Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Five

-"Wisconsin Farm"- Jim Musil



-Red-winged Blackbird 2/24

“We need the tonic of wildness... At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

"The play of shine and shade on the trees as the supple boughs wag,
The delight alone or in the rush of the streets, or along the fields and hillsides,
The feeling of health . . . . the full-noon trill . . . . the song of me rising from bed
and meeting the sun..."

-Leaves of Grass- Whitman

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:



January:

1- The Singing Bones by Shaun Tan 3.6 stars GN
2- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez 3.8 stars
3- North Woods by Daniel Mason 4.5 stars (audio)
4- The Yard Dog: A Mystery by Sheldon Russell 3.7 stars
5- Heretic: A Memoir by Jeanna Kadlec 4 stars (audio)
6- All the Quiet Places by Brian Thomas Isaac 4.2 stars
7- Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound by Dave Chisholm 4.7 stars GN
8- Homeland of My Body: New and Selected Poems by Richard Blanco 4.6 stars P
9- The Thing with Feathers by Noah Strycker 3.6 stars
10- Sing, Wild Bird, Sing by Jacqueline O'Mahony 3.7 stars (audio)
11- Yellowface by R. F Kuang 4.6 stars
12- After the Plague: Stories by T.C. Boyle 4.3 stars

February:

13- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson 5 stars (audio)
14- Barnstormers: A Ballad of Love and Murder by Scott Snyder 4 stars GN
15- Trail of the Lost by Andrea Lankford 4.2 stars (audio)
16- The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 4 stars
17- The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok 3.7 stars (audio)
18- The Turner House by Angela Flournoy 4 stars
19- Monica by Daniel Clowes 3.6 stars GN
20- The Art of Losing: Poems of Grief and Healing by Kevin Young 4 stars P
21- I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai 3.8 stars E
22- Wake: Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall 4.3 stars GN
23- Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant 5 stars (audio)
24- The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith 4 stars

March:

25- Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser 3.6 stars
26- Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by James Sturm 4.3 stars GN
27- Raven Black by Ann Cleeves 3.8 stars (audio)
28- Charity: Stories by Mark Richard 4 stars
29- Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen 4.2 stars (audio)
30- After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story by Michael Hainey 4 stars
31- Mexikid by Pedro Martin 4.3 stars GN
32- The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore 4.2 stars (audio)
33- The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell 4.8 stars
34- Where the Body Was by Ed Brubaker 4 stars GN
35- Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty 4 stars (audio)
36- Wild Houses by Colin Barrett 4.2 stars
37- Thunder Song: Essays by Sasha Lapointe 4.3 stars

P: Poetry
GN: Graphic Novel
E: e-reader

^ I have really enjoyed doing our shared reads in 2023 and I would like this to continue through 2024 and beyond. Primarily, I would like to read books off shelf, but I am still catching up with a few titles that I missed in the past year. I also would like to do a few rereads. I will list some titles and if you are interested, we will set a firm date.

2024

Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser w/Kim, Linda P, Jeff, Bill March (Pulitzer winner)
The Sparrow reread w/Stasia, Donna, Joanne March
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki w/Stasia, Laura, Benita, Ella April
The Razor's Edge w/Stasia, Jim, Judy, Jeff May
Summer by Ali Smith Anita, Ellen June
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle reread w/Joe, Linda L, Bill, Ellen July?
The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason w/Ellen, Linda P, Stasia Aug?
Ride with Me, Mariah Montana by Ivan Doig w/Stasia ??

And Yet The Books

And yet the books will be there on the shelves, separate beings,
That appeared once, still wet
As shining chestnuts under a tree in autumn,
And, touched, coddled, began to live
In spite of fires on the horizon, castles blown up,
Tribes on the march, planets in motion.
“We are, ” they said, even as their pages
Were being torn out, or a buzzing flame
Licked away their letters. So much more durable
Than we are, whose frail warmth
Cools down with memory, disperses, perishes.
I imagine the earth when I am no more:
Nothing happens, no loss, it’s still a strange pageant,
Women’s dresses, dewy lilacs, a song in the valley.
Yet the books will be there on the shelves, well born,
Derived from people, but also from radiance, heights.

-Czeslaw Milosz

Hello?? Great Horned Owl chicks.

Happy new thread, Mark. I've posted a review of A Bird in the Hand.

Happy New Thread! What lovely photos - that gorgeous canine!

Happy new thread, Mark!

I might want to join you for The Windup Bird Chronicle. It’s one I’ve never read.

Happy new one, Mark! I love that painting in the topper.

happy new thread Mark!

Hi Mark! Nice new thread. If the timing still works for you and Stasia, I'm up for the shared read in April. I'm actually pretty flexible too so just let me know if we need to postpone.

>7 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg. I will swing by and check out the review .

>8 elorin: Thanks, Robyn. Great to see you stop by. We love our Juno.

>9 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen. I will pencil you in for The Windup Bird Chronicle. It will be a reread for me.

>10 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. The vibrant color of that topper is what caught my eye.

>11 Owltherian: Thanks, Lily.

>12 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I will pencil you in for The Book of Form and Emptiness. I hope you can join us.

>14 msf59: You're very welcome Mark

Happy new one! >2 msf59: Sweet pic of Jackson and of the noble Junk Juno. 😜

>16 Storeetllr: Thanks, Mary. I hope you are having a fine Sunday.

Hi Mark and Happy New Thread! Along with everyone else I want to thank you for sharing Jack with us. His pictures always put a smile on my face. It seems like yesterday my own grandson was that age and yet, here he is - coming up 25! I have been enjoying my March reading but sometimes it just seems like there aren't enough minutes in the day to fit everything in!

Happy New Thread, Mark!

>1 msf59: So cute!!

Happy Sunday and Happy new thread, Mark!

Happy new thread, Mark!

>1 msf59: Love the colors and the feel of the painting at the top.

Happy new thread Mark!

>1 msf59: A Wisconsin farm in southwest colors, wow. Jim Musil does know how to compose a compelling image.

Happy new one, buddy.

>2 msf59: Jackson is growing up so fast!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Mark. That farm painting is stunning!

>14 msf59: Thanks Mark. It had been a while since we talked about the shared read, so just wanted to check in as the time approached.

>18 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy. I plan on sharing more pics of Jack. He is only 2 1/2. LOL. I hope I can stick around long enough to hang with Jack when I am 25. 🤞

>19 vancouverdeb: >20 Carmenere: >21 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Deb, Lynda and Anita.

>22 quondame: >23 PaulCranswick: >24 figsfromthistle: >25 kac522: Thanks, Susan, Paul. Anita and Kathy.

>26 lauralkeet: It looks like I had you penciled in beforehand, Laura. Thanks for the reminder.

^Congrats to Oppenheimer for winning last night's Best Picture, along with Cillian Murphy, who did a wonderful job as the lead. Killers of the Flower Moon might have been my favorite film of last year but no question Oppenheimer was an excellent achievement. Sad for Lily Gladstone but Emma Stone also delivered a fantastic job in Poor Things, which was the strangest film I saw last year.

Happy new thread!

Thanks, Foggi. Have a good week.

>30 msf59: You too!

heya mark,i got about 10 minutes of sleep and if my grammar and or spelling is off that is why.

>32 Owltherian: Morning, Lily. Only 10 minutes of sleep all night? How are you functioning?

>33 msf59: I dont even know, and yes it was for the whole night- from 5:50 to 6am EST.

‘Morning and Happy new thread, Mark!

>1 msf59: and >2 msf59: Love both thread toppers.

>27 msf59: I plan on sharing more pics of Jack. He is only 2 1/2. LOL. I hope I can stick around long enough to hang with Jack when I am 25. 🤞 and I hope I’m here on LT to travel that road with both of you.

>34 Owltherian: Looks like you will need a nap when you get home. Good luck at school.

>35 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen. Looking forward to spending many more years hanging out with you. 😁❤️

29- Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen 4.2 stars

“His name is synonymous with high-stakes wilderness survival adventures. Now, beloved author Gary Paulsen portrays a series of life-altering moments from his turbulent childhood as his own original survival story…an entrancing and critically lauded account of grit and growing up, perfect for newcomers and lifelong fans alike..."

I have not read much of Paulsen’s YA books but I have enjoyed his nonfiction. Winterdance was excellent. In this memoir, which he authored at age 80 (he died in 2021), looks at his early, very-troubled life, growing up with alcoholic, abusive parents. It covers his fondest memory- spending a summer with his aunt and uncle on a farm in northern Minnesota and the brutal years he spent with his parents in the Philippines, during WWII. How this boy survived such a childhood, is a triumph of resilience. Paulsen is such a good writer and even a better storyteller. It was very good on audio.

>36 msf59: I really do, and th video we are watching is making me cry.

Love that Wisconsin Farm artwork at the top.

Enjoy the next few days of spectacular weather, before it gets chilly again.

>37 msf59: I remember reading Hatchet and a couple of his other books with Beth and Catey while they were growing up, but I have not read any of his adult books. I will have to check out his adult books. Thanks for the recommendation, Mark. BTW - in case you did not know, Paulsen died in 2021.

Thanks for the pictures up top! I always love seeing any pictures of Jack, Juno, and the owls, of course.

Happy new thread!

>38 Owltherian: Sorry to hear about the sad video, Lily. I hope you recovered.

>39 lindapanzo: Glad you like the topper, Linda. It looks like I picked a good one. Yep, can't complain about the weather.

>40 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia. I learned about Paulsen's passing while working on the mini review. Thanks. I think he wrote several memoirs but I do recommend Winterdance about his experiences running the Iditarod.

>41 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

"1860: As the clash between the states rolls slowly to a boil, Elizabeth Packard, housewife and mother of six, is facing her own battle. The enemy sits across the table and sleeps in the next room. Her husband of twenty-one years is plotting against her because he feels increasingly threatened - by Elizabeth's intellect, independence, and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. So Theophilus makes a plan to put his wife back in her place. One summer morning, he has her committed to an insane asylum."

I read The Radium Girls back in 2017. I thought it was excellent. Her latest, The Woman They Could Not Silence has been on my TBR for 2 years. I am finally getting to the audiobook. I started the audio today. I was curious why the narrator is British, since her last 2 books take place in the US. It turns out she is a British writer. A talented one too.

>42 msf59: Yeah, it was about the holocaust and e had to hear about a dudes whole fam who got cremated to death-

Happy third week of March!

>44 Owltherian: Sounds awful, Lily. I hope you are resting quietly now.

>45 richardderus: Is it already the 3rd week of March? Time is scooting along.

>46 msf59: Its terrible and i feel bad for him and why do i cry so easily-

That quote is quite true.

It’s not the third week of March.

I had a pretty good weekend, thanks , Mark! Nothing special, just a brief visit from William and Miles , and of course walking the dog each day in the rain. Dave worked all weekend and he works tomorrow too. Then he has 5 days off and just 4 days back at work and he is retired. With all this rain, I am sure he is looking very forward to it. It's going to be different. Was Sue a little worried when you retired ? I think Dave will stay quite busy, but of course he has worked f/t shift work for a lot of years . How am I going to sneak books and puzzles into the house is the big question.

>1 msf59: Lovely! I have a few Jim Musil prints but not that one.

>43 msf59: We went to see Kate Moore at the Tattered Cover back in 2017 and were so surprised when she started speaking. I wasn’t necessarily expecting a Jersey accent but I had no idea she was a Brit. I loved Radium Girls and need to look for that one.

Well, I quietly started The Sparrow last week, not sure if I’d continue as I was stumbling along, wishing for something a little simpler. But thank goodness the characters of Anne and George finally showed up and now I seem to be hooked, 100 pages in. Thanks for the push.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

Lots of bird visitors, all the usual suspects. Yesterday a White-Breasted Nuthatch was on the suet feeder. Bill saw a Robin on our road this morning. My sunflower seed feeder needs filling.

>50 dianeham: Unless you count Friday the 1st of March. LOL.

>51 vancouverdeb: Hey, Deborah. Glad you still get Poppy out, no matter the weather. Good for you both. 5 days? Well, that will fly by.

"Was Sue a little worried when you retired ?" Yes, a bit but worrying mostly that we can make ends meet on my retirement pay, which ended up being no problem. Of course, she also wanted to retire with me.

>52 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. I had not heard of Jim Musil. Glad to hear you are a fan. I just stumbled on him. I bet that was a nice author event with Moore. I think you would like The Woman They Could Not Silence.

I am so glad you quietly started a reread of The Sparrow and got hooked. I will dip into it today. Looking forward to exchanging thoughts.

>53 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Nice feeder report. Too dark here in the Midwest.

>42 msf59: I thought you might be aware of Paulsen's death, but thought it worth the mention just in case. Unfortunately for me, my local library does not have Winterdance so I will have to look further afield.

>43 msf59: I have already read that one, so I am dodging that BB in advance :)

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Emesis

From her perch on the docent’s gloved wrist, she
watches us with the eyes of any creature handled too
much: featherless head a closed door, body a mask of
silence. In the steep twilight descending like the
backwards count of a nurse’s voice leading a patient
into unconsciousness, the handler explains to our
circle the generalities of the species—the turkey
vulture’s primary form of self-defense is the
regurgitation of semi-digested meat that is then
vomited onto a predator’s face—and the
particularities of this one, who had come to them with
a broken wing. I, too, have places on my body knitted
back together by unseen hands, scars laid while I slept
the sleep of the unknowing: one above the belly
button, and another below where two fingers must
have parted the dark hair before shaving a path. Does
she remember the first faces to peer toward her as she
surfaced? Every time I try to write what those hands
did, I end up plunging my own fingers deep inside
until I pull up the voice of the surgeon in post-op: I
usually have to pay women to take their clothes off for
me. Oh, the shudder of her black-feathered shoulders.
Oh, the bile rising in her throat

-Keetje Kuipers

>56 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia. I am assuming you liked the Moore book? I am starting The Sparrow today.

"In 2019, humanity finally finds proof of extraterrestrial life when a listening post in Puerto Rico picks up exquisite singing from a planet that will come to be known as Rakhat. While United Nations diplomats endlessly debate a possible first contact mission, the Society of Jesus quietly organizes an eight-person scientific expedition of its own. What the Jesuits find is a world so beyond comprehension that it will lead them to question what it means to be "human"."

2019?? LOL.

I first read and fell in love with The Sparrow in the summer of 2010. MDR also immediately became a favorite author. This was her debut novel, published in 1996. I had the pleasure of meeting her at a Booktopia event and even had the pleasure of having a drink with her and her husband. Since then, I had read and enjoyed five of her other books. I knew I would reread The Sparrow someday and decided the time was now. I am doing a shared read of this one, with Stasia, Joanne and Donna. If you would like to join us, jump in anytime. If you haven't read it do yourself a big favor, even if you are not a Sci-Fi fan.

^I believe it reads" in memory of our virtual beer." ❤️

>59 msf59: 2019?? LOL.
I know, right?! I finally got around to reading The Sparrow in ... wait for it ... 2019. I wasn't aware of the coincidence until I got into it. I loved the book though.

>37 msf59: I have not heard of Paulsen before. I shall put it on my list.

Have a sunshine filled Tuesday!

>59 msf59: I too read Sparrow first, and immediately became a fan. I met her at an author talk, she's very funny and personable.

>61 lauralkeet: You picked a perfect year to read The Sparrow, Laura. Have you read anything else by her?

>62 figsfromthistle: Happy Tuesday, Anita. I hope you get to Gary Paulsen. He has a nice array of books to choose from, but I think mostly they are outdoor/nature related.

>63 labfs39: Thanks for chiming in on MDR, Lisa. Have you read through all of her books?

Hi Mark......

-John Deering

>54 msf59: I don’t get it. Count Friday 3/1 as the end of the first week?

>63 labfs39: I met her at an author talk, she's very funny and personable. That surprises me. I had an impression of her years back - I think from something I read - that she was maybe argumentative - not sure if that’s the right word - unpleasant? I’ll have to look up so old interviews. I did find it odd that she converted from Catholicism to Judaism and then wrote a book about Jesuits - or a Jesuit.

>65 Owltherian: Hi, Lilly. How was school?

>67 dianeham: Hi, Diane. I have to agree with Laura- I spent some time with MDR at a very casual author event and found her delightful. She also didn't suffer fools gladly and had a biting wit. The other attendees felt the same way. Sorry, to hear she retired from writing.

Happy new thread, Mark! I love the painting in your topper.

>28 msf59: I caught the end of the Oscars broadcast Sunday night. I have not seen Killers of the Flower Moon or Poor Things yet, but based on all the commentary, I was expecting Lily Gladstone to win Best Actress. I was stunned when they called Emma Stone.

>64 msf59: I've read all but Women of the Copper Country and Epitaph, and I have a copy of the latter on it's way. How about you?

>67 dianeham: I have found MDR to be a very versatile writer, easily crossing genres and points of view. She may have started with what she knew, or she could have been leaning on the long history of Jesuit explorer missionaries. I think it worked well. But she moved from science fiction to historical fiction, westerns, the Holocaust. And while I've liked some of her books more than others, I haven't disliked any.

As for her personality, I liked her a lot in the author talk and in her newsletters that she used to send out periodically. She seemed very open and genuine. Smart too, she has a PhD in biological anthropology. Just my experience of course.

Hi Mark. I hope to start The Sparrow on Friday. We still have a few days to reach mid-March. ;-)

Just got home from my book group and will finish The Vaster Wilds tomorrow or Thursday.

I checked my stats and it looks like I read The Sparrow in 2008, giving it 4 stars. Here is my review:

“God will break your heart." So says Father Emilio Sandoz, lone survivor of the Jesuit mission to Rakhat. Most of the spoilers are revealed up front--we know that our protagonist has been brutalized in unimaginable ways, both physically and mentally--but he's not talking. His ordeal comes out slowly and painfully as his fellow Jesuits uncover the depths of his despair.

Although I enjoyed Russell's A thread of Grace two years ago, and this, her first book, came highly recommended, I never thought I could become so engrossed in a work of Science Fiction. I had to overcome my preconceptions of SF to read about a group of unlikely comrades boarding a potato-shaped asteroid in search of the singers of hypnotic music. I'm glad I did. This seemed to me to be more of an exploration of the limits of belief in God rather than mere space travel. I felt that MDR portrayed the spiritual themes in a sensitive and faith-inspiring manner and will definitely be reading the sequel.

I love that promise in my last line. I have Children of God sitting out ready to be read, I must keep my word!

>64 msf59: Mark, I've read Doc and Women of the Copper Country, and really liked both. I really should read Epitaph, shouldn't I? So many books ...

>69 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. Glad you like the topper. I was also rootin' for Lily Gladstone but Emma Stone also delivered an amazing performance and a more demanding one too.

>70 labfs39: The only MDR I haven't read is Dreamers of the Day. Like you, I have enjoyed all of them. I really liked Copper Country so I recommend tracking that one down. Thanks for your comments on MDR too. I had similar feelings about her spunky, smart personality.

>71 Donna828: Hi, Donna. Thanks for updating us. Looking forward to your thoughts on Vaster Wilds. That is on my TBR. I decided to start The Sparrow a few days early, since I just wrapped up my current read, plus it will be a slower one to get through.

I am so happy you shared your original review of The Sparrow too. I think it summed up the book, also echoing my views at the time. I am glad this will also get you to finally read Children of God.

>73 lauralkeet: Yep, I recommend Epitaph. It closes out the Doc story. I plan on doing a reread of Doc, at some point. I also highly recommend Thread of Grace.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday.

>60 msf59: I read The Sparrow in 2007 (had to check my book club spreadsheet), and was stunned and disturbed by it and loved it. It’s sort of like 1984 -predictive of a year we’ve experienced.

Wow. Signed. I agree with your interpretation of her writing.

>66 msf59: Avoiding the news assiduously, I don’t get this cartoon. Is it good or bad?

>68 msf59: I cried for a whole period so not so good.

>76 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad to hear from another fan of The Sparrow. I am assuming that was the only one you read by her? She is such a fine author. The comic refers to the female senator that gave the rebuttal to Biden's State of the Union address. Yes, it was BAD!!

>77 Owltherian: Aw, bummer, Lily. How today is much better.

30- After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story by Michael Hainey 4 stars

The author barely knew his father. Bob Hainey, a copy desk chief at the Chicago Sun Times, died alone on a street, when Michael was six years old. He died of an apparent heart attack but there were suspicious signs that there was more to his death. Michael became a journalist himself and as he got older he decided to start digging into the story. He soon discovered a lot more buried family secrets, than he ever expected, along with an unbending code of silence among Bob’s reporter cronies, even decades later. This was a very solid memoir, filled with a lot of Chicago lore and history, centered mainly around the 1960s. Recommended.

AlphaKit: March H

Hi Marky-Mark. Sampling again, I am. Nearing the halfway point in the Haring bio. Probably rearrange selected clutter assortments this day. That'll be fulfilling. :-)

>78 msf59: Yeah, i will have to watch The Boy In The Striped Pajamas and its sad

>80 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Thanks for checking in. We are enjoying our shared read of The Sparrow. Have you read it or any other MDR title?

>81 Owltherian: Good luck with the movie, Lily. Be strong .

>82 msf59: I will try, this is my second time watching it.

Hi, Mark!

Adding to The Sparrow love. So, so good. I have it on the library cart for next week's Teen Tuesday book club, when we'll chat about scifi novels.

You may have heard about this one already, but I thought of you when I saw that there's a children's book coming out in September called Fly: A Family Guide to Birds and How to Spot Them, by David Lindo. I think Jackson may need that one...

All this talk of MDR and The Sparrow is making me want to reread Children of God. And you, Mark, really should read Dreamers of the Day. May be a good time for my own reread, considering the subject matter bears directly on how the middle East got so effed up.

>84 scaifea: Hi, Amber. Hooray for another Sparrow fan. We are legion. Thanks for the children's book recommendation. Sounds perfect for Jack.

>85 Storeetllr: So does that mean, that you have reread The Sparrow? I am sure I will get around to a reread of COG, at some point. Thanks for the nudge on Dreamers of the Day. I have no clue why I haven't read it, especially since I am such a big fan.

Hiya Mark. I'm about to smack somebody if they bother me again, which sucks.

The Sparrow was on my to-read list long ago...but I never got to it...and got rid of the book in a purge.

>79 msf59: that sounds good.

>87 Owltherian: I hope you didn't have to smack anyone, Lily. I know I can get frustrating.

>88 The_Hibernator: Hi, Rachel. Good to see you. I hope our enthusiastic chatter about The Sparrow inspires you to give the novel another try.

>89 dianeham: It is a good memoir, Diane.

>90 msf59: I didnt, but i almost did.

^I am 100 pages in, just starting chapter 12. The team is in place and what a team it is. Love these characters. Signal received....

This Too Shall Pass

was no consolation to the woman
whose husband was strung out on opioids.

Gone to a better place: useless and suspect intel
for the couple at their daughter’s funeral

though there are better places to be
than a freezing church in February, standing

before a casket with a princess motif.
Some moments can’t be eased

and it’s no good offering clichés like stale
meat to a tiger with a taste for human suffering.

When I hear the word miracle I want to throw up
on a platter of deviled eggs. Everything happens

for a reason: more good tidings someone will try
to trepan your skull to insert. When fire

inhales your house, you don’t care what the haiku says
about seeing the rising moon. You want

an avalanche to bury you. You want to lie down
under a slab of snow, dumb as a jarred

sideshow embryo. What a circus.

-Kim Addonizio From Poem-A-Day

>93 msf59: Oof. That's hard hitting. Makes me cringe to think of the times I've said platitudes, not knowing what else to say.

I've read The Sparrow a couple of times. I found it a sort of gut punch, but deeply dissatisfying as well. I've tried to track down an explanation for Jo Walton's statement that she hates it and wouldn't ever re-read it, but she includes Grunts and Xenocide in the same sentence and I have re-read those. Yes, flawed, but not in my mind anathema. I did find a statement that it was off base to depict Jesuits as taking themselves so seriously by a Jesuit. I trust Jo Walton's taste much more than other professional reviewers, and she sure finds more in books than I even think to look for, but we all have pits of unacceptable and heights of must haves.

>94 labfs39: I think we can all relate to that one, one way or another, Lisa.

>95 quondame: I am not sure I ever saw any negative reactions to The Sparrow before. I guess I was naive to think there were not any floating out there. Obviously, I am not a big Sci-Fi reader so I am just basing it on my own pleasure while reading it. I like Jo Walton too. Different strokes, I guess.

31- Mexikid by Pedro Martin 4.3 stars GN

"A poignant, hilarious, and unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican-American boy’s family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico to live with them."

One summer, Pedro Martin, along with his 8 brothers and sisters, pile in their parents RV and make the incredible journey from California to Pegueros, Mexico, to visit family there and bring their abuelito (grandfather) back to live with them. It is over a 2,000-mile trip. I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic memoir. It is heart-warming and laugh out loud at times. If you are looking for something fun and refreshing, give this one a spin. It is a Newberry Award winner and a deserving one.

‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you.

>78 msf59: I’ve only read The Sparrow, have A Thread of Grace and Children of God on my shelves.

Nobody on my feeders or in the Crepe Myrtle right now. I need to fill the sunflower seed feeder today.

Mark - I posted 3 poems by Warsan Shire https://www.librarything.com/topic/355952#8468124

>97 msf59: I’ve got Mexikid coming to me today! Looking forward to it, especially after reading your review.

Karen O

>1 msf59: Love the Musil Mark.

>I've still to see Oppenheimer. So many good films nominated.

Sweet Thursday, Mark! Happy Kinda New Thread!

>66 msf59:. LOL! I wonder whether the Book of Mormon writers will ever give us The Book of Donald?

I can’t find the number now, but that turkey vulture poem was sad and powerful. I’m going to go back to read >93 msf59:. You’ve got an awful lot of good stuff on this thread!

I’d forgotten your meeting MDR and her husband. Very cool.

As you know, I’ve requested Mexikids and appreciate your enthusiasm.

I’m enjoying more of that Rattle Bag anthology and The Country of the Blind today. We only got early morning rain today after an all-day prediction. We just put a new roof on that house next door, so this was a good test.

I’m glad the Sparrow re-read is going well.

P.S. >93 msf59:. Oh yeah, Poem-A-Day. Kim Addonizio deserves to be better known, seems to me. I read a bunch of hers a year or so ago, and she’s really good.

>97 msf59: Hiya Mark - I'm not a huge GN reader but Mexikid looks great. My library system has 3 available copies, so it should be winging its way to me soon. Thanks!

>86 msf59: I reread The Sparrow late last year or I would have joined you this month. I found that, when I thought of The Sparrow over the years, I had incorporated things from Children of God. Anyway, I’ve been meaning to read COG since my reread of The Sparrow.

>93 msf59: That poem makes me weep. As someone who has experienced gut-wrenching loss and listenedd to well-meaning people say those kinds of things and then gone home to sob in grief and anger, I understand. As someone who sometimes grapples with what to say to someone else who is experiencing loss, I understand. The best advise I ever heard on this subject is to just say you’re sorry, nothing else, except to ask what you can do to help and tell them you’re there for them, assuming you are. There for them. Platitudes are worse than unhelpful; they are wounding, no matter how well-meaning they are.

>95 quondame: Perfectly fine to not like the same books. Interestingly, I am not a fan of Walton’s books, though many on LT love her stuff.

>104 Storeetllr: I do enjoy Walton's books, but some much more than others, there is a fair variety to them. And I personally did enjoy The Sparrow, rating it about 3.75.

>98 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Thanks for chiming in MDR. I hope you can give Doc a try, one of these days. It is an absolute gem. I haven't checked my feeders much today.

>99 dianeham: Thanks, Diane. I will swing by later.

>100 klobrien2: Hooray for Mexikid. I am sure you will have a good time with it, Karen.

>101 Caroline_McElwee: Glad you like the Musil, Caroline. Looking forward to your thoughts on Oppenheimer, once you see it.

>102 jnwelch: Sweet Thursday, Joe. Good to see you over here. Book of Donald? UGH!! Glad you like the poems. I sure enjoy sharing them. I will have to seek out more Kim Addonizio. She seems like a good fit for me.

I am sure you will have a good time with Mexikid. It will put a smile on your face. I requested Rattle Bag. It looks like an immense collection.

Yep, loving my reread of The Sparrow.

>103 vivians: Hi, Vivian. Good to see you. I am sure you will enjoy Mexikid.

>104 Storeetllr: Sweet Thursday, Mary. Was that only your second time reading The Sparrow? I am certainly enjoying my reread and may also do COG at some point.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the poem "This Too Shall Pass". I am sure will be all relate to this, one way or another. I will have to keep this in mind for my future responses.

>105 quondame: Glad to hear you enjoyed The Sparrow, Susan. I haven't read much of Walton but I remember really enjoying Among Others.

I have a little less than 100 pages to go in The Sparrow. Both want to know and don't want to know what is going to happen...

Jackson Day! It rained most of the morning but once it stopped, we made a beeline to the park. Jack's happy place. Fortunately, I had a small towel along, to wipe off the swings and slides. We still ended up with wet bottoms.
❤️

Hi Mark! Personally, I hated The Sparrow and I loved Doc I guess we all have our own reading quirks.

Thanks for highlighting the Gary Paulsen book; have you read My Life in Dog Years? I really liked that one, and Emma read a bunch of his YA stuff when she was younger, after her 4th grade teacher gave her Hatchet.

>108 msf59: Aside from liking her fiction, my appreciation for Walton is for her many reviews based on a very, very, wide and eclectic reading base. So many of the books she cites as good have been great reads for me - and she usually gives a good idea of why she liked them which is also a help.

>110 msf59: Has a year slipped by? Jackson looks so much more mature!

>109 Copperskye: You are zipping right along, Joanne. I know the last 100 pages is the toughest stretch to read, so good luck with that. This was the first time, reading it, right? I hope it didn't disappoint.

>111 banjo123: You hated The Sparrow? WHAT? Yes, we all have our quirks. That is for sure, Rhonda. At least you loved Doc, which is also a fantastic novel.

Thanks for chiming in on Paulsen. I have not read My Life in Dog Years. I will add it to my audio list.

>112 quondame: That is good to know, Susan. I will have to seek out Walton's book reviews. Is there a recommended place to find them?

Yes, Jack is growing up fast. In another 5 months, he will be 3.

"I believe in God the way I believe in quarks," Anne said coolly. "People whose business it is to know about quantum physics or religion tell me they have good reason to believe that quarks and God exist. And they tell me that if I wanted to devote my life to learning what they've learned, I'd find quarks and God just like they did."

"You know what? I really resent the idea that the only reason someone might be good or moral is because they're religious..." (Anne again. I love her)

I am 160 pages in, starting Chapter 17. Stella Maris is on her way...

>114 msf59: Jo Walton has two books out about SF:
What Makes This Book So Great (2014)
An Informal History of the Hugos (2018)
and another coming out in May:
Trace Elements: Conversations on the Project of Science Fiction and Fantasy

She has a column on tor.com, but that page seems to be in a tangled mess with REACTOR (TOR is mangled) but there's this:
https://reactormag.com/jo-waltons-reading-list-january-2024/

Looks like you had a fun day with Jack, Mark. I saw Melissa and Miles yesterday for while, but not as long as I would have liked. It was here 6th birthday and she had a had party with her friends on Sunday. So I stopped by to give her gifts and she and Miles seemed really excited about them. My daughter in law had made some suggestions, so that it is what I chose. Melissa told me about some gifts she got that she didn't like , " real looking Mermaid Dolls" - I think like Barbies. She likes mermaids, and had a mermaid themed birthday party. The two have been enrolled in gymnastics , so they are excited about that.

>116 quondame: Thanks so much for this info, Susan. I will check it out.

>117 vancouverdeb: Happy Friday, Deb. Glad you got to see the grandkids, even if it wasn't long enough. Melissa's mermaid party sounds like fun. Have a good weekend.

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday.

>110 msf59: TCFW – too cute for words.

I didn't get to the bird feeders yesterday, and will do it this morning.

>82 msf59: I've got four MDR titles in there amongst the TBR rubble, but not The Sparrow. I gather you groupies *smile* are enjoying it. I'm halfway through the Keith Haring bio I just got. Frequently consulting Keith Haring to see visuals that illustrate the people, setting, and, of course, the artwork that biographer Brad Gooch writes about.

>97 msf59: Ouch! Stings. Adding it to the WANT! List. It being Mexikid.

>121 weird_O: I kind of like being amongst the “Sparrow Groupies”.

Mark, I had no idea that The Sparrow is such a divisive book. I read the first 87 pages and remembered that it was a slow starter. Then I reached the “hook” on page 88. Maybe people gave up on it too soon?

Mark - do you write poetry?

>120 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. TCFW? He certainly is. ❤️

>121 weird_O: >122 weird_O: Hooray for the Sparrow Groupies! I am honored to be one of them. So, you have not read MDR? Do yourself a big favor, my friend. Start with Doc. That one goes down like a smooth bourbon. Maybe that will lead you to The Sparrow.

I am sure you will have a good time with Mexikid. Such a fun read.

>123 Donna828: Happy Friday, you Sparrow Groupie you! I really don't remember anyone not liking The Sparrow. I guess there are always detractors. I am not a Sci-Fi fanatic. Maybe certain lines were crossed or challenged?

>124 dianeham: I do not, Diane. I am very daunted by the idea of it. How about you? Joe writes poetry and is very good at it, IMHO.

-Christopher Weyant

>126 msf59: Joe shared a couple with me. Yes, I haven’t written in a while but I’ve been writing since I was 13. I was thinking of doing some writing exercises and prompts in a thread in April for poetry month but worried people will be too shy.

>128 dianeham: I am so glad Joe shared some of his poetry. He sure impresses me. I am also happy to call him a very good friend, since we live in the same city. Great guy.

I hope this can kickstart your own poetry. Good luck with it.

^Has anyone listened to The Vaster Wilds on audio? Looking to see if it would work in that format. It has been on my TBR since it came out and this might be a quicker way to get to it.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

>125 msf59: Too Cute For Words. *smile*

>127 msf59: I watched ~20 seconds of the awfulness from her kitchen and couldn’t stand any more. Go back to your children, witch.

>130 msf59: I've only read her The Monsters of Templeton, rated it 4*.

>108 msf59: Was that only your second time reading The Sparrow?

Haha, I’ve reread The Sparrow both in book form and as an audiobook at least a dozen times since the late ’90s. It and Doc, which I’ve reread 3-4 times, are my favorite MDRs.

I guess that makes me queen of the Sparrow Groupies. 😂

Love to see Jackson having fun with his grandpa!

>131 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Boo to Katie Britt! I hope she slithers back under her rock. Thanks for chiming in on Groff. I also liked The Monsters of Templeton.

>132 Storeetllr: Happy Saturday, Mary. You are an MDR Groupie Supreme, my friend. Hail to the Queen! I plan on doing a reread of Doc. If not this year, then next year. It runs a very close second to The Sparrow for me.

Like you, we sure enjoy our grandchildren, right?

"On the Wild Intoxications of Spring"



Author Margaret Renkl wrote a lovely spring essay for the NYT. I love it when she writes about her glorious backyard. You can read the piece here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/opinion/anthropocene-spring-backyard-census.h...

'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday.

I hope you enjoy you good-weather day. We're overcast. Spring is springing. One male Cardinal and one female Cardinal eying the feeders in the bird report for right now.

Have you read the Murderbot Diaries yet, Mark? I am loving them!

>135 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. My feeders have been hopping this AM. Nice to see robins visiting regularly.

>136 labfs39: Morning, Lisa. I also love the Murderbot series. I read/listened to the first 5. Glad to hear you discovered it.

To the Saguaro Cactus Tree in the Desert Rain

I had no idea the elf owl
Crept into you in the secret
Of night.

I have torn myself out of many bitter places
In America, that seemed

Tall and green-rooted in mid-noon.
I wish I were the spare shadow
Of the roadrunner, I wish I were
The honest lover of the diamondback
And the tear the tarantula weeps.
I had no idea you were so tall
And blond in moonlight.
I got thirsty in the factories,
And I hated the brutal dry suns there,
So I quit.

You were the shadow
Of a hallway
In me.

I have never gone through that door,
But the elf owl's face
Is inside me.

Saguaro,
You are not one of the gods.
Your green arms lower and gather me.
I am an elf owl's shadow, a secret
Member of your family.

-James Wright



^(NMP) I have seen elf owls in Arizona and in Texas.

Hiya Mark! Hopelessly behind but lots of love for The Sparrow, Jackson, hopping bird feeders and owls, not necessarily in that order. LOL. Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

>139 Berly: Happy St. Patrick's Day, Kimmers! Good to see you. Hooray for more Sparrow love. Can't get enough and that also goes for Jackson love.

32- The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore 4.2 stars

I am not sure how Moore discovered Elizabeth Packard, who seems to have been lost in American history but I am sure glad she did. The woman is an unsung warrior, who battled the male hierarchy in the 1860s. After twenty-one years of marriage, her husband had her committed to an insane asylum in Jacksonville, Illinois. She was completely sane but her husband felt she was forgetting her subservient place in the marriage and showing too much spirit and intelligence. This seemed to be a common practice at the time. After being imprisoned in this hospital, in dismal conditions, she was finally released after a couple of years and then set out to fight the system. She was able to change laws, giving women more rights and a bit more control in their lives. This is a well-written, meticulously researched piece of writing. Highly recommended.

**Also very good on audio- narrated by the author.

>141 msf59: I loved that one!! : )

>141 msf59: and she stayed married?

Hiya mark!

>142 Berly: Glad to see you also enjoyed the Moore, Kim.

>143 dianeham: It was complicated, Diane. Divorce was frowned upon at the time but the husband detested Elizabeth and eventually fled their home with their children. Their marriage eventually dissolved.

>144 Owltherian: Hi, Lily. How was your weekend?

>109 Copperskye:, >115 msf59: Hi there, Joanne and Mark. I am at my “happy place” in The Sparrow. Father Sandoz has charmed the extraterrestrial children with his magic tricks, and it looks like the group will be accepted by the villagers. Or will they? Suspense is building…

I hope you had a good weekend, Mark. The trip to the park with Jackson looks like fun. I’m sure a wet bottom didn’t bother him!

>138 msf59: Nice!

>145 msf59: Its going well, played with kittens and went to a few stores for a few hours.

>146 Donna828: " I am at my “happy place” in The Sparrow." Music to my ears, Donna. Feeling the same. I should finish it today. I am kind of dreading the last 70 pages. Shudders...

We always have a good time at the park. Jack has extra padding on his bottom. I do not. 😁

>147 banjo123: Glad you like the poem, Rhonda. I like the imagery.

>148 Owltherian: Sounds like a pleasant weekend, Lily. Good luck at school this week.

‘Morning, Mark! Enjoy a day of reading.

>138 msf59: I love saguaro. We have a photo somewhere of Jenna standing next to one in Arizona, and it absolutely dwarfed her. My aunt and uncle had 3 of them at their house in Tucson – there when they bought the house, grandfathered in, as it were. They named them. I was charmed.

All the usual suspects, including a Downy and a female Red-Bellied on the suet feeder, not at the same time.

Hi Mark,

Your comments on Damon Albarn over at my place made me think of this song of his from his 2014 solo album - Heavy Seas of Love.

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

Morning, Karen. Hooray for the saguro! One of my highlights of our Arizona birding trip was visiting Saguaro National Park for the first time. Glad you also have fond memories of these amazing cacti.

Currently at my feeders- several house finch, house sparrows, a junco and a robin, along with a trio of squirrels.

>151 PaulCranswick: What a lovely song and a wonderful performance, Paul. I am not sure I have heard this track before. Thanks for sharing. I am assuming his solo work is equally as good? I have not sampled it.

Currently Listening To:



I have been recently enjoying a pair of excellent British bands that began in the 90s, (my second favorite decade for music). First is Blur with Parklife and The Great Escape. The second band is Radiohead with The Bends and Ok Computer. Monumental music.



I have been neglecting my love of music for several years now, so I am trying to reconnect, with slowly going through my massive CD collection. Instead of listening to the discs themselves, I have been listening to these LPs on Amazon Music or Spotify. It gives me a lot more flexibility.

Happy new week, Birddude.

>152 msf59:
It's a good thing you love saguaro's. According to the book I just finished reading, Ends of the World by Peter Brannon, cacti will be one of the few species of plants that will survive our climate change. At least for a few thousand years longer than other plants, like grasses and trees.

>155 richardderus: Thanks, Richard. It was a cold day here in the Midwest but not a bad start to the week.

>156 benitastrnad: Hooray for the saguaro, Benita. Ends of the World sounds bleak but interesting. Has The Woman They Could Not Silence been your radar? If not, I think you would really appreciate it.

-Pat Byrnes

"A darkly funny and deeply moving debut novel about crimes of desperation, dreams abandoned, and small-town secrets that won’t stay buried".

I loved Barrett's debut story collection, Young Skins. Gritty tales about the Irish down-trodden, so I was pumped about reading his latest offering, Wild Houses, which isn't short fiction but his first novel. I will start it tomorrow.

On audio, I am enjoying more Irish fiction- Gun Street Girl. Love that Sean Duffy.

There was a postcard sized, but blank backed card with waterfowl, white pink spoonbills, included in an eBay order from TX, advertising the Triangle Birders with 2018 meetings at the Groves Public Library. So I learned about the Golden Triangle area of SE TX near the Louisiana border. The contact name on the card is so suitably Lynnda Byrd. Really.

>160 quondame: Interesting find, Susan. I love those roseate spoonbills. I saw them on our Texas birding trip. I was not familiar with the Golden Triangle. Always learning something around here.

Mark, where do you find such interesting books? Like me, I imagine you are so glad you are retired. There is more time for getting the house in order, and more time for reading!

All good wishes

>162 Whisper1: Hi, Linda. My secret is I have so many book pals that steer me in the right direction. I try to pay that forward. Retirement has been wonderful but I have also been keeping busy.

Hi Mark, I finished The Sparrow a couple days ago. Thank you for the nudge to finally get it read. I liked it and can see why folks love it and reread it. I thought maybe the middle was a little slow and the ending a bit rushed, but then, I don’t think I could have handled any more of the ending. :( I did like the way it was structured, with the two time periods, and that the reader knows right from the start that something awful has happened but just not what. And the characters, I loved them all, especially Anne and George. I’m not sure when I’ll read the follow-up, but I think I probably will at some point.

Yes, Mark, Dave's retirement is official. His last day of work is this Thursday, March 21 st. Officially his retirement date with the company is April 1st, but since he has holidays due for this year, his last day is Thursday. He'll have to back in the morning of April 1st to take back his security passes and what ever. We are heading out with some people for dinner out on Friday for a little celebration.

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

>152 msf59: Nice feeder report. Quite early here, so all I see are outlines of what are most likely finches. Yesterday while visiting Louise I saw a White-Throated Sparrow, a female Goldfinch, a Junco, and a male Cardinal.

>164 Copperskye: I am so glad you joined us on The Sparrow, Joanne and mostly enjoyed it. I also liked the structure of the novel and who doesn't love Anne & George? May they rest in peace. I hope you can bookhorn in Children of God. It doesn't pack the punch the first one does but it is a worthy sequel.

>165 vancouverdeb: Hooray for Dave's fast-approaching retirement. I wish you both the best and have fun at the celebratory dinner.

>166 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I have not seen a white-throated sparrow in the yard in ages and no goldfinch yet this year. I NEED to buy thistle. Glad to still have the juncos around.

>164 Copperskye:
I really really liked Sparrow it was the book that put me onto Russell as an author. I also really really liked Children of God. That sequel is the way that sequels should be written. I wouldn't put off reading it too long, as I am sure it is a book you will enjoy.

Speaking of sequels - I got Epitaph off the book shelves here in Kansas (also by Mary Doria Russell) and will read it in the coming month. I read Doc in December and want to read the follow-up books ASAP because Russell does such a great job with sequels.

>168 benitastrnad: I liked Epitaph a lot, although maybe not as much as Doc. Enjoy!

>168 benitastrnad: Glad to hear from another MDR fan. I hope Joanne decides to read COG. I hope you enjoy Epitaph. It isn't as lyrical as the beautiful Doc but is still a worthy sequel.

>169 Copperskye: I agree with you completely on Epitaph and Doc, Joanne. Love the MDR chatter.

>134 msf59: Sounds interesting. Thanks for posting the link.

>141 msf59: BB for me!

Hope your week continues to be a good one.

Hiya Mark. I was called dislexic today, and i am not happy at all.

>171 figsfromthistle: Happy Wednesday, Anita. Glad I landed a BB. Always happy to do that. My week is going just fine. Thanks.

>172 Owltherian: Well, that wasn't very nice, Lily. I hope you got over it. It looks like you stayed up late last night.

33- The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell 4.8 stars

Jesuits in space! I am so glad I decided to revisit this speculative/Sci-Fi classic. Extraterrestrial life is discovered on a nearby galaxy and the “Society of Jesus” organizes an expedition to visit the planet. It is no surprise, that is does not go as planned. There is so much to chew on, in this novel, which touches on the struggles of religious faith, family dynamics and the dangers of colonization. It is also populated with engaging characters, that you will not soon forget. This was my introduction to MDR and it made me an instant convert. I may visit the sequel, Children of God at some point too.

*Thanks to Stasia, Joanne and Donna for joining me on this shared read. It looks like everyone had a good time with it.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you.

>174 msf59: I remember being so disturbed by The Sparrow, and after reading a plot summary just now, remember why. I read that it's similar to James Blish's A Case of Conscience, which is on Kindle, currently for $1.99 + tax. And, of course, I had to buy it...

A Downy was visiting earlier, but first breakfast is over and there are no birds on the feeders at this time.

Good luck getting photos of the leucistic Robin.

>175 karenmarie: Happy Wednesday, Karen. A Case of Conscience does sound similar to The Sparrow. Interesting.

My feeders have been hopping with the usual suspects. I did get better photos of the leucistic robin. Whew!

"Leucism is a wide variety of conditions that result in partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—causing white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales, or cuticles, but not the eyes."

We don't get many robins hanging around our feeders but this unique leucistic American robin has been sticking around for a week. I think this may be the first one I have seen of this type. Glad I finally got a couple of decent photos.

Much of my head is above water, Mark. I make a lot of bubbles trying to breath. I've got several books going, including a pair of Keith Haring books, one a bio and one a catalog of his work. I'd like to finish those and The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead 'til the end of March.

One snickery tidbit I learned about Andy Warhol is that he recorded in his diary how much he paid for cab fare. Lord knows what his net worth was in 1983-1984. But he wrote down at cost of each cab ride in his diary, putting the sum in parenthesis immediately after the destination.

>177 msf59: How interesting, Mark. I haven't had anything that unusual, but it does seem like I'm getting more birds now. The robins are back here too. The growing cacophony in the morning is a nice way to wake up.

>177 msf59: - Wow, that's something! I have had a bald-headed cardinal several years ago which came to my feeder regularly but I haven't seen Leucism. I am still seeing juncos at my place. Counted 5 today. Of course, this first official day of spring, it was cold, windy and snowing.

The wind knocked my feeder off the tree and now the cage doesn't close over the ports. I will have to try to fix it tomorrow. I am usually careful to watch on windy days so as to take it down before it gets knocked down but I wasn't fast enough today.

>173 msf59: yep, i didnt fall asleep until 2 something am, and may do i again on accident if my uncles pitbull barks-

>177 msf59: This makes the bird look so different, Mark.
Glad you could take some photo's to share.

We will be leaving tomorrow to walk the last part of the Pieterpad :-)

‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you.

>177 msf59: Your photos are brilliant! Excellent job.

Too dark for the bird report. I put out a hummingbird feeder yesterday at Louise’s request. She won’t put one out this year in anticipation of her move to Florida and wanted me to make syrup available to the ones early migrating up north. It will be amazing if I even see one this early.

>178 weird_O: Howdy, Bill. Glad to hear you are keeping your head above water. It sounds like the Haring books are keeping your attention. The Intuitionist is one of the Whitehead's I haven't read. Are you enjoying it?

Neat little tidbit on Warhol. Interesting guy.

>179 labfs39: Glad to hear you are getting more activity at your feeders, Lisa. I am too but waiting for some new ones to start showing up. Juncos will be leaving soon.

>180 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Good to see you. Cardinals shed their feathers at certain times of the year, so you probably caught one undressing. They are comical looking at that stage.

>181 Owltherian: I hope you had a better night's sleep last night, Lily and I hope no dogs were barking.

>182 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita. Good to see you. Some leucistic birds can be all white. This guy was just patchy. Healthy looking otherwise. Have a good time at Pieterpad.

>183 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. Glad you like the robin pics. Shooting through our back window isn't always easy. Hooray for the hummingbird feeder! Go Louise! I have to buy a new one and will put it out in a couple of weeks.

Pitch black here still...

-Clay Bennett

Hi Mark. I see you have Summer by Ali Smith queued up for June. I had in my notes that we were reading Spring. Did I miss something? I'm happy either way, just want to be sure.

Sweet Thursday!!

>185 msf59: Charles (pitbull) decided to whine bark last night, but that was quickly stopped, so i got a very restful sleep.

>186 msf59: Does that not just say it all! Even the personification-of-evil clown is dismayed!

Hi Mark. It looks like the books are treating you well. I am struggling a little this month with my reading, it just seems to be going slower than usual. I am currently reading Perfume by Patrick Suskind and I thought it would be a quick read but the pages are turning slowly on this one.

>187 EBT1002: Sweet Thursday, Ellen. There may have been a mix up. I have read Spring but not Summer. Are you still in?

>188 Owltherian: Glad to hear that Charles cooperated last night. Lets hope he does the same tonight. Fingers crossed.

>189 richardderus: Absolutely, RD. Even Evil is horrified by this thing.

>190 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. Good to see you. I read Perfume many years ago and remember really enjoying it. I hope you get your reading mojo back.

>191 msf59: I hope so, and if he does start barking i will make him get out of the bed.

I wonder if Trump will lose any of his property ,Mark? Wouldn't bother me any.

>192 Owltherian: So Charlie sleeps in your bed? Yikes! I hope he was quiet last night.

>193 vancouverdeb: They are trying to seize his assets and may take his infamous NY hotel too. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. 😁

^Pileated woodpeckers are one of my favorite birds and we are lucky that they can be found throughout the upper Midwest, year-round. Despite their very large size (about crow-size) they can be tough to locate. I usually first hear them calling or drumming. Yesterday, while I was scanning some trees, one flew in and I was able to get great looks, along with a few pics too. 😁

‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you.

>186 msf59: Two things I greatly fear and am disturbed by – clowns and Trump.

>195 msf59: As always, I’m completely envious of Pileated Woodpecker sightings. Louise sees them here occasionally, but I have only seen one once.

I’ve got a female Cardinal, a Carolina Chickadee, and a few finches. A Mourning Dove crashed into the window about 10 minutes ago, scaring both of us, but she/he flew to the Crepe Myrtle and has recovered and flown off.

>195 msf59: What a beautiful bird! I think I never thought much about their size...crow-sized birds are BIG...so that makes their stealth all the more remarkable.

>195 msf59: We used to have a pair of pileated that raised young in a hollow tree in our neighbor's yard in Washington. They would bring their babies over to feed at our feeders. The (big) babies would sit on the ground and cry while the parents ferried suet down to them. Very fun to watch. We could also hear when the babies first started landing on the roof, because there would be a thud followed by a rolling sound, lol.

>195 msf59: Great pics, Mark!

>194 msf59: He jumps into it, mostly while we are sleeping, luckily he didn't make any noise.

>195 msf59: Nature has very clearly marked the working end of the pileated woodpecker! Great pictures!

>196 karenmarie: Happy Friday, Karen. I just stopped by your digs. Boo to clowns and Trump. I also detest both. Sorry you don't get to see more pileated woodpeckers. They love the deeper woods, preferably old growth.

I hope the dove is okay after the window strike.

>197 richardderus: Glad you like the pileated, RD. They were the inspiration for the Woody Woodpecker cartoon. I also agree with you on how stealthy they are, especially for their size and loud vocals.

>198 labfs39: That is a great pileated story, Lisa. I have never seen pileated young. Can they also be found in Maine? Friends of ours that live in Wisconsin, also see them regularly at their feeders but they also back up into a big stand of woods.

>199 kac522: >201 quondame: Thanks Kathy & Susan. I am glad the pileated cooperated.

>200 Owltherian: As long as you are comfortable with him in your bed. We have never allowed our dogs to sleep in our beds.

>203 msf59: I mean he lays on my legs, which can be uncomfortable at times, but its mostly okay.

>203 msf59: We do have pileated in Maine, but I haven't lured any to my feeders yet. I'd need to get a suet feeder with a tail prop.

>204 Owltherian: That is good, Lily. Have a good weekend.

>205 labfs39: Hopefully, you can get a pileated to stop by at some point. I think getting a new suet feeder would be worth it.

"A humorous and rousing set of literal and figurative sojourns as well as a mission statement about comprehending, protecting, and truly experiencing the outdoors, fueled by three journeys undertaken by actor, humorist, and New York Times bestselling author Nick Offerman."

First off, thanks to Jeff for putting this one on my radar. He just finished it and gave it 5 stars. Why haven't I read Nick Offerman? A mind-boggling question since I am such a fan of his and how this particular one got past me, is also baffling. Well, time to get caught up with him. I started the audiobook this afternoon. This may be the best way to experience his books, since he narrates them himself. He grabbed me immediately.

>206 msf59: I will, my grandpa is now home so i will be sleeping downstairs or something.

>208 Owltherian: Where was your grandpa at? Is he okay?

^Jackson Day! We spent over 3 hours at this library. Jack is doing so much better playing with other kids. Being an only child, he preferred being a loner. Getting more social now. There were 4 kids crammed into that little house, with one standing guard at the door. It was adorable. ❤️

'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday.

Very sweet pics of Jackson playing and interacting with other children.

It's light out. Yesterday I had some Chipping Sparrows in the afternoon, right now just a few House Finches.

>212 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I thought spending this much time at the library with Jack would be a chore but it surprisingly went well. Me and the Moms. LOL.

Hooray for the chipping sparrows. We don't see many here, during migration. My feeders are quiet.

"The winner of the 2023 Pacific Northwest Book Award for her memoir, Red Paint , Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe returns with a razor-sharp, clear-eyed selection of essays on what it means to be a proudly queer, indigenous woman in America today Drawing on a rich family archive as well as the anthropological work of her late great-grandmother..."

As soon as I read a glowing review of Thunder Song, I requested it from the library. It arrived quickly and I will start it today. It was just released early this month. It also looks like she writes poetry...hmmmmmmm.

>209 msf59: He is okay, he just went to sleep early, in which enabled me to sleep downstairs.

>210 msf59: >211 msf59: It's such a treat to see Jackson evolve with new situations!

>215 Owltherian: Well, that is good, Lily. I hope you are enjoying your day.

>216 quondame: It has been a joy to watch, Susan.

Pity The Nation

Pity the nation whose people are sheep,
and whose shepherds mislead them.
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced,
and whose bigots haunt the airwaves.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice,
except to praise conquerors and acclaim the bully as hero
and aims to rule the world with force and by torture.
Pity the nation that knows no other language but its own
and no other culture but its own.
Pity the nation whose breath is money
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed.
Pity the nation — oh, pity the people who allow their rights to erode
and their freedoms to be washed away.
My country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty.”

- Lawrence Ferlinghetti

-David Horsey

>218 msf59: - Wow. Very powerful. I just googled and learned that he wrote this in 2007. It could have been written yesterday, for the truths it invokes.

>218 msf59: OMG, what a powerful poem (like jessibud2 says). I’m going to copy it at my thread (don’t think you’ll mind).

Karen O

>217 msf59: I am, i just got home from my grandparents and then have to hit the road yet again at 5.

>219 msf59: Scary cartoon and scarily true, Mark.

Love the pics of Jack and the other kids at the library. And, speaking of libraries, a copy of Mexikid is waiting for me there. I'm looking forward to it.

>220 jessibud2: I had been reading a Ferlinghetti collection and that led me to finding this one online. It sure packs a punch, right? Yep, he wrote this during the wonderful Bush Jr. years. ☹️

>221 klobrien2: No problem, Karen. That one deserves a wider audience. Glad you liked it.

>222 Owltherian: You sound like a busy kid, Lily. Enjoy.

>223 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Glad you like cartoon. It fits in really well with the poem above it.

Hooray for a more social Jackson and the impending arrival of Mexikid. Yah!

>224 msf59: I really am, and i came home armed with clothes i just stuffed into my dresser for later.

"Red dresses get hung up around tribal communities to honor missing and murdered indigenous women. Our sisters, mothers, and daughters who are lost and not found don't get lengthy news stories or headlines. We get empty fabric in shades of red. "

"In the United States, indigenous women are murdered at a rate ten times higher than other ethnicities. More than four out of five indigenous women have experienced violence."

-Thunder Song.

>211 msf59: Love these pictures, Mark. Libraries are wonderful for encouraging social interactions among young children. I have so many good memories of taking my kids and grandchildren to Story Time at the library. And then there's the BOOKS!! I know Jack probably has lots of his own books, but one can never have too many. ;-)

>218 msf59: That is one sobering and thought-provoking poem. Thank you for sharing it.

>226 msf59: Hi Marc! That’s a strong statement, that picture.

Nice to see how well Jackson is doing. He and you in the library!

Have a nice weekend.

>214 msf59: This one is on my list, so I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on it, Mark. Happy weekend!

>191 msf59: I'm still in, but there may be a nuance to my participation. I need to check on publication order and my completed reads -- I've read two of the novels. My plan is to read all four of them in publication order in sequence and in relatively close time frame. So, I'll get back to you on the details.

>191 msf59: and >230 EBT1002:
Okay, I'm mistaken. I've read the first three: Autumn, Winter, and Spring, but not Summer.

I have a hard copy of the first so if I can re-read the first three before June, I'm all in. I just want to reread them closer together and in order, see what I can pick up from that kind of focus.

Today March 24 is Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s birthday. He was born in 1919.

>227 Donna828: Happy Sunday, Donna. Glad you like the pics. I am looking forward to the time that Jack shows more interest in the books. Right now, it is full throttle playing. I bet your Storytime with the grandkids was heavenly.

Glad you like the poem.

>228 EllaTim: Hi, Ella. Good to see you. As you can tell I have not tired of sharing Jackson pics. I sure enjoy my time with him.

>229 bell7: I am sure you will be mighty impressed with Thunder Song, Mary. Enjoy your Sunday.

>230 EBT1002: >231 EBT1002: Glad you sorted out the Smith seasonal books, Ellen. I think it is cool that you are rereading the others too. I hope you can be ready in June. So little time, right?

>232 dianeham: Thanks for pointing that out, Diane. Happy Birthday Mr. Ferlinghetti!

BTW- I discovered this poet on your poetry thread. 😁

^Cooper Hawks are built to hunt in the woods and I got lucky to see this one land and even luckier to snap off a couple of pics. He was perched just a few feet off the ground and he vanished pretty quickly too. I also saw my FOY turkey vultures.

>235 msf59: Lucky indeed, nice pictures. And a cute little hawk.

Ugh, 8" of snow with ice on top. Maybe the worst storm of the winter, after weeks of bare ground and temps in the 50s.

A little junco decided the window ledge next to my reading spot was a good place to warm up and shelter from the storm yesterday. All fluffed up and cute. Even after our shepherd stuck his big schnoz up to the window, it came back and hung out.

>234 msf59: I was still in high school when I found a book by Ferlinghetti in the library. In the back of the book there was a record. It was wonderful. He was the first poet I ever heard!

>236 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. I love the coloring on these Coops.

>237 labfs39: Aw bummer, Lisa. Nothing worse than those late March snowfalls. I hope it doesn't stick around long. We are still seeing juncos too. They will be leaving in the next couple of weeks.

>238 dianeham: Good for you, Diane. I was late to the Ferlinghetti party. Joe had been familiar with him too. The beatnik poet.

Untitled

December 30, 2023

And a day goes by, and tanks, and the sky a festival of kids flying kites, and blood
   flowed behind a panting car.
And a day goes by, and the planes, and the tent of the displaced makes a bet
   with time: winter is late.
And a day goes by, and the snipers, and the market itself has no salt: so I said:
   No worries, the merchants have plenty of sadness.
And a day goes by, and artillery, but my neighbor’s funeral passes along
   slowly, why rush at a time like this!
And a day goes by, and the newscasts, and when evening came, it was a bit
   joyous to find us all there with none missing, except the house.

By Nasser Rabah

‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you.

>213 msf59: Heh. You and the moms. Makes me smile. I didn’t realize that Chipping Sparrows are only here during migration, too.

>218 msf59: and >219 msf59: The main reason I am in SNAM – serious news avoidance mode. Way too reminiscent of the 1930s.

>235 msf59: Congrats on the Cooper’s Hawk. Great sighting and pics.

The angle is wrong for me to identify the little brown bird scarfing down wild bird seed, but there are finches and a female Cardinal eating brekkie.

>241 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. Hooray for me and the Moms. Some are pretty cute too. When I go up to upper Wisconsin or Michigan, I see chipping sparrows regularly. That is their summer breeding grounds.

Boo to MAGA World! Hooray for a cooper hawk sighting.

In case you aren't a devotee of CBS Sunday Morning, Mark, here's a link to a piece you might enjoy from today's edition.

>242 msf59: Mark - when you return to Wisconsin and pick up the dark soil now turning to sand,

you may note why we would Welcome Any More Snow, from now until the end of April, maybe even May,
unless Rain takes over.

^^^^^^^^^^

Still no red-winged blackbirds up here!
I tried whistling to a sparrow seated on their power lines - it simply flew away.

>243 laytonwoman3rd: Great link to the story about Christian Cooper. He’s written a book! Better Living Through Birding. Thanks for posting! And, Mark, sorry for jumping in here, but I couldn’t resist.

Happy Sunday!

Karen O

>245 klobrien2: You're quite welcome. Cooper also hosts a National Geographic series about birds, which I have seek out.

>246 laytonwoman3rd: I saw that—I’ll look for that as well. You know I’ve requested his book!

>235 msf59: What a subtle fellow.

>243 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. Good to see you. I do not watch the CBS Sunday Morning show, although I know who Christian Cooper is and I have been meaning to read his memoir Better Living Through Birding. Do they stream these CBS morning shows at some point? The link doesn't offer it.

>244 m.belljackson: Sorry to hear about your continuing drought conditions in WI, Marianne. I hope you get more soon. I can't believe you haven't seen red-wings yet. They have been here for at least 6 weeks.

>245 klobrien2: You can jump in anytime over here, Karen, especially if it is regard to books and birds. I have also been meaning to get to Better Living Through Birding.

>247 klobrien2: It looks like you will read it before me. Look forward to your thoughts.

>248 quondame: Stealthy might be the better word, Susan, although subtle works too.

>250 msf59: The link works for me, Mark. You just need to wait it out...there's no "click" to make it start. CBS programs are streamable on Paramount+ after they've aired, but you can often find individual pieces on the program's website, which is how I linked it.

>177 msf59: Great pictures of the leucistic robin, Mark. We never were able to get any photos of the leucistic cardinal that was a regular in our backyard a few years ago. Very weird looking bird--mostly white in front, but red tips on his crest, and still had a lot of brownish/red feathers on the side. That was when we found out about leucism in birds.

>195 msf59: I like the pictures of the pileated woodpecker too. They're around here, but rare. My husband saw one in the neighborhood once when he was out taking a walk. I was still working at the time, so I wasn't home.

>224 msf59: In retrospect, the GW Bush years seem like heaven compared to the 4 years of Trump. I would have gladly traded back for that when Trump was in office. That poem does indeed pack quite a punch.

Hi Mark, I am very interested in joining you and others to read The Razor's Edge and have added it into my May reading.

>251 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. I will try it again and be more patient.

*It keeps trying to load but the video doesn't start. I will keep trying.

>252 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. Glad you like the pics. Funny, the leucistic robin is still hanging around. It will be close to 2 weeks now. Of course, we don't get pileated in our neighborhood, they prefer old growth forest and we do have those around. The GWB years were pretty darn bad too, IMHO. What a legacy for the GOP.

>253 DeltaQueen50: Hi, Judy. I added you to the shared list. Glad you are joining us on The Razor's Edge.

36- Wild Houses by Colin Barrett 4.2 stars

“He was touching forty but looked ten years older again, with a face on him like a vandalized church, long and angular and pitted, eyes glinting deep in their sockets like smashed-out windows.”

I really enjoyed Young Skins: Stories from this young Irish author and he returns here with his first novel, set in a small town in west Ireland. It also focuses on the working class, along with the drug-dealers and thugs that hang on like parasites. A teenage boy is kidnapped, in revenge of a large unpaid debt and things spiral down from there. The writing is lean but robust and unflinching, with nicely drawn characters. An author to keep an eye on.

Sorry the link isn't working for you, Mark. Maybe if you go directly to the CBS Sunday Morning website here, you can find and select the video.

'Morning, Mark! I hope you have a good day.

I've had only Finches on the feeders so far, although there is a pair of Mourning Dove in the Crepe Myrtle.

It got down to 27F last night, not something I want to contemplate with spring busting out all over. I've got some errands in town and hope the plum tree at the top of the drive isn't damaged. It was in full bloom last time I was out the other day.

Hi, Mark! I get a very handsome red-bellied woodpecker on my feeder (and various other parts of my house... tap-tap-tap-tap-tap...). Also cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees. I've never been a serious birder, but I do enjoy watching them around our feeder.

Merry Monday, Mark. Have a good week to come.

Happy Monday Mark.

Jot me down for The Razor's Edge as well. I think its time for a reread. It was probably the first "literature" I read in college, where it wasn't an assigned book. I read a lot of scifi, and horror and pulp stuff growing up, but never read literature unless I had to. Razor's and The Jungle were the two that I recall reading without being told to.

>256 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. I will try that, when I get a chance.

>257 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. We are getting lots of finches too. Hope the freeze didn't hurt any of your plants.

>258 foggidawn: Hi, Foggi. Hooray for the red-bellied woodpeckers! We have been seeing them too and they sure like to drum on our metal chimney cap.

>259 richardderus: Merry Monday, RD. I am currently on Spring Break but still busy. Love this retirement.

>260 mahsdad: Hey, Jeff. We would love to have you along for The Razor's Edge. I will add you to the list up there. We did not read Maugham in H.S.

The World is a Beautiful Place

The world is a beautiful place
to be born into
if you don’t mind happiness
not always being
so very much fun
if you don’t mind a touch of hell
now and then
just when everything is fine
because even in heaven
they don’t sing
all the time

The world is a beautiful place
to be born into
if you don’t mind some people dying
all the time
or maybe only starving
some of the time
which isn’t half so bad
if it isn’t you

Oh the world is a beautiful place
to be born into
if you don’t much mind
a few dead minds
in the higher places
or a bomb or two
now and then
in your upturned faces
or such other improprieties
as our Name Brand society
is prey to
with its men of distinction
and its men of extinction
and its priests
and other patrolmen
and its various segregations
and congressional investigations
and other constipations
that our fool flesh
is heir to

Yes the world is the best place of all
for a lot of such things as
making the fun scene
and making the love scene
and making the sad scene
and singing low songs of having
inspirations
and walking around
looking at everything
and smelling flowers
and goosing statues
and even thinking
and kissing people and
making babies and wearing pants
and waving hats and
dancing
and going swimming in rivers
on picnics
in the middle of the summer
and just generally
‘living it up’

Yes
but then right in the middle of it
comes the smiling
mortician

-Lawrence Ferlinghetti 1919 -2021

>262 msf59: Only game in town. At least the pants are stretchy some of the time.

yeah, aint to many options here. Just be kind, someone said

>254 msf59: I thought the GWB years were bad at the time. There were times I remember thinking that his administration was living on Mars, because their view of reality didn't bear any resemblance to my view. But in retrospect, after Trump, the GWB people looked sane and life was still livable. But you are right, it's a bad legacy either way.

>174 msf59: I am so glad to see that you enjoyed it as much as I did! I agree that there is a lot in the book to chew on. I need to locate my copy of Children of God. I know I have it here. . .somewhere.

>207 msf59: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Mark!

>255 msf59: Adding that one to the BlackHole too. Unlike the Offerman book though, my local library does not have a copy.

Thank you for posting all of the pictures! Jackson is adorable and the birds are beautiful.

>263 quondame: Good points all, Susan.

>264 cindydavid4: That pretty much sums it up, Cindy. Nice to see you stop by.

>265 atozgrl: Hi, Irene. GWB did serious damage to our country but at least he was quiet and polite about it. Yep, got screwed either way.

>266 alcottacre: Welcome back, Stasia. I am so glad we did our shared read of The Sparrow. It seemed to be a hit all the way around. Bummer about the Offerman. It has been a terrific listen. Glad you like the pics.

^A reminder- We are doing a shared read of The Book of Form and Emptiness in April. If anyone would like to join us, come on down. I will start it early in the month but jump in anytime.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you.

I had a Red-Bellied Woodpecker on the suet feeder a while ago, and some finches and a female Cardinal in the Crepe Myrtle.

45 getting yet more special treatment from the courts has me in a truly terrible mood. Of course it's on top of the fact that I must change laptops and that never works smoothly.

*grumble*

>268 msf59: I'm in, Mark! My copy is waiting for me at the library, along with 2 other holds. I might read one of those first, and then the Ozeki.

>269 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Hooray for the red-bellied and the other usual suspects. I haven't checked on my feeders much today.

>270 richardderus: I am trying to stay distracted so I don't think about it much. He sure seems to catch more breaks lately, including going public with his social media empire. Ugh! WTH?

>271 lauralkeet: Glad you are in for the Ozeki, Laura. Start it whenever.

>272 msf59: Hey - now you can buy an Upside-down trump Bible for only $59.99!

>268 msf59:
I'm going to join you for this group read. I won't be able to start it until later in the month - probably around the 10th or so, but I will be reading it.

>268 msf59: Hi Mark! I have the book ready to start reading.

>273 m.belljackson: Wow! I wonder how many are being sold? 😁

>274 benitastrnad: It would be nice to have you along on the Ozeki, Benita. How is everything going?

>275 EllaTim: Glad to have you join us, Ella. I won't start it for another week or so.

"A propulsive work of narrative nonfiction about how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, how the robbery made the portrait the most famous artwork in the world—and how the painting by Leonardo da Vinci should never have existed at all...Here is a middle-grade nonfiction, with black-and-white illustrations by Brett Helquist throughout, written at the pace of a thriller, shot through with stories of crime and celebrity, genius and beauty."

When I requested The Mona Lisa Vanishes from the library, I was expecting a graphic novel. I soon discovered that it was not but it still intrigued me anyway and I decided to keep it. Based on the first 70 pages, I made the right call. A good, easy, informative narrative with some basic illustrations.

>3 msf59: I recently read Where the Body Was and enjoyed it. I hope you do, as well!

>278 ocgreg34: Hi, Greg. Good to see you. I finished and enjoyed Where the Body Was about a week ago. Is this your first Brubaker? If it is, I highly recommend everything this team does. Remarkably consistent.

-Mike Luckovich

>268 msf59: Looking forward to the shared read, Mark! BTW - I added it to one of the TIOLI challenges for April.

>277 msf59: My local library does not have that one but I suspect I would really like it. Awaiting your final thoughts on it.

>280 msf59: A sad commentary on the entire mess.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Mark!

>281 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia. We sure enjoy our shared reads, don't we. Let's keep 'em coming. I am sure you will like The Mona Lisa Vanishes. It is middle-grade but doesn't read like it. Boo to the "entire mess"!

>210 msf59: >211 msf59: Lovely photos Mark. It takes an only child a while to adapt, looks like Jackson is doing a good job of that now.

>235 msf59: Great capture. The cooper hawk looks a little melancholy though.

>283 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. I enjoyed watching and taking those Jackson pics. His parents were delighted by them too.

I think that is the Coop's usual demeanor.

Scrolling through, Mark, as I am way behind.

Love the Jackson pictures, he is growing up so fast!
The pictures of the Coopers Hawk are great.

Completely forgot to mention on my own thread that I heard an Uhu (Eurasian eagle-owl) late at night, when we were away. Sadly didn't see it, but just hearing the call was great.

>285 FAMeulstee: Glad you like the pics, Anita. Congrats on hearing the Eurasian eagle-owl. That is awesome.