Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Twenty

-Sax Zim Bog MN 2019



-Jack & Duke



“We need the tonic of wildness... At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:

TBA

September:

98) Swimming to the Top of the Tide by Patricia Hanlon 3.7 stars ER
99) The Vagabonds by Jeff Guinn 4 stars (audio)
100) House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune 3.8 stars
101) Sweet Time & other stories by Pixin Weng 3.8 stars GN
102) A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro 3.6 stars
103) The Magician by Colm Tóibín 4.4 stars
104) Death in Venice by Thomas Mann 3.5 stars
105) The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini by Joe Posnanski 4.2 stars (audio)
106) Man V. Nature: Stories by Diane Cook 4 stars E
107) The Man Who Lived Underground by Richard Wright 4.4 stars (audio)
108) Meadowlark: A Coming-of-Age Crime Story by Ethan Hawke 3.7 stars GN

October:

109) Great Circle: A novel by Maggie Shipstead 4.7 stars E
110) Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach 4 stars (audio)
111) When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky by Margaret Verble 4.2 stars
112) Tears of the Trufflepig: A Novel by Fernando A. Flores 4 stars
113) Dialogues with Rising Tides by Kelli Russell Agodon 5 stars Poetry
114) Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy 4.5 stars
115) The Office of Historical Corrections: Novella & Stories by Danielle Evans 4.3 stars
116) Icebound by Andrea Pitzer 4 stars (audio)
117) Bewilderment by Richard Powers 3.8 stars
118) Passing by Nella Larsen 4.2 stars

November:

119) Last Things: A Graphic Memoir of Loss and Love by Marissa Moss 4.5 stars GN
120) Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King 4.2 stars E
121) The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch 3.7 stars
122) The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin 3.6 stars (audio)
123) Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? by Eric Powell 4.2 stars GN
124) The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed 4 stars
125) Dune: The Graphic Novel (Volume 1) by Brian Herbert 3.7 stars GN
126) Swann's Way (Vol. 1) by Marcel Proust 3.7 stars
127) The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage 4.4 stars
128) All In: An Autobiography by Billie Jean King 4.5 stars (audio)

December:

129) Still Life by Sarah Winman 4.8 stars
130) Matrix: A Novel by Lauren Groff 4.3 stars
131) Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith 3.5 stars GN
132) On Animals by Susan Orlean 4 stars (audio)
133) A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson 4 stars
134) Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon by Malcolm Gladwell 4.5 stars (audio)
135) Hench: A Novel by Natalie Zina Walschots 4.4 stars w/Kim
136) A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote 4.6 stars
137) Jewelweed by David Rhodes 3.7 stars w/Bonnie
138) Rock Springs: Stories by Richard Ford 4.3 stars
139) Ghosts of the Tsunami by Richard Lloyd Parry 4.2 stars (audio)

Good Bones

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

-Maggie Smith

Hello?? Great Horned Owl chicks.

^Would anyone like to join Bonnie and me for a shared read of Jewelweed? I know several of us read Driftless earlier in the year and everyone seemed to really like it. This is the follow-up. I know Marianne is a big fan of both books. It looks like we will start it, around the 20th.

Great pics, as usual, Mark. So happy to see that you loved the Billie Jean King autobiography, too. I learned so much about her from that book.

On Friday night, another woman and I went out to dinner and to see a stage musical with my BFF. Found out today that my BFF tested positive. I'm going tomorrow to get tested (my first time). Not great timing (though there's probably never a good time to get COVID). In the meantime, lots of sitting around and reading as, so far, I feel fine.

Happy new thread, Mark. Love the topper photos.

Happy new (and final, I guess) thread, Mark. Great toppers!

Happy new thread, Mark. I hope you enjoy your reading of Hench. It's a good one.

Happy new thread!

It's good to see those faces again!

Great pics up top Mark! So fun to see the changes in Jackson and your snow scene is gorgeous!

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread, Mark! I love the picture of Jackson and Duke up top - and the owls, of course.

Happy new one, Mark.

"Jack and Duke"; I wonder who is copying who?! Cute.

Happy new one!

Happy New Thread!

Happy new one, Mark!

Happy 20th thread, Mark!
Jack and Duke! What a great picture!!
The Great horned owl chicks have such a piercing stare.

Enjoy Hench, Mark. I hear that it's good. I've got a tall stack of good reads to rip through before the year's end. Oh, it's a BIG tall stack. Every individual book in it is superlative. Just excellent. But you enjoy that Hench book.

Hahahahaha...

Thanks, Beth, Shelley, Meg, Susan, Mary, Jeff, Stasia, Paul, Jim, Silver, Katie & Linda. Glad everyone likes the toppers.

>6 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Glad you like the toppers. I loved the King memoir. Sorry to hear about your exposure to Covid. I hope your result is negative. Fingers crossed.

>19 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. I wish you could join us on Hench. Do you own it? But it sure looks like you are buried in that BIG tall stack.

Happy new one, Mark!! And I like the toppers, too. This is your 20th thread, so we have to help you fill it up in time to make one more new one for 21 threads in 2021!! LOL. Just starting Hench. : )

Love the toppers Mark. Happy new one. I really loved the Lawson (in common with many).

>1 msf59: ha, shame Duke's tongue wasn't lolling Mark, they'd have made a pair. Very amusing.

>5 msf59: Beautiful cover.

Happy new thread, Mark!

I *loved* Driftless, but I don't know that I can squeeze in the next one just now. I'll look forward to your review, though! Is it also set in that area of WI?

>21 Berly: Thanks, Kimmers! I don't think I will make it to #21 but it would be a nice thought. Hooray for starting Hench. I should be able to start it too.

>22 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. I am enjoying the Lawson too but not sure about it being Booker worthy.

>23 Caroline_McElwee: Maybe Bree can give Duke a bit more training, Caroline. Grins...

>24 scaifea: Thanks, Amber and Good Morning! Yes, I am pretty sure Jewelweed is set in the same town or at least the same area. Bonnie and me were planning on reading it in the early fall and did not get to it.

Hi Mark! Happy Tuesday and happy new thread.

Great topper photos, of course.

Enjoy your walk today.

I really need to fill my bird feeders. If the birds could talk, I'm sure I'd be getting cussed out.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Lovely to see you, and Jackson & Duke at the top, and the owl chicks! Never get enough of all of these ;-)

>25 msf59: Yes, Jewelweed is set in the mighty fine Southwest Wisconsin Driftless Area.

(I used to live in a Paradise just northeast of Hollandale so know and love the Driftless cliffs and valleys quite well.
If you are ever in that area, just a short drive down Sandy Rock Road will open it to you.)

I rated both DRIFTLESS and Jewelweed at 4.5.

DRIFTLESS is sitting prominently on a living room bookshelf,
but Jewelweed is hiding, maybe loaned to a Hollandale friend.

Happy Tuesday, Mark!

>26 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Glad you like the toppers. I did not get out on a walk today but I did tend to the feeders, after my errands. I hope you got to the feeders too. Poor birdies.

>27 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. I sure need to get more owl pics. Hopefully, in the next couple of months.

>28 m.belljackson: There is the #1 Driftless fan stopping by for a visit. Hi, Marianne. I think you were the one who got the ball rolling on these books, so we appreciate it. Lovely country.

>29 alcottacre: Happy Tuesday, Stasia. I hope those books are treating you well.

128) All In: An Autobiography by Billie Jean King 4.5 stars

Funny, I am not a big tennis fan but I do enjoy reading tennis memoirs. Maybe the reason is that these talented and sometimes colorful figures have become such an integral part of our American culture. The King memoir may be the best of the lot. It is well-written and highly informative. She is also a badass. Great on audio too. Just sayin'...

130) Matrix: A Novel by Lauren Groff 4.3 stars

Reading the description of this novel, one might think this could be a real snooze but in the deft and competent hands of Groff, this novel becomes a deliciously entertaining read and the lead, Maria de France becomes quite a strong, memorable character.

132) On Animals by Susan Orlean 4 stars

Susan Orlean loves nature and particularly the animals that reside there, both in the wild and domestically. In these entertaining essays, she shares her thoughts on these various critters, like donkeys, killer whales, chickens, big cats and pigeons. All told in an informative manner, tinged with the right amount of humor. Fans of Mary Roach would like this approach. Another solid title for audio, with Orlean narrating.

133) A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson 4 stars

Set in northern Ontario, in the 1970s, the tale follows three different narratives. How these three memorable characters fit together makes this small town story a treat. I also like the rural setting. This novel landed on the Booker longlist. I don’t think it should have but I do think it is a worthy read, especially if you are a fan of Lawson’s earlier work.

I too enjoyed Matrix and A Town Called Solace too Mark. I think you might have got me with the Orlean essays. I loved her book about the library.

>32 Caroline_McElwee: We have good taste, Caroline. In regard to Orlean, I also enjoyed The Library Book, along with The Orchid Thief.

"A sharp, witty, modern debut, Hench explores the individual cost of justice through a fascinating mix of Millennial office politics, heroism measured through data science, body horror, and a profound misunderstanding of quantum mechanics."

^I picked up Hench this afternoon. It is off to a fun start. I am doing a shared read with Kim and hopefully a couple more LT pals jump in.

>34 msf59: Oh boy oh boy! I really hope you'll enjoy the read.

>31 msf59: Quite a streak! Enjoying the good stuff is always fun.

Mark - posted a BEARS comment for you and Joe on his thread.

Happy new thread, Mark! I am a huge tennis fan and very much want to read Billie Jean's memoir. One of these days. Have you read Open by Andre Agassi? I really enjoyed that one.

Ugh. Came here just to say, "Hey," to drop a marker for myself and what happens? Book bullets. That's what happens. Book bullets. Right to the... heart? (noggin? brain? between the eyes? Where does a book bullet go anyway?)

Not one (FINE. I'll add it to Mount TBR Soon - Hench).

Not two (Okay, it was already on Mount TBR but it's moved a range over to Mount TBR Soon - A Town Called Solace).

But three (You just had to add a new one - didn't ya?) - Driftless).

>31 msf59: Three of those books are already in the BlackHole. Adding A Town Called Solace there too. Thanks for the recommendation!

>35 richardderus: Hey, RD. 50 pages into Hench. It hooked me pretty quickly. What a fun and clever premise and according to you, she sustains it.

>36 m.belljackson: I will drop by Joe's Place. Thanks, Marianne.

>37 bell7: Thanks, Mary. I have read Open and liked it a lot. I also enjoyed Tracy Austin's memoir too. I think you will love the King memoir.

>38 Morphidae: Morphy is back! Morphy is back! Yippee! Great to see you, stranger. Glad I immediately landed some BBs too, (and yes, they go straight to the brain). Also, glad to see I haven't lost my warbling touch. Hench is off to a fine start and I cannot recommend Driftless high enough.

>39 alcottacre: You are welcome, Stasia. Speaking, of Lawson have you read Crow Lake? If not, I recommend that one too.

>42 msf59: - HA!

Hiya, Mark. Enjoy your Wednesday.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you.

>31 msf59: I’ve added All In: An Autobiography to my wish list.

>42 msf59: My money's on Santa. He's been at it for longer, knows the tricks.

Happy Humpday, and enjoy your natureduties today.

>43 katiekrug: My Wednesday is moving right along, Katie, although I haven't cracked a book yet. That is coming soon.

>44 karenmarie: Happy Wednesday, Karen. I nearly forgot to post any comments on the King memoir. Now, I am glad I remembered.

>45 richardderus: I am with you on that one, RD. Go Santa! Very windy on the walk today. It kind of ruined the enjoyment of the mild temps.

>42 msf59: Heh!

Happily, my COVID test came back negative. No one is more relieved than me, except maybe the friend who thought she gave me COVID.

Happy new thread!

>42 msf59: >45 richardderus: His name is Cookie MONSTER.

A Monster beats out Santa. Not only that, they are cookies and he is the COOKIE Monster.

Besides on the twelfth day of Christmas, Santa brought Cookie Monster twelve *bleep bleep bleep bleep*, eleven *bleep bleep bleep bleep*, ten ... and a chocolate chippy cookie.

Sesame Street: 12 Days of Christmas Cookies
https://youtu.be/AQCmsuK-Lmw

*mic drop*

>41 msf59: Thanks for the recommendation of Crow Lake too, Mark. My local library has a copy of that one.

>44 karenmarie: Uh oh. Karen, the Touchstone goes to Dr. Ruth Westheimer's autobio.

I will be ready to start Hench probably on Saturday. I will be traveling tomorrow and Friday, so won't get much reading done on those two days. I am heading for Kansas so I will get to Hench this weekend.

>48 lindapanzo: Woo-hoo!, Linda. I'm sure you are relieved.

>48 lindapanzo: That is great news, Linda. Whew! I am glad that so far no one that went on our Grand Rapids trip have showed any symptoms. Double whew!

>49 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Figs!

>50 Morphidae: Wow! You sure set the record straight on that one, Morph. Grins...Go Cookie Monster!!

>51 alcottacre: That one should work for you too, Stasia. I want to track down a couple of her other ones. Bonnie considers The Other Side of the Bridge her favorite and Bonnie rarely steers me wrong.

>52 weird_O: Uh oh, is right, Bill.

>53 benitastrnad: I think you will like Hench, Benita. A nice clever twist on the superhero world. Have a very safe trip and a great holiday with the family.

Waiting for Your Call

The light retreats and is generous again.
No you to speak of, anywhere—neither in vicinity nor distance,

so I look at the blue water, the snowy egret, the lace of its feathers
shaking in the wind, the lake—no, I am lying.

There are no egrets here, no water. Most of the time,
my mind gnaws on such ridiculous fictions.

My phone notes littered with lines like Beauty will not save you.
Or: mouthwash, yogurt, cilantro.

A hummingbird zips past me, its luminescent plumage
disturbing my vision like a tiny dorsal fin.

But what I want does not appear. Instead, I find the redwoods and pines,
figs that have fallen and burst open on the pavement,

announcing that sickly sweet smell,
the sweetness of grief, my prayer for what is gone.

You are so dramatic, I say to the reflection on my phone,
then order the collected novels of Jean Rhys.

She, too, was humiliated by her body, that it wanted
such stupid, simple things: food and cherry wine, to touch someone.

On my daily walk, I steal Meyer lemons from my neighbors’ yard,
a small pomegranate. Instead of eating them,

I observe their casual rot on the kitchen counter,
this theatre of good things turning into something else.

-Aria Aber From Poem-A-Day

'Morning, Mark! Happy Thursday to you. I hope your blustery birding adventure goes well.

Resolved: fill the feeders this afternoon. Sheesh, am I a bad bird mommy. However, I did fill the bird bath yesterday.

I hope you're enjoying les oiseaux today. Me? Just a doctor visit is all. I *adore* doctor visits. Whee.

>57 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. "Blustery birding adventure" was a perfect way to describe our walk. We did see eleven species but had to work very hard to track them down. I hope you got the feeders filled, Bad Bird Mommy!!

>58 richardderus: Of course I had to look up " les oiseaux" and of course it was French for birds of course I am completely enchanted by the lovely word. Thanks, RD. Funny, I have been trying to memorize "Pajaro", the Spanish word for bird. I hope the doctor visit went well.

^RIP- Keith Taylor, who passed away today. Joe introduced me to his talented friend a few years ago so I was blessed to have made his acquaintance. A really special man. I wish I could have known him better. He will be sorely missed.

This drawing is from our Super Bowl get-together, at Joe's house. I forgot which one I was in the cartoon but we can all spot Joe.

^Barrack Obama listed his favorite books of 2021. As usual it is an eclectic and impressive stack. Damn, I miss this guy. Surprisingly, I have only read one of these- Matrix but several are high on my TBR, including the Towles, Doeer and Whitehead. I hope to get to all of these early next year. Can anyone here, recommend any of the others? I know there is no love for Franzen around here but this has got solid reviews.

Here are his favorite books of 2021:

“Matrix” by Lauren Groff
“How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America” by Clint Smith
“The Final Revival of Opal & Nev” by Dawnie Walton
“The Lincoln Highway” by Amor Towles
“Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City” by Andrea Elliott
“Harlem Shuffle” by Colson Whitehead
“Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr
“These Precious Days” by Ann Patchett
“Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner
“Aftershocks” by Nadia Owusu
“Crossroads” by Jonathan Franzen
“The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois” by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
“Beautiful Country” by Qian Julie Wang

Hey, Mark. When you see Barack, tell him I thought he assembled a marvelous list. Of course, I've not read a single listed book. I don't even have a single listed book. But I've heard of all but two or three. The publishers should set up distribution to library book sales. THEN I'll snap 'em up.

>61 msf59: Pretty good list, very nicely nuanced.

>60 msf59: Very very saddening to learn he's gone. Funny guy!

>59 msf59: My health was fine, my body's aging, but I lost an entire morning to being uncomfortable for nothing to change.

>63 richardderus: At my age no change is usually better than change.

>64 quondame: Absolutely! I have a degenerative condition...stasis = good. I just resent using my few good hours in a day with being told "you're fine."

>61 msf59: - I've also only read Matrix but the Whitehead, Patchett, Towles, and Elliott are all on my list...

Happy new thread, Mark! The only one of Obama's picks that I've read is How the Word is Passed. That will probably be on my top of 21 list.

And I am a rare LTer who likes Franzen. His writing, not his personality.

I was thinking of reading Crying in H Mart; I loved the essay but wasn't sure it would hold up for a whole book. Has anyone read it and any opinions?

>55 msf59: Unfortunately, my local library does not have a copy of The Other Side of the Bridge, Mark. I will have to look further afield for that one.

>61 msf59: I enjoyed The Lincoln Highway, but did not really care for Crossroads. I know that Cyrel is currently reading the Patchett book and speaks highly of it.

Happy Friday, Mark!

>67 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. Good to see you. I just added How the Word Is Passed to my Audible WL. I always enjoy solid NF on audio. I would like to read the Franzen at some point. I do not think I have read any of his fiction since The Corrections. Funny, one of my birding buddies just mentioned that she was reading Crying in H Mart. I might read the original essay.

>68 alcottacre: Maybe if you can track down a copy of The Other Side of the Bridge, we could do a shared read of it. I am sure I can get a copy easy enough. I plan on kicking off the new year with The Lincoln Highway and I will be getting to the Patchett collection in the coming weeks.

^Looking forward to spending the morning with this little guy. BTW- I have been reading to him a little each time I sit with him. It is usually from my current book, but he seems to have no problem with it.

>70 msf59: Isn't he adorable! Jack will grow up hearing words from books and associate them with happy times spent in safety. That is really all that we can give a kid, isn't it.

>71 richardderus: Hopefully Bree and Sean are reading to him regularly too. I will have to ask Bree. I know their personal reading has slowed to a mere trickle, despite my urging. Funny, every time I go over there, I see all the books I have lent them, on shelf. Sighs...

Morning, Mark! Sorry to be so late to your newest thread. Love the thread toppers. The photo of jack and Duke made me laugh - they are both making the same face.

Hi Mark, and happy Friday to you!

>60 msf59: Love it!

>61 msf59: I will add all these to my wish list because … Obama. Thanks.

>70 msf59: Too cute for words.

>71 richardderus: and >72 msf59: Keep on reading to Jackson – when he starts toddling around and you say “Pick a book – Grandpa’s going to read to you”, he’ll light up, run to get a book or two, and it will be special Grandpa/Jackson time.

I spent more than an hour of quality time with Jackson early this morning, right after Travis Kelce ran roughly around and through and right over the Charger's secondary. I must say, Jackson is very entertaining. He talked about his mother and father, but sadly not about his grandfather.

Of course the Jackson I speak of is Percy Jackson, the hero of a run of YA novels that at least three of my granddaughters are in thrall to.

>70 msf59: Read on, grandpa, and before you know it he'll be reading to you. My niece read her first book on Wednesday, and the family partied welcoming her to the ranks.

>70 msf59: Ohmygosh, look at that cute face!

I used to read my book aloud to my niece when she was five months old or so, and she seemed to listen and just enjoy the sound of language and my speaking. Reading books together is still our "thing" six years later, and I'm looking forward to being able to share maybe a whole chapter book over a visit sometime soon. I hope you and Jackson can share that love of books/stories/words as he gets older.

>61 msf59: I've read two of those: Matrix and These Precious Days, and have two others in the tbr mountain: Harlem Shuffle and The Lincoln Highway both on my holiday reading list Mark. The man has good taste. I'm sure I'll get to more of them next year, thanks for posting.

>70 msf59: Hope you both enjoyed your shared read.

>73 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie and Happy Friday to you. Yep, that Jack & Duke topper has been a popular one.

>74 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. Yep, Obama was the best! And no worries, I will continue to read to Jack and try my best to get the rest of the family to do the same.

>75 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. I watched some of that Chiefs/Chargers game too. A good one and I see the Chiefs hung on and won it. I have never read Percy Jackson. Any good?

>72 msf59: The reason for ma and pa to read to little is to keep reading as a habit...this is their first baby's first year! It's the only way they'll even *see* a book. And Jackson wouldn't care if the read him the Kama Sutra, he just needs to hear words and bond with the big people.

>76 labfs39: Hi, Lisa. I have no intention of ever slowing down with my reading to Jack and what a wonderful thought, getting to the point where he reads to me. That will be a special day. 😊

>77 bell7: Happy Friday, Mary. I love your story about reading to your niece. I intend to do the same thing. Fingers crossed she becomes an avid reader.

>78 Caroline_McElwee: "The man has good taste." Amen to that, Caroline. I have These Precious Days in my audio queue. Did you read her last essay collection? It was excellent. She is easily one of my favorite authors.

Jack and I did enjoy our shared read. He seemed to like Hench, although I have to remember to skip over the profanity. Grins...

"On 11 March 2011, a massive earthquake sent a 120-foot-high tsunami smashing into the coast of north-east Japan. By the time the sea retreated, more than 18,500 people had been crushed, burned to death, or drowned. Ghosts of the Tsunami is a classic of literary non-fiction, a heart-breaking and intimate account of an epic tragedy, told through the personal accounts of those who lived through it."

Ghosts of the Tsunami had been on my radar but Katie's recent warbling about it bumped it up front. I started the audio today. It begins well and narrated by the ever-reliable Simon Vance, who have not heard in a while.

>82 msf59: - Hope you enjoy it!

>80 richardderus: "And Jackson wouldn't care if the read him the Kama Sutra" Okay, but I would have to make sure Bree isn't home. LOL. I am going to keep nudging the parents into reading to him regularly. I will probably get annoying.

>83 katiekrug: I have a feeling I will, Katie. Thanks.

-Clay Bennett.

>81 msf59: Yes Mark, I really enjoyed her earlier essay collection too.

>85 msf59: That's just depressing. As is COVID denialism.

>84 msf59: Well, yeah, I doubt me much the parents would be enthused by that choice. But there are others! Like those classics one's been meaning to read.

>70 msf59: His neck tab gives him a aura of formality he looks to be straining to match. I know you enjoyed your time with him!

>86 Caroline_McElwee: Great, Caroline. I think I will make These Precious Days my next audio.

>87 richardderus: The reading choices are endless, RD. BTW- Bree read 3 books to Jack last night. Yah!!

>88 quondame: Actually, I am not sure what that myriad of expressions represents, Susan but he was probably smiling or cooing a moment later.

"The Christmas Bird Count is a census of birds in the Western Hemisphere, performed annually in the early Northern-hemisphere winter by volunteer birdwatchers and administered by the National Audubon Society. The purpose is to provide population data for use in science, especially conservation biology, though many people participate for recreation."

The Dupage Birding Club, which I belong to, organizes a Christmas Bird Count each year. Several groups cover a large area in the western suburbs. This is my second year participating. At least the weather isn't terrible today, just above normal temps and dry. I leave shortly.

^^Hooray for Charley Harper!!

I love the Charlie Harper logo for the Bird Count. I hope you count lots of birds today, Mark. When you have a minute, stop by my thread for a bird update -- it's in message #242.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday.

I like the idea of nagging Grandpa, telling Bree and Sean to read to The Kid.

>90 msf59: Best wishes - I hope you count many birds and get some accidental or migratory ones in the mix.

Mark, hi. I don't really have anything to say, no particular contribution to make. I did finish the Percy Jackson book I borrowed. 'Twas good entertainment. The series is built on Greek mythology, positing that the Greek gods still exist and still act like middle-school kids. Percy is a halfway kid, fathered by a god, mothered by a mortal, and exists as an outcast from both human and god communities. His quests endeavor to prevent the world from blowing up. It's fun.

>91 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura! That's right you are a Charley Harper fan! I should share more of his work over here. I will stop by shortly.

>92 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. I sure had a good day. Lots of birding in the AM and movie time with the wife in the PM, only my reading suffered. Hey- Bree read Jack 3 books last night. Yah!

>93 weird_O: Hi, Bill. I hope you had a good time with the books today and I am glad to hear you enjoyed Percy Jackson. I will probably continue to take a pass on those.

Hi Mark! I think Emma started being interested in books about 3 or 4 months---I think it had something to do with being able to focus her eyes. It's really cute that you are reading your books to Jack!

>95 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. Jack is at the four month mark. He is not at the point where he seems to be focusing on words yet, but he appears to be soothed by the rhythms or at least my lovely monotone voice.

134) Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon by Malcolm Gladwell 4.5 stars

"What happens when Paul Simon, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in music history, and Malcolm Gladwell, the best-selling author, sit down together, with a tape recorder and a guitar?"

Like many Americans growing up in the 1970s, I always enjoyed Simon & Garfunkel and early solo Simon but it took Simon's Graceland, 1986 to make me a real fan. Gladwell really hit on something here, capturing an artist who was really willing to sit down and discuss his craft. It is truly a marvel, listening to Simon analyze his creative process, along with playing and singing from time to time, (he is 80 years old and still in fine voice) Musical guests also stop by from time to time, to express their thoughts on Simon and music.
This is exclusively an audio experience and only available in that format, so if you are a fan, do yourself a big favor and track this beauty down.

"The Mississippi Delta was shining
Like a National guitar
I am following the river
Down the highway
Through the cradle of the civil war

I'm going to Graceland
Graceland
In Memphis Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland..."

**Shout out to Shelly for getting me on this one. I think she has listened through it at least twice.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you.

>94 msf59: Yay for Bree reading to Jackson. Congrats on the CBC.

>97 msf59: Sounds wonderful. Are you listening to it on Audible?

>98 karenmarie: Good Morning, Karen and thanks. I started Miracle and Wonder on Spotify but they only offer the first 2 chapters, so if you wanted to sample it and then I switched to Audible. A full credit for a 5 hour audiobook rattles me a bit but at least this one was worth it.

I honestly can't justify Audible since I only listen to audiobooks in the car, and so far I haven't played the "subscribe to a service for one item then leave" game.

^We went to see West Side Story yesterday, to enjoy it on the big screen. It did not disappoint. I have always enjoyed the 1961 version but in some ways this one is better but prepared for a darker, grittier version, which of course works for me. I am longtime Spielberg fan, and he did an impressive job with this remake, especially since this was his very first musical. Great to see Rita Moreno in a substantial role too. She is 90.

>100 karenmarie: You can easily find it in other places, Karen, with just paying a single fee.

>97 msf59: This sounds great, Mark. I'll search for it.

>101 msf59: It's so annoying to me that it's getting such "meh" reviews! I'm glad y'all liked the show.

Sunday orisons! Have a footbally kind of a day.

>103 BLBera: Happy Sunday, Beth. It should be available on several audio platforms. About 15 bucks.

>104 richardderus: Hey, RD. The reviews I have seen have been very positive, especially from the film critics I admire.

Looking forward to a quiet afternoon with books & football. The latter will be playing in the background with the sound down. My lowly Bears play tomorrow night.

>70 msf59: Those blue eyes are incredible!!!!

>82 msf59: I read Ghosts of the Tsunami in 2018. I gave it four stars. It is an incredible book!

I wish you an incredible first Christmas with your grandson!

I might've started Jewelweed this morning Mark lol. I had to start since I finished my latest Brookner. I had no idea we were going to be back in Word, Wisconsin. It starts out very well with some familiar faces.

I listened to the audio of Ghosts of the Tsunami and thought it was quite amazing.

Hi Mark, it sounds like "West Side Story" is one that I will enjoy as well. I saw Rita Moreno interviewed the other day and she is fantastic for a 90 year old. If I don't get back here before, have a lovely Christmas and enjoy this first one with your grandson.

>97 msf59: Damn! Ya may have me on this, Mark. I'm definitely not an audiobook person, but clearly, it's a necessity for this interview to work. I tried to read Albert Murray's discourse on the blues (Stomping the Blues), but I was lost without samples of the music and performers cited.

Football today is pretty bad. The Eagles don't play until Tuesday because of covid-positive players. I wonder if the game will be played then.

>106 Whisper1: Happy Sunday, Linda! Yep, Jack has a pair of killer blue eyes. Glad to hear you loved Ghosts of the Tsunami. I am enjoying it too. I LOVE the Christmas image. Thank you, my friend.

>107 brenzi: No problem at all, Bonnie. I am glad you started it. I might be able to crack it open tomorrow or Tuesday for sure. I am enjoying Ghosts of the Tsunami.

>108 DeltaQueen50: Happy Sunday, Judy. I am sure you will enjoy West Side Story. And thanks for the Christmas wishes. We are looking forward to sharing our first one with Jack.

>109 weird_O: I hope you give Miracle and Wonder a try. You are correct, it would not work in any other format. I have not turned on any football yet. The lowly Bears do not play until tomorrow night. The Packers/Ravens looks pretty good for later this afternoon.

I made it to Kansas! I am still reading White Hot Hate by Dick Lehr and as soon as I finish that I will start on Hench. It was a long trip this time. It rained on me both days I was traveling. It got cold here in Kansas. It got down to 12 degrees F last night. I have had less time to read than I thought I would. Plus, I got my second shingles shot the morning I left Tuscaloosa and it made me very sleepy. I ended up stopping twice in the late afternoon to nap for 10 -15 minutes before driving on. I still feel sleepy but I do feel like I have more energy. However, I have not done much reading. This afternoon I have Christmas program practice with the kids at church and I will have to work in some time to practice playing the piano before Christmas Eve. I still have a couple of gingerbread cakes to bake for my mother to give to her friends as Christmas gifts, so my time is still rationed. Oh well - Munden is a very busy place that doesn't leave much time for reading.

Hey, Mark. I hope it’s been a good weekend. Nice review of the Conversations with Paul Simon book. I’m glad “West Side Story” got your thumbs-up. I’m looking forward to seeing it.

I’m having a good time right now with a funny novel by Stephen Fry called The Hippopotamus.

Love that photo of Jackson and Duke.

>111 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Hooray for getting to Kansas. How is White Hot Hate? Sounds like perfect holiday reading. Grins...I hope you can find more reading time, in your busy schedule.

>112 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Great to see you. The Simon audio is excellent and West Side Story is pretty darn good. You should enjoy both. I do not think I have read Fry. And hooray for Jack & Duke!

>97 msf59: - So glad you enjoyed it as much as I did, Mark. It's a gem.

>114 jessibud2: I agree, Shelley and like we said it could easily have been longer.

^Jackson duty this morning. Nothing warms my heart faster, than seeing this little face. He is four months old.

Enjoy Jackson duty this morning, Mark!

Morning, Mark! Have fun with Jackson - four months already!!

'Morning, Mark! Have fun with Jackson this morning, and Go Bears tonight!

>116 msf59: Looks like Duke nipped out to buy Jackson his outfit Mark.

Aw, sweet Jackson!!

Enjoy Jackson duty, and have fun this Monday riding the endorphin wave.

>118 bell7: I definitely did, Mary. Thanks.

>119 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. I enjoyed hanging out with my buddy and even read to him a bit.

>120 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Go Jackson! Go Bears!

>121 Caroline_McElwee: Well, he does love his little brother, Caroline. ❤

>122 scaifea: He sure is, Amber!

>123 richardderus: Hey, RD. I hope you are also enjoying your day.

-Clay Bennett

>116 msf59: Puppies and baby, the best!

>125 msf59: The worst.

>116 msf59: He gets cuter with every picture, I swear!

Have a marvelous Monday, Mark!

>125 msf59: Way too true. What the hell, GOP.

I am going to start Hench today. I finished reading White Hot Hate by Dick Lehr this morning so am ready to start on my next Christmas break book.

>126 quondame: Yep, I was hanging with all the boys this morning, Susan.

>127 alcottacre: He definitely keeps getting cuter, Stasia. How is that possible? Grins...

>128 richardderus: They are pretty awful, RD.

>129 benitastrnad: Hooray, Benita and I just finished Hench. Such a good read. I hope you feel the same.

Hi Mark, hope your Bears are doing better than the Browns.
Your little man has the cutest expressions. I think that means he'll have a stellar personality.
Glad the weather co-operated for the bird count. Did you see any lifers?

I started to address my annual Christmas epistle and low and behold I left Alabama without my address book! That means everybody will have to wait for their 2021 edition until sometime in 2022 when I get back to Alabama. I hate it when I do that. Leave something that it turns out I need while I am in Kansas. Last year I got an hour down the road and discovered I had left my coat. I had to go back to Tuscaloosa and get it. The upside to this - I will have more time to spend reading books instead of addressing letters.

>131 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. Your Browns are definitely doing better than my lowly Bears, who are now 4-10. Pretty pathetic. Yah, for Jackson and his forthcoming personality. I did not see any Lifers on the bird count. Since I have a decent bird list all ready, adding a Lifer is getting tougher and tougher, especially in my immediate area. You kind of need a rarity to pop up.

>132 benitastrnad: Sorry, you left your address book but hooray for more reading time. Did you dip into Hench yet?

"With Jewelweed this beloved author returns to the same out-of-the-way community as Driftless and introduces a cast of characters who must overcome the burdens left by the past. Jewelweed offers a vision in which the ordinary becomes mythical, the seemingly mundane transformed into revelatory beauty."

Like I mentioned earlier, I absolutely loved Driftless, which I read earlier in the year. Bonnie and I made a pact to read his follow-up. I nearly forgot about it, but Bonnie sent a friendly reminder. She is also reading it right now. It is a big book, at 450, so it will most likely take up much of my reading through the end of the year. I dipped into it yesterday.

**Once again, if anyone would like to join us. I know there were a few others that loved the first one.

Morning, Mark! I started Hench last night.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you. Sorry your Bears lost last night. We didn't watch it, but the highlights on YouTube were, as you put it on my thread, ugly.

I've got House Finches, Cardinals, and Carolina Chickadees, the usual suspects. I had a male Red-Bellied Woodpecker attack the suet yesterday, fun to watch.

>135 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. Yah! I can't imagine you not loving this one, my friend. Enjoy!

>136 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I have not had a chance to check on my feeders yet, but I am glad to hear you have some action out there.

-Bob Gorrell

>138 msf59: Omicron's all over the place here...and there are still eejits runnin' around unmasked.

Happily, I am able to mask up and avoid gathering places, so I am feelin' a weentsy touch smug.

I hope 2022 is a year with special moments Mark.

>139 richardderus: Idiots (1D10T error) abound here too, alas! I went to Peet's to pick up my coffee beans and every table had unmasked babblers, all of whom seemed to have finished their coffee and nibbles but felt free to be maskless since, after all, they'd already removed any masks.

>139 richardderus: Smug is good, RD. Keep that safe feeling.

>140 Caroline_McElwee: Lovely image, Caroline. Happy Holidays! I am sure Jackson will be a big part of our joyful 2022.

>141 quondame: Fortunately, it sounds like you could grab your coffee beans and get out of there safely, Susan. Whew!

Mark, Of course, I thought of you when I saw this image.

All good wishes for a wonderful Christmas!

>143 Whisper1: Merry Christmas, Linda. And yes, I love that image. Thank you.

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote 4.6 stars

“Of course there is a Santa Claus. It’s just that no single somebody could do all he has to do. So the Lord has spread the task among us all. That’s why everybody is Santa Claus. I am. You are.”

“I could leave the world with today in my eyes.”

I first read this four years ago and intended to read it every Christmas, but of course I promptly forgot about it. Amber mentioned it on her thread and I pulled it off shelf. Good timing too, so I could read a bit of it to Jackson. This little beauty was published in 1956. Whatever critics think of Capote now, this story proves he was a master of lyrical prose.



**Can anyone remember who this one to me? About 4 or 5 years ago? It is a lovely edition.

Morning, Mark! A Christmas Memory is one I reread every year or two - one of my very favorites, and it always makes me cry.

>146 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. I love how autobiographical it is, that Truman lived with these distant southern cousins, in the late '30s. It is where he met Harper Lee, right? I am going to try and read it each year too.

Aw, yay! Welcome to the Yearly Read Club!

>148 scaifea: Looks like I am in fine company, Amber. I appreciate the nudge.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you.

139 I mask up everywhere. Rehab’s the worst, of course – 45 minutes without letup. I’m lucky, though, since I don’t have to wear a mask 8 hours a day at work like my daughter and many working folks.

>145 msf59: I read this in 2017. It’s in a book with two other novellas by Capote. A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor. Since all the donated-to-Friends books are out of my Library and it’s on shelf L73, I can get to it again.

>150 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for staying masked up, despite the rehab difficulties. Funny, I think the last time I read A Christmas Memory was also in 2017. I am glad you have access to a copy. It is a special little book.

>145 msf59: It's a wonderful story. I expect it'll live on despite the, um, reassessments of its author.

>142 msf59:, >141 quondame: It boggles my mind that people are this dimwitted.

Just spreading the news on some of the more active threads...

There's this new thing I made... https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/23588/75-Books-Challenge-for-2022

Happy holidays!

>152 richardderus: Hey, RD! I hope you are having a fine, book-filled day.

>153 drneutron: Happy Holidays, Jim. Hooray for the 2022 Group! Thanks again for all you do.

Boy howdy, Mark. Been frazzling myself for the past couple of days, but I seem to be ready now.

I have my Christmas reads cued up. I am halfway through Marley and I read the first few pages of A Christmas Carol last night. Read them out loud. The audience was amazed. We didn't think he I could do it. Barnes & Noble paired Dickens' classic with The Christmas Stories, and the original buyer apparently never slipped either book out of the sturdy slipcase. Also I have a copy of the Capote you've been warbling about. Just got it this summer, so I've never read it.

>145 msf59: Oh that's a very good book A Christmas Memory. I must dig it out!

>155 weird_O: Hey, Bill. Some about the "frazzling". I hope you are over that now. Glad to hear you have A Christmas Memory. You could easily sit down and read it in an hour or so. Beautiful stuff.

>156 mdoris: I hope you dig it out, Mary. It is such a treat. You can easily read it in one sitting. I try to split it up into two sittings, to stretch it out.

-Dave Whamond

>145 msf59: Amber recently read that one too and rated it highly. To my knowledge, I have never read it. I am going to have to fix that.

>159 alcottacre: I was a late comer to that one too, Stasia. You are a pretty fast reader. You should knock it out in 30 minutes. Grins...But the writing is so good, you might as well read through it again.

Between you and Amber loving it, I'll have to try the Truman Capote story next year, Mark.

Pooping in to say Hi! : )

>161 bell7: Hi, Mary. Glad we got you interested in A Christmas Memory. At 50 pages long, you can squeeze it in at any time.

>162 Berly: "Pooping"? Could you please do that on someone else's thread? LOL.

Hi, Kimmers!!

Morning, Mark! Looks like we're spreading the Capote love - yay!!

>162 Berly: >163 msf59: *SNORK!!* I laughed way too hard at that!

Morning, Mark! Like Amber, I am pleased with the spreading of the Capote love.

>162 Berly:, >163 msf59: Kim, could you please not poop on my thread, either.

I'm sure this is the poop Kimmers is leaving here.

>164 scaifea: Morning, Amber. I think that is one of my favorite things about LT, along with the camaraderie, is spreading the book joy. We are constantly inspired.

>165 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. LOL. I sure hope Kim passes through again, without leaving anything behind, of course.
😊

>166 richardderus: That is acceptable, Richard. LOL.

And this is why I like you people... 😂😂

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Thursday to you.

>164 scaifea: I was glad I wasn’t sipping coffee, Amber… I laughed way too hard, too.

Happy Thursday, Mark!

Unfortunately, A Christmas Memory is not in the cards for me this year. My local library is closed until next Monday at this point.

Or in other words: Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

>171 alcottacre: Here you go, Stasia:

http://www.sailthouforth.com/2009/12/christmas-memory.html

>169 drneutron: B.A.G. 😄😄

>170 karenmarie: Happy Thursday, Karen. Glad we all got a good chuckle out of that one.

>171 alcottacre: There is always next year, Stasia, right?

>172 SandDune: Thanks for the lovely image, Rhian. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

>173 scaifea: Such a helpful bunch, right?

>175 msf59: What a cutiepunkin!

Happy Thursday, Mark.

I am 120 pages into Hench and will say that I had a hard time getting into the book, but once she was in the hospital it started presenting a clearer picture of what was going on and now I am finding it snarky and funny and the reading it getting easier. I will be busy the next couple of days but I will be reading and this book is out on the kitchen table as my reading material. I plan on finishing it this week as my next book is going to be a biography of Beatrix Potter so I want to get Hench finished so I can start on that big reading project. Not that Hench is a bad book, it is that I didn't intend to read it right now, and am doing so because so many others were reading it right now and I do love a community project.

>175 msf59: Oh my, major cutie!

>175 msf59: Cuteness!!!!

Hi Mark. I'm spending my lunch hour today not working. It's a novel concept.

David Rhodes got on my watch list a few months ago but I had forgotten about Driftless. Putting it back on the front burner for 2022.

>175 msf59: All snug in his nest, precious treasure. Growing well, which is, of course his job, as well as learning how to handle the big jobs.

>175 msf59: Wow, look how big he's getting already! Did you gift him the most appropriate onesie?

I was going to say what Mary just said. Jackson is really filling out that outfit now. Babies grow soooo fast. Soon he'll be playing linebacker for the Bears.

>176 richardderus: Happy Thursday, Richard. Hooray for cutiepunkin!

>177 benitastrnad: I am glad Hench finally clicked, Benita. I hope you stay the course. I think it is a special read and one that grabbed me pretty quickly.

>178 mdoris: He sure is, Mary.

>179 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Great to see you. Are you off now for the holiday? I am glad Driftless is back on your radar. It is an excellent book.

>180 quondame: Bree took these photos. I think the left one was from today.

>181 bell7: You know it, Mary. B.A.G.

>182 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Actually, the Bears could use someone on the offensive line. Honestly, I hope he steers completely clear of football. I will keep him busy birding.

>162 Berly: It wasn't me! It was the dog. Wait...I don't have a dog. Where is the damn autocorrect when you need it?!?!



You can all thank me for the laugh!

>185 Berly: LOL

>183 msf59: I'm at work for a few more minutes today, then off for four days. I'll work Tuesday and Wednesday of next week (but almost no meetings!) and then off Dec 30 - Jan 5. Yay! You can find the link to our New Year's adventure location on my thread. ;-)

Best you and family Mark!

>185 Berly: I love the doggie ornament, Kimmers! Thanks for the laugh!

>186 EBT1002: Enjoy your time off, Ellen.

>187 mdoris: Thanks, Mary. Love the image.

Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours, Mark, especially little Jackson. What a wonderful first Christmas he will have which will make yours all the more joyous!

>184 msf59: Hahaha, so true. My bro used to work in retail and hated 23/24 December. Of course it was his fault that the store didn't have what the male customer wanted on Christmas eve (there were a few female customers with similar attitudes too).

>189 Carmenere: And Merry Christmas to you too, Lynda. Have a great holiday with Will.

>190 Caroline_McElwee: Happy Christmas Eve, Caroline. I am sure working retail this time of year is awful.

Morning, Mark!

>175 msf59: My goodness, that is a great way to see how much he has grown. What a cutie!

-Trumpeter Swan

^I have not shared any bird photos in quite a while. Reason being, that there are very few opportunities to take a shot. Sometimes I don't even remove the lens cap. A couple of days ago, I was out with my birding buddies and we got great looks at a quartet of these elegant swans. They were feeding about 20-30 yards out, giving me an opportunity to snap off a few shots. I am glad there were sunny skies too.

"Largest of the native waterfowl in North America, and one of our heaviest flying birds, the Trumpeter Swan was almost driven to extinction early in the 20th century. Its healthy comeback is considered a success story for conservationists. Ordinarily the Trumpeter is quite sensitive to human disturbance; in protected areas, such as some parks and refuges, it may become accustomed to humans and allow close approach."

>192 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. Jackson just had a doctor's visit. He is just under 15 lbs. My big bouncing baby boy.

>175 msf59: Adorable!!

Morning, Mark!

>193 msf59: Lovely photos, Mark! Thanks so much for sharing them.

>194 msf59: *grin* He has outpaced our cat Mayhem, who weighs in at 13 pounds.

>195 scaifea: Morning, Amber. Yep, he sure is. Can't wait to see him later.

>196 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. Mute Swans we see through the year but trumpeters only during migration. Lovely birds.
Go Mayhem! That is big for a cat, right?

>197 msf59: Yes, but it's all muscle - not an ounce of fat on him. He is very long and lean.

Morning, Mark, and an early Merry Christmas!

>184 msf59: cracked me up - my dad can be a little last minute, and told me when he was younger he used to love the rush of buying everything on Christmas Eve. I'm the exact opposite: the earlier I'm done, the better. I used to aim for Dec. 1, but that's not realistic anymore, so now I just go with mostly done shopping in early December, and never on the weekends.

Your photos of the trumpeter swans are lovely! I've only ever seen mute swans. There was one that used to hang out in my undergrad campus pond that I'd look for in between classes.

‘Morning, Mark!

>175 msf59: Definitely a growing baby bird!

>193 msf59: Yay for the Trumpeter Swans. Nice pics.

.

>200 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and Merry Christmas! Glad you like the swan pics and hooray for Baby Bird!

"Joan Didion, the eminent journalist, author and anthropologist of contemporary American politics and culture – a singularly clear, precise voice across a multitude of subjects for more than 60 years – has died at her home in Manhattan, New York. She was 87."

^R.I.P, Ms. Didion. I have only read 3 of her books but all were excellent. Slouching Towards Bethlehem is probably my favorite followed by The Year of Magical Thinking. I never did read any of her fiction.

May all your surprises be good ones this Holiday season.

Merry Christmas, Mark, to you and your family!

>175 msf59: So grown up now!

>203 richardderus: Thanks, RD! Have a great one, my friend.

>204 alphaorder: Merry Christmas, Nancy. Always good to see you. Yep, Jack is growing up.

>206 ronincats: Merry Christmas, Roni! Good to see you. Love the image.

^Merry Christmas, everyone! Jackson appears a little disgruntled here, but he is very happy on the inside.

>208 msf59: Well he certainly gives happiness and I hope he gets lots too!

Someone posted Tawny Frogmouths being discreet on FB and I thought of you.

>208 msf59: Merry first Chrismas, Jackson!
And the same for the rest of the family.

Have a lovely holiday, Mark.

Happy Holidays Mark!

Mark, this book might interest you:

https://www.alicejamesbooks.org/bookstore/constellation-route

>209 mahsdad: Thanks, Jeff. Merry Christmas!

>210 quondame: >213 quondame: Thank you, Susan. Merry Christmas! "Tawny Frogmouths"?

>211 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita and Merry Christmas to you!

>212 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul.

>214 alphaorder: Merry Christmas, Nancy. "Constellation Route: Poems" sounds promising. Thanks.

Hi Mark! Merry Christmas!

>208 msf59: Look at those adorable chipmunk cheeks! So cute.

>216 karenmarie: Merry Christmas, Karen. Hooray for chipmunk cheeks. I will see him soon. 🧡

^Thanks to Lori for my Swap books! She did a fine job and three of these are story collections. Yippee!

^We watched A Christmas Carol. This one from 1951. It is my favorite of these filmed adaptations. Alastair Sim is the perfect Scrooge. Anyone else have a favorite version?

Merry Christmas, Mark, to you, Sue, the new grandson and your whole family.

>215 msf59: Tawny Frogmouths being discreet.

>208 msf59: He looks like he has been on the sauce Mark hehehe.

Merry Christmas!

>208 msf59: Very cute. Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

>220 lindapanzo: >221 alcottacre: Thanks, Linda & Stasia.

>222 quondame: Wow! I had never heard of a Tawny Frogmouth. Interesting owl-like bird. Native to Australia. See? You learn something new around here all the time.

>223 Caroline_McElwee: Milk drunk, it appears.

>224 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver.

>225 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Figs. We are really enjoying it and getting to see Jackson regularly too.

-Downy Woodpecker.

^Once again, photos have been hard to come by lately but this male downy posed just long enough for me to snap off a shot.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you!

>219 msf59: Our favorite version is George C. Scott’s version. We’re waiting to watch it with Jenna this week, along with A Charlie Brown Christmas.

>227 msf59: Great photo, especially the capture of the male’s red cap. Right now I’ve got a male Bed-Bellied Woodpecker chowing down on the suet. Just saw a Tufted Titmouse on the sunflower feeder.

Our Panthers play at 1, and your Bears at 4:15 (3:15 your time, I guess.) Go Panthers! Go Bears!

Morning, Mark! Our favorite version is The Muppet Christmas Carol.

>227 msf59: That is a truly obliging bird. He showed you his best side and everything!

>222 quondame: Horrifying.

Happy Boxing Day!

Have a lovely Sunday, Mark!

>228 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. I also loved the George C. Scott’s version of A Christmas Carol. It runs a close second for me. Glad you like the downy pic and hooray on the tufted titmouse. And Go Bears & Panthers! Although expectations are very low for both teams.

>229 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie. I don't even remember the Muppet version. I will have to seek it out.

>230 richardderus: Hey, RD. I got a few decent shots lately, including a couple more I need to process. One of a bald eagle, that I hope turns out.

>231 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. Happy Sunday to you too.

Merry Christmas to you, Mark. I hope you had a wonderful celebration. I would like to reread A Christmas Memory also - such a lovely story.

Hi Mark, I watched the 1951 "A Christmas Carol" this year as well, Alistair Sim is the perfect Scrooge!

Hope your Christmas weekend was full of fun, food and family!

Happy day after Christmas, Mark! Bet you had fun with Jackson on Christmas.

Merry day after Christmas!

You definitely got me with Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon.

Our library has a new digital system called Hoopla and this audiobook is on it. It will be the first audio I've tried from them, although I'm currently reading another.

I'd love to see the new West Side Story, but our movie theater went under in the pandemic. :( I Hope they come back. There were five theaters and several have apparently been converted to sound stages (my guess is for Yellowstone, but who knows?) They did have a free showing of Elf there right before Christmas, but all the seats have been removed, so you had to take your own chair. I wasn't tempted as I'm sure there were few masks to be seen.

>233 AMQS: Merry Christmas, Anne. Great to see you. A Christmas Memory is so worth revisiting.

>234 DeltaQueen50: Happy Sunday, Judy. I am so glad we agree on the 1951 version. We had a lovely Christmas, and it was so nice to have Jackson a part of it.

>235 banjo123: Merry Christmas, Rhonda. We sure had a good time with Jack. Never fails to bring us joy.

>236 streamsong: Merry Christmas, Janet. Great to see you. Glad I got you were the Simon audiobook. It is a treat. I hope you get to see West Side Story at some point. A good, entertaining film.

These were our family ornaments this year and, despite COVID, a merry time was had by all. I hope the same is true for you and here's to next year!! And more joint reads!!

>227 msf59: Great picture!

I'm late to the game for holiday wishes but I will say an early Happy New Year to you and the whole family, Mark.

>227 msf59: - He does have that *angry bird* face on, doesn't he? lol

>238 Berly: Hey, Kimmers! Your image did not come up. Sad face. We definitely had a merry holiday, my friend.

>239 quondame: Thanks, Susan. Hopefully, I have a couple more to share.

>240 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley and Happy Holidays to you. Nothing like an "angry" downy, right?

^I ran into this regal beauty on Christmas Eve. Despite being about 150 yards away, in a tree, I was able to snap off a decent shot. Actually, there were two adults in this location and one immature.

>243 msf59: Oh, great shot, Mark!

Oh, very nice! I saw one the other day just cruising over head as we were driving down a local road. Beautiful birds!

Morning, Mark!

>243 msf59: Nice!

>244 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>245 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. It is so nice to have them locally and they hang around all year round.

>246 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! And thanks.

>243 msf59: Quite a catch Mark. Very majestic.

Lovely pic, Mark. I have never seen one in the wild. My juncos are back though! :-)

‘Morning, Mark. I hope your Trail Watch gig goes well this morning. Yay for mild temps.

>232 msf59: Glad your Bears won, boo hiss for my Panthers. I’m glad my backup team, the Chiefs, demolished the Steelers, though. And Bill was thrilled that the 'Boys set a new record with the score against Washington.

>243 msf59: Great shot! Congrats.

>243 msf59: Amazing shot, such an obliging monarch of the air!

SPEAKING of which, University of Chicago Press is offering 20% off their gorgeous new book Avian Illuminations if you care to partake. Use their discount code AD1938 to get the book for only $28!

Hey Mark! My feeders are very active this morning and we have a red-breasted nuthatch among those dining on the bird feeder Christmas bell.

What a photo of Mr./Mrs Bald Eagle. So proud.

>243 msf59: Nice shot there!! The hummingbirds are going crazy chasing each other around my feeders this morning. I see birds...I think of you. : )

>248 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. We are blessed to have them around.

>249 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. Hooray for the juncos. I have not seen any of my walks, the past 2 days.

>250 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. We had a very nice walk this morning and even saw a few birds. It is great you have your backup team as the Chiefs. After a slow start, they have been kicking butt.

>251 richardderus: Hey, RD. Glad you like the eagle. They always make my day. Thanks for Avian Illuminations. I will check it out.

>252 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. Glad to hear about the busy feeders and I am always jealous of those red-breasted nuthatch sightings. I have never had one at my feeders. They are around, though.

>253 Berly: Thanks, Kim. Hooray for the hummingbirds. Sadly, we will not see another one here until sometime in April. I am looking forward to seeing them in Costa Rica, though, in February. B.A.G.

"In these ten stories, Ford mines literary gold from the wind-scrubbed landscape of the American West--and from the guarded hopes and gnawing loneliness of the people who live there."

I haven't read Richard Ford in a number of years so I felt it was time plus I have had Rock Springs on shelf for a long time. I believe Lynda sent this one to me. I started the collection today, 2 stories in and really like it.
Funny, I have had mixed feelings about his work, but for some odd reason, I am still drawn back to him.

>255 msf59: I can see being mixed in one's response to Richard Ford's work, but how can anyone escape his emotional gravity? Canada is one of those "I've got to stop reading this! What happens next?! ZOMG YOU DID NOT!!" reads that make up a well-furnished reading life.

>243 msf59: So beautiful, Mark, and you saw three of them!

>243 msf59: Lovely! What a treat to see them.

>256 richardderus: Well, that is one of those rarities, RD. Canada fell short for me, despite a theme and setting, I normally adore. Usually, it is the opposite with us. 😀

>257 FAMeulstee: >258 alcottacre: Thanks, we are so fortunate to have them back nesting in northern Illinois. The great comeback story.

-Keel-Billed Toucan

^If I didn't mention it before, we are going to Costa Rica in early February, and it is an absolute bird paradise. We will be going with another couple, so I will not be exclusively birding but I plan to see as much as I can. I all ready started a target list of 50 birds, but I will probably add 50 more. This will be our first trip to Central America. B.A.G.

Morning, Mark! Costa Rica should be full of fabulous. And birds. I love that you have started a target birding list.

Morning, Mark!

Costa Rica - wow! You must be counting down the days already!

>261 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. We are very pumped about Costa Rica. Fingers crossed that nothing gets canceled. I have got into a habit of starting a bird target list, whenever I travel. It really helps.

>262 scaifea: Morning, Amber. We are very excited. It looks like a stunning place to visit.

>260 msf59: Oh, how marvelous! I know you'll both enjoy the trip a lot. I hope you'll get your Lifer list up another order of magnitude. There are enough species that it should be possible.

I picked up the The Wildlife of Costa Rica after watching our excellent guide make use of it. There are, of course, bird specific books to the wildlife of Costa Rica but I really appreciated this one.

>259 msf59: That's too bad. Kinda like how I felt about the newest Amor Towles. Expected to love it. It was just OK for me.

Costa Rica sounds wonderful, Mark. I hope you have an awesome time!

Nice! I'd love to go there some day.

>264 richardderus: Depending what I can find and identify, I should really be able to beef up my Life List, RD. B.A.G.

>265 Oberon: Oh, cool. This looks great. I will grab a copy. Thanks, Erik.

>266 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. I have The Lincoln Highway tagged for next month. Just waiting for my library copy to come in. I hope to like it more than you.

>267 alcottacre: C.R. has been on our vacation list for a few years now! I sure hope it happens.

>268 drneutron: Maybe, my warbling about it, will finally convince you to go, Jim. Very excited.

"An ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is."

I am a big fan of director Guillermo del Toro, so Nightmare Alley was on my Watchlist. My son, who is not working because both of his owner/supervisors are home with Covid, joined me at the theater today. There were 4 people in the audience, including us. It is a good film, beautifully filmed and well-acted. It just didn't quite hit the heights I was hoping for. 3.5 stars

Costa Rica in Feb, Mark? That sounds wonderful. I've got cousins live in Costa Rica. One runs an event planner company in central Costa Rica. Haven't seen them in years.

>260 msf59: I got a jigsaw puzzle for Christmas.

Mark, you HAVE to get up close and personal with a toucan! Imagine! Wow! (and I don't mean Bill's puzzle, lol)

Costa Rica!! What a blast! I expect lots of pictures. : )

>271 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. We are sure pumped about Costa Rica. I sure hope nothing prevents us from going. Fingers crossed.

>272 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. The puzzle image didn't come up for me. Sad Face.

>273 jessibud2: It is really blowing me away the number of incredible birds there are in C.R. My target list has grown to 55 species. There are 3 kinds of toucans. I never realized that.

>274 Berly: Hey, Kimmers. We have booked our first excursion and are studying up for our next ones. No worries, there will be plenty of pics.

These are the best books I read this year. I just missed reading 140 books, which is not bad, considering my audiobook consumption continues to shrink. It was a good year of reading. The only type that came up a bit short was my NF reading. Usually, they dominate my lists.

Fiction:

1- Joe
2- Still Life
3- Afterparties: Stories
4- Great Circle
5- Once There Were Wolves

Nonfiction:

1- Shooting Midnight Cowboy
2- The Old Ways
3- Unholy: Why White Evangelicals
4- The Code Breaker
5- All In: An Autobiography

Graphic Novels:

1- Mary’s Monster
2- And Now I Spill My Family Secrets
3- Secret to Superhuman Strength

Morning, Mark! I am so thrilled to see Mary's Monster at the top of your GN list - that one was stunning.

>275 msf59: - Weird that I can see Bill's pic but you can't. Hint: it's toucans ;-)

Hey, Mark. Have you seen these? I honestly can't decide my favourite, maybe the cedar waxwing?

https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/photography/featured-galleries/2020-bird-portr...

Hi Mark! Happy Wednesday to you!

>260 msf59: How exciting! Yay for a bird list and I hope you can carve out some quality birding time.

>276 msf59: Excellent best of list.

>277 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Hooray for Mary's Monster. I hope it gets more attention on LT.

>278 jessibud2: >279 jessibud2: Nope still can't see it. Ooh, toucans...

Thanks for the Birdwatching link. I will circle back later and check it out.

>280 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. So much of this upcoming C.R. trip has me pumped but birds are at the forefront. Glad you like the Best of List. I could not find an image for Best Books of 2021. Sad face.

>275 msf59: Sorry about the image no-show, Mark. I've changed the link. Can you see it now? Inspired by your toucan photo. I got a puzzle with seven toucans.

>276 msf59: Ooh, good reads indeed! I'm glad you got in as many top-flight ones as you did out of 140. (To be fair, that is a LOT of room for there to be high-quality reads.)

276

Interestingly, I haven't read any of your best of fiction or nonfiction, but did like two of your three graphic novels/memoirs.

Excited for you about your trip! Can't wait to travel again.

>279 jessibud2: Lots of good ones here, Shelley. I think I will go with the short-eared owl, but I love the waxwing, as well. I hope to see a trogon in C.R.

>282 weird_O: I got the image this time, Bill. What a great looking puzzle. Hooray for the toucans!

>283 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. I may not have had as many blow-me-away titles this year, but I sure had plenty of very good ones.

>284 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. I would love your take on Still Life & Once There Were Wolves. Costa Rica should be a blast. It looks gorgeous there and it will be warm.

I enjoyed all the GNs in your best of list, Mark. I’m also looking forward to Code Breaker which I’m taking home from the library right now.Good to see that you had a fun family Christmas.

About a year ago, Sean, my SIL asked me to lend him a couple of NF titles, so of course I did. One of them was Into Thin Air. He never got to it but yesterday Bree plucked if off shelf and started reading it. She sent me this pic and told she was loving it. Hopefully, Jackson is liking it too. B.A.G.

>276 msf59: Nice list, Mark. The only one I have read thus far is Great Circle although the others are in the BlackHole.

>287 msf59: I very much enjoyed that one, so I hope Bree (and Jackson, of course) does too!

>287 msf59: It's a cool shot, Grandpa!

>287 msf59: What a clever wee afghan - just enough non-blue or white in the mix so a bit of spill here or there can blend in. Cute kid too.

>287 msf59: Great picture! Love Krakauer.

Merry Christmas greetings!

I’m soooo behind but I think I caught a few highlights.

CR! That’ll be exciting!
A Christmas Memory is such a sweet story and the Alistair Sim Christmas Carol version is my favorite, too.

Great Circle is one of my favorites of 2021, too. Along with The Lincoln Highway which I think you’ll love.

Late to comment, but my father made us watch the Alistair Sim ACC every year, and I HATED it (unsure why). My appreciation of the story came from the Muppet version, so that's my favorite. Also, from nighttime readings of it by various teachers at boarding school - the Sunday before winter break, a few members of the English department would alternate reading it by candlelight before a fire in the library, and it was wonderful...

>287 msf59: - That was my first Krakauer, and I inhaled it in one sitting on a flight from Dallas to London several years ago. Such a good book. I keep trying to get The Wayne to read it...

>243 msf59: Great shot, Mark! I've seen a bald eagle only twice (one was immature and someone else had to identify it for me) - they are such cool birds.

>287 msf59: You make me want to reread Into Thin Air. I was a very impressionable 18-year-old in my first semester of college when I read it for school and I mostly remember being scandalized by all the swearing. Somehow I think I'd have a different impression if I reread it now. Looks like Jackson is ready to enjoy the read too :D

>288 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the others off my list, once you get to them.

>289 richardderus: It sure is, RD. Books & Jackson! Dandy duo.

>290 quondame: Good point on the afghan, Susan. I am sure Bree takes advantage of that.

>291 banjo123: It sure is, Rhonda. I am a big Krakauer fan too. I think I read Into the Wild first.

>292 Copperskye: Happy Holidays, Joanne. Good to see you. Hooray for A Christmas Memory & A Christmas Carol. It looks like I may have a long wait on The Lincoln Highway. I should have requested it sooner, but I was afraid it would have come in too soon.

>293 katiekrug: Hi, Katie. Sorry, you hate my favorite film version of A Christmas Carol, LOL, but I can see why you got burned out on it. Hooray for Into the Wild and C'mon The Wayne! It's a great one!

>294 bell7: Thanks, Mary. I am fortunate to have seen bald eagles many times and with them now nesting in our area, I am sure I will be seeing them again. I would also like to reread Into Thin Air. I think I read it BLT. Have you read any of his others?

-Ornate Hawk Eagle. A Costa Rica target bird. What a find this one would be. 😀

>297 msf59: That would be awesome, Mark, what a beauty!

Morning, Mark!

Such a good photo of Jackson (as per usual, of course)! I can't remember if I've read Into Thin Air - if I haven't I should correct that...

>298 FAMeulstee: Fingers crossed, Anita. This would make my day.

>299 scaifea: Morning, Amber. I miss Jackson. Hopefully tomorrow. Ooh, you got to read Into Thin Air. It is Must Read NF.

>297 msf59: Wow, that's an impressive bird.

Have you seen any chatter around Small Things Like These? I got it and my copy has since made it around to five family members. I am sure it will soon be considered a Christmas classic along with the others you mentioned above. Don't want to give too much away, but it is beautiful and thought-provoking.

>301 lauralkeet: It sure is, Laura. I sure would love to see one.

>302 alphaorder: Hi, Nancy. I have not seen any chatter on Small Things Like These. Thanks for putting it on my radar. Sounds like a gem.

-Clay Bennett

^Matt just tested positive. Sue and Bree are sick. I have the sniffles. No visiting for us, the next few days. And no Jackson time? WTH?

>304 msf59: Oof, Mark, I am sorry to read that. Hoping all of you recover quickly. I'm sorry about your having to miss time with Jackson.

>305 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. Bree tested negative but she is still nervous. We were supposed to spend NYE with them too. 😢

>297 msf59: Oh, I hope you can find that one, Mark! Such a striking bird.

>304 msf59: Oh, no! Jackson must be protected at all costs though, I understand that. I hope you can hold out in the meantime.

"Hurricane Lizards & Plastic Squid is Hanson's newest popular science book, which covers climate change biology - how species are responding to rapid changes in global temperature."

I received an advanced copy of Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid a few months ago (it was published in September), so I thought I would finally pull it down off shelf. 50 pages in and I am liking it. Nature is truly amazing, especially with all the wicked curveballs we throw at it.

I just finished reading Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots this morning and enjoyed it. I think it was a little slow to take off (at least for me) but once it did it was gangbusters. It kept me reading far into the night even though I was already going to bed late due to all the Christmas visitors and activities. This book has the feel of there being a sequel. I hope so as this was a well done book written from an odd angle. Lots of original thinking in this one.

My sister drives a public bus for disabled people and she is sick. I took her to the doctor this morning. This afternoon all the tests have come back and she is NOT positive for COVID but she has pneumonia. The doctor wanted to put her in the hospital and my sister refused. She said there were too many people in there with COVID and she didn't want to get that on top of having pneumonia. She lives across the street from my mother so it will be easy to keep an eye on her and get her stuff when she needs it.

>304 msf59: Oh no! That's not supposed to happen. I hope it's all cleared up asap.

Oh dear. Just lay low, Mark, for NYE. Not worth the spreading of this plague even if symptoms are mild.

I hope they all feel better soon!

> 304

Sorry to hear Mark! I hope everyone feels better soon and that Jackson stays well. You can reschedule NYE.

>309 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. I am so glad you ended up loving Hench. It is such a good read and I am looking forward to the sequel. Sorry to hear about your sister and her pneumonia. I hope she has a full recovery.

>310 quondame: Thanks, Susan. Sue tested negative this afternoon. Whew!

>311 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. We were just going over to Bree's house for NYE. It would have been a quiet affair. Sue tested negative, so that is a relief.

>312 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy. Crazy, right? I might be able to see Jack on Sunday. Let's see what happens.

>313 msf59: More COVID news like yours - my brother's visiting 8 year old niece just tested positive -
so far, the rest of the family is negative, but they are under quarantine until January 5th.

(They flew from Seattle into OHare a week ago.)

>304 msf59: Crap! I'm so sorry, Mark. I hope it's just a false positive.

But New Year's Eve! That just stinks.

Sorry to hear about Matt, and hope his symptoms stay mild. Fingers crossed that you and everyone else stay negative.

Sorry to hear about Matt and no Jackson time, Mark. I checked back in time to actually catch a photo of your very photogenic grandson before it disappears and to see if you responded to my post in >286 Familyhistorian:. At least the Jackson photo made up for not being noticed! Fingers crossed that no one else tests positive.

>303 msf59: have not seen any chatter on Small Things Like These

Hmmmmm then you haven't read my thread Mark. Hahaha.

Hope the Covid thing misses you and especially Jackson.

>314 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. Good to see you. Missed your bird reports. Sorry to hear about your brother's niece. I hope she will be okay.

>315 richardderus: Matt's girlfriend tested positive too, plus Matt had cold symptoms to boot. I am sure he has it.

>316 bell7: Thanks, Mary. I haven't been tested but I plan on laying low for a few more days.

>286 Familyhistorian: >317 Familyhistorian: Sorry, I missed responding to you up there, Meg. I definitely remember reading the post. It was a good year for GNs. And no worries- there will be more Jackson photos.

>318 brenzi: I thought it sounded familiar, Bonnie. LOL. Looks like I better get my mitts on Small Things Like These.

Ommigosh Mark!
It has been so long since I have visited. (Bad Megan.) I wish you a happy Christmas, happy New Year and a happiness-filled 2022.

My reading has been all over the show, in a good way - I just finished We Need New Names and have just started Simon Winchester's non fiction lyrical masterpiece (well, I anticipate that it will be!) about the Pacific Ocean. I am super exited about reading Louis Theroux's latest, and a load of Booker winners that I have just realised are available on Libby (the app that my library uses for audio books). AND I just bought 4 new second hand books yesterday at the tail end of our epic family road trip.

See you on the flip side, Mark! x

>320 LovingLit: Great to see you, Megan, late or not. And thanks for the book update. You do like reading all over the place and there is nothing wrong with that. Happy New Year!

>304 msf59: Oh no! I hope no one gets very sick. Omicron isn't as bad, they say. Sorry your visiting plans are ruined.

>322 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel. So far Sue and Bree are feeling the worst, but fortunately they both tested negative. I hope to visit Jackson on Sunday. Good to see you.

My 2022 Thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338056#unread

>304 msf59: Hope you are all on the mend soon Mark.

>325 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I am definitely feeling the best of the family.

‘Morning, Mark. Happy New Year’s Eve, although I’m sorry your family are all sick or tested positive for Covid. And no Jackson time is a crime!

>281 msf59: I made my own Best of 2021 image, and will post it tomorrow on my first thread. I just had fun figuring out my top 5 fiction, top 5 nonfiction, top 5 overall, and then creating my Top 5 list for LT. I’m still working on The Codebreaker and am resolved to read a chapter a day, starting tomorrow.

>287 msf59: I read Into Thin Air into 2001 for my RL book club. It was such a good book! It’s still on my shelves.

>297 msf59: What a gorgeous bird. I do hope you see one.

>304 msf59: I’m sorry Sue and Bree are sick, you’ve got the sniffles, and Matt/girlfriend have tested positive for Covid. I do hope Sue and Bree recover quickly, that your sniffles go away Today!, and that Matt and his girlfriend have zero or mild symptoms.

>306 msf59: I’d be beyond nervous… 🤞 for no more Covid in the family.

>324 msf59: Love “New Year New Books!”

Happy Friday, Mark! Thanks for your list of the years best. I want to pepper my 2022 books with more GN's so I will certainly take your list to the library.
You've got a great thread and I look forward to more books and birdies in the new year.
All the best to you, your fam and especially adorable Jackson in 2022!

Hi Marc! I hope all of you get well soon, and I wish you the best for the new year. Lots of birds, good books, and visits with Jackson.

>327 karenmarie: Happy New Year's Karen. Bree got tested again this morning and was negative again. Yah! As long as everyone else is doing about the same, I will visit Jackson on Sunday. Hooray for Into Thin Air & gorgeous birds. Look forward to seeing your best of list.

>328 Carmenere: Happy New Year, Lynda. There is a GN thread on the 75 that you should star. Hopefully, folks post on it. There should be plenty of books & birdies & Jackson reports next year. You can count on it.

>329 EllaTim: Happy New Year, Ella and thanks.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll look for the GN thread. Hope you and your family are better soon!

Ugh. I hope everyone is feeling better soon, Mark! What a year. Wishing you all the best in the new one.

Happy New Year, Mark, circumstances notwithstanding.

>331 Carmenere: The only issue with that GN thread, along with the poetry thread, is the lack of posting. Hopefully, that changes.

>332 Copperskye: Thank you, Joanne. Nothing serious here, just an inconvenience.

>333 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia.

Hoping everyone feels better soon, Mark, so you can visit Jackson on Sunday.

Happy New Year!
See you in the 2022 group in a couple of hours.

Forget your stresses and strains
As the old year wanes;
All that now remains
Is to bring you good cheer
With wine, liquor or beer
And wish you a special new year.

Happy New Year, Mark.