Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Three

-Tim Packer (b. 1961) Canadian artist



-Sleepy Barred Owl. Local preserve.

“We need the tonic of wildness... At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

"The play of shine and shade on the trees as the supple boughs wag,
The delight alone or in the rush of the streets, or along the fields and hillsides,
The feeling of health . . . . the full-noon trill . . . . the song of me rising from bed
and meeting the sun..."

-Leaves of Grass- Whitman

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



January:

1- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 5 stars (shared read) *
2- Rooted: Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt 4.2 stars (audio)
3- Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro 3.7 stars
4- Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook 3.8 stars GN
5- White Shadow by Roy Jacobsen 4 stars
6- Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart 4.5 stars
7- The Twilight Man: Rod Serling by Koren Shadmi 4.3 stars GN
8- Wild Child: and Other Stories by T.C. Boyle 4.4 stars
9- Queenie: Godmother of Harlem by Elizabeth Colomba 4 stars GN
10- An Immense World (Nature) by Ed Yong 4.6 stars (audio)
11- Earthlings by Murata Sayaka 3 stars

February:

12- My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones 3.2 stars
13- I Hear the Sirens in the Street: Sean Duffy Novel by Adrian McKinty 4.2 stars (audio)
14- Horse by Geraldine Brooks 4.8 stars Group Read
15- Sporadic Troubleshooting: Poems by Clarence Major 4.7 stars P
16- Baby Shark (Book #1) by Robert Fate 4 stars
17- M is For Monster by Talia Dutton 3.6 stars GN
18- Trees by Percival Everett 4.2 stars
19- On the Bus with Rosa Parks: Poems by Rita Dove 4.4 stars P
20- Waco: David Koresh by Jeff Guinn 3.7 stars (audio)
21- The Red Widow by Sarah Horowitz 3.6 stars
22- Foster by Claire Keegan 4.2 stars
23- American Cult: A Graphic History of Religious Cults in America by Robyn Chapman 4 stars GN

Graphic Novel: GN
Poetry: P

^ I was able to do some shared reading, this past year, with a few of my book buddies and I really enjoyed it. I would like this to continue through 2023. Primarily, I would like to read books off shelf, but I am still catching up with a few titles that I missed in the past year. I also would like to do a few rereads. I will list some titles and if you are interested, we will set a firm date.

Demon Copperhead w/Stasia, Deb, Linda January
Horse by Geraldine Brooks Stasia, Lynda, Rhonda, Kim, Linda P February
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy reread with Joe- March
Empire of Pain w/Kim March
The Winners early April w/Stasia, Kim
Eventide by Kent Haruf Stasia, Benita, Karen O May?
The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst w/ Jeff, Benita, MDoris June
East of Eden w/MDoris, Linda P, Lynda, Meg, Paul- July
The Singapore Grip w/Benita September

For the AAC:

April- Poetry
May: John Edgar Wideman- All Stories Are True
August: Percival Everett

Hello?? Great Horned Owl chicks.

Happy February! I sure kicked off the year with a solid reading month in January, completing eleven books. I also read my first 5 star read, with Demon Copperhead and 3 others, that clocked in at around 4.5. My Challenges were successful too, guiding me to read 5 books Off Shelf. Looking to do the same this month and with reading Horse early on, I may get my wish. I will continue the AlphaKit & TIOLI. Here are some of my Feb picks:

My Heart is a Chainsaw- AlpaKit: F & J
Horse- TIOLI #10
Baby Shark- AlpaKit: F & J
The Red Widow- TIOLI #7

-Clay Bennett

>7 msf59: I sincerely hope that does not happen!

Happy new thread, Mark. I will be starting Horse tonight despite everything going on at my place.

Thanks for posting more Jackson pictures. They always bring a smile to my face.

Happy new thread, Mark!

>1 msf59: What a lovely painting!

>2 msf59: I love the photo of Jackson with the book, can't start young enough!

Happy new thread Mark!

>1 msf59: >2 msf59: >5 msf59: >6 msf59: You are winning the image wars!

Hi Mark. Your topper is stunning. Looks like stained glass. I am Canadian and Packer is new to me! So, thanks!

I picked up the Serling GN yesterday and I see that the status of my Tom Gauld request has changed today and it is *in transit* to my library for me.

Oh, happy new thread! ;-)

(my only comment for >7 msf59:, is: BARF)

Happy new thread, Marc.

>1 msf59: Lovely picture

The pictures of Jackson and the comics on your thread, make me smile.

From your list I have An Immense World lined up.

Happy new thread, Mark!

>1 msf59: Stunning topper. Happy new one!

Have you heard it's February, Mark? Hope it's just a rumor.

Lovely photos of your wee grandson and wonderful art by Tim Parker. Happy new thread too! i might just join you in June for Line of Beauty if I may!

>8 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. I am still hoping to start Horse on Friday. Glad you like the Jackson pics.

>9 FAMeulstee: >10 quondame: Thanks, Anita & Susan.

>11 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. I was scanning through works by the Group of 7 and other Canadian artists and this gem popped up. Hooray for getting the Gauld collection.

>12 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. Glad you like the pics. I am sure you will enjoy An Immense World, when you get to it.

>13 Familyhistorian: >14 figsfromthistle: Thanks Meg & Anita.

>15 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. I did hear that rumor. Thanks.

>16 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. I can never go wrong posting with Jackson pics. I hope you can join us for The Line of Beauty. Love to have you along.

Happy new one buddy!

>1 msf59: I will echo what others have already said......lovely topper. I am a tree person (I have put some of my hard earned money into investing in replenishing the deciduous forests / tree population. The artist's skills are almost photographic.

>18 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul and a big, hearty appreciation for your support of our forests. That means a lot to us all.

-Tom Gauld

Morning Mark!!
The results are in, I posted my groundhog's day prophecy on my thread.
>7 msf59: Nope, It's not going to happen. No no no!
>20 msf59: Love that
Have a spectacular day!

ETA: Happy Chapter 3!

‘Morning, Mark, sweet Thursday to you, and happy new thread.

From your last thread, I love the Why Are You Littering sign.

>1 msf59: I love that painting by Tim Packer and your owl photo.

>2 msf59: It’s always good when Jackson makes an appearance here.

>7 msf59: Evil, bad man. I wish he’d just go away.

>20 msf59: *smile*

I already need to fill the sunflower seed feeder. I've got two male Cardinals and a bunch of finches out there right now.

>21 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. Boo, to you know who! I am sure you are enjoying Horse, correct? 😁

>22 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. I see no reason why I will ever stop sharing pics of Jackson. Even if the pitchforks come out...grins. I will repost the litter sign. I love it too. Glad you got some activity at the feeders.

^One of my biggest pet peeves. I do trash pick up, as part of my volunteer duties for the forest preserves. Pretty damn bad, especially along the roadways. What is so flippin' hard about disposing of your own trash properly? Lazy bast....

>24 msf59: - Great sign. Does your forest actually post them? They should! Also, more garbage bins at regular intervals along the path might make the hint a bit more obvious. But I think you are correct about *lazy...*

Happy new one, Bird Dude!

Happy new thread! Love all the topper photos!

>20 msf59: Love it.

>24 msf59: Yup, hate it too. My sister does beach trash pickup whenever she is staying with a friend who lives by the beach. I've been known to stop someone and hand their trash back 'excuse me, you dropped something' ha.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday. Jackson reading in the elephant Charing is full of fabulous.

>24 msf59: Glad you brought this over from your previous thread. Love it.

Happy new thread, Mark!

ETA: One of this year's Caldecott Honor Books is a really cute and lovely picture book about an owl who wants to become a knight, not surprisingly called Knight Owl. Seems like a perfect one for you to read to that Jackson kiddo. Just sayin'...

>25 jessibud2: No, there are very few signs posted in the forest preserves and none like these. Grins...Actually, the trails are not bad, just a few random trash items. It is worse in the parking lots and adjacent roadways.

>26 drneutron: >27 ChelleBearss: Thanks Jim & Chelle.

>28 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. Good for your sister and good for you, on confronting one of these "jerks".

>29 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. Yep, Jack likes his elephant chair and yep, boo to those hideous litter-bugs.

>30 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. Sweet Thursday. I will add Knight Owl, (great title, BTW) to my Jackson TBR. I appreciate the rec.

Beautiful topper, Mark! Jack's pretty cute, too.

>20 msf59: Just picked up Tom Gauld's Revenge of the Librarians at (where else?) the library and am enjoying it immensely.

Happy new one!! And I just started THe Twilight Man today. : )
>2 msf59: Cutie Pie!!
>4 msf59: I am in for The Winners in April
>7 msf59: "Back Despite Popular Demand" : P
>24 msf59: LOL!! Seriously though. Pick up after yourself people!

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you. Yuck to your dangerously cold weather.

It's too early for the Bird Report, but I did have a lot of good activity yesterday with all the usual suspects.

>32 kac522: Happy Friday, Kathy. Glad you like the topper, along with the ubiquitous Jackson pics. You will have a good time with the latest Gauld. That is a promise.

>33 Berly: Hey, Kimmers. Hooray for The Twilight Man & cutie pie Jackson. I will put you down for The Winners. Boo to the asshat litterbugs.

>34 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Yep, dark here too and frigid. Good day to stay in.

Happy new thread, and happy Friday, Mark! Lovely photo toppers and Jackson pics, and congrats on such a great reading month in January :)

>36 bell7: Happy Friday, Mary and thank you. My February reading is off to pretty good start too. 😁

^I had a great Meet Up with Joe yesterday. We were way overdue. Joe invited me to the Bulls game. We stopped at the Billy Goat Tavern for sandwiches and brews beforehand. I don't watch much basketball but I really enjoyed the game and they won too.

>38 msf59: Glad to see you and Joe together again!

>38 msf59: Glad to see the dynamic reading duo. How are you holding up temp-wise in your neck of the woods? The wind chill has hit -15F here and it's dropping fast. Supposed to hit -42.

Sounds like a good meet-up!

Morning, Mark! Love the meet-up photos - thanks so much for sharing. Sounds like a fun time.

Hoping the your Friday is full of fabulous.

>38 msf59: Good times!

What a great thread, Mark! Chock full of good stuff. “Opponents were mercilessly shushed”- ha!

And what a great get-together. Cool photos. I sure enjoyed it, my friend.

I’m very interested in that Queenie GN. Good so far?

>20 msf59: Love that!

>38 msf59: I saw a picture of the meet up on Joe's thread and threatened to invade one of your meet ups at some point. . .

Happy Friday, Mark!

Happy New Thread!

Two book bullets- the Rod Serling and the new Gauld collection.

I watched my first of the new Twilight Zone on the SF channel last night. Hmmm. Not my favorite, but not bad. I'll watch again.

I don't know if I could watch the movie Women Talking. It was a wonderful but dark book.

One of the ROOTS I plan to read later this month is As Good As Gone by Larry Watson. According to my notes, you sent this one to me about five years ago. I really enjoyed Montana 1948.

Great meetup photo with Joe! Ain't it grand to be out and about again!

>39 FAMeulstee: We always have such a good time together. We would love to have more LTers join us.

>40 labfs39: Hi, Lisa. We will barely reach 10F today but we have a nice rebound tomorrow, with temps climbing to nearly 40. You are getting hit hard. Stay warm and snug, my friend.

>41 katiekrug: It certainly was, Katie. I miss the LT Meet Ups.

>42 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. Glad you like the Meet Up pics. Joe does not forget- He always says "We will be crucified if we don't share a photo". LOL.

>43 laytonwoman3rd: Absolutely, Linda.

>44 jnwelch: Happy Friday, Joe. Glad you like the new thread and Meet Up pics. We had a good time, didn't we? I finished "Queenie" about a week ago. Very good bio.

>45 alcottacre: Happy Friday, Stasia. We would love to have you join us on a Chicago Meet Up. We are way overdue.

>46 streamsong: Thanks, Janet. Great to see you. Glad I got ya with a couple of choice BBs. Women Talking is an excellent film but it can also be tough to watch at times, although nothing graphic is shown. I hope you enjoy As Good As Gone. I am a big fan of Watson.

-Mike Luckovich

DeSantis' Florida.

>38 msf59: Always good to see you two together.

>1 msf59: >2 msf59: I love these photos.
>49 msf59: This made me laugh.

Happy new thread, Mark, and love the meet-up pic!

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

>38 msf59: Excellent meet up photos of you and Joe. Three Bs – buddies, beer, and basketball. You should go to a Cubbies game this summer with Joe so it could be buddies, beer, and baseball. *smile*

>49 msf59: Luckovich always nails it.

Just getting light. I can see bird shapes out there, most likely finches, perhaps one Cardinal.

>50 Caroline_McElwee: It was a fine time, Caroline.

>51 Whisper1: Happy Saturday, Linda. Glad you like the photos.

>52 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. Always a good time hanging out with Joe.

>53 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I am not sure Joe is a Cubs fan. I think he is more of a White Sox fan, but I would love to go to a Cubs game with him, plus he lives near the stadium. Yah, for the 3 Bs. Dark in my yard too.

-Tom Gauld

>38 msf59: What a fun meet up! Glad you had a good time....did you go to a book store after?

>56 figsfromthistle: Hi, Figs. No, we went to the Chicago Bulls basketball game, after we ate. This was a night game, so no bookstores. Yep, good times.

"A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history...Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of art and science, love and obsession, and our unfinished reckoning with racism."

^I am starting Horse today. I am hosting a Group Read on this one and everyone has started it but me. Some host, right? I hope to do some catching up this weekend. Not too late, to jump in if you are interested in joining us. Here is the link:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/348116#

>55 msf59: - Don't let that wacko Florida governor see this, ok? ;-p

I am picking up the Gauld from the library later today as I return The Twilight Man, which was excellent.

>59 jessibud2: "Wacko" is a much to kind of a word for HIM!! So glad you enjoyed The Twilight Man. It sure seems to be a hit around here.



-Clay Bennett

Happy Weekend, buddy. A Cubs game sounds great. You’re right, I’m a Sox fan, but Wrigley Field with a pal can’t be beat!

>55 msf59: cracked me up. I’ll be more careful with late books. I’ve got to remember to request this Gauld.

I’m glad you enjoyed the Brubaker GN. As I mentioned, Amazon apparently is adapting his Criminal books for TV.

Afternoon, Mark! Hoping that Saturday is being kind to you.

>55 msf59: Love this.

>60 msf59: I agree that "wacko" is much too nice for De Santis. Think of that Warner brother from Animaniacs: he's Wacko. De Santis is simply evil. And where's the defiance?

>61 jnwelch: Happy Weekend, Joe. Maybe we can squeeze in a Cubs game this season. Gauld rules, right? He is a treasure. Great news about the Brubaker TV adaptation. I hope it is a success.

>62 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. I had a fine day at the Freeburg Manor. Me and Juno hanging out with the books.

>63 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Boo to the Florida Wacko! Could be a front-runner. Shudders...

“It wasn’t a good idea to speak without putting a deal of thought into it. Words could be snares. Less of them you laid out there, less likely they could trap you up. “

“...a racehorse is a mirror, and a man sees his own reflection there. He wants to think he’s from the best breeding. He wants to think himself brave. Can he win against all comers? And if not, does he have self-mastery to take a loss, stay cool in defeat, and try again undaunted? Those are the great qualities of a great racehorse and a great gentleman.”

^Well, I am finally out of the starting gate, without a hitch. 85 pages in. Not exactly a full sprint but at least an easy canter. Not sure how the rest of the group is feeling about it but I am solidly hooked, completely entranced by her butter-smooth narrative. Brooks is at the top of her game. I love these characters but I am especially rootin' for Jarret.

Hi Mark! I'm on page 101 of Horse. It's a good one so far! Like you, I'm a fan of young Jarret.

And Queenie: Godmother of Harlem was one of my Seattle purchases last week. I'll read it this month.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you! I hope you have another day of Juno and books ‘til Sue gets home.

>55 msf59: LOL

>66 EBT1002: Happy Sunday, Ellen. Always good to see you. Glad you are moving right along with Horse and I am right behind you. I hope you enjoy "Queenie". Good bio.

>67 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Sue may not be home until evening (poor thing), so I will be holding down the fort with my pal Juno.

Morning, Mark! Enjoy the quiet house today.

^We finally located a nesting GHO. This is the time of year when the females are incubating their eggs. They have nested in this spot before and it is a safe location, high up in an old tree. You probably would never spot them if you didn't know where to look. Usually, Papa is standing guard somewhere but we could not find him. The snow is nice camouflage too but will probably be gone today or tomorrow.

FYI- My photo in post #5, is the owlings in that same nesting hole. It was from a few years ago.

>69 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. Juno is curled up nearby. She is quietly waiting for her breakfast. 🐕

>70 msf59: Wow, those are great photos Mark! Looks like a Robert Bateman painting.

>65 msf59: I’m reading on Kindle and am 35% in. Clicked on the start of a chapter and it looks to be about
Page 140. I am totally engrossed in it.

>72 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. Not sure who Robert Bateman is but I am honored.

>73 lindapanzo: "I am totally engrossed in it." I love hearing this, Linda. I am just ahead of you at 154 pages.

^Northern Cardinal catching the morning sun. This was from a solo jaunt last week.

Morning, Mark!

>75 msf59: Beautiful! I do love a cardinal.

Good Monday, Mark! Awesome photos!
I’m picking up Twilight Man from the library this morning.
Can’t wait to read it but I’ve got to put it behind, Horse, of course, Spare and Your Table is Ready. Not enough hours in the day.
Have a good one!

>74 msf59: Hi Mark, Robert Bateman is a famous (for Canadians) wildlife artist. He has a number of books about birds.

>76 scaifea: Hi, Amber! Glad you like the cardinal. It seems like the males are even more beautiful in the winter.

>77 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. Glad you like the photos. I love sharing them. Looking forward to your thoughts on The Twilight Man. I am sure you will enjoy it.

>78 mdoris: I LOVE the Bateman painting, Mary. You jogged my memory. I do remember seeing and enjoying some of his work, a few years ago. He is awesome.

-Bill Bramhall

>80 msf59: - That is probably an inaccurate depiction, Mark. I thought DeSantis was from the trump school of non-readers..... (in the interview I watched last week - link on my thread - Bob Woodward actually said that trump does not read). lol

Hi Mark, I've enjoyed catching up with you here. Glad to see that you and Joe got to spend some time together and that your reading is going so well. Horse is on my list and I am not sure when I will get to it but it sounds like I will enjoy it when I do finally pick it up.

>75 msf59: Such a cool picture. He looks both bright and grumpy, a strange combination.

>81 jessibud2: You are probably right about DeSantis being a non-reader but he sure likes to ban books.

>82 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Glad you caught up. Yep, had a good Meet Up with Joe.

>83 quondame: LOL. I think this is Mr. Cardinal's normal demeanor, Susan. I think he liked the sunshine.

-Tom Gauld

>85 msf59: Very funny.

>86 Caroline_McElwee: Gauld never fails to put a smile on your face, Caroline.

Hi Mark! Yikes. Yesterday got away from me, sorry I didn’t visit.

>70 msf59: Yay for the new nesting GHO. Hope Papa Owl is safe and was just out foraging or well-camouflaged.

>75 msf59: Cardinals are wonderful to see – I’ve got a female on my feeders right now.

>80 msf59: Ugh.

>85 msf59: Rare but not unheard of…

Morning, Karen. Glad to see you all caught up. I sure like finding nesting owls. The only certainty that you will find them. I will go back, once the owlings are present. Where the tree and hole are, it is pretty safe from pressure. Papa is around, I guarantee it.

Morning, Mark! I've been hearing mixed reviews of Horse so I'm glad to see it's a winner with you so far.

Very cool to see the nesting owls. And I do love a cardinal in winter - the bright red against a backdrop of snow or stark twigs is really striking.

>85 msf59: This one made me laugh! :)

>90 bell7: Morning, Mary. Mixed reviews on Horse? Are they outta their minds? I am finding it just about perfect. There are my 2 cents...grins. Yep, those cardinals are beautiful in the winter. I have a group of five that hang out in my backyard.

-Snowy Owl- Richard Hoeg

^I follow Hoeg's blog. He is a seasoned birder from Minnesota and an excellent photographer. This snowy is gorgeous. We do get snowy owls during the winter in northern Illinois but they have been scarce this year, so I have not seen one yet. There still may be time...

Morning, Mark! Hoping your Tuesday is off to a good start.

>92 msf59: Well, that's beautiful.

>85 msf59: Ha!

Howdy, Mark
>85 msf59: Snork!
>92 msf59: Stunning!!

Not even trying to catch up, Mark, but I am glad to see that Horse is working for you.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Happy noontime to you, Mark. Did you read Bewilderment by Richard Powers? I can't imagine you didn't. Bird-watching is so integral to the story.

Hi Mark. I took advantage of a break in my schedule to catch up on your thread. Haha, my schedule makes it sound like I do important stuff, not like I’m practicing duplicate bridge online.

I loved your “horsey” comment on Horse. I envy you reading it for the first time. I’m also a little jealous of your meetup with Joe. Great pictures!

Gorgeous picture of the snowy owl. I’m glad your memory got jogged about Robert Bateman. We have one of his coffee table books of his nature photography. It’s in a stack on a bookshelf as we don’t seem to have a coffee table anymore. Haha.

>93 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. Done with my Rehab assignment. I just took Juno for a walk and now is the time to curl up with the books. Things are good here.

>94 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. I hope you are having a good day.

>95 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. Yep, I am loving Horse and I hope you are feeling the same way.

>96 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. You probably won't believe this but Bewilderment didn't quite work for me. I much preferred The Overstory. I find that odd too, since many of my pals have loved it. Go figure!

>97 Donna828: Thanks for taking the time in your grueling schedule to catch up, Donna. Grins...Yep, Horse has been wonderful and Meet Ups with Joe are always enjoyable. We would love to have more LTers join us. I had forgot about Robert Bateman. I am glad he is back on my radar. I am sure the coffee table book is stunning.

"The definitive account of the disastrous siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, from former investigative reporter Jeff Guinn...For the first time in thirty years, more than a dozen former ATF agents who participated in the initial February 28, 1993, raid speak on the record about the poor decisions of their commanders that led to this deadly confrontation."

I am a big fan of Jeff Guinn. I loved his bios on Jim Jones and Bonnie & Clyde. As soon as I heard he had a new one out, diving deep into David Koresh & his Branch Davidians, I knew I had to get to it. I am doing "Waco" on audio. I started it today.

Yeah, that one’s on my soon list.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

Too early for a bird report, too early for pretty much anything except coffee, although Jenna and I did remember to disarm our new security system before she went to the garage to get the 40 lbs of wild bird seed I bought yesterday out of my SUV and put it next to the metal can in the garage.

>100 drneutron: You are going to love it, Jim.

>101 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Too dark here too. Hooray for Jenna, for helping with the bird seed. How did the security system installation go?

^Did anyone watch the State of the Union address? I did not. I pretty much stopped watching them in the Trump era. I was reading a few positive things about last night and the heckling by those sh*theads. Glad to see Biden so unrattled. Thoughts?

^ I just finished the second season of Slow Horses. Maybe not as strong as the first season, but still very enjoyable and Gary Oldman is fantastic. What a coup getting him.

Morning, Mark!

>99 msf59: Oh, that one sounds interesting! Adding it to the list.

I didn't watch the SotU, but I've only watched them when Obama was president. *sigh*

And I've heard really good things about Slow Horses. I need to get round to watching it - I love Oldman.

Morning, Mark! I also did not watch the SotU.

>104 msf59: I think Oldman is perfect in that roll, too.

Hi Mark, I have to look at more of your planned group reads. So far, I'm 2 for 2 in really enjoying the group read books with you. Demon Copperhead was terrific but, if anything, I enjoyed Horse by Geraldine Brooks even more.

>105 scaifea: Hi, Amber. Yep, we sure miss Obama, don't we? I am sure you will really enjoy Slow Horses when you get to it, especially being an Oldman fan.

>106 Crazymamie: Hey, Mamie. Did you watch both seasons?

>107 lindapanzo: I am so glad you loved Horse so much, Linda. It definitely was an excellent read. You jumped in at the right time, as we were reading 2 established authors, both at the top their game. I recommend checking out their earlier work, which is extensive and equally rewarding.

Did you ever read Beartown? An excellent book about small town hockey. It is a first in a trilogy and we are reading the final one in April.

>108 msf59: Thanks for the info, Mark. I'd probably want to read the first one first but I'll look into that.

>109 lindapanzo: Oh, definitely read the first one before continuing. I am sure you will like it.

>103 msf59: I decided not to watch it as well. I guess I could have watched on my phone, but my TV was occupied. Plus, I don't find Biden to be particularly charismatic. Not bad, just a bit blah.

>111 The_Hibernator: Happy Wednesday, Rachel. Looks like I am not the only one not to watch the SOTU speech. I am with you- Biden isn't the smoothest orator. It sounds like he did a good job, though.

^Just crossed the finish line, on Horse, displaying a victory flag. Brooks delivers again...more comments later.

Just for you, Mark: an ornithologist and poet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f7dqDSXMUg

>114 kac522: - That was lovely, Kathy. I am going to look for his book, too!

Happy Thursday, Mark!

We saw lots of waterbirds on the lake last Saturday, mostly the usual wild ducks, tufted ducks, gadwalls, and common coots. Between them were a few Eurasian wigeons, I hadn't seen those for a long time.
I think the osprey is on his journey back north, I haven't seen it on his ususal place for more than a week now.

‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you.

>102 msf59: Security system install was almost painless – the tech accidentally broke a glass sun catcher I had on one of the windows which saddens me ‘cuz it was a gift, but I can easily repair it. He immediately told me about it and I should have probably taken down both suncatchers anyway.

>103 msf59: I did not watch it but heard snippets here and there and did hear about the sh*theads heckling and Biden being unrattled. I really do wonder if he is going for a second term or not. To be perfectly honest, I do not think that Harris has a chance of winning the Presidency if Biden doesn’t go for it. This is unfortunate but realistic and I do not want to see the Gang of Psychos in the White House again any time soon. Well. Never, actually.

>104 msf59: We don’t subscribe to AppleTV, alas, and it's not on Prime Video, Netflix, or Peacock TV, our only 3 streaming services.

>114 kac522: This was an excellent PBS profile on Drew Lanham. Thank you, Kathy. I have read his memoir The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature and you reminded me that I had wanted to read his book Sparrow Envy. It is back on my radar.

>115 jessibud2: I enjoyed his memoir The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature, Shelley.

>116 FAMeulstee: Sweet Thursday, Anita. Thanks for the waterfowl report. You know I love those. I have friends visiting Iceland at the moment and they reported seeing tufted ducks. I have seen a Eurasian Wigeon- they are rare here but do pop up from time to time, during migration.

>117 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad the installation went well. Bummer about the sun catcher. Yep, I have no idea what is going to happen in 2024. Sighs...It would be nice if Slow Horses received a wider release.

^You should check out the PBS video in post #114. Really interesting birder profile.

>119 msf59: Sparrow Envy is lovely. I have both the chapbook and the one published by Hub City.

Mark, I resent the link to register for tomorrow's virtual event with Mariam Darlington, author of The Wise Hours, to via email. But I thought I would post here too, in case any of your thread followers wanted to join. Note, the event is 2:00pm CST.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5cpTjoPoRSCXahaDWEaGPg

>120 alphaorder: >121 alphaorder: Sweet Thursday, Nancy. Always a pleasure to see you. I thought I had read Sparrow Envy but it looks like I was wrong. Did you watch the short video up here? It is really good.

Thanks for the Zoom link. I plan on participating.

^This was my bird of the day, from my Tuesday Wildlife Rehab session. It is a Peregrine Falcon. We do have them in Northern Illinois. They like nesting and hunting from tall buildings or towers, so they can usually be found along the lakefront, on the high-rises along there. Beautiful raptors.

>122 msf59: What a great piece about Drew! I hope it brings more people to his work and mission.

Sorry the rain will keep you inside, but yay for book time!

>123 msf59: I love all raptors, Mark, this is a beauty.
Why was it at the rehab center?

>124 alphaorder: Glad you watched it, Nancy. Very interesting man.

>125 katiekrug: Hey, Katie. I may slip out if we get a dry period. I would also like to walk Juno. Do you walk your dog? I know you have a nice yard. We do not.

>126 FAMeulstee: Glad you like the falcon, Anita. I do not know why the falcon was here. They don't tell me anything. 😉

>127 msf59: - We take Nuala on walks, but not regularly. She isn't the best walker - very pull-y and is part hound, so has to follow every interesting scent. But we do have a big back yard she runs around in, chasing squirrels and birds, scaring away deer, etc. And she goes to day care as another energy outlet.

"In a roadside pool hall out west of Abilene, Kristin Van Dijk, 17, is forced by four thugs to watch the murder of three men, including her pool hustler father. At eighteen, she looks for the thugs as she hustles pool in west Texas and earns the nickname Baby Shark. Revenge is difficult but satisfying."

Like many of the books, languishing on my TBR shelves, I have no idea why I acquired this title. It does sound good and it is part of a 5-book series. The other books get even higher ratings than the debut. Well, thanks to February's AlphaKit Challenge, F I plucked it off shelf and I am starting it today.

Anyone else hear of this series or the author?

Rainy Windy Thursday here. It has reading day written all over it.
I did not watch the SofU either. I think we all know the state of the Union more than the President's are willing to admit. It sounds like this one actually presented some entertainment.
Wow, your bird of the day is quite a poser. Oh those eyes look so sharp, don't they?

>128 katiekrug: We have worked with Juno, so she is very good on the leash. She is so strong, we had no choice. Bree has a huge backyard and Juno loves running around in it. Sadly, our yard is small and not fenced, so she requires walking and loves every moment of it.

>130 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. Looks like we are both dealing with some rain. A good book day. Yep, those peregrine's have great eyes.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday, my friend!

>108 msf59: Not yet. I have just watched season one, but I will get to season two.

>123 msf59: This one looks like it has a lot of personality! Great photo!

Hello, fellow dog-walker. I could use some training tips from you, Mark. Penny is a sweetheart until we get started on our daily walks. She is surprisingly strong for a 55-pounder. After about 20 minutes she slows down and we can both enjoy our walk. We have walked with her almost every day since she became ours in August of 2020 so it’s not the novelty that excites her. Any ideas will be gratefully accepted. My arms need a rest!

>133 Donna828: Sweet Thursday, Donna. We use a prong collar for Juno. That is the only thing that gets her attention. We try and keep her in the heel position. We prefer it being on our right, (the textbook side is on the left). We check her, if she goes too fast or veers off to the right. This has worked for us and you have to be consistent. We also get her to stop and sit at every intersection.

Longevity

"Thirty years from now:
She is in her backyard
in a plastic lawn chair.
He is dead.
She has in her hands his Complete Poems.

She turns the pages,
reading slowly
(slowly, like people used to read).

She come to that delightful poem,
her favorite poem in the book.
She is stunned by its symmetry,
by its climate, by its daylight.

She is amazed by its tunnels,
its muscle, its tambourines, its guitars!
She is pleased by the brushwork of its surface.
She is charmed by its lovely antlers.

She is awakeded by its bells
and by the silent film of its alter ego.
She is lurd by its flora and fauna,
by its rivers and streams.

She wakes at three in the morning
and reads it again and again.
This time she reads deeper
into its degrees of dark forest.
She is amazed by the specter
of its desert and dense jungle.

She reads it every day
for three months, swimming in the seas.

Each time she finds new adventures
in its foothills and underbrush.
She finds snowed-in mountaintops
and a glowing Sphinx!
She finds an array of winds
and clouds and rainbows.
She finds a sequence of snow and sleet
on mountain peaks.

She finds Josephine Baker
moving with ease
through Nazi checkpoints.
And finally:
She returns to her chair
in the yard
to write her own poem.”

-Clarence Major

^This is from his latest collection, Sporadic Troubleshooting: Poems. An excellent collection.

Hi Mark - if you are only getting rain in Chicago, we're getting all your snow up here.

Despite dealing with rescue dog fear aggression toward strangers,
we were old never to use a prong collar on our Chesapeake Bay retriever.
Details are online.

It's not too late to join the American Authors Challenge - both you and Joe are covered
for January which is Children's Classics! For February, Richard Powers (easier going than his usual)
GENEROSITY is set in Chicago, with many familiar landmarks.

>118 msf59: Glad you enjoyed it, Mark; I know I did. And now I've put his memoir on my WishList.

>135 msf59: I have a collection of Clarence Major's short stories: Chicago Heat and Other Stories, which I've had for a while (a gift from my husband), but is definitely on my TBR for sometime this year. I'm focusing this year on short story collections that I've had for awhile, and this one is in the pile.

>136 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. How much snow you getting? It finally stopped raining here. We took Juno to dog class and the trainer there didn't have a problem with using the prong collar if necessary. Yep, behind on my AAC reading but I will jump in during poetry month. I would also like to read another Powers book.

>137 kac522: If his short fiction is as good as his poetry, you are in for a treat, Kathy. I would love to sample some myself. Please let me know what you think. I am also curious what other story collections that you have on tap. I am a big fan of the format.

Hello Mark, My Penguin copy of East of Eden arrived today. Wow, it is whopper 714 pages. I'll still be reading it by summer! (I am a slow reader). I'm sure that you have lots presently lined up so please just let me know when I should begin. Paul was on board too for a read together. I let him know that my copy has arrived. Hope you are having fabulous day!

>138 msf59: I knew nothing about Major until I saw your post, so now he'll be moving up the pile.

I plan to read 1 or 2 collections per month. Right now I'm reading stories by Penelope Fitzgerald and Louisa May Alcott. Alcott's is only 5 stories; 3 are based on her experiences working in a hospital during the Civil War.

Other collections I have in the pile are by:
Sholom Aleichem (of "Fiddler on the Roof" fame)
A. S. Byatt
Willa Cather
Anton Chekhov
Elizabeth Gaskell
David Guterson (author of Snow Falling on Cedars)
Thomas Hardy
Katherine Mansfield
Alexander Pushkin
Ivan Turgenev
Edith Wharton
John Edgar Wideman (who will be featured in the AAC later this year)

Most of these have 8-12 stories, except the Aleichem and Cather volumes, which probably have closer to 20 stories, and the Mansfield collection has 28 stories (some very short).

>139 mdoris: Hi, Mary. I would like to do a reread of East of Eden. Could we save it for the summer- July? You could start it a month or so early, if you think you need to. I starting to get booked up. 😉

>140 kac522: That is quite a list and mostly classic authors. I have enjoyed short fiction by Chekhov and Turgenev. I did not realize Cather had a collection. What is it called? I have a copy of The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton, if you ever want to do a shared read of that one. I also like the early work of Guterson and did not realize he did short fiction. I will have to watch for your thoughts on the others.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you!

>119 msf59: I just watched the video and was charmed. What an interesting man. “…the understated beauty of brownness.” And here's a link to The Nine Rules for the Black Birder. And, from the Wikipedia article about him, He and his family live in the Upstate of South Carolina, a soaring hawk’s downhill glide from the southern Appalachian escarpment that the Cherokee once called the Blue Wall. Thanks to Nancy and then to you, Mark, for the nudge. I’ve added his memoir to my wish list.

>123 msf59: I really like this photo, thanks for sharing.

>129 msf59: Drat. A BB. This is the first of a 7-book series you know, and the first book is now on my Kindle.

Morning, Karen. Glad you liked the Lanham video. Interesting guy. Good memoir. Glad I got you with a BB and you snagged the first one. Baby Shark has been a good, fast read. I like these characters.

-The New Yorker

>144 msf59: - O. M. G.

>144 msf59: This would be more frightening if all the books remained and the little free firearms were all gone.
Hope your Friday is fabulous!

>141 msf59: I have a couple volumes of Cather's stories, the most complete one is Collected Stories. The volume I have tapped for this year is Willa Cather: 24 Stories, which are her very early stories (1892-1912) that were not part of formal collections.

>147 Carmenere: I agree, Lynda. Happy Friday.

>148 kac522: It looks like I will have to track down one of Cather's collections. Thanks, Kathy.

Hi Mark, it looks like July is a good for a group read of East of Eden and for sure i will get a bit of a jump start. All are welcome to join. Have a great day!

>141 msf59: I've read quite a few Steinbeck books but never East of Eden. I'd love to join you.

Hi Mark, TGIF! I hope you have a great weekend. I have just started a book and after two chapters I am thinking of discarding it - perhaps I will give it one more chance to grab me and read another chapter or two. This is a contemporary romance which is not my favorite genre. I am trying to be more open to discarding books that don't draw me in right away, but I find it hard to let go once I have started one.

>150 mdoris: Happy Friday, Mary. I have added East of Eden to my shared reads up in post #4. I have not read it in 20-25 years.

>151 lindapanzo: I have added you to the shared read, Linda. Yah! That didn't take long, did it? LOL.

>152 DeltaQueen50: Happy Friday, Judy. Glad to hear you are going to DNFing a book. Hey, time is precious, right?

The Statue of Liberty

More Roman than Greek
her arm raised holding a cup of light,
lighting the way, some say all the way.
Bartholdi’s colossal, a framed idea in metal
by Eiffel singing layers of garment, greened
by weather; an 1886 symbol of liberty
and independence seen from sunup till sundown
through clouds fog snow and rain
and even in lighted darkness glowing
for a long distance a goddess carrying a reminder
of that declaration taken and too often forgotten,
but not forgotten is the giver’s message of freedom.

-Clarence Major From Sporadic Troubleshooting: Poems

I have also not read East of Eden. I am planning on reading Winter of our discontent sometime this month.

Happy weekend reads ahead!

>139 mdoris: As a Steinbeck reader it has confused me that I have never been able to get far into East of Eden, I tried a number of times. I have a feeling that it had a powerful whiff of misogyny, he didn't have a good word for any of the women in those first 50 pages so I set it aside. I think I tried it first in my teens, and several times since. Will look forward to you and Mark's thoughts Mary.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

>144 msf59: Florida’s priorities are unbelevable.

>155 figsfromthistle: Hi, Anita. Winter of Our Discontent was a good late career Steinbeck. I hope you like it. Maybe it will spark you into joining us for East of Eden. Wink, wink...

>156 Caroline_McElwee: Funny, I remember having a few issues with East of Eden as well, even as a young reader. I am sure I have read it twice but I am curious how I will feel about it, at this time of my life.

>157 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Yep, Florida is a template of what our future will look like.

My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones 3.2 stars

February AlphaKit: J

Jade Daniels is a seventeen year old half-indian. Her childhood was filled with abuse and abandonment. She has taken refuge, in her love of horror films, especially the “slasher” kind.
She suddenly finds herself, living in a horror movie, with all the requisite props. I remember seeing many of these slasher films as a young adult and they were mostly pretty bad, with a couple of exceptions, like the first Halloween. This novel pays tribute to all that, with a nasty body-count and persistent killers that refuse to die. I wanted to like it more but it just wasn’t my thing. This is the first of a trilogy but I doubt I will continue.

I Hear the Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty 4.2 stars

This is the second entry in the Detective Sean Duffy series and I found it just as good as the first. I like how tough and smart he is and as a music and book lover, I like all those references. Duffy’s taste in these things is fantastic. This is the first time I listened to it on audiobook and that format works perfectly. Looking forward to #3.

*Thanks again to Katie and others for recommending this series.

Morning, Mark! Those Sean Duffy books are one of my very favorite series - I have them all on audio, and each one is full of fabulous.

Yay for Sean Duffy!

I read East of Eden in my early 20s and remember enjoying it, but I don't remember much about it. I have a hazy recollection of thinking it was very much like a soap opera.

>160 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. I am assuming you are all caught up on the Sean Duffy series? I am also glad to hear you enjoy them on audio. The Irish accent adds so much flavor to the narrative.

>161 katiekrug: Hi, Katie. Like I mentioned before, I am reading very few series books these days, but I am so glad to have been turned on to this one. East of Eden IS a soap opera. Steinbeck's first attempt at this and his last. I still think there is much to enjoy here, so I am looking forward to the reread.

>169 Familyhistorian: Yep. I'm waiting on the next installment.

>156 Caroline_McElwee: Caroline, a powerful whiff of misogyny would not sit well with me. We shall see.

Hi Mark - pure ICE up here again.

^^^^^^^^^^

Cesar Milan moved away from painful prong collars and sells a Leader Collar and Harness on Amazon.

We had a Vet chosen Dog Trainer spend 2 hours at our house and this kind is what he recommended.

>156 Caroline_McElwee: Hmm, well Adam & Eve is sort of the original misogynistic tale of our culture.

Happy weekend, Mark! That Peregrine Falcon is so beautiful.

Hi, Mark! I went looking for the show that you mentioned—“Trapped”—but I’m not sure I’m finding the right one. Could you describe the show? It’s amazing how many shows/movies have that title!

Karen O

The group read of East of Eden piqued my interest, Mark. I've never read it but have an interest in reading it. I've often thought that I should read some Steinbeck set in Salinas to get an idea of what the area was like when my great grandparent lived there in the '20s and early '30s.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday. Gonna watch the Superbowl?

>159 msf59: I acquired the McKinty series from a book donation that I stored at my house for the Friends - the donor said I could have any books I personally wanted if we'd just TAKE THEM so she could get them out of the house and wanted the Friends to have them. This was when our Library was closed and even the Friends were not allowed into the Library. I took 33 books. *smile* I also got McKinty's standalone The Chain and the first of another series, Michael Forsythe, Dead I May Well Be.

>163 Crazymamie: Hooray for being all caught up!!

>165 m.belljackson: I hope you are starting to thaw out, Marianne. 50 F here today. Thanks for the dog collar recommendation. I appreciate it.

>166 quondame: Interesting point, Susan.

>167 banjo123: Happy Sunday, Rhonda. I also love the look of the peregrine falcon.

>168 klobrien2: "Trapped" is a police drama set in Iceland. I think 10 eps. It is streaming on Amazon Prime.

>169 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Good to see you. We would love for you to join us on East of Eden. Let me know if you want me to add you up there. Also check out Cannery Row. It is much shorter too.

>170 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Yes, we are going over to my cousins for the SB. His wife is a terrific host, so there should be plenty of tasty beverages and eats. Good story about acquiring the Sean Duffy series. I hope you get a chance to start them. I completely forgot that this is the same author who wrote The Chain. You haven't read that one either, right?

Correct, haven't read any McKinty yet. But I just went over to say hi to all of McKinty's books on shelf S13 in my Sunroom, and that'll have to do for now.

>173 karenmarie: Give them a wave for me too! Not sure I will read all of them but I will certainly continue.

^Juno has become a good birding partner. We walked nearly 2 miles yesterday and she did very well. She was patient while I tracked down and ogled birds. She also passed out when we got home. LOL. ❤️🐦

Good Sunday, Mark.
I remember reading many a Steinbeck s few years ago when you hosted a year of Steinbeck. So enjoyable!
That said, count me in for East of Eden which I've never read but have seen the movie

Juno is a cutie!

>176 Carmenere: Happy Sunday, Lynda. I am so glad you will join us on East of Eden. We had a great time on the Steinbeckathon, didn't we? Joe still talks about it. And yep, Juno is a cutie.

Horse by Geraldine Brooks 4.8 stars

“...a racehorse is a mirror, and a man sees his own reflection there. He wants to think he’s from the best breeding. He wants to think himself brave. Can he win against all comers? And if not, does he have self-mastery to take a loss, stay cool in defeat, and try again undaunted? Those are the great qualities of a great racehorse and a great gentleman.”

“Only horses were honest, in the end.”

“You have to know that bigots are unwittingly handing you an edge. By thinking you're lesser than they are, they underestimate you. Lean on that. Learn to use it, and you'll get the upper hand.”

This is a story about Lexington, the greatest American racehorse. He was also a racehorse that very few people know about. The novel follows several different timelines from 1850 to 2019. Lexington’s beginnings as a promising colt, with a fine bloodline, being groomed to be a fierce competitor. The story is also about slaves and ex-slaves who worked as horse trainers and were incredibly gifted. Another historical fact, that has been lost. A very ambitious book, meticulously researched and beautifully written. Brooks is a horse lover and you can see it on every page.

**And this was a most enjoyable Group Read. Thanks to all who participated.

>172 msf59: Sure, add me to the group reading East of Eden in July, Mark. Thanks for the tip about Cannery Row.

>179 Familyhistorian: Great, Meg. I have added you to the growing list.

I have 12 working days left before the retirement. I am looking around my office and thinking "oh my! How will I ever get it cleaned out?"

>172 msf59: Found the right “Trapped”—key identifier was all the snow and ice in the picture! We watched the first episode and just loved it! Thanks again for the heads-up!

Karen O

‘Morning, Mark, happy day-after-Super Bowl Sunday. For me, yay Chiefs.

>175 msf59: Awww, sweet girl. I’m glad she’s become such a good companion on your solo birding walks.

>181 benitastrnad: Keep for other folks, take home, trash. I found it super easy in December 2015/January 2016, and it helped me to mentally let go.

When I looked out a while ago, I had a Carolina Wren on the suet feeder. I had two of them on the Suet feeder yesterday - one on each side. Other than that, I see a male Cardinal way up high in the Crepe Myrtle and a few finches going back and forth to the sunflower seed feeder.

>181 benitastrnad: 12 days?? That is so good to hear, Benita. It will go lightning fast. Good luck. When do you expect to depart AL?

>182 klobrien2: Glad you found "Trapped", Karen. I am only 3 eps in and also really enjoying it.

>183 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for the Chiefs! They played so well. Thanks for the feeder report. It is just getting light out in my backyard.

>175 msf59: Good to seethe birding buddies.

>185 Caroline_McElwee: Yep, she is a good birding buddy!!

Dawn Revisited

Imagine you wake up
with a second chance: The blue jay
hawks his pretty wares
and the oak still stands, spreading
glorious shade. If you don't look back,

the future never happens.
How good to rise in sunlight,
in the prodigal smell of biscuits -
eggs and sausage on the grill.
The whole sky is yours

to write on, blown open
to a blank page. Come on,
shake a leg! You'll never know
who's down there, frying those eggs,
if you don't get up and see.

-Rita Dove

From On the Bus with Rosa Parks

"The Trees is a page-turner that opens with a series of brutal murders in the rural town of Money, Mississippi. When a pair of detectives from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrive, they meet expected resistance from the local sheriff, his deputy, the coroner, and a string of racist White townsfolk. The murders present a puzzle, for at each crime scene there is a second dead body: that of a man who resembles Emmett Till."

I have wanted to read The Trees since it landed on the Booker short list, a year or 2 ago. In honor of Black History Month, I decided to read it. It is off to a very good start. Everett has written 30 books but I rarely ever see anyone talk about him. Has anyone here read him before?

Hi Mark. My juncos are still around and yesterday, I noticed that the goldfinches' spring coat is coming in. Not quite the brilliant gold of summer but definitely a tad more yellow that the regular winter drab. I had both these guys plus the regular red-breasted nuthatches this morning. After our mist burns off, it looks like it will be a lovely day here. 7C! In February! No complaints...

Percival Everett is our AAC author for August this year, Mark. I haven't read him, but there was considerable support for including him on the list.

>178 msf59: It was an enjoyable Group Read, Mark with active participation by the host and participants with out spoiling the book. Good job!

>188 msf59: I'll put that one on my list for the AAC challenge!
Have a wonderful Monday!

>189 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. I just counted 5 juncos. I have been seeing goldfinch regularly too. I wish we had more red breasted nuthatches visiting. I did just see a white-breasted. Yep, it has been unseasonably mild here too. Can't complain.

>190 laytonwoman3rd: Good to know, Linda. It will give me an opportunity to read another of Everett's books. I sure am enjoying The Trees.

>191 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. I am glad you joined us on Horse. Looks like we will do it again with East of Eden.

Hi Mark, I hope you're enjoying this sunny Monday. Great game yesterday. I was very happy that KC won.

I saw this article about the escapee Central Park owl and thought you might be interested. It's a Eurasian eagle owl.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/owl-escapes-from-zoo-becomes-a-new-yor....

>184 msf59:
My last day at work is February 28. I leave for Munden on March 3 to get my mother from the nursing home, or if she wants to stay, to make arrangements. Then I will be back in Alabama for most of April. Then back to Munden to stay with my sister. She is single and needs somebody to stay with her while she recuperates from having her hip replaced. I will be there 30 days, and then I hope to spend the rest of the summer in Alabama doing a bit of traveling with my former colleagues. I am going to take a short trip to New Orleans for a couple of days of eating at those restaurants that I haven't eaten at before, but wanted to. Commander's Palace, Antoine's, Dookie Chase's, Ralphs, etc. A couple of days to do the Elvis Presley Memorial Weekend Whirl to Memphis. (going to stop at his birthplace in Tupelo, MS., Graceland, hope to spend one night at the Peabody Hotel, the Lorraine Motel, then back to Tuscaloosa.) We had also planned a weeklong jaunt to Houston, TX to see the G.H.W. Bush library, to Austin, TX to see the Johnson Library, then Little Rock to see the Clinton Library. Since things have changed in Munden, I am not sure that I will get to all of that. Oh - and I planned a week long retreat to the Convent of St. Nina, just outside of Washington, D.C., but that is going to have to wait until late next fall. I have lots planned, along with the cleaning, clearing, and packing, but I don't plan on moving until November/December. I have a lease that runs to October, but the landlord told me they had no problem with me staying longer if I needed to. They just want me out by May 2024 so they can lease the houses to college students.

>188 msf59: I read The Trees last year Mark, and was very impressed, so put Everett on the potential list for AAC selection and he was chosen for August, so I will be aiming to read a novel or two more from his backlist. I was amazed I'd not heard of him til he landed on last year's booker list.

>193 lindapanzo: I had been hearing about this owl story but it is nice to read a full article about this wayward Eurasian Eagle Owl. Wishing Flaco the best. I hope she is recaptured before something bad happens. Thanks for thinking of me, Linda.

>194 benitastrnad: Wow! Lots of future plans, Benita and I am not surprised at all. I hope you do most of it. I think that is great that you are visiting presidential libraries. I have never been to one. We are going to New Orleans at the end of March. It will be my very first time. Looking forward to it.

>195 Caroline_McElwee: Glad to hear that you have read and enjoyed The Trees, Caroline. Like you, I had not heard of him, before he appeared on the Bookers list. I will try to read another of his books for the AAC.

I thought you might be interested in this, Mark: Rare Bird Alert: Steller's Sea Eagle is Back. It's an eagle from Siberia who has visited Maine twice now.

>134 msf59: Thanks for the information on the dog collar, Mark. We had a little talk with Penny about her walking manners and a prong collar. She promised to be better in the future. We may go back to the hot dog method of training. She really loved that! Haha. I loved the picture of you and Juno in >175 msf59:. She looks so happy to be trekking the trails with you.

>159 msf59: I've made a note to look into the Sean Duffy Series after Katie raved about it. One of these days...

>178 msf59: Great comments on Horse. Such a memorable book.

We are pretty happy with our Chiefs here in Southern Missouri. I'm not a big football fan but I watched the game closely and thought both teams played their hearts out.

>197 labfs39: Wow! That is an incredible sighting of a Steller’s Sea-Eagle, Lisa. The New England birders must be in a frenzy to see this glorious raptor. How far from you, is that at? Thanks for sharing.

>198 Donna828: Hi, Donna. I know there are mixed feelings about using a prong collar but our trainer promotes it, as long as it used properly. Juno is so strong and has a muscular neck, that a prong is the only thing we can use. She is usually pretty good, so some mild pressure is good enough.

I think you would like the Sean Duffy series and hooray for Horse & the Chiefs!!

Well, it looks like we are off to a good start with my shared reads. I wanted to post a couple of reminders. Joe & I are doing a reread of Blood Meridian, in early March. I have wanted to reread this one for a decade. It is a challenging read but very rewarding. Thanks to Mary and Paul for mentioning East of Eden so we put that one on the docket for July. I have read this twice but it has to be decades since the last time. Kim and I will also be doing a first time read of Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, in March, which I heard would make a good companion piece to Demon Copperhead. All are welcome.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

>188 msf59: Hmmm. Onto the wish list it goes. It sounds like something I’d really like. I’ve even put it in my Amazon shopping card, but haven’t actually ordered it yet. We’ll see.

>188 msf59: I've got The Trees on the Wishlist. Mr SandDune read it a few months ago and really enjoyed it.

>202 SandDune: Hi, Rhian. Good to see you. Glad you have The Trees on your WL. I am enjoying it.

^This Great Horned Owl was a highlight from yesterday's Rehab stint. She definitely kept a close eye on me, while I tidied up.

Morning, Mark!

>204 msf59: That is such a great photo!

>205 Crazymamie: Happy Wednesday, Mamie. I am glad you like the GHO photo. She is a beauty.

>180 msf59: Thanks Mark. I found - well, I should say, the staff found - a copy of East of Eden in a second hand bookshop yesterday. Of course, a few more books kind of leapt into my hands while I was there.

>188 msf59: I found The Trees compelling when I read it last year. It probably helped that I'm a mystery fan.

>204 msf59: She's a beaut Mark.

>207 Familyhistorian: Glad you found a copy of East of Eden, Meg and I hope you can join us in July. I am also glad to hear that you enjoyed The Trees. I am too and nearing the end.

>208 Caroline_McElwee: She certainly is, Caroline.

^ I am completely hooked on "Trapped", an Icelandic police drama streaming on Prime. I am 5 episodes in, on a 10 ep season. Laura put this terrific series on my radar. Now, I will put it on yours. 😁

>204 msf59: Such a deceptively sweet face!

>210 msf59: Oh, Trapped is excellent!! Enjoy!!!

There are so many opinions on training collars for dogs. I think a lot depends on the dog, the person at the other end of the leash, and its proper use. I'm glad the prong works for Juno. When I was a teen, I walked a neighbor's St Bernard daily and that's what they used. The dog weighed more than I did not to mention how strong she was, and it worked for us. We used Gentle Leader harnesses for both our dogs when they were younger and we were on busy sidewalks. Copper was muscular and incredibly strong when she wanted to be. Skye is just a goofy joy to walk and sticks right by me usually. :)

I'm about to start Horse. A group read of East of Eden sounds interesting. I've been thinking of a reread of either it or The Grapes of Wrath sometime this year. I read EofE in high school so it's been a while. It was a Catholic HS so we discussed a lot of the religious themes but I don't remember much more about it.

>204 msf59: Best reward of working at rehab, Mark. Must be great to see her so close.

>210 msf59: I'm so happy to see you're enjoying Trapped, Mark! We just started season 3 (which is on Netflix and called "Entrapped"), and are enjoying it too.

>75 msf59: What an incredibly beautiful bird! I enjoy learning about these magnificent creatures through you!

>211 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. Did you watch all 3 seasons of "Trapped"? Thanks for chiming in on the prong collars. They are certainly divisive but so far they are working out with Juno. I hope you enjoy Horse as much as we did and I hope you can join us for East of Eden in July. Like you, I also read it in high school. Of course, it wasn't as strong as Grapes of Wrath, but then again what is?

>212 FAMeulstee: That is definitely a bonus, Anita. It is nice that the birds stay out but most of the mammals we tend to, are tucked away sleeping.

>213 lauralkeet: Thanks for the heads-up on that one, Laura. See? We don't only warble about books. 😉

>214 Whisper1: It sure is, Linda. You know I have a thing for owls and I am happy to share my experiences with everyone. 🦉

Sweet Thursday, Mark! It's been awhile since I visited here, and thought I'd rectify that.

Glad to see Horse was such a good one. It's probably going to take me awhile to get to it, but I think I will try. I've read all of Geraldine Brooks's fiction except for that one and The Secret Chord.

Great photo of you and Juno! She looks like a most excellent birding partner.

>216 bell7: Sweet Thursday, Mary. The Secret Chord was not my favorite of Brooks' work but Horse certainly qualifies. Since Sue is still working, walking Juno is mostly my job, so getting her on my bird rambles, is a win win for both of us.

A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

"With meticulous detective work, Timothy Egan shines a light on one of the most sinister chapters in American history--how a viciously racist movement, led by a murderous conman, rose to power in the early twentieth century."

Timothy Egan may be my favorite nonfiction author. It is a crowded field, so that says a lot about this author. His latest comes out in April. Mark your calendars, NF fans.

>188 msf59: I read trees last year and enjoyed it.

>210 msf59: Looks like a fantastic series to watch. I will have to try a few episodes.

Enjoy your Thursday!

>219 figsfromthistle: Sweet Thursday, Anita. Glad to hear you liked The Trees. I will finish it today. And yes, "Trapped" has been excellent. I hope you try it out.

‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you.

>210 msf59: Added to my watch list.

I’ve got a Carolina Chickadee, two, actually, a male Cardinal, and a Tufted Titmouse here for second breakfast.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday.

I also recently watched the first episode of Trapped based on Laura's recommendation, and it was a winner for me, too. Can't wait to watch some more of it.

>215 msf59: We only just noticed Entrapped on Netflix and will probably start it tonight. John's not liking the second season of Slow Horses so I'll continue on my own. Have you watched Fortitude? It's a Nordic thriller/horror series and I always get it confused with Trapped because we watched them back-to-back and they are both cold and snowy. It's very good. I don't know where it's streaming though.

I'm more inclined to reread Grapes of Wrath but tempted by both. It's been a while since I read any Steinbeck.

Thanks for the heads up on the new Egan. My library hasn't ordered it yet so I have to remember to keep checking to get on the list.

>221 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. I am sure you will enjoy "Trapped" once you get to it. Thanks for the feeder report. Light rain here- not much happening.

>222 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. I am so glad to hear you are also watching "Trapped". It just keeps getting better. Just sayin'...

>223 Copperskye: I will watch for your thoughts on "Entrapped". I hung in there with the second season of Slow Horses. Not as good as the 1st, but I liked it, plus Oldman is so fun to watch. I had not heard of Fortitude. I will check into it. Thanks.

I hope this inspired you into reading a Steinbeck this year. He is my favorite author. And hooray for Egan. Did you read The Immortal Irishman? That was a terrific read.

...So I read Gone with the Wind because
it was big, and haiku because they were small.
I studied history for its rhapsody of dates,
lingered over Cubist art for the way
it showed all sides of a guitar at once.
All the time in the world was there, and sometimes
all the world on a single page.
As much as I could hold
on my plastic card’s imprint I took,

greedily: six books, six volumes of bliss,
the stuff we humans are made of:
words and sighs and silence,
ink and whips, Brahma and cosine,
corsets and poetry and blood sugar levels—
I carried it home, past five blocks of aluminium siding
and the old garage where, on its boarded-up doors,
someone had scrawled:

I can eat an elephant
if I take small bites.

Yes , I said, to no one in particular: That’s
what I’m gonna do!

^an excerpt from the poem Maple Valley Branch Library, 1967

This is also from Rita Dove's collection On the Bus with Rosa Parks, which I just finished. Excellent collection and also perfect for Black History Month.

>218 msf59: I'd like to do a shared NNF read with you sometime, Mark, but not that one.

I just finished a Louis L'Amour Western. Haven't read one of those in awhile. Now I'm moving on to The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. It's been an interesting read year for me. Not very many of my usual cozy mysteries so far.

Hi Mark...I'm here at last. I'm getting back to my visiting habits slowly but surely. Sweet Thursday!

>226 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. I am doing a shared read of Empire of Pain in March, if you are interested. If not, we will come up with another NNF title. What Louis L'Amour title did you read? I have not read The Thin Man is decades. I am a fan of Hammett, though.

>227 richardderus: Sweet Thursday, Richard. So glad to see you visit. I hope you are getting stronger every day.

"Determined to fashion herself into a new woman, Meg orchestrates a scandalous plan with her most powerful resource: her body. Amid the dazzling glamor, art, and romance of bourgeois Paris, she takes elite men as her lovers, charming her way into the good graces of the rich and powerful...Leaving a trail of death and disaster in her wake, she earns the name the "Red Widow"."

TIOLI #7 Read a book with either the word “Red” or “Black” in the title proper

The Red Widow is another title that Benita hand-picked for me from last year's ALA. The TIOLI challenge gave me the opportunity to finally get to it and based on the first 50 pages, Benita picked wisely once again.

>228 msf59: I read Louis L'Amour's To Tame a Land. I'm usually good for a Western every other year or so.

Hey, compadre. Man, the joint is jumping!

>92 msf59:, >123 msf59:. Nice photos!

I’m another fan of thatSean Duffy series. Its a big compliment for a series when it catches your fancy.

East of Eden turned me off of reading Steinbeck for years. Like eating a bad meal. It took the LT Steinbeckathon to bring me back.

I liked that Clarence Major poem up there, and added that collection to my WL after we discussed it at the Billy Goat Tavern.

Rita Dove is one of those “I respect but not love” poets for me.

We’re having fun with the little Energizer Bunnies. They never wear out!

I have my first 5 star read of the year and I think it will be one that you will like. It is Down From the Mountain: The Life and Death of a Grizzly Bear by Bryce Andrews. Once I started reading this one I just couldn't stop. The author is a wonderful writer. The book is part memoir and part long nature essay. What impressed me so much was that the author managed to be compassionate and yet able to recognize all the complexities that are happening because of climate change, urban sprawl, and wildlife encroachment.

The story takes place in the Mission Valley of Montana on the Flathead Indian Reservation and it has everything that makes a great story. The population of Montana has risen by 14% in the last ten years and even small towns out in the boonies of Montana are feeling the pressures caused by this migration. So are the Grizzlies, who are an endangered species. This book brings all of those problems to the fore and lays out the results in a clear cut but very compassionate way. Most of all it has real people who care about the environment who are farmers, conservationists, Native Americans and law enforcement. It is just a great story. You simply have to read this one.

>228 msf59: Seeing Patrick Radden Keefe next week and then I'll start reading Empire of Pain!!

'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday. Looks like a cold one today for you.

Too early for a bird report. I'm gonna visit a few threads, read a bit, and etc. today after a busy week.

>230 lindapanzo: I have read many Louis L'amour books, most in my youth, but not that one. You like it?

>231 jnwelch: Happy Friday, Joe. Yep, my visitors keep me hopping. I plan on continuing the Sean Duffy series. Sorry you had such a bad experience with East of Eden. You should have started with Grapes of Wrath like I did. I have read EOE twice and agree it wasn't Steinbeck at his best. I am curious to see how I feel about it now.

I will look forward to your thoughts on Clarence Major. It sounds like you have mixed feelings about Dove, but I hope you can give On the Bus with Rosa Parks a try. Good luck with those Energizer Bunnies.

>232 benitastrnad: Happy Friday, Benita. Did you see my preview of The Red Widow up there? Do you remember that book and did you get your own copy? I see it was signed. Down From the Mountain sounds exactly like my cuppa. It checks all my boxes. I will immediately add it to my list. Do you have a print copy? Your job is done here.

>233 Berly: Hey, Kimmers. Look forward to your thoughts on the author event. I will start Empire of Pain early March.

>234 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Yep, only in the 20s today. Jackson will warm us up. Thankfully we are back in the 40s tomorrow.

Morning, Mark! I wanted to let you know I started 'SIngle Drunk Female' last night and really liked it. Just two episodes in. Thanks for the rec!

>237 katiekrug: Morning, Katie. I thought it would be a good fit for you. I am 5 eps in. I am hooked. The lead is amazing.

-Clay Bennett

I am 100+ posts behind, Mark, and not even trying to catch up. I just wanted to wish you a fantastic Friday!

>239 msf59: I cannot even begin to read that. *sigh*

>225 msf59:. that's lovely!

>200 msf59: Happy Friday, Mark! I'd love to join you and Joe for Blood Meridian. I had pulled it off my shelf to read prior to reading The Passenger and Stella Maris but March is filling up and I don't think I'll be able to.
I'll look forward to your thoughts on it.

Have a great weekend!

>236 msf59:
I have a signed copy of Red Widow as well. I remember that I got two of them because there weren't many people in line for that book. Then, later, I attended a program and she was one of the featured speakers, so I decided not to off-load my second copy. Instead, you got it.

I am thinking that maybe I will have time for Empire of Pain. My last day at work will be 10 days from now, but then I will be heading to Kansas to figure out what might be going on with my mother's medical problems. I will be taking books with me. I will see if I can find my copy of Empire of Pain and take it with me.

>240 alcottacre: Happy Friday, Stasia. Good luck over the weekend.

>241 banjo123: I highly recommend that collection, Rhonda.

>242 Carmenere: Happy Friday, Lynda. We would sure like you to join us on Blood Meridian but if you can't I hope it inspires you to read it this year. Have a good weekend.

>243 benitastrnad: Well I am glad you snagged a copy of The Red Widow for me. I am at the halfway point and enjoying it. I hope we can share some thoughts on Empire of Pain.

BTW- I already snagged an audio copy of Down From the Mountain: The Life and Death of a Grizzly Bear. I am sure I will get to it soon. Sounds great.

Hi Mark, your mention of The Trees by Percival Everett intrigued me and when I checked I see I already have it on my Kindle. Will have to give it a little nudge.

Benita got me with Down From the Mountain as well. The setting is one that I familiar with from driving vacations through Montana.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

Too early for the bird report, and other than that today's soccer, reading, and puttering.

>239 msf59: I am not going down the rabbit hole of which politicans are older than 75, no indeed. The technology is there, but just no.

>246 DeltaQueen50: Happy Saturday, Judy. I hope you have The Trees on your Kindle. A worthy read. I have already grabbed a copy of Down From the Mountain on audio.

>247 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I have only glanced at my feeders, although the regulars have been decimating my seed. Hard to keep up.

Jack likes eating snow and playing with Duke, until Duke decides to leave...

The Trees by Percival Everett 4.2 stars

“Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees...”

-Strange Fruit (Lewis Allen/Billy Holiday)

“’Good morning, gentlemen. What can you tell me about Money, Mississippi?’

“’Well, it’s chock-full of know-nothing peckerwoods stuck in the prewar nineteenth century and living proof that inbreeding does not lead to extinction. ‘”

“ Everybody talks about genocides around the world, but when the killing is slow and spread over a hundred years, no one notices. Where there are no mass graves, no one notices. American outrage is always for show. It has a shelf life."

Mysterious things are happening in, Money Mississippi. White men are being killed and the body of a young black man, eerily resembling a battered Emmett Till has been left at each brutal crime scene. A pair of black detectives from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation come to town to investigate. The white townspeople are not pleased. This is a tough novel to describe- it is dark, funny, outrageous and deadly serious. Not everyone will get into the “cracker vernacular” but for those that lock in, will find plenty of issues to ponder. I guarantee this will make the Banned Book list, especially in the south. It probably already has.

*Perfect pick for Black History Month.

Happy Saturday, Mark!

Just when I thought spring was poking up its head, we're supposed to be hit with a couple inches of snow, followed by a week of zero degree temps.

Hooray! Demon Copperhead has finally arrived at the library for me. At least I'll have quality entertainment to help with the cabin fever. You hear stories that by the end of winter, old trappers holed up together would start looking at each other with murder in their eyes. I'm getting to that point, except for me, it's just me here and I watch extremely stupid TV.

I'm heading off to a Salish storytelling this morning.

>251 streamsong: Happy Saturday, Janet. Sorry about your goofy weather. Boo to the cabin fever. We are back in the 40s for the next few days. I hope you enjoy Demon Copperhead as much as we did.

I want to recommend Down from the Mountain: The Life and Death of a Grizzly Bear, which I just started. It should fit you perfectly.

>249 msf59: Jackson is funny.

>250 msf59: Thought you would like that one Mark.

>236 msf59: Loved, loved Horse! And I will be ready to start Empire of Pain in March. I am hearing Patrick Madden Keefe talk next week at a Literary Arts lecture.

>249 msf59: Cuteness as per usual. : )

Happy weekend!

Barely any snow for him to eat...but that's so cute I can feel the healing kickin up a gear from the smiles.

>253 Caroline_McElwee: You are right about Jackson, Caroline- He makes us smile and laugh continuously. Yep. The Trees is a good one.

>254 Berly: Happy Sunday, Kim. I think Horse was a big hit for most of us. Glad you could join us. Looking forward to our shared read of Empire of Pain.

>255 richardderus: Hey, RD. Yes, the snow had been diminishing at that point. Jack had to venture far out into the yard to find some. He is quite the adventurer.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you.

>248 msf59: I need to put out fresh suet today but the other feeders are still about half filled. I’ve got a female Downy, a Carolina Chickadee, a finch or two right now. A pair of Blue Jays are hanging around in the Crepe Myrtle.

>249 msf59: Heh. Sweet pics of Jackson, looks like he’s loving the snow. Their dog is bigger than he is.

"The story of a grizzly bear named Millie: her life, death, and cubs, and what they reveal about the changing character of the American West."

^Yep, Benita strikes again- She recently stopped by and mentioned that she was reading Down from the Mountain: The Life and Death of a Grizzly Bear and that she thought I would like it. I snagged the audio, finished my "Waco" book and started it yesterday. She was right!! I am really enjoying it. She has become a damn good warbler.

>257 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Thanks for the feeder report and that reminds me I need to pick up more suet too. Last time I peeked out back, I didn't see anything. I had a blue jay yesterday too. They love the peanuts.

>258 msf59:
Down From the Mountain is a good story, but the author also has a good writing style. I couldn't decide if this book was a memoir, an essay, or narrative nonfiction. I think it is a little of all three and it makes for darn good reading. I just reread the passage on the Pine Beetle and why it is now so destructive in the northern pine forests. In the past it was confined to the southern pine forests but climate change is rapidly changing that. Enjoy the book - its a goodun.

>260 benitastrnad: Thanks again, Benita. I am thoroughly enjoying it. I just finished the section about the corn. Who knew grizzlies ate corn?

>224 msf59: We enjoyed the first two series of Trapped so it's good to know there's a third series. I'll look out for Entrapped. We hated Fortitude though. We are watching series 2 of Slow Horses at the moment, and enjoying it so far.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy day after Sunday to you.

>259 msf59: Peanuts – that reminds me. Do you have a whole-peanut feeder? @harrygbutler mentioned it one year on his thread. I see that he’s not in the 75ers this year.

I've got a Carolina Wren, a female Cardinal, and a finch on my feeders right now, another finch in the Crepe Myrtle.

>262 SandDune: Hi, Rhian. Good to see you. Glad to hear you also loved "Trapped". Since another LT pal recommended "Fortitude", I will give it a try. I have the DVD set coming in. I liked both seasons of Slow Horses.

>263 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I wonder what happened to Harry? I do not have a whole-peanut feeder, although I throw out peanuts in the shell regularly. Dark here at the moment- nothing stirring.

^I know several of us have enjoyed The Twilight Man recently. The wife and I have finally started this DVD collection. It has been decades since I saw any of these. We watched 5, including the classic "Time Enough at Last", "The Hitch-Hiker" and "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street". Even little Ronnie Howard showed up in one of them. He couldn't have been more than 5 or 6.

I got a LIFER yesterday! Ann and I saw the Mandarin Duck down on the lakefront. It was our third try. It left for a while, but has been back the last few days.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2023/01/12/people-flock-to-south-...

I am appreciating my audio Rough Sleepers. Drove up to and back from Green Bay this weekend, so I got a lot of reading done.

>266 alphaorder: A mandarin duck! Such gorgeous birds. Congrats on your Lifer!

Another lovely day here with close-to-real-February weather. hoping your Lifer is the start of a streak.

>265 msf59: Thw stories hhold up well, don't they?

>266 alphaorder: >267 alphaorder: Congrats on the Mandarin duck, Nancy. Great find. I know it isn't a native bird but it is still a very exciting one. I would love to see one. Good article too. Thanks for sharing. How is Rough Sleepers?

>268 richardderus: Hey, RD. Sunny and 50 here. No complaints. We are enjoying these Twilight Zone eps.

Mark, so much to see and that is going on over here.

I enjoyed your excerpts from Rita Dove's collection. She doesn't get near enough accolades in my opinion.

>239 msf59: I do agree with her on this I'm afraid but possibly those mental acuity tests should be irrespective of age. I'm interested to see that not many are calling out Don Lemon for his incredibly crass and sexist comments on Nikki Haley not being in her prime and that a woman's prime is linked to her ability to rear kids. Rightfully stood down/sent on a holiday by CNN.

>270 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. I hope your week is off to a good start. Have you read much of Dove's poetry? I think some of her work is hit or miss but this collection was a winner. In regard to the Nikki Haley comic, I think many of us are tired of the old white guys in charge and would like to see younger candidates but that is not saying the old guys are mentally incapable. Trump would be in his 80s too. I missed the Don Lemon story. I will have to track that down.

-Harry Bliss

>272 msf59: ...but then you wouldn't carry me back, so what fun is that?

Imagine if Juno tried that out on you, Mark. Staggering home under a seventy-five-pound dog in the snow!

Happy Tuesday, Mark!! I've got my hands on twilight Man and I think Parount+ shows Twilight Zone so as I read I'll try to follow along with the episodes. What a fun late winter thing to do.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

>264 msf59: Don’t know – looks like Harry created a 75ers page last year but never really went back to it.

All the usual bird suspects. I already need to fill the sunflower and wild bird seed feeders again.

Morning, Mark! I'm another who liked Fortitude. Happy Tuesdaying to you!

>273 richardderus: Hey, RD. Juno is clocking in over 80 lbs these days. There is no way I am picking her up. She does love romping in the snow, though.

>274 Carmenere: Happy Tuesday, Lynda. Looking forward to your thoughts on The Twilight Man and I think watching some of the classic episodes, as you go along is a perfect idea.

>275 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. I hope Harry is doing okay. As soon as I walk Juno, I will top off my feeders. Quiet out there now.

>276 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. I just got home from my Rehab assignment, so missed the AM greeting. I will be dipping into "Fortitude" soon.

Foster by Claire Keegan 4.2 stars

"Part of me wants my father to leave me here while another part of me wants him to take me back, to what I know. I am in a spot where I can neither be what I always am nor turn into what I could be.”

I was completely enchanted, (and I was not alone) by Keegan's 2021 novel Small Things Like These and was very happy to see she had a new novel out. It turns out Foster was first published in 2010. However, that does not diminish how lovely this little novel is. It is a story about a pre-teenage girl who is sent to stay with relatives, in the rural Irish countryside, while her mother gives birth to a baby. She is leaving a home that is not particularly warm and loving but finally gets to experience what love and attention feels like.

As a bonus, I discovered that there is a film adaptation called "The Quiet Girl". Sadly it is not yet available in the US. 😢

**Thanks to Kathy, here is an interview with Keegan about Foster:

https://www.juliangirdham.com/blog/claire-keegan-on-foster

>278 msf59: I have this queued up and hope to get to it soon.

>278 msf59: I also enjoyed Foster, Mark. Here's an interview with Keegan about why she ended the books as she did:
https://www.juliangirdham.com/blog/claire-keegan-on-foster

'Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you.

I don't recognize which bird it is, but I hear a spring bird out there. Louise is good at recognizing bird calls but I'm not. All quiet on the feeder front right now.

>278 msf59: I just read Small Things Like These and could have gone directly to Foster (after all, it's sitting right there on my nightstand shelf), but decided to put some space between the two. I'll definitely get to it in the next couple of weeks.

>279 quondame: You could read it in one sitting, Susan. I stretched it into 2 days. I knew I wouldn't want it to end.

>280 kac522: Very nice interview. Thanks, Kathy.

>281 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. If you interested there is a Merlin app, you can download on your cell that will record and identify birdsong. As birders, we love it. A very instructive tool.

>282 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura. I think spacing out the books is a good idea. They are over so quick. ☹️

Morning, Mark! I am reading Keegan, but not one I have heard mentioned here - it's a collection of short stories called Antartica. Very good so far but also very sad, so I am pacing them.

>284 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. Ooh, let me know your final thoughts on the story collection. Boy, I sure like her writing style.

>278 msf59: Glad you liked it. Small but mighty!

The Beauty of Bareness

Jacob Lawrence
Could paint
The beauty
Of  bareness

Blacks
Moved North
Leaving
Empty
Rooms
Behind
Them

Lawrence’s genius
Was to paint
Those rooms
Left behind

Brown bare
Wooden rooms
Light brown plank walls
Dark brown plank floors

A single dark green
Shade
Covering
The window
Erasing the lush landscape

Creating a
Stark beauty
A simple beauty
A bare beauty

-William J. Harris



-Jacob Lawrence

>286 figsfromthistle: Great description, Figs.

Good morning Mark. Just cruising through, catching up on bird pics, making note of Down From the Mountain. I worry that it might be heartbreaking...? Not that a good heartbreaking read is to be avoided (ha) but I do like to be a bit prepared.

I'm reading Demon Copperhead and it is SO good. Kingsolver at her best -- and that is about as good as reading gets!

>284 Crazymamie: I went and found Forester’s Daughter and Antartica after reading the other two. I am glad to hear you are appreciating Antartica.

>289 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Good to see you. Down From the Mountain has been very good. Nothing heartbreaking yet...Love reading about grizzlies. I am so glad and not at all surprised that you are loving Demon Copperhead. My book of the year...to date.

>290 alphaorder: Big waves to Nancy!

Mark - a hardbound copy of The Migration Series is worth finding!

Juncos and Mourning Doves, plus one Cardinal here this morning and, yesterday, geese overhead to Horicon,

with our first daytime visit from Perry Possum, right up to the front porch looking for food.

>292 m.belljackson: Oh, thanks, Marianne. I want to check out more his artwork too. Thanks for the feeder report. Raining here. Nothing to see...

>287 msf59:. Good poem! I love Jacob Lawrence’s art.

>285 msf59:. Interesting review of Trees. Man, Strange Fruit is compelling and horrifying.