PAUL C WITH A CLEAN SLATE IN '22 - Part 10
This is a continuation of the topic PAUL C WITH A CLEAN SLATE IN '22 - Part 9.
This topic was continued by PAUL C WITH A CLEAN SLATE IN '22 - Part 11.
Talk 75 Books Challenge for 2022
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1PaulCranswick
SCENES FROM MY PAST
I came to Malaysia with Siemens but the first project I worked on was at Killingholme, a large combined gas cycle power plant being built on the East coast of England. Nearby we had the beautiful and largely unspoilt Lincolnshire Wolds.
The are is well described in geographical.co.uk site as :Originally formed around 150 million years ago the Wolds were later ravaged by glaciers, leaving a rolling landscape of rounded hills and wide, ice-scoured valleys. Their gentle contours appealed to farmers, and agriculture has been a defining feature of the landscape ever since.
I came to Malaysia with Siemens but the first project I worked on was at Killingholme, a large combined gas cycle power plant being built on the East coast of England. Nearby we had the beautiful and largely unspoilt Lincolnshire Wolds.
The are is well described in geographical.co.uk site as :Originally formed around 150 million years ago the Wolds were later ravaged by glaciers, leaving a rolling landscape of rounded hills and wide, ice-scoured valleys. Their gentle contours appealed to farmers, and agriculture has been a defining feature of the landscape ever since.
2PaulCranswick
The Opening Words:
I want to read some of the likely (and actual) Women's Prize longlist which will be announced on 8 March 2022. One that I will be very surprised if I don't see it there is Intimacies by Katie Kitamura which has been much lauded in the USA.
It is never easy to move to a new country, but in truth I was happy to be leaving New York. The city had become disorienting to me, after my father's death and my mother's sudden retreat to Singapore.
Interested?.............................
I want to read some of the likely (and actual) Women's Prize longlist which will be announced on 8 March 2022. One that I will be very surprised if I don't see it there is Intimacies by Katie Kitamura which has been much lauded in the USA.
It is never easy to move to a new country, but in truth I was happy to be leaving New York. The city had become disorienting to me, after my father's death and my mother's sudden retreat to Singapore.
Interested?.............................
3PaulCranswick
BOOKS READ
JANUARY
1. American Dream? A Journey on Route 66 by Khor Shing Yin (2019) 160 pp (AAC) - GN
2. The Forward Book of Poetry 2022 by Various Poets (2021) 155 pp - Poetry
3. Absolution by Murder by Peter Tremayne (1994) 274 pp - Thriller/Mystery
4. Somewhere Towards the End by Diana Athill (2008) 183 pp - (NF Challenge) NF
5. My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk (1998) 671 pp - (Asian Book Challenge{ABC}) Fiction; 1001
6. The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz (1962) 158 pp - (World Books/Food) Fiction
7. The Children Who Stayed Behind by Bruce Carter (1958) 216 pp - (BAC) YA Fiction
8. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (2021) 114 pp - Fiction
9. Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar (2020) 343 pp - (ABC) - Fiction (?)
10. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (1982) 192 pp - SF/Fantasy
11. Days in the History of Silence by Merethe Lindstrom (2011) 230 pp - Fiction/Holocaust
12. The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty (1972) 208 pp - Fiction; Pulitzer
13. My Two Worlds by Sergio Chejfec (2008) - 103 pp Fiction/Rebecca NYC reads
14. Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine (2002) - 131 pp Non Fiction / Holocaust
15. Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin (2002) 384 pp Fiction / Asian Book Challenge
16. Up With the Larks by Tessa Hainsworth (2009) 278 pp Non Fiction
17. Cheryl's Destinies by Stephen Sexton (2021) 88 pp - Poetry
18. Hotel Bosphorus by Esmahan Aykol (2001) 246 pp - Thriller/Mystery / Asian Book Challenge
19. The List of Books by Frederic Raphael (1981) 154 pp - Non Fiction / Reference
20. Disquiet by Zulfu Livaneli (2017) 163 pp - Fiction / Asian Book Challenge
21. Turkey : A Short History by Norman Stone (2017) 185 pp - Non-Fiction
22. Black Out by Ragnar Jonasson (2011) 247 pp - Thriller/Scandi
23. The Wild Iris by Louise Gluck (1992) 63 pp - Poetry
24. A Foolish Virgin by Ida Simons (1959) 216 pp - Fiction
25. Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson (1928) 329 pp - Fiction / 1001 Books
26. The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens (1969) 224 pp - Fiction / Booker Winner
FEBRUARY
27. The Nest by Kenneth Oppel (2015) 244 pp - Fiction
28. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria (2021) 156 pp Non-Fiction/ABC
29. Redemption Ground by Lorna Goodison (2018) 164 pp Non-Fiction
30. The Blue Between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa (2015) 288 pp Fiction /Asian Book Challenge
31. Door into the Dark by Seamus Heaney (1969) 44 pp Poetry
32. The Yellow Wind by David Grossman (1988) 218 pp Non-Fiction/Asian Book Challenge
33. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) 343 pp Fiction / Booker Winner
34. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (1974) 197 pp Fiction
35. The Wrecking Light by Robin Robertson (2010) 90 pp Poetry
36. The Others by Sarah Blau (2018) 239 pp Thriller /ABC
37. Portable Kisses by Tess Gallagher (1992) 80 pp Poetry/ AAC
MARCH
38. Rise Like Lions : Poetry for the Many edited by Ben Okri (2017) 258 pp Poetry
39. Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin (1958) 179 pp Non-Fiction
40. Intimacies by Katie Kitamura (2021) 225 pp Fiction / Asian Book Challenge
41. Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi (2013) 283 pp Fiction/ Asian Book Challenge
42. Songs of Mihyar the Damascene by Adonis (1961) 116 pp Poetry/Asian Book Challenge
JANUARY
1. American Dream? A Journey on Route 66 by Khor Shing Yin (2019) 160 pp (AAC) - GN
2. The Forward Book of Poetry 2022 by Various Poets (2021) 155 pp - Poetry
3. Absolution by Murder by Peter Tremayne (1994) 274 pp - Thriller/Mystery
4. Somewhere Towards the End by Diana Athill (2008) 183 pp - (NF Challenge) NF
5. My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk (1998) 671 pp - (Asian Book Challenge{ABC}) Fiction; 1001
6. The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz (1962) 158 pp - (World Books/Food) Fiction
7. The Children Who Stayed Behind by Bruce Carter (1958) 216 pp - (BAC) YA Fiction
8. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (2021) 114 pp - Fiction
9. Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar (2020) 343 pp - (ABC) - Fiction (?)
10. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (1982) 192 pp - SF/Fantasy
11. Days in the History of Silence by Merethe Lindstrom (2011) 230 pp - Fiction/Holocaust
12. The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty (1972) 208 pp - Fiction; Pulitzer
13. My Two Worlds by Sergio Chejfec (2008) - 103 pp Fiction/Rebecca NYC reads
14. Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine (2002) - 131 pp Non Fiction / Holocaust
15. Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin (2002) 384 pp Fiction / Asian Book Challenge
16. Up With the Larks by Tessa Hainsworth (2009) 278 pp Non Fiction
17. Cheryl's Destinies by Stephen Sexton (2021) 88 pp - Poetry
18. Hotel Bosphorus by Esmahan Aykol (2001) 246 pp - Thriller/Mystery / Asian Book Challenge
19. The List of Books by Frederic Raphael (1981) 154 pp - Non Fiction / Reference
20. Disquiet by Zulfu Livaneli (2017) 163 pp - Fiction / Asian Book Challenge
21. Turkey : A Short History by Norman Stone (2017) 185 pp - Non-Fiction
22. Black Out by Ragnar Jonasson (2011) 247 pp - Thriller/Scandi
23. The Wild Iris by Louise Gluck (1992) 63 pp - Poetry
24. A Foolish Virgin by Ida Simons (1959) 216 pp - Fiction
25. Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson (1928) 329 pp - Fiction / 1001 Books
26. The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens (1969) 224 pp - Fiction / Booker Winner
FEBRUARY
27. The Nest by Kenneth Oppel (2015) 244 pp - Fiction
28. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria (2021) 156 pp Non-Fiction/ABC
29. Redemption Ground by Lorna Goodison (2018) 164 pp Non-Fiction
30. The Blue Between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa (2015) 288 pp Fiction /Asian Book Challenge
31. Door into the Dark by Seamus Heaney (1969) 44 pp Poetry
32. The Yellow Wind by David Grossman (1988) 218 pp Non-Fiction/Asian Book Challenge
33. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) 343 pp Fiction / Booker Winner
34. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (1974) 197 pp Fiction
35. The Wrecking Light by Robin Robertson (2010) 90 pp Poetry
36. The Others by Sarah Blau (2018) 239 pp Thriller /ABC
37. Portable Kisses by Tess Gallagher (1992) 80 pp Poetry/ AAC
MARCH
38. Rise Like Lions : Poetry for the Many edited by Ben Okri (2017) 258 pp Poetry
39. Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin (1958) 179 pp Non-Fiction
40. Intimacies by Katie Kitamura (2021) 225 pp Fiction / Asian Book Challenge
41. Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi (2013) 283 pp Fiction/ Asian Book Challenge
42. Songs of Mihyar the Damascene by Adonis (1961) 116 pp Poetry/Asian Book Challenge
4PaulCranswick
Current Reading
5PaulCranswick
BOOKERS, PULITZERS, NOBEL WINNERS, 1001 BOOKS FIRST ED. & ETC
I have an ongoing challenge to read all the Booker Winners, all the Pulitzer Fiction Winners, something by each Nobel and all the 1001 Books First Ed Books. I will track my progress here:
BOOKERS READ BY DEC 31 2021 : 34 / 57
BOOKERS IN 2022 : 2 (36 / 57)
The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
PULITZERS READ BY DEC 31 2021 : 19 / 94
PULITZERS IN 2022 : 1 (20 / 94)
The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
NOBEL LAUREATES READ BY DEC 31 2021 : 74 / 118
NOBEL WINNERS IN 2022
1001 BOOKS FIRST ED READ BY DEC 2021 : 319
1001 BOOKS IN 2022 2 (321)
My Name is Red
Tarka the Otter
GUARDIAN 100 BOOKS READ BY DEC 2021 : 349
GUARDIAN BOOKS IN 2022 1 (350)
My Name is Red
WOMEN'S PRIZE WINNERS READ BY DEC 2021 : 7 / 26
WOMEN'S PRIZE WINNERS IN 2022
I have an ongoing challenge to read all the Booker Winners, all the Pulitzer Fiction Winners, something by each Nobel and all the 1001 Books First Ed Books. I will track my progress here:
BOOKERS READ BY DEC 31 2021 : 34 / 57
BOOKERS IN 2022 : 2 (36 / 57)
The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
PULITZERS READ BY DEC 31 2021 : 19 / 94
PULITZERS IN 2022 : 1 (20 / 94)
The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
NOBEL LAUREATES READ BY DEC 31 2021 : 74 / 118
NOBEL WINNERS IN 2022
1001 BOOKS FIRST ED READ BY DEC 2021 : 319
1001 BOOKS IN 2022 2 (321)
My Name is Red
Tarka the Otter
GUARDIAN 100 BOOKS READ BY DEC 2021 : 349
GUARDIAN BOOKS IN 2022 1 (350)
My Name is Red
WOMEN'S PRIZE WINNERS READ BY DEC 2021 : 7 / 26
WOMEN'S PRIZE WINNERS IN 2022
7PaulCranswick
AMERICAN AUTHOR CHALLENGE
January - Graphic Books - The American Dream? A Journey on Route 66 by Khor Shing Yin
February - Tess Gallagher - Portable Kisses
January - Graphic Books - The American Dream? A Journey on Route 66 by Khor Shing Yin
February - Tess Gallagher - Portable Kisses
8PaulCranswick
ASIAN BOOK CHALLENGE 2022
Here is the link to the General Thread
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337731#n7692635
These will be the monthly jaunts for the ABC challenge.
JANUARY - Europe of Asia - Turkish Authors link to thread
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338244
1. My Name is Red
2. Last Train to Istanbul
3. Hotel Bosphorus
4. Disquiet
FEBRUARY - The Holy Land - Israeli & Palestinian Authors
Link to thread : https://www.librarything.com/topic/339017
1. The Blue Between Sky and Water
2. The Yellow Wind
3. The Others
MARCH - The Arab World - Writers from the Arab world
link to thread https://www.librarything.com/topic/340000
1. Frankenstein in Baghdad
2. The Songs of Mihyar the Damascene
APRIL - Persia - Iranian writers
MAY - The Stans - There are 7 states all in the same region all ending in "Stan"
JUNE - The Indian Sub-Continent - Essentially authors from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
JULY - The Asian Superpower - Chinese Authors
AUGUST - Nippon - Japanese Authors
SEPTEMBER - Kimchi - Korean Authors
OCTOBER - INDO CHINA PLUS - Authors from Indo-China and other countries neighbouring China
NOVEMBER - The Malay Archipelago - Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian Authors
DECEMBER - The Asian Diaspora - Ethnic Asian writers from elsewhere
1. Homeland Elegies
2. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World
3. Intimacies
I was able just about to cover the whole of the continent and I didn't include one for Russia as most of the authors are decidedly European in their ethnicity and leaning.
Here is the link to the General Thread
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337731#n7692635
These will be the monthly jaunts for the ABC challenge.
JANUARY - Europe of Asia - Turkish Authors link to thread
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338244
1. My Name is Red
2. Last Train to Istanbul
3. Hotel Bosphorus
4. Disquiet
FEBRUARY - The Holy Land - Israeli & Palestinian Authors
Link to thread : https://www.librarything.com/topic/339017
1. The Blue Between Sky and Water
2. The Yellow Wind
3. The Others
MARCH - The Arab World - Writers from the Arab world
link to thread https://www.librarything.com/topic/340000
1. Frankenstein in Baghdad
2. The Songs of Mihyar the Damascene
APRIL - Persia - Iranian writers
MAY - The Stans - There are 7 states all in the same region all ending in "Stan"
JUNE - The Indian Sub-Continent - Essentially authors from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
JULY - The Asian Superpower - Chinese Authors
AUGUST - Nippon - Japanese Authors
SEPTEMBER - Kimchi - Korean Authors
OCTOBER - INDO CHINA PLUS - Authors from Indo-China and other countries neighbouring China
NOVEMBER - The Malay Archipelago - Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian Authors
DECEMBER - The Asian Diaspora - Ethnic Asian writers from elsewhere
1. Homeland Elegies
2. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World
3. Intimacies
I was able just about to cover the whole of the continent and I didn't include one for Russia as most of the authors are decidedly European in their ethnicity and leaning.
9PaulCranswick
AROUND THE WORLD IN BOOKS SINCE 2021
Around the world in books challenge. I want to see how many countries I can cover without limiting myself to a specific deadline. Continued from last year.
1. United Kingdom - The Ways of the World by Robert Goddard EUROPE
2. Ireland - The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde EUROPE
3. Lithuania - Selected and Last Poems by Czeslaw Milosz EUROPE
4. Netherlands - The Ditch by Herman Koch EUROPE
5. Armenia - The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian ASIA PACIFIC
6. Zimbabwe - This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga AFRICA
7. United States - Averno by Louise Gluck AMERICA
8. Australia - Taller When Prone by Les Murray ASIA PACIFIC
9. France - Class Trip by Emmanuel Carrere EUROPE
10. Russia - The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov EUROPE
11. Denmark - Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard EUROPE
12. Democratic Republic of Congo - Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanze Mujila AFRICA
13. Canada - I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven AMERICA
14. Italy - The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri EUROPE
15. New Zealand - Dove on the Waters by Maurice Shadbolt ASIA PACIFIC
16. India - A Burning by Megha Majumdar ASIA PACIFIC
17. Libya - The Return by Hisham Matar AFRICA
18. Pakistan - Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid ASIA PACIFIC
19. South Korea - Diary of a Murderer by Kim Young-Ha ASIA PACIFIC
20. Morocco - The Curious Case of Dassoukine's Trousers by Fouad Laroui AFRICA
21. Thailand - Arid Dreams by Duanwad Pimwana ASIA PACIFIC
22. Norway - Echoland by Per Petterson EUROPE
23. Belgium - I Choose to Live by Sabine Dardenne EUROPE
24. Sweden - Still Waters by Viveca Sten EUROPE
25. Trinidad - Half a Life by VS Naipaul AMERICAS
26. Sudan - Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih AFRICA
27. Uruguay - Springtime in a Broken Mirror by Mario Benedetti AMERICAS
28. Syria - My Country : A Syrian Memoir by Kassem Eid ASIA PACIFIC
29. Ghana - The God Child by Nana Oforiatta Ayim AFRICA
30. Austria - Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E Frankl EUROPE
31. Germany - Cat and Mouse by Gunter Grass EUROPE
32. South Africa - No Turning Back by Beverley Naidoo AFRICA
33. Mauritania - Arab Jazz by Karim Miske AFRICA
34. Cuba - The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpentier AMERICAS
35. Nigeria - Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie AFRICA
36. Portugal - The Return by Dulce Maria Cardoso EUROPE
37. Japan - Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids by Kenzaburo Oe ASIA PACIFIC
38. Senegal - At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop AFRICA
39. Malta - The Hiding Place by Trezza Azzopardi EUROPE
40. Chile - A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende AMERICAS
41. Lebanon - The First Century After Beatrice by Amin Maalouf ASIA PACIFIC
42. Spain - The Watcher in the Shadows by Carlos Ruiz Zafon EUROPE
43. Somalia - The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed AFRICA
44. Malaysia - Strangers on a Pier by Tash Aw ASIA PACIFIC
45. Mexico - Sudden Death by Alvaro Enrigue AMERICAS
46. Latvia - The Hedgehog and the Fox by Isaian Berlin EUROPE
47. Malawi - Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver AFRICA
48. Turkey - My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk ASIA PACIFIC
49. Egypt - The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz AFRICA
50. Argentina - My Two Worlds by Sergio Chejfec - AMERICAS
51. Iceland - Black Out by Ragnar Jonasson - EUROPE
52. Jamaica - Redemption Ground by Lorna Goodison - AMERICAS
53. Palestine - The Blue Between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa - ASIA PACIFIC
54. Israel - The Yellow Wind by David Grossman - ASIA PACIFIC
55. Iraq - Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi - ASIA PACIFIC
Create Your Own Visited Countries Map\\
Around the world in books challenge. I want to see how many countries I can cover without limiting myself to a specific deadline. Continued from last year.
1. United Kingdom - The Ways of the World by Robert Goddard EUROPE
2. Ireland - The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde EUROPE
3. Lithuania - Selected and Last Poems by Czeslaw Milosz EUROPE
4. Netherlands - The Ditch by Herman Koch EUROPE
5. Armenia - The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian ASIA PACIFIC
6. Zimbabwe - This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga AFRICA
7. United States - Averno by Louise Gluck AMERICA
8. Australia - Taller When Prone by Les Murray ASIA PACIFIC
9. France - Class Trip by Emmanuel Carrere EUROPE
10. Russia - The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov EUROPE
11. Denmark - Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard EUROPE
12. Democratic Republic of Congo - Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanze Mujila AFRICA
13. Canada - I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven AMERICA
14. Italy - The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri EUROPE
15. New Zealand - Dove on the Waters by Maurice Shadbolt ASIA PACIFIC
16. India - A Burning by Megha Majumdar ASIA PACIFIC
17. Libya - The Return by Hisham Matar AFRICA
18. Pakistan - Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid ASIA PACIFIC
19. South Korea - Diary of a Murderer by Kim Young-Ha ASIA PACIFIC
20. Morocco - The Curious Case of Dassoukine's Trousers by Fouad Laroui AFRICA
21. Thailand - Arid Dreams by Duanwad Pimwana ASIA PACIFIC
22. Norway - Echoland by Per Petterson EUROPE
23. Belgium - I Choose to Live by Sabine Dardenne EUROPE
24. Sweden - Still Waters by Viveca Sten EUROPE
25. Trinidad - Half a Life by VS Naipaul AMERICAS
26. Sudan - Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih AFRICA
27. Uruguay - Springtime in a Broken Mirror by Mario Benedetti AMERICAS
28. Syria - My Country : A Syrian Memoir by Kassem Eid ASIA PACIFIC
29. Ghana - The God Child by Nana Oforiatta Ayim AFRICA
30. Austria - Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E Frankl EUROPE
31. Germany - Cat and Mouse by Gunter Grass EUROPE
32. South Africa - No Turning Back by Beverley Naidoo AFRICA
33. Mauritania - Arab Jazz by Karim Miske AFRICA
34. Cuba - The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpentier AMERICAS
35. Nigeria - Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie AFRICA
36. Portugal - The Return by Dulce Maria Cardoso EUROPE
37. Japan - Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids by Kenzaburo Oe ASIA PACIFIC
38. Senegal - At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop AFRICA
39. Malta - The Hiding Place by Trezza Azzopardi EUROPE
40. Chile - A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende AMERICAS
41. Lebanon - The First Century After Beatrice by Amin Maalouf ASIA PACIFIC
42. Spain - The Watcher in the Shadows by Carlos Ruiz Zafon EUROPE
43. Somalia - The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed AFRICA
44. Malaysia - Strangers on a Pier by Tash Aw ASIA PACIFIC
45. Mexico - Sudden Death by Alvaro Enrigue AMERICAS
46. Latvia - The Hedgehog and the Fox by Isaian Berlin EUROPE
47. Malawi - Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver AFRICA
48. Turkey - My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk ASIA PACIFIC
49. Egypt - The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz AFRICA
50. Argentina - My Two Worlds by Sergio Chejfec - AMERICAS
51. Iceland - Black Out by Ragnar Jonasson - EUROPE
52. Jamaica - Redemption Ground by Lorna Goodison - AMERICAS
53. Palestine - The Blue Between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa - ASIA PACIFIC
54. Israel - The Yellow Wind by David Grossman - ASIA PACIFIC
55. Iraq - Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi - ASIA PACIFIC
Create Your Own Visited Countries Map\\
11PaulCranswick
BOUGHT AND READ IN 2022
1. Appaloosa by Robert Parker
2. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare.
3. Without a Claim by Grace Schulman
4. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
5. Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller
6. There, There by Tommy Orange
7. Intimacies by Katie Kitamura READ MAR 22
8. Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin READ JAN 22
9. Another Now by Yanis Varoufakis
10. A Separation by Katie Kitamura
11. Travelling in a Strange Land by David Park
12. Free Food for Millionaires by Lee Min Jee
13. Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller
14. The Lady from Tel Aviv by Rabai Al-Madhoun
15. Run Me to Earth by Paul Yoon
16. Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
17. The Others by Sarah Blau READ FEB 22
18. The Order of the Day by Eric Vuillard
19. Bessie Smith by Jackie Kay
20. King Cnut by W.B. Bartlett
21. Dear Future Boyfriend by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
22. Ottoman Odyssey by Alev Scott
23. Has the West Lost It? by Kishore Mahbubani
24. A Kind of Intimacy by Jenn Ashworth
25. A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet
26. Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely
27. Days in the History of Silence by Merethe Lindstrom Open Library Loan READ JAN 22
28. My Two Worlds by Sergio Chejfec (Open Library Loan) READ JAN 22
29. Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine (Open Library Loan) READ JAN 22
30. Benjamin's Crossing by Jay Parini
31. Outlawed by Anna North
32. Bestiary by K-Ming Chang
33. The Ruin of Kasch by Roberto Calasso
34. Roundabout of Death by Faysal Khartash
35. The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
36. Salt : A World History by Mark Kurlansky
37. The Greek Myths : The Complete and Definitive Edition by Robert Graves
38. Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
39. The Histories by Tacitus
40. Silent House by Orhan Pamuk
41. The Generation Game by Sophie Duffy
42. Wild Grass by Ian Johnson
43. This Living and Immortal Thing by Austin Duffy
44. Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff
45. The Boy With the Tiger's Heart by Linda Coggin
46. The Day of Silence and Other Stories by George Gissing
47. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
48. The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney
49. Beast by Paul Kingsnorth
50. The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
51. Heading Inland by Nicola Barker
52. Rift by Beverley Birch
53. The Cry of the Go-Away Bird by Andrea Eames
54. Modern Gods by Nick Laird
55. Swing Hammer Swing! by Jeff Torrington
56. The Sands of Mars by Arthur C Clarke
57. Coromandel Sea Change by Rumer Godden
58. A Brief History of the Anglo-Saxons by Geoffrey Hindley
59. The Profiteers : Bechtel and the Men Who Built the World by Sally Denton
60. In the Wolf's Mouth by Adam Foulds
61. Daydreams of Angels by Heather O'Neill
62. The Red-Haired Woman by Orhan Pamuk
63. Opium by Salar Abdoh
64. The Nest by Kenneth Oppel READ FEB 22
65. Three Light-Years by Andrea Canobbio
66. Prague : A Novel by Arthur Phillips
67. The Lie of the Land by Amanda Craig
68. The Dark Circle by Linda Grant
69. Portable Kisses by Tess Gallagher READ FEB 22
70. Down Among the Wild Men by John Greenway
71. Fate is the Hunter by Ernest K. Gann
72. The Lover of Horses by Tess Gallagher
73. The End of the Day by Bill Clegg
74. The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
75. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
76. Mad Boy by Nick Arvin
77. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria READ FEB 22
78. Sleeping on Jupiter Anuradha Roy
79. Son of the Century by Antonio Scurati
80. Political Order and Political Decay by Francis Fukuyama
81. The Manningtree Witches by A.D. Blackemore
82. Vertigo by WG Sebald
83. In Memory of Memory by Maria Stepanova
84. Redemption Ground by Lorna Goodison READ FEB 22
85. The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk
86. A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam
87. Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
88. The Powerful and the Damned by Lionel Barber
89. The Better Half by Sharon Moalem
90. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
91. Downsizing by Tom Watson
92. Desert Flower by Waris Dirie
93. Common Ground by Naomi Ishiguro
94. The Blue Between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa
95. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
96. They by Kay Dick
97. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
98. The Silence of Scheherazade by Defne Suman
99. Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford
100. Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
101. The Tyranny of Merit by Michael J Sandel
102. Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
103. In the Darkroom by Susan Faludi
104. The Inequality Machine by Paul Tough
105. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
106. The Fell by Sarah Moss
107. Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney
108. Learwife by JR Thorp
109. Matrix by Lauren Groff
110. Ghosted by Jenn Ashworth
111. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
112. The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey
113. I Will Miss You Tomorrow by Heine Bakkeid
114. The Fine Art of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard
115. All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton
116. The Late Sun by Christopher Reid
117. A Lie Someone Told You About Yourself by Peter Ho Davies
118. The Interpreters by Wole Soyinka
119. Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
120. A Vicious Circle by Amanda Craig
121. How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
122. The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy
123. The Collapse of Globalism by John Ralston Saul
124. Land : How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester
125. Moonglow by Michael Chabon
126. We Are All Birds of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan
127. The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
128. Fault Lines by Emily Itami
129. Tenderness by Alison MacLeod
130. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
131. The Great Level by Stella Tillyard
132. The Pact We Made by Layla Alammar
133. Spring by Ali Smith
134. Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
135. The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
136. The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
137. The Book of Form & Emptiness Ruth Ozeki
138. This One Sky Day by Leone Ross
139. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
140. The Push by Audrey Audrain
141. When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
142. A Very Nice Girl by Imogen Crimp
143. Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
144. The Familiars by Stacey Halls
ADDED : 144
READ : 10
BALANCE : 122
BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2021 365
READ IN 2021 : 35
READ IN 2022 : 12
BALANCE OF 2021 ADDITIONS : 318
BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2020 BALANCE AT 1/1/22 = 212
READ IN 2022 : 1
BALANCE IS : 211
1. Appaloosa by Robert Parker
2. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare.
3. Without a Claim by Grace Schulman
4. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
5. Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller
6. There, There by Tommy Orange
7. Intimacies by Katie Kitamura READ MAR 22
8. Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin READ JAN 22
9. Another Now by Yanis Varoufakis
10. A Separation by Katie Kitamura
11. Travelling in a Strange Land by David Park
12. Free Food for Millionaires by Lee Min Jee
13. Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller
14. The Lady from Tel Aviv by Rabai Al-Madhoun
15. Run Me to Earth by Paul Yoon
16. Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
17. The Others by Sarah Blau READ FEB 22
18. The Order of the Day by Eric Vuillard
19. Bessie Smith by Jackie Kay
20. King Cnut by W.B. Bartlett
21. Dear Future Boyfriend by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
22. Ottoman Odyssey by Alev Scott
23. Has the West Lost It? by Kishore Mahbubani
24. A Kind of Intimacy by Jenn Ashworth
25. A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet
26. Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely
27. Days in the History of Silence by Merethe Lindstrom Open Library Loan READ JAN 22
28. My Two Worlds by Sergio Chejfec (Open Library Loan) READ JAN 22
29. Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine (Open Library Loan) READ JAN 22
30. Benjamin's Crossing by Jay Parini
31. Outlawed by Anna North
32. Bestiary by K-Ming Chang
33. The Ruin of Kasch by Roberto Calasso
34. Roundabout of Death by Faysal Khartash
35. The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
36. Salt : A World History by Mark Kurlansky
37. The Greek Myths : The Complete and Definitive Edition by Robert Graves
38. Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
39. The Histories by Tacitus
40. Silent House by Orhan Pamuk
41. The Generation Game by Sophie Duffy
42. Wild Grass by Ian Johnson
43. This Living and Immortal Thing by Austin Duffy
44. Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff
45. The Boy With the Tiger's Heart by Linda Coggin
46. The Day of Silence and Other Stories by George Gissing
47. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
48. The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney
49. Beast by Paul Kingsnorth
50. The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
51. Heading Inland by Nicola Barker
52. Rift by Beverley Birch
53. The Cry of the Go-Away Bird by Andrea Eames
54. Modern Gods by Nick Laird
55. Swing Hammer Swing! by Jeff Torrington
56. The Sands of Mars by Arthur C Clarke
57. Coromandel Sea Change by Rumer Godden
58. A Brief History of the Anglo-Saxons by Geoffrey Hindley
59. The Profiteers : Bechtel and the Men Who Built the World by Sally Denton
60. In the Wolf's Mouth by Adam Foulds
61. Daydreams of Angels by Heather O'Neill
62. The Red-Haired Woman by Orhan Pamuk
63. Opium by Salar Abdoh
64. The Nest by Kenneth Oppel READ FEB 22
65. Three Light-Years by Andrea Canobbio
66. Prague : A Novel by Arthur Phillips
67. The Lie of the Land by Amanda Craig
68. The Dark Circle by Linda Grant
69. Portable Kisses by Tess Gallagher READ FEB 22
70. Down Among the Wild Men by John Greenway
71. Fate is the Hunter by Ernest K. Gann
72. The Lover of Horses by Tess Gallagher
73. The End of the Day by Bill Clegg
74. The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
75. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
76. Mad Boy by Nick Arvin
77. Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria READ FEB 22
78. Sleeping on Jupiter Anuradha Roy
79. Son of the Century by Antonio Scurati
80. Political Order and Political Decay by Francis Fukuyama
81. The Manningtree Witches by A.D. Blackemore
82. Vertigo by WG Sebald
83. In Memory of Memory by Maria Stepanova
84. Redemption Ground by Lorna Goodison READ FEB 22
85. The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk
86. A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam
87. Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
88. The Powerful and the Damned by Lionel Barber
89. The Better Half by Sharon Moalem
90. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
91. Downsizing by Tom Watson
92. Desert Flower by Waris Dirie
93. Common Ground by Naomi Ishiguro
94. The Blue Between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa
95. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
96. They by Kay Dick
97. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
98. The Silence of Scheherazade by Defne Suman
99. Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford
100. Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
101. The Tyranny of Merit by Michael J Sandel
102. Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
103. In the Darkroom by Susan Faludi
104. The Inequality Machine by Paul Tough
105. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
106. The Fell by Sarah Moss
107. Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney
108. Learwife by JR Thorp
109. Matrix by Lauren Groff
110. Ghosted by Jenn Ashworth
111. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
112. The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey
113. I Will Miss You Tomorrow by Heine Bakkeid
114. The Fine Art of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard
115. All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton
116. The Late Sun by Christopher Reid
117. A Lie Someone Told You About Yourself by Peter Ho Davies
118. The Interpreters by Wole Soyinka
119. Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
120. A Vicious Circle by Amanda Craig
121. How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
122. The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy
123. The Collapse of Globalism by John Ralston Saul
124. Land : How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester
125. Moonglow by Michael Chabon
126. We Are All Birds of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan
127. The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
128. Fault Lines by Emily Itami
129. Tenderness by Alison MacLeod
130. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
131. The Great Level by Stella Tillyard
132. The Pact We Made by Layla Alammar
133. Spring by Ali Smith
134. Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
135. The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
136. The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
137. The Book of Form & Emptiness Ruth Ozeki
138. This One Sky Day by Leone Ross
139. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
140. The Push by Audrey Audrain
141. When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
142. A Very Nice Girl by Imogen Crimp
143. Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
144. The Familiars by Stacey Halls
ADDED : 144
READ : 10
BALANCE : 122
BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2021 365
READ IN 2021 : 35
READ IN 2022 : 12
BALANCE OF 2021 ADDITIONS : 318
BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2020 BALANCE AT 1/1/22 = 212
READ IN 2022 : 1
BALANCE IS : 211
12PaulCranswick
BOOK STATS
Books read : 42
Books added : 144
Days per book : 1.62
Projected total : 225
LT yearly best : 157
Pages read (completed books) : 8,839
Daily average : 129.98
Projected total : 47,442
Longest Book : 671 pages
Shortest Book : 44 pages
Average Book Length : 210.45
Gender
Male : 23
Female : 17
Various : 2
Genre :
Graphic Books : 1
Poetry : 8
Thriller/Mystery : 4
Non Fiction : 9
Fiction : 19
SF/Fantasy : 1
Origin :
USA : 12
UK : 11
Turkey : 3
Germany : 1
Egypt : 1
Ireland : 1
Norway : 1
Argentina : 1
Canada : 2
Iceland : 1
Netherlands : 1
Jamaica : 1
Israel : 2
Iraq : 1
Syria : 1
Various : 2
Challenges :
British Author Challenge : 1
American Author Challenge : 2
Non-Fiction Challenge : 1
Asian Book Challenge : 12
1001 Books First Edition : 2
Guardian 1000 Books : 1
Around the World Books : 7
Holocaust Reading : 2
Booker Winners : 2
Pulitzer Winners : 1
Rebecca NYC Reads : 1
Books read : 42
Books added : 144
Days per book : 1.62
Projected total : 225
LT yearly best : 157
Pages read (completed books) : 8,839
Daily average : 129.98
Projected total : 47,442
Longest Book : 671 pages
Shortest Book : 44 pages
Average Book Length : 210.45
Gender
Male : 23
Female : 17
Various : 2
Genre :
Graphic Books : 1
Poetry : 8
Thriller/Mystery : 4
Non Fiction : 9
Fiction : 19
SF/Fantasy : 1
Origin :
USA : 12
UK : 11
Turkey : 3
Germany : 1
Egypt : 1
Ireland : 1
Norway : 1
Argentina : 1
Canada : 2
Iceland : 1
Netherlands : 1
Jamaica : 1
Israel : 2
Iraq : 1
Syria : 1
Various : 2
Challenges :
British Author Challenge : 1
American Author Challenge : 2
Non-Fiction Challenge : 1
Asian Book Challenge : 12
1001 Books First Edition : 2
Guardian 1000 Books : 1
Around the World Books : 7
Holocaust Reading : 2
Booker Winners : 2
Pulitzer Winners : 1
Rebecca NYC Reads : 1
13PaulCranswick
Next is yours
15mdoris
Oh my am I first? Gorgeous photo in >1 PaulCranswick: with perfect light. Happy new thread Paul.
17PaulCranswick
>14 bell7: Wow you got there by a proverbial whisker, Mary (not suggesting you have whiskers of course!) and take the virtual bookshelf.
18bell7
>17 PaulCranswick: Hahahaha, well give me a few more years and I could! Lovely virtual bookshelf, too :)
19PaulCranswick
>15 mdoris: Mary misses out by less than a minute from....Mary.
Thanks Mary, lovely as always to see you here. x
>16 ArlieS: The last thread slowed by a couple of days but I am very grateful to all my friends who have helped me tick along here, Arlie, your goodself certainly included.
Thanks Mary, lovely as always to see you here. x
>16 ArlieS: The last thread slowed by a couple of days but I am very grateful to all my friends who have helped me tick along here, Arlie, your goodself certainly included.
20PaulCranswick
>18 bell7: Don't! I have plenty of whiskers to spare for the both of us. x
21figsfromthistle
Happy new one!
22PaulCranswick
>21 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita. Always a pleasure to have you visit.
23richardderus
Greetings, PC.
26amanda4242
Happy new thread!
27m.belljackson
>1 PaulCranswick: Drumlins?
29PaulCranswick
>23 richardderus: Thank you, dear fellow. I am back at work and trying to stop the room turning when I am in a prone position! A little bit better than yesterday.
>24 avatiakh: Lovely to see you Kerry. I had a poor month reading wise in February as I got myself involved in starting too many books and the weight overwhelmed me. I am going to keep it relatively simple as I did in January and hope that the results are similar. Three books maximum at a time.
Fiction / Non-Fiction / Poetry
>24 avatiakh: Lovely to see you Kerry. I had a poor month reading wise in February as I got myself involved in starting too many books and the weight overwhelmed me. I am going to keep it relatively simple as I did in January and hope that the results are similar. Three books maximum at a time.
Fiction / Non-Fiction / Poetry
30PaulCranswick
>25 drneutron: Thanks Jim or Roc Doc as I have seen you referred to affectionately elsewhere.
>26 amanda4242: Thank you, dear Amanda.
>26 amanda4242: Thank you, dear Amanda.
31PaulCranswick
>27 m.belljackson: Most drumlins in the UK are in the Northern Pennines, Marianne in my home county. Appleby in North Yorkshire has a very good example. There are some in the valleyed areas of the Lake District. There are a few minor examples in Lincolnshire but not too many as far as I am aware.
The picture is taken at a place called Walesby and the church featured is known as the Rambler's Church.
>28 quondame: You always seem to keep up so well, Susan! Thank you, dear lady, as always for your visits.
The picture is taken at a place called Walesby and the church featured is known as the Rambler's Church.
>28 quondame: You always seem to keep up so well, Susan! Thank you, dear lady, as always for your visits.
32avatiakh
>29 PaulCranswick: I said the same exactly on my own thread earlier today - big plans in Feb but nothing much read. This month I'll be playing catch up.
33PaulCranswick
>32 avatiakh: I have decided not to bother with the catch-up and simply re-set. That means Pearl Ruling 13 books I had sort of started in February but got nowhere near completing!
A total of 893 pages wasted to an extent as I will try to read them another time.
A total of 893 pages wasted to an extent as I will try to read them another time.
35PaulCranswick
>34 drneutron: Suits you too, Jim, if I say so myself.
37PaulCranswick
>36 Kristelh: Thanks Kristel. When I look at the British countryside it does make me realise what I have been missing!
38PaulCranswick
Wordle 255 5/6
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Should have got it in four actually.
⬜🟨⬜🟩🟨
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Should have got it in four actually.
39PaulCranswick
BOOK # 36
The Others by Sarah Blau
Date of Publication : 2018
Origin of Author : Israel
Pages : 239 pp
A pre-requisite to the enjoyment of fiction for me is to have some empathy or even a strong negativity about the main character or characters. I couldn't develop much in the way of feelings for the main character here in Sheila. One of four college friends who had a sort of pact not to have children and sort of turned against each other.
I didn't care whether she was perp or victim and none of the subsidiary characters lifted this from the average either. Not terrible but rang terribly hollow.
Not recommended.
BTW Unusually, for me, this is not the cover I actually own but I cannot be bothered to look for an upload the thing which says more about the book too.
The Others by Sarah Blau
Date of Publication : 2018
Origin of Author : Israel
Pages : 239 pp
A pre-requisite to the enjoyment of fiction for me is to have some empathy or even a strong negativity about the main character or characters. I couldn't develop much in the way of feelings for the main character here in Sheila. One of four college friends who had a sort of pact not to have children and sort of turned against each other.
I didn't care whether she was perp or victim and none of the subsidiary characters lifted this from the average either. Not terrible but rang terribly hollow.
Not recommended.
BTW Unusually, for me, this is not the cover I actually own but I cannot be bothered to look for an upload the thing which says more about the book too.
40SirThomas
Happy new thread and all the best for your health, Paul.
>1 PaulCranswick: beautiful - thanks for sharing
>39 PaulCranswick: My Mount TBR is not getting higher, so that's good news....
>1 PaulCranswick: beautiful - thanks for sharing
>39 PaulCranswick: My Mount TBR is not getting higher, so that's good news....
41PaulCranswick
>40 SirThomas: It was reasonably well written Thomas but somehow I couldn't engage with the characters at all.
Thanks for the new thread wishes. It is always great to see you here, my friend.
Thanks for the new thread wishes. It is always great to see you here, my friend.
42FAMeulstee
Happy new thread, Paul!
>1 PaulCranswick: Again a lovely landscape, picture taken in the golden hour, makes it looks so special.
>38 PaulCranswick: Took me 6 today, I feared it would become my first fail...
>1 PaulCranswick: Again a lovely landscape, picture taken in the golden hour, makes it looks so special.
>38 PaulCranswick: Took me 6 today, I feared it would become my first fail...
43PaulCranswick
>42 FAMeulstee: I had a six a few days ago too. I am astonished that I still haven't failed to solve it yet.
I love the phrase "the golden hour", Anita.
I love the phrase "the golden hour", Anita.
44FAMeulstee
>43 PaulCranswick: The frase comes from photography, Paul, it is the first hour after sunrise or the last hour before sunset. At that time sunlight is more red, making the photo softer and more attractive. See Wikipedia Golden hour.
45PaulCranswick
BOOK #37
Portable Kisses by Tess Gallagher
Date of Publication : 1992
Origin of Author : USA
Pages : 80 pp
Concept collection of poems based on, well, kissing.
Some pleasant lines but I don't think this collection would have got a major house publication without the name attached to the writer. Pleasant but nondescript and to be honest not particularly technically good poetry.
I read a couple of her short stories in her collection A Lover of Horses and really liked them and I will return to that and I have seen some of her poems in general anthologies that have been of excellent technical merit. She was aiming to replicate Pablo Neruda but come off more Nerdy Pavlova.
Disappointing end to a disappointing month of reading.
Portable Kisses by Tess Gallagher
Date of Publication : 1992
Origin of Author : USA
Pages : 80 pp
Concept collection of poems based on, well, kissing.
Some pleasant lines but I don't think this collection would have got a major house publication without the name attached to the writer. Pleasant but nondescript and to be honest not particularly technically good poetry.
I read a couple of her short stories in her collection A Lover of Horses and really liked them and I will return to that and I have seen some of her poems in general anthologies that have been of excellent technical merit. She was aiming to replicate Pablo Neruda but come off more Nerdy Pavlova.
Disappointing end to a disappointing month of reading.
48PaulCranswick
>47 Kristelh: Clever clogs! Put's you in the money, no doubt?
51richardderus
Wordle 255 4/6
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Weird choice of word...but after flyer #3 there really were so few possibillities left.
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Weird choice of word...but after flyer #3 there really were so few possibillities left.
53PaulCranswick
January reading review:
Book completed : 11 (37)
Pages Read : 2,063 (7,778)
Daily Average : 73.68 (131.83)
Longest Book : 343 (671 pages)
Shortest Book : 44 pages (44 pages)
Average Book Length : 187.55 (210.22)
Gender
Male : 7 (20)
Female : 4 (16)
Various : 1
Genre :
Graphic Books : 0 (1)
Poetry : 3 (6)
Thriller/Mystery : 1 (4)
Non Fiction : 3 (8)
Fiction : 4 (17)
SF/Fantasy : 0 (1)
Origin :
UK 2 (11), USA 5 (10), Israel 2, Jamaica 1, Turkey 0 (3), Argentina, Canada 1 (2), Egypt, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway; 1 each. (1 from various countries)
Continuing Challenges :
Booker Winners : 2 (36)
Pulitzer Winners : 1 (20)
Around the World in Books : 7 (54) - Turkey, Argentina, Egypt & Iceland
Nobel Winners : 0 (74)
1001 Books : 3 (322)
2022 Specific Challenges
Asian Book Challenge : 5
British Author Challenge : 1
American Author Challenge : 1
Non-Fiction Challenge : 1
Holocaust Reading : 2
Rebecca NYC Reads : 1
TIOLI Challenges : 24 books (7 shared reads) and a SWEEP of all 19 challenges.
Book of the Month ?
Not tough this month.
Book completed : 11 (37)
Pages Read : 2,063 (7,778)
Daily Average : 73.68 (131.83)
Longest Book : 343 (671 pages)
Shortest Book : 44 pages (44 pages)
Average Book Length : 187.55 (210.22)
Gender
Male : 7 (20)
Female : 4 (16)
Various : 1
Genre :
Graphic Books : 0 (1)
Poetry : 3 (6)
Thriller/Mystery : 1 (4)
Non Fiction : 3 (8)
Fiction : 4 (17)
SF/Fantasy : 0 (1)
Origin :
UK 2 (11), USA 5 (10), Israel 2, Jamaica 1, Turkey 0 (3), Argentina, Canada 1 (2), Egypt, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway; 1 each. (1 from various countries)
Continuing Challenges :
Booker Winners : 2 (36)
Pulitzer Winners : 1 (20)
Around the World in Books : 7 (54) - Turkey, Argentina, Egypt & Iceland
Nobel Winners : 0 (74)
1001 Books : 3 (322)
2022 Specific Challenges
Asian Book Challenge : 5
British Author Challenge : 1
American Author Challenge : 1
Non-Fiction Challenge : 1
Holocaust Reading : 2
Rebecca NYC Reads : 1
TIOLI Challenges : 24 books (7 shared reads) and a SWEEP of all 19 challenges.
Book of the Month ?
Not tough this month.
54PaulCranswick
MARCH PLANNING
TIOLI, ASIAN BOOK CHALLENGE (The Arab World), WOMEN'S PRIZE LONGLIST
Not preparing a huge list this time.
Present Reads :
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
Rise Like Lions edited by Ben Okri
Next Reads :
Cities of Salt by Abdelrahman Munif
SPQR by Mary Beard
I will add to these as I go. I just Pearl Ruled 13 books in one fell swoop. I will not read more than 3 at a time in March.
TIOLI, ASIAN BOOK CHALLENGE (The Arab World), WOMEN'S PRIZE LONGLIST
Not preparing a huge list this time.
Present Reads :
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
Rise Like Lions edited by Ben Okri
Next Reads :
Cities of Salt by Abdelrahman Munif
SPQR by Mary Beard
I will add to these as I go. I just Pearl Ruled 13 books in one fell swoop. I will not read more than 3 at a time in March.
55thornton37814
Happy newish thread! Yours always explode so quickly!
57PaulCranswick
>55 thornton37814: I have always been full of erratic bursts of energy, Lori and that seems contagious! Always lovely to see you.
>56 msf59: Thanks Mark. So far the threads are rocking.
>56 msf59: Thanks Mark. So far the threads are rocking.
58Carmenere
>57 PaulCranswick: hahaha I had to read that line over, my eyes saw "erotic bursts of energy." snork
59PaulCranswick
>58 Carmenere: Hahaha I wish, Lynda. Fat chance of that with Hani half a world away!
61PaulCranswick
>60 Carmenere: For that, there is actually a huge benefit of my lady not being anywhere near here.
Belle had dinner with me yesterday and looked at the mass of books on the dining room table and said to me "Dad, you'd be toast if mum was here."
Belle had dinner with me yesterday and looked at the mass of books on the dining room table and said to me "Dad, you'd be toast if mum was here."
62m.belljackson
Many of us have not spent this much time watching the news since President Obama's elections.
When will the German tanks arrive?
Are we waiting for Pearl Harbor?
^^^^^^^
Trust you are busy with the March Asian Challenge...
When will the German tanks arrive?
Are we waiting for Pearl Harbor?
^^^^^^^
Trust you are busy with the March Asian Challenge...
63johnsimpson
Happy New Thread Paul, i see that we had a couple of matching February stats, we both read 2,063 pages at a daily average of 73.68 pages, you read 11 books whereas i only read 5.
64quondame
>53 PaulCranswick: I couldn't get it from a library in time for a February read, but that doesn't mean I can't read it when it becomes available.
65PaulCranswick
>62 m.belljackson: Talk of putting NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine is wholly irresponsible, Marianne. It is not possible to have a limited "hot" war with Russia. We have to force him to the table.
Will put up the March Asian Book Challenge thread shortly.
>63 johnsimpson: That is interesting, John. No coverage of the cricket warm-up in the West Indies. See that none of the three new bowlers are playing which is extremely disheartening. Parkinson especially.
Will put up the March Asian Book Challenge thread shortly.
>63 johnsimpson: That is interesting, John. No coverage of the cricket warm-up in the West Indies. See that none of the three new bowlers are playing which is extremely disheartening. Parkinson especially.
66PaulCranswick
>64 quondame: It is a relatively quick read too, Susan, but it sure packs a punch.
67m.belljackson
>65 PaulCranswick: Yeah, well, it was Germany that said they were sending tanks and Norway that said they were sending soldiers, not me!
Putin will always have Nuclear War > next, he will threaten to take our First Born unless we turn over Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Norway...
If soldiers, civilians, children, and babies in Malaysia and the United States were being massacred and Ukraine had it in its power to stop the war,
what would you want it to do?
Putin will always have Nuclear War > next, he will threaten to take our First Born unless we turn over Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Norway...
If soldiers, civilians, children, and babies in Malaysia and the United States were being massacred and Ukraine had it in its power to stop the war,
what would you want it to do?
68PaulCranswick
>67 m.belljackson: I wasn't blaming you, Marianne; I know you are not an advisor at the Kremlin!
I certainly don't blame Ukraine other than it being a very bad idea to seek to join NATO and the EU in the face of Russia's obvious strategic interests. We don't settle this conflict by looking at things from Ukraine's point of view unfortunately as it is Russia we need to make stop.
Putin isn't interested in Poland, Hungary and Norway - it is that sort of rhetoric that pushes the world closer to extinction. For all his bluster and big talk what he didn't want was Ukraine in Nato and Nato troops in large numbers on his doorstep. He counts Ukraine as his doorstep not Norway.
I certainly don't blame Ukraine other than it being a very bad idea to seek to join NATO and the EU in the face of Russia's obvious strategic interests. We don't settle this conflict by looking at things from Ukraine's point of view unfortunately as it is Russia we need to make stop.
Putin isn't interested in Poland, Hungary and Norway - it is that sort of rhetoric that pushes the world closer to extinction. For all his bluster and big talk what he didn't want was Ukraine in Nato and Nato troops in large numbers on his doorstep. He counts Ukraine as his doorstep not Norway.
69PaulCranswick
The March ASIAN BOOK CHALLENGE THREAD - THE ARAB WORLD is up!
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340000
Sorry for the slight delay as I fell asleep at 9 pm last night!
https://www.librarything.com/topic/340000
Sorry for the slight delay as I fell asleep at 9 pm last night!
70m.belljackson
"And now it has come to us to stand alone in the breach..."
71PaulCranswick
>70 m.belljackson: Well if it was good enough for Winston!
It isn't a question of the Ukraine being alone, it is a question of how we stop the bloodshed. I don't think that that is by dangerously escalating the conflict.
It isn't a question of the Ukraine being alone, it is a question of how we stop the bloodshed. I don't think that that is by dangerously escalating the conflict.
72m.belljackson
>71 PaulCranswick:
"There is at least one thing worse than fighting with allies -
And that is to fight without them."
"There is at least one thing worse than fighting with allies -
And that is to fight without them."
73PaulCranswick
>72 m.belljackson: I am a Brit, through and through and well familiar with Mr. Churchill's hyperbole. There is very little comparison between Hitler and Putin and the two situations - the British Empire alone against Germany after France's precipitous fall against Russia breaking the UN Charter by invading Ukraine - are just as incomparable and demand different responses.
I repeat that the best way to end this is high level diplomacy by sending someone like Obama to Moscow or possibly to Helsinki or Oslo to discuss and finalise a peace with Putin and Zelensky directly.
I repeat that the best way to end this is high level diplomacy by sending someone like Obama to Moscow or possibly to Helsinki or Oslo to discuss and finalise a peace with Putin and Zelensky directly.
74RBeffa
>43 PaulCranswick: >44 FAMeulstee: I posted a photo from tonight's "golden hour" on my Facebook page.
76m.belljackson
>73 PaulCranswick: Um...are we reading the same news?
Putin Assassination attempt against Ukraine President does not make sane Americans
think that sending President Obama to Moscow (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
or anywhere else near these murderers
would be a great plan.
Putin Assassination attempt against Ukraine President does not make sane Americans
think that sending President Obama to Moscow (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
or anywhere else near these murderers
would be a great plan.
77PaulCranswick
>76 m.belljackson: We need to take the hysteria away, Marianne. Putin has met with our leaders on numerous occasions and unless the parties talk peace then the only time that the guns will be stilled is after a protracted conflict. I do wonder sometimes if the Biden administration is purposely misreading the situation and playing up the long game of sanctions to secure some domestic advantage
78PaulCranswick
Wordle 256 6/6
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A real phew moment!
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A real phew moment!
79humouress
>78 PaulCranswick: Putin is not coming to the table, even if he suggests he will.
I got to the third word with the last 4 letters and several options for the first one. Fortunately I picked the correct one and finished with 4/6.
I got to the third word with the last 4 letters and several options for the first one. Fortunately I picked the correct one and finished with 4/6.
80PaulCranswick
>79 humouress: Well he sure won't do that if the EC votes by 90% margin to invite Ukraine into their club. I hope my view on it is right and that common sense will prevail.
Decent score on the wordle - \\\ke\\y\bo\ard is drivin\g me mad.\\
Decent score on the wordle - \\\ke\\y\bo\ard is drivin\g me mad.\\
81humouress
>80 PaulCranswick: I can imagine. Did the deep cleaning not help? Next time, use a keyboard cover. You can get some very pretty silicone ones, although if you're on a laptop it'll depend on the model. Apple don't recommend them for their newer laptops since heat is dissipated via the keyboard and some of the cheaper silicones can mark the screen.
ETA: thank you re the Wordle.Dawdle I mean Dordle and Quordle were a bit tricky today.
ETA: thank you re the Wordle.
82PaulCranswick
>81 humouress: I haven't tried the Quordle today. I failed at it yesterday mainly because I was tired out and couldn't think straight!
Thanks for the tips on keyboard covers, I will have another go at cleaning it later.
Thanks for the tips on keyboard covers, I will have another go at cleaning it later.
83Kristelh
Wordle 256 4/6
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Didn’t our side break the treaties first by inviting Ukraine to join?
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Didn’t our side break the treaties first by inviting Ukraine to join?
84PaulCranswick
>83 Kristelh: Yes, Kristel indeed, but of course Russia are the ones driving the tanks. My concerns are the diplomatic failures to understand why we are where we are and dumbing it down for domestic consumption and also how the West can put pressure for change. It is ridiculous that the only sanction that really hurts Russia is to attack their energy income and that is the one Biden refuses to countenance.
85Kristelh
>84 PaulCranswick:, agree, its one bungle after another, resulting in extending this perilous situation.
86PaulCranswick
>85 Kristelh: It would be comical if wasn't tragic that Biden referred to the Ukranians as the Iranians in his State of Union speech.
87Kristelh
>86 PaulCranswick: definitely tragic
88PaulCranswick
>87 Kristelh: Anything but tragic, Kristel is the wonderful poetry anthology Rise Like Lions selected by Ben Okri. Some very familiar stuff by Eliot, Yates, Hardy and Arnold mixed with other stuff I hadn't seen before or had somehow forgotten.
89Kristelh
>88 PaulCranswick:, I will have to look into that. It does sound good.
90m.belljackson
>84 PaulCranswick: Can't remember the exact quote, but Winston said that the way to deal with dictators was to "destroy" them.
Biden needed to have those Republican jerk off women removed
and to give a strong brave response to the defense of Ukraine.
He needs to step aside and Kamala needs to deliver.
Biden needed to have those Republican jerk off women removed
and to give a strong brave response to the defense of Ukraine.
He needs to step aside and Kamala needs to deliver.
91PaulCranswick
>89 Kristelh: Will review it shortly, Kristel.
>90 m.belljackson: The bellicose Mr Churchill is not perhaps the best fella to be quoting here - he did after all drop chemical weapons on the Bolsheviks but because they were communists it was alright of course.
One of the few reasons I could give you for wanting Biden to continue in office is the very scary prospect of Kamala Harris taking over. I was one of her strongest advocates for her to share the ticket but I have been very sorely disappointed.
>90 m.belljackson: The bellicose Mr Churchill is not perhaps the best fella to be quoting here - he did after all drop chemical weapons on the Bolsheviks but because they were communists it was alright of course.
One of the few reasons I could give you for wanting Biden to continue in office is the very scary prospect of Kamala Harris taking over. I was one of her strongest advocates for her to share the ticket but I have been very sorely disappointed.
92PaulCranswick
Wordle 256 4/6
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Steady Eddy
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Steady Eddy
93m.belljackson
Kamala is all we've got next in line and at least she knows Iranians from Ukranians
and likely can find Moldova on a map.
Yep, Churchill lost me at Mers-al-Kabir (sp likely off), but he managed to get Allies
to help him win the war. That is what Ukraine needs > dictators do not have common sense.
and likely can find Moldova on a map.
Yep, Churchill lost me at Mers-al-Kabir (sp likely off), but he managed to get Allies
to help him win the war. That is what Ukraine needs > dictators do not have common sense.
94PaulCranswick
>93 m.belljackson: Where are the true leaders in the free world, Marianne, in all seriousness?
95ArlieS
>86 PaulCranswick: Oh dear! I missed that entirely.
Sadly, none of the reactions to this attack have been any worse than I've come to expect from politicians and other talking heads.
(Sadly, because my expectations are very low, and the best I can say is "not worse".)
>94 PaulCranswick: AFAICT, based on usage, a "leader" is a chronic liar, who claims privileges denied to everyone else in exchange for ordering people to do things that either they'd do on their own without orders, or they have very good reason to believe are bad decisions. A "leader" is often also something of a megalomaniac, and prone to violating sexual morals they loudly uphold in public.
Sadly, none of the reactions to this attack have been any worse than I've come to expect from politicians and other talking heads.
(Sadly, because my expectations are very low, and the best I can say is "not worse".)
>94 PaulCranswick: AFAICT, based on usage, a "leader" is a chronic liar, who claims privileges denied to everyone else in exchange for ordering people to do things that either they'd do on their own without orders, or they have very good reason to believe are bad decisions. A "leader" is often also something of a megalomaniac, and prone to violating sexual morals they loudly uphold in public.
96ocgreg34
>3 PaulCranswick: "If Beale Street Could Talk" is a fantastic book. I love all of Baldwin's writings. I read a play that he wrote and highly recommend it : "Blues for Mister Charlie".
99PaulCranswick
>95 ArlieS: It is upsetting how much hypocrisy seems to walk hand in hand with leadership. Nice to see you here, Arlie.
>96 ocgreg34: He is an exceptional writer, Greg, I couldn't agree more.
>96 ocgreg34: He is an exceptional writer, Greg, I couldn't agree more.
101PaulCranswick
I wanted to share this from my Spectator magazine.
102PaulCranswick
BOOK #38
Rise Like Lions : Poetry for the Many by Ben Okri (editor)
Date of Publication : 2017
Origin of Author : Various
Pages : 258 pp
Completely enjoyable collection compiled by Ben Okri and which includes a very impressive verse of his own. Some of my favourites are here with Eliot, Manley-Hopkins, Hardy, Walcott, Dylan Thomas and Auden being represented but also some of the Romantics (Shelley, Keats and Wordsworth) who I have tended to avoid in recent times and this was a timely reminder of the quality - the overblown quality of their work.
In addition we were treated to some biblical texts, lyrics from Dylan, Marley and Joni Mitchell and some solid world poets in translation.
All in all a good addition to my library.
Rise Like Lions : Poetry for the Many by Ben Okri (editor)
Date of Publication : 2017
Origin of Author : Various
Pages : 258 pp
Completely enjoyable collection compiled by Ben Okri and which includes a very impressive verse of his own. Some of my favourites are here with Eliot, Manley-Hopkins, Hardy, Walcott, Dylan Thomas and Auden being represented but also some of the Romantics (Shelley, Keats and Wordsworth) who I have tended to avoid in recent times and this was a timely reminder of the quality - the overblown quality of their work.
In addition we were treated to some biblical texts, lyrics from Dylan, Marley and Joni Mitchell and some solid world poets in translation.
All in all a good addition to my library.
103PaulCranswick
For every down side there is an up!
Our days and weeks and months have been filled with little else but COVID since 2019 so it has taken the re-institution of the Cold War to let us view things in more traditional perspectives. Biden barely needed to mention inflation yesterday and he never mentioned Afghanistan.
'On the plus side, it has stopped us worrying about Covid'
Our days and weeks and months have been filled with little else but COVID since 2019 so it has taken the re-institution of the Cold War to let us view things in more traditional perspectives. Biden barely needed to mention inflation yesterday and he never mentioned Afghanistan.
'On the plus side, it has stopped us worrying about Covid'
104SilverWolf28
Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/340046
105PaulCranswick
>104 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver
106richardderus
>103 PaulCranswick: I myownself will still be masking everywhere not my bedroom because I have LOVED not having a cold in three years.
107PaulCranswick
>106 richardderus: The mask mandates continue here in all public spaces and at work. I must say though that there is a little bit of ennui at work as everybody has followed so diligently but there are still so many omicron cases. To a person triple jabbed and ardent mask wearers but not a case of serious illness amongst them thankfully.
Malaysia is different obviously from USA or the UK in so far as there does seem a great consensus that the jabs and the masks are just the right thing to do and there has been virtually no dissent against either. In fact the few that have railed against masks have been ridiculed quite thoroughly here.
I can see the point that they are not wholly effective, RD, I see the proof of that around me every day but, on balance my neighbours here feel much more comfortable - as you do, dear fellow - in masks for the time being. I'm not sure how long I want to keep wearing them myself but I sure as hell ain't taking them off in public places yet as it attracts a US$500 fine for exercising that particular form of dissent!
Malaysia is different obviously from USA or the UK in so far as there does seem a great consensus that the jabs and the masks are just the right thing to do and there has been virtually no dissent against either. In fact the few that have railed against masks have been ridiculed quite thoroughly here.
I can see the point that they are not wholly effective, RD, I see the proof of that around me every day but, on balance my neighbours here feel much more comfortable - as you do, dear fellow - in masks for the time being. I'm not sure how long I want to keep wearing them myself but I sure as hell ain't taking them off in public places yet as it attracts a US$500 fine for exercising that particular form of dissent!
108Familyhistorian
Took me a while to catch up with your thread, Paul, but happy newish one. Looks like your reading plans have toned down this month. Hope you find some enjoyable reads among them.
109PaulCranswick
>108 Familyhistorian: My reading ambitions are, well, as ambitious as ever, Meg, but I don't want to commit too much on what I want to read and I want to be more systematic and not fall into the trap of trying to read too many books at once as it clearly doesn't work for me. Have made a good start with two books finished already in March.
110SilverWolf28
>105 PaulCranswick: Also I finally updated my reading numbers: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338193#7776857
111PaulCranswick
>110 SilverWolf28: Good timing, Silver, because I want to update my stats this weekend. x
112PaulCranswick
BOOK #39
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
Date of publication : 1958
Origin of Author : USA
Pages : 179 pp
James Baldwin can occasionally be a little uncharitable. His critique of Uncle Tom's Cabin as the work of a pamphleteer not a novelist is a little cruel but it is, typical of the man, bitingly honest and essentially true.
The essays here form a collection that is probably a little short and leaves the reader wanting more but they are not equal in quality so Baldwin was probably justified in being a strict editor of what he included. The eponymous essay is a tremendously vivid one and beautifully written, I can certainly identify with his story of a man's complicated relationship with his father.
There is plenty in this rather slim volume that demonstrates that this was a writer marked for greatness.
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
Date of publication : 1958
Origin of Author : USA
Pages : 179 pp
James Baldwin can occasionally be a little uncharitable. His critique of Uncle Tom's Cabin as the work of a pamphleteer not a novelist is a little cruel but it is, typical of the man, bitingly honest and essentially true.
The essays here form a collection that is probably a little short and leaves the reader wanting more but they are not equal in quality so Baldwin was probably justified in being a strict editor of what he included. The eponymous essay is a tremendously vivid one and beautifully written, I can certainly identify with his story of a man's complicated relationship with his father.
There is plenty in this rather slim volume that demonstrates that this was a writer marked for greatness.
113PaulCranswick
Afternoon in the temple of books
129. Tenderness by Alison MacLeod
130. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
131. The Great Level by Stella Tillyard
132. The Pact We Made by Layla Alammar
Tenderness is another possible Women's Prize longlister
Jess Walter's books usually get strong support in the group
Tillyard is renowned as a historical fiction writer
Al Ammar hails from Kuwait and is a possibility for the ABC challenge this month.
129. Tenderness by Alison MacLeod
130. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
131. The Great Level by Stella Tillyard
132. The Pact We Made by Layla Alammar
Tenderness is another possible Women's Prize longlister
Jess Walter's books usually get strong support in the group
Tillyard is renowned as a historical fiction writer
Al Ammar hails from Kuwait and is a possibility for the ABC challenge this month.
115PaulCranswick
>114 BekkaJo: Always pleased to see my favourite Channel Islander. Hope you are fully recovered now? I would ask you on your thread but.......................... :D
116BekkaJo
No thread, sorry. And not fully recovered yet either unfortunately. Getting there but still a bit rough (very nasty weekend). Lungs are clearer though so that's good. Still testing positive so can't go out (as in shops etc).
I have got a lot of reading done though - albeit mostly trashy!
I have got a lot of reading done though - albeit mostly trashy!
117PaulCranswick
>116 BekkaJo: Take care of yourself, Bekka. Miss you not having a thread but blessed by your visits.
119m.belljackson
Mossad.
120PaulCranswick
>119 m.belljackson: Sorry Marianne?
121jnwelch
Hi, Paul. Love that description and photo of the Lincolnshire Wolds up top.
I’m appreciating the Ukraine discussion. Unfortunately Putin is just bombing the crap out of it. We’ve received stories of disaffected Russian soldiers sabotaging equipment and even surrendering. I think this is hurting Putin at home and abroad, and that may create more interest in him in a diplomatic resolution, but I’m pessimistic. What a tragedy.
Thanks for the review of Rise Like Lions. I’ve added it to the WL. I’m not surprised, but it’s too bad that Tess Gallagher’s collection was so-so.
I’m appreciating the Ukraine discussion. Unfortunately Putin is just bombing the crap out of it. We’ve received stories of disaffected Russian soldiers sabotaging equipment and even surrendering. I think this is hurting Putin at home and abroad, and that may create more interest in him in a diplomatic resolution, but I’m pessimistic. What a tragedy.
Thanks for the review of Rise Like Lions. I’ve added it to the WL. I’m not surprised, but it’s too bad that Tess Gallagher’s collection was so-so.
122richardderus
I know the Tillyard as Call Upon the Water, which title seems the better explication of the book's story. I think Tillyard's one of those writers not well-known enough for the pleasures her reads afford.
Yet I never reviewed the book, so who am I....
Yet I never reviewed the book, so who am I....
123PaulCranswick
How sad that the finest cricket bowler of my lifetime Shane Warne died today of a suspected heart-attack. The Aussie legend was only 52 years old.
124m.belljackson
>120 PaulCranswick: Putin firebombs and releases radiation to kill us all - send in Mossad.
125PaulCranswick
>121 jnwelch: I don't know if you managed to get out to that part of the world, Joe, when you and your good lady have visited England but it is a very pleasant place to be. Member of our little group, Hannah (hangerg) is living in Lincoln.
I was disappointed in Tess Gallagher's poetry and don't expect to find it in collections such as the one put together by Ben Okri.
On Russia talk the most scary news today was the fighting at the nuclear plant. Seems like that plant supplies 25% of Ukraine's energy and it is 18 degrees there right now. I really don't understand why Biden is exempting Russian energy from sanctions as it is the one thing guaranteed to hurt him. I can only conclude that Biden prefers a long drawn-out crisis as it will play better for him domestically. If the intention was to strive for peace he wouldn't have allowed Kamala Harris to go to Europe and broadcast an invite to Ukraine to join NATO as this helped goad Putin on, he would be pushing energy sanctions and he would be trying to broker a ceasefire / a peaceful solution. Let's face it the West has some share of culpability here in creating the circumstances for Putin to show off all his worst features by inflaming with all this silly EU and NATO membership talk. That is not a defence of what Putin is doing but it should help explain it.
I had a long text exchange with my close friend and recent work colleague, Olga from St. Petersburg who informed me that facebook is blocked and that the situation on the streets there are 'restless'.
I was disappointed in Tess Gallagher's poetry and don't expect to find it in collections such as the one put together by Ben Okri.
On Russia talk the most scary news today was the fighting at the nuclear plant. Seems like that plant supplies 25% of Ukraine's energy and it is 18 degrees there right now. I really don't understand why Biden is exempting Russian energy from sanctions as it is the one thing guaranteed to hurt him. I can only conclude that Biden prefers a long drawn-out crisis as it will play better for him domestically. If the intention was to strive for peace he wouldn't have allowed Kamala Harris to go to Europe and broadcast an invite to Ukraine to join NATO as this helped goad Putin on, he would be pushing energy sanctions and he would be trying to broker a ceasefire / a peaceful solution. Let's face it the West has some share of culpability here in creating the circumstances for Putin to show off all his worst features by inflaming with all this silly EU and NATO membership talk. That is not a defence of what Putin is doing but it should help explain it.
I had a long text exchange with my close friend and recent work colleague, Olga from St. Petersburg who informed me that facebook is blocked and that the situation on the streets there are 'restless'.
126PaulCranswick
>122 richardderus: I have another book of hers called Tides of War which I have a feeling may be the same book's North American title, RD. It was up for a number of awards as I remember.
127PaulCranswick
>124 m.belljackson: I have a number of pretty fierce Koreans at my disposal every day in my own generalship trying to complete the world's second tallest building without making our forecasted losses any worse. I do not unfortunately control MOSSAD and cannot conceive that they would be useful in deescalating the violence in Ukraine.
128PaulCranswick
Wordle 259 6/6
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With the options available this was almost not a fair word! Still unbeaten.
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With the options available this was almost not a fair word! Still unbeaten.
129richardderus
>128 PaulCranswick: I'm still most egregiously ticked at #258!
>123 PaulCranswick: ...had he only known how to keep it zipped...
>123 PaulCranswick: ...had he only known how to keep it zipped...
130PaulCranswick
>129 richardderus: I didn't do #258, RD, as I fell asleep having decided to save it for later in the day.
Warne was almost a caricature of the typical high living modern sportsman, but what a sportsman he was. I know you don't care for the game, RD, but there was something utterly compelling watching him trying to think out his opponent.
Warne was almost a caricature of the typical high living modern sportsman, but what a sportsman he was. I know you don't care for the game, RD, but there was something utterly compelling watching him trying to think out his opponent.
131PaulCranswick
My queen celebrates her birthday today.
Even missing getting scolded today.
Even missing getting scolded today.
132richardderus
Haniday orisons, PC!
133PaulCranswick
>132 richardderus: Thanks dear fellow. I'm pretty sure she manages to get several such days per year but this is one I do have to remember on pain of a fate far worse than death.
134amanda4242
>131 PaulCranswick: Happy birthday, Hani!
136PaulCranswick
>134 amanda4242: Thanks Amanda. We organised a group call - me, Belle and Erni in Kuala Lumpur, Kyran in London and Yasmyne in Denmark at 12.01 Malaysia time as she was already on her birthday here by then but I called her at 12.01 UK time too as I know it was expected!
137PaulCranswick
>135 bell7: Thanks Mary. She celebrated the eve of her birthday by getting fish n chips from her favourite fish and chip shop in the world The Wetherby Whaler in my home town of Wakefield.
138humouress
Happy birthday Hani!
>137 PaulCranswick: Yum!
>123 PaulCranswick: Vale.
>106 richardderus: >107 PaulCranswick: I've noticed, before the pandemic, that people in Japan wore masks especially during 'flu season and seen people in Singapore wear them. Maybe they'll stay in fashion even after the pandemic is sorted.
Masks alleviate a large part of the problem, but the medical grade ones work best (I suspect a lot of mine aren't but they're better than nothing at all) and there are other methods of infection such as touching contaminated surfaces.
>137 PaulCranswick: Yum!
>123 PaulCranswick: Vale.
>106 richardderus: >107 PaulCranswick: I've noticed, before the pandemic, that people in Japan wore masks especially during 'flu season and seen people in Singapore wear them. Maybe they'll stay in fashion even after the pandemic is sorted.
Masks alleviate a large part of the problem, but the medical grade ones work best (I suspect a lot of mine aren't but they're better than nothing at all) and there are other methods of infection such as touching contaminated surfaces.
140FAMeulstee
Happy birthday to Hani!
141PaulCranswick
BOOK #40
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
Date of Publication : 2021
Origin of Author : USA
Pages : 225 pp
I am fascinated often why novels get given certain titles and this one seems to have been named with at least a modicum of irony.
All the intimacy described within these elegantly written 225 pages are of a surface level and the overwhelming feeling being given was of dislocation. If I was in the place of Ms Kitamura I would probably have called this book something like "The Interloper." It seemed to me that the lead character was in a city she didn't feel she belonged in, in a relationship she wasn't fully immersed in, in a job that she couldn't quite get to grips with and her very role was part of a process but not really of that process.
Whatever she chose to call it and for all its surface scrapings this is a very accomplished piece of fiction and I would heartily recommend it.
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
Date of Publication : 2021
Origin of Author : USA
Pages : 225 pp
I am fascinated often why novels get given certain titles and this one seems to have been named with at least a modicum of irony.
All the intimacy described within these elegantly written 225 pages are of a surface level and the overwhelming feeling being given was of dislocation. If I was in the place of Ms Kitamura I would probably have called this book something like "The Interloper." It seemed to me that the lead character was in a city she didn't feel she belonged in, in a relationship she wasn't fully immersed in, in a job that she couldn't quite get to grips with and her very role was part of a process but not really of that process.
Whatever she chose to call it and for all its surface scrapings this is a very accomplished piece of fiction and I would heartily recommend it.
142PaulCranswick
>138 humouress: Masks work on many levels to make certain people "feel" safer whatever their real benefit and this is not to be scorned. We live in a part of the world, Nina, that does seem to be far more used to and tolerant of mask wearing on a semi-permanent basis.
I think Hani would rather be at home today!
>139 SirThomas: Thanks Thomas. My biggest problem at lunchtime was that my keyboard decided to go completely haywire. I switched it off for four hours after giving it quite a solid clean and hopefully it will be ok a while now.
I think Hani would rather be at home today!
>139 SirThomas: Thanks Thomas. My biggest problem at lunchtime was that my keyboard decided to go completely haywire. I switched it off for four hours after giving it quite a solid clean and hopefully it will be ok a while now.
143PaulCranswick
>140 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. She persists with the idea that she remains indefinitely 28 years old and, whilst she can get away with being considered much younger than her real age, which I am of course not at liberty to reveal, it does mean that I appear much more lecherous as the years go on as I am less able to hide my real age!
144FAMeulstee
>143 PaulCranswick: Age is just a number, Paul.
Back in the days I didn't like the step between 29 and 30 years old, but now I am content being 59. No need to hide, I really don't want to go back to any age I was before.
Back in the days I didn't like the step between 29 and 30 years old, but now I am content being 59. No need to hide, I really don't want to go back to any age I was before.
145PaulCranswick
>144 FAMeulstee: I must admit that I am not too bothered about my years in reality, Anita, as we cannot do much about it!
146Kristelh
Happy Birthday to Hani. I agree with Anita. Age is something that catches you and it is best to just embrace it. Enjoy that young look as long as it lasts.
147PaulCranswick
>146 Kristelh: I am enjoying her youthful looks as long as I am able! Thanks, Kristel
149PaulCranswick
>148 Caroline_McElwee: I of course saw your review too, Caroline, and we do normally agree! My impression seems to have been different but my level of enjoyment the same.
Hani says thanks to you and all our pals for the kind wishes. She is thinking about where to spend her day and I suggested Kuala Lumpur!
Recommended she go and visit an operational windmill out Chesterfield as I think she'll like it and is likely to make some scrumptious stuff from the flour she buys there.
Hani says thanks to you and all our pals for the kind wishes. She is thinking about where to spend her day and I suggested Kuala Lumpur!
Recommended she go and visit an operational windmill out Chesterfield as I think she'll like it and is likely to make some scrumptious stuff from the flour she buys there.
151PaulCranswick
A bit frustrated with my crazy keyboard which refuses to be kind to its impatient master. I will take it in tomorrow but in the meantime it will be my phone unless I can persuade Bello to take pity on me.
152PaulCranswick
>150 BrookeDevaney: Pretty sure that you'll be flagged as spam very shortly. Nice to make your acquaintance however fleetingly but I will not be buying what you are selling.
153PaulCranswick
CURRENT READING
SPQR by Mary Beard
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
The Songs of Mihyar the Damascene by Adonis
SPQR by Mary Beard
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
The Songs of Mihyar the Damascene by Adonis
154PaulCranswick
1972 IN MUSIC WEEK NINE
Marvin Gaye - Wanted Man - OST follow up to his What's Goin' On?
Barclay James Harvest - Baby James Harvest - The Oldham Beatles!
Bread - Guitar Man - One of my first records was a Bread compilation and I always loved their melodies
Yes - Close to the Edge - Prog rock from Anderson et al
Bob Seger - Smokin' OPs - Would become famous later but this is an early LP
Sofia Rotaru - Sofia Rotaru - Ukrainian/Russian Soviet. Not sure why I thought it apt to listen to this?!
Marvin Gaye - Wanted Man - OST follow up to his What's Goin' On?
Barclay James Harvest - Baby James Harvest - The Oldham Beatles!
Bread - Guitar Man - One of my first records was a Bread compilation and I always loved their melodies
Yes - Close to the Edge - Prog rock from Anderson et al
Bob Seger - Smokin' OPs - Would become famous later but this is an early LP
Sofia Rotaru - Sofia Rotaru - Ukrainian/Russian Soviet. Not sure why I thought it apt to listen to this?!
155PaulCranswick
Stasia Sampler
This week features two of my favourite seventies groups; Barclay James Harvest and Bread. This is the latter with the title track to the featured album, "Guitar Man". Great stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPoJNdKNT40
This week features two of my favourite seventies groups; Barclay James Harvest and Bread. This is the latter with the title track to the featured album, "Guitar Man". Great stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPoJNdKNT40
156ChrisG1
>154 PaulCranswick: Close to the Edge is a special favorite of mine from that time - I thought this was their pinnacle.
157PaulCranswick
>156 ChrisG1: I must admit that for someone who is supposed to be a ProgRock aficionado, Yes is a group that I need to listen to more of - this is certainly a strong album, Chris.
158msf59
Happy Weekend, Paul. Ooh, I see The Cold Millions up there. Loved that one. I am a big fan of Walter. I am also a fan of Close to the Edge, which I have not heard in decades.
159cbl_tn
Hi Paul! I am sorry that you didn't get to be with Hani to celebrate her birthday. I hope this is the last of her birthdays that you'll spend apart.
I am a huge fan of Bread, especially the vocals of David Gates. "Everything I Own" is one of those songs that make me drop whatever I'm doing and just listen. It's been covered a lot, but none of the covers are as good as the original.
I am a huge fan of Bread, especially the vocals of David Gates. "Everything I Own" is one of those songs that make me drop whatever I'm doing and just listen. It's been covered a lot, but none of the covers are as good as the original.
160PaulCranswick
>158 msf59: The cover dragged me in straight away, Mark. Possibly my favourite cover of my buys this year so far.
>159 cbl_tn: I agree completely about Bread and that particular song, Carrie. It has quite a special place in my heart and can make me choke up easily.
>159 cbl_tn: I agree completely about Bread and that particular song, Carrie. It has quite a special place in my heart and can make me choke up easily.
161cbl_tn
In your listening journey through 1972, please don't overlook my favorite band, Chicago. My favorite Chicago track is "Saturday in the Park", and it was on their 1972 release Chicago V.
And my other favorite band, the Eagles, debuted in 1972 with Eagles. My favorite track from the album is "Witchy Woman", which apparently was inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald. Who knew?!
And my other favorite band, the Eagles, debuted in 1972 with Eagles. My favorite track from the album is "Witchy Woman", which apparently was inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald. Who knew?!
162PaulCranswick
>161 cbl_tn: It almost got picked today but I chose Sofia Rotaru because of her links with Ukraine.
I did play The Eagles already (maybe in weekend #1?) but I didn't know the Zelda Fitzgerald link.
I did play The Eagles already (maybe in weekend #1?) but I didn't know the Zelda Fitzgerald link.
163richardderus
>141 PaulCranswick: I was so bummed when the US publisher declined to give me a DRC of it! I think its premise...translator for international crimes court...and plot are so well-chosen for a stylist like Kitamura to use her strengths. Not so much on the plot-development goodies, at least in A Separation, but her storytelling strength is so clearly choosing the surgical tool of a word to separate an image or thought from the massive idea inherent in the story.
164PaulCranswick
>163 richardderus: I haven't read A Separation, RD, although I am pleased to have already added it to the shelves. I was really impressed by the precision of her prose as you rightly point out. A really strong novel even though I would have enjoyed the story-lines to keep developing further.
165karenmarie
Hi Paul, and happy new thread!
>33 PaulCranswick: A reset is a good way to get going again. I personally count all pages read, separately from books completed.
>53 PaulCranswick: February reading review?
>73 PaulCranswick: In an ideal world Obama could negotiate a peace with Putin and Zelensky, but I don’t think even Obama could deflect Putin from his course. I don’t quite know what would, however, and I guess it couldn’t hurt to send him, if he’d go.
>131 PaulCranswick: Belated Happy Birthday to Hani.
>33 PaulCranswick: A reset is a good way to get going again. I personally count all pages read, separately from books completed.
>53 PaulCranswick: February reading review?
>73 PaulCranswick: In an ideal world Obama could negotiate a peace with Putin and Zelensky, but I don’t think even Obama could deflect Putin from his course. I don’t quite know what would, however, and I guess it couldn’t hurt to send him, if he’d go.
>131 PaulCranswick: Belated Happy Birthday to Hani.
166PaulCranswick
>165 karenmarie: I think something needs to be done or at least tried. Biden seems to want to play the long game with sanctions whilst not including the one set of sanctions that will actually have an impact. All that will happen is that Ukraine will be bludgeoned by the Iron fist of Moscow. The encouragement of Ukraine towards Nato and the EU was not only a provocation, it was also against the West's explicit commitments and this gets little or no mention in the pathetic news media.
What a shame that the West has such terrible leadership at such a pivotal moment.
What a shame that the West has such terrible leadership at such a pivotal moment.
167cbl_tn
>162 PaulCranswick: I either missed the Eagles or forgot, either of which is possible!
Waiting to get my hair done and just heard Chicago "Wishing You We're Here", which is 1976 or 1977. I remember it from 7th grade.
Waiting to get my hair done and just heard Chicago "Wishing You We're Here", which is 1976 or 1977. I remember it from 7th grade.
168PaulCranswick
>167 cbl_tn: Good band Chicago! \\
169mdoris
Hello Paul, and a Happy Birthday to Hani. I bet it is difficult being so far away from her today.
170PaulCranswick
>169 mdoris: I think she is missing me more too today as she doesn't get a present!
171quondame
Wishes for as good as possible a birthday for the unaging Hani as can be had without you and for your keyboard to mend its ways.
172thornton37814
Happy Birthday to Hani!
173m.belljackson
Paul - if your daughter is back in Norway, Roscoe is scheduled to headline at the Borealis Festival in Bergen,
March 16-20th,
and his paintings are up at the Bergen Kunsthall.
March 16-20th,
and his paintings are up at the Bergen Kunsthall.
174mahsdad
Hey Paul, just jumping in to say Hi!
Like Mark, I hope you enjoy >118 PaulCranswick: The Cold Millions when you get to it, I really liked it. Also hope >158 msf59: you like Frankenstein in Baghdad, I read it in 2020, and if I recall, I didn't love it, but liked it pretty well.
Like Mark, I hope you enjoy >118 PaulCranswick: The Cold Millions when you get to it, I really liked it. Also hope >158 msf59: you like Frankenstein in Baghdad, I read it in 2020, and if I recall, I didn't love it, but liked it pretty well.
175PaulCranswick
>171 quondame: Thank you, Susan. Those are wishes definitely to be wished for!
>172 thornton37814: Thanks Lori. She went to my favourite part of Sheffield (where Rhian stayed in her University days), a place full of coffee shops and splendid vibe.
>172 thornton37814: Thanks Lori. She went to my favourite part of Sheffield (where Rhian stayed in her University days), a place full of coffee shops and splendid vibe.
176PaulCranswick
>173 m.belljackson: I will let her know, Marianne. She is currently in Denmark but I know her Norwegian boyfriend is a fan of jazz and so they could well make the short trip.
>174 mahsdad: Nice to see you as always, Jeff. Jess Walter is an author I have been meaning to read for some time and the cover, plus the synopsis really calls to me.
>174 mahsdad: Nice to see you as always, Jeff. Jess Walter is an author I have been meaning to read for some time and the cover, plus the synopsis really calls to me.
177PaulCranswick
Wordle 260 4/6
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Steady
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Steady
178m.belljackson
> 176 With one composition played by the Norwegian Naval Forces Band.
179PaulCranswick
>178 m.belljackson: Interesting. I will encourage them to support this, Marianne.
180PaulCranswick
Out for Dim Sum with Belle. Thought she wanted Japanese but she picked the one food she knows I like even less than that! Still she didn't grumble about a quick trip to Kino.
133. Spring by Ali Smith
134. Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
I thought I had all four of Smith's tetralogy but for some reason that was missing.
Kupersmith's book looks highly likely to make the Women's Prize longlist.
133. Spring by Ali Smith
134. Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
I thought I had all four of Smith's tetralogy but for some reason that was missing.
Kupersmith's book looks highly likely to make the Women's Prize longlist.
182humouress
>177 PaulCranswick: 4 for me today, too.
>180 PaulCranswick: Not a fan of dim sum? Granted, the style of cuisine in Singapore is different from what I’m used to from the UK but it’s still fun.
>180 PaulCranswick: Not a fan of dim sum? Granted, the style of cuisine in Singapore is different from what I’m used to from the UK but it’s still fun.
183PaulCranswick
MUSIC OF 1972
Essential Tracks
Sofia Rotaru - Ballad of Violins - We start in Ukraine with their "Nightingale". Don't understand this but it does have a certain power:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpKAxWgjwEk
Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man - In this doodle of an album it is basically variations on the theme of this hook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_sVWCPwpD4&list=RDf_sVWCPwpD4&start_rad...
Bob Seger - Someday - An early and largely guitar riff laden outing from Bob. This is more my bag.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wdYdKrOJ8c
Barclay James Harvest - Crazy Over You - One of my favourite groups but not one of their absolute best albums. Solid though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv9wrhfdyVo&list=RDUv9wrhfdyVo&start_rad...
Yes - And You and I - This is quite a heavy prog rock album and you will need to be ready for it. This is the most chewable track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz1TEHiMXGc
Bread - Aubrey This is one of the most beautiful songs in Bread's beautiful repertoire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IWxocGm21U
Essential Tracks
Sofia Rotaru - Ballad of Violins - We start in Ukraine with their "Nightingale". Don't understand this but it does have a certain power:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpKAxWgjwEk
Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man - In this doodle of an album it is basically variations on the theme of this hook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_sVWCPwpD4&list=RDf_sVWCPwpD4&start_rad...
Bob Seger - Someday - An early and largely guitar riff laden outing from Bob. This is more my bag.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wdYdKrOJ8c
Barclay James Harvest - Crazy Over You - One of my favourite groups but not one of their absolute best albums. Solid though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv9wrhfdyVo&list=RDUv9wrhfdyVo&start_rad...
Yes - And You and I - This is quite a heavy prog rock album and you will need to be ready for it. This is the most chewable track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz1TEHiMXGc
Bread - Aubrey This is one of the most beautiful songs in Bread's beautiful repertoire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IWxocGm21U
184PaulCranswick
>182 humouress: I am admittedly in a minority of one in my family in not caring for Dim Sum - all the ladies adore it. The brownie points were fine!
186PaulCranswick
>185 BellaCatt: Is Bella a cat or a catt?
187PaulCranswick
This is from yesterday's catch up - four locations one family:
188thornton37814
>177 PaulCranswick: I got today's in two!
189Kristelh
>177 PaulCranswick: i got today's in 3, >188 thornton37814: congrats on getting it in two
190figsfromthistle
>187 PaulCranswick: Almost everyone looks like they are having fun! Must of been something really funny to get you all laughing/smiling like that. Glad it was a good catch up.
191PaulCranswick
>188 thornton37814: Well done Lori. I have a habit of picking random words to start and often draw a blank first up.
>189 Kristelh: I sort of got it in three too having lucked out completely first guess!
>189 Kristelh: I sort of got it in three too having lucked out completely first guess!
192PaulCranswick
>192 PaulCranswick: You know, Anita, I was trying to think what witticism prompted the hilarity - I think it was Hani's habit of saying "it is just another day" when that is NOT what she thinks at all. I seem to remember the other four taking it turns to answer ever question with "anyway it's just another day!"
It is funny if you knew just how needy for her kids the mother is!
It is funny if you knew just how needy for her kids the mother is!
193cbl_tn
>187 PaulCranswick: Lovely!
I found out this morning that there is an octordle, with 13 tries to guess 8 5-letter words. Is there no end?!
I found out this morning that there is an octordle, with 13 tries to guess 8 5-letter words. Is there no end?!
194PaulCranswick
>193 cbl_tn: I have played it a couple of times, Carrie - it is really hard!
195PaulCranswick
Tuesday and the Women's Prize Longlist gets announced.
I have been not particularly surreptitiously gathering up most of the likeliest contenders and I reckon I have 21 books (read 4) on the shelves which are in with a chance of selection in the final 16 picks.
I saw a few other friends blogs today with possibles and on one of the seven lists I saw I only had 2 of the books. Perhaps I should have waited for the list to come out first!
I have been not particularly surreptitiously gathering up most of the likeliest contenders and I reckon I have 21 books (read 4) on the shelves which are in with a chance of selection in the final 16 picks.
I saw a few other friends blogs today with possibles and on one of the seven lists I saw I only had 2 of the books. Perhaps I should have waited for the list to come out first!
196Caroline_McElwee
>187 PaulCranswick: Lovely capture Paul.
197PaulCranswick
>196 Caroline_McElwee: Nice to see everybody (well Belle sort of) smiling especially when it was a bit sad being spread far and wide.
198Kristelh
>187 PaulCranswick:, I like the family picture. Hard to be apart during special times but I technology does make it a bit easier.
199PaulCranswick
>198 Kristelh: It does help a lot Kristel. I have been a bit depressed this weekend with Hani far away.
200PaulCranswick
Wordle 261 3/6
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Quite pleased with that!
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Quite pleased with that!
201FAMeulstee
>187 PaulCranswick: The whole family apart (except you and Belle), and in a way together with a smile :-)
202richardderus
>187 PaulCranswick: Belle's almost smiling!! Wow.
>177 PaulCranswick: I took three to get it, but only because I really concentrated between two and three.
Monday orisons, PC.
>177 PaulCranswick: I took three to get it, but only because I really concentrated between two and three.
Monday orisons, PC.
203PaulCranswick
>201 FAMeulstee: And even Belle has a half smile. x
>202 richardderus: Thank you, RD. I am expecting a tough week.
>202 richardderus: Thank you, RD. I am expecting a tough week.
204PaulCranswick
Why the hell is the USA still buying oil and gas from Russia? Why is the Biden administration trying to do a deal in Vienna to buy oil and gas from Iran (with Russia acting as an intermediary)?
America has the ability to produce its own oil and gas and not have the world's leading nation dependent upon unfriendly nations? What the heck is Biden doing?
Why is he playing a long game on sanctions when the main sanction that may help is still exempted?
America has the ability to produce its own oil and gas and not have the world's leading nation dependent upon unfriendly nations? What the heck is Biden doing?
Why is he playing a long game on sanctions when the main sanction that may help is still exempted?
205EllaTim
>204 PaulCranswick: Can’t answer those questions Paul. And who knows what will move Putin? Feeling sad for the people in Russia who were so brave to be protesting in the streets today. Putin is reverting to the old days.
>187 PaulCranswick: Great picture Paul! Having a joke together, even in so different places.
Have a nice week.
>187 PaulCranswick: Great picture Paul! Having a joke together, even in so different places.
Have a nice week.
206PaulCranswick
>205 EllaTim: I have a very close friend and ex-colleague who is from St. Petersburg and she messaged me over the weekend her sadness about the situation. Her family have Ukrainian and Russian members and it is torn in half. We need to bear in mind that it is governments not people who go to war - soldiers are the mere instruments of governments. So sad.
We always have fun as a family to be fair - I am a bit of a wise-cracker, Hani has a very strong personality, Yasmyne is hilarious because she can make the dumbest things come from her very well educated mouth, Kyran has a razor wit and Belle is deadpan droll.
Always such a pleasure to have you visit, Ella.
We always have fun as a family to be fair - I am a bit of a wise-cracker, Hani has a very strong personality, Yasmyne is hilarious because she can make the dumbest things come from her very well educated mouth, Kyran has a razor wit and Belle is deadpan droll.
Always such a pleasure to have you visit, Ella.
207quondame
>180 PaulCranswick: Now I'm boggled! I know a number of people who don't enjoy Japanese food (barring ramen) but I thought everyone brave enough to bite a bao liked Dim Sum.
Wanders off in a daze...
>187 PaulCranswick: What lovely, joyful images.
Wanders off in a daze...
>187 PaulCranswick: What lovely, joyful images.
208PaulCranswick
>207 quondame: No accounting for my strange eating proclivities, Susan. There is not a single cuisine I would actively avoid but steamed Dim Sum are most certainly not a favourite. The fried stuff is great but to be avoided just now with me already 12 kilos down from January 1st. I will soon put back those 26 lbs if I let Belle loose!
If I had to choose I would be eating from around the Mediterranean, although Mexican, Thai, Malay, Korean and good old fashioned British fayre also regularly appeal.
If I had to choose I would be eating from around the Mediterranean, although Mexican, Thai, Malay, Korean and good old fashioned British fayre also regularly appeal.
209Kristelh
>204 PaulCranswick:, all good questions, Paul, and I don’t have any answers. It isn’t what the American people want, IMO.
210PaulCranswick
>209 Kristelh: I get the potential popularity of the Green New Deal, I really do, Kristel, but I don't see the good sense in giving money to your enemies when you are telling the public you intend to make use of all sanctions at your disposal. It is just basically dishonest and also will not bring to bear the needed pressure for peace.
Why is there no shuttle diplomacy? Yes, Biden, Harris and Blinken would not be good in such a role but appoint a Special Envoy with some gravitas to shuttle between the various countries until peace is achieved. Seems that Biden is caught between stools - won't sacrifice his anti US oil & gas sentiments even as your average price per gallon exceeds $4 and even though he has a way of putting real pressure on Putin to back down. He may think that the long game he is intent on playing will sit well domestically but American prestige is rapidly sinking and more people are dying in Ukraine and it is left to people like Erdogan to show initiative. It is very sad indeed.
Why is there no shuttle diplomacy? Yes, Biden, Harris and Blinken would not be good in such a role but appoint a Special Envoy with some gravitas to shuttle between the various countries until peace is achieved. Seems that Biden is caught between stools - won't sacrifice his anti US oil & gas sentiments even as your average price per gallon exceeds $4 and even though he has a way of putting real pressure on Putin to back down. He may think that the long game he is intent on playing will sit well domestically but American prestige is rapidly sinking and more people are dying in Ukraine and it is left to people like Erdogan to show initiative. It is very sad indeed.
211FAMeulstee
>210 PaulCranswick: The problem I have with this all is the hypocricy. The ongoing war in Jemen hasn't led to any sanctions. The murder in the Saudi embassy in Turkey some time ago didn't lead to any sanctions for Saudi Arabia. "Our allies" come away with war and murder. The USA is talking about war crimes in Ukrain, yet the USA doesn't take part (and neither does Russia) in the International Criminal Court.
It also frightens me that many extreme rightwingers are going to Ukraïn to help fighting.
It also frightens me that many extreme rightwingers are going to Ukraïn to help fighting.
212Kristelh
>200 PaulCranswick:, good one Paul. It took me 4 attempts to get it.
213tymfos
Good morning, Paul! Just stopping by to say hello. Thanks for stopping by my thread. I am alive and well. Best wishes to you for the new week!
214PaulCranswick
>211 FAMeulstee: Exactly Anita. Total and utter hypocrisy. The USA and the UK and Netherlands too is so selective in its passions.
>212 Kristelh: I have been struggling with the game these few days and it is either four or five guesses to make it.
>212 Kristelh: I have been struggling with the game these few days and it is either four or five guesses to make it.
215PaulCranswick
>213 tymfos: Lovely to see you, Terri. xxx
216alcottacre
>112 PaulCranswick: That is one of Baldwin's that I have not read yet. I am going to have to get to it this year.
>131 PaulCranswick: Sorry I missed Hani's birthday. Would you wish her a belated happy one from me, please?
I am not even trying to catch up with the rest. I think you started 4 new threads while I was gone, Juan!
>131 PaulCranswick: Sorry I missed Hani's birthday. Would you wish her a belated happy one from me, please?
I am not even trying to catch up with the rest. I think you started 4 new threads while I was gone, Juan!
217PaulCranswick
>216 alcottacre: On my phone Stasia because the keyboard isn't behaving again.
I will certainly give my best wishes to the boss!
I will certainly give my best wishes to the boss!
218alcottacre
>217 PaulCranswick: Thank, Paul. Sorry to hear about the keyboard - again!
219PaulCranswick
>218 alcottacre: I am fed up with it to be honest, Stasia. x
220PaulCranswick
The Women's Prize Longlist has just been announced and as usual I didn't forecast so accurately:
https://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/features/features/news/announcing-the-wo...:
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
Careless by Kirsty Capes
Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejidé
Flamingo by Rachel Elliott
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey
Salt Lick by Lulu Allison
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
This One Sky Day by Leone Ross
My stocking up on potential nominees backfires as I only own 4 on the list and have already read just one (Maggie Shipstead). A bit disappointed that Katie Kitamura didn't make it and I am surprised not to see Yanahigara, Rooney, Groff and Jeffers. The last two omissions perplex because they were on most peoples lists.
https://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/features/features/news/announcing-the-wo...:
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
Careless by Kirsty Capes
Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejidé
Flamingo by Rachel Elliott
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
Remote Sympathy by Catherine Chidgey
Salt Lick by Lulu Allison
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
This One Sky Day by Leone Ross
My stocking up on potential nominees backfires as I only own 4 on the list and have already read just one (Maggie Shipstead). A bit disappointed that Katie Kitamura didn't make it and I am surprised not to see Yanahigara, Rooney, Groff and Jeffers. The last two omissions perplex because they were on most peoples lists.
221Kristelh
>220 PaulCranswick:, Stopped by to see how you did on the long list. I’ve read none of them and the one on my plan for this month did not make it.
222PaulCranswick
>221 Kristelh: I did poorly. I picked a mere 3 of the 16 books which is a bit depressing but it also means that there are even more books to investigate!
224PaulCranswick
>223 JackFlower: I'm alright Jack thank you my flower.
225PaulCranswick
Wordle 262 5/6
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One of those with too many options
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One of those with too many options
226cbl_tn
>225 PaulCranswick: Yep. It took me all six tries before I hit on the right letter. I had 1, 3, 4 & 5 correct by the 3rd or 4th attempt.
227PaulCranswick
>226 cbl_tn: It is then, Carrie, that it really becomes a game of chance.
228PaulCranswick
Wordle 263 4/6
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Steady as she goes!
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Steady as she goes!
229banjo123
>220 PaulCranswick:. I am also surprised at the books on this list (or the lack of some of them.). I haven't read any, but I do have a couple on my list.
230PaulCranswick
>229 banjo123: Rhonda, everyone I know who has read The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois loved it so I am really surprised it isn't there.
231alcottacre
>220 PaulCranswick: I have already read Great Circle (with you, as I recall) and I own The Sentence, which I will be getting to at some point this year. My local library has only 2 of the books on the list, The Island of Missing Trees and The Paper Palace. Looks like I will have to do a bit of book shopping again. Sad, really.
232PaulCranswick
>231 alcottacre: I know isn't it a pain - I will now need to go to the book stores and see if they have any of those!
233humouress
>1 PaulCranswick: Pretty photo up top. Every time I flick past it, it reminds me of the cover of (my edition of) Sorcerer's Son.
235PaulCranswick
>234 Kristelh: Well done, Kristel. It was a pretty ok one yesterday (today).
236PaulCranswick
The day after the Women's Longlist I went to Kinokuniya to see if I could find any of the longlist I don't yet have. I managed to find 5 of them:
135. The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
136. The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
137. The Book of Form & Emptiness Ruth Ozeki
138. This One Sky Day by Leone Ross
139. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
I also added the following books by ladies, the first four of which were on some people's anticipated lists and the last one a successful female writer of historical fiction:
140. The Push by Audrey Audrain
141. When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
142. A Very Nice Girl by Imogen Crimp
143. Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
144. The Familiars by Stacey Halls
135. The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini
136. The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
137. The Book of Form & Emptiness Ruth Ozeki
138. This One Sky Day by Leone Ross
139. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
I also added the following books by ladies, the first four of which were on some people's anticipated lists and the last one a successful female writer of historical fiction:
140. The Push by Audrey Audrain
141. When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
142. A Very Nice Girl by Imogen Crimp
143. Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
144. The Familiars by Stacey Halls
237mdoris
>236 PaulCranswick: Nice haul!
238richardderus
>236 PaulCranswick: The only Women's Prize finalist I actually want to read is Bread the Devil Knead, so your haul's mildly Cranswickian proportions excites less than the usual level of envious, spiteful loathing.
239PaulCranswick
>237 mdoris: Thanks Mary. I want to read the Women's Prize longlist alongside another alternative longlist and see which books I personally prefer.
>238 richardderus: The Erdrich and the Ross books do appeal, RD, but the Ozeki and Walton books were added with a slightly heavy heart.
>238 richardderus: The Erdrich and the Ross books do appeal, RD, but the Ozeki and Walton books were added with a slightly heavy heart.
240PaulCranswick
Wordle 264 4/6
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Another steady Eddie
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Another steady Eddie
241PaulCranswick
Received a real body blow yesterday. My mother in law has been undergoing tests in Singapore and they have revealed lung tumours that are most probably malignant. Poor Hani who less than a year ago lost her father is utterly devastated. Both Hani and Yasmyne will shortly return home but frankly I would prefer my silver linings not to be accompanied by such terribly dark clouds.
242amanda4242
>241 PaulCranswick: {{hugs}}
243quondame
>242 amanda4242: I'm so sorry about your MIL. I hope it is not so sever as you fear and that the reunion with Hani and Yasmyne will not be under such clouds.
244drneutron
>241 PaulCranswick: Oh, I'm so sorry for you and Hani.
245bell7
Oh man, Paul, sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. Never good news, but especially hard coming so soon after her husband's death, I'm sure. Safe travel wishes for Hani and Yasmyne, too.
246PaulCranswick
>242 amanda4242: Thank you my dear, Amanda
>243 quondame: Yes I pray that in the final analysis the situation is not quite as bad as it seemed yesterday. My MIL was upbeat yesterday which was great to see. Thank you, Susan, for your constant kindness and thoughtfulness.
>243 quondame: Yes I pray that in the final analysis the situation is not quite as bad as it seemed yesterday. My MIL was upbeat yesterday which was great to see. Thank you, Susan, for your constant kindness and thoughtfulness.
247PaulCranswick
>244 drneutron: Thanks Jim. I felt more than a little impotent yesterday with my \better half sobbing and not being able to do anything to put it right.
>245 bell7: Thank you, Mary. Bitter sweet way of seeing my daughter after almost three painfully long years.
>245 bell7: Thank you, Mary. Bitter sweet way of seeing my daughter after almost three painfully long years.
248richardderus
>241 PaulCranswick: I'm sad to learn of the latest indignity heaped on y'all, PC, but am inexpressibly glad that they *can* come home. If this had been a year ago...!
249figsfromthistle
Sorry to hear about this bad news.
250thornton37814
Sorry to read about your MIL but glad you'll soon see Hani and Yasmyne even under such circumstances.
251mdoris
>241 PaulCranswick: Oh Paul, I am so sorry that you received such difficult news today.
254PaulCranswick
>248 richardderus: Thank you RD. Indeed a year ago it would have been almost impossible - my father in law was buried without our attendance as they refused to wait whilst I was tearing down the highway to be there.
>249 figsfromthistle: Thank you Anita
>249 figsfromthistle: Thank you Anita
255PaulCranswick
>250 thornton37814: Everything is opening up in terms of borders on 1 April in Malaysia, Lori, so it will be easier for them shortly.
>251 mdoris: Thank you, Mary. I am so blessed by my friends here. Within an hour of my stating the bad news almost a dozen of my friends post their support and best wishes. You guys are absolutely the best.
>251 mdoris: Thank you, Mary. I am so blessed by my friends here. Within an hour of my stating the bad news almost a dozen of my friends post their support and best wishes. You guys are absolutely the best.
256m.belljackson
Paul - so sad to hear about this health challenge. You and your Family have faced so many deep losses in a short time.
Sending hope that your reunion helps to bring lives together.
Sending hope that your reunion helps to bring lives together.
257PaulCranswick
>252 Kristelh: Thank you so much, Kristel
>253 cbl_tn: All your prayers are blessings to us, Carrie and much treasured xx
>253 cbl_tn: All your prayers are blessings to us, Carrie and much treasured xx
258PaulCranswick
>256 m.belljackson: Thank you dear Marianne xx
260PaulCranswick
BOOK #41
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
Date of Publication : 2013
Origin of Author : Iraq
Pages : 283 pp
Peopled by a strange cast of misfits, junk dealers, seemingly mad mothers, greedy realtors, unlucky security guards, governmental behemoths and 'whatsisname', this novel brings to life Iraq under American occupation pun very largely intended.
The narrative thread of this story is a bit muddled by jaunting around in time and with characters but the overall impact of the thing is powerful and Baghdad in all its terrible glory, in its teeming mix of cultures and sects is perhaps the dominating theme.
The original Frankenstein considered the pernicious impact of technology on humankind and this updates that tale in the bombed out ruins of this ancient city.
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
Date of Publication : 2013
Origin of Author : Iraq
Pages : 283 pp
Peopled by a strange cast of misfits, junk dealers, seemingly mad mothers, greedy realtors, unlucky security guards, governmental behemoths and 'whatsisname', this novel brings to life Iraq under American occupation pun very largely intended.
The narrative thread of this story is a bit muddled by jaunting around in time and with characters but the overall impact of the thing is powerful and Baghdad in all its terrible glory, in its teeming mix of cultures and sects is perhaps the dominating theme.
The original Frankenstein considered the pernicious impact of technology on humankind and this updates that tale in the bombed out ruins of this ancient city.
261PaulCranswick
>259 Helenoel: Thank you, Helen. x
262PaulCranswick
BOOK #42
The Songs of Mihyar the Damascene by Adunis
Date of Publication : 1961
Origin of Author : Syria
This is possibly Adunis' most famous works and the Syrian born poet has long been promoted as a likely Arab winner of the Nobel prize. He is certainly with Darwish the most prominent of Arab poets of the last 100 years.
Problem is much of his work doesn't translate particularly well with these 119 poems being full of faces being peeled off and eyelashes spitting blood. Whilst the hyperbole and lyricism comes across awkwardly for many of the poems I think I get many of the images he was trying in essence to convey and he certainly had even 60 years ago a very clear eye for emotion, tragedy and the human spirit.
Not an easy read but one that does reward deep thought.
In the City of the Partisans
More than an olive tree, more
than a river, more than
a breeze
bounding and rebounding,
more than an island,
more than a forest,
a cloud
that skims across his leisurely path
all and more
in their solitude
are reading his book.
The Songs of Mihyar the Damascene by Adunis
Date of Publication : 1961
Origin of Author : Syria
This is possibly Adunis' most famous works and the Syrian born poet has long been promoted as a likely Arab winner of the Nobel prize. He is certainly with Darwish the most prominent of Arab poets of the last 100 years.
Problem is much of his work doesn't translate particularly well with these 119 poems being full of faces being peeled off and eyelashes spitting blood. Whilst the hyperbole and lyricism comes across awkwardly for many of the poems I think I get many of the images he was trying in essence to convey and he certainly had even 60 years ago a very clear eye for emotion, tragedy and the human spirit.
Not an easy read but one that does reward deep thought.
In the City of the Partisans
More than an olive tree, more
than a river, more than
a breeze
bounding and rebounding,
more than an island,
more than a forest,
a cloud
that skims across his leisurely path
all and more
in their solitude
are reading his book.
263LovingLit
>3 PaulCranswick: wow- January was a bumper reading month for you!
>123 PaulCranswick: pretty bad news, 52 is so young for that to happen. And, naturally the covid deniers were saying that is was his being vaccinated that contributed, while conveniently forgetting his heavy smoking over the years. Either way, it's pretty distasteful to talk about that at all, so I will stop.
>153 PaulCranswick: I have seen Mary Beard on the telly! lol She is one smart woman, but the sounds.
Also, I have to ask, how did you find Lincoln in the Bardo? It was inexplicable to me and I vow never to push on with a book I am not enjoying again ;) (I have said that a few times now, but always want to read a *bit more* in case it gets better.)
>123 PaulCranswick: pretty bad news, 52 is so young for that to happen. And, naturally the covid deniers were saying that is was his being vaccinated that contributed, while conveniently forgetting his heavy smoking over the years. Either way, it's pretty distasteful to talk about that at all, so I will stop.
>153 PaulCranswick: I have seen Mary Beard on the telly! lol She is one smart woman, but the sounds.
Also, I have to ask, how did you find Lincoln in the Bardo? It was inexplicable to me and I vow never to push on with a book I am not enjoying again ;) (I have said that a few times now, but always want to read a *bit more* in case it gets better.)
264PaulCranswick
>263 LovingLit: I did well in January, back to normal in February but trying hard to improve again in March!
It is very sad about Warne but I hadn't seen the comments about it being "vax" related. I must admit that I am a bit tired of everyone trying to score points off of each other with COVID and all issues surrounding it. I don't think China started it on purpose. I don't blame Trump or Biden or Fauci or Boris or Trudeau or Arderne although all of them have made mistakes in one way or another which is easy for smart alecs like me to point out after the event. I don't blame the pharmaceutical companies in the main although Moderna selling its doses to African countries at a higher price than to European ones is indefensible. Mostly people did their best. My brother is a vocal anti-vaxxer and calls me a dupe for taking them. Personally I am satisfied with my choice to get the shots whilst knowing that they don't prevent transmission they give you a vastly improved recovery rate. I am not sure why Shane Warne died and I have no time for the conspiracy theorists - it was announced in the media that he died of natural causes.
Like you I suffered through Lincoln in the Bardo
It is very sad about Warne but I hadn't seen the comments about it being "vax" related. I must admit that I am a bit tired of everyone trying to score points off of each other with COVID and all issues surrounding it. I don't think China started it on purpose. I don't blame Trump or Biden or Fauci or Boris or Trudeau or Arderne although all of them have made mistakes in one way or another which is easy for smart alecs like me to point out after the event. I don't blame the pharmaceutical companies in the main although Moderna selling its doses to African countries at a higher price than to European ones is indefensible. Mostly people did their best. My brother is a vocal anti-vaxxer and calls me a dupe for taking them. Personally I am satisfied with my choice to get the shots whilst knowing that they don't prevent transmission they give you a vastly improved recovery rate. I am not sure why Shane Warne died and I have no time for the conspiracy theorists - it was announced in the media that he died of natural causes.
Like you I suffered through Lincoln in the Bardo
265PaulCranswick
Daily Quordle #45
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quordle.com
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Quite pleased with that! First time I played it in a while.
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quordle.com
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Quite pleased with that! First time I played it in a while.
267PaulCranswick
>266 ArlieS: Thank you Arlie. A day of fighting with the Employer on the project doesn't help my mood any either.
268BekkaJo
Oh Paul. Such a rubbish couple of years for you and your family. Everything crossed that they can work out some effective treatment. Whatever happens she will be very glad to see Hani - and Yasmyne. Love to you all.
269FAMeulstee
>241 PaulCranswick: So sorry about your mother in law, Paul. Especially hard for Hani, being so far away.
(((hugs))) to all.
(((hugs))) to all.
271PaulCranswick
>268 BekkaJo: Thank you my friend. I am of course looking forward to seeing my ladies.
>269 FAMeulstee: Thanks dear Anita. Your hugs and well wishes are always welcome and appreciated.
>269 FAMeulstee: Thanks dear Anita. Your hugs and well wishes are always welcome and appreciated.
272PaulCranswick
>270 feca67: More than welcome, Sam. I am always happy to see new members easing themselves into the group and like to visit my pals as often as I am able to.
273Caroline_McElwee
>241 PaulCranswick: So sorry to hear the news about Hani's mum. Keeping you all in my thoughts.
274PaulCranswick
>273 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. x
275hredwards
>238 richardderus: richardderus love the word Cranswickian. Sounds like something from Dickens.
276hredwards
>241 PaulCranswick: So sorry about your MIL Paul. Will be praying for you all.
277PaulCranswick
>275 hredwards: & >276 hredwards:
Lovely to see you, Harold. Thank you so much for the kind wishes.
"Cranswickian" was coined a few years ago when I was buying over a thousand books a year (I can't remember by whom but it could have been Richard alright. It apparently describes a wanton and excessive book haul.
Lovely to see you, Harold. Thank you so much for the kind wishes.
"Cranswickian" was coined a few years ago when I was buying over a thousand books a year (I can't remember by whom but it could have been Richard alright. It apparently describes a wanton and excessive book haul.
278johnsimpson
Hi Paul, so sorry to hear about your MIL mate, we are keeping you all in our thoughts mate and send special Yorkshire love and hugs.
279PaulCranswick
>278 johnsimpson: Thank you, John and much appreciated.
280RBeffa
>241 PaulCranswick: I am very sorry to read this Paul. My thoughts are with you and your family. I will hope that whatever is determined will be treatable.
281PaulCranswick
>280 RBeffa: Thank you, my friend. I have been struggling myself with a bit of stress and dizziness awhile and am perhaps not quite as strong as I like to pretend to myself.
282humouress
So sorry to hear the news about your mother in law, Paul. Hoping for the best news regarding the diagnosis.
283PaulCranswick
>282 humouress: Thank you, Nina. I pray she will be fine; Hani has had such a lot to cope with these few years.
This topic was continued by PAUL C WITH A CLEAN SLATE IN '22 - Part 11.
