Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Ten

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota. Destination: September



-Eastern Towhee

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

~ Henry David Thoreau

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

-Leaves of Grass- Whitman

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



March:

25- Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser 3.6 stars
26- Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by James Sturm 4.3 stars GN
27- Raven Black by Ann Cleeves 3.8 stars (audio)
28- Charity: Stories by Mark Richard 4 stars
29- Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen 4.2 stars (audio)
30- After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story by Michael Hainey 4 stars
31- Mexikid by Pedro Martin 4.3 stars GN
32- The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore 4.2 stars (audio)
33- The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell 4.8 stars
34- Where the Body Was by Ed Brubaker 4 stars GN
35- Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty 4 stars (audio)
36- Wild Houses by Colin Barrett 4.2 stars
37- Thunder Song: Essays by Sasha Lapointe 4.3 stars
38- Silence, Full Stop: A Memoir by Karina Shor 4 stars GN
39- The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day 4 stars

April:

40- Lilith by Eric Rickstad 3.6 stars
41- Where the Deer and the Antelope Play by Nick Offerman 4.6 stars (audio)
42- The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff 3.6 stars (audio)
43- The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki 3.8 stars
44- Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer 4.3 stars (audio)
45- A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke 4 stars E
45- Alison by Lizzy Stewart 4.2 stars GN
46- The Day the World Came to Town by Jim Defede 4 stars (audio)
47- Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell 4 stars
48- Unterzakhn by Corman, Leela 4 stars GN
49- Clear by Carys Davies 4.5 stars
50- Doppelganger by Naomi Klein 4.5 stars (audio)
51- Machine Dreams by Jayne Anne Phillips 3.7 stars

May:

52- Under the Bridge by Anne Bishop 3.3 stars (audio)
53- The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley 4.2 stars
54- Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane 4 stars (audio)
55- The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan 3.6 stars (audio)
56- The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham 4.3 stars
57- Issunboshi: A Graphic Novel by Ryan Lang 3.6 stars GN
58- The Searcher by Tana French 3.7 stars (audio)
59- Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles 4.6 stars
60- A Wild Swan: And Other Tales by Michael Cunningham 4.3 stars
61- The Poem Forest: Poet W. S. Merwin by Carrie Fountain 4 stars P
62- West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge 4.2 stars (audio)

June:

63- All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker 4.2 stars
64- The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James 4 stars (audio)
65- The Wishing Pool and Other Stories by Tananarive Due 4.3 stars
66- Instant Winner by Carrie Fountain 4 stars P
67- Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed 4.2 stars GN
68- Summer (Seasonal Quartet) by Ali Smith 4.3 stars
69- Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange 3.5 stars
70- Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey 4.5 stars (audio)
71- Devil Is Fine by John Vercher 3.7 stars
72- Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi 4.8 stars GN
73- James by Percival Everett 5 stars
74- The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 4 stars (audio)

July:

75_The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys 4.2 stars
76- My Favorite Thing is Monsters: Book 2 by Emil Ferris 4.3 stars GN
77- The Golden Spruce by John Vaillant 4.3 stars (audio)
78- New Poets of Native Nations by Heid E. Erdrich 3.7 stars P

P: Poetry
GN: Graphic Novel
E: e-reader

^ I have really enjoyed doing our shared reads in 2023 and I would like this to continue through 2024 and beyond. Primarily, I would like to read books off shelf, but I am still catching up with a few titles that I missed in the past year. I also would like to do a few rereads. I will list some titles and if you are interested, we will set a firm date.

2024

Summer by Ali Smith Anita, Ellen June
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle reread w/Joe, Linda L, Bill, Ellen July?
The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason w/Ellen, Linda P, Stasia Aug?
Ride with Me, Mariah Montana by Ivan Doig w/Stasia, Benita, Janet Oct
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham w/Judy, Cindy, Stasia, Bill
Nov

Pity The Nation

Pity the nation whose people are sheep,
and whose shepherds mislead them.
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced,
and whose bigots haunt the airwaves.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice,
except to praise conquerors and acclaim the bully as hero
and aims to rule the world with force and by torture.
Pity the nation that knows no other language but its own
and no other culture but its own.
Pity the nation whose breath is money
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed.
Pity the nation — oh, pity the people who allow their rights to erode
and their freedoms to be washed away.
My country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty.”

- Lawrence Ferlinghetti

My Best Books of the Year...So Far

Joe asked me this on Sunday, after he posted his own 4 favorite books of '24. Of course, I had to go back and review the early months. My 2 NF choices were no brainers but my fiction choices were tough. I also did not include my reread of The Sparrow, which clearly could be a winner.

1- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
2- Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant
3- Clear by Carys Davies
4- Table For Two by Amor Towles
5- James by Percival Everett

Close on the heels, on the fiction race, were Yellowface and North Woods.

What are your 5 favorites?

69- Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange 3.5 stars

" “Birds see the best of any creature with a spine, are sacred because they soar the heavens, and with just one of their feathers, and some smoke, prayers make it to God.”

“Kill the Indian, save the man”

The Red Feather family were first introduced in Orange’s terrific debut There There. In his new novel he traces the family back to the Sand Creek Massacre that occurred in the Colorado Territory in 1864. It then follows the family through the next century and a half, touching on the Indian boarding schools and various injustices pressed upon Native Americans. Sadly, addiction problems also haunt the family. The rest of the story takes place in Oakland, 2018, as the remaining matriarch, Opal Viola Bear Shield tries to keep her troubled, family together.

I applaud Orange’s ambition here but sadly it doesn’t all work. It was difficult to connect with any one character in the historical section. It came across a bit dry. The modern day section was a bit smoother and engaging but the relentless addiction issues several of these characters were going through, made the narrative flow stall out at times. This is Orange’s second novel so I have high hopes, that he will take his obvious talent and deliver another gem.

Happy new thread, Mark. Great pics!

>8 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. Sweet Thursday.

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

>1 msf59: I do see Eastern Towhees, but haven’t seen one in a while.

>2 msf59: Looks like Jack is thinking serious thoughts.

>6 msf59: Excellent GHO pic, as always.

I'm getting a massage and picking up cat medicine today - but doing it under my own power, which makes me happy. Feeders are quiet except for a few finches right now.

Thursday and new-thread orisons, Birddude. Here's hoping the heat dissipates suddenly and completely inside the Senate and House. They deserve it.

>10 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I love towhees. I am not sure if they are backyard birds but I hope you see one, one of these days. I also love their song.

Hooray for getting around under your own power. I am sure it feels good.

>11 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. I am so sick of politics these days and we have barely started. Ugh!

Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread!

>13 katiekrug: >>14 foggidawn:

Thanks Katie & Foggi!

Ahoy, Mark. I salute you, but clearly you need no encouragement. You be just charging along. Zzzt, zzzzt, zzzzzt! I'm taking it slow, but I did finish Clear and have returned to The Known World.

Happy new thread Mark! I like the look of your next vacation spot. That’s a spectacular picture of it up top.

Morning, Mark - response to your question on last thread =

yes, I read one other John Vercher book, THREE FIFTHS, which I rated l/2 star higher than Devil is fine.

Happy New Thread, Mark!

I'm looking forward to reading Wandering Stars, especially after reading your review in >7 msf59:. I heard Tommy Orange speak almost two years ago(?) at a Native Writers' conference. I think his voice which he identifies as 'urban Indian' is unique and interesting.

>16 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. I hope you were as impressed with Clear, as I was. I also hope you feel the same way about The Known World. 🤞

>17 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. We can't wait for this trip to start. 😎

>18 m.belljackson: Thanks, Marianne. I am just over a 100 pages into Devil is Fine and I am sure I will be reading more of his work. Glad to hear you liked Three Fifths.

>19 streamsong: Thanks, Janet. It wasn't exactly a glowing review of Wandering Stars but I am glad it caught your attention. Have you read There There?

Happy new thread, Mark!

Gorgeous pic of your next trip location. I traveled through ND back in ‘73 on my way from Chicago to Los Angeles, and I will never forget it! So much beauty! I know you’ll have a fantastic time there!

"A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history...The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day."

I like a good woodsy, historical novel and this one sure fits the bill. I read The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress back in my Booktopia days (2014) and enjoyed that one and have been meaning to get back to her. I have been waiting for The Frozen River to come available on audio and it finally arrived. I started it today and it grabbed me pretty quickly. Any other fans of Ms. Lawhon?

>2 msf59: He is just too cute!

>4 msf59: I am in for The Painted Veil too, Mark! Just let me know when you want to read Ride with Me, Mariah Montana and we will get it done.

>22 msf59: I have not read any of her book although I currently have 3 of them in the BlackHole, lol.

>22 msf59: I haven't heard of her before, but I've read two positive reviews of this book today, so it's on my list now!

Happy new thread, Mark!

>1 msf59: What a spectacular picture to start out your new thread! Beautiful!

>2 msf59: Your boy is growing up.

Stasia mentioned a read of The Painted Veil (just a couple of posts above). I have a copy, so I could be in. Depends on all those things crashing into me and each other at the penultimate moment. Eh? Eh? Looking over my laptop's screen, I can see the Murakami we'll read in just over a week.

>23 alcottacre: Hooray for Jackson! I have added you to the shared reads, Stasia. How about we do the Doig in October? I am avoiding September because of our big trip.

>24 foggidawn: It looks like most of her books are well-reviewed. I am sure I will be seeking out more of her work after The Frozen River.

>25 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. We are really looking forward to this September trip.

>26 weird_O: Hey, Bill. I will add you to The Painted Veil list. I was very impressed with The Razor's Edge.

Yep, we will be reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle in July. Not exactly sure, what day I will start it. Hopefully before mid-month.

-Clay Bennett

Happy new one, Mark! Boy, your topper of Jackson is really showing how big he's getting. They grow up fast, don't they?

>22 msf59: I hope you continue to like the audio. I've also read Code Name Helene and Flight of Dreams and can recommend both.

>29 msf59: Hey - Let them put up those Ten Commandments Everywhere

and have Judges demand that Republicans follow them, starting with "Kill" and "Adultery."

The NRA and trump will be happy to comply.

>27 msf59: Doig in October is perfect, Mark! Thanks.

Happy new one Mark. Nice to see you chugging along as always mate.

>31 m.belljackson: I don't think that adultery comes down along party lines, Marianne - Kennedy, Clinton and FDR would certainly not have passed muster either.
Trump's previous inability to keep his genitals to himself are not highest on the long list of reasons why he is unfit to be a candidate for the highest office in your country.

Happy new thread Mark!

>1 msf59: What a gobsmacking landscape!

>2 msf59: Oh Jackson looks as hard to keep up with as he no doubt is!

>33 PaulCranswick: True, that, Paul - Yet, I was considering only the current response to the posting of the Commandments

and the Republican qualifiers to this Republican proposal.

Happy New Thread, Mark! Cute picture of Jackson!

Happy new thread!

>30 bell7: Thanks, Mary. We still can't believe Jack is still 2. The mind boggles. Good to know about Code Name Helene and Flight of Dreams. Both are now on the obese TBR.

>31 m.belljackson: Amen to all of that, Marianne.

>32 alcottacre: It's a date, my friend.

>33 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Adultery is the least of these sins, directed toward these politicians. I am surprised that lying isn't one of the commandments.

>34 quondame: Thanks, Susan. Hooray for Jack & T.R.!

>36 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. Happy Weekend.

>37 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. Happy Friday.

>38 msf59: Alright then! I am looking forward to it. In the meantime, I still need to read Dancing at the Rascal Fair.

>39 msf59: I am surprised that lying isn't one of the commandments.

Actually it is, Mark. In the 10 Commandments, it reads: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

Have a fantastic Friday!

>40 alcottacre: Thanks for clarifying that, Stasia. Of course, it is worded a bit different. How many of these honorable politicians could hold to that one? That should give you plenty of time to read Rascal Fair.

An Inn for the Coven

Witch hazel going wild along the
walkway. And all the spots to sit
and read our spell books. And all
the ways to keep them out. Two
black cats and a beaver who eats
carrots all day. Every room an
upper room even on the ground
floor. And bee boxes in the way
way back. And the sweet man who
comes to keep them. All our loves
are witches too. Or warlocks. All
our children and all our children.
Welcome. Water running in the
brook. Clean enough to drink from
our hands. And seven sources. And
a deep well. All for us and all for
those we bring over. Four swings in
the branches. A library in every
hollow. And birds. So many birds
we stop trying to name them. We’ll
just let them be with their own
names. Maybe, they’ll tell us.
Porches. Tomatoes in the summer
and pumpkins in the fall. And curry
leaves and curry blossoms. Jasmine
in the rooms at night. All loves
protected. All of us playing
cribbage on the lawn.

Gabrielle Calvocoressi

This is from the nature collection You are Here: Poetry in the Natural World, edited by Ada Limon. There are a few gems scattered among these many poems but overall it was just okay.

>41 msf59: "Honorable" and "politicians" in the same sentence is an oxymoron, isn't it?

>44 msf59: Ya got that right, Stasia. 😖

>29 msf59: Speaking of that, wonder how teachers in Louisiana (and Texas, which is next, I’ve heard) will explain the 7th commandment to the kindergarteners.

(Missed me up in >21 Storeetllr:.)

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you.

>29 msf59: I am absolutely furious about this.

I've got an Indigo Bunting, and a female and male Cardinal visiting right now.

>21 Storeetllr: >45 Storeetllr: Sorry, I missed you up there, Mary. This will be my first time visiting ND. We will hit the National Park on our way back home.

Good point about the children and the 7th commandment.

>46 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. Hooray for the bunting and boo to the new LA law.

I want to join in for the Ride With Me, Mariah Montana group read. I plan on reading all three of the books in that, sort of, trilogy this summer because I will be in Montana this summer.

Weekend-ahead joyfulness *whammys*

>20 msf59: Hi Mark! Yes, I have read There, There. The excerpt Tommy Orange read from Wandering Stars at the James Welch festival in Missoula really gave a different twist to the perceived ending in There There. That's one of the reasons I'm anxious to read it.

I picked up a boxed set of Ivan Doig's McCaskill trilogy earlier this year, but haven't read any of them. Like Benita, I'll probably read all three and join you for Mariah.

Why oh why does the first Touchstone for There There lead to The Hobbitt??

>48 benitastrnad: I have added you to the Doig list. Good luck reading the first 2 McCaskill books.

>49 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. It will be a HOT weekend but it looks like the Midwest will not be alone.

>50 streamsong: Happy Saturday, Janet. I will add you to the Ride With Me read. Good luck getting to the first 2 in the trilogy. I wonder if the words "There There" were uttered in The Hobbitt? Otherwise I have no idea.

>52 msf59: Love it!

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you. Stay safe and hydrated today. Your temps will be like mine.

Male Cardinal and female finch, and I had a male Indigo Bunting a while ago. I've also got a female Downy on the suet feeder.

>52 msf59: Cute t-shirt, very cute boy.

>48 benitastrnad: >50 streamsong: Great! Glad to have you aboard, Benita and Janet!

Janet, I suspect that the Touchstone for There There goes to The Hobbit because of "There and back again" from the latter book.

>52 msf59: Love it! He is getting so big!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

>55 alcottacre: Ah, you beat me to the Hobbit explanation, Stasia! It's actually the subtitle of the book, and I expect The Hobbit has way more copies catalogued here than the Tommy Orange book, so the search algorithm puts it up top.

I hope against hope this heat dome won't result in fatalities. I'm indoors with a good a/c and plenty of electricity...lucky as hell!...so am just worrying for the poor souls who aren't where I am in life.

>52 msf59: Love that sweet smile!

>57 richardderus: Same here. It’s very worrying.

Happy Saturday, Mark! And the Cubs won too for a change, which makes it better.

>52 msf59: That looks like something we all should be doing right now, given the heat everywhere. The really bad heat is finally hitting us this weekend. Great t-shirt too. I hope you all can stay cool.

>52 msf59:- Does Grandpa have a matching shirt that says Jackson's sidekick? :-)

>52 msf59: Ha.

>53 labfs39: 😎

>54 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen. Stayed mostly inside today so it wasn't too bad. Not much happening at my feeders today.

>55 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. It looks like we have a nice group for the Doig. Yah! Good observation about The Hobbit.

>56 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks for chiming in on the Orange and The Hobbit, Linda.

>52 msf59: Hey, it's Mark with a side order of Jackson! He does look like he's ready to take on anything.

>57 richardderus: Hey, RD. After a short stint playing pickleball, I stayed mostly indoors, so I was cool and safe, much like you.

>58 Storeetllr: That smile melts my heart, Mary. He is going to be a lady killer.

>59 atozgrl: Happy Saturday, Irene. Hooray for Jackson at the splash park and a solid win from the Cubs. They need to win tomorrow to take back to back series wins, which have eluded them for weeks.

>60 jessibud2: I still never got that T-shirt, Shelley. Bad Grandpa.

>61 Caroline_McElwee: He's my boy. Good to see you, Caroline.

-Harry Bliss

>63 quondame: In certain photos he looks so grown up. Hard to believe he is still only 2.

^I haven't posted one of these in awhile but I thought this one was a good one to share- My next 2 reads. I have heard nothing but raves about James, which I will start tomorrow. The Fountains of Silence will be in honor of beloved Anita, who picked this as her favorite read of 2019.

>66 msf59: That was my thought when I saw >2 msf59:.

>66 msf59: Yep, Jack's lookin' like one of the Big Kids!

>67 msf59:
Fountains of Silence is by Ruta Sepetys. I don't think she could write a bad book. I am going to listen to it later this summer.

>68 atozgrl: >69 kac522: Photos seem to really capture that. In person, he still is such a little guy.

>70 benitastrnad: I agree, Benita. I am also a fan of Sepetys. Salt to the Sea remains my favorite.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you! Enjoy your time with Joe.

>65 msf59: I know several people in RL like that…

>67 msf59: It wouldn’t be a post about your next reads without the beer and postal truck. *smile*

I replenished the bird feeders yesterday, including the hummingbird feeder. I currently have one male Cardinal visiting.

Last night, at twilight, our kitty Zoe was doing her meerkat impersonation, paws up on the glass Sunroom door, peering out at something. When I went to see what it was, there was a doe grazing, which isn’t all that unusual. What made it special was that the fireflies were just starting up their evening dance – I saw dozens as I watched the doe. It made my heart glad.

>71 msf59: I've only read a graphic adaptation of one of Ruth Sepetys' books so far, Between Shades of Gray, but I recently acquired Salt to the Sea.

Yesterday I had a pair of what I think were hermit thrush at my feeder. A most unusual sighting.

>72 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen and thanks. I am sure it will be a fine visit with Joe. Hooray for the beer & postal truck. Jack likes playing with the latter.

Ooh, I bet the grazing deer and fireflies was a lovely sight. I wish I could see that.

>73 labfs39: I am sure you will LOVE Salt to the Sea, Lisa. I am not sure of the range of the hermit thrush. We only see them during migration. The wood thrush are the only ones (not counting the robins, of course) that seem to nest here. Good sighting for you.

Happy new one, Mark!

I also own Salt to the Sea but have not as yet got to it. You guys are pushing it up Mt. TBR....

Well, I'm going to have to get to James soon, Mark. Like you I have heard nothing back good things about it. I read Huckleberry Finn back when I was a kid , but I don't remember a lot of it. Grandpa's sidekick! I love it!

>75 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>76 jessibud2: Salt to Sea was excellent, Shelley. Definitely bump it up. Have you read anything by her?

>77 vancouverdeb: Happy Sunday, Deborah. I had very little reading time today but I did get a good taste of James and can already tell that this will be a winner. I would also suggest a reread of Huck Finn. It is better than you remember it.

As usual, I had a terrific time hanging out with Joe today. We had lunch and made a couple of brewery stops. This one was at Hop Butcher Brewery, which is a stellar stop. Once again, non-stop chatter and books were mentioned a time or two. 😀

>79 msf59: Nice!!! So good that you two can get together so often!

I started James this afternoon. I'm not very far, but I know I'm going to love it!

Jackson gets cuter every day!

>79 msf59: So nice to see you both smiling away! I hope the week ahead is a great one for you and Sue and Juno.

...seems to me there's someone else you're bound to see, but I just can't recall who....

>80 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. We always have a good time. We are both reading James! Hooray! I hope to read a nice chunk of it today.

>81 richardderus: Hey, RD. Yep, lots of smiling and lots of banter. Looks like this heat wave will begin to lighten up this week. I CAN'T Wait!

“’White folks expect us to sound a certain way and it can only help if we don’t disappoint them,’”

“The children said together, “And the better they feel, the safer we are.”

“February, translate that.”

“Da mo’ betta dey feels, da mo’ safer we be.”

“Nice.”

James

71- Devil Is Fine by John Vercher 3.7 stars

The novel opens with our biracial narrator, driving in a funeral procession, after the sudden death of his teenage son. It is a brilliant opening. A short time later, the man learns that he has inherited some land from his maternal grandfather. His initial plan was to quickly sell the prime piece of coastal real estate but after doing the required soil analysis, several bodies are discovered. He then learns that this land was a former plantation. This news on top of his intense grief, sends his life spinning out of control.

I appreciate the ambition in the story and certain themes that the author touches on but the main character gets wildly frustrating at times, making bad decisions, along with his struggles with addiction issues. There are also mystical elements in the story, that didn’t always work for me. I am still trying to figure out the jellyfish angle. That said, it was a good introduction to this author’s work. He definitely has talent and I will be checking out his earlier work.

‘Morning, Mark!

>79 msf59: Great pic of you and Joe, thanks for posting. Glad you guys had a good meet up.

>84 msf59: On my shelves, now. I may even read it this year or next. *smile*

Cardinals, sparrows. A hawk was screeching earlier.

>56 laytonwoman3rd: Sorry, Linda! Next time, maybe?

>62 msf59: Yeah, I am really looking forward to reading the Doig. Of course, I still need to get Rascal Fair read beforehand.

>67 msf59: Not that it is needed, but I second the recommendation of The Fountains of Silence. James is already in the BlackHole. I had hoped to get to it this month, but whoever has it checked out of my local library is holding on to it, lol.

>70 benitastrnad: I agree that Ruta Sepetys cannot write a bad book - at least none of hers that I have read, anyway!

>79 msf59: Only a time or two?? Great pic, as usual!

>84 msf59: You have caught my interest with this one. I will have to see if I can locate a copy!

Have a marvelous Monday!

>83 msf59: I’m looking forward to reading both James and Devil is Fine. Especially, maybe the Everett. I’ve really liked his writing in the books I’ve read.

Wishing you cooler temps!

Karen O

>65 msf59: Ha!

>79 msf59: What a blast! Great to get together, as usual. I think Hop Butcher won the crown for the day. I'm happy that James A Novel is working well for you. Isn't that conceit about how to speak to whites brilliant?

>85 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Always a good time with Mr. Joe. Glad to hear you have Devil is Fine in the stacks. Hooray for the screeching hawk.

>86 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. Yep, you better get to Rascal Fair. Expect more raves about James. I would definitely like another opinion on Devil is Fine.

>87 klobrien2: Hi, Karen. The cooler temps should be arriving Wednesday or Thursday. I will definitely be recommending James. Glad it is on your list.

>88 jnwelch: Howdy, Joe. Yep, we will have to make Hop Butcher a regular stop, especially since it is across the street from our favorite lunch spot.

Yep, James has been wonderful. 😃

-Joel Pett

>90 msf59: Turns out Taika Waititi is set to direct a film version of the book, Birddude. That, if it happens, will be something to see!

I've got a hold on James at the library,Mark. Now you will just have to get to Brotherless Nights which I am quite certain you will love. I can't seem to find the touchstone for James, but you know that one I mean. I hope it cools down in your area soon.

Hi Marc. Nice pic of you and Joe! Having a good time, that’s clear from your faces.

James sounds interesting. Liked the quote.

Have a good week ahead, hoping your place cools down a bit.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

There are no birds at my feeders, although I see movement in the Crepe Myrtle.

>92 richardderus: Waititi is an interesting director/producer, so he could be a solid pick for the film adaptation of James. I hope they get it right.

>93 vancouverdeb: Glad you jumped on James, Deborah. I am book heavy the next few weeks, but I am going to try to bookhorn in Brotherless Night at some point.

>94 EllaTim: Happy Tuesday, Ella. Joe and I, always enjoy our visits. I wish we lived a little closer. I am betting that James is going to be a Top Read of 2024.

>95 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I had just a quick glance outside and only saw a finch. Rain moving in...

72- Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi 4.8 stars GN

“An urgent, groundbreaking and visually stunning new collection of graphic story-telling about the present Iranian revolution, using comics to show what would be censored in photos and film in Iran.

Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis, returns to graphic art with this collaboration of over 20 activists, artists, journalists, and academics working together to depict the historic uprising, in solidarity with the Iranian people and in defense of feminism.”

I was very impressed with this excellent graphic history of Iran and the ongoing fight for woman’s rights. It really opened my eyes on what this country is about and how incredibly courageous these Iranian activists are. It reminded me of the Civil Rights battles that were fought in this country. We pray that one day, these activists can throw off the shackles of this tyrannical regime. Highly recommended.

>97 msf59: I am so glad to see that you loved that one as much as I did!

I hope you are having a terrific Tuesday, Mark!

Hi, Mark! I listened to some Elvis Costello today! It was a compilation of his early hits: "The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years." Excellent album! I'd forgotten how much I liked Costello's music.

Karen O

Yesterday (Tuesday) was such a beautiful, wondrous day. After a full week of temps in the high 90s, the temp (as forecast) topped out at 88°. I was counting on it and while I started later than I wanted, I got the mowing *almost* completely done. After a midday nap, I went back out and lopped off tree branches that knock my hat and muffs off (or tear my shirt), used my weed whacker to—what else?—whack weeds. When I got back in the house...no power! Part of yesterday's joy was a fairly steady breeze, and some of the gusts knocked trees down onto power lines. Read out on the deck 'til it was too dark to read. Put on my head light and kept on reading until the powers-that-be relented and restored the juice.

Thanks for adding me to The Painted Veil group, but I don't think I know when it is. Would you tell me, please?

Oooooo. Post #100! Do I get a Certificate of Achievement or maybe a $25 US savings bond. Heh heh.

'Morning, Mark. Happy Wednesday.

One finch on my feeder right now. Sadness. I had a male Cardinal and a male Indigo Bunting earlier, as well as a female Downy, so got splashes of color.

>98 alcottacre: Happy Wednesday, Stasia. I hope my warbling lands a couple of BBs, on this excellent GN. I am sure you were an inspiration to read it myself.

>99 klobrien2: Hooray for Elvis Costello! It sounds like a perfect compilation. I listened to most of his albums during that 10 year stretch. Glad you got to enjoy it.

>100 weird_O: >101 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. It sounds like you had a very busy and productive day on Tuesday. I hope you took it easy yesterday and I am glad your power was restored.

We will read The Painted Veil in November. I will send out a reminder. Congrats on being my #100 post. Here is your reward:

>102 karenmarie: Happy Wednesday, Karen. I just glanced out and lo and behold, I only see a pair of finches too. Maybe, things will pick up.

-Clay Bennett

Of course, I mentioned visiting with Joe on Sunday. I usually stop in at his house beforehand and say hello to his lovely wife Debbi and also to gawk at his bookshelves. Hands down, he has the most bookshelves, in a personal residence, that I ever seen. Multiple large bookshelves on every floor. This is a shot of a single shelf in his living room. There is amazing array of terrific books here- one and after the other. Yep, swoon inducing...😃

>106 msf59: - Sheesh. Why are they even bothering. Everyone knows exactly what a waste of time and oxygen it will be. Been there, done that and saw what happened the last time, no?

>91 msf59:. Ha! So good! I enjoy hearing Fox News’ comments about Chicago (and NYC) from the comfort of my bunker.

>97 msf59:. Inspiring review of the GN Woman, Life, Freedom. I’ll have to make my way back to it. I first got my hands on it at the wrong time in the wrong place.

>107 msf59:. Thanks, man. Much appreciated. As you know, Debbi and I met working at a bookstore here. So we’re both bonkers about books. That shelf gets ones we’ve really liked a lot. That’s not to say that there aren’t ones we’ve really liked a lot elsewhere, too. I suspect I’ll track down a nice copy of Percival Everett’s James A Novel and it may join them.

Have a most excellent Wednesday, buddy.

>104 msf59: November is an excellent choice for the read of that book. You know the one I mean.

Oh, that savings bond. It's too much, way too much for such an empty achievement. Give it to Jackson. Google just told me, in answer to my query, that savings bonds/treasury notes still exist. I don't think you get that serious certificate these days, which to this coot is a shame. Online these days.

Have a cool day, man.

>106 msf59: If there's a better insight into the difference between these two, I have yet to see it.

Midweek best wishes.

>108 jessibud2: Good point, Shelley. They keep saying this debate is important for undecided voters. Who can be undecided at this point?

>109 jnwelch: Hey, Joe. I hope you give Woman, Life, Freedom another try. I know that was your "greatest hits" shelf but I have seen many of your other shelves and great books abound. A book lover's dream.

>110 weird_O: I am glad you penciled us in for November, Bill. I love these shared reads. I will pass along the savings bond to dear Jackson. I just thought I would offer it to you first.

>111 richardderus: You are right about that, Richard. If any of these recent inarticulate ramblings by Trump are any indication of his state of mind, I hope this debate captures that.

>107 msf59: I've read some of those. I like the toys. Mine are different, but ubiquitous.

I suffer no jealousy for Joe and Debbie's bookshelves. I have my own. I just finished packing about half of my library. That is 31 banker's boxes of books. Those were the books stacked on the floors and under furniture. That does not include my 6 bookshelves in the living room 1 in my office and 1 in the spare bedroom. Those will keep their books and will wait patiently for the moving company to wrap them and move them to Kansas without boxing.

Add to that - my bookshelves hold no read books. Well, there is half of one shelf of books that I thought were too good to let go of. Those are Henry II by W. L. Warren, Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman, Guns of August by that same Tuchman, Quartzite Trip, First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough and ... And Ladies of the Club.

Oh - and Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.

The rest of the shelves hold only books that I haven't read.

Well, shhh, don't tell Dave but I tracked down a copy of James today. The library wait just seemed too long. I have another book I've barely started, but I think I will read it after that. I'm glad you and Joe enjoyed your time together so much. Great shelf of books Joe has there.

>114 quondame: I am sure many of us have read a few off that "Greatest Hits" shelf, Susan. 😀

>115 benitastrnad: Well, it sure sounds like you also have a mighty book collection, Benita. Wow! I have more "keeper" books than you but the majority of them are unread. Funny, most of the books Joe has, are "read" books. It truly amazes me.

>116 vancouverdeb: Sweet Thursday, Deborah. I am about to finish James and it has been wonderful. Glad to hear that you acquired a copy. I do not think you will be disappointed.

My Best Books of the Year...So Far

Joe asked me this on Sunday, after he posted his own 4 favorite books of '24. Of course, I had to go back and review the early months. My 2 NF choices were no brainers but my fiction choices were tough. I am not quite done with "James" and I am sure that will be in the 2024 mix. I also did not include my reread of The Sparrow, which clearly could be a winner.

1- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
2- Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant
3- Clear by Carys Davies
4- Table For Two by Amor Towles

Close on the heels, on the fiction race, were Yellowface and North Woods.

What are your 4 favorites?

‘Morning, Mark. Sweet Thursday to you.

>105 msf59: I’ve got finches and a male Cardinal visiting right now. The feeders are once again in need of attention.

>106 msf59: Got that one right. I won’t watch, of course, being in news avoidance mode.

>108 jessibud2: Swoon indeed. I love to look at people’s bookshelves.

>109 jnwelch: We’re going to read James for this coming year’s book club. We’ll pick books on July 14th, but one of the women can’t come to the meeting so told us her choice already. We’ll read it for January’s meeting. We're also going to read Huckleberry Finn in October since they go together.

>117 msf59: Can’t resist – I have 5752 books on my shelves, all physically here in the house except for ER books I got rid of but have to keep in my catalog to keep the ER gods happy. I keep wish list books in my @kairfa account.

27 abandoned but I may want to read them
2192 read
2638 to be read
895 shelf space honor – cookbooks and other reference books, books I keep for sentimental reasons

>118 msf59: I’ve got Caste, Table for Two, Yellowface, and North Woods tbr

My only nonfiction read this year is a 5* read for me. Stingy with stars, remember, so The House of Being by Natasha Trethewey is in my top 11 books rated 5* since I joined LT in 2007.

Fiction – the Like Us series by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie

Happy newish thread, Mark! I'll be reading James in July. I hope to book horn in Huck Finn too .

>118 msf59:. Sweet Thursday, buddy. Although I heard them at our get-together, I enjoyed seeing your “faves so far in ‘24” list. Good to see Caste and Table for Two on there and, like you, I thought highly of Yellowface. Unfortunately, I didn’t like as much her popular sci-fi novel, Babel, although it was impressive in its own way.

I added your faves that I hadn’t read on Sunday to my WL. I just saw someone else extolling North Woods.

Yes, except for small tbr shelves that you saw, all our shelved books are ones Debbi or I (or both) have read. We get attached to them. 😀. Some move on, to our Little Free Library, or Becca’s book sales, or Open Books (cool used bookstore).

We’re at The Perfect Cup Cafe on Damen this morning. Debbi’s already working on her writing, so I’d better get my tail in gear. I’m very much enjoying the Helen Simonson book, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, moreso than the Groff, actually.

Enjoy the day, buddy,

Favorite Books of 2024:

NF -Islamic Empires
The Land Remembers

Fiction - The Overstory
The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes
Blessings

Poetry - Omeros
Victorian Poetry = started with Tennyson and now moved into some crazy Byron...

Nice picture of the meet up with Joe, Mark! I had a look and came up with the following 4 as my best reads so far in 2024:

The Bookseller of Inverness by S.G. MacLean
Watership Down by James Sturm
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Wake: The Hidden History of Women Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall

>107 msf59: OK, if I ever make it to Chicago, Joe's house is now on my list of 'must see' things!

>118 msf59: My 5 star reads for 2024 thus far:
5 Stars
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff - Reread
Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Cold Crematorium by Jozsef Debreczeni
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina - Reread
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard - Reread
Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi
Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz by Heather Dune Macadam

I cannot narrow it down to just 4!!

>119 karenmarie: Sweet Thursday, Karen. I will probably watch some of the debate. I guess I am attracted to freak shows and train-wrecks.

Hooray for friends bookshelves and reading James for your book club, along with Huck Finn.

I can't get my head around 5,700 TBR books. Wowza. Makes me feel a bit better, about the several hundred I have.

Looks like I need to get to The House of Being. I do like her work.

>120 Carmenere: Sweet Thursday, Lynda. I am so glad you are reading James next month, along with Huck Finn. A perfect pairing.

>121 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe. Thanks for the inspiration and I hope you get to a couple of my faves. Sounds like you had a perfect morning at the Perfect Cup Cafe. Are you still enjoying the Groff or is it tailing off?

Hi Mark, it's hard to believe that the year is almost half gone! I've had some good reads so far and I am looking forward to what the second half of 2024 will uncover.

My top 4 reads of the year so far:

The Memory of an Elephant by Alex Lasker
Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The Birds by Tarjei Vesaas
The Bear by Andrew Krivak

>122 m.belljackson: Thanks for your favorite list, Marianne. It looks like I should read The Land Remembers. Sounds like my cuppa. I loved The Overstory. Great pick.

>123 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. We always have a good time. I like your list. Is the Watership Down the GN? Glad to see Wake on there too.

>124 alcottacre: Sweet Thursday, Stasia. I am sure you will be visiting Joe's book-filled house, at some point. Thanks for sharing your 5 star list. Glad to see Woman, Life, Freedom on there and I hope to read The Demon of Unrest in the very near future.

>127 DeltaQueen50: Sweet Thursday, Judy. Thanks for sharing your list. I have read Hail Mary but the 3 others sound fantastic. They all landed on my obese TBR.

-Drew Sheneman

My faves so far this year are:

Fiction
Apeirogon by Colum McCann
The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa
Network Effect by Martha Wells

Nonfiction
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Chekhov by Henri Troyat
The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede

It's not easy to pick my top 5 so far this year, Mark. I haven't read that many books, but I have read quite a few excellent books. I think my top 5 are

Brotherless Night
The Prey
River East, River West
The List of Suspicious Things
The Maiden

All are fiction.

Several of my highest rated books read in 2024 were re-reads, but excluding those, these 5 all ranked very high both - and I remember significant aspects of them all!

The Mars House
Jewel Box
The Covenant of Water
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
To Shape a Dragon's Breath

Mark I will chip in too:

Fiction
Loot by Tania James
Pet by Catherine Chidgey
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshanathan

Non-Fiction
The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson
Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy
A History of the Crusades by Steven Runciman

>131 labfs39: Thanks for sharing your favorites, Lisa. Apeirogon is back on my TBR. The Book Censor's Library is a new addition.

>132 vancouverdeb: Thanks for sharing your favorites, Deborah. As you know Brotherless Night is on my short TBR list. I have also added River East, River West.

>133 quondame: Thanks for sharing, Susan. I will add The Mars House to the TBR pile. I have been meaning to read The Covenant of Water since it was released. Sighs...Grocery Store made my top list last year.

>134 PaulCranswick: Thanks for chiming in too, Paul. Brotherless Night is on the list. Loot sounds like a fun read. Your touchstone for Pet is incorrect. The British are Coming also sounds excellent. Your job here is done.

My Father’s Nest

Today four little robins
left the nest and flew away.
I turn time to a month ago
and see their nest growing
over my home’s lamp
stick by stick
beat by beat
song by song.
I turn to yesterday
and see their sunlit wings
lifting from the nest
leaving shadows with open beaks.
Today I missed them
as I did my father
when he left us and never returned.
Death didn’t give him a chance to get older.
I’ve passed his age.
He didn’t even finish the story he told me
about the orphan child
who walked on Earth
looking up at the sky
because he heard the dead live there.
He saw their faces in the clouds
and when he cried
the clouds rained with him.
I turn time back
so my father brings me toys
to share with the neighborhood girls
pausing that moment
while time takes the shape of a robin
who doesn’t seem to hear my calling behind.

-Dunya Mikhail

Friday orisons, Birddude. I'm glad you're no longer broiling. What are you and Jack doing together today?

>138 richardderus: Happy Friday, Richard. We had Jack Wed to Thurs, so I got to play with him a few times. He is a demanding little bugger. He likes directing the action.

Yep, enjoying this cool down. I sure wish it would last longer.

"A portrait of love, silence, and secrets under a Spanish dictatorship."

I am reading The Fountains of Silence in honor of our dear friend Anita, who selected this title as her favorite read of 2019. I read and enjoyed 2 of this author's books. I loved Salt to the Sea. Glad to return to her work. I know there are many fans of Sepetys, here on LT.



^We miss you, Anita.

‘Morning, Mark. Happy Friday to you.

>124 alcottacre: A BB, Stasia, The Demon of Unrest. Should show up on my doorstep tomorrow.

>134 PaulCranswick: I have a beautiful Folio Society 3-volume set of A History of the Crusades that I acquired for $3 at one of our Friends of the Library book sales. Sometimes they don’t know what they have, and if I’m not the one giving it to our researcher to see if it should be up-priced and it makes it into the stacks, oh well. *smile*

>140 msf59: Yes we do. She and I discussed soccer at any tournament that the Netherlands were in. The Euro is on this month/next month, and the Netherlands is playing, so a constant reminder that she’s gone.

A finch. A sparrow of some sort. A male Downy just showed up.

Mark -The Onion Headline says it all -

"REPORT: NUCLEAR WAR SOUNDS F-ING AMAZING RIGHT NOW"

>136 msf59: I have amended the touchstones Mark, thanks (the Loot one was wrong too!).

>141 karenmarie: I am jealous - I have three separate Penguin volumes but they are somewhat fetching.

Mark - to balance the Onion Report,

I'm reading Carl Sagan's treatise TO PRESERVE A WORLD GRACED BY LIFE.

Happy Friday, Mark.

Okay I'll play. Here's my BOTM list so far. I haven't picked June yet, but there are a couple it will be tough to choose from.

January : IQ84 by Haruki Murakami
February : Kindred by Octavia Butler
March : Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside by Nick Offerman
April : Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
May : A Wild Swan and Other Tales by Michael Cunningham

>139 msf59: ...but...but...it's Friday, you're supposed to see Jack on Friday! ::confused::

Well, anyway.

>134 PaulCranswick: I rated Loot as high as some of those in >133 quondame:, but didn't remember any detail without looking at my mini-review.

>118 msf59: Hi Mark, I'll bite. My 4 favorites so far this year are
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
1776 by David McCullough
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Founding Brothers: the Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis

Two fiction, two nonfiction. Interesting that I'm not the only one who has mentioned The Island of Sea Women.

My RL book club has Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson queued up for August, so I'll be getting to that one soon.

Wishing you a great weekend of reading, and hope it's not too hot.

>141 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. Glad you caught a BB with The Demon of Unrest. I plan on reading it sometime this summer.

Sorry to hear, that you also lost your soccer buddy. 😥

>142 m.belljackson: >144 m.belljackson: Glad the Onion is still serving wicked fare, Marianne. Let us know how the Sagan piece is.

>143 PaulCranswick: Thanks for making the corrections, Paul. Loot & Pet are both on my list.

>145 mahsdad: Happy Friday, Jeff. Thanks for playing along. Great list and I have read everyone. The Murakami is my favorite of that bunch. Plus you encouraged me to read both the Offerman and A Wild Swan.

>146 richardderus: Since Sue has been off work, our Jackson schedule has changed. I don't have an official day now but fill in when ever necessary. Of course, I get to see him when Sue brings him back here too. It has worked out.

>148 atozgrl: Thanks for sharing your list, Irene. Good picks. I also really liked The Vanishing Half. Two people have selected The Island of Sea Women, so that is good enough for me. I am sure you will also love Caste, once you get to it.

>149 msf59: I've had my eye on The Demon of Unrest too since I saw it mentioned in a library brochure about books that are coming out. Don't know how soon I can get to it. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts.

Hi Mark--I'll add my best so far, not counting re-reads:
Nonfiction:
Chasing Bright Medusas by Benjamin Taylor--a biography of author Willa Cather (2023)
John Adams by David McCullough (2002)
Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M Schulz by Debus and Matteuzzi (2023)

Fiction:
They Came Like Swallows by William Maxwell (1937)
High Wages by Dorothy Whipple (1930)

And I had some great classic re-reads, like Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities, Treasure Island, Little Dorrit, Pygmalion and several others.

>107 msf59: Some of my favourite books on that shelf.

Hi Mark! >137 msf59: is a powerful poem.

Fave books for 24? I have Fraud by Zadie Smith; The Future by Naomi Alderman and my re-read of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I just finished Brotherless Night; which might make this list, but I need a week or two to see where it lands.

My 4 fav's so far for 2024 are actually only 3.

Nonfiction - Ends of the World by Peter Brannen
Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR by Lisa Napoli
Neither of these titles are blockbuster nonfiction but both are darn good reads. The one on the women of NPR is almost a celebrity biography, but it is full of history about the founding of NPR and how each of those four women became legendary journalists. I found it interesting and full of useful information.
Ends of the World was a science wonderland. I learned so much about geology - deep time & the carbon cycle in particular - and consequently I have a much better understanding of is causing our climate change, and how the critics are correct in that our planet will heal itself. The downside is that healing will take millions of years. About the same amount of time into the future as the dinosaurs were in our past. That will be too long for humans, so we need to do something about our part in climate change NOW!

Fiction - Wizards Guide to Defense Baking by T. Kingfisher. I had a great good time reading this book YA fantasy while I was sick with the flu. I spent two days lolling around reading and this book was entertaining and so much fun, with so many lessons built into it. If you haven't read this book - go get it NOW! Or buy it for that 12-15 year old person in your life. They will be glad that you did that for them.

I have read lots of good books so far in 2024 but these 3 stand out.

half year fav list

non fiction
tales of the alhambra

the brave escape of edith wharton

wifedom

elizabeth and her german garden

short stories
Ladies lunch

the selected stories of edith wharton

fiction
games house claire north

one day all this will be yours

how to make a boat

100 years of lenni and margo

the children

north woods

monsier lind and his child

razors edge

>151 atozgrl: The Demon of Unrest has also received many glowing reviews. You have read Erik Larson, haven't you, Irene?

>152 kac522: Happy Friday, Kathy. Thanks for sharing your list. I would definitely be interesting in a bio of Willa Cather. Thanks. I also loved Funny Things, which was an honorable mention last year. I like your rereads. I have still not read Little Dorrit and I would LOVE to do a reread of Bleak House. It is probably my favorite Dickens.

>153 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. I am sure many of us could say the same thing.

>154 banjo123: Happy Friday, Rhonda. Thanks for sharing your list. The Future has the wrong touchstone. I have Brotherless Night on my short TBR list.

>155 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Thanks for sharing your favorite list. Your NF picks sound interesting. I need to revisit Kingfisher.

>156 cindydavid4: Thanks for sharing your favorite list, Cindy. Lots of interesting choices. Wifedom sounds good. Glad to see North Woods & The Razor's Edge on there too.

>159 msf59: Why does Calvin & Hobbs come to mind? Great pick of the best subject!

>159 msf59: Biker Break!

>160 quondame: >161 m.belljackson: Bree sent me that photo last night and I knew I had to share it. Vintage stuff. ❤

-Bill Bramhall

>157 msf59: Unfortunately, I have not read any Erik Larson yet. Too many years of working with not enough time to read. And since I retired, too many books to catch up on.

>163 msf59: Nailed it!

>159 msf59: Adorable!

My favorite first half reads -

James
The Grand Sophy
Clear
Table for Two
Charming Billy (reread)

Sadly, I'm lacking in non-fiction so far this year.

>157 msf59: Chasing Bright Medusas is a warm and loving short bio of Cather--it's under 200 pages and still gives you the sense of her writing and who she was as a person. Well worth your time--got my copy from the library.

A new bird at the feeder today: Northern waterthrush. A black bear hit the feeders at my dad's three miles away. They have photos of it looking in their window at the wildly barking dog, like, "bring it on". Hoping it moves further out of town!

>164 atozgrl: Sounds like you are in a reading pickle, Irene. Good luck and I hope you can find time to read Larson, at some point. He has been remarkably consistent his entire career.

>165 Copperskye: Thanks for sharing your favorites, Joanne. Great list. No wonder we are long-time book buddies. I just finished James and it has to make the list too. #5?

>166 kac522: It looks like I am adding Chasing Bright Medusas to the TBR. Thanks, Kathy.

>167 labfs39: Hooray for the northern waterthrush, Lisa. Great sighting. You must be in their breeding range. We get them during migration only.

Thanks for the bear sighting report. I hope it moves on. 🤞

73- James by Percival Everett 5 stars

“My names is James. I wish I could tell my story with a sense of history as much as industry. I was sold when I was born and then sold again...I can tell you that I am a man who is cognizant of his world, a man who has a family, who loves a family, who has been torn from his family...”

This is a re-imagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from Jim the slave’s point of view. A bold concept that could have failed miserably but in the deft hands of an incredibly talented writer, it works brilliantly. It contains many of the narrative set-pieces from the original novel, like storms, riverboats, treasures and con men. All seen through Jim’s compassionate and steady gaze. This is the book of the summer and possibly of the year. Yep, it is that good.

**I also would like to recommend Finn by Jon Clinch. A novel that focuses on Huck's brutal and abusive father. An excellent debut.

>128 msf59: Linda Panzo and I read The Demon of Unrest at the same time and she did not like it nearly as much as I did, so be forewarned :)

>140 msf59: I do not think you will be disappointed in that one, Mark. I am glad to see another memorial read for Anita too. She is very missed.

>159 msf59: Yay for the Jackson pictures! (even the au naturel one, lol)

>169 msf59: I am still trying to get that one from my local library. . .I am so glad to see that you enjoyed it, Mark!

>170 alcottacre: Happy Saturday, Stasia. I am familiar with Larson's excellent track record, so that doesn't concern me at all. Fountains of Silence has been very good, in the early going. She is such a good storyteller.

Hooray for bare-butt Jackson and hoping you get your copy of James soon. 🤞

-Clay Bennett

Nice comments on James, Mark. It's on my list. And I've had a copy of Finn on my shelf forever (almost). Next year, I might undertake a re-read of Huck Finn and then read these two...

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

>143 PaulCranswick: Hey Paul. I volunteer to sort book donations for the Friends of the Library (when I’m not recovering from knee surgeries!), and since I live within striking distance of UNC Chapel Hill and Duke AND a bougie senior community, we get lots and lots of truly stunning donations from time to time.

>159 msf59: Ah, to be a boy and find a tree.

>169 msf59: My book club will be reading Huckleberry Finn in October and then James in January.

>159 msf59: - Adorable! lol. Is he out of diapers already?!

>172 msf59: - Oh dear.

>169 msf59: oh I want to know more about finn, but could you fix the touchstone. it leads to the original huck finn

>169 msf59: I haven't read Huck Finn since my teen years, and the memory is... hazy at best. Should I reread it before reading James?

Also, I wanted to share my favorites so far this year, which is tough. I've read many good books, but the only ones that really stand out are The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (and the rest of the series), The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, and The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton.

>178 foggidawn: oh I love Jemisin! Have you read her other series? ive liked most of them didnt care for The Inheritance Trilogy as much. I have the city books on my shelves that I need to get to. And I always recommend her short story collection How Long 'Til Black Future Month?

>149 msf59: Back to your mention, Mark _

Carl Sagan might react with an eye roll of mild horror at the Onion Headline,
given his words from around 2006:

"There is no issue more important than the avoidance of nuclear war."

That's the opening sentence of TO PRESERVE A WORLD GRACED BY LIFE.

Published by The Council for a Livable World, it has no date,
so I borrowed 2006 from the Carl Sagan book I am now 3/4 into reading,
THE VARIETIES OF SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE,
A PERSONAL VIEW OF THE SEARCH FOR GOD.

The math is well beyond me, but my memory of seeing and hearing him speak
in Flagstaff, Arizona for an exemplary Astronomy Conference carries that challenge!

>179 cindydavid4: This was my first foray into Jemisin's work, but it won't be my last!

>173 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. I hope all my book buddies get a chance to read James. I also hope your Huck Finn plans work out for next year.

>174 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen. Hooray for Jack, his bike and a tree. I am glad your book club has their sights on Huck Finn & James. Perfect.

>175 jessibud2: I think Jack has been out of diapers for around 2 months. It was amazing how fast he took to going on his own, with very few, if any accidents.

>176 cindydavid4: >179 cindydavid4: I fixed the touchstone, Cindy. Thanks for catching that and I hope you give Finn a try. I have been wanting to read How Long 'Til Black Future Month? since it came out but it had fallen off my radar. Back on there now.

>177 foggidawn: >178 foggidawn: Happy Saturday, Foggi. Yes, I think you should read Huck Finn first. It will be more rewarding. I have read it 2 or 3 times and still forgot some of the characters.

Thanks for sharing a couple of your favorites. I need to read more Jemisin, although I am reading very little sci-fi or fantasy these days.

>181 foggidawn: oh enjoy!

>159 msf59: Haha, “Boy Au Naturel!” Great shot!

Demon of Unrest is definitely on this year’s halftime roster of favorites. Also included are Prequel, another nonfiction, Chenneville, The Anomaly, Starling House, and And What Can We Offer You Tonight (thanks to Richard for the recommendation). I know that’s six, but it can’t be helped.

>148 atozgrl: I read Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson a couple of years ago, and it’s one of my favorite nonfiction books. May be time for a reread.

Happy Saturday, Mark! My bird feeders and bird baths were all empty today, and I had to fill them up. It's been hot the past couple of weeks and very little rain all month, so I need to help the wildlife.

>168 msf59: I guess I am in a reading pickle. "Too many books, not enough time" as my coffee mug says. I will try to get to more of Erik Larson, thanks for the recommendation. It certainly looks like he writes the kind of books that interest me.

>169 msf59: And you got me with a BB! One more to add to the pile that I don't have time to read. ;-P

>182 msf59: Jackson is quite the impressive young one!

>185 Storeetllr: Happy Sunday, Mary. Good to see you. Hooray for “Boy Au Naturel!” Thanks for sharing a few of your top reads. The Maddow sounds good. I also enjoyed Chenneville and I agree with you on Caste.

>186 atozgrl: Happy Sunday, Irene. Hooray for tending to those feeders. After the cicada invasion, my birds are returning. I hope you can bookhorn in a Larson and try to make time for James. It is a fast read.

>187 quondame: He certainly is, Susan. 😀

^Just a heads up- A few of us are doing a shared read of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle in July. This is a popular title for Murakami fans. If anyone would like to join us, jump right in. I plan on starting my reread, before mid-month.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you.

I really need to work on my bird feeders today or tomorrow. No visitors right now, but all that's left is a small bit of wild bird seed and some sad looking suet.

Four excellent books I read this half of the year:

The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb.
It amazed me that illustrations depicting a scholar-approved translation of the first book of the Holy Bible could so transform it. So many questions raised about the story as it is generally perceived.

Hench.
Late to the party, but the book survived the hype and festivities. Compelling, surprising read, a clever twist on those superheroic tales.

Keith Haring.
Not the published-this-year bio, but a chunkster art book that was published 16 years ago. It tells Haring's life story by way of excerpts from the artist's journals, a reproduction of a Rolling Stone piece published about six months before his death of AIDS at 31, and other sources. It is an absolute trove of Haring art and photos of Haring and his many friends and acquaintances at work on play.

Gun, with Occasional Music.
I can't wedge this into the various canons of crime/noir/fantasy/sci-fi/humor. Jonathan Lethem's novel has tropes from these genres (and more). The setting is a society where humans mix with bioengineered creatures, where everyone carries a "karma card" with data that authorities can manipulate to build a person up or tear them down, where psychopharmaceuticals, formulated just for you, are dispensed free by the government. And on and on.

>189 msf59: I'm tempted to join. I'll see what I can do.

>189 msf59: I have this, and one other Murakami novel I still haven't read on the pile. If I join it may be late in the month. I'd like to read one of the two before the new one lands in September.

>191 weird_O: Gun, with Occasional Music has me intrigued Mark.

>189 msf59: I think I read this with you the first time around. It's my least favorite of the three Murakami novels I've read. My favorite was Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage followed by 1Q84.

>183 msf59: thanks. looked at the reviews, think its a few shades too dark for me, at least at this time. Maybe later

>190 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. I hope you got to those feeders today, especially that sad looking suet.

>191 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Thanks for chiming in on a few of your favorites. I LOVED Hench and I had a good time with the Lethem.

>192 The_Hibernator: I sure hope you join join us on the Murakami, Rachel. 🤞

>193 Caroline_McElwee: I hope you can join us on The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle , Caroline. It doesn't matter when you start it. 🤞

>194 labfs39: Happy Sunday, Lisa. We did a group read of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle back in 2011. I also did not rate it as high as I remember but I have always want to revisit it. Have you read Kafka? If not, I think you should.

>195 cindydavid4: Which book are you referring to, Cindy? The Murakami?

>197 msf59: Finn

Happy New Thread, Mark. We just had Miles and Melissa stop by for a 1 /2 hour visit. Not long enough, but we are trying arrange a day with them . They are off camping just over night this week and next week, as well taking skating lessons and gymnastics , so I guess they will have to bookhorn us in soon. I'm glad you enjoyed James so much. It might be my next read, and if not, I think I will fit it in July.

My 5 top read are all fiction,

Brotherless Night
The List of Suspicious Things
River East, River West
The Prey
The Maiden

The new book by Liz Moore is out soon, The God of the Woods: A Novel . I have a hold on it at the library. I think it comes out in July.

>198 cindydavid4: Got you, Cindy. Finn is certainly a dark read.

>199 vancouverdeb: Thanks for sharing your favorite list, Deborah. Brotherless Night is on the list already. River East, River West also sounds good. I am a fan of Liz Moore, especially her short fiction. I will keep this one in mind.

Glad you got to spend some time with the grandkids, even if it was a short visit. They sound like an active family.

Happy July, everyone! The summer is marching right along. June was a very good reading month. I knocked out 11 titles. Of course, James was the highlight of the month, but so was Woman, Life, Freedom and the true crime tale, Under the Bridge. The only minor disappointment was Wandering Stars. I only read 3 books OTS, so I could do better in that department but the library is so damn irresistible.

July Plans:

The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles by Murakami
Unexpected Weather Events: Stories by Erin Pringle
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan

'Morning, Mark! Happy July to you.

I'm glad you had such a good reading month. Of your July plans, I've read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles.

I didn't get to my sad feeders yesterday, and today's not looking much better. I hope the birds don't pull a Daphne du Maurier/Alfred Hitchcock on me. *smile*

>201 msf59: I wanted a spectacular reading month like yours, Mark. But 'twas not to be. I did get through The Known World, a group read, but I didn't power through it. I'm going to power through Triple Zeck by Rex Stout, a trio of Nero Wolfe mysteries united in a single volume. Then we'll see what happens. But Murakami is triple underlined on the month's TBR.

I’m all caught up with you again, Mark. Things move quickly around here and I hate to miss out on Jackson and reading news. I never skip around on your thread.

I will chime in with my favorite books read in the first half of the year:

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng. 4.3*
The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn. 4.5 *
Chenneville by Paulette Jiles. 4.5*
Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. 4.5*
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshanathan. 4.5*
Clear by Carys Davies. 4.3 Stars.

No 5-star books yet. James is on my library hold list. :-)

>201 msf59: Happy July! Your plans seem well within reasonable stretching length. The Pringle sounds really intriguing, looking forward to hearing your opinion of her story-writing chops.

My July plans aren't. I'm gonna write reviews but not on a theme because I want to make August all #WITmonth...Women in Translation. I've got over 90 DRCs that are by, or translated by, women writing in non-English languages. I think I can find an annual-goal-friendly twenty-five that I care enough about to write reviews of. Three chosen so far: The Night Will Have Its Say, Of Saints and Miracles, and Mothers Don’t to start the month with.

Cheery little bagatelles one and all!

Enjoy the month ahead, Birddude.

>202 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Yes, the June reads treated me just fine. Thanks. I hope you got to those feeders.

>203 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Glad you made it through The Known World. Maybe you will have a speedier reading month in July, although The Wind-Up Bird is a bit hefty too. Glad you will be joining us.

>204 Donna828: Hi, Donna. Always good to see you. Thanks for chiming in, with a few of your favorites. I also loved The House of Doors and Clear. I also liked Chenneville. Brotherless Night is on my TBR short list. I hoping sometime this month. I know you do not reward many books, 5 stars, but I predict James will have a good chance.

>205 richardderus: Hey, RD. I usually plan a few books for the month and then I just see where the wind blows me. Jeff gave me Unexpected Weather Events and it looks like a promising story collection.

90 DRCs? Wow! How to choose a mere 25? Good luck, amigo.

>207 msf59: Oh Good Grief, Mark. I'm not Donna. And Donna, I am sure, is very glad she is not me. Ya Weirdo you.

The Valley of the Fallen. Madrid, Spain.

"The Valley of Cuelgamuros, formerly known as Valley of the Fallen, is a monument in the Sierra de Guadarrama, near Madrid."

" the Valley of the Fallen, a gargantuan, extremely-controversial monument to those who died in Spain’s brutal Civil War that raged during the late 1930s."

"The Valley is synonymous with Francisco Franco, the general who ruled Spain from the end of its bloody civil war in 1939 until his death in 1975. When Franco died, he became the Valley’s most notorious inhabitant. His body was buried under a huge stone slab."

^(quotes are from the web, not the novel)

-The Fountains of Silence

>208 weird_O: LOL. See what happens when I try to type quickly? It is all corrected and long before Donna ever sees it.

>209 msf59: Be sure to get Jackson a copy of FERDINAND > Franco had it banned!

>209 msf59: I read a book, I think by Eduardo Halfon, that includes a section that takes place in the Valley of the Fallen, but I cannot think remember which. It's driving me crazy.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

Bird feeders still need attention alas. I still have the finch family nesting where I can see the nest as I'm typing, and just had a LGB - little gray bird - trying to get the last seeds out of the wild bird seed feeder. A Red-Bellied Woodpecker came by for an unproductive visit, too. Sigh.

>211 m.belljackson: Thanks, Marianne. Jack is currently in a non-reading stage but I will keep this cute book in mind.

>212 labfs39: I have read very little about Franco's Spain. Learning quite a bit.

>213 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Any idea what the LBJ was? Inquiring minds...

Internet connection issues. I will try back later...😕

The grandkids were going to come over today, but , sob, I am having tummy troubles, Mark. Not sure if it's a bug or if I've developed food intolerance. Sob. I do have a pic of them on my thread.

>209 msf59: I need to read Fountain of Silence. I visited the Valley of the Fallen years ago, before they exhumed Franco and reburied him elsewhere. It was designed to be awe inspiring and they succeeded it. It is one of those places that I am deeply conflicted over. It is a monument to a fascist regime built with the compelled labor of the losers of the civil war. What do you do with something like that? In a very real sense, evil won in the case of Franco. A monument glorifying that is hard to wrap your head around.

>216 vancouverdeb: Aw, that is too bad, Deborah. Sorry, to hear you are not feeling well and then missing out on seeing the grandkids. Bummer. I hope you feel better soon.

>217 Oberon: Hi, Erik. Good to see you and thanks for adding comments on The Valley of the Fallen. All of that is mentioned in The Fountains of Silence. I am enjoying the book but it is more of a dramatic novel, with suspense and romance, than a straight historical one.

"In the tradition of Krakauer's Into the Wild, The Golden Spruce tells an astonishing true story of a furious man's obsessive mission against an industrial juggernaut, the struggle of the Haida people to save their world, and the mysterious golden tree that binds them all together."

I absolutely loved both books, that I have read by John Vaillant- The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival & Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World. I like the Jon Krakauer comparison. The Golden Spruce was his debut and I am about halfway through the audiobook. Of course, it has been very good.

If you like narrative nonfiction and have not read him, I highly recommend giving him a try.

>219 msf59: That sounds really good, Birddude! I'm glad the audio is a good one.

Funny how good it feels when we read about our fellow furious (old??) men taking on the shittiest people on the planet.

'Morning, Mark. Happy Wednesday to you.

Sorry about your internet troubles.

My feeders are empty, and naturally, the birds are boycotting them. Once again I'll try to get them filled today.

>221 karenmarie: Happy Wednesday, Karen. The internet was back up yesterday morning but we had a busy one, getting packed and ready for the camping trip. I hope you get to those feeders.

My goodness, your thread moves along quickly! Oh my! I Jackson already riding a bike with training wheels?!! Time goes so fast!
Nice review of James and thanks for the heads up on Finn, I'll have to add that to my TBR.
Have a great camping trip!

>189 msf59: I would join in but I am already booked for July - and going to visit my mother this month as well.

>209 msf59: I am currently reading Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell (one of my memorial reads to Anita) so that is a timely picture for my reading too!

>219 msf59: I wish my local library had any of Valliant's books. No luck there thus far with Hoopla either. *sigh* I love narrative nonfiction!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

>223 Carmenere: Happy Wednesday, Lynda and thanks. Yep, Jack is a marvel. I wouldn't be surprised if he pedaling a two-wheeler before the age of 4.

I hope you get to Finn. It is excellent.

>224 alcottacre: Happy Wednesday, Stasia. Getting ready to head out for our holiday camping trip. I would like to read the Orwell. I hope you can eventually get your mitts on a Valliant. He also works well on audio. Just sayin'...

^We are heading back up to the Racine area, for some holiday camping. Of course, Jack & Co. will be close by at the marina, so we should get plenty of family time in. I won't be around much until Sunday, so everyone, here stateside, have a nice and safe 4th.

Travel safe, have a great time, and try to remember to let Jack's parents see him once in a way.

Have a lovely time Mark.

>219 msf59:
I read Golden Spruce back in 2018 and thought it was a compelling story and a very well written tale of environmental terrorism. I am glad that somebody else is picking up the book.

>226 msf59: Have a wonderful, fun, and relaxing holiday!

I wish you safe travels and lots of good family/friend time. Plus beer, of course.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday trip and a safe 4th of July! Safe travels, buddy.

Hiya, Mark, hope you're having a great holiday and a wonderful trip! I finally put out suet and some fresh seed in the feeders. I've got a pair of goldfinches visiting regularly, and when I was going yard work this morning, I saw a downy woodpecker checking out the suet. I was only about ten feet away, so he have me a good looking over, but I stayed still and apparently he figured I was okay, and helped himself to some suet before flying off.

Safe travels, Mark! Have a wonderful trip!

Have fun camping, Mark! And hooray for John Valliant I need to read the fire book; I loved the other two.

Have fun camping, Mark!

Greetings from Caledonia, WI. I hope everyone had a nice 4th. We spent the holiday, around the marina and finished it with a decent fireworks show. I have had no interest in fireworks for more than 20 years but the Lake Michigan setting was nice. I spent most of the show comforting Juno, who of course freaked out. She recovered.

I prefer hanging out at the much quieter campground, where I get some birding in, along with some reading. We did see plenty of Jackson yesterday but he is usually busy with the other family members. He sure likes riding on the jet-skis and the dinghy, with his Dad. He was also fishing for the first time, off the boat dock, with no bait of course. So darn cute.

Hoping for a more chill day today but rain is possible this afternoon. Ugh!

>227 richardderus: >228 Caroline_McElwee: >230 atozgrl: >231 karenmarie: Thanks, Richard, Caroline, Irene and Karen. I appreciate the visits.

>229 benitastrnad: I am really enjoying The Golden Spruce. Have you read any others by him?

>237 msf59: Sounds like you had a wonderful 4th! I hope today goes just as well and that the rain holds off.

Hi Mark - Good you missed Wisconsin's nearly every day torrential downpours!

>239 msf59:
I have not read anything else by John Vaillant, but I have Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival and Fire Weather in my collection. They are boxed up right at the moment so I won't be reading either anytime soon.

It rained here this morning and cooled things off a bit. Yesterday was beastly with the humidity close to 80% last night. I finished packing my library and will be taking several boxes of books back to Kansas with me next week. I might need something to read while I am there. I took all three of the books by Ivan Doig and plan on making them my main focus in July.

>242 benitastrnad: From Assembling California by John McPhee:

"A granite batholith will not appear just anywhere.
You will wait an eternity for one to develop under Kansas."

>226 msf59: have a great time and don’t forget to sample some wine!

‘Morning, Mark!

Warming your thread for your eventual return.

>243 m.belljackson: Well, Marianne, I just got the Audible version of the Assembling California. Plate tectonics and California and geology are all winners for me. I’m always startled when I get BBs from non-thread owners. Thanks.

>245 karenmarie: 4 Stars for both Assembling California and The Pine Barrens!

I loved teaching Geology to my 4th Graders =

Drumlins, Kettles, Kame, and Moraine -
They look real different,
They really are the same!

>243 m.belljackson:
Well - that made me laugh! McPhee also wrote that Kansas is the most explored piece of real estate in the world, by oil companies because the geological conditions are so auspicious for oil being underneath of it. I am not sure if I should be glad that Georgia has the batholith or that Kansas has the oil?

I have Pine Barrons on my TBR list and have read Assembling California - it was very good. As is all of McPhee's work.

>240 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. I hope you had a good 4th too and an equally nice weekend.

>241 m.belljackson: Happy Sunday, Marianne. It rained a bit here and there but overall the weather was very nice. No complaints there.

>242 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I hope you can get to more Vaillant, whenever it is. Glad to hear you got the Doig books lined up.

>244 figsfromthistle: Happy Sunday, Anita. No wine sampling for this guy but there was plenty of brews being consumed. I hope you had a good weekend.

>245 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. As usual I appreciate you keeping my thread warm while we were goofing off in the Badger State.

>246 m.belljackson: >247 benitastrnad: Note to self: I definitely NEED to read a lot more McPhee.

Quick Hi! before you start a new thread. : ) Happy Brewsday.

I'm finally feeling better with my tummy trouble , Mark, so here I am. Enjoy your camping holiday. I'm really loving The God of The Woods by Liz Moore. It was you who introduced me to Long Bright River, so thanks for that, or I would have overlooked this book.

'Morning, Mark!

Sounds like you had a fine trip. I hope you have a fine day today.

It's hard to see the birdfeeders because the windows are fogged over again. I think I see a finch...

>250 Berly: Hi, Kimmers. Good to see you. I definitely had a Brewsday holiday. Thanks.

>251 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deborah. Glad you are feeling better. I have added The God of The Woods to the TBR. Another one I hope to get to this summer. So many books...

>252 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. It was a good trip. Thanks. I have to tend to all the feeders today. So far a see a small covey of doves.

"Moving at the breathless pace of a thriller, this uniquely stylized triology of detective novels begins with City of Glass, in which Quinn, a mystery writer, receives an ominous phone call in the middle of the night. He’s drawn into the streets of New York, onto an elusive case that’s more puzzling and more deeply-layered than anything he might have written himself."

I have been meaning to read Paul Auster for years. He never was popular here on LT. I never saw high praise, despite his wide acclaim. I am sure that is one of the reasons, I had continued to overlook him. Well, Auster passed away this April and I felt that I finally needed to read him. I thought The New York Trilogy would be a fine place to start. I am enjoying it in the early going. He certainly can write well.

Any thoughts on Auster?

"A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a tragic mystery that haunts the survivors, unravels a community, and remains unsolved for nearly fifty years."

I am not sure I saw any LT buzz on The Berry Pickers but while looking for audiobook ideas, I came across this one and it sounded intriguing. I guess I can't distance myself from these Native stories. It is off to a good start.

Any thoughts on this one?

^Highlights from the camping trip and visting Jack & Co. at the marina.

>254 msf59: I still have not read any Auster although I do own a graphic novel by him, City of Glass: The Graphic Novel. Maybe at some point I will actually read it, lol.

>255 msf59: I saw that one the other day at my local library but did not check it out because I already have too many library books checked out at the moment. I am curious to see your thoughts on it, Mark.

>256 msf59: Love the pictures! Thanks for sharing them, Mark, and am glad your trip was a good one.

>256 msf59: Doesn't Juno look happy! I know the whole trip was a good'un when even the dog looks like she's grinning.

I dislike Auster. Pretentious sod.

>254 msf59: book of illusions has always been my fave, and i liked the triogy, but other things Ive tried just didnt stick

>257 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. Glad you like the pics. Maybe, I can inspire you to finally read Auster. Any excuse, right? I am enjoying The Berry Pickers. I think you will like this one too.

>258 richardderus: As long, as Juno is just a few feet from us, she is just fine. She was in her glory here, despite the heat. I am not at all surprised that you are not a fan of this "pretentious sod". You disdain these type of authors. I am enjoying the novel but I will have to make my final decision, once I complete it.

>259 cindydavid4: I have also had my eye on The Book of Illusions, Cindy. Thanks for chiming in on Auster.

>261 msf59: I'm with you, George.

>261 msf59: - No kidding!

-Drew Sheneman



-Scott Stantis

>262 richardderus: >263 jessibud2: More joy!! 😟

>255 msf59: this was popular at the library where I work the year it came out and it's in my TBR list, so I'll look forward to your thoughts on it, Mark.

>256 msf59: Life is good for dogs and men!

>256 msf59: Welcome back, Mark! It certainly looks like you all had fun!

>264 msf59: Sad but true. : (

>256 msf59: Yay for some joy!! Looks like an absolute blast. : )

Great picture of Jack and his dad , and Juno. It looks like you all had a lot of fun on your camping weekend!

>265 bell7: Hi, Mary. I am enjoying The Berry Pickers. I am sure you would like it.

>266 quondame: Amen, Susan.

>267 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. It was a good time and hanging with Jack is always a bonus.

>268 Berly: Hanging at the marina is not my favorite pastime but with Jack in the mix, it wasn't bad.

>269 vancouverdeb: Jack loves being on the water, just like his Dad, so they spent a lot of time cruising around. I never made it out there. LOL.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

>255 msf59: I’ve never heard of this author, don’t have any accidental books on my shelves – you know, like accidental birds. *smile*

>256 msf59: Nice pics. Jack looks so happy! I can’t read dog faces as well as Richard does in >258 richardderus:.

>261 msf59: Yes. Lots of awfulness, some good.

I still haven't given the hummingbirds fresh food and now have to fill the sunflower seed feeder again, too.

>264 msf59: Again, yes.

Morning, Karen. I am enjoying The Berry Pickers. Despite the heat, Juno was in her happy place. I cleaned and filled the hummingbird feeder yesterday. No takers yet...

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys 4.2 stars

“Thousands of babies were stolen from their parents during the Franco dictatorship in Spain, but the story was suppressed for decades…
Between 1939 and the late 1980s, it is alleged that over 300,000 babies were stolen from birth mothers and sold into adoption.”

The setting is Madrid, 1957. General Franco’s fascist regime still rules with an iron fist. Eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, is staying at the Hyatt Hilton, with his parents. There he meets Ana, a teenage hotel worker, who is assigned to his family. As their friendship grows, the story of Ana’s family begins to unfold and dark secrets are revealed. I knew very little about Spain in these post-war years and this wonderfully researched novel filled me in. The author is such a good storyteller and despite it’s 500 page length, the novel read very quickly. Top-notch historical fiction.

**I read this is honor of our dear Anita, who selected this as her favorite book of 2019.

>273 msf59: Authoritarians and their pro-birth fetish create nightmares and just do not care what the results are. I'm sure it's well-told, and good on you for making it through, but I get hives thinking about its subject!

Good Tuesday's reads.

>273 msf59: happened too in WWII, Nazis were looking for chilren in Poland who could pass for aryan. not sure how many, but one account says tens of thousands of children and forcibly "Germanized" them. Russia is apparently doing the same in the Ukraine

>255 msf59: The Berry Pickers was a pick by our book club that I was looking forward to reading, but not enough copies were available in the library system, and not enough people want to buy the book, so we postponed.

>273 msf59: Due to the buzz on your thread, I picked up a copy of The Fountains of Silence this weekend in NYC.

>274 richardderus: That is understandable, RD. It is a difficult subject. At least most of the children were adopted by wealthy families, (the adoption fees were astronomical) but how devastating for those poor mothers.

>275 cindydavid4: It is horrifying that the practice is still going on, Cindy. I did not hear about the Russia/Ukraine situation.

>276 labfs39: I hope you and your group has a good time with The Berry Pickers. I am glad you have a copy of The Fountains of Silence. I also hope it doesn't disappoint. You have read her, right?

>273 msf59: I am so glad to see that you enjoyed that one! I read it several years ago and Anita and I compared notes on it. Good times.

>254 msf59: I read a lot of Auster in the 80s and 90s Mark. Saw him speak. Just read his final novel, which had most of his usual tropes, and isn't a bad book to go out on: Baumgartner.

>256 msf59: Such an adventurous life.

>261 msf59: Love it.

Btw are you still volunteering with de birds?

>278 alcottacre: I am glad Anita got me back to reading Sepetys. Now, I need to catch up on a couple of others, that I have missed. Good times, indeed, Stasia.

>279 Caroline_McElwee: Happy Wednesday, Caroline. Thanks for chiming in on Auster. I have somewhat mixed feelings about The New York Trilogy. I will see how the last story goes.

I no longer volunteer at the Wildlife Center but I still lead bird walks from time to time. I have one coming up next week. Can't ignore those birdies. 😎

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

My cleaning lady and I saw baby birds peeking over the top of the nest yesterday. Joy.

Way too hot out her to do much of anything. Typical summer day - high temps, high heat index, chance of t-storms.

>281 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Sorry to hear about the heat and humidity. Ugh. It looks like we will get our turn this weekend. Yippee! Actually, it has been pretty decent here for the past week or so.

What kind of baby birds were they? Inquiring minds...

House finches. A Carolina Wren teased me earlier this year by checking out the real estate, but didn't buy. *smile*

>283 karenmarie: Nice. I see plenty of finches around the feeders but I don't think I have seen a nest. Hooray for the teasing Carolina!

Wonderful photos. I can almost hear Jack going vrrrrrrooooooom vrooooopm.

I'm a late-comer to Sepetys but I have really enjoyed the three I've read including The Fountains of Silence. My favorite is Salt to the Sea. It's a mystery to me while she is categorized as a Young Adult author.

Hi Mark, you have been reading some interesting books! I have The Fountains of Silence and The Berry Pickers tucked away on my Kindle so will be getting to them at some point. I just purchased a copy of The Gods of the Woods as part of my Thingaversary haul so it too is in my future. I read as fast as I can but never catch up!

>285 streamsong: Hi, Janet. Clearly, Jack loves vehicles of all kinds. Just like his Dad.

Glad to hear from another Sepetys fan. Salt to the Sea is also my favorite. What is the third one you had read?

>286 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Good to see you. Have you read Sepetys? I am sure you have. I definitely want to get to The Gods of the Woods.

>287 msf59: I have read Salt to the Sea by Sepetys and I loved it. I have three more by her, including Fountains of Silence so I really do need to get back to her!

>277 msf59: I haven't read Berry Pickers yet. I'm waiting for my book club. The only Sepetys I've read was a graphic adaptation of Between Shades of Gray. I'm looking forward to Fountains of Silence.

>288 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. I also loved Salt to the Sea.

>289 labfs39: Between Shades of Gray was my first by this author (4.5 stars) but I have not checked out the GN. Good?