Mamie's 2021 Madness, page 8

Late Night Thriller - Cat Reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Lucia Hefferna

Keeping this topper because I love it so much.

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October Reads:
90. Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser, Audiobook narrated by Xe Sands, feminism - 3 stars
91. The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs, Audiobook narrated by George Guidall, acquired in 2018, children's literature/magic
92. Optic Nerve by Maria Gainza, translated by Thomas Bunstead, Kindle, acquired in 2021, autofiction/art history/linked vignettes - 4 stars
93. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie, trade paperback, crime fiction/mystery (Hercule Poirot, book 17, Colonel Race, book 3) - reread
94. Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O'Keefe, Kindle, acquired in 2021, space opera (The Protectorate, book 1) - recommended by Jim

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, acquired in 2020, 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
6. Battle Ground by Jim Butcher, audiobook narrated by James Marsters, acquired in 2020, urban fantasy (Dresden Files, Book 17) - 4 stars
7. Medieval People by Eileen Powers, Kindle, acquired in 2020, non-fiction/social history/Middle Ages - 4.25 stars
8. Bloody January by Alan Parks, Kindle, acquired in 2020, crime fiction (Harry McCoy, book 1) - 2.5 stars
9. Paper Girls Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan (Author), Cliff Chiang (Artist), Matthew Wilson (Artist), Kindle, borrowed, GN, time travel - 3.5 stars
10. The Weirdies by Michael Buckley, borrowed audiobook narrated by Kate Winslet, juvenile fiction/humor - 5 stars
11. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Kindle, acquired in 2020, gothic horror - 3.5 stars
12. Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls, Kindle, acquired in 2021, novella/grief - 4 stars
13. Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen, Kindle, acquired in 2020, short story/food - 4.5 stars
14. Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lita Judge, Hardback, acquired in 2021, graphic biography in verse/books about books - 5 stars

February Reads:
15. Paper Girls: Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan (writer), Cliff Chiang (artist), Matt Wilson (colors), Jared K. Fletcher (letters), paperback, acquired in 2021, GN/time travel - 4 stars
16. Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer, audiobook narrated by Katherine Kellgren, acquired in 2021, YA/historical mystery (Enola Holmes, book 1) - 4 stars
17. Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto, translated by Megan Backus, Kindle, acquired in 2020, novellas/grief - 2 stars
18. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Kindle, acquired in 2020, Polish fiction/animal rights - 4 stars
19. Summerwater by Sarah Moss, Kindle, acquired in 2021, contemporary fiction/linked vignettes - 4.5 stars

March Reads:
20. The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen, paperback (with deckled edge pages!), acquired in 2016, travel writing/Nepal/Tibet/Buddhism/grief - 4 stars
21. A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourne, Kindle, acquired in 2021, historical mystery (Veronica Speedwell, book 1) - 4 stars - recommended by Chelle
22. Paper Girls: Volume 3 by Brian K Vaughan (writer), Cliff Chiang (artist), Matt Wilson (colors), paperback, acquired in 2021, GN/time travel - 3 stars
23. I Will Have Vengeance by Maurizio de Giovanni, translated by Anne Milano Appel, police procedural/Naples/1930s - 4 stars (Commisario Riccardi, book 1)
24. Death in August by Marco Vichi, translated by Stephen Sartarelli, Kindle, acquired in 2018, police procedural/Florence (Inspector Bordelli, book 1) - 3 stars
25. Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon, Kindle, acquired in 2019, police procedural/Venice (Commissario Brunetti, book 1) - 3 stars
26. Up at the Villa by W. Somerset Maugham, Kindle, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/Florence/ just pre-WWII - 3 stars
27. West by Carys Davies, Kindle, acquired in 2020, historical fiction/western/novella - 4.5 stars - Katie's Dirty Dozen
28. Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola, translated by ?, audiobook narrated by Kate Winslet, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/classic - 3 stars

April Reads:
29. Miss Treadway and the Field of Stars by Miranda Emmerson, Kindle, acquired in 2021, mystery/amateur sleuth - 4 stars (Anna Treadway, book 1) - recommended by Charlotte
30. Injury Time by Beryl Bainbridge, Kindle, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/infidelity/dark comedy - 3.5 stars
31. Passing by Nella Larson, hardback, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/race/1920s - 4 stars
32. Destroyer by Victor LaValle (writer), Micaela Dawn (cover art), Smith Dietrich (artist), Joana Lafuente (colorist), Kindle Fire, borrowed, GN/sci fi/Frankenstein retelling - 4.5 stars - recommended by Roberta
33. Descender Vol. 1: Tin Stars by Jeff Lemire (author), Dustin Nguyen (artist), Kindle Fire, borrowed, GN/space opera/AI - 5 stars - recommended by Joe
34. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson, translated by Thomas Teal, Kindle, acquired in 2020, literary fiction/linked vignettes - 4.5 stars - recommended by Helen
35. Descender Vol. 2 by Jeff Lemire (author), Dustin Nguyen (artist), Kindle Fire, borrowed, GN/space opera/AI - 4.5 stars - recommended by Joe
36. The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, Kindle, acquired in 2019, literary fiction/Catholicism/religious persecution - 4 stars
37. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Sparks, Kindle, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/coming of age/1930a - 3.5 stars

May Reads:
38. Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi, hardback, library book, literary fiction/mother-daughter relationships/dementia - 3 stars
39. Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller, Kindle, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/relationships/infidelity/grief - 4.5 stars
40. Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion, Hardback, library book, non-fiction/essays
41. All Systems Red by Martha Wells, Kindle, acquired in 2018, sci fi/AI/space opera - reread
42. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor, Hardback, library book, sci fi/death - 4 stars
43. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding, hardback and audio narrated by Kenneth Danzinger, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/classics/humor
44. Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller, Kindle, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/gothic/psychological thriller - 3.75 stars
45. Body in the Castle Well by Martin Walker, trade paperback, acquired in 2020, police procedural/France (Bruno Courrèges, book 12) - 4 stars
46. The Shooting at Chateau Rock by Martin Walker, trade paperback, acquired in 2021, police procedural/France (Bruno Courrèges, book 13) - 3.5 stars
47. The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg (Illustrator), Malcolm Jones Iii (Illustrator), paperback acquired in 2013, GN/horror - 3.5 stars
48. Britten and Brulightly by Hannah Berry, Kindle Fire, acquired in 2021, GN/noir/private detective - 4.5 stars - recommended by Jennifer (mstrust)
49. The Man with the Golden Typewriter edited by Fergus Fleming, narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt, audiobook, acquired on 2018, non-fiction/letters/Ian Fleming/James Bond - 5 stars
50. Restless by William Boyd, audiobook narrated by Rosamund Pike, acquired in 2015, thriller/espionage/WWII - 4 stars - recommended by Bonnie and Donna
51. Descender Vol. 3: Singularities by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (Artist), Kindle Fire, acquired in 2021, GN/space opera/AI - 4 stars

June Reads:
52. Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country buy Neil Gaiman, Kelley Jones (illustrator/artist), borrowed, GN/horror/mythology - 3 stars
53. The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire by Molly Harper, Kindle, acquired in 2016, paranormal mystery/romance (Half Moon Hollow, book 3) - 3 stars
54. Mediterranean Mood Food by Paula See, hardback, library book, cookbook
55. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths, hardback, acquired in 2018, police procedural (Harbinder Kaur, book 1) - reread
56. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths, Kindle, acquired in 2021, police procedural (Harbinder Kaur, book 2) - 4 stars

July Reads:
57. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths, Kindle, acquired in 2021, police procedural/forensic anthropology (Ruth Galloway, book 13) - 3.5 stars
58. The Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard, Kindle, acquired in 2021, historical fiction/WWII - 4 stars
59. Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller, hardback, library book, literary fiction/poverty/grief
60. Descender Vol. 4 Orbital Mechanics by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (Artist), Kindle Fire, acquired in 2021, GN/space opera/AI - 4 stars
61. Up in Honey's Room by Elmore Leonard, Kindle, acquired in 2021, crime fiction/WWII/humor - 3 stars
62. Dead Man in a Ditch by Luke Arnold, 2021 acquired audiobook narrated by Luke Arnold, fantasy/private detective/noir - 3.5 stars

August Reads:
63. Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri, library hardback, translation, literary fiction/linked vignettes/solitude - 4 stars
64. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, audiobook narrated by Simon Vance, acquired in 2020, classic/shipwreck/survival - 3.5 stars
65. Ankomst by Gøhril Gabrielsen, translated by Deborah Dawkin, Kindle, acquired in 2021, psychological thriller/novella - 3 stars, recommended by Helen
66. The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson, Kindle, acquired in 2021, biographical novel/journalism/Puerto Rico - 3 stars
67. A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher, Kindle, acquired in 2021, Children's literature/fantasy/wizards - 4 stars - recommended by Richard
68. Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant, Kindle, acquired in 2021, novella/horror/mermaids - 4 stars
69. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, translated by ?, Kindle, acquired in 2021, linked vignettes/Marco Polo/Kublai Khan - 2.5 stars
70. Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books by Cathy Rentzenbrink, Kindle, acquired in 2021, memoir/books about books - 4 stars - recommended by Helen
71. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, Audiobook narrated by Juliet Stevenson, classic/literary fiction/industrialism - 5 stars
72. Remake by Connie Willis, Audiobook narrated by Christopher Kipiniak, acquired in 2021, sf/Hollywood/futuristic - 4.5 stars
73. Essential Welty by Eudora Welty, Audiobook narrated by Eudora Welty, acquired in 2017, short stories/Southern fiction - 4.5 stars
74. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, Kindle, acquired in 2013, crime fiction/classic - 4 stars
75. A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark, library hardback, fantasy/steampunk/1912 Cairo - 4 stars
76. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, Audiobook narrated by Fenella Woolgar, acquired in 2013, historical fiction/alternate lives - 4.5 stars
77. Descender Vol. 5: Rise Of The Robots by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (Artist), Kindle Fire, acquired in 2021, GN/space opera/AI - 4 stars
78. Descender Vol. 6: The Machine War by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (Artist), Kindle Fire, acquired in 2021, GN/space opera/AI - 5 stars

September Reads:
79. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warren, Kindle, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/feminism - 3 stars
80. Memento Mori by Muriel Spark, Audiobook narrated by Nadia May, borrowed from Audible Plus Catalog, literary fiction/old age - 4 stars
81. The Window Seat: Notes from a Life in Motion by Aminatta Forna, library hardback, non-fiction/essays - 4.5 stars
82. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster, Audiobook narrated by Rebecca Hall, borrowed from Audible Plus Catalog, literary fiction - 5 stars
83. All the President's Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Trade Paperback acquired in 2021, non-fiction/politics/Watergate/Washington Post - 4 stars, buddy read with Susan and Birdy
84. Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare, Kindle, acquired in 2021, historical romance (Spindle Cove, book 4) - 4.5 stars, Katie's Dirty Dozen
85. Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare, Kindle, acquired in 2021, historical romance (Spindle Cove, book 5) (Castles Ever After, book 4) - 4 stars
86. Hickory, Dickory, Dock by Agatha Christie, trade paperback, acquired in 2012, crime fiction/mystery (Hercule Poirot, book 29) - 3.5 stars, read this with Birdy
87. My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones, library hardback, horror - 5 stars - recommended by Richard
88. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal, Kindle, acquired in 2021, immigration/assimilation/feminism - 3.5 stars, Katie's Dirty Dozen
89. Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie, trade paperback acquired forever ago, crime fiction/mystery (Hercule Poirot, book 27, Ariadne Oliver, book 3) - reread

The List: (this is a list LT book bullets from this year)

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) read Feb. 2021
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) read Jan. 2021
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 read May 2021
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
25. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones - because Ellen because Richard

The List, continued:

26. A World Beneath the Sands by Toby Wilkinson - Erik
27. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu - Charlotte "...really clever (and funny) way of making a powerful point about stereotypes..."
28. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell - Leslie (leslie.98)
29. Milkman by Anna Burns - Richard
30. The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw - Chelle (YA)
31. The Tender Bar by J. R. Moehringer - Mark - memoir
32. Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O'Keefe - Jim (acquired 1/26/21)
33. Mystery, Inc. by Joyce Carol Oates - Jennifer
34. The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton - Jennifer (jpaul22)
35. The Man Who Walked Through Walls by Marcel Aymé - Pam
36. Telephone by Percival Everett - Kay
37. Monogamy by Sue Miller - Kay again
38. Destroyer by Victor LaValle - Roberta read April 2021
39. A Little London Scandal by Miranda Emmerson - Charlotte (this is the second in the series)
40. Written in Bone by Sue Black - Susan
41. The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville - Laura on Katie's thread!
42. A Natural History of Hell by Jeffrey Ford - Richard
43. Shooting Midnight Cowboy by Glenn Frankel - Mark
44. Pandora's Jar by Natalie Haynes - Helen
45. Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink - Helen again read 8/2021
46. Sicily by John Julius Norwich - Helen is on a roll!
47. The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith - because Richard said so
48. Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So - Richard again
49. Know My Name by Chantel Miller - Susan
50. The Good Lord Bird - Mark said so

The List continues:

51. The Eternal Audience of One by Rémy Ngamije - Richard
52. Lust and Forbidden Fruit Tomato Rhapsody: A Fable of Love by Adam Schell - Judy
53. The Changeling by Victor LaValle - Richard again
54. The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey - VictoriaPL
55. Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente - Richard says this is a similar theme to Remake
56. Madness is Better than Defeat by Ned Beauman - Richard again
57. Boxer, Beetle by Ned Beauman - Richard is on a roll
58. Medusa's Web by Tim Powers - Susan (quondame)
59. Experimental Film by Lewis Jacobs - Susan (quondame) again
60. Hot Money by Dick Francis - Karen
61. Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams - Beth
62. Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins - Beth again
63. Twenty-Five to Life by R.W.W. Greene - Richard
64. Adrift by Rob Boffard
65. My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones - Richard - read 9/2021
66. Ariadne by Jennifer Saint - Beth
67. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell - Roberta
68. The Gadfly by Ethel Voynich - Richard on Karen's thread
69. Heating & Cooling: 52 micro memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly - Charlotte
70. A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell - Reba
71. Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy - VictoriaPL
72. NEVER SILENT: ACT UP and My Life in Activism by Peter Staley - Richard
73. Dialogues with Rising Tides by Kelli Russell Agodon - Mark - poetry collection

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
2. Blessings by Anna Quindlen
3. When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele
4. Island of the Lost by Joan Druett
5. The Plot by Jean Hand Korelitz
6. Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
7. You Deserve Nothing by Alexander Maksik
8. A Burning by Megha Majumdar
9. I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti
10. Falling by T.J. Newman
11. Lizzie & Dante by Mary Bly (Eloisa James)
12. Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare read 9/2021 4.5 stars
13. The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
14. Bookmarked: Reading My Way from Hollywood to Brooklyn by Wendy W. Fairey (daughter of Sheila Graham) - go with the print version
15. The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman - linked short stories
16. What is Left the Daughter by Howard Norman
17. All The Young Men by Ruth Coker Burks

This should do it - next one's yours!

MINE!

ETA: Happy new thread, Mamie :)

>11 katiekrug: You are first, Katie!! And so fast - you were there before I even finished transferring everything. Nicely done. And thank you!

Hiya, Mamie, and happy new thread!

>9 Crazymamie: Let me chime in on The Plot, too. It was fantastic.

>13 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Thank you. I had The Plot out from the library but I had to return it before I got to it - I will get it back as soon as I finish up some of my current reads.

Happy new thread, Mamie!

Happy new thread, friend!

>15 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

>16 scaifea: Thank you, Amber!

86. Hickory, Dickory, Dock by Agatha Christie, trade paperback, acquired in 2012, crime fiction/mystery (Hercule Poirot, book 29) - 3.5 stars, read this with Birdy

Many years ago, I received an Agatha Christie for Christmas - Mrs. McGinty's Dead, and I loved it. I was probably 12 or 13. Stayed up into the wee small hours finishing it and then proceeded to devour them one after another. Hercule Poirot has always been my favorite of her detectives, but honestly they are all fun. After finishing our read aloud of All The President's Men, Birdy and I decided to do another book together, and she wanted to try an Agatha Christie because she has never read one - she picked this title from the stacks. I could not remember if I had read it before or not. Not, as it turns out, or else I have completely forgotten it, which could also happen. *blinks* Anyway, it was nice and twisty, and we enjoyed reading it together. We have decide to continue with Christie, so yesterday we started Mrs. McGinty's Dead.

Happy new one, Mamie.

>19 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!

Cheers!

>21 weird_O: Thank you, Oh Weird One!

I am seriously considering setting up a first draft, so to speak, of my beverage station on my Hoosier cabinet this weekend and I happily blame you...

>23 scaifea:

>24 Crazymamie: omg how adorable is that kiddo?!

>24 Crazymamie: I think that little one could have anything she wanted from me! Happy new thread, Mamie and thanks for the morning smile :)

Happy new thread Mamie.
Hurrah for the Christie read idea. I have that on the radar when I have finished the Heyer read.

>18 Crazymamie: I'm amazed you hadn't read it before! A little less amazed, but a lot more concerned, that it could simply have been overwritten in the intervening *mumble*teen years.

A whole morning down the pan waiting for the dickdoc to arrive & then refill three Rx. Three hours all sitting...ooowwwwww

Grumbling done. Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Mamie! I had a perfect walk with Bree, Jackson & the dogs today. Just sayin'...

>25 scaifea: Right?!

>26 RebaRelishesReading: Me, too, Reba. And thanks!

>27 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen! I was surprised that Birdy wanted to keep going because she does not usually read mysteries. Her heart belongs to fantasy/folk tales/ fairy tales/mythology. Anyway, it should be fun!

>28 richardderus: So true about the intervening years. We did not own many books when I was growing up - I had to get what I read from the library. The one I could walk to and the school library, so I did have a limited selection to choose from. I started acquiring my own collection as an adult, but I have only reread my favorites, so...Rae loves mysteries, so she has read quite a few of them.

Sorry about the lost morning - what a drag.

Feel free to grumble at will whenever needed. *smooch* And thanks for those happy wishes!

>29 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>30 msf59: Thank you, Mark! So glad you got your walk in with two of your very favorite people. And canines.

Happy New Thread, Mamie! Happy Friday as well!

>33 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! Happy Fridaying to you, too!

Lvely to see such a flying start to #8, Mamie. Happy new thread and love to all at the Pecan Paradisio.

>35 PaulCranswick: Paul, thank you so much for that! Here's hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

Happy new one!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Saturday. I hope you have an R & R weekend planned at the Pecan Paradiso.

I've gotten an unusually early start today. Stayed awake during the dark time racing to the end of Have His Carcase, a Wimsey/Vane whodunnit. I can't get my head around the idea, embraced by the police in this early '30s novel, that it's completely plausible that a person could commit suicide by slashing his/her throat from ear to ear with a straight razor. Well, it'll be a quiet weekend here.

>37 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>38 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday! A mix of chores and the lazy for today and tomorrow is football. Currently, Birdy, Abby, Craig and I are enjoying the cooler morning temps on the screened-in porch. Gotta soak it up while we can because it's gonna hot up later.

>39 weird_O: Good Morning, Oh Weird One! Look at you burning the midnight oil - I am usually wide awake and reading from 3-6am. I'm with you on that suicide being nothing but suspicious - is that even physically possible? I mean, as soon as you cut the artery on one side...

Hi Mamie, and happy Saturday to you.

You're reading Poirot, and I've started a personal challenge to re-read Miss Marple. Two down, seventeen to go.

>41 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Saturday! How fun that we are both reading Agatha Christie. We are reading Poirot currently, but Birdy would like to read at least one book for each of her detectives, so we will be getting to Miss Marple.

87. My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones, library hardback, horror - 5 stars - recommended by Richard

I loved this! The 80s were my teenage years, and my friends and I used to go in a big group to all of the horror movies that were so popular at that time. This book is an homage to those movies, both the slashers and the thrillers like Jaws and Poltergeist. And yet it is so much more than that. The storytelling here is epic, and I was completely awed by the terrible beauty here and charmed by exactly how it was delivered. It's just So. Well. Done. If you want a better idea about what the book is about, then you should read Richard's Brilliant Review of it, which is what landed this title on The List.

A huge thanks to Richard for bringing this one to my attention - one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

>43 Crazymamie: Ooooh, adding that one to the list!

>44 scaifea: Hooray! My first book by this author, and I was just blown away.

>43 Crazymamie: Oh...you liked it. Good.

:-P
***
Finally, this stupid meme made me smile.

>46 richardderus: Yes, I know you were probably holding your breath. *blinks*

Too funny!

Happy new thread, Mamie! I discovered Christie at about the same age as you but my fav was Miss Marple. I didn't really take to Poirot until I saw Suchet in the role.

I just finished The Plot, good writing but I was not too fond of the story. Different strokes, I guess.

>48 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg! Miss Marple is also my sister Cindy's favorite.

Interesting about The Plot - I'll have to compare notes after I get to it.

>43 Crazymamie: Well, crap. Now I gotta go get that one!

>48 Familyhistorian: I think my opinion is probably an outlier on that one.

Cards on the Table is one of her best ensemble casts...it's got Supt. Battle, Poirot, and the ineffable Ariadne Oliver!

Stephen Graham Jones retweeted your complimentary quote w/a smile!

Happy new thread and happy weekend, Mamie!

>50 drneutron: Yup! You're welcome, Jim.

>51 Familyhistorian: I'll keep that in mind, Meg, but I am often an outlier myself.

>52 richardderus: I do remember reading that one! I always had a soft spot for Ariadne.

I do not Twitter. Please to explain.

>53 bell7: Thank you, Mary! Hoping your weekend is also full of happy!

>54 Crazymamie: I tweeted your laudatory assessment of CHAINSAW w/a line saying it was by my "elderly-lite friend"...Stephen saw it, liked the tweet, and retweeted it!

You've been Noticed and Appreciated!

ETA

Stephen Graham Jones
Retweeted your Tweet
MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW @sgj72 got an almost-5* #BookReview out of me: https://tinyurl.com/46dc3skv
My elderly-lite buddy said it best: "I just finished reading...it was full of fabulous. I'm giving it the full five stars. And the Acknowledgments - oof! It was a perfect read for me."

Oh! Thanks so much for taking the trouble to explain that to me. I'm practically famous! Elderly-lite made me laugh out loud. *smooch* How lovely!

Morning, Mamie! Happy Sunday. Good review of My Heart Is a Chainsaw. I love your enthusiasm. I liked his last one, The Only Good Indians.

Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday - Football Day!! Thank you. I do have The Only Good Indians on The List - I remember you and Ellen and Richard loving it. Hoping to get to that one soonish.

'Morning, Mamie! Enjoy your football day! Refresh my memory. Who pulls for whom at the Pecan Paradisio?

I wish my Panthers were playing today. They played Thursday and won, so I'm happy about that. Perhaps I can persuade Bill to watch the Chiefs with me.

Phooey on foo-ball, I've got a visitrix! My old pal, Valerie, from high school!, is spending a few days here. She still lives in Texas so she's soaking up some coolth and wandering about with me.

Happy Sunday! *smooch*

>60 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! So far so good with the football day. Here's the run down on the Pecan Paradisio favs:

Mamie - Falcons, but I also have a soft spot for Green Bay

Birdy - Falcons

Abby - Saints

Rae - Giants, but she also roots for the Chiefs

Daniel and Kaitlyn - Eagles

Craig does not really watch football. Weirdo.

>61 richardderus: Sounds like fun, BigDaddy. Hoping your hang time is full of fabulous. Happy Sundaying to you! *smooch back*

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal, Kindle, acquired in 2021, immigration/assimilation/feminism - 3.5 stars, Katie's Dirty Dozen

I thought this was good but not great, but I loved the premise. Nikki, who is Punjabi Sikh born and raised in England to parents who immigrated from India, takes a part time job in Southall teaching storytelling to a class of Punjabi widows. What she has really been hired for is to teach them to read and write in English. What the widows want is to write erotic stories - an idea they get from a book in Nikki's bag that she bought as a gag gift. Along the way, the women find their voice. There are multiple storylines woven into the narrative, and they are all interesting - they ask questions about culture and assimilation and women's rights. I wish the author had spent more time developing the characters, as the story felt slightly shallow to me - I also wanted a longer story arc and more complex and realistic resolutions to the issues presented. It seemed too easy and too neat.

Here's question - I like to track an author's nationality, and this author was born in Singapore and grew up in Japan, Russia, and the Philippines, but she is also listed as an Australian author. Where would you put her? LT lists her nationality as Australian, but other sites say Singaporean.

>62 Crazymamie: Thanks for the run down!

>63 Crazymamie: I track an author's nationality by where they were born. Yes, it is arbitrary and doesn't necessarily reflect where the author is 'coming from' or what she/he is writing about, but it's easily quantifiable and not open to interpretation.

>64 karenmarie: You're welcome, Karen!

It's tricky, and I get what you're saying, but if I do that then George Orwell is Indian. I guess I could do nationality AT birth. I usually try to put them where they identify with, so either birth nationality or choice nationality, but I know next to nothing about this particular author. Tana French is another difficult one as she is listed as having three nationalities.

Morning, Mamie. I know the Packers won, great game and I think your Falcons won, so it sounds like a good football day for you. My Bears lost, but fortunately I didn't see any of it. We were too busy watching our Cubs lose. Sighs...

I hope all you Falcons fans were not too exuberant in front of Rae... Tough game :(

Have a happy Monday!

>66 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yep - Falcons and Packers both won! *happy dance* Sorry about your Bears.

>67 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! We were very respectful, and we just won at the very last minute.

Right. Monday again. *sigh*

'Morning, Mamie! Happy coffee day.

A bit more coffee, and then I'm off to the chiropractor, pharmacy, and grocery store.

>69 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Paperwork and laundry for me today - no errands, thank goodness. Wishing you good luck with yours!

Good...yes, it's still...Morning!

I'm up and out o' bed, caffeinated, and weighing all the time-wasting activities open to me. Excitement prevails. I'm going to finish Jefferson's Children today and give Fox Mulder David Duchovny a shot. Change of pace.

Have at it, Mamie. (But don't get crazy, ok?)

>63 Crazymamie: I agree with you that Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows could have been more. It was a fun story but could have gone deeper.

>63 Crazymamie: interesting nationality conundrum, I can't help sorry.

>63 Crazymamie: I tend to go with what they say re nationality (either on the book or on the bio). But then if they don't say anything, or hyphenate, I'm back to square one. I don't tend to read many historical authors, but as you pointed out with Orwell the borders changing/ colonial issues make that pretty sticky too. I can't imagine he had a simple view on nationality either!

Morning, Mamie. Leaving on a very early birding excursion. Weather continues to be gorgeous. Looking forward to book time in the afternoon. Have a nice one!

>71 weird_O: Morning, Bill, although it is a different morning. As always, your post made me laugh. It cracks me up that you are gonna be reading David Duchovny because he played himself in a cameo in The Chair, and they were talking about how he had written four books. And now you are gonna read one of them - serendipity.

I can't make any promises about not getting crazy. You should know this by now, Oh Weird One.

>72 Familyhistorian: Exactly, Meg.

>73 LovingLit: Hello, Megan! No worries - I just thought I'd throw it out there.

Happy Tuesday, Mamie! Joyous coffee to you. I'm on my second cup and happily coming out of the morning fog.

>74 charl08: Luckily, it doesn't come up very much, Charlotte, but when it does it stumps me. For this one, I'm going to go with Singaporean. It seems like such a simple box to tick, but since I read the essay in Aminatta Forna's new collection, I get that what seems simple to me can be complicated for someone else. She was saying that to her home is where you currently reside, which might be more than one place - it's where you go home to, but for many people that ask 'Where is home?' it's where you are from. When I document nationality for an author just for my own records, I want it to reflect where the author identifies with most whether that is where they were born or where they currently reside, but that is not always easy to determine.

>75 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sounds like you have your day all planned out. Mine is going to involve the grocery store and bill paying - not very exciting, but essential. We are back to 80s and 90 weather, so not great, but it is what it is.

>77 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Joyous coffee - I like that one! I was just saying how good the coffee is today. Maple bourbon with steamed almond milk - I always like my first coffee to be a café au lait. After that, black is fine.

Yesterday was my tenth Thingaversary, and here is my haul that I have been collecting throughout September:

..
Penguin Clothbound Classics

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - Yes, I already have multiple copies of this, but look how pretty!
The Lonely Londoners by Samuel Selvon
The Travels by Marco Polo - I have wanted to read this since reading Eileen Powell's Medieval People


Everyman's Library

The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann - I want to read Mann before reading Colm Tóibín's The Magician


Penguin Modern Classics

The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh edited by Charlotte Mosley - recommended by Susan


Gallery / Saga Press Hardback

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones - I wanted my own copy

On Kindle:
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
The Gadfly by Ethel Voynich - recommended by Richard
The Heroine's Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger
Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers by Daniel Ellsberg
Personal History by Katherine Graham - from Katie's Dirty Dozen

Nice Thingaversary haul, Mamie! And I'm honored you included a title from my DD :)

>81 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! I have already started reading that one.

Happy Thingaversary and that's a nice looking haul of nice shiny new books.

>83 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen. I am most pleased with my purchases.

Happy thingaversary! I've wanted to read Marco Polo's Travels since 6th grade and *still* haven't...

Happy Thingaversary! I didn't even think about that this year ... must make up for that next year :)

>85 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! I read Medieval People, which has a lot about Marco Polo and also Invisible Cities, which features him prominently this year, so I thought it was the perfect time to get to it. Plus, I could get it in one of those beautiful Penguin Clothbound editions that I love.

>86 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba! I found and joined LT just two weeks after my Dad died, so I usually remember mine. I feel like I found this wonderful group just when I needed all of you most. And yes - you must make up for missing yours.

Happy Thingaversary, Mamie! Excellent haul.

Mine is Friday, and I'm due 15 books. However, I've already acquired 233 this year. I'll probably acquire another 15 before the end of the year so won't go out of my way for the Thingaversary Fifteen.

>88 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen! Let's just say that I have purchased more books than you this year, but still did not hesitate to acquire more. I don't do it every year, but I really wanted to this year since it was my 10th.

Good selection of books you gifted yourself. I have to admit that the majority of them are unknown to me. Excellent. So many books, so little time.

Happy Thingaversary, Mamie. Those clothbound Penguins are lovely. So tempting.

>87 Crazymamie: Ooof, I *love* those clothbound editions so much, too. *sigh*

Morning, Mamie! Happy Thingaversary! I love your new book additions. Those clothbound editions are gorgeous. I have My Heart is a Chainsaw on my TBR list.

Morning Mamie!
Happy 10th Thingaversary, Mamie! Real keepers in that book haul!
My 13th is on October 14th. I'm thinking I may purge 13 books. ;)

'Morning, Mamie! I'm sipping on my first cup of coffee trying to wake up. I hope you have a good cuppa Joe this morning. Any particular flavor strike your fancy?

>90 weird_O: Whoa! That is a load of books. I had so much fun picking out the Thinga books, and I love collecting those Penguin Clothbound classics and the Everyman's Library books. I should have included a Penguin Deluxe Classics - those have the deckled edge pages that make me giddy. My Heart is a Chainsaw does have deckled edge pages, so there is that.

Thanks for stopping in, Oh Weird One.

>91 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Those clothbound Penguins are like art on my shelves - I love looking at them.

>92 scaifea: Me, too, Amber!

>93 msf59: Morning, Mark! Thank you. I completely agree about the clothbound Penguins. I wish they would do North and South and The Great Gatsby. I will be interested in your thoughts when you get to My Heart is a Chainsaw - I am wanting to read more by him.

>94 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda! Thank you. Purging also works, but it's not nearly as much fun.

>95 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! I am on my first cuppa, too. Hazelnut today, and I put a scoop of cocoa in it and then the steamed almond milk - it's full of fabulous. My favorite coffee is probably the hazelnut, but I also love the maple bourbon, the butter rum, and the maple pecan that we have going right now. Both the maple bourbon and the butter rum make an excellent boozy coffee.

89. Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie, trade paperback acquired forever ago, crime fiction/mystery (Hercule Poirot, book 27, Ariadne Oliver, book 3) - reread, read with Birdy

"Authors were shy, unsociable creatures, atoning for their lack of social aptitude by inventing their own companions and conversations."

As I mentioned before, this was my introduction to Agatha Christie. I first read it when I was twelve or thirteen and received it as a Christmas present. Why this particular Christie? I have no idea. Anyway, even though it is not her best twisty mystery, I have a soft spot for it. And Ariadne Oliver shows up in it! She writes books featuring a Finnish detective that is every bit as eccentric as Poirot, and I love this quote from her talking about her most famous character:

"Why a Finn when I know nothing about Finland? Why a vegetarian? Why all these idiotic mannerisms he's got? These things just happen. You try something - and people seem to like it - and then you go on - and before you know where you are, you've got someone like that maddening Sven Hjerson tied to you for life."

Birdy liked this one even better than Hickory Hickory Dock. We are planning to watch the tv version of it sometime in the next few days - we have to wait for Rae, who wants to watch it with us. Next up Birdy has chosen Death on the Nile, which is one of my favorites.

I also love Death on the Nile, which I plan to re-read soon. And I hope after you read it, you can watch the 70s film of it. My mom and I used to watch that together a lot, and it contributed to my interest in Egypt and wanting to take a cruise on the Nile.

>99 katiekrug: Katie, I love that movie!! I have seen it many times, and Rae has her own copy of it. Peter Ustinov is actually my favorite Poirot even though I know he doesn't fit the character description. And the cast!!!

>100 Crazymamie: - Excellent! I love the creepy scene at the Temple of Karnak. When I visited there, I kept looking over my shoulder...

>101 katiekrug: Yes! Too funny. How wonderful to have seen it for yourself.

>100 Crazymamie: I don't remember that I've read the book or seen the film of that one. I did watch the Albert Finney version of Murder on the Orient Express last week. It passed the time while I made my way down the ironing mountain.

>103 Helenliz: It's a good one, Helen - one of my favorites. I have seen that Albert Finney one many times. I have not seen the newest version, but I have not heard good things.

The Kenneth Branagh Orient Express was... not good, IMO. I will probably still watch his re-make of Death on the Nile when it's released, though. I have trouble learning lessons :)

Me, too, with the lesson learning. I feel like Branagh is the completely wrong person to play Poirot. I might check it out at some point if I can do so for free. I mean, Richard warned me not to watch the tv version of Hickory, Hickory Dock, but Birdy and I did so anyway. He was right - they kind of ruined it.

Tsk, tsk. When will we learn?

Probably never.

I watched the Branagh version. It was, I think, consciously trying to be different from earlier versions. His accent was diabolical. It was more fun than an afternoon in Yeovil in the rain in November though, so I quite enjoyed it.

>109 Helenliz: Yeovil does keep coming up. It was in a recent book I read, perhaps Lolly Willows, but once it showed up in 3 different books I'd read within a month of each other.

For me David Suchet IS Poirot -- there is no other.

Three years ago in London we saw Suchet as the aunt in The Importance of Being Earnest -- he was absolutely wonderful in that too. I have never heard a theater audience laugh that hard before. The man next to me (on the opposite side from Hubby) was laughing so hard he nearly ended up in my lap.

>111 RebaRelishesReading: Suchet must have been great as the Gorgon.

>98 Crazymamie: Oh yay! Enjoy the Agatha Christie's Poirot version. I very much enjoyed it. “For, you see, mon cher Spence, if Mrs. McGinty is just an ordinary charwoman–it is the murderer who must be extraordinary.”

Delightful. (The motive seems...picayune...by today's standards.)

>80 Crazymamie: Happy belated Thingaversary! Lovely haul.

>65 Crazymamie: Nationality at Birth: Californian
Citizenship(s): Texan, New Yorker

I have to laugh at how your family is all divided over football teams (and Craig doesn't watch any), as my family is one and all Giants fans, though we run the gamut from one of my sisters not really watching to absolutely die hard. Tell Rae I'm sorry, I think we're in for a long and difficult year.

Morning, Mamie!

I'm very much the odd person out, I know, but I don't like Suchet's Poirot and instead *loved* Branagh's version...

Morning, Mamie. Sweet Thursday. I can't believe it is the last day in September all ready. Whew! Mark your calendar- for Swann's Way in November. I will have to get a copy.

*ETA- I just snagged a Kindle copy.

>109 Helenliz: Just watching the trailers made me think it might be over the top, but then trailers can also be misleading. But if it's "more fun than an afternoon in Yeovil in the rain in November", then how could I possibly resist?! Your post made me laugh, so thanks for that, Helen.

>110 quondame: I think you are right that it was mentioned in Lolly Willows, Susan.

>111 RebaRelishesReading: I have only seen Suchet play Poirot in that one episode we watched, so I will reserve judgement. Peter Ustinov is my sentimental favorite as I grew up watching those movies. Love your theater story!

>112 ffortsa: I really need to read and then see that play, Judy. I'm thinking I might have read it in high school, but that was a very long time ago.

>113 richardderus: Craig and Rae have Friday off, so I'm thinking if we don't manage it tonight we can watch it tomorrow for sure. Looking forward to it. I agree with you about the motive.

Thank you for the Thinga wishes. I am very happy with my haul.

Your nationality comments made me laugh. *smooch*

>114 bell7: Mary, we are a crazy bunch. When we lived in Indiana and Peyton Manning was still playing for the Colts, we all rooted for them so we did have a common team. But Daniel still liked the Eagles, Abby the Saints, and Rae the Giants because Eli Manning. After the Colts' owner was a complete a** to Peyton, I followed Peyton and switched my allegiance to the Broncos.

Rae pretty much said the same thing about the Giants, but she is always hopeful.

>115 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Interesting - I think we will have to give it a watch and see where we fall. I love that you march to the beat of your own drummer. (See what I did there - marching band humor?!)

>116 msf59: Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday! I can't believe it's the last day of September, either. Saturday is Daniel and Kaitlyn's one year anniversary -that doesn't seem possible! He is taking her on a mystery mini-vacation, so we will have Griffin Friday through Monday - the grandpup's first overnighter.

I have made a note of Swann's Way in November - looking forward to it, my friend! I have this bad boy ready and waiting:


Penguin Deluxe Classics edition and it is full of gorgeous.

>119 Crazymamie: AND it's the Lydia Davis translation, which honestly feels totally utterly completely different (and better IMO) than the Scott Moncrieff one. Mr CK Scott Moncrieff was, um, unhappily homosexual in that oh-so-British way and very, very, very much not an ally...so makes some choices to make the sneering classism of Proust into lightly disguised homophobia.

At any rate. You enjoy this gorgeous moment in the climatological cycle!

>120 richardderus: So good to hear that about the translation. Ever since I read War and Peace, I started to realize what a difference the translator makes - I had the print version in one translation and listened to the audio in another translation. Made me see how much even subtle differences impact the reading experience. Now I try to do my research before making a purchase if there is a choice of translations.

Gorgeous but hot - we're going to 90F today with 88% humidity.

Hi Mamie!

Yesterday after Bill and I got our Pfizer booster we stopped at Bojangles for unhealthy lunch choices and came home and watched The Mystery of Agatha Christie with David Suchet on Amazon Prime. It was, to use your phrase, full of fabulous. I’ve always resisted watching any Poirot, but Bill expressed interest in watching Suchet’s Poirot, and I am now intrigued.

>119 Crazymamie: I just pulled my 1928 Modern Library edition of Swann’s Way and realize that it might not be the best edition to read by. I just snagged a free Kindle copy translated by C. K. Scott-Moncrieff, which is also the hardcover copy translation I have. Yours is translated by Lydia Davis. Hmmm.

Hello, Karen! I'm gonna add that to our queue - I had not heard of it, so thank you!

Check out Richard's comments in >120 richardderus: about that C. K. Scott-Moncrieff translation.

>119 Crazymamie: that's the edition I read, while bobbing around the Med on a cruise. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to commit to the remainder of the cycle...

>125 Helenliz: I'm hoping to read it while sitting on the screened-in porch, if the weather ever cools down. Not quite the same as a cruise, but I can leave whenever I want, so there is that. I make no promises about reading further than Swann's Way - I will be happy just to have conquered that much.

>119 Crazymamie: *snork!* I love the marching band humor!

You know, Appointment in Samarra has a Penguin Deluxe Classics edition, too...

>127 scaifea: *grin*

That is the edition that I have in the stacks! Deckled edge pages!!!

>128 Crazymamie: YAS!! Me too!! I'm looking at it on my shelves right now!

It's an entire month away, but I'm thinking I'll join the Proust Posse. I have my in-laws' two-volume set of the entire remembrance. Moncrieff translation. (I can guarantee the in-laws never cracked the cover of either volume. I, on the other hand, did crack the cover on the first volume. I may have penetrated the prose beyond the first page, but that I can't guarantee.) I also have a mammoth Heritage Press edition of just Swann's Way; same translation. Not sure I want to spend for a more current translation; Moncrieff did his translation about 100 years ago!)

>129 scaifea: Sisterhood is da Bomb!

>130 weird_O: Oh! I do hope you join us, Bill. Totally get not wanting to spend more for a newer translation.

>119 Crazymamie: >123 karenmarie: One of my libraries has the Lydia Davis translation available for hold in eBooks, so that might work out for me. My mother, the frankophile, made madalines, and more than once mentioned Proust's use of them.

Morning, Mamie. Happy Friday. I am doing my first solo babysitting stint. Bree is going to the barn to tend to her horse and I will watch Jackson until Sean gets home. I have not changed a diaper in a long, long time. Grins...

I am really enjoying Great Circle but it is a Big Boy!!

ETA- I saw that you had not read Kingsolver. You should remedy that and The Bean Trees would be a perfect place to start.

>132 quondame: Susan, I hope you do join us. I know nothing about the madeleines, so I am looking forward to finding out.

>133 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! Have fun with the babysitting and try not to get peed on when you are changing that diaper. I haven't changed one of those in a very long time, either. Birdy is the youngest grandchild on both sides and she will be 23 next Friday, so...

The Great Circle is indeed a Big Boy - I had it out from the library but had to return it before I got to it.

Morning, Mamie!

I'm trying out a new coffee this morning: Mocha Latte flavored. It's pretty good with a splash of milk. Have you all at Pecan Paradisio every tried roasted cacao? I've recently started seeing adds for it and I'm tempted to order a sampler pack from somewhere. Apparently you brew it like you do coffee but it's cacao beans so it tastes like dark chocolate? I mean, on the surface it sounds amazing...

Storytime at the Pecan Paradisio

September Reads:
79. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warren, Kindle, acquired in 2021, literary fiction/feminism - 3 stars
80. Memento Mori by Muriel Spark, Audiobook narrated by Nadia May, borrowed from Audible Plus Catalog, literary fiction/old age - 4 stars
81. The Window Seat: Notes from a Life in Motion by Aminatta Forna, library hardback, non-fiction/essays - 4.5 stars
82. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster, Audiobook narrated by Rebecca Hall, borrowed from Audible Plus Catalog, literary fiction - 5 stars
83. All the President's Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Trade Paperback acquired in 2021, non-fiction/politics/Watergate/Washington Post - 4 stars, buddy read with Susan and Birdy
84. Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare, Kindle, acquired in 2021, historical romance (Spindle Cove, book 4) - 4.5 stars, Katie's Dirty Dozen
85. Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare, Kindle, acquired in 2021, historical romance (Spindle Cove, book 5) (Castles Ever After, book 4) - 4 stars
86. Hickory, Dickory, Dock by Agatha Christie, trade paperback, acquired in 2012, crime fiction/mystery (Hercule Poirot, book 29) - 3.5 stars, read this with Birdy
87. My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones, library hardback, horror - 5 stars - recommended by Richard
88. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal, Kindle, acquired in 2021, immigration/assimilation/feminism - 3.5 stars, Katie's Dirty Dozen
89. Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie, trade paperback acquired forever ago, crime fiction/mystery (Hercule Poirot, book 27, Ariadne Oliver, book 3) - reread

I read 10 books in September. My favorite was My Heart is a Chainsaw. Birdy and I managed to read 3 books together, so that was fun. Two were audiobooks and 2 were non-fiction.

All the President's Men felt like reading immersion with reading the book aloud with Birdy and watching the documentary made from the podcast Slow Burn. This was also a buddy read with Susan. I am just now remembering that we still need to rewatch the movie, which Birdy and I both love.

>135 scaifea: Morning, Amber! You coffee sounds most yum. We have not tried roasted cacao - I had not even heard of it before. It does sound amazing.

>137 Crazymamie: If I end up ordering some, I'll be sure to report back!

>138 scaifea: Yes, please!

'Morning, Mamie!

>136 Crazymamie: Excellent photo of the puppy - and is there a human hiding back there with a book? *smile*

Excellent reading month for you, congratulations!

>140 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Thank you - yes that is Birdy underneath all of that Griffin. He does not understand that he is a big dog now and thinks he should still fit on her lap. The big goof.

I am pleased with my reading for September, but I wish I could have squeezed in a few more titles.

>136 Crazymamie: What a sweet picture, Mamie.
Some dogs always stay a puppy at heart, no matter the size they grow in ;-)

>142 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita! He is a very sweet boy, and has settled down A LOT. Daniel and Kaitlyn are going out of town this weekend to celebrate their anniversary, and so we will have him all weekend - his first overnighter anywhere. I hope he is not too sad with missing them. He is here Monday -Friday from about 7am - 3pm, so we are at least a known commodity. And he LOVES the pool.

Love the reading picture. What a cute one.

I couldn't find a nice copy of Savannah Blue online so one is winging its way from the US instead. Thanks for the recommendation!

>136 Crazymamie: *baaawww* that's so cuuute!

I am still recovering from everything I did with Valerie..lots of napping done!...but am finally coming by to view the damage you've done to the space.

Mmm. Nothing a few thousand from your cyberdeductible won't cover. The dog's a breach of terms, though.

>136 Crazymamie: I love it! You had a great month of reading. I am going to start Window Seat soon. My library had a copy available. :)

>144 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! I am so thrilled that you ordered yourself a copy. Hoping you love it as much as I do.

>145 richardderus: Right?!

I am not surprised that you are still tuckered. That was a fun but full schedule, young man. I'm so happy you got to have that face to face time.

Damages? *blinks* I think I have only added improvements. *sniff* And the dog is actually a therapy dog - he's licensed and everything, so you have to allow him.

>146 BLBera: *grin* When Griffin started trying to get on Birdy's lap, at first she told him there wasn't room. But he proved her wrong. It was hysterical. Can't complain about my reading month but I would have loved to have gotten a few more in. I'm so happy you are going to read Window Seat - you will love it.

Morning, Mamie. Happy Saturday. The babysitting stint went off without a hitch. I didn't get a chance to read to him, (not enough hands) but I got to feed him and then rock him to sleep. Precious boy.

>136 Crazymamie: Love it!!

>136 Crazymamie: hahahahahaha! Love it!!
Happy Saturday, Mamie.

>148 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday! Good work with excelling at your first babysitting session. I remember the days of not enough hands! Now I am picturing you listening to an audiobook together.

Hooray for the Griffin love!

>149 Helenliz: *Grin* Happy Saturday, Helen!

Morning, Mamie!

Hope y'all have a good weekend.

Hey, look at me. I'm up and posting. Eyes not bright. No tail, never mind bushy. First cuppa consumed.

>152 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! You, too, with the goodness.

>153 weird_O: Morning, Bill! Looking at you making the rounds with the morning coffee! That sign cracks me up!

'Morning, Mamie, and happy Saturday to you.

>2 Crazymamie: Orwell's Nose: A Pathological Biography, eh? Sounds quite wonderful, actually.

>155 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Saturday!

Right?! Charlotte tipped me off on that one. I have a thing about Orwell.

Hiya Mamie. Saturday's just glorious here, and I don't think I'll get out in it for even a minute...my feet are *still* sore! May it be full of fabulous for you, dear lady.

>153 weird_O: Ha! Excellent sign.

>157 richardderus: Hiya, BigDaddy! It's pretty but also very warm here. Please to take care of your poor feet. And thank for those good wishes - right back atcha.

90. Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser, Audiobook narrated by Xe Sands, feminism - 3 stars

"A good way to measure the ubiquity of the male perspective masquerading as the human perspective is to check out the Nobel Prizes. The Nobel Prizes are awarded in six categories: literature, medicine, chemistry, peace, physics, and economics. Who we are as a species, what we value, where we expend our energy and our resources, and our priorities, goals, and dreams can be charted through the development of these categories. As of 2018, Nobel Prizes in total have been awarded to 853 men and 51 women. One hundred ten Nobel Prizes in Literature have been awarded since 1901, and only 14 of those were awarded to women... The world would have been different-and better-if women had had equal say in the development of literature, medicine, chemistry, physics, peace, and economics. Better, not because women are better, but because they are more than half of humanity, representing more than half of what it means to be human. If you can convince me otherwise, you should receive a Nobel Prize."

This was not quite what I was expecting. Well...the first part was. It does exactly what the book description promises:

from the Audible blurb

"Cassandra Speaks is about the stories we tell and how those stories become the culture. It’s about the stories we still blindly cling to, and the ones that cling to us: the origin tales, the guiding myths, the religious parables, the literature and films and fairy tales passed down through the centuries about women and men, power and war, sex and love, and the values we live by. Stories written mostly by men with lessons and laws for all of humanity. We have outgrown so many of them, and still they endure. This book is about what happens when women are the storytellers too - when we speak from our authentic voices, when we flex our values, when we become protagonists in the tales we tell about what it means to be human."

I thought that the first part was really interesting - there has been a movement in the last several years that has presented us with new translations of some of the old myths and legends, of fairy tales. Whether you agree or disagree with the context of these new translations, they are interesting to read. We also have some fabulous examples of simply retelling the stories through the eyes of the women in the story instead of the men. Books like Circe and The Silence of the Girls.

According to the Audible blurb: "Part Two looks at women and power and expands what it means to be courageous, daring, and strong." The first half of this is also interesting, and although I did not agree with all of her points, the conversation that her thoughts would generate would be worth having. Unfortunately, from here on out, this dissolves into a self-help book. Meditation and questions to answer, writing prompts, advice. Part Three is a "A Toolbox for Inner Strength". Um...no. Again, there are some valid points and some good ideas here, but I can think for myself, thank you. So the second half of the book felt slightly self-righteous to me. What I wanted, and frankly what I thought I was getting, was more of what she delivers in Part One.

>136 Crazymamie: I love that photo!
Lev, my cat, enjoys sitting right between the pages of any book I'm reading. Your canine is much more considerate.
Enjoy Game Day!

>159 Crazymamie: That's such a disappointment...half a good book is still better than none, though.

Sunday's best reading must come your way, dear Mamie. You deserve a treat for that let-down to be expunged. *smooch*

Happy football, Mamie!

I've reviewed the football favs of the Pecan Paradisio, and am happy to report that my Panthers can win without making any of your family unhappy since there are no Dallas fans. *smile*

>159 Crazymamie: That's a shame that it doesn't deliver all the way through.

>159 Crazymamie: Great comments, Mamie. It's too bad the book doesn't live up to its promise. It sounds like an interesting topic.

Mamie, I gave you some comments regarding Mysterium and Betrayal at House on the Hill over on my thread, but in case you missed them there:

"I have played Mysterium and very much enjoy it, although there is now a streamlined version of it out called Mysterium Park that I would recommend over the original. I have never played Betrayal at House on the Hill because the game has a likely probability of a traitor, and my family does not care for that kind of thing. If you have any other questions that I can answer for you, PM me and I will be glad to help!"

One other thing about both Mysterium and Mysterium Park is that are fully cooperative games unlike Betrayal, which may or may not have a traitor.

Morning, Mamie. My Bears won! Yah! I see your Packers, (I watched most of that one) won but the Falcons lost. They are having a tough start. I am Jackson-sitting later this AM. Wish the Warbler luck.

>160 Carmenere: That photo makes me laugh every time, Lynda! Griffin loves when Birdy and I read aloud, which is so funny. He wants to be on a lap for it, but is is getting to be a big boy.

Game day was good and bad - Rae's Giants won, which meant that Abby's Saints lost. Eagles and Falcones lost. Packers won.

>161 richardderus: Very true. And the first part was excellent. Thank you for those good reading wishes - always most appreciated. *smooch*

>162 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen! Football was both joyous and painful. I was thrilled that Rae's Giants won even though it meant Abby's Saints lost because Rae needed a win. Sorry about your Panthers.

>163 Helenliz: It was very disappointing, Helen, because the first part was so very good.

>164 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! The topic was indeed interesting, and there were good points throughout, but I feel like it should be labeled self-help.

>165 alcottacre: Stasia!! SO great to see you here! And thank you so much for taking the time to post those comments - I think it was Natalie that asked the question, but we have tried Betrayal several times. We have given up on it because it just doesn't work for us. I need to look at Mysterium Park and see what it is about.

>166 msf59: Morning, Mark! Go Bears! I was very happy with the Packers win. The Falcons should have won - they let Washington back into the game intros last few minutes by playing it safe. SO frustrating. Next week they play the Jets, so surely they can win that one. Heh.

Good luck with the Jackson sitting, though I know you will not need it. What a great Grandad he has!

91. The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs, Audiobook narrated by George Guidall, acquired in 2018, children's literature/magic - 3.5 stars

"'Then there's no point in our being logical, is there?' said Jonathan...
'What do you mean?' said Lewis and Mrs. Zimmerman at the same time.
'I mean,' he said patiently, 'that we're no good at that sort of game. Our game is wild swoops, sudden inexplicable discoveries, cloudy thinking. Knights' jumps instead of files of rooks plowing across the board. So we'd better play our way if we expect to win.'"

This was fun. And there are more! I wish I had found this one when I was a child because I would have loved it then. Loads of humor and also sweetness without being saccharine. George Guidall does a good job of delivering it, but I would love to hear it narrated by Kate Winslet or David Tennant, either of whom I think would elevate it on audio.

'Morning, Mamie!

I hope your morning coffee is working its magic.

>170 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! It is - I am ready for round two!

Morning, Mamie!

I loved the Bellairs books as a kid.

I'm glad Rae (and I!) got a win yesterday :)

Morning, Katie - I was just over at your place. I want to read the next in the series of those books, but I think I sill do it in print this time.

Me, too, with the gladness for the Giants.

>173 Crazymamie: I think the Bellairs books are best eye-read because someone else's interpretation usually bears down on an aspect I think of as the weakest among them: the spooky-ooky stuff.

To me, my memories say they were rollicking fun and silly-string on a page.

*smooch* for an extraordinarily calm Baja Tuesday.

>174 richardderus: Good point, Richard. I normally love George Guidall as a narrator, but he in not great with whimsy, I think. Tennant or Winslet could totally pull it off.

And thank you for those good wishes - extraordinarily calm is just the perfect wish. *smooch back*

>169 Crazymamie: Oh. OH!! Charlie and I LOVE the Bellairs books and yes there are a fair few. We have the editions that have covers illustrated by Gorey, which is an extra bonus. I'll also say that the movie of this first book is fun, too.

Morning, Mamie! The Jackson-sitting went off without a hitch. I love spending some time with this guy, even if it involved a poopy diaper. Funny, I have a good friend of mine who admits he would never change another diaper (he has 6 grandchildren) since he did that with his own four daughters. He needled me for doing it...Screw him! Grins...

Hi Mamie, and happy Tuesday to you.

>176 scaifea: Those covers by Gorey are charming - much better than the newer ons, I think. Birdy, Abby and I are going to watch the movie together. We have big love for Jack Black.

>177 msf59: Morning, Mark! We finished up our baby dog sitting stretch, too. Griffin did very well staying overnight with us Friday through yesterday evening. He and Craig did an excellent job of wearing each other out. He is back with us today, of course, but tonight he will go back home.

Good for you - you are the better parent and grandparent. Being willing to help with all of the care, not just the fun or the easy parts shows where your heart is at. Jackson and Bree are so very lucky to have you.

>178 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Tuesday! It is storming here - I love a good storm.

>177 msf59: even if it involved a poopy diaper.

Grandpa - it's not just a job, it's a doody. 😀

*rim shot*

>177 msf59: >179 Crazymamie: I second what Mamie said, Mark: You're a fantastic grandparent! What kind of malarky is it to refuse to change a diaper?! Ridiculous.

>179 Crazymamie: Jack Black is great in the part, even though he's not what I actually picture in my head for Uncle Jonathan.

>181 drneutron: *SNORK!!*

>181 drneutron: Good one, Jim. I am doody bound.

Thanks, everyone. Honestly, I wasn't looking for praise but just wanted to confirm that I do not have any issues when it comes to helping out Bree. Compared to what she does every day, it is a very minor sacrifice. Plus Bree gave me an A+ on the diaper change. He pooped again just after I left and nothing escaped. Grins...

Tuesday at last! I suggest we celebrate with a rosey-apple tart tatin:

>168 Crazymamie: I apologize, I thought it was you who had asked about the games, lol. Betrayal is just not my family's cup of tea. Half of us really enjoy Mysterium and Mysterium Park, but the other half do not, so they get played only when I visit my mother and Catey. I definitely would suggest you try the latter before the former as Mysterium Park is more streamlined.

Mamie, you may have seen already - Teapigs have launched their winter range for this year in the UK Gingerbread is there again. >:-) Happy to help.

Hi Mamie!

I want a good storm so we can test our shiny new gutters and downspouts. Doesn't look like this week's going to provide it.

Happy Humpday, Mamie dearest. I think the Literati Lynch Squad will be here shortly so this might be Farewell. (I didn't like Anthony Doerr's latest. I Am Doomed.)

>183 scaifea: None of our streaming services have it for free, so I'm going to check the library, Amber. It's funny, but since I knew that Jack Black played that part in the movie, that's how I pictured the character as I listened. If I had an uncle Jonathan, I would want him to be played by Jack Black. I actually had loads of uncles growing upas both my parents came from large families, but my favorite was my Uncle Evan, who was my Dad's much younger brother. He was almost an exact copy of my Dad - they looked so much alike that people often got them confused. He was funny and generous and a very dapper dresser.

>184 msf59: Mark, I know you were not looking for praise, and that's the point. Changing diapers should be just a part of being a grandpa. And an A+ on diaper changing is most excellent - good work!

>185 richardderus: And now it is Friday. That looks almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday.

Hi Mamie, and yay for Friday! Hope things are going well at the Pecan Paradisio.

I've got another day of having the house to myself. Coffee, quiet, books, and etc.

>186 alcottacre: No worries, Stasia. I think we will skip Mysterium since it does not get the full approval rating of your gang. SO far everything we have played that you have suggested, we have loved.

>187 Helenliz: Helen, as soon as I read your post I went straight to their website and placed an order. Thank you! I also ordered some of their Spiced Pear.

>188 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! We have gotten plenty of rain this week. Hoping you get some soon so you can give your new gutters and downspouts a test run.

>189 richardderus: Thank you, Richard. Wednesday was lovely. Hoping you survived in my absence - I'll come check on you.

>191 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! Happy Friday!

>192 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! I love me a Friday but especially this one as it is Birdy's birthday today. Things here are good - we have just been busy. Craig and Rae took off Wednesday through Friday this week. Wednesday was our 31st wedding anniversary, so Craig and I spent the day together. It was so much fun that we did it again yesterday, and we even got a start on the Christmas shopping. Today is Birdy's day so we are having pineapple chicken, jasmine rice and peas for dinner. Dessert is Birdy's favorite version of my chocolate chip cookie recipe which involves dark chocolate, toffee and toasted pecans.

Hooray for having the house all to yourself! I SO do not have that right now. It's like the holidays here at the moment - loud and boisterous and slightly crazy but also happy making. No quiet for me until the wee small hours of the morning when I will be wide awake and everyone else will be fast asleep. Sometimes insomnia works for me. Heh.

>194 Crazymamie: Aw, happiest of birthdays to Birdy!! Her dessert of choice sounds amazing.

And happy anniversary!!

>195 scaifea: Thank you, Amber! We are serving the cookies warm from the oven with ice cream tonight.

Happy Birthday to Birdy!

Happy Birthday to Birdy!! Yum to an excellent dinner and dessert.

And congrats on your 31st wedding anniversary. You're a few months ahead of me - Bill and I will celebrate our 31st anniversary next April.

>197 katiekrug: Birdy says thank you, Katie!

>198 karenmarie: Birdy says thanks, Karen! She and Abby and Rae are all hanging in the living room doing something game related - Zelda, I think, but I don't know which one.

Thank you! Between my 31st and your 31st, Rae will turn 30 - how crazy is that?! I still can't quite believe it - doesn't feel like 31 years of marriage, either. Went by so fast, but thank goodness I don't have to do it over again - I like where we are now. I always like going forward.

Congrats on 31 years of marriage and a 30th birthday for Rae. I know, those numbers start getting big - our oldest is 35 and part of me still sees her as a little girl running around with her big smile.

Our niece loved those Bellairs books in her young teens. We were the book buyers in the family and she was easy - she always wanted a new Bellairs.

>200 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe! Rae will be 30 in March.

I remember those days of buying books for the nieces and nephews - so much fun. And now they are grown with children of their own. Boggles the mind if I think about it too much.

>194 Crazymamie: Thirty-one years! Wow, y'all're tough. ::impressed::

Happy Birdyday! Celebrate with an extra cookie in my honor. And you can mail my dinner to:

Those rose-shaped apple slices are lovely, aren't they. I would love to do that with strong red-skinned and yellow-skinned apples alternating, so it would look like a bouquet of red and yellow roses. My go-to "ZOMG the cake failed" dessert was tubey crescent roll dough rolled into a continuous sheet, sliced into strips, buttered with cinnamon-sugar butter, and then folded in half around apple slices before being baked in muffin tins. No one ever missed the cake.

I made a new author friend...it's on my thread.

*smooch* for your happy-busy funtimes!

>202 richardderus: Thank you, good sir! There will be plenty of cookies - I ended up making three batches of different versions of the same base, so now we also have white chocolate chip with toffee and toasted pecans and bittersweet chocolate chips with toffee, no nuts (this is Craig's favorite). My own very favorite version has semisweet chocolate chips, toffee and toasted hazelnuts, and instead of vanilla I sub in maple syrup.

Yes, the rose-shaped apple slices are full of gorgeous. Your idea would be stunning. I am totally going to make your "ZOMG the cake failed" treats - I love apples. Newest daughter has a weird pollen allergy or something like that, and so she cannot eat apples, or peaches, or pears...all that good stuff.

I'm on my way!

>203 Crazymamie: she cannot eat apples, or peaches, or pears

Happy birthday Birdy. 31 years. Impressed.

Happy to help on the tea front.

Happy anniversary (a bit late but still warmly wished) and happy birthday to Birdy. I think I remember when she turned 13...is that possible?

Thirty-one years. Great great start. Terrific family. You should gather for a family portrait for to be posted for us LTers.

>204 richardderus: I know, right?! I have big love for apples and peaches and pears. It's a sadness.

>205 Helenliz: Thank you, Helen - I will pass along those wishes. I am very excited about the tea.

>206 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks so much, Reba! Let's see, I joined LT in September of 2011, and Birdy would have turned 13 in October of that year, but I did not start a thread until January of 2012. I am betting what you remember is Birdy turning 15, when her birthday present was getting her hair dyed blue:



>207 weird_O: Thank you so much, Bill. I will see what I can do and if I can remember to do it. Ha!

>206 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, I went back and checked, and Birdy's first birthday on my LT thread was her 14th - and you were one of the first ones to wish her happy. so you were SO close with the age thing. Today she is 23, which staggers the mind. The baby is 23!

92. Optic Nerve by Maria Gainza, translated by Thomas Bunstead, Kindle, acquired in 2021, autofiction/art history/linked vignettes - 4 stars

"Carelessly administered, the history of art can be as lethal as strychnine."

This was so interesting and different. It reminded me a bit of Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri in that it is one woman's thoughts and observations presented in linked vignettes with no real plot or character development. This is also autofiction - the main character is named María and is an art critic living in Buenos Aires, just like the author, and some of the stories are based on truth. What she does here that is so different is to link art criticism and art history to the main character's personal experiences. She is gifted with how she can pull you into the paintings, showing you what she sees, presenting so much information, but all of it is accessible and fascinating and provides perspective without making you work for it. Without leaving you behind because you know nothing about art. And in learning about the art, you are also learning about María.

Congratulations for all the celebratory events, Mamie! Sounds wonderful.

>210 Crazymamie: I suppose turn-about's fair play...I'm book-bulleted.

>211 ffortsa: Thank you, Judy! Happy Friday to you!

>212 richardderus: *happy dance* You have made my day, BigDaddy!

>210 Crazymamie: Optic Nerve sounds interesting, so I will have to be on the look out for it.

Happy anniversary, happy birthday, happy happiness all around!

Happy Birthday!

>214 alcottacre: Thank you for that abundance of happiness wishes, Stasia - much appreciated.

There is a great article/interview written by Nathan Scott McNamara with the author of Optic Nerve on Literary Hub. You can find it here: An Afternoon at María Gainza’s Buenos Aires Home. And I loved this photo that was at the top:



>215 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda!

‘Morning, Mamie! Happy Saturday to you and your clan.

>199 Crazymamie: I like where we are now. I like where Bill and I are now, too.

>203 Crazymamie: I’ve never heard of a pollen allergy, sorry your newest daughter can’t eat ‘all that good stuff.’

>208 Crazymamie: Sweet pic of your kidlets.

>216 Crazymamie: Ooh, bookshelves! First thing I noticed? There’s room for more books.

>209 Crazymamie: Go maybe I'm remembering that she was 13 rather than the birthday. I do indeed remember the blue hair dye present. She looked so great in it (and that's not something I would say about most people with non-traditional hair colors). She picked exactly the right shade and wore it beautifully.

As to "the baby is 23"...I won't tell you how old my baby is :)

Happy Saturday, Mamie! Congratulations and happiness to the max for all the celebrants!!
Big weekend planned?

>216 Crazymamie: Thanks for the link, Mamie. I will have to check out the article. I approve of both the shelves and the cat :)

>218 RebaRelishesReading: Mine's 41. Will be a grandmother next month. The implications of that are...unsettling.

>217 karenmarie: *Exactly* what I thought on seeing the >216 Crazymamie: photo..."why's there so much room on those shelves? did she just do a purge?"

Happy Saturday, Mamie my sweet. I'm positively glowing with Virtue (stop laughing)...I've finished polishing two reviews for tomorrow and started revising one for Monday! AND roughed in two more for Wednesday.

...it looks so good...let's lie and say we're Canadian this year so we can have their Thanksgiving pie, shhhh

>217 karenmarie: Hello, Karen! Thanks for all your kind words. I had not heard of a tree pollen allergy before, either. Not fun. Apple, especially is in a lot of things that you don't stop and think about.

I noticed there was room for more books, too. And also that her shelves look like she reads a lot because they are not perfectly tidy.

>218 RebaRelishesReading: I bet that's it, Reba. I thought she looked great in that shade of blue, too. It's a very fun memory for all of us. Birdy has been keeping a bucket list for forever, and that was one of the things on it. Another was shaving her head, and she has done that also. She actually looked good with no hair - her head has a very nice shape because of course it does.

Laughing about the unrevealed age of your baby. Craig and I are both the baby of our families, and our older siblings can never believe our ages - apparently, we are not supposed to age.

>219 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda! The weekend was full of fabulous. It was nice and long and full of a little bit of work and a lot of the lazy. And football, of course!

>220 alcottacre: You're welcome, Stasia! I loved that author photo - it looks candid even though you know it is staged.

>221 richardderus: Whoa. I would not have been ready to be a grandmother at 41.

Virtue, huh? *blinks* You have been on a roll with those reviews - I am mighty impressed. Please to keep up the good work my virtuous friend.

>222 richardderus: That is an excellent idea! Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday, so I would love to do it twice. Especially since there is pie. YUM.

>224 Crazymamie: Yeup...that one's maple-syrup pumpkin pie with a ginger-snap crust. Oh myyyyy, as Uncle George says.

Yes. Virtue. I *do* know what it means...I'm reading and reviewing the DRCs I got that're publishing this week...the week they come out! Virtuous. Positively glowing with the stuff.

'Morning, Mamie!

My shelves are usually pretty neat because that's just the way I am, but our kitty Wash has a bad habit of pushing books off the shelves in the Retreat, usually mass market paperbacks. Irritating fluff ball.

>225 richardderus: That sounds delicious.

As long as you're sure it's virtue and not radioactivity. I stand in awe of your work ethic, sir.

>226 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! I seem to always have books stacked in front of the ones on the shelves and/or placed on top of other books like she has in the photo. I just don't have enough actual shelf space. Plus, I am slightly messy that way.

*back to add that Wash cracks me up.

>227 Crazymamie: ...they did give me this water carafe for my bedside...

>228 richardderus: *belly laugh*

Morning, Mamie! Happy Wednesday. I got in some quality Jackson time yesterday, both on a short hike and some solo time with him, while Bree went out. I hope to get some reading time in today. I am falling behind.
I hope your week is going well.

>230 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesdaying! Hooray for Jackson time - he is going to think that Grandpa hung the moon. So great that you can spend so much time with him.

I spent pretty much all of yesterday reading on the screened-in porch. I didn't even get on the internet at all. It was a lovely quiet day, and the weather was not horrible. This week we don't have any Griffin until Friday, so it freed up a lot of time. Daniel's wife Kaitlyn has switched her work hours and so now we will just have Griffin on Tuesdays and Fridays. Strange how much time a puppy takes up, but he is settling into a delightful young animal. If he and the cats could come to an understanding, we would be almost home free.

>231 Crazymamie: That sounds like the Tuesday to be emulated the world over. *smooch*

My virtue-signaling continues today. The topic wasn't a fun one but the read was very involving.

>232 richardderus: It was full of fabulous, Richard! I need to come catch up with you. *smooch back*

Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday. I hope you have an R & R weekend planned. I have Trail Watch duties and then book time in the PM. I am enjoying Tears of the Trufflepig.

>234 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! We have Griffin today until 7pm, and he has not been here all week, so it will be good to see him. Other than that all we have planned so far is football on Sunday. For now, I need coffee...

Hoping your weekend is full of fabulous! And Jackson, although they are really the same thing, aren't they?!

93. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie, trade paperback, crime fiction/mystery (Hercule Poirot, book 17, Colonel Race, book 3) - reread

This was my latest Christie read with Birdy. I have read this one several times already starting back in my teens, and it remains one of my favorites. Birdy loved it, too. After finishing it, we watched the 1978 movie version of it - the one featuring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot. The rest of the Pecan Paradisio joined us, so that was fun. I had completely forgotten about the snake left in Hercule Poirot's cabin. YIKES! You know how I feel about snakes, and I have seen the movie multiple times, so I cannot believe I had just completely blanked on it. That scene does not occur in the book. Next we want to watch the BBC version of it featuring David Suchet as Poirot. It will be interesting to see what characters get cut from the narrative and if they are the same characters that got cut from the 1978 movie version. I would love to see a new limited tv series that keeps everyone and all of the story intact.

.

Craig and I went to a book store on our anniversary earlier this month, and I found both Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express in beautiful hardback editions with deckled edge pages!!! Of course, I purchased both of these for Birdy's library so she can have a book memory of our reading them together - we have not yet read Murder on the Orient Express together, but it is on Birdy's list. We have already started on our next read - Hallowe'en Party.

94. Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O'Keefe, Kindle, acquired in 2021, space opera (The Protectorate, book 1) - recommended by Jim - 4.5 stars

Here's the Amazon blurb:

"NOMINATED FOR THE PHILIP K. DICK AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL * Dazzling space battles, intergalactic politics, and rogue AI collide in Velocity Weapon, the first book in this epic space opera trilogy by award-winning author Megan O'Keefe.

Sanda and Biran Greeve were siblings destined for greatness. A high-flying sergeant, Sanda has the skills to take down any enemy combatant. Biran is a savvy politician who aims to use his new political position to prevent conflict from escalating to total destruction.
However, on a routine maneuver, Sanda loses consciousness when her gunship is blown out of the sky. Instead of finding herself in friendly hands, she awakens 230 years later on a deserted enemy warship controlled by an AI who calls himself Bero. The war is lost. The star system is dead. Ada Prime and its rival Icarion have wiped each other from the universe.
Now, separated by time and space, Sanda and Biran must fight to put things right."

This is a bit of a slow start because it has three separate narratives going, and it has to develop the world building, but once it's up and running, it really takes off. When I reached that point, I could not put it down and just powered through until the end. A huge thanks to Jim, who put it on The List. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

*This is currently just $4.99 on Kindle

Morning, Mamie.

Like you, I enjoyed Optic Nerve. I'm going to go check out that interview. Thanks for the link.

That is so cool that you're reading Dame Agatha books with Birdy. And congrats for finding those deluxe editions (going to a bookstore on your anniversary - what could be better?). Our daughter and I have read a slew of them, but not together. I did read Nancy Drew books to her when she was a lass.

>238 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! I'm glad you're going to check out that interview. There is another one on NPR. You can find it here 'Optic Nerve' Tells A Life Story Through Visions Of Art

That is so great that you read Nancy Drew with Becca - I loved those books when I was younger. Birdy and I are having a lot of fun with our project, and it's funny how other members of the family will sit in from time to time on the reading. Rae joined us for the final chapters of Death on the Nile - she has read it before. She went through a Christie phase back in her teens, and she has all of my old hardbacks.

Hiya, Mamie, and happy Friday to you!

>227 Crazymamie: Wash is an amazingly goofy fluff ball. Jenna calls him Goobus for some reason, and he’s definitely a goobus.

>228 richardderus: Copying Mamie. *belly laugh*

>235 Crazymamie: We have the same weekend plans – football on Sunday. I hope the coffee intake’s coming along.

>236 Crazymamie: I’m almost regretting my personal Miss Marple decision but not quite – I’ll make a personal Poirot challenge next year. Good stuff. Once again I’m reminded that Bill and I need to watch Suchet as Poirot.

>240 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Our Mayhem is a goof. He keeps us on our toes. The girls have more dignity, grace and poise. Mayhem often misses his jumps by just a hair and thinks he is much smaller than his actual size.

I am ready for my second cup of coffee, and then I need to get a new cell phone contract and phones - I hate doing this. I have put it off, but we really do need new phones.

Remind me what your personal Miss Marple decision was - my brain is not up to full capacity yet.

Wash and Mayhem may be soul brothers - Wash also misjudges occasionally.

Blech. Good luck with the cell phone stuff. Bill wanted to take advantage of a free replacement, put it in the cart, and texted me late one night this week (I was already upstairs in bed) that I needed to 'buy' what was in the cart. The account is in my name, so I had to give 'permission' for him to purchase it. I asked if it could wait 'til morning and he said it could, but the offer ended that day and now he's pissed off and may not take advantage of the $500 off they're still giving us. I still like my cell phone even though it's two years old.

I'm re-reading Miss Marple in publication order. I've only read the first two, but I'll get them all read by early next year.

Happy Friday, Mamie! Those hardcover editions of the Christies are beautiful!

Mamie! You're doing such good (re)reading...and (re)watching...I'm the tiniest bit jealous of all the fun you're having.

>242 karenmarie: Ha!

Right?! My cell phone is an iPhone 5s, so it's ancient. A lot of apps won't work with it, and it never has room for updates because it is just 16GB. Craig bought me an Ember coffee cup for my birthday and the app doesn't work with my phone, so if I use it I have to drink at the default temp, which is too hot for me. Rae also wanted a new phone (she has a 6s, and it's hard to hear on it now for some reason) - she pays for all her own stuff, but we share a plan cause it's cheaper that way. Anyway, after much brain trauma, it is all done. Total bummer about the cell phone debacle. Hoping he changes his mind because $500 is better than nothing.

Ah, now I remember about the Marples - thanks for refreshing my memory. Birdy has chosen some of hers for our read, but I just let her chose what's up next each time, so I have no idea when we will get to them.

>243 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Happy Fridaying to you! Those hardcovers are full of gorgeous. I was trying to see if they issued any others like that, but so far I have had no luck. Surely they must have.

>244 richardderus: Hello there, Richard! The project with Birdy has been so much fun - we are loving it. I am going to make it one of my category challenges next year.

>236 Crazymamie: What beautiful hardcovers! I am a sucker for beautiful books.

I love the project you and Birdy are doing together. My mother and I did something similar years ago only with us it was romance novels, which I hardly ever read any more.

Happy Friday, Mamie!

>247 alcottacre: Stasia, I have a hard time resisting deckled edge pages.

What a fun memory! I did not have a good relationship with my mom, and I can't imagine us ever agreeing on a book to read together. Heh.

Happy Friday to you, too!

>237 Crazymamie: Glad you liked it!

>248 Crazymamie: I have a hard time resisting deckled edge pages.

Me too!

Mum and I used to read the same book at the same time. Not share the read so much as nab it while the other one wasn't reading it. The trick was to know which bookmark was which!

On more than one occasion I received a book for Christmas with a bookmark in it, where she'd not managed to quite finish it before having to wrap it...

>249 drneutron: Craig liked it, too, Jim!

>250 alcottacre: *Grin*

>251 Helenliz: Too funny, Helen! I love those memories, especially the Christmas one.

Happy Saturday, Mamie! I hope things are going well at the Pecan Paradisio.

>251 Helenliz: My mother gave me a series of books by Agatha Christie over the course of 10 years (83 books, on holidays and birthdays) and once proudly told me that she always made sure she wasn’t eating anything while reading them. And it’s true, they were in perfect condition, probably all of them read beforehand.

>253 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Happy Saturday. It's very humid here (91%), and very overcast. Tomorrow we are supposed to have a high of only 75F!! I'm guessing there is a front coming through. Anyway, I hope we get it. I wanted to sit on the screened-in porch this morning, but it is just gross out there.

Very thoughtful of your mom not to eat while reading the books she bought for you. Made me giggle.

Morning, Mamie. Happy Saturday. We are attending our nephew's football game this AM and then we are thinking about going to see the new James Bond film. We have not been to the movie theater in over a year and a half. Football and Jackson-time tomorrow! Yah! The Bears are going to have their hands full with the Pack.

>255 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday. Football - how fun! How old is your nephew? I am wanting to see that new Bond film - I love Daniel Craig as Bond.

The Falcons have a bye this week, but I am looking forward to that Packers/Bears game - I'm hoping we get to see it. I haven't checked to see which games we get this week yet. Actually Rae usually does that - we call her GiGi because she's our google girl. She is very quick with the looking up of things.

Mamie. *regal nod* I trust you are keeping yourself well.

It's a more-Marge-Piercy day for me...very interesting, this book.

>257 richardderus: Morning, BigDaddy! 'Sup? I have been trying to keep myself well, but I have managed to irritate my supraspinatus muscle - I only know this because Craig told me that is what has happened. Anyway, it is most inconvenient.

I will await your thoughts of the Marge-Piercy. I had not heard of that one before you mentioned it on your thread.

>258 Crazymamie: One of the body's favorite ways to irritate us as we age is to idiopathically annoy the supraspinatus. Nasty trick, if you ask me, we should set up a committee to look into how to effective protest this intolerable violation of our bodily integrity.

>259 richardderus: I'm in! This has not happened to me before, and it is taking forever to heal. Craig wants me to try some stretches - I said he will have to demonstrate, and then I will decide. Heh.

>251 Helenliz: - It was practically a tradition in my family to read the book before you wrapped it and put it under the tree for another member of the family. And it was a real tradition that after the unwrapping of all gifts, everyone removed to individual spaces to sit and read most of Christmas Day :)

>258 Crazymamie: - I had to look up that particular muscle, but now I now want to complain about when I have pain there. The more you know....

Happy Saturday, Mamie!

>258 Crazymamie: I don't know that one by name, but ouch by fame. Those shoulder muscles are sure a cranky lot when stressed.

Deckled edges. "Well the plot was lame, the characters offensive, the writing terrible. Ohhhh, but the book has deckled edges. I gave it four stars!"

Reading books you're giving as gifts. I've done that. Primarily, I've read books I'm giving to the Grands. I get it, then decide to read it before wrapping. Occasionally, I've asked to borrow it to read. My daughter does that with me, too. She gives me a book with the caveat that I am obligated to lend it to her After I've read it.

Works for us!

'Morning Mamie, and happy Football Day.

>261 katiekrug: This sounds like my kind of Christmas. Abby, Birdy, and I always dip into one of our new acquisitions on Christmas Day. Opening gifts is fun, but my favorite part is settling in to enjoy the quiet of the rest of the day. Well, quiet now that the kids are grown. Heh.

Yep - that muscle is a pain when it is acting up. Sleeping is difficult. Anything where you need to raise your arm is painful, so grocery shopping is so awesome.

>262 alcottacre: Hello, Stasia! Happy Sunday!

>263 quondame: I didn't know it by name, either, Susan. "Those shoulder muscles are sure a cranky lot when stressed." SO true!

>264 weird_O: Haha! Let's just say that I have some gorgeous editions of Dickens that I have no intention of reading. I like looking at them, though, so it's like art.

I do that, too. I used to always read the books I gifted to the nieces and nephews so that we could talk about them. Plus, if the book isn't worthy of my time, then why should I think it is worthy of theirs? Abby and I do that all the time with the gifting and that caveat you mention. A time honored tradition, Oh Weird One. Thanks for stopping in and sharing your wonderful sense of humor.

>265 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Thank you - we are already watching football. And we DO get to watch the Packers play the Bears today, so I am very excited about that! Good luck to your Panthers!

I watched the 1992 movie of Howard's End this weekend - it is full of gorgeous and beautifully done. I have read the book several times, most recently last year. I love Forster's writing although he tends to dwell on the sad - missed opportunities, misunderstandings, mistakes. He always weaves his stories together in a way that draws me in and makes me want more. I feel that this movie fully articulated his story, not an easy task in a mere two hours and twenty minutes. Now I am wanting to watch the newer tv miniseries version featuring Matthew Macfadyen. I have big love for Macfadyen - he is my very favorite Darcy with Colin Firth coming in a close second. Don't get me started on Pride and Prejudice -you won't be able to shut me up.

I also watched The Mayor of Casterbridge this weekend. I read and absolutely hated the book back in high school, but when I saw that this tv series featured Ciarán Hinds as Michael Henchard, I could not resist. I adore Hinds, and for me he will forever be Captain Wentworth from Persuasion. *sigh* He is also excellent as Franklin in The Terror. Just saying...
This is every bit as depressingly sad as I remembered it, but the casting is brilliant and the photography is full of beauty. It also features James Purefoy as Farfrae. He is very easy on the eyes.

Such a fabulous lineup, Mamie. Excellent choices all.

Have a lovely week-ahead's reads! *smooch*

Abby has been on a Jaws kick - she has watched the first three movies and wanted company watching The Meg, another shark movie. I had not heard of this one - filmed in 2018 and featuring Jason Statham and Bingbing Li as the leads. The photography is fun here, and there are some great moments, like the one where the little girl, played by Shuya Sophia Cai, in the undersea station sees the shark for the first time:





Very fun without being too scary if you like this kind of thing.

>270 richardderus: Thank you, Richard! Today is football and laundry, but I hope to get back to the books on Mon...um...tomorrow. Thew weather here is full of fabulous today - currently 67F and only going to 75F. Only 39% humidity. I'll take it!!!

Hoping that your week ahead is also full of lovely reads. *smooch back*

>272 Crazymamie: *smooch* The Dread Day need not be named.

>271 Crazymamie: That awful book...just execrable...and the agent for it faked an auction to get big, big bucks until the duped editor called his "rivals" to brag and they all said, "...what're you talking about?"

I'm glad it made a fun movie, though.

I had no idea about the book. I did not even know there was a book. Of course, I also had not heard about the movie until Abby mentioned it.

I haven't read Howard's End but a section about it in the audio I just finished (Bookmarked) has made me want to move it up the pile. I saw the film ages ago and remember very little of it...

>275 katiekrug: I think it provides so much food for thought, Katie, so I'm hoping you do move it up.

Can't wait to read to see what you thought of Bookmarked - as you know, I have already added that one to your Dirty Dozen.

I loved the movie of Howard's End though I never read the book. Also loved the film of Enchanted April, just saying. I do love those period piece films.

>277 jessibud2: I am looking forward to watching the newer version of Howard's End, Shelley. I am wanting to watch Enchanted April, but I want to read the book first - I have it in the stacks. Agree about those period pieces. If you have any other recommendations, don't be shy.

Well, A Room With A View springs to mind. I do love Helena Bonham-Carter. She has the perfect face (and attitude) for those period pieces.

>274 Crazymamie: Well...here's one version...the scandal involved a tyro agent and is in the PW archive which I can't access anymore (subscription's too costly for me). Atchity saved Alten's bacon!

I just watched that one last month after reading the book, and I agree that is is excellent. Maggie Smith was great in it, too.

>280 richardderus: Interesting. You are right about Atchity. Thanks for the link.

>267 Crazymamie: I got a wedge with a cutout to sleep on and if and only if I align my right arm and shoulder perfectly I get a decent several hours of sleep and no complaints the next day - or in the case of last Sunday's lapse of judgement I get 2 days of not being able to hold up a coffee cup and 2 days of complaints. It's better now but I've been giving special care and Mike has put pressure where it hurts but somehow releases.

>268 Crazymamie: Movie and book are both favorites of mine.

I enjoyed reading about your shared reads and watching of the Agatha Christies, Mamie. Are they still on the reading list or have you taken a break from them?

>283 quondame: It's my right shoulder, too, which is too bad because I am right handed. I have been trying really hard to not reach for stuff in a backwards motion because that kills. And when reaching up to first go in forward motion and then up instead of up from the side, which does help. I have been looking at wedges and pillows to see if I can find something for support, especially if I am sitting. I like to sit in bed and read or watch tv, but I need more support than the pillow I have been using.

Hooray for shared favorites!

>284 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg! We are still going - we are currently reading Hallowe'en Party. We still want to watch the David Suchet version of Death on the Nile - the girls loved the 1978 movie version of it, and it has long been a favorite of mine. Not sure what Birdy will choose next, but she has The Labors of Hercules, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The A. B. C. Murders, Murder on the Orient Express, Dumb Witness, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, A Murder is Announced, and The Man in the Brown Suit in the short stack.

>268 Crazymamie: Howards End -- I loved the original film with Emma Thompson & Anthony Hopkins, but I loooove the series with McFadyen even more. Mostly because of him, but the female leads are also excellent. And because it's a series there's much more plot and character development than in the film, which I really enjoyed. So yes: you MUST watch it, Mamie!

Morning, Mamie. I had a great visit with Jackson yesterday. Not surprising that my Bears lost but I thought they kept it interesting. Rodgers & Co are tough opponents. Now, the Bears face the Bucs next weekend. Sighs...

I think my nephew is 13 or 14. A freshman. A talented kid. He does very well at baseball too.

Morning, Mamie!

McFadyen IS Darcy. *dreamy sigh*

>286 lauralkeet: I will report back when I have watched it, Laura. I am excited to watch it and am hoping to squeeze it in this week. I have loved Macfadyen in everything I have seen him him and agree that those tv series give so much more time for plot development.

>287 msf59: Morning, Mark! I'm not surprised that your visit with Jackson was full of fabulous. Sorry about your Bears - they did indeed keep it interesting. Oof to facing the Bucs next.

What position does he play? So fun to have someone you know playing - we always loved watching our kids play soccer. No football players here - Daniel could not play any contact sports because he has only one good kidney.

>288 scaifea: Morning, Amber! I completely agree. Including the sigh.

Morning, Mamie!

Morning, Katie! I was just over at your place.

*swoon*

*Swoon* indeed. That's right after the hand flex... *double swoon*

'Morning, Mamie! Happy Mon... um today.

I'm coffee-ing up and will attack the Friends budget/actuals this morning. Good news - my Treasurer thinks she can take the reins back next month. It hasn't been onerous, but I'm reminded why I stopped being Treasurer after three years on the job.

>289 Crazymamie: My nephew Billy plays middle linebacker and mainly center on the offense. He has good instincts.

>292 katiekrug: Exactly. I think he should have done that hand flex again after Elizabeth walks off after their surprise meeting at Pemberley. A missed opportunity.

>293 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! Ha! Happy today to you! Crossing my fingers that the Treasurer can take back over next month. I was very involved in tones of stuff like that when the kids were younger, and I am SO over it.

>294 msf59: OH! Center and middle linebacker - he must have good instincts.

Holy carp, smoochling, this thread's as fat as mine was. Will you remove the curse from Mmmday and start a new one, do you think?


I do so love a breakfast taco.

Great. Now I want breakfast tacos.

😀

>297 drneutron: hahaha! I'm always quite pleased that RD posts breakfast in middle of my afternoon. I've had lunch but it's not yet time to be hungry enough for dinner.
Although it's not an infallible trick...

>296 richardderus: YES to breakfast taco!!! I guess I do need a new thread - how did we get to almost 300 so fast?

>297 drneutron: Right?! I was just saying to Birdy and Abby that we've got eggs and bacon and cheese and tortillas. We might have to breakfast taco.

>298 Helenliz: Look at you finding a work around to the delicious looking food posts, Helen! I have only had coffee, so Mamie WANT.