Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Seven

-The Morton Arboretum, (this should be my last winter shot of the season).



-Pine Grosbeak (I wish I would have taken more photos of these beauties)

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



January:

1) Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs 4 stars (audio)
2) Thunderstruck & Other Stories by Elizabeth McCracken 4.3 stars
3) Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver 5 stars Poetry OTS
4) Becoming by Michelle Obama 5 stars (audio)
5) My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok 5 stars AAC
6) Asymmetry: A Novel by Lisa Halliday 4 stars (audio)
7) The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo 4.5 stars (audio/print)
8) Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver 3.7 stars
9) Artificial Condition: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells 4 stars (audio)
10) Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea: Stories by Sarah Pinsker 4.2 stars ER
11) Winter by Ali Smith 4.5 stars
12) Golden Child by Claire Adam 4 stars
13) Upgrade Soul by Ezra Claytan Daniels 4.4 stars GN
14) Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson 3.8 stars (audio)

February:

15) The End of the End of the Earth: Essays by Jonathan Franzen 4 stars (audio)
16) Mouthful of Birds: Stories by Samanta Schweblin 3.2 stars
17) The Calculating Stars: A Lady Astronaut Novel by Mary Robinette Kowal 3.8 stars (audio)
18) Number 9 Dream by David Mitchell 3.7 stars
19) These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore 5 stars (audio)
20) Red Clocks by Leni Zumas 3.6 stars (audio)
21) Last Friends (Old Filth Trilogy) by Jane Gardam 4.4 stars G.R.
22) Neither Snow nor Rain: A History of the USPS by Devin Leonard 4.2 stars (audio)
23) Great Dream of Heaven: Stories by Sam Shepard 4.3 stars
24) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 3.7 stars (audio) AAC
25) Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro 4.3 stars (audio)
26) Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson 5 stars (Poetry)
27) The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker 4 stars ALA
28) The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen 4.4 stars ALA
29) The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist by Radley Balko 4.5 stars (audio)

March:

30) Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds 4.5 stars (audio)
31) The Fall of Wisconsin by Dan Kaufman 4.6 stars (audio)
32) The Dry by Jane Harper 4 stars (audio)
33) Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James 3.7 stars
34) The Blue Hour by Laura Pritchett 5 stars
35) The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf 5 stars (audio)
36) The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch 4.5 stars (audio)
37) Waiting for the Albino Dunnock by Rosamond Richardson 4 stars
38) The Master by Colm Tóibín 4.2 stars (audio)
39) Your Duck Is My Duck: Stories by Deborah Eisenberg 4 stars
40) Daisy Miller by Henry James 4.2 stars
41) The Answer to the Riddle Is Me: Memoir of Amnesia by David Stuart MacLean 3.8 stars (audio)
42) Bowlaway by Elizabeth McCracken 4 stars

^Someone, mentioned starting a "Birding" thread. Honestly, I was not up for hosting another thread but I thought it would be cool, if a few of us started a birdfeeder watch and kept it updated on the participant's own thread. I know there are several of my pals over here, that have feeders. I hope I can get you to join. I am only going to log in each species I see, for the year, along with the dates. The only species changes, I expect to find, are during the various seasons. Hopefully, this will inspire me to keep a better watch on my own feeders. As of now, the Feeder report will be in post # 6. Here is what I have so far:



1) Northern Cardinal 1/1/19
2) American Goldfinch 1/1/19
3) Downy Woodpecker 1/1/19
4) Black-Capped Chickadee 1/1/19
5) White-Breasted Nuthatch 1/1/19
6) Mourning Dove 1/1/19
7) Dark-Eyed Junco 1/1/19
8) House Sparrow 1/1/19
9) Pine Siskins 1/4/19 (F)
10) Red-Tailed Hawk
11) House Finch
12) Red-Bellied Woodpecker 3/12
13) American Robin 3/13
14) Starling 3/19

(F)- First time seen at the feeders.

-"Beautiful and profoundly moving, The Master tells the story of Henry James, a man born into one of America’s first intellectual families who leaves his country in the late nineteenth century to live in Paris, Rome, Venice, and London among privileged artists and writers."

^I am a fan of Colm Tóibín and I have wanted to read The Master for a few years now. I am also a fan of Henry James, so this a perfect choice. I have had it saved in print and on audio. I decided to go with the the audio and I will start it next.

Mark - Are you tuning in to the Theranos documentary on HBO tonight? I am...

Happy new thread, Mark.

The Heather Blazing is one of my favourite novels written during my lifetime.

Happy new thread, Mark! I missed the last one entirely. I think. :-)

I hope all is well with you. I started The three Musketeers on audio and am hoping it will keep my interest. It is definitely a different animal that the The Count of Monte Cristo.

Happy New Thread, buddy.

I'm thinking you like birds? I should have been a private detective with instincts like that.

Good for you with The Master. I'm not a big fan of either Toibin or Henry James; go figure. I did think The Testament of Mary was pretty good.

>5 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. Thanks to you, I recorded The Inventor. I was actually watching the film adaptation of The Hate U Give. It is excellent. Have you seen it?

>6 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Can you believe I had not even heard of The Heather Blazing? I better get that one on the list, after that endorsement.

>7 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie. Good to see you. Missed seeing you around. I have not read Musketeers or Monte Cristo. Bad Mark? I hope to get to the latter, sometime this year.

>8 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. Yep, you know I love those birds, I can't help sharing with my pals. Well, it looks like you won't have to add The Master to the pile. That is dodging a BB. LOL.

Happy new thread, Mark. I hope it is the last winter topper for the year!

I loved The Master, and I'm not a huge James fan. Love Tóibín, though.

Happy new thread, Mark. Well, I hope this thread goes quickly so you can graduate to a spring topper.

Happy new one, Mark.

Congrats on another new one!

Morning, Mark! Happy new thread!

Adding The Master to the list...

>11 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. It is supposed to start warming up this week. Hope we can finally move on. Glad you loved The Master.

>12 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. The next topper WILL have a spring-like feel.

>13 Ameise1: >14 Berly: Thanks, Barb & Kim

>15 scaifea: Thanks, Amber and Good Morning, my friend!

No, I haven't seen The Hate U Give. Thanks for the reminder.

Mark - I still need to read Winter, but I thought you might like to see this review of Spring. Since I loved Autumn, it is exciting to hear that the Guardian thinks this is her best yet!: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/19/spring-ali-smith-review

'Morning, Mark! Happy new thread and happy decent-weather Tuesday.

Happy new thread, Mark

>1 msf59: Nothing says you can't change your topper mid-thread, y'know. It's beginning to look a little spring-like out my window--the robins finally came back last week and the squirrels are getting randy.

Chilly start to the work day, but lots of blue sky and sunshine. It should be a good day, as it creeps up to 50F. The Sandhill Cranes should be plentiful...

>17 alphaorder: >18 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. You will love the film. Thanks for the heads up on the new Ali Smith. I really enjoyed Winter. The book that is...

>19 karenmarie: >20 Carmenere: Morning, Karen & Lynda and thanks to you both.

>21 laytonwoman3rd: Great point about the topper change, Linda. I might just do that. Hooray for the robins and the randy squirrels!

Happy new thread, Mark. It is quiet at our feeders this morning.

Happy new one, Mark!

Like Beth in >11 BLBera: above, I loved The Master but my favorite Toibin's (so far) are Nora Webster and Brooklyn. Can't wait to read the new Ali Smith! Looks like it will be out in the US in April.

>24 harrygbutler: Thanks, Harry. With the sun and warmer temps, I hope to have a good bird day.

>25 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. How are your feeders doing?

>26 vivians: Hi, Vivian. The Master is off to a good start. The author has truly done some impressive research. I liked Brooklyn a lot too.

Happy Tuesday, buddy. I’m finally back at a cafe (Groundswell) after too long an absence. That first poem, the title poem, in When My Brother Was an Aztec, is a knockout! I hope the rest of the collection stays at or near that level.

Supposed to go up to the upper 40s today. That helps. Hope it’s a good one for you.

>27 msf59: - I have no idea why but my feeder has been nearly silent all winter. The cardinal couple still come at early morning and at dusk and I have seen the odd downy woodpecker, a scant few goldfinches but that's about it. At one point, I took it in, emptied it and thoroughly cleaned it, thinking maybe it was dirty or off-putting but even after that and refilling it with freshly bought seed, I have barely had to top it up for ages. I have no idea why. This is the first time in all the years I am here that it has been so quiet, especially in winter. Rather discouraging. :-(

#9
I hadn't heard of the Heather Blazing either and so,along with you, I got hit with a book bullet.

I know you don't read much YA stuff, but on the way back from Kansas I listened to the recorded version of Hazel Wood by YA author Melissa Albert. All along through the book I kept wondering why this one was classed as a YA novel and why, under God's Blue Sky, it was on the ALA's Notable Children's Book list for 2019. It wasn't until the very end, that I finally decided that it was because the heroine was 17 and on the proverbial quest for self-knowledge. That said, if you like your fairy tales dark and twisty, this is a fine listen. I highly recommend it. The recorded version is very well done. If you find it at your library it will be a good way to pass a day of spring tramping through the urban woods.

Hello Mark!

>1 msf59: That Pine Grosbeak is beauty. Love that photo.

>10 msf59: If you recall, I gushed over The Count of Monte Cristo a couple of years back. John Lee's narration is definitive. I look forward to your thoughts when you get around to it.

>4 msf59: You have a treat ahead Mark, I really enjoyed The Master, and also am a fan of Toíbín. I liked his little tribute volume to Elizabeth Bishop.

>28 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I bet it was great to be back at Groundswell! Yah! If you warble loud enough about Aztec, I may have to revisit that one. Yes, it was a nice day out there. I would like it about 10 degrees warmer.

>29 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. I am so sorry to hear about the lack of birds at your feeder. My first bit of advice was to clean it real good, but I see you did that. My feed sometimes gets funky from the wet weather, mostly at the opening of the feeder and the birds begin to avoid it. Have you tried changing different feeds? Maybe something more high quality? You do have a thistle feeder and a suet feeder too, right?

Sure, I have lulls now and then but my feeders have been active, especially the finch feeder and the suet feeder.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Lots of birds around here, tomorrow spring arrives :-)

>30 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I am really enjoying The Master and I have a few other of his, I would like to try, including The Heather Blazing & The Blackwater Lightship. Actually, I have had Hazel Wood on my WL for awhile now. Glad to hear you really liked it. I will have to track a copy down.

>31 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie. I remember you raving about the audio version of Monte Cristo. If I can find the Lee audio version, I will definitely go with that one. Thanks, bud.

>32 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. I listened to a nice chunk of The Master today and it so well done. I am not familiar with the Elizabeth Bishop tribute.

>34 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. Hooray for spring time! I can't wait for it to warm up and things begin to go green.

The seeds I use are pretty high quality (sunflower hearts, no shells) and have been a huge hit with a lot of different birds for years. This batch is fairly new and fresh so that's another reason I was surprised. I did a real thorough cleaning and put in fresh seeds. I used to have a suet feeder but the squirrels around here all have master's degrees in suet feeder opening. I have tried at least 3 different models and can practically hear them laughing at me as I rig twist ties and wires to keep the damn things shut. Inevitably, they (the cages) end up on the ground with the suet cakes either gone or half gone. I finally gave up and just use the one squirrel-proof weight-loaded tube feeder. They still try but at least they can't get into that one. I am in a townhouse so my front lawn space is really tiny and I can't really support more than the one.

This is the first winter I have had such a lull. Usually, they are grateful for the pit stop.

^I had a European Starling at my suet feeder today. Not my photo, but this could have easily have been so. First of the new year. This makes 14 species, I have counted at the feeders, for '19. I also saw a new sparrow, which I think may have been a Song Sparrow but just not sure on the ID.

I have seen 12 species at my Birding Break Spot. The race has begun. I think the BBS, will easily take the lead, since it is a more diverse habitat.

Nice pic of the European Starling. Did you read Mozart’s Starling? Debbi has it. Apparently Mozart bonded with one and kept it as a pet; it sounds like the starling had some musical talent?

Hi Marc! Happy new thread. Like those arboretum shots.

How I envy you your cranes! I would love to see those. Birds that speak to the imagination. I have seen my first stork pair of the season.

Mark, I've got a really weird bird report for you and maybe you can help me? Yesterday while out walking the dog , I ran across some woody shrubs/ trees with tiny little birds hopping around. They flew a bit, but mostly were hopping from branch to branch. Mostly brown , and very slim birds. But they looked like they were only 2 - 3 inches long at the most!!! And they were not humming birds. Is that even possible? I stood there for a while and tried to estimate their size. This birds were tiny!!! Maybe " fledglings" of some type of small bird? I dunno. They were so tiny, I could hardly believe it. Tiny wrens or sparrows??? I don't know.

And yes, I'm sure you are correct, the big , stick made nests that I can see on bare trees likely belong to a variety of hawks and what not. I think we have quite a few varieties around here, but don't ask me what they are. I do know that Cooper's Hawk's are very common in these parts. We get bald eagles and lots of hawks. I'm no expert in that area, other than reading my bird books and knowing what is around the area.

>36 jessibud2: Well, it sure sounds like you are doing everything right, Shelley. Not sure what else to suggest. Have you tried a snap-hook, for the suet feeder? I hook it through the feeder, so it closes both ends. It can't be open and they rarely knock it off the shepard's pole hook. Have you also tried using the "Hot Pepper"suet?
It is more pricey, but the squirrels hate it and the birds love it.

>38 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I loved Mozart’s Starling. Lots of interesting stuff on Mozart too. You might like it. Starlings are an invasive species and many people do not like them but I think they are cool birds and I love that look.

>39 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. Good to see you. I hope to be visiting the Arboretum more often, as our weather improves. Hooray for your first stork sighting. What type of stork is it? I don't think we have any in the US.

>40 vancouverdeb: Tiny brown birds, on the ground, Tonto? Not really sure. There are smaller sparrow species. I would also guess House Wrens, but I don't know if they feed off the ground. You may have to start bringing a camera. LOL.

No, not on the ground, Mark. The tiny birds were hopping from branch to branch. I did have my I phone, but I need a better camera on my iphone. Yeah, a good camera!

But yes, maybe a wren. Apparently Bewicks Wrens and Marsh wrens are common around here. But these guys were so tiny. Not rounded guys, really sleek birds.

>43 vancouverdeb: ^ These are House Wrens! You may have other wrens in your area, but I am not sure what they might be. The House Wrens have a great song too.

Maybe, but these guys did not have their tails pointed up in the air. Just sleek guys . I'll have to have a good look at them again, if I can find the same area and bird. So tiny!I'll bet there were about 20 of them all jumping around the bare hedge. Cute little things.

Deb, I can't help with the bird ID. Lots of brown birds congregating in the trees sound to me like plain old house sparrows. In spring, especially, they sound like they are having a convention! As for a really messy and spare stick nests, those could be pigeons. They are notoriously crappy nest builders. But high up in a tree, I think probably not.

>40 vancouverdeb: I’m going to guess that they are bushtits maybe, Deborah? Tiny (smaller than a sparrow or chickadee), grey/brown, longish tails, they travel in flocks and flit around and chirp noisily in brush. Audubon says they travel north to BC. They frequent our suet here in CO and are very boisterous and happy little birds. Ours here are more grey than brown, but they can vary.

Hi Mark! I’m not a fan of starlings....

>45 vancouverdeb: I think Joanne may have nailed it, with Bushtits. We do not get them east, so I was not familair with them. I was going to guess Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, which are also small and very active.

>46 jessibud2: Do you get Kinglets in your area, Shelley? They usually hang in dense brush.

>47 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. I think you nailed it with bushtits. They are more common to the west, so we don't get them here. Do you get Kinglets? Starlings are not as much of a problem in our urban areas. I think they are more destructive in farming areas.

"A much-anticipated collection of brilliantly observant short stories from one of the great American masters of the form,."

^I have a sh*t-load of story collections to get to, but this one caught my attention, (that cover is lovely) so I will dip into Your Duck, Is My Duck today. I had never heard of Deborah Eisenberg but she seems to be an author who has been around a long time. Anyone else read her before?

Good morning, Mark.

I've not heard of Deborah Eisenberg either. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of Your Duck is My Duck.

Middle of the week, and not much to report. I'm still liking the books I'm reading, although I dumped the GN The Invisibles. It's got lots of fans, but I'm not among them.

Thanks for the rec on Mozart's Starling. I do enjoy Mozart, and this book sounds like one I might enjoy.

Hope it's a good one for you today.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

Your sighting of a European Starling reminded me that I had a whole flock of them here last year some time. They're absolutely gorgeous with all the spots and iridescence.

>50 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Looks like a damp one today. I am hoping for a little relief now and then. Fingers crossed. Sorry, your GN tanked but I am sure you wasted no time to jump onto something else.

>51 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. We occasionally get a starling or 2 at our feeders, they like the suet. Now, I want to see a grackle stop by.

Happy new thread!

>29 jessibud2: >33 msf59:

If any of the feeders have the adjustable weight lever on the side, you might check that.

Our squirrels knocked into ours and moved the lever down to heavy birds only, so we ended up with few birds for about a month.

>54 m.belljackson: - Nope my feeder doesn't have that, Marianne. This is the model I have:
https://www.urbannaturestore.ca/brome-squirrel-buster-classic/

>53 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>54 m.belljackson: My feeder has an adjustable lever, Marianne. I leave it in the most relaxed position. I don't care what birds drop by, but as long as it keeps the squirrels out, (which it does) I am happy.

>55 jessibud2: That is a snazzy bird feeder, Shelley. Do the squirrels still harass it, or have they given up?

>56 msf59: - Oh, they still try, occasionally, but I think it's only the new guys in the neighbourhood, who don't know any better. I had a great (I thought) baffle to prevent even the newbies but it kept coming apart. The screws that held it in place from above and below kept unscrewing. I don't know if it was the extreme cold weather or what. I eventually just stopped using the baffle. The odd thing is, in addition to hardly having any birds these last months, I have hardly noticed any squirrels, either, now that I think of it. I find that rather alarming, to be honest.

Mark, I posted some cool photos on my thread, with one in particular that you will love....;-)

>55 jessibud2:

Thanks for the photo = happy birds!

When we had one of those up, I placed a rubber garbage can lid
(center hole cut carefully with very sharp Swiss Army knife)
over the feeder to protect seeds from rain and snow.

Happy new thread, Mark! So many cute birds come to your feeder! Chloe asked me if we could put seed down to attract Blue Jays but our silly dog would eat them! I'm going to see if I can find out hummingbird feeder and set that up this weekend

Mark, thanks so much for the bird images on my thread. And thanks Joanne. I went through the 4 birds book I own at length, measured household objects to verify the size I think the birds were - which was what really caught my eye and I'm excited to say I'm about 95% certain that what I saw is , yes , The Ruby Crowned Kinglet. We do get both bushtits and Ruby Crowned Kinglets around here yes, but that drab olive colour - that was it! I thought they were " brown" but looking at that Ruby Crowned Kinglet really brought back the memory. I stood and looked at those birds for about 10 minutes, I was so fascinated by they tiny size. I did not see a ruby crown, but according to my bird books, only the males have the red crowns and only show them if excited and the juvenile birds do not have a red crown - not even the males. I've identified the white crowned sparrow, which are quite abundant here,and these guys were tiny compared to the sparrows.

So exciting!

>57 jessibud2: The ongoing Squirrel Wars!! At least it is never boring with those guys around. I wonder what is causing your lack of wildlife, Shelley. That is puzzling. You seem to be such a nice person too. Grins...

I love the Birdwatching photos you posted.

>58 m.belljackson: You are very creative, Marianne and it sounds like your home-made remedy worked to boot!

>59 ChelleBearss: Hi, Chelle. I hope you will consider putting up a feeder. The kids would like it and of course, the birds wouldn't mind. Blue Jays, like peanuts in the shell, which you can scatter around.

>60 vancouverdeb: Hooray for the Ruby-Crowned Kinglets! I should have guessed those guys right away, although I am never sure what their range is. I do see them here, along with Golden-Crowned Kinglets. I should be spotting my first of the year, very soon now. Not sure if I have ever seen them at, or around my feeders. I think they feast mostly on insects.

33) Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James 3.7 stars

“I will give you a story.

It begins with a leopard.

And a witch.”

“The child is dead. There is nothing left to know.”

This kicks off the first of an epic fantasy trilogy by Booker Prize-winning author, Marlon James. It follows the adventures of Tracker, “He has a nose,” a young man, who is engaged to track down a boy, who was kidnapped. He normally works alone but ends up, with a band of misfits, with unusual powers, including the enigmatic Leopard, the shape-shifting creature, that Tracker forms a tumultuous relationship with.
James has done his homework here, weaving African history and mythology, into this beefy narrative, teamed up with his own impressive imagination. There is also excessive violence and profanity, so the reader should keep this in mind. I found it to be unnecessarily verbose at times, meandering, and there is some repetition, but overall this was a promising beginning, by a very fine writer.

'Morning, Mark! I hope you have a wonderful day off and see many birds. I've currently got a Blue Jay talking up a storm and a few Cardinals and LBBs hanging around the feeders. Ah, add a Carolina Chickadee to the list.

>35 msf59: Here's the Bishop book Mark:

https://press.princeton.edu/titles/10425.html

>49 msf59: A new author to me Mark, hole in the head, need... :-)

Sweet Thursday, Mark.

Good review of Black Leopard, Red Wolf. I probably liked it a bit more than you did. Can't wait to see what he does with this in the next two.

I'm off to work soon. What? I know. And I'll be doing some more on that day after Sunday. I must be out of my skull.

Enjoy your day off - I'm sure you will. Good reading weather!

>64 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. It was supposed to be a decent day today, weather-wise, something I was looking forward to, but it is currently damp, cloudy and cool. WTH? I am still venturing out, a little later on. And hooray for the chattering blue-jays!

>65 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks for the link to the book, Caroline. Toibin is such a fascinating author. Are you a fan of Bishop's work? If so, could you recommend something, I could try?

>66 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Yes, I had some quibbles with Black Leopard but it is still a good read and I am also looking forward to seeing what James does next.

Good luck at work, you poor, poor guy. Grins...

The Temperance (XIV) Card

“Highway 17 in Texas: we stop to watch buzzards
supping on a roadkill porcupine. The mountains are a
Persian rug of emerald and brown, wolfish clouds
gathering rain. The towns stack up like a tarot deck.
A row of Mexican women stand at clotheslines,
shake the static from dresses. The fortune you believe
is the one you'll get. Eres muy sexy, says the wrinkled man
at the gas station. Eres divina. The jade cottonwoods
speak of flooding; the yucca tattle on the south.
You might say this about exile, mountains eroded by
six hundred years of women's feet, the heavy press
from babies and water buckets. Forty miles south,
mothers find their daughters' bodies in boxes.
The dusk is a murder of magenta and indigo
against the black land, as monstrously beautiful
as a rape tree. As we drive, a brown woman names
the dying plants. She reads the cacti like an open palm.”

-Hala Alyan

This is from her collection, Twenty-Ninth Year. She is a Palestinian American poet and novelist. I read and enjoyed her last novel, Salt Houses and was pleasantly surprised to hear she is a poet too. This is a solid collection, much of it, about the immigrant experience.

^ "‘Rape Trees’ Common Along Immigrant Smuggling Route Trees marking where smugglers raped migrants so common, locals have a name for them ... "

"Undergarments of the victims are displayed."

>67 msf59: I seem to have acquired a selection of books by and about her Mark (poetry/essays/letters/biography etc), and plan to make a project of them this year, so I will report on my progress, but I started by reading the little Toíbín book which I enjoyed. I always enjoy the enthusiasm of one writer for another, especially when I enjoy the enthusing author's work, I learn something about both creatives then.

>70 msf59: Heartbreaking.

>61 msf59: I wish we could put down nuts for the Blue Jays but our black lab would eat them (he eats everything, even a tin can once!) and Elissa is allergic to peanuts. I'm going to try and find that hummingbird feeder though and hang it outside our dinning room window :)

>63 msf59: Glad to see you enjoyed that! I have that sitting on my "soon" shelf in the kitchen!

>71 Caroline_McElwee: I am looking forward to your thoughts on Bishop, Caroline. I am loving The Master.

>73 ChelleBearss: It sounds like peanuts are not a good idea, in your backyard. LOL. Hope you can hang that hummingbird feeder up. We put ours up in April, here in the Midwest, for those early arrivals, but you may have to wait later.

Looking forward to your thoughts on Black Leopard. Joe & Mamie liked it even more than I did.

-American Kestrel

^It was still pretty chilly out there today and I did not have much luck, at my first stop but on my way to my second stop, I saw this kestrel perched in a tree, on the side of the road and was able to get some good photos.



^Waterfowl are still tough for me to ID, but I did recognize this Red-Breasted Merganser, (there were several in the lake) and got a few decent shots.

I am buzzed about seeing those Ruby Crowned Kinglets, Mark. That's a first for me, at least that I recognized them. They are so tiny!!! 3.5 inches to 4 inches and those Kinglets really struck me as soooo small. Nice shots of the Red- Breasted Merganser and the American Kestrel. We have both of those too. I see a lot of waterfowl where I walk the dog. It is the edge of the Fraser River where it meets the Pacific Ocean, which is about a 10 minute drive for me. There is a big variety of deciduous trees, shrubs, and the ever present conifers. There are marshlands , sandy areas and open fields. I guess that helps bring a lot of different types of birds . It is well populated by people and dog walkers like myself, but you are also in the midst of nature.

>76 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. You have the perfect habitat for birds- plenty of diversity. Waterfowl are very challenging for me. They are very shy and are usually seen from long distances. I prefer being in a group, with more experienced birders, along with spotting scopes. I am going on Sunday.

Have you decide on getting a decent pair of binoculars, or do you own a pair all ready?

34) The Blue Hour by Laura Pritchett 5 stars

“He had something poetic to say, but it wouldn't form in his mind. Something about how intimacy and love were the only sanctuaries, safe places for the human soul, like this mountain was a sanctuary in the rest of the crazed world, and the only road to intimacy was communication...”

“They had been hiking, individually in Montana, and both had stopped for lunch and to make cairns on a large bolder field, stacking rocks to show themselves the way. They saw each other doing that, and spoke of cairns and directions, and then fell in love. I was conceived in a meadow. I too was supposed to show them the way, which, they said, I did.”

I have fallen hard for Laura Pritchett. Yes, I loved Hell's Bottom Colorado, but this novel, really kicked it into high gear. I included a couple of quotes, but those were just 2 of many passages, I had tagged along the way. Her writing is breath-taking, but also tough, edgy and profane. She knows and understands the human spirit.

This story follows the residents of a rural community in Blue Moon Mountain, Colorado. Heartache, loneliness, kindness and passion, rules their everyday lives, like it does all of us. Fans of the late, great Kent Haruf, now have someone to follow. Rejoice!

**Birds, also feature prominently in this narrative and one section, deals with with the characters on a yearly Bird Count. How damn cool is that? If I wasn't happily married, I might be moving to Colorado.

>60 vancouverdeb: Such a pretty little bird, Deborah! Congrats on spotting it and identifying him!

>78 msf59: So glad you loved The Blue Hour, Mark! But how could you not?! :) Laura Pritchett did a reading/signing at the TC a couple years ago and you know how sometimes the authors are a little disappointing? Well, she wasn’t at all. Down to earth, friendly, and really just how I expected her to be. And she brought cookies.

>75 msf59: Nice! We have Common Mergansers here. The males and females are so different in appearance that they almost look like different species.

Hi Mark, I see you're basking in the night of a five star read lol. That's was definitely a good one.

I watched The Inventor last night and thought it was excellent. I loved matching up the characters on screen with the ones in the book. George Schultz's grandson was the best. Elizabeth Holmes is terrifying.

>75 msf59: well done on the merganser ID, Mark! We used to see them on the pond at our previous house. These days, one of our regular dog walking routes goes along the Delaware River. It's a fairly industrial stretch of the waterway, populated mostly with gulls, cormorants, and geese. But recently there were groups of buffleheads and another species we'd never seen before, which we think may have been lesser scaups. It makes me happy that even in the city we occasionally see interesting and unusual birds.

>79 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. I will have to slowly make my way through all of Pritchetts work. She is that good. I would like to see her at an author event.

We have Common Mergansers here, as well. Cool birds.

>80 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie. Yep, I am a big fan of Pritchett. I also started watching The Inventor last night and I agree with your assessment. Holmes is definitely frightening. Unbelievable story!

Hi Mark - catching up here. Love the bird talk - we're dedicated feeders and love watching over summer. We see quite a few hawks on our daily commute - we come to think of them as "ours.'

Happy weekend to you!

>81 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura. It sounds like you know your waterfowl. I am still learning, since many of these, are passing through migrants and I don't get enough "looks". I do like and recognize the buffleheads though. I am pretty sure I saw one yesterday but it was at quite a distance. They are one of my favorites. Still working on my scaups though...grins.

Have you looked into any organized bird walks yet? Spring migration, is right around the corner.

>83 AMQS: Hi, Ann. Great to see you. Hooray for being a fellow bird-feeder champion. Are you familiar with most of your visitors? Do you get anything unusual?

^This was also a treat from yesterday's walk. A pair of Eastern Meadowlarks, feeding in the grass. You can see the flash of yellow on their bellies. FOY, (First of the Year). And a photo-bomb appearance from an equally hungry robin.

Morning, Mark!

Good review of The Blue Hour! For some reason, I thought it was a short story collection. Fans of Kent Haruf? Well, all right, then!

Thank goodness you're married; we'd miss you around these here parts.

>85 msf59: Nice, including the photobombing robin.

We need to get out of this cool weather ditch we're in. At least it's blue sky today. Have a good one, buddy.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you.

You're getting good with your bird photos! Thanks for sharing.

I love it - And a photo-bomb appearance from an equally hungry robin.

>86 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. A chilly wind is beginning to blow out here, but the sunshine has been nice. When are we going to turn that corner?

I hope I got your attention with The Blue Hour. Did you happen to see the poem I shared up yonder? I really liked that collection.

>87 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I really need to keep practicing, with my photography. I don't have an actual birding camera, so I have to work at it, a bit harder.

I am so glad for the weekend to be here. I am going to have to wash the car tomorrow. All those dirt roads combined with the snow melt and the rain made the car literally covered with mud from top to bottom.

My relatives tell me that the water is moving on downstream, so now Missouri will b getting all that water.

>49 msf59: I have Your Duck is My Duck so I eagerly await your thoughts....

Mark, I've read Sky Bridge and Red Lightning : A Novel by Laura Pritchett and really enjoyed them. I've got myself a fair line up of books at the moment, but I've got to get back to Laura Pritchett. Great photos. And, no , I don't have a pair of birding binoculars. They'd be great, but it seems I'm always walking the dog and balancing her leash in one hand, a small cross body purse for my phone , ID and car keys. I am in a great place for birding yes. Just across the river from me is the Reifel Bird Sanctuary, https://www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com/, plus the Vancouver area is apparently a big bird migratory path. A lot of the waterfowl around here are not shy in the least. I was reading a very old ( 1987 ) Vancouver bird guide earlier today and in it noted that occasionally one might run across a snow goose. Climate change, I guess. So much bird poop from those poor guys. They are not the least bit shy. It's more like a scene out of Hitchcock's" The Birds".

>90 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Thanks for checking in. Enjoy the weekend, get plenty of reading in and get that car washed, for crying out loud.

>91 Berly: Hi, Kim. I will wrap up Your Duck is My Duck. Sadly, it has nothing to do with birds but it is a solid story collection. She is a smart, crafty writer.

>92 vancouverdeb: Aw, come on now, Tonto, you can pick up pair of lightweight binocs, hang him around your neck and you are ready for action. Just dump the purse, get deeper pockets. Grins...

Visiting Vancouver is definitely on my Bucket List. One of these days, my friend.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you.

Yesterday I was sitting here minding my own business when a squirrel had the audacity to jump onto the porch rail and go after the wild bird seed. It's in the only feeder I have that isn't squirrel-proof. I rapped on the glass and he ran away. I then put cayenne pepper on the railing and in the bird seed in the tray, hoping that he'd get the stay-away message. Grrr.

Morning, Mark. I did see that poem up yonder, and enjoyed it. I forgot to mention it in the excitement about The Blue Hour. :-)

I finished On the Come Up, and can definitely recommend it. Sometimes sophomore efforts ain't so great, but she nailed it. The ending may be a little tidy, but hey, it's a YA book. She (Thomas) really gets the grit and the difficult choices, including the effects of bad choices. It's selling well, so I'm sure it'll get banned soon.

I just started How Long Til Black Future Month, the N.K. Jemison collection of, oh my goodness, short stories. So far, so very good. In the intro she talks about how, in the early 2000s, it was rare to have a black author in the sci-fi /fantasy genre, and how the underpinnings then were usually European and medieval folk tales. She had a tough time breaking in, but is a big Hugo-winning success now. As you know, a lot has changed, with lots of good ones based on African folklore coming out, including the high profile new Marlon James one, Black Leopard, Red Wolf.

Enjoy your Saturday, my friend. There's a quality beer waiting at the end of it, I'm sure.

Laura Pritchett’s Stars Go Blue is $1.99 on Kindle, etc, today...

Hi is all!
Nice pics, those birds are keeping you busy.

Happy weekend, Mark! I am glad to see you are getting some good birding in.

>94 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen. Not much time to check in today and we have friends coming over for dinner, to boot. Did the pepper discourage the squirrel? We are waiting for an update...

>95 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Finally getting around to responding over here. Good to hear about On the Come Up. Looking forward to getting to that one. Ooh, I had How Long Til Black Future Month on my WL too. Glad to hear you are enjoying it so much. Yah!!

Getting ready to crack a cold one...

>96 Copperskye: Thanks, so much, Joanne. I snagged Stars Go Blue immediately. Cool beans.

>97 LovingLit: >98 banjo123: Happy Weekend, Megan & Rhonda. With things beginning to warm up around here, I am hoping to get out on many more bird walks. Organized or solo.

^I spotted a small flock of Cedar Waxwings in a tree, near my Birding Break Spot, at work. This is the very first time I have seen them, in this location. There were about 10 or so and they were back again today. I did not have my camera with me.



^If you are unfamiliar with what they look, here is a close-up. Beautiful bird.

Gorgeous!! I LOVE waxwings! I have ever only seen them once, also a whole flock in a tree. Pretty spectacular!

Mark, you are going to have to start not leaving home without it (your camera!)

That is a nice sighting!

The library just got its copy of How Long Til Black Future Month and it was only on the shelf a couple of days before it was checked out. It is not a YA book. However, it was on the ALex Award list (best adult books for YA’s. The award is given by ALA to 12 adult titles every year.) so we got a copy. The reviews on this one were good so I had put it on my TBR list early. I hope you guys like it.

It is hard to find good books of SCI/FI short stories. The last good one I liked was Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu.

I got the car washed but didn’t get it waxed. I had to get out the kitchen step ladder and the mop to get to the top and get the mud off there. Who knew good old Kansas mud could be so greasy? When I drove down to Starbucks I noticed that my front and rear cameras have a very bright and clear picture now. I didn’t realize that dirt would affect them like that. I wonder how they will work in the summer on dusty unpaved roads that are dry? Dust might be as much of a problem as is dirt.

>104 benitastrnad: I've made it a habit to wipe off the lens of my rearview camera (don't have a front one) before getting into the car...any old piece of tissue will do. Amazing how quickly I came to rely on that bit of technology.

Hope you had a great dinner with friends, Mark, and a Sunday with warm sunny weather to get out and enjoy some birding.

Hi Mark! Happy Sunday to you.

I didn't see the squirrel there again, but I was not watching the whole time. The seed levels in the 3 tubes seemed about right for just birds.

I've only seen Cedar Wax Wings at a distance in the dusk - Louise was closer and confirmed what they were. I counted them on my life list but didn't get to see their gorgeous markings up close.

>102 jessibud2: Glad you like the waxwings, Shelley. I see them on occasion, while on my bird strolls but this was a first at work. I generally don't take my camera with me to work. I just don't want to put the wear on it, dragging it back and forth, even though I have it, in a nice case. I will start bringing it, once or twice a week, once spring begins to bloom.

>103 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy. The waxwings always put a smile on my face.

>104 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Looking forward to the Jemison. Suddenly, I have a glut of short fiction at hand. And like you, I LOVED Paper Menagerie. I hope he puts out another collection.

>105 laytonwoman3rd: Waves to Linda!

>106 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. We had a great time with our pals and we even played a game called Arboretum. Grins...Looks to be a cool, cloudy, possibly rainy day, today, but it is not going to stop me from venturing out.

>107 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hope your squirrels stay away. I am glad you have at least seen the waxwings. Great birds. There were Bohemian Waxwings in upper MN, when I was there but I did not see them. Next time, perhaps?

^Just 7am here, but I am getting ready to head out, on an organized bird walk. This one will be focusing mainly on waterfowl. Migrating birds, stopping here, as they make their jolly way north. I NEED to be among experienced birders for this and they will have spotting scopes. It is supposed to rain a bit, so wish me luck.

I won't be back until early afternoon and I'll try to visit some threads, but the books will be calling too...

Mark, there are a number of Audubon bird trails in this part of the world. P and I are planning to do some research, see if we can find some guided walks.

Also, I started reading How to Love a Jamaican last night and I'm thinking you read and enjoyed this one -- and I remembering that right? I know you are one of the more avid reader of short stories in this illustrious group. :-)

I hope your bird walk today was a good one!

-Bald Eagle, (NMP)



-Ring-Necked Duck (NMP) Lifer!!



-Canvasbacks (NMP)

^Just a tease from my awesome bird outing this A.M. Now, for a little book time...

Glad you had a good birding trip there Mark. I don't think I've seen a waxwing- what a beautiful bird.

>111 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Great to see you. I hope you find an organized bird walk to join. I would assume there would be plenty there. I have not read How to Love a Jamaican, but I heard some buzz about it. Good to know ,you are enjoying it. Yes, I adore my short fiction.

>113 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Do you know if they have any waxwings in England or in Europe? Yes, gorgeous birds.

-American Wigeon (NMP) Lifer!!

The rain held off, and it turned out to be a mild and productive day. Small group. Maybe, 5 of us. We saw at least 30-40 species today and that may be a conservative number. Plus, I added a couple of lifers. Yah! We did miss seeing an osprey and a common loon, but we did see and an adult and a juvenile bald eagle, picking off a dead fish from the surface of the water and getting chased by gulls.

I also saw, one of my faves, however briefly: A pileated woodpecker, (FOY):



-(NMP) I wish...

Apparently we to have cedar waxwings in Vancouver - a common bird, according to my birding guide, but to my knowledge, I've never seen one. We've got the bald eagles in spades, I tell you , Mark, we've got it all in Vancouver!

Hey, that little " purse" of mine is small, needed things. I drive 2 1/2 miles to where I walk my dog, as it is so lovely there for dog walking and I've got to carry a tiny wallet with my Driver's License, dog poop bags ( ugh ) car keys, treats for the Poppy so she will behave and it's quite an operation. So what kind of bird binoculars do you have ? Big bucks? What do you recommend?

Cool woodpecker, Mark. I don't think we have those around my area, but the American Wigeon, yes, common. Wow, you are out and at it so early in the day! 7 am and out birding!

>116 vancouverdeb: Well, it sounds like your purse is invaluable, so I understand. Waxwings like to be around water, and usually in groups, so you may spot them, one of these days. My binocs are Nikon Monarch, a type that was suggested for newer birders. Good quality for about $300 American. You can find a decent pair for under two hundred.

Yep, I was out of the house by 7:20 and I didn't return to nearly 1230.

"On October 17, 2002, David MacLean “woke up” on a train platform in India with no idea who he was or why he was there. No money. No passport. No identity."

"Taken to a mental hospital by the police, MacLean then started to hallucinate so severely he had to be tied down. Soon he could remember song lyrics, but not his family, his friends, or the woman he was told he loved."

I have had The Answer to the Riddle Is Me: A Memoir of Amnesia on my audio stack for ages and thought it was a good time to finally listen to this promising memoir. I don't recall much LT chatter on this one, but did anyone read it?

Haven’t read it, but it sounds fascinating!

I see your recent Laura Pritchett was a 5 star read, Mark, that definitely got my attention. I also, have not read The answer to the Riddle is Me but it does sound interesting, I'll be waiting to hear what you think of it.

>120 drneutron: It sure does, Jim. I am starting it this morning.

>121 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I definitely want to keep the Pritchett love going. She has quickly become a favorite.

Morning, Mark!

>119 msf59: I agree with Jim - that one sounds interesting!

>123 scaifea: Morning, Amber. Looking forward to starting Answer to the Riddle and it is a shorty! Yah!

'Morning, Mark! Happy Monday to you.

Congrats on the sightings, especially the lifers.

I'm off to do some more book sale prep this morning - fortunately only 3 hours, not the 6 1/2 hours I spent yesterday.

Morning, Mark!

Loving the photos, especially the cedar waxwings and the pileated woodpecker. Your finding some beauts!

I hadn't heard of Answer the Riddle, but what an intriguing story.

I'm going to try a Tony Hoagland book called The Art of Voice, with his thoughts on writing poetry. This is more school-type reading, so fingers crossed.

>113 charl08: Apparently yes, Mark, but not in my area, and only Autumn / Winter. Lovely birds!
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/waxwing/

We can't seem to turn the corner, into a warmer spring, here in the Midwest. Some sunshine today but a very chilly wind, as we struggle to reach 40F. WTH??

>125 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. Good luck at the book sale prep.

>126 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Another chilly one today. Sighs...Glad you like the bird images and I am looking forward to your thoughts on the Hoagland book.

>127 charl08: Thanks for the link, Charlotte. These are birds worth seeing, if you ever feel like venturing out a bit.

Deleted message. I tried putting a link to the jigzone daily jigsaw puzzle I subscribe to but the link comes up no good. Sorry, I tried. Today's was a beautiful Yellow Warbler. If you want to explore and try, yourself, it's www.jigzone.com and today's date.

I am listening to a really good audio copy of Empire Made: My Search For An Outlaw Uncle Who Vanished in British India by Kief Hillsbery. This work of narrative nonfiction has been on my TBR list for some time. I had to request it through Inter-Library Loan, but so far the wait for it has been worth it. The narrator is good, and the story flashes back and forth from the present to 1840's India under the East India Company rule. I had intended to listen to this one during my long drive back to Kansas, but it just didn't get here in time. I am not to far into the book (only on CD 3), but there is lots of good stuff in this recorded book.

I requested it from ILL on February 18 and it took a month to get it here from some public library in Illinois. If your library can get it, it might make the daily walk easier. I was in the middle - about half done - with Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan when Empire Made came in. I had to do a juggling act, but since Brain on Fire is at my local public library I returned it and started on Empire Made. Brain on Fire was a book that you recommended several years ago after you listened to it, and I was finally getting around to it. I don't like to juggle books like that. Especially when both of these books are good ones.

Happy Monday, Mark! Reading through your posts, I'm happy to see I'm not the only one with pests around the bird feeder.

>130 jessibud2: Here is the Yellow Warbler you were referring to, Shelley. Looks like a beauty. A couple more weeks, we should start seeing the warblers migrating through.

>131 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Thanks for the book rec. Empire Made sounds like a good one. Yes, I really liked Brain on Fire. I hope you get back to it.

>132 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. My work day went smoothly but I am just looking forward to it warming up.

"A sweeping and enchanting new novel from the widely beloved, award-winning author Elizabeth McCracken about three generations of an unconventional New England family who own and operate a candlepin bowling alley."

McCracken has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I really liked The Giant's House and loved her story collection, Thunderstruck: Stories. I snagged an ARC of Bowlaway a couple of months ago and I finally started it today. This feels like a tribute to John Irving. You can't go wrong there.

>119 msf59: wow, and that is a true story!? Sounds like the making of a movie :) And, yours is the first thread I have heard about it on!

>136 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. Yes, The Answer to the Riddle Is Me is the author's memoir. Pretty scary and it looks like it was caused by malarial medication he had been taking. This medication can also cause suicide and homicidal behavior. Yikes!

'Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you.

I'm off to try sorting again at the book sale prep, but will head back home if I start 'shelf walking' to take pressure off my hip. Huge conflict - take care of my hip and back vs. books. Sigh.

>138 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Good luck with the book sale prep and be safe. Looking forward to hearing about any special, bookish finds.

Morning, Mark!

Debbi’s back, but with a lousy cold from little Rafa. She says it was worth every bit of it. She’s pretty much over the moon about that little guy.

So far so good with the Hoagland book, and the N. K. Jemison short story collection is excellent. So far the first story, which I bet was the first she got published, was the weakest, and it was still very good. She deals much more with racial issues in a sci-fi context than in other books of hers I’ve read, and very effectively.

Enjoy the sunshine today. In the 50s tomorrow? We’ll see.

Oh dear, 140 posts on the new thread means I just can't get them all read. Still too hazy. I *can* breathe out of both nostrils, however, and haven't hacked a lung up yet, and can even almost hear without greatly increased volume. Oh yay, I'm well.

Still not going outside. The temptation is great...50° and sunshiney...but the word "relapse" cycles through my brain as I put on socks, and everything stops for tea as the old song has it. Although My Fair Lady was long enough ago that I suppose the reference will sail past most.

The Answer to the Riddle sounds very interesting, Mark. I look forward to your thoughts about it.

>140 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Sorry, to hear that Debbi has another bug. Bummer. Hope it is very short-lived. You are getting me pumped about the Jemison collection. Sounds great.

>141 richardderus: Hi, Richard. So good, to see you stop by. I had a feeling you were struggling. I hope you keep on improving so you can make your way outdoors and enjoy the warming temps. I NEED to revisit My Fair Lady one of these days! One of the few musicals I really loved.

>142 kidzdoc: Hi, Darryl. Good to see you. I just finished The Answer to the Riddle. A solid, somewhat terrifying memoir. One thing I learned, (and I am sure you knew this) is the drug, Larium, the anti-malarial drug and how absolutely horrible it is. WTH??

>143 msf59: I do remember reading about mefloquine (Lariam) in medical school, which can cause neurotoxicity, with terrifying side effects. I don't recall seeing a case of malaria in nearly 22 years of residency and hospital practice, so I'm completely unfamiliar with the treatment of malaria in children.

>144 kidzdoc: One expert called Lariam the Agent Orange of this millennium. Our military had been dosing our soldiers with this drug for years. I believe they have stopped using it but the damage has been done. They think it has caused many suicides, along with some disturbing homicidal occurrences.

The author was prescribed this drug, while living in India.

40) Daisy Miller by Henry James 4.2 stars

“Daisy was strolling along the top of one of those great mounds of ruin that are embanked with mossy marble and paved with monumental inscriptions. It seemed to him that Rome had never been so lovely as just then.”

“if nocturnal meditations in the Colosseum are recommended by the poets, they are deprecated by the doctors.”

After finishing The Master, a wonderful imagining of James' later life, I decided to finally read Daisy Miller, which I have had on shelf, (in a nifty volume of 4 novellas) for many years. It was published in book form in 1879. It is very short but the writing is a delight and Daisy is an interesting literary creation. If you are unsure of James but would like to sample something he has done, give this solid little book a try and if it works, you can move on to one of his bigger masterpieces.

**Has anyone read The Aspern Papers? That novellla is also included in this volume.

Hi Mark, I have The Master on my shelf but haven't read it because I haven't read anything by Henry James. I know, shocking! I do have a couple I could read including Washington Square and Portrait of a Lady. Grrrr no touchstones.

Morning, Mark! I'm glad you enjoyed Daisy Miller - it's certainly not my favorite book ever, but it may be the James I've liked best so far...

>147 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie. I hope I have nudged you a bit to move The Master up in the pile. I know LT opinion seems to be mixed on James, but he has really clicked for me. I loved The Portrait of a Lady.

>148 scaifea: Morning, Amber. Thanks for chiming in on James. It is interesting, how many of my LT pals are lukewarm on James. He has always worked for me.

>149 msf59: Mark: I recognize that his writing is fantastic, but the subject is always so bleak. I can only take so much of that sort of thing. So that's why I tend to be lukewarm for him.

^I am finally getting around to The Witch Elm. This is her first stand-alone. I have read the first six of her Dublin Murder Squad books. The Secret Place was a dud for me but the rest are first-rate crime novels, with Broken Harbor being a favorite. I love listening to these on audio. The accent is to die for, so my audiobook is lined up in the queue, ready for the play button.

ETA- I would love to see her tighten up her books. How about a 300 pager? They seem to have gotten more bloated over the years. She has been edging over the 500 page mark, in her last few books.

>146 msf59: Mark, I really enjoyed The Master several years ago, and like you went on to read a bit more Henry James. I agree Daisy Miller is a good place to start, since it's pretty short. I liked Portrait of a Lady more though.

>147 brenzi: Bonnie, while it might be "better" to know something of James' tone and style before reading The Master, I enjoyed it all the same without that knowledge. Go for it!

>151 msf59: OMG Mark, I just finished The Witch Elm yesterday. It's really good!

>150 scaifea: I can completely understand, Amber. Wharton might be a smoother, more balanced writer. I definitely see similarities in their work.

>152 lauralkeet: >153 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura. The Master is a marvel. Toibin nailed it. I agree, The Portrait of a Lady is James' masterpiece. I will have to get to The Golden Bowl one of these days. Surprisingly, I have not read The Turn of the Screw either, but at least it is included in the volume I have.

Good to know, about The Witch Elm. It seems to have received some mixed reviews, in other places, but most of my LT pals seem to have liked it.

>155 msf59: Will be curious to hear what you think of The Witch Elm. I haven't ever read Tana French, but I think Shawn has read them all. He was lukewarm on this one. Sorry...

>154 msf59: Well, I think Wharton and James may be a pair, but I've only read The Age of Innocence and really didn't like it. Ha!

>155 msf59: Oooh, I forgot about The Turn of the Screw - I *did* pretty much like that one...

Good morning, Mark!

I enjoyed Turn of the Screw, too - Becca got me to read it. That and Golden Bowl are the only ones of his I've read. The Master and Daisy Miller - way to go! That sounds like a great combo. I'm not enough of a CT or HJ fan to read The Master, but I might give Daisy Miller a go.

Up into the 50s today, they say. Finally!

I have The Master on my shelf and you're making me want to get to it sooner rather than later. As for James, I've read Daisy Miller, Washington Square, and Portrait of a Lady. I liked them all but Portrait was my favorite.

>156 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. Good to see you. You will have to ask Shawn what his favorites are of French's books.

>157 scaifea: Well, at least that is 2 authors you don't have to worry about. More time for others. LOL.

>158 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. You might like Daisy Miller and it is only 60 or so pages. I will have to bookhorn in Turn of the Screw.

Slowly warming up out here. The sunshine feels good. Looking forward to shedding a layer or two.

>159 katiekrug: Hi, Katie. Thanks for chiming in on Toibin and James. I will have to reread Portrait one of these days. My first of his work and also remains my favorite.

>151 msf59: I agree that she could tighten up a bit. Becoming a bit like Mr King.
I have yet to get to The Witch Elm, although I want to at some point

Mark and other Bird Fans: BIRDWATCHING.com today noted that
Northern Cardinals were the most frequently reported bird so far
and, one of my everyday favorites, The Red-winged Blackbird was the most numerous.

>162 ChelleBearss: Hi, Chelle. That was the problem I had with The Trespasser. Serious bloat. And that is too bad, since there is such good writing and storytelling in there. Only 3 hours or so, into The Witch Elm, so to early to tell.

>163 m.belljackson: Thanks for the Birdwatching Magazine report, Marianne. Cardinals are residents here but it is always good to see them and hear them. The RWBs have been moving into our area, for the warmer months. They are the most vocal.

Sadly we don't get cardinals in my area. You are lucky to have them as residents. I think they are quite a beautiful bird. I did see red winged black birds yesterday as well as more tiny birds - but this time I could not identify them if my life depended on it. They were small , tiny little guys with black on the top and dark grey on their bottom half. I think I am seeing some young juvenile birds . I guess it is a late enough in the year here to see the little guys who have recently hatched. I also caught a look at a Great Blue Heron in one of his usual haunts.

>165 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. Thanks for the bird report. It has been quiet at our feeders and not much to report on the route either. They must be finding food elsewhere. Do you have Black-Capped Chickadees in your area? Your description, sounds similar. Quick-moving little guys too. I have only seen one GBH, so far this year. A fly-over.

I think that authors like Tana French who have had best seller success with their novels don't get edited much. Publishers don't want to make them angry, and they figure that reader's will read whatever that author pumps out.

Long novels are also a problem with series, as the authors tend to recap or they are setting up the next novel in the series.

>167 msf59: Hah!

Hi yo, Mark. Nice to learn you are sparking all your interests—the three Bs: Beer, Birds, and Books. Like that comic commentary at >167 msf59:.

I've seen one pileated woodpecker in my life, in Vermont probably in the 1970s. I was flabbergasted by its size.

Finishing up a Raymond Chandler novel that was unknown to me until that visit to Goodwill, when it threw itself off the shelf and into my shopping basket. The Little Sister. Thought I'd read all of Chandler's novels. I have learned in just the last week that this is regarded as one of his best. Yes, it's Philip Marlowe. Six pages to go.

>168 benitastrnad: I know we had we this discussion, a few times before, Benita. It gets a little frustrating. More, is not always better. Did you get my text?

>169 BLBera: Smiles...

>170 weird_O: Hi, Bill. Yep, the 3 B's, will be in full force for my long weekend. Glad you have fond memories of a Pileated W.P. One of my faves.

Glad you are enjoying The Little Sister. I do not think I have read that either. I am long overdue for a Chandler.

Morning, Mark!

I saw this yesterday and thought I'd pass it along, in case you ever decide to come visit - the world's first craft beer hotel is right here in Columbus, apparently:

https://www.brewdog.com/usa/locations/hotels/doghouse

>172 scaifea: Morning, Amber! The Brewdog/The Doghouse sound awesome. Wake up to beer fermenting? I am in. Plus, I have not been to Columbus or Cincinnati. I will have to plan that someday.

>173 msf59: I thought that place might appeal you to. I do hope you visit sometime - there's tons of cool stuff around here to check out, plus I'd love a meet-up, of course!

>174 msf59: - Scary!

>174 msf59: Yikes!

>167 msf59: Yes! A day in the life . . .

Morning, Mark. Sweet Thursday!

I'm really close to the end of the Natalie Diaz collection. It's been a good one.

You're going to enjoy How Long Til Black Future Month. Thought-provoking, besides the imaginative stories.

Enjoy the warmup today, buddy.

>175 scaifea: Less than a year and a half before I retire, Amber and then I will be a rambling man.

>176 jessibud2: Yes, it is, Shelley and quite relevant.

>177 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Yikes, is right and our political environment never seems to get brighter. The Dems better not drop the ball this time. Great news on the Diaz and the Jemison. Both are in my future.

>178 msf59: Woot!

31) The Fall of Wisconsin by Dan Kaufman 4.6 stars

I try to stay current on U.S. politics, however depressing it is and I try to keep an eye on our neighboring state, to the north, but this excellent look at Wisconsin politics, caught me by surprise and I realized how little I knew about how progressive the Badger State has been, over the last 2 centuries. It is a fascinating, at times horrifying, impeccably well-researched, look at the past and current political environment, of the good ole US of A. Highly recommended.

**I always knew Paul Ryan and Scott Walker were douche-bags and I am glad to see this book confirm it.

35) The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea Wulf 5 stars

“The effects of the human species’ intervention were already ‘incalculable’, Humboldt insisted, and could become catastrophic if they continued to disturb the world so ‘brutally’. Humboldt would see again and again how humankind unsettled the balance of nature.”

“Nature itself was a republic of freedom.”

“Without a diversity of opinion, the discovery of truth is impossible,”

Until I read this terrific bio on Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), I knew virtually nothing about this incredible explorer and scientist, other than the fact that we have a famous park in Chicago named after him. It seems I am not alone, in my ignorance of the man. He is much better known in Latin America and in Europe than in the U.S. I hope this book, brings him into the light.

He is like the Forrest Gump, of his times, rubbing shoulders with a bewildering amount of historical figures, in his long, productive life. Like, Simon Bolivar, Thomas Jefferson, Thoreau, Darwin, John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt, to name just a handful.

I hope I can inspire, another reader or two, to give this bio a chance and spread the word from there.

**On one of my visits to Milwaukee, Nancy's friend and co-worker, Zoe, (a fellow birder and beer drinker to boot) recommended this book and fortunately I kept it in mind. Thanks, Zoe! You have great taste.

>167 msf59: I suspect that this will be Mark and his wife in about 25 years.

>174 msf59: Sad, but very true.

>181 msf59: I'm glad that you found The Fall of Wisconsin to be a worthwhile read. I'll ask my best friend from medical school, who is a professor at the University of Wisconsin and lives with his family in Middleton, just west of Madison, if he or his wife have read it yet.

Hi Mark, I have only read two very short works by Henry James, The Turning of the Screw and Daisy Miller and although I didn't expect to, I really enjoyed both of them. The Aspern Papers are on my radar and then I really must tackle one of his full length novels.

>181 msf59: love the asterisks!

I really enjoyed The Witch Elm but agree that it got a little long. There were conversations that seemed to go on forever, and therefore seemed unrealistic.

>174 msf59:

"You Are Here" could be Catch-22.

Democrats have allowed this monster to reign for too long - it is amazing what we have tolerated
while waiting for Mueller. No words for that.

I hope the warmer weather spurs us out to bring our Democracy back.

Sweet Thursday, Mark. I’m off to a bookish event. Hope you have a good day, or at least better than expected. Someone just got into the Skytrain with a budding magnolia.

>183 kidzdoc: 25 years? I was thinking more like 10. Grins... How are you, Darryl? Yes, ask your Madison friend about The Fall of Wisconsin. It should be a must read for all Americans but especially Wisconsin residents.

>184 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Thanks for chiming in on Mr. James. Since you liked his 2 shorter books, you should really make time for The Portrait of a Lady.

>185 vivians: Hi, Vivian. I have a long, long way to go in The Witch Elm. Toby hasn't moved in with Hugo yet, so the length isn't bugging me yet. Glad to hear you really enjoyed it, despite it's wordiness.

>186 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. I agree with you about the Dems and the Monster! That could be a scary book title. We NEED the Dems to really step it up. Hoping the young blood, with AOC and her bunch, get kick-start something.

>187 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg and thanks. I will have to stop over and see what your bookish event is.

>174 msf59: Like!

Hurray!! Cubs opener is here.

>182 msf59: That one awaits me (it's more or less looking over my shoulder as I sit here), so I am glad to hear it's a good one.

>188 msf59: Toby hasn't moved in with Hugo yet
Having read the blurb, I was surprised how many pages it took to get to that point. And yet all the setup held my interest. Anyhoo, I just posted a review of The Witch Elm over on my thread. I don't think it's spoilery but will totally understand if you don't visit until you're done reading.

>181 msf59: I agree that this book is a worthwhile read! As you told me, the recent history wasn't news to me (I lived through it!). Although I knew the basics of my state's progressive roots, there was is so much more to be proud of than I was aware of! Highly recommend.

>182 msf59:. Go Zoe! I just (finally!) started this book on my dog walk this morning and WOW!

>191 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Great to see you, stranger! I meant to post something about the Cubs opener yesterday and forgot all about it. What a terrific way to kick off the season, right? Go Cubbies!!

^I should have posted this yesterday, for Opening Day but it is just as satisfying to report that the Cubs thrashed the Texas Rangers, 12-4. Hoping for a more consistent season in '19, for our boys in blue.

>192 laytonwoman3rd: It is such a good bio, Linda. I was hoping to nudge a couple of my pals to read it and I am glad to hear you have a copy nearby.

>193 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura. Thanks for chiming in on The Witch Elm. I am enjoying it in the early going. It has a different tone, than her earlier books, which I like. I just hope not to get frustrated, later on.

>194 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. I am so glad to hear that you started The Invention of Nature. There is so much fascinating history here and Humboldt is such an interesting figure. Go Zoe!! Go Zoe!!

Did you see the end of the Brewers game? That was pretty exciting....

Happy Friday, Mark. You have today off, right? How'd it go at the dentist?

Good start for the Cubbies and Baez! Now the weather just needs to realize it's Spring, and baseball time.

I'll probably finish the N. K. Jemison collection today; the excellent one I just read was no doubt the basis for her Hugo-winning Broken Earth trilogy. (There's a Murakami short story in the last collection that I keep expecting to see grown into a novel). I posted a very mini-review of When My Brother Was an Aztec and a powerful poem of hers about him.

Have a good one today, buddy.

Morning, Mark! Hoping your Friday is full of fabulous.

>198 alphaorder: I did not see the Brewers game. Our division is going to be rocking this year, Nancy. Stiff competition, all the way around. No room for error.

>199 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. I just stopped by the Cafe and gave you a little update. Hooray for the Cubs and Baez. He looks great, doesn't he? I love your warbling on the Jemison collection. You got me pumped.

Not sure, what I am doing today. I am waiting to hear from Bree. She got a new dog. I am sure I will get out for a stroll and books will come into play, at some point.

>200 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. Great to see you, my friend. This is my long weekend, so it will indeed be fabulous.

You just need to watch these 34 seconds. That is all I saw, but it sure was great! https://www.mlb.com/video/cain-s-game-ending-hr-robbery

>196 msf59: Good luck this season! My Jays lost their first one *sob*
I tried to watch the game but both kids were home and Ellie planted herself in front of me saying "minion" over and over until I cracked and put on their Despicable Me movie.

>204 ChelleBearss: - The Jays lost in extra innings but before that, it was quite a pitcher's duel! No score going into the 10th! But that said, I hardly recognized anyone on the team, so many new faces, including manager and coaches. This is going to be a long season, I fear. I am not impressed with the new(ish) GM, from the interviews with him I have seen so far and from the changes that he is making.

Hi Mark! I think Call the Midwife begins the new season this Sunday, if I am not mistaken

>203 alphaorder: That was impressive! Go Cain! Great finale.

>204 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle. You just put the biggest smile on my face, with the Ellie, Minion chant. B.A.G. Sorry about your Jays. If it helps, it is only one game.

>205 jessibud2: Bummer about your Jays, Shelley. I think I am done with CTM. I have been faithful to it for a long time. I think my wife will continue to watch, though. Thanks.

Good morning, Mark! Happy Day off!

Darryl posted the Booker International long list and the only one available in my library system was Mouthful of Birds which I know was a strike for you.

I'm going to give it a try ... usually I pass if you pan it. I'll let you know. :)

Mark - Zoe headed out on the trails yesterday to put together this blog about the spring thaw. Thought you would enjoy:
https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/2019/03/29/spring-thaw/

>207 streamsong: Hi, Janet. I was expecting to love Mouthful of Birds but it fell short for me. I hope it works much better for you.

>208 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy! I LOVE Zoe's spring photos, especially the vocal RWB. She does amazing work. Thanks for sharing.

Today was yearly evaluation day. I spent 7 hours typing up that thing. I am really enjoying Empire Made: My Search for an Outlaw Uncle in British India by Kief Hillsbery. I did not expect this book to be so good. I only have a third of the book to go and if it keeps this up it is going to make my Best of 2019 list.

I am also starting another nonfiction that I am looking forward to reading. Great Influenza by John M. Berry. This is one I have had for a long time and my real life book club is reading it for our April book. Time to get cracking on it.

I can’t believe you are bailing on CTM. No way am I quitting that show. At least not yet.

>210 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I am sure you are glad evaluation day is over. I have added Empire Made to the list and Great Influenza sounds interesting too. So many promising NF titles out there to read.

I lasted with CTM longer than I do most shows. I did love it, for several years.

And thanks again for all your help with the DC lodging.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you. Many books acquired, not sure if any of them are 'finds' or not - will probably post the whole list late today or tomorrow. 5 bags so far and today is $5/bag day. Callooh! Callay!

I'm drawing a line in the sand on the 73 messages here since I last posted. I hope you have a wonderful day.

>182 msf59: Such a stunning book - and great quotes. One I'd like to have on the shelf.

>212 karenmarie: Morning, Karen? You skipped 73 messages? You could have missed some incredibly informative stuff. Grins...

Looking forward to getting a glimpse at your book booty.

>213 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. I hope you can find a copy of The Invention of Nature. It is such a good book and I am sure it would look wonderful on shelf.

-Duke in the woods



-From our hike yesterday: This is Bree, Duke and her latest member of the family, Cooper. He is a sweet boy, at 6 months. A rescue.

^A pair of Mourning Doves having a polite discussion at our birdbath. They started to get down to "business" a few moments later.



-Killdeer in a parking lot, (from a walk on Thursday). FOY.

Cute dogs, Mark! And yay for killdeer! Aren't they cool? I saw a mama and her chick out for a stroll in a grassy area of a parking lot a few years ago. I was a bit worried about their location but nothing apparently happened. I guess mama knew best. What is *FOY*

Good morning, Mark.

Love the photo of Bree, Duke and Cooper!

I got my hands on Tap Out, and I’m looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the tip.

I hope the long weekend is taking good care of you.

Morning, Mark! Love the photo of Bree with the dogs - so sweet! Thanks for sharing.

Aww, Cooper looks like a sweetheart. I can't wait to finally have a dog again when we get into our new house!

>217 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. I like the sounds the killdeer make too. Very distinctive. FOY is First of the Year.

>218 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. We had a nice stroll yesterday, with Bree and her boys. We also went over to her new house last night, so Sue could see Cooper. He is a sweet-natured dog.

Hooray for picking up Tap Out. I hope you love it, as much as I did and what a great cover, right?

>219 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Glad I ended up getting the perfect shot of Bree and the boys! You know, I had to share it.

>220 katiekrug: Cooper is a very sweet boy and quite laid-back for a puppy. Glad to hear you are considering getting a dog for the new house. Yah!!

>215 msf59:

TWO Dogs on a Country Walk = Pure Heaven!!

>215 msf59: Beautiful dogs, Mark. It looks like your snow is gone.

Cooper looks like a very calm 6 month old and a great addition to the family. On my way to a genealogy seminar today. Will write about the bookish event I attended later on my thread.

Mark, I love that picture of the two Mourning Doves chatting at your bird bath. I am about to start one of your and Joe's recommendations - Rebel Ladies Who Rocked The World - I've been neglecting graphic novels and need to fix that!

>223 m.belljackson: Not many bird sightings, Marianne but still qualifies as Pure Heaven.

>224 BLBera: Hi, Beth. Our snow has been gone for awhile. Good riddance. Now, I want to see some GREEN!

>225 Familyhistorian: Cooper has been a good addition, in the early going, and seems to get along perfectly with Duke. I am still pleased that Bree has her own house and that the dogs reside there. Grins...

>226 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I am so glad you liked the chatting doves. They are regular visitors. Hooray for Rebel Ladies! It is such a good book. Enjoy!

Great pictures from your outing!

Minion was actually one of Ellie's first words. "Minmin" lol

Happy Sunday, Mark. I love your photos.

'Morning, Mark! I hope you have a fabulous Sunday!

Excellent photos of the Mourning Doves and Killdeer.

I've just posted my semi-annual Friends of the Library Book Sale acquisitions. 7 bags, 120 items.... I'm very happy.

>228 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle. Ellie is a cutie! That is for sure.

>229 Ameise1: Hi, Barb. Good to see you. Glad you like the photos.

>230 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad you like the bird pics. There will be more...grins. I will be stopping by your place soon.

^I really enjoyed Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert’s Story. I know there are many people out there that battle these types of anxieties. Tung is very fortunate to have a supporting partner, in her life.

**Thanks to Joe for lending me his copy.

>233 msf59: Added to the wishlist.

I have a graphic memoir recommendation for you and Joe (and the others reading your thread): Good Talk. It is about race and politics in today's America. And the art - cut out illustrations on top of photographs - is unique and adds the storytelling. I received my copy yesterday and read it in one sitting last night. I am going to take more time with it I but highly recommend.

>234 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. I think you will love Quiet Girl and could read it, in one sitting. Ooh, a GN rec. I will have to request that one. Thanks. Have you looked into Bibliophile? I am getting ready to start that one soon.

39) Your Duck Is My Duck: Stories by Deborah Eisenberg 4 stars

“I was looking out at cliffs and the sea, all sluiced in delicate pinks and yellows and greens and blues, as if the sun were imparting to the sleeping rock and water dreams of their youth.”

I had never heard of Eisenberg, but I am glad she showed up on my bookish radar, which may have had something to do with the title, although there are very few birds mentioned in these witty, smart, and introspective stories. It seems like the main theme, is aging, dealing with the future and gazing back at the past.

I also love that cover!

36) The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch 4.5 stars

Clinch, a master storyteller, effortlessly moves into a Holocaust story here, following a family, as it struggles to survive Auschwitz. He avoids the over-melodramatic, by keeping the narrative grounded, although there is still plenty here to break your heart. This is my third read, by Clinch and all were excellent. He is batting a 1,000, in my book.

*This was also excellent on audio.

**I read this as part of the AAC group.

>233 msf59: I liked this too Mark, and I don't often do graphic novels. I liked her Book Love too.

> 235

I own and love both Bibliophile and My Ideal Bookshelf.

>238 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. I will have to request Book Love. I am sure I will find something to relate to there. Smiles...

>239 alphaorder: I thought you might have been a fan of Bibliophile but wasn't sure.

ETA: Good Talk is not coming up in my library system. Bummer. Her Sleepwalker book is. Have you read that one?

>240 msf59:. I have not read Sleepwalker.

"Book lovers, rejoice! In this love letter to all things bookish, Jane Mount brings literary people, places, and things to life through her signature and vibrant illustrations."

A few of my LT pals have warbled about Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany, so while watching the Cubs beat up on the Rangers, I started dipping in to this fun collection. I have been forewarned by the author and others that I will be adding to my TBR pile, so I have pen and paper handy.

>242 msf59: - Isn't it a beauty?

>243 jessibud2: It sure is, Shelley. This is a library copy but I may have to purchase my own "Keeper" copy.

>96 Copperskye: But, since then, they haven't looked as good.

Besides regular stuff, I'm planning Mom and Dad's 60th anniversary bash in April.

>242 msf59: I have Bibliophile too, Mark. A gorgeous book.

>166 msf59: We do get black - capped chickadees in my area, yes, and lots of them, but these little guys were just a dark black on the top and a slightly lighter black on the tummy area, no white at all. So I am afraid they will remain UFO's for me ;-) I did see another blue heron thought and red winged blackbirds -and plenty of others that I could not identify.

Great pictures of Bree and family. Cooper is a darling!

I do see Mourning Doves here too, but I am partial to my Double Collared Eurasian Doves, for their lovely cooing. We do get Killdeer here too, but I've not identified one. Great pictures!

>245 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. That was two tough losses for our Cubbies. The offense has played fine but the pitching, especially the bullpen has been terrible. I hope they can turn it around.

How exciting that your folks are celebrating their 60th anniversary! Wow!

>246 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. Love getting these bird reports. I have been hearing and seeing red-wing blackbirds, on nearly every walk. I have seen a few herons flying but nothing in the water yet. If you look at some images of killdeer, you'll learn to identify them quickly. Great coloring.

-Eastern Phoebe (NMP, but I tried)

^I managed to get out for a bird stroll, each of the last four days. On at least 2 of them, I saw eastern phoebes, which have been making their way into the area, for the season. I also saw a bluebird today, which is always a highlight.

Wishing you a good start into the new week. Here it was dark this morning when the alarm clock went off. We changed to summer time yesterday.

>236 msf59: Mark--Now I really have to find my copy of Your Duck is My Duck! I don't have Bibliophile, but I have The Library Book on my radar this April.

Sorry about your Cubs. The Women's OR Ducks (college) made it to the final four today in basketball!!!

Glad you managed to fit in some bird strolling. ; )

>249 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. You adjust your time about a month after we do. Enjoy!

>250 Berly: Hi, Kim. I think you will like Your Duck is My Duck and I know you will have a good time with Bibliophile. And hooray for the Ducks! Our Cubs will get back on track, just issues with the pitching.

"Welcome to the surreal and sublime human circus of Mark Mayer's Michener-Copernicus-winning debut, Aerialists, a fiercely inventive collection of nine stories in which classic carnival characters become ordinary misfits seeking grandeur in a lonely world."

^If this doesn't sound like my cuppa, I don't know what does. Nancy suggested this title to me awhile back. She knows me well. Kicking off April with a story collection is perfect. I will also continue to dip into Bibliophile and I will finally get back to The Witch Elm. This being my LONG work week, I should knock it out in a few days.

I am also enjoying Magical Negro, my current poetry collection and Livestock, my current GN. So anyone that thinks, I have completely consumed my time with my feathered friends, can fret no longer. B.A.G.

Morning, Mark!

'Morning Mark! Happy Monday to you.

I saw the Bald Eagle at what I call the Kingfisher Pond on the way into town last Friday. I always get goosebumps when I see her/him!

I'll be putting out two hummingbird feeders today. Someone at the booksale already reported seeing a Hummingbird, so I want to make sure the early birds have a bit of energy on their way up north.

>253 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>254 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for the Bald Eagle sighting! Never gets old, right? And hooray for the hummingbird feeders! My wife bought a new one for us. I hope to put it up next weekend.

Happy Monday, Mark! We have 3 count 'em 3 inches of snow on the ground! On the bright side, it looks like Sunday is going to be a nice day for the Indians game we are planning to attend.
Yes, I believe Bibliophile must be purchased for reference purposes and salivating of course. Glad you are enjoying it.

I'm glad that you're enjoying Magical Negro, Mark, as Morgan Parker is one of the African American women authors whose books I plan to read soon.

>256 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. Boo to the snow but hooray for a warmer weekend and the Indians game. Yah!

>257 kidzdoc: Hi, Darryl. You will like the Parker collection. Did you read her last volume, the Beyoncé one? If not, it is also very good.

>258 msf59: I haven't read anything by Morgan Parker yet. *hangs head in shame*

Hey, Mark. Just got this fascinating article in my Audubon newsletter. Totally new info for me! And isn't that first pic gorgeos?

Juncos!

Sadly, this has been an awful winter at my feeder and I still have no idea why. Hardly any action and only ONE junco. I usually have tons. Well, I had a few goldfinches and a nuthatch this morning but really, not much most of the winter.

I'm another fan of Bibliophile, Mark.

I hope things warm up for you this week.

Hey, Mark.

I finished Tap Out today, and it was excellent. Thanks for the nudge. That's two in a row that illustrate the importance of family - her addicted brother in When My Brother Was an Aztec, and his alcoholic father in Tap Out. I'm going to try Indecency next, which won the NBA last year.

I saw Nancy's rec of Good Talk up in >134 msf59:. I'll request it soon, too.

Good job of catching up on the mini-reviews. Hooray for Quiet Girl in a Noisy World!, and I've got Bibliophile on my radar.

>260 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Thanks for sharing the junco photos and info. I also love that Oregon Junco. I want to see one of these beauties. My sister lives in OR, so maybe next time I visit, I will track one down. Sorry, to hear about your lack of activity at your feeders. How frustrating. Let's hope it improves. I have mostly my regular visitors but they come in, consistently.

>261 BLBera: Hi, Beth. It does look like we are trending to warmer temps. 60s over the weekend. I will gladly take it.

>262 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I am so glad you enjoyed Tap Out. As we know, poetry can strike everyone differently, but I thought that might be a good fit for you. He is a poet to watch. I had Indecency on my radar, but I do not think it was available in my library system. I will watch for your thoughts and then try again. Good Talk is also not available at my library. Sad face.

>262 jnwelch:: Can't wait for you to get your hands on Good Talk. (touchstones not working)

Also, thanks for sending me to the Junco article. You might like to receive my Center's weekly update - we include links to two blogs, many of them about birds. Sign-up is in the footer: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/

I saw this post tonight and thought of both of you. Poets Who Shine a Light on Our Present Moment https://www.readitforward.com/essay/article/poets-who-shine-a-light-on-our-prese...

Glad that you are enjoying Bibliophile" An Illustrated Miscellany. I thought you would!

>265 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. Thanks for the poetry link. I always appreciate those. I took a quick glance and every one looks promising. I have copied and pasted it to my browser. Are you reading any poetry at the moment? I highly recommend Tap Out: Poems.

>266 mdoris: Hi, Mary. I hope to dig back into Bibliophile tonight.

>267 msf59: I am not reading any poetry now, but I should be! Adding Tap Out to my wishlist. Thanks for the rec. I am deep into The Invention of Nature, which, unsurprisingly, I am loving. Should finish the Caro tonight too.

Here is something shocking - I read 26 books in the first quarter!

Did I tell you about my trip to Seattle for Independent Bookseller Day at the end of the month?

'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you!

I'v got Cowbirds, Titmice (titmouses?), Cardinals, Blue Jays, LBBs, and a male Red-Bellied Woodpecker chowing down. Everybody's fluffed up because it's only 31F here right now. Brrrr!

Good morning, Mark.

>264 msf59:, >265 alphaorder: I'm 20th in line for Good Talk, but they do have a lot of copies, so we'll see.

I'm about halfway through Essex Serpent, and can't decide whether I like it or not! That doesn't happen often. I know there are 75ers who've thought highly of it.

I'm alternating Passing for Human and The Initiates, and liking both.

Mid-50s today? We're getting there . . .

>268 alphaorder: Ooh, lots to cheer about, Nancy. Hooray for hitting 26 books, loving The Invention of Nature and an upcoming trip to Seattle. Very nice.

>269 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Wow! Nice convention at your feeders. It was warmer here this A.M. It was about 38-39 on the way in. Supposed to climb to 54.

>270 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Not bad out here at all, but I would sure like to shed this jacket. Thanks for the book report, but it is bummer you are not enjoying Essex Serpent. I never did get around to that one.

Hi Mark - wish you were retired because here are 3 good things you might want to follow up on:

1. As mentioned on Joe's site, there was a great dramatic poetry reading (stay with it till 18-30 minutes in) -
with a CHICAGO musician and composer at The Kennedy Center a few nights ago:
now on YouTube = Roscoe Mitchell and Moor Mother. Both will be at Chicago's Jazz Festival this summer.

2. I can't remember where I saw this, but sent for a free booklet, SANTA CRUZ WILDLIFE WATCHING GUIDE,
which is pretty remarkable, notably for bird watchers: www.visitsantacruz.org or www.birding.travel.

3. If you haven't read SIGHTINGS by Sam Keen, it is worth his gentle renderings of "ordinary" birds.

My daughter walked out from voting this morning into - SNOW!

>273 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. Thanks for the recommendations. When, I get a chance I will check out Roscoe Mitchell and Moor Mother. I had not heard of this artist. I will also seek out the Santa Cruz Wildlife Watching Guide and I had not heard of "Sightings", but I am sold on it, based on the cover alone:

^I saw a Hairy Woodpecker at my Birding Break Spot, (BBS) today. This is a FOY here, bringing my species total to 14, for 2019, tying my Backyard Feeder total. I am predicting my BBS will begin to increase, through the month and beyond, as migrants pass through and summer arrivals, begin to land.

>274 msf59: I wishlisted Sightings. Thanks for the rec.

Oh, great picture of the the Hairy Woodpecker. I'm not quite certain what woodpeckers are common to our area, and my bird books are upstairs. I think the downy woodpecker and something else. I did just read that the Northern Flicker, which is common here is a type of a woodpecker . Who knew? Not me. I saw humming bird the other day, but I've no idea what type. It was not at a feeder, just flying among some trees. I'm such a helpful bird watcher , lol! :-)

>276 alphaorder: I see that got your interest too, Nancy. BTW- I am enjoying Aerialists: Stories. Not sure it will be for everyone, but it is working for me.

>277 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. I love Northern Flickers. They do migrate for the winter and I have not seen one this year yet. They rarely come to my feeders, but I see them on the route and on my bird strolls. You will mostly see them feeding on the ground. Great looking birds:

'Morning, Mark! Congrats on the Hairy Woodpecker.

Happy Wednesday to you. Hope it's a good one.

More poetry suggestions!
https://themillions.com/2019/04/must-read-poetry-april-2019%EF%BB%BF.html

>279 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and hooray for the Hairy!!

>280 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy and thanks for the poetry link.

>280 alphaorder: Adding my thanks, Nancy. There is so much good poetry being written now. And sales for that category are going up, probably due to the increased interest among younger readers.

Happy Mid-Week, Mark!

I'm getting near the ends of my current crop of books. I can't say I don't like Essex Serpent - I'm going to finish it - but it won't be on my "Best of" list. I can see why reactions to it are all over the place. I believe there are LTers who loved it.

Should be a decent day weather-wise. Have a good one, buddy.

Afternoon, Mark. I guess you are out delivering mail. I, heh heh, am contemplating all the intriguing, exciting, beautiful, inspiring, amusing, horrifying, informative books I have stacked on my desk, procured just in the last seven days. You would like the book of Edward Curtis photos of Native Americans. I now have Dry, which I believe you warbled about. Three or four by Vonnegut (none of his best stuff, I admit). I even got a Wiley Cash (I believe you awarded him a golden seal). Now finishing Lincoln in the Bardo and a Wodehouse.

Stop by for a beer.

>282 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. It looks like there will no rush to read The Essex Serpent, so not disappointed there. I do have an ARC of her follow-up novel, that Benita snagged for me, so still deciding on that one. It was definitely a good weather day. Cooler tomorrow but back to warmth on Friday. I will take it.

>283 weird_O: Hi, Bill. I was out delivering mail but I am home now. I loved the Edward Curtis bio. I am a big fan of Egan. Yes, I did warble a bit about The Dry. A solid crime novel. Hooray for Wiley Cash. Yep, I am also a big fan of his.

I finished listening to Empire Made and highly recommend it. (I put it on my best of 2019 list - tentatively. It is that good) It is toggles back and forth between the past and the author's present and it does it very well. Plus, I liked the narrator. If you can get this one as an audio book I recommend it.

Now, it is back to Brain on Fire which you warbled about a couple of years ago, and I am just now getting to. I got more than half done with it, and the ILL request for Empire Made came in. Since it was due first, Brian on Fire went back to the public library and I listened to Empire Made first. Now I can finish Susannah Cahalan's story. This one is very interesting too. And it is a good narrator.

>285 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Thanks for the book report. I am glad you are enjoying your current NFs.

^Okay, so do a lot of other things but my Cubbies are definitely off to a crappy start, 1-4. The pitching has been atrocious, especially the bullpen. Ugh!! Let's turn this baby around.

Hey, at least my current reads are treating me fine, although Ms. French continues to be extremely long-winded, as they say. One extended conversation seemed to go on for a 100 pages. I am not kidding.http://www.cubssuckclub.com/wp-content/grand-media/image/thumb/this-team-makes-me-drink-cubs.jpg

'Morning, Mark! Sorry about your Cubbies. I hope you have an uneventful work day.

I just saw a Chipping sparrow on my wild bird seed feeder, along with several Cardinals.

>288 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Fortunately, it is very early in the baseball season. Plenty of time to correct these problems.

Hooray for the chipping sparrow. Have not seen one at my feeder, for quite some time.

>287 msf59: - My Yankees are a disappointment so far, too, Mark.

"long in the tooth" means old. I think you mean long-winded :)

>290 katiekrug: LOL. I have corrected it, Katie. Thanks. I blame sleepiness. Hey, at least we are very early in the baseball season. Only a week in...hoping for a quick turn-around.

Sorry about them Cubbies, Mark. It can't go on - can it? :-)

Yeah, no rush to read The Essex Serpent from my POV, although it had its moments. I'm curious about her one after, as she knows her way around an inkwell, I mean, keyboard.

I finished Passing for Human, and it was very good. Thanks for the tip. I like reading ones that aren't like any other out there.

I'm going to start My Sister, the Serial Killer, which has been getting a lot of buzz. Sounds like a fun one.

Hope the rain didn't drag you down too much today. Warmup on its way.

>292 jnwelch: I liked The Essex Serpent but thought it flawed. I liked Melmoth more, but there were still a few kinks, but she is certainly a writer I'll continue to read Joe.

Mark, I've got a bird report for you. Yesterday while out on my walk with the dog, I ran across the usual suspects, seagulls, Canada Geese, mallards etc. But then out of the blue( it seemed ) and bald eagle arrived, chasing a seagull. I know that bald eagles are around here - actually quite a few of them, but normally they hang around across the river. But I've never seen a bald eagle chase a seagull and they were literally inches apart. I thought - oh no, I'm going to see the eagle nab the seagull right out of the sky, but it seemed that the seagull managed to evade the eagle. Of course once the first seagull rang the alarm, about 50 - 100 seagulls appeared, all of them madly soaring in circles and making their crazy gull alarm call. It was quite the sight for Poppy and me. Poppy is pretty calm about birds, since we see them all the time. I don't think the eagle ever caught a /the seagull, though there were some buildings in the way of my sight line. I've never seen a bald eagle give chase like that, though I know they do go after other birds , rabbits , fish, really anything they can grab. Perhaps the eagle is nesting and guarding a nest? Or a territorial thing? I can't imagine that a bald eagle would really eat a bird as big as seagull? Fortunately I did not have to witness anything that gruesome, but it was quite fascinating.

>292 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Fortunately, it is very early on in the baseball season, and there is plenty of time to make adjustments, but it still gets frustrating, especially after the letdown, last September.

Glad you enjoyed Passing for Human. I also liked her approach. I may join you on My Sister, the Serial Killer, in the next week or so. Sounds like a winner.

>293 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. I have Melmoth on shelf, so I might still give that one a try.

>294 vancouverdeb: Sweet Thursday, Deb. Bald Eagles are definitely opportunists, but I am not sure I have heard of them chasing down another bird, especially the size of a seagull. I could be completely wrong here, but I would guess it was a territorial thing.

Funny, a couple weeks ago, our group saw gulls chasing away eagles, that were trying to scavenge dead fish from the surface.