Mamie's 2017 Madness (Page 15)

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

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

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snail's pace

Books Read in November:
91. Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson (3.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, police procedural (Dark Iceland, book 1) - recommended by Deborah and Barbara
92. Ready Player One off my shelves ebook, dystopian/1980s pop culture - recommended by Morphy

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

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

So some thoughts I have:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Everyday people by Stewart O'Nan (linked short stories)
2. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
3. Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin (memoir)
4. The Golden Legend by Nadeem Aslam
5. Personal History by Katherine Graham
6. Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
7. Taft by Ann Patchett
8. Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence
9. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

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

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

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

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

This should do it - next one's yours!

Happy new thread, Mamie, sweet doggie up there! :-)

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

>11 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! The dog made me laugh, so I knew I had found my topper as soon as I set eyes on him.

>12 ronincats: Thanks, Roni!

Happy new thread, Mamie!!

Are any of you dressing up tomorrow, or has your crew outgrown Halloween?

>1 Crazymamie: That poochie is beyond! I just can't!

Thank you, Amber! Rae is going to work as the Mad Hatter, and Abby has a Merlotte's T-shirt and apron that she is going to wear to work, but she thinks no one will get it. Like this, only her t-shirt is not so tight (says her mother):



Does one ever truly outgrow Halloween? I think not.

>15 richardderus: *grin*

Happy new thread, Mamie! Love my future pooch on your topper!

Thank you, Lynda! Are you getting a Corgi?

Not anytime soon, unfortunately, but when I do you will be the first to know :0)

BTW: Finish Pines! It's a great read.

Alrighty then. Just checking.

*I will finish Pines! I promise!

Oh oh oh. New thread, new thread! That's a nice doggie. I like the list of BBs you've taken this year. I'm surprised you haven't bled to death, what with all those hits.

Hey there, Bill! That doggie is a hoot. The only reason I'm still standing after all those BBs is because of my cloak of invincibility. *rim shot*

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

Streets and San is digging up our city block's sidewalks for some kind of water service project - starting tomorrow, Halloween. Wouldn't you know it. Our neighborhood has gotten popular for trick or treating, and normally we have more than a thousand kids come through. The workers assure us that the holes will be covered with heavy, yellow metal and orange cones, and that there'll be room to walk around them. Jeesh. Fingers crossed.

Thank you, Joe! That is some kind of poor planning - YOWZA! Like they couldn't wait one more day.

Happy New thread, Mamie!

Sorry about the double post! My router was having a tantrum all day yesterday, causing a few bad words around here.

Thank you, Gail! I love the double post, so no worries. I hope you router is back to behaving for your sake. It makes me crazy when technology doesn't work the way it's supposed to.

Happy new thread! You weren’t kidding about the BBs. I scored four in a row on your recommendations list! Woot!

Thank you, Jim! Nope - I wasn't kidding. So feel free to read some loser books next.

Happy new thread, Mamie.

Happy New Thread, Mamie! Love the pup in the leaves! How is Rules of Civility in the early going?

>29 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>30 msf59: Thank you, Mark! Glad you love the topper. I am really liking Rules of Civility so far - I am guessing it will be a winner for me, as I loved A Gentleman in Moscow.

>16 Crazymamie: Excellent!! I'm embarrassed to say that I had to look up the Merlotte's reference, but now I think it's pretty cool!

I certainly do hope that Charlie never outgrows Halloween, because I absolutely love making his costumes!

>32 scaifea: My bad, Amber - I should have said it's the waitress "uniform" that Sookie Stackhouse wore in the tv series True Blood, which was an adaptation of the books by Charlaine Harris. Merlotte's was the name of the bar.

Daniel still loves Superman and he has the coolest jacket that we found on Etsy that he just loves, if that is any help. He will be 23 next month, and no signs of outgrowing Halloween or superheroes or any of that most excellent stuff that makes life fun.

..

>33 Crazymamie: Aw, that's wonderful!!

Happy new one, Mamie!

>34 scaifea: I think so, too. I hope that he never outgrows Superman.

>35 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

Happy new thread, Mamie! I noticed my name up there in post 9 and giggled :-) Glad y'all are keeping stuff in order, though...

Happy new thread!

>37 susanj67: Thank you, Susan! Glad I could give you a giggle. I am trying with the order, but I do tend toward slight chaos...

>38 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori!

Great photos, Mamie. Happy Halloween!

Thanks, Joe! Happy Halloween to you!

We are going to our older son's house for treat-or-tricking once again. My wife and I sit on the front porch and dole out the treats while everyone else in the house roams the streets. My DIL Tara called and asked if we were coming, and I said, "Of course. How else would we get Halloween candy?"

Okay, okay, I know it's not your birthday but a spice cake iced with cocoa-flavored icing in the shape of a pumpkin, all right? That's why.

>42 weird_O: Your post made me laugh, Bill! Sounds like a very fun evening.

>43 richardderus: Most yum! I am happy to sacrifice myself and eat birthday cake even though it isn't my birthday, Richard. I am just a team player like that.

>44 Crazymamie: Stout lass! ...hmm...didn't quite come out the way it does for Brits, did it.

Anyway, you know what I mean, o noble and self-sacrificing soul.

Ha! I am slightly stout at that, but yeah, it loses something in translation - probably just because we don't have British accents, which is SO unfair.

It is, isn't it? Although we also don't have absurd and redundant "u"s in our colors, honor, or behavior. I do still stick one into glamour, since it's such a lifted-eyebrow of a word anyway.

*belly laugh*

Happy Halloween!! Glad to see your kids haven't outgrown costumes. : )

Happy Halloween, Kim! Nope - I don't think they ever will. Birdy wore her Ravenclaw robe on all our errands today, and at the library one of the workers was wearing the Hufflepuff robes! So fun. Also, we got checked out by Robin Hood, but alas, no sight of his merry men.

My oldest is the final lap encouragement cloud paired with her boyfriend who is Mario of Mario Cart fame. My middle one has been three outfits so far and who knows what she will be tonight! My youngest is Waldo of Where's Waldo.

I am sorry there was no band of merry men. ; ( LOL

>50 Crazymamie: One slightly Merry Man checking in! Slightly because my dear driver Azim returns to work today after a two month absence following breaking his leg on holiday.

^Happy Halloween, Mamie! Hope you are enjoying the spooky holiday. Do you get many trick or treaters?

Happy new thread and happy Halloween, Mamie. >47 richardderus: You got more than one country with your comment there RD. We like our "u"s, thank you very much and get annoyed when spell check tries to change those words to the American spelling - the words just don't look right.

>54 Familyhistorian: If it makes you feel any better, the AI developed by the NSA and MI5/6 and them-all will eventually autocorrect the illogical Murrikin punctuation of "" before '' to y'all's system. Though the silly useless "U"s will doubtless disappear since they do nothing useful. I wonder if the Future Overlords will follow Melvil Dui's orthographical reforms or simply use the IPA.

Happy new thread, and happy Halloween!

>51 Berly: Very fun costume choices! And I know, right? Maybe next year fir the merry band of men.

>52 PaulCranswick: Hooray for slightly merry, Paul - any happiness is a good thing. And oh, dear, about the broken leg - that's no good. Glad to hear that he is about to return to duty.

>53 msf59: Very creepy, Mark! I like the one you posted on your thread much better, but hey, at least he is interested in reading. We get exactly zero trick or treaters at this house - we are on the main drag, and there is no sidewalk and the houses are not close together. Definitely not ideal for the kiddos - the little neighborhoods off of our street get all of the holiday traffic. Total bummer, but it makes for a very quiet evening.

>54 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg! I actually think the different spellings are charming, but Richard always cracks me up with how he talks about things. And I loved his comments about the spelling of glamour.

>55 richardderus: I understood about half of that - I had to goggle "Melvil Dui's orthographical reforms". That's a lot of work, but I know that you are totally worth the effort. Boy, have I missed you around here!

>56 tymfos: Thank you, Terri! Lovely to see you here!

Happy November 1st, Mamie! Sorry to see you don't get any trick or treaters. Do any of your kids do anything for Halloween still?

>59 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle! Actually, all the kids celebrated in some way - Rae and Abby dressed up for work, and Birdy always wears a costume out on Halloween. Daniel went to a big Halloween party at a friend's house.

I always buy Halloween candy and put it out in decorative dishes around the house, and we all snack on it throughout the month since we don't get trick or treaters here. Surprisingly, Craig has the biggest sweet tooth.

Happy Middle of the Week, Mamie!

No trick or treaters - we're at the other end of the spectrum, with more than a thousand stopping by. Cute and fun, but hectic.

Thanks, Joe! I would love to get trick or treaters, but, alas, no. Our last house was on a county road, and we didn't get any there either. *sad face*

>61 jnwelch: A THOUSAND?!? ONE THOUSAND 1K 1,000 KIDS?!

Ha! LOVE Kramer! I was just over at your place! Afternoon, BigDaddy!

I still laugh at Kramer and the rest of those awful, self-absorbed people. The Puffy Shirt...Master of Your Domain...Shrinkage...the Kicky Dance...all still make me guffaw. Even at its most popular I thought the show's characters were awful human beings. I think it's why I laughed so hard *at* them. Cause I'm a Mean Ol' Big Daddy.

>63 richardderus: - This also reflects my attitude toward the thought of 1000 children...

>66 katiekrug: *sssshhhh* i'm behind the potted shrub around the corner i don't want them to find me

I crawled into a storm drain. A clown promised me there were no children down there ;-)

>68 katiekrug: Candy, little girl?

>65 richardderus: Yep - we love us some Seinfeld. And you're exactly right about what makes the show work and why it's funny.

>66 katiekrug: Me, too. *blinks* I mean...I like children, really I do. Truly. Well...some children.

>67 richardderus: Good thinking.

>68 katiekrug: Um...that's probably because he ate them.

>69 richardderus: Exactly. Never trust a clown. *shudders*

*weighing the benefits of killer clown vs. hordes of screaming children*

Hmmmmmm......

Okay. Good point.

>71 katiekrug:, >72 Crazymamie: Hmm

hmmmm

weeelll

hmmmmmm

Exactly.

#60 Halloween candy around the house is what I like to call my "October 5lbs"! Oh well, I'll lose it all after Christmas :)

>73 richardderus:, >74 katiekrug: *grin*

>75 ChelleBearss: I am actually great with resisting the call of the candy. It's the wine and the salty snacks that get me.

It sounds like your family enjoys Halloween, Mamie. I don't get many trick-or-treaters either. :( I love to see the little ones in their costumes.

Happy new one, by the way.

>63 richardderus: LOL! There are some photos now over on my thread.

Sweet Thursday, Mamie! Sorry, I missed the morning greeting. I am enjoying the day off and hope to spend a large chunk of the afternoon, with Cloudsplitter, which has been excellent.

Hope your day is going fine.

>77 BLBera: Thank you, Beth! I also love seeing the little ones in their costumes. Birdy had a dentist appointment on Halloween morning, and the daycare facility across the street was taking their kids around trick or treating to the businesses that were right there. Birdy said they were so cute and that all the employees at the dentists' office were also dressed up - they had a theme, and each of them was dressed as one of the trolls from the Troll Movie.

>78 jnwelch: Heading over to see the photos, Joe.

>79 msf59: Sweet Thursday, Mark! No worries about missing the morning greeting, although I did cry just a bit about it. *blinks* It is back to the 80s here, so I am once again on the screened-in porch with the ceiling fan on. Luckily, the humidity is giving us a break, so it's nice, but it definitely doesn't feel like November.

Hoping that your reading time is full of fabulous.

Thursday Afternoon Greetings!!

Thank you kindly, Kim. Howdy Do to you, too!

Like Birdy before me, back from the dentist today...ow...and back to the oral surgeon on Friday the 10th. Ow.

Oh, dear! Dental woes? Birdy has to get her wisdom teeth out, which she is not excited about. What's your tooth story?

>84 Crazymamie: Broken tooth. Ugh. It had been root-canaled some years ago so the pain was to my poor tongue as it was abraded when edges would crumble. Not a problem now, happily.

But enough ow. Let's set up this Friday happy hour, shall we?



The hordes will descend soon.

*descending from the horde balloon*

Thanks. Any pretzels?

Happy Friday, Mamie.

Book #91: Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson (3.5 stars), 2017 acquired ebook, police procedural - recommended by Deborah and Barbara

This was reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery if, say, the sleuth was very wet behind the ears. Meet Ari Thór Arason, who is in his early twenties and finishing up at the police academy in Reykjavik, Iceland. He is offered a job in the northern town of Siglufjördour, which he accepts, not understanding just how isolated the small town is, especially in the winter when avalanches make leaving the town an impossibility. Ari Thór's new boss tells him that its a quiet town, that nothing much ever happens there. *cue the dead bodies*

I liked that Ari Thór was an outsider because the reader gets to discover the town with him and because he doesn't make assumptions about people, not having grown up there. However, the seasoned mystery reader in me was slightly frustrated at how slowly he picked up on certain clues and his inability to gain the upper hand with suspects - his questioning technique needs a lot of work. "No, not like that, and please stop and think before you go jumping in again," I yelled at him, but to no avail. Hercule Poirot knew the importance of waiting for the right moment, of studying every truth from multiple angles before acting. Still, Ari Thór has his good points - he is not stupid, just young, and because he is unseasoned he also does not have to carry the baggage that the usual police detective does - the addictions, the poor life choices, the broken marriages.

This book has been billed as a sort of Scandinavian noir type of mystery, but I don't think so - it doesn't have the violence and darkness needed for the typical Scandicrime novel. Instead it is a gentler, kinder type of noir - you get the dark isolated setting and the suspense, but with a locked room mystery feel. The fact that the town is cut off by an avalanche makes the whole town the locked room, which was brilliant. After finishing the book, I learned that the author had translated many Agatha Christie books into Icelandic before writing his own mystery - not surprising, as he has captured the feel of her books perfectly here. The reader has all the clues before them until the very end when suddenly the last few pieces falling into place for the detective are withheld. Then the big reveal, but it doesn't go the way that Agatha would have played it because Ari Thór is no Hercule Poirot. But he could be. Some day. The potential is there, so I will be following along with the next books in this series to see if he can pull it off.


Siglufjördour, Iceland

I've seen this recommended, Mamie - I'll have to give it a try. It sounds like something I would like.

>85 richardderus: OUCH! Sorry to hear that, but hooray that its roots had already been canaled. Small mercies. Glad it has been taken care of now. But didn't you say you have to go back?

And YES for the Friday Happy Hour! I'm in! *snags a drink*

>86 jnwelch: Hello, Joe! Good thinking to get here early. Let's see if we can hook you up with those pretzels:

.

Happy Friday, my friend!

>88 BLBera: Hello, Beth! I thought it was a solid first entry with great potential.

>85 richardderus: Little early for that--I'll be back later.

>86 jnwelch: >89 Crazymamie: Num! One of my favorites things. Pretzels.

TGIF!!

>91 Berly: Early? But it's after noon - well, here it is anyway.

Me, too, Kim! I love salty snacks.

For you, it's barely after noon, woman! For me, 9:26 am. LOL

So perhaps a mimosa then.

Or a Bloody Mary...

See? Now you're thinking.

Cheers!

*clinky clink*

It is after midnight here but I would be fine with a nightcap shared with some of my favourite ladies.



I cannot take the smoked bacon unless I pretend that it is beef!

That is SOME nightcap, Paul! I do love me some bacon.

>100 Crazymamie: :D

>91 Berly: through >98 Crazymamie: Those are mango blossoms, ladies, mango nectar with limoncello and cava (Spanish sparkling wine). Perfect for brunch tippling.

Yay for pretzels! Do we need some mustard for the soft ones?

Oh. My. Word. YES to the pretzel dips - I have only tried the first one, and we love it. And the drinks sound perfect, Richard.

Sorry. I had to step out for a bit. Glad the party is still going on!! Mmmmm....let's try the second dip with a little heat and a nightcap to go with it. Gentlemen, you are da best!

>87 Crazymamie: Good review, Mamie. I may have to try this one. Adding it to the WL.

There's an interesting interview in the Oct. 23 Publishers Weekly with Ragnar Jónasson about his writing and one of his called Nightblind. It turns out that Agatha Christie's Icelandic publisher agreed to let him try translating one of her novels at age 17. Wow. He had started reading her in Icelandic at age 11, and then English, and had already translated a few of her short stories for an Icelandic magazine when the publisher signed him up.

He says, "Christie's strength was her excellent plotting, with the twist in the end, and her sense of place. I hope I have managed to learn something from her in this regard."

I loved his explanation of the popularity of Nordic noir: "Iceland {is} frequently ranked as one of the safest places on Earth, but there is always crime beneath the surface. But this particular perception of the north, and Iceland, is perhaps also why Nordic noir has become so popular, the sense of contrasts, the first drop of blood on the peaceful layer of snow."

>104 Berly: Welcome back, Kim! Help yourself.

>105 jnwelch: Thanks so much for that, Joe! I do think you would like it - there is no graphic violence, and he does an excellent job of making the setting a character. Translating at 17 is amazing! You can definitely pick up on his love for Agatha Christie in his writing. According to what I read in the endnotes of the ebook edition, Nightblind is the second book in the series - it takes place five years after Snowblind, and then the next three books fill in what happens between the two books.

And I also love his explanation of Nordic noir.

Okay, wait, a thousand trick or treaters?!?!?!?! WOW. I'm jealous.

I brought my own for happy hour -- a gin martini with two olives. Just the ticket.



>105 jnwelch: Fascinating about the Nordic Noir. All this and the part about the first two novels being set five years apart with the next three planned to fill in the time in between is intriguing me. I will see about nabbing a copy of Snowblind.

I hope you're enjoying Manhattan Beach, Mamie!

>105 jnwelch: What a great story! I'm impressed, translating a novel by a MAJOR figure at the (un)ripe (not)old age of seven-damn-teen. Precocious little twerp. :)

Oh, and I LOVE the Corgi among the leaves!!

>108 richardderus: Yep, I agree.

Mmmmm, bacon mustard... 😋

>107 EBT1002: Ellen!!!! I like your choice of drink for happy hour. And I think you would like Snowblind.

I am really enjoying Manhattan Beach so far - the character descriptions are great, and I keep marking them with my book darts:

"There was 'Nurse' in the nursery, a freckled, raspy-voiced woman whose woollen dress strained like an overstacked bookshelf to repress her massive bust. Anna guessed from the broad lay of her face and the merry switch of her eyes that Nurse was Irish, and felt a danger of being seen through. She resolved to keep her distance."

"His sister - half sister, for they'd different mothers and had grown up largely apart, Brianne three years older - was like a fine automobile whose rash owner was running it to the brink of collapse. She'd been a stunner once; now, in the wrong light, she looked thirty-nine going on fifty."

"He was a big man with savage dock walloper's hands, though he hadn't worked the ships in over a decade. For all his natty attire, Dunellen gave a drooping, corroded impression, like a freighter gone to rust after being too long at anchor."

>108 richardderus: Ha! Me, to with the being impressed, Richard.

>109 EBT1002: That corgi makes me smile every time I see him, Ellen!

>111 drneutron: My thoughts exactly, Jim.

>112 Crazymamie: Simile heaven! Happy weekend, Mamie dear, may its fabulous overflow into glittering rainbows of 60° cold fronts and surprise shipments of chocolate.

OH! I LOVE how you think, BigDaddy!

*grin*

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

i got a little bossy with you over on my thread, so I thought I'd come here and gently nudge you to put Alias Grace on the Dirty Dozen. I really think you'd love it. Historical fiction, crime, madness, lust - all the god stuff :)

Thanks, Katie! No worries with the bossy when it comes to your Dirty Dozen - I added it as soon as I saw the post over on your thread. Made me laugh. Also your typo is cracking me up.

Ha! I am leaving it just like that.

Yep. It's a great typo!

>120 katiekrug: *belly laugh*

I'm also enjoying Manhattan Beach, Mamie. I stayed up reading last night until a certain thing was revealed by one character to another (how's that for spoiler avoidance?). So good. And yes, her simile-loaded descriptions of characters are quite good.

I'm a fan of Alias Grace, too.

Loving the drinks talk and the pretzels too. So I will just sail on by, having said that. :)

Whew! I found your latest thread. I haven't read anything, and maybe I'll be able to skim through soon :)

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday! Hooray for Manhattan Beach. I am so pleased, you and Ellen are enjoying it.

I also have to nudge you on Alias Grace. Atwood Rules! Nothing more to be said, on that point...

Hope you have a great day!

Wishing all at the Pecan Paradisio a wonderful Sunday (what's left of it), Mamie.

>126 msf59: I liked Alias Grace but not much else by Atwood whom I find a bit austere in writing as probably mirroring life.

It's still Sunday, so I'd rather wish you a happy one of those than what's up tomorrow!! : )

>122 richardderus: *grin*

>123 EBT1002: Most excellent spoiler avoidance, Ellen! I am loving the writing in Manhattan Beach. I know loads of people liked her Goon Squad book, but it was a miss for me - I might try it again some day just to see if I still don't like it. Heh.

Hooray for the Alias Grace love - I'll be sure to get to it soonish. Meaning sometime within the next year.

>124 LovingLit: Okay then, Megan. Hoping this week is kind to you.

>125 mckait: You don't have to catch up, Sis. Just stop by occasionally, and I'll be thrilled. SO lovely to see you out an about on the threads.

>126 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sunday has gone and we are left with that Day Which Shall Not Be Named. Let's just try to make the best of it. Going to 85F here today. *sigh*

Manhattan Beach is a winner, for sure. And I am not surprised to see you backing Alias Grace - I know you adore Atwood. I have yet to be disappointed by her.

Thanks for those good wishes - may your day go quickly and smoothly. And not bite you in the butt.

>127 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. Sunday was lovely and lazy, but the football was horrendous. Very. Painful.

I have read some Atwood, and I would recommend The Handmaid's Tale, Stone Mattress, and Oryx and Crake. I really loved Stone Mattress, which is a collection of short stories.

>128 Berly: Good thinking, Kim!

I would like RESET button for this year's football season. That is all.

>132 Crazymamie: - Ditto.

*sigh* It's been very painful, Katie. Not to mention humiliating.

I feel your pain, Mamie. Not so swell over in Bear country either.

Good Luck Getting Through the Day That Shall Not Be Named!

Just breezing through here, Mamie. Excellent talk on the Scandi books. I’m not a fan of visible violence and gore—please take that off-stage, ladies and gentlemen—and hence don’t like much of the popular and fictional Nordic crime waves. But this one...hmm...

I’m all for the mimosa or those slurpy-good bloody Marys. And big pretzels with dip! Nom.

>135 jnwelch: It's a weird season, Joe. Daniel is the only happy camper in the house.

Thanks for those good wishes. Remember not to look it directly in the eye.

>136 Matke: Hello, Gail! Thank you for those kind words. I think you could safely pick up Snowblind - there is murder but it is not detailed and gore-filled. He does a good job with the suspense, and you think you know where it is going, but then he surprises you. So yes to the noir feel, but no to the typical Scandicrime violence.

Pull up a chair and we'll be happy to get you whatever your heart desires in the food and drinks department.

Um...no, Richard, what we don't want to do is call attention to it. That's exactly what it wants.

You need the end carrot thingy.

How's that?

>140 richardderus: Oh, dear! But you made me laugh!

>142 richardderus: When you first posted, the last carrot was missing, so all I could see was the address, not the actual image, but you fixed it exactly as I was posting.

>144 Crazymamie: Aha! That would rather leave one mystified. *smooch* Happy Monday!! *confetti toss* Wheeeeee another new week begins in a haze of coffee and apple cider donuts!

I have the coffee, but not the apple cider doughnuts. *sob*

*there there, pat pat*

Have some of mine, dearest. They are awesomely delicious and slightly, juuuuust slightly, still warm.

YUM! You rock, BigDaddy!

I was just thinking to myself that it was a crying shame I'm back in the land of apple orchards in the autumn and I haven't had a single apple cider donut yet. Gotta figure out how to rectify this dire situation...

A travesty, indeed, Katie. Get on it, would you!

I stayed up late last night finishing Manhattan Beach. I could not put it down for that last 100 pages or so....

Football got in the way of my reading yesterday, Ellen, but I hope to get back to it today. So happy to hear that you could not put it down at the end - I love when that happens!

>137 Crazymamie: Remember not to look it directly in the eye. LOL! Wise words, my friend. I'll take heed.

Hi, Mamie! Late Monday check in. So glad you enjoyed the Didion doc. I would love to see more of these bookish docs.

Thanks for those quotes from Manhattan Beach, Mamie. It may be awhile before my number comes up in the library queue…that would be #40 with only four copies circulating. I wish all the library patrons in my city were reading it as quickly as Ellen did!

>141 Crazymamie: >144 Crazymamie: Ha! I thought you meant that you wanted to beat Richard with a stick (carrot...stick...you know where I'm coming from, right?)!

>156 scaifea: *ssshhh* don't give her ideas

Good morning, Mamie dear, I know you're a little bit stretched in the morning so I brought coffee! *warning glare at Amber* Here you go, slurp away!

Where have I been??? That topper!!!!

Snow Blind looks like a good one for the spousal unit's xmas list.

I've got Manhattan Beach on my tbr shelf.

>153 jnwelch: Words to live by, Joe. Remember them. *looks over the top of glasses at Joe*

>154 msf59: Morning, Mark! I would also love to see more like that - so well done, and didn't you think she was amazing reading her own stuff? And Harrison Ford was their carpenter!!!

>155 Donna828: Hello, Donna! Manhattan Beach is SO good. Hoping it makes its way to you sooner rather than later. I got lucky because I asked my FLA (borrowing this from Susan) if the library was planning on getting it, and he said it was on his list and would I like to be on a wait list for it. YES! There was just one person ahead of me.

Fine, fine, fine!! I give. Manhattan Beach is on my list. But just for that, I am stealing a bite of donut and some coffee. : )

>156 scaifea: Too funny, Amber! *files that away for future use)

>157 richardderus: Richard, darling! Coffee is always a welcome sight, and that looks delicious. Thank you so much! Poor Abby had a long day at work yesterday, and she had treated herself to her favorite drink, and as she was getting out of the car, she dropped it. And then she just stood there looking at it spilled all over the driveway, slightly stunned. I would totally have cried, I told her. I thought about it, she said.

>158 sibylline: Yes, Lucy? Exactly where have you been? I chose that corgi topper specifically with you in mind, and then you dilly dally getting over here to delight in it. Well, never mind. You're here now, and isn't it charming?! Makes me laugh every time.

Hooray for helping you choose Christmas books! And hurry up and get to Manhattan Beach.

>160 Berly: Ha! Nicely done, Kim. I think we can spare you an entire doughnut.

Thank you. ; )

Don't mention it.

Good morning, Mamie - I finally made it over to visit!

You got me with Snowblind. I usually avoid ScandiCrime because it's a little dark for me, but you make Snowblind sound very appealing.

As for football, I almost hesitate to point out that your adopted state has a team that's doing, oh, fairly well. Perhaps you could bring yourself to support them in some very mild way?

>161 Crazymamie: Oh! Poor Abby, what a rotten piece of luck. So glad I provided a dose of the good stuff so you could tell that story without the use of heat-laser eyes and battle-robot hands! *smooch*

Dejah!!! Lovely to see you here! Thanks for stopping in. I think you will like Snowblind.

Birdy is a HUGE Falcons fan, and we do root for them - but we are disheartened that they are 4-4, and they just lost a division game. I would LOVE to see them go back to the Super Bowl and win.

Just to recap my own football history - I am a Peyton Manning fan, so I followed him from the Colts to the Broncos. When he retired, I was without team, so I am still working that out. But in the meantime, I root for the Falcons with Birdy. We love Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Devonta Freeman (Birdy has his jersey). I have enormous respect for Julio Jones, who is a true team player - I wish every football player could be like that.

>166 richardderus: I know, right?! And yes - good thinking with the coffee. *smooch back*

Good morning, Mamie.

I've already forgotten what day of the week yesterday was, and I never looked directly at it, I promise.

Happy Tuesday!

Morning, Joe! And okay then - nicely done. Happy Tuesday - yesterday was a carp day, as Katie would say, so let's hope this one is better.

Calling it a carp day is insulting to the carp.

Yeah. I don't think so.

Happy Tuesday, Mamie! It's pouring rain here in Asheville. I could have stayed in Seattle for this.

Oh!! And there was just a flash of lightning and a boom of thunder! This, we don't get in Seattle!

Happy Tuesday, Ellen! Oh, dear, to the rain. But perhaps you'll get a proper thunderstorm - I always love those. It's going into the 80s again here today, but hopefully the weather has read the forecast, and we will actually get the promised lower temps starting tomorrow. *crosses fingers*

>167 Crazymamie: LOL, Mamie. The football team I was alluding to was UGA - the #1 college team in the country.

I know you're excited that the weather is supposed to take a turn for the cooler, but I and my kitties are not!

>175 Dejah_Thoris: I don't watch college football, which I know is NOT DONE in the South, but there you have it.

The Midwest woman in me is craving a bit of cold - I could use a break from the 80s. And I want to wear long sleeves.

>170 Crazymamie:, >171 katiekrug:, >172 Crazymamie: OK, you guys got me. Luckily, nothing was spewed on the keyboard. LOL!

I am also on the holds list for Manhattan Beach, and greatly heartened to see that you enjoyed it. I did not love A Visit From the Good Squad but from everything I'm reading this one is not nearly as experimental so I am looking forward to it.

>177 jnwelch: Then our work is done here, Joe. *grin*

>178 rosalita: Julia, I really didn't like A Visit From the Goon Squad. Manhattan Beach is definitely and completely different. You will like it.

>179 Crazymamie: Yay! I thought I was the only one who was not in love with the Goon Squad. Nice to have such esteemed company as yourself.

*happy dance* So funny because that's what I thought when I read that you didn't love it!

SO not listening to EganOrgyLuuuv. NOT.

When I walked to my polling place...I live directly on the ocean, the schoolhouse is directly on the bay, so the entire width of the island...it was 48° and breezy. I was in ***heaven*** the whole way.

Well, we had one flash of lightning, one boom of thunder, and now the sun is shining. I have been so lucky with the weather on this trip.

I'm not getting much reading done but I'm having fun feeling more caught up with LT than I can usually be!

I have had Goon Squad on my shelves for years and I do think I'll read it one of these days. Her versatility is getting Jennifer Egan some critical love.

>182 richardderus: I want 48F and breezy! *stomps foot* But really, I'm happy for you. Truly.

>183 EBT1002: Vacation os for whatever makes you smile most, Ellen. I'm delighted that the weather is cooperating and that we are getting to see more of you here.

Hoping you like Goon Squad more than I did. Which shouldn't be hard. Heh.

>184 Crazymamie: :-) on all counts.

>161 Crazymamie: Your Corgi topper makes me chuckle every time I see it. It is a shot of Miss Po, isn't it? ;>

>185 EBT1002:

>186 RebaRelishesReading: Me, too, Reba! Reminded me of Miss Po, too - have you seen Lucy's newest topper? SO cute.

BTW, I'm about a tenth of the way into Manhattan Beach (which I'm reading while reading The Windup Bird Chronicle; sometimes I get too ambitious) - anyway, I'm liking Manhattan Beach so far. A Visit from the Goon Squad never called out strongly enough to me to read it, and seeing your comment, that's probably a good thing.

Now eating. Correction: now savoring with great and abundant gourmandisme.

Joe is reading Manhattan Beach and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle simultaneously. That is ambitious, indeed.

>190 EBT1002: Word on the street is Joe's an idiot.

Ambitious yes, idiot? Never.

>191 jnwelch: :-) Thanks. Let's not ask my wife's opinion on that one, shall we?

>190 EBT1002: how? Just, how? That makes my brain hurt. 😀

>159 Crazymamie: "And Harrison Ford was their carpenter!" Yes! I did I forget that. I remember Ford being a carpenter but not in California. That is super interesting. I am assuming this was late 60s, before American Graffiti?

Hi, Mamie! I am so glad you gave Manhattan Beach a try, despite not liking Goon Squad. That is admirable. We usually agree on most books to varying levels but I am always puzzled by some readers not engaging with Goon Squad, which I thought was incredible.

I recently ran into the same issue, with Commonwealth, which I was crazy about and others were not.

>188 jnwelch: I can see reading the Murakami and Manhattan Beach at the same time - very different books, so it would work. I always have multiple books going because that's what works for me, but I do try not to read multiple books in the same genre or books where one could easily confuse the storylines.

And yeah - I just really didn't like Goon Squad.

>189 richardderus: I'm out on that one, Richard, because pistachios, which I am allergic to. Also I have really sensitive teeth, so I am very picky about frozen things. I do have a weakness for Cherry Garcia ice cream, even though it makes my teeth throb. But I am very happy for you.

>190 EBT1002: I think maybe Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is a reread for him though, which would help.

>191 jnwelch: I have not heard that, Joe. Just the opposite, actually.

>192 richardderus: Ha! Agreed.

>193 jnwelch: Um...maybe not, Joe. Good thinking - it depends on the day, right?!

>194 drneutron: *grin*

>195 msf59: Yep, I think so - I don't recall them saying what year it was, but when she lived in Malibu.

I am usually willing to try more than one book by an author, unless something really sets me off. And I loved Amor Towles review of it in the NYT Book Review - that pretty much sold me on at least checking it out.

I actually love that we can agree on a bunch of books and then find one that we disagree on - it keeps life interesting, and I always learn something about being a reader when that happens because I am forced to see it from someone else's perspective even if it doesn't change my mind at all. I enjoy the discussion and the exchange of ideas.

>198 Crazymamie: Right, Mamie. I've been doing it so long, I can't just have one book going on at a time, as weird as it is to pair one with The Windup Bird Chronicle. They're different, so at least it allows a mood pick.

I find that unusual pairings work better for me--no chance of mixing up the characters or plot. Of course, almost any book with WUBC would qualify. : )

I think I need to go to therapy to figure out how to get over my one-book-at-a-time compulsion. It has to be pathological and rooted in some deep early trauma.

Okay, maybe not.

But honestly, I really want to push past this weird thing I have about reading one book at a time! I am a pretty smart person. I could probably handle Murakami and Louise Penny at the same time, for pete's sake.

*heads off to check the battery status on her kindle*

>171 katiekrug: ha! Funny :)

>201 EBT1002: that's funny too! I see you resolved your issue as you spoke! I sense a new phase of life opening up for you.

Meanwhile, my bedside table is heaving under the weight of all the books I am reading.

>201 EBT1002: Embrace your book monogamy, Ellen! There's nothing wrong with reading one book at a time. The only thing that would increase your book totals is reading for longer, not reading simultaneously. (I think? My math skills are not strong.)

Single-book readers, unite!

(Unless you read multiple books at once, which is also perfectly cromulent, of course. Just read!)

>199 jnwelch: Yep - I am a mood reader, too. I agree with Kim, Joe - you can put any book with The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and it would not be confusing. Well, except for another Murakami. I was thinking that WUBC was a reread for you - am I wrong?

>200 Berly: I can pair anything with a murder mystery, Kim. And I agree with you about the Murakami.

>201 EBT1002: Ha! I say just do whatever works for you, Ellen. I have multiple books going constantly because I am a mood reader. SO if I was only reading one book, I would not read nearly as much because if I didn't feel like reading that book, then I would just not read. I don't like to "power through" a book because it tends to ruin it for me. The key for me is to just not pair books that are too similar - so not in the same time period or genre unless one of them is a reread. If they are too similar or I am worried about confusing them, then I just set one aside. This happened just this month - I was reading Rules of Civility when Manhattan Beach came in at the library, so I set Rules of Civility aside until I finish with Manhattan Beach.

>202 LovingLit: Mine, too, Megan, but I like it that way.

>203 rosalita: Yep - nothing wrong with reading jut one at a time. Reading multiple books for me does actually increase my book totals but that's because I read according to my mood. Reading just one at a time would result in either a lot of abandoned books or a stall in my reading. But I love your impassioned response to Ellen.

(And thank you, Miss Hoover.)

>199 jnwelch: Ha! Yeah, reading two Murakamis at the same time would be quite an experience, wouldn't it.

Good morning, Mamie!

Yes, this is a re-read of The Windup Bird Chronicle for me. I LOVED re-reading Kafka on the Shore, and got so much more out of it the second time around. I'm hoping for the same this time, and so far it's looking that way.

Morning, Joe! Okay - I thought so. You have read his entire canon, right?

Book #92: Ready Player One (4.25 stars), off my shelves ebook, dystopian/1980s pop culture - recommended by Morphy

This was so much fun! Morphy recommended this to me on my very first year here in the 75ers (2012), and I picked it up then but never got to it. Recently, we went to see the newest Blade Runner movie in the theatre, and there was a trailer for this which looked awesome. I am so glad that I didn't read it until now because there is a very cool tie-in to the original Blade Runner movie. So perfect timing on this read for me. I am not going to review it because there are already so many of those, and Bill just posted a very good one on his thread not that long ago. Suffice it to say that anyone who grew up in the 80s would love this - it's so full of that 80s pop culture, and it's so cleverly done. The only thing that I didn't love about it was the too neatly tied up ending, but that's a minor detraction.

>205 Crazymamie: Reading just one at a time would result in either a lot of abandoned books or a stall in my reading.

That makes perfect sense, Mamie. And I did get a little carried away with my defense of one-book reading, didn't I? That's what happens when I try to post before 5:30 a.m.!!

I don't remember the Blade Runner tie-in from Ready Player One but I also liked that one a lot. I feel like I would have liked it even more if I was more of a video-game player, but it was still very good. I didn't know there was a movie coming out!

>209 rosalita: I loved your defense of one-book reading, Julia! Craig always reads just one book at a time - it just doesn't work for me, lol.

The Blade Runner tie in was the second key (the jade key in the silver wrapper) - the wrapper turns into an origami unicorn, just like the one Gaff leaves outside of Rachel's door towards the end of the movie, and the test the clue refers to is the Voight-Kampff test that Deckard uses to determine if someone is human or replicant. Wade has to go to an exact replica of the Tyrell Corporationto to access the test.

And YES! The movie is set to release in March of 2018, and it looked very cool. Here's a link to the trailer: Ready Player One Movie trailer

>210 Crazymamie: Lord, I never would have remembered that tie-in without the explanation!! I do want to see the movie when it comes out. Happy Hump Day!

>211 Berly: That's why I said that I was so happy that I read it just after rewatching the original movie in preparation for seeing Blade Runner 2049. Most excellent timing on my part!!

Timing is everything!

>208 Crazymamie: WOOT!! I loved that one, too!!

>213 Berly: Yeppers!

>214 scaifea: It was a blast, Amber - brought back so many memories.

Hi Mamie, glad the joint's jumpin' and you're your usual happy self. *smooch*

I have to pick Rae up at work in a bit so that we can both go to our annual eye doctor visits. I am finally going to make the leap to progressive lenses. Currently I have contact lenses, and one corrects for distance while the other allows me to see things closer up. My old eye glasses just correct for distance, so currently if I am wearing them, I just take them off to see things up close. This works most of the time, but is a pain in the butt if I am doing something like writing checks and trying to use a computer. If I take my glasses off to read, then I have to hold the book pretty close to my face to see the print, which would be fine but doesn't work when combining carpal tunnel in both wrists with a hardback book. So, progressive lenses here I come.

>216 richardderus: That is SO sweet, BigDaddy! Thank you. *smooch back*

>210 Crazymamie: Thanks for the link to the trailer, Mamie. That does look good. Fingers crossed it is!

>217 Crazymamie: Progressive lenses are great! I had little trouble adjusting to them and it's just so much better than juggling glasses and moving things closer and farther away in order to see them. :-)

>219 jnwelch: Sure thing, Joe. Steven Spielberg is directing.

>220 rosalita: I am actually very excited about it, Julia. Craig has had them for several years, and he loves them.

>217 Crazymamie: I predict you will love your progressive lenses. When I had my cataracts done and was without them for 6 weeks or so I nearly went mad. Now I have them with clear glass on top and prescription on the bottom and I'm happy and comfortable again. Can't wait to see what frames you choose.

I think I will, too, Reba. I am definitely ready for them. I love the idea of your new glasses - must remember that, as I have cataracts so will eventually need the surgery. I chose dark rectangular frames - I wanted dark, and I also wanted no nose pieces. My current glasses are great, but they are more than ten years old and so just correct for distance. And they have the nose pieces, which make me slightly crazy when I wear them for longer periods of time. The assistant made annoyed me a bit because she followed me around like a puppy dog and gave her opinion on every pair I tried on. But she was very nice. Just also annoying.

Timely discussion! I just picked up my first pair of progressive glasses yesterday, and so I'm still in the getting-used-to-them stage (yesterday I nearly threw them across the room, but this morning, although I'm still fumbling a bit, is a little better, I think).

Hang in there, Amber. And try not to throw them. Hoping that it goes quickly for you. My doctor was giddy that I told him I was ready for progressive lenses instead if him having to tell me, which cracked me up. And he said, "My advice - put them on and leave them on. There is a learning curve, but it goes faster if you just wear them." I should have mine in 10-14 days they said.

Morning, Mamie. Sweet Thursday. Hooray for RPO. Your timing was perfect. I may consider a reread before the film arrives. It was awesome on audio.

Good luck with the new lenses.

Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you! I picked up the audio for Daniel, who wants to listen to it before the movie comes out - narrated by Wil Wheaton, so I bet it is good. And thank you for those good wishes.

I've been wearing progressives for a long time (maybe 30 years?) and have been known to so forget they're there that I get into the shower wearing them. Cut my nose one time when I threw my full-of-water-hands up to my face only to smack into them lol.

Do we get photos ladies?

Birdy, Rae and I watched Sunset Boulevard last night. Such a great film. The girls hadn't seen it before, so it was fun to see their first impressions.

>229 Crazymamie: Appalling Fact: Norma Desmond is an Old Woman the entire film. Bill Holden *acute fantods* then announces "There's no crime in being ***FIFTY***..."

FIFTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A stripling, a babe-in-arms, a mere slip of a thing! Practically adolescent!!!!

And she's OLD to them!

...clearly I need a drink...

I know! I had forgotten that she was only fifty, and we were all laughing at that because I just turned fifty this year.

Good morning, Mamie. Sweet Thursday!

Ready Player One is so much fun. Yes! I hadn't fully appreciated the Blade Runner references until you and someone else (not sure who) mentioned it.

>217 Crazymamie: They're making progressive lenses so much more interesting-looking these days. :-)

I crossed that Rubicon some time ago, and now am closer to 70 than I am to 40. Puts a mere half-century into hideous perspective, lemme tell ya.

>232 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Sweet Thursday! I loved the Blade Runner references - just so fun, well, really, the whole book was fun.

Unfortunately, my doctor's office did not have those frames on offer, so I had to settle for ordinary frames. SO pedestrian. *sigh*

>233 richardderus: Well, the heart and the mind are in mint condition, BigDaddy. You rock!

*smooch*

Apart from gout, I'm actually rudely healthy. No cholesterol, blood pressure, kidney, liver, lung issues not caused by the meds, and those are really mild. (Except the tendency to throw kidney stones that comes with gout...fortunately I can manage that by drinking vats of water every day!)

No wonder my father lived to be 90, eleven *years* after having a debilitating bilateral stroke. And his father before him, and his mother the spherical lady died at 88. We're what the kids call "tough old bastards."

Hooray for tough old bastards! *smooch back*

My post yesterday mysteriously disappeared. Rats.

Glad you are going for the progressive lenses--do post a picture!

I have never watched Sunset Boulevard -- you do watch the most diverse movies! -- now I have to start a TBW (To Be Watched) list. ; )

I am older than 50 but don't feel old except for when I get asked on Tuesdays in the grocery store if I want to use my senior discount by the 18-year-old cashier. LOL

Total bummer about your post, Kim. Rae is getting new glasses, too, so I'll see if we can get one of us together in our new eyewear.

I have a great love of old movies - my Dad and I used to watch Adventure Theatre on Sundays on the local channel, and they would play back to back movies all day. So I grew up watching Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant and John Wayne. Those are still some of my very favorite movies, and they just don't make them like that anymore with the clever dialogue and the character actors like Walter Brennan and Thelma Ritter and S. Z. Sakall. *sigh*

I only feel old when I bend down in the store aisle to get something from the bottom shelf and then have trouble getting back up again. Heh. The right knee does not work like it used to.

...there's stuff on those shelves? Ain't seen none since who-whipped-the-cat. Thought they were empty.

Ha! I am firmly convinced that they purposely place the things that I am looking for either on the very bottom shelf or on the very top shelf, making it almost impossible for me to get everything on my list. The other day at Target, Birdy and I were in the wine aisle, perusing the inventory, and Birdy says, "Very clever strategy." When I asked her what she was talking about, she pointed up to the top shelf where all the cardboard carriers were - the ones you fill and then get the additional discount for purchasing multiple bottles of wine. Height discrimination, I tell you.

Happy Friday, Mamie!

A friend of ours does a funny poem about his short girlfriend always wanting him to get things for her that are on high shelves, but getting mad at him when he asks her to get him something that's under the sink.

I try to avoid things that are too low - I just don't like the feeling of having my head down like that. I'd be a lousy gymnast.

>230 richardderus: OMG she was only 50!! Amazing what was considered old!

You got me with a BB for Snowblind, Mamie. Although the spellcheck on my phone changed his name to Johnson - so frustrating, not everything is spelled the American way.

Don't even get me started with where things are placed on the shelves in stores. I have been known to use the bottom shelf to reach up there.

Height discrimination- I will not stand for it! I *have* to stand for it, to reach the stuff, but I shouldn't have to ;)

Whew, I have finally caught up here, Mamie. I don't know how I got so far behind. Sunset Boulevard is a great movie, one of my favorites, but then most movies from the 1940's are "favorites" of mine. Hope you and the family have a great weekend!

>243 LovingLit: 😂

Speaking as a life-long shopper in the Big'n'Tall section, I'd like to register my counter(!)-complaint about the shrimpy-person favoritism shown in the height of work surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms. I should not have to chop onions or wash my face while stooping down to around my pubic area just because y'all're so dinky. Oh, and those dingle-dangle cords on fans and lights? Yeah, NO. Haul 'em up over 7 feet so I can walk under them as opposed to having them in my face.

PS what's the problem with stuff on the top shelf? Just reach up and get it. Oh wait...hey, how about this: Y'all get the stuff off the bottom shelf and I'll reach the stuff off the top shelf. I guess this is why I've always had short spouses of both genders. Shorter than me, anyway.

>241 jnwelch: Hello, Joe! Happy Saturday! Too funny about the poem. I always bend with my knees, which is what causes the problem - sometimes the right knee works, and sometimes it doesn't. Heh.

>242 Familyhistorian: SO true about spellcheck, Meg. Hoping to

My solution to the store situation was to try to take Daniel along with me - he is 6 feet tall. The funny thing about that is ladies in the market were always asking to "borrow" him. Birdy and I are no good together as she is 5 feet, and I am 5' 2".

>243 LovingLit: Amen, Sister!

>244 DeltaQueen50: Hello, Judy! Thanks for taking time to catch up. Yep - the 40s are my favorites, too. The weekend should be full of fabulous - today is Daniel's birthday (he is 23), so there will be feasting and merry making. Two of my favorite things!

>245 drneutron: *grin*

>246 richardderus: Duly noted, BigDaddy. Of course, if the cord is that high, I will have to endure the darkness. The ceiling fan/light in our bedroom has a remote control, which I love - no cord at all.

PS I usually cannot reach the top shelf, even if what I want is precariously balanced on the edge of said shelf.

Happy birthday, Daniel!! Yay for feasting and merry making!

Now back to the height thing...the bathroom stalls at work have 1) a very high commode (only my toes touch when I am perched upon it and I feel like a little kid) and then 2) one that must be for children (because my knees are actually above my mid-section, a new experience for me to feel like a giant!) (I'm an average 5' 4"). So, when I visit the bathroom I can decide what kind of a day it is. LOL

Thanks, Kim!

Oh, dear about the bathroom stalls at work. When we moved into this house for some reason the 1/2 bath had one of those tiny commodes, and the space is already so small anyway, so a very tight fit for the boys who both said it felt like a time out chamber.

>250 Crazymamie: *eeee*

*flees in claustrophobic terror*

Yeah, good thinking, Richard. We did replace the commode, but there is nothing we can do about the tiny bathroom. Luckily, we have three other full bathrooms to choose from.

I can't do tiny spaces or underwater because if there is any remotest chance that my air supply will be restricted I am *SO* outta there. Anesthesia must be snuck up on me, and dentistry is torture not from the (minimal) pain but the prodding and rinsing in my airway!! *collywobbles*

I am also not good with tiny spaces, so I hear you. I am fine at the dentist office, but I want them to stop using my chest to wipe things on - I want the bib thing to just be to protect your clothing, not an invitation to use it as a napkin.

I've never noticed my dentist doing that, but then again I'm so busy trying not to scream, sob, barf, and run that he could probably eat a four-course meal off my chest and I'd never notice.

Poor, poor baby. *there, there, pat, pat*

*smooch*

I am having the Sunday afternoon blues on a Saturday. Weird.

I enjoyed Ready Player One, as well! It was a fun well-paced read.

Good luck with the progressive lenses. I have "failed" to adjust to mine and so I still have over-the-counter readers scattered all about the house, office, and car. I should probably give them another try.

Happy Saturday evening, my dear!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday! Hope you are enjoying the weekend, along with the books. We are getting a touch of winter here, so it is taking a bit of my long weekend away but at least I am not working out in it.

>257 richardderus: *bear hug*

>258 EBT1002: Sorry to hear about the Sunday afternoon blues, Ellen. Especially on a Saturday.

Well-paced is an excellent way to describe it - I love books that just pull you in and take you along for the ride like that.

I could not make do with just readers, as I am very near-sighted. I do think you should give them another try. Craig really loves his, but he said on his first pair he felt like he didn't get the frames on exactly right when they were taking the measurements because he always felt like he had to look through them funny. But his second pair work great, and he thinks it's because he was very careful to make sure they were on straight and in the place on his nose where he would wear them when they measured.

I thank you for those good wishes - we had a Saturday full of fabulous. And today is for football, so another day of hanging out with my favorite people.

>259 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday! A busy weekend so far, so not much reading getting done, but perhaps today I can squeeze some in. It's colder here, too - we actually had to turn the heat on yesterday!

>260 Crazymamie: Great to see your weekend going so well, Mamie.

Hani and I went to the cinema today to see Victoria & Abdul and I have to say it was splendid. Would wholeheartedly recommend it as the acting and script was top notch. Dame Judy is fast becoming one of my favourite daughters of Yorkshire.

Thank you, Paul! I adore Judi Dench! She is fabulous in everything she is in, so I am not surprised that you are giving two thumbs up to her latest. Her daughter (Finty Williams) narrates the audiobook I am currently listening to - The Girl With All the Gifts, and it is very well done.

>262 Crazymamie: Wow that is some first name - Finty!

It's a nickname.

Happy Football Day! Hope your team wins.

Thank you, BigDaddy!

>264 Crazymamie: Indeed; her real name is Tara Cressida Frances so I guess she was due a shortening.

Incidentally Judi Dench hails from Haworth of Bronte renown and the very place Hani has fallen in love with and wants us to move to.

Happy football watching. Hike!

>267 PaulCranswick: Yeah, that's a mouthful. I would go by Finty, too. And so interesting about Haworth - I remember the image from your thread, and it was so beautiful.

>268 Berly: Thank you, Kim!

It's that day whose name we dare not utter, Mamie. And I'm told we'd better not look directly at it, either. Hope it's a reasonably good one for you and the Pecan Paradisio gang.

Joe, you speak the truth. I appreciate the good wishes - here's hoping that today is kind to you.

Hiya Mamie!



Another week of reading, friends, and football!! C'mon, get happy and swill down some coffee and let's get this party train rollin'!!

>272 richardderus: Aw! Thanks, BigDaddy! Just what I needed as I is draggin' a bit today. All right - just let me chug that down, and I'll get my happy on.

*smooch* I hope you're in the happy habit all day.

I can't manage the progressive lenses, just can't do it, so I have to have my main near-sighted glasses and my computer/book glasses -- and anyway it all hardly matters as the cataract thing is really getting going, except the doc says I have a way to go before even the worst one, left, is ready. Grrrr. These days I find it most comfortable a lot of the time to read with no glasses, holding the book as close as need be.

I wonder too if I didn't do something like Craig did -- so the progressives just sat wrong.

Hope you made it through Monday Mamie. I'm counting today as a win: made a fun wishlist from everyone's recommendations over the past few years. The least said about the rest of the day...!

>274 richardderus: *smooch back* I will do my best.

>275 sibylline: Total bummer, Lucy. I am hoping that they work for me or I will have to copy you. My contacts work fine with one eye corrected for distance and one eye with a weaker lens to allow me to see things closer up. BUT, I cannot drive in them after dark, and I prefer to read with my naked eyes if I am going to read for hours. I also have the cataracts developing, but they are not bothering me yet.

Craig said that it was night and day difference between his first pair and his second, so perhaps you might try them again down the road and be very cognizant of how you are putting the frames on and how you are holding your head and looking through them when they take the measurements.

>276 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte. I cannot complain as it hasn't bitten me yet. I am keeping a wary eye on it and watching the clock for Tuesday. You are closer than I am, and it sounds like you are more than ready for the backend of it. The wishlist sounds fun.

Hi Mamie! I am enjoying an extra long weekend and taking advantage of the time to make some long over-due visits to threads.

Some belated congratulations in order: Happy anniversary to you and Craig and happy birthday to Birdy! Also, love the new "colour" of Rae and Abby's hair!

>208 Crazymamie: - Happy to see you enjoyed RPO! Loved that one and was stunned that the author had to self publish before a publishing company would take this one on.

>217 Crazymamie: - Ah progressives. I had to make that leap three years ago. When my prescription changed slightly, I went for bifocals (to see what the difference was like) and discovered that bifocals are the worst if you need to work on a computer, so I now have two pairs of glasses, 1 pair of bifocals and 1 pair of progressives. I tend to flip between the two depending on what I will be doing for the next few hours. Next year I will probably purchase a pair of single lens glasses for reading, so I will be juggling three pairs of glasses.

Two threads later, I am now all caught up!

Morning, Mamie!

I'm happy to report that after a few days, I see to be getting along just fine with my progressive lenses! Those first couple of days, though, had me thinking that it just wouldn't work. So if you get yours and then feel the same way, stick with it, because it gets better!

Morning, Mamie! I hope your week is off to a good start. This is my long work week but I will just keep putting one foot in front of another and let my books keep me distracted. BTW- Turtles All the Way Down has been very good.

>279 lkernagh: Hello, Lori! I am always so impressed by the time you take to catch up with individual threads. Thanks so much for those good wishes and kind words.

I did not know that about RPO! It's so good that it really surprises me - perhaps they thought it was aimed at too small of a target audience? I am looking forward to the movie version - the trailer, at least, looked very good.

SO interesting about the different lenses - I can totally see using different ones for different tasks. Craig hated bifocals but loved the progressive lenses, so I just went straight to the progressive. I am lucky because my eyes are both the same prescription (and have been for many years) and I don't have astigmatism. It's funny because until I started wearing the two different lenses to allow for seeing far away and seeing close up, I never had a left or a right contact lens. It was weird for me to have to worry about getting the proper lens in the correct eye.

>280 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I am so happy to hear that the lenses are working out for you. Excellent news! I am hoping that I will have the same results. And thanks for the encouragement.

>281 msf59: Morning, Mark! Not too bad with the week starting now that we have that dreaded day out of the way. It is a busy week for us because we have tons of appointments - and the big one is Birdy getting her wisdom teeth out on Friday. She has been sick but is finally feeling better, so I won't have to cancel the appointment, which I was worried about.

I have only read one John Green book - The Fault in Our Stars, which was excellent.

Hoping the week goes quickly and smoothly for you, my friend!

Good morning, Mamie!

I didn't know that Ready Player One was first self-published, either. Same thing happened with The Martian. I understand that The Martian was first only an electronic story on his blog, and when so many people liked it, he made it available on Amazon. Then it really took off.

Happy Tuesday, Mamie dear. Time for a pecan cinnamon bun with me before the day gets too far away from us?

>284 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Although technically, I guess it's afternoon now.

I loved The Martian! And I did not know that. Look at me learning new stuff everyday. *preens*

>285 richardderus: Yes, sir! That looks most YUM. Thank you!

...hmm...radio silence this early in the day is worrisome.

Pluto to Mamie, come home please!

Mamie to Pluto, I have arrived.

*smooch* Much relieved.

Birdy, Abby and I watched Mr.Holmes yesterday, and we were utterly charmed by it. Ian McKellen is brilliant as Sherlock Holmes at 93 and struggling with memory loss - he desperately wants to remember his very last case which led him to retire and seek seclusion. Such a lovely, slowly unfolding story about how failure shapes us.

>289 richardderus: Thanks for checking on me - awoke this morning with a sore throat and a stuffy head, so I went back to bed for a bit. I'm thinking I have caught Birdy's cold. *sad face*

Morning, Mamie. I have wanted to watch Mr. Holmes forever. I just keep forgetting about it. It is back on my watchlist. Thanks.

Morning, Mark! It's full of fabulous - hoping you get to it soon.

>290 Crazymamie: I was reduced to sobbing sodden tearfulness as I watched Mr. Holmes. My young gentleman caller was a little embarrassed but, after I explained how it looks to an older person who's done a lot of caregiving for the dementia-addled in his life, asked to watch it again. He held my hand the whole way through the second viewing.

Sweet lad. I miss him a little.

>291 Crazymamie: BOO HISS ON CABRON OF A COLD!! Banishment *whammy* aloft as we speak.

>290 Crazymamie: I've never heard of this movie but it sounds lovely. Is it on a streaming service?

Mornin', Mamie! I hope all is well with you.

Got 'Stranger Things'? Down to final episode, which arrived all too quickly.

Currently listening to Boys in the Boat narrated by Edward Hermann. Delightful.

Sorry you are feeling a bit under the weather. I hope it doesn't linger too long...

>294 richardderus: I teared up, too, Richard. It spoke to me, and I know that I will watch it again. And thanks for sharing your lovely story - so sweet. I always think that little moments like that speak the loudest to any heart.

And thank you for the banishment whammy. Much appreciated.

>295 rosalita: It is lovely, Julia. We watched it on Amazon Prime.

>296 brodiew2: Afternoon, Brodie! It's a kind of Bad Day at Black Rock week here at the Pecan Paradisio, but we are trying to make the best of it.

I have only watched the first several episodes of Stranger Things, but Abby loves that show.

And hooray for a good audiobook!!

>297 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie. Me, too, because I have to take Birdy to get her wisdom teeth out first thing Friday morning.

Thanks, Mamie. I've added Mr. Holmes to my watchlist on Prime.

Whoot! You're welcome, Julia!

>284 jnwelch: - That is the one! I goofed and thought RPO had self-published, but nope, I was confusing it with The Martian. Another great book!