DorsVenabili (Kerri) Reads More Than 75 Books in 2013. Perhaps. (Part 2)

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My 2013 Reading Goals (completed books are listed)

Virago Modern Classics (12):
1. Excellent Women - Barbara Pym

Working-Class Fiction (12):

Iris Murdoch Novels (3):

Jane Gardam Novels (3):
1. Crusoe's Daughter - Jane Gardam

U.S. History - Gilded Age and Labor History (4):
1. Holding the Line - Barbara Kingsolver

Coffee Can Challenge* (12):
1. The Radiant Way - Margaret Drabble (Iris Murdoch, Bernice Rubens)
2. The Death of the Heart - Elizabeth Bowen (Iris Murdoch)

*Explanation of the Coffee Can Challenge - Using the "If You Like" feature on the Library Thing author pages for authors I love, I created little slips of paper that each include an author and several of that author's book titles. Then I put them in an old (empty) coffee can and will draw one each month and read that author/novel. Eek! I'm a nerd! I thought this would be a good way to discover new authors, who are similar to the authors I already like. And I only included those authors I've never read before. I used the following favorite author names to get the results: Iris Murdoch, Jane Gardam, Keri Hulme, Kate Atkinson, Dorothy Allison, Bernice Rubens, and Colson Whitehead (the lone male).

Planned Group Reads in 2013

February: Excellent Women by Barbara Pym √
March: Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym
April: Old Filth by Jane Gardam
May: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
July: Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake
August: Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
September : Titus Alone by Mervyn Peake
October: 2666 by Roberto Bolaño

All Reading by Month

Read in January:
1. The Line - Olga Grushin (print book)
2. The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson (audiobook)
3. The Radiant Way - Margaret Drabble (print book)
4. Crusoe's Daughter - Jane Gardam (print book)
5. The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid (ebook)

Read in February:
6. Children of the Jacaranda Tree - Sahar Delijani (print book) (Booklist)
7. Excellent Women - Barbara Pym (print book)
8. The Death of the Heart - Elizabeth Bowen (print book)
9. Fun Home - Alison Bechdel (print book)
10. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness - Michelle Alexander (audiobook)
11. Holding the Line - Barbara Kingsolver (print book)
12. The Shape of Water - Andrea Camilleri (audiobook)
13. The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play - Neil Fiore (ebook)

Ohh am I first.Let me post!

Uh oh, maybe you wanted that space, Kerri! Ah oh!Great reading for January!

Enjoy Excellent Women - I really did! I need to get to Quartet in Autumn which I own.

#4 -5 Hi Deb! No, I was done. You're first. I did just lose an entire post that I wrote, but it's not your fault. I'm very much looking forward to Excellent Women!

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Ok. I have one more little reception thingy to go to in 20 minutes or so and then I'm done working! I'll leave for Portland tomorrow where I will spend a couple days with my niece, her husband, and their ridiculously adorable baby. In addition, a Powell's visit will occur and it will be epic.

Most importantly, last night I met up with the delightful Ms. Ellen of Seattle. We had dinner, adult beverages, and a great deal of book talk. It was lovely. Oh! and we started the meet-up at Elliot Bay Book Company, where I purchased The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song, a beautiful graphic novel that tells the story of country music legends, the Carter Family.

Here is the obligatory meet-up photo taken on my somewhat crappy camera phone:


Ellen (left) and Kerri (right).

Kerri, signing in to your new thread and looking forward to seeing what you make of Barbara Pym who is someone I haven't read yet.

ETA : Powell's bookstore; envious in the extreme. Great to see that your meet-up went well with Ellen as it was bound to do really. "Adult beverages" is a euphemism that I like very much!

Kerri- Congrats on the new thread! Glad you had a good time at the Meet-Up. Good photo of you & Ellen. Enjoy Powells! Very cool bookstore.

Kerri, I love the picture of you and Ellen. I hope you are having a fun time in Portland. I would love to tag along on your trip to Powell's. I will second Ellen's recommendation of Dancing at the Rascal Fair. it is the middle book of a trilogy. The first one, English Creek is also good if you like settling in the west books.

#7 - Hi Paul! I'm looking forward to seeing what I make of Barbara Pym as well. It doesn't seem like I can resist middle-aged, English lady novelists, who wrote in the mid-twentieth century, so my chances of enjoying her are quite good.

#7 and #8 - Mark and Paul - A trip to Powell's bookstore and a meet-up with Ellen. What more can one ask from a trip to the Pacific Northwest?

#9 - Hi Donna! Thank you so much for alerting me to the Doig trilogy situation. I will adjust my shopping list. (Yes, I have a 6-page, 8 point font shopping list prepared for Powell's.)

Great to see you and Ellen! Get a good night's sleep tonight — you'll need it if you're heading to Powell's. A 6-page list!

Lovely new thread here, Kerri! And what a great photo of you and Ellen! Thanks for posting it - so nice to put faces and names together.

Great meetup pic! I always love seeing these.

Checking in on the new digs, Kerri. :)

Hi Kerri, just dropping off my star and claiming a place. Thanks for posting the pic of you and Ellen!

Just stopping by to congratulate you on the new thread.

Kerri, thanks for posting the picture of us! I had such a wonderful time!
I'd like to copy the location and cross post the picture on my thread -- if you'll grant me permission.
I need to start a new thread (mine got out of hand while you and I were playing at Elliott Bay Books and dining at Quinn's Pub).
ENJOY Portland! Say hello to the Blue Room and the Gold Room at Powell's for me..... :-)

Great picture of you and Ellen! both of you look lovely! So glad you had fun together!

#11 - 16 and #18 - Hi Julia, Mamie, Laura, Micky, Katie, Peg, and Deb! - Thanks for visiting and for the photo comments - We had a great time! I encourage LT meet-ups, if it's feasible in your area.

#17 - Hi Ellen! Of course, I grant you permission to post the photo! And, um, I just looked at your thread out of curiosity after reading your comment. Yikes - Oh, internets. Sorry it happened to such a sweet lady.

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I'm having a lovely time in Portland and will go to Powell's today. I promise to get caught up on LT friends' threads this weekend when I'm back in Chicago. I tried a bit in Seattle, but didn't get very far.

Hi Kerri, just dropping an anchor to find my way back again. That's really a lovely picture above! :)

>6 DorsVenabili: COOL!
Great shot of two lovely LTers- Oh that I could join in next time.

>17 EBT1002: (mine got out of hand while you and I were playing at Elliott Bay Books and dining at Quinn's Pub).
Thats for sure Ellen!
:)

Hi Kerri - Thanks for the picture of the meet up. You looked as if you were having a good time. I'm jealous. I want a meet up. Also, I want to go to Powell's. We'll get a report, I hope? When do you head home?

I hope you are enjoying Portland! We are supposed to have nice weather for you over the weekend.

I think I need that Carteer Family graphic novel.

One of these days, I will get to Powell's, but in the meantime, I'm waiting eagerly for your report.

Happy New Thread Kerri!

Great with a LT-meet-up - and such two lovely smiles :) Enjoy the weekend, Kerri.

Just popping in to say hello! Glad to see another successful LT meetup! :)

#20 - Hi Kathy - Thank you!

#21 - Hi Megan - I will look you up if I ever get to New Zealand, land of Neil Finn. Although, I think the plane ride would do me in! (Did I just attempt low-quality poetry?)

#22 - Hi Beth - We were just discussing a little trip to Minneapolis, since it's so close, it's supposedly lovely, and I've never been. I would definitely love to do a meet-up if that happens. However, a winter trip to Minneapolis is not an option, as I'm not that crazy.

#23 - Hi Rhonda - Thank you for visiting! I did not know there were LT folks in Portland. I could have had a Portland meet-up too! Anyway, I'll be back, probably in September.

Yes, the Carter family book looks great. I'm sort of itching to read it now, but I packed it in a work trunk, so I didn't have to cart it around, and I won't get it until sometime next week.

#24 - Hi Roni - Powell's is rather fantastic. My report is coming up soon. I actually shipped the books back (so I don't have them with me), but they are listed on my receipt, so I can list them here. Yay!

#25 - Hi Brit - Thank you!

#26 - Hi Carsten - Thank you! I'm finally home and relaxing!

#27 - Hi Chelle - Thanks for popping in!

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I'm home at last!

Ok, Folks. Brace yourselves for cuteness overload! This is my great-nephew Jasper, of Portland, OR. He is a freakishly adorable and rather large 4-month-old:

Oh those cheeks! He's adorable, Kerri. :)

OMG, Jasper is adorable! I bet you had a good time with that little guy! Welcome home, Kerri!

Oh my stars! Freakishly adorable is just the phrase for that cutie pie.

Your great nephew is adorable! I'm glad you're having fun in Portland. Oh wait, had fun.
My thread got a little out of hand in one direction, then yesterday Mamie and Mark and Katie got in (I had forgotten that I had loaned Mamie that key) and they threw a wild party. I wasn't around, but it's worth skimming through for a laugh. Now, of course, I have started a new, somewhat tidier thread.

It was wonderful meeting up with you. Let us know if you come to Seattle again next fall; the invitation to show you around some of the less well-known areas is genuine.

Aw, I just want to kiss his chubby little cheeks!

What sweet little nephew, Kerri! My second son came in what I called " the Jumbo Size" - like your nephew he was BIG! But now he is 22 and tall and slim! Our first son was such a small guy and stayed that way - I really was surprised that I had a jumbo baby! :)

Awww, what an inquisitive expression on Jasper. I can see why you are smitten with him. Cuteness to the max.

Kerri, I hope we get a report on the trip to Powell's with a list of books purchased. Some of us have to live vicariously through others when it comes to traveling. Powell's is on my Dream List!

#29 - Hi Micky - I know! Award-winning cheeks!

#30 - Hi Mark - I did have a wonderful time, but it's soooo nice to be home at last! Joe and Geezer are happy anyway.

#31 - Hi Julia - He is just the bee's knees and rather good-natured to boot!

#32 - Hi Ellen - I missed a party?! I'm off to check that out momentarily. Hopefully I can get caught up on LT today and tomorrow. That's my goal anyway....

I already told Joe that Ms. Ellen and P will show us around hidden, non-touristy Seattle in September, if we're able to make it, and I desperately hope we are. When it comes to our hopeful, eventual move to the Pacific Northwest, I'm definitely more Seattle, while Joe is more Portland. While I love Portland, I've been trying to make the case that there are entirely too many young people and front-yard chicken coops there, so I need help convincing him. Ha!

#33 - Hi Laura - Those are indeed kissable cheeks! He even smiles sometimes, but rarely for the camera.

#34 - Hi Deb - Jumbo Size indeed! He's in 12-month clothes already. His dad is tall and slim, but his dad's brother and father are tall and defensive line-ish, so we'll see how that goes. I'm pretty sure he'll be tall.

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And before I forget, here is my favorite "Oh, Portland" anecdote of the trip: While taking the bus home from Powell's, I heard a passenger say, "Thank you!" as she got off. I thought perhaps she's a friend of the bus driver, or maybe the bus driver let her off between stops. Then I heard another "thank you" upon departure and another and another. When I got back to my niece's house and asked her about this, she said, "Oh, yeah. Most people thank the bus driver." Well, how lovely is that?! And so unlike Chicago. Oh, Portland.

And here is my Powell's book haul. I had them shipped, so I don't physically possess them yet, but they were listed on my receipt, so I'm able to share. I found so many green Virago Modern Classics! I actually couldn't purchase all that I found. And I believe all but one are the non-Penguin variety with the apple on the spine. Yay! I have listed them separately below.

Virago Modern Classics:
*Year Before Last by Kay Boyle
*Full House by M. J. Farrell (Molly Keane)
*Loving Without Tears by M. J. Farrell (Molly Keane)
*A Saturday Life by Radclyffe Hall
*Mary O'Grady by Mary Lavin
*The World My Wilderness by Rose Macaulay
*The Land of Spices by Kate O'Brien

Non-Viragoes:
*Brick Lane by Monica Ali
*Skin: Talking About Sex, Class & Literature by Dorothy Allison
*The Plum Plum Pickers by Raymond Barrio
*Dogs of God by Pinckney Benedict
*The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen
*Dirty Work by Larry Brown
*The Last of the Menu Girls by Denise Chavez
*The Beans of Egypt, Maine by Carolyn Chute
*Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig
*Slow River by Nicola Griffith
*Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively
*Going Down Fast by Marge Piercy
*Small Changes by Marge Piercy

#35 - Hi Donna! We were cross-posting. The Powell's list is posted above. It's a must-stop if you're ever in that area.

Morning Kerri- You don't want to go over to Ellen's old thread. That party was huge and there was massive amounts of alcohol being consumed and I think there was some mild drug use...at least that's what I heard. I believe the police were also involved. OMG!
What is the ALA dates for Chicago? So I can put it on my calendar.
And congrats on the mighty book haul(s)!

VMCs! SO jealous.... I was thrilled to find one last night at my favorite used bookstore.

Sounds like a good trip!

What an excellent trip (nice Powells' haul!), and thanks for the excellent pictures of both you and Ellen, and that cutie Jasper. He has such a great expression in the picture. :)

Hope you're staying warm this weekend, it's nippy out there!

Gosh what a treasure trove. you picked up.

Hi Kerri - It sounds like a satisfying trip all round -- new books, cute babies and LT meet up.

Minneapolis is much nicer in spring -- you're no dummie! Let me know when you plan a trip.

Cute, cute baby!!
If you return in fall, a meet-up would be fun.

I am not sure what you have against front yard chicken coops, but if baby Jaspar can't make the case for PDX, there is nothing that can. And Seattle does have better professional sports.

Fantastic Powell's haul ... love the plethora of Viragos!

#38 - Hi Mark - That was quite a party - you know how those Seattlites roll!

ALA in Chicago is June 27 to July 2. Here is some info: http://ala13.ala.org/. Hopefully I can make this one. I do have a rather crazy work schedule throughout the conferences. And it's not entirely clear how that schedule will pan out until shortly before the conference, which is why I was so last-minute in contacting Ellen about a meet-up.

#39 - Hi Katie - I was in Virago heaven! I very rarely find any here, even at our more fabulous used book stores.

#40 - Hi Laura - It was a great trip! Well, the parts when I wasn't working. Jasper is adorable and very interested in what's going on, to the point where he's developing a nap aversion.

#41 - Hi Karen - Indeed it was! I tried to pick up what I don't normally see around here.

#42 - Hi Beth - I will definitely let you know! It think would be an excellent summer weekend getaway.

#43 - Hi Rhonda - Oh, no! Do you have a front yard chicken coop? I'm always putting my foot in my mouth. : ) Actually, chicken coops are fine (but perhaps in the back yard? Maybe? And definitely without full-time roosters). I'm just not used to seeing fenced in front yards, as we have ordinances about that in the western suburbs. And it's good in that it saves you from confronting scenarios like 3 ferocious, barking dogs behind a four-foot fence when you're going out for a little walk. And, to be clear, I do truly love Portland. It's one of my favorite places. I just like Seattle a bit more.

#44 - Hi Laura - Thanks! I can't wait until my box arrives. Looking at this month's TIOLI, I wish I would have packed a few of them.

No worries--we actually are among the 2-3 people in inner SE Portland with no chickens at all. But I enjoy seeing other people's chickens when I walk around the neighborhood.
Between Seattle and Portland, it's really a matter of taste, but really the prettiest Northwest city is Vancouver, BC.

#46 - My niece lives in SE Portland! I bet I was really close to your home.

I will say that I do love the front yard vegetable gardens - that's very cool. I was there in summer of 2010 and saw a lot of that. Lovely Swiss chard growing away on the front lawn.

I've not been to Vancouver, but I'd love to visit one of these days. And I know vancouverdeb would wholeheartedly agree with your assessment.

>36 DorsVenabili: Huh. That's just normal bus behaviour in my experience. But you know what they say about Canadians... ;)

Kerri, that is an awesome book haul from Powell's! I'm obviously needing to hunt down a Virago Modern Classic (I probably have one or two of them and just don't realize it).

And, just so you know, we thank the bus drivers in Seattle, too. Every time. :-)

eta: I'm glad you picked up Dancing at the Rascal Fair. I hope you like it.

Hey Kerri! Great picture of you and Ellen! Can I ask which one is whom?

I must have missed Ellen's party too so I need to go check it out! :)

#48 - 49 - Hi Micky and Ellen - I do love the "Thank You" thing. In fact, being out there restored my faith in humanity somewhat. People really are that much nicer to strangers. In Chicago, you rarely find much, if any, goodwill between bus driver and passenger.

#49 - Ellen -You may have some Viragoes. The ones we are talking about are easy to scan for - just look for forest green paperbacks with two white lines at the top of the spine. If they are not the Penguin-distributed U.S. versions, they have an apple on the spine as well. It's fun to scan used book stores for them and they are usually quite cheap. I just rarely find any at my usual used book store haunts in the Chicago area.

Re: Dancing at the Rascal Fair - Donna mentioned it was part of a trilogy, but I didn't find evidence of this while scanning his section (and he had a large section), so I figured it's ok to read it as a stand-alone. I hope that's the case.

#50 - Hi Tina! The lovely Ms. Ellen is on the left and I'm on the right. Perhaps I'll go back and label it.
And, yes, do check out Ellen's party - it was a hoot!

Hi Kerri - We thank our bus drivers in Rochester, too.

On the subject of 'thankyou's - my son was relating a tale of bad behaviour by someone at his school and finished it off by saying that they were so bad-tempered at the end that they didn't even say thank you to the teacher when they left the lesson! He thinks I have no idea what goes on at a secondary school. I think if not saying that you is something that he finds suprising then actually he is leading an incredibly sheltered life. I can't remember anyone ever doing that at my own school!

#52 - That is truly heartwarming, Beth. We could certainly use more of that in my area of the country. However, my goal is to escape 3 degree days and large amounts of snow, so I'm definitely not moving to Minnesota. Ha!

#53 - Hi Rhian - I don't recall thanking my teachers either, but it is lovely, don't you think? And I don't mean to paint Portland as this sort of utopia (because it has its issues too), but the level of niceness and kindness to strangers far surpasses what I experience out here. It makes me want to spread the love, so perhaps I'll start thanking everyone for everything and maybe it will catch on, although I doubt it.

And here are my planned possibilities for February. I'm hoping for a better reading month than January, and I should be much less busy at work, so it should all work out. And reviews! I must write a review for The Radiant Way, which I loved, and perhaps I'll post some brief comments on the other books I've managed to get through. I used to be so good at posting reviews. What on Earth has happened to me?

Print or Ebooks:
*Children of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani (for Booklist review)
*Excellent Women by Barbara Pym (Virago Challenge and group read)
*The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen (Coffee Can Challenge)
*The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch (Iris Murdoch Challenge)
*The Beans of Egypt, Maine by Carolyn Chute (Working-class Fiction Challenge)
*Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983 by Barbara Kingsolver
*As Though She Were Sleeping by Elias Khoury
*Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
*The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song by Frank Young
*Binocular Vision: New & Selected Stories by Edith Pearlman - I'm still plugging away at this collection and actually read quite a few on the plane ride home. Wonderful stories.

Audiobooks:
*Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
*And I'll probably choose at lease one more

Brilliant 20 book haul in Powell's Kerri. Has me salivating for my own trip there!

Trust the rest of your Sunday goes great.

Morning Kerri- Just checking in, on this fine Sunday morning. Good luck with your Feb reading list. I will be watching for your thoughts on the Kingsolver NF. I have not heard of that one.
What are you doing for the game? We are attending a small get-together with a few friends but I'll probably duck out at half-time.

#56 - You're going to love Powell's, Paul!

Yes, I plan to have a nice, relaxing Sunday with plenty of reading before the game.

#57 - Hi Mark! I'm looking forward to the Kingsolver and it's a shorty, so I really should be able to get to it this month for sure.

We are watching the game at home (and hoping the 49ers get CRUSHED, although it will probably be a close game). I am not the biggest fan of the Superbowl party as an event, as there always seems to be too many people there who have no interest in watching the game. And it's often worse when you're a woman, because often, many of the other female attendees expect you to chit-chat with them while the game is on. Um, no! I want to watch the game! I'm generalizing and I feel bad about that, but that is what tends to happen, unfortunately. Of course, I'm sure it wouldn't happen with my female LT football fans, but at the Superbowl parties I've been to, that's how it has panned out.

#55 Loved Hotel du Lac and must re-read that some time
Black Prince - hm, I think I got as far as page 5......

Totally hear you about being a woman at Super Bowl parties, or really any sporting event...

And regarding the politeness and kindness of people in Portland, it reminded me of when I moved to Texas from DC and everyone (from people in line behind me at the grocery store to shop clerks to waitresses, etc) was so chatty and friendly and I thought at first it was so obnoxious and insincere. I finally learned that that is just how people (for the most part) are down here and they are being totally genuine. It's nice but I still sometimes find it intrusive.

Kerri, Dancing at the Rascal Fair was the first novel I read by Ivan Doig and it worked out fine for me.

#59 - Hi Karen - Glad to hear you loved Hotel du Lac! You didn't like the Black Prince? I love Iris Murdoch, so I'm guessing I'll get past page five at least. Have you read anything else by her? (I'm always pushing Iris.)

#60 - Hi Katie - Thanks for backing me up on that Superbowl party statement! I was feeling bad about dissing my sisters.

I would say the Portland niceness is far less intrusive that the Southern thing you speak of. You might like it. I don't notice a lot of small talk initiated. Just smiles and politeness and a general lack of aggressiveness. That's my impression anyway.

#61 - Hi Ellen - That is good to know. I'm really looking forward to the Doig. He was an impressive author forum member, and I can't believe I had never heard of him.

Hi Kerri - Nice Feb. planned reading. I loved The Black Prince -- although I read it years ago. I still have the tattered pb copy, so that's one sign that I thought I would read it again.

I never thought I would end up in Minn. either; the climate is horrible. Still, I'm anxious for a visit and a meet up.

Happy Sunday, Kerri. Glad to you had a nice trip out west. Jasper looks really advanced for his age, some kids still struggle to sit up at 6 months.
Great pic of you and Ellen. So nice to meet up with an LTer.
EKnjoy the game!

#63 - Hi Beth! I'm really looking forward to The Black Prince and I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it!

You will most certainly get an LT meet-up at some point. I'm looking forward to it.

#64 - Hi Lynda! He does have excellent head control for his age, but he really is just leaning against the cushion and most likely started slipping moments after the photo was taken. He does love to stand though. Whenever he's held, being stood up seems to be his favorite position. Perhaps he's a little genius? Our family is due for a genius, I think.

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Alright. I'm off to watch the game. I've been avoiding most of the pre-game stuff as I'm sick of hearing about Colin Kaepernick. Grrrr.

I forgot that you're rooting for the Ravens since the Seahawks dropped out. Mostly boring but it's the fourth quarter and a 2-point game. I'm glad for that, regardless of who wins.

#66 - Oh, Ms. Ellen! We do disagree on this point. I'm quite pleased with the outcome of the Superbowl. It got somewhat exciting towards the end and then there was the blackout and all that. Although I chose to iron tomorrow's clothes during the Beyonce halftime show, Joe noted that, "Beyonce is the Slayer of her genre." (That's a compliment.)

I should be off to bed, as I have to work tomorrow. Goodnight, Everyone.

Wow! Such a planner of books, Kerri! I am more of a wing - it kind a girl!shhh but I did not watch the Super Bowl...

#68 - Hi Deb! I am quite the planner. There are so many books on my TBR pile, and TIOLI helps me narrow it down each month. (and I won't tell anyone that you didn't watch the Superbowl!)

Great meetup photo of you and Ellen, Kerri, and Jasper's a charmer, all right.

I keep thinking about reading Dancing at the Rascal Fair, so this is helping motivate me.

#71 - Hi Joe - Thanks for the nice photo comments!

I'm looking forward to the Doig. I'm not usually very interested in "Western" settings, but I was drawn in by the phrase "lariat proletariat" that he used when I heard him speak, among other things, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Kerri, truth is, I was not all that invested in the SB this year. I was rooting for the 49ers but only because it makes it more fun to root for someone. :-)

I'll be interested to see how you like the book that you bought at Elliott Bay -- The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song. It looked like a good one. (touchstone not working?)

Kerri, truth is, I was not all that invested in the SB this year. I was rooting for the 49ers but only because it makes it more fun to root for someone. :-)

I'll be interested to see how you like the book that you bought at Elliott Bay -- The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song. It looked like a good one.

Thanks for telling me which persons you lovely ladies are. Now I can match you up in my brain! ;)

#62 I confess I have not read any Murdoch. I think The Black Prince and my husbands reaction to The Sea put me off. But I do plan to read The Sea since its on my Booker prize list

#73 - Hi Ellen! I get that. On a normal day, I'm pretty indifferent to the Ravens, but it was fun to root against the 49ers.

I would love to get to that Carter Family book this month! I probably would have started with it, but I (sort of idiotically) packed it in my work trunk in Seattle and it won't arrive until some time later this week.

#74 - Hi Tina! I'm so glad I could help you get things organized in your brain. That was an easy request!

#75 - Hi Karen! The Sea, the Sea is my favorite, but perhaps you'd like The Bell, which is also great. I've only read those two, plus A Severed Head, but I plan to read several of her novels this year.

Lovely meet-up photo Kerri and Ellen!

#10 "It doesn't seem like I can resist middle-aged, English lady novelists, who wrote in the mid-twentieth century" *grin* - me too!

#28 Aw, how cute!

#36 That's a lovely story about Portland. I live in a small town and one of the things I love about it is that people will say thank you to the bus driver and quite often will say good morning to each other in the street.

What a great book haul! I haven't read any of the VMC authors you listed but I've heard good things about a lot of them. Molly Keane, Rose Macauley and Kate O'Brien are all on my wishlist.

#77 - Hi Heather! I know. I'm glad I'm not not only one with middle-aged-English-lady-authors fever.

More thanking the bus driver! We must just be jerks in Chicago.

I was terribly thrilled with my VMC haul! I can't remember why Molly Keane called herself M. J. Farrell. I'll have to look that up.

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I've been suffering from rather severe audiobook disappointment lately. I listened to 7 out of 10 discs of Iron Lake before deciding that I could easily live the rest of my life without ever knowing who killed the victim. So I abandoned it. Then I started Palimpsest, which is often labeled an urban fantasy and centers around a "sexually transmitted city." Oh, yes. That is what I said. I got through 1.5 discs and didn't see it going anywhere, so I decided to abandon it as well. It contains a fair amount of pretty language and clearly a lot of effort has gone into the world-building (Ms. Valente is a very talented writer ), but I just couldn't take it anymore. It seems to be a case of style over substance. Maybe I didn't give it enough time, but it's difficult for me to continue with an audiobook that's slowly boring me to death, as I then tend to zone out. And perhaps I'm just more in the mood for realism lately and Palimpsest might have worked at a different point in time. I'm not sure. Anyway, I concluded that it's time for some non-fiction, so I just started The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. So far I've only listened to the enthusiastic forward by Cornell West and part of the first chapter, but it seems promising.

And going back to mysteries/crime novels, I have to ask this question to my fellow LT friends: I hope I don't come across as rude, but are you aware of a mystery/crime novel detective who is not a recently-divorced, surly slob? Perhaps a female? Or a male who doesn't fit into this category? I've read the Crossing Places and liked that, but I hear very mixed reviews on the rest of that series. I've also read The Coroner's Lunch and, while I understand why people like it, I don't think I'm a fan of comedy and/or cuteness (and/or paranormal activity) with my crime novels. Am I being difficult and hard to please? It's possible, but I desperately need help. Does anyone have any suggestions for Kerri? It sort of blows my mind that so many fictional crime-solvers are the exact same person. I think I need a little variety. I'm still fairly new to this genre.

Kerri, have you tried the Louise Penny mysteries featuring Inspector Gamache? The series begins with a sort of typical cozy mystery but it gets progressively darker and more interesting as the series goes on.

Even better, IMHO, are the Simon Serailler mysteries by Susan Hill, starting with The Various Haunts of Men. Simon is neither surly nor a slob - in fact I have a bit of a crush on him :-)

#79 - Thanks, Katie! I have been meaning to get to the Louise Penny novels, but I had never heard of the Simon Serailler mysteries.

I've been suffering from rather severe audiobook disappointment lately. I listened to 7 out of 10 discs of Iron Lake before deciding that I could easily live the rest of my life without ever knowing who killed the victim
Sounds grim!
Ive had no luck with audio, and when I confessed this to LT, people came out of the woodwork in support. So you have my support. But was it more the book than the medium?

Kerri--I am so bummed I missed the Seattle ALA meetup. I was in Texas chasing after my grandson, otherwise I would have been there. I've had the pleasure of meeting up with Ellen a couple of times. I hope you enjoyed your time in Seattle. I know from the evidence above (baby picture; Powells haul) that you enjoyed Portland.

Another fan of middle-class English ladies, writing middle-brow novels in the middle of the twentieth century, here! I mentioned this at my recent reading group meeting and someone asked me if I was familiar with the novelist, Elizabeth Taylor (they'd recently discovered her through a BBC radio 4 article). Well, they probably wished they hadn't asked, as I launched into a full account of her wonderfulness, the centenary day in Reading etc....

My reading group are reading Old Filth this month which means I'll have finished it before the group read, but I'll probably still pop by with my thoughts!

#81 - Hi Megan! I'm very happy with the audiobook medium, I've just had same bad luck with choosing the actual books lately.

I'm sorry you haven't had much audiobook success! I find I can only listen to non-fiction and rather straightforward genre fiction. It actually took me a bit longer to graduate to fiction, because, at first, I was having a hard time keeping characters straight. It's fine now. I think Palimpsest may have been a bit too much for audio consumption and may have worked better in a print format (or maybe not. Ha!).

#82 - Hi Deborah! It sounds like you had a great time in Texas! I actually didn't make the ALA meet-up, due to my work schedule, but it was so wonderful to meet Ellen. I will most likely be back in September, so perhaps we could organize something then.

#83 - Hi Dee! Good to see you! You decided against a thread, right?

Yes, I suppose you can add middle-class to that description as well! Thank goodness for VMCs, or else how we all get our fix? I'm picturing you earnestly lecturing your book group on the merits of Elizabeth Taylor. Ha! I have to get to more of her soon. I wish I would have participated in some of the group reads last year. I'm going to try to do at least a couple of the Barbara Pym reads this year.

I look forward to your Old Filth comments!

84: Hello again, Kerri. I decided against a 75 challenge thread this year, as my head has been too fried with other stuff recently to do justice to the books I'm reading. However, and probably not coincidently, I am speeding through my books this year (17 books so far)!

>83 Soupdragon:: I love the book group story! Way to go Dee.

>78 DorsVenabili: Kerri, Eliot Pattison wrote a series of 7 mysteries set in Tibet. His protagonist, Shan Tao Yun, is a former Chinese police inspector, banished and imprisoned for political offenses. I can highly recommend him as very different from your average surly slob. I have read the first, The Skull Mantra, and been meaning to continue with the series. He also wrote several books set in colonial America, but I don't know much about them.

Also, have you read any Andrea Camilleri? His series is set in Sicily and many seem to really like him. I just finished the first one, The Shape of Water and enjoyed it, although maybe not quite as much as some others did. But enough to continue with the next one.

Perhaps what I enjoyed most about both of these authors is their settings. I though Pattison in particular did a great job of conveying a sense of the cultural and political tensions that exist in modern day Tibet, making this book somewhat more than just a mystery.

Have you tried Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series? I've not read the entire series but I find her extremely intelligent.

OOOh, or how about the A is for Alibi series (with PI Kinsey Malone) by Sue Grafton? Again, I'm not through entire series, but I love her as a main character.

Hi Kerri - I love Donna Leon's series set in Venice. The city is definitely a big part of the series. Her detective Brunetti is happily married and his wife is a professor of literature at the university, specializing in Henry James. She is a great cook. There are many wonderful descriptions of meals. The books are well written.

#85 - Hi Dee - 17 books! That's fantastic. I had a dreadful reading January, due to work. I think I read more last January when I was in grad school.

I understand why a thread is not feasible this year for you, but I'm certainly glad that you're still around!

#86 - Hi Laura!

#87 - Hi Linda - Thank you for those wonderful recommendations! I think I may have heard of The Skull Mantra and I believe Paul may read the Andrea Camilleri novels, but I didn't know much about either. I will put both on the list!

#88 - Hi Tina - Thank you as well for the wonderful recommendations! I've not tried either of those, but I will. I know my old boss really likes Patricia Cornwell, and she's a smart lady.

#89 - Hi Beth - That series sounds delightful and who doesn't like Venice, literature professors, and Henry James!? I'll see if the library has them.

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I'm off to see if I can reserve some of these recommended audiobooks. Please feel free to keep the recommendations coming. As I said, Kerri needs help.

I will probably continue with certain Scandicrime series that feature recently-divorced, surly, slobbish detectives, particularly the Harry Hole series and the Department Q series, because for some reason they don't bother me as much. I suppose it may be because they focus on the detective's back story a little less, so there's not such an opportunity for me to get severely annoyed.

Kerri - Here are some series I have loved over the years. If you are interested in older, more traditional mysteries, try Margery Allingham's Albert Campion series, Dorothy Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey series. I also like Ngaio Marsh. I think she's a better writer than Agatha Christie, but maybe similar times and settings. Other series I have loved are Martha Grimes' Richard Jury and P.D. James Adam Dalgliesh series. I hope you are able to find some of these on audio.

Another plug here for the Andrea Camilleri Inspector Montalbano series, and The Skull Mantra and others in that Eliot Pattison series. I've read all of both (for Camilleri, that means all of the ones translated so far into English) and liked them very much.

I have a home field advantage when it comes to Department Q (they have just published nr. 5 in the series in Denmark) - I'm going to read nr. 3 within the next couple of weeks. I love both Harry Hole and Carl Mörck (but have only read one "Hole-book" Redbreast but it was fantastic.

Oh Kerri, I second the votes for Louise Penny and for Patricia Cornwell! I have loved all of the Penny books and I adore the character Gamache.
Some others that I have read and loved are the Kathy Reich books and Michael Connelly. I love the character Harry Bosch but he can be a bit gruff.
Have you read James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series? I don't read much Patterson anymore but the Women's Murder club and the Alex Cross books have been really good (especially his earlier ones)

#91 - Hi Beth - Thank you! I already have The Black Tower by P.D. James, so perhaps I'll start with that. I really enjoyed Children of Men, although that's not a mystery, of course.

#92 - Hi Joe - Thanks! I'll definitely get to the Andrea Camilleri books.

#93 - Hi Carsten - That's not fair! We only have the first two Department Q books here. I loved The Redbreast too and look forward to reading the other Harry Hole novels.

#94 - Hi Chelle! The Louise Penny books are high on my list, and I'll check out the others you've mentioned.

Kerri, I think it is a very developed mind that can listen to and grasp the plot and characters in audiobooks. I believe I'm on the lower end of development and don't even want to try to improve so I give you kudoo's for staying with them and are enjoying them.

I'm going to check out Katie's suggestion about the Susan Hill series. Oh, and I like Tony Hillerman's series, have you read any of his?

#96 - Hi Lynda - Ha! I truly doubt I have a more developed mind, but I do have long walks to and from trains everyday that are good opportunities for audiobook listening. If I didn't have that, I probably wouldn't listen to them.

I do have Dance Hall of the Dead, but have been hearing mixed reviews of it. But now you're saying you liked it (which I may have already known, via your thread), so now I'm terribly confused.

Kerri, the third installment of Department Q is coming out later this spring! It is called A Conspiracy of Faith. I must admit, I'm a bit jealous of Carsten too!

#98 - Hi Deb! I just heard that somewhere - great news! I still have to read the second one. Perhaps I should make it a priority.

My mind tends to wander when I'm listening to an audiobook because they read so much slower than I do.

#100 - Hi Lori! My mind tends to wander too when I listen to audiobooks, but just because my mind tends to wander. It's usually worse when I start a new one and I'm not into it yet. Actually, listening to audiobooks is a good concentration exercise for me.

Please don’t pass out, but look at what I did on my lunch break today. I’ve produced a few brief book comments, with more to come! A proper review of The Radiant Way is in the works, as it deserves a proper review and I loved it passionately. Not that these don’t deserve a proper review, but there’s only so much time, right?



Title: The Line
Author: Olga Grushin
Publication Year: 2010
Format: Print book
Challenges:
• 75 Book Challenge
• TIOLI #2 (January 2013): Read a book by an author you hadn't heard of before you joined LibraryThing
Stars: Four

Ellen recently wrote a lovely review of this, so I’ll just recommend you read that. This is high-quality fiction and I liked it, but I will say that it was more cold and distant than I wanted it to be, despite the compelling, people-centered plot. Of course, no one is required to listen to me, but, without question, if you’ve never read Olga Grushin, I would push you towards her first novel, The Dream Life of Sukhanov, instead.

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Title: The Devil in the White City
Author: Erik Larson
Publication Year: 2003
Format: Audiobook
Challenges:
• 75 Book Challenge
• TIOLI #21 (January 2013): Read a book that you meant to read in 2012
Stars: Three

Larsen explores the lives of architect Daniel H. Burnham and serial killer H. H. Holmes during the time of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. While the subject matter is fascinating (although I found some of the building details tedious, quite frankly) and the writing is solid, I felt this should really be two books. I found the transitions between the two characters’ storylines jarring, and I was never really convinced that the author created a coherent narrative that successfully weaves the two threads together. I suppose it helps us understand how a turbulent time in American history could create such vastly different, but perhaps equally ambitious, men, but I’m not sure that was enough to hold it together for me.

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Title: Crusoe’s Daughter
Author: Jane Gardam
Publication Year: 2003
Format: Print book
Challenges:
• 75 Book Challenge
• TIOLI #3 (January 2013): Read a book that was not published by one of the Big Six
• Jane Gardam Challenge
Stars: Four

Polly grows up in an isolated, seaside town, raised by a pack of eccentric older women. At an early age she develops an intense love for the novel Robinson Crusoe that eventually develops into a somewhat unhealthy obsession. This is an enjoyable read, and an effective, yet subtle, critique of the sorry lack of opportunities for bright, ambitious women during particular time periods. I love Jane Gardam’s writing style so much that I would probably read a car repair textbook if she wrote it, so there’s that. Very good, not great.

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And from the end of last year!



Title: The Shadow of the Wind
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Publication Year: 2001
Format: Audiobook
Challenges:
• 75 Book Challenge
Stars: Three and a half

The first installment in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, this is an elaborate and multi-layered novel that centers on a mysterious book and its equally mysterious author. Despite the presence of a bit too much sappy romance and melodrama (and the audiobook version I listened to included horrific, cheesy music swelling up during the romantic bits), it’s rather delightful. Zafon does a wonderful job of making a very real place – Barcelona – seem magical and other-worldly and his dialogue is fantastic. It almost reads like a screenplay. I actually enjoyed Prisoner of Heaven, which I read earlier last year (the third book in the series), a bit more, but you can’t go wrong with this one. I’ve heard the middle novel is disappointing. Does anyone agree?

Whoo, way to bang out the reviews, Kerri. :)

Terrific reviews Kerri.

Kerri - I loved The Shadow of the Wind! And had no idea it was the first in a series! I'm so excited!! Off to had the rest of the books to my TBR! Thanks!

#103 and 104 - Hi Micky and Peg! Thanks - it only took a month and 8 days for me to produce book comments in 2013. At least it's something, right?

#105 - Hi Brit! Yes, and I think there's also a short story that goes along with it, but I could be wrong. I could do without the sap, but that guy can write.

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During the past couple days, I've received both my Powell's box and my work trunk that contained the the two other books I picked up on my trip (The Realms of Gold and The Carter Family: Don't Forget this Song) Yay! And speaking of The Realms of Gold, I'd like to share with you its cover, which I love for some reason. It's a very 1970s photo of the author (I believe) sitting in a window of a courtyard apartment building. I love her expression. Has anyone else read Margaret Drabble? Do you have any suggestions? It appears that she's authored many books, and I'm not sure where to go next.

Hi Kerri - I've read some Drabble, but it's been a while. I remember not being overwhelmed by the last thing I read, but I'll have to look back at the title. Radiant Way sounds wonderful. I will try to get to that this year.

On mystery series I second (or third) the recommendations for Louise Penny. I also like P D James' Dalgliesh series but I thought The Black Tower was awful - by all means try it but don't judge the rest of her books by that one if you don't like it...

#102 I'm really looking forward to Old Filth and from your review Crusoe's Daughter also sounds really interesting. I love the Europa cover too.

Horrible cheesy music?! Ugh. I didn't find the second book in the Zafon trilogy disappointing but I didn't think it was as strong as the first book. I still haven't read The Prisoner of Heaven yet.

I had the same reaction as you to The Devil in the White City--the two threads didn't hold together for me.

I read quite a bit of Margaret Drabble years ago (as they were being published). I don't remember much about them though.

I just left a message--don't know why it didn't show up, but you may end up with duplicate messages from me:

I had the same reaction as you to The Devil in the White City--it just didn't hold together for me.

I read a lot of Margaret Drabble a long time ago (as the books were being published). I don't remember much about them though. She was the editor of The Oxford Companion to English Literature, which is highly thought of. She is also the sister of A.S. Byatt, just for a bit of trivia.

Dreadful, I know, Kerri, but I have never read anything by Margaret Drabble, so I cannot comment on that. As to my name, in real life everyone calls me Deborah, never Deb, but when I quickly thought up a name on LT, I thought vancouverdeb was a lot shorter than Vancouverdeborah. But you can use either on LT. I see you have Excellent Women on deck - it is just as good as Bonnie just reviewed! I read and reviewed it maybe last year? Currently it is out on loan to a friend of mine - you know how those loans sometimes can go for a 6 - 8 months! :) My mom enjoyed it too. I think that you will enjoy it.

As for Invisible Murder , I think that you would enjoy it. I should have some sort of comments on it by tomorrow -I hope to finish it later today. I'm enjoying it - it's fairly topical as far as events in Denmark might be - several different strands of the story are now weaving together - Roma's badly treated in Hungary, Denmark, neighbours concerned about a mosque with minarets going up in the area - and of course much more -but I don't want to give it away. Did you red her first book, Boy in a Suitcase? I did and enjoyed it, but I think this one is even better.

Oh and the trees - Cherry Blossoms which are abundant in April in the area, so much so that Vancouver has a cherry blossom " festival". Short lived - a month or so, but very pretty!

Great reviews, Kerri! You've been doing some good reading.
Since the mystery genre is somewhat new to you, and as I gain a sense of what you like, I fear that you will struggle a bit to find series that work for you.
I'm pleased to hear that the Louise Penny series gets a bit darker as the first one, Still Life, was definitely too cozy for me. I recently read and enjoyed The Various Haunts of Men and I'll be looking for the second in that series.
I enjoy Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri, which have been recommended.
And I know that Tony Hillerman gets mixed reviews but as pure mystery, I loved them.

Hi Kerri - I've read some great books by Margaret Drabble, in particular Radiant Way which was inspiring, The Millstone which was humorous and The Red Queen which is quite a violent historical drama set in Japan. Happy reading.

#107 - Hi Beth! I loved The Radiant Way, but I can see where it might not be everyone's cup of tea. And it does, stylistically, have a couple flaws. I also had an emotional reaction to it, because certain aspects of the story really resonated with me. I may even bump it up to 5 stars.

#108 - Hi Heather! Oh no! Is there another P.D. James that you would recommend over The Black Tower ?

I'm so glad you're joining the Old Filth group read! Now I just have to figure out how to host a group read, as I started that one. Ha!

Regarding the audiobook version of The Shadow of the Wind, the music was a little silly, but I should have pointed out that the narrator did an excellent job, especially with such a dialogue-heavy novel. His character voices were perfect.

#109 and #110 - Hi Deborah! Yeah, I thought the two separate stories of The Devil in the White City were compelling, but I really don't understand what he was trying to do.

I don't think I knew that Margaret Drabble was the editor of The Oxford Companion to English Literature, but I did know she is the sister of A.S. Byatt and that they don't quite get along. How sad.

#111 - Hi Deborah! I addressed trees and the name issue on your thread.

I didn't know Margaret Drabble existed until 2 months ago, so don't feel bad!

I started Excellent Women on Friday and I LOVE IT! I've read about 4 chapters. I wanted to get more reading done yesterday, but had various errands to run and tasks to complete, unfortunately. I did make a lovely potato soup though.

I will check out Boy in a Suitcase first, as I typically like to start at the beginning of series.

#112 - Hi Ellen! Thank you!

There seems to be a lot of agreement on Susan Hill, Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri, so I'll definitely check those out. I am very interested in the Louise Penny too. At first I assumed that I wouldn't like cozy mysteries, but I'm not sure if that's true. Wasn't The Crossing Places a cozy mystery? I'm not sure. I liked that though.

#113 - A new person! Hi Tracey! Thank you for the Margaret Drabble recommendations. I was just reading about The Red Queen. It sounds fascinating, yet wildly different from The Radiant Way. I will find your thread at some point soon.

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I had hoped to do more thread-visiting this morning, but LT was down during the exact half-hour that I planned to do that. Now I'm off to choir accompanying and then we're going to my in-laws this afternoon for my brother-in-law's birthday celebration. I'll be back tomorrow. Have a lovely Sunday!

Morning Kerri- I haven't been by to visit in awhile! RL and all that. I liked the Angel's Game but it didn't hold together as well as it should. I love "Shadow" and I have heard very good things about the 3rd one. Sorry, the Larson book left you a litle cold. I was crazy about it.
Enjoy your day today! Sounds like you'll be busy.

#114 Any of the other Dalgliesh books would be fine - I think The Black Tower was the only one I didn't like. One of my favourites was A Taste for Death.

Kerri, just for the record, I am far from any sort of botanical/ gardening expert! I just have a soft spot for tulip magnolias! I remember one house that we owned has some hideous apparently admired sort of willow tree. But it looked like an inside out umbrella , leafless for the winter. Ugly, ugly! When we moved in, the front yard already had a raised front garden area, which I called " the graveyard" due to the raised nature of it, and the fact that I could not plant anything I could grow in that bed of mud. Slugs a plenty!!! The first home that we owned had a fabulous nice ordinary front garden and that I liked -and that is where I planted my fabby Tulip Magnolia!

So glad that you are enjoying Excellent Women. I really enjoyed it. I've enjoyed all of P. D. James books except for Of Mice and Men. I discovered P.D James in my early twenties.

Oh yes, my two cents about Susan Hill. I really love her series, and I have read them all. Just be aware that they are as much about family/ social issues than an actual mystery. Yes, of course someone dies, but much of the book is about family and relationship and often some sort of social issue. That said, I really enjoy her series.

Agreed on Susan Hill. The Simon Serrailer series isn't hard mystery, but the characters are great.

#115 - Hi Mark! I thought you destarred me! (Kidding - I didn't really think that).

I really think you'd like The Prisoner of Heaven. I wish I would have read them in order.

It wasn't that I hated The Devil in the White City, and I would definitely read his other stuff. Also, I listened to it as an audiobook, so I think the transitions were even more jarring, because I didn't see them coming.

#116 - Thanks, Heather! I actually have A Taste for Death as a print book. I picked it up from the free table at my university library a couple of months ago.

#117 - Hi Deborah! Oh my! Lots of slugs! When we moved into our house nearly 3 years ago, there were (are, actually), a lot of little landscaped areas in the front and back, because the elderly lady who lived here was an avid gardener. However, in the last few years of her life, she couldn't get out much, and her kids didn't do a very good job of keeping it up. They just planted some hideous wild flowers that took over. Not that wild flowers are hideous, but these are all the same variety and they look like weeds with tiny daisy heads. I think I got rid of them all, but we still have a lot of work to do, and neither of us are any good at it, quite frankly. We also have a MAJOR morning glory infestation. They could base a horror movie on it. You have no idea how much I hate morning glories.

#117 and #118 - Hi Deborah and Jim! I'll give the Susan Hill books a try. It sounds like something a bit different from what I'm used to in the mystery realm, but that's good.

Some fun reviews here. I would agree that The Angel's Game is not as good as Shadow of The Wind. But if you like the series, it's probably worth reading. Kind of disturbing, I thought. I haven't read Prisoner of Heaven--I will have to look for it.

I feel as though I will need to re-read 'Shadow of the Wind' before I tackle the next two in the trilogy. So much happened in that book and I have such a lousy memory!

> 121--I don't think you have to. The Angel's Game would stand on it's own.

Oh those morning glories! We had some in our backyard when we arrived her and they somehow combined with our hydrangea and created a monstrosity of a plant! My husband gave it a " big" hack back last summer, and I hope we are rid of the morning glory. Morning Glory is pretty - but they really take over !

Rhonda, that's good to know! Maybe I'll just plunge in with 'The Angel's Game' then.

#120-122, and 124 - Hi Rhonda and Julia! Yeah, from what I understand, they all sort of stand on their own. I read the third one before I read the first one and that was ok, but I missed the character growth aspect of it by reading the series that way.

#123 - Oh, Deborah. Keep me posted, but I don't believe you can get rid of them by hacking or pulling. I've heard pulling them out makes it worse, but I can't remember why. It is just the most evil, murderous plant, strangling everything in its path. Just ask the poor Rose of Sharon bush in my yard. I think I may try putting plastic down in that area this year.

You did have a very productive lunch break, Kerri. All very good reviews.
Pachysandra's are another "evil, murderous plant". I'm sure the ones I pulled out last year will be popping their heads above ground in spring screaming na, na, na, na, naaaaaa. Good luck with your MG's.

ETA: Why is everyone reading Barbara Pym this month? Have I missed something?

>126 Carmenere:: Why is everyone reading Barbara Pym ... ?
This is her centenary year. The Virago Modern Classics group is reading one novel per month, in order of publication. It's fun!

#126 - Hi Lynda! I don't know the Pachysandra, but it definitely sounds evil. And I suppose Laura answered your Barbara Pym question. I highly recommend Excellent Women. It's wonderful so far.

#127 - Hi Laura! You have apparently changed your name! It took a bit of effort to figure out who you are, but I like it and believe it will keep me from calling you "Linda."

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I received an LT Early Reviewers book that I'm actually looking forward to reading, which doesn't happen very often, due to my own poor choices. It's called The Flame Throwers by Rachel Kushner, who also wrote Telex from Cuba, which I have not read.

From the back blurb, it involves a group of young artists in 1970s New York and the main character moves to Italy where she gets caught up with a radical group (political, I assume?) It sounds interesting. I may push dear Iris Murdoch out of the way this month and read this instead, as it's more in line with what I'm in the mood for lately.

And on a completely different note, two or so weeks ago, they released a shelved-for-many-years solo album of the late Don Rich (lead guitarist and harmony vocalist in Buck Owen's Buckaroos) singing George Jones songs (called, of course, Don Rich Sings George Jones). It's actually not very good - a bit dull and uninspired - but it has me thinking a lot about Don Rich this week. For your listening and viewing delight, here's Don backing up Wynn Stewart (one of my favorite old, country singers). This video is awesome for so many reasons, but particularly for the the suits and facial expressions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU9Mjw2k55o

Too sleepy for much conversation but wanted to say hello.

#129 - Well, an Ellen visit is always a lovely thing, so thank you. Plus, I hope you got some sleep.

>128 DorsVenabili:: I like it and believe it will keep me from calling you "Linda." Thanks Kerri! I hope there's less confusion in the future, too!

Hi Kerri - I'm tremendously behind, but I wanted to stop by and see what you are up to.

*waves*

waving hello . . .

Good afternoon, Kerri!
I'm avoiding work. I'm at work, just not so much doing work. I have spent a bit of time working on my budget proposal, but yuck.

I'll make a deal with myself. For every 20 minutes I spend productively working on that proposal, I get to check in on two threads. I hope your day is going well.

135 - I love that idea Ellen!! *20 minutes then 2 threads* Sounds reasonable to me! I'm going to adopt that plan if possible!

Hi Kerri -- just checking in on as many friends as I can before my eyes won't stay open any longer haha.

#131 - Hi Laura! Agreed.

#132 - Hi Beth! I'm up to no good, as usual. No, actually I was busy last night with choir accompanying, due to the ash Wednesday business. And then we had a rehearsal, so I was completely exhausted when I got home.

#133 - Hi Joe!

#134 - Hi Ardene!

#135 - Hi Ellen! Ha! How did that work out for you? I have to give up LT cold turkey during the day (except sometimes during lunch), because moderation never seems to work for me. Of course, I often break this rule...

#136 - Hi Tina!

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Ok, clearly I'm the only person who gives a hoot about Don Rich (Really, People? What is wrong with you? Ha!), but that doesn't mean I won't continue to bombard you with old country videos, as I have no book or life news to share at this moment. (Oh! I just remembered I have a little story to tell, but I'm not quite awake yet, so I'll save it for another day.)

Anyway, here's my favorite version of "Hello Walls." It's stripped down and without background singers. As I said to Joe after hearing this version for the first time (I may have been a little tipsy): "Dang! Faron Young had flow!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnnA_tqGpv4

Oh, gosh. And I almost forgot:

Kerri, I didn't have much to say about Don Rich because frankly I'd never heard of him before, but I can chime in enthusiastically on Faron Young and particularly on that song "Hello, Walls". LOVE that song!

#139 - Hi Julia! Well, I suppose it's a good thing I don't require my LT friends to take a Don Rich appreciation test. Ha!

Are you a fan of old country music too? I love Faron Young. He probably had my favorite male, country voice. I am slain by his version of "She Thinks I Still Care." In my opinion, it's better than the George Jones version. Here's a crappy vinyl transfer recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04_J0BzP0q4

*waving hi as I pass through*

#140 by DorsVenabili> I love old country music. Favorites? Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn. Johnny Cash, OF COURSE. Don Gibson, who did a killer version of "Sea of Heartbreak". I've never been a huge George Jones fan for some reason, although "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is pretty great. I read a book last year (He Stopped Loving Her Today)all about the making of that song, and it kind of shattered some illusions for me (the recording wasn't quite a spontaneous outburst of genius) but I still love the song. It's a very good book if you are ever motivated to look it up.

Hi Kerri
>128 DorsVenabili: I may push dear Iris Murdoch out of the way this month and read this instead
Poor dear Iris Murdoch has heard that a lot from me in my reading life!

The Sea, the Sea has been waiting a long time for my attention.

#138: I love the Valentine cat!

#141 - Hi Roni!

#142 - Hi Julia! I love everyone on your list except for Merle Haggard. Merle doesn't speak to me for some reason (I do occasionally try to listen to him though, just to see if anything has changed). And I haven't listened to a lot of Don Gibson, but I have him starred on Spotify. I'll definitely check out "Sea of Heartbreak."

Thank you for that book recommendation! It goes on my wishlist. I hadn't heard of it. I do like George Jones, but I wouldn't call him a favorite either.

My favorites are probably Buck Owens, Lefty Frizzell, Faron Young, Wanda Jackson, Melba Montgomery, the Louvin Brothers, Marty Robbins, Wynn Stewart, Patsy Cline, and Johnny Cash. I also like the early Johnny Horton stuff a lot (not the later gimmicky stuff), but that's sort of more rockabilly. For slightly later stuff, I love Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Gram Parsons, and Willie Nelson.

#143 - Hi Megan! Ha! Poor Iris. She's one of my favorites though. I can't wait until you read The Sea, the Sea! One of my issues with the The Black Prince is that I have the Penguin Classics edition with terribly small print and I really need to get my eyes checked. I have rather bad eyesight anyway, but just when I'm about to turn 40, it feels like I'm approaching a bifocal stage of life.

#144 - Hi Stasia! I found that cat to be quite glamorous. I'm glad you appreciated him/her.

Morning Kerri- Talking and thinking about the year of '71 and music, puts a big smile on my face! What a pinnacle year! Landmark album, after landmark album!
I did not know you loved the old-time country! My Dad listened to it while I was growing up and I have always had a strong fondness for it. I am not familiar with Don Gibson.

#146 - Oh, yes. I'm all over the place with music, but old country is one my favorites. I think it's because I got into the alt-country stuff in the 90s and then went back and listened to the old stuff. I drive Joe crazy, because he's not a huge fan, except for Johnny Cash. Joe is a rockist. Ha!

Hello Kerri! I'm just briefly delurking to wish you a lovely weekend!

#145 by DorsVenabili> Ah, I forgot Lefty Frizzell and Wanda Jackson — definitely also favorites. I like everyone on your list, pretty much, although I can't escape the image of Buck Owens from "Hee-Haw" (but I admit his music is generally good). I think I also left Hank Williams off my list, which is a bit of a travesty.

When I bought a new car last summer, it came with 6 months free access to satellite radio. I enjoyed listening to a station called Willie's Roadhouse, which played lots of great old country music. That was fun.

#148 - Hi Kathy! And thank you for the waving cat/dog/rodent gif!

#149 - I tend to put "Hee Haw Buck Owens" in the same category as "Las Vegas Elvis." It's kind of the same phenomenon. Although I will admit that, as a child, I passionately loved Hee Haw. The early Buck Owens albums are fantastic. My favorites are the self-titled one and Buck Owens Sings Harlen Howard. A couple years before he died, my friend and I took a road trip to the Buck Owens Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, CA (she lives in San Francisco). I'm glad I did it, but he was such a mean, surly old man! And he made fun of my song request! True story. Ha!

Oh, the Willie's Roadhouse show sounds wonderful! I don't have satellite radio, but I discover a lot of stuff on Spotify.

****************************************

I finished Excellent Women on the train this morning and loved it! More later on that. I'm about to start The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen for my coffee can challenge. I've never read her and don't quite know what to expect. Library Thing says I will like her, because I like Iris Murdoch. We shall see, I suppose.

I'll be interested in your reaction to Elizabeth Bowen. I have never read her, but I have about 5 of her books on my shelves for some reason!

I've heard good things about Elizabeth Bowen but never read any of her books so I look forward to your thoughts. If I go to her author page and click the If you like link I can see Pym and Elizabeth Taylor in the first two slots which bodes well!

Librarything thinks that I would also enjoy the Death of the Heart. I'll have to keep an eye out for your review

I don't think I told you yet but I think your coffee can challenge is a great idea! So creative

#150 by DorsVenabili> Spotify is great for finding stuff I don't have. I love it. And I'm really sorry Buck was a jerk to you. I can't imagine making fun of a fan's song request! And Harlan Howard was a great songwriter; so many classic songs.

# 102 way behind on the thread so on,u just saw the review of Devil in the City. I bought this on the recommendation of a guy in Chicago airport bookshop. But I just can't get that thrilled at the idea of reading it even though he assured Meir was brilliant.

Hi Kerri - Love the Valentine cat. My dad loves country music, so of course, I resisted it most of my life. I do like folk music, though, and they do cross over sometimes.

#151 - Hi Katie! I've had a rather large short story collection of hers sitting on my shelf for years, and we all know there's no hope that I'll ever get to that! However, the novel is good so far.

#152 - Hi Heather! Oh, I see that! It also says on the back cover of my copy that she's the bridge between Virginia Woolf and Iris Murdoch. Hmmm. That's a bit vague, but ok.

#153 - Hi Chelle! Thank you for the kind words regarding my coffee can challenge! It's given me two good ones so far - The Stone Diaries and The Radiant Way. See, Ellen? I'm not crazy! : )

#154 - Hi Julia! No, that's ok. We thought the Buck Owens diss was rather hysterical. I've also been dissed by the Night Ranger drummer on a plane when I was 14. That's also a good story. I have quite a history with B-list celebrities!

#155 - Hi Karen! I know a lot of people love it, but it didn't work for me 100%. It's probably worth trying though.

#156 - Hi Beth! Thanks for appreciating Valentine's Day Cat! I like some folk music too. What sort of folk music are you talking about? I've been listening to the latest Gillian Welch album a lot lately. Would we we call that folk, or country? I'm not really sure.

Hiya Kerri. Just stopping in to say hello! :)

Hi Kerri - I'm talking Pete Seeger, the Weavers, Woody Guthrie, Dylan (especially early). I also like rock, The Who, Springsteen. I am not up on current artists so much. I do like Nancy Griffith, too.

Speaking of Woody Guthrie, he has a "new" (newly published) book coming out that sounds pretty good. We just ordered a copy for the library.

#158 - Hi Tina!

#159 - Hi Beth! That's good stuff. I think you might like Gillian Welch. Here's a good one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miIeU_kIljk

Also, "Look at Miss Ohio" is one of my favorite songs ever. That's an older one.

#160 - Hi Lori! Are you talking about House of Earth? I just found that on Amazon. I had no idea he had written a novel. Wow! I might have to get that.

Hi Kerri - Yes, I just saw House of Earth on a table in Barnes and Noble. I'll have to see if our library has a copy. I've seen Arlo Guthrie in concert a few times and love him. Once I saw him with Pete Seeger, and it was great. It was a small venue with great acoustics.

157 haha you are not crazy, just creative! It's amazing to see how LT makes us read outside our normal comfort zones! I've found so many amazing novels from LT recommendations that I would have never picked up before joining LT!

#162 - Now Beth. Are you some sort of hippie? It's starting to look that way. : )

#163 - Hi Chelle! I agree that LT makes us read outside our comfort zones. I had never picked up a mystery or crime novel until I came here, and what a wonderful addition that stuff has been to my life!

****************************************
Hi Everyone!

I had a lovely evening yesterday. My sister and brother-in-law came out for an unplanned visit and we had dinner at Xni-Pec, one of my favorite restaurants in the area. They specialize in food from Mexico's Yucatan region and it's wonderful. Lots of fresh vegetables and an interesting spice combination. The sad news is that the restaurant is moving at the end of the month and will be closed for a while. It was busy, so we didn't have a chance to ask them where they are going and they have a notoriously awful website, so I'll have to do some research to figure out what's going on. : (

Anyway, when I get back from choir accompanying this afternoon, I plan to spend the entire day reading The Death of the Heart, which is my first Elizabeth Bowen and also the most dramatically titled novel that I've read in quite some time.

I also picked up a few of those mystery recommendations at the library yesterday: Still Life, The Shape of Water, The Various Haunts of Men, The Boy in the Suitcase, and Postmortem. There were other LT friends' recommendations from above that I really wanted to get, but they're not offered as audiobooks in my library system. I'll probably start with The Shape of Water, since it's so short, and I'll be able to squeeze it in this month.

I hope everyone has a superb Sunday!

Morning Kerri- Have you heard Iris Dement's last album? It's terrific and I also loved Gillian Welch's last one too! I love that guitarist. Hope you have a nice Sunday planned.

And yet, irresponsible me would say that forgetting to ask is just a good excuse to go back and have another meal before the end of the month!

#165 - Hi Mark! I did not know about the new Iris DeMent album, but I'll check it out - thanks! I think she's a great song writer. However, when it comes to her voice, I think it's like cilantro - a dab'll do ya. Right or wrong? Whereas Gillian Welch's voice makes me melt. And, I agree, David Rawlings is fantastic! I missed them when they were here, due to school. Poop.

#166 - Hi Jennifer! That's a fantastic strategy. I think I'll use that excuse!

Kerri - House of Earth is the one.

>166 whitewavedarling: I like the way you think!

*waves*

Stopping by to say hi, Kerri! It sounds like you got some great reads from your library. For me to borrow from my library, I will have to get a Kobo, since Kindle does not handle Canadian Libraries! Maybe one day?

I really have enjoyed that The Various Haunts of Men - the series is very different from most in the crime / mystery genre. I found that the series improved as I've read along. I think you'll find that family, social issues, and character development figure as much as crime in that series - or I have.

#168 - Hi Lori! That's fascinating. I've put it on my list.

#169 - Hi Megan!

#170 - Hi Deborah! I was talking about audiobooks and, at my library, I just check out the CDs and then put them on my iPod. I know I'm violating copyright in some way, but I really do delete them when I'm done listening to them.

I've not checked out any ebooks yet, mostly because my particular library only has access to a small number of them, most of which I'm not interested in reading. Other libraries in the system have better digital collections (like Mark's, probably), but I live in a piddly, little suburb. : (

I looked up what was available in ebooks from my library yesterday but unfortunately the way they have organised the catalogue makes it virtually impossible to use. They have only divided their ebook fiction into about four very broad categories and then have lumped children's and adults' books together and there seems no way of separating them. It makes finding anything you want to read virtually impossible.

#172 - Hi Rhian! Nice to see you! That's too bad. The digital media system my library uses isn't organized very well either, especially if you just want to browse. However, I can see all the ebooks and audiobooks (that are digital files) in the regular library catalog, so I just use that instead. Perhaps yours is the same way?

**********************************************

I forgot to admit that I recently adjusted some of my 2013 reading goals. Instead of six Irish Murdochs and six Jane Gardams, I changed it to three each. I also changed my history goal, from six to four. I do like a little structure, but I'm enjoying my freedom too.

That being said, I will keep my other goals the same. My coffee can continues to deliver book magic. I'm very impressed with the Elizabeth Bowen novel that I started the other day. I almost picked up something else this morning, but decided to stick with it and I'm glad. I know this quote may sound terribly morbid, and I'm giving it to you out of context, but gosh, I would give a limb (I'm not sure which one) to be able to string together sentences like this:

"She walked about with the rather fated expression you see in photographs of girls who have subsequently been murdered, but nothing so far had happened to her...This morning, when she saw Portia coming, she signaled dreamily with a scarlet glove."

I love the food in the Yucatan! Now I am jealous that you have a good restaurant.

I used to read a lot of mysteries; but for the past decade have been off of them. It's funny how reading tastes can change.

Xni-Pec sounds delicious. The Yucatan has so much more to offer than ground beef with tons of cheese.
Hope you're having a great Monday.

Hi Kerri,
I'm way behind after our wonderful weekend away, but wanted to check in before heading to bed.
I need to hear more about how you set up the coffee can thing. I know you gave details somewhere on an earlier thread, or maybe in the challenge group...... I know you put the names of a variety of authors in a coffee can (Folgers? Maxwell House?) and are drawing them out and reading something by that author next. Right? Other details?

Happy Tuesday to you (can you tell how sleepy I am as I type this?).

#174 - Hi Rhonda! Xni-Pec is fantastic. I certainly hope they are successful in their new location. This will be the second time they've moved.

Yeah, my reading tastes have changed quite a bit too. I used to read a lot more non-fiction than I do now (although I've always read primarily fiction), but I haven't been in the mood lately.

#175 - Hi Lynda! That's very true. I don't think there was a drop of cheese (or ground beef) in any of our entrees. And I enjoy the prominence of roasted vegetables. It's a lovely cuisine!

#176 - Hi Ellen! The coffee can explanation is in post 1. I use a Meliltta can, which is a higher end, trashy coffee, as opposed to just a trashy, trashy coffee. I just pulled out my March name and, sadly, it's not Jane Rule. Ha! But it's Penelope Lively, so I'll read Moon Tiger next month.

>177 DorsVenabili:: But it's Penelope Lively, so I'll read Moon Tiger next month.
Well, I really liked that one. Hope you do too!

What Laura said!

Hi, Kerri. I have an Elizabeth Bowen on my shortlist TBR, too - Friends And Relations, a Virago I picked up at a recent booksale. You're making me really look forward to it. :)

Okay, so I'll go up and read post #1.
I haven't read anything by Penelope Lively.

Okay, I read post number one on thread number one. I do believe I had read it before but had not, of course, processed the details. I think I may borrow that one for 2014.
:-)

#178 and #179 - Hi Laura and Katie! Moon Tiger seems to be the most recommended Penelope Lively novel. I'm really looking forward to reading it.

#180 - Hi Liz! Thank you for stopping by! I've been pleasantly surprised by the Elizabeth Bowen, as I didn't know what to expect. Beautiful writing and a bit denser than some of the other stuff I've been reading lately, so it's taking longer to get through, but that's ok.

#181 and #180 - Hi Ellen! I'm glad we got all this coffee can business sorted out. Ha! The "If you like" feature is a fun tool to use, even if you're not goofy enough to cut up strips of paper and put them in a coffee can.

Kerri, your coffee can is a good way to try new authors. I'm glad it hasn't let you down yet.

Re country music and Buck Owens. My husband is still a Hee Haw fan. We have to stay home on Sunday night so he can watch it. We used to see Buck Owens back in the 70's before Branson got so commercialized. He had one of the first music theaters there.

#184 - Hi Donna! Sometimes I go down the old-country-music-variety-show-clips wormhole on YouTube. Before you know it, it's the next day! How does that happen?

Anyway, I had no idea that Buck had a place in Branson! I've never been there and, from what I hear (and what you said), I probably shouldn't go now. I saw him at his Bakersfield place and I think it was around 2002.

Kerry, you certainly can't go see Buck in Branson. After what he did to you in Bakersfield?! Pshaw! Unless you went just to give him a taste of his own medicine, but I sense you are entirely too kind-hearted to do that. And besides, he must be at least 115 years old by now so it would hardly be a fair fight. :-)

#186 - Also, poor Buck is quite dead, so it would be weird (although kinda cool) seeing him in Branson at this point!

ETA: And here's an awkward Buck treat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvzDwKOItRI

Oh, my gosh. I totally missed that he died! Yes, that wouldn't be much of a show, would it? Quiet, anyway.

#188 - Yeah, it was a few years ago. I think he probably lived a nice, full life though.

I bet you're right. We should all be so lucky!

173 Wow, that is quite a quote. & I totally agree with scaling back on the Murdoch and Gardam. You can read more next year. It's better to space them out than to feel rushed or compelled to read them, and as for Murdoch, there will be no more books. :( Best to make them last.

#190 - Indeed.

#191 - Hi Katie! Excellent point about the Murdoch books. I don't want to get burned out from too much structure like I did last year. I do love the TIOLI challenges though, as they help me narrow down my choices each month, so I can't imagine giving that up. And, of course, the coffee can is amazing.

Morning Kerri- I'm still in for Old Filth, although I have to snag a copy. I like the length. If it was 700 pages, I might have balked. I hope this snowstorm is gentle on us. Fingers crossed.
Have a good day!

Old Filth is one I really want to read this year.
Snowstorm? I agree with Mark; I hope it's gentle. Our tiny early iris are already blooming and our daffodils are about 8 inches tall with buds..... Spring always arrives in February!

I (re)read Old Filth in a day at the weekend - but didn't do much else! Enjoyed it even more second time round and wholeheartedly recommend. I am now onto the companion book: The Man in the Wooden Hat which was a Secret Santa present.

#193 - Hi Mark! Glad you're still in for Old Filth! 289 pages is not bad at all, especially after all you crazy people read AK!

Oh, gosh, I hope the snow isn't bad. They always overestimate.

#194 - Hello Ellen! Did you know that you are signed up for the Kerri-run Old Filth group read? It's true.

Spring, iris, and daffodils! I want to live in your town! My plan is to abandon the Midwest by 2022. Wish me luck.

#195 - Hi Dee! We were posting at the same time. I'm looking forward to Old Filth. And someone told me (perhaps it was you?) that the third book in the trilogy is coming out this year. How exciting is that?

Due to Paul and I believe also Heather (I'm not sure if I should thank them or e-bop them over the head), I learned about FictFact and created an account (http://www.fictfact.com/). It's not a perfect system, but I think it will be a good way to keep track of my series...and an excellent time-waster. Beyond that, I'm not sure what else I'll do over there. My username is, of course, DorsVenabili. I haven't gotten very far in logging my series yet. Does anyone else use it?

Other than that, no exciting news. I'm off to make dinner. Have a lovely evening.

Also, here's a geriatric sea otter playing basketball. It made my day and hopefully it makes yours as well: http://www.buzzfeed.com/erikmalinowski/inspiring-arthritic-sea-otter-dunks-a-bas...

Oh that otter is adorable! Thanks for sharing!

(I am ignoring your link to fictfact. Yep, ignoring it. Don't need another thing to keep track of. Nope, not gonna open it ;p)

Oh, you people with your devilish FictFact! I do NOT need any more distractions from reading! I do not, I tell you!

So, how is it that I just found myself creating an account over there?! Evil, I tell you, pure evil.

Hey Kerri, I just found you over on FictFact. Paul introduced me to it and while I don't use it a lot, it is useful.

Again, what Laura said :-) I'm katiekrug on FictFact. I like it (when I remember to update over there).

#199 - Hi Chelle - I love that otter! I don't usually post stuff like that, but I couldn't resist with that one! Yeah, it might be best to ignore FictFact if you have the willpower, but you do read a lot of series, don't you? : )

#200 - Hi Julia! I'm sorry! : ) Perhaps in the long run, it will save us all time. (Ha!) I had been trying to keep track of series in a spreadsheet, but it was taking too long to get all the information together. This seems like it will be easier.

#201 and 202 - Hi Laura and Katie! I will look for you over there. I'll probably go back this weekend. So far, I've only gone through authors that start with A or B, so I have a long way to go!

hehe, Im on FictFact too, but just to confuse it all, Im called LovingLit- see you there :)

Ah, so that's you, Megan! I wasn't sure, but I looked at you was following you and they all looked like familiar LT handles so I figured it was someone from the mothership. :-)

Kerri - I'm anxious to hear your comments about The New Jim Crow. Sounds interesting.

#204 - Hi Megan! Right! I think it was you who most recently mentioned it. I'll look for you.

#205 - Hi Julia!

#206 - Hi Beth! I'll probably finish it up while doing my Saturday chores. I'm certainly due for some book comments. I hope your wrist is continuing to improve!

********************************

I just read Fun Home in one sitting this morning. Wow. I'll have to get my thoughts together, but it was amazing, and I'm giving it 5 stars. Holy crap.

To be honest, I think I've been in a minor book funk for the past two months, which has resulted in unusually slow reading so far this year. However, I think I'm slowing coming out of it, and I'm glad that, throughout it, I've still been able to recognize a good book. In fact, it seems like everything I've read (well, finished - I did abandon a couple) this year has been very good, to fantastic, with only one exception. So there's that.

I'm about to start Holding the Line by Barbara Kingsolver, which is a non-fiction account of the women involved in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983. But before I plop myself in my reading chair, I should do a bit of housework. Joe is being all kinds of productive this morning and making me feel guilty (indirectly, of course).

crap. Ya I read a lot of series. I joined. I have no will power. I don't know why I even pretend that I have will power because I don't.
ChelleBearss is me.

#208 - Sorry, Chelle! Ha!

Ahh I hate to depress you , but a couple of doors over from me the daffodils are blooming! Today was a nice sunny day, but tomorrow is supposed to be rainy. Sorry that you've been in a book funk- I think it happens to most of us at one time or another. Glad to hear that you are coming out of it.
LT is about all I can find time for, never mind fict fact! :)

Found you on fictfact! I'd say thank me rather than e-bop me but I may be biased....

Morning Kerri- We had a great time with you guys! Lots of laughs and chatter. We'll have to do it again. Could you send me a short list of the (current) music Joe was recommending? My old brain is not retaining very well.

Hi Kerri: Holding the Line and Fun Home both sound great. I'm not even going to comment on the amount of time I spent on fictfact yesterday.

#210 - Hi Deborah! Oh, poop! Well, good for you and your daffodils. I thought you didn't get sun out there until July? I don't have problems with the rain/lack of sun issue, as long as there's less snow and cold than what we experience in the Midwest. As I get older, I can't take the bitter coldness anymore!

#211 - Hi Heather! Ok, "Thank you." : )

#212 - Hi Mark! We had a great time too! Ok, I'll send you the list, but I'm not sure you'll like what he was talking about - I think it was The Bronx mostly. They are rather heavy.

#213- Hi Beth! We were cross-posting! Fun Home is heartbreaking, powerful, and brutally honest. I think you'd like it, but I can't remember if you read graphic novels, or not. I just started the Kingsolver book, but it seems promising. From the introduction, it sounds like she wrote it before she started writing novels.

Sorry about FictFact!

Hi Kerri - I read Persepolis, and our book group is reading the memoir that comes after Fun Home. I haven't read a lot of graphic stuff, but I do like what I've read. I want to hear more about The New Jim Crow.

#217 - Do you plan to read Fun Home before Are You My Mother?. It's a quick read, so I desperately hope that you do.

I remember you read Persepolis now. I think you liked it more than I did, although I thought it was pretty good.

Comments on The New Jim Crow to come. I promise. I'm overdue for book comments. That's for sure.

************************************

I forgot to mention that I had a meet-up with Mark and his wife last night, and it was a big heap of fun! Great company, wonderful beer, and lots of laughs. I'm really looking forward to the next Chicago meet-up! Yay!

Now I'm off to choir accompanying. I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!

Yes, Kerri, I want to read Fun Home before Are You My Mother?. Most reviewers seem to like Fun Home a little more.

Totally agree. Fun Home is a 5 star read. Hope it helps get you out of your reading funk. Hate it when those happen, and they seem to always happen in the winter when there hasn't been sun for days and there's nothing better to do than read anyway! I'll be interested to see what you say when you get around to it. I had to wait awhile too, and I don't feel I really did a "review" for it. I just made a few comments. I hope people don't overlook it because it is "GLBT." It's universal too.

#218 - Yeah, I've heard that, but I'm very interested in reading it and, actually, just ordered it from inter-library loan.

#219 - Hi Katie! I'll get my thoughts together on it. I've been TERRIBLE about reviews this year. At least people aren't overlooking it on LT. I've noticed there are a couple other people reading it this month as well.

Have you taken a look at After Visiting Friends. Very Chicago. Reading and loving now.

I forgot to mention that I had a meet-up with Mark and his wife last night, and it was a big heap of fun! Great company, wonderful beer, and lots of laughs. I'm really looking forward to the next Chicago meet-up! Yay!
COOL!
*jealous*
COOL!

Megan- I am sure you would have fit right in! Maybe one of these days!

I found your comments on Devil in the White City interesting...I haven't read that book yet. It's too bad the transitions seemed jarring - especially since I can't imagine breaking that book into two separate books. Too short right?

Glad you liked Shadow of the Wind. I had no idea there was a third book, I'd only known about the second one (which I haven't read yet). I'll have to check them out.

#221 - Hi Nancy! Good to see you! I'll check that out. I've never heard of it.

#222 - Hi Megan! But you get to meet-up with all those Southern Hemisphere LTers, right?

#223 - Hi Mark!

#224 - Hi Rachel! I don't know - I think he could have focused on a single storyline. I realize he was trying to do something by combining the two, but I haven't heard a satisfactory explanation yet.

I haven't read the second book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, but I highly recommend the third one - The Prisoner of Heaven.

Hi Kerri, swing by and shocked at how far behind I am! Glad to see Fun Home was such a great read for you..... I think it is one that will linger with me for some time.

#226 - Hi Lori! Nice to see you! Since I've been avoiding reviews - which may be part of my book funk - there's not much, other than occasional Faron Young video and other nonsense.

Yes - I loved Fun Home and the second one is on the way from the library, so I'll probably read that in the next week or so.

Hi Everyone!

After much procrastination (I've been reading it for several weeks), today I finished The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play by Neil Fiore. I'm going to put off giving it a star rating until after I make a sincere attempt at implementation of the plan. I will say it's well-written and organized.

While some of the beginning chapters are a bit tedious, I finally got to the good part and the basic plan makes a lot of sense to me....I just have to use it. The two main pillars of the plan are the unschedule and the use of relaxation techniques prior to starting work. The unschedule involves first scheduling breaks and free time, but not actually scheduling work. Then meaningful work should be performed in 30 minute chunks of time, using a timer to keep track. I suppose there's more to it than that, but that's the basic idea.

So, if I suddenly start writing the huge backlog of reviews that I've been avoiding, you'll know it's working.

I've been meaning to read that one, Kerri, but I keep putting it off ...

:-D

#229 - Ha! Hi Julia!

***********************************************

And here is my list of possible March reads:

Print or Ebooks:
Blood and Guts in High School by Kathy Acker
Regeneration by Pat Barker
Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel (Currently reading)
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
The Last of the Menu Girls by Denise Chavez (Working-class Fiction Challenge)
The Beans of Egypt, Maine by Carolyn Chute (Working-class Fiction Challenge)
Necessary Errors by Caleb Crain (for Booklist review)
Loving without Tears by Molly Keane (Virago Challenge)
The Flame Throwers by Rachel Kushner (Early Reviewers)
Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively (Coffee Can Challenge)
Small Changes by Marge Piercy
Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym (Virago Challenge and group read)
So Much for That by Lionel Shriver

Audiobooks:
The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

I am so glad you liked Fun Home. I think it's one of the finest Graphic Memoirs I've read, and that's a genre (sub-genre?) that I have really taken to.

I will read Are You My Mother? this month to keep up with you. I've heard that it's less awesome but I have a signed copy. :-)
Alison Bechdel's comic strip was a central cultural backdrop to my own coming out process in the 1980s; if you haven't read some of the Dykes to Watch Out For series, and you have any interest in somewhat marginalized culture of the later 20th century, I recommend it.

I just got Fun Home from the library. I wanted to read it before I read Are You My Mother?, which my book club is reading.

I love looking at your planned reading.

#231 - Hi Ellen! I'm so glad you'll be reading Are You My Mother? this month too! Fun! Well...actually more like Depressing! But you know what I mean...

Indeed I am aware of her comic strip and it was good stuff. I'm glad she's been successful in the graphic novel market now and hope she continues. She's wildly talented.

#232 - Hi Beth! When is your book club reading it?

Ahem! I like to say "possible" reads, rather than "planned" reads, because we all know that I'll be lucky if I can get to half of those. : ) My new thing is to try to find a book for all of the TIOLI challenges, but that never seems to work out.

Hi Kerri- How is Are You My Mother? coming? I remember liking the 1st part of it but then it started to grate. I would also like to get to the Absent One. I didn't know you read Cornwell? Slumming, huh?

Hi Mark!

I haven't technically started Are You My Mother?, as I just picked it up at the library after work today. I'll probably start it tomorrow or Saturday. I've been trying to squeeze in a few of the Binocular Vision stories for the last couple days.

I just started the Absent One yesterday and I'm impressed so far. Really, I just appreciate the man's high skill-level as a writer, even if the mystery doesn't pan out.

Slumming?! What?! I'm. Not. A. Book. Snob. : ) She was recommended, so I'll give it a try. What's your beef with Patricia Cornwell?

My new thing is to try to find a book for all of the TIOLI challenges, but that never seems to work out.

LOL. I gave up on that a while ago, but I am trying to read at least one book for Madeline's (first) TIOLI challenge every month this year. I didn't make it a part of my Four Thirteens challenge or anything, but I've kind of quietly committed to it.
And then I do others if they fit.

#236 - Hi Ellen! Yeah - it's sort of impossible, especially since I have a rule about choosing only those books that I sincerely want to read this month. So while I love the spirit of "choose the seventh book from the bottom shelf" challenge, it didn't yield anything that I actually want to read.

Good Morning Kerri,

We've finally made plans for our (brief) Chicago visit. UChicago is having a program for 11th graders on Monday 4/1 and my daughter signed up, so it looks like we'll be there for Easter week-end through Monday 4/1 - I imagine you might be busy choir accompanying. I also will be visiting an old friend (another librarian - you may know her) that week-end too. If you are available, I will PM you various details. Would love to meet you. In any event, we are bringing your bookstore list with us.

I'll be curious what you think if you end up reading the Kathy Acker in March---someone recommended her so highly (years ago, now) that I got ambitious at a used bookstore and bought five or six of her works. I read one, and started another one, but neither was my cup of tea. I think Blood and Guts is one of the ones sitting on my shelves, so your thoughts might just be the impetus I need to give her another try. The one I did finish wasn't bad....but something turned me off in the beginning (maybe animal cruelty, I can't remember, though it's usually what does it), and the strange rest of the book was interesting, but not compelling enough to make up for the bad start :(

#238 - Hi Peg - Yay! I do have to play on Easter, but hopefully we can work something out. I'll PM you this weekend.

#239 - Hi Jennifer! That will be my first Kathy Acker and, quite frankly, it frightens me a bit. I originally purchased it because I was going to do a postmodern novel category last year in the 12 in 12 challenge, but never actually got around to that. I've read a bit about her and I'm not sure Kathy and I are philosophical soul mates, but it will be interesting to read something from that perspective. However, it is one that I can't read on the train, due to the, um, artwork contained within. Ha! Luckily, it's short, so I may be able to fit it in during a weekend. I think it's the second or third time I've signed it up for a TIOLI challenge over the past year. I'm prepared to be disturbed. I'd be interested to hear which one you've read.

Well, I actually just went back to the reviews to remind myself...and disliked them more than I remembered according to the reviews/impressions I left, though I did apparently finish the second out of determination! Don Quixote: A Novel was the one I read and finished where the beginning turned me off. I also finally finished In Memoriam to Identity, though it was a rougher go. I think I'm just not enough of a good academic/theory thinker to appreciate her, and saw too much shock value in her work for my taste. Heavens, I feel like I'm trying to convince you to not read her, and I'm not at all! I really have heard good things about her, though hearing about the "artwork" doesn't surprise me a bit. I may also have picked up the wrong works--sometimes, I know, picking up those works by an author that *just happen to be available at a used bookstore* can backfire dramatically, as it might have for me since I seem to have ended up with some of her lesser-read works!

I always remember one of my fave childhood books, also called Are You my Mother....different from what you are reading!

But you get to meet-up with all those Southern Hemisphere LTers, right?
Right- but there arent that many of us :( and no one in my town, or even Island- that I know of.

#241 - I'm already barely convinced that I should read this thing, so no worries! I'm not a fan of shocking for the sake of shocking either (since I've not read her, I'm not sure if that's what she does, but it does sort of seem that way at first glance). I also have a very low tolerance for pretension. AND I've never really felt a connection to the punk worldview. So really, everything is sort of stacked against me when I pick up this thing! That being said, I'm pretty open-minded and if I get to it, I'll give it a chance. I haven't heard of Don Quixote: A Novel, but I believe a review of In Memoriam to Identity is what introduced me to her. I think it was someone here, or maybe the 12 in 12 group last year. I'm not sure.

#242 - Hi Megan! This Are You my Mother? is a bit different than that one. Ha! But the touchstone always goes to yours. Go figure. Actually I think I liked the children's book when I was young too.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could teleport for purposes of interhemispherical (the computer is telling me that's not a word) LT meetups?

Well, I'm a book snob, thank you very much! I have only read one Cornwell. The Jack the Ripper book. It was okay, but she just doesn't seem to be my cuppa, that's all.

Kerri (and Mark). I understand you shared a brew and some book chat. No pictures?

#244 - Ok. Well, I'm pretty sure that I'm not reading that one, so maybe I'll be ok.

#245 - Hi Ellen! No photos taken at this one. I was sort of looking like a slob that day, so maybe it's a good thing, although I was representing the Seahawks : )

Kerri, the early Scarpetta books by Patricia Cornwell are terrific. I think the one you are reading, Postmortem is the very first in the series, so I predict you will enjoy it. Take that, Mark! :-D

#247 - Good to hear, Julia! So yeah, take that, Mark! : )

Yes, Kerri, the first 4 or so Cornwells were pretty good. I stopped reading them after a couple of mediocre ones. Postmortem was very good.

I think I may have endured a few more Scarpetta books than Beth, but I agree the dropoff in quality was marked. For some reason I kept reading long after I stopped really enjoying them.

Kerri, I would say just keep reading until you find yourself rolling your eyes and wishing some serial killer would take out the main character so she couldn't whine anymore. :-)

Hi Beth and Julia! Thanks for the Cornwell information. I'll give it a try. I think I said this before, but one of my favorite old bosses (my current boss is also one of favorite bosses, which makes life pleasant) read Patricia Cornwell, and she has rather good taste. If I don't like an audiobook, I haven't been shy about abandoning them lately, so there's that.

Kerri,
Patricia Cornwall is one of those who, imo, had a good run and should have quit while she was ahead. Start the the beginning of the Kay Scarpetta mysteries and, if you enjoy, read a few. Then bail.
Or at least that's what worked for me.

I hope you will get to The Absent One, Kerri - maybe not as good as the first one in the series, but still a strong one. I'm reading the third Department Q at the moment - really good.

I'll second Carsten above - I've really enjoyed " Department Q" by Jussi Adler Olsen and I'm very much looking forward to the third in the series later this spring.

#252 - Hi Ellen! I'm glad the first few Cornwalls meet your approval, as you have good taste. I was bummed out that my library didn't have any Donna Leon books in audio format, which I believe was one of your recommendations. I may have to join Audible again at some point.

#253 - 254 - Hi Carsten and Deborah! The Absent One certainly grabbed my attention from the beginning, which is something I can't say about the last couple mysteries I've tried. I do think I'm partial to this Scandi-crime stuff for some reason.

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I have no exciting news to report. So far my weekend has been uneventful, yet productive, which is nice, actually. I didn't get any reading done yesterday, but today I plan to sit in my comfy chair all day, drinking coffee and reading. Perhaps I'll get through Are You My Mother?. Also on the agenda: thread-visiting and writing my two non-fiction reviews. We'll see how that goes...

Morning Kerri- You know it's a federal offense to harm a postal worker, right? Just saying. I went to the Bavarian Lodge in Lisle last night, with a couple of buddies. It is easily one of the best beer joints in the western suburbs. An absolutely killer beer list! Have you been there? They had Zombie Dust & Arctic Panzer. Didn't have either, due to trying other things.

#256 - Hi Mark! Oh yeah! I have been there and it was good. I just saw that on your thread and was going to ask if that was the place. I remember that they actually have a couple of decent vegetarian options on the menu, which is totally bizarre for a German restaurant. We went once last year.

I'm trying to catch up on some threads this morning. You have a nice and ambitious list for March. Like Megan above, every time I see someone mention Are You My Mother I immediately visualize the children's book, which was a favorite in my childhood and for my kids. I'm sure Bechdel was intending that reaction.

Id like to get to Jussi Adler-Olsen for my Scandinavia-crime category this year but so far I haven't started that series.

Kerri, I own a few of your projected reads for the month, but I am already overcommitted. If you have to carry over either The Beans of Egypt, Maine or So Much for That to April, I'd be glad to join you in a shared read. I don't like to plan too far ahead. TIOLI shapes my reading for a month at a time which is perfect for me. Have fun with your list of reads!

Hope you enjoy your comfy chair and coffee Sunday! Sounds like a good plan!
Mine is very similar! (trade the chair for couch and the coffee for tea ;)

#258 - Hi Anne! That's an excellent point, and I'm sure that she was intending that reaction as well.

I'm impressed with Jussi Adler-Olsen. The only Scandicrime I've enjoyed more is the Jo Nesbo novel that I've read. I'm really looking forward to continuing with the Harry Hole series.

#259 - Hi Donna! It's very possible that I'll carry over The Beans of Egypt, Maine. It's more likely that I'll get to So Much for That, since it's a shared read. Although, it's also very likely that I'll get to neither. Ha!

#260 - Hi Chelle! Other than a disastrous attempt at picture-hanging, it was a lovely day, and I was able to finish Are You My Mother?, which I'm going to give four stars.