Robin M Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Laughing. What does Sweden have that Norway does not? Good neighbors. I have no Scandinavian heritage but spent most of my teen years in Norway because of my father's job. Lovely country, lovely people. Sweden too. (Confession: I am a very long time Book a Week lurker and you guys are mostly responsible for my reading list choices. I don't have time for much free reading this days but reading the threads makes me feel less out of the loop. Thank you. All of you.) Our pleasure! Always happy to see a new face pop in out of lurkdom. Would you like to share what some of your choices on your reading list are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday! I'm a bit behind. I finished Heyer's A Civil Contract and it was pretty good. Then I read Merely a Mister by Sherry Lynn Ferguson (cheap on kindle). It was fine. I've requested the first St Cyr book from the library. I am trying to read Chasing Francis and The Liberal Arts Tradition. But am being slow and avoidant. I'll be eagerly waiting your thoughts on the books. I thought the first three were good books and then the next three I LOVED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Finished White Masks by Elias Khoury (the Archipelago book I have been reading this week). Set during and around the years of war in Lebanon, it presents a meandering tale whose supposed purpose is to determine who killed an older man in a neighborhood. However, the real purpose seems to be to show you the confusions, justifications, brutalities, kindnesses, look-the-other-way attitudes, privations, duties, myths, life-goes-on-even-amid-death-and-war activities, heartbreaks, shifting morals, & so on that happen to a regular populace during a wartime situation. It's not really a linear story, almost more of an out-loud conversation with a variety of everyday people, stream-of-consciousness ramblings about their lives.... Haunting, especially when you think of the many humans caught up in wars at this very minute. This could be your story. Or mine. Or of the stranger halfway around the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 re: Call of the Wild specifically: London doesn't traumatize me at all. There is a distance to his writing, a dispassion almost, that gives me some space from the, often harsh, things that happen. ...and that was so even when I was young. There is also a simplicity and truthfulness.. like a rugged cliff face to his writing that I appreciate. I don't *love* any of London's books, but I do appreciate them. Not traumatized here either but I watched a lot of Wild Kingdom and National Geographic as a kid and I read a lot of realistic animal fiction/non-fiction. Call of the Wild was much easier to read than Black Beauty. Buck was a more complex character with more choices. Beauty was a vehicle for a moral and a victim for that cause. That bothered me as a kid, that you couldn't do anything, that no one could do anything. And I used it as a read aloud for my boys (9, 11, 13). It wasn't hated or loved. The boys had a hard time wrapping their heads around the idea that the dog was the protagonist and the people didn't matter. It's counter to a lot of the way we set up fiction. Finished The Martian by Andy Weir. Had lots of STEM love for this one. It's kind of a mix of Apollo 13 and Robinson Crusoe on Mars. A bit more technical for the space geeks, but with enough humor to get you through. (For people who are sensitive, the main character uses bad language as a source of humor.) Weir is a 1st time writer and it shows. After so much time spent getting technical cred the ending is so over the top, but I had a good time with it. If you like scienc-y engineering things, it's a good time. I would be surprised if this did not become a movie. Did a short vacation so I haven't read much else. Working on Colors: a Natural History of the Palette which is great fun. Finlay starts out investigating older colors like ochre and charcoal and moves around the world highlighting ancient, historical, or interesting creation/uses of certain colors in art. I liked that she started with aboriginal culture, but I think that start highlights Finlay's focus on stories, not linear history. I'm still working to let go and just enjoy it, even when I want to ask her a dozen questions and force her to be a bit more linear and complete. I also picked up We Pointed Them North by EC "Teddy Blue" Abbott which is a memoir of cowboys/cowpunchers of the 1880s. Great for filling in the details of books like Lonesome Dove or Centennial. A very cowboy POV (not afraid to dislike homesteaders, sheep-herders, church-goers, Mexicans, and buffalo hunters) and some interesting history. DH is binge-watching Deadwood right now (not me...that's way too HBO) so we're having some interesting conversations about how society forms and the psychology of pioneers and rebels. Wasn't there a study about that lately? Certain traits of people in the western US related to their pioneer ancestors? Can't Google the right terms to find it. Also working on: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 For those of you contemplating Life After Homeschooling, here is a glimpse of my morning. Not a bad life, eh? Jane, I've been thinking about this post all day. It was sooo beautiful. I think you should add blogging into your list of activities. I'd love to read your writings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Am working on two books right now... Eléctrico W. by Hervé Le Tellier, trans. from the French by Adriana Hunter. http://readingintranslation.com/2014/06/05/dissecting-layers-herve-le-telliers-electrico-w-translated-by-adriana-hunter/ (Shukriyya, it opens with an Emily Dickinson poem...) The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/edgar-cantero/supernatural-enhancements/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I've been out of town since Sunday on a camping trip. I've been doing lots of fun reading lakeside and in camp. My husband and I listened to Andy Weir's The Martian as read by R.C. Bray on the eight hour drive, on some shorter grocery runs, and in camp. (I'd first read this and mentioned it back in April.) We finished it today. My husband enjoyed listening to it and described it as 'porn for engineers'! I read and enjoyed Fatal Jeopardy: Book Seven of The Fatal Series by Marie Force. Currently reading Fall From India Place by Samantha Young Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennW in SoCal Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 My empty nest days are not quite so idyllic, at the moment at least, as Jane's. We're in the final scramble to empty 3 upstairs bedrooms plus a loft of all books and detritus before the painters and flooring people show up next week. (One of those bedrooms is my husband's office/art studio -- his books and art are all stacked up in the bathroom!) This photo shows my stacks of books as of last week -- it has grown since then!! It is 3 feet deep and about 5 feet high!! I guess I'm asking for all the prayers and and good juju you can muster that my corner of California stays seismically quiet for the next few weeks..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shage Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Our pleasure! Always happy to see a new face pop in out of lurkdom. Would you like to share what some of your choices on your reading list are? Sure! I do a lot technical reading for my job and it is often both dense and morbid. For relaxation, I enjoy modern world literature. One of my teens really likes nonfiction, so I am always on the lookout for interesting books to pass on to him. Some nonfiction on my to-be-read list: Unbroken by Hillenbrand In Fact: Best of Creative Nonfiction Phantoms in the Brain by Ramachandran Zeitoun by David Eggers Salt by Kurlansky Small Victories by Anne Lamott For fiction, I tend to read by author. I gave up on Murakami--sorry guys--it was just too disorienting and weird. Some authors I would like to explore further: Edwidge Danticat Tan Twan Eng--well, as soon as he writes another one Orhan Pamuk Amitav Ghosh Arundhati Roy Eli Weisel (have only read Night) That's a short sampling. The longer list is embarrassing. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Shage, lol about Murakami. If you like modern world lit, be sure to check out books published by both Archipelago & Europa editions. (You probably already knew I was going to say that, though....) Now I want to see your long list, lol! ETA: And, nosy book reader that I am, I would love to know how you came up with your list of fiction authors to explore. Love Edwidge Danticat's name & now I'm going to go look up some of her work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Jane, I've been thinking about this post all day. It was sooo beautiful. I think you should add blogging into your list of activities. I'd love to read your writings! Oh thank you. For the last two years I have said that I was going to start blogging but I have yet to take the first steps. Sigh. Perhaps your post will inspire me. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shage Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Shage, lol about Murakami. If you like modern world lit, be sure to check out books published by both Archipelago & Europa editions. (You probably already knew I was going to say that, though....) Now I want to see your long list, lol! ETA: And, nosy book reader that I am, I would love to know how you came up with your list of fiction authors to explore. Love Edwidge Danticat's name & now I'm going to go look up some of her work.... I will keep a look out for A & E. I get ideas from here, work colleagues, and other homeschooling moms. Didn't someone here post about the Man Asia literary prize once upon a time? There is fun stuff coming out of Asia right now, in my opinion. I learned of Edwidge Danticat when my husband spent time in post-earthquake Haiti; it was suggested reading by his NGO. She writes fiction and nonfiction and essays--so bonus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I will keep a look out for A & E. I get ideas from here, work colleagues, and other homeschooling moms. Didn't someone here post about the Man Asia literary prize once upon a time? There is fun stuff coming out of Asia right now, in my opinion. I learned of Edwidge Danticat when my husband spent time in post-earthquake Haiti; it was suggested reading by his NGO. She writes fiction and nonfiction and essays--so bonus! I have mentioned the Man Asia prize before when I read Miguel Syjuco's Ilustrado (loved it). Need to revist the Man Asia lists.... Any other suggestions of places to get some good titles from Asian countries? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Rock Art! We love rock art at our house! And I'm still not over the excitement of having seen Quinkins!! (Not afraid of Shakespeare, just don't share his sense of humour. I do have a copy of the BBC Classic Midsummer Nights Dream, which is so good it makes me think I like it. Dd loves it. Not sure why, but I'm not complaining. We watch it each year on Midsummer's Eve :) ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Threads cast throughout the universe seem to intersect in our BaW home! Edwidge Danticat rang a bell but it took me a few minutes to recall that I had just read that name on the back of an Archipelago book that arrived recently as part of my subscription. (Boy, oh boy, do I love this subscription deal!) About Franketienne's book Ready to Burst (translated from the French by Kaiama L. Glover), Danticat writes: His work can speak to the most intellectual person in the society as well as the most humble. It's a very generous kind of genius he has, one I can't imagine Haitian literature ever existing without. So I had never heard of either Franketienne or Edwidge Danticat until this book arrived in my mailbox and now the latter comes to light again. Oh, do I love our book thread! Still reading Tsvetaeva's poetry, am savoring Rilke's essays on Rodin, and am wading into Richard Condon's Cold War classic, The Manchurian Candidate. Despite its hokeyness, I adore the movie version of the novel on so many levels. Angela Lansbury rocks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Edwige Danticat has been on my radar for a while and I'm pleased to note that I'm next in line on overdrive for her book 'Claire of the Sea'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shage Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I have mentioned the Man Asia prize before when I read Miguel Syjuco's Ilustrado (loved it). Need to revist the Man Asia lists.... Any other suggestions of places to get some good titles from Asian countries? Alas, I don't have a go-to online location apart from here. Off the top of my head, some of the Asian authors I enjoy: Pramoedya Ananta Toer (now deceased), Li-Young Li (poetry), Tash Aw, Anita Desai, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Salman Rushdie (of course!). While generally not a big fan of detective stories, I do like Qiu Xiaolong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shage Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Edwige Danticat has been on my radar for a while and I'm pleased to note that I'm next in line on overdrive for her book 'Claire of the Sea'. I would be curious to hear how you like it. I have read some of her earlier works (Krik? Krak! and The Farming of Bones) and also her nonfiction Brother, I'm Dying. She was awfully young when she first published and I would imagine she will change through the years. Ok, may need to go back to lurkdom to get work done. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Finished Electrico W. tonight & enjoyed it. Learned what Oulipo is too. By the celebrated Oulipo writer, this brilliant and witty novel set in Lisbon explores love, relationships, and the strange balance between literature and life. Journalist, writer, and translator Vincent Balmer moves to Lisbon to escape from a failing affair. During his first assignment there, he teams up with Antonio—a photographer who has just returned to the city after a ten-year absence—to report for a French newspaper on an infamous serial killer’s trial. While walking around the city together to take notes and photos for the article, they visit the places of Antonio’s childhood, swap stories from their pasts, and confide in each other. But the more they learn about each other, the more their lives become inextricably intertwined. With a structure that parallels Homer’s Odyssey, Eléctrico W recounts their nine days together and the adventures that proliferate to form a constellation of successive ephemeral connections and relationships. That now makes 52 books for me so far this year! And, I've done most of my around-the-world reading except for Antarctica at this point.... --------------------------My Goodreads Page My PaperbackSwap Page My rating system:5 = Love; 4 = Pretty awesome; 3 = Good/Fine; 2 = Meh; 1 = Don't bother2014 Books Read: 01. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (5 stars). Around the World – North America (USA).02. This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (3 stars). 03. Aiding and Abetting by Muriel Spark (3 stars). Around the World – Europe (England). 04. Sunjata by Bamba Suso & Banna Kanute (5 stars). Around the World – Africa (Gambia & Mali). 05. The Lunatic by Anthony C. Winkler (4 stars). Around the World – Caribbean (Jamaica). 06. The Joke by Milan Kundera (4 stars). Around the World – Europe (Czech Republic). 07. One Hundred Years of Vicissitude by Andrez Bergen (3 grudging stars). Around the World – Asia (Japan). 08. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley (5 stars). 09. The French Connection by Robin Moore (4 stars). Around the World – North America (USA). 10. The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball (4 stars). 11. Eat for Health by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. (4 stars). 12. LoterÃa by Mario Alberto Zambrano (1 star). 13. Fantômas by Pierre Souvestre & Marcel Allain (3 stars). Around the World – Europe (France). 14. The Ways of White Folks by Langston Huges (5 stars). Around the World – North America (USA). 15. Asleep in the Sun by Adolfo Bioy Casares (3 stars). Around the World – Latin America (Argentina). 16. Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett (5 stars). 17. Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi (5 stars). 18. Boxer, Beetle by Ned Beauman (3 stars). Around the World – Europe (England). 19. Blood Oranges by Kathleen Tierney (3 stars). 20. Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen (4 stars). Around the World – Latin America (Argentina). 21. The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason (3 stars). 22. The Fig Eater by Jody Shields (5 stars). Around the World – Europe (Austria). 23. Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie (4 stars). Around the World – Asia (Pakistan). 24. I Served the King of England by Bohumil Hrabal (5 stars). Around the World – Europe (Czech Republic). 25. My Kind of Girl by Buddhadeva Bose (3 stars). Around the World – Asia (India & Bangladesh). 26. Background to Danger by Eric Ambler (3 stars). Around the World – Europe (Austria). 27. Aurorarama by Jean-Christophe Valtat (3 stars). Best Cover Art. 28. The Magicians by Lev Grossman (2 stars). 29. Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon (4 stars). Around the World – North America (USA). 30. Decline of the English Murder by George Orwell (3 stars). Around the World – Europe (England). 31. The Miracle Cures of Dr. Aira by César Aira (3.5 stars). Around the World – Latin America (Argentina). 32. The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil by George Saunders (3 stars). 33. Mink River by Brian Doyle (5 stars). Around the World – North America (USA). 34. Ru by Kim Thúy (3.5 stars). Around the World – North America (Canada) & Asia (Vietnam). 35. The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahmad (4 stars). Around the World – Asia (Pakistan) & Middle East (Afghanistan & Iran). 36. Strange Bodies by Marcel Theroux (3 stars). Around the World – Europe (England). 37. The Lemur by Benjamin Black (2 stars). 38. Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips (3 stars). 39. Lexicon by Max Barry (3.5 stars). Around the World – Oceania (Australia). 40. Silence Once Begun by Jesse Ball (5 stars). Around the World – Asia (Japan). 41. Asunder by Chloe Aridjis (3 stars). Around the World – Europe (England). 42. Hot Lead, Cold Iron by Ari Marmell (3.5 stars). 43. The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano (5 stars). Around the World – Latin America (Uruguay). 44. Masters of Atlantis by Charles Portis (4 stars). Around the World – North America (USA). 45. The Weirdness by Jeremy Bushnell (3 stars). 46. 101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions by Kenji Kawakami (3 stars). Around the World – Asia (Japan). 47. The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis (4 stars). Around the World – Europe (France). 48. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami (3.5 stars). Around the World – Asia (Japan). 49. The Book of Chameleons by Jose Eduardo Agualusa (5 stars). Around the World – Africa (Angola). 50. The Club of Angels by Luis Fernando Verissimo (3 stars). Around the World – Latin America (Brazil). 51. White Masks by Elias Khoury (4 stars). Around the World – Middle East (Lebanon). 52. Eléctrico W. by Hervé Le Tellier (4 stars). Around the World – Europe (Portugal & France). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I agree that Shakespeare is more fun to watch than to read, lol. Last year, I got to see a pretty funky performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Spoleto festival. http://www.bristololdvic.org.uk/dream.html I thought it was fun & funky; my sis, who attended with me, didn't like it. Lol. I love the puppets, especially the jellyfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Am working on two books right now... W. by Hervé Le Tellier, trans. from the French by Adriana Hunter.http://readingintranslation.com/2014/06/05/dissecting-layers-herve-le-telliers-electrico-w-translated-by-adriana-hunter/ (Shukriyya, it opens with an Emily Dickinson poem...) The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero.https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/edgar-cantero/supernatural-enhancements/ Edwige Danticat has been on my radar for a while and I'm pleased to note that I'm next in line on overdrive for her book 'Claire of the Sea'.Can't wait to hear what you think of Supernatural Enhancements, it went on my overdrive holds list a few days ago. Looks intriguing and I remember thinking it looked like a Stacia book. :lol: OK I messed up multiquotes obviously but since I just have two will continue. Shukriyya, I also have Claire of the Sea on hold. Hardcopy, currently on order at the library. Angel, :grouphug: All I can say is I understand a bit of what you are going through. I spent a year of my life in the shambles of our big move. Being able to spread it out over months sounds like a blessing but allows a great deal of time for doubt. Trying to preserve as much of my stuff which I saw as my life as possible. It is funny because now, eight years later I am getting ready to go back in a purge much of what was saved and is sitting in storage. This will be a long project hopefully, two or three US visits. I am a bit shocked as I mentally sort the inventory how much can now be sold or donated. Other than my grandmother's paintings and some of our children's toys that I want for grandkids a majority is up for discussion. Yes even my books. I have already reread many on the kindle so the love for my copies is essentially gone. I know big gasp from my BaW friends. Admittedly my box of old Nancy Drews and Cherry Ames books is also on the preserve list. Not sure if any of what I just said will offer any comfort to you Angel as you prepare for the future changes and as someone who did not embrace mine with much grace, I literally hid for my first year in England wanting to go back in time. If you haven't guessed although I am very happy now I did not want to move, poor dh, I had other comments and can't remember them now. I loved reading about Jane's day. You should start blogging, or at least post your day for us occasionally. Ladydusk, looking forward to your reading the Sebastian St. Cyr books. My overdrive just got the first three. Put them on hold after a discussion with Amy. I feel the need to reread coming on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Mumto2, I will let you know about The Supernatural Enhancements. I'm not too far into it, but it seems totally fun so far. I'm now also reading The Facades by Eric Lundgren. If you can't tell, I'm at my sister's now (& taking advantage of her awesome library system). She's in my town for DragonCon (& will take my teens to it) & I'm at her house pet-sitting. So, I picked up my gigantic stack of library holds from here & have been trying to plow through them, lol. Doing ok so far, having finished three (The Book of Chameleons, The Club of Angels, and Electrico W) and am in the midst of two more. My pile here is much bigger, though, & I still have some other things on request that have not yet come in. :lol: In case any of you are nosy (like me), here's the current library pile I have here... The Facades by Eric Lundgren The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero Talking to Girls about Duran Duran by Rob Sheffield An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine (may not read this here as it is available through my library at home) A Dream in Polar Fog by Yuri Rytkheu Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood My Life in CIA by Harry Mathews Koko Takes a Holiday by Kieran Shea The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway Men in Space by Tom McCarthy An Anatomy of Addiction: Sigmund Freud, William Halsted, and the Miracle Drug Cocaine by Howard Markel Me and Kaminski by Daniel Kehlmann Vicious by V.E. Schwab Tigerman by Nick Harkaway Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo Sarajevo Marlboro by Miljenko Jergovic Hyde by Daniel Levine The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones Yes, I am a library glutton. :tongue_smilie: :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennW in SoCal Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 If you can't tell, I'm at my sister's now (& taking advantage of her awesome library system). She's in my town for DragonCon (& will take my teens to it) & I'm at her house pet-sitting. So, I picked up my gigantic stack of library holds from here & have been trying to plow through them, lol. Doing ok so far, having finished three (The Book of Chameleons, The Club of Angels, and Electrico W) and am in the midst of two more. Wait. You are basically taking a vacation without kids at your sister's house in the community with the awesome library? And all you have to do is interact with some fluffy pets? What a deal! Happy binge reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Wait. You are basically taking a vacation without kids at your sister's house in the community with the awesome library? And all you have to do is interact with some fluffy pets? What a deal! Happy binge reading! Yes. Exactly. (Well, except a couple of her 'pets' are half-feral, so I'm trying not to get mauled in the process.... And, one of her cats has nerve damage, so I'm doing feline physical therapy a few times a day.) :D :thumbup1: P.S. My sister texted me last night to say that she had gotten Lou Ferigno to blow her a kiss & flex his muscles for her. :rofl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Stacia, Visits to your sister's always increase my pile! :lol: I didn't do very well in my main library with that list. There are at least 4 that I really want to read but can't find so will search other libraries later. I did discover String Theory at the village library. Dh just left to pick it up for me, very sweet. FYI. Tigerman flows nicely so is a relatively quick read if you end up needing to round out your marathon under a time constrait. Have a great weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uff Da! Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Yes P.S. My sister texted me last night to say that she had gotten Lou Ferigno to blow her a kiss & flex his muscles for her. :rofl: He's hiding the fact that he doesn't have a belly button. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Yes. Exactly. (Well, except a couple of her 'pets' are half-feral, so I'm trying not to get mauled in the process.... And, one of her cats has nerve damage, so I'm doing feline physical therapy a few times a day.) :D :thumbup1: P.S. My sister texted me last night to say that she had gotten Lou Ferigno to blow her a kiss & flex his muscles for her. :rofl: Wait a second, where's his green skin and ripped shirt? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Stacia, congrats on 52! I'm only on 37 or so. I, shamefully, am behind in Bible reading again. Also, what is the penalty for using the Bible to commit murder? Cause as I was reading it last the other night in bed, a spider crawled up across the sheet, and right into the Bible on the page I was reading. I gave a squeal and slammed the book shut which resulted in squashing the spider. I felt guilty but it was a primal reaction that I couldn't stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Stacia, congrats on 52! I'm only on 37 or so. I, shamefully, am behind in Bible reading again. Also, what is the penalty for using the Bible to commit murder? Cause as I was reading it last the other night in bed, a spider crawled up across the sheet, and right into the Bible on the page I was reading. I gave a squeal and slammed the book shut which resulted in squashing the spider. I felt guilty but it was a primal reaction that I couldn't stop. 2 Corinthians 4:8 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed." Careful.... ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Well I'm Swedish, important distinction ;) Important Correction: Norwegian readers, not Norwegians... :laugh: Jet lagged in Edinburgh at the moment... setting up my daughter in her first apartment prior to the start of her second year at university. A milestone for us both. Once the sun rises we're heading out to IKEA... Violet Crown and others: any suggestions on must-sees? (We hit the obvious tourist sights last year; now I'm eager for the less-obvious...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uff Da! Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Do you have time to hike at the Isle of Skye? :) I finished reading Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" but have about 40 days of going through it again and working through the discussion questions. It wasn't as meaningful for me as her Psalms of Ascent. Rewriting each Psalm in my own words was powerful. I ordered "The One Year Bible" and am considering continuing to write my own version of the Psalms as they come up in that Bible. I started "The Last Unicorn". Hopefully, this is a better fit than "Life of Pi" was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Do you have time to hike at the Isle of Skye? :) ! I think "hiking" Arthur's Seat is more our timeframe! Yesterday it was pouring all afternoon (gah - Scottish weather!) but hopefully we'll be able to this afternoon. I dearly hope we can get the whole family out to Skye and the highlands while she's here. It'd be a crying shame not to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Important Correction: Norwegian readers, not Norwegians... :laugh: Jet lagged in Edinburgh at the moment... setting up my daughter in her first apartment prior to the start of her second year at university. A milestone for us both. Once the sun rises we're heading out to IKEA... Violet Crown and others: any suggestions on must-sees? (We hit the obvious tourist sights last year; now I'm eager for the less-obvious...) Hm, out of the way... I don't know if the National Museum is out of the way, but the lowest floor is the part to see if time is short, as it has all the Scottish archeological wonders - Viking hoards and the like. Half-ruined Craigmillar Castle, near the Royal Infirmary, is much more interesting than touristy Edinburgh Castle, being chock full of hidden stairways and passages and generally much more castle-y. It's like the Remington House of castles. I admit it's most fun with young children who can disappear into the many nooks and hideaways. And, not least, Armchair Books. Google armchair books edinburgh and click on Images. And then you will know where you must be. ETA: Edinburgh Books, a block away from Armchair, is also a fantastic place for used book shopping, but is pricier. At both, look for Canongate Classics, an Edinburgh publisher selling Scottish writers often not found in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Aw, you're the best. Hm, out of the way... I don't know if the National Museum is out of the way, but the lowest floor is the part to see if time is short, as it has all the Scottish archeological wonders - Viking hoards and the like.Half-ruined Craigmillar Castle, near the Royal Infirmary, is much more interesting than touristy Edinburgh Castle, being chock full of hidden stairways and passages and generally much more castle-y. It's like the Remington House of castles. I admit it's most fun with young children who can disappear into the many nooks and hideaways.And, not least, Armchair Books. Google armchair books edinburgh and click on Images. And then you will know where you must be.ETA: Edinburgh Books, a block away from Armchair, is also a fantastic place for used book shopping, but is pricier. At both, look for Canongate Classics, an Edinburgh publisher selling Scottish writers often not found in the US. We spent a good 5 hours at the NM last year gawking at the Viking hoards. Armchair Books is just the ticket, I think. Who could resist a writeup like: "In view of the castle, above the Grassmarket, it bakes under the torrid Scottish sun. The dangers are manifold; Our overburdened shelves groan like masts in a squall, our threadbare and quasi-oriental rugs may distractingly catch the eye or foot. Books in the window may spontaneously burst into flames, and the Manager must be kept locked in at all times... Sporadically under feeble but sinister attack by the government, we struggle under goad of Fear, towards Beauty..." Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Oy, tablet posting. Dp by mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Aw, you're the best. We spent a good 5 hours at the NM last year gawking at the Viking hoards. Armchair Books is just the ticket, I think. Who could resist a writeup like: "In view of the castle, above the Grassmarket, it bakes under the torrid Scottish sun. The dangers are manifold; Our overburdened shelves groan like masts in a squall, our threadbare and quasi-oriental rugs may distractingly catch the eye or foot. Books in the window may spontaneously burst into flames, and the Manager must be kept locked in at all times... Sporadically under feeble but sinister attack by the government, we struggle under goad of Fear, towards Beauty..." Thanks! While I respond to a mundane but mildly interesting thread on what one calls the compartment on the passenger side of a car--glove compartment or glove box--you are installed in the throaty, guttural land of kilts and shortbread!!! Armchair Books looks wonderful! I particularly liked their post-it review on one of their books entitled, 'Artificial Animal Insemination'...the reviewer was pithy and sardonic with the review saying simply, 'I laughed, I cried' :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Ohhh, Pam, have fun during your journey! I finished Eric Lundgren's The Facades tonight. It's oddly compelling, sometimes funny & has some clever touches. That said, I'm not sure it would actually appeal to many of my BaW friends, lol. There's kind of a vague malaise running throughout it, as well as an unsolved/open ending that may not appeal to some. Interesting enough to keep me turning the pages, but not a favorite either. I liked it, but not as much as I had hoped I would. 3 stars. From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. In this fascinating, complex debut novel, a famous mezzo-soprano vanishes from rehearsal, leaving behind her husband, Sven, to care for their disaffected son and search for her in the labyrinthine streets of fictional Midwestern city Trude. Though most of the plot involves Sven's existential and often humorous detective work, Trude itself is the biggest of Lundgren's many successes here. The once-great city is well rendered not only in its physical appearance (The city assembled itself, scattered lights in the old skyscrapers meandering the night sky like notes on a staff), but also in its oddities, such as the militarized library where the librarians are in a stalemate with police, a pretentious nursing home that is more difficult to gain admission to than the local college, and bathroom graffiti that reads, There is no use in killing oneself; one always does it too late. Ratcheted onto the spine of an un-put-downable mystery and brimming with entertaining dialogue and unique, well-wrought characters, this is one of those rare books that corners every mood, every emotion, and throws them into the spotlight. Lundgren's debut is a fierce, funny examination of loss, set against one of the most creative worlds in recent memory, and it's not to be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Do you have time to hike at the Isle of Skye? :) I finished reading Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" but have about 40 days of going through it again and working through the discussion questions. It wasn't as meaningful for me as her Psalms of Ascent. Rewriting each Psalm in my own words was powerful. I ordered "The One Year Bible" and am considering continuing to write my own version of the Psalms as they come up in that Bible. I started "The Last Unicorn". Hopefully, this is a better fit than "Life of Pi" was. Love this! I have done several of my own versions of the 23rd. It really does shift one's experience of the words into an immediacy, an embodied awareness that continues to unfold within. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Important Correction: Norwegian readers, not Norwegians... :laugh: Jet lagged in Edinburgh at the moment... setting up my daughter in her first apartment prior to the start of her second year at university. A milestone for us both. Once the sun rises we're heading out to IKEA... Violet Crown and others: any suggestions on must-sees? (We hit the obvious tourist sights last year; now I'm eager for the less-obvious...) Your daughter is at Edinburgh? That is my Alma Mater. I love the Botanical Gardens. Have you gone to Berwick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Pam--This has to be quick because we are on our way out the door in a few minutes so I can't check my names. The Bruce battle sites by Sterling are Dh's favorite, Bannickburn(I know I am spelling it wrong). Love St. Andrews in general. Coffee Shop where Harry Potter was written thrills the dc's everytime, it is very near the museum. We did not think Roslyn Chapel of Dan Brown and Templar fame worth it but we tend to visit many churches so the crowds got us. Window was really good ....... We haven't been but there is supposed to be a park near Edinburgh where you can watch seals in the ocean....they should be there,saw some a couple weeks ago near Hull. An, odd FYI. If you have a Costco card it does work at Costco here. There is one by the IKEA in Edinburgh. Thought that might be handy for apartment shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 The Humble Bundle ebook set (pay what you want, $ goes to the non-profits listed on page &/or the authors --you choose) includes Neil Gaiman's American Gods... https://www.humblebundle.com/books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Your daughter is at Edinburgh? That is my Alma Mater. I love the Botanical Gardens. Have you gone to Berwick? Yes - she's about to start her second year. She's loving it! I have not been to the Botanical Gardens... my interest in looking at plants greatly exceeds that of anyone in my family except my mother. One of these days I'll get there with her. My husband and I did see the Seabird Center years ago... Pam--This has to be quick because we are on our way out the door in a few minutes so I can't check my names. The Bruce battle sites by Sterling are Dh's favorite, Bannickburn(I know I am spelling it wrong). Love St. Andrews in general. Coffee Shop where Harry Potter was written thrills the dc's everytime, it is very near the museum. We did not think Roslyn Chapel of Dan Brown and Templar fame worth it but we tend to visit many churches so the crowds got us. Window was really good ....... We haven't been but there is supposed to be a park near Edinburgh where you can watch seals in the ocean....they should be there,saw some a couple weeks ago near Hull.An, odd FYI. If you have a Costco card it does work at Costco here. There is one by the IKEA in Edinburgh. Thought that might be handy for apartment shopping. Mumto2 the Costco tip = brilliant!!! We didn't even know there was one here! My US card worked like a charm, and I loaded her up with mondo 3-pack Chlorax wipes, and windex, and paper towels, and enough brown rice and quinoa to last the year. Not the most exciting loot perhaps ("If Daddy had come instead of you," she muttered bleakly as we walked out, "I'd be hauling an ice cream maker and a barrel of jelly beans right now..." but I feel immensely better about the hygiene and nutritional baseline. And it is, naturally, all.about.me. Between IKEA, Costco, and setting up all the resulting linens and curtains and storage containers, we pretty much blew the day. So tomorrow I'm going to VC's bookstore... :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Yes - she's about to start her second year. She's loving it! I have not been to the Botanical Gardens... my interest in looking at plants greatly exceeds that of anyone in my family except my mother. One of these days I'll get there with her. My husband and I did see the Seabird Center years ago... Mumto2 the Costco tip = brilliant!!! We didn't even know there was one here! My US card worked like a charm, and I loaded her up with mondo 3-pack Chlorax wipes, and windex, and paper towels, and enough brown rice and quinoa to last the year. Not the most exciting loot perhaps ("If Daddy had come instead of you," she muttered bleakly as we walked out, "I'd be hauling an ice cream maker and a barrel of jelly beans right now..." but I feel immensely better about the hygiene and nutritional baseline. And it is, naturally, all.about.me. Between IKEA, Costco, and setting up all the resulting linens and curtains and storage containers, we pretty much blew the day. So tomorrow I'm going to VC's bookstore... :laugh: You know, of course, that you'll need to provide pics :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Yes - she's about to start her second year. She's loving it! I have not been to the Botanical Gardens... my interest in looking at plants greatly exceeds that of anyone in my family except my mother. One of these days I'll get there with her. My husband and I did see the Seabird Center years ago... Mumto2 the Costco tip = brilliant!!! We didn't even know there was one here! My US card worked like a charm, and I loaded her up with mondo 3-pack Chlorax wipes, and windex, and paper towels, and enough brown rice and quinoa to last the year. Not the most exciting loot perhaps ("If Daddy had come instead of you," she muttered bleakly as we walked out, "I'd be hauling an ice cream maker and a barrel of jelly beans right now..." but I feel immensely better about the hygiene and nutritional baseline. And it is, naturally, all.about.me. Between IKEA, Costco, and setting up all the resulting linens and curtains and storage containers, we pretty much blew the day. So tomorrow I'm going to VC's bookstore... :laugh: Really glad Costco was helpful. I will admit I almost didn't put that in because knowing where Costco is 200 plus miles from where I live is a bit sad, even worse I have shopped there. Can't remember what we needed but I have the Costco app on the sat nav and use it more often than I should. Glad it worked well. I love the fact that my card works worldwide really easily. I hate to say this but Sunday trading hours do exist here. If possible make sure the bookstore is open if you need to travel far for it. Most stores that are open on Sunday will close at 4. I am sure your dd knows but it is something that I forget every single time I go back to the US so mentioning.... What is worse I spend my time in the US relearning how to shop on Sunday nights. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 The danger of reading many days' worth of posts in the Book a Week thread is running out of 'likes'. Drats! Today, while on the bus, heading to pick up my stack of library holds, I read the graphic novel Sweet Tooth Vol. 1: Out of the Deep Woods by JEFF LEMIREwhich was recommended to me last month by M mv. It was very readable but sad. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawneinfl Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Sorry I haven't been posting. I got super busy with the start of the school year and so my free reading time has suffered. I couldn't resist sharing this though. Isn't it the perfect birthday cake for BaWers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I hate to say this but Sunday trading hours do exist here. From my pov, this is one of the benefits of a multicultural society. The Greek bakeries are closed on Sundays, but I can still track down some baklava because the Lebanese bakeries are open! Baklava-300x200.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Finished The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero. (Cool cover art too, imo.) A book that's a little bit gothic, a little bit adventure, a little bit mystery, & a whole lot of fun. A spooky inherited house, cryptology, crystal balls, a labryrinth, mythologies, quests around the world, winter solstice, weird dreams, & a ghost make this a perfect October book. If you enjoyed The Shadow of the Wind, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, Inception (the movie), &/or historical/secret society books (like Dan Brown's), you will have some rip-roaring fun with this book. In true Southern Gothic tradition, the fact that there is a ghost in the house seems to be a normal, everyday fact that everyone in the town knows & takes for granted. :lol: The action is well-paced, the storytelling style (bits of letters, diaries, written notes, receipts, etc...) fits the story perfectly, & all the story arcs merge at the end. 4 stars. Highlight the line below for a spoiler... (I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because quite a few people are killed at one point & Help, the dog, is too. :-( You know I'm a wuss about stuff like that!) Definitely recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawneinfl Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 I forced myself to finish All Quiet on the Western Front and now I'm reading The Seige. I really need to move away from the war genre and find something light and funny this month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Down with a cold. Little Librarian got it first, then baby, now mama, and daddy doesn't look too good either. Try to carry on without me for a few day ... :crying: :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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