PAUL C in the War Room - Ninth with Saladin & the Lionheart

Richard and Saladin were foes who negotiated the end of the Third Crusade.

The Opening Words

I am planning to read the three volume History of the Crusades by Steven Runciman which were written in the 1950s. The First Volume is The History of the Crusades 1: The First Crusade




On a February day in the year AD 638 the Caliph Omar entered Jerusalem, riding upon a white camel. He was dressed in worn, filthy robes, and the army that followed him was rough and unkempt; but its discipline was perfect.

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

Books Read

January

1. Dear Future Boyfriend by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (2000) 90 pp Poetry / 150Y Challenge 15/150
2. Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy (2016) 420 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 16/150
3. The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff (1959) 306 pp Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 17/150
4. Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken (1964) 286 pp Fiction / BAC / 150Y Challenge 18/150
5. Carthage Must Be Destroyed by Richard Miles (2010) 373 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 19/150
6. When We Were Warriors by Emma Carroll (2019) 248 pp Fiction / War Room / 150y Challenge 20/150
7. Double Indemnity by James M Cain (1936) 136 pp Thriller / 150Y Challenge 21/150
8. Persian Fire by Tom Holland (2005) 376 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 22/150

February

9. North Woods by Daniel Mason (2023) 369 pp Fiction 150Y Challenge 23/150
10. The African by JMG Le Clezio (2004) 106 pp Non-Fiction / 150Y Challenge 24/150
11. The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson (2019) 564 pp Non-Fiction / War Room
12. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (1927) 297 pp Fiction 150Y Challenge 25/150
13. Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell (1987) 405 pp Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 26/150

March

14. Fatal Colours by George Goodwin (2011) 239 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 27/150
15. R.S. Thomas : Selected Poems by R.S. Thomas (2003) 343 pp Poetry / BAC / 150Y Challenge 28/150
16. The Maiden by Kate Foster (2023) 370 pp Fiction
17. The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan (2024) 334pp Fiction / Warm Room
18. The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright (2023) 273 pp Fiction
19. The Brothers York : An English Tragedy by Thomas Penn (2019) 572 pp Non-Fiction / War Room
20. Pet by Catherine Chidgey (2023) 323 pp Fiction
21. Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshanathan (2023) 341 pp Fiction
22. Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney (2024) 217 pp Fiction
23. Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas (1954) 108 pp Drama / BAC / 150 Y Challenge 29/150
24. Bosworth: Psychology of a Battle by Michael Jones (2002) 220 pp Non-Fiction/ War Room / 150Y Challenge 30/150

Books Read 2nd Quarter

April

25. The Sweet Science by A.J. Liebling (1956) 232 pp Non-Fiction / AAC / 150Y Challenge 31/150

Currently Reading

The War Room



JANUARY - Ancient Wars (Greeks/Romans/Persians/Carthage/Egyptians/Alexander, etc) https://www.librarything.com/topic/356820
1. Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy
2. The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff
3. Carthage Must Be Destroyed by Richard Miles
4. Persian Fire by Tom Holland

FEBRUARY - The American War of Independence : https://www.librarything.com/topic/358097#n8402612
1. The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson
2. Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell

MARCH - The War of the Roses : https://www.librarything.com/topic/358941
1. Fatal Colours by George Goodwin
2. The Brothers York : An English Tragedy by Thomas Penn

APRIL - Wars of Religion
MAY - Napoleonic Wars
JUNE - English Civil War
JULY - Colonial Wars

AUGUST - WW2
1. When We Were Warriors by Emma Carroll
2. The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

SEPTEMBER - American Civil War
OCTOBER - American Follies (Korea, Vietnam, Gulf-War, Afghanistan)
NOVEMBER - WW1
DECEMBER - Spanish Civil War

WILDCARD - Pick your own fight

British Author Challenge (Hosted by my friend Amanda)



JANUARY - Joan Aiken & Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle : Black Hearts in Battersea
FEBRUARY - Emma Newman & Ronald Firbank
MARCH - Welsh Writers : Selected Poems R.S. Thomas; Under Milk Wood

American Author Challenge (Hosted with occasional assistance this year by my friend Linda)



JANUARY - Mark Twain
FEBRUARY - Susan Sontag
MARCH - Truman Capote
APRIL - Non-Fiction - The Sweet Science by AJ Liebling

150 YEARS OF BOOKS

150 years; 150 books; 150 authors; 15 months

Done:
Row 1 : 1874


Row 2 : 1889


Row 3 : 1904, 1908, 1910, 1915


Row 4 : 1923, 1927


Row 5 : 1936, 1937, 1945


Row 6 : 1954, 1956, 1958, 1959


Row 7 : 1964, 1966


Row 8 : 1987


Row 9 : 1994, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005


Row 10 : 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023

Women's Prize List



Current Ranking
1. Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshanathan READ
2. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo READ
3. The Maiden by Kate Foster READ
4. The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright READ

A Trace of Sun by Pam Williams
Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan
Hangman by Maya Binyam
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy owned
8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster by Mirinae Lee owned
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie owned
In Defence of the Act by Effie Black
Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville owned
River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure owned
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad owned
The Blue Beautiful World by Karen Lord owned
And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott

Up next Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad

Paul's Alternative Women's Prize Longlist

Current Ranking

1. Pet by Catherine Chidgey READ
2. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett READ
3. The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan READ
4. Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney READ

5. Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton owned
6. I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai owned
7. Julia by Sandra Newman owned
8. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward owned
9. Loot by Tania James owned
10. Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood owned
11. The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe owned
12. Absolution by Alice McDermott owned
13. The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams owned
14. The Fraud by Zadie Smith owned
15. Penance by Eliza Clark owned
16. Land of Milk and Honey by E Pam Zhang owned

Next up Loot

Books Added in 2024

January books 1-31
https://www.librarything.com/topic/357215#8360403

February books 32-73
https://www.librarything.com/topic/358698#8432568

March books 74-104
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359405#8476551

105. Rachel Ray by Anthony Trollope
106. He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope
107. The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
108. The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
109. A Hero Born by Jin Yong
110. The Dream of Enlightenment by Anthony Gottlieb
111. A Short History of Decay by E.M. Cioran

Book Stats

Books Read : 25
Pages Read in completed books : 7,548 pp

Longest book : The Brothers York : 572 pp
Shortest book : Dear Future Boyfriend : 90 pp
Mean book length : 301.92 pp

Books written by men : 14
Books written by women : 11

Non-Fiction : 9
Fiction : 12
Poetry : 2
Thriller : 1
Drama : 1

1920's : 1 book
1930's : 1 book
1950's : 3 books
1960's : 1 book
1980's : 1 book
2000's : 5 books
2010's : 6 books
2020's : 7 books

UK Authors : 13
US Authors : 7
Ireland Authors : 2
France Authors : 1
Malaysia Authors : 1
New Zealand Authors : 1

Nobel Winners : 1 (79/120)
Carnegie Medal Winners : 1 (6th overall)

Read : 25 books
Added : 111 books

Change to TBR : +86

Welcome to my ninth thread of 2024

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Paul!!

Happy new thread!

>15 amanda4242: Thank you, Amanda. Starting two books for BAC today.

>16 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. I saw your thread was a bit busy so I was planning to go over there and touch base shortly.

>17 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia. Always a pleasure to see you in these parts

Bear with me a little today guys as I will take a while to get my thread properly up and running. Work is a bit hectic this morning.

Happy new thread, Paul!

Happy new thread. I think that's all I managed to say on your old one.

>21 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg.

>22 avatiakh: Thanks Kerry. Your presence is always appreciated.

Happy new thread Paul!

I hope the hectic abates long enough for you to make knots in your thread!

Happy New Thread, Paul and some peace and quiet for your thread and of course for reading!

>24 quondame: Hahaha Susan, thank you, I am trying to get tying!

>25 SirThomas: Thanks dear Thomas.

Happy new thread, Paul!

>27 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel

Happy new thread!

Oh wow, how could i have missed this, Happy new thread Paul!

>29 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita.

>30 Owltherian: It is only a few hours, Lily. Thank you for dropping by.

>31 PaulCranswick: You're welcome, i now have to sign out of my computer to do a checkpoint assessment in Algebra, so i will be right back.

I think I completely missed your last thread, Paul so happy new one and I will try harder to stay on track this time.

>20 PaulCranswick: “Work” is interfering with your responsibility for the enjoyment and mental health of scores of LTers? Distressing news.

>32 Owltherian: Algebra......I'm shuddering.

>33 jessibud2: Lovely to see you, Shelley. You had far too much on your plate, dear lady, don't worry.

>34 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha I will try to ensure that this will not happen again!

>35 PaulCranswick: It was easier than i thought, but algebra still sucks as a class.

>37 Owltherian: We will certainly agree on that, Lily.

>38 PaulCranswick: It was about everything we did already, and i finished it with a lot of time left in class.

Ninth thread already?! Wow!

>39 Owltherian: That's good, Lily.

>40 ArlieS: They are zipping along a bit at the moment, Arlie.

Happy New Thread!!

>20 PaulCranswick: I hope work becomes more manageable as the day progresses.

>35 PaulCranswick: and >37 Owltherian: Ha! I love algebra! But then I love puzzles, and algebra is nothing but math puzzles with letters thrown in for fun!

Merry Threadmas, PC!

>43 justchris: I passed algebra with the highest grade, but now its getting a lot harder to understand due to all of the different equations and things like that. For example parabolas.

>45 Owltherian: congrats on the highest grade! I hope you're able to figure out the further algebra developments. At least you have access to lots of online resources. Surely one of them will speak to you and help you connect to parabolas and much more.

>34 booksaplenty1949: I completely agree! How dare work interfere?!

Happy whatever!

>46 justchris: Yeah, i had the highest for like 2 quarters straight but i think that's changed.

Paul, I'm listening to a show featuring Crimean Tatar music because of some sort of anniversary, and of course, they're talking about the ongoing situation in Ukraine (plus earlier history of the region). I confess to profound ignorance about the Crimea and its history and peoples. I only know vaguely of the Crimean War because it is mentioned tangentially in a lot of the historical fiction set in that era that I read. I'm far more familiar with the Crusades, the theme of this 9th thread, having read Joinville and other contemporary historians, not so much modern historians of the Crusades. Complete non sequitur here I confess.

>42 hredwards: Thank you, Harold.

>43 justchris: You and I agree about most things Chris.....but not algebra!

>44 richardderus: Thank you, RD. Always a pleasure to host you here.

>45 Owltherian: Good grades in algebra are something to be proud of, I guess, Lily.

>46 justchris: I think that is a good point, Chris, I think that online resources make the understanding of difficult subjects like this more accessible.

>47 alcottacre: Hahaha thank you, Stasia.

>48 Owltherian: It is good to keep up your top scores, Lily.

>49 justchris: For me the Crimea conjures up Florence Nightingale, Lord Cardigan, Tennyson and the Charge of the Light Brigade. Squalor, valor and folly.

>53 PaulCranswick: Yep, I have a similar context there. But mostly from the character of Hester Latterley in Anne Perry's William Monk mysteries--she's a Crimean nurse who followed Florence Nightengale then came home and gets involved in solving murders and figuring out what to do as a professional nurse when the occupation hasn't been accepted as a trained profession yet. Squalor, valor and folly sums it up rather well (and possibly war in general).

>51 PaulCranswick: I think so- but i dont really understand it now.

Happy new thread, Paul.

And belated congratulations on 28 years of marriage to Hani and you!

Hi Paul! I see you've started your BAC reads. Can You Forgive Her? is among my favorite Trollopes.

Happy anniversary and new thread!

Happy new one, Paul!

>54 justchris: That series is a new one to me, Chris. Is it a good one?

>55 Owltherian: I don't think I ever fully got algebra.

>56 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. Sometimes it seems just like yesterday that we first met and other times.........!

>57 cbl_tn: I haven't really gotten going with the Trollope yet, Carrie, as I need a day off or the weekend to focus on progressing it. I am mindful of my 150Y challenge and may switch to The Way We Live Now instead as it fits in as it was published in 1875.

>58 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori and lovely to see you.

>59 drneutron: Thanks Doc Roc.

>60 PaulCranswick: Yes, I liked both this series and the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mysteries set in the time period, though I preferred this one. Very gritty in terms of murders revealing the ugly underbelly of Victorian "polite society." Strong characters with depth and growth over time, interesting plots that explore social issues of the era, etc. Hard to believe that it's been 20+ years since I actually read any. So now I've downloaded an audiobook on Libby...

>63 justchris: I prefer Monk to Pitt, too.

>61 PaulCranswick: Hope you do. Have not read TWWLN and would enjoy reading it with you.

Happy New Thread , Paul. I am just about to start Enter Ghost , so I hope both of us enjoy it. I have a second hand copy of Autumn Quartet, but have yet to read it.

>63 justchris: I will keep an eye out for those, you have sold me on them already, Chris.

>64 ReneeMarie: Monk it is then Renee.

>60 PaulCranswick: I dont get it either, and I'm still taking it. Its also storming really bad and i happen to be scared of them.

Sebastopol Sketches = Tolstoy and The Crimea.

Happy new(ish) thread!

>64 ReneeMarie: *fistbump*
>67 PaulCranswick: Excellent! I'm listening to A Dangerous Mourning now, and Hester has Opinions about military leadership in general and the charge of the Light Brigade in particular, not to mention the doctors running the medical system back home.

>1 PaulCranswick: Happy new thread!

>65 booksaplenty1949: That settles it then, let's read it together!

>66 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb. So far Hammad's book is only OK.

>68 Owltherian: The weather here just lately is quite peaceful. Some concerns because a couple of the states have not had rain for two weeks.

>69 m.belljackson: Tolstoy spanned that period too didn't he, Marianne?

>70 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary.

>71 justchris: The military leadership in the Crimean war was roundly criticized by all observers as I understand it!

>72 ocgreg34: Thanks Greg, nice to see you here.

>74 PaulCranswick: Paul - Sebastopol Sketches has been on my keep shelf for ages - an old classic you might still enjoy.

>73 PaulCranswick: Took my copy off the shelf to break the good news that its long wait was over. 🎉💥

>53 PaulCranswick: Well, Lord Cardigan conjures up a cosy sweater, but I suppose that’s not enough to justify an otherwise misguided war. Wikipedia explanation of the name is something about coattails being burnt off in a fireplace which is just about British enough to be true.

Happy new thread, Paul!

>74 PaulCranswick: I have had tornado warnings, severe rain warnings, you name it we got it.

Hi Paul, Happy New Thread mate. I hope that work has calmed down a bit for you mate, i am looking forward to the County Championship starting on Friday as long as the weather doesn't cause too much disruption.

I feel really sorry for Worcestershire with New Road being flooded five times since October and it seems they may be considering moving from their fabled home, in the meantime they are playing their first two home games at Kidderminster.

>64 ReneeMarie: As do I.

Happy whatever, Paul!

>77 m.belljackson: I'm sure that I would like that one, Marianne. Tolstoy has few peers in literature.

>78 booksaplenty1949: Mine too! It has been there for a long time too. An old Wordsworth classic edition.

>79 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha indeed. He hasn't gone down in history close to being one of the more adept of our generals.

>80 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene.

Paul! I got a badge! Its my first one!

>81 Owltherian: That sounds scary but strangely exciting at the same time. Stay safe.

>82 johnsimpson: I hope we do well and I believe that Harry Brook will be playing for us. If we has all our players fit then we have undoubtedly the best batting lineup in the country - Bean, Lyth, Malan, Masood, Brook, Thompson, Duke, Fisher, Moriarty, Edwards, Coad, Hill and Bess is a pretty good squad and the occasional appearances by Bairstow and Root makes us strong.

New Road is a beautiful ground isn't it. I hope that we can catch a game at Headingly or Scarborough this year John.

>83 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia. Happy Thursday evening to you dear lady.

>86 Owltherian: That's great, Lily.

>87 PaulCranswick: We dont have them anymore thankfully, and i got the 'Helper' badge!

>89 Owltherian: Good for you, Lily.

>90 PaulCranswick: Yeah, it keeps getting colder and today is going to be colder than yesterday

Just checking in , Paul. I am about 1/2 way through Enter Ghost and I am not enamoured of it. It is better than The Wren, The Wren, so that is good. I picked up 8 Lives of Century Trickster from the library today, so I think that will be my next read from the Women's Prize Longlist. How is Enter Ghost working for you?

>91 Owltherian: Sometimes I miss the four seasons, Lily, but not when you describe your current weather.

>92 vancouverdeb: We are similarly minded, Deb, again! I don't hate it but it isn't holding my attention as much as three of the others did. I would put it fourth presently and Enright's book bottom of my pile.

>93 PaulCranswick: Heh, Ohio really has some weird weather for sure!

>93 PaulCranswick: Malaysia only really does hot, wet and humid.

>95 PaulCranswick: We have hot, wet, humid, scalding, below 0, and way more

>96 Owltherian: I'll stick at the moment!

>97 PaulCranswick: School even got cancelled for like 3 days straight due to how cold it was- it was dangerous for the people who walked

Happy new thread Paul!

>43 justchris: I like algebra too - though I haven't studied maths in about three decades.

I started Weyward yesterday. It should be a quick read. I am about half way through already.

Just checking in on you for today, Paul. I hope all is well there.

Happy whatever!

Hope work is being kind to you.

As I've seen the pictures coming out of Taiwan, I've thought of you and your buildings. Those precarious angles in which the buildings are leaning is scary! I don't know enough about engineering or earthquakes to know if something like that could have been prevented. I know buildings are going to shake in a quake, but was that one built right on top of the fault line? or what? You may not know the answers, but I knew you were into buildings.

>98 Owltherian: Not being able to school because of the weather seems to me to be a reason to be thankful for the seasons.

>99 humouress: I do not like algebra, Nina, and I haven't studied it for 40 years.

>100 Kristelh: It is one that I want to get to soon, too, Kristel.

>101 alcottacre: All is good, Stasia. Lovely to see you dear lady.

Will you be opening the April War Room Challenge page soon?

Paul,
I don't know whether to be proud of myself or embarrassed. I went to my local used bookstore the other day, my favorite place on earth. And spent about an hour perusing and left without making a single purchase. I was kind of shocked when I arrived home and realized I hadn't bought anything. Told my wife I was proud of myself (she is a bit like Hani I believe), but I'm actually a little ashamed.

>102 Kristelh: Work is especially hectic at the moment, Kristel.

>103 thornton37814: You are able to take some protective measures in design taking into account seismic requirements.

>106 booksaplenty1949: I will do it today, just got buried with work. Sorry.

>107 hredwards: Hahaha I had those same mixed feelings recently when I went to the bookstore and came away empty handed.

>104 PaulCranswick: Yep! I was thankful then, and my throat is aching right now, it hurts a bit to swallow.

>109 PaulCranswick: Please don’t apologise. Just letting you know I’m keen.

>110 Owltherian: Plenty of water, Lily.

>111 booksaplenty1949: I'm so enthused that the challenge has captured the imagination of a number of my friends. x

>112 PaulCranswick: Its gotten a lot worse and i feel like i may throw up, and it really hurts to swallow.

>113 Owltherian: Take care of yourself.

>114 PaulCranswick: I'll try my best.

The April War Room Challenge thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/359824

We are looking at wars of religion this year. Since the various "peaceful" faiths have been at odds sine time immemorial then there is plenty of reading scope this month.

Happy New Thread!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/359825

>117 SilverWolf28: Thank you Silver

>118 SilverWolf28: And again!

Hi, Paul! I need a book by Pym for a RL book club in a couple of months. Will wait to see your review!

>120 Tess_W: Of course wait for Mr Cranswick’s review, but as a great fan of Pym’s who has read all her works I would recommend starting with her first, Some Tame Gazelle. If you enjoy it you will have the pleasure of working your way through her all-too-short oeuvre in order; if you do not it is unlikely that you would care for anything else she wrote as she, like Jane Austen, paints on a very small canvas.

>120 Tess_W: It could be the first book I finish this month, and it is a well written but wry comedy of manners.

>121 booksaplenty1949: Perhaps I should have done that myself as I have her debut novel on the shelves too.

>123 PaulCranswick: Interesting how some writers take off in new directions, possibly including a nose-dive, while others produce a consistent product over their whole career.

>124 booksaplenty1949: I do have a number of favourite authors whose oeuvre was chock full of gems. Spark, Maugham, Greene, Graham Swift are a few whose books were consistently enjoyable to me.

Hi Paul - I added a recommendation for you, Mark and Joe on Joe's thread = Omeros by Derek Walcott.

>126 m.belljackson: I love Derek Walcott, Marianne and have read Omeros as well as his extensive Selected Poems.

>127 PaulCranswick: Great to read that - I didn't see a Review from you so wanted to be sure it was not missed.

>128 m.belljackson: Without checking back, Marianne, I am fairly sure that I read Derek Walcott before I joined LT but his work is certainly excellent by any standard.

>124 booksaplenty1949: I've just read an introduction to Pym's An unsuitable attachment about the trouble she had getting this her 7th and then 8th books published even though she was an established writer by then.

Just to let you know, I had a few book purchases come in this week :) They are listed on the 'This Just In' thread if you have time.

Have a wonderful whatever, Juan!

>130 avatiakh: It is hard to imagine isn't it that she would get a number of rejection seven novels in?

>131 alcottacre: I will go over and have a look, dear Juana.

>125 PaulCranswick: Then there are others—-Hemingway’s later works eg The Old Man and the Sea are self-parodic. D H Lawrence describes an arc, up to Sons and Lovers and down to Kangeroo.

>133 booksaplenty1949: Oh yes I would certainly agree that some of the other novelists and writers I admire could be extremely inconsistent as writers. Thomas Hardy is another author whose novels describe an arc in terms of quality.
Iris Murdoch tailed off as she got aged and more and more confused.
John Steinbeck's work seemed to get progressively better in my opinion but there were blips along the way.

Hiya Paul! Sadly my tempature went up from a 99.4 to 100.0 so I'm pretty sick, but reading wont be a problem, unless I'm too sick to get out of bed that is.

I am in my 15th year on LT.

What are the best 15 novels that I have read in that time (not including re-reads)?

In no particular orde:

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
The Children of Dynmouth by William Trevor
Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
The Road Home by Rose Tremain
The North Water by Ian McGuire
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
The Dig by Cynan Jones
Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Golden Hill by Francis Spufford
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

>135 Owltherian: Get better soon, Lily.

>137 PaulCranswick: I hope i do, and my temp is officially 101.0 so i will be sleeping.

>138 Owltherian: Plenty of fluids are required, Lily.

>139 PaulCranswick: Yep, i told my father & now i have to isolate myself (which i already was) because someone in my home has had oral surgery & is in my living room.

>140 Owltherian: You need plenty of rest and plenty of fluids, Lily.

Here is an update on the Thread Posting stats updated just a moment ago:

All threads with more than 60 posts to date:

1 PaulCranswick 2,720
2 richardderus 2,203
3 msf59 1,683
4 katiekrug 1,469
5 Alcottacre 909
6 scaifea 898
7 EBT 868
8 Berly 854
9 lauralkeet 854
10 FAMeulstee 831
11 klobrien 823
12 karenmarie 797
13 jnwelch 742
14 bell7 698
15 Familyhistorian 680
16 figsfromthistle 674
17 vancouverdeb 643
18 BLBera 637
19 Whisper1 442
20 The_Hibernator 432
21 mahsdad 406
22 Curioussquared 405
23 drneutron 395
24 (Sir)Thomas 393
25 SandDune 369
26 streamsong 367
27 RebaRelishesReading 366
28 jessibud 359
29 foggidawn 351
30 LizzieD 346
31 storeetller 328
32 atozgirl 327
33 quondame 316
34 Caroline_McElwee 315
35 owltherian 306
36 humouress 305
37 mickyfine 288
38 norabelle414 283
39 kristel 273
40 weird_o 246
41 ursula 242
42 mdoris 239
43 donna 236
44 John Simpson 236
45 mstrust 231
46 dianeham 208
47 Banjo 207
48 Tess_W 206
49 copperskye 205
50 carmenere 203
51 avatiakh 190
52 thornton37814 188
53 cbl_tn 185
54 AMQS 183
55 laytonwoman3rd 180
56 SqueakyChu 178
57 ronireads 174
58 witchyrichy 158
59 Lovinglit 156
60 Elorin 155
61 EllaTim 145
62 Arlie 136
63 ffortsa 127
64 fuzzi 121
65 chelle 109
66 SuzyQOregon 109
67 ravenwoodwitch 106
68 ChrisG 102
69 ctpress 101
70 lyzard 100
71 swynn 96
72 WhiteRaven.17 94
73 Oberon 93
74 CDVicarage 86
75 lycomayflower 85
76 sibylline 82
77 justchris 81
78 hredwards 77
79 lindapanzo 75
80 PlatinumWarlock 75
81 kac522 74
82 amanda4242 73
83 catseyegreen 73
84 tiffin 67
85 LyndainOregon 64
86 PawsForThought 64
87 walklover 64
88 lkernagh 63

>121 booksaplenty1949: Thanks for that. I will seek out Some Tame Gazelle as the "rule" for the read is any book by Pym.

ETA: Just d/l Some Tame Gazelle from Audible--it was free!

>143 Tess_W: I almost picked that one too, Tess

>136 PaulCranswick: Ah - I love a top reads list! And I've only read one of them (The Nickel Boys). I'll add them to my TBR.

>145 ChrisG1: Thanks Chris. My original list of 30 gradually got whittled down to the requisite number.

I will try and look at my non-fiction reading too.

>136 PaulCranswick: Wonderful to see your "best novels" of the past 15 years Paul!

>136 PaulCranswick: I've read the Ghosh and the de Maupassant -- like the Ghosh better. I own the Barker & the Spufford. And a different Boyden book, Three Day Road, is on my get to someday list.

>147 mdoris: Well to be precise Mary they are my selection of the best 15 novels I have read in the last 15 years and not the best novels published in the last 15 years. Eight or nine of my selections were in fact published in the last 15 years to be fair though.

>148 ReneeMarie: Any particular books you would put up as the best you have read in the last decade or so, Renee?

I loved The Dig too.

Weekend additions

I have to say weekend instead of Friday lunch time for the simple reason I went to the bookstore yesterday and made a selection of a few books and then realized at the counter that I had left my wallet in the office!

Today of course when I went to collect the books I had selected I added a couple more.

Rachel Ray by Anthony Trollope
He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope
The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
A Hero Born by Jin Yong
The Dream of Enlightenment by Anthony Gottlieb
A Short History of Decay by E.M. Cioran

>150 avatiakh: He is a very talented writer, Cynan Jones, isn't he, Kerry?

>149 PaulCranswick: That will require a think, & reference to my printed list (kept only since 2010). Since I'm on vacation as of 7 hours ago, I'll accept the mission. But not tonight. Time for sleep. Back soon-ish.

Paul, I'm quite sure I remember you reading Mrs England and enjoying it. I've read her other two books and liked them too. Stacey Halls has a new one book out, called The Household: PRE-ORDER the highly anticipated, captivating new novel from the author of MRS ENGLAND and THE FAMILIARS , I can't believe that all is the title, but so it seems here on Lt. Anway, I ordered from Blackwell's in the UK and hope it will arrive in 3 weeks or so.

>153 ReneeMarie: Hahaha ok, have a good think and a great vacation.

>154 vancouverdeb: I did really like Mrs England, Deb. Well remembered.

Won't be everyone's cup of tea but in my fifteenth year on LT what are the 15 best poetry collections I have read. (I haven't included Yeats or Dylan Thomas whose collected work I am constantly re-reading. I have only chosen one collection per poet and I have not included any anthology of various poets).

1. Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus
2. Dead Sea Poems by Simon Armitage
3. Another Time by WH Auden
4. 77 Dream Songs by John Berryman
5. Landscape at the End of the Century by Stephen Dunn
6. Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot
7. North by Seamus Heaney
8. Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes
9. The Lost Leader by Mick Imlah
10. A New Selected Poems by Galway Kinnell
11. What Work Is by Philip Levine
12. Autumn Journal by Louis MacNeice
13. Dream Work by Mary Oliver
14. Rain by Don Paterson
15. Domestic Work by Natasha Trethewey

And here are my fifteen selections for Non-Fiction - I reckon I am probably overlooking one or two, but from memory these are my picks

1. Foundation : A History of England Volume 1
2. Promised Land : The Reinvention of Leeds United by Anthony Clavane
3. A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor
4. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
5. The Gathering Storm by Winston Churchill
6. The Brothers York by Thomas Penn
7. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
8. The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes
9. The Guns of August Barbara Tuchman
10. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
11. The British Are Coming by Rick Atkinson
12, Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
13. The Holy Fox by Andrew Roberts
14. Voices from Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich
15. A Short History of England by Simon Jenkins

>141 PaulCranswick: Yep i had gone to bed around 11 and woke up just now.

>136 PaulCranswick: What a fantastic list! I have read the majority of them at this point. I will have to see about getting my hands on the others.

>151 PaulCranswick: I own The Bookbinder as well if you are interested in a shared read at some point. Nice haul, Juan!

>157 PaulCranswick: Tracking down copies of several of those as well. . .

Happy whatever, Paul!

>136 PaulCranswick: I took a hit from that list for Plainsong, which I've seen before in reviews. Currently reading The Covenant of Water, 18/80+ chapters in and it has to get better to be an all time fav. Nickel Boys also just an average read for me. Empire of the Summer was a 5 star read for me and I would definitely place it in my all time favs. Hopefully you will read a few this year that you can add to that list!

>136 PaulCranswick: Am looking over my “Books read in…” lists on Charts and Graphs page to see if I could construct a similar list, but one book, Turbott Wolfe, springs immediately to mind. Had literally never heard of it, and knew the author only as a librettist for Benjamin Britten, but saw the novel on Cyril Connolly’s list of “Key Books of the Modern Movement” somewhere and as it was one of the few unread, not to mention unknown, I tracked down a copy, with some difficulty, and was blown away.
Will also put in a plug for Uncle Tom’s Cabin—-a tour de force of proselytising fiction whose impact, 175 years later, we can still get a sense of.

>158 Owltherian: Hope you are feeling a lot better.

>159 alcottacre: I would find it hard to choose particular favourites from the lists, Stasia.
I would be up for a shared read, of course.

>160 Tess_W: Something about Verghese's book captured my imagination as I just thought its scope was monumental.

>161 booksaplenty1949: Two books there that I must seek to read soonish.

>162 PaulCranswick: I just ate so my stomach is full but my temperature keeps going up sadly, and its now 99.3 i believe

>163 PaulCranswick: A passing reference near the end of Uncle Tom’s Cabin to the fact that an enslaved couple who successfully escaped to Canada are planning to emigrate to Liberia. Stowe expresses the opinion earlier in the book that relocating large numbers of former slaves to Africa is not the answer to anything, so I am surprised that it is depicted as an attractive option for these two people born in the United States, each of 1/4 African-American ancestry. Was Nova Scotia really that unappealing? In any event, the exploration of what constitutes “identity” is always interesting to me. You must have thought a lot about this as an ex-pat.

>136 PaulCranswick: Happy fifteenth! Great reading in those choices...did you, at some point, send me The Children of Dynmouth? I have it here and I don't remember why. I do remember that you are a general fan of his writing.

Francis Spufford's latest, Cahokia Jazz, is excellent, too.

Another novel on my “best” list for sure: Lincoln in the Bardo. Will plug it when we get to the American Civil War in the War Room.

>156 PaulCranswick: *shudder*

>157 PaulCranswick: iiiiiiiiiiiinteresting

The Penn is on my "make time for this" list. I would like to go back in time to kick Shakespeare in the goolies for what he did to RIII. Although Jarman's film of his play was *chef's kiss*

>168 richardderus: Did Jarman do Richard III? I thought the only Shakespeare play he did was The Tempest; are you maybe thinking of his Edward II?

>164 Owltherian: It calls for the doctor then I am afraid, Lily.

>165 booksaplenty1949: That is an interesting point - I certainly feel it for my three kids who hold dual nationality are proud of being British but I think if Malaysia played England in football they would cheer on their Asian part!

>170 PaulCranswick: I have not eaten for 6 hours, and i got some medication and I'm happy to say my temp has gone down slightly.

>166 richardderus: Thanks RD, I could have been responsible for sending you the Trevor book but I must admit to not being sure on the point and memory starts to fail me.

>167 booksaplenty1949: Yeah I can see that but it was a book that I appreciated more than I loved.

>168 richardderus: The poetry was not listed with you in mind, dear fellow, honestly!
I have read two books by Penn and could have included either one of them. The Bard was a propagandist for sure in the case of Richard III.

>169 amanda4242: I cannot claim any expertise on the works of Derek Jarman except to note that he was a very sad and premature loss to the world of film making. I remember his brilliant Caravaggio.

>171 Owltherian: That is good news, Lily.

>174 PaulCranswick: I asked my father for some food now, so i will be eating in a short time enough, and his gf is going to make dinner soon, and I'm glad my temp hasn't risen.

>175 Owltherian: If you are looking for food, you will be ok.

>176 PaulCranswick: I just finished chips w/ guacamole & it was good, and I'm still a little hungry for dinner that will be soon.

Thanks for the lists, Paul! It's fun to see what your favorite reads are.

Not sure what I'd put down, but Half of A Yellow Sun would probably be on it.

>178 banjo123: Yes, big thanks to last year’s Africa challenge. Previous reading of Americanah would not otherwise have promoted me to give Adichie another go but Half of a Yellow Sun was first-rate.

>173 PaulCranswick: End scene of Jarman’s Tempest, with dancers in American sailor uniforms and a drag queen singing “Stormy Weather” is an enduring memory.

>173 PaulCranswick: Caravaggio is a great one, but Edward II is my favorite Jarman film, mostly because of the scene with Annie Lennox singing "Every Time We Say Goodbye."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8ke5zYMOSE

>177 Owltherian: Chips and guacamole would have seen you in the company of my daughter Yasmyne who could happily survive on the verdant stuff.

>178 banjo123: Lovely to see you, Rhonda. Not all fifteen books on that last were predetermined and I had to leave out a few (My Antonia for example) that came close to making it, but Adichie's book was certain of its place and it would have been there if I had only selected five.

>179 booksaplenty1949: I'm surprised that I haven't yet managed to get to Americanah but not quite as surprised as seeing it on The Atlantic's list of Great American novels of the last 100 years. Nobody seems to have reminded them that she is Nigerian.

>180 booksaplenty1949: He was one of a kind, wasn't he and I am not sure that the world was quite ready for him. Brilliant fellow though.

>182 PaulCranswick: Its delicious and i could survive off the stuff for years! Im also on my last tissue & i would have to go downstairs for more, which wouldn't be a problem, but the food i was given for dinner is sadly not so good.

>181 amanda4242: That is great, Amanda. Thank you for sharing it.

>184 Owltherian: Well we can't live on guacamole alone, Lily!

>185 PaulCranswick: I had chips! I can live off those & guac for a while at least!

>186 Owltherian: Well at least there is some nutrition in the guacamole.

>187 PaulCranswick: Yep, and a little with the chips as well.

>136 PaulCranswick: Gotta love a best-of list! Of your fiction list, I've read five, and would completely agree with The Covenant of Water. I've also been here a little over 15 years, and here are some of the contenders for me...

Fiction
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard
Story of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Nonfiction
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Did Ye Hear Mammy Died by Seamas O'Reilly
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy
Housekeeping vs. The Dirt by Nick Hornby
Maus by Art Spiegelman
The Pleasure of Reading edited by Antonia Fraser
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Poetry
Monument by Natasha Trethewey
Final Harvest: Emily Dickinson's Poems by Emily Dickinson
Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman
For every one by Jason Reynolds

You can see I don't read as much poetry haha.

>142 PaulCranswick: Not surprised to see myself firmly in the top 20, and the folks I would expect in the top 10 posting league! Always fun to see the stats.

>188 Owltherian: Not too much with the chips, Lily, but you wouldn't eat guacamole without something to give it some balance of taste and texture.

>190 PaulCranswick: Thats very true, although i do eat avocados by themselves all the time.

>189 bell7: That is a very interesting fiction list to me, Mary, as apart from our agreement on Verghese I haven't read a single one of your other choices but I do have six of them on the shelves awaiting me.

I have read five of your non-fiction picks and probably should have put Maus on my own list too.

Although I have read some Emily Dickinson, I haven't read any of the poetry books you list though I did include Trethewey myself for her debut collection.

>191 Owltherian: Not for me, Lily. Hani and the girls like avocado much more than I do.

>193 PaulCranswick: Avacado is an acquired taste i guess.

>162 PaulCranswick: Just let me know when - although certainly not this month, lol

>194 Owltherian: One that I have yet to acquire.

>195 alcottacre: Agreed, Juana. Maybe next month though as, if it is like her first book, it should be a quick and engaging read.

>196 PaulCranswick: Heh, seems like it.

>197 Owltherian: I don't actively avoid much food only really sea-snails and cuttlefish (the first making a desperately awful sucking sound during the eating process and the second having the composition of elastic/rubber bands.

>198 PaulCranswick: I rather dislike seafood, exept if its in sushi or cooked salmon. Those are about the only two seafoods i will eat.

I'm with Lily! I actively avoid all sea food and fish too, other than halibut and sometimes salmon.

Paul, we need a new picture of wee Pip !

>199 Owltherian: I like salmon, tuna, prawns, stingray, clams, crayfish, makerel (especially smoked) in fact most sea-fish, anchovies (In Malaysia we eat a dried and slightly salted type called ikan bilis, seabass and turbot especially.
Fish and Chips of course.

>200 vancouverdeb: I do like halibut too, Deb in addition to those listed above. I must also added mussels to the list of foods I don't eat because I was once violently ill afterwards.
There is little better than fresh oysters shucked and swallowed with a dash of lemon and some tabasco.

ETA I will get some Pip pics from my whatsApp and post them later.

>201 PaulCranswick: I have never tried stingray. Is it good? I have not had clams, anchovies (due to the awful smell) & a few others.

>202 Owltherian: Depending upon the cut, stingray is fantastically meaty and easy to eat. Wonderful barbecued or cooked in a spicy sour sauce which we call Assam pedas ikan pari

oooh- it sounds delishous, and its making me hungry, which now is not a good time to eat since i never ate dinner (Due to not liking it) and not eating much yesterday.

>204 Owltherian: Go and seek it out and enjoy, Lily.

>205 PaulCranswick: I will try my best, but I'm sure it will be hard to find.

As requested by Deb.

The apple of her grandmother's eye : Pip / Nami

This is to showcase my favourite Grandmother and quite certainly, Pip's favourite.

Aww, isn't she a darling, Paul. Look at that big smile. Hani looks so happy too! Thanks for posting the picture. I hope you can see her in person soon.

>208 PaulCranswick: That is really sweet too, Paul. That is lovely picture of both Hani and Pip! Aren't you a lucky fellow .

>209 vancouverdeb: There are rumours of a visit soon, Deb.

>210 vancouverdeb: I am lucky indeed.

>207 PaulCranswick:, >208 PaulCranswick: - Hi Paul. Photos aren't showing, other than as a small square icon. :-(

>169 amanda4242: You're correct, Amanda, it was John Loncraine's 1995 version I was thinking off. It's very trenchant and makes, through moving the action into the 1930s, the undertones of the play overtones.

What an evil piece of propaganda that play was!

>172 PaulCranswick: If you didn't gift it to me, you inspired its purchase, so either way to you the laurels.

>173 PaulCranswick: *snort* I know when I see poetry listed it's a tactic to keep me moving on, like posting pictures of...them...is. *shuffleshuffle*

>212 jessibud2: I have reloaded them, Shelley. Hopefully you can see them now.

>213 richardderus: I will try to watch that one, RD. I think you will like The Children of Dynmouth.
I do recall sending you poetry that you actually liked, dear fellow, although it can be our little secret!

>214 PaulCranswick: - Yay! Thanks, Paul. How old is she now (Pip, not Hani)? So cute!

>215 jessibud2: She is seven months, Shelley. That photo is at about six months.

Thanks for the Pip photos! So cute!

Top books are an impossible moving target for me. Some of my 5 stars are probably due more to time and place read than actual content, but that still makes them very dear to me.

>217 streamsong: Deb was right, Janet - it was too long since I shared some photos.

I know what you mean about moving targets because when Mary put up her choices I realized that she had included one in the non-fiction that should have appeared also in mine!

I'm way down in the posting league from where I used to be. That's okay though. I know I just don't have time to keep up anyway.

>219 thornton37814: So long as you are here in the group, I would miss you if you weren't around.

Pip is so cute!

I like cuttlefish, but we don't have it here. Not to complain, because we have tons of great seafood, especially salmon.

Hi Paul! I just took a shower, although I have to hide my coughing from my grandmother and great-grandmother because I don't want them to yell at me or my dad :/ but I get to go to my great-grandmother's for lunch, which is super nice! I also feel a lot better, except for my horrible cough.

>220 PaulCranswick: I would miss everyone and the book bullets if I didn't hang out from time to time.

Oh! What a little cutie! Seven months already! I do hope you get to visit soon. Nothing like holding your grandbaby!

I just had a piece of avocado toast with my late breakfast. I don’t eat avocados all the time, but once in awhile they’re so yummy!

Love your lists of favorite books. I’m going to make lists of my own favorites and post on my thread. I’ve been a member since 2006, so that’ll be a lot of books!

>165 booksaplenty1949: If I recall correctly, from a non-fiction I read about black Loyalists, these Loyalists were faced with weather far colder than they were accustomed to - or knew how to handle - along with significant difficulties in getting the compensation they'd been promised. They also had problems from the white settlers already there.

Some large proportion of those originally resettled in Nova Scotia wound up relocating to Liberia. That didn't necessarily end well either, but may well have been the best of bad choices, in individual circumstances.

>191 Owltherian: Ditto, except that I generally add a generous amount of lemon juice.

>221 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. I would love to get to the Pacific North West and sample the seafood up there.

>222 Owltherian: Why would you get shouted at for having a cough?

>223 thornton37814: You were one of my first pals in the group, Lori.

>224 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary - I hope to hold her soon.

I will keep an eye out for your list of books.

>225 ArlieS: Relocations, forced or voluntary, are fraught with the possibilities of misadventure.

>226 ArlieS: Now lemon juice is a favourite.

>208 PaulCranswick: Pip is, of course, the most darling darling. I hope the visit materializes!

>214 PaulCranswick: Well, it is hard to beat Simon Armitage and Seamus Heaney, PC, and Philoctetes and Beowulf are scarcely the same as some yutz wand'ring lonely as a cloud *gag* and suchlike bloviations.

Richard Loncraine must've made other films but for the life of me I don't know a single one! That one, like Jarman's Caravaggio, will do to define an œuvre.

>226 ArlieS: I add maybe a little paprika as well, but that's only sometimes.

>222 Owltherian: Well my dad would for 'giving them a sick child' and it has happened before

Pip is such a cutie. Thanks for posting pictures.

>165 booksaplenty1949: Don't know much about Nova Scotia, specifically their treatment of African-Americans. However, I do know that during that time they expelled the Acadians because they were too "French." I can imagine, although perhaps incorrectly, that their feelings toward darker-skinned people was also negative.

>207 PaulCranswick:
>208 PaulCranswick:
Cuties!

>192 PaulCranswick: well, I went through what I'd rated 5 stars in the last 15 years to make it easier to narrow down. I daresay there's a 4.5 star that, looking back on it, I would've rated higher than The Twyford Code (the only one I wavered about including on that list), but that project is one I'm not going to tackle just yet! I haven't read Trethewey's debut collection, so it was a toss up between that and Native Guard for me.

Thanks for sharing the updated pictures of Nami with Hani. She's adorable and growing so fast!

>207 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, Well Nami is adorable but you know that!

>181 amanda4242: >185 PaulCranswick: Jarman fan here. His books, art and garden, as well as his movies.

>207 PaulCranswick: Lovely photos of Pip.

>230 quondame: Thank you, Susan. I agree and I am not in the least bit biased!

>231 richardderus: Indeed, RD, and I don't much go for that Victorian romanticism much myself.

>232 Owltherian: I wouldn't be happy in a home where apologies were required for being ill.

>233 Kristelh: You are most welcome, Kristel.

>234 Tess_W: Tess the people of New Scotland cannot be criticized for trying to control the numbers of those pesky French!

>235 bell7: I am something of s fickle reviewer, Mary and therefore a rating system has been abandoned by me completely. Looking back on some of my earlier years in the group I used to pick my books of the month and year and I find that my memory of certain books is less uncritical of a few I raved about at the time.

>236 mdoris: No arguments here on that Mary. xx

>237 Caroline_McElwee: I would have picked you of a fan of Jarman, Caroline, given the eclectic tastes of the late great fellow.

Pip has a really strong character coming through already.

>239 PaulCranswick: Yeah, it kind of sucks, and i think i got my dad sick...so that's super fun.

>225 ArlieS: About 1200 African-Americans who had come to Nova Scotia after the American Revolution subsequently relocated to Sierra Leone, a British colony, not Liberia. They did not integrate well with the existing settlement there and no further resettlement was allowed.

>234 Tess_W: Acadians were deported because they supported the losing side in a series of wars between the French and the British and refused to make a subsequent declaration of loyalty to the British Crown.

>242 Owltherian: As a father of two daughters and a son that amount of glee makes me uncomfortable!

>243 booksaplenty1949: Sierra Leone is a country I know little about despite spending a little bit of time in that region in Ghana (three visits) and Sao Tome.

>244 booksaplenty1949: Interesting history. I am going to go and study this topic a little as you both make it sound fascinating.

>245 PaulCranswick: I meant that part as a joke obviously, i don't like getting others sick.

>247 Owltherian: Hahaha I did know that, Lily!

>248 PaulCranswick: Heh, the eclipse is tomorrow and i cant wait!

>249 Owltherian: I think the eclipse is today here!

>250 PaulCranswick: Whattt- thats so cool!

BOOK #25



The Sweet Science by A.J. Liebling
Date of Publication : 1956
Origin of Author : USA
Gender of Author : Male
Pages : 232pp
Challenges : AAC (April); 150Y Challenge 31/150

This was light relief for me. I have always been a boxing buff and the period of the early to middle fifties was an exciting one with Marciano, Jersey Joe, the waning Brown Bomber, Sugar Ray and our own tragic Randy Turpin.

Liebling was a great stylist and his vignettes on the sweet science reveal both his passion and his dispassion. Well written, absorbing and recommended to lovers of pugilism and its "Golden Age".

>251 Owltherian: Not really because we won't have visibility apparently.

>253 PaulCranswick: Aw mannn- that suckss

>254 Owltherian: I'm not really into them Lily but apparently we will get a partial on 20 April.

>255 PaulCranswick: Oooh- this is the first one i will have ever saw, so I'm very exited!

>256 Owltherian: I understand it is almost a full eclipse so it should be impressive.

>257 PaulCranswick: yeah, i bet it will be!

You turn round once and you've already missed 139 posts...
Many thanks for the statistics (>142 PaulCranswick:) and the wonderful pictures (>207 PaulCranswick:, >208 PaulCranswick:) of marvellous people.
All the best for you and your family, Paul!

>258 Owltherian: Good luck, Lily.

>259 SirThomas: Thanks for your lovely comments as always, Thomas.

>260 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the luck!

>261 Owltherian: You're welcome.

>246 PaulCranswick: In The Book of Negroes the fictional narrator had been captured by slavers in Africa around 1750 and returning there was her lifelong goal, even after achieving freedom in Nova Scotia. Many of the promises made to Black Loyalists were not kept there, but that was not her primary motivation. By the time in which Uncle Tom’s Cabin was set the trans-Atlantic slave trade to the US had been illegal for over forty years and Eliza and George, both bi-racial, have no direct connection to Africa. I have to think Stowe threw in a reference to their departure for Liberia as a way of keeping the idea of the possibility of the “repatriation” of former slaves in her readers’ minds. She did not support it as a general solution to potential problems in a post-slavery US. The “Back-to-Africa” movement has had a very checkered history, in fact.

>243 booksaplenty1949: *sigh* I wish my memory were better. Of course it was Sierra Leone. Thank you.

>263 booksaplenty1949: I really must seek out that book. It does sound fascinating.

>264 ArlieS: I am extremely impressed by the knowledge of my peers in the group on multifarious subjects.

Dang! I lost you somehow and I am hopelessly behind -- Your thread moves so fast! : ) Only a partial eclipse here and heavy clouds, so not much fun. Sigh. Happy Monday/Tuesday!

Paul, the eclipse was so cool! It went fully over the sun and it was awsome!

>266 Berly: Lovely to see you, Kimmers! Yeah we got nothing here in the way of eclipses.

>267 Owltherian: I am so pleased you enjoyed it, Lily.

>268 PaulCranswick: I even sat next to a lizard before it ran into a hole :)

>269 Owltherian: That's strange, Lily, because the lizards normally get the cheap seats.

>270 PaulCranswick: Yeah, my elementry school had a hole in its wall and i guess that's its home!

Thanks for the stats, Paul. I see that the Canadian contingent is within the top 20 and weighing in one after the other.

ETA: I've read quite a bit about the Acadians having lived in Nova Scotia and been married to someone whose ancestry was part Acadian. One of my current reads is Threads in the Acadian Fabric: Nine Generations of an Acadian Family. It's a library book but there is so much good info in there that I think I'll order my own copy.

>271 Owltherian: There is a lot of noise in the UK about the safety of school buildings. Holes in walls stuffed with lizards don't sound the most structurally sound way of constructing educational facilities.

>272 Familyhistorian: It is extremely close at the top of the Canadian rankings just as it was last year but with the addition of Deb to compete with you and Anita!

>273 PaulCranswick: It was on the outside, and the lizard couldn't go inside of the school + its a pretty old school

>273 PaulCranswick: We were posting at the same time, Paul. I added a note about Acadians to my one about the stats.

>275 Owltherian: So the lizards are kept out of the school proper - isn't that discriminatory?!

>276 Familyhistorian: It does sound like an utterly fascinating bit of history, Meg, I must say.

>277 PaulCranswick: Heh, lizards are everywhere in Ohio, even if your not trying to look for any you will see them.

>278 Owltherian: I think we can definitely beat North America in terms of the reptilian populace here in Malaysia. In actual fact some of the biggest reptiles - we shall say crocodiles - got elected to high public office!

In all seriousness, I quickly got used to living alongside the perfectly harmless geckos that are everywhere in Malaysia.

>279 PaulCranswick: Ooh- crocodiles are cool, and i have also gotten used to it.

>244 booksaplenty1949: Yeppers!

>246 PaulCranswick: Read Longfellow's Evangeline It will touch you and teach you!

>142 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the list. Looks like I am lagging behind which makes sense as I am reading less.

>207 PaulCranswick: What a cute smile!

Happy week ahead

>280 Owltherian: Hungry crocodiles much less cool, believe me!

>281 Tess_W: The British crown around that time was pretty vindictive.

>282 Tess_W: Thanks for that tip, Tess, I actually have Evangeline on the shelves.

>283 figsfromthistle: I have seen you higher in the list, Meg, but you presently remain leading Canadian.

She does have a great smile and it is very rarely absent by all accounts.

>284 PaulCranswick: I would think! Hungry crocs are hard to deal with.

>284 PaulCranswick: The expulsions were no doubt an unnecessary precaution and caused the Acadians great hardship. There were, however, legitimate questions about where their loyalties lay. More inexcusable, to me, was the internment during WW II of Japanese-Canadians and Japanese-Americans, many from families who had lived in North America for generations. Some of these were men who had fought for Canada or the US in World War I. An appalling display of racism.

>286 Owltherian: Hahaha indeed

>287 booksaplenty1949: That is a very good point.

>288 PaulCranswick: Their property was sold AND they had to pay the costs of their own internment! In 1988 the governments of the US and Canada issued formal apologies and paid compensation to survivors and to Japanese-American/Japanese-Canadian organisations, which is better than the Acadians got, I have to say. They had to make do with Evangeline.

THE END OF RAMADAN FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND ANOTHER FULL YEAR OF FASTING.

Hani is a sure hand in the kitchen and always lets me decide what to eat for fast breaking. I chose ayam masak kicap (chicken in soya sauce). 99% of the time she will exceed expectations and the sauce is piquant, a little spicy with a bare hint of sweetness.

When you are fasting of course you can't really taste as you are cooking and I tucked in with the highest of expectations into a beautifully presented dish. So unbelievably sweet that I couldn't swallow it without grimacing. Hani and I had a good laugh about it to be fair and I can certainly allow 1 off dish out of 29!

We have decided that we will serve her new "Sugar Chicken" dish to anyone who irritates us in the future!

>290 PaulCranswick: Haha, sounds super fun!

>289 booksaplenty1949: Internment is certainly a blot on American history just as the concentration camps the British devised for the Boers were too.

>291 Owltherian: I didn't have the heart to comment until Hani herself wanted to try!

>293 PaulCranswick: Sugary stuff is good, unless its pure sugar

>292 PaulCranswick: The mismanagement of the camps in the Boer War was certainly a blot, but the idea of preventing the civilian population of a country from aiding one’s enemy is at least as old as invasive warfare. Assuming that ex-pats who left a country generations previously will support that country in a war against their current country was an idea applied only to the Japanese, as far as I know. Current citizens of other enemy nations such as Italy living in the US were also penalised in various ways during WW II, but not second or third-generation Italian-Americans.
Irony of interning German Jews who escaped to Britain ahead of or during WW II as “enemy nationals” is of course extreme.

>290 PaulCranswick: Eid Mubarak! I gather that sweet treats are appreciated, but there are always limits.

>294 Owltherian: Not in a savoury dish, Lily.

>295 booksaplenty1949: Yes, indeed. Extreme is an accurate description of many wartime measures.

>297 PaulCranswick: Oh yeahh...that does not sound good.

>296 booksaplenty1949: Thank you so much.

Ice cream and apple pie and french pastries are sweet foods I will always go for but sweet chicken, no - not really.

>298 Owltherian: Especially when you don't really have the heart to criticize. I'm glad she agreed with me that it was awful.

>300 PaulCranswick: Im glad too!

>300 PaulCranswick: Searched for incident I recalled from a book where guests valiantly keep eating some failed dish until hostess finally tries it and goes “OMG!” Unsuccessful at finding the one I recalled, but did find other entertaining examples: mayonnaise served with Christmas pudding under the misapprehension it was brandy butter, for example. And ice-cream made with chicken reduction which had been mistaken for tamarind paste.

>301 Owltherian: My wife is the best cook that I have ever met but she proved that even she is not infallible.

>302 booksaplenty1949: Yikes some people would take mayo with almost anything but Christmas pud?!

>303 PaulCranswick: Ah, i think my dad is the best cook, but I'm better at baking.

>303 PaulCranswick: I think her reputation is completely unscathed, but now we know she is human. : )

You threadis going way to fast to keep up, Paul ;-)

>142 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the stats!

>207 PaulCranswick: >208 PaulCranswick: Lovely pictures, Nami is growing fast!

>290 PaulCranswick: Eid Mubarak!

>306 Berly: Hahaha, I have to say that she didn't seem too much concerned by the one meal!

>307 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita. My plan was to go far steadier this year and I started in that vein but.......

>136 PaulCranswick: Some good selections here. I read Small Things Like These this year and truly love it when I learn something in the process of enjoying the story (like the Magdalene laundries).

>309 ocgreg34: Thanks Greg. That is a book that you can read in a couple of hours but it packs a lasting punch.

>290 PaulCranswick: Blessed Eid, Paul! Some of the best memories come from accidents. I am sure the sweet chicken will be one you will chuckle over for a long time.

A few days after getting married, my mom made my dad his favourite dish. Since they moved 4000 miles away from home she thought to make him something to feel less homesick. She was beginning to learn english and thought she had bought sweet Hungarian paprika. The recipe calls for a lot of paprika and for some reason she did not try her food before serving. She presented the special dish to him only to learn that she dumped cayenne pepper in instead!

>311 figsfromthistle: Indeed, Anita, I am sure we will have a chuckle over it again.

Hahaha well paprika and cayenne pepper do look similar!

Im really exited today, and how are ya Paul?

Started The Way We Live Now, which I have discovered is Trollope’s longest novel, so I’m sure Mr Cranswick is happy to be pairing it with the 1200-page History of the Crusades this month. One of the last significant Victorian novels to be issued in monthly parts, apparently. Off to a strong start, in any event.

>313 Owltherian: Hi, Lily did you omit a "c" or are you going out somewhere.

>314 booksaplenty1949: I am well into the first part of Runciman's three part epic and a dozen or so chapters into Trollope. No complaints about either.

>315 PaulCranswick: Excellent!

>315 PaulCranswick: Im not going out, but i am getting a chest binder tomorrow and I'm really exited for that.

>316 booksaplenty1949: He has a good way of setting things up.

>317 Owltherian: You mean excited, Lily, which was my comment about going out!

>318 PaulCranswick: Ah, my moms bringing it to my fathers tomorrow, and i know the rules for it, so i will try my best to remember heh.

>319 Owltherian: Take care of yourself, Lily.

>155 PaulCranswick: As requested, here you go:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/359929

>321 ReneeMarie: I went off to explore and enjoyed looking at your lists.

>320 PaulCranswick: Ack- I definitely will take care of myself, and even my friends will remind me to take breaks from it as well, so i will.

>323 Owltherian: At all times of our coming to adulthood we always need good, genuine and wise friends to support and advise us with sincerity and affection.

Thanks for the cute pictures of Pip, Paul. She has grown! And her laugh looks good.

Eid Mubarak!

>324 PaulCranswick: Thats very true

>325 EllaTim: Thanks Ella. She is a very active little girl to be honest.

>326 Owltherian: Choose your friends with care and your enemies even more carefully.

>327 PaulCranswick: Heh, i definitely will

>328 Owltherian: Please remember that at 14 you have your whole life ahead of you.

>329 PaulCranswick: I know i do, and sometimes i stress about the work i will have to do....

>330 Owltherian: No of us really know who we are at 14 - even the mature ones as you seem to be.

>331 PaulCranswick: Seems like it.

Belated Selamat Hari Raya Paul!

>302 booksaplenty1949: Maybe a PG Wodehouse?

And a reminder of the lizard visitor we had a few years ago:

>333 humouress: Eeek!

>333 humouress: Humour of the situation seems a bit low-key for Wodehouse. More like the incident in a Barbara Pym novel where a visiting anthropology scholar is invited to church, arrives early, and sits in the pew where some prominent parishioners normally sit. A situation of contorted etiquette for the would-be hostess which is hilarious if you can relate, but not the same as Gussie Fink-Nottle fully clothed in the Trafalgar Square fountain.

>290 PaulCranswick: Oops.

>333 humouress: Interesting if a little startling to come upon.

>336 Caroline_McElwee: We were extremely startled :0). So was the monitor - my son went downstairs and saw it. He ran one way, it ran the other and trapped itself in a corner.