Joe's Book Cafe 26

Welcome to the last cafe of 2013!

2013 reads

January 2013 Books

1. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
2. The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
3. Anomaly by Skip Brittenham
4. The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman
5. Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
6. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
7. The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon
8. Low Town by Daniel Polansky
9. Bend Not Break by Ping Fu
10. Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb

February 2013 Books

11. A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
12. The Miniature Wife and Other Stories by Manuel Gonzales
13. All Roads Lead to Austen by Amy Smith
14. Volt: Stories by Alan Heathcock
15. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
16. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
17. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
18. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
19. Howl A Graphic Novel by Allen Ginsberg and Eric Drooker
20 Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb
21. Jerusalem Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy Delisle
22. Show Red for Danger by Richard and Frances Lockridge
23. Emma by Jane Austen and Nancy Butler
24. Rebel Heart by Moira Young

March 2013

25. Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do It by Geoff Dyer
26. Witness in Death by J.D. Robb
27. Are You There God, It's Me Mary: The Shangri-Las and the Punk Rock Love Song by Tracy Landecker
28. The Dance of the Seagull by Andrea Camilleri
29. Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb
30. The Ghosts of Nagasaki by Daniel Clausen
31. Building Stories by Chris Ware
32. Old Goriot by Honore de Balzac
33. Betrayal in Death by J.D. Robb
34. Seduction in Death by J.D. Robb
35. Benediction by Kent Haruf
36. Breaking Point by C.J. Box
37. Heads or Tails by Lilli Carre

April 2013

38. Beloved by Toni Morrison
39. Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb
40. Purity in Death by J.D. Robb
41. Germinal by Emile Zola
42. Looking for Alaska by John Green
43. A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori
44. Robert B. .Parker's Wonderland by Ace Atkins
45. Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb
46. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock
47. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen

May 2013

48. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
49. The Yard by Alex Grecian
50. Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
51. Before the Incal by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Zoran Janjetov
52. Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa'Thiongo

June 2013

53.Imitation of Death by J.D. Robb
54. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
55. Almost a Remembrance by Jack McCarthy
56. Scott Pilgrim Infinite Sadness Volume 3 Color by Bryan Lee O'Malley
57. Lunch with Buddha by Ron Merullo
58. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
59. Among Schoolchildren by Tracy Kidder
60. Divided in Death by J.D. Robb
61. Feynman by Jim Ottaviani
62. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
63. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver
64. The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

July 2013
65. Saga Vol. 2 by Brian Vaughan
66. Murder in Thrall by Anne Cleeland
67. Visions in Death by J.D. Robb
68. Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather
69. Five by Endo by Shusaku Endo
70. Sum Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
71. Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel
72. The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen by Dominique Enright
73. The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann
74. The Softwire: Virus by PJ Haarsma
75. Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman
76, Origin in Death by J. D. Robb
77. Wool by Hugh Howey

August 2013

78. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
79. Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb
80. Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb
81. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb
82. The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope by Rhonda Riley
83. Lady Susan by Jane Austen
84. Shakespeare's Sonnets by you-know-who
85. Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill
86. The Open Door One Hundred Poems edited by Don Shore and Christopher Wiman
87. Memory in Death by J.D. Robb
88. Never Go Back by Lee Child
89. TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
90. Mind Mgmt Volume 1 by Matt Kindt
91. The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

September 2013

92. How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
93. The Telling Room by Michael Paterniti
94. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
95. Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson
96. Me, Who Dove Into the Heart of the World by Sabina Berman
97. Born in Death by J.D. Robb
98. Death of a King by Andrew H. Vanderwal
99. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
100. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
101. A Bit of a Difference by Sefi Atta
102. The Greater Journey by David McCullough
103. Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb
104. Constellation Games by Leonard Richardson
105. The Treasure Hunt by Andrea Camilleri

October 2013
106. The Light Years by Elizabeth Howard
107. Innocence in Death by J.D. Robb
108. The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
109. Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson
110. Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
111. Creation in Death by J.D. Robb
112. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
113. Interlude in Death by J.D. Robb
114. Pale Gray for Guilt by John D. MacDonald
115. Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie
116. Longbourn by Jo Baker
117. Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson
118. Allegiant by Veronica Roth

November 2013

119. Burma Chronicle by Guy Delisle
120. Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
121. The Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber
122. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
123. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
124. Trade Secret by Sharon Lee
125. Rough Passage to London by Robin Lloyd
126. The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
127. Double Deuce by Robert Parker
128. Looking for Rachel Wallace by Robert B. Parker
129. Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker
130. A Catskill Eagle by Robert B. Parker
131. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
132. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricial MacLachlan
133. Taming a Seahorse by Robert B. Parker
134. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
135. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach

December 2013

136. Pale Kings and Princes by Robert B. Parker
137. The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith
138. The Last Word by Lisa Lutz
139. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
140. Montalbano's First Case by Andrea Camilleri
141. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy
141. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
142. Promises in Death by J.D. Robb
143. The Zona by Nathan L. Yocum
144. Bull-Dog Drummond by Sapper
145. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
146. Tilt-a-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein
147. The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin
148. Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout

2014 American Author Challenge (kudos to Mark)

Willa Cather- January The Professor's House
Cormac McCarthy- February The Orchard Keeper
William Faulkner- March The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Toni Morrison- April Sula
Eudora Welty- May The Optimist's Daughter
Kurt Vonnegut- June Cat's Cradle (re-read)
Mark Twain- July Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Philip Roth- August The Ghost Writer
James Baldwin- September Notes of a Native Son
Edith Wharton- October Ethan Frome
John Updike- November The Witches of Eastwick
Larry Watson- December Let Him Go

Ooo, Joe, am I first?

15 Life-changers

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - opened my eyes to so many creative possibilities, including wordplay
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury - got me believing in school again after a soon-to-be favorite teacher assigned it
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - took a typical self-centered kid out of himself and got me thinking about others; broke my heart for the first time, too
James Wright Collected Poems - midwestern poet caught me and fueled a lifelong interest in poetry
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - read it way post-college and got walloped; started lifelong Austen fandom

Dune by Frank Herbert - got me excited about the possibilities of science fiction, and thinking about environmental effects
Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and others - this hokey, mystical comic book was my favorite as a kid, and fueled my lifelong graphic fandom
Future Shock by Alvin Toffler - he took on emerging issues like economic disparities, overpopulation and pollution; trying to look into the future fascinated me
After the Quake by Haruki Murakami - my entry into his world that started me on lifelong fandom
Remember, Be Here Now by Ram Dass - matched my youthful hippiness perfectly, still working on some of its ideas

The Chosen by Chaim Potok - for the first time, got me enthralled by lives very different from my own
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki - what a mensch this man was; still the best on this subject I've read
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - made me a fan of both Paul Farmer and author Tracy Kidder, and got me involved with Partners in Health
T.S. Eliot Selected Poems - bowled me over, so I felt like a patient, etherized upon a table; got the complete works later
Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - fueled my appreciation of the absurd and started a lifelong fandom for this author

Best of 2013

Top 5

1. Longbourn by Jo Baker
2. Benediction by Kent Haruf
3. Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
4. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
5. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley

Second Five

6. The Greater Journey by David McCullough
7. Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa'Thiong'o
8. Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
9. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
10. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

Favorite Graphic Novel: The Nao of Brown

Three that were hard to keep off the list: Housekeeping, Song of the Lark, and How the Light Gets In

>3 ffortsa: Ha! You did it, Judy!

I tried to sneak in that third post, but my fingers were too slow. :-)



Any holiday beverage/food you want is on us!

Wow. Pure chance, and sorry I interrupted the flow. Let's see - perhaps an apple martini is on order.

>5 jnwelch: You got it, Judy. You came by at just the right time.

I'm going to settle in for the evening. I'll take a table near the fire please.

You got it, Roberta. I'm about to pack up and head for the train, so just give a holler if you need anything.

Joe, stopping by to wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year!

Hi Joe- Congrats on the new thread. The cafe looks very warm & inviting. Perfect after a bone-chilling day. Love the best of the year lists. Interesting to see Longbourn at the top of some heavy-duty company. I better get a copy of this one.
And yah, for Strayed. I was hoping we could spread the word a bit better on this absolute gem.

We had a couple of scorchers in Sydney in the lead up to Xmas (cooler day today, Xmas Eve, so I've got a small pork roast for our dinner tonight, yum!), so yesterday we went to the beach and had fish and chips for dinner.



And this is Bronte Beach, where we were:



Xmas food shopping is all done - prawns, oysters, ham, oodles of fruit, and mince pies of course! All stuff that does not require cooking, a habit I got from my Mum who has never once cooked on Xmas Day that I can remember (it's a day of rest for the whole family, and cold turkey and ham sandwiches). I'll be mixing up some white sangria as a punch for when friends come over on Boxing Day, but that'll be the extent of my cooking for the holidays. (http://www.donnahay.com.au/recipes/entertaining/drinks/white-sangria)

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas, celebrating the holidays in whatever style you are accustomed to.

Prawns and oysters and ham *oh slurp*
Prawns and oysters and ham *oh slurp*

So I'll see y'all on the flipside, I'm a-headin' to Australia for xmas.

Happy Holidays Joe

It was a joy to read the books that transformed you. With your permission, I might do the same.

Hi Joe, thought I'd drop by before you pack up and move on to the new digs waiting for us all in 2014. Wishing happy holidays to you and your loved ones. Nice to see a few of your top 5 and second five books are on my tbr and wishlist already. Will have to add you as a recommender.

>10 SandDune: Good to see you, Rhian! Thank you for the holiday wishes. Happy Christmas to you, and best wishes for a healthy and satisfying 2014.

>11 msf59: Hey, Mark! Woo, my sympathy for that bone-chilling temp today. The commute home was a jawdropper. The bottom sure dropped out quickly, didn't it.

You know, one reason I'm so high on Longbourn, besides my being an Austen nerd, is I was worried it would be a disappointment - what a challenge to take on! - and instead it is so clever and good. It actually adds perspective to P & P, besides telling a killer story.

I know, I want to read Tiny Beautiful Things again soon. Kath's a fan, too. I hope the word does spread.

>12 wookiebender: Hiya, Tania! Ooo-wee, those fish and chips look good. Bronte Beach looks beautiful, and somehow it has a literary ring to it, too.

I'm all in favor of no cooking on Christmas - who needs the aggravation? Unless you love it, like some LTers. We do the same by ordering and heating up. Not sure what's on the menu, as my sisters are arriving before us and running the show. White sangria? That's new for me. I like the idea, and Donna's looks good.

>13 richardderus: Prawns and oysters and ham *oh slurp* - I'll never forget that scene in the Wizard of Oz, Richard. Or the oven landing on that nasty B*tch from the west.

I may meet you in the other Oz.

>14 Whisper1: Happy Holidays, Linda! I'd love it - looking forward to seeing your life-changers. Glad you enjoyed mine. Hope you have a relaxing holiday break.

>15 Smiler69: Hi, Ilana. How great to see you! Hope all is well. Glad some of my faves are on your tbr and WL - I look forward to hearing which ones, and what you think of them. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

I won't be computing tomorrow, so have fun. Merry Christmas to our celebrators, and happy holidays to everyone!

The weather in your three cafes above does not look entirely reflective of Chicago in December, Joe but welcome all the same.

I have enjoyed every post of your 26 threads this year mate and wish to take this opportunity to wish you and yours the very best of festive seasons whilst I am sure you are still going to be on-line.

You mean I am not 150+ posts behind on this thread already?! Miracle of miracles!

Merry Christmas, Joe, to you and yours.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Dear, Joe, I have so enjoyed the Cafe this year, and regret not being around much lately. I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Nearing Xmas eve eve here ..... Here's to a great day where we can celebrate with family & friends : eat, drink & be merry

Oh! I am so glad to have found my way to this thread before it became impossibly long. Happy days of holidays - holy days of many celebrations. Gotta love the beginning of winter kicked off with good food, warm hearts, happiness in front of our various "hearths". I love the cafes above and hope to find one or two of those types of happy places in 2014, as I'm sure you will, too. Still looking forward to finding one in Seattle and finding another fine visit with you and your lovely wife.

I am planning a computer-less day tomorrow, too, and will brag about it loudly at the Niece's Christmas celebration to set a model up for her 12 year old who is so computer addicted it is not funny. I am hardly a good role model for him as I do have withdrawal symptoms if I can't log on multiple times every day. ha ha ha Preachin' to the choir, here, right?

See you on the other side.

Dear Joe,

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone. I'm able to post because we're in Emergency with our son. The good news is he's on an IV and feeling way better. It was bad nausea and dehydration, but it looks like he's going to be just fine.

No worries.

Oh dear! I'm sending Get Well Quickly Whammies in Abundance! *** I hope all will be well toute suite!

Hope your son gets back up 'n around soon as can be.

Regarding matters Ozian -- If you haven't read Wicked you might give it a try.

Jeez all the poor woman wanted was her own sisters shoes! Was that so much to ask?

That blond bitch in the tiara was the one jerking everyone around, sez me.

Happy Booksmas, book porn lovers!

And a speedy feelbetter whammy for Jesse!

Happy holiday season to you and your family, Joe!

Does everyone over 45 remember the movie Soylent Green? Well guess what! The Kindle edition of Make Room! Make Room! is only 99¢ now! It's the novel the movie was based on, and it's well worth the read.

You and the cafe Joe are as integral to this group as spinach is to Popeye.
Hope you get some spinach down Jesse, mate and that he is back on his feet again in no time.
Have a lovely festive season once your son is a-ok and thanks for being such an old-round splendid fellow all year round.

Best wishes to you, Joe!


glitter-graphics.com

Merry Christmas to one of my first friends on LT. What a wonderful cafe host you are Joe. Enjoy the holiday with your family. I hope your son is on the mend.

Thanks,friend Roberta, and everyone. They're releasing us. He's much better, and we have a game plan. So all is well.

Hi, Joe. I haven't dropped by the cafe for a while, but I thought I'd wish you the best for the festive season and for a wonderful 2014!

Happy Christmas to all!

Oh my, glad Jesse is feeling better. Not the best way to spend a holiday

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Joe. I see the Cafe is closed today. Well, have a hot chocolate on me with my thanks for your cheer and your excellent taste in reading. I loved your Top Five list and also the next top five. I might have to add a third addendum when I do mine!

Happy Christmas, Joe!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas, Joe!

Merry Christmas, Joe! Hope you Jesse, Bekka, Sherlock, and the wonderful Debb all have a fabulous day together!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!

I hope your son continues to feel much better. Merry Christmas to you and the whole family, Joe!

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Joe, and warmest wishes for a wonderful New Year filled with good books, good friends and good times!

Hi Joe, I dropped off the radar for the last few weeks, but back to wish you a happy festive season. Enjoyed your list of Lifechanger books, I remember reading Future Shock way back.
Love the look of the cafe in post #1.

Wishing all good health, and prosperity, and good reading to you and yours, especially your special son. I hope his visit to the ER has cured him of what ailed him.

Oh, goodness! I'm sorry about the ER trip, but happy to hear that he's on the mend! Happy Christmas, Joe!

Happy Christmas to you and your family, Joe!

How is your son doing Joe?

Dropping in for a Jesse update.

Sorry to hear you spent Christmas Eve in ER. Hope your son is feeling better.

Have yourself a merry little book-filled Christmas!

^Here is a holiday beer for you, my friend. I hope you made it up to Michigan okay and I hope Jesse is doing well. Keep us updated.

I Hope the trip to E.R has turned out for the best & that everyone has returned hope well ...

So. There's this new, shiny group just begging for folks to join in. Any takers?

http://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin2014

By the way, qebo gets the prize for first joiner!

Whee! I was just wondering if a 2014 group was coming soon! Thanks, Jim!

Merry Christmas, Joe! Always a pleasure to visit the cafe--have a nog for me!

Oh dear, I somehow missed that bit of post where you said you were at the ER with your son. Been there, done that, hated it. I hope all is well now, and Jesse is feeling much improved. And I hope his parents have laid down the law about never doing that again!

I'm glad your son is recovering Joe. What could be worse than the ER at Christmas time?

Thanks, everyone! Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday.

Jesse is doing very well indeed, and is back to sharing all sorts of weird factoids with us, including about the mimic octopus and mantis shrimp, both of which I have to remember to look up. Poor guy has to eat very plain foods, which is tough at holiday time, but his spirits are good.

It's gathering time with the clan, so as you can tell, I won't be on a lot. Pie, and charades, and jigsaw puzzling, and catching up with each other, and that kind of thing, going on. Visited our mother's grave and sang her Christmas carols, while my dad played harmonica. Good stuff.

See you soon. Got A truth Universally Acknowledged for Christmas, 33 writers on why we read Jane Austen, so that's my current read.

Merry Christmas, Joe! Hoping that your son is feeling better and that you were able to enjoy the quiet delights of the day. The Cafe has been one of my favorite haunts this year - thanks for making it such a delightful place to hang out. Looking forward to another year of book talk, delicious food and drink, and spot on recommendations.

Hi, Joe. I just came by last time and dropped a card at the end of your thread without reading through it, since I've missed so many posts; so I hadn't realised Jesse was in ER. Good to know he's better now; it couldn't have been the most fun for the day before Christmas for you.

A Truth Universally Acknowledged and Longbourn look good. Maybe next year ...

Great to see everyone at the cafe! Thank you for the kind comments and thoughts for over favorite guy. I may miss somebody - if so, sorry! Hope everyone's getting a chance to take it easy and having a good holiday.

>>17 PaulCranswick:,30 Thanks, Paul. LT is a great getaway from sometimes challenging RL, isn't it? Thank you for your always-welcoming thread, and awe-inspiring, ever-higher Mount Tbr.

>18 alcottacre: Merry Christmas, Stasia! It's a season of small (and maybe not so small) miracles, isn't it? We found, for example the last eggnog hiding behind all the milk at CVS. That counts, right?

>19 fuzzi: Merry Christmas, fuzzi! It's been a lot of fun to have you become a cafe regular this year! And thanks for alerting me to the Tattered But Lovely group.

>20 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! It's a pleasure to see you whenever you've been able to stop by. Merry Christmas!

>21 roundballnz: Eat, drink and be merry, Alex! We're continuing the festivities here with the Welch clan.

>22 maggie1944: Happy days of holidays, Karen! Yeah, I suspect a lot of us are going computer-less for a while. Nice to get back on for a few minutes to say hi to everyone. Mr. Jesse, who you met, just set up a wireless booster in my father's house, so that made this a lot easier.

>23 wilkiec: Thanks, Diana! I'll do some translating later, but Happy Holidays to you!

>25 maggie1944: Thanks for the get-better whammies, Karen. They seem to have helped. He's doing much better, and we think we'll have him back to normal before he travels to see his girlfriend in Houston.

>26 magicians_nephew: Ha! Nice take on the Oz story, Jim. I have read Wicked, and enjoyed it. Seems like he probably should have stopped there, as the ones after seem worthy of missing, don't they?

>27 richardderus: Your pro-Jesse whammy seems to have helped, too, Richard. Thanks! Happy Booksmas! You'll be glad to hear my MBH gave me the Graphic Canon (3 vols!) So I'll be able to give you more reports from the delightful comics universe. Get those ear plugs ready.

>28 DorsVenabili: Happy Holidays, Kerri!

Hi Joe,

Love the Pig's Feet Cafe at the top. (I think I may have been there once upon a time.) In French, everything sounds lovely.

Delighted to see A Tale for the Time Being on your favorites list. And of course I've been touting the wonders of Longbourn far and wide thanks to your recommendation.

I gave lots of e-books to daughters, niece & nephew this Christmas but my sister and I, diehards, both, received the same print tome: The Most of Nora Ephron. I'm curling up with it and a few cookies now for the first quiet moment in days. Thanks for all the delightful books you've brought to light in 2013 and best wishes for a continuation of this thriving cafe in 2014.

Anne

(61) Longbourn is good, read my review, there are no spoilers in it! (http://www.librarything.com/work/13667256/reviews/103119760)

Joe, sorry to hear about your ER visit. I hope Jesse is all better, soon. :)

>64 NarratorLady: Ain't that the truth, Anne? N'est-ce pas la vérité? It does sounds better in French.

Yes, A Tale for the Time Being was quite a thought-provoker. I suspect, as you mentioned, that Ruth's part is what detracts for some readers, but it was fine for me. Nao is remarkable. I'm glad you're spreading the word on Longbourn. So good!

>65 fuzzi: Yay! Another Longbourn fan. Glad you liked it, fuzzi. I'll read the review later. A bit of catching up to do!

The ER visit was an unexpected start to a travel day, but we're so glad it happened. We'll know more once some tests come back, but he's much better, and we're going to have him feeling good before he goes on without us.

>29 richardderus: Thanks for another good Kindle tip, Richard. I remember Soylent Green all right.

>30 PaulCranswick: Thanks again, Paul!

>31 tymfos: Beautiful tree, Terri, thanks! Hope you're having a great holiday season.

>32 luvamystery65: Thanks, Roberta! Good to see my LT buddy. Son #1 is doing much better. Hope you're having a great holiday!

>34 humouress: Good to see you, Nina! That Christmas celebration looks most excellent. I'm in! Happy Holidays!

>35 laytonwoman3rd: Nice, Linda. Is that from your own tree? Pretty. Happy Holidays!

>36 ffortsa: Thanks, Judy. You know, we're so glad we got him looked at. He's feeling much better, and we should be able to start solving the mystery once the tests come back. Meanwhile, he's rehydrated and feeling much better. His motor is running well again.

>37 Donna828: Thanks, Donna! I'm glad you like my list. It has been another great reading year. I look forward to seeing your faves list. Thanks for being such an enjoyable attendee here at the cafe. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

>38 EBT1002: Ha! Happy Christmas, Ellen! I think your furry friend deserves start status after reaching the top like that.

>39 cameling: Ah, that's beautiful, Caro. Thanks! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

>40 LauraBrook: What a cool shelf of holiday wishes, Laura. Thank you! I hope you and your mom are having a lovely holiday.

>41 leperdbunny: Merry Christmas, Tam! That's a lovely wreath. Thanks.

>42 ChelleBearss: Ha! Very cute, Chelle. Thanks! Hope you're having a wonderful Christmas break.

>43 ronincats: Merry Christmas, Roni! Thank you - the family is doing well, as is the extended family. Just got back from a bookstore run - picked up Eleanor & Park, and The Luminaries.

>44 Storeetllr: Thank you, Ilana! What a beautiful picture. Thank you for the good wishes. Happy Holidays to you and yours, and best wishes for a satisfying and happy 2014.

>45 avatiakh: Good to see you, Rhian! Glad you like the cafes at the top, and the list of life-changers. Yeah, I wrote a paper about Future Shock way back when. It would be fun to read that today. Hope you're having a good holiday season!

>46 maggie1944: Happy Holidays, Karen! Our favorite son is doing much better. Not sure what the test results will tell us - but the problem appears to be relatively benign. That they were willing to release us for the trip is a good sign.

>47 scaifea: Happy Christmas, Amber! Yes, he's doing well - over working on the jigsaw puzzle with his ma as we speak.

>48 -Cee-: Happy Christmas to you and yours, Cee! Hope you're having a relaxing and enjoyable break.

>49 leperdbunny: Son #1 is way better, Tam. The main problem was how dehydrated he was, and he started perking up quickly once they got the IV in him. Some lingering lousiness, but getting better each day. He's having a good time with the rest of the clan.

>50 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. See the Tam update above. He's singing Jingle Bell Rock with his sister right now, so that's a good sign, right? Or maybe it's a sign of a descent into madness. For both of them. I'm not sure.

>51 Morphidae: Thanks, Morphy. He's doing well now, and we're having a good book-filled Christmas. He got factoid books (he loves Cracked) and an Italo Calvino, If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, after enjoying Invisible Cities.

My battery's running out, so ta ta for now.

>52 msf59:. Thanks, Mark! That Delerium Noel looks most excellent. All is well in MI. Hope the Mark clan is having a good holiday.

>53 roundballnz:. All is well, Alex. It's a weird thing to happen at the holidays, but we're glad it did. It would have been a very tough one for him to handle on his own.

*waves* Glad to hear son is doing better. :)

>54 drneutron: thanks, Jim. I'll be over to sign up, maybe on the weekend when it's a bit easier. Happy holidays! Thanks again for coordinating this.

>55 Storeetllr:. Good, Ilana. See you there!

>56 tloeffler:. Merry Christmas, Terri! Glad you've enjoyed the cafe. We'll get a new one up and running for one-four. Having a nog in your honor . . .

>57 laytonwoman3rd:. Hiya, Linda. We have indeed instructed our favorite son never to get sick again, but I'm skeptical that he'll listen to us. He's way better, and looking good.

Yep, there goes A Tale for the Time Being getting slapped onto the wishlist. Luckily, my Thingaversary approaches so I will have an excuse to buy four books. I'm not saying I'll stop at four books, but I'll have an excuse for that subset.

Stopping by with belated Christmas wishes Joe and to wish you a

>58 brenzi:. Thanks, Bonnie.

For some reason it was fine. We'd of course done ER a lot with him and his sister when they were younger. It's a heck of a lot easier, and somehow less worrisome, with him as an adult. The IV got him back in the right direction pretty quickly.

We got in late, but the family had held up present opening for us, and saved pizza and so on.

>72 EBT1002: Ha! It's good to have an excuse to buy books, isn't it, Ellen? I got an Amazon and a B & N gift card for Christmas, so of course I'll have to put them to use. Glad you're adding A Tale for the Time Being. I think you're someone who'll take to it. It helps, methinks, to have a bit of a Zennish view of things.

>73 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori! Belated Christmas wishes to you, and a belated Happy Boxing Day! We're just going to continue the celebration on through New Year's, although I have to work a bit on either side of New Year's Day.

I think I'm kinda sorta getting caught up. If I missed you, my apologies. It's been an unusual holiday on our end. If I missed visiting your thread for holiday wishes, I'm certainly sending them.

>60 Crazymamie: Thanks for the kind comments, Mamie. What a fun year it has been, hasn't it? I've had a blast over at the Pecan Paradisio, where your welcoming good humor always improves the day. Give my best to that book diva of yours, too.

>61 humouress: Thanks, Nina. You know, it's one of those funny things with parents. We're so glad Jesse was with it when his health hit the wall. It would have been awfully difficult for him to deal with on his own. And watching him bounce back has been about as good a holiday present as one could hope for. The rest is delightful, but really doesn't come close in importance. We feel very lucky.

I think we're all caught up. Yes? Maybe one last platter of cinnamon donuts, and then I'll follow up on Jim's invitation.

Cinnamon sugared donuts! My favorites!! And I happen to have a fresh cup of coffee right here...isn't that a beautiful coincidence?

mmmmmmmmm cinnamon donuts

ohhh golly cinnamon donuts oooo yummyyumyum

>76 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Nice coincidence, Linda. Those do look good, don't they?

>77 roundballnz: Well put, Alex. We may have to find some more, as they're proving popular.

>78 richardderus: Why does it seem like the donut monster just wondered by? We need more, no question about it.

Joe, can you dig up some jelly sticks? They're like a cruller, but with a line of jelly inside from one end to the other...

#75: I am elbowing Richard out of the way for those donuts!

81 > might not work - lets just advise RD it's now a Dickens library/cafe ?

Hi Joe- I am sure you are having a great time with the family. Are you heading back this weekend? In time for the Bears game?

I will get my 2014 thread up and running Sunday morning.

Cinnamon donuts are to Dickens as garlic is to a vampire. Instant defeat and revulsion. Nyah!



Cinnamon-glazed spice cake donuts. Your argument is invalid.

oh, goodness, my mouth is a lake!

Donuts are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy....

ETA: well, that and bacon...

Donuts and bacon and coffee. The Breakfast of Champions!

Donuts and bacon and coffee and beer!

Ha! I like the way you think, Jim!

>88 drneutron: Sounds like a party menu to me...kind of a weird buffet, but I could certainly see it being popular.

>80 fuzzi: Whoa, thanks for your patience, fuzzi! We're definitely going to have to use the time jiggerer for this one. (Drove back today). Jelly sticks, hmm, okay, let's give this a try.



>81 alcottacre: You obviously have acquired mad skills in your studies, Stasia, if you can elbow Richard aside for donuts! Very impressive. Worth every penny of tuition.

>82 roundballnz: Now there's a plan that might work, Alex. We could call the next cafe, "Dickens Book Cafe". It might have some short term benefits in terms of grabbing delectables, but I think we'd all miss the ol' curmudgeon too much.

>83 msf59: We're back, Mark! Watching some Bulls tonight, Bears tomorrow. That probably sounds pretty weird outside the U.S., and maybe inside, too. We had a great time, and a smooth ride back. Son #1 is now in Houston with his paramour, feeling much healthier. We enjoyed having him around like crazy.

Looking forward to your '14 thread. The '14 book cafe is open, so we've got all kinds of time and space jiggery going on.

>84 richardderus: Cinnamon-glazed spice cake donuts are always going to win, Richard. There's just no defeating them. Well-played.

>85 maggie1944: We've still got cafe ponchos, Karen.



>86 tloeffler: Donuts and bacon are proof God loves us. You may be able to open your own church, Terri. That's going to resonate with folks of a lot of different stripes and persuasions.

>87 richardderus: So true, so true, RD.



>88 drneutron: Check, Jim. Must add beer!


>89 Crazymamie: He's a smart cookie, our Jim, isn't he, Mamie? Who knew there was a pecan beer?



>89 Crazymamie: If I saw a sign saying, "Weird Buffet", Richard, I think I'd just have to stop and find out.

(87) Donuts and bacon and coffee. The Breakfast of Champions!

NOW you're talking! Count me in...if there are jelly donuts included...

Donuts & bacon for breakfast .... hmmm the things you learn

Now THIS is a jelly stick:

>93 fuzzi: No problema, Senora fuzzi.



>94 roundballnz: To me the lesson, Alex, is throw off the shackles of standard breakfasts, and live a life in breakfast paradise.

>95 fuzzi: Whoa! That looks like a jelly mega-loaf, fuzzi! Is it possible to eat more than one of those?

Actually, it looks larger than it is.

I've not had a jelly stick in years, not all Dunkin Donuts make them. :(

96 > The combinations the American diet brings here will never cease to befuddle me ......

this from someone who quiet happily munches on fruit & yogurt for lunch or dinner

Phew! It looks like a footlong in that photo, fuzzi. Jelly sticks may have been around a while, but they're new to me.

OK, my sister sent some pics. The guys engaged in post-prandial clean-up at Papa Welch's place:

...I fear for the dinnerware...

Ha! Rightly so, Richard. It's staunch and dependable, and somehow survived the onslaught of ignoramuses.

Morning Joe- Love the photo of the hard-working men. You go boys! I did get the new thread going this A.M. and I'll see you over on your new one...

Sounds good, Mark. See you there! Hope you're having a good Sunday. Go Bears!

Great picture - and scary! I trust you all did a fine job.

About every three years or so I indulge in a Boston Cream donut. I had one while traveling to CT the other day - * slurp * grin * yum! Now I have to wait again :(
I did, however, get a homemade apple pie as a gift from my baker daughter - so I'm not suffering much...
My family has not really caught on to giving books as gifts - but food is a wonderful substitute. I have a granddaughter that loves reading as much as I do. A few more years (when she gets a job) I expect we will be exchanging book gifts :-)

May 2014 be filled with wonderful books and places to store them.

>104 -Cee-: They all came through unscathed, Cee. That's my specialty - dishwashing. Actually, my main helper isn't in the photo - my other BIL, Charles. That's BIL Bill and son Jesse, the former a turkey carver and the latter a dish helper.

Sounds like you were well-treated on the food front - how great to have a baker daughter! I'd take a homemade apple pie any day. One of my best presents was an unexpected two bags of homemade granola from one of my sisters - spiced walnut apple, and orange almond.

>105 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda! Happy New Year to you! Looking forward to another great LT year. "Wonderful books and places to store them" - yes! The latter ain't easy sometimes.

Not sure which I more approve of: donuts & bacon for breakfast or men in the kitchen doing dishes.

(107) Why not both?

Good point! Yes, I approve of both most heartily. Unfortunately, no men around to spend time in the kitchen doing dishes, unless someday I can corral my niece's husband, but I'm not optimistic.

>>107 Storeetllr:-109 If you can get RD to supply the donuts and bacon, Mary and fuzzi, I believe I can reunite the team for the dishes. Angels may show up with harps, who knows.

And pigs fly? LOL

LOL!

Ahaha! Good one, fuzzi! Maybe there's hope after all!

"Supply" like in "share" my donuts and my bacon?

*BWAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA*

*waving while dashing through, trying to keep up* Happy New Year's celebrations here, eh? I'll be back.

>>111 Storeetllr:-114

>115 richardderus: Hmm. This plan may need work.

>116 maggie1944: *waving at rapidly disappearing Karen* Happy New Year . . . See you soon?

Hi Joe, just passing through. So behind on the threads!

>118 Thebookdiva: Hi, Abby! No worries. It's tough enough to keep up in normal times, and the holidays make it even tougher.

For you and others who may be looking, there's a time-jiggered 2014 cafe that has opened up here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/162845#4432728

I got doughnut pans for Christmas and can't wait to get home and try them out.

We'll be over as soon as you're ready, Lori.

I just have to try to decide which variety to try first.

Lemon ricotta sounds good. :-)

Had a pleasant brunch with Darryl and Judy yesterday and the subject of "Cafe du Monde" in New Orleans came up.

Before I sign up as a volunteer for long term interstellar travel I am going to make sure that the planet they are planning to send me to makes Beignets!

Oh man, Jim, we love Beignets, too. Our #1 son was just in New Orleans for New Year's Eve, and once he catches back up on sleep I'll quiz him on his Beignet intake.