introducing myself: nannybebette

Hello. I am nannybebette and I, like all of you am an avid reader. I joined LT in August of 2007 and have yet to finish listing all of my books. Oh well, one day. I am a 61 year old retired banker married to a corrections officer who considers reading to be perusing a hotrod magazine or some such. Occasionally he will pick up a John Saul or Sanford. I have 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren. Some read a lot and some do not. I have 7 cats, 1 yellow lab and a love bird.
We had no television growing up and with seven children in the household (all addictive readers) and two well read parents, you can imagine the numbers of books around the house. All of us love/loved reading. For me it never changed. I read a wide variety of books from the classics to chick lit to biographies, to nonfiction and so it goes.
I have kept a running list of the books I have read since the beginning of the year and will start with those. Some I do reviews on and some I only rate and comment on in my catalog. I am happy to be here and hope to "meet" some of you.

I guess I should list the books I have read thus far in 2009. I'm still not sure how this goes, but here I go:

1. Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors
2. Collected Poems of Robert Frost by the same
3. King's Oak by Anne Rivers Siddons
4. Nora Jane-a Life in Stories by Ellen Gilchrist
5. Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg
6. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
7. Digging to America by Anne Tyler
8. Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler
9. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
10. Complete Poems & Plays, by T.S. Eliot
11. The River King by Alice Hoffman
12. Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman
13. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
14. Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
15. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
16. Sweetwater Creek by Anne Rivers Siddons
17. Up Island by Anne Rivers Siddons
18. Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky
19. Low Country by Anne Rivers Siddons
20. Sandpebbles by Patricia Hickman
21. Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons
22. Good Grief by Lolly Winston
23. Hill Towns by Anne Rivers Siddons
24. Ya Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells
25. Fault Lines by Anne Rivers Siddons
26. Pieces of my Heart by Robert Wagner
27. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
28. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
29. Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama
30. Language of the Threads by Gail Tsukiyama
31. Colony by Anne Rivers Siddons
32. The Last Valentine by James Michael Pratt
33. Do Dead People Watch You Shower by Bertoldi
34. Before You Knew Kindness by Chris Boyjalian
35. Thirteen Moons by Charles Fraizer
36. The Whole World Over by Julia Glass
37. The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg
38. Ordinary Life by Elizabeth Berg
39. Downtown by Anne Rivers Siddons
40. Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
41. Rachel's Quilt by Sheila Spencer-Smith
42. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
43. Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout
44. I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass
45. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowlings
46. The Sea Lady by Margaret Drabble
47. A Slipping-Down Life by Anne Tyler
48. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
49. The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
50. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
51. The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama
52. The Dream Comes True by Barbara Delinsky
53. The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by Jessica Anya Blau
54. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowlings
55. The Memoir Club by Laura Kalpakian
56. One Extra*Ordinary Day by Harold Myra
57. Night Train to Lisbon
by Emily Grayson
58. Your Labrador Retriever by September B Morn (my guess is a pseudonym)
59. Guide to Owning a Labrador Retriever by Richard T. Burrows
60. Music of Falling Water by Julia Oliver
61. The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
62. The Precious Present by Spencer Johnson
63. An Absolute Scandal by Penny Vincenzi
64. The Complete Stories of TRUMAN CAPOTE by of course, Truman Capote
65. The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard
66. Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons
67. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
68. Eggshell Days by Rebecca Gregson
69. A Bluethroat Morning by Jacqui Lofthouse
70. Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell
71. Fox'es Earth by Anne Rivers Siddons
72. Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA by Kris Radish
73. Shop Girl by Steve Martin
74. Three Junes by Julia Glass
75. Body Double by Tess Gerritsen
76. Beloved by Toni Morrison
77. Adam the King by Jeffrey Lewis
78. The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky
79. Local Girls by Alice Hoffman
80. Spring and Fall by Nicholas Delbanco
81. the saturday wife by Naomi Ragen
82. Minotaur by Benjamin Tammuz
00. Crime and Punishment
83. Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
84. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
85. Big as Life by Maureen Howard
86. Studies in Classic American Literature by D.H. Lawrence
87. The Holiday by Stevie Smith
88. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
89. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
90. The Razor's Edge by Sumerset Maughm
91. The Fireman's Wife by Jack Riggs (ER)
92. Conscience Point by Erica Abeel (ER)
93. The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck
94. The Blank Wall by Elizabeth Sanxay Holding
95. The Penelopiad by
Margaret Atwood
96. March by Geraldine Brooks
97. The Moment Between by Nicole Baart
98. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
99. The Lost City of Z; A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
100. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

_______________________

Welcome. How did you like Thirteen Moons? My wife and I both enjoyed it a lot. In fact, I liked it better than Cold Mountain.

I loved Thirteen Moons and I too enjoyed it more than I did Cold Mountain though I liked that one also. I like how Frazier doesn't have to constant "people" his books to hold your interest. He is so descriptive. I felt as if I were in the forest along with him and I loved Bear and even Featherstone. He makes me want to go back and reread "Trail of Tears" and I will probably do so soon.

Welcome! Maybe you should consider also joining the 75 books challenge, as you seem to read very fast! (35 in just a month and a half??) :)
Eliza

Welcome, nannybebette! i haven't catalogued all my books yet either. One day... Looks like your reading year is going well.

Wow, all of those in 2009 already?! You are my hero :) There's some really good titles on there...I remember having to memorize the poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening in grade school. I loved that poem and it still pops into my head every now and then. Good luck with your challenge, though it doesn't look like you need it!

Hi, nannybebette!
I read The Ice Queen the year before last and thought it was totally different than anything else I had ever read. I see that you have read several Alice Hoffman books. Are they all so original? Do you like all her books?

I am glad that you have joined the 50 Book Challenge Group and look forward to seeing what you are reading next! :)
--BJ

to BJ: I LOVE Alice Hoffman and find most of her books to be quite original one to the other and all of them wonderful. I think my favorite is Blackbird House which is a group of short stories about the inhabitants of said house in different eras or times. (was that redundant? think so)
I find her characters to be always fascinating and she is one of my favorite authors.
Right now I am reading The Whole World Over by Julia Glass

Hi. Thank you for the welcome girlunderglass. I do intend to join the 75 books challenge as soon as I hit the 50 book mark here. Happy reading to you.
n/b

Hello spacepotatoes. Yup, all of those in 2009. And I work on call, take care of my 91 year old mother (also an avid reader) and get my 2 grandsons off to school and take care of them after school every day also. Reading is my safety net. I love to read, but if I am down or anxious I run to my book. Reading is the best therapy there is. As you can tell
I do a lot of running. My oldest daughter turned me onto Robert Frost with this little book back in the eighties when she was in high school lit. I fell so in love with him that later my husband and I took a road trip (we live on the west coast) to see his home in New England. It was amazing. There are trails through the woods where it is said that he actually walked when he was composing his poetry. Along the trails are little turnouts, some with benches and little columns with his poetry and writings. My husband is not much of a reader and definitely not of poetry so he sat in a lawn chair by the rig while I walked the trails. He couldn't get me to shut up when I got back. It was almost a "God thing", just filled me up inside.
And you are right. Once you have read this little book it continues to return to your mind. Beautiful, huh?
n/b

Wow, I don't know much about Robert Frost so I didn't know he had a home in New England. It sounds really beautiful!

And yes, reading is wonderful therapy. Usually when I'm at my most stressed is when I get the urge to sit down with some books and read. Sometimes I don't even have to read them, just being in the presence of the books I love is comforting. Funny how that works, isn't it?

This morning I stayed in bed and finished The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg and now I can see how they worked it into a play quite easily. Did anyone happen to see the play? It was a very quick read and is actually a journal written by a 50 year old woman who hits the road to get temporarily away from her "life" and have time alone and gain some self understanding. I enjoyed it but it is quite a bit different from any other Elizabeth Berg I have ever read.
Today I begin The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by Jessica Anya Blau. Kind of a fun title, huh?
Happy Reading,
N/B

Fun title, perhaps, but a boring read. I am halfway through with The Summer of Naked Swim Parties but had to put it down and pick up another Elizabeth Berg that was sitting on my bedroom bookcase. Ordinary Life is a group of short stories and for those of you who have read her The Pull of the Moon, included within is a response to Nan from Martin (her husband). A very quick read and a good little grouping of shorts. Read it. You will be glad you did.
n/b

Since I was last on here I have read #39. Downtown by Anne Rivers Siddons, #40. Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg, #41. Rachel's Quest by Sheila Spencer-Smith, #42. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout and #43. Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout. Am now moving on to #44. I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass.
Good luck to all of you out there in readerland with your challenges. My plan is by the end of the month to be beyond the 50 books in this challenge and on to the 75 book challenge. Good luck to me.
Happy reading,
n/b
P.S. I couldn't figure out how to just add these books to my already existing list so I did a new post. Anyone out there know the magic finger trick of that one?

I like that a new post is added to bring your thread to the top of the list. However, if you just want to edit it, then look at the top right hand side of your post that you want to edit. There is a pencil icon there. Click on it and a box will appear with the post that you can edit. Then just push the submit button. Is that what you were asking? You will be to 50 soon. Good luck to you! Have a great day!
--BJ

I finished the Julia Glass I See You Everywhere and liked it a great deal. Have now started A Slipping-Down Life by Anne Tyler.
And yes, BJ, that is exactly the information I was looking for. Thank you very much. You are so supportive to everyone on here. It is really nice to see that.
Happy Reading and blessings on your day.
n/b

Welcome, nannybebette. You certainly are a speedy reader! I read all the Ann Tyler I could get my hands quite a few years ago...and enjoyed her immensely.

Thanks for your kind words! :)
--BJ

It took me longer to read all the posts here than it did for you, nannybebette, to read one of your books. I have really enjoyed reading this thread. I glance at a few threads but not very often do I sit and read what a stranger has written all in one sitting. I ought to be in bed reading my book, that seems to have no end to it, but I could not take myself away from here.

I hope to keep in touch

Well, it has been a couple of days (very busy days I might add) since I was last on here. A lot of you have just been reading your little hearts away.
I was "forced" to put down the books I was reading (A Slipping-Down Life by Anne Tyler and The Sea Lady by Margaret Drabble due to a request from my eleven year old grandson. He got into the whole Harry Potter thing when they started giving points at school for pages read and these are big books. Well, by the time he had finished the first one he was hooked. So he has now conned "nanny" into reading them along with him so we can "discuss" them whilst reading them. He brought me the first one home from school yesterday and I am about halfway through it. It is kind of a fun read. He is on the 4th one. I don't think this is going to be so bad after all.
And I awoke at 4:00 this A.M. to freshly falling snow and it hasn't stopped so what is a girl to do with herself on a day like this? DUH!~!~! READ!~!~!
Thanx for the posts and you get much better callmejacx.
Blessings on your day,
N/B

I finished my #45 this afternoon. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I really enjoyed it although I only read it to appease my grandson and didn't expect to like it so much. I immediately went online to the library to see if they had the 2nd one on the shelf and they did but had closed 20 minutes prior. So Dangggg! I can't wait to start the 2nd one and now understand what all the shouting has been about!~! I called my grandson to tell him I had finished the book as I only started it last evening and he has the 2nd one checked out at the school library and it's in his desk at school so I will be all over that one when he gets home from school Monday. Yea!~!~!
Anyhoo--------in the meantime back to A Slipping-Down Life and The Sea Lady
Happy reading out there.
N/B

I just finished The Sea Lady by Margaret Drabble and if I were to divide the book into thirds, I would have to say that excepting for the first and third parts, it was pure "drabble". (excuse the pun--I couldn't help myself)
I think if I had a degree in Marine Biology it would have helped.
Still snowing so I guess I will go back now and finish A Slipping-Down Life by Anne Tyler. Hopefully it will go better. Don't know why but on days like this all I want to do is read and watch it snow.
I hope all of you are enjoying your Sunday books.
Happy reading.
N/B

Welcome to Potterland, we hope you will enjoy your stay with us! :)

I have got to read those Harry Potter books one of these days! :) We are supposed to have storms all day, but so far not a drop. Cloudy, though.
--BJ

It has snowed here all the live long day.
I finished A Slipping-Down Life by Anne Tyler and actually enjoyed it. I usually do not enjoy her books though I appreciate her writing a great deal. Now I am moving on to the second of the Harry Potter series. My 11 year old grandson got me hooked and I can't wait to dive in. I have been refusing to get sucked into "the Hogwart Express" for years and now here I am and I'm enjoying the ride greatly.
Happy reading to all of you out there.
N/B

I tucked myself in bed last night and reread The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks and watched it snow. I had checked the sequel from the library (about the kids) and wanted to read this one again first. But back to the 2nd Harry Potter again this A.M.
Happy reading all.
N/B

Wow, nannybebette! That's a whole lot of books read in a little over two months! I notice that after reading a book, you often follow it up with another book by the same author. Have you bought the books ahead of time or do you love a book so much that you go out and immediately buy another book by that author?

>28 rainpebble: Nothing like cozying up with a good book when it's crappy outside! Have you read Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks yet? That one is my favourite of his, though I haven't really read too much of his stuff beyond that. Makes me cry every time but I love it!

Hi bonniebooks;
You kind of hit the nail on the head there. When I fall in love with an author (or subject for that matter) I do tend to run out and get another by the same author (or on the same subject). My family went nuts when I hit my WWII stage. That lasted literally years and they learned almost as much about the war and the holocaust as I did because I couldn't shut my big yapper and had to talk about it all the time. Now I can write about it and they are much happier. hehehe
Right now I am pretty much just hooked on "same authors" and they seem to be writing about women for the most part. But I do love books about women. We are such a strong group of individuals and a fascinating breed. (nothing against you guys...but just sayin'.)
How are you doing with your challenge? Isn't this fun?
Happy reading and blessings on your day.
N/B
P.S. thanx for the visit.

Hey spacepotatoes;
You got that right about the weather and a good book. And yes, I have read Message in a Bottle and loved, loved, loved it!~!~! It is also my favorite of Nicholas Sparks and I too cry each time I read it and each time I see the movie also. Loved Paul Newman in that movie. I really miss the fact that he is no longer out there in the world with us.
Watcha reading right now? I have the 2nd Harry Potter book and The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks going on right now. The latter because I do exactly what bonniebooks thinks I do. Doncha hate it when people are just so right and have you all figured out?
Thanx for stopping by and happy reading. Blessings on your day.
N/B

I've been rummaging through your bookshelves for about twenty minutes (I didn't touch anything, though) and bonniebooks is right on the money. When you like an author you really like an author!

Which, of course, is a good thing: why waste time on authors we don't like? I believe I have 22 books by James Lee Burke, with the 23rd on the way from Amazon. I like him.

LT says we have 24 books in common, but I'm going to guess it's closer to 75--I've cleaned out a ton over the years and now, seeing them again on your shelves, I miss them.

Charlie

nannybebette - I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets these topical bookish obsessions! I can't read one book about bees and honey, I have to read three. If I'm interested in Ancient Egypt I want lots of different books about Pharaohs, art, women's roles and burial treasures. Still, I always compare it to the libraries of my uni tutors, which I jealously eyed up every time I had to go and meet with them. They had whole shelves of books on each tiny weeny subdivided topic - so long as I don't get THAT obsessed, I'm okay...

the above posted by elliepotten

nannybebette, I remember when I read my first Anne Tyler. It was Dinner at a Homesick Restaurant and there was so much in there that made me think of my own family, I just had to read more by her. I read one book after another until I have to admit I totally OD'd on her quirky characters. Lately I've been able to read (and enjoy) her books again without thinking all the time about her style instead of the story. Anyway, my point is that I do the same thing (e.g., see Elinor Lipman in my library). :-)

At this point I have completed my 50 book challenge for 2009. YEA!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!
**jumps up**, does cheer**,turns around**, sits back down** Onward to the completion of the 100 book challenge.
Listings:
1. The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama

dogoned thingy dropped my post on reviewing #49 The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks and #50 Harry Potter #2 so I will just quickly say on the 1st: don't bother and on the 2nd: read it. If you haven't already, you will love it--kid or adult--
I hate when it does that!
Don't you?
N/B

Yes! Congratulations on reaching your 50 book challenge goal!
--BJ

N/B: I can't believe how fast you read--50 books in 2½ months! Congrats, of course, are in order.

Wow, Wow, Woo, Wow! Happy continued reading!

Wow, congratulations! At this rate, you'll reach the 100 mark in no time. Enjoy :)

Took a small break there to just lurk around, make a few comments, babysit the grandkids, hang out with the hubby and watch some NCIS. (**gasp, gasp**TV!~!)
Anyway have begun a new one: The Memoir Club by Laura Kalpakian and am enjoying it thus far.
It is about six women who enroll in a "Writing Your Memoir" class in an attempt for each to come to terms with loss, guilt, sadness, emptiness, whatever. When the class is completed they decide to continue on with the effort of writing their memoirs and agree to meet at one of their homes. They "hire" the instructor at their own expense and this is just a simple story of how each one works through the process. An easy read, should go quickly.
Happy reading out there to all.
N/B

I had to say that I laughed when I read your last post--NCIS is about the only tv show that has me completely hooked (though I only watch re-runs since I always have class when it comes on). Meanwhile, happy reading!

Welcome aboard my fellow addict. You know we all must have our vices. I own all the series sets and yet I watch all the reruns on USA and all the new ones as well as those on DVD. Pathetic, aren't I?
Catcha later,
N/B

Laura Kalpakian! I loved her Dark Continent... story collection (though it was dark!) and Steps and Exes was a fun read. Plus, she's a NW author. Yeah!!!

P.S. I'm not even going to start in on my vices when it comes to TV, because unlike you, I can't just stop at one!

I don't know about the rest of you---but I began the group read of Anna Karinina this afternoon. Have really been looking forward to this read as the last time I picked Tolstoy up, I put him down 1/4 of the way through the book. That time it was War and Peace and I haven't read "Anna" through since I was in my 30s.
And bonniebooks, I am enjoying Kalpakian. This is my first of hers and I would imagine she is good with a short story as the one I am reading is basically six memoirs.
Thanx for stopping by and happy reading.
N/B
P.S. Speaking of NW authors, one of my very favorites comes from right here in the great Pacific North West. David Guterson. I think he is wonderful. His East of the Mountains is brilliant, (as are they all--but it is a favorite of mine.)
happy trails.

Wow, N/B, I just posted book #15 for my challenge and was feeling all proud of myself, and then I saw that you have already completed your 50. Way to go!! How many books do you usually read in a year?

Hello shinyone.
I have never kept track before this year so I don't really have any idea. But I think 15 is a good start for this early in the year so you should be proud of yourself. And I have always had a book in my hand. Growing up we didn't have television and even today when my husband is watching a television program, unless it is NCIS, House, one of the Law and Orders or CSIs, if I am sitting down I have a book in my lap.
Do you not just love this LT thing? I tell you I am not getting nearly the reading done that I was before I started posting on here. But it becomes an addiction and we must keep it fed!~!
Thanx for stopping by. I will be watching for your thread.
Happy reading.
N/B

Yep, it's an addiction--librarything that is. My fiance is utterly addicted to tv, to the extent that he's made a career out of it, so I'm pretty used to reading with that in the background. House, NCIS, and MacGyver all draw away my attention though...

I finished The Memoir Club by Laura Kalpakian this afternoon. I liked this book. It took a few unexpected and disappointing turns but after all it was Kalpakian's book story to tell and not mine. I was not disappointed in the book as a whole and am glad I read it.
I am on target with the group read of Anna Karinina and this evening I will begin The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama. She writes beautifully so I am excited to get into that one. Tomorrow I will pop into the library where they are holding the 3rd Harry Potter for me and I am sure I will start that one right away as well. I have never had so many books going on at the same time. That alone will be a challenge for me.

Since I have completed my "50 book challenge" for 2009 I am going to start a new list for the ones I read from here on out. Beginning with:

1. The Memoir Club by Laura Kalpakian

nannybebette, so I'm curious. Did you not like the 'turns' in Kalpakian for personal reasons (e.g., didn't match your values), or because you thought they were unbelievable, bad writing...or? I can, for example, not like a book because I don't like a character.

***spoiler alert***
Hi bonniebooks. The "disappointing turns" I found in The Memoir Club were simply that; disappointing turns. I was not disappointed in the novel. I was so saddened when Caryn died because I loved her character and her interaction with all the other women. And the other "turn" was when Nell fell in love with Ted. That was totally unexpected for me as I truly thought (and hoped) her character was gay. So---no, the disappointing turns had nothing to do with values, I found all of the characters to be believable (though I have never known anyone like Francine), and I didn't think the writing was poor. I liked the book and all the characters. I hope I have answered your questions. I do recommend this book to those who enjoy "chick lit" and I also intend to look for some of the author's short stories as I understand she has written a few.
Thanx for stopping by and come back any time. You reading anything good right now?
N/B

Haven't had much reading time the past few days what with the whole "family interference" thing goobering up all "my plans". Dontcha just hate when life gets in the way of your LT and reading? hehehe
Anyway have finished The Street of a Thousand Blossoms and recommend it to all, have read The Dream Comes True and recommend it to none!!!!!!!!!! Have also finished Night Train to Lisbon by Emily Grayson. It is a comfy little read. Very predictable. Girl meets boy, boy meets girl. They fall in love. Life happens which turns things up all topsy turvey, but in the end it all comes together and we have a hero or in this case a herione. Makes for quick reading but you need potato chips, popcorn or some such as there in not much to cut your teeth on. There has been so much going on as of late that I am choosing small, light readings other than "Anna", which I am enjoying as I slowly plug along. (page 93 so I am on target, but it just feels slow to me)
Well, back to the "real world".
Happy reading all,
N/B

This afternoon while waiting for my appointment I read a most beautiful little book. It is called One Extra*Ordinary Day and was written by Harold Myra. (touchstones partially not working here)
David, the main character, is sent off by his wife for one day to "decompress", to get some rest and rejuvenate himself. He heads out to the woods where he always finds peace and contentment. However his day is interrupted by "Michael", a celestial being. (not an angel) The book is only 104 pages long but during those 104 pages "Michael" and David spend most of the day together and "Michael" sees and understands with great shock, the world as it has become today and David sees and understands that "The greatest wonder of all, more than all the challenges, the music, the creativity, and the beauty is simply being in harmony with the One who loves us.
I got this book at the library but I am going to run out and buy myself a copy. It had much the same effect on me that The Garden at the Edge of Beyond by Michale Phillips did. (I keep that one in my "serenity basket" and no matter how bad my day, no matter my circumstances, these books give me hope and take literally only moments to read.
I will get off my soapbox now and hope that some you will real it. It can be live changing as some of the smallest things in life can be.
Happy reading and blessings on you day.
belva

3 1/2 fresh inches of snow!~!
Yea!~! Wonderful day for a good read!~!
Happy day everyone.
belva

Wow! You must be in Eastern Washington, or closer to the mountains? Today was sunny bright in Seattle--really felt like Spring!

No bonniebooks; I live in the foothills just on the western side of White Pass. We are right between Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens at just under 1000 ft but often we get snow when they predict a 2500 ft snow level--go figure. We had snow on the ground from before Thanksgiving until not quite a week ago. In fact my daughter who lives just 4 miles from me towards Mt. Rainier, still has snow covering the kids swings on their set. We've had a winter here this year.
Anyway on to LT; I concluded the 1st portion of "Anna" yesterday and hated to put it down til the 15th of next month. But I want to stay with the group read so I must.
I have begun another in the mean time. It is by Julia Oliver and is titled Music of Falling Water. There seems to be an awful lot of characters and I'm trying to keep them straight as I go, but I'm only on page 45 so I'm sure I will pick up on all of them and their respective places in the novel. It looks to be a promising read and I hope it doesn't let me down. But you never know when you pick out a book by the beauty of it's title.
I must say the most exciting part of my week by far has been going to Borders in Olympia (1 1/2 hrs away) and finally, finally, finally picking up a copy of Walt Whitman's
Leaves of Grass. I have wanted a copy forever and kept waiting for my husband to get me one each year at Christmas time, but I gave up and purchased it for myself. I am loving it!~!
Well, I am off to take my mother to the eye doctor.
Happy reading everyone.
N/B

Thanks for the visual re: where you live. I'll wave to you as I'm driving down to Vancouver next week to visit my mom. I admire someone who can put down a book that they're loving. I'm usually guilty of reading a book for my book group within the first few days, then because we only meet once every 2 months (it's poker in the alternate months) AND because my brain is like a sieve, I usually have very little of substance to say. I read Leaves of Grass in high school--way too young to really appreciate it. Happy reading to you too!

Hey bonniebooks;
Let me know when you are hooking up with your mom and perhaps we could meet for coffee at Spiffy's at the intersection of I-5 and Hwy 12. I think that would make it about a halfway break for you. Anyhoo, let me know. It's only a 25 minute drive for me and it would be nice to meet you and have a face to go with your name. Speaking of which, is it a poker face????????/ hehe
belva

LOL! I do manage to win the majority of the money--though we play with nickels and dimes, mostly. You would drive 25 mins. to meet me? Wow! I'm honored!

You bet. (punny, huh?) I might even bring a book or two. And you know ---- those dimes and nickels can add up pretty fast. I know ----I used to have to roll them at the bank all the time.
catchalater,
belva

I am on my first Wodehouse and find that I am enjoying it. It's not the "belly-laugh" I was hoping for but I understand he is an acquired taste. I am reading The Code of the Woosters and am about 3/4 of the way through. I think it has helped (what with the quips and lingo and all) that my mother-in-law (now deceased) was a war bride from the Isle of Man. Used to crack me up. She couldn't help but to call me Belver instead of Belva. It always came out that way. Ah, such is life.

I just finished The Code of the Woosters and while I must say that I was enjoying it throughout, by the end I was quite taken by Mr. P.G. Wodehouse. I think that my post above provides my general outlook on the book but I was so taken with the way Wodehouse ended this story. It was so unexpected; the sweetness of it:
"The year's at the Spring, the day's at the morn, morning's at seven, the hill-side's dew-pearled. The lark's on the wing, the snail's on the thorn,
God's in His heaven, all's right with the world." (quoted by Jeeves)
And then later at the very end of the book: "And presently the eyes closed, the muscles relaxed, the breathing became soft and regular, and sleep, which does something which has slipped my mind to the something sleeve of care, poured over me in a healing wave."
Do words get much more beautiful than that?

Poetic, isn't it. I read Wodehouse several years ago, but was not impressed; perhaps it's time for me to try again. Thank you for the review.

Hi Charlie. And you are very welcome. I wasn't "in love" with him until the end and he "got" me. So I definitely will go on with more of his work. I understand that Wodehouse has several series out there so I think I will try one of each and see how I do with them. I really liked the Jeeves character.
Catcha later.

I just finished An Absolute Scandal by Penny Vincenzi and I thought about 50 pages in that I would enjoy this novel. I was wrong. This one just wasn't my cup of tea. I thought, what with the way that it began and the economic times being what they are in the U.S. , that I would like it. The storyline is of the great financial losses of Lloyd's of the U.K. and the effect on several non-related families. But as it went on I found I couldn't come to care about the characters. They didn't seem to develop nor did they seem real and I just couldn't quite get the way they did or did not relate to one another. For me, it didn't work. I also must say that I am a Yank and it was originally published in the U.K. although I have loved many a Brit book and I don't think that had any bearing on the way I felt about this read. Anyway I wouldn't recommend it. Sorry, Penny. I wanted to enjoy it, just could not.

Last night I began The Complete Stories of TRUMAN CAPOTE. It is a book of short stories and I am only on the 3rd one but I am enjoying them thus far. I found it quite interesting that in the introduction of my copy he and Ernest Hemingway are named as the only two writers of "distinguished fiction" to come out of the twentieth century as American household names. Capote apparently led a harrowing private life. This is the first time I have read him, but now of course I want to go to the library and check out The Grass Harp, Other Voices, Other Rooms, In Cold Blood, and of course Breakfast at Tiffany's.

That's funny---you'd think Flannery O'Connor at least would make that list. I adore Capote as well--just we aware that the Grass Harp is short stories, so it would probably just repeat what you've already got in hand! Other Voices, Other Rooms might be my favorite Capote though. Have you tried Carson McCullers? She's similar to Capote in a lot fo ways, and wonderful.

I have only read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers and indeed I liked it a great deal but have tried nothing since.
I am truly enjoying this group of shorts. Capote has such a way with words and can say a great deal with such a few. So far I really like him. I just remember him being such a funny, strange little man but it apparently he was near genius.
Are you reading anything wonderful today?

Well, I just finished The Promised Land by Mary Antin--it was an autobiography of a Russian immigrant girl in the early part of the twentiety century I read for class. It's lovely writing though, and her anecdotes are often actually similar in humor to Capote come to think of it. You might think of looking it up--it certainly reads more like a novel than nonfiction!

That sounds to be a lovely read. I will be looking for it.
Thank you so much. Am really enjoying the Capote. He writes beautifully.

Hi, Belva!
I got behind reading posts when I went out of town. I have been slowly catching up. But I am reading them from the end of the list and I never could catch up to yours because it is always at the top. So, tonight I decided to change tactics and go straight to your thread to see how you have been doing. :)

You have been reading lots of books! I love that you have a serenity basket. I need one of those. I have not yet started Anna Karenina. I needed a short break from the super long books, but I will be ready to start soon. I love that book. I always ponder on the opening lines about family. Do you think it is true that all happy families are the same?

Have a wonderful weekend!
--BJ

Hi --BJ.
No, I do not think that all happy families are the same. Do you? And I cannot hardly stand to not read any further until the 15th, but I will abstain. While I wait i am currently reading some Truman Capote and loving his style of writing. Am also anxiously awaiting my 11 yr old grandson's completion of the 4th Harry Potter as I completed the 3rd last week and am ready to go.
And I can see why you need a break from the long books for a while. You did great with "tBK". Have you had time to review it yet? I can't wait to see what you have to say.
How was your time away?
I hope it was soothing to your soul.
See you on here later,
belva

I did not really think that all happy families were the same, but every time I read that I wonder about it. Is your grandson in town with you? You are so lucky to have him close enough to share books! :) I hope that whenever I have grandkids, they will be close enough to spend lots of time together.

I don't really review books. I am not that good at it. So I just make a couple of really short comments on my thread and let it go at that. I thought that TBK had a lot of interesting thoughts on Christianity and atheism, ethics and morality, and psychology. How the characters interacted with each other varied to some extent based on their inner beliefs. Some of what I think are the more famous parts of the book in the middle left the storyline to delve into these thoughts, and I did not enjoy those parts quite as much. If I had taken a class on it long ago, I might have liked that part more. At any rate, the last third of the book made me a believer and I could not put it down. So, although I had doubts at times, I ended up a believer in Dostoevsky. So I guess I liked it.

I always like going to Austin. Had a great time. Plus the week before I got to spend with my older daughter and her boyfriend which was wonderful.

I have never read Capote, but my daughter read In Cold Blood in school, so that is now somewhere on my tbr. Take care and have a great day!
--BJ

Hi --BJ. In Cold Blood is on my TBR list now also. He writes beautifully. (Capote)
It sounds like you really got some quality time in there with your family. I am so very fortunate as most of mine are really close by. I have one daughter here in my community (about 4 miles away) and she is the one with the boys that I get off to school in the A.M. and watch after school. I am soooo lucky!~! And I have them during breaks like this week on spring break (excepting she did have one vacation day that she took to be with them and they all loved it of course.) They like being with their "nanny" but would much rather be with "the mama".
Then I have one divorced son with 3 daughters (just 1 at home) who lives about 40 miles away in the same community that his sister and dad work in. So it is convenient for them to haul the kids back and forth and they often do. My older (gay) daughter lives just outside Dallas, Texas and I only get to see her a couple of times a year, but we are so much alike and have a blast. The kids and grandkids all get along so great and never argue or fight. We are so lucky and proud of them. They are none of them rich, but they are all happy. What more could a parent want? Am trying to pin my kid down now to vacation time now so I can plan ahead and order tickets to Dallas to see the older one. If that doesn't work, we will fly her home and she can see all of us.
I am enjoying Anna Karinina, but I have been working on my TBR listing and am going to include Tolstoy's War and Peace. Homers The Odyssey
and The Iliad and Dostroyevsy's Crime and Punishment and Waugh's Brideshead Revisited. Those are my personal challenges this year and I am more than a little intimidated. ***holding mug of coffee up*** here's to my challenge!~!
I know it will be tough (for me), but I already have all the books except for the Odyssey. Any suggestions as to to the reading order (other than the obvious) ?
I have seven months, so I don't think time will factor in and I think I will still be able to meet my other challenges.
I am finally beginning to get tired so I think I will head to the old bed and see how I do tonight. It has not been great for the past month or so, but we are giving it the old college try.
G'nite --BJ. Thanx for listening to me ramble on and on.
belva

Hi, Belva!
If you are planning to read War and Peace, there is also a group reading that on the 75 book challenge group. It is taking it about 100 to 150 pages at a time, so you could still catch up if you want to. If you go to the top of the 75 book challenge page, there is a link to all the reading groups. For some reason, I joined all of them except for the Georgette Heyer one. I would have joined that one if I had found out in time, but it was a short one. I have been wanting to try out a Heyer book. I have also been wanting to read and reread all the books you have coming up! So, I look forward to your comments. :)

Have a great day!
--BJ

Thanks for stopping by my thread Nannybebette! You've got a great list of books going this year! Of the books you mentioned in post 77, I have read War and Peace and Crime and Punishment - very different but I liked them both. I'm hoping to read Anna Karenina this year too, so I look forward to your opinions of it.

Also, thanks for your comments on Capote; I read Breakfast at Tiffany's years ago (because I love the movie) and I remember liking his writing. Now I want to go search out more of his books....

re: Capote; me too, and so I have. I think I have 4 or 5 of his on hold at the library now.
I am very excited to begin Crime and Punishment. I have tried War and Peace before so I'm hoping I will have a different mindset going into it this time. Anna Karinina; I am just loving and can't wait for the 15th to arrive so I can begin the second part for the group read.
Happy reading waterLILY808.

re: Capote; me too, and so I have. I think I have 4 or 5 of his on hold at the library now.
I am very excited to begin Crime and Punishment. I have tried War and Peace and didn't complete it so I'm hoping I will have a different mindset going into it this time. And I am going to spread these larger reads out over the next few months but I want to get them in by the end of the challenge.
Anna Karinina; I am just loving and can't wait for the 15th to arrive so I can begin the second part for the group read.
Happy reading waterLILY808.

Today is April 10th. Only 5 more days until the 15th and the go-ahead on the 2nd part of Anna Karinina. WOO Hoo!~!Can't wait!~~!
I read Dear John by Nicholas Sparks and I don't know why I continue to do this to myself. Most likely because I loved Message in a Bottle and The Notebook but this one was so predictable, boring and disappointing. I do so love a good love story but what could have been wasn't.
I am the same way with Anne Tyler. Have to read everything I can get my hands on by her because I have read so much really great stuff by her. (I need to start reading reviews before beginning a book.)
Anyway I am now reading a new (for me) author; Rebecca Gregson titled Eggshell Days and I am truly enjoying this one. Yea!~! Hate it when I get 2 duds in a row. I am a little more than 1/2 way through it and then on to Crime and Punishment. I hear "C & P" is most excellent so am anxious to start it. I just hope I can do 2 biggies at the same time. If not, I will finish the 2nd part of "Anna" and then carry on with "C & P".
Happy reading out there. Carry on.

Re: Anne Tyler. I've maybe said this to you already, but I loved Anne Tyler then eventually OD'd on her because I read too much, too fast by her. I finally am able to read her books again, but not with the appreciation I used to feel. I sometimes wish I could take a "forgetting" pill when it came to my favorite books/authors, so that I could read their newest book without all those comparisons in my head.

What's been your favorite love story ever read? And, if it's been awhile, do you think you would still feel the same way about it?

Have you read The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks? It's the only other one of his novels I've read besides Message in a Bottle, which I also really loved (though I've seen the movie versions of The Notebook and A Walk to Remember). The Guardian is also a bit predictable but I actually kind of enjoyed it because it's a little different from the typical Sparks novel in that there's a thriller element to it. Next time the urge strikes to read something by Sparks, I'd recommend trying this one, if only because it's not just the same old, same old.

I haven't read The Guardian, or anything by Sparks. I have seen the movies Message in a Bottle and The Notebook. I think I liked The Notebook better, but both were a little bit syrupy. But I think that happens in translations to movies--they have to be condensed too much, or you don't like the actors playing the roles that were so vivid, yet so different in your mind. I'll definitely add this book to my list, thanks!

#83 bonniebooks;
You have mentioned the overkill on Anne Tyler to me previously and I think I am doing some of the same here. Both with Sparks and Hoffman.
The "forgetting pill" sounds perfect except that I am getting to that age where it will soon be coming naturally. hehe
My favorite love story is Gone with the Wind and I read it probably about every three years or so and each time I just know he is going to turn around and go back!~! (but I do still feel the same about it)

#84 spacespuds;
I have not read The Guardian. Is that the same book of the movie with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher? I will have to give that one a try. It sounds a little different than some of his others.

Thanks guys (er, girls).

My granny used to say: "If God loved a liar, He'd love you to death". I just couldn't make myself start Crime and Punishment whilst reading Anna Karenina so I went to the library and grabbed some "covers" Do you ever do that? Just pick up some books by their covers? I don't know why I didn't pick up something from my TBR stack. I mean it's not like I don't have about 300 or so on my shelves right here at home.
Anyway I read Adam the King by Jeffrey Lewis and it wasn't bad. Not great, but not bad. It is about some filthy rich people building a home on the east coast on coastal property and financial manipulations and misdeeds that occur. It was probably a 2 hour read.
Then I read another Barbara Delinsky. The Woman Next Door and this one was actually good. It is a story of 3 couples who live on the same street as a pregnant widow (of over a year). So the story intertwines their lives and how they try to figure out which husband the baby belongs to. I know it rather sounds like a soap opera but it actually was pretty good. I got to know and liked most of the charachters and understand why they made decisions they made and did the things they did.
I have now begun Spring and Fall by Nicholas Delbanco and Local Girls by Alice Hoffman. They both seem to be pretty good. Strange though---neither one is written in the standard formula manner---which I find interesting.
Well, happy reading to one and all.

#83 bonniebooks;
You have mentioned the overkill on Anne Tyler to me previously and I think I am doing some of the same here. Both with Sparks and Hoffman.
The "forgetting pill" sounds perfect except that I am getting to that age where it will soon be coming naturally. hehe
My favorite love story is Gone with the Wind and I read it probably about every three years or so and each time I just know he is going to turn around and go back!~! (but I do still feel the same about it)

#84 spacespuds;
I have not read The Guardian. Is that the same book of the movie with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher? I will have to give that one a try. It sounds a little different than some of his others.

Thanks guys (er, girls).

My granny used to say: "If God loved a liar, He'd love you to death". I just couldn't make myself start Crime and Punishment whilst reading Anna Karenina so I went to the library and grabbed some "covers" Do you ever do that? Just pick up some books by their covers? I don't know why I didn't pick up something from my TBR stack. I mean it's not like I don't have about 300 or so on my shelves right here at home.
Anyway I read Adam the King by Jeffrey Lewis, (sounds like this is part of a 4-pk and the last one at that) and it wasn't bad. Not great, but not bad. It is about some filthy rich people building a home on the east coast on coastal property and financial manipulations and misdeeds that occur. It was probably a 2 hour read.
Then I read another Barbara Delinsky. The Woman Next Door and this one was actually good. It is a story of 3 couples who live on the same street as a pregnant widow (of over a year). So the story intertwines their lives and how they try to figure out which husband the baby belongs to. I know it rather sounds like a soap opera but it actually was pretty good. I got to know and liked most of the charachters and understand why they made decisions they made and did the things they did.
I have now begun Spring and Fall by Nicholas Delbanco and Local Girls by Alice Hoffman. They both seem to be pretty good. We'll see how they read. Strange though---neither one is written in the standard formula --- which I find interesting.
Well, happy reading to one and all.

Hi, Belva!
I finally started on Anna Karenina last night and am loving it again. I had forgotten just how much I love this book. I do like it better than War and Peace. I hope to finish the first part tonight or tomorrow at the latest. Have a great day!
--BJ

You will catch us easily by the 15th --BJ.

Off to Olympia for therapy. Catcha all later. Happy reading.

(All this running around really makes it hard to keep up with everyone's threads. Miss you guys.)

Hope your therapy is going well. Take care.
--BJ

Thanks. Seems to be doing the job. I appreciate your concern.
belva

Yesterday I finished Local Girls by Alice Hoffman and for those of you who don't know---she is my favorite author (not withstanding John Steinbeck---and this is the best of hers to date.
It is about a one-of-a-kinder girl who grows up with a mother who has cancer (sometimes in remission), her brother (who is brilliant but sometimes abuses drugs) and a cousin or aunt (I forget which) who is just 15 years older and very close with Gretel (the main character). The mother and cousin/aunt have a catering biz ran from the mother's kitchen and Gretel helps them. She has a best friend (Jill) and they have everything in common until Jill falls in love with and becomes impregnated by a loser. Now their worlds are different and Gretel has to make/find her own world.
Wonderfully drawn characters, beautifully drawn scenes, tearfully drawn climaxes, and an ending that comes way too soon but at a fitting time and place.
If you like to read books by and/or about women---please read Alice Hoffman. She is wonderful.

Great review!
--BJ

Hmmm... I stopped reading Alice Monroe quite a few years ago because, excellent writer though she was, the resolution of her stories were too dependent on magical realism for me--at least that's what I remember. But now your review has got me thinking I should read another book by her. What do you think, nannybebette?

I'm confused. Are you ladies talking about Alice Hoffman, Alice Monroe, Alice Munro, or Alice's Restaurant?

Hello nannybebette. I came by to repay the visit. Now I see what a really productive reader can do.

Oh! My bad! I meant Alice Hoffman--I like everything that comes out of Alice's Restaurant. :-)

Ooh, you guys are such wise as*es!~! And bonniebooks; I don't think I have ever read anything by Alice Monroe so I can't tell you a thing about her, but Alice Hoffman----honey, I can sell you anything by her!~!
As far as Alice's Restraurant goes; why, you can get anything you want there.
And thank you wildbill. Always glad to hear the gentleman's point of view.
And Charlie------don't get confused. You know your head explodes whenever you get confused and we can't have that. (you know--grey matter all over the screen--it just wouldn't be seemlyl)

Today, being the gloomy rainy day it was and my tummy not fit for 3 hours on the road, I stayed home and read. I'm so glad I did. First of all I read the 2nd portion of Anna Karinina and just want to say: WHAT A HORRIBLE PLACE TO HAVE TO STOP!~! My head was totally wrapped around the storyline and all the proper juices were running and BAM!~! Time's up!~! For another month, NO LESS!~! Ah well, we're all in the same boat, so to speak. (up the creek without the priverable paddle) Let's see if we can hold out once again. But I'm just sayin.......

Then I read a little number called Spring and Fall by Nicholas Delbanco---just a little love story about a couple who meet in the 1962 college years and the timing just isn't quite right so they each go their own ways and marry others, have children, do the life thing, divorce and accicentally meet forty years hence. And of course all turns out to be happiness and light. The author is an award winning author for Vagabonds among others of his repetoire. I have to say it wasn't a great read but it held my interest and I liked it. I will probably try something else by him.

the saturday wife by Naomi Ragen; now I really enjoyed this little (not so little-300 pages) story. Naomi wrote this story with her tongue very much in her cheek and it is about the unconventional wife of a rabbi. It was interesting, it was very funny in places (some appropriate, some not so appropriate), and I actually learned quite a lot about rabinical law (at least from the home, family, and food points of view. I liked it. A lot of holy stuff written and or discussed in a not so holy manner. Pretty good reading folks.

My fourth book of the day is probably going to be the best book I read all year!
I was enthralled by it. It is titled Minotaur and is written by Benjamin Tannuz. This book is written in four parts, with the main character in a different (physical or metaphysical) place at the beginning of each. It's a small book, (less than 200 pages) but it is HUGE!~!~! Graham Greene is quoted as stating: It is "The best book of the year." It was copywrited in 1989 and the 1st edition came out in 2005.
It is about a "secret agent man" who at times lives a very (?) normal life. It is a difficult book to explain. Part of it is written in letter and memoir form. During his formative years, his mother is certifiably crazy or at the very least depressed. She crys a great deal and His father is away a great deal of the time. So they send the boy away to school. He (the boy) loves classical music and plays the piano. He also has a girlfriend, but when he mast**bates, he does it to the image of his naked mother walking down the hall. (Apparently this keeps the girlfriend pure???)
He makes many changes as he goes through his schooling years as to what he wishes to do. It really is a difficult book to describe and do it justice.
The New York Times is quoted: "A novel about the expectations and compromises that humans create for themselves...very much in the manner of William Faulkner and Lawrence
Durrell". (that ought to get Charlie and Linda)
And when you come to the end you will just sit there and not think or do a thing for a moment or two. This is a book that just grabs hold of you and you won't want to let go....even at the end.

My next book to be read was Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. I am very sorry to have to admit that I just couldn't do it. I loved the writing, found the story easy to follow, could even at times get into the guy's head but when I came to page 55 and the violence with the horse began to get really bad; it just took me to someplace I can't allow myself to go right now. So, because I know that the violence with the mare and mankind in the narrative are interrelated throughout the book I just had to set it aside. I will return it to the library and hopefully one day I will be healthy enough to read it.
I picked up instead, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which I saw recommended on LT and it is a wonderful read. There is violence of a nature in it as well but not the soul-killing type (for me) in Dostoevsky. I will finish this one tonight and then find something really mellow. Perhaps Anne of Green Gables again or Little House in the Big Woods. Something of that nature anyway.
Sometimes I hate the fragility of life!~!

I understand how you felt. I have started Crime and Punishment more than once and not yet finished it. The violence with the horse is awful. It imprints intense images of suffering. The depiction of violence to the soul I found even more disturbing. I do not think that Dostoevsky would have been fun to have dinner with. He seemed to carry a lot of pain that came out in his writing. That does not mean I don't still put it on the tbr pile and hope for strength.

One day we will do it Bill.
I am glad someone else understands. Thank you.

I remember enjoying Crime and Punishment the first time around, but I just couldn't do it again. Maybe it's the kind of book you should read in your twenties--or at least before you're a parent. I just feel lately that I'm way too full up with knowing about all the awful things that people do to other people--or animals.

I'm with you too, nannybebette. Torture scenes and animal cruelty I just can't handle. I know it happens, but reading about it makes no difference and makes me miserable to boot. So I avoid both.

I am so glad for the heads up on Crime and Punishment. I will put it off for a while. I have been wanting to read more humor this year. Some excellent books that others just love, I find too sad. Wishing you a better book and a great day! :)
--BJ

Thank you --BJ. I took Anne of Green Gables to bed with me last evening and am enjoying her tremendously. I bought my copy of the book at my favorite used book store (sadly out of business now) and inside the book was a four page story on the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery. It was quite interesting. I, without really thinking about it, always just assumed anyone who wrote such happy books was quite a happy person. Apparently Mz. Montgomery had quite a bit of hardship in her life. Her mother died when she was two of T.B. and she was raised by her maternal grandparents. She became a school teacher until the death of her grandfather whereupon she returned to tend her grandmother and the farm where she was raised.
Her grandmother died in 1911 and she married a local minister who suffered profoundly of depression and melancholy. She, herself suffered "nervous spells" and severe headaches.
But she continued to write the Anne series and then the Emily series, which she said was much more autobiographical. In 1933 she became ill and her husband suffered influenza, and a complete nervous breakdown and was entered into a sanitarium. She said that was "the most terrible year I have ever lived." She, herself had a minor breakdown in 1936. Her husband retired and she wrote her last book, Anne of Ingleside.
She died in 1942 and her husband survived her by only one year.
One just never knows.
Anyway, off to start my day. Hope yours is great.
belva

Those scenes are the only thing that have kept me from re-reading Crime and Punishment. My Dostoevsky for all of you who might like it otherwise would be The Idiot--it's a beautiful book, and has a fair amount of humor thrown in in an odd way; I don't think it's one of the more widely read Dostoevskys, but it's a wonderful book.

I don't know whitewavedarling. Right now Dostoevsky is rather frightning to me. But if I do pick him up again soon I will put my trust in you and get The Idiot. I thought he was a beautiful (probably brilliant) writer. I just couldn't handle (at the time) the violence.
Thank you for your visit and your response. I appreciate it.

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

chocolatemuse; you hooked me right in with this one. That was fun. Wanna play some more?

Guess what, nannybebette?! I was "Watership Down" too! Guess that's why we like each other, huh?

Well, The Idiot doesn't have violence at least, from what I remember--certainly nothing along the lines of what occurs in Crime and Punishment. It's more of a delving into social satire in a way, along the lines of what Henry James might engage in. Let me know if you do look it up at some point!

Ack! I'm the Poisonwood Bible. I've never even read the Poisonwood Bible. Parts of it seemed freakishly accurate. Bwo ha ha spooky. Now I'm going to have to put The Poisonwood Bible on my want and TBR lists/piles.

scarpettajunkie (of which I am one also by the way--loved the face peeling thing); I have The Poisonwood Bible but have yet to read it. However all the reviews I have heard from personal friends (I haven't gone into LT's review forum as of yet on this one) have been glowing. Everyone seems to love it. I don't know but that's what I hear from all of my friends. And hey, Kingsolver; what's not to love about her?
Thanks for stopping by. I read your thread regularly and enjoy it.
belva

whitewavedarling;
Thank you so much for the reassurance. And hey, I can handle a Henry James likeness so maybe on my next run to the library...

And bonniebooks---you know what they say: "birds of a feather" etc. (or bunnies of a basket) That is nice and I do like you.
Blessings on your day.
belva

Hi, Belva!
I just love Anne of Green Gables. I read every one of those books to my girls long years ago and they loved every minute of it as well! Then last summer I read Emily of New Moon for the first time and I loved that one as well. I think my dad and stepmom went to visit Anne territory on Prince Edward Island on one of their many trips and loved it. I can't believe that she had such a sad life. She writes with so much hope. My kids and I are always laughing over various scenes in the books -- like the one with Rilla and the codfish. I get all the books mixed up, but they always remember what happened in which book. Thanks for the happy memories!! Have a wonderful day!
--BJ

Copy the questions into your own post and answer the questions.

1) What author do you own the most books by?
Luanne Rice **cringe**

2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Little Women

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Nary a bit

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Rhett Buttler, of course

5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children; i.e., Goodnight Moon does not count)?
A Little Princess

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
The Black Fawn and The Little Grey Men

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
An Absolute Scandal

8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
Minotaur by Benjamin Tammuz

9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Cry, the Beloved Country

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
Not Obama

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Shibumi

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Too late now, but Twilight

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
Stephen King chopped off my father's head.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
Skipping Christmas

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
(tried to read) Crime and Punishment

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
King Lear (in Kabuki)

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
The Russians for sure

18) Roth or Updike?
Updike

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Eggers, please

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Milton

21) Austen or Eliot
Austen!~!~!

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
True classics

23) What is your favorite novel?
Gone With the Wind

24) Play?
Kick the Can

25) Poem?
Evangeline

26) Essay?
Don't have one

27) Short story?
Any by Joyce Carol Oates or Alice Hoffman

28) Work of nonfiction?
I Will Fight No More Forever

29) Who is your favorite writer?
Simple--John Steinbeck

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Stephenie Meyer

31) What is your desert island book?
easy; the Bible

32) And... what are you reading right now?
Anne of Green Gables

) What author do you own the most books by?
Patrica Cornwell

2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Accidentally, Daughter of York. I don't do copies.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Not at all.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Any of the leading men from the Bridefinder trilogy.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children; i.e., Goodnight Moon does not count)?
Little House In the Big Woods, or Jane Eyre.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
The book of Gnomes.

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
Ghostwalk.

8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
Any of the Bridefinder trilogy and Beneath A Marble Sky.

9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Schindler's List.

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
Not J. K. Rawlings.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
The Angel's Game

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Ghostwalk.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
Never had it come up, glad to say. I hate the dreams where you are falling, can't get away in time, or you aren't prepared, i.e. school. I also have a waitressing dream where I am overwhelmed with customers and afraid they won't tip me.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
Ann Rice and Steven King did not make me feel very grown up, but I enjoyed them at the time.

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
(tried to read) Crime and Punishment

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
Never seen any Shakespeare plays.

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I prefer American or Canadian.

18) Roth or Updike?
Updike

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Um.. I guess Sedaris.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Chaucer.

21) Austen or Eliot
Austen!~!~!

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
True classics

23) What is your favorite novel?
Gone With the Wind

24) Play?
The Luckiest Man In Ireland which I was in during 4th grade.

25) Poem?
My mom has this poem about a bride playing hide and seek wholocks herself in a chest in the attic and is never found. Spooky. Won't leave my memory.

26) Essay?
Don't have one

27) Short story?
Any of the Grimns Fairy Tales.

28) Work of nonfiction?
Betty Crocker cookbook.

29) Who is your favorite writer?
Patricia Cornwell and Beverly Lewis and C.S. Lewis.

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Whoever wrote Ghostwalk.

31) What is your desert island book?
easy; the Bible

32) And... what are you reading right now?
The Angel's Game.

Ohhhhhhhhh, that was strange. We actually had quite a few answers in common. I was so surprised.
And on the question about the # of books by one author, when I saw your answer I had to go to my library and double check my count. I have 25 Luanne Rice's and 21 Patricia Cornwell's. Bizarre or what?
I think I see myself as a wimpy reader and you as a brave reader is the reason for the "deer in headlights" reaction.
Kind of fun, huh!?!
Catcha later scarpettajunkie,
N/B

Hey, Belva!
I don't think that I am well-read enough to answer the quiz!! But I was wondering why Goodnight Moon would not count? Just because everyone reads it the most? Love that book.

Have a wonderful day!
--BJ

--BJ,
I love Good Night Moon also and my children and (so they say) their children heard that book at bedtime every night until they began to request something different.
And I am sure you ARE well read enough for that quiz. It's fun. Most of those are.
Thanx for stopping by. You have a great day as well.
belva

We got that book with a small stuffed bunny in pjs. That sweet bunny was my younger daughter's beloved forever. I think that she still has it. Maybe we will dig it out and I will send it with her to college next fall. Or maybe I will need to keep it for myself! :) See you soon!
--BJ

Ohhh that is so sweet. Perhaps one day (way off in the future) she will have a little girl herself who will love the bunny as much as your daughter did.
catcha later,
N/B

Still reading Anne of Green Gables; haven't really been putting in much time but am enjoying it. Next up: Harry Potter #4. That should be fun too.
Happy trails everyone.

Are you going to the Harry Potter movie when it comes out this summer? My kids were so disappointed that they decided to delay the movie from Christmas to summer to up the box office take. But they will get over it when the movie comes out for real.

Have you gotten to the part where Anne is making a pot of peas? My girls and I love that part (among all the other wonderful parts!). What a wonderful book. Take care.
--BJ

Yes, yes, aren't some of 'Anne's" prediciments hysterical?

And yes we will be going to the movie when it comes out unless---I haven't caught up to that one. Is it the 6th? Tyler (the grandson) has the first 5 movies and is just finishing the 5th book. I am just getting ready to begin the 4th book. Nanny is always 1 behind the kid.

You know, I really didn't even want to read this series. Was not interested in the least! Then my grandson started them and when he was on book 2, he CHALLENGED me to read them along with him so we could discuss them. So reluctantly I began. And they are such fun. We have such a good time reading together and talking about them. But it is really weird because he remembers so many more of the little details of each spell and occurrance than I do and then he has to explain it all to me and I can go "ohhhhhhhh".

Arggggggggggggg!~! This getting old thing! But when I am in the midst of a "Harry" book it is so funny because every day when he comes home from school, he asks: "Nanny, what page are you on now?" So everyday this week it has been: "Sorry Tyler, I am still reading Anne of Green Gables" and he is so bummed!
Life can be so good, can't it? I just love having those kids around. They really lighten things up and put a right perspective on it all.
Enjoy your day and happy reading. Thank you for stopping by.

How wonderful! I hope that I get to have just as much fun with grandkids when I get them!
--BJ

Ha! The "3 B's" bouncing around on the "3 B's" this morning! I read about three or four of the HP books with my youngest son, but then so much time went by that I thought I would have to start all over again to really enjoy the later ones. Instead, I'm going to wait for the grandkids too!

Finished Anne of Green Gables this afternoon and am ready to begin the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Keeping it simple folks.
G'night all. Happy reading.
belva

Hi nannybebette, thanks for dropping by my thread, just popping in to say hi and to borrow that quiz to do myself! I loved Anne of Green Gables as a kid as well, and I think maybe it's time for a reread. Speaking of children's classics, I also just bought a copy of What Katy Did Next, which I haven't read in years - have you ever read it?

Hi tash99.
No, I can't say I have ever read What Katy Did Next. I am assuming it is pretty good? If so I will have the nab it at the library.
That quiz was quite a bit of fun.

It's been a while, but I remember loving it, and that was about the same time as I read Anne of Green Gables

So chances are it is about as good as Anne of Green Gables. It is as good as on my list. (Isn't that terrible when you have to make a library list just like you do a grocery list? Well, that's me)
Thanx for your input. I appreciate it.
I wonder if there is a book, What Katy did? hmmmmmmmmmmm
Turns out (I just went on Wikipedia) there is a whole "Katy" series.
1. What Katy Did
2. What Katy Did at School
3. What Katy Did Next
4. Clover and
5. In the High Valley
They were written by Susan Coolidge originally under a pen name about the same time Little Women was written. Interesting, huh? I thought so.
Well, I think I will try to get some shut eye. I have a 3 hour road trip tomorrow so I better get some rest.
g'nite,
N/B
thanx for stopping by. This was nice.

You are most welcome carlydavies.
And it is nice to meet you. Thanx for stopping by.

When I was smaller, I loved the Katy series. They might be due for a re-read.

And I am thinking I need to do a first read on them because reading "Anne" just made me feel so warm, fuzzy, and good that it reminded me of why I do read so much.

So I thank you tash99 for the recommendation.

This afternoon I finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as my reading challenging grandson is finishing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Mine will go in the "to be returned to library" bag and his will come to me. Great how that works out. We are doing well with his challenge to me on the "H.P." books. I don't think that I would have read them otherwise. He goes first, then when he starts the next one, I read the one he just finished. And then we discuss them. It is a great bonding theme for an 11 year old boy and his 61 year old "nanny".
I also have other reads going at the same time. Next up for me: Big as Life by Maureen Howard, the author of A Lover's Almanac. This one is 3 shorts and I am looking forward to them. The three stories supposedly mark the advent of spring. Good timing, that.
Well, off to do some lurking and skulking about on LT.
Happy reading to all.

IMO, the Katy series are more similar to the Pollyanna series than the Anne books. Good, but can get a little preachy. Enjoy! :)

Preachy is all right with me as long as it is not all the time and I get to pick the when and what. I loved Pollyanna when I was a little girl. This is quite lark actually, to reread childhood favorites. I have been setting some aside. All the Big Red books, Treasure Island, Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, Heidi, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess and others. But I think I will intersperse them with my more mature reading material and finish the "Anne" series and go on to the "Katy" series. Those just sound so good.
Thanx for stopping by and for your input.
I hope you are reading something swell.
G'nite now.
belva

So many good books on your tbr, Belva! I remember reading Pollyanna to my kids and loving it, too. And we all loved Heidi so much. I also have The Secret Garden and A Little Princess on my tbr. My girls both loved those stories. I read A Little Princess, but I can't recall if I read The Secret Garden or not.

We are having cloudy, rainy weather here is Oklahoma. Spring is definitely here. Everything is so green. I love it! How are things where you are? Wishing you a wonderful day!
--BJ

It took a while to get caught up with your thread - you're an extremely productive reader!

To answer your question from waaaay back re: The Guardian, that movie is not at all based on the book. I don't think there has been one made from the book, actually. At least, not yet!

Anne of Green Gables is one of my favourites, I used to read it once a year or so when I was younger but haven't in a long time now. One of these days, I should read the entire series, I have all of the books just sitting there on my shelf...

And finally, The Poisonwood Bible is one of my all-time favourites. If you have a copy, definitely read it! Barbara Kingsolver is a fantastic writer and it is a very well told story.

--BJ,
I didn't realize that you lived in Oklahoma. One of my dear friends lives there in Talaqua (sp?) and when her husband was sick and dying I spent all of my vacation time there for 3 years to help give her a spelling from the care. I fell in love with Oklahoma; thought I would hate it, but found it to be beautiful and you have real bluebirds and cardinals. I had never seen either one in the wild before. I miss Paula. Since her husband passed I haven't been back but once. I was visiting my daughter in Plano, Tx and drove up for the day.
Yeah, it's great that spring has sprung. Things are greening up here also but it is overcast and cold. We had hail and rain yesterday and it snowed one day last week. (didn't stick, of course)
Do you, Bonnie and I all three have 2 daughters?
And as this IS LT, watcha reading now? You did just finish Frankenstein, right?
Blessings on your day.
belva

I have 2 sons, whom I love, love, love; but sure do long for a daughter (who reads!) sometimes. LT is helping with that though.

Hi spacespuds!~!
Welcome and I'm not really so prolific, just old and with some time on my hands.
I had to think to catch up with you in regards to The Guardian and remembered that one of Sparks books had bored me and you suggested that one. I did put it on my library list. I went back and checked so I will be reading that one when I get caught up.
And yes, Anne Shirley is wonderful and you have all of them? How marvelous for you. I am missing the 2nd, 3rd and 5th of the series but no big deal. I will use the library. I took my time reading her and relished every moment.
Ahhhh, Barbara Kingsolver, now there is a writer for you. I have only read The Bean Trees but I loved it and I do have The Poisenwood Bible and one day will get to it.
You have no idea what my bookshelves are like. I have paperbacks 2 deep and also stacked on top of the rows of books. My hardbacks are too tall and wide to go 2 deep but they do have books on top of them also. I have so many I haven't read that I want to get to but the time just seems to slip away. And then also my library card costs me $80.00 bucks a year. So I am using the library while my card is good and when it expires (June) I am not going to renew it. My daughter has one she will let me use as they are family cards. She lives outside town and they pay taxes for the library. We live inside city limits and do not as we are expected to use the high school's (non) library. So I will be reading my shelved books once my card runs out and The Poisenwood Bible and The Iliad are probably the first two on my list.
My, how I do run on. (told you I was old).
You have a great day and thanx for stopping by. I check out your thread almost daily as there is always something going on there. Take care.
belva

Hi Bonnie!~! ***smiling and waving***
Hmmm, why did I think you had 2 daughters? So---2 sons, lovely. My youngest has boys. My oldest has girls. I have 1 son (with the girls)who is wonderful and 2 daughters, wonderful also, but one of them is so much like me that we are super sensitive around each other because we hurt each other's feelings so easily. And the youngest is just the best kid. She (has the boys) is always honest with me about me and calls B.S. when she sees it even if I am B.S.ing myself. So I have a lot of trust in her regarding me. Both girls are huge readers but don't read the same kind of material as each other or myself so we can rarely share. My son is not a big reader at all. He literally was one of the Why Can't Johnny Read kids and taught himself to read in his frosh year with comic books. And all of a sudden his grades went up. I was so proud of him--still am.
LT is helping with a lot of things, I am finding.
Well, Bonnie---you enjoy your day. I hope you aren't getting our rain up there.
belva

No, that was yesterday, today's beautiful! I'm just heading out to weed--a formidable task I've been ignoring for too long--and dig up more of those dead Hebes that I love but have finally convinced me that they don't belong where I keep planting them. You know, Belva, I think of all the Barbara Kingsolver books that I've read, you might really like Prodigal Summer best. Just my opinion! :-)

Oops! I forgot to wave back! :-)

And I just happen to have Prodigal Summer on my shelf as well. My goodness, so many choices!~!
What are Hebes? Never heard of them.

Thanks for the kind words, NB!

I second the recommendation for Prodigal Summer. It's beautifully written, there are some images from it that still linger in my mind and I think of them everytime the book comes up.

#147 You are such a kind and thoughtful person! I had to google a map of Oklahoma to figure out how to spell Tahlequah. I was pretty sure how to spell it, but not certain!! My younger daughter's art teacher also teaches at the university at Tahlequah. That's quite a bit of driving, but her mom lives in Muskogee, and that is on the way. You know, it was hard for me to leave Texas; I love it so much. However, I really love living in Tulsa, and I don't think that I will ever leave. We had an enormous storm today and I was worried about my daughter changing classes, but she was all in one building during the storm. That was lucky!! She said that the kids who came to class from the other building looked like a bucket of water had just been poured over them -- totally soaked! Plus, there are flooding issues on campus. But I am sure that the trees are just loving it. My water dog who is afraid of water will have none of it. She will not go out in the rain. :) Unless I am in the rain with her, that is!

Yes, I did finish Frankenstein last night and I really enjoyed that book! I am reading The Forsyte Saga for the Group Reads -- Literature group and am really behind. Then I realized that I must read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle before graduation because my dad and stepmom gave it to me. And it is pretty long, too. How can there be so many long books in the world? I let my daughter read it first, so she can give me the rundown if time runs out. Still haven't located Ender's Game, which is disappointing.

Well, I guess I have run on and on. Sorry about that. By the way, my girls both liked Prodigal Summer the best also. Have a great day! :)
--BJ

Hello! I've found your challenge thread and had a great time reading through the comments and checking out your books. How did you like Beside a Burning Sea? I picked up a used copy recently but haven't read it yet. I will fourth (?) the Prodigal Summer recommendation - I read it several years ago and enjoyed it. Did you know Alice Hoffman has a new book coming out shortly? The Story Sisters. I just love her, too. I went to a reading/signing when The Third Angel came out. She was very personable. Time for tea - have a great night!

Hi coppers;
Beside a Burning Sea, I believe by John Shors, was very good. He was a new author to me and I was a little cautious when I began the book. The writing style is a little different which can be frustrating or exciting and in this case I found it to be the latter. I liked how Shors grew his characters and found it quite easy to empathize with them and care about them. My only complaint would be that I would have liked to know a little more of the outcome for some of the characters. I definitely would not have a problem recommending this book. It is a wartime story, a love story, an espionage story, a story about trust and friendship and deception. I really liked it. There is a wonderful relationship built into the story about a man and a young boy that is so beautiful. This is actually one of the few library books that I went out and bought after reading.
I do plan to read The Prodigal Summer this "summer" so thank you for that recommend.
And I didn't know she (Hoffman, I worship at her feet) had a new one coming out. Now I AM excited!~! I think The Third Angel) is one I have yet to read. It is so nice to meet someone else who appreciates her like I do. Steinbeck is my favorite male writer and she is my favorite female writer. But I have yet to read my Austens, so I suppose that could change as everyone seems to love her so much.
You enjoy your evening and I will chat with you soon. I hope you are enjoying your tea.
G'nite,
N/B

Hey, Belva,
Guess what? Tonight, my husband suggested that we go out to dinner and then visit the new Books A Million! What a guy! My daughter got another copy of Ender's Game, so I have another shot at it. I got a book by C. S. Lewis for another group read. Plus a Chicken Soup for the Soul book of Catholic stories. I have been wanting to read one of those books. My husband got a book on Spain as we are going to take a quick trip there this summer. What a wonderful evening!! Hope yours is wonderful as well. :)
--BJ

--BJ;
What a man your husband is!~! That must have been a wonderful treat and very thoughtful of him. It is wonderful when they know us well enough to know what will really please us, isn't it?
But please inform me (I am always running to you with questions anyway----guess you will just have to get used to it. Hee, hee) what is "Books A Million". Is it a new book store? Do they really have a million books?
And what is an "Ender's Game"? (a shot at what?)
Which C.S. Lewis book did you get for your group read (that you really seem to be addicted to, by the way--I love it)
And WOW!~! Planning "quick trip" to Spain????
I would just love a trip across town sometimes. (I cannot count the trips to Olympia for medical purposes----that just wouldn't be right!~!)
I find you so full of life and entertaining. I am thankful that we are LT friends. "I live through you vicariously."
My evening was a good one as well. Not quite so special as yours but good. We kept our grandsons while our daughter and son-in-law attended a meeting for the AMA football league. They are part of the coaching staff for the little guy's football teams. Tyler (the 11 yr old) was with me all day and I picked up the 6 yr old (Kyle) when we got back from Olympia. My husband made pancakes and eggs for supper and the kids picked the boys up around 9:30. So they were both tired but their mama wanted them home so we couldn't put them to bed. But we had a fun evening. Tyler , who has been ill this week slept on the couch most of the evening so we read little kid story books and played a few games. It was all good.
I am on the last short story of my book and then I will begin (I think) Homer's Illiad for the 999 challenge. I am so excited about that. I found quite a few books I had already read this year to fit into my categories but have realized that most of my reading has been women's fiction. This will help me to change that and be a little more diversified in my reading selections.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
N/B

Hi, Belva!!
I must say that the trip to Spain is exciting. My daughter who is studying Spanish and European Studies is required to study abroad and will go to Spain for the second half of the summer. Since she gets to go, we are going over there with her for about a week. I have never been to Europe. None of us have. It is a long way to go for just a week, but I feel lucky to get to go. Time to brush up on my Spanish. Luckily, both of my girls speak Spanish really well.

Books A Million is I guess a chain of book stores. We have been visiting the one in Fort Smith, Arkansas for years, because it has such a nice selection of books. I don't think that it is quite as big as Barnes and Noble, but it definitely has a great selection. After years of driving to Arkansas, one finally opened here in Tulsa. So we went to eat at the new Buffalo Wild Wings and then book shopping. Yes, my husband is truly wonderful and thoughtful. I never say no to a book buying trip. In fact, I signed right up for the membership card.

The C. S. Lewis book was called Till We Have Faces and is apparently a Science Fiction book. I had to have help locating it. But they had the book! Yea! Ender's Game is another SciFi book that my daughter recommended to me. I was all set to read it when I lost it! I have looked everywhere, so we bought another copy at BAM. Now the old copy is guaranteed to show up.

Your husband sounds terrific, too, making pancakes and eggs for dinner. Yum! My husband also makes pancakes. I am thinking about taking up cooking next year. I don't cook so much as heat up. I am glad that you had a good time with the grandkids. I hope that I will get to do that, too, someday!! :)

I have the Illiad on my tbr, too. Probably won't get to it until summer. Boy, I have a lot that I want to read this summer. And, hey, only 4 months until football season! Yea!

Happy reading and happy weekend!!
--BJ

--BJ;
It just hit me. You have our basketball team. You know "I said I loved you but I lied" to quote Michael Bolton. Now I'm pissed!~!

True, the basketball team did come to OKC. After Katrina, the New Orleans team played in OKC. The fans were wonderful to the team and really wanted them to stay. But of course they didn't. So they (I say they because I am in Tulsa) really wanted another team. Your team is special to me because you drafted Kevin Durant. He was a wonderful (Fabulous, Terrific, Amazing) player from my alma mater The University of Texas. So I was kind of glad that OKC got your team. I am hoping that sometime we can go there and watch them play. But I also hope that you get another team. It is fun to have someone to root for. Usually I root for the San Antonio Spurs or the Houston Rockets. But now I am a Thunder fan, too.

By the way, did you see on the news that the practice bubble of the Dallas Cowboys collapsed during a rookie workout today due to high winds? Those practice bubbles are really popular, but I always wondered how safe they were.

I cannot believe that I am up so late tonight. I am going to regret it tomorrow for sure. Take care.
--BJ

My latest read:
Big as Life: Three Tales for Spring *** by Maureen Howard
This book consists of 3 novellas that supposedly mark the advent of spring.
The first, "Children with Matches" (April) begins beautifully. "Imagine carp--flickering metallic orange, not gold. Their movements to behold as swamp grasses swaying on the edge of an ornamental pond. Natural, by design so natural. The carp are the idea of George Baird, President of Baird Bank and Trust. He has caused the gutting of this pond, the cementing of its retaining walls to simulate crags and timeworn crannies. He believes his carp to be old, that the same stock performs for him these twenty years, flashing like dancers in the Burly-que over in Troy or hovering in tranquility like their gilt images on a Japanese screen. His fish are that versatile.
George Baird is set out by his fish pond, tucked up in lap robes. He is dying. The day is resplendent with the warmth of false Spring, so his doctor allows this excursion. Baird has sent his nurse back to the house. In a feeble pantomime he has asked for a cup of tea. Free of her fussing at last, with difficulty he wheels his invalid chair closer to the black water, the better to see his treasures, for they have emerged from their Winter torpor."
Thus begins the multi-generational story of the Baird family.
George Baird, the patriarch, is very well thought of and a leading member of the community. The son he had placed all his hopes on died in the war. The remaining son "no better than a clerk at the bank, a mild, evasive man not party to his wife's spiritual ambition" means less than nothing to the patriarch. But the clerk, his wife and their daughters move into the ancestral home and so the story moves along quickly into the generation of the daughters grown into spinsterhood. Their father having run the business into the ground, becoming fascinated with the wood surrounding the house and making trails throughout the wood and has left them pretty much penniless. They take in and raise a niece, Marie Claude. The story then becomes Marie Claude's and about the house being left to her, her boyfriend's and her story, the decisions made and the whys. It is an interesting tale, not fascinating, but interesting.
The 2nd, "The Magdalene" (May) begins in quite a different way. Mary, known as Mae, is a nurse and the story is about her past. She is born late to parents of a family in Ireland, one of three children. She has a brother Law and a sister Jane. Mary fell in love with a young man from the township and when he was sent away she became the town whore and was sent to family in America where the youngest daughter of the family became enamored of her. This story is basically of how "Mae" fought off all the men who knew of her past, her relationship with the young daughter of the family and how she made a life for herself in nursing. Again, interesting but not fascinating.
The 3rd, "Big as Life" (June) is a biograpy of Jean Jacques Audubon, better known as John James Audubon or just Audubon. The biography is not so much about him but how his life and the living of it affects his wife Lucy. This one was fascinating to me. Audubon would take off, sometimes for years at a time to study birds or to sell his collections of prints and therefore he and Lucy's relationship, according to this biography took place largely in letter form. They did have four children. Two sons who lived and two daughters who died at an early age. Lucy was a schoolteacher and largely supported the family while Audubon was off "doing his thing".
I don't really know if I would recommend this book. There are some who would like it, but for the mainstream reader I do not think this would be the book for you. It did do one thing for me. It made me want to do some research on the life of Audubon.
Happy reading all,
N/B

An excellent review, Belva, but a book I think I'll take a pass on--too many TBRs.

Yeah Charlie, I think this one will be the ticket for just a few. Don't waste your time.

A couple of years ago, we had an Audubon exhibit at one of our local museums. I really enjoyed it.
--BJ

I want to experience reading more of "the classics" so I picked up this "little" book to kind of put my head in the right place to begin. It didn't turn out to be exactly what I was expecting, but here is what it was:

The book: "Studies in Classic American Literature
The author: D.H. Lawrence

I found this book to be quite interesting in that the author (D.H. Lawrence, with whom I am unfamiliar excepting for titles of books he's written) is constantly contradicting himself. He speaks of people as gods, as their own "holy ghost". He thinks extremely low of women and Americans, Benjamin Franklin, in particular. At times it was quite witty, but I don't know if that was simply my take on his written word or if the author was in actuality being funny. He has a very interesting style of writing and after reading this commentary, I am sure that I will, at some point in the future, pick up some of his books to read.
He begins in chapter 1 by stating that "there is a new voice in the old American classics. The world has declined to hear it, and has babbled on about children's stories." He continues on to say that the Americans dodge "their very own selves." He speaks of the Pilgrim Fathers and their successors not having come here for freedom of worship but to get away from themselves. He ends this chapter on Franklin by stating and I quote: "Now is your chance, Europe. Now let Hell loose and get your own back , and paddle you own canoe on a new sea, while clever America lies on her muck-heaps of gold, strangles in her own barbed wire of shalt-not ideals and shalt-not moralisms. While she goes out to work like millions of squirrels in millions of cages. Production!
Let Hell loose, and get your own back, Europe!"
I must be stupid! What did Lawrence just say here? I think he enjoys confusing the reader.
His next chapter is on Hector St. John De Cre'vecceur whose "Letters from an American Farmer" he seems to have high praise for but then states that "he was an artist as well as a liar, otherwise we would not have bothered with him".
Then he gets into Fenimore Cooper's "white novels". "Rum + Savage = O." He speaks of the "Red Man dying hating the white man. What remnant of him lives, lives hating the white man." The "white novels are, says Lawrence, "Homeward Bound", "Eve Effingham", "The Spy", and "The Pilot".
But then there were the "Leatherstocking Novels", of which Lawrence states he has "loved so dearly". He calls Cooper a "Gentleman" and then also calls him the "great American grouch." Of the "Leatherstocking Novels", there was: "Pioneers", "The Last of the Mohicans", "The Prarie", "The Pathfinder", and lastly, "Deerslayer". Here is where the book began to fulfill my expectations. I loved how Lawrence wrote about Cooper's books and the indians and the whites in this portion of the book. And perhaps because I have read some of Fenimore Cooper, it was more easily understandable to me. He speaks to the indian's way of thinking as in their hunting introspection. "Hurt nothing unless you are forced to". But then he turns around and belittles them for those very thoughts and for their actions pertaining to them.
When he comes to Poe, he calls him more of a scientist than an artist, but at least he gives him the credit of artistry. And says of Poe's pieces that they are a "concatenation of cause and effect." He speaks highly of his "love" stories. "Ligeia" and "The Fall of the House of Usher", but calls his style a mechanical quality and says that "he never sees anything in terms of life, but almost always in terms of matter, jewels, marble, etc."
Now we come to Hawthorne who "writes romance". Everything is all sunlight and roses in "As You Like It" and "Forest Lovers". And while he disses "The Scarlet Letter" I could tell that he liked/loved it. About Hester, he says: "But it is truly a law, that man must either stick to the belief he has grounded himself on, and obey the laws of that belief, or he must admit the belief itself to be inadequate, and prepare himself for a new thing." He uses that term a lot. ("a new thing"). He mentions other works of Hawthorne. "Twice Told Tales", "The House of the Seven Gables", "Blithedale Romance" and then moves on to:
Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast". Lawrence appears to be quite taken with Dana's descriptions of life upon the seas and all the elements surrounding that. But he also shows him no respect when he says that after the two years at sea and after the writing of the book, "Dana went home, to be a lawyer, and a rather dull and distinguished citizen. Dana lived his bit in two years, and knew, and drummed out the rest. Dreary lawyer's years, afterwards."
"We know enough, We know too much. We know nothing.
Let us smash something. Ourselves included. But the machine above all.
Dana's small book is a very great book: contains a great extreme of knowledge, knowledge of the great element.
And after all, we have know to all before we can know that knowing is nothing.
Imaginatively, we have to know all: even the elemental waters. And know and know on, until knowledge suddenly shrivels and we know that forever we don't know.
Then there is a sort of peace, and we can start afresh, knowing we don't know."
I know that all that sounds really strange, but I found it somehow beautiful in the writing of it.
Ahhh, now he comes to the master; Melville. And Lawrence does call him "the greatest seer and poet of the sea." He speaks of "Typee" and spending time with the cannibals of Nukuheva, comparing this life with the life of Adam and Eve before the Apple episode. Next he speaks of "Omoo" and calls this one "good reading; a fascinating book; picaresque, rascally, roving." At the end of this chapter he writes: (and I loved this part)

"Melville was, at the core, a mystic and an idealist.
Perhaps, so am I.
And he stuck to his ideal guns.
I abandon mine."

The very last chapter is of course Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" or "the White Whale" To Lawrence this is symbolism at it's best. And while he does state that at first you are put off by his style and that it reads like journalism, but he also states that this is because the artistry in Melville is so much bigger than the man. We all know the story of "Moby Dick" even if we've not read the book. It is clear to me that Melville is definitely a literary hero of Lawrence.
Thus we come to the end of this narrative.
I would recommend this book to the very few who love to fight their way through a book. And sometimes we do. I found it to be enlightening and at times beautiful at times

Hi, Belva!
Interesting review! I had never heard of this book before, but I loved reading your take on it. Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi --BJ. **waves madly**

My next read was: The Holiday By Stevie Smith
I am so disappointed in this read. It is my first (knowingly) read Virago Modern Classic and I could not like, let alone, love it. (And it is the first one I purchased which makes it even worse.) I liked the premise of the book; which is that of perhaps a two or three week period in the life of a young lady who lives with her spinster aunt. She "loves" 2 of her male cousins and she, a friend and a cousin go to spend "the holiday" with a beloved uncle in the country.
The first part of the book is all mumbly, jumbly with not much making sense other than it is postwar England (I believe it was written earlier but not published until after so some changes had to be made.) and everyone works for the ministry in some sort of job or another. It just sort of rambles hither and yon until they leave for "the holiday".
Then it started to pick up and get better until all of a sudden everyone is crying here, there, and everywhere and poetry is being thrown about, not really fitting in. But there were some good bits in it also. I liked the parts where the young people went rambling across the countryside, horseback riding, swimming, picnicking, etc. Perhaps if I were a Brit I could have liked this but I don't think so.
I really could not recommend this book to anyone.

Hi Belva - You have way more patience with your books than I do! But thanks for waving us off this one. I decided long ago that life was just too short to spend time with books I dislike. I hope your next one is better!!

Belva, I understand your reaction to Stevie Smith. I enjoy the books of hers I have read, but I feel that I liked them in spite of her best efforts to make them rambling and confusing.

#166. An extremely interesting review, Belva. My sole knowledge of D.H. was his novel Lady Chatterley's Lover and other erotic works. I had no idea that he was an essayist and a poet as well.

#168. I'll pass on this one, since the Virago books are marketed for women (no sexism meant or implied).

Right now, I'm just trying to work my way through my TBR pile, since they are all books I want to read (and ordered two more yesterday).

Hey, Belva, where did you get the Virago Modern Classic? I have heard about them and was wondering if I should get a couple for my girls, but I did not know if they were sold at local bookstores. I have never actually seen one. How did you choose the one that you got?

Hi, Charlie! I was wondering what books you ordered?

Have a wonderful day!
--BJ

Well, aren't you motivated?! ;-) I remember half reading Sons and Lovers (or was it Lady Chatterly's Lover?) but I don't like to work that hard when I'm reading--especially not on Mother's Day. Have a good one!

--> 175, SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO BE A BRIT, damn it!

Who wouldn't have at least a little bit of this feeling if you have any of that English-American heritage? It would be so cool to get something from across the sea, especially a classic, but then I've had a similar disappointed reaction to famous authors/works of fiction that you had with Brideshead Revisited so I want to make sure it's a book that I'll want to read--and keep!

Edited out duplicate message. Sorry about that! P.S. I've driving back to Seattle from Vancouver today, so will be waving back at you in a few hours! :-)

Hello Bonnie. * **she waves, smiling***
I am motivated in many areas of of my life which includes my reading. I remember when Lady Chatterley's Lover was quite the thing and all my friends were reading it---I was afraid to read it because of some of the words and actions I might find in the book. Funny, now, come to think of it. None of that puts me off any more. I guess I was just really young and "churchy" then.
I have one friend from church who thinks I am going to hell because I read the "Harry Potter" series. hee hee

Hi there --BJ. ***waving wildly***
I got this group of 3 Virago Modern Classics from Powell's Bookstore online. Their service was great. I hadn't used them previously and at that time they had a nice little selection. I think with these classics I would probably let the girls pick them out themselves. They are not your typical "classics" type of book for the most part. LT actually has a group just for Virago Modern Classics and you can find all kinds of info there. I believe laytonwoman3rd directed me to them. It is a lovely group of ladies, and Charlie is pretty much right. Most are written by women and most are written for (it seems) women.
I just need to be a little more discerning when I pick one out and that is sometimes difficult to do over the internet. I have 10 more coming from Persohpone (not sure on the spelling there). But both groups/publishers/stores are in the U.K. and I have never seen any on the shelves like at Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc. I am sure they could order them for you but there again you don't have the opportunity to peruse them before your purchase.
They also have quite a few at Amazon.com. I see that a lot of the ladies over on the VMC site use jumble stores, used book shops, etc for their finds. (SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO BE A BRIT, damn it!~!~!

Ah, hello Charlie. Glad you are feeling better and made it over. I too would like to know what new books you ordered and aren't you always curious about other reader's TBR lists?

Hello pretty coppers.
It isn't patience that makes me stick to a book if it isn't "doing it" for me. It is purely unadulterated stubborness and tenacity.
And I don't know which side of my brain always forces me to finish a book once I start. There is a "Pearl Rule" out there that states if you are not liking it by 50 pages in, ditch it. Usually, afterward, I am thankful that I read the book even if I didn't enjoy it.

Hi cristicuq.
So, I must ask---Do you think that Stevie Smith uses a writing technique of rambling and confusing sentences and paragraphs? Is that just part of her style? I did like the story concept and would have loved the book, I am sure, had it been written by Louisa Mae Alcott or L.M. Montgomery or any number of others. That is an interesting thought and goes into again the writer's layering of the concepts within the tale.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, something else to think about.

Well, happy days all and good reading.
belva

For my next reading pleasure I chose Brideshead Revisited (Everyman's Library Classics)… by Evelyn Waugh/

I know, I really know that I am very much in the minority when I say that I did not enjoy this book. (**I am hearing gasps all round the U.K.**) I enjoyed moments of the book, but all in all I found the characters to be flat and worldly and boring people. There seemed to be no plot. The people all seemed so self centered and decadent.
I forced myself to do this in one sitting (excepting for meal and potty breaks) because I knew that if I put it down I would not pick it up again. The 2 1/2 star rating I did give it was for the writing only.
I wanted to like/love it so very much because all of my LT heros/heroines love it and I do feel totally inept to have to say that I cannot measure up. But, oh well, *hit happens and it usually rolls downhill and I am oftentimes at the bottom. I will simply find something different to read that I can and will love.
Sorry, guys. I am sure that if I were British I would have enjoyed this one. I really badly wanted to love it but it just didn't happen for me.

I have that one on my tbr. However, it has gotten some mixed reviews. Maybe I will put it off for a while. :) There are so many other choices out there. Have a great day!
--BJ

--BJ;
I don't know that I would put it off. Has it really had mixed reviews? All of them I have read have been absolutely glowing!~! I just think there is something in my brain, be it right or left, that kind of stalls when I read anything that comes close to a British classic. Please, please do not use my review as a deciding point on Brideshead Revisited. I know people all over the U.K. are pointing fingers at me right now. I hated to even write a review on it because I just knew the rotten tomatoes were going to come flying.
And isn't that the beauty of LT? That we all can pick and choose and read and write as we choose. If we were all the same and thought alike what kind of world would we have? Hmmmmmmmmmmm. I think someone wrote a book on that as well.
Thanks for popping over.
Have a wonderful day.
N/B

Hi, Belva!
Not to worry. I am definitely reading it sometime this year. I listed it on my TBR Challenge list. There have been mixed reviews on this; apparently, it is not as funny as his other books. And, I usually always want to read books that get mixed reviews to see for myself. However, with so much to choose from and company on the way, I figure I can put it off for a little while.

Well, I am off to photobucket to figure out if I can get a photo of my sweet doggie on my thread. Have a great day!!
--BJ

Ahhhhhhhhh. Can't wait to see your little poochie. Mine is trying to be such a good girl today but you know---sometimes they just can't help themselves. Like my grandson said when he was three: "I want to be good, but something just makes me can't". Sweet, huh?
Thanx for poppin' over. I hope it is sunny where you are. Raining cats and dogs here!~!
N/B

The name: The Moon is Down
The author: John Steinbeck
The time: war time
The place: a small village in Norway
The cast: the village people and the occupying German soldiers

The quiet little village was taken as quickly and quietly as all of the other villages on the island. The occupation was unexpected and no preparations were in place. This is the story of the nature of man when he realizes the strength of a few who when banded together become one. The book is beautifully crafted, as are all of John Steinbeck's novels and short stories. He was a master with the written word.
The German soldiers came into the village and took over. They needed the coal from the mine. Six men fought back,
six men died. The commanding officers of the army took over the house of the mayor and planned to give orders to the coal miners and others of the village through the mayor. The mayor thought otherwise. Eventually the mayor died.
As directives were given, in the beginning they were refused. That refusing person was shot. A German soldier would be found dead and buried in a snow bank. The army would discover the guilty party and that person would be shot. Slowly the villagers began to do what the occupying forces were asking of them. But the work went very slowly and tediously, frustrating the German soldiers to no end. Suddenly there were break downs of equipment at the mine and it would take a long time for the repairs to be made. Young men of the village began to disappear during the night and the next morning boats would be missing.
Soon the planes began to come and there would be a light at the mine or on the rails. Bombs would fall from the sky, more time became necessary for repairs. The soldiers would find the party who had supplied the light for the planes and that person would be shot. A short time later this would be repeated. The bombings and the shootings, the bombings and the shootings.
There began to come airdrops over the village with little parachutes. Attached to these parachutes would be one stick of dynamite and a piece of chocolate. The children of the village would go out searching as if on an Easter egg hunt. They would eat the chocolate and run home with the dynamite for their parents to hide. Soon more parts of the rails were being blown up by the dynamite, more villagers shot. And still this little village, this community would not give in to the German army.
The Moon is Down is a very slim little volume, but it speaks hugely to what we are capable of if we do not simply give in to the "larger order of the day" and stand by our rights and refuse to allow them to be taken from us no matter what. In the grand scheme of things this was just one small village, but imagine what would have happened if every village, city, and country had stood up like this. Still, huge numbers would have died but they would not have simply been run over.

Wow, this sounds like a great book! I will look for this one.

We had that one day of sunshine and then a return to the raining every day. We had big storms today. I hope the thunder did not distract my daughter during her AP test! Amazingly, the forecast is cold and rainy all the way to graduation. The forecast for graduation is sunny!!! :) I am so happy!!! :) We are hoping to have a fun swim party for my daughter and her friends for graduation, but it is still way too cold to swim. I cannot get over this weather!

I took my sweet doggie through the drive through to pick up dinner by myself last night. I don't know why, but I put the food on the floor right in front of her. :O She was working her way into the sack when I snatched it up and put it under my feet. She gave up and went into the back seat. I mean, what on earth was I thinking??

Have a great, dry day!!
--BJ

Hi Belva!

I love Steinbeck but I haven't read him in a while. I've never even heard of The Moon is Down. I'll be adding it to the pile - thanks!!

Hope all is well and that you had a Happy Mothers Day!

Did everyone notice Belva's Hot Review of The Moon is Down? Yay!!

I didn't notice that! Congratulations, Belva! I'm gonna name-drop now.

Thank you coppers.
I was really excited and totally in shock. I just like to read a book and give my take on it so that if anyone out there is of the same interest, they have an idea of the story line, etc. But WOW!~!
Thanx for stopping by. I will catch you later.
N/B

Thanx Bonnie!~!
***waving madly***
What makes it even more swell is that it was a review for a book written by my favorite author, John Steinbeck. I am over the moon. I would never have thought a review of mine would be chosen. I guess nobody "nose", but "de nose "nose".
I will talk to you later. You have a good evening.
belva

And --BJ;
What are you talking?????

"have a great dry day"

It has been raining cats and dogs here for several days!~! It's almost time for the grandson's baseball seasons to be over and they both have been rained out all but twice. There is no way they can make all those games up.
Hey!_!-! Kyle Petty and Herschel Walker came through here Friday on a motorcycle run (about 300 bikes) and Tyler, the 11 year old got his picture in the local paper getting an autograph from Walker. He got one also from Petty, but no pic. How is that for AWESOME?????
You crack me up girl----trying to feed your pooch your dinner. Did you think the family wanted to start their diet that night?
later babe,
belva

Storming here, again. Hail, too, but not too big. How can so much rain exist? I heard the thunder and saw the satellite tv stop and ran the dog out for a quick bathroom break. She does not like wet grass! Luckily, she obliged just in time to get inside. Have you heard more than you ever wanted to about my dog? Sorry. I think that everyone has.

Herschel Walker -- WOW!!! I used to love watching him play football. What a great moment for Tyler. He will tell his grandkids about that! Did you know that it is only 3 and a half months until football season starts?

My husband works here in Tulsa and also in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Today he called me from AR and said, "Are you doing anything tonight? I just sold my car and have no way home." Have I mentioned to you that graduation is Monday and I already told my dad that he can drive my daughter's car while here? So how can all the rest of us share only one car? I had to laugh. Guess who will be looking for a new used car tomorrow? Friday, he will have to take my car to work if he doesn't find one. So I went and picked him up. It was fun to chat all the way home. Life is fun, don't ya know?

Have a wonderful, rainy day! :)
--BJ

Oh, yeah! Congrats on that hot review! It truly was a terrific one and you deserved the accolades!!
--BJ

Thank you for the kind comment --BJ and no, I have not heard more about your pooch than I ever wanted. Ours chewed her "cheapy" baby collar off day before yesterday so I have to buy her a new one. The old one was pink. The new one is going to be black leather with silver studs, just like her namesake (the Abby on NCIS wears). But we have decided to forgo the spider and web tat and go for a chip instead. Much more practical. (now we are even, dog-wise) Hee hee.
Yes, Tyler is thrilled as Walker was one of his favorites also. Sarah (his mom) is going to go the the newspaper office and get some prints made off the negative (small towns are great, huh?) and frame one for his wall. Way too cool!~!

That is a great "car story"!~! You will be telling that one for years and your graduating daughter also, I am sure. And your dad sure came out on top as all of you have to share, but not him. Ha.
Well, you have a great day back there. I hope it clears off for you. I know it can do it in a heartbeat in Oklahoma. It is trying to clear off here. I would love to have a nice sunny day for a change.
catcha later,
belva

I know I'm a couple days late to the party, but I like to make dramatic entrances.

A belated well done, Belva, both on your review and making the Hot List. The 75'ers think they're all Hot, but we 50s make the list too--or should I say 98ers?

A blog friend of mine in lower BC (Rossland) told me it's snowing there this morning.

Glad you are doing a little better today Charlie. And late or not, it doesn't matter as long as you make it to the dance. Right?
Thank you for the "well done". I was totally shocked when coppers popped over to tell me. But hey, you bet we 50s (or 98ers--whatever) are hot too!! ***fans self***
Yikes, more snow. We had it on the tips of the hills around the valley day before yesterday in the early A.M. I tell you--I am ready for some of your weather.
My best to Martha and thanx for stopping by.
belva

ER from December ---- ooops---- (it got hidden in the masses----sorry.)

Yesterday I read The Fireman's Wife written by Jack Riggs and was anticipating a just so-so read. Surprisingly, I really liked it. Partly, I am sure because I am married to a 32 year veteran volunteer fire fighter/assistant chief and also because I liked the story line.
It is written in the first person, alternating chapters between the husband (Peck) and the wife (Cassie). It takes place in the low country and mountains of the Carolinas.
There is a 17 year old daughter, a great kid, who is on the all-star soft ball team but not very involved in the plot other that her emotion levels, etc.
The storyline is based on Cassie who had great plans for her life, who wanted to go on to college and enter a profession but ends up falling in love, getting pregnant and marrying. She never gets over the resentment of having to give up her dream.
Peck, I believe, has the greater conflict of being the best fire chief he can possibly be, keeping his team of firefighters well trained and staffed and at the same time attempting to be a wonderful husband and keeping Cassie happy and helping her to feel fulfilled.
Cassie's chapters for the most part are about her feelings and desires to get away and start a new life, the kind of life she had always hoped to have. Peck's chapters are filled with all the mundane things that firefighters are involved with as well as the horrific incidents they must deal with.
Each summer Cassie takes their daughter, Kelly, and returns to the mountains where she was raised and spends time with her mother who is a wonderfully drawn character.
Peck remains behind to do what a fire chief does. I found this to be much more Peck's story, actually, than Cassie's. Or perhaps I just became much more engaged with his character than with her's. His is by far the more sympathetic and well rounded character. I loved how his men seemed more like brothers than co-workers and could identify with that as I have seen it happen with my own husband's department.
The inevitable happens and Cassie becomes involved with someone else and for a time believes that this is her ticket out of a life she had not planned for herself. But Thomas Woolfe was right. "You can't go home again." So Cassie has this inward struggle (and we see it in real life almost every day). This particular year when she goes to the mountains she must face the situation and her demons and decide what she will commit to.
For me, this is where the story really began. Cassie in the mountains with her mother and daughter and Peck at home with the car accidents, drownings, fires, and all that firemen deal with. And also Peck and his fellow firefighter buddies and their fun down times.
I liked the book, though I thought Cassie's character to be a little flat. I would recommend it for a quick read to anyone interested in firefighting, ambulance chasing, or women going through life changing struggles. But if you are looking for something of real substance or depth you won't find it here. However sometimes we just need a good quick read and The Fireman's Wife was that.

quotes from the book, not attributed to anyone:

The water is wide, I can't cross over.
And neither have I wings to fly,
Build me a boat that can carry two,
And both shall row, my love and I.

A ship there is, and she sails the sea,
She's loaded deep, as deep can be,
But not as deep as the love I'm in,
I know not how I sink or swim.

Love is handsome and love is fine,
The sweetest flower, when first it's new,
But love grows old and waxes cold,
And fades away, like summer dew.

I went to Wikisource and found the above to be lyrics from
what is thought to be an English or Scottish folksong from the sixties entitled "The Water is Wide" but with no artist.

I would definitely read something by this artist again.

Wonderful review!
--BJ

Thanx man!~!
Still got sun? We do and I am celebrating!~! Or I would be if the damned coffee pot would work correctly. It has quit dispensing the H2O into the grinds and pot. So it is just kind of sitting there heating up and frying the bottom of my carafe and it is about to *iss me off!~! There is no place in Morton to buy a coffee pot. I would have to run to Chehalis (45) miles. Argggggggggggggggggg!~!
Perhaps if I cleaned it with vinegar or baking soda it would help???????? IDK.
I don't know what to do with myself today. I am by myself for the first time in months, literally months.
Hubby is down in Portland for an annual Firefighters thingy and the kidikins are with their mama and daddy. Woo Hoo!~!~!
I think I shall read---(what a novel concept and it is past the 15th so Anna Karinina, here I come) outside and maybe do a little yard work.
Well, you have a great week end. Enjoy your day and I will catcha later.
belva

We had the most beautiful day today. We have been doing some yardwork in the soggy yard. We checked the garden and the green beans are coming up great! :) The okra which likes hot sunny weather is complaining. What I like to do when all alone is play with my dog. Kiss your sweet dog for me!!

Sorry about the coffee pot. I can't live without mine. I hope the vinegar does the trick. It is certainly good for microwaves. Happy weekend!
--BJ

Hi, nanny b, thanks for dropping by my thread.

Just to clear up a couple of points:

Jumble sales, not stores. A jumble sale is (or with the advent of ebay possibly was) a British institution. They're usually held once or twice a year to raise money for a good cause such as church maintenance and repairs. For a couple of weeks in advance, designated people will go house to house collecting jumble (clothes, books, ornaments, records - cassettes - CDs, some people bake cakes specially for the occasion). Then stalls are set up (usually in a church hall or other meeting place) for one day and as much as possible sold. There is a great deal of competition amongst the stallholders to raise the most money and amongst the customers to get the best bargains.

Don't feel bad about not liking Brideshead Revisited. I wasn't that taken with it myself when I read it many moons ago. BUT the 1981 TV serial based on it was absolutely wonderful, so I think a lot of people feel obliged to think the book was as well.

A belated congrats on your Hot Review! Well deserved :)

Brideshead Revisited is on my TBR as well. I only knew of it when I saw the trailers for the movie a while back. The trailer was intriguing but I can also see your take on the characters from what I remember. I'd still like to read it but it's staying lower down the list for now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Hi Belva,

I finally found your thread! I've just been sitting here all afternoon reading it - some great reviews and now I have even MORE books to add to my TBR list, damn you LibraryThing! The good news is that with all the shop renovation which has utterly taken over our lives, I had completely failed to realise that my birthday is less than two weeks away... Methinks it may be time to review my wish list and start hinting!

P.S. You quoted me! I was just reading the paragraph I wrote about getting obsessed with different subjects and thinking 'wow, I read those things recently too...' Then I realised it WAS me. :-D

Yesterday I read another ER book, Conscience Point by Erica Abeel

My first thought upon reading this book was that this is a very strange name for this book, for most of the characters were really pretty unconscionable. They were flat and not at all sympathetic. I really didn't care about any of them. I will come right out and say I did not like the book. This is written as a "story of the rich and famous". The storyline takes place in the news, publishing and music business world. The main character, Maddy, is a concert pianist and does a music news commentary show. She meets a family consisting of a mother who seems to like her many birds better than she likes her children, Violet, who is a painter, and Nick, who is a book publisher. Maddy develops a friendship with Violet and they eventually become sexually involved. Violet, an alcoholic sees that Maddy is going to become involved with her brother, at which point she flees the continent where she gets deeply into drugs and lives in a seedy world with another lesbian lover.
She contacts Maddy out of the blue one day and begs her to come to Europe to see her. When Maddy arrives, Violet presents her with a baby girl whom she claims is hers and begs Maddy to take her home and raise her as her own. Maddy names the little girl Laila and the story begins as the adoptive daughter is about 19 years of age. By this time Maddy has been in a long term relationship with Nick for about eight years.
Nick and Laila become inclandestine lovers and it takes Maddie a while to figure it out. When she does, all hell breaks loose. She finds out Laila is pregnant and is going to go away. Maddie and Nick break it off. They live their lives, such as they are for a time. Violet passes away and eventually they find out that Laila did not actually belong to Violet, but to her lesbian lover. Then Nick comes crawling back to Maddy wanting her to take him back. She actually is with him for a while and considers it, but in the end tells him she will take a pass on it. The plot line outside all this totally slipped by me if indeed there was one at all, except for the music. And to be honest, some of the piano scenes were written beautifully.
There were also some lovely lines within the book.
"Love cannot dwell with suspicion."
"Cupid is telling Psyche bye-bye. He's splitting because Violet to Maddy: Psyche didn't trust him---maybe she had her reasons. 'Love cannot dwell with suspicion'. That's what Cupid's telling Psyche, the bastard."
Paganini made people weep with the playing of a scale.
In our dream we would live in the divine dissatisfaction of the artist.
Honestly those were the best parts of the book for me. This is another book, that once I started it---it was so bad that I knew if I put it down for whatever reason I would never pick it up again. I cannot, in all honesty, recommend this book and there is no way I would ever read it again.

The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham

I have put off the writing of this for several days as I just quite do not know how to do a review on the stuff this book is made of. I love this book and I did not want it to end. I especially love the style Maugham used in the writing of it.
Immediately upon beginning the book, I was reminded of reading Brideshead Revisited and how much I disliked that book mainly because I could not understand nor care about the characters nor the way they lived their lives throughout the story. In The Razor's Edge Larry says he just "wants to loaf." And most of the characters within the book spend their days "loafing" of a sort. They spend them lunching with friends, having drinks, living in quite the same type of manner. But in this book I understood why the people lived as they did. I cared about the characters within this novel. I cared about what they did, what they ate, what they drank, what they said, with whom they spent their time, where they went. In other words I quickly came to care about every aspect of their lives. I became so drawn into the story that I forgot about my own world the whole time during which I was reading it.
I think most of us know the story of The Razor's Edge whether we have read it or not. I know I did. There are many reviews on this site that will share that information with you if you wish. I was prepared for the story. What I was not prepared for was the gamut of emotions I went through as I read this slim novel. Nor was I prepared to see the characters so fully fleshed out to the point that while I was reading the book, I actually knew these people. I was also not prepared for the brilliance of Maugham's writing. As in this quote from Larry:
"You can't imagine what a thrill it is to read the Odyssey in the original. It makes you feel as if you had only to get on tiptoe and stretch out your hands to touch the stars."
There is one point in the novel where the narrator, Maugham, and Larry accidentally run into each other at the theater and decide to meet for drinks afterward. They order a late night supper of eggs and bacon and talk. Maugham realizes that Larry wants to talk (usually he is quite private) and just sits back and lets him, responding when it is appropriate. He allows Larry to tell his story which runs until after breakfast the next morning and fully 41 pages of the book. At one point Larry is telling about living with a Benedictine monk and their conversations and he tells of the monk asking him: "Do you believe in God?" The narrative goes on: "Larry hesitated for a moment, and when he went on I knew he wasn't speaking to me but to the Benedictine monk. He had forgotten me. I don't know what there was in the time or the place that enabled him to speak, without my prompting, of what his natural reticence had so long concealed."
This is a beautiful story written in absolutely beautiful prose.
If you have not read it, you should. I highly recommend it.

Nice review, NB! I'll have to check this one out for my TBR. I read Maugham's The Painted Veil several years ago and really liked that one. I have a confession to make, though: until I saw Maugham's profile here on LT to make sure it was the same person who wrote The Painted Veil, I thought he was a woman. I guess that goes to show you how well he wrote his characters...or maybe just how ignorant I was. LOL!

That is funny!~!
And I have The Painted Veil but have yet to read it. Maugham is a master at characterization. He was gay so.......perhaps that made it very easy for him to write in manner of which you speak. He was once quoted as saying; "I was a quarter normal and three quarters queer." Regardless, to my mind he was one of the most brilliant authors out there.
Anyway, thank you for your kind words on my review and thanx for popping over. It is always a pleasure.

Oh, cheers Belva - another two to add to my overflowing wishlist! :-)

Glad to be of help my dear.

Congrats again, Belva, for making the Hot List with The Razor's Edge. It, and #201, are both great reviews.

I haven't heard anyone mention my favorite Maugham, Of Human Bondage. I consider it on a par with Razor. I have not read The Painted Veil--yet.

Hi Charlie,
Thank you for stopping by and blessing me with your presence. And thank you for your kind words on the reviews. I do appreciate it.
I haven't seen anything on here at all regarding your favorite but I read Of Human Bondage way back when I was just out of high school and while I liked it, a lot of it was over my head at eighteen. I think I might try it again here soon. I have a little more life experience behind me now. Ha!~! I, like yourself, have not read The Painted Veil, but it is in the bookcase waiting for me when I am ready for it.
Thanx again for the drop in. Stop by anytime.
belva

That's interesting that in both books, the characters were doing much the same thing, but in one you didn't care or understand the lives they were living whereas in the other you did. Do you think that's because of the quality or style of writing, or more because of the kinds of characters that each author created? I know I'm very impacted by whether or not I like a character. And some character's behaviors or attitudes really push my buttons. For example, I wasn't that fond of the main character in Elegance of a Hedgehog which impacted my feeling about the book.

Belva - May I have your autograph??

Not one but TWO Hot Reviews!!?? You are smokin' girl!

Bonnie;
Hi. It seems like forever girl. As to your comments, they are spot on and I knew it as I was reading the book. I actually think it was the style of writing and the characters did seem more fleshed out to me in The Razor's Edge than in Brideshead Revisited. But I found that correlation very interesting indeed.
Thank you so much for stopping by Bonnie. I hope you have enjoyed the past few days with the weather we have had.
belva

coppers;
Of course you may have my autograph. I am happy to oblige. Anything for you. Seriously:
I AM SO EXCITED!~!~!~!~!
When Richard popped over to my profile to tell me, I almost peed!~!
Thank you for the kudos.
belva

Hi, Belva!
I leave for one graduation and you have quite a party going on here! :) Congrats from me, too, on the hot review. I have wanted to read The Razors Edge ever since seeing the movie. I will have to move it up the list.

I have heard that there is record-breaking rain all over. But for now, there is a truce in the sky and the sun has taken over. But it is not hot. Just perfect. How can it be in the 60s and 70s here in Oklahoma at the end of May?

See ya around. :)
--BJ

Thank you for the kudos --BJ and you really should take the time one day to read the book. It won't let you down.
Yes, the weather has been absolutely perfect today hasn't it? We had a few sprinkles tonight but nothing to write home about.
You will have to fill me in all about the big graduation when you have some spare time. I am sure you will continue to have company for a while so it can wait until you are rested up, etc. Just think---your baby all graduated and everything. I will bet you that you, dad, grandpa and everyone had a tear in their eye.
Well I hope the weather is just as fine tomorrow but if not we are back in Anna Karinina timing and I am reading another really good Steinbeck also.
Thanks so much for stopping by, ya all come back now, hea?????

Hi, Belva! That's weird, I left you a message last night, but it's not here. Hmmm... I have weak internet service and sometimes I lose the connection after posting (I know now to "copy" before hitting "post a message" but I thought it went through that time. Anyway, I'm always here, Belva, every morning and evening--like a stray cat, except you don't have to feed me. Meow!

Gotcha Bonnie. Appreciate it.
Is that what they call the "Will Call" department?
Yeah, last night was exceptional. I finally went to bed sometime after 4:00 and my wonderful husband let me sleep after the boys arrived. He stayed home with them until they left for school, making himself about 10 to 15 minutes late to work. I awoke to a quiet house at precisely 8:22. I was on here through out most of the night. I bet I sleep like a drugged pig tonight!~!
Have a good one.
belva

Meow!

Bonnie - I always copy before I paste now too. It's always when you've written a really thoughtful post or a long email that the computer decides to crash...

Good morning Bonnie.
Thanks for stopping by. Are you all sunshine and flowers up there? We have clear skies and my quince is lit up like a Christmas tree. Just gorgeous!~!
I haven't been doing a lot of reading lately what with that vertigo and all that stuff. I did get some time in yesterday afternoon and it was quite nice. But it is just more difficult to find or make the time when the weather is like it is today because I know I will want to be outdoors later.
How are all of you? Are you reading anything wonderful right now? I haven't even been keeping up on much thread read the past few days and so am quite behind.
Hope you enjoy your day.
belva

Hi there gug.
Wishing you a good one.
Congrats again. That was so great!~!
belva

I finished The Yiddish Policeman's Union but haven't posted it yet, then had to reread Oscar and Lucinda for book group tonight. That is not a book you can skim, so am having to give it the same attention I would a new book. Excellent writing, but not enjoying reading it a third time. :-( What do you mean by "with that vertigo" by the way?

Vertigo is a dizziness that can be mild to debilitating. Mine put me down for 5 weeks. It is caused by a myriad of things including a simple ear infection, polyps in the ear, brain tumors, medications, etc. It makes ( or it did me) one feel as if the earth were spinning round while one is standing, sitting, or lying still. I couldn't walk without using the walls, doors, chairs, etc to attempt to balance myself. Not a lot of fun, but also not life threatening. And also not a lot of fun because my bedroom is at one end of the house and the bathroom is at the other. I couldn't drive, stand long enough to do dishes, fold clothes, change the bed, any of that fun stuff. Roger, my husband has been great!~!
One morning I did a header just getting out of bed.
But I am almost all better now, thankfully. So there in a nutshell---you have it.
I have heard that Oscar and Lucinda is a wonderful read. Did you find it to be so?
Enjoy the sun bonniebooks. I know I am.
thanks for stopping by.
belva

Just wanted to stick my nose in and add my two cents about Oscar and Lucinda...I read it the summer I finished high school, so I may have been too young/immature to understand it but it was a strange read for me. In the notebook where I keep my TBR list, I usually write a short comment about each book as I read it. For O & L, my comment was "weird. High-school-English-class weird." I don't remember what I meant by that, but make of it what you will :)

Sorry to hear about your being indisposed, belva. Hope you get over it soon.

Thanx man, I am on my way to better health even as we speak.
I appreciate the good thoughts.
belva

Before I forget: I think Oscar and Lucinda is very good. Also, have you read The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers? It's marvellous.

Well, it's taken me all year to find this thread and I'm so pleased that I have. Your comments are interesting. And I love all of the other comments as well. Shall check back in regularly.

Oh, and to complete this entire post in reverse order...
Hi Belva!

Thank you so much for finding me and stopping by. I hope you do it often. And I loved you "upside down" post.
I am making a library run today (hubby driving/still with the vertigo so can't drive self/library 45 miles away) so I will look for both of the above books. I have some books on hold there but hopefully those two will be on the shelf.
I just popped over to your profile; what a marvelous life. Music, books, and family. It sounds wonderful. And I love your photo that you have of what you are reading at the time. How very original. That is the first time I have seen that on LT, but I bet people will be copying you!~!
Well, I am off to peruse your library. I hope to talk with you again soon.
belva

Oh wily Odysseus he set out from Troy,
With his boat full of loot and his heart full of joy,
For he was Athene's own shiny-eyed boy,
With his lies and his tricks and this thieving!

His first port of call was the sweet Lotus shore
Where we sailors did long to forget the foul war;
But we soon were hauled off on the black ships once more,
Although we were pining and grieving.

To the dread one-eyed Cyclops then next we did hie,
He wanted to eat us so we put out his eye;
Our lad said, "I'm No One," but then bragged, "Twas I,
Odysseus, the prince of deceiving!"

So there's a curse on his head from Poseidon his foe,
That is dogging his heels as he sails to and fro,
And a big bag of wind that will boisterously blow
Odysseus, the saltiest seaman!

Here's a health to our Captain, so gallant and free,
Whether stuck on a rock or asleep 'neath a tree,
Or rolled in the arms of some nymph of the sea,
Which is where we would all like to be, man!

The vile Laestrygonians then we did meet,
Who dined on our men from their brains to their feet;
He was sorry he'd asked them for something to eat,
Odysseus, that epical he-man!

On the island of Circe we were turned into swine,
Till Odysseus bedded the goddess so fine,
Then he ate up her cakes and he drank up her wine,
For a year he became her blithe lodger!

So a health to our Captain where 'er he may roam,
Tossed here and tossed there on the wide ocean's foam,
And he's in no hurry to ever get home-----
Odysseus, that crafty old codger!

To the Isle of the Dead then he next took his way,
Filled a trench up with blood, held the spirits at bay,
Till he learned what Teiresias, the seer, had to say,
Odysseus, the artfullest dodger!

The Siren's sweet singing then next he did brave,
They attempted to lure him to a feathery grave,
While tied to the mast he did rant and did rave,
But Odysseus alone learned their riddle!

The whirlpool Charybdis did not our lad catch,
Nor snake-headed Scylla, she could not him snatch,
Then he ran the fell rocks that would grind you to scratch,
For their clashing he gave not a piddle!

We men did a bad turn against his command,
When we ate the Sun's cattle, they sure tasted grand,
In a storm we all perished, but our Captain reached land,
On the isle of the goddess Calypso.

After seven long years there of kissing and woo,
He escaped on a raft that was drove to and fro,
Till fair Nausicaa's maids that the laundry did do,
Found him bare on the beach---he did drip so!

Then he told his adventures and laid to his store
A hundred disasters and sufferings galore,
For no one can tell what the Fates have in store,
Not Odysseus, that master disguiser!

So a health to our Captain, where 'er he may be,
Whether walking the earth or adrift on the sea,
For he's not down in Hades, unlike of of we---
And we leave you not any the wiser!

This, from my very first Atwood read, is great stuff!~!
What fun!~!

Very nice, Belva, and thanks for sharing. I haven't read this one (yet - add it to the list!) but I have read a lot of Atwood. The Handmaid's Tale is my favorite. I've read it three times now. Scary, scary book.

Have a great weekend and safe travels if you're out and about!
Joanne

What a great poem! Which Atwood is it again?

That poem, my dear ellie, came from Atwood's The Penelopiad which I just finished 10 minutes ago whilst sitting out in the sun. It was marvelous!~! I loved the story, I loved her prose and poetry, I loved all the mythology which I have never read before and was quite surprised that I did enjoy it. I can't wait to read more by her and I do just happen to have 3 or 4 others of hers round about the house somewhere.
A definite 5 star recommendation.

Hi Belva! Thanks for the song! More Atwood, huh? Why am I not surprised? ;-) I liked Cat's Eye and The Handmaid's Tale best. Which ones do you have?

Right backatcha Bonnie.
I have: The Blind Assassin, Alias Grace, The Penelapiad, Cat's Eye, Bodily Harm, and Life Before Man.
But I have only read The Penelapiad and I am in love!~! Doesn't it just put joy in your heart and a smile on your face when you come across a new-to-you author that you just love?
I started The Blank Wall yesterday and I,ummmm, just don't quite know how I feel about it yet. I am almost half way through it so we shall see.
I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend and reading something wonderful. We are enjoying the sun down here.
belva

(edited because the damnit keypad cannot spell)

I finished John Steinbeck's The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights a few days ago but found it necessary to let it ramble round in my brain before putting my thoughts to paper. This was a hard one for me as Steinbeck is my literary hero. But on with the review:

John Steinbeck grew up very enamored by "Le Morte d'Arthur" by Sir Thomas Malory almost to the point of obsession. (or perhaps to the point of obsession) When he began writing he wanted to write Malory's book in language more easily understood, hoping that more people, especially youngsters, would read this wonderful work.
And that is exactly how he begins this unfinished work. He starts at the point where King Uther Pendragon falls in love with the Lady Igraine and basically translates Malory's work onto paper. But it is not his own. It remains Malory's. The story moves along, shorting us of the marvelous details, underlying story lines and thoughts that we are so used to from Steinbeck. I found there to be very little of Merlin or King Arthur in this narration of the legend.
When Steinbeck reaches the part of the travails of the knights Gawain, Ewain, and Marhalt he hits his stride and all of a sudden the story becomes not a translation of Malory into more modern language, but it becomes his own retelling of the legend of King Arthur's knights and suddenly I became immersed within it. We follow the legend to the point where Guinevere is just beginning to return the affections of Sir Lancelot and here for some unknown reason Steinbeck ends his narrative. Bam! It's done. It's over.
John Steinbeck began writing this work in 1958 and stopped
in 1959. Fully 1/5 of the book is contained in the appendix. There are excerpts from letters about this work running from 1931 up until his death in 1968. He continued to communicate regarding this work for 31 years. The letters were mainly written to his agent, Elizabeth Otis, and his editor, Chase Horton. It appears as if he never gave up on the work nor did he give up his obsession with the legend.
I find it very sad that John Steinbeck didn't simply write a novel of the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. I think, and this is just my opinion, that if he had made this a work of his own as opposed to a reworking of Malory, it would have been another one of Steinbeck's wonderful writings. But as it is, unfinished and with all the letters at the end of the book to show us how he fretted, worried, and studied over this, we see just how much of his life was spent on something that was beyond even the genius of John Steinbeck.

Well, I'm not a writer, so maybe it's dumb of me to try to make a connection with Steinbeck, but I know when I really care about something or someone, that's when I have the hardest time trying to put my thoughts and feelings into words on a page. Maybe Steinbeck just cared too much?!

Oops! My keyboard needs improving too! :-)

Not dumb at all Bonnie. I think you have it exactly right. Through reading the letters I could tell that Steinbeck would be confident one moment and then doubt would creep in the next. And with this reading what we need to remember is that Sir Thomas Malory and his legendary Le Morte d'Arthur is what Steinbeck had idealized for almost all of his life. So, yes, I am sure he cared too much. It is obvious to the reader that he was obsessed with Malory's version and wanting to remain true to it.
No, I think you have it exactly right on.
belva

I need a recommendation for some good Steinbeck. I have four volumes of his works from Library of America and they contain a total of 15 novels and two short story collections. I read The Moon is Down and I agree with much of what you said about it but when I read it I felt like it was predictable. It didn't inspire me to read another of his books. Maybe some of his best would get me going.

Belva, I've sooo got to at least go outside with my book or my computer!

Hi, wildbill- Sorry to butt in but if you are asking for some good Steinbeck, you have to go with Grapes of Wrath. It's probably my favorite book of all time. Next would be Of Mice and Men. Let us know what you choose! You are so in for a treat!

Hey Bill.
Mark is giving you good advice. Those would both be excellent choices. I totally agree.
My two personal all time favorite Steinbeck's are however:
Tortilla Flat and
Cannery Row.
And yes, you are so in for a treat!~!
For some (I don't see it) but he could be an acquired taste. Please keep us posted with choices, feelings and thoughts as you go.
belva

I think Steinbeck was an aquired taste for me, and I'm not sure I've fully aquired it yet...I tried to read East of Eden several years ago but couldn't really get into it. I found it pretty dry. After that, I tried Of Mice and Men and as I was reading that one, I got the same feeling - that maybe Steinbeck just isn't for me. BUT...that story has been turning over in my mind ever since I read it, and this was a few years ago. It has a haunting quality to it that I haven't been able to let go of so there is something to Steinbeck after all, for me. I'm not sure what I want to try by him next but I am definitely planning to go back and give him another shot.

Well, I have completed The Blank Wall and The Penelopiad so thoughts, comments and reviews to be forthcoming.
I have now moved along to March by Geraldine Brooks and also am tackling Homer's The Iliad. I am expecting the later to take me quite some time as I am just dipping into the mythological classics and have no background here. But I am excited to be wetting my toes and to be getting on with it, so to speak.

Hi,Belva- I read March last fall and really enjoyed it. Brooks is a very good writer and this was my first by her. I have her other 2 books sitting patiently in a tbr pile.

Backatca Mark;
That is good news. I actually have not heard a bad report about March so I am hoping it will be a pleasurable experience for me. I am barely into it as of yet.
What are her other ones?
belva

My comments, thoughts and review of The Blank Wall by Elizabeth Sanxay Holding:

This story is touted as a "suspense" novel and I was very excited to read it as it was highly thought of by both Raymond Chandler and Alfred Hitchcock. Ms. Holding is very good with her characterizations and while I didn't come to care about any of the characters I did understand them and why they behaved the way that each one of them behaved. The story takes place during WWII with the husband away at war and the wife left home with two adolescent teens,her father and one servant in the house to deal with. The daughter gets involved with a seedy character and whilst the mother attempts to undo their relationship, the whole thing comes apart. The story is a pretty formulaic tale and I am sure there are a lot who would go for this and actually enjoy the read. I finished it because I started it but it was pretty obvious where it was going, so no suspense there for me. In point of fact I found it rather boring. The most interesting parts for me were the parts of "stamp rationing" for food and petrol.

Well, I didn't like March because I didn't like the behavior of the main character (Mr. March, right?). I think it's really hard to build onto an existing story that is so loved. It just made me want to go read Little Women.

Hi Belva! Just dropping by to hand over my expertise on Geraldine Brooks. I have March and People of the Book to read - both highly praised on LT - and have a special place in my heart for The Year of Wonders, my first of hers. I live a matter of minutes from Eyam, and have a postcard of the cottages where the Plague first arrived there stuck in the front of the book to remind me of how real their bravery was.

I found it amazing how Brooks manages to evoke the initial horror of the agonising death caused by the plague, but also then simmer it down so you really get a sense of the oppression of the constant death all around, and the way life plods on and the grimness almost becomes normal and everyday. Highly recommended - I've read it twice now and it touched me deeply both times.

I agree with elliepotten! I liked The Year of Wonders too!

Did you say Little Women? Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotton I had bought that book.

bonnie;
Regarding March, I began the book feeling that way but by 1/3 of the way through I was into the story, into the characters and had gone from thinking him a weak spineless man (which was how I always felt about him when reading Little Women to seeing him as a fully fleshed out real person.
But I am sorry you didn't enjoy the read. Good think we are all so different and that it is okay, huh? And reading it did make me want to grab my copy of Little Women and read it again.

ellie;
Thank you for your input. I
will definitely at some point in the future be reading People of the Book and The Year of Wonders. That is quite something that you have that postcard to always remind you and being so physically near there probably puts an even stronger spin on the story.
Thank you for the recs.

(You too bonnie)

callmejacx;
For pete's sake go grab it up and read it. It's a very good think I reminded you that you had made that purchase or you might have done what I have been known to do in the past. Buy the same book again!~~! **gasp** There goes the old pocketbook!~!

I would love to go and grab the book and read it. But...it's packed in one of the many boxes I have piled up here. Moving day ought to be fun :)

Just a few notes:

Desperate diseases demand desperate remedies.

God defend me from my friends.

This was a good dinner enough, to be sure,
but not a dinner to ask a man to.

I love her already!~!

In the post today arrived:
Nella Last's War,
Nella Last's Peace,
The Road to Yesterday,
Chronicles of Avonlea,
Further Chronicles of Avonlea,
two Persephone Classics:
Good Evening, Mrs. Craven
and
Mariana
and
two Queen Latifah's,
two Diana Krall's,
and one Renee Olstead
Doncha just love Amazon.com??????????

Year of Wonders sounds intriguing. How closely is it based on actual accounts from Eyam?

Based on the number of times that I have read it,The Iliad is probably my favorite book. Which translation are you reading Belva?
Taking into account the recommendations and my own research I am going to begin my reading of Steinbeck with Tortilla Flat. It is described as being humorous and and related to the story of Arthur and the Round Table. That sounds like something new and different and I look forward to reading it. I am also awaiting a couple of boxes from Amazon with some new items for my catalog. They do make shopping simple and easy.

msg # 254:

Help me out here Bonnie and Ellie as I have yet to read the book Year of Wonders.

Robert, if they don't get back to you here hit 'em up on their threads as this was a rec from both of them based on my reading of March by Geraldine Brooks. I believe Ellie has a very good accounting of it. They are all by the same author.

# 255

Bill--My absolute favorite of Steinbeck's, though it won't be yours, is The Winter of Our Discontent. It is rather bleak, but I love it. Of course I love anything Steinbeck. (I should have made that my username: "lovessteinbeck")

Tortilla Flat is about a bunch of losers and is as hysterical as it can be. I can close my eyes just talking about them and be there. And I laughed my *ss off all the way through Cannery Row as well.
If you find you do like him and want to read some of his heavier stuff, when you get ready for The Grapes of Wrath don't buy a copy as I believe I have a duplicate around here somewhere that I will gladly send to you. Always happy to turn someone on to "the man"!~!

And recs don't come any higher than what you said about your readings of The Iliad. My translation is a Robert Fitzgerald trans. I wouldn't know one from the other. This is only my second venture into Greek/Roman mythology/classics. So I am happy for any advice or help I can get. I haven't finished the introduction yet as I realized I was way late on the 3rd part of the Anna Karinina group read over on the 75 site. I set "Iliad" aside until I finish that portion and am almost done. So probably by sometime tonight (after the baseball game) I will be back with "Iliad".
belva

Just a question in general to anyone out there?

Do any of you hit a spell where you are just tired of writing reviews? I can't seem to make myself write one right now for the love of me. The books I need to review were very good reading so it isn't that. I am not getting the way I'm feeling about the whole thing right now.

just askin'.

>254 Robertgreaves: Robertgreaves - Pretty closely, I believe. The name of the pastor who led the brave self-imposed quarantine - thus condemning many villagers to death but stopping the plague from spreading across the county - has been changed slightly and I'm sure some liberties have been taken as always in fiction. But the research has definitely been thorough - I've chased up a couple of the books Brooks used myself - and it made me want to learn a lot more about the plague and about Eyam outbreak in more detail. Always a good sign on finishing a book!

> Belva - I get the writing-review-fatigue too! I get to the end of a book and instead of sighing, setting it to one side and moving on, I sometimes start to think, 'ah no, now I have to think of something insightful to say...' I post some of my reviews on Ciao/Amazon and also keep them in a document of my own (which might come in handy in the shop) so I feel such a pressure to write a good'un every time!

>258 rainpebble: Yes! Sometimes I just want to move on to a totally different book and don't have the brain power left to sit and think about something really good to write. But if I start my next book without reviewing the previous one, it nags at me until I get to it.

>260 spacepotatoes:...You shouldn't feel so bad, at least you write a review at times. I am always afraid of writing a review. I feel I can't put in writing what I think of the book and won't give in the justice it deserves. I think it is best that I leave it alone and let others that have a way with words write them.

I will have to go back and check the books that you are reviewed. I am quite curious.

ellie>
spacespuds>
callmejacx>

Thanx for the support ladies.
I don't feel like such a loser now. I guess I am just having a down time and I am going to say that it is okay. Later I will get back on that old hoss and "write" 'em.
"singing ki yi yipee all the day"

Go for it nanny!!!

Go for it nanny!!!

Belva,
You do write wonderful reviews of the books you read. I just write a short note on each book, so that I don't feel too much pressure. But I don't do as good a job as you do. Anyway, if you want a change, you could just write a sentence or two. Or I have seen others write "review here later" and then edit in the review when they feel like it. Hope you are having a wonderful day!
--BJ

...I will get back on that old hoss and "write" 'em.

Ha! Ha! Belva, you are both funny and clever!

Hi nannybebette! I loved your message and have a question for you about growing up without a television. Do you think that is why you and your siblings are such avid readers? I have three teenagers and even though I am an avid reader, not one of my children likes to read. I am wondering if it is because they have instant gratification with video games and television or is it the distraction of all of stuff kids have nowdays (not only the above mentioned, but the internet and cell phones too).
We had televisions when I was growing up, but I always preferred books, especially when family life became difficult.
I have two dogs, one is a greyhound that we rescued from the greyhound society and the other is a daschound (hope I spelled it right), and four cats.
I am on break from school for a while due to a neck injury, but will be going back to study nursing in January.
I also read a wide variety of books and hope we can compare libraries some time. I like to see what others have read so I have a constant list of books to read.

roxieb;
I think that is exactly why (no TV) my family members are such avid readers. Even though all of us today have television sets, we all still have a book in our hands constantly. Not so with my husband and he grew up with television but his mother and one of his sisters reads. I really think it is more than just the environment they are raised in. I think it also has to do with: do/did they have a teacher who loved to read and reinforced a love of that in them, are/were books easily accessible to them? Do they enjoy leaving "their own" world behind long enough to enter another? Do they enjoy using their imaginations? Do they love to learn? I don't really know. Some people enjoy reading and others don't and I don't think the reason is as easy as a formulaic one. Wouldn't it be nice if it were.?.
Of my own three children; one of them was literally "Johnny", as in Why Johnny can't read. He taught himself to read when he hit middle school by reading comic books (he couldn't even read well enough to do his school work prior to this) but I was like: "whatever it takes." To this day he rarely reads for enjoyment, is definitely a part of the geek-dom world, sells cell phones and electrical gadgets and can read any text book, manual, book of "geek-dom" instructions, whatever like that which is placed in front of him. He is the one we all call when we have computer, phone, electrical troubles.
I read to these children every day of their young lives and they all turned out so differently.
My two girls are constant readers, but of quite different styles. The elder reads sci-fi and fantasy fiction and tends to be a dreamer. She is a fantasist and always tries to analyze all situations in her life, accepting nothing without trying to "figure it out." It is so boring. But it is just part of her make-up. She works as a fraud analyst.
The younger reads mysteries, courtroom dramas, nonfiction, and "stuff" with numbers. She is a realist, takes life as it comes and is 3/4 of the way through her education. She has her four degree and the next step is law school. Her goal is to be a corporate tax attorney. (boring to me; fascinating to her) She is taking a "time out" to raise her sons and currently works as an assistant for an corporate bank investment officer.
So reading figures greatly into each of their lives but they don't all read for enjoyment.
I don't think my answer will help you at all but I just kind of got on a roll there.
It was nice to meet you and we can definitely compare libraries at any time. There is nothing a reader loves more than to discuss books.
belva

I wanted to ask you about your greyhound back there and got so carried away about my kid's reading habits. I have heard that they are actually very mellow. Do you find that to be true? And I read somewhere that if one lives in a large city (no yard, etc) and works, that a greyhound is completely happy to lounge on the couch all day until the "parent" returns home. True?
just askin'
belva

Have once again set aside The Iliad to pick up an ER that I need to get read and reviewed. In point of fact I believe I have 2 others as well. So I will get those done and then get back to it.
Right now the ER I am reading is The Moment Between by Nicole Baart and it is very good and to my taste at the moment. It is the story of two sisters; one who feels quite responsible for the other. It is a rather melancholy narrative but very well and originally written and I am finding that the characterizations fit very well within the parameters of the story.
Hmmmm; halfway through and already recommending it.

Hi nannybebette,
Thank you for some insight into your children's lives and how you raised them. I was really worried about my boys because they just don't like to read. As one who can't imagine life without a great book in my hand I just couldn't understand why they don't like to read. I feel better hearing about your kids and am not so worried anymore.

I saw your message asking about greyhounds. I just happen to have one! We got him from Greyhound Pets of America. They have a website you can contact them through if you are thinking about getting one.
I can tell you that they are the biggest couch potatoes around! They sleep about as much as a cat. Our dog races around the backyard when he is excited, but the racing is pretty short lived and it seems to wear him out for the rest of the day!
They are perhaps the sweetest dogs you will ever come across. Extremely gentle so they are perfect around children. They are not attention seekers or jumpers or lap dogs. When company comes our dog gets up and happily sniffs around the company until he is given some attention. When he is satisfied that he has met everyone he goes back to his bed and sleeps.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about our dog is the postions he gets himself into. For having such long legs he manages to squeeze himself into a medium size dog house that we had for our other dog before he arrived. When he is resting in the house on his dog bed he is frequently on his back, feet in the air (sometimes feet on the wall), head rolled onto the floor with his tongue sticking out.
As for taking these dogs for a walk, it's a pleasure. Our dog doesn't pull on the leash or want to run when he sees other dogs. The only anoying thing he does when he is out for a walk is wanting to mark everything in site!
A word of caution about getting a male greyhound from a rescue...don't allow him access to the whole house. If you do he will pee on every piece of furniture you have. Our dog ruined my curtains and several pieces of furnature not to mention the carpet. It took me a while to realize he was doing this because he started during cold weather and our carpet is dark. Also he was pretty sneaky about marking his territory. When we were home he was always on his bed. When we came home he was still on his bed. I had no idea he was making such a mess.
Once I found out I called GPA (greyhound pets of america) and told them what he was doing. They suggested locking him in one room only. So we bought baby gates (which he could easily jump over, but thankfully doesn't) and that solved our problem.
If you decide to go with a female I doubt you will have this problem.
I don't know about all greyhounds, but ours is extremely vocal when we come home. So much so that we sometimes have to use a muzzle on him for about a minute or two until he calms down. The last thing we need is a neighbor to complain to the city. If I could change anything about my dog this would be it.

By the way...a greyhound will lounge around all day regardless if the "parent" is home or not. They will greet you when you get home and then go back to their bed and lounge some more. Truly remarkable how skinny they are for as little as they move. Wish that were true for me as well!!

Take care and talk soon.
By the way, how do I look at your library? I am new to this site. I am loving it though. I think this is the best website I have ever found!

roxieb;
That is very interesting info on the greyhound. I wanted to get one about 6 months ago, but the hubby blackballed me. What you have shared is exactly what I have always heard. And also that if everyone living in an apartment in New York City (who wanted a dog) adopted a greyhound, no more would have to be put down. Interesting, hmmm?
And last night I was just on here for a minute (I have been running and gunning the past few days) and saw that you had figured out how to view a "patron's" library----good for you---- so I won't go into that.
I am so glad that you are enjoying LT and like you, I too, think it is the BEST website I have ever come across.
THANK YOU TIM & COMPANY!~!
I will chat with you later. I need to run to Olympia and pick up some stuff for hubby (I can drive again. Yea!~!) and then go pick up the critters I took to the vet hospital in Chehalis to be "fixed" yesterday.
N/B

Argggggggg!~!
Have just been running, getting a little reading done, but no reading of threads, :( , no posting, no comments, ratings, reviews, Grrrrrr.
Life; sometimes it just happens and we gotta go with it. Thankfully, we all have one. :)
I don't even remember where I was on here: I finished March, quite enjoyed it (comments and review to come); read an ARC, The Moment Between, beautiful novel, absolutely loved it (comments and review to come; read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (will comment and review when completed with the series) and am reading (just cuz -anything to keep me from picking up The Iliea -- I am so afraid of it) Looking Up by Rebecca Gregson because I really liked her Eggshell Days.
So lotz to do.
More to come. Wishing everyone a wonderful day.
N/B

Along with Abby, my dog and Gizmo, my cat, (from the vet's), the following haul came home with me from Barnes & Noble:
Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman, because the copy I read was borrowed and I wanted my own. Woo Hoo!!
Anne's House of Dreams
Anne of the Island
Emily's Quest, all by L.M. Montgomery which rounds out most of the "Anne" and "Emily" books I was missing or had lost over the years.
Black Girl / White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson, I have already ordered Gilead
We Are At War
Our Hidden Lives and
Private Battles all by Simon Garfield
The last three books are diaries of ordinary people who lived who lived during and following WWII. We Are At War begins August of 1939 and ends a year later with the Battle of Britain and the start of the Blitz. Our Hidden Lives is of the uncertain years following the war. Private Battles is about the struggle to cope with the day-to-day reality of life during the war and "how the ordinary people of Britain won the Second World War. And of how we almost didn't." I can't wait to read these. They sound fascinating.

Hi nannybebette! I too went shopping today and came home with some books!
I bought Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (recommended by many members so I thought I would read it)
Mother of the Believers by Kamran Pasha (about the birth of Islam)
The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman (you like this author so I thought I would read one of her books and see if I liked her as well)
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (also recommended by members)
River of Heaven by Lee Martin (started this today...really good so far!).

Question for you. How do you make the authors name and the name of the book appear in blue?

Also an interesting tidbit of info...my sister has a cat named Gizmo as well!

My husband is a veterinarian so if you ever have any questions about your animals let me know. Although it sounds like you probably have a great veterinarian that can answer all of your questions for you, but you never know.

How do you read so much? Did you take a speed reading class? I read a little on the slow side but my main problem is falling asleep while reading. When my kids were young the only time I had to read was at bedtime. I would often fall asleep while reading and I think I have trained myself to fall asleep whenever a book is in my hands.
Any suggestions for helping me to not fall asleep while reading? I went to the eye doctor and got glasses because I figured it was eye strain that was making me fall asleep, but I guess not as it still happens.

Take care and happy reading!
roxieb

Hi backatcha gal;
You made a haul as well and got some really good reads!~! I have been wanting to read Olive Kitteridge but haven't had an opportunity yet and although I have and read a LOT of Alice Hoffman, The Third Angel is one I've not read. Please let me know how you like it.
>To highlight the title and author of the book you use what we call touchstones. And if you look directly to your right when you are posting-------
you will see what I mean. You use the brackets on your keypad before and after what you want highlighted. For the title of the book you would use one in front and one in back of the title. For the author you double them. Just try it. Play around with it. I know you can figure it out. Right now over there are titles and authors for me but before I use any brackets I believe the instructions are typed up in the same place. So just click on "post a message" and go down into the box and try it. You can always clear the post out. I hope that helps.
Isn't LT great? I don't know how I would have figured out how to use half the stuff I do if it hadn't been for others helping me so much.
>I guess I read so much because it is just what I love to do. I do have a lot of trouble getting to sleep so I read probably anywhere from 1 to 3 hours a night when I go to bed. Nope, never took a speed reading class. I just have always read.
>Cute trivia---your sis having a Gizmo also. Did he get his little nutz whacked also? hee hee

(Sorry guys!~!) ***I can just see Charlie, St. Richard, wildbill, Brian and the rest pulling their knees together and cringing.***

>That is so cool that your husband is a vet. I do often have questions that I don't like to bother my vet with so you might get a couple of them. Thank you for the offer and thank him.
>As far as the falling asleep thing, I really don't know what to tell you because I have the opposite problem. I wish I could sleep that easily. I only get as much as I do because I take two medications for insomnia. And even then a lot of times what happened last night occurs. I have been up since before 3:00 A.M.
Hey---maybe have a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea before bed????????
Well, later babe,
belva

March by Geraldine Brooks

thoughts, comments and review:

I began this book feeling that I wasn't going to care for the main character. I had always pictured Mr. March as pretty much of a milk toast guy. He left all the important matters up to Mrs. March and he just really wasn't "there" even when he was there with his family. But by 1/3 of the way through the book I was into the story, into the characters and had gone from thinking him a weak, spineless man (which was how I always felt about him when reading Little Women) to seeing him as a fully fleshed out character in his own right.
I really like how Brooks puts a book together, slowly building on the storyline and the characters and allowing the reader to just take it all in with no confusion until he/she is there, in the moment of the story and with the characters.
The story of March is that he was a minister who, when going to see the young men from the township off to war, suddenly told them they would not be going alone---that he would be going with them. That group didn't have need of a chaplain, but they put him with another group who did. So Mr. March went to war. He was connected with John Brown, his family was active in the underground railroad, he was on friendly terms with Emerson, Thoreau and others like them.
He writes letters home trying to tell his family of some of the not so gruesome details of his life with the army. He spends much of his time on a cotton plantation helping to establish schools for the colored children and their parents. The author does a good job describing what life was like for the blacks and whites alike during the terrible days of the Civil War.
The plantation is taken over and the whites and blacks alike are taken, tortured, and some are killed. Only one got away and she came back to get Mr. March and help him. She got him to a hospital and Mrs March was sent for as he was doing very poorly and at this point, as in Little Women, Brooks saves the day and brings Marmee to the hospital where she and her husband are reunited. I was quite amazed to see that in this book Mrs. March is portrayed as quite a little spitfire.
According to Brooks, Alcott modeled the March girls after herself and her sisters. Journals, letters, and biographies of Alcotts's father, Bronson, were used for inspiration in the writing of this novel. Bronson Alcott was a radical even for those times and "recorded his life in sixty one journals and his letters fill thirty seven manuscript volumes in the Harvard College Library. He is the subject of an 1893 two volume memoir by Franklin B Sanborn and William T Harris, and a 1937 biography by Odell Shepard. Warm references to Bronson Alcott, often as mentor and inspiration, appear frequently in the letters and journals of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, who were among his closest friends."
I did like this book and look forward to reading more by this author. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, books on the Civil War (though it is fiction) or just wants a good read. There is not a lot of depth here, but it is a good book and I enjoyed it. However, I read in one of the reviews here that it was a Pulitzer Prize winner and though I enjoyed it, I cannot see it being of that quality work.

The Moment Between by Nicole Baart ARC

thoughts, comments, and review:

Abigail is the older sister trying to hold her family emotionally together and to have a life of her own at the same time. Hailey is the younger unstable sister who requires the heart and soul of Abigail in order to "remain". She is tormented to her very soul and though she attempts to hide it and live a normal life, it eventually becomes more than she can bear and she takes her life.
The only way Abigail can cope with Hailey's death is to try to find her ex boyfriend and attempt to find out why her younger sister took her life. She becomes obsessed with finding Tyler so she takes a leave of absence from her firm and strikes out to the Canadian vineyards to find him.
This story is told in a very unusual manner in that the past and the present is told in the 3rd person, while "the moments between" are told in the 1st person narrative. The flips were not confusing nor difficult to follow and it was easy to remain within the story.
When Abigail eventually finds the vineyard where Tyler is working, she finds that it is owned by his uncle Eli who actually befriends her without knowing anything about her past and offers her a job and a place to live. They develop a warm and nurturing relationship while she and Tyler's relationship begins and remains very antagonistic. Abigail does not tell Tyler who she is nor why she is there.
I don't feel I can go any further into the storyline without spoiling it for the next reader so I will only say how very, very much I liked this book. I cared about the characters and felt I grew to know them. I hope a lot of you will read this book. I highly recommend it.

"here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry in in my heart)

e.e. cummings
"i carry your heart with me"

The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus (Myths)… by Margaret Atwood

thoughts, comments, review:

"The Penelopiad" is the myth of Penelope and Odysseus. Penelope was the daughter of Icareus of Sparta and her mother was a water nymph. Her very competitive and holier than thou cousin was the lovely Helen of Troy. Penelope is seen in this tale as the constant and faithful wife, the mother of an angst ridden teenaged son, Telemachus, who wants his "portion". She is the lonely, ever wise, wife awaiting the long (nearly twenty year) return of her adventurous husband, Odysseus, who is off saving the world and having wonderful and dangerous adventures.
Penelope tells her tale from the world of the dead to the world of the living, and wants the living to know that she is/was not as she was thought and spoken of.
During Odysseus' years of absence she is suitored by many who assume he is dead and not likely to return. They would like to have her hand and to replace him as her husband and as leader of the realm. Penelope allows the suitors to encamp outside the castle and they proceed to "eat the castle out of house and home". Her twelve favored maidens sleep with some of the suitors, at Penelope's request, to gain information about Odysseus and where and how he might be. Rumors abound. It is said that along his travels he is helped at every turn by beautiful ladies, including the lovely Helen. He also is "taken in" by goddesses who keep him for their pleasure along the way.
Penelope is left at home holding down the fort, playing the dutiful wife and taking care of business. Upon the return of Odysseus he is furious at the encampment of the "suitors" of Penelope and that so much of his wealth has gone into the feeding and caring of them. Also he finds that some of her favorite maidens have slept with the them.
He creates a bloodbath and kills the suitors; orders his son to kill the maidens whereupon the son, considering slaughtering them to be too good a death, hangs all twelve of them. Poor Penelope is left, once again, weeping and with an angry husband.
I enjoyed this book tremendously. There was quite a bit of the spoof to it, and several original poems and limericks thrown in (generally from the twelve maidens viewpoint), and a quite funny courtroom/trial segment at the end that made it all the more fun. This was my first read by Margaret Atwood but it will not be my last. It was also my first venture into mythology, again it will not be my last. I highly recommend "The Penelopied" to anyone who likes Atwood, who enjoys mythology, or just wants a fun read. This book has definitely peaked my interest in the more important works of mythology and the old Greek/Roman classics.

Three excellent reviews, Belva, and the first two are now on my TBR list. As far as Atwood, I'm not a large fan . . .

Hi ya Belva, I concur wholehardly with Brainflakes. Great reviews! How on earth do you find the time to not only read so many books but also to write so thoughtfully about them? You are amazing girl!!

I also had a problem with Penelopiad but I love everything else I've read by Margaret Atwood.

Hi, Belva! I was bad and bought more than a few books after I said I wasn't going to for a while. Even worse, I read the whole afternoon yesterday (The Family Man) instead of hunkering down in my basement and getting my work done. I shouldn't even be on LT this morning, but wanted to say hi! Have a great weekend!

Hi Belva! Saw your comment in rocket's thread and thought I'd reply here. The last week has been busy catching up on wedding plans - 3 weeks to go!! We got engaged last September and I can't believe there's only 3 weeks left until the wedding day. I've been reading too, though, my current book is fantastic so I'm looking forward to reviewing it sometime next week. Not sure I can do it proper justice, but I'll try! We've been having a stretch of nice weather around these parts too so I've been out weeding our backyard...my fiance lived in this house for a couple of years before I moved in but he wasn't much for gardening or lawn care so we've got more weeds than actual grass, LOL. It's taking forever to clean it up but we're getting there. Men, I tell ya. I told him if it gets this bad again, he's the one getting on his knees to pull them all out next time ;)

Hope you've had a great weekend!

spacespuds;
Congratulations!~! I didn't know. What wonderful news! And only three weeks away. That will simply fly by.
Yard work is always difficult no matter how much one enjoys it. But it can be so very satisfying. My husband does all the mowing and there is a lot of it to be done what with having 2 1/2 lots. (the dandelions drive him nuts so he tries to keep ahead of them) As we have gotten older we really don't care whether it's weeds or grass, (excepting the dandelions), as long as it's green he mows it and it looks great. In fact, that's where he is right now. Anything else that gets done gets done by me. This year I just haven't felt quite up to it so I've not done much. Then too, we have the pup and though she is huge she is only 6 months and can dig up a plant as soon as I put it in the ground and turn my back.
But it sounds as though you have accomplished a great deal in your yard. With everything else you have going on, that is quite admirable.
Well, thank you for popping over to say Hi and once again let me congratulate you!~! I wish you the very best.
belva
P.S. Is he a big reader also?

Tonight I finished one of my best reads of 2009. And it was a borrowed copy no less.
Entitled The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by a first time author David Grann, this one will stand the test of time.

my thoughts, comments, and review:

In 1925 Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett and his expedition party (including his son) entered the Amazon in search of The Lost City of El Dorado which he called simply "Z". This story is about the search for his party which, like those who went before, never returned. For months, Fawcett was able to get messages out to his wife Nina, but eventually those stopped coming. He was never seen nor heard from again.
David Grann, journalist and first time author, came across the Fawcett story in 2004 via some journals; became fascinated with the story and wanted to research and write about it. This book is the culmination of that research.
Grann used the journals, private diaries, papers, interviews and whatever else he could get his hands on and verify to pull this together and the end result is what we have here. A fascinating piece of nonfiction that tells us what he found to be true. He brings to light the literal hell these men went through in the jungle with the weather, voracious insects that could kill, burrow under the skin, huge snakes, malaria, hostile indians, all manner of ill that could be thrown at them. Some men went mad, some died, some were kidnapped and kept by the indians, but it appears that Fawcett was able to survive all that having an extremely tough constitution and continue to move forward.
Grann heads out following the exact route that Fawcett used and came across many villages and indians who remembered seeing Fawcett and his party. But in the end (this is 80 years later) he does not find Fawcett but finds information that shows what might have actually happened and he finds evidence that a lost city and very advanced culture did, as Fawcett thought, exist.
One of the amazing parts of this book is the story of Nina, Fawcett's wife. She never gives up hope that her husband and son will return and she works to that effort daily. What a brave lady she must have been. She wrote letters, kept in touch with the Royal Geographic Society regarding her husband, raised money and did everything she could to help. It must have taken amazing strength to hold up all those years.
"The Lost City of Z" is fascinating reading. Usually non-fiction is difficult for me but this was a real page turner and went so fast. The Amazon is a wonderful, horrifying, beautiful place and this book brings all that to light. The copy I read was a borrowed copy , but I will definitely purchase my own copy as I know I will want to read this again one day.

Great review! I'm just popping off to add it to my wish list... I'm supposed to be cutting it down to manageable levels and it's not really working!

>286 elliepotten:
You will be glad you read this one Ellie. It is a fascinating glimpse into a world many of have no idea even exists.

It sure does sound like a book I would be interested in reading. Must put it on my wish list too. Great review.

Good review ,Belva! Must have been a heck of a person to lend you a book like that and I love the trickle down affect!! Ha, ha!!

Hey stranger! Another fine review!! Z was already on my list. I may have to move it up! :)

># 288,
callmejacx,
Thank you and I do think you would both like this one. It reads so smoothly and I learned so much. It was quite different than anything I had read recently and I really appreciated the work the author put into it.

># 289;
msf59,
Why thank you Mark. It truly does takes a very special person to lend out a book like that to someone met only here on LT. You really must read it. It is very, very good. And the trickle down affect is nothing less than wonderful.

>#290
Hi coppers!~! Yup, they don't come much stranger. And thank you very much.
You are in for a treat when "Z" reaches the top of your TBR list. I am reading another really good book right now (Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about "Z". I took copious notes while I was reading so that I could follow up on some of the material on the Amazon that the author read. I am looking forward to those reads. The only negative thing about reading something that spurs you on to other material about the same subject matter is that it really throws a wrinkle into what you have already planned to read over a certain time frame. And it affects those library check-outs as well. So I guess I need to work a little more flexibility into my program here.
We need to hit the porch sometime, have a cuppa and shoot the breeze.
catcha later,
belva

You're a riot! Oh, and you're welcome ;)

That's the problem when you read a really, really good book - the next book you pick-up suffers for it.

I've got The Cellist of Sarajevo going right now and I can't believe I almost took it back to the library without reading it. It is excellent!

Have a good night! Joanne

I can't believe you almost did that either.
Good night.
belva

I've already got The Lost City of Z on my list of books to look at, but you've made me want to move it up closer to the top. How are you doing on creating your "collections"? I can't wait to get started. Now when I want to add a book to my wish list, I can do it directly without worrying about inflating my library numbers. Yeah!

I've been busy doing actual work around my house, so haven't done nearly enough reading the last couple of days and am so far behind in following favorite threads, so just wanted to swing by and say "Hi!" before heading off to dreamland. Take care!

Thanx for popping over Bonnie. I don't know anything about the "collections" thing yet. I guess I need to go lurking about a bit more. But will figure it out, I am sure with or without help. Love LT for that. Everyone is always ready with a helping hand/brain.
I need to be doing some actual work around my house. But the meds I'm on make me pretty groggy a lot of the time--not so good for the housekeeping, but great for the napping and reading. LOL
catcha later girl.
belva

Yesterday I read The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian.

My thoughts, comments and review:

This one had me from the beginning. College student, Laurel, who loves to bike in her spare time and for exercise is biking on a back wood road one day when she is come upon by two men in a van who jump out, attempt to drag her off her bike and rape her. Finally other cyclists, hearing her screams, abort the attempt. Laurel is left with a shattered collarbone, a broken finger, her left breast so badly bruised as to take months to heal and so traumatized that she retreats from school, friends, society and returns to her family home on Long Island to recuperate and recover; not to return to school until mid term. The two men are apprehended and sent to prison.
Laurel was raised on Long Island and she and her friends learned to swim, sail, play tennis, etc at the country club which had once been the home of Jay Gatsby and was right across the way from the home of Daisy and Tom Buchanan.
Laurel takes up swimming to replace biking in her life and begins to volunteer at a homeless shelter. After her schooling is completed she goes to work there full time and meets an older gentleman named Bobbie whose most prized possessions are a box of photographs that Laurel deduces he took himself. When Bobbie suddenly passes away the collection of photos is given to Laurel in the hope that she might put together something from them that could raise some money to aid the shelter. Within this collection of photos, among others are snaps of the Gatsby home and pool, the Buchanan home and the Buchanan children. But most puzzling of all is that there are pictures of Laurel biking on that back wood road.
Laurel begins obsessing about these photos. How could this Bobbie have been on that isolated back road at the same time she was and why. Her life begins to focus on Bobbie, his family, and the pictures, even as the people around her struggle to keep her involved in her day to day life.
Laurel's journey through the "photo land" and her search for understanding is the beginning of a novel with twists and turns and at the end leaves you with your mouth open. Bohjalian's skill with the pen is nothing short of a shocking marvel with this novel. His characters are very believable, their manner of reaction and behavior I found to be realistic to the storyline. I don't think this book is for a "day at the beach read". I think it is more of a sit down and get 'er done type of read simply for the fact that I couldn't put it down until my eyes shut. It was interesting, plausible, riveting; everything I like in a novel. It comes highly recommended.

Nice review on the Double Bind. Readers on LT seem to be very divided over Chris Bohjalian work. I read Skeletons at the Feast, my only one and I did really enjoy the story but his writing skills were just ok. I know others hated it, including dear Richard!

Mark;
While I can't speak for Skeletons at the Feast, not having read it, I have read Midwives and now Double Bind and though I cannot claim to be nearly as discerning as "dear Richard", I really quite liked both of them. I will have to try the above titled work and see if my opinion agrees with that of you and St. Richard.
I don't know if I could compare his writing style in Double Bind with any of his other work (or at least Midwives) as it is written in quite a different manner. Had me with the big O mouth at the end, even though my brain had toyed with "it" off and on throughout the book, it (brain) said: "Nah", ending of book said: "Yeah"!

In an aside it is/was (I think today is the last day) PBS Appreciation Week and for those of us who support PBS and order from them, through today you get 25% off your order total. Just type PBSTHANKS in the promo box. I ordered the Elizabeth Gaskell DVD collection of:
Cranford
North and South and
Wives and Daughters and if your order is $40.00 or more you also get the DVD of Oliver Twist free. So my order including S & H came to $73.??. Not too shabby for all that. The plan is to save them for the rainy, snowy days of winter. Gaskell, a blanky, and a cup of hot chocolate will go very well then.
Summer is not even here and already planning for winter???????? Something is wrong with me.
Anyway, all you PBS fans, get out there and support your favorite station and save $$$!~!
belva

New thread:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/66879

Hallo Nannybette
I have been advised by Librarything that you wowuld like to be my friend and I gladly and humbly accept. Have you thern read my book A BOY FROM NOWHERE ?
This is a story of a boy born to a poor family and how, despite many problems, fought his way to the top and became a success in life. The book takes us from the 1920s, the hard 1930s, the war, some history, some laughter, and some sadness, right up to today. It is in two volumes and available from Amazon under BIOGRAPHIES.
Best wishes
David Mitchell