Joe's Book Cafe 10 2021

Art by Kerry James Marshall

1. The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tomine*
2. The Dreaming by Simon Spurrier*
3. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4. The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay
5. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
6. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
7. Poems 1962-2012 by Louise Gluck
8. Lady Mechanika by Joe Benitez*
9. Catwoman Friend or Foe by Joelle Jones*
10. Jack by Marilynne Robinson
11. Bone Rattler by Eliot Pattison
12. The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
13. Slam by Pamela Ribon*
14. Mezo by Tyler Chin-Tanner*
15. Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini*
16. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
17. Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
18. Shadow of the Batgirl by Sarah Kuhn*
19. Prodigal Son by Greg Hurwitz
20. Bodega: Poems by Su Hwang

February 2021

21. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
22. Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman*
23. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
24. Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald
25. Mortal Instruments The Graphic Novel Vol. 4 by Cassandra Clare*
26. Wicked Enchantment by Wanda Coleman
27. The God of Nothingness by Mark Wunderlich
28. Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
29. Blood Grove by Walter Mosley
30. Bookshop of the Broken-Hearted by Robert Hillman
31. Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
32. The Dreaming Vol. 2 by Simon Spurrier*
33. Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb
34. Pride by Ibi Zoboi
35. The Sunflower Cast a Spell by Jackie Wang
36. The Dreaming Vol. 3 by Simon Spurrier*
37. House of Whispers by Nalo Hopkinson*
38. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
39. Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls
40. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
41. Punisher Max Omnibus Vol. 1 by Garth Ennis
42. Becoming by Michelle Obama
43. Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke
44. Stay Safe by Emma Hine

March 2021

45. Monstress Vol. 5 by Marjorie Liu*
46. The Way of the Househusband by Kousuke Oono*
47. The Lefthanded Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
48. Slam! The Next Jam by Pamela Ribon*
49. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths
50. A Portable Paradise by Roger Robinson
51. Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge*
52. Trader’s Leap by Sharon Lee
53. Soft Science by Franny Choi
54. Alex Rider Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz*
55. A Wealth of Pigeons by Harry Bliss*
56. Injection Vol. 1 by Warren Ellis*
57. inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
58. New Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 5 by Kazuo Koike*
59. The Sheriff of Babylon by Tom King*
60. Dr. Strange/The Punisher Magic Bullets by John Barber
61. Butch Geography by Stacey Waite
62. New Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 6 by Kazuo Koike*
63. The Undertaking of Lily Chen by Danica Novgorodoff*
64. Manazuru by Hiromi Kawakami
65. The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson
66. Dark Sky by C. J. Box
67. Murderi in an un-sound Mind by Anne Cleland
68.

April

68. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
69. First person Singular by Haruki Murakami
70. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas
71. Cluny Brown by Mathery Sharp

May
72. Fugitive Telemetry by Nartha wells
73. Home, Habitat by Martha Wells
74. New Lone Wolf and Cub vol. 6
75. New Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 7 by Kazuo Koike
76. New Lone Wolf and Cub. Vol. 8 by Kazuo Koike
77. The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers
78. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
79. The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
80. And Shall Machines Surrender by Benjanun Sriduangkaew
81, Chaos on Catnet by Naomi Kritzer

June

82. Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev
83. Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce
84. Reckless by Ed Brubaker
85. Friend of the Devil by Ed Brubaker
86. I’ll Fly Away by Rudy Francisco
87. Men Explain THings to Me by Rebecca Solnit
88. Sandman Universe Lucifer by Neil Gaiman*y
89. Catwoman Soul Stealer by Sarah J. Maas*
90. Americanah by CHimanda Ngozi Adichie
91. Habitat Threshold by Craig Santos Perez
92. Patience and Esther by SW Searle
93. The Devil in the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
99. The Spill Zone by Scott Westerfield*
100. The Girl from the Other Side Vol. 8 by Nagabe*

July

101. Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
102. Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
103. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
104. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas*
105. M by Jon J Muth*
106.. Personal by Lee Child
107. The Hard Way by Lee Child
108. Ghettobirds by Bryant O’Hara
109. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
110. To the Bright Edge of the World! by Eowyn Ivey
111. The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar
112. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
113. Long Bright River by Liz Moore
114. The Girl from the Other Side by Bilal*
115, The Secret Garden A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden*
116. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
117. World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
118. The Body Factory by Heloise Chochois*

August

119. The Bookseller of Florence by Ross King
120. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
121. Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
122. Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Tallia Hibbert
123. The Authority by Ed Brubaker*
124. You can only yell at me for one thing at a Time by Roz Chast
125. Yours, Cheerfully by AJ Pearce
126. Eric by Shaun Tan*
127. Hench by Natalie Walschots
128. Jane Eyre by Charlotte bronte*
129. the Secret to Superhuman Stength by AlisonBechdel*
130. Frank:Sonnets by Diane Seuss
131. TheGolden Age by Cyri Pedrosa*
132. Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo okparanta

September

133. Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
134. Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
135. Monstress Vol. 5 by Marjorie Liu*
136. Any Other World Will Do by Alex Lubertozzi
137. In by Will McPhail
138. Goldenrod by Maggie Smith
139. The Inheritance of Orchidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova
140. Pax, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker
141. Forgotten in Death by JD Robb
142. Don’t Know Jack by Diane Capri

October

143. Captain Marvel Re-entry by Kelly Thompson*
144. Shang-Chi by gene Luen Yang
145. Bewilderment by Richard Powers
146. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
147.Matrix by Lauren Goff
148. Monstress vol. 6 by Marjorie Liu*
149. Good Bones by Maggie Smith

* illustrated or graphic book

Favorites of the Year So Far

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

Matrix by Lauren Goff

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozecki

Pax, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker

House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Cluny Brown by Margery Sharp

Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce

Cheerfully, Yours by AJ Pearce

Good Bones by Maggie Smith

As I've been talking up Pax, Journey Home and Ellen and I have both mentioned it as almost an immediate re-read, I should review it. If you loved the story of the fox Pax and his boy Peter in the first Pax, you'll want to read this one. If the sad aspects of that first one make you hesitant, the second one will heal you. Peter is determinedly his own man at age 13, with useful nature skills. But he has a lot to learn about friendship and love. Pax has his own family to protect, not easy for a fox. Their paths eventually cross in this beautifully written book. Now it's hard to imagine the award-winning first book existing without the even better, IMO, second one. Another great cover by Jon Klassen, and he provides a few lovely b & w illusrations.

By Kerry James Marshall

By Keith Taylor

Happy new thread, Joe!

>1 jnwelch: Thanks for introducing me to Kerry James Marshall. I love the third painting at the top.

Happy new one, Joe!

Happy new one!

>6 jnwelch: Yup. 😀

>7 jnwelch: I knew it!! Life's a Zen joke after all!

>6 jnwelch: ...I remember that feeling...vaguely...

>5 jnwelch:, >1 jnwelch: Ooohhh, that's some fine work indeed.

New-thread orisons.

>8 FAMeulstee: You're welcome, Anita. I think he's the most interesting contemporary painter out there. There's a great article about him in a recent issue of the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/09/the-epic-style-of-kerry-james-mars...

He's steeped in art history, and is very purposeful in his choices. I think we're going to see a lot more wonderful paintings from him.

>9 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>10 drneutron: Thanks, Dr. Jim! I love that Keith Taylor cartoon.

>11 richardderus: Right, Richard? Just what we suspected in >7 jnwelch:.

I know, as a retired guy it's nice to have that work pain all gone.

Thanks for the orisons. Isn't that Kerry James Marshall art most excellent?

Happy new one, Joe. Always love *discovering* new artists on this thread!

>4 jnwelch: I'm looking forward to the new Pax book. I'm on the wait list at the library.

>13 jessibud2:. Thanks, Shelley. That’s part of the fun for me, too- sharing ones I’ve come upon.

>14 RBeffa:. Oh good, Ron. Please let me know what you think when you’re done with the new Pax. You can tell how much I enjoyed it.

Happy New Thread, Joe. I am enjoying this comfortable cool down. It looks like I need to request Pax, Journey Home. It was a big hit for you. I saw you posted the National Book Award list on your last thread. Several of those, I would like to read, including the Doerr, Groff and Powers.

Happy new thread! >7 jnwelch: is SO funny.

>16 msf59:. Thanks, Mark. Yeah, we’re getting into that comfortable cool fall weather.

Good to hear re Pax, Journey Home. Did you read the first one, Pax? If not, you’ll want to read that before Journey Home. They’re not long.

Agreed on your picks from the NBA long list. I can’t believe that the only poetry book I read from their list was The Sunflower Cast a Spell and I didn’t like it or think it was very good.

>17 banjo123:. Thanks, Rhonda! Isn’t >7 jnwelch: funny?

Hi Joe, happy new thread mate.

Happy New thread, Joe.

>5 jnwelch: Fascinating portrait!

>4 jnwelch: Lovely cover. Sounds like a nice book.

Happy new thread!

Kerry James Marshall definitely makes an impact.

Happy new thread, Joe!

Happy new one, Joe.

Maybe I am greedy but I am a little disappointed to not see new shots of your gorgeous grandkids!

Happy new one!

>19 johnsimpson:. Thanks, John, buddy.

>20 EllaTim:. Thanks, Ella. Isn’t >5 jnwelch: fascinating? He did a whole series of people with the oversized paint palettes.

Happy new thread Joe!

Happy new thread!!

>21 quondame: Thanks, Susan. That's strong, confident painting from Kerry James Marshall, isn't it.

>22 bell7: Thanks, Mary!

>23 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I appreciate your asking about photos of the grandkids. That's way better than, "oh no, here he goes again".
I'm sure some new ones will go up on this thread; I'm waiting on our photo experts to the east, in Pittsburgh.

>24 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita!

>26 NarratorLady: Thanks, Anne! What are you reading now?

>27 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

Here's my Wednesday morning new thread toast to you from the Angel pub in London. That's a breakfast smoothie of a different sort, featuring malted barley and hops. (This is from 5 years ago; we hope to go back in 2022).

Morning, Joe! Great photo! I'm wishing you happy on your newest thread even though I still need to catch up with the old one.

>29 jnwelch: Cheers! You know I love this!

Morning, Joe. Happy Wednesday. Enjoy your walk. Don't forget a jacket. Only 57F out there at the moment. I am enjoying Meadowlark, my current GN. Reminds me a bit of Brubaker/Phillips. Any GN recs, would be welcome. I could use another a poetry suggestion too. Yep, I am needy.

>29 jnwelch: May all your 2022 wishes come true!

(And have a good Humpday in the meantime.)

>30 Crazymamie:. Hiya, Mamie. Thanks! And I appreciate that you’re still interested in the last thread.

>31 msf59:. Ha! I thought of you with that one. Man, you’d be right at home in London’s pubs.

It was pouring, so we went with the treadmill instead. That meant I got to nearly finish my Jack Reacher spinoff, Don’t Know Jack, which has been fun.

Thanks for the tip on Meadowlark; I’ll request it from the library. Anything Brubaker-like has my attention.

I’ve been hanging in there with the Monstress series by marjorie Liu ( it gets really complicated!). Volume 6 is next.

After complaining about it for ages, I finally switched off Autocorrect! it was doing more harm than help with its crazy choices.

>32 richardderus:. Thanks, Richard. We love it so there, it’s been hard not to return.

I hope humpday is just the top of a hill you can slide down into a joyful weekend.

Happy new thread, Joe. >29 jnwelch: Breakfast of champions?

>34 Familyhistorian:. Thanks, Meg. Ha! You know it - breakfast of champions. It must be the time difference.

Quebec

>36 jnwelch: Wow! That's beautiful!

Cheers, Joe.

Sweet Thursday, Joe. I did get out for a solo bird walk, despite the cool weather. Not very birdy but scores of robins flitting about. Still nothing beats a stroll in the woods. My PM will be spent with Man V. Nature. I am really enjoying this collection and BTW, my audio of The Man Who Lived Underground has been excellent, as well. Are you a Wright fan?

How is Keith doing? Have you been in touch?

>36 jnwelch: Stunning.

Thursday orisons.

ETA: you are the only person I can think of who will want to know that "...the Bavarian term for squirrels translates to ‘Oak Kitten’!" Learnt from Light Rains Sometimes Fall: A British Year in Japan’s 72 Ancient Seasons by Lev Parikian.

>40 richardderus: Bavarian for tree rat by way of Japan, of course.

>36 jnwelch: - The second I saw this I thought it looked like Quebec City! The last time I was there it was in winter, though (I went to the Ice Hotel)

>40 richardderus: Of course I had to look that one up, and found more funny local German and Austrian names for squirrels, like Oak Hare, Tree Fox, and Oak Monkey :-)

>40 richardderus:, >43 FAMeulstee: - I knew someone who calls them rat bastards

>37 drneutron:. Isn’t it, Jim? How’d you like to turn a corner and come upon that?

>38 weird_O:. Cheers, Mr. Bill. Thanks for stopping in.

>39 msf59:. Sorry I missed Sweet Thursday, Mark. Happy Friday! I’m glad you got out for some birding in that fine Fall-type weather. We took a humongous walk by the Chicago River. They’re doing a terrific job of improving trails and walkways around us. Debbi’s already planning on taking the grandkid there. It’s the longest walk I’ve taken since the wallop, over three miles.

I’ll have to look at Man v. Nature. I was bowled over by Native Son, so The Man Who Lived underground has my attention. I’ll look forward to hearing more from you.

I started Richard Powers’ new one, Bewilderment. Very different from Overstory, and very good so far.

>40 richardderus:. Oak kitten! You’re darn tootin’ I want to know that one. That’s one i canbring ip frequently with unsuspecting friends and neighbors. Ours are maple kittens, in Welchese, as we have a huge silver maple full of oak kittens in front of our house.

Happy Gateway to the Weekend, buddy!

>41 quondame:. Oak kitten has a lot more appeal than tree rat, doesn’t it, Susan. Why by way of Japan?

>42 jessibud2:. Oo, you’ve been to the Ice Hotel, Shelley. What was it like?

I need to get to Quebec in the Fall if >36 jnwelch: immediately reminded you of it. So pretty.

>43 FAMeulstee:. Tree fox is my favorite of those, Anita, alrough they’re all good. Thanks for posting them. I wonder whether squirrels would be more beloved if they were fox red?

>44 jessibud2:. Whoa, that person must have a major aversion to squirrels, Shelley. I’ve always been impressed that they live in plain sight of humans but rarely manage to get killed by one. They can’t fly away, like birds.

I is here, Joe. Just checking up on your many adventures.

>46 jnwelch: European squirrels are red, Joe, and most people here love them.
So the color might make the difference for their grey cousins in your area.

Hi, Joe!

I've been warbling (h/t to Mark) about Only Murders in the Building over on my thread, and it occurred to me that I think you would absolutely love it. Apparently it's a Hulu original and I don't know if you subscribe, but if you do, I recommend checking it out. Steve Martin and Martin Short in a clever murder mystery that spoofs true crime podcasts and has a fantastic cast of characters.

>49 scaifea: I'll add my warble to that! A real treat.

>47 weird_O:. Hiya, Bill. Are you connected with us on Facebook? Debbi just posted some nice photos of our riverside walk yesterday. Today, for me, is work out in the morning, rehab innthe afternoon, and read some Bewilderment and Riccardino, with some Maggie Smith (different one than the actress) poetry thrown in.

>48 FAMeulstee:. Yeah, we get dull brown and grey squirrels here; red sounds like an improvement, Anita. You’re lucky. When they’re not burgling birdfeeders, they’re interesting little critters to watch.

>49 scaifea: Thank, Amber. Yes, your instinct is right: we’ve been quite taken by Only Murders in the Building. I’m not a Martin Short fan, but he’s quite tolerable when teamed with Steve Martin. And Selena Gomez has been surprisingly good. Having Tina Fey show up was a nice surprise. I just wish they’d release them all at once, so we could binge them.

>50 ffortsa:. Agreed, Judy.

I saw this and thought of you, Joe (and your toppers) :)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/national-cathedral-confederate-wind...

I'm not sure if it's behind a pay wall, so just in case: "Washington National Cathedral has commissioned acclaimed American artist Kerry James Marshall to create stained glass windows with a racial justice theme to replace the windows featuring Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson that were removed in 2017."

Nasty morning sitting around waiting for a dickdoc to refill some Rx for me...this should take three hours because...?

Anyway...done...no need to get all upgebent *now*...so I'll just note that I call squirrels "permed rats" and pass merrily along.

>51 jnwelch: Aw, yay! I'm so glad you like Only Murders! We haven't gotten to Fey yet, but now I'm really excited - I love her.

>52 katiekrug: wow, that sounds like an awfully good idea,doesn't it, Katie? i wonder who had the good sense to make that happen.

>53 richardderus: Arggh. My sympathy, Richard.

I get the "rat' association, but I gotta say i have an automatic physical revulsion and fear upon seeing a city rat that I sure don't get with squirrels.

>54 scaifea: Yes, maybe we can organize an "only Murders' club to discuss it when we're all finished. Or at least all visit each other about it. Fey is their hero podcaster.

Gas, 1940. One of my favorite Edward Hoppers.

I feel like this Nathan Pyle cartoon is suddenly very apt:

>57 MickyFine: HA!!

Hi Joe, mate, looking forward to seeing you and Debbi in 2022 and i will make sure Karen is around to meet you both. Sending love and hugs to you, Debbi and the family dear friend.

>46 jnwelch: From >40 richardderus:'s "Learnt from Light Rains Sometimes Fall: A British Year in Japan’s 72 Ancient Seasons by Lev Parikian."

>55 jnwelch: Aren't we all suckers for a cute cover, even when we should know there's a rat in there? Fluffy tails can do a lot for a wee beastie's PR.

>57 MickyFine: I have a friend who always said 'squirrels are just rats with good PR'.

Hi Joe - along with the pretty grey and brown squirrels, up here in Wisconsin we have reddish ones,
as fun to watch as our Cardinals.

>46 jnwelch: - The Ice Hotel was magical, Joe. Truly. It was one of the more/most unique and fun vacations I ever had. It was over Easter weekend, 2008 and we spent some time in Quebec city as well, The hotel is about half an hour outside QC. It was a bit pricy but it was one of those once in a lifetime opportunities and the price included a room inside a chateau hotel, which was on the same property, for those who changed their mind at the last minute and decided not to brave sleeping in the Ice Hotel. We just stored our luggage in that room and used the shower in the morning because the whole point was to sleep in the Ice Hotel! The walls are something like 6 foot thick blocks of ice (the hotel is built from scratch every winter) and once inside, in the thermal sleeping bag they provide, sleeping in your warm thermal clothing (they provide a list of what to wear before you come), on a bed made of ice but covered with a fur pelt, well, you just don't feel the cold. We even did an outdoor hot tub! The outdoor weather that weekend was -20C but no wind and during the day, brilliant blue skies. Inside, though, it felt warmer. Anyhow, if it wasn't so far away, I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

The photo quality of this video isn't great but it will give you an idea.
http://www.canadacool.com/location/quebec-city-ice-hotel/

>57 MickyFine: - Too funny! And so true! I have always thought squirrels cute, except when they dig in my garden and go after my bird feeders. They remain cute, only elsewhere. I'm very NIMBY when it comes to squirrels. ;-)

Morning, Joe. Happy Saturday. I got to take Jackson on a walk yesterday, along with Bree and the dogs. It was beautiful. I am just started Great Circle and still really enjoying The Man Who Lived Underground.

>56 jnwelch: Love it!

Saturday orisons, Dr. Welch.

Finally, this stupid meme made me smile.

Joe - Your University of Chicago Niece (and you!)

may enjoy tonight's (September 25th) Hyde Park Jazz Festival

event, 7:15 PM, at Logan Hall on 60th Street.

Today’s Bargain: Major Pettigrew’s Last stand by Helen Simonson for $1.99 on e-readers. If you missed this one when it came out, try it. It’s so good!

>57 MickyFine:. Perfect, Micky. I’m impressed that you had it on hand for the next squirrel/rat conversation.

>58 richardderus:. :-)

>59 johnsimpson:. Can’t wait, John. 2022, buddy!

>60 quondame:. Ha! I complicated something simple, Susan, thanks. You’re right, the cute looks of squirrels and rabbits, among others, sure make them more tolerable. Opossums, on the other hand, need to hide their strange-looking selves.

>61 Caroline_McElwee:. That’s a good line, Caroline.

>62 m.belljackson:. Sounds nice, Marianne. I do like watching cardinals.

>63 jessibud2:. That sounds like great fun, Shelley. Thanks for describing The Ice Hotel and providing the link. What an unusual experience! I can see why it was warm enough. They’re smart to have that Plan B hotel for those who succumb to doubt.

>64 msf59:. Happy Saturday, buddy. We cracked up at the FB photo of you pramming Jackson on the trail. You can’t start him too early!

Glad you like that Hopper, and the books are treating you well, Bewilderment is top grade.

>65 richardderus:. Ha! Thanks, RD. Saturday orisins back atcha.

>66 m.belljackson:. Hyde Park Jazz Festival - good one, Marianne, thanks. Not for us this time around, and my U of C goddaughter went back to NYC. But I appreciate the thought.

Joe = one more = tickets are sold out for tonight's Hyde Park Jazz performance!

If you can get to it, there is an online stream tomorrow (Sunday), 3-4 PM,
on the Hyde Park Jazz website. It looks pretty intriguing and may be exciting.

>68 jnwelch: 0ne evening on the UCLA campus a woman was frozen staring at the shrubbery outside the entrance of the building I was entering. I followed her gaze and seeing me she pointed and was barely able to breathe out "What, what .."
Just at eye level was a large possum staring back, its pinkish tail prominently displayed. She must have thought it was the largest ever rat.

Morning, Joe! Planning a day full of football today at the Pecan Paradisio, so it should be a good one.

>56 jnwelch: I love this one, too.

Hi Joe, and a belated happy new thread.

Excellent toppers, great photo of you in London, and I like the cartoons.

Today’s BargAin: Neurotribes by Steve Silberman at $1.99 on Kindle. An expert report on our current understanding of the autism spectrum and their positioning amidst “neurotypicals”.

>71 m.belljackson: Thanks, Marianne. Probably not; our daughter visits today and we have plans. But I appreciate the thought.

>72 quondame:. Oh my, Susan, I know the feeling that woman had. I face-to-faced with a possum crouched in front of a church on the corner of our block. They are bizarre, and disconcerting. I used to say ugly, but that’s not really it.

>73 Crazymamie:. A day full offootball at the Pecan Paradisio sounds like a little bit of heaven. Do you root for Atlanta?

The weather here is just too darn nice! I’m going to record the Bears- Cleveland game at noon and join wife and daughter outside.

>74 karenmarie:. Hiya, Karen. Thanks. I’m glad the new cafe is working well for you,

>76 jnwelch: They look like if the size difference was reversed we'd make a tasty snack.

Morning, Joe! Birdy and I root for Atlanta. Daniel for the Eagles, Rae for the Giants and Abby for the Saints. Usually somebody wins. Heh.

>77 quondame: Ha! well, that explains the instinctive fear reaction, Susan.

>78 Crazymamie: Heh-heh. "Usually somebody wins." Yeah, you guys cover a lot of turf. i'll have to check on who was smiling this week.

Morning, Joe! I Love Mary Oliver - that is a good one.

>81 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Thanks. Me, too.

Hi, Joe. Another gorgeous day in Chicagoland. We went down to Montrose early this morning, (27 species) and then ventured south to the Jarvis Bird Sanctuary, (20 sp) This latter place is a lesser known gem. Have you have been there?

I am really enjoying Great Circle. It is a chunkster but highly readable. I also loved my audio of The Man Who Lived Underground. I think you would appreciate that one too. Next up on audio, is Fuzz, the new one by Mary Roach.

>80 jnwelch: Like that poem, Joe.

>83 msf59: Hiya, Mark. Looks great outside - we'll be out in it shortly. Sounds like Montrose is really hopping (!) i haven't been to Jarvis. Sounds like we should make a point of finding it. Is it also near the lakeshore? I"m glad the books have been greating you so well. I'll add The Man Who Lived Underground to the WL. I've got to tell Debbi that here's a new Mary Roach book out.

Bewilderment was very good (kicks our butts about climate change and humans' collective inability to remedy our harms). Riccardino is chock full of all the features that have made the Inspector Montalbano books one of the great series of all time. It's the late author's last, unfortunately. He (Camilleri) gave us so much, but it's hard to part ways with these stories and characters.

Made with beach stones by an unknown artist

>86 jnwelch: Very clever and very fun!

Morning, Joe!

>86 jnwelch: - Oh, I LOVE art like this. This one is gorgeous! In fact, I own a piece of similar pebble art by a local artist, of a teacher and students.

>86 jnwelch: That is just amazing!

>86 jnwelch: The stone art is wonderful.

>84 EllaTim:. I’m glad, Ella. Thanks for letting me know.

>87 Crazymamie:. Morning, Mamie! Isn’t that clever? Someone took a lot of thought and care with that. The outfits must’ve been challenging.

>88 jessibud2:. Isn’t it gorgeous, Shelley? Lucky you, owning a similar one. I love art like this, too.

>89 drneutron:. Agreed, Jim!

>190 richardderus: Wonderful, yes, Judy. What a gift from this artist.

>85 jnwelch: Jarvis is just south of Montrose. About a mile or so and yes it also very close to the lake. Glad to hear you liked Bewilderment. I hope to get to that one sometime this fall.

>85 jnwelch: I hope to get to Bewilderment next week Joe, glad it was a hit for you.

>86 jnwelch: Love it. So clever.

>86 jnwelch: Witty, creative, and really beautiful!


Thinking of you with my fullest fellow-feeling sadness in your loss of Salvo, Catarella, and all the other residents of Vigàta.

>94 richardderus:. Thanks so much, my friend. How did you know I was in need of sympathy? Yes, I’m in the midst of Riccardino, knowing it’s my last trip to Enzo a Mare, my last adventure with Salvo and the gang, that I won’t be seeing Adelina or her son Pascual after this one. Oh, woe is me. The end of a great, great series. One of the eternals. I’ll console myself knowing rereads will also be available.

Thank you for being a fellow fan. I remember the delight of coming upon The Shape of Water as if it were yesterday.

<92. Thanks, Mark. I told Debbi about Jarvis and we will seek it out. We just got back from a lovely time at Montrose Harbor and the sanctuary. Both had us agog-ing- what a beautiful day!

We’ll be back at Montrose Beach on Saturday for a friend’s annual party there.

It’ll be good to have someone to discuss Bewiderment with. He goes after some big ideas.

>93 Caroline_McElwee: oh good, Caroline. I look forward to hearing what you think of Bewilderment.

Clever artist, that one.

>86 jnwelch: Amazing what a creative person can do with just a box o' rocks.

>97 weird_O:. Ain’t that the truth, Bill. Gives new perspective on the phrase “ dumber than a box of rocks”. Maybe there’s a lot of potential in that box.

>95 jnwelch: There's still the show, you know. All is not utterly lost there, either, as there's Young Montalbano too!

>99 richardderus:. Right you are, RD. Those’ll help.

>101 weird_O: - Also creative and talented but, for me anyhow, a tad creepy.

>101 weird_O: Nice one, Bill. Great nose, a bit mussed up in (what I assume are) the moustache parts. Is he wearing an ear flap hat?

>102 jessibud2: Right, Shelley. "Rock" Hudson does look a bit creepy.

"This week CNN released a photo taken by the photographer Anil Prabhakar in the forest in Indonesia. The image shows an orangutan, currently under threat of extinction, while stretching out his hand to help a geologist who fell into a mud pool during his search. When the photographer uploaded the photo, he wrote this as a caption:
'In a time when the concept of humanity dies, animals lead us to the principles of humanity.'"

"We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers.” In Bewilderment Richard Powers once again takes head on what we're collectively doing to our planet. It is long-listed for the Booker Prize, and provides excellent writing and storytelling. It's shorter and simpler than the complex Overstory. It centers around Theo and Robin Byrne, a grieving widowed father and his extremely sensitive 9 year old son. Theo is told son Robin is "on the spectrum" and Theo responds, "Everyone is on the spectrum". Love it! Robin has some Greta Thunberg in him, and is determined to protest the planetwide destruction he sees happening. There's an interesting plot thread where a highly specialized mind-training device brings Robin some emotional control and even wisdom. This is another timely, thought-provoking novel from Powers.

Nice review of Bewilderment, Joe. I'll probably read it next week, as it's one of this year's Booker Prize shortlisted novels that I haven't read yet, along with Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead.

Today’s Bargain: Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa for $1.99 on e-readers. One of his best.

I can second that recommendation of The Feast of the Goat. It's a chilling work of historical fiction, centered on the assassination of the brutal and dictatorial President of the Dominican Republic Generalíssimo Rafael Trujillo and the three Mirabal sisters who helped to bring him down.

>104 jnwelch: Love it.

>105 jnwelch: Saving this til I've read it myself Joe, probably next week.

Happy Friday, Joe. You are probably working out. Good review of Bewilderment. Bonnie is loving it too. I got to get to that one.

>106 kidzdoc:. Thanks, Darryl. Short-listed? Even better! I need to catch up on the Booker short list. I look forward to your thoughts on Bewilderment, and on The Great Circle.

>108 kidzdoc: Right? Feast of the Goat:Go Mirabel sisters!

>109 Caroline_McElwee:. Thanks, Caroline. Isn’t that cool with the Good Samaritan orangutan? I personally think we have more people like that in the world than Trump-types, but I’m not sure we have enough more to counter the damage Trump-types do.

I’ll look for your reaction to Bewilderment.

>110 msf59:. Happy Friday, Mark. This is one of my “two-a-days”; workout in the morning, rehab in the afternoon. I’m making progress and feeling good.

I’llhave to look for Bonnie’s comments on Bewilderment. Definitely worth your time.

>111 jnwelch: This year seems to be a particularly good one for the Booker, Joe. My three favorite novels of 2021 to date were shortlisted for this year's prize: A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam, The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed, and The Promise by Damon Galgut. Unfortunately my least favorite novel of the year, No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood, was also chosen for the shortlist, although several LTers liked it far better than I did.

The Mookse and the Gripes Booker Prize group in Goodreads, which consists mainly of members of the discussion group in The Booker Prizes website before the discussion thread was shut down, currently rank Bewilderment as their favorite novel from the shortlist, followed by A Passage North, The Promise, The Fortune Men, No One Is Talking About This, and Great Circle. I would give the same order to the middle four books that I've read, as I gave 5 stars to A Passage North, 4½ stars to The Promise and The Fortune Men, and a generous ½ star to No One Is Talking About This.

I'll finish An Island by Karen Jennings today, which was longlisted for this year's Booker Prize, and is superb so far.

Friday orisons, Joe. I'm still wore out from doing so much while Valerie was here. *whew*

Anyway. Brought this to show yinz:
EVERYONE should check this "What Hubble Saw on Your Birthday!" link: https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/what-did-hubble-see-on-your-birthday
On my birthday in 2005, Hubble saw:

It's called the "Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey", South Field. In case you was wonderin'.

>104 jnwelch: Brilliant. Thanks for sharing

>112 kidzdoc:. Thanks, Darryl. I noticed how much you liked A Passage North and I’m keeping that one in particular top of mind. Lots of food for thought here.

>113 richardderus:. Physically hung over from a great visit; I know that one, RD. At least you’ll be smiling while you recharge. Thanks for the Hubble fun - I’ll give it a go. I wonder whether we’ll ever come across some other planet’s exploring Hubble.

>114 figsfromthistle:. Isn’t that cool, Anita?

"I’m making progress and feeling good." I am happy to hear this.

Morning, Joe. Happy Saturday. I babysat Jackson yesterday, which was a treat. I am meeting with the Dupage Birding Club this AM, for a walk and a lunch and then books in the PM. Trying to wrap up Great Circle. It is a Big Boy! Have a good weekend.

>116 msf59:. Thanks, buddy. What a change since March! I’m taking notes for a book: My Year of Rehab. :-). (Kidding).

You’re a brave man taking care of young Jackson like that. The good part is he’s not mobile yet. And his poop will never smell this un-awful again. (TMI?)

Birding club plus books - what could be better. We’re Farmer’s Market plus books, with a friends’ party at Montrose Beach this afternoon (hope the rain holds off!)

I’m loving Riccardino. Camilleri is havibg a blast. “The Author” and the main character Montalbano have been arguing at critical junctures, with the Author complaining that too often Montalbano is not following the Author’s plan for the book. The main character is also aware that the Aurhor has written successful books based on stories Montalbano told him, and there’s a series of TV movies based on them, both of which irritate him. A saving grace is he looks nothing like the TV actor, so he doesn’t get recognized on the street. Ha!

Be careful driving around Scotland. Kyle of Tongue bridge.

Today’s Bargain: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest byKen Kesey, at $1.99 on e-readers. If by any chance you haven’t read this remarkable book, here’s a nice opportunity.

>119 jnwelch: I have not, so I will have to check it out.

Spare a cuppa for a poor, lonesome stranger, Joe?

>118 jnwelch: Ha!! I love it! How perfectly Scottish: Make a joke out of something terrifying and awful.

>117 jnwelch: I'm so glad Camilleri left such a good series-stopper as a last book. Curtain is another excellent series-stopper; I've never read Sleeping Murder, Marple's last case, but I expect it's a good'un too.

>115 jnwelch: I suspect so. I wonder where they are...and what they think of us.

>120 alcottacre:. Oh good, Stasia. Nice to see you here! It’s quite a book; for me, even better than the awfully good movie.

I’m away from the kitchen (on my phone), so please busy yourself reading until I can get back and make some coffee.

>121 richardderus:. I thought of you when I saw this tentacular sign, Richard. Kudos to the Scot who came up with it.

You’re encouraging me a bit with Curtain and Sleeping Murders. I didn’t want to read the finale for either detective. I did love what Camilleri did in Riccardino (I finished it). As one article said, he presaged the Author and Montalbano talking to each other in an earlier short story.

If I were an alien (I’m not going to be surprised if it turns out I am) I wouldn’t visit this planet until I let humans “grow up” some more. It’s crazy and unpredictable, and pretty darn violent down here, isn’t it.

I've never read Sleeping Murder but the Agatha Christie's Marple episode in the second season (!) was very good indeed. Well, it starred Aidan McArdle and Dawn French, how could it not be?

Unless the aliens are like Star Trek's Organians, I'd recommend they stay at least one parsec away.

>86 jnwelch: So cool!

Happy Sunday, Joe.

>123 richardderus:. Good call on the aliens. I had fun reading about the Organians thanks to your link, as they weren’t top of mind.

I should check with our daughter on Poirot and Miss Marple, as she has read all things Agatha. She’s re-reading Agatha’s supernatural stories (collected) for Halloween month.

>124 banjo123:. Hiya, Rhonda. Isn’t >86 jnwelch: cool? Thanks - it’s been a happy Sunday and I hope yours has been, too.

>104 jnwelch: Joe - on your incredible orangutan, here's Carl Sagan:

"So the bone structure of chimpanzees and humans is startlingly similar.

And then you look at their hemoglobin molecules, and they are startlingly similar.

There's only one amino acid difference out of hundreds between the hemoglobins of
chimps and humans."

Moon's-day orisons, Joe...if you haven't yet, I'd encourage you to read Ring Shout...and it's only $2.99 on Kindle today: https://smile.amazon.com/Ring-Shout-P-Dj%C3%A8l%C3%AD-Clark-ebook/dp/B082RRJV54

>126 m.belljackson:. Our orangutan might be offended by the chimpanzee comparison, Marianne, but I get your point. They’re very close to us biologically. They’re just smart enough not to get involved in wars or reality tv.

>127 richardderus:. Done. Thanks. Richard. He’s an author i’m interested in, and that’s a nice price.

>128 jnwelch: Without Carl Sagan, I checked online and found that we and your orangutan share 97% DNA, a bit less than chimps.

Bet they wouldn't put us in Zoos either.

With RD and yourself in the mourning for the loss of Montalbano and his wonderful troupe of supporting players. I have the last four still to go at and will read two of them next month. After that I also have the short stories but but but.

I may well re-read the lost a la Stasia and the JD Robb books sometime in the near future.

I think without doubt it is my favourite detective series ever written.

>112 kidzdoc: I have to agree with Darryl on the Lockwood book so far. Beloved by critics perhaps but I find it glib, disjointed and frankly not much of a novel.

>129 m.belljackson: Thanks, Marianne. Hmm. So what's keeping us out of the zoo is 3% or less DNA. Kurt Vonnegut already figured out who our zookeepers would be: Tralfalmadoreans.

>130 PaulCranswick: Ah, thanks, Paul. Montalbano misery sufferers love company. Such a wonderful series. I'm glad you have a few left. Yeah, I'm sure I'll be doing some re-reading, too.

I love that J.D. Robb series; quite addictive. I hope you have a good time with it.

With you two powerhouses telling the Lockwood book to take a hike, I"m going to let it hike on by.

Fire-tailed sunbird

>132 jnwelch: Wow!

>132 jnwelch: Wow!

(wait...>133 magicians_nephew: already said that...how about: >132 jnwelch: SUPER wow!...?)

>122 jnwelch: I did buy it, but it is likely not going to be until March when I read it. I will be out of town for a week and I have to have at least one book with me, right?

>132 jnwelch: Gorgeous!

>132 jnwelch: Birds come in such amazing colors. Thanks for sharing, Joe!

>133 magicians_nephew:. Isn’t that some bird, Jim!

>134 richardderus:. Ha! Super wow! That’s a well-named bird, isn’t it, Richard.

>135 alcottacre:. Sounds perfect, Stasia. Just thinking of that book puts me right back in it, with McMurphy, Ratched, Chief Bromden and the others. What a book.

>136 FAMeulstee:. You’re welcome, Anita. I love all the colors and types, and how amazing it is that they evolved from dinosaurs.

First, some coffee for the patient Stasia.

Flam, Norway

>139 jnwelch: Gosh, that looks like a painting more than a photo! Gorgeous.

Morning, Joe!

Morning, Joe. Happy Wednesday. I hope you are having a good week. We are gearing up for our final camping trip of the year. We are heading to Iowa tomorrow. A big group of friends are going. I hope we stay dry. I am enjoying When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky but I am curious where the story is going.

>132 jnwelch: I love it...of course.

**I forgot to hit the post button, 3 hours ago.

>140 scaifea:. Isn’t that gorgeous, Amber? I’m guessing it’s tough there when winter comes.

>141 msf59:. Ha! I’ve had that happen, Mark. (Forgotten to push or click on post). Good for you -I’ll watch for tales of your camping trip. Fingers crossed for good weather.

The bookyou’re reading is new to me; wish I could tell you itlands in thecright place.

I’m gonna have some lunch, shower and head to rehab. It’s another doubleheader day.

>141 msf59: When Two Feathers worked for me at the beginning, then went awry.

Will your Iowa trip take you near The Effigy Mounds Monument Park?

>139 jnwelch: Woooweee! So beautiful.

Humpday's almost over! Yay!

>143 m.belljackson: Ah, it bums me when that happens, Marianne. A good beginning, then .. . Up, Up and Awry. Too bad.

>144 richardderus: Yay for armchair beauty travel!

Humpday is also two workouts for me, with rehab being the second. I'm very happy to be done with both, and almost done with Humpday. Let's read!

>138 jnwelch: Ack!!! How soon they forget! I am a died-in-the-wool tea drinker, Joe. I cannot stand coffee, lol. I forgive you since it has been a while :)

As you might recall I was a big fan of the Bobiverse books when I read them last year. I donated all three of my copies to the library when I had finished reading them. Yesterday our Inter-Library Loan person came to my office looking for book 1 We Are Legion (We are Bob). He asked me if I had read these books and I replied in the affirmative and told him that they were really good books. He said he wondered about them because they go out on ILL requests all the time. I looked it up and book 1 has been checked out 4 times in the last year. Considering our books go out for 60 days at a time, that means that the book (at least the first one) has been off the shelves most of the last year. Somebody is reading this book.

I ordered the new book in the series Heaven's River but haven't started reading it yet.

Morning, Joe. Sweet Thursday. See you when we get back. I am sure my LT time will be quite limited.

>146 alcottacre:. Oops! I did forget, Stasia. I see in >120 alcottacre: you asked for “a cuppa”, and I auto-translated that into a cuppa coffee. I’m away from the kitchen again, and will have to fix that later.

>147 benitastrnad:. A new Bobiverse novel, Benita? I share your appreciation and added it to my WL. I’m glad the word is spreading in your part of the world.

>148 msf59:. Have a great trip, brother. We’ll keep your thread warm.It’s the time of year for spooky stories around the campfire. Don’t forget to shine the flashlight up into your face to creep people out. You’re going to miss Jackson, am I right?

Thursday...Thursday...hm...can't seem to recall much about this particular calendrical compartment...other than US Thanksgiving, does anything of note happen on Thursday?

>150 richardderus: One of the best qualities of Thursday is it magically slides into Friday. Happy Friday! When working I always thought, "it's nearly the weekend" on Thursday. We'd often go out Thursday night because I knew I could handle one more day of work even if sleep-deprived. And of course it's in the title of a great book, Sweet Thursday, the follow-up to Cannery Row.

for Stasia (finally!):

Bird of Paradise in Papua New Guinea

>153 jnwelch: *gasp*

>151 jnwelch: Ha! Yes, good point, only ONE MORE DAY could get gutted out. So long as there was no presentation or deadline, of course.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads!

>154 richardderus: i join your gasp, mon frere. What a gown of feathers!

Right. Facing a regular old work day I could pull it off; otherwise i wouldn’t use Thursday as part of the weekend. We spent a lot of time figuring out what fun things I could handle all right. The toughest was something irresistible on a Sunday night, with the dreaded first day of the work week to follow. Arrgh.

Everything’s much easier now for us. I bet “work from home” acceptance has made that kind of thing easier for today’s workers. I know our son has a lot more flexibility than I did.

P.s. I’m taking a longer time than usual to get through The Book of Form and Emptiness. It’s chock full of things that interest me. Now the boy, Benny, who hears voices, is having books talk to him. Well, okay then! Let’s do this.

Today’s Bargain: Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham for $1.99 on Kindle. An unusual, very good and Buddhism-laced novel. Good chance to take an inexpensive flyer on it. Bill Murray loved it so much he made a movie of it which I haven’t seen.

>156 jnwelch: I've seen it - it was pretty good.

>139 jnwelch: I’ve been there! And it was very pretty!

Hi Joe! Happy ... um ... new thread. If you've got something hot to sort out my drippy nose, it would be much appreciated.

>156 jnwelch: My very favorite Maugham - never liked the treacly Of Human Bondage but i was so taken by The Razor's Edge

>160 magicians_nephew:. We’re kindred spirits, Jim. Ditto for me. It’s my favorite Maugham. I find him overwrought otherwise.(I like your adjective “treacly”).

158. Lucky you, Rhian! It looks breath-taking. How long were you in Norway? Vacation?

>157 drneutron:. That’s encouraging, Jim. I love Bill Murray. I may track it down some day.

>160 magicians_nephew:. We’re kindred spirits, Jim. Ditto for me. It’s my favorite Maugham. I find him overwrought otherwise.(I like your adjective “treacly”).

158. Lucky you, Rhian! It looks breath-taking. How long were you in Norway? Vacation?

>157 drneutron:. That’s encouraging, Jim. I love Bill Murray. I may track it down some day.

>152 jnwelch: Yay! I will take it.

>153 jnwelch: Gorgeous! One of the things that I appreciate about the game Wingspan is that the artists illustrated all of the cards with each individual bird's picture. They are wonderful.

>156 jnwelch: I fell in love with the movie version from 1946 and then fell in love with the book. The book made me into a Maugham fan.

Joe - today's comic strip MACANUDO is a fun Book one!

Breezing through, Joe, catching up. Avoiding the chores that must...be...DONE!

>161 jnwelch: It was a very long time ago - early to mid 90’s I think and we only had about 9 days there, but it is an absolutely beautiful country. Back in those days you could get an overnight ferry directly from Newcastle to Bergen, which is what we did, so we had a mini-cruise as well. I remember we’d booked a reasonable cabin, but for some reason we got upgraded, so we had a very nice cabin indeed for the outward trip.

Hi Joe. I am just skimming through to see what's up. Thanks for posting the National Book Award Nominees on your prior thread. I recently purchased Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr and The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers. I already have Bewilderment by Richard Powers sitting on the bedside table.

My current read, The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed, is a really good one.

>155 jnwelch: Glad to hear you are savoring the new(?) Ruth Ozeki. I'll likely add that to my wish list.

>167 EBT1002:. Hi, Ellen. Thank you for stopping by. I miss your postcards! I’m woefully behind on visiting threads.

Sounds like you’ve git great reading going. You’re welcome revthe NBA list. I can’t believe I’ve read only one of the listed poetry collections, and I didn’t like it.

I reviewed Bewilderment on the prior thread. I think you’ll appreciate the book. I LOVED the Ruth Ozeki book. Yes, it’s new. I’d forgotten she’s a Zen Buddhist priest. I’ll try to review the book soon: The Book of Form and Emptiness.

I’m definitely going to read Cloud Cuckoo Land. I’m one of those who loved All the Light We Cannot See. I don’t know The Fortune Men or The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois and will look forward to your comments on them.

P.S. I just started Matrix by Lauren Goff.

P.P.S. The Chicago Sky are in the WNBA Finals! It’s hugely thanks to Candace Parker coming home.

>166 SandDune:. Thanks, Rhian. It sounds like a great trip. An overnight ferry - what a cool way to get there. It looks beautiful. I’m sure you would’ve liked more, but 9 days is pretty darn good. I’m sure you fit in Oslo, right?

>165 weird_O:. I understand, Bill. I’m just about to chore it up myself. “Into every life some chores must fall”. An old saying from the hills. My missus is away taking care of the grandkids, so the division of labor is but a fond memory. I’ve even gained her trust to do the laundry (a tip: if you run everything on “hot”, shrinkage will occur. She still talks about her bathrobe that I turned doll-size). Laundry, grocery shopping and towel folding are my exciting prospects before the WNBA finals ( Go Chicago Sky!) and the Bears game.

>164 m.belljackson:. Thanks for the tip, Matianne. I’ll try to find it.

P.S. Found it- nice one. I expect and hope reading books makes us all interesting - at least to each other!😀

Sunday orisons, Joe...I'm still revoltingly productive. Two reviews posted today, more work done on Monday's...good gracious, you'd think I enjoyed writing or something!

(Maybe just a little. Or a little more than I should.)

>169 jnwelch: One of the miracles, and I mean this literally, of modern chemistry is laundry detergents that work *best* in cold to lukewarm water. Your front-loader's formula is automatically going to be best at room temp!

*bliss*

Today’s Bargain: Suite Francaise by Irene Nemerovsky on e-readers for $1.99. French people amid Nazi occupation- topnotch.

>169 jnwelch: Also, I suggest separating colours. Something I'm still trying to train my husband to do.

>172 humouress:. Good suggestion, Nina. A little above my pay scale today. Fingers crossed - there are no whites, and its mainly my own stuff. My sympathy to your husband - there is much to learn, grasshopper.

>169 jnwelch: >173 jnwelch: The big long-term chore is getting rid of stuff, spurred in part by some current reading. Just finished Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, and now reading Junkyard Planet, a "prequel" to Secondhand, which I read a year ago. Is your household inventory reduced to its essence? That's my chore now, and it's fraught with difficult-for-me choices/decisions.

>174 weird_O:. Yes, I need to do that, too, Bill. Debbi’s been great about clearing out our unnecessaries - we have a local online “buy nothing” community where you can post photos of them, and others can claim them. Puzzles, tools, fabric, art supplies, all sorts of stuff. But I have “memory box” stuff I’ve kept over the years for sentimental reasons that I need to put through the keep/don’t keep process. We’re determined not to leave our kids a huge sorting project when we’re gone.

>175 jnwelch: Memory box stuff. O yes. I'm self-burdened with memories about all sorts of possessions. I also get whelmed (not overwhelmed, at least not yet) with Judi's memory-box stuff. Oh my.

>178 SandDune:. Yes, I often think of you missing Judi, you poor guy. I’d be a mess without Debbi.

>169 jnwelch: No Oslo I’m afraid. We just stayed in the Fjord country.

>178 SandDune:. OK, thanks, I was just curious. I don’t know whether we’ll ever get to Norway.

>170 richardderus:. Oops, I missed you there RD. Your multitudinous review writing belongs in the Guinness Book of World Records. You’re the Nora Roberts of Book reviewers. Just reading that many would be impressive, but writing detailed, humorous, thoughtful reviews for each - wow.

There is much unknown to me in the history of laundry. I’m just grateful I don’t have to take it to a commercial establishment like I did in my bachelor days.

>180 jnwelch: Oh, the laundry files (!) are immense...the history of fabric is the history of civilization is the history of technology is the history of chemistry is the history of laundry. And it's *fascinating*.

Ha! Over ya shoulder, Rob(b)erts! Comin' fa tha crown!

>181 richardderus:. You have some work to do in convincing me the history of laundry is fascinating, Richard, but I applaud your wide-ranging vision.

I don’t understand the Rob(b)erts comment, sorry.

>163 alcottacre:. Did I miss you earlier, Stasia? I think I told you our son and daughter are major board game buffs, and I’ll ask them about Wingspan. I’d like to see the illustrated cards.

I didn’t know there was a 1946 movie version of The Razor’s Edge! Thanks for bringing it up. I may take a look at that one.

>182 jnwelch: Nora Roberts = JD Robb; therefore, she is Rob(b)berts!

>182 jnwelch: Laundry == fabric == clothing which has always caught my interest
except for the hanging on the line to dry and the folding and putting away parts


The 1946 version was prettier than the Bill Murray one.

>182 jnwelch:. Ah, being a JD Robb reader , I should’ve figgered it out. I thouhht maybe it was a reference to your young GC I was missing.

I’m rooting for you to win the Crown.

>184 quondame:. Is that from a Breughel, Susan? I love me some Breughel.

I’m quite intrigued by the 1946 version now.

>184 quondame: >181 richardderus: I suspect Joe is trammeled in the washing and putting away of laundry rather than the history of clothes.

>186 humouress: :-)

A small part of Paul C's and John S's 'hood. We loved visiting here and were lucky enough to meet up with John at a local coffee shop.

Wow, that's gorgeous!

>188 jnwelch: Just beautiful! The cathedral is a work of sublime genius, isn't it.

Have yourself a merry little Moon's Day.

>189 drneutron: isn’t it, Jim? The York Minster is beautiful inside, too.

>190 richardderus:. Yes, that’s one sublime work of genius, that cathedral, Richard. And the surrounding environs ain’t too shabby either.

It sounds so much better when you call it Moon’s Day! A merry one to you, too.

Today’s Bargain: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Great timing for this creepy classic to be on sale for $1.99 on e-readers. Let Shirley Jackson cast her spell on you.

The York Cathedral is stunning! That definitely goes on my list of churches to visit soon, hopefully next year.

Hi Joe, so sorry I have neglected visiting so many threads in the past weeks. RL was too busy to spend much time on LT. I try to do better in the future.

>188 jnwelch: Oh, gosh, that's lovely.

Morning, Joe!!

Morning, Joe. We are back. I am skipping through quite a few posts, so I can catch up around here. The threads really pile up. I hope I didn't miss anything. I also have a lot of reading to catch up on. I hope your books are treating you fine and you both are doing well.



-Red-headed woodpeckers. We saw several of these beauties on the camping trip.

I don't think it matters if you clean up because you want to make it easier for the kids. In my experience, no matter what you do, they are going to clean up after you. It will take them months - even if you have cleaned up several times previously. Just as well leave it for them to clean up since they are going to do it anyway, no matter what what you have done or not done.

I have noticed that this cleaning phenomena is even worse at work. We all have separate offices and it was traditional that the person retiring spent the last month of employment cleaning their office out. Then the staff would spend the first month after that person retirement cleaning the office out. I have resolved that when I retire, I will take what I want and leave the rest for the staff to clean - since they will do it anyway.

My previous supervisor spent so much time cleaning and labeling files and boxing them to go to certain people and the day after she left the office manger walked into her office and threw all the boxes, files, and everything else into the dumpster. The lesson - if it is important send it to the next person before you leave, because the day you walk out it is all going to get dumped anyway. I think the same holds true for homes. What you think is important is not what your kids are going to think is important, so just let them do it for themselves.

Hoo-boy, Joe. Here we are on publication day...so very many books out, so many others caught in supply-chain chaos...the collapse of Society happening all at once! Eeek.

Oh...happy Tuesday!

Hi Joe! Long time no visit.

>86 jnwelch: The beach stone family is fantastic. Love it.

Skimmity-skim skim. All caught up. Sort of.

Just sending big waves over the pond.

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois is really good, Joe, but its a big read, 790 pages worth. I find myself doing a reread of the J D Robb series. I’ve forgotten so much that it’s like reading new to me books, only better.

Morning, Joe!

I read a poetry collection yesterday that I think you might enjoy: Some Things I Still Can't Tell You. (I posted my favorite of the bunch on my thread, if you want a preview.)

>193 kidzdoc:. Right you are, Darryl. Debbi and I loved it.

>194 connie53:. No worries, Connie. I have the same problem. Thank you for stopping by.

>195 scaifea:. Morning, Amber! It’s always good to have a bit of lovely in our day.

>196 msf59:. There’s our guy! Welcome back, Mark! Nice photo. How great that you got to see several of those on your trip. There’s nothing like hearing them knock on trees either, right?

>197 benitastrnad:. As a would-be lazy person, your solution is tempting. But I like our doing this for the kids and getting things moving on. It fits your idea of giving it away now. We’ve already passed a lot on to the kids now, rather than later, or put it on that “buy nothing” thread for others to claim. Plus it’s fun to go to other parts of our lifetimes.

>198 richardderus:. Oh man, RD. I know we’re in troubled times, but I sure hope those book supply lines stay open. What awealth of good novels this Fall!

>199 karenmarie:. Hiya, Karen! I think many of us are having trouble keeping up. It might help if someone would pay us to do it. A good Utopia would have us getting a hefty wage for reading and posting on LT, wouldn’t it?

>200 Ameise1:. Ha! Thanks, Barbara. I had a momentary vision of tsunamis heading our way. I’m waving back!

>204 jnwelch: That's why Kindles are in for a major boost in popularity. Can't make 1s and 0s scarce. Trees, petroleum-based inks, yes and all too easy. Digits? Not so much.

Not until They figure out a way to make it more expensive without hurting themselves in the process.

Happy Humpday thoughts!

>201 Familyhistorian:. I’m sure you’re right about The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois. That’s inspiring to read regarding your J.D.Robb re-read. One’s in my future. I’m sure after 50+ of them I won’t remember some of the details either. I want to re-read some of the Jack Reachers, too.

>202 scaifea:. Morning, Amber! A poetry collection tip! Thanks- I don’t get many of those. I’ll take a look at Some Things I Still Can’t Tell you- I like that title. I’ll come over for a preview.

>205 richardderus:. Kindles sure are convenient, aren’t they, RD. Instant gratification. But if the electricity ever goes out, we’re all in big trouble.

Nature reclaiming.

>208 jnwelch: Wonderful Joe.

There have been some excellent environmental documentaries here (on BBC at the moment but opening globally soon under the banner of the Earthshot Prize). The inaugural year's awards are to be announced on Sunday.

https://earthshotprize.org/

>208 jnwelch: Beautiful! And satisfying.

>207 jnwelch: If the electricity goes out, we'll have many many many many bigger fish to fry than Kindles running out of juice.

>209 Caroline_McElwee:. Thanks, Caroline. Whew, it’s going to take some real ingenuity and willpower to get us out of this environmental disaster, isn’t it?

>210 richardderus:. True dat, RD. We’re so dependent! A sun flare could send us back to the dark ages, I imagine. We’ve got to be the best soap opera in the universe.

>208 jnwelch: Gorgeous :-D

>212 Ameise1:. Oh good. Thanks, Barbara.

Happy Wednesday, Joe. You are probably deep into your workout or is that workouts? I enjoyed some birding this morning and now it is time to get to the books. Is this your first Groff? I am so glad you are loving Matrix.

>208 jnwelch: So cool.

Where is that, do you know?

I have several Ruth Ozeki books on my TBR list. I read one of her previous books and gave it 4 stars. I remember it so I must have liked it quite a bit. I have Tale For the Time Being and Book of Form and Emptiness on my list along with My Year of Meats so it looks like I should really try to get these books read. The book I have read by her is All Over Creation. I think she told a really good story with that one, and it was one of her earlier books. I can imagine that she has only gotten better in the last 20 years since it was published.

>171 jnwelch: I agree - that book is top-notch. I bought a copy several years ago after my initial read of it because I wanted a copy for my personal library. I really need to give it a re-read one of these days.

>182 jnwelch: It has been years since I saw the Tyrone Power version of The Razor's Edge. I just remember how much it impressed me at the time. I hope you get a chance to check it out.

Regarding Wingspan, it now has 2 expansions. The first expansion added birds of Europe (the base game was limited to birds of North America) and the second added birds from Oceania.

>192 jnwelch: Another goodie!

Happy Wednesday, Joe!

>214 msf59: Happy Wednesday and Sweet Thursday, Mark.

It was workouts, plural. I get pretty tuckered out on those days, but my shoulder is way better - smaller area of pain, and more flexibility. We're getting there.

This is my first Groff and, yes, I'm loving Matrix. I'm nearing the end of it. I'll be going back into that world right after this.

>215 humouress: Hi, Nina. I did some sleuthing, and the abandoned ship in >208 jnwelch: is off the shore of Australia, near Cockle Bay.

>216 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I hope you get to the other Ozeki books. I loved A Tale for the Time Being, after a slow start. Once I met the grandmother it took off for me. The Book of Form and Emptiness was a slow start, too. Mainly, I think, because of the unusual dialogue between "books" (collectvely) and the main character, Benny. I need to do a review of it. I ended up loving that one, too. Her expressed thematic beliefs are ones I share. I'd like to go back and read some of her earlier ones, like the one you read and liked.

>217 alcottacre: Hiya, Stasia. Wasn't Suite Francaise a good one? i hope one of our patrons scooped it up at that price. I'd like to re-read it, too, at some point.

I've found the Tyrone Power Razor's Edge movie. Good to hear another endorsement. I wish it was free, but $2.99 will be worth it.

Wow, Wingspan sounds like a treasure for gamers and bird enthusiasts ( I can imagine the Venn diagram). I'll try to remember to mention it to Mark, too, if you haven't already.

Shirley Jackson had that rare ability to draw you in and creep you out, and make you glad you experienced it, didn't she.

Sweet Thursday!

Looks like a parrot to me - unnamed by original poster.

I'm not sure how but I've been convinced this was going to be Friday, and am not a little crestfallen that it's merely Thursday. Yawn.

Speaking of birds...David Attenborough talks eggs.

Sweet Thursday, Richard. It'll all work out okay.

Interesting Attenborough piece. How does nature come up with these complicated reproductive processes?

My favorite Attenborough is him narrating Adele's "Hello": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enu-qR0H_uk

>222 jnwelch: That's priceless! Like Postmodern Juke Box, repurposing things of modernity into timeless uses.

>219 jnwelch: My Abe.com copy of Sweet Thursday arrived right on time this morning - bet it will be a good one.

Maybe Mary's Monster will arrive on Halloween!

>223 richardderus: Ha! He elevates everything, doesn't he. What wit. We needn't bother ourselves about the dead bugs on the windowsill.

>224 m.belljackson: Wonderful, Marianne. Both are close to my heart. I was so pleased to find out there was a follow-up to the lively Cannery Row, and Sweet Thursday is indeed a good one. I found Mary's Monster to be a surprisingly affecting graphic biography. Have fun with your reading!

Cityscape by Miguel Freitas

Morning, Joe. Happy Friday. I have my Trail Watch duties this AM and then book time in the PM. I am really enjoying Tears of the Trufflepig. Expect more warbling on that one and like I mentioned to you in a text, I am thoroughly loving my poetry collection Dialogues With Rising Tides.

>220 jnwelch: Nice!

Morning, Joe! Bummer that I missed that deal on The Razor's Edge - that is one I am wanting to read.

I have The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois out from the library, but I have not started it yet. It is BIG. But deckled edge pages!

I think it is ever so thoughtful of you that you and Debbi are thinking ahead to not leaving your kids a bunch of stuff to sort through. When my mom died, there was a HUGE amount of stuff that had to be gone through, and it was exhausting both physically but also emotionally for my sisters. Craig and I have already said, if there is something that you want when we are finished with it or gone, speak up. I think it's good for everyone to be on the same page about what is going where, and about what no one wants so it can just go when we are done with it. Also they already know so that there do not have to be hurt feelings about who gets what. It feels like we start out owning our stuff but then our stuff ends up owning us, and it is so freeing to let some of it go.

>226 jnwelch: - Love this one.

Happy Friday, Joe!

>226 jnwelch: Looks like a lovely place to escape to for a holiday.

>227 msf59: Retirement treating you well, then, Mark?

>228 Crazymamie: My parents (especially my mum) have always been good at chucking things out whenever they moved; I managed to snaffle a couple of things early on but everything else seems to have already disappeared. I, on the other hand, am a hoarder, sadly. But the genes came from my mum's family, oddly enough. I suspect that my kids won't want any of my stuff, but I shall ignore that feeling.

>226 jnwelch: Freitas is a good artist, indeed.

Happy WEEKEND!

>226 jnwelch: Wow! I needed a blast of color just then too!

>227 msf59: Tears of the Trufflepig sure looks like my kinda book, Mark. I’m wondering how it sneaked by me. Unless you come back saying the last part is a disaster, I think it’s in my future. I’ll look forward to hearing more about your poetry collection, too. As we’ve both experienced, some fizzle after a strong start. I really liked Good Bones by Maggie Smith. The title poem was an international sensation a couple of years ago - what an unlikely thing to say about a non-inaugural poem!

I’ve never met a purple parrot I didn’t like. :-)

>228 Crazymamie:. Thanks for all those good thoughts about helping the kids via bringing down the amount of stuff we leave. Some of it I’d much rather give them while we’re living, a lot was important once but no longer and now is eminently deserving of being tossed out, and some could live a productive life in someone else’s hands. You’re right, the sorting and decision- making after a parent dies is such a HUGE exhausting task. We’ll be sparing our progeny at least some of that while reclaiming our rather nice attic that has skylights and weird roof angles. Nice carpeting, too.

I’m sorry to see you missed that Razor’s Edge bargain. A book that’s well worth reading when it appears at the right time. I’m going to watch the 1946 movie adaptation this weekend.

>156 jnwelch: Razor's Edge was a classic I had never read until last year. It was one of my favorite books read in 2020. Glad you liked it too.

>233 jnwelch: Your attic sounds like a nice place to build a library. And let the grandkids go wild.

>234 RBeffa:. Good to have another fellow appreciator of The Razor’s Edge, Ron.My mom loved Maugham, and I was so glad to find one of his I liked.

>235 humouress:. Ha! The attic has lots of bookshelves, Nina. That’s where I keep my graphic novels. You’re right; it’ll no doubt be a special place for the grandkids as they get older. Their fanther already likes it. His friends and others used to gather there for “Wordplay”, a weekly open mike for poetry.

>229 katiekrug:. Oh good, Katie. I was hoping folks would enjoy that painting. Thanks for letting me know.

Happy Friday/Saturday!

>230 humouress:. I agree, Nina. I’d love to have a chance to explore the city in >226 jnwelch:.

We haven’t moved in ages, and won’t be moving from this one, as Madame MBH has made abundantly clear. (I love it, too). So we’re having to be self-starters, without that inspiration, for clutter removal.

Morning, Joe! Your attic sounds delightful. Why am I not surprised that you used to host open mike night there?!

>231 richardderus:. Agreed, RD. I want to look around for more of Freitas’ art.

>232 quondame:. Some vibrant color sure helps the day, doesn’t it, Susan.

>238 Crazymamie:. Ha! We loved having all those kids up there nerding out on poetry, Mamie. We have fond memories of our front hallway filled with their discarded shoes.

>239 jnwelch: Apparently he's a Portuguese Canadian "naïve" painter based in Toronto.

Naïve? Looks pretty sophisticated to me. This one's "Along the Beach"

>241 richardderus: Man, I like that one a lot, too, Richard. Thanks for finding and posting it. I'd love to have one of his to hang on the wall.

I loved The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. She's the author of A Tale for the Time Being, another one I loved. This one is hard to describe.

The narrator is books (collectively). Huh? "Books like each other. We understand each other. You could even say we are all related, enjoying a kinship that stretches like a rhizomatic network beneath human consciousness and knits the world of thought together.” The story centers on 14-year-old Benny Oh, who begins to hear voices, the first being his father's, after his jazz musician father dies. Annabelle, Benny's mother, mentally degrades after that death, becoming a hoarder.

Benny grows to hear inanimate objects speaking to him, which can be a window pane upset that a bird died after crashing into it, or a pencil or pair of scissors trying to dictate his actions. His dealing with that fundamental problem takes him into the quieter Library and his dialogue with the narrator. Other eccentric outsiders try to help him, and he falls for one of them. This novel takes on lots of big issues, and threads in some Buddhist concepts (the author is a Zen Buddhist priest) and ultimately was one of the most satisfying reads I've had.

"Every person is trapped in their own particular bubble of delusion, and it's every person's task in life to break free. Books can help. We can make the past into the present, take you back in time and help you remember. We can show you things, shift your realities and widen your world, but the work of waking up is up to you.”

It was refreshing to read Matrix by Lauren Groff, with its straightforward, chronological telling of a feminist story in the unlikely time of the 12th century. Marie is a royal-related "bastard" who is bitterly exiled from the royal court and sent to be the prioress of a remote, failing English abbey filled with starving nuns, most of whom are sick and dying. She young, tall and unattractive when she arrives, unhappy to be there. She has left behind the sexual companionship of her dear friend Celine. despite her unhappiness, she has passion and fire and a keen mind, and gradually begins to assert herself.

Based on real life author Marie de France, Marie is indomitable once she gets momentum, restoring the health of the abbey and making it a successful seat of power from which she challenges the male-dominated practices of the Catholic church while struggling with her own sexual desires and those of the nuns around her. This is a beautifully written book, filled with the color of the time, and Marie is an unforgettable powerhouse, human and godly.

Ada and the galaxies by Allan Lightman came to me as an ARC. I wanted to like it. Lightman wrote that terrific collection of short stories, Einstein's Dreams, and the book was promoted as featuring galaxy photos from the Hubble space telescope. The book was inspired by his granddaughter's visits from the city, whose lights prevented her from seeing many stars, to his home in Maine, where she could. Great ingredients, disappointing meal. The Hubble photos are so "seamlessly incorporated" (from the dust jacket) that they're unremarkable, having little visual impact. And there are so many visually striking Hubble photos available! The story consists of Ada spending some family time at the Maine shore while longing for night to come, so that she can see the stars, and night finally coming. Yawn. What a missed opportunity.

The title poem in Good Bones by Maggie Smith became an international sensation thanks to social media. It's one of my favorites from the last couple of decades:

Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine
in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative
estimate, though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world
is at least half terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real shithole, chirps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.

*****

Oh man. What an arrow to the heart.

The rest of the collection is very good, capitalizing on a similar blunt honesty. Her poem "Twentieth Century" ends:

Twentieth Century, are you there? I thought you were

a simpler time. I thought we’d live on a mountain
together, drinking melted snow, carving hawk totems

from downed pines. We’d never come back. Twentieth
Century, I was in so deep, I couldn’t see an end to you.

*****
Others from this collection have made it to social media:

Hi Joe - not quite so harrowing for Halloween is hanging up a pair of "pale green pants"
from a local tree branch so that they swing around in a breeze.

When the rare person (last year it was the mail deliverer) asks about them,
I direct them to Dr. Seuss' poem, "What was I scared of?"

>217 alcottacre: Oh, Wingspan has been mentioned to Mark on more than one occasion :)

>243 jnwelch: Adding that one to the BlackHole. My local library does not have it, but does have A Tale for the Time Being so I will start there. I have not read anything by Ruth Ozeki before.

>244 jnwelch: That one is already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again!

>245 jnwelch: Too bad about that one. Like you, I enjoyed Einstein's Dreams. I hope your next read is better for you.

Happy Saturday, Joe!

>241 richardderus: The way the houses impose themselves makes me want to head out to sea. And I hate being on a small boat. And all boats are small.

>246 jnwelch: Yes, that does make an impact. I'm discouraged by all the posts I've seen in my neighborhood mail-group that I joined when we were searching for Kira. The worst are rants against the homeless in local parks, blaming the homeless and the politicians that show any sympathy for the homeless, as if they themselves have no complicity in the lack of funds and nimby attitudes that have made sure homes remain beyond common means. The only posts that aren't mean spirited are the lost and found pet posts.

>243 jnwelch: >244 jnwelch: >246 jnwelch: Ouch, multiple bullets Joe.

>226 jnwelch: Gorgeous painting! So colourful.

Happy Sunday, Joe.

Morning, Joe. Happy Sunday. We had a perfect "date" day yesterday. We went and saw No Time To Die. Our first movie theater visit in two years. Good Bond. A nice send off for Craig. After dinner and quick brewery stop, we came home and watched The Green Knight on Amazon. I think you would both love this one.

I hope to get some reading in the AM and then heading to Bree's to watch the game and hang out with Jackson.
Go Bears! They will have their hands full today.

>230 humouress: It certainly is, Nina. 😊

>246 jnwelch: Wow! This is a fantastic poem. I will have to request this collection. Pronto!!

>247 m.belljackson:. Nice one, Marianne. Is this from your own Halloween decorating, or someone else’s?

>248 alcottacre:. Hi, Stasia. I can’t wait to hear what you think of Tale for the Time Being. As I mentioned, I struggled a bit at the beginning. Maybe you’ll get your sea legs sooner than I did.

Matrix is a worthy addition to your TBR.

I’m reading Cloud Cuckoo Land now and it’s much better than The Land of Disappointment.

Happy Weekend!

Today’sBargain:Beloved by Toni Morrison for $1.99 on e-readers. Needs no comment from me.

>249 quondame:. “And all boats are small”. You’ve got the mind of a poet, Susan. :-)

>250 quondame:. Some people take the relative anonymity of posting as a license to be nasty, don’t they, Susan. It’s a shame. When you find positive, untrolled posting like LT, it’s such a breather from all that.

>254 jnwelch: Joe - reading "What was I Scared of?" to my daughter

(who now says the book still scares her!)

and having a pair of "pale green" gardening pants inspired setting the pants up.

Pants work best with a hanger at the top to carry the legs around.

(Our concrete sequential mail carrier merely asked:
"Do you know there are PANTS hanging in your tree?)

Sunday orisons, Joe. I don't see why I should be the only one to lose hours down the Freitas art-rabbit-hole.


So pretty.

>257 m.belljackson: I think this is where the green pants idea comes from.

(a kid's book to conquer fear and be fun at the same time)
Love Dr. Seuss!

Oh Hi Joe!

>258 richardderus: More judgmentally aggressive structures. Why don't those buildings like people. Not that they don't have reasons, but what?

Just delurking to say Hi! Maybe I can keep up with the next thread....

Hi Joe. We had a good time watching the Chicago Sky win the WNBA Championship today. We were rooting for them with much enthusiasm. We love Vandersloot who played at Gonzaga, and Candace Parker. While I can acknowledge Taurasi's talent and heart, I get tired of her whining. It was looking like they might have to go to PHX for game five, but the Sky really turned it on in the last few minutes. Congrats to Chicago!

Matrix by Lauren Groff is on my shopping list for my trip to Seattle at the end of this month. I have a couple of medical appointments but I am planning to visit Elliott Bay Books on Capitol Hill and Third Place Books in Seward Park. Of course I'm looking forward to it. The Book of Form and Emptiness is on my list for that trip, too.

Hooray for the Sky! I do really like Parker.

And I am also looking forward to Matrix

>257 m.belljackson:. Ha! Thanks, Marianne. I bet the postman was really thinking, “Do you know you have scary pants hanging in the tree?”

>258 richardderus:. Oh man, another great one, RD. Thanks. I need to spend some time in thatFreitas rabbit hole.

>259 mdoris:. Thanks, Mary. I thought I knew all the major Seuss books, but not this one. How perfect for this time of year. I’ll have to ask Madame MBH and our daughter whether the know it. The former reads to our grandkids and the latter to her young students.

>260 quondame:. It’s all a matter of perspective, Susan. To me the buildings are leaning together because they like being together.

>261 Berly:. Always good to see you, Kim. No worries. I’ve had the same problem this year. So many good friends and interesting posts on LT, and not enough time to visit the way I’d like. I guess it’s better to have that problem than have so little going on that you don’t need more than a few minutes.

>262 EBT1002:. Hi, Ellen. I was thinking of you and Karen with these WNBA Finals. I know you’re fans. I just loved the way the Sky played throughout the playoffs. Van dersloot is the best point guard around as far as I’m concerned. She must’ve been so fun to watch at Gonzaga. She’s an elite shooter, besides all the great orchestration and assists. And Candace Parker!! This doesn’t happen without her leadership and fantastic playing. We all remember her from high school here (she was a big deal, as you might imagine, and she pointed up to Pat Summit in heaven after winning the championship. I would’ve picked either of them as Finals mvp, although Kahleah Copper sure had a big impact. And how about Allie Quigley with those big threes? And Stefanie Dolson with those floaters art the end and her all around play, including guarding Britney Griner? And Stevens, for doing the bulk of that defense. The depth of the Sky had a lot to do with why they won. What an exciting playoff run! Man, the only hard part is I wish the series went on for several more games. On the other hand, I sure am glad that they didn’t have to head back to Phoenix for Game 5.

Now, you also mentioned something about a book. Let me gather my thoughts . . .

I’m pretty sure you’ll love Matrix when you get to it. I’m psyched to hear you plan to pick up The Book of Form and Emptiness. It is so . . . different. I want to hear from you and others about it.

Hooray for the Chicago Sky! Packed house, happy city.

>263 banjo123:. Thanks, Rhonda. I love the way Parker plays. So smart, so good, such a leader. Her decision to come back here was literally a game changer.

Matrix should be a gripping read for you. It sure was for me.

Congratulations, Chicago Sky!

>80 jnwelch: Thanks for posting this Mary Oliver poem. I've been spending a lot of time inside, sadly still grieving Will. This poem reminds me to get out and about and move on.

>267 Whisper1:. It’s so good to see you here, Linda. How are you doing? I need to visit your thread. I’m not surprised that you’re still grieving over Will. I don’t even want to think about losing Madame MBH. It’s got to be so tough for you, and you’re also managing your pain situation without your partner. Sending you healing vibes and a gentle hug from Chicago. You’re welcome re the Mary Oliver poem. She’s inspiring.

>254 jnwelch: I have the Ozeki book noted to pick up at the library after I return from out of town. I will keep you posted.

New thread alert.

I'd put up another Freitas but....

>269 alcottacre:. Thanks, Stasia. I appreciate that and look forward to it.

I can’t remember whether you were one of the ones who recommended the 1946 Razor’s Edge movie but I enjoyed it over the weekend. Tyrone Power was a good choice for Larry, and Gene Tierney was terrific as Isabel. I would’ve given her an Oscar, but Anne Baxter won one instead for playing Sophie. Poor Sophie! I had blocked that storyline from my mind as we’ve had a problem drinker in the family. Good movie!

>270 richardderus: Thanks for the new thread alert, RD. Another Freitas is always welcome.

Hey Joe! Solnit's new book, Orwell's Roses, is excerpted at LitHub!

Worth a read, as always.

>273 richardderus:. Good news! I sure have become a Rebecca Solnit fan. Thanks, RD.

Rafa and Fina with a pal at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.

>275 jnwelch: Wow! Even Fina is good about wearing her mask. Good role models.

>275 jnwelch: So cute! As always, their faces brighten the day a bit more.

>271 jnwelch: Yes, that was me that recommended the film. Glad you enjoyed it!

>275 jnwelch: It has been a while since I have seen pictures of the grandkiddos. How they have grown! Cute as always!!

>268 jnwelch: Thanks for such kind and gentle words. Overall, I am doing well. I anxiously await insurance approval for the phase two of the fusion pump surgery, where I will spend an hour or two each day in the local hospital working with the director of pain management to determine the best pain meds to go into the infusion pump. I should hear by next week.

Your grandchlidren are inredibly beautiful!

>275 jnwelch: So delightful. I just love penguins...

Morning, Joe. Sweet Thursday. I hope you are doing well. I haven't seen you around much. I am really enjoying Once There Were Wolves. She has quickly become a favorite. I just picked up Bewilderment, so I will be getting to that one soon. I hope your books are treating you fine.

We should set up a Meet Up. We are overdue.

>275 jnwelch: I love it! I bet you miss them.

Morning, Joe!

>275 jnwelch: Just what I needed - a dose of happy! They are so adorable.

>278 alcottacre:. Oh good, thanks so much for recommending the 1946 The Razor’s Edge movie, Stasia. That Sophie storyline is a heartbreaker, isn’t it. So interesting to have Maugham as part of the story.

The grandkiddos continue to be a treat, even with the usual flaws of that age ( occasional whining, and “Look at me! Look at me!”). They’re both sweethearts.

>279 Whisper1: You’re welcome, Linda. I like that they’re having you be an active part of selecting the pain meds. By now, you’re probably the expert. Fingers crossed for next week.

Thanks re the grandchildren!

>280 quondame:. Hi, Susan. Penguins are such smile-makers, aren’t they.

>281 msf59:. Once There Were wolves is probably my next one after Cloud cuckoo Land, which is treating me very well, Mark. Ellen loved OTWW. CCL is treating me well. The disparate story lines gradually coming together are making me think of David Mitchell.

You’re right re a meetup. Life has been pretty jumbled on my end. Let’s shoot for November.

I do miss those little koala bears. Debbi got a nice dose of up close and personal, helping out Jesse and Adriana.

>282 Crazymamie:. Morning Mamie!

Those adorable kids are a dose of happy, aren’t they? Our son said Fina already knows what she wants to be when she grows up: Rafa.😃

Bora Bora

>284 jnwelch: Beautiful. I like turtles. How lovely it would be to sit dangling your feet there (I don't swim, but love being near water).

Hi Joe!

Well here I am again, more than a week behind. Blech.

>204 jnwelch: Hmmm. Getting paid for hanging out on LT might turn joy into a money-grubbing exercise. I know we all understand when members of our group go dark for a while then return. I’ve been having a lot of lower back/hip/knee pain, and I admit that it’s really kept me away from my usual routines.

>208 jnwelch: I love this photo, Joe. Thanks for posting.

>210 richardderus: If the electricity goes out I’ve got about 22 days before the propane for the generator is all used up. *shiver*

>220 jnwelch: Natural selection or a higher power, there are some marvelous creatures on this old rock.

>230 humouress: My mom and dad didn’t keep very many things, rarely offered them to us either before chucking them. I, too, am a hoarder. So’s my husband.

>244 jnwelch: I’ve seen chatter here in the 75ers about Matrix, but you finally snagged me – it’s now on my wish list.

>245 jnwelch: Great ingredients, disappointing meal. Too bad.

>246 jnwelch: I’m not a fan of most poetry, but Good Bones caught my attention. I actually read the whole thing – twice!

>275 jnwelch: Such Joy on Rafa’s face, such concentration on Fina’s. Thanks for sharing.

>284 jnwelch: Oh yes. I'm there.

>286 karenmarie: :0)

Hi Joe! Happy weekend's reads.

Happy Saturday, Joe. Looks like a nice fall day out there. I am staying in doing chores and getting some book time in. I am really enjoying my story collection The Office of Historical Corrections, which Nancy sent me and then I will start Bewilderment. Enjoy your day.

>244 jnwelch: Me want book

>290 magicians_nephew:. Good, Jim! Enjoy Matrix.

>289 msf59:. Hiya, Mark. It’s been a quiet day here. I finished the excellent Cloud Cuckoo Land, which was food for alot of thought. I’m glad you’re enjoying your story collection, and I’ll look for your comments on Once There Were Wolves, which is up next for me. I feel more than usually filled with a delicious literary elixir with all this good fall reading.

Good evening, Joe. The sun has set here. I'm comforted by two helpings of meatloaf I just ate. I made it yesterday. Still enough left for a couple of Sunday sandwiches. I plan to finish the remaining 100+ pages of The Acts of King Arthur by tomorrow night.

<286. Hi, Karen. Since no one’s offering us money for posting on LT, I guess we don’t need to worry about it. You may be right. Let’s keep it simple, and just get paid for reading. :😀

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been having back/hip/knee pain. It’s all connected, isn’t it? When I got my hips replaced, my knees got better. I hope you get some relief asap.

At least you have some back up if the electricity goes out. We’ll be grabbing our flashlights and batteries.

Yeah, Ada and the Galaxies had potential, but ended up meh. Too bad.

I’m glad Good Bones hit home with you. Me, too. Such a remarkable poem. It makes me wonder whether it came to her whole, in a dream, like Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Kubla Khan.

Yay, I’m the Final Snagger for your reading Matrix! There’s a moniker worth aspiring to.

Thanks, and you’re welcome, re the Rafa and Fina photo.

>287 humouress:. Right, Nina?

>288 richardderus:. Thanks, RD. Back atcha. I liked Cloud Cuckoo Land more than you did, methinks. I just started Once There Were Wolves, which Ellen loved.

>292 weird_O:. Good evening, Bill. Man, in my pre-vegetableness days I loved meatloaf. My mom used to make a good one. I remember the Steinbeck King Arthur book, but haven’t read it. I’ll look forward to your comments when you’re done.

Vermont

>295 jnwelch: Pretty!

>295 jnwelch: - My FAVOURITE time of year! Could be Vermont or even Quebec!

>295 jnwelch: Beautiful, Joe, thanks for sharing.
Over here the trees are still mainly green, September and October have been on the warm side. The trees need a bit of frost to turn their leaves into yellow and red.

>243 jnwelch: Wow! I had to do a lot of catching up since I haven’t visited your thread in a while. And look what I found! Miguel Freitas (who I had never heard of but have completely fallen in love with his art) and a positive review from you for Ruth Ozeki‘s new book. I too loved A Tale of the Time Being and have had a tough time describing it to people. Looks like the same will be true of The Book of Form and Emptiness. Ruth gave a marvelous interview sponsored by the Harvard Bookstore that I zoomed in to and she completely captivated me with her process. She teaches at Smith College and is a wonderful lecturer. I have the book and look forward to it but...
Amor Towles’ The Lincoln Highway came available at the library so it has to take precedence. It’s over 500 pages and I’ve never won a speed reading contest so the clock is ticking! (I’m also finishing up my 5th Patricia Wentworth mystery audiobook narration due on Wednesday - it will be nice to read silently for a while.)
Loved your tribute to Ellie on Facebook Joe. I so miss her takes on books ... and life.

I started reading When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka last night. I love her spare style of writing and decided this was the perfect cool night read. I didn't finish it, but I should get it done today during my lunch hour.

>296 richardderus:. Right, Richard? What a lovely time of year in New England. I was in Vermont once, for the colors. I’d like to do it again.

>299 NarratorLady:. How good to see you, Anne. How I wish Ellie Moses was still with us. What a beautiful spirit she had.

Please tell me which Patricia Wentworth to start with! I’v thought about reading her so many times.

Oh, I envy you zooming that Harvard Bookstore interview with Ruth Ozeki! I don’t know how I missed that. Do you know her? I noticed the first name use.

If you loved A Tale for the Time Being, iI expect you’ll feel the same way about The Book of Form and Emptiness.

I understand the new Towles taking precedence. I loved mightily A Gentleman in Moscow and thought Rules of Civility was pretty good, too.

>297 jessibud2:. I’ve seen photos of Quebec at this time of year, Shelley. It must be amazing this time of year.

>298 FAMeulstee:. I remember When the Emperor Was Divine, Benita. I haven’t read it. I’m glad you’re liking it.

Today’s Bargain: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. I thought this one was really good, but opinions differ.

>303 jnwelch: Hey Joe! There is some kerfuffle about this novel. If you've seen the movie which is loosely based upon the novel, one might not enjoy the book and vise a versa.
I read the novel before the book but enjoyed the movie so much more. Jude Law. I rest my case.
I've come to enjoy other Frazier's novels.

>304 Carmenere: Good to see you, Lynda. There is a kerfuffle about Cold Mountain, isn't there. i didn't see the movie, but I liked the book a lot. Madame MBH did not. The only other one i remember us disagreeing this much on was Memoirs of a Geisha. I was pro, she was con. I will say, I did not go on to read others by Frazier.

>301 jnwelch: Ha! No Joe, I don’t know Ruth Ozeki. When I read everything someone wrote, I call them by their first names!
I’ll be referring to my “friend” Amor (Towles) in a couple of weeks!😂

>305 jnwelch: The only Frazier I have read to date, Joe, is Varina and I have to say I was bitterly disappointed by it. I agree with you on Memoirs of a Geisha though - excellent book.

>306 NarratorLady:😅. You’ve read all of Ozeki’s books? Should I? Have fun with your bookfriend Amor.

>307 PaulCranswick:. Thanks, Paul. I don’t know that one by him. I’m glad we agree on Memoirs of a Geisha. I was transported. Madame MBH was unmoved.

Hi, Joe. I love the Frietas work! Very uplifting on a gloomy day.

Thanks for joining in on Ellen's thread about anti-vaxxers. I hope she didn't mind the hijack.

And too many BBs to count. I'm closing my eyes and singing lalala so I don't add to the immense TBR already at hand.

>306 NarratorLady: I was first introduced to Ruth Ozeki through her My Year of Meats a non-fiction look into the cattle industry. I highly recommend it. I was excited when she switched to fiction and have never been disappointed.

BTW I also loved Memoirs of a Geisha.

>309 ffortsa:. Hi, Judy. Stay tuned - there’ll be more Freitas on the next thread.

I’m with you on the vaxxing. The most effective convincer for anti-vaxxers has been “get vaccinated or lose your job.” I don’t buy the personal liberties argument - we all already do many things for our safety and the safety of others, including wearing a seatbelt and observing speed limits.

I saw your purchasing restraint at- I believe - Powell’s. You’re a better wiman than I am. Well, we knew that already. I came away from Powell’s with a large bundle of books, tbr or no tbr. And BBs keep finding me. I nust finished the terrific Once There Were Wolves after catching a BB from Ellen.

Morning, Joe!

I've been mostly lurking here lately, it seems, so I thought I'd chime in even without anything much to say.

>310 NarratorLady:. Thanks, Anne. I like her writing, but My Year of Meats strikes me as an unlikely read for a vegetarian.😀. (Actually, pescadarian). Reading about the cattle industry - blech? But I’ll take a look.

Wasn’t Memoir of a Geisha a good one?

>312 scaifea:. Morning, Amber! Thanks for lowering the cloak of invisibility. Makes me thirst for a butter beer. Thanks also for the Chimes of In.

The new cafe is open. See you there!