Mamie's 2021 Madness, page 2

I'm Mamie. Mother of four grown children, happily married 30 years to my best friend, and currently owned by three cats - Mercy, Mayhem, and Mischief. I am originally from Indiana, but we moved to Georgia eight years ago where the pecan trees are full of gorgeous and the weather is always a little too warm for me. I miss the snow. And Fall. I love snark, wine, and shenanigans - pretty much in that order. This year will be my tenth one in the 75ers, and also marks ten years without my Dad. A decade. I still miss him. Every. Day. This group has embraced me from the very beginning, and I am so very thankful for the warmth and the laughter and the shared journeys that I find here. Here's hoping that we can find many moments full of fabulous to share in 2021.

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January:
1. River of Darkness by Rennie Airth, trade paperback acquired in 2014, crime fiction (John Madden, book 1) - 4 stars
2. The Yellow Wallpaper: a graphic novel by Charlotte Perkins Gilmore, illustrated by Sara Barkat, paperback acquired in 2020, horror - 4.5 stars
3. The Tortoise and the Hare by Elizabeth Jenkins, trade paperback acquired in 2014, literary fiction (Virago) - 4 stars
4. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos, Kindle, humor - 3.25 stars
5. The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith (Illustrator), Mike Dringenberg (Illustrator) - paperback acquired in 2013, GN, horror - 4.5 stars

Katie’s Dirty Dozen - That’s right, folks, KAK’s reserved spot is back for a seventh year, let’s see what she hits me with this time.

1. Siracusa by Delia Ephron

The List:

1. A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill - Shannon (sturlington)
2. Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire by Alex von Tunzelmann - Susan
3. Cove by Cynan Jones - Richard - "...this is the book I wish The Old Man and the Sea had been, but was not."
4. The Riddle of the Third Mile by Colin Dexter - Jennifer (6th in the series)
5. A Lear of the Steppes by Ivan Turgenev - Paul
6. Summerwater by Sarah Moss - Caroline - "Moss communicates the dark undertow of the ordinary through a group of characters confined by weather to their cabins in a Scottish forest." (acquired 1/11/21)
7. The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell - Ellen gave this the full 5 stars
8. Sidewalks by Valeria Luiselli - Charlotte
9. The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon - Judy (ffortsa)
10. The War Widow by Tara Moss - Meg
11. Blood and Oil by Bradley Hope and Justin Scheck - Susan
12. Childhood by Tove Ditlevsen - Käthe
13. A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler - Luanne (clue)
14. Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls - Karen, and Richard liked this one, too (acquired 1/11/21)
14. The Bells of Old Tokyo by Anna Sherman - Charlotte - travel writing
15. Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar - Mark
16. Britten and Brulightly by Hannah Berry - Jennifer
17. Those Who Knew by Idra Novey - Beth
18. The Steam Pig by James McClure - Kerry - crime fiction series set in apartheid-era South Africa
19. Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines - Richard
20. Harriet by Elizabeth Jenkins - Rhian
21. Unfinished Business: notes of a chronic rereader by Vivian Gornick - Charlotte
22. The Historians: Poems by Eavan Boland - Charlotte again
23. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris - Linda (laytonwoman3rd)
24. Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut - Julia

This should do it - next one's yours!

Happy new thread!

>6 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! That was fast!

Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Mamie!

I also liked Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I think that’s the only book we’ve both put up that you’ve reviewed. I haven’t put up many books yet.

Edit: Although I think I liked the opposite thing about his use of words; it’s true that it’s not especially difficult to read but I like how he uses different words from his own language when this is necessary

Happy new thread, Mamie.

Happy New Thread, Mamie! It looks like the continuation feature worked for you. You must know somebody. Grins...

*sweat*lug*pant*

decided on a new reading chair
heavy bloody thing
*plops*
okay, what's new since this morning?

Happy new thread!

Cosy new thread, Mamie!

Your thread's got legs! Part two already. Congrats, you nutso you.

>8 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita!

>9 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>10 goosecap: Hello, Teddy! Welcome to my thread. Thanks for taking the time to read my review. I like how Achebe uses his words - I think he chooses them carefully, which is part of what I liked about it. He doesn't use more words than he needs to, and yet his story is one that stays with you. I have read the first two books in that trilogy and hope to get to the third one this year.

>11 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen!

>12 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I was actually thinking that the continuation thing would not work but gave it a try anyway. They must have fixed it sometime between Katie's new thread and mine.

>13 richardderus: Oh!!! I love that one - we have been looking at similar chairs because Mamie want.

New? Let's see...I survived the grocery store. Birdy and I put together two lasagnas so that Daniel can pick one up for he and Kaitlyn to bake off. It's for tomorrow's dinner. Tonight is grab your own. I'm thinking I'm gonna make me a breakfast sandwich. Guess that's about it - we're kinda boring here at the Pecan Paradisio today.

>14 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>15 PersephonesLibrary: Thank you, Käthe!

>16 weird_O: Thank you, oh Weird One!

>18 Crazymamie: Boring is excellent. Really excellent. Right now, unboring usually equals crisis and, between those poles, I am 150% for boring.

>20 richardderus: Good point. *smooch*

Happy new one, Mamie

Happy new thread, Mamie. That WAS fast.

>1 Crazymamie: Wine, books and knowledge - that is a welcome heady brew!

Happy new thread, Mamie. x

Happy new thread, Mamie. Good to see that the thread continuation thingy is working again.

>13 richardderus: That looks like a very inviting reading chair. Makes me think I might need new furniture once I move.

>4 Crazymamie: Nice list you have going there! You must have really nice friends. ; )

>13 richardderus: I want one!!

>18 Crazymamie: And I'll be happy to take a lasagna off your hands.

Morning, Mamie! Sweet Thursday! 6 days to go. Yeah, baby! My routine continues today, birds in the A.M., books in the P.M. I like this schedule.

>22 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley!

>23 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!

>24 PaulCranswick: True, Paul. Thank you!

>25 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg! Me, too, with the continuation working - so much easier that way.

I really want that chair.

>26 Berly: I do, Kim! *grin* The List is a bit scary - not even a month in and already 15 entries.

I am very happy for lasagna for dinner tonight, and all I have to do is stick it in the oven. Daniel and wife were very pleased about getting their own - Daniel loves lasagna.

>27 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday - let's hope it knows it's supposed to be sweet. I am doing the countdown, too. Again with the birds?! Just kidding - have fun, my friend.

I like lasagne, but I'd always spell it with an e at the end.
Not that I'd turn one down for an a instead, you understand. >:-)

We had actual snow flurries this morning. In the Deep South! Magic.

No particular plans for today except some household chores. Hoping to get a good chunk of time for reading. There is a year long group read of The Three Kingdoms over in the Category Challenge - anyone here reading along with that? I mentioned to Birdy that I was planning to read it and was showing her my copy, and she said, "Oh, I have that one, but it's a different translation." So Birdy is going to read along, too. Fun! So far I have read the first five chapters, and can I just say that A LOT happens in each chapter. Birdy's copy (on the right) wins for best cover (and I think I actually like her translation better, too). Plus, my copy has one of those weird covers where the texture is off-putting - stuff likes to stick to it. I just don't like how it feels in my hands:

~

Still watching Ice Cold Murders on Amazon Prime - this is really good. It's in Italian, so subtitles, but I don't mind those - really well done. Unfortunately it's only on Prime until the end of the month, so I need to gobble it up. There is a second season, but that is on PBS Masterpiece because of course it is.

Lasagna and salad for dinner. Yum.

>30 Helenliz: Hello, Helen! Yeah, Americans are weird - I think lasagna is only used in North America. However you spell it, it's delicious.

Hi Mamie! Happy new thread.

>18 Crazymamie: That’s how I always feel now - I survived the grocery store. I've got all the ingredients... I should make lasagna soon, too.

>31 Crazymamie: Yay for snow flurries.

>33 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! Thank you.

I love lasagna because you can do all the work the day before. I used Muir Glen fire roasted tomatoes in my sauce this time, and it is GOOD.

Right?! I mean, no actual snow, but still...

>31 Crazymamie: Oh my, I really have to check out the Three Kingdoms read! I got this as a Christmas present last year, a very beautful edition. And started reading it but managend only about 150 pages or so.

Here's my German edition:

OH, that is gorgeous! Your edition beats both Birdy's and mine. You can find that GR here: Romance of the Three Kingdoms - Year long group read

*smooch*

Lasagne/a was lunch today, yay! But puzzlingly served with brussels sprouts. Not the precise vegetable complement to lasagne/a in the Real World, but garlicked to my satisfaction.

Interesting choice, for sure. *smooch back*

>36 Crazymamie: Thank you! I have just joined the thread there.

Excellent! And you're welcome.

>2 Crazymamie: I see you are reading one of the Europa World Noir editions. I have a couple more of those on my shelves. As held objects, they are very appealing.

>41 EBT1002: The one I am reading is on Kindle, but I have several in the print format. You are so right that they are very lovely to hold in the hand - trade paperbacks are my favorite, and I love the Europa World Noir editions. Katie is the one who first mentioned them to me, and now I am completely addicted.

*smiles smugly*

Speaking of bad influences, I just got word that my order from the local bookstore is ready for pick-up.... Penguin Deluxe Classics of Mrs. Dalloway and The Great Gatsby :D

Belated happy new thread, Mamie!

Thank you, Anita!

Happy new thread, Mamie. You have me dreaming of lasagna for dinner -- but Hubby's not a fan so I guess not :(

Happy Friday, Mamie.
In tribute to you, we're going to have lasagne for tea. >:-)

Hi Mamie, and happy Friday to you.

Regarding Lasagna, I've taken the first step - we had hamburgers last night and I browned the rest of the 2-lb pack and it's ready to be used - probably on Sunday.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday. "Again with the birds?" Yes, ma'am. I should get a t-shirt with that saying. Looking forward to hunkering down with The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek later on.

Happy Friday, Mamie!

>47 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! And bummer about the lasagna. When I made the second lasagna for Daniel and Kaitlyn, i wanted a smaller size for them so they wouldn't feel like they were eating it forever. Instead of making one big pan, I made a 9x9 pan (for them) and then used the rest of the sauce and toppings up in a loaf pan which I kept and baked off with our big lasagna. It turned out great, so really, if you like to make lasagna, you could do it in three loaf pans, and then give away or freeze two of them. That would give you the luxury if the lasagna but not the huge quantity.

>49 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! Thank goodness we made it to Friday. Excellent work with the meal prep. Our sauce uses ground beef and ground pork on a 2:1 ratio.

>50 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Friday. It poured here this morning, so it's very wet and muddy out there today. I am hoping to finish up Medieval People today, and I need to find time for my audiobook.

>51 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! Happy Friday, and about time, too. I thought it was never coming this week.

Saw this on FB and thought of you: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000r4tq.

I thought the British perspective might be interesting.

>54 katiekrug: Thank you for that, Katie! I cannot wait to listen.

Mamie! I had no idea that you, Abby, and Birdie had taken such a charmante group portrait!

(actually a 1964 Munich hairstyling contest-winner's photo, but too wonderful not to share)

>56 richardderus: - Snork.

Mamie, am I accurate in thinking the middle one's annoyed smirk screams Birdie?

That's me on the left. That photo is too fun!

>57 katiekrug: Yep. Definitely Birdy in the middle.

I love Simon's colorized photos of the past on Twitter, but this one...well, I ask you!

Full of fabulous!

>56 richardderus: W-O-O-O-W! I feel like they missed the live bird in the hair opportunity. I've heard of those from Marie Antoinette's day.

>52 Crazymamie: Thanks for the idea Mamie. I may do that some time.

>62 justchris: The mind boggles, the spirit reels....

>62 justchris: The thought of live birds in the hair...

>63 RebaRelishesReading: Hoping you do, Reba - the little loaf pan one turned out perfect. Just as good as the regular sized one.

>64 richardderus: The legs run.

>66 Crazymamie: The mouth screams, too!

Exactly.

>64 richardderus: >65 Crazymamie: >66 Crazymamie: >67 richardderus: Fashion is about sacrifice and statements, amirite?

Here's the version used in the 1938 biopic Marie Antoinette:


And a DIY kids project version:


And an illustration of another Marie Antoinette fashion statement:

2. The Yellow Wallpaper: a Graphic Novel by Charlotte Perkins Gilmore, illustrated by Sara Barkat, paperback acquired in 2020, horror - 4.5 stars

This was a reread for me. I listened to this one in 2018. The audiobook was narrated by Jo Myddleton, and I gave it the full five stars. For such a short story it packs a punch, and it is one that has stayed with me. Last year, when I saw that they had made a GN version of it, I ordered it right away, and then the year got crazy and I forgot about it. The conversation on my previous thread about the new Penguin Vitae series that is full of gorgeous made me remember this GN, and the January ScaredyKIT over in the Category Challenge group had a theme of GNs and YA. Perfect. I was really impressed with how well the illustrations captured the growing tension and the main character's descent into madness. This horror classic is considered feminist literature, too, because it does a beautiful job of depicting how few choices the main character has just because she is a woman. I just can't recommend the story itself highly enough, regardless of what format you prefer. I loved that the GN is unabridged - all of the text from the original story is there beautifully brought to life by the illustrations of Sara Barkat.

>69 justchris: Just along as someone else is making the sacrifice and the statement. Heh.

Great images - made me laugh. Oh, my!

>70 Crazymamie: Ooh! Thanks for sharing a page. I might need to get that version. I'm not sure I want to keep the collection of her writings once I someday finish it.

>72 justchris: Welcome. I was really impressed with it.

3. The Tortoise and the Hare by Elizabeth Jenkins, trade paperback acquired in 2014, literary fiction (Virago) - 4 stars

This is a Virago edition. Love those. It's a slow starter, and I thought it might be a DNF for me because I was just not getting into the story - it really needs 50 or so pages and then it picks up. It's the unwinding of a marriage, and it is just so well done. I wanted to lecture the main character, Imogene, and explain that we teach people how to treat us. Don't put up with this. Speak up. Be brave. When push comes to shove, always shove! But alas, Imogene and I do not have the same temperaments or personalities. In frustration, I actually did something I never do - I turned to the final pages and read the ending before continuing. The ending saved it for me. Anyway, it's brilliant in how it shows us the marriage from different vantage points. This one is not about the plot; it's more of a character study, so you will need patience, but it is worthy.

5. The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith (Illustrator), Mike Dringenberg (Illustrator) - paperback acquired in 2013, GN, horror - 4.5 stars

This one also fits the January SkaredyKIT. The funny thing is I thought that this was going to be a reread, but it turns out that I never read it. I had started it, and my original bookmark was still in place, and when I got to it, I realized I had never read any further. I have no idea why. I must have gotten distracted. It boggles the mind because it is Very. Good. I loved the world building, the story telling, the artwork. Very gritty but also very entertaining and slightly addictive. Luckily, I have the second volume, so I can jump right in and keep going.



And check out Lucifer Morningstar! Hello, David Bowie!!

The Yellow Wallpaper graphic novel sounds interesting, Mamie. The Tortoise and the Hare sounds like one I would like as well.

Beth, I think you would appreciate both of them. I wasn't sure about The Tortoise and the Hare, but it won me over. I'm still shocked that I read the ending ahead of time.

>77 Crazymamie: I have The Tortoise and the Hare waiting for me on the shelf. I’ve read Elizabeth Jenkins’s Harriet which was a very powerful fictionalised account of the events leading up to a nineteenth century murder trial, and which I’d recommend.

I looked her up and apparently she only died in 2010, at the age of 104. Her first book was published in 1929 and the last in 2004.

OK, I give in. I think it's been Charlotte and now you going on about The Yellow Wallpaper I give in, it's on the list.

And I've not heard of Elizabeth Jenkins, but that sounds like some career.

I think I read The Yellow Wallpaper in high school or college, but I remember very little of it. Might be time to track down a copy...

I'll keep your comments in mind when I finally take The Tortoise and the Hare off my shelf.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Saturday. It is snowing lightly out there at the moment. Pretty and serene. I think I will stay in today and hunker down with the books. The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek is off to a good start.

>75 Crazymamie: *bounces*

I. LOVE. The Sandman.

>75 Crazymamie: Lucifer Morningstar on the TV is Tom Ellis.

I think chowing on a full English is called for.

>75 Crazymamie: I have got the Sandman by Gaiman at home but haven't read it yet... I think I need to put it a little bit upwards in the TBR pile.

>78 SandDune: Thanks for that recommendation, Rhian - adding that one to The List. I had no idea she lived that long - pretty amazing career.

>79 Helenliz: It's very short, Helen, so there is that. I agree about Elizabeth Jenkins.

>80 katiekrug: That Penguin Vitae collection has a beautiful edition of her writing that includes The Yellow Wallpaper. I'm just saying...

Yes, don't pick up The Tortoise and the Hare until you are in the mood for something slower and character driven.

>81 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday. I am oh, so jealous of your snow. It's all bright and happy here, which is slightly disgusting in WINTER. Wishing you luck with the books.

>83 scaifea: It was very good, Amber! I was so shocked that I hadn't actually read the entire thing the first time. SO weird.

>84 richardderus: Yes, and I love his Lucifer Morningstar! Completely charming.

I was just trying to decide what to eat, and here you are presenting it to me. Thank you, BigDaddy! *smooch*

>85 PersephonesLibrary: You should definitely bump it up the stack, Käthe.

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

Hello, Karen! Happy Saturday!

Hey Mamie!
>52 Crazymamie: Hear, hear for loaf pan lasagna! I friend of mine gifted me with just that. It still provided 3 servings for me and was just as delicious as a 9x13 or whatever.
It reminds me, sometimes I should think out of the box more often, although it's a little bit more mental work.
Have a happy Saturday!

Happy New Thread, Mamie!

Love that topper. You do know stuff.

You're reading The Snow Leopard? I lurved that one! And Preludes and Nocturnes. You know, Gaiman's Sandman stories are more challenging than the usual fare, so I bet you're not alone in stopping on the first try.

Mmm, pan lasagna. That does sounds good. You'd like our day today - we got a couple of inches of snow, and it's definitely not too warm out.

>84 richardderus: Two tempting plates....

Happy Saturday! The graphic of Yellow Wallpaper sounds great. I haven't read that since college.

>87 Crazymamie: Oh, now, I remember why I put it aside... I wanted to read the original Der Sandmann by E.T.A. Hoffmann first. But this is the year! :)

>92 quondame: *chuckle* Actor Ellis is a married man, heavy heavy sigh, therefore might as well have plutonium in his undershorts for how available he is. The breakfast, now, I could *murder* in a minute.

>95 richardderus: As my grandma (a robust woman, if ever I met one) used to say, "nowt wrong with window shopping, you only pay when the handle the goods".

>90 Carmenere: I had been wanting to try the loaf pan thing for a while, Lynda, so it was fun to give it a go. And the loaf pan is a perfect fit for the lasagna noodle. I also used Muir Glen fire-roasted crushed tomatoes in the sauce, and we loved it like that.

Thinking outside of the box almost always pays off, I think. I love little adventures like that.

>91 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe! The topper makes me think of Ellie, who was always telling me that I knew stuff - I miss her.

The Snow Leopard is very good so far - I was expecting more travel and less musing, but it works. The letter from his son was heartbreaking.

The thing about Preludes and Nocturnes is that I don't remember setting it aside, which is what makes me think that I didn't do so intentionally but just got distracted. Either way, now was the perfect time for it for me - it will be a fin project to read through them all.

Snow and not too warm - definitely my kind of day! Yesterday here was SO windy - it felt like Mary Poppins should make her grand entrance at any moment, but alas, she never showed up.

>97 Crazymamie: You do indeed know stuff. I recall many moons ago we used to do the old movie stills quiz and invariably you would have the answer.

I do miss Ellie so. She used to call me her Peacock Prince and she always made me smile even at times which must have been desperately hard for her.

Wishing you and all at the Pecan Paradisio a fabulous weekend.

>92 quondame: *grin*

>92 quondame: Hello there, Rhonda! Happy Sunday! Hoping you can snag the GN of The Yellow Wallpaper at some point - I'm so glad I revisited the story that way.

>94 PersephonesLibrary: Did you read the original, Käthe? And if so, what did you think? Of course, now I am wanting to read the original. *smile*

>95 richardderus: Your post made me laugh! *smooch*

>96 Helenliz: A wise woman, Helen.

>96 Helenliz:, >101 Crazymamie: Handling the goods does sound like something one needs to pay for indeed. Your robust grandmother had the right idea!

Happy Sunday, Mamie. *smooch*

'Morning, Mamie!

Happy coffee, books, football. I myownself am waiting for a Friend of the Library to bring over 380+ mysteries to my house sometime today. I can keep what I want and save the rest for the FoL. 📚📚

Yesterday we watched the Packers/Rams game, and I was happy to see the Packers win. Then we watched the last two episodes *sob* of Blood Ties - anyone else watch this? It's based on the books by Tanya Huff - urban fantasy where an ex-cop who is losing her vision ends up becoming a private detective and working with a vampire to solve her cases. Very fun, and I like the casting. Sadly, it only got two seasons. It's currently available on Amazon Prime. Rae ended up asking for the books for Christmas, so I will eventually read those - she has read the first one so far and loved it.

I also got some reading and some listening in - a few hours more of Battle Ground, the latest entry in the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher. I love these books on audio narrated by James Marsters (he played Spike on Buffy). Also read in:

Medieval People - very good narrative non-fiction. This one is mentioned in Square Haunting, which I read last year and loved.

The Snow Leopard - travel writing. Excellent so far.

The Sea by John Banville - contemporary fiction set in Ireland. Mark sent me this one, so thanks, Mark! I just read the first few pages to get a feel for the book and the writing.

Plans for today include football and more of the books. Baked potato bar for dinner.

>102 richardderus: I thought so, too, Richard! Happy Sundaying to you! *smooch back*

>103 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Thank you for those good wishes. I can't wait to see what you get in those bags - most exciting!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday. I did not watch any football yesterday, due to running around but I plan on doing lots of reading and watching football later. I love the Chiefs but I am hoping for a Browns upset.

Are you sure I sent you "Snow"? I thought I sent you The Sea?

>98 PaulCranswick: & >99 PaulCranswick: You missed my posts, Mamie.

I've added Medieval People to my list as well, Mamie. LTers will bring Eileen Power back!

>106 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday! I am hoping for the Browns, too - love me an underdog.

*bangs head* Yes, that's right, and that's the one I started. I will correct my post. Thank you, my friend. I am such an idiot.

>107 PaulCranswick: Paul, thanks so much for telling me! You squeezed in there between my posts, and I didn't see you. My apologies.

>98 PaulCranswick: Mark's movie stills!! I had forgotten about those, and my memory is not what it used to be after Covid, so I probably would not fair so well now. Most of those old movies I watched with my Dad - good times.

Ellie always made me smile - she had a great way with a turn of phrase that was uniquely hers. Whenever I read a book that is also in her library, I go to see what she rated it - she gave Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 3 1/2 stars.

>99 PaulCranswick: Thanks for those good wishes! Your weekend is almost over, so I will wish for you a week full of fabulous.

Again, thanks for coming back and letting me know that I missed you. x

>108 BLBera: Beth, it is very readable. I was expecting something drier and more academic, and instead I get beautiful and highly entertaining narrative non-fiction. You can get it for free on Kindle. I love the thought of us making her relevant again today - so many voices of so many women have gotten lost over the years.

Sunday greetings, Mamie!

Morning, Mamie!

>104 Crazymamie: Oooh, Blood Ties sounds interesting...

>112 katiekrug: Hello, Katie! It's Monday now, and things are going exactly like I would expect for one of those. Hoping to move up to mediocre by the afternoon. We'll see...

>113 scaifea: Morning, Amber! We liked Blood Ties a lot - Craig, Rae and I watched it together, and now we have hooked Abby.

Happy Mondays, Mamie!
It's actually going OK for a Pre-Tuesday, so there's hope for it yet. I have my list of things to do and have actually crossed off more than I have added, which is always pretty good going for a Monday!

Let's not get crazy, Helen. Monday here is yuck so far. I'm happy yours has been behaving itself, though.

Morning, Mamie! Bummer about the Browns. They seemed a little off, most of that game. I was hoping for a surge after Mahomes was injured but it never happened. I am just glad the Bills are in there. Another favorite underdog of mine.

Morning, Mark! I agree, but they also got a really bad call that could have made a big difference in the game. I'm all about the Packers now.

Knowing your fondness for Baja Tuesday, I thought a light repast wouldn't come amiss:


*smooch*

Oh, bless you! That looks awesome - very thoughtful. *smooch*

Oh, dear. Sending hope for the mediocre...

Much appreciated.

Your new thread is already 122 posts long - congrats! And Happy Monday:)

>75 Crazymamie: The Sandman comics were just being published when I was an undergraduate, and I was introduced to them in that serial format at our school's comic book library (which I was in charge of my senior year). However, I graduated in 1992 well before the series ended (in the middle of the Brief Lives story arc), so I have yet to read the end of it all. I started collecting the graphic novel/omnibuses, and received a few single issues as gifts, but all in a happenstance sort of way. I gave what I had to my ex when I packed up and moved into my condo last year. I thought I kept #38, which I have a real soft spot for, but I'm not finding it at the moment. In other words, I enjoyed the series when I had access to it but wasn't so enraptured that I spent the time and money to collect them all. I might get around to reading the rest someday, or not, as already demonstrated.

>104 Crazymamie: I had no idea Blood Price had been turned into a series. I read Huff's Blood novels but not the short story collection. I have a fondness for Blood Trail because I like werewolves much better than vampires, and I thought Huff's interpretation was interesting. I was kinda meh about the series overall because I didn't like the trajectory Vicki Nelson was on.

>123 AMQS: Thanks, Anne! Hoping your Monday was happy. Mine was a bust, but I am hopeful for Tuesday.

>124 justchris: Hello, Chris! We have the first two books in the Sandman series, and I think I can read the rest on the Comixology subscription. I am curious to see where it goes.

We came across the Blood Ties tv series while searching for new crime series to watch together. I have not read any of the books, but my daughter Rae read and liked the first one.

Morning, Mamie. I had a good day with the books yesterday. More of the same today but I will be going for an owl hunt first. This is a good time of year, to find them but it is never easy.

Morning, Mark! Good luck with your owl hunting - I will be here with the coffee. I have some real life stuff to take care of, and then I hope to hit the books.

Did your Monday improve? Or are we just pretending that day didn't happen and reveling in Tuesday?

The latter.

Got it. Yay for Tuesday!

Precisely. Onward.

Good morning, Mamie. I hope today has no RL stuff to be taken care of. Coffee! Books! All good things!

>105 Crazymamie: I'm going to catalog my finds from the 380+ books that arrived Sunday - always a fun task adding books to my catalog. I've taken 27 books. 8 are hardcover replacements for mass market paperbacks.

>132 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! I do have some stuff that needs doing, but nothing that is too yuck. Looking forward to hitting the books later. And definitely more coffee.

How fun! Love fondling the books - and hooray for hardcover replacements for the mmp. I can't do mmp anymore because they are too hard to hold open. My favorite are the tiny hardbacks or the trade paperbacks.

Hi!

Nothing to add, really, it's a holding-pattern day because I'm as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs dreading what That Creature can do for the next 23h45m.

Just stopping by and hoping that Tuesday was better than your Monday, Mamie!

>134 richardderus: Hello! I hear you - I am not full of dread, but I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because it will.

>135 PersephonesLibrary: Much better, thank you, Käthe.

Hi Mamie, just catching up here. I am also going to be joining the year-long Romance of the Three Kingdoms group read and I am really looking forward to it. I played a lot of Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Kingdom Strategy games so I am hoping this will help me keep the characters straight. It's the next book on my pile .

Wishing my friends across the pond a happy 20th January. May it bring the change you want.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Inauguration Day! Another coating of snow out there. Looks beautiful but it will be a very cold day. I will probably stay put, with the books.

Happy Inauguration Day, Mamie! And happy swearing-in day for Warnock and Ossoff.

>133 Crazymamie: I like any book that doesn’t require major hand strength to keep it open, so some mmps are okay, most trade paperbacks are okay, but not all. Hardcovers easy in that respect, but of course heavier and more unwieldy.

>136 Crazymamie: So far no shoes have dropped today. He’s on Air Force 1 heading to Florida with his despicable family. Not to say that the other shoe is mid-air…

>137 DeltaQueen50: Hello, Judy! You will be ahead of me with keeping all the characters straight in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I have read the first five chapters - chapter 4 is a doozy! A lot happens. Birdy hasn't started yet, but she is also going to read along.

>138 Helenliz: Thank you so much, Helen. Most appreciated. It felt like today would never come, but finally it is here.

>139 msf59: Morning, Mark! Hooray for Inauguration Day!! Fresh snow - how lovely. Good thinking to stay put. I'm not going anywhere today, either.

>140 karenmarie: Indeed. Happy Inauguration to you, Karen! Very exciting and I am SO happy about our two Democratic senators.

Yep. Easily able to keep the book open is key for me these days. Trade paperbacks are my favorite not just for that but also for their size. That's why I also love the smaller hardbacks - the older traditional size is just too much for me. I do love the large hardbacks needed for special books such as the illustrated Harry Potter and the Belknap Press editions of the annotated Jane Austen novels.

I will be most happy to be proven wrong about the other shoe dropping. *crosses fingers*

Happy Inauguration Day, Mamie!
I need to rewatch the last episode of Bridgerton as I fell asleep on parts of it last night. By binging on it, I really fell into their world and I'm sorry to see it end (boohoo).

Speaking of 45, I keep seeing a clip of some movie with Harrison Ford as the president and Gary Oldman as the villain. They are on AF1, it's airborne, and the rear loading ramp is open. As Ford punches Oldman, he sez: "Get OFF my plane." And by golly, Oldman tumbles off the plane.

Morning, Lynda! Happy Inauguration Day!

Fell asleep on the last episode of Briderton?! Yes, you need to rewatch it. I am ready to rewatch the entire thing just for fun.

>143 weird_O:

Ah, yes, a classic, that one. I like how you think, oh Weird One.

You've got to look at this.
https://youtu.be/E4aTjeCP0Lo
My heart soared and it's not even my president.

>144 Crazymamie: I know! Fell asleep! Isn't that nuts?! I guess my internal clock says "O look! it's 9:30pm. Time to slam the eyelids"

>146 Helenliz: Helen!!! I cannot thank you enough for sharing that link. Very spirit lifting. I had to put it on full screen and Birdy, Abby and I all watched it together. I think I need to watch it again. And again.

>147 Carmenere: Completely nuts, Lynda. I used to work the night shift, so my internal clock always has the wrong time.

>148 Crazymamie: I completely agree that the montage was so so satisfying. I hope all the MAGAts in the country are herded into cold, empty auditoriums, forced to listen to it for hours, then required to recite it before they get bathroom breaks.

>145 Crazymamie: - Ha! At first glance, I thought he said, "Get off my planet*, which would work, too, as far as trumpty dumpty goes, wouldn't it?

Congrats and relief on the successful inauguration. I watched on tv and feel much better now than I did earlier today. I was having nightmare visions that trumpty dumpty would show up at the last minute and steal the spotlight. Thankfully, that didn't happen.

>149 richardderus: I would settle for them just sitting down and shutting up already.

>150 jessibud2: Yes, it would Shelley. Thank you - I am hopeful for change. The Senate needs to start by finishing the job and removing him so that he cannot hold office again.

>137 DeltaQueen50: I went to the bookstore yesterday hoping to pick up a copy of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms to join along in the group read. Sadly, no luck. I asked where to look for it. General fiction, filed under translator name. Like that's a findable system!

Hi Mamie!

I saw that James Corden video that Helen posted earlier this morning, and it made me cheer.

What a great day it's been!

>152 justchris: Filed under translator name?! That's just crazy. CRAZY. Birdy and I have different translations - mine is by Moss Roberts and Birdy's is Ronald Iverson. I have been comparing them as I read, and I actually like Birdy's translation better so far.

>153 katiekrug: Hello, Katie! That video is just so great. It felt like the huge dose of comic relief that we so badly need right now.

Yes to the greatness of the day. It has been full of fabulous!

Madam Vice President.

Glory be.

And the people said Amen.

Morning, Mamie. Extra Sweet Thursday! A new day, my friend. I am going out owling again, but this time it will mostly be from a vehicle or not far from one.

Hiya Mamie, and a very sweet Thursday to you. You've got two excellent Senators in Washington now and we've all got reassurance that the adults are in charge again.

>157 msf59: Morning, Mark! Extra Sweet is right!! Yesterday felt like a blessing. Good luck with the owling!

>158 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Sweet Thursday! It is like a big sigh of relief that we are moving forward again. Hooray for adults being in charge again.