Clam Shares Books & Cheeses ❂ 2025 ~ Part II ❂

The good people of the pub (and other corners of LT) have forced my hand and I'm starting a new thread.

I'm doing something new. I'm going to list what books I've read/listened to so far at the beginning of each new thread. I'm not going to use touchstones, just so people don't come looking for conversations. (Touchstones for each book can be found in the previous thread. Theoretically, anyway.)

James by Percival Everett (Kindle)
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams (Audio)
Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl (Audio)
The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman (Audio)
The Redoubtable Pali by Victoria Goddard (Kindle)
Stargazy Pie by Victoria Goddard (Kindle)
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym (Kindle)
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler (Kindle)
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson (Kindle)
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (Audio)
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (Kindle)
The Orb of Cairado by Katherine Addison (Kindle)
The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White (Kindle)
Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery (Kindle)

Happy new thread.

Happy new thread!

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon was a BB from @foggidawn, and I'd like to thank her very much. This book is based loosely on the diary of Martha Ballard who was a midwife in Maine (while it was still part of Massachusetts) in the late 18th century. It's a bit dark in places, but Martha is such a powerhouse that I was able to get past the bleak bits. The writing kept me enraptured, as well.

Like all mothers, I have long since mastered the art of nursing joy at one breast and grief at the other.

Memory is a wicked thing that warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion, and they read it back without partiality. That, I believe, is why so few women are taught to read and write. God only knows what they would do with the power of pen and ink at their disposal.

I would very much like to join the rest of the house in slumber, but I can already feel the creeping wakefulness that often assails me at night. This is a new affliction, something that began once I rounded the corner of forty-five. I never understood what a gift sleep was until it vanished. Whereas, in all the decades before, I slept deep and heavy, soaking up every morsel of rest that was offered, I now skim the surface, fitful, easily woken, and unable to drift off again. On nights like this, no amount of physical exhaustion can induce my mind to shutter, so I read by candlelight instead.

That last bit hit very close to home.

Not quite sure what I'm starting next.

>2 pgmcc: & >3 haydninvienna: Thank you!

>4 clamairy: Do you mean you're reading by candlelight, or you relate to insomnia? I can certainly relate to bouts of insomnia, though they're less frequent since I retired. I do not enjoy feeling wired while hearing the clock bong 4 am.

Happy new thread!

Oh I tried The Frozen River, but all that female suffering got to me and it was a DNF. I'm hit and miss with Lawhon.

>4 clamairy: I am impressed by the quote you selected. But did you find the book to be particularly bleak (asking because of the comment made by >7 Bookmarque:.

BTW, happy new thread! I'm trying to wait until the last day of this month before beginning my next one, but I'm beginning to feel a tad guilty about the length.

>6 terriks: Well, both actually. I'm using a Kindle with a built in warm backlight, but I have remote controlled LED candles all over the bedroom. They don't give off anywhere's near as much light as real candles, but I love the ambiance. And yes, I have insomnia. It didn't really start until the lockdown. I can spend the day outside digging holes for plants, and then walk two miles on the sand, and still have trouble getting to sleep. Apparently much of it is hormonal, and all the melatonin in the world doesn't seem to be the answer. Neither are legal weed derived sleep gummies. (And the sleeping pill my MD prescribed last month had me up at least eight times during the night.)

>7 Bookmarque: Yes, I just noticed your review today. I was so sucked in by the mystery part that the blood and pain didn't bother me quite so much.

>8 jillmwo: I might suggest you go read some of the other reviews here on LT and see what they say. Parts are very dark, but it wasn't enough for me to put the book down. Now the torture bits in The Three Body Problem were another story...

Happy new thread!

>9 clamairy: Oh, you do sound very much like that quote!

"...no amount of physical exhaustion can induce my mind to shutter, so I read by candlelight instead."

I somehow did all right during lockdown, for me it is the inability to just turn off my brain from the day's events.

I dislike sleeping pills too. I hope it passes soon!

>4 clamairy: A nice selection of quotes. I especially like the first one. I don't think I will be seeking out the book though.

Happy new thread! I hope you will have lots of good books and delicious cheese with which to fill it!

>4 clamairy: I've heard many good things about this book!

Happy New Thread :)

Thank you all for the New Thread wishes!

I have to say there is one thing about The Frozen River that bothered me. She mentions coyotes multiple times. There were no coyotes in the New England area until the early 1900s. In the Afterward she mentions that she is from the American Southwest, where they are abundant, so perhaps she thought they were always here.

>15 clamairy: Kelley Armstrong mentioned raccoons in the Yukon in one of her Rockton novels... nope! In fact, raccoons have only recently expanded into my area, and they're still very uncommon. We also don't have rats - their westward expansion was stopped at the Alberta border. But people who live where raccoons and rats are common and a big problem don't seem to consider that that might not be true everywhere. I'm sure it's the same with Lawhon and coyotes. I know that coyotes are so common here (we're at the northern edge of their original range) that I have trouble recalling that they're not (or haven't always been) everywhere, too.

>15 clamairy: & >16 tardis:

No matter what the position is with rats, racoons and coyotes there is always an elephant.

>17 pgmcc: "there is always an elephant"

Here, at least, in many places that is no longer the case. Elephants no longer use Olifantspad (pass behind Franschhoek, Western Cape), nor do they drink from the two Olifants Rivers (Western Cape and Mpumalanga, at least outside the Kruger Park) nor Olifantsfontein ("elephant spring", Gauteng), nor are they to be seen in the many elephant-named places around here. Their range reduction started in the 17th century and was at its most drastic in the 19th and early 20th.

>18 hfglen:
As I have said before, the fact that you cannot see the elephants does not mean they are not there. People avoid talking about elephants in the room.

>18 hfglen: This information saddens me.

>18 hfglen:
While reading the chapter, "Elephants and Kings" in How the World Made the West, the use of elephants for battle by the Persians and Greeks, as well as other groupings, was discussed. I was well aware that Asian elephants were much more domesticable than African elephants and that African elephants were not therefore used for domestic purposes. I was not aware until reading it in this chapter that African forest elephants, a smaller more manageable breed, where likely to have been used as battle elephants too. I was not aware of African forest elephants. The book stated there are dwindling numbers of the breed in west Africa and the Congo basin.

>16 tardis: You aren't missing anything with the lack of rats! Raccoons are actually a lot of fun. Coyotes are very prevalent in the Northeast NOW, but they were not there at all 140 years ago. Apparently she lives in Tennessee, and they weren't prevalent there 140 years ago, either. She was so meticulous about so much of her research, I'm just surprised she missed this.

>17 pgmcc: Yes, well... Sometimes they are just between your ears. I did not know that forest elephants existed. I'm sad to hear they are dwindling in numbers.

>18 hfglen: That is sad news indeed.

>22 clamairy: Coyotes were rare here in Georgia before the 70s, but are now everywhere. I’m in outer suburbia and catch them on my trailcams all the time. I actually enjoy watching them. The raccoons are fun to watch, too.

>21 pgmcc: I think I read somewhere that Hannibal’s elephants were from a now extinct population of forest elephants.

>23 ludmillalotaria:
I was wondering about Hannibal's elephants as he came from Carthage in North Africa.

>24 pgmcc: I think it’s probably still debated where the elephants came from, but I made a note of it being mentioned in Carthage Must Be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization by Richard Miles.

>23 ludmillalotaria: I recently moved from east Georgia and we had coyotes in the area, too. I lived in a rather rural town (Madison) and sometimes, at night, we could hear a pack of them yipping and howling.

I confess they made me nervous when I heard them, but we never had a single issue.

We had them in Illinois, where I lived for 11 years, but we heard them only occasionally. I did get to see a young pup once. It was peeking between the corn stalks at me. Couldn't have been more than three or four weeks old. Once we moved to Connecticut we heard them (and saw them) regularly. I loved that sound. It is both terrifying and wonderful. My cats had curfew at dusk, and then once they hit a certain age I stopped letting them out. I never had any issues, besides finding occasional piles of entrails scattered in my back yard. (We had bobcats, foxes and bears, so I was never quite sure who to blame for the entrails.) Unfortunately a coyote did snatch my neighbors' little dog after their son left her tied up outside late at night. :o( Coyotes have just arrived on here on the Isle of Long! There aren't too many breeding populations yet, but one was picked up on a backyard camera in the town five miles West of me. Hopefully they will get a foothold (pawhold?) because the deer population is out of control.

I borrowed The Ghost Brigades audiobook from Amazon Prime Music. (With the Unlimited subscription I get to pick one each month.) I had wanted to pick up this series again, but I had trouble getting into this one when I tried to read it. I did better with the audio, but it is still probably my least favorite Scalzi ever. I don't know if it's me, but it seemed like there was a lot more humor in the first one. Once I got to the end I understood what he was trying to do, I appreciated it a bit more. I liked Jared Dirac, who was grown in a lab and imprinted with the consciousness of a traitor. (A traitor who faked his own death and then ran off to work with an enemy alien race.) Jared has to slowly absorb that traitor's consciousness without losing who he has become.

Fear isn't the desire to avoid death or pain. Fear is rooted in the knowledge that what you recognize as yourself can cease to exist. Fear is existential.

I would have preferred that the book be a bit less heavy and a bit more funny, but I will most likely keep going.

>15 clamairy: >22 clamairy: That's interesting, I did not know that! I'm not sure we have them around here but we did in the Hudson Valley.

>29 Karlstar: Yes, it's fascinating stuff. The Eastern coyote is about ⅓ larger than its Western cousin, because it interbred with wolves. With the Northeastern coyote having the highest percentage of wolf DNA... up to 25%! In the Southeast the coyotes have only 4% wolf DNA.

>28 clamairy: I had completely forgotten this character until now. All I could recollect is the series getting a bit heavy midway.

I have all of them, including Zoe's Tale, which is basically a retelling of what most readers will already know, but from her perspective.

I'm looking forward to revisiting the series- glad you're staying with it. :)

>4 clamairy: Glad you enjoyed the book!

>28 clamairy: It's not just you. The first book had more humor. I stopped after the third book, which I remember as more serious too but at least has direct ties to book 1. I exited because I'm not a fan of retelling the same story from another POV plus books 4 & 5 are more like interconnected short stories instead of novels. I'm interested to see how you do with the series.

>33 Narilka: & >31 terriks: I have no trouble bailing on a book that I am not enjoying, which is why I borrow so many of my reads. If I love it enough I will snag it when it goes on sale.

>34 clamairy: Me either. Life's too short to slog through something you're just not enjoying. It doesn't happen too often, but when it does, it puts me in a bad mood for some reason. Just - grrr....you crappy book! Wasting my time like that! Begone!

>35 terriks: I felt bad about bailing on the last two ER books, but they just weren't good enough to waste time on. I'll read almost anything and I'm a tough critic, but it has to be really terrible for me to quit. At least in my opinion.

>36 Karlstar:
If it is not grabbing you and is a chore to read it, then it is wasting your time. Have no qualms about abandoning it. If the author has not produced something that is holding your interest you owe them nothing. It is not like you have nothing else to read. They are wasting your precious reading time that could be spent reading books that you find much more rewarding.

>37 pgmcc: I agree.

>36 Karlstar: Don't feel badly. Yes, you got it for free, but they wanted you HONEST opinion.

I bought a hardcover copy of Secrets of the Octopus and Barnes & Noble today. It's smaller than I expected, but many of the best photographs are two pages.

>42 clamairy: Sounds like a fun one!

>43 terriks: It's just a hardcover copy of the book I reviewed last week. :o)

>44 clamairy: Ah, gotcha.

I must be getting my octopus stories confused. ;)

The Bookstore Keepers is a novella by Alice Hoffman, and it's the 3rd in the series. They are a bit twee, but I love them.

>46 clamairy: Apparently, it's a freebie for those Prime members. (No, I'm not trying to shill for them, but a freebie is a freebie.) I'll give it a whirl.

Geraldine Brooks wrote Memorial Days: A Memoir as a tribute to her late husband, Tony Horwitz who died suddenly of myocarditis back in 2019. This book is about her finally learning to face her grief, which is something I can relate to. It's also about trying to navigate the legal system in the wake of a death of a family member. I also went through much of that BS, though my kids were both over 18 so guardianship was never an issue. Like her and her family we also lost our health insurance, but at least we were informed it would happen in advance. She was not, and didn't realize it was gone for over a month. She also lost ALL of she and Tony's shared credit history, and had to start from scratch. She hadn't had her own credit card since 1984. And she got turned down right and left when she applied. When she finally got approved "The one card I did eventually qualify for had a credit limit a tenth of the canceled ones." Yeesh. This despite being a bestselling author and a Pulitzer Prize winner. I did not have this issue, thankfully. Our main credit card was in my name. I faced a lot of the same things, though. In the beginning people I ran into would talk about anything but Pete. And I actually saw someone i knew well spot me in the grocery store and run the other way because he didn't know what to say.

I am taking something that our culture has stopped freely giving: the right to grieve.

And there was certainly no place for the beast of grief clinging to me, claws intractable as fishhooks.

Our culture is averse to sad. We want people to be happy. We’re chagrined and slightly offended when they’re not. There is a desire to cheer them up. And then, later, there will be a glancing at the wristwatch, a tapping of the foot if they cannot be cheered, if their grief is perceived to go on too long. I wish we could resist those things.

This book is ultimately uplifting. She managed to finish writing the book she was only halfway through when Tony passed, just because she wanted to dedicate it to him. That books is Horse, which I believe is the best thing she has ever written.

I recommend this one for anyone who is married and over 55, and living in the US. Seriously, there is a lot of practical advice about how to avoid some of red tape and BS she went through. It isn't just about grief, there is some much deserved anger in there at how survivors are often treated.

>47 jillmwo: You can't start with that one, though. The first of the series is The Bookstore Sisters. @jillmwo, that should be free as well...

>49 clamairy: I appreciate the heads-up! Thank you.

>48 clamairy: Great review. I like Brooks a lot, though the only two books I've read are apparently her most approachable; especially Horse. I've been in no rush to decide on a new one, but this one is likely to be it.

Kind of mind bending that she went through so much crap just trying to establish credit- as you mentioned, she clearly had income and could show it.

My nearest association with grief like this is my sister's situation when her husband died - not unexpectedly, really, as he had developed dementia and she was in the process of having him transition to assisted living. But she needed help regarding survivor's benefits and the usual red tape.

She also felt guilty about being angry with him, as she discovered unpaid bills that she knew nothing about. Then angry with herself for not paying attention when she was aware of his condition.

It was all so fraught, so heart wrenching. I like the quotes you included. My sister is in a better position now, but as a new widow it was bewildering for her - and shouldn't have been.

>51 terriks: I actually liked Year of Wonders more than I liked March. I don't think I'm in the minority there, either. I think it has a higher rating here on LT.

And yes it's sad that so many people, women especially, go through so much BS in addition to the loss they suffered. I gathered from what she said that Australia and Canada do not have as many of these issues. I don't know what it's like for people who lose spouses in Europe or other countries.

>52 clamairy: Being male, I have no personal experience of women's issues after losing a partner, but in Australia:
• one of my sisters in law was widowed about 30 years ago;
• roughly 20 years ago I knew another woman who lost her husband.
Neither seemed to have any issues with banks or credit. I remember that the latter one sold her late husband's car without difficulty.

>52 clamairy:
When my sister-in-law died in 2023 her husband had a lot of trouble with the bank when he tried to access their joint account. The bank insisted on a certificate of probate even though he was a named account holder and his wife’s will had clearly left everything to him.

>52 clamairy: My friend had such a hard time with power companies, phone services, cable and the many subscriptions her husband had. It blew her away how outright rude the people were to her on the phone. She would start by saying that her husband had died and she needed to cancel/change the service. The standard reply was, "We can't do anything without speaking to the account holder." Well, you can't. He's dead. It wearied her soul to go through that again and again.

>55 MrsLee: In one way that's enlightening. I read the website Not Always Right most days, and every so often a story pops up there along exactly the lines you suggest: "we have to speak to the account holder"/"but he's dead". I sometimes wonder how many of them are just made up*. Clearly, at least some of them aren't.

*Back in my long-ago university days, one of the local women's magazines had a "Dear Dorothy Dix" advice column. There were groups of students who would submit made-up questions to her, and there would be some sort of sweepstake or prize for getting one published. Apparently Dix used to do much the same thing herself:

Her reputed practice of framing questions herself to allow her to publish prepared answers gave rise to the Australian term "Dorothy Dixer", an expression widely used in Australia to refer to a question from a member of Parliament to a minister that enables the minister to make an announcement in the form of a reply.

>53 haydninvienna: Yes, I wondered if it was a widespread thing.

>54 pgmcc: Ouch. Well, at least we know it's not sexism at work. :o(

>55 MrsLee: That's just awful. I took to carrying Pete's death certificate with me whenever I went to the bank for a stretch there. I still have a bunch of savings bonds to cash in and I dread going through all the paperwork again.

>56 haydninvienna: "I sometimes wonder how many of them are just made up. Clearly, at least some of them aren't."

No, they aren't. Red tape is awful at the best of times, in situations like these it's just cruel.

I started Miss Mole and it was not grabbing me. I will go back at some point. I started Deacon King King, and it is hilarious. I guess I was expecting something like James or Harlem Shuffle, and instead I'm chuckling and guffawing through this. A nice surprise.

I added Peacock so I could watch that SNL concert and anniversary show on the 17th. (I no longer have cable TV.) I ended up watching Conclave on Peacock the other night, which was just fantastic. I think I am going to read the book. Plus I started The Lincoln Lawyer last night. Enjoying it so far. I had only planned to watch one episode, but raced through a second.

>58 clamairy: That's what happened with us with The Lincoln Lawyer too, we couldn't just watch one episode.

>58 clamairy: James is on my TBR list. I'm intrigued by this writer and still haven't read a word. Just love the idea.

Hope you enjoy The Lincoln Lawyer!

>59 Karlstar: & >60 terriks: I finished season 1 last night. Very enjoyable. All of the characters have grown on me, even Cisco. (I found his gravelly voice very annoying initially, since it does not sound like it's the actor's normal voice.) I'll probably start season 2 tonight.

>58 clamairy:. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Conclave, one of the rare instances where I feel that the movie is perhaps better than the original source material. Robert Harris' book is not necessarily a bad one, but it was intended as pure entertainment (an airplane read). His book has echoes of The Shoes of the Fisherman but Morris West was a bit more heavy-handed in his commentary on where he thought the Church was in the '60's than Harris' commentary on the Church now.

>61 clamairy: I find his and Lorna's relationship a little odd, but still fascinating. We kept asking if they actually had a home to go to.

>61 clamairy: I agree with you about the Cisco character. It hasn't occurred to me to consider if the voice isn't natural to the actor. Hmm. Can't say it's grown on me as much as I became accustomed to it.

>63 Karlstar: They do come off as the odd couple, don't they? She's very neat, precise in appearance and he's undeniably scruffy. Lol I suppose we're meant to go along with the opposites attract scenario. His character is completely supportive of her ambitions.

Stay tuned. 😉

>62 jillmwo: I watched (and read) The Shoes of the Fisherman many many moons ago. They did seem similar, but that was a lot more simplistic in my memory. I also saw (and read) Angel & Demons at my brother's behest. (My brother Joe is a former Capuchin priest, and he said the secretive machinations were spot on.) In that case I thought the movie was better than the book, but the story itself was over-the-top.

>63 Karlstar: & >64 terriks: They ready don't seem to belong together on the surface, but who knows. I really enjoy Lorna's character. (Especially her shoes!)

>64 terriks: >65 clamairy: One of the things I liked about the show is that I enjoyed all of the characters. It was kind of strange seeing the actress that plays on Tracker in a wildly different role.

I went on an adventure! I met my daughter & her wife and my son & his girlfriend in New York City to see The Return of the King accompanied by a live symphony. We were in the 10th row at Radio City Music Hall. If you are unfamiliar with the place it is the largest indoor theater in the world. (Last year we saw The Two Towers, but we were a bit farther back. Still only about halfway back, but we could have used some theater glasses. We did not need the glasses this year!)



We went out for a magnificent meal first. We did some walking and shopping yesterday before those of us who don't live in the city had to catch our trains/buses back home. We are already planning a museum trip.

>67 clamairy:
That sounds like a fantastic time.

>67 clamairy: Wow! Great seats - and at Radio City Music Hall, to boot. It must have been absolutely wonderful!

>67 clamairy: Yes, a trip to Radio City Music Hall is always an event. I remember Patrick and I got freebie tickets one year to see the Disney movie, Tik-Tok of Oz. Lousy movie but an outstanding venue. I remember the comfy seats. (Oh, and the ladies' room!)

>67 clamairy: Wow! What a magnificent adventure! I am very happy for you :)

How cool. I bet that was really fun.

>67 clamairy: What a great adventure! I hope everyone had a great time. Where did you eat?

>67 clamairy: Amazing! What a great night out!

Thank you, all. We had an amazing time.

>73 Karlstar: We ate at Barbetta on West 46th. It takes up two old townhouses, one of which used to belong to the Astors. We were in this room.

>75 clamairy:
Very snazzy. It looks ready for a murder mystery.

>67 clamairy: That is so cool! What a great way to re-experience the movies.

>75 clamairy:. Just saw their Pre-Theatre Menu. If it was any indication, you and your family had a fantabulous meal!

>77 Narilka: We missed The Fellowship in 2023, but got to see The Two Towers last year.

>78 jillmwo: That menu made it very easy, and everyone was happy with their selections. We were all very full, though. Thankfully the walk to the theater helped a quite a bit.

>75 clamairy: Wow, nice! Looks like a great restaurant.

>75 clamairy: This looks lovely!

>75 clamairy: What a gorgeous setting for your meal!

>75 clamairy: Holy crap! What a beautiful room to dine in. I would leave reluctantly.

>76 pgmcc: Indeed - I can sense a server suddenly dropping to the floor - or a ruckus in the kitchen. :)

>83 terriks: Now don't start up or @pgmcc will begin accusing me of slipping something dreadful into the first course. And I would NEVER do something that would result in the demise of a good restaurant.

>84 jillmwo:
The word "Coterie" came up in The Guardian* crossword the other day. It seems to be a suitable substitute for "Cabal", now that you mention your network of poison experts; a network that appears to have members joining from across the world.

*The Quick one. I am not at the level of doing the Cryptic.

>85 pgmcc: Well, "coterie" sounds more lady like and aristocratic. Reference to a Poisoners' cabal may make the group appear to be more professional. It all depends on what the client is looking for.

>75 clamairy: Oh, what a beautiful place! It looks like someplace to dress like Downton Abbey and pretend one is an aristocrat. :)

This new feature is encouraging me to actually review my books. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Normally I just throw a sentence or two in my thread. On the other hand, this forces me to be a bit more thoughtful with my wording.

Loved this one!

>88 clamairy: I do the reverse, my LT reviews tend to be more of a long blurb, I go a little farther, usually, for my thread.

>89 Karlstar: I don't remember why, but I pretty much stopped writing reviews. I wrote this one because I wanted to try the new share feature.

>90 clamairy: I only make an effort if the book has very few (under 10) reviews here. Otherwise I mostly write my reactions to the story. Mostly my "efforts" are elementary in scope. :P

>91 MrsLee: I wouldn't say that at all about your reviews or comments. I tend to just say whether (and why) I liked something, and fill up space with a few of my favorite tidbits that I saved in my Kindle notes.

I know that when I am looking at reviews of a book that I am not sure I want to read I will pick the shorter reviews to scan. I also pick the 5 stars reviews to see what they liked, and the 2 (or lower) stars to see what they disliked.

Hi Clam! I saw this in my recommendations and I immediately thought of you:

https://www.librarything.com/work/32111115/t/When-the-Moon-Hits-Your-Eye

>93 Jim53: Thank you for the reminder. I did hear about this but then it completely disappeared from my brain. 🧀

I finished reading The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley, which was quite good, and I finished listening to I contain Multitudes by Ed Yong. I don't have time to write even mini reviews, as I'm in the middle of preparing Colcannon, plus I am expecting a service man to do annual maintenance on my burner. (Yes, it's late!)

Up next is The Tomb of Dragons*, which I won't have much time to read as the troops arrive tomorrow, and I am still cooking and cleaning.

*OverDrive added the audio the day after the book was published, but not the eBook. I was able to request that they add it, and they were supposed to notify me as soon as they did. But I checked this morning and it was available to borrow, so I snagged it. The notification arrived abut an hour later.

>95 clamairy: "...I'm in the middle of preparing Colcannon..."

Sounds great. When should we all drop by? I'll bring wine.

>95 clamairy: Sounds delicious! Have a good visit.

>96 terriks: Guinness, Smithwicks, or Harp Lager for the authentic colcannon experience.

>98 haydninvienna: I bought both regular Guinness and the 0 version, recommended by Peter. I thought I might mix them. Less alcohol, but hopefully not noticeably less. I had bought a no alcohol IPA a couple of months ago, and it was okay, but not great.

>99 clamairy:
I am not sure how mixing them will do. The texture could be affected. A key thing with pouring Guinness is to let it settle and allow the head to develop. There could be differences between them that interfere with the head’s formation.

>100 pgmcc: Yes indeed. The head is very important indeed. One of my abiding memories from Dublin pubs is the line of pints at the back of the bar, waiting for the heads to settle.

>100 pgmcc: & >101 haydninvienna: Head, schmead. They are both draught in the can. I will pour them both slowly at the same time. If it explodes and takes my nose off I will be sure to let you know.

>102 clamairy: Never. Guinness is friendly stuff.

From Google:

The Result:
By blending the two, you get a drink that tastes more like full-bodied Guinness Draught, but with a lower alcohol percentage.

Alcohol Content:
The mixture results in a drink with approximately 2.1% ABV, meaning you can enjoy a larger volume (around 28oz) with the alcohol equivalent of one standard drink.

Taste:
The blend solves some of the perceived shortcomings of Guinness Zero, adding body, heft, and a lingering roast character to the finish.

Why it Works:
Guinness Zero, while non-alcoholic, can sometimes lack the full flavor and body of the original Guinness Draught. Mixing it with the regular version enhances the taste and texture.

>102 clamairy: and >104 clamairy: Awww, I wanted to watch to see if it did in fact actually take your nose off as promised! Can you do a YouTube video when you pour the two together?

>104 clamairy: Maybe try a Black & Blue? Guinness Stout dribbled on top of Blue Moon wheat ale, (a hefeweizen also works a treat). It's an easier-to-make version of the Black & Tan, which is traditionally Guinness Stout on top of Bass Ale, I believe. The trick is to use a soup spoon to prevent the Guinness from pouring 'into' the lighter ale. A very slow trickle of Guinness into the spoon allows the heavier stout to ride on top of the lighter ale. It's a nice way to drink part of a Guinness and finish with a lighter taste. Of course, none of this is a recipe for less alcohol content! ;-)

>106 ScoLgo:
I would caution against the use of the term Black & Tan around any Irish person or when visiting Ireland. There have been American visitors to Ireland who have used the term only to be surprised to learn that it relates to a crown forces used during the Irish War of Independence and who were responsible for very brutal acts of violence against the civilian population. Your can read about them HERE. Using that term in Ireland would annoy people very much.

>107 pgmcc: I wouldn't likely use the term, I haven't heard it in decades (regarding beer) but thank you for the reference, that was informative.

>98 haydninvienna: Noted! I'll make it so. :)

>107 pgmcc: Thanks for that, Peter. I had no idea there was another meaning. Next time I visit, I will remember your advice!

>107 pgmcc: Ouch. I did not know about that, but I had not heard the term in many years, like >108 Karlstar:. >106 ScoLgo: That Black & Blue sounds good, though!

My nose is fine. That 50-50 mix didn't taste great. A roughly 70-30 mix was acceptable. The bottom line is that for me Guinness without the alcohol is a tough sell. The rest of the meal was a great success. Sadly my son started to feel quite ill while he was visiting and ended up with a fever and chills. :o( So far I am still healthy, so I am hoping I dodged that bullet.

I am going to throw out a few blurbs on the books I have finished.

I have read several enjoyable books by Susanna Kearsley, so it wan't much of a surprise that I got sucked right into The King's Messenger. Unlike the other books I read by this author this one is a straight up historical novel with some elements of fantasy. The others were ghost stories. I think this is my favorite of hers so far, though perhaps it is tied with Bellewether, which is set here on Long Island, with the ghosts being from the time of the Revolution.

I am so glad I finally got around to listening to I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong. I have had this one in my Audible library for five years. This was not overwhelmingly sciency, though there were times I would have liked some diagrams and images. I imagine there are some in the physical copies, though none were ever referenced in the audio or I would have gone looking. (Some Audible books have illustrations & photos to download. I do not believe that this one did.)

This book kind of goes hand in hand with Entangled Life!

The Six Deaths of the Saint is short tale by Alix E. Harrow. If you have Prime, the novella is free to borrow through Prime Reading. If you have Audible it's free to listen to as well. She's becoming one of my favorite writers, and this story is one of her best, IMHO. And it's short!

Reading The Tomb of Dragons was a wonderful experience, and I found myself not ready to leave the world. As a result I have started listening to The Goblin Emperor. I was ready to give this one five stars until I reached the ending, which seemed a tad abrupt. Almost as if this is not really the end of our time with Celehar. This would please me, as I have grown so very fond of him.Despite the unpronounceable and sometimes too similar names I really love this world that Katherine Addison has created. I do hope we get to spend more time there.

I have already started The City in Glass.

>115 clamairy: I have returned to The Witness for the Dead because I really want to see how she structured the relationships and the story arc across the three books. Dragons really was good, wasn't it?

>116 jillmwo: Yes! I was thinking about the similarities between Celehar and Cliopher Mdang*. Both of them are excellent at their jobs, and self-effacing to a fault. I wonder if we are drawn to this kind of character because there are so few of them in the real world.

*From The Hands of the Emperor.

>115 clamairy: I have the book now! It's in the queue, but it's turn should come very very soon :))9

>117 clamairy: This is a very nice thought! Celehar and Cliopher... hmm. Yes, they are very similar, I haven't thought about it before. Thank you, I'll save this for when I'll be reading The Tomb of Dragons :)

>107 pgmcc: I had to look that up, hadn't heard that before. "Black and Tan" is a common beer menu offering around here. What is a better term for such a beverage in Ireland? I think I saw one article referring to it as a 'half and half'?

>111 clamairy: I didn't really care for the NA Guinness so much - I like that little bite of flavor from the alcohol, which regular Guinness is already on the lower end of.

I have had some good results mixing NA IPAs with regular ones; I want a lower alcohol content and some IPAs are WAYYY too high, like 7% or more. Athletic Brewing makes some very good NA beers of all varieties if you see them in your local stores.

>116 jillmwo: >117 clamairy: Since I failed to get The Tomb of Dragons last week, I'll have to head to B&N and pick one up there.

>121 Darth-Heather: Yes, I had high hopes for the Athletic NA IPA, but by itself it was not great. It tasted decent when I mixed it with a Montauk Wave Chaser IPA, which is 6.4% alcohol. But then I ended up with 24 oz. which is a lot for me.

>122 Karlstar: They should definitely have it! Happy hunting.

On the rare occasions we go to a pub, I drink non-alcoholic beer (usually called “zero” here) because I’m always driving, but I’ve never found one I really liked. I think mostly that I find the NA ones too sweet—seemingly, there has to be something to make up for the missing alcohol.

>125 haydninvienna: One of my drinks at home when I don't want alcohol is seltzer with a healthy splash of Orange Angostura Bitters. I wish they made a grapefruit flavor, but I will take what I can get. When I want just a little alcohol I add a half a shot of Campari to at least 8 ounces of seltzer.

>126 clamairy: Lemon, lime and bitters (exactly what it says) has been a standard pub drink in Australia since forever. Also "Claytons and tonic", which used to be advertised as "the drink you're having when you're not having a drink".

>120 Darth-Heather:
Stout is what it would be called here.

>128 pgmcc: I thought Stout was the black half.

>127 haydninvienna: Claytons sounds delightful. I'm going to keep an eye out for it, but in a pinch it looks like I could get it on Amazon if I am desperate.

>129 clamairy:
Stout is the drink in its entirety. A pint of stout is what would be asked for. Younger people would not be as familiar with the word as some of us more mature beings.

>131 pgmcc: They sell extra stout in smallish bottles here, but I only use it to mix with a lighter beer. Or for cooking. I think there's one last bottle in my fridge that's been there for many years... I'm surprised it hasn't tried to crawl out on its own.

>132 clamairy:
It is dark, deep and patient. It bides its time. Beware the small bottled stouts.

>132 clamairy: and >133 pgmcc: I don't know about clam but I worry about anything sitting in the fridge that is dark, deep and patient while biding its time. Sounds like something that might creep out of it's own volition or require inspectors of some sort of another.

Goodness, I love this place.

>135 haydninvienna: It is pretty wonderful. Although I hope that abandoned bottle of extra stout doesn't visit me in my paranoid dreams tonight.

>115 clamairy: Regarding your spoiler: I'm almost certain that she intends to give us more about Celehar -- otherwise, wouldn't she have wrapped up that slow-burning romance with something more than a quick touch of a hand? I'm hoping, at least!

>137 foggidawn: I do hope so. I'm not ready to say goodbye to him at all.

I have decided to take a break from The City in Glass, and I have started A Sorceress Comes to Call instead because of Jill's link to the Nebula Award nominees. It is the only one I own. Nghi Vo's writing is sumptuous, but I was finding excuses not to pick up my Kindle and that is not a good sign. I will listen to it instead at some point.

>138 clamairy: Me neither!

After this I definitely need something fluffy or humorous to reset my mood!

Well, froth might include something like Vanity and Vexation -- a fun take on television/film remakes of Jane Austen -- or it might be something sillier, like Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharon McCrumb (murder at a science fiction convention, definitely a bit over the top..). There is the very lightweight Anty Boisjoly mysteries series which starts with The Case of the Canterfell Codicil but which also includes a later segment that includes an elephant Reckoning at the Riviera Royale. Because Peter would tell you there's always an elephant. The whole series is a bit of a farce so those might fit the bill. Author Janice Hallett has several funny mysteries about a drama group. Could you return to Terry Pratchett's Discworld? That's the best I can offer you at the moment.

Another possible comfort read that I've just encountered: Tiny Tales by Alexander McCall Smith. You might not find the tales of Pope Ron, the first Australian Pope*, to be as funny as I do, but there's lots of other stuff in there.

I've found most of McCall Smith that I've tried to be pretty unreadable (except for the Detective Varg novels, his so-called "Scandi blanc"). Precious Ramotswe is just too sweet and nice even for me (I'm another wuss). But the Tiny Tales, or as much of them as I've read, really are warm and funny.
*Pope Ron missed his own election conclave because he was in the toilet in the Sistine Chapel during the vote, and one of the cardinals had to find him and tell him he was now Pope

ETA Now finished it. Heartily recommended as a comfort read.

>142 jillmwo: I was thinking of starting Soul Music, which I bought not long ago, so you're right on the money with the Discworld recommendation. Vanity and Vexation looks awfully tempting, though!

>143 haydninvienna: That looks good as well. I think I made it five or six books into the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency before I ran out of steam. I didn't find Precious to be too nice, but I did lose interest.

>144 clamairy: Discworld is always a good idea!

>145 Alexandra_book_life: I had fully intented to start Soul Music, but I was reading an article in the New York Times about animal/human biographies and decided to start Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe instead. I was only a few pages into it when I started to grow very suspicious that this book was written by someone who lives near me. Turns out the man lives right across Peconic Bay, so less than 20 miles as the crow, or in this case the owl, flies.

>146 clamairy: I checked out the book, and it sounds like a wonderful story! Maybe you'll have a chance to meet the author :)

>146 clamairy: That title doesn't sound much like froth, but it does sound as if it would be an encouraging read! Something that reiterates one's faith in humanity.

>147 Alexandra_book_life: I will probably have to wait until he writes another book and does some promotions, but that would be great.

>148 jillmwo: So far it's wonderful, and there is a lot of info about the way indigenous peoples relate to nature that is fascinating. They do not think of animals as 'other,' the way that many Western cultures do.

>149 clamairy: I thought that in most indigenous people's beliefs the owl was an ill omen?

I love owls. We used to have them in the summertime around our house and could observe them on well-lit nights. Fascinating. They "talk" to each other. When I was a young girl, there was a very large owl that lived in what we called the "lower barn," which was in a marsh on our property. I used to go visit with it. Such a beautiful creature.

>150 MrsLee:
“The owls are not what they seem.”

>151 pgmcc:

>152 ScoLgo:
I was hoping someone would. :-)
If I had a cigar you would be the winner of said cigar.

>153 pgmcc: "Looks like I picked a bad week to quit smoking."

>154 ScoLgo:
...and I got that reference. :-)

"By the way, we have run out of coffee."

>150 MrsLee: Pretty sure the 'ill omen' belief is all over the world, but very spotty. Google tells me that "the Apache and the Cree believed dreaming of owls symbolized death." More info on several cultures here: https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birding-basics/owl-meaning/

You were lucky to see Barn owls. I have never seen one alive. We had plenty of Screech, Great Horned and Barred owls in CT. We get Snowy owls here in the Winter, but I haven't seen one. I see and hear the Great Horned the most here. They are VERY vocal from about October until now.

>151 pgmcc: & >154 ScoLgo: LOL I got these, but not >155 pgmcc:.

>151 pgmcc: I never watched that show.
>154 ScoLgo: I should have got that reference, but it's been years.
>155 pgmcc: ? I don't know about coffee, but Why has the rum gone?

I finished listening to The Goblin Emperor and I loved it just as much this time around. I am too tired to write a review, but I will try to do it tomorrow.

I have started listening to When the Moon Hits your Eye, and it is a bit more thoughtful than I anticipated. (But still quite humorous.)

>I love owls. I usually don’t hear them, but the crows get really noisy when there is an owl or hawk around in the daytime. I catch Great Horned and Barred owls on my trailcams on occasion, but always at night. Always love it when I get them on video. I’m sure we have Screech owls around here, but I never see them.

Will add that book to my wishlist.

>158 clamairy:. It's a lovable book -- The Goblin Emperor I mean. I'm sure Katherine Addison has a life to live and all that, but I wish she was able to write full length novels more quickly. It's a deeply interesting world that she's created.

As to Scalzi's latest, I'll be interested to hear what you think. I sometimes feel one has to be in the right mood for his stuff.

What can I say about my second trip through The Goblin Emperor? That it was even better the second time? It was, but mainly because I knew where it was going. I had forgotten a lot of details. I remembered that there was a betrayal, but I could not remember which of Maia's guards was involved. I had forgotten about the assassination attempt! I had completely forgotten about the speech the leader of the group that assassinated Maia's father and brothers gave. It was quite wonderful. He pointed out that they had achieved their ends because Maia was such a reformer, and that he wouldn't be in a position to create the change the kingdom so desperately needed if he had not ended up on the throne. Wonderful! And meeting Thara Celehar for the first time again, was a delight. Although the narrator made him sound much more self-assured than I pictured him. I suppose I have to just trust that the narrator was pronouncing everything correctly. I always thought Celehar started with a soft C, so I was shocked to learn otherwise. There may be a pronunciation guide in there somewhere that I missed.

I will most likely listen to Witness for the Dead and The Grief of Stones in the next couple of months.

>161 clamairy: I had the same experience with The Goblin Emperor! It was even better the second time :)))

>162 Alexandra_book_life: Yay! :o)

I am still listening to When the Moon Hits Your Eye, and I am enjoying it. I am not finding it as hilarious as I did Starter Villain. In fact I would say it is a bit more philosophical than I was expecting.

>163 clamairy: I agree with your assessment of When the Moon Hits Your Eye. Not as funny as I was expecting. Enjoying it, though.

>163 clamairy: What type of philosophizing is it that he is engaged in? Not sure I am understanding the issue??? Is it political or existential or something else?

>165 jillmwo: It has to do with humans feeling separate from nature instead of feeling like we are part of it. He blames Plato, mostly. He's delving into Eastern mysticism, where all life is one and also into Native American beliefs. Right now he is dissecting classical Western thought. I will admit this book is a bit more than I bargained for, so I'm having to go a lot more slowly than usual.

Editing to add: I thought you were talking about the owl book! LOL

The Scalzi book is discussing, among the other things, the nature and purpose of science and scientific inquiry.

I did get a big kick out of When the Moon Hits Your Eye, written by John Scalzi and read by Wil Wheaton. It's satirical, and also a little bit touching in several places places. The moon inexplicably turns to cheese, and there are some odd consequences, many of them funny, some of them not. It causes a crisis of faith for the science-minded and the religious types alike.

Definitely worth the read, and I will most likely listen to it again at some point. It is not as funny as Starter Villain, but it addresses quite a few more societal issue, like scientific literacy (or illiteracy, as in the case of the US,) not to mention the commercialization of space travel.

In order to get my feet solidly back in the actual universe I have started listening to Carl Sagan's Cosmos, which was released as an audio book for the first time in 2017. It's read by LeVar Burton, Seth MacFarlane, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Ann Druyan.

>167 clamairy: I will get to this one soon.

>167 clamairy: I'm really looking forward to When the Moon Hits Your Eye, especially after this review. I recently visited Scalzi's blog (which I often forget exists) and he posted that he felt proud of this one. I'm not sure I've read those words by him before about any of this stuff, so that made me put a mental pin in it. It sounds like he is reaching beyond his usual sci-fi humor.

The lineup of narrators for the audio book of Cosmos is jaw-dropping to me. What?!? I don't even do audio books, but I loved Cosmos and this might be the One that gets me there.

>169 terriks: I hope you enjoy the Scalzi as much as I did. (I almost gave it 4½ stars.)

I was happy enough listening to LeVar Burton, but as soon as I heard Neil deGrasse Tyson's voice I got a little wobbly in the knees.

>167 clamairy: Very nice to hear that you enjoyed the latest Scalzi! I hope to get to it soon :)

>169 terriks: Somewhere on Scalzi's blog there's a recipe:

My word, what is this dark and vaguely sinister-looking pie you see before you? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s the world’s first Schadenfreude Pie, the pie to enjoy while you are reveling in the horrible misfortunes of others. Why is there a Schadenfreude Pie? Because after I wrote the headline for this entry, I wondered to myself, “what would Schadenfreude Pie taste like?"

Recipe here: https://whatever.scalzi.com/2006/09/26/how-to-make-a-schadenfreude-pie/.

>170 clamairy: "I was happy enough listening to LeVar Burton, but as soon as I heard Neil deGrasse Tyson's voice I got a little wobbly in the knees."

As would I, sister. As would I. I miss Star Talk.

>172 haydninvienna: Now that is the funniest thing I've read all day. I love it, maniacal laughter and all. Thanks for the link!

>172 haydninvienna: That's an amazing recipe. I am so freakin' tempted to make one. Have you made it?

>172 haydninvienna: Love the photos at the end of that recipe.

>173 terriks: --- >175 MrsLee: No, never made it, I was trying to think of a way to get it on Adam Liaw's show on TV here though. If any of you is brave enough to try it please let us know how t goes.

>172 haydninvienna: That is hilarious. I see it's from 2006! If someone else made it I would try a sliver, but my teeth hurt just reading the recipe.

For those of you with HBO (MAX) I want to put in a plug for the animated movie Flow.* It does get a little intense in a few places, but is simply stunning. There is no dialogue and no humans in it.

* https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4772188/?ref_=ext_shr

>178 clamairy: Strongly seconded!

>179 Sakerfalcon: Just so beautiful. I watched it two nights in a row. LOL

I love that black cat adoptions have increased since the movie came out!

>181 Sakerfalcon: I had not heard that, but it makes perfect sense.

>181 Sakerfalcon: >182 clamairy: My husband was reading about this yesterday. Black kitties are usually the last to get picked up at shelters. This movie has really elevated them.

We're usually not much for animation, but this sounds so different - no dialog, no humans, Academy and Golden Globe awards - I'm pushing to watch it tonight.

>183 terriks: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

>180 clamairy: Thanks for the recommendation. We finished watching A Gentleman in Moscow last weekend, it was great. I'm sad there aren't any more, but happy there aren't, too.

>183 terriks: May I (re-)introduce you to my Feline Overlord, Mr Inky Mistofelees, aka the Maharajah of Muddipore, who came to us from the local SPCA?

I still miss my big ol' Larry -



He came from a shelter, too.

>186 hfglen: I love Mr Inky Mistofelees - what a beauty!

>187 Bookmarque: Larry looks quite content in this picture, four paws up.

Applause to you both for bucking an unfortunate trend. I think they're gorgeous.

This is Bart as a wee babe. I still miss him. :o(


My current kitty Belle is a tuxedo. Here she is laying next to a stuffed kitty on my guest bed.

>186 hfglen: A beauty!
>187 Bookmarque: I really want to rub that belly.

Great cat pictures.

>186 hfglen: Mr Inky Mistofelees is gorgeous!

>187 Bookmarque: And Larry is gorgeous too!

I had a black cat when I was teen. She was a very special girl, then we had to find a new home for her, because of sudden severe allergy in the family. I still miss her, and haven't had a cat since. (Also, my husband is allergic...)

>189 clamairy: Such lovely photos!

One of my favorite black cats (who am I kidding, they are all my favorites) came to me on a dark and stormy night when I lived away at college. She reeked of weed, and acted like some nincompoop had been trying to get her high; hence her name, Mary Jane. Such a sweetie.

>194 MrsLee: What a perfect name.

The Kindle app on my phone just informed me that I have a 349 Week reading streak going. Hmmm. It should be more like 60 years, but I crunched the numbers in my head and realized that it's counting the weeks since I bought my previous Paperwhite.

No, I haven't missed a week reading in more than half a century. I haven't missed a day either, unless I was deathly ill. Although I have vivid memories of reading while sick. Would that be RWS? LOL I read The White Plague when I had a terrible headache from some bug the whole family caught. And I was reading Orlando while in the hospital on a morphine drip after surgery.

My point being that it's weird to suddenly be reminded that my reading device is now keeping track.

>186 hfglen:, >187 Bookmarque:, >189 clamairy: Loving all the cat photos! We informally adopted our neighbour's black cat when I was a teenager. Her human was going through a divorce and realised he wasn't able to care for her properly so passed all her food and stuff to us. I loved her.

>189 clamairy:. I love the cat photos, but in particular, the one of the stuffed kitty stretched out in parallel with the live one. That would make your houseguests do a bit of a double take for sure!

>188 terriks: >190 clamairy: >192 Alexandra_book_life: He thinks so too! Thank you all, just the same.

>186 hfglen: Great picture, he looks like he could have been our Luna's brother.

Some great ideas in this one, but very chewy!

>201 clamairy: Some beautiful writing in there. :) I like a scientist who is clearly so passionate about animals.

>202 terriks: I thought so too, but I was a bit bowled over by his deep plunge into philosophy. I am going to check out his book on turtles at some point.

>202 terriks: I loved the passages you shared :)

>201 clamairy:
Interesting quotes.

The one about pets being less manipulative than humans would indicate to me that the author never had a cat in their lives. I write this at 7am as our cat is meowing at me to get up and feed him as if my son had not fed him at 6:30am.

>205 pgmcc: Ha! I believe "less" is the key word there.

>204 Alexandra_book_life: I think you meant to reply to me, so thank you. I highlighted quite a bit in this book.

I have already started Heartwood which is a recently published mystery about a hiker lost on the Appalachian trail in Maine.

>206 clamairy: Yes, I did. Ooops. Sorry!

>205 pgmcc: I dunno. Do you have actual surveillance video of your son feeding that poor starving animal? I mean, would a defenseless beast lie to you?

>201 clamairy: This isn't the type of thing I normally read, but you make it sound wonderful, most particularly via those quotes.

>205 pgmcc: >208 jillmwo: To further Jill's argument, which is based on logic and reason, is it not also possible that the defenseless beast realizes that, whether or not he was previously fed, this hardly releases you from your specific obligation?

>208 jillmwo: & >209 terriks:

I see George has been exercising his manipulation skills on you two and getting you on his side. It’s the old, “I am a poor starving kitten who may never have more food in my bowl so I need to eat every scrap of food in the house now lest I die of starvation” ploy.

>210 pgmcc: That is such an effective ploy, tho!

>211 ScoLgo: Oh, it works. I had to take my cat to vet on Monday for an ear infection, and she'd gained a pound since her last visit. :o(

>201 clamairy: >205 pgmcc: Has the author ever had a cat? I don't think 'less manipulative, more forgiving' applies to most cats. They remember.

>213 Karlstar: I would suggest that depends on the cat. My cats have always been very forgiving of the horrendous things I did to them, like force pills down their throats, cut their toenails and clean their ears.

>210 pgmcc: *snicker*

>201 clamairy: I particularly like that last quote. Brings to mind the spirit of the book I recently finished about birds and poets.

I wish that every human could see everything and everyone around them with the wonder they deserve, but somehow we get sidetracked moment by moment into the business of living and forget the wonder.

>214 clamairy: Well, sure, but maybe they knew you were actually helping them. Are you saying they weren't manipulative?

I was gone for a few days. I went up to Connecticut to watch my son's band perform at a venue called The Hungry Tiger. Rumor has it that Stevie Ray Vaughan played there back in the day. But Google could not confirm that tidbit of information. LOL I had a wonderful time, and I finished a book while I was up there, so I will be posting about that in a bit.

He played some awfully weird places sometimes. I saw him in Veteran's Park in Manchester, NH which is a very small urban park in the middle of the city. Open air and I couldn't find anyone who would go with me so I went alone. The next month he was dead. 😭

>218 clamairy: Cool!! That sounds like so much fun.

It must be rewarding to watch your son on stage. What kind of music do they play?

>219 Bookmarque: Oh no! At least you got to see him, before he passed. He did die very young.

>220 terriks: His band plays what they call Dad Rock. Music from the '60s through the last decade. Tom Petty, The Police, Steely Dan, Dire Straits, Toto and Steppenwolf. A very mixed bag of covers.

>221 clamairy: Sounds fun! All this is still quite popular - I am guessing they don't have much trouble booking when they want to play out.

>221 clamairy: I have a playlist on the phone called Classic Rock. I am so changing the name to Dad Rock.

>218 clamairy: Sounds like a great time! >221 clamairy: You listed 3 of my favorites there and 2 others I wouldn't turn off when they come on.

>222 terriks: They only play about 4 gigs a year. They all have full-time jobs, and hobbies and other things going on.

>223 haydninvienna: That's awesome!

>224 Karlstar: It's a wide-ranging list of bands that they cover. They change up the playlist every time I see them. But it's nice that I know all of the songs!

This is what I'm seeing in the mirror lately...

>226 clamairy: There's a lot of that going around.

>226 clamairy: As >227 jillmwo: says, you are not alone.

>226 clamairy: pretty sure you and I are using the same mirror.

>229 catzteach:
It appears to me that all mirrors are tuned to the same channel.

>226 clamairy: >227 jillmwo: >230 pgmcc: >229 catzteach: And here I thought my transformation was unique. ;)

>227 jillmwo:, >228 pgmcc:, >229 catzteach: & >231 terriks: You are making me feel better. Perhaps misery does love company after all.

>232 clamairy:
Do not be getting too happy about the company or you might lose your misery and end up lonely and miserable.

>227 jillmwo: Here too. If I can veer a bit close to political for a moment, there's a federal election due soon in Oz, and the proffered alternative prime minister is a mate of He Who Shall Not Be Named.

>234 haydninvienna: Nooooooo.....

I do feel a little better this evening, only because I had a very large glass of wine while I was cooking and eating my dinner.

>235 clamairy: A glass of wine with dinner can definitely help a lot! *clink*

>226 clamairy: Hi, twin :(

Belle is a gorgeous kitty!

>205 pgmcc: I'm currently staying at my Dad's, and he doesn't have pets. He likes my new cat, Coconut, but he sometimes is confused about cat behavior. I apprised him of common food bowl and treat manipulation tactics.

>237 libraryperilous:
:-)

Finally sat down to do this, even though I finished the book Sunday morning before the sun was up. This was a great book to read while travelling. Even with people yammering around me on the ferry I was able to concentrate.

>239 clamairy: Wow- nice review, and this does sound interesting. I've hiked quite a bit on the AT though in the southernmost parts. I imagine it reads very well.

A sad but quite poignant bit there from the lost woman's journal.

>240 terriks: Thank you. I found parts of it very beautiful. How was your time on the trail? Did you do huge stretches at once, or little bits at a time?

>241 clamairy: As I recall, the terminus is at Springer Mtn in North Georgia, and from there it's a fairly rough terrain. I doubt more than 5-7 miles at a time. Now my brain is churning - I think we started from Amicalola Falls and went towards Springer Mtn which is about 6 miles. Somewhere in those parts one crosses the Benton MacKaye Trail and I've spent time on that one, too. Lots of great places to set up a campsite.

Ahhh....those were good times, back when I was a spring chicken and could do all that hiking and carry a stuffed backpack. These days, my knees start to cry if I don't pull on the knee sleeves and carry a daypack! I do love hiking in the mountains.

I happen to like The Great Gatsby quite a bit, and there's some wonderful discussion about its significance over the decades as it turns 100 years old.

Sharing as a gift so no paywall

It’s Gatsby’s World, We Just Live in It https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/27/books/great-gatsby-100.html?unloc...

>243 clamairy: I think some of the antipathy is because so many encounter it as required reading. But it remains crystalline in its depictions of debauched wealth. Also, it's a bit more economical than Fitzgerald's other novels. I found it compelling when I read it. Maybe a reread is in order!

>243 clamairy: I've read it twice and have enjoyed it very much both times. We have a restaurant in town that is decorated in a Great Gatsby style. It's rather nice inside and offers quite glamorous sounding food and some yummy sounding cocktails. I went the other night with book club. It happened to be the 100 birthday of The Great Gatsby. It was a nice venue. I plan to go back when I'm not the driver and partake of a cocktail and order a dessert. But not the champagne and caviar. That was $95.

>244 libraryperilous: & >245 catzteach: I read it when I was in HS, not for a class but for pleasure, and then again in 2001, according to my book log. I found it romantic as a teen and a lot less so as an adult. But I just loved much of the writing. I have never had really expensive caviar, but what I've had wasn't bad.

Here's my review of the audiobook version of Cosmos read by LeVar Burton, Seth MacFarlane, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Ann Druyan.

>247 clamairy:
I remember watching and enjoying his Cosmos TV series when it was first broadcast here. He was a great communicator.

>243 clamairy: Thank you for this! Nice article.

I read The Great Gatsby as a teenager, too - though for a HS class or just because I happened upon it at home, I don't remember. But I liked it well enough to get my own nice little hardcover, which I very recently re-read - and liked it even better.

I also managed to get my husband to read it - he recalled it unpleasantly from HS, but definitely enjoyed it this time. Grown-up context sure helps a lot, right? It's one to share as well as re-visit every so often. :)

>247 clamairy: I found my own paperback copy, and it's still in pretty nice shape. Color photos in the center of the book. I may attempt a re-read, but I'm really tempted to try this as an e-book. I get twitchy just looking at the lineup of narrators.

Carl Sagan. *sigh*

those of you who have read The Great Gatsby - how did you feel about movie adaptations? I've heard good things about the 1974 version with Robert Redford, as far as following the book.

>251 Darth-Heather: I actually didn't mind the most recent movie adaptation, the 2013 version. (edited to fix the reference, because I'm so bad at getting them right)

>251 Darth-Heather: and >252 Karlstar: I liked them both. Absolutely loved the music in the 2013 one. I just found out there was a version made in 2000, with Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd as Nick Carraway. It's got a low rating on IMDb.

The book showed up as a Kindle deal for $0.99, but it said it only has 100 pages. I didn't think that could be right. Then I found it for free here: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Gatsby-F-Scott-Fitzgerald-ebook/dp/B0D8Z3LD48/ref=m...

This addition also has very few pages.

>253 clamairy: My Everyman's Library edition is 148 pages. It should be a very thin book, but the Introduction and Chronology sections are 40 pages and there's another 6 or so pages of the Everyman's catalog at the back, so they've nearly got it to 200.

>254 Karlstar: I found some pieces online arguing about whether it was a novel or a novella, so yes, it is much shorter than I remember it being.

>251 Darth-Heather: I've only seen the 1974 version, and found it very good. Great casting and vibe.

>253 clamairy: hmm, I've never heard of this version, either. With a low rating like that, I guess there's a reason.

Loved this one!

>258 clamairy: Wow. A hero mom if there ever was one.

>259 MrsLee: Yes! Such an amazing lady.

>259 MrsLee: and >260 clamairy: It's on sale at the moment at Amazon (at least for the Kindle edition). $1.99. Sounds like it's a steal if you want to have it immediately to hand on your device. The audio book appears to be 99 cents.

>261 jillmwo: Such a bargain!

>258 clamairy: An amazing story! Thank you for sharing.

>258 clamairy: Wow - this sounds like a wonderful tribute. I've heard Whoopi refer to growing up in the projects on many occasions, oftentimes in relating how she and her brother watched a lot of Star Trek and what an impact the character of Lt Uhura had on her as a kid.

Her mother sounds absolutely inspirational.

I have finished two books in the last few days. I finally finished Soul Music, which took me forever to get through. I found it humorous, but I didn't feel compelled to pick it up much. I think I do better with Pratchett as an audiobook. I also finished Conclave which took me only 24 hours to complete. I think the impending business in Rome had me especially tuned in to this one. Plus it helped that I just watched the movie a month or so ago.

I will write some real reviews later in the week. I have already had a glass of wine and I don't trust my typing or editing.

I do not know what I am reading next!

>265 clamairy: Yes, the book of Conclave was a pretty fast read for me as well. Oddly enough I too have been reading a Pratchett book; it is one that feels as if I've read it before Feet of Clay but which I have no record of encountering before -- either in my LT catalog or in any purchase record. For the record, they've announced that the Conclave (the real life one) will begin on May 7.

>266 jillmwo: I can understand that. So many of the characters in Discworld show up repeatedly and randomly that one starts second guessing their memory. I do hope you enjoy it.

I saw that! I am cautiously optimistic about this upcoming Conclave. I've got my fingers and toes crossed.

I got a DTaP vaccine yesterday, and I am not feeling particularly energetic today. Nothing terrible... just a little fatigue, a slight headache, a bit of nausea and a colossal dose of malaise. I did finish the Murderbot novela Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory which was sadly over before it really got going. I've started The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things. It's the 250th year since Jane was born, and I promised myself I was going to listen to a few of her audiobooks and read some nonfiction relating to her life before the anniversary of her birth in December.

>268 clamairy: I just had to look up what DTaP protects against. Yes, sometimes that one will lay you low. Feel better.

>269 jillmwo:
You means it’s not to prevent the DTs?

>268 clamairy:
Get well soon.

>269 jillmwo: &>271 pgmcc: Thank you.

>270 pgmcc: :P~~

>268 clamairy: Last time I went to the doc I got a couple of shots and I think one of them was a tetanus and pertussis vaccine (not sure about diphtheria). I am absolutely flabbergasted that pertussis is still around — it should have been vaccinated out of existence decades ago. Grrr. It left my arm a trifle sore but that was all. Bloody sight better than a dose of whooping cough, which is what pertussis was called when I was a kid. Anyway, hope you're fine by now.

ETA: Just checked my record on the Australian Immunisation Register. It was DTaP (Adacel, so probably same stuff).

>268 clamairy: Good for you to take care of yourself like this. The only ones being pushed at me these days are the shingles vax, flu and whatever the most recent Covid update is.

Haven't done anything yet. If we travel this summer I'll force myself to go.

>274 terriks: My doctor is encouraging me to start the dual-shot shingles vaccine. I'm dragging my feet about it, even though everyone I know who has had shingles has really suffered and I would like to avoid that, but I've heard the shots have a few days of feeling lousy. It just makes it hard to make the decision to get on it.

>273 haydninvienna: For things to be vaccinated out of existence everyone has to get the shots. :o(

>274 terriks: I have eight older siblings, so I'm doing this for them as well. I can't pass on any plague germs if I'm immune myself. And I worry about tetanus because I'm a gardener and I walk barefoot on the beach. I get a flu shot every Autumn. My last two COVID shots were the Novavax, and I had no reaction either time.

>275 Darth-Heather: My reaction to the first shingle shot wasn't great, but second one was much worse. So schedule it when you know you will be able to have a few days of lounging around, if you need them. I have talked to a couple of people who had no issues, but dozens of others who had.

>268 clamairy: Get well soon!
I like your reading choices :)

>268 clamairy: Good for you! I hope you are feeling better. I was surprised to read recently that it is recommended to get those booster shots. Strangely, none of my doctors has ever recommended any boosters, the shingles shot, pneumonia shot, etc, though they do highly recommend the flu shot.

>278 Karlstar: Sometimes it depends on individual medical history. My physician didn't think I needed the shingles shot, but upon checking my medical history, did suggest that I get the shot for pneumonia. (I have had pneumonia, but only once.)

>268 clamairy: Feel better soon! I'm allergic to tetanus vaccine, so live in fear. Glad you can take it.

>275 Darth-Heather: Everyone is different and unique, of course, but to encourage you, I had both shingles shots and no reaction whatsoever, so they might not be terrible. :) My son had shingles when he was about 20. He wanted to die. It is something I never want to experience.

>273 haydninvienna: & >276 clamairy: Even when a virus is vaccinated out of existence, like smallpox, there will be some evil human that thinks they should keep it in a freezer somewhere and develop it for biological warfare. Sorry. I'm still getting over an article I read about it recently. I want to have hope for humanity, but things like this make it hard.

My doc suggested I get the shingles booster, but not with all the others.

My shingles stories: my late second wife had it across her back, right under her bra strap, which was not fun; and I went to Birmingham (UK) to a concert by Maria Joao Pires which was to include Beethoven’s ‘ Waldstein Sonata’. I’m slightly mental about the Waldstein. Small venue, intimate performance. Come the time, no Maria, and one of the staff appeared to tell us that Maria had shingles. The audience let out a collective groan.

One of her students gave the program as advertised, and did a fine job of it.

>277 Alexandra_book_life: Thanks. :o)

>278 Karlstar: Interesting. Are you still under 60? They recommended the shingles as soon as I hit 60. They didn't recommend the pneumonia until this year, but they told me the RSV was not necessary. I think I was only getting the TD every 10 years, so when he looked at my records this year the MD suggest the DTaP. (or TDaP - I have seen it both ways.) There is a brand new baby in the family, so it is recommended, but I was one year over-due anyway.

>279 jillmwo: I had Chickenpox as a kid, so I guess the shingles vaccine is highly recommended. My dad had shingles in his 60s. The pain was so bad that he was popping some old codeine Rx he found in the house. They made him so woozy that he fell and broke his leg. None of that sounds good to me. LOL

>280 MrsLee: Thanks. I hear you. :o(
I am glad you had no reaction to the shingles vaccine.

>281 haydninvienna: Yes, my MD suggested to get them singly. I made the mistake of getting a COVID booster and the 1st shingles dose together, because the pharmacist at CVS insisted it wasn't a problem. Never again.

I am glad your concert wasn't ruined! Under the bra strap sounds awful.

Just looked up the Australian schedule. Shingrix is on the schedule (i e, free because the Commonwealth Government pays for the vaccine) for 65 and over, and for all ages with specific risk factors.

We see quite a few ads on TV here for the shingles vaccine, and have done so in the past for the RSV vaccine. RSV is on the schedule for pregnant women. I eventually figured out that the ads were run by the manufacturers (they actually tell you this, in very small print right down at the bottom) trying to get everybody asking for the vaccine. While I'm totally in favour of vaccination, I kind of resent the ads because I see them as an end run around the prohibition here of advertising prescription drugs.

Looks like my 19th Thingaversary was three days ago. It's time to donate some funds to my two favorite libraries.

And yes, I realize this thread has gotten overly long. I will be starting a new one tomorrow for the 1st of May.

Happy Thingaversary!

>285 clamairy:
Happy Thingaversary. You have reminded me that I missed my 19th too.

Happy Thingaversary!

I hope you recouped from the Dtap shot quickly. I keep mine up to date because of working in the Petri dish that seconds as a classroom. :) Sadly, we had whooping cough go through our school a few years ago.

And I did the shingles vaccine a couple of years ago. I had a slight fever with both shots for about a day. My arm hurt for longer, though.

Happy Thingaversary! :)))

Oo, Oo, one more shingles story before you close the thread.

Filed under; "The Guest is always right." Not

When I worked at the hotel, a guest came down in the morning, livid, demeaning his money back because he had been bitten by bedbugs in the night. I took one look and told his wife to get him to the doctor because he had shingles. I was right, no refund. SO glad we didn't have bedbugs!

Happy Thingaversary!!

>283 clamairy: Yes, I'm over 60. Those commercials on the TV recommending the COVID shot and flu shot at the same time are just nuts. Who'd want to feel that lousy? Though I have to say, I think they gave me water this year for the flu shot, I felt nothing afterwards.

Happy Thingaversary!

Happy Thingaversary!

Happy belated Thingaversary!

>286 reconditereader: >287 pgmcc:, >288 catzteach:, >289 Alexandra_book_life:, >291 jillmwo:, >292 Karlstar:, >293 Narilka: & >294 haydninvienna: Thank you!

>290 MrsLee: That's hilarious!