rosalita jumps a little higher in 2018: Verse 1

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rosalita jumps a little higher in 2018: Verse 1

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1rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 1, 2018, 1:50 am



Well, hello there! I’m Julia and this is where I will chronicle my year in books and other wordy things. I’m 53, I work in higher education, and I live in Iowa. I read books of all sorts (fiction, nonfiction, mystery, history, science fiction/fantasy), maybe fewer than in the past but hopefully better. (Better does not mean Serious, or Literary, or any such thing. It just means, you know, Better.)

And because I do a lot of reading outside of books, I’ll be tempting you once again with Clickbait!, my possibly-too-cute way to refer to links and comments to various internetty items of interest that I find interesting, amusing, or thought-provoking. Maybe you will, too! None of the non-book reading will count toward my 75-book total, of course.

About those stars:
My system for assigning star ratings to books has evolved over the years, but this chart comes the closest to describing what I consider when I rate a book.
This book may not be perfect, but it was perfect for me.
Not quite perfect, but I will actively recommend this book to friends.
A really great book with minor flaws, still highly recommended.
Better than average but some flaws. Recommended.
Entertaining but probably forgettable, not worth re-reading. Recommended only for fans of the genre or author.
Readable but something about the story, characters or writing was not up to standards. Not recommended.
Finished but did not like, and would not recommend.
Some redeeming qualities made me finish it, but nothing to recommend.
Nearly no redeeming qualities. Really rather bad.
Could not finish, possibly destroyed by fire (unless it's a library book)

2rosalita
Bearbeitet: Dez. 31, 2017, 11:45 pm

2017 in Review

I made the decision at the start of the year to only count new reads in my yearly total, and that turned out to be 77. I've read more in the past but that's OK. Every year has its own rhythm. Since I track reading dates in my catalog, I can see that the total number of books read in 2017, including re-reads, is 103. The consensus in an unscientific poll on my last thread of 2017 showed overwhelming support for counting them all in one list, so that's what I'll do this year.

I only rated three books as :
The Children by David Halberstam (nonfiction, history)
Uprooted by Naomi Novik (fantasy)
Calamity Town by Ellery Queen (fiction, mystery)

The list of books is a bit longer:
The Green Mile by Stephen King
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
The Western Star by Craig Johnson
The Glass Universe by Dava Sobel
Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The Trespasser by Tana French
The Fireman by Joe Hill

Of the 77 books I read for the first time, 38 were written by men; 37 by women, and 2 were written by a mixed male-female collaboration.

And that's about the extent of the stats I track!

3rosalita
Bearbeitet: Dez. 31, 2017, 10:57 pm



Life’s Full of Challenges
I have had years when I plunged headfirst into a bucketload of challenges, only to get overwhelmed and abandon most or all of them by summer. And I have had years when I have merrily read purely at random, only to have a sense of having under-achieved at the end of the year. Is it possible to strike a happy balance between the two? Let’s find out!

In 2018, the only challenge I am committing to is Suzanne’s Nonfiction Reading Challenge. I may also dip in and out of the various nationality-based author challenges, as the spirit moves me. For now that’s enough, but if I get a wild notion to participate occasionally in other challenges, I’ll list those here as well.

January: Prizewinning Books (planned)
  • October 1964 by David Halberstam. It was a finalist for the 1994 CASEY award for the best baseball book of the year. I love Halberstam and I love baseball, and I was born in October 1964, so this one is a triple threat.

  • The Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea, an account of a group of Mexicans who attempt to cross the border into the Arizona desert. It was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction.

  • The Story of Ain't by David Skinner, subtitled "America, Its Language, and the Most Controversial Dictionary Ever Published," this book won the PROSE Award in 2012 in the Language & Linguistics category.

4rosalita
Dez. 31, 2017, 10:54 pm

Currently Reading



I started this one on New Year's Eve so it will be my first book of 2018. I liked but did not love Egan's A Visit From the Goon Squad, mostly because that sort of non-linear storytelling is not really my cup of tea. But the writing was good and I've heard this one is a more straightforward narrative. I'm only a couple of chapters in but it's already caught my attention.

5drneutron
Dez. 31, 2017, 10:57 pm

Welcome back!

6rosalita
Dez. 31, 2017, 10:59 pm

Thanks, Jim! You must be prowling the group looking for new threads — I'm honored to have you as my first visitor in the new year. It's a good omen, I think. 😊

7drneutron
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:01 pm

Yeah, I’m watching a Harry Potter movie with the family while we wait for midnight - so prowling to keep myself awake. 😀

8rosalita
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:02 pm

Excellent! Only 1 hour left for you. I'm not sure I'll last the 2 hours until 2018 gets to Iowa but we'll see!

9cbl_tn
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:17 pm

Hi Julia! I have dropped my star and I look forward to seeing what you'll be reading this year. I have my eye on Manhattan Beach so I'll be curious to see what you think of it when you've finished it.

10rosalita
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:21 pm

Hi, Carrie! So far, so good with the Egan. It's bitterly cold here: -14 degrees F right now, with wind chill of -33 F, and the high temp tomorrow isn't expected to get above 0, so I expect to do a lot of reading!

11kmartin802
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:25 pm

I'm north of you in Northern Minnesota but it's only -13 with a "feels like" of -37. Glad to be staying in and reading. Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce is the next one on my stack.

12rosalita
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:29 pm

>11 kmartin802: Brrr, Kathy! That's plenty cold, isn't it? I'd rather have cold than lots of snow, but this sort of extended extreme cold snap is tough to take. Saps all my energy and makes me want to nap all the time.

13cbl_tn
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:36 pm

Compared to what you all are enduring, we're sweltering here at 19F! We may be above freezing Wednesday, then not again until Saturday. I do not like the cold, but it would be worse with snow so I'm counting my blessings.

14rosalita
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:42 pm

Oh, 19 degrees above zero sounds heavenly! I keep telling myself, "Every day is longer than yesterday and spring is right around the corner." A little harder to make myself believe in this weather, but it's true. (Well, except the "just around the corner" bit.)

15swynn
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:51 pm

Starred and ready for 2018. Happy reading!

(-7 here. Think I'll sleep late.)

16rosalita
Dez. 31, 2017, 11:53 pm

Good plan, Steve! That's about all below-freezing weather is good for, really. Sleeping and reading.

17ronincats
Jan. 1, 2018, 12:25 am

Dropping off a
And wishing you

18harrygbutler
Jan. 1, 2018, 12:44 am

Happy New Year, Julia!

19mahsdad
Jan. 1, 2018, 12:53 am

Happy New Year, Julia. Hope it's a good one.

20rosalita
Jan. 1, 2018, 1:51 am

Thanks, Roni, Harry, and Jeff!

21PaulCranswick
Jan. 1, 2018, 4:14 am



Happy New Year
Happy New Group here
This place is full of friends
I hope it never ends
It brew of erudition and good cheer.

22FAMeulstee
Jan. 1, 2018, 7:01 am

Happy reading in 2018, Julia, nice that the re-reads also get a place here ;-)

23rosalita
Jan. 1, 2018, 7:05 am

>21 PaulCranswick: Happy New Year to you, Paul!

>22 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. Happy New Year to you!

24Carmenere
Jan. 1, 2018, 7:21 am

25nittnut
Jan. 1, 2018, 9:13 am

26msf59
Jan. 1, 2018, 9:14 am

27Crazymamie
Jan. 1, 2018, 9:26 am

Dropping off my star, Julia. And hoping that the New Year is full of happy. I am so thrilled that the Clickbait! will be returning.

28thornton37814
Jan. 1, 2018, 12:05 pm

Wishing you a 2018 filled with great reads!

29katiekrug
Jan. 1, 2018, 12:35 pm

Dropped my star!

30rosalita
Jan. 1, 2018, 1:52 pm

Happy New Year to all of you!

>27 Crazymamie: I'm pleased as punch that you like the Clockbait, Mamie!

>28 thornton37814: same to you, Lori!

>29 katiekrug: OK, now the Shenanigans can officially start!

31LauraBrook
Jan. 1, 2018, 3:33 pm

Happy New Year, Julia!

32Berly
Jan. 1, 2018, 5:33 pm

And one here, too, for good luck!



Happy 2018!!

33Storeetllr
Jan. 1, 2018, 5:38 pm

Happy New Year, Julia! And happy first thread of 2018!

So, what did you decide about whether to count rereads in 2018?

34alcottacre
Jan. 1, 2018, 5:53 pm

Happy New Year, Julia! I will be interested in seeing what you think of the Egan book even though I have still not read Goon Squad yet :)

35scaifea
Jan. 1, 2018, 6:53 pm

Hi, Julia!! I'm so happy that you're here!

36jnwelch
Jan. 1, 2018, 7:56 pm

Happy 2018, Julia! Here's to a year of great reading.

37rosalita
Jan. 1, 2018, 10:15 pm

>31 LauraBrook: >32 Berly: Thank you, Laura and Kim (again). :-)

>33 Storeetllr: I kind of hid the announcement in my 2017 review post up there at the top, Mary, but I've decided to count everything together in one list. That seemed to be the consensus advice.

>34 alcottacre: I will let you know, Stasia!

>35 scaifea: Thank you, Amber. And the same back at ya.

>36 jnwelch: The same to you and Debbi, Joe!

38rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 9:34 am

The Year in Reading meme

Describe yourself: Uncommon Type
Describe how you feel: Hounded
Describe where you currently live: Calamity Town
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Garden of Lamentations
Your favorite form of transportation: Strangers on a Train
Your best friend is: Rose Under Fire
You and your friends are: The Good Girls Revolt
What’s the weather like: Glaciers
You fear: The Children
What is the best advice you have to give: Mourn Not Your Dead
Thought for the day: All Shall Be Well
How you would like to die: A Finer End
Your soul’s present condition: Uprooted

39The_Hibernator
Jan. 2, 2018, 9:42 am



Happy New Year! I wish you to read many good books in 2018.

40thornton37814
Jan. 2, 2018, 9:47 am

Great meme answers!

41rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 9:57 am

>39 The_Hibernator: And the same to you, Rachel! That doggo is very fetching in his sequins. :-)

>40 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori! I've never done one of these before, but last year's books seemed well-suited.

42katiekrug
Jan. 2, 2018, 10:02 am

The Deborah Crombie titles are always great for that meme. I used one this year, too.

43rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 10:04 am

They really are! I wouldn't have had much to say without them. :-)

44Crazymamie
Jan. 2, 2018, 10:07 am

I like your soul's condition, Julia - that made me laugh.

45markon
Jan. 2, 2018, 10:36 am

Hi Julia!

46rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 10:56 am

>44 Crazymamie: It just seemed to fit, Mamie! :-)

>45 markon: Happy New Year to you, Ardene!

47BLBera
Jan. 2, 2018, 11:11 am

Happy 2018, Julia. I look forward to more book recommendations from you and perhaps a meet up this year.

48rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 1:19 pm

>47 BLBera: I don't know about MLK Weekend this year, Beth, especially if it's still -15F, but we will definitely make a meet-up plan once we all thaw out!

49luvamystery65
Jan. 2, 2018, 1:23 pm

Happy New Year Julia!

50rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 2, 2018, 1:47 pm

Tuesday Clickbait



How Rubber Bands Are Made — It's only January 2, so I don't want to stretch anyone's brains too much with the first Clickbait of 2018, for fear that you all might snap at me. (OK, I'm done with the rubber-band puns.) I found this video weirdly compelling, and I hope you like it, too. If not, we'll bounce back with something new tomorrow. (Oops, guess I wasn't done after all.) (via Insider.com)

51Crazymamie
Jan. 2, 2018, 1:31 pm

Um, Julia, the linky thing doesn't work - it just goes back to the top of your thread.

52rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 1:48 pm

Well, for pity's sake, as my Aunt Clara would say. So that's what happens when you put a double set of quote marks around the URL in a link! Try it again, Madame Mamie, and thanks for the heads-up!

53Crazymamie
Jan. 2, 2018, 1:52 pm

Alright, I will snap to it.

54katiekrug
Jan. 2, 2018, 1:56 pm

I'd watch the video but I'm too busy groaning at your and Mamie's puns....

55Crazymamie
Jan. 2, 2018, 2:04 pm

Well, who knew there was so much work involved? And of course all this talk of rubber bands has me humming that rubberband man song in my head.

And don't worry about Katie, she'll snap out of it.

56rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 2:12 pm

>53 Crazymamie: >55 Crazymamie: Isn't that a lot of steps for a little rubber band?! And Katie's OK, even if she can't wrap around the idea of watching a video about rubber bands.

57katiekrug
Jan. 2, 2018, 2:19 pm

Maybe you two should try this:

58scaifea
Jan. 2, 2018, 2:20 pm

>50 rosalita: COOL. I LOVE those sorts of videos. So interesting. I was always the kid in school who actually loved factory field trips for the actual factory stuff and generally was the only one really paying attention and loving it. So, thanks! Excellent choice for the first clickbait of the year!

59rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 9, 2018, 3:43 pm

>57 katiekrug: Whoa! That was an unexpected result. I hope you weren't picturing doing this to my and Mamie's heads, Katie? If you were, you need to get a grip, young lady.

>58 scaifea: I used to watch the "how-it's-made" shows on the Food Network for hours back in the day, Amber. The only factory tour I've ever done was the Waterford Crystal factory in Ireland, and I got nudged along because I just wanted to stand and watch one guy make a glass from start to finish, which apparently wasn't on the agenda.

60katiekrug
Jan. 2, 2018, 2:25 pm

I just thought it would be a fun activity for you rubber band pun aficionados to do together. With all appropriate safety gear, of course.

61rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 2:25 pm

Oh, I see! So the two people placing the rubber bands are Mamie and I, and the watermelon is you? That does seem like fun!

62katiekrug
Jan. 2, 2018, 3:08 pm

Oh, Julia... *smh*

Make like an acute angle and don't be obtuse.

Heh. I am *such* a wit.

63rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 3:16 pm

Heh heh heh. Only January 2 and I've already managed to irritate KAK. It's a good thing I live so far away!

64Crazymamie
Jan. 2, 2018, 3:34 pm

I had to go pick Abby up from work, and I missed all the violence?! Dang.

65rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 3:45 pm

I think we stretched Katie past her breaking point, Mamie.

66Crazymamie
Jan. 2, 2018, 3:46 pm

SO me might have to disband for today?

67rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 3:58 pm

I think we'd better, before she figures out that slingshots use rubber bands! At least you're closer to her so she'll hit you first. :-P

68johnsimpson
Jan. 2, 2018, 4:15 pm

Hi Julia, just dropping my star off my dear and look forward to visiting you often dear friend.

69katiekrug
Jan. 2, 2018, 4:31 pm

I wasn't really irritated. Just playing straight man to Dumb and Dumber Tweedledee and Tweedledum Tweedledum and Tweedledummer you two!

70rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 4:41 pm

>68 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

>69 katiekrug: Thank you for that! For just a little while, I felt like we were all in a screwball comedy from the 1930s. :-)

71katiekrug
Jan. 2, 2018, 4:47 pm

:) How could I ever be irritated by you and Mamie?!!?

And no, that's not a challenge.

72rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 2, 2018, 4:48 pm

Duly noted.

*cancels plans to conspire with Mamie*

73Crazymamie
Jan. 2, 2018, 4:51 pm

>72 rosalita: So we're not on for tomorrow?

74rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 4:53 pm

>73 Crazymamie: You bet, but we probably need to ake-tay atie-Kay out of our ans-play.

75Familyhistorian
Jan. 2, 2018, 5:05 pm

Poor Katie. Dropping my star, Julia.

76rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 5:09 pm

>75 Familyhistorian: We really did gang up on her, didn't we, Meg? It's only because we love her so much.

77katiekrug
Jan. 2, 2018, 5:18 pm

No worries. Every day, I put on my big girl undies and walk into LT like

78Crazymamie
Jan. 2, 2018, 5:28 pm

>74 rosalita: Understood.

>77 katiekrug: *belly Laugh* I adore you, Katie!

79rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 5:31 pm

>77 katiekrug: I never get tired of watching that video, Katie!

80Storeetllr
Jan. 2, 2018, 5:52 pm

LOL You guys crack me up!

81rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 7:24 pm

>80 Storeetllr: Mamie and Katie are the funny ones, Mary. I just put up the video and made a couple of little puns, and they ran with it.

82Storeetllr
Jan. 2, 2018, 7:43 pm

Uh-huh.

83rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 8:01 pm

You don't sound convinced, Mary. :-)

84Storeetllr
Bearbeitet: Jan. 2, 2018, 8:11 pm

Maybe because, oh, I don't know, it's right there in writing! ;)

85rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 8:16 pm

OK, that made me actually Laugh Out Loud!

86Storeetllr
Jan. 2, 2018, 9:22 pm

My job here is done.

87rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 9:33 pm

It is for now. Please come back soon!

88Copperskye
Jan. 2, 2018, 9:50 pm

Lol. Happy New Year, Julia! Looking forward to following along this year!

89rosalita
Jan. 2, 2018, 10:56 pm

Thank you, Joanne!

90Storeetllr
Jan. 2, 2018, 11:13 pm

Oh, I will be back, don't you worry. I don't want to miss any future shenanigans.

91rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 3, 2018, 11:01 am

Wednesday Clickbait



How to Solve The New York Times Crossword Puzzle — I've talked before on my thread about my semi-obsession with the NYT crossword. Right now I've got a 59-day streak of completing the puzzle, and before that I had a 61-day streak until a brief illness made me miss a day.

But I wasn't always so steadfast; for a long time (years) I only attempted the Monday-Wednesday puzzles because I thought the latter-week ones were too hard. If that's how you feel, or you have never done the crossword but want to, the Times has put out this nifty guide. There are lots of great tips for putting your brain in "solve" mode. It might be a placebo effect, but I do feel more mentally agile and alert since I started doing the puzzle regularly. And at my age, that's not to be taken lightly! (via The New York Times)

92drneutron
Jan. 3, 2018, 10:51 am

Nice article! I'm a NY Times solver too - my current streak is 2 weeks. It definitely keeps my brain agile, and sitting down on a Saturday morning with a cuppa coffee and the puzzle is most definitely a de-stresser. 😁

93rosalita
Jan. 3, 2018, 11:03 am

>92 drneutron: It's my weekday morning ritual to work on the puzzle on my iPad while eating breakfast. Sometimes on Thursday and Friday I have to stop to get ready for work, and then I finish it on my lunch break. No matter what happens at work, at least I know I will accomplish one thing every day. :-)

94katiekrug
Jan. 3, 2018, 11:36 am

>91 rosalita: - This may be my favorite Clickbait! so far. I love crossword puzzles, but generally the big, themed Sunday ones in the NYT and WaPo. I think I'm now inspired to commit to the daily NYT one :)

95karenmarie
Jan. 3, 2018, 11:40 am

Hi Julia! Happy new thread, happy new year!

>50 rosalita: I love how it’s made videos. I hadn’t seen one about rubber bands before, so thank you.

>91 rosalita: My grandmother used to solve a daily crossword puzzle - it was probably in the LA Times not the NY Times - and she had some sort of crossword puzzle dictionary, big and red, but I don't know where it went. I have many happy memories of hanging out in her bedroom with her while she worked on the crossword puzzle.

96katiekrug
Jan. 3, 2018, 12:00 pm

I just did one of the sample Monday puzzles online and it took me 10 minutes. It would have been faster, but I kept messing up the entries when it would skip squares already filled in :-P

97alcottacre
Jan. 3, 2018, 12:01 pm

>50 rosalita: I am with Karen - I love to see how things are made. Thanks!

>91 rosalita: My husband does crossword puzzles daily. I play board games daily. Between the two of us, we should have agile minds for a while yet :)

98rosalita
Jan. 3, 2018, 12:09 pm

>94 katiekrug: >96 katiekrug: Woo-hoo! You can do it, Katie! And I have those square skipping/not skipping problems when I solve on my computer, but for some reason the iPad app is much more intuitive for me. Still, 10 minutes for a Monday is not bad, especially with computer issues.

>95 karenmarie: I'm glad you liked the rubber band video, Karen. I love how-it's-made videos, too. And what a lovely memory of your grandmother.

>97 alcottacre: So glad you liked the video, Stasia. And yes, you and Kerry are well set in the mental gymnastics department!

99Whisper1
Jan. 3, 2018, 12:23 pm

Hi Julia Happy New Year! I wasn't as active in 2017 as I would have liked to be. I'm hoping 2018 is better and will provide lots of opportunity to visit here.

100thornton37814
Jan. 3, 2018, 3:06 pm

I haven't tried a crossword puzzle in years. I'm sure it would take me awhile to get used to working one and remembering all those words one only uses in a crossword. My dad worked the one in the local paper daily until his vision deteriorated to the point he could only read headlines. Maybe I should start with the local paper until I am up-to-speed to tackle the NY Times.

101Carmenere
Bearbeitet: Jan. 3, 2018, 3:21 pm

>91 rosalita: Although, I've enjoyed scratching my head through the NYT Crossword Puzzles, I've only completed ONE. Sadly, now that you've posted this nice little how to book, we've switched to the Wall Street Journal, simply, because we got a better price on the subscription.
Nice article though and probably just as useful for the WSJ puzzles

102Crazymamie
Jan. 3, 2018, 3:22 pm

I love the crossword Clickbait!, Julia! I do the Sunday NYT crossword every week - Rae got me a subscription to the Sunday edition for Mother's Day last year, and I love attempting the crossword. The Christmas Eve one was really fun.

103rosalita
Jan. 3, 2018, 3:39 pm

>100 thornton37814: I find it really helps to start on a Monday (the easiest day) and work through the week. I'm much better at the Thursday-Friday-Saturday puzzles if I've done Monday-Tuesday. It sort of puts my brain into crossword mode or something. And yes, do your local puzzle! Although you may find that it's the NY Times puzzle, as they are syndicated into many papers. But the puzzle guide link is really for any crossword puzzles, not just the NYT.

>101 Carmenere: Yes, I think the guide is meant as a general crossword guide rather than specific to the NYT. Give the WSJ one a try and let me know what it's like. I'm imagining a puzzle filled with words like "derivatives," "hedge fund," and "market capitalization," but that's probably not quite accurate. :-)

>102 Crazymamie: I like the Sunday puzzle because it's bigger but it's not the hardest one of the week so it's not as intimidating. Was the Christmas Eve one the puzzle where you had to connect the circled letters to make a reindeer outline at the end? I thought at first I wouldn't be able to do that because I solve on my iPad, but I took a screenshot and then marked it up in the Notes app. My reindeer was a little shaky but it did (sort of) look like a reindeer!

104Crazymamie
Jan. 3, 2018, 3:40 pm

Yes! And wasn't redrum clever?

105rosalita
Jan. 3, 2018, 3:44 pm

Yes! Although whenever I see a rebus I assume there will be others, so I spent a lot of time trying to shoehorn multiple letters into other answers. Especially the "moves the cursor backward" clue, which I tried so hard to make LEFTARROW with a rebus but turned out to be a plain old LEFTKEY. Sneaky!

106Crazymamie
Jan. 3, 2018, 3:45 pm

Ha! Me, too, with the looking for more.

107katiekrug
Jan. 3, 2018, 3:46 pm

>105 rosalita: - Julia, when solving on the iPad, how do you get it to force more than one letter into the box?

108rosalita
Jan. 3, 2018, 3:57 pm

>107 katiekrug: You click the REBUS button, which lets you type in more than one letter. Then click the REBUS button again to go back to single-letter mode.

109katiekrug
Jan. 3, 2018, 4:00 pm

I didn't know there was a REBUS button :-P

110rosalita
Jan. 3, 2018, 4:01 pm

Ha! Well, now you do! There's also a "pencil" mode that you can use that puts in the answers in grey instead of black type, if you want to be able to tell which ones you aren't sure of. I always just madly do the whole thing in black/pen, because I'm a wild child. :-D

111drneutron
Jan. 3, 2018, 4:56 pm

Yup, the Christmas Eve puzzle was really well done, and I fell into the same rebus trap as you. I was sure there were more...

I love the iPad app for the crosswords - I can work the puzzle in a meeting if I'm not sitting at the table. 😁

112rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 3, 2018, 5:13 pm

The iPad app is great. I wouldn't be nearly so quick to fill in guesses if I had to do it on paper. In the app, no one can tell how many times I had to erase wrong answers. :-)

113scaifea
Jan. 3, 2018, 5:16 pm

Do you have to have a subscription to use the app?

114rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 3, 2018, 5:28 pm

You do need a separate subscription no matter how you're solving except in the actual newspaper. It's $39.95 a year, but since I have a digital subscription to the NYT, the crossword sub is 50% off, so $19.99.

Edited to add: If you don't subscribe, there are some puzzles that are free: Non-subscribers can still access an array of puzzles:
* The Mini crossword is available daily in our apps
* There are three archive crossword puzzles updated weekly online
* You can play online puzzles KenKen, Sudoku and SET
* You may buy a pack of puzzles (either new puzzles or puzzles curated from our archive) in the apps

115scaifea
Jan. 3, 2018, 5:27 pm

>114 rosalita: Interesting - thanks!

116BLBera
Jan. 3, 2018, 7:13 pm

Love the way you stretched out the rubber band puns. :)

I used to do crosswords; maybe this will inspire me to start again.

117rosalita
Jan. 3, 2018, 8:08 pm

>115 scaifea: You're welcome! I added some more details after you posted. I have gotten into a bad habit of posting before I'm done with the thought process. :-)

>116 BLBera: I enjoy them very much, Beth. It's never too late to,start up again. :-)

118nittnut
Jan. 3, 2018, 10:49 pm

My 11 year old got an actual sling shot for Christmas from my husband's Auntie. Most. Terrifying. Gift. Ever.

119scaifea
Jan. 4, 2018, 6:27 am

120rosalita
Jan. 4, 2018, 7:33 am

>118 nittnut: Oh dear, Jenn! I fear your husband's Auntie may be working out some passive aggression on you and/or your husband. What did you do to her?! :-)

>119 scaifea: Good morning, Amber!

121rosalita
Jan. 4, 2018, 10:06 am

Thursday Clickbait



Two Dying Memoirists Wrote Bestsellers About Their Final Days. Then Their Spouses Fell in Love.When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi’s memoir of his final years as he faced lung cancer at age 37, was published posthumously, in 2016, to critical acclaim and commercial success. The Bright Hour, Nina Riggs’s memoir of her final years as she faced breast cancer at age 39, was published posthumously, in 2017, to critical acclaim and commercial success. The two books were mentioned together in numerous reviews, lists and conversations. Perhaps less inevitable was that the late authors’ spouses would end up together, too. (via The Washington Post)

122quondame
Jan. 4, 2018, 7:03 pm


Happy New Year!

123quondame
Jan. 4, 2018, 7:06 pm

>121 rosalita: While nothing so dramatic, my brother who lost his wife to cancer just last year married a woman whose husband also had - I think it is the kind of trauma that you can't expect most others to really understand.

124rosalita
Jan. 4, 2018, 8:28 pm

>122 quondame: >123 quondame: Welcome to my thread, Susan! I think you are right about the shared experience creating a bond. And in the case of these two, being introduced by one of the dying spouses must have made it seem more natural to connect. I'm sorry for your brother's loss, but I'm glad he's found someone to help him go on.

125scaifea
Jan. 5, 2018, 8:14 am

>121 rosalita: Wow, what an interesting twist! I just received When Breath Becomes Air for Christmas and I hope I can get to it soonish.

126jnwelch
Jan. 5, 2018, 9:05 am

Hi, Julia.

Debbi was just telling me about how the two spouses connected when Nina told her husband to contact Paul's wife, to help him with the grieving. They apparently were emailing each other for a long time about grief issues. Pretty cool.

127rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 5, 2018, 9:27 am

>125 scaifea: I haven't read either of the books — I'll look forward to your comments, Amber!

>126 jnwelch: Yep, that's just what the article says!

128markon
Jan. 5, 2018, 3:37 pm

My favorite click bait so far is the rubber bands. Who knew? And would I want to work there?

129rosalita
Jan. 5, 2018, 3:45 pm

>128 markon: That's a good question, Ardene, about whether you'd want to work there. The stuff looks a bit messy to wrassle around from machine to machine but it would be fun to see it go from raw material to finished product.

130rosalita
Jan. 5, 2018, 4:24 pm

Friday Clickbait



A University's List of Words To Revive — This is an interesting set of words you don't hear enough of. I knew and have used some of them, I've heard of but never used others, and some were completely new to me (eucastrophe? Really?). Can you work these into your weekend conversation? (via Inside Higher Ed)

131Berly
Jan. 5, 2018, 4:43 pm

Loving all the clickbait! The rubber band factory was so cool to see but I wouldn't want to work there.

I have never done much with puzzles.

I really need to get to When Breath Becomes Air!

I have no idea what it means, but like the sound of Frangle.

132swynn
Jan. 5, 2018, 4:53 pm

Oooh, "Bilious." I haven't used that in ages and I know just the splenetic, incensive, witherward nidderling to use it for. Thanks for the reminder!

+1 for littoral.

133rosalita
Jan. 5, 2018, 5:05 pm

>131 Berly: The word is actually "frangible" — that font is not as readable as I'd like. It means "fragile" or "brittle". It's one of those words I've seen in books but never used, and weirdly it seems like it's always being used to describe soil. Like someone picks up a clod of dirt from a farm field, and it's described as frangible, which I guess means it crumbles easily instead of clumping together? I'm glad to know it can be used for other things besides dirt!

>132 swynn: Bilious is a good one, isn't it, Steve? Littoral's another one I've seen often but never used myself. And I always thought picaresque referred as much to books that involve a journey or a road trip, but that must be some other word. The More You Know ...

134Crazymamie
Jan. 5, 2018, 5:08 pm

Hello, Julia! Um...the dirt here is not frangible. More like clay and hard as a rock at the same time. Weird dirt, I am telling you. Anyway, I digress...I'm off to read today's Clickbait!

135rosalita
Jan. 5, 2018, 5:11 pm

>134 Crazymamie: I guess it's all this good Midwest topsoil that's so frangible, Mamie! I know other places have more clay-like soil like yours, and still others where it's really sandy so that water runs right through it and the plants get parched very quickly. I learned all this from my gardener friends, because I do not have a green thumb!

136scaifea
Jan. 5, 2018, 5:26 pm

>130 rosalita: Ah, the joys of knowing Greek and Latin. Also, people don't use 'compunction'?! Since when?!

137rosalita
Jan. 5, 2018, 5:30 pm

>136 scaifea: Clearly, you hang out with a classy group of people who know compunction and use it often. Which I already knew was true, because you're here! :-)

138scaifea
Jan. 5, 2018, 5:34 pm

>137 rosalita: Clearly! *grins*

139lyzard
Bearbeitet: Jan. 5, 2018, 6:29 pm

Personally I use "couth" quite a lot---like Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday: "Ya just not couth!" :D

140rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 5, 2018, 7:37 pm

>139 lyzard: I can just hear you saying that, with what I presume would be the Aussie accent you have (I'm going to guess that like the US and the UK there is more than one Aussie accent?)

Speaking of accents from your neck of the woods, I've been watching the Doctor Blake Mysteries on Netflix lately. I usually have to give up and turn on closed captioning part way through, but I think I'm getting better. :-)

141DeltaQueen50
Jan. 5, 2018, 11:20 pm

Hi Julia, I'm a little late in placing my star but I am looking forward to following along with your reading and your tempting clickbait posts. Hopefully 2018 will prove to be a great reading year for all of us.

142rosalita
Jan. 6, 2018, 12:14 pm

>141 DeltaQueen50: I'm so happy to welcome you here, Judy! I am looking forward to following your challenge progress this year and also,hearing about your new home as you settle in.

143charl08
Jan. 6, 2018, 5:00 pm

Those two authors' partners getting together is kind of a eucastrophe...?

144lyzard
Jan. 6, 2018, 5:47 pm

>140 rosalita:

I think it's rather that the accent is more or less pronounced...and of course in TV shows and movies it's nearly always exaggerated... :)

(Noting that non-Australians who attempt an Australian accent often come out sounding either Cockney or South African---so don't believe everything you hear!)

145rosalita
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:10 pm

>143 charl08: Yes, exactly, Charlotte! I was having trouble coming up with an example but that's perfect.

>144 lyzard: Good point, Liz. I'm not familiar with the actors in this series, so I don't even know if they are actually Australian or not.

146lyzard
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:12 pm

>145 rosalita:

Yes, they are; it's a local production.

147rosalita
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:13 pm

Well, there you go! I confess I find Dr. Blake somewhat dishy. :-)

148lyzard
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:14 pm

Craig McLachlan was a soap-opera heart-throb (and would-be pop-singer) in his younger days! :D

149rosalita
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:21 pm

Oh my! Well, that explains it! He does seem to find time to sit down at the piano and noodle about fairly often for a busy police surgeon. ;-)

150lyzard
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:24 pm

He's actually done quite a few stage musicals, too: Grease and The Rocky Horror Show (as Frank N. Furter!) that I know of.

151rosalita
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:27 pm

Then I will eagerly await the inevitable episode when he begins belting out show tunes. I do love Rocky Horror!

152lyzard
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:31 pm

153rosalita
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:44 pm

Is that McLachlan?! He needs to start showing off those legs on the TV show!

154lyzard
Jan. 6, 2018, 9:51 pm

It is indeed. :D

155rosalita
Jan. 6, 2018, 10:02 pm

Like I said, dishy. 😍

156rosalita
Jan. 8, 2018, 10:46 am

Monday Clickbait



'Women Are Better Writers Than Men': Novelist John Boyne Sets the Record Straight — It's always nice to read an article written by a man who recognizes the hurdles women writers go through to be considered "serious." Bonus: I picked up a ton of new-to-me authors to check out! (via The Guardian)

157quondame
Jan. 8, 2018, 1:00 pm

>156 rosalita: OMG That's brutal! I have a running argument with an author I know, not about whether men or women are better writers (Octavia Butler was his mentor), but whether women understand men better than men understand women - and this "My female friends, for example, seem to have a pretty good idea of what’s going on in men’s heads most of the time. My male friends, on the other hand, haven’t got a clue what’s going on in women’s." Along with the four roles, one of my frequent complaints.

Though I've only read a couple of books by trans authors, I suspect they have a thing or two to tell us as well.

158rosalita
Jan. 8, 2018, 1:21 pm

>157 quondame: Hi, Susan! Yes, that sentence stood out to me as well. I suspect it has to do with the fact that the goings-on in men's heads has been the dominant cultural view since ... forever, so women couldn't help but be aware of it. Whereas the exposure men have had to a serious woman's thought process has been pretty scarce in literature and pretty much anywhere else. Add in that many men don't seem particularly interested in learning about how women think, and it adds up to a credibility problem when trying to write from the viewpoint of the opposite sex.

159scaifea
Jan. 8, 2018, 1:24 pm

>156 rosalita: I saw this article earlier and loved it! Also, I LOVE Boyne, and this makes me appreciate he even more.

160rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 8, 2018, 1:28 pm

>159 scaifea: I'm not sure I've ever read any Boyne but I need to fix that, Amber. Any suggestions for where to start? And I'm glad you liked the article — I've had it bookmarked for eons but only just got around to actually reading it yesterday.

161quondame
Jan. 8, 2018, 1:51 pm

>158 rosalita: I think that's true, but more it's, at least in my case, being raised dependent on the mood of my parents and siblings, I am much more aware of who they are than they are aware of who I am. If you are dependent on the good will of someone or subject to violence at their hands your sanity and even survival requires you to read them well. And women have had to read men for a long long time.

162rosalita
Jan. 8, 2018, 2:05 pm

>161 quondame: I hadn't considered that aspect, but I think you've hit on something very true. Depressingly true!

163rosalita
Bearbeitet: Feb. 6, 2018, 1:57 pm



1. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan.

Young Anna Kitteridge is used to tagging along with her dad, Eddie, on his business trips around New York City. It's the midst of the Great Depression, and Eddie works for the boss of the longshoreman's union on the Brooklyn docks. (The reality of his business trips is only slowly revealed to the reader, so I won't spoil it here.) One day he takes 12-year-old Anna on a visit to the Manhattan Beach home of Dexter Styles, and shortly after that he stops taking Anna with him at all.

Fast-forward seven years and the United States has entered World War II, Eddie has vanished, and Anna is a 19-year-old working at the Brooklyn Naval Yard. Bored with her job inspecting machined parts for warships, she sets her sights on learning how to dive. Women have taken many jobs at the Naval Yard — even welding — since the war effort sent most working-age men overseas, but none has yet become a diver. In the midst of finding her way into this new role, Anna also has to deal with a fresh encounter with the mysterious Dexter Styles and the possibility of learning the truth about what happened to her father.

In addition to the time shift, Egan shifts the narrative's viewpoint back and forth among Anna, Eddie, and Dexter. Often in novels that employ this tactic, I find myself uninterested in one or more of the perspectives and impatient to return to the compelling storyline. I felt some of that same impatience here, but not because any of the stories were uninteresting — instead, they all were very interesting and I wasn't ready to let go of one to embrace another. Not all of the characters are good, and their stories don't always end well, but I found myself wanting the best even for the worst of them.

We don't get any story segments told from the point of view of the sea, but it is just as much a character as Anna, Eddie and the other people who populate her world. Consider Egan's description of the first time Anna's disabled sister, Lydia, visits the beach:
Anna leaned her head against her sister's and watched a long wave form, stretching until it achieved translucence, then somersaulting forward and collapsing into creamy suds that eked toward them over the sand, nearly touching the wheels of Lydia's chair. Then another wave gathered, reaching, stretching, a streak of silver dashing along its surface where the weak sunlight touched it. The strange, violent, beautiful sea: this was what she had wanted Lydia to see. It touched every part of the world, a glittering curtain drawn across a mystery.
And again, when Eddie looks out on the ocean from the deck of a merchant marine ship:
... an infinite hypnotic expanse that could look like scales, wax, hammered silver, wrinkled flesh. It had structure and layers you couldn't see from land.
I've always been drawn to the sea, perhaps because I spent the first eight years of my life living on Long Island, just a block from the ocean, and I thought these passages articulated my feelings beautifully. Another personal connection that won't be of interest to anyone but me is that both my grandfather and my father worked as longshoreman on the Brooklyn docks. The stories they used to tell, though sanitized for younger listeners, fit right in with what Egan depicts.

Beyond the compelling storyline and deft characterization, the historic bits felt very real — the landscape of Brooklyn, the mechanics of deep-sea diving, the life of a merchant mariner at sea were sharply drawn and exquisitely detailed. Some readers might find the details too much, in fact, but I found it kept me nicely grounded in the time period.

(Library ebook)

164thornton37814
Jan. 8, 2018, 3:00 pm

>163 rosalita: I just cataloged that one today. It arrived over our Christmas break.

165swynn
Jan. 8, 2018, 3:46 pm

>156 rosalita:

Re: Naipaul's crack about women writers. Sheesh.
Re: Boyne's shame-on-you takedown of Naipaul & bros. Nice.

>163 rosalita: Looks like a good one. I still have her Visit from the Goon Squad in the Swamp, and should get to it sometime.

166katiekrug
Jan. 8, 2018, 3:53 pm

>163 rosalita: - That's an excellent review, Julia. It's already on my list, but I'm even more eager to read it now.

167rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 8, 2018, 3:58 pm

>164 thornton37814: That's a coincidence! Do you think you'll read it?

>165 swynn: Yeah, Naipaul's dead to me at this point. I've heard more than enough about his misogyny, and there are too many great books out there to read by people who aren't asshats.

I liked this one much more than Goon Squad, although that won't necessarily be your experience. They are very different books stylistically, for sure.

>166 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! I hope you like it.

168thornton37814
Jan. 8, 2018, 6:44 pm

>164 thornton37814: I won't read it right away. I'll allow others a chance to read it first. I'm already overcommitted for this month in spite of my stellar reading rate the first week.

169rosalita
Jan. 8, 2018, 7:45 pm

>168 thornton37814: I totally understand being overbooked for a month of reading! But if you do get to it sometime, I hope you enjoy it.

170scaifea
Jan. 9, 2018, 7:46 am

I've only read his kids' books so far, but they're so nuanced that I fully enjoyed them as an adult (and they all pack a big emotional punch). I'd start with The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I have his newest, The Heart's Invisible Furies on my shelves but haven't read it yet. In fact, I have two copies (I had pre-ordered it, and then my public librarian friend gave me her ARC copy because she knew I love him, and it was so thoughtful of her to think of me that I couldn't tell her I already had a copy). You're welcome to one of these if you want - just let me know!

171rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 9:29 am

>170 scaifea: Thanks for the Boyne tips, Amber. If you're sure you want to give up one of your copies of The Heart's Invisible Furies, I'd love to read it! I just took a look at the LT page for the book and it looks like something that's right in my wheelhouse. Now we'll have to have a meet-up this spring so you don't have to mail it!

172rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 11:04 am

Tuesday Clickbait



With 'Electric Dreams' Philip K. Dick Gets the TV Anthology Treatment — I know there are some fellow PKD fans who visit here (howdy, Mamie!) who might join me in being excited to check out this new Amazon Prime offering. All 10 episodes will be available starting Friday. (via The New York Times)

173scaifea
Jan. 9, 2018, 11:23 am

>171 rosalita: I'm happy to send the book along, but that doesn't mean I don't want a spring meet-up!

174Berly
Jan. 9, 2018, 11:37 am

>163 rosalita: Really nice review and I like Egan. : )

>172 rosalita: I am going to check this one out! Read my first PKD this year and liked it a lot. Thanks.

175rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 12:40 pm

>173 scaifea: Well, OK, but I'm going to hold you to that meet-up!

>174 Berly: Thanks, Kim! I guess I like her, too. :-) Even in Goon Squad I recognized that the writing was good, even though the format didn't work as well for me. I hope the PKD series is a good one!

176swynn
Bearbeitet: Jan. 9, 2018, 1:09 pm

>172 rosalita: Heck yes! Plus, Timothy Spall? I am so there.

But how will you resolve your interest in the show with your (justified) distaste for giving money to Amazon?

177rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 1:11 pm

>176 swynn: It's a conundrum, Steve. But I'm chagrined to say that I already pay for Amazon Prime, so watching this won't result in Amazon making any more money from me, at least.

178jnwelch
Jan. 9, 2018, 2:48 pm

>172 rosalita: Yes! How great. I'm a bigtime PKD fan, Julia. I'm alerting Debbi, who's reading Electric Sheep right now.

179rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 2:51 pm

>178 jnwelch: Terrific, Joe! I loved Electric Sheep when I read it last year. It was my first PKD and I couldn't imagine why I thought I wouldn't like him, except that for a long time I thought I didn't like sci-fi. It turns out I just was trying the wrong kinds, I guess. :-)

180Crazymamie
Jan. 9, 2018, 3:00 pm

>172 rosalita: WHOOP!! So very cool! I cannot wait.

181BLBera
Jan. 9, 2018, 3:08 pm

Hi Julia - I've been enjoying your clickbaits. I sent the links to >130 rosalita: and >156 rosalita: to some of my male colleagues, prompting a call down the hall that I must not have any work to do.

I haven't read Boyne either, but will definitely put him on the list.

Thanks - I had a good laugh over the women are better writers article.

182LovingLit
Jan. 9, 2018, 3:33 pm

>50 rosalita: lol, love the rubber band puns and ensuing hilarity. I'm just going to go back and read posts 50-90 again to brighten up my day.
:)


183rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 3:40 pm

>180 Crazymamie: Right?! I knew you would be excited, Mamie.

>181 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I'm glad you enjoy them. I really like being able to share some of the offbeat stuff I stumble on with other people. Otherwise, I just end up muttering to myself, "That was really interesting. I should tell someone about this." Which isn't nearly as much fun. Clearly, your male colleagues are just jealous that you are so well-connected!

>182 LovingLit: That whole section of the thread had a life of its own there for a while, Megan! I'm glad you're able to enjoy it after the fact. :-)

184LovingLit
Jan. 9, 2018, 3:43 pm

>182 LovingLit: I am actually in bed too, Like Mr Bean. Although I don't have my teddy :) I have my nephew staying, and his presence is calming my two down so there is (miraculously) no morning fighting to referee! I am lapping up the me time by LTing in bed. What luxury!

185rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 3:46 pm

>180 Crazymamie: I knew you would be as excited as I am, Mamie!

>181 BLBera: I'm glad the clickbait has been hitting the sweet spot with you, Beth. Your male colleagues sound a bit fuddy-duddy. :-)

>182 LovingLit: I'm glad you were able to enjoy it after the fact, Megan. Come back anytime you need a dose of the giggles!

186Crazymamie
Jan. 9, 2018, 3:48 pm

Julia? Look at >183 rosalita: and then at >185 rosalita:. What are you drinking, and can I have a glass?

187rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 9, 2018, 4:01 pm

>186 Crazymamie: I can 'splain everything, Lucy!

Drinking is SO 1950s, Mamie. I prefer my stimulants in 21st century forms. Ahem.

I thought I had posted but then I came back down to the bottom of the thread and saw Megan's post was the last one and thought, "Oh, it must not have posted," because that does happen sometimes, so I re-wrote it, and posted it. And all the while never noticed it was already there!

188rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 4:01 pm

>184 LovingLit: Wow, time alone to layabout in bed? I can almost hear you purring from here, Megan!

189Carmenere
Jan. 9, 2018, 4:09 pm

>163 rosalita: Woo hoo, 4 stars for Manhattan Beach! I've got that one waiting for me at the library.

190rosalita
Jan. 9, 2018, 4:44 pm

>189 Carmenere: Excellent, Lynda! I hope you like it as much as I did.

191LovingLit
Jan. 9, 2018, 5:41 pm

>187 rosalita: *Megan strikes again*

192swynn
Jan. 9, 2018, 5:50 pm

>176 swynn: Ah. Well then you're right to get all you can out of it. (I too pay the beast.)

193BLBera
Jan. 9, 2018, 10:11 pm

I especially liked the Boyne article, Julia, because we argue about women v. men writers all the time. This proves that I am right. :)

194ronincats
Jan. 9, 2018, 11:38 pm

>172 rosalita: Oh wow, got to check this one out!

195rosalita
Jan. 10, 2018, 7:30 am

>192 swynn: At least I'm in good company, Steve.

>193 BLBera: I'm glad to provide you with some ammunition in your debate, Beth, although I'm sure you were already winning. As you say, you have the truth on your side. :-)

>194 ronincats: it looks promising, doesn't it, Roni? I hope it's as good as it seems it could be.

196rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 10, 2018, 7:31 am

And again with the double posting! At least I caught this one. LT seems to have some early-year hiccups these days.

197Crazymamie
Jan. 10, 2018, 7:39 am

>187 rosalita: Ha! Too funny. And drinking is so yesterday? And just what is your 21st century drug of choice?

198rosalita
Jan. 10, 2018, 9:27 am

>197 Crazymamie: Tea, of course! ;-)

199Crazymamie
Jan. 10, 2018, 9:27 am

>198 rosalita: Um...no. Just no.

200rosalita
Jan. 10, 2018, 9:28 am

:)

201rosalita
Jan. 10, 2018, 11:26 am

Wednesday Clickbait



Curb How Facebook, Google and Amazon Use Your Personal Data In a Quick Privacy Clean-up — This is a straightforward article with practical steps you can take to protect your privacy online. One of its suggestions is to use a search engine like DuckDuckGo that doesn't keep track of what you search. That's what I have set all my browsers to, and it does seem to help a bit. The best advice is at the end — don't put all your online eggs in one basket. (via USA Today)

202BLBera
Jan. 10, 2018, 3:44 pm

>201 rosalita: Interesting. As usual. Yes, I am definitely winning the argument.

203rosalita
Jan. 10, 2018, 3:46 pm

Thanks, Beth! I'm glad you are straightening those guys out.

204rosalita
Bearbeitet: Feb. 6, 2018, 1:57 pm



2. Like Love by Ed McBain.

It's spring, when a policeman's fancy turns to ... well, investigating crime. Like every other season, I guess. Anyway, we open with Steve Carella leaning out a window, trying to convince a young woman not to jump to her death. He fails. Not long after, he and Cotton Hawes are called in to investigate an apparent double suicide, a couple found in bed with a suicide note ("we can't go on, etc.") in an apartment filled with gas. It seems nearly as straightforward as that jumper in the opening chapter, so why are Carella and Hawes reluctant to close the file and call it suicide? It's that old cop intuition, and of course it turns out to be right because otherwise there wouldn't be a book.

The plot's interesting but not quite as compelling as some earlier entries in the series. We do get some personal time with the squad at the 87th Precinct: Cotton's flirtation with his girlfriend is becoming serious and Bert Kling continues to mourn his murdered girlfriend. I was disappointed not to get even a cameo appearance from Carella's wife Teddy, who is delightful. Maybe in the next one.

(Ebook off the shelf)

205rosalita
Jan. 10, 2018, 4:42 pm

Currently Reading



Jack is back, stumbling into trouble in some podunk Wisconsin town. I'm not very far into it, but I'm already annoyed by all the sentence fragments. Has Lee Child always written like this? I don't remember being this irritated by it in earlier installments of this rock 'em sock 'em series. I don't want to be irritated. I want to be entertained!

Reacher put his left fist on the table. The size of a supermarket chicken. Long thick fingers with knuckles like walnuts. Old nicks and scars healed white against his summer tan.

206scaifea
Jan. 10, 2018, 5:35 pm

>205 rosalita: Ooof, I think that might irritate me, too.

207rosalita
Jan. 10, 2018, 5:40 pm

>205 rosalita: Yeah. I can't figure out if I've always just read over it without noticing (seems hard to believe) or if it's particularly bad in this book. I'll keep going and hope once the action really gets going that Child decides to use all the parts of speech — nouns, verbs, subject, predicate all in one sentence!

208scaifea
Jan. 10, 2018, 5:42 pm

>207 rosalita: *snork!* Fingers crossed!

209swynn
Bearbeitet: Jan. 10, 2018, 6:00 pm

>205 rosalita: I've only read the first two, and haven't noticed it, but maybe the explosions are distracting me. When I get around to #3, I'll report.

210rosalita
Jan. 10, 2018, 8:32 pm

>209 swynn: I wonder if it's something that has gotten worse gradually, as the books' popularity has increased and the level of close editing has decreased.

211drneutron
Jan. 11, 2018, 9:21 am

>207 rosalita:, >210 rosalita: Or maybe Child is just getting in a hurry to pump them out.

212rosalita
Jan. 11, 2018, 9:24 am

>211 drneutron: Also a real possibility!

213rosalita
Jan. 11, 2018, 10:31 am

Currently Watching



I'm a bit surprised at how much I enjoy Grace and Frankie, a Netflix original series starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as women who find themselves reluctantly thrown together when their husbands leave them — for each other. The husbands are played by Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston. I watched the first episode a while ago and thought it was just OK, but recently during our Arctic freeze I picked it up again and found that it improves greatly after that first setup episode. Fonda and Tomlin are fantastic, of course, and the show has some great things to say about the challenges faced by aging women. Plus, they live together in a beach house in La Jolla, Calif., and the scenery shots are gorgeous.

Is anyone else watching this? What do you think?

214luvamystery65
Jan. 11, 2018, 11:57 am

>213 rosalita: I love this show. I am anxiously awaiting the next season.

215rosalita
Jan. 11, 2018, 12:15 pm

>214 luvamystery65: It's really good! I actually laugh out loud sometimes, which is really rare. I am almost finished with the third season, so I'll be ready when the new season is released next week.

216BLBera
Jan. 11, 2018, 5:19 pm

>215 rosalita: I love all those actors, and my mom likes it. It's on my list, but lately I really haven't been interested in even turning on the TV.

217rosalita
Jan. 11, 2018, 5:40 pm

>216 BLBera: I can understand that, Beth. For me it's a matter of just opening up the Netflix app on my iPad, but I still find myself not always in the mood to bother. Easier to just read a book! I think you'd like it though, if you ever do feel like watching.

218klobrien2
Jan. 11, 2018, 7:39 pm

>213 rosalita: Love the show! No clinkers in that cast--even the "kids" are great.

Karen O.

219BLBera
Jan. 11, 2018, 8:28 pm

I will get to it because it does sound like one I would like. Now that school is started, I do have days when I'm too exhausted to read, so it's good to know I have something ready to watch. And "Longmire." I'm only on the second season with that.

220Copperskye
Jan. 11, 2018, 11:46 pm

>213 rosalita: Hmmm.... I watched the first episode sometime ago (whenever it was first offered) and I thought it was kinda awful. Disappointed because I liked the cast and the premise seemed good. I’ll give it another chance now - thanks!

221LovingLit
Jan. 12, 2018, 4:30 am

>213 rosalita: I get the feeling I would like Jane Fonda a lot more (in general) if she didn't look so much like she was trying to look so much younger than she is, if you know what I mean.

222rosalita
Jan. 12, 2018, 6:19 am

>218 klobrien2: Agreed, Karen!

>219 BLBera: I know what you mean, Beth. It's nice to have something that doesn't require a lot of thinking when you've been thinking and talking all day long.

>220 Copperskye: Yeah, the first episode was not great, Joanne. It was a couple of months before I decided to try it again, and it finally clicked. The whole first season it seems they are trying to establish the characters and their back stories, and it can be a little uneven because of that, I think.

>221 LovingLit: She does look fabulous for her age, Megan! I don't know what kind of work she's had done on her face but it doesn't look as "frozen" as some folks who have face lifts. Plus, in one episode she lifted her leg and stuck her foot in the sink to rinse the sand off and I thought, "Crap, I couldn't do that at 30, let alone 70!" :-)

223rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 12, 2018, 3:51 pm

Friday Clickbait



Art Hound: Meet the Adorable Puppy That's Helping the MFA Boston Protect and Preserve Its Collection — Look at that face! That is Riley, a 12-week-old Weimaraner puppy who is being trained to sniff out insects and other bugs that infest the Boston Museum of Fine Arts' collections. If you want to see Riley in action, check out this Boston Globe video. It's the perfect way to end the work week. (via ArtNet News)

224scaifea
Jan. 12, 2018, 2:26 pm

>223 rosalita: Never have I ever seen a gooder boy. He definitely deserves some ear-scritches.

225harrygbutler
Jan. 12, 2018, 2:37 pm

226rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 12, 2018, 4:03 pm

>224 scaifea: Right, Amber? He's the goodest boy. ALL the scritches for Riley!

>225 harrygbutler: I didn't even know dogs could do that, Harry.

227charl08
Jan. 12, 2018, 4:02 pm

>223 rosalita: Oh, I wonder if Riley has any relatives loooking for a home. He's gorgeous.

228rosalita
Jan. 12, 2018, 4:16 pm

>227 charl08: Isn't he just too precious, Charlotte?

229harrygbutler
Bearbeitet: Jan. 12, 2018, 4:51 pm

>226 rosalita: CBP has used them for years: https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/protecting-agriculture/agriculture-canine

Here's a story about one trained by the USDA to detect the Asian Longhorned Beetle:

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2011/08/12/mans-best-friend-protects-american-ag...

And a more recent story from APHIS about the use of dogs:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/plant...

230rosalita
Jan. 12, 2018, 5:27 pm

>229 harrygbutler: Thanks for the links, Harry! That is really neat.

231nittnut
Jan. 12, 2018, 5:57 pm

>201 rosalita: Great article. Sigh. Privacy may be a thing of the distant past...

Dogs are so cool and smart. I'd love one, sort of. :)

232drneutron
Jan. 12, 2018, 7:52 pm

Huh. Bug-sniffing dogs. Pretty cool!

233DeltaQueen50
Jan. 13, 2018, 12:22 am

Hi Julia, thanks for all the clickbait! I loved the John Boyne article and like you I took a list of woman authors from it to follow up on. I was disappointed in Naipaul's comment especially as I have him on my shelves. :( But I also a couple of John Boyne's as well Mutiny and Next of Kin and I am looking forward to reading him.

234rosalita
Jan. 13, 2018, 12:35 am

>231 nittnut: Complete privacy is probably impossible in an online life, Jenn, but I'm happy to know how to minimize the data mining companies do on me. Even if sometimes it feels like shoveling smoke against the tide!

>232 drneutron: Dogs are so cool, Jim!

>233 DeltaQueen50: Howdy, Judy! The Boyne article was good, wasn't it? I'm glad you're enjoying the clickbait. :-)

235swynn
Jan. 13, 2018, 12:53 am

>223 rosalita: We've been talking about purchasing a "bug oven" to control potential bedbug infestations. I'm going to suggest a dog as an alternative. Soo much more versatile. And cuddly.

236rosalita
Jan. 13, 2018, 8:18 am

>235 swynn: Oh yes! You absolutely need a big dog, Steve! I know the UI Library brings in therapy dogs during finals for students to cuddle with and de-stress. Perhaps you could sell it as a dual-purpose pup?

237SandDune
Jan. 13, 2018, 3:48 pm

>223 rosalita: He is gorgeous! When we were in Portugal in the summer, we went to visit the old library at the University of Coimbra. They dealt with any insect population by maintaining a little colony of bats:



238rosalita
Jan. 13, 2018, 4:33 pm

>237 SandDune: Bats! Imagine that. Not quite as cuddly as a puppy but noble creatures nonetheless. And what a lovely photo — thanks for sharing that, Rhian!

239Berly
Jan. 16, 2018, 1:21 am

>213 rosalita: I do NOT need another TV show. Not. Well, not really. Maybe....

240rosalita
Jan. 16, 2018, 11:50 am

>239 Berly: The episodes are only 30 minutes long ... :-)

241rosalita
Bearbeitet: Feb. 6, 2018, 1:58 pm



3. The Midnight Line by Lee Child.

Perpetual drifter Jack Reacher is drifting about the wilds of Wisconsin when he spies a class ring from West Point in the window of a pawnshop. This offends his sensibilities since he knows how hard West Point cadets work to earn that ring, and he cannot imagine any scenario other than strife that would make one of them voluntarily surrender it. It's very small, clearly sized for a woman, with the initials SRS engraved inside the band. Reacher buys the ring and sets out to return it to its owner, whoever she may be. His search leads him from Wisconsin to Rapid City, South Dakota, and on to the empty stretches of Wyoming. Along the way, he manages to get involved with various elements of a drug cartel and fend off numerous hapless goons in a variety of fist fights. As one does. If you enjoy reading about the physical exploits of a man whose hands are variously described as the size of supermarket chickens, dinner plates, and Thanksgiving turkeys, you will like this one. I deducted a half-star for the choppy writing mentioned in >205 rosalita:, which was less noticeable as the action got going. I'm worried that after 22 book-length adventures and a double handful of short stories that Child's shtick is wearing thin on me.

(library ebook)

242jnwelch
Bearbeitet: Jan. 16, 2018, 2:04 pm

>241 rosalita: If you enjoy reading about the physical exploits of a man whose hands are variously described as the size of supermarket chickens, dinner plates, and Thanksgiving turkeys, you will like this one. LOL! Oh, I love that, Julia. Priceless.

P.S. If you post it on the book page , I will thumb.

243rosalita
Jan. 16, 2018, 2:40 pm

>242 jnwelch: Well, I cannot resist the chance to earn another thumb — duly posted. And thanks! I'm glad you liked the line about his hands. Hyperbole when it comes to Reacher's physical prowess just seems to be part of the landscape for Child. Although, I wonder if he was trying to stave off Tom Cruise starring in another movie? I'm not sure Cruise's entire body is the size of a supermarket chicken. ;-)

244jnwelch
Jan. 16, 2018, 2:42 pm

>243 rosalita: LOL!! You're on a roll, my friend. Who cast an actor for the movie who may not be as big as one of Reacher's hands? *still laughing*

245rosalita
Jan. 16, 2018, 2:43 pm

246LovingLit
Jan. 16, 2018, 2:44 pm

>240 rosalita: Not helping! But, I suspect you knew that :):)

>243 rosalita: I cannot resist the chance to earn another thumb
He he, none of us can, Julia, none of us...

247rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 16, 2018, 4:10 pm

>246 LovingLit: I did know that, Megan. I'm a naughty girl!

248rosalita
Jan. 16, 2018, 5:34 pm

Currently Reading



I won a copy of Winter in a book giveaway, so it was time to firm up my vague plans to read this one "someday". I've only read one other book by Ali Smith, There But For The and found it delightfully different than most books I read. I've only read one chapter of this one, but so far I'm having the same experience.

249BLBera
Jan. 16, 2018, 10:48 pm

I LOVED Autumn, Julia. I can't wait to hear what you think. It was the first book by Smith that I read, and I am convinced she is genius.

250rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 17, 2018, 7:20 am

>249 BLBera: Hi, Beth! I am enjoying it so far. I remember my reaction to that first Smith book I read, There But For The. I felt almost dizzy with pleasure at her linguistic playfulness, and this one is giving me the same. Good thing I'm not listening to the audiobook while driving!

251Crazymamie
Jan. 17, 2018, 8:52 am

>249 BLBera: What she said.

Morning, Julia! It's snowing, and I am giddy with excitement about it.

252ChelleBearss
Jan. 17, 2018, 9:01 am

>213 rosalita: I also enjoyed Frankie and Grace, but I am a season behind (I think). I didn't think it would be something I would like but I found it quite funny!

>241 rosalita: Glad to see you are still enjoying the series. I agree with >243 rosalita: that maybe he was trying to get rid of Cruise for the rest. He really is a tiny man compared to how Reacher is described!

253rosalita
Jan. 17, 2018, 9:14 am

>251 Crazymamie: Snowing! I can feel your excitement all the way up here in Iowa, Mamie! I'd be happy to send you some double-digit below-zero windchills if you'd like to complete the Midwestern winter experience. :-D

>252 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! I've been pleasantly surprised at how many times I have literally laughed out loud watching "Frankie and Grace." Of course, such superb actors can really sell their characters, can't they?

254Crazymamie
Jan. 17, 2018, 9:20 am

Julia, that is really so very thoughtful of you, but ...um...that won't be necessary.

255rosalita
Jan. 17, 2018, 9:37 am

Really, it's no trouble at all! I hate to see you deprived of the fun of frozen nose hairs.

256karenmarie
Jan. 17, 2018, 10:20 am

Hi Julia! Happy Wednesday to you. Way behind, again. Sigh.

Grace and Frankie duly noted. Maybe I can get my husband to watch.

>241 rosalita: Nice review. I gave it 4 stars, because I appreciated the honesty of showing Reacher as flawed in some of his assumptions and reactions. I've got No Middle Name, the collection of short stories that came out last year on my shelves, a Christmas gift courtesy of a cousin.

>255 rosalita: I didn't even know of the frozen nose hair phenomenon (being from southern California) until I went to St. Paul in February one year to visit a friend and experienced the awfulness while walking from the terminal to the car.

BTW, your clickbait about straws last year, which prompted me to buy metal ones, impressed my husband recently. He saw an article about the waste and danger of plastic straws and told me I was ahead of the game. *smile*

257rosalita
Jan. 17, 2018, 10:30 am

>256 karenmarie: Howdy, Karen! I don't think it's possible to NOT be behind on LT in January! Just come by whenever you can; we'll keep a light on for you. :-)

I thought Reacher actually worked better in the short-story format, so I'll be interested to see what you think of No Middle Name.

I'm tickled that you were able to dazzle your husband with your eco savvy! I've been pretty good about using my metal straw, except when I take it out of my bag to wash it and forget to put it back. I may need to do what you did and buy a set on Amazon so I always have one ready to go.

258rosalita
Bearbeitet: Jan. 17, 2018, 12:23 pm

Can't get enough of conversation about hands the sizes of supermarket chickens and frozen nose hair? Click that link right there and join the fun on my next thread!
Dieses Thema wurde unter rosalita jumps a little higher in 2018: Verse 2 weitergeführt.