flissp in the Springtime (thread 2)

Right, as it has been pointed out to me (no names), it is time for a new thread - so here it is...

Thread no. 1 for 2010 can be found here.

Here's the ticker (goal of 125 books being fairly arbitrary, I just don't like to go off the end of the scale!):

I'm a member of the LT Early Reviewers group, so here are my ARC reviews:

1) Beside the Sea: Veronique Olmi
2) Our Tragic Universe: Scarlett Thomas
3) Sword Of My Mouth - Jim Munroe (yet to review)




...and my list of goals for this years reading:

Goal 1: Non Fiction - to read 10 non fiction books (excluding travel guides):

i) Galileo's Daughter: Dava Sobel
ii) My Childhood: Maxim Gorky
iii) The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh
iv) Last Chance to See: Douglas Adams
v) In Cold Blood: Truman Capote
vi) An Angel at My Table: Janet Frame
vii) If This is a Man: Primo Levi - Thread 1, msg159
viii The Olivetti Chronicles: John Peel Thread 2, msg67
ix) Fear and Trembling: Amélie Nothomb Thread 2, msg114
x) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: Rebecca Skloot (reading)

Goal 2: Group Reads:

i) The Picture of Dorian Gray: Oscar Wilde (starting 01Jan10) - Thread 1, msg82
ii) Chronicles of Prydain: Lloyd Alexander (starting 10Jan10)
- The Book of Three - Thread 1, msg27
- The Black Cauldron - Thread 1, msg159
- The Castle of Llyr - Thread 1, msg218
- Taran Wanderer - Thread 1, msg275
- The High King Thread 2, msg68
iii) The Elegance of the Hedgehog: Muriel Barbery (starting 05Feb10) - Thread 1, msg163, msg167 & msg192
(still yet to update msg192 properly, but I will)
iv) Brat Farrar: Josephine Tey (starting 15Mar10; re-read) - Thread 1, msg259
v) The Plague: Albert Camus (starting 01Apr10) - Thread 2, msg79
vi) The Aeneid: Vergil (starting 21Jun10)

Goal 3: Books to read:

i) Les Miserables: Victor Hugo
ii) The Master and Margarita: Mikhail Bulgakov (Started but unfinished))
iii) Middlesex: Jeffrey Eugenides (on last 2009's To Read list...)
iv) Remains of the Day: Kazuo Ishiguro - Thread 1, msg275
v) Cat's Cradle: Kurt Vonnegut
vi) Things Fall Apart: Chinua Achebe - Thread 2, msg79
vii) I, Claudius: Robert Graves
viii Changing Planes: Ursula K. Le Guin
ix) The Magic Mountain: Thomas Mann
x) The Grapes of Wrath: John Steinbeck
xi) Vilnius Poker: Ričardas Gavelis (because it's an ARC I shoud have read months ago)
xii) The Magician: W. Somerset Maugham - Thread 2, msg131

Goal 4: Unfinished Christmas Reading!:

i) Wuthering Heights: Emily Brontë (reading)
ii) L'etranger: Albert Camus (in French)
iii) War and Peace: Leo Tostoy
iv) A Christmas Carol: Charles Dickens - Thread 1, msg70
v) Maus: Art Spiegelman - Thread 1, msg128

I shall update this map with each author's origin as I read:


11 states (4.88%)
map

...and here are links to my previous threads:
Thread for 2010 pt1
Thread for 2009 pt2
Thread for 2009 pt1
Thread for 2008

January: 7 pre-owned : 4 borrowed : 6 new (5 re-reads) - 4 countries, 17 books.
Best of the Month: The Complete Maus
February: 3 pre-owned: 3 borrowed: 4 new (3 re-reads) - 5 countries, 10 books.
Best of the Month: Cannery Row
March: 5 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 6 new: 1 ARC (3 re-reads) - 6 countries, 17 books.
Best of the Month: Remains of the Day
April: 4 pre-owned: 1 borrowed: 4 new: 0 ARC (0 re-reads) - 4 countries, 9 books.
Best of the Month: The Ask and The Answer
May: 1 pre-owned: 2 borrowed: 1 new: 1 ARC (0 re-reads) - 3 countries, 5 books.
Best of the Month: Fear and Trembling

Welcome to the multi-thread club!

Wow that was quick! I was still toying with whether or not to add a list of everything I've read to date (probably not...)!

"flissp in the Springtime"

Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, kids are playing in the park. I think I'll like it here.

#3: I never do. If someone is interested enough, they will go back and check your old thread.

#4 and daffodils EVERYWHERE Darryl. I like it too ;o)

#5 Yep, that was kind of the conclusion I came to - I've got my own personal list on my computer anyway...

#4 And trees have blossom! Spring is finally here :-)

Really glad you enjoyed The Remains of the Day - shockingly I can't really remember if I've seen the film but I have lots of images of Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson as the characters in my head so I guess I must have done?

#7: Yes! The dogwood and cherry trees are in bloom, and it's finally sunny and warm in Atlanta. With apologies to Burl Ives, this is the most wonderful time of the year.

Unless you have seasonal allergies...

I keep singing "I love flissp in the springtime..."

But not out loud.

I think we'll have to wait for "pleasant" Spring a bit more where I am. This is NJ after the nor'easter...that's a city street in the picture, btw, not some hydrographic feature.

Terri...now I am singing a ditty about Fliss in the mist.

April showers bringing May flowers..and all that stuff..

Lehigh's campus is particularly beautiful in the spring. How I wish I could get away from the desk and take an afternoon stroll.

It would still be an afternoon swim here...

Spring. Bah. The stench of the lilies of the valley, the irksome "cheer" of the crocuses, and the certainty that this is but the beginning of the Death March to Satan's Season: Summer.

#7 Woo! (Except actually, it's only just nipped back for the day having been missing for a little bit over here, and there are rumours that it's going to desert us again for Easter... Bah.)

Re Remains of the Day film - sounds like it! Worth re-watching just in case though ;o)

#8 Oooooh, Burl Ives! I haven't heard him since I was small! I had to go in search of Big Rock Candy Mountain for a reminisce... Which, fairly naturally led on (in my mind anyway) to Rolf Harris singing Two Little Boys and Bernard Cribbins singing Right Said Fred, then a whole host of Flanders and Swann stuff (although sadly I couldn't find them singing The Wart Hog)...

#10 I like that photo Tad, despite the grizzly weather - that's quite some flooding...

#9 & 11 Chuckle. ;o) Thank you for brightening my very Mondayish morning (thank goodness for Easter!)

Linda, Cambridge too - despite the lateness of everything this year, I still hold that Spring is the best time of year to visit here - all that beautiful blossom everywhere. Sadly, apart from the wonderful daffodils it's mostly not quite out yet - some mates and I went to The Orchard Tea Gardens (does what it says on the tin) at the weekend, which would usually be lovely by now, but there wasn't an apple blossom in sight... On it's way now though...

My allotment is still looking a bit pathetic, which is why I haven't bored you all much with photos this year yet, but some of the daffodils are now up:



#12 Yes, I shouldn't complain about our late spring really, should I?!

#13 Careful, or I'll compare you to Scrooge and the Dickens reference won't go down well, will it?! Actually, I'm with you on the smell of lilies. Not a fan. But DAFFODILS, DAFFODILS are good (can you tell I like them?)!

...much sympathy for any pollen issues however (from my smug, non-pollen-affected corner)...

...and a quick summary of my March reading:

Pre-owned: 5 (3)
Borrowed: 5 (0)
ARCs: 1
New: 6 (0) - 3 new purchases in total (others were from Feb)
(re-reads in brackets)

...from UK (6), US (7), Australia (1), Argentina (1), Ireland (1) & France (1).

Goal 1 (non-fiction): 0 (Total: 10%)
Goal 2 (group read): 3 (Total: 78%)
Goal 3 (to read list): 1 (Total: 8%)
Goal 4 (from Xmas): 0 (Total: 40%)

Best of the (new read of the) Month: The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
Reviews: Beside the Sea

Currently reading:
A Single Man - I've loved what I've read by Christopher Isherwood, so thought I'd read this before seeing the film.
The Olivetti Chronicles - by the much missed John Peel - it makes me sad all over again as he wrote as he spoke.
The Plague - Albert Camus - OK, strictly speaking I haven't quite started this for the group read yet, but I shall tonight...

#15: Nice summary, Fliss. Do me a favor and post your best read over on the thread for March, would you? The thread can be found here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/88150.

#16 Done! I keep losing that thread... ;o)

#17: Thanks, Fliss! I create a new thread every month, so just look on the last day and you should be able to find it relatively easily.

I like darfydillos. They're cheerful. And forsythia, too, that shade of yellow just does it for me. I can't wait for our living fence of Russian olive to get big and bloom!

If only our summer was like yours. Cold, cloudy, rainy...but nooo! We get 30-33C *all summer long**! Still, it's better than Texas, where it was 39-42C all summer long. *shudder*

Snowdrops and crocuses are gone, daffodils and first tulips are up and today was cold and rainy, even some hail when we walked the dogs...

> 19: Richard
30-33 C in summer??? I would MELT!
I function well between 15 and 20 C, 20-25C I can do, 25-30C I get problems.
Above 30C I can't do anything! Luckely that is rare over here.

Anita

Hail? ugh...
Fliss, looking forward to seeing photos of your garden throughout the summer.

@12: How wonderful it would be to go swimming. That's months away here, maybe in june/july:) We went skiing today.

We don't even have daffodils yet, but I have spotted a few snowdrops. Looking forward to see more of your pictures Fliss.

#14 You're right, I spoke too soon. We had horrible hail and rain here yesterday.

#19,20 I hate hot weather too. Summer is my least favourite time of the year and I cannot understand people wanting to go somewhere even warmer for their holidays.

Well it looks like you've got a great start toward 500 posts here :)

I thought I was doing so well when I saw that there were only two unread posts in your thread. And then I found the new one.

Tad, I love that picture you posted.

#19 Richard, me too. Anything yellow, but daffodils best of all ...and, just for you (not at all, for me, no, no):



#20 Yay for spring! ...and the blossom appears to be arriving finally (or at least it does round where I live anyway...)

I'm with you and Richard though, not good at hot weather. In fact your temperature chart pretty much sums me up - I start to risk heat stroke at anything above 25ºC. Not pleasant... Only had that the one time in the UK though - and that was my own fault for doing a 17mile walk without a hat on a hot day...

#21 & 22 Thank you Linda and Apolline - you'll probably get them if you want them or not anyway ;o)

#23 I don't go quite to the extreme of avoiding hot holidays (one of my best was in Egypt, where it was rarely below 40ºC, but it's not usually deliberate! It was very lucky that I was born in the UK, given our green, damp summers (mind you, I'd probably feel differently if I'd been born elsewhere too!)

#24 I shall, I shall!! ;o)

#25 Don't worry, I'm not nearly as hard to keep up with as certain other members of this group!

It is a great photo, isn't it?

Okey dokey. So, some reading. I have been doing some, honest...

45) A Single Man - Christopher Isherwood
(Mar 2010, Cambridge)

A day in the life of an English man living and teaching in California, whose partner has recently died.

I do enjoy Christopher Isherwood - and I'm never sure why I haven't read more of his work (something I'm very slowly rectifying). The interesting thing about this one for me (I picked it before others I own due to the film, which I've yet to see), was how different it felt from Goodbye to Berlin and Prater Violet, both of which were written much earlier, but I can't quite put my finger on why, unless it is just that he is older (I'll have a think).

In many ways, of course, it's much the same in that his concise, but unabashed and very observant descriptions are, very loosely, based on his own life and his take on it. He is a writer who can have me utterly gripped, describing nothing very much, except the emotions of his characters. Like Prater Violet, this is a very insular book - even more so perhaps, although George, the central character is not Isherwood himself and this is much less autobiographical. I shall be interested to see how it transfers to film - it is very hard to see how it could have been done, although I've heard it's very good.

A very thoughtful description of loneliness, the grieving process and on living life to the fullest.

I have had Isherwood's work in the BlackHole for the longest time. I really must get to it. Thanks for reminding me, Fliss.

>26 flissp: *gruntled sigh* at triptych

A Single Man is a lovely, lovely book, and one that made me gently sad. Such an ending! Oy! But somehow *right* for the book.

I need to both watch that film and read that book.

And gorgeous daffodils, Fliss... I love spring flowers. Bought a mass of all kinds of different tulips yesterday and it feels like spring indoors today.

A Single Man has been patiently waiting on the tbr pile. How I wish I had much more time to read the many, many books I've put in that category.

30- Whisper, if the touchstones ever go away on that post, you've written an amusing sentence! I mis-read it the first time through and had to laugh at myself... ;)

I read it that way, too! (We won't tell Linda's husband about this guy.)

Oh, I am laughing so hard my side hurts. Will actually wants to know why I am laughing so hard.

I guess a single man waiting is better than a married man waiting.

I'm still laughing....

I'm glad I'm not the only one who read it that way - always happy to provide a good laugh! :D

Love the pictures of the daffs, fliss ..... it's finally sunny and very warm here in MA - a great day to be outside after all that rain we've had lately

#27 I hope you enjoy it Stasia - he's someone I always enjoy a great deal.

#28 Agreed. In a strange way, for me, it gave the book a much greater impact than it would have done otherwise.

#29 I've still yet to see the film - usually my inclination is that it's better to see a film and then read it (as films very rarely live up to expectations), but, it being Isherwood, I just couldn't resist reading it first...

I've got a copy of his diaries from 1939 until just after he published A Single Man, which I had to pick up instantly. I've had it for ages, but it's such a tome that I've put it off - I'll probably be reading them for the rest of the year now... ...and of course, the introduction to the diaries made me NEED to get a copy of Christopher and His Kind...

#30 It's only a very little book Linda, you could probably read it in an evening (mwah ha ha ha ha...)

#30 - 34 *SNORT!!*

#35 The sunshine's arrived back here too now (carefully circumventing Easter). Made me feel slightly better about coming back to work today anyway...

I seem to have read surprisingly little over Easter - I can't think what I've been doing with myself over the last four days - nothing like as productive as I had intended. It was my Dad's birthday, which we celebrated at my Granny's (102 being a bit old to traipse all over the place). The menu says quite a lot about that side of the family:



Sigh. No, we are not all alcoholics, honest ;o)

Usually I would have got the train, but as they were all up the spout, I drove - I was enjoying singing along to my music in the car so much that I drove straight past the M11, A10, A1 AND M1 exits of the M25 before registering that I was supposed to be driving back to Cambridge, not Bristol (another journey I make quite a lot). Good way to add an extra 60 miles onto the journey - still, I had nowhere to be. Sometimes I worry that I may be going senile a little early ;o)

Sooo. I was in the frame of mind for fluff, so this is exactly what I read:

46) One Day - David Nicholls
(Apr 2010, Cambridge)

Picked up as part of a Waterstones "3 for 2" offer, as I enjoyed Starter for Ten.

Dexter and Emma meet for the first time at their Graduation from Edinburgh University on St Swithin's Day (15th July). We check back on them every year on the same day, following the course of their friendship - and of course, it's one of those "will they/won't they" type books.

Well. I don't know how to comment on this without giving spoilers. So I won't. It was very readable and, I'm afraid I identified far more than I would have liked with Emma, but it is just enjoyable fluff really. But as fluff, I ended up finding it extremely irritating - to say why, unfortunately, would give a massive spoiler, which I can't see any way around, so shan't... Anyway, I finished it at some ridiculous time in the morning (he does have a talent for keeping you reading), very disgruntled.

47) Syren - Angie Sage
(Apr 2010, Cambridge)

...which I rectified by reading the next installment in Angie Sage's Septimus Heap series, which I'm enjoying a great deal.

Anyway. I now feel suitably sleep-ed out and ready to read something a little less fluffy, so have made a start on The Plague for the group read. Not very far through this yet, so my only comment is that I've got quite an old Penguin copy, so I've a feeling the translation is rather dated. I may have to get a French copy to compare it to...

ooh...I still have to read Syren, though it's been so long since I read the first four books I should probably give them a reread...

#36: I like the Septimus Heap series too, Fliss. I just wish Angie Sage would write them faster :)

Fluff should be just that -- fluff. Easily read and easy to put down with a slightly warm & fuzzy feeling. So I may have to avoid Mr. Nicholls...

#37 I think that I marginally preferred Queste, but Syren is still great fun to read...

#38 Me too! I was hoping that by the time I got through the earlier ones, she would have nearly reached the end of the series, so there wouldn't be much wait. Unfortunately, I reckoned without my "must-read-the-next-one-now" reflex action... Wikipedia still just says "forthcoming" for "Darke"... Pah.

#39 Well, it was an enjoyable read for the large part - the very fact that I read it until the small hours is probably in it's favour, just, I don't know, ng... (*loses lucidity*). Maybe give Starter for Ten a go? I can say that I unreservedly enjoyed that one...

>14 flissp: & 26: Gotta love those perky daffodils. I like your frog hopping through the green grass on your ticker in keeping with the spring theme. Now if only you could think of a way to bypass the heat and humidity of summer...

Picked up as part of a Waterstones "3 for 2" offer, as I enjoyed Starter for Ten.

Oddly enough, the copy of The Ministry of Special Cases I purchased at Strand Bookstore in NYC this afternoon has a yellow sticker from Waterstone's on the front cover ("Choose from any 3 for 2 at Waterstone's"). The book is a paperback from Faber & Faber, and lists for £7.99. Fortunately I was able to buy it in USD ($5.99), as I didn't bring any British banknotes with me. :)

#41 Thank you Donna825. Maybe a hat made of hand held fans? ;o)

#42 How strange! Yep, think you got the better deal there - pah!

I've been very unproductive reading-wise recently, I just seem to keep getting distracted by other things. However, I'm going in to London tomorrow (to see London Assurance at the NT, if anyone is interested), so there'll be plenty of reading time on the train (particularly as, as ever, there are works on the quick line - gah) and I love to sit on the South Bank reading, drink in hand, so there'll probably be some of that too...

I've just been to see Hanif Kureishi speaking at the Cambridge Wordfest, which was really enjoyable and absolutely fascinating. Very glad I happened to walk past the ADC theatre last week where a lot of the talks are being held, or I wouldn't have known about it at all. All these Cambridge events seem to be extremely badly advertised. Or perhaps I'm just very unobservant...

...anyway, I'm going to leave the library now to enjoy the sunshine before heading out to a gig. Ah, life is hard!

Say hello to the river for me... I love walking from the S. Bank all the way down to Bermondsey & back. I shall visualize you sitting there and watching the world go past while you read -- and hope that the weather is favorable to doing that!

The weather was lovely today and is supposed to be good though cooler tomorrow.

Trying to catch up, so many threads!

Hi fliss! I've got your new thread starred.
The allotment is looking good so far this year.

#44 A glass was raised... ;o)

#45 If I say summer's coming, will it hex it?

#46 Me too!

#47 Hi VB! Thanks ;o) I haven't been for a couple of weeks now though, so it could well all be covered in weeds!

Just checking in to say I'm still alive really - I've been in a bit of a book slump recently, partly because I've been catching up on reading for work and partly just because I've been out/away from home a fair bit... So... I'm still stalled on Part 3 of The Plauge, but not because I'm not enjoying it. Hopefully, I shall do some catching up this weekend (reading and threads)!

This last weekend was lovely - I took Friday afternoon off to drive to Bath to see a mate in a show (she really does have a beautiful voice) and celebrate her birthday,



then drove up to Sheffield the next afternoon, to see Rufus Wainwright with another mate (always good stuff).



Drove back on Sunday, via Chatsworth and, as I was in the area and wanted lunch, very briefly via Bakewell. Ellie, it suddenly occurred to me when I got there that this was where your shop was - I stopped in and bought a book, but had a sudden moment of shy-itis, so didn't introduce myself... It's a lovely town (if very tourist-full).

Suffice to say, not a lot of reading was done and I was pretty knackered by the time I got home on Sunday evening...

In the meantime, due to all the Icelandic volcano ash, my Mum has been stuck in Dubai with her brother's family since Sunday, so I've been running around making phone calls and sorting out stuff for her as my Dad is currently in France for work and incapable of using email outside work... At least if his flight gets cancelled, there are alternative ways back, my poor mother is stuck where she is and, having had both her original flight and the replacement one cancelled, has now been told by Emirates airline that, even if flights start up again soon, everything is booked up and she won't be able to fly before the 2nd May... I suppose at least she's with family, but I think she's getting a little frantic at this stage!

Right I really must get going....

Love the picture! Sorry to hear about your mother. Dubai is quite far away. At least your father has the possibility of bus/boat transport, even though it might be a long travel. I hope everything will be sorted soon. Latest news in Norway is that some airplanes are allowed to fly through the ashes, because the ash-cloud is sort of "thin" in certain areas, and this will not hurt the planes. Some airplanes are also allowed to fly around it (?), not sure who and where. Good luck anyways!:)

My word! This dratted volcano is making life wretched for a lot of people. Since I live near Kennedy airport, I moseyed over there and took some books to stranded passengers.

#50: I guess that would be an understatement. It is even interfere with sports, making Barcelona have to take the bus to Milan to play against Inter Milan in the Champions league semi finals. So, no exceptions for anyone, not even extremely rich and primadonna football players, who probably have come accustomed to nothing less than first class...

That was a really nice gesture of you Richard! Did anyone take you up on your offer?:)

> 48
I am sorry your mother got stuck in Dubai :-(
I have never been in a plane, so I have no idea!

No, I am lying, not never, more than twenty years ago I did a little 20 minutes tour in a small plane (Cessna I think?) above Rotterdam. But I have never flown to somewhere.
I would panic if I was not able to go home, I hope your mother is a bit braver than I am.

#52 If you are afraid of flying, I would call that quite brave Anita. Small planes are much worse to be in than larger ones, at least in my opinion, and I'm not really scared of flying.

Richard, what a nice gesture! I did have a bunch of stranded Europeans staying with me after 9/11, but I admit I haven't done anything about offering a place to stay again this time around... Let me know about takers for the books -- I might take a load out there this weekend if people were interested.

Heavens, Fliss, your mother could probably sail back home in the time it will take her to fly home! At least she has somewhere to stay and isn't forced to live on a camp bed in the airport.

I just spotted an ad on Craigslist -- someone is looking for the opportunity to crew/cook their way home on a trans-atlantic boat!!

Maybe the volcano will remind us all of how much we take air travel for granted.

#54: One of the Norwegian newspapers actually started a hitchhiking central, so people could join long distance truck drivers, ships etc to get where they want. It is a success.

#48 Love the pictures!

Sorry to hear about your mum - that's a long time to wait! My parents are supposed to be taking a well deserved break from looking after my grandparents and flying to Lanzarote this weekend. I really hope it clears up but I'm not sure it's going to..

It feels so strange though as this far south we've had beautiful blue skies and it's hard to imagine there's ash up there which could clog up the plane engines.

#50 What a fantastic idea - being without anything to read would drive me crazy if I were stuck in an airport!

If she needs more help send me a PM as I have very hospitable friends in Dubai.

I took 15 books there, and left with none. They were in a plastic grocery bag, I waited outside the little check-in area and handed them out to people looking harassed and exhausted who had baggage with them, and was kissed by three grateful ones, two male.

I got rid of some mystery and romance mass-markets of auntie's that way, and heaven knows those folks got NOTHIN' to do. Also got asked on a date, but as I don't think I'll ever (voluntarily) visit Sheffield, it's unlikely to lead anywhere.

#48 There are worse places to be stranded than Dubai. And if she's staying with family at least the delay isn't costing her a fortune.

Cool Richard, maybe I'll head out there tonight with a box of the stuff I'm trying to get rid of via PBS and BookMooch.

ETA -- Odd, I called BA's press office and they explicitly told me NOT to do this. All their passengers have been accommodated in hotels and don't need anything... *eyes roll*.

>60 Chatterbox: I can think of no reason that the airline would want people from outside their control to give their passengers anything. After all, it's possible that some idiot would take something lethal from someone hinky.

That's why I stood in the terminal part of the terminal. I made no attempt to gain access to the secured part of the airport. People who passed me were the ones who will, ultimately, have to be re-screened and so are hardier souls than the airline will admit to serving.

Foolish airlines. Deny something is a problem, and therefore it isn't. THAT's worked well, hasn't it?

Very silly. Yes, I would have gone to the terminal part of it. Oh well, it's pouring rain now, and I haven't managed to eat anything yet today except for 3 crackers in the book marketing meeting, so it won't happen today.

OK, so I'm a little late with this, but FLISS!!!! You didn't mention it was you?! *bangs head quietly against wall* What a muppet. And you could have told me all about Rufus Wainwright as well. And if there were any deer around in the park at Chatsworth. Michaela ('Fluffyblue') came to see me the other day and despite her seeming shyness managed to scare me to death by leaning over the bridge where I was babysitting the owls, pointing and shouting 'HER!!!'. Turns out she'd recognised me and was pointing me out to her hubbie but it gave me a bit of a surprise, especially since she'd got longer hair than on her pics so I didn't recognise her! Sundays are very tourist-full, you're right - but good takings for us so we bear with them! It's like being in York again but on a tiny scale - tourists wandering by the sparkly river and thronging the tea rooms... Hope you had a lovely time in Bath, what a beautiful quaint little city it is... *sighs again at beautiful Bath and Fliss's muppetitis, all rolled into one*

LOL ... sorry Ellie but I had a laugh when I got to the part of the story where Michaela shouted 'HER!!' pointing at you. Not 'Ellie! ' or 'Hey Ellie' but 'HER!' ... LOVE it!

Richard : you're my hero ... what a wonderful idea. I'm sure all those people were grateful for something to read... and what a novel way to get asked out on a date.

fliss : I hope Mum is on her way back if not already back home? One of my colleagues was stuck in London until yesterday. At least she was out there on a business trip so she didn't have to worry about the cost of having to stay a whole week longer than she was supposed to.

Oh dear, I'm really struggling to keep track of everything at the moment! Right...

Thanks (in place of my Mum) for all the sympathy (and Susan, what a kind thought - thank you)! Although Dubai is pretty low on my list of places to visit, I can think of worse places to be stuck, particularly as she was with family - I think the real issue was that she had to cancel so many of her commitments...

In the end, fortunately, she hasn't had to wait until May as she managed to get a seat on a flight getting in on Thursday evening (I hate to think how much that would have cost) - the flight was an hour late, but really, in the grand scheme of things, she was pretty lucky! My Dad even more so, typically - he was due to fly back from Bordeaux on the Thursday and of course, everything had started up again by then - apparently all the Ryanair people were stuck for ages at the airport, but he happened to be flying Easyjet and had no problems at all. Of course, it did involve flying in to Luton, a place that noone in their right mind would choose to visit, but it was his decision ;o)

Lovely people for taking books to the people in the airports - I know I would have appreciated that - stupid airport security people...

#54 "Maybe the volcano will remind us all of how much we take air travel for granted." Absolutely!

#55 What a great idea!

Half of me thinks it would have been quite exciting to have been stuck somewhere in Europe (note not another continent!), having to find a way to work my way home overland - I've always had this deep desire to travel all the way across Europe anyway. Of course I'm not sure what my employers would have to say about that!

#63 Ellie, I know, I'm rubbish! muppet-Fliss indeed (can I be Animal?). I'd forgotten all about your owl-man, and he wasn't there, so clearly I shall have to make a return visit ;o)

Actually, that's not at all unlikely - I've never made it to the Peaks before and it's somewhere I've been meaning to visit for years, so I'll certainly be back to explore more thoroughly when I have more than half a day on hand...

Glad to know your mum will make it home, Fliss!

Right books, books.... Goodness, I haven't commented on anything since the 6th of April!

48) The Olivetti Chronicles - John Peel (Review)
Goal 1: Non fiction
(Apr 2010, Cambridge)

A posthumous collection of 20 years worth of writings.

John Peel was a bit of a hero of mine - a true champion of music in all it's shapes and forms (and when I say all, I mean all). He had a late night BBC Radio 1 show in which he would play the most eclectic selection of music you'll ever come across. It was almost guaranteed that in the space of an hour, he would play something that you absolutely hated, but also at least one thing that you would love - at any rate the one thing he would definitely do would be to introduce you to a whole range of music that you'd never heard before - or thought to have listened to. In fact, a quote from the last piece in the book:

"The programmes I do for Radio 1 have always been (roughly) based on the principle that what you're buying, listening to and enjoying is all very well but there exists also something else, less favoured, but equally worthy of your attention. I mean, there's a guitarist in a Peruvian band (and I'm not making this up) who's a knock-out - and who knows what marvellous bands there may not be in, say, Poland or Zaire or Iceland. I want to know about them - and to let you know about them."
(Sounds magazine, 20 Jul 1974)

There was, and still is no one on Radio to match him for broadening your horizons - and, almost single handed, he introduced me to my own musical taste. OK, he had some help from Steve Lamacq & Jo Whiley's Evening session in the '90s (at which point I date myself...) and Gideon Coe on 6music these days. But basically, he was a very big influence on me and many others of my generation and the generation before as we were growing up. I still have taped snippets of his show stored away somewhere...

He was also the kind of DJ that made you feel like he was speaking just to you. Maybe some of your friends. He was cozy. His writing style, while variable, not careful, often rambling, sometimes bizarre and quite frequently off topic, is very similar to the way he spoke - every time I picked up this book, I could hear his voice - something that made me a little sad on several occasions.

So. If you're looking for literary style, you're not going to find it in this book. But charm, humour, a passion for music and Liverpool FC and a hefty dislike of the Osmonds, you will find in spades. This was a joy to read.

#66 Thanks Stasia!

49) The High King - Lloyd Alexander
Goal 2: Group Reads (link to Chronicles of Prydain discussion
(Apr 2010, Rock Road Library)

My library request for this arrived a lot quicker than I expected, so I'm ahead of the group read again, but there you go...

The final installment of the series, but, for me, not quite matching the last two. I don't know, the ending just felt a little bit too pat. I've enjoyed reading this series, but I will reiterate that I wish I had read it first when I was a child - I probably would have got much more out of it at that time.

Anyway, I shall comment a bit more fully when I have more time, and on the group read thread...

50) The Ask and the Answer - Patrick Ness
(Sept 2009, Cambridge)

My copy of Monsters of Men (3rd in the trilogy) turned up on Friday! Way ahead of when it was expected - woo! So. I could finally allow myself to read this one, before getting on with the next - the first, The Knife of Never Letting Go, had left me horrendously in the lurch (2009 thread, but, by the time this one had arrived, I didn't have the the time to read it and so, just about, managed to postpone it, knowing I'd be desperate to read the final part the minute I'd finished it. This was indeed the case.

Just brilliant. So gripping. But I'm going to wait to comment on it properly until I've finished Monsters of Men, which I'm currently reading (shouldn't take long!).

All this, of course, postponed my finishing The Plague, so I'll be getting on with that again next. (Note to self, must drop by the group read thread...)

Sigh The Knife of Never Letting Go has gone on the wishlist.

Glad your mum will make it back ok!

The Knife of Never Letting Go definitely goes to my wishlist too! Thanks for the tip Fliss:) Glad everything is working out for your parents. Seems like the worst is over in Iceland. At least I hope so.

You can be any muppet you like Fliss, I meant it purely in the figurative sense since most of them creep me out a bit - if you'd like to veer into literal territory you could be Elmo, who isn't so bad. (I have a huge phobia of ventriloquist dummies which can sometimes spill over into a dislike of puppets with strange-dimensioned heads...).

Sounds like John Peel did for you what Jools Holland has been doing for me for the past year or two - his 'Later' programmes have been introducing me to all sorts of music, from rock to folk, and much of it far from the mainstream. I've made some wonderful discoveries thanks to him, from individual songs by obscure artists, to whole albums and back catalogues by new talents. Always a nice feeling!

You're so lucky getting Monsters of Men, I only have it on my bookdepository wishlist, but must put the order in as I'm pretty keen to find out what happens.

#71
Ellie: I like Jools Holland too. His show is on BBC America. I get really excited when I have time to watch his show.

#69 I think she is too...

#69&70, Re The Knife of Never Letting Go - highly recommended, you won't regret it! Rachael/FlossieT wrote a fantastic proper review of the the first two on one of her threads last year, which was why I picked it up in the first place, so you can blame her if you can't sleep until you've read the lot...

#71 OK, I shall be Elmo so as not to scare you ;o) I'm slowly discovering that puppet-phobia is quite common - I've met someone who starts to panic whenever he sees a Womble, so you're not alone ;o)

#71&73 Ah, I like Jools too for the same reason and have watched "Later..." for years - in fact, his Hootenanny show has become a bit of a New Year's Eve tradition for me, if I've got no plans (in my opinion, going out on New Year's is usually best avoided). I sit, going through my CDs with a glass of something bubbly by my hand and Jools on the telly. Fantastic, if a tad tragic!

...But even Jools Holland doesn't match John Peel for eclectism (is that actually a word?) and general on-the-ball-ness - while he is great at reintroducing you to people you've forgotten about and getting the big names on his show when noone else has, he's usually a bit behind the times with the new stuff. I also usually end up cringing whenever he interviews the guests. Still, I don't have to like the man to enjoy his show! In fact I've got quite a few "Later..." DVDs...

Isn't it wonderful when someone introduces you to something new that you'd never have found on your own? There just aren't enough shows like that any more.

#72 I know - I wasn't expecting it for at least another 2 weeks - woo!

Right, I'm now off to finish the book ;o)

OK.

51) Monsters of Men - Patrick Ness
(Apr 2010, Cambridge)

I've loved this trilogy. I was so excited receiving this final book early, that I kept having to do a little dance at the end of each section.

On the other hand, this also means that I am incapable of commenting intelligently on it - I think I'm going to have to read the series again to get beyond the tense, break neck pace, disturbing story arc and my general excitement levels that were willing me to enjoy it no matter what. There were one or two aspects of the plot that maybe felt a little contrived, but to be honest, they didn't impair the book at all for me.

Now, on with some non children's fiction!

#75 Sounds good! So, should I wait until I can get hold of the third book before reading the first two?

Staying in for New Year's is so very not tragic Fliss! I myself curled up on my sofa and hummed quietly along with 'Auld Lang Syne' on the BBC before switching back to Jool's Hootenanny for some more music and merriment before bed... I got to watch the fireworks and see in the New Year without standing in the cold for five hours getting hammered on cheap beer - a much nicer way of doing it, methinks!

#77 Yup, definitely recommended! To be honest, yes, I recommend having it easily accessible, if not actually in your hands ;o) - Patrick Ness does like his cliffhangers! That said, the biggest cliffhanger is at the end of the first one, so beware!

#78 Good to know I'm not alone in this! Actually, abnormally, I did go to a party this year, but half of me was picturing pretty much what you've descibed, particularly as I sat in in the traffic on the North Circular on the way to the arse end of London ;o) Maybe this coming year, I shall add LT to my CD sorting infront of Jools!

Quick update so as not to lose track (I'll comment properly a bit later on - probably when I've finished the book I'm currently reading...)

52) Things Fall Apart - Chinua Ahebe
Goal3: Books to Read
(Oct 2008, Cambridge)

So many reviewers seem to describe this just as a book depicting the detrimental effect of European colonisation of Nigeria (maybe I just read the wrong ones - I prefer not to read too many reviews before I read a book). Personally, I thought there was a lot more to this book than that - at any rate, the white man barely enters the book until you're 2/3 of the way through.

Whilst the culture clash is most definitely an important element, for me, it was the description of everyday village life and the complex and unbending Okonkwo (whose fear of showing weakness makes him his own worst enemy) that made this for me. Achebe has a talent for illustrating so much very simply.

I found this an interesting read, particularly in retrospect, for all it didn't blow me away. I think I shall have to come back to it again - I suspect I'll get more from it second time round. Nonetheless, I've recycled this particular copy - I mooched it from Nigeria and I've never read a book with so many copy mistakes. I've a suspicion it was a cheap and dodgy printing from someone wanting to spread the message - not something I have a problem with, it being though Bookmooch, but next time round, I'd quite like to read an edition where you don't have to chase the pages round the chapters!

53) The Plague / La Peste - Albert Camus
Goal2: Group read (Group Read)
(Jul 2009, Cambridge/ Apr 2010, Cambridge)

The town of Oran is shut off from the rest of the country when plague invades the city. Famously, of course, it has been described as symbolising French Resistance struggles against Nazi occupation during WWII. Not sure I was wholly convinced by the aptness of that, but maybe I was just being dense.

I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this as much as many of the group readers. That's not to say I didn't like it, but I just found it a little clinical. Of course, I suspect this was partially a consequence of a not particularly great translation (I've only compared a few bits with the original French, but I think I'm going to have to read that at some point) and also partially intentional given the narrator, but it made it hard for me to fully engage.

Anyway, I'm glad I've finally read it. I really must get on with L'Etranger at some point this year! ...and I've yet to catch up on the group read thread - I've a feeling that this might help me to appreciate the book more (my main reason for joining it in the first place), so I may yet have more comments to add...

...and a March summary (it's been a slow month):

Pre-owned: 4 (0)
Borrowed: 1 (0)
ARCs: 0
New: 4 (0)
(re-reads in brackets)

...from UK (4), US (3), France (1) & Nigeria (1).

Goal 1 (non-fiction): 1 (Total: 20%)
Goal 2 (group read): 2 (Total: 100%)
Goal 3 (to read list): 1 (Total: 17%)
Goal 4 (from Xmas): 0 (Total: 40%)

Best (new read) of the Month: The Ask and The Answer - Patrick Ness
Reviews: The Olivetti Chronicles

Currently reading:
Mistborn: The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson (the reason this is going to be a short post and that I don't mind that I overslept too much to go on a cycle ride I'd planned today...)

Edited to update comments on Things Fall Apart and The Plague

#79: the reason this is going to be a short post and that I don't mind that I overslept too much to go on a cycle ride I'd planned today

Sounds like the book is a good excuse for just about anything, huh?

absolutely!!

...and April, I meant April, not March. ;o) ...right, back to this book. ...although maybe I should go outside today for at least half an hour...

Where is the "arse end" of London? Is there an Arse End tube station?

#82 ;o)

In this case, it was Isleworth. The public transport to get to this place is a real pain - and actually takes longer from central London than it takes me from Cambridge.... It was actually quicker for me to drive there (and I usually avoid driving in London as not being necessary...)

I'm far behind on the threads and catching up on yours this morning Fliss.

I love the photos and the description of England. I hope to visit England next year....It has been a dream for a long, long time.

#84 Me too. Every time I catch up, I lose track again...!

Thank you. How lovely, where do you plan to visit and for how long? Maybe we can give you some tips...

My husb and I have been to London, but not together, and that's all we've done of the the British Isles... most unacceptable.

It's been two years since I was in London, and usually I'm there every year... *sigh* Since I lived there as a child, and again as an adult (it's the first place I remember living, and we were there until I was 12), it kind of feels like going back to your hometown, but with a weird twist that you don't belong there and never did. The expat dilemma...
I do keep going back to the same places in England -- Cornwall (out of season only!) and the Welsh Marches, with the occasional trip down to Kent or up to Yorkshire. Time to do something different.

Actually, Cornwall is where I would love to visit. Is it a busy place -- "in season?" And, when is the out of season time?

My ancestors on my mother's side are from Cornwall and my father's ancestors are from Bangor, Wales. They came to America to settle in a town called Bangor, PA, named after Bangor Wales

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor,_Gwynedd

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor,_Pennsylvania

http://www.amazon.com/Around-Bangor-PA-Images-America/dp/0738539023

Cornwall is *very* busy in the summer. Out-of-season is more or less October to March, but lots while accommodation may be cheaper and the roads are certainly emptier, many of the touristy places are closed or have limited opening hours then. The best time to visit is probably April/May/June or September/October, but definitely try to avoid school holidays. And avoid August bank holidays like the plague.

Which part of Cornwall were your ancestors from?

OK, I've updated msg79 with my comments on Things Fall Apart and The Plague (definitely just comments and not reviews!)...

#86 Ah Susan, London is a great place to start and a holiday all by itself - I'm sure you'll make it over here again another time ;o)

#87 Suzanne, I have the same feeling whenever I go back to Bristol or Edinburgh (admittedly without the expat/childhood part...) - and, I've a feeling I'll feel the same way about Sydney when I eventually make it back there. It's probably all about significant periods in your life... Cornwall, Wales, Kent and Yorkshire - all lovely places!

Sadly, much as I love Cambridge, we're surrounded by lots of flatness - Cambridgeshire is not the most exciting of counties. You get some pretty dramatic skies sometimes though...

#88 Cornwall is very beautiful, but, as Caty says can get very busy. ...and there are a lot of teeny roads... can take a while to get around ;o)

Wales is also very beautiful - although there are also some quite depressing parts. I've never been to Bangor...

Conincidentally, I'm going to a wedding in Wales this coming weekend. Just the other side of the Breckon Beacons National Park. It's the first of a bit of a manic wedding period - not because there are many (only 3, although all within the space of a month), but because they're all over the place (Wales, Bergerac, Chicago). Looking forward to it!

...and finally, seeing as we were talking about Jools Holland earlier and as I'm watching last week's show while I type, here's a clip from the show of Bobby McFerrin performing "Drive". I think the only thing I've ever heard him do before was "Don't Worry Be Happy", although it sounds familiar (UK people, did it get bastardised into an advert?) - he does remarkable things with his voice...

Ooops, I forgot to update on my reading!

54) Mistborn: The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson
(Apr 2010, Rock Road Library)

Man with revenge on the mind tries to take on evil empire and cause an uprising of slave population with help only from a group of thief mates and a downtrodden girl with special talents...

Partly picked up because I'd seen it around and thought the premise interesting, partly because it keeps on popping up on various threads with glowing reviews and partly because I was interested to see what Brandon Sanderson's writing was like before reading the last 3 WoT books (a series with which I have a love/hate relationship, but, at this stage, have to finish).

Well, firstly, I think that he was well picked to finish off Robert Jordan's massive epic - in fact I actually think he's an improvement in terms of writing style, so that's good... Hopefully there'll at least be fewer descriptions of clothing, even if we can't escape the hackneyed first paragraph...

Secondly, when I say I picked it up because I thought it was an interesting premise, I refer to the selling tag "what if the Dark Lord won?". I then realised once I'd got it that actually, that's not as original as it sounds (LoTR anyone?). This isn't important though really. It's an exciting read. Who cares if it's original? Looking forward to the next installment, although *** Possible spoiler *** rather sad about the loss of one of the more interesting characters *** End spoiler

...and this morning I recieved Our Tragic Universe by Scarlett Thomas (whose The End of Mr Y I read last autumn) in the post, as part of the LT ER scheme, so I shall postpone the book I'd lined up next (W. Somerset Maugham's The Magician). I'm looking forward to this one, although am not in a particularly reviewing frame of mind at the moment (sometimes, it seems, I have a lot to say and can be just about coherent, sometimes I just can't think how to be lucid... Ho hum).

Re Cornwall -- I've often been there in mid-late September, and in late April/early May (avoiding bank holidays...) Things are mostly open (or at least the stuff that is closed isn't what I'm looking for anyway! I've fallen in love with the Fowey estuary area, so I often just rent a cottage in Polruan for a week, and go for walks up the river and along the coastal path, or head over to Mevagissey if the ferry is running. Have been going there for more than 20 years now since I first discovered it by accident. Would move there in a heartbeat, even tho the locals are not warm and fuzzy about "incomers", except that neither of my passports is the right kind.

Fliss, Cambridge is a lovely city, however -- and you do have the skies, which are stunning. I remember seeing Ely cathedral just rising from the flat landscape at twilight and leaving me literally breathless.

I walked past a gate at Dallas airport Sunday where a flight was boarding to Heathrow and I was sooooo tempted to try to get on board.... and so envious of those who were. Alas, my "free place to stay" buddy in London (he had a flat right on the Thames, in Bermondsey) finally moved back to Canada last fall.

I just wanted to say, RE: Mistborn, at the end of it I was very, VERY skeptical about how the next two volumes would go after, *ahem* the spoiler you mention... but shockingly, it works. It really, really does... everything makes sense, and Sanderson pulls it off far better than I imagined. You'll enjoy the next two volumes if you liked the first one, definitely.

#93 Re Cornwall, it's one of those places that despite visiting parts of it many times, I still feel like I've only scratched the surface...

Re moving there, I'm sure the locals would come to think that you were "OK really" after a couple of decades ;o)

Re Cambridge - yes, I do love living here and, as you say, the skies can be extremely dramatic, but half of me always misses the hills. Whenever I go back to Bristol, there's always a little sigh of pleasure as the hills start to emerge!

Very sad about your "free place to stay" - tell him to move back - how thoughtless! ;o) London can be hideously priced to stay in - I've yet to find somewhere I like that's reasonably priced on the few occasions that I've not wanted to stay in Camberwell (where my sister lives), or get the last train back...

#94 Good to know - I was worrying about it! Looks like I could have quite a wait for the next one though...

Flissp, every time I see your thread name I'm reminded of your flowers. Thx :)

Thanks for the information re. Cornwall!

I've never been to England at all, a bit ashamed of it too! We're almost neighbours, only the tiny ocean separating us. I really want to go soon. A roadtrip in England, Wales and Scotland all in ones would be lovely! Though you guys drive on the wrong side of the road:D

Edited to fix spelling:)

Just left a bit of an essay on Darryl's thread about the UK general election, which I'm going to link to here as I need to get up and don't want to write it all over again...

Here's a link to the seats as they're called - results still coming in...

#96 Susan, what a lovely thought - that makes me very happy. I hope you're doing OK.

#93/97 I love that my thread has all this travel commentary from you peeps. It's something I wish I could spend more time doing, so vicarious travel is a good compromise!

#98 Correct side of the road, surely! ;o) Yes, come and visit us! Where do you think you'd go?

I'm just thinking what a nice itinerary could be created by dropping in to meet some of the UK LT-ers!

Forget a pub crawl -- what about a bookstore crawl?

>101 Chatterbox: count me in :)

#91 Enjoyed your comments on Things Fall Apart and The Plague. The first is in my TBR pile and I've been thinking about trying The Plague at some point.

Cambridge is beautiful and I loved living there although it was only a brief stay but I also missed the hills from where I grew up. I never liked the countryside in Cambridgeshire and it seemed to make the winters oh so cold!

Glad you enjoyed the first Mistborn book - I was quite surprised by that ending but I enjoyed book 2 almost as much as book 1 and I'm impatiently waiting to see if my library will get hold of book 3 for me.

I got Our Tragic Universe as an ER book too! I love the way they've made the edges of the pages black again! It's the first ARC I've received too!

#101 Definitely!

Anyone planning to visit London must let me know, Janet and I are talking about meeting up when various constraints on us both permit. We probably live about two miles apart which isn't far by London standards. I work near Kings Cross.

What say all good LTers go to Hay-on-Wye sometime during 2011? Pick a week's span, everyone who can come comes and we buy the place out?

>101 Chatterbox: LOL - my friend and I do that quite frequently, with a good Thai or shushi restaurant at the end!

#105 -- Done deal!!! I lurve Hay...
There are good restaurants there, too...

>107 Chatterbox: The transAtlantic contingent will be able to order up a full container to ship our purchases back, I suspect. Do you suppose the Customs people will ignore our container if we mark it "used clothing"? Or would the teetering towers tumbling thumpingly to the floor give the game away?

I can't wait for Monsters of Men to be released here so that I can read the entire trilogy. I'm not going to start reading the series until I actually have them all.
#105 I've wanted to go to Hay-on-Wye ever since I read Sixpence House. I'm in!

Next May? That's a good time of year...

ETA: The booksellers will ship stuff back to the USA, and it arrives duty-free... :-)

I briefly visited Hay-on-Wye a couple of years ago and would love an excuse to go back.

I am still trying to finish reading Sixpence House, about Paul Collins' moving to Hay-on-Wye. My hubby keeps moving the book - it never manages to be in the same place twice - so I keep having to re-locate it.

I would love to visit Hay-on-Wye myself one of these centuries! Of course, I would just settle for a trip to PA . . .

Yes, count me in for a Hay trip, too, and next May is a great time. We should try to avoid the school holidays in the last week of May, though.

Hallo all! Honestly, I go away for a few days (weddings, Wales, general election...) and come back to discover you've all planed a trip to Hay-on-Wye!

...actually, I've never been to the Hay-on-Wye festival, so I'd be on for that...

#103 Thank you! Re cold winters - I'm sure it's an all in the mind thing, but you're completely right, it just does feel a lot colder - maybe it's just that there's nothing to get in the way of the wind... Thanks for the comments on Mistborn - I'm getting itchy fingers now...

#104 Vicinity of Kings X is always good for me - that's where the faster Cambridge trains arrive...

#109 Re Monsters of Men, I think you're very sensible! It was agony to finish the first one and then not be able to pick up the next one straight away.

So. This has been a very exciting/depressing week news wise - I've barely been able to tear myself away. I've been meaning to post a link to the BBC's live coverage to my thread since the weekend and now it seems a bit late, but I'll put it here anyway, in case anyone is interested in the emerging cabinet...

Had a lovely time wedding-ing with university mates at the weekend in a little town in Wales:




In the meantime, not much reading, but I finished:

55) Fear and Trembling - Amélie Nothomb
Goal 1: Non fiction
(Apr 2010, London South Bank)

I've said earlier this year that I don't know quite whether to like or dislike Amélie Nothomb. I appreciate her writing style and found the two books that I've read intriguing, if not very "nice". This one, however, I can unreservedly say I enjoyed a great deal.

This little book is autobiographical and describes Amélie Nothomb's year working for a large company in Japan (the country in which she spent her childhood). In particular, her astonishingly complicated relationship with her immediate supervisor, Fubuki Mori. The culture clash of East vs West is, naturally, emphasised, and I couldn't help but wonder just how much was exaggerated. I would be fascinated to know what Fubuki Mori herself thought if she has read the book. One thing that it did do was confirm to me that Nothomb must be a very unusual character (something I would have guessed from her novels) and in many ways, this is a very self-revealing book. I'll also add that I thought that the last paragraph was just wonderful...

Currently still reading Our Tragic Universe (it's taking a while to get going, but maybe that's because I haven't had time to just sit down with it properly. I've also begun The Magician by Somerset Maugham for my work lunchtime reading (more on this one later)...

I hope everyone is happy - I probably won't have much time to check in to other threads for a few days yet (off to the next wedding, in France, on Friday...), but I shall try to stop by...

Safe travels, Fliss!

Nice photos, Fliss! Have a nice time in France; are you flying, taking the train (Eurostar?) or driving?

BTW, can you drive through the Chunnel? If so, what happens when you pass from one end to the other, since Brits drive on the wrong side of the road and the French drive properly?

ETA: I'd love to see photos of France, too.

Beautiful pictures!

Thanks all!

Darryl, no, no, no, no. It's all the rest of the world that has their driving rules wrong - bar the sensible Kiwis & Aussies etc, of course ;o)

Yes, you can "drive" through the Chunnel, but you do it by putting your car on a train, so effectively it's like getting on the ferry and there isn't the problem of switching lanes...

I'm afraid I'm flying as it's quicker and I didn't want to take too much holiday given that I'll be flying to Chicago in a couple of weeks - usually, I'd prefer either to Eurostar + train (which seem to be permanently on strike at the moment anyway), or ferry + drive. ...another time...

I'm am sure there will be photos!

#116 - you don't drive through, you drive your car onto a train which goes through, then you come out the other end and drive on whichever is the right side there.

Ha - I see we both posted at the exact same minute! Great minds think alike.

Loving those bluebells... Wish I could beam myself over to Kew Gardens *right now*

Remind me -- when is the Hay book fest? Mind you, it would be swarming with people then. Still, we could always rent a local cottage for the whole gang, I imagine.

Fliss, I know that you're going to Chicago next month, and I stumbled upon the name of a fabulous Mexican restaurant that I went to with a couple of friends two years ago. I wrote down the name and phone number in a book (The Crystal Frontier by Carlos Fuentes) that I bought in a great used bookstore in the Wicker Park neighborhood, Myopic Books. It's La Condesa Restaurant, which is located in the Pilsen neighborhood of the city, a few miles away from the Loop (see map). We went for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, and the place was packed with Mexican families (with lots of cute kids!) who were dressed as if they had just come from church. They were few, if any, non-Latinos besides us, and the staff was mostly Spanish speaking, although we found one waitress who spoke passable English. The food, especially the fish entrees, was outstanding!

During that trip, my friend also took me a Swedish restaurant, Ann Sather Swedish Cuisine and Catering on N. Clark Street in Andersonville, a Far North Side neighborhood that traditionally was home to the city's Swedish population but is now very diverse. The waffles and Swedish meatballs were excellent!

She has taken me to other restaurants in Chicago when I've visited her, including a great Pakistani restaurant on Devon Avenue, which has a number of Indian and Pakistani restaurants, a very good South American restaurant on the North Side, and a decent Asian fusion place in the Loop, but I can't remember their names. I need to talk to her later this month, and I'll pass on any other recommendations from her.

Edited to correct numerous grammatical errors.

#99 I would go all over the place! A couple of years ago a friend and I planned a Jane Austen/Harry Potter tour, but that never happened, so we'll see. I have been on "the road" (or more specific, on the train) in Ireland, so it would be nice to see England, Scotland and Wales too. There is so much history and culture to learn about. The same goes for rest of Europe (to begin with anyways). I wish I could have a caravan (those cars you can live in), like the old German tourists visiting Norway have, so I can travel across Europe on a whim. Well, maybe when I get older...:)

Love your pictures! Have a nice trip to France :D

I guess it is the same with you and driving, as the Americans and football;) But as long as it is working for you, I guess it is okey!

lovely photos :)

Book festival? In Hay-on-Wye? *trembles at the onslaught to his budget*

I'm staying in a cottage fifteen minutes from Hay-on-Wye when we go on holiday in September... ;-)

Nipping in to put up a quick place hold for books 56) Our Tragic Universe (no idea how I'm going to review that one) and 57) The Magician - Somerset Maugham so that I don't forget... I'll try to update properly tomorrow/at the weekend, when I'm a bit more caught up...

#126: Looking forward to the reviews!

>126 flissp: LOL

apologizing for writing on your own thread? :)

#128 It's mostly the guilt about only reading my own thread at the moment. I'm hopelessly out of date on the other threads - I think I'm going to have to acknowledge to myself that there's no way I can keep up with all the threads I have starred!

#127 I'm afraid they keep getting postponed...

#125 Dangerous!

#124 Mwah ha ha ha ha Ha HA!!

#123 Thank you Susan!

#122 A Jane Austen/Harry Potter tour sounds intriguing! I have similar travel yearnings. Really must find a career in which I can spend half the year gently journeying. Hmmm. Thanks re the pics, and did do!

#121 Darryl, thank you, that's fantastic! I have dutifully "favourite-ed" your message for later use... That Mexican restaurant in particular sounds wonderful. I'm not sure how much I'm going to be able to call the shots eating out, but I'm certainly going to poke my oar in...

#120 The Hay-on-wye Festival is running from the 27th May - 6th June this year, so I assume it'll be similar timing next year? Ooooh and I've just noticed that they've got a Beer and Cider festival near my birthday too....

#119 Or, as one of my relatives would put it "pigs feeding from the same trough". I prefer your one ;o)

Re calling the shots on restaurants, all you have to say is -- "a friend of mine who is a bit of a gourmet gave me some names of places to check out. Have you run across any of these -- and maybe we could try a few so I can report back?"
And boom, you'll be off for Swedish meatballs and Asian fusion in no time flat.

Sooo. Lots to catch up on...

The wedding near Bergerac was lovely and I had a great time. Such a beautiful place and the chambre d'hotes where I stayed was lovely and just across a vineyard from the Chateau in which the wedding took place.

...However... despite staying an extra couple of days, unusually for me, I didn't read up on the place at all before going. I just assumed there would be buses. But no. Not one. I really should have known better - I'm perfectly aware how much of rural France closes down on Monday/most of the weekend, so should have realised that there would be nowhere to eat nearby and that saving money by not hiring a car really wasn't sensible. Luckily, I have sensible mates who did hire cars. Unluckily, not one of them was staying beyond Sunday afternoon. I did a lot of walking. I'm sure it was very good for me!

This is the (C16th) Chateau de Monbazillac, where the wedding took place - pretty dramatic!:



So, reading from that weekend to update on:

56) Our Tragic Universe - Scarlett Thomas (Review)
(May 2010, Cambridge)

You know, as this is an ARC, I'm going to think about this a leeetle bit longer before posting something.

See Msg198

57) The Magician - Somerset Maugham
Goal 3: Books to Read
(?2000, Cambs)

I've owned this for a long time. I chanced on W. Somerset Maugham's wonderful short stories when I was travelling around Australia and New Zealand, after university - a brilliantly wicked collection. Ever since, I've been slowly working my way through his novels. This, one of his earliest, was amongst the first that I bought, but for some reason have never got around to it (hence being part of my "Goal 3" list).

If I'm honest, none of his novels (even Of Human Bondage) have, for me, quite lived up to the first volume of his short stories, although I have very much enjoyed reading them. I'll include this in that statement, although, in this case, it is more for the slightly too pat ending than for the style itself, which, although a little flowery, retains more tongue-in-cheek wit (a large part of the reason for my love of the short stories) than I recall in the other novels I've read.

The magician of the title is Oliver Haddo - a man, not so loosely based on Aleister Crowley, whom Maugham had met whilst living in Paris. In revenge for mistreatment by Arthur Burdon (hero of this story), Haddo manipulates the the beautiful (and slightly hard to believe in) Margaret, Burdon's fiancee, into total subjugation to his own will. It soon becomes apparent that there is more to his dastardly schemes than just revenge on a man he hates...

In his preface to the edition that I own, Maugham writes that when he came to re-read the book for the re-release (something that he disliked doing), he enjoyed it more than he had other re-reads, but that he found the writing "lush and turgid", using more adverbs and adjectives than he would today, and that he must have been trying to emulate the "écriture artiste" of the French writers of the time. I would have to say that I agree with this - but, while the style did make me giggle a little initially, in fact, I feel that it suited the gothic nature of the story quite well.

Another thing that he comments on in the preface was Aleister Crowley's response to the book (under the pen name of Oliver Haddo) in Vanity Fair magazine. Haddo is a wonderfully repulsive caricature of a character and I would love to read what Crowley wrote as it is evident that he was scathing to say the least. Maugham didn't (he says) read the article at the time, but states (and I quote):

"I daresay it was a pretty piece of vituperation, but probably, like his poems, intolerably verbose."

...which had me laugh out loud. In this, I recognise the Somerset Maugham I've been missing. I really must re-read the short stories.

...and avoid the novels, they're just not up to the short stories! Not in the same league. Glad you enjoyed Bergerac, which is on my life-list of places to see.

#130 Good thinking Batman!

#132 ...well I have enjoyed those I've read, although there do seem to be common themes, but I'd agree about the not in the same league, definitely...

Richard, Bergerac itself is really quite small and can be seen pretty thoroughly in an afternoon, but the surrounding countryside is very lovely. I'm definitely going to have to go back again with a car at some point...

On to this last weekend... Gorgeous weather. While I spent all yesterday afternoon weeding my allotment (far too hot to make any impact on the bit I haven't dug yet):



...I also spent most of Saturday in my absolute favourite sunny-day-in-Cambridge spot reading (under the tree where the/my bike is), sloshing rowers and cacophonous starlings in the background:



...unfortunately, the book was a tad disappointing:

58) Somewhere in Time - Richard Matheson
(May 2010, Cambridge Central Library)

Man dying from a tumour in the brain falls in love with the photo of an actress taken 75 years ago. Man somehow manages to make himself go back in time to meet said actress.

Sigh. I expected so much more from this, but it really didn't even come close to I Am Legend, or even A Stir of Echos. The first third of the book is in note format, which is just irritating and really does point the future plot out to you straight away. Later on, the narrative settles down in to a better format, but the love story wasn't remotely believable, or affecting to me anyway. ...and it moves soooo slowly!

Maybe I'm just not good at romantic fiction (except one of my favourite authors is Jane Austen, maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind. Either way, honestly, I have no idea why I made it to the end.

The allotment looks like it is coming along nicely, Fliss!

Thank you Stasia. I was very pleased to see flowers on the blueberry and logenberry this weekend, but a lot of the smaller veg don't seem to be coming up. Probably the fault of the cold snap...

There is still hope for the smaller veggies though, right? It is still early.

Quite right! I just keep going away at crucial moments, which doesn't help...

Love all of your pictures! And good luck on your veggies - the season is a bit odd, so hopefully you'll see something soon.

Goodness, that's just gorgeous. This "England" place appears to have some attractive nooks and crannies! So it's NOT all London/Manchester/Edinburgh, then! Who knew.

Catching up on the posts regarding Wales. Oh, how I would love,love, love to visit. I think I've posted this before on another thread, so please forgive the redundancy.

The town where my father's family settled is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor,_Pennsylvania

They were originally from Bangor, Wales.

Hi fliss! Just catching up on threads. Wales looks much better in your photos than I remember it looking. The allotment is looking good. Isn't May still early in the growing season?
#122 - I want to do the Harry Potter and the Doctor Who bus tours. I would even settle for the London Walks Harry Potter tour -- which I have heard is kind of lame. The highlight is getting your picture taken with the half trolley stuck in the wall at Kings Cross.
#129 I "favorite" all of Darryl's travel advice posts as well. Actually, all travel related posts in any thread that I read.

#140 Thanks Luxx, fingers crossed.

#141 Isn't it? ...and there's a really nice pub not far away... I suspect it'd play havoc with your hayfever though I'm afraid.

#142 Linda, you really must visit some day, particularly if you've family there. Wales can be lovely (although there are some pretty grotty areas too) - just be prepared for rain ;o)

#143 I think Wales can be a bit of a mixed bag VB - there are some very depressing places, but large parts of it are also very beautiful. I'd never heard of the Harry Potter/Dr Who tours before Bente mentioned them (although I shall now investigate), but I imagine most of the Dr Who one will be around Wales as that's where it's predominantly filmed...

Re the London Harry Potter walking tour and the half trolley, the last few times I've been through Kings Cross station (it's where all the faster Cambridge trains come in to London - most of them in fact at the platforms behind the trolley wall), it was all hidden away by the rebuilding work that's been ongoing for quite some time...

"Actually, all travel related posts in any thread that I read" - me too!

Thanks for all the information re. Wales.

I took my two youngest to the UK a couple of years ago and researched a few film locations to go to. We settled on Alnwick Castle up in Northumberland which is used for some of the outdoor Hogwarts scenes in the first HP movie and also some scenes in Blackadder. We went to King's Cross and took a photo at the half trolley - check my profile pics.
I'd love to have visited the Hogwarts dining room at Oxford & Elm Hill in Norwich where street scenes in Stardust were filmed.

Alnwick and the surrounding area have been one of our regular holiday visits for some years. I would strongly recommend anyone who goes there to see the castle to allow a couple more days to see the area - beautiful, unspoilt coast and quite a few castles, abandoned and otherwise.

#144- I just heard about the Harry Potter and Doctor Who bus tours on Facebook. I "became a fan of" (as they say on Facebook) Brit TV and Movies. Now I receive daily tidbits. I know the Doctor Who tour will be in Cardiff. I'm willing to break my rule about never again going to Cardiff so that I can see where Captain Jack disappears from the Plaza into the Torchwood hub. I just won't stay overnight there.
Construction at Kings Cross? Ugh. Luckily I'm not planning on visiting London this year. Hopefully by the time I get to London again the trolley area will be construction free.

#146 great pics avatiakh. Alnwick looks gorgeous. Also, I noted the mention of the Botany Library on your home page and have followed that link. If my 10 year old self had known that such a place existed I would have made it my life goal to work there.Thanks.

Help me! I've paired down and paired down and I just can't decide which books to take to Chicago with me and still allow space for wedding clothes/new books (also given that I've a feeling there's not going to be a whole lot of time for reading)...

Here's the list:

Soulless - Gail Carriger (I have to take this one as it's a library book and someone else has requested it after me)
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (I will finish it, I will!)
Bliss - Peter Carey
The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter
Death at Intervals - Jose Saramago
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital - Lorrie Moore
The City & The City - China Miéville
Galileo's Daughter - Dava Sobel
Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams
I, Claudius - Robert Graves

I'm determined to cut that down to six, but I just can't pick...

I hate Wuthering Heights, so that one would definitely not be going with me.

I liked both Galileo's Daughter and I, Claudius, but the Graves book really demands attention, so I would probably leave that one behind.

The only other book in your list that I have read is The City and the City and I liked that one (language aside.)

Sorry I cannot be more helpful, Fliss!

I would leave behind the Bronte, since you seem to be struggling, and probably Saramago as well. (he really demands attention...) I would take Graves, Sobel, Adams, Angela Carter. The rest are up to you!

What a brilliant idea, to ask for help from LT friends with this problem! I always want to take a ridiculous number of books. I try to use a combination of inner and outer 'weightiness' and common sense (never an easy matter where books are concerned) -- the heaviest books, literally or prosefully are automatically out for shorter and rather busy trips. Then a mystery, a non fiction, a 'regular' novel, an sf or fantasy (not both) and maybe a surprise. So I have something for almost every mood...... four would be best, five if you have to.

edited so it will make sense!

I came back from Hay last night, it was great but I could not afford to stay for more than two days - book buying impact on wallet not good at all. It is the first time I have been to Hay, the line up was great, I got to see Bill Bryson, Nadine Gordimer talk about the Conservationist, Kazuo Kishiguro talk about Nocturnes, David Mitchell, Olga Tokarczuk (Primeval), Almudena Grandes. There are about 60 events a day - it is a little overwhelming. To save money we camped both nights and although there was torrential rain, we slept fine. Hay is paradise for me as I am sure it would be for everyone on LT. I would dearly have loved to stay the whole week. I live in North Wales in a more industrialised town but 99% of Wales is totally beautiful - Hay is in a particularly beautiful area in the borders between the Black Mountains and Herefordshire. I would recommend a trip to anyone.

I can relate to being behind on threads. I keep skimming and wondering just what I'm missing...

Monbazillac huh... makes my mouth water. Must have had some wine or liqueur from the region LOL
Uh, glad you got your exercise. LOL

>149 flissp: Fliss...how about Soulless; the Lorrie Moore; the Dava Sobel; and the Angela Carter?

I'd suggest reading Who Will Run the Frog Hospital on the flight to Chicago, it's so easy to love and to dip in and out of; the Carter while there; then the Sobel and Soulless on the flight back? If anything, that's ambitious for a wedding trip. Save the Sobel for the flight home, it's a very deep and emotional non-fiction which makes the idea of family come into sharp focus...perfect for coming home from a wedding! I suspect you'll finish Soulless while you're there. The Bloody Chamber is, in my observation, a very high-velocity read.

Thanks people - very helpful ...although I probably should have posted it a bit sooner, as I'm only just getting half of these responses as am now in Chicago...

Suzanne, I thought that was good advice re Wuthering Heights. I arrive back home next Thursday, so I've taken Friday off too - maybe I'll have another crack at it then.

I ended up taking Soulless (had to really), Bliss (because I keep putting it off and I do have a couple of days post-wedding to myself), The Bloody Chamber, Death at Intervals (I couldn't decide between that and Frog Hospital - I probably made the wrong choice as I've a feeling I'll not be in the right mood for Saramago), The City & The City and Galileo's Daughter (I'll do as you suggest and leave it for the route back Richard - I'm looking forward to it).

I was planning to read The City & The City on the way out, but, due to lack of sleep and the 5am start, wasn't really up for concentrating on anything much, so caught up on a few films I keep not getting round to. I've finally seen A Single Man, which I thought was very well done, even with the alterations and "Invictus" - which wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting (I'm a big Rugby fan and I have very vivid memories of that particular World Cup, Jonah Lomu, Nelson Mandela and all). I still think that Matt Damon as Francois Pineaar was hilarious, the rugby clips weren't particularly well chosen and dodgy accents abounded...

...and everyone will be pleased to hear that we all made it to a baseball game last night. As the Cubs are out of town this week, we went to see the White Sox (who were beaten by Texas Rangers I'm afraid). Good fun. It is just Rounders with bigger bats and on a more organised pitch though ;o) Today, I shall take advantage of the fact that it's a bit overcast and head for the Art Institute.

...I may be back to talk about actual books (and respond properly) at some stage later this week (particularly as I still owe a review for Our Tragic Universe)...

The Art Institute! That's a lovely place to visit. Enjoy yourself!

Best wishes to the bridal couple for a long and happy life together.

The archetecture boat tour is supposed to be excellent in Chicago. It is a touristy thing to do, but my sister says even the locals take the tour once.
Good choice on books, but I think I would have picked the Adams book because it is thin, lightweight, pithy and funny. More bang for your buck so to speak. And ... Then you could have had more room for bringing books home!

Definitely take the Chicago River boat tour, preferably the architectural one, as the tour guides (from what I understand) are graduate students in architecture and really know their buildings.

If you're a coffee fiend, try either Peet's (two branches in Chicago) or Intelligensia Coffee (the El Diablo blend is one of my all time favorites).

I actually took the architectural boat tour last time I was in Chicago, but you'll all be pleased to hear that I've been recommending it to everyone else, left right and centre!

#159 Darryl, sadly, I'm not a coffee fiend at all, which is probably a good thing, given the amount of tea I usually drink - I'd be permanently hyper I think. I have discovered a tea shop chain that I hadn't come across before (can't remember the name at the mo) - the Earl Grey is very strange tasting (oddly spicy), but not at all bad, so it'll do!

#158 You're probably right Re Douglas Adams, (although my copy isn't particularly thin compared to others on the list) but, as I'm not very good at reading non-fiction, I thought I'd only bring one with me and Galileo just seemed that bit more attractive at the time ;o) Last Chance to See is on the list for the year though, so I'll probably read it soon...

#157 It was indeed Richard - and there's currently a Matisse exhibition on, which was interesting. Matisse is an artist I blow hot and cold over, but there were several I was completely unfamiliar with and one or two that really stood out. Beyond that, I particularly enjoyed the post 1900 part of the collection - the earlier stuff was mostly (not all) a little too sentimental for me. There is, however, the most intricate iron lock, featuring Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, which was both hilarious and quite amazing. Thank you for the well wishes!

...and if you're wondering why I'm back here for the second time today, it's because I suddenly realised I forgot to check my bank balance (cringe) - I'm not completely hopelessly adicted to the internet, honest...

...incidently, very much enjoyed the first Angela Carter story (The Bloody Chamber itself. Disturbing.

>160 flissp:: very much enjoyed the first Angela Carter story (The Bloody Chamber itself. Disturbing.

She is very disturbing. I've read that and a few other works of hers and they feel creepy, unlike a lot of modern fairy tale or horror. She's really gotten back to the original type of fairy tale...which were definitely for adults.

ETA: Btw, if you end up liking her stuff, you might try Peter Rushforth's Kindergarten. I had similar reactions to it.

Quick note for later updates:

59) The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter
60) When the Emperor Was Divine - Julie Otsuka
61) Soulless - Gail Carriger

#162: Curious to see what you thought of When the Emperor Was Divine. I read it last year and thought it well done.

I have Soulless on the way to me (finally!) from PBS because of all the kudos it has gotten here in the group. I hope you liked it, Fliss.

Safe travels!

A little late, but have a lovely trip:)

Hope you enjoyed/are enjoying Chicago!

Just dropping in and catching up on all the threads I'm behind on (which are a lot!). I'm so glad you liked The Remains of the Day. It was a favorite of mine last year. I've been contemplating starting Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy so I'm excited to what your thoughts are on the other two books :)

I've been lurking and feeling guilty ... so here I am, just delurking for a second to wave hello .... continues lurking.

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Soulless.

Also, I think almost everyone is hopelessly behind on threads, with the exception of Stasia, who is superhuman.

#168: I think almost everyone is hopelessly behind on threads, with the exception of Stasia, who is superhuman.

No she's not!

Yes she is!

Fliss, is Chicago going nuts bec. of the Stanley Cup win? The last time they won was before I was born -- which was a VERY long time ago...

>170 Chatterbox: Who is Stanley, and why does Chicago have his cup? They should give it back! Poor man might want a drink or something.

H fliss! Hope you're having a great time in Chicago.

Back again! (Actually, I've been back since Thursday, but am just rubbish...)

Soooo...

#153 cerievans1 - sounds like you had a wonderful time at Hay - all those wonderful talks! I'd particularly like to have heard Kazuo Ishiguro, Bill Bryson and David Mitchell I think - were they good? "Olga Tokarczuk (Primeval)" - is that Primeval as in the TV series?! ;o)

#161 Tad - I read The Magic Toyshop years ago and I know I've also got Nights at the Circus - I remember the former being quite surreal and not at all as I expected, which was part of the reason for picking up The Bloody Chamber (along with a general love of fairy tales). I enjoyed it very much, so thanks for the recommendation - I shall look Kindergarten up...

#163 Stasia - I think your recommendation, along with Linda's was the reason behind me picking this up when I saw it in the bookshop - until I read both of your comments, I'd never realised that this had happened. I completely agree, it was very well done.

#166 Rebecca - I started the second Mistborn book before I went away, but decided not to take it with me as they're all such tomes and it would have required me taking both. If I'm honest though, I wasn't really getting in to it very easily. Hopefully I'll get more involved as I get a bit further in now that I'm back, but I have a couple of other things I want to finish before returning to them...

#167 Caroline - I lurk on other threads all the time (sometimes it's the only way to keep up!), so no need to feel guilty! *waves back*

#168 Zoe - comments on Soulless to follow... ...and yes!

#169 Stasia - you lie, we have unmasked you! ;o)

#170 Suzanne - the final was actually the day I flew out, so they hadn't yet won when I left. There was a lot of support around though:



#171 *snicker*

And everyone else, thank you, yes, I had a fantastic time! I love Chicago, the weather was (mostly) glorious (OK, bar a few brief but MASSIVE downpours - is this a Chicago thing? I remember it happening to me last time too...), the wedding was lovely and in a fantastic venue, everyone was on very good form and, following the wedding, I hired a car for a couple of days and drove out to The House on the Rock (see American Gods), which I hadn't realised was so close by (well "close" by US standards anyway), which was truly remarkable.

Many photos here, but here are a few highlights (yes, I got a little trigger happy - click on the little pic for a proper sized version):






...book updates to follow shortly/this evening...

Edited to reduce the pic sizes!

Glad you enjoyed your trip to Chicago. I went to the House on the Rock when I was driving around one summer that area in college. It is quite fun. Looks like you made it to a ball game. I hope you enjuoyed it. Re: The downpours. I know we get downpours like what you describe in St. Louis and in Washington, D.C. I did not know about Chicago. But it seems likely, because of Lake Michigan.

Great photos, Fliss! I'll look at the others shortly.

Of course, I'll want to hear about highlights of your trip. I'll probably visit my friend who lives there later this year.

Welcome back, love your photos, you can never take too many.
Happy to hear that you visited The House on the Rock, it sounds so eccentric and interesting. I've just read American Gods btw.

love the photos, Fliss .... I think Chicago is such an interesting city ... and who couldn't love a Chicago dog or deep pan pizza!

#174 Certainly did enjoy the baseball, although probably largely because there was a gang of us and it was the day I arrived, so lots of catching up with people. It really is just rounders with a bigger bat and more stats and I used to hate rounders at school - however, it was much more fun to watch!

The downpours were quite something - fortunately, this time I didn't get completely caught out in one like I did last time (when I was travelling between the conference hotel and my mate's house and I got completely drenched to the skin - and I mean the skin). At least it's warm I suppose!

#175 Thanks Darryl! I definitely went a bit photo crazy - there are "only" 134 in the facebook link (which probably vaguely tell the story) to the 200-and-something on Flickr - but even the Flickr ones are just a fraction of the sum total. I seem to be physically incapable of going past Millenium Park without going to play with The Bean (I took loads of photos of it last time too)...

Sadly, we didn't make it to any of your restaurant recommendations (actually, I only ate out properly twice in the end, aside from the wedding), but I left my mates with a printout as they're always looking for new places and I'm sure I'll be back...

#176 Well I certainly do my best to take too many! I actually ran out of space on the (8Gb) SD card and had to keep deleting...

I loved house on the rock. Just completely insane. Naturally, there were bits that were less interesting to me (I could have done without all the Doll Houses to be honest), but I thought all the musical machines, the carousel and the organ room were absolutely fantastic - I definitely recommend it, particularly if you've read American Gods. What did you think of that incidently (I'm behind on everyone's threads at the moment and it'll probably be a while before I catch up)?

#177 Thank you! I have to say that the deep pan pizza floored me somewhat! I'm definitely usually a thin and crispy gal, so all that cheese!!!

It was delicious, but I'm ashamed to say I only made it through two slices (and needed encouragement for that second one) before having to give up - and this was the day after the wedding having barely eaten all day (we went on to various bars after the wedding and didn't get back till 4.30ish...). The mate I went for pizza with did make it through three slices, but I'm sorry to say we actually had to leave one behind - the thought of the remaining slice cold the next day!

So. Books. Well, I'm going to come back to Our Tragic Universe later this week seeing as it's already late anyway.

59) The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter
(Jun 2009, Cambridge)

Fairy tales as they should be, where the beasts really are animals and heros are flawed and not saccharine. Definitely on the more macabre side and heavy on the symbolism, the stories are whip-through reads, but also variously touching and humourous.

The Bloody Chamber itself is a modernisation of "Bluebeard" and, although the story could be ridiculous, it is infact extremely chilling. There are two versions of "The Beauty and the Beast" - explored from different angles (I particularly enjoyed the former, "The Courtship of Mr Lyon"). Also three different angles on "Red Riding Hood" - all quite savage. Even the "Puss-in-Boots" retelling, despite it's humour (from the point of view of a raucous, randy cat) is not the sweet and soppy story of the Pantomime.

I enjoyed this hugely.

60) When the Emperor Was Divine - Julie Otsuka
(Jun 2010, Chicago)

The morning of the wedding, I went to take a look around Oak Park (Frank Lloyd Wright, Hemmingway...), but as it started to rain when I got there, I just had to nip into Borders (I wish I'd walked just a little further down the street as there were two independent stores further up, ho hum). Anyway, I saw this on display, and as I mentioned above, remembered that it was on my wishlist, so of course had to buy it.

I'd previously had no idea that during WWII Japanese-Americans had been put into camps. This tells the story of one such family switching between the viewpoints of each member of the family, subtly showing the erosion of everything that they are. As Stasia says, it is very well done. Very sad.

61) Soulless - Gail Carriger
(May 2010, Rock Road Library)

There have been so many review of this, I shan't add another one as I suspect you all know the outline already (supernatural, Victorian crime romance!). Not really what I expected at all - I couldn't help making comparisons with Mills and Boon with a fantasy twist (yes, I did read one or two when I was at school - I had an addicted friend). Much more enjoyable though, however silly.

62) The City and the City - China Miéville
(Jan 2010, Cambridge)

A Noir thriller from an odd angle. The cities of Beszel and Um Qoma exist in the same place, crosshatching with each other. Citizens are trained from an early age to "unsee" anything that goes on in the other city, or "Breach" will come to get them. When a murdered girl is found in Beszel, it soon becomes apparent that someone is crossing boundaries.

Hmmm. It took me a long time to get fully in to this. While he unfolds the nature of the two cities quite naturally, I still felt confused - as though I was missing something, for quite some time. It held my interest enough to keep going, but I didn't really feel any urgency to get through it until I reached the second half, at which point it did take off and I was glad I'd persevered. Good job I had a long flight to prevent distractions! The final section did feel a bit hurried, but then, the story kind of needed it to be, so I'm not really complaining - anyway, it certainly got me thinking a bit more about the nature of perception and just how much we accept without question.

Actually, I'm wondering if the "a while to get into it" thing is going to be something I find with China Miéville in general - I read Un Lun Dun last year and ended up enjoying it a great deal, but it also took me quite a while to get in to.

OK, that's me up to date, bar the Our Tragic Universe review, which I shall do soon.

Currently reading the next trashy Ilona Andrews "Kate Daniels" book (I don't care what anyone says, I've had great fun with these books however ridiculous they are - and yes, they are VERY ridiculous. Not great literature.). Also finishing off The Shadow of a Sorceror by Stella Gibbons, which really isn't very good, but is, at least, short and I keep hoping (I should know better by now - really, Cold Comfort Farm is miles better than anything else I've read by her).

Both of these before I return to the 2nd in the Mistborn trilogy and join in the group read of The Aeneid (I've bought the recommended translation, but I must see if I can find my original copy, which has the Latin against translation). The Doors of Gloomy Dis approach...

...ooh and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Programme arrived while I was away, so I've been swarming over that too - looking forward to August now!

Welcome back! You have been BUSY!

Re American Gods, I really enjoyed it, loved the road trip it took me on. I need to go back to Fragile Things and reread The Monarch of the Glen story now that I know all about Shadow.

Love the pictures, especially the ballpark :)

You are the Maharincess of the Shutterbugs, aren't you? And they're delightful photos. Thanks for sharing them with us, it makes me feel like I've been there with you.

The House on the Rock is surreal, isn't it?! Just completely unexpected...how could anyone expect the carousel room?!...and in Wisconsin, one of those staid, stolid, dull places. (Yes, I've been there, and that's my personal and informed impression. Nyah, cheeseheads!)

Thank you Richard and Stasia, glad you liked them! I loved The House on the Rock and have been recommending it to everyone I know who might be able to get there...

Roni, hallo!

Kerry, I must also do this, although, I suppose it doesn't have much bearing on American Gods really, does it...

"...and in Wisconsin, one of those staid, stolid, dull places." - I can't comment on Wisconsin in general, having not seen that much of it (although I liked what I did see and met some lovely people), but I can say that on checking in to a random motel on the I-90 my final night, I was actually asked what language we speak in the UK - I couldn't believe my ears!! I didn't think I was being particularly incomprehensible ;o)

...to be fair to the lady in question, she didn't seem remotely offended when I snorted rather loudly in response...

Lovely pictures and great reads! Soulless is one of my favorite LT recommendations, and I'm adding The Bloody Chamber to my list.

Luxx, I think that The Bloody Chamber will probably be right up your street... (and thank you!)

I'm crazily trying to catch up after some time away from LT, and I must tell you, you have a fantastic thread. I've really enjoyed your reviews and have duly added to the ever-growing wishlist.

Thank you! (*blushes*)

Just realised that I haven't got round to a May update yet, although to be honest, compared to the rest of the year, it's looking rather pathetic:

Pre-owned: 1 (0)
Borrowed: 2 (0)
ARCs: 1
New: 1 (0)
(re-reads in brackets)

...from UK (2), US (2) & Belgium (1).

Goal 1 (non-fiction): 1 (Total: 30%)
Goal 2 (group read): 0 (Total: 90% - down because I've added another)
Goal 3 (to read list): 1 (Total: 25%)
Goal 4 (from Xmas): 0 (Total: 40%)

Best (new read) of the Month: Fear and Trembling - Amélie Nothomb
Reviews: none, but I'm owing one on Our Tragic Universe - done! It's here

Five books. Five. What was I doing with myself all month?! Oh yes, weddings... Well that season is all over now (sob) - until September anyway...

Welcome back! Nice photos (I still need to read American Gods). My head is in a whirl with all the posts (and my husband is trying to get me to watch the Brazil-North Korea match as I type). Glad you enjoyed Soulless and I still need to write my review of Our Tragic Universe too - I just don't know what to say about the book!

Thank you - and me either!!

Loved your pictures Fliss:) But no way you could make me walk out on that "see-through floor thingy"! *shudders*

I bet June will be a better reading-month for you:)

Thanks Bente - and I had issues too. It was fine until I looked down properly to take that photo, then I froze and had to be prized off, with some very kind but random stranger stroking my back!

Re June, I suspect so too!

Great pictures fliss (as usual). The House on the Rock looks just like I imagined it while reading American Gods. I'll have to see if I can talk someone into going there with me. Someone who drives.

YES! You must go there! You'll love it! (but unfortunately, yes, you do need to be able to drive really - I initially tried to do public transport, but it just wasn't going to happen).

...and thank you!

63) The Shadow of a Sorcerer - Stella Gibbons
(May 2010, Rock Road Library)

I'm working my way through books by Stella Gibbons as and when I find them. I don't really know why now, it must be the completest in me, because, quite honestly, although I liked Nightingale Wood and My American, Cold Comfort Farm is far and away her best book. This was not her best.

Meg and her mother go to Austria for Meg to learn German, where she attracts the attention of the mysterious and sinister rich bloke living across the lake from the pension. But is there more to him than meets the eye?

Basically, it's a slow paced thriller romance. It's fine, it is. I've read worse, but really, I've read much better too. It suffers badly from being written in post war 1955 - it's very dated, which usually I can ignore (I read a lot of older children's classics when I was small, it raised my threshold levels!), but I did find myself cringing on a number of occassions.

There's quite a good self-referrential moment towards the end when someone talks about seeing something nasty in the gondola-shed, but it says a lot about the difference between the two books that it took half a page for the joke to click - and it's then spoilt somewhat another half page later by someone else thinking that the other person is always quoting from "that book about a farm" - just in case you didn't get the joke. Weak.

64) Sword of My Mouth / 7472619::Therefore Repent - Jim Munroe (Review)
(Jun 2010, Cambridge; ARC - ER)

The former is a digital graphic novel that I recieved through ER. I shall come back and review this properly (along with Our Tragic Universe) a bit later today, when I've ventured outside for a bit.

65) Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews
(May 2010, Cambridge)

The next in Ilona Andrews' extremely silly, but very enjoyable Kate Daniels series. I was a bit worried initially, after a prologue and first chapter that made me think I'd picked up one of the books I'd already read, that she'd run out of ideas, but, although there are many clichés and repetitive plot elements, the characters remain hilarious (probably not intentionally) and the story exciting (and different from the last 3 ;o)). Definitely a guilty pleasure, but good fun.

#196: Too bad about the Stella Gibbons book. I have not read any of her work other than Cold Comfort Farm and since it is her best, I may just leave it at that.

I tried the first book in the Andrews series and did not care for it, so never went any further with the series. I am glad you are enjoying it, Fliss!

#197 Re Stella Gibbons, to be honest Stasia, I don't think you'd be missing too much, although I did enjoy both Nightingale Wood and My American much more than this last one. Most of her books (bar Cold Comfort Farm and the recently Nightingale Wood which was recently re-released) are out of print anyway...

The Ilona Andrews series truly is completely ridiculous , so I completely sympathise with you not liking them - half the reason I've been enjoying them is that they make me giggle just because they are so silly! ;o)

OK, I've delayed reviewing Our Tragic Universe for far too long (see Msg131!), so, for better or worse, here's a review of a book I found extremely hard to comment on:

Meg is the ghost-writer of generic, pulp fiction, trying hard to write her own serious work of literature, a "story-less story", at the same time, but scrapping her attempts every time she starts to get anywhere (or even after the first page). She lives in penury with her moody boyfriend Christopher, though attracted to another older married man, writing reviews of popular science books to make extra money.

When a book, dealing with the idea that we are all already dead, living at the end of time in a second, purgatory-like world, arrives on her doorstep, despite disliking the ideas behind it intensely, even though "the science is right" (really? how is it right?) and writing a scathing review, it makes her stop and think about her life.

This is a book with a lot of ideas - the story-less story; why should everyone be a hero; learning to accept your mistakes; relationships; asking the Universe for help (an idea I liked)... To be honest, for me, there were too many - it made too much of a jumble.

I think the main theme was the idea of a story-less story - and for the novel, in the process, to be one. It's a clever idea, but for me it did not quite work. There is a story - life is a story - it's just incomplete - why does a story need to have an end? Nonetheless, I think that the book would have profited from just focusing on this one idea, without the extra not-quite-reality moments (this from someone who enjoys magical reality fiction), which really didn't add anything to the story, to my mind anyway, although maybe I am missing the point.

I say all this, but Scarlett Thomas does have a knack for keeping me reading. Off the top of my head, several weeks later, I can not think of a single likeable character, but this doesn't matter - which is always quite an achievement to pull off.

So, at the the end, like The End of Mr Y (which I enjoyed more than this), some interesting ideas, which I get the impression are meant to make me philosophise more than I did; "science-which-is-mysterious-and-revolutionary-but-is-also-right" (I'm sorry, I just find it extremely hard to suspend my belief without at least some attempt at an explanation - The End of Mr Y does a bit better at this) but absorbing writing. I really have extremely mixed feelings about this author!

...now I just need to comment on Sword of My Mouth... Hmmm. How does one review a graphic novel?

I think Nightingale Wood is well worth reading - I was very disappointed by a late sequel to Cold Comfort Farm though.

I've got Conference at Cold Comfort Farm on the waiting list at the library (I had to return it before I'd got around to reading it recently as someone else had requested it) - I've heard other people say the same, but I just have to see it for myself!

To be fair to Nightingale Wood, I did enjoy reading it - it just lacked the satirical edge that made Cold Comfort Farm so good.

Can anyone tell my why the touchstone to Cold Comfort Farm always comes up as The Bachelor (also by Stella Gibbons) and the touchstone for The Bachelor comes up as The Small Bachelor by P. G. Wodehouse?!

>199 flissp: Thunbs up for that very cogent review!

#201: Can anyone tell my why the touchstone to Cold Comfort Farm always comes up as The Bachelor (also by Stella Gibbons) and the touchstone for The Bachelor comes up as The Small Bachelor by P. G. Wodehouse?!

In a word, No. If I could figure out Touchstones, I would probably make a mint on this site.

#202 Thank you Richard!

#202 ;o)

And, just because I'm very pleased with the beautiful new-ish rose ("Arthur Bell") that I recently added to my allotment, and I happened to be there last night, here's a pic:



It smells wonderful.

GORGEOUS rose! AND it smells good! *envious sigh* Roses don't like our garden. It's sad, but true, that they are the pernickety divas of the plant world, at least the varieties that I like (cabbage roses a particular favorite). We're too shady for them.

Coming to reply from my thread - thank you for comment on my review. I see that you've started reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks yourself. Have you put it on the TIOLI Wiki (Member recommendation)?

Beautiful rose, Fliss!

I love roses too, have added 12 in the 4 years we live here, all smelling ones ;-)
At the moment the "Westerland" is blooming unbelievable rich.

it is a very fast growing shrub rose that can be used as a climber too.

>208 FAMeulstee: Lovely, lovely flowers!

>208 FAMeulstee: Simply beautiful!

Karen O.

I'm a fan of oldfashioned roses, though as it's winter here pruning is more on my mind.

I am so enjoying these beautiful pictures of roses. I had to take my roses out a few years ago because of the voracious Japanese Beetles! They still enjoy my Butterfly Bushes and Crepe Myrtles, but at least they don't totally decimate them. I'm so glad that both of you have fragrant varieties. I think the ones that look lovely but have no scent are kind of sad.

#205 Thank you. Booo to shady gardens. I have that problem at my flat (well, I don't have a garden at all, but there is space outside the door) - it just never gets any sunlight - part of the reason I was so pleased to get hold of an allotment plot last year...

#206 Re the TIOLI Wiki, for ages I had no idea about what this TIOLI challenge could be that everyone was talking about - I finally discovered it last month, but I haven't really investigated properly. I should do that!

#207 Thanks Stasia!

#208 That's a very beautiful rose! - and yay for smelly roses - I agree with Donna - I never quite see the point in the ones that don't smell...

#212 Eveeel beetles!

> 213

Welcome to the (purposely hidden so it won't get too large - which it already is!) TIOLI, flissp!! :)

I am jealous of all the beautiful roses. Enjoy them!

Your roses are absolutely beautiful! I love the Arthur Bell !

#214 Aha! A conspiracy! ;o) thank you!

#215 Thanks Luxx, I am -they were one big flowery mess when I went to water this evening. Mmmmm.

#216 Thank you - me too!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks still ongoing - I'm really enjoying the anecdotal style.

...I was going to finish off the second Mistborn book tonight, but I got distracted first by the most epic tennis match I've ever seen - did anyone else see any of the STILL unfinished Mahut vs Isner match? FIFTY NINE games all in the fifth set?!

I started watching when the England match finished, when the tennis was at about the 30-all mark. After that I watched it all evening. I was mildly amused when the scoreboard died at 47-all. I'm in awe of the physical and mental abilities of those two players to keep going ... and going ... and going ...

Isner was looking so tired by the time the light went, but it didn't seem to affect his ability to play very much at all.

Very nice roses fliss and Anita. I'm a fan of yellow and orange roses.
I just started The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It'll probably take me a while to finish, now that I'm supposed to be studying. I can't wait to read what you think of the book.

Nice roses! Food and gardening related topics always seem guaranteed to get lots of comments in this group!

#198 I only just read your review of Our Tragic Universe because I was waiting until after I'd written mine. I think I had similar thoughts to you but liked it anyway!

The Mahut vs Isner match is STILL going - we've just had Isner's 112th ace of the match; 11hrs; 68 games each in the 5th. Just unbelievable the stamina of these guys!

#218 Caty, agreed! What amazed me more than anything was how still-alive Mahut looked after 6 hours of playing...

#219 Thanks VB, me too. ...and re Henriette Lacks, me too you!

#220 Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it more than I did...

...Aaaaah - match point!!!

Mahut has got to be unbelievably gutted. 6-4 3-6 6-7 7-6 70-68. 11hrs 5mins. Wow.

It was lovely that they did the presentation for the two of them and the umpire at the end, and I'm pleased for Isner, but Mahut must indeed feel gutted. Poor bloke.

I wanted one of the presenters to give him a hug, the poor bloke looked close to tears. And Isner has a doubles match in half an hour - unbelievable?!

Apparently they've each played enough tennis that they could have won the tournament by now (well, if they were Federer) and it's only a first round match...

I know - did you see his face? I almost felt like crying for him! I was rooting for him actually - the determination, to have to serve to stay in the game the whole way through that last set and still keep going... (Not to belittle Isner's achievement of course - they both must be very stubborn men!)

Here's a pic for posterity (even though it documents the fact that I have clearly not been working very hard this last hour!):

Mahut can rest for a bit, at least. Isner has to play again tomorrow!

ETA: Wait; Isner has to play again today?

Yep, but I'd imagine that he'll pull out of the doubles. ...and I very much doubt he'll make it into the 3rd round after that match...

He might get a bit of a rest - I think his doubles partner is playing in a singles match at the moment.

Ah, then maybe he'll stay in - although maybe a bigger gap is a bad thing for tired muscles...

I guess the consolation for Mahut is that he'll go down in Wimbledon history - it's not like he's ever going to win the thing, after all.

"it's not like he's ever going to win the thing, after all." - true! Well, I have nothing but admiration for the grit that both of them displayed in keeping going...

I only saw bits and pieces of the match (grumble, grumble, work, grumble, grumble), but the bits I saw were utterly gripping (on the other hand, my Mum, who saw a lot more of it, said that it was mostly rather boring until the end...)

Looks like Isner didn't have to play his doubles match after all, due to his partner's singles match, as Caty said. Mahut on the other hand did, although they didn't finish and will be on court again in 10 mins today - mind you, given the state of the two of them on second day of the match, I think Mahut was probably the more physically capable of continuing...

Ho hum. I haven't caught much other tennis yet (I think we should be allowed every afternoon off work for the two weeks of Wimbledon ;o)), so I'm looking forward to the weekend...

Confuse me? Isn't this the big-soccer-match-lovers' thread, and now suddenly we're talking about lawn tennis?

And y'all womens say men are fickle and sports mad.

Nope - this is definitely not the big-soccer-match-lovers' thread Richard - that belongs to Darryl!

I have watched matches, but usually only because they're on in the pub and I'm being sociable ;o) In fact, while I can live with the UK's football obsession most of the year round, I actively start to dislike it during the World Cup, because it pretty much takes over the whole country... And it screwed up my Queens Club tennis viewing the other weekend - pah! Now rugby on the other hand...

I'm not a football or rugby fan, but my husband is a diehard football lover so we get no choice at home. Anyway if you haven't already tried it, do look up Lloyd Jones' The Book of Fame, I might have mentioned it before, but it's a about the first rugby tour of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland by a NZ team in 1905 and I loved it.

And Monsters of Men got a 'snarky' review in our local paper today by a reviewer that until now I liked. He decided that the excess of excitement was too much. 'One book with no pauses is exciting. Two is fairly exciting, particularly if you can serve up great characters on the side. But by the end of three books of breathless excitement, I felt like someone had been force-feeding me sugar for a week. It turns out even excitement can get boring'.
Can you please these people?? I read all the books a year apart so the momentum of pace worked for me.

I did end up listening to the last 10 mins of the football at the weekend after all (curiosity overcame me) - all I can say is, oh dear! ;o)

Thanks for the rugby book recommendation Kerry, I shall investigate... ...and how strange to complain that a book is too exciting! Ah well...

I read the first one last autumn and was panic stricken when I didn't have the second immediately to hand - but once I'd got over that, I managed to hold out until the final book came out, which was a very good thing I think - I'm not sure I could have handled the suspense if the final book hadn't been next to me. Of course this did mean that I read them both so fast that I don't think I could comment intelligently on them. I'm going to have to re-read the entire series at a slower pace at some point!

It's wonderful weather over here at the moment and I spent most of Saturday doing very Cambridge-y things for a friend's hag do (hen/stag party!). Punting down the Cam towards Grantchester with Pimms in the sunshine was a big part of this, although I can't say we got very far up the river, what with the wedding-choice-wine-tasting and all...

This isn't us, but it's so very Cambridge, I just had to share it:



I got home rather late, but in a very good mood from the pub to find that two of my other mates (who I introduced to each other) have just got engaged - it made me feel all fuzzy and happy! (...although it did also make me realise that I only know one other single person in Cambridge - sigh...)

Anyway, most of Sunday was spent sitting in my allotment finishing off the second Mistborn book rather that actually doing any work on it, so a pretty lazy weekend all round...

66) Mistborn: The Well of Ascension - Brandon Sanderson
(Jun 2010, Rock Road Library)

Second in the trilogy, we pick up the story a year later - and I never know what to say when commenting beyond the first book in a series, in case I include spoilers for those who haven't read the first one.

Suffice to say that the loss at the end of the first book wasn't as much as problem as I had thought it might be (as some of you had promised) and there's a great "new" character in OreSoeur. It did however take me a lot longer to get into this one and, I have to say, at 760ish pages, although I enjoyed reading it once I had got into it, it was a bit long. I've got the final installment all lined up to go next - it's a similar size and I can't help feeling that although I want to finish the series, I also want to get on with something else now - but it's a library book, so...

edited to correct over-excessive boldface

...oooh, I forgot to say that I've managed to get tickets to see Patrick Ness and David Mitchell at the Edinburgh Literary Festival when I'm up there for the Fringe this year - woo! ...so have ordered David Mitchell's most recent book in anticipation...

Congrats on that, Fliss!

Nice photo, Fliss! Your weekend and the weather in Cambridge sound wonderful.

>235 flissp: Being single will not be a problem when you meet the right one, it will be a positive advantage.

The picture fills me with envy and loathing.

And dear sweet Jesus on book #66's page count!!! ALMOST EIGHT HUNDRED PAGES?!? DOes anyone bother to edit these marvies? That is just too much verbiage.

/rant

#237 I'm really looking forward to it!

#238 Thanks Darryl - it was indeed!

#239 True, true! ...now if I could request that "the right one" would get a move on and make his way to the front of the room pronto, that would be great ;o)

Cambridge is very photogenic...

Re #66 Yup. I would be inclined to agree... No excuse for it really - it actually puts me off reading the final installment...

Ah! I've attended several of the Western New York versions of the hen party punt -- on the mighty murky Genesee
river: a selection of beat-up canoes, many many six-packs, some awful champagne or other, about twenty women, aunts cousins, nieces, old friends 16 to 70 ish, and a lot of mud and laughter and sunburn. Picturesque but in a different sort of way....

Rachael/FlossieT just posted a very funny (even to someone who has yet to read any) Steig Larsson spoof on facebook, and, as she's not here to post it herself, I thought I'd post it on my thread as I think you'll all enjoy it!

The Girl who Fixed the Umlaut

#241 Sounds fantastic! ...and not dissimilar ;o)

>242 flissp: I couldn't *abide* the first one, and it got a Pearl-Rule 50pp before being hurled forcefully from me.

Awful.

Aha! Someone I can use to defend my lack of interest in reading them - everyone else keeps telling me I should (this despite my general avoidance of crime fiction)...

fliss

I love the photo! Regarding single life, I was divorced and then single for awhile. I actually enjoyed my freedom and solitude..to a point. When I wasn't searching, I had my eyes examined by a doc that I immediately became smitten with.

Because I never believed in love at first sight, I left the office very skeptical. I remember asking myself "What the heck just happened!!"

Lo eight years later, we are still together and while there are some days I miss my single hood, overall, it is a very nice relationship...filled with compromise

filled with compromise

As what isn't, once we mature?

very true Richard! I view relationships and the human body in the same way, ie it is a miracle they work! When they breakdown, it takes a lot of pain and energy to repair them.

>247 Whisper1: I do have to say that I adore, and will steal shamelessly, the image of love at first sight...with your ophthamologist! Soon to come to a romance novel near you.

And you've just made the case for maintenance in place of repair very tidily and succinctly. The New York Times has a piece in the Science section today about the emerging idea of marriage check-ups. It's over here.

#242 Loved the spoof! I've just finished the third Larsson book and I enjoyed them a lot but I wouldn't say they're must reads if you don't fancy them.

#235 I have the last Mistborn book (Hero of Ages) to read too. I think books do seem to be getting longer. I didn't find The Well of Ascension too long but the third Larsson (The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest) was 750 pages and it also took me a while to get into.

#245: I am a believer in love at first sight too - after all, Kerry and I are still together 22 years later!

> 245 & 250
I don't believe in love at first sight ;-)
Frank and I disliked eachother very much at first sight. One year later we ended up together after a party, we went to my place, he stayed and 14 months later we got married.

Marriage check-ups! Thanks Richard, for that article link. I want to laugh, but it's not a bad idea. I didn't see a mention of the fellow who has done the research using video to analyze expressions and body language -- he can predict to a scary degree which couples will make it and which won't. My big take-away from him was that 'please' and 'thank you' still matter after marriage and that one compliment per day to your partner can work wonders. It's amazing to me how many people think getting married or being long-term with someone gives you license to be rude to them.

From the start of our relationship we also agreed never to cause the other to 'lose face' in public.

It was not love at first sight -- but I did, after a brief 'thing' followed by a hiatus of a few years, experience a coup-de-foudre when we met again.

Argh. It's times like this (Federer vs Berdych 4-6 6-3 1-6 3-5) that I really wish I could be at home watching the tennis instead of being at work. I should just take the second week of Wimbledon off work really.

#245 Linda, I do enjoy single life most of the time, but I have spectacularly bad timing and I've been single long enough now that I sometimes worry that if I ever do find the right one (and I've never been convinced that there is one for everyone), I'll be so used to doing my own thing that I'll be rubbish at the compromise needed in any happy relationship! ;o)

#248 "I do have to say that I adore, and will steal shamelessly, the image of love at first sight...with your ophthamologist! Soon to come to a romance novel near you." - made me giggle too (lol Linda!)

#249 Heather I may well get round to the Steig Larsson books one day, just so I can have my own point of view (also Twilight), but most likely not for a few years, but thanks for the confirmation that they're not an urgent read!

#245, 250-2 I'm not sure about love at first sight. My gut reaction is to say that I don't believe in it, but I've come across enough happy couples who did that I'm willing to believe that it happens for some people. Maybe it depends a bit on what kind of a person you are.

Match point!

...well that's going to open up the top half of the draw... ...and Nadal is 1-5 down (first set) in the bottom half too...

I'm all over "so very Cambridge" (photo caption). Enjoyed your other pics too. WIsh I had your way with the camera. We are not friends yet, the camera and I.

Enjoyed the book talk too -- LOL

Thank you Susan! ...it helps that I take a lot of photos ;o)

So, I'm going to join in with the TIOLI Challenge for the first time in July. Here's my initial selection (it may well change):

1) Read A Book with an ISBN Ending in "4": probably Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides (0747560234) or possibly Shades of Grey - Jasper FForde (0340963034), but the former also fits one of my own goals.
6) Read an Orange Prize...: Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood
9) Read a book with a "day" or "night" in the title: Nights at the Circus - Angela Carter
12) LT-inspired: Eva Luna - Isabel Allende (girlunderglass, last year)

De-lurking to say I hope you'll enjoy the TIOLI Challenge. I've found it to be the greatest way to sweep my shelves and keep my TBR pile down to a slight roar. BTW I loved Middlesex a few years ago when I read it.

Thanks Brenzi - that was exactly my reasoning - I have well over 200 unread books on my shelves - all of which I want to read NOW, without even looking at the wishlist, so hopefully it'll work!

I've heard lots of good things about Middlesex and it was a present from a mate, I really don't know why it's taken me so long to get round to it!

It's probably a bit early days, but, I'm starting a new thread here, as we've reached the half way point of the year...

...and a quick post to summarise my June reading:

Pre-owned: 2 (0)
Borrowed: 3 (0)
ARCs: 1
New: 2 (0)
(re-reads in brackets)

...from UK (3), US (4) & Canada (1).

Goal 1 (non-fiction): 0 (Total: 30%)
Goal 2 (group read): 0 (Total: 90%)
Goal 3 (to read list): 0 (Total: 25%)
Goal 4 (from Xmas): 0 (Total: 40%)

Best (new read) of the Month: The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter
Reviews: one still pending for Sword Of My Mouth - Jim Munroe
Currently reading: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot; Who Will Run the Frog Hospital - Lorrie Moore; Aeneid - Vergil and Mistborn: Hero of Ages - Brandon Sanderson