Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Thirteen

-Northern California



-Barn Owl



-Northern California



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

~ Henry David Thoreau

"I go to NATURE to be SOOTHED and HEALED, and to have my SENSES put in order."

--John Burroughs

^ Matt & Hannah. Wedding month.

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



June:

57- The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean 4.6 stars
58- Whale Day: And Other Poems by Billy Collins 4.2 stars P
59- The Book of Murder by Matt Murphy 4.4 stars (audio)
60- Kingbird Highway by Kenn Kaufman 4.5 stars RR
61- Blood, Sweat & Chrome: Mad Max by Kyle Buchanan 4.3 stars (audio)
62- Where I'm Calling From: Selected Stories by Raymond Carver 5 stars
63- New and Selected Poems by Marie Howe 4 stars P
64- The Land Remembers by Ben Logan 4.8 stars
65- Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton 4 stars (audio)
66- The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon 3.8 stars
67- It Rhymes With Takei by George Takei 4.5 stars GN
68- Flamer by Mike Curato 4 stars GN
69- Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien 4.2 stars

July:

70- Pictures at a Revolution by Mark Harris 4 stars (audio)
71- Proust's Overcoat by Lorenza Foschini 4 stars
72- Year of the Rabbit by Tian Veasna 4.5 stars GN
73- Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green 4.3 stars (audio)
74- Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver 4.5 stars
75- My Good Bright Wolf: A Memoir by Sarah Moss 4.2 stars (audio)
76- After Rain: Stories by William Trevor 4.5 stars
77- I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina 4 stars GN
78- Birds and the Trick of Time: Poems by Mark Anthony Burke 4 stars P
79- Pan: A Novel by Michael Clune 2.5 stars
80- King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby 4.2 stars (audio)
81- Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks 4.3 stars (audio)
82- So Far Gone by Jess Walter 4.2 stars
83- Spent: A Comic Novel by Alison Bechdel 4.3 stars GN

August:

84- Bicycling with Butterflies by Sara Dykman 4 stars (audio)
85- The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever 4.2 stars
86- Crude by Mike Bond 2.5 stars
87- I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: A Memoir by Maurice Vellekoop 4 stars GN
88- The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson 4 stars (audio)
89- Neon Vernacular: New and Selected Poems by Yusef Komunyakaa 4.4 stars P
90- The Beans of Egypt, Maine by Carolyn Chute 4.2 stars
91- This Beautiful, Ridiculous City: A Graphic Memoir by Kay Sohini 4 stars GN
92- The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang 4.6 stars (audio)
93- Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance by Denali Sai Nalamalapu 4.3 stars GN
94- Eden's Clock (The American Novels) by Norman Lock 4.5 stars ER
95- Culpability by Bruce Holsinger 4.3 stars (audio)
96- A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst 4.4 stars (audio)
97- The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers 5 stars

September:

98- Love Me Please!: The Story of Janis Joplin by Nicolas Finet 4 stars GN
99- Mozart's Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt 4 stars (audio)
100- Hell of a Book by Jason Mott 4.4 stars (audio)
101- The Elements by John Boyne 4.5 stars
102- Song for the Dead by Andrew Cusick 3.5 stars
103- Brain Damage by Kago 3.4 stars GN
104- The CIA Book Club by Charlie English 4 stars (audio)
105- Bird School: A Beginner in the Wood by Adam Nicolson 4 stars E
106- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 4.6 stars (audio)

October:

107- The Heeding by Rob Cowen 4.5 stars P
108- Minor Arcana Vol. 1 by Jeff Lemire 4 stars GN
109- Ripeness by Sarah Moss 4.3 stars
110- The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott 4 stars (audio)
111- Audition by Katie Kitamura 3.8 stars
112- Flesh: A Novel by David Szalay 4.2 stars
113- Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout 4.5 stars GN
114- Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy 4.3 stars (audio)
115- Mothers, Tell Your Daughters: Stories by Bonnie Jo Campbell 4 stars
116- The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi 4.6 stars (audio)
117- Wild Animal by Joel Dicker 4 stars E

P: Poetry
GN: Graphic Novel
E: E-reader
RR: Reread

^ I have really enjoyed doing our shared reads in 2024 and I would like this to continue through 2025 and beyond. Primarily, I would like to read books off shelf, but I could be swayed by an irresistible title. I also would like to do a few rereads. Here are some titles for the early part of the year.

2025

The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever Kristel, Paul, Ellen (ongoing...)
The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers Ellen, Beth, Benita, Kristel, Paul, Caroline, Marianne, Stasia Sept
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Stasia, Linda P, Katie, Jim H. Marianne Dec

2026

Nicholas Nickelby by Charles Dickens Joe, Stasia, Kathy January
The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson Jeff Feb, Mar?

Any suggestions?

Hello?? Great Horned Owl chicks.

"Ripeness by Sarah Moss is an extraordinary novel about familial love and the communities we create, about migration and new beginnings, and about what it is to have somewhere to belong."

I heard some early buzz on Ripeness a couple of months back- requested it and it finally came in at the library. It sounds like a nice companion piece to The Correspondent which I just finished. I enjoyed her novel Ghost Wall and her memoir My Good Bright Wolf, which I listened to a couple of months ago. I will start her latest today. Anyone else a fan of Moss?

Happy New Thread, Mark!

^Oh yeah- Go Cubbies! Game 2 this afternoon. 🤞🤞

Happy new thread, Mark!

>7 mahsdad: >9 richardderus: Thanks Jeff & Richard! 😎

Happy October! Our fall weather has been beautiful. I hope you are enjoying the same. I knew September was going to be a busy one so I didn’t expect to read as much as usual but was pleased with the nine titles, I still managed to knock out. The three top gems were Hell of a Book, The Elements and The Correspondent. I also had a good time with The CIA Book Club and Bird School. I failed miserably at writing up any reviews but will try to come back and pound out a few.

October Reads:

Ripeness by Sara Moss
The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott
Audition by Katie Kitamura
Flesh by David Szalay
Wild Animal by Joel Dicker

Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread, Mark!

>2 msf59: Great pics!

>12 Kristelh: >13 quondame: Thanks, Kristel & Susan.

Happy new thread Mark! The tree photo in >1 msf59: reminds me so much of Holloway the Robert Macfarlane book. Have you read it? I just finished Ripeness and loved it. It is still really lingering in my mind. I will be interested to see what you think of it!

"The true crime story of bootlegger George Remus and the murder that shocked the nation."

I had The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America on my audio TBR already but while doing a tour of Cincinnati we stopped at the place where Remus was murdered and my friend Chris recommended this book. Good enough for me- I started the audio today and I can tell it will be a good one.

>15 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. Great to see you. I have not read Holloway and it sounds perfect. I am a fan of Macfarlane. Glad to hear you enjoyed Ripeness. Not far in, but I like it.

-Christopher Weyant

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread buddy.

>1 msf59: I love me a wooded trail.

>17 msf59: I also have this one slated for October.

>16 msf59: I had that one in the BlackHole but just discovered my local library now has a copy. I will have to get to it soon!

Happy new thread, Mark! Hopefully the Cubs can pull out the series tomorrow.

>19 figsfromthistle: >20 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Anita & Silver.

>21 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I love wooded trails. I walked several beauties in CA.

>22 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. I think you will enjoy The Ghosts of Eden Park. Go Cubbies! Let's get it done today.

>18 msf59: *PERFECT*!

Off to do a Valerie day of...whatever...enjoy your Thursday, Birddude.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy new thread, sweet Thursday. Yay for Jackson day!

From your last thread, I just took some pics of the front porch and furniture. I’ll post them on my thread sometime today.

>1 msf59: Love the photos of CA.

>2 msf59: Yay for Matt and Hannah’s wedding month, and sweet pic of The Grandson.

>3 msf59: If you’ve never watched the interview of and performance by Janis Joplin with Dick Cavett, it’s a joy. She was so intelligent and snarky and talented, and her rapport with Dick was phenomenal.

No birds right now. I think yesterday’s noise spooked them.

I finished reading Impossible Thing, a novel by Belinda Bauer. It was great fun and for those who are interested in all things birds, it was a grand adventure into that world. It was a hilarious read about a serious topic and was full of unforgettable characters. I am adding several of the authors other titles to my gargantuan TBR list. This is a 2025 publication so it is brand new and I would guess that not many people have heard about it - yet. So, I am spreading the word.

I wanted to read Isola next and went to the library yesterday to get it - and it is checked out. I will have to wait my turn on it.

>2 msf59: Wedding month! That's exciting, Mark. Enjoy the celebration.

>24 richardderus: I am hoping you are having a perfect day with Valerie!

>25 karenmarie: Thanks Karen and Sweet Thursday. Glad you like the pics. I had a great visit with Jackson. He was the perfect boy. I have seen clips of Janis on the Cavett Show and should revisit them. I heard they had a great chemistry.

>26 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita. Impossible Thing is firmly on the TBR. Isola may be the best novel I have read this year. I hope you get it sooner than later.

>27 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I really wish we could have a full blown wedding for the couple but they chose to elope instead. We got robbed of 2 traditional weddings. We are bummed but making the best of it.

^Jackson Day! Jack really wants a Cubs win. He is gripping his light-saber. I sure hope they deliver. Go Cubbies!!

They lead 2-0 in the 5th! 🤞🤞

>29 msf59: With such a determined fan, how can they not do their best?

Happy New Thread, MarK! Wedding month , that sounds exciting. I am a fan of Sarah Moss and have Ripeness on hold at the library.

Hey, Mark. Congrats to your Cubs!! I just heard.

Happy new thread, Mark! I missed the start of your thread because we had an Internet outage for over a day. Catching up now.

And hurray for the Cubs! Moving on to the next round.

From your last thread--I would agree that I don't see the Cubs going all the way this year, and I would also be OK seeing the Blue Jays win it (though maybe I would be even happier for the Mariners, since they've never even been to the World Series). But you never really know. There have certainly been some surprise winners over the years.

ETA: My RL book club has posted the poll for next year's reading choices, and The Correspondent is on it. From what you said about it, I guess it's one I should vote for.

>30 quondame: Jack really came through yesterday, didn't he? 😜

>31 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. Looking forward to celebrating with Matt & Hannah. Ripeness has been wonderful. Glad you have it on hold.

>32 jessibud2: It was a nice win but a bit stressful to watch, per usual. Go Cubbies! Go Blue Jays!

>33 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. Glad you have your internet back. Loved seeing the Cubs beat out the Padres- a very good team. I just hope they fight hard against the Brewers but that will even be a tougher conquest. One step at a time, right? I agree with you on the Blue Jays and Mariners.

I think The Correspondent would be an excellent book club choice! Just sayin'...

^Well, our Cubbies got it done against the Padres yesterday. Now they face the Brewers in Milwaukee for round 2 tomorrow. This will even be a tougher task against our division rivals. Keep hope alive! Go Cubbies!

Congrats on the Cubs win. Great picture of Jack. Have a great weekend.

>36 Kristelh: Happy Friday, Kristel. I had a fine time with Jack yesterday. I sure missed him. Very happy about our Cubs winning. Gearing up for some PB this AM. Looks like another warm, beautiful day in the Midwest.

Have a great weekend, my friend.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you.

>28 msf59: There’s one clip of the entire Janis-part of the show. She sings a couple of songs in addition to bantering with Cavett.

>29 msf59: Looks like Jack’s light saber gave them special mojo. Yay for the win.

Mark! Have you heard about the film, Listers?
"Two brothers dive into competitive birdwatching, living in a van for a year while traveling across the country to participate in a Big Year contest."

It's enjoyable and really funny. Click on the link to watch -- it's available free on YouTube!

>29 msf59: Glad to see that Jackson is a Cubs fan!

>35 msf59: I wore my lucky Wrigleyville T-shirt and am sure that is the reason the Cubs won yesterday, lol. I am really hoping that they do well against their rival Brewers.

Have a fantastic Friday!

I was able to get The Correspondent at the library yesterday, so I hope to get to it soon. So many have liked here on LT. Go Cubs!

>38 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. Thanks for the Joplin/Cavett info. I will see if I can track it down. Hooray for Jack and his trusty light-saber.

>39 lauralkeet: Funny- the movie was mentioned on are our California trip and it sounded really good. Of course, I completely forgot about it, until you brought it up again, so thank you, Laura. I hope to see it soon.

>40 alcottacre: Happy Friday, Stasia. Hooray for Jackson, our junior Cubs fan (he probably knows nothing about our team. LOL). I hope you wear your lucky Wrigleyville T-shirt all weekend. 🤞🤞

>41 vancouverdeb: Funny, I thought you had already read The Correspondent. There were several LTers that were singing it's praises. Glad you have a copy. It is a wonderful read.

-Adam Zyglis

>34 msf59: Well, it definitely sounds like I should be giving The Correspondent a vote for one of our book club picks. It's getting lots of positive feedback here.

Hoping for the best for our Cubs this weekend.

Happy new one, Mark!

My sister told me about Adolph Trumps visit with the generals and she was laughing the whole time she tried to tell me about it. I was busy and didn't see or hear about the speech until I sat down tonight to watch the Week in the News wrapups. All I have to say is that Generals are a tougher audience than are testosterone fueled military academy young guys. The clips I watched the Generals didn't look happy to be there. My question about the whole thing is how much did that cost the American taxpayers?

>46 benitastrnad: I thought I heard someone say it cost them $6 million to bring all the generals in and put them up. Right before the government shut down.

IIRC, when Trump had that speech with the younger military guys (was that the West Point graduation?), they had told them that anyone who didn't like Trump's ideas should stay away, or stay out of camera shot, or something of the sort. So the people who appeared on camera behind him were ones who were already more supportive of his ideas.

>44 atozgrl: I think The Correspondent would be an ideal book club pick, Irene. Glad you are considering it. Go Cubbies! It would sure be nice to win at least one of these first 2 games.

>45 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>46 benitastrnad: That was another disgusting performance by our highest leaders. They sure keep piling up. Pete Hegseth is a real POS. Completely unqualified for that position.

>47 atozgrl: 6 million? Wow. They throw around money like there is no tomorrow, unless it is for something that helps the people. I remember that West Point talk too. Disgusting.

101- The Elements by John Boyne 4.5 stars

This highly ambitious novel braids together four different narratives and timelines, presented in the four elements- earth, water, fire and air. Each of the four main characters, two female, two male, are haunted by a horrific event in their lives, mostly of a sexual abuse nature. How these characters deal and come to terms with their past is the main thrust of the novel, masterfully handled by Boyle, who has become a favorite writer of mine. I want to avoid any more detail, with fear of spoiling anything, so I recommend picking up this gem at your earliest convenience.

102- Song for the Dead by Andrew Cusick 3.5 stars

Declan is seventeen, when his older brother Mason commits suicide, turning his life upside down. Mason also left a cryptic note- “I am Not Gone”, which adds to Declan’s grief and confusion. Is he alive somewhere. To add to Declan’s misery, he starts receiving text messages from someone claiming to be Mason. This is a dark tale about a boy dealing with his immense grief, along with trying to solve the mysteries of his brother’s death. Certainly not an uplifting book but a well-written one.

Hi Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

I've got a White-Breasted Nuthatch and a finch visiting.

>51 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen. Hooray for the nuthatch. Not seeing much here- a chickadee stopped by earlier.

"I tried and failed to imagine what it might be like to prefer abject boredom to uncongenial reading."

'The Devil finds work for idle hands, Gran had often said, usually meaning stop reading fiction and do some housework, but he wasn't finding much for us."

-Ripeness

>48 msf59: Hi, Mark! Our book club leader had posted a poll to vote for our favorites for next year's reading. She compiled a list of suggestions that folks had sent her, and it was a pretty long list this year. We could mark each title from 1 to 5 to indicate how much we are interested in reading it. She will compile the results and let us know later. I gave The Correspondent a high ranking. There were quite a few good books on the list. Suggestions that I didn't know much about, I wound up checking ratings and reviews here on LT.

The Cubs game was disappointing today. (More fuel for all the "Brewers are so wonderful" talk that has gotten so old this year.) I hope the next game will go better.

I finally got my feeders refilled. I've been lax about keeping up with it since we got back from our trip. I'll have to do better with fall coming on.

>54 atozgrl: Boo to our Cubbies! They got rocked, Irene. Hoping for a better outcome tomorrow night.

Hooray for The Correspondent and getting those feeders filled.

Happy Sunday!

104- The CIA Book Club by Charlie English 4 stars

A fascinating true account how US Intelligence smuggled books across the Iron Curtain, during the Cold War. It also focuses on the brave souls who dealt with the forbidden books on the receiving end, risking their lives. The author chose to set most of this in Poland, with it’s brutal regime. I would have liked more about the other Soviet Bloc cities. Still an interesting read about this perilous mission to bring some eye-opening culture to these repressed people.

105- Bird School: A Beginner in the Wood by Adam Nicolson 4 stars

Adam Nicholson is a nature writer and lives on a large, sprawling farm in Sussex. He enjoys the wildlife on his farm but one day realizes he doesn’t know much about the birds that live and pass through his little world. He builds a shed in a wooded area, populates it with bird feeders and bird houses and proceeds to put himself though his own “bird school”. Nicholson literally lives in this shed for nearly a year, studying and taking notes. This book describes his experience and he goes into massive detail about birds, along with the many environmental challenges that our bird friends deal with every day. The author is a fine writer and researcher but reading this account can sometimes be exhausting, so be forewarned if you only have a casual interest in birds and nature.



-Great Tit. There are lots and lots of tits in this book. Not surprising at all, with the English setting. The only tits I have seen are bushtits on the west coast. I need to get out more. 😎

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you.

>56 msf59: I’m getting this one for my friend Karen for Christmas. I’d be fascinated, but she’ll be more fascinated.

The birds are boycotting my feeders.

>57 msf59: Yay for great tits!

...there's a sentence I never expected to type in all seriousness....

Happy new thread, Mark. Your threads are dangerous! You got me with The Correspondent and The Ghosts of Eden Park.

The narrators of Wild Dark Shore are all veterans. I had listened to them many times on other recorded books and so their voices are becoming familiar to me. The book works well as a recorded book, and is one that I am recommending for people to listen to. The author keeps the suspense high and then lowers it, so that you keep asking is there really a murderer or is there something else going on?

>58 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. Were you referring to Bird School in your post? Have the birds ended the boycott?

>59 richardderus: Hooray for great tits, RD. Yes, a bit odd coming from you but I am ALL IN!! 😜

>60 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg and Happy Sunday. Glad I was able to land a couple of BBs and very fine ones at that.

>61 benitastrnad: You sold me on the audio, Benita. It also helps that I am big fan of her work, although I have only read her in print.

>56 msf59: You got me with that one. I don't know when I'll ever get to it, but onto the list it goes.

>63 atozgrl: Too many books, too little...I completely understand but at least it is on your radar. Go Cubbies! Lets get it done tonight.

The Problem With Us

Scant pickings this afternoon. Nothing, but rot
and bones in this endless mockery of a year.

And the knowledge that a human being somewhere
is sitting down to write stories about how vaccines

sicken and deform, knowing them to be untrue.
Changing words, mutating facts and meanings,

inventing figures and quotes. Shock-tactic simplicity.
Uploading multiple conspiracies, intending to confuse,

to undermine and reduce efficacy. The objective being
to seed doubt in people half a world away. To destabilise

and sentence to death. To win a hand in the old game of
politicking. And today, at the garage, I saw the way it
spreads

as a man spat out in rage:‘They’re all in it together. I’ll never
get one. Things I’ve read! Give me your email and I’ll send it on.’

What chance do we have? What right to call anything
‘insidious’ when such malignancies seem a habit of our species?

When the same human being who writes such lies can
rise, weary from a day’s murder, go downstairs and cook dinner for
their children?

-Rob Cowen

From the collection The Heeding. Thanks to Paul for turning me onto to this excellent collection. If you like poetry track this one down.

Morning, Birddude. I shall Loftily Ignore the objectionable stuff above while I drop off victory wishes for your Cubbies!

Mark - Chicago calm?

‘Morning, Mark!

>62 msf59: Should have been >56 msf59:, not >59 richardderus:. I just corrected it. I can’t even blame it on needing more caffeine since I’d been up since 5 or so.

🤞 for the Cubs tonight.

My feeders are open for business but have no customers.

>66 richardderus: Happy Monday, Richard. Settling back into your usual routine? And thanks for the rallying cry for our Cubbies!
They really need a boost tonight.

>67 m.belljackson: Something is always brewing in Chi-town, Marianne, especially with Trump and Pritzker butting heads. I haven't heard anything explosive today.

>68 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. No worries, I knew you meant either post 56 or 57. Thanks for the good cheer on the Cubs. They need to come back strong tonight.

Good luck for the Cubs tonight, Mark!

I love birds and nature writing, but >57 msf59: sounds like it might be too much for me.

Happy newish thread, Mark! Happy October too!!

Hi Mark, thinks are moving right along in your reading world as usual. It is hard to keep up with you. We had similar thoughts on both The Elements and The Correspondent. No surprise there.

Did I miss the news about a wedding coming up? More details, please.

>70 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. Great to see you. You might be making the right decision on Bird School. Not for casual nature lovers. Go Cubbies! Lets do it tonight!

>71 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda and Happy October to you too. Always good to see you.

>72 Donna828: Happy Monday, Donna. Always a pleasure to see you. Glad we had similar feelings about The Elements and The Correspondent. Both were definite gems.

We are having a pre-wedding party for Matt and Hannah on Saturday. Next week they will be eloping. They are going to the Virgin Islands. That was what they wanted. We have been cheated once again. LOL.

"In Audition, two competing narratives unspool, rewriting our understanding of the roles we play every day—partner, parent, creator, muse—and the truths every performance masks, especially from those who think they know us best."

Audition has landed on the Booker's Short-List. It sounds like a challenging read and has received a mixed response from my LT pals. I would like to read 2 or 3 off the Booker list so I thought I would give it a try. I read her novel A Separation back in 2017, gave it 4 stars and I remember nothing about it. I will start it tomorrow.

If you have been reading books off the Short-list- what is your current favorite?

Come on Cubbies! We NEED a win tonight. We have Shota Imanaga on the mound and we NEED a stellar performance out of him.

The 2025 Recipient

-Clay Bennett

I confess I was not a big fan of Wild Dark Shores. It was well written and I did give it 4 stars , but I just did not enjoy it. I think in part cli- fi is not my bag, though I do believe in climate change. The Correspondent is great though. and I have both a library copy and I have it on audio. The audio is really good. I have only read two from the Booker Longlist, The Loneliness of Sunny and Sonia and The Land in Winter. I think I will chose The Loneliness of Sunny and Sonia . But The Land in Winter was good too. My parents eloped, as my parents were pregnant with me. But their families went along with them - that is, my dad's mom, ( his dad passed away at an early age and no sibs, and my mom had her parents and two sibs. My youngest brother also eloped, but they were foiled. My brother asked to borrow my mom's car to elope ( at age 29 no less! ) and she said no, she was using it. So my brother had to confess he and Donia were eloping. So my mom lent him the car. LOL! My sister in law is from Germany , so her parents could not attend, so neither did my parents. In my brother's defense on needing to borrow the car , he was newly back from the Maldives where he working as a float pilot and where he met his wife . Heknow is homeowner, still married, tow kids and two cars and is an airline pilot for Air Canada. So it's not quite as bad as it sounds.

>77 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deborah. Thanks for all that. I think Wild Dark Shore will work better for me, plus I love her writing, based on her first 2 books. I might start it next on audio.

I took note of both Sunny and Sonia and The Land in Winter. Both sound good. I also have a library copy of Flesh waiting nearby. Not sure that one is your cuppa either.

I appreciate you sharing your familial thoughts on elopement. Definitely not a new thing. We are happy for Matt & Hannah. We would just have liked a proper wedding, since we didn't get one with Bree. Your brother sounds like a cool guy. Do you see him very often?

106- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 4.6 stars

Sybil Van Antwerp is in her 70s, living a comfortable life in Maryland. She is a mother, divorcee and a retired lawyer. She is also a writer of letters. This is her story, told through letters and emails, covering the past fifteen years or so. She most often writes to her sister, her brother and her daughter, (their replies are sometimes included) but also writes to well-known authors like Ann Patchett and Joan Didion. These are a special treat, since Sybil is also an avid reader. Pulling off an epistolary novel is not an easy task but Evans delivers it perfectly, with the right balance of humor and poignancy. It is also a perfect audiobook experience, with a wide cast of narrators. Highly recommended.

I’ve read 3 from the shortlist and rated them all 4 stars, but I enjoy Flashlight better than the other two. The other 2 were Audition and Flesh.

ETA I have a a hold for Sunny and Sonia.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

>76 msf59: 👍👍

>77 vancouverdeb: My maternal grandparents eloped because her father did not like him – called him That Holets Boy. Not that it’s any big deal any more but of course it was then – she was not pregnant. My mother was born 4 years later.

One female Cardinal, and one male Cardinal on the feeders.

Tuesday orisons, Grandpa. I hope you and Jack had a good time together before he had to go to school.

>79 msf59: Ah I have seen this around and everyone so far has loved it. I will add this to my list

>80 Kristelh: Thanks for chiming on on the Booker, Kristel. I will also add Flashlight to my TBR. I am liking Audition early on and hopefully Flesh works out better for me than you.

>81 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Hooray for your eloping grandparents and those lovely cardinals.

>82 richardderus: Hiya, Richard. I had a good time with Jack. Big surprise, right?

>83 figsfromthistle: I think you will really enjoy The Correspondent, Anita. I think it is foolproof.

>84 msf59:, I liked all of the ones I read; Audition, Flesh, and Flashlight. I think I like Flesh more than most did because I appreciated what the author was trying to do with the novel. I think all 3 were worthy of being longlisted/shortlisted.

>85 Kristelh: Thanks for the clarification on Flesh, Kristel, since that will be my next book, after Audition.

-Michael de Adder

^The Texas National Guard has arrived...

>78 msf59: Did Bree not have a proper wedding Mark ? I don't recall. My dad's dream was the all of his kids would elope so he could escape the formalities of a wedding. He offered to pay us $2000 or $3000 back in the day if we would elope. Alas , for my dad, only my one brother eloped. Yes that brother is good brother. He's cool and he even has a degree in English Lit, so he is a reader , but only of non- fiction these days. I see him fairly often. He moved with his family back to the Vancouver area from the Toronto area just two years ago, so I do see him fairly often now.

>88 vancouverdeb: Bree and Sean were supposed to get married in June of 2020. Of course, Covid shut everything down so it was just terrible timing. They married privately and we never had a chance to have a reception.

Glad you are close with your brother. Sounds like a good relationship.

>49 msf59: I really wish my local library had a copy of that one!

>56 msf59: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Mark!

>57 msf59: My local library has that one so I will have to get to it soon.

>79 msf59: I bought the Kindle edition of that one when it was on sale recently. I just need to find the time to read it, lol. I am glad to see that you enjoyed it so much!

Have a wonderful Wednesday! I sure hope the Cubs can do something tonight!!

>90 alcottacre: Happy Wednesday, Stasia. Glad I landed a few BBs. That was a good stretch of reading and I think you will enjoy all of them, especially The Correspondent.

Go Cubbies! I say that a bit weakly though...the first 2 games were super frustrating.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you.

>87 msf59: It just keeps getting worse and worse.

>89 msf59: I’d forgotten about Covid shutting everything down and Bree and Sean getting married privately and with no reception either.

Nary a bird...

>88 vancouverdeb: "My dad's dream was the all of his kids would elope " Made me laugh...my dad didn't offer us money, but he did say he'd be glad to hold the ladder steady so I could climb out my bedroom window to elope! (We had a relatively small at-home wedding, and he managed to participate without too much angst in the end.!)

Happy mid-week, Mark!

My Yankees pulled out game 3 - hope your Cubs do the same tonight!

I hate agreeing with generals.

Hi Mark, Happy New Thread mate.

>95 richardderus: - Ok. Now do something about it!

>97 jessibud2: Agreed.

Mark, congrats to your Cubs!

>92 karenmarie: Happy Wednesday, Karen. Yep, very little joy to be found with this administration. Ugh! Hope you got some birds.

>93 laytonwoman3rd: I loved your elopement story, Linda. 😀

>94 katiekrug: Hiya, Katie! Go Cubbies! We got it done. Now, lets see how your Yanks do.

>95 richardderus: I am sure Trump loves Milley! I am surprised he hasn't fired him.

>96 johnsimpson: Thanks, John. Great to see you.

>97 jessibud2: I am with you, Shelley!

>99 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. It was a nerve-wracking game but my Cubbies got it done. Go Jays!! Got the game on.

Go Cubbies! They won game 3, to keep from being eliminated. Lets see what they do tomorrow.

"A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon...A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears."

I am a big fan of McConaghy. I absolutely loved her last 2 novels Migrations & Once There Were Wolves. So why has it taken me more than 6 months to read her latest, Wild Dark Shore. Who the heck knows but I finally decided to try it on audio and will start it tomorrow. Benita raved about the audio version and that gave me the nudge I needed.

Hi Mark, I hope things are going well for you. You have (or are going to have) a beautiful daughter-in-law! You've been reading a lot of interesting books lately. I have mostly been reading light, quick books - anything that doesn't make me think.

I had also forgotten about covid shutting things down for weddings, etc ,Mark. I finished The Correspondentand really enjoyed it too. I had both a library copy and had it on audio, It was really well done on audio - I did a hybrid read / listen. Sybil was quite a character at times. That really came across on the audio well.

>104 DeltaQueen50: Sweet Thursday, Judy. Good to see you. Thanks in regard to my future DIL. I am glad my son found her. Sorry you have to read lighter books at this time but it is completely understandable.

>105 vancouverdeb: Hooray for The Correspondent and the scrappy Sybil. Glad you were able to enjoy a hybrid version of it.

109- Ripeness by Sarah Moss 4.3 stars

It is the early 1960s, Edith is a seventeen year old English girl. She is sent, by her mother to Italy to stay with her older sister, who is preparing to have a baby that will be put up for adoption. It is a heavy burden for a young girl. The second storyline finds Edith, now in her 70s, living a simple and contented life in Ireland. What appears to be a quiet, plotless novel, really blossoms into a story of familial love and the bonds we make and break. Moss’s writing is beautiful and her attention to detail is wonderful, especially in the Italian scenes.

*I think this is a good companion piece to The Correspondent. Just sayin'...

‘Morning, and sweet Thursday to you, Mark!

>95 richardderus: and >101 msf59: I’ve thought for a while that the federal military might be our last safeguard. National Guards, sheriff departments and local cops not so much since they seem to be more politicized.

>102 msf59: Yay for your Cubbies.

I’ve got a male Cardinal on one of the wild bird seed feeders. I need to put out more sunflower seed.

>108 karenmarie: It's possible, Horrible, and I devoutly hope it will prove to be so.
***
Thursday orisons, Birddude!

>108 karenmarie: >109 richardderus: Something needs to shake loose. And soon.

Good morning, Mark! Happy wedding month! Go Cubbies! Maybe someday I’ll reread The Correspondent on audio. Everyone seems to have loved it.

Hey Mark!

Sorry you have to deal with the National Guard, that's a mess. And I'm sorry for them, too, as they may be taken away from their families for a cause they disagree with.

Happy new-ish thread, Mark!

>29 msf59: OMG he is adorable! Looks like he's just bursting with excitement! Four year olds are the best!

You've got a busy life, Mark. Good for you.

I'm taking The Correspondent under advisement. It does sound interesting. However, I've accumulated a dozen or so books lately that I am anxious to read. Peculiar and interesting development on my part this reading year has been the alignment of acquisitions and actual reading. I've acquired 139 books this year and have read 41 of them. That's half of what I've read this year's. A definite departure for me.

Keep on truckin', Dude.

>108 karenmarie: Sweet Thursday, Karen. Big Boo to ICE and the National Guard invading our city. They are terrifying and aggressively hassling many brown people that are just trying to carry on with their every day lives. I have not heard of any criminals or gangbangers being arrested. I guess ICE would rather hang out in the peaceful suburbs.

>109 richardderus: Back at you, Richard. A cool, sunny day in Chicagoland. Sad that Trump has to darken it as much as he can.

>110 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. Sweet Thursday to you. Glad I could add to the warbling on The Correspondent. It deserves every bit of it.

>111 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel. Good to see you. Yep, we feel under siege in Chicagoland. My heart goes out to all these brown people who are living every day in fear, including a few a know personally.

>112 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. We sure have a good time with our grandkids, right? A nice ray of sunshine, in a very ugly period in our nation's history. Sighs...

>113 weird_O: Great to hear from you, Bill and giving me a reading update. I hope you can bookhorn in The Correspondent, somewhere in your busy reading schedule. 🤞🤞

-Harry Bliss

Congratulations to Matt and Hannah on their upcoming elopement. Enjoy celebrating with them this weekend at their prenuptial party. Frankly, that sounds like more fun to me than a formal wedding. All my kiddos had big weddings, and I had a headache from all the hullabaloo every time. Haha. Take lots of pictures!

Okay, you (and a few others) have sold me on Ripeness. Onto the long list of holds at the library I go...

>117 Donna828: Thanks, Donna. Looking forward to the prenuptial party. Only about 40 guests or so, so plenty of time to mingle and chat with all the attendees.

I am sure you will enjoy Ripeness. She is such a good writer.

>115 msf59: Mark - now you know a few more personally, if from a distance -
9/10 of my Family is African American, Mexican, & Puerto Rican,
with the remaining 1/10 being Irish, French, German, and Scotch.

>119 m.belljackson: Thanks for that, Marianne. Are any of the extended family still living in the Chicago area? If so, I hope they are safe.

Nice to see a solid win by my Cubbies, evening up the series 2-2. The offense was finally clicking and the pitching was outstanding. It will be do or die tomorrow night. Go Cubbies!

Go Cubbies! Congrats!

‘Morning, Mark. Happy Friday to you.

Yay for your Cubbies. I hope they win tomorrow night, too.

I just had a Carolina Chickadee on one of the wild bird seed feeders.

>120 msf59: Nope, we all got outta Dodge = Madison, Tucson, Las Vegas, Maryland...

>122 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. Hard to come back when you are down 0-2, especially against a really good team. Anything is possible now.

>123 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. Hooray for my Cubbies and those Carolina Chickadees.

>124 m.belljackson: Smart family you got there, Marianne. 😀

>121 msf59: It sure was nice to see the Cubs' offense clicking like it was in the first half of the season. I hope they can win tomorrow. On the other hand, I hate the thought that they would have to face the Dodgers. (Among other things, all that noise at Dodger stadium is really obnoxious.) I guess we'll see if the pitching can hold up. They sure do miss Horton.

>126 atozgrl: Happy Friday, Irene. I agree with you, on having to face the Dodgers, if we somehow get a win tomorrow. We did knock them out back in 2016 but we of course had a much better team back then. I also miss Horton. He would sure come in handy for game 5.

"From Booker Prize finalist David Szalay, a propulsive, hypnotic novel, about a man whose future is derailed by a series of events that he is unable to control...Fast-paced and immersive, Flesh reveals István’s life through intimate moments, with lovers, employers, and family members, charted over the course of decades."

After quickly wrapping up Audition, I decided on reading another Booker finalist, Flesh. I thought this was a new author for me but it turns out I read enjoyed his novel Turbulence back in 2019. Has anyone here, read this Canadian's work? I will start it today.

ETA: 100 pages in. Enjoying very much.

>121 msf59: All the YAY!!

Perhaps the touchstone is wrong for Turbulence. I read Flesh and I did not think David Szalay was Canadian. I thought he was Hungarian/British.
But I see he is listed Montreal, Canada.

>129 richardderus: Thanks, RD. Go Cubbies!!

>130 Kristelh: I fixed the touchstone, Kristel. Thanks. I recommend that one too. Now, I want to read All That Man Is.

I haven't been aware of Szalay at all. Maybe I should give him a try.

Good luck to the Cubs!

I looked to see but I haven't read anything by Szalay. Best of luck to your Cubs tomorrow, Mark!

>133 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Go Cubbies! So far I am really enjoying the latest Szalay, although he may not be for all tastes.

110- The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott 4 stars

George Remus was a lawyer, turned bootlegger. He made an immense fortune in the early days of prohibition. I was not familiar with him, until we made a recent visit to Cincinnati and he was mentioned as being an infamous figure there. The book covers his extravagant lifestyle and his tumultuous marriage, which leads to mayhem and murder. It is a solid read. The author had certainly done her research. My only issue is that I felt it was over-stuffed with a bit too much detail and repetition. It could have used some additional editing, otherwise I enjoyed reading about this time period.

111- Audition by Katie Kitamura 3.7 stars

The set-up to this novel is deceptively simple- an actor, in her forties, meets a young man for lunch, in downtown Manhattan. She is in rehearsals for an upcoming play and the man is a hanger-on in the production. They were strangers before this lunch but are they really strangers? They could almost be mother and son. There is a connection here, that becomes very unsettling. The second half of the book, explores a different reality. What is real and what is role-playing? The writing is beautiful, I cannot deny that. It is just that my simple brain had a hard time sorting this one out out. It is a short novel, so try it for yourself.

**A Booker Finalist

'Morning, Mark!

Congrats to Matt and Hannah. Joy to the Freeburg clan. I hope today goes well. And, at the end of it, I hope the Cubbies win!

My feeders are currently birdless.

Enjoy today, Mark! Hope the weather holds! Congrats to all. Need I remind you....photos!! ;-)

edited to add GO CUBBIES!

(except, of course, if it ends up somehow that the Cubs play the Blue Jays in the World Series. Then, my loyalties will not be divided ;-) lol

Have a wonderful day, Mark and family!

Phew, I blinked and a thread and a half went by. I'm finally caught up. Enjoy the celebration today!

Have a wonderful day, and the best time at the party today!

Have a great day today, Mark, and enjoy your time with the family. Go Cubs!

>137 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen and thanks. The party was great. All the hard work paid off. The star couple really enjoyed themselves. Sadly, the Cubs fell flat but at least they made it that far.

>138 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. The weather wasn't bad for October. It got cooler later on. Some folks put on a jacket and we had a fire, which was nice. I wish the Cubbies could have pulled it off but they failed against the better team. I sure would like to see the Brewers and Jays in the World Series.

*I will share photos as soon as I get them.

>139 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. It was a lovely party. All the hard work paid off.

>140 labfs39: Hi, Lisa. Always good to see you. We had a perfect celebration yesterday. The happy couple were in their glory.

>141 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. It all went swimmingly. Glad we were able to share the day with friends and family.

>142 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. The party was wonderful. We got home just after nine and watched the last 2 innings. Pretty sad effort. Hey, honestly I was surprised they made it this far, with such a lackluster second half. Oh, well...

'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday.

I'm glad that the celebration was perfect, and that Matt and Hannah were in their glory. Pics will be greatly appreciated.

I've got a Tufted Titmouse and a Carolina Chickadee visiting.

>145 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. It was a very nice party. Glad it all went so well. Pics are on their way...

^Congrats Matt & Hannah! Have a happy future together.

Everyone looks very happy, so YAY! And congratulations all around.

Mar - What a Beautiful Celebration of Love All Around!

>147 msf59: Beautiful pics! Beautiful couple(s)! Congrats to Matt and Heather!

Beautiful photos, Mark. Congrats all around to everyone. (where was Jack? ;-)

Love the celebration of...uh...well...LOVE. Happy happy, joy joy. The celebrants all look good and joyful. Even you, Mark.

Now about these Booker books. I don't need more bbs, Dude. New to me authors and their writings. Guess I'll append them to The WANT!! List™. I just might like them. :-)

Congrats on the celebration and sorry about the Cubs.

Thanks, Linda, Marianne, Mary & Shelley. We were very happy with the results. A great looking couple.

Jack spent the night with Sean's Mom. We missed him but it made it much easier for Bree & Sean.

>152 weird_O: Thank you, Bill. You are correct- I EVEN smiled. Good time by all. I am not obsessive about these book award nominees but I can't help but be curious and I like discovering a new author or a book I may have missed. I am enjoying the latest two, so I am making the right call.

>153 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel. We had a fine time. Happy Sunday to you.

Great pictures , Mark! Everyone looks so happy!

>144 msf59: >147 msf59: I'm glad the party went so well and the weather cooperated. Everyone sure looks like they're having a great time!

I actually thought the Cubs might get this far, though I had my doubts about them going farther. The injuries to Tucker and Horton really hurt. I think the calf injury sapped Tucker's power.

I wish the Blue Jays/Mariners series was the World Series. I like both teams but I've got a soft spot for Seattle since they've never even been to the World Series. So I'm hoping for a Seattle/Milwaukee World Series.

>147 msf59: Congratulations to the lovely couple! It looks like a wonderful day of celebration.

>49 msf59: oh boy, that one sounds like a tough one, but I bet a rewarding one.

>128 msf59: I have not long finished Flesh and loved it. Shortlisted for the Booker too, I think!?

Congrats on another family milestone! Everyone looks so happy :)

>156 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deborah. Great times.

>157 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. Everything went off perfectly. Glad you had more faith in the Cubs, in the second half than I did. I just didn't see the drive they needed. Yes, losing Horton was very tough but several key offensive players did nothing in the playoffs. For me, that was the clincher.

I don't really follow the American League much but I also like both the Jays and Mariners. I also like pulling for the underdog.

>158 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. Fine time with the family. Matt and Hannah stopped by yesterday too and still had that "glow". 😀❤️

>159 LovingLit: Thanks, Megan. Great to see you. I highly recommend The Elements. Have you read Boyne yet? If not, do yourself a big favor. Glad to hear that you loved Flesh. I am 200 pages in and really enjoying it. I think we are both drawn to this spare style of writing. Yes, it is a short-listed title.

‘Morning, Mark.

>147 msf59: Everybody looks so happy! Thanks for the pics.

>162 karenmarie: Good morning, Karen and thanks. I was just over at your place, dropping my daily greeting. Glad you like the pics. They came out well.

^Fans of TTW rejoice. I am a big fan of Terry Tempest Williams and I just learned her new one, The Glorians: Visitations from the Holy Ordinary will be released in March. Add it to the calendar. If you have not read TTW, seek her out- especially if you love nature/environmental writing. She is a treasure.

I'm glad the party was a success! Thanks for sharing the photos. So many smiles... :)

I'm hoping for a Seattle-Milwaukee WS.

Hi Marc! So much going on here, but congratulations and good wishes to the happy couple. Some nice pictures there.

You are flooding me with BB’s! Which one to pick?

I'm so glad for them! It's always good to see something positive and hopeful in the world. Good week-ahead's reads, Birddude.

Congrats to the lovely couple and the entire family!

A perfect family gathering is one of the best indications of a great family! Best to you and yours!

>161 msf59: I have only ever read Boyne's Striped Pajamas one.
After seeing you were reading Flesh I realised I hadn't counted it on my list/total for the year, so have since added it (out of order)- just about let one go there! I shall have to review it as well; it's a solid story.

>165 katiekrug: It was a booming success, Katie. We were happy with the results and so were the star couple. I also wouldn't mind a Mariners/Brewers match up, although I like the Blue Jays too.

>166 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. I will pass on the good wishes. We are very happy for them. Let me know what BBs landed.

>167 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. We sure can use all the joy and positivity we can get.

>168 Copperskye: >169 quondame: Thanks, Joanne & Susan. The party was a big hit, despite being in a simple setting.

>170 LovingLit: I think you should read more Boyne. Just sayin'...Glad I reminded you to add Flesh to your reading list. I will finish it tomorrow. I don't think it will be a 5 star read but it will be a darn good one.

-Joe Heller

>173 msf59: Wow...that's a lot more than I thought there would be.

Yes, Trump. The reason I stopped watching the news. I do read it online , but Trump. Such a loser.

>172 msf59: BB coming your way...you need to read more Paul Lynch- I just finished Beyond the Sea and, as arubabookwoman described it, it is "unrelentingly bleak". So clearly I thought of you, my bleak-book-buddy.

>174 richardderus: Good point, RD! LOL!!

>175 vancouverdeb: Now, imagine him being the leader of your country. Sighs...

>176 LovingLit: Hooray for the bleak-book-buddies!! Prophet Song was the best novel I read in 2023 so I am familiar with Lynch. I wanted to read more of him, so I will add Beyond the Sea to the obese TBR. Thanks, Megan.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you.

>173 msf59: 👍

I’ve had quite a few male Cardinals visiting the feeders this morning. I had a female Downy on the wild bird seed feeder yesterday, but only because I need to replace the suet.

Nice pictures of the happy couple, Mark. Have a good rest of the week!

>164 msf59: BB comin' my way! (I'm on the holds list at the library for it.)

>173 msf59: Yep, just as I suspected. The evidence - or rather lack of it - is overwhelming.

>175 vancouverdeb: You are so right, Deborah. He's a total loser, but those who are losing most are we the people. In all my almost 80 years, I have never been so deeply depressed while simultaneously being happy inside my own small world of grandkids and painting and gardening and books. The one makes it hard to ever fully enjoy my happiness; the other makes it so I'm not so overwhelmed with the horror that I want to die.

Sorry for hijacking your thread, Mark. Hope your week is going well and you have recovered from all that celebrating over the weekend, though I suspect you're still riding high on it.

>147 msf59: Beautiful photos, congratulations!

>178 karenmarie: Happy Tuesday, Karen. Hooray for the cardinals and downy. I haven't been monitoring my feeders much today but I did fill the birdbath and add seed to the tray feeder.

>179 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. It was a great time.

>180 Storeetllr: I am glad to hear from another TTW fan, Mary. I am surprised a few more folks didn't respond. Hijack my thread anytime, my friend. I am very sorry to hear that you are fighting depression with everything that is going on in our country. I try to stay positive but it sure ain't easy.

>181 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda.

-Bill Bramhall

Update on birds, Mark. The Junkos arrived in force this week. I also have had a white throated sparrow. Its call is very unique and I've enjoyed listening to him though he isn't the prettiest bird on the feeder. The woodpeckers; hairy, downy, red bellied have been busy.

>184 Kristelh: Hooray for the returning juncos! Not many reports yet in our area. I am sure they will be arriving soon. I wonder if your white-throated sparrow was a juvenile? In my opinion, the adults are nice looking, especially in breeding plumage.



-White-throated Sparrow (NMP)

"Bonnie Jo Campbell is a keen observer of life and trouble in rural America, and her working-class protagonists can be at once vulnerable, wise, cruel, and funny. The strong but flawed women of Mothers, Tell Your Daughters must negotiate a sexually charged atmosphere as they love, honor, and betray one another against the backdrop of all the men in their world."

I love Campbell's short fiction. The Queen of Hillbilly Noir. American Salvage (a National Book Award finalist) is one of my favorite story-collections. It has been 5 years since I last read her, so I was over-due. I picked up a copy of Mothers, Tell Your Daughters and promptly lent it to Bree- she really enjoyed it and now it is my turn. I will start it tomorrow. Any other Campbell fans out there? I am pretty sure Richard is a fan.

>186 msf59: I am indeed a fan! I look forward to hearing from you about this latest(?) of her books.

>185 msf59:, @msf59. That’s a nice picture and perhaps they look different in fall and not in the breeding mood or perhaps I have a female.

I'm currently listening and reading Everything Is Tuberculosis and isn't it fascinating! Now I understand why it so popular.

>187 richardderus: This one came out in 2015, RD. I think I missed another one of hers too.

>188 Kristelh: That is understandable, Kristel. My feeders have been quiet...

>189 vancouverdeb: I am so glad you are getting to Everything Is Tuberculosis. Good read. I finally got on board too.

-Harry Bliss

^I think many of us could use one of these...

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

>182 msf59: A bird parent’s work is never done, is it? I need to fill the sunflower seed feeder and clean/refill the bird bath. I’ll wait ‘til it gets warmer. It’s 38F right now.

>186 msf59: I won't mention what it is, but I now have an earworm.

>103 msf59: Oh this looks really interesting! I will see if I can put a hold on it at the library.

>147 msf59: What a wonderful couple. Congrats and all the best for the future.

Happy mid week.

>191 msf59: I'd want it to be a studio apartment within walking distance of a pizza place and a Chinese takeout, but yeah...I'll take one.

>191 msf59: So true. Made me laugh out loud a little bitterly at how true it is. In fact, it's sort of what I've made of my own little space down here in the cellar, except exchange "writing" for "painting."

>182 msf59: I'm not a fan (yet). This will be my first TTW. Looking forward to it! Thanks for the introduction!

>189 vancouverdeb: I recently read this, Deborah, and agree - fascinating!

>192 karenmarie: Happy Wednesday, Karen. Did Bird Mom get things done today? Earworm? Post 186? Inquiring minds...

>193 figsfromthistle: Happy Wednesday, Anita and thanks. It was a grand time with the happy couple. Wild Dark Shore has been very good. I am sure your library will have it.

>194 richardderus: It sounds like a perfect safe haven for you, Richard. That is all that matters.

>195 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. I am glad you have your painting cellar refuge. Whatever helps us get through each tough day. Hooray for your first TTW! I hope she works for you.

>191 msf59: Ain't that the truth!?

>197 atozgrl: Yes, ma'am! Sweet Thursday, Irene.

"A historical epic about a girl from a remote Tongan island who becomes her people's queen...With the grandeur of Wolf Hall, Shogun, and War and Peace, The Wayfinder immerses readers in a world untouched by Western influence, evoking the lost art of oral storytelling."

The Orphan Master's Son was my favorite novel of 2016. I thought it was an absolute masterpiece and it won the Pulitzer for fiction. I have been waiting for a new one from Johnson. Well, the wait is over. The Wayfinder was published this week with very little fanfare. I wonder why? I have added this epic to the TBR. Not sure I will get to it this year but I will get to it.

‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you.

>196 msf59: Substitute children for daughters, and the earworm is The House of the Rising Sun. Bird stuff did not get done. ☹

Feeders are empty of visitors, and some need replenishing.

I liked The Orphan Masters Son too. I have been following reviews on The Wayfinder but not ready to take on a book that is over 700 pts. I will watch how often it ends up on lists for now.

>199 msf59: It's a really different book, so the publisher's really nervous that people won't warm to it. I think they're wrong. You'll see with whom you agree soon enough.

Trying to nap some more to get this cold over with.

>200 karenmarie: I got you on the earworm now. Thanks for bailing me out. Any luck with the feeders today?

>201 Kristelh: Glad to hear from another fan of Orphan Masters. Yep, the new one is quite the Chunkster. Maybe a shared read for early 2026?

Way behind so sped through Mark.

Love the toppers.

Glad u enjoyed Ripeness.

>147 msf59: Lovely photos of precious event Mark. Wishing them much joy.

>199 msf59: Ooo, thanks for the suggestion/pointer to The Wayfinder. I, too, am another Adam Johnson fan. Like you said, won't read it this year, but good to know its out there.

>204 Caroline_McElwee: Happy Friday, Caroline. Glad you like the photos. Hooray for Moss. Have a nice weekend.

>205 mahsdad: Hey, Jeff. Glad to hear from another Johnson fan. A possible shared read of the new one, early 2026?

"This is the first true people's history of the hundred-year struggle of the Palestine people, a beautifully written text and a call for justice and self-determination." — Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

I had been very interested in reading more about Palestine, especially with all that has happened in that region the past couple of years. When a reviewer raved about The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917–2017, I knew I had found the book I wanted. A perfect 320 page book detailing a century of struggles. I started the audio yesterday.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you.

Khalidi's book is on Kindle Unlimited. I've downloaded it. We'll see if I actually read it. Ever since I heard about Vanessa Redgrave's support of Palestine in 1978, when I was 25, I've supported Palestine's right to exist, unlike what Israel, the US, and GB want.

One gorgeous male Cardinal is visiting the wild bird seed feeder. I still need to give the feeders and the bird bath some attention.

>207 msf59: Not a cheery bagatelle, I bet, but it will bring you a lot of insight. If uyou enjoy the writing I might get one.

Still miserable-colding. Likely to sleep the afternoon away while Old Stuff gets drunk.

>207 msf59: I just bought a copy of that one last week...not sure when I'll get to it, but I'll be eager to see what you think of it.

>208 karenmarie: "when I was 25, I've supported Palestine's right to exist, unlike what Israel, the US, and GB want."

I am enjoying and learning a lot from this book. Happy Friday, Karen.

>209 richardderus: So far the writing has been strong, Richard. Sorry, to hear about your cold. Boo to friggin' Old Stuff.

>210 laytonwoman3rd: Glad you have a copy at hand, Linda. I am sure I will be recommending it and 300 pages is the perfect length for me.

^Matt and Hannah had a sunrise wedding this morning in St. Thomas (Virgin Islands). It looks like everything went off beautifully. We are so happy for them. ❤️❤️

I read Orphan Masters Son back in 2015 and was not that impressed with it. Specifically, I thought the whole book was implausible and the ending was out-there fantastic. And not in a good way. Up until the trip to Texas I thought it was pretty good at imagining life in a totalitarian state. In the end, not-a-fan.

I do want to read Wayfinders it sounds kinda like Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry on steriods, and I loved Call It Courage when I read it as a child.

>212 msf59: They look really happy! Hannah's got the sense of humor to fit in to the Freeburg household. All the yay!

>212 msf59: Great picture, Mark! Congratulations to the happy newlyweds.

>212 msf59: Congratulations to the happy couple. What a beautiful picture! Thanks for sharing.

>206 msf59: A The Wayfinder group read would be a fine idea.

We'll see when I actually get it. There's a 25 week wait for audio at my library currently. LOL.

>212 msf59: ohhh, that's such a sweet photo! Congratulations again!

>213 benitastrnad: Sorry to hear that you were not a fan of Orphan Masters. I took it as almost a satirical novel. I am sure something like this will be written about our current commander in chief. There may be a slew of them. Should I add you to the shared list for The Wayfinder?

>214 richardderus: You have to have that sense of humor to fit in here, my friend. Matt is more the quiet, stoic type, so it is a good balance.

>215 vancouverdeb: >216 atozgrl: Thanks Deborah & Irene.

>217 mahsdad: I will add The Wayfinder to the shared list up there. Lets see if anyone else would be interested.

>218 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura.

Great picture Mark. Thanks for sharing it. I will probably pick up a copy of The Wayfinder next time I visit the bookstore.

>219 msf59:
I doubt I will be able to get a copy of it at this point in time. In 6 months the wait list will go down and I will read it then. Wayfinder is a historical fiction novel and because I liked that Newberry winner so many years ago, I have high hopes for this one.

We had a great time in Joplin, MO for the meetup. It was great fun to meet Stasia. I had met Roni at her home in Salina last winter. She (Roni) brought her friend Vickie to the meetup. Turns out that Vickie and I have a mutual acquaintance. He was a high school friend from many years ago and it was good to catch up with all the news about his life and to add a new friend. All of us became acquainted with a new Used bookstore and we spent some time with the owner of the old bookstore which the group shopped in the past. She has turned over a new leaf for her business and is concentrating on the world of gaming. I had a very enlightening conversation with her about the new business, which is called Grey Fox Games. She has a very enthusiastic clientele in Joplin and so far the closure of the book side of the business and the concentration on the gaming side has been a good one for her. I love to see these small businesses succeed. And who would have thought that a place like Joplin would have enough gamers to support 4 gaming outlets!

Joplin was also a bit of a surprise. It has a population of 60,000 and growing. The University of Kansas City has recently opened a branch of their medical school and that has caused a growth spurt in the town. All those high dollar medical types, so things are changing in southern Missouri.

I had a lovely drive from Wichita to Joplin with light traffic and only got turned around once. The southeastern corner of Kansas is not one that I am familiar with, so the trip has been an adventure all the way around.

>221 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel. Let me know if you want me to add you to the shared list. Of course, I will have to acquire a copy too, but I have a couple of months to do so.

>222 benitastrnad: >223 benitastrnad: We won't be reading it for a few months so let me know if you change your mind. Glad to hear you had a fine time at the Joplin Meet Up. Who else was able to make it? I hope someone shared a photo or 2. I was lucky to have met Roni before and that was special.

When we get our copies we will check to see if it will work, Mark.

>225 Kristelh: Fine idea, Kristel. Happy Saturday.

^Our pickleball group had their annual picnic yesterday. What a great bunch of people and many couldn't make it for the event, that is how big this group is. Fred is a member and is currently in the hospital. Get well, Fred.

That’s a lot of pickleballers! How many courts do you have?

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday.

>212 msf59: Lovely photo, congrats to them.

>227 msf59: Wow. I didn’t realize how huge the group is. And there you are, holding the U.

No birds, mostly empty bird feeders, empty bird bath. Maybe today.

>228 Kristelh: We have 8 outside dedicated courts, right near this picnic area and we can use a couple of the lined out tennis courts if need be. Many times, all courts are active.

>229 karenmarie: Happy Saturday and thanks, Karen. Sounds like they are having a wonderful time in St. Thomas. Hooray for the large pickleball group! Hoping you get to those neglected feeders. I am running dangerously low on seed myself.

-Nick Anderson

>231 msf59: Sad commentary, Mark. I just read that they are repainting / refreshing one of my city's rainbow sidewalks.

>230 msf59:
Did you hear the NPR story about the rising number of people over 65 who are getting injured playing Pickleball. Injuries most often to the eye that range from detached retinas to severe orbital fractures that require reconstruction. One doctor said that players need to be wearing impact proof eyewear.

>232 vancouverdeb: Sad commentary, indeed. Sorry, you are seeing evidence of it too.

>233 benitastrnad: Honestly, that is not surprising at all, considering the very large number of seniors playing pickleball right now. Of course, there will be injuries. When I last got my physical, my doctor, who also plays PB, said the main injuries he deals with are eye injuries. I have been wearing eye protection ever since- either sunglasses or clear protective wear. I am very surprised, how many of my fellow players do not wear protection. I have also seen very few injuries the past 2 1/2 years.

>233 benitastrnad:, >234 msf59: I also wear eye protection and a brimmed hat to ward off eye injuries. And I play safe by not forgetting that I’m in my 70s and not a 20 year old.

>235 Kristelh: It sounds like you are playing it safe, Kristel. Good job. Happy Sunday, my friend.

114- Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy 4.3 stars

On a tiny island not far from Antarctica, Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, the world’s largest seed bank. Once a bustling spot for visiting researchers, the Salts are now the only residents, fiercely protecting the seeds and their livelihood. After a brutal storm, the kids find a woman washed ashore, barely alive. They are able to nurse Rowan back to health but many mysteries begin to unfold along the way. I rather not divulge much more, because I really enjoyed how this story played out, with some unexpected twists and revelations. McConaghy has become a favorite author of mine and she delivers once again.

*This was an excellent audiobook, with several narrators but I may have to revisit it in print, since I may have missed a some things.

112- Flesh: A Novel by David Szalay 4.2 stars

Istvan is a teenager, living with his mother in Hungary. He is a shy, awkward boy, which carries into his adulthood. The novel follows him through the decades, as he meanders along, taking life as it comes, without any preconceptions or goals. His thoughts are never revealed and nothing is learned through the minimalist dialogue, which can be frustrating at times. I know I am not selling it very well and Istvan is a difficult character to sympathize or connect with but it becomes a kind of hypnotic tale, drawing the reader in, seeing what situation Istvan stumbles into next. Szalay is a very interesting writer.

*This is the second Booker Shortlist title that I read recently. The first being Audition. Both are not easy reads but I am glad I gave them a try. Both are highly talented authors.

>238 msf59: Looks like we both had similar thoughts about Flesh. Have a great Sunday.

>239 Kristelh: A very odd but interesting book, Kristel.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you.

>230 msf59: I filled the sunflower seed feeder and cleaned/filled the birdbath yesterday. Today’s the suet feeder.

>231 msf59: The stupidity, maliciousness, and evil of the MAGA idiots cannot be overemphasized.

>237 msf59:
I thought there were holes in the plot, with some things just implausible, but it was a good story and the narration was well done.

Hi Mark, hope you have had a very good weekend!

>241 karenmarie: Good morning, Karen. Never made it back here yesterday. Glad you got to the feeders. The birdies appreciate it.

>242 benitastrnad: Thanks for encouraging me to read the audiobook version. Have you read her other 2 books, Benita?

>243 mdoris: Yes, I did, Mary. Thanks. Good to see you.

"On July 2, 2022, two criminals set out to rob a jewelry shop in Geneva. But even with a foolproof plan, their “perfect” heist will prove far from uneventful. . . ."

I had not heard of Joel Dicker, but it seems this Swiss crime writer has quite a following. I was able to grab an e-galley of his latest Wild Animal: A Novel. It was published in Europe last year but was released in the states this month. I started it yesterday. I like his lean, clean style. Anyone here a fan of Dicker?

>245 msf59: Yes, I do, but as a Swiss person, that goes without saying. He is from western Switzerland and writes all his books in French. I loved the book you are reading right now. And yes, in the community where the story takes place, there are indeed some residents who have skeletons in their closets.

'Morning, Mark! Have fun playing PB today.

I need to do one last thing to get caught up with the birds - clean both suet feeders and put one up and one out on the feeder pole. I've ordered a new nyjer seed feeder and will put it out after it arrives on Wednesday.

And for all that work and planning, there's nobody on the feeders or on the bird bath right now.

>231 msf59: I wish it wasn't true.

>246 Ameise1: Thanks for commenting on Dicker, Barb. I thought of you, as soon as I started reading this. Have you read The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair and the other 2 in the series?

>247 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. I had a fine time playing PB, despite the early chill. Now, I am out of wild bird seed. Sighs...

>248 richardderus: Me too...😒

I hope you enjoyed your weekend, Mark and are able to see Jack soon.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

>249 msf59: A bird parent’s work is never done, is it?

>250 vancouverdeb: I did have a good weekend, Deborah. Thanks. I plan on seeing Jack tomorrow. The poor boy has to go to the dentist today.

>251 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. You got that right. Hoping to get to Costco today or tomorrow.

-Randall Enos

>249 msf59: No, I haven't read this trilogy. I should be able to borrow the e-book Les derniers jours de nos pères from my library within the next three weeks. His books are in high demand and are often borrowed for weeks at a time. Even though there are countless copies of each book available, the waiting list is very long.

Hi Mark First, congratulations to your son and new daughter-in-law, they look like they are off to a great start. I am a huge fan of Bonnie Jo Campbell have enjoyed all her books. Mothers Tell Your Daughters was a great short story collection!

Our weather has definitely turned to the winter - very cold and lots of rain - not looking forward to more of this.

>254 Ameise1: Great. I will be watching for your thoughts on Henry Quebert Affair. I am sure I will get to it at some point, if it is available here.

>255 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Always good to see you. Glad to hear from another Bonnie Jo Campbell fan. Her stories are very dark but so well done. I NEED to track down a copy of Women & Other Animals. Have you read that one?

>256 msf59: Mark, I think you misunderstood me. I will read the book Les derniers jours de nos pères.

>164 msf59: I'm very excited to learn that TTW has a new book out! Adding it to my list.

I think you'll enjoy Tilt. It's a quick read. It will make you hope you're not in an IKEA warehouse in Portland (or anywhere) when " the big one" hits.

>256 msf59: I haven't read Women and Other Animals either, Mark, so I will join you in your hunt.

>257 Ameise1: I understand, Barb. I will wait for your review. 😀

>258 EBT1002: Hooray for TTW! I hope you are having a wonderful trip. Looking forward to Tilt and thanks for the warning. 😜

>259 DeltaQueen50: Hopefully, we can encourage each other to finally read it.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

I hope you enjoy indoor PB and a potential Jack visit today.

I'll be hanging out at home, reading, and puttering.

No bird visitors right now, alas.

>227 msf59: Wow! That certainly is a big group. Nice!

>261 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Busy day yesterday- played PB and then hung out with Jack. A special one.

>262 figsfromthistle: It is a great group of people, Anita. I thought book people were the best and then I added bird people and now pickballers. It makes you wonder why we are so divided in this world.

^Jack did not have school yesterday. I met Bree and Jack at the Children's Museum. I got to goof around with him there for a couple of hours and then we went out for a bite. A perfect day. Sadly, Sue has a bad cold and is house-bound.

Glad you had a perfect day of Jack and PB. Wishing Sue a speedy recovery from her bad cold. Have a good Thursday, Mark.

'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you.

Yay for a good day with Jack, and I'm sorry to hear that Sue has a bad cold.

No bird visitors, although I had a female Cardinal stop by for a bit.

>85 Kristelh:. 😮. Good one! The Heeding, eh?

Hey, brother. We’re back from the Berkshires. Great time to be there, and we had a wonderful visit with Debbi’s aunt Ruth. I just started The Trial of John Garrity (no touchstone), which Ruth and her son Michael polished up from a manuscript left by Debbi’s uncle Milton Bass. Debbi loved it.

I’m still very much enjoying Startlement. What a good choice she was for Poet Laureate. I’m not as excited about her successor, Arthur Sze. For me, his poetry is just okay, although he certainly has his admirers.

>212 msf59: Lovely.

>265 Kristelh: Thanks, Kristel. Sue is still struggling but hoping to rebound tomorrow.

>266 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. It was a fine day with Jack. How could it not be? Yep, bummer about Sue. Hoping she feels better tomorrow.

>267 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe. Great to see you, my friend. I am sure you had a fantastic time in the Berkshires. I have not visited that area. Good to hear about Milton Bass' book. I will watch for your thoughts.

I think you will LOVE The Heeding, if you can track it down. I am also enjoying the latest Limon. She never disappoints.

>268 Caroline_McElwee: Wish we could have shared the moment with them, Caroline but it is definitely lovely.

"When you stand before those words carved in stone at the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C., you feel something that’s hard to find in politics today: humility. The kind that comes from knowing power is temporary, and service is sacred...Franklin Delano Roosevelt understood that the White House is not a throne room — it’s a borrowed house. A home that belongs, in his words, “to all the American people.”

-Joe Heller

>267 jnwelch: I have not read The Heeding. I know nothing about it.

>264 msf59: I'm glad you had such a good time with Bree and Jack. He's definitely a growing boy! So sorry to hear about Sue's cold. I hope she feels better soon. There's definitely something going around. I had a cold at the beginning of the month and felt bad for a couple of days. I felt better pretty soon, but it still took a while for the cough and stuffy head to clear up.

>147 msf59: Congratulations all round buddy. They are a very handsome couple.

>272 msf59: I think that Biden was one of the few Presidents recently who did nothing much with the White House.

Teddy Roosevelt added a whole wing which became a mini series
Taft introduced the Oval office because he couldn't fit into a rectangular one
FDR made extensive but quite practical changes specific for his personal needs
Truman did a lot of changes including making himself a bowling alley
Obama added a basketball court
and Hillary apparently went off with most of the cutlery!

Trump's changes are typical of the man, overblown and grandiose but they will be left to future incumbents I guess.

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/president-roosevelts-white-house-improvements

>272 msf59: Sad but true. He is so vengeful.

>276 PaulCranswick: Some good humor in there. Also, some truth although much of my beef with Trump's actions has to do with the fact that he didn't bother to go through the vetting process. The White House is officially, I believe, property of the U.S. National Park Service. I'm fairly sure they would not have approved demolition of the East Wing. The man just does whatever he wants with no regard for history, protocol, or the feelings of the American people.

Fun fact: Obama asked (and was authorized) to paint basketball lines on a tennis court and install a hoop/backboard. Some media outlets make it sound like he built an entire new gym.

Anyway, in books.... Mark, I highly recommend Donal Ryan to you. I'm now reading Heart, Be at Peace, a follow-up to The Spinning Heart , and I'm loving it. I think his writing would be your cup of tea.

>277 EBT1002: Don't get me wrong, Ellen, I certainly wasn't being an apologist for the man. He doesn't bother with process at all and seems to think he can what the hell he likes whenever he wants to do so.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you.

It's too early to see any birds.

I got a new nyjer seed feeder yesterday and will put it out today

>273 Kristelh: I had a tough time tracking down The Heeding. My library requested it from another state. It is an excellent poetry collection and worth the wait. I should have just bought a copy.

>274 atozgrl: Hi, Irene. Yep, I love my Jack time. Hoping Sue feels better today. This will be the 6th day. Sorry, you also were dealing with a cold. Glad that you have recovered.

>275 PaulCranswick: >276 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. It was a lovely pre-party. We are very happy for this special couple.

It sounds like the ballroom was needed and it is supposed to be privately funded, I just do not like the way Trump goes about it, especially during a government shutdown and firing federal workers by the score. I also don't like his garish taste.

>277 EBT1002: Kia Ora, Ellen! I completely agree with your comments on Trump and the ballroom. If Biden had proposed to do this, he would have been completely vilified by the right media. They would have exploded.

I am sure you are having a wonderful time and I WILL get to Donal Ryan.

>279 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. It is dark here too. Hooray for replenishing the feeders.

>264 msf59: Just stopped by to see if there was a new pic of Jack, and lo & behold! There it is! Glad you had a good time with him at the Children's Museum! Sorry about Sue's cold. Hope she's feeling better.

Even when he does something that could be considered okay, he does it in a way that makes it reprehensible. Seeing the pictures of the destruction makes my heart hurt. All that history, destroyed without even a word of explanation or apology (as if that megalomaniac would ever apologize or explain any horrible thing he did). And after he he said - and his lying press secretary said - that the new ballroom would not interfere with the existing structure of the White House, stating it would be "near it, but not touching it." I agree with the sign I saw at the No Kings protest last Saturday: "No one paid me to be here. I hate Drumpf for free."

>282 Storeetllr: Happy Friday, Mary. I love my Jackson Days and it is fun going with him to these Children's Museums.

Like you, I can not find anything good with you know who and we know he has garish taste, so who knows how this ballroom is going to turn out. What infuriates me to no end, is that his followers blindly accept everything he does. Grrrrrrrrrr....

The USA saved the world from the Nazis - who's up for us?

As someone who used to work at The White House, I have many feelings. I will keep most of them to myself to spare you all the waves of vitriol :)

I will say - a ballroom is NOT needed. No one needs it but him because of his excessive ego and bad taste. But fine, if you want a ballroom, why not have one that mirrors the West and (former) East Wings, which were designed purposely to have lower profiles and not detract from the main historical building? Why not just take the (former) East Wing and renovate it into one large event space? Why does everything he builds have to be so goddamn tacky?

And to everyone trying to compare apples to oranges, none of the previous renos/rehabs/redecorations/additions compare to this - from the scale, to the necessity, to the willful disregard of laws and regulations. You can be as cute as you want about it, but there was history in those offices, people worked hard in them, countless visitors were warmly welcomed through the entrance, and thousands of people, myself included, have fond memories based there.

And yes, that screed is me keeping most of my thoughts to myself. You're welcome.

/rant

Hi Mark! Hope Sue is feeling better :)

It is true that presidents have made changes to the White House and grounds, but they have consulted the proper historical authorities and done things with taste and thoughtful purpose. None of the other presidential changes had a press secretary who lied about it.

For me this whole mess started with the destruction of the Kennedy Rose Garden. I read a book a few years ago titled All the President's Gardens: Madison's Cabbages to Kennedy's Roses by Marta McDowell. It is a mistaken belief that Jacqueline Kennedy designed the Rose Garden that Donald Asshat destroyed. She didn't. John Kennedy designed it. He even picked out the variety of roses to be planted there. The Orange Gasbag destroyed it and replaced it with a marble hotel patio. The Rose Garden was historic and had historical value. It was destroyed without much thought or publicity. Because Gasbag was allowed to get away with that, he did the next thing - destroyed a part of the White House.

It is clear to me that he is trying to build a new palace of Versailles. He wants to be the new Sun King.

>271 msf59: - said donald trump NEVER. What is happening there today (and every day he breaths) is a true tragedy. How he is allowed to get away with it is what boggles my mind. :-(

>284 m.belljackson: I think we are on our own, Marianne. I wanted to let you know, I just started The Sea Runners. It took a few pages to get into the narrative flow but I am liking it.

>285 katiekrug: "Why does everything he builds have to be so goddamn tacky?" You got it. Please come by and share your thoughts anytime, Katie. You get to the heart of the matter much better and smoother than I can articulate. Like I mentioned earlier- why does not one of his sheep call him out on anything?

Sue is doing better. Thanks.

>286 benitastrnad: Glad you brought up the Rose Garden, Benita. That was destroyed with very little opposition. Boo to the Sun King. Go back to Mar a Lago.

>287 jessibud2: "How he is allowed to get away with it is what boggles my mind." I ask that to myself several times each day. Grrrrrrr....

Go Jays! Big win!!

>285 katiekrug: Not to mention that the planned ballroom is now much larger (and more expensive) than originally stated, and looks like it will overwhelm the White House. A permanent monument to his authoritarianism. As one who prefers historic preservation, I find this truly horrifying.

>291 atozgrl: I also find it horrifying, Irene. See you on the other side...😀

I may be the last visitor here. I just wanted to thank you for posting the pictures of the big wedding. Well, it was one picture, but it was breathtakingly beautiful. And I loved the party that you and Sue "showered" them with before the actual day. They are a cute couple and I wish them many years of happiness together.

>293 Donna828: Thanks you, Donna. It was a great party and it looks like they had a wonderful wedding on St. Thomas. See you on the other side...😜