Paul C's 2018 Part 3

A Bradfordian Winter Scene courtesy of Hani.

POEM

Not perhaps a poem but poetic indeed. This is from the famous John O'Gaunt speech Act 2, Scene 1 which is included in The Map and the Clock which I am presently reading.

Methinks I am a prophet new inspir’d,
And thus expiring do foretell of him:
His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last,
For violent fires soon burn out themselves;
Small show’rs last long, but sudden storms are short;
He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes;
With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder;
Light vanity, insatiate cormorant,
Consuming means, soon preys upon itself.
This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands;
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,

Who Am I?



Fifty something (already my God). Several businesses and thousands of books. SWMBO and three "children". A coffee making maid and almost little sister and a bald driver who assists in smuggling books past a watchful madam.

Books Read in 2018

January

1. The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien (1960) 224 pp
2. The Debt to Pleasure by John Lanchester (1996) 251 pp
3. Girl with Green Eyes by Edna O'Brien (1962) 256 pp
4. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (1996) 257 pp
5. Lupercal by Ted Hughes (1960) 63 pp
6. Girls in their Married Bliss by Edna O'Brien (1964) 199 pp
7. The Luck of Ginger Coffey by Brian Moore (1960)
8. Wild Tales by Graham Nash (2013) 345 pp
9. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) 300 pp

Currently Reading

BRITISH AUTHOR THEME CHALLENGE 2018

JANUARY - DEBUT NOVELS - https://www.librarything.com/topic/275745#6259410
FEBRUARY - THE 1970s - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6262597
MARCH - CLASSIC THRILLERS - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266669
APRIL - FOLKLORE, FABLES AND LEGENDS - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6264065
MAY - QUEENS OF CRIME - https://www.librarything.com/topic/275745#6260378
JUNE - TRAVEL WRITING - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266685
JULY - THE ANGRY YOUNG MEN - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266706
AUGUST - BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6265570
SEPTEMBER - HISTORICAL FICTION - http://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266539
OCTOBER - COMEDIC NOVELS - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276329#6266707
NOVEMBER - WORLD WAR ONE - https://www.librarything.com/topic/275745#6258461
DECEMBER - BRITISH SERIES - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276796#6268684

WILDCARD - THE ROMANTICS - https://www.librarything.com/topic/276796#6271176

The format of the British Author Challenge next year will be slightly different in that it will be based upon themes.
That said for guidance I will choose 10 books each month to help and guide that theme along but, as you know me, you can then read what you jolly well like anyway!

IRISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2018

Format

I will select five males and five females and there will be two special months.

January : EDNA O'BRIEN
February : WILLIAM TREVOR
March : DEIRDRE MADDEN
April : Samuel Beckett
May : IRISH CRIME WRITERS
June : ANNE ENRIGHT
July : COLM TOIBIN
August : MOLLY KEANE
September : RODDY DOYLE
October : POETS & PLAYWRIGHTS
November : EMMA DONOGHUE, JENNIFER JOHNSTON, MAGGIE O'FARRELL
December : JOHN BANVILLE, SEBASTIAN BARRY, COLUM MCCANN

American Author Challenge



American Author Challenge 2018

January - Joan Didion

ANZ Author Challenge



I will be doing Kerry's ANZAC Bingo Challenge 2x12

ANZAC Bingo 2x12
1: Read a book about conflict or war
2: Read a book with more than 500 pgs
3: Read an Aussie crime novel
4: Read a book using word play in the title
5: Read a book about exploration or a journey
6: Read a book that's been longlisted for the International DUBLIN Literary Award
7: Read a book that's part of a series
8: Read a memoir/biography (can be fiction)
9: Read a book written under a pen name
10: Read a book with a musical plot
11: Read a book with water featured in title/cover :
12: Read a book with an immigrant protagonist :

OTHER CHALLENGES

Guardian 1000 (998) Books - 332 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270237#6197972

1001 Books First Edition - 288 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/268508#6162704

Booker Prize Winners - 25 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/268508#6165614

Nobel Prize Winners Read - 63 out of 114 laureates read something. https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6207224

Pulitzer Prize Winners (6 main categories) - 23 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6207348

National Book Award Winners (Fiction) - 16 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208562

Women's Prize Winners - 5 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208568

Giller Prize Winners - 6 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208574

Miles Franklin Winners - 5 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208578

Walter Scott Prize Winners - 2 Read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209474

Baillie Gifford Winners - 3 Read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209503

James Tait Black Winners - 17 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209513

Whitbread/Costa Winners (4 categories) - 24 winners read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209540

Dublin International Literature Award - 7 winners read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209556

PEN Faulkner Award Winners - 3 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209725

National Book Critics Circle Awards - 6 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209733

READING PLAN FOR JANUARY

1. BAC The Debt to Pleasure by John Lanchester (Debut Novels) Around the World in 80 Books (UK) COMPLETED
2. AAC A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion - Around the World in 80 Books (USA)
3. ANZAC The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan - Booker Winner - Around the World in 80 Books (Australia)
4. IAC The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien - Around the World in 80 Books (Ireland) COMPLETED
5. IAC Girl with Green Eyes by Edna O'Briend COMPLETED
6. IAC Girls in their Married Bliss by Edna O'Brien COMPLETED
7. Non-Fiction Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance COMPLETED
8. Poetry - Lupercal by Ted Hughes COMPLETED
9. Poetry - Meditations in an Emergency by Frank O'Hara
10. Series - The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
11. Non-Fiction - Hillbilly Elegy by JD. Vance
12. Biography - Wild Tales by Graham Nash
13 Around the World in 80 Books - The Luck of Ginger Coffey by Brian Moore COMPLETED
14. Around the World in 80 Books - Rituals by Cees Nooteboom (Netherlands)
15 Around the World in 80 Books - Man Tiger by Eka Kurniawan (Indonesia)
16. Around the World in 80 Books - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Ghana)
17. Poetry Anthology - The Map and the clock edited by Duffy and Clarke
18. BAC - The Miniaturist by Jesse Burton

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

1. Ireland - Edna O'Brien
2. United Kingdom - John Lanchester
3. United States of America - J.D. Vance
4. Canada - Brian Moore

READING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2018

READ 200 BOOKS (First time in twenty-five years) 1/200

COMPLETE:

BAC 1/12
AAC 0/12
IAC 3/12
ANZAC 0/12
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS 4/80
A POETRY COLLECTION EVERY FORTNIGHT 1/26
A LONG ANTHOLOGY EVERY MONTH 0/12
A BIOGRAPHY EVERY MONTH 0/12
ANOTHER NON-FICTION TOME EACH MONTH 1/12
AT LEAST ONE SERIES BOOK EACH MONTH 0/12
A CHUNKSTER A MONTH 0/12

Next is yours

>1 PaulCranswick: Love your topper!

>15 thornton37814: Thanks Lori. xx

Happy new thread, Paul! Struggling to keep up, with all the holiday weight I’ve put on.

>17 humouress: Haha Let's both keep fit by running around the threads.

Just dropping by to say hi, Paul. I love your topper picture, Hani has a good eye as to what makes a great photo.

>16 PaulCranswick: You know, I don't think I've ever been first on your new thread before. I'm still in shock!

>19 DeltaQueen50: Thank dear Guru - lovely as always to see you.

>20 thornton37814: They are becoming rarer events also this year Lori but I am always pleased to see you active around the threads as you have been this month. xx

Apparently I can only come to speak when you start a new thread, Paul. That's not exactly what my heart wants, but I wish you good living, good reading, and good reviewing!

Happy new thread, Paul. I hope you are cured. My sickness lingers on but I think it might be related to the cold, cold rain that keeps falling.

>22 LizzieD: Thank you Peggy. I am not doing so great at getting around the threads myself just at the moment so I am just pleased my pals still come see me. xx

>23 Familyhistorian: Much better today, Meg. Had a hearty lunch with two old Korean colleagues of mine and enjoyed catching up with them.

Happy new thread!

Happy New thread! What a beautiful topper. Hani certainly takes great photos. Hopefully,you are beginning to feel better :)

Happy new thread, Paul. When do your girls come home? Glad your cough is better. Yup, that 'pei pa koh' that you've been boiling up to drink will definitely do the trick, even if it tastes vile.

Hi Paul and happy new thread. Very nice topper by Hani. I like the contrast of the snow and green and the patterns of the fencing.

Happy new thread, Paul. May it be a healthy one!

Happy new thread! Great looking family up there!

Happy new thread, Paul! The close of your last one has me contemplating a trip to the liquor store. :-)

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Paul!

Happy new thread!

Happy new one, Paul! Lovely topper!

Happy new thread, Paul. What a lot of challenges! You have made a good start. I really like the way you arranged the GB categories. Have a lovely weekend.

Happy new thread Paul! Are the ladies still snowed in?

Good to see you're feeling better, hoping the asthma will soon be gone completely. I caught the current cold bug as well and was glad the weekend was close and I'd get some rest. Now typing from my couch, with blankets, hot tea and the smell of menthol around me, hoping to avoid the cough this time.

Happy New Thread, Paul!

I think I liked Hillbilly Elegy more than you did. Like others, I read it as part of the NYT's list of six books to help understand Trump's win. The last bit of my review: "Will I ever understand Trump's supporters? Probably not, but this is an interesting description of the evolution of some of their populist views."

It dumbfounds me that people prefer to be fiercely independent to the point of denying needed help for their children.

I've requested far too many library books which all arrived in a lump in January. Once I get caught up, I hope to join some of the challenges.

Happy New Thread, Paul.

>2 PaulCranswick: Eternally lovely - the poem and the subject.

Happy New Thread, Paul. Lovely image at the top there.

>10 PaulCranswick: I love the variety of reading challenges that are out there.

Gadzooks. Forty posts behind on day 2.

Post 291 last thread made me gasp and tremble.

Paul--Happy new thread! I hope that everyone in your household is well by now. I am sure that the Glenmoran helped. Also, my hubby is disappointed that you live too far away to share. : ) Happy weekend.

>25 BBGirl55: Thanks Bryony. Had a nice day meeting up with a very old Austrian friend and his Singaporean wife for the first time in many years and it was lovely to see how pleased they were to see me.

>26 figsfromthistle: Thank you Anita. I am proud of Hani's photographic exploits as I think my threads attest!

>27 cameling: The ladies are back in the first week of February. That cough mixture diluted in hot water was splendidly effective.

Happy new thread, Paul!
The topper is a winner again. Snowy landscapes have something special, when the snow lays untouched.

>28 karenmarie: Thanks Karen. It is a scene very familiar to me from my formative years and a typical Yorkshire vista at this time of the year.

>29 jessibud2: Thank you Shelley - I do so hope so!

>30 drneutron: Cheers Jim. They are three lucky kids to get the lion's share of their mother's genes!

>31 harrygbutler: I think I'll join you, Harry. You can never have enough single malt!

>32 amanda4242: Thanks Amanda. xx

>33 scaifea: Lovely to see my favourite Wisconsin classicist as always.

>34 foggidawn: Thanks Foggy. The weekend seems to be flying along here I am already into Sunday - where the heck did Saturday go?

>35 Crazymamie: I am happy to be nice and warm in Malaysia, Mamie, but missing my ladies nonetheless.

>36 BLBera: Thanks Beth. The British Author Theme Challenge was something I did think about quite a bit as I was keen to freshen it up after three years.

>37 Deern: Oh dear, Nathalie. I do hope that the bugs are not being transmitted across the ether! I am much better and i wish the same to you and as quickly as possible. xx

The ladies have actually driven down to Ealing on the outskirts of London to stay with one of our friends. Hani called me a little upset as she failed to realise that she had messaged her friend that she would be arriving on Sunday and not Saturday. Her and Belle are now in a quite shabby little hotel nearby and my daughter is apparently less than pleased with her scatterbrained parent!

>38 streamsong: I liked the book more than I took to the man, Janet, I think. Does it help explain the folly of trump? I am not so certain on that point but the American heartlands do need to do some soul searching for foisting the fellow on the world at large.

>39 jnwelch: I do love that speech Joe. There is in continuance a reference to Jewry and Christianity which is of its time but which I wanted to excise nonetheless.

>40 EBT1002: Thanks Ellen. There are indeed a plethora of great challenges this year - some of the shared reads entice and the Non-Fiction challenge and the evergreen TIOLI always keep my attention more than occasionally.

>41 richardderus: I got back from a visit to friends which went on for several (eight) hours longer than I expected it to and was chuffed to see so many posts awaiting me.

Off to look at my last post again on the last thread but I think I can guess which one it was and it is a crying shame I couldn't pour us both a stiff one.

>42 Berly: Thanks Kimmers! Glenmorangie is a cure-all for certain. xx

>44 FAMeulstee: Like a blanket made of cotton wool, Anita. xx

>48 PaulCranswick: I hope Belle forgives Hani. Hopefully she can look on it as an adventure.

Happy Sunday Paul. Love the topper, and glad you are feeling better!

>50 PaulCranswick: I've been taking a nip of the Glenmorangie as a preventative. My brother gave it to me for Christmas, and I haven't had a sick day since...I draw conclusions.

>51 thornton37814: She will be ok but her scowl is something to be feared of!

>52 EllaTim: I am much much better, Ella, thanks

>53 laytonwoman3rd: It is nectar, Linda, pure and simple. Nectar.

Happy new thread, Paul, and I hope both you and Kyran are getting better. You have the advantage, with your "nectar".

>55 ronincats: Thanks Roni. I am sure that Kyran is able to secrete his own kind of medicine past my poorly watching eyes.

Glenmorangie !!!!! Good for you! I do love my single malt, and my life in that respect was made complete when my DH gave me a bottle of Lagavulin for our anniversary a couple of years ago.
Get to 100% health soon!

>57 LizzieD: Oh, Peggy - I have tried Lagavulin before and it is right up there amongst my favourites.



I love its smoky taste and aroma. Decent present too as it retails at about $120!

My Hubby approves of this one, too. ; )

A strange thing to write at 7:30 am, but I LOVE Lagavulin and generally peaty Islay whisky. I don't have any at home, I should invest in another bottle. Might also help against the cold symptoms.

Happy New Thread :)

>49 PaulCranswick: Poor Hani - she seems to had a lot of little disasters whilst she's been away. Hopefully Belle will forgive her today.

>59 Berly: Kimmers, there is plenty of the good stuff to go around. When I meet up with you in the States one of these fine days I think a tipple or two with you and your Hubby is in order.

>60 Deern: Similarly Nathalie a visit to Italy will see me with a bottle of Single-Malt in hand - promise!!

>61 BekkaJo: They are eating and have had an injection of funds from yours truly. So all is good!

>60 Deern: "help with the cold symptoms" *bwaaahaaahaaa* You won't *care* about the cold symptoms, but they'll still be there.



My favorite tipple. Can't drink alcohol anymore, riles up the gout.

>63 richardderus: Yep, I like that one too, RD. A snifter or two still impacts your gout? Damn and blast.

Happy new thread mate.

>58 PaulCranswick:

We've been to the Lagavulin distillery and it's got such a beautiful setting (as have most of the Islay distilleries). Mr SanDune was most disappointed when we visited the Macallan distillery on Speyside: that's his favourite whisky but seemed very industrial in comparison.

Happy New Thread, Paul. Hope you had a good weekend.

Have you read Black Swan Green? It is an excellent coming of age novel, set in Worchestershire.

Happy new thread!

Hello Paul! I am slowly poking my head into some threads over here. I am actually taking a year off from having a thread in the 75er group. Trying to maintain threads over multiple groups got to be a bit much for me so my home base for 2018 will be my Category Challenge thread.

Sorry to read that you have been having problems with asthma and then came down with a bug. Glad to see the Scotch did the trick. ;-) I have recently become a Scotch drinker but still very much a newbie.

Wishing you a fabulous week.

>65 johnsimpson: Thanks John

>66 SandDune: I quite like Macallan too Rhian but prefer Balvenie. Like the setting you provided. I have been to the Laphroaig distillery also on Islay and it has a similarly enchanting setting. That one is very much an acquired taste but I acquired it!

>67 msf59: Hi Mark. I haven't read that one by Mitchell, yet. I have only read Ghostwritten and The Bone Clocks by him, both of which I enjoyed.

>68 witchyrichy: Thank you Karen. xx

>69 lkernagh: I must admit I had missed your thread Lori and had commented on its absence.

I will seek you out on the Category Challenge Thread from time to time. xx

happy new thread, Paul!

Paul has vanished! Someone alert the Kuala Lumpur constabulary! No posts in over twelve hours...prepare yourselves, he might be dead...ach Paulie we hardly knew ye...

Hi, Paul. I came by now because I caught that you and Kylan were down with some bug. I hope you both are feeling better now.

In the meantime, I also caught that you had reviewed Hillbilly Elegy, so I went back in your threads until I found it. I pretty much agree with you, especially after I let the book marinate in the back of my mind a bit. Suzanne did the same and wrote about her after-thoughts. It's a well-written memoir but there are a lot of holes and contradictions. Vance may have a longer journey ahead of him than even he thinks.

Paul? Do I have to send out my pack of meerkats to look for you?

Hope you're feeling better. I was quite surprised to find on recent trip to Edinburgh how pubs seemed to have as many kinds of gin now as they always had of whisky! Definitely something I'm in favour of!

>72 ChelleBearss: Thanks Chelle. I am thankfully free of gremlins now and looking forward to catching up on the threads over the next day or so.

>73 richardderus: Reports of my demise are, thankfully for my staff awaiting their salary checks, greatly premature. Will be back in the fold properly RD from today.

>74 ffortsa: Lovely to see you Judy and I think that you make a good point about Vance's book. It is indeed a snapshot of where he is. It is written as he has barely left law school and is just getting used to an excellent salary, a stable home life with "the woman of his dreams" and has just managed to distance himself from his formative environment. It would be interesting 20 years from now to see what his conclusions are.

>75 charl08: I wondered why the felines in my household seemed on high alert!
Gin bars are so retro aren't they? I am a lover of gin to almost, but not quite, the same degree as whisky, Charlotte. It may be my palette but there seems far more uniformity of taste in gin than is the amber nectar.

I'm enjoying the Islay photos, Paul. I may not be a Scotch drinker but appreciate the scenery as that is where one of my ancestral lines hails from.

Yesterday's post was eaten by the internet and I was too tired to retype. Something about the whisky types available here. I have a special love for Lagavulin, as it was the first whisky I tried and liked. Then Ardbeg was relaunched with a new 10 year old after the reopening of the destillery. They had clever marketing, so more of their special brands are available here. I also had a bottle of Bowmore and one Laphroig once, so I'm all for the peaty taste. I tried Speyside, not for me. And I might sound like an alcoholic now, but I'm writing about 12 years of whisky love and maybe 5 bottles I owned and mostly shared.

I also like the taste of gin very much, but never tried any of the real good ones.

>66 SandDune: Lovely picture, thank you! And you had perfect weather! I still want to go there some day.

Glad you are back with us Paul :)

I see from your last thread that Girls in their Married Bliss was a hit, I still have to read the final 2 of that trilogy....I will have to track them down one day....

Tell me, what black stuff was Dolores O'Riordan fond of? Coffee sans milk? 46 seems terribly young to die, especially given that aI am perilously close to that myself these days. A friend if mine saw her in the street when she was touring here with The Cranberries, and said she was so so so thin. My main Cranberries memory is their song which played at a friend funeral 20-odd years ago...at the height of their fame. It took me until the mod 2000s to be able to listen to *any* of their songs without crying!!

You are being much "quieter" than normal, my friend. I hope everything is going well with you.

Hi Paul! Hope all is well for you. :) As Lori says, you're being more quiet than normal!

>1 PaulCranswick:

Very smooth contrasts.

I'd also love to see photographs of genuine hedgerows.
Wisconsin doesn't seem to have what is described.

You don't have to wait 20 years to see what Hillbilly Vance will conclude:
he's now running again as a Republican.

No wonder he didn't pursue any serious questions about race.

Hi Paul
Good to hear you're feeling better.
Sorry about the mixup on the days for the ladies. Hope your daughter has forgiven Hani by now.

>73 richardderus: HA!!

Hello dear fellow. just for you

Just checking in - hope all is okay. X

>78 Familyhistorian: Come what may it is a lovely part of the world, Meg.

>79 Deern: There is alcohol, Nathalie and then there is single malt! Five bottles over a number of years is steady. As you know I am a bit of a collector/hoarder. I presently have seventeen bottles of Single Malt at home at different stages of completion. I savour rather than guzzle to be fair.

>80 BekkaJo: Well I thought I was, Bekka.

There was an accident on one of my project sites last evening whereby a 23 mtr section of steelwork fell from the crane that was lifting it and crashed many metres down to the ground. Thankfully no-one was injured but in my haste to investigate I didn't take my lap top home and hence LT was Cranswick free last night!

>81 LovingLit: Well the toxicology report from her autopsy has not been revealed but it is very sad. She was said to be particularly upbeat recently and about to start a new album. When I briefly encountered her in Tralee in the 1980s I would not have known the difference between booze and other things but I think she was a Guinness drinker at the time.

>82 thornton37814: I have explained above Lori! Unfortunately to be online a computer of sorts is usually mandatory and leaving mine in the office sort of guarantees non-participation. xx

>83 The_Hibernator: I guess I am just sorta shy! Lovely to see you Rachel. xx

>84 m.belljackson: I don't think Vance would get my vote, Marianne.

Hedgerows are a wonderful addition to any country scene.

>85 SuziQoregon: Belle sent me a whatsapp message yesterday complaining about her mother snoring (as if I didn't know!) - she did the complaining as lovingly as possible for a young lady clearly short of her own sleep!

>86 BBGirl55: Why thank'ee Bryony. The smaller ladders were clearly prepared with me in mind. xx

>87 BekkaJo: Should now finally be back in harness, Bekka!

>89 PaulCranswick: Oh no! That sounds like it comes with a LOT of forms and investigations and hard discussions. Glad no-one was hurt.

>93 BekkaJo: I headed off things at the pass somewhat by placing a "stop-work order" on the further lifting of steelwork until I have vetted the incident report and inspected all the remaining lifting equipment. Thankfully as stated no-one was hurt but the contractor will lose a few days. Luckily on this project I am the Project Manager not the contractor.

Happy new thread, Paul and thank you for your review of The Debt to Pleasure in your second thread.
You made me curious about , so i ordered it second hand.
The first few pages are very promising, I am looking forward to the whole book.
It is very hard to keep track of all threads in this beautiful group, but I am doing my best, but sometimes I need a little time for books ;-).
I wish you and your family all the best.

Glad no one was hurt in the incident. Hopefully you were able to get in some reading while you were without computer.

Morning, Paul! Glad to see no one was hurt in the work accident!

Hi Paul!

I'm so glad to hear that nobody got hurt when the steelwork fell.

>95 SirThomas: I read your review of The Debt to Pleasure a while back, noted that I had it on my shelves, and have now brought it from the Library to the Sunroom. Perhaps it will be my forest of mushrooms....

Glad no one was hurt in the accident Paul.

I know what kind of shitstorm can develop when there's a workplace incident like that - glad you've got it in hand!

Hi Paul! Just trying to get my feet wet without drowning..haha!

>89 PaulCranswick: Sorry to hear about the mishap on the work site, but what a relief no one was injured. Except us, of course, being deprived of Cranswickian posts!

>88 PaulCranswick: I only started to drink single malt whisky a few years back and love the more peaty ones.
So far I have tried Tallisker, Highland Park, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Laphroaig and today we bought a bottle of Lagavulin.

>89 PaulCranswick: Chiming in with all above that I am glad no one got hurt at the work site.

Yikes - scary about the construction site accident. So glad no one was hurt.

Funny about Belle complaining to you about the snoring

>95 SirThomas: Nice to see you Thomas. The books can get in the way rather, can't they?!

The Debt to Pleasure sort of creeps up on you. A cook book with more than a little bit of a citric twist.

>96 thornton37814: I did indeed manage to do some reading, Lori and finished another book at least.

The accident is on a project where there are two factions. One working for the project and one not in the management of the Client. The ones who are disruptive would have been gleeful had I not acted decisively in this instance.

>97 ChelleBearss: I dread to think what would have happened to someone had the steel member (almost 4 tonne in weight) landed on them. Many of the actual site construction workers here are Bangladeshi or Indonesian and I don't want on the conscience of the site team that some poor girl's father doesn't come home safely to them.

>98 karenmarie: Ah Karen! One always needs to take care with wild mushrooms. xx

>99 Caroline_McElwee: I was called the previous evening, Caroline, by the Site Manager of the project who told me that there had been an accident at the site and then he paused. I must admit my heart was thumping considerably until he told me that no-one was hurt. I have worked on site where people have been killed but have never overseen a site where there has been even a serious accident and I don't want that record to change.

>100 drneutron: It would have been worse in some ways here, Jim, as the client is from Wichita, Kansas and the press would have seized upon the incident totally. It would have made a successful project to date a disaster overnight.

>101 jolerie: Hahaha Valerie. Arm bands are of course always available at the entrance.

Lovely to see you back. xx

>102 laytonwoman3rd: A days deprivation of posts is worthwhile in that no-one got hurt Linda. I had visited the offending location hours earlier and condemned some of the work and the practices and probably stood exactly where that steel fell........

>103 FAMeulstee: I have four of the ones listed there Anita. Bowmore, Ardbeg, Tallisker and of course Laphroaig. I don't currently have a bottle of Lagavulin and must put that wrong right as soon as possible.

>104 SuziQoregon: She took the snoring almost as seriously as I took the near miss on the project site, Juli!

>107 PaulCranswick: Long May your record last Paul.

Joining with the others, Paul, in saying a great big PHEW! that the accident didn't turn into a tragedy. Very lucky indeed.

>110 Caroline_McElwee: Yes Caroline, that is one record I don't want to lose.

>111 jessibud2: Phew indeed, Shelley. Projects are only money some feel sometimes but they aren't worth losing a life for.

BOOKS READ #7



The Luck of Ginger Coffey by Brian Moore

Date of Publication : 1960
Pages : 202
Around the World in 80 Books : #4 - Canada

This is an early and largely unheralded novel from one of my favourite authors of the 1980s, the Irish born Canadian citizen, Brian Moore.

Ginger Coffey is an Irish emigrant and an unsuccessful one. His wife is thoroughly discouraged and he is in the last chance saloon. This wry tale of his misadventures is very nicely told and deserving of a wider audience. It maybe lacks some of the depth of his later work but it is heartily recommended as a touching read.

8/10

Hi, Paul. Sorry to hear about the incident on the construction site. Hope things get cleared up and back to normal.

>114 rretzler: I have a meeting there in about an hour so I will report back anon, Robin.

Nice to have you back, Paul. Good to know that no one was hurt and any dissension was nipped in the bud.

>86 BBGirl55: What a great image.

>1 PaulCranswick: Paul, Hani really is very talented!

I add my thoughts of relief to those expressed above regarding the accident on the construction site. I'm glad all is well.

Sorry to hear about the work catastrophe, but glad it wasn't as catastrophic as it could have been.

Paul, your thread got Dave into a bit of hot water !!!I was reading about the single malt whiskeys on your thread . In recent years, Dave has become quite a connoisseur of single malt whiskeys. I thought he confined himself to Glenfiddich, which is fine , but I opened up the pantry and in beside the various oils - olive oil, grapeseed oil etc was a bottle of Ardbeg and also Laphroaig. And I looked up the prices. Wow! I had a word with Dave about that ;-O . He does confine himself to one drink on non working nights, but what a waste IMO.

Sorry for the accident on the construction scene, but I'm glad no one was hurt. But what a scare.

Paul, I'm so glad to hear that no one was hurt! How scary!!

>116 Familyhistorian: Well the site meeting yesterday was a little bit of a difficult one as I exchanged harsh words with the Client's Saftey Officer. I was annoyed that despite the accident he had not seen fit to come to site and inspect or give any advice and I told him in no uncertain terms that I thought it wasn't good enough. He didn't take my admonition at all well but I got the Client's Project Head to agree that a fortnightly safety walk through be convened and that their safety officer be required to attend on a Mandatory basis.

>117 Whisper1: Thanks Linda. She is actually quiet at the moment in terms of putting up new photos.

I inspected the lifting tackle yesterday and will probably let them restart lifting tomorrow.

>118 amanda4242: What I was a little peeved about was the fact that people who should have stepped up to the mark and be constructive and responsible either went into hiding or suggested a cover up. The contractor wanted to bribe the security guards who had witnessed the accident into keeping quiet so that no report was made and the safety personnel of the Client went into shutdown mode such that they wouldn't get any blame if there was fault to be a major safety breach.

I had a full report made to all the Client's senior representatives and issued a Stop-Work-Order until I am satisfied that it is safe to proceed again. I issued the Contractor an 8-point plan I wanted addressed before I would release the stop-work-order. I informed the meeting yesterday that I would prefer the project to be late and everybody going home to their families than early and some poor mother/wife/son or daughter don't get to see their son/husband/father again.

>119 vancouverdeb: Try sharing a little of that with Dave, Deb and you will probably accept his point of view that it is money well spent! I have a bottle of all three listed.

>120 tapestry100: It was a bit scary, David. When I was informed the pause before I was informed that no-one was hurt was one that was frankly excruciating.

I thought there were going to be far more hedgerows in this thread. I may have to make a formal complaint.

And >119 vancouverdeb: - I find this quite funny. Reminds me of biking friends who try to tell their wives that mountain bikes that cost $6,000 were only actually $3,000.

Hi Paul, I'm just stopping by to say hello. I was sorry to read about your site accident. But it sounds like you handled it firmly and properly. And how fortunate that no one was hurt.

Hi Paul! I am sorry about the accident on your work-site; but thankful that you were there to respond so thoroughly.

>123 evilmoose:, >119 vancouverdeb: Or bookworms who hide their library additions.

>122 PaulCranswick: How awful! I'm sorry you have to deal with such reprehensible people.

>90 PaulCranswick: I had noticed that about you ;0)

>89 PaulCranswick: Oh dear.
>94 PaulCranswick: Good stuff. Good to know it worked out well - considering.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

4. CANADA





O'Canada! Mounties and Grizzly bears and wide open spaces. Trudeau and Arcade Fire and Wayne Gretzky. Atwood, Munro and Rohinton Mistry.

CONTINENT : NORTH AMERICA

POPULATION : 35,151,728

AREA : 3,855,100 sq miles

>123 evilmoose: I will go and find some for you Megan. Lovely to see you back!

>124 Oregonreader: I think that it was my Irish blood got us so lucky with such a huge block of steel falling without fatality.

>125 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. Made me realise how quickly we can be gone too as I had been stood where it fell not too long beforehand.

>126 banjo123: Hahaha

>127 amanda4242: It is fairly par for the course in the industry, Amanda, unfortunately.

>128 humouress: It did turn out reasonably ok, I suppose, Nina.

Paul--Ooooh! Close call. Glad it all turned out OK on the job site. Phew. I think you will enjoy my heart wish of Happy Friday!!

>113 PaulCranswick: >129 PaulCranswick: Woo hoo, Canada! :)

Happy Weekend, Paul!

>133 Berly: I will of course enjoy all Happy Friday wishes, Kimmers!

>134 ChelleBearss: More Canada "dishes" to come, Chelle.

Stopping in to wish you a weekend full of fabulous, Paul!

Thank you, Mamie, dear. I'll be over for another visit to the Pecan Paradisio tribune before the weekend is too well advanced. xx

Hi Paul!

I hope you have a great weekend. Any special plans?

>138 karenmarie: I will go to my American friend's house on Sunday as he is having a celebration for his new baby boy.

Happy weekend! I hope you get some reading time in!

>140 drneutron: Thanks Jim. I hope so too.

>130 PaulCranswick: >84 m.belljackson:

Yes, Hani's Hedgerows will be a great photo book title!

>142 m.belljackson: Hani's Hedgerows. Yes, it does have a certain twang, Marianne.

Wow - hard to believe the safety officer hadn't even been there. Sounds like you're on top of things. Hope you have a good weekend.

>121 PaulCranswick: It never ceases to amaze me how people try to sweep things under the rug rather than addressing the root cause of the problem.

>129 PaulCranswick: I knew Canada was big but didn't realize it covered that many square miles, (see Richard). Richard recently posted that a part of Australia attached to Queensland was once attached to Canada - somewhere. The things you learn on LT.

Hi Paul, happy weekend!

My older son will be passing by you tomorrow; he’s going to Gopeng with his school on camp. They’ve changed things a bit this year and things are a bit more adventurous this year, although they’ve just informed us that they’ve had to cancel the rafting and caving because water levels are high with all the rain.

Have a great weekend mate.

>145 Familyhistorian: LT has an amazing track record of being educational about so very much more than books. Impressive, no?

>148 richardderus: It never ceases to amaze me, Richard.

Good for you Paul for putting people and safety before money!!
Oh yay it's Canada representing!! :D

>144 SuziQoregon: And on top of things, Juli, to add insult to injury he wrote me an extremely snarky letter yesterday afternoon essentially trying to justify his non-activity and allege that we were somehow to blame for the near miss.
In fact inspection of the slings would appear to show that the same had been guillotine cut - that means someone sabotaged the slings! Outrageous. It seems one of the staff were dismissed from the site and may have taken an extremely dangerous form of revenge. A police report has been made and the individual will be arrested sometime today.

>145 Familyhistorian: The concern would of course have been that had there subsequently been another accident and soeone got badly hurt or killed there could well have been manslaughter charges levied against those involved in the earlier cover up. Prison libraries in Malaysia are not known to be outstanding.

2nd largest nation in area is Canada and it would have been interesting to see Canada and Australia joined at the hip.

>146 humouress: I am sure that he will enjoy Gopeng, Nina. I have not seen such a discernible monsoon season in Malaysia as this one for many years. It didn't stop raining in KL two days ago for almost the entire day.

>147 johnsimpson: Thanks John

>148 richardderus: I would agree with that RD. Sometimes the books are merely incidental. Just over here much more time has been given over to industrial accidents and single malt whisky than books.

>149 Familyhistorian: Me too, Meg.

>150 jolerie: Of course it is the contractor's money I was making a dent in, Valerie. As the factory is making essential parts for Boeing and AirBus any delay is likely to have major ramifications - I lifted the Stop-Work last evening so I reckon the contractor will catch up his delay without overall delay.

>151 PaulCranswick: WHAT?!? Catching up here, following the incident and what came after it with bated breath, and with admiration for how you're dealing with it, and then it turns out on top of all that it was sabotage?!?! This is so horrible, I can't imagine what went on in that guy's head - if he really did it, that is.

>151 PaulCranswick: OMG! That’s terrible! So glad there were no resulting injuries.

>152 PaulCranswick: Thank you.

>154 Deern: It was a very "clean" cut on the sling which almost certainly indicates that it was done so mechanically. It has been sent for lab testing but it is almost certainly sabotage.

>155 humouress: The contractor's boss is a bit of a bully and he had kicked the chap off site the day before during a heated exchange about progress so I guess he was taking some form of revenge. A crazy and reprehensible thing to do though, if true.

Hi Paul!

Sabotage. That's awful.

Have fun at the new baby boy celebration.

>157 karenmarie: I hope that doesn't get sabotaged too, Karen!

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

4. CANADA



A CANADIAN LANDMARK.

THE CANADIAN ROCKIES

Has to be wide open spaces doesn't it?

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

4. CANADA



A CANADIAN DISH.

KRISTIN KREUK

Wouldn't it great to have been Superboy?!

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

4. CANADA



ANOTHER CANADIAN DISH.

RYAN GOSLING

Well I can't pick Justin Trudeau every year!

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

4. CANADA



AND ANOTHER CANADIAN DISH.

BUTTER TARTS

These look heavenly

Wow, Paul. Sabotage. The guy must have been either truly stupid to not think past his own anger - or at all - or just pure evil. I hope they get him.

>162 PaulCranswick: - LOL! There was an extended discussion about these very same butter tarts over on Joe's thread the other day!

Have a good weekend.

>161 PaulCranswick: - Not my personal choice, not at all. I have just woken up so am not yet fully awake; I will contemplate some alternate choices and get back to you, but I am not a Gosling fan Just saying.... ;-p

>160 PaulCranswick: I did not know she is Canadian!

>161 PaulCranswick: I knew he is, yummy!!

>162 PaulCranswick: But do they have raisins?? ;-p

Happy weekend, Paul!

*Looks up recipe for butter tarts*

Happy weekend, Paul!

>164 ChelleBearss: Yup, those ones definitely have raisins in them.

>162 PaulCranswick: Butter tart connoisseur here, Paul.

>163 jessibud2: I know, Shelley. I rather hope that it was an accidental equipment failure as I would not like to think that someone was capable of doing such a thing.

I am not a huge Gosling fan either, but then again I am not picking the guys for me necessarily!

>164 ChelleBearss: I am not an expert in Butter Tarts but I think that raisins are thrown in along with walnuts and maple syrup.

>165 scaifea:

I found this recipe :
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/234029/real-canadian-butter-tarts-eh/

>166 Familyhistorian: When I visit your beautiful country, Meg, I hope to stuff a few of those things during our meet-up!

>161 PaulCranswick: Oh my yes. Such a lovely man.

For your consideration:
Nathan Fillion


Tahmoh Penikett


Hart Bochner

>161 PaulCranswick: A scrumptious looking dish, although I probably would have gone with Ryan Reynolds.

>169 richardderus: You are a man after Hani's heart RD. She adores Nathan Fillion and the reason that Castle does not make an appearance her is sheer jealousy!

>170 amanda4242: I did think of Reynolds too, Amanda, but I cannot choose more than one, can I now?

Happy weekend, Paul! I am glad to hear that the sabotage/accident did not result in any injuries and hope the proper authorities get to the bottom of it soon. No wonder you had so much stress you left your laptop behind!

Hope you're having a good and relaxed weekend after such a dramatic week, Paul. Rather puts my job worries in proportion. I popped into our local Waterstones and came out with the Forward prize winner. I was gobsmacked it was on the shelf: the usual suspects are Hughes, Plath and Ayres and not a lot from recent years.

>172 bell7: Yes, Mary. I am a little stressed at the moment with work and life. Hani had an hour on the phone to me this evening and it seems that she is keen both to do house renovations in the UK as well as to see whether or not she can make any money at all from her skills as a photographer.

>173 charl08: If it is the latest winner then Sinead Morrissey is considered something of a coming talent. I am not overly familiar with her work so I shall be keen to see what you make of her collection, Charlotte.

Just swinging by to look at the dishey men.

>151 PaulCranswick: That’s awful.

>161 PaulCranswick: nothing wrong with picking Justin Trudeau every year.

>175 BBGirl55: More than welcome, Bryony. I haven't been called dishy for a while! hehe

>176 SuziQoregon: I wouldn't want to be too liberal with Justin, Juli. xx

Horrible to find it was more than just negligence (which would have been bad enough!). Hugs and much much support.

Oh and lovely nummy Canadian dishes. Though I'll admit a serious soft spot for Nathan Fillion...

The great butter tart debate will always be: raisins or no raisins. I like the both ways so when a plate of them is placed in front of me, I have no trouble deciding! Here is a link I posted on Joe's thread: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/butter-tarts/

>171 PaulCranswick: Hani is a lady of impeccable taste. I can only assume you applied Rohypnol to her tea when you asked her to marry you...

:P

>176 SuziQoregon: What Juli said. Such an enormous contrast to the orange shitgibbon in every imaginable way.

>174 PaulCranswick: - Paul, did I miss something? Hani doing house renovations in the UK? Have you already purchased a house there?

>181 richardderus: - Richard, have you seen the latest magazine cover of TIME magazine? I just saw it while waiting in line at the checkout counter at the grocery store. Holy scary freakshow, Batman!!!

>182 jessibud2: Do you mean the Edel Rodriguez one, "Year One"? That's the last one I remember.


I wish to high heaven that Muller'd make with the indictments already! I understand that there might be some political calculus that makes this horrifying agonizing wait worth it, but I. Am. Done.

>179 BekkaJo: Thanks Bekka. Mr. Fillion would have probably gotten more votes than Ryan Gosling, I'm guessing.

>180 jessibud2: Interesting link Shelley. It at least confirms that to highlight quintessential Canadian dishes is a task!

>183 richardderus: - Yep. That's the one. I did a little digging as I had not heard of this artist before. He is not only talented, but quite accomplished. I found an article that included his twitter feed where he posted what he would have done if he had been tasked with doing the cover for Fire and Fury. Similar to this TIME cover but way better and more accurate a depiction.

Sorry for the hijack, Paul. Better get back to Canadian dishes!! ;-)

>181 richardderus: Now Richard you are simply giving away my secrets.

The Canadians are certainly more reliable at the ballot box than their cross-border cousins.

>182 jessibud2: No, No, Shelley - she is doing it to assist a friend over there and feels it is something that she has a knack for.

The hair is the least of our problems!

>183 richardderus: Still that is quite something of a cover. Roll on getting the troll out.

>185 jessibud2: No problem Shelley - getting rid of the American President is almost as post worthy as the bounteous Canadian pastry.

Oh dear, here is a Canadian who would not touch a butter tart. Ugh! Too sweet for this Canadian Dish! :-) And raisins are so dreadful. I'd chose Naniamo Bar for our Canadian Dish, and, sure , Trudeau again.

>188 vancouverdeb: - OOOo, Nanaimo bars!! Yes, please! :-)

>189 jessibud2: Exactly, Shelley!!

>188 vancouverdeb:, >189 jessibud2: & >190 vancouverdeb:

For two of my favourite Canadians:

>191 PaulCranswick: LIKE!

Hi, Paul. Just checking in with my pal. I hope your work week went smoothly and you are enjoying what's left of your weekend. How are the books coming?

>167 PaulCranswick: No walnuts in butter tarts or maple syrup. At least not on the ones I have made.

>168 PaulCranswick: Allow a lot of time for your visit, Paul. It takes a while to get from one end of the country to the other.

And I'll have Deb's butter tarts if she doesn't want them and she can have any Nanaimo Bars that come my way.

Hani might enjoy the photography in One Ocean One Breath -
it is a business which comes up easily on a Search.

Paul, please let Hani know how much I enjoy her photography. Thanks!

>191 PaulCranswick: - Thank you kind Sir!! :-)

>192 msf59: Thanks Mark. It was a bit hectic yesterday as I had to pay a flying visit to Singapore in order to both go to the baby celebration and at the same time to discuss new work with my American client (he was also the father). I left the house at 8 am and got home at midnight. Did a good bit of reading on the plane of Homegoing and it is all its enthusiasts said of it.

>193 Familyhistorian: That was just the recipe that I came across, Meg.
I will probably manage three weeks at some stage. I am hoping to get an invite to Montreal later this year with a project we have ongoing. Will keep you updated.

>197 PaulCranswick: - Please do let me know if/when you will be in Montreal!! My mum lives there and I could possibly arrange a visit with her at the time you might be there! And Ilana lives there, too!

>194 m.belljackson: I will let her know, Marianne. She put this one up the other day and called it "A Man and his Dog"

>195 Whisper1: Thank you Linda. I will do certainly.

>196 jessibud2: Does look good to be fair, Shelley.

>198 jessibud2: I would certainly want to holler it from the rooftops Shelley if I do manage to make it to Canada later in the year. Would love to meet-up if I am able to make it there.

>199 PaulCranswick: Oh my! Another lovely image. Hani has The Eye.

>199 PaulCranswick:

What a proud dog with her man - Hani has really captured an unforgettable moment!

>199 PaulCranswick: I love that one, Paul!

I will just have to come back later and visit again as I cannot see any of the wonderful images everyone is raving about. Darn it!

Hugs, Paul. : )

>201 richardderus: She has a series of photos of this subject which she sent me by WhatsApp RD but this was the one she posted to FB.

>202 m.belljackson: It is a giant poodle the dog and the gentleman is a friend of Hani's who she is assisting with house renovation at the moment with a view to more serious look at that business in the near future.

>203 Crazymamie: Me too, Mamie. xx

>204 Berly: I did notice a few gremlins this morning around the threads, Kimmers. Hopefully it will be sorted out soon.

Yes to Naniamo bar!! Yum, Paul! I still remember when my grandma first tried the recipe when I was about 5 or 6 year old. I thought they looked a bit too unusual for my finicky 6 year old palate. I remember my mom whispering in my ear - you'll have one and like it , because your grandma took a lot of time to make the Nanaimo bars. So I took a square and the rest is history! :-)

Hello Paul - hope you have a great week. Oh, my, so many Canadian dishes here:)

>197 PaulCranswick: Oh hey!

Happy Monday Paul - fingers crossed for a better week :)

I'll take both a Naniamo bar and a butter tart -- I've never had either, but both sound tasty!

>199 PaulCranswick: Love The Man and His Dog. With Hani’s entrepreneurial spirit, I’m guessing she could do well with a photography business and a bit of Interior Decorating on the side. Maybe you can retire in England, Paul. I imagine you could keep busy with books and LT meetups!

Hi Paul, hope you had a good weekend mate and you and Kyran are both well. A good ODI series for England and a nice maiden five for for Tom Curran, let's just hope the remainder of the winter matches are good for England. I have to admit that i think the Curran brothers (the youngest to come along yet) will be a big part of the England set up for many years and i do believe that the youngest is a batsman so apart from spin and wicketkeeping, all bases are covered.

Have a good week mate and karen sends her love from her sick bed.

>207 vancouverdeb: I could certainly see myself loving those, Deb.

>208 AMQS: Week expected to be hectic as usual, Anne. Lovely to see you.

>209 humouress: I didn't contact yesterday, Nina, as it was a case of two quick meetings and straight back again. Coming again soon with more time on my hands. xx

>210 BekkaJo: Here's hoping, Bekka.

>211 foggidawn: Me too and, after all, there really is no need to choose between them!

>212 Donna828: It would be nice, Donna, to have Hani as the breadwinner but I think my book buying escapades would get curtailed too dramatically.

>213 johnsimpson: Hope Karen gets well soon, John.

The England ODI team is splendid which makes it doubly frustrating that the test team is so poor.

>215 PaulCranswick: Hmm. Oh, alright then.

;0)

>197 PaulCranswick: Keep us posted, Paul. I might take a jaunt to Montreal if I know about a meet up in time.

>217 humouress: I will keep you updated, Nina. Don't worry 2018 will definitely see a Singapore-Malaysian branch gathering!

>218 Familyhistorian: I will certainly Meg. I shall holler it from the rooftops!

>219 PaulCranswick: Ooh, a big affair. Better book a hall then.

Hope things are starting to look up at your end.

>197 PaulCranswick: Glad you are enjoying Homegoing Paul, I think it was my favourite novel of last year.

Hi Paul!

>169 richardderus: Nathan Fillion. Sigh. Firefly is one of my favorite series of all times. It's so sad that there were only 14 episodes and a movie. I've never watched Castle.

I hope your week is going well.

>220 humouress: Well a miniature one at the very least! Work is hectic and unduly political but I will find a way.

>221 Caroline_McElwee: Really good, Caroline. I like the meandering through the ages from such a calamitous beginning. Well told - this is clearly an author destined for great things.

>222 karenmarie: Castle in my opinion is a dreadfully corny show but the leading couple have great chemistry and it makes the whole thing eminently watchable.

Just checking in to wave :)

>224 BekkaJo: And waving right back at you, Bekka.

I am trying to close out a staggering 7 books by the end of the month:

Wild Tales
Homegoing
Armenian Sketchbook
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
A Book of Common Prayer
Meditations in an Emergency
The Map and the Clock





I won't finish 'em all but I hope to get a few of them over the line.

My dad didn't like Homegoing to my surprise. I've heard a lot of good things about it.

Very ambitious! Good luck :)

I am in the middle of Homegoing and really like it.

Good luck with finishing books today.

That is quite a spread of subjects among the finishers! Can't wait to see who made it.

>227 The_Hibernator: I am surprised because it really is very good, Rachel. Maybe because the histories of some of the characters are somewhat truncated just when we are getting drawn into their tales.

>228 BekkaJo: As usual I plan and plan and fall flat on my face, Bekka!

>229 torontoc: You and me both, Cyrel!

>230 SuziQoregon: I will immediately fall behind my ambitious schedule to read 200 books this year. But I am not that far behind in truth.

>231 richardderus: Two definites RD and two possibles. Watch this space.

I have The Narrow Road to the Deep North on my radar. Will be interested to see what you think of it. :)

200 books!?! Do you sleep at all Paul? ;)

>226 PaulCranswick: How many did you finish? I think it's now February 1st on your side of the world...
I'd like to finish one more but I have half left and I doubt I will get it finished by midnight :(

>226 PaulCranswick: Hope you managed to finish off several of those. I'm doing just the opposite. I'm stretching books out so they'll be finished in February because they match challenges then. I was just able to download them all and didn't want to risk not getting to read them if someone else checked them out before I got around to them.

>232 PaulCranswick: Ah well - it's enjoying the reading that counts, no? I posted my Feb reading plan earlier and it already has me laughing (albeit slightly hysterically).

>191 PaulCranswick: Those brownies look so very enticing. I lost weight. I'm learning keeping the pounds off is the challenge.

>234 jolerie: I haven't managed 200 books for many years, Valerie, so it will be a long shot. I don't get a huge amount of sleep though. :D

>235 ChelleBearss: I managed two, Chelle, more details later. The others will come in also over the next few days and give February a flying start.

>236 thornton37814: Aren't we a funny bunch, Lori?! Plans and reading tactics but all the while loving the books.

>237 BekkaJo: It is indeed, Bekka, but it does add some spice to the mix having targets to aim at (and fail with).

>238 Whisper1: I need to follow suit too Linda, although I am nowhere near my heaviest weight at the moment, thankfully.

Books Read #8



Wild Tales by Graham Nash

Date of Publication : 2013
Pages : 345

Graham Nash wrote and performed some of my absolute favourite songs. His song "Our House" is blissful and melodic and lovely and I now know was written after a craft shop with his then love, Joni Mitchell. He was an integral and founding member of the Hollies and of course a contributing initial to either CSN or CSNY.

I was therefore looking forward to reading this one. I enjoyed some of the insights provided and he is certainly candid as well as irreverent but I was also strangely irritated by large parts of it. His habit of referring to people as "cats" I found a tad trite and he was far too forthcoming with the sexual confessions for my liking. This was to be fair warts and all and he helped to show the selfishness and egotism that goes towards a rock star lifestyle in his descriptions of himself - Stills, Crosby and Young - especially Young.

I am glad I read it as, musically, I am a huge fan but I am not so sure that I would like him overly in company and this colours my perception of his book.

7/10

>226 PaulCranswick: I like the feeling of having a whole bunch of books coming to the end at the same time. How many did you finish before the end of the month, Paul?

>242 Familyhistorian: I fell short with a couple that I thought I might finish but I did manage two on the last day. Homegoing in particular was excellent.

An Armenian Sketchbook, A Book of Common Prayer and The Narrow Road to the Deep North will provide me with a flying start to February.

Just checking in on the still somewhat illusive Paul. When is it the family are back - I'm sure you said Feb but can't remember when abouts.

>241 PaulCranswick: Not a nice bloke, then. I was a big CSN/Y fan and that's enough to keep me away from the book!

>243 PaulCranswick: Two is a good result especially with the others pending and just think, you get to move on to the new and shiny!

>244 BekkaJo: Next Wednesday, Bekka. I am really illusive or elusive perhaps?

>245 richardderus: A bit too full of his own talents, I thought, RD. I didn't think it quite kosher also to be too explicit about his sexual proclivities with a number of ladies that he had no trouble in naming. No chivalry, Sir!

>246 Familyhistorian: Will definitely add two more tomorrow too, Meg

Paul--Well, at least you squeezed in another two before month end! And the others will follow shortly pumping up the February stats. I did not enjoy Homegoing as much as everyone else, oh well.

>247 PaulCranswick: No, indeed, and deficient in chivalry is a polite way to say "big-mouthed cad" IMO.

I am stopping in to say Hi! I have been busy at work and tired at night so have been off the threads and barely managing to keep all the balls in the air even then.

I had a five star read this month with An American Insurrection: the Battle of Oxford, Mississippi, 1962 by William Doyle. It was a a very enlightening book and it kept me reading far into the night. It was about the integration of the University of Mississippi back in 1962 and the resulting riots. It turns out that JFK had to send 30,000 soldiers from the US Army and Navy in to keep the peace and protect lives and property. I read this one for Suzanne’s Non-fiction challenge. That challenge has some really interesting categories. January was Prize Winning works of Non-Fiction. American Insurrection won the Silver Gavel Award given by the American Bar Association n 2002. I am so glad I read this book.

I am glad to see that your reading mojo is back and that you are reading on your pace once again.

Hi Paul. If you come across a convoy of coaches with a heap of exhausted 14 year olds, wave to my boy! The latest message from school is they’re stuck in traffic around KL. Of course, you’ll probably smell ‘em before you see ‘em :0)

>247 PaulCranswick: *hangs head in spelling shame*

Loving the Canadian dishes up there, at least they aren't poutine, which W famously commented on a while back when seeing it prepared: "well, I'm not going to stand here and watch you do that to chips". Ha! Still love that one .

How goes the empt-nest syndrome??? Are you at least getting lots of reading done, and that work stuff that you sometimes have to do? ;)

>248 Berly: Surprisingly I haven't finished any of the others yet, Kimmers! Still coming along though.

>249 richardderus: Tisn't nice to kiss a girl and go and tell the whole world about it. There is one incident where he boasts of taking Joni Mitchell across his knee and spanking her bottom which I found utterly crass. It is hard to imagine such a poised and dignified lady having her buttocks reddened by a cocaine fuelled singing Mancunian.

>250 benitastrnad: Lovely to hear from you Benita. I received your annual letter yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed both it and the sentiments it encompasses as always. It is such an honour to me that he include me in such a lovely tradition.

The book on the Oxford Race Riots does look a compelling winner and you are right that Suz's Non-Fiction Challenge is a good "un. I will certainly manage one in that challenge this month on biographies.

>251 humouress: The traffic isn't too bad in KL, Nina, you'll be pleased to know as the last two days were public holidays and the wise have taken the extra day for a super long weekend.

>252 BekkaJo: Not sure that you had misspelled, Bekka, because I almost fit the other one too!

>253 LovingLit: Yes I carried poutine last year on the same challenge and it wasn't universally well received. Wilby is precious - that is a classic of his.

Work is ok. I had a meeting this morning I was worried about but it went off well. Hani and I will not be strangers I hope next week!

Happy Friday, Paul! Glad to see that you and Hani will be back together next week.
I've been loving her photography that she is posting on instagram.

>257 ChelleBearss: I will miss her photography! I better start tidying my books up as I will be in for the high jump otherwise.

>255 PaulCranswick: Number One son has returned to the nest safe and sound, thanks Paul. There was a slight traffic delay on the JB side before immigration so they were a bit later than the original schedule but earlier than the revised estimate. The first thing he did when he got home was to have a shower (thankfully).

>254 PaulCranswick: It comes under the heading of TMI...like your dad describing some sexual thing he did/does. NO. THANKS. And pass the brain bleach.

>260 richardderus: Well, you two have thoroughly put me off the idea of ever reading that book now!

>259 humouress: Hahaha Nina. Malaysia is not THAT dirty, you know! Good to see that he got back safe and sound and I hope his trip went well.

>260 richardderus: I know RD - as our delightful Caro would say Ewwww!

>261 evilmoose: Good, good, and good, Megan. xx

>261 evilmoose: #sorrynotsorry

>263 richardderus: Me too me three.

>262 PaulCranswick: Paul, if your 14 year old spent 6 days in camp and in trekking through the jungle, you'd be thankful if they had a shower first thing. ;0)

>265 humouress: Most definitely!

Stopping in to wish you a weekend full of fabulous, Paul!

>267 Crazymamie: Thank you my dear Mamie. xx

Happy weekend Paul! Lots going on in your thread as usual. I love Graham Nash's music, but I'm glad for the warning about the book. Eww, shudder.

>269 EllaTim: Ella, I just felt he could have been more circumspect. I like his music too but didn't care for his enormous opinion of himself.

Wishing you a good weekend, Paul and a happy homecoming when Hani and Belle make it back home.

>271 vancouverdeb: Thank you Deb. They are presently on the North East coast of England complaining of the cold. They won't be able to say that soon!

Stopping by to get caught up, Paul and find your thread awash with Canadiana! I love both butter tarts and nanaimo bars and add a second yes to Nathan Fillion.

Here is hoping you have a happy reunion with Hani when she returns.

Hi Paul just popping in to let you know there is a vote going on over on my thread.

>273 lkernagh: Thank you, Lori. I am a bit of an absent landlord at the moment as work in particular is taking up so much of my time.

>274 BBGirl55: I will go across and add my two pennorth, Bryony. xx

Hopefully you will need to spend less time on work when the girls come back, Paul, or is that why you are spending so much time working right now?

Did you finish Narrow Road to the Deep North? And, if so, did you like it?

>276 Familyhistorian: Not really, Meg, it is just how things seem to be going.

>277 EBT1002: Not quite finished it, Ellen, but I am enjoying it.

>272 PaulCranswick: The temperature, even down here, has plummeted over the weekend. I imagine it must be seriously brisk up where they are! They will be very glad of the warmth I imagine :)

>279 BekkaJo: I get the impression that they have wintered out so to speak. Hani is determined to settle back in the UK and I am going to have to split my time somehow. I am not comfortable taking a position with my brother's company unless I was also investing and I would need to sell up the businesses here to do that. I still have an eye for selling up but let's see.

>280 PaulCranswick: If they've wintered out already, is settling in the UK a desirable proposition?

Any road, changes are a-comin'.

Yeah - not reading that Graham Nash book. Reminds me of a book I read by a mountain climber once that had way too much of his high altitude sexual escapades - no thanks. I wanted to read about climbing the mountains.

Less time because a lot of work sound good to me, Paul, last year you had enough trouble on that.

Hi Paul, more trials and tribulations down at Elland Road, I may not be a fan but I feel for the long suffering fans whose club is constantly made a laughing stock by inept owners. I do wish they could attract an owner that would put the pride back to this once great club with a massive fan base.

Hope you had a good weekend mate and wish you well for the rest of the week, sending love and hugs from both of us.

I'm glad you're reading The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Paul. I thought it was terrific. In the U.S., it's available on Kindle now for only $2.99: https://smile.amazon.com/Narrow-Road-Deep-North-International-ebook/dp/B00IHMEAY...

>281 richardderus: Yes, RD. Changes are coming indeed.

>282 SuziQoregon: The mind boggles, Juli. Apparently doesn't high altitude and the lack of oxygen stimulate the libido. Isn't that why a number of guys asphyxiated themselves whilst trying to pleasure themselves at the same time?

>283 FAMeulstee: Busy work isn't always good work, Anita!

>284 johnsimpson: Yes mate. We have a director of football who has apparently recruited the players. Those players are by and large not good enough. The coach, who was far too nice for his own good gets sacked for being unable to make a silk purse out of a sows ear whilst the director of football looks on unperturbed.

Seems we are likely to appoint near neighbours Barnsley's manager, the wonderfully named, Paul Heckingbottom as our new Head Coach. Say a prayer for the poor lamb.

>285 jnwelch: Yes Joe and it is just one of a number of good 'uns I am reading. I also started The Road to Lichfield for the British Author Theme Challenge and am loving that one too.

Hi Paul, just checking in to see how you are doing. I am obviously not very picky as I would have a butter tart in one hand and a Nanaimo Bar in the other! All the men shown meet with my approval as well.

>280 PaulCranswick: Hey there, Paul, that's a tough situation. My best to you as you sort it all out. It sounds to me like you are coping with the lions share of challenges.

Hi Paul! Happy Tuesday!

>287 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, whilst I am all for appointing English managers yours is a club that needs to appoint someone with a good track record and who can attract decent players. If the ambition is to get into the Premier League then a solid core of players needs to be recruited some of which will be able to hold their own in the top league and others will be bought with the windfall money but still saving some for the potential drop straight back down.

When I thought of the situation at Leeds since the dramatic downfall I used a shopping analogy, Ridsdale spent as if in Harrods but only had money for John Lewis and then the last two owners have been at the jumble sales. This may be harsh but I think it fits, this is a proud club with loyal fans who are being mugged off every week by owners who are using the club's name as a cash cow with 30,000 fans most home games.

I wish Heckingbottom the very best of luck and hope he proves everybody wrong but sadly I think you will be looking for another manager by Christmas.

>285 jnwelch: I agree! I thought it was excellent!

Hi, Paul. Finally checking in after my vacation. Miss seeing you around. Hope all is well. Hooray for Homegoing & The Narrow Road to the Deep North. I am a big fan of both.

I hope work things taking up a lot of your time slows down to a livable level soon, Paul. At least you are getting some good reads in.

>292 EBT1002: Right, Ellen?

>293 msf59: Ditto, Mark.

>288 DeltaQueen50: That would mirror my own intended eating habits with those particular foodstuffs, Judy!

I am a little stressed with work and the impending return of my ladies.

>289 vancouverdeb: I am still standing Deb. We had a conference call yesterday afternoon with the UK which was a little fraught as I had raised concerns on the quality of the contractor's work and the Client's rep in Glasgow blew his top with the contractor's MD on the phone. C'est la Vie!

>290 The_Hibernator: Thanks Rachel but, my God, it is Wednesday here already and a chunk of the year is done! Where did that lot go?

>291 johnsimpson: Well I am a Yorkshireman, John, as you are, and I spend most of my time looking for bargains too. I am in the minority I think, but I reckon Heckingbottom, for all his unfortunate name, may surprise many and do well. Apparently he lives in Royston which is two villages away from my Mum's place - so he can't be all bad. If he gets some passion in the side then we'll soon climb up that table. MOT as my lot say.

>292 EBT1002: It is hard to believe that those conditions were forced on people barely 70 years ago and in the lifetime of some of our group. It is a very powerful work of fiction.

>293 msf59: I'll be back in the saddle again shortly, Mark. We all need a breather from time to time or get bogged down by pesky RL issues.

>294 Familyhistorian: Yes Meg. I can feel some upheavals coming in my life and this casts a bit of a shadow over me at the moment, but I will read my way out of it.

>295 jnwelch: When times are tough, Joe, friends keep you going. I have some great friends here.