Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Sixteen

-"Into Great Silence" Laura Makabresku 2022





“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:



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 5 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
131- The Turning: Stories by Tim Winton 4.6 stars
132- Lit: A Memoir by Mary Karr 3.8 stars (audio)
133- The Life of the Skies by Jonathan Rosen 3.5 stars E

December:

134- Conclave by Robert Harris 4.2 stars (audio)
135- The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese 4.8 stars
136- Paying For It by Chester Brown 3.7 stars GN
137- Long Island by Colm Tóibín 4.2 stars (audio)
138- The Way by Cary Groner 3.8 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

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, Ella January
The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning Ellen, Katie Jan, Feb, Mar
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins Deb, Benita, Irene, Ellen, Janet, Linda P February

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

Hello?? Great Horned Owl chicks.

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.

Congrats to Mr. Everett for winning the National Book Award for his novel James. It is still my favorite novel of the year, with Playground being a close second. James would also have been my pick for the Booker Prize but I think a Brit winning was a good move and for an excellent novel too. All good.

Happy new thread, Mark!

I just finished a book I think you'd like - though you might have already read it? The Longest Road by Philip Caputo.

Happy new thread, Mark! It's been a busy week, and I haven't been able to keep up with your last thread, but I saw you've started a new one and thought I'd better pop in before it gets out of hand (like Richard's new thread did).

>7 msf59: My RL book club has chosen our books for next year, and James is on the list, although which month hasn't been decided yet. It might be late next year, since they try to put the books with the most library holds on them later in the year, to give people a better chance at reading them. So I will eventually get to it, and from all the comments here on LT, I am really looking forward to it.

Happy new thread, Mark. I love your topper and believe it or not, I recognized Cori Lee Marvin's style right away. I met her once at a craft show and bought several cards of hers. Her style is so lovely.

I started James the other day and so far, am enjoying it. Good to hear that it is getting awards and recognition.

>8 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. I read A Rumor of War & Horn of Africa decades ago but I had not read or heard of The Longest Road. I will add it to the list. I like your recs.

>9 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. Good to see you. I hope you can get to James sooner than later. It is that good.

>10 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. I was exploring a FB group that features Canadian artists and Marvin popped up. I will explore more of her work. I am sure you will feel the same way as I did, on James. Enjoy.

Happy new thread Mark!

>1 msf59: Great images. I saw a face in the beak of the middle bird, which felt weird.

Yay, Jackson!

Happy new thread, Mark.

I loved the pictures as well. Jackson is a treat to see of course. And those birds, very special.

Maybe I’ll join you for a read in January. Dumas, or Olivia Manning, both seem like a good choice.

Happy New Thread Mark.

>4 msf59: Thanks for sharing that, buddy, I really enjoyed it and I was pleased to learn that I had my own valley!

Happy new thread Mark :)
Still laid up with COVID, I have time to peruse the threads, which is nice.

Loved the bird pic in the topper. I still have a bird postcard that I intended to give to you when you swing by NZ at some stage, it could still happen!

>4 msf59: What an incredible poem. Thanks for posting this. And, as always, thanks for posting another photo of that lovely little boy!

I've had The Balkan Trilogy on my shelves for many years, and it seems to have bubbled up in a few threads here lately, so I'd be interested in a shared read some time next year.

Harking back to your previous thread, I read Tim Winton's Dirt Music in 2010, and gave it 4 1/2 stars. Haven't read anything else, but I do have a couple of his books on my wishlist. I think I picked up another one at a library sale, but it turned out to be about adolescent angst, and I have very low tolerance for that.

Happy New Thread!

Happy New Thread, Mark !Love the topper and of course the cute picture of Jackson .

>12 quondame: Thanks, Susan. Do you still see a face in the beak of the middle bird? LOL.

>13 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. Glad you like the pics. Let me know if want to join us on those shared reads and I will add your name. We would love to have you along for the ride.

>14 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Glad you like the poem.

>15 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan. I am very sorry to hear about your bout of Covid. I hope it is mild case and you bounce back quickly. We will be coming to NZ in March. Now, I have to make sure that I see you at some point.

Love the topper, Mark. My nieces loved their balance bikes too. The youngest (four and a half) just learned to ride her big-girl bike without training wheels. Proud auntie taught her despite my banged up ankle. :-)

>16 Whisper1: Glad you like the poem, Linda. It was my favorite in that collection.

>17 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. I hope you can join us, at least on the first volume of The Balkan Trilogy. Glad to hear that you were also a fan of Dirt Music. I hope you get to more Winton. I am really enjoying The Turning.

>18 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver. Good to see you.

>19 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. We will be getting some Jackson time in today and I believe it may be another overnighter. 😀

^We got our first snowfall of the season yesterday. About 3 inches. It got messy on the roads a couple of different times during the day. The snow won't last, as the temps rise. The birdies sure love the snow. This is a mix of housefinch, juncos and house sparrows. Cardinals were also in attendance but not in the pic. I need to put out my birdbath heater. Bad Mark.

Happy new thread, Mark. We've had a lot of snow since yesterday. ⛄️❄️🧣🧤

>21 labfs39: Happy Friday, Lisa. Glad you like the topper. I believe those are brown-headed cowbirds. It sounds like your nieces love their balance bikes. I am sure Jack will also start riding a regular bike very early on.

>24 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. You like all the snow, right? Perfect for skiing?

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday and happy new thread.

>22 msf59: Enjoy the Jack time. I hope it’s an overnighter.

>23 msf59: Love the snow and birds pic. I need to put out my bird bath heater today, as it got down to 27F last night here. My feeders need attention. Bad Karen, too.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread, Mark! Refilling my sunflower seeds is on the to-do list for this weekend. I had a red-bellied woodpecker visit the suet recently, as well as the regulars of cardinals, titmice, and sparrows eating up the seeds. The squirrels get at it, too, which depleted the seeds fast!

>4 msf59: Mark - Love the poem - more would be welcome from her!

^^^^^

Note that so far this morning, none of the major news online: cnn, nyt, or yahoo
has delivered any memory of November 22, 1963, a true day of infamy.

Checking in on the new thread, Mark! I love the painting featured up top and, of course, Jackson.

Have a fantastic Friday!

>25 msf59: Yup, we'll be skiing in Davos for a fortnight from the end of February to the beginning of March, as we do every year.

Happy new thread, Mark. Great toppers, as always. I'm a little late over here, just watching the snow fall yesterday. Pretty much all gone around here today, though.

>26 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen and thanks. Sue will end up taking Jack back to Bree's later. Just the way it worked out. I enjoyed hanging with the little boy for awhile today. ❤️

>27 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>28 bell7: Thanks, Mary. I had a red-bellied visit today too. I wish we got the titmouse regularly. My squirrel proof feeders keep the squirrels at bay.

>29 m.belljackson: I will be searching out more of Hogan's work too, Marianne. Nothing on JFK? Odd, right?

>30 alcottacre: Happy Friday, Stasia. Glad you like the toppers. I hope you are enjoying your day.

>31 Ameise1: Hooray for your next ski trip, Barb. I know you always have such a good time.

>32 kac522: Thanks, Kathy. Happy Friday. The snow is gone here too. It sure went fast and I'm not disappointed at all.

^Well, I got my copy of The Balkan Trilogy, so I will be ready to roll in January. FYI- We are doing a shared read of this acclaimed trilogy starting in January, if you would like to join us.

>20 msf59: Yep, small elfin face.

I'm happy to live in an area that rarely gets snow , Mark. Perhaps once or twice a year - maybe none. It's pretty to look at, but not fun to drive in , or walk in, at least not here. I really dislike ice when I am walking. We get a really heavy wet snow, as our temps usually hover about 32 F when it snows.

Happy new thread Mark!

>23 msf59: Happy new thread!

Wow! Snow. Looks like you are plenty prepared for the cold weather. The birds must have been happy :)

>20 msf59: oooh, goodie! I though you might be North Island only, or breezing past NZ for Australia. I really hope there's an opportunity to book talk :)

>35 msf59: Well, I jumped the gun on you with that one. I finished The Great Fortune yesterday although I am thinking of holding off on the second book in the trilogy until you and Ellen are reading it.

Have a wonderful weekend!

>37 vancouverdeb: Glad you don't have to deal with much snow during the season, Deborah. Lucky you. I don't mind a little now and then and I am with you on icy conditions. No thanks!

>38 Familyhistorian: >39 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Meg & Anita. Happy Weekend!

>40 LovingLit: I will share our NZ schedule with you. We will do our best to make this Meet Up happen. 🤞🤞😀

>41 alcottacre: Oh, good for you. Yep, I had The Great Fortune marked for January. I hope it was a worthy read.

Happy Saturday, Stasia.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you.

I've got Cardinals visiting right now. I didn't get to the bird bath heater or the feeders yesterday. Sigh.

Good morning, Karen. I got my birdbath heater put in yesterday. We had cardinals yesterday too. Still waiting for something new to show up.

Nice work, Mark. Setting up this new thread, hosting all the wellwishers. I join them, wishing you well. I'm sneaking a couple of short books onto the List of Dones, and I'm continuing to read The Painted Veil. I've also discovered a lot of oversized books, books I've had for years, aren't cataloged. So I'm doing that now.

Have a weekend. I'm going to.

Happy 16th, Mark! I was considering Serviceberry but after reading your comments, I think I’ll pass

Mark - yet another president elect who claims he will release The Kennedy Assassination Papers.

Is there someone still alive who can be blamed?

^^^^^^

I've got my Yax-Trax on a pair of boots ready to battle any ice.
Pretty snow melted away in the rain.

>45 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. Happy Saturday. I hope you are enjoying The Painted Veil as much as we did. Good luck with those over-sized books.

>46 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. There were many positive reviews on The Serviceberry so it could have just been my take on it.

>47 m.belljackson: It is amazing how these JFK theories have thrived for over 60 years. I have a friend or two that still firmly believe that it was a cover-up. Our snow was gone immediately. Yah, for the Yax-Trax.

Happy weekend, Mark!

We had an interesting bird sighting today. There was a downy woodpecker on our suet feeder when a red-bellied woodpecker landed on the opposite side. My DH saw it and said the red-bellied landed so hard it almost knocked the downy off. I missed the landing, but both birds remained feeding on opposite sides for a while, and I got to watch that.

I had to refill both seed feeders and my nugget feeder today. Temperatures have finally dropped and the birds are really going for the feeders now.

>49 atozgrl: Happy Sunday, Irene. Thanks for the woodpecker sighting report. Red-bellies are bigger and heftier than downys, so I am not surprised. When the red-bellies land on my tray feeder, it causes it to swing a bit. Do you ever get hairy woodpeckers in your yard? They are closer in size to the red-bellies.

"Aerial delights: A history of America as seen through the eyes of a bird-watcher...Rosen argues that bird-watching is nothing less than the real national pastime—indeed it is more than that, because the field of play is the earth itself."

We are reading The Life of the Skies: Birding at the End of Nature for our DBC Book Club. (Dupage Birding Club). I decided to join this time, after missing the last couple for various reasons. This one, which I had never heard of, was published in 2008. It was difficult to find a copy through my library system, so I snagged a copy on my Kindle. I will start it today. This one could probably be updated- a lot has happened in the past 16 years. The Club meets on December 3rd.

‘Morning, Mark. Happy Sunday to you.

>44 msf59: Your birds must be happy. I’ll try to get to mine today.

I have a male Cardinal and a female Red-Bellied Woodpecker visiting, had a Carolina Chickadee earlier.

Both Downy and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers visited yesterday. I need to get another suet feeder with tail prop since I broke mine recently and am using a cheap wire single-cake one. Clumsy bird mom.

Morning, Karen. Not sure the birdies are happy or not, I have not seen anything back there yet this AM. I do need to fill the tray feeder and add a block of suet.

I stalled out on The Painted Veil as I was annoyed with Kitty but after reading your review on your previous thread I think I’ll pick it up again.

>50 msf59: We do get hairy woodpeckers occasionally. I think I've only seen them in wintertime or early spring. The downies are permanent residents. We've also gotten sapsuckers on occasion, but they attacked our hollies, so much as I like to see them, I don't want them to stick around.

I hope your cold is doing better. I had one at the beginning of the month. I had mild symptoms but it still took at least a week before I got over it.

I haven't been paying a whole lot of attention to football this year, but I see the Bears lost again. Sorry about that. They seem to be losing a lot of heartbreakers this year.

>54 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. I am glad you will give The Painted Veil another go. Without spoiling much, I think you will like how Kitty progresses. 😀

>55 atozgrl: Hi, Irene. Glad you get to see hairy woodpeckers from time to time. We rarely get them in the backyard. You probably only see sapsuckers during migration. I think they breed up north in the summer. We also see them during migration but never have seen them in our yard.

Yep, another heartbreaking loss for the Bears, after a really nice comeback to take it into overtime. The only consolation is that Caleb Williams is improving week to week, as well as much of the rest of the team. They just can't pull the trigger. Now, they play the Lions on Thanksgiving. Ugh!

"The Survivor" by René Magritte 1950

^I saw this on FB.

My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun

My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun -
In Corners - till a Day
The Owner passed - identified -
And carried Me away -

And now We roam in Sovreign Woods -
And now We hunt the Doe -
And every time I speak for Him
The Mountains straight reply -

And do I smile, such cordial light
Opon the Valley glow -
It is as a Vesuvian face
Had let it’s pleasure through -

And when at Night - Our good Day done -
I guard My Master’s Head -
’Tis better than the Eider Duck’s
Deep Pillow - to have shared -

To foe of His - I’m deadly foe -
None stir the second time -
On whom I lay a Yellow Eye -
Or an emphatic Thumb -

Though I than He - may longer live
He longer must - than I -
For I have but the power to kill,
Without - the power to die -

-Emily Dickinson

'Morning, Mark. I hope your kids, PB, and etc. day goes well.

I've got quite a few errands today but will definitely get some reading in eventually.

No birds right now, alas.

Have a marvelous Monday, Mark!

I picked up my copy of The Count of Monte Cristo yesterday, Mark. It is a tome!!! I hope I can read both it and the first installment in The Balkan Trilogy in January.

>56 msf59: I sure hope you aren't fibbing about The Painted Veil, Mark. Kitty is being a sap, having believed that cad. I'm keeping in touch with her, but at a distance. I'm reading a Bukowski novel. Never read anything by him.

>61 EBT1002: I have been eyeing my copy of The Count of Monte Cristo for a while, maybe January...

>56 msf59: Good to know the sapsuckers just pass through our area on migration. I do like seeing them, but they were here long enough to damage our two holly trees. We didn't know at first what was causing the problem with the hollies, and then I saw on a local gardening show on our PBS station the exact damage we had to our hollies and found out that it was from the sapsuckers. Fortunately the trees recovered but we did have to prune out some branches.

Good luck to the Bears on Thanksgiving. It's strange to see the Lions with such a good team after they were bad for so long.

>59 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. All went well today. Thanks. Did you get to all those errands?

>60 alcottacre: I am having a fine Monday, Stasia. Thanks. I hope you are experiencing the same. 🤞

>61 EBT1002: Hooray for getting your copy of Monte Cristo. Yep, it is definitely a mighty tome. I own a lovely Penguin Classic edition.

>62 weird_O: Have faith in the Warbler, Bill. I would not let you down, my friend. 😀
Good luck with the Bukowski. I have only read one of his.

>63 Caroline_McElwee: I hope you decide to join us, Caroline. We have a nice group lined up for Monte Cristo.

>64 atozgrl: I checked the range for the yellow-bellied sapsuckers and it looks like they could be in your area through the winter months, so keep an eye on those holly trees. When was the last time that you saw one?

Yep, the Bears will need a lot of luck this Thanksgiving.

-Dana Summers

>63 Caroline_McElwee: I hope you join us, Caroline!

>65 msf59: My new edition is also a lovely Penguin Classics, translated by Robin Buss. :-)

>67 msf59: - LOL!

>68 EBT1002: We have the same gorgeous edition, Ellen. Yah! No wonder we have been book buddies for so long.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

>64 atozgrl: I just looked at the Cornell Labs All About Birds website, and looks like YB Sapsuckers are here for nonbreeding season.

>65 msf59: Hi Mark! Yes, I did get to all my outside errands. Inside, I didn’t get to all the official errands, but got a few others done so kept busy the amount of time I wanted to be busy. We had to do a bit of financial adulting yesterday, which will finish today with a call from our broker’s management team.

>66 msf59: – great minds re the range for sapsuckers.

>67 msf59: Thanks goodness all 6 of us voted The Right Way. I don’t particularly want to talk politics on Thursday, but that will be better than old people medical talk, which it tends to sink into with Bill and our friends.

The birds are disgusted with me, since 2 of the 4 feeders are empty. They are, of course, their favorite feeders.

Hi, Mark! Hope you’re having a good week. All ready for the holiday weekend?

>67 msf59: Wish we could have done this. My daughter’s in-laws are all repubs, so I’m going to have to practice extreme self-control on Thursday when they’re coming to my daughter’s for dinner. 😬

>71 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Glad you got all those errands yesterday. Have you ever seen a sapsucker on your property? I don't think they go to feeders. According to Irene, they seem to love holly trees. Did you get those feeders filled?

>72 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. Good to see you. We go to my cousin's for Thanksgiving. Our kids do their own thing, which we don't mind, since Sue doesn't have to prepare anything.

Have a great holiday and behave yourself in the lion's den.

The Covenant of Water was published about a year and a half ago and it has been on my TBR list since then. I guess I am still spooked by chunksters but decided to finally get to this 700 page tome before year's end. I will start it soon. Has anyone else not read this yet? Am I the only slacker?

>74 msf59: I have read it. It doesn't carry quite the weight that Cutting for Stone does, being even more of a family centered story, but it's very much worth the time. Just don't read The God of Small Things for a couple of years after as it does so much less with largely the same setting.

>74 msf59: Hi Mark, I own The Covenant of Water, but haven't read it yet. I'll put it on my 2025 list.
All good wishes to you for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

>74 msf59: Mark, I rated The Covenant of Water around 4 LT stars since I could not connect with any character except the Elephant.

>74 msf59: Not the only slacker. I have it in my pile but have not read it.

Hi Mark!

I have a copy and haven't read it yet. Worse still, I loaned it to a friend and she read it, finished it, and returned it to me in time for me to pack it up to make the move to Kansas. I will get to it. I usually devote January to a chunkster, so this might be the January I read that one. But maybe I will read Killing Commendatore. Who knows, it will probably whatever book falls out first from a box in my carport.

>74 msf59: Very interested in your take Mark. I recently got the copy that was bought last Christmas for my mom circulated to me. My family liked it and thought it was better than Cutting For Stone which seems like a minority opinion here.

I have not read The Covenant of Water and I own it. Maybe next year. My reading is a little slow right now as I have just been busy with " real life" . Nothing exciting.

Hi Mark, we had lots of sandhill cranes flying over our neighborhood earlier today. From where I was I couldn't see them (for the buildings & the trees), but I could definitely hear them!

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you.

>73 msf59: I have seen sapsuckers on our property. I did not get the feeders filled, but today’s another day.

>75 quondame: I tried to read Cutting For Stone for book club in 2011 and it just didn’t work for me. I’ll pass on this one.

The birds are looking at me balefully, Cardinals, a finch or two, and a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, all hanging out on the roof or in the Crepe Myrtle. Feeders today!

>75 quondame: Thanks for chiming in on The Covenant of Water, Susan. I also loved Cutting For Stone. I read Small Things about 6 years ago, so I am safe there. Based on my star rating I wasn't as much of a fan.

>76 Whisper1: I hope you have a nice Thanksgiving too, Linda and I also hope you can bookhorn in The Covenant of Water in 2025.

>77 m.belljackson: 4 stars is not bad, Marianne but I am hoping to like it a bit better.

>78 AMQS: Hi, Anne. Great to see you, stranger. At least I am not alone being a slacker. I hope you can finally get to it soon too.

>79 benitastrnad: Speaking of chunksters, we kick off the year with some big ones- Monte Cristo in January and The Woman in White in February, which you will be joining us on. I had forgot that Killing Commendator was nearly 700 pages too. I hope to get to his new one early next year and that one is a monster. I hope you find The Covenant of Water.

>80 Oberon: Hi, Erik. I hope I can inspire you to pick up The Covenant of Water sometime in the New Year. Glad to hear your family is a fan of it.

>81 vancouverdeb: I Hope I can inspire you to read The Covenant of Water, Deborah. Were you a fan of Cutting For Stone? I hope "real life" is going well with you.

>82 kac522: Hi, Kathy. Thanks for the sandhill cranes report. I heard about a lot of other sightings, as well. The northerly winds must have been just right. I was out and about for short periods yesterday but did not hear or see them.

>83 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Sorry to hear about the baleful looks you are getting from the birdies. I hope you make it up to them. I had lots of activity yesterday too.

^Grandma had a Jackson Day yesterday and took him to the library. I hope to see him sometime this week. 🤞❤️

>87 msf59: What a great smile!

>74 msf59: I loved The Covenant of Water when I read it, Mark, so I hope you enjoy it too!

>87 msf59: Yay for more Jackson pictures!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Mark!

>85 msf59:
I did start unpacking yesterday and it is a good thing as it snowed this morning. Just a dusting, but still snow! All the books are under cover, so my first concern is finding all the winter clothing and blankets, comforters, etc. It was a very blustery day yesterday with a cold wind blowing from the south. Today is much calmer. In all the hubbub of last week, I picked up a cold, so I am going to stay home today and tomorrow and read.

I finished reading Under the Banner of Heaven and as usual I am blown away by Krakauer's writing. This was a great book and I don't know why I let it languish on my shelves for years. I finally pulled it off because it was my Book Discussion group's book for November. I highly recommend this one for anybody interested in reading about religious zealotry or fundamentalism of any kind. Krakauer really delves into the psychology of that kind of mindset.

>88 drneutron: Yep, it warms all our hearts. 😀

>89 alcottacre: Happy Wednesday, Stasia. Hooray for Jackson & The Covenant of Water. I hope to dip into the latter tomorrow.

>90 benitastrnad: We have a cold front moving in on Friday and it will be in the 20s over the weekend. No sign of snow, though. Whew! Hope you feel better soon and relax with those books. I remember also really enjoying Under the Banner of Heaven.

>66 msf59: It has been several years, I think, since we saw any sapsuckers. I can't remember if they ever got on our feeders. If they did, it was probably the suet. But they obviously did like our hollies, unfortunately.

>74 msf59: I am among the group that has not read The Covenant of Water yet. It may be awhile before I get to it, as I have so many other books to read already on my shelves.

It looks like that cold front that has hit so many of you already will be passing through here mid-day tomorrow, with a low chance of some severe weather (but no snow). I hope for no power outages.

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving, Mark!

Mark, you are in for a real treat with The Covenant of Water. I gave it 5 stars as I did for Cutting for Stone. We have the same top 2 books for this year. I just reversed the order you chose. Haha.

Have fun celebrating Thanksgiving with that handsome grandson of yours. We’re heading to Kansas City and will be with 5 of our 6 grands. Can’t wait to see them.

>87 msf59: Jackson looks primed to do right by a Thanksgiving dinner. Have a good one!

Hi Mark. I just finished watching a fantastic program on PBS. It's called *Nature* but this episode was called *Woodpeckers: The Hole Story*. Truly amazing. See if you can find it, you'll love it!

>92 atozgrl: Happy Thanksgiving, Irene. It doesn't sound like you miss the sapsuckers. LOL. I hope I can inspire you to finally picking up The Covenant of Water sometime in the New Year. You can expect more cold weather. We are going to be frigid this weekend. Only in the 20s here.

>93 Donna828: Happy Thanksgiving, Donna. I am looking forward to The Covenant of Water. You don't dish out many 5 star ratings. Have a great holiday in KC with the family, especially those beautiful grandchildren.

>94 quondame: Sadly, we won't be with our dear Jackson this holiday. We plan on seeing him tomorrow though.

>95 jessibud2: You had me at "Woodpeckers: The Hole Story". LOL. I will try to find it. Thanks, Shelley.

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a great holiday. This was the last turkey that I saw in my county. It was about 4 years ago, at a local forest preserve. I see them regularly in Wisconsin and Michigan but not very often in northern Illinois, especially near urban areas.

Fun Facts about Thanksgiving:

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three day harvest festival. It included 50 Pilgrims, 90 Wampanoag Indians, and lasted three days. It is believed by historians that only five women were present.

Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish were likely served, alongside pumpkins and cranberries (but not pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce!).

Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863.

The average number of calories consumed on Thanksgiving is 4,500.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you and Sue have a wonderful time at your cousin’s.

>97 msf59: Great picture. I’ve never seen a turkey here, but Louise saw them in the bushes between her house and the other neighbors occasionally. I did see quite a few in Montana in 2018 when I visited Karen. I’ve got a photo of perhaps a dozen in a field from that time somewhere…

Thanks re the TDay facts. I knew that turkey wasn’t served, am surprised about only 5 women.

4,500 calories !??!!!? Gads. I can’t imagine that, unless seconds of everything is involved. I’m not going to count sodium today, although I’ll try to relatively smart about it, and won't have seconds.

Happy Turkey Day, Mark. We're off to my sister's soon, close by fortunately, as we are supposed to get snow.

I listened to Covenant of Water recently and loved it. Verghese does a wonderful job reading it. If you aren't hooked by the very first sentence, I'll be surprised, as it is a doozy.

>98 karenmarie: Happy Thanksgiving, Karen. We are looking forward to our day. We are going to be lazy this AM. It doesn't sound like turkeys like people. Can you blame them? Have a great day.

>99 labfs39: Happy Thanksgiving, Lisa. Have a fine time with your sister. Boo to snow. You were one of the sparks to get me to read The Covenant of Water. I will start it today or tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mark! Hope you and Sue and all your family have a wonderful day!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family!

Let me know when you finish The Covenant of Water - I have a question about the ending and no longer have the book.

Thanks!

>101 Storeetllr: Happy Thanksgiving, Mary and thank you.

>102 m.belljackson: Happy Thanksgiving, Marianne. I just started it. It will be awhile before I finish this monster.

-Rick McKee

Happy Thanksgiving Mark!! I just got a signed copy of Covenant of Water when I heard Verghese speak here at Literary Arts. I'll try to jump in, but it will probably be after next week. : )

>96 msf59: Happy turkey day, Mark! I did like seeing the sapsuckers, just didn't like what happened to the hollies. If I see any again, I'll also be keeping a close eye on the hollies.

We're supposed to have lows in the low 20's sometime next week. The cold weather is finally moving in.

Yay for Jackson Day tomorrow!

We watched "Woodpeckers: the Hole Story" ourselves last night. We had seen it before, but it was fun to watch again as I didn't remember everything. If you have access to PBS Passport, don't look for it in the current season of Nature, as it was aired earlier. I'm not sure exactly when.

>97 msf59: That's a great picture of the turkey!

>104 msf59: I like that!

I loved Verghese's book.

Mark, you are one of the stalwarts and pillars of our special little group. Thank you for all you have done to spread goodwill amongst us all over the years here.

>105 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers. I hope you also had a good holiday with the family. I would love it, if you could join me on The Covenant of Water. Let me know.

>106 atozgrl: Happy Friday, Irene. I hope you had a nice holiday with the family. It sounds like you have some chilly weather coming your way too. Only 25F here today. Brrrrrrr...Glad you got to watch "Woodpeckers: the Hole Story". I need to track that one down.

>107 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the kind words, Paul. Over 16 years in and this place still feels fresh and fun. Let's keep this train rolling. The Covenant of Water is off to a good start.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you. I hope Thanksgiving Day at your cousin’s was great.

>104 msf59: Ugh. So many pardons…

Not sure if I’ll get to the feeders today or not, but the birds are probably losing hope by now.

>109 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Looks like I never got back here yesterday. Busy with PB and the books, I guess. We had a fine time on Thanksgiving. Thanks. I hope you got to those feeders.

Good morning Mark! I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. Did you get any of this weekend's Great Lakes snow ?

>111 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura. We had a fine Thanksgiving. It was nice to see my side of the family, which I do not get to do very often. We haven't got much snow, just flurries now and then but it is COLD!! Currently 14F.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

Glad you had a fine time on Thanksgiving and Jack & Co.'s visit yesterday.

It got down to 20F here last night, was 25F when I got up, and is only 30F now.

I did not get to the bird feeders, and nobody's visiting right now 'cuz they're all empty. I had a hopeful female Cardinal a few minutes ago, but she got no joy and left.

Hi, Mark. You asked me if I made any progress reading The Painted Veil. Nix. Sorry. Too much Thanksgiving, too many people. Since Judi died, I've been invited to the feast at my daughter-in-law's parents. This year I cooked candied sweet potatoes and dried corn and my son cooked Judi's Pennsylvania dutch stuffing and baked shoofly just like his mother's (plus pumpkin and pecan). Twenty-four attendees. 'Twas a madhouse.

I note that da Bears shamefully squandered their opportunity notch a win. In Chicago, the turkey had a name. Matt Eberflus.

Happy T-Day weekend, Mark! I'm sure sharing the holiday with family, especially lil Jackson was wonderful !
Did you get a bird walk in this weekend?

Hi Mark! I was going to skip Covenant of Water, as Cutting for Stone was a bit so-so for me. But we heard Verghese speak, and he was SO charming. I might give Covenant a try.

>113 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Looks like we are both dealing with some frigid weather. It will continue here through next week. I just had 6 cardinals in the yard. I think it may be a family affair.

>114 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. It sounds like you have been busy with family for the holidays so it is completely understandable that your reading has slowed to a crawl. Your DIL's parents sound like perfect hosts. Yep, another completely frustrating performance out of my Bears and the sad is, is that they played very well against a great team. RIP- Eberflus

>115 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. We had a very nice holiday and we got some quality Jackson time in yesterday. No bird walks for me. Right now it is too damn cold. I do lead a walk of Friday, if anyone shows up. 😜

>116 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. I should get pretty close to the 200 page mark today, with Covenant and based on what I have read so far, I am highly recommending that you re-consider reading it. It has been wonderful.

Happy weekend, Mark!

That Count of Monte Christo you were showing above looks great. I am going to search for one, to take part in January.

>118 EllaTim: Happy Sunday, Ella. Always good to see you. I hope you can join us for Monte Cristo. Should I pencil you in?

How the heck did it get to be December already? Jeesh...November was another fine month of reading. I am definitely ending the year with a bang. Out of the thirteen books that I managed to read, my favorite was Playground, which will also be a top book of the year for me. The next two favorites were also excellent reads, The Painted Veil & The Turning: Stories. I also read a very good GN, Big Jim and the White Boy, which I failed to review. As a bonus, for the month I also plucked a record 6 books off shelf. I sure would like to maintain that pace.

December Reads:

The Covenant of Water (currently reading)
Conclave by Robert Harris (currently listening to)
The Way by Cary Groner (NetGalley)
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (Looking doubtful that a copy will become available before the end of the month but one can hope) 🤞🤞🤞🤞

‘Morning, Mark! Happy, if cold, Sunday. Your high today, ~25F, is my last night’s low. But, it’s still cold for us here.

>117 msf59: I hope the Bears get a great coach and come roaring back next season.

>120 msf59: Just sent you a PM re Tell Me Everything.

No birds. No food in feeders for birds. Sigh. Bad bird mommy again.

>120 msf59: Mark, have you seen the new film adaptation of Conclave? I haven't read Harris' books but really enjoyed the movie. It stars Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci.

>119 msf59: Yes, do Mark. It will fit in fine with Paul’s new challenge for next year, as it’s a nineteenth century novel.

>121 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Must have been busy with the books yesterday. Never circled back here. Thank you so much for the offer of the Strout. Of course, I will borrow it. Did you get to the feeders?

>122 lauralkeet: I have not seen the film yet, Laura. I am currently waiting until I get through the Conclave book first, which I am enjoying. I heard the film is very good.

>123 EllaTim: I added you to the list, Ella. Glad you will be joining us. We have a nice group lined up.

>120 msf59: How the heck did it get to be December already? Kerry and I were just discussing that this morning! It just seems like this year has flown by.

Have a marvelous Monday, Mark!

'Morning, Mark! Brrr in Chicagoland. 15F, high of 28F. We're 29F, high of 43F. Cold here, too.

I'll be starting Foster today for Sunday's book club discussion. Sigh. I'll be listening to it. I've been told it's short, so there's that.

Bad Bird Mommy still, perhaps this afternoon I'll become a Good Bird Mommy.

>120 msf59: Good lineup of reads, Mark. I hope you get the Strout from the library soon!

>120 msf59: Hi Mark and happy post-Thanksgiving! I loved Conclave and am eager to hear what you think. The movie was excellent too.

>125 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. Yep, the months fly by don't they? I have no problem with the winter months blowing by. 😀

>126 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. It was a raw, chilly one all day today. More of the same tomorrow. Ugh! I hope you enjoy Foster. I really liked it.

>127 richardderus: Hey, RD. Well, thanks to Karen I will be getting a borrowed copy of the Strout so I am set. As we know, LT buddies are the best.

>128 vivians: Hi, Vivian and thanks. I am about halfway done with the audio of Conclave and enjoying it very much. Looking forward to the film too.

Hi, Mark! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. It's hard to believe 2024 is almost over.

>130 tymfos: Thanks, Terri. Great to see you. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, as well.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you.

Still a bad bird mommy, and the birds are currently boycotting my feeders, although they’re hovering in the trees. Cardinals and Mourning Doves right now. I saw a Bluejay yesterday – I do love their colors and markings.

Have a terrific Tuesday, Mark!

>132 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. I hope to see a good bird mommy report sometime today. 😜

>133 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. You do the same, my friend.

December third. 2024. WTH?

>132 karenmarie: We had a bluejay on our feeders yesterday as well! I need to go check my feeders to see if they need another refill, but it's already dark, so I guess it will have to be tomorrow. The feeders are emptying pretty quickly in this cold weather.

>135 richardderus: Exactly, RD?

>136 atozgrl: As long as I keep adding to my tray feeder, especially with a few peanuts we will get the blue jays. I hope you can fill your feeders, Irene.

^I should add books, birds and beer! 😀

All Fours by Miranda July. ...
Good Material by Dolly Alderton. ...
James by Percival Everett. ...
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. ...
You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue; translated by Natasha Wimmer. ...
Cold Crematorium by Josef Debreczeni
Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer
I Heard Her Call My Name by Lucy Sante
Reagan by Max Boot
The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides

The New York Times Best 10 Books of 2024 came out today. I consider myself a fairly well-rounded reader, who usually keeps up on notable books throughout the year but as usual the Times comes out with books that are completely off my radar. I have only read 2- James & The Wide Wide Sea. I did have Martyr! on the TBR but that is it. Can anyone else here warble about any of the other 7?

Oh yeah- Where is Playground? come on, folks!

>139 msf59: James, Reagan, and The Wide, Wide Sea are all on my wishlist, but unfortunately I have not read any of the books on that list yet. I had not heard of some of them.

>140 atozgrl: I would be curious about the Reagan bio, Irene, if you ever get to it. I have read many presidential bios but not Reagan.

133- The Life of the Skies by Jonathan Rosen 3.5 stars

Like I mentioned earlier, we read this one for our Birding Bird Club. We met last night. There were 9 of us. Unfortunately, everyone had problems with the book, including me. He is a decent writer but could not seem to stay on task and would go off on different tangents. His supposed love of birds seem to get buried in his self-serving narrative. We chose The Comfort of Crows for our next club read. I have read that one so I know that one will be an absolute treat.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

>134 msf59: Yes! I was a good bird mommy yesterday with 3 of 4 feeders. I needed to soak the rock-hard nyjer seed off the tray on one of them. That’s done, so I’ll put it back out today. I also cleaned the bird bath tray and put the heater in, along with a gallon of fresh water.

>138 msf59: In fifth grade my class had to make Happiness Is… books. I still have mine. By then it was apparent that I wasn’t an artist. Jenna cracked up when she saw it years ago, along with my attempts at poetry. I still have that folder, but it's hidden so she can't use it against me.

>139 msf59: Every best of and short list proves to me that I’m not a well-rounded reader. This is even before I started my march through MM romances in 2022. I despised Reagan when he was governor in CA and despise him now, so gonna pass on that one for sure.

>139 msf59: I can speak to Everyone Who is Gone is Here. I have it as one of my top books of 2024 and I reviewed it back in May on my thread. Excellent book and highly recommended.

Hi Mark - All the Winter Birds are enjoying our feeders - and a Buck visited the back kitchen window!

Oh dear - catching up with about ten days or so of posts and three book bullets from The Radiant Live of Animals in the first few posts to Playground : a novel and Oberon's Everyone Who is Gone is Here in the last post I read.

I am so impressed that you read so many off your shelves this past month. Every year I say I will do that; every year I get so distracted by the new and shiny on others' threads and by my book club reads. I have a plan for next year - I won't disclose it in case in fails miserably. :)

Do you follow historian and professor Heather Cox Richardson's almost daily political reports? Here is the one she posted on JFK's assassination, quoting both an account by Lady Bird Johnson and putting it into political context, which I didn't know. I thought it was fascinating and enlightening.

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/november-22-2024-bed

>143 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Hooray for the good bird Mommy! I knew you could do it. Thanks for sharing your Happiness is...story. Books work well for me too. I love being a well-rounded reader. It fits my wants and needs perfectly.

>144 Oberon: I will add Everyone Who is Gone is Here to my obese TBR. Thanks for that, Erik. Is Playground on your TBR? If not, it should be. 😜

>145 m.belljackson: Happy Wednesday, Marianne. My backyard winter birds are feasting well too. Hooray for the buck sighting too. It is supposed to be very cold over night.

Bird-book warning...incoming review next week...*encyclopedia* of birds...*blaring danger klaxon*

"From the beloved, critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author comes a spectacularly moving and intense novel of secrecy, misunderstanding, and love, the story of Eilis Lacey, the complex and enigmatic heroine of Brooklyn, Tóibín’s most popular work, twenty years later."

I am a fan of Toibin and in his latest novel he returns to the main character in Brooklyn, which I really enjoyed. I know a few of my LT buddies have enjoyed this one. I am listening to it on audio, (I love an Irish narrator) and this one is narrated by the highly talented Irish actress Jessie Buckley.

>146 streamsong: Happy Wednesday, Janet. Good to see you and I am glad I hit you with 3 BBs for your effort. I have also added Everyone Who is Gone is Here to my TBR. In regard to my TBR shelves, I have been working, these past 2 years to read 3 to 5 books off shelf every month. It does add up but I still have a long, long way to go.

I had not heard of Heather Cox Richardson. I will check her out when I get a chance.

>147 msf59: Thanks, RD. You can quiet the klaxons. I will be checking out your birdy review. 😜

-John Deering

>138 msf59: Board games and baseball need to be added for me :)

>139 msf59: I have read only two of them as well, Mark: James and Cold Crematorium, to which I gave 5 stars. Linda Panzo highly recommended that one or I would likely have never heard of it.

>152 alcottacre: May the beautiful Bs continue, my friend. I will add Cold Crematorium to the obese TBR. It sounds really good.

>149 msf59: I am currently reading that one as well. About halfway through. So far so good!

4500 calories consumed on Thanksgiving! I can't imagine, Mark. I posted an update of Dave and our new adopted puppy , Muffin on my thread. Jackson looks so cute!

>149 msf59: Hi Mark! I'm reading Long Island in print right now. I'm pretty far along and really enjoying it. Hope you do too.

>154 figsfromthistle: >156 lauralkeet: Well, that is 3 of us that are reading Long Island AND enjoying it. What are the chances? Very cool.

Sweet Thursday, Anita & Laura!

>155 vancouverdeb: Shamefully (not really) I was probably pretty close to that calorie count, especially with dessert and few beers. Good to see you, Deborah. I will stop by soon.

134- Conclave by Robert Harris 4.2 stars

"The Pope is dead.

Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred and eighteen cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world’s most secretive election.

They are holy men. But they have ambition. And they have rivals."

I have enjoyed a couple of books by Harris, especially An Officer and a Spy and I have been meaning to read more of his work. When I saw that the film Conclave was based on his book, I snagged an audio copy. It did not disappoint. Harris really taps into that dark, mysterious world of the Vatican and it's machinations. He also keeps the suspense ramped up throughout. A very entertaining read.

*Any LT fans of Harris out there? If so, what are your favorites?

^I was able to see the film version of Conclave immediately after listening to the book and was very impressed by this faithful adaptation. It is beautifully filmed capturing the beauty and the rituals of this "holy"world. The cast is excellent too, anchored by the great Ralph Fiennes, who rarely disappoints. You will enjoy the twists along the way too.

>159 msf59: Oh good, I'm so glad you enjoyed the film, Mark! I thought Ralph Fiennes was excellent. And those plot twists !!

I scored some good books at the book sale yesterday, including a copy of Tim O'Brien's latest (America Fantastica), IQ, collections of vintage detective stories, and some big art/photo books. Full-ish report at my place: the list and a group photo. :-)

Keep on Keeping on, dude.

>158 msf59: I like Harris well enough as a TV-equivalent read. Fatherland was a rip-snortin' good time, though the filmed version had problems with pacing that the read did not. Pompeii managed to keep me enrapt despite the ending being inevitable.

Dude's got the storytellin' chops, innit.

Enjoy the day!

>160 lauralkeet: I was really glad to get to the film so fast. Yep, what a fine cast. Stanley Tucci was very good too.

>161 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Sweet Thursday. I will watch for your thoughts on the latest O'Brien. I wonder if he still has those early chops, he so impressed us with.

>162 richardderus: I have read Fatherland but it has been many years. I do not remember much about it. I have been curious about Pompeii. Glad to hear you liked it. On the list it goes.

>159 msf59: I saw this preview on TV and it looks quite interesting. I will have to make a mental not to watch it over the holiday season.

Happy rest of the week!

>164 figsfromthistle: "not to watch it"? Not appropriate for the holidays? LOL.

Happy Friday, Anita.

My Apologies

To the hostages of our policies, my apologies—
the petty stenographers of the crooked rulers
in the once fancy now crumbling cities
of our fading Empire lied then.
They lied then and they lie now.
Everything they say and write is a lie,
about law and freedom, about equality
and justice, in the rubble of the bombs
we make and sell, in the silent cries
of limbless orphans, in the night
lit by white phosphorous and the
relentless sound of buzzing drones.
They tell us we used to have things of
value, even things we ourselves made,
and that it was a place like no other.
All I know is that Sinbad once sailed
to Gaza and so to Gaza he’ll sail once again.

by Ammiel Alcalay From Poem-A-Day

‘Mornng, Mark, and happy Friday to you.

Twice lately I haven’t posted… bad Karen.

>151 msf59: The bar is so far down now that bottom looks up.

>158 msf59: I love Harris – have read Fatherland, Pompeii and Second Sleep and loved them all. I think I liked the first two best. I still have Precipice and The Ghost on my shelves to be read. Hmm…

I've got happy birds - on the feeders, and a sparrow on the bird bath a while ago.

>167 karenmarie: You will always be good Karen to me! Happy Friday. Thanks for chiming in on Harris. Pompeii will be the next one of his that I will read. Hooray for the happy birds. 🐦

Mark, It's been awhile since I've visited your thread. I can see I missed a lot. Does that lovely grandson ever cry? He seems perpetually happpy and smiling!

Your love for him will shape him in oh so many ways. I speak from experience in that my grandmother was the most significant person in my life.

Keep up the good work!!!

If you have netflix, and haven't tuned into the series of the atomic bomb, I highly recommend this documentary.

It is science fiction come to life! It is called Turning Point: The Bomb

Harpy Friday!

>158 msf59: Big Robert Harris fan, although, other than Conclave, I’ve only read his historical novels of Ancient Rome, which are brilliant. Pompeii is my favorite of those, though the ones about Cicero were also very good. I also loved Conclave, except for the ending, which slightly disappointed me.

I read Pompeii by Harris and liked it. I also have two of the three novels about Cicero on my shelves. Or, more properly, in my boxes in the carport at this time. I do intend to read those even though the ending that series is inevitable ... as is that of Pompeii.

>169 Whisper1: >170 Whisper1: Happy Friday, Linda. Always good to see you. Yes, Jackson cries but not often. He is generally a joyful kid, at least when he is around us. "Turning Point: The Bomb" sounds interesting. Thanks for the rec.

>171 Storeetllr: Happy Friday, Mary. Thanks for chiming in on Mr. Harris. I didn't realize you were such a fan. Pompeii will be my next Harris read.

>172 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Glad to hear you have also enjoyed Mr. Harris. I might join you on reading the Cicero series.

-Walt Handelsman

>174 msf59: blech

I am more and more repulsed by the wrecking crew.

>174 msf59: That seems unfortunately all too true. *Sigh*

>174 msf59: Oh my goodness Mark! I laughed right out loud when I regarding that cartoon. After spending a chunk of time watching the Netflix nine segment incredibly pulled together Turning Point: The Bomb! I truly got scared thinking that this idiot is in power to egotistically blow up the world! The only thing that might stop him is that he would not have his haven of followers to bow down to him.

What is on the list for the little fellow for Christmas?

You were right about The Painted Veil, Mark. It turned out much better when I persisted with the read.

>175 richardderus: >176 atozgrl: Boo to the wrecking crew! Shudders...🤮

>177 Whisper1: Glad it made you chuckle, Linda. Even if it was in a queasy way. Sue takes care of Jack's shopping but I am sure she will pick some cute stuff. It is amazing how sophisticated he has gotten already.

>178 Familyhistorian: I am so glad that you hung in there with The Painted Veil and were rewarded. I have become such a fan of his work.

"Jean McConville, a single mother of ten, is abducted from her home in 1972 and never seen alive again. This event unfolds alongside the stories of various Irish Republican Army members, spanning four decades during The Troubles in Northern Ireland."

I read Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland about 5 years ago and it was one of the best books that I had read that year. Now, there is a series adaptation streaming on Hulu. We just finished it last night and it was excellent. The cast is marvelous. I highly recommend it, if you have read the book or not.

-Clay Bennett

Hi Mark. Thought you might enjoy these 2 articles. A book is mentioned in the second one. I'll have to see if my library has or can get it.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/are-cardinals-brighter-in-winter/?utm_campaig...

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/jane-kims-avian-pantone/?utm_campaign=bird%20...

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you.

>168 msf59: Aw, gee, shucks. I do like being good Karen.

>174 msf59: and >181 msf59: So much chaos and evil to come…

Cardinals, finches, and a White-Breasted Nuthatch this a.m. so far.

Hi Mark - if you finished The Covenant of Water who does the author say was the last man at the top of the mast?

Thank you.

- no new wildlife except the deer at the bird feeder.

>181 msf59: *gag*

This clown car needs to take a cliff-dive, like Thelma & Louise, before it can do much damage.

>165 msf59: Ha! I meant to say that I should watch it. LOL

Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

I've yet to read Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland and I don't get Hulu, but one of these days, Mark, I do own the book.

>183 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. Hooray for the feeder report.

>184 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. I did finish "Covenant" but I did not see anything about the "mast". Was that mentioned in the afterword somewhere? Boats weren't mentioned very often.

>185 richardderus: I like that clown car scenario you proposed. 🤞😀

>186 figsfromthistle: That is what I thought, Anita. 😜

>187 vancouverdeb: Happy Sunday, Deborah. I hope you can move up Say Nothing in the stacks. It is excellent.

135- The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese 4.8 stars

This big sweeping family epic spans nearly eighty years. It takes place on two continents but mostly is centered around India’s Malabar Coast. It begins with a twelve year old girl being married off to a forty year old widow and this girl becomes Big Ammachi, the family matriarch. Much of the narrative is centered around her, as the reader experiences the many joys, triumphs, losses and bitter disappointments that come her way. The author is a physician and like his novel Cutting for Stone, there is detailed medical practices being presented here but easily digestible. Verghese is a fine story-teller and despite the length and scope of the book, he keeps you turning the pages. Highly recommended.

I am glad to have finally read this chunkster. It will also be a top read of the year for me.

"A postapocalyptic road trip and a quest for redemption...The world has been ravaged by a lethal virus and, with few exceptions, only the young have survived. A highly original contribution to the canon of dystopian literature, The Way is a thrilling and imaginative novel, full of warmth, wisdom, and surprises that reflect our world in unsettling, uncanny, and even hopeful ways."

I was able to snag The Way: A Novel from Netgalley. It was recently published (Dec 3). I like a good, inventive dystopian novel and this one seems to check all those boxes, plus I LOVE that cover. I will start it today.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you.

Yay for Netgalley.

I've got hungry birds and already need to feed the sunflower seed feeder, dump the last of one suet cake and add a fresh one.

Hi Mark. I think you missed me up there. Here is another interesting bird link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/unusual-evening-grosbeak-visits-ontario-feede...

>191 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Do you ever get books from Netgalley? I know Richard does all the time. Absolutely nothing happening at my feeders.

>182 jessibud2: >192 jessibud2: Good morning, Shelley. Sorry, I missed you up there. I read the post and was going to come back and check out the links. Of course, I promptly forgot. I have heard that about cardinals and their winter "redness" but it was interesting to read more about it. I love evening grosbeaks and have seen them in Minnesota. They come down from Canada for the winter. Good news to hear they are seeing them at feeders up there. Keep your eyes peeled.

>189 msf59: Okay - did the author mention Ahab's drowning ship?

>189 msf59: wow- you knocked off the chunkster! Always a great feeling, not only to finish one you've been waiting to read for ages, but loving it too!

>189 msf59: I'm glad you enjoyed The Covenant of Water too. I need to read some of his nonfiction.

>189 msf59: It sounds a lot better than I feared it would be, given its scope. Glad that it worked for you.

I found my data stick at last...I can transition from picture books on schedule!

>194 m.belljackson: Yep, Moby Dick was mentioned several times in the novel but honestly I don't remember the drowning issue.

>195 LovingLit: I am glad to have knocked out a winning chunkster, Megan. Funny, with my fear of chunksters, I am rarely disappointed when I read one and this was a good example of that.

>196 labfs39: I would also be interested in reading some of his NF, Lisa.

>197 richardderus: Hooray for Covenant and picture books, RD.

^Jackson helping Grandma make gingerbread cookies. Sue was fasting that day and it was tough going. 😀

>199 msf59: I expect watching Jack eat the cookies was enough pleasure! He looks like he could nom the whole lot.

‘Morning, Mark!

>193 msf59: I do not use Netgalley. So far I’m able to get enough books without it, but it’s always a possibility. My feeders are empty right now, too. Nobody in the Crepe Myrtle either.

>199 msf59: Yum to gingerbread cookies. Happy boy.

>200 richardderus: He certainly loves his sweets, RD. Getting him to eat anything else is the tough part.

>201 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. It doesn't sound like you need NetGalley at all. I like it at times to snag newer books. I find some good ones that way. Hooray for the Happy Boy!

-Joel Pett

>199 msf59: That looks like a good gingerbread man!

>199 msf59: What a good sport Jackson is, limiting the supply of cookie limbs so grandma isn't attacked by obstreperous dough boys!

>204 Familyhistorian: Hooray for the good gingerbread man!

>205 quondame: I didn't even think of all of that, Susan. He is even more clever than we thought. LOL.

Nikki-Rosa

childhood remembrances are always a drag
if you’re Black
you always remember things like living in Woodlawn
with no inside toilet
and if you become famous or something
they never talk about how happy you were to have
your mother
all to yourself and
how good the water felt when you got your bath
from one of those
big tubs that folk in chicago barbecue in
and somehow when you talk about home
it never gets across how much you
understood their feelings
as the whole family attended meetings about Hollydale
and even though you remember
your biographers never understand
your father’s pain as he sells his stock
and another dream goes
And though you’re poor it isn’t poverty that
concerns you
and though they fought a lot
it isn’t your father’s drinking that makes any difference
but only that everybody is together and you
and your sister have happy birthdays and very good
Christmases
and I really hope no white person ever has cause
to write about me
because they never understand
Black love is Black wealth and they’ll
probably talk about my hard childhood
and never understand that
all the while I was quite happy

Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024)



^In honor of her recent passing. I NEED to read more of her work.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday.

>203 msf59: I’m so grateful that in our house, the three who can vote voted the sane way. 'Polarization' is Merriam-Webster's 2024 word of the year.

No bird visitors right now, suet and sunflower feeders need attention.

Happy Tuesday, Birddude.

>199 msf59: I was making Christmas cookies yesterday too, and as usual had to fend off the kids who swoop like vultures to grab the dough. As it has to sit overnight before baking and I didn't want them sneaking bits of it, I pretended I stored it in our neighbour's fridge, but they found it in out garage fridge! Haha, it's a fun tradition.

>208 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Fortunately, our household also in complete agreement. Also not at all surprised that 'Polarization' is Merriam-Webster's 2024 word of the year but that is still deeply SAD.

>209 richardderus: It has been a good day, RD. I passed my annual physical with flying colors and the books are treating me just fine.

>210 LovingLit: Thanks for sharing your Christmas cookie story, Megan. I am glad that you still enjoy this family tradition with the boys. Which of your cookies are their favorite?

-Guy Parsons

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

>212 msf59: Got that right.

I've got a Tufted Titmouse and a finch on my feeders, had both a male and female Cardinal earlier. The feeders need attention today.

Wind, rain, possibly a thunderstorm or two here. Our low tonight is your high for today.

>212 msf59: Infuriating that it's so true. *grr*

Enjoy your Wednesday, Mark.

>97 msf59: Mark, I loved your "fun facts" and the turkey picture. We used to have wild turkeys in the area. Penny would get super excited if we saw them while walking the neighborhood trail through the woods. Not sure where they went, but it has been several years since I've seen any.

>189 msf59:: Like minds...I also loved The Covenant of Water. No surprise there. I also gave it 4.8 stars in June of 2023.

>199 msf59:: Oh my, Jackson is so stinking cute. I miss having young children around. Thanks for sharing your sweet boy with us.

>213 karenmarie: Happy Wednesday, Karen. Hooray for the titmouse. Is the thunderstorm a good thing or a bad thing?

>214 richardderus: It has been a fine Wednesday, RD. Thanks. Getting plenty of PB time in and now I have the PM reserved for the books.

>215 Donna828: Hi, Donna. Glad you like the turkey fun facts. Where oh where did all the turkeys go? I guess they prefer the woods and the quiet and not noisy disruptive people. Glad to hear we rated The Covenant of Water exactly the same. Since Jack is our only grandchild at the moment, we can't help but dote on him.

Happy mid week!

My feeders are busy as well. Lots of bluejays and cardinals!

>217 figsfromthistle: Happy Wednesday, Anita. Hooray for the bluejays & cardinals. We also love seeing them.

Oh, poor Sue, fasting and making gingerbread cookies! Jack is so cute!

>219 vancouverdeb: Sweet Thursday, Deborah. Sue survived just fine. We will have the little boy the next 2 days. Yah!

-Gary Varvel

^I wish we had this incentive, when I was working for the P.O. I would have loved going to work. 😀

>221 msf59: I can only imagine it makes a difference to modern office workers.

‘Morning, Mark, sweet Thursday to you.

>216 msf59: I like thunderstorms, as long as the lightning doesn’t strike right on our property – that’s too close and gives me the shivers. But even if we lose power our generator automatically cuts on and off when commercial power goes off and returns, so I don’t worry about that.

>221 msf59: Yay for Pickleball.

>222 richardderus: It looks like only a few companies are adopting these kind of incentives to get folks back to work but I like the health angle.

>223 karenmarie: Sweet Thursday, Karen. In regard to the thunderstorms I wasn't sure if you needed the rain or not but I am glad you are fond of them as long as they steer clear of your property. 😜

Brr , Mark! I read you were out in 3 F weather this am. I think I'm doing well with 2 C this am. I had to change 3 F to C to know how they compared. I think the coldest it gets here is maybe 23 F, and that is extreme. Maybe it gets a little lower, but is usually short lived.

>225 vancouverdeb: It is a cold raw day, Deborah. I will gladly take 2C. It looks like the high for today will be 14F. Brrrr...indeed. It does get warmer over the weekend.

"Great House is a story haunted by questions: What do we pass on to our children and how do they absorb our dreams and losses? How do we respond to disappearance, destruction, and change? Nicole Krauss has written a soaring, powerful novel about memory struggling to create a meaningful permanence in the face of inevitable loss."

My introduction to Ms. Krauss was her novel The History of Love, which blew me away. I also enjoyed Man Walks into a Room. So why has Great House: A Novel been sitting on shelf forever? Great question. Well, thanks to this month's AlphaKit:K I am finally reading it. Based on reviews, Krauss seems to be one of those very divisive authors which is always puzzling to me. So far, she works for me. Any other Krauss fans out there? Any haters?

>227 msf59: The best use of challenges is to get the stuff unread onto the "read" pile. I hope it delights you.

Don't freeze today!

Mark, this is a verbatim post from my thread. I'm posting it here since you are one of the 'touchstones' of the group and I know many more people will see it here than on my thread.

The top five list for LT'ers reads in 2024 is up! This is not a list of books only published in 2024, but of your favorite five reads for the year

https://www.librarything.com/list/46058/Top-Five-Books-of-2024

As usual, there aren't many people contributing (yet) but I hope to see many more. This is one of my favorite book lists of the year - it means so much to me as it's a list by my book-obsessed reading peers.

The number one book (although it only has seven votes) is James.

I've added four books so far:
James
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Exvangelicals
The Measure

BBL to comment on your thread posts.

>228 richardderus: "The best use of challenges is to get the stuff unread onto the "read" pile." Amen, RD. I like the idea of the TIOLI Challenge but it feels like too much work. I prefer the absolute simplicity of AlphaKit.

>229 streamsong: Happy Friday, Janet. I am glad you shared this post over here. I have not listed my 5 yet but I will soon. I really like your 5 picks but what is "The Measure"? Not sure the touchstone is correct. I hope to get to The Exvangelicals soon. BBL?

>228 richardderus: I added two, but I could not figure out how to add the other three, Janet. I'll try again later.

My 5 tops reads are

Brotherless Night
The List of Suspicious Things
The Spoiled Heart
Stillwater
What Times the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust

>229 streamsong: Thanks for posting that, Janet! I’ll have a look later. One of your choices is in my list as well, thanks to Paul’s war challenge: All Quiet on the Western Front

>231 vancouverdeb: Thanks for sharing your top 5, Deborah. I still have to get to Brotherless Night. I added it to the TBR, after you raved about it. Stillwater & The Spoiled Heart also sound very good.

>232 EllaTim: Hi, Ella. I will have to watch for your top 5. Glad to see All Quiet make a nice comeback.

Middle of the night spot of insomnia so I made it back to finish reading your thread.

Jackson is adorable as always - I also miss having the little ones around at Christmas.

Hmm I haven't read any Robert Harris but seems like another I should add to my someday list. Speaking of which, add me to the Woman in White group read. I've had a copy for several years and would love to dust it off and actually read it.

The Way also made it to my library hold list. Like you, I love a good post-apocalyptic novel. It's all a bit scary as some of the scenarios seem more possible with the current political situation. My mind boggles at getting rid of the polio vaccine.

Glad people are enjoying the LT's favorite list. I fixed the touchstone for The Measure. My list is somewhat fluid and probably not final - I did love Brotherless Night. As was pointed out, right now the list is very long with few votes for each book.

Morning, Mark! Saturday orisons. I'll be spending today doing the last few illustrated book reviews, and finding some text books on the data stick for Monday. Moving from gifts given to some self-gifting ideas.

I peered through the front door sidelight where the old-timey thermometer is mounted. It was before dawn and I read from it 15°F. I guess this is the leading edge of your weather as it moves east. Don't want to see any of those lower temps you've mentioned.

>234 streamsong: Happy Saturday, Janet. I hope you get a nap in later. Hooray for Jackson. I think you would like Robert Harris. He has an easy style. I have added you to the Woman in White group. Love to have you along. I also think you would like The Way. I am working on a mini-review.

>235 richardderus: Morning, Richard. Good luck with those illustrated book reviews. You have sure been on a roll with them.

>236 weird_O: Morning, Bill. Yep, you are getting the beginning of our cold snap. We dipped close to zero for one of those days. The good news it is a brief visit. Back to 40F today.

-Drew Sheneman

^Thanks to Janet for reminding me to do this. I had a great year of reading and these five were the cream of the crop:

James by Percival Everett
Playground by Richard Powers
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
The Meadow by James Galvin

I will share my complete Best of 2024 list in a week or so. Looking forward to seeing everyone's list.

Once again here is the link to add your top 5:

https://www.librarything.com/list/46058/Top-Five-Books-of-2024

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you. I know I came here and visited yesterday, even did as I usually do – open up a Word document and put it at the bottom of the screen and actually wrote one or more things… but I obviously didn’t post. Sheesh. Too easily diverted.

>224 msf59: I just don’t like the lightning strikes close enough to the house that the crack of thunder is instantaneous.

>229 streamsong: Thanks, Janet. Quick perusal shows that James at the top, and I’ll be reading it starting this coming week for January’s book club discussion.

>238 msf59: Good one. My Library is constantly having re-buy books that whack jobs check out and then just don’t return, EVER. They eventually lose their Library cards. And then, of course, there are those who just steal the books.

>235 richardderus: I have 2 of your 5 on my shelves.

>239 msf59: I'm trying to whittle my 8 books, down to 5. They were all so good, but so different. How do you compare a sci-fi novella with a literary novel? It's hard!

My birds are loving the very expensive emergency seed rations I put out. Except the dates. They spit them out.

>241 labfs39: Yep, whittling those favorite books down to just 5 is no easy task. The good thing for me, is that my top 3 were unshakeable.

I did not know birds did not like dates and spit them out for dramatic effect. LOL.

>238 msf59: Oh, that's a great one!

>239 msf59: Thanks, Mark, I'll go take a look.

>243 atozgrl: Hi, Irene. Did you make it over to the Top Five?

138- The Way: A Novel by Cary Groner 3.8 stars E

Who doesn’t like a good postapocalyptic road trip? I certainly do. Once again, a lethal virus has decimated the world, wiping out most of the population over thirty years of age. I would be a goner, along with most of my friends. Will is an exception, at the ripe old age of 52 and he is sent on a mission from Colorado to California, carrying a possible antidote for the deadly virus. His means of transportation is a Ford F150, pulled by a pair of trusty mules. He is accompanied by a cat and a raven, who he is able to verbally communicate with. Of course, many adventures ensue, as they are also being pursued by The Forge, a wacky militant group.
This is a fun ride. Not too dark and serious but enough to satisfy me. The writing is quite serviceable too. If you would like a mash-up of Mad Max, The Road and I am Legend give this novel a try.

*Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with an advanced copy. It was published on Dec 3rd.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you.

No birds. They are boycotting the empty feeders in disgust.

Other than that, just a quiet day around the house with no obligations.

Morning, Karen. I have not checked the feeders yet. I know I need to fill my main hopper.

"just a quiet day around the house with no obligations." Sounds perfect to me, my friend. Enjoy!

>245 msf59: I'm glad you enjoyed it...reminds me a little of Hollow kingdom, which I adored!

Stay warm, and may the {insert most coveted unspotted lifer here} of happiness perch on your chimney and post for pics.

>245 msf59: I thought that sounded like Mad Max but then I tried to picture how to hitch mules to an F150. Hmm. Have a great rest of the weekend!

>244 msf59: Yes, I did, and I added my top 5 for the year.

>158 msf59: You asked ages ago but I've read and quite enjoyed The Second Sleep by Robert Harris. I've long wanted to read more of his work.

>238 msf59: PERFECT

>248 richardderus: It also reminded me of Hollow Kingdom, RD. Good point. I never did read the sequel to that one. Did you?
I did stay warm yesterday and I kept my eyes peeled for a California Condor but with no luck. 😜

>249 Familyhistorian: You are right, Meg- that would be hard to picture. LOL. Maybe Clint Eastwood?

>250 atozgrl: Good for you, Irene. I will have to take a look for your picks.

>251 EBT1002: >252 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. I will keep The Second Sleep in mind and I hope you get to more of Harris' work.