just didn’t see them. I think that many of the non-fiction publishers have combined with some of the bigger publishers in order to cut distribution costs, so they aren’t at the conference like they were in the past. For instance, I didn’t see Pegasus or the Other Press and they usually have great non-fiction titles. Have fun reading.

I am deep into reading the third book in the Machineries of Empire series by Yoon Ha Lee. This series is great fun. And so far book three Revenant Gun is living up to the promise of the previous books. It is somewhat like the Ann Leckie series in that genders are switched and lots of other stuff is switched around. I stayed up to late last night reading it.

>262 msf59: Mark, you got me with “fierce, angry, and poetic”. Actually, I already had the book on reserve at the library, but now I am even more eager to read . Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸💥

>265 benitastrnad: >266 benitastrnad: Happy 4th, Benita. You know I am incredibly pleased with my haul. Thank you again. I have to make room, on a whole new shelf, to store them. You know, I will post a photo, when I get a chance. I have to take a closer look at each book but definitely see some story collections in there. And yes, Fall of Wisconsin does sound promising.

Glad you are continuing to enjoy the Machineries of Empire series.

>267 Donna828: Happy 4th, Donna. I am sure There There is just your cuppa. Always exciting to discover a new voice.

>257 msf59: I was just thinking that too (That Walter needs to put out a new book). I checked and its been 5 years since We Live in Water came out. Too long. Hope all is well with him.

Happy 4th of July, Mark. Have a great day with the books and, maybe, beer?

>269 mahsdad: Yes, Walter is long overdue. I can't believe it has been six years for Beautiful Ruins. Boy, I loved that one.

>270 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Lots of reading today. Yah! Now, I am heading to a cookout, with friends. And, yes, there will be BEER!! B.A.G.

>262 msf59: On my list too!
Hope you've had a good 4th July. The oriole is beautiful too - you have so many beautifully coloured birds in your neck of the woods.

Happy Independence Day, Mark!! Did some yardwork before it got too hot. Then came back into the cool AC with my book and promptly dozed off. Missed the first 4 or 5 innings of the Cubs game but I just saw the go-ahead homer.

Should be a pleasant, relaxing day the rest of the way.

>272 charl08: I had a very nice July 4th, Charlotte. Unfortunately, it was very hot & humid, so the bulk of the time was spent indoors.

>273 lindapanzo: Happy 4th, Linda. Hope you had a good holiday. Another terrific Cubs win. How about that Baez?

Mark, my friend, I am SO far behind! Happy Fourth to you!

>262 msf59: That got my attention. "The writing is fierce, angry and poetic..." Sounds like my cuppa.

>241 msf59: I'm too late for the deal but title duly noted. :-)

I finished Go, Went, Gone today (excellent!) and started Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned while nested in my new hammock this afternoon. I'm enjoying it so far.

>275 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Good to see you. I hope you had a great holiday. I think you will really enjoy There There & The House of Broken Angels, once you get to them.

And you should have a good time with Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. I enjoyed both my Mosley titles for the AAC. The hammock sounds lovely.

Hi Mark! I'm in the middle of The Absolutist and it's a gem. You're the one who introduced me to John Boyne, so many thanks! He has a new one coming out this summer. I've never read any Walter Mosely and think I'll have to remedy that.

More poetry to add to your list: https://themillions.com/2018/07/must-read-poetry-july-2018.html

>277 vivians: Hi, Vivian. Great to see you. I have not read The Absolutist, so I will have to track a copy down. I can't believe that Boyne all ready has a new one coming out. Wow!

>278 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy. These poetry lists are always appreciated. I just picked up two collections from the library, so I have to put Ms. Oliver aside for a bit.

Are you reading any poetry at the moment?

As I was going through some book lists this morning I noticed that Bearskin by James A. McLaughlin is on the Indie Next List. This is a list of books that Independent Bookstore owners have read and are recommending to their readers.

What a great thread, Mark. That Baltimore Oriole is a beaut, and I LOVE that American Coma poem. Jennifer Elise Foerster? New to me. Now I have to look for her stuff.

There There sounds most excellent. It'll have to wait a while, but I look forward to getting my challenging reading chops back for that and the Urrea.

Sweet Thursday, buddy.

I keep forgetting to say, I like the topper Mark.

>280 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. I was telling you, Bearskin is a good read. I am glad to see it getting recognized. I will pass my copy on to Jim, our Creator. We have to keep spreading the joy, right?

>281 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Sweet Thursday. I had a feeling you would appreciate "American Coma". I just picked up a collection of hers, called Leaving Tulsa, which I will start after the Hoagland collection. This is the kind of voice I admire and the Hoagland has been very good too.

I hope my warbling pays off on There There. It is a terrific read. Smack in my wheelhouse.

>282 Caroline_McElwee: Glad you like the topper, Caroline. I am in the process of picking out my next one. Grins...

What's this about the Baltimore Orioles? Aren't they the worst team in baseball this season? Oh wait...

Looking forward to a break in the heat and a warm and dry Friday and Saturday.

>285 lindapanzo: LOL. I don't follow the American league much, so not much interest in those orioles, only the colorful, feathered beauties, I see around here, now and then.

I am also looking forward to this cool down, for a couple of days, Linda. Today was brutal. Ugh!

>262 msf59:. I really want to read this one now Mark. Thanks for the great review.

>287 brenzi: Thanks, Bonnie. I hope There There catches fire. It deserves it.

>229 msf59: Another year I stopped caring by the All Star break.

>289 Oberon: Bummer, Erik. I hope they can start turning that team around.