Joanne (coppers) Reads in 2016 - Part 3

Welcome old friends and new! I'll share some photos of summer in the high country -



Here's my baby girl (she can't read, the sign says "Trail Closed")...



Speaking of babies, check out this adorable and tiny Bighorn Sheep.

The only challenge I'm sort of committing to this year is the Canadian Author Challenge and then only reading one of the two authors per month:
January - Kim Thuy, Ru
February - Stephen Leacock, Sunshine Sketches (dnf)
March - Farley Mowat, Born Naked
April - I had had such good intentions.... :(

January 2016
1. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby 3.75 stars OTS #1
2. Ru by Kim Thuy (CAC) 4 stars
3. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison 4.25 stars
4. Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe by Sandra Gulland 4.5 stars OTS #2
5. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George 3.25 stars
6. Gumption by Nick Offerman (audio)
7. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
8. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi 4 stars

February 2016
9. Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier 4.5 stars OTS #3
10. Small Victories by Anne Lamott (audio) OTS #4
11. American Housewife by Helen Ellis
12. Fifth Business by Robertson Davies OTS#5
13. Thin Air by Ann Cleeves OTS #6 4 stars
14. Bruno Chief of Police by Martin Walker OTS #7 4 stars

March 2016
15. Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon (audio)
16. Born Naked by Farley Mowat (CAC) 3.75 stars
17. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (audio)
18. The Last Great Dance on Earth by Sandra Gulland OTS#8
19. Train Dreams by Denis Johnson OTS#9
20. The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker
21. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling (audio)

April 2016
22. Black Diamond by Martin Walker
23. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari (audio)
24. Inside the Rise of HBO by Bill Mesce (LTER)
25. The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz OTS #10
26. The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan 4.5 stars
27. The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker
28. The Christmas Escape by Anne Perry (LTER) (audio)
29. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler (LTER)

May 2016
30. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift
31. The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker
32. The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith (audio)
33. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
34. The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths

June 2016
35. The Resistance Man by Martin Walker
36. English Creek by Ivan Doig OTS #11
37. Between You and Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris (audio)
38. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

July 2016
39. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 4.75 stars OTS #12
40. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf 4.5 stars OTS #13
41. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
42. August Heat by Andrea Camilleri OTS #14
43. Rolling Thunder by Chris Grabenstein OTS #15

August 2016
44. The Last Policeman by Ben H Winters 4 stars OTS #16
45. Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter 4.25 stars
46. Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck (audio) reread
47. The Black Ice by Michael Connelly
48. Countdown City by Ben H Winters
49. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
50. The Opposite of Woe by John Hickenlooper 4 stars
51. Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck OTS #17 4 stars

September 2016
52. Ross Poldark by Winston Graham OTS #18 4 stars
53. World of Trouble by Ben H Winters 4 stars
54. Dog Medicine by Julie Barton 4.5 stars
55. Wings of the Sphinx by Andrea Camilleri OTS #19 3.75 stars
56. Wintering by Peter Geye 4 stars

October 2016
57. Demelza by Winston Graham 4.25 stars, OTS #20
58. The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim Defede. OTS #21 4.25 stars
59. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
60. The View From the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman (audio)
61. The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner OTS #22
62. The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip by George Saunders OTS #23

November 2016
63. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny OTS #24
64. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson OTS #25
65. March: Book One by John Lewis 4 stars
66. The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri OTS #26 3.25 stars
67. The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan 4.25 stars

December 2016
68. Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood 4.25 stars
69. News of the World by Paulette Jiles 4.5 stars
70. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas (re-read)
71. Auggie Wren's Christmas Story by Paul Auster (annual re-read)

Looks like a good first half of the year! Thank you for sharing your pics too.

38. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I loved Rowell's Eleanor & Park. This one, not so much. I was a little bored by the love story and I really don't get fan fiction. There were some themes that I would have wanted to see explored more but as it was, it could have been 50 or so pages shorter. Still, I can see why the author is so popular, especially with the YA crowd. 3.5 stars.

Hi Pirate! Good to see you - I hope you have a great weekend!

My current read is All the Light We Cannot See. I love it and so it's my only current read.

>5 Copperskye: I wasn't a fan (ha!) of that one, either, Joanne. I loved E&P, and her debut novel, Attachments, is a fun kind of rom-com. It would make a good beach read...

ETA: Oops! Happy new thread!

Hi Katie, "Fan" ha!, I get it! I'll keep Attachments in mind but I probably need a break. I think I have this year's beach reads picked out already. Decisions, decisions....

Happy new thread, Joanne. I loved All the Light We Cannot See. Have a great weekend.

Happy new thread, Joanne

Happy new thread!

I'm headed back to Denver at the end of July and if folks are interested, would love to get together again. This time I'm probably bringing mrsdrneutron!

Happy new thread, Joanne. Adorable photos! (well, the mountains aren't "adorable" but it's a beautiful shot. I love the Rockies)

Happy new thread, Joanne!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Jo! Great pics up top there. Love Skye's expression: "Well, are you coming or what?"

Happy 4th of July! I love your photos -- especially of your baby girl (the baby sheep isn't too shabby either).

Happy Independence Day! Hope it was a lovely weekend/day.

Hi Joanne - hope you had a good break and happy new thread!

Visitors!

>9 BLBera: I loved it, too, Beth. I was sorry to have it end.

>10 PaulCranswick: >16 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul!

>11 drneutron: And mrsdrneutron!! :) Let us know when you'll be here, Jim. I'll be going on vacation at the end of July and I hope I don't miss you! :(

>12 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Reba!

>13 scaifea: Thanks Amber!

>14 witchyrichy: Thanks Karen! Hope your trip home went smoothly.

>15 Storeetllr: Thnaks Mary! Yeah, she gets impatient sometimes. :)

>17 billiejean: BJ! What a surprise! And thank you!

>18 nittnut: Thanks Jenn! Same to you. Weather was rainy, sunny, rainy, sunny......but a good weekend, nonetheless.

>19 charl08: Hi Charlotte, Thanks!

Happy New Thread, Stranger! Miss seeing you around. Love those gorgeous toppers. I all ready miss those glorious mountains.

Hope you are enjoying All the Light. That one is a treat.

Hi Mark! Welcome back - I loved seeing your vacation pics! I've been a little overwhelmed of late - family visiting (yay!) and work craziness (boo!), but I finally feel like I can enjoy the summer and my own vacation is coming up soon (Maui - yippie!). I LOVED All the Light and now I'm finally reading Our Souls at Night.

Morning, Joanne! Stopping by to wish you a lovely Wednesday.

Our Souls at Night is one of my favorites, Joanne. I think knowing it was Haruf's final book made it special. Hope you are enjoying it!

Hi Mamie! Happy hump day to you - I love that it's a short work week!

Hi Amy, It's so poignant. I'm enjoying it very much!

39. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

What a wonderful book! If I'm not the last one to read it, what are you waiting for?? 4.75 stars

I just got it today!

Lucky you, Pirate! I hope you love it at least as much as I did!

Hooray for All the Light! And hooray for Our Souls at Night! Back to back gems.

>26 Copperskye: Yes! It's so wonderful.

It's fun when you get several wonderful books in a row. Speaking of wonderful, I'm glad you are going back to Maui. I know how much you love it, Joanne.

>26 Copperskye: I've still not read it, but it's on my list...

Summer vacation is very special: enjoy Maui!

I'm still waiting for my box from The Tattered Cover. But I still have plenty to read so no worries.

>29 msf59: Absolutely Mark! :)

>30 rosalita: Hi Julia, I'm not sure why I waited so long to read it, but I'm glad I finally did.

>31 Donna828: Me, too, Donna, I'm looking forward to it!

>32 charl08: I hope you love it as much as I did Charlotte!

>33 witchyrichy: I couldn't agree more Karen! I hope your box arrives soon!

In addition to Our Souls at Night, I've also started my first Michael Connelly/Harry Bosch novel, The Black Echo (I love the TV series).

Hi, Jo - You aren't the last to read All the Light. Figured I'd get to it sometime, but if you liked it that much, maybe sooner.

You're sure to love the Bosch series! My first was Concrete Blonde, which I read not knowing it was part of a series. I loved it so much I went back and started reading from the beginning. I like the TV adaptation, but the earlier books lay the groundwork for why Harry's the way he is and shouldn't be missed.

OH! I love Harry Bosch! Rae and I love the tv series, too, but Mary is right that the books provide so much more. You are reminding me that I need to get back to that series.

>26 Copperskye: Oh gosh, but that one's been waiting for me on my Read Soon shelf for too long. SOON! (hopefully)

>35 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! Hope you're dealing with the heat ok! And it's soooooo dry - it's a bit like a sauna. Thank goodness for chapstick and air conditioning (although when I'm home I'm usually on the patio, hiding from the AC). I really do like The Black Echo - I'm about halfway through. It's a big book and there's what, 20 of them? Just what I needed, another long series. :) I bought the second one, The Black Ice, today. It was a kindle deal.....

>36 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Another fan! I keep finding that my TV watching is giving me more books to read. Not necessarily a bad thing...

>37 scaifea: It was on my TBR shelf for a long time, too, Amber, but I'm glad I finally got to it. I think you'll like it when you get to it!

I think it may almost be comfortable enough to give Skye a walk, as long as the pavement has cooled so we can cross the street. Hot (100F), sunny, dry, and breezy. Not good for the fire fighters...

Happy New Thread, Joanne! I love the photo of Skye and the baby Bighorn Sheep is adorable!!

I liked but didn't love All the Light We Cannot See. I read it during the most intense period of hype and I should know better than to do that. It almost always takes the shine off of even an excellent book.

So I'll be in Denver July 25-27 (heading back early the 28th) and could meet any of those evenings, though July 25th would be best for me. Will you be in town? If not, I'll see if any of the other Denverites want to get together! :)

>39 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, Thank you! I've had that happen to me with popular books - I wind up expecting too much and wonder why I'm the odd one out when everyone else loves it. I'm glad I wound up liking it. I was honestly afraid it might be a little schmaltzy. Two teens on opposite sides, the wartime struggles, a love story, blah, blah, blah. It wasn't, not at all.

>40 drneutron: Dang Jim! I'll be on vacation and will miss you and Mrs Doc. :( We all had such a great time when you were last here. I hope the rest of the Denver crew can make it!

July 25th is my birthday, so if the Meet-up happens, I will expect a toast!

I have been hearing about this book Lions, another rural novel set in Colorado. It sounds great. Have you heard anything?

Hi Joanne - Do you have a wonderful vacation planned? Have you decided what books to take?

>42 msf59: - Oooh, Lions looks good, Mark! Thanks for the tip.

Hi Joanne!

Hi Joanne -- you're reading al the great ones -- All the Light We Cannot See and Our Souls at Night -- yay books! Yay Maui! Hope you have a wonderful time. I hope to meet Jim as his plans shape up, and would definitely toast Mark!

>42 msf59: Hi Mark! Well, I'll be sure to drink a toast to you on your birthday even though I'll miss the meet-up with Jim. But if anyone's on Maui.....

I haven't heard of Lions but my library has, so I put a hold on it. It looks interesting - thanks for the heads up!

>43 BLBera: Hi Beth! We're off to the beach on Maui! I'm still not quite sure which books but currently, it looks like August Heat, Maine, and The Last Policeman, plus a slew of books on my kindle (which I won't bring to the beach). It should be a relaxing and bookish holiday!

>44 katiekrug: Hi Katie!

>45 AMQS: Hi Anne, Welcome home! Those were both great books! I'm so sorry to miss Jim but I hope you all have a great time!!

Belated happy new thread, Joanne. I love the topper. Wishing you a great weekend.

Hi Barbara - thank you! Hope your weekend is a wonderful one!

Today we have lunch at my elder daughter's place together with my in-laws. Looking forward to it. Wishing you a lovely Sunday.

Very nice, Barbara, have fun!

Almost a week away from the group Joanne. Hope all is well and that you'll have a lovely weekend.

Hi Paul, Thanks for checking in! I'm on vacation (yay!), on Maui (yay!) and haven't been on LT much at all (boo!). I have a lot of catching up to do next week.

There's a tropical storm moving in. If the power doesn't go out, I might be around a bit tomorrow. (I was getting too much sun anyway.....)

>52 Copperskye: Maui. Wow. Hope you've packed lots of books :-)

Have a great vacation, Joanne. How hot is it in Maui now?

>53 charl08: No problem there, Charlotte! :)

>54 BLBera: Thanks Beth! The weather has much improved from the weekend. It's probably in the mid 80s where we are, or will be by this afternoon, with light trade winds. We're off to the beach soon.

Currently from our lanai -

Wow, Joanne, that looks great. Never been to Hawaii. Just continue to enjoy yourselves.

It's a pretty place, Bill!

I am sure you are having a wonderful time, Joanne! Enjoy! Hope your books are treating you well too.

Lovely view, Joanne -- hope you're having a wonderfully relaxing time!

*wave* Your weather looks fabulous.

Love the view, Joanne.

Hi Mark, Anne, Jenn, and Beth! Thanks so much for stopping by! I have a lot of catching up to do!

Home again, home again...the first few days of vacation, the days ahead seem almost endless, but then suddenly, it's done... Had much fun, mostly beached it, which is fine with me, ate a lot of great fish and too much dessert. Missed my dog, though, and the cat, too. They're both happy to have us home. It was our first vacation without our son and we missed him (he's in NY this week, at a writers' workshop). Having direct flights from Denver to Kahului made the whole trip a lot easier and shorter but I know I will crash soon.....

Finished a couple books. I find the ocean very distracting. More on the books tomorrow!

40. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Truly a melancholy read about the loneliness of aging and the sacrifices that are made to the end. There's not much of a story here, but still, it's rich and deep and satisfying all the same. I'll miss you, Mr Haruf.

41. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly

The first book in the Harry Bosch series and good enough to make me want to continue on with it.

42. August Heat by Andrea Camilleri

An excellent choice for a vacation read and another good entry in the Inspector Montalbano series. Quick, entertaining and fun.

43. Rolling Thunder by Chris Grabenstein

Sea Haven NJ continues to be a pretty deadly place and there was quite a bit of violence in this one, but Danny's irreverent narration continues to keep it light and often funny, regardless. Fun in the sun down the shore.

Welcome home! The sea is distracting, but so relaxing. I hope you had a wonderful vacation. :)

I love the Ceepak series, Joanne, but my library inexplicably does not own several of the books in the middle of the series, so I have had to skip them. I need to find those books somewhere!

I am sure that your holiday continues swimmingly and you are certainly getting some reading done meanwhile.
Have a great weekend.

Welcome home! I always end up missing the doggies when I'm away even though it means I get to sleep a bit later without cold noses prodding me awake.

>64 Copperskye: I love the Harry Bosch series. Go on with it, Joanne, it's great fun.
Happy weekend.

Welcome back, Jo! Glad you enjoyed your vacation in Paradise. Amazing how quickly it goes by! You got quite a bit of reading done, for all that the sea beguiled you. Love the Ceepak and Bosch series. Wish Grabenstein would write more of that series. Glad you are going to continue with Bosch. You've got a lot of great reading in store!

P.S. More pics please. :)

You did some great holiday reading, Joanne! I had the same thoughts about Our Souls at Night. Haruf was a gift!

>67 nittnut: Thanks Jenn! We did have a good time, but it is nice to be home. Back to work tomorrow, though. :(

>68 rosalita: Hi Julia, Libraries tend to do that and it is very annoying. I'm going to have to hunt around for the next one when I'm ready to read it. It's a fun series!

>69 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I've had a few days to recover from vacation and then I'm back to the real work world on Monday. I can't say I'm anxious to go back....

>70 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, it's tough leaving the animals - this was the longest we've left our two 4 year olds. They've both been sticking to me like glue all weekend. Kind of nice. :)

>71 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, I liked the first Bosch book quite a bit and I'm about 60 pages into the next one! I've got a couple too many books going at the moment.

>72 Storeetllr: >73 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, Both are great and last night I started The Last Policeman which I know was a favorite of yours. I love it! I'll post more photos, although I didn't take that many. I have some from an actual camera that I have to put on the computer first. It always takes me a while.

>74 porch_reader: Hi Amy, it was such a touching book - I felt like crying the whole time I was reading it. But in a good way, if that makes sense.

Welcome back, Joanne. You did do a lot of great holiday reading.

Thanks Beth! Yes, a lot of good reading, even though I was wearing my two prescriptions ago contact lenses on the beach. Luckily, my arms were long enough!

Beach reading is the best! It's been years since I've done it and would have to sit under a big umbrella but the sound of the waves makes wonderful background swooshing noises. I am thinking about spending a month in Florida this winter even if I have to go by myself. The books and I would have a lovely time I'm sure. Welcome home, Joanne!

Stopping by to say hi and glad you had a great vacation. I grew up near a beach, but I'm so fair that I never could lay out and read. My favorite thing was going in the early morning for the seashells. You wouldn't believe the glares seashell collectors give each other.

>78 Donna828: A month in Florida, reading on the beach, sounds wonderful to me, Donna! Send me your address! :)

>79 mstrust: Hi Jennifer, There aren't many shells on Maui. I love looking for them, too, and have spent some happy mornings on the beach on Sanibel in FL searching for shells. I'm also pretty fair, so when the sun swings around and the palm trees no longer give shade, a beach umbrella is a must for me, too. Thank goodness for Costco. We also go through a lot of sun screen!

So I saw in The Denver Post over the weekend that Robert Redford is scouting locations in CO to film Our Souls at Night. For a little while I thought that might be pretty good but then I remembered the last Robert Redford movie I saw, also based on a book. A Walk in the Woods. Pretty bad...

>81 Copperskye: How good a friend depends on how much you are enjoying the book surely? My present read has followed me out for dinner today but it made a bit of a surly companion in truth!

Have a great weekend, Joanne.

>81 Copperskye: Love it! Thanks for sharing.

>81 Copperskye: Lovely. Exactly what I do. Plus a back up book in case I finish the first...

Heh. I'm with Charlotte, except I carry my Kindle Paperwhite which has a lot of books on it as well as my Kindle Fire that I use to listen to audiobooks, of which there is always a backlog. Of course, I have to be careful they are both charged before leaving the house.

It was lovely seeing you on Thursday! Thanks for lunch! I had a great time. So happy you enjoyed Last Policeman. How's the Bosch coming along?

>82 PaulCranswick: And after you lugged it around, Paul! That's the thanks you get. Now I'm wondering what book it was....

>83 PaperbackPirate: :)

>84 charl08: Well, of course!

>85 Storeetllr: We're all ready for any type of situation, aren't we? Bosch is competing with Hank Palace for my time. Both are keeping me happy! I'm so glad we were able to meet for lunch!!!!

44. The Last Policeman by Ben H Winters

With a giant asteroid headed on a direct collision course with the earth, when does it begin to not matter if a death is a suicide or a murder? Disaster is just six months out and for Detective Hank Palace of the Concord, NH police department, the answer is not quite yet. Entertaining story with some very likable characters. I dived right into the next book in the trilogy.

>26 Copperskye: All The Light We Cannot See is indeed a wonderful, incredible book. Many thanks for your lovely photos.

>63 Copperskye: Our Souls at Night was also a lovely book.

Hi Linda, I don't know why I waited so long to read All the Light We Cannot See. It was absolutely incredible!

Hi, Joanne! So glad you enjoyed the Last Policeman. I liked the trilogy but the first one was my favorite. If you have not all ready added Underground Airlines to your WL, do so. Winters really steps up his game, on that one.

>87 Copperskye: Another fan of the policeman trilogy. Very moreish.

>89 Copperskye: - Hmm, The Last Policeman sounds tempting, Joanne. Ive got a lot of work reading coming up, and this sounds like it might be a good one to break the monotony!

Everyone loves The Last Policeman, it seems. I guess I'm going to have to look for it. Is it the first of a trilogy?

>90 msf59: Hi Mark, it was my interest in Underground Airlines that led me to finally pick up The Last Policeman. I had been meaning to read it for years and figured, what the heck - get to it!

>91 charl08: Lots of fans, Charlotte, and for good reason! "Moreish"?

>92 porch_reader: It would be excellent between work stuff, Amy! Thought provoking and interesting without being overly taxing or even too dark (even though it's pre-apocalypse).

>93 BLBera: I'd recommend it, Beth! And yes, The Last Policeman is the first of a trilogy. (So yay! There are only three!!) :)

45. Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter

Interesting portrait of grief as a husband and his two young sons struggle in the aftermath of the sudden death of their wife and mother. Oh and a crow moves in to help them deal with the loss and stays until he is no longer needed. Almost poetic, its honesty can strike a chord or two. Blessedly short, yet really remarkably deep. Ultimately, I'm of two minds about it.

The Crow kept reminding me of the dog, who was a manifestation of Churchill's depression, in Mr Chartwell.

Joanne All the Light We Cannot See is a book that I tell my reader friends that they simply have to read this book.

Book #45 is an interesting title, I assume taken from Emily Dickinson's poetic phrase of "Hope is the thing with feathers."

Morning, Joanne! I also loved The Last Policeman, but I need to read the other two.

>96 Whisper1: Yes it is a play on her title, Linda. Also the crow is from Ted Hughes’ “Crow: From the Life and Songs of the Crow” which is apparently a collection of poems about the character Crow. The husband/father in the book is a Ted Hughes scholar. I'm not at all familiar with Ted Hughes or this collection.

>97 Crazymamie: Lots of Last Policeman fans around here, Mamie! Another book I probably would not have found without LT.

46. Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck (audio)

I'm not sure why I thought I hadn't finished this when I listened to it a few years ago, but not long in this time, I realized I had listened to the whole thing. But never mind, it's Steinbeck and Gary Sinise's narration is so perfect, I listened again. And now I've read it once (decades ago) and listened twice and certainly recommend it.

Neighborhood bunny watch.

I have had Travels with Charlie on the tbr pile for awhile. Thanks for the reminder to move it up!

>100 Copperskye: Ha! We have a Bunny Watch at our house, too! It looks similar to yours, minus the feline component.

>100 Copperskye: Love it!

Happy Friday, Joanne! I had to put aside Grief is the Thing With Feathers, because the Blonde is sucking up all my reading time but I hope to get back to it.

Hooray for Travels With Charley!

I just started The Mare: A Novel. This might be your cuppa. Just sayin'...

Love the bunny watch photo!

>100 Copperskye: Very cute. The cat over the road does the same thing, only looking up - into a tree. Probably not bunnies though!

>100 Copperskye: My cats look at anything moving outside, but especially the bunnies. I think it's because they move so differently than other critters.

Love the bunny watch! That's on daily at our house, too. The other day a bunny got in between our glass and screen doors on the deck and just camped out there for awhile.

>78 Donna828:, >80 Copperskye: I'm in!

Loved Travels with Charley when I read it a year or so ago. I listened to an audio, but not with Gary Sinise!

>100 Copperskye: Bunny watch goes on here, too. My big dog has claimed the chaise lounge upstairs and I swear he sleeps with one eye open!

>78 Donna828: >80 Copperskye: I would LOVE a month in Florida this winter. I've gone down to visit with my parents for the past three years but they are not going to go this year and I found myself considering a trip on my own as it is a nice break from the winter grey.

>101 PaperbackPirate: I think you'll enjoy it, Pirate!

>102 scaifea: Hi Amber, Skye has pretty much given up on chasing them but since Boomer gets little opportunity, she still thinks she can catch one!

>103 msf59: Hi Mark, I picked up The Mare when it first came out but didn't get anywhere with it. I'll be interested in your thoughts.

>104 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie!

>105 charl08: Well, I hope not, Charlotte! Those would be some scary bunnies!

>106 thornton37814: Hi Lori, Our cat seems to be most interested in the larger birds, especially the doves that stop by.

>107 AMQS: Boomer would love it if that happened, Anne!

>108 witchyrichy: My sister lives in Florida, I should visit her more! :)

I love the neighbourhood bunny watch! ;) We have rabbits running lose in my area too, and Poppy is quite curious about them. There was on in particular that hung around the entrance to a path, and Poppy tried hard to make friends with the bunny. The rabbit has since disappeared or moved on to better pastures?

Hi Joanne. I love the bunny watch.

I don't know if this story will translate, but you may know that I just returned from a vacation in Alaska. The best part of the trip was the 4+ days we spent in Denali. We stayed at a place called Camp Denali, deep in the park (almost at the end of the road). Every day, we could go on a guided hike and the guides were really excellent. They were young and fit, but they were also very knowledgeable, most of them with degrees in biology, geology, or other related fields. Anyway, the bus ride to each hike's starting point sometimes resulted in stops to view passing wildlife: bears, moose, caribou. And the excellent guides were very patient as much of the wildlife had become somewhat dime-a-dozen for them. Well, as we were driving along one day to our hike, I was riding shotgun and I saw a snowshoe hare on the side of the road. Afraid that the hare would run out in front of the van, I said (pointing) "bunny, bunny, bunny!" Folks in the back heard my enthusiasm but not my words and thought I had seen something outstanding, so the guide said into his little microphone with such obvious amusement in his voice "nothing to see, folks. There was a snowshoe hare on the side of the road and Ellen was just saying 'bunny, bunny, bunny....'" It was a moment. It might have been a had-to-be-there moment but I thought I'd share.

Haha, I'm still chuckling about Ellen's bunny moment. Love the picture of the fur kids looking longingly out of their windows. Our animals do keep us entertained, don't they? Am I going to have to read the Ben Winters trilogy? You and Mark are co-warbling on that one. Have a great week, Joanne!

Hi, Joanne! I liked The Mare: A novel but did not love it. You make the call.

Hope the week is going well and I hope those current reads are treating you good.

>110 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah! We have been nearly overrun with rabbits this year. It's as if everyone has a rabbit lawn ornament when we walk down the street. I think they're pretty cute.

>111 EBT1002: That's a riot, Ellen! I've never seen a snowshoe hare so I'm fairly sure I'd have done the same thing. :) I need to stop by your thread soon and see your photos and hear about your trip! I'll bet it was fabulous!

>112 Donna828: Hi Donna, I liked The Last Policeman more than Countdown City but I'm still looking forward to the last one. Hank Palace, the policeman, is a great character and it's an interesting premise. Mary is a big fan, too!

>113 msf59: Hi Mark, I think I'll continue to give it a pass. Too many other books calling!

My current books are a few too many but I like them all:

Poldark - I've been meaning to get to this one
Sweet Thursday - fun to revisit the characters from Cannery Row
The Hour of Land - gorgeous book, beautiful prose
The Opposite of Woe - Colorado-centric

47. The Black Ice by Michael Connelly

Another good entry in the Bosch series.



48. Countdown City by Ben H Winters

I'm kind of sorry that this is only a trilogy. I love the cover on this one. One more to go!



49. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Insightful. Should be handed out on street corners.

" Should be handed out on street corners." Amen, Joanne! Glad you loved the Coates!

Happy Sunday! I am loving The Hour of Land. I love her smarts and her passion. This will be one of my favorite reads of the year.

BTW- I FINALLY started The Lighthouse Road. Proud?

ETA: Hooray for Sweet Thursday!

Hooray for Peter Geye!!!!! Enjoy!

Are you listening to The Hour of Land? I was wondering if she reads it. I rarely buy new hardbacks but it is such a handsome book that I couldn't resist. And this way I can take my time with it.

Steinbeck is a joy! (But you already know that!) :)

Hi Joanne, I was just wondering if you've stopped rating your books? It's tough to do sometimes and I'm frequently changing my mind about a rating. It helps me remember how much I liked the book but I think the system is kind of useless because we all use different criteria. I hope all is well with you and yours. Enjoy the upcoming holiday weekend. Maybe you can get some boating in before it gets too cool.

Another recommendation of Winters and Coates - I need to move them up closer to the top of the pile.

>118 Donna828: I agree Donna! It is difficult to rate books. I think I try to rate high if it is a book that will stick with me. But, when I give only 1 star, I feel so guilty, as though I am not fair to the author.

Hi Joanne. Congratulations on reading 49 books!

>118 Donna828: Hi Donna, I still use star ratings, although obviously not on my own thread for the last month or so. Whoops! I really have a hard time with the star rating. A 3.5 star book would be a good, average read, a 4 better than average, and a 5 would be outstanding (and of course the fractions in between). I don't finish books I don't like and I have very few books rated less than 3.5. There's just not a lot of space between 3.5 to 5 stars. Sometimes I'll read a review and the person loves the book but then gives it a 3 star rating - what? If it was more consistant it'd be more useful, but everybody has their own way of using them. Maybe I should start all over. Nah - I'd rather read. :) The weather should be good here over the long weekend so I think we will be on the lake one of the days. It's Skye's turn to come with us and if the water has gotten too cold for us, it won't be for her!

>119 BLBera: Hi Beth, Yes, they are both good! It so hard to balance all the books we keep having to move to the top of the pile!

>120 Whisper1: Hi Linda, I think many of us struggle with those darn stars! Thanks for the congrats - I'm hoping to make 75 this year!

50. The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics by John Hickenlooper

As entertaining as it was, I can’t imagine anyone outside of Colorado being interested in reading John Hickenlooper’s autobiography, which is really too bad (there are 5 other LTers with the book in their library). Hickenlooper grew up outside of Philadelphia and went to college in New England. He then traveled to Colorado where he worked as a geologist before joining forces with some friends to open the first brewpub in the state, the Wynkoop Brewing Co. From there he became a two term mayor of Denver and then the governor of Colorado, where he is serving in his second term. Hickenlooper is a natural storyteller and I found the book to be open and engaging. The recounting of the last several years of Colorado history, years when massive fires, floods and shootings dominated the news, was a bit bleak. I read the first half but then listened to him read the audio edition of the second half. I liked the audio more as I generally prefer to listen to memoirs anyway.

Just today, Hick rappelled, for the first time, down a Denver high-rise building for charity. Giddyup indeed.

Sounds like quite a character (that based on the rappelling).

>123 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! Yeah, the kind of guy you'd like to have a beer with, if you were so inclined. He parachuted out of a plane a few years ago, also for charity.

Hi Joanne. Thanks for filling me in on your governor. If Eric Greitens gets elected in Missouri, I'll be glad to return the favor. I read his memoir about the Navy Seals a few years ago and loved it! You and I have similar thoughts about ratings except I might go a little lower than you. Why finish a book that doesn't have much going for it when there are so many good to great books out there? I've had a few Early Reviewer books that were misrepresented and those are probably the only 2.5 books I have in my library. Like you, I'd rather just read and enjoy and not worry about the ratings so much. Have a wonderful week!

Hi Joanne. I finally posted photos from our Alaska trip. It was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

I am listening to The Hour of Land narrated by the author. You used the words "gorgeous" and "beautiful" to describe it and I couldn't agree more. I am thoroughly loving it.

By the way, I do still rate my books but I agree that there is a lot of variability in how folks use the star ratings. I'm even inconsistent within my own ratings. Sometimes I will look back at a book and feel like my rating was just not representative of how the book has stayed with me. Anyway, you said you almost never rate a book less than 3.5 and I think my ratings are mostly in the 3.5 to 5 range, too. I do give some 3 ratings and I have a very few lower than that because I just don't finish them. And I choose books I think I will like and I'm usually right. And then sometimes I love them. That's the best. :-)

Have a great Tuesday!

Rating is hard for me too, because sometimes I have really enjoyed a book but it doesn't stay with me, or I struggled with the book but it was really worth it in the end. Anyway, I seldom rate less than 3 stars because I don't finish books that I really dislike, unless they're part of a series that I've invested in and for the most part enjoyed. And, if I don't finish a book, I don't rate it, because books I don't finish I usually don't read more than a chapter or two. I'm just too old even for The Pearl Rule. :)

Hope you're enjoying this cooler weather we've been having. Me, I am probably going to have to get the space heater fired up tonight so the birds don't freeze. :)

BTW, I finally officially adopted Rosie yesterday. So, yay! (Though Nickel is still sulking.)

>125 Donna828: Hi Donna! Sounds like an interesting book! One of the several CEOs we've had at work over the past 13 years was a Navy Seal and he was the most personable of the bunch, friendly with a sense of humor.

>126 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! Alaska photos! I need to visit your thread! I'm reading The Hour of Land very slowly and I love it. And I definitely plan to revisit it on audio. Have you read Refuge? You'd like it, too.

>127 Storeetllr: Hi Mary! Great to see you. My thoughts, exactly, on stars and Pearl ruling! After three days with out of town guests, I spent as much time as possible outside today, by myself, just doing nothing but enjoying the sunshine and my book! Summer is going to be gone too soon.... Congratulations on your new family member! Rosie has lucked out and found a terrific home!

Hi, Joanne. Glad you are still enjoying The Hour of Land. My head is still buzzing from it. I hope to read all of her work. Refuge sounds terrific.

51. Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck

I've never read a Steinbeck that I didn't like and I'm glad I finally got to this one. It was a delight to revisit the cast of Cannery Row and although I liked that first book more, Sweet Thursday was a fine follow up. 4 stars

52. Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

I remember watching several episodes of Poldark on PBS's Chan 13 with my mother back in the 70s. She never missed one while I was a little more laid back about it (pre VCR days, hard to believe). So when the remake was televised recently, I made sure to watch it and I loved it so, of course, I had to read the book(s). I loved Poldark, it reminded me a lot of the R F Delderfield books I read as a teen.

Ross Poldark returns to the family's Cornwall "estate" after fighting in the American Revolutionary War to find his father dead, his house in near ruins, and his girl engaged to his cousin. Things can only improve from there and the story and the Cornwall setting are great fun. 4.25 stars

Eta - I really hate the tie-in covers on this series. :(

>129 msf59: Refuge was very good, Mark! I have Beth to thank for that one!

Never heard of Sweet Thursday. I really haven't read much Steinbeck even though I know I should.

>131 Copperskye: All tv tie in covers should be banned. Dislike them a lot!

>133 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! "Should" reads, for me at least, get relegated to the bottom of the pile, but I'd recommend Cannery Row before Sweet Thursday. I love Steinbeck but people don't seem to read him much anymore, it seems.

>134 charl08: Hi Charlotte! Yes, I agree! Or they should at least give us a choice! Once the tie-in version comes out, that's it.

53. World of Trouble by Ben H Winters

This is the final book in the Last Policeman trilogy and just as good as the first. I was very concerned about how it would end – I hate to feel cheated or tricked. I thought the ending was perfect! Read this! 4 stars

54. Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me From Myself by Julie Barton

At 23, Julie Barton, suffering from clinical depression, is rescued from the floor of her NYC apartment by her mother and brought home to Ohio to recover. Therapists and drugs helped, but it was the love of a golden retriever puppy that allowed her to finally live her life. It’s not the type of memoir I typically read, but I was drawn in by the cover and blurbs by Pam Houston and Cheryl Strayed, and then immediately hooked by the narrative. Depression is a dark and difficult subject to read about but it is Barton’s recovery from the depth that brings light to the narrative. This is truly a memoir of hope, healing, and recovery. Julie’s candid story was often difficult to read and I cried through the final chapter and epilogue – from both joy and sorrow. I don’t know why this isn’t more popular here. Highly recommended! 4.5 stars

Hi Joanne - I have The Last Policeman on my e-reader and hope to get to it soon.

You also remind me that I've been meaning to read or reread some Steinbeck.

>136 Copperskye: I completely agree with your review, Joanne. I thought the plot was wrapped up nearly perfectly. I think I liked each book better than the one before, which almost never happens with series/trilogies.

Have you read any other Ben H. Winters? I just read his Underground Airlines and it was tremendous.

Hi Beth, I think you'll like the Last Policeman when you get to it. It took me a while to get around to it. I would love to reread The Grapes of Wrath sometime, but its page count puts me off. I think I'll give The Wayward Bus a try next.

Hi Julia, I've got Underground Airlines on my radar. Tremendous...well, I need to get to it! Actually, it was interest in reading this new one that prompted me to finally get to the Policeman trilogy.

My current reads are Wintering, The Hour of Land, and the audio of The View From the Cheap Seats.

So glad you enjoyed the Last Policeman trilogy, Jo! I've seen talk about it being turned into a TV series. I hope, if it is adapted, it's not ruined.

Great news about Underground Airlines, Julia! It's going straight on my library holds requests, completely bypassing my Wishlist.

>141 Copperskye: >142 Storeetllr: I really hope you both find Underground Airlines a good recommendation, Joanne and Mary.

>137 Copperskye:, i've added Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me From Myself by Julie Barton. I'm a believer in the healing power of animals. Lilly seems to know when I'm having a tough day of pain. She always lies on the floor, right beside my chair. Sometimes, she gets up and puts her head right on my lap, looking at me with so much love that it just melts my heart.

Happy Sunday, Joanne. Hooray for the Last Policeman trilogy and I also loved Underground Airlines. Winters kicked it up a notch or two.

Hope you are enjoying Wintering and the Gaiman collection.

>128 Copperskye: I have not read Refuge but I certainly will. The Hour of Land is my first TTW and I'm loving it. It is a book to be slowly savored and I find myself wanting a hard copy so I can read passages that particularly, um, speak to me. I'm not supposed to be purchasing books (ha) but this is one I might have to own.

I have looked at The Last Policeman a few times and haven't picked it up yet. I can't tell if it's too science fiction-y for me.... I love a good mystery, though.

>142 Storeetllr: Hi Mary, I'm glad I liked it, too! And my hubby just finished the trilogy, as well. It's rare for him to read three books so quickly! The TV pick-up could go either way. I hope they don't screw it up. Fingers crossed!

>143 rosalita: Sounds like an interesting book, Julia, and everybody seems to like it!

>144 Whisper1: Hi Linda, I'm quite sure that Lilly doesn't seem to know when you are in pain and need some extra comfort. She absolutely knows and does what she can to help you. How blessed you both are to have each other.

>145 msf59: Hi Mark, Yes, I remember you warbling about Winters' latest. It was one of the nudges that got me to start The Last Policeman. I'm listening to The View From the Cheap Seats and it is very good, with the added bonus of Gaiman's narration. Have you read it? You'd love the audio.

>146 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, it's a lovely hardcover. As soon as I picked it up in the bookstore, I knew I'd want to buy it. I held off for a whole week or so. :) I don't know what your threshold is for science fiction-y, but it's not very. It was a concern of mine, too.

I join you in recommending Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday, Joanne. A few years ago now there was an LT "Steinbeckathon", and it got me back on track with reading Steinbeck. Those are two of my favorites.

P.S. I love the Poldark books, and was happy I had them in the old covers. I will say the actor on the cover in >131 Copperskye: is quite good in the BBC series, as is the rest of the cast.

Joanne, Lilly is one of the most sensitive and loving dogs I've had. She is quite mad at me this week and still looks at me with skepticism in her eyes. I spent an hour brushing her Sunday morning. I literally had a plastic bad filled with fur. Usually I spend ten-15 minutes a day, but since returning to work, I've been lax on this necessity.

She will forgive me, but for now, she is stubbornly hiding under the dining room table, fearful that I will take the brush in hand and get another bag full.

>148 jnwelch: Hi Joe! I'm so glad I finally read them both! Especially Cannery Row. It was such a treat. I'm also glad that I have already read both East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath since they are both chunksters. I think I read The Moon is Down during that Steinbeckathon. I had never heard of it before LT. I have The Wayward Bus waiting for me at the library although I don't know if I'll get to it but at least I can peruse it a bit. I feel like I need to get back to Wallace Stegner before I read any more Steinbeck (they seem similar to me). Ha! Aidan Turner on the cover of Poldark is a wonderful actor and I'd gallop a horse with him across the moors any day of the week! It's just that the cover is so...romance novel-ish. I just started Demelza also with a tie-in cover. I'll get over it...I love it so far. :)

>149 Whisper1: Hi Linda, Poor Lilly! Skye's not too keen on getting brushed either. No matter how careful I am, I know I sometimes pull on her long feathers and she hates it. Any mats I just cut off, I don't even try to break them up. She very good about having her feet and ears trimmed up, though, which is good. I once knew someone who collected her dog's hair and had it treated and woven into sweaters for her two children. I think of that every time I gather up all Skye's fur piles, but I can't imagine sweaters....

55. The Wings of the Sphinx by Andrea Camilleri

This was the 11th book in the Montalbano series. I love this series - the stories are reliable and the characters familiar and both are good things. Add the touch of humor, and as always, I'm looking forward to reading the next one. 3.75 stars

Okay, that does it. I'm going to get a copy of The Last Policeman.
And I do want to re-indulge in the Montalbano series, too. Excursion to Tindari is next for me.

>152 EBT1002: You won't be sorry, Ellen! It's a good read. It will lead to two more books, however... Excursion to Tindari was one of my favorites of the Montalbano series.

>151 Copperskye: That's one I haven't listened to yet. I'm trying to space the Grover Gardners out so I have enjoyment for some time to come and have something to look forward to listening to. It's hard because I like them so much I think I could just listen to them all the time.

>151 Copperskye: Hi Lori, I feel the same way, although I don't listen to this series. I'm so glad I have several more to enjoy! I think I have most of them on the shelf, too. Have you listened to the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series at all? I adore Lisette Lecat's narration.

Hi Joanne! I had to drop by and warble a bit. I just finished Dog Run Moon: Stories and I think this would definitely be your cuppa, since we both like reading stories set in the american west.

How is The Hour of Land coming? Wintering?

>156 msf59: I had Dog, Run , Moon checked out from the library a while ago but never got to it. :( I have requested it again - thanks for the rec, Mark! I am savoring The Hour of Land. I'm in Gettysburg at the moment. Frankly, reading about Theodore Roosevelt NP was depressing. I had read a piece in High Country News about the park and the conflicts it faces. I dug up the link if you want to read it:

http://www.hcn.org/issues/47.7/as-oil-drilling-approaches-north-dakotas-badlands...

56. Wintering by Peter Geye

Peter Geye has a wonderful way with prose and combines it with a harsh, unforgiving landscape that is really unforgettable. I liked Wintering but not as much as his two earlier books, especially Safe From the Sea. (I think it is just that the story appealed to me more.)

"Turn back, turn back, it's winter!!", I kept wanting to shout at the characters....

Hi Joanne - I think I read Safe from the Sea on your recommendation and loved it. I need to get to Geye's other books.

Hi Beth! Wintering follows characters from The Lighthouse Road. It can be read alone, but probably richer with the back story. Safe From the Sea was so good - I bought a copy to reread it!

So, The Lighthouse Road first. I own a copy, so that is easy.

>161 BLBera: It's nice when it works out that way, Beth! :)

>158 Copperskye: Frustrating that the stores here don't have either of those two titles Joanne. I will probably buckle and get them ordered.

Have a splendid weekend.

Just stopping by to say happy weekend! Lots of good books in this thread so I'll be back to fill up the TBR list.

I agree about Poldark: love the books but those tie-in covers are a little too much. I have Demelza on the e-reader but haven't gotten to it.

Just getting caught up. Hope your weekend is great!

>163 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, nice to see you! Thank goodness for online ordering!

>164 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, Great to see you! I just finished Demelza. I have Jeremy Poldark (also with a tie in cover), and I'd love to start it, but I might wait until the second season wraps up on PBS. Hope your weekend is going well!

>165 nittnut: Hi Jenn! So far, so good! Beautiful October day today.

Hi Joanne, I finally got some LT time to catch up with you. I agree that Safe from the Sea is Geye's best book but have not been disappointed in the others. So glad you told us about him. I saw where you've already had a little snow out your way. I remember the biggest snow we had when were living in Colorado was just before Halloween one year. Enjoy your beautiful days while they last!

Hi Joanne, you've done some great reading since I last visited your thread. I was absent several weeks on LT but try to do better in the future.
I wish you a wonderful start into the new week.

>167 Donna828: Hi Donna! I think I remember that same snow storm. In the late 90s there was a big one with lots of tree damage. And they cancelled the Boo at the Zoo (the important things you remember when you have a little one!).

>168 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! So good to see you and hope all is well. Thank you for the pretty centerpiece!

57. Demelza by Winston Graham 4.25 stars

This is the second book in the Poldark series. I loved it. I'm looking forward to starting the third.

58. The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim Defede 4.25 stars

When US air space was shut down on 9/11, flights within the US were instructed to land at the nearest airport. International flights, however, needed to be redirected. Gander, Newfoundland, with its long runways, was the stopping point for 38 international flights. Thousands of passengers and crew were welcomed by the people of Newfoundland. They cooked, donated sheets and towels and clothing, and opened up their hearts and their homes to the stranded travelers. The magnitude of people - it took nearly two days just to clear the passengers from all the planes - made the whole ordeal all the more difficult (and all those people did not get to claim their luggage, ran out of prescriptions, and needed to be fed, all while dealing with the news from the US while far from home and family). For the most part, the emergency was handled with compassion, grace, and good humor on all fronts and Defede engagingly tells the stories of individuals caught in an unprecedented event.

Oh, my, Joanne! The Day the World Came to Town sounds really good! I'm going to have to see if I can find it from the library.

Hope you had a great weekend! Maybe we can get together for lunch again one day soon. This Monday, I'm going to be cleaning like a madwoman - my sister is coming home on Tuesday from a week in FLA with her daughters & grandkids, bringing one of her daughters & the daughter's new boyfriend along to stay with us for awhile. I not only need to get my own stuff done (laundry, grocery shopping, deep cleaning the birds' area) but I want to be sure the guest room & bath is clean and the living area is neat, clean, vacuumed and dusted, at the very least, but I'm free Wed and Thurs. And there's always next week, assuming it doesn't snow. Haha.

Hi Mary! Great to see you! The Day the World Came to Town was very good - lots of things I never thought about or considered when all those planes were rerouted. My Mom recommended it to me about a dozen years ago and it certainly would have been more relevant then, but I'm glad I read it finally. Thanks Mom!

Sounds like you're going to be busy! Nothing like houseguests to get a person into cleaning mode. I'd love to have lunch. I think I can do Thursday. (I'm supposed to be in Myrtle Beach this week but our hotel had some damage from the hurricane and is closed until mid-Nov. and our reunion was cancelled. Similar to last year. :( oh well.) Let me know! Or next week is good, too.

My current read is Wallace Stegner's The Spectator Bird, which is excellent!

I thought The Spectator Bird was terrific. I've read four Stegner books and have two others on the TBR Tower (50,000 watts clear channel). I want to read some of his NF.

Hi Joanne - Great review of The Day the World Came to Town. I want to read some Stegner this year; I've been saying that for the past couple of years, but maybe this year it will happen!

I just read a great historical fiction novel News of the World. I think you would enjoy it.

I read Angle of Repose a couple of years ago and loved it. Now I must read The Spectator Bird. Thanks for calling it to my attention :)

I have Demelza on my Kindle and may dive in soon. The second season of Poldark just started here, but I skipped it Sunday night and will probably binge watch later.

>174 weird_O: Hi Bill, The Spectator Bird is my fourth Stegner (so we are even there). I did read one of his non-fiction books, Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs, a few years ago and it was very good.

>175 BLBera: Hi Beth, Funny how that happens - time just slips by and the books just keep piling on Mt TBR. I've been meaning to read Crossing to Safety for years and just can't seem to get there. Have you read any Stegner? News of the World sounds great and I'm glad you liked it - it's now on my list! I've had her Enemy Woman on the shelf for a while and one of these days, I'll get to it, too.

>176 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, I loved Angle of Repose. It was a 5 star book for me. The Spectator Bird is similar in that there are two storylines, one current day (mid 1970s), and the other events of 20 years earlier. It's very good!

>177 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, We just watched Ep 3 of Poldark's second season. The events in the PBS show are moving ahead of the events in Demelza, and as much as I'd rather read the next in the series, Jeremy Poldark, before I watch it on TV, I can't resist. Wish I could read faster!

I loved Enemy Women, Joanne. It's my favorite novel of hers so far although News of the World is a close second. I haven't read any Stegner.

>170 Copperskye: That Poldark series does become a bit addictive, Joanne. It is interesting that Winston Graham did take a fair bit of time off halfway through the series but returned to the project when the initial TV series was so successful.

Have a great weekend.

>179 BLBera: I definitely need to move Enemy Woman up then, Beth. I've only read four of Stegner's books, but I loved them all. Just sayin'..... :)

>180 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I didn't know that about the Poldark series. That's very interesting. And it is extremely addictive!

I just moved Angle of Repose to my desk, Joanne.

>182 BLBera: Getting closer!! :)

59. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

An entertaining YA/middle grade gothic ghost story with some excellent historical elements (Great Famine, poverty). Would make a fun read-aloud with older kids. Also, fabulous cover and a handsome book. 3.75 stars

60. The View From the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaimen (audiobook)

I liked this collection of essays but would have loved it, I'm sure, if I was more of a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and graphic novels. Neil Gaiman's thoughtful musings and fabulous narrative voice were the ultimate draws for me. 3.75 stars

Fields of gold. Skye enjoying our gorgeous fall weather

So cute!

Beautiful photo!

>186 Copperskye: Wow, that's a really great photo!

Thanks Pirate, Charlotte, and Jennifer! We think she's pretty cute.

>186 Copperskye: LOVE that photo!

>191 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba!



61. The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner

A couple looks back, through the sharing of an old journal, at a time they spent in Denmark 20 years earlier. As Joe reads his journal each night to his wife, the narration moves back and forth between their life today and near forgotten events of the past. I was surprised that it turned into quite a suspenseful (to me) page-turner near the end. A thoughtful, engaging look at love and life, and beautifully done. Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction in 1977. 4.5 stars

Great comments, Joanne. So, which Stegner should I start with?

>186 Copperskye: beautiful photo! What a happy puppy!

>186 Copperskye: What a great picture!

I spent some time cleaning the library. I have a whole shelf of Neil Gaiman including The View From the Cheap Seats.

>193 BLBera: Any Stegner is a good starting point. I haven't read The Spectator Bird but Angle of Repose was great. Crossing to Safety is another good read. The hardest one to read was The Big Rock Candy Mountain. A sensitive son and a tough, violent father but still a tender story of family.

>193 BLBera: I'm hardly a Stegner expert, Beth, but from what I've read, I'd say either The Big Rock Candy Mountain or Angle of Repose. Both were 5 star reads for me.

>194 ChelleBearss: Chelle! So good to see you - you've made my night! Thank you!

>195 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! I haven't read a whole lot of Gaiman so, really, that audio was an odd pick for me, but it was pretty entertaining. Of the few I've read, my favorite is The Graveyard Book. I still need to read Stegner's Crossing to Safety!

>186 Copperskye: Love this photo of Skye!

Happy Sunday, Joanne. I put the Gaiman essay collection in my audio rotation.

Glad you enjoyed The Spectator Bird. I think I also have that one saved on audio.

Crossing to Safety is excellent. I am sure you will love it.

Hi Joanne! Angle of Repose is the only Stegner that I've read, but The Spectator Bird sounds like a great read. I'll add it to my TBR list. And I love the picture of Skye. What beautiful light!

Crossing to Safety was the first Stegner I read, and I loved it. I liked Angle of Repose as well. That line in your review of The Spectator Bird — A thoughtful, engaging look at love and life, and beautifully done could describe both of those as well. Well done!

>186 Copperskye: What a sweet Skye picture. She looks so happy to be blending into her surroundings! Love the blue sky contrast.

Darn, I have three unread Stegners and not a bird amongst them! I thought for sure I had Spectator Bird somewhere. I do have Falling Star. Have you read that one?

Enjoy your beautiful weather, Joanne. It's too warm here for my liking. It is supposed to be 83 degrees tomorrow. It will be good for the trick-or-treaters but I may have to turn on the A/C again. Hope was here for a week and her daddy turned the air conditioning on upstairs which I thought was a bit much as it was only in the 70s outside and cooled down to the upper 50s at night. We were glad to have them here, even if they were a bit warm.

Hi Joanne :)

>171 Copperskye: I read that, or something very like it a few years back. Sort of restores your faith in humanity, doesn't it?

>182 BLBera: Oooh Beth! Read it! Do!

>186 Copperskye: Skye is all grown up! Gorgeous photo.

>192 Copperskye: I need to get to The Spectator Bird sometime soon. Great review. :)

>197 msf59: Happy a Sunday to you too, Mark - especially since the Cubbies just won tonight! I think you'll love the Gaiman audio (I was thinking both you and Mary would like it a lot). I don't know why I haven't read Crossing to Safety yet. Maybe this winter.

>198 porch_reader: Hi Amy, Thank you! I loved Angle of Repose. I think Stegner is so underrated and very much more than just a "Western writer".

>199 rosalita: Thanks Julia! I highly recommend The Big Rock Candy Mountain. I have got to get to Crossing to Safety!

>200 Donna828: Thanks Donna! She'd much rather run and play than have to sit still for a photo. Just like a child! Maybe that bird is hiding somewhere - I know my books seem to bury themselves under other books so they all get a little attention when I'm hunting for one. We are in that temperature sweet spot where the house stays comfortably cool all day and night with no heat or air conditioning. No thermostat wars yet! I love still being able to sit outside in the sun and read.

>201 nittnut: Hi Jenn! In this horrifying political season, The Day the World Came to Town was a balm for the soul. The Spectator Bird was a fairly quick read - shorter than the other Stegner's I've read. Just sayin'...

An oldie, but still a goodie. Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, Joanne!

I love your trick-or-treating dogs, Joanne.

I am reading a historical Western set in the Nebraska sand flats that I think you would like The Bones of Paradise.

>204 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah!

>205 BLBera: It does sound interesting, Beth, and I hadn't heard of it before. Thanks for the rec!

62. The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip by George Saunders

A charming fable about cooperation, community, and the importance of working for a common good. A lively moral lesson for children and a reminder for the adults in their life. The illustrations by Lane Smith are gorgeous. 4 stars

This sounds great, Joanne.

Happy election day.

Not so happy Election Day, Beth.

Good god. How did we get here.

>209 Copperskye: WTF just happened?!

I have no idea, Joanne - we are all stunned here today.

Stopping by to say hi, Joanne! I know . I'm just pulling out of my " Trump Slump' and I live in Canada!

>210 PaperbackPirate: I know, Pirate. It still hasn't sunk in. Unbelievable, just unbelievable.

>211 BLBera: It's going to be a long 4 years, Beth. Not to mention the future repercussions...

>212 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah, We get Trump. You have Trudeau. Oh Canada...wanna trade? :)

My reading has slowed, finished the latest Gamache and am currently reading Notwithstanding. It's sweet and undemanding.

>211 BLBera:, >213 Copperskye: Exactly.

The only thing that's gotten me through the past 5 days is binge-reading a light urban fantasy series. Keeps me from brooding and helps me get to sleep or the few hours a night I've been managing.

Thanks for commiserating with me over on my thread, Jo.

Hi Joanne. I've been out of touch for awhile. I'm stopping by to say hello and wish you well. I love the opening photo. I've never been to your state, but a visit there is on the Bucket list.

>214 Storeetllr: Good to see you, Mary. I'm so glad you had some good reads to help you through this dark time. I hope it's a long series. Know you're not alone. And I'm not far away.

>215 Whisper1: Hi Linda, Good to see you! I hope you get out here sometime, it's a pretty place. I'd show you around.

63. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

The latest Gamache mystery. Less time was spent with the residents of Three Pines which I think was a good thing for a change. 4.5 stars

Hi Joanne! I am really looking forward to the latest Louise Penny.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Week!

It's a good one, Jenn. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, too!

Hi Joanne - The latest Penny was good, wasn't it? Happy Thanksgiving. Any snow?

Hi Beth! It was good and they are such reliable reads. I wonder, though, if she'll ever decide to write something different....not that I want her abandon Three Pines!

We did get some snow this week, but just an inch or so and mostly on the grass. It was much needed!

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

>222 Copperskye: I love Peanuts. It reminds me so much of my late sister-in-law who died far too young. She absolutely loved Snoopy. In fact, she got me a Snoopy plastic figure (dressed as the red baron) for Christmas or a birthday at some point. I think that is one of the things I kept from my parents' house although it is in a box in the garage or craft room at the moment. I still need to go through a lot of the boxes. I just haven't had time.

Love the trickle-down theory of Thanksgiving! I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday, Joanne! And I'm sure Skye already has plans to capitalize on the potential bounty. :-)

Haha, Trickle-down Thanksgiving! We don't have a dog, but my niece is bringing hers, so we won't have to worry about the kids (or us) dropping food. It'll be scarfed right up. Wish I could use Nickel and Rosie to clean the floor, but they are absolutely not interested. Nickel, at least, would prefer to chew the wood legs of the chairs. Rosie wants nothing to do with being on the floor.

Will your son be coming home for the holiday weekend?

I am thankful for your presence in the group, Joanne.

>223 thornton37814: Hi Lori, Isn't it great to see a picture and have it remind you of good people and happy memories? I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

>224 rosalita: Hi Julia, I hope you had a great day! Skye stayed under the table during dinner. She's such an optimist.

>225 Storeetllr: Rosie is smart to not want to be near the floor! Yes, Chris came down on Wednesday and is here for the weekend. He just left to meet some friends who are also home for the Holiday. We had John's kids here and the grands, too, but the house is quiet now and I'm pooped! (And overstuffed!) I hope you had a good day today, too!

>226 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, that's so sweet, thank you, and to be sure, I feel the same about you. I'm thankful for my LT family and the good will shared by all here!

>227 Copperskye: Ha! Our Coral tried to sneak under the table when she thought no one was looking. She thought she'd become invisible under the tablecloth.

Hi Joanne - I love the Trickledown Theory of Thanksgiving; my daughter's dogs certainly believe in it! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

>228 mstrust: I know some people have well trained dogs who stay out of the room during meals. I don't. :)

>229 BLBera: Dogs are such optimists at heart. We had a great day, thanks Beth. Hope you did, too.

A belated Happy Thanksgiving! My dogs LOVED having family visit and got lots of treats under the table!

Hi Joanne. We didn't host Thanksgiving dinner this year for the first time in forever (it seems). Lucky is quick to plant himself by Molly and they feast together whenever she is here. I'm a fan of Peanuts, too. I listened to the Charles Schultz bio earlier this year. Very melancholy. It was like reading the memoirs of Charlie Brown.

I'm glad the new Louise Penny hit the mark with you. I think she is getting better and better. They are my comfort reads.

>231 witchyrichy: A Belated Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Karen!

>232 Donna828: Hi Donna, Not hosting makes for a more relaxed day...but no leftovers! Now I'm curious about the Schulz bio... Totally agree about Penny getting better and better. I wonder if she thinks about writing other stories, outside of those characters.

64. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

A gritty YA story of a young girl struggling in the aftermath of a devastating high school party. 4 stars

65. March: Book One by John Lewis

The first book (GN) in John Lewis' trilogy depicting his coming of age as an activist in the civil rights movement. 4 stars

I loved March books 1 and 2 and am looking forward to reading 3. Glad you enjoyed it too!

>236 Storeetllr: Another fan here! Hoping book three is available in the libraries here soon. Such an important story.

Hi, Joanne! I hope you had a great holiday! Hooray for March! Glad to see so many LTers reading this important trilogy.

Just to throw a BB your way: I am really enjoying The Shell Collector: Stories. This feels like something Peter Heller would write, if he did short fiction.

Believe it or not, my daughter got me to read it. She plucked it off my Kindle.

>236 Storeetllr: I'd been meaning to read it for quite a while and when I saw it on the librarian recommended shelf at the library, I thought it was about time!

>237 charl08: Hello Charlotte!

>238 msf59: I picked up a used copy of The Shell Collector a year or so ago at the Tattered Cover and it's on my to be read soon shelf (whatever that means!). I had wanted to read All the Light first and I did this past summer so no excuse now. Glad you like it! I have so many short story collections to get to!!

I think this may be the first time I've ever stopped by your thread. So hi! I loved Speak, more books like that should be written. I've been wanting to pick up Between the World and Me. I plan on reading a lot of books about social issues next year, and am hoping I can fit that one in.

>230 Copperskye: I've had to try to convince Scout that she should not throw food on the floor at my house because I don't have dogs! She finds it a convenient way to get rid of things at her house.

Got my fingers crossed that you'll make 75 this year Joanne. xx

Have a great weekend.

>240 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! Thanks so much for stopping by - I love having new visitors. Speak was such a surprise and it grabbed me right away. I've read a couple of YA books lately that I thought were excellent. Between the World and Me would be a great choice for your next year's reading goal!

>241 BLBera: Ha! Scout knows you need a dog, Beth! :)

>242 PaulCranswick: Thank you for those crossed fingers, Paul! Alas, I don't have much hope, but you never know. Maybe I should grab some short books? :) I'm very much enjoying The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, so maybe not... Thank you for the good wishes for the weekend and I send you the same!

>243 Copperskye: Not going to happen, Joanne. I love dogs, but I'm never home, and it wouldn't be fair. I can always visit my grand dogs.

>244 BLBera: Smart, Beth - grand dogs are so much easier! Also, I should be starting News of the World this week. I'm looking forward to it.

"I have so many short story collections to get to!" I am with you on that front, Joanne!

I hope you had a nice weekend and got some reading in. i want to read News of the World. Wah!

I loved News of the World - I'll anxiously watch for your comments.

>246 msf59: I picked up two of Kelly Links' collections for my son for Christmas. They look very interesting! And the beat goes on. Happy new weekend to you, Mark!

>247 BLBera: I'm loving the characters, Beth!

Another fan of News of the World here. Hope that it is a good read for you too.

ETA just seen >248 Copperskye: - great!

>247 BLBera: >249 charl08: I finished News of the World yesterday and loved it!

Hooray! I'm always nervous about recommending a book I loved. I'll watch for your comments.

The News of the World is a particularly scurrilous Sunday newspaper in the United Kingdom but the book you have been reading looks far more enticing.

Looking forward to your review.

Have a lovely weekend, Joanne.

>251 BLBera: I know the feeling, Beth. But really, I always have a great deal of confidence in your recommendations!

>252 PaulCranswick: Ha! Yeah, a bit different, Paul! And an excellent book.

I'm way behind in commenting on my reads. Luckily, my reading has slowed so there's less to comment on, so there's that anyway.

Currently, I'm very much enjoying The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries. So far, not at all cheesy, but rather a pretty high quality collection. I also started Old Filth, a book I've been meaning to read for a while now.

Thanks Joanne. Ditto. I do want to read some Stegner next year...

Hi, Joanne! Hope you are doing well and getting geared up for the holidays. I have requested News of the World from the library. I was also hoping to snag it on audio.

Were you watching The Crown? If so, how was it?

>254 BLBera: You'll love Stegner, Beth!

>255 msf59: Hi Mark! I think News of the World would be good on audio. (I think it would make a great movie, too!) We LOVED The Crown!!!! Binge watched it the week after the election. Got us through some rough times...

Must get Netflix so I can keep up. Several of my friends have recommended The Crown to me...and then there's my man Longmire. I'm so glad you loved News of the World as I did, too. There sure have been some good recent releases. Too many to get them all read this year!

I will be getting ready for Christmas right up until the wire. I hope you are better prepared, Joanne! It's nice to be able to relax when the big day gets here.

Hi Donna! Yeah, we're pretty much hooked on Netflix. Between it and Amazon, we watch very little network TV these days. News of the World was great! I read very few new books this year so I have a lot of catching up to do. I also have a lot of wrapping to do for the first half of our Christmas on Christmas Eve. I'm glad I'm taking off on Friday! At least my shopping is all done. (And it was mostly done online this year.)

A very quick round-up of my recent reads:



66. The Track of Sand by Andrea Camilleri – Book 12 in the Montalbano series. A little gory and a little unconvincing but I love the series so, on to the next one.



67. The Poet’s Dog by Patricia MacLachlan – A lost and found tale of a poet, his dog, and two children rescued from a storm. It’s a poignant children’s story about the power of words. However, there was a section of the plot that bothered me – who would see two children alone in a car off the road, and during a growing snow storm, and just leave them there with a warning that the plows would soon bury the car?? I think that was a lazy bit of story-telling that should have been changed or left out. Small thing, though, really.



68. Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood - An early review book. Inventive story-telling by a master. I need to put more words together for this one…

69. News of the World by Paulette Jiles - In post- civil war Texas, Captain Kidd, an older, itinerant news reader, agrees to escort a young girl, who had been kidnapped by the Kiowa, home to her remaining family. Along the hundreds of miles journey, we get to know and love both the Captain and Johanna. Compact and satisfying. Thanks for the rec, Beth!



70. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas – A re-read for me. Best read aloud or at least aloud in your head to get the cadence right.



71.Auggie Wren's Christmas Story by Paul Auster - An annual re-read. If you’ve missed out on this little gem, I suggest finding it. For the audio read by Auster, go here to an NPR link. A half hour or so well spent!

Even with these short reads of late, there's no way I'm reaching 75 this year. I plan on reading March: Book Two soon and I've started Old Filth, which I love, and I'm really loving The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries but it's really a big book. Anyway, I don't care and suspect no one else does either! :)

No worries, Joanne. I just finished my 68th book and if I can get to 70 books by the end of 2016, I'll be pleased. It's less about the numbers and more about enjoyment and enlarging our reading world, I think. I think anyone in the ' 75's" would agree. It's a busy time of year for most of us. Wow - but you have made it to book number 71. Best wishes over the holidays!

>260 Copperskye: Do you know, I've never read A Child's Christmas in Wales? You've inspired me to search out a copy if I can find one before Christmas. I think I've heard that Auster story on NPR before.

And like Deborah said, no need to fret about not hitting the "magic number". It's just a number, after all. This group embraces everyone no matter how many or how few books they read; that's one of the things that keeps me coming back!

Hi Joanne - I will look for the Auster story. Thanks for the recommendation.

Another one for you; I LOVED The Bones of Paradise, another historical novel, set in Nebraska's Sand Flats around the turn of the twentieth century. It had a very western flavor, with a woman as the protagonist. I think you'd like it.

>259 Copperskye: >260 Copperskye: Some great reads! I've read half. The Poet's Dog was already on my TBR list, but I'll have to look for that NPR story.

Hi Joanne. I did enjoy The Last Policeman. Thanks for encouraging me to read it!

I love your description of News of the World: "Compact and satisfying." I put it on hold due, also, to Beth's recommendation and I'm just waiting my turn in the queue.

I also enjoyed The Poet's Dog. Your quibble caught my attention, too, and I think you're spot on in describing it as a bit of "lazy" storytelling. It felt like she just wanted to get to the good part of the story and didn't worry too much about how she got there. Still, I did love it and it made me want an Irish Wolfhound.

I'm not sure why I haven't got to News of the World yet, but thanks for the reminder. Your mini-review has tantalised me. Will have to try and get hold of a copy in the New Year.

Leaving my wish for you for the season and beyond....

Merry Christmas Joanne! Thank you for your time, your kind words and the books we enjoy together. However you celebrate, I wish for it to be full of joy.

Happy Holidays, Joanne.

Merry Christmas Joanne! Have a wonderful holiday with the family!

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!

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas, Joanne!

>262 vancouverdeb: Happy Holidays to you too, Deborah!

>263 rosalita: You can also just listen to Dylan Thomas read it, Julia. Check YouTube!

>264 BLBera: I've already got The Bones of Paradise on my list Beth - thanks to you!

>265 thornton37814: We have some similar tastes, Lori!

>266 EBT1002: Or maybe something was cut...I don't know....Another book that would make you want an Irish Wolfhound, Ellen, is Sight Hound by Pam Houston.

>267 charl08: It's one you don't want to miss, Charlotte!

>268 EBT1002: Thank you, Ellen. Wishing you the peace and love of the season, as well!

>269 nittnut: Lovely message, Jenn. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

>270 BLBera: Happy Holidays to you, too, Beth! I hope you're having fun!

>271 msf59: Merry Christmas, my friend! Enjoy your time with the family! I'm relaxing now after a day with the kids.

>272 PaulCranswick: Oh Paul, if only. Sending warm greetings your way and best wishes for a season of peace.

>273 RebaRelishesReading: Happy Holidays to you, too, Reba!

>274 ChelleBearss: Merry Christmas Chelle!!

>275 Storeetllr: Merry Christmas, Mary! Hope you are well!

>276 Crazymamie: Merry Christmas, Mamie!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus, Happy Day... wishing you all all the best this Holiday season. Hoping your days are filled with love, joy, peace, and comfort. Oh, and books. Lots of good books.

Merry Christmas, Joanne.

Merry Christmas greetings to you, too, Barbara!

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Joanne

Happy new year to you, Paul! Looking forward to 2017!

Happy New Year, Joanne! May it be filled with good books and lots of fellow readers with whom to discuss them!

>284 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary! Same to you!