Cee: sailing into 2017 on a slight breeze

Hugs to all y'all...

Yup. It's me. I spent 2016 on a somewhat hidden thread which was very quiet - and I so missed you 75ers. So, I'm sorta back... like the Cheshire Cat beginning to re-appear. Don't scare me! I do need to point out that as much as I wish I could keep up on all the threads, I know I can't. So please forgive me ahead of time that I am not as interactive as most of you.

I need a place to keep track of my books, of course. Knowing you are all book lovers, I'm guessing you won't mind making a small space for me. I have to find my cheat sheet to remember how to do tricky things again.
I'll start out with a few set-up posts and see where it leads.

Um... don't know how to add my thread to the Thread list and don't want to mess anything up. Maybe I'll try later...

My fondest wishes for all of us in 2017 are family peace and world peace!!!

My star ratings:

*****Five stars- Amazing Favorite - possibly life-changing! Outstanding either for the content, the style, or the impact.

****1/2 - Excellent, well written, highly recommended & well worth re-reading

****Four stars- Enjoyable and/or though-provoking book, Counted among my better reads.

***1/2 stars - interesting, fun, informative, or different: probably would not read again

***Three stars- light comfort read - or - a serious book that falls short of expectations

**1/2 stars - not well written but has a thought or two to ponder

**Two stars- waste of time considering all the books TBR in the world

*1/2 stars - Someone, somewhere probably likes this book, but not me.

*One star- Quit, Yuck, Ptooey! This star is only for the author's effort and success in finishing a book.

2017 Books Read:

#1 THE STORIED LIFE OF A J FIRKY by Gabrielle Kevin 3.6 stars
#2 THE WHITE MARE by Jules Watson 4.4 stars
#3 HANDBOOK OF BIRD BIOLOGY (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) by Irby J Lovett 5 stars
#4 TO THE BRIGHT EDGE OF THE WORLD by Eowyn Ivey 4.2 stars
#5 SAVAGE BEAUTY: LIFE OF EDNA ST VINCENT MILLAY by Nancy Milford 4 stars
#6 BRIGHT DEAD THINGS: POEMS by Ada Limon 4.5 stars
#7 THE LATHE OF HEAVEN BY Ursula LeGuin 4 stars
#8 WHO WROTE "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"? by MacDonald Jackson (ER) 4.2 stars
#9 THE LADIES ROOM by Carolyn Brown 3.2 stars
#10 THE LACE READER by Brumonia Barry 3.8 stars
#11 GUT: THE INSIDE STORY by Giuila Enders 5 stars
#12 THE POETS' CORNER by John Lithgow 3.9 stars
#13 THE CAT WHO SANG FOR THE BIRDS by Lilian Jackson Braun 3 stars
#14 THE BEST CAT EVER by Cleveland Amory 3.5 stars
#15 THE NIGHT BIRD by Brian Freeman 4 stars
#16 IN THE WOODS by Tana French 4 stars
#17 WHAT PATIENTS SAY, WHAT DOCTORS HEAR (ER) by Danielle Ofri 4.1 stars
#18 SHAKESPEARE: THE WORLD AS A STAGE by Bill Bryson 4 stars
#19 THE FIFTH PETAL by Brunonia Barry (ER) 3.8 stars
#20 SONG OF THE SEA SPIRIT by K C May 3.5 stars
#21 THE HIDDEN LIFE OF DEER by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas 3.8 stars
#22 DINNER AT THE HOMESICK RESTAURANT by Anne Tyler 4.25 stars
#23 THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins 4 stars
#24 CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins 3.75 stars
#25 MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins 3.2 stars
#26 STORIES: THE GREATEST MASTERPIECES OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE by Anton Chekhov 5 stars
#27 NEWS OF THE WORLD by Paulette Giles 4.8 stars
#28 SALEM WITCH JUDGE by Eve LaPlante 3.7 stars
#29 THE REST IS HISTORY by Jodi Taylor 4 stars
#30 FIELDS OF BLOOD by Karen Armstrong 3.5 stars
#31 THE JAKARTA PANDEMIC by Stephen Konkoly 3.2 stars
#32 A SURGEON IN THE VILLAGE (ER) by Tony Bartelme 5 stars
#33 THE INTROVERT'S WAY by Sophia Dembling 3.6 stars
#34 ELLA MINNOW PEA by Mark Dunn 3.5 stars
#35 THE NESTING SEASON by Bernd Heinrich 5 stars
#36 THE LAST PARADISE BY Antonio Garrido 4.2 stars
#37 MONSIGNOR QUIXOTE by Graham Greene 4.5 stars
#38 BOOKS ON LIVING by Will Schwalbe 4.3 stars
#39 VULTURE: THE PRIVATE LIFE by Katie Fallon (ER) 4 stars
#40 IN FARLEIGH FIELD by Rhys Bowen 3.5 stars
#41 THE HANDMAID'S TALE by Margaret Atwood 4.5 stars
#42 PACK OF TWO by Caroline Knapp 4 stars
#43 THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE by Julie Orringer 4.6 stars
#44 THE WIDOW'S WAR by Sally Gunning 4 stars
#45 DREAMTHIEF: OLIVE by Tamara Grantham 3.2 stars
#46 THE LITTLE FRENCH BISTRO by Nina George (ER) 3.7 stars
#47 BEL CANTO by Ann Patchett 5 stars
#48 H IS FOR HAWK by Helen MacDonald 4 stars
#49 SOCIETY WITHOUT GOD by Phil Zuckerman Book Club 4 stars
#50 BIRDS ART LIFE: A YEAR OF OBSERVATION by Kyo Maclear 4.8 stars
#51 THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE by Katherine Arden 4.2 stars
#52 LATE HARVEST HAVOC by Jean-Pierre Alaux 2 stars
#53 THE CAFE BY THE SEA: A NOVEL by Jenny Colgan (ER) 4 stars
#54 MR CHARTWELL by Rebecca Hunt 4 stars
#55 THE LITTLE RED CHAIRS by Edna O'Brien 1/2 star - just AWFUL
#56 THE JERUSALEM DIAMOND by Noah Gordon 3.5 stars
#57 SACAJAWEA by Anna L. Waldo 4.2 stars Whew! LONG one...
#58 WHEN WOMEN WERE WARRIORS by Catherine Wilson 4.5 stars
#59 CASCADE by Maryanne O'Hara 3.5 stars
#60 START WITHOUT ME by Joshua Max Feldman 2.5 stars ER Win
#61 DAKOTA: A SPIRITUAL GEOGRAPHY by Kathleen Norris 4.5 stars
#62 THE SKY BELOW: A TRUE STORY OF SUMMITS, SPACE, AND SPEED by Scott Parazynski 4 stars
#63 CROSSING TO SAFETY by Wallace Stegner 5 stars
#64 THE NATURALIST by Andrew Mayne 4.5 stars
#65 HOLY THE FIRM by Annie Dillard 4 stars
#66 THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery 5 stars - just WOW!
#67 THE BOOKSHOP ON THE CORNER by Jenny Colgan 3.5 stars
#68 PALACE WALK by Naguib Mahfouz 3 stars (disappointing)
#69 MAMA DAY by Gloria Naylor - reread 5 stars
#70 AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER by Stephanie Dray 4 stars
#71 THIEF OF TIME by Terry Pratchett 4.5 stars
#72 JUST MERCY by Bryan Stevenson 5 stars
#73 HILLBILLY ELEGY by J D Vance 5 stars
#74 LOVE ME TRUE by Jason Whiting 3.7 stars
#75 BLACK PRISM by Brent Weeks 4.2 stars
#76 TWISTED THREADS by Lea Wait 3.5 stars
#77 NUTSHELL by Ian McEwan 4.3 stars
#78 TOTAL CAT MOJO by Jackson Galaxy 4 stars
#79 THREADS OF EVIDENCE by Lea Wait 3.5 stars
#80 BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan 4.8 stars
#81 THREAD AND GONE by Lea Wait 3.5 stars
#82 DANGLING BY A THREAD by Lea Wait 3.5 stars
#83 MRS CLAUS by Rhonda Parrish (ER) 4 stars
#84 HOW WE DIE by Sherman Nuland 5 stars
#85 DEVIL IN THE GROVE by Gilbert King 4.7 stars
#86 CALL OF THE CATS by Andrew Bloomfield 4 stars
#87 THE LONG WAY HOME by Louise Penny 4 stars
#88 THE JESUIT GUIDE TO (ALMOST) EVERYTHING by James Martin 3.5 stars

INTERESTING TO ME STATS 2017:

TOTAL books read: 88
includes BOTS (books off the shelf): 29

Fiction: 55
Non-Fiction: 30
Poetry: 3

male author: 35
female author: 53

US authors: 65
authors from other countries: 23

living author: 81
deceased author: 7

CURRENTLY READING:

GOING POSTAL by Terry Pratchett
ASTROPHYSICS FOR PEOPLE IN A HURRY by Neil Tyson

JANUARY HOPEFULS

THE SIEGE by Helen Dunmore (Book Club)
THE NATURE OF THE BEAST by Louise Penny
A CIRCLE OF QUIET by Madeleine L'Engle

Saving - maybe for a challenge if I find a good one for me

#1... my first read of 2017 was The Storied Life of AJ Firky by Gabrielle Kevin. It was a good OK. The best parts were about books, booksellers, and bookstores (really can't go wrong there). I don't think the storyline itself was particularly strong. Good concept, weak development. Quick, light reading that tugs at the heartstrings.

Cee, you're here!! Welcome, welcome. Don't let us scare you away.

Happy reading in 2017, Cee, don't be scared, visiting threads is not required to have a good time!

Yay Cee is back!!!! Yay

Welcome back! I took care of adding you to the Threadbook.

starred and hugs

YAY! I am welcome back :-)
Thanks, Jim for adding my thread. I appreciate it. I was hoping you might but have to give you lots of credit for being so alert.

Hi Roni! I won't let you scare me (too much) lol. Hope you are well. I saw some jewelry on Amazon (handmade) that reminded me of your own - esp the stone earrings. Is that you?

Hi Anita! Glad to see you here and I take to heart that I won't be voted off the "Island of 75" if I falter. Of course, I already know about all the really good people here.

Chelle! I can't believe so much time has gone by since your gorgeous wedding... and (eventually) new baby - now almost 3 yrs old! And another on the way. YAY! Glad you are still connected here as I am no good at FB.

Kath Thanks and hugs back :-)

OK... now I have practiced my bold letters trick.

Happy new year, Cee! And welcome back! I'm glad to see you now that I myself am back. :-)

Cee, one of the best ways to start a weekend is to see an old friend make an overdue return to the group!
Have missed you loads. Do you still have bathroom glazing unfrosted such that you can look upon and be looked at from the nearby waterways?

I am part of the group.
I love being part of the group.
I love the friendships bestowed upon my by dint of my membership of this wonderful fellowship.
I love that race and creed and gender and age and sexuality and nationality make absolutely no difference to our being a valued member of the group.

Thank you for also being part of the group.

Hello, Cee! I was thrilled to see your thread. Don't worry about visiting - it's just so great to see you here!

Oh, Cee, so very good to see you here!

I'll just say that you and I were of one mind exactly on The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. I really wanted more from it but enjoyed what it did offer.

Based on that, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store is another book you might like.

Again, welcome back.

>14 cameling: Happy New & Safe Year to you, Caro! Glad you are back, too - though I didn't realize you were away. Hope you are well and haven't been away recovering from a disaster. Looking forward to catching a few of your funny stories this year.

>15 PaulCranswick: and >16 PaulCranswick: Thank you for the enthusiastic new year's message and a very happy 2017 wished for you and your family. I do still have a great view from my bathroom - lol. Was that you in disguise slowly paddling by in that kayak? or was that a moose?

>17 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! So very nice to have you visit my thread. I will pop over to yours sometime - I can't even imagine all the "doin's" I've missed over there. Hope you are all well and happy as ever.
Had to edit this message as spell check changed "doin's" to coins.

>18 Matke: Gail! Thanks! I knew you'd be over sooner than later. You are one of the very few that actually found me last year... quite a feat! I have read Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store and enjoyed it a lot. I even still remember it... and that says a lot for it.

>19 -Cee-: If I go paddling up the waterways in coastal Maine, Cee, I will stop and knock on your door my dear, I won't keep on paddling.

>20 PaulCranswick: And you would be most welcome anytime, my friend!

Long time, no Cee! (Ok that was pretty bad!)

Happiest of New Year's!

Hi Janet,
I thought that was pretty funny! and so true... as fast as it flew by, this past year did seem like a long time...
Happiest New Year to you, too! I'm hoping 2017 will pleasantly surprise us all :-)

#2 The White Mare by Jules Watson 4.4 stars
Can't help it. Celtic+mythology+fantasy+historical fiction(1st century)+northern climate +a bit of romance = Fun reading for me :-) If you like these elements, I recommend.

I knew this was a trilogy, but I could evade the upcoming Roman invasion (promising bloody violence/death) and stop here very easily. It was a good story with a good enough ending.

I regret I do not recall a "White Mare" in this book. It wasn't a book about a horse, however, of all the horses I imagine one of them must have had some white in it.

>24 -Cee-: Sounds good something I would like to read, Cee, added to mount TBR .

Good book! :)

Cee is back.

I recommend picking some threads to follow and leaving it at that. I go with ones who have reading tastes similar to my own, that seems to work, even if it does mean that I miss out on a lot of fun people's threads.

Yay! So glad to see you back, Cee. Don't worry about keeping up. I gave up on that. Plenty of room here for your thread! Fear not!

>27 LovingLit: Ah that is the secret for getting a smidgeon of sleep is it Megan?

I think you can see how much you've been missed around these parts, Cee. xx

>27 LovingLit: Hey, Megan!
Yes I do try to do just that - but I also like to sample most kinds of reading material, get new ideas, and I do hate to miss out. We'll see how it goes. Great to see you here.

>28 tymfos: Hi Terri -
I do need constant reassurance that no one thinks ill of me for not always keeping up. Thanks for that. I really have missed you all.
I've also missed all the stories of Sig's antics. That is one beautiful cat.

>29 PaulCranswick: I think I am getting a message here, Paul. Hard to believe all the excitement over little ol' me. But it feels good. It's like coming home. So many good people here. xo

Beautiful day today with new snow covering everything! YAY! Will be starting a new book Savage Beauty - a biography of Edna St Vincent Millay. Not sure about this one. I have to read it for my RL book club.

Happy Sunday, Cee! Hooray for new snow - I miss that! I'll be awaiting your thoughts on that biography, as it sounds like it could be an interesting one.

Happy New 2017 Thread, Claudia!

We're mighty glad you're back. I have the light touch of an elephant, but I'm ready not to scare you. *tiptoes out on elephant toes"

Cee is back!!! That just made my day. : )

I'm glad you are back, Cee. I am one of the quiet ones here so I promise not to scare you away. I look forward to seeing what you are reading and to enjoy what little personal bits of life you care to share with us.

>31 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! So, Edna St Vincent Millay... on page 40 out of 500 in Savage Beauty. "Vincent", as she is called, is up to sixteen. I suppose that is not too bad as biographies go. The author inserts stories to keep it moving and readable. I expect things will accelerate anytime now... Millay only lived to be 58. The women in her family were strong and independent. Looks like she was too.

Hope you got rest today. Get more. Take care/get well.

>32 jnwelch: You can't be a really, real elephant, Joe. I didn't even hear you come in. Glad to see you and I'll try not to get underfoot. Ouch!

>33 Berly: Ah, Kim, you are such a happy person :-) What do you eat for breakfast? I want some. It's nice to have your ray of sunshine here. Come anytime...

>34 Donna828: Donna! Welcome. I need to do a lot of catching up on everyone's family and pets... wondering how big your grands are getting... I'll be over to see if you have any pictures. My granddaughter just turned 17 yesterday and is driving! yikes How did that happen? I thought I was keeping up with her.

Drum roll please... I dusted off my mixer (literally) and made some cookies - Oatmeal Coconut Cranberry. Tricky! One extra cooking minute can make the difference between crispy and chewy. I like mine chewy so it took half a batch to get the hang of it. I'm fussy, but luckily Ron is ok with crispy. Wow, they are pretty good if I do say so myself! Just bragging here. That's it for the year. My baking is done.

I'm ok with crispy too ... hint, hint :)

Those sound delicious, Cee! I'm good wither way - chewy or crispy, so I'll just take a seat, shall I?

Happy New Thread, Claudia! Happy New Year, my friend! It is so nice to see you posting again and back in the fold. You were missed.

I always enjoyed following your reading life and I am glad to see that continue. I also like the idea of you being a fellow "birder". Like book folk, birders are special people too.



^I occasionally see a red-bellied woodpecker at our suet feeder.

>36 -Cee-: Iknow what you mean re: one minute making all the difference. I am so easily distracted in the kitchen, and I hate to waste a batch!
They sound yummy!

>37 ChelleBearss: Come on over! I'll save the crispy ones for you.

>38 Crazymamie: Why, yes, Mamie. Take a seat. What would you like with that? Cappuchino, maybe?

>39 msf59: Ah, thanks Mark. I have loved birds forever. If I come back as an animal - I want to be a bird.
Since I have moved to Maine I have had the opportunity to see many more varieties as I am surrounded by woodlands, cove, and salt marsh. The owl on my profile page was in a tree just outside my back sliders. We frequently see shorebirds, eagles, herons, cormorants, kingfishers, ducks, geese... I'm going broke filling the bird feeders and suet holders - but what a show! We even get turkeys, deer, racoons, etc pecking at the droppings from the feeders.

For my last birthday, I splurged on an outstanding book... the new edition of Handbook of Bird Biology (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). It just came out recently and cost me $120! I waited for it for 5 years. Well worth it to me.

>40 LovingLit: I probably knew about that one-extra-minute thing before (on some unconscious level), but it's been so long since I actually baked cookies. Guess I forgot. I was getting tired of the standard store-bought chocolate chip cookies, Megan. This recipe seemed a nice change... and once I got the hang of it, it was!

After heavy rains and wind last night the sun is now shining in a pretty blue sky. Hope everyone has a brilliant day today!

Cappuccino would be great, thanks, Cee! It's nice and sunny here too. Just about to head out from my walk. Hoping your day is full of fabulous!

Found you, Cee!!! and starred you of course!
Catching up: Happy New Year to you and yours!
So glad to see you back with the 75er's!! You were missed! Yes, it's difficult to keep up with threads, read, and take care of all RL has to offer but I'm a believer in everything in moderation.
I'll take my cookies crunchy or chewy but sad to say never, ever! with coconut. :0}
What a wonderful way to spend $120! A well deserved, anticipated and much loved indulgence is a well spent purchase!!

>42 Crazymamie: Hope you were able to get over your cold, Mamie and can enjoy some nice southern weather for reading outside. I had a few sniffles the other day and thought I might be getting the LT cold/virus. I guess the sniffles were just out of sympathy cuz it never developed into anything. Grandchildren coming this weekend so I still have another chance at a cold :-( Just can't keep from hugging and kissing :-)

>43 Carmenere: YAY, Lynda! You found me and I am seeing stars!
No coconut! What??? So sorry...
I am always looking for book bargains rarely buying a book at full price. But for this was a book I was willing to go whole hog. And it is so worth it to me. It was a long wait!

>35 -Cee-: LOL. I am not sure it is breakfast that sets my mood, but I am glad to share my happiness here with you. ; )

I think I had this:

Great to see you back Cee!

>43 Carmenere: Everything in moderation, Lynda? Erm, me too!

Have a lovely weekend, Cee.

>47 PaulCranswick: >43 Carmenere: Hahahahahaha, Oh! My! Gosh! ahahahhahahah! What did Mamie's sign over her desk say? Laughed so hard tears trickled down my legs?!

Happy Saturday, Cee!

>48 Carmenere: *snerk*

#3 HANDBOOK OF BIRD BIOLOGY (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) by Irby J Lovett 5 stars

I've waited for this updated edition for about 5 years. I was beginning to wonder if it would ever be finalized and published. It's an amazing book chock full of brilliant photos, detailed academic information, and is actually a comprehensive course in bird biology. The very latest! It makes me wish I could attend the actual live course at Cornell. Happily there is abundant internet support including an expensive, online, at-home course (maybe someday).

From birds evolving from dinosaurs to detailed anatomy, breeding & social behavior, migration, conservation, and so much more this book is a pot of gold for those yearning to understand these astonishing avian creatures... like me! I'll be re-reading and referring to this book for the rest of my life.

>50 -Cee-: Sounds like a great reference book, Cee, that you will enjoy for a long time :-)

>45 Berly: Hi Kim, That looks like a good breakfast - but, I would need the yolk cooked through. If I have to eat soft egg yolks, I guess I'll need to give up on happiness! haha

>46 SandDune: Hi there Rhian! Nice to see you here. Welcome! I think I'm doing pretty good establishing a presence back in the 75ers group without getting carried away (so far). It's nice to know what's happening and what's being read.

>47 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I had a busy and wonderful weekend with the kids. No one seemed to have a cold they wanted to pass on to me this time - so I'm hoping I dodged that bullet! Hope you are feeling back to normal by now. I'll have to go check your crazy long thread...

>48 Carmenere: I know, right Lynda? Joining you rolling on the floor and laughing about Paul's "moderation".

>49 drneutron: Hi Jim! You caught that too, huh?

>51 FAMeulstee: I'm so happy reading this book, Anita. I'll compare it to a teenager being ecstatic to finally get her ears pierced and starting a collection of earrings for the rest of her life. This, btw, was an event I was part of this past weekend. The simple fullness of joy! Love it.

#4 TO THE BRIGHT EDGE OF THE WORLD by Eowyn Ivey 4.2 stars

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction. I was lucky to get this book on Kindle for only $3. YAY! The story is quite wonderful and based on an actual expedition in Alaska around the beginning of the 20th century. There are a variety of threads running through this book that make it richly diverse and engaging, i.e., native Alaskan Indian lifestyle and myths, unexpected strength and intelligence of women, wilderness hardships and survival, magical realism, supernatural aspects, early medicine, traumatic stress, etc, etc. I liked the unusual format of the book consisting of diary entries, letters, and expedition reports. Characters were unique individuals.

This was written by an Alaskan, Eowyn Ivey, who also wrote The Snow Child (another book I loved).

Hi, Claudia! It looks like I will have to request Handbook of Bird Biology. Looks like a fun one to look through.

You might want to locate a copy of The Genius of Birds, which I read last year. Loaded with fun, birdish information.

I also really enjoyed To the Bright Edge of the World. She is a good writer!

So. Already it starts...two book bullets!

You make both historical fictions very appealing. And of course if there's something I need, it's additions to the WL.

And another hole in my head.

>54 -Cee-: Sadly no Dutch translation yet from To the bright edge of the world, Cee, but my library has a copy of The snow child in translation, so I added that one to mount TBR.

>55 msf59: The Cornell Lab bird handbook is fun and informative - AND expensive. It's all priorities. I look for cheap books in general so I can get the few expensive ones I really want to keep. I do have The Genius of Birds on my radar. Thanks for the rec.

>56 Matke: Danger, danger! I'm sorry, Gail. I know how much those bullets hurt. Is it the suspicion that I will not live long enough to read everything?

>57 FAMeulstee: I read The Snow Child quite awhile ago mainly because I love everything "snow". It was a good read but I did not remember the author's name. So I was surprised "The Bright Edge" was also by her. Didn't realize it at first. Now I see some similarities though they are very different stories. I hope I get to Alaska someday :-)

Morning Cee! Hope all is well in your world!

>54 -Cee-: I must buy that book when as it oftentimes does my moderation decides to hide itself.

I, erm, enjoyed the image of Lynda's tears running down her leg!

Have a great weekend, Cee. xx

#5 SAVAGE BEAUTY: LIFE OF EDNA ST VINCENT MILLAY by Nancy Milford 4 stars

I must say up front that I generally don't find biographies to be among my favorites. I've always said that a book should not be rated based on whether or not you like the characters. It seems you should not have to be in love with admirable traits - nor despise the failings - of a character in order to be swept away by a story. However, when the story is a focused biography it's difficult for me to be influenced by much else. I didn't like her much...

Edna St Vincent Millay was an astonishing and creative poet inspired by her emotional pain, love, and crises. She had a fiery social conscience and a gusto for all that made her life exciting. She exhibited amazing strength, crippling fragility, and hurtful self-centered choices. Her fame, sexuality, and addictive appetites were sources of crushing hardships, intense vitality, and deep depression. Her life was a mess.

So, I guess I gave this 4 stars for the ability of the author, Nancy Milford, to get it all together... but I highly suspect it was the best possible slant and sympathetic account that could be written of this troubled woman. I was thankful Milford appropriately included many of Millay's poems. These samples provided emotional colors and whet the appetite for more.

"Elegy Before Death" (closing quatrain)

Oh, there will pass with your great passing
Little of beauty not your own, ---
Only the light from common water,
Only the grace from simple stone!

>59 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! My world is still spinning, though I wondered if it would stop after the new president was installed. *sigh*

>60 PaulCranswick: Moderation, Paul? Wow, you hid that well. I never suspected.
Have an easy workweek :-)

Hello Cee! I still need to read The Snow Child, which I've had on my shelf for ages, but her new one sounds good too!

I read somewhere recently that Edna St Vincent Millay was named for St Vincent's Hospital in NY. Was that mentioned in the book? I was wondering why... (My mom was an RN and worked at St Vincent's for about 15 years so it caught my attention.)

Hi Joanne,
Yes, Edna was born in Maine. The book mentions that Millay's mother named her after St Vincent's hospital (in NY) because they took such good care of her brother (Edna's uncle) after he was trapped in a ship for 9 days w/o food or water and rescued near death. So her name became Edna Vincent Millay - and they called her Vincent. I think she added the "St." in later.

That's interesting your Mom worked there - though probably not in 1892!

>64 -Cee-: That's a cool story! Thanks.

#6 BRIGHT DEAD THINGS: POEMS by Ada Limon 4.5 stars

I loved this collection. It is an eclectic mix of topics, emotions and observations.
My favorite was "OH PLEASE, LET IT BE LIGHTNING".

I did enjoy the following passage, too, from
"ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS WITH THE DOGS OF AMERICA" -

... The road is long
and all the dogs don't care too much
about roadside concrete history and postcards
of state treasures, they just want their head
out of the window, and the speeding air to make them
feel faster and younger, and newer than all the dogs
that went before them, they want to be your only dog,
your best-loved dog, for the good dog of today
to be the only beast that matters.

>65 Berly: You're welcome, Kim! Love to share notes of odd interest.

>66 -Cee-: I LOVED, LOVED Bright Dead Things, Claudia! Such a beautiful collection. Glad you felt the same way.

I did try some Edna St Vincent Millay awhile back but I could not connect with her. Maybe, as I mature as a poetry reader?

<68 Edna St Vincent Millay was way, way out there. Both in lifestyle and poetry. I do think knowing her life story helps to understand her writing, but her poetry is generally very deep and "mature". That's for sure!

Strangely, my impression is she was a spoiled brat right up to the end (aged 58)... so not always so actually mature herself. She did live during the first half of the 20th century. 50 years of overwhelming upheaval around the world.

That does make sense, Claudia! The Millay bio does sound interesting.

Here is the poetry link, for the 75, in case you would like to post something or see what other folks are posting:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/243801

^One of the ways I am learning about new poets, is through my LT pals.

>64 -Cee-: Thank you for that info, Cee! Now you've got me curious about the ship story. :) My mom was a nurse on a psych floor at St Vincent's from the late 1960s to the early 80s. It was an interesting time to work in the Village and she loved it.

#7 THE LATHE OF HEAVEN BY Ursula LeGuin 4 stars

After reading and loving another of LeGuin's books (The Left Hand of Darkness), I looked forward to this one. I was not disappointed. Sci-Fi - Psychology - Dreams - Dystopia = weird, very weird! I probably should not have chosen this as my bedtime book though... led to some strange dreams on my part.
So, the main character dreams - and those dreams come true changing his dystopian world. Insanity, mind control, aliens, time shifts... Yikes!

>70 msf59: Thanks for the link, Mark. I'll check it out.

>71 Copperskye: Um, the ship story. I forget what they said about that. I think he worked on the ship but got trapped? somewhere on it and no one knew where he was? hm... will have to look back and see if I can find it. Vincent's mother was at the end of her pregnancy when she found out her brother was missing and I guess she was pretty relieved he had been nursed back to the living. Hence, naming her baby after the hospital.

>72 -Cee-: Oh good, Cee. The Lathe of Heaven, and The Left Hand of Darkness, are my favorites of hers. It's been a while, but I thought TLOH would stand up well over time. Weird, very weird, is one of my favorite book flavors. :-)

>41 -Cee-: now I'm thinking about making biscuits!
:)

>72 -Cee-: Whether you like the books or not, Ursula Le Guin always came up with brilliant titles. The Lathe of Heaven, fantastic!

>72 -Cee-: Oh those were good ones!! I read them so long ago I am sure they are not in my LT library.

>74 jnwelch: Hi Joe,
"Weird, very weird, is one of my favorite book flavors. :-)"
Me too! I can see I have a lot more books to read of hers. Do you recommend any in particular?

>75 LovingLit: Hi Megan, If you mean cookies - what kind? Do tell. Let me know when they are out of the oven. I'll be over with a pot of tea! Hope it is still hot when I arrive. Ha!

>76 PaulCranswick: Paul - I agree but have to say I had to think about that title. I'm still not sure if "Lathe" refers to George Orr (and his mind/dreams) or the machine that seemed to expedite them. I'm voting for George because his mind was what shaped the changes. What say you?

>77 Berly: Kim, Looks like I have some catching up to do. TLHOD looks like part of a series thought I didn't know it. It read fine as a stand alone. Do you remember if you read them all? Or if you recommend going back to catch them all? I do like her writing!

>78 -Cee-: The Dispossessed is really good, Cee. I liked her Earthsea Trilogy, too (there are continuations after it)- it's lighter fare.

>78 -Cee-: Honestly, I read them back in the...80's??? I just remember that title in particular and that I liked it. If it was a series, I probably read them all! I only have 5 of her books listed in LT but they all got 4s or 5s for ratings. It's hard to miss with LeGuin.

>78 -Cee-: I made them last evening, and they were a hit. I hid two away for the school lunch boxes on Monday (the 6-week school holidays are over! Dare I say it, but.....yay!?).
They were chocolate chip fudge, and there is it one ingredient in there that will do you good. So, for that reapsn I will not share the recipe with you. I might not make them again, just all that butter and sugar...there must be a better way, even of W did say "these are what I have been waiting for my WHOLE LIFE" (so cute).

#8 WHO WROTE "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"? by MacDonald Jackson (ER) 4.2 stars

One of the best known poems of America "The Night Before Christmas" made its first published appearance by an anonymous writer. There is no clear documentation that distinguishes between two possible poets, Clement Moore and Henry Livingston. However, comparing many, many aspects of this poem to the two men's bodies of work, it becomes obvious which man this beloved poem reflects. Using serious statistical analyses of words, styles, poetic format, also interviews, research of publishing dates and family letters it is hard to dispute the overwhelming evidence that one author is clearly favored. In a book of almost 200 pages, I have to say I was convinced by page 17.... but it was all quite interesting to follow right to the end.

I'm excited to now know that the two reindeer names "Donner and Blitzen" were originally taken from the Dutch "Dunder and Blixem" The translation of the names are "Thunder and Lightning". Cool, right? I have a new respect for Santa's reindeer team! Many details covered in this book gave me an appreciation for the poem itself and the science of discovering authorship.

I requested this book well before Christmas to get into the spirit of the season. It took a while getting to my house and the holidays were over. Still, it made me feel good to revisit my traditional childhood memories of a very special visit!

>79 jnwelch: Thanks for the recs, Joe. I think I will try the Earthsea Trilogy first. I'll need to see if I can get this at my library.

>80 Berly: Based on what I have read so far, I totally agree, Kim. She wrote so many books that I can see I have a project ahead of me. I didn't realize she did so much writing so long ago. I totally missed it!

>81 LovingLit: Wow, back to school already? At least they go off with a special cookie treat.
Cute Wilbur-ism! I love that kids have little notion of what a "WHOLE LIFE" is :-)

#9 The Ladies Room by Carolyn Brown 3.2 stars

A light read - predictable - good, clean story - somewhat humorous - wrapped up very nicely in the end ...
I gave the .2 stars for the humor that sometimes hit my funny bone and sometimes not. Being a serious-minded person and a realist, I do think this book was way too happy! A good fun break from my normal reading choices.

>82 -Cee-: So, I guess you are going to make me read the book to find out who wrote the famous Christmas poem, aren't you?! LOL. It sounds very interesting. Thanks for the review. : )

#10 The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry 3.8 stars

This was a really good read. It was what I would call slow at times, but I eventually realized that the parts that were detailed or drawn out gave a strong sense of place and clues to the mystery of the story. There were also times when I found myself flipping through the pages at a fast clip.
I enjoyed the Salem history, folklore, and diverse characters. The ending left me wanting more - and I was finally awarded The Fifth Petal after 3 ER requests. YAY!

>85 Berly: Kim,
When I requested this book I didn't really know or care about the authorship debate. I just wanted to feel like Christmas was coming. But now that I read it, I do hope the proper poet gets full credit. And yes, you will have to read it cuz I won't tell who it is ;-)

>66 -Cee-: I loved that collection, too, Cee! It was full of fabulous. And you have hit me with a book bullet for Savage Beauty.

I second Joe's recommendation of The Dispossessed, which I read a few years ago - very good and very thought-provoking.

Happy Sunday, Cee!

Hey, Cee! Some good reading going on for you! I loved The Lace Reader. The town where I grew up, Danvers, was originally called Salem Village, (as opposed to Salem Town) and was right next door, so the story really resonated with me.

Interesting info. on Millay. Lots of poets seem to be a bit odd.

Sadly Le Guin hasn't worked for me, although my eldest read most of her work.

And yes, it's sad to realize I'm probably not going to get to all of those books...

>88 Crazymamie: OK then... The Dispossesed it is! Gotta go find it.
Hope your day tomorrow is wonder-full! (even though it is a day we will not name)

>89 Matke: I always wondered where Danvers was, Gail. I knew it was in Mass. but couldn't place it. It's fun to read a book that takes place where you are familiar. Easier to connect/imagine.

It's gonna be a busy week for me... how does that happen in February???

Happy Monday! Hope you enjoy (survive?) your busy week!

It has been a long time since I read that, or any le Guin, for that matter. I have a few left on my keeper shelf, I think?

Glad you liked Lace Reader :) I liked it a lot! two more to go!

Cee! I didn't know you were back! Hooray!

The Bird Handbook looks amazing.

I loved The Alexandria Quartet! He's a marvelous writer.

>91 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle!
Lots of snow this week! YAY! We're on our second good-sized storm today and it's a nor'easter :-) Another 2 or 3 snow events coming up this weekend and beginning of next week.
Ron is trying to get down to CT to help our daughter move. He might be able to squeak through tomorrow - but then how and when he gets back home is going to be questionable. So I'll be doing a heap of shoveling while he's gone since I don't know how to use the snowblower - nor do I want to. If the snow gets too high, I'll shovel the end of the driveway for his truck to get in and let him finish up. haha No complaints here...

>92 mckait: Hey Kath! You're here! Nice to see you. Did you bring Drew? I don't see her :-(
Come on... share!
So, I'm waiting to get The Fifth Petal from ER to continue my jaunt to Salem.

>93 sibylline: Lucy!
I'm kinda here. Trying at least.
Thinking of the birds today I marvel that they can exist in this cold, wind, and snow! We have a big old pine tree that has a few branches that are perfect for the mourning doves. They all line up together on two long branches and there is a nice wide sheltering branch above them. So cute.

Just started The Alexandria Quartet - have been putting it off too long.

^I just picked up a book called Birds Art Life, which really looks good. This may be our cuppa!

Hi, Claudia! Hope you are doing well and I hope those books are treating you just fine.

#11 GUT: THE INSIDE STORY by Giuila Enders 5 stars

I guarantee you have never read a book about your intestines quite like this one! It was funny, informative, memorable, and candid. It's just plain fun to read. You can't help but come away with a new admiration for how your gut works! Plenty of facts and trivia to amuse and delight. This is not a medical journal but you might learn some important things you never knew (and should) for good health.

>95 msf59: Oooooo! This DOES look good, Mark. Thanks for the heads up!

Stay warm!

>95 msf59: I like the idea of a year of observation. Both the reading of it and the doing it.

Hi Cee! Hope you don't get too much snow!! At least during snow storms you have any excuse to stay home and read! :)

>98 LovingLit: I agree with that Megan, but I don't think I have the discipline to stretch it out for a year. I want to read it ALL - now. First, I think I will see if it comes down in price a little. Then, when I can't take it anymore I'll break down and buy it :-)

>99 ChelleBearss: hahahahahahaha! There's no such thing as too much snow, Chelle! In the past 5 days or so we have gotten 3 separate storms and well over 3 feet of snow! Wind is still blowing and I feel like I am living in a snow globe :-) Very cool! Amazingly we have not lost power - yet. They did a lot of tree trimming in the fall and it's paying off.

>100 DianaNL:
Hi Diana! I love the happy kitty!
My Sunday was great. Hubby (who was helping our daughter move) was home before the BIG snow and I didn't have to shovel anymore... though I did have to clear about 10 inches of the white stuff so he could get up the driveway and into the garage. Now it's all about him and the snowblower - once the wind slows down :-)

I LOVE WINTER!

>101 -Cee-: wow, that's a lot! We had a snow storm last night that started with freezing rain then ended in snow. The roads were terrible on my way home from work and I was happy to not have to leave the house this morning! Looks like it's cleared up pretty good now but we sure don't have snow like you! There is maybe a couple inches.

Chelle,
When you have to drive to work and drive kids around, snow (especially with ice) is not so much fun as when you are retired. I personally wish the snow would fall everywhere except sidewalks and roads.
We have to go out in it tomorrow morning and hopefully the roads will be cleaned up. We're also looking to buy a new car and need to do a few test drives. That should be interesting.

Hi, Claudia! 3 feet of snow? Wow! Sorry to hear that. We have been lucky. No measurable snow, so far this new year. It is supposed to be 60 this weekend. Crazy.

Hope all is well, my friend.

That is lots of snow, Claudia. Spring here, with more rain on the way. And Gut changed the way I sit at the stool for sure!

>103 -Cee-: I completely agree. I remember how much I liked the snow while I was on mat leave and had no where to go! Today is sunny and warm so all that snow we got has started to melt anyway. I see green grass in spots already!
Hope you enjoy your test drives! Do you have an idea of what you'd like to get?

SNOW!!! Glad you are having fun with it, Claudia. Good luck choosing a new car. : )

>104 msf59: Hi Mark, Glad to hear you are dodging the snow this year. I know it's no fun for you. otoh, I was feeling a little snow deprived myself but the past 2 weeks have made up for the delay. White snow and blue sky - what a delight!

>105 ronincats: Hi there Roni! Spring? Already? How can you tell out there?
re Gut: lol

>106 ChelleBearss: Chelle - We decided to buy a Toyota Rav 4. I'm hoping we will be able to do some road trips in the future and this car seems to be "the ticket". We got the hybrid to get a bit more mileage from a tank of gas. Haven't picked it up yet - they have to get it from a dealer in Vermont. Will probably get it next week. It has so many bells and whistles that it makes me nervous. Tough getting old. I'm going to ask the dealer to turn them off so I can get used to them at my leisure. The owner's manual is 676 pages. That should count here as a book read, don't you think?
;-) haha

>107 Berly: Hi Kim, Deciding on a car was a hard task. The strange thing is I don't feel the same excitement over a new vehicle as when I was younger. Now that it's done, I need to make plans... for a get-away! Think we'll wait till the weather calms down a bit - across the country. Do you think that will happen? It seems like it's crazy everywhere - or maybe it's just the new panic level created by all the news. I should just stop watching TV.

#13 THE CAT WHO SANG FOR THE BIRDS by Lilian Jackson Braun 3 stars
#14 THE BEST CAT EVER by Cleveland Amory 3.5 stars

#13 I can't resist Braun's "Cat Who..." books. I think I have read almost all of them. These books are so corny. I have no idea why I love them, but I do.

#14 Amory's trilogy of his life with Polar Bear is humorous and fun to read. As much as he writes about his cat, he also writes about himself... especially in this last book. Amory was an activist for the kind treatment of animals and his bond with his cat was very sweet. I'm glad I put off this third book till well after my own Woolly died.

So, why did I read these two books together - now????
I want to be owned by a kitty again. *sigh*

Hooray for the new car, Cee! Daniel has a Toyota Rav 4, and he loves it. And yes, the manual should count as a book - good thinking.

Hi Mamie!
It seems everyone who owns a Rav 4 loves them. Never have "heard a discouraging word..." as the song goes.
What I really wanted was a very nicely appointed Volvo but it was a bit expensive and no hybrid. So, we got the Rav 4 nicely appointed instead. The only thing I'm missing is a power adjustable passenger seat... guess I'll survive ;-)

>108 -Cee-: Well, you can't get more across country than driving from Maine to Oregon, so I think you should drive that new Rav-4 out here. When the snow is gone. ;)

I think you are right, Kim. Oregon is definitely on my list!

: D

>108 -Cee-: oh nice, enjoy! Nate has all the bells and whistles in his car and I still haven't figured out how to work half of them!

>108 -Cee-: We can tell because the ornamental pears are in bloom. See pictures on my thread!

#15 THE NIGHT BIRD by Brian Freeman 4 stars

Not my usual genre (psychological thriller) but I hugely enjoyed this one. Excellent premise and timely with all the current interest in memory. I love unexpected twists and this book has them. San Francisco location is a standout... brought back memories. I am tempted to read other books by Brian Freeman. recommended

>117 -Cee-: I haven't read anything by Freeman, Cee, but perhaps I should. Such thrillers are more my usual genre anyway.

I hope that coastal Maine is treating you nicely this weekend. xx

Did all your snow melt? Ours pretty much has.

You might like the cat book I just finished, Andrew Bloomfield Call of the Cats. Literature it ain't but very heartwarming.

Ooooh, psychological thriller! Not my genre either, but who am I to define myself so narrowly.... :)

#17 WHAT PATIENTS SAY, WHAT DOCTORS HEAR (ER) by Danielle Ofri 4.1 stars /

While it is generally accepted that current medical care is moving toward more patient involvement, this trend makes patient/doctor communication ever more important. Author, Danielle Ofri - a doctor and educator - uses a variety of personalities, situations, and clinical examples to illustrate just how vital it can be for patients to focus and speak up and for doctors to see the whole person and real underlying issues that impact health and "compliance". She addresses the seemingly overwhelming issues of limited time for office visits, focusing and prioritizing, putting oneself in others' shoes, prejudice, emotions, and more.

Ofri takes the stand that investing appropriate time up front can lead to better health outcomes and time saving overall. While nothing here surprised me, it becomes more clear through cited research that the importance of recognizing the humanity of patients and health care providers, and their efforts and willingness to engage in clear communication, can have significant impact. This is a worthwhile read for everyone.

oh my goodness. I have a little catching up to do. Sorry for my delay here.

>115 ChelleBearss: Chelle, Ron and I are enjoying our new car. It's quite a learning curve to go from an 11 year old car to brand new. It's a lot bigger than I'm used to (I love little cars) but it's much more comfy. Loving' it.

>116 ronincats: Wow, Roni. It does look like Spring around your neck of the woods. All those lovely flowers! We got a tiny dusting of snow last night so I don't blame our flowers for continuing their hibernation for now. But the way time flies, it won't be long and the brave ones will start making their appearance. Also looks like you are still prolific with your pottery and crafts. Beautiful.

>118 PaulCranswick: I get to choose a free book at the beginning of each month on my Kindle. Night Bird was my choice for January. I didn't expect it to be so good. Unfortunately - or fortunately - it's book 1 of a series. The second book is due out Jan 2018. *sigh* By the time book 2 is here, I'll no doubt forget a lot from book 1. ah well.

>119 sibylline: Yes, our snow is almost gone now, Lucy. :-(
It took awhile though. I have to think our "extreme" drought of last summer has been rectified. I really hope so, anyway. That was not fun.

Thanks for the cat book rec. I love the combination of heartwarming and pets.

>120 LovingLit: ...but who am I to define myself so narrowly ... Haha! Love the way you put that. You certainly have a way with words. I'll have to remember that about myself too.

This coming Saturday my plans include breakfast (with friends), lunch (with sister), AND dinner (with other friends) out! Not to mention I have to make cream puffs in there somewhere. We'll see how good I am at time management and impossible tricks. It's gonna be a long day.

Well, I was going to wish you happy Friday, but it sounds like it will be happy Saturday!! Have fun! And make those cream puffs.

ooh, cream puffs… That should be a priority. It sounds like your day will be busier than mine, Cee. I plan to read. Period. We're expecting snow, ice, or whatever Mother Nature wants to throw at us. No tornados in the forecast, thank goodness.

Happy Weekend, Claudia! Glad to see you checking in. I am currently enjoying Birds Art Life. I like putting these bird related books in the mix.

And yah, for cream puffs!

>122 -Cee-: three meals out in a day! fantastic. You'll be wanting plain toast for all meals the following day, no doubt. Enjoy!

#19 THE FIFTH PETAL by Brumonia Barry (ER) 3.8 stars

Having just finished (and liked a lot) The Lace Reader by Barry, I was highly motivated to dive into this book which jumps forward a bit in time and continues with some of the same and new characters. The Salem location and its history is fascinating. Barry does her research making her sense of time and place particularly strong. The story itself caught me up and propelled me through to the end from one character to another - intertwined and supporting like the roots of a tree. Oh yes, trees play an important part - as do mythology, sound, secrets, prejudice, and revenge. I have to admit Barry's ending alluded me again. I like that she can do that. She is a wonderful writer. I hope to read more by her.

>123 Berly: Kim, Saturday was more fun than I thought it was going to be. A super long day though. I was exhausted. I just wish all that excitement could have been spread out a bit. I guess my party stars were all in alignment this past weekend :-)

>124 Donna828: Hi Donna! Yes, I heard Mother Nature is bipolar and she is off her medication this winter. I also heard she is messing around with Old Man Winter! We're under a blizzard warning for tonight. Snow has started but is behaving for the moment. Crazy roller coaster winter around here.

>125 msf59: I've been checking out Birds Art Life but am waiting for the price to come down, Mark. I'm getting cheap in my old age... and a bit more patient. But I do want to get to it sooner than later.

Is there anyone who doesn't love cream puffs???? And they really aren't that hard to make. The grocery store variety is abysmal by comparison to home made. They are one of the few things I think are worth a little extra effort. Impressive, too.

>126 LovingLit: Megan - You were so right. By the end of Saturday I didn't feel like ever eating again (haha). To top it all off, I was reminded at supper that our annual "Get to Know Your Neighbors" party was the next day, Sunday. I had completely forgotten! It's catered by a great restaurant - paid by the recreation committee in town. All you have to do is show up and have fun. groan... I know I've gained a few pounds which I can NOT afford. I considered fasting for a day or two to balance all this partying... but I'm just not that strong :-(
Ah well, my body is plumped up a wee bit for warmth in the blizzard today. Perhaps I should get shoveling the walk while Ron is clearing the driveway ...

Edited to fix the number situation that I did wrong. *sigh*

>128 -Cee-: Difficult to beat home made cream puffs. I have a Dutch friend who makes his own and delivers them every time he is in town. Unfortunately he is a Chief Engineer on a dredging vessel and works 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off, so I have to wait awhile between deliveries!

>129 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! So you see? Even dredging engineers can do cream puffs! I wonder if cooking and engineering are related? My son-in-law is an engineer and he is a fantastic cook! He makes a mean tiramisu... only once a year on my daughter's birthday though. It must be love :-)

#20 SONG OF THE SEA SPIRIT by K C May 3.5 stars

This is the first in a series. It was okay - but felt like a book only meant to introduce the main character who is a woman warrior/truth seeker. Seems like the real story with potential could unfold eventually in the books to come. Interesting premise.

I guess the ending is my biggest complaint. It felt rushed, somewhat violent, and unsatisfying. I'm not fond of books that end "up in the air" and leaves more questions than it answers. Always feels like a trick to make me buy the next installment.
Not sure if I really want to continue this series.

#21 THE HIDDEN LIFE OF DEER by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas 3.8 stars

This is a lovely book focusing on the author's observations of wildlife (particularly deer) around her New Hampshire home. Thomas notices obscure patterns, watches for interesting details, searches for insights to the ways of the wild, and supports all life that shares her world. I love when people appreciate their natural surroundings. I did not love the hunting topic in this book - but it really can't be avoided and I will always be conflicted about that.

>130 -Cee-: another engineer who cooks well here...

>133 drneutron: Hi Jim!
So, why are engineers such good cooks? Is it all that attention to detail and precision? Or is it the devil-may-care I'll try anything outlook on life? Perhaps it's the curiosity of combining, testing, and experimenting with the best way to do things?
I'm wondering if we should have an Engineers' Cook Off! I'd buy a ticket for that :-)

What's your specialty?

>134 -Cee-: I think you hit it with the testing and experimenting combined with a curiosity to try new things. At least for the ones I know that cook. So for instance, with my latest experiments, once you understand the fundamentals of making pie, you now have the ability to vary the recipe and try new combinations.

As for cook-offs, the guys won't let me compete anymore at the chili cook-off at my church. I make Louisiana chili (AKA, gumbo) and take the top prize every time! :)

>135 drneutron: So there! You validated my thinking that engineers are inherently curious and fearless. "Let's see how this works!" :-)

I think that is pretty funny that you are not allowed to compete in the chili cook-off. I do see their point though.

>128 -Cee-: shovelling snow as penance for *gluttony*. Sounds very biblical! He he. You know you will feel good after shovelling, the body knows when it need a little huff and puff ;)

Happy Weekend Cee!!!

>134 -Cee-: Well I am a Quantity Surveyor (actually a graduate in Construction Management) in my first degree and did Law specialising in Construction Law for my second. That means in a culinary context that I can normally manage to get the ingredients measured out properly and am able to sue myself when it doesn't come off as expected.

Have a great weekend, Cee.

>121 -Cee-: The Orfi book sounds really good to me. I've taken the "book bullet."

Oy! I've finally decided to read THE HUNGER GAMES! Ok... it's violent and though I don't like violence of any kind - neither does the story. It's science fiction/dystopian and violence is not glorified. I'm waiting for the good guys to win - and they'd better! It all just seems so unreal that it allows me to suspend my normal emotional reactions. Like many others I am drawn in and racing through the adventure, action, and problem solving. I LOVE the creativity.

I've read the first two books and am about to start the third. I may take a break as I have a busy week coming up. I just hope the story has a decent ending. I deserve it after reading this trilogy.

>137 LovingLit: Hi Megan! Guess what? We're getting another snowstorm tomorrow :-) It'll be followed by several warm Spring days so it won't last, but that's ok. I'm ready for Spring and flowers. I'm thinking your weather must be getting colder now. Would be a great time for me to visit! (I wish)

>138 Berly: Kim! Time for another weekend! Let's vote for another happy one :-)

>139 PaulCranswick: Ha! That's so funny Paul! Best you stay out of trouble, sit back, and let others do the cooking. You do so much for so many it's only fair to let them feed you. Have a great weekend!

>140 tymfos: Oh. Sorry Terri. (heh) Well at least this book bullet is a good one. I hope you get a chance to read it. I have a doctor that I respect but my last visit made me a bit upset. After reading this book, it helped me get over it and better prepared to get it right next time. I hope.

I think I never got to the third in the Hunger Games, not sure why not!

>139 PaulCranswick: Very funny!

The Hidden Life of Deer was good but this book Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America by Richard Nelson was AMAZING!

Hope you have a great Easter weekend!

Or just Happy Sunday. : )

>141 -Cee-: I own the set of Hunger Games books, and I am determined to read them this century, and then watch the films. :) (must have things in order you know!)

The third book is the most violent of the Hunger Games books, and there is no way I could watch it on film. And there is one piece of imho gratuitous violence that I could kill for, so to speak, as it makes me so angry.

Hi, Cee! I hope you are well. Wishing you a great weekend!

Missing you around the place Cee. Hope that all is well. xx

Missing you, Cee! Happy Wednesday, wherever you are. : )

Hi Everyone!
Sorry to be "offline" on LT so long. All is good enough :-)
I love that you remember me and leave a line or two. Nice.

>143 sibylline: Thanks for the recommendation of Heart and Blood: Living with Deer. I read your excellent review and have decided I am not ready to read that book yet. I get too crazy about hunters with their excuses and attitudes. I am fully aware of the cycle of life, the abundance of deer in areas where they are not wanted, and food chain dependence, etc. But I can't wrap my mind around killing as a sport - mosquitos excluded, of course. otoh, maybe this book would help change my perspective.

>144 ChelleBearss: >145 DianaNL: >146 Berly: Hi Chelle, Diana, and Kim! Thanks for the kind wishes and cheerful graphics on Easter. I just want you to know, it was one of the best Easters ever due to the resolution of a huge family issue that had me worried. All's well that ends well ... in this case anyway.

>147 LovingLit: Hi Megan. I DO know! I'm orderly too. Books in order and books before movies... always!

>148 ronincats: Hi Roni, I know exactly what you mean. I avoided Hunger Games for a long time, but thought maybe I should see what it was all about. Ya know, I'm part cat (curious to a fault). I agree with your sentiments above... however, it made me more sad than angry. sigh.

>149 tymfos: >150 PaulCranswick: >151 Berly: Hey guys! Thanks for stopping in - though I don't deserve such loyalty. All is as well as can be expected and I'll take that with gratitude. A little more sunshine would be appreciated around here though. I have daffodils trying to blossom ... everyone else has the yellow flowers; I only have green things sticking up out of the dirt. I'll never figure out this gardening thing!

Hope everyone who is a Mom, a Mr. Mom, a single parent, caretakers and nurturing souls have a beautiful Mother's Day!

>152 -Cee-: How to forget a lady with the self-confidence to have an unfrosted bathroom window overlooking a busy waterway!

Lovely to see that you are doing well with mostly all but gardening. xx

Ha, ha! You are too funny and most always cheerful, Paul. :-)
Truly, the waterway is not that busy. Just an occasional kayak or deer family, etc. I want to be able to see out ... don'cha know.

Claudia's Bathroom Renovations

I am a red-blooded canoeist canoeing
In North Maine waters canoeing.
My red blood cells are a flutter,
That unfrosted window has no shutter
And she looks out whilst I, happily, look in.

Yay! Cee was here.

Just a few daffodils until yours come up. : )

>155 PaulCranswick: Oh Paul... too funny! Watch where you are going! Watch out for the harbor seal and lobster traps! Don't want those red blood cells scattering in the water...

>156 Berly: Yay! Kim was here with blooming daffodils! Thanks!
I just found out this morning that the bulbs may have been planted too deep last year when they did the new landscaping. Apparently if they are too deep they won't bloom. Now wouldn't you think a landscaper would know that? Anyway, my mission (should I decide to accept it) is to pluck them all up and raise them a bit. Yikes. I don't want to kill them. What to do??????? I suppose I might as well try. They're no good this way. sigh.

So, tomorrow is Ron's birthday and my Mother's Day. We decided to go to an inn (B&B) in northwestern Maine for a little get-away. One night. It's supposed to rain. Hard. Was hoping to use their hiking trails - but maybe not. Ah well.... we'll get to enjoy the room more. hehe

I hope your Mothers' Day is a wonderful one, Cee!

Cee--Good luck with the daffodils. Bummer....

Have a wonderful time celebrating Ron's birthday and Mother's Day. It won't matter whether or not it rains. It's a getaway!

Happy Mother's Day, Claudia! Enjoy your weekend getaway. Hope you see some birds. Yes, I am in full throttle bird geek mode.

Miss seeing you around but I hope the books have been treating you well.

Hi Gail, Kim, and Mark!

Our weekend trip to Fryesburg was a veritable deluge! Rain, rain, and more rain. Not too far away on Mount Washington it snowed 33 inches. Up in the 90s for most of Maine today. :-P We have a nice sea breeze, thank heavens.

I realize now a get-away for us doesn't mean peace and quiet anymore. Being retired I need to plan places to visit with adventure. We were in the middle of nowhere and totally incommunicado due to no service for phone, no landline phone in room ... for that matter no clock in room and we did not bring our laptops. We were the only ones staying at the place. Glad there were no health emergencies. Whew! We did have a good time, albeit rather subdued. I did see a few hardy birds, Mark, braving the rain. As we were driving home on Monday the sun came out! ah well.

#34 ELLA MINNOW PEA by Mark Dunn
A cute book for anyone who loves letters, words, and freedom of speech. One by one letters of the alphabet are dropped from use making life, relationships, and survival quite difficult. Why were they dropped and how does it all end??? You'll have to read the book.

Hope you stay dry this weekend and have a good 'un, Cee. xx

Just popping in to say hello, Cee! Sorry your get-away was so soggy.

Big HI to Paul and Terri.
It seems we are having a very soggy Spring altogether. Grass is green and flowers are growing even in my yard. Hope we get enough sun eventually to see some blooms :-)

Totally gave up on INFINITE JEST. Definitely NOT my style. Not quite sure what the attraction is to this book. Just don't want to waste as much time on this as it would take me to read. Got lots of books I would rather read. Onward ...

Finally reading THE HANDMAID'S TALE. Only about 20 pages into it and I think I'm gonna like it. What was I waiting for?

>165 -Cee-: The Handmaid's Tale is a good one, Cee. Glad it's working for you! I've read it twice already and plan another reread, which is unheard of for me.

>164 -Cee-: My son just finished Infinite Jest a couple of months ago. I think you need to be a twenty-something to appreciate DFW.

>161 -Cee-: I keep meaning to get to that one!

Hope you are well!

Cee - I don't remember being bothered by the hunting stuff in Hidden Life - I don't remember him describing hunting itself, but the people who do it and the people who are against it and everything in between (and with humor empathy to all.) As I recall, most of it is about traveling around studying deer in different habitats -- esp a favorite remote place in Alaska. The last chapter is one of the most beautiful I've read by a scientist/naturalist. I'm pretty sure you would love it.

The book on coyotes I'm reading right now . . . that is a bloodbath and so shameful - and painful, I was reading with one eye, my head averted, wincing, breathing with difficulty through the chapters on the eradication programs in the west. The complete eradication of wolves with poison bait. The resulting scourge of rabbits and other little vermin.

Anyway -- I came across something you'd like -- in the middle ages cats were often purged from cities. And guess when plagues happened? Yep. There's a lot about foxes all over cities, and they have probably taken up the niche left now that there are so many fewer feral cats. Better the foxes as they are more adapted to living fully wild.

>166 Copperskye: Oh I'm a sixty-something and I adored Infinite Jest and Wallace in general. Definitely challenging and sometimes very upsetting, but also frequently funny and rewarding. Prophetic too. Good grief, our current president! (If he could sell the year as a product name, he would, no?) There were several threads to follow and I will say that I liked some more than others. The story of the thief/druggie in rehab was riveting. The story definitely has a "shift" aspect as if taking place in a world just a slight shift apart from the one we know and at the same tame utterly real. There is a hill on the north side of Boston I always look at now expecting to see the tennis academy.

Hi Cee! I still want to read Infinite Jest because it was written by someone I went to school with, but I keep looking at how big it is and I choose something else. Someday....

>168 Berly: Some ladies tell me that size matters and I agree with you, Kimmers - it's size puts me off.

Have a lovely Sunday, Cee.

>165 -Cee-: How are you enjoying The Handmaid's Tale? Have you watched any of the show yet?

>167 sibylline: Well, yes, I should give it a try! I know my son had said there were parts that were excellent and others that were more of a slog. And as Paul and Kimmers mentioned, the size is a bit of an obstacle.

The Handmaid's Tale is one of my all time favorites so I hope you loved it!

Hi Cee.... I've been away for far too long ... so glad to have found your thread again. Missed you lots!

Hi Cee,
Just dropping by to see what's up around these parts, and so say hi!

Hi Cee. Missing you. What's new? : )

>174 Berly: What Kimmers said. xx

Miss you! Hope your summer is going splendid!

I hope you are looking out from that unfrosted bathroom window at the waterways below of Coastal Maine and missing your pals on LT as much as we are missing you. xx

Hi! Can't say much about your absence because I haven't been on LT a lot, but I'm wishing you well. :)

Happy September Cee!!!

Nope. Happy October!!

My LT friends make me smile :-)

Big hugs to Lucy, Kim (x3), Paul (x5), Chelle (x2), Joanne (x2), Caro, Megan, and Terri. A loyal and persistent bunch! I miss you all and think of you often. Wish I had the time and the stamina to visit all your threads - and more.

Just to catch up and give a few "shout outs":
Going waaaay back to June (oh, please forgive me) - I really liked The Handmaid's Tale. Glad I finally read it.
Since then, among others, I have FINALLY read (and ESPECIALLY enjoyed) The Invisible Bridge, Bel Canto, Sacajawea, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography, Crossing to Safety and The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Just goes to prove I still have lots of great books on my shelves that need to be read :-)

I'm now reading Palace Walk which I have been promising myself for years (just started), and re-reading Mama Day which I loved when I first read it long ago.

The biggest news here is my new cat, Gracie. She's a tiger cat and very lovable. 6 y/o adopted from a shelter. First time I ever did that. We are still in a transition period but she is adventurous and sociable. I'll try to remember how to add a picture here.
Best I can do for now ... http://www.librarything.com/pic/6027972
Can someone please remind me how to get the actual picture over here? Thanks.

Very Happy October to all! It's going to be a great month - it has GOT to be cooler, for sure. Praying for rain while others are drowning in floods. Just crazy and awful. Mother Nature needs to settle down!

Edited to try to add picture - but can only figure out how to point to my LT gallery picture. My old instructions don't seem to work. Maybe because I went from a regular PC to a MAC??? I can't get "properties" by right clicking on the gallery picture. *sigh*

>182 PaulCranswick: Happy October, dear Cee!

Some good reading there - I hope you like Palace Walk as it was a favourite of mine.

Hi Cee! Love the kitty picture! Glad to see you are doing well!

I use this thread to remember how to add pictures to my posts
https://www.librarything.com/topic/129158

Happy October, Claudia. Great to see you check in. We have missed you, my friend.

Also glad to see a book update too. And hooray for Gracie!

>183 ChelleBearss: Oh goodie! You liked Palace Walk. So, maybe I will too.

>184 msf59: Oh! "Copy Image Address"! Yes, that was the difference. Using the MAC. Ya know, for all the love people give the MAC, I'm not that impressed. Part of it is my learning curve, but I've had this laptop about a year or more now. *sigh*

>185 -Cee-: Great to see you too, Mark! I'm guessing you were keeping an eye on possible activity over here. Good catch. Happy Autumn in Chicago town!

Cheers!

Edit: Can't get the picture to work yet.

She looks delightful! My thread is full of kittens lately.

you put left caret, then "img src="image address of your photo"right caret

And I did this on my Mac. ;-)

Right clicking on your photo gives you the option of copying the image address.

Oh, thanks Roni !
I'll give it a try. And I will check out your kitties.



YAY! I did it! Thanks so much!



And again!
Yeh, she WAS trying to take a nap.

Cee--Love all your shout-outs, most of which I have read. And Yay! You got the picture to work. I hope you and Grace get along great.

If you want to change the size: after the " you can type width=100 or 200 etc and then finish with the right caret

So glad to hear from you. : )

She looks like an eminently capable and comfortable lap cat, Cee. Glad you could get these posted!

Lovely cat, that Gracie is!

LOVE new kitty! Love that you have another kitty to love!

>182 PaulCranswick: I'm now reading Palace Walk which I have been promising myself for years (just started)
Well, you took the words right out of my mouth! Not that I am reading it, but I have been promising myself for years. YEARS! Every since Darryl mentioned it, I have coveted it.
Welcome back!!
Gracie v. cute :)

>193 PaulCranswick: To be coveted. It is a really great book.

Happy Sunday, Cee.

Now you Cee her, and now you don't! Hi Cee!

Hello, Cee!

>195 tymfos: :D

Trust that your Sunday is going well, Cee.

This is a time of year when I as a non-American ponder over what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for this group and its ability to keep me sane during topsy-turvy times.

I am thankful that you are part of this group.

I am thankful for this opportunity to say thank you.

On this day of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for many things, one of them being my



Thank you for being so wonderful! : )

Hope all is well Cee and that you are having a lovely weekend. xx

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

I'm living in a shaken snow globe today! Windy, cold, and snowy... So peaceful and pretty. I LOVE it!

Special thanks to my friends above who have persisted and kept my thread warm with their fun and love.
Hugs to Kim, Roni, Terri, Kath, Megan and Paul. Your visits make me smile :-) I think of you all quite often... plus many others here at LT.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy "other" Holidays being celebrated around the world!

Merry Christmas, Claudia. Enjoy your snow globe day. Hugs to my long absent pal.

Thanks so much, Mark! Relax today and be of good cheer!
Hugs back....

Belated Holiday Wishes, aka Happy Boxing Day!!

Hope you had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!