Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Sixteen

-Daniel Albitt (I want to thank Caroline for turning me on to this artist and letting me steal this wonderful image)



-Ruby Throated Hummingbird. I have not seen much activity lately but this is one of my favorite photos, from earlier in the season.

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



June:

73) The Unfinished World: And Other Stories by Amber Sparks 4.2 stars
74) Furious Hours: The Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep 4.7 stars (audio)
75) My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix 3 stars (audio)
76) Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli 4.5 stars (audio)
77) Emma by Jane Austen 3.6 stars (E)
78) The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal by Mary Pilon 3.8 stars (audio)
79) The Unvanquished by William Faulkner 4 stars
80) Milkman by Anna Burns 4.3 stars (audio)
81) West: A Novel by Carys Davies 4.2 stars
82) Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life by María Hesse 4.5 stars GN
83) Flowers of Mold & Other Stories by Seong-Nan Ha 4 stars
84) The Long Take: A noir narrative by Robin Robertson 4.3 stars (poetry)

July:

85) The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead 4.7 stars ALA
86) Bernie by Ted Rall 4.2 stars GN
87) Kingdom Cons by Yuri Herrera 3.8 stars
88) Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography by Jack Hurst 3.3 stars (audio)
89) Voices in the Ocean by Susan Casey 4.4 stars (audio)
90) The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai 5 stars
91) Drinking at the Movies by Julia Wertz 4.2 stars GN
92) If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais 4.7 stars
93) Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson 3.8 stars (audio)
94) Big Sky (Jackson Brodie) by Kate Atkinson 3.8 stars (audio)
95) Mohawk by Richard Russo 4.2 stars
96) Instructions for a Funeral: Stories by David Means 4.7 stars
97) Moonbound: Apollo 11 by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm 4.2 stars GN
98) Moloka'i: A Novel by Alan Brennert 4 stars (audio)

Aug:

99) Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton 4.5 stars ALA
100) God Save Texas by Lawrence Wright 4.6 stars (audio)
101) Lanny by Max Porter 4.4 stars
102) Recursion by Blake Crouch 3.7 stars (audio)
103) Monument: Poems New and Selected by Natasha Trethewey 4.5 stars (P)
104) The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell 4.3 stars ALA
105) Norco '80:True Story of the Most Spectacular Bank Robbery by Peter Houlahan 3.8 stars (audio)
106) The New Order: Stories by Karen E. Bender 4.6 stars ALA
107) Let's Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir by Jeff Tweedy 4.5 stars (audio)
108) The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines 4.2 stars AAC
109) The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth) by N. K. Jemisin 4.2 stars (audio)

September:

110) A Truck Full of Money by Tracy Kidder 3.8 stars (audio)
111) Storyteller by Leslie Marmon Silko 4.2 stars AAC
112) Pilgrim's Wilderness: Madness on the Alaska Frontier by Tom Kizzia 4 stars (audio)

^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
15) Northern Flicker
16) Mallards
17) Brown-Headed Cowbird 4/22
18) Chipping Sparrow 5/1
19) White-Crowned Sparrow 5/2
20) Red-Winged Blackbird 5/5
21) Ruby-Throated Hummingbird 5/5
22) Hermit Thrush 5/7 (F)
23) Gray Catbird 5/16 (F)
24) Baltimore Oriole 5/20 (F)
25) Blue Jay 6/7
26) Hairy Woodpecker

(F)- First time seen at the feeders.

106) The New Order: Stories by Karen E. Bender 4.6 stars ALA

"I wanted a nation in which our leaders never lied and were elected to office because of their love for and adherence to the truth. I wanted a nation where, if people got sick, they would be cared for, swiftly, tenderly, and the only concern would be that they would get well. I wanted a nation that did not conjure suspicion about entire groups of people...I wanted a nation where a person could go to school or shopping or wherever and never worry about whether it was smarter to dive under a chair or run"

“The world was still hot and despairing and full of pain, and I wasn’t a giant at all, but I wasn’t dust, either. I was trying to be a hopeful resident of the world. I stood with my fellow congregants in the room, feeling their presence beside me. We were all paying attention now, our minds unfastened. We looked to the new year...”

Wow, another great surprise. This story collection, from last year, eerily reflects our current state of affairs, taking hard looks at the senseless violence, relentless fear, bigotry and sexual harassment that have been choking our society, with a cold, unflagging fury. Many collections have hit or miss stories, I think this is what most readers expect and while every story here, may not hit for the fences, it is remarkably consistent. I also have to give a shout-out to “ The Department of Happiness and Reimbursement”, which just might be my favorite story that I have read this year. It blew me away.

**Once again, I want to thank Benita for grabbing this title for me, from ALA, last year. She has such an uncanny radar.

"This is the way the world ends. Again."

I have been reading very little fantasy these days but many of my LT pals, really like N.K. Jemisin so I thought I would finally start with The Fifth Season, which is the first in a trilogy. I have had this saved on audio, for eons. I also want to get my mitts on her latest story collection. I read/listened to a nice chunk
of it today. I am trying to keep the different narratives straight, but the writing has been excellent. What a talent.

I am also well into the second half of Jane Pittman, which has been very good. Even better than expected .

^This time I will focus more on the beer, which is a pale ale, called Free Bird, of course, a name I love. That said I am looking forward to the latest GN, by Lucy Kinsley, titled Kid Gloves. The other one is a poetry collection. By Charles Simic. A first time poet for me. Anyone else familiar with him?

**Joe chimed in on Charles Simic and is a fan. Yah!! The Warbler did good.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread!

>7 jessibud2: >8 figsfromthistle: >9 mahsdad: >10 quondame: Thanks, Shelley, Figs, Jeff & Susan.

The name Charles Simic caught my eye. I can’t say anything too much at Charles Simic as a poet except that he has a GREAT Bohemian name. He would be right at home in Munden as there are plenty of SImic’s there and in Crete, Nebraska. I wonder if he is related to our local weatherman Ken Simic. Nah - can’t be. Ken is from Crete, NE.

A quick check on Wikipedia says that Simic is actually Serbian and he immigrated to Chicago in 1954 as a child with his family. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry in 1990.

Have a good time with the newest Lucy Kinsley, Mark, and happy new thread. That is a very moody topper.

Happy Sunday and congrats on your shiny new thread, Mark.

>12 benitastrnad: Thanks, for chiming in on the name Simic. I had not heard of the poet before. The collection caught my eye.

>13 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I really liked that painting and snagged it from Caroline.

>14 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. I hope you are having a great weekend.

^I am going on an organized day long bird walk. Leaving shortly. A completely new area for me. Wish me luck and lifers.

Have fun!

Happy Sunday, Mark! Looking forward to your birding report!

Happy Sunday and happy new thread, Mark!

I definitely wish you luck and lifers on your bird walk.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread, Mark. I love the painting at the top. I thought it looked familiar. :)

LT tells me Simic is represented in one of the Library of America poetry collections; must check him out.

Heeyyyy. New thread, new thread. It's nice, with that painting in the entryway and all. But, heck, what was wrong with that other thread. I liked it; it had lots of words and birds. Oh well. I guess you have to give your public what it wants: The Latest, The Greatest.

Heeheeheehee... :-)

I just may follow your lead and set up a new thread myself. The third third of the reading year starts in a week.

Reading an Isabel Allende memoir called My Invented Country. And Goethe's take on Faust. And some other stuff. The NYT's 1619 Project articles on American's slavery history.

Happy New Thread, compadre.

Woo, what a beaut of a day.

Nice toppers. I probably missed it - how'd you end up liking Lanny?

That topper image is absolutely stunning. I'm glad Caroline turned you onto Daniel Albitt and that you've now turned a few others (including me) onto his work. I just love it.

Back to your prior thread and the Green Heron. It was eons ago but one of my best-ever bird moments involved a Green Heron. I was visiting my father and his wife in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Dad died in 1993 so this was, as I say, a while ago. Their condo sat on the bank of a sort of lagoon and one morning as I sat there with my mug of coffee, I saw a Green Heron making his way along the branches of a Mangrove bush at the edge of the water. And I realized he was sneaking up on a snake.... It was amazing to watch! My recollection is hazy but I believe he got his dinner. :-)

I'm adding The New Order: Stories to my wish list. It sounds like a good collection! (When you just do "The New Order" the touchstone is to a book called The Third Reich: The New Order which was apparently a Time/Life book. I'm guessing Bender's title is specifically referencing that phrase although probably not that publication.)

I'm very much enjoying Lost Children Archive. I see that you gave it 4.5 stars and that is probably about what it's headed for in my rating scale, as well.

I hope you had fun on your bird excursion today!

>17 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. It was a good day.

>18 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. It was a long day but a worthy one. Lifers were seen. Bird report to follow.

>19 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I will post my bird report a little later.

>20 scaifea: Thanks, Amber.

>21 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. As soon as I saw that image on Caroline's thread, I decided- That is my next topper. Grins.

>22 laytonwoman3rd: I am looking forward to dipping into the Simic collection, Linda. I love discovering new poets.

>23 weird_O: Hi, Bill. After 300 posts, or so, I have to retire the thread and move on. I like those new starts. I appreciate the book update. As usual, you have a good diverse, round of books going.

>24 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. It was a beautiful day. I enjoyed it. I loved Lanny. I never did review it. Bad Mark?

>25 EBT1002: Happy Sunday, Ellen. I was quite impressed with the Albitt painting. I looked at some of his other work and still chose that one. I like the person, just soaking in nature.

I loved your Green Heron memory. I can see why that stuck with you. They are more secretive and more camouflaged, than Great Blue Herons, so they are not always easy to see.

I think you would really appreciate The New Order: Stories. Please keep it in mind.

Woo Hoo, Mark!! Happy sweet 16! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

>29 Carmenere: Hooray for Sweet Sixteen, Lynda. It has been a good weekend. Thanks.

-American Golden Plover (NMP. I did take a couple but they were not this clear)

"A large shorebird of pastures, open ground, and mudflats, the American Golden-Plover makes one of the longest migratory journeys of any shorebird. It breeds on the high Arctic tundra of Alaska and Canada and winters in the grasslands of central and southern South America."

I had a good bird day, but it was a long one too. It was a small group of five and we drove about 80 miles, southeast, nearly to the Indiana border. Most of the birding was in farm country, off the roadside, with a couple of forays into a couple of nature preserves. I added 3 lifers, including the Golden Plover, the Horned Lark and the Cliff Swallow. We saw tons of starlings, killdeer and crows, along with bluebirds, red-headed woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks and others. As a bonus, we had a small flock of turkeys cross the road in front of us.



-Horned Lark (NMP)

"Horned Larks are social birds, sometimes found in huge flocks outside the breeding season. They creep along bare ground searching for small seeds and insects."

Reading and posting in abundance, Mark.

Happy new thread, buddy.

>32 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Good to see you. Just doing my thing around here and I don't see it changing for the foreseeable future.

-Harry Bliss

Good morning, Mark, and happy Monday to you.

Congrats on three lifers. Your long day sounds totally worth it.

Happy new thread!

>34 msf59: LOL!

Morning, Mark. It's pouring here; I hope it lightens up.

I finished Hollow Kingdom and liked it a lot. A girl baby? I read that Buxton wants to write another book featuring S.T., so we may find out more. I'm reading the second Janet Watson Chronicles now; fingers crossed that this new series continues to be good. I just re-read the first volume of the graphic The Graveyard Book and was reminded how good it is.

Hope this wet day goes well enough for you; I remember you have a good one going on audio (as usual), so that should help.

Looks like an all day soaker, in Chicagoland. Send dry and comforting thoughts...

Happy new thread, Mark!

>31 msf59: Three lifers, that was a rewarding birdwalk!
On our walk this morning I saw the first flock of swallows, they gather now before they migrate to spend the winter in Africa.

Well, someone sent some dry thoughts, because stopped raining, as soon as I loaded up. Just a couple of sprinkles..

>35 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. It was a good bird day.

>36 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>37 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. The rain has let up for now here. Let's hope it remains mostly dry until I am done. I am so glad you enjoyed S.T & the Gang. It would nice to her do a follow up, although I don't think it would be necessary.

Yep, really enjoying The Fifth Season.

>39 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita and hooray for the migrating swallows. I am glad to get the lifers, since it has been harder to find them locally, as my list has grown. Sometimes luck is involved.

Happy New thread! What a gorgeous painting by Daniel Albitt. I'll definitely have to check him out.

I also loved your photo of the Green Heron on the previous thread. I haven't seen one although the blues are common here.

I loved The Fifth Season. I have the second one, The Obelisk Gate home from the library and ready to start soon.

>23 weird_O: Ahhhh. I see what I said about a new thread. I'm going to do it. Sunday, September 1. Watch for it. It'll be the same boring sh*t as the first one and the current one.

I'm about half through Ms. Allende's memoir of Chile. Not a page-turner, but it holds my interest.

It is raining down here in Alabama! It should be a weather turner - as in, it is real cold front. It started raining last night and has been almost continual throughout today. I hope, hope, hope that it changes the weather from the hot Tobacco Road type summer weather we have been having to the more genial late summer heat.

And I have the first 110 pages of a book about water read for Suzanne's Nonfiction challenge. Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization by Steven Solomon. So far it is very interesting and I am only to about the year 1000. Very interesting. Did you know that the Chinese figured out how to make steel almost a thousand years before anybody in the west did so? They also had steam driven engines that they did not use to create a substitute for manual labor 700 years before it was invented in Scotland. Amazing.

Sunshine lollipops and rainbows here. And it's only vaguely gestured at 80°/27C. Perfection!

Lovely sunshine day on the B.C. coast but it has turned cooler earlier than usual for August. We spotted the first of the returning loons Aug. 19th which seems very early to us compared to other years. (21C/70F)
Hope you can stay dry.

>42 streamsong: Thanks, Janet. I love discovering new artists around here and Albitt definitely fits the bill. Glad you like the Green heron. Cool, but elusive birds. I am continuing to enjoy The Fifth Season, so I am sure book two will be forthcoming.

>43 weird_O: " It'll be the same boring sh*t as the first one and the current one." Thanks for the loud guffaw, this utterance caused, Bill. I am sure one of my customers heard me on the route. Glad you are enjoying the Allende memoir.

>44 benitastrnad: Let it rain! Let it rain! Glad to hear it, Benita. Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth does sound interesting and so does the Chinese historical tidbits. Thanks for sharing.

>45 richardderus: Hooray, for lollipops and rainbows, Richard. Glad you are enjoying some comfortable weather.

>46 mdoris: Hi, Mary. Always good to see you. Thanks for the loon report. Do they breed farther north and winter in your area? I love these birds, but rarely get to see them.

104) The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell 4.3 stars

"And we aren't going to wait around for the Second Coming, are we! We won't wait for Jesus to come back and make things right. We aren't going to beg for a decent life, a good life, a healthy life. We are going to demand those things--for ourselves! For our neighbors! For our children! And for all the working stiffs who come after us."

"And that, children, is how you by-God raise some hell."

The setting is 1913, in a copper-mining town in the upper-peninsula of Michigan. Annie Clements spent her whole life in this town and saw the mining industry destroy her loved ones and weaken the community, forcing them to completely depend on the mining company, to survive. The conditions were abysmal, to say the least.
With the help of a union organizer, Annie takes on the arrogant mine owners, calling for a strike, knowing it will, most likely destroy her marriage and threaten her life. I normally don't fall for the female main characters, in the novels I read but I had to say I found, twenty-five old Annie Clements quite appealing and not only for her looks and stature but also for her sharp mind, her fearlessness, and unflagging dedication. Team that up this author's deft research skills and her robust writing chops and you have a terrific, hard-hitting story, that also happens to be based on actual characters and events. Yep, MDR has delivered again.

**This was my second book, from my recent ALA booty. I am batting a 1,000.

>50 msf59: Yay for The Women Of The Copper Country. I should be getting to it soon Mark.

>51 brenzi: I think you will have a very good time with Copper Country, Bonnie.

"A collection of stories focuses on contemporary Native American concerns--white injustice, the fragmenting of the Indian community, and the loss of tribal identity--and recalls Indian legends and tribal stories."

I love reading Native American literature and poetry but surprisingly enough, I had not read Leslie Marmon Silko. Well, AAC is giving me an opportunity to catch up with her. I just started Storyteller ( first published April 1st 1980), and later in September I will finally get to Ceremony.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you. I just saw a male Goldfinch go for some black oil sunflower seeds. My feeders have been hopping and I need to fill them all today.

>1 msf59: >48 msf59: >53 msf59:

Love the top painting - without my glasses, the figure at the edge of the lake appeared as a large crow.

Leslie Marmon Silko might agree and CEREMONY will be yours and Joe's with all the poetry.

Those who love lollipops might wish to stay away from new release ORDINARY GIRLS.

>54 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for visiting goldfinch and hopping feeders. We are quickly approaching migration time. My feeders have still been quiet.

>55 m.belljackson: Morning, Marianne. Glad you like the topper. It has been a hit. Looking forward to Silko. Have you read Storyteller? It begins very well.

Morning, Mark.

Debbi gets back today, so I’ll finally be able to find things and not wander about cluelessly quite so much.

I’m glad the latest Mary Doria Russell turned out to be a top read. I know you’re a big fan. Like you, I’ve never read Leslie Marmon Silko, so I’ll be watching for your thoughts.

I’m going to start Alice Oswald’s collection Falling Awake. I’m pretty sure she’s a favorite of Caroline’s.

>50 msf59: Oh goody good good! It's as good as I had hoped it'd be. Now to get to it....

>57 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Hooray for the return of the Organzier! I am sure I will be recommending the Silko to you. Looking forward to hearing about the Oswald collection. I had not heard of her before.

>58 richardderus: Hooray for, MDR. She has not failed me yet, RD.

>53 msf59: Goodness...you're reading ahead! I guess that's allowed. I need to try to get her thread up today or tomorrow.

>47 msf59: Mission accomplished!

>50 msf59: Loved the review of the new Mary Doria Russell book. I will probably start it tomorrow.

Hi Mark, I'm finally catching up with you in time to hit with a book bullet for Mary Doria Russell's newest! While I have been all that social on LT lately, I sure have been reading - August has been a stellar reading month for me!

>60 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. I don't normally read ahead on the AAC, but I have had my library copy of Storyteller for more than a couple of weeks now and wanted to at least dip in, in case it had to be returned. I thought it was going to be more poetry but it is more short stories, which I am perfectly fine with but it will probably take me awhile to get through. I am really enjoying what I have read so far.

>61 weird_O: B.A.G.

>62 lindapanzo: Did I get a Thumb out of it, Linda? Grins...I think you will really like this book. It almost reads like narrative nonfiction.

>63 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Well, we are all about the books aren't we, so it is good to her you are deep into the reads. I will have to stop by and see what you have been chugging through. I am sure you will love the MDR. I hope it is available in your location.

>64 msf59: Yes you did. I've put The Nickel Boys on reserve at the library. Alas, I think I am #32 on the wait list so it'll be awhile probably.

In fact, as of now, I think I'm the only thumb.

>65 lindapanzo: "In fact, as of now, I think I'm the only thumb." Say what? My only friend who came through with a Thumb? WTH? I want to spread the word on this one. Grins...

I can easily send you my copy of The Nickel Boys. It is just sitting here, being sadly neglected. Let me know!

>66 msf59: Sure, I'd love that. Will send a message with my address, in case you don't have it.

>67 lindapanzo: Yes, PM me your address and I will get it out to you in a few days.

>68 msf59: Hey, just went to my email account and, even though I was #32 on the list, my copy of The Nickel Boys is now in my not at all warm little hands.

>69 lindapanzo: Oh, that is great, Linda. You have the MDR, at hand too?

>70 msf59: Might read The Nickel Boys first. That one on Kindle with no renewals. The MDR is a print copy and it looks like I can get several renewals.

I know it said I was #32 but maybe they have a lot of copies system-wide. Or else everyone returned theirs all at once.

The other book you mentioned looks good, too.

Also, I noticed that I've never read a Toni Morrison book so I checked my shelves and e-shelves and find that I own a copy of Jazz and so may get to that sometime soon, too.

The new Louise Penny mystery is also right up there, too. I need to get to that soon if only because my RL friends who read her will be sending spoiler texts to me nonstop the next couple weeks (they always do).

>71 lindapanzo: I am glad you got your mitts on The Nickel Boys, Linda. It is a quick read but packs quite a punch. I am glad you are getting to Ms. Morrison. She is a treasure and I remember loving Jazz but it has been many years. I plan on reading Paradise in September, in her honor.

I gave up on the Three Pines series but I did enjoy the 6 or 7, I did read.

Said the Gun to the Woman on Her Way to Planned Parenthood

What pisses me off is that you are the one
they call murderer. Treat me like a thing
to protect, and you get to be the monster.
Like it was not me who shot
up the club and gave new meaning
to a last dance. Not me who sat back
in my hotel room and turned the music festival
into one long scream. Not me who interrupted
a classroom of children learning ABCs
and punctuation and taught them
how I. End.
A sentence.
They say you think
you can play god, but in this country, I am god.
They'll argue that I'm innocent.
Closets of suits will pledge allegiance, write clean,
crisp, amendments while you do nothing
but choose to save your life and you get riots
outside the clinic, a bomb in the belly
of a dumpster. Tell me, what have you been
aiming for? Joy? Freedom? A body
that is yours? Let's be clear:
I'm the only one of us
who is not pro-life
here.



-Megan Falley

Drive Here and Devastate Me is an amazing poetry collection. If you love poetry, track this collection down ASAP. If you are not sure if poetry is "your thing", give it a try anyway. The troubled times we are living in, call for a strong, fearless voice and Megan Falley does not play around. She is the real deal. Thanks to Joe, for putting this collection in my hands.

>74 msf59: More for you! *shudder*

>73 msf59: Just wow. What a great poem.

>75 richardderus: Falley doesn't play around does she?

>76 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. I highly recommend you track down one of Falley's collections.

'Morning Mark and happy Wednesday to you. It's hard to believe that August is almost over. I want autumn!

>78 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I have the day off. Yah! Birding this A.M. with pals and then visiting my daughter this afternoon. She had surgery yesterday, to repair a broken foot. She is going to be out of commission for awhile.

I love autumn too, I am just not a fan of what comes after. Shudders...

>73 msf59:, >74 msf59: Great Megan Falley poem and comments, Mark. I hope lots of folks are inspired to try Drive Here and Devastate Me. She writes from that performance background, and her poems are easy to relate to.

>80 msf59: Ha! I resemble that remark.

Sorry to hear about Bree's broken foot! Horseback riding? Please give her our best.

Enjoy the day off! With the birding happening, I know you will.

>79 msf59:

Farmer's Almanac is predicting another clunker of a winter -

Good that Bree will be recovered by then - best wishes to her.

>50 msf59: Hi Mark! So glad that MDR hit another home run. Can't wait to get it I'm fairly high in the library queue. Your description reminded me of the Wiley Cash novel about a textile mill in the '20s. That was a good one too.

>80 msf59: I knew I loved owls for a reason!

>81 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Finally stumbled in, after being gone since 7:30. A very good off day so far. Hope to squeeze some reading in, for the remainder of it.

I loved the Falley collection and had to share that poem, even if it meant typing it completely out. She speaks to me.

Bree did not break her foot horseback riding, but stepped off a curb wrong, while goofing off with her boyfriend. She WILL NOT be able to ride her horse, for a few months. She is not happy.

>82 m.belljackson: I am not paying attention to any winter predictions, Marianne. These reports are not always correct, so why worry? I have one more winter to get through before retirement, and that is the only thing I am focused on.

>83 vivians: Hi, Vivian. I am sure you will love the MDR, when you get to it. And yes, comparing it to The Last Ballad is a good comparison. The MDR is bit edgier.

>84 richardderus: Hooray for the owls and their coffee drinking ways!

I just saw your rave for The Fifth Season (so far) over on RD’s Thread. Great! I agree with your instincts and Richard’s comments - it seems like an awfully tough book to read on audio, and the same would hold true for the next two. It’s a complex story she tells.

>87 jnwelch: If I continue the trilogy, (most likely) I would have to switch to print, Joe. Despite the fact, that the female narrator is doing an excellent job. It is just too difficult to keep all the pieces and the names together.

>88 msf59:. Makes sense to me. They’re great print reads.

I'm so sorry to hear about Bree's broken foot Mark.

I am sorry about Bree's foot. What a drag.

I wanted to read The Fifth Seasonm but when I started it, I didn't have the patience for the story line. Maybe another time?

Oh no, poor Bree! So sorry to hear about her foot.

>89 jnwelch: I hope I'll follow up on the trilogy, Joe.

>90 brenzi: >91 banjo123: >92 lauralkeet: Thanks, Bonnie, Rhonda & Laura. She is doing fine. Just very frustrated with the long recovery process, which will impede work and her beloved horse riding.

>91 banjo123: Jemison's writing chops are quite impressive. This keeps me sticking me it. Just a bit tough to follow on audio.

-NMP

^We did see an osprey in flight, yesterday morning, doing something acrobatic. It was at quite a distance but I always enjoy seeing these raptors. It was a beautiful day and a nice productive bird walk. We saw between 25-30 species. It sure helps having three pairs of eyes. The Eastern Kingbird definitely ruled the day. The first time I have seen so many flocking together and actively feeding. I also had a very nice visit with Bree in the afternoon. Sadly, very little reading got done.



-Eastern Kingbird (NMP)

More amazing bird photo contest winners on my thread, Mark!!

'Morning, Mark, and happy Thursday to you. Poor Bree. I hope the surgery is a success and that she's back to her horse back riding as soon as possible.

So sorry to hear about Bree's foot! Hope her recovery goes well.

>95 jessibud2: I will drop by later and check it out. Thanks, Shelley.

>96 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I think Bree is most sad about not being able to ride her horse.

>97 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy. I appreciate it, my friend.

>86 msf59:

"But there are two things to know.

First, The Old Farmer's Almanac is mostly full of crap.

Second, there's a good chance it's right any way."

(Aside - but sometimes lots of fun crap.)

>94 msf59: Nice! They had manmade osprey nests on the salt marsh near us on Cape Cod. I'll try to post a photo. Very cool to watch them leave the nest and come back.

Sweet Thursday, Mark!

The Alice Oswald collection was okay, but didn't juice me up, unfortunately. I'll probably try another of hers at some point, as she's quite well-respected in Brit-land.

I'm on a mystery jag, reading a Dick Francis for the challenge, and I need to get back to the Jane Harper one. Hound of Justice, Janet Watson and Sara Holmes, was good, but probably is a select taste.

I'm glad you had such a good day off yesterday, and our sympathy to poor Bree.

>99 m.belljackson: LOL. Thanks, Marianne. That gave me my first morning chuckle.

>100 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. I know you are another osprey fan. I never tire, of looking at them.

Thanks for the book update. I know you like your mysteries. And I appreciate your concern abut Bree. She is being taken good care of.

Hey Birddude. Bree's foot injury makes me writhe...foot pain is awful, and I oughta know. Sending easy-healing whammys.

I find that following audio books with multiple story lines to hard. When that happens I go to the library and check out the printed copy of the book so I can look it over when I get confused. Last summer I listened to a YA SciFi book and I finally got a copy from the library to keep everything straight. It helped.

But of course, then the question could be asked, why don't you just read the book and move on to a different audio book?

>102 richardderus: Hey, RD. The Bird Dude is doing fine. I just stopped at my favorite watering hole, after a pleasant day on the route. Hoping for a Cubbies sweep tonight. We have not done well, on the road this year.

>103 benitastrnad: Damn good question, Benita. Honestly, I am still enjoying it on audio and nearly finished with it. I do think reading these in print, would be preferable. Have you read this trilogy? If not, I think it would be your cuppa.

I have had this trilogy on my radar forever but just haven’t gotten around to reading them. Suzanne is keeping me occupied with the nonfiction challenge reading.

SciFi fantasy is my go to reading when I truly want to escape. I can easily get very lost in these books. I also like to listen to them. I was thinking about binge reading this weekend. However, I may try to talk a friend into going to the Decatur Book Festival over in Atlanta this weekend.

I have been doing lots of SciFi/fantasy reading for work this last year and have read some good ones. Right now I am listening to Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. I know you have read some of her novels. I am listening to this one for work. I keep trying to sell it to the Middle and High School teachers and they aren’t buying. I decided I needed to read it so that I could do a better job of convincing. However, I have trouble reading about the Holocaust. I just can’t seem to take myself into those emotional places any more, but I realize that is not the same for those I am trying to teach. This book would make excellent material of use in Middle and High Schools so I am going to buckle down and listen even if it hurts. They need to present this stuff in the schools and for somebody who doesn’t know about these events it can be a great learning tool.

Ugh! Sorry to hear about Bree’s foot. It sounds terribly painful.

>94 msf59: I enjoy keeping an eye on Boulder County’s Osprey nest cam. The two young ones migrated just this past week, and since the mom hasn’t been spotted since yesterday, the assumption is that she has as well. Apparently, dad usually hangs out until mid-September. I’m always amazed that they know just what to do and where to go.

I just finished the new MDR. She’s such a great storyteller!

Today is LT’s birthday. I wonder how many books Tim will go out to buy?

You have been doing good with the birding lately, Mark. Love the bird images. I'm sorry to hear about Bree's foot. Somehow those breaks usually happen doing the stupidest things and then you have an embarrassing story to tell over and over. I hope she heals and gets back to the stuff she loves fast.

>94 msf59: very little reading, but some cool birds seen!

Birddude- I like it :) The great northern warbling birddude.

>105 benitastrnad: >107 benitastrnad: I hope me and a few others around here, will convince you to try the The Fifth Season trilogy. I LOVED Salt to the Sea. I hope you feel the same.

Good question about Tim and the book buying. Grins...

>106 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. Thanks, for asking about Bree. It will be a long haul, that is for sure. And hooray for the osprey nest cam and the new MDR. Both winners!

-Common Nighthawk NMP

>108 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. My son and I were sitting out on our deck last evening, having a beer and watching for nighthawks. They are beginning to migrate through and they are very distinctive, when they fly overhead. We saw several. Thanks for asking about Bree.

>109 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. Great to see you. "The great northern warbling birddude" Sounds like a hefty moniker. I hope I can live up to it. Grins...

"In his new novel, Deep River, Marlantes turns to another mode of storytelling—the family epic—to craft a stunningly expansive narrative that is no less rich and honest in its depiction of human suffering, courage, and reinvention."

Like nearly everyone who had read his epic, Vietnam novel, Matterhorn, I thought it was outstanding. My favorite book of that year. Well, we finally got a new one. I have had an advanced copy for awhile but since it was recently published (early July), I thought I would finally start it. It is a Big Boy too, nearly 800 pages but I am hoping the narrative moves as fast as Matterhorn did.

I am really enjoying Storyteller, and over halfway done but I will put it aside for a bit, to begin the Marlantes. I will also finish The Fifth season today.

'Morning, Mark!

Have you read The Child Finder? I'm about halfway through it. It will be #75 for me when I finish it.

>113 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Not familiar with The Child Finder but I like that cover! Hooray for reading your 75th book! Yah!

Happy Friday, Mark! I intend to read The Fifth Season trilogy next year.

Happy Friday, Mark!

I envy you sitting out on the deck and seeing nighthawks. I've never seen any where we are.

I'm glad you're reading the Marlantes book. I thought Matterhorn was great, but haven't read anything of his since. I hope Deep River turns out to be a good one.

Oceanic continues to be a standout. I'm giving Finding Dorothy a try; a number of LTers have liked it, and I'm an Oz fan from my youth.

Should be cool and enjoyable today; hope it goes well for you.

Karl Marlantes is going to be at the Decatur Book Festival this weekend. He is going to be part of a panel group talking about writing about the American West. The talk sounded interesting and I am going to try to go to it.

I am glad that you got an ARC of this book. I did not read Matterhorn simply because I thought I might have trouble with some of the content, but I thought I would give Deep River a try. I am also envious of your getting that copy of Women of Copper Country. Suzanne just gave it a great endorsement and it is something that does interest me - being the great Union supporter that I am.

>115 kidzdoc: Happy Friday, Darryl. Enjoy that long vacation and I hope you get to Jemison. I think you would appreciate her writing.

>116 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Looking forward to starting the Marlantes. Advanced word has been good. Other, than a NF book, he has not put anything else out, since Matterhorn. I have to remember to request Oceanic.

>117 benitastrnad: I hope you can see Marlantes. His NF book about Vietnam was excellent too. I also think you would love the new MDR.

For when you get back to Storyteller, Mark, the Silko thread is up now.

Just polished off The Man Who Climbs Trees after your well deserved enthusiasm. With thanks! Wishing you a great weekend.

Afternoon kind sir. I'm going to have to read more MDR (besides her delightful FB posts), and a new Marlantes? Yes please. I too loved Matterhorn when I read it 5 (WOW, where does the time go) years ago

>120 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks for the reminder, Mary. I WILL be stopping by.

>121 mdoris: Hooray for The Man Who Climbs Trees. Glad you enjoyed it, Mary. It is a heck of a book. Funny, I was telling my son about that book, last night, as we were sitting outside and watching for Common Nighthawks.

>122 mahsdad: Happy Friday, Jeff. I heartily recommend everything that MDR writes, although I still have 2 of hers to get to, including A Thread of Grace, which I have on shelf. Hooray for Matterhorn and Deep River is off to a very good start.

>123 msf59: Come over to my house. I posted a link to a couple shorties that Jess Walter has on Amazon. New novel next year, if GR is to be believed

Nevermind, our messages passed in the ether.

Oh my Thread Of Grace is my favorite MDR Mark. I'm 25% into The Women Of Copper Country and enjoying it very much.

I will probably read Marlantes new one although 800 pages is a bit of a turnoff for me. But I too loved Matterhorn.

Sorry to hear about Bree's foot, and hooray for some fantastic bird watching!

I'm hoping to read The Women of Copper Country soon, but have a pretty good stack that will keep me busy for at least a month probably before I do so. My brother's favorite MDR is A Thread of Grace. I got him to read it and he still remembers it as a brilliant read.

Looking forward to your thoughts on The Fifth Season too.

Yours is the second review I've seen in the last couple days that is very enthusiastic about The Women of Copper Country. I'll have to look for that one. Deep River has been on my radar since seeing it in a pre-publication list earlier this year.

Good morning, Mark! I hope you have a wonderful Saturday, either B&B&B-ing or have another mailman's weather day.

>124 mahsdad: Yep, I stopped over, Jeff. Yah, for Jess Walter!

>125 brenzi: You have expressed your love for A Thread Of Grace, in the past, Bonnie and then I promptly forget about it. This is one, I overlooked too many times. I will do my best to read it, before year's end.

For a long, beefy book, Matterhorn moved very swiftly. I am hoping for the same with Deep River, which has begun very well.

>126 bell7: Hi, Mary. I hope you get to the new MDR. She has been remarkably consistent. Good to know that your brother loves Thread Of Grace, and that is one of the only ones, I have not read. I really enjoyed The Fifth Season but if I continue the trilogy, I will probably switch to print.

>127 thornton37814: Wow! It is great to see you, Lori! How have you been? I highly recommend the MDR and Deep River is off to a terrific start. Do not be fooled by it's hefty presence.

>128 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. The "B&B&Bing will be reserved for the next 2 days. Working today, but I think we are hanging out with Bree tonight. Another B...grins.

Happy Saturday, Mark!

>131 ChelleBearss: Hi, Chelle. Great to see you!

Hiya, Mark! Just getting caught up with you...

Happy Saturday, Katie. Always good to see you.

"With the power of a consummate storyteller, Tracy Kidder casts a fresh, critical, and often humorous eye on the way new ideas and new money are reshaping our culture and the world. A Truck Full of Money is a mesmerizing portrait of an irresistibly endearing man who is indefatigable, original, and as unpredictable as America itself."

After finishing the impressive The Fifth Season, I decided to switch back to NF on audio, and started Truck Full of Money, which I have had saved forever. I love Tracy Kidder, having read Mountains Beyond Mountains & Strength in What Remains and this one also grabbed me immediately. He has an uncanny knack of finding fascinating people and writing beautifully about them. I think Kidder deserves more LT love.

I am also really enjoying Deep River. Just under a 100 pages in.

>135 msf59: - I have read the same 2 by Kidder as you have and I own at least 3 other of his titles, though this is not one of them. I agree, his writing is so excellent.

>136 jessibud2: Thanks for chiming in, on Kidder, Shelley. There are several of his books, I would like to get to.

I can't keep up - just wanted to say that I loved the word picture you painted of watching the nighthawks migrate. Another one I've never heard of!

I've added A truck full of money to the wishlist too. An interesting life! I did wonder if you might like my latest history read (which I think counts as NNF) about the long revenge on British colonial officials for a massacre in India The Patient Assassin. It reminded me of Killers of the Flower Moon - sense of a long ignored history being put out in the open. Some of the British government files involved were only opened in the last five years.

>138 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Glad you like the nighthawk story. I hope to see many more, before their migration wraps up. The Patient Assassin sounds excellent. I have added it to my list. Flower Moon was outstanding.

'Morning, Mark! I hope your Sunday is a good one.

>140 karenmarie: Good morning, Karen and thanks. I am sure it will be a fine day.

105) Norco '80:True Story of the Most Spectacular Bank Robbery in American History by Peter Houlahan 3.8 stars

“Norco ’80 tells the story of how five heavily-armed young men—led by an apocalyptic born-again Christian—attempted a bank robbery that turned into one of the most violent criminal events in U.S. history...”

Man, I LOVE nonfiction and this one really delivers. A story I knew nothing about, (I was in the Army at the time). I am shocked this crazy gun-battle story has not been made into a film. It only begins to drag in the final third, during the incredibly long and complicated trial proceedings. Good on audio too.

107) Let's Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir by Jeff Tweedy 4.5 stars

Books have pretty much taken over my listening life, so I have neglected my love of music, although it still beats strong, in my inner depths. That said, I still adored this memoir by the leader and founder of one of my very favorite rock bands, of the past twenty years, Wilco. Since Tweedy is such an excellent songwriter, I am not surprised how beautifully written this book is. The audio is narrated by the author, with the help of his family.



^My favorite Wilco album.

108) The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines 4.2 stars

Miss Jane Pittman was a child on a Louisiana plantation, as the Civil War was wrapping up. The rest of this sweeping novel follows Jane for the next hundred years, right into the Civil Rights era of the 1960s. This is my first book, by Mr. Gaines and I was not only impressed by his storytelling skills and use of dialect, but also by the fresh angles, he takes this tale. I will be reading more of his work.

**I read this for the AAC.

> Just forwarded your review of the Wilco book to a friend of mine who is a rock and roll fiend. She has a rock and roll library, one bookcase that is only rock and roll books. If she hasn't already heard of this one, she will love it!

>143 jessibud2: Let me know if she is familiar with Wilco, Shelley. His first band was Uncle Tupelo, one of the first and one of the best Alt-Country bands. I love that stuff!

Happy Sunday, Mark, and Happy Holiday Weekend!

I've added Jane Pittman and Lesson Before Dying to the WL; I'm glad Jane Pittman went well for you. I'm not sure how I got this far in life without reading Ernest Gaines!

Like you, I'm a Tracy Kidder fan, and I've been wondering about A Truck Full of Money. I'll look forward to your thoughts.

I finished Finding Dorothy, which was okay, and The Lost Man that you gave me, which was ditto. I think I'll dig into some Stephen Fry Mythos next, and I don't know what else.

We're busy getting organized for the trip tomorrow night. Woo-hoo!

>144 msf59: - Just got this reply from her, Mark:

Thanks.
This looks good. Jeff Tweedy is such a great songwriter. Wilco is a great band. He’s worked with Mavis Staples, Nick Lowe, Billy Bragg (“Mermaid Avenue" - fab LP) - many others.
I will look into it for the RR Library.

:-)

You just hit a non-LTer with a BB!

>145 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Glad we got you interested in Mr. Gaines. I am happy that the AAC finally got me to read him. I remember you being a fan of Tracy Kidder and I think you would like this one. So, The Lost Man was just okay? A bit surprised, since it seemed like it was getting plenty of positive reviews.

Hooray for your upcoming trip.

>146 jessibud2: That is great, Shelley. I like spreading the joy wherever and whenever I can. I also loved Mermaid Avenue, which, of course he mentions in the book.

Ask your friend, if she saw the documentary: I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco? It is quite good, about the group making their classic album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

>147 msf59: - Ok, just relayed that message to her. I would be willing to bet she has. She is really knowledgeable about just about everything R&R

Happy long weekend, Mark, and some very good aim for the book bullets. I got hit by Tracy Kidder's book on techbro English. Norco made the news around the US because, well, not enough awful things can happen in/to LA for the rest of the country. I quibble with the greatest-ever-bank robbery designation, though, since the Reagan-led S&L disaster still ranks (word choice very deliberate) as the second-greatest pocket-picking in American history (after the smash-and-grab of the Social Security trust fund under, gasp!, Reagan) and the greatest yet one that involves the banks.

Followup on The Old Farmer's Almanac -

In the 2019 edition, I've enjoyed:

DUCK STAMP DYNASTY, featuring the art of Robert Bateman and Pierre Girard
the monthly Farmer's Calendar
Glossary of Almanac ODDITIES = for December: BEWARE THE POGONIP
Sun Flares

The Northern Mockingbird-Nature's Great Crooner
COWS, Pro and Con
The Underwear Soil Test (didn't try, but would love to hear an LT result!)
The Kid's in the Mail (Seriously!)

The Golden Rule (from all faiths)
forecasts for Winter traveling
and
FAMOUS LAST WORDS (from deathbeds),

which concludes with...

"You be good. You'll be in tomorrow. I love you."
-- Alex, Highly intelligent African Grey Parrot, d. September 6, 2007

Another Book Bullet has struck, Mark, with Norco '80 - sounds like a good one!

>148 jessibud2: Let me know, Shelley. Was she also a fan of Uncle Tupelo?

>149 richardderus: Hi, Richard. Glad I landed a BB, on the Kidder. He is such a good writer. Have you read him before? Very good thoughts on the Norco book and the 80s, Reagan era. It is the decade, that changed me from a Republican to a Dem. I never looked back.

>150 m.belljackson: Thanks, for sharing your thoughts, on The Old Farmer's Almanac, Marianne. Some amusing headers, that is for sure.

>151 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Glad I landed another BB. Norco is a good read and so is Jane Pittman, especially if you have not read Gaines before.

Happy Labor Day weekend. A quick library run, yesterday, acquiring Stories of Your Life, the first story collection by Ted Chiang, along with Joy Harjo's latest poetry collection, American Sunrise. I am pleased. Happy Camper! Happy Birddude!

>152 msf59:

Figured you'd enjoy the message from The Parrot,

as well as the kids being mailed, a tale which you likely know well.

Yo, Mark. Hope you have a labor-free holiday. Been a lovely, quiet day in our neighbor. I've been busy for the last hour or so working on my map of the insides of my eyelids. Making lots of progress.

Maybe I'll do some reading.

Happy weekend, Mark! >153 msf59: It looks like a good one.

>135 msf59: I just got Mountains Beyond Mountains, probably going to read it in a book or two. MANY years ago, I listened to The Soul of a New Machine, so long ago, it was on "Books on Tape" that were actually on tape. I've always wanted to read it again. But that's all of Kidder I've partaken of.

Hi Mark, hope you’re enjoying the long weekend.

I’m reading The Nickel Boys. Not loving it like you did or even as much as I liked his previous book.

>154 m.belljackson: Hooray for the The Parrot, Marianne.

>155 weird_O: Hi, Bill. I had a very good day off and expecting more of the same tomorrow. I hope you are enjoying it too.

>156 banjo123: Happy Weekend, Rhonda. I am glad you didn't check inside.

>157 mahsdad: Hi, Jeff. Thanks for chiming on on Kidder. I am sure you will enjoy Mountains. I have added The Soul of a New Machine to my TBR. I may, eventually read all of his work.

>158 lindapanzo: Happy Labor Day, Linda. Boo, to the Cubs losing the series. That was pathetic. Sorry, The Nickel Boys isn't tootin' your horn. I really loved it, but it was grim reading.

^Doing a solo run down to the lakefront, to visit the Montrose Bird Sanctuary. Hoping to see some interesting shorebirds, along with my first warblers of the fall season. The Birddude will return...

Howdy, Mark! Have a labor free Labor Day!! Good luck on your quest for interesting shorebirds!!

Enjoy the birding today, Mark!

>161 msf59: it’s a nice day for it. We’re going up to Milwaukee for a late afternoon Brewers game today.

>161 msf59: Looking forward to your bird report. I need to meet you there sometime - maybe next year?

Finally getting back to American Dirt. I thas been a couple of busy weeks and I put the book aside until I could give it the attention it deserves. Will definitely be on my Best of list.

Wait, what? A new Jess Walter? Details please!

Hey, buddy. What a gorgeous Labor Day! Hardly anyone is driving this morning, so it made for a very pleasant walkabout here. Birding? Perfect!

Yeah, as we discussed yesterday or the day before, I think Jane Harper just isn't my flavor of author. Both The Dry and The Lost Man were kinda slow and not rewarding enough for me. Too bad. I know both book are much-admired and enjoyed by others, and I like the Aussie setting.

I'm taking some old reliable Dick Francis mysteries on our trip, along with Mythos by Stephen Fry. I started today I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez. I'd been thinking about reading IANYPMD, and got reminded about it by Adriana in her new LA Times Article, "Immigrant Tales to Read and Embrace": https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2019-08-30/adriana-ramire.... She's got some suggestions you'll recognize, and some that may be new to you (they were to me).

Have a great time while we're gone, and try not to get into too much trouble. Becca may be throwing parties at our house, but we're going to pretend not to know. We get back the 19th.

>162 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. It as been a good Labor Day. Not many shorebirds, but had much better luck, once I moved into the wooded areas. Bird report to follow...

>163 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. It was a good one.

>164 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Have a great time at the Brewers game. Make sure they lose.

>165 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. It was a good morning at Montrose. Many birders there too. Spring migration would be best, for you to visit. Maybe a Sunday, in May?

Glad you are getting back to American Dirt. Sounds fantastic.

>166 vivians: Hi, Vivian. I can not find any info on a new book, by Jess Walter, only a couple of "new" stories. I think I read somewhere, that he is busy writing a new one. Beautiful Ruins came out 7 years ago. Come on, Jess!

>167 jnwelch: Happy Labor Day, Joe. I am glad you got out for a walkabout. I was going to mention to you, that I was visiting Montrose, but I figured you were busy packing and making other preparations. It was a beautiful day down there, although not as exciting as last May. Still seen plenty of birds. Report to follow.

Sorry, that Jane Harper is not your cuppa, but that happens to the best of us. I really enjoyed I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. I hope you feel the same.

Tell, Becca, to let me know when the parties start, at your place. B.A.G.

-Mourning Warbler (NMP)

^I had a nice bird stroll, at Montrose this morning. Many birders down there, taking advantage of the nice weather and the holiday. I saw over 30 species, including 8 warbler species. Including the Mourning Warbler, which was a lifer. Its colors were much more muted than the one, in the photo I shared. Their fall plumage is different than their spring colors, so I am grateful to more experienced birders for helping me out. There were also orioles, kingbirds, gnatcatchers, thrush, tons of gold & house finch, hummingbirds, cardinals and catbirds. Another highlight, was the lovely Olive-sided Flycatcher and as a bonus, a Peregrine Falcon that flew by. Thanks to someone for taking a photo of it, so it could be IDed. I did see a few shorebirds, as well, before I moved to the wooded areas. I did take some photos but I will have to share them later on.



-Peregrine Falcon (NMP)

>170 msf59: I too liked I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

>171 msf59: Wow! Great sightings. Congrats on the lifer. Yes, spring sounds perfect.

>171 msf59: A lifer! How excellent!

I didn't see any lifers as I wandered the boardwalk. No birds in the air at all, in fact, since it's prepared to rain at a moment's notice and has been all day. Pleasantly cool and breezy, too.

I am flying in here to catch up on things here and wish you a happy week ahead.



Hi!

>172 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. I forgot you had also enjoyed Mexican Daughter. Yep, it was a good bird stroll yesterday. It is a magical place.

>173 richardderus: Hi, RD. It is always nice to add a lifer, when I can, but seeing a new warbler, is especially rewarding. Sorry, the birds were absent on your boardwalk stroll.

>174 Berly: Thanks, Kim. Love the bird and it is great to see you stop by.

Ghost Ship

Those blessed moments
That pretend
They’ll stay with us forever—
Soon gone,
Without a fare-the-well.
What’s the rush?
I heard myself say.

You have the right
To remain silent,
The night told me
As I sat in bed
Hatching plans
On how to hold the next
Captive in my head.

I recall a window thrown open
One summer day
On a grand view of the bay
And a cloud in all that blue
As pale as the horse
Death likes to ride

Always happy to shoot the breeze,
That lone cloud
Was telling me
As it drifted out to sea,
Toward some
Ship on the horizon,

That had already
Set sail
And was about to vanish
Out of sight,
On the way to some port
And country
Without name.

A ghost ship,
Most surely,But mine all the same.

-Charles Simic



This is my first collection, by this poet. He has a simply-stated style, that I admire.

Congrats on your lifer yesterday, Mark, and I hope your work day is uneventful work wise and filled with birds otherwise.

Well, you're back in the harness today, eh what? Which audiobook is keeping your brain busy?

A super heavy, post-holiday load today but I am chugging along. I have not had this many parcels since December. At least the rain has moved on. It will return but I am hoping it arrives, after I am done...

>177 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. It was a good birding day. I hope to get back down to the lakefront, before the migration season is over.

>178 richardderus: Hey, RD. Yep, back in the work saddle and I am continuing to listen and enjoy Truck Full of Money.

Hi Mark! Glad to see you're doing well and so into birding! I might have to start a bird spot on my thread too - though most of my pictures are kind of crappy since they're taken at close range and through a screen. :-/ Hope your day is relatively smooth and that all of the heavy packages are early in your day before you run out of steam!

>179 msf59: All the online back to school deals must be hitting at once, Mark. Take it easy on your busy day and congrats on your lifer!

>181 LauraBrook: Great to see you, Laura. I am not sure if I could jump that high, but I would if I could. I am into my third year of birding and I am quite hooked. Glad to hear you enjoy watching birds too. Mainly, at your feeders?

I survived the work day and I stayed dry to boot.

>182 Familyhistorian: My businesses seem to have got the most parcels today, but it was a long holiday weekend, so some got stacked up. I survived the onslaught and tomorrow will probably be much lighter and it will be much cooler too. Yah!

>183 msf59: Aw, thanks, Mark! Yes, most of my bird watching is at my feeders and at my Mom's house - though we get pretty much the same ones seeing as we're only a few miles apart. I need to make a trip to a bird-watching place, though, as it's one of the hobbies that my grandparents and parents used to do when I was small and I'd like to get back into it again, see what I remember. Glad you survived and stayed dry. And YAY for cooler weather tomorrow!

>185 LauraBrook: it should be pretty easy to look up a local birding group and they can show you the ropes. Most are friendly and helpful. Kind of like book people. Let me know if you find anything. And once again, it is great to see you posting.

>186 msf59: Good point, Mark. Maybe I'll have to head up to Schlitz Audobon (does Nancy still work there, do you know?) and join in one of their bird walks! Thanks, it feels good to be back at it.

I had a really GREAT day with Daryl and Kay (Ridgewaygirl from over on Club Read). You will have to put the Decatur book festival on your to do list. We even had some great book discussions. Very nice day with bookie people.

>187 LauraBrook: Yes, Nancy still works at Schlitz. We have also visited there, twice now. I think that is a good idea. I hope you keep going, with the birds.

>188 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I read about the book festival meet up, over on Darryl's thread. Sounds like it was a lot of fun. I have yet to meet Darryl. That is puzzling.

I looked for a Falley collection at the bookshop in Asheville today but no luck.

>171 msf59: Sounds like a good day on the birdwatching front!

>167 jnwelch: Great link to an article with recommendations for reads related to immigration. I absolutely loved Richard Blanco's How to Love a Country.

>190 EBT1002: >191 EBT1002: I hope you can track down a collection from Falley, Ellen. She is the real deal.

I also loved the Blanco collection. Have you been reading any poetry?

>189 msf59:

Laura!!!!! So nice to see you on Mark's thread! Yes, I am still at the Center. You should come join in a bird walk. I don't get out nearly as often as I would like - and I have so much to learn - but we are a great birding spot. Once Alina heads off to college, I plan on going in deep. :) Mark is right - book people and bird poeple have a lot in common.

Hope you are well. Let's get together.

>189 msf59: Very puzzling that you haven't met Darryl, Mark. Even I have met him and, I think, he has met the most LTers.

Morning, Mark! I hope the mail is lighter for you today.

>193 alphaorder: Looks like we should have a Milwaukee area Meet Up, in the near future, Nancy!

>194 Familyhistorian: Maybe he is just saving the best, for last, Meg. Grins...

>195 scaifea: Morning, Amber. The mail volume should be a bit lighter today. That is the way it usually goes. Thanks.

"Into the Wild meets Helter Skelter in this riveting true story of a modern-day homesteading family in the deepest reaches of the Alaskan wilderness – and of the chilling secrets of its maniacal, spellbinding patriarch."

I was combing through my iTunes audio library and stumbled on Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier. I have had it saved for awhile and it sure sounds like my cuppa. No wonder I snagged it. Anyone else heard of this one? I have just a bit left on A Truck Full of Money and then I will start it.

I am loving Deep River, but like I mentioned, it is a Big Boy and it is going to take me awhile.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday. I hope your work load is light.

Hope you have a cool day with a light load!

>198 karenmarie: >199 ChelleBearss: Good morning, Karen & Chelle and thanks. I have a very light load and the weather is gorgeous. I do not mind working, this one.

Isn't it wonderful that the cooler time of year sees the very heaviest mail loads? Imagine if Christmas-level gift-giving took place on the Fourth of July!

>201 richardderus: Hey, Rd! It was very light volume today, so it evened out somewhat. I wish they would be able to spread out the load over a few days, instead of dumping it all on us, at once. It would be more cost effective too. I bet yesterday, cost them a lot of O.T.

It was nice & cool, too. Only 71F on the way home from work.

This cooler weather is really refreshing isn't it Mark? Glad to see you're loving Deep River. I'll get to it eventually.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Thursday to you. We're battening down the hatches for an unsettling late Thursday/early Friday with Hurricane Dorian. We're looking at some rain, possibly 30-40 mph winds. Jenna's evacuated from the coast, which will be devastated. Sigh. I hope it isn't as bad as last year's Florence. Jenna couldn't get home for 2 weeks because of the flooding there.

Hey, buddy. Just checking in from across the pond. Looks like you’ve got lots of good reading going on. Right now it’s Dick Francis for me all the time. But once the jet lag ebbs, I’ll get back to Stephen Fry and Erika Sanchez.

>204 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Fingers crossed for Jenna, that is doesn't hit her bad. At least you can enjoy her company.

>205 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Great to see you. I am sure you are having a wonderful time, with The Organizer! Grins...I hope the jet lag lets up a bit, so you can dip back into those books, on your downtime.

"THIRTEEN’s American Masters Presents the Exclusive U.S. Broadcast Premiere of Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin, the First Documentary on the Renowned Writer, August 2 on PBS

Features intimate conversations with the author, and new interviews with Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Michael Chabon and David Mitchell

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Le Guin’s groundbreaking novel The Left Hand of Darkness".

^I recorded this early last month but finally watched it last night, (the Cubs were not playing) and thought it was excellent. I love a well-produced author profile and this definitely qualifies. Highly recommended. Here is the PBS link:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/worlds-of-ursula-k-le-guin-about/11575/

>135 msf59: I agree with you on Tracy Kidder, Mark. He is a reliable and informative author. I loved the two you mentioned and have also loved some of his older work, especially Old Friends about two men in a nursing home. Another one that I read so long ago it isn't even listed in my library here was Among Schoolchildren. Kidder sat in the back of a Fifth Grade classroom for an entire year while he was writing that one. He's my hero as I taught 5th Grade before moving out to Colorado in the 90s.

Deep River was so good. I didn't mind the length at all. I also just finished Deep Creek a wonderfully written nature memoir set in my beloved Colorado. You might want to bookhorn that one in somewhere. I think I need to borrow your bookhorn as I have a huge list of "want to reads"! I'm in good company here. We will never run out of good books as long as LTers keep warbling about their favorite books. Hooray!

>207 msf59: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I supported the production as a Kickstarter. I'll have to watch it sometime...

>208 Donna828: Hi, Donna. I want to read more Tracy Kidder, including Among Schoolchildren. Such a fine NF writer. I saw and heard your warble about Deep Creek and think it would be a perfect fit for me. I will check it out.

>208 Donna828: Hi, Susan. I hope you can find time to see the Le Guin tribute. They did an excellent job.

Hi Mark, can't remember whether you are a fan of George R.R. Martin. I saw that he will be speaking at the Chicago Humanities Festival (usually late Oct/early Nov).

I renewed the Mary Doria Russell book and hope to get to it soon.

>211 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Big game tonight, huh? How you feeling about the Packers this year? Yes, I am a fan of George R.R. Martin and I did see that event mentioned in the paper. I have never gone to that festival. Have you?

I hope you can bookhorn in the new MDR. It is a keeper.

Mad People

Only birds and animals these days
Are sane and worth talking to.
I don't mind waiting for a horse
To stop grazing and hear me out.

Even a tree is better company.
Some oak proud of its branches
Heavy with leaves too polite
To address a stranger above a whisper.

A crow would make a good friend.
The one I have my eye on
Knows me well, but is currently
Busy with something he has spotted

In my neighbor's yard, going over
The scorched ground where
Years ago a dozen hens used to roam
And a rooster who crowed all day.

Charles Simic

I really enjoyed his latest collection, Come Closer and Listen. A nice introduction to his work.

>212 msf59: For about the first 5 or 10 years of the festival, I used to go every year. Loved hearing the Heartland Prize authors speak. Haven't gone in quite awhile though.

I will certainly get to the MDR book. However, my favorite, Louise Penny, just came out with a new mystery. I was up til after midnight last night, finishing it.

Well it is quite a sport's night, my friend!

>215 alphaorder: You got that right, Nancy. A big Chicago against Wisconsin night. The Cubs look good but the Bears, not so much.

Morning, Mark! Happy Friday!!

>217 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I have been enjoying this nice stretch of weather, so that is adding to my happiness.

>218 msf59: Agreed! I *love* this weather!

'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you!

Have a lifer-at-the-BBS kind of a Friday!

>219 scaifea: B.A.G.

>220 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Have a good day too.

>221 richardderus: Morning, RD. The BBS, was eerily quiet today. Still waiting on my first fall warbler.

Storm trivia, Mark. If I pause in my reading of Isaac's Storm until Sunday (the 8th), I can read about the storm on the 119th anniversary of it's impact on Galveston. (I don't think I will.)

I just read a few minutes ago about Dorian making landfall at Cape Hatteras, and officials were warning that the Outer Banks will be experiencing surge from both the ocean side and the bay side. Exactly what happened at Galveston.

I'm having trouble visualizing the terrain; I mean keeping in mind that there is no high ground in this event. Someone walks from a spot near the Gulf coast to one closer to the Bay, and my mind envisions a walk uphill. But it isn't. The highest point in the town is something approximating 8 feet above sea level. Oh my. Don't have that much "flat" in my day-to-day environment.

Didn't Galveston get nearly obliterated during WW II by an explosion at the docks?

Anyway... It's a good read. Very topical, of course. So much hubris. I believe this is the fourth Larson narrative I'm read. Still have one in the TBR Colossus.

Forgot. Saw this Penguin edition of the first volume of Harry Potter. For your enjoyment.



My wife just pointed out that the image is of a barn owl, in that tone that reminds me that Hedwig is NOT a barn owl. Oh well. Works for me.

>223 weird_O: Good recall. The Texas City industrial explosion occurred in 1947. April I think. At Galveston Bay. An explosion as fertilizer was being loaded onto a freighter. One of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions--it killed nearly 600 people. The ship's anchor, which weighed over a ton, was found two miles away.

The book I read on this, which I recall as being a pretty good disaster book, was City on Fire by Bill Minutaglio.

Reminds me that I haven't read a disaster book lately. I still haven't found a book on the great London beer flood of 1814.

>223 weird_O: >224 weird_O: I LOVE that Harry Potter cover, despite it being a Barn Owl and not a snowy. It sounds like you are really enjoying Issac's Storm. I am pleased.

"Didn't Galveston get nearly obliterated during WW II by an explosion at the docks?" I did not recall that event, But I am glad to see Linda shine some light on that one.

>225 lindapanzo: The resident Disaster Book Maven speaks! Thanks, Linda. I have not heard you warble about a good disaster book in awhile and City on Fire sounds like a winner. I hope you find a book on the London beer flood. That sounds like my cuppa.

I also love disaster books not that I've read the one about the London beer flood Mark haha. The best one I've read was about the explosion in the Halifax harbor, Curse Of The Narrows in 1917. The people thought they were being bombed by the Germans as it was the height of WWI, but it was a regular ship exploding. Nothing nefarious. Really good and sad book.

>227 brenzi: - I was going to mention the Halifax harbour explosion. The one I read was written for young people, but was excellent nevertheless: Blizzard of Glass

>215 alphaorder: Well, we each got one then. :) So we can both be happy - and sad.

>224 weird_O: ooh, I love that cover -- didn't realize there were Penguin Classic editions of the books.

>227 brenzi: >228 jessibud2: Thanks, for the BBs, Bonnie & Shelley. Both Curse Of The Narrows & Blizzard of Glass sound very good.

>229 alphaorder: Well, the Brew-Crew beat us pretty good last night, Nancy. Lets see what happens today.

>230 lauralkeet: I think that cover is amazing too, Laura.

Just checking in, Mark. Love the Tracy Kidder talk. My intro to him was Soul of a New Machine. It’s probably dated by now, but it got me hooked on his writing. Mountains Beyond Mountains remains my favorite.

>232 jnwelch: Hey, Joe. Glad to see you check in and comment on Mr. Kidder. I want to read New Machine and I agree with you on Mountains.

Just pulled up at work. Have a great weekend in London Town.

>224 weird_O: Penguin Potters!!!???? Be still my heart.

>234 laytonwoman3rd: Mr. Potter's Penguins, Linda.

>235 weird_O: Popper's, wasn't it? And please, where did you see that edition of The Philosopher's Stone? The internet fails to turn it up anywhere for me, including on the Penguin website

Yah.



This is pretty much what our copy looks like.

>237 weird_O: wait til Charlotte sees that.

Hi Mark and happy Saturday to you!

>236 laytonwoman3rd: I have the same question! I went looking for it, and was curious whether they'd done a full set. I can't find 'em!

Hi Mark! Love the owl Harry Potter cover.

Did I hear about Rough Magic from you? I had Wendy read it, because she is interested in Mongolia, and she really enjoyed it. I am thinking of reading it next.

>235 weird_O: You definitely sparked some interest with that cool, Penguin Potter edition, Bill. Just curious- Have you read all the Harry Potter books?

>237 weird_O: Like!

>239 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Feeling under the weather but I am moping along.

>240 lauralkeet: Hi, Rhonda. Yes, I did read and warble a bit about Rough Magic. I remember you mentioning that Wendy had a fondness for Mongolia. I am glad to hear she is enjoying it. She is a scrappy individual and decent writer. I am happy you are giving it a try.

^The Old Warbler is feeling under the weather. Cancelled our social plans for the evening. Laying low today and tomorrow. Hoping to bounce back quickly.

Feel better, Mark!

Get well soon, Mark.

>243 msf59: Take it easy!

Sorry to hear you're missing the fun of the weekend. Feel better soon!

The first home football game of the season is over! It was played at 3:00 p.m. and the outside temperature was 97. I am not sure what the temperature at the bottom of the stadium would have been, but I am sure that sitting there watching the game would have been the same as sitting in a hot saucepan sitting on a stove.

I am not sure who is dumber - the people who scheduled the game for 3 p.m. in early September or the people sitting in the stands.

It was forecasted that attendance would be around 45,000 in a stadium that seats 102,000. The university was has been reduced to giving students “loyalty” points for all games they attend and if they stay until the end of the game they get extra points. The problem of empty seats after the half was the subject of one of Nick Saban’s rants last year. He said how much of a downer it is for players to see the stands half empty before the end of the game.

I am not sure it is the students. I think it is the fact that start times are so dependent on TV scheduling. If they are going to have a home game in Tusclaoosa before October 15th the start time should be 6:00 p.m. after the sun goes down. If they want people in the stands and want to play be TV scheduling they will have to build a domed stadium.

By-the-way, they did not sell all of their season ticket packages to faculty and staff this year. First time that has happened since 1995. Back then it was because the team wasn’t winning. Now it is because the team is winning.

Oh no! Feel better my friend.

>242 msf59: I did read 'em all, Mark. My wife was reading the books as they were published, but I wouldn't. I did see all the movies as they came out. But I waited until Judi got the final volume before beginning the first. Then I read 'em all, one right after the other. (Then after seeing the final film, I had to reread ...the Deathly Hallows to get some of the details straight in my head.)

By the bye, I finished Isaac's Storm and even posted a bit of a report.

Thanks, everyone. I had a chill evening, playing online and watching the Cubs lose to the Brewers,in the 9th. Off to bed...

>248 benitastrnad: How often do you attend a game, Benita, if ever?

>250 weird_O: Glad to hear you read all the Potter books, Bill. All of us started reading them, but I was the only one who hung in there and finished them.

Hope you are back to your usual healthy self Sunday, Mark.

Hope you feel better soon Mark.

>252 Familyhistorian: >253 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Meg & Caroline! I am laying low for most of the day, so should get plenty of rest. 4 more work days before vacation.

I hope you have a restful Sunday, Mark, and bounce back from whatever bug has laid you low.

>255 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I usually rebound pretty quickly. I am just glad I am off today. I am sure you are having a great time. I appreciate you dropping by.

111) Storyteller by Leslie Marmon Silko 4.2 stars

“The old teller has been on every journey
and she knows all the escape stories
even stories before she was born,
She keeps the stories for those who return
but more important
for the dear ones who do not come back
so that we may remember them
and cry for them with the stories.”

“You must be very quiet and listen respectfully.
Otherwise the storyteller might get upset and pout
and not say another word all night.”

Storytelling has been a hallowed tradition for Native Americans and has been that way for centuries. Silko pays tribute to that tradition, in this collection of stories, poems and striking, B & W, photographs. She also weaves in her own family's history, along with her own childhood experiences, listening to the tales told by her grandparents. This was my first time reading Silko, and it was a wonderful introduction.

**I read this for the September AAC.

How to Write a Poem about the Sky

You see the sky now
colder than the frozen river
so dense and white
little birds
walk across it.

You see the sky now
but the earth
is lost in it
and there are no horizons.
It is all
a single breath.

You see the sky
but the earth is called
by the same name
the moment
the wind shifts
sun splits it open
and bluish membranes
push through slits of skin.

You see the sky

-Leslie Marmon Silko

^From Storyteller

Enjoy your day, Mark and feel better soon!

Hi Mark! Sorry to hear that you're still laying low. Get well soon.

I also haven't been feeling great, Mark, but some rest and good sleep has helped. I hope you have the same result. Don't want to be sick for vacation!

I don't recall what your vacation plans are...

>259 jessibud2: >260 karenmarie: Thanks, Shelley & Karen. I have taken care of a few things this morning and now the rest of the day will be relaxin' & reading!

>261 katiekrug: Sorry, to hear you are also under the weather, Katie. I hope it is the tail-end of it. I should be ship-shape in a day or two.

>262 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. We are going, first to South Carolina and then North Carolina. Visiting family in both places. My brother recently moved to Hendersonville, NC. Near Asheville. I have not seen him in, at least 10 years. We will be gone a solid week.

"A stunning graphic memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II."

I know a few of my book buddies have read and enjoyed this GN, so I have been waiting for a copy to arrive at the library. It is in my greedy mitts now. I have all ready dipped into it and it is excellent, in the early going.

I am still reading and enjoying Deep River. I am hoping, by the end of the day, I will be at, or just past the 500 page mark. That will still leave 200 pages. Whew!

Sorry you’re feeling crummy, my friend. I hope it passes soon.

I’m glad you got your mitts on They Called Us Enemy. That’s a Mark book if ever I saw one.😀

We’re at a pub after an excellent street art walk. Off to the tube and home.

>263 msf59: Have a fabulous trip and a good visit with your brother! Shawn and I met my brother in Asheville a few years back. It was a great time.

>264 msf59: As you know, I really appreciated this GN. Very insightful.

>265 jnwelch: Sounds like you are having a wonderful trip, Joe!

I decided to go with Everything Inside today, and I am glad I did. These are terrific stories. I read the first one someplace and I am trying to recall where. It was worth a re-read though.

Hi Mark, I wanted to let you know how much I'm loving Only Killers and Thieves on audio. I'm just at the part where Tommy and Billy come home to find the family all dead.. Really good so far.

>265 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I am having a lazy day, with the books. Hope to feel better tomorrow. They Called Us Enemy is off to a strong start. I hope to dip into more of it during the Cubs game. How was the pub?

>266 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. I loved Asheville, as well. We will probably spend one day there. They Called Us Enemy is off to a very promising start. Not familiar with this story collection. You know I love them. Do you own the Danticat? I have a pair of collections lined up for my trip.

>267 brenzi: I am so glad you are enjoying Only Killers and Thieves, Bonnie. It is a terrific read.

Hi Mark - Hope the cooler weather will bring your temperature down - guess Yelich didn't help the blood pressure.

After recommending CEREMONY to you and now ordering The Storyteller
(Touchstone not cooperating - sure wish it knew its ABCs)
after your review,
September will be a Great Silko Month.

Best to Bree and quick healing - bet her dogs miss her long walks.

>270 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. Glad to know you loved Ceremony. I still plan on bookhorning that one in. Glad I got you with Storyteller. It is a good one.

It is going to be a long recovery for Bree, (not, Becca. Grins...) At least the dogs have a big yard to run around in.

Let's see = both Chicago men with "B" daughters and both daughters with dogs =

no wonder
a 75 year old can get confused...

and you are the soon-to-be retired postman slightly under the weather
while already retired Joe is enjoying London's amazing Vegetarian feasts.

>224 weird_O: I'm not a Harry Potter aficianado but that is a beautiful edition. Even if the breed of owl is wrong.

I have They Called Us Enemy in my amazon shopping cart but have not yet clicked on "purchase." It just looks so good. And it was mentioned in The Initiates, I think.

How are you liking Deep River? I had it on hold at the library but took it off because my hold list had gotten out of control. Since it is about the part of the world in which I live, I have been interested.

I hope you feel better soon, Mark!!

By the way, I'm remembering that you're about two years away from retirement; is that right? I ask since I'm thinking I'm about 3 years out, assuming nothing changes for the worse or for the better.

>272 m.belljackson: Easy mistake, Marianne. No worries. Yes, it sounds like Joe is having a wonderful time in London Town.

>273 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. I highly recommend you picking up They Called Us Enemy. I nearly finished it today and it is quite a treat.

I am really enjoying Deep River. It is a big, sweeping story, that takes place in the Pacific Northwest, in the early 1900s.

I am retiring next September 1st, so the countdown has begun...

Fantastic news about your retirement countdown. It will be here before you know it.

Morning, Mark! I hope you're feeling much better today, friend.

>275 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. I am also looking it as- One More Winter! Beams...

>276 scaifea: Morning, Amber and thanks. Still feeling rough around the edges, but I hope being out in the fresh air will help, plus just-



before vacation. B.A.G.

Hi Mark! I hope you have a light mail load today and feel better by the end of it.

Hope you're fully recovered, Mark. Wishing you a lovely break, too. I've ordered a copy of They Called us Enemy from the library, which they are kindly buying for their stock. Really looking forward to reading it, I've not picked up a GN for a while.

>278 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Not a lot of time to check my thread today, but it was a normal Monday workload. Feeling a smidge better. Thanks.

>279 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. It looks like I will need another day or 2, to get back to normal, but thanks for asking. Hooray for your library acquiring a copy of They Called us Enemy. It is an excellent memoir. You will not be disappointed.

"Staring unflinchingly into the abyss of slavery, this spellbinding novel transforms history into a story as powerful as Exodus and as intimate as a lullaby."

Well, it looks like I may have been reading Beloved (my first time), just as I was joining LT, in early June of 2008. A perfect marriage. I did not do mini-reviews yet, but I did give it 5 stars. Duh! I was intending to read Paradise, in memory of Morrison's recent passing, but could not squeeze the print book in, in this time frame. Someone mentioned how outstanding the audio version of Beloved is, with Morrison narrating and my library had it available so I grabbed it and started it today. It is mind-blowingly good. Her writing and narration are a revelation. Ideal revisit. I am keeping the print book at hand too. I still intend to read Paradise, in the coming weeks.

**I will not be able to finish it before vacation but it gives me something to look forward to, on my return.

>251 msf59:

For many years I attended one game a year and got rid of all my other tickets. usually the game I attended was a night or late afternoon game that wasn't important. However, I came to the Quad for most of the games and just wandered around. Back in the day, they put on quite a show on the Quad. Lots of parties and bands. Not any more. I haven't been to a game since 2010. The stadium and the crowds got to big. I don't like huge crowds unless I can sit quietly and watch them. That isn't what happens at a football game.

Hiya, Mark.

Just checking in, buddy. Debbi's planned a "secret walk" today, so I'll be finding out what that is. I'm still binging on Dick Francis, although I'm now turning to the new Eve Dallas mystery.

>282 benitastrnad: I am not a big fan of crowds anymore either, Benita. Trying to steer away from the big concert events too. I have never been to a college football game. Someday?

>283 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Looking forward to hearing about the "secret walk". Mysteries sound like a perfect vacation read for you. Enjoy.

-Grey Catbird (NMP)

^Considering I only stopped by for a few minutes, my BBS was particularly birdy yesterday morning. Besides, the catbirds, I also saw robins, a blue jay, cardinals, doves, goldfinch and sparrows. Not shabby, but, once again no fall warblers yet, at this location.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you.

Nice variety at your BBS.

>286 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Just the opposite at the BBS today. Just a lone Great Blue Heron standing watch. Really quiet. That is birding for you .

Hey Mark, Mary Oliver's collection Dream Work is only two bucks on Kindle today. Seemed like something you should know about.

>288 richardderus: Thanks for thinking of me, RD! You know I love me some Ms. Oliver!

^I am not very religious, but Toni Morrison reading a book to me, while I work, may be one of the most blissful things I have experienced. Of course it helps, that Beloved is such a DAMN good book, to boot. B.A.G.