PAUL C IN 23 (17)

PLACES I AM READING :

For the August BAC I am reading Winchelsea which is a tale of smugglers, derring do and seamanship with a few twists. A sort of modern Moonfleet. Here is the beach at Winchelsea.

The Opening Words

Just my opinion but I think Amanda does a better and far more consistent job of administering the British Author Challenge than I ever did. For August she has gone for Seafaring books and I have chosen to read a modern take on smugglers a la Moonfleet. Winchelsea by Alex Preston is my choice:



"I'd left the curtains open that night, the drapes of my bed too, so that the fire in the Hundred Place painted the walls of my chamber with fading reds. I lay with my feet arched around the bed-warmer, knees up, blankets to my chin. When I closed my eyes, I could still see fragments of light from the rockets, squibs and crackers fizzing off to explode over the marshes, lighting for an instant all the dark reaches of damp land."

Interested...............................?

BOOKS COMPLETED - Q1

January
1. The King's Fool by Mahi Binebine (2017) 125 pp Fiction / ANC / Morocco
2. The Golden Ass by Apuleius (c 170) 216 pp Fiction / ANC / Tunisia / 1001
3. Driftnet by Lin Anderson (2003) 262 pp Thriller / Rhona MacLeod 1
4. The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff (1954) 292 pp Fiction / BAC
5. Free : Coming of Age at the End of History by Lea Ypi (2021) 310 pp Non-Fiction / NF Challenge
6. The Bridges of Constantine by Ahlem Mosteghanemi (1993) 305 pp Fiction / ANC / Algeria
7. Bloodlines by Fred D'Aguiar (2000) 161 pp Poetry / BAC
8. Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan (1958) 372 pp Fiction / 1001
9. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (2008) 300 pp Fiction / AAC
10. U.A. Fanthorpe : Selected Poems by U.A. Fanthorpe (2013) 153 pp Poetry
11. In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar (2006) 245 pp Fiction / ANC / Libya
12. Foundation : The History of England Volume 1 by Peter Ackroyd (2011) 462 pp Non-Fiction
13. Closed Circles by Viveca Sten (2009) 451 pp Thriller / Sandhamn 2
14. The Albemarle Book of Modern Verse edited by FES Finn (1961) 181 pp Poetry
15. Brooklyn Heights by Miral al-Tahawy (2012) 220 pp Fiction / ANC / Egypt
16. The Midnight Bell by Patrick Hamilton (1929) 221 pp Fiction
17. The Siege of Pleasure by Patrick Hamilton (1932) 118 pp Fiction
18. The Plains of Cement by Patrick Hamilton (1934) 188 pp Fiction
19. The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov by Vladimir Nabokov (1995) 663 pp Fiction / Short Stories
20. The Madness of Crowds by Douglas Murray (2019) 267 pp Non-Fiction
21. The Death of Murat Idrissi by Tommy Wieringa (2017) 102 pp Fiction
22. Foster by Claire Keegan (2010) 88 pp Fiction

February
23. Torch by Lin Anderson (2004) 230 pp Thriller / Rhona MacLeod 2
24. Things I Don't Want to Know by Deborah Levy (2003) 163 pp Non-Fiction
25. The Book of Chameleons by Jose Eduardo Agualusa (2004) 180 pp Fiction / ANC / Angola
26. Dearly by Margaret Atwood (2020) 122 pp Poetry
27. The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante (2002) 188 pp Fiction
28. The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy (2018) 187 pp Non-Fiction
29. The Lost Art of Sinking by Naomi Booth (2015) 86 pp Fiction / BAC
30. Poetry of the Thirties edited by Robin Skelton (1964) 287 pp Poetry
31. The Darkness Knows by Arnaldur Indridason (2017) 338 pp Thriller / Scandi
32. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig (2006) 345 pp Fiction
33. The History of England Volume II : Tudors by Peter Ackroyd (2012) 471 pp Non-Fiction
34. Male Tears by Benjamin Myers (2021) 264 pp Fiction / Short Stories
35. Woman of the Ashes by Mia Couto (2015) 254 pp Fiction / ANC / Mozambique
36. Real Estate by Deborah Levy (2021) 297 pp Non-Fiction
37. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner (1971) 569 pp Fiction / 1001 Books / Pulitzer

March
38. Deadly Code by Lin Anderson (2005) 261 pp Thriller / Rhona MacLeod 3
39. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2003) 307 pp Fiction / ANC / Nigeria
40. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell (1956) 308 pp Non-Fiction / Memoirs
41. What Goes On : Selected and New Poems 1995-2009 by Stephen Dunn (2009) 195 pp Poetry / AAC
42. I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel (2022) 203 pp Fiction
43. Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey (2006) 46 pp Poetry / AAC

BOOKS COMPLETED - Q2

April
44. Anne Boleyn : 500 Years of Lies by Hayley Nolan (2019) 282 pp Non-Fiction / BAC
45. Hotel of the Saints by Ursula Hegi (2001) 170 pp Fiction / AAC
46. Dark Flight by Lin Anderson (2007) 392 pp Thiller
47. Boulder by Eva Baltasar (2020) 105 pp Fiction / Spain
48. Moscow by Nick Carter (1970) 155 pp Thriller
49. Thirteen Months of Sunrise by Rania Mamoun Short Stories / ANC / Sudan
50. The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot (1922) 32 pp Poetry
51. Felicity : Poems by Mary Oliver (2014) 81 pp Poetry
52. Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin (2023) 238 pp Fiction / Vietnam
53. Justice on Trial : Radical Solutions for a System at Breaking Point by Chris Daw (2020) 264 pp Non-Fiction
54. The Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott (1966) 488 pp Fiction
55. Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka (2010) 451 pp Thriller / Japan

May
56. Taste : My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci (2021) 299 pp Non-Fiction
57. Tell Me the Truth About Life curated by Cerys Matthews (2019) 177 pp Poetry
58. Those Feet : An Intimate History of English Football by David Winner (2005) 268 pp Non-Fiction
59. The Arctic : Poems by Don Paterson (2022) 82 pp Poetry
60. Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon (2007) 342 pp Thiller
61. The Missing Months by Lachlan MacKinnon (2022) 63 pp Poetry

June
62. Easy Kill by Lin Anderson (2008) 390 pp Thriller
63. Civil War : The History of England Volume III by Peter Ackroyd (2014) 470 pp Non-Fiction
64. Ruth Pitter : Collected Poems by Ruth Pitter (1996) 299 pp Poetry
65. Dance of the Jakaranda by Peter Kimani (2017) 350 pp Fiction / ANC / Kenya
66. England's Green by Zaffar Kunial (2022) 70 pp Poetry
67. Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov (2020) 302 pp Fiction / Bulgaria
68. The Illustrated Woman by Helen Mort (2022) 82 pp Poetry
69. Oxblood by Tom Benn (2022) 245 pp Fiction
70. The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt (2011) 263 PP Non-Fiction
71. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (2005) 309 pp Fiction
72. The Breast by Philip Roth (1972) 74 pp Fiction 1001 Books
73. Heritage by Miguel Bonnefoy (2020) 149 pp Fiction / Venezuela
74. Doctor Who : The Androids of Tara (1978) 143 pp SF / BAC
75. Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho (1998) 210 pp Fiction /1001 books / Brazil
76. Collected Later Poems by Anthony Hecht (2003) 238 pp Poetry
77. Zazie in the Metro by Raymond Queneau (1959) 177 pp Fiction / France
78. Quiet by Victoria Adukwei Bulley (2022) 81 pp Poetry / ANC / Ghana
79. Bonsai by Alejandro Zambra (2006) 74 pp Fiction / Chile
80. Pyre by Perumal Murugam (2013) 194 pp Fiction / India
81. Small Country by Gael Faye (2016) 183 pp Fiction / ANC / Burundi
82. Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex by Oksana Zabuzhko (1996) 161 pp Fiction / Ukraine

BOOKS COMPLETED - Q3

July
83. Lenin on the Train by Catherine Merridale (2016) 291 pp Non-Fiction / Reading through time
84. Selected Poems by W.H. Auden (1979) 319 pp Poetry
85. Paradais by Fernanda Melchior (2022) 118 pp Fiction / Mexico
86. Final Cut by Lin Anderson (2009) 344 pp Thriller
87. John Heath-Stubbs : Selected Poems by John Heath-Stubbs (1990) 144 pp Poetry
88. Kingdom of Characters by Jing Tsu (2022) 280 pp Non Fiction / Taiwan
89. Cemetery Lake by Paul Cleave (2008) 347 pp Thriller / New Zealand
90. Fly Away, Peter by David Malouf (1982) 142 pp Fiction / Australia
91. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952) 602 pp Fiction / 1001 Books
92. Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy (1955) 226 pp Non-Fiction / AAC

August
93. Trespasses by Louise Kennedy (2022) 309 pp Fiction
94. August 1914 by Bruno Cabanes (2014) 196 pp Non-Fiction
95. The Shameful State by Sony Labou Tansi (1981) 116 pp Fiction / ANC / DRC
96. Told by Starlight in Chad by Joseph Brahim Seid (2007) 71 pp Fiction / ANC / Chad
97. The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng (2023) 304 pp Fiction / Malaysia
98. Six Weeks in the Sioux Tepees by Sarah F Wakefield (1863) 87 pp Non-Fiction
99. Winchelsea by Alex Preston (2022) 334 pp Fiction / BAC
100. Blue White Red by Alain Mabanckou (1998) 147 pp Fiction / ANC / Congo
101. The Trees by Percival Everett (2021) 308 pp Fiction / AAC
102. Bound to Violence by Yambo Ouologuem (1968) 182 pp Fiction / ANC / Mali
103. The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah (2018) 438pp Fiction
104. Standing Heavy by Gauz (2014) 167 pp Fiction / ANC / Ivory Coast
105. So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba (1979) 95 pp Fiction / ANC / Senegal
106. The Following Story by Cees Nooteboom (1991) 98 pp Fiction
107. Requiem for a Wren by Nevil Shute (1955) 250 pp Fiction
108. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (2022) 436 pp Fiction

African Reading Challenge 2023



Plans

January - NORTH AFRICA https://www.librarything.com/topic/347131 read 5
February - LUSOPHONE LIT https://www.librarything.com/topic/348039 read 2
March - ADICHIE or EMECHETA https://www.librarything.com/topic/348955#n8081025 read 1
April - THE HORN OF AFRICA https://www.librarything.com/topic/349799 read 1
May - AFRICAN NOBEL WINNERS https://www.librarything.com/topic/350564
June - EAST AFRICA - https://www.librarything.com/topic/351192 Read 2
July - ACHEBE or Okri https://www.librarything.com/topic/351931
August - FRANCOPHONE AFRICA https://www.librarything.com/topic/352728#n8220656 Read 6
September - SOUTHERN AFRICA https://www.librarything.com/topic/353344
October - MUKASONGA / NGUGI WA THIONG'O
November - AFRICAN THRILLERS / CRIME WRITERS
December - WEST AFRICA read 1

Total : 18

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE



January - Rosemary Sutcliff & Fred D'Aguiar Eagle of the Ninth by Sutcliff, Bloodlines by D'Aguiar
February - Novellas & Short Stories - The Lost Art of Sinking by Booth, Male Tears by Myers
March - Vita Sackville-West & Tariq Ali
April - British Queens - Anne Boleyn : 500 Years of Lies by Hayley Nolan
May - RF Delderfield & Jan Morris
June - Time Travel - Doctor Who : The Androids of Tara by David Fisher
July - Nadifa Mohamed & Tom Holt
August - Seafaring Stories - Winchelsea by Alex Preston

AMERICAN AUTHOR CHALLENGE



January - YA Books - Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
February - Richard Powers
March - Poetry - What Goes On : Selected and New Poems by Stephen Dunn
April - Ursula Hegi - Hotel of the Saints
May -
June - Wildcard - No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
July - American Presidents - Profiles in Courage by John F Kennedy
August - Percival Everett - The Trees

AROUND THE WORLD IN BOOKS IN 2023

Countries : 44 (27 August 2023)


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

BOOK STATS

Starting Stats of the Year :

Present TBR : 5,679 books
Pages to Read : 1,943,264
Average Book Length : 342.18

Books Read 108 (31 August 23)
Pages : 25,776
Pages per day : 106.07
Average Book Length : 238.67 pages
Female Authors : 42
Male Authors : 63
Various : 3
Countries Read : 44 (UK, Morocco, Tunisia, Albania, Algeria, Guyana, Ireland, USA. Libya, Sweden, Egypt, Russia, Netherlands, Angola, Canada, Italy, Iceland, Mozambique, Nigeria, Spain, Sudan, Vietnam, Japan, Kenya, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Brazil, France, Ghana, Chile, India, Burundi, Ukraine, Mexico, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, DRC, Chad, Malaysia, Congo, Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali)

Fiction : 52
Thriller : 12
Non-Fiction : 19
Sci-Fi/Fantasy : 1
Poetry : 19
Short Stories : 5

1001 Books First Edition
Read 6 (333)

Nobel Winners
Read : (75)

Booker Winners
Read : (38)

Pulitzer Fiction Prize
Read 1 : (21)

Women's Prize
Read : (7)

Books Added in 2023

335 (31 August 2023)

Books Read in 2023

108 (31 August 2023)

Books Culled in 2023

116 (31 August 2023)

Welcome to my 17th thread of the year and, God willing, the one in which I become a Grandpa!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread Paul!

>12 figsfromthistle: That was quick Anita, thank you. x

>13 quondame: And almost as fast, Susan, thanks to you too. x

Happy new one, Paul. Awaiting the big announcement (hopefully accompanied by a photo or 2!)

>15 jessibud2: Slow in updating, Shelley, because Yasmyne has just admitted to the hospital and her contractions have started.
Proud but worried and wish I was a lot closer to my daughter geographically speaking.

Lovely to see you as always my friend and I will share photos, God willing, as soon as possible.

Happy new thread and best wishes to Yasmyne!

>2 PaulCranswick: *blushes*

Best wish to Yasmyne and may Mother, Daughter and Granddaughter be comfortably together before another day passes.

>17 amanda4242: Thank you dear Amanda. I think on >2 PaulCranswick: I was just being fair. xx

>18 quondame: There is a lovely symmetry about that isn't there? Thank you, Susan. x

Happy new thread, Paul! I hope everything goes well for Yasmyne :)

>20 alcottacre: Thank you dear lady! I am still not old enough to be a Grandpa!

>16 PaulCranswick: Oh wow! That really was quick. All the best and may it go well.

>22 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita. She seems in good spirits anyway. I spoke to her a short while ago. Poor Hani is exhausted.

Happy new thread Paul and exciting news awaits. It is a difficult time when a daughter is in labour. I have been there 9 times and it doesn't get any easier but then baby comes and all is good. Sounds like Hani's arrival time is perfect but yes she will be exhausted. Please keep us posted.

Happy New Thread, Paul. All the best to Yasmyne and the imminent arrival and the rest of the family .

Just popped quickly into your thread to learn you’re about to become a grandpa. May Yasmyne have an easy delivery. Looking forward to some great news soon!

All the best, Paul.

Happy new thread, Paul! I hope all is going well with the pending emergence of your grandchild.

Flying visit & just in time to hear of a imminent new Grandchild .... that is fabulous !!!

"Present TBR : 5,679 books" see other things have not changed .... good to see you are still skilled in hiding acquisitions

Alex

Happy new thread, Paul.
Hoping for grandchild news soon, all the best to Yasmyne!

Happy new thread, Paul!

All the best to Yasmyne and we are all waiting with you xx

>24 mdoris: Thank you, Mary and I will do so indeed. No news from Sheffield yet today.

>25 vancouverdeb: Thank you so much, Deb.

>26 SqueakyChu: Yes, Madeline, I have almost the same amount of butterflies in my tummy as I had all those years ago when we were bringing Yasmyne herself into the world.

>27 avatiakh: Thank you, dear Kerry.

>28 Familyhistorian: So far so good, Meg. I am taking no news as good news at this stage!

>29 roundballnz: Great timing and wonderful to see you visiting, Alex.
In plain sight is the chosen camouflage method these days!

>30 FAMeulstee: Thank you, dear Anita.

>31 DianaNL: Thanks Diana. I will post updates as soon as I am apprised of news. xx

Greetings, happy new thread, Paul. Exciting time and sorry you’re so far from your daughter.

>36 Kristelh: Do you know Kristel, I have not missed my mum as much as I have today for a long time. Yasmyne was her first Grandchild and always her favourite - how she would have been overjoyed to have her give birth in Yorkshire.

HANI AND I ARE GRANDPARENTS.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ARE DOING FINE AND (I HOPE) PHOTOS WILL SOON FOLLOW.

THANKS TO MY FRIENDS FOR WAITING PATIENTLY WITH ME. XX

>38 PaulCranswick: Congratulations, grandpa!

Thank you Anita. xx

Congratulations to all!!

Not the most ideal of photos but it is the best I have for now:

>41 jessibud2: Thank you, dear Shelley. x

Sweet. Has the name been revealed yet?

Congratulations to all of you, grandpa!

Congratulations!

>38 PaulCranswick: Yay!! And hearty congratulations to everyone in your family! Very exciting news indeed!

Congratulations! Happy Grandfatherhood (is that a word?) And oh yeah - happy new thread also.

>44 jessibud2: I may have misheard slightly, Shelley so I do stand to be corrected but, after a video call - I think the name will be Nami?! I hope heaven to Betsy that I misheard!

>45 DianaNL: Thanks my friend. x

>46 torontoc: Thank you, Cyrel. Lovely to have you stop by.

>47 SqueakyChu: This one is not TIOLI - not a chance I could leave "it", Madeline! xx

>48 ArlieS: I am not sure, Arlie, but I must repeat that I am still not old enough!

Paul, the photo you posted up in >42 PaulCranswick:, which I was able to see when you posted, seems to have disappeared now. All I see now is a little square. Just fyi

I hope heaven to Betsy that I misheard! I've heard that sentiment from others before, in such situations. Trust you will get used to whatever you may or may nor have heard. She will be beautiful and so sweet that, before you know it, whatever-the-name, will suddenly be music to your ears! ;-)

Congratulations!

>52 jessibud2: I will of course get used to the name, Shelley and it is entirely up to them. Will try and sort out the photo!

>53 amanda4242: Thank you, dear Amanda.

>38 PaulCranswick: Woot!!

I bet before too long she is a Grandpa's girl, not matter what her name is.

Congrats Pappy!

Now the hardest decision, what do you want to be called. Pappy, Grandfather, Grandpa, are there other traditional monikers in Malaysia and/or England?

:)

Congratulations to Yasmyne and the new baby. I'm sure you and Hani will be wonderful grandparents (even if you are too young!)

>56 alcottacre: I will do my best to make her a reader like her Grandpa anyhow, Juana.

>57 mahsdad: Malaysia has quite a few "Datuk", "Atuk", "Dada" to name three, Jeff. I feel like her Grandpa but I guess that she will choose not me!

>58 calm: She is certainly too young, Calm! I am coming to terms with it already. xx Lovely to see you here dear lady.

>5 PaulCranswick: Happy new thread, and congratulations on reaching 100 books!

Wonderful news, Paul. Congratulations to all concerned and I hope you are able to meet her in person soon!

Thrilled with your wonderful news Grandpa Paul. And a huge congratulations to the new parents. Well done Yasmyne!

Happy New Thread!! And Congratulations Grandpa!!! My best to your whole family!!

>38 PaulCranswick: Congratulations!

Congratulations Paul, Hani, Yasmyn, et al, so happy all is well. Also a time of sorrow for missing those that have passed on as new arrive. I know what you mean Paul.

Congratulations, Grandpa Paul! It doesn't mean you're old, heck I became a Grandfather at 48 (granddaughter is 16 now). Grandkids are great - all the pride & joy and none of the responsibility!

Congratulations Grandpa.

>59 PaulCranswick: I think you can assert your right to grandparenthood. :) I know my Mom and Dad decided they wanted to be called Mimi and Pappy when I had mine and shortly thereafter my sister had her first. My Mom wanted to distinguish between them and the in-law grandparents.

Not matter what you're called, I'm sure she'll have you wrapped around her finger in no time.

Congratulations, Paul!

>61 ocgreg34: Thanks Greg!

>62 CDVicarage: Thank you, Kerry. I hope so too!

>63 mdoris: Thank you, Mary. She did look a little like the cat that got the cream last night when I spoke to her. She has given my Granddaughter a Japanese first name which is interesting also because she asked her mother to buy sushi for her and bring it to the hospital!

>64 hredwards: Thank you dear Harold.

>65 quondame: Thank you, Susan!

>66 Kristelh: Thanks Kristel. It is funny because I really felt my mum's presence yesterday.

>67 ChrisG1: I may have to help them in the interim so none of the responsibility may not apply just yet but I like the idea of it, Chris.

>68 RBeffa: Thank you, Ron.

>69 mahsdad: You make a good point there, Jeff. My mum was always "Grandma" to my kids whereas my late mother in law was always "Nana".

>70 banjo123: Thank you, Rhonda

A reload of yesterday's photo - I hope this one will stay!

>76 PaulCranswick: Lovely!

BOOK #99



Winchelsea by Alex Preston
Date of Publication : 2022
Origin of Author : UK
Pages : 334 pp

Very satisfying yarn about smugglers and sea-faring derring-do in the Cinque Ports in the mid eighteenth century.

Enjoyable despite some of the plot twists being barely credible.

>77 quondame: Thank you Susan. Both are blessed with their mother/grandmother's genes!

Happy new thread, Paul, and congratulations to Yasmyne, to you, and all the family! I hope you will be able to see the new one in person soon!

BOOK #100



Blue White Red by Alain Mabanckou
Date of Publication : 1998
Origin of Author : Congo
Pages : 147 pp

Many Francophone Africans dream of moving to and living in Paris.

The reality is not always as romantic as it is played up to be as our hero finds out when the price for his legalization is a life of illegality.

Quirky but engaging.

>80 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene. I am working on just that!

>75 PaulCranswick: Similar to you Paul. My mother's mom was grandma and my father's mom was Nana!
>76 PaulCranswick: lovely photo

>83 RBeffa: Thanks Ron. So it looks like my Granddaughter will be called Nami - I'll get used to it - I hope she does!

I will try to put up a couple more photos shortly one featuring the happy Grandma.

Nami Cranswick (born in Sheffield on 22 August 2023)

With a tired Grandma :

Congratulations on becoming a grandpa! Yasmyne has a lot to look forward to.

>85 PaulCranswick: What a great pic. Nami seems to be smiling in her sleep- one happy and loved newborn

Wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing.

>51 PaulCranswick: Once again - just ask The Baby - you are the perfect age for her Grandpa!

>87 figsfromthistle: I do like that photo too, Anita! Thank you, dear lady.

>88 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel. Incumbent upon me to share, right?!

>89 m.belljackson: I feel much better about the idea today having seen her than I did beforehand!

Wee Nami is just a darling Paul! Congratulations! Yasmyne looks so happy . It's great that Hani is able to be there to help out. I'm sure Hani is thrilled, as are you. I hope you are able to the UK very soon to meet your wee granddaughter.

Oh, congratulations to your whole family, Paul! I'm delighted for all of you. 🥂

On, and congratulations on your new thread - what a lovely way to fill up the first 25 or so hours!

>92 vancouverdeb: I suppose she is quite wee, Deb, coming in at 7lbs. (3.20 kgs in new money). I am aiming for the end of next month so fingers crossed for me.

>93 PlatinumWarlock: Thank you Lavinia, this thread has flown by so far (and I managed to finish three books in a little over a day too).

Oh, Paul! CONGRATULATIONS ALL AROUND!!!!! Beauty abounds!!!!!!!

Just beautiful! Congratulations to you all, Paul, and wishing good health and happiness to the new young parents!

>95 LizzieD: Thank you dear Peggy. Lovely that this happy occasion brought a visit from one of my favourite people.

>96 Copperskye: Thank you, Joanne. They have exciting times and, I am sure, some tough times ahead but they have plenty of people looking out for them too.

Congratulations to grandpa, grandma, and new mum, Yasmyne, and hello to Nami.

>98 Familyhistorian: Thank you so much, Meg.

>85 PaulCranswick: Nami looks so content, welcome in this world little beauty!

Congratulations, Paul & Hani! Welcome to the world Nami! She is beautiful. I am so happy for you both and I LOVE the fact that Jack and Nami share the same birthday. I hope you get to see her next month. 🤞

>76 PaulCranswick: Welcome to the world, Nami(?)! Though I like you hope to goodness you heard wrong.

New 🧵 orisons, PC.

>86 PaulCranswick: Hani looks happy there. I see Nami is indeed her name. Whence came this one?

>100 FAMeulstee: She does indeed, Anita. Having seen the video I can say that her lungs seem to be operating well already!

>101 msf59: It is a wonderful synergy we have Mark to have our Grandkids share the same birthday. I will always think of Jackson too on 22 August henceforward with or without (and I am sure with) your posted reminders.

>102 richardderus: Thank you RD. I was very happy showing my staff the pictures of my Granddaughter this morning literally a day after grumbling that Yasmyne was out of order since I am nowhere near old enough to be a Grandpa.

>103 richardderus: It is apparently derived from the name of a Japanese anime character aka The Cat Burglar! In Japanese apparently the word means Red Apple, Beautiful Wave.
I am now calling my little one "Pip" - pip being centre of the red apple.

Happy Days Ahead for You, Paul - Sending a Beautiful Apple Wave across the Oceans!

>105 PaulCranswick: Well, Pip certainly works. It's cute, short, and unisex.

I must confess I'm hugely entertained at your "not old enough" protestations. I've been one since I was 42, and a great- got added two years ago, so *chuckle*

>106 m.belljackson: Thank you Marianne. Touches me to the core so to speak!

>107 richardderus: I mean I am only 57 in September and feel nowhere near that age most of the time!

Are they home yet, Paul? How long do they keep them in hospital in the UK?

Congratulations to you and your family, Paul!

And Paul, you know there is the wonderful author named PIP Williams! (The Dictionary of Lost Words) ;-)

>108 PaulCranswick: Paul, I was 55 when I became a grandmother and I thought it might be too old. I want to enjoy my grandchildren because they are blessings. Our children are our glory (work) but our grands are crowns on our heads. You are blessed to be able to spend time with the next generation.

Congratulations on your beautiful granddaughter! Blessings for all of you!

Congratulations again!! She is beautiful!!
I see lists of Children's books in your future!!

Wonderful news! I love all the pictures and look forward to following along as Nami’s proud Grandfather shares the journey as she grows. I know you can’t wait to see little “Pip” and hold her in your very young arms. ;-)

>105 PaulCranswick:, that anime is my granddaughter’s favorite too. She approves the name.

Congratulations gramps and grandma. Oh, and the new parents. Welcome Nami.

>109 jessibud2: Interesting point/question Shelley and to let you know Hani took them home a short while ago - Mother and daughter doing fine.

>110 aktakukac: Thank you, Rachel. Lovely to see you over here. x

>111 jessibud2: Unsurprisingly I have it on the shelves and will read it in honour of my little Pip this coming month - September.

>112 Kristelh: I know, Kristel and I am happy with my lot - I am only kidding about being too young!

>113 streamsong: Thank you, Janet. I am feeling very blessed just now. x

>114 hredwards: I will cut her straight to the classics of children's fiction, Harold. I loved reading to my kids and I will make Pip a reader if I get half a chance.

>115 Donna828: Hahaha Donna - I love that post. You were always my glamorous Granny as you must recall!

>116 Kristelh: I must admit, Kristel, that I got none of the non-plussed looks from those in their late teens and twenties about the name - they thought it was cool.

>117 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. I can feel that our poetry splurge - long promised is edging closer. xx

In August 2012, Matchbox Twenty returned with North



I include the song "Overjoyed" because they are a favourite of my good lady and, well, I am in a pretty good place just now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg6r-IeH7ss

BOOK #101



The Trees by Percival Everett
Date of Publication : 2021
Origin of Author : USA
Pages : 308 pp

I like Percival Everett.

There is a verve to his writing that propels stories along. Some of his humour can be a tad heavy-handed but he avoids the pastiche I was critical in Paul Beatty's The Sellout (my least favourite Booker winner to date) and his dialogue zings.

I wouldn't put this book up for awards personally but I can certainly see its qualities and merit and I will read all his other work as a result.

Finally the subject of Emmett Till is a continuing stain and reminders of the horrors and consequences of racism or more accurately racial hatred. I think and hope that things are somewhat better than the 1950s even in Money, Mississippi but there is a long long way to go before one's racial makeup makes little or no difference in how he/she is treated by contemporaries.

Recommended.

BOOK #102



Bound to Violence by Yambo Ouologuem
Date of Publication : 1968
Origin of Author : Mali
Pages : 182 pp

A potted and picaresque fictional history of Sub-Saharan African history. One of duplicity, violence and outrage.

Shines a light on some of the cultural mores of the Africans and female genital mutilation and their inhumanity to each other, it is also scathing of the non-Africans presence on the continent and their less than benign influence.

It is a novel much lauded when first introduced and later mired in controversy because of accusations of plagiarism. It is clear though that Yambo Ouologuem was a very talented writer.

>124 PaulCranswick: I just posted the review of that one on my thread too and was coming over to let you know. Beat me to it!

Can I ask how the baby's name is pronounced? I am not familiar with that anime and as someone whose name is completely butchered at times, I would like to get it right! I can handle "Pip" though :)

>126 alcottacre: We really are in synch at the moment, Juana, as I was at your thread doing just what you were just doing at mine!!

The honest answer is that I am not 100% sure yet. I think it is Naah-Mee, but I wouldn't bet against my daughter being obtuse enough for that to be way off course!

>127 PaulCranswick: OK, since you are the Grandpa, we will go with your pronunciation - for now :)

If we are in synch, keep from getting sick, would you? It has been no fun at all.

>128 alcottacre: **Immediate attempts to unsynch!**

Congratulations, Paul! You will be a young granddad, how nice for your new granddaughter! Everybody looking very happy in those pictures. Wishing them all the very best.

Congratulations to you and the rest of the family, Paul! Nami is a beautiful baby girl.

If it makes you feel any better, one of my cousins became a grandmother at 41, and I'm nearly there myself (to 41, not grandmotherhood).

>127 PaulCranswick: It is Nah-Mee. And this is a link to the character in question's image.

Anime is really, really weird to me. Both mothers and all three daughters are safeely ensconced at home, are they? How does the new dad say he feels? Or new Uncle Kyran? The whole family is changed, so when will you and Auntie Belle be winging y'all's way thitherward?

Congratulations to you and your family, Paul!
And thank you for the wonderful pictures.
...and a belated happy new thread...

>130 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. Everybody is happy indeed at the moment.

>131 bell7: I feel like a spring chicken at 56, Mary, and I suppose that is my glass-half-full attitude to life. xx
41 - yikes that was a generation ago!

>132 richardderus: I agree completely about Anime, RD. It is weird and pseudo-pornographic IMO.

Hani has taken a place for a few days very near our apartment as it is too small to also include her very sizeable presence (spiritually I mean rather than physically). Kyran is still in the Californian part of your wonderful country but Belle and I have plans to make it to UK in the near future and Erni will probably go along with us.

>133 SirThomas: Thank you dear Thomas. I am humbled by the number of my friends who have taken the time to call by and offer their good wishes.

I go away for a few days, and look what happened! Congrats, Grandpa!

>135 PaulCranswick: ...and just barely pseudo, at that. A culture I just don't grok.

Kyran's in Cali? What a time to be there, Hurriquake 2023! He's got a dining-out tale in this visit. I was born there and, while 1964 was a truly terrifying earthquake, I've never see anything like the tropical storm hitting the place.

Mothers and daughters seldom make good roommates, in my experience. Hani's very wise, but then we knew that.

>136 drneutron: Glad to see you back Doc Roc and thanks for the congrats!

>137 richardderus: Kyran is used to tropical storms although he hasn't had the luxury of earthquakes in his home countries.

On a similar issue I was very concerned to see some reports which suggest that the Maui fires were possibly a deliberate attempt to force local people off their lands and there do appear to be some unanswered questions about why the water supply was suddenly unavailable, the armed forces not called out to help and no sirens going off. If there is any truth in this it would amount to genocide. I didn't care for Mr. Biden's "no comment" on the fires very much or his confused and rambling visit there. America can surely do better than the last two occupants of Pennsylvania Avenue. I wouldn't let either of them anywhere near a sharp object never mind leaders of the misnamed free world.

Hani is mainly sensible although her choice of life partner may call into question her judgement somewhat!

Congratulations Paul! And of course Yasmyne and the rest of your family.

>139 humouress: Thank you neighbour!

Final hurdle in the World Cup was disappointing but the girls didn't choke they just come up against a team with a bit more.

>140 PaulCranswick: You're welcome.

I agree, although I don't think they were as cohesive as in other matches. But semi-finalists in 2019, finalists in 2023 - it's looking good for the next one.

>141 humouress: I would like them given their own focus and the popularity of the game for the ladies capitalized upon. The mixed reporting of the men's game alongside the ladies is distracting and will not enable sufficient focus on the ladies. I think our ladies have thus far played with determination and smiles on their faces whereas the American ladies lead by Ms Rapinhoe have got themselves distracted by politics (and I don't completely disagree with some of their points) and appear surly and churlish in comparison. It is a shame because the USWT did such a great job pioneering support and popularity for the game and their contribution should not be overlooked because they forgot what mattered.

>138 PaulCranswick: I hope that's just the usual "make up something bad to get more clicks and maybe it'll stick to the wall".

(Pedant) I don't think it's genocide, just mass murder, if it's limited to a small area (plenty of Hawaiian natives not on that island) and motivated by something other than being anti-native. But OTOH, by that logic the Trail of Tears might not be considered genocidal, since the main motive was greed. And that's nonsense.

>143 ArlieS: Like you, Arlie, I hope it is just conspiracy theorists doing what they tend to do but there are clearly a lot of questions to be answered and plenty of issues in Maui about land grabs.

I am not sure about the semantics or definitions of what it would constitute but it would definitely be evil incarnate. I hope it isn't true.

Hiya, Paul! Well. One partial and three completely new threads later…

July retreat, check. Heh. “Ginger Gas Bag”, except that I have two ginger kitties and a ginger daughter, so Orange works better for me. Either way, he’s an abomination.

The topper picture on your 15th thread reminded me of a beautiful cove on the island of Andros that I visited in 1979 with my then-boyfriend Antonios. We stayed there for 3 weeks with his mother. Lovely reminder.

Your author origins for the first 6 months of reading are impressive.

Totalitarianism is closer than we think and it doesn't always wear a right-wing or a left-wing mask. From (one of your) July 30th post(s). It’s beginning to scare me more and more, frankly. I guess I’m happy that we don’t keep enough money running through our checking account for ‘them’ to target us.

The Biden family are coming under increasing scrutiny for influence peddling as Hunter Biden's sweetheart plea deal is thrown out by the Judge and his business partner gives in-camera evidence before congress despite the best efforts of the DOJ to frustrate the process. On the other end of the scale (or perhaps not) Trump faces more charges arising from his, erm, incident free stint as POTUS. What a great choice before my American friends. Sigh. I still think the scope of Trump’s crimes is greater than Hunter Biden’s. January 6th looms large in my mind on this.

I don't know of anyone who agrees with everything in another's politics, Harold, but I do think that it was one of those incidents that profoundly changed the world. One of the unintended benefits was perhaps the success of subsequent civil rights legislation as I have heard it told that it took a Southern Democrat in Johnson to persuade his caucus to make the changes that they may not have concurred if pushed by Kennedy as it seems that a lot of his intended policies were stymied in the legislature. Vietnam would have more than likely turned out much different and we may have avoided Tricky Dicky altogether. What ifs everywhere. I love ‘em. Civil rights legislation, check. Different ending to Viet Nam, check. Tricky Dick, check. Although I must say, with hindsight and the current Gang of Psychos (starting with Ronnie Raygun), Tricky Dick doesn’t look quite as bad as far as positives of his presidency – opening China and creating the EPA. I was and am still appalled at his veniality, but there are a few accomplishments.

I saw Harry Chapin in New London Connecticut in… 1976… ? I have the signed program somewhere. It was a small venue, it was just him and his guitar, and he came out into the lobby after to chat and sign programs. He was charismatic and larger than life.

Stats from August 6: Busiest threads. 6, 1952. ( 6 * 1) + (9 – 5 – 2) = 8. Thank goodness for having had enough coffee on this one.

the pantomime that is my football club, Leeds United Sorry for the s*** s***. Arsenal has scraped by with two wins but they’re not very good at scoring yet. I love Declan Rice’s play so far, and Martinelli is just brilliant to watch.

Cashless: I pay both our landscaping guy and house cleaner in cash and we keep some cash in the safe, but we’re as vulnerable as everybody else with accounts and electronic transfers and etc. Scary. What really pisses me off is the surcharge some businesses are now charging me to use my card, 3-4%. To me it’s a cost of doing business although it hasn’t kept me from keeping/increasing my tip %.

I have a friend who left her lucrative career to care for her elderly mother for 10 years and her Social Security reflects that reduced income in her monthly payment. She’s working full time again at 72.

Belated recognition of your love for your Mum on what would have been her 78th birthday.

Finally! Your 17th thread.

>38 PaulCranswick: Yay! Congratulations to you all.

>76 PaulCranswick: Sweet photo, thanks for re-posting. I couldn’t see it above.

>84 PaulCranswick: Interesting name choice – Nami – and of course you’ll get used to it. I’m so happy for you all. And, from >105 PaulCranswick: Of course her name is derived from a Japanese anime character. *smile*

>85 PaulCranswick: Beautiful girl, Nami, Nah-Mee, and I love it that you’re calling her Pip.

We have family on Maui, but thank God they were not burned out.

I’m sorry England lost to Spain in the World Cup final, but I was (secretly) rooting for Spain simply because I loved watching their game. The US women were awful, didn’t deserve to get any further. How much of it was the coach, since gone, and how much of it was hubris, I don’t know, but I hope that soul searching and rebuilding will make for a better showing in 2027. Don’t know where it will be held yet.

>85 PaulCranswick: Congratulations!!

>145 karenmarie: I love your detailed response posts, Karen.

I don't intend to try to make qualitative assessments of wrongdoing between Trump and Hunter (and his dad has clearly lied about what he knew or purported not to know about his son's doings) as all are unworthy of high office. I could not vote for either in good conscience and whilst one was entirely unPresidential and brought his office into disrepute and should not be permitted to stand, the other is a shadow of his former self. His lack of empathy over Maui was frankly shocking.

>146 ocgreg34: Thank you, Greg.

>120 PaulCranswick: I loved and miss reading to my daughter too Paul. for some reason at 23 they just don't think they need bed time stories anymore.

>129 PaulCranswick: I do not blame you for unsynching. It was no fun. Did I mention that?

>132 richardderus: Thank you for that, RD.

Happy whatever, Paul!

Hello Paul, Congratulations Grandad, little Nami looks so lovely mate, you will be wrapped around her little finger, lol. Also a Happy New Thread mate. Your life will change so much now you have a beautiful Granddaughter, mine certainly did and in six months Hannah will become a teenager and little Elliott absolutely loves her.

We both send the heartiest of Yorkshire congratulations to you all mate and as she was born within the Hallowed County, she will be able to play for Yorkshire Womens Cricket, there is always a plus with these things, lol.

>148 hredwards: Hahaha Harold, that captures a lovely image in my mind's eye!

>149 alcottacre: But now we can sync again, Juana, as you are A-Ok again?

>152 PaulCranswick: I must admit John that those "ancient" days when father's would insist on a return to God's Country to make sure that they could represent the White Rose came into my mind!

Love to you and Karen and all your family, mate.

I have a soft spot for the mesmeric music of The Polyphonic Spree. In August 2013 they released Yes, It's True.



This is "You Don't Know Me"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGiEL_BGToo

>151 PaulCranswick: I am OK again, Paul. Thanks!

>154 alcottacre: You have always been much more than OK, Stasia, but I am glad you are feeling well too! xx

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/353193

>156 SilverWolf28: Thanks Silver.

Congratulations on the birth of granddaughter Nami (love the name)! You will find that being a grandparent is the best "job" in the world. (And Pip is also the name of the hero of Great Expectations.

>158 arubabookwoman: The Chuckles connection was of course deliberate, Deborah. I am reveling in the role at the moment - especially as it is from a non-nappy distance.

Friday lunchtime additions:

316. A Spell of Good Things by Ayobami Adebayo
317. One Small Voice by Santanu Bhattacharya
318. Starling by Sarah Jane Butler
319. Essex Dogs by Dan Jones
320. Kala by Colin Walsh

Three debut novels. A historical novel by one of the UK's finest living historians of his period and another of the Booker longlist.

August 2014 Maroon 5 released their fifth studio album imaginatively named V



This is the Police-esque "Maps"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7ix6RITXM0

Last one was safe and pretty poppy but in August 2015 I shall go off the beaten tracks and include Frank Turner and his album Positive Songs for Negative People.



Not all of his stuff works as it can be overly wordy but I really like this track "Get Better"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB4Avdlz3lk

>162 PaulCranswick: He's a bit chattier than I myownself prefer, but at least he's got balls. >161 PaulCranswick: is a perfect example of what my father called "capon music." He never heard of Maroon-5, but a better description of them I've never heard!

>160 PaulCranswick: Essex Dogs gets my interest...off to source an ebook.

>163 richardderus: He does have balls, RD.

Whilst he has written plenty of non fiction Essex Dogs is Dan Jones' first foray into fiction and apparently relates the lot of the 'ordinary soldier' in the Hundred Year War.

BOOK #103



The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Date of Publication : 2018
Origin of Author : USA
Pages : 438 pp

This is the second book I have read by Ms Hannah and it confirms to me that she does not write literature but can spin a good yarn.

Whilst this is described as semi-autobiographical I guess the chap assigning the prefix is no mathematician as I would hope that there was very little of the author's own life story in these pages of domestic abuse and its consequences.

The YA Pov was, perhaps, intentional but grated a little at times. All in all though, I like to be told a story and she succeeds in that undoubtedly.

>155 PaulCranswick: Well, thank you, kind sir :)

>160 PaulCranswick: I will be curious to see what you think of A Spell of Good Things when you get a chance to read it. Nice haul as always, Juan!

Happy Whatever, Paul!

>166 alcottacre: I will try to read it next month, Stasia as it is Booker longlisted. I am surprised that there are still only four of the 13 books available locally - well in fairness Harding's book is available but it is retailing in hardback at $40 and, since I thought Tinkers was the most underwhelming Pulitzer winner I have yet read, I am not paying such a price to read another of his books.

I am looking forward to a weekend of solid reading:

I want to finish The Covenant of Water which is loooong but simply brilliant.
Interspersed with shorter but also quite effecting novels:

Standing Heavy
So Long a Letter (both for the ANC Challenge)

Intimacy by Hanif Kureishi and
The Following Story

If I can finish those five by Monday morning I will be very pleased.

I know that I am not going to surprise anyone but the Member's Sale at Kinokuniya, my temple of books, did not pass me by.

321. No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe
322. Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
323. Penance by Eliza Clark
324. The Saint of Lost Things by Tish Delaney
325. Luck is the Hook by Imtiaz Dharker
326. Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale
327. The Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran
328. The Story of the Forest by Linda Grant
329. Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
330. Ancestry by Simon Mawer
331. Tar Baby by Toni Morrison
332. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
333. Pastoralia by George Saunders
334. The Time Regulation Institute by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar
335. Home Boys by Alex Wheatle

In August 2016 Blossoms released their eponymously titled album



They released eight songs from the album. This is the eighth and final one "Honey Sweet"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTmNXbH_Rs

Shelby Lynne and Alison Moorer combined to record an album of excellent covers Not Dark Yet. A good August 2017.



Here they are performing my favourite Nick Cave song "Into My Arms"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmt95dSwuMI

August 2018 saw Interpol return with Marauder.



This is "If You Really Love Nothing"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLk8i2zw2jU

>171 PaulCranswick: Not Dark Yet is one of my favorite Dylan tunes. I play it frequently as there are some excellent cover versions like the one from the album you chose. I also like Ariane Moffatt's version a whole lot as well as good one by Jimmy LaFave. Great song. My wife and I got the Shelby Lynne bug from her song on the Bridget Jones Diary soundtrack, 'Dreamsome'. That soundtrack is one of the great ones.

Have a great day Grandpa.

>173 RBeffa: Hahaha thanks Ron! I do like their cover of the title track too but I thought it was a bit obvious to go with that one. Dylan remains some songwriter though doesn't he?

>174 PaulCranswick: You chose a great song Paul. I like most everything Shelby Lynne does. She has a great voice and style. Killin' Kind is another great one by her.

>175 RBeffa: I used to play her album I am Shelby Lynne over and over. Tremendous stuff.

I didn't know that Dan Jones had written fiction until I saw Essex Dogs on one of your latest acquisition posts. My library has it, so on to the hold list it goes. I really liked Mawer's Ancestry which I see on your latest list.

>168 PaulCranswick: I hope your weekend plans come to fruition, Paul!

>169 PaulCranswick: Shock! Amazement! (not)

Happy whatever, Juan!

>177 Familyhistorian: He is apparently about to publish the second in his books on the Hundred Years war - i.e. the sequel to Essex Dogs.

>178 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia.

Believe it or not I had decided 'only' to get 15 books and culled 3 from the basket as I had picked up 18 originally.

As usual my plans for September are pretty overly ambitious.

For me September will be the month of the 2020's debut novel and I aim to read fifteen of them:

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
Assembly by Natasha Brown
Careless by Kirsty Capes
Before My Actual Heart Breaks by Tish Delaney
Death of a Coast Watcher by Anthony English
Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
Common Ground by Naomi Ishiguro
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris
Memphis by Tara M Stringfellow
Learwife by J.R. Thorp
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
How Much of These Hills is Gold by E Pam Zhang

You will notice that the books are also written overwhelmingly by ladies.

Nami is a lovely name, Paul. Just checking your other new acquisitions, beside Nami. I quite a enjoyed A Spell of Good Things. Black Butterflies is also very good.

>181 vancouverdeb: Black Butterflies is not a very new acquisition, Deb, but it is scheduled to be read in September.

>180 PaulCranswick: Two of those September reads are such quick-to-go projects that I'd recommend starting with them to get a solid achievement: C Pam Zhang and Deepa Anappara. Pip Williams's book was fun but is just a bit more convoluted. I really look forward to your opinion of the Kupersmith because I've been so hesitant to pick it up.

Happy last-week-of-August reads, PC.

Nami is a pretty name, and easy to spell and say - once you know the correct pronunciation - but there is a risk, certainly in Britain, that it is read as a typo for Naomi, which is what I read at first glance!

>183 richardderus: Funny RD because the two you mentioned are slated to be the first two I pick up!

>184 CDVicarage: Thanks Kerry and you are spot on. My sister is dyslexic and she is already calling her Naomi!

Well, I think Nami is a nice name, and am also fond of Naomi!

>186 banjo123: Well, if we like it or not, Nami is the nami selected so I and Hani will learn to get along with it! Lovely to see you, Rhonda.

BOOK # 104



Standing Heavy by Gauz
Date of Publication : 2014
Origin of Author : Cote D'Ivoire
Pages : 167 pp

Quirky.

Relates the experiences in a very enjoyable observational style of the immigrant security guards working in the expensive Parisian cosmetic stores.

Whilst much of it appears light-hearted there is a much more serious undertone in that many of the people are unregistered 'aliens' and have left their doctoral qualifications in Africa behind to make more money in France where the only qualification needed is to be able to "stand heavy".

Recommended.

BOOK #105



So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba
Date of Publication : 1979
Origin of Author : Senegal
Number of Pages : 95 pp

This packs a punch that belies its seemingly meagre 95 pages.

Told in the form of a long form letter and relating the impact of polygamy on a largely discarded first wife who falls victim to the foolishness of her husband and the machinations of her rival in love's family.

The translation by Kenneth Harrow is beautifully written and I guess captures the lovely flow of the original in its vernacular.

This made subsequent editions of the 1001 books and I am frankly not in the least bit surprised.

>180 PaulCranswick: Are you putting those on the TIOLI challenge you started for September? I own but have not yet read Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line and would join you in that read if you are.

>188 PaulCranswick: I like the sound of "quirky," so I will see if I can track down a copy of that one.

>189 PaulCranswick: Well, I would have sworn that I had read that one, but I cannot seem to find it in my collections (in any of my LT accounts) anywhere, so I guess not. I will have to try and find a copy.

>190 alcottacre: I will try to fit the books to other challenges for the TIOLI as well as my own one. For example I recall that the book by "Pip" Williams fits another TIOLI Challenge (#4 by my favourite lady from Texas).

I think that you would have remembered Ba's book, Stasia.

>191 PaulCranswick: I put Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line into your challenge, so if you put it into a different one, please let me know so that I can move it and we will get credit for the shared read.

As far as Ba's book goes, I now have a copy on its way to me, so I will be correcting that oversight shortly!

>192 alcottacre: I will put it there too, Stasia.

>193 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.

Quite late here, but happy new thread and, more importantly, congratulations on the new family addition and to becoming a grandpa!

I read Ba’s book last year and had thought of doing a reread but it is looking like that might not happen as August is slipping away.

>194 alcottacre: You are very welcome, Juana.

>195 WhiteRaven.17: Thank you dear Kro.

>196 Kristelh: I can see me rereading that one too, Kristel. It isn't a long book and sort of zings along.

Happy whatever, Paul!

Happy thread, and congratulations on your beautiful grandchild!

I add my congratulations to the chorus, Paul. The pictures are lovely, and I'm so glad everyone is home and healthy.

The September BAC thread is up.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/353268

>199 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia and the very same to you dear lady.

>200 foggidawn: Thanks Foggi. Now to get the chance to go back to Blighty to be with her.

>201 ffortsa: Thanks dear Judy. I will try to share more photos soon.

>202 amanda4242: Thank you, Amanda. I plan to read The Maidens for the challenge this coming month.

BOOK #106



The Following Story by Cees Nooteboom
Date of Publication : 1991
Origin of Author : Netherlands
Pages : 98 pp

I am not sure that I could in good conscience call this a novel.

It is a sort of rumination on life and mortality and states of consciousness by an author out to demonstrate that he is much smarter than his readership (guilty as charged).

Had sparks of anecdotal lucidity but the narrator was as obtuse and unlikeable as the book became. The best thing I can say about this is that the author had the decency to keep it below 100 pages.

Paul, CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of Nami! Such a precious little one! Best wishes to you, Hani, Yasmyne, and little Nami!

>206 tymfos: What a lovely surprise, Terri. Great to see you and thank you for the congrats. Yasmyne and little Nami are doing excellently by all accounts and Sam (the boyfriend/new dad) seems to be helping carry his share of things too at the moment.

Although I am quickly out of puff these days and overweight, I was considered something of a mountain goat on the bike in my youth - my hero being the Scottish climber then Robert Millar.

One of the greatest of climbers (I shared with him an awkwardness in the art of descending) was the great Federico Bahamontes. He passed away in the last week aged 95 - winner of 11 grand tour mountain stages whose attack minded philosophy endeared him to the public - he was nicknamed the Eagle of Toledo.

He won the 1959 Tour when it was composed of National Teams and the French team couldn't agree on a leader.

Inspiration. Rest in Peace.

In August 2019 The Hold Steady returned to form with Thrashing Thru the Passion



This is "Entitlement Crew"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cQ6w9BboK8

In August 2020 Britain's Sea Girls released their debut album Open Up Your Head



This is "Do You Really Wanna Know?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yZ-mgbpDV0

>205 PaulCranswick: Sounds like one that I can pass by!

Martha Wainwright is one quarter of quite a unique musical family dynasty. She returned in August 2021 with Love Will Be Reborn



This is the title track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fj5DOhqYlA

>211 alcottacre: I have liked some of his books, Stasia, but not that one!

>213 PaulCranswick: I guess we cannot like every book an author writes, but it would be so much nicer if we did :)

I will wrap up August's music through the years of my life with one of my favourite current bands and fellow West Yorkshiremen, Embrace. In August 2022 they released How to be a Person Like Other People



This is "Remember Me"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zj2f9f3T3Y

>214 alcottacre: Life would be more certain but a little less exciting perhaps!

>212 PaulCranswick: - I like some of her work, much as I like some of her brother Rufus's (his voice is an acquired taste but I do like it, sometimes). Her mum and aunt, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, were Canadian treasures, for sure. A lot of talent in those genes.

This song you selected is lovely.

>217 jessibud2: I do agree Shelley that not all her music and that of her brother works but when they are on point......wow!

The McGarrigles made some really good music and I also really enjoy Loudon too!

To be honest, the only Loudon I know is his theme song from the tv show M*A*S*H. :-)

There was a wonderful memoir of the McGarrigles by Anna, from a few years ago, Mountain City Girls, which I loved.

Congratualtions on becoming a grandparent and to Yasmyne on becoming a mother. When do you think you can get away for a visit?

>208 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, sad news about Bahamontes, i really enjoyed the book about him, The Eagle of Toledo by Alasdair Fotheringham, well worth a read if you get the chance mate.

>219 jessibud2: I love Loudon's album Last Man on Earth.

This song about his mother "White Winos" is excellent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3pllwTPgJ8

>220 avatiakh: I am hoping September but the plan has always been that when I go back that will be it for me and Malaysia - so let's see.

Thanks for the congrats, Kerry. xx

>221 johnsimpson: Thanks John. Bahamontes was quite an interesting chap. Only great cyclist worse going downhill than I was!

Paul, congratulations on the birth of your beautiful granddaughter! I bet you cannot wait to meet her in person. A new journey for all of you. Most exciting! I so glad that Hani could be there for the birth, and that Yasmyne is doing well - the first one is the scariest because you have never done it before. I remember those days well, and being slightly overwhelmed by the thought that now I was responsible for the safety and care of a human being. And they do not give you a manual!! Wishing for all of you good health and great joy.

Happy whatever, Paul! I hope you get to see your new grandgirl soon!

>224 Crazymamie: Thank you Mamie and it is lovely to see you posting over here. xx

>225 alcottacre: I video called with Yasmyne, Sam and Nami last night but I do hope to be able to hold the baby in my arms fairly soon, Stasia.

Paul - where's the Book for Baby Nami that you will present her on your Birthday?

When we hope to hear that you finally think that is enough years for you to be a sterling Grandpa!

>227 m.belljackson: Ha, I don't conceive of ever being old enough, Marianne!

>222 PaulCranswick: Such a poignant song. He makes art out of the weirdest, most intimate pains.

Happy midweek, PC.

>222 PaulCranswick: - If you are thinking that when you go back, that will be it, shouldn't you be packing books right NOW?!

>229 richardderus: It is a favourite song of mine, RD, having been a white wino myself!

>230 jessibud2: I couldn't do that, Shelley, because I constantly want my books around me!

BOOK #107



Requiem for a Wren by Nevil Shute
Date of Publication : 1955
Origin of Author : British / Australian
Number of Pages : 250 pp

It is quite a while since I read his classic A Town Like Alice but in truth I thought this was better still.

A story of love, loss and remembrance. A story of the effects of war - both good ones and, of course, painful ones.

Recommended.

BOOK #108



The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
Date of Publication : 2022
Origin of Author : UK
Pages : 436 pp

Is Hamnet a better novel?

The fact that I cannot easily provide an answer to that question betrays that this is another excellent work by Ms. O'Farrell.

I would hazard that this work is the less obvious in its imagining and therefore its realization marks the greater achievement. It doesn't in the final analysis matter a jot whether 16th century Italy or England strike a firmer chord as both are a joy and privilege to have read.

Recommended.

>233 PaulCranswick: I liked Hamnet, so I'll have to add that one to my list.

>234 foggidawn: I am not convinced that one is better than the other, Foggi, as the author creates some memorable characters in this book that rivals what she did in her previous one.

>232 PaulCranswick: I read On the Beach some years ago and found his writing pleasant enough to read. What puzzled me then and moreso now is, what the heck makes his colonialist/imperialist worldvew so appealing to 21st century readers?

>236 richardderus: I haven't read that one, RD, but I think his ability as a storyteller explains your question. He was a writer of his time, certainly, but does chart quite clearly the decline of Britain and often juxtaposes that decline with the thriving future of Australia as he saw it.

September's African Novel Challenge thread is up and we are off to Southern Africa:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/353344

I am not going to quite finish The Covenant of Water in time for the month end (I have been savoring this brilliant novel), but it will give my September page count a huge boost!

>232 PaulCranswick: Sometimes we like the same things Paul. I have a lot of Nevil Shute books. One of my favorite authors. LT says I have 27 which sounds about right. I read Requiem for a Wren in the American title of The Breaking Wave in 2014. I gave it four solid stars and recall it as one of my favorites. This is what I wrote then:

This is a good to excellent story. It is certainly more melancholy than any other descriptive word I can think of. This story begins in the early 1950's but it really is about the lingering effects of WWII. Alan Duncan had returned to Australia after the war but was still too young he thought to settle. He left again after 2 years and now returns to his family ranching operation 5 years later. He was severely injured in the war, but has come to terms with it, the amputation of both his feet.

When he returns there is a mystery to solve at the ranch because of the death of a maid who has been there a year and who has appeared to have committed suicide, which no one can understand why. The story is rather complex in some ways with Shute inserting observations about the war and post-war periods and the story is told heavily in flashbacks by Alan. Shute's descriptions of landscapes and people and the settings are really well done and set you solidly in the times. The build up in England to Overlord is done in a small way quite well within the bigger story.

The original title of this book as published outside the United States and Canada was "Requiem for a Wren" which is a much better title than "The Breaking Wave."

The novel opens with an excerpt from a poem, an epigraph, that sets the tone for this novel incredibly well. It is an excerpt from "The Triumph of Time" by the English poet A(lgernon) C(harles) Swinburne.

I shall never be friends again with roses;
I shall loathe sweet tunes, where a note grown strong
Relents and recoils, and climbs and closes,
As a wave of the sea turned back by song.
There are sounds where the soul's delight takes fire,
Face to face with its own desire;
A delight that rebels, a desire that reposes;
I shall hate sweet music my whole life long.

The pulse of war and passion of wonder,
The heavens that murmur, the sounds that shine,
The stars that sing and the loves that thunder,
The music burning at heart like wine,
An armed archangel whose hands raise up
All senses mixed in the spirit's cup
Till flesh and spirit are molten in sunder —
These things are over, and no more mine.

Recomended

>240 RBeffa: Very nice review, Ron. You did it much fuller justice than did I.

>241 PaulCranswick: Thank you. Your reading this reminded me once again that I have not been paying attention to the English authors that I really enjoy.

>242 RBeffa: This group has been such a defining influence on my own reading, Ron. What with book recommendations and the like I read more American authors than previously and certainly more books by lady authors.