Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Thirteen

-Morton Arboretum. I snapped this pic a couple of years ago.



-My backyard. A house sparrow and Northern cardinal.

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



July:

55- You Better Be Lightning (Button Poetry) by Andrea Gibson 5 stars P
56- Zorrie- Laird Hunt 4.3 stars
57- Understories by Tim Horvath 4.2 stars
58- The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere. by James Spooner 4 stars GN
59- Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel 4.5 stars
60- Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence by Joel Christian Gill 4.2 stars GN
61- Gillespie and I by Jane Harris 4.3 stars
62- The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan 5 stars (audio)
63- Unseen City: Wonders of the Urban Wilderness by Nathanael Johnson 4 stars
64- Plainsong by Kent Haruf 5 stars (shared read)
65- The Cold Cold Ground (The Sean Duffy) by Adrian McKinty 4.2 stars

August:

66- Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong 3.6 stars P
67- Afterlife by Julia Alvarez 3.7 stars (shared read)
68- This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger 4 stars (audio)
69- Putin's Russia: Rise of a Dictator by Darryl Cunningham 5 stars GN
70- Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart 4.3 stars
71- Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks 4 stars
72- Ask the Dust by John Fante 4.3 stars
73- Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz 3.8 stars (audio)
74- The Con Artist by Luke Healy 4 stars GN
75- Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner 4.8 stars (shared read)

September:

76- Rogues: Grifters, Killers & Rebels by Patrick Radden Keefe 4.3 stars (audio)
77- Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra 4.2 stars
78- Kaddish: Before the Holocaust and After by Jane Yolen 4.6 stars P
79- Post Office: A Novel by Charles Bukowski 4 stars
80- Sentient by Jeff Lemire 4 stars GN
81- Blank Pages: And Other Stories by Bernard MacLaverty 4.2 stars
82- Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain 4.5 stars (audio)
83- Us Against You (Beartown Series) by Fredrik Backman 3.8 stars w/Stasia
84- Flung Out of Space: Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith by Grace Ellis 4.2 stars GN
85- Sugar Street by Jonathan Dee 3.6 stars

October:

86- To Hell on a Fast Horse: Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett by Mark Lee Gardner 3.7 stars (audio)
87- Hostage by Guy Delisle 3.8 stars GN
88- The Ski Jumpers by Peter Geye 4.3 stars
89- Waltzing the Cat (stories) by Pam Houston 4.2 stars
90- The Waiting by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim 4 stars GN
91- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 4 stars (audio)
92- The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias 3.8 stars
93- The Book of Jonas by Stephen Dau 3.6 stars
94- The Crossover Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander 4 stars GN
95- Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard 4.2 stars
96- The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life & Death in WWII by Buzz Bissinger 3.3 stars (audio)

November:

97- Shutter by Ramona Emerson 3.8 stars
98- Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton 4.5 stars GN

^ I was able to do some shared reading, with a few of my book buddies recently and really enjoyed it. I would like this to continue. Primarily, I would like to read books off shelf, but I am still catching up with a few titles that I missed reading last year. I will list some titles and if you are interested, we will set a firm date.

State of Wonder w/ Stasia, Kim, mid-Nov
The Singapore Grip w/Benita winter?
Women Talking Benita late November
Ordinary Thunderstorms Benita, Bill winter?
The Winners January w/Stasia

Kaddish

It is all here, you know,
the darkness, the light,
though sometimes difficult
to know which is which.
My people escaped the Tsar's Fists,
to find ourselves free
of the Shoah as well.
But no Jew truly escapes
that time, those places,
unscarred, unscathed.
I have no numbers on my arms,
But I have studied the charts,
the cities, the deaths,
till I know them by heart.
Knowing means remembrance.
We Jews may be short much of the time.
But our memories,
our memories are long.

- Jane Yolen

Happy new thread Mark!

>5 msf59: Alas, truth.

I will be ready for Singapore Grip when you are. I am slowly getting caught up on my own reading. Reading those books for the Kansas Author's Club put a crimp in my reading schedule. I haven't read troubles yet, but I don't think you have to read these books in order to understand them.

>6 quondame: Thanks, Susan.

>7 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I have been getting bogged down with a large stack of books but I will try to bookhorn in The Singapore Grip before year's end.

^This is our bourbon haul from Buffalo Trace Distillery. We are gifting several of these bottles. Of course, we are keeping both Blantons, one Colonel and one Wellers. The only key one we missed is Eagle Rare, which dropped on Monday morning, as we were heading back home. The Blantons was the most difficult one to get that day- We waited about 2 hours, though 2 lines. It was worth it.

**I want to add, that several of these coveted bourbons are difficult to get in Chicago, that is why me and our friends like to stock up when we get a chance.

On my last thread, Erik asked me if I had a special recipe for an old-fashioned cocktail. I am no expert and I am still experimenting, but this would make a tasty drink:

2-3ozs of a good, solid bourbon or rye, (I wouldn't bother with an excellent bourbon. Save that for a neat pour)
2-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters. Flavored ones, like black-walnut are a nice addition too.
1 tsp of simple syrup. I heard a splash of maple syrup works really well too.
1-2 Luxardo cherries, (dirty) These candied Maraschino Cherries are excellent.
a small orange peel.
one large ice cube. Stir. Enjoy.

>1 msf59: Another tree lover here, Mark.

Happy new thread, buddy.

HI Mark, Can always count on your thread for wonderful pics of babies, booze, birds and beautiful. outdoors and lots of good book ideas too. Happy new thread!

Happy new one!

Welcome back. >9 msf59: Quite a nice haul!

Happy new thread, Mark!

Hi Mark! It sounds like you had a great trip to KY. I spotted an article about the the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in the NYT a couple days ago and wondered if you'd embarked on a journalism career LOL. Nope, just one of those weird coincidences!

Happy new thread, Mark!

>9 msf59: That is some haul! Glad to know you don't keep them all for yourself ;-)

>11 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Hooray for the trees! Keep 'em coming!

>12 mdoris: Hooray for " babies, booze, birds" and lets not forget books. You gotta love the "B"s. Thanks, Mary.

>13 figsfromthistle: >14 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Figs & Meg

>15 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura. Yep, bourbon has really exploded and we are glad to be along for the ride. Do you or Chris drink bourbon?

>16 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. I promise you, whichever bourbon we keep will last us a long time. Several of these are hard to find, that is why we stock up.

Good morning, Mark, and happy new thread. Happy Wednesday, too.

>1 msf59: and >2 msf59: I love the pics, especially the one with Jackson and Juno.

>10 msf59: I remember my mom and dad making Old Fashioneds. I loved it when they made them, because I love maraschino cherries.

>17 msf59: We don't drink bourbon often, Mark. I like an old fashioned now and then but our home cocktails tend to be more vodka or gin based. Not for any particular reason ... so maybe we need to expand our horizons!

>19 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thank you. Glad you like the pics. Bree sent me the one with Jack & Juno. I don't remember many of my family members drinking old fashioneds but they definitely liked a good Manhattan, which I also enjoy.

>20 lauralkeet: I guess the key there is that you don't mind the taste of bourbon, so you should have no problem expanding your horizons at some point. I know some people just can't stand the stuff.

>9 msf59: mmm hmmm

suuuure

>2 msf59: Juno looks happy...is she undoghoused yet from her furniture critique?

...poor Jack...

Happy new one! Love the picture of your bourbon collection. 😀

Huzzah! New booze, new thread. Life is good.

>9 msf59: Very impressed with your collection there. Kind of envious of this trip right now.

Hi, Mark! Happy New Thread!

Based on how Juno looks, I think you need to get Jackson a copy of Good Dog, Carl:

>22 richardderus: Hey, RD. Juno is back here now. Out of the doghouse but back in her crate. We may need to correct some bad habits that she may have picked up on her visit, so we are keeping a close eye.

>23 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. Which of these BT products have you had?

>24 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Yep, now I need to tend to the books. They have been neglected.

>25 Oberon: Let me know your thoughts if and when you try that old fashioned recipe. How many of the Buffalo Trace products have you tried?

>26 scaifea: Thanks, Amber and Good Morning! It looks like I better track down Good Dog, Carl. It looks sweet.

>The Blantons and Weller at various tastings/pairing dinners. Loved both!

>27 msf59: Your recipe is pretty close to the NY Times:
INGREDIENTS
1 sugar cube (or 1 bar spoon simple syrup)
2 dashes Angostura bitter
2 ounces rye or bourbon
Orange twist
PREPARATION
Step 1
Muddle the sugar cube and bitters with one bar spoon of water at the bottom of a chilled rocks glass. (If using simple syrup, combine bitters and one bar spoon of syrup.) Add rye or bourbon. Stir.
Step 2
Add one large ice cube, or three or four smaller cubes. Stir until chilled and properly diluted, about 30 seconds. Slip orange twist on the side of the cube.

This is what I have typically used. I prefer to muddle the sugar cube rather than do simple syrup.

I have had Buffalo Trace Bourbon but in my ignorance I assumed that that was all there was. Even standard Buffalo Trace is hard to locate here and I had to go with a different bourbon the last time I made Old Fashioneds (which was Thanksgiving - I typically make cocktails ahead of the large family meal).

Hi Mark, it looks like you had a very successful trip to Kentucky! You are well supplied now. I love the touches of Fall that you have here on your thread, this is my favorite time of the year. We have an ornamental plum tree just outside out living room window and it's leaves are turning a lovely shade of bronze.

>2 msf59: Haha, great Jackson pics. Love the trick shot of tiny Jackson and giant Juno.

Happy new thread Mark!

>1 msf59: Lovely colours, and hey I know that bird!

>28 drneutron: Keep your eye out, in your area, for Eagle Rare and EH Taylor, Jim. I am certain you will enjoy them. Try to only pay MSRP if you can.

>29 Oberon: Thanks for sharing the NYT recipe, Erik. I had not heard of the sugar cube and the muddling. Something else to try. Do you also enjoy a neat pour from time to time?

>30 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I also like fall but I like spring slightly better. You really can't beat the lovely fall colors, that is for sure. I bet your plum tree is gorgeous.

>31 Storeetllr: Happy Wednesday, Mary. Not always easy to get Jack and Juno in same shot.

>32 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. I hope you are enjoying your fall season.

-John Darkow

Mark, Do you have a special bird seed that you use to draw cardinals to your feeder?

>33 msf59: Over ice I do. I will say I prefer a non-peaty scotch or, a big favorite, Japanese whiskey - Nikka Coffey Grain Whiskey.

Happy new thread Mark. The cardinal in your garden is so bright, a contrast to the garden birds I see.
I saw a kingfisher on my walk to work yesterday (through a park) - couldn't believe it. I've walked there for years and never seen one there before.

'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you.

I'm having lunch out with friend and Librarian Rita today, other than that just hanging out.

>35 Whisper1: Hi, Linda. I try to find a good quality bird seed mix, with more black sunflower seed and less filler. Of course, it has to be reasonably priced too. Costco offers a good brand.

>36 Oberon: I like a good scotch pour too but I have not bought one in a long time. Never had Japanese whiskey.

>37 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. Wow! It is great to see you. The male cardinal is usually the only colorful visitor we have too, although a blue jay drops by on occasion. Congrats on the kingfisher. Do you know what kind it was?
I know there are many different kinds in the world. We have the belted kingfisher.

>38 karenmarie: Sweet Thursday, Karen. Enjoy your lunch with Rita.

Barnes & Noble, 1999

I was a boy in a bookstore, “a bathhouse,” I’ll joke
when I am older. But then, I wasn’t. I was in a gallery
of things to be cracked open; all their spines & mine.
I tell you, I was a hungry pickpocket, plucking
what language I could from books & men who stood hard
before me. This is what it means to be astonishing;
to thieve speech and sense from the undeserving.
I tell you, I was a boy and they were men, so all
the words I know for this I made into small razors,
some tucked between my teeth, under my tongue,
and when they said what a good mouth I had,
I smiled, the silver glint of sharp things in me
singing, “I’ll outlive you. I’ll outlive all of you.”

-Jesús I. Valles

From Poem-A-Day

88- The Ski Jumpers by Peter Geye 4.3 stars

While in his teens, Jon Bargaard, was a rising ski jumper, along with his younger brother, Anton. Their father had been a skilled jumper too and trained them well. Jon, now in his late 50s, is a novelist and had been working on a book about his family experiences called “The Ski Jumpers” but had set is aside. Recently diagnosed with early onset- Alzheimer's, he decides to try and finish the book, while his memory remains intact.

Shifting narratives, slowly unfold Jon’s story, covering their childhood in Chicago, their success in numerous tournaments, an unlikely connection with a gangster and their eventual move to Minnesota. There is a lot here and the author handles it all with finesse and knows exactly how to keep the pages turning, packing in adventure, romance and family drama. I love reading about the upper Midwest, (I would not like to live there) and I found it interesting that the frigid temps are never mentioned- Yep, written by a true Minnesotan. This is the third book I have read by Geye and he just keeps getting better.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday.

My feeders are currently visitor-less. It must be between first and second breakfast.

>42 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Glad to see you are okay. I have not checked my feeders yet. It is still dark when I get up and then I come down to the Man-Cave. I will peek out in a bit.

-The New Yorker

It sounds like your camping trip went well, Mark, and you are well-supplied with bourbon. My husband and I are teetotalers except for my occasional glass of wine or perhaps a bit of Bailey's in my coffee on a cold winter's morning. If I went on that trip with you, I would have taken some books along and maybe even caught up with you in reading!

>41 msf59: Isn't Geye great? We had similar thoughts on the latest book. Lucky you, having two books in his backlog to catch up on. Having lived in the U.P. of Michigan, I can only say that I never got used to that extreme cold. Brrrr. I do remember going to some Olympic Ski Jumping Trials in Ishpeming one year. Fascinating but cold. Luckily, I only spent three winters in the freezing north country.

>45 Donna828: Happy Saturday, Donna. Being a teetotaler is definitely the cheaper option, that is for sure. Glad to hear from another fan of Geye. I think he is one of those under-appreciated authors. I am not a fan of the extreme cold either, although my dislike of it has faded a bit since I have retired.

"Buried in debt due to his young daughter’s illness, his marriage at the brink, Mario reluctantly takes a job as a hitman, surprising himself with his proclivity for violence. After tragedy destroys the life he knew, Mario agrees to one final job: hijack a cartel’s cash shipment before it reaches Mexico."

Benita picked me up a signed copy of The Devil Takes You Home from ALA. I had not heard of Gabino Iglesias but once I looked into him, this looks like a good fit. Benita knows me well. I started it yesterday. It has a edgy Breaking Bad vibe to it. Has anyone here read him before? Coyote Songs sounds particularly good.

I am also deep into Remarkably Bright Creatures and enjoying every bit of it. What a wonderful audio experience.

-Mike Luckovich

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you. Have a good time at Bree and Sean's tonight.

>47 msf59: Just put The Devil Takes You Home on my wish list.

>48 msf59: I hope the plaintiffs get some of the money awarded to them.

Your grandson is so adorable every time I see him, lol. Glad to see your reading is coming along!

Happy Saturday, Mark! Such wonderful toppers! You are doing spectacular things with your retirement - and hooray for being able to contemplate the coming winter knowing you won't be out there!

Remarkably Bright Creatures sounds like fun. I may have to give that a try. :)

>49 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Looking forward to going over to Brees. The Devil Takes You Home is off to a good start. Tough, gritty- the way I like it.

>50 The_Hibernator: Hi, Rachel. Always good to see you. Yep, we sure love our Jackson and agree he is one good looking kid.

>51 streamsong: Happy Saturday, Janet. Yep, all good here. Retirement continues to be wonderful. A grandson, a new dog and new camper all keep things buzzing along. Give Remarkably Bright Creatures a try. It has been a fun read.

^We had such a nice bird walk at Springbrook Prairie today, despite the chilly temps and the fall colors were popping, especially the maples. Honestly, photos don't do it justice but I try anyway. We had 30 bird species. Not shabby for mid-October.

>53 msf59: Thank you for that blast of color, even if it was ever so much better IRL.

>53 msf59: WOW! My sister in eastern Ontario says the leaves this year are the best show she has ever seen. The poor trees here on the west coast, with the prolonged drought, are just sad and drying up with a very poor show of colour.

Devil Takes You Home got Gabino Iglesias an interview on NPR (Sunday morning show.) Iglisias is a former school teacher. He taught school in San Antonio (I think it was San Antonio.) He was working in a middle school and since he speaks Spanish he thought his job was secure. It wasn't. He got laid off and then in the middle of the year, he got called back to work. He said that he hopes that being an author is steadier work than school teaching! That got a laugh from the crowd - including me. We all laughed because one of the hot topics at ALA was the problem of states changing certification requires so that schools don't have to have librarians of any kind - certified or not. He was a good speaker but the book sounded too "gritty" for me.

>54 quondame: Regardless, it is a beautiful capture.

>55 mdoris: Hi, Mary. Sorry about your poor trees in eastern Ontario. I hope they rebound.

>56 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. Thanks for your thoughts on Iglesias. He interweaves Spanish into the narrative regularly, without clearly stating what it means but it somehow works. I agree, this would be too "gritty" for you. I still have several of your books to get through. I am deciding which one to do next.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you.

Once again my feeders are birdless. I took up the hummindbird feeder early last week but still keep sunflower seeds, wild bird seed, and a suet feeder out.

>58 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. I just peeked out at the feeders and all I see are a few house sparrows. Sighs...

89- Waltzing the Cat (stories) by Pam Houston 4.2 stars

I adore linked stories and this one is exceptional. These eleven stories follow Lucy O’Rourke, (Houston’s fictionalized alter-ego) as she travels across the county working as a photographer and finding her place in the world. She loves adventure and the outdoors- the river rafting story is exhilarating. There is also plenty of romance here, with plenty of ups and downs. I had bookmarked a couple of quotes and both fell out of my book, so take my word for it, she is a terrific writer.

*Thanks to Katie, for putting this one of my radar.

>53 msf59: Stunning. Love the toppers too. Glad Jackson and Juno are getting along Mark.

>61 Caroline_McElwee: Happy Sunday, Caroline. Which photo were you referring to? And yes, Jack and Juno are getting along just fine.

For everyone who tried on the slipper before Cinderella

For those making tea in the soft light of Saturday morning
in the peaceful kitchen
in the cool house
For those with shrunken hearts still trying to love
For those with large hearts trying to forget
For those with terrors they cannot name
upset stomachs and too tight pants
For those who get cut off in traffic
For those who spend all day making an elaborate meal
that turns out mediocre
For those who could not leave
even when they knew they had to
For those who never win the lottery
or become famous
For those getting groceries on Friday nights

There is something you know
about living
that you guard with your life
your one fragile, wonderful life
wonder, as in, awe,
as in, I had no idea I would be here now.

For those who make plans and those who don’t
For those driving across the country to a highway that knows them
For the routes we take in the dark, trusting
For the roads for the woods for the dead humming in prayer
For an old record and a strong sun
For teeth bared to the wind
a pulse in the chest
a body making love to itself

There is every reason to hate it here
There is a list of things making it bearable:
your friend’s shoulder Texas barbecue a new book
a loud song a strong song a highway that knows you
sweet tea an orange cat a helping hand
an unforgettable dinner

a laugh that escapes you and deflates you
like a pink balloon left soft with room
for goodness to take hold

For those who have looked in the mirror and begged
For those with weak knees and an attitude
For those called “sensitive” or “too much”
For those not called enough
For the times you needed and went without
For the photo of you as a child
quietly icing cupcakes your hair a crackling thunderstorm

Love is coming.
It’s on its way.
Look—

-Ariana Brown From Poem-A-Day

Keep up the good work, Mark. The novel about the hit man doesn't quite hit my sweet spot; I'll give it a pass. I spent some time paging through a collection of photos titled Anonymous: Enigmatic Images from Unknown Photographers. William Boyd wrote an introduction for it, and just that short piece makes me want to sample a full book. You ever read anything he's written?

Happy Sunday, Bill. I am a fan of William Boyd. I have read three of his books. Any Human Heart was absolutely wonderful. I still have a couple more of his on shelf.

^Juno passed doggy class with flying colors. Bree took her on the final day, because we were in Kentucky.

>63 msf59: I love this poem—it went in my email save folder!

G’day!

Karen O

>66 msf59: *baaawww* I am so impressed that she passed with a different person on that very last day! Her elegant model-like out-turned foot makes her look so so cute.

Hoping for a solid reading week ahead for you, Birddude. I took some black sunflower seeds away from your cardinals by getting 2lb of sunbutter at Trader Joe's yesterday.

>67 klobrien2: Hi, Karen. Of course, I really liked that poem too. I should look up more of her work.

>68 richardderus: Hey, RD. We are proud of our girl. Yep, books are treating me fine and take as much sunflower seed as you would like. They get plenty. Not sure I have had sunbutter. Yummy?

-(NMPs)

^We had a red-breasted nuthatch stop by our feeders yesterday. This is the very first time we have seen one in the backyard. I usually see them on my walks, during migration, as they make their way from the North Woods to warmer climes. Nice looking birds. We have white-breasted nuthatches year-round.

Hi Mark. Red-breasted nuthatches are regulars at my feeder. I haven't had the feeder out all summer, thanks to those damned pigeons but I plan to get it back up this week, for the winter. Still, I can hear the nuthatches around in the neighbourhood. For such a tiny bird, they sure are loud, with their buzz-buzz-buzz!

Way to go, Juno!

>71 jessibud2: Morning, Shelley. I am glad to hear you get to enjoy red-breasted nuthatches regularly. Do you also get white-breasted? Both species are noisy.

>72 katiekrug: Morning, Katie. We are proud of her. Sue is trying to get her into the intermediate class, if our schedule works.

>73 msf59: - I have seen a white-breasted at my feeder only once. They are bigger than the reds. However, my friend out in the country gets mostly whites

‘Morning, Mark! Enjoy your bird walk.

>66 msf59: Congrats to Juno.

>70 msf59: Excellent photos! Congrats.

Did you watch Magpie Murders on PBS last night? I was impressed with the first hour of this new show. I hope to start reading Coal Miner's Daughter this week and then its sequel Still Woman Enough. I listened to her Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust a couple of years ago and thought I would get to the memoirs - but then ... Seems like a good time to start reading them now. In my first year working here at UA I stopped at her home in Hurricane Mills, TN and did the tour and just never did get the book read. I have to say that I am not a real fan of her music, but her life fascinates me. As does the lives of many of the early Country Music stars.

>75 jessibud2: Thanks for chiming in on the nuthatches, Shelley. I enjoy seeing and hearing both.

>76 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Hooray for Juno. FYI- those photos are not mine. Can't take credit.

>77 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I did not watch Magpie Murders but I remember really enjoying the book. I have not read anything else by Horowitz. I never did read Coal Miner's Daughter but loved the movie. I might read those memoirs one of these days.

I plan on starting The Mosquito Bowl soon. Another treat from you.

Glad to see you enjoyed The Waiting. I liked her Grass even more, if you ever get the urge.

Hi Mark, wow, that that is a gorgeous photo at >53 msf59:! We just don't get colour like that out here in the west. I love that picture of Juno - you can tell that she's a really good girl! I am going to add Waltzing the Cat to my list - if both you and Katie liked it - I am sure it will be a hit with me as well.

>79 labfs39: Hi, Lisa. Good to see you over here. Yep, Grass is in my GN plans. Thanks.

>80 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Glad you like the maple tree photo and yes, Juno has been a good girl. I am happy to hear you caught a BB with Waltzing the Cat. I would also highly recommend her memoir Deep Creek.

-Clay Bennett

'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you. I hope Rehab duties go well today.

>82 msf59: Logic does not apply to the new, treasonous Gang of Psychos, does it?

>83 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. Boo to the Gang of Psychos! It just never stops, right?

Answered your post on my thread, but thought I'd drop in here too: definitely interested in the book!

>65 msf59: Hi Mark - I just listened to an interview of William Boyd about his new novel: The Romantic. I remembered you were a fan. This one seems like another full life story, this time in the 19th century. It's on my TBR!

Ain't this the sad, nasty truth.

>85 drneutron: You got it, Jim.

>86 vivians: Hi, Vivian. Good to see you. Thanks for the heads up on the new Boyd. Looking forward to it.

>87 richardderus: That pretty much nails it, RD. Another shameful chapter in our messy history.

"An extraordinary, untold story of the Second World War in the vein of Unbroken and The Boys in the Boat, from the author of Friday Night Lights and Three Nights in August."

"The Mosquito Bowl was a football game between two regiments of Marines at Guadalcanal during World War II."

I have had not read this acclaimed author, despite my love of NNF. I especially wanted to read his award-winning, Friday Night Lights but never got to it. I did love the TV series, though. Well, I am getting a chance now, since Benita kindly sent me a copy of The Mosquito Bowl, from ALA. It was published in September. Since, I love listening to NF on audio, I decided to do the audio instead, with the book nearby. It is off to promising start...

>65 msf59: I checked my catalog. I have Brazzaville Beach, Restless, and Ordinary Thunderstorms on the shelf (or in a box, ahem). Of the three, Restless is the highest-rated on LT. Don't have Any Human Heart. And now >86 vivians:, Boyd has anew one coming out.

>89 msf59: This book offers an example of what I dislike intensely about Touchstones, and about much of book advertising. "Buzz Bissinger's Friday Night Lights is an American classic. With The Mosquito Bowl, he is back with a true story even more colorful and profound. This book too is destined to become a classic. I devoured it." -- John Grisham An extraordinary, untold story of the … Jeez o whiz!?! What is it about? That's what I want to know. Shove yer "colorful and profound." Spare me the "destined to become a classic."

Thank you, Wiki: "The Mosquito Bowl was a football game between two regiments of Marines at Guadalcanal during World War II."

It is so simple.

PS: Sorry for the rant. You don't compile the Touchstones, I know.

>90 weird_O: Yes! What is this book about - is it fiction or non, should be clear from the cover, at least the back if the front obscures it.

>90 weird_O: >91 quondame: That is mostly my fault. I should have put in a better description up there. I added Bill's Wiki quote.

>90 weird_O: In regard to Boyd- I also have Ordinary Thunderstorms on shelf, if you would ever be up a shared read. I am sure I have had it on shelf for years. I also have An Ice Cream War on shelf. It is one of his earliest works.

Hi Mark, trying to hang in there. We're hoping to get Dad into memory care by the end of the week. In the meantime, it's hard to concentrate on anything.

I have Ordinary Thunderstorms and would be happy to do a shared read with you. I also have two more of his books to read and several on my wishlist.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you. I hope yesterday's Rehab gig went well.

>89 msf59: The Mosquito Bowl reminds me of the football scene in M.A.S.H.. I wonder if Richard Hooker knew about the Mosquito Bowl and fictionalized it for the Korean War.

>93 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Welcome back. We have missed you. I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. Keep us updated.

>94 benitastrnad: I will add Ordinary Thunderstorms to the shared list up there, Benita. I definitely want to concentrate on the books I have on shelf.

>95 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Rehab went well. Things are getting quieter. Less animals. Good point about The Mosquito Bowl and "Mash". The author's father fought in the Pacific, leading him to this idea.

"An exceptional debut novel about a young Muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the American soldier to whom his fate, and survival, is bound."

The Book of Jonas crossed my radar a number of years ago but like many books it slowly faded away. Stasia revived my interest and also sent a copy my way, she loved it that much. I read a little of it yesterday and hope to dig in deeper today. Anyone else a fan?

I have to credit Interpreter Of Maladies for setting me on the glorious path of short fiction. Wow! What a lovely knockout. Her follow-up Unaccustomed Earth is also excellent. I own both copies. I am praying she returns to this form. Currently "Maladies" is a Kindle deal for 2 bucks:

https://www.amazon.com/Interpreter-Maladies-Jhumpa-Lahiri-ebook/dp/B003K16PBE/re...

>98 msf59: Cheap at twice the price. A beautiful book indeed!

Happy Humpday, Mark.

>99 richardderus: Happy Wednesday, Richard. Glad to hear from another Lahiri fan. Why won't she bless us with another collection? I like her novels well enough but this is her "jam"!

Happy hump day, Mark! Glad to see you're still enjoying birds and books :) I'll look forward to your thoughts on The Mosquito Bowl. Unfortunately I found that Friday Night Lights annoyed me, and the one thing I remember about it is that he spelled jerseys "jersies" throughout the book, and I just could not believe he was an actual football fan as a result.

>101 bell7: Happy Wednesday, Mary. I am enjoying The Mosquito Bowl. Sorry to hear that Friday Night Lights didn't work for you. I can see why that "jersie" thing could be irritating.

I thought that perhaps "jersie" was some kind of spell check thing so I looked that word up in the Oxford English Dictionary (the be-all and end-all of the English language) and the word "jersie" doesn't even show up. The OED considers it to be a misspelling.

It turns out that "jersey" has a fairly long history as a name for an athletic garment. Here is the third meaning for the word when it is used as a noun. The first appearance of the word in this use is in 1837.

3. a. A woollen knitted close-fitting tunic, with short or long sleeves; applied esp. to that worn as a sole covering of the body in athletic exercises and sports; also, to a similar woollen garment worn either as an outer tunic by seamen, children, etc., or as an under-shirt or under-vest; also, to a close-fitting knitted tunic or jacket worn by women.
1837 B. D. Walsh tr. Aristophanes Knights ii. iv, in Comedies 215 But though you saw poor People Δῆμος here..had no flannel-waistcoat, ne'er Have you given him a jersey.
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. v. 113 Now each house has its own uniform of football cap and jersey, of some lively colour.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. ii. 30 Here's this rough jersey which I use instead of a coat.
1880 M. E. Braddon Just as I Am vii She was not the kind of woman to encase herself in a boating Jersey because the fashion book told her that Jerseys were universally worn.
1889 G. Rawlinson Phœnicia 356 A close-fitting tunic with short sleeves, like a modern ‘jersey’.

Oddly enough is was just how he pluralized it. Jersey was right, jersies was not.

>103 benitastrnad: Thanks for your research on jersies, Benita or should it be jerseys? 😁

>104 bell7: That is definitely odd, Mary.

^Jack and his Dad.

'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you. Enjoy your birding buddy adventure.

>106 msf59: Ooh. A Sean and Jackson sighting. Very nice. That little boy sure knows how to flirt with the camera.

>106 msf59: That's my favorite of the photos so far...Dad looks so happy and Jack is clearly delighted!

Jack's a lucky lad, and Sean's a good dad. Isn't that the best?

>106 msf59: Aw! Ultimate cute.

>106 msf59: Jack is such a natural! Love that pic!

>47 msf59: Glad you’re enjoying Remarkable Creatures on audio. It’s just a lovely story.

>70 msf59: Nice shots!

ETA Congrats to Juno!

>107 karenmarie: Sweet Thursday, Karen. We had a good bird outing but it was mighty chilly. And hooray for a Sean & Jackson sighting! He is a good SIL.

>108 richardderus: Sweet Thursday, Richard. Glad you like the photo. Yep, Sean is a good Dad.

>110 quondame: Yes, indeed, Susan.

>111 Storeetllr: Sweet Thursday, Mary. Glad you like the pics. I really enjoyed Remarkable Bright Creatures. A nice refreshing break from my normal heavier reading. Those bird pics were not mine. I wish...

I am deep into reading Coal Miner's Daughter by Loretta Lynn. A couple of years ago I read Me & Patsy Kickin' Up Dust and enjoyed it. (actually, I listened to it and recommend the recorded version - it isn't long.) Since then I had wanted to read her other two memoirs and just hadn't done it. I started earlier this week on Coal Miner's Daughter and am enjoying it. However, I have to say that it is very much of her time. It was written in 1976 and there are words and terms for people that are not EVER used today in the book. Even though it is not politically correct anymore, it is an interesting story and I will continue to read it. It is only 265 pages so it won't take long. I also got her second memoir installment Still Woman Enough from the library at the same time and intend to read that one as well.

>106 msf59: That's a great pic, Mark! Sweet Thursday.

>66 msf59: Good girl, Juno!

>70 msf59: Nice! Red-breasted nuthatches are daily visitors here. They are even more tame than the chickadees. Last time I filled the feeder, one landed on it before I had it back up on the hook. The bigger white-breasted nuthatches are less frequent but still fairly regular in the yard. We had a Cooper’s hawk hanging about last weekend. The magpies and blue jays had a time getting him to move off.

>106 msf59: Great buddies! Sweet photo.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you.

Too early for a bird report, but I've seen and fed all three of our kitties. Usually only one of them, Zoe, wants canned food, but today all three were in the kitchen hovering. So naturally I had to put down 3 plates. *smile*

>113 benitastrnad: Thanks for warbling about Coal Miner's Daughter again, Benita. I may have to give that one a try.

>114 bell7: Thanks, Mary. Happy Friday.

>115 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. Yep, Juno is fitting in just fine around here. And hooray for "great buddies"! Glad to hear you have red-breasted nuthatches regularly and they are not shy. We have mostly white-breasted nuthatches through the year. Do you have any birds that come down and winter in your area?

>116 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Completely dark here too. I will peek out at the feeders later.

-Dark-eyed Junco (NMP)

The juncos are back! The Juncos are back! Yes, they are harbingers of winter but they are so gosh darn cute, we forgive them. Juncos, aka Snow Birds, are in the sparrow family. They spend the summers in the boreal forests of the north and then spend the winters in the Midwest. They love backyard feeders and we will see them regularly, until March or April. We spotted our first ones this week.



-NMP

Yay for the junco sightings! Long may they flutter.

>117 msf59: Yes, I saw our first juncos of the season last week. They are very cute and I’m always happy to have them around, except for that whole winter thing.

I just looked out the kitchen door and there’s one bopping around under the bushes.

I just found out today that there is a third memoir (sort of memoir) by Loretta Lynn. This one is Honky Tonk Girl: My Life in Lyrics. Who knew that she wrote, or recorded that much information about herself?

Hurray for the juncos! They are so cute. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for them here.

>119 richardderus: Happy Saturday, RD. Hooray for juncos and another Jackson day.

>120 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. I am glad you are able to enjoy the juncos too. Do you get a different species? I know there are 2 or 3 different kinds.

>121 benitastrnad: You are on a Loretta Lynn tear, Benita. Grins...

>122 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura. Glad to hear you also get to enjoy the juncos through the winter. Other migrating sparrows are also moving through. Do you see white-throated and white-crowned?

91- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 4 stars

Tova is a seventy-year-old woman working the night shift, cleaning the local aquarium. She is also still mourning the loss of her son, who disappeared many years ago. Cameron is an aimless young man, living in a beat-up camper and trying to pull his life together. Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus, residing at the aquarium. How this unlikely trio comes together is the heart of this story and it is a pure delight. The reviews have been wonderful on this one, I am gladly jumping on board.

*This was also fantastic on audiobook.

>124 msf59: Yay! You are certainly on the biggest bandwagon I know of, liking this book! Even *I* liked it, which is saying a lot.

Enjoy your Jackson time!

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you. Enjoy your Jackson day again today.

>126 richardderus: Hey, RD. Yep, I was honestly surprised how much you liked Remarkably Bright Creatures but it so damn likable, right?

>127 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. It has been a while since we had Jack for an over-night session. Hopefully it goes well.

92- The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias 3.8 stars

The thing about humanity is that it’s always worse than the worst you can imagine. We are base, vile creatures rutting in the muck we’ve created, our eyes looking up at a poisoned sky we’ve populated with ghosts to help us sleep at night, to allow us to come up with reasons to do the things we do.”

“It was a house that spoke of kids with no fucking chance of going to college and of angry mothers having to walk a couple of miles to the bus stop so they can go to their shitty cashier or cleaning jobs. Yeah, it was a busted house that was part of the country’s DNA. “

“...sometimes God is your copilot, but it’s the devil who takes you home.”

As you can tell from the sunny quotes I have included, this is a brutal novel. I like dark and gritty but this one travels to places I even found perversely unsettling. The story follows Mario, a man buried in medical debt, haunted by the death of his young daughter and his subsequent divorce from his wife. He desperately takes on duties as a hitman, making hefty sums of cash, and when an opportunity comes up to make a big score, so he can leave that ugly, violent life, he takes it. Of course, it involves ripping off a Mexican cartel, so you know it isn’t going to end well. Obviously, this is not for everyone but the writing is very good and if you have the stomach for it, give it a try.

>129 msf59: I'm glad it made it that high in your rankings, Mark. I'd've predicted it wouldn't, being as nihilistic as it is.

Yay for surprises like that.

>118 msf59: We have a flock of juncos here in Token Creek!

As well, the geese are again flying to Horicon to gather their buddies for the big trip south.

What does Jackson think about the bird feeders?

>130 richardderus: Hey, RD. "Nihilistic" is the perfect word to describe The Devil Takes You Home. I should have used that choice word in my review. Have you read him before?

>131 m.belljackson: Hey, Marianne. Hooray for the arriving flock of juncos. Yep, pretty soon the Sandhills will be moving through our collective areas.

"What does Jackson think about the bird feeders?" Complete indifference. LOL. But then again, he is only one. I have time.

>132 msf59: I am...I've been reading his stuff from the start! I enjoy his seriously personal style.

>118 msf59: I like the little Junco Mark.

Happy weekend, Mark! Love the Jackson pictures

>133 richardderus:
I thought he was a very interesting person and a great speaker. I was surprised that he was a Junior High school teacher (in San Antonio) before taking up writing. My surprised stemmed from the obviously dark content of his book in juxtaposition with his former profession. I would like to meet him again, but I knew that this book was not for me, just because of the way he talked about it. This was confirmed when I heard his interview on a Sunday morning on NPR's Weekend Edition. I hope he continues to write and I hope that he will eventually write something that I can read.

I am glad to hear that you have read him and think that he has some talent. I would agree with that. It is just that I didn't think that his dark corners were a place I wanted to go. Instead I spent the last month trying to figure out what the heck Giles Deleuze meant when he wrote something. :-) What is it with those French philosophers? And why do I think I need to read some of their stuff from time-to-time?

>129 msf59: You, RD and Benita have certainly stoked my interest in that one, Mark.

Have a great weekend, buddy.

>133 richardderus: Glad to hear that, Richard. I would like to read Coyote Songs. Also sounds like my cuppa.

>134 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. We are lucky to see the little juncos for the next few months.

>135 banjo123: Happy Weekend, Rhonda. No slowing down on the Jackson pics. Yah!

>136 benitastrnad: Iglesias definitely has a dark side, Benita. I will have to track down one of his interviews. Sounds like an interesting guy.

>137 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. I hope you had a good weekend too. If you have the stomach and the nerve for it, give The Devil Takes You Home a spin.

"When Mary Todd meets Abraham Lincoln in Springfield in the winter of 1840, he is on no one's shortlist to be president. Rough and reticent, he’s a country lawyer lacking money and manners, living above a dry goods shop, but with a gift for oratory...Told in the alternating voices of Mary Todd and Joshua Speed, and rich with historical detail, Louis Bayard creates a sympathetic and complex portrait of Mary unlike any that has come before."

Louis Bayard seemed to be a more popular author in my earlier LT days and I acquired a couple of his books but never pulled the trigger. I do like this style of historical fiction. I have had an ARC of Courting Mr. Lincoln for a few years now and finally decided to give this one a try. I also have The Pale Blue Eye on shelf. Any Bayard fans or detractors out there?

^Jack and I hiked the trails on Friday, taking advantage of a gorgeous fall day. He slept for a big chunk of it but is still fine company.

>140 msf59: Happy guys! Such smiles y'all have.

>139 msf59: Roosevelt's Beast was a big, fat 4-star YES from me...Courting Mr. Lincoln wasn't the same level of satisfaction for me, but the story pretty much guarantees it wouldn't be so pay me no mind on that one.

He did sort of fade away, didn't he? I guess his sales weren't what the stores wanted them to be.

Disfruit your fin de semana well.

>140 msf59: Gorgeous picture of you two boys! Makes me grin! Have a great week!

Karen O

>140 msf59: What a lovely photo of Jackson and you, Mark. The smile is almost the same :-)

>140 msf59: - Love that pic, Mark! Sweet, sweet, sweet!

>140 msf59: Hi Mark! Just dropping by to say hello as I’ve been missing in action for a few weeks. Lovely picture!

Great pics Mark!

>140 msf59: You both look like it was (or will be?) a good day!

>141 richardderus: Hey, RD. Roosevelt's Beast sounds like a good one too. I love TR stories. Courting Mr. Lincoln is off to a good start. "Disfruit your fin de semana" to you too! I had to look that one up. Love those Spanish expressions.

>142 klobrien2: >143 FAMeulstee: >144 jessibud2: Thanks, Karen, Anita & Shelley. Me and my boy!

>145 SandDune: Hi, Rhian. Great to see you. Glad you like the photo.

>146 mdoris: >147 quondame: Thanks, Mary and Susan. I love spending time with my boy.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Monday to you. Yesterday got away from me and I realize I didn’t visit.

>139 msf59: I haven’t heard of Bayard and don’t have any of his books on my shelves – I admit that I acquire books with abandon and wouldn’t have been surprised had one or two been here in the house. I occasionally like historical fiction featuring famous people.

>140 msf59: That is a wonderful pic of you and Jackson. Thanks for sharing.

>149 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. It is rare that you don't visit so you are completely forgiven. Bayard seems to specialize in writing historical fiction about notable figures. You might like this one about Mary Todd.

Glad you like the photo. Bree took a good one.

^We will be waking up here, a week from today. A resort in Cancun. An all-inclusive. Looks great, right? We are going with a large group of people, mostly members of 2 families, who kindly invited us. One couple are both celebrating their 70th birthdays. Very nice people. It should be a wonderful getaway.

I don't believe I've seen mention of this new songbird on your thread. Wouldn't that be a sighting, though?

>152 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. I had not seen this sighting reported anywhere. How very cool. Rose-breasted grosbeak and scarlet tanagers are two of my favorite summer birds. I like the way the guy discovered it too- by hearing the grosbeak singing the tanager song. You don't hear about many songbird hybrids, so this is special. Thanks for sharing.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

>151 msf59: Wow. Sounds like a wonderful time.

Too dark to see the birds yet, but when I was talking with Jenna as she was preparing her lunch and snacks for the day, a bird was trying to get in the house through the window. He/she kept fluttering against the glass. Once I turned off the breakfast room light, it gave up. Good thing, too, because the kitty door had been opened and Zoe is a fierce huntress.

>140 msf59: Nice photo of Jack and Gramps.

>151 msf59: looks perfect Mark.

>154 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. We are looking forward to our trip. Dark here too, with rain. Glad the birdie escaped Zoe's "fierce" clutches.

>155 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. We are looking forward to lying around on the beach or poolside.

>151 msf59: Pretty resort! It should be a lovely trip, if the local weather forecast holds. I hope y'all really enjoy it.

>151 msf59: Oh! Cancun is wonderful! I have fond memories of my stay there in 1990. The water was crystal clear and a gorgeous cerulean blue, the sand fine, and the weather perfect. I hope you get to take a couple of side trips to see the ruins. I loved Tulum, Chichen Itza was wow, and Coba mysterious and evocative. Can’t wait to see pics and hear all about it!

>157 richardderus: Looking forward to this trip, RD. Lots of chillin', poolside.

>158 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. Glad to hear you that you have enjoyed Cancun. This is our second trip there. The first time we visited the Chichen Ruins. Very cool place. I would like to visit Tulum too. We will see...

>151 msf59: That does look like a place to relax. I suspect there will be people all over it though, so maybe not for me.

Hi Mark, you know that I like dark and gritty so I am definitely interested in The Devil Takes You Home. I also just got myself an audio version of Remarkably Bright Creatures - so your thread has been a dangerous one for me today!

>140 msf59: Great photo of two happy guys, Mark! Sounds like the hiking was a success, even if Jack was sleeping through much of it.

I enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures, too. The Devil Takes You Home sounds dark for my taste, but I'm glad it was generally a good one for you.

How exciting to count down to a Cancun trip! I went to an all-inclusive resort for a week a few years back at my friend's wedding, and it was lovely and relaxing (for me - it decidedly was not for the bride).

>160 quondame: It does look beautiful, right? Not sure how busy it will be. I don't like crowded spaces either.

>161 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Glad I got you with a couple of BBs. I am definitely happy that you were able to snag an audio copy of Remarkably Bright Creatures. Perfect format.

>162 bell7: Happy Wednesday, Mary. Good to see you. I sure enjoy my walks with Jack. Yep, we are pumped about are Cancun trip, especially with the weather turning chilly here.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

A femle Cardinal is my only visitor right now, although a male is sitting on the edge of the gutter trying to decide whether to bother with the wild bird seed or wait for me to fill the sunflower seed feeder.

>164 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad you are seeing the cardinals. I have not peeked out at my feeders yet but the leaves have been really falling, the past few days. It is a carpet out there.

-Harry Bliss

>166 msf59: I'd be there with the kids.

Happy Humpday, fellow retiree.

>166 msf59: how true!!!!

>166 msf59: We went to an island in Malaysia once when Jacob was 13. There wasn't really anything to do other than swim, snorkel, poke about on the beach and read books. I did wonder if Jacob would get a little bit bored compared to the rest of the holiday - we were there for 5 nights in total. But he was fine - even now he can spend huge amounts of time poking about on a beach.

>167 richardderus: Happy Humpday, Richard. There will be WiFi at the resort we are staying at. B.A.G.

>168 The_Hibernator: That holds true for many adults now too. Happy Wednesday, Rachel.

>169 SandDune: Sounds like a perfect setting, Rhian. It is nice when you are "forced" to just kick back and enjoy it.

-R.J. Matson

>171 msf59: Except at least one of the signs on the red side of the fence would include something profane and/or insulting about Brandon.

‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you.

>166 msf59: I really laughed at that one – as a rule I can live without quite a bit of the technology that most people find necessary, but not having WIFI would make it harder to LT, so I can also agree with it.

>171 msf59: This country is a mess right now.

>172 Storeetllr: You are right about that, Mary. They are not subtle.

>173 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I am guilty about being tied to the internet. It just becomes such a big part of your life. But the times I cannot connect, I feel a release that I really like.

Hi again. When the internet goes down here at the house, I can connect to my laptop via my cell phone's hotspot - we have line of sight to a cell tower. It's better in the winter with less leaves on the trees, but still works fine in the summer.

>175 karenmarie:, >174 msf59: Once I figured out how the dratted hotspot works...leave the phone plugged in...I haven't been stranded the way I used to be so regularly. It's a necessity for me...I'm a shut-in, as the olden days called people like me. The internet is the way I can be sociable!

>166 msf59: Harry Bliss and Steve Martin collaborated on The New Yorker's Daily Cartoon earlier this week. A vignette of cartooning: Martin buying a caption from a taciturn street person, Bliss creating an image to enhance the tag line.

>166 msf59: Judi and I visited Acadia in Maine in late April years ago, before the season. On a rocky cliff overlooking a deserted arc of beach was a lone guy, talking on his cell phone. He was a pioneer of sorts, since Covid pushed people out of offices.

When I accompanied my older son's family racing through Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Dublin, I got a lesson on everyday life with a cell-phone coven. Five people, each with a phone, talking to each other, checking street maps, making restaurant reservations, calling taxis, searching for baggage stranded at Heathrow. Wowie wow.

>151 msf59: That is a gorgeous picture. Have fun in Paradise, Mark. Maybe you can go back again in January when the snow is flying.

>175 karenmarie: Glad you got a hotspot to fall back on, Karen. A lifesaver.

>176 richardderus: "It's a necessity for me...I'm a shut-in..." Yep, that is your lifeline, Richard. Totally understandable.

>177 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. I will try and seek out the Bliss/Martin cartoon. I enjoyed a collaboration they did awhile back. Yep, you learned a lot on your European trip with the family. Everyone is glued to a phone.

>178 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. We are looking forward to it. We did have our Mexico trip scheduled for later but this event came up and we couldn't pass it by.

-Christopher Weyant

^We are planning on doing a shared read of State of Wonder, mid-November. It is one of those Patchett novels I have been meaning to get to for years. I think it had some mixed reviews, so I am sure that is the reason I put it off. That said, I am a big fan of her work and want to see for myself. So far Stasia and I are on board, with Kim, a possibility. Anyone else want to jump in?



^I plan on following up State of Wonder, with Women Talking, another novel I have been meaning to get to. The film adaptation comes out in early December and it looks really good, with a stellar cast. If anyone wants to join me on that one too- Come on Down!!

Hi Mark, and happy Friday to you.

>180 msf59: I spend so much time shaking my head in disgust that I’m at serious risk of whiplash. Ugh.

>181 msf59: I read State of Wonder in July of 2012. I remember appreciating it, and I gave it 3.5 stars.

>182 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. There are so many spot-on political cartoons lately, that I have to share.

Glad to hear you gave State of Wonder a passing grade.

>180 msf59: I greatly fear they'll be here forever and ever no matter what we do.

Ick.

Better things come Election Day, eh what?

>129 msf59: Interesting to see that you read a book by Gabino Iglesias, Mark. I was wondering about his books. I attended a couple of sessions at SIWC (Surrey International Writers Conference) in which he was the presenter. He's a good teacher which goes along with his background teaching school. The subject of one of his talks was violence in fiction.

Nice picture of you and your walking companion up thread.

>180 msf59: *shudder*

I'm going to have to steal that one, Mark.

Hi Mark. Guess what? I put my feeder back out yesterday and waited to see how long till the word got out, that the *restaurant* was back in business. No takers yesterday but within 5 minutes of putting it out today, I had 4 red-breasted nuthatches and they have been here all day!

>184 richardderus: I voted today, RD. I am in a Democratic state, so I do not think it will do anything to stop the imminent threat.

>185 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Thanks for chiming in on Ingelsias. Have you tried any of his work? Yep, Jack has become my hiking buddy.

>186 Storeetllr: Steal away, Mary. That one is a gem. Happy Friday, my friend.

>187 jessibud2: Hooray! Great news, Shelley. I bet it was so nice to have the red-breasted nuthatches back. May the joy continues...

^I ran some errands today, several in preparation for our trip. I also made time to vote. I love early voting. I also made inquiries into being an Election Judge. I would probably do it, in the next election cycle.

I thought you would enjoy this owl rescue story Mark.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-63425826

>190 Caroline_McElwee: Happy Saturday, Caroline. I love the owl story. I can't believe how tame it was on the boat. I also love long-eared owls. I have only seen them once in the wild. Chicago is a bit out of their winter range but they do show up here from time to time.

-Laughing Gull

^Obviously, I would like to get some Lifers on this Cancun trip but I am not sure what I will see and how much time I will have to explore. Of course, brown pelicans, frigatebirds, doves and great-tailed grackles will be everywhere. Hope something cool shows up, like this gull or this jay:



-Yucatan Jay

>192 msf59: I hope you bag 'em both, Mark! The jay is gorgeous, never seen one o' those. Saturday's just *perfect* here, and I'm delighted that it's seasonable for once. I'm not sure how many more we'll get like this.

'Morning, Mark! Enjoy your busy Saturday. I hope you get lots of new lifers and a large species count on your Cancun trip.

I see one female House Finch in the Crepe Myrtle, and that's it. Yesterday afternoon a female Downy was chowing down on the suet feeder.

Have a great time, Mark. How long will you be there? And wow, that jay is stunning!

Have a good trip, Mark! Having just gotten back from a vacation full of walking, sitting by the pool/beachside sounds pretty good. Enjoy :)

Have a good time, Mark.

I would join you for reading Women Talking. Are you going to do it in early December?

>193 richardderus: Happy Saturday, Richard. I am hoping to bag 'em both too, plus several others. Glad you are enjoying some beautiful seasonal weather. We are too.

>194 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Yep, I am sure hoping to snag a few Lifers. This has been my best year ever. Thanks for the feeder report. I always enjoy getting those.

>195 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. We get back on Saturday. The flight times just did not work for returning on Sunday. Bummer!

>196 katiekrug: >197 weird_O: Thanks Katie & Wild Bill!

>198 benitastrnad: Hey, Benita. I would like to start Women Talking about the 3rd week in November. I sure hope you can join me.

>192 msf59: Oh that Jay is something! What a splendid fellow. I do hope one pays you a nice long visit.

>200 quondame: Thanks, Susan. We are staying a week and I hope to see the jay and several of his friends.

"This blood-chilling debut set in New Mexico’s Navajo Nation is equal parts gripping crime thriller, supernatural horror, and poignant portrayal of coming of age on the reservation."

I always like to try and pick the best book to take on vacation. It can't be too heavy or too deep. I usually rely of short fiction, (I am bringing along a collection too) but I settled on Shutter for my main book. I love Native American stories and this is a crime thriller. I received this debut straight from the publisher. It came out in August. I was hoping to sample it today but ran out of time. Should I bring a back-up? The story collection will be in my checked bag.

>202 msf59: That looks interesting.

>202 msf59: It will be very interesting to hear what you think of the story, Mark. I thought about asking for it but never did so I can't speak about its charms. I can say it looks like the book I'd bring on a trip!

>181 msf59: I keep put off reading both State of Wonder and Women Talking but I’m not sure about joining you next month. I’ll be interested in your thoughts on them, though!

>189 msf59: I absolutely love Colorado’s all vote by mail. No lines, no fuss. I get a text notification when the ballot is mailed out and again when it’s been collected from the drop box and accepted. It’s all so much easier to do from your kitchen table.

Have a wonderful time in Cancun!

Hi Mark! Safe, relaxing, lifer-infused times.

>203 quondame: To be determined...Happy Sunday, Susan.

>204 richardderus: I have not started it yet, Richard. As soon as I get to the airport, my friend.

>205 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. I wish you could join us on at least one of those titles. Glad to see I am not the only one who has not read them. Yep, you can't beat early voting, in person or by mail. But it offers no excuse, to get out there and VOTE!!

>206 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Ooh, lifer-infused...I like that!!

Adios, todos! We leave shortly. I will check in when I can.



-Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Another I hope to add to the list.

Enjoy, Mark.

Safe travels, Mark.

Have a great trip, Mark!

Buenos dias, from Cancun. The resort is beautiful and so is the weather, at least until this morning. Sunny, upper-80s. Raining now and will be off and on, through the day. Lots of drinking, eating and socializing. Getting some birding in too, as I walk the grounds, especially the tropical areas. Several Lifers so far. My highlight is a pair of olive-throated parakeets. Hoping to get a few more good ones. Not getting much reading done but hope to squeeze in some today. Adios, for now.

Glad to hear you've had a chance to bird in Cancun, Mark! Hope the rest of your vacation goes well.

>212 msf59: Buenos dias, Mark, good to see a message from you.
Wow, several lifers! I suppose we will hear more when you are back :-)

Have fun!

HI Mark! Happy Cancun! Soak up some sun for me! Bet you are looking forward to the time when your sidekick can also join you.

I've read and enjoyed both State of Wonder and Women Talking. I'll be watching for comments.

I had added Remarkably Bright Creatures to my library list last time I visited. This time I've added Shutter and Waltzing the Cat. O golden fingered warbler! Your thread is dangerous to me.

Hiya, buddy. I hope Cancun keeps making your dreams come true.

We’re both back from Pittsburgh, but unfortunately got walloped by a nasty virus while we were there. Ah well, it shall pass.

I read a GN you’d enjoy: Flung Out of Space: Inspired By the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith. It covers the time she was writing comics (!) and trying to get Strangers on a Train published, and after that, her lesbian novel, Carol.

Captured by momentary insanity—what else could it have been?—I lumbered into a Goodwill and came out in legal possession of an injured copy of The Sibley Guide to Birds. Lovely book. More than I'll ever be able to take in and remember.

Hope your vacay was marvelous. Could it have been otherwise? Emphatically NON!!

I'm eager to hear more about your trip, Mark. Thanks for giving us a brief update. I know it's a busy time with all that gorgeous scenery and good food, etc.

I came here to find out more about Courting Mr. Lincoln only to discover I read it in 2019. I think Covid wiped out my memory bank. Thank goodness I have LT to keep track of my reading. I gave it 3.5 stars which means it fell in the "Good" (but obviously not that memorable) catergory. Haha.

Glad you're enjoying Cancun!

Looks like you're having a great time in Cancun, Mark. Hope the weather was nice for most of the time. I agree with Joe, Flung Out of Space is a great GN. I was especially interested in the appearance of Stan Lee.

>188 msf59: I haven't read anything by Ingelsias. At least, not yet.

^This was our evening view, while we were having cocktails before dinner. Always a nice breeze blowing while we were there too. We are back home. A nice smooth flight back. A very good time with a great bunch of people, kids included. That said, it is nice to be chillin' at the homestead, especially since my son has officially moved out. Yah!! Books and football today. Oh yeah- and lots of laundry.



^These coatimundis were everywhere at the resort. Very cute, harmless scavengers. They are diurnal, so they are out rooting around for food all day. This lady was feeding them which was a no-no. This was near our room.

>209 Caroline_McElwee: >210 jessibud2: >211 banjo123: >213 bell7: >215 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Caroline, Shelley, Rhonda, Mary & Figs. It was a good trip.

>214 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita. I had a good time birding around the resort. More details about that later.

>216 streamsong: Hi, Janet. Yep, lots of time to soak up the plentiful sunshine. I would have liked more options to explore. Glad to hear you enjoyed State of Wonder & Women Talking. I will get to them soon. I am always happy to have landed some BBs your way too. Shutter turned out to be a good little supernatural thriller.

>217 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Glad to hear you had such a good time in PA with the grands. Sorry, to hear about the nasty virus. I hope you have recovered. I recently read and enjoyed Flung out of Space. Did you get the rec from me?

>218 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. We are back and we had a good time. Glad you picked up a copy of the invaluable The Sibley Guide to Birds. Enjoy perusing it from time to time.

>219 Donna828: Hi, Donna. We are glad to be back. You can only take so much eating, drinking and reclining at the pool. I did like the scenery and the wildlife watching. Glad to hear you also found Courting Mr. Lincoln a satisfying read. I want to read more of his work.

>220 The_Hibernator: We had a good time, Rachel. Thanks.

>221 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. The weather was very nice. It only rained on and off for one day. The steady breeze kept you comfortable in the 85-87F temps. I also enjoyed Flung out of Space. I hope you give Ingelsias a try but keep in mind he goes pretty dark and grisly.

Welcome home, Birddude! The coatis are so so cute...their tall pennant-like tails waving around are charming.

Yay for mancaving! (And laundry, of course.)

Hi Mark. I wanted to let you know that I finally started The Magician this morning, the ARC you sent me a year ago! It has captured my attention immediately. Yay!

I hope you are doing well!

Hugs ---

>225 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. Happy Sunday. Of course, I am feeling a bit under the weather, so I am taking it slow and easy with the books.

>226 EBT1002: Happy Sunday, Ellen. Always good to see you. We are doing great. I had completely forgot that I had sent you The Magician. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

"From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author: the essential stories across three decades that showcase his indomitable imagination. Steven Millhauser’s fiction has consistently, and to dazzling effect, dissolved the boundaries between reality and fantasy, waking life and dreams, the past and the future, darkness and light, love and lust."

I did manage to squeeze in some reading while in Mexico. I finished Shutter which I enjoyed and I started We Others: New and Selected Stories. I have only read one of his collections, Dangerous Laughter and wanted to try more. This is a lengthy collection, with small print, so I think I will read a few stories at a time and come back to it. Any Millhauser fans out there? I do not see him mentioned very often, around here. He did win the Pulitzer for his novel Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer, which I have never read.

Hi Mark! Glad you had fun. It looks lovely.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Monday to you.

>222 msf59: Love the pics, especially the one with the coatimundis.

Glad you can settle back in sans son although with tons of laundry.

Welcome back, Mark!

>229 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. It was a pretty spot.

>230 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad you like the pics. More to come. The coatis were fun to be around. Got most of the laundry done too.

>231 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. As you know, it is nice to be home and back into my routine.

-Hooded Oriole. My favorite shot of the trip. It sure helps when the bird is posing low 10 feet away. I have seen these before in both Costa Rica and Arizona. Great looking birds.

-Groove-billed Ani. Fortunate to get another close shot. The only time I saw them on this trip. Right place, right time. I have seen them before in both Mexico and Costa Rica.

-Olive-throated Parakeet. Easily my favorite sighting of the trip. I saw and heard a pair the first morning, while I was walking to the breakfast buffet. Good looks in a treetop but I did not have my camera. Fortunately, I saw them again and I was very lucky to snap a couple of photos through heavy foliage, as they were perched at the top of a tree. A Lifer.

FYI- I thought these were parrots. They were good-sized but were listed as parakeets, which I always think as being very small.

Welcome home, Mark. Did you ever manage to see the Yucatan Jay or gold-fronted woodpecker? That hooded oriole is a beauty!

>233 msf59: Snazzy dressers Mark.
>234 msf59: Quizzical looking guy.

Great shots.

>236 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. Yes, I did get the woodpecker. I did not get the jay. I kept looking diligently.



-Golden-fronted Woodpecker. Not a great photo but I did see them on at least 3 occasions. Lifer!

>237 Caroline_McElwee: Glad you like the pics, Caroline.

Love the vaca update and bird pics Mark! Sounds like a fantastic trip all around.

The oriole and the woodpecker are the most spectacular ones you saw this trip, to my eyes...such glorious colors!

And now you're all armored against the winter that Chicago will throw at you!

Welcome back to reality, Mark! I bet it was hard to leave. Always good to be home, but Cancun. Wonderful bird pics! That Ani's beak is sure different. Endearing, in a way, but definitely different. Glad you had a great time!

Welcome home, Mark! It looks like you have a spectacular time!

>239 bell7: It was a good getaway, Mary. Glad you like the pics.

>240 richardderus: Hey, RD. The oriole was definitely a beauty. The woodpecker looks very similar to our own red-bellied woodpecker. I saw one today at my feeder.

>241 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. Yep, a good trip but nice to be back home. The Ani is definitely distinctive looking. How about those parrots? I thought you might comment on those, being such a parrot lover.

>242 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. Good to see you. We had a nice trip.

-David Horsey

Welcome back, Mark. Great bird pics -- thanks for sharing them with us!

Welcome home! Beautiful birds!

>244 msf59: Lets hope most fill out that first circle... *sigh*

I read Martin Dressler years ago and was underwhelmed. It could have been me though.:)

Hey Mark,

Nice photos, especially the first Oriole. The Steven Millhauser stuff sounds intriging. I, of course, have him on the Pulitzer bucket list, but I've never read him before.

Also, in case you missed it, I hope you'll join us over at the Christmas Swap page. https://www.librarything.com/topic/345651#n7972388

It wouldn't be the same without you. :)

Welcome back!

I am glad that you were able to see so many beautiful birds.

Hi Mark, glad to see you are home again safe and sound. Looks like you saw some very colorful birds. I've been busy setting up my next years' Category Challenge - hard to believe that this year will be my 15th year at LT!

Thanks for sharing the bird pictures, Mark.
The oriole, parakeet, and woodpecker have stiking colors.
I had never heard of that ani before. Intriguing bird with the odd beak and special feathering, where you can see each feather.

Hi Mark, and happy Tuesday to you! I hope you’re on the up side of the cold.

>234 msf59: >235 msf59: >238 msf59: Yay for the woodpecker lifer.

>244 msf59: Jenna unintentionally dressed in blue today, but it's a good omen. When she gets home from work, she and I will go vote. (Bill voted by absentee ballot). We go to a nearby church, about 5 miles away. I don’t anticipate problems, although this particular part of our purple county is very red. Heads down, go vote, hope there aren’t any crazies with guns or other methods of intimidation.

>245 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. You know I like sharing my bird pics with the gang.

>246 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. Come on, full circle!! I would like to read Martin Dressler at some point, just to keep up with my Pulitzer reading.

>247 mahsdad: Thanks, Jeff. Good to see you. I think you would like the Millhauser collection. I appreciate the heads-up on the Christmas Swap. You know I will be participating.

>248 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Figs. Always nice finding birds in different locales.

>249 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. We had a good time and you know I like discovering new birds. 15 years on LT? Wow! Lets keep this train rolling.

>250 FAMeulstee: You are welcome, Anita. You know I like sharing my birds. The ani is a very unusual looking bird. I like them, because they are larger and easily recognizable.

>251 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. We have some seasonal weather for a couple of days, one very warm one and then the bottom drops out for the weekend. Ugh! I ended up adding 11 Lifers on the trip, which was better than expected. Go Jenna! Go Blue! We NEED to come out in vast numbers today.

97- Shutter by Ramona Emerson 3.8 stars

Rita Todacheene is a young Navajo woman. She is also a forensic photographer, working for the Albuquerque police department. She is very skilled and since she was a child, had the ability, or the curse, of being able to see and communicate with ghosts. This can help guide her in her work but can terrorize her on a daily basis.

Set in New Mexico’s Navajo Nation, this unique crime thriller, follows Rita as she tries to do her job, battling visions, unspeakable crimes and corrupt cops. A solid, debut but not for the faint-hearted.

*Anyone interested in this title, PM me and I will send it your way.

^Social Flycatcher. Another Lifer and one I got very good looks at. Similar to the Great Kiskadee, which I also saw. I had eleven Lifers on this trip. Better than expected.

-Agouti. Other than the droves of coatimundis we saw regularly, we also saw these large rodents, also diurnal, scurrying past, always solo and much shyer. Related to the guinea pig, they are common in Central and South America.

Agouti. I would have guessed capybara but ony because I know nothing of the agouti. Looks like a tailless squirrel.

That social flycatcher is beautiful! Are both those pics of the same bird?

>256 msf59: Ugh, agoutis! Big huge messy rats! (that's my South-Texas roots showin')

>255 msf59: Beautiful birdos. I think they're also see-able in Mercedes, IIRC; something a lot like it is, anyway.

Happy Election Day. I've done my civic duty with a great deal of fear.

>254 msf59: Oooh, Shutter sounds like my kind of book! Thanks for the offer, but unless the text is large, I wouldn't be able to read it. I'll see if I can snag an e-copy from the library though. ETA I reserved the audio of Shutter. Do you think it will be good as an audiobook?

>243 msf59: Yes, I love parrots and parrotlets and parakeets, but I've seen most of them before. I never saw an Ani before. That's why I only commented on it. I still like to see pics of parrots, and the real thing, of course.

>244 msf59: Exactly.

>255 msf59: Beautiful! Congrats on seeing so many Lifers!

>256 msf59: You sure saw a lot of exotic creatures! I'd say those are definitely ROUS.

>257 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Yes, the agouti is a squirrel on steroids. They are pretty big. Yes, both of those flycatcher pics are of the same bird.

>258 richardderus: Hey, RD. Not sure how messy these agoutis are but they seem to be mostly veggie/fruit eaters. Glad you like the bird pics and yah, for getting out to vote.

>259 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. The print size in Shutter was pretty good but I am glad you grabbed the audio. I think it will work just fine. Let me know how the narrator is.

I knew you were a big parrot fan. Yes, the Ani is a pretty cool bird. ROUS??

>254 msf59: That looks like a keeper, Mark. I will go and look for it.

Nice to see you had a good trip and discovered plenty of 'wildlife'.

Whoohoo for all the lifers!! Oh, and Hi! And, yes, I found my copy of State of Wonder. Good to go whenever you and Stasia want.

>261 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. Good to see you. Shutter doesn't seem to be your usual fare but please, give it a try.

>262 Berly: Hey, Kimmers! Hooray for the Lifers! I should be able to start State of Wonder next week. Glad you are going to join us.

^We missed Halloween with Jackson but Bree & Sean took him trick or treating. I think he was a pirate. 😁

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you.

>255 msf59: Gorgeous birds, and congrats on 11 Lifers.

>256 msf59: Great pics, weird critter.

>263 msf59: I read State of Wonder in July of 2012. I don't remember much about it besides the fact that I liked it.

edited to add: >264 msf59: What a sweet pic. Sorry you missed Halloween with Jackson/Bree/Sean.

>265 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. I think I did pretty well in Cancun, while solo birding. My diligence paid off. Glad you were a fan of State of Wonder.

"In pursuit of the wild, solitary, predatory octopus, popular naturalist Sy Montgomery has practiced true immersion journalism. From New England aquarium tanks to the reefs of French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico, she has befriended octopuses with strikingly different personalities..."

^I should have started The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, immediately after finishing Remarkably Bright Creatures. It appears to be the perfect companion piece. Well, it has only been 3 weeks, so not so bad. I just started the audiobook and I like her warm style. I know this has been a popular title around here but I just kept missing it.

>267 msf59:
Sy Montogmery is a popular children's nonfiction author. We have tons of her books in our children's collection. An author you should consider for Jackson when he gets old enough to want facts to sate his curiosity.

>267 msf59: Currently reading The Soul of an Octopus as well. I have enjoyed it thus far.

>267 msf59: That was a delight of a book! So glad it's making a good impression on you, too.

>268 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Good to see you. Have you read any Sy Montogmery that you could recommend?

>269 Oberon: Hey, Erik. Glad to hear you are also reading The Soul of an Octopus. It has been a good read.

>270 richardderus: Happy Wednesday, RD. Glad to hear to are another fan of The Soul of an Octopus. What took me so long?

"Lucy Barton is a writer, but her ex-husband, William, remains a hard man to read. William, she confesses, has always been a mystery to me. Another mystery is why the two have remained connected after all these years. They just are."

I mentioned that I would probably take a break from my story collection and start something else. I am less than halfway (it is over 380 pages) and I am really enjoying it. I am a big Strout fan. I have read 6 of her novels, including My Name Is Lucy Barton & Anything is Possible so I felt it was time to finally get to Oh, William which has been out just over a year and then I can get to Lucy by the Sea.

>264 msf59: Yep, he looks all "Arrh matey, hand over the candies!"

>260 msf59: Rodents Of Unusual Size. (Remember The Fire Swamp? In Princess Bride?)

ETA >264 msf59: That smile! Adorable!

and

>267 msf59: I just snagged an audiobook of this!

>273 quondame: Hooray for our little pirate!!

>274 Storeetllr: Oh, that is right, Mary. ROUS. LOL. Hooray for the Jackson smile. Glad you grabbed The Soul of an Octopus on audio. It is a good format for this one.

^Yah, I discovered a book I might just like. Conversations with Birds came out this week. Double Yah!!

>264 msf59: Very cute! Whatever he is, he is having fun!

>267 msf59: Sounds interesting.

Congratulations on your 11 Lifers! Well done.
And the Agoutis, they all look like Capibaras to me.

'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you.

Can't see the birds yet and need to fill the sunflower seed feeder and change out the suet feeder. I also need to replenish the water in the bird bath. Fun stuff, actually.

>272 msf59: I'm happy to see you're reading Oh William!, Mark. The Lucy Barton books theoretically can be read standalone but there is an order to things and I think you'll enjoy Lucy by the Sea more for having read its "prequel".

>277 EllaTim: Sweet Thursday, Ella. Hooray for Pirate Jackson and thanks in regard to my Lifers. It was a good trip. Capybaras are from South America and have longer hair, but are the same type of large rodent.

>278 karenmarie: Sweet Thursday, Karen. Too dark to see my feeders too but nothing much happening out there lately. Mostly sparrows and chickadees.

>279 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura. I am also glad to be reading Oh, William. I am such a fan of her. I will try not to let too much time pass before getting to Lucy by the Sea.

98- Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton 4.5 stars

Before launching her career as a successful cartoonist and penning her popular Hark a Vagrant series, Kate Beaton left her hometown in Nova Scotia to work in the oil sands of Alberta, which was booming at the time. She was buried in student debt and this was one of the best opportunities available for her, despite the isolation and grueling conditions.
This graphic memoir details her two years spent there. It was not easy for Beaton or for the many thousands of other workers stationed there and being one of the few women, made it even more difficult. She was subjected to sexual harassment, in its many guises, along with the long, grinding hours. The book also looks at the environmental issues placed on the land, the wildlife and it’s indigenous people by these monster oil companies. The writing and artwork are excellent and I highly recommend it. Warning- issues of sexual assault.

>275 msf59: Started Soul of an Octopus last evening on audio and am already halfway through! It’s so good. You’re right about it being a good companion read to Remarkably Bright Creatures, which I read a few months ago and now want to read again.

>282 msf59: An interesting book but not for me. Too many pop-off baddies.

Glad it was a good read, and hoping Soul of an Octopus works as well as you want it to.

>282 msf59: Pleased to see you found this to be a good read too, Mark. :)

Sad News: Sue's Dad died this morning. Been a tough day...

>286 msf59: {{{Sue}}}

I'm so very sad for this awful passage for all the Freeburgs.

So sorry to hear this, Mark. Condolences to you all, especially Sue.

>286 msf59: I'm so sorry, Mark, for all of you. It's not easy to lose a parent or parent-in-law. Bless you all.

Karen O.

Mark - What a sad time for All of You - so sorry to hear this.
Blessings to Sue and your Family.

Oh I'm sorry, Mark. Thinking of your family, and especially Sue, in your loss.

My condolences to Sue and the rest of your family.

I am sorry for your loss.

((hugs))

Sending my condolences to Sue and you and your family.

I'm so sorry Mark. May Sue's fond memories of her dad sustain her. My condolences to you as well. Sending hugs.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I will pass them along to Sue. He was a good father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be missed. He would have been 80 next month.

Time to start a new thread, before heading over to see my Jackson...

>286 msf59: Oh, no! I’m so sorry, Mark. Condolences to Sue, and to you and all the family. 😢

I'm sorry Sue has lost her father, Mark. That's a tough one. Peace and strength to all who loved him.

So sorry to hear of Sue's and your loss, Mark. I know from recent experience that the days ahead will have tears and memories in abundance.

>298 Storeetllr: >299 laytonwoman3rd: >300 PaulCranswick: Thank you very much, Mary, Linda & Paul. I will pass on the kind words to Sue.

Sorry to hear about Sue's dad. Keeping you in my thoughts.

>302 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. Much appreciated.