The Read goes ever on and on...MrsLee 2025 chapter 1

Thank you for joining me here for another year. This pub is full of my best reading buddies.

I am not setting any reading goals this year. I will read as my whimsey takes me. I am planning to continue reading through the Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers. Presently, I am reading The Nine Tailors by her. I love reading about the bell-ringing, although I am fairly certain I would not appreciate living too close to a church which pealed the bells all night long on any night, including New Year's Eve. In this mystery the church itself seems a character in the story, and I must say that remembering how it ends gives special chill to many parts at the beginning.

I am continuing to read an Irving Stone book which is an excerpt of his California chapters from Men to Match my Mountains. I read that many years ago and enjoyed it, and I am enjoying these chapters again. I've always loved the title of Men to Match my Mountains because it conjures up the vision of the lovely Sierras, Cascades, Mendocino and Coastal ranges. My favorite views, and I can see all three from where I live.

I like to begin my reading year with books I am almost certain to love, so I will be starting Sister Age by M.F.K. Fisher today. I have never read anything of hers that didn't melt into my bones.

I, I, I. Not a creative writer here, and too lazy to change up those paragraphs. Oh well, this is MY reading thread. It's all about ME! Bwahahaha! :P

>1 MrsLee: Happy New Year and New Thread! May 2025 be kind and gentle with you.
The "I" is perfectly appropriate. It's the Roman 1, after all!

>2 clamairy: Thank you, and may you have many soul-satisfying moments on your beach.

>3 Bookmarque: Hooray! I was wondering and very excited about what my picture would be. :D It is delightful and suits me to a "T" or perhaps that is a "D," right down to the small vial of possibilities on the left. ;)

I added that little bottle last and just love it. Is it ink or...a deadly elixir?

>1 MrsLee:
Happy reading for 2025 and a Happy New Thread. May 2025 bring you the things you wish for and peace to enjoy them.

>5 Bookmarque:, given @MrsLee's membership of @jillmwo's experts on poison coven I would suggest the latter option in your post might be the case.

>5 Bookmarque: Or given the color, could it be a tiny flask of...gin? :)

>6 pgmcc: Thank you. And I'm not telling you what is in the little bottle.

>7 MrsLee: Your very own version of Bombay Sapphire!

>6 pgmcc: It's not a coven. It's a cabal!

Happy new thread, @MrsLee! I think @BookMarque gave you a lovely graphic. (Just be sure to bring that small vial with you to our next cabal meeting, okay?)

Happy New Year and happy reading!

Happy 2025 and Happy New Thread! May you have wonderful books (and other wonderful things).

Happy New Year and Happy New Thread! May you read some great books and have lots of love and laughter around you.

>8 clamairy: My thought exactly! And it can be refilled with anything. So at the cabal meetings I will have a show and tell, but not taste.

Thank you friends, it's very nice to see you all here. If I haven't commented on a new thread, it's because I had nothing clever to say at the moment, but my heart swells to see all the new threads and think of all the fun we will have together this year talking about what we've read. I read ALL the threads. :)

This sort of conversation is the best possible reason to be here. Happy new year, and happy new thread.

>9 jillmwo:
Humble apologies. I am so confused with all these secret groupings.

>8 clamairy:
I am now worried because the bottle of gin I am currently using is a bottle of Bombay Sapphire.

>13 MrsLee:
See post >16 pgmcc:. I am going to have the contents tested tomorrow.

>17 pgmcc: For testing: you know how once upon a time emperors and suchlike would have a food taster? I'm prepared to volunteer for the post of gin taster.

>18 haydninvienna:
I am afraid the postal charges to Australia are prohibitive. I will just have to let my wife have some first.

>17 pgmcc: Put an olive (or 3) cured in vermouth in a glass, add a few drips of vermouth from the olive jar. Add one ice cube (subjective to size of ice cube) add fluid from the bottle you hope has gin. Stir with olive pick until glass is chilled. If olive turns pink, toss the concoction down the sink. You got the wrong bottle. If olive remains green, sit, get comfy, pick up a book, sip. You will be fine. Other colors the olive may turn are concerning, but not necessarily lethal. You may find yourself unaccountably in love with a bookmark, or transported to a distant place, or possibly a chicken for a short time.

>20 MrsLee:
You are obviously a great expert on poisons. Are you competing with @jillmwo for leadership of the Cabal?

>16 pgmcc: Should I be ashamed to admit that I actually have two bottles of Sapphire open right now. One is the regular variety and the other is Sapphire East.

Originally created as an homage to the far east, Bombay Sapphire East Gin is distinctly different and complements cocktails perfectly. Gentle vapor infusion draws out the distinctive flavors in the 12 botanicals, which include Thai Lemongrass and Vietnamese Black Peppercorns. Infused with exotic Eastern flavors, this extra-punchy Bombay Sapphire Gin also comes with added spice and a generous hint of citrus.

I shouldn't be reading this thread. We have 2 bottles of gin in the cupboard, one of Roku (Japanese, bought in England because Mrs H liked the bottle) and one of Plymouth, bought (I think) in the duty free store in Doha airport. Neither has been opened. Now if they had been rum or bourbon or rye whiskey ...

>1 MrsLee: Happy New Year and happy new thread! Very clever. :)

>21 pgmcc: No, but I am a great apprentice.

>22 clamairy: That sounds terrific. I don't think I've tried it.

>23 haydninvienna: I bought a bottle of Roku for the same purpose, although I was pleased with the taste as well. I then watched some videos on glass cutting because I thought it would be a beautiful vase. Bought a glass cutter tool. Let's just say I do not have a beautiful vase and the tool has been tossed to the back of a cabinet somewhere. Some things are better left to professionals.

Happy new thread!

I just read my favorite kind of ghost story. No horror involved, only mild cold creeping chills up the spine as you realize where the story is going. It is one of the chapters in Sister Age, which is also not quit what I expected, but lovely.

>27 MrsLee: oooh, I love ghost stories like that!

I finally scored a book for Christmas! My son gave me Truffle Hound, on the trail of the World's most Seductive Fungus with Dreamers, Schemers, and some Extraordinary Dogs, by Rowan Jacobsen. Very excited to read this, and it came with lots of truffle flavored treats as well!

>27 MrsLee:
Very interesting.

>29 MrsLee:. Now that one might be really, really interesting to learn more about!

I missed your thread until now, MrsLee - a (sort of) belated Happy New Year and new thread! :)

Happy New Year! I hope it is a great one for you in every way. Looking forward to following your reading and culinary adventures again!

>30 pgmcc: The story is called: "The Lost, Strayed, Stolen" by M.F.K. Fisher, from the book, Sister Age. I don't know if it is available online. The book is not as I expected. I thought it would be her thoughts on aging, but instead she has written essays/stories which affected and shaped her as she aged. Not necessarily about her, and sometimes you have to ponder well what you have read to see why she might have thought it helped her age gracefully. I am enjoying it, as I always enjoy her writings; some of the chapters are in The Measure of Her Powers, which I read in the last couple of years. Probably what inspired me to buy this book. :)

>31 jillmwo: I'm excited to read it, and hope to get to it soonish (after I finish the two books I am currently reading) because if I like it, he also wrote a book titled A Geography of Oysters, which sounds great to me. Reading time over the past two weeks has been thin. The tradeoff was that I had two wonderful weekends with my kids and grandbabies, as well as New Year's Eve. Fun, exhilarating and exhausting.

>32 terriks: & >33 Sakerfalcon: You never know what you will find here, so welcome to the adventure. I follow all the threads, but only comment when I have something to contribute, or a smart-ass remark to make. ;)

As I was entering the book, Truffle Hound, I discovered that I had read another of this author's books, American Terroir: Savoring the Flavors of Our Woods, Waters, and Fields. I very much enjoyed reading that, so now I'm even more excited to read this.

I remember reading the second book and lusting after the apples he spoke of, only to become allergic to apples just as the markets were starting to introduce more of the old varieties. Life can be cruel.

>34 MrsLee:
Thank you for the details of the story and book.

As I was typing from my grandmother's diary of 1973, she spoke of spending some hours at the library looking for good books to buy as gifts, then going to the local bookstore called "Middle Earth Books." I had no idea there was a bookstore of that name here in town. 1973 would have been when there was a resurgence of interest in Tolkien's work. My husband said he was assigned to read them in school in 1969. This town is not a cultural hot spot, or a hippy haven. At that time it was all about cowboys and rodeos. Grandma said it was a very nice bookstore for a small town. I wonder how long they were able to stay in business? Not in my memory, anyway.

>37 MrsLee: I feel like I've heard of a Middle Earth bookstore...in 1973 I would still have been living here, in SE Michigan, so if I went to one it was here. This might call for a google search!

"You never know what you will find here, so welcome to the adventure. I follow all the threads, but only comment when I have something to contribute, or a smart-ass remark to make. ;)"

Ha! Please, bring on the smart-ass comments! :)

>37 MrsLee: a resurgence of Tolkien around 1973 … do you remember the cartoons of the books? I remember watching them as a kid (oh, the folk music) and then we found them on DVD. Not sure if we still have them.

>37 MrsLee: Great name for a bookstore, too bad it didn't last.

>39 catzteach: I try not to remember the cartoons.

Now I'm imagining a Middle Earth Bookstore, located next to the Green Dragon Pub and across from the Fancy Cheese Shop. Someone needs to make this happen!

>41 Sakerfalcon: Like The ones in Hay on Wye, I hope, where you can go in, browse a bit, go up some stairs, come down some stairs, browsing all the while ... and come out of a different door into a totally different street with your purchases! We may need a spot of design help from the Wizards of Unseen University.

>41 Sakerfalcon: *sigh* As much as I would love to see that, I don't think my little town is the place for it to happen. A lovely thing to imagine though. Perhaps with a shop of elven wear nearby?

and a place that sells exotic liquor ...

I had a dream last night which was long and convoluted and firmly in the realm of a fairy tale. There was a castle, a siege, a plague, an escape, then it became calm. In this world the god would visit a woman who was going to have her first child. He touched her forehead and that somehow quickened her, but it was with her husband the child was made. All first children were dedicated to the god, a spiritual dedication. The god gave the woman the seed of whatever tree she requested, and that tree would determine the character of the child. She and her husband were to plant the seed in the garden where the god told them to.

I feel like a psychologist or dream interpreter would have a heyday with that dream, but what stuck with me, and has been in my mind all day, was that the type of tree would determine the character of the child. So an oak might convey strength, or hardness or stubborn, or perhaps nourishing and protective. It occurred to me that like any gift from the gods, this one could be two-sided as well. I think I would like to read this story.

>45 MrsLee: I think you might want to take a whack at writing it!

>45 MrsLee: That would make quite a story!

>45 MrsLee:
What >46 jillmwo: said. I suspect it would be a winner. I can imagine SF convention panel discussions and debates about its inner meaning.

>45 MrsLee: Oh, how wonderful! Were you eating anything unusual before you went to bed?

>45 MrsLee: What a fascinating dream! I frequently have vivid dreams but tend to forget them soon after waking. I'm glad you were able to write yours down and share it.

>45 MrsLee: What an amazing dream! It would make a great story :)

>45 MrsLee: Good heavens! A coherent dream! That must be justabout a first in history. But I'm in the line to read the book.

You all are funny. I would prefer that someone like Brandon Sanderson, Janny Wurts or Lois McMaster Bujold wrote the story. My talents lie not there within.

>49 clamairy: I have been eating brie every night in an attempt to use up the gargantuan pieces that were given me over the holidays. Husband is no help at all. Add to that the huge bottle of champagne of which I can manage no more than 2 glasses a night, and it could be a recipe for vivid dreams. Although, I frequently have them, usually in action movie format.

>52 hfglen: This is not frequent for most people? My dreams are usually pretty clear, although they can jumble up a bit in the middle. Full color, smells, sounds, taste and sometimes touch are all involved. This was not a good thing when they mostly consisted of nightmares, but lately they are more often in the third person and not as fraught with emotions even if they are scary.

I remember almost nothing of what I dream and when I do it's very, very vague and fragmented. Never a linear story at all, just emotion and sometimes weird slices, ideas or impressions. It would make for a very weird and disjointed book.

>45 MrsLee: Well, I think you should enjoy more brie and champagne and keep the dreams coming. This is such a fun one.

You could tell us about them in special pub installments!

Do you sketch or draw at all? Some artists get inspired by dreaming like this.

Huzzah, I say.

>55 terriks: Even my sick figures are lame.

>45 MrsLee: >53 MrsLee: That seems like a particularly powerful dream, I know mine are not that mythical.

>56 MrsLee: That's an interesting line - deliberate?

>58 Karlstar: Mmm, yes. They certainly don't look as if they could walk.

>56 MrsLee: lol!!!

Finished The Nine Tailors yesterday. Absolutely one of my favorite mysteries of all time. I love the ominous presence of the bells throughout the book. Sayers gives layer upon layer of meaning through the quotes, change ringing, conversations of the characters. Their menace increasing with each chapter.

I have read this book at least five times now, and though I know it through and through, I never tire of it.

I continue reading Sister Age and won't start another book until I finish it because I find that my eyes and brain won't allow more than one fiction at a time.

Last night I finished Sister Age and began Truffle Hound by Rowan Jacobsen. I am already enjoying Jacobsen's writing. He is fun and full of a zest for adventure and the ultimate flavors. I find that my difficulties in describing the flavor of truffles are not due to my inadequate language abilities, because even the most illustrious food writers have not been able to do it, although reading their efforts rounds out the thoughts I have had and make me say, "Yes!" "Yes!"

"Sister Age" was a delight, as I have found all of M.F.K. Fisher's writings to be. That does not mean they are all uplifting stories, they don't even all make sense to me, but the writing is lovely no matter what, and I feel that she is reaching out to me and saying, "Think, come, you can do it, what does this mean to you?" One story in particular, "A Kitchen Allegory," had me squirming in my seat, it was as though she saw inside my head and knew the thoughts I had been thinking after the holidays. Two quotes from it:

"She bought madly and stupidly, more than could possibly be eaten in a week by five people, in a masochistic flurry of wishful child-feeding."

"All she wanted to do was make them full of her love, her food..."

I had been kicking myself and wondering what my motives were when I cooked so much during my children's visits. They don't eat that way at home, I know they are able to cook fine food for themselves, but these passages helped me to see that it is my way of pouring love into them, and reviving memories we have together, as well as making traditions for them to remember. I shared this with them and they assured me that they loved it as well, unlike the children the woman in the story cooked for.

Here is my review of the book. After I wrote it I went and read the other reviews, and the four-star reviews are well-written and nail the spirit of this book, so don't take my word for it.

"I enjoyed this short story collection tremendously. Or are they essays? I'm not sure of the technical term, but they made for good reading. It felt like nonfiction, but the stories were fictional. The theme was aging, but it is not an advice book. It is more like a kaleidoscope to help us look at aging through different lenses and make us think. That's a terrible description, and yet I can do no better because Fisher doesn't hit us upside the head with her viewpoint, she makes you dig for your own.

The stories have a sort of progression from aging seen through the eyes of a child, to a woman in her prime, onto those at the end of their lives. In amongst them you will find a couple of ghost stories. The forward and the afterward tell us why she wrote these stories; why the art of aging has been on the author's mind from the time she was young until she was nearly finished writing as an aged adult. The prose is pure Fisher. Beautiful to read, poignant, and thought-provoking. I enjoyed this book very much."

Yesterday I had what I can only describe as a trifecta of truffle awareness. Perhaps the universe was speaking to me. When I checked my Facebook memories, I saw one from a few years ago when I went to the Truffle festival in Napa. I am reading Truffle Hound and learning much that I didn't know. And when I turned on "Bones" last night, the episode involved hunting truffles in Virginia.

The festival in Napa is this weekend, and it is my birthday tomorrow; I was tempted to go, but I decided no. Been there, done that. I'm not in the mood to cook all the rich and lovely food that goes with truffles. Fun to get all the memories going like that though.

>62 MrsLee: "I had been kicking myself and wondering what my motives were when I cooked so much during my children's visits. They don't eat that way at home, I know they are able to cook fine food for themselves, but these passages helped me to see that it is my way of pouring love into them, and reviving memories we have together, as well as making traditions for them to remember. I shared this with them and they assured me that they loved it as well, unlike the children the woman in the story cooked for."

Great observation, I agree completely.

Happy early birthday!

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday!!

Hippo Birdie two Ewe!

Happy Birthday!

Hopefully your birthday celebration will be raucous and enjoyable, replete with wine, cheese and your favorite form of cake. Happy birthday, Lee!

Happy Birthday Eve, my dear. I hope tomorrow is joyful and filled with delectable treats.

Happy Birthday. I hope your day is going well and that good things are happening to you.

Happy birthday!! I hope it’s been a great day!

Happy birthday ! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy actual birthday!

Wishing you a Happy Birthday. May your nibbles be as wonderful as this guy's -

>74 clamairy:
That is an interesting cheesecake. Not a variety you would find on the menu in The Cheesecake Factory.

@MrsLee, what >74 clamairy: said. Be careful with that cheesecake. It is very rich.

Thank you all for your good wishes!

>74 clamairy: That cake appeals to me a lot more than a traditional cake would!

>75 Bookmarque: Aww, sweet nibbles. His grey cousins are frolicking in the trees in my yard at the moment.

As for rollicking, not so much I think. I suppose that happened yesterday when my 3 1/2 year old grandson came for a visit. We squished bread dough, washed rocks, arranged the flowers his mom and dad sent me, washed Hot Wheel cars, ate spaghetti, made cookies by his instructions (and my guidance) which tasted like thin sweet baking powder biscuits (he wanted to roll them and cut into car and train shapes) and played in the park. I'm kinda tuckered out today. ;p

Mark and I plan to go for a drive in the hills, on a road that we had intended to take on our last drive, but which was blocked by a large pickup. We think it will end up near a plant nursery and a place that sells excellent BBQ. Then a trip to Costco where spouse has promised not to rush me. I have received a wonderful cement toad to place in my yard. Tonight we will enjoy a persimmon pudding which I steamed a couple of weeks ago and froze so I would have it today.

>78 MrsLee: That all sounds very nice!

Happy birthday!

>63 MrsLee: Happy Birthday - DAY!

>74 clamairy: Haha! Now that is a big time birthday cheesecake!

>75 Bookmarque: Aw, so cute! That's a great shot!

Big internet brother has been reading my posts here in jillmwo's thread I think. One of my Amazon recommendations today was for a children's book called Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christie Mandin. Of course I bought it. One can never have too many reference books, and I did buy my grandson some gardening tools today. You can never start 'em too young!

>78 MrsLee: That sounds like a lovely day!

>82 MrsLee: I don't understand. I am sure I told them not to get caught!

>83 catzteach: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/alnwick-poison-garden. (I've been there.)

>85 haydninvienna: Very cool. Isn't there a plant similar to datura that is legal/not a controlled substance?

>85 haydninvienna: Now see, if I were to suddenly find myself to be a duchess, I could do this too!!

The poison garden opened in 2005 as just a portion of the ambitious 14-acre new gardens. Wanting in part to hark back to old apothecary's gardens, the duchess shied away from planting healing medicinals and instead sought out hard-to-get deadly poisons.

>86 Karlstar: According to the all-knowing, all species of Datura and the closely related genus Brugmansia are highly toxic and psychotropic. I’m not aware of any of them being controlled substances though. At least one species is a fairly common weed around here.

>88 haydninvienna: Thanks, it was Brugmansia I was trying to recall, it used to be sold by nurseries around here without warnings. I think you are right about the controlled substances part.

>87 jillmwo: Sounds like Rappaccini’s Daughter

>85 haydninvienna: If I ever get to England, I want to visit the garden! Beautiful and fascinating.

>91 catzteach: Do so! The town of Alnwick also has the legendary bookshop Barter Books, and the White Swan Hotel, which has a dining room that is a copy of the first class dining room on RMS Titanic (rescued from the Titanic's sister ship RMS Olympic when the latter was broken up). The castle was used for the exteriors of Hogwarts School.

I received and read Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy Mandin yesterday. A great book! The author's illustrations have lots of fun details, the names of the plants are real plant names, although they are spiced up for the story. The illustrations are loosely based on real plants, although not necessarily those named. Confusing? A bit, but I had fun looking up the names of the plants and seeing what the author did with them. At the end she specifies two real plants which are fun for children to grow, although not poisonous; Snapdragon and Spider plant. She also, as >85 haydninvienna: will be pleased to hear, highlights The Poison Garden at Alnwick Garden in England.

Also finished Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World's most Seductive Fungus with Dreamers, Schemers, and some Extraordinary Dogs by Rowan Jacobsen. Another terrific read. I may be a slow reader these days, but it isn't hurting the satisfaction I get from a terrific book. Jacobsen does his research and fills the reader with interesting information, but the best part is that he loves his subject and his enthusiasm leaps off the page. He also has a nice sense of humor and so lightens the load of information.

As I mentioned before, I have read his American Terroir: Savoring the Flavors of Our Woods, Waters and Fields. I enjoyed and learned a lot about the food of America reading that. My next goal will be to obtain A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur's Guide to Oyster Eating in North America. I may not be able to eat apples (allergic) or afford truffles, or get to fresh oysters, but a girl can dream.

My plan is to read another short story from Lord Peter, then begin The King's General by Daphne du Maurier. Another book I read in my twenties, but don't remember much of.

>93 MrsLee: These all sound delightful and right up your alley, so to speak. I will be adding that Rowan Jacobsen to my wishlist.

>95 clamairy: So far the four books I've read this year have been 4 & 5 stars. In my rating system, a 4 star book is no slouch, it just doesn't move my soul or need a reread. There are very few nonfictions or children's books (or any books for that matter) that can do that. :) It's been a good reading year! lol

>93 MrsLee:. I just went looking for more information and I see that Millie Fleur is a children's book. What fun!

Oh dear. Have I become jaded in my old age? (Yes) The King's General is not grabbing me. It seems like a slow, painful romance told in the first person (thank goodness it isn't quite present tense or I would ditch it immediately). I don't love first person stories as a rule, although I've found some exceptions. I have only read a couple of chapters, so I'll give it a bit longer, but it makes me sad that I don't adore all of du Maurier's writing. Actually, I knew this to be true, which is why I got rid of many of her books years ago. What is it they say about the definition of insanity? Trying the same thing again hoping for different results?

>98 MrsLee: Well, I am not familiar with The King's General, but I can totally agree with you on some of du Maurier's writing. I was smitten with Rebecca, and then picked up Jamaica Inn, which I thought was astonishingly BAD. Just - cringe worthy crap! It made me hesitant to pick up more.

I have a few more du Maurier's books - they were/are my mom's but she couldn't take everything with her to her new small apartment and asked me to keep them. I only read My Cousin Rachel, and was relieved that I liked it very much. The mysterious title character, and the way du Maurier gives just enough information to have to force the reader to reach their own conclusions was very much in line with Rebecca.

I don't have a copy of The King's General so I will await your assessment with interest! I have Frenchman's Creek and at least one more that I'm not recalling, but nothing with General in the title.

>92 haydninvienna: putting a trip there on my wish list! I think I’d love it!

>98 MrsLee: I just ditched a book that is written first person, present tense. Ick.

>99 terriks: I reread Frenchman's Creek recently and can't say I loved it, but there were moments in it that I appreciated. Another of hers that I loved was The Scapegoat, and a nonfiction called The Glassblowes.

>100 catzteach: I wonder if the reason I hate first person present tense is that usually the narrator is an asshole? I haven't read that many, so can't say that with authority.

>99 terriks: and >101 MrsLee: The Scapegoat was great! Like everyone else I enjoyed Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel. I think the only other book I read was The House on the Strand and I didn't hate it but I didn't love it, either.

I liked The Flight of the Falcon which is a bit less known, but couldn't finish The Parasites even though I thought I'd love it. Just throwing out a couple that aren't as well known.

The Du Maurier books I have read to date are:
Rebecca
My Cousin Rachel
The Scapegoat
The Doll: The Lost Stories
Frenchman’s Creek
Jamaica Inn

Frenchman’s Creek was one that was not as good as the others. Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel and The Doll: The Lost Stories were excellent. I enjoyed Jamaica Inn and The Scapegoat.

I have a few more to read.

>101 MrsLee: Since I have that one already, I'll probably read Frenchman's Creek next. No harm no foul, no extra $ spent or space needed on a shelf. Thanks!

>102 clamairy: Now I'm interested in The Scapegoat! Never heard of this one. Thanks for the suggestion!

>103 Bookmarque: I appreciate you tossing out these titles! I've not heard of either The Flight of the Falcon or The Parasites, either.

This has been a good thread for me. I just love her writing so much when she's on point (IMO of course), so will always keep an eye out for more. :)

>105 terriks: If you enjoy a bit of horror, not bloody horror, more just spine tingling, you must read her short story, "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now." Two of her best IMO.

>101 MrsLee: I’m not sure why I dislike it. I think it just messes with my brain. Stories are things that have happened, therefore should be in past tense.

I have decided to finish The King's General. It took a turn and I have spent most of the day reading online about Menabilly, it's gardens and its inhabitants, as well as the history of the time in the story. I feel prepared to separate the twee from the facts.

Menabilly was the home of Daphne du Maurier for over 25 years. She leased it from the family who owned it. The same line of the family which built it in the 1500s still owns it. It is part of her inspiration for Manderly from Rebecca.

>106 MrsLee: Actually, at some point over time, I have read The Birds, as I seem to have always known that du Maurier wrote it - easily forgotten after Hitchcock's amazing film got all the attention.

I'm glad you are now enjoying The General. How fascinating to hear about Menabilly - not just as inspiration for Manderly, but that it's still in the same family that built it centuries ago. Wow!

>106 MrsLee: "Don't look now" is amazing. I really liked The house on the strand too.

>109 terriks: The Birds film was one my mother forbid me to watch because I was too young. When I finally got around to watching it as an adult with my teenage daughter, we were both underwhelmed. We had read and loved the story, and so the film was a great disappointment to us. The special effects of the time did not hold up well. I mean, you could see that people were throwing stuffed birds at her through the door. lol

>110 Sakerfalcon: I enjoyed The House on the Strand when I read it years ago, but I'm afraid to read it again due to the possibility of a visit from the suck fairy.

>111 MrsLee: Ha! Now I want to watch it again and keep my eyes peeled for that incident in your spoiler.

I remember getting appropriately grossed out and scared by the film - even knowing the story in advance! But that was many moons ago, and it's hard to know how well certain scenes will age.

I remember seeing trailers for The Birds when I was a child, and it looked pretty scary, but who knows now. (Please don't encourage anyone to do a remake.) In the general line of "wildlife turns on us", I remember that Russell Braddon had a book called The Year of the Angry Rabbit, which was deliberately played for laughs and might be fun (giant mutant rabbits running amuck in Australia).

>112 terriks: I remember being so disappointed that the movie was nothing like the story, except for the menace of the birds. Alas, that is the way of most movies vs. books, so I'm used to it now. Plus I don't watch many movies anymore. ;)

>113 haydninvienna: Along the same lines, I remember being entertained by "The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes," which had to have been done as a spoof.

I finished From Mud-Flat Cove to Gold to Statehood: California 1840-1850, by Irving Stone. An enjoyable way to swallow some history, but it is only a light review of the times. Stone uses many sources, and lists them at the back of the book. He is good at taking bare facts about people and turning them into characters who are interesting to read about. He doesn't exactly gloss over ugly incidents, but he doesn't dwell on them.

Although much of the history was familiar to me, I learned some things along the way; such as that there was actual bloodshed in southern California between the Mexicans and the Americans over who would rule the state, and that the Mexicans were winning for a time. Stone characterized the two natures of this state describing northern California as a "hard-bitten mountain man," and southern California as a "lush, red-lipped, sensual female..." Avoiding political comment, I will leave this there; you all knowing that I was born in the far northeast corner of California.

I received in the mail yesterday two books purchased by inspiration from Green Dragon members. Stop it people. I'm on a limited income and my will-power is weak. ;)

Dictionary of Fine Distinctions by Eli Burnstein. I know my husband and I will both enjoy this. The author had me at the Forward. Or was it Preface? Or Introduction?

Up and Down California in 1860-1864: The Journal of William H. Brewer, 4th edition with maps. Although, the maps are not as many as I would like. Anyway, I didn't realize this was a doorstopper of a book! Still, it looks like something I will enjoy a lot, but read slowly.

Inertia has set in for my husband and I picking the activities this year based on the letter of the alphabet. This is something we've been doing since he retired, and this year is the letter, "I." We are less than enthused this year, and I was all for dropping it, but he wanted to pick a few anyway, so these are the ones we picked. Whether we get to them all or not, only time will tell.

Inverness, CA - a visit is in order
Intaglio - not sure whether this will be applied art or study of it.
Ivermectin*
Ikea - closest is about 2 hours away, I've never been and feel I need to experience it once.
Ikkyo - a Japanese restaurant here in town which we went to last week.
Illuminate - I dunno, Christmas lights? Or maybe look at Illuminations in old books.
Italy - mostly learn/read about and probably cook some recipes. I made Paglia e Fieno, which was delicious.
Ione, CA - another destination place which we have visited, but like the country for driving in. Also, my aunt was named Ione.
Idlewild, CA - Maybe not visit, but my grandmother was born there, so we might learn a bit more about it. It was orange groves when she lived there in the early 1900s. I believe it is mostly cement, pavement and buildings now.

*Ivermectin was my husband's choice, I'm not that interested, and on that note, I've just had some very great news from the last two days of doctor appointments:

After the last PET scan, it looks as if the cancer is diminished enough to be undiscernible! They thought there was a spot near my spine, but the doctor at UCSF says he thinks that is joint swelling or arthritis (which I knew I have in my spine). A doctor yesterday said something no other doctor has said, "We call your cancer incurable, but there have been cures." I will now be on a "monitor" schedule, PET scan every 3 months for a year, after that 6 months so long as nothing comes up. I call this news "Invigorating!" Another "I" word to explore.

After the last PET scan... This is wonderful news and I'm so glad for you!

>114 MrsLee: Oh, congratulations! I am so happy for you and your family. (I will remain vigilant in the sending of good juju, however.)

Woo hoo!!! Congratulations on the new scan and prognosis.

>114 MrsLee: Beyond wonderful! So glad for you.

>114 MrsLee: Great news, congrats!!!

>114 MrsLee:
I am glad to hear your good news. Good luck with future scans.

In other matters, I too was hit by the Dictionary of Fine Distinctions book bullet from @Bookmargue. Mine also arrived today.

>114 MrsLee: I call this news "Invigorating!"

Invigorating and excellent medical news! I wasn't aware of your battle until now, so big congrats on getting this report. Yay!

Thank you one and all. I am laying around today doing nothing, just basking in the happy news of today. Tomorrow can take care of itself.

>120 pgmcc: I forgot to mention in my summing up of the Irving Stone book, that a book on the history of the formation of California into a state is the last place I would expect to see a reference to elephants. Yet, on the chapter for 1949, about those who rushed to the gold country, there it was. He said men referred to it as going "to see the elephant.'

#thereisalwaysanelephant

>122 MrsLee:
I am proud of you, @MrsLee.

Great news on the PET scan!

I, too, was hit with a BB for Fine Distinctions and mine arrived yesterday.

Like everybody else, I'm delighted by the news of the PET scan. Long may you enjoy life!

>114 MrsLee: Marvellous news! I am so happy for you!

>114 MrsLee: Great news on the scan, so pleased for you.

>114 MrsLee: Wonderful news! I am very, very happy for you!
Hugs

Finished reading The King's General on the 31st. I can't say I enjoyed this book, but it was well-written and a whale of a tale about a moment in history during the Civil War in England in the 1600s. Inspired by the finding of a secret chamber in a house du Maurier was enchanted with, which contained a skeleton with the clothing of a Cavalier; she wrote a story to "explain" it.

Being told in first person, with foreshadowing and ominous hints, made the story less attractive to me. It is basically a romance tale from the 40s and 50s. So no actual rapes, but the man is a bad boy and the woman loves him in spite of himself. Not really my thing, but the author is an excellent writer for those who enjoy romances. Because she is also careful about her historical facts, I searched out the details of history within the story and could enjoy seeing how she wove them in to the tale.

While she is careful with the facts of history, somehow the details escaped from this story. It could have taken place any time before the automobile. When I read a story of Cadfael, by Ellis Peters, I feel as though I am there, in that time. I did not get that feeling with this story. It wasn't that it was wrong, it was not there.

Yesterday I began reading Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers. A romance I can get into. It's a well-written mystery with a good man and a woman who needs persuading in an intellectual and romantic way, not forced into her affection for him.

Also have begun reading Dictionary of Fine Distinctions, and am enjoying it. This quote from Dorothy Parker on the page of "Epigram vs. Aphorism vs. Maxim vs. Adage vs. Proverb" probably sums up my greatest fear about reading this;

"I might repeat to myself, slowly and soothingly,
a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound;
if I can remember any of the damn things."

There is nothing like being woken at 4:00 a.m. by a homeless person banging on your door and telling you your fence blew down. Wanted my husband to go see it right then. I put my foot down firmly that the door would not be opened and the fence not looked at until daylight. Sigh. I think a nap will be in order today. Possibly a second pot of coffee as well.

I really need to start digging into my copy of Fine Distinctions.

What a scary event! I wouldn’t open the door either. Did the fence actually get blown down?

>114 MrsLee: Fantastic news, congratulations!

>129 MrsLee: Not so fantastic news, I hope the fence damage isn't extensive.

>129 MrsLee: Yikes! I hope it gets repaired and is enough of a barrier to keep people away from your door in the future!

I will be taking a hard pass on that particular du Maurier. Thank you for warning us off.

>129 MrsLee: No one really wants a start like that to one's day. Schedule in that nap! Like you, I have dipped in to Dictionary of Fine Distinctions. And like you, I'm enjoying it. Really rather useful, isn't it?

Next chapter in our fence story. Husband went down this morning to look and there is no fence down. Now we wonder (being the starry-eyed trusting people we are. Not.) if it was a ploy to get him to open the door, whether they guy was hoping to be invited in out of the wind and rain, or whether he was hopped up on drugs. Possibly all three. Or perhaps was trying to find out if the house was occupied or empty.

>132 clamairy: Unfortunately, there is a public access walkway by our house down to the park, so there is nothing to stop anyone from wandering to our front door.

*Ponders the legality and practicality of electrifying our front door...Nah.

>134 MrsLee: You might crisp your dinner guests if you forgot to turn it off. I agree … Nah.

So glad your latest tests are so encouraging! Go girl!

>134 MrsLee: You did the right thing not opening the door at that time. I'm glad there was no fence damage.

Little update to the visitor in the night story. This morning at 8:30 another "gentleman" rang the doorbell. He politely stood back off the steps from the door and told Mark that our gate below had blown open and that he had shut it. He did know the guy who came to the door at 4 a.m. So. I guess they are looking out for us. Still not opening the door in the middle of the night though.

>137 MrsLee: Well, that adds some detail/context to the "your fence has blown down" story from the other guy. And it still seems like an overreaction to tell a neighbor to come outside in the middle of the night to attend to it.

But, at least your other neighbor cleared the matter up and could ID the nighttime visitor.

Dare I say the matter was - cough - overblown?

>138 terriks: You have a gusty sense of humor.

>129 MrsLee: I remember liking The King’s General when I read it, but it’s been many years. I think duM nailed the Field Marshal personality type. It’s a very sad story, though, and I imagine if I read it today I’d likely find parts that haven’t aged well, but would still probably be able to take them in stride with the parts that really stood out as fascinating. I’m also partial to her first person / unreliable narrators, esp in contrast to the first person, present tense narratives that now dominate and that I have grown to dislike.

>139 MrsLee: Ha!

>138 terriks: and >139 MrsLee:. I think you are both treating the matter far too airily!

>142 jillmwo: Applause.

I finished Gaudy Night last night. Such a reading pleasure. I think this is the fifth time I've read it and every time something new stands out to me. This time it was a paragraph on why detective fiction became so popular in the 1930s. Harriet Vane surmised to herself that the pre-war (The Great War) solemnity and the post-war exhaustion were gone and now young people desired "an energetic doing of something definite." Murder, and the detecting of murder are definite activities.

Another moment which made me laugh, Lord Peter and Harriet are discussing ways to give her protection against the crazy person terrorizing Shrewsbury College. In addition to self defense moves, he has bought her a dog collar with metal spikes to wear at night on her patrols, he tells her it may start a new fashion trend, which she denies emphatically. Low and behold, 50 years later, young people started wearing dog collars with spikes!

Next book up for reading: My Home on the Range: Frontier Ranching in the Badlands by Harry V. Johnston. One of the many books inherited from my husband's uncle about western life.

When January rolled around, I wasn't in the mood to pick 5 large books off of my various bookshelves of unread books. For one thing, this trick, after 10 years of so of practicing it, hasn't increased the room on my bookshelves... Anyway, today I decided to go ahead and pull them off to put beside my reading chair so as to give me possibilities. These are the ones chosen to sit by my chair and whisper to me as the year passes, "Read me, read me." There are more than 5. I'm more about the books than the math.

Lost Empires by J. B. Priestley - a book which was my grandmother's. It is a novel about the Empire Theatres of the English variety stage 1913-1914. I enjoyed a non-fiction by this author, so hopefully will enjoy this one.

Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau - been on my shelves for years because I'm interested, but intimidated.

Secrets & Spies: Behind-the-scenes Stories of World War II - I think my husband grabbed this from a Little Free Library for me. I will try it out of interest, but my interest in reading about wars and espionage has greatly declined in recent years. In fact, I am rehoming Blood, Sweat and Tears by Winston S. Churchill, a collection of his speeches. Can't find the desire to dig into the tiny, compacted print and delve through the politi-speak.

Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell - been on the shelves for years, probably picked up at a Friends of the Library sale. I have enjoyed other Cornwell novels, but although this is part of a series, I hope it can stand alone because I have no intention of reading any of his series.

Twelve Months with the Birds and Poets by Samuel A. Harper, published in 1917 with illustrations by Ralph Fletcher Seymore. A pretty book. Don't remember where it came from. Possibly my husband's uncle (I have two TBR shelves of books from him), but I have since added other books to that particular unit, so not sure. Seems a bit pretty for his style, he was mostly into history of the western states and WWI and WWII. This has an inscription written with a fountain pen, "From one bird lover to another." Sweet.

The First Fifty Years: A Pictorial Essay of Tehama County 1956-1906 by Mary Lee Grimes. This must have been from my grandmother. This is the county I live in now and she was a member of the Historical Society here. This isn't a thick book, but it is an ungainly height and awkward on the shelf it was on. Needs to be read and put on its proper shelf.

The Waverley Novels: Guy Mannering by Sir Walter Scott. This is an old book, in poor condition. I can't find the publish date, but it was published by Ward, Lock & Co. They published it originally in 1815. This has an introduction dated 1829. I have only read one other book to my memory by Scott, and that is Ivanhoe. I remember liking it, but it was long, long ago.

Now, those will be by my chair, but I stand by my right to read whatever I want, whenever I want.

>144 MrsLee:
I believe Gaudy Nights is the next Wimsey I am due to read. I read your first paragraph and it has heightened my eagerness to read this book. I read no more of your comment as I want to read the book without any further bias or knowledge of the content. This will be my first reading of Gaudy Nights.

>145 pgmcc: This is the book where Harriet is working on a paper about Sheridan Le Fanu; I know you will enjoy this book.

>146 MrsLee:
Fascinating. As you know, she quoted his work for the small pieces at the start of some the chapters in The Nine Tailors. That has pushed Gaudy Nights up Mount TBR quite a stretch.

>147 pgmcc: Full disclosure, he is only mentioned briefly as the subject of a manuscript, and where she is looking for references.
Although, as I am completely unfamiliar with his work, I don't know if there are other allusions to him in the plot.

Le Fanu is probably most well known for Carmilla a creepy, sapphic vampire tale, but I have a soft spot for Uncle Silas which is an amazing example of the high gothic tale during its heyday.

>148 MrsLee:
I look forward to finding out.

>149 Bookmarque:
Carmilla is regarded as having inspired Stoker to write Dracula.

Uncle Silas is a wonderful story.

Le Fanu was prolific and there are many, many stories by him that are worth exploring.

>149 Bookmarque: & >150 pgmcc: Oh. I have read Carmilla, I think it was in an anthology of vampire stories. Been awhile back.

>61 MrsLee: The Nine Tailors is one of my favorites, too. Ian Carmichael did a wonderful Wimsey for the BBC.

>114 MrsLee: fantastic news re: the PET scan! It made me feel very happy.

In the evening I watch movies so my kitty can be on my lap. I guess I have to change my plan for a Doctor who rewatch because she can't stand the sound. So I started watching a set of very old Alfred Hitchcock movies.
The Lady Vanishes from 1938 was pretty good quite funny.

The second movie the farmer's wife is funny but I don't think they meant it to be. It is a silent movie and there have been 5, but what feels more like 20 minutes of not much happening except the camera focusing on farm animals and some legubrious people. 2 very cute cocker spaniels had a nice cameo with very sweet eyes looking sad. The First Words on the screen were I guess from a dying woman in bed. She said, "...and don't forget to air your master's pants." Struck me as a funny first line considering what the word pants means in England.

>153 MrsLee:
I like that film a lot. The two English gentlemen looking for the cricket scores are a treat.

>154 pgmcc: I did not expect the humor, I was delighted. The Farmer's Wife is another story. Longest. Movie. Ever. After the scene with the pants line came an interminable scene of the maid hanging what we call long underwear before the fire and out on a bush, again and again and again.

Watched The Manxman tonight and I gotta say, I'm a little disappointed. Not one single man turned into a manx.

Is amazing how slooooow they all move in these silent films. Kind of interesting how many emotions they can convey while the camera is on them. This was made in 1929 and was approved for adult audiences. The subject matter was an unfaithful woman (before marriage) who got pregnant and the two men who loved her.

What triggered your sudden interest in silent movies?

>155 MrsLee:
We call them long-johns. I believe the sanctioned term is "Thermal underwear".

>157 clamairy: It's like this. I was digging at the back of a closet; I don't remember why. I found the binders I had put together with maps, sorted by place and history in protective sleeves, back when I was teaching my children. I wanted some of the maps to use in the book I'm making about my grandmother's trips.

Beside them was I binder I had put together years ago of the movies we had on VHS, and also some DVDs. At that time I had numbered the movies, made indexes both numerical and alphabetical, and put together a small description of each movie with the main stars in it, the director, the year it came out and how long it was. I also pasted in a picture of either the star I liked best in it or the movie poster for it. I had forgotten all about that binder.

We gave away all of our VHS movies and the kids took a lot of the DVDs when they left home. We have also acquired new ones. So now I am struggling to decide how I want to organize the movies. I thought I would put them in an old dresser in the room where the TV and player are, but they don't fit well. There are shelves in my livingroom where they fit perfectly in a cupboard, but that's not where the TV is anymore. Still, that's where they fit, so after putting them all in boxes and taking them to the other room, I am now going to carry them all back into the livingroom.

Before I do that though, I want to catalog them on LT and watch the ones I haven't seen to be sure I want them. I plan to remake my binder because most of the DVD section was good and I can use a lot of the entries from the VHS section because we replaced them with DVDs.

I'm probably not going to number them again, because I store them by category, not numerically or alphabetically.

I took all the maps out of the binders and organized them in 2 file drawers. One is sorted by places my grandmother traveled to, the other are the historical maps of places our ancestors came from. One of those is an advertising map of WWI countries to encourage people to buy war bonds. My great-great uncle's insurance company is the advertiser from Atlanta, Georgia.

I managed to get a stack about 8" high of maps I don't need to keep. Many of these came from National Geographic Magazines. But wait. Instead of throwing them away, I considered donating them, but decided instead to let my grandson pull them out to play with. He likes to drive his Hot Wheel cars on them and he really likes to say the word, "map." Since these all have interesting pictures on them, I thought I could introduce him to the world of map-lore and how maps work. He already enjoyed following our progress on a map when we went for a drive last year. He is 3 1/2.

Sorry you asked? :D

>158 pgmcc: Those are also our terminology, or long underwear.

Four arrows in the "Love" hunt for me.

>159 MrsLee: Great story and great use of the maps! I love maps.

I also have four arrows and that's likely all I'll get, too many relate to romance novels or writers, I'd have to do more googling than usual.

>161 MrsLee: >162 Karlstar: So far I have 11, and I'm struggling with the rest.

>163 haydninvienna: I am impressed with your romantic heart.

>159 MrsLee: No, I am not sorry I asked. I am impressed with your organizational skills, to say the least. And I absolutely love the idea of letting your grandson play with the maps!

>159 MrsLee: That's splendid to share with your grandson. My eldest (when he was little) played with subway maps.

>159 MrsLee: a budding cartographer, that one. :) I love it! Cartography was one of my favorite classes in college (I got a Geography degree).

>165 clamairy: I have always been happiest in jobs where I am left to organize our reorganize the filling systems.

>166 jillmwo: Interesting, we have no subways here, but I must get the maps which show train tracks for him. He loves all things train.

>167 catzteach: I can't get him to sit still for a story, but this is almost a good.

>168 MrsLee: He loves all things train: Right sort of kid! Incidentally I also am impressed by your feats of organisation.

>163 haydninvienna: That's impressive! Most of them, I read the clue and know it is a name or title I just don't know anything about.

>168 MrsLee: Good to hear he's well trained!

I quit reading My Home on the Range: Frontier Ranching in the Badlands by Harry V. Johnston yesterday. I read more than two thirds of the book, but in spite of the topic, it couldn't hold my interest and I found myself looking for other things to do than read.

This was a memoir of the life of a cowpuncher and bronc rider, as well as the settlement of the area around Medora North Dakota, where Theodore Roosevelt had his ranch. The author's style of storytelling is a bit hard to follow. He jumps around a lot in the stories. What should have been very interesting was somehow dull for me. The author was a man of his times. His telling of the random disregard for the indigenous peoples and other people of color, and for the animals and land, not to mention human life, wore on me. This was published in 1942 and covered the time from about 1880s to maybe the 1920s? I'm not sure because his stories were that difficult to follow.

Next read is a reread, one I know I will like because I've read it at least twice before: Busman's Honeymoon, by Dorothy L. Sayers.

>172 MrsLee: I keep thinking about re-reading as an activity and what a positive experience it becomes for us over time. And that's such a good selection. Enjoy.

I finished Dictionary of Fine Distinctions by Eli Burnstein. Since I can't seem to find out how to share a review as others here have, I am copy and pasting mine. Oh, I see the link is in talk, not on the book. Really just my quick thoughts and impression.

I will be finishing Busman's Honeymoon today. Was so close last night, but my eyes wouldn't let me read past 6 o'clock, even though I only had a couple of pages to go. After that, I have two stories in Lord Peter to finish and I will have completed my reread of all the Lord Peter Wimsey novels. Satisfying.

Began reading a book my grandmother or mother picked up in their travels through the southwestern states, Adobe and Iron: the story of the Arizona Territorial Prison, by John Mason Jeffrey.

I've been watching documentaries on UNESCO World Heritage sites, and one on the Duchess and her Magical Kingdom, which features the Duchess of Alnwick, which isn't pronounced anything like I thought it would be. This is the Duchess who made the Poison Garden we were speaking of earlier in this thread, I think. The show gave us a very brief glimpse into that garden, but is focused on a playground she designed for children. It showed lots and lots of things about the castle Alnwick and how it is run, glimpses into the private and business lives of the Duchess (the Duke seemed to avoid the camera like the plague until the last episode with the playground reveal).

She reminds me of my dear friend who was very particular about how things were done. She held herself to the same high standards she had for those around her, which didn't always sit well with those she hired to do a job.

Anyway, the show is kind of fun, and for someone who loves to read Lord Peter Wimsey books, or other books about England, but hasn't a clue as to how things work, it gives a glimpse.

Yesterday I read the last two stories in Lord Peter. I'm a bit sad to put the books back on the shelf.

I began (chosen by way of guided randomness) Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell. Not sure I'm in the mood for this, but I already found a tie-in to the documentary on the Duchess of Alnwick. The Scottish "soldiers" relieved the Percy family of some of their livestock and horses. I knew who the Percy family was due to watching that show. :)

>176 MrsLee: Is that Cornwell book the second in a series? Did you enjoy the first one? I have one from his Arthur series that I bought ages ago and have been hesitant to start it.

>177 clamairy: Yes, it is a second book. No, I haven't read the first. I have read several other books by him. I read the first in the Arthur series and I think I liked it, although as has been proven recently here in the pub, my memory of such things is unreliable at best.

I have never sought out a Cornwell book, but have found them at library sales and such. I find his writing good in general, and I think he spends the effort to get the details right. I am not a good describer, but his writing feels devoid of fluff and to the point. Sometimes I like a breezy, fluffy writer and sometimes I like the immediacy of a writer who knows how to move the plot.

I am on page 65 of this book and I'm still on the fence about whether I will finish it or not. As the story occurs during the Hundred Year War, so far it has been mostly about a battle. Cornwell excels at writing battles. I'm not sure I'm in the mood to read about them though.

I gave this 4 stars, and I gave Sharpe's Fortress 3 1/2 stars. I'm willing to go the extra mile to see what I think of the current book I'm reading. The new review gizmo didn't want to find my review of Sharpe's Fortress, so I copied and pasted it. It was a good reminder of why I need to hang in a little longer with this author.
Sharpe's Fortress
"I did not want to read about Colonialism, war, or English soldiers. I felt as though I was doing battle with the author all through this book. I thought I would abandon it, but would decide after reading just one more page. Twenty to fifty pages later, I was still reading. This happened several times until I passed the point of no return and could hardly put the book down. I confess to skimming a few portions of the enemy gloating and scheming, but when it came to Sharpe, I read every word. Cornwell has the gift of transporting you to the time and place you are reading about. The realism of the battles and life in those times is both horrifying and engrossing. Happy to have hung in there with this story."

>179 MrsLee: Thank you. Maybe I won't avoid it anymore.

>179 MrsLee: ow. Got me.

I quit reading Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell. Ten years ago I might have finished it, but it doesn't suit my mood or patience now. It involves an archer, Thomas, in England during the Hundred Years War. His past and family are not mysterious, so much as dubious of reputation. The rumor has it that his family was given the care of the Holy Grail. Thomas' father is dead, taking his secrets to the grave. Or did he? An Inquisitor priest from France is hot on the trail of the grail and thinks Thomas knows the secret. Thomas isn't saying. In the meantime he is caught up in the war, and has made a deadly enemy of an insane asshole.

M-kay, I read 131 pages to get through one battle; the Battle of Neville's Cross on the northern border with Scotland. It was interesting and instructive on how battles were waged in the border wars. Having just read a book about the reivers of the border, the details of the fighting was interesting, though explicitly told. After that, I just couldn't. So I read the last chapter, skimmed a bit to see how we got there and was satisfied. I don't enjoy torture scenes, or insane, nasty characters and I don't regret my decision to stop reading this. Other's mileage may vary.

I love the share review option, but usually I come here to iron out my thoughts on the books I read, then I copy what I typed and put it in my review with adjustments. Can an old dog learn new tricks? We shall see.

Instead, I picked up Twelve Months with the Birds and Poets by Samuel A. Harper, and illustrated with line drawings by Ralph Fletcher Seymour. Published in 1917 it is quaint and charming. He begins the year in April; as that is when the bird's year begins. Not a book to be gripping, but to be dipped into. I've not found any poetry to send me yet, but then I'm still in April.

Since the bird and poetry book is rather unwieldy, I began a book on my Kindle because I had an eye appointment yesterday (all good). It is one recommended to me in this group years ago and it has been languishing in my Kindle library since then. When Books went to War, by Molly Guptill Manning. (You know, I love it when a person's three names each have a double letter in them. I have a cousin who managed that with her maiden name and her two subsequent marriages. In this her second marriage, each of her names has "tt" in them. AND, her address also has double letters, only not "t;" it's very satisfying to address an envelope to her).

I am enjoying Manning's book very much, though I am not far into it. Talk about librarians as super heroes! I love that Sears & Roebuck Co. had a library attached to their headquarters in Chicago for their employees.

As for my evening viewings, I needed a break from old black and white Alfred Hitchcock movies, so I've been watching a series on UNESCO world heritage sites which is leaving Prime in 4 days (very interesting), and then, to lighten the load, I found some RomComs which require no brain involvement. I will get back to the Hitchcock movies at some point. Maybe.

>182 MrsLee: I've been struggling to read, at all, nothing grips me. I saw a YouTube video clip of a Broadway production of Pirates of Penzance, and found it for sale online on DVD.

It arrived yesterday, and I think it's just what I need to get myself out of a funk.

Oh, in case anyone is interested, here's a clip of "With Catlike Tread", and yes, that's Kevin Kline doing a Cossack dance!

https://youtu.be/Ov4RMQQRRnw?si=jLLVx1KucI_qA42T

>183 fuzzi: That was a fun clip. You didn't ask for it, but my advice, as one who has been through several heartbreaking years, is take it easy, go where your fancy takes you. If that's into the world of Animal Crossing for an intense few months, or to television shows, movies, outdoor activities, whatever. Do it. Don't worry about the reading. The desire comes and goes. The books will be there when you are ready. I think our brains are busy surviving and sometimes the concentration that reading requires is too much for them. Sometimes it is exactly what they need. *Hugs*

>184 MrsLee: thank you. The weather is eventually going to warm up and I'll be gardening, which is MAJOR THERAPY for me.

I'm also building a second coop, going to start breeding my chickens since they're an unusual variety (bantam Speckled Sussex). I don't expect to win any prizes but I like the idea of improving the breed a little.

My chickens make me laugh, and give me joy.


The little chick in front of Martha is now my main roo, named Zacchaeus. He was a wee little chick...

>182 MrsLee: I read When Books Go to War in 2016. I had a brief thread about it to add just a bit to my knowledge and enjoyment:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/215053

Explain to me please, why A Haunting in Venice is called an adaptation of Hallowe'en Party? Aside from the fact that it has Poirot, Ariadne Oliver and a game of bobbing for apples, there is NOTHING else in common. Even the character of Ariadne is ruined. Aside from the fact that the differences annoyed me so, the movie was a fun (if a scary thriller can be called fun) movie. Except for the character assassinations of Poirot and Oliver. I am disgruntled.

>187 MrsLee: I have been avoiding that movie. Perhaps I will continue to do so.

Yeah, same here. Ariadne is just too darn fun.

>185 fuzzi: Nothing like spring chickens to make our hearts lighten.

>187 MrsLee: It may have been you commenting in the TBSL group that I heard about the book?

>188 clamairy: & >189 Bookmarque: I enjoyed the first two Christie movies Branagh made. I liked his Poirot. Did not enjoy it in this one. I only know Ariadne from Hallowe'en Party, but I don't remember her having bad motives toward Poirot and trying to hoodwink him?

>190 MrsLee: A Haunting in Venice is (as you say) an incredibly loose adaptation of Hallowe'en Party. I didn't mind it as a movie -- that is, as a popcorn flick entertainment -- but I would never consider it to be a faithful adaptation. Hollywood has never respected the original source material. I like Branagh as a Shakespearean actor and as a director in that context. I liked his initial remake of Murder on the Orient Express but to be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the 1970s version so there was a predisposition. I disagreed with his interpretation of Death on the Nile because he wanted it to be primarily about sexual attraction. But I wasn't overly enthusiastic about his Venice.

>191 jillmwo: I can be ok with loose adaptations, if they are true to the spirit of the story. This one, in my opinion was so loose they shouldn't have even tried to connect it to the story. As a rule, I like Branagh productions. I did think this was a good mystery show, it just wasn't THAT mystery, so why try to make it so? Just to get the Agatha Christie audience? I feel used.

>191 jillmwo: >192 MrsLee:
I am afraid the first two Branagh Agatha Christie films have ensured I will not watch any more of his Agatha Christie films.

Last nights movies were duds for me.
The Holdovers - not horrible, but rather depressing.
Invitation to a Murder - Could we possibly have stolen any more plot ideas and filled the cast with wooden acting? Except for Seamus Deaver. I have a soft spot for him and so never critic his acting. I hate, hate, hated the lead character who was supposed to be the detective. Just hated her. Actually hated the movie. Watched it to lighten my mood after watching "The Holdovers" and ended up being very grumpy.

>194 MrsLee:. FWIW, I would agree with you. Invitation to a Murder was not particularly riveting. I know I watched it quite a ways back but solely as a kind of throw-away movie night. Other than remembering the visual used for the advert, I can recall nothing of the actual plot. (Was it something akin to And Then There Were None?)

>195 jillmwo: Yes, "And Then There Were None", as well as Clue and Murder by Death, except with none of the clever bits.

I was looking through programmes on the RTE Player and found an Agatha Christie series called Ordeal by Innocence. Bill Nighy is a main character and I love his acting, but having watched about twenty minutes of the first episode I felt it was too dark and had been produced deliberately to come across as very dark. It was not cosy in the slightest. I knew my wife could never watch it and I turned it off feeling it was too dark even for me.

Have any of you seen it? Am I going OTT because I know my wife would not like it?

>197 pgmcc: I put it on my watchlist on Prime. Maybe I'll give it a shot when I get back. The reviews are mixed. I haven't read the book recently, so at least that won't be a problem for me. I too love Bill Nighy.

>197 pgmcc: and >198 MrsLee: I think there was an emphasis for a while on producing Christie adaptations that would minimize the association of any "coziness" which was the public view of Christie's work. They wanted to fuel the interest of younger viewers looking for darker kinds of stories, just as some of the more recent Marple adaptations (the ones with Geraldine McEwan and/or Julia MacKenna) were changed to minimize any ideas of Christie as being discriminatory towards various populations. (Some of those adaptations were bizarre in the changes made.)

Two movies tonight. The first was a Hallmark, no need for a title; it was exactly like all the Hallmark movies only it wasn't Christmas and there were goats. It delivered as expected.

The second was Toast. I found it incredibly sad, even if he "triumphed" in the end. He lost, and everyone involved lost, all because of a lack of empathy for one another.

>200 MrsLee:
I love your description of the Hallmark movie. I am sure I have seen that one. :-)

Have a great weekend.

While I was away, I finished four books. Guess you can only attach one review per post, so I will get cracking. This one was a delightful and interesting read. I've read quite a bit about WWII, but had not heard about this aspect of the war. I think I learned about this one in the TBSL group.

I'm trying to read the older books in my Kindle which usually get passed over for new books added. When my parents were alive we shared an account so I could easily feed books to their Kindles. Dad was a reader of Westerns, mom a reader of Mysteries. I like both genres to some extent. I read all dad's westerns when I first started reading out of the YA category. Then I moved on to mom's mysteries. :)

One of the stories in this book, "Home in the Valley," took place in my stomping ground of northern California. Fun to read, and L' Amour got the place descriptions spot on.

>202 MrsLee: That is an interesting topic! Did they say how often the books got all the way to the front, particularly in the Pacific?

>203 MrsLee: L'Amour is pretty reliable. He gets the places spot on because he traveled all over the western US in his youth, and not-so youth.

Glad you enjoyed it. I have it on my "to read" but I think it's because I've already read the stories in other collections.

>204 Karlstar: Delivery was pretty reliable. Every month they printed thousands of copies of 25 plus books. Each printing was a numbered series and the titles were varied from instructional textbooks, to fiction, history, sports, classics and so forth. The goal was to print over a hundred million books and exceed the amount of books burned by the Nazi government during the war. They succeeded in this goal, and although the books were not printed for the countries where the books had been burned, and they were not the quality of printing of those which had been burned, they made an effort to print authors whose books were banned by the Nazis. The exception were the books they sent to prisoners of war. Those they were careful to make sure the copies were not offensive to the ruling party so that the prisoners would be sure to have something to read.

During the Pacific war, after the victory in Europe, the quantity was reduced, but the Army and Navy made sure there were still quality books available for the men in service. They also included in each series books which could offer guidance and help to the servicemen as their release from service came through.

Sadly, this book effort was not made available to the women in the women serving overseas. It was not deemed necessary to provide them with reading matter. :/

>206 MrsLee: :o( What was their rationale? One has to wonder.

The other day when I was trying to post my reviews, I apparently crashed LibraryThing because it kept quitting on me. At the risk of crashing it again, I will try to post the last two reviews I have.

>208 MrsLee: I have a paper copy of this somewhere in my house. I just have to figure out where.

>210 clamairy: It is a very comfortable read. :)

On the movie front, last night I watched two.
And so it Goes with Michael Douglas and Diane Keeton. Pretty good film with two aging widowers figuring out how to move on. I am one of the few who doesn't love Diane Keeton. Her mannerisms make me crazy. I want to slap her to get her to say her words. Anyway, I still enjoyed the movie.

The next movie, A Little Bit of Heaven, took me by surprise on the topic matter. I was looking for a light-weight RomCom and what I got was a heartbreaking film with cancer. My family knows I am not a fan of what I call "surprise snakes" in movies or films. If the topic is snakes, one expects snakes. If the actors are flying on an airplane, one does not expect snakes, and so the surprise. A yucky, yucky surprise. Well, I am almost getting as leery of "surprise cancer" in a film. That being said, I actually really liked this movie, even though it made me use up about half the box of tissue. The way it presented cancer from the discovery, to the telling to friends and family and coming to terms with it was truthful. It was not overly macabre, because they kept it light. Three of my favorite female actors; Kate Hudson, Kathy Bates and Whoopie Goldberg were in it, along with some others I enjoyed but don't know the names of. Although the main character's family and life were different than mine, and so reactions varied, the truth of the ordeal was there, along with humor, which made it more true to life for me.

It provided a release of tears which I didn't know I needed; I hadn't really cried since my brother's death and so suddenly this movie became the vehicle I needed to grieve.

On with the reading show. I am still reading Twelve Months with the Birds and Poets. It is a bit old-fashioned, but enjoyable.

Also reading Bodies from the Library 2 and enjoying most of the stories.

Is my thread giving anyone trouble loading? I don't have photos in it, so I'm hoping it will be fine to let it go until the end of March in spite of the high post count.

>212 MrsLee: You're fine. Only threads with a lot of photos have been slow. Especially if the are LT book covers!

>212 MrsLee:
Your thread loads very quickly. It is the likes of my threads that take time to load. @clamairy was being very polite and diplomatic when she did not say, “Peter’s threads take years to load”.
:-)

>214 pgmcc: Mine wasn't great either this past week. LibraryThing was having a lot of issues wiith covers.

>215 clamairy: I don't think LT has forgiven me for breaking it on Sunday. It keeps asking me if I'm human whenever I try to get in.

>216 MrsLee:
Well, are you?
How can we tell?
I just bought a book about a family that discovered all the people in the family are from different planets.

>216 MrsLee: You didn't break LT, a bot attack did it: https://www.librarything.com/topic/369134#n8783820

>217 pgmcc: There's a joke in there about the one who was from the 7th planet, but it's too vulgar for here.

>217 pgmcc: I might be an elephant...

>218 haydninvienna: Well, glad to get the lowdown on what broke LT the other day. It was acting very squirrely. Figured it was just me and my very old cell phone.

>218 haydninvienna: But who was the elephantmastermind behind the bot? Hmmm?

>204 Karlstar: I believe they made sure each enlisted man had two books on their way to the fighting. And platoons/units were issued enough variety to ensure that the books got passed around and traded.
It’s been a while since I read it, so my details are fuzzy. Might be worth reading it again.

Watched two movies last night that I didn't hate. The first was from Ireland, "Lost & Found", a movie based around some true stories of the Lost and Found center at a train station. A very quiet movie. Gentle humor, some pathos.

The second Five Blind Dates featured a Chinese family (mostly a daughter) in Australia. The premise was that her teashop, which she had started to honor her Chinese grandmother, was failing. A fortune teller told her that she would have 5 dates and one of them would be the man she would marry and her teashop would be saved. I found it fun. I liked the fact that none of the men she dated were exactly losers, and the way her teashop was saved by her!.

Reading is progressing in a pleasant, although unhurried way.

>218 haydninvienna: and >221 MrsLee: I believe you have honed in on a key question. I don't see the bot every day, but I have been getting "unofficial" visits on an inconsistent basis.

>219 MrsLee:
Your Elephant Awareness is strong.

>202 MrsLee:
There is a chapter in Portable Magic that discusses this topic. I also contains a description of how books were distributed to people in liberated European countries. Fascinating history.

>223 MrsLee: Those both sound like my style. Probably too obscure for me to find. I don’t subscribe to any subscriptions.

>227 2wonderY: Both were on Amazon Prime. I am a member because of the savings in shipping, but the movies are fun too, if one can find the movies one wants to watch.

Last night's movie: "All at Sea," which is one of those movies which apparently has acquired a new name along the way, "Wide Blue Yonder," but I'm not sure which name came first. It was made in 2010 and stars Brian Cox, Ingrid Bergman and James Fox. Delightful. Takes place in Norway (guess I'm on an International theme with Amazon recommendations) and the music is lovely. Ingrid Bolse Berdal is in the movie and she sings like an angel. At least in the movie. I'm not familiar with her work.

I got distracted by a series called "Food Sail Love;" a couple who own a yacht? sailboat? cruiser? travel around the Mediterranean cooking, eating and shopping in food markets. Last night we visited the south of France and Venice. Yum. Also very nice for those of us who have read about these places but are unlikely to be able or afford to visit.

Yesterday I finished Bodies from the Library 2: Forgotten Stories of Mystery and Suspense by the Queens of Crime and other Masters of Golden Age Detection.

Review follows. I'm pretty sure this was a bullet from pgmcc or jillmwo a few years back. It has been languishing in my Kindle for some time. A good collection of stories, I have to give full credit to Tony Medawar, the editor, not only for the stories collected, but the brief and interesting biographies at the end of each story. Here I learned that Ethel Lina White, who wrote "White Cap," a fun story in this book, also wrote the story which inspired The Lady Vanishes and The Spiral Staircase films. I learned that E.C.R. Lorac wrote over 40 novels, and I had never heard of her. Me thinks I know much less about the Golden Age mystery novelists than I had imagined. However, I have to say that none of the stories were close to my favorite writers' stories, humor and characters. Crispin tries, and with some he succeeds at humor, but for some reason he galls me.

One more thing must be said in favor of Tony Medawar. The introduction had NO SPOILERS!

I picked up the next book by my chair which I wanted to read; The First Fifty Years, 1856-1906: A Pictorial Essay of Tehama County.

I live in Tehama County, and so find this very interesting. I knew the author slightly, she owned the only bookstore in town when we first moved here in the 1980s.

A bit back in this thread I mentioned that Lois L' Amour wrote a story about this area and the only thing he got wrong was the name of this town. He called it Red Bluffs, and its name is Red Bluff. Well, I owe him an apology and I should have known better than to accuse him of an inaccuracy. At the time he set that story, the name of this town was Red Bluffs! Only for about 5 years, but that was when his cowboy rode through.

I wish I had read this while working at the cemetery because it would have been interesting to look up names and see if they had graves there. Of course several of the well known names in our history I did look up while there. Mr. Cone and Mr. Kimball both have small mausoleums in the cemetery, and William B. Ide's family is all there. He has a marker, but is actually buried elsewhere.

>206 MrsLee: >222 2wonderY: Thank you for the additional information.

>231 MrsLee: I love this story. (The bookstore owner, the nuance of a plural version of Bluff, the cemetery.) Not a bit of drama but absolutely full of the details and thinking of real life.

>231 MrsLee: how interesting. Really.

>231 MrsLee: Great story - how interesting and fun. Local history, with a small personal connection to the writer. It doesn't get much better than that.

I didn't know you had worked at a cemetery! That sounds intriguing on many levels.

>233 jillmwo: That sums up my life. Not a lot of drama, but a lot of details. ;)

>235 terriks: Thanks. I had always wanted to work at a cemetery, and I applied three times over the course of 20 years to work there. The third time took. It was my dream job (only a whole lot more bookkeeping and accounts than I had anticipated). I only worked there about a year and a half before I had to retire due to health concerns. Any-hoo, it was great while I was there.

I just spent about two hours manually entering my Guy Mannering book on LT. That doesn't count the hour or so yesterday I spent trying to find its publishing date. Managed to track that down at Abe Books. Today was spent trying to find the first name of seven illustrators mentioned. Had to guess at J. Rob Brown. Can you imagine how many J. Rob Brown artists/illustrators there are? I am not sure whether the first initial is a J or a T, but I'm going with J. I was able to find most of them by going through the book page by page and peering at the tiny signatures to get either a first name or initial. Not sure about Louis Dunki, either, because it looks like he only used a slash in front of his name, but his biography matched the dates and such. Whew.

Then there is the introduction to this book, written in 1829. It is tiny, tiny, tiny. I managed to read the nine pages of it yesterday with a magnifying lens. My eyes (which have been struggling to read for about six months now) were shot at the end of it. I want to say I may or may not finish this book, it is one which has been on my shelves at least since 2009, and I don't know where it came from. However, having invested that much time and effort already, and the fact that some of the illustrations make it look quite exciting, I will certainly give it a good effort. Thank goodness the whole book isn't in minuscule type or I wouldn't be able to do it. It isn't large as it is.

Finished the book of >231 MrsLee: and the review is below.

Watching a show called "Very British Problems." I think I might be British.

Most of my family lines do come from England, but honestly that was about 200 years ago. One would think we could have assimilated by now.

"My favorite friend are ones who cancel coming over. We get to be good friends without ever having to see each other."

"We spent 20 minutes in the house saying goodbye to the in-laws, then another 20 by the car, and then we had to drive slowly by with the window down waving and hollering goodbye. We will be seeing them again next week."

The strategies for avoiding people you know in the store or on public transport; THESE ARE MY PEOPLE!

ETA: Bad math. My folks actually left England about 400 years ago. How time flies.

>237 MrsLee: I believe there should be a show called "Very Scandinavian Problems" out there somewhere, dealing with the same issues 😆😆😆

>237 MrsLee: It is a well-known fact that my mother habitually paid flying visits lasting 3 minutes, then spent 57 minutes saying goodbye.

>237 MrsLee: I follow them on social media, and often find that my problems are, in fact, Very British.

>239 hfglen: I have never been good at good-byes. My husband's parents were exactly as described in post 237 and it drove me nuts. In our family, the parents waited on the porch and waved until we drove away. What with car seats for the children, finding all the toys, drinks, snacks, etc. It took awhile. With my own children it takes even longer because they are plugging in their phone for music, buckling the children in, etc. What am I supposed to do for those 5-20 minutes? Stand there smiling and waving? I usually start poking at the plants and deadheading the flowers, then a last wave as they roll away. Husband goes over and gets involved in the process, making it take even longer. I feel for my children. My daughter put her foot down and also let me off the hook by telling me to go inside because it made her nervous to be watched while getting ready for her trip.

To catch up on the Alfred Hitchcock viewings: Champagne, 1928. A silent movie. One can't really multi-task while watching a silent movie. This one was pretty cute and engaging, although in my head for a lot of it I was thinking, "What assholes the men are."

Last night was Blackmail, 1929, interesting because it started out like a silent film, and just as I was thinking, yeah, who needs all the chitter-chatter to fill in the story anyway? It starts being a talkie. The story itself was naughty, and the ending just a terrible miscarriage of justice, or was it? Made ya think.

I'm still working on cataloging my movies, wishy-washy at best about whether or not to make a paper list and how to put them back on the shelves. I have a sneaking suspicion this is all a dreadful waste of time. What if I never look at the DVDs again? Or is it like my books, they comfort me by being there, and therefore they have a reason to exist in my house?

>241 MrsLee:
I'm still working on cataloging my movies,...

I think it is worthwhile. When I recorded programmes on VHI tape I numbered the cassettes and had them shelved numerically and had a spreadsheet which could be sorted alphabetically by name to help find any particular film or programme. This fell down as others never bothered putting them back in order and soon it was irrelevant what number a tape was.

I have not bothered cataloguing the many DVDs we have as they are constantly rearranged by others and finding a particular title generally involves a systematic, time-consuming search through the shelves. My wife has a habit of remembering an old film she wants to see, but seldom remembers the title. There is a period of,

"It's the one about such-and-such. It has that guy in it. You know him."
"What's his name?"
"Oh, I don't know. You know who I mean. You saw him in that other film about..."

This can be a lengthy process and often I turn up three titles that might include the desired film. Often the three I come up with have nothing to do with it and often when we find the film in question it has nothing to do with the "such-and-such" discussed in the initial part of the conversation.

Having identified the film, or what might be the film, the search begins. I have often given up searching for a film when I managed to turn up another film that caught my wife's interest.

Speaking of Very British Problems:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=414936013834472

I have cataloged my movies and TV media here because back when I went to used book sales frequently, I couldn't remember what we had and what we didn't and either bought stuff over again or walked away from something we might have liked to own. I also use the 'other call number' spot to record how many minutes long a movie is. So many times we want something that's 90 minutes or 120 and don't know which fit those and spend half the time looking and deciding. This is much easier!

>242 pgmcc: Are you me?

This is an uncannily exact description of how we ID movies around our house.

>242 pgmcc: Originally all of my tapes were numbered, the Disney/animated/children films with collector cases were lettered, A, B, C. I had pretty much the same lists you did and it worked for a time. My system fell apart when we got rid of the VHS tapes, the kids left home taking their movies with them, then I bought more but didn't know how to fit them into my system, then some of the kids gave their movies back to me when they needed space.

Also, my husband/children and I have those conversations. The one who was the best (worst?) at it was my mother-in-law. I called it her vagueries conversations.

>244 Bookmarque: Gotta love LT for that, at least if you have online access in the store.

>245 ScoLgo: Here too! You should see us dance around trying to come up with the names of old acquaintances when talking about old times.

>243 pgmcc: I think this made my day 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you.

>243 pgmcc: Dare I confess that I do use extra-virgin olive oil--but it's produced in Australia? (And OMG the idea of a litre just for drizzling--OMG.)

>248 haydninvienna: Then it isn't adulterated.

>249 hfglen: That wasn’t exactly the point I was trying to make (basically I was just being a smartar*e), but yes, I’m aware of the adulteration issue with EVOO from the more, er, fashionable growing regions. In Doha I used to use Jordanian olive oil for much the same reason.

I have a new project. I don't know why I never thought to catalog our DVD collection with LT /facepalm

>242 pgmcc: I thought my spouse's ability to identify on-screen actors at the drop of a hat was an attractive and useful quality to encounter in a husband. He (tends to) pontificate about where I should recognize the individual from. Oh, you would know him from when we watched -insert name of film here- , made in 1952 and directed by ----- I find his faith in my memory to frequently be optimistic.

>251 Narilka: I am right there with you. I will add it to the retirement to-do list that doesn't appear to be getting any shorter. Actually, it should probably be referred to as the retirement-contemplation list.

I'm watching Jamaica Inn directed by Alfred Hitchcock. I guess I'm going to have to read it again because I don't remember it like this at all.

>253 MrsLee:. I've been hesitant to revisit that one, because I was horrified the first time when survivors of the shipwreck were stoned as soon as they came on to the beach.. The rest of the story might have been interesting, but it was that scene that stuck with me and gave me the creeps. (I have always said that I'm a bit of a wuss...)

>254 jillmwo: You are not wrong. It was pretty horrifying. The fact that it probably happened makes it more so. There were a couple of characters I think we were supposed to sympathize with, but I couldn't for that reason. Still, I remember none of that from the book. Disclaimer: I haven't read the book since I was in high school. That's been a good long while ago.

I'm having a little trouble keeping track of where in the year I am. Living in March, I think, but I'm typing from my grandmother's journals in August at the moment, and the book on birds and poetry I'm reading has me in November. Every now and then I have to shake myself to remember it is in fact, March.

>253 MrsLee: Frankly, this is one of the worst stories I've read by Daphne du Maurier - I thought it was terrible. The scene described by @jillmwo was bad enough. But then we move on to our heroine acting like a foolish teenager over this sarcastic, semi-abusive and misogynistic man, who is also a known horse thief. They have a bit of a quarrel, he demeans her, and she responds by cleaning his entire house. She apparently finds it charming that he lived in such squalor that only needed a woman's touch. I could hardly finish it.

I marveled at the difference between this trite piece and her stellar writing in Rebecca. It's hard to reconcile the difference in quality between the two.

>257 terriks: That doesn't sound like the movie at all. I think you would like the heroine in the movie better than the book. The main female lead is pretty undominated for the time period, although there is a mousewife in the movie, too. I couldn't understand her devotion to her husband at all.

In cataloguing my movies, I had a bit of a dilemma with my tags. Running Man was a movie about the future, but that future was 2019. What to do? Future-past? That could imply time-travel. I opted for "future." I wonder how many other works need a similar tag? 1984 for sure.

If any of you do catalog your movies, be sure to edit the work and check the language selections. I find that many have foreign languages listed instead of English on films I know were released in English and I'm certain I have in English. It might skew one's stats if the language option isn't checked.

I don't tag my movies for some reason so can't help you there and I haven't had an issue with the language mostly because using the add to catalog function to read the barcode has been right pretty much all the time. The Running Man (OMG what they did to that book although casting Richard Dawson in his role was brilliant) is more of a dystopia to me and for when it was made, 2019 was the future.

>258 MrsLee: You're right - the movie does sound better in that regard. The other female character you're referring to is the sister of the lead (which is why she's there in the first place, if memory serves). And her sister's husband, her brother in law, is the main villain. Her so-called love interest is that man's brother, who was the horse thief. For me, that was part of why her behavior made it kind of icky.

But yes, if there were a few tweaks to the script it likely does play well.

>259 Bookmarque: I use the scanning ISBN when available, but it isn't always, so then I search by title, dvd, or do a manual entry. I think it's searching by title that gets the weird entries because it depends on who entered it first. I knew that about Running Man, hence my problem, but doing the quotation marks does it for my head. I needed that word "dystopia" for a tag. Some things are not an apocalypse. :)

>260 terriks: The leading man in the movie is a law officer undercover, so no need to feel icky about him.

Last night was the movie, The Lodger, a 1927 silent film from Alfred Hitchcock. The story author's name was Marie Belloc Lowndes. I found this very interesting, because the recent short mystery story collection I read, Bodies from the Library 2 had an extremely similar story, "Room to Let," which was a radio play for the BBC written by Margery Allingham in 1947. The premise was the same, even the policeman's name was the same, but the resolution was quite different. The movie had a positive ending and a twist. The play by Allingham was much more disturbing. Apparently this was the movie that began to showcase a "Hitchcock" film; where his style was defined, etc. I guess he made an appearance, but I missed it being distracted by a cat and didn't care enough to try to find it.

A thought on the show, "Very British Problems" is not the making of that show a contradiction for the British mentality they are trying to convey to us? Highlighting their problems publicly belies the "stiff upper lip" somewhat. Funny though. I do wonder if those particular problems are more pronounced in the middle-upper, lower-middle classes? I know for a fact it can't apply to all Brits; otherwise they wouldn't have half of the problems. These are thoughts that flit by as I'm trying to fall asleep.

>261 MrsLee: Oh, my! That's definitely a change. Thanks for the info. :)

I hadn't known there was a silent version of The Lodger. I only know the 1944 version with Merle Oberon and George Saunders. In fact, I hadn't even known that Hitchcock was active during the Silent Era. You are a font of information!

I am enjoying Guy Mannering quite a lot, but I can only read 2-3 chapters at a time due to the fine print. I think the only other Sir Walter Scott novel I have read is Ivanhoe, and that has been some time ago, although I remember enjoying it at the time. His style seems to be a blend of Jane Austin, Anthony Trollope and Robert Louis Stevenson. The Scottish brogue can be thick at times, but occasionally he offers a translation, and the rest of the time most of the meaning can be got from the context.

Last night my Hitchcock silent movie was The Ring, 1927. I have read that Hitchcock was known for his visual arts and he left the dialogs to others. He wrote and directed this film. It was to do with boxing, but the main theme was love and jealousy. There were very few word panels - I don't think any were needed. The story was very plain to see. I think both of the boxers should have looked for another woman. She wasn't worthy.

I am enjoying these films for more than the story. Seeing the way they dressed, the houses, cars, all that stuff in its original time is interesting. They aren't a modern movie trying to replicate the 20s, it IS the 20s. 1927 is the year my grandmother was married. She was much too respectable to be involved with boxers, circus hands or such, but her hair styles were the same. Possibly makeup too, but her family probably didn't allow it. What she did after she was married is another story.

>251 Narilka: facepalm indeed!

I've cataloged a few, but not all. I'm not much of a movie-watcher so if I ever get the itch to catalog them here, well, it should take long.

>264 MrsLee: I am now considering Guy Mannering. I read Ivanhoe decades back in time at a point when pregnancy brain was taking me over. I read it in conjunction with a friend who (for other reasons) felt her brain also needed some kind of mental kickstart. Scott can be an interesting read, but he's not an easy read.

>266 jillmwo: Your last sentence sums him up perfectly. I find that taking him in little bits (a couple of chapters a day) works very well.

My husband says he will never be able to find the movies in the cupboard the way I am organizing them. He wants them alphabetical.

A. In our 41 years of marriage, my husband has never searched for a movie to watch. Not ever.
B. My husband can't find the gallon of milk in our small refrigerator which is sitting at the front of the shelf (a possible exaggeration).

Guess which way the movies will be organized? MY WAY

Last night's Hitchcock was from 1937 The Young and the Innocent. A black and white talkie. The story was taken from Josephine Tey's story, A Shilling for Candles. I read that story not long ago, but as always, the movie barely resembles it. For one, Hitchcock did away with Inspector Allen and kept the focus on a young couple. The movie was fun, a good rom-com for its time. At one point there was a ballroom. The musicians in the band were all in blackface. Why?! I suppose there will be many who shake their heads in the future over the things we do too.

My zombie friend called on our neighbor last night. Stood on her front porch staring in the window at her. Her porch is in front of her kitchen where she was working. She has cameras on her porch, so hopefully the police can find the guy. Who needs Hitchcock?

>267 MrsLee: Alphabetical by what? Title? Director? Star (which one)?

>268 hfglen: Ha ha, he wouldn't dare suggest anything other than title. We are very lucky to remember that much about a movie.

I tried watching a TV series called "The Book Group" last night. Premise sounded promising, an American girl living in Edinburgh, Scotland decided to start a book group to get to know people. Nope. The American girl was an ignorant, ass-hat literary snob. I suppose it was meant to be funny, but I found it painful. Are there really people like that? Not in my circle of friends. Not for long, anyway.

Moved on to "Darby and Joan," a feel-good murder mystery duo set in Australia. The main characters are people my age. She a widow, he a retired police detective. I like it, but there are only two seasons.

>269 MrsLee: My husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed Darby and Joan! Both seasons are worthwhile and hopefully, there will be a third at some point.

>269 MrsLee: >270 jillmwo: I hadn't heard of the TV series, and I note from iMDB that it's set in Queensland! That's my place, people. And with all the usual suspects, staring with Bryan Brown and Greta Schacchi, and going on to Sigrid Thornton and Pia Miranda — this is Australian TV.

>271 haydninvienna: Glad I brought it to your attention. I find on a whole, that I usually enjoy TV mystery series from Australia and BBC and many other countries. American, well, they are not usually as pleasant. They are harsh, violent and full of angst between characters. Some of the foreign mystery series have some of those qualities, but I can still find comfortable murder mysteries in other lands.

I have finished cataloguing my movies, and I find I have 275. I didn't enter all the home movies. The ones I've watched and remember have a star rating, no rating means I either haven't watched it or don't remember it. At some point in the past I see that I actually reviewed a few of them. Low rating means it is probably one of my husband's quirky humor movies. :P They are all in my DVD Blue-ray collection.

I also finished typing and printing my list of movies alphabetically (husband should be pleased). All that is left is to decide whether or not to keep my binder of movie descriptions. The only way it makes sense to do so is to cut them all out and organize them alphabetically. Just how far down this rabbit hole do I want to travel?

>269 MrsLee: Okay, that show sounds promising. I have a few movies I want to watch first, though. Has anyone watched Heretic yet? It sounds a bit grim but I have discovered that Hugh Grant plays a wonderful villain.

I discovered that "Darby and Joan" does have a third season. As a Prime member, you have to subscribe to Acorn to access it. Since there was a free trial, I did. It seems this is the channel for murder mystery fans, so at $7.99 a month, it will be worth it to me to keep it for awhile.

Last night's Hitchcock was Jule and the Paycock, made in the 1930s from a play written by Seán O"Casey. About a poor Dublin family during the Irish Civil War. It was a fine cheery movie. NOT! Reminded me of Faulkner. The Paycock is a rat's ass bastard! Film was saved by the actress who played Juno, Sara Allgood (and the script). It was an hour and 34 min. Long. Felt like 5 hours. I didn't start to appreciate it until everything fell apart for the family. I did inspire me to do some quick internet searches on Ireland's strife in the early part of the 20th century. I liked Maire O'Neill as well.

Don't get me wrong, it was probably a well done movie, but not what I expected from a Hitchcock film.

Today I jumped down the rabbit hole of my movie book. Not sure where it will lead yet.

>272 MrsLee: and >274 MrsLee:. Enjoy the journey down the rabbit hole! I think each of us should travel down an interesting, exploratory pathway. All kinds of tidbits can be uncovered!

>274 MrsLee:
Juno and the Paycock is set in dark times with the general strike, the rising, the war of independence and the civil war. Not much room for humour or cozy crime.

The Abbey Theatre in Dublin is The National Theatre and it puts on a lot of O’Casey’s plays and otger plays like them.

The play Translations is another glimpse into those times. It is about the British mapping Ireland and trying to translate the Irish place names.

>275 jillmwo: Well, I did some soul-searching and I think this is one distraction I will not take. To do the job well (and why do it if you don't do it well?) would take a lot of my time. Time at this point is valuable and I weigh it carefully.

The movie book was a thing of the past. A time when dial-up made internet searches not as quick and easy. A time when there were no cell phones. We used it a lot when the kids were young, when I had a lot of VHS tapes which I had recorded old movies on sometimes 3 or more movies to a tape. The kids and their friends had fun pouring over it to find a film to watch together in their sleepovers, etc. The kids are gone, a lot of the movies are gone, and we hadn't looked at the book for over 15 years. If one wants to read about a movie, one looks at their mobile phone and gets a world of information I could never fit into a book. It isn't necessary anymore. So I will lay it to rest and move on to my grandmother's travel book which I want to get finished before my time runs out. It will have much more meaning to the family when I'm gone.

>276 pgmcc: Yes, I understand that not every play can be light, and some of those which are dark give us a deeper understanding. I think the name of the play led me to expect something lighter in flavor, but it was an interesting journey.

Last night's movie was Sabotage, not to be confused with Saboteur, or with Secret Agent, although, the film last night was a spin off of the Joseph Conrad book, The Secret Agent. This movie was released in 1936, and while it is tempting to think that the secret agents are from Germany, because of the times, it was never clear in the movie where they were from.

This was controversial when it was released due to the fact That they killed a child and a PUPPY!. Hitchcock felt it important that the consequences to innocent lives in war and politics be shown. The movie held my interest all the way through. My reactions to the man talking to a grieving woman probably should not be repeated. "Get over it, give us a smile." Hitchcock gave him what he deserved.

Are people who sell pet birds particularly suspicious and evil? This is not the first time one has been a no-good-nick. I can think of at least two other mystery shows (from TV) which had bad guys as pet shop owners.

>277 MrsLee: These are all films that you have in your house on DVD or Blu-ray? Or are you streaming them? (Just asking because it's an extremely eclectic batch of movies so far.)

>278 clamairy: I have a collection called Alfred Hitchcock, the Legend Begins. It has 20 of his earliest movies. No color films! Sadly, I don't have any of my favorite Hitchcock films anymore. I think I have five more to go.

Movie update.
The Skin Game, 1931 early talkie, horrible sound. Based on a play by John Galsworthy.

One of the characters talked as fast or faster than my five year old neighbor boy, and that's saying something. Every bit as depressing as the movie about Ireland. "Titled" folks vs. "Up and Coming" folks/Pastoral conservatives vs. progressive industry. Feuding families out of control with collateral damage to their loved ones.

Number 17, 1932, another early talkie, some rough patches to hear, but the visuals were good enough that it didn't matter. I really liked this one. It's a comedy/mystery/suspense. Based on a burlesque stage play from 1925 of the same title by Joseph Jefferson Farjeon. It is a heist film.

Favorite line: "What have you got in your pockets?"
"Huh?" moments: People presumably showing up at 12:30 a.m. to see a house for sale.
Movie making magic: Good use of shadows, lots of good visuals and physical comedy.

Sadly, "Darby and Joan" TV series only had two seasons after all, so I've moved on to "A Remarkable Place to Die," set in Queenstown, New Zealand. The title is a play on the name of The Remarkables, a range of mountains in New Zealand. It isn't cozy, but is interesting.

Haven't had much time to read lately. I thought I was going to set aside a day this weekend for a DNBR day, but it didn't happen.

I am up to Chapter Three (1926-1931, her wedding and birth of her two children) in my book about my grandmother's travels though, so that's something. I have the letters, diaries and journals typed in; now I'm going through and organizing, adding photos, maps, postcards, etc. and telling the story in between the trips. I don't know how many chapters there will be. I'm sort of separating them chronologically by trip, or by era, depending on how much material I have that makes sense together.

Last night's movie was the last of the old Hitchcock films I have to watch. The Man Who Knew too Much, 1934. I can't say enough good about this movie. Enjoyed it thoroughly. I have seen the 1956 version with James Stewart and Doris Day. I don't remember it being as engaging as this one. In this one, the mama rocks.

My last book read for the quarter was Twelve Months with the Birds and Poets. Review below, but I'm going to add some of the poetry which moved me. Most of it didn't. Often the author only included snippets of a poem, rarely its title or author.

The first is appropriate to this season, by Charles G. D. Roberts

"Have I fainted, have I doubted,
In the days that have gone by?
Have I said, 'There is no rising,
Unto mortals when they die?'
It is past, that blind self-wounding.
I have heard the robin sing.
I have caught the Easter message,
In the first breath of the Spring."

This one is "June Rapture" by Angela Morgan, only one of the stanzas which moved me. The underline is my emphasis.

"Smite me, O Life, and bruise me if thou must;
Mock me and starve me with thy bitter crust.
But keep me thus aquiver and awake,
This were the tragedy-that I should pass,
Dull and indifferent through the flowing grass.
And this the reason I was born, I say-
That I might know the passion of this day!"

A lovely setting for a season, September; "Sweet is the Voice that Calls" two stanzas only included here, by George Arnold. I swear I have been in this place.

"Sweet is the voice that calls
From babbling waterfalls
In meadows where the downy seeds are flying;
And soft the breezes blow,
And eddying come and go,
In faded gardens where a rose is dying.

Among the stubbled corn
The blithe quail pipes at morn.
The merry partridge drums in hidden places;
And glittering insects gleam
Above the ready stream,
Where busy spiders spin their filmy laces."

For November, a stanza from a poem by Francis Laughton Mace. I couldn't find the title or the rest of the poem, but from what I saw, I think I might like her poetry. Love the ideas of the rhythm of nature and life. Instead of viewing grief as a sad thing, think of it as a pause to reflect on what joy has come before.

"Is it that nature calls us
Her services of peace to share?
After the song the silence -
After the praise the prayer."

And with that, I'm off to start my second quarter thread.

>281 MrsLee: I suspect that one would be very difficult to get my hands on, but I really love your review.

I'm amazed that you managed to nurse this thread along until the equinox! Well done.

>282 clamairy: Thank you. I made an effort with this one because I couldn't see that there were any other reviews on it here.