Joe's Book Cafe: First Cafe of 2022

Illustrations by Aaron Becker

Favorites of 2021

Fiction

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

Matrix by Lauren Goff

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozecki

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghey

House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Cluny Brown by Margery Sharp

Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce

Cheerfully, Yours by AJ Pearce

Nonfiction

The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin

Science FIction

The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

Poetry

Good Bones by Maggie Smith

You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson

Young Adult

Pax, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker

Graphic Novels

Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge
Little Victories: Autism Through a Father’s Eyes by Yvon Roy
Ballad for Sophie by Filipe Melo
Spellbound: A Graphic Memoir by Bishak
Som

My Top 5 Favorites for 2021

Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson

World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatahil

Pax, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker

Matrix by Laura Goff

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

The LT Members Top 5 Picks for 2021 page is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/337286

I'm reading this excellent translation by Stanley Lombardo, and as on the last thread of 2021, Amber has kindly agreed to answer my questions as they come up.

2022 Reads

January

1. Murder in Material Gain by Anne Cleeland
2. Nubia: Real One by L.L. Mckinney*
3. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
4. Graceling The Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore and Gareth Hinds*
5. Cheer Up! Love And Pompoms by Crystal Frasier*
6. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

*denotes an illustrated work. E.g, a graphic novel or children’s book

"Dog Turning a Corner" by Colombian artist Fernando Botero

Aaron Becker

I guess this is the real thread and we can ignore the other?

Happy New Year, Joe!

>8 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. Yeah, creating this newest thread has been surprisingly hard. My keyboard is glitchy. But all is well now. I'll try to get rid of the other one.

Happy New Year!

>1 jnwelch: Aaron Becker's illos look like he also did >7 jnwelch:!

Happy 2022's reads, Joe.

Happy new year, Joe!

>7 jnwelch: Hahahahaha, that's a fabulous pic.

Happy New Year, Joe! Happy reading in 2022.

Happy new thread and new year, Joe! Love the toppers (and the kids!)

>10 richardderus:. Hi, Richard. Ha! I could see >7 jnwelch: being a book illusstration.

Happy Reads in ‘22!

>11 bell7:. Happy New Year, Mary!

I’m glad you got a kick out of >7 jnwelch:.:-)

>12 banjo123:. Happy New Year, Rhonda! I hope the books treat you well in ‘22.

>13 jessibud2:. Thanks, Shelley. Happy New Year! Glad you like the toopers and those ragamuffins.

Happy New Year!

>16 SandDune:. Happy New Year, Rhian!

Hi Joe, Starred you mate. Great thread topper as usual.

>1 jnwelch: Lovely toppers, and >6 jnwelch: >7 jnwelch: too Joe.

Wishing you, Debbi and the family a Happy New Year, and lots of good reading in 2022.

Happy new year to Joe, Debbie, and family!

Happy reading in 2022, Joe!

>1 jnwelch: I read Aaron Becker's Journey books back in 2017.

Happy New Year! And here is to a better 2022!

This group always helps me to read; welcome back to the group, Joe.

It was a tough year for so many of us, buddy, and I so much hope that 2022 is a kinder year for all.

Oh, there are ever so many great images!

>14 jnwelch: Missing the hung over Jan 1 dude.

Have a great year of reading!

Happy New Year! Wishing you and your family the very best in joy, friendship, health, happiness and lots of good books for 2022.

>1 jnwelch: >7 jnwelch: Lovely thread toppers, as always, Joe. They remind me of an interactive game (on computer or tablet) called 'Gorogua' or something like that.

Happy reading 2022 :-)

Happy New Year, Joe. I like the toppers and the Best of List. I hope to get to Cloud Cuckoo Land in the next month or two, along with Harlem Shuffle. I am still waiting on The Lincoln Highway. I should have requested it a couple weeks ago. Have safe and healthy one, my friend.

Morning, Joe! Happy New Year! Dropping a star and hoping to actually keep up with you this year - I fell off the thread a bit on 2021. Love the toppers you chose.

Happy New Year, Joe. I look forward to hanging out in the cafe.

Happy New Year and happy first thread of 2022, Joe!

>2 jnwelch: Heh. ‘Telemetry’ is my new watchword as I’m hooked up to it every time I go to cardio rehab.

>6 jnwelch: Love the colors.

>14 jnwelch: LOL

Happy New Year, Joe!

Holy Smokes. Hi, everyone! We’re going out for a walk. Be back later.

Happy New Year!

>18 johnsimpson:. Thanks, John, buddy.Happy New Year! I hope you’re enjoying a pot of tea.

>19 Caroline_McElwee:. Thanks, Caroline. I’m glad you’re enjoying the art . Happy New Year! I’m still hoping that we get to see you in person in the fall.

>20 drneutron:. Happy New Year, Jim! Congratulations on all the cool stuff happening with the Parker Solar Probe. Flying into the sun’s way too hot corona- wow! Were you invoked at all with the heat shield? It’s amazing that’s possible.

Oh, yeah, was I ever involved! I got to participate in the whole process. We designed it, but it was built by this little company outside of Dallas - the definition of garage shop. They used to have lunchtime jam sessions and let me sit in on guitar a time or two. 😀

>21 FAMeulstee:. Back atcha, Anita! You’ve probably already read 20 books in the new year. I enjoyed seeing your Top 5 on that thread.

Those Journey books were how I got introduced to Aaron Becker. Love them.

>22 torontoc:. Happy New Year, Cyrel! As my wife says, “from your lips to God’s ear”. I sure hope ‘22 dies better by us than its predecessors.

>35 drneutron:. Oh man, Jim, how cool is that?! You (and you all) must be thrilled with how well it’s held up. What a wonderful life you’ve created for yourself - including engineering the 75er group!

>23 PaulCranswick:. Happy New Year, Paul! Please give Hani our best wishes, too.

That’s good reading advice. Except I don’t think I could keep my phone in airplane mode - I’m on it right now!

>24 quondame:. Happy New Year, Susan! I’m glad you’re enjoying all the images. You’re right, we need an image of ahungover New Year’s dude. Volunteers welcome. Since I had a grand total of one beer (and a lot of Martinelli’s sparkling cider, I’m feeling spry and ready to watch a lot of football.

>25 thornton37814:. Happy New year, Lori! I hope it’s a great reading year for you, too.

>26 humouress: Happy New Year, Nina! Oh man, I love interactive games with great visuals. Our son and I rocked out on Myst together back in the day. He was very young, but a precocious problem solver.

>27 Ameise1:. Happy 2022, Barbara! I’m sure you’ll have a lovely one in your beautiful locale.

>28 msf59:. There’s our guy! Happy New Year, Mark. Oh, you have some most excellent reading ahead of you. Thanks to you, I ended the year on a high note with Sarah Winman’s Still Life.

I’m starting 2022 with Gilded by Marissa Meyer(excellent so far), the newest Acton and Doyle mystery, and the Aeneid.

Hi there, Joe. I'm dropping off a "you're being cruel again, Richard" link: https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-photography-books-2021


A few little bagatelles to whet your curiosity...also going to tempt Mark with it.

Splendid first-Saturday orisons.

Happy New Year, Joe! Not sure how often I'll get around the threads, but I wanted to check in today to wish you a safe, healthy, and happy 2022. Great toppers, as usual!

>35 drneutron: Great story, Jim! I bet you could write a book. I know I'd read it. Also, yes, congrats on the PSP!

>29 Crazymamie:. Happy New year, Mamie! Ditto - I had a hard time keeping up with my LT pals like you last year, and I’m going to try to do better. You’d think with my being retired there’d be plenty of time for LT, but it just doesn’t work out that way. Some years I did better while goofing off at work.

I’m glad you love the toppers. He has some beautiful books. Abby might enjoy rhem. Please give our happy new year wishes to the girls and Dan and your hubby.

>30 lauralkeet:. Hapoy New Year, Laura! I love to hear that. Please hang out in the cafe as much as possible.

>31 karenmarie:. There’s Karen! Happy New Year!

Cardio rehab? What’s going on? I hope it’s not too serious. It’s amazing the tools they have. The telemetry is new to me. How does that work?

Aren’t Botero’s colors wonderful in >6 jnwelch:? I love the little dog tail, too.

>34 jnwelch: Ooh, would be great if that is possible Joe. When you have viable dates, let me know, as I have two weeks off in September, and usually go away in the UK for part of it, wouldn't want to miss you.

Lovely thread~

Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson should be required reading, it is excellent in so many ways. I feel the same about Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Happy New Year, Joe. I love the Becker illustrations.

>32 Carmenere:. Happy New year, Lynda!

Today’s Bargain: Grass by Sheri Tepper on e-readers for $1.99. Excellent science fiction.

Here's to more artwork and books at chez Joe!!

>40 richardderus:. Great link, you troublemaker. I’ll enjoy spending some time with that one.

Happy New Year, RD!

>41 Storeetllr:. Thanks for checking in, Mary. Back atcha. Happy New Year!

I’m with you on Dr. Jim, of course, and I’m glad you like the toppers.

>48 Berly:. Happy New Year, Kim! I join your toast to more art and more books here in ‘22!

>44 mckait:. Thanks, Kath. I sure share your esteem for Code Breaker I think many people find the idea of reading it daunting, but part of its excellence is it is so well-written you just sail along in it.

I’ve seen a lot of huzzahs for Braiding Sweetgrass. Good to see your recommendation.

I’m happy you find the thread lively.😀

>45 BLBera:. Happy New Year, Beth! Thanks for stopping in. Next time you’re in the library, Becker has some beautiful illustrated books you might enjoy.

>47 jnwelch: I just reread Grass a couple of months ago and have the hardcover book or I'd definitely jump on that bargain!

>14 jnwelch: That is me and Kerry! He has been off work for the past week too and that is certainly not helping us remember what day of the week it is!

>36 jnwelch: Slow starter this year, Joe, two books on the go and hoping to finish the first tomorrow ;-)

Happy new Year! Got you starred. I will try my best to keep up with your thread!

>14 jnwelch: I didn't even *try* to keep track of the days of the week last week. I am only just figuring it out now because I need to tag-team with my lovely other to get our work hours in.

Here's to a great year of reading, coffee, and treats at Joe's Cafe!

>51 Storeetllr:. Isn’t it good, Mary? It’s been a while since I read Grass, but I have fond memories. It’s such a good re-read candidate i should probably take advantage of the bargain myself.😀

>52 alcottacre:. Ha! Madame MBH was sure that today was New Year’s Eve, Stasia.

>53 FAMeulstee:. Ha! That’ll change quickly I know, Anita. You’re one person I know will successfully get through that 1001 Books to Read Before You Die. That will be cause for celbration when it hapoens!

>54 figsfromthistle:. Hi, Anita. I need to remember to star your and everyone else’s thread. Ditto from me - I will try my best to keep up with your thread!

>55 LovingLit:. I know, Megan. It’s such an unusual time of year, it’s hard to keep the days straight. For us, the pandemic adds to the difficulty - nothing seems normal.

I join your toast to a fun new year in the cafe!

Finally got here, Joe. Happy 2022! As always, this is a wonderful place to be. As for days of the week, my father was once in hospital and the doctor asked him what day of the week it was. I exclaimed "he won't know that!", and the doctor assumed dementia. I explained to the young squirt that he was RETIRED.

>56 jnwelch: Grass had some powerful stuff in it, but my reaction was never in the vicinity of fond.

>58 ffortsa:. Hi, Judy. Happy 2022!

Ha! Debbi had to explain the same thing to the doctor quizzing me about the day of the week after my stroke - “He’s retired!” Then she added, “And we’re in a pandemic!” As I mentioned to you all, the stroke didn’t affect me cognitively (thank goodness).

>59 quondame:. Huh. I don’t know what to make of that, Susan. I assume you’re referring to the content. I’m fond of a lot of well-done books that you’d probably find dark.

P.S. My favorite sister gave it to me, too. I assume you agree that Grass is well done?

>58 ffortsa: >60 jnwelch: What day of the week is it anyway? F'rinstance, I thought today was Sunday until I said something earlier about my son-in-law going to work tomorrow and my daughter gave me the look and reminded me that today is, actually, Saturday. And I haven't had a stroke and am not senile (as far as I know, and I've been quizzed by the doctor on that last, so). Retirement is a wonderful thing!

Hi Joe, dropping off my best wishes for a great year. 2022 just has to be better. I'm hoping to keep up with you this time round, last year I fell off reading many of the threads. Lockdowns also seemed to take away my reading mojo.

I'm hoping to read Once there were wolves fairly soon. I have a mini-challenge to read some books with wolves in the title.

It sure felt like a Sunday today but looks like we have another one tomorrow! I'll drink to a kinder gentler year in 2022. Love the illustrations, Joe. I'm hoping to keep up better with the threads this year. We'll see how that resolution pans out!

>60 jnwelch: Oh Grass is a well told interesting story with parts that really stuck with me. Like a lot of Sheri Tepper's books I can appreciate the product and rate it highly with out being exactly fond of it. I'm fond of the True Game books and the Marianne books.

>61 Storeetllr:. Right, Mary. Ain’t retirement grand?

>62 avatiakh:. Good to see you, Kerry. No worries. I had trouble keeping up last year, too.

If you’re like me, you’ll get swept up in Once There Were Wolves.

>63 Familyhistorian:. It does feel like Sunday, Meg. That’ll be nice tomorrow when we get another one. I’m glad you like the illustrations, and I’d love a kinder, gentler ‘22, too.

Good resolution; I’ve made a similar one. Alls we’s can do is our best.

>64 quondame:. OK, good, Susan.

Happy New Year, Joe! Love the artwork.

>66 ronincats:. Happy New Year, Roni! Thanks - we’ll keep the artwork coming in ‘22.

You're off to a rousing start to 2022, Joe. I can tell I'll be huffing and puffing all year trying to stay abreast. But it's worth the effort.

I've completed one short, entertaining book already. An Elderly Lady Up to No Good by the Swedish writer Helene Tursten. I'm now reading the graphic edition of Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny (the Touchstone goes to Snyder's original; doesn't seem to be a 'stone for the graphic edition). Also Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. I've seen mixed reactions to the latter, but it did cop the National Book Award in 2020.

Happy New Year, Joe!

>1 jnwelch: Lovely! I first thought this should be a book, I’d love it. And then I looked it up and it’s called Journey, so my first BB right there.

Happy New Year, Joe--you know it's a good start to the year when the Bears are winning :)

Hi Joe! I love the Aaron Becker art.

I'm making the rounds, dropping off stars and wishing you a Happy New Year! I hope to be more present than I was in 2021.... it was my "worst" year for LT activity since I joined in 2011.

I hope 2022 brings you much joy and many wonderful reads!!

>68 weird_O: Oh! I didn't know On Tyranny was also a GN! It was so good! I hope one of my libraries has it, though it will probably have to be my local library as I don't really enjoy e-book GNs.

I just saw something on another site about An Elderly Lady Up to No Good and thought it sounded good. Being an elderly lady who has been up to no good on occasion myself.

>68 weird_O:. Hiya, Bill. Happy ‘22!

Thank you for the kind words about it being worth the effort.

I read somewhere about An Elderly Lady Up to No Good (great title) and it’s definitely on my curiosity radar. I’ll look forward to hearing your reaction to it. I’m a fan of the original On Tyranny, and you can imagine I’m intrigued by a GN. How in the workd did he get so much valuable content into such a short book?!

I got a kick out of interior Chinatown. I have a feeling it’s just your weird cuppa. It’s actually pretty profound, too, about that specie of racism.

>69 EllaTim:. Hiya, Ella! Happy New Year!

Journey was my first Aaron Becker, and it’s wonderful, as are others of his. Debbi loves his books, too. I’m glad you’re going to follow up. She sends her best.

>70 kac522:. Happy New Year, Kathy. “Bears” and “winning” - we don’t hear those two words together very often. It’s got to be worse to be a Giant fan. Oof, they were bad.

Mark’s grandson Jackson wore his Bears onesie. That probably made the difference.

Happy Monday - er, it is Monday, right? - Joe! I could use a cuppa this morning. It has not gotten up to freezing yet here.

>71 EBT1002:. Happy New Year, Ellen!

Isn’t Aaron Becker great?

I was terrible about LT activity last year, too. I aims to improve.

It’s great to know we’ll be sharing our thoughts on wonderful reads again in ‘22. I hope you got (get?) to Matrix by Lauren Goff. I bet you’d like it as much as I did.

>72 Storeetllr:. Hi, Mary. Great idea to get the On Tyranny GN from the library. I think I’ll follow your lead. I’m not an e-book GN guy either.

Yeah, I’ve been an elderly lady up to no good on occasion, too. (Don’t tell Debbi). I’m glad Bill mentioned that one.

>75 alcottacre: It's a day of the week; that much I'm sure of, Stasia. I'm so glad you didn't ask for iced tea. It's 7 F here. Here you go:

>74 jnwelch: My team (ie, the one I was told to follow) played my son's team in the English Premier League last night so we all stayed up to watch. He has a tradition of wearing the team shirt during the games and not washing it all season (teens! Though his dad does sneak it away to wash sometimes). The game was tied, which means my younger son's team draws further away on points; our teams stand 1st, 2nd and 3rd currently.

(Make sense? I don't have the energy to explain football/ soccer to non-fans right now, sorry.)

>78 jnwelch: I'm so down with that, it looks like up to me.

Happy new-week's reads!

>79 humouress:. I can follow that, Nina. Soccer hasn’t taken off here like it has elsewhere in the world, but it’s still very popular here, especially for younger ages. The U.S. women’s Olympic team has had a lot to do with that recently.

I was never a “don’t wash the luck out of it” kind of guy, but I do have a lot of sports t-shirts and caps. Like Mark’s Jackson, our kids both had Chicago Bears t- shirts when little. Our grandkids do, too, although their parents tend to favor Pittsburgh Steelers’ gear.

>80 richardderus:. Right, Richard? As usual, Calvin is on the money for me, too. I was thinking this morning about how much our grandkids will enjoy our C&H books when they’re older.

Happy new week’s reads, buddy. You’d probably care not at all for my current ones, except maybe the Aeneid.

Afternoon, Joe!

>78 jnwelch: This resembles me a lot. We actually do have a New Year's resolution this year as a family, and that is to eat less meat - we want to try to go vegetarian for the weekdays.

>82 Crazymamie: Great to hear, Mamie. We're a meat-free house. We eat fish, though. I'd testify as to the health benefits, but I'm the guy who had a stroke last March. Oh well. My parents lived long, healthy lives, and took the limited meat intake approach you Pecan Paradisians are.

My resolution is to not get so frustrated and angry at my physical limitations this year. As they say, if you get angry, you're just poisoning yourself.

>1 jnwelch: Lovely toppers! The first one is especially apropos for the new year!

Happiest of New Year's, Joe. You read some wonderful books last year; some of your favorites like The Code Breaker, Mary's Monster and Once There were Wolves would be at the tops of my lists, too if I was organized enough to create lists. :)

>83 jnwelch: Poisoning and punishing. No one else is experiencing the pains of anger, just you!

>84 streamsong:. Hi, Janet. I’d enjoy seeing your Favorites list, and I’m glad those ones would make it. If you haven’t read Lauren Goff’s Matrix yet, that’s our Book Nudge of the day at the cafe.

I’m glad you enjoyed the toppers. Happy ‘22!

>85 richardderus: Ha! I was doing it way too much, Richard. Anger hasn’t been entirely kicked to the curb - yet. I sure wouldn’t mind getting there, with the Buddhists cheering me on.

Today’s Bargain: The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti for $1.99 on Kindle. An excellent one set in colonial New England.

Here's to a better year, Joe. And to me losing track of you less often!

>78 jnwelch: LOL. Perfect New Year's Resolution.

As to diet, trying to eat less carbs!

>88 laytonwoman3rd:. I join your better year toast, Linda, and I hope you succeed in your goal.😀

>89 Berly:. Ha! I can definitely see you resolving to wing it, Kim!

Our doctor is constantly on me to eat less carbs, because of the effect on blood sugar. I’ve tried to explain to him how tasty cookies, pies and chips are, not to mention bread, but still he persists.

Hi, Joe. Sue has been under the weather, so we have been lying low lately. These frigid temps are keeping me off the trails. More book time, right? Loving my Erdrich & Patchett reads.

Hiya, Mark. Please give our sympathy to Sue. We’re just getting back to normal. The good news: both Debbi and I tested negative fir covid. I just read today that the silver lining for the milder Omicron is it may finally get us to herd immunity. I don’t know abou you, but more and more people we know are getting covid, despite vaccinations and boosters. Keith had it (among many other medical problems) before he died.

Yeah, too frigid for us, too. It’s supposed to warm up tomorrow, and I plan to head to the library. I’m glad your reads are working well for you. I’m enjoying Gilded, the newest by Cinder’s Marissa Meyer.

Did you see that Linda’s AAC is starting the year with GNs?

Happy New Year, Joe!

Happy New Year, Tamara! What a nice surprise!

Fingers crossed that we see you a lot around these here parts in 2022!

Happy New Year Joe. I struggled to keep up last year but I'll keep trying. Love the art work at the top. Really love it.

>77 jnwelch: 7 degrees is still warmer than where Ellen is currently, with its minus temperatures!

>78 jnwelch: My New Year resolution is the same every year: not to make any new year resolutions :)

Hi Joe. I love the Becker illusrations, but where the heck are the pictures of those adorable grandchildren?

We share two fiction favorites -- Bewilderment and Once There Were Wolves. I am near the end of a long library queue for Cloud Cuckoo Land. It's a good thing I have a few other good books around here to keep me busy while I wait.

Have a wonderful New Year of Reading. I will do my best to keep up with you.

Joe, once again you opened another thread with beautiful illustrations! I cannot help but admire the artistry!

>96 brenzi:. Happy New Year, Bonnie. Aren’t the Becker illustrations beautiful? He has some lovely children’s books next time you’re browsing.

>97 alcottacre:. Hi, Stasia. I was just congratulating Ellen on her hearty soul - 25F! I’m not living in an igloo, either.

I’ll let you know if you inadvertently fail to keep your no resolution resolution while I’m around.

>98 Donna828:. You got me, Donna. Where the heck are the pictures of those adorable grandchildren? I tell you, this cafe proprietor just plain falls asleep atvthe counter sometimes. I’ll send him on a picture-finding mission.

I’glad you love the Becker illustrations. I’ve been pushing taking a gander at his books if you’re so inclined. Enchanting.

I’m glad you’re getting your hands on Cloud Cuckoo Land soon. I was so impressed with it. What a writing challenge to take on with his second book; so different from his first, and so well done. With just two books he’s leaped to the major author level.

No worries about keeping up; it’ll be good to see you whenever you can stop by. Thank you for your kind reading wishes; I’m optimistic that it’ll be a wonderful year of reading for our whole 75er gang. I wish you the same.

>99 Whisper1:. Oh, I’m glad you find the Becker illustrations beautiful, Linda. I know you’re a big fan of illustrated books.

Happy Tuesday! What's interesting in the pipeline?

Happy New Year, Joe! I hope that you and Debbi are feeling better.

Best Book of the Last 125 Years: in a New York Times reader survey, the winner was To Kill a Mockingbird.

Book Nudge of the Day: Still Life by Sarah Winman is a really good one. A charming story centered in Florence, Italy. The lovable characters made reminded me of Cannery Row, another gang I’d love to join. Tip of the hat to Mark and Caroline for leading me to it.

>101 richardderus:. Happy Tuesday, monsignor. My response to your question may trigger your gag reflex, so be prepared.

Besides the Aeneid, right now I’m enjoying a sexy hetero romance called The Kiss Quotient. Its believably autistic heroine (Jennifer Cook O’Toole would approve) learns to love sex and the man who brings it to her. I’m looking forward to starting The Firekeeper’s Daughter, an acclaimed “Best of the Year” YA novel. And I’m enthused about a GN called Nubia: Real One that I may review today. As if that wasn’t revolting enough, All that We Carry, a poetry book, for gods’ sakes, by rock star poet Amanda Gorman, came in at the library.

This may be what we call a “Pepto Bismol moment” for you. Sorry.

>102 kidzdoc:. Happy New year, Darryl. I’m sorry that you had a tough end to ‘21 with your father dying, and a tough start to ‘22 with your mom’s dementia. You are a most excellent son! The angels are probably preparing your own special nook up there in the celestial library.

I’ll track down and star your Club Read thread. Debbi and I still hope to Facetime with you when time and circumstance permit.

>104 jnwelch: Glad you loved it Joe.

I have Amanda G's new volume in the pile (touchstones meh!), and Andrea Gibson's new one landed today, so plan to get to those at the weekend.

>103 jnwelch: I’m not going to argue with that one. To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorite books.

>105 jnwelch:, Joe I bought that Amanda Gorman poetry collection for all of my girls, and Birdy has already read it three times. She absolutely loved it.

>108 Crazymamie: It's right here on my shelf, calling to me. But I really have to be in the mood for poetry. Some quiet evening I'll pick it up.

Finally poking my nose in here, Joe. Glad to see you're enjoying The Kiss Quotient. It was a bit high on the steamy scale for my tastes but I do love a diverse romance.

>105 jnwelch: ...isn't that weird...I started reading that post and it just vanished! *poof* gone. Most odd.

Ah well, I'm sure whatever was there was simply corking!

Hey, Joe. This oncoming arctic blast will keep me off the trails for a few days, but I am glad it doesn't include any new snow. I did see that Linda was featuring GNs this month for the AAC. Yah! I just started When Stars are Scattered and I can tell this one will be special. Has it been on your radar?

‘Morning, Joe! Speaking of which, I bought cups-of-coffee stamps at the PO yesterday, which pleased me greatly.

>42 jnwelch: For those of you who don’t know my November 2021 health news: I had a massive STEMI heart attack last November. It's the kind they call the 'widow maker', which says a lot. It was absolutely life threatening, but I survived, have a stent, 6 new medications plus nitroglycerin, am on a low-sodium diet, and have 12 weeks of cardio, 3x a week. I’ve thought about you and your stroke and your positive attitude and working hard to regain what you’d lost. That’s my goal – working hard - although I want to lose what I’ve gained over the years – weight and cholesterol.

The telemetry is a little box, about 2” x 3.5” x .75” with 3 wires and 3 leads that you stick on with adhesive pads. The little box goes into your pocket. One lead goes on my collarbone on my right side, one on my right side just below my lower bra band, and one on my left side just below my lower bra band. Push the button, voilà, everybody there can see my heart rate and ekg. Fortunately, I’m now farsighted because of cataract surgery 7 years ago, and can read my heart rate from the treadmill, the goal being to keep it at 20-30 points above starting heart rate for as much of the 30 minutes as possible.

>74 jnwelch: Mark’s grandson Jackson wore his Bears onesie. That probably made the difference. Oh my goodness, that’s why my Panthers haven’t won their last 11 games. I forgot to wear my Panthers beanie. In my own defense, we’ve had so little cold weather until this week that it would have been too hot to wear.

>78 jnwelch: *smile* I love Calvin & Hobbes.

>83 jnwelch: My resolution is to not get so frustrated and angry at my physical limitations this year. As they say, if you get angry, you're just poisoning yourself. I just used that as a springboard for 9 New Year’s resolutions, the last one to read the resolutions at least once and preferably every day.

>103 jnwelch: Doesn’t surprise me at all. TKaM gets one of my few 5 stars.

>106 Caroline_McElwee:. Yeah, the camaraderie and love among all the very different characters was what stood out for me in Still Life, Caroline. The setting in Florence didn’t hurt either.

As you can tell, I really liked Andrea Gibson’s new one. She’s in some pretty tough chemo right now.

>107 Donna828:. Agreed, Donna. TKaM is the right choice as far as I’m concerned. What a perfect novel; beautifully written and structured, and compelling on an important social issue. And thank goodness the movie did it justice.

>108 Crazymamie:. Good to hear, Mamie. I just started it. I imagine Amanda G is quite inspiring for young women like Birdy. For all of us, really.

>109 laytonwoman3rd:. I’m an every day poetry reader, Linda, but I know what you mean. For me, it’s like reading a few short stories; no biggie. But I know that’s not the norm. I hope you enjoy Amanda G’s when you get to it.

>110 MickyFine:. I finished and thoroughly enjoyed The Kiss Quotient, Micky. Stella! I miss her already. The book made multiple “Best” and “Notable” lists, which is cool. As you probably saw, the author discloses in the afterword that she was diagnosed late (34) as autistic, which she found liberating, as it explained so much.

I just read this morning that a study indicated that autism may (may) derive from an inflammatory infection contracted by the mother during pregnancy. Wouldn’t that be something if it panned out. Prevention would be a boon (IMO) for the severely autistic, but might be a loss for those previously called Aspies. (Asperger’s Syndrome stopped being a recognized separate category in 2015). Autistic author Jennifer Cook O’Toole finds “high-functioning” off-putting; akin to saying “the other girls are ugly, but you’re better-looking than that.”

Helen Hoang’s next book centers around autistic brother Kwai, and I’ll orobably be reading that at some point.

Again, a tip of the hat to you and Katie and my sister and others for opening up my reading to include romances. I suppose it all really started for me with Georgette Heyer, although for me hers more remind me of Austen and sometimes, Wodehouse.

P.S. I’ve got to say, those were some of the best-written sex scenes, steamy scenes, I’ve ever read, in The Kiss Quotient. And they were legitimately important to the plot. How could we not feel happy for Stella?

>111 richardderus:. LOL! That’s probably all for the best, Richard. You saved yourself some distress. A romance, a GN, a YA and a poetry book- what in the world am I doing?!

>112 msf59:. Holey Moley, Mark. I not only loved When Stars are Scattered, I warbled about it at length. I think my warbling has significantly lost oomph in recent years, as people have gotten used to my enthusiasms. Oh well. Yes, When Stars Are Scattered is a great GN, and an important one.

>113 karenmarie:. Oh my, Karen. Sorry about not being properly aware of your heart attack. Woo, that sounds rough. I salute you for digging in like that on the rehab.

Fascinating about the telemetry, thanks. It’s amazing what tools they have to work with now. I remember when just getting an ekg was a high-end event.

Ha! You’d better break out that Panther beanie. It crossed my mind that you might be able to pay Mark to have Jackson wear Panthers gear, as long as the Bears are nit on and they’re not playing the Bears.

Yes TKaM was the right pick and not surprising. If that one doesn’t get 5 stars, no book can.

Wow, 9 new year’s resolutions is ambitious; I’m honored that what I said helped inspire that. For my pitiful one, I decided it might help if I write out a list of what frustrates me; post-stroke clumsiness probably tops the list, with diminished walking distance right behind it. I continue to hope both improve. It’ll be a year in March.

Per Donna's request: Fina with her great-grandmother in Colombia; Rafa and Fina enjoying their Halloween gear.

>117 jnwelch: Very sweet photeaux, indeed.

Happy Humpday, Joe!

>118 richardderus:. Thanks, Richard.

Donna pointed out I’d failed to provide any new grandkid photeaux’s with the new year thread.

At least I’m not reading Dickens, right?

>105 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. I've been quite busy here, so I'll plan to FaceTime you and Debbi sometime after I return to the Philadelphia area next week. I'll fly to Atlanta on Sunday, clean out my desk at work and visit HR on Monday, and drive my loaded SUV back here on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Afternoon, Joe! Love the photos! Thanks so much for being so generous with your grandchildren.

>119 jnwelch: ...but why would you read a philandering, spouse-abusing, failed writer-turned-sideshow-barker's dreary maunderings? What character defect would cause this to become an option? *puzzled head-tilt*

Ever since ladies discovered other ladies had, um, unclean thoughts about men doin' the nasty with each other, I haven't lacked for romance reads. I love the internet!

>117 jnwelch: beautiful photos 😀
Big waves from over the pond.

>122 richardderus:. The only reason I can think of is he writes captivating stories that to this day draw legions of readers of every ilk, with memorable and often quotable writing. (“It was the best of times . . .”).

How would it feel if there was a huge crowd of people clamoring on the pier for the ship coming in, bearing your latest writing?

Getting into the personal lives of authors can raise difficult issues, for sure. I’m not inclined to read Jonathan Franzen because he was a pretentious jerk about Oprah’s book club. I loved Knut Hamsun’s books as a lad, only to find out that late in life he became a Nazi sympathizer. A lot of people are turned off by J. K. Rowling because of her weird views about trans people and her apparent inability to shut up about it. That controversy supposedly led to her being left out of the new HP special (although of course she is mentioned in it).

>113 karenmarie: Aw - I thought for a second that you were going to say you forgot to wear your Panthers onesie.

>117 jnwelch: There they are! Thanks Joe.

>122 richardderus:. I noticed that you have an affinity for the right kind of romance book.😀

>123 Ameise1:. Hi, Barbara!

Thanks.

Big waves back atcha from this side of the pond!

>125 humouress:. Lol! Debbi and I have talked about getting grownup Bears onesies. They should make fleece-lined ones for this time of year. A friend of ours wore a Chicago Cubs onesie in a local play, and it helped make him an acclaimed audience favorite.

You’re welcome re the grandkiddoes, Nina.

Hi, Joe! Here’s to another great reading year for you!

Karen O.

>114 jnwelch: I hadn't heard about Andrea Gibson's Cancer. I hope they find the strength to get through it.

>124 jnwelch: I too avoid Franzen, for that reason as well as "I don't like his writing;" but mostly because he was such a puffed-up patootie-head about someone offering him an accolade for which most sensible people would bow and scrape and put on their party manners to say "thank you" extra prettily.

Hamsun, Rowling, the legions of problematic personages of Days of Yore...well, it all has to end somewhere, doesn't it, the line in the sand must be drawn by each of us to exclude what we simply can not even tacitly accept and excuse (Rowling for me) versus the quiet "yes, well, wouldn't it be lovely if we were all perfect," and permaybehaps not buying their stuff (Hamsun for me).

It isn't one size fits all; I suspect, as the clock ticks ever faster, that almost nothing on Earth is.

>127 klobrien2:. Hi, Karen! Thanks!

I hope you have a another great reading year, too.

>128 Caroline_McElwee:. Hi, Caroline. Yeah, she’s bald now, and very frank and eloquent about it all on Facebook. Fingers crossed that the chemo goes well.

Good use of the word “they”. I’m still training myself on that.

>129 richardderus:. Well said, Richard. Franzen is a puffed-up patootie-head, isn’t he.

I can’t buy (or re-read) Hamsun either. What a lousy shame.

I’m hoping for a brilliant human (or humans) to come through for us all before the curtain goes down. But who knows. I’m sorry to say I’ve lost faith in effective collective action on that score in these clock-ticking times.

>103 jnwelch: I will be doing a re-read of To Kill a Mockingbird soon - next month, I think. I was recently reminded when reading The Reading List that it has been a while.

>104 jnwelch: I have 3 of Winman's books and mean to get to them all this year if it kills me!

>117 jnwelch: Love the pictures of the kiddos!

>117 jnwelch: It's great to see more pictures of the little lovelies! It seems it's been a long while since the last ones.

>132 alcottacre: Good for you for re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird, Stasia. I’m longing forward to your comments on the two other Winmans when you get to them. Your comments on all three, actually.

>133 quondame:. Thanks, Susan. It probably has been a while. Since we’re not going to Pittsburgh (for a variety of reasons - covid, their busy lives, our DIL’s parents just moved there and a bunch of relatives came to visit) I’m dependent on the little ones’ parents sending us photos of them. And often their poor parents are too busy chasing after those little ragamuffins to stop and take a picture.

Morning, Joe! Sweet Thursday. I am sure you warbled about When Stars are Scattered but I failed to take notice. My bad, not yours. I continue to really enjoy it. This arctic cold stretch will keep me off the trails but I still get to spend time with Jackson, today and tomorrow. Yah!!

>117 jnwelch: Love the grandkid pics!

>135 msf59:. Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday!

How’d we get to Thursday so fast?!

No worries. I just remember the early LT days, when I was one of the few reviewing GNs, and people would always comment, and some would give the reviewed GN a try. These days I feel lucky if anyone notices I reviewed a GN. And I particularly wanted to push When Stars Are Scattered, for reasons you’re now well aware of. Oh well.

I plan to do a short review of Nubia Real one today. I hoped to review Cheer up: Love and Pompoms, featuring a trans high schooler, but I haven’t quite finished it. Both are good ‘uns, although I wish the artwork wasn’t quite so rough in Nubia.

Ha! Jackson makes for a great Plan B when it’s too freakin’ cold out. I’m glad you like the R&F photos. We’re stoked that her great-grandmother finally has gotten to meet Fina in person. She didn’t really grasp what she was seeing in Facetime. I wish my parents could see these two squiggles. Jesse was terrific and brought newborn Rafa to my dad’s hospice, and that was a beautiful thing, but. . . I wish both parents could’ve hung in there longer. At least Becca and Jesse got to know their grandparents a lot longer than I did. And you’re going to have the pleasure of seeing Jackson grow and become a little (and then a big!) person.

Today’s Bargain: Exhalation by Ted Chiang for $1.99 on e-readers. Oh my gosh, this collection is so good. Buy it!

>134 jnwelch: I am hoping to get to When God Was a Rabbit next month. This month is a little too full to get to it. I am going in publishing order.

Happy Thursday, Joe!

Another: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton for $1.99 on e-readers. Our daughter loved this one, and I’m glad she had me read it.

>138 alcottacre:. What an interesting title, Stasia. Can’t wait to hear what it means. As I try to learn to be more patient, this’ll be a good test. I can’t believe how many booksI’m reading at the same time right now, because they’re all too attractive for me to wait. Amanda G’s collection is turning out to be pretty darn good.

>137 jnwelch: Well, that was a bulls-eye!

Hi, Joe! Love the photos of the grands! My, aren't they growing up so quickly (says the g'ma with the 3-year old who was just brought home from the hospital a few months ago at most and who is now the big sister of a 3-month old baby who was just born a few days ago).

>141 Storeetllr:. Good, Mary! Exhalation is excellent. A movie Debbi and I loved, “Arrival” (starring Amy Adams) is based on one of the stories.

P.S. I sure know what you mean with the quick growth! Fina just showed up a minute ago , and overnight Rafa has become a chatterbox ( in two languages). And a little boy, not. a toddler. We’re trying to treasure every moment.

>120 kidzdoc:. Somehow, amid all the new year posting, I missed this, Darryl. Apologies! That sounds fine for Facetime. With London trips cancelled, we’ve just missed having the chance to see you.

Wish we could give you a hand with the move. I interviewed caregivers and hired a good one for my dad. Just let me know if talking about that interests you. You’re probably going to want someone who can help you and give you a break. My dad ended up loving his. My sisters jokingly groused that she became his favorite daughter.

>141 Storeetllr: You certainly are right about the aging timeline of grandchildren, Mary. I lost track of you only a few months ago when your granddaughter had just learned to walk. :-) Just found your thread on Club Reads and turned on the star.

I got my fingers in my ears so I don't heard all those BBs zinging around, Joe. But, shucks. I can still see 'em. Now cut that out!

>144 weird_O: Hi, Bill! Yes, I am the elusive one. Actually, my current thread is at the Green Dragon, not Club Read. I'll come look for you too, and maybe this year we won't lose touch.

>145 weird_O:. Hiya, Bill. Yup. I’ll look for Mary in Club Read as well as Darryl.

>146 Storeetllr:. Ah, I’ll look for you in the Green Dragon, as well as Claire Shapiro (Sakerfalcon). So far this year I’m doing much better with the visiting.

I always start out the year with Such Good Intentions of visiting everyone's threads regularly and commenting often. By February, Reality usually sets in and it's catch as catch can. I'll do my best, though, and maybe I can stretch it out 'til March. :)

>148 Storeetllr:. I know what you mean, Mary. I’ll probably poop out at some point. I will say that, for some reason, the beginning of this year doesn’t feel as frenetic as the beginnings of past years. Right now I feel like i could go along like this for quite a long time -let’s confer in March.😀

>91 jnwelch: re carbs....I made bread today (plaited/braided) and had pie for dinner! oops.

>108 Crazymamie: Oh, Amanda Gorman! I love that there is a cool celebrity poet these days. I need to read her.

>150 LovingLit:. That sounds great, Megan. I once ate a pie with my sister while waiting to get into a popular restaurant. We were hungry.

You’re probably young enough that it makes no never-mind. At my age doctors are fascinated by my carb intake and routinely telling me to cut back.

When I was younger I’d eat carbs up the wazoo. Which is a very stupid way to eat them.😀

>152 jnwelch: - LOL and so true

>152 jnwelch: Ha! That's pretty good - and accurate, though I try not to get into arguments :)

>152 jnwelch: Haha, isn't that the truth! I'm old enough to remember when the phone had a dial on it and stayed home with the answering machine, and we dedicated a shelf and a half of the bookcase to a set of encyclopedias.

>152 jnwelch: *SNORK!!*

I'm pretty sure Charlie doesn't believe me when I tell him that when I was a kid, we had a shared telephone line with our neighbors and you had to lift the receiver to check if someone else - in another house! - was using it before dialing. There was also always the danger that they'd listen in on your conversations...

>156 scaifea: We had a party line when I was growing up, too, Amber, and I had a har time trying to explain it to the kids. Recently we watched the movie Pillow Talk, and now they get it!

Hello, Joe! Happy Friday!

Happy Friday, Joe. I had a full morning with Jackson. Enough said there. With these frigid temps, I don't miss the trails and I am sure glad I am no longer working in it. I am getting ready to start The Unseen, which Ellen sent me. It also looks like one you would enjoy. I'll get back to you on it.

>152 jnwelch: LIKE!

>157 Crazymamie: I'd forgotten about that in Pillow Talk! I need to rewatch that one - I do love it tons.

>153 jessibud2:😀

>154 bell7:. I know, Mary. I try to stay out of arguments, too. Somehow I ended up on FBin the middle of a bunch of anti-vaxxers one time, and it was bizarre and not comfortable, as I explained tactfully why they were out of their freakin’ minds. Needless to say, I upset a lot of people, and if print could howl , there was a lot of howling going on. Finally a guy suggested, in a not unkindly way, that I leave and take my opinions with me. So I did. I suspect I convinced exactly zero people in that group with my eloquence and wit.

>155 Storeetllr:. Jeesh, I’m older than vanilla, Mary, and I never had that party line experience.

I did enjoy a cartoon where a father orders his kids at the dinner table to stop looking at their phones, and they’re all staring at old-fashioned black rotary-dial phones.

>156 scaifea:. Hurrah! A *SNORK!*

For some reason that word always makes me think of the Moomintrolls.

Ha! I can imagine Charlie being mystified by the party line concept. Might be a good topic for an Ancient History paper at school.

Speaking of which, after responding to these latest posts, I’ll give you my most recent Aeneid questions. No need to rush to answer; my paper isn’t due for another month.

I’ll try to work party lines into my questions. I forget when the god Graham Bellius first taught humans how to use party lines, or what his punishment was.

>157 Crazymamie:. Hello, Mamie! Happy Friday!

“Pillow Talk”: wow, I haven’t thought about that one in a long, long time. Doris Day, right? Who played the phone?

>158 msf59:. Hey, Mark. It must have been a tough decision between hiking the trail in below zero weather and playing with the most adorable baby boy extant. Good pick.

The Unseen is new to me. Looking forward to your thoughts.

>159 scaifea:😀

>152 jnwelch: *I* do not look at...them...and anyone who says I get into fights with those ignorant, wrong-headed, fools who hang out with other goofballs in the dark recesses of the internet are lying!

>159 scaifea:. Aeneid questions for Amber.

_
-Did the gods ever use phone party lines, and if so, did they ever bequeath any to god/human offspring?

- why did Venus suspect a romantic ploy to divert power away from Italy and to Libyan shores” when Hera suggested that Anna and Dido team up to bring Dido and Aeneas together, with Carthage as her dowry?

- quote I loved: “Rumor, the swiftest of the evils. She thrives on speed and gains power as she goes.”

-How does Iarbas have the ear of Jupiter, persuading him to send Mercury to tell Aeneas to stop wasting time and get back on mission?

- wow, is Dido mad at aeneas, wanting everything bad to happen to him and then throwing herself on the Trojan sword in the pyre. ((How did that sword get there?). Why can’t she just chill out?

- why does virtually every place, every god, every human, have to have multiple names. It adds to reading/listening difficulty.

- The ship-to-shore race, boxing match and archery contest all made for entertaining reading, but is there a significance to the overall plot that I should notice?

- The riders’ performance around the competition area sounds like a highly skilled marching band. I could also see people trying it at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It made me wonder whether our marching band traditions can be traced back to this.

-What is Iris’s unsatisfied “old grievance” in the burning the ships section.

-The women deciding to and going ahead with burning the ships, and the fire-quenching rain, made for great storytelling. The solution of allowing those who didn’t want to continue on Aeneas’s journey to instead stay was a good one.

- “Dewy nightis turning past the middle of her course and
Cruel dawn
Breathes upon me with her panting horses”.

Nice one.

- Why do you prefer “Vergil” over “Virgil”?

-Why did the god of Sleep single out poor Palinurus and throw him overboard to drown? Later there’s mention of offensively “blowing the conch shell in competitive ways”. What the heck?

- why did Apollo speak through Sibyl to tell Aeneas of dire events abead?

- Is the lake near Naples still an entrance to Hell in 2022?

- One reason for attributing god parentage to a human seems to be to help explain exceptional stature and accomplishment. Who would be the god parent for:Michael Jordan? Yo-yo Ma? Selena williams? Renee Fleming? Stephen Fry?

-Love that whole “golden bough” storyline. That sure shut up Charon.

-How does the demon War imprisoned along the path in relate to Ares the God of War? Who gets blamed when?
- why are Centaurs included with the imprisoned demons? They were so helpful in dealing with Dolores Umbridge.

Why is every one so eager to cross the river Styx to get to the Underworld? What’s the appeal? I can see not being in a hurry to do that.

- The Underworld has a lot of different types staying there. Is there a separate section for sinners?

- How does Lombardo do this so well? At times it’s like reading a page-turning thriller.

>163 richardderus:. Ha! I thought of you with the Furry Beasts Who Shall Not Be Named. I have no trouble believing you don’t look at them on your pocket device. Also, you’re so sweet-tempered I can’t imagine you arguing with anyone, much less the types you describe.

>117 jnwelch: Thank you for the pictures, Joe. They are beautiful. Rafa has changed into a young man. That seems to happen overnight. I love that Fina has the chubby cheeks that Grandmas and Grandpas want to tickle.

>142 jnwelch: So cool that Rafa is bilingual. He will go far in this world.

>166 Donna828:. You’re welcome, Donna. And thank you for reminding me we needed the photos. You’re right about Rafa. His toddler days are behind him. He sure makes a cool little boy.

It’s so great to be bilingual in this country. It seems to be second nature in so many other parts of the world. I do think the sky’s the limit for this kid (well, he could blow right through that, too).

Weirdo Bill had the same instinct - tickle Fina! Caveat: she’s very strong-minded, and will surely let you know if she’s not pleased by tickling.

>168 jnwelch: Ha! Clever!

>169 richardderus:. 😅

>168 jnwelch: - LOL!

Doctor Welch...your urgent and fast-twitch attention, please. A poet. P.O.E.T. Needs your attention. THE ESSENTIAL GWENDOLYN BROOKS by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER is $1.99 and is a must-buy. Her work is brilliant and magical.

https://smile.amazon.com/Essential-Gwendolyn-Brooks-American-Project-ebook/dp/B0...

>168 jnwelch: *snerk*

>168 jnwelch: Nice!

Howdy! I found you again this year.

I got back to Alabama last week and spent three days getting things on my desk under control. Then, today I had a nice visit with a friend up in Birmingham. She took me to a book store that is closeing and moving to another location so they are shedding inventory. I did my best to help them out. That means that I had a great day.

I listened to the recorded version of Circe by Madeline Miller on my way back to Alabama and liked it. The narrator was excellent and it made good listening while putting 1,200 miles on the car. Even so, I didn't think it hit me the same way as did Song of Achilles. I think it was becuase the story seemed more disjointed than did Achilles story. That is not surprising as Miller would have had to piece the Circe story together from bits scattered throughout several different surviving sources. Circe was good, but for me Song of Achilles was better.

>168 jnwelch: Tee hee.

>164 jnwelch: Oh Wow! That list of questions makes the book sound fascinating. Star Trek kind of colourful?

>173 drneutron:. I see your *snerk* and raise you an Amber *snork*. We can get into some Katie *snark* later.

>174 figsfromthistle:. Isn’t that a nice one, Anita?

>175 benitastrnad:. Howdy, Benita! I’m glad you found us.

Good job helping the bookstore on the move shed inventory. That’s what we 75ers pride ourselves on - always willing to pitch in. (And stagger out). I can well imagine it made for a great day.

I know what you mean about Circe. Good book, but it didn’t get to me like Song of Achilles. I’m glad the audio made for good car company.

>176 Caroline_McElwee:. 😀

>177 EllaTim:. The book is fascinating, Ella; this translator (Stanley Lombardo) makes such a difference for me. Other translators I tried were irresistibly put-down-able.

If by “Star Trek kind of colourful?” you mean lots of action and colourful characters, then yes. Those fractious, feuding gods sure can cause problems for we lesser humans.

Vincent van Gogh's Palette.
Collection : Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

>179 jnwelch: Fascinating! It looks to me like it maybe could have been his inspiration for Starry Night.

Happy Sunday, Joe!

>180 Storeetllr:. Hi, Mary. I know, his palette could be a painting in its own right, couldn’t it.

Morning, Joe!

I'm going to send you a DM with my answers to your Aeneid questions so I don't clog up your thread with a super-long post. You've got some great ones and I enjoyed trying to answer them!

>179 jnwelch: Of course I was going to love this, as it belonged to one of my best friends Joe.

>182 scaifea: Oh, Professor. I implore you to clog up Joe's thread with your Aeneid seminar. I've learned so much from previous exchanges. :-) An interested bystander, I am.

>182 scaifea:. Hi, Amber. Please post your Aeneid answers here! It’s not clogging; i think people here enjoy them. I’m glad you’re having fun. I sure appreciate it!

Well rats. My local library has On Tyranny but not in GN form. I own the original and loved it when I read it (back early in the DJT presidency). I may have to break down and purchase the GN.

>179 jnwelch: That is so cool. As a wannabe artist, it makes me drool.

>168 jnwelch: I love that.
I can't remember where we were but we were once talking with a park ranger who said the stupidest question he had ever been asked was "how do the deer know to cross where you've put the sign?"

>152 jnwelch: Too true. And funny.

I need to get better about visiting your thread at least once per day so I don't miss the book deals! xoxo I hope you are having a good Sunday, Joe.

>183 Caroline_McElwee:. You’re so lucky, Caroline. You probably get to call him Vincent. When I see him, my jaw drops and I call him, “Oh my god, you’re amazing.”

>184 weird_O:. Yes! I hope we convince her, Bill.

>186 EBT1002:. That is too bad, Ellen. But owning it sounds like quite a silver lining. You remind me to give our library a try for the On Tyranny GN. Like you, I’m a fan of the original.

You and Mark teaming up on Great Circle forced me to succumb. It’s on my WL now.

I know; I’m not even a wannabe artist, and Vincent’s palette makes me want to drool. Or at least abscond with it.

I know, we carry the world’s knowledge in our pockets now. How amazing is that? I don’t use it nearly enough for more than cats and arguments, but I’ve found it mighty handy while reading the Aeneid. And it’s my go-to dictionary.

I love the book bargains. I’m glad you do, too.

I hope you’re having a good sunday, too. Are you back home now?

Today’s Bargain: The Color of Water by James McBride for $1.99 on e-readers. Excellent memoir by this talented author of his experience as a black man growing up with a white mother.

>187 jnwelch: Oh yes, Vincent certainly. He never stands on parade, sober or drunk. Just be careful not to stand too close behind him when he's got a paintbrush in his hand. You wouldn't want to get poked in the eye.

>189 Caroline_McElwee:. Ha! Mothers would no doubt agree, Caroline. Kids not getting poked in the eye is usually up near the top of the list.😅

Hi Joe.

We are safely home but P is isolating in the basement as she has a breakthrough case of covid. It appears to be omicron (taste and smell are fine) and I tested negative, have no symptoms so far. I worked from home the latter part of last week and will do so again tomorrow. The contact tracers said I can go to work on Tuesday as long as I'm super vigilant about wearing my good KN95 mask (I always am). I get tested again on Thursday just to be sure. P is downright miserable but at least she is not headed for the hospital!

I'm glad you've added Great Circle to your wish list. I'm 66% into it (go kindle). It's long and excellent. I think you'll enjoy Marian as a character.

>113 karenmarie: So Great for this LT site that both you and Joe made it strong through 2021!

May 2022 be more peaceful, calm, and filled with healing energy.

Happy Sunday, Joe. The Color of Water is an amazing memoir. I had a great birding morning. Spotting two different owls and one was a Lifer. To top that, I came home to find Jackson over for a visit. No book time yet but hopefully later. I hope the Bears don't blow this one.

>191 EBT1002:. I’m glad you’re safely home, but soot to hear that P has the omicron covid. Man, it’s everywhere now! A friend has it, and like you her boyfriend (might as well be spouse) is okay, They’re being careful, too. She’s miserable - she says her lungs are luje pop rocks ( arggh - that one gets me every time), and she has severe headaches. I hope P has the mild version we hear about.

If Great Circle turns out to be problematic or awful (unlikely), just let me know.

>192 m.belljackson:. Thank you for those very kind words, Marianne. I’m glad to be still hanging around, and I’m sure Karen is, too.

I love your wish for 2022. Amen.

>193 msf59:. Hiya, Mark. I’m glad you had such a good birding morning, and jackson for icing on the cake.

The Color of Water: Agreed.

Iturned in the second half of the Bears game and watched the Bears flub the dub and MN easily score. In a city that loves great defense, this is a sad business. I’ve lost faith and interest. Please go out and buy them a whole new coaching staff.

I’m back to watching The Maid, which we didn’t finish. Debbi authorized me to finish it on my own.

Hey, man. I ‘ve sensed you have an interest in Reading and learning about Native Americans. Take a look at Firekeeper’s Daughter. I’m only a ways in, but I’m already learning a lot about the Objibwes.

>184 weird_O: What he said, Amber!

Hello, Joe! Happy Sunday! I have been loving reading your Q&A with Amber.

>179 jnwelch: That's gorgeous all by itself.

>195 Crazymamie:. Happy Sunday, Mamie! I know, I love tutored reads. So nice of Amber to do this. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

>168 jnwelch: LOL

>197 banjo123:. 😀

I am reading a fun novel as well. I am reading Erotic Stories For Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal and learning lots about the Sikh culture. I am 100 pages in and have learned so much about Sikh's and their culture. This book is written by a British woman and there is so much in this book. It has a murder mystery, the question of literacy, widowhood and what that means, multicultural young people in conflict with their elders and it is just so much fun to read. For a good time - read it!

>194 jnwelch: You are correct, I do like Native American fiction and Firekeeper's Daughter sounds really good. This one got by me, the first time around. I am so glad you are continuing The Maid, I really liked it.

>199 benitastrnad: Good description of Erotic Stories for Punjab Widows, Benita. I’ve seen that one being discussed (memorable title). Sounds good.

>200 msf59:. Oh good, Mark. I know you don’t read many YAs, but this one seems well worth it.

Yes, the Maid is powerful stuff. In Episode 6 at least some good things happened for her. Her dancing everywhere in joy was great to see. Then, of course, Sean ruined it. Jeesh..

Mmmday orisons, Joe, happy week-ahead's reads!

Wanaka Lake, New Zealand.
Photo by Everlook Photography

from Megan's (Loving Lit's) part of the world

>202 richardderus:. Moomphmumblemoomintrollday orisons, RD. I’ve got some corkers underway; it should be another good reading week. I hope yours is, too.

>203 jnwelch: Ooooohhhhhh

Got to admire that tree's tenacity.

Glad the reads are going well! I'm reading pleasant but forgettable things for publishers ATM.

>203 jnwelch: gorgeous!

Happy Monday, Joe!

>205 richardderus:. Hi, RD. Yes, megan says the tree is quite well-known and sought out in NZ.

Occasionally i’m in the mood for pleasant but forgettable reading. I hope this timing is good for you.

>206 bell7:. Glad you like it, Mary! Happy Mmmphmoomintrollday!

>161 jnwelch: I suspect being on a party line had something to do with living out of town, Joe. We moved to a more rural part of BC's Lower Mainland in the late '70s and there was a party line to deal with plus we had to get our water trucked in. On the plus side, the land had been used as a cow pasture and our garden grew bionic veggies.

My library as the On Tyranny GN on order so that somehow made its way onto my hold list as did The Kiss Quotient.

Hi, Joe. Despite the drama going on over here at Mi Casa, I had a really had a good reading day. I finished The Unseen and Where Stars Are Scattered. Both were excellent. I have also been reading The Wildlife of Costa Rica: A Field Guide, getting prepared for our trip. I start The Lincoln Highway tomorrow. B.A.G.

>203 jnwelch: Gorgeous!!

>208 Familyhistorian:. Ha! The benefits of cow fertilizer, Meg.

You’re probably right about party lines being more common in rural areas. I grew up in a college town.

I’m getting that On Tyranny GN from the library; it’s worthy of a re-read anyway, and this different format may add to the enjoyment. I’m glad you’re giving The Kiss Quotient a go. Please let me know what you think of it if time permits.

>209 msf59:. Oh, I’ll have to get over to your thread and find out what the drama at you r place was, Mark. I hope nothing too serious.

Yay for When Stars Are Scattered and Lincoln Highway! I’m glad The Unseen went well, and I’m envious of your Costa Rica trip. I know they have colorful birds there. You’re braver than we are; we’re going exactly nowhere these days.

Our LT pal Megan knows >203 jnwelch: well. I wish it wasn’t such a long trip to get to NZ. What a beautiful country.

'Amur.Yellow river'
Alexander Ermolaev,Russian artist born in 1955

I love this one. It’s my phone wallpaper now.

>211 jnwelch: How gorgeous, Joe. Just...yes, says my whole life's experience, that is needed.

Not going blind any faster makes me very cheery, it seems.

I don't see a review of it here, Joe, but I've seen you on others' threads warbling Firekeeper's Daughter. Glad to see you enjoyed it! It was one of my favorites last year. Amazing that it was a first novel, no? And I just saw on her website that it's going to be adapted into a Netflix series.

>131 jnwelch: I’m hoping for a brilliant human (or humans) to come through for us all before the curtain goes down. But who knows. I’m sorry to say I’ve lost faith in effective collective action on that score in these clock-ticking times.

I keep thinking that must be us, but I can't figure out what else I can do.

>211 jnwelch: Gorgeous.

>211 jnwelch: Wow! That's wonderful! Love the way the paint looks almost spattered on in places, kind of granulated. Love the effect!

I thought I'd offer an Arkhip Kuindzhi painting, The Birch Grove, from 1879:

It's another giant-yes-from-me image. Boggles my mind how much art changed in the 19th century with chemical colors and metal tubes of paint making plein-air art possible.

>216 Storeetllr:. I love that granulated effect, too, Mary. The river water is amazing.

>215 ffortsa:. Isn’t it, Judy? What a nice surprise to come across it.

>214 ffortsa:. My thinking is we need brilliant scientists or engineers to come through for us, Judy. We’re not going to collectively be smart about climate change, are we? Or other damage we’ve brought about. But maybe some brilliant minds can keep us from going down the tubes. Maybe from a garage, maybe from a research lab. The rest of us, eh, keep the faith and be supportive. Our politicians and collective political will: we’re too divided. We can’t even make progress on simple, obvious gun issues in the U.S.

Mr. Gloom here, but I still remain hopeful. I’m used to carrying around a half full glass.

>213 bell7:. Right, I’m derelict when it comes to reviews., Mary. It’s a challenge for me to keep up with this thread and visit a few others. My good intentions regarding reviews are hard to make manifest. Even after I’ve shortened my reviews a lot. I plan to try again tomorrow. (!)

Anyway, Firekeeper’s Daughter was great. She and her editors are right - we need more Native American storytelling like this. It’s all the more impressive that it’s her debut novel, as you say. I didn’t expect it to turn into such a race- through- the-pages book toward the end. Well done!

>212 richardderus:. That simple painting is one of the best thing’s I’ve seen in quite a while, RD.

Is your medical condition taking away your sight, too?

>218 jnwelch: No, my parents are...both had macular degeneration steal their sight, or part of it, as they aged.

*sigh* bad luck on the gene draw again.

>203 jnwelch: I have been to Lake Wanaka and it is just as eye catching as your picture would assure us it is.

Hope you are keeping that glass at least half full, Joe, I haven't "seen" much of you this year thus far.

>164 jnwelch: I take it the answers were private? I'm curious.

>217 richardderus:. This is one I’d like to see in person, Richard. My computer screen seems to do best with sharply delineated images, rather than subtle gradations, especially if they involve the color brown.

This one looks like it’d be lovely and peaceful in person ( or on a bigger screen).

As you can tell, I love plein-air art.

>219 richardderus:. Is that predicted, er, is that the prognosis for you, or might it not happen?

>220 PaulCranswick:.Believe it or not, i’ve been trying to get around to other threads. I can be pretty “fast”, but I don’t think i’ll ever be fast enough. Sigh.

You lucky bucky. I’d love to see Lake Wanaka in person. I did think of you and Nina as having closer proximity to it than romantics in Chicago do.

>221 quondame:. Yes, the answers were private, Susan.

Not sure how I got 80+ posts behind, Joe! I am caught up again though. Whew!

Happy Thursday!

>116 jnwelch: Good Morning Joe! Thinking of you and hoping all is well with your health. It was a joy to learn you and Mark are fans of When Stars Are Scattered!!! Every time I find a shout out regarding a YA, Juvenile, or illustrated story book, I am happy.

I'm reading Ann Patchett's most recent book These Precious Days. Early morning here in Pennsylvania, and I read the chapter regarding her discovery of the beauty of "children's books." She was mesmerized by Kate DiCamillo and her book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Ann's words of sheer joy upon discovering this medium seemed to leap off the page, and my heart said "YES!!"

In 2008, it was Anita (FAMeulstee) who first placed me on the path of young adult books, and her recommendations opened a whole new world. Then, somehow children's illustrated books found me. I do believe books find us when we need them.

I follow your posts of beautiful illustrations! I so enjoy your selections of art. And, keep reading those YA books, there is, as you well know, so much joy, angst, life and love in them!

>223 jnwelch: It's a strong possibility that I'll follow in their footsteps, but because I don't smoke and never have I've (unknowingly) reduced the probability to a possibility. Not that not-smoking was ever effortful for me, but wow what a bullet to dodge!

>224 alcottacre:. It happens, doesn’t it, Stasia. I have the same problem sometimes when I visit others. I’m glad you’re caught up, and it’s nice to see you here. Sweet Thursday!

>225 Whisper1:. What a fun post, Linda, thanks.

I get a similar happy feeling when I see shout-outs for GNs, YAs, juveniles and illustrated books, and When Stars Are Scattered has a special place in my heart. I’d liked very much Victoria Jamieson’s other GNs, but this was such an unexpected change in direction from her.

The GN I’m excited about right now is Cheer up! Love and Pompoms, an emotionally realistic story about a trans high schooler. After getting it from the library, i liked it enough to get our own copy and recommend it to Madame MBH.

We both read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane fairly recently and, like you, were mesmerized. It helped get Debbi back in the author’s camp; she hadn’t liked Because of Winn-Dixie at all.

Anita is such a remarkable reader - both the variety and the quantity! How cool that she recommended YAs to you and got you started on this path you enjoy so much. As you’ve seen, I’m particularly excited right now about Firekeeper’s Daughter, a strong, Ojibwe-based YA story. I’m also enjoying Nicola Yoon’s Instructions for Dancing. She’s become one of my favorite YA authors.

I’m glad Ann Patchett has expanded her reading menu and also enjoys these kinds of books.
Thank you for your kind comments about the cafe’s art and illustrations. I have a good time finding and sharing them.

>226 richardderus:. Oh, that’s good news, RD. Kudos to you for avoiding smoking; I didn’t, but I did stop decades ago. I was thinking you could survive on audio books if need be, but I’m glad it hasn’t come to that. I remember our pal Ellie Moses made that switch as her eyesight deteriorated.

Today’s Bargain: Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami for $1.99 on Kindle. I love this unusual novel that I found via a Staff Recommendation at Foyle’s bookstore in London. Great chance to try it at an irresistible price.

In Nubia Real One a kind, smart young black girl in high school has to hide her Wonder Woman-like strength and power because she too often gets misinterpreted in a predominantly white world. She also has two overprotective moms (I liked that this was treated as routine rather than unusual) who want to keep her out of trouble and are slow to recognize that she's becoming a mentally, as well as physically, strong young woman. The story is very good and i cringed at some of the all-too-believable racist incidents. I wish the artwork were better; it often seemed rough and rudimentary. But all in all a good one I'm glad I read.

Cheer up Love and Pompoms struck me as emotionally realistic about the experience of a trans person presenting as a girl in high school. (There's got be a less awkward way to say that!)

Bebe is LatinX and the state's first trans cheerleader. She (the book doesn't use "they") is shy and anxious not to cause a stir, trying cheerleading to, I think, build up her resume. The team is supportive, and even elects her captain, but as her white friend Annie notices, "they're treating you like a mascot, not a person." They're so busy patting themselves on the back for their progressiveness, they neglect to ask about or consider her point of view. She has a creepy guy who ignored her when she was a boy but now won't stop making intrusive passes at her.

Bebe tutors sarcastic, rebellious Annie on being a team player, while Annie helps Bebe learn to better stand up for herself. The rest of the team learns to treat Bebe like a person, not a novelty. In the process Bebe and Annie begin to develop strong feelings for each other, adding yet another happy complication. This is a charming and valuable graphic novel.

Firekeeper's Daughter: This "powerhouse debut" has received a lot of reviewer love, and deserves it. Daunis is a half-Ojibwe 19 year old who is very active and respected in her tribal community. Her tribal experiences were a big part of why I loved this book; we seem to get very little of this kind of inside perspective on the issues Native Americans face as they try to maintain their history and traditions while fashioning successful 21st century lives. Daunis is also a highly skilled hockey player sidelined by injury; her connections to the hockey world, including her brother Levi, who is a community-beloved star, are critical to the story's resolution. I don't want to give too much away, but her romantic interest is not who he seems to be, and drugs are threatening to break her tribe apart. Daunis's determination to learn the truth and save her community turns this already exceptional YA novel into a race-through-the-pages thriller in its last segment. 5 stars from me.

>232 jnwelch: What a beautiful cover

>233 figsfromthistle:. Isn’t it, Anita? The author mentions how happy she is with it.

>230 jnwelch: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Joe!

>232 jnwelch: I read that one last year and enjoyed it, so I get to dodge that particular BB :)

Happy Thursday, Joe!

>235 alcottacre:. Great, Stasia. If Nubia Real One ever climbs out of that black hole, I’d love to hear your reaction to it.

Good for you for getting to Firekeeper’s Daughter last year. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wonder whether the author will return to that world in her next one. I hope so.

Sweet Thursday, Stasia! ( as we say on Cannery Row)

>225 Whisper1: >227 jnwelch: Back then, in 2008, YA and childrens books was all I was reading. I just discovered I could read again after an hiatus of over 20 years.
Thanks for the compliment, Joe, my reading has been soaring the last years, and has broadened a lot since then. After so many years without reading (only collecting a lot of books), I am still grateful for every day I can read :-)

Morning, Joe! Happy Friday. It is a Jackson day and it looks like we will have him around this afternoon too. Yah! Great review of Firekeeper's Daughter. Just my cuppa. I will have to request it, when I get back from CR.
"Cheer Up" sounds really good too. Not surprisingly, I am enjoying The Lincoln Highway. I also started "Spellbound", which you recommended.

Sir Joseph. I present my compliments and orisons for a sweet Friyay.

>237 FAMeulstee:. Ah, I just lost my post to you. Darn it. Trying again.

I can’t imagine you on a 20 year reading hiatus. What happened?

I think it’s so cool that you got back in the swing by reading children’s books. Brilliant. What was your first one, if you remember? And you inspired, Linda. I’m toasting you with my morning coffee. Cheers!

“Soaring” is a good word for your recent reading. You’re the one I think of when someone is surprised by how many books I read. I often say, I know someone who reads a lot more books than I do”.😀

Happy Friday,buddy. Isn’t every day Jackson day? Well worth celebrating, that guy.

Thanks re the review of Firekeeper’s Daughter. Can’t wait to hear what you think of that one.

Cheer up should work well for you. Trans was such a foreign concept for me at the beginning. I probably grew up with some unnecessarily unhappy people. It’s good to start getting some understanding.

Graphic memoirs are so often the cream of the graphic crop, aren’t they? I’m glad you’re trying Spellbound: A Graphic Memoir. I’m reading another good one, Dancing at the Pity Party, which the author described as a “dead mom memoir”. I wish I’d known her mom.

>239 richardderus:. Sir Richard: compliments and orisons on this sweet Friday. Let the bountiful reading begin!

>240 jnwelch: First highschool happened, Joe, with required reading and incompetent teachers. They forced my readings, and I lost the joy in reading. Just when I started to read a bit again depression happened, and I was put on Paxil. One of the side effects for me was being unable to read.

I started in 2008 with the three Honderdjarige oorlog books by Thea Beckman. Three books about an adventurous girl fleeing Bruges, meeting a troubadour in France, falling in love, all taking place during the 100 Year War (1337 - 1453). Sadly they are not available in English translation.
Then I went on with Cynthia Voigt's Tillerman series.
I found LibraryThing around the same time, and started to record my reading here.

Toasting back with afternoon coffee, cheers!

ETA: adjusted some spelling errors, I hope I got them all!

>243 FAMeulstee: Wow, Anita, that sounds awful, and a little familiar! Except I was lucky and had ONE awesome English teacher in my sophomore year who did a brilliant reading of Hamlet with us, so not all was lost. The other years, I wasn't so lucky, but it only affected my desire to read classics. (I still can't/won't read Dreiser.) I could still read contemporary books. My years of not reading happened when I had a baby. Honestly, for about five years I couldn't read anything - except children's books and textbooks (I went back to school when my daughter was 3).

Hi, Joe! Bang those drums, baby! It's Friday!

>243 FAMeulstee:. Thanks for explaining, Anita. Forced reading: that’s why I thought it was so smart of you to start back with children’s books that brought you joy, rather than forcing something. I wish those ones by Thea Beckman had English translations. I’d be curious to give them a try. The Paxil sude effect. - eesh. What a life- diminishing side effect, i’d find that depression medicine’s side effect depressing. My father, an eternal optimist (like his son) went through an uncharacteristic period of significant depression. They finally figured out it was the side effect of a newly-prescribed blood pressure medicine. Once that was gone, he returned to normal.

Man, I know what you mean about spelling (typing) errors. I know I don’t catch all of mine. I get a lot of s instead of a and o instead of p, in particular. I’ve had a lot of talks with my fingers about it.

>244 Storeetllr:. Hi, Mary. That had to be an awesome English teacher, to do a brilliant reading of Hamlet. It’s a wonderful play, of course, but in the wrong hands it could be, I imagine, aggravating, and I suspect “brilliant” is unusual.

I had a brilliant English teacher in ninth grade who turned me around in school by teaching Dandelion Wine and enthusiastically encouraging me on the paper I wrote about it.

I can imagine having a baby affected your reading! With all the help children need, I’m sometimes amazed we have a human race.

I’m banging the drums! Let’s go!

Happy Friday! This came up in my FB memories, and seemed an appropriate post for today. Mark and I at, as the sign in the back indicates, Spiteful Brewing.

>246 jnwelch: Always lovely to see your smiling faces.

Today’s Bargain: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki for $1.99 on Kindle. An excellent book that took me a while to warm up to.

>247 Caroline_McElwee:. 😀😀😅

>244 Storeetllr: Glad you had one better teacher, Mary. I am still a bit reluctant with some Dutch literature.
I can imagine a baby turns your life upside down, including your reading.

>245 jnwelch: Believe me, Joe, depression is worse. I even went back to Paxil between 2012 and 2015, fully aware of the side effects, because depression came back again. I would give up reading again if needed...

>246 jnwelch: Sweet memories, Mark and Joe with a brew :-)

>250 FAMeulstee:. I believe you about depression, Anita. Thanks for letting me know. My sympathy. It must be awful. I know how much you love reading.

Ha! Mark and Joe with a brew = sweet memories all right.

>221 quondame: >223 jnwelch: Bummer.

>246 jnwelch: I don't see spitefulness, Joe and Mark.

>244 Storeetllr: I understand your attitude on Dreiser, Mary. I attended a small Christian boarding school for four years, and had a marvelous young teacher in English all four years. He liked Dreiser and had us read An American Tragedy—800 plus pages (that in itself was a tragedy)—and the following year had us read Sister Carrie. I haven't been in the least bit interested in Dreiser since.

>250 FAMeulstee: I was on Paxil for a while, but it didn't suit me. Have you ever tried other SSRIs or something like Welbutrin? I ended up with the latter, and a tiny bit of Lexapro, and it's held me for a couple of decades now, no impact on my reading. Just in case you need another round of something sometime in the future.

>253 ffortsa: Thank you, Judy, I have tried many other anti-depressants before Paxil. Some made me complete lethagic, some others made the depression worse, and others seemed to do nothing at all. The names I remember are Zoloft, Prozac, Anafranil, Lexapro, Remeron (the names can differ, Paxil is called Seroxat here), and a few others that I don't recall. It was a long journey before we found that Paxil worked. You have to build down the one you take, start with a new one, take that for at least 6 weeks before you can tell if it works... The only other that ever worked for me was Effexor, I took that between 2007 and 2012, when it stopped working, and I went back on Paxil.
Meanwhile my Thyroid problem came clear in 2011, and after a few years I could stop taking Paxil. A year later my reading reached unexpected hights :-)

>232 jnwelch: I’ve got Firekeeper’s Daughter requested at my library. Thanks for the review! Have a great weekend!

Karen O

>253 ffortsa:, >254 FAMeulstee:. The other one I’ve heard of is klonopin? It’s always surprised me that one that has been working can just stop doing so.

>255 klobrien2:. Oh, good, Karen! You’re welcome -thanks for letting me know. If you get a chance, I’d love to know what you think of it when you’re done.

>232 jnwelch: Nice review of Firekeeper's Daughter and way to avoid spoilers! (I think you did that better than I did, it's a tough one to discuss without them). It was one of my favorites last year, as was Instructions for Dancing, so I'm glad you're enjoying both of them.

>>246 jnwelch: Very nice memory to come up in your Facebook feed - looks like you and Mark were having a grand ole time!

Happy weekend, Joe!

>252 weird_O: Yeah, too bad it didn’t work out, Bill.

It’s a happy spitefulness - they’re able now to make malice-free spitefulness but the alcohol content remains high.

I’ve never read Dreiser (never had him assigned, thank goodness), and hearing readers like you and Mary dissuades me from changing that.

>257 bell7:. Hiya, Mary. Thanks re the review. I know, it was so tempting to get into spoiler territory. I know you were an early reader (compared to me, anyway) of Firekeeper’s Daughter; i’m glad you thought the review came across okay.

I’ve yet to not have a grand ole time with Mr. Freeburg, although the pandemic has cramped our style a bit.

Happy weekend, Mary!

>253 ffortsa: >254 FAMeulstee: >256 jnwelch: Almost everyone in my family has had to go through multiple anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs, and that includes me. They never seem to continue to work. I've managed to live without and without anti-manic medications as my manics were much more destructive than my depressions, by almost absolutely avoiding stress (I can read instead of stressing) and occasions of anxiety. However, my siblings are stress junkies and I don't think there's a medication they haven't tried, run through, and discarded. I passed my favorite psychopharmacologist on to my younger brother and she's still taking care of him.

Hi Joe!

So far behind it’s almost impossible to catch up, but here’s my attempt.

>116 jnwelch: I’ve got my resolutions in a word document and printed out. It lives in my desk calendar, but I just realized that I think I need to keep it out on my cork board so I’ll actually see the resolutions every day without having to remember to open my desk calendar!

>125 humouress: There is such a thing, believe it or not, but I don’t have one! I thought they’d only have a kids onesie, but there’s an adult one, too.

>152 jnwelch: Ain’t that the truth!

>192 m.belljackson: Thanks, Marianne! I’m coming along, for sure. My friends on LT have supported and inspired me, and I don’t know how well I’d be doing without you all cheering me on.

>246 jnwelch: Yay for FB memories!

>259 quondame:. How frustrating it must be, Susan. In some ways we’ve made a lot of medical progress, but with mental health ( the brain) it seems like not so much.

I’m always pushing meditation, but as my son said today, it’s hard to meditate when you’re being yelled at. It’s also got to be hard when your brain is either on fire or caught in the La Brea tar pits.

>260 karenmarie:. Hi Karen!

I sure know what you mean. I’ve also been trying to catch up around the LT campus.

>152 jnwelch:. Is one of my favorites. I imagine Ray Bradbury would have a good chuckle at how we use our pocket devices.

Good for you for being so organized on your resolutions. Madame MBH is like that. My resolutions are simple and the same each year: meditate more, write more.

You’re a fun person to cheer on, so that’s no hardship.

I do enjoy seeing my Facebook memories each day. It’s one of the things they do well.

>246 jnwelch: Lovely! Kerry and I are planning a Chicago trip after he retires in 2023. Maybe a meet up is in order then?

Have a wonderful weekend!

>246 jnwelch: This is awesome, Joe and I remember it well. Let's plan on another Meet-up, in the next month or so? We may have something to talk about then. 🙂

Continuing to enjoy The Lincoln Highway. On the freight, barreling toward NY.

>262 alcottacre:. Well, Mark is lovely, Stasia, but I’m not so sure about that other guy.

Post-retirement Chicago trip meet-up?! Most definitely! Already looking forard to it.😀

>263 msf59:. Sound good, Mark. And Stasia is suggesting a meetup when she and Kerry travel here.

Ha! I love how their trip to CA becomes a trip to NY. Such a good book.

"...it's hard to meditate when you're being yelled at" is sort of the point of the yelling. The yell-er is placing a demand for your attention that simply will not be ignorable, which ignoring is usually the root of the disturbance. The maladaptive response to it starts the death-spiral of denial and demand that combust most relationships.

>265 richardderus:. Yes, yelling never helps. Trying to break out of the repeating accusatory back and forth can be tough. A mediation practice in the quiet times can increase the chances. Lots of study support for that.

Happy weekend, Joe! Love this picture >246 jnwelch:

Hi Joe, I’m not sure why I haven’t stopped by the cafe yet this year, but here I am, so far behind that commenting on an old post seems a bit dated!

I will say though, that as usual, the art and illustrations you post are gorgeous, so thanks for them.

Love seeing your and Mark’s smiling faces at the brewery!

Hi Joe, hope that you and Debbi are having a good start to the weekend mate. I saw the picture of you and Mark at the brewery, smiling faces with a brew in hand. Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>261 jnwelch: Not only is every person a different system, the system changes over time. Meditation is a great tool, but it's isn't something that can be started reliably in a crisis. Once it is a regular practice it is a great help for maintenance.

>267 banjo123: Happy weekend, Rhonda! Come to Chicago so we can fit you into a photo like >246 jnwelch:.😀

>268 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne! So nice to see you here! Happy 2022.

I’m glad you’re enjoying the art and illustrations.

Ha! Mark and I always have a good time at our brewery meetups. Yes, books do get discussed, among many other things.

>269 johnsimpson:. Hey, buddy. We’re doing okay, although we just attended a memorial service (via Zoom) for our cartoonist friend Keith Taylor. More than 200 people attending, and lots of stories about what a funny and great guy he was.

I’m a bit of a mess - it’s tough to lose a good friend. We’d known each other over 40 years. As I said to Debbi, I’d give a lot to be able to go to one more Bulls game with him.

Love and hugs winging back across the pond to you and Karen.

>270 quondame:. Well said, Susan, thanks.

>272 jnwelch: Joe, I am so sorry for your loss. I understand being "a bit of a mess." Those feelings are deep and real and signify and beloved relationship, well deserving of your accolades.

>273 Whisper1:. Thanks, Linda. I’ve always been lousy at crying for some reason, but this guy sure makes me want to. I’m taking advantage of my favorite distraction - Librarything.

>274 jnwelch: This, too, shall pass. Sadly.

I know you're glad you were able to be virtually there at the memorial. It isn't easy but it is helpful to get those good-byes said in a structured setting.

>275 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. It was wonderful. So many folks loved that guy.

>272 jnwelch: Condolences on the loss of your friend, Joe. As someone who is often a "bit of a mess" these days (the losses just keep coming, don't they?) I recommend giving in to that feeling---go find a quiet room and cry as ugly as you can. It won't fix anything, but it will help a little.

Happy Sunday, Joe. Bree just dropped off Jack. We will be going to a small family gathering and meeting her there. I hope to get some football time in.

Into the second half of The Lincoln Highway. Pastor John just made an unexpected appearance...

>277 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. I did spend some quiet time alone this morning. This one's getting to me more than my parents did, oddly enough. He was a good friend who I expected to be around as long as me. He tried his darndest - he fought various illnesses, including jaw cancer, for 2+ years.

>278 msf59: Happy Sunday, Mark. I'm sure Bree knows how lucky she is to be able to drop off Jackson with you. Right, Debbi has blessed me for as much playoff football as I might want to watch. Hey, I'll probably text you - I finished the "Maid" tv series, which was excellent. I hope it gets some recognition (and more viewers) at awards time. How amazing it must've been for Andie MacDowell and her daughter to do all those scenes together. Wow.

Go Lincoln Highway! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Catching up and delurking to wish you a wonderful Sunday! You got me with Firekeeper's Daughter. And I am very sorry about the loss of your friend. May your memories of him make you smile.

>281 Berly:. Thanks, Kim! Glad to hear that Firekeeper’s Daughter is in your future!

Thanks re Keith.There are a ton of smile-worthy memories.😀

>254 FAMeulstee: et al. Sorry I butted in. Luck was on my side, I guess, since my bipolar meds haven't needed a tweak in many years. Of course, it did help to retire!

Joe, klonopen is an anti-convulsive, according to Dr. Google, and as it happens I have just added it as a sleep aid, since my old one was wearing off too early.

So maybe I did need a tweak after all. Still testing to see if it really helps. And yeah, meditation and exercise would help too!

eta: My friends, mainly in my age cohort, and I are experiencing the same jolt - if that is the right word - when friends are no longer with us. It's a different kind of disturbance than losing one's parents.

>280 jnwelch: Heh.

>280 jnwelch: LOL! Looks familiar, I had books like that ;-)
Lesson one: never ever let anything lying around at the floor, or any other height where the puppy can get its teeth on it.

>283 ffortsa: Don't be sorry, Judy, asking is the only way to know. So that is always good!
Some are lucky with psych meds, other have to go through more to find the right one.

>283 ffortsa:. Hi, Judy. I’m told that klonopin has multiple uses, but is a powerful anti- depressant and -anxiety drug. Overuse and psychological dependency need to be watched out for. One person I know raves about it.

Yeah, we’re in the age group, too, where we’ll be seeing more friends kick off - I made mine promise to stick around after Keith left the station.

>284 richardderus:. 😀

>285 FAMeulstee:. Right, Anita? I thought a lot of people probably could relate to >280 jnwelch:. One of our pugs chewed the heck out of my favorite book, The Wizard of Oz, when I was a lad.

I know, we were careful not to leave books out for chewing after that.

>286 FAMeulstee:. Right, i know it can take a while, with the help of a psychiatrist, to find the right medication recipe or combination. While looking out for side effects.

The new cafe is open. See you there!

The REAL Joe #2 is here:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338835#

>290 kac522: thanks, Kathy!