Banjo Keeps Reading in 2016 # 3
Això és la continuació del tema Banjo Keeps Reading in 2016 # 2.
Converses75 Books Challenge for 2016
Afegeix-te a LibraryThing per participar.
Aquest tema està marcat com "inactiu": L'últim missatge és de fa més de 90 dies. Podeu revifar-lo enviant una resposta.
2banjo123
2016 reading::
1. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
2. The Wind in the Reeds by Wendell Pierce
3. Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth 1/18
4. Ru by Kim Thuy
5. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters 1/24
6. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
7. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
8. Home by Marilynne Robinson 2/3
9. Lila by Marilynne Robinson 2/14
10. Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule
11. Snow Moon Rising by Lori Lake
12. And After Many Days
13. Mink River by Brian Doyle
14. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 3/26
15. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James 3/30
16. Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor 4/2
17. The Song Poet by Kao Kalia Yang 4/4
18. How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer
19. Blue Horses by Mary Oliver
20. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
21. Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette WInterson
22. The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright 4/23
23. Garlic and Sapphire by Ruth Reichl 4/30
24. The Ghosts Who Travel With me by
25. Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman 5/9
26. Snow by Orhan Pamuk 5/14
27. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig 5/15
28. A First-Rate Madness by Nassir Ghaemi 5/20
29. Zami: A new spelling of my name by Audre Lorde 5/25
30. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami 5/26
31. Human Acts by Han Kang 5/30
32. Euphoria by Lily King
33. Departure from the Script by Jae
34. The Little Paris Bookshop
35. Sand COunty Almanac by Aldo Leopold
36. Rightful Heritage by Douglas Brinkley
37. Bird Song by Annie Proilx
38. Prisoner without a Name, Cell without a Number by Jacobo Timerman
39. Ghost Road by Pat Barker 7/1
40. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters7/9
41. Evicted by Matthew Desmond 7/12
42. Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 7/16
43. The Big Green Tent 7/31/16
44. Women's Barracks 8/1/16
45 Atonement by Ian McEwan 8/6/16
46. A Brief Hisotry of Time by Stephen Hawking 8/13
47. We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
48 In Between
49. My Struggle by Karl OVe Knausgard
50. Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood
51. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
52. The Immortal Lives of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
53. The Golem and the Jinni 8/30
54. Still Alice by Lisa Genova 9/2
55. All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
56. The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts 9/10
57, Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende
58, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
59 The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson
60. The Lesser Bohemians by Eimar McBride
61. THe Education of Harriet Hatfield by May Sarton
62. The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie9/27
63. In the Wilderness by Kim Barnes
64. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
65. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
66. Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli
67. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
68. Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
69. Year of the Monsoon by Caren Werlinger
70. Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard 10/22
71. Shylock is my Name
72 Master of the Senate by Robert Caro
73. For the Time Being by Annie Dillard
74. Arguably by Christopher Hitchens
75. our endless numbered days by claire fuller
76. Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
77. The Jump-off Creek by Molly Gloss
78. Things We Lost in the Fire
79. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
80, Tough Girl and olympian's jorney by Carolyn Wood
81. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
82. Amitra by Banana Yoshimoto
83. Libra by Don Delillo12/22
84. The Fire This Time
85. The Return by Hisham Matar
86. Passage to Power by Robert Caro
1. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
2. The Wind in the Reeds by Wendell Pierce
3. Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth 1/18
4. Ru by Kim Thuy
5. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters 1/24
6. Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
7. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
8. Home by Marilynne Robinson 2/3
9. Lila by Marilynne Robinson 2/14
10. Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule
11. Snow Moon Rising by Lori Lake
12. And After Many Days
13. Mink River by Brian Doyle
14. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 3/26
15. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James 3/30
16. Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor 4/2
17. The Song Poet by Kao Kalia Yang 4/4
18. How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer
19. Blue Horses by Mary Oliver
20. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
21. Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette WInterson
22. The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright 4/23
23. Garlic and Sapphire by Ruth Reichl 4/30
24. The Ghosts Who Travel With me by
25. Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman 5/9
26. Snow by Orhan Pamuk 5/14
27. The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig 5/15
28. A First-Rate Madness by Nassir Ghaemi 5/20
29. Zami: A new spelling of my name by Audre Lorde 5/25
30. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami 5/26
31. Human Acts by Han Kang 5/30
32. Euphoria by Lily King
33. Departure from the Script by Jae
34. The Little Paris Bookshop
35. Sand COunty Almanac by Aldo Leopold
36. Rightful Heritage by Douglas Brinkley
37. Bird Song by Annie Proilx
38. Prisoner without a Name, Cell without a Number by Jacobo Timerman
39. Ghost Road by Pat Barker 7/1
40. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters7/9
41. Evicted by Matthew Desmond 7/12
42. Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 7/16
43. The Big Green Tent 7/31/16
44. Women's Barracks 8/1/16
45 Atonement by Ian McEwan 8/6/16
46. A Brief Hisotry of Time by Stephen Hawking 8/13
47. We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
48 In Between
49. My Struggle by Karl OVe Knausgard
50. Hag-seed by Margaret Atwood
51. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
52. The Immortal Lives of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
53. The Golem and the Jinni 8/30
54. Still Alice by Lisa Genova 9/2
55. All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
56. The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts 9/10
57, Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende
58, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
59 The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson
60. The Lesser Bohemians by Eimar McBride
61. THe Education of Harriet Hatfield by May Sarton
62. The Absolutely True Story of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie9/27
63. In the Wilderness by Kim Barnes
64. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
65. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
66. Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli
67. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
68. Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
69. Year of the Monsoon by Caren Werlinger
70. Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard 10/22
71. Shylock is my Name
72 Master of the Senate by Robert Caro
73. For the Time Being by Annie Dillard
74. Arguably by Christopher Hitchens
75. our endless numbered days by claire fuller
76. Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
77. The Jump-off Creek by Molly Gloss
78. Things We Lost in the Fire
79. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
80, Tough Girl and olympian's jorney by Carolyn Wood
81. The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
82. Amitra by Banana Yoshimoto
83. Libra by Don Delillo12/22
84. The Fire This Time
85. The Return by Hisham Matar
86. Passage to Power by Robert Caro
3banjo123
Hello Reading Friends! Welcome to my new thread.
It has been a busy last couple of weeks, and I have a number of things to share; a couple of book reviews, notes on some plays I have recently seen, and also, a review of Wordstock. I wet yesterday and got to listen to talks with Sherman Alexie; Yaa Gyasi; Colson Whitehead; Richard Russo; Karen Russell and Kevin Young.
It has been a busy last couple of weeks, and I have a number of things to share; a couple of book reviews, notes on some plays I have recently seen, and also, a review of Wordstock. I wet yesterday and got to listen to talks with Sherman Alexie; Yaa Gyasi; Colson Whitehead; Richard Russo; Karen Russell and Kevin Young.
4banjo123
Master of the Senate by Robert Caro
I have finally finished this book, the third in Caro's amazing multi-volume history of Lyndon Johnson. I love Caro's writing, but it is very dense, and at times it is a little repetitive, as he recaps in this volume some of the events in the first two books. Also, there is just so much here, it gets complicated to read. The first part, about the history of the Senate, was a bit of a challenge, because there are so many characters and so much going on. But it was totally worth plowing through this, because the latter half of the book, which covered LBJ's relationship to civil rights legislation, was fascinating, and wouldn't make sense if we didn't know how the Senate worked, and LBJ's role in changing the senate.
LBJ was really a political genius, although, it seems to me, kind of a rotten person. The Senate had been sort of dead-locked by it's old seniority system. Southern senators used the filibuster to prevent any change and to block any kind of civil rights action. LBJ managed to use influence and power to subvert the seniority system, and make the Senate more effective. Of course, this made LBJ himself more and more powerful, and he was able to use that power to get Senators to do as he wished. A lot of that really was not pretty at all!
But then, he started to use that power to pass civil rights legislation. He had to maneuver a tricky balance between the Northern liberals, and the Southern Democrats, and initially the clivil rights bill he was able to pass had no real power. But the theory was that this was a start, and (we know from history) that strategy did work to get the Civil Rights Bill passed. And is seems that Johnson, who could be a racist jerk at times; also had a passion for helping the underdog, and really did care about helping African Americans and Latinos.
I found this book helpful in the current election cycle in a couple of ways. For one, I have a better sense of how the legislative process in the US works. Also, just reading about short-comings of previous presidents (since Eisenhower and JFK are also covered), makes me feel more confident that we will muddle through in the end, whatever happens in this election.
I have finally finished this book, the third in Caro's amazing multi-volume history of Lyndon Johnson. I love Caro's writing, but it is very dense, and at times it is a little repetitive, as he recaps in this volume some of the events in the first two books. Also, there is just so much here, it gets complicated to read. The first part, about the history of the Senate, was a bit of a challenge, because there are so many characters and so much going on. But it was totally worth plowing through this, because the latter half of the book, which covered LBJ's relationship to civil rights legislation, was fascinating, and wouldn't make sense if we didn't know how the Senate worked, and LBJ's role in changing the senate.
LBJ was really a political genius, although, it seems to me, kind of a rotten person. The Senate had been sort of dead-locked by it's old seniority system. Southern senators used the filibuster to prevent any change and to block any kind of civil rights action. LBJ managed to use influence and power to subvert the seniority system, and make the Senate more effective. Of course, this made LBJ himself more and more powerful, and he was able to use that power to get Senators to do as he wished. A lot of that really was not pretty at all!
But then, he started to use that power to pass civil rights legislation. He had to maneuver a tricky balance between the Northern liberals, and the Southern Democrats, and initially the clivil rights bill he was able to pass had no real power. But the theory was that this was a start, and (we know from history) that strategy did work to get the Civil Rights Bill passed. And is seems that Johnson, who could be a racist jerk at times; also had a passion for helping the underdog, and really did care about helping African Americans and Latinos.
I found this book helpful in the current election cycle in a couple of ways. For one, I have a better sense of how the legislative process in the US works. Also, just reading about short-comings of previous presidents (since Eisenhower and JFK are also covered), makes me feel more confident that we will muddle through in the end, whatever happens in this election.
5banjo123
Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson
This is one of the Hogarth Shakespeare re-writes; Jacobson's take on the Merchant of Venice. I liked it. For the most part it is madcap and silly, but there is something underneath. I think, with all of Shakespeare, you do have to suspend a little disbelief, and moving it to modern times makes that even more evident. For example, it really makes no sense that Simon Strulovitch, the Shylock feature, a modern, secular, Jew, would really feel so strongly about his daughter marrying a gentile. And yet, if you allow that stretch, it gives Jacobson a chance to play with the ideas of family, culture and loyalty, and to think about the debts we owe to our ancestors, as well as the gifts we have received from them.
In this book, Shylock himself is a character, who confers with Strulovitch, and gives advice. This is a fun device, thinking of Shylock in the modern day, and it helps to focus the book on a sense of history and family.
This is one of the Hogarth Shakespeare re-writes; Jacobson's take on the Merchant of Venice. I liked it. For the most part it is madcap and silly, but there is something underneath. I think, with all of Shakespeare, you do have to suspend a little disbelief, and moving it to modern times makes that even more evident. For example, it really makes no sense that Simon Strulovitch, the Shylock feature, a modern, secular, Jew, would really feel so strongly about his daughter marrying a gentile. And yet, if you allow that stretch, it gives Jacobson a chance to play with the ideas of family, culture and loyalty, and to think about the debts we owe to our ancestors, as well as the gifts we have received from them.
In this book, Shylock himself is a character, who confers with Strulovitch, and gives advice. This is a fun device, thinking of Shylock in the modern day, and it helps to focus the book on a sense of history and family.
6banjo123
Yesterday I went to Wordstock, which is put on by Literary Arts here in Portland, and features author talks, workshops, and a book sale. (lots of independent presses!)
I started out with a talk by Sherman Alexie. He is SO FUNNY and also really interesting. He read from his new picture book Thunder Boy, Jr (with lots of tangents for jokes and storytelling) If anyone is looking for a book for a young child, I can recommend this. The pictures, by Yuyi Morales, are also awesome.
I next when to a talk with Yaa Gyasi and Colson Whitehead. Gyasi was impressive, I am now anxious to read her book. I wasn't as impressed by Whitehead as I expected to be, although he does seem like a nice person. One interesting thing from the talk, someone had asked both authors if they found themselves traumatized from writing about such difficult topics. Gyasi said no, but sometimes the research was traumatizing, and she was disciplined about working for 3 hours in the morning, and then stopping and doing things that were more nurturing for the rest of the day. Whitehead said that he was able to get away from the writing because he is in charge of cooking for his family, so afternoons and evenings were devoted to that.
I also went to a panel on "Tales of Two Americas" on inequality in America, with Richard Russo, Karen Russel; and Kevin Young. They also seemed interesting, but this talk didn't hold together as well for me, maybe I was tired. Russo quoted Steinbeck, though, and I did like that!
Also, I ran into Kim(Berly) at that lecture---she was volunteering there.
I started out with a talk by Sherman Alexie. He is SO FUNNY and also really interesting. He read from his new picture book Thunder Boy, Jr (with lots of tangents for jokes and storytelling) If anyone is looking for a book for a young child, I can recommend this. The pictures, by Yuyi Morales, are also awesome.
I next when to a talk with Yaa Gyasi and Colson Whitehead. Gyasi was impressive, I am now anxious to read her book. I wasn't as impressed by Whitehead as I expected to be, although he does seem like a nice person. One interesting thing from the talk, someone had asked both authors if they found themselves traumatized from writing about such difficult topics. Gyasi said no, but sometimes the research was traumatizing, and she was disciplined about working for 3 hours in the morning, and then stopping and doing things that were more nurturing for the rest of the day. Whitehead said that he was able to get away from the writing because he is in charge of cooking for his family, so afternoons and evenings were devoted to that.
I also went to a panel on "Tales of Two Americas" on inequality in America, with Richard Russo, Karen Russel; and Kevin Young. They also seemed interesting, but this talk didn't hold together as well for me, maybe I was tired. Russo quoted Steinbeck, though, and I did like that!
Also, I ran into Kim(Berly) at that lecture---she was volunteering there.
7msf59
Happy New Thread, Rhonda! The Wordstock program sounds amazing. So many great authors. I want to attend an author event with Alexie.
Great running into Kimmers too!
Great running into Kimmers too!
8jnwelch
Happy New Thread, Rhonda! What Mark said. What a collection of great authors at Wordstock. I've yet to see Alexie in person, and I want to. Interesting question and answers for the traumatizing effect on Gyasi and Whitehead of addressing such difficult subjects, and how they clear their heads to keep going.
10BLBera
Wow, what a great time, Rhonda. Thanks for sharing. I'd love to hear all of the people. I already gifted the Alexie to Scout!
You liked the Jacobson more than I did, but I am still glad I read it. I can't wait for the next one to come out.
Oh, and happy new thread.
You liked the Jacobson more than I did, but I am still glad I read it. I can't wait for the next one to come out.
Oh, and happy new thread.
12SuziQoregon
Glad you had fun at Wordstock - It always seems to happen on a weekend when I can't go.
13banjo123
>7 msf59: Thanks, Mark! Wordstock was fun. Although that weekend seems a million years ago now.
>8 jnwelch: Joe, Alexie is SO funny. Eventually there will be a podcast of the talk on-line, and I will try to post it.
>9 scaifea: Thanks!
>10 BLBera: Yay! I am glad Scout has Thunderboy
>11 EBT1002: Thanks Ellen, I have to get Homegoing, soon
>12 SuziQoregon: I wish you could have been there, Juli! Last year it was so poorly organized that it was a bit of a wash, but this year was great.
>8 jnwelch: Joe, Alexie is SO funny. Eventually there will be a podcast of the talk on-line, and I will try to post it.
>9 scaifea: Thanks!
>10 BLBera: Yay! I am glad Scout has Thunderboy
>11 EBT1002: Thanks Ellen, I have to get Homegoing, soon
>12 SuziQoregon: I wish you could have been there, Juli! Last year it was so poorly organized that it was a bit of a wash, but this year was great.
14banjo123
And happy weekend everyone. I am still a bit of a wreck after the elections. I will be back later to catch up on that, and on recent reading.
15EBT1002
Hang in there, Rhonda. I'm pretty much a wreck, too, as I know you saw on my thread.
I look forward to hearing about your reading and I hope it has provided some emotional relief from all this.
I look forward to hearing about your reading and I hope it has provided some emotional relief from all this.
16BLBera
I think many of us are wrecks right now, Rhonda. Hang in there. As Ellen said, I hope you have some good reading to take you away from this, albeit briefly.
Alexie is hilarious. He was on the Colbert Report a couple of times and was very funny. An added plus, my students love him.
Alexie is hilarious. He was on the Colbert Report a couple of times and was very funny. An added plus, my students love him.
17qebo
>6 banjo123: Wordstock
Wow, that is quite the assemblage of authors.
>14 banjo123: a wreck
Yeah. You're in plenty of company.
Wow, that is quite the assemblage of authors.
>14 banjo123: a wreck
Yeah. You're in plenty of company.
18banjo123
Hello all. I am hanging in there. I spent a good part of today writing a letter to the editor for our local paper. I don't know if they will print it, but I will copy it here. It helped me to get our some of my thoughts and feelings, although of course I have way to many thoughts and feelings for one letter.
>15 EBT1002: So far, Ellen, reading is not much of a help. My main solace is community, music and exercise. But I think that will be better tomorrow. I did finish my Annie Dillard; so I will be reviewing that soon.
>16 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! It is actually a help to know that a lot of people are going through the same range of feelings right now.
>17 qebo: Yes, Wordstock was a great range of authors for me this year. And yeah, the state of the country is so hard to contemplate right now. Among other things, a president who doesn't even believe in science?
>15 EBT1002: So far, Ellen, reading is not much of a help. My main solace is community, music and exercise. But I think that will be better tomorrow. I did finish my Annie Dillard; so I will be reviewing that soon.
>16 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! It is actually a help to know that a lot of people are going through the same range of feelings right now.
>17 qebo: Yes, Wordstock was a great range of authors for me this year. And yeah, the state of the country is so hard to contemplate right now. Among other things, a president who doesn't even believe in science?
19banjo123
It’s 3 AM. I can’t sleep. I am thinking about Abraham Lincoln.
“A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand”
I have been heartbroken since the election. I think about our country divided now and the echoes of the Civil War. At his second inaugural, Abraham Lincoln said:
“…if God wills that … every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword … still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’"
While I respect those who peacefully protest the election result, what is the point? Maybe we should have taken to the street before, but Trump won the election, rigged as it was by the decimation of the Voting Rights Act, Gerrymandering and the Electoral College. Yet, if we don’t accept this election result, it could destroy our democracy. As Lincoln said at Gettysburg:
“ … these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Like everyone I know, I have wanted to find a way to rededicate myself to action against bigotry; to take the long view. I loved it when Tim Kaine quoted Faulkner “they killed us, but they ‘aint whipped us yet.” My first thought was to work towards connecting to others across race, religion, and national origin.
It is critical to support people attacked by Trump. We also need to find common ground with the almost half of the electorate that voted for Trump.
I don’t know how to do that. On one level, I am certain that most Trump supporters are well-meaning. But on another level, a vote for Trump, feels like an attack. Trump made very clear his bigotry against LGBTQ people, women, African-Americans, Latino American, Muslims, immigrants, refugees, and people with disabilities. How can I accept that? Again, Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address:
“It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged.”
Judge Not. That’s going to be hard.
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
What do I have in common with Trump’s supporters? We are all US Citizens who love our country and our families.
Is that enough common ground to hold the country together? We all have a stake in making sure that it is.
20banjo123
Good news! They are currently broadcasting the Sherman Alexie talk on NPR, so that means that soon it will be available on podcast. I will check for that, and post the pod-cast when it's available. (It is here)
More good news, I checked and I just hit 75 books.
More good news, I checked and I just hit 75 books.
21vancouverdeb
Congratulations on reading 75 books, Rhonda! Great going! Best wishes going forward with the Trump win . It has really shocked and saddened me. We see the repercussions of the Trump win here in Canada. I think it has emboldened those who are racists in Canada. My city was hit today and it hurts my heart. Of course we in Canada cannot directly blame Trump, but I'm afraid that Trump is a big win for the alt -right. http://bc.ctvnews.ca/racist-flyer-calls-on-white-people-to-save-richmond-1.31662...
Here in my city about 60 % of the population are Chinese, which is just fine by me. My son is married to a lovely Chinese girl and my brother is married to a "nominal" Muslim.
But again, Congratulations of achieving 75 books!
I'm still a bit of wreck, even here in Canada. Take care, Rhonda.
Here in my city about 60 % of the population are Chinese, which is just fine by me. My son is married to a lovely Chinese girl and my brother is married to a "nominal" Muslim.
But again, Congratulations of achieving 75 books!
I'm still a bit of wreck, even here in Canada. Take care, Rhonda.
22FAMeulstee
Congratulations on 75!
I don't know either how to find common ground, Rhonda. It is not only in de USA, here in Europe the extreme right wing gets larger too. Next year there will be elections in our country and I am already afraid of the outcome...
I don't know either how to find common ground, Rhonda. It is not only in de USA, here in Europe the extreme right wing gets larger too. Next year there will be elections in our country and I am already afraid of the outcome...
23PaulCranswick
Very well done Rhonda on whizzing by that little milestone of 75.
Have a lovely Sunday.
Have a lovely Sunday.
24msf59
Happy Sunday, Rhonda! Congrats on hitting 75! Yah!
I thought I would drop a BB: The Atomic Weight of Love. It might just be your cuppa.
I thought I would drop a BB: The Atomic Weight of Love. It might just be your cuppa.
25BLBera
Rhonda - Thoughtful comments on Lincoln. I think many of us are wondering what we can do. I intend to speak up, call my representatives as well as Republican leadership. I saw Rob Reiner in an interview, and he was criticizing Paul Ryan, I think. He said, if we don't speak out against racism, etc, we are complicit. I think we should hold our leaders to that standard.
Congrats on 75!
Congrats on 75!
26EBT1002
>19 banjo123: What a beautiful post, Rhonda. It rings so true for me on a deep emotional level.
Congrats on 75!
Congrats on 75!
27banjo123
>21 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb! That's scary stuff... I hope that your son and his wife don't encounter that kind of bigotry often.
>22 FAMeulstee: Thanks! And yuck! You would think that by this time, people would know that voting for divisiveness just doesn't work.
>23 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul!
>24 msf59: Thanks Mark! The title sounds exactly like me, I will have to look it up.
>25 BLBera: You are right, Beth. One of the things that's scariest for me is how fast the Republican establishment has been lining up behind Trump. Here in the Portland, Oregon Bubble, all of my representatives have already spoken out against Bannon, our Mayor elect has affirmed Sanctuary City status, and Governor Brown also has an anti-bigotry message. So I do feel like I am part of a community that values inclusion and diversity.
>26 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen!
>22 FAMeulstee: Thanks! And yuck! You would think that by this time, people would know that voting for divisiveness just doesn't work.
>23 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul!
>24 msf59: Thanks Mark! The title sounds exactly like me, I will have to look it up.
>25 BLBera: You are right, Beth. One of the things that's scariest for me is how fast the Republican establishment has been lining up behind Trump. Here in the Portland, Oregon Bubble, all of my representatives have already spoken out against Bannon, our Mayor elect has affirmed Sanctuary City status, and Governor Brown also has an anti-bigotry message. So I do feel like I am part of a community that values inclusion and diversity.
>26 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen!
28banjo123
I have actually had a very nice weekend, with no time for library thing. Saturday we volunteered at the Schoolhouse Supplies booksort, took cats to the vet, and went to the symphony, We saw Stephen Hough play Saint-Saens-- gorgeous. Today was yoga, brunch with friends, and cleaning the house in advance of Thanksgiving. I finished Under the Udala Trees, which I thought very good.
29banjo123
And on to reviews....
For the Time Being by Annie Dillard
This book is, I think, a long essay, non-fiction, exploring the question of why does God allow bad things to happen. I really like Dillard's writing, and she manages to tie a number of ideas together. However, the topic is overall not that compelling for me, so this probably wasn't the best choice for my Dillard read. My favorite part was her discussion of birds mating over Galilee:
"How do birds mate in midair? They start high. Their beating wings tilt them awkwardly sometimes and part those tiny places where they join; often one of the pair stops flying and they lose altitude. They separate, rest in a tree for a minute, and fly again. Alone they rise fast, tensely, until you see only motes that chase, meet---you, there, here, out of all this air! --and spiral down; breaks your heart. At dusk, I learned later, they climb so high that at night they actually sleep in the air."
For the Time Being by Annie Dillard
This book is, I think, a long essay, non-fiction, exploring the question of why does God allow bad things to happen. I really like Dillard's writing, and she manages to tie a number of ideas together. However, the topic is overall not that compelling for me, so this probably wasn't the best choice for my Dillard read. My favorite part was her discussion of birds mating over Galilee:
"How do birds mate in midair? They start high. Their beating wings tilt them awkwardly sometimes and part those tiny places where they join; often one of the pair stops flying and they lose altitude. They separate, rest in a tree for a minute, and fly again. Alone they rise fast, tensely, until you see only motes that chase, meet---you, there, here, out of all this air! --and spiral down; breaks your heart. At dusk, I learned later, they climb so high that at night they actually sleep in the air."
30banjo123
Arguably by Christopher Hitchens
This is a wide-ranging collection of Hitchens essays. I did have some major disagreements with Hitchens, and some other times where I really liked him. And many, many times when I had no opinion because he was just over my head, because he knew way more about history, literature and current affairs than I ever will. I found myself reading in-depth articles about authors I barely knew existed (CLR James, JG Ballard) for example. But there were some great things that I learned, for example from the essay on Isaac Newton:
"...wen he listed the seven colors of the spectrum--having carefully separated these from their formerly all-enveloping white light--he did so by an analogy with the seven notes of the musical scale. Any other conclusion, he felt, would violate the Pythagorean principle of harmony. He was probably wrong in this glimpse of the unified field theory that was to elude even Einstein, but one has to admire someone who could dare to be wrong in such a beautiful way."
This is a wide-ranging collection of Hitchens essays. I did have some major disagreements with Hitchens, and some other times where I really liked him. And many, many times when I had no opinion because he was just over my head, because he knew way more about history, literature and current affairs than I ever will. I found myself reading in-depth articles about authors I barely knew existed (CLR James, JG Ballard) for example. But there were some great things that I learned, for example from the essay on Isaac Newton:
"...wen he listed the seven colors of the spectrum--having carefully separated these from their formerly all-enveloping white light--he did so by an analogy with the seven notes of the musical scale. Any other conclusion, he felt, would violate the Pythagorean principle of harmony. He was probably wrong in this glimpse of the unified field theory that was to elude even Einstein, but one has to admire someone who could dare to be wrong in such a beautiful way."
31banjo123
It's too late, now, for any more reviews, but I will try to get to them soon.
In the meantime, if you want some fun, the Sherman Alexie interview can be found here
In the meantime, if you want some fun, the Sherman Alexie interview can be found here
32PaulCranswick
>27 banjo123: You got your numbers a little mixed up up there, but we all know what you mean. xx
33banjo123
>32 PaulCranswick: Thanks for being understanding, Paul! I think I have fixed it now...
34charl08
>31 banjo123: "it's really about the power of poetry". Lol. Thanks for sharing this Rhonda.
From what I can see online Thunder Boy hasn't been published here yet, hope it will be soon.
From what I can see online Thunder Boy hasn't been published here yet, hope it will be soon.
35banjo123
>34 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte! It was a great lecture.
Life and reading news:
Last night I went to an event called "Now What?" that brought together activists, different groups and ideas for action. It was really a nice group, and actually too many people showed up for the space, which was sad for those who didn't get in, but encouraging as well. I am very glad, right now, to live on the West Coast.
Reading-wise, I have started Jump-off Creek by Molly Gloss. It's about a woman homesteading in Eastern Oregon in the 1890's and it's terrific. Really makes one feel appreciative of houses with floors and indoor toilets and central heating, that's for sure.
Life and reading news:
Last night I went to an event called "Now What?" that brought together activists, different groups and ideas for action. It was really a nice group, and actually too many people showed up for the space, which was sad for those who didn't get in, but encouraging as well. I am very glad, right now, to live on the West Coast.
Reading-wise, I have started Jump-off Creek by Molly Gloss. It's about a woman homesteading in Eastern Oregon in the 1890's and it's terrific. Really makes one feel appreciative of houses with floors and indoor toilets and central heating, that's for sure.
36banjo123
our endless numbered days by claire fuller
I bought this book at Wordstock, from Tin House Books, which is a very nice small press. It's a page-turner of a book, about Peggy who is taken by her survivalist father, at age 8, to live in the woods. Her father tells her the rest of the world has been destroyed. The book alternates by stories of their attempts to make a home in the wilderness, and Peggy's eventual return to civilization. Peggy is an interesting, not always reliable narrator, the story has a number of twists and turns.
I liked the book, but I do feel that My Abandonment by Peter Rock covers some of the same material, and is better-written. (although being better written makes the story even creepier.)
Back to Our Endless Numbered Days; this is also the title of an album by Iron & Wine. Claire Fuller is a big fan, and I think there may be references in the book.
I bought this book at Wordstock, from Tin House Books, which is a very nice small press. It's a page-turner of a book, about Peggy who is taken by her survivalist father, at age 8, to live in the woods. Her father tells her the rest of the world has been destroyed. The book alternates by stories of their attempts to make a home in the wilderness, and Peggy's eventual return to civilization. Peggy is an interesting, not always reliable narrator, the story has a number of twists and turns.
I liked the book, but I do feel that My Abandonment by Peter Rock covers some of the same material, and is better-written. (although being better written makes the story even creepier.)
Back to Our Endless Numbered Days; this is also the title of an album by Iron & Wine. Claire Fuller is a big fan, and I think there may be references in the book.
37banjo123
Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
I really liked this book, a lesbian coming-of-age story set in Nigeria. Ijeoma's life is upended by the Biafran war, and later by her discovery of her attraction to women. Her culture and family are very homophobic, so this is difficult, and at times dangerous. The author does a good job of weaving together the issues of culture and the feelings of a young girl, who wants to please her mother, but who can't deny her feelings.
It's heartbreaking, at times, especially when in the end, Okparanta reminds us that in 2014 Nigeria enacted a law criminalizing same-sex relationships, and making them punishable by 14 years in prison, or in the northern states, death by stoning.
I really liked this book, a lesbian coming-of-age story set in Nigeria. Ijeoma's life is upended by the Biafran war, and later by her discovery of her attraction to women. Her culture and family are very homophobic, so this is difficult, and at times dangerous. The author does a good job of weaving together the issues of culture and the feelings of a young girl, who wants to please her mother, but who can't deny her feelings.
It's heartbreaking, at times, especially when in the end, Okparanta reminds us that in 2014 Nigeria enacted a law criminalizing same-sex relationships, and making them punishable by 14 years in prison, or in the northern states, death by stoning.
39charl08
>37 banjo123: I've just got this one out at the library. I am going to read it this time...
40qebo
>35 banjo123: "Now What?"
Did specific plans emerge? In my little speck of blue surrounded by a sea of red, there are two meetings coming up later this month.
Did specific plans emerge? In my little speck of blue surrounded by a sea of red, there are two meetings coming up later this month.
41vancouverdeb
Thankfully it is very rare to encounter that sort of bigotry here, Rhonda. The police are " hot on the case" regarding it as a hate crime. Not sure if it will get solved, but possibly is someone caught who ever delivered the flyers on their outside security camera.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
43PaulCranswick
I am ever thankful for your presence in the group, Rhonda.
44banjo123
>38 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! Actually, those books might also work well for your students, as they involve young narrators. I am thinking of lending Under the Udala Trees to Banjo, Jr over winter break, as I think she might like it.
>39 charl08: I hope you give it a try. I also often have trouble getting to all my library books.... somehow a lot of good reads can pile up at one time.
>40 qebo: I think the "now what?' answer is varied, they were mainly encouraging everyone to sign up and become active in something that interested them. It was a wide range of groups, ACLU, Planned Parenthood Advocates, and several local organizations that do good work. There was one group that bicycles around giving books to the homeless, which I found to be a cheery idea, but I am currently more enthused about the ACLU. However, I was happy to see so many people ready to act. I think this is the biggest mobilization for action that I have ever seen.
>41 vancouverdeb: That's great, Deb! I hope the police catch them.
>42 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!
> 43 Oh, thanks, Paul,,,, you are so sweet.
I was going to post more, but need to attend to our Thanksgiving dinner. Happy thanksgiving to all who celebrate, and I will catch up more later.
>39 charl08: I hope you give it a try. I also often have trouble getting to all my library books.... somehow a lot of good reads can pile up at one time.
>40 qebo: I think the "now what?' answer is varied, they were mainly encouraging everyone to sign up and become active in something that interested them. It was a wide range of groups, ACLU, Planned Parenthood Advocates, and several local organizations that do good work. There was one group that bicycles around giving books to the homeless, which I found to be a cheery idea, but I am currently more enthused about the ACLU. However, I was happy to see so many people ready to act. I think this is the biggest mobilization for action that I have ever seen.
>41 vancouverdeb: That's great, Deb! I hope the police catch them.
>42 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!
> 43 Oh, thanks, Paul,,,, you are so sweet.
I was going to post more, but need to attend to our Thanksgiving dinner. Happy thanksgiving to all who celebrate, and I will catch up more later.
46BLBera
Thanks for the tip, Rhonda. I'll be looking for some new novels to teach for the fall. I need a break from THe Round House and Station Eleven.
47banjo123
>45 Berly: Thanks, Kim!
> 46 Beth, Station Eleven is such a great book! But one can only re-read so many times.
We had a lovely thanksgiving, with my family and a couple of extras. Banjo, jr couldn't make it home... she is spending the holiday with family friends in Chicagoland. We kept the conversation mostly politic free, not because of disagreements, as we are all pretty progressive, but as an aid to digestion. So lots of laughter and great food.
> 46 Beth, Station Eleven is such a great book! But one can only re-read so many times.
We had a lovely thanksgiving, with my family and a couple of extras. Banjo, jr couldn't make it home... she is spending the holiday with family friends in Chicagoland. We kept the conversation mostly politic free, not because of disagreements, as we are all pretty progressive, but as an aid to digestion. So lots of laughter and great food.
48vancouverdeb
Glad you enjoyed Thanksgiving! Sounds lovely! We are off to my son and daughter in laws tomorrow to celebrate my husband's sixtieth birthday. How did we get so old ? LOL! At least I am four years and one month behind him! ;)
49msf59
Happy Saturday, Rhonda! Hope you had a nice holiday! Glad you enjoyed Under the Udala Trees. I have had that one on my To-Read List.
And Hooray for 75!!
And Hooray for 75!!
50banjo123
>48 vancouverdeb: I am just a couple of years shy of 60 myself, and I often wonder where those years went.
> 49 Thanks Mark! I think you will like Under the Udala Trees.
And next, a poem, I just found in one of my neighbor's poetry box.
> 49 Thanks Mark! I think you will like Under the Udala Trees.
And next, a poem, I just found in one of my neighbor's poetry box.
51banjo123
“Do You Have Any Advice For Those of Us Just Starting Out?"
Give up sitting dutifully at your desk. Leave
your house or apartment. Go out into the world.
It's all right to carry a notebook but a cheap
one is best, with pages the color of weak tea
and on the front a kitten or a space ship.
Avoid any enclosed space where more than
three people are wearing turtlenecks. Beware
any snow-covered chalet with deer tracks
across the muffled tennis courts.
Not surprisingly, libraries are a good place to write.
And the perfect place in a library is near an aisle
where a child a year or two old is playing as his
mother browses the ranks of the dead.
Often he will pull books from the bottom shelf.
The title, the author's name, the brooding photo
on the flap mean nothing. Red book on black, gray
book on brown, he builds a tower. And the higher
it gets, the wider he grins.
You who asked for advice, listen: When the tower
falls, be like that child. Laugh so loud everybody
in the world frowns and says, "Shhhh."
Then start again.
—Ron Koertge
52banjo123
And in book news...
I finished and loved The Jump-Off Creek Mrs. Banjo also read and loved this molly Gloss book, as we were reading for a book group. Review coming soon!
Currently reading: Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez. Very well written short stories, creepy.
Book buying: I went to Indie's First at Broadway Books. Cheryl Strayed was signing, and there was a long line for her. I didn't need to have anything signed, as my Strayed books are already autographed, but I did hang around an eavesdrop for a few minutes listening to people tell her how much her books meant to them. She was so sweet and genuine... definitely the real deal. My own book buying was somewhat restrained, four books, Chelsea Cain's One Kick was suggested for Banjo, jr, so it will be a holiday present. I bought Tough Girl and had it autographed by Carolyn Wood; it looks really good. Also A little Life and The Fire This TIme.
Sad news, Oregon author Brian Doyle has a brain tumor, and it does not sound good. He is a good writer (Mink River; The Plover) and also super-nice.
I finished and loved The Jump-Off Creek Mrs. Banjo also read and loved this molly Gloss book, as we were reading for a book group. Review coming soon!
Currently reading: Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez. Very well written short stories, creepy.
Book buying: I went to Indie's First at Broadway Books. Cheryl Strayed was signing, and there was a long line for her. I didn't need to have anything signed, as my Strayed books are already autographed, but I did hang around an eavesdrop for a few minutes listening to people tell her how much her books meant to them. She was so sweet and genuine... definitely the real deal. My own book buying was somewhat restrained, four books, Chelsea Cain's One Kick was suggested for Banjo, jr, so it will be a holiday present. I bought Tough Girl and had it autographed by Carolyn Wood; it looks really good. Also A little Life and The Fire This TIme.
Sad news, Oregon author Brian Doyle has a brain tumor, and it does not sound good. He is a good writer (Mink River; The Plover) and also super-nice.
53BLBera
>51 banjo123: I love the poem!
I know I've read something by Molly Gloss, but not that one. Onto the list it goes. I have about ten books for Scout for Christmas. Too much?
I've also decided to reinstitute buying books for my kids, including my son-in-law, who isn't much of a reader. Now I have to figure out what to get...
Great restraint, Rhonda.
I know I've read something by Molly Gloss, but not that one. Onto the list it goes. I have about ten books for Scout for Christmas. Too much?
I've also decided to reinstitute buying books for my kids, including my son-in-law, who isn't much of a reader. Now I have to figure out what to get...
Great restraint, Rhonda.
54banjo123
Last year my go-to gift book was Station Eleven. The year before, The Martian. This year, I am not sure. Maybe The Secret Chord?
55banjo123
the jump-off creek by Molly Gloss
I loved this book, and it's by an Oregon author! This is the story of a woman homesteader, Lydia Sanderson, who is trying to create a home in Easter Oregon in the 1890's. She is a widow, escaping what seems to have been a loveless past, with no desire to remarry. Gloss appears to have done a lot of research, including with her own great-grandmothers, and the story feels very real. Life was hard work, with very little time for any luxury. (I ended up really appreciating my house, with heating and plumbing and a floor. )
Gloss also shows the poverty of her characters inner lives. They all had hard childhoods, and grew up with a limited emotional range -- but still with a human need to connect. The two main characters, Lydia, and a nearby rancher, Tim Whiteaker, develop a relationship of sorts, and throughout the book struggle to discover what they mean to each other.
This is a short book, and Gloss uses spare, carefully considered language to great effect. This simplicity reflects the homesteading reality and keeps the reader in Lydia's reality.
I loved this book, and it's by an Oregon author! This is the story of a woman homesteader, Lydia Sanderson, who is trying to create a home in Easter Oregon in the 1890's. She is a widow, escaping what seems to have been a loveless past, with no desire to remarry. Gloss appears to have done a lot of research, including with her own great-grandmothers, and the story feels very real. Life was hard work, with very little time for any luxury. (I ended up really appreciating my house, with heating and plumbing and a floor. )
Gloss also shows the poverty of her characters inner lives. They all had hard childhoods, and grew up with a limited emotional range -- but still with a human need to connect. The two main characters, Lydia, and a nearby rancher, Tim Whiteaker, develop a relationship of sorts, and throughout the book struggle to discover what they mean to each other.
This is a short book, and Gloss uses spare, carefully considered language to great effect. This simplicity reflects the homesteading reality and keeps the reader in Lydia's reality.
57ursula
>36 banjo123: I'll have to try to remember to look up the other book you mention here.
58jnwelch
>51 banjo123: "Like"
Thanks for posting that, Rhonda. :-)
P.S. I reposted it on the AAC Poetry Thread. http://www.librarything.com/topic/230813# I figured you wouldn't mind.
Thanks for posting that, Rhonda. :-)
P.S. I reposted it on the AAC Poetry Thread. http://www.librarything.com/topic/230813# I figured you wouldn't mind.
59Berly
Hi Rhonda! Love the poem and am totally jealous about the book signing. Also very sad to hear about Brian Doyle. All caught up here again. Hugs!
60msf59
>51 banjo123: I like the poem too, Rhonda. Thanks for sharing.
I also have a copy of Things We Lost in the Fire and hope to get to it soon.
Good review of The Jump Off Creek. Sounds like a good one.
Bummer about Brian Doyle. I really liked The Plover.
I also have a copy of Things We Lost in the Fire and hope to get to it soon.
Good review of The Jump Off Creek. Sounds like a good one.
Bummer about Brian Doyle. I really liked The Plover.
61banjo123
>56 BLBera: I think you will like it, Beth, most everyone in the book group did.
>57 ursula: Ursula, My Abandonment was based on a real case here in Portland, and very intriguing and disturbing.
>58 jnwelch: So glad you liked the poem, Joe! I was not familiar with Koertge.
>59 Berly: Thanks, Kim!
> 60 Hi Mark! I just finished Things We Lost in the Fire She is quite a writer.
>57 ursula: Ursula, My Abandonment was based on a real case here in Portland, and very intriguing and disturbing.
>58 jnwelch: So glad you liked the poem, Joe! I was not familiar with Koertge.
>59 Berly: Thanks, Kim!
> 60 Hi Mark! I just finished Things We Lost in the Fire She is quite a writer.
62PaulCranswick
Rhonda, just doing my rounds and since I have nothing particularly sensible to add I will simply wish you a lovely weekend.
63banjo123
>62 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul! It's a nice weekend so far, and pretty relaxing.
We went to see "Bird on a WIre" Friday night, it's a documentary about Leonard Cohen's 1972 tour of Europe, ending in Jerusalem. This showing was a benefit for Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. Really good, but I wound up with "Suzanne" stuck in my head all day yesterday. here it is if anyone else wants a 60's ear worm.
I have a couple of reviews to do; and wanted to plan out my December reading.
We went to see "Bird on a WIre" Friday night, it's a documentary about Leonard Cohen's 1972 tour of Europe, ending in Jerusalem. This showing was a benefit for Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. Really good, but I wound up with "Suzanne" stuck in my head all day yesterday. here it is if anyone else wants a 60's ear worm.
I have a couple of reviews to do; and wanted to plan out my December reading.
64banjo123
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez
This Early Reviewer book is a collection of short stories by Mariana Enriquez translated by Megan McDowell. She is an Argentinean writer, this is her first work translated into English. She is a terrific writer, and I predict will have a lot of success here. However, to be honest, this book was difficult for me, due to some of my own issues, and I probably won't read her again
I think that her stories fall in the horror genre, but the supernatural horror is lightly sprinkled, which lets the horror of real life shine through. Themes include poverty, homeless and endangered children, and mental illness. The theme that is hardest for me, in these stories, is that of young women, teens, who react to the violence and misogyny of their worlds by taking the violence out on themselves and their own bodies. It's well done, and feels realistic, which actually only made if harder for me.
But I think that there are a lot of people who would really like this book. I read another review that compared her to Shirley Jackson, which I think is an apt comparision.
This Early Reviewer book is a collection of short stories by Mariana Enriquez translated by Megan McDowell. She is an Argentinean writer, this is her first work translated into English. She is a terrific writer, and I predict will have a lot of success here. However, to be honest, this book was difficult for me, due to some of my own issues, and I probably won't read her again
I think that her stories fall in the horror genre, but the supernatural horror is lightly sprinkled, which lets the horror of real life shine through. Themes include poverty, homeless and endangered children, and mental illness. The theme that is hardest for me, in these stories, is that of young women, teens, who react to the violence and misogyny of their worlds by taking the violence out on themselves and their own bodies. It's well done, and feels realistic, which actually only made if harder for me.
But I think that there are a lot of people who would really like this book. I read another review that compared her to Shirley Jackson, which I think is an apt comparision.
65banjo123
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
I am counting this as read, although to be honest, I read the first couple of chapters, skimmed the rest of the book, and then read the last chapter. The last chapter was really good, but not worth reading the rest of the book.
I had been interested in this for some time, just because I have always wondered how it would feel to be related to someone who committed a horrific crime. This book did not help with that, because the narrator was just too bizarre and hard to believe in. Also, the writing was dense and slow. I think that Shriver did this on purpose, but it did not work for me.
I am counting this as read, although to be honest, I read the first couple of chapters, skimmed the rest of the book, and then read the last chapter. The last chapter was really good, but not worth reading the rest of the book.
I had been interested in this for some time, just because I have always wondered how it would feel to be related to someone who committed a horrific crime. This book did not help with that, because the narrator was just too bizarre and hard to believe in. Also, the writing was dense and slow. I think that Shriver did this on purpose, but it did not work for me.
66The_Hibernator
Too bad you didn't like it. I just bought it and plan on reading it soon (though I got distracted by the publication of a friend's indie novel, so who knows when I'll have time now)!
67ursula
>65 banjo123: I read that one some years ago and didn't like it at all. I wish I'd used your technique. :)
68msf59
Happy Sunday, Rhonda! Sorry, Kevin didn't work for you. I thought it was terrific and it still gives me chills, when I think about it. I want to read more of her work.
The Enriquez collections sounds great. I may read that next.
The Enriquez collections sounds great. I may read that next.
69BLBera
Great comments, Rhonda. I think I'll pass on both books although the Enriquez sounds interesting.
70banjo123
>66 The_Hibernator: Hopefully you will like it, Rachel, like Mark, instead of like me and Ursula.
>67 ursula: I should have probably given up after a few pages, but I wanted to know what happened.
>68 msf59: Definitely a chilling ending, Mark! I think you will like the Enriquez collection---I will look forward to your comments.
>69 BLBera: Do you read Spanish, Beth? It would be interesting to read her in Spanish.
>67 ursula: I should have probably given up after a few pages, but I wanted to know what happened.
>68 msf59: Definitely a chilling ending, Mark! I think you will like the Enriquez collection---I will look forward to your comments.
>69 BLBera: Do you read Spanish, Beth? It would be interesting to read her in Spanish.
71banjo123
Current Reading:
The Passage of Power by Robert Caro. (fascinating so far, and probably the easiest read of any of the Caro books about LBJ)
Tough Girl by Carolyn Wood
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor (a memorial read, as he died last month. I just started on it.)
Other December plans:
Libra by DeLillo
Amitra by Banana Yoshimoto (I borrowed this from a friend some time ago, and feel that I ought to read and return it)
The Fire This TIme by Jesmyn Ward
My book club books are
Fun House by Alison Bechdel. (a re-read that I look forward to) and
The Double by Jose Saramago (which I probably won't read before January.)
Maybe I need something light to add to this mix?
The Passage of Power by Robert Caro. (fascinating so far, and probably the easiest read of any of the Caro books about LBJ)
Tough Girl by Carolyn Wood
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor (a memorial read, as he died last month. I just started on it.)
Other December plans:
Libra by DeLillo
Amitra by Banana Yoshimoto (I borrowed this from a friend some time ago, and feel that I ought to read and return it)
The Fire This TIme by Jesmyn Ward
My book club books are
Fun House by Alison Bechdel. (a re-read that I look forward to) and
The Double by Jose Saramago (which I probably won't read before January.)
Maybe I need something light to add to this mix?
72jnwelch
>71 banjo123: Add The Poet's Dog, Rhonda. It'll take you no time to read, and it's light.
74banjo123
>72 jnwelch: Thanks for the tip!
>73 BLBera: Well, this might be good to read, because it's short stories.
Today we are all socked in with snow and ice here in Portland. It's supposed to turn to rain sometime tomorrow though. I have another book finished to review, and then I am hoping to catch up a little on LT.
>73 BLBera: Well, this might be good to read, because it's short stories.
Today we are all socked in with snow and ice here in Portland. It's supposed to turn to rain sometime tomorrow though. I have another book finished to review, and then I am hoping to catch up a little on LT.
75banjo123
Tough Girl: An Olympian's Journey by Carolyn Wood
I wanted to like this book more than I did, because Wood is a local writer, I met her at the bookstore and she's super nice. Also, the topic of this book was interesting to me. Carolyn Wood was in the 1960 Olympic swim team. As a young woman, she married and had a child, but then, came out as a lesbian and lost custody of her son. She had a long-term relationship and marriage to a woman, but that relationship recently ended, leaving her feeling bereft. She found solace for her grief over the broken relationship by walking El Camino de Santiago in Spain. The book alternates betwwe stories of her swimming past and stories of her walk in Spain.
Wood was an English teacher, so her writing is competent, but not really up to this story. Also, the memoir could have used a little more ruthless editing, as there are too many details and side stories. I am going with 3 stars. I think it's worth reading if the topic interests you.
I wanted to like this book more than I did, because Wood is a local writer, I met her at the bookstore and she's super nice. Also, the topic of this book was interesting to me. Carolyn Wood was in the 1960 Olympic swim team. As a young woman, she married and had a child, but then, came out as a lesbian and lost custody of her son. She had a long-term relationship and marriage to a woman, but that relationship recently ended, leaving her feeling bereft. She found solace for her grief over the broken relationship by walking El Camino de Santiago in Spain. The book alternates betwwe stories of her swimming past and stories of her walk in Spain.
Wood was an English teacher, so her writing is competent, but not really up to this story. Also, the memoir could have used a little more ruthless editing, as there are too many details and side stories. I am going with 3 stars. I think it's worth reading if the topic interests you.
76EBT1002
Lordy, I have been gone too long. I remember reading Jump Off Creek eons ago and loving it. It might qualify for a reread in 2017. :-)
>64 banjo123: Even though you were less than fully enthusiastic about Enriquez' writing, I think I might give that one a try. It sounds interesting.
>70 banjo123: and >73 BLBera: My BIL reads in Spanish and Russian as well as English. I bow down to those who are truly literate in more than one language.
Rhonda, we need to start thinking about a Portland/Powell's meet-up for late spring or early summer.
>64 banjo123: Even though you were less than fully enthusiastic about Enriquez' writing, I think I might give that one a try. It sounds interesting.
>70 banjo123: and >73 BLBera: My BIL reads in Spanish and Russian as well as English. I bow down to those who are truly literate in more than one language.
Rhonda, we need to start thinking about a Portland/Powell's meet-up for late spring or early summer.
77banjo123
>76 EBT1002: Definitely a meet-up!
Enriquez' writing is top-notch, I'd recommend her unless you have the same buttons to get pushed as I do.
Enriquez' writing is top-notch, I'd recommend her unless you have the same buttons to get pushed as I do.
78EBT1002
Well, it's hard to say about the buttons. I certainly have some but I think I won't know until I read. I've added Things We Lost in the Fire to my wish list.
By the way, I just looked out the window and it's snowing in Seattle!!!!!
*big grin*
By the way, I just looked out the window and it's snowing in Seattle!!!!!
*big grin*
81banjo123
It is supposed to be gone by mid-morning tomorrow, and then we will have rain all weekend, So, not too much disruption. Right now I am anxious because my cat went out and won't come back in. I am sure he is holed up somewhere warm, but I'd feel better if he was in the house.
82The_Hibernator
Othello used to escape in subzero Fahrenheit weather and I'd spend stressful hours looking for her. Shes'd usually come when called, but it would take a while so her warm hole must have been a distance.
83BLBera
>76 EBT1002: Re: Meet-up. I am almost positive I'll attend the CCCC conference in Portland in March; it runs from March 15-18. Just saying...
84banjo123
>82 The_Hibernator: Cats can be such Brats! Franny is home now, looking innocent. Don't believe it---last night he dumped broke into the cat food, dumped it on the floor, and shared with his brothers.
>83 BLBera: Hooray, Beth! That's a great time for a meet up!
>83 BLBera: Hooray, Beth! That's a great time for a meet up!
86banjo123
I have been trying to post a picture, but it hasn't worked and I end up with giant empty messages. :( I will try again later.
Anyway, the weekend is nice so far. Last night we went to a special yoga class done to Beatles music that was a benefit for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Really fun and we went out for some great Indian food afterwards. Portland is in the middle (actually now at the end) of an icestorm, so the restaurant, which usually has long lines to get in, was almost empty. So, good for us. Today is our neighborhood holiday progressive dinner... I am making cookies for the dessert house.
Anyway, the weekend is nice so far. Last night we went to a special yoga class done to Beatles music that was a benefit for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Really fun and we went out for some great Indian food afterwards. Portland is in the middle (actually now at the end) of an icestorm, so the restaurant, which usually has long lines to get in, was almost empty. So, good for us. Today is our neighborhood holiday progressive dinner... I am making cookies for the dessert house.
87banjo123
Oh, and our neighbors have the greatest lawn-sign:
It turns out to have been made by a local group called Nasty Women Get Things Done PDX. I am thinking about joining.
It turns out to have been made by a local group called Nasty Women Get Things Done PDX. I am thinking about joining.
88BLBera
>87 banjo123: I love it!
89kidzdoc
>87 banjo123: Perfect!
90msf59
Happy Sunday, Rhonda! I like your December reading plans. I am trying to find an audio copy of The Fire This Time.
I may also start Things We Lost in the Fire next...
I may also start Things We Lost in the Fire next...
91scaifea
>87 banjo123: YES. I love it!
92charl08
>87 banjo123: Wonderful. And great group name, too.
93jnwelch
>87 banjo123: Great one, Rhonda.
94EBT1002
We have friends who have this yard sign and I WANT ONE:
"eta: I have no idea who Nancy is.
"eta: I have no idea who Nancy is.
95EBT1002
>83 BLBera: and >84 banjo123: Oh boy, this will be tricky but I'll do all I can to make this work. Those dates are right after I return from my conference in San Antonio and before I go to New Orleans for a week's cruise on the Mississippi with my sister. So, as we get closer, I'll see what I can do.
96BLBera
>95 EBT1002: Fly to NO from Portland.
97EBT1002
>96 BLBera: Hmmm. That's a possibility. We'll have to talk details as the dates get closer.
98banjo123
>88 BLBera:, >89 kidzdoc: >91 scaifea:, >92 charl08:, >93 jnwelch: I know, isn't it sweet?
>90 msf59: I am curious to see how the Enriquez works for you. The Fire This Time is really good. Glad that I am reading it.
>94 EBT1002: That's wonderful! And I am sure Nancy is great too.
>95 EBT1002:, >96 BLBera: and >97 EBT1002: Good planning, Beth and Ellen!
>90 msf59: I am curious to see how the Enriquez works for you. The Fire This Time is really good. Glad that I am reading it.
>94 EBT1002: That's wonderful! And I am sure Nancy is great too.
>95 EBT1002:, >96 BLBera: and >97 EBT1002: Good planning, Beth and Ellen!
99banjo123
This week has been stressful. A bunch of work stuff I won't bore you all with, and then yesterday I was rear-ended in a freeway hit and run. Luckily I am fine, but my bumper is a mess, and there's all the car fixing logistics to work out. Also, Friday I have jury duty. I have my fingers crossed that I don't get picked, because if I do, it's going to mess up my month. (because it's GRAND jury duty, so it lasts a month.) Although, bright side of jury duty is lots of reading time.
But the good news is that Banjo, Jr comes home for winter break on Friday. (assuming she doesn't get derailed by the impending ice storm that they are threatening us with.) And we have lots of fun stuff planned for the next few weeks.
Reading-wise, I finished Lucy Gault, so expect a review soon.
Also, did you all see the articles in the NYT travel section about traveling for bookstores? I will post a link.
But the good news is that Banjo, Jr comes home for winter break on Friday. (assuming she doesn't get derailed by the impending ice storm that they are threatening us with.) And we have lots of fun stuff planned for the next few weeks.
Reading-wise, I finished Lucy Gault, so expect a review soon.
Also, did you all see the articles in the NYT travel section about traveling for bookstores? I will post a link.
102charl08
Travelling to bookshops? Oh, I think that one is for me :-)
Sorry to hear about your car accident - sounds like a stressful week. Hope your daughter's trip is uneventful and stressfree.
I am kicking myself for not picking up a copy of Lucy Gault in a second hand shop this week..maybe it will still be there when I go back.
Sorry to hear about your car accident - sounds like a stressful week. Hope your daughter's trip is uneventful and stressfree.
I am kicking myself for not picking up a copy of Lucy Gault in a second hand shop this week..maybe it will still be there when I go back.
103banjo123
>101 BLBera: Thanks, Beth, it was a fun NYT section.
>102 charl08: Yes... running out of things to read is one of my worst travel fears.
Now I feel over the car accident. I took it into the body shop yesterday, and have the insurance stuff all filed, but they can't actually fix it until January. It's driveable, so that's OK. Here in Oregon we are in the midst of a snow and ice storm. Yesterday was pretty stressful driving home... but I got here and today the office is closed for snow. Mrs. Banjo made banana bread, and we are going to clean the house before Banjo, Jr. gets here.
I am thinking about my plans for 2017 reading. For one thing, I have decided to try to read all of the New York TImes 10 best books of the year. Two are already read, several others are on the wish list. I have put them all on the library reserve list.
>102 charl08: Yes... running out of things to read is one of my worst travel fears.
Now I feel over the car accident. I took it into the body shop yesterday, and have the insurance stuff all filed, but they can't actually fix it until January. It's driveable, so that's OK. Here in Oregon we are in the midst of a snow and ice storm. Yesterday was pretty stressful driving home... but I got here and today the office is closed for snow. Mrs. Banjo made banana bread, and we are going to clean the house before Banjo, Jr. gets here.
I am thinking about my plans for 2017 reading. For one thing, I have decided to try to read all of the New York TImes 10 best books of the year. Two are already read, several others are on the wish list. I have put them all on the library reserve list.
104banjo123
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
A lovely, sad story set in Ireland in the 1920's. Trevor really is a good writer, and he does a great job presenting Lucy as a full fledged character, not just an odd misfit. The plot covers an intersection of politics, religion, love for the land, and class. My only quibble is that the book centers on what seems to me to be an unlikely plot device.
A lovely, sad story set in Ireland in the 1920's. Trevor really is a good writer, and he does a great job presenting Lucy as a full fledged character, not just an odd misfit. The plot covers an intersection of politics, religion, love for the land, and class. My only quibble is that the book centers on what seems to me to be an unlikely plot device.
105BLBera
Portland made national news with its snow, this morning. I hope you're warm and safe. I'm glad just the car was hurt.
106vancouverdeb
Love your image @103 ! Sorry about your car accident and fingers crossed that you don't get selected for jury duty. My husband was called for a 3 month jury duty, but fortunately here, if you call and say you'd really dislike to serve on the jury, most often they'll let you off the list. Not a lot of fun sitting listening to the details of some fairly serious crime for 3 plus months.
We've had our share of snow here too. Apparently it is supposed to leave on Monday - fingers crossed!
We've had our share of snow here too. Apparently it is supposed to leave on Monday - fingers crossed!
107PaulCranswick
>104 banjo123: Glad you enjoyed Lucy Gault, Rhonda, even if it was imperfect. I loved Trevor's writing and the quirkiness he brought to bear.
Have a lovely weekend.
Have a lovely weekend.
108banjo123
>105 BLBera: Yes, the snow was crazy! Portland doesn't get much cold weather, so when it does come, everyone freaks out.
>106 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb! I did get off of jury duty, so just had to spend half a day waiting around and reading.... not too much of a hardship. I think our weather systems are pretty similar--and we are also expecting everything to dissolve on Monday.
>107 PaulCranswick: Paul, thanks for introducing me to Trevor! I plan to look for more of his work in the future.
>106 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb! I did get off of jury duty, so just had to spend half a day waiting around and reading.... not too much of a hardship. I think our weather systems are pretty similar--and we are also expecting everything to dissolve on Monday.
>107 PaulCranswick: Paul, thanks for introducing me to Trevor! I plan to look for more of his work in the future.
109banjo123
The weekend is nice so far. We picked Banjo, jr up at the airport last night, she has almost a month for winter break, and it's great to have her home.
Today we did our volunteer books sort stint, lots of fun, and I was able to pick up four discarded books: the Mirrored World by Debra DeanThe Tender Bar by JR Moehringer, Just Kids by Patti Smith and , the piece-de-resistance, Words Will Break Cement: the passion of pussy riot by Masha Gessen, which I have been wanting to read, and Banjo, Jrfound it for me.
Tonight we are planning dinner with a friend and to play Mah Jongg, not sure if we will make it though, due to icy roads. Tomorrow we are going to see "Santa Land Diaries' with my sister, which should be loads of fun.
I finished one books, so will try to write a quick review, then I need to bake some cookies. (need is the operative word, obviously.)
Today we did our volunteer books sort stint, lots of fun, and I was able to pick up four discarded books: the Mirrored World by Debra DeanThe Tender Bar by JR Moehringer, Just Kids by Patti Smith and , the piece-de-resistance, Words Will Break Cement: the passion of pussy riot by Masha Gessen, which I have been wanting to read, and Banjo, Jrfound it for me.
Tonight we are planning dinner with a friend and to play Mah Jongg, not sure if we will make it though, due to icy roads. Tomorrow we are going to see "Santa Land Diaries' with my sister, which should be loads of fun.
I finished one books, so will try to write a quick review, then I need to bake some cookies. (need is the operative word, obviously.)
110banjo123
Amrita by Banana Yoshimoto
I have really enjoyed the other books I have read by Yoshimoto. She is a Japanese Gen-Ex writer, whose books are full of quirky characters, with themes of loss and grief. A friend recommended this book, as it was her favorite. It covers similar themes, but also some magical realism and Japanese history. The protagonist of Amitira is a young woman, who lives with a quirky family, and is recovering from a brain injury. The book is told in a kind of jerky, non-linear fashion, which simulates the return of her memory.
This is reminiscent of a female Murakami, and I can see why my friend liked it, but I preferred her first novel, Kitchen, which is simpler, and I felt had more impact.
I have really enjoyed the other books I have read by Yoshimoto. She is a Japanese Gen-Ex writer, whose books are full of quirky characters, with themes of loss and grief. A friend recommended this book, as it was her favorite. It covers similar themes, but also some magical realism and Japanese history. The protagonist of Amitira is a young woman, who lives with a quirky family, and is recovering from a brain injury. The book is told in a kind of jerky, non-linear fashion, which simulates the return of her memory.
This is reminiscent of a female Murakami, and I can see why my friend liked it, but I preferred her first novel, Kitchen, which is simpler, and I felt had more impact.
111BLBera
Hi Rhonda - Great that Banjo Jr. is home safely. Enjoy. I will definitely search out Yoshimoto.
112kidzdoc
Have a great time with your family this week!
I own half of the NYT's top 10 books of 2016. I've already read The Vegetarian, will probably start The Underground Railroad during Christmas week, and I and several others are planning to read Evicted in January. I'll get to The Association of Small Bombs and The North Water sometime next year.
I own half of the NYT's top 10 books of 2016. I've already read The Vegetarian, will probably start The Underground Railroad during Christmas week, and I and several others are planning to read Evicted in January. I'll get to The Association of Small Bombs and The North Water sometime next year.
113The_Hibernator
>103 banjo123: I've got Underground Railroad and Evicted on my to-read list next year. As Darryl said, there's a group-read of Evicted going on in January.
114msf59
Happy Sunday, Rhonda! Sorry to hear about the accident. Glad you were okay. Hooray for Banjo Jr. being home. Enjoy your time with her.
I really liked Things We Lost in the Fire. Nice, solid collection. I like the dark stuff. Great debut.
I really liked Things We Lost in the Fire. Nice, solid collection. I like the dark stuff. Great debut.
115msf59
Underground, Evicted and The North Water are all top reads of the year for me. Just sayin'. The one disappointment, on this list, is Homegoing being absent.
116banjo123
>111 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I think you would like Yoshimoto. I liked both Kitchen and Lake by Banana Yoshimoto, which are both short, and focussed.
>112 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl. I thought it was an intriguing list. I read and really liked The Vegetarian. I was lukewarm on Evicted, but it seems like I am an outlier there. Right now I have Dark Money and The Return checked out of the library, but I am not sure I will get to either before they are due.
I am thinking of how to organize my 2017 reading. I think I might like setting some more goals for next year. Right after the election, I was thinking I would focus on US History, in order to better understand what was going on in this country. But then someone on Facebook compared Trump to Henry VIII, and also I read Masha Gessen's editorials about Putin and Trump, and ended up t=realizing a global outlook might be best.
Right now I am finishing Passage to Power which is so interesting, and relevant in understanding how politics works in this country. I am going to get going with Libra also, which should be a good complement.
>112 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl. I thought it was an intriguing list. I read and really liked The Vegetarian. I was lukewarm on Evicted, but it seems like I am an outlier there. Right now I have Dark Money and The Return checked out of the library, but I am not sure I will get to either before they are due.
I am thinking of how to organize my 2017 reading. I think I might like setting some more goals for next year. Right after the election, I was thinking I would focus on US History, in order to better understand what was going on in this country. But then someone on Facebook compared Trump to Henry VIII, and also I read Masha Gessen's editorials about Putin and Trump, and ended up t=realizing a global outlook might be best.
Right now I am finishing Passage to Power which is so interesting, and relevant in understanding how politics works in this country. I am going to get going with Libra also, which should be a good complement.
117banjo123
Yikes! Rachel and Mark snuck in while I was typing.
>113 The_Hibernator: I am going to be interested in the group read discussion, though I have already read the book.
>114 msf59: and >115 msf59: I agree on Things We Lost In the Fire, but there were bits that hit too close to home for me. And I am anxious to read Homegoing. I heard her speak at Wordstock and was so impressed.
>113 The_Hibernator: I am going to be interested in the group read discussion, though I have already read the book.
>114 msf59: and >115 msf59: I agree on Things We Lost In the Fire, but there were bits that hit too close to home for me. And I am anxious to read Homegoing. I heard her speak at Wordstock and was so impressed.
118qebo
>87 banjo123:, >94 EBT1002: Yay for the signs. The one that's popping up all over here is: http://lancasteronline.com/features/faith_values/welcoming-lawn-signs-in-lancast... . The first one I saw was on the lawn of a neighbor who works for Church World Services, and then a buncha Mennonites, and now it's practically lining the streets on some blocks.
119qebo
>113 The_Hibernator:, >117 banjo123: I read Evicted for a RL book group a couple months ago, so I'll look for the January thread. My other RL book group is reading The Underground Railroad for January.
120banjo123
>118 qebo: That's awesome!
121EBT1002
I LOVED The Story of Lucy Gault.
I'll echo what others have been saying: Evicted, The Underground Railroad, and The North Water were all absolutely top reads for me in 2016. I listened to Evicted and extended my walk more than once because I was so engrossed (listened while walking). I have The Association of Small Bombs sitting on my shelf, probably just about due back at the library but not yet read by me. I may just suck it up and take the fine.
I'll echo what others have been saying: Evicted, The Underground Railroad, and The North Water were all absolutely top reads for me in 2016. I listened to Evicted and extended my walk more than once because I was so engrossed (listened while walking). I have The Association of Small Bombs sitting on my shelf, probably just about due back at the library but not yet read by me. I may just suck it up and take the fine.
122banjo123
>121 EBT1002: Yes, sometimes it's worth it to take the fine. I already had Underground Railroad; North Water and Small Bombs; due to book bullets from you, Beth and Mark. So hoping to read all three soon.
I am having fun thinking about next years challenge, but I won't finalize my plans or start a new thread until closer to the new year.
One more book read, review to follow:
I am having fun thinking about next years challenge, but I won't finalize my plans or start a new thread until closer to the new year.
One more book read, review to follow:
123banjo123
Libra by Don Delillo
I liked parts of this book, and the writing is top-notch. However, I seem to have trouble lately with alternate history. Sometimes, as in this case, I don't know history well enough to know where reality ends and alternate history begins. And that confuses me. So for this book, I liked the chapters about Lee Harvey Oswald, but the conspiracy theory chapters were hard to follow.
I liked parts of this book, and the writing is top-notch. However, I seem to have trouble lately with alternate history. Sometimes, as in this case, I don't know history well enough to know where reality ends and alternate history begins. And that confuses me. So for this book, I liked the chapters about Lee Harvey Oswald, but the conspiracy theory chapters were hard to follow.
125PaulCranswick
Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.
2017.
Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!
126RebaRelishesReading
Happy Holidays to you and your family, Rhonda.
127banjo123
THanks for the good wishes Ellen, Paul and Reba. WE are having a nice holiday so far. HEading out now for a couple days in Port Angeles. MAybe some hiking, maybe more hanging around playing games, reading, and doing puzzles.
129BLBera
Happy holidays, Rhonda. It sounds like you are having a great time. And, Happy New Year. I look forward to following your reading in 2017.
130Berly
Hi Rhonda! Sorry about the car accident but I am glad that you are OK. Fun times with Banjo JR and now you have a trip!! Happy Holidays. : )
132banjo123
Thanks for the good wishes, Mark, Beth, Kim and Joe! We have been having a nice holiday--- busy, and filled with good food, friends and family.
I am planning to start my 2017 thread over the weekend, when theoretically I will have a little time. In the meantime, I have three books almost finished, and hope to complete all three in 2016-- The FIre This Time; The Return byHisham Matar (which is fabulous) and Passage to Power by Robert Caro.
I am planning to start my 2017 thread over the weekend, when theoretically I will have a little time. In the meantime, I have three books almost finished, and hope to complete all three in 2016-- The FIre This Time; The Return byHisham Matar (which is fabulous) and Passage to Power by Robert Caro.
133PaulCranswick
Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Rhonda
