Luxx's Lounge

New thread, just so I could change the name.

Welcome all! Pour yourself your beverage of choice, lay back with a good book, and enjoy your time. Drinks are optional, but reading is not.

Copied from my first thread:

I'm an adjunct professor at our local community college, and I really love my job.

Books marked with an asterisk are books I've read to my sons Brooks (2 in January) and Max (3 months in January). As part of my crusade to encourage a love of reading we read a chapter or so of a novel every night. It's my favorite time of the day.

I am an unabashed lover of genre fiction. My first love is horror, and thanks to fellow 75er Richard I have rediscovered a love of "cozy" mysteries.

Academically, my concentration is 19th-century English novels, and I hope to review and expand my reading list this upcoming year.

So what can you expect from me? A lot of fluff with a few gems, and maybe a touch of nonfiction for flavor.







I'm #5 on the introduction thread!

Am I going to be running all over this challenge looking for you?! ;)

Nope, this is it! I promise. ;)

Ahhh. The grog thread. *settles into club chair, Bloody Marie in hand, feet on ottoman*

This looks like a comfortable place to sit, after working my last day of 2009 (woo hoo!!!). I just finished dinner, and I'm enjoying a generous glass of Blackberry Stoli vodka, while watching the Eagles trounce the Broncos as I sit in my glider, feet also propped up on an ottoman. Life is (now) good.

Glad to have you both! I see a gin and tonic with lemon in my future, immediately following bedtime. It's a good day for it.

Cheers everyone. A buttery nipple is sheer bliss after everyone has gone back to their respective homes. I like the lounge idea Luxx but please don't forget to visit my cozy corner every so often.

I'll be there!

Found you again despite your attempts to get away from me! There is no getting away from the 'designated reader', lol.

A tip of the teacup to you Stasia!

Thanks, Lynda!

Oh Stasia, I almost called you out as the designated reader in post #1. I only support careful indulgence. I'll keep the kettle on the counter. Do you prefer black, green, white or herbal?

Black, green, or white, but no herbal, thanks :)

I have a few of each, so I have you covered.

Good deal! I also do roobois. I just cannot stand herbal 'tea', which really it is not.

But herbal tea can be so yummy! My favorite is raspberry sangria from Teavana. I'm also a huge fan of white ayurvedic chai, and Christmas tea (black orange spice). Mmmm.

I'm a bit of a tea junkie, although I don't actually know much about it. I just go with what I like.

Re-Starred!

My favorite tea is Peet's Lapsang Souchong. I think I'll make a mug now.

I recently had Peet's coffee at our community christmas party and it was D-licious!

Yes, Peet's is my favorite coffee roaster. I receive a pound of Peet's coffee every 3 weeks by mail. I especially like the Aged Sumatra and Arabian Mocha Sanani coffees.

Rats, there's no Lapsang Souchong here. So, I'll have Peet's Winter Solstice tea, instead.

I can purchase Peet's from our local grocery store. I'll be sure to look for the two you mentioned. Ya just never know what you'll learn on LT, it amazes me.

Right. I should have mentioned that Peet's is sold at some major supermarket chains, like Kroger and Publix. However, the Peet's that I get by mail is roasted and shipped within 1-2 days afterward, so it tastes a bit fresher than what you get in the supermarkets.

ETA: There are Peet's cafes, but mainly on the West Coast, as it originated in Berkeley, CA. The Cincinnati (CVG) airport has one or two Peet's cafes, as does the Philadelphia airport.

I'm always on the lookout for new tea shops, so thank you for the link! I just drank a whole pot of rooibos Rose Garden tea, just for the pleasure of using one of my Gram's china teacups.

Free tea!

A friend shared that link with me, and I just ordered for the first time. The etsy seller offers "free" 2-oz samples (for $3 shipping), and the samples change every month. Coconut vanilla chai sounds good to me, but the jury will be out until that first cup. Either way, I figured it didn't hurt to share the link.

Cool! I'll place an order for my mother later today; I just showed it to her.

My favorite tea ordering spot on the web is Adagio (www.adagio.com). Their Oriental Spice (a black) and Spiced Green are two of my favorites.

#24 - Now, this is nice. Your link led me on a hunt for coconut tea in Denmark. I didn't find it (I know it's there, just a bit further away than I cared to go today), but I did find another great tea (Cool Mint: liquorice root, apple, lemongrass, Moroccan mint and citrus oil - yeah, it's herbal, but it's delicious!) and girl I haven't seen since we went to school together ten years ago. Tea is great!

I'll just have a very hot mint tea. Preferably spearmint. Preferably served in a clear glass. Preferably very sweet. Preferably with a sprig of spearmint floating on top of it. Thanks so much!

#27 - Tea *is* great! Haha

#28 - You got it

And I'm linking adagio. Another friend of mine sent me to Tea Gschwender when I was looking for good loose leaf peppermint. It's lovely, and I also picked up some blood orange tea to give it a try.

Darryl, I hope your mother enjoys it! Another one of my favorite teas is Key Lime Colada, made by the Eastern Shore tea company (and sold through Baltimore Coffee and Tea, among other places I'm sure).

A couple months ago I bought magnetic knife strips and magnetic spice containers at Ikea so that I can display my tea, and it's worked out really well! I have twelve teas out now and, in addition to be tasty, it just looks cool. ;)

Luxx,
How about a picture of this beautiful display to inspire all of us?

Is it sad that I already have a picture?



This was taken in October; the last two containers now contain peppermint and raspberry sangria. I think I may have to go make myself some tea now.

What a great display!

: > like, totally awesome.

Hehehe, thanks. ;)

I shall have to post a picture of my 'tea shelf', too, lol.

I don't care about tea as a rule, but I do like a mint tisane on cold nights if I can't get to sleep. Oolong's nice, I guess. It smells so good as it's steeping. Strong and authoritative.

My favorite is Ginger Peach Black Tea. I have trouble finding it. I originally bought it at Harrod's while I was visiting London. It was my little gift to myself, since I really did not need anything that said Harrod's on it. The brands I have found in the States I have not liked as much. They were not as ginger-peachy. I wish I liked green tea more because I can find plenty of ginger peach green tea.

I do admire your tea display. I just have a shelf in my cupboard stuffed with a lot of tea.

Stasia, I'd love to see your tea shelf.

Richard - My partner doesn't usually drink tea, but he appreciates the smells when I make it for myself.

Jennifer - I'm not usually a fan of peach, but I think I'd have to give that tea a try. I'm sorry you can't find it here. Obviously this means you have to go back to London. I'll join you, just to help you look.

#36 When I can't sleep a simple cold glass of milk with Hershey's chocolate syrup knocks me out. **

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Thanks, Luxx!

Do you know that I just pulled out my tea pot yesterday to try to brew loose tea. I think I have to work on my technique! :)

A few years ago, when I bought my teapot, I asked my son to give me a tea cozy for a birthday present. We still laugh remembering when he said, "Aw, mom. There's no such thing as a tea cozy!" He thought I just made that up. :)

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Nice picture!

I think I may have to go make myself some tea now.

Er...me, too! :)

>38 London_StJ: Ah. Sensible lad. I know what people who say, "if only coffee tasted the way it smells," mean...if tea tasted the way it smelled, I'd drink it by the barrelful.

>40 SqueakyChu: Hee hee! Admit it, though, it *does* sound like something made up....

I'm with Stasia - no herbal tea for me, please! I'm an Earl Grey with milk and sugar gal.

Luxx: This may be a strange question, but I can't help it: how strong are those magnets? How far away can you stand and let go of the canister and it get sucked onto the strip? That would be a game I'd play every time I made a cuppa - LOL!

Hahaha! I have no idea how strong they are, but I'd be too afraid to try it with full tea canisters. Maybe I'll try it for you next time I finish a tea so I can report back.

#38: My tea shelf:



Continuing . . .



Yes, we like tea around my house, especially Catey and me, lol.

Fantastic!

Brooks likes tea, too - does that mean I can buy even more?!

I just discovered tea this past year, and have become quite fond of it. I just need to find a self heating mug to keep it from going cold while I drink now.

#46: Well, sure!

I just discovered a fantastic new tea flavor for all the Earl Grey fans, but I've found it under several different names... I first tried it called 'Chantilly Grey', and then later found the exact same thing called 'Cream Earl Grey'. It's Earl Grey + vanilla & bergamot, and it's become my new comfort drink. *contented sigh* ...I think I'll go have some now...

#49: Ooh, that sounds good. I will have to look for that one. Another for the shelf!

Earl Grey is my favorite flavor, Faith and I will certainly be on the lookout for the new types you've mentioned.

That does sound lovely!

We used to mail order our tea from Cost Plus Imports in San Francisco. The best was a mix called Manhattan Earl Grey - Google finds it has extra bergamot "perked up" with marigold and cornflower petals...not only tastes good, it looks lovely!

New & Improved Earl Grey?! Definitely going on my TTT (Teas To Try) list!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Years Eve! Enjoy it the way you like best, and I'll see you all again in 2010!

Me too, that sounds so good. My favorites right now are Yorkshire Gold and Barry's Golden. I also make myself a nice cup of mint after a heavy meal.

I am not a huge tea fan, more a coffee lover, but I like an Earl Grey or Lady Grey in the afternoon...

Happy New Year to all!
(over here a little more than 2 hours to go)
Anita

Happy Happy New Year! It's great being here with you all

The same to you!

I would love a wine and book club, but I can't seem to find anything in my area, and my friends are usually too busy to commit to a book club. Sigh. At least I have you guys!

Wow...59 posts already and most of them about tea. Darryl, we have our coffee shipped from Toronto with a 24 hour turn around (Dark City Cafe).
Happy New Year, Luxx, and happy reading for 2010.

Luxx, if you joined a couple of the group reads and had a glass of wine each time you posted a discussion, we could be your virtual wine and book club. ;-)

>49 dk_phoenix: I'm not really a tea drinker (sorry), but my sister-in-law is an Earl Grey fiend, and Chantilly Grey sounds like it might really suit her.... how fortunate that she has a birthday in January!! Thanks, Faith - I'm off to hunt it down.

(Hi, Luxx! Is this your official thread, then? Can I go back and take the star off the other one?)

Rachel - Yes, this is going to be my official thread. I just thought it would be a fun thread name.

Caroline - I joined the Anna Karenia group read, so now all I need to do is make sure I have some wine on hand! Sounds like a good idea to me.

*snort* You're coming late to the boozeohol party, Luxx. I almost always have a glass of Shiraz to hand when reading the threads. Today, though, it's a Bloody Marie.

xoxo

I mixed myself a gin and tonic last night to celebrate the new year, and ended up putting it down after just a few sips because I was already feeling tipsy. Whoops! These days I feel pretty good after just one glass of wine. Trading parties for babies turned me into a cheap date. ;)

I ... have a problem.

Buying books.

Ok, ok, so I'm not alone in this problem. But considering one of my reading goals for the year is to read more books than I buy, I'm putting myself in a jam. So, I figured I should start a new ticker for books purchased to help keep myself honest:




"100" isn't really a goal, so much as a "pleasedeargod don't let me pass this". The deal is off if I go back to school, though.

And to be fair, today's purchases weren't that off the wall. I bought a book that has been on my wish list for five years, one from a series RICHARD got me hooked on, and used a gift card to pick them up. So ... win.

We won't talk about internet purchases made this week.

Good idea, Luxx. I think I'll do the same, since I also have the same goal.

Luxx, you need to post your "books bought" ticker directly under your "books read" ticker. In that way, we can watch you to see if you're buying more than you're reading or vice versa. So far, it looks as if those two tickers are running neck and neck. :D

But who is going to monitor us, SqueakyChu? :)

A series *I* got you hooked on? Series of what? Drinks?

;-P

Just spreadin' the luuuv, dearie.

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You are going to monitor *yourselves*! Your "bought" books are not going to exceed your "completed reading" books. ...or are they?

#71 It's always tough when I know someone else might read the book, too. So easy to justify a new aquisition with: "Mom will love it... Oh, dad will like this book..."

:)

Your books purchased ticker is a nice idea luxx albeit downright frightening. For me, ignorance is bliss and it is better I don't know the damage. :)

Richard - You got me hooked on the Meg Langslow series. The other book I picked up is The Penguin Who Knew Too Much. You little so-and-so.

Madeline - I did! And so far I'm losing.

Darryl and Lynda - I have never kept track of purchases, either, so it will be interesting to see. I'm starting with books I pick up after January 1 (mostly because I received a box of seven from Better World Books just before new years). I finally started reading things off my shelves last year, and I'd like to do even better this year.

We won't talk about internet purchases made this week

What?? Are you saying books you bought via the internet don't count? What kind of escape clause is that?

They haven't arrived yet, that's all. :) All told, I bought 6-7 books in a day or two, but I only have two in hand so far.

Well, I'm off to a slow start this year. Here's book #1:


1. Grafton, Sue. 'C' is for Corpse. 1.3.10.

What I appreciate most in Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series is her attention to realism. Kinsey Millhone is a professional private detective, licensed by the state, and operating in "the real world". The books stick to this idea, and present mysteries in an almost pedestrian manner; while in the middle of a case Kinsey stops by her office, sorts through her mail, drinks coffee, and goes grocery shopping. The little details of the day-to-day are all there, and while they may come off as a bit tedious at times (usually when you've read several books in a row, all with the same details), the overall effect is one of grounded reality. Kinsey is not a super hero; it is not unusual for her to encounter some extreme scenarios because it is in fact her job to pursue mysteries - or insurance fraud (after all, both pay the bills). 'C' is for Corpse is not an extraordinary book, but I can appreciate it for its consistency, and will continue to work my way back through the series.

Whoopeee.... I actually managed to get past one of your reviews without needing to add a book to my wish list for a change. I'm not a big Grafton fan.

It's a trip down memory lane for me. They're not terrible, but so far I can't really see why I found them so addictive before.

I am skipping the Grafton, too, at least for now. I do not need to start another series!

I think I got as far as J in this series. I liked them. I read a bunch in a row then seemed to take a break and never went back. I have heard scathing talk about her later books. She is keeping Kinsey in the same time period instead of jumping ahead. So no computers etc. The general consensus is, a 26 book deal sounds great at book one, but not so much by book 15.

The dating of the books is something I've had a problem with; every other book or so she seems to really focus on fashion, and it's a bit ridiculous. The attachment to the typewriter seems "cute" (I'm not sure how else to describe it), and in another 5-10 years the books will seem charmingly old-fashioned. For now it's less desirable, but I think that's a problem all contemporary authors face.

Oh my! The sexiest book on the face of the planet just arrived on my doorstep: The Norton Facsimile of Shakespeare's First Folio

The only thing that could be hotter would be a real folio, but considering the fact that I don't have an extra $5m sitting around this is probably the closest I'll ever get.

Book porn:

Beautiful books! I love holding a well made book.

I love book porn!

All I can say is "amazing."

I am absolutely giddy over it. I could never justify spending that much on a book on a whim, but my dad gave me a gift cert for Christmas and I knew just what to get!

And that case is probably my favorite of the eight. ;)

Now THAT is one beautiful book. Lucky you.

Luxx

Thanks for sharing the images! What a great book!

Only a glass showcase is good enough for your newest acquisition preferably kept at my house so the kids don't take crayon to it, just send it on over fedex. Thanks

Lynda

I love the photo on your home page. You are quite a good photographer!

And, thanks for making me laugh re. your comments in post 91.

As soon as it came I made room on the shelf to "put it up", but I only just now realized that the shelf comes to my waist, which means it's probably only 6 inches higher than my monster of a toddler. Hhmmm, this doesn't look good for the future.


2. Andrews, Donna. The Penguin Who Knew Too Much. 1.4.10.

This is a pretty standard Meg Langslow book: random assortment of animals + father who takes WAY too many liberties + random corpse = mystery. I really enjoyed the slightly over-the-top turns that Meg Langslow novels take, and found the ending pretty interesting. The Meg Langslow books are a dependable and consistent cozy mystery series.

I never heard of this author or series. It sounds fascinating.

Richard apparently loves them; I picked them up at his suggestion. The first one is Murder with Peacocks, and I've read eight or so at this point. Very enjoyable if you like cozy mysteries.

I finally started Murder with Peacocks a couple of days ago. So far, so good.

I really should get around to trying Murder with Peacocks... it sounds like a silly series, but in a good way. I suspect I'll enjoy it!li

I'm always afraid that my reviews will sound negative because I think the books are so silly ... but that's why I enjoy them! I really think they're supposed to be a bit goofy and off the wall, and I love reading about all the eccentric characters. I hope you both like Murder with Peacocks!

But isn't silly GOOD, if it's what the author intended? I need silly once in a way, just to make my natural tendency towards fury and fist-shaking at the idiots relax.

Luxx dear, now those toddlers plus a facsimile of the first folio equals trouble! You know I speak sooth! Here, unlike Lynda's house, the facsimile would be safe from all persons under 50! And I have a glass-fronted secretary in my personal, private bedchamber, so the facsimile would always be available to admiring eyes, and once the lads are in college, I'd happily send it back to you! Of course, Long Island is close by too, so your visiting privileges would be usable! The whole fam damily can come and stay in our guest suite, two floors away from the sacred facsimile, and Stella the Jindo would keep the sprogs too busy to scribble inside it when you do visit!

So, when shall I expect it?

I appreciate your gracious offer; I can tell you have my (and the folio's) best interest at heart. But, really, I think I just need to use the facsimile as an excuse to buy a new house so that I can have a private study again. With a locked door.

I'm still trying to figure out an angle to get into the Folger Library. My dissertation would be a good excuse, but I'll have to write a spectacular research proposal...

And silly is good - that's why I've gone back to them time and again.

*sighs at failed protection racket*

*resumes scheming*

So, where ya gettin' that PhD from? We have a LOVELY school here, Hofstra University, that I feel *sure* would smile upon you (even if I have to beat my friend the English prof into submission)! Really! What'cha think?

I know what you mean about going back to the series mysteries time and again...it's that very thing, the sense of returning to a world that's fun and funny, that draws me to the genre and its products time after time.

As much as I'd love to look out of state my husband's job pays the mortgage, and that's here in MD. Plus, I don't know that I could leave the ready pool of babysitters grandparents.

*another sigh at failed protection racket #2*

*resumes scheming*

Oh heavens, Long Island is postively HEAVING with underemployed moms in need of cash! Those babysitters grandparents could easily be persuaded to provide some supplementary income in aid of baby-mama's education! Heck, I send my daughter money all the time! And mortgages, piffle! The Administration's bailout plan will take care of that.

*hears crickets chirping chez Luxx*

Oh well. I hear Maryland is nice. *defeated sigh*

Maybe Richard would babysit for you?

Ooo, now THAT would be interesting. ;)

If you don't mind the children learning to speak Esperanto and mix martinis, I'll be glad to! I think of myself and The Divine Miss as Auntie and Uncle Mame.

Richard! Don't go taking Luxx out of state!! Maryland LTers need to stick together...

Given the housing market in MD I think it's safe to say I'm not going anywhere for a while. ;)

Not a book review, but something I wanted to share anyway:






Young Frankenstein is my favorite Mel Brooks film, and one of my favorite movies of all time. So when my husband pointed out Young Frankenstein the Musical in the Kennedy Center magazine I simply didn't have the strength to resist.

Luckily, my husband appreciates Mel Brooks, and so do a couple of our friends, so we were able to make quite a night out of it. With music and lyrics by Mel Brooks himself I didn't think we could go wrong.

The evening started with dinner at Brasserie Beck on K street. I ordered a fillet with green peppercorns and cognac sauce, and it was amazing. But the gateau of chocolate was nearly lethal. I wish I could remember the wine we ordered, but I wasn't paying close enough attention. In the end all I can really say is that I thought dinner was fantastic.

After a leisurely meal we drove to the theatre just in time to get settled before they dimmed the lights. The Kennedy Center is a great venue for the performing arts (even if their statue of Kennedy leaves much to be desired), and our seats offered a clear and comfortable view of the show.

Roger Bart (from "Desperate Housewives", apparently, but also Carmen Ghia in The Producers) plays young Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the late Victor von Frankenstein. A humble professor of medicine, Frederick fights his family legacy, even after he learns that he is the sole heir to his crazy grandfather's land and fortune. However, the pull of the "family business" proves too much, and Frederick finds himself singing and dancing down the same path of his deceased relatives.

Roger Bart is a fantastic Dr. Frankenstein. Pulling not only from Gene Wilder's original representation, but also seemingly from characters such as Leo Bloom of The Producers (or maybe his former part in the most recent film), Bart makes the role his own while still giving the audience a bit of the doctor that has long been familiar. Bart's Frankenstein is more of a showman than a mad scientist, and he skillfully translates the role from film to stage musical.

The rest of the cast, however, leaves something to be desired. No one else in the cast seems to evolve in their role, and resorts to shouting or exaggerating the dialog as if to play up the film references without actually acting out the part. Their portrayals left me longing for Teri Garr, Marty Feldman, and Madeline Kahn. However, Roger Bart's performance and Mel Brooks' musical compositions pull it through, making Young Frankenstein the Musical a delightful stage production, and a treat for every Mel Brooks fan.

"Deeeep, looooovvveee....."

I'm glad you've jumped on the Meg Langslow bandwagon. I've loved every single one that's out there. They are OTT funny and my favorite lite reads which I re-read every once in a while.

I'm jeeeaaaallloooouuus! Young Frankenstein? That was such a hilarious movie! Sounds like you guys had a wonderful time as the photos show.

Thanks for sharing those photos! You look exceedingly happy!

Sounds like a good time was had by all! Sorry the cast was not as good as might be desired, but still . . .

Wow, that sounds like so much fun. I love Mel movies.

What a great evening out! Looks like a good time. My only concern is the Shakespeare folio. uhem - I certainly hope it was along side you in an inconspicuous metal attache. Handcuffed to your wrist. Is that correct? ; )

Of course! I had my clutch in one hand, and Shakespeare in the other.

It really was a lot of fun. And it's on tour, so if it comes near you I highly suggest going!

How fun! My big regret about my trip to New York last year was that we never got to the theater. Thanks for posting the pics.

Sounds like a great night, but my favourite Brooks has to be Blazing Saddles. That movie makes me smile just thinking about it.

"Blazing Saddles" is a great film, and I just saw "Silent Movie" for the first time (right on the heels of watching "Chaplan: The Movie") and really enjoyed it.

My husband and I went to NYC for our honeymoon and saw "The Producers" on Broadway. It was Michael's first musical theatre experience, and thankfully it was a good one, because I can now talk him into going to shows with me.

My husband likes plays but after my choosing "The Pirate Queen" on a visit to Chicago a couple of years ago, he said no more musicals. It was quite bad.

Oh no!

Mel Brooks musicals are hilarious. Michael laughed out loud through the whole thing, and chuckled all through the weekend as the show replayed in his head. :)

Glad you had a nice time at Brasserie Beck. We went there when it had only been open a couple of months. The food was good, but the service was so horrible that we have refused to return. For instance, we had 8 p.m. reservations and we were not seated until almost 9 p.m. That was just the beginning. Luckily we did not have any place to be.

Now that looks like fun, wobbly cast notwithstanding. Another proud owner of the Mel Brooks (boxed) set of movies here.

Jennifer, I don't think I would have gone back, either. Thankfully, we were seated on time, and our meal was served in a timely fashion without being rushed. None of us could hear our waiter because he was very soft spoken, but thankfully it wasn't an issue. We had tried to get a reservation at Marcell's, but we called too late, and Brasserie Beck turned out to be a great second choice.

ETA: I envy your Mel Brooks boxed set, tiffin

Lovely photos, lovely evening, and wonderful that you're able to have times like this...alone together, not home watching over A Certain Folio....

Curses! I have revealed my evil plot! *continues scheming*

I took Mr. Man to see his first opera while we were together...a production of "Carmen," which is rousing and colorful and active and has lots of good music. He actually, to my surprise, wanted to go again. Men -- go figure.

The Turkish Delight isn't that easy to convince, so far, and Frank the Fireman's wife already screwed up opera for good in his eyes. I'm the one who has to be dragged to musicals.

I have not been to Marcell's, but I think I am going to Zengo in Chinatown on Sunday. I have not been there yet either.

I've never been to an opera, although I would be open to the experience - "Carmen" has always sounded marvelous. Next month I am going to see "Great Gatsby" the ballet with my Gram, and then in March Michael and I are going to see "Cirque de la Symphonie" with the same couple above, and my mom and I are going to see Stomp! for my birthday.

It's a busy few months in terms of shows, and I love it!

If you're completely new to the art form, "Carmen" is far and away the top choice for introducing you to it. My sentimental fave, the one that makes me sob brokenheartedly and unashamedly, is "La Traviata" because I think Verdi's music beats "La Boheme" all hollow. Nyah. (The opera world is made up of sensible, tasteful people who like Verdi, and foolish, misguided lumpenproletarians who like Puccini. I am the former, married to the latter. The crosses I bear....)

Both are based on La Dame aux Camelias aka Camille by Dumas. Such a tear-jerker!

The Great Gatsby is a ballet now??! When did it open?

I'll second 'Carmen'. Fabulous music and usually wonderful costumes and fun.

I'll have to look around and see if I can find a performance of "Carmen". I'm familiar with the story, and your recommendations make it sound like the perfect place to start.

Jennifer - I believe it's a new production by the Washington Ballet, although I don't know that for a fact. Here is the description on their site. The Great Gatsby has a special place in my heart, so I'm really looking forward to seeing it in a new medium.

Thanks for the link. The Great Gatsby is also dear to me as I think it truly deserves the title of The Great American Novel.
Enjoy the show and do let us know how it was! Oooh, now I'm filled with envy.

For new opera-goers, Mozart's The Magic Flute is fabulous too. Even my preteen (at the time) daughter loved it when I took her to a production.

Coming in late (as usual) to add my love of "Carmen!" Vibrant music, lovely costumes--I actually took off work one day to have a picnic lunch and see a matinee--all by myself. One of my fondest memories.

And the year that the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps chose Carmen for their show...awesome.

We looked around for a good version to introduce our children to, and decided on this version of Carmen.



It turned our daughter into an opera fan.

http://www.amazon.com/Georges-Bizet-Carmen-Espert-Vaduva/dp/6305609306/ref=sr_1_...

Ok, opera fans, help me out.

Apparently the Washington Opera is performing The Marriage of Figaro in late April/early May. The title and composer are obviously familiar, and my partner is a big fan of Mozart. Is The Marriage of Figaro a user-friendly choice for a first timer?

There are also some choices for next season.

OOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooo

It's fabulous, it's amazing, the singing is from the Gods, and a first-time operagoer probably won't like it even if a Mozartian already. The libretto isn't dramatic, so the recitavo is highly highly ornamental and that's usually a bad thing for the uninitiated.

Oh. What the hell am I talking about.

The libretto, obviously to you since yer all eddycated an' stuff, is the book...the storyline, broken into the parts. Each character's story-furthering pronouncements are sung, unlike a musical or an operetta. Nothing that happens on stage happens except through music; no one speaks a word. That story-furthering stuff is called "recitavo" and is opera's equivalent of dialogue.

Now composers of operas focus on things other than the recitavo. They loooves them some arias, duets, and choruses, and that's what you usually hear in movies and stuff...remember Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon gettin' it on in "The Hunger"? *fans self for a moment* That was to a duet from an opera called "Lakme".

So recitavo, left all alone by itself with the orchestra just hangin' around pickin' their noses, has to be jazzed up when the story's kinda well-worn. In Mozart's operas, the recitavo gets pretty fancy-schmancy, with all sorts of show-offy stuff happenin'--and that can make the first timer a little itchy.

Bizet, Verdi, Puccini are all good bets for stories strong enough that the singers don't have to wallop you with their singing talents.

ETA: From the WNO list, "Salome" is deadly dull, "Un Ballo in Maschera" is fun but not a good first-time, and "Madama Butterfly" is Just The Ticket. Oh my, yes.

The problem is that it all sort of depends on one's musical tastes. My daughter, for example, likes "The Marriage of Figaro" more than I do; whereas I like Turandot which she thinks is meh. (So much for the opinion of 9 year olds!)

We both like Wagner's Ring Cycle although she prefers the latter 2 while I prefer the first 2.

I agree with Richard that Salome is to be avoided.

>137 PamFamilyLibrary: so true, so true, it's all down to taste. But what if one is completely unfamiliar with the art in question? What's to do? I wouldn't take someone to MoMA and say, "Go look around, let me know if you like something" if they'd never seen an art museum before! Knowing Luxx and Spouse like musicals, there's an "in"; knowing Spouse likes Mozart, there's an "in"; something lyrical, something with spectacle, and (having tried opera out on some others over the years) something that's got little of the thing that's made most newbies reject the art, hence recommend "Madama Butterfly."

I offer an experienced person's suggestion to a question, but you're completely right...in the end, it's down to "How was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?" And there's no wrong answer to that one.

I think, unless you know someone really loves high drama, the comic ballet and comic opera make the best introduction. Say the Don Quixote ballet, or Richard Strauss’ Die Fladermaus (The Bat) or Ariadne auf Naxos, or Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte or Marriage of Figaro, or Rossini’s Cinderella or Barber of Seville.

Comedy does seem to be a great introduction to different art forms. Michael enjoyed his first musical because it was a comedy; the same can be said of his first Shakespeare play (Comedy of Errors).

Richard - "Madame Butterfly" is playing next season!

>140 London_StJ: Ohhh. Careless of me not to notice, I'm sorry!

Okay then, for my money...let's assume I'm the one sending you to the theatre, which I would if I could but I can't...I'd send you a $60 DVD of the Royal Opera production of "Carmen" and a subscription to next season's WNO calendar, skipping only the *dreary* "Salome".

Why? Because, for all its farcical fun and heavenly singing, "The Marriage of Figaro" might not be all that. So, check it out small screen first. And for heaven's sake don't listen to the "it must be live!" crowd, they've said that about every dratted thing since there was an alternative to live, and oh yeah, lots and lots and lots of opera people will say, "oh, you heard her version of Carmen/Violetta/Cio Cio San, you poor lamb, no wonder you hate opera!"

Bosh. You don't know enough to hear the differences, I'll wager, and probably most of them don't either. DVD versions of performances have a lot of advantages. You can choose scenes to replay. You can check out multiple versions of the same opera for a lot less money that live perfs cost. And not least...you'll get a sense of the aesthetic of the art form, how it thinks of itself, and not simply a musical experience that a CD would give.

Honestly, Luxx, I am not trying to run this threshhold event for you, but I love opera and I care that others love it because, if people your age don't start liking it, the whole shootin' match will go the way of the DeSoto. That will impoverish *my* world, and foreclose your children's option on this cultural ornament too. I suggest what I do because it's what I feel will result in a future opera lover, given a basic acceptance of the form.

So. Go forth and experience. I hope it's a happy one, no matter what it ends up being!

#138,

Well, you are right, of course, Richard. (Although I believe the school authorities have dragged both my children to the Museum of Natural History, dumped them at the foyer and said 'have at'... letting the wee little beasties go wherever their hearts led them, with more or less good results.) But in any case, I was thinking of follow on suggests to the ones you already gave and that was where I was coming up against a wall.

btw, it occurs to me that we've overlooked YouTube. Lots of samples there.

Bosh. You don't know enough to hear the differences, I'll wager, and probably most of them don't either. DVD versions of performances have a lot of advantages. That's so true.

Good call on YouTube - I should really look things up there. I also subscribe to Netflix and can do their instant downloads, so I'll have to pop on and see if they have anything.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra actually has an "under 40" club to try to draw in younger audiences. I took Brooks to his first symphony show last year (a show called Cirque de la Symphony, which pairs acrobats and classical music - a big win in my book), and can't wait for the day when our family of four can go to shows together. I want to give them the opportunity to form an interest in music and theatre and art, and will be taking them as soon as it is responsible.

On another note, Mike and I toured a preschool today, and have decided to send our little Brooksie Bear in the fall. It's the same preschool where Mike went as a child, and the facility/teachers/staff were all amazing. I can't believe I'm sending my kid to school next year.

:(

A photo, because it's my thread and I can spam if I want to:

(That's B yesterday, at his computer. God, this kid has me wrapped.)

Only just realised that you had another thread to the one I had starred (wondered why not much was posted...)!

I'm not much of a mystery reader, but I may just have to find The Penguin Who Knew Too Much for the title alone ;)

#141 I half agree, half disagree with the live vs not live thing Richard. The big joy of going to see something live is the atmosphere and you just can't get that to the same level on the small screen, however good the performance. That said, as you say, DVDs are a wonderful way to discover if you're even going to enjoy the thing in the first place...

I was very fortunate growing up - my uncle is in the opera world and so we had some great advantages. My parents almost exclusively listened to classical music and my sister and I used to make fun of all those wobbly voices - nonetheless, I don't remember ever being bored when taken to see something in the flesh, even when I was quite young and we went to see something I didn't know. I have the most amazing memory of seeing Peter Grimes for the first time and being completely blown away by it - and Britten isn't always the most accessible of composers. It was a very good production though...

Totally agree with jadebird about comedic opera being a great introduction - The Barber of Seville; Love for Three Oranges; The Marriage of Figaro... That said, I think it's fair to say that a large number of operas are fairly tragic ;o)

#140 Luxx Madame Butterfly is wonderful, but can I just add a warning - ever since my mum had us, she's been unable to listen/watch it without bursting into floods of tears - it's the thought of a mother having to give up her son...

Oh my, I've just looked at your WNO link (thought it was Welsh National Opera for a minute there - you had me confused!) - you've got Placido Domingo guest conducting and Bryn Terfel singing!

Anyway, enjoy!

PS Can I like La Traviata and Bohème equally Richard? ;)

lovely photo!

Oh my, cuteness overload! Preschool this year, high school the next. They grow so fast eh? Savor every minute!

Oh my goodness... WHAT a cutie

> 144 - Glad to have you back! After all the bar-talk I decided to open up the lounge. And thanks for the warning about Madame Butterfly - I'm very emotional about my boys, so I'm sure I'd weep through the whole thing. Max will be about one by then, so maybe if I'm not as hormonal it won't be quite as bad.

> 146 - Shush, you. He'll be two next week, and I've decided he's going to be two forever. What I need now is a bubble ...

Then again, he's more and more fun everyday, so maybe growing up won't be so bad.

>144 flissp: Of course, fliss, one doesn't expect fine musical discrimination among the British, so there is no issue there. ;-P

"Madama Butterfly" is indeed a tear-jerker, but my GOD the music...

Comic operas are not, honestly, good introductions. I have felt "L'Elisir d'Amore" was unjustly neglected until I took my newbie Mr. Man to see it. He didn't get why it was supposed to be funny. Humor in opera, based on that and two other failures-to-launch with two different people, is best left to those whose mental furniture already contains an opera-listening chair.

>143 London_StJ: AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW my papaw meter went critical on that one!

YouTube!! The Great Satan serves a fabulous purpose, and Netflix is your friend. Look for the filmed "Carmen" too, not just the filmed performances of "Carmen" -- I hope I made that clear....

>142 PamFamilyLibrary: Great call, Pam! But please tell me you're kidding about the way your kids were introduced to the Museum of Natural History...that's just about criminal!

Here is one version of Carmen, and here is a film adaptation. I also added Madame Butterfly to my list.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. If we don't make it to a show this season I want to make a point of going next season, and it helps to be prepared!

Luv the picture of your 'lil guy! I'm sure you don't need me to tell you but squeeze 'em, hug 'em and kiss 'em as much as you can before they weigh as much as you and can escape your grasp. Mom of a middle school 'lil guy.

PS: Richard is rrrrrrrright. Kids need to experience these wonderful museums at a leisurely pace with plenty of time for questions with a stop at the museum book shop afterward. Unfortunately, some kids don't get that attention/time, whatever so in that respect the schools outing may be the only one they are ever offered.

So far Brooks is a big cuddle-bug - he loves to hug and kiss and snuggle up, and I eat it right up because I know he'll eventually outgrow it. I'm thankful that I get it now!

We often talk about moving out of the area, but in the long run I don't think we'll go far because we feel that it has so much to offer our boys. We have theaters and libraries and concert halls and the Smithsonian museums and zoos and an aquarium ... and the list can go on.

Some of my fondest memories include going to see plays at the Annapolis Garden Theater or wandering around the National Portrait Gallery with my Gram. I want our boys to have the same experiences.

I still get hugs & kisses (but no snuggles) from my boys and they're in their 20's. It's not as cuddly as when they were young, but still a good thing! They always complained when they were young about our "educational vacations" but they admit now that they're glad we did it.
Keep it up!

Well--I'm still going to push Mozart's Magic Flute. It has everything--comedy (Papageno and Papagena), drama (The Queen of the Night) and fantasy. I know you like Where the Wild Things Are, and I think this opera has some of the same feel (although of course very different). It's got quite a few memorable tunes too. :)

I really appreciate the fact that I can come to LT and have interesting conversations about children and opera when my current reads aren't very engaging.

My reading year is off to a slow start. After finishing two books I found myself in the middle of three that didn't always keep my attention, and including my most recent read I've read half of the number of books I've added to my library (as opposed to reading more than I purchase). Whoops.


3.
Author: Bill Bryson
Title: A Short History of Nearly Everything
Publication: New York: Broadway Books, 2003.
Pages: 478, not counting notes
Genre: Nonfiction, science
Acquisition: Off my partner's shelf
Date Completed: January 13, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

I believe it was Stasia that remarked that Bryson's book is anything but "short", and in 478 pages of general text he attempts to cover, well, nearly everything about our planet.

A Short History of Nearly Everything is highly regarded by several men I admire, including my grandfather, my partner, and his grandfather. Each has read Bryson's book a number of times, gaining new insight each time. They never fail to recommend the book to others, and I picked up the book this month fully prepared to be amazed.

Unfortunately, I am not as enthralled with Bryson's work as my relatives. The general writing of A Short History of Nearly Everything is interesting and easy to follow, and is directed towards a general audience that makes the book approachable as a whole. In terms of its content the book is a general glossing of all scientific studies, focusing largely on the questions of how and why our planet came to be, what keeps it going, and how it all ended up with us. My interest varied with each chapter; passages dedicated to subjects I already find interesting were informative and entertaining, but my attention drifted on subjects I either find dull or simply too outside my area of understanding.

I would recommend A Short History of Nearly Everything to those with an interest in reading general science books, but it may not hold your attention if you're more interested in the humanities.

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 3
1010 Challenge: Nonfiction Book 1
Off-the-shelf: Book 6

Hey Luxx, I began reading A Short History of Everything about 3 summers ago while on vacation. I made it half way thru when it was time to fly home and I haven't picked it up since. I will be finishing it later this year when my TBR's get to the B's. I'm looking forward to finishing it simply because I like Bryson's writing. He takes the mundane scientific stuff and makes it understandable. Nice review by the way.

I have A Short History of Nearly Everything on my TBR pile. You've reminded me that I really must get around to reading it. Thanks for your review.

It seems like a TBR kind of book. ;) Michael almost picked it up in hardcover today because he's read it so many times. I think once is enough for me, but I'm glad I picked it up.

I think I'm liking reading about how much you love your boys as the books you are reading. Don't worry about it flying by (although this sweet, innocent age is so delicious). My two are at the age where I no longer have to parent them but they have become my dearest friends, as well as my lads. It's all good, Luxx, and at times it's the purest of magic.

Thank you, tiffin. I certainly enjoy babbling about my monsters, and it's nice to have such a receptive "audience" to share them with.

While getting Max ready for bed last night I started thinking about Brooks as a baby, and how they seem to change in the blink of an eye. But then it hit me - for everything that is "lost" as they grow up (baby cooing, that sweet helplessness, falling asleep in my arms), so much more is gained. I'll joke about being "sad" that they are growing up, but in reality I'm enjoying every step.

And I never thought I'd be such a gushy mom, but there you have it!

A picture of Max from today, so we have a matching set:

Poor kiddo has eczema, and his cheek got so irritated it cracked and got infected this weekend. It broke my heart, but we have an amazing pediatrician who fit us in yesterday so he could take a look. I love that man.

4.
Author: Daniel Hahn
Title: Poetic Lives: Coleridge
Publication: London: Hesperus Press, 2009..
Pages: 168 pages
Genre: Biography, poetry
Acquisition: December Library Thing Early Review
Date Completed: January 13, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

In a sentence, Poetic Lives is exactly what it claims to be - a "short, authoritative biograph{y} of {one of} the world's best known poets, illustrated by extracts from {his} work".

My initial reaction to Hahn's biography was not positive; the writing is terse and distant, and the juxtaposition of Hahn's biography and Coleridge's often amazing poetry did not seem flattering to the project as a whole. If asked to write a review based on the first thirty pages or so I would have said that it reads like a wikipedia article with none of the charm.

However, I took a step back from the work, read the back cover (from which I took the above quotation), and settled back in to read the book as it is intended. The "Poetic Lives" series does not claim to present in-depth and thoughtful biographies; rather, the goal seems to be to place a poet's work within the context of their lives so that an audience may better understand the work itself. And this is exactly what Poetic Lives: Coleridge accomplishes. Coleridge was inspired by life, and so looking at some of his work as part of his biography helps focus a reading of his poetry in the proper light. In this way this short volume is very interesting.

Poetic Lives: Coleridge is not an overly-scholarly publication, but I would imagine that it would be very helpful and enlightening for students, particularly undergraduates who are studying the Romantics for the first time. The lack of "scholarship" also opens the book to a wider audience, making it suitable for popular reading for anyone with a passing interest in Coleridge and his work.

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 4
1010 Challenge: Poetry/Plays Book 1
Off-the-shelf:

I always appreciate the photos of your incredibly beautiful boys!

Blessings abound!

Uchhh, eczema, not fun. My god, Luxx, what a thread you run! There's someone here to talk about everything at any given moment, isn't there? It's so much more fun than most of the bars I've hung out in over the years. I was over in Matt's thread, msjohns615, reading about Latin American existential novels, came over here to find eczema (uchhh) and Coleridge (blearrrgh) and Bill Bryson (I liked him a lot better before I got the Science Channel).

You're a treasure, you know that, don't you.

Concerning your remarks about Brooks remaining 2: Catey is going to be 19 Thursday, or in my book, 6 for the 13th time!

Luxx, they're both adorable! I love how the backdrop for both pics is a wall of books...very appropriate.

I had eczema has a child too. 40some years ago oatmeal baths and goats milk (I'm told I loved to drink it) were methods used to ease the discomfort.

ETA: you guys make adorable kids!!

Aww, thanks Richard - I'm blushing. ;) Books and babies - welcome to my world. Just wait for the summer to roll around when I start sewing for the Renaissance Festival - then I'll plague you all with costume pictures!

Stasia - I like your method of counting birthdays.

Willowsmom - Hehe, I think most of my children's pictures are backed by books. Our house has an "open floor plan", which means our main living area is one big room. And that room, of course, has one wall that is almost entirely filled with books. I like that about our house.

Lynda - Thankfully he doesn't seem to be too upset about it, although I think the antibiotic is upsetting his stomach a bit. I have a large stash of creams and ointments to use, and it seems to be improving very quickly now that I know what to do. Hopefully I can catch things before they get too bad in the future. Ugh.

Sharing while I'm thinking about it...

When in doubt, Michael and I head to the bookstore ("the" bookstore being whichever one is closest). Yesterday our preschool tour took much less time than we expected, and instead of rushing home to the monsters we decided to give Pop-pop a little extra time and wandered around.

A usual stop for us both is the horror/fantasy/sci fi section, and prominently displayed was Laurell K. Hamilton's latest fairy porn, Divine Misdemeanors. Michael points it out to me, and I told him I already read it. So he gave me a look, and pointed to the book next to it (the Hollows series by Kim Harrison). I told him I already read it. So he went through the shelf (which, to my credit, was primarily Hamilton and Harrison, two of the contemporary fantasy/horror authors I enjoy most), making a joke of the fact that I had read everything except for a book by an author I haven't heard of.

His next comment to me? "You should read less so that you have more to read."

Obviously the man has not checked out my wish list lately...

There's a hidden gem of wisdom in there, y'know. Read less *of that* so you have more *time* to read *more widely*.

As to the volume of stuff one wants to read...let me just share my fantasy of the perfect life:

1) Commodious, comfortable house with plenty of art, comfy furniture, jammed bookshelves everywhere, and someone to clean/fix/mow/water/weed. Must also have garden seating area for outdoor reading/drinking.

2) Well-stuffed bank account that replenishes itself with no intervention from me.

3) High-speed internet connection, two wireless laptops, an old-fashioned desktop computer with a comfy chair, and a HUUUGE networked hard drive for external backups.

4) Large, comfortable car in which to take leisurely trips wherever I feel like going just then.

5) A dog.

6) People I love to talk to available by phone, web, and dinner party, as well as occasional visits.

7) The good sense to sit quietly and enjoy the beauty of this weird, wonderful world.

Do you know...apart from the "well-stuffed bank account" part, I pretty much have a perfect life.

#169: I am coming to live at your house, Richard. I could get into that fantasy with no problems whatsoever.

Stasia, it's a never-ending source of amazement to me...I have exactly the life I would wish for anyone I love to have.

Yes, there are troubles. So what? I look around at the world, see so many lost souls strivingstrivingstriving and never seeing the point where a reasonable person says, "Enough." It makes them so unhappy, all that effort and no reward...just another *thing*.

More stuffing in the bank account, and I'd be in danger of being happy.

I have exactly the life I would wish for anyone I love to have.

Last year my mom and close friends of ours filed for divorce, and in the middle of all the ensuing drama it hit me that I have the life I've always dreamed of.

Sure, I want a bigger house - but for the time being we can pay our mortgage and have the little things, like a bedroom for each child. I have an amazing partner, two fantastic children, and a job I love love love that lets me feel fulfilled while still being home with my boys 4 days a week (and from 2-bedtime every night).

Nothing is ever perfect, but when you get this close it can feel like it.

And stop picking on my brain candy.

Wow .... I was off LT for a couple of days and your thread just exploded! I'm just catching up with your thread during a short break and already I have to get back to work. Love the pictures of your 2 sons though.. they are adorable.

*slumps away to work*

Boo work! We'll be here when you get another break.

>172 London_StJ: No picking, merely observing. My daughter reads Robert Jordan books and I don't give her grief over that, which is *really really hard* sometimes. I mean, in this I agree with Tiffin's 0-star ratings description: "Disgusting use of a perfectly good tree."

>173 cameling: ah, I see you're still maintaining your cover identity to fool us into thinking you're NOT Thursday Next.

I'm on to you....

>175 richardderus: - Well, I have a MA in Victorian Lit, and was due for a brain vacation after graduation. This year I'm hoping to find a better balance between the two.

#176 : Well, if you do see my slacker son Friday lurking around ....

>177 London_StJ: My dear, no explanations needed! Sometimes popcorn books are all that's possible to consume.

>178 cameling: AHA! She admits it!! *does jubilant dance*

#144 Re Madame Butterfly. Well, as Richard says, it's worth seeing, even if you are a gibbering emotional wreck by the end of the evening

#149 Richard *splutter* (tries to come up with some witty riposte, fails miserably...) ;o)

#155 I started reading A Short History of Nearly Everything last year, (slowly, in very small dribs and drabs), having owned it since it came out and I have to agree - it's taking me a lot longer to get into than usual for a Bill Bryson book - I normally whizz through his stuff...

PS, hope Max's eczema is starting to clear up!

I really enjoyed Mother Tongue. There are plenty of negative reviews that like to point out how many details are incorrect, but my view is that Bryson is writing for entertainment, and his book should be taken as such. It was never meant to be a textbook.

A Short History tries to take on a little bit of everything, and I think it may have just been to much for me. I find science interesting in theory, but I guess I have my limits.

And Max is doing much better, thank you. Tuesday it was at its worst, and as of last night his cheek was almost entirely clear. He's still asleep at the moment, but I'm sure it'll look even better when he gets up today.

5.
Author: Verlyn Flieger
Title: Pig Tale
Publication: New York: Hyperion, 2002
Pages: 321 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Acquisition: Purchased January 2010
Date Completed: January 15, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In the spirit of fairness I want to begin my review with a confession: I adore Dr. Flieger. In 2007 I took her graduate seminar on Tolkien at UMCP, and from the very beginning I admired her on several levels. Because of this my review may be partial, but my enjoyment of her novel is very real.

Pig Tale is a fairy tale of the classic sort, before the creation of childhood and the evolution of "age-appropriate" ideas for children's literature. It is dark and occasionally repulsive as it honestly presents some of the darker traits that come with small (and large) communities. The surreality of fairy tales and magic is limited, allowing Flieger's novel to function as a traditional folktale rather than a contemporary fantasy, dripping in mythology and tricks. The story carries a timeless and placeless quality that will allow it a kind of longevity, and the characters themselves are as real as they are ugly. The reader grows with Mokie, and the careful pacing of the novel allows for a high level of interest that is ultimately rewarded.

Technically, Pig Tale is published as a young adult novel, but I think it is worthy of a larger audience. I thoroughly enjoyed my own reading, and can't wait to read it to my boys.

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 4
1010 Challenge: YA Book 1
Off-the-shelf:

I will see if I can locate a copy of Pig Tale. Thanks for the recommendation, Luxx!

BTW - Glad to hear that the eczema has cleared for Max.

>182 London_StJ: Onto the wishlist it goes. Do you have any idea how many years I'll be dead before I finish all the books on this wishlist, let alone the *decade old* one on Amazon?

YA books...LTer mikeepatrick turned me on to a book called The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, saying it was published as a YA title and he couldn't figure out why since the language alone was so much more challenging than most kids could grasp. (I paraphrase.) His rave review sent me straight to the liberry, and I came out with both volumes of the book.

So far, one read of the first book in, I can say it's a sin and a shame that this book didn't make the Times bestseller list. It's fantabulous. And it's a YA like I'm your great aunt Gertie. It's just a wonderful book. YA is a category that bears close watching.

YA is a category that bears close watching.

I agree. It seems that anything with a young protagonist is labeled as "young adult", even if the content does not support it.

I enjoy reading YA novels, and I'll have to keep an eye out for Octavian Nothing.

Stasia - I hope your local library has a copy! It's out of print now, and I bought a new copy on amazon for $0.01. I'm glad I finally got around to picking it up - it's been on my list for a couple years now.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing sounds great! On to the TBR list it goes. And Pig Tale doesn’t sound bad either, even though growing up in country that stuffs you with the national poet, Hans Christian Andersen, has given me a sort of allergy of things labeled fairy tale. Well, if I just call it fantasy in my head everything will be all right, and it will make its way to the ever-growing TBR list too.

Pig Tale sounds excellent as does the Tolkien class (I'm sure it's hard to get into, if it's still offered, but I may check it out)! Thanks for the review!

>186 FrkFrigg: if I just call it fantasy in my head everything will be all right

That's the spirit! Remember, "Denial" isn't just a river in Egypt....

Well, I shall bathe in the river Denial.. Lovely water.

If you do give it a try I hope you enjoy it, FrkFrigg.

Missylc - Are you a grad student at College Park? I don't know how often she offers the Tolkien class, but if it's available I highly recommend it. And if it's full, take another one of her classes - Dr. Flieger is an amazing professor. I had only ever read The Hobbit before I enrolled, and I am so glad that I took the course.

#184: I own the 2 volumes of Octavian Nothing. Looks like I will have to read them this year.

#185: Unfortunately, my local library does not have Pig Tale. Maybe next year when I hope to be able to buy some more books . . .

Sigh. Why is it that my library has not one, not two, but FOUR books called 'Pig Tale', and not one is the book I want? Argh.

Oh, what a bummer.

6.

Author: Darren Shan
Title: Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare
Publication: Kindle Edition, August 2008
Pages: 272 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Horror
Acquisition: Purchased January 2010
Date Completed: January 16, 2010
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare is the first in another young adult horror series that has been gaining popularity lately. While I typically enjoy young adult fiction, Cirque du Freak is a much younger YA book than I typically read, and I had to stop and remind myself to consider the intended audience very frequently.

The story line is slow to build, with most of the action and suspense saved for the end. The writing itself felt a bit clumsy, but once again this could be a product of authorial intention (writing for a young audience). I would certainly recommend the Cirque du Freak series for young readers (age nine or so), but I don't think I'll continue the series myself.

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 6
1010 Challenge: Suggested by Others Book 1
Off-the-shelf:

#190, Luxx, not anymore, but I work there full time and so I get free tuition. If the class is open to those outside of the program, I could try to sneak in. I'll check to see what else she's teaching in the near future... Thanks!

>184 richardderus:, richard - When MT Anderson wrote Octavian Nothing he kept in mind the sort of books that he would have loved to read when he was a teenager. I thought both books were great and I heard him speak last year about writing challenging teen fiction. Check this article - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/28/AR2008112802766....

>194 London_StJ: I would be wary of recommending the Darren Shan books to a younger audience as they contain quite a lot of violence and horror. I would say that the target reader would be a disenchanted teen who isn't a regular reader, these books are a great hook for them. Shan gets lots of fanmail from teens and younger adults who haven't enjoyed a book before, and have gone on and read the whole series.
edit: After thinking about my comments I would probably say the books are ok for preteens. It has been a long time since I read them so maybe I should take another look. But I'm pretty sure the content gets darker towards the end of the series. Just wanted to make the case for books that are written more simply in order to appeal to unsophisticated readers.

Shan gets lots of fanmail from teens and younger adults who haven't enjoyed a book before, and have gone on and read the whole series.

I love hearing that.

Picking an "age" for a book is tough, as it really depends on the individual child (and his or her parents). I said nine because I could see myself handing it to Brooks when he's nine, but that's based on my own parenting philosophies (and the fact that I started reading "horror" at a very young age). In the end, I think there's probably a wide audience for Darren Shan's books.

missylc - I had a few classmates who weren't actually part of the program, so I would think you'd be able to register. The class is a real treat.

Sheesh! This thread got completely away from me while my back was turned! I began to enjoy Meg Langslow more once I'd read a second one and realized the silliness was more intentional than not.

I was pleased to read >159 tiffin: tiffin's comments. My boys are 15 and 17 and every year I enjoy their company more & more - they even get my jokes now, more often than not, and they're great fun to travel with. I've been dreading the days of their flying the nest, but perhaps they won't fly too far.

I have two younger brothers (they will be 24 and 20 this year), and they both remain very close with our mom, which gives me hope that my boys may be the same.

Traveling is not fun at this point, so I'm looking forward to a time when it will be!

Pig Tale sounds fantastic - delurking to say thanks for the addition to my wishlist!

Hi there! I hope you enjoy Flieger.

I said nine because I could see myself handing it to Brooks when he's nine, but that's based on my own parenting philosophies (and the fact that I started reading "horror" at a very young age).

Yep, Cirque du Freak made me thing of all the Fear Street I read when I was 10 or so...I was really in love with that series, and can see the appeal of Darren Shan's series books for the newest generation of pre-teenish kids. I wasn't interested enough to read more than the first book in the series myself, though.

I don't think I'll read more of the Cirque du Freak series, either, but I'm glad I gave it a try.

I read some Fear Street as a kid, but I was more of a Christopher Pike fan myself. The Immortal was my favorite book for years.

I think I'm going to pick it up again when I finish D is for Deadbeat. Just for fun. :)

Ooh! I loved The Last Vampire by Christopher Pike! Aside from Buffy, I place my college years vampire obsession solely on the shoulders of that series. Well, okay...maybe the obsession is still hanging around.

The Silver Kiss and The Last Vampire are what got me started. I've never recovered, but I'm ok with that.

I've been enjoying the thread and really like the sound of pigs tale. I might give it a try for my YA category in 1010 Challenge.

Re Vampires - The Silver Kiss and The Last Vampire were faves of mine too, but then I read too much Anne Rice and got a bit put off the whole thing! I was thinking of giving the twilight series a try, but I think I only like teen horror when it's a way of dealing with more serious issue (i.e. grief like in Silver Kiss).

I loved Christopher Pike when I was at school! I've even still got one somewhere (Remember Me)...

I never got into Anne Rice. I read Interview when I was in high school, and just didn't like her writing. I enjoyed the original film, but Anne Rice as an author just isn't for me.

If you like YA vampire novels that deal with "larger" issues, you might have fun with the Nightworld series by L.J. Smith, like Secret Vampire.

I've read some really fun vampire novels, and some really terrible ones.

My reading has finally caught up with the number of books I've purchased! Unless I forgot to add a book to my "purchased" list, which is always a possibility.

7.
Author: Sue Grafton
Title: 'D' is for Deadbeat
Publication: New York: Bantam Books, 1994.
Pages: 240 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Purchased before 1998
Date Completed: January 18, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The Kinsey Millhone mysteries continue to improve as the series progresses. Grafton is dedicated to realism in her novels, and she focuses on the little details (grocery shopping, eating dinner, the barriers Kinsey faces) to create the proper perspective. In previous novels these details were a bit tedious, but Grafton finds a nice balance of day-to-day and suspense in 'D' is for Deadbeat.

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 7
1010 Challenge: Tower Book 6
Off-the-shelf: Book 7

#207: Nooooooo! Don't do it! The Twilight series is beyond awful...you can read my review here, but the gist can best be summed up in the words of Christine Taylor in the movie Dodgeball: "*Urp.* I think I just threw up in my mouth a little."

Luxx,
I'm just catching up on threads (a little at a time) and truly enjoyed the banter about the opera. My father was a huge fan and would listen to the NY Opera every Saturday (singing along with the men and women!) so we got the good and the bad of it. My uncle worked for the Baltimore Opera company for nearly 40 years until his death a few years ago and the people at BOC did all the singing at his funeral - it was really breathtaking. I'm glad to see that you are exposing your children to all types of music, that is the only way they will learn to appreciate it.

I'm adding Verlyn Fliegerto my list of authors to read. Anyone who follows my thread knows I am an avid reader of YA. And, it bears repeating to say that when reading YA, you will find that some very heavy subjects are handled in sensitive, poignant and wonderful ways!

Kira-Kira, Search of the Mong King's Daughter, Walk Two Moons and The Wednesday Wars come to mind.

Linda, I was thinking about you while reading Pig Tale, and I really hope you enjoy it.

Chèli - I am convinced my oldest is going to be a musician of some sort. He is mesmerized by musicals, dances whenever I play music (his favorites are MSI and the B52s), and runs around with instruments all day long. Now if only we could channel the screaming fits into singing...

I've only just discovered that we have several opera companies here, and I'm hoping to make good use of them in the near future.

@204 & 205: Ohmigod, I was suuuuuch a Christopher Pike fan! I have most of them, and my favourites were Remember Me, Last Vampire and The Immortal.

My sweet sweet hellion of a little boy is 2 years old today!







Keep rocking, Brooksie Bear.

Please keep posting these wonderful photos. Happy Birthday to Brook!

Opps, I re-read my post and found a typo. The title of a wonderful YA book that I loved is
Search of the Moon King's Daughter NOT the Mong King's Daughter...

Moon King's Daughter sounds like a great book - I'm adding that one to my list.

And Brooks says thank you. :)

Have a great day cutie!

What a complete adorable! The papaw meter's threatening to blow again!

A dear old friend and her man came to stay for the long weekend. Her two kids, 10 and 8, came for the first time ever...and were so adorably cute it was horrifying. Our resident 91-yr-old loves to play poker, and I'd rather be hit with one than play it, so what happens? The kids learned it from her, played for hours with her, and beat her soundly! She had a great time with them, we had a great time with them, and that, my dear young mom, is what you're looking at as your future. Your kids will grow into people you want to have as friends because that's how you're raising them.

Sometimes I feel like all I do is just follow Richard around and say "Amen!" to his bon mots.

Amen!

Thank you for that, Richard (and Terri). I sincerely hope that my boys and I will remain close as they grow older. My role as their mother will always come first, but I think it would be truly wonderful to be their friend as well.

Your friend's children sound delightful. What a trip!

My role as their mother will always come first

As it should, and always will if you keep two words in mind: "Appropriate Boundaries." Also gives room to be their friend later on.

There is that beautiful child again. Happy Birthday little guy!

What a cutie! My youngest turned 6 last week, and my oldest will be 9 on Thursday. January is a good birthday month!

It is indeed! Brooks shares a birthday with E.A. Poe and Janis Joplin; he's in good company.

Happy belated birthday, Brooks! (and to his proud mama)

Speaking of Poe's birthday, did you see that his mysterious yearly visitor didn't show up this year?

What a gorgeous boy. My first has just reached 6 months any it seems impossible to believe how quickly it's flying by. Except for the days that never seem to end of course!

Thanks for the tip too - I think I'll check out nightworld at my local library

(btw willowsmom, thanks for the tip re twilight - sounds like one to miss :)

Thanks, everyone! We had a great day.

did you see that his mysterious yearly visitor didn't show up this year?

No! I didn't hear that - I'm going to go try to scare up an article or something.

No! I didn't hear that - I'm going to go try to scare up an article or something.

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14226663

And now you must pop over to my thread to see MY sweet hellion of a "little" boy. He was 2 just a couple of short years ago...

8.
Author: Sue Grafton
Title: 'E' is for Evidence
Publication: New York: Bantam Books, 1994.
Pages: 200 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Purchased before 1998
Date Completed: January 20, 2010
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Consistent with previous books, entertaining, and off my shelf. But, oh my, what a terrible cover.

There are certain details I remember from the series from years ago, and this book delivered one (the conclusion). There's another scene in the back of my mind, and I'll be interested to see in which book it pops up.

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 8
1010 Challenge: Tower Book 7
Off-the-shelf: Book 8

Catching up on your thread, Luxx....

Re the opera, I must confess to being a Puccini addict. I may acknowledge that Verdi is intellectually superior, but the music just doesn't do it for me the way that Boheme does!!

Looking at your WNO options, I would say SHUN Salome. OK, look, it's fine if you're going to see Maria Ewing and she's baring it all and you happen to be male and care about that stuff. (I'm female and don't; nonetheless witnessed it at Covent Garden!) Voigt has a great voice (and now she's skinny, oddly enough...) but if you see Strauss, it should definitely start with Rosenkavalier, which is a top must-see opera.

As is -- the Marriage of Figaro. It was my 'gateway drug' to opera. Musically, it stretches from the delightfully whimsical of Figaro measuring the room to see if there's enough space for his marriage bed, and the antics of Cherubino, to one of the most poignant soprano arias ever, in my book, 'Dove sono'.

I'd also suggest trying to go to see Bryn Terfel. Guy has an amazing voice, lovely & rich. Also scads of personality. Don Pasquale & Ballo are good for later; the Gluck -- well, only if you've really got a taste for it. And the casting has to be utterly perfect. But the more you listen to, the more you come to enjoy it. You might see if you can get some American opera on DVD from Netflix. Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, for instance, has some great moments.

As for me -- I missed Janacek at the Met, for which I am still kicking myself. I may get to Armida & Simon Boccanegra (we are flooded with Verdi this season...) and am strongly tempted by Thomas's Hamlet, simply because no one ever pulls his repertory off the shelf & there's a lot of good music there. (Besides, Nathalie Dessay is great...)

And if you want to come to NY for the Met, I would be happy to babysit the folio replica for the evening... :-)

Thanks for the advice! It doesn't look like we're going to make it to "The Marriage of Figaro" - I'm not ready to spend $120/ticket yet. ;) We are hoping to plan better for next season.

There is something about a guy covered in green icing.

Gets me every time

I (blessedly) went back to work on Wednesday after "taking maternity leave" in May, so my reading will likely take a big dip in months to come. I've snagged a couple new opportunities in addition to teaching a couple brick-and-mortar classes, and it looks like it's going to be a great semester.

Oh, and Brooks is now registered at our preschool of choice, and will begin in August. What does this mean? We're going shopping for a backpack, lunch box, and school clothes this summer. I'm so excited! He's really going to dig it, and not only does it follow my schedule, but will allow me to steal an afternoon to take max to music class (Brooks and I are baby class veterans, and I think the little guy deserves a chance as well).

Anyway, I'm up to book nine:

9.
Author: Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
Title: Naptime is the New Happy Hour, and Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside Down
Publication: New York: Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2008.
Pages: 208 pages
Genre: Nonfiction, Humor
Acquisition: Borrowed from Alison 1/24/10
Date Completed: January 25, 2010
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

I read Stefanie Wilder-Taylor's first book, Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay, when my first born was six months old (just 20 days after reading The No-Cry Sleep Solution - ha!), and really enjoyed her lighthearted and honest representation of new parenthood. It isn't easy, and it isn't always pretty, but Wilder-Taylor was able to sit back and laugh, and I really appreciated that.

So when a friend (whose son is two days older than my own firstborn son) offered to let me borrow Naptime is the New Happy Hour I knew I was in for a treat. True to form, Wilder-Taylor presents a hilarious look at raising miniature people, and isn't embarrassed to own up to her toddler's cookie intake, or her apprehensions about everything from potty training to preschool. As a mother I don't agree with everything she says, but I don't have to - I appreciate her laid-back attitude and observations even if I don't agree with her conclusions. And the point of the book is to entertain, not instruct on "the" way to raise your kids.

And entertain she does. I really enjoyed this sequel, and would recommend it not only to moms of toddlers, but to anyone who interacts with small children (or maybe just their parents...).

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 9
1010 Challenge: Nonfiction Book 2
Off-the-shelf:

Waitaminnit, waitaminnit...why weren't *we* consulted about this whole "return-to-work" dodge?! This means less reading AND less LT time! I am not in favor of this. In fact, it gets a big "Boo hiss" from me! I miss your witty repartee!

Great timing! I find your thread (238 messages in) just as you're going back to work and not having much time for LT.

Oh, bother! *said in best Winnie the Pooh imitation voice*

Seriously, I've been enjoying your posts on other people's threads so much, somehow I missed the fact that I wasn't reading your thread. Mea culpa! You've been doing some great reading!

re: opera. Like Chatterbox, I'm a Puccini fan, too. (La Boheme is sublime!) My husband is a Wagner fan. (I would NOT recommend Wagner for someone new to opera!) But my first "formal" date with my now-husband was The Marriage of Figaro -- Opera Co. of Philadelphia production, did not cost $120! (Our first informal date was Mets vs. Phillies at the old Vet Stadium -- each of us rooting for our respective team!)

Well, I'm hopeful that your returning to work will not mean that we will see less of your posts. Your having to read fewer books because you have less time now has given my obese wish list cause to breathe a small sigh of relief! ;-)

It's nice to be missed. :) But work is very good for me in a number of ways, so I think I'll stick with it. My online class goes up on Monday, and after that I'll have time to sit down and chat again.

Tonight is date night for the hubster and I, and what does that mean? A trip to the bookstore, of course!

In the meantime, I finished another book. Unfortunately.

10.
Author: Kalayn Price
Title: Once Bitten
Publication: Bell Bridge Books, 2009. Kindle Edition.
Pages: 272 pages
Genre: Horror
Acquisition: Free from Amazon.com
Date Completed: January 7, 2010
Rating: 2 stars out of 5

From the cliched title to the sophomoric attempts at a plot, Once Bitten is a dud. I downloaded Price's debut novel to my Kindle when it was offered for free on Amazon, and my only consolation is that I did not actually purchase the book.

In an attempt to preserve a sense of mystery and intrigue readers, Price withholds almost all information about her characters, her world(s), and the plot in general. While some attempts are made towards the end to develop relationships and provide a love interest, the attempt is really too little too late. Without any kind of emotional investment the reader has no reason to continue the reading.

The one quality that might be considered redeeming is that there is little to no sexual content. Therefore, if parents are looking for a contemporary horror novel without graphic material for very young adults, Once Bitten may be a safe alternative to other popular publications.

>241 London_StJ: *sleep apnea*

#241: Ick. 'Nough said.

"Ick" is a very good description.

I'm making up for it by digging into the next two Meg Langslow books, which I picked up last night. I have the Norton critical editions of Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde sitting next to me, but I need something a little lighter while I work on building my distance learning course.

I'm hanging onto my goal to read more than I buy by a thread, but I'm still one-up on my purchases, so I'm not packing it in, yet!

11.
Author: Donna Andrews
Title: Cockatiels at Seven
Publication: New York: St. Martin's Press, 2008
Pages: 301 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Purchased January 29, 2010
Date Completed: January 30, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Cockatiels at Seven was just what I needed. Every Meg Langslow book offers me a new way to connect with the cooky protagonist, whether it's faires, geeks, or head-strong toddlers. In Cockatiels at Seven Andrews scales back her cast of characters, which allows the reader to focus on the plot as opposed to tripping over beasts and relatives and beastly relatives. I like Meg and Michael, and I can't wait to see what shenanigans await them in the next book.

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 11
1010 Challenge: American Authors 5
Off-the-shelf:

Whew! Nothing to add for a change. Once Bitten doesn't sound appealing at all, and I've already read Cockatiels at Seven.

Glad you're having a good time at work.

>246 London_StJ: Ah-ha! Langslowian madness rules, no?

I keep picturing Sara Rue, she of the diet commercials, as Meg, and Christine Baranski as her mother, and Dennis Quaid as her father; her grandfather just HAS to be Sean Connery. What a TV movie-series these characters would make!

Oh my, I love me some Sean Connery. That man just keeps getting better with age. I don't know who the other actors are, but I'd watch the show just for Connery.

Meg has been very good for me. The itty-bitty has bronchitis, and the big one is suffering from "2", so by the end of the day I need a break, and Meg is just what I've been looking for. I think I just have one more to go, and it makes me a little sad to think I'm going to have to start waiting for more Langslow.

12.
Author: Donna Andrews
Title: Six Geese A-Slaying
Publication: New York: St. Martin's Press, 2008
Pages: 316 pages
Genre: Mystery
Acquisition: Purchased January 29, 2010
Date Completed: February 1, 2010
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Meg's chronic case of "yes" promises a long series of murder-filled (but well organized!) social events that go above and beyond normal expectations. This holiday-themed murder mystery is no exception, as she runs around organizing a large parade, trying to find who murdered Santa, and playing hostess to anyone who finds themselves stranded in the snow. I was worried that the holiday theme would make the novel a little too ridiculous, but Andrews balances things quite nicely, and presents another entertaining trip to Caerphilly Virginia.

Challenges
75-Book Challenge: Book 12
1010 Challenge: American Authors 6

Sorry to hear that Max is not feeling well. I hope he is better soon!

Aren't books wonderful? You can find whatever you need from them.

The itty-bitty has bronchitis, and the big one is suffering from "2",

Brooks is suffering from "2"?! That's "too" funny! I know, I know not to you, but it will be one day! hang in there mommy. :)

Thanks for the pep talk - yesterday was really rough. He woke up in a great mood this morning, so today could be a good day. Despite being sick, Max is always in a good mood.

My mom just informed me that she thinks it's time to teach Brooks to ski. Hey, if she wants to give it a go more power to her. I'll stay in the lodge with some hot chocolate and a good book.

Stasia - Books are wonderful, and so much more satisfying than tv (for me at least).

More pictures, because I'm a Mamarazzi, and I love sharing:


And four generations:

Come on, these pictures are so cute!
Lady Gaga singing "Mama, Mamarazzi"! The song will never be the same again!

#252: Books are wonderful, and so much more satisfying than tv (for me at least).

Me, too!

Love the pictures, Luxx.

Luxx, I'm impressed that you've managed to read 10 books with such a young baby at home. I also have two sons with the same age gap as yours but they are 8 months older - Conor will be 1 tomorrow. I read between 3-5 books a month after he was born, more in November/December since I've been back at work (though actually, even less before he was born).

On Donna Andrews, I've not read the Murder with Birds series but I enjoyed the first Turing Hopper book and have bought the other 3.

Gah, I've only just found your thread. How irritating that I haven't kept up with you sooner, as it has made my wishlist ache with the weight of new additions *sigh*.

Luxx, that's a wonderful picture of the generations! I hope you have a mantelshelf-sized one for mama, grandma, and mamaw. Or whatever nicknames y'all've chosen.

Funny...my mother was mommy, mom, and mama to my sisters and me, in birth order. Then she morphed into "granna" for all her grandkids. Wonder how that gets started.

Your little ones are so handsome! Thanks for sharing the pictures - I may have to add some pictures of my 16-month-old to my own thread - mamarazzi is such a funny & appropriate title for us!

>255 elkiedee: - Ten books does seem like a lot, but I have several factors working in my favor: a) I nurse Max, so I'm on my but for twenty minutes every 2-3 hours during the day, b) the boys tend to nap at the same time, and c) they both sleep through the night. I'm sure there will be plenty of months where things don't work out so nicely.

I only read 53 books the year Brooks was born. That first baby took a lot out of me!

Thanks for the heads up on the Turing Hopper books. I'm going to have to check them out once I get through the last Langslow book.

>257 lunacat: - I'd apologize, but I'm really just returning the favor, so I won't. This group has been great for my bookshelves, but horrible for my bank account.

Richard - My boys don't have a name for me. It's usually just some form of, "Hey! I want something!" My partner is very clearly "Dada", and when we brought Max home Brooks started calling him "MAH-ma". I got cheated. Oh well. At least he's happy to see me when I get home.

>259 scaifea: - Will you share a link to your thread? I'd love to see your kiddo!

Books and babies. This is my life - and I love it.

Luxx: Here's my thread; I've just added some Charlie pictures:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/80119

Time for a new thread, Luxx ma petite ange. This one's over 250 posts and takes too long to load.