Carmenere's 6 foot 2 inch challenge for 2016 (#9)

Ahhhhh, welcome to my stress free holidays thread. When things get out of control this holiday season, stop by and have a hot toddy by my fireplace and relax with a good book and conversation. Cheers!

*sigh* my TBR stack hasn't reduced in October but may be an inch or two will be shaved off before the end of the year. Hope springs eternal, right?

The Tickers:







The List:

1. Isabel Allende
*2 Paula
Infinate Plan
Ines of my Soul
*2 Zorro
House of Spirits
Kingdom of the Golden Dragon
The Sum of our Days

2. Julia Alvarez
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

3. Laurence Bergreen
*2 Over the Edge of the World

4. Eric Blehm
The Last Season

5. Andrea Cameleri
Angelica’s Smile
Game of Mirrors
Shape of Water 5-11-16

6. Agatha Christie
Postern of Fate
Murder in the Mews
The Hollow
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Then There were none
Evil Under the Sun 2-23-16

7. Sandra Cisneros
The House on Mango Street 1-6-16

8. Debra Dean
*2 The Madonna’s of Leningrad

9. Ian McEwan
Enduring Love
Amsterdam 1-15-16

10. Lin Enger
The High Divide

11. Wm Faulkner
Mosquitos
Soldier’s Pay

12. Graham Greene
Our Man in Havana

13. Daoud Hari
The Translator

14. Charmaine Harris
Deadlocked
All Together Dead
Dead to the World
Club Dead 5-31-16
Definitely Dead
Dead & Gone
Living Dead in Dallas 5-10-16

15. Khaled Hosseini
A 1,000 Splendid Suns 7-2016

16. Stephen King
11/22/63 2-15-16
Under The Dome
Lisey’s Story

17. Barbara Kingsolver
Prodigal Summer
Pigs in Heaven
Small Wonder 7-18-16
High Tide in Tucson
Animal Dreams
Homeland and other Stories
Flight Behavior
Poison wood Bible

18. Eric Larson
Thunderstruck 4-23-16
In the Garden of Beasts 3-18-16

19. Donna Leon
Blood From a Stone
About Face
Willful Behavior
Uniform Justice
Through a Glass Darkly
Dressed for Death
Doctored Evidence

20. Arturo Perez-Reverte
Captain Alatriste 1-4-16
Sun Over Breda
Nautical Chart
Club Dumas

21. Nathaniel Philbrick
In the Heart of the Sea 3-30-16

22. Jose Manuel Prieto
Encyclopedia of a life in Russia 3-26-16

23. Mary Doria Russell
A Thread of Grace
Doc
Dreamers of the Day
Epitaph

24. Richard Russo
That Old Cape Magic 2-2016

25. C J Sansom
Sovereign
Dark Fire
Hearts tone
Revelation
Winter in Madrid

26. Raja Shehadeh
Palestinian Walks 5-13-16

27. Hampton Sides
In the Kingdom of Ice

28. Alexander McCall-Smith
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency 4-7-16
Kalahari Typing School for Men
Good Husband of Zebra Drive
Heavenly Date and other Flirtations
Sunday Philosophy Club
Forever Girl
Tea Time for Traditionally Built
*1 Espresso Tales
*1 Right Altitude to Rain
*1 Lost Art of Gratitude
Blue Shoes and Happiness

29. Henry David Thoreau
Cape Cod

30. Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace

31. John Kennedy Toole
A Confederacy of Dunces

32. Jess Walter
Beautiful Ruins 3-3-16

33. Sarah Waters
Fingersmith

34. Simon Winchester
Surgeon of Crowthorne
A Crack in the Edge of the World
Krakatoa 5-1-16

*1 switched out these for
#28 Alexander McCall-Smith
Morality for Beautiful Girls
The Full Cupboard of Life
Portuguese Irregular Verbs 6-5-16

*2 switched out these for
35. James Michener
Iberia

36. Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart 6-11-16

37. Tim O'Brien
The Things they Carried 6-23-16

38. e. lockhart
We Were Liars 7-9-16

Where my books take me...
States visited as of 11-12-16

visited 38 states (74%)


Countries completed as of 10-10-16

visited 40 states (17.7%)

Books read in JANUARY

Captain Alatriste
The House on Mango Street
Amsterdam
Lumberjanes #1 Library e-book
Crippled America Neighborhood Book Swap
Lumberjanes #2 Library e-book

Books read in FEBRUARY
War and Peace
That Old Cape Magic
11/22/63
Over the Top and Back Library audiobook
Evil Under the Sun
Yes Please Library audiobook

Books read in MARCH
Beautiful Ruins
In the Garden of Beasts
Encyclopedia of a life in Russia
In the Heart of the Sea

Books read in APRIL
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Thunderstruck
The Never-Open Desert Diner
Shylock is My Name Pearl ruled

Books read in MAY
Krakatoa
The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip
Living Dead in Dallas
The Shape of Water
Palestinian Walks
Club Dead

Books read in JUNE
Portuguese Irregular Verbs
Things Fall Apart
The Things They Carried

Books read in JULY
The Master of the Prado - Library
A Thousand Splendid Suns
We Were Liars
Shifting Sands
Small Wonder
The Complete Don Quixote

Books read in AUGUST
Brave New World
Symphony for the City of the Dead - library
Dark Matter - library
My Name is Lucy Barton - Library (booker ll)
Hot Milk - Library (booker sl)
Work Like Any Other - library (booker ll)
The North Water - Library (booker ll)

Books read in SEPTEMBER
The Sellout - Library (booker sl)
The Underground Railroad - Library (national book award ll)
Sweet Lamb of Heaven - Library ( " ")
Eileen - Library (booker sl)

Books read in OCTOBER
The Throwback Special - Library (national book award
sl)
Another Brooklyn - Library (national book award sl)
What Belongs to You: A Novel - Library (national book award LL)
The Portable Veblen - Library - national book award LL)
Miss Jane - Library - (national book award LL)
Tales of the Peculiar - Library - Halloweenish
Ghostland An American History in Haunted Places - Library - Halloweenish

Books read in NOVEMBER
The Association of Small Bombs
The Poet's Dog
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Haunting of Hill House

Books read in DECEMBER
A Room Full of Bones
The Girls
Grief is the thing with Feathers
Finding Me: A decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed, A Memoir of the Cleveland Kidnappings

Awards I may want to follow in 2017. I'm thinking I'll just be focusing on the short lists.

National Book Awards: DATES FOR 2016

May 16 (12 midnight, Pacific): Deadline for entry form submission (NOW CLOSED)

July 1: Books due to Judges and NBF office.

Mid-September: Longlist Announcement

October 12: Finalists Announcement

November 16: National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner (Winners announced)
-------------------------------------------------​
2016 PEN Literary Awards DATES FOR 2016

https://pen.org/

The finalists for all book awards will be announced on February 2. The winners for all 2016 awards will be announced on March 1, except those for the awards for Debut Fiction, Art of the Essay, Open Book, Literary Science Writing, and the PEN/Fusion Prize, which will be named live at the 2016 PEN Literary Awards Ceremony on April 11 at The New School in NYC.
-------------------------------------------------​
The Wellcome Book Prize timetable

https://wellcomebookprize.org/

April 2017
Winner announced

March 2017
Shortlist announced

January 2017
Longlist announced
-------------------------------------------------​
2017 winner of the Baileys Womens Prize for Fiction

http://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/

Short list announced in April
Winner will be announced on Wednesday 7th June
-------------------------------------------------​

-------------------------------------------------​
The Best Translated Book Award
https://pen.org/literature/2017-pen-translation-prize

FINALISTS
Finalists will be announced on January 18, 2017.

WINNER
The winner will be announced on February 22, 2017
-------------------------------------------------​

There's also the Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction
http://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/about-the-prize/

The Orwell Book prize for political writing -
http://www.theorwellprize.co.uk/the-orwell-prize/about/

The Edgar Awards for mystery
Announced January 19th
https://mysterywriters.org/edgars/currentsubmissions/
-----------------------------
Baillie Gifford prize
http://thebailliegiffordprize.co.uk/

Short List
Second-hand Time, Svetlana Alexievich, translated by Bela Shayevich (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
Negroland: A Memoir, Margo Jefferson (Granta Books)
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between, Hisham Matar (Viking)
East West Street, Philippe Sands (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

Winner announced November 15, 2016

The next one's yours :0)

Morning, Lynda! Happy new one - you post place savers made me laugh. Sorry about the loss last night - what a ride! I had fun following you and Mark's comments.

Hi Lynda! Sorry about your team's loss but wow, what a post season!

Good morning, Mamie!! You're #1! You've won a
Yeah, best to get over it quickly and move on! The great thing about playing baseball in November is the thought that spring's just around the corner!!

>8 ChelleBearss: Thanks for the condolences, Chelle! When two teams get to game 7 of the World Series it is an example of remarkably talented players.

Stress free is nice! Happy new thread, Lynda.

What a series, Lynda. My sympathy. Two remarkably talented teams, as you say. Lots of bleary-eyed but happy folks around these here parts.

Happy new thread. Quick query - is a butter ball just what it sounds like?

>11 DianaNL: Did you know, Diana, that stressed is desserts backwards? When I see feel this
I'm actually thinking this

>12 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! It certainly was an amazing series yet so much more enjoyable sharing is with Cub fans.

>13 charl08: Hey Charlotte! Butterball is a brand name. Wikipedia says the name is derived from Butterball Farms. Although, I prefer a fresh turkey, Butterball frozen turkeys are a good substitute when the need arises.

Happy new thread!

Hi Lynda! I see I missed a big 10th inning last night. I'm sorry things didn't work out for your Indians this year. It's a very talented team and I expect they'll have another shot at it sooner rather than later.

This was such a fun series to watch. It sure cut in on the reading time, though!

Happy new thread, Lynda! I'll just help myself to a cup of tea.

Morning Lynda, happy new thread. Your place holders remind me that Christmas is on the horizon and I guess I should start thinking about it. Even though your team didn't quite pull it off, Cleveland and Chicago sure put on a grand World Series!

Happy new thread, Lynda. Sorry about the Indians. It was a good game though.

Happy New Thread, Lynda! Still feeling a bit sore? I know the feeling. It will get better, my friend.

Happy New Thread Lynda.

Awful luck losing the second World Series in a row that the Indians got to in such circumstances.

>15 drneutron: thanks, Jim!

>16 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie! I'm feeling good about their chances for next year. The series was a real nail biter and I feel exhausted so I'm thinking about going to bed early and catch up on my beauty sleep :P

>17 mstrust: welcome Jennifer. There's lots more hot beverages in back so help yourself.

>18 DeltaQueen50: I agree, Judy. Our cities shined and the afterglow still lingers in Cleveland! Much to look forward to next year.

>19 BLBera: Hi Beth! Yup we were on the edge of our seats for most of the game. I've heard that this series my rekindle America's love affair with baseball. I sure hope so!

>20 msf59: actually, Mark, I got over it pretty quickly. Not turning on the television in the morning helped out enormously. When Will got home from school today, I told him I'm over it and he agreed.
Plus, the Cavs are off to good start so that should see us through for awhile!
-------
I hope to finish Small Bombs before I fall asleep so nighty night all.

>21 PaulCranswick: oops, almost missed you there, Paul!
To tell you the truth, Cleveland sports teams (Browns have never made it to a Super Bowl) (oh yeah, the owner moved them to Baltimore and became the Ravens) (Lol new owners resurrected the team and they've been a sorry lot ever since) The Caveliers never won a championship till this year, oh yeah LeBron "took his talents" to Miami for 3 years before doing so. Etc etc etc have experienced so many let downs in the past its nothing new.
But IMO I think it's different now because Cleveland is beginning to feel good about itself. Downtown is seeing a rebirth, young people are moving downtown, nightlife, culture. Its all good!

Ok, now I'm going to sleep zzzzzz

Morning, Lynda! Happy new thread!

Morning Lynda! Happy Friday! I did a great night sleep, so I might be caught up. Now, I need to start catching up and reporting about my books.

It is nice to have the Cavs, right?

>24 scaifea: Morning Amber and Thanks!

>25 msf59: Morning Mark! Are you headed out to the parade today?
1st place Cavs is a sweet consolation prize, for sure!

----------------
I fell asleep reading so no review just yet.

Morning, Lynda! Happy Friday!

Hi Mamie! It is a happy Friday, indeed!

Hi Lynda - Minnesota's sports teams are usually not successful, either, so I feel your pain. Except for the Lynx, the women's bb team.

>23 Carmenere: Perhaps Cleveland should be twinned with Leeds, Lynda!

Have a great weekend.

Happy weekend, Lynda!

Morning Lynda. Happy Saturday. I am really digging this gorgeous fall weather. Keep it coming, baby.

>29 BLBera: LOL, It's nice to share the pain with you, Beth! I'm betting that although the Lynx do very well, they get little national exposure. Sad.

>30 PaulCranswick: Hey Paul, I just took a glance at the teams in Leeds and 1) humored that betting is actually allowed on a teams website and 2) ahhhhh, I think Leeds is where Cleveland was 5 years ago. So, I won't twin the two but I wish you much luck and future success. 3) this is all conditional, as I may not have read the info correctly. :0}

>31 scaifea: Happy weekend to you too, Amber!!

>32 msf59: Mark, I don't know what we did to earn this type of weather in November but very grateful for it. Kinda bummed though, the time will be changing tomorrow :0(
---------------

So the guys are off doing their thing and I'm stuck home all by myself, shucks I guess all I can do is read bahahahhaha!

#55-2016
The Association of Small Bombs
Karan Mahajan
National Book Award SL
2016
276 pages
3.75/5

Location, Location, Location..............Lajpat Nagar Marketplace, Delhi, India


Sarojini Nagar Market, Delhi, India


Thoughts..................Sad and insightful story which begins with the detonation of a small bomb in a busy marketplace in India. Of the many killed or wounded the stories of two families are the main focus, that of the Khurana's and the Ahmed's. The author takes us into their homes and lives and reveals the effects the bombing had on them ten years on and how they deal with it. In vivid detail, Mahajan also takes the reader into the world of the Terrorist who planted the bomb, the one accused of committing the crime and the ones to come. Another good selection from the National Book Award Short List.

National Book Award Finalists for Fiction:
4. Chris Bachelder, “The Throwback Special” ...
? Paulette Jiles, “News of the World” ...
1. Karan Mahajan, “The Association of Small Bombs” ...
2. Colson Whitehead, “The Underground Railroad” ...
3. Jacqueline Woodson, “Another Brooklyn”

I've read all the shortlisters except News of the World which I couldn't renew. Colson Whitehead is the runaway favorite to win this award. He relates an old story in a new way, which is very good indeed but personally, The Association of Small Bombs opened a new door to me and gave some explanation as to why people do the things they do. It reflects the world we live in today.

I'm eager to read both News of the World and The Underground Railroad.

>36 cbl_tn: I think you'll like TUR, Carrie. I just checked and all editions of NofW are still out and won't be return till after the prize is awarded :0(.

Great comments on The Association of Small Bombs, Lynda. What a heartbreaker, right? I loved News of the World, so I hope you will be able to get your hands on it soon. I haven't read The Throwback Special and probably won't, and I am waiting for Another Brooklyn. So far The Underground Railroad is my favorite.

Thanks for your perceptive comments on Hot Milk. :)

You're right, the Lynx don't get a lot of national attention.

Yeah, Beth, I don't think your missing anything by not reading TTS. LOL of course, the way awards are going this year, that one may be the winner :P

Busy day playing catch up with things I need to do so not much time for talking or reading. Til tomorrow............

Morning, Lynda!

Howdy Mamie!!

Another busy day has already begun. Will needed a drive to school so on the way home I thought what's Election Day without donuts?! OK, so I feel better making an excuse to buy donuts.

Soon off to vote and then back to the laminate floor. Master bedroom is 3/4ths done! Yay!!!!!

Lot's of good books on Early Reviewer. Speaking of which I haven't been a very good one. Almost 10 books are awaiting a review from me so as part of my 2017 challenge, I will pay special attention to these and probably tackle them first.

Happy Election Day, Lynda. May the best woman win!

Morning, Beth. Many questions this morning. How did the polls not see this? We're the samples too narrow? Over confidence? This wil be discussed and knit picked for ages.
In any case, no political commercials this morning :0)

-–-------
Making progress on the flooring but it's really taking a toll on my reading. Still, half way through Henrietta Lacks. The book club is going to like this one!

Yes, we are stunned, Lynda, and saddened and depressed. I am so sorry that so many people seem to feel it's OK to be racist and sexist and hateful. I fear for the future.

I know what you mean but take heart, Beth. This morning, I'm so proud to be an American, as I am every four years, and the smooth transition of power that takes place despite the outcome.
Honestly, I did not vote for either candidate and I hope others will respect that decision. No matter how I picked it apart I could not feel comfortable settling on one candidate over another.
I'm hoping that Trump's calm demeanor last night will be the one that holds office for the next four years. He doesn't need attention getting remarks anymore, lets see what happens, let's see if our airports and roads are improved, let's see if my friends can afford health care again. He was a Democrat before he was a Republican perhaps some of those old attributes will return.
Don't fear, my friend, we're all in this together.

ok

Morning, Lynda!

>48 Crazymamie: Hi there, Mamie! I'm exhausted, we worked around the house all day and now enjoying a bottle of wine, the bottle indicates the grapes were harvested at night. It says when picked at night the cool temps preserve the bold flavor and aroma. Ha, who would have thought? Have you ever heard of something so odd?

Morning Lynda! Happy Friday! I admire your thoughts about the election. I am also trying to find some optimism about our future. The GOP are running the show and I hope they can show some results.

How is your reading? I am crazy about both my current reads: Hero of the Empire & The Descendents.

>50 msf59: Reading's been slow, Mark. I'm assisting the hubsters with that ongoing laminate job and as far as the 2nd floor, we're finally seeing light through the trees. Master bedroom is nearly complete and Will's room about 50% done. It looks amazing!
The Descendants was a good movie. I swoon over Clooney, so there's that.
I think I'll be finishing Henrietta Lacks this weekend and just rec'd, from the library, The Poet's Dog (Joe's warble and finally have my hands on The Haunting of Hill House So yeah, comfy chair and tea for me.

Librarything's my happy place, but I need more happy.......

Yay! Christmas swap is up, that makes me happier!

#56-2016
The Poet's Dog
Patricia MacLachlan
2016
88 pages
5/5
Thanks for the rec Joe

Location, location, location............Ha, how apropos! Turns out to be one of my happy places in a snowstorm!

Thoughts............ Teddy, an Irish wolfhound, tells the beautiful story of being rescued and how, in turn, he becomes the rescuer. Read it, it's lovely.

Hi Lynda! Happy Saturday! >54 Carmenere: That one does sound lovely. I'd read more animal stories if I wasn't afraid that something terrible will happen to the animal. I was not allowed to watch Lassie when I was a little girl. It always made me cry.

I certainly know what you mean, Carrie! Fear not, The Poet's Dog, it's all good.

>54 Carmenere: Yay! I'm glad you found The Poet's Dog lovely, Lynda. Me, too.

>57 jnwelch: Yeah, thanks so much, Joe, for mentioning The Poet's Dog on your thread otherwise it would have been completely off my radar.

#57-2016
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot
2010
310 pages
4/5
Thanks to all the LibraryThingers who, over the years, have praised this book
Submitting to Neighborhood book exchange

Location, location, location............Clover, Virginia


Johns Hopkins (old) Hospital as it may have looked in 1950's - Baltimore, Maryland


Johns Hopkins (today)


Thoughts...............An enlightening revelation of how Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer from southern Virginia, was (unbeknownst to her and her family) instrumental in cell research which ultimately led to understanding and treating cancer, polio, AIDS and HIV. Highly recommended.

ETA: Ha ha, although it wasn't a planned read it does come from my bookshelf so I'm shaving, at least, 1 inch off my next thread.

Currently listening to Nutshell and my oh my the location pics for this one will be quite interesting.
I'm about to start The Haunting of Hill House which I know everybody loves......I think I will too.

Morning Lynda! Happy Sunday! Ooh, lots of bookish things over here. The Poet's Dog looks like a charmer. And hooray Henrietta Lacks! I also loved that one. I also have Nutshell saved on audio, so this may give me the nudge I needed. I remember Ilana loving it, in this format too.

Of course, I can't leave, without a warble of my own- Just about done with Hero of the Empire. This is your cuppa. Just sayin'...

Oh yes! We love Millard, Mark! This one is sure to be under our Christmas tree. The one present all three of us will enjoy!

---------------
A few weeks ago, inspired by both Mark and Mamie, I moved our bird feeders from the backyard (about 50 feet from a window) to our front yard about 5 feet from the living room window.
I've been dismayed because it went unnoticed by feathered friends until this morning. I was overjoyed to see 5 or 6 birds swarming around it. I was able to identify a tufted titmouse and possibly a red-bellied woodpecker. (the other birds didn't come around till after he left). Oh happy day!

Hooray for moving the birdfeeder! I have seen a couple a red-bellied woodpeckers at our suet feeder, but mostly the downy woodpeckers, male and female.
Our nuthatches will feed at the suet feeder too.

It is funny, how this little thing, can bring such simple joy...

I've added The Poet's Dog to my list, Lynda. It sounds wonderful. And good news that Henrietta Lacks was on your pile! I've been looking at my piles in mild despair, wondering if I could get rid of ONE in the next year. You are an inspiration.

Great news about your bird feeder.

>63 msf59: thanks for the heads up, Mark. I've added suet feeder to my Christmas list!

>64 BLBera: Beth, you'll be able to read The Poet's Dog in one hour but the feeling it leaves behind will last much longer.
LOL! Good luck with that pile of books, it's not easy!!!

------
We spent a lovely afternoon at the Cleveland Museum of Art. I've always enjoyed spending time there but, at the risk of sounding like an art snob, LOL after being at the Prado, it's really small. But still great for a large town in Ohio.

Morning, Lynda! What is your favorite part of the Cleveland Museum?

Good morning, Amber! Why, thank you for asking! There are certain galleries which never get old (bad pun) and I have to see them with each visit. Here are my faves in not particular order.

Egyptian collection is quite extensive...........



Medieval Court...........


The beautiful new west wing containing Indian, Chinese and southeast Asian art was captivating! I enjoyed the Buddha collection which is now in an alcove all its own.


Will was most interested in seeing the Baroque Gallery.

That looks like a good sized museum, and the Medieval room looks grand.

Oooh, excellent photos! I'm sad to say that I've never been, even though I lived in Ohio for 14 years and am married to someone from the area... Someday, maybe.

>68 mstrust: Truthfully, Jennifer, and I didn't mean to downplay it, CMA is a treasure and Cleveland is darn fortunate to have it.
1916 building
New west wing

>69 scaifea: Ha! My mom was born in NYC and lived there till she was 18 and never went to see the Statue of Liberty. She said she always felt that there was no need to hurry, then she moved and that was that.

------------
I believe it was a Junco that came to my bird feeder this morning. I didn't see his tail feathers so I can't be positive. Shortly afterward a deer walked in front of the feeders and when I ran to grab my phone he was gone :0(

Morning, Lynda!

Hi Mamie!!

>70 Carmenere: That's a really pretty building, and I love that the original wasn't torn down and replaced in favor of an all new building.
Our Phoenix Art Museum is very modern, all concrete, sleek lines and a giant red Tyrannosaurus Rex in a cage on the front lawn.

>73 mstrust: "Our Phoenix Art Museum is very modern, all concrete, sleek lines and a giant red Tyrannosaurus Rex in a cage on the front law">
Well, you know, I just had to check this out, right?


Ha! I love this! Interactive art! Awesome!!

---------------------
Congrats to Colson Whitehead The Underground Railroad National Book Award winner for Fiction. Well deserved!!!

>74 Carmenere: Wow! I want to see that!

Morning Lynda! Hope the week has been going well and I hope your books are treating you kind.

Morning, Lynda! Almost Friday. Almost.

>74 Carmenere: Ha! It's a sight to see! Although the museum has retained it's 18th and 19th Century paintings and porcelain, the last few years have seen a definite change, with more modern and experimental pieces. The T. Rex showed up three or four years ago. I was thrilled the first time I saw it.

>75 Oberon: Yeah, Erik, me too, me too!
>76 msf59: Hey Mark! The books are as patient as ever. I've been too busy to read Ugh!!
>77 Crazymamie: It's here, Mamie, It's here! F R I D A Y!!!!
>78 mstrust: It's really nice when a museum celebrates the new stuff as well as cherishing the old.

-----------------
It is going to be a glorious 75 degrees today! A couple of coffee buddies and I will be headed out to amish country today for breakfast and a little shopping.
Tomorrow winter comes. 40 f then down down down and snow snow snow. It's gonna be a great weekend to hunker down and read read read!

" I've been too busy to read." Noooooo...!

Hope that changes soon, my friend. Happy Friday!

Morning, Lynda! Happy Friday! It's going to 81F here today, so warmish, but the morning is nice and crisp.

Those lovely changes in temperature are something to be yearned for, Lynda. Have a great weekend.

>80 msf59: morning Mark! Rain has just turned into heavy snowflakes. I'm staying in and read the day away!

>81 Crazymamie: Morning Mamie! I hope you enjoyed your warmish day. We really soaked up the 75ish day as best we could. It was spectacular!

>82 PaulCranswick: Something and sometimes yearned for, Paul. Great weekend to you as well!

----------------
so before I begin reading the day away a few things to take care of first then I hope to finish A Room Full of Bones today and if I'm lucky continue with a book on my 2017 list, Outlander I began it last night and found it quite readable. For some reason, not what I expected.

Morning, Lynda! I won't tell Charlie that you're getting snow today - he's distraught that we're not getting any from this blizzard (it's all heading north of us)!

Morning, Lynda! Snow!

>84 scaifea: I'm distraught too, Amber, because it seems we're getting it from the south now and later today from the east bringing that lake effect snow with a colder cold front ! Aaarrrgh!

>85 Crazymamie: Hey Mamie, Yesterday was the kind of day you just want to absorb and make it last till May! Ha, sadly that didn't work.

If the the snow is keeping you indoors to read, then that is a good thing, right?

Happy Saturday, my friend.

Snow? We're suppose to be 81F this weekend. Couldn't we split the difference?
Stay warm!

>87 msf59: It certainly did keep me indoors, Mark! Read 1/2 of The Haunting of Hill House yesterday. Hope to finish it today.
>88 mstrust: Yup, Jennifer, we still have about an inch of snow on the ground and with a temp of 30f but feels like 18f it's not going anywhere.

--------------
Just did a little pre Black Friday shopping at Kohls online. Finished two people and 1/2 way done with 3 more. Of course it was a good time to put some items in my wishlist cart for the guys to purchase later today. That way I'm a little surprised Christmas morning. :0o

Oooooo, going to check out B&N for any Black Fri deals!

>54 Carmenere: Joe recommended The Poet's Dog to me, as well, and I just got it from the library yesterday. I am looking forward to reading it as soon as I return from my Thanksgiving in Tennessee (which sounds like the name of a song).

Have a great week.

I just read The Poet's Dog, Lynda! Thanks for recommending it. What a little gem. Scout will love it!

>90 EBT1002: Ooooo, you really have something special to look forward to in The Poet's Dog, Ellen. Have a lovely Thanksgiving in Tennessee!

>91 BLBera: Yeah, Beth, a gem it is. I hope Scout thinks so too!

--------
Eeek, busy morning as we're taking our Kia's in for an oil change. Then home to make a pumpking pie and corn souffle as we are having t-day dinner at our house tomorrow night for the 3 of us and then celebrating with mom Thursday at her apartment. Good golly, will I ever have time to read??????

I second you on The Poet's Dog, Lynda. A soothing book to read during a difficult time.

Thanks for stopping by my thread. I hope you manage to find some reading time.

Happy Tuesday, Lynda! Two Thanksgivings? WHEE!

To all my North American friends,



of course if you're somewhere that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving today, there's no reason not to have wine and pie!

>93 jnwelch: You really started something with The Poet's Dog, Joe!

>94 calm: Still haven't found much time, calm, but late afternoon looks promising.

>95 Crazymamie: WHEE is right, Mamie! Yesterdays Thanksgiving was small, just the 3 of us, but I made a complete, traditional spread. The turkey and homemade gravy were pretty spectacular, if I do say so myself. (I usually open a bottle or tear open an envelope of gravy, but since I was fairly well organized yesterday, I gave it my all :0) )

Still reading among other things The Haunting of Hill House and it's oh so atmospheric.

Happy Thanksgiving, Lynda! Enjoy the day with your family. I requested The Poet's Dog from the library.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy dinner with your mom.

>97 msf59: Yippee for The Poet's Dog! Joe really found a treasure in that beauty.

>98 cbl_tn: Thanks, Carrie. Having dinner with my mom at her senior living apt will be so nice...........especially, cause I don't have to prepare any food for it. For that I am thankful!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Lynda!
I'm cooking for just three also, but I've made it even easier by making dessert and the cranberry sauce yesterday.
Have a good time with your mom.

I am thankful of your presence in the group, Lynda.

Hi Lynda, your Thanksgiving feast sounded wonderful - there's nothing like a traditional turkey dinner! Hope the rest of your holiday weekend is full of good things as well.

>33 Carmenere: ha! Tat is my dream, when the boys vacate and I'm left to read. It happens for about 20 minuesevvery 3 months....

Happy thanksgiving!

Oh, and I am still getting used to the fact that stressed is desserts spelled backwards!

Morning, Lynda!

>100 mstrust: I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Jennifer! I made the pie a day earlyi and told all "Hands off!" and it worked! Ha! don't mess with mama on a holiday ;=)

>101 PaulCranswick: To innumerable to mention, Paul, but 75ers and a working internet are right up there!

>102 DeltaQueen50: Ya know, Judy, I simply love love love Thanksgiving. Everybody knows what to expect. turkey etc, and sandwiches later for football games. Easy peasy!

>103 LovingLit: I think that's a wonderful play on words, Megan! It certainly turns a frown upside down!!

>104 scaifea: Hi there, Amber! I've been sort of busy cyber shopping - putting autumn decorations away - giving the house a good good cleaning then and only then will the Christmas stuff come out. I've got about a weeks worth of cleaning ahead of me.

#58-2016
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson
1959
235 pages - super nice Penguin Horror edition includes forward and introduction which I read at the conclusion of the story.
3.5/5

Location, Location, Location...................An odd shaped old home

Thoughts..............Three strangers are brought together by Dr. Montague who plans to study psychic disturbances at a supposedly haunted and desolate old house and the effect it has on his subjects. His three subjects, Eleanor, Theodora and Luke, come from very different backgrounds yet get on quite well. However, it is their varying reactions to paranormal activity that is most insightful. As a horror story, The Haunting of Hill House is rather lame. I prefer to observe and reflect on the psychological state of the characters. Much more to talk about there.

>106 Carmenere: Sounds interesting, Lynda, but maybe one that doesn't have to move to the top of the pile.

>107 BLBera: Sadly, Beth, I've wanted to read Hill House for a very long time and it just did not meet my expectations.

Oh, dang, Lynda, I'm sorry you didn't care for The Haunting of Hill House. I loved it! I thought it was perfectly creepy, and the movie (the original, not the re-make) is still the scariest movie I've ever watched. Well, here's hoping your next read is much better for you!

Awww, The Haunting of Hill House was pretty scary to me, but I also remember how well-written is was.
Hope your next is more to your liking!

>109 scaifea: >110 mstrust: Hey Amber and Jennifer, I liked it enough but Hill House just didn't teeter my totter. When I didn't care if the characters lived or died I lost all ties to the story. Then there's the ambiguous questions, such as why the housekeeper talked like a robot, is she just shell shocked from a frightful experience? I'd say so, but why would she still work there?

So far my next one is quite interesting, though improbable. I'm almost finished listening to Nutshell and will probably finish it during my out and aboutness.

I think I have about 3 other books going now but :( too much stuff to do. Clean living room later today so I can put up the tree and then write a few Xmas cards.

Happy December, Lynda!

Afternoon, Lynda! "...but Hill House just didn't teeter my totter." This cracked me up. I have only read We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and I liked it. I have Nutshell out from the library, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

>112 mstrust: Doesn't FEEL like December yet, Jennifer, as we're still having fairly pleasant days. I hear that's all going to change later next week.

>113 Crazymamie: Yeah, Mamie, WHALitC has been on my watch list for awhile and I look forward to it despite my lukewarm reaction to Hill House. The overdue charges are ringing up for Nutshell as my drives have not been long enough to finish up. Perhaps today.

The NBCC (National Book Critics Circle) 2016 John Leonard Prize finalists - awarded on March 16, 2017...........








All are headed my way from my wonderful local library :0)

Whee! Lucky you. Great book haul there.

Hi Lynda! If I ever finish My Brilliant Friend, I have Homegoing ready to go in audio.

Hi Lynda - It sounds like you are busy. The weather here has been mild as well, making it hard to believe that Christmas is three weeks from now.

>115 Carmenere: What a list! I've read Here Comes the Sun and Homegoing, both wonderful. I've been hearing about The Girls recently and may check that out. I'm # 9 on the list for The Mothers.

Morning Lynda! Happy Saturday! That is an impressive list of books. I have The Mothers saved on audio and might try to bookhorn that one in, this month.

Also found The Girls to be very under-rated. Maybe my warbling lacked emphasis?

>116 charl08: I'm going to be one busy ready, Charlotte!

>117 cbl_tn: I've had Homegoing at my house before, Carrie, but it had to go back unread. Hopefully, this time!

>118 BLBera: Yeah, Beth, doesn't feel like it at all but getting the house cleaned up and buying presents just in case the calendar is correct. I've had Here Comes the Sun home from the library before too. I'll finish it this time as I've already started it and I'm liking it already.

>119 msf59: Happy Saturday to you too, Mark! Hope it's gone well. I've heard good things about all the NBCC finalists with the exception of Grief is the thing with Feathers. That one was off my radar completely.

Just saw the author of Homegoing on "Well Read" last week? The week before? What a collection of interesting covers. Now I just need to acquire some of them.

>122 PaulCranswick: The Max Porter is a strange, poetic little book and one in which the author clearly has a Ted Hughes fixation.

Have a great weekend, Lynda.

>121 mstrust: Thanks for bringing that to my attention, Jennifer. I thought there was only the one which is fabulous in itself, but the other is even better .

>122 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the heads up, Paul. Now I must Google Ted Hughes. Wasn't he married to Sylvia Plath?
--------------

Review coming up........just have to pop my cinnamon rolls into the oven and make the glaze

Morning Lynda! Happy Sunday! I warbled about Grief is the thing with Feathers a few months ago. It is beautiful and I had not read Ted Hughes either...at that point anyway.

#59-2016
Nutshell: A Novel
Ian McEwan
2016
Audio
4.5/5

Location, location, location..............
Hamilton Terrace, UK


Shoreditch, UK


Amniotic sac, UK


Thoughts................
In my opinion, McEwan has written one of the most imaginative narratives I've read in quite some time. It is amazing how a story can be both humorous and heartbreaking and have it be told from the viewpoint of a precocious wine snob fetus. From his little and unseen world he tries desperately to save his outside, future world. The prose is sometimes absolute poetry and at a short 200ish pages is well worth your time or listen to the audio as I did and you will be entranced.

>124 msf59: Hey Mark, I must have missed that warble. Your comments now regarding GitTwF, really have me anticipating my read of it.

>123 Carmenere: He was indeed, Lynda, and it probably cost him the Nobel prize as his behaviour was certainly less than noble.

Hi Lynda - I'll be over to help eat the cinnamon rolls. :)

Great comments on Nutshell; maybe I'll be able to get to it over break.

>123 Carmenere: Ha! I made cinnamon rolls this morning too.
You got me with a BB for Nutshell: A Novel. How can I pass up "a precocious wine snob fetus"?

>127 PaulCranswick: Hmmmm, interesting, Paul!

>128 BLBera: Oh, I hope you can slip in Nutshell, Beth!

>129 mstrust: Aren't cinnamon rolls the bomb, Jennifer?!
Yeah, it's a little disturbing that, at such a young age, this little fetus knows a glass of wine by district and variety.
-------------------
Hmmm, should I head out to Bed Bath and Beyond this morning or not. Oh, I don't know! It was so much easier to decide when a Borders bookstore was next door to it. *sigh*

Morning, Lynda! I have Nutshell out from the library, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

>131 Crazymamie: Have you had a chance yet, Mamie? I'm looking forward to your thoughts.

ooooo, woke up extremely thirsty with a pounding headache :0/ all signs that the mindfulness group meeting was a blast last night. More coffee please!

Ohio lost one of its greats yesterday. RIP John Glenn.

Oh look, birding pics.......

LOL not to be outdone by Mercy, here's Mittens watching a chickadee from a great spot

The state bird of Ohio, a cardinal.

Mittens and I can watch the antics of these birds all morning. Thanks to Mamie and Mark, I'll never regret moving the bird feeder to the front yard.

Really, I'm going to finish a book this morning and post a review by noon. Seriously!!

Morning Lynda! Happy Friday! Enthusiastic warble about Nutshell. It seems like everyone that has read it, has loved it. I have it saved on audio. Time, to put it in the rotation.

Lovely cardinal! We have a beautiful male cardinal that drops by our feeder, on occasion. Such a splash of color.

Oh yeah- Boo to winter weather! It looks like we may get hammered Sunday night. Ugh!

>132 Carmenere: Yeah,Mark it's a bit chilly out there this morning. All the heavy snow, fell a little north of us so we just have a dusting. But Sunday, indeed, looks like a reading day!

#60-2016
A Room Full of Bones
Ellly Griffiths
2011
304 pages
3.5/5

Location, location, location..............
Norwich Cathedral, UK


Quaker Meeting House, Great Yarmouth, UK


Cisswood Racing Stables, Lower Beeding, UK


Thoughts.................
The 4th in the Ruth Galloway series is, in my opinion, the weakest of the first four books in the series. Not so much of that getting in the muck and looking through archaeological sites here. All that's been done prior to the beginning of the story, so Ruth basically offers her knowledge and expertise while she figures out how to manage life with her one year old daughter. This book seems like a bridge to mend Ruth's previous indiscretion and move forward. I hope the 5th will get us back into the archaeological digs is so enjoy.

Yup, I've been AWOL. I don't know how I'm filling my days all I can say is they zoom by.

I'm reading bits and pieces of so many books, it's driving me crazy!!!
Breakfast with Buddha I want to read this one from my shelf because a friend and I were going through a used goods store and came across 2 ceramic buddhas. So we each bought one and while in line to check out, a woman in front of me said, "Oooooooo I remember those from the Samari Restaurant. Drinks used to be served in them and the hole in his belly was for the straw" hahaha here I thought it was an incense burner. I still like it though and put him in my mindfulness corner.

Homegoing got it on audio

The Girls a novel got it on ebook

and Here Comes the Sun an actual library book.

Got to run, we're deep in thought planning our summer vacay. stay tuned.

Morning, Lynda! I love the photo of Mittens at the window - she will spend many hours like that, I predict. And the ceramic Buddha is awesome - and how fun that you got his backstory while waiting in line.

I have not yet gotten to Nutshell, but I will.

Hi Lynda - Great comments on the Griffiths. I like the archeology bits, too, but I just like Ruth. She's a character I'd like to go with to Happy Hour.

Love the Buddha.

What a lot of good books you've got going. I'm interested in hearing what you think of The Girls.

>137 Crazymamie: Hey Mamie!! Have you cracked into Nutshell?
>138 BLBera: Yes, Beth! Ruth is a strong character for sure! Just began listening to The Girls this morning. Hmmmm, Mansonesque.

I finished an outstanding book this morning, but I've got to run. Lots of to do's before another winter storm heads my way. Later!

Morning, Lynda! Alas, I still have not cracked into Nutshell.

Morning Lynda. Miss seeing you around. Are you surviving the latest arctic blast?

>140 Crazymamie: I understand, Mamie! It's a busy time of year!

>141 msf59: ....and I miss being here, Mark! This morning we are snowed in and under and freezing with a single digit wind chill temp, Brrrr! School is called off, which gives Will another day to study for his pre-calc final. I'm to drive to my mom's for an appointment, hopefully the roads will clear by 10:30.

I love that drinks holder - so funny.

And the cardinal -my birds are mostly quite grey this time of year, although the agressive little robins try to make up for it, fighting over territory.

I've not picked up a Ruth Galloway in what feels like ages. Must do something about that.

Ed to fix the typo!

#61-2016
Grief is the Thing with Feathers
Max Porter
2015
114 pages
5/5
NBCC (National Book Critics Circle) 2016 John Leonard Prize finalists

Location, Location, Location..............locations mentioned in said novel

Cader Idris
Shingle Street, UK
Mallyan Spout

Thoughts................What's in the drinking water in England these days? First up this month was a wine wise fetus and now, a wise and wise cracking crow!
Grief, in the guise of a crow, spreads its wings over a father and his two young sons as they work through the sudden loss of wife and mother. In a Neil Gaiman like manner, crow tells us the story of the good days and bad of this threesome and how they slowly come to terms and begin again.
This little gem packed a wallop of emotion in it and, yes, even a few tears were shed. I'd actually go out on a limb and say it's the best book I've read all year.

ETA: Having not read, Ted Hughes, I didn't fully understand his connection to the story, which seems quite large. Now I must read him and I bet I'll see where Gaiman might have gotten his inspiration.

>143 charl08: Hi Charlotte! We actually have two aggressive female cardinals. They seem to be fighting over the cardinal in the pic. I'm looking forward to juvenile cardinals in the spring :0)
Ruth is usually a nice trip into Norwich. Another place on my bucket list where I'd like to spend a little time.

Morning, Lynda! Nice review - that one is already on the list or else you would have gotten me with it.

Thanks, Mamie! Reading from the award short/long lists has really directed me to great current reads. It became tiring to read off the shelf, books that were the thing 5 years ago. Some tend to loose their luster.

>145 Carmenere: Well, I learnt yesterday that Norwich now has an airport, so easier to get to (maybe?!).

Nice review, Lynda. I must take a look at this one.

>148 charl08: Yeaaaaa! One step closer to crossing Norwich off the bucket list :0)

>149 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. Hope you find a way to squeeze in GitTwF!

I've promised to go to a santa swap in the neighborhood tonight but it's so dang cold. I want to stay home!!! booooo hoooo hoooo.

5 stars for Grief is the Thing with Feathers? Wow! I was very impressed with it too. I read a Hughes collection, immediately after. He is a dark guy but it gave me better insight into the Porter book.

>144 Carmenere: Grief is a thing with feathers took my breath away. Such a sad, beautiful book/poem.

Karen O.

Morning Lynda! Happy Friday. I want to write up my mini-review of A Gentleman in Moscow and then I will get it in the mail. I have not forgotten, but it will be worth the wait, I promise.

>151 msf59: Yup, at some point, I'll check my library for Hughes, Mark! Funny how, at times, one book leads to another and another and another!

>152 klobrien2: "took my breath away" is exactly how I felt too, Karen! *high fives*

>153 msf59: Oh my goodness, Mark! Take your time. I'm drowning in pages, so no rush at all.

Nice of Mark to add a couple of inches to your pile. :)

>154 Carmenere: Crow is not the place to start with Hughes traditionally Lynda as it is something of a tough and disconcerting read but Mark seemed to appreciate it fine. His Birthday Letters which tells of his difficult marriage to Sylvia Plath his heartrending and extremely raw and I would recommend that over his other work in truth.

Have a great weekend.

>155 BLBera: Isn't it, Beth?! I intend to read it straight away and pass it on to someone as soon as I'm finished. Have you read it? Might you be interested?

>156 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the heads up, Paul. Sadly my library's Hughes selection is rather small. I have my choice of collected poems and a few children's books. Did the same Ted Hughes also pen children's literature?

------------------------
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Put down your books and head out to see ROGUE ONE! It is fabulous and a great tie in leading up to A NEW HOPE! Excellent holiday entertainment!

Thank you, that is all.

>157 Carmenere: Yes, thanks Lynda. I would be interested.

I will think about seeing "Rogue One" when 1. My grading is done and 2. my driveway is cleared of snow. :)

Hi Lynda! Are you listening to Homegoing now? It's my current audiobook. Sadly, I'm not very far into it yet, but what I've listened to so far is very good.

>158 BLBera: OK Beth, it will be yours!! PM your address to me when you get the chance. :o)

>159 cbl_tn: I've started it, Carrie but I fell asleep while listening and really need to start it again as I don't know where I left off. :o( I'm also listening to The Girls so I'll probably finish that before I go back to Homegoing.

Happy Sunday, Lynda! I cannot wait to see Rogue One - we are trying to find a time that we can all go together, which is not an easy task these days.

>157 Carmenere: Rogue One will probably be our holiday movie. I'm glad to hear it's a winner.

I'm glad to see Mark's copy of A Gentleman in Moscow will be winging its way through the LT ranks. I hope it makes everyone as happy as it made me.

>161 Crazymamie: Will went with his buddy's family last night to, for the second time, see Rogue One . He said time when we saw it the movie seemed really long and the beginning felt sort of disconnected but the second time it wasn't long at all and saw the importance of the disconnected beginning.

>162 Donna828: I can't wait to read it, Donna! Sounds like a very interesting story!

Morning Lynda! Enjoying a day off and a Monday too! B.A.G.

Good news about Rogue One! Will have to try and see it.

#62-2016
The Girls
Emma Cline
2016
Audio
3.75/5
NBCC (National Book Critics Circle) 2016 John Leonard Prize finalists

Location, Location, Location.........................Marin County, California

Thoughts......................The reader discovers where this story is going to take you from the very beginning. You know how it's going to end yet you're urged on. You want to learn how these young lives were transfixed by a 1960's commune leader who doesn't get mad, just even.
It's 1969, the summer of love, San Francisco and the drug scene. Privileged 14 year old Evie gets into the company of Suzanne, a resident of the commune. Evie is transfixed by Suzanne. It's a girl crush to the max. Evie moves in at the commune aka "The Ranch" where they share a lot. In time, this easy breezy living goes bad and that's pretty much it.
The audio was well done and voice variations were good too. Frankly, it's just not much of a story but a retelling of events of that year with some interesting fictional characters. For a reader who was too young to understand that era, it offers a good representation as to what I would think it might be.

>164 msf59: Hey Mark! the week ahead looks pretty sweet. Temps on the rise, no snow and a couple of holiday's tossed in. Woot!

Happy Shortest day of the year! Ugh, why, when there is sooo much to do, we get a shorter amount of time to do it! Still, I love the fact that days will begin getting a few seconds longer each day!

Gotta run, I'm making kolaches today and need to get the dough in the fridge for a couple of hours! Zip..................................>

Morning, Lynda! Happy Winter Solstice! Good luck with getting everything done today.

Dough is chillin' and so am I, for a bit, wellll not exactly, taking a break from cleaning the infamous kitchen "junk" drawer. You know, the one that people tend to open when looking for a teaspoon. Ugh!

I'm listening to Homegoing and for the fourth time. It's on Playaway and what I don't care for about this format, as opposed to OverDrive, is the lack of a sleep timer. So when I listen to HG before I fall asleep it keeps reading till I wake up, book done, and I'm back to square one.

I sent out my last cookie tins yesterday, and today is all housework, so I'm glad that housework day is the shortest day. ; )

>170 mstrust:

Hi, Lynda! The Girls worked better for me. I read it, in print, but I am not sure that had anything to do with it. I think Cline is an author to watch. Just sayin'...

Morning, Lynda!

>172 msf59: Ya know, Mark, I'm still bending my brain when it comes to fiction on audio. The fact that I remember most of the names and locations is either a testament to Cline's writing, my expanding attentiveness or possibly a little of both.

>173 scaifea: Good Thursday morning, Amber!

--------------
Kolachies are done and hidden away till Christmas. The dough for the nut and poppyseed rolls have chilled in the fridge overnight and ready to roll out. (My cousin in Texas sent me our grandmothers recipe which my mom didn't have among her collection, so this is a meaningful one and I hope it turns out reasonably well)

I'll make muddy buddies first, since that's so easy.

My one catastrophe happened the other night when I made my usual cinnamon sugar cookies just as I usually do. I didn't sample them till the end and OMG ACK BARF! They're so D*** salty! Went through the ingredients etc etc etc then opened my sugar canister to find it's full of salt!! How did so much salt get in there?! The only thing I can think of is a purchased a bag of salt? Does salt even come in bags?! I don't know, but I cleaned out the canister opened a new bag of SUGAR and made them again. Shew! perfection!

I see 2017 threads going up and I am resisting reading and starting 2017 till after Christmas. I suppose in my Mindfullness group that would be living in the moment and Tolle would say it's the power of now :0/

Oh! So much for being mindful, I've forgotten a few days ago I set up a supplemental thread over in the TBR Challenge group. In 2017 I'm switching from the ROOTS group to this challenge. Seems a more likely place to zero in on particular TBR's I want to read next year. You can take a peak, if you like It's a tast of things to come

I'll still remain in the 75er's of course, just not ready to create a thread.

Sweet Thursday, Lynda!

Mm, kolachies sound good. So does the rest. Looks like you're setting up for a great holiday.

I'm the same way re my 2017 thread. I'm going to wait until we're closer to the new year.

Morning, Lynda! Oh, dear, about the cookies.

>174 Carmenere: I'd never heard of muddy buddies so googled to find it's (also) a dating website for the countryside community. Apparently.
Having found a recipe, still not sure what chex cereal is though...
The poppy seed rolls sound wonderful.

Lynda, you were correct. I adored The Poet's Dog. It made me want an Irish Wolfhound. :-)

muddy buddies?

I am going to wait to start my first 2017 thread after Christmas, as well. I did start the REREAD thread but only because I had some time and I wanted folks to know that I was going to follow through on that particular promise. I'm thinking about 2017 but refusing to cave into pressure to start a thread yet!

>175 jnwelch: Hey Joe! Cheers to the waiters!!! Yeah, I'm thinking I'll work on it the 26th ish when I can concentrate on it and work at a slow/thoughtful pace.

>176 Crazymamie: Yeah, I'm still befuddled about that, Mamie! *sigh*

>177 mstrust: I love that pic, Jennifer! It's so you, so retro. Hope there wasn't anything breakable in that box! Happy Holidays to you too!!

>178 charl08: >174 Carmenere: *Snork* Why would a dating website be called Muddy Buddies?! Actually, I think it best that I don't know :0
Chex Cereal comes in several choices: rice, corn, bran etc etc. MB's are made with Rice chex although I bet you can make them with your personal favorite. I just learned that Muddy Buddies are also known as Puppy Chow, Reindeer Chow and Muddy Munch.
The rolls turned out OK for my first attempt. The guys gave them a thumbs up but I have a few thoughts about how I can improve on them next time.

>179 EBT1002: Yeah! for more Poet's Dog love! Joe's the guy who got the snowball rolling on this one.
Yes, Muddy Buddies, get a load off, find a comfy chair and grab a bowl
High Fives to another waiter!!

I'm so dog gone pooped but things are coming together. We're expecting 14 for Christmas Eve so I like to have enough of everything and a clean house ( I tend to be a slacker) So nighty night. ) 0 o zzzzzzzz

>174 Carmenere: I held my breath, then felt better when I read that you are remaining with the 75 group. Goodness, it would not be the same without you.

It is so bitter cold in Ohio tonight. I'm always taken aback by the flatness of Beavercreek and surrounding areas and how very flat every thing is. I miss the mountains that buffer the chill. Still, I like it here -- more pressure again this time to move out here when I retire and be with my Ohio family. The cost of living is much less expensive than where I live in Pennsylvania, and the people are so much m ore friendly.

How long have you lived in Ohio? And what do you like about it?

All good wishes for a wonderful holiday!

Happy holidays, Lynda.

Mmm, smells like holiday baking here! Just dropping in to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Speaking of holiday cookies, I think these are adorable:

Wishing you.....

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa - however you celebrate, may it be joyous!!
Thanks for joining me on my literary travels, plenty more to see in 2017!

>181 Whisper1: "How long have you lived in Ohio? And what do you like about it?" Hi there, Linda and welcome back to OHIO! I'm born and raised in and around Cleveland so about 50some years. Every city has their ups and downs and we're no different. Overall, people seem friendly and helpful, tolerant and we basically seem to get along quite well. But I'm sure it all depends on who you ask. Many of us have suffered through the era of burning rivers and polluted lakes, horrible sports team et al but in a sense it brought us together in our misery.
I'm going to speak for the entire state when I say, you and Will would be welcome additions to our landscape!

>182 Whisper1: Thanks for the lovely holiday scene, Linda!

>183 BLBera: Thank you Beth! Same to you and yours.

>184 cbl_tn: Yes, Carrie the aroma around here can cause diabetes! Thank you and happy holidays to you too!

>185 EBT1002: I love these cookies, Ellen. I'll make 'em next year for sure!

>186 EBT1002: Thank you so much, Ellen! We all need this more than anything else!

>187 PaulCranswick: Paul, a beautiful sentiment! It would be very nice, indeed! Many holiday greetings you and yours as well!

ok, I just used up my 15 minute break. Now to set the table and do some last minute tidying up. Hope to be back later to visit all of my book buddies!

Merry Christmas!!

Happy holidays to you and your family, Lynda!

Merry Christmas, Lynda!

Sounds like there has been a lot of baking going on, sorry about the salt cookies but everything else sounds delicious. I hope you and yours have a wonderful 2017.

>189 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle!!

>190 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, so much, Judy!

>191 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!! I had a thing for little mice for many many years!

>192 calm: Thanks for the cozy greetings, calm! We tossed those salty cookies outside for the wildlife to enjoy.

------------------------
RIP George Michael - amazing talent - I'm speechless

Morning Lynda! I woke up to no snow! Wow! Now, it is muddy and blah looking out there. I am sure there will be a new round of snow, sometime in our near future.

I hope you had a perfect holiday. We sure did.

BTW- I mailed out the package on Friday.

No snow here either, Mark, just rain. Blah grey and foggy :0P

I'll keep my eyes peeled! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess what? we rec'd Alexa by Amazon from my SIL for Chrismas and I'm just beginning to discover the wonder of her! Besides giving you the weather forecast, news updates, the time in Budapest, I'm also just now learning about a book library and apparently she has the ability to read samples of books I'm interested in reading. Alexa? what is librarything? "Librarything is a social cataloging storing application"

Morning Lynda! Back to 40 today. I will gladly take it. I am not familiar with Alexa. Worth checking out?

>197 msf59: too early to say if it's worth checking out, Mark, but I can say that it will read samples of books, plays music from Pandora and Spotify playlists, Plays podcasts and so much more I've yet to try.

#63-2016
Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed, A Memoir of the Cleveland Kidnappings
Michelle Knight
2014
249 pages
4/5
Neighborhood Book Swap

Location, Location, Location......................2207 Seymour Ave, Cleveland, Ohio

Thoughts..............This memoir is a very dark and difficult book to read. In it, Ms. Knight recounts her life story which includes neglect at the hands of her parents and sexual abuse by a live in acquaintance of her parents. A series of not so good decisions led her into the house of a father of a friend. Once inside, there was no escape and for 11 years she was verbally and sexually abused by this man. Over time, he had the audacity to kidnap two other young women and for almost as many years suffered the same fate as Michelle and all under the radar of neighbors and police and family members. That in itself is unbelievable but more so is how these three women sustained their sanity and will to live. Hard book to read, but still, I recommend it.

I think that one would be too much for me, although it's a story that needs to be told and she deserves whatever compensation it brings.

>199 Carmenere: Gosh, that sounds like hard reading. Hope writing the memoir helped her.

>200 mstrust: What made it slightly easier to read, Jennifer, was knowing they all escaped from that hellhole. Michelle really has no family to return to so perhaps this book helped her get on her feet.

>201 charl08: Everyone heals in different ways, right? In fact, Charlotte, Michelle was the only one of the three to testify at their kidnappers sentencing and attend the demolition of the house. Shortly after, she would pop up at events around Cleveland while the other two women preferred to live a quieter life.

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Nothing much on the calendar today so I'm about to delve into A Gentleman in Moscow, thanks to Mark, and today is the perfectly cozy day for it.

Another shocker yesterday when I learned that Debbie Reynolds passed the day after her daughter. RIP Debbie and Carrie

>199 Carmenere: I remember this crime. Twisted and creepy. Do these women pop up in the news from time to time?

Morning Lynda! I am so glad you are going to curl up with a certain Gentleman. The Count is perfect company. I am getting ready to start Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure, which looks to be a lot of fun.

Actually, Mark, no, I haven't seen any one of them on the news for quite some timee. The local channels would show a clip when one or the other would appear at an event shortly after their rescue but now, nothing. Even Charles, the man instrumental in their rescue, was big news at the time but now faded away into legend.

I remember them being interviewed around the trial. Hopefully, they are all just trying to get along with real-life. What a thing to be saddled with.

Hi Lynda, I missed my Christmas round this year, but am back in time to wish you and your family all the best for the New Year and a "Safe Slide" (Guter Rutsch) into it!

And I can imagine that the McEwan worked wonderfully as an Audio with a great narrator - I should have listened instead of eye-reading. I read Ted Hughes' "Crow" years ago, I'll put it on the tbrr list as a preparation for the "Grief" book.

Morning, Lynda!

>205 msf59: One of the women lives with a constant reminder because a child was conceived and born while in-captivity. Imagine how difficult that could be.

>206 Deern: Thanks for the good wishes, Natalie! Guter Rutsch to you too!!

>207 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!!!
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Well, my reading day's been interrupted already. Off to see mom.

Oh, I hope you enjoy A Gentleman in Moscow as much as I did, Lynda. It's a charmer.

>199 Carmenere: I'm not sure about that one, Lynda. I remember when they were first in the news. Words fail one.

Happy reading today and Happy new year. I imagine I'll see you around next year. I want to see how much you can reduce your pile!

>209 jnwelch: I'm enjoying it very much, Joe! What a great novel to end this year and begin next year!

>210 mstrust: Love it, Jennifer!! Happy New Year to you too!

>211 BLBera: Believe me, Beth, I would not have read Finding Me if it weren't passed to me through the neighborhood book exchange.
Happy New Year to you too! I've got a new strategy next year!! I'll be measuring the books as I read them, so the pile will grow taller on my ticker as I give them away. It was defeating to see how slow a tall stack of books dwindled.

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Time for a cup of tea, finish the kolaches and head back to Moscow!

Hi, Lynda! How was your day with the Count? I hope it was a pleasurable one.

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Lynda

>213 msf59: Delightful, Mark! I'm currently running through the Metropol with Nina and the Count and it's so enjoyable!

>214 PaulCranswick: As I yours, Paul!

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To all my book buddies!



And Go Bucks!!

Happy New Year, Lynda!

>216 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe! Same to you! It is a sunny and cloudless day in my neck of the woods. Simply a beautiful start to the new year.

Ack! The Buckeyes failed miserably in the Fiesta Bowl. :P
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Before I put this thread to bed, I thought I'd list my top 5 10 reads as so many other have done and I found quite interesting. OK, here goes.

10. Hot Milk 8/16 - Setting and circumstances made this a summer favorite
9. Symphony for the City of the Dead 8/16 - Painful struggle to survive - Music and will prevail
8. Underground Railroad 9/16 - A piece of history told with a twist
7. The Things They Carried 6/16 - Soldiers carry so much more than you see
6. War and Peace 2/16 - A work of art yet did the battle scenes need to be so long.
5. The Small Association of Bombs 11/16 - Took me into the thought process of terrorists
4. Palestinian Walks 5/16 - Enabled me to see the situation from the other side
3. The North Water 8/16 - Absorbed by its brutality - loved it for the suspense
2. We Were Liars 7/16 - Totally took me off guard - I just didn't see the ending coming.
1. Grief is a Thing with Feathers 12/16 - Its simplity brought me to tears

Thanks to all you have enriched my thread and reading over the past year! Let's do it again!!

>217 Carmenere: War and Peace made it slightly higher (#5) on my list than yours.