Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Eleven

On a recent birding foray, I got very looks at this cedar waxwing and a ruby-throated hummingbird. They posed perfectly too.



^Yep. I am a bit of a geek but at least I am a happy one.

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



March:

29) The Hunting Accident: A True Story of Crime and Poetry by David L. Carlson 4 stars GN
30) The Friend: A Novel by Sigrid Nunez 4.6 stars
31) The Institute by Stephen King 4 stars (audio)
32) A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit 4.6 stars (audio/print)
33) The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner 4 stars
34) Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller 4.4 stars (audio)
35) The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields 4.7 stars
36) The Ice Cream Man and Other Stories by Sam Pink 4.2 stars E
37) The Pioneers by David McCullough 3.2 stars (audio) AAC
38) Deacon King Kong by James McBride 4.5 stars ALA
39) Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo 4.2 stars (audio)
40) Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha 4 stars GN
41) Deceit and Other Possibilities: Stories by Vanessa Hua 4.3 stars
42) The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson 4.5 stars (audio)

April:

43) Simon The Fiddler by Paulette Jiles 4.2 stars ALA
44) The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen 3.2 stars (audio)
45) A Season on the Wind: Inside the World of Spring Migration by Kenn Kaufman 4 stars
46) Break Shot: My First 21 Years by James Taylor 4 stars (audio)
47) Uncanny Valley: A Memoir by Anna Wiener 3.8 stars (audio)
48) Some Rain Must Fall: And Other Stories by Michel Faber 4 stars
49) The Wonder by Emma Donoghue 3.8 stars (audio)
50) The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel 3.7 stars ALA
51) The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer 4.4 stars (audio)
52) Call Me God: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper by Jim Clemente 4.3 stars (audio)
53) On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong 4.5 stars
54) Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa 4 stars (audio)

May:

55) Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen 3.7 stars (audio)
56) A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell 4.8 stars
57) At Home with Disquiet by Erin Wilson 3.6 stars Poetry ER
58) The End of October by Lawrence Wright 4.4 stars (audio)
59) Writers & Lovers: A Novel by Lily King 4.3 stars ALA
60) Beaks, Bones & Bird Songs by Roger J. Lederer 3.8 stars (audio)
61) So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger 3.4 stars (audio)
62) Panopticon by David Bajo 3.2 stars
63) In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado 4.3 stars (audio)
64) Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford 4 stars E
65) Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid 3.7 stars (audio)

June:

66) Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell 3.7 stars
67) The Last Pirate of New York: A Ghost Ship & a Killer by Rich Cohen 4.3 stars (audio)
68) IQ (An IQ Novel (1)) by Joe Ide 4 stars
69) The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom 3.7 stars (audio)
70) I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir by Malaka Gharib 4.2 stars GN
71) Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly 4.3 stars (audio)

^It was a Scarlet Tanager day on Friday. They must be nesting in this area, since we saw several and it gave me a few opportunities for some photos. Probably the best looking bird we get here for the summer.

Jeepers. A buncha peepers. Carry on, Mark!

Happy new thread!

>1 msf59: Geek happiness is the best! Great photos!

Happy new thread!

>4 weird_O: Thanks, Bill!

>5 quondame: Thanks, Susan! Hooray for happy geeks!

>6 richardderus: Thanks, RD!

Happy New Thread.

I went to that Jess Walter Author Talk. It was pretty good. It was from Scribd, I guess he wrote an original short piece called Town and Country that's available there. Scribd, is apparently an Audible analog, but ebooks as well, but its a monthly fee. I have enough monthly fees, so I doubt I'll actually join, but there's a 30 day trial, so I might try it just to read the story.

I did ask a question about A Tiny Sense of Accomplishment, and whether he would do more. He said that he'd like to do a serialized work via podcast sometime, but he doubted that he and Sherman would do anything more. He said there's somethings you shouldn't do with your friends to keep them friends, and podcasting might be one of them.

I'll post the YT link when they send it to me.

>8 msf59: Snerk.

Happy new thread Mark. I'm just catching up with your last one and had to chime in on Joe Ide's IQ. I think you would really like it. I saw Joe Ide at the Vancouver Writer's Festival and after hearing him I had to buy one of his books. He sounds like a black dude from LA, has the patter down and knows what he is speaking and writing about. Funny to hear it coming from a short Asian looking guy, though.

Nice Summer Tanager shots!

Here is Zoe's blog post about the birdathon: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/2020/05/26/the-great-wisconsin-birdathon/

I think I am going to start Solnit's Recollections next.

Happy new one, Mark!

Happy new one!

Happy new one, Mark.

>8 msf59: I'm glad that the cartoonist manage to capture your likeness so splendidly - not sure that he got Chump quite so well though!

>9 mahsdad: Thanks, Jeff. I am glad you were able to attend the online author event with Jess Walter. Congrats for asking about "A Tiny Sense of Accomplishment". I know we both LOVED that podcast. It was only 2nd to BOTNS, as my favorite book podcast. I hope Walter returns with something else. Did he get you pumped up about his new one?

>10 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I will have to jump on the Joe Ide bandwagon. I hope it is available on audio. I can't believe that one got by me.

>11 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy. It was a Scarlet Tanager. I still NEED to get a Summer. Hopefully soon. I will check out Zoe's post. She always makes me smile. I will also be watching for your thoughts on the Solnit collection.

>12 katiekrug: >13 figsfromthistle: Thanks Katie & Figs!

>14 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I hope I appear a little less chunky than this mailman. Grins...It is a slimmer version of Chump though.

Wowzers, great bird photos. You are getting to be a pro! Happy new thread Mark!

>15 msf59: I agree, we need more thing Walter. He actually only talked briefly about Cold Millions. He was primarily there to pump up his new short piece he wrote for Scribd Originals A semi-autobiographical piece about a man taking care of his elderly father who has dementia. Its called Town and Country. It got me pumped enough to sign up for the free trial period and I'm going to read it tonight.

Also, I'll recommend jumping on the Joe Ide bandwagon. I read the IQ trilogy last year, pretty good stuff.

Happy new thread, Mark! And go Jess Walter!

ETA: great bird photos!

>17 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. As long as the birdies cooperate, I should do fine. Grins...

>18 mahsdad: Let me know how "Town and Country" is, Jeff. I snagged IQ from my e-library. I remember you warbling about it. I should get to it soon.

>19 banjo123: Thanks all around, Rhonda.

>16 msf59: I meant Scarlet! Summer would be REALY incredible.

Happy new thread, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you!

>1 msf59: When I saw the pic of the 3 CWs that you posted on my thread this morning, this fluffy/fat one was my favorite. Excellent photo, especially with the tree budding out so nicely. RTH and Mr. Birding Geek, too. Thanks for sharing.

>8 msf59: Good one. The idiot in chief is absolutely bat-shit crazy.

Morning, Mark!

Happy New Thread, buddy. Cool bird pics up top.

I've got In the Dream House on my WL, so I'll be tracking your reactions.

I'm enjoying Hope in the Dark and Eight Perfect Murders. We're going to help Becca celebrate her birthday later today.

Have a good one today. I'm glad your long weekend went so well.

Happy new thread, Mark. Love the birds.

>8 msf59: :)

Happy new thread! Nice birding duds!

>21 alphaorder: Let me know if you get a Scarlet at your feeder, Nancy. I have not but I do hear they do drop by on occasion. The Summers will be a target bird for me, the next couple of months.

>22 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Glad you like the cedar waxwing. Such an elegant bird and the birding geek, is well...a geek.

>23 jnwelch: Morning, Joe and thanks. In the Dream House has been a strong memoir. I will wrap it up today and will be recommending it. Have a nice birthday get-together with Number-One daughter.

>24 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. Yep, I have been sharing the birds but I am still dedicated to the books too.

>25 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. Glad you like the birding duds. My future SIL gave me the heavy duty boots, which have really came in handy, with the mud and flooded areas, I have been tramping through.

Humpday again...hope you're not humping too much mail around today.

The cedar waxwing treeful was truly impressive.

Hey there, Mr Mark. I was going to ask if the USPS shut down since we hadn't gotten mail since Thursday. Alas, I called our local PO and they said that, due to the road construction on our street, they deemed it unsafe to deliver so I went and picked it up.

I think I might start to read the Doris Kearns Goodwin book, The Bully Pulpit. Have you read that?

Happy new thread, Mark!
I love all the bird pictures :-)

>28 richardderus: Hey, RD. My hump day will be tomorrow, but I am sure glad I avoided the 6-day work week with the holiday on Monday. Whew! Yes, the volume was much lighter today, which we totally expected.

>29 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Great to see you stop by. Will you have to continue to pick up your mail and if so, for how long? I have not read The Bully Pulpit but I am a big fan of T.R., so that one has been on my list. I am a fan of DKG, although I have not read much of her work.

>30 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita.

Happy new thread, Mark! It sounds like you've had some great success spotting new birds lately, and love the photos of the scarlet tanager.

Thanks, Mary. It has been a fun migration season, but since that is wrapping up, now I get to enjoy our summer residents. Now, I want to finally see a Summer Tanager.



-Summer Tanager (NMP)

>33 msf59: WOOT!

LOL! No, this was just an example, Nancy! This one will take some work. I am off Sunday & Monday. Maybe then...

>35 msf59: Oh boy. I need to read a little closer. I am moving between so many different mediums now that I am working from home. Good reminder to slow down and pay attention.

Happy new thread, Mark. That first scarlet tanager pic in >3 msf59: is stunning!

>36 alphaorder: These things happen, Nancy. Wait until you get my age. Grins...

>37 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. It looks like the scarlet tanager was a big hit!

"In the midst of a family crisis one late evening, white blogger Alix Chamberlain calls her African American babysitter, Emira, asking her to take toddler Briar to the local market for distraction. There, the security guard accuses Emira of kidnapping Briar, and Alix's efforts to right the situation turn out to be good intentions selfishly mismanaged."

I have had Such a Fun Age on my radar for awhile. I know a few of my LT pals were fans. I was just waiting for the audio to come in. It has arrived and I will start this debut today.

I am also continuing to enjoy Crooked Hallelujah, in print.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Thursday to you. I hope the rain holds off. We're supposed to have rain and thunderstorms through Saturday.

I've already had a hummingbird visitor and now there's a female Cardinal on the sunflower feeder. I've got some fresh hummingbird food already to go, just need to actually swap out.

>40 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. It looks like the rain may hold off, until I am done. Fingers crossed. Love the daily feeder report.

HI Mark, There are 7 hummingbirds at our big red flower right now and for once they are cooperating. I think they have just fledged and are very hungry. The feeder must be filled up twice a day now. Also lots of raven sightings and hearing their loud screech and lots of eagle sightings too. Lots of bird life where we are!

Hiya Birddude, have a tanagery kinda day.

>42 mdoris: Wow, Mary!That is a great bird report. I have only seen a single hummingbird at our feeders, at a time, so I am jealous you get to see so many. Sadly, we do not get ravens in the Midwest, just their cousins the American Crow. We do get eagles though. Are you mostly referring to bald eagles?

>43 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. It was a no tanager Thursday, although it is extremely tough to see them while working.

Six day weeks? No wonder you are looking forward to retirement, Mark. It's coming up soon.

>45 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Let me clarify- Our work week starts on Saturday, so when my long weekend comes around every 5 weeks, my Friday and Saturday off days butt up against one another and in that case I work six days the following week. That preceding Monday will start my cycle again. I hope that was clear.

>47 msf59: Wait, what? Knowledge is knowing the facts, intelligence is knowing the meaning, and wisdom is knowing if it applies, and manners is knowing whether or not to say it.

>47 msf59: Very apt at the moment Mark.

'Morning, Mark! Happy early morning Friday to you.

I had to get up early, to an alarm!, to put Inara into her carrier, blanket free, to take her to the vet at 8. Inara's already on an antibiotic we were able to pick up Wednesday night, but Dr. Cindy wants to see her first thing. The things we do for our pet children!

It's still too dark to see anybody at the feeders, but I put out fresh hummingbird food yesterday and they were visiting the feeder steadily yesterday.

>48 quondame: Yep! Shocking, right?

>49 Caroline_McElwee: It sure is, Caroline and it has an owl in it. Grins...

>50 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hope it is all good news with Inara. Keep us posted, my friend.

Happy Friday!

I am enjoying the hummingbirds and orioles that are coming to my two feeders to drink nectar. Oddly enough I have seen a red-bellied woodpecker drinking from it as well.

Happy Friday, Figs! I love the feeder report. Funny, I have seen red-bellied woodpeckers snacking from the orange halves in the past but, so far, not from the jelly bowl. They must like fruit.

-Tiger Swallowtail

See? It isn't always just about the birds. I like these beautiful butterflies too. Glad to see the swallowtails back and they pose nicely too.

Happy Friday, Mark! I hope you have a great day. Any birding planned for the weekend?

What Laura said, Mark. Happy Friday, buddy.

Such a Fun Age sounds intriguing, all right. I hope it works well for you. I know you've been disappointed the last couple of reads.

I thought Debbi said you spotted a Scarlet Tanager recently? Maybe I missed that up there.

It's getting to be time for me to pick out a new read. I'm thinking maybe The Yellow House. Did you read that one?

>55 lauralkeet: Happy Friday, Laura. I will stop after work today, for a brief birding session and then I plan on getting out both Sunday and Monday, my day off. Yah!

>56 jnwelch: Happy Friday, Joe. Yes, my last 2 reads were below par, but these next 2 are above, so I am back on track. I loved The Yellow House. A fine memoir. Good choice.

Check post #3 up there. That was my tanager day! Gorgeous birds.

>47 msf59: Yep.

>48 quondame: Even Yepper.

>57 msf59: Spend a lovely weekend's booking and birding! The summer tanager is a lovely creature, but I still favor the aesthetics of the scarlet with his dramatic black contrast stripes. So zorch!

Happy new thread to my favorite birding-and-book geek postal worker! You're having a great year so far, it seems, with spotting the coolest birds. I've got the feeder(s) up and running, but they are being visited mostly by grackles and sparrows. And squirrels. And a chipmunk. Even a rabbit. Not that I resent it, just that I wish there were more visits from the cardinals and finches and other more colorful birds. Oh, yes, I forgot to mention the robins who ignore the feeders and dig around in the grass for tasty bugs and worms. Ruby thinks all the birds are there just to play with her, so she runs to them, making them all fly away, after which she looks confused and a bit forlorn. I'm trying to teach her to just sit and watch, but she is a mover and shaker so it's not easy.

Have a great Friday!

Hi Mark, Just posted a pic showing 5 Hbs feeding at once on the big red flower. Come visit!

Hey Birddude! Didja know that Dvořák's Humoresque was based in part on the song of the scarlet tanager? Learned that here, thus proving again that there's no way to beat reading, reading about, or seeking out new-to-you books.

>58 richardderus: >61 richardderus: Hey, RD. I work tomorrow but I am off Sunday & Monday and yes there should be plenty of booking and birding. I am not familiar with Dvorak or Humoresque. Thanks for introducing some culture into my life.

I agree with you about the scarlet tanager being the better beauty.

>59 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. Great to see you over here. Sorry, you have mostly 4 legged creatures visiting your feeders. That can be frustrating. Do you put out a nice variety of feed? I think that is important to get the widest range of birds. Glad to hear, that Ruby is showing interest in the birds. Train 'em early, is what I always say.

>60 mdoris: Hi, Mary. I will have to stop by your place and check out that photo. How awesome.

>8 msf59: Perfect! And so sad that it is. : (

>39 msf59: Hope you enjoy Such a Fun Age. I still don't get the title....

>44 msf59: My front yard planting is finally finished and the bees and hummingbirds love it! Yes, I have been sitting outside in my chair, and the hummingbird came to feed from the FLOWERS!! He's been back 5 times while I've been outside. Makes me so happy. : )

>45 Familyhistorian: Here's to Sunday Monday weekend!

>64 msf59: - Sigh. He is such a *twit* (that's someone who tweets, right?)

>65 Berly: Hi, Kim. Great to see you. I am continuing to enjoy Such a Fun Age. Not sure about the title, either.
Hooray for feeding the bees and the hummingbirds. That is awesome. I need to plant a few bird & bee friendly plants. Maybe, post-retirement.

>66 jessibud2: I don't "tweet", Shelley but that sounds about right.

Hi Mark, your bird pictures are getting better and better - keep up the good work!

>68 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. Happy Saturday. More experience is helping, in my amateurish photography. I will plugging away.

"Karen Russell's comedic genius and mesmerizing talent for creating outlandish predicaments that uncannily mirror our inner in lives is on full display in these eight exuberant, arrestingly vivid, unforgettable stories."

^Not this is not a book about Trump. I could not stomach one of those, at the moment. Retch... Russell has never fully come together, as an author for me, in her one novel or in her short fiction. That said, I recognize her talent, in both forms and when she is good, she can be really good. Orange World and Other Stories came out last year and I am starting it today. Itchin' for some short stories.

I am also continuing to enjoy Such a Fun Age, which I should be close to wrapping up today.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy (work) Friday and (actual) Saturday to you.

We’re right on the border between migration/breeding for Scarlet Tanagers and I’ve never seen one. I’ll have to ask Louise if she's seen them here.

>70 msf59: I read and gave 3.5 stars to Swamplandia. I wouldn’t buy anything of hers new, but if it showed up in the book sale or thrift shop (whenever they open) I’d probably grab it.

Inara is coming along, a tad perkier. She slept with me most of the night and has already eaten breakfast. She’ll be 13 this summer. Senior, but not elderly senior…

>72 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I probably gave Swamplandia a slightly higher rating. There are stunning moments in that book, it is just a bit uneven. I am so glad to hear that Inara is doing better.

>71 msf59:

Maybe if America had responded well to the original taking a knee,
George Floyd would still be alive.

>72 karenmarie:, >73 msf59: The ending with its inevitable, tedious, tacked-on sexual abuse of the girl caused me much disgust and rendered me unwilling to go with Author Russell's storytelling choices again.

My reading during the quarantine has been wonderful! I opted to go with entertainment and comfort stuff. I also continue to try to read one novella per weekend, which has been extended to include short nonfiction books as well. Last weeks novella was An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good and it was a hoot to read! I didn't know the Swedes could be so funny. And practical.

I have read every Deon Meyer book I own and loved every minute of these thrillers. Since there is only one of his I haven't read - I ordered a used copy of it from Alibris. When it gets here I shall devour it.

I also read all three of the Bobiverse books and loved that Sci/Fi world. Thanks to Joe for warbling about them 3 years ago. Go have some fun with the Bobs! They restored my faith in humanity. Or at least Bob.

I am now turning to mysteries and steampunk. I am listening to the recorded version of another book Joe warbled about several years ago - the steampunk novel Aeronauts Windlass by Jim Butcher. Butcher normally write paranormal stuff - but this tome (700 pages) is pure steampunk fun! It is also his first YA book, and it is full of adventure. And cats. All you cat lovers out there take note. Cats.

I am reading a longish Sweedish mystery Buried Angles by Camila Lackberg and have read over half of the 475 page book in 2 days! Staying at home is good for something.

Meanwhile my nonfiction reading and my cooking have languished.

Hey, buddy. Lovely Saturday. I hope work has gone well. We got a good walk in over at a local park. Have you tried Miami Woods, not far from Labagh? We had that area recommended.

I'm enjoying Beautiful Ruins and The Yellow House. Still working my way through the large Ted Kooser poetry collection.

Enjoy your two days off!

>74 m.belljackson: Amen, to that, Marianne.

>75 richardderus: I distinctly remember your disgust at the ending of Swamplandia, Richard and it bothered others too. I did feel it went a bit far and didn't really mesh with the feel of the rest of the book. I still think there is plenty of strong moments in that novel. This collection is off to a good start. I hope it continues on that trajectory.

>76 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. Love the book report. It sounds like you are deeply immersed in your reading. Does Deon Meyer send you books? If not, he should. You must be his Number #1 fan. Grins...

I tried Jim Butcher a few years ago. I liked him well enough, but I prefer meatier fare.

>77 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Not familiar with Miami Woods. I hope you make it over there and report back. It sounds like you have another pair of fine books going. As you know, I loved both of those. Enjoy.

Yep, heading out. B.A.G...

Happy Birding, happy day off.

I don't remember anything about Swamplandia. Nada. Zip. On the other hand, I remembered a critical piece of The Silent Speaker by Rex Stout before it got mentioned in the book even though I'm pretty sure I haven't read it in more than 30 years. Go figure.

Beautiful day today, Mark. Couldn't ask for better.

I saw that bird book you mentioned on FB and I've reserved it at the library. The Bird Way. Maybe I'll learn something.

Happy birding, Birddude! I hope the Russell read doesn't elicit fury and disgust when you get back to it.

>81 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. It doesn't appear that you thought much of Swamplandia, does it? Grins...

>82 lindapanzo: Happy Sunday, Linda. Definitely a beautiful day. I am glad I got out there early to bird, for a few hours. I am so happy The Bird Way got your attention. Let me know what you think. I really liked her book, The Genius of Birds. Not sure it was for casual readers, though.

>83 richardderus: Hey, RD. Definitely not feeling any "disgust" with the Russell collection, but I have a feeling the collection may end up being uneven. Not really surprised by that.

62) Panopticon by David Bajo 3.2 stars

On the California/Mexico border a newspaper is closing shop and three of their top reporters are given different assignments, that end up having eerie similarities. One involves a mysterious motel and a missing woman. This novel has a dream-like quality to it, involving a surveillance-minded society, where cameras document everything. There is also a connection to the “feminicide" in Ciudad, Juarez where scores of women have been murdered over the past 25-plus years. I should have loved this book. It's premise and style fit me perfectly but the trippy and unfocused, narrative kept me from fully locking in. It just missed the “mark”.

Hi Mark. I hope you had a fun solo birding day.

I missed most of your last thread but thought I'd try to get back in the groove.

I think your experience of Karen Russell is similar to mine. I wanted to love Swamplandia! and it just missed the mark for me. I'm a Florida native so I always have high hopes for literature with Florida connections. Florida by Lauren Groff is one of my faves of recent years. So I'll be interested in how Orange World lands for you.

>64 msf59: Very clever.

>85 msf59: I'll probably skip that one.

Hope your weekend is going well, Mark.

63) In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado 4.3 stars

“Love cannot be won or lost; a relationship doesn't have a scoring system. We are partners, paired against the world. We cannot succeed if we are at odds with each other.”

“The truth is, there is no better place to live than in the shadow of a beautiful, furious mountain.”

“You cried in front of many people. You missed readings, parties, the supermoon. You tried to tell your story to people who didn’t know how to listen. You made a fool of yourself, in more ways than one.

“When the historian of queer experience attempts to document a queer past, there is often a gatekeeper, representing a straight present.”

For many years, Carmen Maria Machado was locked into an abusive same-sex relationship. A nightmare, she had a hard time pulling herself out of. In her debut memoir Machado, describes this experience, in exquisite and painful detail. It can be a difficult read at times, but her writing is so bold and gorgeous, it guides the reader safely past the ugly passages. I loved her story collection, Her Body and Other Parties and with this one, she has proved to be a voice to be heard. I can't wait to see what she does next.

>86 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. I have definitely missed seeing you around. I am not surprised to hear that we have similar feelings about Russell. So far, Orange World has not dispelled those mixed feelings, for me, unfortunately, although I did love the first story. Maybe the second half will be stronger.

I am with you on Florida. That was an excellent collection.

>87 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I don't blame you on Panopticon. It ended up being a misfire.

>88 msf59: Oh my, that's going on my "it gots the cooties" list with Fun Home and Mississippi Sissy. Not clinging all that hard to sanity as it is....

>90 richardderus: Ooh, not familiar with Mississippi Sissy, RD. I immediately added it. I am sure you will like In the Dream House. Machado is the real deal.

^I have mentioned before that warblers are difficult to photograph, or at least for me and my non-professional equipment, but this Common Yellow-Throat gave me a few chances to get it right. There are only a small handful of warblers that nest and breed here for the season and the yellow-throat is one of them. This is from my Sunday outing.

-Eastern Towhee



-Northern Cardinal. He looks a bit exasperated with me.

These are also from today's outing. The towhee is a treat and he was singing away too.

Great pics, Mark!

>93 msf59: Cool birds!

Oh I'm glad you liked In the Dream House Mark. I thought it was quite brilliant. I need to read more of her books.

I actually liked Swamplandia and gave it four stars but I haven't felt the urge to read anything else but that could change...blinks.

>46 msf59: Clearish, Mark. Our mail deliverers work Monday to Friday so it is always odd to see you posting that you are working on the weekend. Although, lately parcels have been delivered on Sundays which is surprising and usually only happens at Christmas, but then, I heard in the news that the PO was saying that parcels are at Christmas levels.

Colourful bird pics up thread. Looks like you are getting faster!

Mark, your photos are excellent! That yellow-throat looks like a painting! Beautiful!

>94 Storeetllr: >95 quondame: Thanks, Mary & Susan.

>96 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie. I had forgot you had also loved In the Dream House. I am sure you will love her story collection. Not sure about the Russell collection. A work in progress.

>97 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Yep, our postal service is 6 days. You get used to it, like anything else. Our parcels have definitely picked up but I am sure we are still losing revenue, due to the other mail volume dropping off. Thanks, in regards to my photos. A work, still in progress...grins.

>98 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. Smaller birds are tough to capture but this guy cooperated. I tried to get a yellow warbler yesterday, as well, but he flew off to soon.

Happy June, everyone! ^ Another critter, practicing shelter in place. Not a bad idea at all, with the violence and rioting happening all around. Our downtown is shutdown and most of the public transportation has been suspended. This behavior is going to overshadow the ugly injustice of George Floyd. WTH??

I discovered this raccoon on a recent jaunt. I thought it was an owl, at first.

>93 msf59: Them's some fine birding mementos, and the warblers on stems are reminders to me of just how tiny these animals really are.

What did you say to that cardinal? He's mighty huffy.

>100 msf59: Cute li'l trash panda!

Have a great day off.

Morning, Mark.

Great bird photos, and good catch of Mr. Raccoon. You're getting the hang of this!

Nice review of In the Dream House, too. I'm still not sure whether I want to make time for it, but your review sure keeps it in the running.

Workout and chores today. Boo. I'll get in some reading of The Yellow House though.

‘Morning, Mark! I hope you’re enjoying your SBR.

>84 msf59: I didn’t dislike Swamplandia, I just didn’t like it enough to remember much about it. I was going to cull it, but have changed my mind. Jenna may like it.

>85 msf59: I’ve added it to my wish list even though it wasn’t up to the ‘mark’ for you.

>92 msf59:, >93 msf59:, >100 msf59: Your critter photos are excellent.

>92 msf59: >93 msf59: >100 msf59: Great captures Mark.

>88 msf59: She won a Lammy Award for QUILTBAG Non-fiction last night! Her acceptance speech is here.

Good Morning, Mark - for the latest in Token Creek Wildlife,
you might enjoy #31 and #94 on Joe's thread.

Hey, Machado Maven! Look what I found!

Book description:

When your memories are stolen, what would you give to remember? Follow El and Vee as they search for answers to the questions everyone else forgot. Shudder-to-Think, Pennsylvania, is plagued by a mysterious illness that eats away at the memories of those affected by it. El and Octavia are two best friends who find themselves the newest victims of this disease after waking up in a movie theater with no memory of the past few hours. As El and Vee dive deeper into the mystery behind their lost memories, they realize the stories of their town hold more dark truth than they could've imagined. It's up to El and Vee to keep their town from falling apart...to keep the world safe from Shudder-to-Think's monsters. Collects issues # 1-6.

>101 richardderus: Hey, RD! Hooray for trash pandas! Fortunately, they don't bother our garbage or backyard stuff, although I have seen them roaming around a time or two. I am not sure why that cardinal gave me such a dirty look. I try to be as respectful as possible.

>102 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I hope your workout went well. I also hope we can get a bird hike in, sometime this summer, plus we are WAY OVERDUE for a beer together. If anything else, I recommend In the Dream House for the level of excellent writing.

>103 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I had a very nice SBR. A bit quieter on the trails, bird-wise, so only a few photos taken.

>104 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. Happy accidents, my friend. Grins...

>105 richardderus: >107 richardderus: I will check out her speech. Thanks. Wow! That awards list is impressive. I still need to get to Lot: Stories. Very Bad Mark on that one! It sure seems like my cuppa. Ooh, "The Low, Low Woods" sounds absolutely delicious. Did you share that one with Joe too?

>106 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. I will stop over and check it out. Thanks.

>109 msf59: I was sure I had, but now I'll go check. Thanks for reminding me!

Hi Mark! Catching up here. I really love your bird/butterfly/wildlife photos - amazing! We enjoy watching our birds that come to our backyard feeder. Not sure about next birding steps - I would like to be better about identifying the birds who visit for starters.

We had a family of raccoons living under our deck a few years back. We enjoyed watching them toddle around and seeing them in trees, but our enjoyment was seriously tempered by the discovery of a raccoon latrine on our roof. Did NOT enjoy that so much, and stopping it/getting rid of it was a really serious matter, as there's an organism in their waste that is seriously dangerous to humans.

Interesting discussion of Karen Russell Like others here, I am not tempted to pick up anything of hers after disliking Swamplandia! and particularly its ending.

>110 richardderus: Glad I mentioned it, RD. I know this would appeal to Joe, as well.

>111 AMQS: Hi, Anne. Great to see you. Studying and identifying the birds at my feeders was my first step too. It is a big help and highly recommended. Baby steps, like many things in our lives. Your raccoon story does sound pretty scary. We finally completely blocked off the bottom of our backyard shed, so no critters can use it as a hostel, especially the evil skunks, who can wreak havoc on our elderly pooch.

Not a whole lot of Russel love on LT and I don't think I'll be adding anything positive, with this one.

"Was he New York City's last pirate...or its first gangster? This is the true story of the bloodthirsty underworld legend who conquered Manhattan, port by port--for fans of Gangs of New York and Boardwalk Empire."

Just the description of The Last Pirate of New York: A Ghost Ship, a Killer, and the Birth of a Gangster Nation was enough to catch my attention. I dipped into the audio today and I like it. The author has nice "wiseguy' style. It is NF set in New York in 1860.

64) Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford 4 stars

Can I love anything the way that I used to love the mystery of my mother, her strength in suffering?"

"His baritone sounded familiar but busy, his words fireflies that flitted between them without illuminating a thing."

This is a multi-generational novel, set in the Cherokee Nation, of Oklahoma. It follows one family over the decades, beginning in the early 1970s where we are introduced to Justine, a wayward teenager, who becomes pregnant at 15. The stories focus mostly on the female members, including Justine's mother Lula, a devout member of the Holiness Church, who lays down the wrath of God. The spotlight also shines on Justine's daughter Reney, who becomes fiercely independent, trying to shake the bonds of poverty and broken men.
I like Native American fiction, and I wish the author would have included more of their culture and heritage. Other than that, I really admired her writing style and I think she delivered a solid family drama. Impressive debut.

**It does not come out until July. I received an advanced copy.

>113 msf59: Gotta find that one! Wiseguy style!

>115 drneutron: Not far into The Last Pirate of New York, Jim, but I think it is something you would enjoy.

-Double-Crested Cormorant.

^This fella struck a nice pose for me on Sunday. Cormorants are seen regularly here through the warmer months. They are diving birds.

>113 msf59: I'll await your comments on this one with great interest.

>114 msf59: Sounds like a very moving book. I don't often seek out books set in Mobilhoma.

>117 msf59: What a ham that bird is!

>117 msf59: Living in the city we don't see the variety of birds that we used to out in the 'burbs. But we are lucky to see cormorants pretty often. They hang out near one of our regular dog walks along the Delaware River.

Have a great day Mark!

'Morning, Mark! I love the photo of the cormorant. Well done.

I don't know whether to be glad or sad that I'm not picking up any BBs from you lately...

>118 richardderus: Hey, RD. The Last Pirate has been quite informative. Lots of historical goodies, I was not aware of. It seems this author has written a slew of books. I had not heard of him.

Have you see a cormorant? Them seem to be everywhere.

>119 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura. I am sure if you get out a bit, you will see plenty of birds. Have you seen a flock of cormorants in a tree? Always a very interesting sight.

>120 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Looks like I better do better on my warbling, eh? Grins...

Not even pretending to catch up, Mark. All it takes is a few days away from LT to get ridiculously behind.

I must say though that I am disappointed with the lack of owls up top!

Love the cormorant, Mark - they're so cool. We have them around here, too. Last night we had a really beautiful sky and the girls and I spent about an hour outside watching the bat show. I love watching them, and I love knowing they're there:)

>117 msf59: I like cormorants Mark. He is very ... sure of himself I think. This is me, take it or leave it.

>122 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. Yep, things can move along at a fast clip around here, but what's new, right? Grins...

Owls are very tough to see in the summer months, with all the foliage, so any photos are nearly impossible. You will have to make due, with one of my cute GHO owlets:

>123 AMQS: Hi, Anne. Cormorants are a bit dorky out of the water, but I always like seeing them and they are very distinctive while flying too. Glad you are enjoying the "bat show" in your backyard. Sadly, we don't get as many around here. I wish I had the set up, to put up a bat house.

>124 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline! Yes, this cormorant has attitude. No question about it.

-Harry Bliss

>117 msf59: Yesterday on the dock, I was crouched down, attaching a line to a cleat, when a cormorant popped out of the water right in front of me. Close call on which of us was more surprised to see the other.

Love all the bird shots. : ) Happy Tuesday. And Wednesday. And Thursday....

Y'all often wonder why it is that I abominate The Expressions Poeticall when it's such a joy to others. Because, to me, almost all poetry is like this:

In Time of Swallows

The pear is weighted now with more than fruit–
In hordes they come, a winged avalanche,
Descending on the tree from tip to root,
Shaking the leaves, bending each silver branch.
They overflow the meadows for miles around
In multitudes, spilling their liquid song;
This is the time of swallows; along the ground,
On fence posts, bushes, these living beads are strung.
And then, in thousands, they reclaim the sky,
Sailing across the soft blue sea of air,
A bright, light-winged armada; we watch them fly
To what far destination; suddenly aware
Of the year’s waning, as the quick eye follows
The end of summer in the flight of swallows.

from In Time of Swallows: 52 American Birds, by Mae Winkler Goodman, illustrated by William E. Scheele
New York: The Devin-Adair Company, 1951

And that, kind sir, is urpsome drivel made even less lovely by its seasick rhythm and rhyme.

>128 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. Hooray for the cormorant surprise! What other water birds do you see at the lake?

>129 Berly: Thanks, Kim. As you can tell, I like sharing my bird shots, especially since I am getting a tad better at capturing them.

>130 richardderus: I like the "idea" of the poem, of course, but the execution is bit much. This dates back to the 50s. There is much better stuff out there, than this drivel.

^The Eastern Kingbird is another of our summer residents. These elegant beauties can usually be found, perched out in the open, giving us amateurs decent photo ops.

>132 msf59: Kings don't need to be discreet. He's a posing King not a poseur king!

'Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you. I can see one chubby Mourning Dove perched in my Crepe Myrtle. Everybody else seems to be busy elsewhere.

Great photos, Mark, especially the cormorant and the Kingbird.

I agree on the bird walks and a beer together. Way overdue!

Lots of good reading you're doing, too. I had a life hiccup and had to diverge from the ones I'd been reading to a Dick Francis mystery, but I'll return to the two you had liked (Yellow House and Beautiful Ruins).

Hope it's a good one for you today, buddy. At least yesterday's heat is gone.

>133 richardderus: We definitely do not need any more poseur kings, do we, RD?

>134 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for the mourning dove. Birds must be nesting at the moment, our feeders have been very quiet too.

>135 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Glad you like the bird photos. I enjoy sharing them. Yep, it looks like the rain has moved on. Whew. It should be a pleasant enough day, which will be a relief after yesterday's heat.

Mysteries are your jam, so I am sure you will have a good time with the Francis title.

"A resident of one of LA's toughest neighborhoods uses his blistering intellect to solve the crimes the LAPD ignores."

This has been a popular series, on LT, for awhile and I believe Jeff was the first to warble about it and then Joe recently discovered it and did some warbling of his own. I figured it was time for me to get on the IQ train, so I started the debut today, (I couldn't find the audio) and it grabbed me right away.

"When a white servant girl violates the order of plantation society, she unleashes a tragedy that exposes the worst and best in the people she has come to call her family."

The Kitchen House is another book I have been meaning to get to for years.(Sorry, if I am sounding like a broken record, but I am sure many of you can relate). I have acquired both a print copy and a audio copy, so my excuses are even more limited. Thanks to Kim, for recently giving me a nudge on this one. I started the audio today.

This one came out a decade ago. Any LTers want to chime in on it?

I have the IQ book on my stack. I just haven't read it yet. I am on the last Deon Meyer book and then I think I had better read a work of nonfiction or two. But Joe Ide is on my list. The IQ book was one of Jimmy Fallon's short list for summer reading - maybe 2 years ago -. I'll see if I can find the list and get back to you.

It was Jimmy Fallon and it was on the short list in 2018 for the Tonight Show Summer Reads. 2018 was the first year he did the summer reads and Children of Blood and Bone was selected. IQ was in the top five and that's how I heard about it. Having Joe warble about it just made me move it onto the TBR pile on the nightstand. Of course, I haven't read Children of Blood and Bone either.

Hi Mark! Crooked Hallelujah sounds good. I liked the quotes you shared.

Personally I really loved The Kitchen House, Mark. I recommend it . Just checked and I gave the book 5 stars and that is rare for me. However, your star value may vary! :-)

>140 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I am enjoying IQ in the early going. Glad to hear Fallon is a fan. I have still not read Children of Blood and Bone. I think it got a mixed LT response, so I never pulled the trigger. If you are in the hunt for good NF, give The Last Pirate of New York a spin. I really enjoyed that one.

>141 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. I think Crooked Hallelujah would be a good fit for you. Hopefully you can request it from your library.

>142 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. Now, you definitely have me pumped about The Kitchen House. Looking forward to diving deeper into it today. Not fond of my recent birdie pics? Grins...

"Acclaimed author of 2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas Marie-Helene Bertino's Parakeet is a darkly funny and warm-hearted novel about a young woman whose dead grandmother (in the form of a parakeet) warns her not to marry and sends her out to find an estranged loved one."



"For readers of Tommy Orange, Yaa Gyasi, and Jhumpa Lahiri, an electrifying debut novel about three unforgettable characters who seek to rise—to the middle class, to political power, to fame in the movies—and find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe in contemporary India."

^These are two new releases, that have caught my attention. Parakeet: A Novel sounds like a lot of fun. I really enjoyed Cat's Pajamas. A Burning sounds hard-hitting and very timely.

I have requested both of them from the library. I am sure it will be a long wait.

I have IQ waiting patiently on audio. I look forward to your thoughts on it.

Happy Thursday, Mark!

'Morning, Mark, and happy Thursday to you!

... and you got me. Parakeet sounds wonderful. Onto the Wish List it goes.

>138 msf59: I liked this one, although read it a while back so the memory is a little foggy beyond that!

Love the bird pictures, as always. We had a flock of starlings (maybe 20 or so?) land in the (very small) garden at lunchtime today. Quite funny to see!

>144 msf59:

I have A Burning arriving from Boswell today. I didn't realize that Parakeet was by the same author 2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas. I loved that book too!

>145 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. IQ is off to an entertaining start. He is a cool character.

>146 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Gotcha with a BB. Yah! I am also looking forward to Parakeet.

>147 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Not far into The kitchen House but I am enjoying it. Glad you like my bird postings. Usually I see flocks of starlings during migration, otherwise it is a couple here and there.

>48 quondame: There's my best pal Nancy. Always cutting edge. Grins...I requested both of those books from the library. Bertino also wrote a story collection I would like to check out.

>139 msf59: I don't remember any serious warbling about this one. I'll wait to see if you die of boredom before librarying it.

Trying to nap and not having any luck, but still feel whupped. Darned old internal sleep-timer!

>139 msf59: There's one in every crowd, and I'm going to be her this time----I Pearl-ruled The Kitchen House; I believe my comments mentioned stereotypes and lack of originality...it was many years ago, and I don't actually remember it now. Your mileage, of course...

>149 msf59: Mark, I meant the Joe Ide - I've not read The Kitchen House.

>150 richardderus: Hey, RD. I hope you got a nap in. I am enjoying The Kitchen House but I do not think it is your cuppa. You might like IQ, though. Have you tried this series yet?

>151 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. Good to see you. Yep, one in every crowd. LOL. I am enjoying The Kitchen House. The author is a white woman and I know that can be a red flag, but it is working for me...so far.

>152 charl08: Thanks, for clarifying, Charlotte. Did you only read the first IQ book?

>125 msf59: Thank you for fixing your thread by adding owls, Mark!

>154 alcottacre: I have to take care of one of my favorite visitors! B.A.G.!

>138 msf59: Thanks for putting that on my radar! Looks to be an interesting read.

>153 msf59: I checked the first one out of the library, but never cracked it open for some reason I can't recall.

Still napless, so now aiming for early bedtime.

>156 figsfromthistle: Hi, Figs. IQ is off to a good start. I am sure there will be more warbling to come.

>157 richardderus: Sweet dreams, RD. I hope you fall into a deep slumber.

Hi Mark, I recently read The Kitchen House and I really liked it, giving it four and a half stars. Hope you enjoy your read of it.

Mark, yes very fond of the bird pictures , just in a mad rush with the used car shopping for our son -which was completed this evening. Big relief! Apparently we have cormorants around here too, but I can't say that I've ever seen one for certain. Great photography, Mark. I did see an Anna's humming bird out on my walk today and also had a blue heron fly right in front of me. They are cool birds. You've hit me with A Burning. Yup, a BB.

IQ and Parakeet sound intriguing...I need a clone of me who can just sit and read all day. : )

How many more weeks til retirement Mark?

>159 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Glad to hear from another fan of The Kitchen House. I am quite enjoying it too.

>160 vancouverdeb: I just like bustin' your chops, Tonto. Happy Friday, Deb! Love the bird report and hooray for a BB bullseye!

>161 Berly: Hi Kimmers! I am having a good time with IQ and really looking forward to Parakeet.

>162 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline! Fast approaching eleven weeks. Yah!!

Hi Marc, loved your bird pictures. The small warbler in the reeds, very good! They usually are so fast.

I saw an owl yesterday evening, flying over in the twilight, just a flash and it's gone. And then you think Hey, that was an owl! Impossible to photograph.

I liked the sound of Parakeet as well. Might try The Kitchen House.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you.

I'm glad to see that you've got a countdown going to retirement. The White-Breasted Nuthatch is back this morning for a visit, as is a male House Finch and female Cardinal. No hummingbirds yet.

11 weeks?! Wow, time has flown. I'm excited for you, Mark!

LESS THAN THREE MONTHS!!

Woo hoo, Mark! That's practically a single digit countdown!!

>167 richardderus: "Like!"

Happy Friday, Mark. I loved the finish of Beautiful Ruins, and it ended up being a really good read. Phew! Debbi had given it one of her rare recommendations, so I'd be in trouble if I didn't like it. (Actually, she's never missed with me, including the sad but awfully good A Fine Balance).

I'm back to The Yellow House today, and I'm going to start a new Austen-related one today called The Jane Austen Society. Besides mysteries being my jam, Austen is, too. :-)

Hey, I just read a GN you'll like when the libraries reopen - Black Dahlia. It's James Ellroy's adaptation of his novel, and it's noirly good.

>164 EllaTim: Happy Friday, Ella. Glad you like the bird photos. I always like hearing about an owl sighting. They are always special. This time of year, you have to be lucky to see one.

>165 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Thanks in regards to the countdown. Glad to hear you getting feeder activity. Mine are on hiatus.

>166 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. Pretty exciting.

>167 richardderus: You got me teary-eyed, with that one, RD.

>168 jessibud2: Happy Friday, Shelley. The summer months always fly by and this year, I am welcoming it, with open arms.

>169 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Hooray for Beautiful Ruins. Such a fine read. Go Debbi, for getting you to read it. I am sure you will enjoy your Austen-related book and thanks for the GN rec. I like Ellroy.

Hi Mark - My book club read The Kitchen House a few years ago. Most of the members liked it; I remember feeling meh about it when all is said and done and gave it three stars. I wrote a pretty negative review. I try not to have spoilers, but this one might well - so just in case, avoid my review until you're done.

Among other things, I called it 'a soap opera with slaves.'

I'm reading a "Mark's fault" right now - The Hollow Kingdom. Strange and noir and funny. It seems to fit my reading mood right now.

It's the 'last but one' of the library books that I received before the shutdown.

Happy Friday, Mark!

>163 msf59: We've been is lockdown for more than 11 weeks! You can do this!

>172 streamsong: Hi, Janet. Great to see you. Yes, I can see why opinions on The Kitchen House have been mixed. 'a soap opera with slaves', is not a bad way to put it. Plantation Abbey? I am actually liking it though. I don't think it will be an earth-shattering read for me but I am enjoying it into the second half.

>173 alcottacre: Happy Friday, Stasia! Sorry for the lack of owls...once again.

>174 quondame: Good point, Susan. I can do 11 weeks standing on my head.

-Keith Taylor

Well, Mark, you hit me so hard with the BB of A Burning, I purchased it from amazon last night and it just arrived. I'm in the midst of another book, but it looks to be good. Plus, we readers need a variety of books to draw on.

>176 msf59: I have no words to reply to your comic. That sociopath.

>175 msf59: Well, OK, but are your feet good for another 11 weeks?

>100 msf59: Adorable! They are so cute when they aren't raiding the garbage bins

Just three months left?! That will just fly by!

>177 vancouverdeb: >178 vancouverdeb: Ooh, a BB landed perfectly. I can't wait to read A Burning too, Deb. Yep, enough said about the sociopath.

>179 quondame: Heck yeah, Susan. Plus I bird regularly too, which keeps the feet fit.

>180 ChelleBearss: Hi, Chelle. Fortunately the raccoons don't bother our garbage. We rarely ever see them. If the next 3 months fly, like the last 3, it should be smooth sailing.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you. I hope your work day flies by quickly.

Morning, Karen. The mail is light, the sun is shining and my current reads are treating me fine. All good here.

>176 msf59: And, as it turns out, this kakistocracy lied about the numbers too. Discovering "an error" means the figure is now 16.7% not 13%. It's not the 19%-plus economists predicted but it's for absolute sure and certain not good.

Hello, Mark. Nice of you to stop by. I'm going to start Cloud Atlas this evening. I believe this one elicited "likes" by the bucketful.

ETA...

Here's that owl shoot you were looking for.

>176 msf59: Hahaha. What a surreal moment that was. The man is clearly mad.

>185 weird_O: Stunnng, but scary too Bill.

>184 richardderus: I am not surprised by that at all, RD. Is he ever capable of telling the truth? And my God, the evangelicals LOVE him!

>185 weird_O: Hey, Weirdo Bill! Great to see you. Good luck with Cloud Atlas. It is another challenging read but oh so rewarding. Love the fierce owl, zeroing in on the kill. Stasia should be pleased too.

>186 Caroline_McElwee: And "mad" is putting it politely, Caroline. The world must be watching us and just shaking their collective heads.

^Heading over to Bree and Sean's place, for beer, pizza and a fire. Perfect night for it.

Oh wow, somehow I missed that you were this close to retirement. What an exciting countdown! Glad to see some great birding and books too. Enjoy your time at Bree's!

>144 msf59: Noting both of those new releases. So many books!

Prudence and I went for a lovely hike on Wednesday -- I took a day "off" (which means I took a few hours off). We saw lovely wildflowers and a wonderful pair of Western Bluebirds. The pair sat nearby for a full 10 minutes and we just sat and watched them. There were no other humans around and it was just so peaceful and special. The male was SO blue!!!! I thought of you as we enjoyed this bird-watching treat.

>176 msf59: Yep, spot on.

I'm a bit further than halfway through The Orphan Master's Son, which is excellent. It provides a peak into living in a totalitarian state, something I find myself hoping we don't get to experience first-hand here in the U.S. I've also read the first three chapters of How to Be an Antiracist and I'm learning along the way. I recommend both books.

Happy Sunday, Mark!

>189 bell7: Hi, Mary. Yep, exciting times around here. I am sure these weeks will fly by.

>90 richardderus: Happy Sunday, Ellen. Glad to see you. Your hike with "P" sounds lovely and hooray for the western bluebirds. Bluebirds seem to be good photography subjects.

I have read and LOVED The Orphan Master's Son. It also stays with you, long after you finish it. How to Be an Antiracist is on my TBR list.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you.

>187 msf59: Is he ever capable of telling the truth? And my God, the evangelicals LOVE him! I have a family member (not Bill or Jenna, I hasten to note) who is evangelical and loves him. When asked about him, all she'll do is talk about Hillary and that she likes the things he's done. I haven't challenged her on that, but may dip a toe into it when I talk with her sometime soon. Trump is very cagey about religion and faith – notice he wouldn’t say that it was his Bible at that ridiculous and inflammatory photo op, just that it was a Bible. He also wouldn’t talk about praying or a discussion of ‘his faith’ when interviewed by Sean Spicer this week. All he said was that he’s done so much for religion. And I saw something earlier this week from 2015 where he wouldn’t even cop to a favorite verse from the Bible - “I wouldn’t want to get into it because to me it’s very personal”. Yeah. Right. I'd love it if they'd ask him flat out if he's Christian and watch him wriggle and writhe.

Went kayaking out on the Potomac River yesterday - saw two bald eagles and a bunch of ospreys, all pretty close. Mrsdrneutron got me some new binoculars for my birthday, they really worked well!

>187 msf59: They have an imaginary friend who's a bully, controls all things in the universe (except the ones they don't like but those're down to an evil anti-god or human stupidity which the all-powerful chooses to allow to exist but that's okay because...and on and on and on...) and they're somehow going to recognize either truth or facts?

>192 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. Loved your comments on the evangelicals and Trump's caginess. Yes, he is the least likely christian, that you would ever come across.

>193 drneutron: Ooh, the kayaking outing sounds perfect, Jim. Hooray for the eagles and osprey. Both are favorites of mine and congrats on the new binoculars. That is awesome.

>194 richardderus: I think you just nailed it perfectly, Richard. Boo to the Bully God!!

Hooray! So glad you are close to retirement, with all the issues related to the Post Office. Plus, more time for books, birds and beer!

>196 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. Getting exciting! The three Bs rule!!

-American Goldfinch



-Song Sparrow

^These are both from last Sunday's bird ramble. The goldfinch are all year residents and you can take them for granted, but when the males are in summer plumage, they are still quite striking. The lovely tune of the song sparrow, is a big part of every one of my walks, during the summer months.

-Yellow Warbler



-Eastern Bluebird

These photos are from today. I have mentioned several times that warblers are difficult to photograph but this lovely yellow cooperated today. Some yellows breed here over the summer, so I have been seeing them regularly. The male bluebird was against an overcast sky and the colors didn't quite pop the way I was hoping.

Nice bird photos, Mark! We have goldfinches year-round too, but I do love seeing a bright flash of yellow when one of the male birds flies off from the feeder. Especially nice shot of the yellow warbler, too.

Nice photos, Mark.

Plenty of our feathered friends here, Mark.

Hope your weekend has been a good one.

>200 bell7: Thanks, Mary. Glad to hear that goldfinch put a smile on your face too. Have not been seeing them at the feeders lately though. Probably, plenty of natural food.

>201 BLBera: Thanks, Beth.

>202 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. It was a good weekend. Visiting friends and family, beer, birding and books. Life is good.

-John Cuneo

Lovely photos, Mark. Looks like another successful birding day.

'Morning, Mark! I hope your day goes well.

Your photos are striking - thanks for sharing.

>204 msf59: LOL

Goldfinches are aptly named. Lovely fellow, him.

Happy "not-my-Monday"!

>205 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I enjoy sharing the photos, as much as taking them.

>206 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. The volume is not bad for a Monday, just dealing with a warmer day. It shouldn't be bad at all.

>207 richardderus: Hey, RD. Mr. Goldfinch is certainly lovely.

>199 msf59: Yes, I ♡ the goldfinch. You take such great photos, Mark!

>198 msf59: >199 msf59: I'm glad you are putting that camera to good use Mark. Great shots.

>204 msf59: very funny.

Great photo's, Mark. I'm afraid what birds I do see are on my dog walks ,and I'm already carrying my so called " dog purse " filled with ID,car keys, my Iphone, treats for our dog, poop bags and it's all a big balancing act. I see a lot of song sparrows - they are lovely birds. I know Gold finches are fairly plentiful here , but they tend to like bird feeders , so I don't see them very often.

I'm loving A Burning. If Canada Post did not charge an arm and a leg for postage, I'd be glad to mail it to you after I was finished reading it . I think because Canada is so large and sparsely populated, we really pay through the nose for postage.

>209 SandyAMcPherson: Aw thanks, Sandy. I am around a few very serious bird photographers and they blow me away, but then again they have much better equipment and more experience. Hopefully, someday, I will get to that level but for the meantime, this is a lot of fun.

>210 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. It sure is a fun way to share my birding experiences with my friends on LT and elsewhere.

It is 5:00 p.m. and that is book time. I am headed outside to sit on my patio and read in between showers caused by Tropical Storm Cristobal. It is good because we were beginning to need the rain and here in T-town we will only be getting 1 - 2 inches of rain. Maybe some thunderstorms, but nothing to severe in my neighborhood.

>211 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. it looks like you have your hands full while walking little Poppy! Hard to really focus on those birds, right? I am so glad to hear you are enjoying A Burning. Our LT friend Nancy is also reading it. That is a very nice offer, and I appreciate it, my friend. If you have to spend 10-plus dollars to send a single book, it is not worth it.

>213 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Enjoy your book time. I actually finished 3 books today, which is pretty good. I hope you are safe there in T-Town. We are supposed to get rain, wind and storms later tomorrow.

"Forty-five years after Bruce Lee’s sudden death at age thirty-two, journalist and bestselling author Matthew Polly has written the definitive account of Lee’s life. It’s also one of the only accounts; incredibly, there has never been an authoritative biography of Lee."

^Like many boys growing up in the 70s, I loved Bruce Lee. The guy was an absolute dynamo. And after nearly 50 years since his untimely death, I still find this young man fascinating. So, when this bio, came up as an Audible Daily Deal, I snagged it. I started Bruce Lee: A Life today. ESPN is running a doc on his life too, so my timing is good.

65) Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid 3.6 stars (audio)

I really wanted to like this more. It has received some solid reviews. It is still a decent read, with a strong set-up and an interesting commentary on our racial division in America. It just never quite took off, not like The Hate U give, which I loved. I have similar feelings about Celeste Ng, another author I just can't get into.

66) Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell 3.7 stars

This is another uneven story collection by Russell. The good news is, there are some terrific stories here, so she can still deliver, in an impressive way. Russell has talent, but she still has not completely dazzled me yet, from cover to cover. I don't think I will give up on her, though. When she is on, she really shines.

**I have a copy, if anyone wants to give it a go.

67) The Last Pirate of New York by Rich Cohen 4.3 stars

I very seldom read a book for just the title or the cover but this time around , I found the title The Last Pirate of New York: A Ghost Ship, a Killer, and the Birth of a Gangster Nation absolutely irresistible and it turned out to be a terrific read. I knew nothing about Albert Hicks and very little about NYC, circa 1860. I am much more informed now on both of those. Highly recommended.

**Very good audio too!! Just sayin'!!

Mark - Great photos! The bird walks sound fabulous...

I am so happy to be back reading again. Looking forward to hearing others pipe in about A Burning, which I recommend. I am listening to So You Want to Talk about Race - also recommend, and my current poetry is Fully Empowered. I should finish all of these this week.

Too much time spent on-line produces a slow start for me in Cloud Atlas. I'm going to get more than a toehold...ah...tomorrow.

>204 msf59: We can only wish.

>215 msf59: Oh yeah.

>215 msf59: Heh...or an old man's bald head.

>216 msf59: #67 veeerrry tempting

>218 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. You know, I like my bird strolls and I especially like sharing them with friends. Maybe, we could do one, sometime this fall. Looks like you have some good books going. I also want to read the Race book.

>221 msf59: Oh, another bird walk with you gives me something wonderful to look forward to!

>219 weird_O: Hey, Bill. I hope you find time for Cloud Atlas tomorrow. I am anxious to hear your thoughts. It is an amazing read.

>220 richardderus: I think you would enjoy The Last Pirate, RD.

Sorry to see that Such a Fun Age didn't quite click for you, Mark. But they can't all be winners, and it looks like you've head a few of those too, so it's all good.

'Morning, Mark! Enjoy your birding adventure.

I finally saw a female hummingbird at the feeder yesterday. My other feeders are almost empty so I don't have very many visitors.

Hey, buddy. Happy Tuesday. Nice bird photos up there. I'm trying to think of ways to get warblers to stay still - glue on the branch, a tiny tv with bird shows on, a bowl filled with bird snacks . . . Anyway, I'm glad the lovely yellow one cooperated.

Love the KT cartoon up there, and Trump down and tweetless.

Great to hear that you enjoyed IQ. I just finished the second one, Righteous, and it was likewise excellent. He has to outwit two nasty gangs, among other things.

Enjoy the day. Fingers crossed that the rain holds off until you're done.

P.S. I'm another bigtime Bruce Lee fan from my younger years. Cool that you're reading about him. We saw a biographical play about him in NY, but unfortunately it was disappointing.

>224 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura. Such a Fun Age wasn't a disappointing read but I was hoping for a bigger pay-off. I do like winners, though. B.A.G.

>225 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. We clocked in about 5 miles this morning and we began to feel the heat too. Not a crazy amount of birds but it was nice return to the Arb.

>226 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I was off today and it was a very nice return to the Arb this morning. Put on some miles. Not a whole lot of birds, but you know I love strolling about that place. Glad you enjoyed the second IQ book. I am sure I will get to it in the coming months.

Hooray for Bruce Lee! He was a tough scrappy little shit too, when he was a kid. This is turning out to be a solid bio.

I finished the book I was reading and have a 50 page start on Tenth Parallel: Dispatches From the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam by journalist Eliza Griswold. This book was published in 2010 and so I anticipate that some of the book may be dated, but it is one I had been wanting to read since it came out. It is one of those that you have to concentrate on and I think that my quiet evening and morning reading will be a good time to concentrate on it. It is about 300 pages so I am hoping I finish it this week before I go back to work next week.

>228 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. Thanks for the book update. Tenth Parallel sounds interesting. I will watch for your final thoughts. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

"In the fields and forests of western New York State in the late 1960s, several dozen idealists set out to live off the land, founding what becomes a famous commune centered on the grounds of a decaying mansion called Arcadia House."

Lauren Groff has been another hit or miss author for me. I liked but did not love her debut, The Monsters of Templeton. Despite all the acclaim of Fates and Furies, it fell flat for me. I absolutely loved her story collection, Florida, which came out in 2018. A 5 star read. Funny, Arcadia was the first of her works that caught my attention, (it came out in 2012) and it has sat on my shelf for years. Yep- WTH? Well, I finally started it today. It begins slowly but I am hoping I lock into it.

>230 msf59: That's a spiffy jacket/cover!

Glad your day out was pleasant, if bird-lite. There is something so refreshing in being among trees, isn't there?

I spoke to soon about not seeing gold finches. Yesterday on my Poppy jaunt - usually about 2 - 3 miles I spotted a gold finch in the trees close to me. Nice quiet day along the dyke path. Lots of barn swallows. I've had a copy of Such A Fun Age in my TBR pile for quite a while , but it has never really called to me. Thanks for your confirmation that I can skip it.

Love your stories about Bruce Lee! LOL! I was never a fan, but I dated a guy who was so into Bruce Lee. He had a black belt in karate and if memory serves, he and I even made a pilgrimage to see Bruce Lee's grave. I'm sure Gord is likely reading Bruce Lee: A Life. He works on the same police force as couple of my family members.

Sorry that your bird walk did not yield many birds.

>231 richardderus: Hey, RD. I like reading about cults/communes, so Arcadia is fitting that bill. Yep, walking in the trees is quite nourishing and we sure got plenty of that yesterday.

>232 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. Glad you saw a goldfinch on your Poppy walk. Such a splash of yellow to brighten your day. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Bruce Lee and your ex-beau. I had several friends that took martial arts lessons because of Bruce. I messed with Tae Kwon Do, for a couple of years, after I got out of the army.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

I should have told you yesterday that I loved the >204 msf59: "Potus is down... He can't tweet" cartoon.

>204 msf59: - This is so funny! Where is it from and who is the cartoonist, do you know?

My feeder is filled with the regulars, ie, the goldfinches! So pretty! I did have a chippy the other day (chipping sparrow) and watched a mama house finch feed her babies on my lawn yesterday.

>234 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad you liked the "Potus is down" cartoon. I love it too.

>235 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Good to see you. I do not think I have seen this cartoonist before. Incredible artwork.

Love the feeder report. We saw a chipping sparrow yesterday, but they have not been visiting our feeders.

>1 msf59: As always, thanks for posting the bird photos. My daughter sends me text messages every day of the birds in her yard. She claims the high cost bird seed draws more birds. Will always drew cardinals. Now, when I see them at my feeders, I say "Hello Will!" Can you tell me the name of a bird that is tiny and has a red colored cap? The bird seed I recently bought is a favorite of this species.

I started IQ last night, no three chapters in. Wow, am I hooked!

>237 Whisper1: Hi, Linda. Great to see you. Glad you like the bird photos. Is your mystery bird, a chipping sparrow, like in the image above? They have the reddish brown cap. I didn't realize Will liked to draw cardinals. You will have to share one of his drawings. And yes, quality bird seed, is much better. Less filler.

>238 drneutron: That is great, Jim. I was late to the IQ fan base, but I am glad I tagged you with it. I thought it would be something, that you would enjoy.

I just watched a wonderful doc on Margaret Atwood called "Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power". It gives you a terrific overview of her life and takes you right up until The Testaments. I now like her more than ever and I discovered she is an avid "birder" as well. B.A.G.

This is is currently streaming on Hulu, but I sure you could find it elsewhere and on DVD.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Thursday to you.

I got three books in the mail yesterday - two that I ordered and one that is being loaned to me by a friend. The two new books are the first two of the Library of Congress Crime Classics series published by Poisoned Pen Press - the Rat Began to Gnaw the Rope by C.W. Grafton (Sue Grafton's father) and That Affair Next Door by Anna Katharine Green. The third one's on order - Case Pending by Dell Shannon. The book on loan is The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry. Haven't heard anything about it here on LT, but the average LT rating is 4.09. I'm so glad to have new books - my tbr was getting way too small. (joke)

Happy cooler Thursday, Birddude. The Hulu doc is also on Kanopy, at least for my library's subscription. I don't know if different libraries have different access...hm...should investigate that!

>241 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for new books. Just in the nick of time too. Grins...

>242 richardderus: Sweet Thursday, RD. Beautiful out here. I heard Kanopy mentioned recently, but I am not familiar with it. Is it just another streaming platform?

Our library offers the Kanopy streaming service, but I haven't checked it out yet.

Thanks for the tip on the Atwood doc! I'll add it to my Hulu watch list.

Sweet Thursday, Mark!

How did I miss that you like to read about cults/communes? Have you read Murakami's Underground? It's a NF that I suspect you might like better than his fiction. Really good.

Coincidentally, a cult commune plays a significant role in Beach Read, with a writer trying to work a lot of research in that area into a romance with a happy ending. Ha! Funny and fun book.

I'm trying an unusual GN called Postal, featuring a boy with Asperger's Syndrome trying to solve a mystery in a town full of criminals. We'll see.

Enjoy the gorgeous day!

Stopping by to say hi. Haven't been here in a while. Do you remember me?

I've got a better purchase on Cloud Atlas, and it is indeed a whacky odyssey. I'm spending more time scanning news and opinions, particularly about injustice—blacks, latinos, and all our ethnic citizens, as well as the Rogue (yes, with a capital "R") attorney general.

>244 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. So, Kanopy is similar to Overdrive? Now, that makes sense. I have not seen it come up in my library system.

>245 katiekrug: Fans of Atwood, will love this doc, Katie. I did not know her whole story, including her devoted love to her husband.

>246 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Sweet Thursday, indeed. I have not read a ton of cult-related books but I do find them fascinating. I read and loved Underground. I wish Murakami would try more NF. Ooh, "Postal" sounds like something I would like. Interesting premise.

>247 weird_O: Of course, I remember you, Bill. My favorite Weirdo! I am glad you are sticking with Cloud Atlas. It actually makes a perfect group read. Nice getting help through some of the more trickier parts. And yes, I agree, plenty of distractions out there at the moment. It can take your mind off those comforting books.

^I have been completely locked into Bruce Lee: A Life. Loads of fun. As a movie fan there is plenty of great anecdotes, since he had a Hollywood connection and helped train some big stars in the martial arts, like James Coburn and Steve McQueen, (who comes off as a bit of a dick). Lee is even loosely connected with the Manson murders, being friends with a couple of the victims. I am at the part, where Lee returns to Hong Kong to begin his incredible, but short-lived film career.

>240 msf59: - I saw this doc on tv not long ago. I think it premiered at my Hot Docs theatre last year. Yes, she is quite an interesting person. Clever and funny, too. I still don't like her literature (or her voice). Ha.

>251 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Glad you saw and enjoyed the Atwood doc. Sorry to hear you are not a fan of her work...or her voice. Grins...

Yes, I finished A Burning last night and it was excellent! I put a brief review on my thread. I'm sure it does not do the book justice, but I tried. You are going to love this book, Mark. Thanks for the BB!

>1 msf59: geeks are the best. We all know it on some level :)

>163 msf59: so soon for retirement! Let me guess, Mark will be birdwatching, reading, hiking and family-ing (and traveling, when allowed). Go you.

I still think that if one of us should become a ga-zillionaire, we should arrange an LT, all expenses paid, mega-meetup :)

>253 vancouverdeb: Hooray for A Burning: A Novel, Deb! So glad you loved it. I requested it from the library, but since we had only in-house services, at the moment, it might be awhile before I get it.

>254 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. Great to see you. Yep, you sure have my post-retirement plans pegged. We really haven't been away, since last September, for our Carolina trip, so we are getting itchy for travel.

Fingers crossed, one of us becomes a "ga-zillionaire"! Wouldn't that be sweet?

It's Friday I'm in Love at last!

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you.

I saw a White-Breasted Nuthatch at my sunflower feeder yesterday. It's quiet this morning, although there are a pair of Carolina Chickadees, the Nuthatch again, and a female House Finch.

>230 msf59: Love that cover! Hope the book works for you

>253 vancouverdeb: I highly recommend A Burning too. Defintely a book for our times.

Did you see how she described the book in LitHub?:

Without summarizing it in any way, what would you say your book is about?
Megha Majumdar: How we survive in the face of corrupt police and justice systems, how we use and are used by news media and social media, how we dream while the rise of the right-wing threatens to destroy us, how we continue to chase meaningful life, how we respond to a taste of political power, what morals are ours and what morals we will surrender, how we love our parents and how they love us, how we aspire, how we watch cooking videos and attend amateur acting classes, how we seek a reliable water supply.

>256 richardderus: The Cure, right? B.A.G.

>257 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. Love the feeder report and the nuthatch sighting. They always make me smile.

>258 ChelleBearss: Hi, Chelle. There is excellent writing in Arcadia but it is a challenging read. It could end up being a hesitant recommendation.

>259 alphaorder: Wow! That is an awesome description, Nancy. Definitely a book for our times. I did request it from the library but it could be a long wait. Sad face.

>248 msf59: Here's the Kanopy website, Mark. It's free with your library card, if your library participates.

The Atwood documentary does sound good, Mark. Happy Friday.

>259 alphaorder: I had not read what Megha Majumdar had written about her book, but that is an excellent description. It reallly is a book for our times, Nancy. It's applicable not just to India, but in many countries ( most countries? ) around the world.

Sorry you have the long wait at the library, Mark. I'm not even sure if they have it at my library. I'll have to check. Things are still moving very slowly in the book world , it seems. The library is still doing just a curbside pickup of books put on hold , and the brick and mortar books are very slowly getting new stock in. I went into a bookstore about a week ago and everything looked the same as when the closed up some months ago. The staff said that slowly new books are coming into the store. I'm relying on amazon right now.

>261 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda but I don't think it is included in my library system. I will check again.

>262 BLBera: Fans of Atwood will love it, Beth. I hope you can track it down.

>263 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. I am also mulling over the idea of buying A Burning: A Novel. I have been a very good boy purchasing books this year. I sure hope my library extends their lending to ILL. That is what I miss.

Mourning Warbler (NMP. I frickin' wish!)

There had been several reports of a mourning warbler being seen. This is a rare bird for this time of year and are never really easy to see, even when they are migrating through. Well, I stopped after work, and with the assistance of some amazing fellow birders, we tracked this gorgeous fellow down. He gave quite a show, singing and zipping about in the dense brush. I got a few terrific looks at him but never could get the lens on him long enough, for a photo, although I am sure a couple of my buddies got some decent shots. My motor skills are just too slow, especially after walking the route all day.

BTW- This was not a "Lifer". I did get a glimpse of one last fall, but this one was the keeper.

I checked my library, Mark, for A Burning. Four are out and 8 are in the process of being purchased. It's going to be a popular book . Thanks again for putting me onto it

Gorgeous picture! Wait until you are retired. It will be " all my pictures ." You just need a little more time birding.

I've been pretty good about not purchasing books this year as well. 11 of my 36 books have been off the shelf - desperate times call for desperate measures. And I think Dave is going to read Long Bright River next, so double duty for that purchase. Makes feel better about that purchase.

>266 vancouverdeb:

I started the year planning to read books off my shelf - there are about 500 unread ones there. But once the pandemic hit, I decided to support my local indie as much as I could, buying puzzles and books. It was an easy decision, as I worked at its predecessor for 20 years and the owner and a number of the employees are my friends. The store is a strong community partner in the city and was able to offer delivery and/or curbside pickup during the shutdown. It was deemed essential by the city because of the education services it provides.

So my piles have grown, rather than decreased.:)

>265 msf59: Great picture, even if it's not yours. :) You know, sometimes seeing the bird is better than getting a picture, right? We don't always have to live behind the lens of a camera. But good luck on taking pictures, regardless! :)

>267 alphaorder: I need to find your thread, Nancy. Wow! Five hundred unread books! I did a big book cull last summer. Sadly, I don't have a local indie bookstore, so no chance of trying to support one here. Great idea, what you did.

>266 vancouverdeb: You are more than welcome, in regards to A Burning: A Novel, Deb. Ooh, I also really enjoyed Long Bright River. You haven't read it yet, right?

>267 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. I should be supporting my local bookstores more, but instead I have done pretty well reading off shelf, the past 4-5 months. Of course, it is a mere dent, in the scope of things but I am pleased with my progress.

>268 The_Hibernator: I absolutely agree with you, Rachel. Enjoying the bird in the moment is what "true" birding is about. You should have seen our small group yesterday. Like a bunch of little kids. I love getting a photo though, for the experience and to share with my friends and family.

Mark, yes, I have read and loved Long Bright River, another BB from you . My husband plans to read it too . Double the value of the book with both of us reading it .

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday and happy Mourning Dove 'keeper' sighting.

>271 vancouverdeb: Duh! I should have remembered you read and enjoyed Long Bright River. Must be an age thing...grins.

>272 karenmarie: Dove? Grins...Happy Saturday, Karen. Enjoy your day.

Happy Saturday! I hope you get a lifer at the BBS today.

>269 vancouverdeb:

I mostly hang out on Mark's thread and use my own just to track my reading, but here it is: http://www.librarything.com/topic/314838

LT tells me I have 522 books in my house to read. Could be off, but 500 is fair enough.

I found out that I can go back to work on Friday, June 27, 2020 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 p.m. Yes. Go to work on a Friday afternoon. Only a bureaucrat sitting in the President's chair would make that decision. Then I don't have to report for work until July 5 at 4:00 p.m.

Our cases of Covid rose really fast last week, but that was due to the state requiring private clinics to report their numbers to the State Board of Health. I was astounded to learn that they hadn't been required to do so before. What? I now have even more reason to think that most of the Covid -19 numbers are bogus.

My reading has slowed as I am now reading nonfiction and that demands more concentration. I am working on two older books. Tenth Parallel by Eliza Griswold. This one is about the links between politics, religion, and economics (translate economics as results of global warming) in the areas of the world inside the lines of latitude 10 degrees on either side of the equator. The other nonfiction book I am reading is one Suzanne touted several years ago Nomadland. It is narrative nonfiction and much easier to read.

After I finish these two it is back to the land of science fiction for me.

Happy weekend, Mark! I hope you're getting some good birding in.

>273 msf59: I feel good when I can remember what I've read. Keeping track of what other people read is superhuman.

>274 richardderus: Hey, RD! I am pretty sure I never had a lifer at the BBS, but you never know, right? I am usually there 10-15 mins, not enough time for any real exploration. I did see a family of Canada geese there today. 4 goslings.

>275 alphaorder: I am afraid to do a TBR count, Nancy, but I think I am around 200-300. Hopefully less.

>276 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. Glad to hear you are getting back to work. Going back on a Friday afternoon, does sound a little goofy. Are your restaurants open? We are allowing outside seating. We have not ventured out to any of these eateries. I sure miss sitting down and having a fresh pint.

>277 bell7: Happy Saturday, Mary. I worked today so no birding, other than what I saw on the route, which was minimal. I do plan on getting an early start tomorrow. I want to take advantage of the cooler weather. Wish me luck.

>278 quondame: Amen to that, Susan, but it helps that we are a tight-knit book nerd community.

Mark, I remembered about Long Bright River because it was another BB from you. Age? What is that? No worries, I mentioned Bruce Lee to Dave the other day and he said, oh yeah, is he still doing movies? It turned out Dave thought Bruce Lee was Jackie Chan. LOL! :-) I might need to suggest Dave read Bruce Lee: A Life.

Saw a couple of interesting birds yesterday on my walk. Nothing wild, just a great blue heron flying in front of me and a Northern Flicker. I don't see Northern Flickers that often. They are summer time birds only here.

>281 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. Funny, I never got into Jackie Chan. It was interesting to learn that Chan was a stuntman on a couple of Lee's films. He must have been just a kid. Try to get Dave to read the bio. I think he would like it.

Hooray for seeing the northern flicker. Nice looking birds. I see them quite often and I believe some winter here.

^I really had a good time listening to Bruce Lee: A Life. The bio showed warts and all and I appreciated that. He wasn't exactly the quiet-spoken philosopher, which I was led to believe. Too bad, he reached the immense fame he craved, after death and at the age of 32. A mere kid.

Happy Sunday! Due to venturing further out, I am heading out early. All geared up...

Hi Mark! Happy Sunday to you. My fingers automatically wrote 'Dove', but of course I meant Warbler. Sorry about that!

I hope you have a great birding time this morning and enjoy your 2nd and 3rd Bs - books and beer - later on today.

Hi Mark, happy Sunday. Looks like another beautiful day again today, albeit a tad chilly for June.

I'm meeting an old friend for a curbside lunch. We eat in our cars and then pull out our lawnchairs and chat awhile.

Tonight, I will watch that Sosa v McGwire documentary on ESPN.

>264 msf59: I'm missing the ILL feature of my library, too. It's a very small library and so has limited choice without the ILL.

I also miss browsing used books - and new books, too.

I ducked into the library this week to pick up a hold, but didn't ask any questions as the staff all seem occupied. They say they are open, but the stacks are taped off as is the bookcase of used FOL books.

One of the downsides of not being able to request books is that I am reading different books than most people - which also limits the book discussion here, which I so love.

Good birding! Spend a splendid Sunday.

>286 lindapanzo: Happy Sunday, Linda. Great to see you. I am enjoying a fine day off and I think the weather is beautiful. I hope you had a nice curbside lunch and thanks for the reminder on the Sosa doc.

>287 streamsong: Hi, Janet. Good to see you. Yep, I sure miss my ILL services. Most of the items I have requested, in the past few weeks are not available at my branch. Sad face.

>288 richardderus: Hey, RD. It has been a wonderful Sunday, so far. Trying to cram some reading in, so my LT time has been limited. Maybe later...

^Guess what I just started on audio? The Hidden Lives of Owls. Who is shocked? Raise your hand. I think Joe may have steered me to to this one.

>290 msf59: You. Ear-reading a book about owls. No.

My pearls, my pearls.


Scary owliens.

>291 richardderus: So this is ear-reading about owls is a no-no? I am probably missing out on some photos or illustrations, but I have a vivid imagination, after all.

Those are some freaky owliens!! Shudders...

>290 msf59: Sounds interesting, Mark.

>291 richardderus: Spooky, RD! Eeek!

Oh, I have to look for that Atwood documentary. We have 30 days free on Hulu.

Both of my current reads might interest you, from a cult stand-point; though I am always a bit unclear on what counts as a cult, as opposed to a non-mainstream religion. I am reading Marable Manning's excellent biography of Malcolm X; so lots of details about the Nation of Islam and how it developed. Also reading The Lonely Polygamist.

>293 vancouverdeb: Hey, Deb. I think folks that have a real interest in owls, will like this one. Not sure it would work for folks with just a casual interest in the subject.

>294 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. You snuck in there on me. Yes, watch the Atwood doc. It is a good one. My Hulu time is expiring so I have been catching up. Have you watched the RBG doc? That is also a good one, on Hulu.

Both book recs sound good. Thanks.

>290 msf59: Good! Yes, I think it was a positive Publishers Weekly review that got me to tell you about The Hidden Lives of Owls. How is it/was it?

>297 jnwelch: I really enjoyed it, Joe. I think you would learn a lot about owls with this one and then you can go owling with me. B.A.G.