Mamie's 2017 Madness (Page 14)

My name is Mamie. 50. Mother of four. Happily married. I am an Indiana transplant currently residing in Georgia. I like to wax poetic about the pecan trees and complain about the heat. I miss winter. I believe in the power of kindness and shared laughter. I heartily embrace wine, snark, and shenanigans; I like to think of them as my posse.

This is my sixth year in the 75ers group. I will read almost anything (Um…NOT self-help), but I tend to lean towards crime fiction, space opera, and historical fiction. I have a soft spot for quirky characters and magical realism.
This group has greatly increased my reading of truth - I love memoirs, travel writing and narrative non-fiction. I am greatly looking forward to another reading year spent amidst the chaos of the 75.

.......

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snail's pace

Books Read in October:
84. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer (4 stars), library paperback, weird fiction (Southern Reach Trilogy, book 1) - recommended by Chelle
85. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (reread), off my shelves ebook, urban fantasy (Mercy Thompson, book 7)
86. Solar Bones by Mike McCormack, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, literary fiction
87. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (reread), off my shelves, contemporary fiction/magical realism
88. Autumn by Ai Smith (4.5 stars), library hardback, contemporary fiction/literary fiction
89. Authority by Jeff VanderMeer (4 stars), library paperback, weird fiction (Southern Reach Trilogy, book 2)
90. Calamity Town by Ellery Queen (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, mystery (Ellery Queen, book 16) - recommended by Julia

I am planning on walking the cat this year. That is, I am just going to go where my reading takes me. I am not committing to any challenges except for Ellen’s Reread Challenge, which is a perfect match for me because every year I reread multiple books. I love to reread - it’s like getting together with old friends. I like the comfort of knowing where I am going and the surprise of discovering new truths in a familiar landscape.

So some thoughts I have:

It would be nice to read some of the hundreds of books I have sitting on my shelves - especially the authors that I have multiple standalone books by, such as Elmore Leonard, Philip K. Dick, and George Orwell

I want to keep going on some of the series I focused on this past year as well as some that I have neglected for a while: Harry Bosch, Harry Hole, Inspector Montalbano, Bruno Courrèges, Barsetshire, the Vorkosigan Saga, The Others, Sebastian St. Cyr, ...

I would like to eventually read all of the books mentioned in The English Patient, starting with The Histories by Herodotus

Books Read in September:
75. News of the World by Paulette Jiles (4.25 stars), library ebook, historical fiction
76. Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis (3.5 stars), off my shelf ebook, romance (Lucky Harbor, book 1)
77. A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen (3.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, mystery (Her Royal Spyness, book 2)
78. Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Cruisie (reread), off my shelves ebook, romantic mystery
79. LaBrava by Elmore Leonard (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction
80. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (reread), off my shelves ebook, urban fantasy (Mercy Thompson, book 5)
81. The Complete Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne (reread), 2017 gift from Birdy, children's literature
82. River Marked by Patricia Briggs (reread), off my shelves ebook, urban fantasy (Mercy Thompson, book 6)
83. The Lewis Man by Peter May, narrated by Peter Forbes, (4.5 stars) 2017 acquired audiobook, crime fiction (The Lewis Trilogy, book 2)

Books Read in August:
62. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg (reread), 2017 acquired audiobook, narrated by Jill Clayburgh, YA classic
63. What There is to Say, We Have Said: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and William Maxwell edited by Suzanne Marrs (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, non-fiction/letters
64. The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson (4.75 stars), library hardback, contemporary fiction - recommended by Kim
65. The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, fantasy - recommended by Jim
66. Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper (3.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (Jane Jameson, book 2)
67. Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper (3.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (Jane Jameson, book 3)
68. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (reread), off my shelf ebook, urban fantasy (Mercy Thompson, book 1)
69. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (reread), off my shelf ebook, urban fantasy (Mercy Thompson, book 2)
70. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (reread), off my shelf ebook, urban fantasy (Mercy Thompson, book 3)
71. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs (reread), off my shelves ebook, urban fantasy (Mercy Thompson, book 4)
72. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell (3.5 stars), off my shelves ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Kurt Wallander, book 1)
73. leadbelly by Tyehimba Jess (4.5 stars), library paperback, poetry - recommended by Joe
74. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion, off my shelves ebook, non-fiction/essays

Books Read in July:
54. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, sf/space opera - recommended by Heather
55. Small Vices by Robert B. Parker (4 stars), library audiobook, crime fiction/detective (Spenser series, book 24) - I actually liked this one!
56. One Snowy Night by Jill Shalvis, library audiobook, romance
57. Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews (reread), off my shelves ebook, romantic mystery
58. Head Over Heels by Susan Anderson (reread), off my shelves ebook, romantic suspense
59. One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (October Daye, book 5)
60. Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, urban fantasy (October Daye, book 6)
61. The Beach House Cookbook by Mary Kaye Andrews, library hardback, cookbook

Books Read in June:
44. The Resistance Man by Martin Walker (4 stars), off my shelves paperback, police procedural (Bruno, Chief of Police, book 6)
45. The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths (4 stars) 2017 acquired ebook, police procedural (Ruth Galloway, book 9)
46. The Lightkeepers by Abby Geni (5 stars), 2017 acquired paperback, literary fiction/suspense
47. Churchill & Orwell: The Fight for Freedom by Thomas E. Ricks (4.5 stars) 2017 acquired hardback, non-fiction/WWII
48. Cold Earth by Anne Cleeves (4 stars), 2017 acquired book, police procedural (Shetland series, book 7)
49. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (thinking), 2017 acquired audiobook/paperback, Murakami/mind-bending mystery
50. The One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg (4.5), library hardback, GN
51. The Zebra-Striped Hearse by Ross Macdonald (2.75 stars), library hardback, crime fiction/detective (Lew Archer, book 10)
52. Planetfall by Emma Newman (4.5 stars), library paperback, science fiction/space opera - recommended by Heather
53. Chance by Robert B. Parker (3 stars), library ebook, crime fiction/detective (Spenser series, book 23)

Books Read in May:
40. The Blackhouse by Peter May (4 stars), off my shelves ebook, mystery/police procedural
41. A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, Murakami
42. Love Story, With Murders by Harry Bingham (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, police procedural (Fiona Griffiths, book 2)
43. Thin Air by Anne Cleeves (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, police procedural (Shetland series, book 6)

Books Read in April:
29. The Captain and the Enemy by Graham Greene (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, espionage
30. Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick (4.25 stars), off my shelves paperback, science fiction
31. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, 2017 acquired audiobook, mythology (duh)
32. We Are Legion by Dennis E. Taylor, narrated by ray Porter (4 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, science fiction
33. Red Bones by Anne Cleeves (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, mystery/police procedural (Shetland series, book 3)
34. The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker (4 stars), paperback off my shelves. mystery/police procedural (Bruno, Chief of Police, book 5)
35. The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, historical fiction, Lymond Chronicles, book 1) - series recommended by Lucy
36. Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, mystery/police procedural (Shetland, book 4)
37. Ann Cleeves' Shetland by Ann Cleeves (5 stars), 2017 acquired book, non-fiction
38. Dead Water by Ann Cleeves (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, mystery/police procedural (Shetland, book 5)
39. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop (3.5 stars), off my shelf ebook, urban fantasy (The Others, book 2) - series recommended by Morphy

Books Read in March:
21. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), library ebook, urban fantasy/private detective (October Daye, book 3) - series recommended by Roni
22. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (4 stars), reread, audiobook, WWI fiction, off my shelves
23. Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara (4.5 stars), ebook off my shelves, fantasy (Chronicles of Elantra, book 2) - series recommended by Roni
24. Cast in Secret by Michelle Sagara (4 stars), ebook off my shelves, fantasy (Chronicles of Elantra, book 3) - series recommended by Roni
25. Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire (4 stars), library ebook, urban fantasy/private detective (October Daye, book 4) - series recommended by Roni
26. The Third Man by Graham Greene, 2017 acquired audiobook, thriller
27. White Nights by Ann Cleeves (3 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/police procedural (Shetland, book 2)
28. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett (3 stars), off my shelves paperback, crime fiction/detective

Books Read in February:
12. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, (5 stars), library hardback, historical fiction - recommended by Mark, and Lynda hypnotized me
13. The Looking-Glass War by John LeCarré, (4 stars),2017 acquired audiobook, espionage (George Smiley series, book 4)
14. Thin Air by Robert B. Parker, (3.5 stars), library hardback, crime fiction (Spenser series, book 22), read this with Roberta
15. Raven Black by Ann Cleeves (4.25 stars), ebook, crime fiction, off my shelves (Shetland, book 1)
16. The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov (3.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, crime fiction/scifi (Robot series, book 1)
17. A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (3 stars), ebook, urban fantasy/mystery, off my shelves (October Daye series, book 2) - series recommended by Roni
18. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan (3.5 stars), ebook, historical fiction, off my shelves
19. The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, urban fantasy/police procedural (Rivers of London series, book 5)
20. Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired paperback, contemporary fiction

Books Read in January:
1. Rivers of London: Volume 1: Body Work by Ben Aaronovitch, art by Lee Sullivan (3.75 stars), GN - police procedural, off my shelves, (Rivers of London series, GN set in between books 4 and 5)
2. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John LeCarré (5 stars), paperback/audio combo, espionage, off my shelves (George Smiley series, book 3)
3. The Chisellers by Brendan O'Carroll (4 stars), library paperback, historical fiction/humor - series recommended by Nancy (Agnes Brown trilogy, book 2)
4. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (5 stars), ebook, off my shelves - series recommended by Jenn (Queen's Thief series, book 1)
5. The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu (4.5 stars), ebook, short story collection, off my shelves - recommended by Mark
6. Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham (3.75 stars), ebook, off my shelves, police procedural - series recommended by Julia and Joe and Mary (Fiona Griffith series, book 1)
7. Nutshell by Ian McEwan (5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, literary fiction - Katie's Dirty Dozen
8. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (4 stars), audiobook, urban fantasy, off my shelves - Roberta said to keep going (Harry Dresden series, book 4)
9. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene (4 stars), audiobook, literary fiction, off my shelves
10. Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard (4.25 stars), ebook, crime fiction, off my shelves
11. Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien (4 stars), library paperback, literary fiction/Vietnam

Usually I list my print and ebook purchases, but I thought it might be fun to follow my audiobook purchases instead this year. My husband always gets me the 24 credit Audible membership for Christmas, so…

1. Nutshell by Ian McEwan, narrated by Rory Kinnear, Katie's Dirty Dozen 2016 COMPLETED
2. The Looking-Glass War by John LeCarré, narrated by Michael Jayston COMPLETED
3. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey, narrated by Carole Boyd - $2.95 Daily Deal
4. The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch, narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith COMPLETED
5. Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis, narrated by Nadia May - a favorite of both Birdy and me - $2.95 Daily Deal
6. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Neil Gaiman - because I couldn't NOT have it COMPLETED
7. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Neil Gaiman - just $6.99, and I am wanting to get to this one soon
8. Sherlock Holmes Collection by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by Stephen Fry
9. A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft, narrated by Fiona Shaw - $3.95 Daily Deal
10. The Third Man by Graham Greene, narrated by Martin Jarvis COMPLETED
11. The Captain and the Enemy by Graham Greene, narrated by Kenneth Brannagh COMPLETED
12. We Are Legion by Dennis Taylor, narrated by Ray Porter - $1.99, recommended by Kim COMPLETED
13. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier, narrated by Jonathan Pryce
14. For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor, narrated by Ray Porter, Bobiverse, book 2
15. The Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami, narrated by Rupert Degas COMPLETED
16. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, narrated by Rupert Degas COMPLETED
17. The Lewis Man by Peter May, narrated by Peter Forbes, The Lewis Trilogy, book 2 COMPLETED
18. The Chessmen by Peter May, narrated by Peter Forbes, The Lewis Trilogy, book 3
19. The Jekyll Revelation by Robert Masello, narrated by Christopher Lane - $2.95
20. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly, narrated by Dick Hill - $3.49, Harry Bosch, book 1 Listening, reread
21. The Black Ice by Michael Connelly, narrated by Dick Hill - $3.49, Harry Bosch, book 2
22. The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly, narrated by Dick Hill - $3.49, Harry Bosch, book 3
23. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg, narrated by Jill Clayburgh COMPLETED
24. How to Train Your Dragon: How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse by Cressida Cowell, narrated by David Tennant
25. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, narrated by Sean Barrett, Oliver Le Sueur
26. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Samantha Bond and Alan Corduner - recommended by Mark
27. A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Katherine Kellgren - $4.95 COMPLETED
28. Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris, narrated by Lloyd James - $4.95
29. Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas, narrated by Rosalyn Landor - $4.95, The Wallflowers, book 1 - I have read this one before but thought it would be fun to revisit it on audio
30. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré, narrated by Michael Jayston, George Smiley, book 5
31. The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey, narrated by Finty Williams LISTENING
32. Solar Bones by Mike McCormack, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds COMPLETED

Katie’s Dirty Dozen - That’s right, folks, KAK’s reserved spot is back for a third year, let’s see what she gets me with this time

1. Everyday people by Stewart O'Nan (linked short stories)
2. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
3. Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin (memoir)
4. The Golden Legend by Nadeem Aslam
5. Personal History by Katherine Graham
6. Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
7. Taft by Ann Patchett

From 2016:
1. Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras
2. Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard
3. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez - seconded by Charlotte and Susan
4. In the Walled City by Stewart O'Nan COMPLETED 8/12/16 3.8 stars
5. My Reading Life by Pat Conroy - she recommended the audio, and don't speed it up
6. Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo COMPLETED 7/21/16 5 stars
7. Ruby by Cynthia Bond - seconded by Charlotte
8. Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming - she recommends the audio read by Cummings himself
9. Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan
10. Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye - Roberta also loved this, Katie says the audio is great, purchased 5/15/16
11. The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant
12. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi COMPLETED 10/2/16 5 stars
13. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat - she pointed out that this was only $1.99 on Kindle and that it was one of her very favorites, purchased 7/13/16
14. Tribal: College Football and the Secret Heart of America by Diane Roberts
15. Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon
16. Nutshell by Ian McEwan COMPLETED 1/2017 5 stars
17. Black River by S. M. Hulse

AND, from 2015:
1. The Mermaids Singing by Lisa Carey ($1.99 on Kindle), purchase on 2/18/15 COMPLETED 8/19/16 5 stars
2. Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter (2.99 on Kindle), purchased on 2/23/15
3. The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly ($3.79 on Kindle), purchased on 3/31/15 COMPLETED 11/7/15 4.2 stars
4. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler ($12.77 trade paperback), purchased on 4/1/15, COMPLETED read for Mark's AAC in January 2016, 4.25 stars
5. Paradise Alley by Kevin Baker ($.99 on Kindle), purchased on 4/9/15 - second book in a series, first book Dreamland was recommended by Katie and purchased last year
6. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing - used an Audible credit COMPLETED 6/16/15 4.9 stars
7. Academy Street by Mary Costello ($9.99 on Kindle), purchased on 6/12/15 COMPLETED 7/2/16 5 stars
8. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn ($5.99 on Kindle), purchased on 8/28/15
9. Sweetland by Michael Crummey ($.99 on Kindle), purchased 9/5/15 COMPLETED 11/19/15 4.5 stars
10. If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins ($7.99 on Kindle), purchased on 10/26/15

Every year, LT is an embarrassment of riches for me. I like to keep track of who recommends what and any other pertinent info that lands a book on WL.

1. Winter by Christopher Nicholson - read Suz's review on her thread, it was one of her top reads from last year
2. News of the World by Paulette Jiles - because Mark said so!
3. The Return: Fathers, Sons, and Between by Hisham Matar - memoir -read Rhonda's review on her thread
4. Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly - read Roni's blurb on her thread about this series
5. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin - series recommended by Deborah - read her review of the third book on her thread
6. The Western Lit Survival Kit by Sandra Newman - Joe says this is delightful
7. The Inquisitor's Tale, Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz - read Anne's review on her thread
8. A World of Love by Elizabeth Bowen - read Meg's review on her thread
9. Under Another Sky by Charlotte Higgins - read Susan's review on her thread, and she said that she heard about it on Jennifer's (inge87) thread
10. He Wants by Alison Moore - read Nancy's review on her thread
11. A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install - read Caro's review on her thread
12. Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler - read Robin's review of the 13th book in this series
13. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro - read Faith's review on her thread
14. Moonglow by Michael Chabon - Charlotte talking about reading this on her thread has made me add it to the list, and I was really trying not to...
15. The Assault by Henry Mulisch - read Anita's review on her thread
16. India: A Portrait by Patrick French - read Erik's review on his thread - he says a good look at modern day India
17. The Watcher by Ross Armstrong - read Charlotte's review on her thread
18. The Girl of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - read Jenny's review on her thread
19. I Will Have Vengeance by Mario De Giovanni - read Ellen's review on her thread
20. The Ferryman Institute by Colin Gigi - because Jim said so
21. Madwoman in the Attic by Sandra M. Gilbert - read Gail's review of it on her thread
22. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - read Heather's review on her thread - she says the audio is superb
23. Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford - read Cee's review on her thread
24. The Riviera Set by Mary S. Lovell - read Susan's excellent review, which has not yet been posted to the book's page
25. In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides - read Jim's review on his thread
26. Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson - read Jenny's review of it on her thread
27. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders - read Joanne's review on her thread
28. Smoking Poppy by Graham Joyce - read Lucy's review on the book's page after she mentioned it here
29. My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris - because Mark and Joe said so!
30. How to be a Heroine: Or, What I've Learned From Reading too Much by Samantha Ellis - Heather was reviewing another book by this author on her thread and mentioned that this one is her favorite
31. Scriptorium by Melissa Range - read Joe's lovely review on his thread (poetry)
32. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym - read Anne's review of this on her thread, and it's narrated by Jayne Entwhistle!!
33. The Dead Ladies Project by Jessa Crispin - read Lucy's fab review on her thread
34. War and Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans - read Donna's excellent review on her thread
35. Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda - read Charlotte's (Fourpawz2) review of it on her thread
36. We Are Legion by Dennis Taylor - read Kim's review on her thread - she recommends the audio COMPLETED
37. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester - Brodie recommended this since I like PKD, and he said that Joe recommends The Stars My Destination
38. The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui - read Mark's review on his thread (GN)
39. Planetfall by Emma Newman - read Heather's review on her thread COMPLETED
40. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey - Heather again! COMPLETED
41. The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson - read Kim's review on her thread COMPLETED
42. A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde - read Roni's review on her thread
43. Black Roses by Jane Thynnev - read Judy's review on her thread
44. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth - Judy again!
45. The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty - read Charlotte's review on her thread
46. Blessed Are the Dead - Charlotte again! (But read A Beautiful Place to Die first to keep Susan happy, as it is first in the series)
47. Crazy Brave by Joy Harjo - loved the quotes Mark posted from this on his thread
48 The Color of Water by James McBride - read Mark's review on his thread, he recommends the audio narrated by Andre Braugher and Lainie Kazan
49. The Anatomy of a Traitor by Michael Smith - read Susan's review on her thread
50. Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine - read Roni's review of it on her thread
51. The Emperor of the Eight Islands by Lian Hearn - Jim read through these back to back (one story published in four books, if I understand correctly), and it sounded like something that Abby, Birdy and I would all enjoy, so...
52. leadbelly:poems by Tyehimba Jess - read Joe's review of it on his thread COMPLETED
53. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz - read Mark's review on his thread, and he recommends the audio
54. Blind Justice by Bruce Alexander - recommended by Joe
55. The Punch Escrow by Tal M. Klein - read mark's review on his thread
56. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer - recommended by Chelle COMPLETED
57. The Thread That Binds the Bones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - recommended by Roni
58. The Terror by Dan Simmons - read Susan's review of it on her thread
59. The Abominable by Dan Simmons - because Susan said this one is also very cold, and she is helping me with cold reads for my summer reading
60. Calamity Town by Ellery Queen - read Julia's most excellent review on her thread COMPLETED
61. Unnatural Creatures selected by Neil Gaiman - read Jim's multiple book bullet reviews over on his thread
62. John Dies at the End by David Wong- Jim again, and I am thinking that Judy also liked this one several years ago
63. Help for the Haunted by John Searles - ahem...Jim
64. Shark Drunk by Morten Andreas Strøksnes - yep, Jim again. The doctor was IN.

This should do it - next one's yours!

First! Happy new one, Mamie!

>10 brodiew2: You ARE first, Brodie! Way to go!

Happy new thread, Mamie, and congratulations on reaching 75 in September!

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

I am planning on walking the cat this year. That is, I am just going to go where my reading takes me. I love that way of putting it! It looks like you've been having quite the fine walk.

>12 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita!

>13 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! It's been a very fun reading year for me with no pressure to read anything in particular - just what I needed.

Happy new thread, Mamie!!

>2 Crazymamie: You read a book recommended by me, and liked it! That's kind of exciting to me! :)
(But to give full credit Mark recommended that to me this year)

Happy new thread dear Mamie.

>14 Crazymamie: I think that I should adopt your policy of just reading what takes my fancy rather than pursuing so many challenges and falling short. Trouble is I can't resist the challenges!

Happy New Thread, Mamie! Nice to see you. Hope you and the family are doing well.

Has everyone seen the trailer for Annihilation? Pretty creepy.

A new Mamie thread! Yay!

Hi Mamie, glad to hear that your internet problems have been fixed. I would be extremely cranky as well if I lost my connection for a number of days. I am so happy that October is finally here, it's my favorite month of the year and we are having beautiful weather right now. My hubby and I went for a short walk today at our local park and it was lovely.

Yay! Another one. : )

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Hey, Mamie!! Nice to see you. Happy new thread and Hooray for reaching 75!

P.S. Congrats on your new Fitbit. I finally gave up on them and ordered a Garmin which arrived yesterday afternoon complete with an array of multi-colored bands. I have to go shower soon and decide which color to wear to day :)

Happy new thread and congrats on 75ness!

Did you watch the new Star Trek yet? Third episode stuff really gets going.

>22 RebaRelishesReading: I didn't even know there was another kind of fitbit.

>15 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! I did like it, and I have requested the other two books from the library. I do remember Mark commenting on your thread that he liked the trilogy, but I didn't realize that he had recommended it to you. And now we are spreading the love... *grin*

>16 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! I like the idea of the challenges, and I love finding the books to fit into them, but I do not enjoy having to read a certain book or a certain author in a specific month. I do better when I can just read whatever takes my fancy.

>17 msf59: Thank you, Mark! The inhabitants of the Pecan Paradisio are all well and happy.

I did not know that they were making Annihilation into a film (tv series?) - I will have to hunt down the trailer.

Good morning, Mamie! I hope all is well.

I started The Cuban Affair on audio. Looks to be interesting. I had a disc error with my celeb memoir diversion, Almost Interesting, but it will be coming back around. Spade made me laugh so hard I almost lost coffee all over my steering wheel. I look forward to more.

>18 drneutron: *grin* Thanks, Jim!

>19 DeltaQueen50: Hello, Judy! October is also my favorite month, which is why Craig and I were married in it - 27 years ago on this Friday. Unbelievable. Our weather has been behaving itself, so we have had some lovely days as well. The screened-in porch is getting a workout these days, and I love opening up the French doors to it in the evening and enjoying the sounds of the night. It's delightful to sit out there with a glass of wine, and Craig has hung beautiful twinkle lights that make me smile every time I turn them on.

>20 Berly: Oh! I love that graphic, Kim! Thanks!

>21 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>22 RebaRelishesReading: Hello, Reba! And thank you.

I hope you love your Garmin - I did not want to give up on Fitbit just yet because I love the interaction that the leaderboards provide and also I love the badges. I totally hear what you are saying about they should make a better product, though.

>23 sibylline: Thank you, Lucy! I only got to see the first episode because that was all that was offered on tv. Not sure I want to pay for it - you'll have to let me know if you think it is worth it or not.

>25 brodiew2: Hello there, Brodie! All is well - enjoying the beautiful weather here and loving that we finally have our internet back.

I have not read anything by Nelson DeMille, so you'll have to let me know if The Cuban Affair holds up. I did not know that Spade had a memoir out- I loved his character on Just Shoot Me way back when.

Happy New Thread, Mamie!! And congrats on reaching the 75 book mark with plenty of time to spare.

Thanks, Roni! 162 books read in one year is the most I have accomplished since I have been keeping track - obviously, I will not be breaking that record this year.

Happy new thread, Mamie! Love the love of October. It is my favorite month of the year as well as my wedding anniversary month and thingaversary month. Can it possibly get more spectacular?!

Thank you, Lynda! Grinning at the October love. "Can it possibly get more spectacular?!" Yes - it is also Birdy's birth month - she will be 19 on the 8th of this month.

Happy early birthday greetings to Birdy!

I'll tell her! She is very excited.

>31 Crazymamie: I have it on very good authority that all the most special people have their birthday in October, so it surprises me not at all to find Birdy counted among them!

>34 rosalita: *grin* Birdy was delighted with your insight, Julia!

I took Abby to work early this morning, and the moon was GORGEOUS. I know it will be full tonight, but I feel like we got a beautiful preview. So huge and luminescent, it felt like I could drive right up to it. Of course, I had to be a responsible adult and get Abby to work on schedule, so we didn't have time to take a detour. *sigh*

Abby is having friends over for dinner, so we are doing Big Breakfast tonight - YUM! She has two girlfriends that don't know a lot about cooking, so they come over for dinner and help to prepare the meal, which has been fun. I love cooking, but my mom didn't teach me any of that stuff, either, so I only knew how to scramble eggs when Craig and I got married. That seems like decades ago...oh, wait...it was.

On the reading front, I finished Frost Burned, my latest Mercy Thompson reread, so now I am on to Night Broken, which is the last of the books I have to reread before moving onto the final two available books. I love being caught up in a series, but it also makes me sad because caught up means no more books until the next one comes out. *sob* I am still suffering addiction tremors from catching up with Ruth Galloway and Jimmy Perez. Although...I did pre-order the new Ruth Galloway coming out in May, so only seven more months. And ten days. Not that I'm counting or anything.

I am also reading Solar Bones, and I agree with Mark that it requires effort, but it is totally worth it. Really liking it so far. On audio, I am getting ready to start The Chessmen, which is the final book in Peter May's Lewis Trilogy - can't recommend this trio highly enough. Gorgeous writing, fully fleshed characters, gripping plot and set in the Hebrides, which is beautifully captured - and the audiobooks are narrated by Peter Forbes, who delivers them perfectly. And really, who doesn't want a great story delivered with a Scottish accent directly to their own ears?

Happy new thread, Mamie! It must have been...difficult with no internet!

And congratulations on reaching #75. Well done!

>24 Crazymamie: You've expressed my feelings well. I love looking at challenges and being prompted to do some different sorts of reading. But as an old retired lady, I want to do it at my own pace, and at my whim. It just works better for me that way.

Enjoy our glorious beginning of fall!

Thank you, Gail! You don't realize how much stuff you do online until the internet goes down - little stuff like library requests and renewals, checking out the sales ad for the local market, ordering takeout from local restaurants...And we use streaming a lot with our Netflix and Amazon Prime, so it's very inconvenient when we can't do those things just because they have become part of our daily lives.

I was very excited to reach 75, since my reading is going a bit more slowly these days, so thanks!

And yep - exactly with the challenges.

I am loving having days that actually feel like Fall this year - such a treat, as it is my very favorite season.

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday. I am so glad you are also enjoying Solar Bones. It actually gets smoother, as it goes along. The writing is wonderful. I should finish it up tomorrow.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you! I am loving the writing in Solar Bones - it has a rhythm that adds to the prose and elevate it, I think.

Good morning, Mamie!

Almost Interesting is back in my possession and it hilariously irreverent. Spade has not been a favorite actor/comedian of mine, but I can appreciate it his humor now and again. Like now. :-P

Morning, Brodie! Glad you were able to get the discs back so you could finish. I have not liked everything Spade has been in, but I did love him in the earlier episodes of Just Shoot Me. I will be awaiting your final thoughts on his memoir.

Happy new one, Mamie. I suppose with your new FitBit, you'll be leaving us all in the dust. I also lost a whole day's worth of steps once, maybe when the battery is dying that happens? Whatever the reason, it is very perturbing.

Thank you, Beth! My right heel has been bothering me lately, so my stepping is not so great these days. Hopefully, I'll be back in fighting form very soon. In the meantime, I have been soaking up the lovely weather on the screened-in porch and getting in some more reading time.

>27 Crazymamie: I am going to miss the interaction with friends who Fitbit and LTer's who Fitbit but geez I am so tired of having them die on me!!!

Completely understand, Reba. They do need to make a better product.

Happy new thread, Mamie! Yay for the new Fitbit!

Thanks, Meg! I love the new Fitbit even though I haven't given the it a proper workout yet.

Morning, Mamie! My Fitbit has been acting some, too, so I'm wondering if I'm due a new one soonish...

Morning, Amber! I really love the new Charge, so I am actually glad that I had to invest in a new one because it is so much nicer than the previous edition.

Glad you're liking your new Fitbit, Mamie! My Flex is starting to tear a bit where I put the battery in, but I'm hoping it'll last me awhile before it doesn't hold the battery at all anymore. Other than that, I haven't had any complaints (there was one weird night where it only counted half my sleep, but I can adjust that so *shrug*). Having that sort of accountability in counting my steps is enough of a motivator that I've been much better about walking this summer.

Well, today is Craig and my 27th anniversary. It has been such an incredible journey, and I am happy to say that I would do it all again in a heartbeat. So what's the secret to a happy marriage? I think respect and kindness are key ingredients. And a sense of humor because laughter is kind of like a superhero. The trick is to marry someone that you actually really like just as much as you love them.

On the reading front - nothing to see here, as I have not finished any of my current reads yet or started anything new. Carry on!

Happy Anniversary, lady!!

>57 Crazymamie: Mary! Hello! How ARE you? The nice thing about the flex is that you can just replace the band - with my old Charge it was all one piece, so when the band started tearing, I think it compromised the mechanical part, too. I would be terrible about actually getting any stepping in if I didn't have the Fitbit to keep my accountable - just knowing that what I am doing (or not doing) is being measured is strong incentive for me to get up and get going.

>53 scaifea: Thank you, Amber!

Happy Anniversary, Mamie! May you have many more happy years.

I think you're right: it's critically important to like your spouse.

Thank you, Gail! I try not to be greedy, but I will take all the happy years I can get. And yes, like is critical - love how you phrased that.

Happy 27th Anniversary, Mamie!

Even an relationship that didn't start with "liking" can go well: my husband and me disliked eachother at first sight, went on living together a year later (with a bit of liking then), married a bit over a year after that and still together 35 years after that first sight ;-)

Thanks, Anita! I don't think that the like has to come before the love, I just think that it is an important part of a lasting relationship. And 35 years! Definitely something working right there - congrats. It is 31 years (since first date) for Craig and I - we dated for two years, were engaged for two years and then got married.

Happy Anniversary, Mamie!

The trick is to marry someone that you actually really like just as much as you love them. Sounds right to me! My pal Madame MBH and I celebrated our 34th a couple of months ago.

Happy anniversary to you two!! Yes, "like" is at least as important as "love" in a good marriage. I was in a (very) bad marriage for nearly 20 years and now in a (very) good one for nearly 30, so I speak from experience.

>60 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! Hooray for 34 years!

>61 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! I am so happy that you found your happy ending the second time around, and I love hearing about your adventures together.

Happy Anniversary, Mamie!

My wife and I celebrated 17 years on September 16.

Happy anniversary to you both!

>63 brodiew2: Thanks, Brodie! And congrats to you!

>64 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte!

Happy anniversary!

Happy Anniversary!! 27 years is amazing!

Mamie, glad you and Craig are off to such a wonderful start. Thirty-one years together. Excellent.

Happy anniversary, Mamie. 27 years is amazing.

>66 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>67 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle!

>68 weird_O: Thanks, Bill!

>69 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! What is amazing to me is that it went by so quickly. Heh.

Happy, happy anniversary, Mamie!!

Thank you, Roni! So far, so good - we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for a late lunch, and the waiter asked, "Where are the girls?" I told Craig - we must be considered regulars now. Anyway, the food was fab and the service was excellent.

>73 Crazymamie: What a great way to celebrate. Many happy years to come for you both.

Speaking of Peter May, I recently finished Coffin Road. It's not in the trilogy but it's set in the Shetlands and is absolutely riveting and exciting. I gave it 4.5 stars.

*swoon* BigDaddy right here on my on thread! Thanks for stopping in - you have been greatly missed. And thank you for those kind words.

Oh, hooray for the Peter May's news - I was wondering if his other stuff was good. And I love the Shetlands - I got completely caught up in the Jimmy Perez books earlier this year, so now I have to wait for the next one. I'll read Coffin Road next - cause 4.5 from you is nothing to sneeze at!

Happy anniversary, Mamie! And thanks for the note on >54 Crazymamie: that I can get a replacement band (fairly inexpensive, too, woot!). I'm ordering that and an armband to hold my phone (why can't women's clothes have more pockets?).

Thank you, Mary! You are welcome. I completely agree with the pocket comment - the boys have all these cool usable pockets on their clothing and we get the tiny pocket that could hold a quarter and is usually sewn shut anyway. ARGH!

Hi, Mamie. Happy Anniversary, my friend. We are one ahead of you.

I finished Solar Bones. A bit of a challenge but more than satisfying. Interesting ending too.

Hello, Mark! Thank you. And hooray for your 28 years!

I did not get back to Solar Bones today, but I will for sure get to it tomorrow. *grin* Now you have me curious about the ending.

>52 Crazymamie: Happy anniversary to you both, Mamie. xx

I would add honesty to that little list of secret ingredients. We are behind you both with 21 years and have had a rocky few months but I do hope that we are coming out the other side stronger than ever.

Thanks, Paul! Yep. Honesty is a must. Hoping that your troubles are mostly behind you and that you are able to work things out - I do think that things that break you make you stronger for the most part.

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

I'm trying Jo Nesbo for the first time on our SIL's recommendation - The Snowman.

Joe - I just posted to you over on Mark's thread to say that is not the best starting place. The Snowman is smack in the middle of a series that has a big backstory running through it. It would be better to begin with The Redbreast. The books are very good but also very violent, just to warn you. I love them, and they are great in both print and audio.

>83 Crazymamie: Ah, thanks for the good info, Mamie. Too bad. I'm bound by etiquette, as this is the one she wanted me to read for some reason (we picked it up at a cool used bookstore here). They're putting us up at their house, so I'd better watch my p's and q's. If I like it enough, I'll go back to the beginning.

Happy belated anniversary, Mamie. It is always nice to hear about marriages that work out well.

>84 jnwelch: Sure thing, Joe. And total bummer because knowing the backstory adds a lot to that one. Still, getting to browse a cool used bookstore - I wish we had one of those. I miss the one we used to go to in Indiana.

>85 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg!

Morning, Mamie!

My eye is twitching just a bit at the thought of Joe reading something heinously out of order...

Happy Sunday, Mamie and happy 27th anniversary!! My husband and I just celebrated 24 years on October 2nd! Obviously, on of the many reasons, you and I both, love October.

I'm still on the wait list for Solar Bones at the library. Your's and Mark's comments intrigue me.

>87 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Let's hope that Susan doesn't see it or Joe could be in trouble. I don't mind reading out of order if the order doesn't matter - like Hercule Poirot or Maigret, but the Harry Hole books really should be read in order because each book builds on the preceding one.

>88 Carmenere: Happy Sunday, Lynda! And Happy Anniversary a bit late!! October 2 is the date that Craig and I got engaged on way back in 1988.

I am really loving Solar Bones - as I was reading it, I thought how lovely it would sound on audio, as the writing and the stream of consciousness create a sort of internal rhythm to the narrative, so I checked on Audible, and sure enough there it was. I used one of my credits to pick it up and have been listening while following the print version, and it is SO good. The narrator of the audio is Tim Gerard Reynolds, and he really nails it. If it holds up, this could be a 5 star read/listen for me.

Birdy is 19 today! Hard to believe that next year will mark the end of the teenager years at the Pecan Paradisio.

Happy Birthday to Birdy!

Thanks, Anita!

>86 Crazymamie:, >87 scaifea: Sorry about the heinous out-of-orderness. I am enjoying The Snowman so far, if that helps.

The cool used bookstore - I wish I'd taken a photo. Called "Our Place", it was a smallish house they had converted, stuffed to the gills with a jumble (but a mostly alphabetized and organized jumble) of interesting books. When I walked in and started poking around, the guy behind the register said, "Hello? Hello?" He offered me a cup of coffee, and explained that they try to get people to relax and enjoy the store. Turns out he was the co-owner with his wife, and very friendly! If I remember correctly, they originally were from somewhere in Wisconsin, and have owned the store for 13 years.

Well, okay then, Joe. We're gonna give you a pass just this one time since it was a recommendation.

Wicked cool about the used bookstore - Albany does not have one, unfortunately. We had one we loved in Muncie called The White Rabbit, and it was always fun to stop in and meander among the stacks.

Happy birthday, Birdie!!

We have plenty of used bookstores in Chicago when you visit, Mamie. ;-)

It's Birdy's birthday? Happy Birthday, Birdy!

>95 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! I'll pass along those good wishes.

>96 jnwelch: Ha! Good thinking, Joe! And yep, it's Birdy's 19th birthday today. Thanks for those good wishes.

>90 Crazymamie: Doesn't seem possible. Wasn't she something like 13 when the tree crashed into her bedroom? Seems like last week.

Newlt discovered ambition: I want to own a used bookshop called the White Rabbit.

That is all. Carry on.

>90 Crazymamie: Nice photo of Birdy, Mamie! I remember a few years ago when she celebrated her birthday by slightly changing the colour of her locks! What did she get this time?

>90 Crazymamie: Happy personal new year to Birdy!

*smooch* to mommy in solidarity re: tempus fugiting as fast as it can.

Happy (slightly late) anniversary! I agree 100% with everything you wrote! Respect, kindness, humour, and actually liking each other.

On our 9th anniversary we went to the Berkshires and ate some bad chicken salad for lunch and ended up REALLY SICK, all night, and somewhere around three in the morning we ended up, between bouts, laughing our heads off.

Good morning, Mamie! I hope all is well with you.

>91 FAMeulstee: Happy birthday, Birdy!

>98 RebaRelishesReading: Yep. Good memory, Reba! The tree incident was back in 2012 before we moved to Georgia. October 12th marks our five year anniversary of our purchase of the Pecan Paradisio - I feel like I should be throwing a giant garden party for all my LT friends as you helped me to maintain my sanity throughout that crazy year, which, incidentally was my very first year here with the 75!

>99 charl08: It was a very cool place, Charlotte, and they had the cutest sign outside:

>100 PaulCranswick: It's an old photo from back in our Indiana days, Paul, but I love that one of her. The blue hair is still a treasured memory - it was just so cool. This year she asked for and received - a new cover for her iPad mini, a Zelda game, and a stack of books varying from Manga to mythology reference to YA fantasy. And we surprised her with: a case of Coke in the little glass bottles and a jar of hot fudge sauce - two of Birdy's weaknesses.

>101 richardderus: Thank you, Richard - I will pass that along to her! And *smooch back* I so appreciate the solidarity smooch - I feel like I blinked and she was fully grown.

>102 sibylline: Thank you, Lucy! Oh, dear about the food poisoning! That sounds exactly like something that would happen to Craig and I! Thanks so much for sharing.

>103 brodiew2: Morning, Brodie! All is well here, and nicely calm and quiet - everyone is at work except for Birdy and I, so we are indulging in a lazy day.

And thanks for those Birthday wishes to Birdy!

Happy birthday to Birdy and belated congrats you on the big Anniversary! May you all have many more!!

Morning, Mamie!

I'm pretty sure we have a connection to that White Rabbit bookstore right here in amongst the 75ers...CassieBash's significant other, I believe, works there, I think...

>90 Crazymamie: Lovely photo! Happy Birthday to Birdy!

Morning, Mamie! Hope your week is off to a good start and the current reads are treating you well. I have just started Manhattan Beach. it begins with much promise.

>107 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Very cool about the White Rabbit connection - I remember calling them up when Ray Bradbury died, as I was trying to get a copy of Dandelion Wine, and they had the loveliest little hardback of it that they held for me.

>108 msf59: Thank you, Mark! She had a fun birthday, I think, even though she had to share it with football.

And Morning! The week is off to a great start despite a return to the heat and humidity. I mentioned over on Charlotte's thread that Amor Towels had a very favorable review of Manhattan Beach in Sunday's NYT Book Review.

Good morning, Mamie!

Does Birdy have a special birthday film she likes to watch?

I don't own many movies, but once of my favorite comedies is Smokey and the Bandit. Buford T. Justice is certainly not PC, but movie is still a lot of fun.

Afternoon, Brodie! We don't usually watch a film her birthday, but she loves Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Her favorite movie of all time is Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.



We own tons of movies but not the Smoky and the Bandit ones - I do remember watching those with my Dad way back when.

Scout loves Spirit! Her favorite is the treasure one, and usually when she's here, we have to act out the bear in the cave scene.

Hi Mamie, October is a special month for you and your family! Happy belated Anniversary and Birthday wishes. Also I second Julia's comment on the awesomeness of October birth babies! Ahem - My birthday is October 4th! ;)

>87 scaifea: heinously out of order...
*shudder*
It's just not right :)

Hi Mamie, happy 27th anniversary and happy 19th to Birdie!

>112 BLBera: It has been Birdy's favorite movie since the first time she saw it, Beth. I love that you have to act out scenes with Scout!! Birdy also has a soft spot for Cinderella, and when she was little we were constantly finding just one shoe of hers on the stairs, where she had lost it fleeing before her coach turned into a pumpkin.

>113 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy! October is special, indeed. And Happy Birthday to you, just a wee bit late - I am betting it was full of fabulous!

>114 LovingLit: Ha! Hello, Megan! Thank you for those good wishes!

>1 Crazymamie: Love the Anne quote!

Belated happy anniversary wishes to you and Craig and happy birthday wishes to Birdy!

Thanks, Heather for those good wishes! And I am happy that you like the topper quote.

Late to the party...

Happy new thread!
Happy anniversary!
Happy birthday to Birdy!

And that right there exceeds my daily happiness quotient ;-)

I need to get caught up on my own thread after almost 2 weeks away... Maybe I'll just chuck it and start over.

Happy Friday! (Look, I managed extra happiness just for you.....)

ETA: My own philosophy on a happy marriage has to do with selflessness. Not being a door mat, but trusting that if you put your partner first, s/he will do the same, and it will always even out, leaving both of you satisfied most of the time.

Katie! Welcome home! And thanks for all that happiness. I did see that you just started over - good for you. And I was deeply touched that you managed some extra happiness for me.

I completely agree with your thoughts on a happy marriage.

Did I mention that I am thrilled you are back? *does happy dance*

Happy Sunday, Mamie! Hope you are enjoying your weekend, along with those current reads.

Love the picture of Rae's new locks you posted over at Katie's thread, Mamie.

Ditto, Mamie. Great look for Rae.

Hope you’ve been having a good weekend.

Rae's hair looks amazing! Almost tempted to try it...

Here's a picture for those of you who might be wondering about Rae's hair. She got aqua streaks put into it over the weekend, and it looks so cool. She is absolutely thrilled with it. I posted it over on Katie's thread last night because she asked for a photo. So, if you don't follow Katie's thread...and by the way, WHY aren't you following Katie's thread?! She is full of fabulous. Ands also snark. *waves at Katie*

>124 Crazymamie: Oh, I *love* it!!

For some reason Charlie and I were talking the other day about when I'll get full-on grey hair (I love the idea and he hates it, of course), and I was saying that maybe I'll get rainbow stripes in the grey. He was equally horrified by that idea, but I kind of love it...

>120 msf59: Hello, Mark! And now it is that day which shall not be named. The weekend was fun - just Rae, Birdy and I were here. Dan and his girlfriend were in Indiana, Craig and Abby went to Florida to help his mother, and the rest of us held down the fort.

>121 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

>122 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe! The weekend was good but too short. On the bright side, tomorrow we have been promised weather in the 70s. It had better show up, or I'll be heartbroken.

>123 charl08: It's really cute on her, Charlotte. She had highlights in, and the hair stylist put the aqua in on top of the highlights, which I thought was brilliant. It's really nicely done all throughout her hair. I think you should go for it if you are at all tempted - life is short!

>125 scaifea: Me, too, Amber! She definitely rocks it. SO funny about the grey hair conversation with Charlie! I have grey in my hair, but it is behaving itself - coming in mostly at my temples and actually a really pretty white. I like it. My mom was completely grey by the time she was 35, so I'm actually surprised that I don't have more.

It's amazing what they can do with hair color these days, and I have always thought of hair as the ultimate accessory, so I think you should keep the rainbow stripes in mind - I know you could totally own that look. You'd be the coolest mom on the block. Oh, wait...you already are!

Book #86: Solar Bones by Mike McCormack, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds (4.5 stars), 2017 acquired audiobook, literary fiction

"...and it was part of their whole Christmas thing to leave food and drink on the kitchen table for Santa Claus and Rudolph, something to keep them fed on their big night's work, usually cake or a sandwich and a carrot, and it was my job, before going to bed to eat some of it - or at least to leave teeth marks in it - to show that Santa had indeed sampled our hospitality so that, the following morning, when they had got over the delight of their initial presents they would stand beside the table to examine the remains of the food and the whiskey glass lying sideways on the table because obviously, with a drop taken in so many houses along the way, Santa must have been well slewed by the time he got to our door and it was a wonder at all he managed to leave the right presents in the right houses and there was Agnes standing by the table in her pyjamas listening to me saying all this, weighing it up, while Darragh was already surging ahead , examining the carrot and cake but still not saying anything so that I began to wonder if I had slipped up somewhere in my story and given something away that would spoil the whole thing and I was about to open my mouth again but Mairead (his wife) was looking at me from across the table, shaking her head, wearing that expression, both fearful and dismayed, which was telling me without words to

stop now, before you go too far
stop now
so I stopped"

This was really good. I had checked it out from the library in print, not knowing anything about it - it was calling to me from the "new fiction" section. It's written in stream of consciousness, but don't let that scare you as it is perfectly done. No capitals or periods or quotations, but it works just fine because of how they formatted it. I had started reading it and was thinking that it had such a lovely flow to it, an internal rhythm that I thought would be perfect as an audiobook, so I checked, and sure enough it was available on audio. Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds, it is so beautifully rendered that it was a pleasure to listen to, and I was sad when it ended. So why not five stars? Well, I though it dragged just a bit in the middle, keeping it from being a perfect read - such a small quibble, really, as the book is only 217 pages. Anyway, highly recommended, and if you do audio at all, go with that format - I listened to it at 1.25x speed, and it was sublime.

On the reading front:



I am almost finished with Practical Magic, which Birdy and I are both reading - it's a reread for me, but the first time for her. We recently (re)watched the movie, which is very well done but completely different from the book. They are both good, but the book is my favorite. For those of you who love this book like I do, Hoffman recently published a prequel to it called The Rules of Magic - I plan on reading it just as soon as I finish up with the reread of Practical Magic.



I started listening to The Girl With All the Gifts, which is very good so far. It is narrated by Finty Williams, and I thought her voice sounded familiar, so I looked her up and it turns out that she is the daughter of Judi Dench!

>128 Crazymamie: *grumble* warble warble warble, my pretty, your day will come *sulfrous mutters*

>129 Crazymamie: They sound wonderful when *you* talk about them. *sigh*

*grin* Morning, BigDaddy! Solar Bones was SO good. Truly. And I love Hoffman - have you read her? She does magical realism perfectly, I think, and for some reason Practical Magic in particular speaks to me - not quite as good as Sarah Addison Allen's Garden Spells, but definitely worth a read. Or two. I'm just at the beginning of The Girl With All the Gifts but loving the audio so far. And Kim loved it, so there's that.

*does arthritic half-speed imitation of Neo to dodge book-bullets*

>124 Crazymamie: - Hi Mamie :D

>132 richardderus: I'll get you, my pretty! *evil laugh*

>133 katiekrug: Hello there, Katie! You started a thing with the Chinese food and the Giants win, so Rae thinks you need to do it again next game. But she thinks Thai or Indian would also qualify.

Works for me! Tell Rae I'm on it!

>135 katiekrug: lol. Any chance I can get in on this 'lucky' takeaway action?!

>135 katiekrug: She'll be delighted, Katie!

>136 charl08: Sure thing, Charlotte! But you have to root for the Giants.

Good morning, Mamie!

I watched one of my favorite films this weekend: Get Shorty. Excellent performances, brilliant direction, and a lot of fun. I miss Dennis Farina. I also really enjoy the scene when Chili first meets Martin Weir (Danny Devito) at his home. good stuff.

Hi, Mamie.

Good reminder re Practical Magic. I added it to the WL. I love Garden Spells.

>137 Crazymamie: Just to check: they play American football?

For Friday the Thirteenth, just past, we rewatched Beetlejuice.

>138 brodiew2: Afternoon, Brodie! I have not seen that film, but it's on my list - I loved the book.

>139 jnwelch: Hello, Joe! Oh, hooray for Practical Magic - I just finished my reread of it, and it was jut as fabulous the second time around.

>140 charl08: Yep.

>141 weird_O: Oh, that's one I haven't seen in a very long time, Bill. We always like to watch Arsenic and Old Lace sometime in October. And I love me a good Friday the 13th - my Rae was born on one!

Thanks Mamie. Just checking... off to see if I can download Practical Magic. Current fiction read is not working!

>141 weird_O: I love Arsenic and Old Lace!

>142 Crazymamie: You are in for a treat! Do you you have a list you are making your way through?

>144 charl08: You're welcome, Charlotte! Crossing my fingers that you can download Practical Magic!!

>145 brodiew2: It's more of a list in my head, Brodie - I need to make an actual physical list of movies whose books I have read and loved.

We have BIG love here at the Pecan Paradisio for Arsenic and Old Lace - a family favorite!

>146 Crazymamie: Cary Grant could do little wrong!

>147 PaulCranswick: Agreed, Paul.

So, this was a fail for me. I read all of part one, but I just could not get into the story. Basically, I just really did not care about any of the characters. It felt flat and cold to me, and maybe it was supposed to, but, um...no. I want to feel something besides completely detached.

>128 Crazymamie: Good review of Solar Bones. Thumb! Glad we both liked it. Nice quote too. There is stellar writing to be be found in this novel.

>129 Crazymamie: I also loved the audio of The Girl With All the Gifts. I hope you continue to enjoy this surprising gem.

>149 Crazymamie: I was letdown by The Vegetarian too, although I did find some redeeming moments in the middle of the novel. It was just not enough to sustain it. i am still going to try her Human Acts.

Morning, Mamie! Hope your enjoying your porch time. I am heading out, for a stroll in the woods. Lovely fall day.

Morning, Mark! Thanks so much for the thumb! I am continuing to enjoy Girl With All the Gifts, and good to see you loved the audio. I was thinking that it was you who had mentioned the book to me before Kim had posted about it, but I just could not remember, and I had not made a note of it. *sigh* Usually me memory is better than that.

Good to see that it was not just me that felt The Vegetarian fell flat a bit - I know that it won several awards, but it just didn't work for me. I would be willing to try the author again, though.

And I am still on the porch! It is a truly lovely day here, and I am soaking it up as these temps are just supposed to last for today and tomorrow and then back into the 80s we go. BUT, at least it's supposed to be the low 80s. *grin*

Hiya, Mamie.

Sitting on the porch sounds great. It's cooler here, but clear and sunny, so I'm off soon on a walk to . . . (drum roll) . . . the library! We head off tomorrow to DC for a few days, so the longer I can put off packing, the better. (One of my least favorite things to do).

Hiya, Joe! Birdy and I also went to the library today. DC sounds fun, but I am with you on the packing. Although, after many years of having to pack for the kids as well as myself, it no longer seems as arduous as it once was.

Glad you are having nice porch weather, Mamie. It's been into the low 90s for the last three days again--these October Santa Ana conditions are typical here but still not welcome.

Yuck, Roni. I am so tired of the heat and humidity, and really, it hasn't even been that bad this year. I am just craving Fall weather - the real thing, so today has been truly a blessing. Birdy and I took Abby to work and made a quick stop at the library as I had a hold come in, and then it was back home and back out to the porch for both of us. We are just taking advantage of a perfect day. Hoping you get some relief soon - sending you cool thoughts.

At least we don't have the humidity; the air is bone dry. Thank you!

Well, hooray for that at least! Oh! And speaking of bone - I am currently reading The Thread That Binds the Bone. I picked it up after seeing you mention it on your thread as one you had read multiple times. Very fun so far, thank you!

Hi Mamie - Love the blue hair!

A prequel to Practical Magic? I'll get on it. I think that was my first Hoffman.

Hello, Beth! Glad you love Rae's blue hair - she is still thrilled with it. And yes - the prequel just came out on October 10th. I'm very excited about it and hope to get to it soon.

Book #88: Autumn by Ali Smith (4.5 stars), library hardback, contemporary fiction/literary fiction

"How we play is: I tell you the first line of a story, Daniel said.
Okay, Elisabeth said.
Then you tell me the story that comes into your head when you hear that first line, Daniel said.
Like, a story that already exists? Elisabeth said. Like Goldilocks and the three bears?
Those poor bears, Daniel said. That bad wicked rude vandal girl. Going into their house unannounced. Breaking their furniture. Eating their supplies. Spraying her name with spraypaint on the walls of their bedrooms.
She does not spray her name on their walls, Elisabeth said. That's not the story.
Who says? Daniel says. Who says the story isn't happening right now?
I do, Elisabeth said.
Well, you're going to lose at Bagatelle, then, Daniel said, because the whole point of Bagatelle is that you trifle with the stories that people think are set in stone. And no, not that kind of trifle-
I know, Elisabeth said. Jeez. Don't demean me.
Demean you? Daniel said Moi? Now. What kind of story do you want to trifle with? You can choose."

This is a gem. It just pulled me into it's pages, and I read it in one day. It goes back and forth in time, revealing our two protagonists, Elisabeth and Daniel, as various stages of their lives. Elisabeth meets Daniel in her childhood when he is a neighbor. Daniel is already old, and the two form a friendship that will help to chart the course of Elisabeth's life.

I liked the nonlinear progression of this book that showed glimpses of memory and also of fact that memory had forgotten. I liked that the author did not feel the need to tidy things up for us or to explain everything. Smith leaves the reader to interpret and follow both Elisabeth and Daniel's stories. She does not sell us short or feel the need to explain every literary reference, and this little book is full of them -
tucked into the dialogue and the corners of the story without seeming gratuitous or gimmicky.

This is the first book in a planned quartet, and I cannot wait for the net installment. Highly recommended. And two more quotes because I cannot resist:

"The word gymkhana, Daniel said, is a wonderful word, a word grown from several languages.
Words don't get grown, Elisabeth said.
They do, Daniel said.
Words aren't plants, Elisabeth said.
Words are themselves organisms, Daniel said.
Oregano-isms, Elisabeth said.
Herbal and verbal, Daniel said. Language is like poppies. It just takes something to churn the earth round them up, and when it does up come the sleeping words, bright red, fresh, blowing about. Then the seedheads rattle, the seeds fall out. Then there's even more language waiting to come up."

"It is like democracy is a bottle someone can threaten to smash and do a bit of damage with. It has become a time of people saying stuff to each other and none of it actually becoming dialogue.
It is the end of dialogue."

>161 Crazymamie: "I liked that the author did not feel the need to tidy things up for us or to explain everything."

A rare quality, and a difficult feat to make successful.

Wonderful quotes Mamie. I think I need to treat myself to the paperback before the next one comes out. Your review reminded me just how much I enjoyed her playful writing.

>162 richardderus: That's so true, Richard - there's a fine line between letting you put the pieces together for yourself and leaving you wondering, so what the hell just happened there? Heh. I think I would have wanted more resolution of the middle bits it there weren't going to be three more books.

>163 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. Are you back home again safe and sound? I am thinking that I want my own copy of Autumn, too - I would definitely read it again. I loved the first scene in the post office - that alone would be worth the price of a copy.

Hooray! Another fan of Autumn - it remains one of my favorites this year. Great comments, Mamie.

Thank you, Beth. It was just so well done - I keep thinking I should probably go back and give it the full five stars.

Good morning, Mamie. I enjoyed Autumn, too.

Hope you’re having a good weekend.

Morning, Joe! Hooray for the Autumn love.

The weekend is off to a great start - last night we went to see Blade Runner 2049, and it was full of fabulous. We all loved it.

>168 Crazymamie:. Great to hear re the new Blade Runner. We did, too. And we loved all the references to the first one.

>169 jnwelch: It was SO good, Joe. I might have to see it again while it is still in the theatre. Loved all the references to the original and felt that the second movie captured some of the things from the book that the first movie did not focus on as much. I have to admit that I was disappointed that when they got to the part where he first meets Deckard, and we see his pet in shadow at first until it comes forward, it was a dog. I was hoping it would be a sheep. But that was my only disappointment, and it was such a small thing, really.

>170 weird_O: You always make me smile, Bill. Thanks for that!

>171 Crazymamie:. Oh, what a great idea in the spoiler! I didn’t think of that. I love it. I wish they’d done it. They would’ve had PKD fans going crazy.

*grin*

>171 Crazymamie: HA!! re spoiler

Hey there, BigDaddy! Glad I could give you a giggle.

Lovely review of Autumn.

Ah, the new Blade Runner. Will we make it to the theatre befor it vanishes . . .

Mark hasn't piped up, so I am going to take full credit for The Girl With All The Gifts. Ha! Hope you are still enjoying it. I have Autumn around here somewhere...

Love Rae's hair!! And Happy Saturday.

>176 sibylline: Thanks, Lucy. And yes, be sure to catch Blade Runner in the theatre - you will love it.

>177 Berly: Haha, Kim! Okay, then. I am really enjoying it - the audio is excellent. Hoping you can get to Autumn soon - I saw that the next installment is coming out on January 19th, and titled appropriately Winter.

Glad you love the hair! But, just so you know, that is Rae in the photo.

Hoping that your Saturday is full of fabulous!

Well, of course it is Rae's hair. That's what I said, isn't it? : )

*belly laugh*

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday! Excellent review of Autumn. Big Thumb! Love the quotes you picked too. I also enjoyed this book and would love to do a reread, before the next season comes out.

Hope to see Blade Runner later this afternoon.

Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday! And thanks for the thumb - most exciting. She managed to pack so much into such a little book, and I loved that - I am eagerly awaiting Winter.

Oh! You're in for a treat with the new Blade Runner movie - hoping you love it as much as we did. I am wanting to see it again.

>124 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Love Rae's hair - it suits her. I was going to say happy new, um, thread, but this is post 183 so now I'm going to get in early next time :-)

Hello, Susan! You are so right that the hair suits Rae. And happiness for any reason is always welcome.

>161 Crazymamie: Hmm, it sounds like Autumn is an interesting book but I didn't know that until I read your review. A name like that would put me off even picking up the book to see what it was about as to me autumn is a sad time off year - soggy, rainy, cold and miserable. Maybe a liking of the season depends on where you live?

Meg, that is so funny because Autumn is my favorite season. It's not so great down here in Georgia - mostly it's still green and hot, but in Indiana, where I came from, it's a beautiful thing. The air gets crisper as the temps drop, the leaves are a riot of glorious color, and it's time for pumpkins and ghost stories and leaf piles and football. *sigh*

Weeeellll, you could always visit Maryland. It’s about to be gorgeous here! 😀

I agree with you about fall. We don't really have seasons in San Diego and September/October are our hottest months which is why I like to stay a Chautauqua as long as possible. There I was enjoying reading by the fire -- here I have the A/C running and try not to leave the house mid-day.

>186 Crazymamie: Those cool crisp days are something that I remember, Mamie, but the default setting for fall here is weeks of rain and cold. The falling leaves float in puddles.

Happy Mmphmumbleday, Mamie!

I'm still thinking about the Blade Runner movie. That mood from the first one is not an easy one to recreate, and they pulled it off.

Morning, Mamie! Rainy start to the day here and sharply falling temps by the end of the week. Well, at least I won't be working in it.

I hope your Monday goes smoothly.

>187 drneutron: Ha! That's an excellent idea, Jim. I am a bug fan of gorgeous.

>188 RebaRelishesReading: The seasons are not nearly as prevalent down here, either, Reba. I miss that. And reading by the fire...*sigh*. We have a fireplace in our house here, which makes me giggle. We have used it a total of one time since we moved here five years ago, and that is because we turned it in to see what it looked like. Heh. We are expecting a drop in temps to the 70s this week, so I am very excited about that.

>189 Familyhistorian: I think I would take the rain and the cold, Meg. I don't mind the wet, and the cold would be most welcome. I know what you mean though about the leaves floating in the puddles - we used to really dislike when we would get too much rain early in the season, and it would knock down all the leaves before we got to fully enjoy the changing colors.

Hi Mamie! Just thought I'd check in and say hello...

I haven't reviewed it, but I think you would really like Taft by Ann Patchett. It reminded me of a Stewart O'Nan novel, and you know that's high praise coming from me :)

It's Monday - as a friend likes to say, don't look it in the eye!

>190 jnwelch: Hey there, Joe! Completely agree about the Blade Runner movies - both of them were just so well done. Now I am wanting to reread the book. *grin*

>191 msf59: Morning, Mark! It's raining here, too, and it has brought some cooler temps with it. For which I am very thankful. We are to be treated to low 70s this week, and maybe even a couple of days in the 60s. SQUEE!!

Thank you for those Monday wishes - mine always seems to need all the help it can get.

>193 katiekrug: Katie!! Hello there! And look at you bringing me an entry for your Dirty Dozen - I'll add that one right now.

Your Monday advice made me smile. Wise words to live by. *blinks*

Happy morning, Mamie. You are much further along in the day than I am so I have more Monday stuff to look forward to. I am waiting for workmen to come and do something to my attic. Got to love living in a strata.

Hello, Meg! Ugh to more Monday stuff. t's noon here, so we have made it half way. Good luck with the attic work.

Happy you-know-what day!! Glad you are already halfway through it. : ) Laughing about your one-tie use of the fireplace. ; )

Thanks, Kim! It's actually a rainy overcast day that begs for staying inside and hunkering down with a good book, so I can't complain. And yes, so sad about the fireplace - it just doesn't get that cold here. *sad face*

Things are looking up, Mamie, we are almost done for the day. Time to read - that would be nice but I have writing deadlines to meet.

I waited until I figured I could get away quick:

>149 Crazymamie: bummer! I loved it, and yes, the characters did come over flat and cold for me too. But I found enough there about them to keep me going.

>186 Crazymamie: sorry you're missing out on Fall (or, Autumn as I would normally say). We are getting springy with it here! It is lovely, the bright greens, the longer days, the flowers and the (dare I say it?) relative warmth!!

We have a fireplace that doesn't get used much either. This was my "solution". ;)

We made it! Happy Tuesday, Mamie!

Morning, Mamie! Finally getting some sunshine, after a few wet and dreary days. Where were your thoughts on Blade Runner? Just askin'...

>205 msf59: Morning, Mark! My thoughts are up in >171 Crazymamie: in my post to Joe. It's gorgeous here - bright and sunny, but only 48F outside currently. I am LOVING it!

>205 msf59: Mark, look at the spoiler in >171 Crazymamie:

ETA we cross-posted, Mamie darling. Happy Hump Day!

>200 Familyhistorian: Deadlines? But aren't you a lady of leisure now, Meg? I think you might be doing retirement wrong. *grin*

>201 richardderus: Oh, dear! Very naughty, Richard - but you get double points for mischief making.

>202 LovingLit: I do know that a lot of people liked it, Megan. Just not for me, but I am glad you found some good stuff in there.

Hooray for Spring in your part of the world - I have my arms open and ready to embrace Winter, which will probably arrive here sometime in February and stay for about two days. Heh.

>203 dragonaria: Nice! Very good idea, and I love it, Kimberly. Unfortunately, ours is a gas log fireplace, so that would not work here, but you gave me a chuckle as I envisioned balancing candles on top of the fake logs.

>204 jnwelch: We did, Joe! And now on to Wednesday - the day I have been waiting for because we had a drop in temps overnight. Only supposed to go to 67F today. Yippe Skippy!!

Happy Hump Day to you, BigDaddy! Are you feeling better?

>171 Crazymamie: That never crossed my mind. LOL. Your idea, would have been pretty cool though. I was curious about the bees though. I wonder if they were engineered bees? Otherwise, I am not sure they could have survived, in that environment? I am also surprised Deckart never mentioned them.

Almost infinitely. I am no longer fevered, stuffed up, or hoarse! Yay!!

It was a gorgeous early morning after thunderstorming last night...that glorious rain-washed smell mingling with the ever-present smell of the ocean. Clouds are rolling in as we speak, ready to deliver more rain this afternoon, which we badly need. My joints aren't loving it, but such is the price I pay for choosing the wrong parents. *sigh* I am so ready for gene therapy to be a thing.

>210 msf59: I thought the bees were an homage to the original movie when Deckard asks Rachel what she would do if a wasp landed on her arm, and she says she would kill it. When all those bees are sitting on K's arm, he merely studies them - he is curious, not frightened.

>211 richardderus: Hooray for healthier health! I love the weather picture that you painted for me with words - thunderstorms are so fabulous. Please soak up some of that rain smell mixed with the ocean smell for me. Sorry about the joints - that's no fun at all.

97 here yesterday, but only supposed to be 93 today! Hope you are having a lovely day.

YIKES, Roni! I am so glad that we are not going to the 90s this week. And thanks for those good wishes.

>212 Crazymamie: I live next to the North Atlantic so I don't, on a daily basis, really appreciate the intoxicating seaside smell. When there's been rain I'm freshly aware of it--see what I did there?--but it's a fleeting awareness. I'm already oblivious to it, even though it's coming in my open window. I want to learn a technique, create a habit, find a trick to jolt myself into awareness of the Now on demand.

>213 ronincats: yep -- 90+ and dry as can be. I can't seem to get enough lip gloss on to make my lips comfortable. PLEASE November, be cool!!

>215 richardderus: When you figure it out, be sure to let me know. I am all for that. I like to try to consciously soak up moments, and I succeed briefly at times - I think the key to beginning is to actually stop and listen, feel, see and then let yourself absorb it on every level. I think I am very good at soaking up moonlight while sitting on the deck with a glass of wine in hand, and just enjoying the moment with no other distractions. Of course, I have practiced that a lot. Heh.

>216 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, the girls and I are in love with this:



It's vaseline in a tin, but it's really thick and rich - lasts much longer and feels great. I would like to find it in a different "scent" - the smell reminds me on roses, and I don't care for it, but it does dissipate quickly so it's a minor annoyance. Luckily, it has no flavor.

Crossing my fingers that cool eventually finds you.

Book #89: Authority by Jeff VanderMeer (4 stars), library paperback, weird fiction (Southern Reach Trilogy, book 2)

This is the second book in VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy, and it is very good. I originally classified the first book as dystopian, but I have changed my mind - this is definitely weird fiction. I liked that this installment came at the situation from a completely different viewpoint. The biologist from the 12th expedition into Area X, a mysterious area that the government is trying to figure out, narrates the first book. The second book is told from the point of view of the newly appointed director of Southern Reach, the scientific facility that is in charge of the expeditions and of quantifying all of the data. Now we learn more about what is really going on. Or do we? Questions start to pile up as the new director must choose who to trust and decide which data is valid.

This took a turn I was not expecting, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I have already started in on book three, and I am enjoying the ride so far. Highly recommended - but start with the first book, Annihilation. This is being made into a movie starring Natalie Portman, and the trailer looks good - very creepy. I am wondering if the movie will cover all three books or just the first one.

>212 Crazymamie: I wondered about the bees in the new Blade Runner movie the same way Mark did. No flowers, etc., for them to live on, so I think they must have been engineered. I love your comparison to Rachel's answer to the wasp question! If that wasn't what they were thinking, it should have been!

Thanks, Joe. I would guess they would have to be engineered, too. I also wondered if the point was that Deckard could afford them now - he did okay for himself. In the novel, he dreams of owning a live animal - it's almost an obsession.

>220 Crazymamie: Interesting thought. Maybe so. It is a weird detail in the movie, and obviously very deliberate. Yes, I loved that part of the book about wanting to own a live animal. Heck, I just plain loved the book - and also the graphic adaptation you turned me onto.

I agree that it was very deliberate. I love things that you keep thinking about like that after a really good book or movie. I am wanting to read the book again now!

>222 Crazymamie: Ditto!

*grin*

I need to get to the Vandermeer books! I suppose this is a bit of payback for my thread...

*evil laughter* Um..no. Not at all, Jim.

>216 RebaRelishesReading: Pink Bubbly Vaseline in a can -- OMG!! I have a lip balm that I love but it's getting very hard to find so I may give your idea a try soon. I prefer my heat on the dry side (humidity is torture) but it's been awfully low since we got home. Sept. and Oct. are (usually) our hottest months and we're nearly through with October so I hope it will get better soon...pleeeeeese :)

It's early evening yet but I'm feeling nightcappy. Howzabout some warm gingerbread with vanilla gelato and caramel sauce with our Malbec?

>227 RebaRelishesReading: All the women at the Pecan Paradisio give it two thumbs up, Reba. And I also like my heat on the dry side, but that rarely happens down here. Today has been an absolute treat - it only went to 65F here. Really hoping that your October can end on a milder note, and that November is a breath of fresh air.

>228 richardderus: Yes, please! That looks most YUM.

>229 Crazymamie: High of 65!! I would absolutely love that.

>230 RebaRelishesReading: I know, right?! Today it's back to the 70s, but as long as we stay out of the 80s and above, I'll be happy.

48F here this morning. I got to break out the fleece bath robe... *happy sigh*

It's only 41F here right now, if you imagine that, Katie. Hooray for the fleece bath robe! Birdy and I are in the living room with blankets, and enjoying every minute of it - we don't have the heat on because it's going back into the 70s today, so we have a lovely coolness right now.

Sweet Thursday, Mamie!

Good to see you over at the cafe. "It's going back into the 70s today." There's a lot to be said for living where you do, my friend.

Sweet Thursday, Joe! We have lived down here for five years now, and it is gorgeous - I will never tire of waking up to those pecan trees. That being said, I am missing Winter. Not the parts where the pipes freeze or the roads are awash with salt or the having to scrape your car windshield before driving anywhere, but the part where one actually is able to wear jeans and a sweatshirt without sweating to death.

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday! I m glad you are enjoying the Annihilation trilogy. I did too and I hope the film captures the eerie atmosphere of the first one.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday! I am loving the Southern Reach trilogy. Do you think they'll compress all three books into one movie?

>237 Crazymamie: It looks like it will only be based on the first book, which is definitely the way to go. Let's hope it is a big enough hit, to let them continue the other two.

*crosses fingers*

>235 Crazymamie: Boy do I agree with you. The only part I miss (I have lived where there are seasons) is being able to wear sweaters and jackets. Actually, I think San Francisco has pretty much perfect weather.

Yes! Sweaters and jackets! That would be wonderful.

If winter went to about halfway through January, I'd be fine with it. After that, I'm feeling it overstayed its welcome.

Ha! Ours doesn't even start until about February, Joe.

Hi, Mamie. Just making the rounds and it's entertaining to read the chatter and comments. That's what I got. Progress is slow...

"That's what I got." I'll take it, Bill. Um...I think I might know what is slowing you down a bit.

>244 weird_O: >245 Crazymamie: Lol. Thanks for the chuckles guys. I think I need a break from my books about a) the misery of the Bulgarian border and b) the misery of the Leningrad siege.

Hey Mamie, what's doin'. I thought about fall treats that I discovered here in the northeast because of Amber's bonus question. Now I'm craving persimmon pudding:


Did y'all have that in Indiana?

Hi Crazy! I just read my first Vandermeer this year! Borne. And weird fiction is exactly right. After your description, I will have to keep an eye out for this trilogy. Happy Friday.

>246 charl08: Happy to help out, Charlotte! And it does sound like you need a break - I think you should track down an intriguing mystery that you can enjoy and then recommend to me. Speaking of which, guess what came in the mail this week? The first three books in that Adrian McKinty series that you started and liked. The funny thing is that they arrived separately and in reverse order. I told Birdy, well of course they sent the third one first, and Birdy immediately replied, you know you have to wait for the first one before you start reading if only for Susan's sake. Which made both of us laugh because I was thinking the same thing. Anyway, the first one came yesterday, so now I can begin just as soon as I finish up the books I already have going.

>247 richardderus: I have never had persimmon pudding, Richard. I have never even heard of it, but it sure looks good.

>248 Berly: Hello, Kim! I am thinking you would really enjoy the Southern Reach Trilogy.

Happy Friday to you - may it be full of fabulous!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday. I just tool our little dog to the groomers. It feels like early winter out there. Ugh! Glad I got my hikes in, earlier in the week. Good day, to curl up with the books.

Enjoy your day, my friend.

Morning, Mark! And hooray for Friday! Early winter - could you send me some? Going to 78F here today, but then we're supposed to get to enjoy low 70s and mid 60s temps over the weekend - really hoping they don't change that forecast. And will you actually get to curl up with the books today? Crossing my fingers that you do. And thanks for those good wishes!

>249 Crazymamie: Well done. Such self control! Hope you enjoy them.

Thank you, Charlotte!

...

Abby had her hair colored yesterday, and it turned out full of fabulous. It starts darker at the top and slowly fades to a light pink at the bottom, which is hard to see in the photos, but you get the idea.

For those of you who forget what she looked like before, her hair was blond:

.

And she was gorgeous as a blond, but she wanted to try somehthng different.

I LOVE Abby's new color. So pretty!

ETA: Though, as you say, she was also gorgeous as a blond. Darn her ;-)

>255 Crazymamie: What Katie said ^. Beautiful indeed.

I know, right?! I really love it on her, and she is SO happy with it.

Thank you, Julia!

New color is deeply flattering to Abby, though goodness knows she's no slouch in the pretty department regardless of hair color. And the brisk background was a nice touch.

What a lovely compliment, Richard. I'll pass that on to her. We took the photos on our screened- in porch.

>255 Crazymamie: Abby's new colored hair looks wondeful. It is nicely done from dark on top to lighter at the ends, gives a more natural look.

Looks great!

>262 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! I love the color transition - it adds depth, and it is so pretty.

>263 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

Book #90: Calamity Town by Ellery Queen (4 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, mystery (Ellery Queen, book 16) - recommended by Julia

Julia recently reviewed this on her thread, and it sounded right up my alley. My oldest sister loved mysteries - especially Agatha Christie, Dorothy Gilman, and Ellery Queen. I can remember her getting the Ellery Queen mystery magazine, and quickly ferreting it out of sight. Over the years I read many books off of her shelves, but for some reason I never borrowed the Ellery Queen books. Now I have ventured in - and it was fun. According to Julia, these books are normally set in New York City, but here we have Queen venturing farther from home to a small town upstate called Wrightsville. What I loved about this was how it pulled you in and took its time setting the stage. I figured out one of the key plot points right away, but it didn't ruin the tale for me at all. This one is twisty, and just when you think you know where it is going, it surprises you. Thanks, Julia!

>265 Crazymamie: Yay! You read it! Double yay! You liked it! Now I am of course burning to know which plot point you figured out right away?

It was very well done, Julia, and a perfect fit for my October reading. The plot point I figured out early was that Rosemary was actually his wife, that he needed the money because she was blackmailing him, and that the letters were about her, not Nora.

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

>243 Crazymamie: Really? Your winter starts in February? I guess that makes sense - it never does start in Florida - but I somehow thought you got it earlier and longer. When does it end? March?

>255 Crazymamie: That's a great look for Abby. How's she doing? We miss her on LT.

>265 Crazymamie: OK, I started thinking this when Julia reviewed Calamity Town, but now I know I have to tell Becca about it. I'm pretty sure she's an Ellery Queen fan, and I doubt that she's heard of this one.

Happy Saturday, Joe! February seems to be the month with the coldest temps down here, so not really Winter to this Indiana girl, but the closest we get. And yes - by the end of March we can pretty much get the pool ready to go again.

Abby is doing well, thanks for asking. She has a job at a local coffee shop that she loves, but it keeps her very busy. In addition to all the usual coffee shop work, she designs the chalk boards that feature the wines and beer that they serve and she does some of the baking. It is a really good fit for her as she gets to combine all of her interests. I will pass along your compliment and that she is missed. I am sure she will be back here eventually.

I am guessing that Becca would love how twisty this one is - I know she loves Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. This is a good solid Golden Age mystery with great characterization, and the small town setting is very well done.

Ah, great. I'm glad Abby found a job that suits her so well.

I've alerted Becca to Calamity Town. She loves the Golden Age mysteries (and has collected a lot of them - I know the Perry Mason ones are particular favorites).

Perry Mason! I totally had a crush on him in my younger days.

>271 Crazymamie: The book version or Raymond Burr?

Ha! The book, although I did love the tv series. In the books Mason is not quite aboveboard, which I liked. There was usually shenanigans, and it was not always legal, so it kept you guessing what he might get up to next, even though the books always followed a certain formula.

>273 Crazymamie: Yeah, Paul Drake and Della Street sure came in handy as the dirty tricks squad...all shady stuff in service of Justice, of course, if not Law and Order.

I think Justice is why we all read mysteries.

Agreed.

>267 Crazymamie: Ah, Yes. That was what I thought you would say — I did think it seemed at least somewhat obvious that was a possibility, but as you say it doesn't keep the reader from being surprised at the ultimate reveal. So glad you liked it!

Abby's hair looks great! And it's good to hear that she has a job that she loves. I have always wondered what that must be like.

>276 rosalita: Exactly - it's still an enjoyable read with plenty of surprises. I liked how it slowly unwound.

>278 Crazymamie: Thanks, Susan! I think office politics is what ruins a lot of jobs - the coffee shop is small, with just a few employees, and most of them are just looking at it as a stepping stone, so it's pretty laid back.

Happy weekend, Mamie! I'm just getting caught up on threads a little. Love Rae & Abby's hair! Also feeling Rae's pain with the Giants... go figure we beat a team we shouldn't and then look horrible again next week. It's gonna be a long season. I've been telling my dad we should scrap the current year to re-watch his recordings of the 2007 Super Bowl winning season instead.

Hello, Mary! Happy weekend to you! Glad you love the girls' hair - they both turned out so cool. And yes, Rae is completely beside herself with the current football season. I like your idea of re-watching the 2007 season instead - brilliant!

>278 Crazymamie: Laid back sounds perfect. Where do I sign up? (Although I'd struggle working anywhere with cake).

There is no cake there, Charlotte. They do have scones and cookies and muffins, though.

>255 Crazymamie: Abby looks lovely! Thanks for sharing.

Happy Saturday, Mamie! Only in the 40s here. Good day to stay in. If you are looking for a suggestion on Russell Banks, I would go with The Sweet Hereafter. Heart-breaking novel, beautifully done.

Sure thing, Mark. And thank you.

Happy Saturday! The 40s! *envy eyes* It's overcast and rainy here, current temp is 75F. I have not read Russell Banks, so it's good to have a starting point - appreciate the recommendation. I probably won't get to him this year, but some day...

I want to throw out a request for participants in a group read of one of my favorite but relatively unknown fantasy novels, God Stalk by P. C. Hodgell. The "stalk" refers to stalking gods, not a stem. It is the first of a still ongoing series, but it is a complete story and easy to walk away from after the first book if you wish--indeed, all of us had to wait many years after this one to get a sequel. I am looking at possibly November, December or January for the time frame, but the actual month will depend on what those interested work out. If you would be at all interested, please PM me or drop by my thread and let me know.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/270239

>124 Crazymamie: Love Rae's hair! (And Rae, of course)

>161 Crazymamie: A thumb for your review of Autumn - I have been meaning to try something of Ali Smith's for some time as I keep seeing good things about her books.

>255 Crazymamie: Beautiful! So Daniel and Birdy are next in line for dyeing their hair right? (Although did Birdy get hers dyed blue a few years ago?)

>285 ronincats: I am excited about the GR of God Stalk, Roni. Thanks for posting the invite here.

>286 souloftherose: Rae is going to be the Mad Hatter for Halloween, and her hair was super cute with the hat - I'll have to try to get a photo of her in it.

Thanks for the thumb! Most exciting! I do not think you will be disappointed with it - so very good, and so very timely.

Birdy was just saying that she and Daniel were going to get me a photo of them to post here because they wanted equal thread time. Birdy did indeed dye her hair blue several years ago - for her 15th birthday. Excellent memory!

Hi Mamie :). I love the October topper. Gorgeous. I am super glad for Octobers too. I passed through Indiana yesterday for the first time. Such a pretty state. Thanks for stopping by my thread and for your kinds words.

Hello, Jenn! Glad you love the topper and also Octobers! First time through Indiana? It's a flat state, but it does have its own beauty - I am missing the Midwest Fall season. This was probably a good time to pass through - hopefully the trees were showing off for you.

And you're welcome. Continuing to keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Whaddaya say, Mamie, is it time for the Sunday nightcap and snicky-snacky? You KNOW what tomorrow is...

Your girls are absolutely beautiful, Mamie.

Autumn is on the WL for me. You make it sound wonderful.

Hope your week will be wonderful.

Your girls are absolutely beautiful, Mamie.

Autumn is on the WL for me. You make it sound wonderful.

Hope your week will be wonderful.

>290 richardderus: You know me so well, BigDaddy! I am always up for a snicky-snacky, especially if there is also a choice beverage to go with it. SO thoughtful - thank you!

>291 Matke: Thank you, Gail! I'm so happy you added Autumn to your WL - it was indeed wonderful. And thank you for those good wishes. Hoping that your week is full of fabulous!

>292 Matke: The very rare double post! I love when that happens.

Just dropping by to offer support for you-know-what-today-is! Kittens are always good for rainy days and M---s!

Aw!!! Thanks so much, Roni! Motley and Dinah are too cute.

It's the Dread Day of the Week, so I thought a role model for taking life lightly was in order. This joyous little fellow appears in The Tradescants' Orchard.

Yes, Richard, the Dread Day of the week needs all the help it can get. SO thank you!