Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Fifteen

-Morton Arboretum



-Glacier National Park



“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:



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
79- The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster 3.3 stars
80- The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters 3.7 stars (audio)
81- This Country: Searching for Home by Navied Mahdavian 4 stars GN
82- The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami 3.7 stars
83- Unexpected Weather Events (stories) by Erin Pringle 4 stars
84- The Bear by Andrew Krivak 4 stars
85- Holly by Stephen King 3.8 stars (audio)

August:

86- The Caricaturist (The American Novels) by Norman Lock 4.2 stars ER
87- The Man in the McIntosh Suit by Rina Ayuyang 3.5 stars GN
88- The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason 4.5 stars
89- This Is the Honey: Poems by Kwame Alexander 4.6 stars P
90- The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson 4 stars (audio)
91- Going to Meet the Man: Stories by James Baldwin 4.4 stars
92- The Meadow by James Galvin 5 stars
93- Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell 4.2 stars
94- The Rose Code by Kate Quinn 4 stars (audio)
95- Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 2 by Jc Deveney 3.7 stars GN
96- Zoli by Colum McCann 3.7 stars
97- The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent by Kazuo Ishiguro 3.6 stars
98- Gumption by Nick Offerman 3.8 stars (audio)

September:

99- Birding to Change the World by Trish O Kane 4 stars (audio)
100- California Bear by Duane Swierczynski 4 stars (audio)
101- I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger 3.8 stars (audio)
102- The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin 5 stars
103- Rowing the Northwest Passage by Kevin Vallely 4 stars
104- Symphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. Anderson 4.6 stars (audio)
105- Beautiful Days: Stories by Zach Williams 4.3 stars
106- The House of Wolfe by James Carlos Blake 4 stars
107- Is This How You See Me? by Jaime Hernandez 3.5 stars GN

October:

108- Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton 4.2 stars E
109- Final Cut by Charles Burns 3.6 stars GN
110- Wellness by Nathan Hill 4.4 stars (audio)
111- Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo 4 stars GN
112- The God of the Woods by Liz Moore 4.5 stars
113- The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides 4.8 stars (audio)
114- Ride with Me, Mariah Montana (Montana Trilogy) by Ivan Doig 4 stars
115- Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon by Noé Álvarez 3.7 stars (audio)
116- Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner 4 stars
117- Brownstone by Samuel Teer 4 stars GN
118- Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin 4.2 stars (audio)
119- The Sentence by Louise Erdrich 3.7 stars
120- Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh by Jeffrey Toobin 4.8 stars (audio)

November:

121- Playground: A Novel by Richard Powers 4.8 stars
122- Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined by David F. Walker 4.3 stars GN
123- The Zero by Jess Walter 4 stars (audio)
124- White Crosses by Larry Watson 3.6 stars
125- Bluff: Poems by Danez Smith 4 stars P
126- The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai 3.7 stars (audio)
127- The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham 4.7 stars
128- The Radiant Lives of Animals by Linda Hogan 4.4 stars
129- What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman 4 stars (audio)
130- The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer 3.6 stars E

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

Ride with Me, Mariah Montana by Ivan Doig w/Stasia, Benita, Janet, Linda L Oct
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich Joe, Joanne, Linda L Oct
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham w/Judy, Cindy, Stasia, Bill, Meg Nov

2025

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas w/Mary, Jim, Irene, Kathy, Ellen, Linda P Katie January
The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning Ellen, Katie Jan, Feb, Mar
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins Deb, Benita, Irene, Ellen, Linda P February

Hello?? Great Horned Owl chicks.

Happy new one, Mark.
>5 msf59: Great photo 😍
I wish you a wonderful weekend.

>6 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. Jack had a good time on Halloween.

"Brian Remy has no idea how he got here. It's been only five days since his city was attacked, and Remy is experiencing gaps in his life--as if he were a stone skipping across water. He has a self-inflicted gunshot wound he doesn't remember inflicting. His son wears a black armband and refuses to acknowledge that Remy is still alive..."

I am a big fan of Jess Walter but for some reason I had not read his earlier novel The Zero. More puzzling, is that I located it on my TBR shelf. I tracked it down on audio and started it. This one has a very odd premise but I can always trust Walter to make it entertaining.

Happy new one, Mark. That looks like one happy Ninja!

Happy New Thread!

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you, and a belated Happy Birthday to Sue. Congrats on your new thread, too.

From your last thread, sweet pic of her and Jack – he still has the same expression on his face in some of the pics you post.

>2 msf59: Lots of good reads in October for you. I have and need to read Birnam Wood and Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh.

>3 msf59: I won’t commit to it, but I may be in a place where I can join in your 2025 reads. Just sayin’…

>8 msf59: Gotta love Amazon… just borrowed The Zero and The Way The World Ends, plus got a free Audible copy of the latter.

Not too busy on the feeders, but I did have a Downy and a female Cardinal earlier. All’s quiet right now.

Happy new thread, Mark!

>8 msf59: I have not heard of Walters before. I'll give it a shot.

Happy new thread!

>9 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. Hooray for the happy Ninja!

>10 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver.

>11 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I also like that pic of Sue and Jack. I did have a good month of reading. I am glad to hear you have Birnam Wood & Homegrown on your TBR. Both are very good. Glad you are going to try some Jess Walter. I have not read his story The Way The World Ends. I appreciate the reminder.

>12 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie.

>13 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. I hope you try Jess Walter. I don't think you will be disappointed.

I had an excellent month of reading in October, knocking out thirteen books. Some kickass nonfiction titles, like Homegrown and The Wide Wide Sea but fiction held their own too, with gems like The God of the Woods, Birnam Wood and Wellness. I was also glad to finally get to Ride with Me, Mariah Montana and The Sentence. I read 4 OTS (off-the-shelf) books. I wish I could have added a couple of more.

November Reads:

Playground by Richard Powers
The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Painted Veil by Somerest Maugham (Shared Read)
Life of the Skies: Birding at the End of Nature by Jonathan Rosen (Birding Book Club)

Happy new thread Mark!

>1 msf59: Wow!

>5 msf59: I suspect Jackson was a candy magnet.

Happy new thread, Mark! And have a great weekend!

Karen O

Happy New Thread, Mark!

>17 quondame: Thanks, Susan. Yep, Jack is a candy magnet. Hopefully, his parents keep him in check.

>18 klobrien2: Thanks, Karen O. Always good to see you.

>19 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah.

-John Deering

Happy new thread, Mark!

>3 msf59: The Woman in White huh? I may join you for that one too. I picked up a copy at Karen's Friends of the Library book sale earlier this year.

>8 msf59: Happy New Thread.

The Zero is indeed one of those older obscure Walter tomes, that like you said is an odd premise. I had it "reviewed" as a very interesting, but challenging read. Glad you're getting to it.

>11 karenmarie: >14 msf59: The Way the World Ends is a good story, I think I've read it twice. Only because I borrowed it from Amazon as a short story and it is also the last selection in the Angel of Rome collection. Either way, a worthy read.

>5 msf59: OK, that is just too cute! Raphael, isn't he?

>16 msf59: I am really looking forward to more Maugham!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy new thread, buddy.

I loved Maugham since my teens.

Happy new thread, Mark!

>22 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. I will pencil you in for The Woman in White. I hope you can join us.

>23 mahsdad: Thanks, Jeff. The Zero is off to a surreal, absurd start but I have to say I am enjoying it. Since, I have read Angel of Rome and that included "The Way the World Ends", I guess I read that story after all.

>24 alcottacre: Yes, it is Raphael, Stasia. You nailed it. Yep, looking forward to the Maugham.

>25 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Glad to hear you are a lifelong fan of Maugham. What are your 2 favorites?

>26 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Good to see you.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

>21 msf59: Sigh. Enemies list and sucking up to the fascist/totalitarian leaders of the world.

>22 atozgrl: Yay for Friends of the Library book sales, Irene!

Started enjoying any of your new bourbon yet?

It's early and hard to distinguish what birds are visiting, but I do have a Carolina Chickadee and a Downy.

>28 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I have not opened any of the "new" bourbon. I still have a couple of open bottles, I want to get through first. This takes some time, because I do short pours of course. No chugging this quality stuff.

My feeders were hopping yesterday. The juncos are back, along with a red-bellied woodpecker.

Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism by Jeffrey Toobin 4.8 stars

I have wanted to read a thorough account of McVeigh and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and this one may be the definitive book on this horrific event. It was the worst terrorist attack on US soil, until 9/11, killing 168 people, many of them children. Jeffrey Toobin has quickly become one of my favorite narrative nonfiction authors. His book on Patty Hearst is also fantastic. What he effectively does, in Homegrown, is that he links this bombing with Trump and the January 6 Capital attacks, mapping out the rise of nationalism and right-wing media, which has led to many violent incidents and mass shootings over the past two decades. It is a meticulous and terrifying read. I am not a proponent of the death penalty, but I have no problem making an exception for McVeigh.

*This was also an excellent audiobook.

116- Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner 4 stars

“Sadie Smith” is an American woman in her early 30s. She joins a rural commune of French subversives and becomes intimate with them. It turns out she is a secret agent, (her superiors are never revealed) and is assigned to monitoring this group’s activities. Her aloof, ruthless personality fits her role perfectly. Kushner is such a sneaky and complex writer. I am sure there is even more going on, under the surface here, but I still ended up being quite intrigued by this story. This one is definitely not for everyone, but it worked for me. It is on the Booker Shortlist.

Happy new thread!

>3 msf59: Pencil me in for The Woman in White for February, Mark. I've owned for so long and not yet read it. I am enjoying Skippy Dies so far, Mark. I read The Bee Sting last year and gave it 5 stars. It is actually a shared read with Stasia and we doing it in memorial for Anita Famaulstee.

Happy new one, Mark!

>32 foggidawn: Thanks, Foggi.

>33 vancouverdeb: I had you penciled in for The Woman in White, Deborah. We haven't done many shared reads together, have we? I had forgot that you loved The Bee Sting, as did I. Glad you are having a good time with Skippy Dies.

>34 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

-Mike Luckovich

>36 msf59: I imagine another cartoon of men holding out the red habits for the women leaving the voting booth.

>37 quondame: That would also work perfectly, Susan. Good point.

Happy Sunday, Mark and Happy new thread!

>39 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. Good to see you.

^Just a reminder- we are doing a shared read of The Painted Veil this month. Several of us had a good time reading The Razor's Edge earlier this year. If you would like to join us, grab your copy. I will start it, in about 2 weeks. Be free to post your comments here. Of course, spoiler free.

>31 msf59: One of the Ameribooker books I might actually read.

New-thread orisons.

119- The Sentence by Louise Erdrich 3.7 stars

Flora was a frequent visitor to a small, independent bookstore in Minneapolis. After she died on All Soul’s Day, she refused to leave the bookstore and her ghost haunted the bookshelf aisles. The employees were understandably spooked by her presence and tried to find a way to put her soul to rest. This is not only an entertaining ghost story but it also is a deep look at Native American issues, the rise of Covid and the George Floyd tragedy. I admire Erdrich’s ambition but the novel feels a bit cluttered at times. I still recommend the book, especially for fans of Erdrich.

>42 richardderus: Morning, Richard. Of course, I would love to hear your thoughts on Creation Lake. Have you read Kushner before?

>44 msf59: I have not. I heard of her for the first time I can remember when she was nominated.

>45 richardderus: I know she made quite a literary splash with her earlier novel The Flamethrowers, which I have not read. I really liked The Mars Room, though.

>46 msf59: Can't say that either one ever made my radar in any memorable way. I'll go look for your review of The Mars Room to see what I've forgotten.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you.

>30 msf59: I am a rare Democrat in that I definitely do believe in the death penalty. The administration of it, however, is fraught with complications, of course.

>36 msf59: Oh my, perfect. That man really nailed it.

Lots of feeder activity a while ago, but all's quiet right now. I need to fill the sunflower seed feeder and possibly the suet feeder.

>47 richardderus: My mini-review of The Mars Room reminded me how much I liked that novel.

>48 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. I do not believe in capital punishment. It is such an imperfect and unfair system. I agree with you, that Luckovich nails it with that cartoon.

>8 msf59: Your blurb piqued my interest. Bizarre enough to perhaps hold my interest these days. My reading has dropped off precipitously as my stress increases.

>21 msf59: This cartoon summarizes one of my fears exactly.

My feeders are hopping these days. I remember worrying last year that I would never get visitors. Although the titmouse lives here year-round, they are only now coming back to the feeders regularly. They try to chase off the chickadees (Maine's state bird). I have a red-bellied woodpecker that must live nearby. There are a couple of small birds that I can't identify and might be migrants.

>50 labfs39: I think we are all experiencing some serious stress, Lisa and it is only going to get worse, I am afraid. If you have not read Jess Walter yet, you are in for a treat. He has been very consistent over the years.

Thanks for the feeder report. My feeders have been fairly busy too, just not a lot of variety.

Hi Mark! Wendy said to tell you that today, in our birding class, we saw a pileated woodpecker. Quite gorgeous. She remembered you tried to get one to come out for us when we walked at the Arboretum. We also saw a pair of Great Horned Owls, so it was a memorable class.

>52 banjo123: Thanks for sharing your birding class experience with me, Rhonda. Congrats on seeing the pileated woodpecker and the GHOs. You have several cool woodpeckers in your area. Keep an eye out for an acorn woodpecker- one of my favorites.

'Morning, Mark. I hope your day goes well.

I've got one Carolina Chickadee at the feeders, but yesterday I actually saw three of them at the same time.

>54 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. My feeders have been fairly busy but not much variety. The woodpeckers are definitely coming around more often. You have a good one too!

If I Was President

If I was president
I would help people
and be a good representative
and not lose to profanity
as people stay repetitive
The news would report neatly
as the issues stay relevant
We won’t slack again
I’ll be there for rebuttal
We will get started in a position
of greatness, which is ever so nice
So I’m willing to take risks for the
country and roll the dice
but as for a poetic melody
the world is full of treachery
mile to mile betrayal shall
stay under me, I’ll be
the role model, the one
to step up as I must
We win as we stand and forever
God we trust.

by Hamza Mohamed (an eighth-grade writer from Minneapolis)

From Poem-A-Day

>56 msf59: I even read the poem without making gagging noises. Good on ya, Hamza.

>57 richardderus: May this young man grow into a "gag-free" poet that you can enjoy. 🤞

>56 msf59: Wonderful.

>56 msf59: Isn't it a shame that Hamza isn't on the ballot?!

'Morning, Mark, and happy Election Day to you. I'm keeping everything crossable crossed, and hope election officials keep the Gang of Psycho whack jobs in their counties and states at bay.

I am looking at three male Cardinals and just saw a Carolina Chickadee.

>31 msf59: That one is already in the BlackHole due to its place on the Booker Short List. I am glad to see you enjoyed it, Mark.

>43 msf59: Looks like I liked that one more than you did, Mark, but I am glad you gave it a shot. I am definitely an Erdrich fan!

I hope you have a terrific Tuesday!

>59 Caroline_McElwee: Looks like that kid will have a poetic future.

>60 PaulCranswick: Amen to that, Sir Paul.

>61 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I am with you on that elections stuff. It is going to be a stressful one.

>62 alcottacre: Happy Tuesday, Stasia. Playground was fantastic. I liked The Sentence well enough. Just not as much as a few others. Still an Erdrich fan.

^Happy Election Day! Everyone have a fun, stress-free day! 😮😮😮

>64 msf59: I'm hoping this is what happens:

>65 richardderus: I love it, RD! Come on Cat Ladies and everyone else!

"After a nighttime accident at the bottom of Sprull Hill in Bentrock, Sheriff Jack Nevelsen is compelled to try and protect a part of his hometown that even a hero would have trouble saving -- its innocence."

I am a big fan of Larry Watson. Montana 1948 is an absolute favorite. The last time I read him was exactly 4 years ago, with The Lives of Edie Pritchard. That one was a bit of a letdown. I have had his earlier novel White Crosses on shelf forever. I am finally getting to it, thanks to this month's AlphaKit: W.

>67 msf59: I loved that book! Actually, I loved both of them. Enjoy White Crosses, Birddude.

>64 msf59: I'm definitely not stress-free, but I'm trying.

>64 msf59: I understand the Scream all too well, Mark. Glad you enjoyed Playground. Like Stasia, I am continuing to read Skippy Dies, but I am not enjoying as much The Bee Sting, but we'll see how it goes.

>68 richardderus: Good to know, Richard. Not far into White Crosses but it sure feels like classic Watson.

>69 The_Hibernator: Good luck to all of us, Rachel. 🙏

>70 vancouverdeb: I sure hope none of us have to make that "Scream" face, Deborah. I ended up liking Skippy Dies better than The Bee Sting. I hope it improves for you.

-Daryl Cagle

>73 msf59: - No kidding. I just cannot believe or understand it.
Wear black today. Lower flags to half mast.

>74 jessibud2: He overcame all odds and handily won, Shelley. The majority of the country thinks he is the answer and now they will have no one else to blame if it falls apart. Just wishing the best for our misguided country.

Hi Mark.

>73 msf59: and >75 msf59: Heavy sigh.

>30 msf59: Wow! Almost 5 stars. Already added this to my notebook of books to look out for.

>73 msf59: I have to admit that the results were a surprise for me as well. Also, that it seems that it was not a close race but a landslide if I heard the news correctly.

Hope you are at least able to get out and enjoy some birdwatching today.

>75 msf59: While the rest of us here are simply "going through the motions" today,

wondering how/if America can ever apologize to the rest of the world
and then reverse this travesty,

our little juncoes, blue jays, and one Mourning Dove are thankful
that we remembered their morning seeds...

Hi Mark! What a day, eh? I am heart-heavy.
>73 msf59: expresses it perfectly.

>30 msf59: I will pick up a copy of that at our wonderful local indie bookstore. It looks like a worthwhile read.

>78 m.belljackson: I love this little poem.

I got nuthin'...

Okay, maybe some disorientation and nausea.

>41 msf59: I'm still waiting on my hold for The Painted Veil so good to see that it will be a while before you start it, Mark.

>80 msf59: I'd say the result was unbelievable but *sigh*

Mark, I'm more afraid for the rest of the world than for us.

We'll probably live through it, but now Putin and North Korea and China have free passes to do whatever they want.

I fear for our allies that are smaller and dependent upon America to protect them. Their protection is gone.

Grim. Won't get better, either.

>82 kac522: I think we, as a country, are one of the bad guys now.

And I'm heartsick.

>84 Copperskye: Yep, well said. We can't be trusted.

>75 msf59: Sad day. As I said over on Richard's thread, I'm more worried for the younger generations than I am for myself. And >82 kac522: is right about the rest of the world too.

I think it was entirely the economy. People have been hurt by inflation, and instead of blaming the COVID supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine, which led to inflation everywhere in the world, they're blaming Biden. And they think Trump will fix it. But if Trump does what he said he would do, inflation is only going to get worse. And if he deports large numbers of people, the economy is going to tank because too many workers will be gone.

Trump's first term felt like we were living in a nightmare the whole time. I can't believe we have to go back to that.

>81 Familyhistorian: I picked up my library copy of The Painted Veil today, so I may start it sooner than I thought. Will that be a problem?

>82 kac522: Hi, Kathy. I have been thinking mostly about the future of our own country but you are correct, it will have serious reverberations on a global scale. I think Ukraine is doomed.

>83 richardderus: Grim is a polite word to use, RD.

>73 msf59: I cannot even begin to say how disappointed that I am in the election results.

>84 Copperskye: We are going to have to get used to being the "bad guys", Joanne. It looks like we are going to be in this position for a long time.

>85 kac522: Hi, Irene. Yep, many of us are dazed and hurting. The other half is celebrating. We will have to see if the other half made the right decision. Of course, I have very little faith.

>88 alcottacre: We will have to persevere, Stasia. I think that is are only option. It least we will have a peaceful transfer of power. At least the Dems can do that right. This party has a lot of soul-searching to do.

>89 msf59: Oh, yes, persevere is what we must do. I just cannot believe so many Americans - and I include my own mother and sister here - buy into what Trump is selling.

>89 msf59: I think of it as more of us becoming aware of why we have been regarded as the bad guys in so many places. The USA has rarely acted according to democratic principles in areas where extracting economic or political advantage was in play.

>79 EBT1002: Thank you for seeing my poetry!

Hello Mark!

>90 alcottacre: My parents hate trump...but my grandpa thinks he's like a god or something-

>87 msf59: Not a problem, Mark. I just checked and The Painted Veil is in transit to my library.

>91 quondame: Nicely put, Susan.

>92 m.belljackson: I didn't realize you were doing a little poem there, Marianne. Just a bird report. LOL.

>93 louisisaloafofbreb: >94 louisisaloafofbreb: Hi, Louis. Good to see you. I am with your parents on Trump and he is certainly no god.

>95 Familyhistorian: Good to know, Meg. I should be able to start it in a few days.

'Morning, Mark.

I can't think of anything good that's coming out of the federal election results, and the next four years are going to be hell domestically and internationally.

I've got one male Cardinal chowing down on wild bird seed.

>97 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I guess we just have to hope for the best. Half the country feels he is the answer, so they will have to see if they were correct. At least this time, there will be no one else to blame.

>98 msf59: 71MM people voted *for* DJT. This boggles my mind.

Enough misery, though, I'm off to write lots more reviews & shove 'em onto social media.

I haven't visited for a long time and am trying to catch up with everybody.

I am now in Kansas. My "stuff" gets here tomorrow, so tomorrow will be a BIG day. I am still cleaning out the house and moving furniture around in order to make room for my things. Since there isn't room for my stuff in the house (it is still full of my mother's things) I am going to have the movers stack my stuff in the carport. I know it will be outside, but that can't be helped and I can spend the winter moving things out and then moving things in.

I do want to say that I was so angst ridden the last few days with thoughts of moving and the election that I haven't been able to even read. I tried to loose myself in English Creek about 2 AM on Election night, and just couldn't concentrate on it. I did finish it this weekend, but the climax of the novel didn't hit me because my attention was focused on the Orange Asshat and his triumph. My consolation is that he is an OLD man. He is 78 and as bad as he looked at the end of this campaign he won't live through his term. Then we have to deal with the just plain asshole Vance.

My last word on this election - misogyny wins! The analysists can say whatever they want and analyze out the wazoo but in the end American's just won't vote for a woman.

As an aside - the Independent, Dan Osborne from Nebraska almost beat the Republican US Senator Deb Fischer. The race was very tight until after midnight when the Republican Western Nebraska counties were counted (they are in Mountain Time, so are always late coming in). Bernie almost had company in the Senate.

>100 benitastrnad: Hi Benita, I hope things settle down for you soon. Maybe all the moving activity can help you forget the election. But how interesting that an Independent almost won! I had no idea that there was an Independent senatorial candidate. Maybe there's some hope for the future.

Hi Mark, pardon me while I jump in to depart from the main topics of the day...

In case you didn't see it, the 2024 Christmas Swap thread is live. I don't want to be too much of a pest, but last year I didn't post on anyone's personal threads about it and I got some comments that someone missed seeing the notices. So this year, I'm going to post on a couple of the "big hitters" to try to cast a larger net. If anyone's interested come on by

I hope you're in this year. But if you're not, I understand.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/365525

Hello Mark, I am feeling pretty discouraged by the election as well. But trying to keep from spiraling too far into anxiety. We took a nice hike in the gorge today, under the theory that nature is healing.

>53 msf59: We did see Acorn Woodpecker, last spring, on our trip to Southern Oregon. There were a number of them in the trees at the Jacksonville Cemetery; which is a wonderful old pioneer cemetery.

>99 richardderus: "71MM people voted *for* DJT. This boggles my mind." Me and you both, RD. Keep churnin' out those excellent reviews.

>100 benitastrnad: Sweet Thursday, Benita. I saw your comments on another thread about your arrival in KS. Good luck with unpacking and everything that goes along with that. Are you living alone there? Is this house in or out of town?
Yep, many of us are still reeling from these election results. I am just trying to stay positive, thinking about this booming economy that we will be reveling in.

>102 mahsdad: Sweet Thursday, Jeff. I did respond to you over on your thread, about the Swap. I am in. How could I not?
I am so glad you are continuing the CHRISTMAS SWAP tradition.

>96 msf59: Thats for sure! How have your days been going?

>103 banjo123: Sweet Thursday, Rhonda. Is it your birthday today? If so- Happy Birthday!

Yes, a stroll in nature is just what the doctor ordered, especially after a very stressful event. I led a bird walk today and it was a gorgeous morning to walk the trails. Hooray for seeing the acorn woodpeckers. I like their nickname- Oak Tree Clown, with their adorable clownish faces.



-Acorn woodpecker (NMP)

>105 louisisaloafofbreb: All good here, Louis! Living the life, my friend.

I am the daughter my mother raised to confront them

with grievance’s command.

I am the daughter she trains
to translate lightning.

I am the half-deaf child she assigned
to tone-deaf judges.

I am the girl
riding shot-gun to iron.

I am birthing feet first
with no mid-wife to catch.

I sprint, high-jump,
and fist-fight in her defense.

I am a dialect
born inside her quietude.

I susurrate incantations
transcribing her rivered idioms.

She is rivered remembering,
and I am her subpoenas.

-Margo Tamez From Poem-A-Day

>107 msf59: Thats great! Thats a cut looking woodpecker up there ^^ I'll have to share my picture of a bee soon!

-Joe Heller

Hahah

Mark, do you know how to add pictures that you have saved into here, I'm trying to show everyone a picture of a bee I took

>106 msf59: They are a really cute bird! Last Sunday we saw a Hairy Woodpecker, as well as the Pileated. Also a Downy and a Northern Flicker, so lots of woodpeckers. But the pileated was the prettiest.

>106 msf59: Beautiful photo❣ We had one in our neighbourhood for many years, but since many new houses have been built around us and many old trees have been cut down, it has unfortunately disappeared 😥.
Happy Friday.

>112 louisisaloafofbreb: Go to the Wiki link on the 75 Challenge home page, open it and scroll down to "How To Do Cool Things In Your Posts", open it and it will describe how to add pictures/photos. Let me know if it works.

>113 banjo123: Wow! You got the woodpeckers. I know there are several others in your area too, like the red-naped sapsucker, which I saw when I visited my sister. We have different types of flickers too- you have the red-shafted and we have the yellow-shafted.

>114 Ameise1: Happy Friday, Barb. Is it the same woodpecker or a similar one? I did not know that acorn woodpeckers were in Europe. Regardless, I am glad you got to see them.

It's a spotted woodpecker we had. This summer we had green woodpeckers on our wild meadow for the first time.

>116 msf59: - This pic ought to be in the dictionary when you look up the word *contented*. :-)

^The spotted woodpecker does look similar to the acorn. Both beauties. Thanks for confirming.

>118 jessibud2: Yep or blissful. 😀

>115 msf59: Thanks for the help

It worked! I now have a picture of a bee in my thread, if you would want to see that of course

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you.

>116 msf59: Sweet pic.

No birds now, but earlier I had 2 Downys, a male Red-Bellied, a male Cardinal, and a Carolina Chickadee.

>116 msf59: J and J to Cheer Life On!

The Acorn Woodpecker is lovely, and a bit of cheer given the sad, terrible news of a Trump win. Like you and many, many others, I cannot believe this happened. I grew concerned while standing in line to vote as I heard many around me praising trump.

Will was a Trumpster. It caused a lot of trouble in our relationship, and in fact, before his open heart surgery, I thought something was going on in his mind. While I gave him the freedom of his choice, he did not do the same for me. He actually told me that anyone who was my friend and did not like Trump could no longer be a friend of mine!

I reminded him that 25 years earlier when he asked what was my line in the sand =, ie something I could not tolerate, I told him no man would ever dictate to me who my friends were, and in particular I would never leave long-time friends for a man in my life.

I believe that his breathing problems impacted on his ability to clearly think. Perhaps the entire U.S. has breathing problems. I find myself dwelling on how the hell this occurred. A man who rapes women and gets away with it, a man who cheats on every single wife he's had, a man who is a terrible father, a man who does not pay his bills, a man who is clearly a sociopathic narcissistic idiot, a man who brags that he will jail or kill illegal people crossing the borders, is now once again our president.

God help us!!!!

>116 msf59: I am both happy for and envious of Jack. Getting his relax on!

>124 Whisper1: Linda - So sad to read this about Will.

Our neighbor across the road has, for many years since his Grandfather died,
cleared our long circular drive every time it snows after he plows his own.
He often lives at another house.

I emailed him telling him that someone had put up a trump sign that he might not know about -
since trump hates Blacks, Veterans, Women, Farmers (Project 2025), etc.
(Why ANY of those people voted for him is totally beyond my comprehension.)

He lives on his Grandfather's 500 acre farm which also borders our home.
His Grandfather would be ashamed and angry.

We now will pay $60 every Time it snows.

>116 msf59: What a great picture! A boy and his (honorary) dog, always a classic.

Have a wonderful weekend, old friend!

>116 msf59: Nice - particularly the smile on Jack's face.

>120 louisisaloafofbreb: >121 louisisaloafofbreb: Glad it worked out, Louis. I will stop by and check out the bee.

>122 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Glad you like the Jack pic and I always enjoy your feeder report.

>123 m.belljackson: Hooray for J & J!

>124 Whisper1: Happy Friday, Linda. So good to see you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the election and Will's Trumpism. Glad you were able to keep the relationship going, despite these issues. He would certainly be shouting from the roof-tops, with this landslide win. We will keep marching forward, my friend.

>125 richardderus: Yep, that photo captures them both perfectly, RD.

>126 m.belljackson: Wow, Marianne. Your neighbor sounds like a die-hard Trumper and he has plenty of company in the Badger State.

>127 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. You have a good weekend too.

>128 Familyhistorian: Jack is always on the move these days, so not always easy to photograph. I got lucky with this one.

>116 msf59: The perfect pair!

>116 msf59: The look of absolute bliss and contentment!

Happy Friday, Mark.

Hi Mark!

>116 msf59: Yep, that is exactly what we need these days. Jackson is that adorable reminder for us to cherish those we love most, to find solace in love and community. He's also that adorable reminder of why we cannot let despair win. Difficult at this moment but I hope we can collectively aim our moral compass toward hope and determination. As one person I read said, we must protect the vulnerable and speak the truth.

Meanwhile, I'm getting ready to start This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. I'm happy to have a feel-good novel by an outstanding author to read next.

I'm trying to ignore all the Trump stuff, Mark. I just don't' watch much of the news, and what can you do ? However, if Pierre Polievere, our Federal Conservative Party gets in next election, which he probably will, you'll see me complaining and crying. Trudeau has been in as PM since 2015, so I think it is inevitable that there is a change.

>131 quondame: They sure are, Susan.

>132 bell7: You got that right, Mary. Happy Saturday.

>133 EBT1002: "we cannot let despair win." Amen, Ellen. Keep Hope Alive and enjoy the beauty in our lives. I also enjoyed This Tender Land. A good choice.

>134 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deborah. Yep, the conservatives are taking control in many countries. Unfortunately, it is our turn now and it could be yours next. Just have to wish for the best.

'Morning, Mark. Happy Saturday to you.

>130 msf59: We will keep marching forward, my friend. It's pretty much all we can do. I do have a friend who is beside herself and is already thinking of ways she can impact things locally in the next 4 years.

My feeders are currently visitor-less, but I heard a Red-Shouldered Hawk about half an hour ago.

>108 msf59: Powerful, will look for her work.

>116 msf59: Love it Mark.

"Lucy Hull, a young children's librarian in Hannibal, Missouri, finds herself both a kidnapper and kidnapped when her favorite patron, ten- year-old Ian Drake, runs away from home."

Rebecca Makkai has made quite a splash with her last 2 novels, especially The Great Believers and I have wanted to read her earlier stuff. Fortunately I had a copy of The Borrower on shelf, (for far too long, but what else is new?). I decided to switch to audiobook and I started it yesterday. I know Katie raved about it, a few months back.

ETA- Oh yeah- I also read her story collection Music for Wartime: Stories which was also very good.

>137 Caroline_McElwee: I am glad you like the poem, Caroline. I will also seek out more of Margo Tamez's work.

And hooray for J & J!

>138 msf59: Plus she's really very nice on social media, so supporting her is a dovere...Italian for "must do."

>138 msf59: - Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for stopping by my thread. I am simply consumed by this reorganization project I've tackled. How little I knew. But I'm getting there. Reading has taken a big hit. Ironically, I've encountered sooo many books I forgot I had and that I do want to read.

>140 richardderus: Any particular platform, RD?

>141 katiekrug: I am, Katie. Thanks.

>142 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck with the continuing reorganization and getting back to reading.

-Joe Heller

^All we can do is keep HOPE ALIVE!!

>144 msf59: Well, not all. Which doesn't mean we should do some things we are able to do.

>143 msf59: I've got her on both Twitter and Bluesky. They're the same posts, so you can see she's clear about why she's doing it.

>144 msf59: Yes!

>138 msf59: I had not investigated Makkai's earlier works much but I'm adding The Borrower and Music for Wartime to my hold list.

>145 quondame: You are absolutely right, Susan.

>146 richardderus: Thanks, RD. I am not on either of those platforms but I am sure I can seek her out.

>148 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. I am still working on The Borrower but I still recommend both.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday.

I can’t think of a time this has ever happened before, but you missed me up there.

No bird visitors right now, will have human visitors (Jenna and Hwan) around 9:30 to have a bite of breakfast together. Then they’re going to take some engagement photos outside.

>136 karenmarie: >150 karenmarie: Good morning, Karen. Sorry about missing you yesterday. I touched on Caroline's post but must have not seen yours. Glad you were able to hear a red-shouldered hawk. They show up from time to time in northern Illinois but they are not as common as I would like.

It is damp here and I don't see much birdy activity. Enjoy your breakfast with Jenna & Hwan.

121- Playground by Richard Powers 4.8 stars

“I vowed to spend the rest of my life the way my love did. I would give myself to the ocean, that wilderness that made the land seem an afterthought. I would dive in all latitudes and descend to all depths, and in each place I would find whole, new, impossible kinds of life.”

Like his Pulitzer-winning opus, The Overstory, Powers presents another broad, sweeping novel, with multi-narratives and shifting timelines with the world’s biggest ocean, the Pacific, being the centerpiece. The main characters here are two friends, one poor, one rich, who meet in a Chicago high school and begin to develop games together and a young Canadian woman who becomes a world, renowned diver and explorer. How these
people come together on a remote island in French Polynesia, is the heart of this complex story. Powers is such a brilliant writer. He seems to write so effortlessly on so many different topics and issues. This one also comes with a mind-bending twist, that will keep your head spinning for a few days after. Highly recommended.

"The giant manta ray is the largest ray and one of the largest fishes in the world. Reaching widths of up to 29 feet (8.8 m), the manta rays are much larger than any other ray species...Despite their very large size, giant mantas are similar to the largest fishes in that they eat tiny plankton...Giant manta rays are found worldwide in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters and are commonly seen offshore, in oceanic waters, and near productive coastlines."

I am not I knew giant oceanic manta rays existed before reading Playground. Absolutely fascinating creatures, much like the giant Pacific octopus, which I discovered in Remarkably Bright Creatures.

"A shooting star fell outside my window last night, and my stomach clenched because I realized my relationship to hope, to wishes, had changed utterly this week. And then I realized that all wishes now needed to be replaced with something closer to determination. We must make communities now of whatever size that support all those who have become radically more vulnerable. We must make micro countries of love inside this larger country of cruelty. Small communities that prioritize difference and expression and safety and joy. In other words, we have to do what we have always done, just more determinedly."

-Pam Houston

^Ellen posted this over on her thread and I wanted to share it here. Houston nailed it.

Happy Veteran's Day! I will be getting my free haircut today, (I'm getting shaggy) and I will grab a free lunch afterwards. Hey, why not, right?

"Set in England and Hong Kong in the 1920s, The Painted Veil is the story of the beautiful, but love-starved Kitty Fane."

I love it when one book leads you to reading another or several others. This is what happened, after reading The House of Doors last December. That one featured a fictionalized version of Maugham and it sparked me to read The Razor's Edge, which led me to this month's The Painted Veil. We did a shared read of The Razor's Edge and we are also doing a shared read this one. Very cool, right? I will start it today. Anyone else want to jump in?

Has anyone seen the film adaptation with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton? I really like both these actors.

‘Morning, Mark. Enjoy PB. Sorry about your Bears.

>152 msf59: I still haven’t read any Powers. I have The Echo Maker and The Overstory on my shelves, both acquired this year, and I just pulled The Echo Maker to put on a more accessible shelf.

>154 msf59: Thanks for re-posting that.

I had one male Cardinal and one male Red-Bellied Woodpecker earlier, and a Carolina Chickadee just grabbed a seed and flew away.

>157 karenmarie: Many readers were not happy with The Echo Maker so don't get discouraged if you start with that instead of The Overstory.

>157 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Boo to the Bears! Yah for PB. I hope you can finally get to Mr. Powers. Just filled my feeders. Have not seen anything.

>158 m.belljackson: Very good advice, Marianne. Have you read The Echo Maker? I have not.

>138 msf59: I went to add The Borrower to the BlackHole only to find it already there. Oh, well. I checked to see if Music for Wartime was there too, but it was not so I have added it.

>152 msf59: I really need to get that one read! I am glad to see that you enjoyed it so much.

>156 msf59: I will start that one today too.

>159 msf59: My barely three star Echo maker is the 4th LT review - I've never recommended reading one of my reviews
before reading a book - this might be an exception...

I'm glad that you're discovering The Painted Veil because Maugham is one of those mental-furniture writers I can't imagine not having in my head. Most of his stuff feels old-fashioned in the best way nowadays: stakes and stories we can relate to, not just the whimperings of adolescents arrested or otherwise.

Have a great time.

>160 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. I am sure you will enjoy both Playground & The Borrower, once you get to them. I am just over 50 pages into The Painted Veil. Boy, I like his writing.

>161 m.belljackson: Barely 3 star review for The Echo Maker is hardly a ringing endorsement, Marianne. It doesn't sound like his earlier novels really made a big impression, right?

>162 richardderus: Nice observation on Maugham's writing. I felt the same way about The Razor's Edge. There is such a modern, timeless tone to his prose and The Painted Veil is shaping up to be the same.

-Clay Jones

>164 msf59: take me with you

>164 msf59:- Mounties? Eek!

>165 richardderus: 😜👍

>166 jessibud2: Not a fan of the Mounties or should someone else being building it? LOL.

‘Morning, Mark. Happy Tuesday, Mourning Tuesday? One week on, and so much despair among people who actually knew what they were doing last week.

>158 m.belljackson: The plot summary of The Echo Maker appeals to me more than that of The Overstory, so we’ll see, Marianne.

>164 msf59: I’ve got a friend who lives near Asheville. She and her wife are moving to Nova Scotia. I don’t know if they’re going to try for dual citizenship or maintain their US citizenship and get the equivalent of green cards. Or if it's going to be too difficult and they remain near Asheville.

No birds on the feeders. I really need to work on the feeders today.

Morning, Karen. Mourning Tuesday? Mourning November? Probably all fits but we keep on keepin' on. I hope you get to The Echo Maker, so I can track your thoughts. I hope your friend finds a new, "safer" life in Nova Scotia.

-Brendan Loper

>163 msf59: Isn't wonderful to discover a writer from previous generations that you really enjoy? I think so. I have rekindled my love of Maugham recently.

>170 msf59: Vacuity is always with us.

Stay positive somehow or other.

>171 alcottacre: It certainly is, Stasia and I still have several of these "classic" authors to check out. I hope they work as well as Maugham has. 🤞

>172 richardderus: That is a perfect word to many of these supporters, RD.

^Congratulations to Samantha Harvey for winning the coveted Book Prize. Personally, I would have picked James but I also thought Orbital was excellent. It's unusual narrative style is not for everyone but you can not deny the jaw-dropping beauty.

>174 msf59: Not the book that i thought would win but I will put this on my list.

>174 msf59: This one escaped my attention during the nomination process but I just requested it from the library last night. It looks interesting.

>175 figsfromthistle: This one looks like it was a surprise to many, Anita. I give James the edge but at least I really liked Orbital.

>176 lauralkeet: I hope it works for you, Laura. It reads more like a stream of consciousness narrative, so it will not work for everyone. 🤞

Legacy

I have spent seventy years trying to persuade you,
to manipulate you with the poems I’ve written,
to remember my people as if they’d been yours—
to flesh out in evocative detail my parents,
my grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts—
knowing that one day I’ll be gone, and without me
to remember them, the poems I’ve written
will have to go it alone. I owe my people
so much, and I want them to enjoy—if not
immortality—a few more good years in the light,
my grandfather patching a tire for a quarter,
his brother weaving a rag rug on his sun porch,
my mother at her humming sewing machine,
my father un-thumping a bolt of brocade,
measuring for new draperies. Perhaps they were
for you, to draw open and see on your lawn
Cousin Eunice Morarend playing her accordion.

-Ted Kooser From Poem-A-Day

'Morning, Mark. Happy Wednesday to you.

...
My mind is a blank. No birds on the feeders, I'm just going to retreat into comfort things today. No errands, no media except for here.

>174 msf59: It's a NOVELLA for a change! Maybe people will snap it up during "Novella November." I hope so!

I am one of those who don't think that US authors should be eligible for nomination for the Booker Prize, so no matter how good James was I am happy to see that it didn't win the Booker and am happy that a British author won it. There are plenty of major awards in the US for US authors and one of the things I always liked about the Booker was that it exposed me to the writing of many authors from other places outside of the US. The US may be the major power in the world, but that doesn't mean that we have to dominate the world of literature as well.

I have finished reading an excellent anthology of short stories. On Girlhood edited by Glory Edim was a great read with some excellent examples of some of the best short fiction by some of the best Black women authors. If you can get ahold of a copy check it out. There is some really good stuff in there. (and that is very high praise from a person who doesn't usually read short stories. This is the second book of short stories I have read this fall.)

Hi Mark, just getting back into the swing of reading. For a few weeks, I haven’t wanted to do anything.

Both of your 2025 shared reads sound good for me. The Count of Monte Crisco and The Woman in White both sound like books I’d want to read.

>164 msf59: I see that these are Mounties, but I had a moment of thinking they were American forest rangers. I imagined them putting walls up to protect our precious and, I fear, doomed national parks and wildernesses. Sigh.

I would be up for shared reads of both The Count of Monte Christo and The Woman in White!!

I've only had good experiences with the RCMP, as I would call them , personally. I've found them pretty easy going. One time I accidentally scraped a car in a parking lot, and I didn't leave until I finished shopping, but no one seemed to notice, so I didn't leave a note. Which is bad of course. Then the RCMP called and asked if I had done a " hit and run" . I said, I thought that was if I had injured someone. So an RCMP came to my house and checked out my car. It was very minimal damage. He asked me why I didn't leave a note and , and I told him, because I wished I hadn't scraped the car. He took a picture and said okay, and that was that. Another time 3 cops came to my door, knocking so loudly , wanting my eldest son who was living on his own. I told them to take it down a notch with the loud knocking. They were fine. My brother in law is a cop, not RCMP, so I think it helps that I just see them as people doing a job.

I hope you had a great Wednesday , Mark.

>179 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I never made it back here yesterday, after my AM visit. I hope you had a good one.

>180 richardderus: I guess at just over 200 pages, Orbital qualifies as a novella. I did not know there was a Novella November.

>181 benitastrnad: I have to agree with you on the Booker Prize and leaving the Americans off of it. It really helped you discover more international authors. Thanks for your recommendation on On Girlhood. I am adding it to the obese TBR. Getting that unpacking done?

>182 lindapanzo: Sweet Thursday, Linda. Great to see you, my friend. I hope you are settling back into your usual routine. Should I add you to the shared reads of those 2 classics? I hope you can join us.

>183 EBT1002: >184 EBT1002: Your idea of using US Forest Rangers would also work perfectly in that cartoon, Ellen. I will add you to the shared list of The Count of Monte Christo and The Woman in White. Love to have you along.

>185 vancouverdeb: Sweet Thursday, Deborah. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with the Mounties. I am glad you weren't arrested for your hit & run. 😜
Of course, I know very little about the Mounties. I wonder if they are more like our State Police.

"From the author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, a brilliant scientific investigation into owls—the most elusive of birds—and why they exert such a hold on human imagination...By providing extraordinary new insights into the science of owls, What an Owl Knows pulls back the curtain on the nature of the world’s most enigmatic group of birds."

I really liked Ackerman's The Genius of Birds. Of course, I planned on reading The Bird Way but didn't get to it. Stasia kindly gifted me a new copy of What an Owl Knows last Christmas Swap. It kind of got lost in the shuffle on the shelves but I am finally getting to it. If you have been following my birdy obsession the past 8 years, you know I love me some owls.

*FYI- The owl on the book cover is a Northern Saw-whet Owl. A tiny little guy. It was the very first owl that I saw in the wild, which is pretty amazing considering that the saw-whet is one of the hardest ones to find in this part of the Midwest. I sure got lucky. Since then, I have seen around 12 other owl species.

>174 msf59: It was not a great read for me, unfortunately, but I am very happy that a British author won the Booker!

>188 msf59: I really hope you enjoy the book, Mark! I loved it, but then I love owls :)

I should be finishing The Painted Veil today. I was not expecting what happened in yesterday's reading at all, so I cannot wait to see how it turns out in the end.

>189 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia. I didn't realize you had read What an Owl Knows, although I am not at all surprised. It is off to a very good start. Owls are endlessly fascinating.

I felt the same way about The Painted Veil yesterday. Wow. I will also finish it today.

>190 msf59: I read What an Owl Knows about a year ago, Mark, and gave it 4.5 stars. I agree about owls being endlessly fascinating.

^^^Yeah, that was me posting. I had switched accounts to find out exactly when I read What an Owl Knows and my rating, but I forgot to switch back before I posted. Duh!

>191 scdoster: >192 alcottacre: Ooh, I get a double amount of Stasia! Yah! 4.5 stars for What an Owl Knows? Perfecto!

-John Deering

>193 msf59: I just hope you get as much enjoyment from the book as I did. Yeah, I am twice as much trouble. Just be glad I did not also post with my third LT account, lol.

>194 msf59: - and actually goes perfectly with today's quote from AWAD:

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed, and love of power. -P.J. O'Rourke, writer (b. 14 Nov 1947)

>195 alcottacre: Hey, I would have no problem with a triple shot of Stasia. 😀

>196 jessibud2: Wow! That is a perfect quote, Shelley. I have not seen anything from O' Rourke in years.

-Harry Bliss

>188 msf59: Thursday orisons, Birddude. I had no idea there *were* twelve species of owl.

Orbital is marketed as a novella, partially because that format has taken flight in the genres of SF/F. That was the reason I did not think it would win, and how wrong I was. Apparently my antennae need recalibration. On many axes.

The "Novella November" I'm referring to is probably a book-blogger-sphere thing. Every month it seems there's a new theme for "us" to blog around. I've done a few, like the year-based ones...review a book published in 1970, f/ex...but format ones seldom work for me.

Enjoy the early-winter weather.

'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you.

I actually filled my feeders yesterday and have all the usual suspects. What always pleases me is how many Cardinals I have - half a dozen or more - and a Mourning Dove.

I spoke with Louise yesterday, and she saw a Gray-headed Swamphen. It's out of its normal southern Florida range , what with her in central FL on the Gulf side. What a gorgeous bird.

>199 richardderus: Sweet Thursday, RD. I will be starting The Serviceberry soon. Is there such a thing as a NF novella? If so, that one will qualify. I got this one through Netgalley.

>200 karenmarie: Sweet Thursday, Karen. Wow! Lots of cardinal activity. I have also been seeing doves in the backyard. You might want to ask Louise if she saw a Purple Gallinule instead of a swamphen. That would be much more likely, since swamphen are mainly found in Asia and gallinule's are found in Florida and other southern states.



-Purple Gallinule (NMP)

>187 msf59: Yes, getting back into my routine. There's a lot to help Mom with, calling insurance, his pension plan etc. He was in that memory care home for two years but this still came as a shock and we're still incredibly sad.

Yes please, put me down for joining you for both The Count of Monte Crisco and The Woman in White.

Hi, Mark. Glad I stopped by to dip a toe in your thread. I read the 'Count' when I was quite young and it remains vivid in my mind, but I'll skip the reread. I don't recall if I read The Woman in White. If not, I might join you.

>202 lindapanzo: Good luck helping your Mom with all this paperwork, Linda. I have added you to the shared reads, up above.

>203 ffortsa: Hi, Judy. Great to see you. Thanks for chiming in on the shared reads. Let me know if you are interested in The Woman in White and I will add you that list.

^A couple of our LT friends have been reading and praising The Balkan Trilogy. I have never read them, so I was looking to see if anyone would be interested in doing a shared read of all 3 volumes. I was thinking of reading volume one The Great Fortune in January and then the next 2 volumes in February and March. Thoughts on this idea? I know we are reading Monte Cristo in January but I think there is room for volume one, which is not a big novel.

Anti Poetica

there is no poem greater than feeding someone
there is no poem wiser than kindness
there is no poem more important than being good to children
there is no poem outside love's violent potential for cruelty
there is no poem that ends grief but nurses it toward light
there is no poem that isn't jealous of song or murals or wings
there is no poem free from money's ruin
no poem in the capital nor the court
most policy rewords a devil's script
there is no poem in the law
there is no poem in the west
there is no poem in the north
poems only live south of something
meaning beneath & darkened & hot
there is no poem in the winter nor in whiteness
nor are there poems in the landlord's name
no poem to admonish the state
no poem with a key to the locks
no poem to free you

-Danez Smith From Bluff: Poems

I *might* join you for The Count of Monte Cristo and or The Balkan Trilogy next year, Mark. I'm still trying to let my mood dictate what I read, but I have wanted to read both for quite some time now...

>207 katiekrug: That would be awesome, Katie. I know you don't like to be handcuffed by your reading choices. I can understand the need for that literary freedom but this is also a good way to finally get to those books we keep putting off. Let me know if you want me to add you to the shared lists.

Hi Mark. I am struggling to stay current on LT right now with so much of my time being given to keeping my hubby healthy and comfortable. But I have been reading and last night I started The Painted Veil and wow, what a great opening. It's grabbed me and I am looking forward to continuing on.

>207 katiekrug: - Yes, please do add me to the list, so long as you don't send enforcers if I fail to participate :)

Hi Mark, just trying to catch up here...

>116 msf59: I love love love that picture. What a sweetheart. Jackson and Juno look like they are best friends.

>152 msf59: I have been eagerly awaiting your thoughts on Playground, Mark. I'm happy you liked it "almost" as much as I did. I went all in with the Full Five Stars. So glad you added the information about manta rays. The scene with 80-something Evie "playing" with the giant ray was fabulous. There was much to admire in this book. Everything else I've read since has paled in comparison for me.

>174 msf59: I will probably read Orbital, although I am in agreement with you (again) about James being my choice for the Booker Prize, although I'm not sure that I agree about that prize being open to the U.S. It just seems wrong.

Hi Mark. I responded on my thread but wanted to note here, as well: I'm definitely in for a shared read of The Balkan Trilogy starting in January!

>211 Donna828: I want to read James and Orbital this month all being well.

Happy Friday, Mark. I wish you a great weekend.

>188 msf59: Mark, you've reminded me that What an Owl Knows is on my library wish list, to be requested at some point. I'll watch for your comments -- it looks like a good one.

>205 msf59: Wow, a classic going viral here on LT! Seeing so much interest in The Balkan Trilogy makes me smile.

>209 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. We all understand that you have a lot on your plate at the moment. Good luck with that, my friend. I am glad The Painted Veil grabbed you right away. It never lets up, IMHO.

>210 katiekrug: You are on both lists, Katie. No enforcers or comments from the peanut gallery. Just glad you are thinking about joining us.

>211 Donna828: Happy Friday, Donna. Glad you like the Jack & Juno pic. That one always makes me smile. I am glad we share the same opinion on Playground. Such a fine piece of work. I also hope Orbital works for you.

>212 EBT1002: You are on the list, along with Monte Cristo. We are kicking off the new year in style, my friend. You gave the inspiration for The Balkan Trilogy. I ordered my copy.

>213 PaulCranswick: Looking forward to your thoughts on both of those, Paul. Have you read The Balkan Trilogy?

>214 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. I also hope you have a lovely weekend.

>215 lauralkeet: Happy Friday, Laura. I am sure you will enjoy What an Owl Knows. She is an engaging writer. Actually, you planted the seed for The Balkan Trilogy after I saw your glowing comments and then when Ellen mentioned it again, that sealed the deal. Don't you love LT?

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you.

>201 msf59: This is from allaboutbirds.org:

Looking like an oversized version of a Purple Gallinule with a massive red bill, the Gray-headed Swamphen is an impressive bird and the largest rail in North America. Originally from southern Asia, it became established in southern Florida in the mid-1990s when birds escaped from captivity and began breeding. Like gallinules, this species forages in marshes by wading, swimming, and even climbing to reach aquatic vegetation, insects, and animal prey. Swamphens are aggressive competitors and may dominate or displace our native North American rails.

So they are invasive and aggressive and relatively new to North America. Louise has been a birder since her 20s, so 60+ years and with excellent binoculars. I think that the 2024 hurricanes have caused the Swamphens to become accidental birds to west central Florida, where Louise lives.

>208 msf59: Sweet way to put it - I know you don't like to be handcuffed by your reading choices. I learned several years ago that committing to shared reads only embarrasses and frustrates me. My RL book club has surprised me this year in that I’ve read 3 of 4, and will listen to Foster for the December discussion. I’ll read James for January’s discussion.

Lots of activity on the feeders, mostly House Finches and Cardinals. Yesterday afternoon a male Red-Bellied Woodpecker and a White-Breasted Nuthatch visited, and earlier this morning I had one Carolina Chickadee.

>218 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Thanks for correcting me on the swamphen. I did not look into it far enough and they do look similar enough to the gallinule. I should never question Louise. 😜

Yep, I know you are another one, who doesn't liked to be hand-cuffed by the books. I am impressed that you manage to get through your book club picks.

Thanks for the feeder report. Dark & damp here.

Merry weekend-ahead's reads, Birddude! Gallinule is now my favorite bird name to say.

>205 msf59: Popping up to add my voice to those lauding The Balkan Trilogy. I hope you enjoy it.

>220 richardderus: It does roll off the tongue in an elegant way, doesn't it? I am lucky to have seen 2 different kinds of Gallinule. Happy Friday, Richard.

>221 labfs39: So nice to get your endorsement of The Balkan Trilogy, Lisa. Thank you.

"A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon."

^I really enjoyed Charlotte McConaghy last two novels, Migrations & Once There Were Wolves and I am pumped about her new novel Wild Dark Shore, which comes out in early March. Mark your calendars.

Mark - if you and Joe are not already in the Minoqua emails, this is a good day to join!

He is offering some splendidly fun shirts - ones that most LT will also enjoy!

>223 msf59: ooh, thanks for the tip, Mark. I enjoyed both of those earlier novels too.

>3 msf59: Thank you for keeping track of our group reads near the top of your thread, Mark! I'm looking forward to our 2025 literary adventures.

>223 msf59: Yay!!! I'm now excited for that release, as well. Like you, I loved both Migrations and Once There Were Wolves.

Hiyah, Mark! I checked out the read-alongs for 2025. I'm definitely in for The Count of Monte Cristo still. I've read The Woman in White, but could do a re-read. Never read The Balkan Trilogy, so that's a possibility. Looks like you've got some good ones lined up!

>224 m.belljackson: I will check it out, Marianne. Thanks for thinking of us.

>225 lauralkeet: I knew there were several of us that appreciated her work, Laura.

>226 EBT1002: You are welcome, Ellen. You know I like spear-heading these shared reads or read-alongs like Jim called them. Glad to see I am not the only one pumped about Wild Dark Shore.

>228 drneutron: Hooray for those read-alongs, Jim. Let me know if you want me to add you to the other 2 reads.

Jackson Day! Get on your bad motor scooter and ride! ❤️❤️

>230 msf59: I'm glad you got to play with your grandson today!

>217 msf59: I haven't yet, Mark, and I may well join you guys.

>230 msf59: That boy is rollin'!

>116 msf59: Mark, I cannot thank you enough for posting these incredible photos of a little boy who brings such joy to you, your family, and also to our group!!!

It is especially heart warming to find joy given the terrible reality that this country voted for a sociopathic liar...I could go on with the names, but what good does it do?

I said it before, but it bears repeating. When I was first aware of politics was when the country was awash with nastiness because they did not want to vote for JFK (a Catholic!) And now, look what we have! I'll take a Catholic any day. Ah...what good does it do to talk about the mess this country got itself into? I still cannot believe it!!! I really did think we were slated for a sane female president!

>231 richardderus: Thanks, RD. He continues to be a joy.

>232 PaulCranswick: I hope you can join us on those shared reads, Paul. Let me know if you are serious and I will add you to the lists.

>233 quondame: He sure was cruisin', Susan.

>234 Whisper1: Thanks Linda, for the kind words regarding Jack. I am glad I can share a slice of joy that we experience with this special boy. I was too young for the JFK uproar but I have read much about it. Just trying not to think about our troubled future.

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham 4.7 stars

“Her character was like a country which on first acquaintance seems grand, but inhospitable; but in which presently you discover smiling little villages among fruit trees in the folds of the majestic mountains, and pleasant ambling rivers that flow kindly though lush meadows. “

“I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then men create out of the chaos.”

Kitty Fane is a young English woman, living in Hong Kong with her husband. She feels isolated and lonely and begins to have an affair. When her husband discovers her tryst, he gives her an ultimatum-he will divorce her and she will be left with nothing or she can accompany him to an area where there is a cholera epidemic raging. She reluctantly chooses the latter, despite the deadly consequences.
Once again, I was not prepared for how good Maugham was as a writer. He deeply understands the human condition, seemingly on all levels. I also think he is one of the most modern of all the classic authors. This was written in 1925 but it resonates, like it was written yesterday. This is another terrific novel, possibly my favorite of his work.

*I enjoyed doing a shared read of this one. Stasia also finished it, with high praise and Judy is currently reading it.

>236 msf59: More Maugham in your future, I bet. Anything calling out to you?

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you.

>218 karenmarie: I never question Louise about birds. Her mind’s still sharp as a tack. She just turned 90 in October.

>230 msf59: Cute pic of a sweet boy.

My feeders are filled with food but empty of birds.

>235 msf59: >234 Whisper1: Took my brother to see JFK at our local high school -

before all the scandals, he was Our Best Hero!

Hi Mark, I finished The Painted Veil this morning and I thought it was a great story. For me, it didn't reach the level of The Razor's Edge as it was too short for him to really dig into his characters motivations. I thought he did an excellent job with Kitty but I would have liked to have known more about her husband's thought processes. You are so right about Maugham coming off like a modern day writer, this story has truly aged well.

>237 richardderus: Hey, RD. I have read Of Human Bondage & The Razor's Edge. Not sure where to go to next with another novel but I would really like to read Collected Short Stories: Volume 1.

>238 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Hats off to Louise and a shout-out to our sweet boy.

>239 m.belljackson: Wow, Marianne. That has to be some memory. Is your brother around to still remember it?

>240 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I am so glad you also enjoyed The Painted Veil and I appreciate your thoughts on it. I hope you can join us for another shared read.

-Joe Heller

>242 msf59: Good one , Mark! :-) What a cute picture of Jackson !

>236 msf59: HI Mark, Your enthusiasm about The Painted Veil has prompted me to put it on my reading list! and >230 msf59: The Jackson picture is adorable! Action/Boy!

>243 vancouverdeb: He is getting tougher to photograph these days, Deborah but I keep trying and get lucky from time to time.

>244 mdoris: Hi, Mary. Good to see you. Glad I inspired you to read The Painted Veil. That is always my aim around here.

"Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled."

^I saw my favorite film of the year yesterday. I have been very impressed by this director's last few films so I was really pumped about seeing Anora. It delivered on all counts. I don't like the term "screwball comedy" but this fits here. The second half plays like vintage Coen brothers. Mikey Madison, the lead here, is fantastic but the whole cast is terrific. Beware- lots of sex and profane language.

>246 msf59: - I've heard great things about that one. Looking forward to it!

I did the final cleaning at the house in Tuscaloosa and turned in the keys on November 15th. I then got in the car and drove back to Kansas. I think that makes it official that I am now a resident of another red state - Kansas. However, this one has a democrat woman governor and a state legislature that seems to want to work together once-in-awhile.

I am not unpacked because my furniture and boxes have not arrived. They won't be here until Thanksgiving week.

Right now I am reading a couple of old books I have on my TBR list. I have Jon Krakauer's book Under the Banner of Heaven and Secret Life of Dust to read. Both are proving to be interesting, but Krakauer's book is getting most of my attention.

Mark - one Solitary Sandhill headed in your direction this afternoon - hope you have seen more.

>247 katiekrug: I am sure you will have a good time with it, Katie. I laughed a lot.

>248 benitastrnad: Thanks for the update, Benita. Glad you got everything settled in AL and good luck getting things unpacked in KS. I really enjoyed Under the Banner of Heaven. I am sure you will feel the same. Krakauer should be due a new book, right?

>249 m.belljackson: People have been seeing the Sandies migrating over us but I have not witnessed it myself. I am sure I will start hearing them and seeing them regularly.

128- The Radiant Lives of Animals by Linda Hogan 4.4 stars

“Yet it is a timeless place with a history all its own and the voice of a creek in all seasons...Here is not a place of words or human intrusion, but one of listening, an ancient world where fish once swam an inland sea and stone was pushed sideways in glacial layers and red and burgundy.”

“The words give me hope for the future in this time when so many feel helpless...Something deep within says we can work together and find unity in some way, find a better future instead of only the division around us.”

Linda Hogan is a Chickasaw writer and environmentalist. In this volume of essays and a spattering of poems, Hogan takes deep, meditative looks at her relationships with the natural world. She focuses mainly on her life, living in an isolated cabin with her pastured horses and the visiting wildlife, that included elk, wolves and mountain lions. Her prose is both sharp and lovely. This was a very nice discovery for me and I will seek out more of her work.

*When I requested this volume, I thought it was strictly a poetry collection, so I am glad to have been rewarded with so much more. Love these happy accidents. 😀

Watching Over

This land I watch over
is a place with old stories
and plant medicine.
It is earth a mountain lion walks,
looking into the light of my life
in this little cabin made of stone laid on stone
love labored over love,
and happiness here a hundred years ago
when the fireplace was first made of this quartz,
a baby tooth pushed into the mortar.

It was the year my father was born
when people came from afar to see the new infant,
some walked long distances
from Paul’s Valley.

All were silent in his presence.
It’s the way we lived and live with the newly born.

The bison that lives here now went down the next valley
to hide in great trees.

For a time, that bison has watched over all of us.
Something often does.
Some call it god.
Some call it our ancestors, but the ones I see
in this small cabin are the lion,
the bear in spring
when ghostly wolves, not hungry,
pass by the herd of deer in silence this morning

and even the fox looks in my door
for no other reason
than to watch how I live, to be sure
it is the right way.

-Linda Hogan From The Radiant Lives of Animals

‘Morning, Mark! I hope your routine week stays that way, with all the good things and no bad things.

>242 msf59: I’ve got a friend who has stated that she’s moving to Nova Scotia with her wife.

>241 msf59: Yes, Mark my brother is still around!

He was 12 when he joined my 2 Catholic, Democrat girlfriends & I (Lutheran)
to be driven by (those were the days, eh?) staunch Republican Andrew John Patrick Jacobsen, III,
our only friend with a car,
to York Township High School in nearby Elmhurst, Illinois.

Surviving the tightly packed bleachers, we witnessed (photo link to follow!!!)
the dramatic entry of the Man who became our beloved President.

His speech equalled any that he delivered to more elite and commanding audiences.

His stance - his animated face captured each of us - and his forceful and compelling voice...

Big Announcement from my corner of the library: I read a couple of pages of The Painted Veil last night. I've started it, I've started it!

For Mark and Joe and others who remember =

Photo and Speech SEARCH can be found on J.F.K. Elmhurst, Illinois, 25 October, 1960.

Merry Monday, Mark!

>223 msf59: Nice! Thanks for the heads up, Mark!

>230 msf59: I just love seeing pictures of him smiling and having a good time!

>236 msf59: It was a good one, wasn't it?

>251 msf59: Well, rats. I was rather hoping my local library had that one. Into the BlackHole it goes! Thanks for the review and recommendation, Mark.

>253 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. My routine week is off to a good start. All good here. I wish your friend good luck on their move to Canada.

>254 m.belljackson: >256 m.belljackson: Wow! That is such a cool story, Marianne. I think anyone who got to hear JFK in person, had to be an absolute treat. I will see if I can find the photo.

>255 weird_O: Hooray for Bill! Congrats on starting The Painted Veil. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

>257 richardderus: It has been a fine day, Richard. Thank you, kind sir.

>258 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. Hooray for Wild Dark Shore, The Painted Veil & our bike-riding Jackson. I hope you can locate a copy of The Radiant Lives of Animals. It is such a good read.

>256 m.belljackson: I searched the different websites. I did not see any photos of the event but I did read some of JFK's remarks. It looks like he also stopped in Aurora and Geneva.

>260 msf59: That's odd - the only place the photo now turns up is on the FACEBOOK website:

J.F.K. is in profile with all of us crammed into the bleachers behind him!

FACEBOOK is about 4-5 sites down from the top.

Just stopping by to wish you a good Wednesday, Mark.

>261 m.belljackson: Thanks, Marianne. I will see if you can find it.

>262 vancouverdeb: It is Tuesday, right, Deborah? LOL. I also hope you have a nice Tuesday and Wednesday. I should see Jack today for a bit.

"Mary Karr’s bestselling, unforgettable sequel to her beloved memoirs The Liars’ Club and Cherry—and one of the most critically acclaimed books of the year—Lit is about getting drunk and getting sober; becoming a mother by letting go of a mother; learning to write by learning to live."

I remember really enjoying Karr's The Liars Club but I read it back in 2010. Why did it take me this long to finally get to this one? Who the heck knows and to make matters worse, I have had a copy on shelf for years. Well, I am solving that puzzle now and I will start the audio of Lit: A Memoir today. Thanks to this month's AlphaKit: L, which has been incredibly helpful getting those books off shelf. I don't see Mary Karr mentioned much on LT. Any fans out there?

'Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you.

I've seen a Downy and a female Red-Bellied this morning, along with a Tufted Titmouse.

>264 msf59: - I really liked The Liar's Club when I read it ages ago, but I never read anything else by her. Not sure why....

ETA: I just looked it up on my handy spreadsheet and I read it in November of 2001! Doesn't seem like THAT long ago :)

>264 msf59: I keep uncovering troves of read-notes in odd corners of my hard drive. I'm glad I got into the habit of making a few notes immediately after reading books even when a full review was not gonna happen because it's saving my bacon now that the fecal matter has impacted the rotary air circulation aid.

>263 msf59: Hi Mark - on JFK photo - I don't have FACEBOOK so it didn't come out clear -

the odd thing is that on York Community High School JFK, the full clear photo came up,

still with FACEBOOK, but clear!

>252 msf59: I absolutely love that poem. Thank you for posting it.

>265 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Hooray for the red-bellied and the titmouse.

>266 katiekrug: It looks like I am not the only one who has dragged my feet on Karr. You are 23 years in. LOL. I hope to inspire you to pick up another one of her memoirs.

>267 richardderus: Boo to that fecal matter, RD. I think we just have a continuous river of books coming our way and so many books get lost in the shuffle, even if we have these books on shelf. I guess I'll just use the tired adage- better late than never. Have you ever read Karr?

>268 m.belljackson: I have not had a chance to find it on FB, but I will, Marianne. Thanks for the reminder.

>269 EBT1002: I am so glad you like the poem, Ellen. I also think you will really like this collection of essays and poems.

"The Turning is a series of interconnected stories set in southwestern Australia, largely in or around the coastal town of Angelus, that take place from the 1960s through the mid-2000s."

I read Dirt Music back in 2013 and quickly acquired two more of Winton's books including The Turning. Well, there they have languished, and like the Mary Karr memoir, I am getting to it because of this month's AlphaKit: W. I am 3 stories into this collection and enjoying it very much.

I remember hearing more buzz on Winton, early on, on LT but haven't heard his name mentioned around here in recent years. Any fans out there?

Mark, once you have retired, who knows what day it is , half the time ? :-)

>272 vancouverdeb: I have many days like that, Deborah. 😀

Happy Wednesday!

Ars Poetica

Poems are bullshit unless they are broken
like a horse, like a dog kicked in the ribs,
Like your favorite toy that’s missing an arm.

Love can make you feel used.
I want the poem that limps back to me.
Poems should hurt like love,
like ice water on your teeth
like a massage to smooth out a cramped muscle.

Give me the poem that’s like leather.
Give me the poem that smells like gasoline.
I want a poem that is a warning,
a poem that makes me check to see
if I left the shotgun by the door,
a poem that’s a runny nose, a sneeze, a poem
that’s the moment the sky turns green.

-Kenyatta Rogers From Poem-A-Day

'Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday. Glad today's the last kids day of the week for you.

All quiet on the bird feeder front. I'll be reading and etc., with a 4:30 vet appointment for Zoe ending the day.

Dropping in to wish you a happy mid week!

Hey, buddy. Happy Hump Day, as we used to say back in my work days.

It looks like a lot of readers are on-board for The Count of Monte Cristo and The Woman in White. I’m tempted by both, even though I’ve read both. Monte Cristo is probably the most fun classic I’ve read. Love that book. The Woman in White is a must for mystery readers. Very atmospheric, with some good stage and screen adaptations.

The City and its Uncertain Walls arrived yesterday, and I’m already under its spell. Exciting! I’m also reading A House for Mr. Biswas, an old-timey good one.

Hope all is going well for you, budfy.

Gotta keep chuggin'. While I filled up the new bookcase, I still have little stacks of books hugging the baseboards. The biggest classification (800: Literature, a.k.a. to me as fiction) remains untouched. I've stepped back from that tussle, and I'm actually doing reading. I have a good toehold in The Painted Veil, but I also am reading The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil, which I didn't realize was George Saunders.

Have a good last-workday, retiree. I'm filled with admiration that you *want* to do this!

>275 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. How did the vet appointment go with Zoe? Lots of house sparrows here, not much else. 😟

>276 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita. Happy Wednesday to you!

>277 jnwelch: Hiya, Joe. Always good to see you. Glad to hear that you are a fan of both Monte Cristo & The Woman in White. Hopefully you can join us one of those for a reread. Hooray for the new Murakami. You know, I will be watching closely for your thoughts. I am sure it will be awhile before I get to it.

>278 weird_O: Keep chuggin', Weirdo Bill. Glad to hear you are taking a break from the book stacks. Hooray for getting a toehold in The Painted Veil. I had not heard of that Saunders collection. Good stuff?

>279 richardderus: Hey, RD. Not sure "want" is the correct word. I was looking for a perfect part-time gig that fit my schedule, mostly to add to our vacation fund coffers. Now, it is definitely helping with our finances since Sue is still unemployed but should land something soon. I will still get up early but at least I don't have to head out just after 7am.

-Christopher Weyant

>282 msf59: LOL

>281 msf59: The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil is novella by George Saunders, originally published 19 years ago. I saw a recommendation on someone's thread, without it registering in my brain that Saunders was the author. It's right down my alley: Weird. Topical too.

>1 msf59: Hi Mark. I love the 'make America kind again' thing.
Our previous Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was sadly mocked for her vision of kindness, and it was all thrown against her in the post-COVID period when everyone (although *alive* and *not dead from COVID*) argued that she hadn't been kind because she: let businesses fail, caused inflation, and spent all our money on support packages to get people through COVID.
Just goes to show that with the general public, you cannot win.

I saw clips of people mocking Harris (FEMA...but they were saying 'she' so I assumed it was about Harris) for the $750 relief payment, arguing that this is a pittance. But then if people were given more, you'd better bet there'd be complaints about sending the government broke, right?

Sheesh! /- Rant over.

>164 msf59: Love it. Laughing so I won't cry (for you).

>284 weird_O: I will add Reign of Phil to the TBR, Bill. I still NEED to get to Saunders last novel Liberation Day too. It has been out a couple of years now.

>285 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. Great to see you as always. Well, Harris' "kindness" message didn't work. The majority of the country wasn't up for that, along with the whole women's rights issues. Very sad. It looks like a tough grind for the next 4 years. Wish us luck.

130- The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer 3.6 stars

“As indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? “

Like many other I readers I was very impressed with Kimmerer’s last book Braiding Sweetgrass, so I had been looking forward to her next book. For me, it didn’t reach those heights. It felt more dry and repetitive, despite it’s short length. Her writing is still solid and she made interesting points about a giving economy versus a market economy, using the serviceberry tree as the centerpiece. She explains that “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.” These concepts are interesting but not enough to completely engage me. Once again the illustrations by John Burgoyne are beautiful.

>287 msf59: I don't think that thesis holds up on the macro scale. Like libertarianism and direct democracy, these are ideas that should govern your neighborhood or your small town.

>287 msf59: Too bad about that one. I may just stick to Braiding Sweetgrass - assuming I can ever get it to the top of the BlackHole.

Have a good one, Mark!

‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you.

>280 msf59: Zoe was not pleased at being forced into the carrier feet/tail first. She did the crocodile death roll for a bit with the towel, then settled down to just yowling. She calmed down once we were in the clinic, yowled a bit on the way home, then forgave me quickly when I fed her. She slept in my lap as we watched New Tricks. The vet was pleased with her and I got away with only spending $65 since she didn't need any vaccinations and I didn't feel the need to spend $$ on bloodwork/samples.

>282 msf59: Sigh. I’ll be 75 in 2028.

>287 msf59: I have Braiding Sweetgrass on my shelves but still haven’t read it. Not surprising, though, is it?

Ooops got so behind Mark, so did a quick whistle stop dash through.

Will definitely be reading the Powers novel soon. I see there is a new series about oceans on Netflix that Obama had something to do with.

I always enjoy the cartoons you post Mark >282 msf59: loved this.

>288 richardderus: I think that is one of the issues I had with it too, RD. I sure liked the concept of the gift economy but making it work on a grand scale would be impossible.

>289 alcottacre: Sweet Thursday, Stasia. The reviews of The Serviceberry have been mostly positive so maybe it just didn't work for me. Looking forward to your thoughts on Braiding Sweetgrass.

>290 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. It sounds like Zoe had a stressful day but I am glad you got away from the vet with minimal damage. I think you should move Braiding Sweetgrass up in the stacks. Just sayin'...

>291 Caroline_McElwee: Sweet Thursday, Caroline. Good to see you. I am sure you will LOVE Playground.