Coppers' (Joanne's) 2010 Reading, Chapter 4

Wow, thread number 4 - I really am surprised! Thanks for stopping by and saying "Hi!"

Thread #1 http://www.librarything.com/topic/80948
Thread #2 http://www.librarything.com/topic/88920
Thread #3 http://www.librarything.com/topic/93397

My year so far:
January
1. The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys
2. You Were Always Mom's Favorite by Deborah Tannen (audio)
3. The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
4. Coventry by Helen Humphreys
5. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell (audio)
6. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
7. Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

February
8. Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews
9. A Good Fall by Ha Jin
10. Thereby Hangs A Tail by Spencer Quinn
11. Looking Back: A Book of Memories by Lois Lowry
12. Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews
13. American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson (audio)
14. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
15. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
16 The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
17. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
18. Why Manners Matter: The Case for Civilized Behavior in a Barbarous World by Lucinda Holdforth
19. Horns by Joe Hill

March
20. Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt
21. The Patience Stone by Atiq Rahimi
22. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (audio)
23. The Fur Person by May Sarton
24. Maus I by Art Spiegelman
25. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

April
26. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
27. Maus II by Art Spiegelman
28. Tinkers by Paul Harding
29. Mrs. Somebody Somebody by Tracy Winn
30. Skellig by David Almond
31. Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas
32. Keeper by Kathi Appelt
33. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny (audio)

May
34. The Sleeping and the Dead by Ann Cleeves
35. The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker
36. The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande (audio)
37. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
38. Translation is a Love Affair by Jacques Poulin
39. Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs by Wallace Stegner

June
40. The Last Child by John Hart
41. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
42. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future by Michael J. Fox (audio)
43. Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson
44. A Test of Wills by Charles Todd
45. Wings of Fire by Charles Todd
46. Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder (audio)

July
47. Off Season: Discovering America on Winter's Shore by Ken McAlpine
48. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
49. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
50. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson (audio, reread)

August
51. The Passage by Justin Cronin
52. The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard
53. Star Island by Carl Hiaasen (audio)
54. The Art of Losing by Kevin Young

September
55. The Meadow by James Galvin
56. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
57. The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick (audio)
58. Blindness by Jose Saramago
59. Work Song by Ivan Doig
60. Invisible by Paul Auster

October
61. Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
62. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
63. True Compass by Edward M Kennedy (audio)
64. A Broom of One's Own by Nancy Peacock
65. Rose in a Storm by Jon Katz

I'm first, I'm first! It looks like you're having a great reading year, my friend! Keep it up!

Stopping by to say "Hi!"

Hi Mark!
HI Terri!

Yea! People found me!

I gain new appreciation for Stasia and her threads every time I set up a new thread and think "My goodness, she does this every week?!"

I am having a great year of reading but I'm starting to think I may fall short of my 75 book goal. Overachieving earlier in the year might save me, but I really have slowed down. Oh well, colder, darker weather will be here soon. :( And anyway, I'm really enjoying everything (mostly) that I have read!

Hi, Joanne. Congratulations on your 4th thread!

Hello!

Hey, Joanne! Just checking in.

Hi Joanne! :)

Hi Joanne, I don't think there's much chance that I'll hit the 75 mark but I'm not really concerned. I'm reading so many 4+ rated books that I'm happy as a clam without over-exerting myself. Some books you need to just savor and not speed read your way through:)

Joanne and Bonnie, I'm in agreement that enjoying what you read is the most important thing, whether it's 20 or 200 books! There is much to be said for slowing down and savoring both what we read and how we live.

Hi Joanne!

Congratulations on reading 54 books! And, many of them great ones!

Hi Joanne,

Very cool! #4!

Thank you Pat!
Hi Jenn!
Hi Stasia!
Hi Stephen!
Hi Bonnie and Donna - Yeah, quality, not quantity!!
Thank you Linda! I agree.
Hi Claudia - Aww - so cute! I noticed on the ER thread that you're getting the Katz book - me too.

I am with Bonnie and Donna, Joanne. The quality of my reading is so much better since joining LT it is unbelievable. The quantity is what it is.

Hi Joanne and all,
I'm relatively new on LT (how long can I say that?) but I know the quality and scope of books I'm reading has vastly improved.
This gets me more excited about future reading, too.
The floodgates have opened! I am inundated by book reviews that I trust, people who know what they are talking about, thoughful opinions, and recommendations beyond my wildest dreams.
I'm having so much fun! I might even be developing a sense of humor...
Thanks, all you crazy readers! Love ya! :)

Found you once again! :)

Claudia- "The floodgates have opened". You have no idea how true that is!

Hey, Joanne! I'm one of those agreeing that I sure have read a lot of great books because of my LT friends' recommendations. I still have some of yours on my wish list. :-) I want to be like you and read The Frozen Thames in January when it's really cold.

Claudia - From what I've read, you seem to have a fine sense of humor!

Hi Angela - Glad you found me!

Bonnie - The Frozen Thames is a perfect winter read - when you're in a warm cozy spot, of course.

I remember a time, not so long ago, when I would finish a book, and then, especially if it was a great book, spend a day or two or three struggling to find my next read. Now that I've discovered this place, and the books are stacking up, the problem is choosing which book from all those clammering for attention.

I agree - choosing the next book is sometimes fun, sometimes overwhelming because I want to read them ALL...right NOW... :)

Hi Joanne!! Hope you are having a great weekend!!
I have to mention it again, looked over your list and February has the most books!!! You can make it to 75!! There are still 4 months left to go.

Found and starred! I think a lot of you have created third/fourth/fifth threads since I was last on LT regularly and I'm still in the process of tracking them all down. But I've got this one :)

Hope you're enjoying the long weekend!

Thanks for the encouragement, Tammy!
Hi Andrea - I'm glad you caught up to me!



55. The Meadow by James Galvin

I could be really lazy and just quote the blurb on the cover:

"A masterpiece. The Meadow is one of the best books ever written about the American West" - William Kittredge

I loved this book, written by a poet and about, not so much the high-mountain meadow on the Colorado/Wyoming border, but the people who lived and attempted to live on it. I will miss App and Ray and Lyle, and even Clara, whom I would have liked to have gotten to know better but I realize this wasn't her story. A mix of memoir, fiction and natural history, it begs to be reread as I'm sorry it ended so soon.
Highly recommended.

And thank you Anne (AMQS) for recommending it to me!

The Meadow looks great, Joanne. Onto the wishlist it goes.

Hi Pat, I think you'll really like it!

Thanks for another great review! Adding it to the list.

*happy, happy, happy dance!!!!!*

I am so glad you enjoyed The Meadow. Your description of it is perfect. It's a hard book to label, but I loved it so much. Glad you did, too!

You'll like it too Jenn. I can't recommend it enough.

Anne - Thank you, thank you! *hug* It is a gem I would never have discovered on my own! I loved the non-linear storyline and some of the stories will be staying with me for a long time.

Joanne- Loved the review! And I'll do a "Happy Dance" knowing I have a copy! Hope you had a nice holiday weekend!

Sounds very good Joanne. The Meadow goes onto the teetering tower.

I already have The Meadow in the BlackHole thanks to Anne's praising of it, so I better bump it up some more!

OK, OK!!!!! I don't need a Colorado book for my 50 states challenge, but how can I resist so many strong endorsements? Into the whirlpool of desiregoes The Meadow!
It might make me want to visit CO again! ;)
Cheers!

Here is where you got to! I can't keep track of everything in LT any more than I can IRL, it seems...

I simply have to get back to The Meadow. I think I'll take back the audiobook and get the print version as I seem to be dragging my feet about this cross-stitch project!

found you ...

Hi Mark - I did have a great weekend, thanks. Why is it, though, that short weeks always seem the longest?!

Hi Bonnie and Stasia and Claudia - Hope you like it when you get to it! Love that "whirlpool of desire" - it's positively dizzying!

Hi Suzanne - Glad you tracked me down!

Hi Donna - I could never do cross stitch in the summer. It always seemed like a winter thing to me. But yeah, get the book!

Hi Kath - Aw, that's so cute! Glad you found me!

I'm only 130 pages into Bury Your Dead and I'm already thinking that I don't want it to end while wanting to read as quickly as I can to find out what happens. I guess that's the sign of a great book!

Hi, Joanne!
I also added The Meadow to my wishlist. It sounds wonderful!
--BJ

Hi BJ! I hope you like it. How are you these days?

A mix of memoir, fiction and natural history...

Plus, written by a poet, so someone who chooses his words carefully--The Meadow sounds really good!

Bonnie - Yes, that too! And really a joy to read.

I was at my library's annual booksale yesterday and it was one of the books I was hoping to come across but, alas, no luck (but I really didn't expect to).

Hi, Joanne!
I am doing well. My younger daughter is off to college and playing in the band (the violin, no less) and my older daughter is looking for a job and planning her wedding. Plus, it is football season!
--BJ

Oh my, BJ, you are a busy mom! Sounds like a lot of fun!

Found you and caught up! I think I'm storing up "wide open spaces" reads for winter and your comments about The Meadow are perfect timing. On another thread I'm reminded how much I want to read more by Willa Cather, and today's Chicago Tribune mentioned a new printing of Rural Free, a year in seasons on a mid-20th century Indiana farm.

>43 detailmuse: Hi MJ - I'm glad you found me!

My library had their annual Friends sale this past week so I dropped in on my lunch hour. Trades and hardbacks were $2.50 so I only chose ones I really wanted and were in as new condition. I found a few books I've been looking to read:

1. Runaway by Alice Munro (dreadful cover though)
2. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winsprear (The 4th in the Maise Dobbs series. I have the first 2 but haven't read any yet. I really should try them before I buy anymore.)
3. City of Light by Lauren Belfer (I remember my mom loved this book so thought I might too.)
4. Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden (I've heard lots of good things on LT.)
5. Golden Days: Memories of a Golden Retriever by Arthur Vanderbilt (Just because and seriously, how could I not?)
6. Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut (Hard cover first edition, will be a Christmas gift for my son.)

Good haul! Runaway and Three Day Road are especially great finds, hope you enjoy them! They are a couple of my favourites.

Andrea - And those are the two I'm most looking forward to reading!

H Joanne,
Looks like you had some fun at the book sale. Wow! $2.50 for a book? Prices are going up. I suppose it's for a very good cause though. Libraries are hurting.

Did you get Rose in a Storm yet? I'm trying to figure out if it is me or the book - very intense.

Good morning Claudia!

I did have fun at the sale and probably would have bought a few more if I had had more time. And you're right, it is for a good cause.

I didn't get Rose yet but yesterday I saw that someone in Ohio got it so it's working its way west. I'm intrigued by your comment.

I need to finish up the last 50 or so pages in my current ER book and then it's on to Blindness. Therefore, no rush.

Have a great day!

Hi Joanne, great haul at the library sale. Ours is coming up next month. Always a highlight in my life! We have a convoluted pricing system at our sales. The "better books" are priced individually, with most of them being in the $2 or $3 range. I don't mind paying this to help out the library. We usually raise over $100,000 at each of our semi-annual sales! We (Friends of the Library) recently bought a brand-new fully equipped Bookmobile to replace the old worn-out one.

You got an awesome buy in the 1st edition Bluebeard. I love it when I find a gem like that. What a cool gift for your son!

I hope you enjoy Blindness. I read it two months ago and it's still fresh in my mind so I'll be following along with Mark's group read.

Nice haul Joanne. I got a copy of Runaway at our library sale last year but haven't gotten to it yet. Three Day Road was one of my favorites last year.

Good loot from the book sale! I love book sales...

Donna, that is amazing that you raise $100,000 at each one! I've just been looking to see what Wellington's big fair raises - there are 60,000 books, but I don't know how many get sold.

Joanne- Nice haul! I have Runaway on the stacks too! I know you are a big fan of Paul Auster, who I still have not read, I received a copy of The Brooklyn Follies. today. I think that makes 3 of his on the shelf, including his latest, Sunset Park.See you over on the Blindness.

Donna, The town library does the same varied pricing at their store.

I found a first edition of Olive Kitteridge a few months ago but my favorite find was a copy of a children's book I had had back in the day - a kid's adaptation of Lad: A Dog. I actually cried when I flipped through and saw the familiar illustrations. There was a lovely note from a boy's grandparents, dated Dec 25, 1965, inscribed in it, too. Best $1.50 I ever spent.

Bonnie - It must have been on your thread that I read about Three Day Road!

Cushla - I do too but I sometimes wish that the three libraries I regularily visit didn't all have ongoing sales!

Mark - I'm looking forward to the group read! And I loved The Brooklyn Follies.

I finished Bury Your Dead and loved it! Gush, gush!! What a wonderfully satisfying read!!

Wow, Lad: A Dog, does that bring back distant memories. I had totally forgotten about that book but loved it as a child. What a great find.

Glad you liked Bury Your Dead. I need to get going on the Three Pines series (I've only read the first two). So many people seem to love this latest book of Penny's.

I haven't made it to one of my library's book sales, but they do a 'pay by donation' thing. I'd have no idea what to pay even if I did go. *shrug*

Great haul, Joanne! I hope I do as well at the library book sale my local library is having this weekend.

Just saying hello! You got some great books at the sale. I am closing my eyes and trying to remember how I'm not supposed to buy any more books this year...unless absolutely necessary :).

49- I am, as always, green with envy over your library fundraising Donna!
Our friends of the library earns $4,000 to $5,000 total per year to help our library (I think), with two annual book sales and other small events. It really helps, but I wish we could earn more for them!

Pat - I adored all the Sunnybank collies when I was younger! The Penny books really do just get better and better.

Stephen - They must have a "suggested" price, no? They are fun to go to!

Stasia - Yay! Nice to have you back - so glad you had such a fun time last weekend!!

Jenn - Aren't most book purchases absolutely necessary? :)

Angela - I tend to worry about libraries and upcoming funding.

Thanks, Joanne. It is good to be back!

56. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

If you're not already on the Three Pines bus, now is as good a time as any (but start with Still Life). The best of the bunch. 5 stars.

Brooklyn Follies and Timbuktu are my fave Austers -- but then I haven't yet read The New York Trilogy, so...

I've got Three Day Road on my Kindle, awaiting my attention. I don't know why I downloaded it; it ended up on some recommended list, I think because I've been reading books by Linden Macintyre this summer.

I'll be interested to know what you think of City of Light!

Lad, a Dog.. I remember talking about that book when I was in fourth grade. I was not reading it, I was reading something else... but a friend was reading that one. We were talking about our books.. ( some things never change).
I kept thinking she was saying Ladder Dog..and it baffled me. Somehow the conversation stayed with me :P

Glad you enjoyed Bury Your Dead! It was a 5 star read for me too....

I agree that it's the best in the series so far. I'm on tenterhooks to see where she'll go next with the story line.

Yes Tad, exactly. Since I finished Bury Your Dead (also a 5 star read for me) a day hardly goes by that I don't think about what she can come up with next.

Suzanne - I haven't read The New York Trilogy yet either and its been on my shelf for at least a couple of years.

Kath - "Ladder Dog" - LOL! I don't remember Lad tackling any ladders...

How fast do you guys think Penny can write her next book?? Not fast enough probably...

IMHO - Penny's writing speed is ok, you all just read so dang fast! :)

I'm hoping she keeps to about a book a year. Any faster and books seem to become formula trash, any longer and I go through withdrawal.

>68 -Cee-: Just impatient, Claudia!

>69 TadAD: That sounds about right, Tad.



57. The Last Stand Custer, Sitting Bull and the Battle of the Little Big Horn by Nathaniel Philbrick

I listened to the audio, read by George Guidall. It was excellent - I couldn't wait to get back to my car to continue it. I read Son of the Morning Star almost 20 years ago - too long ago to compare fairly.

It's the minutiae I enjoy - the personalities, the mule train, the heat, the horses, the drinking, the surprising lack of equestrian skills on the part of the calvalry - all the small details I find fascinating. There were many first person accounts, from both sides of the battlefield.

Recommended for anyone who enjoys American history or just a good non-fiction read.

An aside, if you find yourself anywhere near the Custer Battlefield Monument, it is more than worth a stop. It's hard to describe, but don't miss it if you can help it.

Joanne

Your most recent read sounds fascinating!

Hi Linda! It really was!

>70 Copperskye: Nice review! I read Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War by Philbrick last year. This one looks terrific.

Joanne- Good review of The Last Stand! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Like I mentioned I have the audio downloaded, now I just need to fit it in somewhere! Hope you had a nice weekend!

I've got his Mayflower book on my shelves/TBR stack -- and loved the Custer book. Thought it was brilliant! The epitome of well-written history.

I have read several of Philbrick's books. I am going to have to bump his latest up the stack some! Thanks for the reminder, Joanne.

Hi Anne - I keep meaning to read Mayflower...

Hi Mark - Thanks - and I would be really surprised if you didn't like this one as much as I did.

Hi Suzanne - I love it when a great author brings history to life! I also have to get to Mayflower.

Hi Stasia - Yup - move it on up!

A quick hello before they shut us down.
I liked Mayflower. It was well written and very interesting. My mom was excited - she's a genealogist - and one of her ancestors (our) was mentioned several times in the book.

Hey Jenn - Wow, I love book connections like that - I would have been excited too!

Hi Joanne!
Howarya?
I'll hafta look into this Philbrick dude. Thanks for the rec. I'm so glad there are an increasing number of good authors writing about our history. Wish they had more of this when I was younger. I hated history for so long and now I'm lovin' it. Maybe America just needed a little more distance in years to get the necessary perspective.

Have a great day! :)

Well Joanne you have made me anxious to get The Last Stand as soon as I can. I love American history and have read a couple of great ones this year including The Devil in the White City and The Worst Hard Time so this one also sounds enticing to me.

Hi Claudia - I couldn't agree more - my US history teacher in HS was such a bore, all he did was write notes and dates on the board for us to copy into our notebooks. Imagine if we had had history brought to life like Philbrick does!

Hi Bonnie - I think I'll try The Worst Hard Time on audio. The Devil in the White City collects dust on my shelf while everyone tells me to read it!

Speaking of audio books, I tried to listen to Persuasion and got lost in the characters...and not in a good way. Maybe I just wasn't paying close enough attention, but I gave up on it and will try another time. I think I have now settled in happily with Ted Kennnedy's True Compass.

Blindness has gotten a tad less bleak, but only a tad.

I may get The Last Stand just to listen to George Guidall...

Hi Terri - Sure! He's an excellent narrator, isn't he? In fact. over the weekend I was looking in my library's catalog to see what else he had done. I found quite a few but My Antonia and The Good Earth caught my eye. They would both be rereads of books I read ages ago and so perfect for audio.

>82 Copperskye: OMG! The Devil in the White City gathering dust! Even my husband read that and enjoyed it. I have recommended it to so many. The part about the World's Fair was great - the part about the murders I could have done without. Still, it was a great book! Dust it off!

>82 Copperskye: I sort of felt the same way about Persuasion. After Northanger Abbey, Persuasion is my least favourite of Austen's novels. I just couldn't warm up to any of the characters.

I don't particularly like hearing that about Persuasion since I picked it up after reading Pride and Prejudice recently.

I feel like I have to say that I LOVE Persuasion. Not to say that everyone else should, but it is my favorite Austen with P&P a close second.

>87 brenzi: Well, like I said in Mark's thread, my taste in Jane Austen seems to be kinda warped so don't put too much stock in that!

I have to put in another plug for Persuasion. I listened to it recently, and grinned for the whole eight hours. I'm not reading much these days, so it felt like balm for my reading soul. I also have to admit (*looks around, whispers*) that aside from P&P years and years ago, Persuasion is the only Austen I've "read", so I may not be a good judge of how good an Austen it is. I only know that I loved it!

Oh, I don't mean to dissuade anyone from reading it especially since I only gave it about a half hour of listening time. I'm sure I'll try it again and love it. I don't usually mention everything I try and give up on...:) (and probably too soon in some cases).

58. Blindness by Jose Saramago

Wow, what an uncomfortable, unsettling read.

An unnamed plague leaves the entire population of an unnamed city/country blind, save for one, who out of necessity, keeps her sightedness mostly to herself. The breakdown of society is swift and merciless as the reader follows a small group of people aided by the sighted woman.

An allegory for man’s inhumanity to man as a result of spiritual blindness? Our inability to see the truths that surround us? A study on just how tenuous our hold on a civil society truly is?

I quickly raced through the second half of this mercifully short book to get to the end of this brilliant, disturbing story.

But I think it will stay with me for a long time.

Joanne- Good review! I know the book is very bleak, (I'm not finished yet) and I'm glad you appreciated the author's incredible vision. I feel it's a stunning work. It was great having you on the Group Read!

Hi, Joanne. I'm currently reading two other books besides Blindness so I'm just a little more than halfway through. To some extent, I can only take it in small doses. I agree though that it stays with you. Nice review!

Joanne, "brilliant" and "disturbing" perfectly describe my reaction to Blindness. Like you, I will be thinking about this book for quite awhile.

I've read all the Jane Austen books, and like Andrea in Post #86, Persuasion is down towards the bottom of my list. P & P was read in my youth and will always have a special place in my heart, but I'm also fond of Emma. I've read some of these books several times, but I haven't listened to them so I may give that a try when I'm driving solo.

I tried to get The Last Stand for my upcoming drive to Dallas, but there is a waiting list. I did reserve Every Man Dies Alone read by George Guidall. It's been on my wishlist for a long time; I hope it's not too depressing for a long day alone in the car.

I'm with Jenn: Persuasion is my favourite Austen, followed by P&P.

I've been undecided over whether to read Blindness for a while: I still can't decide whether the 'brilliant' outweighs the 'disturbing'.

Donna- I hope you can get to Every Man Dies Alone. It was my top read of last year. It's an amazing book!

Good review of Blindess. I'm still working my way through it, but "unsettling" is exactly the word I've been looking for and couldn't quite put my finger on. It disturbs me on so many levels, I can't find a way to articulate my thoughts on it. But is definitely a good read.

I haven't read Blindness yet but hope to get to it some time in the near future even if it is unsettling. Every man Dies Alone has been sitting on my shelf but I will get to that in November.

Hey Mark - I'm looking forward to discussing it as more people finish. Thanks again for another great GR!

Pat - I understand about the small doses but I approached it the other way and plowed through it!

Donna - Too bad about The Last Stand having too many holds. I have Every Man Dies Alone and hope to get to it soon. George Guidall is a good narrator. How long a drive will that be for you?

Caty - I think it was worth it. I was going to recommend it to my son to read but now I think I'll just let him find it by himself someday.

Andrea - I'm looking forward to discussing it more.

Bonnie - Again, it is a worthwhile read. I'd be interested in your opinion.

I meant to add that I've started my ER book, Rose in a Storm and also Work Song. (I had some spare time, waiting around today.)

Joanne,
Your review of Blindnes was right on!

Normally a slow reader (to enjoy books more), I felt compelled to blast my way through to finish it. Was afraid if I put it down, I would not pick it back up... and I really needed to get to the end.

So glad this book was "mercifully short"... as you said so perfectly.

>92 Copperskye:: Without a doubt, Blindness was one of my best reads of last year. It had everything: good characters, great plot, thought-provoking messages and a literary style that was compelling.

Hi Tad, I haven't rated Blindness yet. I really don't know how to rate it. I thought it was great, and for all the reasons you mentioned. But I didn't like it...I'm not sure if that even makes sense.

>103 Copperskye:: This is interesting. I'm not sure whether I'm reading your comments correctly or not...particularly when I reread the "mercifully short" statement. I can't figure out if you're saying "It upset me" or "I acknowledge this might be a good book but I hated it."

I may not be expressing that well. Hmmm...maybe an example: I think "Schindler's List" is a great movie, it's in my Top list, but I came away from it in some emotional turmoil—vs.—I'm willing to accept others' opinion that "Childhood's End" is a great movie, but I didn't care for it, was even a bit bored.

Have you finished True Compass? I love that book. I gave a copy to each of my kids last Christmas. It was the first time i have given books to them in a while, as I usually prefer to let them choose. This one though.. I just wanted them all to have ... even if all they ever do is open it now and then to a random chapter for a five minute read.

>104 TadAD: Hi Tad, It upset me. Had it been a longer book, I'm not sure I would have finished it (but on second thought, I probably would have), hence the mercifully short. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a great book. In fact, one of the reasons I think it was a great book is because it bothered me so much. Your Schindler's List example would fit here (although since that was based on a true story, it's not quite the same).

Also, this is the kind of book that my son might like, particularily for the writing style. If he reads it fine, but I won't be handing it to him saying, 'you have to read this, you'll love it' (like I did, for instance, with Slaughterhouse-5 a few years ago).

Can you tell I'm conflicted about it?! :)

>105 mckait: Hi Kath, I am loving True Compass! There are 17 cd's and I'm only up to disc 4 so I'll be listening to it for a couple more weeks at least. It's the type of book that's perfect for me to listen to in the car.

I just left my acutely ill baby girl (that would be Copper) at the vet for x-rays and blood work. I am much more worried than I can admit to anyone here at home...I'll pick her up in an hour. Wish me luck.

Joanne, I hope all goes well. It's so hard with dogs to know exactly what is going on and therefore so much easier to worry. Let us know what happens.

omg ~ so sorry.. that is a hard thing..
hugs and energy to you... let us know...

Poor, poor Copper. :( And poor Joanne. :(
What's wrong with the baby girl?
Wishing for the best possible outcome!

Oh, no! I'm so sorry. Hope she feels better soon. Let us know what you find out. Sending good thoughts.

Oh I hope all will be well with Copper Joanne. {{{{Joanne}}}}

Thanks you guys, for your concern. The x-rays showed rather severe arthritis along her spine. I had noticed her slowing down a bit for the last couple of weeks but then she kind of overdid it in the exercise department on Thursday so by Friday evening she was in a lot of pain - could barely walk. She also has a small intestine issue that's probably related to the back pain. We'll have to wait and see on that. The skin growth I found on her elbow is just a skin tag and hides well in her feathers. The swollen gum tissue by her upper insisors that I happened to notice in the waiting room at the vet's will be biopsied in a couple of weeks when she feels better. For now it's meds and rest - no walks for two weeks (!) and bland diet for three days.

I'm not usually a worrier but she really hasn't been this sick since she was young and had an allergic reaction to her spay stitches. I guess we've been lucky in that sense.

Acupuncture! can you try it? I have seen it do wonders...
such a worry these fur kids of ours..

Thanks for the update. Poor dear dog! She's lucky to be in your loving hands. I hope she recovers quickly.

Kath - Acupunture is something I will think about when she starts feeling better. The vet put her on Rimadyl for a week or so but I don't want to continue it long term.

Thanks Anne!

They really can be a worry...and I don't know what I would do if I had to worry about being able to pay the vet bill. Over $500 just for today. Another thing to be thankful for.

If you are interested.. let me know.. message me.. I worked for an holistic vet and might be able to tel you about my experience with seeing acupuncture there.

What a scare you had!!! I'm glad Copper is going to be okay. I'm sure she will miss her walks even though it's painful for her. Lucky wants to go no matter what! Big hugs going out to you and Copper. Please keep us posted on her progress.

#106: I know exactly what you mean about Blindness, Joanne. I finished in the wee hours this morning. I am not sorry I read it, but I am not sure I am glad I read it either.

#113: Despite the concerns over Copper, I am glad the ailments appear to be minor ones. I am sure you are relieved by that at least.

I'm sure she thinks she is a puppy, but in reality old is Copper? I so hope everything will resolve and Copper will be a happy girl again. Good luck.

Hope Copper is feeling better soon, Joanne.

Joanne, I just went to your profile page to look at the pictures of Copper. She's a beautiful dog. That picture you posted of the sunset in Colorado was fantastic!

Boo to vet bills...boo to animal health scares...

Hope Copper is feeling spunky again soon. Hugs!

Joanne- Best wishes to Copper! Hope she rebounds quickly!
Tad's comments in #102, about Blindness, were perfect and match my feelings about this incredible book. Yes, there are some very difficult sections but...wow!

Donna - That's when I really got worried - when she refused to leave the driveway to go on a walk! She's feeling a lot better now.

Me too, Stasia.

Claudia - She's 8 yrs, 8 mons. I think goldens remain puppies forever. :)

And thank you Pat and Angela and Mark!!

Hey Mark's back!

59. Work Song by Ivan Doig

Not quite as charming as The Whistling Season, but it was fun to revisit Morrie Morgan as he moved from school teacher to librarian in Butte, MT, ten years after the close of Whistling Season (1919). An interesting look at labor struggles in a copper mining town in the early 20th century.

#126: It is too bad my local library does not have Whistling Season. I would have preferred to be able to read it prior to Work Song.

One more reason to try Doig...

Joanne,
Oh so happy to hear Coppers is better! Such a sweet, expressive dog.
Please pass on a hug to Coppers for me - I know you won't mind!
((Coppers))

Kath... that's right!

Glad to hear Copper is better. You are so right in that Goldens (and Labs) may age in the body but not in their puppy ways. Our old Lab was a wanderer who 'ran away' one Thanksgiving when she was about 13 and could hardly walk. She only got a few doors down the street before the neighbors brought her back home. Our new Lab is a rescue dog who is so grateful for his home that he doesn't leave our sight!

Sorry the second go-round with Doig wasn't quite as much fun. I think his books will be ones that I space out quite a bit as they all sound rather similar.

I hope you come across a copy of The Whistling Season, Stasia. I'm sure you'll like it.

You would too, Kath!

Will do Claudia!

Lucky is indeed a lucky dog Donna!

I'm currently happily immersed in Paul Auster's Invisible.

60. Invisible by Paul Auster

Well, I raced through this book! It had me on the edge of my seat - truth and/or fiction wrapped in a wonderful puzzle. It's not a thriller, but there was an edge of mystery that kept driving me forward to see what was happening.

I know Paul Auster isn't for everyone, but I'm a fan and I loved this book. There was a bit of an icky plot line for a few pages and I would love someone to fully explain the fairly abrupt ending for me, but other than that, it was great.

I've got this one lurking around somewhere, and just got an ARC of the new Auster, which sounds appealing...

#132: I have never read anything by Auster before, Joanne. Is Invisible a good place to start?

>133 Chatterbox: Suzanne - I also have a ARC of Sunset Park. I was tempted to pick it up right after I finished Invisible, but I didn't think that would really be a good idea. I am looking forward to it!

>134 alcottacre: I don't know, Stasia. I think The Brooklyn Follies, which I also loved, might be a better introduction.

I'm home early today after having, finally, an implant placed in my gum. It wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be and now I have to decide whether or not to go to work tomorrow (I had planned a sick day...). I'll probably still be tired tomorrow...;)

I started an ARE of Dennis Lehane's Midnight Mile and love it! I've somehow managed to have never read one of his books, although I have seen a few of the movies made from his books. I tried to read Shutter Island a few months ago and couldn't get into it.

Joanne- Thanks for always reminding me to read Auster. I now have 3 of his books in the stacks, including Sunset Park. One of these days, Alice! How did you snag a copy of Moonlight Mile, you lucky duck? That should be so good! Actually I still have The Given Day sitting unread on a shelf but please don't tell anyone!
I was not a fan of Shutter Island either and the film stunk!

I like Paul Auster a lot, but have never read Invisible. I'll have to check it out. What is your favorite Auster?

Joanne

So sorry to hear about Coopers. Our animals get in our heart and stay here....forever.

Hugs to you!

>136 msf59: -Hey Mark, I know, right?! Just lucky, I guess. And it's pretty good. I didn't know Gone, Baby, Gone was part of a series.

I watched Shutter Island once I knew I'd never get through the book. It was pretty weird but we did watch the whole thing so I guess I didn't hate it.

>137 arubabookwoman: Hi Deborah, I really liked Oracle Night and The Brooklyn Follies, along with Invisible. I promised myself I would finally read The New York Trilogy this year - I still have a few months...

Oh and I love Auggie Wren's Christmas Story. What's your fav?

>138 Whisper1: Hi Linda! Thanks! She is feeling so much better now. I snuck in a real walk today - the weather is so nice - and she was happy to get out and about. We met up with her best doggie friend, though, and I felt so mean for not letting her off the leash so they could play. We have a follow-up vet appt next week.

Good luck with the follow up appointment.

Adding The Brooklyn Follies to the BlackHole. It is not yet available at my local library, but it is available for the Nook. Thanks for the suggestion, Joanne.

I loved The Brooklyn Follies and Timbuktu. Still have to read The New York Trilogy...

Glad the pup is feeling a bit more frisky -- hopefully the follow-up vet appointment will go well...

I had 2 of Lehene's books, and didn't make it through either.. Shutter Island was one and Mystic River????? or something the other. Did not even try the movie. And yes, do let us know how your baby is doing..

>135 Copperskye:: Joanne, that is good news about your dental implant. I'm having one later this month. I may have the extra added attraction of a wisdom tooth extraction at the same time! On the way down here I bit into an apple (trying to be healthy) and lost a filling in a wisdom tooth. I'd love to have all my dental work done by an oral surgeon. I love that IV sedation! As you know, the worst part of major dental work is the cost.

I didn't have a good experience with my first Auster...The Book of Illusions, which I couldn't really get into. Brooklyn Follies was better imo. I may try The New York Trilogy one of these days, especially if you read and like it. No pressure!

Donna - Ouch! No fun. I had IV sedation when I had my bone graft for this implant. That was nice but, of course, added to the already high cost (most of which is not covered by my dental insurance).

I really intend to read The New York Trilogy this year - I'll let you guys know how it goes. Auster is an author that people seem to either love or hate.

Just waving hello.

**drive by waves**

Thread traffic!

Hi Jenn! Hi Bonnie! *waves*

glitter-graphics.com

Oh that is way too cute - Hi Claudia, you "hottie" you!

I will do a drive by wave too, Joanne, and join in the fun!

.......catching up...

Hi Stasia - Cute kitty!

Hey Kath!

61. Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane

This was my first Dennis Lehane book and it was very different than I was expecting. I expected it to be a lot darker and more hard-hitting but instead it was wise-cracking with lots of witty banter. It was actually a lot of fun.

What I also didn’t realize going in was that this is the sixth book in the Kenzie and Gennaro series. My only previous exposure to the characters was from the movie Gone, Baby, Gone, which was based on the fourth book in the series. As it happens, Moonlight Mile has its origins with that same book. Now, twelve years later, the missing four year old from Gone, Baby, Gone is now a missing 16 year old. Her Aunt Beatrice asks Patrick Kenzie to once again find her and bring her home.

Some aspects of the plot were a little farfetched, but as a whole, I thought it was very entertaining. Patrick and Angela are very likeable characters and I probably would have liked the book even more if I had known their entire backstory. As it was, I knew just enough to not feel lost at all and wouldn’t mind finishing up the series to fill in the holes. 4 stars.

Chiming in on the dental discussion. Yesterday was my third two-hour appointment for a root canal in a molar. Total cost $700, and the dentist told me I should have a crown on the tooth...a mere $900 more.

Hi Linda - Ouch! Any insurance?

Luckily my implant took almost two years to get to this point so the cost was spread out - just the appt last week was $2k. My insurance doesn't cover it...:(

#154: I did not realize that Lehane had another book out in the Kenzie and Gennaro series. I will have to locate a copy as I own all the others. Thanks for the review, Joanne!

Joanne- Good review of Moonlight Mile. I'm glad you liked it. I have only read two of the Kenzie and Gennaro books. I should read the others too. I still have The Given Day sitting on a shelf.

Stasia - Forgot to mention here that it was an arc I read, it'll be out on 11/2.

Hi Mark!

Oh, OK. Thanks for letting me know, Joanne!

Hi Joanne, I haven't read anything by Lehane but I've been tempted by The Given Day which I know is a lengthy tome. Good review of The Moonlight Mile which is a series I hadn't heard about.

It dawned on me the other day that you were the one who actually got me into the Three Pines series so I need to thank you for that. Wow! What a series.

Avalanche!

I've been pecking away at a few books, adding to my wishlist - but now I'm finding the recs are coming in series instead of single books! LT is a dangerous mountain.
oh... groan... begging for mercy! ;)

I haven't read many books by LeHane, Joanne, but I highly recommend The Given Day. It was in my Top Ten reads for last year. I'm a little bit tempted to read this Kenzie and Gennaro series. Sounds like Stasia is a fan.

Mark -- take The Given Day down from the shelf and read it. It's a home run book! Bonnie and any others on the fence, jump off and get this one queued up to read soon.

Wow, you'd think I really liked it or something. I think there is supposed to be a sequel coming out sometime but right now it's a stand-alone book.

Yes, Officer Donna! I just moved The Given Day to the "Must Read Soon" shelf! And I highly recommend Mystic River, easily one of the best books I've read in the past ten years!

#161 - Well Bonnie, if it wasn't me, someone else around here would have got you going with it! :)

#162 - Sorry Claudia! (not!)

#163 - Hi Donna, ok, ok, with everyone saying I'd like The Given Day how can a resist? It does sound interesting.

#164 - And Mark, I've seen the movie of Mystic River. Would I still enjoy the book?

I'm getting back to my ER book now, Rose in a Storm, and I needed a Halloween read so I started Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. So far, so creepy...

Hi, Joanne! I didn't know that a new McKenzie/Gennaro was in the offing. I'm excited and will look for it! Glad to hear good things about it even with qualifications.

#163: Stasia is a fan of the McKenzie/Gennaro series. I also liked The Given Day, which would have been a 4-star book for me had the author not seen fit to use the 'f' word indiscriminately.

Claudia.. that is when you know that you have become hopelessly enmeshed in the 75 culture.. series recs. You have to be strong. lol

There are days that I avoid posts with blue text..lol
i am not worried about missing anything.. either someone else will discover them another time when I am not afraid of signing up for another series.. or.. another one will rear its head and life goes on. Right now, I have Three Pines and Lumby to read. I have made up my mind to read the Evanovitch books because they are just funny. Funny.

Leheny... canNot read him. Dislike. But that is what makes the world go round.
Some people fel the same about Urrea. I wanted to like Leheny, because I lived in that area.. but no.. he doesn't work for me.

Having said that.. when I read the word Avalanche in a post, I got all excited for a new disaster book.. lol

Joanne- Yes, the film version was excellent but still read the book! It's a terrific character study!

Hi Joanne!
Ok then... for anyone interested in avalanches/snow/disaster I read a great book by Jill Fredston called Snowstruck: In The Grip of Avalanches.
I gave it 5 stars. Alaska - more snow than even I needed to hear about. Talk about living on the edge! Jill and husband were called on to advise and help rescue and recovery teams for many avalanche disasters.

#170: I read that one too. I second your recommendation, Claudia!

ooooooo yummy!
got it
:)

>166 LizzieD: Peggy - I think fans of the series will absolutely love it. I hope my qualification didn't come off as harsher than I meant it to.

Mark - Another year or two and I'll have forgotten the entire plot of Mystic River and I'll be ready to read it!

Avalanche books and gifs! I love it! Thanks! I'll have to check that one out, Claudia and Stasia. The mountains here had their first dusting of snow this week. Winter's on its way.

Hi Joanne.

Funny story. Yesterday, driving east to take my kids to school, I mentioned that there was snow on the mountains. My son said "How do you even know that? You can't see the mountains from here!" He cracks me up. I clued him in on the rear view mirror. They just know it all don't they?

The mountains look lovely, but it can stay up there for a bit longer as far as I'm concerned.

Hi Jenn - Good one! And I agree, the snow can stay away until mid-December as far as I'm concerned.

Oh and your son is just practicing now for when he really knows everything a few years from now! ;0)

Oh and your son is just practicing now for when he really knows everything a few years from now! ;0)

sadly true..

LOL... and this must be one reason why Moms love to hug their sons so much. Little men learning about the big world! ;)
Maybe I did miss something special by not having any boys.

>175 Copperskye: Oh and your son is just practicing now for when he really knows everything a few years from now!

You mught be amazed at how smart you get in the few years your child goes from age 18 to about 24. Wow! I got so smart all of a sudden;-)

I'm looking forward to it since I've been dumb as a rock since he was about four.

My daughter recently told me that I am the smartest person she knows. I'm basking in it, because she's 11. I'll be willing to bet that I'll be getting a whole lot dumber very soon.

#180: I'll be willing to bet that I'll be getting a whole lot dumber very soon.

You are probably (unfortunately) correct, Anne.

It sounds like a lot of us are suffering/or will be soon(!) from a common, thankfully temporary, affliction. There are worse things...:)

#182: True!

I am just posting so that you will not have a problem with the spammer when you try to post again, Joanne.

Sometimes it takes a while... but it is true.. we do regain some status as intelligent folks when the kids pass a certain age..

Hi Joanne!
Oh... cute new pictures of Copper on your profile! How is she doing?

Thanks for taking care of that for me, Stasia!



62. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

A good, creepy, old-fashioned haunted house story. It's funny, while I was reading it, it really didn't seem too scary, but now that I think about it more, it was. And I'm not sure that I could have read it if I had been alone in the house.

The gradual, smoldering horror makes it a great Halloween read.

I missed you there, Claudia! Thanks, I took it on one of our walks last week. I thought the picture looked Fall-ish.

Poor Copper had a bad day today. She spent the day at the vet's having a mass removed from her gum (right over a front tooth). So she's groggy and groany and not feeling too well right now. And she's not opening her mouth, so no smiles. But she ate a small amount of dinner and I gave her a rimadyl and she seems more comfortable here at my feet. We'll have the results of the biopsy by early next week. The doc is 90% sure it's nothing but of course, that leaves 10%... These animals, sometimes, are pure worry.

I hope Copper is up and around quickly, Joanne!

I agree... our furkids are indeed pure worry at times. Worth it, but still...

Joanne- Sorry to hear about Copper! Hope she recovers quickly. I have never read The Haunting of Hill House. Need to get it on the list!

Awww, poor sweetheart! She looks like one of the best dogs in the world. Hope all is well soon.

I had ordered The Haunting of Hill House a few days ago and it's on it's way. It looked good and your comments seem to second that. :)

Have a good day!

Hugs to Copper, and to you as well, Joanne. I know how badly it hurts when one of our babies is hurting. I hope that she's feeling better this morning and that you get good news from the biopsy.

I'll get to that "smoldering horror" of Hill House one of these days after hearing so many good things about it.

I'm choosing between The Haunting of Hill House and Dracula for my Halloween read. Hmmmm...

Copper is really having a tough time. Sorry. I hope all goes well and she gets back to normal soon.

Just wanted to stop by and say hello. Also sorry to hear about Copper! I hope she has a speedy recovery.

Thank you everyone for your kind words! They are very much appreciated! Copper's feeling much better tonight. She had two short walks and is back to begging for treats. She even briefly chased the cat, much to the consternation of the cat...

The Haunting of Hill House is pretty short. My copy is only 174 pages. Plenty of time to squeeze it in by Halloween.

Dracula is wonderful, Bonnie! No need to choose. Read both!! :)

Hope Copper keeps getting better.

Hi Bonnie - Thanks!

Glad to see the good news tonight on Copper, Joanne. I am sure you must be relieved that she is feeling better.

Truly Stasia! We just have our fingers crossed now for the biopsy results.

Hi, Joanne. Glad Copper seems to be feeling better.

Dear Copper Dog! I hope you can spend some play/rest time with her this weekend.

Hi Joanne!
Hugs to Copper and Smokey. Hope all is well with your furkids today.
It's taking a long time for my book Haunting of Hill House to arrive. Hope it's in the mail today. Halloween is fast approaching and I was gonna try to get in a festive mood. It's not easy to feel spooky around here. We never get any trick-or-treaters - too far off the beaten track. But we make it a point to always have our favorite candy handy - just in case. Next day, we manage to overcome our supreme disappointment by gobbling up our stash. Perhaps if we want a scare we should have our cholesterol levels checked Nov. 1st! :{

Hi Pat and Anne and Claudia!

I've been away from LT for a day or so and it doesn't take long to get hopelessly behind!

I hope The Haunting of Hill House shows up soon Claudia. It should get you in the mood. I would be so sad to not get trick-or-treaters. (Of course, I'd find being off the beaten track to be appealing.) I love seeing the kids in their custumes and the littlest ones are always so darn cute! But then the upside - extra candy for you! :)

Off to watch Bored to Death...

Why would you want to watch something called 'Bored to Death?' :)

trick or treaters

We get from 80-120 or so...
I need more hand outs. This year I have some pretzels..

208 - My question exactly! :)

Kath, I ran out of candy just once, many years ago. So sad, no leftovers! I never let it happen again.

LOL Stasia and Angela! Doesn't sound very interesting, does it?

Actually, it's a noir-ish comedy about a struggling writer who moonlights as a detective. Ted Danson steals the show as a magazine editor. It's clever and quirky, maybe a little uneven, but getting better. It's on HBO but the first season is recently on dvd. Between that and Wallander these last few weeks, Sunday night was TV night.

63. True Compass: A Memoir by Edward M Kennedy

I expected to like this, and I did, and then some. Warm, generous, heartbreaking, tragic, tear inducing, and yet, uplifting. 17 CDs in the audio version and I listened to the 17th a second time because I wanted more. Highly recommended.

edited to change DVDs to CDs...too much TV lately, and besides, a DVD in the car would be just too dangerous...

#211: No, it does not sound interesting, which makes you wonder why they would title a series with it.

I loved True Compass Joanne. Every chapter was so rich ~
I will read it again someday..

I really want to read that book, though it took me a long time to forgive Kennedy for his behavior Chappaquiddick.

>214 mckait: - I remember you talking about how much you liked it when you read it, Kath. You helped me bump it up in the stack.

>215 bonniebooks: - A lot of people have never forgiven him that, Bonnie.

Doggie update - Copper's lab work came back and the tumor we had removed was benign. Much relief here.


64. A Broom of One's Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning and Life by Nancy Peacock

Several years ago, in a box of books being given away by my sister, I found a gem called Life Without Water by Nancy Peacock. Then, a year or two ago, when I was clearing off my own shelves, I checked my library’s website to see if Peacock had any new offerings. There was nothing, not even this one, listed. Too bad.

And then last month, while wandering through some threads* on LT, I came across A Broom of One’s Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning, and Life by Nancy Peacock. Apparently, after having not one, but two, books published and well received (Life Without Water was a NYT Notable Book), Peacock was supplementing her income by cleaning houses. Any notion I may have had of the glamorous life of a published author was shattered.

But what a joy A Broom of One’s Own is! Honest and wise and humorous, each short essay takes us to a different client along with a brief discussion of her writing life. It is an insightful look at the life of an artist.

*Thank you, Angela, you really are a “book angel”!

I've never heard of Nancy Peacock, but this book sounds fantastic. What does it say about me that I gravitate toward books about housekeepers? I loved Nickel and Dimed in America and The Housekeeper and the Professor among others I'm too tired to try and think of. Well, there's Housekeeping, but that has nothing to do about cleaning houses. Btw, I've always cleaned my own house, even this monstrosity that is doing its best to kill me!

Thank you, Joanne and Angela...you're both in the angel category when it comes to reading good books.

I'm not at all familiar with Nancy Peacock Joanne but will remedy that by looking for these two. They sound really good.

Hi Donna and Bonnie - You guys are fast. I was off posting a review. The last one that was there was way too snarky and I thought it deserved something better, such as it is.

LOL, Donna, I've read all of those, too, and also never had a housecleaner. *sigh*

Good review, Joanne. And, glad to hear the good news about Copper.

Great review! I have never heard of Nancy Peacock either. I will be adding her to the TBR pile. I am sure to relate - having a broom of my own.

Hooray for good news about Copper!

No ones life should be defined by a single incident of bad judgment.
Particularly a person who did nothing but good otherwise.

Congrats on Coppers good news!

I wish my last name was Peacock

Glad you loved the book - I know I really enjoyed it. I too, seem to enjoy books about house cleaning. I guess it's because I was a house cleaner for two years.

I'm so glad to hear the update on Copper too!

Starring the review, Joanne! For the record, I kind of like housecleaning -- when I'm in the mood. It's great exercise and gives me a feeling of accomplishment. I listen to my I-Pod and get my groove on. And now I have some new groups to look into for some more current music thanks to you and Mark.

ETA: Dang, the only Nancy Peacock book my library has is a children's book about the dangers of alcohol.

Glad to hear the good news about Copper, Joanne!

Yay, Copper! Good dog!

Never thought much about reading a book on housecleaning... but I love the title A Broom of One's Own, ha! Sounds good.

Good dog, Copper! Much relieved, Joanne. (I'm off to pet May just because....)

I lost your thread for 228 posts. I am so apologetic.

> Hi Pat - Thanks!

>Hi Jenn - LOL! Thanks

>Hi Caty! I could not agree more!

>Hi Kath - Different subject, but again, I couldn't agree more. And "Peacock" would be kind of cool as an adult, but I think it would be hell all through middle school...

>Hi Angela - Thanks for finding it for me! Did her stories ring true for you?

> Hi Donna, I didn't get the house cleaning gene and would rather do almost anything else...but yes, music absolutely helps. Our county library system didn't have her books either. I had to do a ILL.

>Hi Stasia - Me too. :)

>Hi Claudia - Yeah, she is!

>Hi Peggy - I do the same thing whenever anyone talks about a pet being under the weather.

>Hi Lucy - Well I'm just glad you found me! I lose threads all the time.

65. Rose in a Storm by Jon Katz

My August ER book. I finished it a couple of days ago. I absolutely love Jon Katz's non-fiction/memoir-ish dog books (except the one that I won't read) and enjoy reading about Bedlam Farm but I'm not sure this fiction outing really worked for me. I feel very disloyal and am struggling with a review. :(

#231: I think I will stick with Katz's nonfiction myself.

"Hi Angela - Thanks for finding it for me! Did her stories ring true for you?"

Yes, absolutely! I had clients that I absolutely LOVED to clean for, some that I couldn't wait to quit, and some who were lonely and liked to follow me around and talk while I cleaned (I liked those people, but they slowed me down considerably!)

Hmmm another author I've never read. You seem to be on a roll of those Joanne:)

#233 - that sounds like someone who hires household help because they are so lonely...how sad. You were probably a blessing to them.

Joanne - Glad that I found your latest thread. Now, just to put together the time to catch up with what you have been reading ... yeah.

It'll be fun.

I haven't been keeping up with this thread so I went through...Oh no! Copper!...to...Oh good! Copper! I hate it when our animals scare us like that.

I didn't like Rose in a Storm either and hated writing a bad review, especially because most of the reviewers seemed to love it. But it was just too much, right?

Well I finally struggled through a review for Rose in a Storm. It would have been a lot better if there was less going on (meaning the book, not the review). I waited a few days to write it because my opinion seemed to be running against the grain but waiting didn't change my feelings very much.

>237 PaperbackPirate: Yes, Pirate, just too much. I'm not sure if I would have liked it any better if I had never read Katz's non-fiction or not.

>236 womansheart: Hi Ruth! You found me! I'm happy about that.

I'm off to get ready to drive down to the Air Force Academy for the State Marching Band Competitions. Wish us luck - we may need it!

I've got Packing for Mars to keep me occupied on the drive and music to sing to if I get sleepy tonight. :o)

Good luck -- How exciting!

>238 Copperskye:: Hi Joanne, I thought your review of Rose in A Storm was well written and very diplomatic; in other words, thumb worthy. I think those reviews are difficult to write. I know how much you admire Jon Katz because I'm pretty sure you're the reason I've read and enjoyed some of his NF. It's disappointing when a book doesn't quite measure up to previous standards.

I hope Chris's band does well in the competition and, more importantly, that they have fun. I've always enjoyed those meets -- when the weather is good. So much energy and talent. I think you picked a good book to listen to on your drive. Let us know all about it.

#238: Good luck with the competition, Joanne! Safe travels as well.

Home again, home again...

Hi Anne and Donna and Stasia. Thank you for the well wishes! They had a great finals performance and placed 5th in 5A State Finals. Not as well as they've done in the past but they had a fun year and a great time today after a hellishly busy couple of weeks. The buses are due back to the school around 1:30AM so I'll be waiting around now for another couple of hours. It's a bittersweet night for the seniors as it's their last competition. They'll have a Senior Hug Line and as one mom of a Sophomore put it tonight, it'll be a real sob-fest. I'm no better, I could hardly talk tonight without getting teary.

Thank you, Donna. You've made me feel better. It was really difficult for me to write. Had it not been an ER book, I would have just quietly gone on to my next book.

Speaking of books, I had to suspend listening to Packing For Mars today. There I was, cruising down the highway, doing 75ish and listening to a section on crash test cadavers and a description of what happened to someone when they got bagged while smoking a pipe. So I find myself giving sideways glances to where I know my airbag curtains are, and although I don't smoke a pipe, I do wear glasses...so, I sang for awhile instead.

I'm a little wired tonight so a little extra chatty...:) I'm gonna crash unto the sofa very soon!

#242: Glad you got back home safely, Joanne! Also glad to hear that the band placed 5th.

I hope you get wound down soon!

Me too! ;) Thanks Stasia!

No more caffeine for you, my dear :)

Absolutely! I'm working on a cup of decaf chai tea at the moment.

Good. I am drinking Yerba Mate because I have to stay awake!

LOL! I may need to join you.

No, no, no. You are supposed to be winding down!

Oh good, Copper's barking! Maybe he's finally home! Yup! Night!

Goodnight, Joanne!

(and before the Thread Police come calling, you might want to think about starting a new one!)

Stasia has a point, remember to link us !

Congrats on a successful band season for you and your son. I know the role the support of family is very important to band members. So much work goes into those routines. I imagine there is a tiny bit of that letdown feeling today...along with the tiredness.

That was a funny story about your audiobook experience. Sometimes ya just gotta sing instead!

Hope you got a good night's sleep, Joanne. The end of band season sounded bittersweet. Congratulations to your son.

Laughing at your experience with Packing for Mars Joanne. Congratulations to your son on his band season.

Thanks you guys! I finally set up a new thread.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/101246#2270314

Hi Joanne!
Congrats to your son on the band competition. Placing 5th is great fun. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to put out a great performance. Must have been exciting for him to have you there.
You did a nice review of Rose in a Storm. Though the book left me with a different feeling, I admire your honest struggle. It makes us all better readers (to hear different views) and better people (to be individuals).

>257 -Cee-: Thanks Claudia, on both the congrats and helping me feel better about not liking the book as much as I wanted to...:)