Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Three

Sax Zim Bog, MN Feb 2019. I will be going back there next week. Yeah, baby!

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



January:

1) Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi 3.7 stars
2) How to Pronounce Knife: Stories by Souvankham Thammavongsa 4.4 stars
3) We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper 3.8 stars (audio)
4) Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar 4.6 stars
5) Five Skies by Ron Carlson 3.6 stars
6) Cowboys Are My Weakness: Stories by Pam Houston 4.3 stars
7) The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tomine 4 stars GN
8) The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson 4.2 stars E
9) Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan C. Slaght 4 stars (audio)
10) The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett 3.7 stars
11) Follow Me In by Katriona Chapman 4 stars GN
12) CivilWarLand in Bad Decline: Stories by George Saunders 4.2 stars
13) Wicked Enchantment: Selected Poems by Wanda Coleman 4.3 stars P
14) Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl 4 stars (audio)
15) Sutton by J.R. Moehringer 4.4 stars

February:

16) The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones 4 stars
17) A Wealth of Pigeons by Steve Martin & Harry Bliss 4.2 stars GN
18) Consider the Lobster by David F. Wallace 4.3
19) Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke 4 stars E

Fiction:

1) Shuggie Bain
2) Hamnet
3) Girl, Woman, Other
4) A Thread of Grace
5) Tiny Love: Stories

Honorable Mentions- The Stone Diaries, The Cold Millions

Non-Fiction:

1) A Field Guide to Getting Lost
2) The New Jim Crow
3) The Splendid and the Vile
4) Memorial Drive
5) Late Migrations

Honorable Mentions- The Falcon Thief, American Heiress

If, I had to narrow it down to only 5:

1) Shuggie Bain
2) A Field Guide to Getting Lost
3) Hamnet
4) The New Jim Crow
5) Girl, Woman, Other

Is it safe? Happy new one!

Happy new thread!

Stopping by too. :)

I thought the same thing :) >5 figsfromthistle:

Happy New Thread! I've never been this early.

Looks like CivilwarLand worked well for you. I'm glad.

Hi Mark, I loved Civilwarland.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Mark.

Hey there Birddude. New thread chirpings and cooings.

Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread, Mark. You look cold but happy in the opening picture.

>5 figsfromthistle: >6 leperdbunny: >7 alphaorder: Thanks, Figs, Tamara & Nancy.

>8 mahsdad: >9 Copperskye: Thanks, Jeff & Joanne. Hooray for CivilWar Land & the talented Mr. Saunders.

>10 jessibud2: >11 richardderus: >12 katiekrug: Thanks, Shelley, Richard & Katie!

>13 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. It was very cold there. Probably around 10-15F.

Happy new one, Mark.

>1 msf59: I like the topper of our intrepid Birder!

Happy new thread, Mark. Looks like you got the continuation link this time. They'll get all the bugs worked out sometime.

>15 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. The intrepid birder tries to live up to his title.

>16 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. Good to see you. The continuation link has always been a favorite tool around here.

Happy new thread Mark!

>1 msf59: You look like you are having a good time in that picture! (I want some snow too)

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Thursday to you.

>1 msf59: Love your toppers!

We got a dusting of snow overnight. I was hoping for more, but some is better than none.

>18 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. I had a great solo trip to the Bog. Many great birds. Looking forward to doing it again next week.

>19 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad you like the toppers. At least you got a little snow. I am sure it is pretty there.

Happy New Thread!

I actually have Simon the Fiddler home from the library now. I hope to get to it soon. My pile of library books is 10 or 12 deep right now, so I'm having to be very aware of what I can and cant renew in choosing what to read next.

The GHO are having hooting battles at dawn and dusk..The last few days they have been joined by a "foreign" hoot. I need to go to the Cornell site to see if I can figure out what other sort of owl has joined the chorus.

Morning, Mark! Happy new one!

Thursday, for those who must care due to work; yeup, it's cold day for the rest of us.

Put them feet up and read!

>1 msf59: Glad to hear you are getting back to Sax Zim again!

Hi Mark! I just finished Hamnet a couple days ago. It was a hard read in parts but I loved it!

Happy New Thread, Mark, and Sweet Thursday!

You asked on your prior thread where I saw the Snowy (out of the corner of my eye) and you know what, I don't recall. Isn't that weird? I think it was last winter when Prudence and I were driving back east from Seattle during a tremendous snow storm. We were doing 35MPH on a highway and it meant we saw all sorts of things: several owls, hawks (which we always see here), coyotes, etc. I know we saw a short-eared owl sitting on a fence post and I think we saw a Snowy fly by.

>21 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver!

>22 streamsong: Hi, Janet. I enjoyed Simon the Fiddler. I hope you like it too. Very cool that you hear the GHO pair hooting regularly. Let me know what the "foreign" hoot is. Do you have Barred Owls in your area?

>23 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

>24 richardderus: I was out early this morning, RD. It was breathtakingly beautiful at the Arb but bracingly frigid too. Just single digits. We didn't last long. Now, it is time to put my feet.

>25 Oberon: Looking forward to getting back up to the Bog, Erik. Sadly, no detour to the Twin Cities this time.

>26 leperdbunny: Hi, Tamara. Hooray for Hamnet! Glad you ended up loving it. It is such a wonderful read.

>27 EBT1002: >28 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen and Sweet Thursday! It looks like an interesting snowstorm you drove through. Glad you survived it. Always nice seeing a SEO, especially perched. I hope you get a better look at a Snowy one of these days.

^Peek-A-Boo. Mama GHO (Great-Horned Owl) in her nesting box. Glad to see her back this year. Took a quick photo and trudged off.



^Papa GHO keeping a close eye on things. About 50 yards away from Mama.

Very cool, Mark!

Great Horned Owls! You got them to pose, yay for that.

>32 Crazymamie: >33 richardderus: Our target owl was a Barred Owl this morning. One of my bird buddies got a brief look at one and then it winged off into the pines. We could not relocate it and then we went to a different location and had more success with the GHOs.

Happy new thread, Mark!

>31 msf59: I like that first picture :-)
Good that mama Great Horned Owls is back in her nesting box.

>35 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. Happy Friday. Glad you like the topper. That will be me again next week. And yes, nice to see Mama GHO, which means owlets in another month or so. Yah!

^Brown-Headed Cowbirds are regular visitors here, in the spring and summer but I have rarely seen them in winter. This was freaky but we saw a flock of a 100-150 of them in several trees, the other day. There were a few in a lower tree as well, so I could snap a few photos. There were also red-winged blackbirds mixed in too and they also don't normally arrive until early spring.

American Sonnet 10

our mothers wrung hell and hardtack from row
and boll. fenced others'
gardens with bones of lovers. embarking
from Africa in chains
reluctant pilgrims stolen by Jehovah's light
planted here the bitter
seed of blight and here eternal torches mark
the shame of Moloch's mansions
built in slavery's name. our hungered eyes
do see/refuse the dark
illuminate the blood-soaked steps of each
historic gain. a yearning
yearning to avenge the raping of the womb
from which we spring

February 11th 1990

This year the leaves turn red green black
freedom colors each leaf
each stitch of grass. I am amazed
at my sweet harvest. The prison door has opened
and a nation’s heart is released. I am full
having spent my greediness in a ritual of joy.

-Wanda Coleman

13) Wicked Enchantment: Selected Poems by Wanda Coleman 4.3 stars

"Poet and writer Wanda Coleman won critical acclaim for her unusually prescient and often innovative work, but struggled to make a living from her craft. Born Wanda Evans in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1946, Coleman was encouraged to read by her parents and loved books. The author of 20 books of poetry and prose, Coleman’s work is focused on racism and the outcast status of living below the poverty line in California, specifically her long-time home, Los Angeles. Her subjects are often controversial and her tone unapologetic."

^I had not heard of Wanda Coleman before picking up this new collection of her selected works but it made me an instant fan. Sadly, she passed in 2013. Most of these poems were written 30-40 years ago but are strikingly relevant to the current racial environment in America today. I hope this collection finds her a whole new audience.

Morning, Mark! Those cowbirds love to come and go in large flocks. They make the funniest sounds - always make me think of R2D2.

>40 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie. I agree that the cowbirds make an unusual sound. Very high-pitched. Very distinctive. They are parasitic birds, so many people dislike them but I think they are pretty cool and I usually see them in pairs.

^Morning Moon. My backyard.

Hi Mark, and happy Friday to you. (Happy New Thread, too. I see I forgot to say that above.)

>31 msf59: Excellent photos. edited to reference correct message.

>37 msf59: Cowbirds are a mixed blessing – here they can strip feeders in a heartbeat but I do like to see them. I just looked at the allaboutbirds.org range map, and was surprised to see that they are year-round in Illinois although you are on the furthest north edge of that range. I wonder where they’re normally hiding in the winter and why they were out yesterday.

>43 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. You mentioned post #32 but I think you meant 31, correct? Thank you. We have few cowbirds stop by our feeders but never a flock. I am not sure why so many have inched up, this far north. Hopefully, someone can explain it. Even in the spring or fall, we never see this many.

Hey Mark, loving your bird reports.

I decided to go with.Leonard and Hungry Paul as my next read. I think you would like it...

>42 msf59: Love the morning moon photo!

Hey Mark! Happy Friday and Happy New Thread!

>31 msf59: Peek a boo Mama! Love it!
>42 msf59: Great shot!

>45 alphaorder: Happy Friday, Nancy. Glad you like the reports. I had not heard anything about Leonard and Hungry Paul but it does sound interesting. You can sure track down the potential gems.

>46 Crazymamie: I happened to look out the window at the right time, Mamie. Grins...

>47 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda and Happy Friday to you, as well. Glad you like the photos.

Morning, Mark! Those cow birds are freaky looking... But I find most birds freaky :)

>49 katiekrug: Morning, Katie. Actually, I think they are neat looking birds, so go figure. I wish I had more dog photos to post, but our little guy is gone. Hey, how about Bree's shepard, Duke:

>50 msf59: - Such a handsome boy!

Happy new thread! I borrowed Sutton from Overdrive the other day. I hope to start it this weekend.

>52 katiekrug: That was from a few years ago, Katie. He is getting to be on old boy now, with a graying muzzle.

>53 drneutron: Thanks, Jim. I have about 60 pages left in Sutton. I am really enjoying it and I think you will too.

>42 msf59: I *love* this!

>50 msf59: What a handsome fellow! We have a German Shepherd in the neighborhood whose owner takes him on frequent walks past our house. Mario and he are borking-at-each-other buds. That GS is really floofy, though, more so than any other one I've seen. Possibly a mix.

>42 msf59: Beautiful Mark. And great you saw the GHOs too.

>50 msf59: Duke is looking in good fettle.

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuke!

Big Friday surprise: Pale Male the hawk has a successor. A snowy owl has taken a penthouse in Manhattan to keep the pigeons scared!

>55 scaifea: Happy Friday, Amber! Glad you like my morning moon shot. I have learned to really admire German Shepards, since my daughter introduced me to them. Duke is her second. I was not a fan in the early days, when I walked the route.

>56 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. Glad you like the moon, the GHOs and our best buddy Duke.

>57 richardderus: I think I need to post more dog pics, RD. They are instant hits. I heard that great story of the snowy owl in Central Park. Very cool.

^"Snowy Owl Is Spotted in Central Park, for First Time in 130 Years". How cool is this?

What a beautiful owl. In Central Park? Yes, that is cool! I understand why you love birds. They truly are majestic!

>60 Whisper1: Hi, Linda. Good to see you. Yes, this Snowy Owl has been spotted in Central Park. Very cool story.

^A library run. The Only Good Indians is up next. Ellen sealed the deal on this one. I just have a few pages left in Sutton. I have been on the waiting list for weeks for A Wealth of Pigeons. It finally arrived. Harry Bliss & Steve Martin? You can't beat that duo. I also picked up a couple volumes of poetry too.

>48 msf59: I finished Leonard. There is something special about this novel. Already a best of '21 contender.

>63 alphaorder: Oh, great to know, Nancy. I will slap it on the list.

Boswell is hosting a virtual event with the author on Friday, 2/12 at 2:00pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/tZckde-urzIvGNKK4NHK9r0iVQ5Xz6cfCdw2/su...

Morning, Mark!

Harry Bliss and Steve Martin together sounds pretty amazing.

Good morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

>44 msf59: Fixed the reference, thank you. I wonder if the cowbirds are reacting to global warming? I haven’t read much on it, but think that global warming has to have affected some bird ranges and migrating habits. I’ll have to check it out.

>50 msf59: That’s a very sweet picture of Duke.

>51 msf59: Sad, very sad, and oh so true. The GOP is choosing the dark side.

>59 msf59: What I find amazing about the owl story is that records have been kept and easily-enough accessible to report that it’s been 130 years.

>62 msf59: I bought A Wealth of Pigeons last year and keep forgetting to read it. Thanks for the reminder. I might try to sneak it in to boost my dismal January reading total.

>65 alphaorder: Hooray for the author event, Nancy. You are prepared to participate.

>66 scaifea: Hi, Amber! That is a good match-up. I hope to start A Wealth of Pigeons soon.

>67 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen. No question, that climate change is affecting the birds and their migration patterns. Many will be able to adapt and others may dwindle. Sad. Hooray for Duke & the Central Park Snowy! I thought you had purchased A Wealth of Pigeons. I plan on starting my copy soon.

>29 msf59: Barred owls are a possibility, Mark. I've never seen one, but it looks like we are on the far edge of their range according to the Cornell bird map.

I'm begginig to think my mystery owl is just a (maybe young?) GHO with a different call. Instead of calling Hoot hoot hoot ta-hooot, it just calls a one note hoot hoot hoot. Maybe one day I'll get a look at him.

Although the GHO's have been calling morning and dusk, last night there was a coyote serenade about 3 am (claiming their own bit of the Wolf Moon, I guess). It must have awoke the owls, too, because several of them also joined in. It was a unique experience, for sure. I've never heard owls and coyotes vocalizing together.

>69 streamsong: Happy Saturday, Janet. Barred Owls have a distinctive call- "Who Cooks For You!" or a variation of that. I would love to hear a coyote/owl chorus. FYI- This is the GHO's breeding/nesting season, so no young ones yet.

I hope you'll love The Only Good Indians as much as I did!

>71 richardderus: I just started it, Richard and I like his style. I want to read his short fiction next.

"The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way."

I have wanted to read Stephen Graham Jones for a few years now. I just never pulled the trigger until now. Thanks to Ellen for the nudge. 30-plus pages in and I like it. I see that Richard is also a fan of Jones. Anyone else like to chime in on his work?

"Stephen Graham Jones is a Blackfeet Native American author of experimental fiction, horror fiction, crime fiction, and science fiction."

>73 msf59: Sounds intriguing, Mark. I've not come across any reviews of this one.

Love the owl pictures. I would love to see one in the wild.

I like your morning moon picture, Mark. Here I sometimes see the moon in the morning but there is too much foliage to get a shot. Much of the natural vegetation is pine. I'd wish you a happy weekend but seems to me most days are the weekend for you now.

Hi Mark! I just created a thread for February's group read of Toni Morrison's Paradise.

I *think* you were planning to join us and I hope some others will too!
http://www.librarything.com/topic/329307

'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you. You're getting snow, we're getting rain. We're about 30 miles south of the freezing rain. I'm glad we're dodging that bullet.

I hope you have a good day of books and beer.

>74 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Good Indians is off to a good, dark start. Yah, for the owls. I hope you get to see one in the wild.

>75 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Hooray for moon shots and endless weekends.

>76 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura. I am in for the Morrison read. I have my copy ready. I will stop over.

>77 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Not sure of the exact snow total we have out there. 4-5 is my guess. Maybe more. Glad you dodged the ice storm.

Morning, Mark! So far we've only rec'd a dusting of snow. Columbus and mid-Ohio seems to have gotten the brunt of it. They say more's on the way for northern Ohio and so I'm hoping- it would provide a nice backdrop for a day of reading.
Duke is a handsome pooch!
Ooo, The Only Good Indians has found its way to my "to read" list.
Have a good one, my friend!

Had to think of you when I saw this article, Mark.

https://onbeing.org/programs/drew-lanham-i-worship-every-bird-that-i-see/?fbclid...

Almost February, Birddude...maybe we'll make it to summer after all.

My January reading went astonishingly well, for a nice change. It's all about the Burgoineing!

Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday! The Only Good Indians is already on my list because of Ellen and Richard.

Happy Sunday, Mark! I would kind of like a day or two with snow... especially since I am still working from home and wouldn't have to drive in it. But we are sticking with rain, so far.

^This was from a few years ago and we didn't get nearly as much snow dumped on us this time but it still will add up to 8 to 10 inches. Some places got a foot. We have guys coming to clear the driveway and sidewalks. My snow-blower isn't working and I don't feel like shoveling heavy wet snow, even with my son's help.

>80 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda. I hope this storm isn't heading your way. This one will probably put us up to the normal expected snowfall for this time of year. Glad I got you with a BB, with The Only Good Indians. And hooray for Duke Boy!

>81 ronincats: Hi, Roni! I have read The Home Place and really enjoyed this fine memoir, but thanks for thinking of me and sharing the link.

>82 richardderus: Congrats on great reading month for January, RD. I had an excellent month too. 15 books, which might be highest since I retired.

>83 Crazymamie: Happy Sunday, Mamie. I am glad The Only Good Indians is on your list. I have not had a chance to crack it yet but plan on spending the rest of the afternoon with it.

>84 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. Good to see you. I sure wish I could share some of this snow with you. I would gladly give it all to you, if I could.

We've had very little snow so far Mark, and it looks
Ike this storm will only dump and inch or two before turning to rain. That's pretty upside down for us.

>87 brenzi: Happy Sunday, Bonnie. You usually get hammered up there in the winter, so I am glad you are getting a break so far.

Happy February! Winter has come roaring back in Chicagoland, dumping a foot of snow on us. I am sure glad I am not having to trudge through the route anymore. I had my best reading month since retiring- knocking out 15 books in January. Yes, this included a couple of GNs and a poetry collection, but all 3 were hefty volumes. It looks like I was averaging 10-11 books a month, so this was sweet. Hope this trend continues.

Book of the Month: Homeland Elegies
OTS: #6. This is a decent Off the Shelf count.

^We leave for Sax Zim Bog, MN Tuesday morning. Back on Friday. Of course I hope to see another Northern Hawk Owl. I am not sure I'll be able to get as many good looks and photos, as I did last time, of this striking owl. That was one of my highlights in 2019.

Morning, Mark!

I was commenting to Shawn last night, after he spent a couple of hours yesterday moving snow around, about how I bet you were happy you are retired this month!

What a great month of reading you had! (Glad you liked Homeland Elegies too.) I had a pretty good reading month too - 8 books. Favorite non-fiction is David Attenborough's A Life on Our Planet. Favorite fiction: Vanishing Half and Leonard and Hungry Paul.

Sill enjoying Bright Wings - thank you for the rec! - and engrossed in Aftershocks.

Have a great Monday!

PS - We were posting at the same time. Have a good trip to the bog!

>91 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. Yes, I am elated that I no longer have to trudge through snow, unless I choose to do so, which does not happen often. Did you get as much snow up there? Glad you also had a good reading month. Since I own, Bright Wings, it has been temporarily put to the side, so I can read a couple of library poetry collections first. I just finished Bodega: Poems, which I really enjoyed. Thanks for the nudge.

Yep, looking forward to the Bog and sharing my experiences with my LT buddies. It looks like the weather should cooperate.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Monday to you.

I'm glad the snow came and went before your trip. Good luck on your search for the Northern Hawk Owl.

Shit!! My post just disappeared! Grrrrrrrrrr...

>91 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. You are correct, I am elated that I no longer have to trudge through snow, unless I choose to do so, which won't happen often. How much did you get? I am glad you also had a good reading month. Since, I won Bright Wings I have temporaily put it aside, so I can finish up a couple of poetry collections I got from the library. I just finished Bodega: poems, which I really enjoyed. Thanks for the nudge. Aftershocks sounds terrific too.

Looking forward to my return to the Bog and it looks like the weather will cooperate too. The couple I am going up there with, have not been there, so I am also excited for them.

Happy Newish Thread, Mark.

>31 msf59: Nice!

Good review of the Wanda Coleman Wicked Enchantment collection of selected poems. I texted you - thanks again for turning me on to this one. I'm about halfway through. I'm liking it a lot - what a strong voice! That Feb. 11, 1990 poem up there in >38 msf59: commemorates the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison. I have a library copy, but I may have to buy this one. Like you, I hope this 2020 collection makes her work better known. I don't like to think of going through life without having read her.

Leaving for adventures in MN tomorrow - great!

We are getting a lot of snow. 8" so far, and it's still coming down steadily. It's a light, dry snow, so the shoveling isn't terrible, and I do love me some snow.

Have fun on your trip!

>95 jnwelch: Morning, Joe and thanks. I responded to your text. I am so glad you are enjoying the Coleman collection. What a great find. Like you, I hope she finds a larger audience. She deserves it. Yep, looking forward to the MN trip, although most people I know think I am completely bonkers, which is probably true.

>96 katiekrug: Morning, Katie. I think that is how it started here yesterday. It was probably 7 or 8 inches by noon and then it kept snowing through the afternoon and evening, adding 5 more inches. Good luck with the snow, my friend. I heard huge numbers out that way.

>97 msf59:
No snow here but lots of cold northwest wind - which is unusual for Alabama. We have had a cold January and it seems it will extend into February as well. My sister in Kansas got 12 inches of snow last week. I don't know how much they got yesterday but think it was only a couple of inches. Ah winter - made for coffee and books.

I started a new book for the nonfiction challenge last week. This one continues the law theme. it is Jury: Trial and Error in the American Courtroom by Stephen J. Adler. I want to know more about how this system we have really works - or if it works. Particularly, how it works in relation to our current problems with equality.

I recommend Scorpions: The Battles and Triumphs of FDR's Great Supreme Court Justices by Noah Feldman. It is a very readable book about the Supreme Court in the FDR years and up until the 1960's. All of those men started out as liberals and ended up going several different philosophical ways. This was a very academic book, but it read easily. However, it was not a history. It was more of a look at their individual constitutional beliefs. But it got me interested in some other areas of the law.

^Lots of snow at the feeders. I just waded up there, to throw down a suet mix Sue made and cleared the snow off the feeders. Also threw a few handfuls of snow in the heated birdbath. Mission accomplished.

Hey there Birddude! I'm so happy you aren't trudging around...in...the...
...waitaminnitwaitaminnit...
...you're going to Minnestoa! You masochist.

>98 benitastrnad: "Ah winter - made for coffee and books." Yes!! And beer, of course. I have Scorpions, on the list, from your earlier warbling. Looking forward to your thoughts on Jury.

>100 richardderus: LOL. You sound like my wife and a few other close friends. Actually, it will be in the 20s, for most of the time we are there and for northern MN, that ain't bad. Fortunately, it is mostly car birding, so we won't be trudging around much.

>92 msf59:
>94 msf59:

Shawn thinks we got 10+ inches Sat-Sun on top of the 6+ we got last Tuesday. They are saying this is the most snow cover we have had in a decade.

>102 alphaorder: That is still a lot of snow, Nancy. We should have around 20 inches of snow, by now but we have nearly 25 inches. Amazing, since we had hardly any snow in December.

^I won't be on much, the next few days but I will try to check in now and then. I hope I can at least squeeze in some reading time. Send warm, birding vibes to the Warbler!

Warm and birding vibes are on their way, Warbler, as are wishes for a good trip, lots of bird sightings, and a bit of reading, too.

Morning, Mark! Sending those vibes your way. Safe travels.

Sounds like you've got a lot more snow than we do right now!

Enjoy your trip!

>104 msf59: Warm birding vibes all around!

I read The Only Good Indians a few months back and it I enjoyed it.

Safe travels, Mark, and enjoy your trip.

Hi Mark, I came to visit and read that you are off on a birding trip. Enjoy your travels, stay warm and safe.

Have a great birding trip, Mark. Safe travels.

...I keep imagining you seeing nothing but these...

All good here, folks. A twelve hour, 220-plus mile day. Lifers are sparse and no owls seen but plenty of cool birds being observed. Repeat this tomorrow...Hugs to all.

>113 msf59: That's a lot of hours for that mileage.

Hi Mark, love hearing about your travels. Except for a quick jump over the state line once last summer for cheaper gas, I haven't left the state. In fact, I've left the county maybe only a half dozen times in the past year and those were either to visit my sister and her family or else my elderly uncle and cousin.

Anyhow, the last time I saw you, I think it was at the Hofbrauhaus in Rosemont. Just read somewhere today about how that place is closing, or has closed. Turning into a pizza place?!?

Safe travels. Not much new snow but the blowing wind and the polar air will likely prove to be a problem.

Safe travels and warm returns to sanity, I mean home!

Good luck with the bird sightings!

Hi Mark. Hope you are enjoying your adventures. Here is something I saw in the NYT today. I think you might like it:

Owling

^The Warbler is back! Great visit to the Bog, a winter wonderland. This harsh but beautiful landscape is definitely not for the faint-hearted. It was also really enjoyable sharing the experience with my two birding buddies, who clocked in 6 Lifers, on their first visit up there. I only got ONE, but that is because I saw most of these, the last time I was there. More details and photos to come. Sorry, I had no LT time but I also never had a chance to read a page in 4 days. That may be a record.

^A Minnesota sunrise.

Lovely sunrise photo, Mark. Happy to hear it was a good trip.

>113 msf59: I hope you were driving that and not walking it! Sounds like a great day. :)

>120 msf59: What a great sky! Love that.

>119 msf59: >120 msf59: Glad you had a great time Mark. What a beautiful sunrise too. No reading or LT... but I bet a brew or two were sunk...

>105 karenmarie: >105 karenmarie: >107 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Karen, Mamie & Chelle. It was a very nice trip. Back in my comfortable spot.

>108 leperdbunny: Hi, Tamara. Honestly, I thought I would finish The Only Good Indians while on my MN trip but never read a page. I plan on powering through it this weekend. I am enjoying it.

>109 FAMeulstee: >110 DeltaQueen50: >111 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Anita, Judy & Meg.

>112 richardderus: I love that image, Richard. It has got to be an owl.

>114 thornton37814: Hi, Lori. The Bog is an isolated spot, so our motel was 40 miles away. The Bog is also something like 300 square miles, so it is a lot to cover.

>115 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. I sure hope you can travel a bit more in 2021. We did manage to travel, taking some risks, but ended up fine. Funny, Sue caught Covid right here. That is some news about Hofbrauhaus. Wow! I did not hear this. A pizza place?
Really?

>116 richardderus: >117 mdoris: Thanks, Richard & Mary. Home safe and snug now.

>118 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. We had a good time in MN. I appreciate sharing that link. I saved it to read later. I did see the opening image of the barn owls that was incredibly beautiful.

>121 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky. It was a good trip.

>122 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. There were 3 of these boardwalk areas to walk through, along with some browsing around the visitor center, but the bulk of the time was driving or viewing just alongside our vehicle.

>123 connie53: Glad you like the sunrise shot, Connie. I also have a sunset photo to share too.

>124 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. The sunrise and sunset were beautiful up there but we only got to enjoy them once, when the skies were clear. And yes, a few brews were consumed, once we returned to our lodgings.

^It was only 10F at home, when I returned and only 13F for today. These are colder temps than it was in MN. Of course, it will be mostly below zero up there for the next week. Our timing was good.

-Male Pine Grosbeak. Many of these beauties seen. Along with the Evening Grosbeaks, these birds stay in Canada through the warmer months, so rarely show up here.



-Female Pine Grosbeak.

-Great Gray Owl. Of course, everyone that visits the Bog, wants to see a GGO. Not always easy. We got skunked both Tuesday and Wednesday. It was frustrating, since my birding buddies had not seen one before. I got one on my last trip.
We were blessed with seeing this one early on Thursday, actively hunting alongside the road. It was lightly snowing so it blurred my photo a little. The bonus was we also got to view it through our spotting scope and got to enjoy it's incredible beauty. My pal Mike got a much better photo, (he is an excellent photographer) which I will share later on.

‘Morning, Mark, and a happy Saturday to you. Brrr. With your weather outlook for the week I can see you getting caught up on some of your reading.

>129 msf59: Beauties. They and the GCO never even get close to my neck of the woods. You had to travel ‘way north to see them, too, didn’t you?

>130 msf59: Very nice. It sounds like you got a nice long viewing.

Happy weekend!

As always I enjoy all the photos you post!

>120 msf59: What a sunrise.

>128 msf59: Giggling a bit that your thermometer image is in Celsius. With wind chill here today it's supposed to feel like -31C (-24F) so enjoy your balmy weather. ;)

Welcome back, Mark. That looked like a cold but successful trip. Kinda nice to be able to take off on a trip whenever you want, isn't it?

I finished Wicked Enchantment and I'm glad I read it. It did lose some steam toward the end, particularly that long poem that had lots of potential, seemed to me.

We got our outside errands done, and we're home warming up. I've got another good (new) Easy Rawlins mystery going, and a YA book, and a poet named Mark Wunderlich. I'm really liking the last, and probably will recommend him to you. He teaches in Vermont.

>134 jnwelch: Are you reading God of Nothingness? I received it from my Graywolf Galley Club membership.

>129 msf59: Oh, pretty boy! That color is the visual equivalent of eating a perfectly ripe plum.

>130 msf59: "We are not amused, humans."

>131 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. I have been hitting the books since earlier this morning, catching up on some lost reading time. Yes, Great Gray Owls do not venture this far down either. I think the Bog area is their most southern range. Yes, we got to watch this beauty for at least 30 minutes.

>132 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Figs! I do like sharing my photos.

>133 MickyFine: LOL. I just snagged that image, Micky and I did not realize it was in Celsius. I think everyone got the point, though. -31C? Yikes! Keep warm, my friend.

>134 jnwelch: Happy Saturday, Joe. It was a great trip but I am glad I am tucked back in my warm cubby-hole, with the books. I am glad you got to Wicked Enchantment. I agree with you on the final poem but the brilliance of the first half help make up for any missteps, IMHO. Glad you are enjoying the reads. It looks like I may have to request the Wunderlich.

>135 alphaorder: Hey, Nancy. Nice chatting with you earlier. The Wunderlich does sound good.

>136 richardderus: Hey, RD! Glad you like the grosbeak & GGO! 2 of my favorites.

-Evening Grosbeaks



-Black-Backed Woodpecker

^Both Bog specialties and both beauties.

^I requested A Wealth of Pigeons a month ago and finally got a copy of this interesting collaboration of Harry Bliss & Steve Martin. I am finally starting it today.

ETA: I am loving it!

Hi Mark, looks like you had a great trip. The gray owl is a beauty. We finally got some snow yesterday and today. Probably about six inches but we're not quite as cold as you at this point.

>126 msf59: The new pizza place, going in where Hofbrauhaus was located, will be called Crust and is supposed to open this summer. Seems like an awfully large spot for a pizza place.

>142 lindapanzo: The same Hofbrauhaus where I met the Chicago gang? What a shame! That place was great!

>141 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie. It was a good trip and seeing the GGO again was a highlight. I think this frigid cold system is heading east, so be ready. We have had a mild winter, until February arrived.

>142 lindapanzo: >143 drneutron: Just what Chicago needs is another pizza place. I didn't make it to the Hofbrauhaus very often but I am sorry to see it go. Bummer.

>143 drneutron: The very one.

>144 msf59: We've been to a German place on Irving Park in nearby Norridge. It's called Edelweiss. Easy for people in the northern suburbs to get to. If you ever want to meet there.

I love a good pizza place but we do have quite a few of those.

>139 msf59: Gorgeous pictures. Thanks for sharing!

Hey Mark, I seem to have lost you in the shuffle of the thread continuations not working, but your thread is starred once again. Glad to see you're getting some great bird photos in, and hope you're having a good weekend.

>134 jnwelch: I started Love and Other Poems by Alex Dimitrov tonight and it is wonderful.

>145 lindapanzo: "Edelweiss" sounds like a good one, Linda. My favorite German-style restaurant is The Bavarian Lodge, in Lisle. Great food and the best beer list in the western 'burbs.

>146 mdoris: You are welcome, Mary. Glad you like the photos.

>147 bell7: Hi, Mary. I am glad you found me. I have missed seeing you around. Yep, I like sharing my photos.

>148 alphaorder: That one sounds good too, Nancy.

^I have wanted to read this essay collection for a few years now. While reading Save Me the Plums, Reichl reflects on her experience with DFW, who wrote the title essay Consider the Lobster for Gourmet magazine. This finally inspired me to pull it down off the shelf. I started reading the first one "Big Red Son" about the adult film industry and it is a hoot. The guy can definitely write his butt off.

**Has anyone read his short fiction? If so, thoughts? I would like to try him in that format.

>150 msf59: Good luck with that one, Mark. Wallace is an acquired taste much like lobster, I guess in being difficult to swallow without the proper tools!

>151 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. Good point on DFW. LOL. I really enjoyed his essay collection A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, so I am sure I will also have a good time with this one.

Morning, Mark! Woot for DFW! You know I'm a huge fan.

>153 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Have you read this collection?

^Inauguration Day, on January 20th gave the country a well-needed shot at a brighter future but our news from Bree just made 2021 truly special. We are still flying high with happiness. Looks like we have a special addition, later in August. Yah!!

**Please! Please! If we are our FB pals, DO NOT post anything over there. There are still outside family and friends that have not been notified.

Hi Mark, and happy Super Bowl Sunday to you!

>139 msf59: Excellent photos of beautiful birds. Thanks for sharing.

>140 msf59: I’m about 2/3 of the way through it, and it has some laugh-out-loud moments for sure.

>150 msf59: I love DFW’s essays, haven’t ever tried any of his fiction. I have Consider the Lobster on my Kindle, just waiting for the right time.

>155 msf59: Congrats to Bree and Sean, Yay for the Grandparents-to-Be. Mum’s the word.

>155 msf59: Congratulations Mark! That's positively wonderful news.

>155 msf59: Congrats, Mark.

Love the bird pictures. I had a robin checking me out this morning (I was moving the leaf litter around so I think he was looking for worms and slugs). Apart from that, looking forward to being able to travel again so I can try and see more varied ones.

<155 Wonderful news, Mark. Congrats to you and Sue, the proud grandparents to be.

Hope you're staying warm today. I think it was ten below last night but looks like it'll moderate a bit during the week before plunging back to this bitter cold next weekend. Hopefully, that'll be the end of the frigid weather.

>155 msf59: Congratulations Mark. Definitely something to look forward too.

I think >150 msf59: is the best thing DFW wrote. His fiction is gluey, adolescent-male exceptionalist twaddle. Besides, if anyone fact-checks the essays, they'd qualify as fiction too.

Congratulations on your impending grandfatherhood!

>156 karenmarie: Thanks, for all of this, Karen. And hooray for A Wealth of Pigeons, DFW & new arrivals!

>157 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. It is wonderful news.

>158 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. Glad you got to see a robin. I have not seen one around our feeders in 2 months or more.

>159 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda. I think this cold snap will keep me indoors for most of the coming week. If I do any birding, it might just be inside a vehicle.

>160 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline.

>161 richardderus: Hey, RD. I just finished the adult industry essay and it was a hoot. I should also take a shower after reading about this lurid & seedy affair. And hooray for impending grandfatherhood! We are so excited.

>155 msf59: Woot Woot! Congrats, to the family, Mark! This is fabulous! A little one with whoooooom (see what I did there) you can share your love of reading! Love good news!

>154 msf59: I haven't read that one yet, but it's waiting for me on my shelves.

>155 msf59: Congrats!! That's wonderful news!!

Hey, finished Sutton just now. Quite the story! Moehringer wrote a good one.

So YOU'RE the one responsible for Sutton! I'd forgotten who it was.

*prepares hot needles for voodoo dolly joints*

>155 msf59: - Congrats on your big news! Great *announcement* swag!

>155 msf59: Congratulations!

>155 msf59: Oh my, your best life is about to begin Mark! Congratulations!!

Congratulations on your impending grandparenthood, Mark! Exciting!

>155 msf59: ooooh, congrats! 😁

>163 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. I love your little play on words! Grins...

>164 scaifea: Thanks, Amber!

>165 drneutron: Hey, Jim. I am so glad you enjoyed Sutton, but I am not at all surprised.

>166 richardderus: I hope my warbling can get you to also try Sutton, Richard.

>167 jessibud2: >168 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Shelley & Anita!

>169 brenzi: Ooh, those are sweet words, Bonnie. I know your grandkids have brought joy to your life. Thank you.

>170 MickyFine: >171 bell7: Thanks, Micky & Mary. Much appreciated.

Ode to Small Towns

This where all the roadside memorials are,
pink wreaths and dirty teddy bears.

This where a man walked when he wanted to fly.
This is where he lay down and later died.
This where the train tracks folded the town in half.
This where the man who died loved a woman,
that's his heart you hear, not the train.

This where I ran the dream-colored woods
and did not know why. This where I believe
a dog is buried. This where I danced
in the long moonlight of a field.
This where a woman planted ghost peppers.
This where she thin her blood with root water.

This where you can see the whole town.

This where the moon never goes.
This where my grandmother hid some dreams.
This where my dead may have met.
This where they'll bury me.

This where I shot a bird from smoke-smelling sky.
This where it fluttered, fell.

-Tyree Daye

^From his collection "Cardinal: Poems" , which I recently finished and enjoyed.

14) Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl 4 stars

I like to eat but I don't consider myself a foodie. I have never watched a baking show or have ever read Gourmet magazine but I have to say that I really enjoyed this memoir, about Reichl's time as chief editor of Gourmet. It is a good entertaining story and she writes very well. She also includes a few recipes, along the way.

15) Sutton by J.R. Moehringer 4.4 stars

Willie Sutton was an infamous bank-robber, but a man I had never heard of. Born around the turn of the last century, in the Irish slums of Brooklyn, and for over three decades, he became America's most successful bank-robber. He also never fired a shot, during these hold-ups and became a folk hero along the way. This is an excellent novel, a perfect mix of well-researched history, along with some fine story-telling.

16) The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones 4 stars

Four young Native American men go on an elk hunt. They lose control and massacre several elk. A decade later, they are haunted by this event and are tracked by a vengeful entity. They begin to be picked off, one by one. This horror novel is not for the faint of heart. It is violent, unsettling but very well-written. This was my introduction to Jones and I look forward to reading more by him.

**I have copies of Save Me the Plums & Sutton, if anyone is interested. PM me.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Monday to you.

My bird feeders are mobbed. I filled them completely on Friday and the sunflower feeder is already down by 2/3.

>135 alphaorder: Yes, Nancy. That Gray Wolf Galley Club is off to a good start. I'm liking this Mark Wunderlich collection a lot. I'm going to find more of his.

Morning, Mark. Nice poem up there by Tyree Daye. I can see why you like his stuff.

The Hofbrauhaus turned into a pizza joint? What a shame. The place was huge, I'll say that much. Such a good time we had there!

Not the greatest Super Bowl yesterday. I didn't expect the KC offense to get bottled up that much by Tampa Bay. The Tom Brady legend grows. I wonder what the Patriots are thinking about letting him go.

Happy new week, Mark! You warbles already talked me in to buying Sutton, since I have it here.

*sigh* What the heck am I going to do with these books after I'm dead?!

...oh wait...

44 messages behind! Bad Katie.

Hiya, Mark, and congrats on the exciting family news! Also, I love that they got you a mask with the news :)

>176 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad to hear your feeders have been hopping. Ours were yesterday but kind of quiet today, with a light snow falling.

>177 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. I just requested God of nothingness : poems. I think you would like the Daye collection. Yep, looking forward to another Meet Up, in a few months. That game last night was a bit of a let down. That Bucs "D" was absolutely dominant. I think they were the true stars of both of these last two games.

>178 richardderus: Morning, Richard. I know Jim recently read and enjoyed Sutton too. I see that my warbling skills have not lost their edge.

>179 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie. We are truly ecstatic. Bree & Sean bought us mugs and Sue picked up the masks.

>155 msf59: Congratulations!

Also, glad to see you liked The Only Good Indians!

>181 leperdbunny: Thanks, Tamara and hooray for Good Indians!

“Winter here is a pitiless bitch, but in the warm months Bloomington (IL) is a lot like a seaside community except here the ocean is corn, which grows steroidically and stretches to the earth's curve in all directions. The town itself in summer is intensely green- streets bathed in tree-shade and homes' explosive gardens and dozens of manicured parks and ballfields and golf courses you almost need eye protection to look at, and broad weedless fertilized lawns all made to line up exactly flush to the sidewalk with special edging tools. (People here are deeply, deeply into lawn-care; my own neighbors mow about as often as they shave). To be honest, it's all a little creepy, especially in high summer, when nobody's out and all that green just sits in the heat and seethes”

-David Foster Wallace from Consider the Lobster.

>184 msf59: Snort. Yup. Here too. Gorgeous blue, sunny skies but they're deceptive.

>185 MickyFine: Hi, Micky. I made a quick library run, otherwise I am in for the day. It might get to 14F today, with light snow.

"A rural noir suffused with the unique music, color, and nuance of East Texas, Bluebird, Bluebird is an exhilarating, timely novel about the collision of race and justice in America."

^I do not do this very often, but I decided to take a short break in between the DFW essays and start something else. This Highway 59 series has been mentioned fondly around these parts and for some reason I never did get around to Bluebird, Bluebird. I started it today and I was drawn in immediately to her writing style. Anyone read the follow-up, Heaven, My Home?

>187 msf59: - I'm planning to get to Heaven, My Home this month.

Congratulations to the whole family, Mark! What wonderful news. In the near future you will be adding to your favorite "Bs" - Books, Birds, Beer and now, Baby!

I read both of Attica Locke's Jay Porter books, but I have not read either of the Highway 59 books. I have Bluebird, Bluebird on my TBR shelves and do plan on reading the rest of her books. I really like her mysteries. The best one I read was Pleasantville it kept me reading far into the night.

>188 katiekrug: I look forward to your thoughts on that one, Katie. I am enjoying Bluebird.

>189 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. I did not realize that I will be adding another "B" to the mix. How great is that?

>190 benitastrnad: I did not realize that Locke had wrote another series. Good to know, Benita. I am enjoying Bluebird, Bluebird.

-A Wealth of Pigeons

>177 jnwelch:

Ah, of course! Makes sense that you are a galley club member too! Did you read Abundance yet?

Congratulations Mark! Very good news.

Mark I just sent you a PM to confirm your address is still what it was the last time I sent you something.

You have just been determined the winner of my Book Influence of the Month award for January 2021 which results in a prize to you of a book from me. For info see my thread.

>194 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. We are very excited.

>195 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. I just PMed you back. Hey, I like winning books. Thank you, sir. I will stop by your thread.

-Northern Hawk Owl. I did get better photos of this one, last time at the Bog but we still got good looks at this fierce, little raptor. It sure helps that they like to perch up high and out in the open. It must have been freezing up there on that pole.



-Common Redpoll. We do get to see a redpoll around the Chicago area on a rare occasion, (I got one at Montrose a couple of months ago) but it is nice to see a flock of these little cuties. This is a female. The males have a reddish blush on their chests.

>196 msf59: I enjoy the thought og giving, Mark, and I haven't really been able to do so for a couple of years. I also want to show my appreciation for the enthusiasm imparted to reading by our little covey.

Morning, Mark!

>183 msf59: *snork!* Having lived there for four years, I can confirm Wallace's depiction. I do very much love and miss Bloomington, though. Such a cool town.

>198 PaulCranswick: I am glad that I am your first participant, Paul. Lucky Warbler! And yah for our little covey!

>199 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Isn't that a fine piece of writing? He must have been teaching at the university, at this time. I did not realize you lived in Bloomington, or had forgotten. This could describe a multitude of places throughout the Midwest, right?

>200 msf59: I did my undergrad work at Indiana University, so it's been yonks since I lived there - way before LT, so no real reason you'd have known about it. And yeah, his description certainly could work for a lot of the midwest!

‘Morning, Mark, and happy extra-cold Tuesday to you!

>183 msf59: Excellent quote, definitely an enticement to read Consider the Lobster this year.

>197 msf59: Thanks for posting! That owl pic makes me cold just looking at it.

More feeder mania this morning. It's already time to fill the sunflower feeder.

>201 scaifea: I thought you might have mentioned Bloomington sometime over the years.

>202 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I am really enjoying the DFW collection. I am currently reading an essay about the McCain run in 1999. The Northern Hawk Owl has been reported up there, the past few days. He sure doesn't mind the cold.
I am getting more activity at my feeders today too. Hope to get a few decent photos.

^Good Morning, North America! (NMP)

I am a bit confused about which Bloomington you are talking about? Bloomington, Illinois? or Bloomington, Indiana? There are universities in both towns.

>205 benitastrnad: - I had the same question! Mark's review notes "Bloomington (IL)" but Amber is talking about Indiana.

>204 msf59: Ha! Perfectly expresses how most of us feel, I think.

>205 benitastrnad: >206 katiekrug: It is definitely Bloomington IL and I inserted that in the quote. I should have corrected Amber about her IN reference. I must have been distracted.

>207 richardderus: I think much of the country can relate to this one, Richard.

Well Mark, it's a good thing I have LT to keep me on track. Guess what? I read A Land More Kind Than Home in 2014. Hahahaha. My brain is not functioning lately.

>140 msf59: Steve Martin too? cool.

>155 msf59: Aw, that is exciting. You are well-placed to be doting grandparents....thanks to retirement!

>209 brenzi: I am not at all surprised that you had read, A Land More Kind Than Home, Bonnie. It was all the rage, circa 2014. That is when I had read it too. You read the follow up too, right?

>210 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. A Wealth of Pigeons is a terrific collaboration between two talented artists. Thanks, in regards to our new arrival. We are still stuck on Cloud Nine.

"New York Times bestselling author Howard Blum expertly weaves together three narratives to tell the true story of the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush."

I can't believe it has been more than 10 days since I finished the audio of Save Me the Plums. I have been itchin' to start another one and decided on The Floor of Heaven: A True Tale of the Last Frontier & the Yukon Gold Rush. I have had an ARC of this one on shelf for a few years but I think it will make a good audio. With the deep freeze we are stuck in, I don't think I will be listening much. This is my first Blum. Has anyone else read him?

On the print reading front, I am buzzing along. Really enjoying the DFW collection, Bluebird, Bluebird, A Wealth of Pigeons and my current poetry collection, Helium: Poems.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday. Brrr. Warm thoughts heading your way.

>204 msf59: That’s a riot. So clever.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday too, my friend.

What of Fire?

My therapist has approved my drinking of three whiskeys per night,
her eyes forbearing, knowing well the ruthlessness of night.

The sun having fled as a father might flee, my cousin fathered
a narrow terror while he robbed, with a pistol, a fellow citizen one night.

The encouraging lies of a mother are greatly underpaid job-keepers;
slovenly kings have dealt much wrong money to generals and knights.

My childhood was a lengthy scene of make believe and disaccord—
my favorite things being rain and watching my mother’s cigarettes ignite.

What of fire, among its timelessness and musculature, is not
more divine when burning past the open gates of night?

-Marcus Jackson From Poem-A-Day

I haven't read any Blum, Mark, but I have The Floor of Heaven in my stacks. I'll look forward to your thoughts on it.

Hahahaha! I didn't notice the IL/IN mix-up! Apologies all around for any emotional damage I may have caused. I *do* feel that the IN version is far superior to the IL one (I've never lived in the IL version but have frequently visited).

>155 msf59: Congratulations to Mark and Sue and Bree and to the daddy-to-be! Wonderful news!!

>216 katiekrug: Nearly 2 hours into the audio of The Floor of Heaven and I am enjoying it, Katie. He has a nice easy, narrative style.

>217 scaifea: No emotional damage on this end, Amber. As a matter of fact, I have not been to either place. Grins...

>218 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. As you could imagine, we are still floating off the ground with happiness.

>220 msf59: - *pained smile*

>220 msf59: what >221 katiekrug: said

Happy Wednesday, Mark!

I requested the Rudy Francisco collection and Wealth of Pigeons. Thanks for the tips!

We got some errands done. The side streets in Chicago make for really difficult driving, with all the snow. We need a melt soon.

I'm enjoying "Vera" on the tv; British crime-solving in northeast England makes for good pandemic fare. I'm nearing the end of The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted - good stuff. Holocaust survivor meets Australian farmer and falls in love; the two of them bring books to an unlikely location.

>219 msf59:
I have been to Bloomington, IL. It is a nice place. As is Illinois State University. A graduate student I worked with long ago has a job there. I remember from the movie bio-pic of David Foster Wallace that he spent several years in a flat mid-western state with lots of corn - that is how he described it. The bio-pic, also made it clear that he taught at Illinois State University and he considered the place and the university to be a dead-end spot. He didn't care about the "The Middle" as much as Bruce Springsteen apparently does.

>221 katiekrug: >222 richardderus: I will even take a "pained smile"!

>223 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I think you will enjoy both the poetry and the GN. Our suburban streets are much wider out this way, so the roads are fine. You may also be getting a bit more snow and thus. Lately, it has just been a dusting to 2".
I was not familiar with "Vera". Thanks. And the bookshop book sounds like it could be fine.

>224 benitastrnad: Thanks the DFW info, Benita. Love him or hate him, he was always an interesting guy. I have to say, I am really enjoying Consider the Lobster.

>155 msf59: Such wonderful news. You will love being a grand parent! Congrats!

>226 mdoris: Thank you, Mary! We are very happy.

^After being mostly stuck inside for several days, we are going to head out to farm country again and look for the elusive Snowy Owl. This will mostly be vehicle birding. Our mistake last time was arriving in the area too late, so we are starting earlier this time.

‘Morning, Mark! Good luck on the Snowy Owl Hunt.

>220 msf59: Sad but probably true unless they grow spines.

>220 msf59: Sadly, too true.

>187 msf59: I have read both Bluebird, Bluebird and Heaven, My Home. Both are absolutely worthwhile!

Good morning! Oh, I saw your post about the pregnancy announcement but I can't remember if I congratulated you. So, congratulations and so exciting!!

>228 msf59: Ahhh, now I remember why I don't go birding. Getting up before the crack of dawn = nuh-uh in my world view. Farming, birding, all those up-at-3am things.

See a Snowy for me, eh?

Have you seen the flap about Bruce Spingsteen and his Super Bowl Commercial? I am just astounded by the backlash on this one. I saw the commercial and thought it was like all those Chrysler commercials - vapid and vacuous - starting with the Clint Eastwood commercial back in 2012. The Halftime in America - commercial that aired at the Super Bowl. But I am really surprised at this backlash. Chrysler pulled the commercial from Twitter and You Tube yesterday. They said it was because Springsteen was charged with drunk driving in New Jersey a few months ago, but when there are editorials written about the commercial in major newspapers I think there is another reason. I'm just not sure what it could be? After all, Chrysler put up with that silly Bob Dylan commercial.

>229 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Success!! We got the Snowy right away. I even got an okay photo, which I will share later.

>230 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Great to see you. Hooray for the HWY 59 books. I am enjoying Bluebird.

>231 leperdbunny: Thanks, Tamara. We are very excited.

>232 richardderus: Hey, RD. Last time we went looking for the Snowy Owl we missed it. More sage birders said we got there too late. We were not going to make the same mistake. It was COLD out in that Midwestern farmland today. -3F.

>233 benitastrnad: It looks like I completely missed the Bruce kerfuffle, Benita. I will have to research it.

>232 richardderus: LOL, we just look for birds that do show up in the afternoon, or early evening ;-)

>234 msf59: So you saw a Snowy Owl, Mark, such beauties!

Hiya, Mark. Good to hear about the Snowy Owl. Way to go. Woo, up early in this weather takes a hardy soul.

We've got a Zoom meeting coming up, oh joy. Otherwise it's been a books day. Have you read the poet Franny Choi? She's another one I'm hoping to catch up on.

>235 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita. When you start birding seriously, you go when the birds are active. It is just part of the deal and it sure worked out with the beautiful Snowy Owl.

>236 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Not much LT time today so far. Once I got back from my owl/bird outing this morning, I just hunkered down with the books. I have heard of Franny Choi but have not read her.

"Regina King ’s directorial debut, “One Night In Miami,” is a fictionalized account of what happened before and after that fight that day, when Clay (Eli Goree) and his friends Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir) got together to chill, debate, argue and celebrate."

^If you have not seen this yet on Prime, take the time to check it out. It is excellent! The cast is great but I especially liked the actor portraying Malcolm. Plenty to chew on here. Fine directorial debut by the actress Regina King.

>233 benitastrnad:
How could you miss it? It is the water cooler topic of the day!

All those music critics who are smacking Springsteen for "selling out" and doing a commercial after staying so "pure" for his entire career clearly haven't read his memoir.

>55 scaifea: Congratulations! So exciting.

Hello Mark! Happy belated New Year. I hope all is well with you.

>238 msf59: I enjoyed this movie as well. I've been a long time fan of Aldis Hodge (Jim Brown) and was shocked by the set up and knockdown in the scene with Beau Bridges. I also enjoyed the other actors. Good show.

>239 benitastrnad: Hey, I don't have a water cooler anymore. I figured the "sellout" thing was causing the stir. I did read about his DUI, though back in November.

>240 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. It is going to be a special year.

>241 brodiew2: Hey, Brodie. Great to see you over here again. Glad to hear you also enjoyed the Miami film and yes, I am a fan of Hodge too.

^This was my Snowy Owl from yesterday, perched on an old barn, in the middle of farmland. By going early this time, we found him right a way. This was the best photo I could get, due to distance. We stayed on the road. Other highlights were a pair of Western Meadowlarks, which I have never seen in Illinois before. What they were doing here, in the frigid Midwest, God only knows!

'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you.

>243 msf59: Congratulations! Beautiful bird. -3F. You are dedicated.

>244 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. It is nice to see a Snowy, at least one time a year. They have not been showing up on the lakefront this season. That is where I usually see them. Yes, it was cold yesterday. It reminded me of being in MN last week.

>155 msf59: Congrats!!! That is so exciting!

Love all the birds, and especially the owls, here!
Hope your weather has warmed up. Ours hasn't :(

Hi Mark - such exciting news - congrats! Your owls are gorgeous. I've heard them outside but have never seen one. We're also hearing coyotes howling every night, and we're only 35 miles from the city!

>155 msf59: Congratulations to the whole family, Mark! Very exciting news.

>238 msf59: On my list for this weekend Mark.

>243 msf59: Great to see him.

>246 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle. We are very excited, as you could imagine. Still COLD here and it looks like it will stick around until the middle of next week. Ugh!

>247 vivians: Thanks, Vivian. Several of my friends are enjoying their grandchildren and we can't wait to start enjoying ours. Coyotes seem to be everywhere. We also have them in our area and we are in the western burbs.

>248 connie53: Thanks, Connie. Yep, lots of excitement around here.

>249 Caroline_McElwee: Hi, Caroline. Looking forward to your thoughts on "One Night In Miami". A good film. And hooray for the Snowy!

>243 msf59: He looks as cold as y'all must've been, all squoonched up like that inside his heavy feathered cloak.

Stay inside and read, forevermore! It's too damned cold out there.

Hi Mark. Isn't this cool? The real advantages of banding birds! Amazing!

https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/news/conservation/worlds-oldest-known-wild-bir...

>252 jessibud2: I'm not Mark, but I think that's super cool! Thanks for sharing it.

>251 richardderus: We were lucky, Richard that we mostly stayed in my vehicle while viewing this amazing owl. Me and a birder pal popped out for just a few minutes to take a photo before quickly returning to the warm Explorer.

>252 jessibud2: This is an awesome story, Shelley. I have heard tales about this amazing albatross before. Go Wisdom! A true miracle of nature.

"Mary's Monster: Love, Madness,and How Mary Shelley Created FRANKENSTEIN by Lita Judge. Written in free verse accompanied by the author's impressive black and white illustrations, Judge tells the story of Mary Shelley's life and how she came to create one of the most famous novels of all time."

I want to thank Mamie for putting this GN on my radar. I recently picked it up from the library and I started it today. Beautifully written and illustrated.

Hi Birddude. What about starting a new mystery-novel series about a birdwatching cop who's also a murderer? The Birdwatcher is a whopping $2.99: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQFAO3H/

This is the second duplicate post I've had today! Weird.

Well, I don’t know about Birddude, but you definitely got me with that one!

>255 msf59:
You might want to consider some of Lita Judge's children's books for the new grand baby. She has some real charmers. Flight School, Red Sled, Hoot and Peep. All of them are great read aloud's. She is just a good illustrator.

>256 richardderus: I am not sure why you would think I would be interested in The Birdwatcher but I snagged it anyway. Thank you, Richard. Funny, someone put this on my radar a couple of years ago and I had forgot about it. Now, I have a copy. Yah!

>258 drneutron: A double whammy BB! Double Yah!

>259 benitastrnad: I saw that she writes children's books, Benita so thanks for letting me know how good they are. We have got to raise this grandbaby right. And yes, she is an excellent illustrator.

"In prose that soars with the rhythms, grandeur, and tragic arc of an epic poem, Toni Morrison challenges our most fiercely held beliefs as she weaves folklore and history, memory and myth into an unforgettable meditation of race, religion, gender, and a far-off past that is ever present."

I have wanted to read Paradise for years, so thanks to Laura for setting up the Group Read for it. I will start it today. I would also like to do a reread of her works, starting from the beginning. I hope I can kick that off this year.

>261 msf59: I think I have that book on the shelves too. Maybe I have a look at the group read to see how such a thing works. If I can find it.

>262 connie53: Join us, Connie. Love to have you. Find book, start reading, leave a comment now and then. Easy, right?

'Morning, Mark! Happy cold Saturday to you. Snow and a high of 13F. Yuck. We dodged a nasty ice bullet and it's 33F and raining. We lost power for 2.5 hours.

>264 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen. Just came in from shoveling. It was nearly 4 inches of fresh, light snow. It sounds like you are dealing with your own cruddy weather. Glad you got your power back on. If ours went out, with these frigid temps, we would have to leave until it came back on.

>260 msf59:
Lita Judge's books are GREAT read-aloud. (hint, hint, hint for sometime in your future.). Pre-scholars and kindergartener's love them.

I had a wee bird adventure this morning - on my driveway between me and my car I saw a grey pigeon then noticed there were 3, one live fledgling, one dead fledgling as well as the adult - then there were two adults moving toward me. I scooped up the live fledgling moved it to the grass and went away. Driving to Peet's I saw a lawn covered in corvids. 1 lawn, all the neighbors were corvid free.
By the time I got back Mike had cleared away the dead bird and the others were gone.

>267 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita. I will keep those in mind for the future and will probably check out a couple beforehand.

>268 quondame: Thanks for bird story, Susan. Doves & crows! Always something interesting, right?

>263 msf59: I did find the group and the book found it's way downstairs so I'm ready to go once I've finished Verloren onschuld by Elizabeth George. I'm halfway with that book.

>266 msf59: Nice play with the words of a famous book title - the most famous of course is Flannery O'Connor's saucy collection A Hard Man is Good to Find!

Just to let you know I got notification that your prize is on its way.

>270 connie53: That is good news, Connie. I am glad you will be joining us. I am 80 pages in and plan on reading that much today.

>271 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul. Yes, that O' Connor title is a classic and one of my very favorite story collections too. Yah, for the upcoming prize. Looking forward to seeing what you have selected for me.

When People Ask How I’m Doing

I want to say,

my depression is an angry deity, a jealous god
a thirsty shadow that wrings my joy like a dishrag
and makes juice out of my smile.
I want to say,

getting out of bed has become a magic trick.
I am probably the worst magician I know.

I want to say,

this sadness is the only clean shirt I have left
and my washing machine has been broken for months,
but I’d rather not ruin someone’s day with my tragic honesty
so instead I treat my face like a pumpkin.
I pretend that it’s Halloween.
I carve it into something acceptable.
I laugh and I say, “I’m doing alright.”

-Rudy Francisco

I can not warble loud enough about Francisco's Helium. He has a wonderful simply-stated style that could work for even the occasional or reluctant poetry reader. I want to thank Nancy for putting it on my radar. Here is an excerpt from "Adrenaline Rush":

"Being black is one of the most extreme sports in America.
We don't need to invent new ways of risking our lives
because the old ones have been working for decades.”

Jim Crow may have left the nest,
but our streets are still covered with its feathers.
Being black in America is knowing there's a thin line
between a traffic stop and the cemetery."

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you! Brrr.

>265 msf59: Living in the boonies, our power has always been an issue. Does yours ever go out?

Ugh. Shoveling. Glad it was fresh, light snow.

>266 msf59: LOL.

>271 PaulCranswick: Our book club read A Good Man is Hard to Find. The woman who chose the book mentioned the saucy alternate title. I had to bale because the stories were so depressing.

>275 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. It is currently -3 out there. Brr...is right. We are very fortunate that we rarely lose power and if we do, they fix it soon after. More snow came down, in the hours after I shoveled so I may go back out and run the shovel over it but that will be later when it gets up to 5F. Grins...

Happy Sunday my bird watching friend! I topped off the feeders knowing the next couple of days are going to be brutal for them.
8 to 12 inches is predicted for my area by Tuesday. Feeling nice and toasty and hunkered down till Wednesday.
Nice pictures of your sightings, BTW!

>277 Carmenere: Happy Sunday, Lynda. Glad you are tending to your feeders. We are stuck in a deep freeze again, with probably 12 inches on the ground. Maybe more in some areas. Good luck with your approaching snow storm. February has been brutal. Glad you like the photos.

18) Consider the Lobster by David F. Wallace 4.3 stars

“If you are bored and disgusted by politics and don't bother to vote, you are in effect voting for the entrenched Establishments of the two major parties, who please rest assured are not dumb, and who are keenly aware that it is in their interests to keep you disgusted and bored and cynical and to give you every possible psychological reason to stay at home doing one-hitters and watching MTV on primary day. By all means stay home if you want, but don't bullshit yourself that you're not voting. In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehard's vote.”

“Truly decent, innocent people can be taxing to be around.”

“It never once occurs to him, though, that the reason he's so unhappy is that he's an asshole.”

DFW may have been an asswipe during his 46 years on earth and he may have taken some liberties in his essays but there is no question that the dude could write. He may even be one of the best authors of his generation. This is the second essay collection I have read and loved and teaming that up with his massive masterwork, Infinite Jest, has sealed the deal for me. I just would have loved to have heard his voice during the Trump era.

>273 msf59: >274 msf59: Ordered!

So much for cutting down on new arrivals. I've failed miserably so far this year. Thanks Mark.

Hi Mark! Also hard hit by snow here in Portland. Also sleet and ice. I can't even make it up my street. Hoping it will melt by Tuesday....maybe...

I still have Consider the Lobster on my shelves. I went to college with David Wallace, even had him in a class. The teacher asked why David's was the best essay, even though the rest of us were going for grades and David was taking it P/F. LOL. He sure can write!!

Happy Sunday, Mark! Hope the weather's treating you okay - it must feel good not to *have* to go out and work in it. We're not especially cold here but should be getting some icy weather tomorrow.

>280 Caroline_McElwee: At least it is only one poetry volume, Caroline. Grins...

>281 Berly: Hi, Kim. Great to see you. Sorry about the nasty weather. It looks like much of the country is suffering right now. I always forget that you went to school with DFW. How cool. Was it pretty full of himself, at that point?

>282 bell7: Hi, Mary. Yes, I am so glad to be sitting this winter out. Having to deal with the extremes is one of the main reasons, I retired a bit earlier. I hope our weather isn't headed your way.

>273 msf59: Wow. Great poem.

>284 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. It is a great collection. I hope you can track it down.

>266 msf59: funny!

>279 msf59: book bullet.

Excuse my economy of words, am being sat on by Gabby the Tabby as I type. She is not happy that my hands move as is resting on my wrists as I attempt to touch type!

>286 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. I have no problem with an economy of words. I try to practice it whenever I can. The DFW collection would be a good fit for you.

You know, I've heard people complain about DFW as a person, but my experience of him was that he was a completely sweet and lovely guy. Maybe I just met him on a Nice Day?

>288 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I was just doing a little browsing on DFW. Maybe, it was just in some of his relationships, (especially with Mary Karr, that he was a d*ck. When did you meet him?

>289 msf59: Well, I haven't delved into his biographical details too much, so I don't really know much about him. If he was a butt, then he was a butt and that makes me sad.

I met him when he gave his now-famous This Is Water commencement speech at Kenyon (I was on faculty at the time and was able to hang out with him for a while that day).

>290 scaifea: I think I remember you mentioning the Kenyon speech before. That must have been jaw-dropping to listen to in person. Glad to hear you had a happy experience meeting him.

Mark, have you seen the film The End of the Tour? Although DFW's family was opposed to it, as a viewer with no direct knowledge of DFW himself I found it sympathetic. It shows both the difficult and nicer sides of his personality.

>292 lauralkeet: No, I have not. I had it on my radar for awhile and completely forgot about it. It sounds really good though. I will find the DVD. Thanks!

>291 msf59: Ha! I suspect most folks around here are sick of me talking about it - I feel like I bring it up pretty often. That was an amazing speech he gave. Just beautiful.

>295 msf59: Obviously, I had forgot it but of course I am much older than you. Grins...

Before going to the new thread:

Good excerpts/poems from Rudy Francisco up there (>274 msf59:), particularly that strong second one. I've got Helium on the WL.

I agree with you on David Foster Wallace, and I, too, thoroughly enjoyed Consider the Lobster. That one quote about the guy not realizing he's an asshole has some irony; by all accounts DFW was a really big one. But supposedly he knew it, and that's part of why he committed suicide - but one reviewer said he committed suicide in a way designed to do the most damage to those close to him. Some day I'll have to find out what that's all about. Meantime, it would've been great to hear his comments during the drumpf era, as you say - that quote on voting from him is right on target, isn't it.

>296 jnwelch: I know you will like the Francisco collection, Joe. In regards to DFW, it is tough dealing with a troublesome author. Fortunately, it doesn't come up very often. No question, the guy was a helluva writer, despite his questionable character.